The Land of Time | Session 4
Where will the sea take Finnley, Captain Salt, and Lila next?
4/15/2026 – The First Dawn
As the first light of dawn broke over the Land of Time, Captain Salt unmoored her weathered vessel, lowered the sails, and set course south toward the Jagged Teeth coastline. The sea route was known to be treacherous, home to ruthless pirates, massive sea monsters, and sudden storms that left many widows weeping on the shore.
“Finny! Get your land-loving legs over here,” Captain Salt barked from the bow, her voice cutting through the morning wind. “I have something to show you.”
What does Captain Salt teach the young farmer?
On a 1-2: How to tie a sturdy knot.
On a 3-4: How to take a proper fighting stance (Swordsmanship +1).
On a 5-6: How to navigate and steer a ship.
Finnley rolled a 1.
Captain Salt looked him up and down, then let out a short, gruff laugh. “Figures. A farm boy who can barely stand on a deck. First things first.”
She grabbed a length of thick rope and shoved it into his hands. “Watch closely. This is how you tie a proper knot that won’t slip when the sea decides to test you.”
For the next hour, under the rising sun and the salty spray, Captain Salt patiently (though not gently) taught Finny how to tie a sturdy knot, the kind that could hold a sail in high wind or secure a line during a storm. His fingers fumbled at first, rough from years of farm work, but slowly he started to get the feel of it.
The lessons of the sea begin.
It wasn’t swordplay or navigation… but it was something. A small, practical skill that might one day keep him alive on these dangerous waters.
Finnley spent the rest of the day tying knots and helping on the ship with Captain Salt. His fingers were clumsy at first, but the repetition slowly started to feel familiar. Meanwhile, Lila sat quietly near the bow, mesmerized by the small healing poultice she had found. It sparkled faintly in the morning sun, almost as if it held a touch of magic.
After sailing for what seemed like hours, cutting through the rough waters of The Broken Coast, they finally made the open ocean. The waves grew larger, the air sharper, and the distant horizon stretched endlessly ahead.
What happens next on the open sea?
On a 1: A sudden storm rolls in.
On a 2: They spot another ship on the horizon.
On a 3: Something large moves beneath the water.
On a 4: They find floating debris from a wrecked ship, possibly clues about the raiders.
On a 5: Captain Salt reveals a piece of her own past.
On a 6: Lila’s poultice begins to glow brighter.
Finnley rolled a 5.
As the sun climbed higher, Captain Salt stepped away from the wheel and walked over to Finny. She studied him for a long moment, her weathered face unreadable.
“You’re not the first desperate soul I’ve carried south,” she said quietly, her voice low enough that only he could hear. “Years ago… I lost my own daughter to raiders. Same bastards, same colors on their sails. I swore I’d never chase them again. But seeing you run onto my boat with nothing but that stick and that look in your eyes…”
She paused, gripping the railing. “I’m not doing this for charity, boy. I’m doing it because maybe this time I can make them pay.”
Captain Salt’s eyes hardened with old pain and quiet rage. For the first time, Finny realized she wasn’t just a gruff sailor offering passage. She had her own reasons for heading south.
What happens next on the open sea?
On a 1: A sudden storm rolls in.
On a 2: They spot another ship on the horizon.
On a 3: Something large moves beneath the water.
On a 4: They find floating debris from a wrecked ship, possibly clues about the raiders.
On a 5: Captain Salt reveals more about her past.
On a 6: Lila’s poultice begins to glow brighter.
Finnley rolled a 4.
Late in the afternoon, as the sun dipped lower, Captain Salt suddenly pointed off the starboard side.
“Debris ahead,” she called, her voice sharp.
Scattered across the waves were pieces of a broken ship – splintered wood, torn sailcloth, and a few barrels bobbing in the water. As they drew closer, Finny’s stomach tightened. Some of the debris still carried scorch marks and fresh axe cuts. One shattered crate floated past with a familiar symbol burned into the side… the same mark the raiders had worn on their armor.
Captain Salt steered the boat nearer and tossed a rope over the side. “Grab what you can, farm boy. Might be something useful… or something that tells us where those bastards are headed.”
Finny leaned over the rail, heart pounding, and began pulling in whatever he could reach.
What does Finnley find? (Roll twice!)
On a 1: A waterlogged leather satchel containing a few coins, a crumpled map with strange markings, and a small silver locket with a portrait inside.
On a 2: A broken sword with a distinctive hilt design.
On a 3: A sealed wooden barrel that survived the wreck.
On a 4: A torn piece of sailcloth with a symbol or partial flag that matches the raiders’ colors.
On a 5: A small locked chest (slightly damaged).
On a 6: A survivor’s journal or a message in a bottle.
Finnley and the party rolled a 2 and a 5.
Finny hauled the broken sword aboard first. It felt heavy and unfamiliar in his hands, but he could tell it was well-made. The hilt had an odd engraving – a jagged tooth wrapped in chains. Captain Salt glanced at it and gave a grim nod.
“Same bastards,” she muttered.
Then, with Captain Salt’s help, they pulled in a heavy, damaged locked chest. The wood was swollen from the sea, but the lock was still intact. It was surprisingly heavy for its size.
What secrets does it hold?
Captain Salt wiped sea water from her eyes and studied the chest. “Well now… that’s interesting. Could be coin, could be supplies… or could be something the raiders didn’t want anyone to find.”
With Captain Salt’s help, Finny hauled the broken sword and the heavy, waterlogged chest up onto the deck. The sword clattered beside him, its strange jagged-tooth hilt catching the sunlight. The chest was swollen from the sea but still sealed tight. Captain Salt knelt beside it, working the rusted lock with a small knife until it finally gave way with a loud click.
She lifted the lid slowly. Inside, nestled among damp cloth and a few scattered coins, lay something unexpected…
To be continued in Session 5…