Session 18: Respite in Thod Report

Around 9:00 or 10:00 at night, the inn begins to settle into lethargy for the night. 

Ballisar and Azidael have a tense conversation. Why would the party compel him to follow them when the need was minimal, but now, when he needed the party’s assistance, they wanted to depart? Ballisar was willing now to travel to Astoria again because he was sick. Now that he was cured, at Azidael’s expense, he was willing to return home! How could he claim to be an ally and friend with such a record? Back and forth they argued. Nothing came to simple resolution, and the gulf between them in trust grew larger. After, Azidael requested Orin to come hither.

Ballisar goes to retrieve Orin, Sinestra sees them at work. She teases them, hinting at some clandestine attention given to their actions and discussions. Nothing that could be proven, but they were uneasy.

Azidael and Orin speak to one another. Azidael asks him “do you ever forget?”, regarding his deceased wife whom he mentioned on occasion. Orin replied “Certainly not, that is why I hear a wedding band on each hand.” Azidael asked him to tell the story, if he was willing, and Orin did such. Azidael taps upon the folded paper he pushed forward. “Read it” he said simply. Orin unfolds the note and scans over a tersely written request for him to help slay Sinestra. This, of course, would be premature revenge for the death of his lover which appeared to be an inevitability. Orin was elusive on his response, but simply articulated his condolences for the dismal Dhrak’onyth.

Party departs from Dorithin and trudge south toward Thod, intending to charter a ship and travel westward to Methven and the Demhezzar lands. The trek is difficult and food runs short, but they manage to barter and hunt their way to safety. They arrive at the dark, Vestidian stone walls of Thod and barely perceive the roofs of merchant manors and the masts of moored vessels.

Cravinyol, Ballisar, and Calista scoured the dock for a ship to charter. Most were moored and chained to dock, but a small number were afloat and prepared. They chose a particularly active looking ship and approached the crew. They spoke to an Etayen who appeared to speak for the eclectic collection of races and gender. He introduced himself as Zilek Nassar’phes, and informed the party that their ship was named the Free Spirit- most of the time. They possessed no permanent captain and shared the bounties of their charter voyages. However, for a reasonable rate the crew could ferry the party anywhere in mortal Qadal. Ballisar was skeptical, but what choice did they possess? They negotiated a rather steep price for the journey for six souls and their horses- 9 high value kruns, 12 medium value, and 12 low value, each referenced by their royal facings, of course. Additionally, the party agreed to sleep upon the deck of the ship for the night to avoid the high rates of inns in that monied city.

Azidael visited the tradehouse of the Rekeya Yalla’gan, which stood out to him on account of its uniquely Nevanese architecture. He stepped inside and spoke with the flamboyantly garbed attendant. It was a pleasant experience, and he organized a 7:00 meeting with the Dhrak’onyth lord of the house.

Orin walked the docks and spied a particularly massive looking ship- a war whip by every measure, bearing ballista on its flanks and a trebuchet on its center deck. He approached it and saw a billowing flag of white with a golden fist of Corgastor at its center, ringed in waves. The sailors upon the deck possessed the same icons upon their tabards. They were overseen by an officer wearing mail and plate upon his upper body, but little to nothing on his legs for stability’s sake. The two of them spoke for a while upon familiar things such as Everos and home. Apparently, the ship was named the – and was docked in Thod as a means of trade protection. In the west, the Nevanese were at odds with the Elivas and trade was suffering. The Corgastorians began to search for alternative routes some months ago. At the end, the officer, named Orelon and from Eroyther, offered Orin a meeting with Master Ghelonastor. Orin thanked him, but explained his party’s haste and intent to remain only for a short time in Thod.