To Pondmoor

Researcher: Dīca Dux
 
 
Research: Whalewolf Alpha
 
 
Report: Whalewolf safely handed off to Captian Magnos of the Golden Groat.
 
 
Journal: We made it the rest of the way to the handoff site unharassed. There waiting for us was the Golden Groat. It was a strange site for me. The ship itself was disguised as a grain trader, but the crew wore no disguises at all. They all were openly in Simic attire and even featured races not normally seen in the open. Many deckhands were Yuan-TI half bloods, there were also some other Simic guardians (hybrids) as well as some common races such as satyrs. Captian Magnos of the ship looked like a large Gripply, but seemed not quite right.
With our only current commitment taken care of Carame gathered the crew and we had some discussion as to our next direction. The three aarakocra are brothers were escapees from the Silver Citadel. The city ruled by a cloud giant that pays for and enslaves their species as laborers. He has some onesided economic war with trade city trying to take over as the trading center. His slaved labor even goes so far as to remove the birdfolk's wings. One of the brothers had such a fate where as the other two got him out. The wingless one took specialties as a fighter while the others worked as rogues with Carame in the past. The goblin had a hard life as, well, a goblin and Carame liked his music and took him in. The okami had been falsely accused of a crime and Carame rescued them from their fate. The hooded on however remained silent, but a vouch from Carame is all the group needed to be okay with their presence. For a wined down they decided to play Three Dragon Ante. A few of us had never played and Carame showed us the ropes. I had a befuddled start, but quickly picked it up to win the second and third rounds making out with 8gp 3sp more than the 5gp I originally invested. I think I enjoy this game for the strategy more so than for the gambling. I will have to see if I can convince the others to play at a lower value level just to be able to play more. The entire crew held a discussion and voted to what to go to next. Carame wanted to track down some info about that slaver that I was dropped in on out near the Isle of Lingering Tears, Snowball also voiced interest in that area. The Bird brothers all shared an interest in the Pondmoor boat racing festival that happens every few years, Kar'el much less so after hearing the relative vicinity of the Silver Citadel. K'Dren and Carame also had some contacts in Ingland that they had interest in perusing. Kar'El had some intrest in going all the way to Core City for some bounty hunting of which I am not a fan of. Of course there was also the option of remaining in Cressaro for more bounties or even visiting Velrasia since we just were there for all of five minutes. After some debate We decided to visit the Pondmoor festival and set sail.
About a day and a half later we were flagged down by a ship sailing the Silverport trading co. flag. A cobalt kobold by the name of Alerod was interested in some sea trading. On their ship they had a Boros trade warden on board so I jest kept to my studies below deck while the others browsed. They bought a strange assortment of items using the group's funds. Some crafting reagents, a weapon or two and the odd end. Seems that Ravash had some sway and got discounts for a few things. He then gave some sort of rod or stave to Snowball for a favor or some debt. I don't particularly mind as I am content with what I have but I have heard tale of a particular item that sounds to be interesting. Sadly, it has only been mentioned in passing.
Soon se set off again and the others started playing Three Dragon Ante again but I abstained to look into the sentience of the ship. I did manage to figure out that it is latched to an item on the ship but I cannot figure out what or where.