Session XI: The Blood Fingers

It's a Mimic!

The mimic ship's mighty maw opened wide and charged at the New Management, crashing into it and seeking its sharp wooden teeth into the bow, causing immense damage. The rigging on the ship came to life like hempen tentacles that shot and grabbed at Vox, Zephyrion, Asterid, and the Paku'wat.
Inside the ship's maw, they could see a fleshy gullet. Many of the kobold crew suffered a terrible fate as they were swallowed whole as the three fought against the mimic with all they had. Vox's new magic anchor championed the day, a perfect weapon for such an enemy.
However, Vox, too, was swallowed and would have been digested. But, the ship was slain before it could happen, and a very injured Vox managed to crawl his way back out in triumph. They explored the mimic as much as they could before it sank and looted a hefty sum of coin from it, then carried on to Keelhaul.

Keelhaul

The New Management reached Keelhaul, to which it was boarded by a ship flying Weaver's colors for inspection. Vox and Zephyrion were keen to let know they were looking for a fight ring in the city, but the captain was suspicious, knowing only the black market would have such a thing. But, Asterid managed to help convince the half-dwarf, half-gith captain they were only coming in for ship repairs, which the ship did absolutely need.
Allowed to dock, they immediately commissioned for repairs and, passing through customs, set out into the streets.

Keelhaul

Keelhaul is a walled city and currently stands as the capital city of Weaver’s domain. It was said to be built as a military outpost to keep watch on the Cururi Nenar. Beneath it all, a black market called the Blood Fingers runs itself in the shadows, particularly as an underground fight ring that battles to the death deep below the Blackhawk Tavern. Keelhaul has four distinct locations. The Naramari Barracks, which houses the large number of forces that inhabit the city; the magic shop, The Hex Grove, a Hwestan shop which sells items meant to bestow boons and curses; the jeweler, Bondring’s Gems, which cuts and sells gems of all kinds; and Harold’s Throwables, which sells potions. As for the Blackhawk Tavern, the way into the Blood Fingers is through the password, “Gimme the Orange Brandy,” followed by, “On the rocks.”
Two levies are stationed in this city. Alongside them are the infantry known as the Vasa’im Ul’isnus, Weaver’s personal elite force. They adopt the militaristic lifestyles of the githyanki culture brought by Weaver, and so are trained like military-grade pirates. Currently stationed in this city is another unit composed of dragonborns. They are called Altac’s Cove Defenders and are led by their emerald dragonborn captain, Altac Medriss who runs the Naramari Barracks. They use specially designed catapults that look like dragons, which hurl rocks painted to resemble fireballs.

The Hex Grove

The Hex Grove is run by the halfling moon druid of Hwesta, Flynpos Lonewater. He was originally a priest of the Nenar, but found more fulfilling business around selling his charms outside the tribe.
The trio visited the shop knowing Asterid was a follower of Hwesta. Flynpos was happy to help them, and even to Asterid showed his more private stock — three spell scrolls of Planar Ally, Primordial Ward, and Sunbeam. Vox and Zephyrion attempted to sneak away from her, but like children trying to stalk away from a parent, their intent was very obvious to Asterid and she didn't lose track of them.

Blackhawk Tavern

Blackhawk Tavern, the inn of the town is run by the bearfolk named Shazzits. The place is two stories and never has an end to the music, tales, and ale being gloried in. But, the inn, actually a cover, helps keep the Blood Fingers a secret below it. Asterid knew of this and how to get into it. Going up to a barkeep, she ordered an Orange Brandy. When he asked if she wanted anything else with it, she said, "On the rocks." Then, the three were led to a trap door in a pantry in the back, and down they went to Keelhaul's black market.

The Blood Fingers

Run by the ferocious criminal named Carrow, the Blood Fingers are a notorious black market that bootleg, smuggle, steal, and buy and sell for a less than righteous coin. Contraband goods, "borrowed" magic items, and even slave trade are a few of the things offered in the black market.

Carrow and the Vasa'im Ul'isnus

The leader of Weaver's elite force, Man'marka, knows full well of the Blood Finger's existence and how it operates. However, Carrow has kept the captain's tongue quiet for several years through continuous bribes and a deal to let Keelhaul be Keelhaul, and let the Blood Fingers be the Blood Fingers.

The black market was like a mixture between a natural cave and and man-made spaces, and it was expansive. The trio perused the goods being sold for a while. The area was run by a female human named Yena. Afterwards, they made their way to, easily, the main attraction of the black market on any day. The very fight ring they were looking for stood like an iron bar dome in the hard ground that sank down, where the audience from above could watch the fights below.
They arrived just as a dwarf finished cutting down a goliath and raised his hand in victory. A gaunt halfling man came out with a cash prize

and the fight ended. Carrow himself sat in a throne of his own making that looked out over the arena.

The Taliim Bazeraak

If any should gather in the confines of the Blood Fingers, it is to witness the single-combat duels to the death that take place in the infamous Taliim Bazeraak, which in the infernal tongue means Cage of Blood. Tournaments inside this arena are arranged whenever Carrow says so, and the tournaments always feature four contestants. Each one is paired and fight to the death, then the victors fight each other in a final battle, and the winner earns the choice: walk away with a five-thousand gold coin prize, or fight Carrow himself for the chance at a wish the leader has the power to fulfill.
Many have gambled against him. None have ever prevailed.

The halfling's name was Spriggit, and clearly the one running the event, they trio met with him just as he'd finished talking to a goliath who entered into the next tournament. Knowing they'd have to kill each other if they all entered, Vox was the only one who filled the second slot. He was given a one-way sending stone, told he'll receive its message when the next tournament has been set.
Meanwhile, Zephyrion, trying to stack the odds, went to the slave quarter, run by the tiefling man named Jasper, and purchased an entire levy of forty slaves. Out in the open, he gave two of them daggers and instructed them to enter the tournament. However, clearly dressed like slaves, Spriggit easily saw they were with the owlin and denied their entry. Thus, Zephyrion was left with forty malnourished people in his care.
No one spoke to Carrow. Nothing else to do, they left the black market through a secret exit, sworn to secrecy not to use it as entrance, nor to snitch about it. They knew Weaver's domain was not against turning criminals to slave labor, so everyone simply returned to their ship through the main streets.

A Religious Rollercoaster

Earlier in the day, back in Looter's Cove, finding solitude with herself, Corellia battled whether she'd continue to serve Loch, or turn back to Eadro. Sensing her distress, the presence of the Seaworthy manifested in front of her pendant, like a spirit waiting for permission to be let back in.
She gave it, and immediately the Leviathan's magic was thrust from her pendant, and the Seaworthy's original magic returned to it. For it, she was cursed by the Leviathan, but like a prodigal daughter, the Seaworthy gave her a boon.

Copying the Book of the Sea

Later, Corellia and Arves returned to Old Man Willers and, though he wasn't willing to part with the Seaworthy's holy text — it wasn't easy to come by — allowed Arves, skilled at scribing to borrow it and begin copying it to a blank book. His magical quill copied the contents at a tremendous speed that impressed even Willers.

The Book of the Sea

Every faith has its holy text. In the case of the Seaworthy, the Book of the Sea is the inspired and chronicled history surrounding Eadro, his followers, and his greatest servitors, the Guardians of the Sea, including the famed Saint Anu Jusu.

Aaron's Delivery

Later on the Ravager, Aaron Foxweather paid the two a visit. He had a cart that had a large iron chest on it, sealed with two locks. He let them know a new shipment was in that he was still cataloguing, but he had a favor to ask them. The contents of the chest were part of his shipment which needed to be delivered to a buyer in Keelhaul, but Aaron hadn't seen his usual deliverer for a while now.
Willing to pay them to do this, they accepted. They were given two-hundred and fifty gold then, half their payment then and instructed to take the chest to Carrow of the Blood Fingers in Keelhaul. They'd receive Aaron's payment from him, and when it was brought back to Aaron, the other half of their salary would be given.
They were also made clear that the secrecy of the chest's contents was part of the delivery, and promised not to try and open it. After Aaron left and the ship departed, Arves immediately took his magic spyglass and used its power to gaze inside of it. They weren't opening the chest, they reasoned.
Deep inside was a large metal flask. It had an evil smiling face on it that glowed red hot with magic. Arves recognized such a magic item. An iron flask.

Iron Flask

An iron flask is a legendary magic item said to have the power to contain extremely powerful creatures, from the smallest imp to the largest dragon. Iron flasks have commonly shown up in great legends where a large evil is sealed away and buried, never again to arise.

Going Unseen

Baffled such a thing is in their care, Corellia and Arves decided to continue the job and teleported their way to Keelhaul. When they arrived, they saw the ruined remains of the New Management and were shocked.
They went through inspection at sea, signaled by a warning shot due to their sudden entrance, and after saying they were here with the New Management, the captain from before became even more suspicious, but allowed them to dock. Together again, they were intent on delivering the chest.
However, everything had to be searched going through customs, which would include the chest. They would need to find another way in, or convince Carrow to come out and grab it himself. So, they left the chest on the ship and made their way into town together.
To their dismay, they saw a group of five Vasa'im soldiers trailing them and keeping tabs on where they went. Trying to remain inconspicuous, they mostly split apart.
Zephyrion lost the man following him immediately, flying to the rooftops. Corellia and Vox went down another street, and Corellia conjured a fog cloud, making it look like an accident and ducking into an alley. The pair that were following them lost them in the chaos. Arves and Asterid continued on into the Blackhawk Tavern. They waited inside the doors, and the moment the pair following them entered, Arves conjured his magic and charmed the two of them. With a pat on their backs, he told them to grab a drink, and they did.
Having lost their pursuers, everyone convened in the tavern. Following Asterid, they made their way back down to the Blood Fingers.
What would happen next?
To be continued...

Report Date
April 20th, 2024
In-Game Start Date
Eadriscus 17th, 1301 AC
In-Game End Date
Eadriscus 18th, 1301 AC

Player Characters

Zephyrion Skyblade - An owlin fighter.
Vox - A hill dwarf, emerald kobold, ancestral guardian barbarian.
Corellia Emberfin - A tiefling-triton fighter.
Arves - A vedalkin scribe wizard.
Asterid - A female human life cleric of Hwesta.

Non-Player Characters

Aria Swiftblade - A fairy champion fighter wielding duel battleaxes.
Ferris "Scurvy" Bort - A human spores druid retainer.
Fannis Lok - An exiled cloud giant.
Aaron Foxweather - The human owner of Aaron's Quarter.
Flynpos Lonewater - The halfling moon druid who owns the Hex Grove in Keelhaul.
Carrow - The cutthroat human ring leader of the Blood Fingers.
Spriggit - The gaunt, right-hand halfling man of Carrow.
Fessil - The tiefling Blood Finger in charge of the crime ring's slave trade.
Miranda - The human Blood Finger in charge of the crime ring's smuggling trade.

Magic Items

Hwestan Hex Circlet

Wondrous item, uncommon, 875gp (requires attunement)
This circlet is designed with various rocks and minerals, and is imbued with divine magic.
Hex (A). This circlet has three charges. As a bonus action, you may expend 1 charge to cast hex. If you cast hex from this while it is already affecting a creature, the previous spell ends. This regains all charges after finishing a long rest.
Ascended. Whenever you finish a short rest, if the circlet has 0 charges, it regains 1 charge.
“Hwesta’s compassion is great. But, her strength is greater.”

~ Flynpos Lonewater

Dagger of Lightning

Wondrous item, uncommon, 700gp (requires attunement)
This dagger is curved. Blue evocation glyphs are inscribed over its hilt.
Lightning Smite (A). This weapon has five charges. When you hit an attack made with this, you may expend a charge to deal an additional 1d4 lightning damage. The dagger regains all charges after finishing a long rest.
Ascended. You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls you make with this weapon.
“This dagger delivers shocking results!”

~ Unknown artificer