The Fortune of Edmont Patch

3 Marpenoth, The Year of Twelve Warnings (1494 DR)
Saltmarsh, The Sword Coast

"A man can lie through his mouth, but his eyes tell all!" - Wellgar Brinehanded, human priest of Valkur

The newly arrived adventurers attacked the cultists of Olhydra.
After four of them were injured including their apparent leader, the cultists fled into the stormy night. The grateful dragonborn introduced himself as Karstoff Fell and his tiefling wife, Arten Fell. He said they have heard of cultists of Olhydra arriving in the area. There have been a few attacks on the nearby halfling farming village of Giltleaf as well.
When asked where they were, Karstoff said they were about 2 miles southeast of the town of Saltmarsh, a fishing town along the Sword Coast. He added that the mining town of Leilon was only 6 miles south, along the High Road. The town of Phandalin was about 15 miles or so east. Giltleaf, the halfling farming village was only about 2 miles from where the Triboar Trail and the High Road met. He also mentioned Seaton, once a robust fishing town now converted into a drab military fortress, lay some 20 miles or so north of Saltmarsh.
Edmont said he knew of Saltmarsh and suggested going there in the morning. Karstoff warned Skylar and Luca they may not be welcomed in Saltmarsh which didn't normally trust anyone who wasn't human, halfling, elven, or half-elven. Arsten said she and Karstoff both wanted to live in Saltmarsh. However, she disliked being referred to as a "devil spawn" while her husband was called a "dragon man". Karstoff said he would take the group into town in the morning. He was headed there anyway to buy supplies.
When asked "when they were", Karstoff was confused but finally said it was the 2nd of Marpenoth, the Year of Twelve Warnings, which was still 1494 DR. Last the group recalled, they had left Oakhurst in late Flamerule in the same year. That was over two months ago! Yet they only spent less than a tenday in Barovia! They couldn't imagine how much further time would have moved on in the Realms had they stayed longer in that strange, dark land.
The next morning, Karstoff led everyone to Saltmarsh. He pulled a wooden wagon and offered Luca a ride in it. Skylar asked if he had an animal that could be pull the wagao, Karstoff said animals like those were costly. He and Arsten were poor farmers.
After an hour, they reached the town gate of Saltmarsh. Four people were sitting on weathered wooden stools just inside the gate.
The group noticed that each of the town guards looked like old veterans of wars long forgotten. One of the four, however, was a human man in his late twenties. He clearly wasn't a guard but was talking and laughing along with the others.
One of the old guards, a halfling with graying curly hair was the first to notice the group. "'G'mornin' Karstoff. See you brought some friends with you this time."
Karstoff smiled at the halfling guard. "A fine morning to you, Tracy. And to you Gary and Ed as well." He simply nodded to the man leaning against the wooden gate. Karstoff introduced the four others with him. "They're passing through Saltmarsh. Thought I'd bring 'em over. They saved my wife and me from Olhydra cultists who tried to drown me as a sacrifice to their damned god. Hope you boys are looking into these attacks. That makes the third one now in a month."
"Captain Fireborn is looking into the matters, fer sure," the oldest guard said. "Even went as far as to put a bounty of 500 gold pieces on their cult leader's head."
"Any idea where they're hiding?" Ahroheim inquired.
"If we did, they'd be good as catched," the guard named Ed said. "But they're sneaky. Possibly hidin' in any of the caves up and down the coast."
"Anything else should know about?" Luca asked. He noticed how they were regarding him with a strange look without staring directly at him. He decided to play along and lick his paws.
Gary gave Luca a real quizzical look. "Matter o' fact, there is. Cats and dogs been disappearin' round town for the past two tendays." He kept his eyes on Luca who started to meow like a small kitten. "Guards been searchin' highs and lows, but nothin's come up. Mrs. Hearthgold says she heard her cat, Caldreas, screamin' right outside o' her house. Thought her cat found itself a mate, but when she stepped out o' her house there wasn't a sign o' Caldreas. Other folks been tellin' similar tales 'bout losin' their pets and some even losin' their chickens."
"What do you suppose is behind it all?" Skylar asked. "No children have disappeared, have they?" Ahroheim, Luca, and Edmont all looked at Skylar. They still recalled how children were disappearing in the village of Vallaki.
"That would be monstrously evil," Tracy the halfling guard said. "No. No children. Just animals...so far. Strangely enough, no prints were seen anywhere near where the animals were last seen or heard."
"Maybe whatever's been taking the animals can fly?" Ahroheim said. "Didn't anyone consider that?"
All three guards looked up to the sky, scanning for any sign of a pet-stealing flying creature. All they saw were seagulls circling lazily overhead. The sky was overcast but thankfully the storm had subsided. After another second, all three looked at Ahroheim and shrugged.
Karstoff started to pull the wagon past the gate. "Well gentlesirs, I need to get back home before highsunfeast or Arsten will tan my scales. Always a pleasure talking to you all."
Ahroheim, before leaving, inquired about a shop where he could sell goods. He tried to be discreet about what 'goods' he was referring to.
"Ah, magic items!" Ed said loudly. "Why didntcha just spits it out? Go see Captain Xendros at the Faithful Quartermaster. She'll take care of ya."
Ahroheim asked for directions.
"Would ya mind, Xander, leading these folks through town?" Gary asked.
Xander stepped away from the gate. "Not at all. The name's Xander. Been here only a month but I know the place well enough."
The group thanked Xander and bid farewell to the colorful old guards.
The group had barely entered Saltmarsh, when their attention was drawn to a short, stocky man being pushed out the double doors of a two-story tavern. Landing underneath the tavern's dangling sign – a wicker goat – the small man scrambled to his feet, cursing at the two people in front of him: a tall middle-aged man with a stern face and a red-haired female dwarf, burly arms crossed before her.
"Hold your tongue, before you say something that really gets me mad, you old seadog," the tall man said angrily. "You're free to visit if you want an ale that doesn't taste like the piss you serve down at the Net, but I'll not tolerate you stealing away my customers right under my nose, Kreb!"
Wearing an angry shade of red under his thick whiskers, Kreb responded with an accusatory middle finger: "Bugger you, Lankus. I's just doin' me civic duty by informin' the folks o'er 'ere that there'll be free food and drink at the Empty Net tonight, court'sy of Mr. Primewater. Why, Lady Copperlocks, I thought ye and yers was 'posed to keep order 'round 'ere, but ye're letting this landlubber violate me, while ye imprison honest fishermen just tryin' to earn a living wage!"
The red-haired dwarf held back Lankus with an outstretched arm. "We've imprisoned smugglers, not fishermen, although I can imagine how ye'd have a hard time distinguishing between the two, with the clientele you keep. And while it is Councilman Primewater's right to hold a banquet in their 'honor' at yer establishment, it is also Lankus' right to forcefully evict unwanted patrons from his private property. Go about yer business now, Kreb, before I report ye to Captain Eliander for disturbing the peace – and my morningfeast!"
Kreb, cursing and spitting as he wiped the dried mud off his clothes started walking towards the middle of town.
"See you and Kreb still not getting along," Karstoff said to Lankus. Karstoff parked the wagon next to the tavern. Luca jumped out.
"Good to see you again, Karstoff." Lankus said. "Has it been two tendays already? Come in. Got your favorite morningfeast prepared. Honeyed bacon and fried eggs served with freshly baked bread. I even made some butter earlier this week."
Karstoff clapped his hands and started to enter the Wicker Goat. Lady Copperlocks had already gone inside moments before.
Ahroheim said he wanted to go to the Faithful Quartermaster first. Luca and Edmont joined them as Xander led the way. Only Skylar chose to stay and join Karstoff for a bite to eat.
Although the adventurers had been told tieflings were not easily trusted by people in Saltmarsh, Captain Xendros was obviously the exception. She owned and operated The Faithful Quartermaster, a store that bought and sold magic items from travelers passing through Saltmarsh.
When asked by Ahroheim if she would purchase some items of value that were non-magical, she said she was only interested in magical items, and by the hungry glances she gave Xander, her interests also lay in him. She directed Ahroheim to visit Winston's Store, a shop in the east end of town. Winston, a halfling trader, dealt with other items of value and didn't ask customers where the items came from. Before the group left to see Winston, Xendros asked if the adventurers would keep an eye or two out for a particular magic item she was interested in. She said she was interested in tracking down an Apparatus of Kwalish. She explained what it was. If they brought one back to her, she said she would pay them with certain magic items of their choosing, short of an artifact.
The group left and headed to Winston's Store.
Saltmarsh was laid out in an east to west fashion, divided in two by the Kingfisher River. North took one inland and south led to the docks and the Sea of Swords. Most of the town lay across an old stone bridge. Sharkfin Bridge was a single large bridge that spanned the river. With shops and homes along its length, it was large enough for laden carts to pass two abreast. Xander said he heard that the bridge predated the town and was here before anyone arrived. Whoever built it was a mystery though many suspect dwarves did, based on its architecture and having withstood time and the harsh elements of the Sword Coast.
However, Ahroheim was no longer listening to Xander's history lesson. The bridge was making him sick. Crossing it sent a wave of nausea sweeping over the eladrin. He felt the world spinning. He vomited on the bridge then ran across the bridge as fast as he could. When he reached the other side, the wave of nausea had passed although the lingering effects of it remained.
Ahroheim was at a loss to understand what form of magic had come over him. "I'm fine now," he told the others. "But I'm not sure what on that bridge made me sick."
Xander glanced back at the bridge, then to Ahroheim helping him to his feet. "I'm sorry but I should have said something but I wasn't at all certain. I have heard since I've arrived here that elves, half-elves, and any fey folk who crossed the Sharkfin get sickened as if they've ridden a ship at sea for the first time, and during a storm too! No one knows why. I thought nothing of it and dismissed it as an old seafarer's tale. Now I understand why most elves and their like stay on the eastern end of town."
The group continued on with Xander pointing out places of interest along the way. In front of the Council Hall, they noticed a woman locked in the town stocks. They stopped to ask the guard nearby what the woman's crime was. He said she wandered into town two days ago, disoriented and starving. She stopped by the Wicker Goat and seeing food and drink on tables, she ate them ravenously. When asked to pay for the food and drinks she consumed, the woman couldn't speak Common and didn't understand what was being asked of her. She was only dressed in a leather breechcloth and had no money on her. Fearful, she started to run out but was caught by off duty guards. Councilman Primewater had her placed in the stocks as punishment until the town council can figure out what to do with her.
"How much did she owe?" Edmont asked.
"Eight silver pieces," the guard said.
"What?" Luca was shocked. "How long is she going to be kept here for owing 8 measly silver coins?"
"Four days. A day for every two silver pieces she owed."
"Can anyone pay her debt?" Luca asked.
The guard looked somewhat confused. "Anyone can, but why would you help her?"
Edmont reached into his belt pouch and threw 8 silver coins on the ground in front of the guard. "There. Her debt is paid. Unlock her immediately!"
The guard did so then left.
Luca and Edmont offered to stay with the woman. The tabaxi wizard said he would cast Comprehend Languages, a spell which hopefully can help find out more about the mysterious woman.
Ahroheim left with Xander who led him to Winston's store a short while later. It sat on the side of a small hill overlooking the fishing town below.

Winston was a colorful halfling who seemed to favor wearing expensive jewelry. He and a burly half-orc wearing mithral plate and armed with a shortsword sat on a wooden bench just outside Winston's store which seemingly doubled as the halfling trader's residence. The two were sipping warm beer out of finely carved tankards. A wooden plate of potatoes and bacon sat between the two of them.
The halfling and the half-orc couldn't be any more different. Winston seemed to have lived a life of luxury while the half-orc seemed to have lived a life of constant struggle for survival.
"Greetings Xander," Winston said before the swashbuckler could say anything.
Xander was taken aback. "Sorry, I didn't think you knew me."
The halfling smiled. "I make it me point to know everyone in Saltmarsh. It's good for business. No concern. I hear you're a hard worker is all with having worked for Anders Solmor as a longshoreman for a month now if what I've heard is right."
Xander nodded then introduced Ahroheim.
Ahroheim took out four items to show Winston. Held out two shields, both steel though one was more finely made than the other. He also showed Winston a necklace with a Topaz pendant and a silver helmet shaped like a wolf's head. The helmet looked like it might have been part of a suit of plate armor.
Winston offered to buy all the items except the common-looking shield. The eladrin was embarrassed about the other shield and pulled it back, then seemed to stare at it for a while. Then shaking his head, Ahroheim thanked Winston for his business and wished him luck. "Thank you Winston..."
"...Alderleaf," Winston finished.
Xander stared at the halfling. "Do you happen to be related to Errich Alderleaf of Phandalin?"
Winston seemed shocked at having heard the name. "Errich is me younger brother. How do you know him?"
"It's a long story, but he and I fought side by side against the Red Brands some five years ago."
Winston narrowed his focus on Xander. "Ah yes, Errich spoke of the others whom he adventured with in Phandalin. So you're the Xander he spoke of. A pleasure to meet old friends of me brother."
"Errich told me about his adventures with you and the others," the half-orc said as he stood up. He was tall, just shy over six feet in height. "I'm Caradoc the Enforcer."
"Oh, what brings you here to Saltmarsh?" Xander asked.
"Errich sent me to deliver a message to Winston. I've stayed longer than planned since I'm trying to figure out what my options are."
"And Errich?" Xander asked. "How's he faring these days?"
The half-orc looked past Xander towards the Sea of Swords. "He's doing fine. His aunt Quillen is now Phandalin's mayor. And Tressadar Manor is complete. It took five years to rebuild but it's finally done."
"I'm part owner of that manor," Xander said matter-of-factly. "Along with Borgrim Deepfire the dwarven sorcerer, Dain Truthseeker a dwarven cleric of Dumathoin, Randal Sunbringer paladin of Lathander, and Ghesh Goldscale a dragonborn soldier from Neverwinter.
"So I've heard," Caradoc said. "I've heard Errich speak of all of you. You're welcome to return to Phandalin. Errich's done a fine job restoring the manor. And Phandalin's changed a lot in the past five years, or so I've heard."
"Well, we know you two are quite busy," Ahroheim said as he took the heavy bag of coins Winston gave him. "We'd best be going and rejoin the others."
Ahroheim nodded to Caradoc then turned to leave but paused for a moment. "Caradoc, if I may say so, you don't seem a stranger to conflict."
The half-orc chuckled. "Do you want to see all the scars?"
"No. No, that won't be necessary," Ahroheim said immediately. "Would you be willing to consider taking on some...additional side work?" He turned to Winston. "If that is amicable to Winston, of course..."
Winston shrugged.
Ahroheim looked towards Saltmarsh farther down the hill which gave an impressive view of the town and a breathtaking view of the sea. "I've found myself in need of allies of late, and one can never have too many in a place like this."
"You got that right," Winston agreed.
"No need to decide now," Ahroheim said. "You will be generously paid for your services, of course. Consider my proposal as one of your 'options'. My friends and I will be at the Wicker Goat if you are interested. Just ask for Ahroheim."
Caradoc nodded. "I'll give it some thought."
"Good day then, gentlemen," Ahroheim said before he and Xander walked back to rejoin Edmont and Luca and the woman they just freed.

As they all began to walk back to the Wicker Goat, Luca shared what he found out from the girl. It seemed the girl, whose name was Jasna, had somehow been separated from the rest of her Uthgardt tribe deep in Neverwinter Wood. According to Jasna, she was hunting for days with others of the Grey Wolf Tribe. When she awoke from a night's sleep, she found herself elsewhere, outside of the forest, in a grassy meadow. She traveled for nearly a day, finding her way to Saltmarsh. She was starving. She entered the inn and ate the food she found. She had no money and assumed it was free, as it is the custom of her tribe to feed strangers. Jasna wants to return to her tribe but doesn't know how to get back.
The group agreed to take care of Jasna until they can figure out how to reunite her with her tribe.
As they entered the Wicke Goat, Edmont heard his name being yelled by Lankus throughout the tavern. Lankus stood next to a old human man with a peg-leg.
"Edmont!" Lankus yelled. "C'mon over boy! Let ol' Wellgar Brinehanded here take a gander in your eyes!"
"Wait. What?" Edmont was shocked to be the attention of the entire tavern.
Lankus walked over to Edmont. "Wellgar here is a priest of Valkur. He's got a sharp memory for every storm, lost ship, and enormous catch ever brought into Saltmarsh harbor. He knows many fanciful stories of shipwrecks, lucky escapes, and famous captains also!
Luca walked over to Lankus and Edmont. "And what does Wellgar have anything to do with Edmont?"
"I'm getting to that, my furry lad," Lankus said. He pulled a chair up for Edmont to sit in. "We've been talking to your priest, Skylar, and he mentioned your name is Edmont 'Patch'."
The group looked at Skylar who simply shrugged his innocence and then took a bite of honeyed bacon. Karstoff sat across the table from Skylar.
"So what of it?" Edmont asked trying to get back up. Lankus pushed him gently back down.
"Well, that makes your pa, Edway Patch." Lankus offered.
Edmont didn't flinch. "That name doesn't ring a ship's bell, I'm afraid."
Lankus sighed and pushed the matter more. "After he left Saltmarsh with you over twenty years ago, he began using his middle name, 'Kenward'.
Edmont's eyes widened.
"That's right, boy," Lankus said. "Edway Kenward Patch, one of the most famous pirate captains to ply the Sea of Swords is your pa!"
"What makes you think I'm his son?" Edmont asked.
Wellgar stooped to stare at Edmont. The priest's breath reeked of fish and beer.
Edmont leaned back. "What are you doing, priest?"
"Looking at yer eyes!" Wellgar yelled. "A man can lie through his mouth, but his eyes tell all!"
"Your father, Edway was a regular worshipper at Wellgar's temple," Lankus said. "He brought you to see Wellgar when you were still a babe barely able to walk. Had you baptized by Wellgar too, before leaving with you. He said he loved the sea, but Edway never wanted his son to follow in his footsteps."
Edmont laughed. "That's ironic since it was Edway Kenward who encouraged me to be a pirate. I remember his saying, Once you are ready pipsqueak, sail out to Neverwinter and travel east to seek mighty ale and adventure!."
Wellgar nodded. "Aye, he advised ye to head 'east' away from the sea, lad. What captain says that unless he wanted ye to be a landlubber instead?"
"So, Wellgar?" Lankus inquired. "Is he Edway Patch's son?"
The priest nodded hard. "Aye, he is truly indeed. Those are the same pair o' eyes I did see upon his baptism day."
Edmont got up. "I still don't understand what difference this all makes. So I'm the son of Edway Kenward Patch. So what of it?"
"It makes a world of difference for us in Saltmarsh," Lankus said. He turned to regard the several patrons in the tavern. "It means then that you're the nephew of Eddard Patch!"
"Oh for rum's sake!" Edmont said frustrated. "Now, who in the nine hells is Eddard Patch? Am I related to everyone whose name starts with "Ed"? He thought back to the old guard at the town gate. His name was Ed.
"Eddard Patch is the old alchemist who lives in the old mansion about four miles north of here," Lankus said. "He hasn't been seen in twenty years. Not since your pa visited with you. Eddard probably died in the house too seeing no one has seen hide nor hair of him. He kept to himself and his studies on how to turn metal into gold. Came to town once or twice a year. But that stopped 20 years ago."
"And since yer the next o' kin," Wellgar said smiling. "that makes you the inheritor of that mansion."
Edmont was both confused and elated. He still couldnt' believe Edway Kenward was his father. On the other hand, owning a mansion meant he was rich. "I suppose we should take a look at this mansion...of mine."
Lankus took a sip of beer from a nearby tankard. "Oh, we should have mentioned the old mansion is supposedly...haunted."
The group stared at one another in disbelief. Another haunted house?
"Zoinks!" someone could be heard gulping somewhere in the tavern.

Session played on June 15, 2020.

Adventurers:
Ahroheim (Male High Elf Sorcerer)
Edmont Patch (Male Human Rogue)
Luca Featherbone (Male Tabaxi Wizard)
Skylar Kiltrin (Male Dragonborn Cleric of Bahamut)
Xander Wayfinder (Male Human Fighter Swashbuckler)

Captain Xendros by Wizards of the Coast