Session 05: The Banquet and the Alchemist Report
General Summary
Melody decides to look for a companion, namely a pygmy owlbear. They're somewhat rare, but they do live in coastal areas like these. They're actually an invasive species in the Hool Maeshes. She asks Ferrin1 for help, but they refuse and warn Melody of going too far. Despite these warnings, she is overconfident, and she fails. The treacherous marshes are full of deep water and insectoid swarms, and they prove to be dangerous.
After navigating much of the Hool Marshes, Melody reaches some dry ground and finds a strange puddle of yellow sludge. She is aware oozes are a thing, nasty antibodies of the world, but is unsure if this is one. In general, magical piles of goop are dangerous, so she decides to ask around. She finds a small insect and asks what it is, and the insect only says "dangerous."
She decides to leave, going searching more the next day. She eventually finds a pygmy owlbear, but fails once more. There's one day before the banquet, and so she tries to search more--maybe a Blessling? Once again, nothing. The usual flora and fauna of the region have been driven out by the Empire.
Faeryn, meanwhile, decides to work with the local wizard. Keledek the Unspoken researches from a three story winding tower in the middle of town. They approach the building and reach to knock, but the door opens of it's own accord first. Music floats through, syncopated and relaxed, playing from some magical device. Appearing in the doorway is a nearly seven foot tall man with dusky skin and a bright red head wrap. He is bald and clean shaven.
Unperterbed, Fishcod asks to be a research helper. Keledek, surprinsgly, happily agrees! They enter his tower through an angled corridor into a room. He uses a wand to pull a chair up, and explains his newest line of research. He's been working on the creation of a magical object--the specifics aren't important--but it would be great to have an extra set of hands. If the Fishcod wishes to be his helper, though, they should know one another. Keledek asks what their name is.
"Fishcod," they say. Keledek raises a brow, clearly distrusting such a strange name. Still Fishcod is proficient with herbalism kits and has some arcane abilities. Plus, they're proficient with spiders! So, Keledek declares that Fishcod will be working diligently from nine to five, running errands and working on herbalism. With his pay and guidance, Fishcod is able to support a modest lifestyle--but they decide to keep the money and forage a bit, living in poverty. They also learn some strange things.
Keledek routinely asks for strang things, like spider silk, the spinnerets of many spiders, and many herbs. All of these must be mixed into a paste in a bowl. Furthermore, Fishcod learns that on the island off the peninsula there are several standing stones. They had to go there to get a special fern on one day, dye to the special magical energy of that place. Keledeck has not looked into it, but suspects its an ancient blessing done by the original town, Old Harbor, which was made by the Jan Pana.
Mystan also decides to find a companion. He wants to find a Druk. Druk are small thunder dragonkin who like lightning, and they're relatively common. Mystan ventures into the nearby grasslands, using his knoweldge from the Order of Raan to track one down. He finds footprints, a few scorch marks, and eventually comes across a small creature. The druk is flitting about, zapping bugs out of the air. Over the course of the next few days, Mystan tries to tame the druk. On the first day, he spooks the creature, and it electrocutes him. On the next day, he's able to feed him some mealworms. The next day works well, and then he fails once again. On the last day of the week, with the banquet that night, Mystan has one less chance. He tries, only to get zapped, with the druk flying away.
Virion, however, opted to work for Eliander in his private library to do some research, as well as looking at the books from the Haunted House. One of them is a treatise on Ithiqua, another an alminac detailing tidal patterns around Saltmarsh.
Eliander is happy to give Virion some work, but doesn't want him to just run around his house when Eliander isn't there. Instead, Captain Fireborn suggests Virion work with Krag the half-orc, the local groundskeeper and gravedigger of the town graveyard. Krag knows a great deal about the town's histroy, and in the evenings Krag helps Eliander with his library; Virion can too!
Reluctantly, Virion accepts. He lives modestly that week. Krag is a dower fellow, immediately handing Virion a shovel. This is probably the first time he has ever held a shovel in his life. They first dig a new grave for the Blueson sister. As they dig, Krag talks with Virion about a lot, and it turns out he's incredibly eloquent and well educated. Later in the day, they take a lunch break in a shed, eating and talking. Later that night, they go to Eliander, and Virion learns that Krag has a spare room with Eliander Fireborn. Their relationship is ambiguous, but possibly homosexual.
The Fireborn library is musty and dark, full of cramped books that smell of paper and a bit of salt. Tight shelves wind containing volumes and volumes of history, mythology, and legal texts. It's truly impressive.
They begin organizing and translating books, while Eliander boasts about a time he was out with the boys, where he fought off a dragon with his bare hands. While working the books, though, Virion learns a few things. Apparently, the Primewater family was a moderately successful minor family before Gellan's young ascention to leadership of the company at the age of 23. His ruthless business tactics during the war with the Sea Princes brought his family immense fortune, but he is suspected of bribing off pirates and he hired less scrupulous mercenaries as private protections.
Then, at the end of the week, the doors to the Primewater Mansion open. People come in and mill about the large foyer. Within it is an indoor fountain! A band plays music from across the room, and a side room with several tables has everyone wining and dining. A littlefolk woman, Feliza, runs about with other servants as they serve off of platters of food and drink.
At one of the tables are Eda Oweland and Anders Solmore, as well as a man and woman the party don't recognize. Another table has Ferrin, a pair of littlefolk, man and woman, and child. The party also do not know the other three. A third table is full of people they don't recognize; three human men and a decidely creepy-looking pallid teifling with red eyes and antlers for horns. The three men appear to possibly be military. A fourth table has Keledek the Unspoken, who speaks to a burly man with nasty scars. Eliander Fireborn & Manistrad Copperlocks, notably, are not present.
While nobody is guarding the first floor, nobody is on the stair or the internal balcony, making slipping upstairs difficult. Despite Virion's protests, Melody discusses her plan. She wants Virion to make a distraction, which will be her cue to go up. Meanwhile, they'll mingle.
Melody approaches the teenage boy at the second table, as he is speaking to Ferrin. Ferrin introduces Melody, and she learns that the teen is Jasper, the blacksmith's son. One of the other people is Kildare Canklestem, a littlefolk woman who is head of the carpenter's guild. The littlefolk man is Winston, proprietor of Winston's Store, where honest goods are sold cheap.
Virion, meanwhile, approaches Gellan himself--who is walking from table to table--attempting to schmooze the councilman. He compliments his banquet, and Primewater muses about the ability to share wealth. He then introduces him to the members of the third table. One of the men is Ingo the Drover, the local head mercenary. The teifling is Captain Xendros, head of the Faithful Quartermasters of Ithiqua--meaning she serves as a trading representative of the cambion Ithiqua of the north. The other two men are Tom and Will Stoutly. They clearly aren't brothers, and Virion learns that they are the veteran heads of the paramilitary local marines. They apparently met on the battlefield during the Cobalt Reconquista. Will Stoutly was a priate, Tom Stoutly a marine. Will turned over a new leaf and left the pirate buisness behind him, marrying Tom and taking his last name.
Primewater says that he is so glad Virion could come, especially with the great service he provided to the town. "It's so good to be one with the community you serve."
Mystan is awkwardly following Virion, bored and awkward. Primewater talks him up and throws a little shade towards Eliander. He offers Mystan a drink, and the dragonborn takes some fine wine. Virion goes for the champaign, and he toasts to the party's success.
Fishcod, meanwile, is staring at the fireplace, waxing poetic about fire. They happen to be near the politician's table, and the unknown young man there compliments them on it. He introduces himself as Tomas Primewater, Gellan's son. The woman is his sister, Maria. They're both adults in their late twenties or early thirties. They also take after their father, dressing very fancifully. They ask Councilwoman Oweland how she knows Fishcod, and she introduces Fishcod as one of the heroes who investigated the murder of the Blueson twins. Anders Solmorre congragulates Fishcod on the success as well.
Melody casts Message to Virion, asking for a distraction. Virion taps Mystan's shoulder saying, "we might need your voice," he then asks for a toast. Virion gets everyone's attention by tapping a spoon on a glass, and he stands up towards the door to get everyone's attention. He thanks the host, Gellan Primewater, and then toasts the group's successful excursion defeating the dastardly bandits. Everyone is happy, but Virion cuts the mood by asking for a quick moment of silence for the dearly departed. Everyone is silent, and suddenly a latecomer guest starts crying. They thank Virion and shake his hand, introducing themself as Eli Blueson, the Blueson twins' parent. They are bawling, grieving in public. Virion gives a ploite and kind hug, while Melody sneaks off.
Eli further thanks Mystan and Fishcod, asking where Melody is. The party lies and claims she's in the batthroom, and Elia asks them to extend their thanks to her when she emerges. They also say that they hope to have the funeral service in two week's time, but needs to raise funds for a proper service. They might need to send word to their sister, as they are just a poor fisherperson. Eli invites the party to attend. They bemoan more, stating that their kids just wanted to go on adventure and Eli was supportive, but it al went so horribly wrong. They head out, and the party starts thinking about the funeral costs. A good coffin is 5gp, and the Ceremony spell is 25. To retrieve and purify the boy's body, a bit extra cost.
Faeryn decides that that's a reasonable expense. They go after Elia, offering condolences and gold to cover the costs. Eli tries to refuse, but Fishcod insists, relating to how hard it is to deal with the death of a family member and loved one. Eli relents.
Melody, meanwhile, had left her hat with Ferrin and casted Disguise Self to look like a dwarf similar to Copperlocks. Sneakily, she heads upstairs. There aren't many rooms, and as such it's easy to find Gellan Primewater's. The balcony is decorated with a few statues and dpaitnings, and from above she can see Virion hugging Eli.
Melody then heads into Primewater's room, finding a bed, table, chair, bookshelf, and nightstand. Not much of it is notable, but there is a door to an interior room. On the bookshelf there's a nautical encylopedia, a business book named "The Art of the Deal", various mercantile records, and a book of family history. The other room is a study, a large room that looks over the docks. It's dark inside, and Melody decides not to turn on a lamp so as to not alert anyone at the docks. There's a pair of couches facing one another and a desk in the corner. A painting of a ship at sea is on the wall, but nothing is behind it. It's signed by someone probably famous, but Melody doesn't recognize the name. She digs through the desk, looking for evidence.
Meanwhile, Virion and Mystan notice Gellan primewater slipping away and heading upstairs, joined by both Keledek the Unspoken and the burly man he was speaking too. Gellan doesn't look alert, though; he seems confident. Keledek is impossible to read, but the burly guy is looking out for anyone paying them too much attention.
Virion exucses himself and goes to Mystan, trying to linger near the stairs. The burly guy spots Virion, but pays him no mind. As the trio rounds the top of the stairs, he hears some whispering. Only one word is heard: "elf".
Melody hears the bedroom door open, and is now stuck in the side room. She hears talking from the bedroom, with one voice being distinctly Primewater--though she doesn't recognize the other two voices. She opts to hide against the wall, so that if the door opens it will hide her. She cann't hear anything other than "elf....elf...it'll be fine...what if the group found... elf...not from around here.... threatened...".
Suddenly, there are footsteps approaching the door. Gellan throws it open, but Melody stays hidden. He walks over to the desk and pulls out a naval almanac, heading back to the bedroom and shutting the door. She hears something else in the bedroom: "Gellan, why aren't we meeting in the meeting room today?" "It doesn't matter man."
Virion then turns to Mystan, and seems to want to get drunk again. Melody is just staying upstairs to wait, eventually hearing the bedroom door open and close, indicating everyone left. Virion has remingled, and drank more champaign. When Fishcod returns to the room, they use Keledek's name, drawing everyone's suspicion. They discuss magic some, and Mystan overhears.
Certain she's safe, Meloyd searches through the desk. Gellan never put the almanac back. All she finds are some employment records, manifests, etc. If any of it is illicit it would take a long time to sort through. She heads out to the bedroom, but finds the almanac lying atop his dresser. It's too high for her to reach, so she takes her shoes off and climbs onto his bed to reach. The almanac is a few decades out of date, but it's been hollowed out! It's full of a bunch of papers in writing Melody doesn't recognize. She copies a bit into her journal and puts the rest back where she found it. She then sneaks back down to the party.
By now, it's getting late and the banquet is winding down to a close. Melody talks to Ferrin, and she shows him her dagger. It's the last thing her wife gave her. This causes a bit of confusion as Ferrin recognizes it as a spousal dagger, and he thought she was proposing to him. he clarified, and asks him to look it over. He indicates that it's clearly traditional but doesn't recognize it. It has wolf clan crests, and she confirms it's from her village, which was divided into the Wold and Raven moieties.
Ferrin apologizes for her loss, and Melody says she thinks she was the only survivor. She was unable to find the bodies, and she hopes her wife is still around. Ferrin hasn't seen her, he is sorry.
Mystan grabs Virion to leave, and Virion asks Mystan to tell him about himself. Mystan gives a brief answer, and the two end up discussing the Raanite religion. Virion isn't much for faith, much more academic. Mysan talks about how Raan's teachings are more a philosophy. He's a teacher, not a diety. They uphold principles.
Melody, meanwhile, asks Fishcod for their real name. Fishcod exuses themself and makes some crap up. The party splits up, and all agree to meet back up at the Haunted House at the end of the next week.
During thr week, Melody tries to befirend an owl. There's a lot more death and spookiness symbolism around owls rather than wisdom here. Melody searches for one, and the owl screams. She screams too.
Fishcod, meanwhile, works for Keledek more. It turns out, he's been crafting magical slippers of spider climbing. Why he needs them is unclear. They also learn that the ruins of Old Harbor extend much further below Saltmarsh than people thing, built out of druidic stonework techniques that have been lost to time. He believes the secret tunnels andfd sewers connect all the way to the Hool Marshes, and he wonders if the dwarven mine will break into those ruins.
Mystan goes back to find the Druk. He is out in the grasslands, in the shadow of Thunder Mountain to the north, it's perpetual storm still raging. One little druk comes out to check Mystan out, and Mystan is able to bond with him! The druk is energetic, and Mystan names him Raiden.
Virion works for Eliander again, who is frustrated that Melody was dragging his name through the mud at the Wicker Goat last week. Virion doesn't remember much, as he was too drunk. This worries Fireborn about the group's competence, but Krag is trustful, clapping Virion on the back. He flinches a little and brushes it off. Virion promises to ensure Melody is kept useful. Interestingly, Virion learns that Queen-Captain Xihuitl of the Sea Princes wasn't always Queen-Captain. She is suspected of masterminding her former husband Captain Mateu's rise to the throne, as well as his assassination.
Finally, on the last day of the week, they head up to the Haunted House. Nobody has yet returned to the house, and VIrion has an idea about the ship. He thinks that if they draw the Sea Ghost in like everything is fine, they can row their boat out to the meeting with the other boat. Then, they can quickly and quietly take that boat out and row back to the Sea Ghost, boarding the ship and taking it over. Melody is apprehensive, but Virion talks her into it. Mystan suggests infilitration, and the group sets to digging through the house to find anything else useful. They need evidence; the living prisoners are to be put to trial tomorrow.
The group then heads into the skeleton room. Melody gives out bardic inspiration, and Fishcod--who secretly casted Mage Armor away from the group--opens the door. Mystan enters first, coming face to face with six skeletons that rise from the floor, but Virion is quicker. He upcasts Magic Missile. Then Raiden goes, Thunder Snapping one of the skeletons. He then zips back to Mystan, and a skeleton misses their opportunity attack. Another skeleton hits, knocking Raiden out.
Mystan is pissed, and he uses Turn Undead and then Healing Word to get Raiden to spring to life full of vengeance.
The skeletons begin shamling away, but two stay behind. One stabs Mystan, the other misses. Fishcod then goes, pulling a javelin out of their cloak and casting Hex. Only Mystan is tricked by Fishcod trying to make the Hex look normal.
Melody shoots a crossbow at one of the skeletons, shattering its skull and killing it. Virion then attacks, apologizing to Melody and using his bladesong. He casts Green Flame Blade
After navigating much of the Hool Marshes, Melody reaches some dry ground and finds a strange puddle of yellow sludge. She is aware oozes are a thing, nasty antibodies of the world, but is unsure if this is one. In general, magical piles of goop are dangerous, so she decides to ask around. She finds a small insect and asks what it is, and the insect only says "dangerous."
She decides to leave, going searching more the next day. She eventually finds a pygmy owlbear, but fails once more. There's one day before the banquet, and so she tries to search more--maybe a Blessling? Once again, nothing. The usual flora and fauna of the region have been driven out by the Empire.
Faeryn, meanwhile, decides to work with the local wizard. Keledek the Unspoken researches from a three story winding tower in the middle of town. They approach the building and reach to knock, but the door opens of it's own accord first. Music floats through, syncopated and relaxed, playing from some magical device. Appearing in the doorway is a nearly seven foot tall man with dusky skin and a bright red head wrap. He is bald and clean shaven.
Unperterbed, Fishcod asks to be a research helper. Keledek, surprinsgly, happily agrees! They enter his tower through an angled corridor into a room. He uses a wand to pull a chair up, and explains his newest line of research. He's been working on the creation of a magical object--the specifics aren't important--but it would be great to have an extra set of hands. If the Fishcod wishes to be his helper, though, they should know one another. Keledek asks what their name is.
"Fishcod," they say. Keledek raises a brow, clearly distrusting such a strange name. Still Fishcod is proficient with herbalism kits and has some arcane abilities. Plus, they're proficient with spiders! So, Keledek declares that Fishcod will be working diligently from nine to five, running errands and working on herbalism. With his pay and guidance, Fishcod is able to support a modest lifestyle--but they decide to keep the money and forage a bit, living in poverty. They also learn some strange things.
Keledek routinely asks for strang things, like spider silk, the spinnerets of many spiders, and many herbs. All of these must be mixed into a paste in a bowl. Furthermore, Fishcod learns that on the island off the peninsula there are several standing stones. They had to go there to get a special fern on one day, dye to the special magical energy of that place. Keledeck has not looked into it, but suspects its an ancient blessing done by the original town, Old Harbor, which was made by the Jan Pana.
Mystan also decides to find a companion. He wants to find a Druk. Druk are small thunder dragonkin who like lightning, and they're relatively common. Mystan ventures into the nearby grasslands, using his knoweldge from the Order of Raan to track one down. He finds footprints, a few scorch marks, and eventually comes across a small creature. The druk is flitting about, zapping bugs out of the air. Over the course of the next few days, Mystan tries to tame the druk. On the first day, he spooks the creature, and it electrocutes him. On the next day, he's able to feed him some mealworms. The next day works well, and then he fails once again. On the last day of the week, with the banquet that night, Mystan has one less chance. He tries, only to get zapped, with the druk flying away.
Virion, however, opted to work for Eliander in his private library to do some research, as well as looking at the books from the Haunted House. One of them is a treatise on Ithiqua, another an alminac detailing tidal patterns around Saltmarsh.
Eliander is happy to give Virion some work, but doesn't want him to just run around his house when Eliander isn't there. Instead, Captain Fireborn suggests Virion work with Krag the half-orc, the local groundskeeper and gravedigger of the town graveyard. Krag knows a great deal about the town's histroy, and in the evenings Krag helps Eliander with his library; Virion can too!
Reluctantly, Virion accepts. He lives modestly that week. Krag is a dower fellow, immediately handing Virion a shovel. This is probably the first time he has ever held a shovel in his life. They first dig a new grave for the Blueson sister. As they dig, Krag talks with Virion about a lot, and it turns out he's incredibly eloquent and well educated. Later in the day, they take a lunch break in a shed, eating and talking. Later that night, they go to Eliander, and Virion learns that Krag has a spare room with Eliander Fireborn. Their relationship is ambiguous, but possibly homosexual.
The Fireborn library is musty and dark, full of cramped books that smell of paper and a bit of salt. Tight shelves wind containing volumes and volumes of history, mythology, and legal texts. It's truly impressive.
They begin organizing and translating books, while Eliander boasts about a time he was out with the boys, where he fought off a dragon with his bare hands. While working the books, though, Virion learns a few things. Apparently, the Primewater family was a moderately successful minor family before Gellan's young ascention to leadership of the company at the age of 23. His ruthless business tactics during the war with the Sea Princes brought his family immense fortune, but he is suspected of bribing off pirates and he hired less scrupulous mercenaries as private protections.
Then, at the end of the week, the doors to the Primewater Mansion open. People come in and mill about the large foyer. Within it is an indoor fountain! A band plays music from across the room, and a side room with several tables has everyone wining and dining. A littlefolk woman, Feliza, runs about with other servants as they serve off of platters of food and drink.
At one of the tables are Eda Oweland and Anders Solmore, as well as a man and woman the party don't recognize. Another table has Ferrin, a pair of littlefolk, man and woman, and child. The party also do not know the other three. A third table is full of people they don't recognize; three human men and a decidely creepy-looking pallid teifling with red eyes and antlers for horns. The three men appear to possibly be military. A fourth table has Keledek the Unspoken, who speaks to a burly man with nasty scars. Eliander Fireborn & Manistrad Copperlocks, notably, are not present.
While nobody is guarding the first floor, nobody is on the stair or the internal balcony, making slipping upstairs difficult. Despite Virion's protests, Melody discusses her plan. She wants Virion to make a distraction, which will be her cue to go up. Meanwhile, they'll mingle.
Melody approaches the teenage boy at the second table, as he is speaking to Ferrin. Ferrin introduces Melody, and she learns that the teen is Jasper, the blacksmith's son. One of the other people is Kildare Canklestem, a littlefolk woman who is head of the carpenter's guild. The littlefolk man is Winston, proprietor of Winston's Store, where honest goods are sold cheap.
Virion, meanwhile, approaches Gellan himself--who is walking from table to table--attempting to schmooze the councilman. He compliments his banquet, and Primewater muses about the ability to share wealth. He then introduces him to the members of the third table. One of the men is Ingo the Drover, the local head mercenary. The teifling is Captain Xendros, head of the Faithful Quartermasters of Ithiqua--meaning she serves as a trading representative of the cambion Ithiqua of the north. The other two men are Tom and Will Stoutly. They clearly aren't brothers, and Virion learns that they are the veteran heads of the paramilitary local marines. They apparently met on the battlefield during the Cobalt Reconquista. Will Stoutly was a priate, Tom Stoutly a marine. Will turned over a new leaf and left the pirate buisness behind him, marrying Tom and taking his last name.
Primewater says that he is so glad Virion could come, especially with the great service he provided to the town. "It's so good to be one with the community you serve."
Mystan is awkwardly following Virion, bored and awkward. Primewater talks him up and throws a little shade towards Eliander. He offers Mystan a drink, and the dragonborn takes some fine wine. Virion goes for the champaign, and he toasts to the party's success.
Fishcod, meanwile, is staring at the fireplace, waxing poetic about fire. They happen to be near the politician's table, and the unknown young man there compliments them on it. He introduces himself as Tomas Primewater, Gellan's son. The woman is his sister, Maria. They're both adults in their late twenties or early thirties. They also take after their father, dressing very fancifully. They ask Councilwoman Oweland how she knows Fishcod, and she introduces Fishcod as one of the heroes who investigated the murder of the Blueson twins. Anders Solmorre congragulates Fishcod on the success as well.
Melody casts Message to Virion, asking for a distraction. Virion taps Mystan's shoulder saying, "we might need your voice," he then asks for a toast. Virion gets everyone's attention by tapping a spoon on a glass, and he stands up towards the door to get everyone's attention. He thanks the host, Gellan Primewater, and then toasts the group's successful excursion defeating the dastardly bandits. Everyone is happy, but Virion cuts the mood by asking for a quick moment of silence for the dearly departed. Everyone is silent, and suddenly a latecomer guest starts crying. They thank Virion and shake his hand, introducing themself as Eli Blueson, the Blueson twins' parent. They are bawling, grieving in public. Virion gives a ploite and kind hug, while Melody sneaks off.
Eli further thanks Mystan and Fishcod, asking where Melody is. The party lies and claims she's in the batthroom, and Elia asks them to extend their thanks to her when she emerges. They also say that they hope to have the funeral service in two week's time, but needs to raise funds for a proper service. They might need to send word to their sister, as they are just a poor fisherperson. Eli invites the party to attend. They bemoan more, stating that their kids just wanted to go on adventure and Eli was supportive, but it al went so horribly wrong. They head out, and the party starts thinking about the funeral costs. A good coffin is 5gp, and the Ceremony spell is 25. To retrieve and purify the boy's body, a bit extra cost.
Faeryn decides that that's a reasonable expense. They go after Elia, offering condolences and gold to cover the costs. Eli tries to refuse, but Fishcod insists, relating to how hard it is to deal with the death of a family member and loved one. Eli relents.
Melody, meanwhile, had left her hat with Ferrin and casted Disguise Self to look like a dwarf similar to Copperlocks. Sneakily, she heads upstairs. There aren't many rooms, and as such it's easy to find Gellan Primewater's. The balcony is decorated with a few statues and dpaitnings, and from above she can see Virion hugging Eli.
Melody then heads into Primewater's room, finding a bed, table, chair, bookshelf, and nightstand. Not much of it is notable, but there is a door to an interior room. On the bookshelf there's a nautical encylopedia, a business book named "The Art of the Deal", various mercantile records, and a book of family history. The other room is a study, a large room that looks over the docks. It's dark inside, and Melody decides not to turn on a lamp so as to not alert anyone at the docks. There's a pair of couches facing one another and a desk in the corner. A painting of a ship at sea is on the wall, but nothing is behind it. It's signed by someone probably famous, but Melody doesn't recognize the name. She digs through the desk, looking for evidence.
Meanwhile, Virion and Mystan notice Gellan primewater slipping away and heading upstairs, joined by both Keledek the Unspoken and the burly man he was speaking too. Gellan doesn't look alert, though; he seems confident. Keledek is impossible to read, but the burly guy is looking out for anyone paying them too much attention.
Virion exucses himself and goes to Mystan, trying to linger near the stairs. The burly guy spots Virion, but pays him no mind. As the trio rounds the top of the stairs, he hears some whispering. Only one word is heard: "elf".
Melody hears the bedroom door open, and is now stuck in the side room. She hears talking from the bedroom, with one voice being distinctly Primewater--though she doesn't recognize the other two voices. She opts to hide against the wall, so that if the door opens it will hide her. She cann't hear anything other than "elf....elf...it'll be fine...what if the group found... elf...not from around here.... threatened...".
Suddenly, there are footsteps approaching the door. Gellan throws it open, but Melody stays hidden. He walks over to the desk and pulls out a naval almanac, heading back to the bedroom and shutting the door. She hears something else in the bedroom: "Gellan, why aren't we meeting in the meeting room today?" "It doesn't matter man."
Virion then turns to Mystan, and seems to want to get drunk again. Melody is just staying upstairs to wait, eventually hearing the bedroom door open and close, indicating everyone left. Virion has remingled, and drank more champaign. When Fishcod returns to the room, they use Keledek's name, drawing everyone's suspicion. They discuss magic some, and Mystan overhears.
Certain she's safe, Meloyd searches through the desk. Gellan never put the almanac back. All she finds are some employment records, manifests, etc. If any of it is illicit it would take a long time to sort through. She heads out to the bedroom, but finds the almanac lying atop his dresser. It's too high for her to reach, so she takes her shoes off and climbs onto his bed to reach. The almanac is a few decades out of date, but it's been hollowed out! It's full of a bunch of papers in writing Melody doesn't recognize. She copies a bit into her journal and puts the rest back where she found it. She then sneaks back down to the party.
By now, it's getting late and the banquet is winding down to a close. Melody talks to Ferrin, and she shows him her dagger. It's the last thing her wife gave her. This causes a bit of confusion as Ferrin recognizes it as a spousal dagger, and he thought she was proposing to him. he clarified, and asks him to look it over. He indicates that it's clearly traditional but doesn't recognize it. It has wolf clan crests, and she confirms it's from her village, which was divided into the Wold and Raven moieties.
Ferrin apologizes for her loss, and Melody says she thinks she was the only survivor. She was unable to find the bodies, and she hopes her wife is still around. Ferrin hasn't seen her, he is sorry.
Mystan grabs Virion to leave, and Virion asks Mystan to tell him about himself. Mystan gives a brief answer, and the two end up discussing the Raanite religion. Virion isn't much for faith, much more academic. Mysan talks about how Raan's teachings are more a philosophy. He's a teacher, not a diety. They uphold principles.
Melody, meanwhile, asks Fishcod for their real name. Fishcod exuses themself and makes some crap up. The party splits up, and all agree to meet back up at the Haunted House at the end of the next week.
During thr week, Melody tries to befirend an owl. There's a lot more death and spookiness symbolism around owls rather than wisdom here. Melody searches for one, and the owl screams. She screams too.
Fishcod, meanwhile, works for Keledek more. It turns out, he's been crafting magical slippers of spider climbing. Why he needs them is unclear. They also learn that the ruins of Old Harbor extend much further below Saltmarsh than people thing, built out of druidic stonework techniques that have been lost to time. He believes the secret tunnels andfd sewers connect all the way to the Hool Marshes, and he wonders if the dwarven mine will break into those ruins.
Mystan goes back to find the Druk. He is out in the grasslands, in the shadow of Thunder Mountain to the north, it's perpetual storm still raging. One little druk comes out to check Mystan out, and Mystan is able to bond with him! The druk is energetic, and Mystan names him Raiden.
Virion works for Eliander again, who is frustrated that Melody was dragging his name through the mud at the Wicker Goat last week. Virion doesn't remember much, as he was too drunk. This worries Fireborn about the group's competence, but Krag is trustful, clapping Virion on the back. He flinches a little and brushes it off. Virion promises to ensure Melody is kept useful. Interestingly, Virion learns that Queen-Captain Xihuitl of the Sea Princes wasn't always Queen-Captain. She is suspected of masterminding her former husband Captain Mateu's rise to the throne, as well as his assassination.
Finally, on the last day of the week, they head up to the Haunted House. Nobody has yet returned to the house, and VIrion has an idea about the ship. He thinks that if they draw the Sea Ghost in like everything is fine, they can row their boat out to the meeting with the other boat. Then, they can quickly and quietly take that boat out and row back to the Sea Ghost, boarding the ship and taking it over. Melody is apprehensive, but Virion talks her into it. Mystan suggests infilitration, and the group sets to digging through the house to find anything else useful. They need evidence; the living prisoners are to be put to trial tomorrow.
The group then heads into the skeleton room. Melody gives out bardic inspiration, and Fishcod--who secretly casted Mage Armor away from the group--opens the door. Mystan enters first, coming face to face with six skeletons that rise from the floor, but Virion is quicker. He upcasts Magic Missile. Then Raiden goes, Thunder Snapping one of the skeletons. He then zips back to Mystan, and a skeleton misses their opportunity attack. Another skeleton hits, knocking Raiden out.
Mystan is pissed, and he uses Turn Undead and then Healing Word to get Raiden to spring to life full of vengeance.
The skeletons begin shamling away, but two stay behind. One stabs Mystan, the other misses. Fishcod then goes, pulling a javelin out of their cloak and casting Hex. Only Mystan is tricked by Fishcod trying to make the Hex look normal.
Melody shoots a crossbow at one of the skeletons, shattering its skull and killing it. Virion then attacks, apologizing to Melody and using his bladesong. He casts Green Flame Blade
Related Reports
1Noot8 often spelled NPC and PC names differently, as they were only heard, not read (ex: Virion=Verion, Keledek=Keledeck). Interestingly, "Ferrin" is consistently written as "Tharen" and "Tharyn".
Druk by Stibbles Codex of Companions
Melody Rose Hazel Turen
Neutral Good Forest Gnome (Hermit)
Bard 3
Bard 3
12 / 18 HP
STR
8
8
DEX
16
16
CON
11
11
INT
8
8
WIS
13
13
CHA
18
18
Virion Sylvenne
C/N Wood Elf (Noble)
Wizard 2
Wizard 2
7 / 12 HP
STR
12
12
DEX
16
16
CON
13
13
INT
16
16
WIS
14
14
CHA
14
14
Co'oquilan Mystan
Bronze Dragonborn (Acolyte)
Cleric 3
Cleric 3
10 / 24 HP
STR
14
14
DEX
11
11
CON
14
14
INT
13
13
WIS
16
16
CHA
13
13
Fishcod
Report Date
20 Feb 2022
Primary Location
Secondary Location
Skeletal Alchemist by Wizards of the Coast
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