Mini-Session: New Blood
General Summary
Session begins with Maya, who has been in Grayhill for a few days talking to the refugees from Ironmere. He's been staying at The Saucy Winch waiting for the ship to come in. He's made some contact with a local cartographer who suggested a few places of unreliable accuracy. On the evening where the story starts, Maya posts at the bar, hoping to overhear some useful information about what's going on in town.
Meanwhile, Kolvonnin has been talking with Einar and decided that he should go with a caravan to Grayhill and catch a boat to Stonebridge to look into the Ruined Temple of Pelor there. One of the other caravan guards (from a different run) requested that the paladin look in on his son, who would have the surname Ronson but has probably picked up a nickname. The run into Grayhill is pretty quiet, since the caravan was around 15 people. Some of the guards are talking about having seen a metal man come through town talking to others, and he was supposed to have been headed to Stonebridge. The caravan has a day layover in Grayhill to unload and refit with the next cargo, so the guards elect to seize this opportunity to eat, drink and gamble at the Saucy Winch. Kolvonnin greases a server's palm and finds out the ship to Stonebridge is expected tomorrow morning and captained by Yok. Shortly after that Kol witnesses a gambling altercation (that moves outside to avoid Resnek's ire), verifies that the loser is unlikely to die as a result of the fisticuffs, and notes that the winner looked significantly less alcohol-impaired when he walked back into the bar.
Ol'Harb blows into town from a journey at sea with Jaxazat and his crew. When Harb enters the bar, Resnek calls him out by name and asks if he's after the usual. In response to the nod, Resnek brings him a pint of bear blood while Harb sits down at one of the tables to gamble. One of Kolvonnin's caravanners (Rellin) mentions his recent spotting of what looked to be a warforged in Hillfort. Rellin says the warforged was supposed to be headed to Stonebridge to see some junk collector about more warforged. Harb is impressed enough by this revelation to buy a round for the bar, and considers that the usual ship that makes the run upriver (the Chestnut Mare) is likely to be in tonight or early morning.
Maya hovers around the table, making no real effort to stay out of sight as he goggles at this bizarre newcomer. Harb inquires of Rellin if he's cheating at cards by partnering with Maya, and Rellin insists that he doesn't need to cheat since he's already winning (but he doesn't sound terribly sure of himself in this). He also says he's never seen Maya before in his life, then calls on Kolvonnin to vouch for him as not being a cheater. Kolvonnin considers this a moment, and then decides since they have the same employer that he's willing to countenance Rellin this time and adjusts to pay more attention to the game going forward - Kol is pretty sure Rellin wasn't cheating.
Ol'Harb explains to Maya that hovering around the table during the game looks sketchy and gets him dealt in. Harb then suggest to Kolvonnin that he can keep a better eye on the table from the table, so he's also dealt in. Harb teaches cards a bit, and the group passes some time gambling. The bar has some usual bar shenanigans (drinking, fighting, folks getting thrown out or leaving, folks showing up) and after some time, a tortle sailor arrives with some friends. Harb confers with the crewmembers (speaking mostly to Emmel) and is advised him that their captain handles booking passage.
While Harb is off talking to sailors, Maya and Kolvonnin become better acquainted and discover that they're both planning to head to Stonebridge (Maya to find Leucis and Kol to check on the ruined Temple of Pelor there. Harb returns to the table and it becomes apparent that all three have the same destination in mind. They reason that arriving together will make a stronger case for getting passage on the ship and decide to coordinate their request for passage on the ship tomorrow. Maya and Kol confer one where a few towns Kol's seen are located and Maya updates his map. There's a quick discussion on lycanthropes and how problematic they were around Ironmere and Maya's home town. Maya is out to find out where they came from and why, and is pursuing Leucis on the premise they he might know more.
The following morning, the group manages its morning routine, grabs a little breakfast downstairs (expertly crafted by the wok-wielding half orc cook from the prior night looking somewhat the worse for wear). The meal is a bit on the spicy side for Maya's tastes but is otherwise excellent. The trio makes its way down to the midrange section of the docks and locate Chestnut Mare, which is being loaded with cold bars with the captain overseeing the loading and attempting to get a read on the weather. Harb considers what he knows of Yok - he's ostensibly a reliable captain and more sensible and pragmatic than your standard sailor or captain. Harb attempts to determine what Maya's saleable skills are so as to make a solid case to the captain, and Maya uses Druidcraft to foretell the coming weather. Harb indicates this might be a useful skill, and the group starts to discuss who should do the talking. They arrive on the idea that Kolvonnin should do the talking, but before they can discuss further Maya weaves among the dockworkers on the gangplank onto the ship.
Maya surprised several of the dockworkers (who fortunately avoids dropping anything) and brushes close enough to a cold bar to determine that it would be bad to touch it directly. The dockworkers start an uproar about the interference, and the captain storms over to interpose himself between Maya and the loading, warning about the danger of the cold bars and inquiring as to why he's on the ship. Maya defers to Kolvonnin, and Yok requests that Harb and Kolvonnin "collect" Maya off the ship. The captain seems pretty irritated by this intrusion and herds the group out of the way to discuss their business. They briefly discuss booking passage and negotiate workable terms (the group will not mess with the cargo, stay off decks when possible, go below if the lookout calls danger, and the price is 20 silver per person).
The group makes their way to a small passenger cabin with some hammocks and settles in. After a few hours when the ship is underway, a sailor summons them to the galley for evening meal at the behest of the captain. Yok seems significantly more at ease now that they're away from the shore; conversation with him reveals that he considers port to be more unpredictable than what he encounters on the water. He alludes to some of the threats on the river (axebeaks, many-headed crocodiles, giant toads) and warns the passengers to head below at signs of danger, but that he expects a relatively quiet trip.
Ol'Harb
Chaotic Neutral Reborn (Multiverse Wanderer)
Fighter 6
Fighter 6
52 / 52 HP
STR
14
14
DEX
20
20
CON
15
15
INT
12
12
WIS
6
6
CHA
10
10
Kolvonnin
Report Date
04 Jan 2022
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