Session 26: Leaving Grayhill

General Summary

Summary: 3 points

A little housekeeping

Items lent to the Glaciery were removed from inventory counts.

Winding up the day's activities

Before the party heads their separate ways, the cold weather gear arrives. Everyone (including Cinnamon) has been outfitted with cold weather gear.

Various activities in Grayhill

The holy folk head to the Temple of Waukeen

The paladin and cleric a roll up to the temple. At the door, Kolvonnin is requested a token entry fee of 1 copper piece in recognition of his status as a priest of another faith, then allowed to enter. The door attendant notes the quality of the holy symbol that Leucis bears and interprets that as the cleric being of high status. He comments on the honor of a visit from someone so clearly highly placed in the faith of Selune and requires no entry fee.
The temple is less busy during the afternoon, but there are a few petitioners near the statue of Waukeen in the corner. The two offer prayers to their respective deities and the visit goes without incident. Having paid their respects, they head to the Saucy Winch to see the performance and grab some dinner.

Harb works on his sketchbook in the Frosted Library

Ol'Harb spends a few hours in the library working in his sketchbook, musing about his most recent reminiscence. It's cold enough in the library that it wears him out a bit.
After a few hours, Harb catches Mia's eye. She gives him a bit of a hard time about lingering in the cold without a coat and inquires what he might need of her. Harb shows her the sketch of the veiled, bloody seer from his vision, and she inquires where it came from. Harb explains that his new comrades have really stirred up his memory, and he's had several new things surface lately - this is the most recent one. Mia remarks on the carved eyes from the background; they seem familiar to her but she can't place them.
She seems heartened that he's making progress after being stuck for so long. Mia hugs Harb and says she's glad he's doing what he needs to do.
Harb heads to the Winch to find his compatriots.

Maya has a cooking lesson with Germaine "the Wok" Ronson

Germaine has eased up on Maya a bit this lesson, and it goes pretty smoothly. Maya completes his lesson in time to meet up with the rest of the group at the Winch, but Germaine requests he come back in the morning for a hardware and maintenance review.

Sunny and Moon prep for a performance at the Saucy Winch

The two tabaxi bandmates do a little practice work on some of Sunny's recent compositions.

Saf - library intern and woman about town

Mia has Saf pull out several books, check through a few that she can read for any standout items, then dismisses her to return in the morning.
Saf has located a private party at a residence nearby of well-to-do townsfolk. She insinuates herself and makes a few companionable acquaintances almost immediately. She attracts the attention of two women (Merald and Ressa, a human and a half-elf respectively) and a man (Kel Melton, a halfling). Since Kel is the host, they're able to locate a room amenable to various activities and pass a pleasant evening together.
Saf arises in the morning and heads back to the library.

Most people accumulate at the Winch for the evening

Leucis and Kolvonnin arrive and post at a table.
Sunny and Moon clear a corner and start up a set - the crowd is a bit uncertain at the start since this venue doesn't usually have this sort of entertainment, but the get into it pretty quickly. The crowd tosses some coins to the hat.
Maya takes a short break from cooking to check in on the performance and bop along.
A little way into the performance, Kolvonnin recognizes some of the caravan folk from the Muddy Boot organization entering the bar. There's a familiar face along with them: his colleague Cileskn has arrived also. Kolvonnin stands up with a suddenness that toppled his chair and moves to greet her.
The two dragonborn exchange greetings and Kolvonnin introduces her to the Leucis. He also explains what she can expect in Stonebridge in regards to the Temple of Pelor and other people she might meet. He also details Kolvonnin's chat with Esmarl about the town guards' assistance and expectations. He hands over an everburning torch to light the temple, saying it should be in the hands of the head priest.
Kolvonnin further explains that Leucis provides the ability to communicate over long distances. Cileskn for her part inquires about whether this magic is exclusive to Selune, but Leucis is pretty sure any sufficiently experienced cleric should be able to do it. Cileskn says she will keep that in mind.
Harb shows up at the Winch and hears the bass tones of Deep Rumble from outside and surmises that Sunny is performing. He spots the cleric and paladin at a table with an unfamiliar dragonborn, sees Resnek tending the bar, and spies Maya bringing out an order. Harb checks in with Maya (who recommends the gator tail) and suggests joining the table once the lesson is over.
Harb joins the table and gets introduced to Cileskn. He informs the group that Maya can be expected in about an hour. Sunny and Moon get convinced to perform an encore, then wind up the set (earning 12s 8c) and join the group at the table. Moon is pretty stoked about this trip into town and the performance and everything, so he suggests getting the bear blood drink he's heard about. There's a round of these for those interested at the table:

• Sunny takes the powerful liquor on the chin and gets a bit inebriated.
• Moon downs his drink like a champ with no apparent ill effects.
• Harb rolls through two without any discernible effect.

Moon gets introduced to Cileskn, mispronounces her name a bit, and enthusiastically explains what his family's trapeze act entails. Shortly after, Maya emerges from the kitchen with a few plates of shareables and gets introduced. It turns out Cileskn knows Germaine's father from back in Hillfort.
Moon comments about how good the gator poppers are, so Maya suggests that he learn to cook them. Moon recounts how the last time he tried to cook he actually poisoned the Sunny badly enough that he threw up during his sword-swallowing act (producing a kind of acid kabob).
The conversation turns to Harb's acidic vomit (Session 9) and Moon muses over how many bear bloods he must have had to be that toxic. Maya throws in that Harb's stirge soup (Session 22 was pretty vile, causing Cileskn to color in disgust. Harb defends his decision, explaining that he eats "whatever is on the road" which Cileskn takes a bit literally.
Harb changes the subject, requesting an embarrasing story about Kolvonning. Cileskn can't seem to come up with anything:

I don't know that I know a really embarrassing story about Kolvonnin. I've always looked up to him, to be honest. He doesn't really get into his cups... He can be a little...I don't know, what's the nice word for it... (Harb suggests "A stick in the mud?") No, it's not that. I mean, it is that, but that's not what I mean. Sometimes you wonder what he's thinking when he does things, that's all. ... He puts himself in harm's way a lot. It's noble, and I respect it, but you gotta wonder what he's thinking.

The group continues to discuss various and sundry into the later evening. Eventually they part ways - Sunny and Moon back to the circus, Cileskn to the quarters the Muddy Boot has set up for the caravaners, and the rest to the Old Manor.

Starday, 10th of Leafbreak

Errands about town

The group sends the page to the captain of the Swift Runner to alert him that they expect to depart after lunch.

• Maya grabs breakfast and heads to the Saucy Winch for his lesson.
• Saf returns to the library. Mia has her pull a few more books that might prove useful from the shelves.
• Sunny wakes up and says his goodbyes to the Blue Moon Circus folk, then heads into town.
• Leucis joins Saf and Mia at the library. Mia sets him at removing and sorting books that aren't needed or useful from the reading room.
• Kolvonnin performs his usual morning routine and heads to the library for the appointed meeting.
• Harb heads to the library and assists Leucis with the unused books.
  
  • Mia explains that she realized the eye symbol from Harb's vision was a symbol of Ioun, a lesser deity.
  • Harb tosses the name at Leucis, who recognizes that Ioun is a servitor deity of Oghma, the god of Knowledge.
  • Leucis decides that he should look into Domains and Pantheons for more information about this deity.
• While the party members are handling the books, Mia starts recording some of her thoughts and discoveries.

The group regathers at the library

Once everyone has arrived, Mia gathers her thoughts and explains what she has been able to dig up in her research. She explains quickly about the three topics she was able to get something on:

1. Sunhaven/Ironheart & Maps referring to them
Kolvonnin comments that this seems to line up with what is on the shield etching that the group found in the Llyrian Moon Facility. Saf recognizes the art book Mia is referencing as one that she pulled from the shelves.
2. Location names the Llyrians shipped things
3. Estimarth and Leng
Sunny and Leucis put together that the ruined sign may have been written in Primordial due to Estimarth originally being a city of elementals. Harb hands Mia 50g to hire assistants for working through the research. Mia indicates that she's likely to hire people for the book-binding project as well as the research. There's a short discussion about scheduling Sendings with Mia to check in on the research; they agree that Mia should expect a Sending once a week on Clothdays.


Using their abilities that allow for direct telepathic speech, Maya and Mia discuss what Mia knows of Hearthstone. Mia recalls very little, but knows she's seen the name somewhere. Maya indicates it should likely remain hidden, and asks that Mia locate the knowledge that might be public for review and potential obfuscation.


Mia cites her exhaustion from the recent efforts, herds the group out of the library, and locks up to take a nap. The party heads to the Old Manor to pack up their things, collect Cinnamon, settle up with the owners (44 g; 40 g plus a gold piece each to the various staff), and head to the docks to depart.


Boarding the Swift Runner

As the group approaches the docks, they regard the vessel they're hired. It looks like it may never have been in a fight and is in good repair; the crew seems to be preparing to make way. They hear a high-pitched whiny voice but can't make out the words from the dock itself.
Saf strolls onto the deck and witnesses First Mate Benny in an animated conversation with Captain Konos Suhlunsath. Benny seems displeased with the idea of allowing "these landsmen" aboard the ship, since it's bad luck and bound to end poorly. The captain seems unfazed by this rant.
Benny casts many aspersions as to the character of the group as they board.
1. Saf boards first, hears the conversation and interjects that they will try to stay out of the way. Benny counters that she's interrupting important communications and interfering with the chain of command.
2. Saf motions to the rest of the group to board the ship.
3. Benny immediately adjusts his screed to be about "disease-carrying, scrofulus, unscrupulous and untrustworthy landsmen" people in response to Harb coming into view at the top of the gangplank.
4. Harb introduces himself to Konos amid a flood of invective from the first mate, indicating that he's aware of the ship's reputation and that the crew is solid. Konos says he runs a tight ship and it should be a pleasant enough voyage, depending on the river. He sizes up the Harb and expresses his condolences on the visible lost limbs.
5. Benny continues that Harb is "clearly bad luck, look at what's happened to this guy, he's missing limbs, he's missing eyes... these people are bad for the ship and bad for business."
6. Harb muses that having the first mate also be the jester is a neat way to run a ship.
7. Sunny approaches Benny, asking what the issue is and suggesting that perhaps the halfling is having a bad day.
8. Benny immediately shifts tacks to "Tabaxi can't be trusted, they have fleas, they're hucksters and cheaters and this deal will go bad for us."
9. Leucis clears the top of the gangplank, and as soon as Benny sees him, his mouth snaps closed. He turns to the cleric, takes a knee, and fingers the necklace around his neck while he decrees:

   We would be honored to bear the spokesman for the Queen of Tides.

10. Benny rises, turns on his heel and scuttles off into the ship somewhere out of sight.

Several of the folks aboard the ship note that the necklace of trinkets Benny wears seems to consists of small holy symbols of various deities.
The rest of the party is able to board without incident. The captain shows the guests to their "staterooms" (really little more than beds with a little space around them, but they're closed off for individual use). Cinnamon goes to the cargo hold using a steep-ish ramp.
The crew seems well-kept and functional, and seem comparatively well-off for working class folk. They have a chamber against the hull where they have hammocks to sack out. The deck is clean and well-maintained, and doesn't even smell like fish.
Harb offers to help out, but the captain feels his crew has the situation well in hand. He does offer to have Harb spell Jessup at the lookout position (since that's high enough up that Benny won't bother him). Harb also indicates the party has its own skills that they'll be happy to use if the situation requires it.
The Swift Runner casts off and the sea journey begins.

Saf and the captain discuss negotiation strategy

Saf suggests the Benny would be a great negotiation tool by spouting reasons why he shouldn't take jobs. Konos indicates that the first mate's paranoia is useful for pointing out potential dangers, even though most of what he has to say is ridiculous. Saf considers this and chalks it up as a smart move by the captain.


Clothday, 11th of Leafbreak

Maya and Harb have a chat

The druid and the sailor meet in one of the small sleeping rooms. Maya mentions that the boarochs said Harb smelled like a dead body, and the druid isn't sure what to make of that. He thinks that having Cinnamon take a whiff of Harb might shed some light on the situation. Harb accedes to this request, but while the donkey agrees that Harb smells funny, he can't place the scent. Maya reasons that since Cinnamon isn't a predator, he wouldn't have a good idea what a corpse would smell like.
The two discuss what it might mean if Harb is in fact dead but still walking around. Maya expresses concern about Harb being out of line with the natural order of things, but thinks it might have to do with the various strange things that have happened to Harb. Harb can't recall enough to comment one way or the other, and wonders how the information might be of use. Maya thinks perhaps it has something to do with the contract magic in Harb's past.


Next steps:

1. Sending with Mia on Clothday to check in
2. Estimated two remaining days on the ship before reaching the river mouth
3. Sending from Kolvonnin to Einar - revise to happen aboard ship?
4. Upcoming Wisdom of the Elders of Hearthstone - party suggestions for questions
5. Potential session on December 26?
6. DM homework:
   • Rumor zones
   • Upcoming Wisdom of the Elders of Hearthstone - write answers if not already done



Session Feedback

Eddy: Liked the NPC interactions. Like that we got so much got done. Leaves me thinking it may be a long time before the party is back in Grayhill. NPCs are good - Mia, Breslyn, Benny. Plus they've been largely useful. Really hoping for a juicy bit of info about Kol.
Heather: Not all that concerned about leaving town. Enjoyed performing with Moon and getting loud/drunk. Not sure what to do on Benny - turn up the charm, maybe.
James: Would like to level up. Pacing was good. Lots of movement between scenes. Finally out of town. NPCs feel pretty fleshed out, like people as opposed to backdrop.
Jeremy: Forward motion is always nice. Got a lot accomplished. Checked boxes and tied up loose ends before leaving town. Interested in what happens next.
Matt: Out of town finally. Nice to get some answers, but not sure how helpful they are. Lot of good interpersonal character stuff. Moon is fun to see happen.
Meg: Thought about trying to convert Benny to Selune. Good session, glad to get out of town. Interested in Mia's information. Can we have more Moon, please?
John: Glad folks got the Mummy reference. Levels impending - everyone to level 6. Wisdom incoming. Being at a table with two very different NPCs made my brain smoke a little bit, trying to keep Moon's diction out of Cileskn's mouth. I had hoped we'd get out of town, but I had more content ready. RP at the front took longer than expected but it was good RP so I didn't want to put the brakes on.

Rewards Granted

Mayari Bandersnatch has achieved proficiency with cooking utensils.