Session 20

General Summary

21st of Flocktime, year 595
Malex is knocked from his feet and falls under the murky water where he has trouble regaining footing. The rest of the party comes to his aid, and discover a gibbering horror of flesh and mouths writing in the water. The creature takes bites from its many mouths at Malex and spits an exploding goo at Toby and Irina, but finally, they are able to dispatch this gibbering mouther.
Walrick has some trouble climbing aboard the ship, while Toby examines a badly damaged body on the foredeck. He determines the poor victim was torn to pieces, likely by something tentacled. Irina goes aft and discovers another body, this one with treasure hidden in his boot, including a rather keen and delicately etched dirk, 2 platinum coins, and a diamond.
Soon, though, Wally falls into the water once again, and this time is attacked by something so well camouflaged in the water, almost no one can see it as it tries to crush Wally before Toby and Malex can help bring him aboard. Finally, Malex's radiant attacks give the foe definition, and Irina, finally able to see this watery snake-like creature, destroys it with her infernal psychic magic.
As they continue to search the boat, Wally's pet fire beetle (perhaps emulating its master), falls into the rift between halves of the ship. Valenthe, knowing its value to the fellow bard, dives after it. Irina waits with rope in hand and finally feels something quite heavy on the other end, and the party finds that Valenthe has discovered a foot locker from the submerged captain's cabin. She also tells of another small chest down below, and Toby dives after it. Although, is pulled to the surface with the chest just as another of the water creatures began an attack.
Inside the locker and chest, the party finds a wealth of treasure, including the ship's (The River Pearl) log and manifest, post from Bakerville intended for Settleton, gold, breastplate, fancy tabard, unidentified bottles and small sacks. They also discover a scroll case addressed to the Arcanist Guild, which Irina recognizes is enchanted to allow someone to know when it has been opened (which can be bypassed with a ritual counterspell or dispel magic), and a letter addressed to Councillor R.c, Settleton:

“Honorable Councillor,
I am dismayed to learn of Settleton’s current troubles. I do hope you learn the cause of the betrayal of your ancient protectors, as well as the stirrings of similar behavior by your undermountain friends. I agree that such sudden and unprecedented events can mean trouble for your fine city, though I pray to Tiamat that it does not.
Of course, prayer can only work through action, and so I have convinced the Lord of Muster for the Blackspear Army to send a militia force to Settleton to help with protection and control.
Your gift, naturally, went a long way toward convincing him. I do hope, rather, encourage you, to make sure you fulfill the balance of your promise.
The militia are being sent through Broken Pass, but despite the uncertainty of travel around the Neizvestnyya, I wanted to attempt to get word to you before their arrival, so you may properly prepare for their arrival.
Under the Dark Mother’s protection
Marshal Virrhikmor
7 flocktime 595 CY”

Along with the listings of the quartering, supply, feeding, etc. needs of 250 dragonborn soldiers, including officers, and 50 axebeak mounts for what appears to be an indefinite period. Malex recognizes the Blackspear Army to be one of the largest mercenary companies in Djerad Delemiriv, that is known for taking on more "unsavory" tasks. It would also take 2-4 days to muster a force of that size.
Irina recalls the name Malikus, her brief companion so many days ago in Hasturton, Sariel, had mentioned she had dealings with the Counselor's son, and did not think highly of him, but that is all that could be recalled.
Before they could investigate any further, the party notices a boat's light bobbing not far away, in the foggy, dim, yet oddly lit air down the river. Tody and Wally hide, and soon a small single-mast boat with oars approaches and a woman aboard calls to them to lay down weapons and be rescued. But when told the party was not themselves the broken boat's crew, the newcomers claimed right of salvage. The odd pauses between replies soon becomes apparent as Irina's responses finally goad the new ship's crew to attack -- the actual leader of the boat is a rather large hobgoblin. A small goblin runs out of hiding, chewing some kind of clump of black leaves, and gets thrown halfway to the party by the hobgoblin bandit chief.
Toby, expertly hidden and unseen, fires a skillful shot at the hobgoblin, and for the next several seconds attacks are traded between the two ships. The goblin, once reaching the party's salvage, begins throwing jars of alchemist's fire until he his shot dead, falling to the deck and subsequently exploding from unthrown jars.
The bandit's wizard is felled, and what is likely her sister, goes into a rage, which appears to cause her bow's string to break, so she dives into the water to swim to attack.
The hobgoblin is also finally dropped, and Irina has fired a silenced balista bolt into the bandit's deck. This is the last straw for the bandits who remain and they begin to panic, unable to communicate and unsure of what to do as their boat drifts closer to the now burning wreckage.

Rewards Granted

• Ship crew:
• Armored body: Scale mail, shield, helmet, pouch w/ 30cp, 10gp
• Drowned body: Necklace with gold and pearl amulet, shape of the moon Celene the moon goddess (that appears to show what phase the moon Celene is in)
• Hacked body: Hand axe, pouch w/ 5gp, 15sp, small silver ingot, gold ring
• Aft body: Nothing (In boot: Silver dirk, 2pp, small clear diamond)

• Captain's locker:
• 50sp
• Potion of Greater Healing
• silver cloth tabard
• A small pouch sealed in a jar
• masterwork bronze breastplate

• Captain's chest:
• 100gp
• Log of the “River Pearl” (from Bakerville)
• post addressed for various people of Settleton
• a sealed scrollcase addressed to the Arcanist Guild
• leather pouch addressed to Councillor R.Malikus, Settleton

Character(s) interacted with

• Hobgoblin bandit captain
• Goblin lackey: Flermm
• Archer bandit
• Her wizard/rogue sister, Sybbyl
• River bandits

Report Date

04 Sep 2019