Our session begins with our characters depositing their
coinage before the journey to Selmunett island: Marco 1,500 gp, Carlo 5,220 gp,
Lete 2,500 in Ripae (these totals reflect to date deposits). Filling the day Lete
goes to the message boards looking for information on the Battalion; some
messages indicate help needing plumbers as some of the elite houses have
running water and other menial tasks. However, not long after a young man comes
to remove some of the notices as all posts are removed after a week. Lete was
able to talk him out of one of the posts (one of the plumbing jobs) and tips
the boy a silver piece- it is then when Lete notices the background of the
message board “traveler seeks information” but the message is some kind of code
dated four days ago. On his way to the Bonded Mind Lete gathers dinner for the
characters and retrieves our character’s personal items from the Gypsys heart
as he ponders the traveler seeking information.
Back at the North Docks it was apparent that early in the
morning the Moon Shadow disembarked and by midday a heavy persistent shower
begins and with it, the superstitions of our sailors. Meanwhile most of the
remaining characters busy themselves on the Bonded Mind making themselves
helpful and gaining the confidence of the crew while Lex returns to the South
docks, in disguise, to build trust with the criminal element.
 |
| Peren |
In the meantime our characters review our plans for the
immediate future: deliver
a message to Addelmy (casino dealer,
resides at Spiderhouse Apartments) and bring Esterhat back from Debtor’s
Prison (Metas promises to reward us with 1,000 gp [her debt is 500]). Also, transport
the tiefling passenger Sciortino; as well as transporting crates to a Selmunett
for IL-Kataniz- delivered this morning along with two individuals: Dentach (physically
impressive who carries a great sword) and Peren (a functioning alcoholic who wears
a holy symbol of Neptune with lapel emblems of Mercury and Mars) both are trainers
recognized from IL-Kataniz. They supervise the transportation of the crates and
carry a message from IL-Kataniz who finds no indication we are wanted in Paola.
Dentach The Large was born on Selmunett island, suggests
taking a half day determining the disposition of some of the smaller islands scattered
around Selmunett and not dock on the main island but instead use the bridges to
get to the main island. He laments that no one leaves a ship unattended for
long and that change is the only constant on Selmunett. We desire a variation
of flags in our port, a place with no obvious power broker. Lex asks about the
debtor’s prison and is told of dangerous tunnels that lead to the prison that
is 40-50 feet underground and that some people could be hired to locate
individuals in the prison.
Dentach brings up the
necromancers explaining two groups of cabals that operate on the island;
one group traffics in body parts and the other vile group, cultist of the
mother of dragons, are fond of sacrifices to raise dark and horrible undead (or
worse). Several mage cabals can raise and fall from power. Finally, each casino
has a special trade each will traffic in anything and anything can be wagered. Our
characters bring up the former Egyptian thrall ‘the Hunter’ that operates out
of the Boffa family, but what’s disturbing Dentach states, is the Hunter’s use
of the Egyptian harness that utterly controls the wearer and removes all
free-will forfeiting their soul.
 |
| Dragon Cultist |
(planning footnote) On our way back our intention is to travel
to Ghallis Rock with the hopes of meeting Naxxzr before returning to Bugibba.
Late in the evening Sciortino
arrives under cover of darkness and his hood to hide his race from the rank and
file dock hands; he comes to the Bonded Mind with libations, cigars and deep
sea fishing gear, hopeful for fishing trade. Also in the late hours individuals
comprising of rat men, crab men who offer their services to the Bonded Mind as
it is obvious we are getting ready to depart. We politely refuse, in the
meantime our characters look forward to a 15 hour sea trip plus a half-day to
sail the smaller islands looking for a prime docking berth. About an hour later
a message from Garamaldi indicates he will not be accompanying us to Selmunett
but informs us he will be at the Gypsy’s Heart or a small room at the Bards
College in Paola should our characters come looking for him.
Our characters set up watches for the night- Lete offers to Keep Watch with Marco tag-teaming for
the first half of the first watch. It was around 1:30 am when a couple- man and
woman, are seen in the dark motioning to our ship and begin to head in the
direction of the Bonded Mind. Sven
Jarlsson and Meeka introduce themselves and claim to be sent to us by Cian;
they are interested in booking passage “north east”. 50 gold one-way, 100 gold
round trip per person, no Egyptian gold; Jarlsson goes to retrieve their
personal gear while Meeka negotiates with Marco 100 gold; however because we
cannot guarantee a round trip Marco offers 75 gold with 25 more if there is a
return to Malta. She hands Marco a Ruby of approximate value for payment.
At about 4 am Lete notices several small boats manned by
approximately four medium sized individuals, these small boats were not heading
towards the Bonded Mind so Lete disregards them; besides that the rest of the
night passes uneventful. The next morning the winds pick up as we depart
granting us a boon as we leave, as we depart the North Bugibba port we notice a
few small overturned boats with holes as if a creature bit through the wood.
Our travel is laborious in the rough waters and for the next
three hours we see other ships also toiling on the rough Mediterranean. Jabari
takes time with Dentach to get a knowledge skill on Selmunett (local), while Lex
and Peren spends time getting to know Sciortino. At the 4 hour mark we all hear
a dull thud on the air that seems to spook Peren who fears a hurricane is
coming. It is advised we find a rock or small island to hold up. We decide to
head north (F2) toward Ghallis rock (4-5 hour away) looking for a safe haven
along the way.
Within ten minutes we skirt a reef where we can get to a
small cove with a cave known to some of the crew and a short time later find
ourselves out of the direct path of the hurricane. Peren feels someone has
angered the sea gods but our successful escape bodes well for us: the boom was
‘leviathans warning’. Within a half hour the winds and rain set in, the worst
since leaving Malta. The crew maintains the Bonded Mind as well as Jabari and
Carlo, Dentach and Peren. The remaining characters lead everyone else safely to
the cave. Marco guides a small craft into the cave after producing some sunrods
where our characters discover two smaller wrecked crafts. Sounds indicate we
are not alone… gnolls.
In the end one gnoll surrendered and was ordered to bind up
his surviving companions (6 survivors) as the storm rages on. Each of them
carry potions and had armor nearby, their flind-bars are masterwork and some
possessed four magical rings with a feather etched into each of the bands; 8
CMW potions and an expeditious retreat, 8 masterwork breastplates and a total
of 40 daggers. Evagara detects something strange in the back of the cave where a
leather cloak of the manta ray has been buried.
We begin next week’s session at Hurricane Harbor after the
hurricane. We are awarded 500 xp.
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