Session 50: Cyclonis, Tanyth 22

It was midday and the group decided to visit Merek’s body at the guard station, because Brandybuck would like to prepare a proper burial for his friend. Upon arrival, the group sees that the guards at the station are acting confused.

The group inquires about seeing Merek’s body, but the guards at first tell them they need authorization from the captain, who seems “undisposed” at the moment. Eventually the group speaks to the co-captain who further reveals that the captain is not only indisposed, but not currently present at the station. Surely, he will be back soon.

The group finally gets a chance to speak to the coroner who is looking after Merek’s body (Ayleth). The coroner reveals what she learned about the cause of death. She confirmed that a large cut to the throat was the cause, but also indicated that there was something “strange” about the claw marks, as if something else compounded them, not unlike a poison, but not quite a poison. She had never seen anything like it. Zannan noticed it looked like the abnormality was caused by magic, but couldn’t recognize the specific type of magic.

Brandybuck addresses the mourning crew and lets them know about the plans for the sendoff ceremony to happen tomorrow. The group discusses options to perhaps ask Merek’s body some questions in the morning before the sendoff.

Brandybuck found an adequate boat, as well as burning materials at “Denethor’s Pyres and Things” (tomatos were on special).

Elenion went to the Smelting Pot to inquire about what could be made with the dragon parts the group harvested. Eryn (the leatherworker) suggested a piece of armor that would cost 12,500 gp and take about 4 weeks to complete. The group discussed offering Eryn and Katrina (the blacksmith) to move to The West Wing, and set up shop there. For that, they are willing to reduce their price significantly. Elenion left a 2,000 gp deposit as a show of good faith, and that she would find a way to secure passage for them to the keep.

The group also heard from Nephira about a party in celebration of the night before the Ul Adar race, hosted by Esmee Rowntree and Loreena Twoorb. All are welcome at the Silver Lodge. They have been hosting this event every year for years. Nephira didn’t know much about the details, but she heard it’s always a good time, lots of free food, drinks and live music. She has never attended, as they are usually at sea.

The group decided to check it out. Lennie attempted to change her appearance with makeup. It was an … attempt at least. Lennie, Hazel, and Brandybuck arrived before Zannan, and proceeded inside the mansion. The music was welcoming, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, the hosts were friendly. Lennie noticed some vampires among the crowd, but nobody seemed distressed by this.

Meanwhile, Zannan was outside talking to someone else in line (a human male named Doran). Eventually Zannan started sensing the smell of decay, and soon after a large horde of undead started approaching the manor. In panic, most people started screaming “it’s happening again!” and rushing to the front doors of the manor.

Session 49: Cyclonis, Tanyth 22nd

The group found themselves at the docks, while Brandybuck resurfaced, with tears in his eyes, to deliver the news of his deceased friend tied to the dock base. The group works together to pull his body out of the water and have a closer look to find some answers. Merek had claw marks all over his body. The cause of death was quite obviously a deep gash along his throat. Lennie also noticed some previously healed scars of similar claw marks to these fresh ones. The claw marks seem to resemble size and shape to Vano’s claws, although the manner in which they are distributed and dragged across the wounds don’t match Vano’s fighting style. They are too small to match an adult (or even juvenile) dragon. Brandybuck checks Merek’s pockets and finds a leather case sealed with wax, cylindrical, made to hold a scroll and be waterproof.

The group was then approached by city guards who seemed very disturbed by the sight of a body surrounded by this group. They were very intent on bringing the group in for questioning, especially once they realized the body belonged to Merek Walleye.

The guards escorted the group to the guard station, where they were aggressively interrogated by Gili Coalgrog, Captain of the guard. Gili was especially suspicious of Hazel, and interrogated her about the circlet on her head. Eventually the group discovered that the circlet was a family heirloom, belonging to Gili’s deceased brother (Mr. Bigsby). The circlet was taken away from Hazel.

The captain tried multiple times to talk the group into paying for their freedom, unless they had a “city sponsor”. The group refused to pay, so they were requested to relinquish their weapons (as well as Trillion) and any metallic/suspicious objects. Hazel and Lennie managed to keep their bags of holding, Brandybuck his thieve’s tools.

Hazel was put in a cell next to a male drow who introduced himself as “Zix”. Zix offered a deal, in which if the group helped him with a distraction, he could guide them into a tunnel (hidden behind a poster advertising the Ul Adar race) he has been working on to escape the prison. He also mentioned he could potentially set them up with a “city sponsor” within the Ravencloaks.

Too suspicious to trust Zix, the group decided to take a night’s rest and come up with a different plan. Brandybuck opened the leather case he recovered from Merek’s body, and inside found a quite revealing letter addressed to Hazel.

“Dear Hazel,

I hope the day we meet again will finally come. I can honestly say I miss the days when we worked together. Ah, you had such spunk! But if you are getting this note, it means that you are getting closer to fulfill my wish of making this happen. But worry not about the details of this meeting, I will be in contact soon to make arrangements for a more appropriate get together. You well know that I’m an extraordinary host, so allow me to prepare a PROPER meeting at a time and place that suits the occasion perfectly. Multruvia is a wonderful place for such a meeting, so I recommend you stay put for a while and perhaps see the sights. Of course, you wouldn’t be so rude as to show up to our meeting empty handed, so I fully expect to see some more of those wonderful drawings like the ones you worked on in Berisut. You know which ones. I may also have something that may be of interest to your friend Ms. Kauma, so she is welcome to join our meeting as well. Should you attempt to pursue me before I send you my specific invitation, or if you decide not to show up with the drawings I requested, I will offer the young lad to the vampires – I’m sure they will be generous in my compensation. I fully understand if you’re not interested in our exchange, your brother is a brat after all, and my patience grows short indeed. Sincerely, J’Zargo (but you are welcome to still call me Vaeri).”

Brandybuck gave the letter to Hazel, which prompted her to lose sleep and become exhausted. Zannan used a spell to float an invisible eye to check on the captain’s office, as well as along the tunnel excavated by Zix. The tunnel went underground for quite a while, until it reached a solid door with a cylinder built into it. The cylinder had 4 dials with symbols Zannan couldn’t recognize. Lennie had visions during her rest.

In the morning, Nephira came to bail out Brandybuck, and delivered him a sealed letter that she was instructed to give him, should Merek happen to die. The letter contained the proof of ownership of The Sanguine Raider (a leather piece with engraved text, and Brandybuck’s name), and a heartfelt message from Merek to Brandybuck, effectively making Brandybuck the captain of Merek’s former ship and crew. Nephira and Brandybuck walked back to the tavern, she apologized for not having enough coin to bail all of his friends, and told him she may know a contact within the Ravencloaks.

Meanwhile, Zannan convinced Gili to tell his guards to leave him alone, so they could discuss a very lucrative “business” in private. Gili was convinced, however one of the guards was convinced by Hazel to question that decision, and nearly started a fight with the captain. Once the guard finally walked away, Zannan cast Modify Memory on Gili, making him believe that the Vines of Binding he had taken from the hag would give him the power to turn copper pieces into platinum pieces. Seeing the incredible potential of this magical item, and overcome with greed, the Captain took the deal, freeing the entire party and letting them have their items back. The captain then told his guards to leave him alone for a while, that he would be busy in his office.

The group then headed back to the tavern. Vano was very outraged by the injustice and corruption he witnessed within the city guard and decided to start a militia that would truly help the people of Multruvia, and fight real criminals without it being a money grab scam. He leaves the Twilight Wings to stay and follow this path.

Session 48: Tempest, Tanyth 21st

Still stranded on a group of rocks, the party worked on repairing the Thassa with help from the sirens. The siren who was spared by the party (Loraenai) made a bracelet out of a strand of her hair, seaweed, and a single tear. The bracelet can be activated by signing a sea shanty while wearing it, and will give the wearer a swimming speed equal to their walking speed for 2 hours. It can only be used once.

The sirens disclosed that lots of ships have been travelling west from Multruvia. Baby Executioner is learning how to turn pages.

As the repairs of the Thassa got completed, they resumed their travels to Multruvia, arriving at the docks just before sunset. The party immediately spotted the Sanguine Raider at the docks, and Brandybuck saw his friend Merek on the main deck, however the crew was not his usual crew, but rather a full crew of drow.

The group decided to still stay aboard the Thassa, while the rest of the crew preferred to go into town and spend the night at the local inn, “Ye olde crab tavern”.

Elenion and Hazel decided to go invisible and go for walk at the docks to gather more information about the Sanguine Raider. They saw many posters advertising the “Ul Adar annual race”, to happen in two days.

Once they approached the ship, Elenion saw Merek again, but she felt like he may have looked right at her, despite her invisibility. Concerned about that event, both Hazel and Elenion decided to go back to the group to discuss a strategy. Brandybuck decided to go into the tavern to learn more information there. Upon arrival at the tavern, he was greeted by a Tiefling named Nephira, the former First Mate of the Sanguine Raider. She welcomed him as a long time friend, however felt uncomfortable talking too much at the tavern. So they returned to the Thassa, where she disclosed a bit more information about the past few months aboard the Sanguine Raider:

-        She revealed that the old Eladrin referred to as Ascal Olovalur has hired the Sanguine Raider a few months ago, although they have been making many stops and sometimes staying at different ports for a while.

-        Merek had been looking sick for the past weeks, and didn’t seem like he was getting any sleep.

-        Last night, Merek and the old man went into the tavern for a drink, but only Merek returned to the ship, at which point he dismissed his entire original crew, and a new crew made up exclusively of drow now works on the Sanguine Raider.

While the group stayed at the Thassa, Boyd alerted the group that the Sanguine Raider started leaving port shortly after sunset.

Zannan commanded Boyd to hide a coin aboard the Sanguine Raider, and Hazel commanded Marvin to hide up in the crows nest of the ship.

The group then returned to the tavern to investigate the disappearance of Ascal. Lennie chatted with one of the tavern’s employees (Jarin Writingham), who disclosed that the room in which Merek and Ascal were seen going to together was left a mess, lots of blood to clean, claw marks, and a missing rug.

The party followed a blood trail from the outside of the window towards the docks. Brandybuck jumped into the water and found the rolled up rug tied to one of the dock supports. When he opened the rug to see what was inside, he recognized the face of his now perished friend Merek Waleye.