Slumping into a chair in The Knavery, an inn that has become your second home for the past few weeks, you sense the time has come for you to leave Baldur’s Gate behind, for a while at least. You have no complaints about the amusement and distractions that such a city offers--although such pursuits have lightened your coin pouch considerably--but you’re feeling that itch to experience more of Faerûn and, hopefully, to uncover more of its riches. Legitimately, of course.
The months you’ve spent in Baldur’s Gate have rewarded you with a few friends, three of whom have joined you this evening. The four of you pass the time in the usual way: food and drink, games of cards and dice, the telling of tales that are mostly true, and enjoying the music, which tonight is masterfully provided by a pair of half-elves with flute and mandolin. Not so usual, however, is the old fellow with a long grey beard and glittering eye who joins you for a quarter of an hour--a period of time he commits to telling the story of Captain Jadescale.
“Died at sea with his crew,” explains the old man. “But not before hidin’ his hoard somewhere along the Mistcliff of Chult. What a hoard it is. What a hoard!”
He gulps down some wine and stares blankly at the tabletop. “Many have tried. All have failed. None can find the riches of Cap’n Jadescale. It’s the triton’s map they need. Yes! The triton’s map.”
Without ceremony, the old fellow leaves the four of you to carry on with your evening.
The tale of Jadescale’s lost treasure is not new to you. Nor is the tale about the female triton who allegedly knows the treasure’s whereabouts. North of Chult lies a small island, and upon it is Yokotoro, the village the triton calls home and where she works as the proprietor of an inn called Shore of Dreams. So goes the story anyway. It’s one you’ve heard a few times, with slight variations here and there.
The four of you take turns at retelling what you’ve heard of Captain Jadescale, half believing and half hoping the story might be true.
“Let us be the ones then,” proclaims one of your friends with a slightly mischievous smile. “We’ll claim what that pirate has lost!”
_ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _
A fortnight later, after a string of mild days at sea, you’re standing in the bow of a chartered keelboat as it approaches Yokotoro village. The water between you and the shore is a network of wooden pontoons that house dozens of small fishing vessels. The place is bustling with folk cleaning nets, hauling in catches, or doing a bit of maintenance on their fishing coracles.
As the first mate rows the four of you ashore, you discern the sounds of music, conversation, and laughter coming from the one grand building that rises above the ramshackle bamboo huts that surround it. Finding the Shore of Dreams, it seems, will be a rather straightforward matter...
"Fair weather and a beautiful and lively inn? Moradin smiles on our endeavor." Gnurl nods approvingly. "She's a fair sight compared to the Knavery, though it has its charms. Shall we go ask this triton for her map then?" Gnurl snorts and peers back at his fellows. "Though I suppose you lot would suggest a less direct approach, as usual."
"I do not think it wise my friend. Though admittedly it could save us a lot of time if we did! But we know little of this triton and most importantly the nature of her relationship with Captain Jadescale. She might not be happy people are looking for his legacy." Perrin smiles at the image in his head. "But if someone was to talk to her it probably shouldn't be you!"
Gnurl snorts and grins. "I'll talk to the iron and stone. You can talk to the squirrels! Too bad she's a triton and not a fish, then maybe you'd catch her ear!" Laughing at his own joke, Gnurl slaps Perrin on the back good-naturedly, if not a little too hard.
As the four of you set foot ashore, you take in as many details about this new environment as possible. Your experiences have taught you well the importance of being observant and careful. The majority of the houses are raised up from the ground and constructed from thick bamboo logs. Aside from the Shore of Dreams, you can discern two other special buildings in this small fishing village.
The first is the smithy, one of the few stone buildings on the island, and you can see the heat emanating from its exterior forge. Additionally, a couple of anvils stand not far from a primitive well. A rugged Shou human male is hammering away at a red-hot piece of iron.
In the center of Yokotoro stands a bamboo guard tower that overlooks the pontoons and houses. On one side of the tower, which doesn't appear to be manned, hangs a rope ladder.
Beyond the village--to the north--you see nothing but an expanse of wilderness. Miles of tree-covered terrain lead away toward the base of the island's lone peak.
A pair of Shou children, who are undoubtedly brother and sister, scurry in your direction, looking for an opportunity to make a business transaction. "Lures! Bright ones! Irresistible ones! You'll catch a hundred fish! Only three pieces of silver."
The older of the two unravels a piece of cloth, revealing nearly a dozen well-made fishing lures. Both children flash toothy smiles and wait expectantly for a response.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Gnurl peels his eyes off of the smithy to look down at the children and their lures. Seeing that they are well made, he says "I'll take your two finest!" Gnurl smiles at the children, but watches them warily for any sign that they're trying to con him, as he pulls six silver from a hidden pocket in the leather smith's coat he wears over his armor. "And now that I have these two fine lures, where abouts do I find myself a pole to affix them to?"
Gnurl's silver is gladly received. He's then directed to a nearby shop for the purchase of a fishing pole. "Just over there," explains the younger child, pointing at a weathered hut that stands slightly higher than the rest. "Teshuma's funny! But he has poles."
They scurry off as quickly as they came, and there's nothing about them that seems dishonest or deceptive.
Now that they're purchased and the children appeased, Gnurl looks lover the lures with a critical eye (Investigation: 11). They're finer work than he usually undertakes, but he's always interested in seeing how others work with metal. Gnurl pokes Perrin in the ribs with a laugh. "A waste of money, I'm sure, when I could have let you lure the fish with your silvered tongue!"
Eyes drawn back to the forge, Gnurl watches the smith work, trying to discern his skill.
Gnurl scrutinizes the smith's work from a distance, but the cleric is confident that he's watching a skilled craftsman. Regarding the lures, they appear to be satisfactory: a combination of fine metalwork, painting, and adornment with bits of colored string.
Perrin grabs his punctured rib laughing "Aye, but fish are always more willing to accept my friendship if I bribe them with a couple of worms first! We should have a fishing contest, you with your pole and me with my... methods" he winks and looks towards his other companions, still taking in the sights. "Shall we take a closer look at the smithy or take a stroll down town? These seem to be interesting people. I want to let Lizzy out to stretch her legs but I'm not sure how the locals will respond. Lets see if the locals keep any animals around first"
Atallia looks on in amusement at the children selling the lures. She also watches them carefully for signs of any pickpocketing or other chicanery. [Perception: 22]
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Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God Adewild: Shadows and Light 2 Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
Sweating in the heat, Anda loosens his collar. His bright blue eyes flash with impatience. A good man, he can be severe at times. “Now that you’ve got us in good with the youthful junk peddlers, Gnurl, perhaps we might try the village idiot next. By day’s end, we should be ready for the adults.” He sighs. “Apologies. I dislike the heat.” He looks toward the hut the children identified. “They mentioned a bait-and-tackle merchant. Perhaps we might go and ask about the triton, at least to learn her character, that we might better know how our dealings with her shall fare.”
Anda walks to Teshuma’s hut, curious about what the children might count as “funny,” and checking the surroundings, in his own unamused way, to see if there might indeed be anything odd or amiss.
Gnurl chuckles at Anda as they walk toward Teshuma's. "The heat of the forge never bothered me! Perhaps you could conjure yourself a blizzard to improve your mood." Guus looks around at the happy, industrious people. "Though these don't seem like they'd appreciate the chill."
((My posting availability is very low weekends, fyi))
Curious about these people that he's never met before in his travels, Perrin follows along, his eyes unblinking and feet following mechanically. With his point of interest being not yet in sight, Anda's mention of the triton has propelled his thoughts back to the tavern and Jadescale.. interesting name... Could Jadescale perhaps also be a triton? The name seems to be appropriate. Or perhaps one of those rare Dragonborn that have been popping up. Did that old fellow even mention anything else about the captain or just his name? History : 18
As the party continues to make its initial assessment of this new and curious place, there is nothing thus far to give them cause for concern or caution. Atallia is confident the Shou siblings are what they seem to be, which is a pair of enterprising youths who know they can make a few honest coins by selling wares to visitors. Anda studies Teshuma's hut and its environs and determines nothing is out of the ordinary.
Perrin sifts through his memory but finds nothing he can recall about Jadescale's race. The details about Captain Jadescale are sparse indeed: he was a pirate, somewhat infamous in these parts, who died at sea along with his crew. The nature and cause of his demise has never been explained. The alleged treasure hoard is hidden somewhere along the Mistcliffs of Chult, which stand along the northern edge of the Chultan peninsula.
As Anda draws near to Teshuma's hut, an elderly Shou man appears in the doorway. "Yokotoro welcomes you, stranger," he says. He then nods in greeting and takes a sip from the clay mug he holds in his left hand. He then casts his gaze on the water and the myriad boats gathered there.
Despite his extensive studies, Anda is unable to recall anything related to Yokotoro.
"Aye, there it is," answers Teshuma, pointing toward the fine, two-story building that stands a hundred yards away. "And may it be all you've hoped it would be."
Whatever the Shou youths meant by calling Teshuma funny certainly isn't apparent in this brief interaction. Anda can't shake the feeling that this old fisherman is far from singing the praises of Yokotoro's most sought-after destination.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
“I thank you,” says Anda, bowing his head slightly. “Forgive me, sir, I am a lifelong acolyte, and not so worldly-wise as others. Is the Shore an unsavory place?” And then, for the first time today, a brief, genuine smile brightens his face as he asks, “Your Yokotoro, will you tell me of his ways? I Would be glad to learn and to share, if you know not already, what I know of my god, Torm.”
Persuasion 23
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"Fair weather and a beautiful and lively inn? Moradin smiles on our endeavor." Gnurl nods approvingly. "She's a fair sight compared to the Knavery, though it has its charms. Shall we go ask this triton for her map then?" Gnurl snorts and peers back at his fellows. "Though I suppose you lot would suggest a less direct approach, as usual."
"I do not think it wise my friend. Though admittedly it could save us a lot of time if we did! But we know little of this triton and most importantly the nature of her relationship with Captain Jadescale. She might not be happy people are looking for his legacy." Perrin smiles at the image in his head. "But if someone was to talk to her it probably shouldn't be you!"
Gnurl snorts and grins. "I'll talk to the iron and stone. You can talk to the squirrels! Too bad she's a triton and not a fish, then maybe you'd catch her ear!" Laughing at his own joke, Gnurl slaps Perrin on the back good-naturedly, if not a little too hard.
As the four of you set foot ashore, you take in as many details about this new environment as possible. Your experiences have taught you well the importance of being observant and careful. The majority of the houses are raised up from the ground and constructed from thick bamboo logs. Aside from the Shore of Dreams, you can discern two other special buildings in this small fishing village.
The first is the smithy, one of the few stone buildings on the island, and you can see the heat emanating from its exterior forge. Additionally, a couple of anvils stand not far from a primitive well. A rugged Shou human male is hammering away at a red-hot piece of iron.
In the center of Yokotoro stands a bamboo guard tower that overlooks the pontoons and houses. On one side of the tower, which doesn't appear to be manned, hangs a rope ladder.
Beyond the village--to the north--you see nothing but an expanse of wilderness. Miles of tree-covered terrain lead away toward the base of the island's lone peak.
A pair of Shou children, who are undoubtedly brother and sister, scurry in your direction, looking for an opportunity to make a business transaction. "Lures! Bright ones! Irresistible ones! You'll catch a hundred fish! Only three pieces of silver."
The older of the two unravels a piece of cloth, revealing nearly a dozen well-made fishing lures. Both children flash toothy smiles and wait expectantly for a response.
Gnurl peels his eyes off of the smithy to look down at the children and their lures. Seeing that they are well made, he says "I'll take your two finest!" Gnurl smiles at the children, but watches them warily for any sign that they're trying to con him, as he pulls six silver from a hidden pocket in the leather smith's coat he wears over his armor. "And now that I have these two fine lures, where abouts do I find myself a pole to affix them to?"
Insight: 9
Gnurl's silver is gladly received. He's then directed to a nearby shop for the purchase of a fishing pole. "Just over there," explains the younger child, pointing at a weathered hut that stands slightly higher than the rest. "Teshuma's funny! But he has poles."
They scurry off as quickly as they came, and there's nothing about them that seems dishonest or deceptive.
Now that they're purchased and the children appeased, Gnurl looks lover the lures with a critical eye (Investigation: 11). They're finer work than he usually undertakes, but he's always interested in seeing how others work with metal. Gnurl pokes Perrin in the ribs with a laugh. "A waste of money, I'm sure, when I could have let you lure the fish with your silvered tongue!"
Eyes drawn back to the forge, Gnurl watches the smith work, trying to discern his skill.
Gnurl scrutinizes the smith's work from a distance, but the cleric is confident that he's watching a skilled craftsman. Regarding the lures, they appear to be satisfactory: a combination of fine metalwork, painting, and adornment with bits of colored string.
Perrin grabs his punctured rib laughing "Aye, but fish are always more willing to accept my friendship if I bribe them with a couple of worms first! We should have a fishing contest, you with your pole and me with my... methods" he winks and looks towards his other companions, still taking in the sights. "Shall we take a closer look at the smithy or take a stroll down town? These seem to be interesting people. I want to let Lizzy out to stretch her legs but I'm not sure how the locals will respond. Lets see if the locals keep any animals around first"
Atallia looks on in amusement at the children selling the lures. She also watches them carefully for signs of any pickpocketing or other chicanery. [Perception: 22]
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Adewild: Shadows and Light 2
Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
Sweating in the heat, Anda loosens his collar. His bright blue eyes flash with impatience. A good man, he can be severe at times. “Now that you’ve got us in good with the youthful junk peddlers, Gnurl, perhaps we might try the village idiot next. By day’s end, we should be ready for the adults.” He sighs. “Apologies. I dislike the heat.” He looks toward the hut the children identified. “They mentioned a bait-and-tackle merchant. Perhaps we might go and ask about the triton, at least to learn her character, that we might better know how our dealings with her shall fare.”
Anda walks to Teshuma’s hut, curious about what the children might count as “funny,” and checking the surroundings, in his own unamused way, to see if there might indeed be anything odd or amiss.
perception 12
Gnurl chuckles at Anda as they walk toward Teshuma's. "The heat of the forge never bothered me! Perhaps you could conjure yourself a blizzard to improve your mood." Guus looks around at the happy, industrious people. "Though these don't seem like they'd appreciate the chill."
((My posting availability is very low weekends, fyi))
Curious about these people that he's never met before in his travels, Perrin follows along, his eyes unblinking and feet following mechanically. With his point of interest being not yet in sight, Anda's mention of the triton has propelled his thoughts back to the tavern and Jadescale.. interesting name... Could Jadescale perhaps also be a triton? The name seems to be appropriate. Or perhaps one of those rare Dragonborn that have been popping up. Did that old fellow even mention anything else about the captain or just his name?
History : 18
As the party continues to make its initial assessment of this new and curious place, there is nothing thus far to give them cause for concern or caution. Atallia is confident the Shou siblings are what they seem to be, which is a pair of enterprising youths who know they can make a few honest coins by selling wares to visitors. Anda studies Teshuma's hut and its environs and determines nothing is out of the ordinary.
Perrin sifts through his memory but finds nothing he can recall about Jadescale's race. The details about Captain Jadescale are sparse indeed: he was a pirate, somewhat infamous in these parts, who died at sea along with his crew. The nature and cause of his demise has never been explained. The alleged treasure hoard is hidden somewhere along the Mistcliffs of Chult, which stand along the northern edge of the Chultan peninsula.
As Anda draws near to Teshuma's hut, an elderly Shou man appears in the doorway. "Yokotoro welcomes you, stranger," he says. He then nods in greeting and takes a sip from the clay mug he holds in his left hand. He then casts his gaze on the water and the myriad boats gathered there.
Anda reflects on the name Yokotoro, wondering if he has come across it in some type of religious lore he encountered during his time as an acolyte.
Religion 15
Anda nods stiffly. “Greetings, sir, and may the blessing of Torm be upon you. If I might ask, is there a place here known as the Shore of Dreams?”
Despite his extensive studies, Anda is unable to recall anything related to Yokotoro.
"Aye, there it is," answers Teshuma, pointing toward the fine, two-story building that stands a hundred yards away. "And may it be all you've hoped it would be."
Whatever the Shou youths meant by calling Teshuma funny certainly isn't apparent in this brief interaction. Anda can't shake the feeling that this old fisherman is far from singing the praises of Yokotoro's most sought-after destination.
“I thank you,” says Anda, bowing his head slightly. “Forgive me, sir, I am a lifelong acolyte, and not so worldly-wise as others. Is the Shore an unsavory place?” And then, for the first time today, a brief, genuine smile brightens his face as he asks, “Your Yokotoro, will you tell me of his ways? I Would be glad to learn and to share, if you know not already, what I know of my god, Torm.”
Persuasion 23