At the point of the ship reaching Baldur's Gate, Triäsa is still not fully herself. Preferring to rest, she makes no objections at all to not be allowed to visit the city.  She does ask for two bottles of whiskey from the town though. 

Assuming she is able to get the whiskey, she gives one bottle to Daventry.  She keeps the other just in case she ever ingests anything even half as awful as the swamp water.  Once she feels better, she returns the waterskin to Daventry is well, with immense gratitude. 

Ludolf would not object to staying on the Dog's Ear, handing over a list of esoteric components and ingrediants to be acquired for him. As the ship conitnues north, the old man would continue with his routines and studies, preparing himself for the Dreamlands and unknown Kadath.

The first day and half of travel is very uneventful. You sail swiftly from the Outpost and arrive in Baulder's Gate just after sunset. The crew sets out to resupply for the trip north and two gather your list of request and enter the city. 

Baulder's Gate's port, the Gray Harbor, is chaotic and tense but in that chaos is a sort of efficiency. The Dog Ear is quickly restocked and in a few hours time ready for the trip northward. Shortly afterwards the deck hands return arms full of a variety of goods. They hand Daventry a small black leather pouch with purple stitching that contains a number of common reagents and components. There is also a small clear glass vial of holy water they hand you separately. 

Next they pull three glass bottles of whiskey and shrug, "I'd drink heavily if I went through what you all did." They hand two to Triäsa and one to Daventry. "Perhaps you'd share a bit of that one of these evenings. A bit of fire water goes a long way toward improving morale on these waters." The second deckhand says hopefully. 

They turn to Ludolf next, "Well this is one of those good news bad news situations." They pull two small packages out of a sack next. "This one was easier than I thought it would be." He carefully unwraps a piece of white cloth to reveal a shriveled wrinkly tentacle. It seems strongly of acid and the man immediately regrets unwrapping it as he wretches a bit. Thankfully, he does not vomit.... "You know the Aarakocra actually eat these things? Vile bird people.... I swear they born out of the abyss, this is just more evidence." The man seems a little twitchy as he hands the pickled tentacle over to Ludolf.

"If you can believe it that was the good news...." He then pulls a small, delicate glass vial that has intricate platinum etchings into the side. "Found a twitchy little gnome selling this in the Lower City. He was rather anxious and wanted to get rid of it. Got a good price..." He hands the vial over to Ludolf "We... ugh.... asked him if he had any eyeballs...and uh... he didn't... said you'd need to find that on your own..." The man hands it over and backs up clearly uncomfortable. "You are a strange man.... No offense..."

"Anyways, thats 5 gold for each of the bottles of whiskey, 20 gold for the component pouch and another 20 gold for the holy water." They then turn to Ludolf, "The... ugh pickled tentacle... was... 1 gold... The platinum eyeball vial was 100 gold... A steal I'd say it's worth at least four times that much." He shifts uncomfortably. " That brings you up to 156 gold pieces Capt'n said he'd cover a third of it so you owe us 100 gold or something equivalent to that."

Daventry nods and covers her 30 gold, placing the pouch on her belt along with the new vial of holy water, in addition to the half-filled one she'd used for protection magic before. She immediately unstoppers the whiskey and gives it a sniff. "Good man. Dwarven? Smells like the peaty kind they make up in Mithral Hall. I'd not be opposed to a share once we're up the coast, though I hear this stuff could put a beard on even me, so should be fun!"

She looks to Triäsa. "Perhaps we share the next bottle, yeah? Spend the time having a drink together."

"If I wouldn't be a third wheel, I could use a drink or three as well." Pardot says patting the jug at his side. Sighing he adds, "This has been quite taxing... I still don't quite feel whole again. I think we could also use some time to think about what this means for us all." He then adds, mostly to himself, "If only the stars were here... their lack of guidance..."

Triäsa hands over one of the bottles of whiskey to Daventry. "Well, this is to make up for what you gave me before. The other was to keep just in case of... well... if I ever come across anything that gross again," she says.  She actually shudders slightly at the thought of the swamp water she drank, and even for just a moment looks a bit more pale than she already did.  But it seems the effect is just momentary.  "I would love to share a bottle with you though Dav. It's been too long since we've had such an opportunity. And it certainly seems you have been going through a lot and I have not really been paying attention." 

She gives Daventry a quick glance, but then nods to Pardot after he asks his question. "Yes, I think we should have some time for all of us to enjoy a few drinks together. It is a good idea Pardot." 

"Whiskey, I suppose we could all use a bit of that if you have to share." Ludolf says plainly, looking up after stashing his esoteric components away in his shoulder bag and unceremoniously paying the rest of what the team owes for the deckhand's purchases. You notice the old man seems to have recovered fairly well considering your recent mind wracking experiences. There seems to be something bothering him though, as he is somehow not fully present in the conversation.

(Deducting 70 gp :-)

"Dwarven for 5 gold? This is good ol' Dan Jacks whiskey not some fancy dwarven Whistling Pig or Pappy Winkle." The man looks at Daventry with a bit of disbelief, "Not as fancy but it'll get the job done just the same."

His partner scoops up the gold and nods looking over at Triäsa, "You think you sing for crew again tomorrow night? A glass of cheap whiskey and a song or two sure would be nice..." The man smiles hopefully.

"It will cost you an eye." Ludolf says grimly to the deckhand, only half-joking it seems, but not clear if he is jealous and trying to scare the boy off or if he simply tries to find a way to acquire that eye for his eldritch magic.

Triäsa gives Ludolf a brief, questioning look at his comments and withdrawn mood.

"I would certainly play some music. And, umm, sing some I guess," she replies to the man requesting her to sing. Again she looks over to Ludolf, wondering over the source of his remarks.

Regretting his comment, Ludolf gives Triäsa a brief apologetic look, then muttering something incomprehensible before heading back to his studies. Even he knew jealousy had never been a particularly attractive trait.

The two deckhands step back quickly not sure if Ludolf's proposition is serious but then relax as Triäsa agrees to another performance. As Ludolf walks away you all realize it is rather late and the ship is about to resume it's odyssey northward.  While you have questions and conversation you want to have, perhaps it is best for a drink to wait for another night. You all retire to the common sleep room.

The next day is full of work and it is ungodly hot. There is no escaping the beating of the sun on the open ocean. You go about your tasks and studies as the Dog Ear sails swiftly toward Waterdeep. So exhausted at the end of that day you each collapse hard into yet another dreamless sleep. 

The next day is better as the crew hits it's stride. While hot it's not as unbearable as previous nights. You are making excellent time with Edgar scouting, Daventry lending her expertise and the crew seemingly still inspire by Triäsa prior song. At the current rate you might reach your destination a day or two early.

The sun sets and it is a perfect, crisp summer night. Triäsa stays true to her word and provides an absolutely inspired performance (I'll let you describe it, off your roll in DMs).

Following the music, the four of you find a quiet corner of the ship away from the rest of the crew. You can hear them praising Triäsa's performance as they drink their mead and wine. A few play cards and dice at the other end of the ship. You fashion a makeshift table from barrel and set the three bottles of Dan Jacks on top along four mostly clean clay cups. It's a perfect night and a perfect opportunity to talk. 

Pockets struts proudly on top of the "table" before jumping off and landing delicately on Daventry's lap. She curls up in a ball and seems to fall asleep.

(I'll leave you all alone for a while.)

"That was beautiful Tri, as always." Ludolf says with a warm smile, taking the hand of the young half-elven bard, not trying to hide his affection for her now. While mostly spending his time studying his books the old man had spent the time he could close to Triäsa, helping his mind and soul to heal their terrible wounds. He goes quiet for a while, admiring the beauty of the sky and the sea, finding some serenity with his close friends this one night. "We didn't really talk after our escape from the temple of YIG. Is everyone alright. If not I think no one should have to deal with their trauma alone." Ludolf says in an uncharacteristically empathic tone.

Looking at Pockets curling up on Daventry's lap, Pardot gives a light smile, and then nodding at Ludolf's suggestion says, "After you suggested it, I've been checking my blood for the past few days... and even trying to hydrate as much as possible, it's as thick as before." Taking a sip of his wine he adds with a grin, "So I think this is likely safe."

Putting his cup down he then adds, much more seriously, "This, on the other hand, not so much."

Pulling his cloak down from his shoulder he presents a wound he received from an arrow not long ago. Though it has only been a few days, this looks almost still fresh, and with little to no signs of any healing. Once everyone has see it, he covers it up again and says, "As I said, something happened to me while we were knocked out I think. And though I may have gotten past any mental struggle... I hope... Something isn't quite right..." He then looks to the others to see if they have any thoughts, but adds, "Once we get to Waterdeep, though we have much to do, I would like to find a temple as soon as possible."

Daventry pets Pockets, finding a little scritchy spot on his back that the cat enjoys enough to start making biscuits in her lap. She takes her cup of whiskey, gives it a swirl, and then a good sip.

As Ludolf makes his comments, Daventry can't help but stare a moment into the abyss at the bottom of her cup, her voice suddenly serious. "Were another time, sight of somethin' like that would have totally broken me. Hells, I'm not ruling that out even now... I mean, how do ya even process the entire series of events? Captured, planned for sacrifice, saved by a mummy cat not once but twice. Told to seek out someone called Bastet, as well as the same dream treelord that's been haunting the back of my mind for many a night now."

She takes a finger and brushes aside some of the long strawberry blonde hair that now adorns her head, looking at the strand a moment with hazel eyes. "Thought I was blessed by Sune with a new life, a new purpose, a new power to reclaim some of what I lost when I turned aside the Man in Black's book. To be a better version of myself. But... perhaps not? It seems I've instead found a connection with these Dreamlands and the lord within. How does that even happen? And in the moment Dandelion disrupted that portal, felt like Nodens had a direct connection to me, deep within my soul. Asked me to swear the Oath, and I knew the words instantly, if I wanted to claim them. "Become my Paragon" he said..." she trails off a moment.

She looks at Pardot. "Right mess we are. I can try something?"

She touches the halfling's shoulder gently, her hand casting a warm orange glow, similar in coloration to the embers that blaze from her rapier occasionally. "I didn't even know what I was doing at first. Healing myself, or others. I just wanted to make things better, to keep pressing on, to keep fighting for you all. And that's how that hope manifested. As I've dreamed, I've seen how to focus this hope, other ways to use this power."

Lay on Hands: 10 hp, remove a poison, remove a disease

She looks to see if that had any effect.

When the evening comes, Triäsa sits down to play her lute as the sun sets on horizon.  At first, as she usually does, she sticks to more instrumental pieces.  She plays a some Elvish 'sailing' music that she learned in Silverymoon.  Or at least, she thought of them as sailing songs, whether they truly were or not.  She gives a try playing her own renditions of some songs that the other sailors had shared with her as well.  It includes a few lively jigs and such that a handful dance to.  

After a while she shifts to playing a bit more classical pieces, several with rapid tempos and rather difficult and technically challenging parts.  Then after a few of those she finally sings.  The first is a soft melody, and she seems very absorbed into herself as she starts to sing.  But at the end, she clearly steals a glance towards Ludolf as it ends: 

'Say that you'll hold me forever
Say that the wind won't change on us
Say that we'll stay with each other
And it will always be like this'

She sings a few more songs, most are slow and sung in her soft voice.  But despite the softness, the music strongly rings out across the dimly lit ship and out into the darkness beyond. A few are more fun and upbeat. She starts one song of an epic tale of a romance between some of the gods.  She claims to have forgotten some of it, but promises a fuller performance someday.  At the end, still accompanied by her lute, she sings a final song.  The words seem very dear to her as they begin: 

'It's not easy to know
you're not anything like you used to be
Although it's true
you were always attention's sweet center
I still remember that girl

She's imperfect but she tries
She is good but she lies
She is hard on herself
She is broken and won't ask for help
She is messy but she's kind
She is lonely most of the time
She is all of this mixed up
And baked in a beautiful pie
She is gone but she used to be mine

It's not what I hoped for
Sometimes life just slips in through a back door
And carves out a person
And makes you believe it's all true
And now I've got you

And you're not what I asked for
If I'm honest I know I would give it all back
For a chance to start over
And rewrite an ending or two
For the girl that I knew'

Triäsa seems very intently focused on the music as she sings. For just a moment she seems to cast a glance over at Daventry.  But then as she continues, she seems to turn back to her own thoughts.  There is a distinct sadness to her voice.  And as she ends the song, she seems to be crying a bit. 

'She is messy but she's kind
She is lonely most of the time
She is all of this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie
She is gone but she used to be mine'

When finished, the ship becomes quiet, save the sound of the wind and waves.  In the dim lighting, she composes herself a bit. "I am sorry. I think that is all for tonight." Realizing she's become the center of all the attention of all the ship, she quickly slips off, figuratively at least stepping out of the spotlight.  She welcomes the secluded corner with her companions. Quickly she pours a small splash of the Dan Jack into one of the cups to drink.

Sitting with her friends, Triäsa is alarmed when Pardot exhibits his wound.  (Medicine to try to understand more of what may have happened to him: 7) "I was a bit out of sorts before, but I do know a little bit about medicine. Sadly I am not really a healer nor doctor."  She watches hopefully as Daventry tries to use her healing powers on the halfling. 

She gives Ludolf a smile as he asks everyone about their experience and his concern for everyone. She starts to shake her head. "I think I am okay. But I would rather not think too much on...  well, everything that happened.  Some time to myself and the company of all of you and I'll be great."  

Daventry's power flows but the wound seems completely unaffected.

DM sent to Culuril.

Triäsa frowns a bit as she took a look at Pardot's wound. "I have never seen anything like that.  No sohn of infection. No bleeding. No fluids. No discharge. The skin is odd. Almost like it is not real."

"All the more reason to get to a temple as soon as possible," Pardot says as the others reply to his concerns, unable to really help.