“I first twigged to it when you lot mentioned the Chronicles of Years to Come. There’s no way Godrick has that book. At least not the real one. Unless he’s been dealing with,” he pauses, the look on his face going very sour, “Korda damned to the hells Glinstone.”

He looks around and is about to say more when Geffroi interrupts.

“I found the name Korda Glintstone here,” Geffroi says.

He kneels down on the deck, and unrolls one of the scrolls. It looks to be a map.

“I think this is a map of the lower level of the Arcanum in Gheldaneth.” Geffroi says. “I was able to update the maps of the upper level but, well, I had to leave in a hurry before I could check the lower.”

He traces his hand to one corner of the map and points at a spidery scrawl of handwriting that can just barely be made out. It reads Korda Glintstone. Next to it are some runes.

“I’m not sure about these.” Geffroi looks to Ethel with a raised eyebrow.

Hammerdasher buts in before Ethel can look at the map.

“Korda’s a traitor and a thief and she’s locked away.” Hammerdasher is clearly seething with anger every time he mentions Korda’s name.

Jan pinches the bridge of her nose with her gloved hand and breathes slowly.

History: 10

"And just who is this Korda?", she asks, waving a hand for Hammerdasher or Geffroi to elaborate.

History arcanum: 12

"What now?"

This is the first inkling Ethel has that any of Godrick’s research was recovered.  She had written off the plundering of his lab as having not occurred.  She pushes - as much as Ethel is capable of pushing - her way closer to Geffroi and the scrolls.

“Godrick’s documents?  What did we capture?  Let me see that.”  Her tone is somewhere between insistent and INSISTENT.

Additionally this is - I think - the first time Ethel has heard Hammerdasher report to have some knowledge of the Chronicles of Years to come.

History check to see if any of these names click with Ethel (giving her disadvantage due to her distraction of Godrick’s documents) :  9

Hammerdasher finally realizes that his anger is getting the better of him and he's just spitting out words rather than making any sense. He stomps around the deck for a few moments, trying to calm down.

While you're in conversation with Hammerdasher, Bigge has trimmed the sails and is still putting distance between the Rose Marie and Hargrove Island - heading vaguely east - but the ship is not moving quickly.

Hammedasher comes back and tells you more about Korda Glintsone.

Korda was an ally and agent of Hammerdasher's clan - the Ironfang Clan from Ironfang Deep - a moderately influential and wealthy dwarf clan on the southern edge of the Sea of Fallen Stars. To increase their influence in the area, the clan hired Korda. She built a network of informants and agents, ostensibly all to the benefit of Clan Ironfang.

But Korda grew too ambitious for her role as an agent, so she devised a plan to take power for herself. Over five years she took careful stock of Clan Ironfang's wealth and, in one fell swoop, used her network of lieutenants to steal away most of the clan’s gold and its other valued treasure, leaving only a pittance.

The Ironfang dwarves discovered her almost immediately. They rounded up her agents, who either fought to the death or were executed. They captured Korda and interrogated her, but she never revealed the location of the stolen fortune, even under magical compulsion. The Ironfang dwarves used their influence to have her sentenced to life in a remote prison on the other side of Icelace Lake in northern Narfell. The clan was hopeful Korda would eventually break and reveal the location of the stolen wealth. But she's never come close to breaking.

Hammerdasher was making his way north to try interrogating her again when the events of the Rose Marie happened. His father was the clan liason with Korda and his family name has been tarnished ever since.

"In our treasure is the second original handwritten copy of the Chronicles of Years to Come." 

Geffroi only partially listens to what Hammerdasher is saying, instead trying to get Ethel's attention about the runes on the map.

Neither Jan or Marrin can make anything of the runes. But they do know Geffroi was in Gheldaneth before making his way to the Rose Marie and he mentioned an ancient library that was partially in ruin, as well as what sounded like the undead walking the desert at night.

(Cross posted with Ethel).

Geffroi shows Ethel what they've found. A few of the books are clearly Geffroi's own notebooks he had with him on the Rose Marie before being captured. There's the map with the runes that he's hoping she may recognize (History w/ advantage from Sage background). There's a small notebook, presumably Godricks with similar spidery writing in it - much of it is in some sort of shorthand that Ethel will likely need to spend some time trying to decipher.

Yes. This is the first Hammerdasher has mentioned of the book, though he did mention earlier that it was impossible for Godrick to have it when the lab was being rummaged through.

Ethel very much recognizes the Arcanum as having to be the Arcanum of Magic in Gheldaneth. She'd heard it was destroyed but Geffroi is saying he's been there and while it is partially in ruins, the underground levels are more intact. lt was also known as the Great University - a prominent university and temple dedicated to Thoth. Ethel remembers mention of something called the Order of Osiris who used part of the temple to gather magical knowledge, especially related to death and the gray area between life and death.

(Before Hammerdasher and Geffroi head up, Ava notices that Marrin has apparently found clothes and she changes back to her originals as well.)

Noting that the ship wasn't moving as fast as she'd like, she lets the others talk with Hammerdasher and Geffroi, knowing they would fill her in later, and Avaria walks over to Bigge.  "How can I help?  I know we don't have a clear direction, but away from those ships would be a good start."

Bigge smiles at Avaria and waves his hand at the sea around them. 

"Kind of idling until you pick a direction." Bigge says. "On my own? I'd head to Spandeliyon and try and get a real crew, and offload the ones down below, but you lot saved my hide here and I'm happy to head where you like."

[Feel free to question Geffroi and Hammerdasher more - at this point you've still a good 7.5 hours before William Hargrove realizes he's been under a suggestion - so don't feel rushed to pick a direction unless you want to - then I can list a few options after your discussion]

Jan will fill Ethel in that they were able to get into Godrick's lab, but after a search didn't find the book she'd spotted in his cabin here on the Rose Marie, though he did have a pet zombie strapped down, that they'd grabbed what seemed useful or interesting, and turned the rest into a small bonfire. Better in no one's hands than in Godrick's.

"I'd be interested to know if Gertie knew of any of Godrick's doing... she may have further insight into when he may have met with this traitor to your clan... and if Dodd procured any materials or instruments for her brother, he might have information that would be useful. Besides them having a better sense of where we might go to avoid the Hargrove reach."

She'll head towards the cabin the two are squirreled away in to update them on developments.

History for the runes:  25

"Hey, sorry about earlier... heat of the moment and all that."  Avaria looks down as his raw ankles, "I'm sure your ordeal was awful, we're all very glad to have found you.  But let me confer with the rest of the group and get back to you on a direction."

She heads over to the group and catches up.  "Did we want to set course for Gheldaneth? Sounds kind of exciting."  Ava throws into the mix, wanting a direction to send the Rose Marie.

Marrin looks less than thrilled at the talk of Gheldaneth.

"Wasn't that place filled with undead creatures that ate your team Geffroi? I'm not sure I'm up for jumping into that. Nor does heading to the frozen north to speak with a recalcitrant oathbreaker, sorry Hammerdasher."

She gives Hammerdasher a consoling smile.

"Can't we aim for somewhere more populous to drop off the other ex-prisoners? No place better to disappear than in a crowd. Maybe some place with nice shops, better restaurants and venues for people to find work in?"

She looks around,

"Which reminds me, where are Gertie and Dodd? They must have a destination in mind already."

((@Thor, since Ula got her armor back could Marrin get the studded leather she is currently wearing?))

Aft Guest Cabin (Godrick's old cabin):

Harry Dodds and Gertrude Hargrove look up when Jan enters the aft guest cabin.

Dodds looks carefully at Jan's face.

"We're free? We're free," he says the first as a question but the second as a statement. He looks at Gertrude and laughs. "I told you your father had made a big mistake taking these ones in."

On Deck:

Geffroi's eyes grow wider at the mention of possibly heading to Gheldaneth. Avaria can't be certain but it looks more like fear than excitement.

Ethel has seen what she suspects is a more modern version of the rune characters that are on the map. This looks like something that might be older but it seems to indicate something called the Dark One's Djed.

When she says those words aloud, Hammerdasher loses all of the fiery rage that has made his skin red and blotchy. He looks incredibly pale all of a sudden.

"That wasn't something we considered treasure but it was in our safe keeping. Years ago we traded often with all of the countries of the southern Sea of Fallen Stars, including Mulhorand. My father was young when their empire was crumbling. He told me of a sage coming from Mulhorand, from Gheldaneth and he brought a djed with him. He begged our clan to hide it and guard it. It was said to unlock something of great power. But it was with the treasure Glintstone stole from us." 

He uses some water to draw out a rough image of what he remembers the djed to look like:

(Cross posted again, but should still work - and yes, Marrin can grab the studded leather)

Marrin looks at the djed and asks,

"What's a djed? Looks like a dragonchess piece?"

She considers if she's ever heard of them before.

History: 6

"We're on the open water, heading away from the island, and away from the ships the rest of your family are on.", Jan confirms.

"Not sure how popular you're likely to be with the other prisoners, but them knowing you helped provide the opportunity will help. Probably better than staying hidden down below all secret like. We're trying to set a course, but are a bit short handed when it comes to experienced sailors. Want to make sure we're not going to drop anchor where it's going to be an issue, so if you'd like to provide any insights on the family dealings with port towns, it would be appreciated."

Aft Guest Cabin (Godrick's old cabin - Dodds'/Gertrude's new cabin?):

Dodds' nods at Jan's assessment of what the prisoners might think of Gertrude.

"It will be easier to stay undetected here," Dodds suggests. "Going below will mean Gert's seen by everyone."

Gertrude doesn't seem to be paying much attention to the secrecy discussion. Instead she runs to the large windows in the aft wall, looking for any sign of other ships.

"They're on a ship?" she asks as she turns back to Jan. "Mom and dad haven't been, um, off the island in years. Me neither. But that's, er, because they won't, um, let me. Godrick's the only one who, you know, comes and goes as he pleases."

She frowns and then shakes her head.

"They deal with, um, smugglers and pirates and" she gestures to Harry Dodds, "Um, special merchants. Never with towns. People in towns, um, asks a lot of, er, questions."

On Deck:

Even as Marrin mentions a dragon chess piece, she knows that's not it. The best she's able to come up with is something old.

Ethel is pretty sure there's some connection between the Order of Osiris and the djed. If she had to be specific she's guessing it represents Osiris's backbone. Osiris was an old god of death and the afterlife that used to be worshiped in Mulhorand.

"Don't know," Hammerdasher says at the mention of what a djed was or is. "Just know the one we were looking after was some sort of key."

"I doubt they'd want you there any more than you'd want to be down there, no offense. I've no problem with you using the cabin, but don't think secrecy is the move in the long run. I'd suggest at the very least, once we figure out what sort of stores we have on hand and who is cooking dinner, that you put in an appearance. If there's going to be bad blood, better to head it off now than let whispers spread and have it come to a head in a few days."

As Gertie heads to the windows, "Yeah, they went after your brother, we think. Headed south. We intend to go another direction and get some sea between us and them if they decide to change course. Any idea where he might be heading?"

"Where were you hoping to go for your fresh start?"

Avaria notes the unmatched enthusiasm of going to Gheldaneth.  She shrugs and then wipes away some blood and taking stock of herself, she isn't ready for any more adventure at the moment.  

Trying to listen to what the others are talking about, it all goes over her head and is glad her friends are much better at this than she is.  But not wanting to be left out, she adds, "Well, we could head towards Spandeliyon, drop off our guests, get a real crew for Bigge and lay low for a bit till we get things figured out?"