Reuniting the Band

Yartol stands as Kragen announces his departure, "I'm assuming we do not wish to split up?"  With a nod to Jornan in thanks he joins the dwarf and the noble to the docks.

Two of the ships mentioned by Jornan are in harbor.  Each is taking on cargo.  You are able to book passage to Waterdeep without difficulty.  Non-working passage is 5gp each.  The ship sails in four hours on the falling tide.

5 gold seems a fair price. I have no desire to haggle unless the price matter to others.

Let's take the ship with finer quarters and be on our way. 

Kragen returns to the temple and communicates with party members. "Sails up in 4 rotations an hourglass. Prepare your selves."

Kragen heads to prepare his belongings and spend time in prayer and reflection.

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5 gold seems a fair price. I have no desire to haggle unless the price matter to others.

Let's take the ship with finer quarters and be on our way. 

 Kragen nods at Trolkarl's fine advice. Pays the steward.

The Company departs Tyr's temple and heads to the wharf.  It is close so a short trip.  Xymox and Starker note during your haggling with the ship's captain that someone you saw at outside of the temple and along the wharf's is now having a conversation with someone at the mouth of an alley about 200 feet away.  He is facing you, young human man, sandy blond hair, wearing basic clothes and leathers.  No obvious weapons on him.  He is facing you while the person he is speaking with is facing away from you.  That person is shorter, dark haired and dressed similarly.  You don't see him watching you directly.  Just curious he was seen in several places.  But, it was a short walk and it may be just coincidence.

The conversation breaks up.  The blonde man turns into the alley.  The dark haired man walks along the wharf, away from you.

Kragen peers at them with his steely gaze on eyes of eagle, to get a more accurate description for future reference.

Perception check 10+7=17

Kragen is alerted to the men and looks in their direction.  He is able to get a good look at the blonde man before they break up their conversation.

Xymox to Kragen: "Do you want me to follow the dark haired man?"  (perception 19, for any additional observations.)

Xymox notices no other oddities about the area.  

The ship is nearly finished loading and the captain welcomes you aboard to get settled into your cabins.  The ship is rather nicer than most with enough cabins that each of you has your own.  Meals are common, but you will have your own table.  The captains expects to see Waterdeep on the morning of the fifth day of the voyage.  They have taken on much cargo and are planning to sail with three other ships together.

The ship is secured and mooring ropes are cast off from the pier.  It is maneuvered out into the harbor and makes way for the Sea of Swords and Waterdeep.  The sailors are busily managing the sails leaving room on deck for you to watch Neverwinter fade behind you.  

Kragen sees the blonde man return to the docks and speak with the dark haired man again.  Both are seemingly watching the ship, and you, depart the city.  A look of surprise comes over the blonde man's face as a sword appears, sprouting out of his chest.  It is accompanied with a lot of blood.  An orc has slipped up behind him to deliver the surprise.  The orc is accompanied by a human who slips a garrote around the neck of the dark haired man.  There is a brief struggle and both of your observers collapse to the pier.  Ropes are looped around them that are tied to heavy bags and over the side they go, into the harbor.  The human looks around behind them seeing no commotion created by their swift action.  The orc looks out to the harbor and crosses his forearms in front of his abdomen, forming an X.  They both then disappear down an alley.

Neverwinter slowly dips below the horizon.  The four ships of your convoy line up with yours in the rear.  A southern heading is taken and the coast barely seen on the horizon is followed.  The first morning there is some discussion on deck between the captain and the topmast lookout.  A sail has appeared on the horizon following you.  It is a brigantine, likely faster than the merchant ships.  The day passes without the ship closing, or falling away.  The ships approach night time with a heavy watch and no lights.  The course is changed twice in the night.  Dawn finds the brigantine still just off the horizon, following.  The next two nights are the same with no lights and night time course corrections.  The brigantine stays with you until the peak of Mt Waterdeep is seen ahead of you.  The brigantine then turns away from your convoy.

The City of Splendors welcomes you into its harbor and dockage is achieved.

Kragen conveys what he saw to the Company. And attempts to be specific in hs description of the Perps.

"Concerning to say the least. We have developed many fine friends across Faerun, not sure why anyone would want ill of us?!" Smirks a bit while making the statement

In transit, when the Ship sis discovered. Kragen attenpts to use his Eagle Eyes to gain some discerning marks of the tailing ship.

Perception check 20+7=27

These crystal lenses fit over the eyes. While wearing them, you have Advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight. In conditions of clear visibility, you can make out details of even extremely distant creatures and objects as small as 2 feet across.

He then inquires with the Captain. "Seems a bit odd, Captain. That ship tailing this convoy? Any clues as to who or what they want? Did your man in the crows nest make out anything we can identify them with?"

The captain and crew are unable to determine any markings. They are concerned about pirates.  But, with four ships they should be safe from a single ship if they stay together.

Kragen is able to spot a single pennant flying from the main mast of the brigantine.  It is white with a dark blue or black X.

"Let's make haste to Xagyg. Kragen were you able to alert him of our arrival?

I suggest we keep Kragen in the center with the thing (he whispers that part) Starker and I in the front and Yartol and Trolkarl in the rear. Don't worry Starker, in a case like this they are more likely to try and ambush from the rear.

"We should also see if our Bard can find out any info on the flag/sigil that i ide tofied while in Waterdeep. I can also send to Serethia, as she is now a close confidant, if she had knowledge of this emblem/sigil"

"Xygag is aware we are in route. We have our instructions. We head to the Raging Lion in the North Ward. Starker can sup on boiled eels and we will drink Mt waterdeep kolsch ale by the pitchers!" Slaps Chad hard on the back.

Grabs his gear, thanks the Captain for an uneventful and accomodsting trip and heads north from the Dock Ward.

The day is busy in the Dock Ward.  Many ships are loading and unloading.  Wagons cart goods to and from warehouses and out of the city.  Things become less crowded as you make your way to the North Ward.  The streets here are more quiet and easily navigated.  You do not seem to be garnering any undue attention as you make your way through the city.  The Raging Lion is readily found.

You see a pair of dwarves enter the tavern as you approach.  Neither has arms or armor seen upon them.

Cyrus takes a clean handkerchief from Starker’s pocket and starts to shine the jewels and polish the precious metals on EmFer’s Chastisement. 

The Company stands in the street, The Roaring Lion is a block away or so.  Cyrus is getting things pretty and shiny.

Starker:”Let us make haste. I would have the temptation of  the Staff and the anxiety its possession provokes abated.”

Kragen follows Starker and Cyrus the magnanimous monkey.