Geralt takes the 4gp and turns them over in his hand.  "Yes... well... of course.  Anything to aid the faith of Procan.  I'm sorry I couldn't have kept you out longer.  As it is, I need to get my vessel secured and then see everything at home is tied down properly.  Farewell, and please offer Wellgar my apologies for failing to find the lost souls he was seeking."

What looks at first like a wall of grey mist moves in from across the sea.  Quickly, you realize it is a curtain of rain, driven on by the winds.  More and more of the visible Azure Sea is swallowed up by the curtain until it reaches the shore.  Despite its immense scope, so far the rain isn't too bad.  It's actually quite warm and isn't enough to immediately drench you, though it certainly won't be long if you don't get off the beach and into some shelter.  

As they walk, Tilliman sidles up to Eron and asks, "Erm... I noticed no one seemed particularly concerned by the notion that the rays we encountered were demonic in origin... Are abyssal entities of this sort common for this region?

Quote from MAOShea >>

As they walk, Tilliman sidles up to Eron and asks, "Erm... I noticed no one seemed particularly concerned by the notion that the rays we encountered were demonic in origin... Are abyssal entities of this sort common for this region?

 “I personally know they are not uncommon.  They are a scourge on our world.  There are many dangers beneath the waves.  I’m very relieved you made it into the boat before you could be attacked, sorry I wasn’t closer when I noticed what they were.  Tillman I believe you are an inventor?  That leds me to believe you are very intelligent, do you have any theories about this whole ship disappearance?”

Eron stretch’s in the warm rain managing to open his wound and begins to bleed,  “Excuse me I need to go see father Wellgar.  You’re all welcome to come with he may like to hear anything I might have overlooked.”

Tilliman considers Eron's question and wracks his brain about anything he can recall about any history of abyssal influence in this region...

Let’s go talk to Father Wellgar,” Fane says, “give him our less than stellar results. Then perhaps find some rooms to wait out this storm. The whiskey and the waves still have me feeling ill.”

Once Eron makes his way up to the temple he will find Father Wellgar, “Looks like whatever took the ship left next to nothing behind… There were demon rays present, one got a taste of my flesh here.  If not for the weather I’d have persisted in my search.  I’m sorry Wavemaster surely there is someway to find out more.  We recovered a piece of debris which bears a mark like an axe chop… maybe they were boarded and abducted?”

Tilliman:

 Walking back into town through the warm rain and following the cobblestone streets up onto the cliffside, the party passes a pair of roads branching off.  One leads up to a small hill, covered in stone houses and apartment buildings, of apparent recent construction.  Another road, nearer the temple of Procan, leads to a large cemetery surrounded by a tall iron fence.  Inside the gate, an older half-orc can be seen hurriedly putting away groundskeeping tools into a shed and securing it against the storm.  They also pass a building that looks much like a nobleman's home, but you see a sign out front which reads "Salinmoor Mining Charter Company."

Approaching the Temple of Procan, it looks much like any other small church or schoolhouse, with wooden walls painted an azure blue.  A three-story bell tower rises above, with windows overlooking the sea.  Pushing open the doors, however, you see an unusual interior - unless you have frequented Procan temples before. 

Where other churches might have wooden pews, there are rows of rocks and small boulders, seemingly pulled up from the sea floor.  One seat appears to be an old ship's anchor turned on its side.  At the back, a large altar looks to be a block of fossilized coral, and on the floor in front of it a stone pool has been dug.  It is filled with sea water and small colorful fish.  Steps lead in and it looks like it could hold 4 or 5 persons seated side by side.

Near a staircase leading up to the belltower, Wellgar Brinehanded is surrounded by several of his flock, who are questioning him about the storm.  To those of you seeing him for the first time, he is an older human man with a wooden leg.  Unlike the fancy carved leg worn by Eliander, captain of the guard, this is a simple wooden peg.  You might mistake him for a homeless beggar, but for the the obvious deference shown to him by his parishioners.  He excuses himself when he sees you enter, and he listens to Eron's report.  He looks at the piece of debris, concerned.  "Hmmn.  I will need to pray over this.  I thank you for your efforts, even if they were in vain.  If I can assist you with anything, and it is within my power, you need only ask."  

"Much has not gone as expected today, between the mystery of the Belle Meade and this sudden storm.  I am sorry.  I would not have asked you to take on such a risk had I foreseen how quickly the weather would turn.  Please, let me do something about that wound...".  He places a hand on Eron's arm and hums with a deep, throaty sound.  Eron feels a sensation that is both warm and cool at the same time, as the bite marks begin to heal.  [Cure Wounds for 7HP recovered.]

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I do some of my best thinking when the seas are up and the wind is roaring.  As for you, I suggest you find some place to stay dry.  The coming storm will not pass quickly, and it is like to be a bad one."

Tilliman finally puts the pieces together just as Eron finishes his debrief with Wellgar Brinehanded...

Not wanting to interrupt, he waits until they've finished their conversation before shuffling up to Eron and explaining in a low voice. "Beg your pardon... This may be something, or it may be nothing... but prior to embarking on this expedition I came across some letters which warned of an Abyssal incursion, a place infested with demons, in a place called the 'Drowned Forest' which, if my understanding is correct, is located somewhere nearby... Now, given the Abyssal nature of the, erm... entities we encountered, perhaps there's some connection between this Drowned Forest and the strange goings on we've observed? Is it worth investigating?"

As he asks, his face is both intimidated and excited... Eyes shining with gleeful glint of potential discovery.

“Thank you for your healing, and may your prayers reveal answers to this dire mystery.”  Eron stretches free of not only his most recent injury but also of lingering pain he had been stoically enduring…

When Tillman asks about the Drowned Forest, “My home is near there.  I need to let Will and Tom, my superiors know what we’ve discovered here today, and catchup with Captain Fireborn, I have something I want to ask him about.  Perhaps we will need to hunker down and let this storm pass, but afterwards I’d love to find out if my home still stands.  We can ask the rangers and patrols for recent news then also.  In the meantime it seemed as if stopping at the Salinmoor Mining HQ to ask Lady Manistrad about work was also of some interest?”

Eron smiles as he looks at everyone, Fane, Leo, Therris, Tillman, & Regdus.

The old priest listens to Tilliman.  In answer, he adds, "Well, I think you may be half right and half wrong.  There is something foul afoot in the Drowned Forest, though it's been there for some years now and doesn't seem to reach beyond the borders of that wood.  As for the demon rays, unfortunately there have been tales of them prowling the Azure Sea for as long as men have sailed it.  I don't see how the two could be connected."

"That said," he finishes, "If there be some hidden connection, I will ask Procan to reveal it to me.  He takes little interest in the affairs of the land, but if some force in the forest stretches its vile tendrils into the Sailor's waters, he will surely know about it."

Tilliman nods. "I suppose I ought to settle in and make myself comfortable while I wait for the weekly market... If I'm not too much of a burden, I'd happily join your expedition to the Salinmoor Mining HQ. I'm certain I have a few of my own questions for this, erm, Lady Manistrad."

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

"That said," he finishes, "If there be some hidden connection, I will ask Procan to reveal it to me.  He takes little interest in the affairs of the land, but if some force in the forest stretches its vile tendrils into the Sailor's waters, he will surely know about it."

"Oh you are a priest of Procan?" Regdus asks, almost whispering. He grabs his pouch and take 2 gold pieces "Please accept this offrande for the Storm Lord. May he show us where our fate is leading us."

Wellgar accepts the two golden coins and tosses them, one at a time, into the shallow pool before the altar.  "Your offering is graciously accepted.  The Prince of the Tides will keep your safety in mind when you ride upon his waters."

[Is it stopping at the mining company HQ now?  

As for Elon, no problem splitting off to do some business on his own.  We can probably wrap that up in a post or two.  Does he go to do that now?  Or does he go to the mining HQ with the others first? ]

Eron will seek out Captain Fireborn.  Show him the diary ask if he can read it or knows someone who can.

”I’m still learning who’s who here in town, I just figured your work makes you a lot more connected.  Perhaps you even know the language yourself?  It could be nothing but I have a gut feeling it’s important somehow.”

After finishing discussing the journal with Eliander he will try to catch up with the others presumably at the mining HQ.

While Eron steps out to jog across town to the home of Eliander Fireborn, the others walk from the church a few blocks west to the Salinmoor Mining Charter Company headquarters.  Once a grand residence belonging to a wealthy merchant family, this stately building has been transformed into the bustling center of dwarven industry and commerce within Saltmarsh.

As you approach, a pair of dwarves race up the front steps and into the building, shielding their heads from the wind and the rain.  Following them inside, you see the interior of the building has been remodeled significantly.  Far from the elegant exterior, with its gables and trellises, the interior more closely resembles a tax collectors office [to those of you that bother to pay your taxes] with narrow halls and small offices.  A front lobby opens into a spacious courtyard at the center of the compound, where the two dwarves continue ahead.

A younger, male dwarf in a collared shirt stops you as you enter.  "Ah, you must be..." he looks from Regdus, to Fane, to Tilliman and finally to Therris.  "I haven't the foggiest idea who you are or why you're here.  Please, enlighten me."

Eron:

Fane quickens her step to ensure she is the first of the group to enter. As soon as she takes a step inside, she casts a quick Shape Water on herself, changing the flow of water currently dripping off her body and clothes, sending in streaming out the door. She will repeat the spell on all her new friends as they enter also.

She then says, “wait outside Leo, keep an eye on the storm for me” and turns to greet the young dwarf wearing the collared shirt.

Eron responds to the half-orc, “Yes I was hoping to ask him about anyone in town who might translate a journal for me, I have no idea what language it’s written in… Weren’t you working up near the Temple?  My names Eron.”  Eron is attempting to assess this half-orc, what age? Armed? At ease or tense?

Therris looks down at the dwarf. "Neither have I. Wind takes us where it does. And the scent of gold. Heard there might be work to be had, something of the sort."

At the Mining HQ:

The dwarf gives a bit of an impatient eye roll.  "Yes, yes.  Always plenty of work needing done, though this is a piss poor time.  Come back on the morrow and perhaps we can find something suited to your... skillsets."  He turns to walk back into the interior of the hall, implying you had been dismissed, when he stops in his tracks.  The two dwarves who entered just ahead of you are shouting in dwarven to a handful of other dwarves in the courtyard.

For those who speak Dwarven:

 The dwarf sighs and backpedals.  "On second thought, maybe you can be of service today, after all.  It seems our crane on the causeway project is having some trouble with these winds.  If any of you don't mind a little rain, or getting yourselves muddy, I'll pay... two golden lions each for anyone who can help get her secured before she takes any real damage.  Our crew will be departing any moment."

Eron: