Ghosts of Saltmarsh (cbaer8) - Campaign Thread

Peri:
Peri sighs and settles in on the platform. "I might as well tell it now, in case there's somethin' you wanna follow up on before we're booted from the town. So, after our recent employer gave us our pay..." He decides not to mention their employer's name or the details of their job in front of Boko until he has a chance to ask the others about her. Probably best not to discuss those details here anyway, since they can't be too sure of their privacy. "I went out to spend a bit of it. I was down at the tavern, havin' a coupla few pints, when I overheard some unkind words directed at the Feldren family, and I took exception. I tried persuadin' the louts with stories of your heroics and generosity, but they seemed pretty adamant in their views, so the persuadin' got to the hands-on variety. More folks jumped in on their side of the discussion, some things got broke, and the guards came to moderate our debate. Only they weren't really impartial -- took up the side of the locals and lent the weight of their clubs to the arguments against me. Well, I suppose I lost the debate, but a few guards had some lumps and bruises to encourage them to reconsider their position once they'd had some time to think.

"So far, just a normal night in port after gettin paid, right? I figured I'd spend a night in the pokey, pay a fine in the mornin, and be on my way. But one of them that got banged-up was a real sadistic type, and when they found my purse full of -- well, what we got paid, he decided he'd rather keep the lot of it. So he put me in a hole with the weirdest cellmate I hope to ever meet. It was an old gnome, twisted, scarred, with no eyes at all. But he could see me somehow, and offered me tea, and when I accepted he served me the best cup of tea -- still scaldin' hot! -- from outta nowhere. We talked a bit -- I kinda got the impression if I didn't get on his good side, which was tricky cuz he was clearly nutty as squirrel turds, he just might murder me to see what was inside. But we got on well, so he offered me some cheese. Then he just opened up a 'pipe' -- that's what he calls 'em, and I don't have a better name for 'em -- right in the middle of the air and crawled through. A minute later he crawls back out with a whole cheese. Good cheese too; he might be a loon, but he has good tastes!

"Well, we're eatin' our cheese and talkin -- oh, if he finds us again, which he likely will, I told him you could tell him where to get some nice duds like these, and I'd buy him a set as a gift, which seems real important to him, exchangin gifts. Anyway, we're talkin, and the guards bring in a kid who's cryin' about 'I didn't do nothin! I was just sellin snakes!' Hong gets this malicious look and pipes over to the kid's cell, I hear a screech, and Hong's back with a flask he took off the kid. I can see right away it's magical, so I start talkin to the kid. He says he was in the market, sellin snakes and bottles of venom -- I managed to grab a bottle later, but that's not yet -- when the guard snatches him for stealin someone's purse, which he says he doesn't have. Well, after askin about the lucrative business of snake tradin, I asked what was in the bottle. Just as he's yellin not to open it, Hong of course does open it, and out pops a pair of little sparks. Like two little lights just floatin in the air, but then they zapped us, me and Hong. He skedaddled through another pipe, and I was stuck tryin to fight em off, but it didn't seem to do much good. He pops back outta the pipe, dumps a huge ice storm on them and me both -- like the one the flyin mage used -- and then I scurry through the pipe with him to the kid's cell. But the sparks followed us, and before I could do anything they killed the kid. Hong opens another pipe, and this time we're runnin across the roofs in town. That's when I spotted you guys kickin in the door and joined you."

"Well, you know at least as much as me what happened in the building. After the collapse, Hong found me under some rubble and piped me out, back into the jail. The sparks were gone, but the guards had all been killed already. I asked Hong to pull you through too, but first he grabbed that barber, Alfred. Who I'm pretty sure was no innocent barber, but that didn't give that captain the right to murder him in the street. But next he pulls through one of the damned fishheads, and I knocked him out, before finally findin Dwal, who pulls another fishhead out with him! Weren't you guys tryin to kill all the fishheads? After that I decided we'd better vamoose from the jail, so I gathered up my stuff -- that stupid fat guard had already nicked half my purse, and there's still a pearl missin. If we weren't gettin the boot in the mornin, I'd have gone lookin for it and jerked a knot in whoever I found holdin it!"

The thin man quietly shows Gerrard the washroom - a rather industrial-looking adjacent room with a tank and washtub. No hot water, currently, but clean enough. He soon departs, leaving you alone in this large commercial laundry operation. Liddy departs with him, but not before giving Boko a horrified look at the thought of eating Bunny. (Quickly getting over her horror, she then describes in great detail the birthday outfit she is making for him, before the man pulls her away.)

It is well after midnight, and you are all exhausted and in need of sleep.

Whether there is a guard set or not, Dwal will get some sleep, taking his guard shift if needed.

"Your previous employers paid you in pearls?" Boko says. "That reminds me, our 'fishhead' is likely escaped or dead. We should have returned to it to find more information."

She's fine to rest, she's exhausted.

Unless there is other business, you all get a long rest without incident. Your accommodations, while hard and crude, are surprisingly comfortable. You wake late, mid-morning, by the noises of the thin man starting up his laundry boilers. You realize that the thick heat of this industrial room has completely dissipated overnight. It is now bone-cold, and you are grateful for the riches of blankets and pillows your host has provided. 

Dwal will wake, stretch, then do a quick bit of studying in his spell book to switch a spell or two. 

Gerrard:

Waking up from last evening’s nightmare, Gerrard asks Peri, “How soon do we leave?  Do we need to lay in some more provisions or other supplies, or can we directly get to the ship and leave for the island?”

Turning to Boko, he asks, “I know there are unresolved issues here, Mistress Boko, but even with all the craziness last night I hope we have dealt the cultists a major setback.  Will you stay here, or consider accompanying us?”

OOC:  if we have a bit of time before sailing, Gerrard is considering going by the weaponsmith and seeing if he can find an upgrade his armaments.

Peri:

Peri yawns and stretches, feeling well-rested. Better'n a jail cell by a long shot. "The boat should be ready to go, though we'll want to stop by the market if we want more than cold rations for the trip. If you left a kuo-toa with the priests we might wanna know just what they're doin' in the city. I'd like to find that pearl too, but I doubt we have the time for that. Nearly a year's wages, when I was a seaman, gone now because of a dirty guard. I know I probably shouldn't tell you this, bein' as you're a nobleman and all, but I'm beginnin' to lose what little respect I ever had for the law. Maybe them smugglers had the right idea, except for the slavery part of course. Can't say there's much justice gettin' dispensed by the lawmen around here. Once these sahuagin get sorted, I think I might look into buyin' a ship and takin' my chances on the sea."

((Peri will buy enough fresh food for a couple of days' travel at the market. Let me know the cost and I'll mark it off. Also, since I was AWOL when you were buying potions from the priest, I was wondering if Peri could have ordered a jar of Keoghtom's Ointment. Let me know the price if it's available.))

Boko rises early, and blinks. She spent part of the long rest in the form of a large great cat, curled up and watchful. But she awakens as a humanoid.

To Gerrard, she listens and asks, "can you tell me more about what you are doing? Leaving this place sounds like a very good idea right now. Though this group attracts chaos and attention and peril. Tell me more about this sahuagin problem and where you are headed. I do owe you for getting you all involved in my problem, so if I can help you with this, I would be glad to. Being out on the water again is always... interesting."

Gerrard:

”We could certainly use your help, Mistress Boko, as we have  several difficult tasks and pernicious enemies in our near future.  Our primary focus, and the threat to the whole region, is the Sahuagin menace.  They have stolen the home of our Lizardfolk allies and—we think—allied themselves with the cultists of Xolor.  Our team has been asked to scout the enemy base before the full scale assault,” starts Gerrard.

”Before that, though, we are planning to scout Abbey Isle, in part because of cultist and pirate activity there, and in part because the key to freeing a man who saved our lives is on that island,” he continues.

”in addition, the servants of the demon Iuz have harassed us and may attack again, though we have little clue as to their interest in us,” he concludes.

Kei 

Waking amongst a pile of blankets he is surprised at how comfortably he was. Without rising he listens to Peri voice his distaste for the law. Propping himself up on an elbow he calls to the halfling "I see you've come to your senses shorty! Glad to have you on my side." Addressing his comment on the smugglers "It's a hard life, don't fool yourself. I'll admit, this life we find ourselves in may be tough, but I'd take it over the constant battle of smuggling. At least you know who your friends are." 

He'll rise after that and follow the others on whichever path they choose for the day. He's more than ready to leave this city.

Dwal reads and listens but says nothing.  Once he is satisfied he will close his book and put it back into the bag and follows along. 
He thumbs the shell necklace under his beard then speaks up:

"If the events of last night are true then this Xolor is tryin' ta establish a wide reach. Gnolls, human assassins, wizards, an' tha Kou-toa, all doing his biddin'. An' now yer family wants ya out of tha way all tha while turnin' a blind eye ta whats going on."
Dwal is quiet for a moment then says:
"Abbey Isle may hold some of tha answers but it also puts us out of tha way ta let events take hold."

Dwal thinks for a moment, strokes his beard then says:
"At some time I'd like ta talk ta Aubreck." 

Gerrard:

Looking at Dwal, Gerrard says, “I wish I could contradict you about my family, Brother Fiercehammer, as I was energized by Seaton’s joining the alliance to eradicate the Sahuagain menace…But given what I have experienced here over the past few days, I can’t disagree with you.”.

”I can only hope it is my mother’s attempt at discipline given that I have not returned to life at court that has us uninvited here and not some darker purpose,” he adds.

“As much as I would like to do some shopping in town and chase down other leads about Xolor’s minions, I feel a sense of urgency to leave this city and accomplish other tasks we have let lie fallow while we have tarried here,” Gerrard says.  “Hopefully we will see Aubrek again when we return to Saltmarsh,” he concludes.

Peri:

"I hope we can clear out Abbey Isle in a day, or maybe two at the outside. It'd mean finally crossin' somethin' off our list rather than addin' to it. 'Course we might find three more mysteries need lookin' into, the way these things usually go for us, but we might also find somethin' useful left behind by the cultists. Maybe some information as to what this Xolor is tryin' to achieve, maybe even somethin' magical? We could even establish a base of operations in virgin territory, where we're not stumblin around blind amongst intrigues, and nary a corrupt guard in sight!"

He turns to Boko. "We haven't really had a chance to talk yet. I'm Periwinkle Fenwader, Peri to my friends. I understand you got caught up in some nonsense involvin' the cult of Xolor here in Seaton and these guys were helpin you out. What were you doin' before all that? I saw you throw some pretty nifty punches into the kuo-toa; where'd you learn to fight like that?"

The morning is bright (if overcast). The laundryman offers little in the way of breakfast - just some porridge and a frugal slice of cheese - although Liddy provides plenty of conversation.

Gerrard knows that Dewey's, on the southeast side of town, offers a full range of arms and armor for sale, together with services like silvering. It's about a twenty-minute walk from where they are staying, although visiting it may run the chance of an encounter, depending on whether you have blue skin, blue blood, or otherwise stand out. (Assume normal PHB prices for all ordinary nonmagical weapons and armor.) 

Peri understands that Keoghtom's Ointment can be obtained at the Temple, together with many other magical items. (You may attempt to purchase - ask first - any spell scroll up to 3rd level. Likewise, you may attempt to purchase anything from the DMG, Tasha, or Xanathar that's common (typically 75gp) or uncommon (typically 300gp) that's a scroll, potion, "dust", "oil", or magical armor/shields. Availability not guaranteed, however. For other - or more powerful items - you may ask. They seem to have access to a smattering of other items, which they may list if you ask.)

Provisions, equipment, tools, and other gear can be found at the bazaar near the wharf. (Again, assume normal PHB prices.) Boko is more familiar with this area than Gerrard.

Peri knows that the cheapest keelboat will run them close to 3000 gold, and prices for good ships quickly go into the 10,000+ gp range, before you even start talking about crew salaries. (Although didn't the Saltmarsh Town Council hint that the Sea Shost might be available to lease or borrow?) But, for now, they have the Dwarven skiff - newly equipped with a fine set of sails. An open boat without a cabin, but well-suited for coastal travel in fair weather.

Aubreck invited you to look him up back in Saltmarsh when he has returned. But for now, short of showing up at his secret safe house, you don't know where to find him in Seaton.

The kuo toa brute that Boko and Gerrard subdued was left at the Temple last night.

Presuming that you are prepared to sail today, why doesn't everyone describe the details of any errands they want to do before departure. (What do you want to buy, who's going where and how, etc.)

Gerrard:

"Come, Master Fenwader, let us go to the temple.  I can introduce you and we can check on what information Brother Los might have extracted from the captive Kuo-Toa if it is still there.  They may have other items of interest as well, and then we can quickly lay in some provisions and set sail," suggests Gerrard, implying that others may join them or take on other tasks as they see fit.

OOC:  Gerrard will be interested to hear if Brother Los has learned anything, and he will be interested in any magical studded leather or melee weapons which can be used with finesse. Magical storage would also be welcome.

((Peri is charmed by Liddy and gives her a silver to buy treats for her and her bunny. He tips the launderer 1 gp for his hospitality. Then he will go to the temple with Gerrard and pick up his jar of Keoghtom's ointment (with 3 doses) that he presumably ordered on their last visit. (-300gp worth of gems) In the market he'll pick up enough supplies for good meals on their little jaunt (5sp/person/day * 2 days = 50sp). He'll also pick up 3 vials of antitoxin (150gp), navigator's tools (25gp), and if possible some charts of the area (let me know if there are any available and what they'd cost). If Gerrard wants help questioning the kuo-toa Peri would be willing, but he doesn't have any special insight and isn't the sharpest interrogator. As far as ships, he's still in the dreaming stage, but it is tilting toward actual planning. Maybe he'll ask around at the docks, if they have some free time, and find out where the best small ships are being built. Maybe a nice, trim little ketch, big enough for a few passengers, small enough to be handled by a crew of 3 or 4, with a shallow draft and rigged for close-hauling so she can hug the shores and outsail trouble... ))

Dwal will follow along to the temple. His only interest right now is to see how the old woman fared. 

While walking along he will try and take mental notes of the area and people. 

Boko listens to Peri, politely and with no small interest. "I am Boko Alcor. I did not quite follow your story earlier, but it seems getting out of town would be beneficial to you. Last night I was walking through town and was somehow taken. Brought into dark caverns below, perhaps below where we collapsed. It was... unpleasant. I do not know what this entity can do."

She sighs. 

"As for what I did before, well, I spent a lot of my time on the water. And under it, more recently. I'm a sailor by trade. I was, until the Hold intervened." Her eyes grow distant, and she shakes her head, blinks a long time, then opens and her eyes focus and she lets out an easy breath. "Since then, things have become unbalanced and I try to help those who need it. Before that, yes, I was born on hard dry ground. Picked up some 'nifty punches' from someone who stopped by my father's farm when I was young, took a shine to me. I keep at it because it brings me peace, and calm. You?"

She distributes some [spell]goodberry[/spll](s) to the group that she called into existence the night before. "They'll keep you from getting hungry, and they'll help pull you back together. We do need some real provisions, though."

Boko is interested in what the clerics have gotten out of the kuo-toa and would be happy to help finish interrogation. She also wants to see what (magical) items they have for sale. She looks for sticks, bones, or tokens for a ritual augury she's heard about.

When she gets into areas she knows her appearance will cause trouble, she ducks into an alley and wildshapes into a cat and traverses the streets in that form, until she feels comfortable enough to shift back in another alley.

She leads the group to a place near the water where the produce the traders use to bribe the harbormaster when they berth ends up after the harbormaster sells whatever they don't want to personally consume. A small stall that will often have deals on unpredictable lists and quantities of vegetables, fruits, grains, and jerky. She buys enough for herself and several others for half a tenday. 

When they get to the harbor itself, she takes a good look at what ships are docked and if she recognizes any. Her mind runs through possibilities and if there's a way she can get the group flexible passage to where they wish to go, or a discount on a vessel that she could pilot herself.

As the group nears the water, there's a marked difference in the druid -- Boko isn't giddy, but she's not nearly as stoic. She's gazing with unabashed interest at the horizon, the sun brightening the cloudbanks, the ships, the calls of the stevedores, the splashing of junk being thrown overboard, the luffing of the sails of an outgoing vessel. She looks like she wants to dive right in. 

Saying goodbye to the laundryman and his daughter, the party returns to the streets. The snow is packed and crusty, the temperature cold, the traffic light.

Visiting the temple, Los and his assistant once again give audience to the group, still with a wary, nervous (but curiosity-filled) deference to Gerrard. While Los maintains the usual disclaimer that the temple does not sell magical items, but "only brokers deal to friends of Procan who will act in his service," the party is able to acquire those arcane things they were seeking (the mariner's studded leather and bag of holding for Gerrard, the ointment for Peri, the spell components for Boko).

The kuo-toa was treated and released, as was the woman whose foot was recently removed. Los has a dismissive attitude toward the kuo-toa, maintaining that there are several colonies in the city who tend to worship esoteric entities - not all of them real. He seems protective of them.

Boko is familiar with the bazaar near the waterfront, and assists the party in obtaining provisions, tools, etc. that you seek. (Her blue skin seems less of a liability here along the waterfront than Gerrard's presence.)