Campaign Journal #13: Fleeing Pirates and Chasing Clues

We return to our heroes at four in the morning, on a merchant ship sailing the Hallas Sea north of Loril. Renn Summerstar is partying with the crew when a 15-foot-tall projection of Lady Ilyavoe, the Ironwitch of Fellsdare, appears on deck—fulfilling Renn's request to meet. She answers questions from Renn (and later, Barclay) and clarifies her role in their adventure, which is mostly tangential:

• Bartholomew spoke with Ilyavoe about his realistic dream/vision of the party. She advised him to trust it, or at least look into it.
• Later, when her "spy" returned with the three books, hiding them in a well in Thyrre, she hired Bartholomew to return them.
• Her role as Ironwitch is to observe and counter external threats to the nation of Loril, primarily from the lands of Casseval and Feore. She is aware of internal threats (like Galix and the cult of Eltheodir) but they are outside the purview of her office.
• She closes by telling Renn and Barclay that three ships, presumably pirates, are on an intercept course with their own vessel. Their only hope is to alert the crew and sail as quickly as possible to Myruna.

For the next five days, our heroes assist the ship and crew wherever possible:

• Barclay inspires the crew, gives critical (magical) suggestions, and later causes a pirate helmsman to steer his (pirate) ship into another. Aevyr, his imp familiar, steals a spyglass from a pirate lookout.
• Kodrak assists the crew with turning the sail, a necessary maneuver as they tack into the wind.
• Raehendra fires cannons and later fiery arrows, critically damaging one ship and drawing pirate crewmembers away from their jobs to put out fires.
• Renn generally stays out of the way, though he later magically enhances the crew.
• Sentie creates energy drinks for the crew and rains fire upon the pirate ships.

In time, the ship reaches the safety of Myruna, where it will take several days to clear customs. The party is sent to shore to spend that time as they see fit. The captain, Eofra, allows them to stay at her home, as a thank-you for their assistance.

Kodrak goes for a run around town, when his shard of stone again communicates with him. It indicates that it is a "Shard of the Light of Sentor" but is still only partially active. Kodrak visits a library for more information—which we'll get to next session.

Raehendra also visits a library, but for information about Greebles. The librarians find two books for her: one does mention "Greebles" but it is clearly a typo; the other, by an author named Ippan, seems to back up some of the details in Valyric Paega's journal.

Sentie visits a curio shop and offers to sell (a copy of) the runic spell page. The shopkeeper clearly recognizes the document (by mention alone) but pretends not to, and curtly asks Sentie to leave.

Barclay visits the local Whitsleaf guildhouse and speaks with his liaison contact, Reda, getting the lowdown on local activities. [He is told that little is happening in Myruna, which we'll have to...revise next week.] He also runs into a former Whitsleaf guild member, Giry, who tells him that people were looking for him in Fellsdare, just after Midwinter. Remembering that Bartholomew's dream happened at Midwinter, Barclay sent a message to the dwarf via sending stone: "At Midwinter, did you task people to search for me using shadowy sketches of me? And what's the status on that Proof vs. Detection charm?" Bartholomew replied: "Yes. Needed to know identities/intentions of group. Hope you understand. Whitsleaf subtly inquired, leading to job. My agents in Falxmed have lead on charm."

Renn visits the library for information about the time known as Scymrelde. The librarians research the mention and relay what they have found:

The Scymrelde or Scymralth was a (likely legendary) time shortly after the sun Morn was put to sleep (also likely legendary). The sleeping sun bathed the planet in magical essence, which allowed spells to be created. These early spells had few safeguards, which wreaked havoc on people and the land alike. The mages who survived learned to control their spells while everyone else sought shelter for at least a generation.

Soundtrack:

Joe Hisaishi, Princess Mononoke (1997)

The Main Cast, our player characters:

• Barclay Stone (he/him), human bard (college of eloquence)
• Aevyr, his imp familiar
• Kodrak Kukkerlun (he/him), dwarven fighter (battle master)
• Raehendra Tiddlybumpkin (she/her), gnomish ranger (hunter)
• Renn Summerstar (he/him), elven cleric of Lioris (twilight domain)
• Sentie Rancis (they/them), human wizard (school of transmutation)

The Supporting Cast, non-player characters:

• Ilyavoe, human, the Ironwitch of Fellsdare
• Eofra, half-human, ship captain
• Walthy, the cook's boy
• Ship crew
• Giry, human, thief and former member of Whistleaf
• Reda, Whitsleaf liaison officer in Myruna

See the full cast list at Campaigns in Elsemorn—now with photos of the miniatures used in the game!