Session 15 Report

General Summary

After a brutal battle with the crew of the Magpie, the party and the crew of the Marianne are bloodied but victorious, and most importantly, alive. As Valqinor turns his attentions to tending the injured crewmen and finding out what Korak knows about Aidan's disappearance, Lephnut and Big Richard attempt to sneak downstairs for loot. Big Richard, having impressed a few of the Marianne's men by taking many of the big hits during the battle, has unfortunately attracted the conversation of Jiminy, Cricket, Marco, and Polo, and is unable to sneak away. Lephnut, aided by his new boots, silently disappears down the stairs in search of treasure. Big Richard manages to send Lil D waddling down in his stead.   Upon interrogation, Korak says Aidan tried to ingratiate himself with the crew by partaking in their drugs and overdosed on bloodsand, overwhelmed with the visions it induced. To quietly dispose of his unresponsive body, they gave it to a contact of theirs-- a goblin alchemist operating in the sewers of Cressen. Korak then turns his attentions to Valqinor, calling Kord again a false god and exclaiming that he's seen the visions of the destruction and rebirth that will be brought about by the true Thunderlord-- Talos. Before Korak can continue his ravings, Captain Tides swiftly ends his rant with a harpoon to the chest.   The Captain, grateful that the party more than pulled their weight in the fight, agrees to split some of whatever loot is found on the ship before she has the Magpie sunk-- her final revenge against Korak. Below deck, Lephnut and Lil D find a number of valuables-- namely coin and drugs, but also a curiously nice pair of gambling dice and a well-carved horn. They are unable to explore more before the crew of the Marianne begins making their way down.   The Captain directs the party's attentions to a stash found in a locked room, which she surmises contains items from a recent voyage the Magpie had made to the elven lands of Aldora. Having no use for the items, she hands over a strange, cat-shaped mask and a crystal shard to the party. Valqinor somehow recognizes the crystal as a piece from the Feywild and feels a deep connection to it, as if it awakened something inside him.   After completing their pillaging of the ship and its dead crew, including Korak's and Basco's weapons, the party and the Marianne make preparations to dispose of the Magpie. They pile the bodies together-- whereupon Valqinor notices that Korak has a strange seared scar in the shape of three lightning bolts-- and head back to the Marianne, taking turns making potshots at the ship while drinking and dining. As a final reward, Captain Tides gifts the ring that they were previously unable to buy. She says that after dropping the party off in Cressen and finding their missing first mate Sarver, she intends for the Marianne to depart Cressen-- perhaps for a long time, given the deteriorating state of the nation.   Valqinor puts on the ring during the celebration, and finds that the ring has an occupant already inside it. The voice speaks to Valqinor in his mind, though it doesn't say much other than annoying Valqinor with minor chatter that he tries his best to drown out.   Returning to Cressen, the party says goodbye to Captain Tides and her crew and heads back to the Innocent Doe. They recuperates in their suite, going over their haul before making plans to visit Brennon and tell him the fate of his son. As they are heading out of their room, they hear a commotion downstairs...