Session 17: Ocean Voyage Report

General Summary

The group got to know the pirates of the Howling Banshee. Thalos got a tattoo, and the group discussed how they were going to go about their task in White Haven. They weren't sure if they would use the contact Capt. V could provide as they weren't sure if they wanted to negotiate straight out with the Brotherhood or take a more subtle infiltration angle. They did have the First Mate, Sartari, forge them all new identifying papers for their trip to the capital. Thalos was the only one who had been there before and relayed to the group some of the basic information about the city. A lot of people lived there in very tight quarters. Most buildings were at least 5 stories tall if not taller and there were plenty of places to have a good time. There was good shopping to be had and the Actinium, the mage school, was locate there. Blackrock's daughter, Imoen, was studying evocation magic there. The group still had some time before they arrived to figure out the details. Thalos got a tattoo from Inky, the drow navigator on the ship and the rest of the group go to know the pirates that they were sailing with a bit more. Then, about 3 days in, in the late afternoon, the boat slowed and stopped. The party was called to the deck of the ship and Capt. V informed them that it was time for them to pay for their trip. There was something that she wanted that was under the waves at their feet. She had some potions for them to use to breath underwater and she needed them to retrieve the item. It was a staff and they would know it when they saw it. With little choice before them and the threat of being left somewhere in the middle of nowhere, the party agreed, with the exception of Old Grey. He was put into the brig while the rest of the group was gone. The 4 remaining party members dove down into the water and found a coral reef. There was a number of coins and gems scattered throughout the reef but the main objective was a staff, sticking out of the reef. The party approached, without running into anything trying to stop them. It took Rynrielle and Thalos a number of attempts and Ryn breaking the coral from around the base of the staff in order for it to break free. As they were getting ready to leave, a large shape came up quickly from behind one of the coral outcroppings and attacked Thalos who didn't see it coming. The large sea lion hit him hard and he backed away leaving Ryn to face the monster alone. After failing to hit it, Ryn went down. Cloud managed to put a hurt on the monster but the beast wasn't taken down until after Talen had come up next to Ryn and taken a large bite and claw wound, knocking him unconscious. By this time, Thalos had healed Ryn enough for him to get up and finish off the beast. Cloud gave Talen a good berry to help get him up and the group worked on what to do next. The group collected the head of the monster, along with some teeth and then Cloud spotted more dark moving shapes in the distance so they left, without collecting much else in the way of treasure. They made it back to the ship, with some flare as Thalos had pulled them all back in the form of a dolphin, except Talen, who barley drug himself back on board. The staff was given to Capt. V and Old Grey healed up the two hurt part members a little bit. Talen immediately went to go rest, the head of the beast was given to Nimbus and the crew went back to work and the ship started moving again.   What will await the crew in White Haven? Will they be able to save Imoen? What does the staff do that they retrieved for Capt. V?