Session 163 - "Intermingling"
General Summary
The Fellowship finally arrives within rumor-stepped Illmarsh and begins their investigations of the Dark Riders, Count Haserton Lowls IV, and Gastar Lucas.
Starday, Gozran 30, 4711 AR
The Isin
7.01a
The boat ride is mildly chopping and it is a gray, cold day, much to the stomach of X's regret. Soon a fog begins to roll in and the sight of land begins to fade from view. Croon assures the party that this is nothing unusual. Krryn sleeps as the rest of the Fellowship runs about the deck tending to the sails and rigging.7.21a
7.51a
Neferu puzzles out that the effects are similar to other encounters the Fellowship has had with powerful magic that have changed or disrupted the landscape. He tells Kelath that they have moved out of the area and that Croon should continue this course, which he acknowledges.Illmarsh
8.51a
Before long, the Isin is docking at the wharfs of Illmarsh. It is strangely devoid of hands and other boats. The wharf is well constructed and maintained, the smell of brine and fish heavy in the air. Horace directs the group and together they bring the boat safely in. Kelath has Croon pull out charts of the region and locates the area where they encountered the magical anomaly. Kyrrn emerges above deck well rested.9.01a
After filling Kyrrn in on the events of the trip, the party begins making arrangements to move the Isinglass to the dock. It resembles a glass diving bell with an opening in the bottom, measuring only 8 feet in diameter. There is also canvas air hose located on its top, fed by a working bellows. Working together, they get the device moved to a cart and make their way towards Croon's workshop.Croon's Workshop
9.31a
The fog begins to dissipate and the forms of townspeople and buildings begin to emerge. Most of the buildings are composed of stone and are in decent condition and show decorations in preparation for Lanterngeist. The dank, mildewy odor of the town begins to become more and more apparent. The marsh is so ever present that the sense that it could reclaim it at any moment is strong.9.51a
The party emerges on the west side of town at Croon's workshop. He leads them into a cramped area barely open enough to hold the Isinglass. Once situated, Horace beams at the device with pride before treating them to coffee and pastries. He tells them he had been running experiments with the Isinglass by the quay before a storm blew rapidly towards it, which is how they found him. Kelath asks if he's noticed any strangers in town, however he has not since he spends most of his time in his workshop or on the boat. He suggest just politely asking around town. The Fellowship begins to work on their plan for exploring the town and gaining information about the Dark Riders, the Count, and Gastar Lucas. Kelath advises caution and keeping a low profile, maybe even travelling at night. X suggests passing themselves as associates of Lucas. Kelath asks where someone like the Count could stay in town. Croon tells him the Bountiful Catch is the only place open, but Mayor Early Greedle might put someone important up. The town hall doubles as the mayor's quarters and actually lives simply enough. Croon mentions that he hasn't been in town lately and appears to suddenly lose himself. Kyrrn reads his aura and finds he is probably succumbing to dementia as well. Kelath asks him to sketch out a rough map of the town, to which he produces one he has already made out. He points out the general store, the town hall, the tavern (Wall-Eyed Kraken) and the inn.Town Square
11.51a
Kyrrn advises on the mannerisms of the community and that patience works best with the locals. Also, considering the festival is currently taking place, their presence would not be all that out of the ordinary. The group decides to split up so as not to stand out as much in town. X and Kelath make their way to the general store as Neferu and Kyrrn work their way towards the stables of the Bountiful Catch. At the stables, Neferu and Kyrrn meet Lucas Mackey, the stablemaster, who greets them. Passing Kyrrn as his daughter, Neferu asks what kind of horses they have right now. Of the four berths, three are occupied, one of them appearing to be a match for what they're looking for. While Neferu chats the man up, Kyrrn approaches the horses the horse in question and is able to make out the identifying brand. She assesses the horse's psychometric resonance and gets a sickeningly familiar sense with the image of a blank face. With only one horse present, it appears the riders might have split up. X and Kelath enter the town square on their way to the general store and spy the statue standing there. A plaque proclaims it to be Cassius Undiomede, First Lord of Baytown. Inside the store they meet Tam Breckage and his wife. They are friendly, salt-of-the-earth (sea) people. Velexander inquiries about purchasing a bucket and paints, passing themselves off as people working with Gastar Lucas. Tam appears to recognize the name and admits that he has stopped by the store a few times. He mainly keeps to himself and doesn't cause any trouble. Mrs. Breckage gets his supplies and tells him to let Lucas know those candies he likes have come in. In talking to shopkeepers, the "Musties" smell is quite apparent despite appear clean and well-kempt. He also notices that she has bulging eyes, indicative of skum-taint. As they are leaving, X turns and asks about the odor of the town and its people, a question they obviously don't appreciate it. X returns to the town square and makes a sign,"Gastar Lucas needs crew of 15 for merchant endeavors. Inquire at dock 2."
1.01p
Kyrrn informs X about the skum-taint and he in turn offers that any nonlocals can be discovered by their lack of stink. Kelath and Kyrrn take position around the square and keep a lookout of the area. Kelath and X pay close attention to those that notice X's sign while Kyrrn looks for any sign of the occult. However, no one appears to linger at the sign and nothing of the occult is obvious. Though she does note that the statue shows no signs of the taint. There is a bit of excitement in air as tonight is the opening night of the festival.2.01p
X begins throwing around some dice, trying to make a bit of extra coin. Kyrrn makes her way to the Bountiful Inn with the intent of renting a room. The smell of cooking fish is heavy in the air. The innkeeper, Rube Dreeley, introduces himself as the proprietor and appears especially dour. She requests a room and some stew after which he gives her a key. As she makes her way to the room, she doesn't sense anyone in the other rooms. A quick detect magic yields nothing as well. She leaves the window open in case there is a need to sneak in.3.01p
When asked, Rube tells Kyrrn about Gifts of the Swamp, a shop run by an apothecary named Jaleen Halrush. X achieves a small gathering of folk around his games of chance. Short Fingers, Otis, and Victor take particular interest. X chats them up and Victor talks about his drinking exploits. He talks about he works on a boat called the Broken Pearl, how the fishing has been poor as of late and was recently let go. Also that the "neighbors down bay" must have left because of that or because of foreigners coming into the area. He also mentions that folks have been seeing the Watcher in the Bay closer to the town. Short Fingers himself was on a boat called the Maggot and has similar stories about working and fishing. He hopes that the Order's Vizierian vicars find an answer soon enough. X then has Otis go buy a round of beers and then cash himself back into the game. During the conversion, the name Sheriff Anders and his undersheriff, Byron Grumph, come up and how they run a tight ship around town. They are even a little surprised that neither have been around to bust the game up. The worst of criminals that get encountered get chained to an outcropping, the Turn Rocks, out in the ocean, the last offender being Cartis Scrimpt. This area is also where Horace said that he was doing his experiments. They also say that Gastar is back in town and asking if anything interesting has been brought up in the fishing nets lately. He was recently seen checking in at the Bountiful Catch, but hasn't been around in a couple of days. Otis also mention that there hasn't been a "fostering" in a month, a statement that makes the other two visibly uncomfortable. He says that it is a really old tradition around these parts when one of Baytown's fine daughters gets married off to one of the "neighbors down bay", again using that queer title. X realizes they may be referring the the skum themselves.5.01p
Kelath spots two men wearing similar hats leave the town hall and go into the Bountiful Catch. Walking out with them appears to be a local man with whom they are chatting with. The local points over in the direct of X, information Kelath relays to him. The men with X confirm that it is the sheriff and undersheriff and then scatter. They begin making their ways toward him as they greet and speak with the townspeople along the way. Once there, they introduce themselves and say that the mayor would like to speak with him.
