Island Hopping

Shopping therapy

 
Eragon and Cassandra had begun their return in Forcalish with a trip to the magicians', to buy scrolls, spells, and other components. Eragon had thought about possibly arming the ship with magic, and after noticing several runic traps and scrolls in the shop, he brought up the possibility of learning glyph of warding to create magical traps aboard the Shortreef. Cassandra agreed. Between the two of them, the pair acquired: scrolls of teleportation circle (350gp), waterbreathing (120 gp), and dispel magic (150gp). They discussed acquiring detect thoughts (which they purchased) and control water for Brom (to be discussed with him later). They also bought a mirror (the size of a small man).
 

Bahamut's grace

Once finished, the two escorted Sarcassass to the temple of Bahamut (where this all began so very long ago). They met the rest of the party along the way, and as a group they entered the temple to meet with the High Priest Herbayer once more. Fathom and Brom were introduced, before they moved to business:
 
Before the Odyssey started, the Fatecarvers had brought a diplomat to Herbayer for healing. A similar effect to what happened to Sarcassass, who (now afflicted) was put before the priest. As he laid hands on the poor navigator, the curse was lifted as Sarcassass bent over to vomit up heaps and heaps of seawater all over the temple floor. Now back to her senses, we took her with us to rest (as Priest Herbayer offered us a night in the temple lodging).
 
As the wizards organized their magical studies, with Brom chiming in, Rohrouk allowed Fathom to drag him to "any bar of your choice that would impress me". Rohrouk recognized the locale, and as the two sat down to order drinks Fathom looked about, to try and glean any new information about the Odyssey. Naturally, we are "the most up to date on current events".
 

A night to remember

 
"Don't worry, I'll pay for it," Fathom chided, as he put down six coin for the tabaxi and the lizardfolk lord to share the night.
 

Onward, to the Dragon

 
The next day, we collected ourselves and returned to the Shortreef -- and greeted the new crewmen. Thankfully, Sarcassass had seemed to make a full recovery.
 
It wasn't until we were underway that we "reminded" the captain of our heading to the Straits of Himaes to visit the great dragon Kiryntes.
 
This time, as we pulled through the straits and into one of the many coves there, Kiryntes flew overhead to signal his domain before perching on a nearby spire. Lord Rohrouk took point speaking with the dragon. Kiryntes was unimpressed; though we had collected the keys, he had offered help "graciously enough". "I have no preference for you over the Rust-Scale Clan. I will not influence these events for you."
 
Brom asked about Deltavros and Roysin; Kiryntes "never saw them apart" (confirming for Brom their bond).
 
Without withdrawing the dragon Kiryntes, the party discussed whether or not to even head to Koboldhome. Without Brom the vote was tied, and pulling his opinion out from the frightened boy -- "It's unwise t-to speak about a dragon while st-standing before him" -- the decision was decided to try at Koboldhome. Cassandra returned to Kiryntes, asking about others related or connected to Deltavros: "Of which there are many".
 
opposed The Ashen Wolf, the Fathom God; to the north, a grand serpent that swallowed islands; to the southeast, that which writhes with eyes that see all facets of the world.
 
"Go, and go soon. I would not miss the victory party. And After that, I wish to vacation soon. Far west, to see one I have not seen in recent times."
 

To prank a lord

 
A few days into the trip, Eragon and Cassandra hatched a plan to use a combination of illusions and mind-reading to prank Rohrouk. After offering a few "unhelpful" comments, Brom made an aside joke at his own expense. The group jumped at the idea far too quickly.
 

Arriving at the 'home

A few hours out from Koboldhome, the wind whipped up into a fresh gale, clouds above darkening under the bright moon.
 
With a loud thud to the ship, the captain summoned the Fatecarvers to inform them the ship had run aground a short reef. "Notably, Sarcassass has double-checked: there are no reefs of this depth charted that are within this distance of Koboldhome".
 
It was Rohrouk and Eragon that noticed the tendrils: tentacles slowly worming their way around the ship and onboard. One of the tentacles grabbed one of the crewmen, to thud him against the deck and then toss him to sea.
 

"KRAKEN!"

 
As everyone leapt to action: Rohrouk and Fathom fighting valiantly, the Shortreef's crew using ballista and mangonel to keep the tentacles away.
 
Broma nd Eragon had the same idea, the warlock ripping a scroll and the wizard flipping through his spellbook, both to each cast control water. Brom willed the tides to pull the kraken down and away, Eragon to part the seas and expose the kraken to air and nothingness.
 
Meanwhile, Cassandra tried once, twice, pulling at the fates to curse the monstrosity. Black inky magic coursed through the tentacle it touched, robbing it of physical action as it writhed in agony.
 
"Everybody's gangster until they're swallowed by a kraken." One of the tentacles latched onto Eragon. Many of us had fought it off, but this one was hardier, and instead of flinging Eragon across the seas, it wound up to devour the elf wizard whole. The entire party panicked. Brom and Cassandra readied magic. Fathom readied a jump. But, always resourceful, a sound and movement came from the kraken before its gullet expanded rapidly to explode. The elf was "fired" from the kraken, nearly arcing up into the air to land "somewhat" gracefully on the ship.
 
Thumbs up.
(According to the captain, turns out that was a baby kraken)
 
Cassandra and Brom used magic to clean up their companion; toxic digestive fluids and black blood covered the elf before they got to him with prestidigitation and control water.
 
It took little convinced from 1st Mate Rannet and Twizzer to prepare "kraken sushi".