Volume 5, Chapter 2 - Gamble's Journal

General Summary

At Sea

With the city of Paragan smoldering on the horizon, Arpeggio sings a quiet Paraganese prayer:

The journey to Tel’Anar took roughly three??? weeks. The crew are mostly happy and are being paid a total of 21g5s per day.
At Tel’Anar they bid farewell to Palaneus and his entourage, as well as Ciolo Nuneo and wife and child. They refresh their supplies and head out on their voyage to The Spice Islands, estimated to be about three weeks.
Each morning of the journey, Rhathgar goes about his daily prayers before tolling a few gulls to death and disappearing below deck. Strange noises, bad smells and cursing are all that can be detected. Then, one morning he races out on deck, carrying the skeleton of a bird, exclaiming that those who have recently returned to Oloch’s bosom no longer need to smell as if they do. He has created Rhathgar’s Rapid Maceration
Karu spends his time below deck and successfully creates a potion of standard healing. He once again covers himself in ash, however his hair is starting to grow.
Karnak practices her swimming daily, fastening rope between her waist and the bough of the ship. Starting by wearing nothing but her bikini she progresses quickly to being able to swim not only in full armour but slightly faster than most.
A week into the voyage the ship sails into an algal bloom and later that night, as Gamble drifts off to sleep, she has the sudden sensation of falling before opening her eyes and mouth to water and seaweed. Umberlee’s voice resonates around her:
“Where have you been?!”.
Gamble snaps back that she went to get Arpeggio from the Feywild and that, despite promises of assistance in this matter in return for the Eye of Mercannan, Umberlee’s powers were useless when they were finally needed. Umberlee angers at the mention of The Lady of Mirrors and her connection to Cassandra. Gamble questions this but Umberlee says that her information comes at a price and gives Gamble until the end of the journey to think of a suitable exchange.
Arpeggio approaches Karu and after a few questions about balance and Arawn, proceeds to ask about his choice of celibacy, suggesting that it seems an extreme end to the scale. Karu says that he is a weapon in mortal form, serving a balance between life and death. He does not accept death or life and with it life’s temptations - which he indicates Arpeggio knows far more about than he before going back to brewing his potions. ("You’re wasting your time" says Lavanel) Rhathgar asks each of the party to recount how they joined the group, and then, if something should happen to them, whether they would consider donating their body to Oloch. (Karnak in a towel, with bits of glistening seaweed in her hair. While the party don’t seem keen, two of the crew agree. The first an Alagrian woman by the name of Abla Naru Safa Acrue, a lapsed follower of Oloch, and the second one of the slightly more dubious characters aboard called Velasco, who while he thinks it all nonsense he’ll be dead, although asks that nothing weird takes place. Despite Gamble going about the crew and trying to make rationalisations, the majority of the crew are a little weirded out by all of this and seem a little less happy.
Gio recounts to Rhathgar his altered memories, that following graduation he went on his grand tour and went along with the adventuring troupe as quests are always excellent sources for bardic material. While it was fun at first it went downhill after Jed left as they got caught up in events. Gio speaks of Jed as a deviant, but an honorable one.
Gio catches up with Lavanel, rubbing Apollo’s belly, and after talking a little about Shin and the death of Jed, deflects further questions by probing more about what Gio remembers. He notes he was privileged and lucky to be taken under the wing of his godmother and sponsor, The Lady of Mirrors. He was unable to check with the outside world during his time in the Feywild, and was told this was the price for him being there.
Lavanel spends much of her time trying to learn about sailing. She’s taught knotwork, gets her first ever blister scrubbing decks and eventually asks to try her hand at the helm. Feeling a tad petty and noting Gio’s proximity to the rail, Gamble demonstrates a hard turn of the help, causing the boom to swing out across the deck and knock him into the water. Rhathgar unfortunately is also caught off guard but manages to cling to the beam.
Lavanel unfortunately does not seem to take in much of the instruction given by Gamble and after a couple of failed attempts, eventually picks up a small breeze in the sail. With the course starting to correct she shrugs, lets go of the helm and walks off. Gamble fails to catch the ship’s wheel before the boom once again sweeps across the deck. The crew seem less than amused.
At some point into the journey, Karnak questions just why they are doing this. How are they to follow the prophecy if Jed is no longer with them. Is she even supposed to be there? Karu reminds her that there was a room for her in the temple in Mitzu. One on one, Karu admits he is also worried about Jed’s absence, and will try to bring him back.
As Gamble walks past, Karnak shoves her overboard in revenge for dealing the final blow against the minotaur. Rhathgar offers to be thrown in and Karnak obliges, also pushing Gamble in one more time.
Gio spends time on deck trying to master a new spell and destroys his old lute in the process. He takes part of the neck to whittle into something at a later date. [floating instrument , ghost of something]
Frustrated with Lavanel’s response to sailing, Gamble turns to Karu, telling him about her visit from Umberlee. Fate / freedom Karu reassures her that her soul is not at risk
Desperation and guilt Your power - your path He says that if Gamble doesn’t trust Umberlee she should leave her pact, and that other choices are available. The power has been granted and it’s up to Gamble how she uses it. How [fraeked state might be repaired. Deal
As they finish their conversation, Gio sits himself down in the small cabin and as he chats with Karu, notes that he is automatically hiding the fact that he is not OK.
Towards midday on the third day out from their destination, the winds begin to pick up and a typhoon rolls in bringing huge waves and streaks of lightning. The sails are stowed and the hatches battened as the ship prepares to weather the storm. From a distance, bells and whistles can be heard, as well as shouts for help. Passing command to Huan, Gamble flies up and into the storm and can see a ship as large as the The Umberlee's Howl, with its mast down, the flag still just visible showing the colours of the Spicer’s Guild, the major power on the sea and the main control of the flow of spices. From one side of the ship and spilling up onto the deck are the tentacles of a Kraken.

Arpeggio casts fly on Karnak who immediately joins Gamble attacking the creature. The ship moves closer and the ballistas are aimed and fired. Lavanel attacks from a distance with her bow, and Karu Rhathgar and Arpeggio cast spells.
What seems like unnatural lightning is called down on the other boat and it begins to split in two and sink, some of it’s crew now in the ocean. Further lightning bolts hit The Red Princess.
As they fly close to attack, the creature grapples both Karnak and Gamble with its tentacles and drags them under.
Time stops for Gamble and the voice of Umberlee fills her head, asking what she was willing to give for the information about The Lady of Mirrors. A year of Gamble’s life is agreed, for Umberlee to claim when she chooses, and as the deal is struck the sensations of bindings and chains being shaken is felt.
Umberlee asks if Gamble is aware of why her sister has an interest in Arpeggio, his sister and his other sibling.
She has long sought three children of the same mother. There is a fortelling, prophesy, story, myth etc. A theory that if three children are promised of one mother, and different fathers, a well of power will spring in the Feywild. The Lady of Mirrors has long made deals. A first born is easy and a second more challenging. To get a third is the hardest. With Arietta dead she had lost a third. She had met all three, and they had been within her reach.
When Gamble asks what type of power, she is told it’s the power to change things, the power to break courts.
Umberlee can smell all three children of Cassandra dan Vacht, Gamble has encountered all of them.
Gamble thanks Umberlee for the information and says that she doesn’t hate her.
Better the Archfey you know…. Is the last thing Gamble hears before she suddenly finds herself being flung out of the ocean by the Kraken as the battle continues. Attracted by the blood in the water, sharks appear and attack the crew of the sinking ship. Meanwhile a lucky hit leaves the Kraken stunned and Karnak delivers her usual devastation. Eventually the Kraken runs away, and The Red Princess’s crew dispatch the remaining sharks and bring the crew aboard the boat. The storm begins to subside the moment the Kraken swims away.

On the deck of The Red Princess, Karu makes sure everyone is mostly healed and Gamble goes about ordering repairs to the ship. Damage sustained included tears to the sails and a split in the mast.
The captain of the now sunken spicer vessel introduces himself as Viaro Venuico. As Karnak makes introductions, a Mitzui half elf, who almost looks familiar, reacts after hearing “Karnak”, “Red Princess” and “Gamble”. She pulls out a sending stone and begins to say “They are alive, I’ve found them…” before being cut off Arpeggio stops her speaking and makes her think she has black scorpions crawling up her hand causing her to drop the sending stone.
Gio grabs for it, and polymorphs into a giant snapping turtle, incorporating the stone into his new form. Captain Viaro and the rest of his crew don’t appear to know what is going on, and confusion is increased when Lavanel pins one of his crew members. The half elf casts something on Karnak, who instantly starts to defend her, placing herself between the mage and Gamble.
All of a sudden she drops through the floor, and a moment later there is an otherworldly stink of ash, death, acid and brimstone. This is mostly likely from a portal to another plane such as the nine hells or abyss.
Gamble performs her usual neck-check on the rest of the new passengers and the captain makes introductions, left eye twitching. His first mate is a Milagonian male called Tourie. Surviving also is a female dwarf called Vrochin, the sorceress, finally unpinned from the mast, named Talitha, a dwarf called Cobbo, and an elf by the name of Ifradies. The half elf that disappeared was called Mineko.
The captain says they were sailing for Paragan, and the party informs him that Paragan is on fire and being evacuated to places like Tel’Anar. He confirms that news of this has not yet reached The Spice Islands.
The crew are not happy following their encounter, however seem a little brighter when presented with an additional two days danger pay.

LONG REST

The next morning, as the sun comes up, humps of an island, Kurundu, can be seen on the horizon. Before they sail into the harbour they agree to change the flag to that of the Oreka, the original name of The Red Princess.
The waters of the bay are as blue as the Eye of Mercannan. Above the harbour is a large wooden fort, stone buildings brightly coloured, and further down the beach wooden straw huts. Palms line the beach and the air is fresh and warm.
The Red Princess (or Oreka) docks in the busy harbour of Port Sabor and the party head down the gangplank leaving Juan and Philipe in charge. They are welcomed by a man who introduces himself as Mo, offering a free spiced tea, which he says will keep away the Screaming Sickness. Karu and Gamble decline, but the others thank him and drink. Gio has heard tell of someone hwo lost a friend to the Screaming Sickness at La Sofita. They promise him that if they want more of the Spiced Tea, he would be their vendor, as he heads off with his tray towards another group arriving at the port.

People are milling around. The air smells of spiced tea. A big drum covered in condensation into which large brown wrinkled fruit squeezed and stirred.

Port Sabor - Canela

Gio asks a nearby Spice Islander where locals go to drink. She is wearing a number of necklaces and has a child at her side. She tells him that locals drink at home. Gio then asks where he might find young women and is directed to a number of drinking holes: the bar at the hotel in the old Governor’s House, the Sand Bar and The Wreck (which can be dodgy, but the dancing is good).
The party agrees to head in the direction of the hotel, and as they pass through the market they spot a man wearing similar robes to Petryan’s, selling a lot of bric-a-brac. Rhathgar approaches and is shown a chair of folding, a deck of many thongs, and a purse pig. Karnak is delighted by the purse pig, which snuffles when you put a copper through the slot and could be called into existence at will. For two dragon scales they buy the ring, pig and deck of thongs. Karnak is happy.
The party head up the hill towards the hotel passing a fountain with a large carved head in it. The hotel is busy, and its patrons clearly wealthy, and while the locals dress in Milagonian fashion, it’s all of a similar (and cheap) design, in the same shade of yellow in which the building is painted and it is assumed they are serving staff. Arpeggio casts disguise self to blend in with the hotel guests.
The building is cooler inside as they step into the grand entry hall. Gio steps towards the rustic desk in the corner and bashes a coconut left on the desk to call staff. I’m already here, snaps the woman behind the desk, nametag saying Rupa. Gio enquires after rooms and is told there are only two left, each with a double bed. They are 5gp per day and include breakfast and three drinks tokens per day per room. They pay for two nights in case and are led to the rooms. Down the corridor, the doors to the rooms decline in niceness and they stop outside rooms 15 and 16. They are told that one used to be the changing room for the childrens’ governess and the other a teaching room, and indeed, alongside the whitewashed walls, beds with fresh linen and palm leaf decorations, one room has a wardrobe with clothes painted on it and in the other a blackboard, and a partial view of the garden.
Just before Gio heads off, Gamble suggests that before they go drinking they cash in their free tokens at the hotel bar.
The bar is busy, and a group of sun elves look disgruntled that everyone seems to have found their exclusive resort. Women in posh kaftan.
They approach the bar and are greeted by a local with large ears called Kahalei, initially very welcoming before he spies the tokens, and pours drinks from a large jug of local punch before tending to paying customers.


They party realise the map in Guilliero's notes are very out of date and head out to find an updated map with the correct island names before the shops close.
The stalls are starting to close. The large, carved head in the fountain, called a Rempeh-rempeh by the locals, speaks:

The Rempeh-Rempeh will indicate the Path

The locals look sad, It turns out the Rempeh-rempeh only speaks when someone dies. It was originally high in the mountains, but was brought by a traveller man from Milagon 100s of years ago to be reminder of the Milagonian influence. The person speaking indicated it’s weird for strangers to ask about it.
Karu finds a good quality map and indeed, the islands have different names to those on Guilliero's. Some of the smaller islands can only be accessed by smaller boats.
They continue to head to The Wreck. It’s filled with locals dancing barefoot on the sand low to the ground, and Gio switches his disguise self to dress a little more in the local style. Rhathgar looks at the dancing and thinks about heading back to the hotel before he is provided the chair of folding, and agrees to stay out.
Gio buys a rum and assesses his attractiveness compared to those in the rest of the room. There are a range of ages, and one man stands out as he dances, his long white dreadlocks swinging round him. A couple of Milagonians look as if they are indulging in something naughty. Gio heads into the mix and starts to dance well. Karnak approaches a large strong looking man who claims to be the greatest fisherman in all of The Spice Islands. They grab a bottle and go for a walk. Gio eventually peels off with a lady.
Gamble and Lavanel drink at the bar.

Report Date

01 Feb 2021

Primary Location

The Spice Islands

Related Characters

• Arpeggio
• Gamble
• Karnak
• Karu
• Lavanel Daenorin
• Palaneus Mal’Salma
• Rhathgar