Chapter 25: Special Delivery

General Summary

2nd of Arel: Marwood
The ship arrived in Marwood in the mid-morning. Hanna informed the group that they were going to be docked there for a few days to restock, make a few repairs from their encounter with the dragon, and perhaps pick up some new passangers as this was the stop for some.
Shortly after disembarking, a small child came up to Lenihlra and delivered a message. It bade the group to come to the Wounded Rogue, a local tavern, that night and that the writer was excited to meet them. They decided to follow the note's instructions but spent the morning doing various tasks. Jacquora and Lenihlra stopped to pick up supplies at The Red Melon. Leon and Aqiatuxl went to Peppermint Parchment, a coffee and bookshop, to look for local information. Leon was most interested in learning about any nearby ruins.
He slowly gathered that there was indeed a ruined tower outside of town. It was known for strange occurances and was thought of as a cursed place. It was a place that people didn't go to unless they wanted trouble.
Aqiatuxl additionally visited a temple of Sarenrae. The priest there also informed him of the tower and it's ancient history as a location of a powerful magical event, possibly thousands of years earlier.
Eventually they all reconvened and went to the Wounded Rouge. The moment they entered they were greeted by a friendly half-orc, sumptuously dressed, named Karolin Threesilver. She informed them that she had heard of their exploits in Lorisen and knew of Lenihlra from her connections with the underground of Moldoryn. She told them of a job she had for them that would offer 2,000 gp upon completion.
"Tonight, The Wave's bane, a pirate ship masquerading as a merchant vessel, is due to dock. On board is a crate of great value - you'll know it when you see it. I don't know what its final destination will be - all I know is you're going to interfere. I don't care how you acquire the package, just bring it to me at the Wounded Rouge, undamaged, before dawn. I will pay 2,000 gold on delivery, Be discrete. Don't die. And remember, it's not stealing - it's forceful repossession for monetary gain at the behest of a licensed third party."
The party, after some deliberation, decided to agree and headed to the docks. They decided that Jacquora would turn invisible and go onto the boat alone. The others would find a hiding spot (behind some crates) to watch the boat carefully. Once the boat docked, they witnessed a small party leave the boat. The person at the head of the procession carried with them an ornate box. After they were out of sight, Jacquora became invisible and snuck aboard the ship. Once there, she realized that the guards they had seen aboard the ship were in actuality skeletons.
After she made her way into the cargo hold, she did eventually find the box. She opened it. Running from the box and eventually off the ship were several cats. The party waiting on the docks noticed the cats run off and disappear into a nearby alley. Moments later, Jacquora rejoined them and they all went off after the cats. After a short moment of searching for the three kitties, they eventually gathered them up and, with Lenihlra using a detect magic spell, they were able to discern that one of these cats was not as they appeared.
It leapt down from Jacquora - with the other two running off - and began meowing at them to follow it. They did and it led them to the temple of Sarenrae. After summoning the priest, he discovered that the cat was cursed. In short order, he removed the curse and standing before them was a young-looking, dark-skinned elf with a ragged set of black clothes and a hood pulled over his head. He immediately coughed up a hairball. They gave the priest a small offering and followed the elf outside where introduced himself as Falique Chasez and coughed up another hairball, this time containing a gold amulet inlaid with rubies and diamonds.
He urged them not to touch it and explained himself, "Don't touch the amulet! Or at least use gloves. I'm a thief. I steal stuff for wizards across the sea to the West. I got hired to steal all I could from the Izail estate. But when I nicked this neclace 'pffffft,' I was a little tabby. Then he showed up. Maristo Maroo. He serves Lady Izail. Started screaming about he missing necklace - I put two and two together pretty fast and swallowed it as quick as I could and leapt out othe window. Hid with some strays for a bit but we got boxed up by a crew of traders, probably to sell us as pets. Eventually Maroo joined the crew to come overseas because I think he thought I was over here! Little did he know that we were on the ship together. The amulet calls to Lady Izail and I think she thought that the call she felt on the ship was actually a call to sail the sea! She knows, always knows, where it is though. We have to destroy it. Now."
He informed them of a tower he had heard of outside of the town that contained a tool that could be used to destroy the amulet. One of the members of the party picked up the jewel with a handkerchief and deposited it in a bag. With that, they made their way to the tower.
As they approached the ruins, three warning arrows landed and sparked at their feet. Stepping from the ruins was Threesilver. She expressed how disappointed she was in the fact that her hired theives seemed to be going rogue with the treasure she sought. They convinced her that she would have her prize by dawn and to be patient. She consented and departed.
They made their way further into the ruins and towards the tower, which had rapidly swirling clouds coming around it. They ascended a spiral staircase to a central chamber - now open to the elements - that had a large machine in the center. Someone had already beaten them there, however. Maroo and several guards stood waiting for them. Upon seeing them, he dropped the ornate box he had been carrying and out came a weakened demi-lich: Lady Izail. A horrible screech greeted them before a bone chilling voice sounded in their minds, "This is what all the trouble is about? Such impudent worms are hardly worth my time. Secure my phylactery piece, then destory them. Make it hurt!"
A fight ensued. The skeletal guards were quickly dispatched, but Maroo and Izail proved to be harder foes. All the while, Falique began operating the machine. Storms whirled about them, triggered by the use of the tool. After defeating Maroo, Falique was eventually able to operate the machine and destory the amulet, rendering the central stone in two.
As it was destroyed, Lady Izail burst into a scream and disintegrated into a pile of ash, which quickly blew away. Falique thanked them for their troubles and let them all pull an item from his pouch of somewhat-stolen goodies. After thanking them one more time he turned on his heel and disappeared with a whoosh of his cloak.
They returned to Threesilver with the broken amulet. She was disappointed in the outcome but gave them a paltry sum for their effort as she had wanted the object whole and unharmed.
With that, the party retired to sleep.

Report Date

07 Oct 2022