2-5-25 (23 of Eleasis+)

Game Notes 2-5-25

23 of Eleasis, 1491

The Hond Ebrath is anchored somewhere within a day's journey south of Somerset in a cove that contains speakeasy tavern run by the tough lady, called Mother by the pirates that stop in this cove.  

Darter has been working for the past couple days on repairing our spar that was damaged by the electrical output of the young kraken we had fought in the afternoon after we left Somerset.

When he sees Ivar walk away from the helm to speak with Nevil, Darter puts down his tools and walks over to join them.  “I’m just finishing up with these repairs.  But, when you get to Balder’s Gate you need to dry dock her and do some other repairs.  

Ivar and Nevil look at him in surprise. 

Nevil asks, "Show us.”

He takes them to several places to show them some cracks, separations, and seeps on the hull where it meets the mast and some stressed areas in the bulkhead.  He tries very hard not to look at the strange mechanical crab or the other large covered item stored below decks.

Back on the deck, Darter offers Ivar a good deal on the price of repairs (half off) if we take him with us to Balder’s Gate.  

“we didn't say we were going to Baldur's Gate, but if that is the closest drydock, it will have to be.” corrected Nevil.

Nevil pulls Ivar aside and asks him if he believes Darter.  (Nevil attempted insight, but wasn’t sure about what she felt in regards to his trustworthiness [7].)  Ivar says that he isn’t getting any bad vibes from Darter.

Ivar agrees and Darter hurries to retrieve his single bag and returns quickly to the ship.  

Darter does confirm that the ship is sound enough to get to Balder’s Gate, but that we don’t want to go too much longer without attending to the repairs.

Atalaya warns Darter about potential snakes on board.  While Nevil and Inman search Skarns's old cabin for signs of his contact with the ship.  Darter nods in understanding, “well it was Hawk’s ship. Say what you want about her, she does pay her debts.”

Atalaya asks, "How did you end up on that Island anyway?”

Darter explains, “I took jobs on ships traveling to make my way up and down the coast.  I try to stay off ships in less reputable businesses.”

“Well we are a pretty clean running ship.  And we don't take noses.” Nevil reassures him.

We plan to leave in the morning (Eleasis 24th)

24th of Eleasis

The day dawns.  The rains have moved off by now, the day is cloudy with a wet hot breeze.  But we enjoy the fact that there is no rain at the moment.

We pull up the anchor and head south. Ivar hugs the coast, far enough off it to not have to worry about rocks, but close enough to retreat to easily if we need to for any reason.

Time passes

We traveled for several days.  The trip south is uneventful.  About 120 miles from the speakeasy.    Two days of travel

The 26th of Eleasis:  Arrival at Baldur’s Gate

Eventually we see the River Delta associated with the River Chionthar.  It becomes very foggy and dark as we approach the river delta.  We cannot see much and can truly understand and appreciate why it is called The Grey Harbor.  As we round the horn of the Delta, we see a lighthouse.  The air is heavy and damp and we can smell cooking food.  

As we come into the port area we can tell that this port is larger than Riverport but smaller than Waterdeep.  

Darter directs us to the area where the drydocks are located and we make our way there. 

As we make our way towards the drydocks, we see lots of lanterns along the docks.  Darter points out a larger green lantern and says, “Go there for supper.  That’s the Low Lantern, a good place for a drink.”

Sorrow has a pensive look.  Nevil asks him what he is thinking.  “I don’t know.  I don’t know how I feel about being here.”

Nevil expresses concern about a potential pirate bar or rowdy company.

Sorrow says that the Low Lantern is not a pirate bar, but it is rowdy.

Looking around the port he adds, “I guess we are here now.”

Atalaya asks Sorrow if he has any recommendations for a tavern to eat at.  Somewhere that we can take Cirilli to.  Sorrow responds that we could eat at the Low Lantern or The Elf’s Song.

Nevil tells Sorrow to pick, “It’s your town.”

Sorrow says, “Low Lantern _______________.  The Elf’s Song has good cheese sandwiches and is less rowdy.”  He then adds, “The Elf’s Song has ghosts.  It’s quite popular.”

We arrive at the drydocks and find a place to pull up.  Docking is arranged with the harbormaster.  

Atalaya:  “We’ll need to find an inn somewhere if the ship is going to be in drydock.  Sorrow says that the “Blade and Star Inn is right up the road from the Elf’s Song Tavern.  

One of the things that we notice is that all the buildings of the town are made of stone.  There are very few banners.  Everything is a hard surface.  We also notice that there are a lot of flower boxes throughout the town.  The air feels very damp… high humidity.

[We gather up some things for a couple days stay] and make our way the the Elf’s Song.  Upon entering the building one of the first things we notice is a stuffed baby beholder hanging over the bar.  Then we notice the lighting.  Beautiful blue drift globes light up the place with a soft light.  There is a fire roaring in the the far right corner of the tavern.

There are various tables throughout the room, a long table in the center.  To the sides there are several tables that are partitioned by hanging tapestries that provide some privacy.   It smells of cheese and well cooked fish in here.  

Sorrow has pulled the hood of his cloak over his head, hiding his horns as we go into the tavern.  He repeats, “Really good grilled cheese here.”

Looking around we head to one of the tables that are partitioned off, with Sorrow trying fade away into the shadows of the far corner of the table.  

The barkeep, an elven or half-elven woman of indeterminate age notices us as we enter.  A waitress comes up and takes our order and asks if we all want the honey mead.  Nevil orders for the group and accepts the honey mead for the table.

[Cirilli’s eyes widen as she realizes that she is being included in the honey mead order.]

The waitress takes the order back to the lady behind the bar.  She fills the tankards of mead after passing the food order on to the cooks.

Sorrow:  “It has been a long time since I’ve been in this place. … I grew up here.  …   I was happy to leave.”

Nevil:  A nightcap night then?

Sorrow:  Yeah.   I’d just rather not be recognized.  

The group give sorrow some figurative space as he is clearly dealing with heavy thoughts.  They enjoy the meal and stay fairly sober.  Atalaya inquires on dessert.  

The waitress brings a heavenly pastry covered with almond shavings.  Sorrow ends up ordering a mint and licorice drink? He likes it.  Boz is adventurous and tries a sip.

As the meal wraps up two large and very handsome tiedlings enter and go to sit by the hearth.

Sorrow spews a stream of profanities recognizing them as his cousins.  He couldn't crawl deeper into his cloak if he tried.

Nevil told him to play it cool. He's in the back of the booth and not drawing attention.  Someone casts a form of concealment on Sorrow, Cirilli takes his hand and they head for the exit as Atalaya and Boz act as a human wall.  Nevil hastens to the bar to pay, and Inman walks directly to the hearth.  He holds a pipe in his hand, apologizes for his intrusion, and walks to grab a piece of kindling to light his pipe.  Nevil seals the deal in the distraction by chastising Inman for not being able to wait until he was outside.

The ruse works, but Sorrow's muttering and cursing continues as the group makes haste to the inn.

The Inn is nice.  Rooms are rented for Nevil and Inman, Atalaya, Boz, and Cirilli, and Sorrow is solo.  Each room is located on the ground floor.  And the group is very excited about the warm wash tubs included in the fee.

The women do not delay in heading to the washroom.  Knowing they will take a while the men order a bottle of liquor and begin to deal cards.

Later as the women return in robes, they open the door to find the men deeply into a game of strip poker.  Sorrow is clearly wining having only removed his shoes and one sock.  Boz is less clothed, but still respectable.  Inman, however, is essentially naked with only a draped cloth and crossed leg to shield his modesty.  He tosses the cards and sprints to the washroom.  The cloth is his only garment.  The men laugh and slowly follow.

The 27th of Eleasis:  Baldur’s Gate

The next morning, the group eats breakfast in Sorrow's room.  It is decided that Sorrow, Inman, and Cirilli will look for rare books to take to Candlekeep.  Nevil, Atalaya, and Boz will check on the estimated repair time and cost.

Inman tries to reign in Cirilli’s excitement in the open market.  She is nearly running from both to both looking over all kinds of interesting wears and oddities.  Sorrow was right to be concerned.  His cousins abruptly confront him.  Inman makes stern eye contact with Cirilli and he gestures commandingly for her to come to his side.

“Cousin, that is you.  Did you think you would pass in and not visit father?”

“And who is this? Is this little thing your girl?”

Inman's eyes burn with darkness as he pulls Cirilli behind himself, “No, she's with me.”

Sorrow cowers, “We aren't going ro be in town for long.”

The cousins exchange half veiled threats with Sorrow's placations.  Inman struggles to hold his tongue with threats cast to his friends.  Sorrow is desperate.  

Inman postures his best threat.  He mumbles words as the weave gathers and circles around him.  It picks up earth along its way and eight clumps of stone circle him.  “Run home boys, else the streets run red.”

A tipping is crossed when Imp enthralls, charms, and grabs the wrist of Sorrow to follow against his will.  Inman's second spell fails and he is unable to cast the circling stones for fear of striking citizens. The cousins cast psychic damage to Inman.

Cirilli is desperate to wake Sorrow and to flee.  She pleads with Sorrow to come with her, stating that Atalaya will be upset if the don’t return immediately.

Seeing that it's not working Cirilli bravely tries to break Imp's grasp on Sorrow, buts fails.  Imp encouraged the charmed Sorrow to get Cirilli and to go with him to see his father.  This seems perfectly reasonable to Sorrow, and he starts to comply.  Cirilli avoids Sorrow but Vic grabs her and Cirilli is unable to break free of him.  She ends up in a grapple with Vic, who is an  overpowering tiefling, who declares he will take them both back to father.  

Cirilli pulls a blade first and Inman follows.  Cirilli takes two swings at Imp with one just barely drawing blood.  Once visible blood is drawn, the cousins state they do not wish to attract the law.  Inman dispels magic on Sorrow's charm and Cirilli repeats her pleasure as the cousins retreat.

Inman does not look forward to Atalaya and Nevil's reaction though he feels the same.

End of Game