5-16-24; 7th Eleasis Afternoon

 Game notes 5-16-24

7th of Eleasis:  Afternoon

After meeting with Hawk

Atalaya, Nevil, Boz, and Skarne drink, smoke, and speculate action to decompress at the cafe after meeting with Hawk.  

The group discusses the bounty on Boz.  Nevil asks if Boz has ever considered faking his death and starting over with a new persona.  She says that they could make a false id for him.  

The group discusses a strategy for errands.  We expect that Sorrow and Inman will be searching the Countess's library for Candlekeep worthy books.  

Atalaya asks Nevil how much the floor is going to cost us.  Nevil replies that they have been given a very good price for the work, 125 gp, half now and haft upon completion of the work.  

Skarne is returned to the ship.  Cirilli and crew stay on the ship to watch over Skarne and the hired workers.  We are told that Sorrow and Joan never returned to the ship. 

Bookstore and Raven

Seeing that Annie is handling the goods orders for the ship and a courier was sent with Nevil and Inman's personal supply list, the group decides the primary task was to find rare or valuable books for Candlekeep.  So, Atalaya, Boz, and Nevil, enter a nondescript bookstore) (Stumpy’s Fallen Leaves) in the more affluent portion of town.  Nevil explains to the shopkeep, a gnome named Stumpy, that she is looking for collectible books in order to impress her friend who is a wizard.   While the gnome shopkeep is busy in the back searching for his best pieces, the group feels an odd wind then notices a raven pecking a black covered, weathered, thin book on the doorstep that had not been there when they entered the shop..  There are many chips and cracks in the cover of the book.  The behavior of the large bird is felt to be “weird” by the group as they watch it peck at the book.  The book is not titled and given its appearance they hesitate to open or read it, although Atalaya does pick it up.  The bird allows her to do this.  The book is bound with black wire.  It is very thin and the pages appear to be yellowed and wrinkled by moisture.  Nevil’s Detect Magic spell did not show any magical auras on the Gothic book nor any other book in the shop.  Boz questions whether or not the bird brought the book, but no one is certain one way or the other.  Nevil says, “Maybe.”  The gnome returns with mundane books, while not appropriate for Candlekeep, some prove useful for education purposes. Atalaya purchases a book on Gwaeron Windstrom, the rangers’ patron,   and a book about animal tracking. The Gnome didn’t claim ownership of the book the raven dropped.  

The gnome also has language books covering Abysmal and Deep Speech.  He promises that he will search his archives and see if he has anything else, if we will just tell him what we are looking for. 

Temple of Chauntea

Nevil, still worried about any lasting effects from the cursed morningstar that she had fallen under the spell of, and of Boz’s recent unconsciousness at the Sea Hag’s hands wants to speak with a cleric about checking for ill effects on any of the group.  She also wants Atalaya checked, as she worries that something about her immersion during the katas may be problematic.  After talking to some of the townspeople they get directions to the Temple of Chauntea outside of the town proper.  On the way there Boz is constantly looking over his shoulder for the Raven.  He asks Nevil if there is magic that can cover up the detection of magic from the spell she uses.  She replies that she is not sure.  

 The group makes their way to the temple.  Nevil asks whether or not this is a healing temple.  When she is assured that they are able to provide that type of help Nevil asks for them to screen the three of us for any “negative effects from our adventures.  Sister Betty White and acolytes screen Boz, Atalaya, and Nevil.  They undergo a ritual involving being sprinkled with earth and water, while within an area of focused sunlight.  It also involved rose petals and wheat sheaves.  The ritual is actually very calming and invokes a light state of meditation on the three of us.  Nothing is detected on either Nevil or Boz.  The forgotten geas on Atalaya is rediscovered.  Nevil is informed of the nature of the agreement [that once she feels that she and her group are ready to have a reasonable chance of defeating Zanather, a beholder crime boss in Waterdeep, she is to kill him]. The group donates 10 gold per person for services.

Nevil asks about information regarding unique or rare books

The priestess offers tomes of religious records and tomes for an appropriate donation.  They are to return the next day while the sister selects appropriate selections.

She also asks if it would be alright for her to come to pray at the temple, even though she worships Eldath.  Sister Betty happily and readily agrees to that.  Nevil plans to spend some time in prayer here tomorrow. (When we come to check on book possibilities?  Early morning by herself?  Not clear from gameplay/notes.) left open, anyone welcome, could play in writing.

Countess' Library

Boz is worried that we haven’t seen Sorrow today and wants to check so see that he is in fact with Inman at the countess’ library.  Her mansion is a little smaller than Orsino’s mansion in Riverport.  It is well kept.  [Pond?]  Guards are present around the property and at the entrance. 

The party goes to the countess’ library to seek Inman and Sorrow and inform them of the progress for the day. Entrance guard consults a list of people who have entered the manor and tells us that Inman is there and escorts us to the library.  There are several people there besides Inman, but Sorrow is not found and Inman has not seen him.  Inman is excitedly informed of the morning’s deeds [the finding of the raven’s book and the trip to the temple] to the shushings of others in the library.  He has also found three books appropriate for Candlekeep and asks the guard for a meeting with the Countess to discuss purchasing the books.  The group moves to a private room where the Countess Olivia and her accompanying jester question the group.  She asks why they need the book and expresses concern.  Inman explains that we are researching something important and that if we aren’t able to defeat this foe there will be dire consequences for the kingdom.  She is asked if she is aware of the current threat to the kingdom from outside our borders.  She replies that she is.  She then asks us where we are from.  Atalaya replies that she is from the High Forest.  She correctly guesses Boz’s background/home territory.  She doesn’t ask Nevil where she is from.  

She offers to part with the three books for 500 gold.  When asked if she will accept the silvery pearls she agrees to the trade. The group pays in slaver pearls  [25 of the Silvery Pearls].

The countess informs the group of an abandoned estate [ruin] that had belonged to an older man who she believed had a small book collection.  She offered to trade/pay for any books we found but did not need for our trip to Candlekeep.  Nevil gets detailed directions to the ruin. 

The level of worry in the group rises as Sorrow is still not present.  Surely he would have not passed the opportunity to pursue a library. They go back to the Wind Rose Tavern to check on him and Joan.  

Confronting Joan

While Sorrow is not found, Joan is easily found eating a late lunch at the tavern.  She seems annoyed at the questioning and unconcerned that Sorrow is missing and explains that he ran off the night before with a human wench in a blue skirt.  She frequently admonished the group for working with Skarne and allowing him to live.

Nevil walks with Joan to question the barkeep.  The proprietor, a rough looking dude, said he didn't see the wench described but that he did see Sorrow leaving with Joan last night.  He has not seen him today.  Nevil and Joan grow more tense as it appears the stories are not aligning.  Moving to the alley behind the tavern where Joan said she last saw Sorrow, Nevil casts Detect Magic [no magic detected] and Joan continues to tell us that there was a girl in the alley that was throwing herself at Sorrow and that he left with her.  

Joan then casts Zone of Truth.  Joan fails her save and may not speak a lie.  Nevil asks her name and Joan refuses to answer and abruptly leaves.  Boz expertly grapples the imposing Joan.  Atalaya grabs an arm and asks, “Who the hell are you? And, what happened to Joan?”  

The being struggles in Boz and Atalaya’s grasp.   The demon replies with a dark grin and says “Yes”.  

Hoping to elicit some information from the demon, Nevil speaks the darkest words she has been heard to utter.  With promises of torture in a relentless pursuit of their friend Nevil barely but successfully intimidates the demon into believing that she would follow through with her dark words.  Pencheska moans with delight and begs for more. [She attempts to charm Nevil, but at the last moment Nevil thwarts the attempt.]  Nevil then realizes the strength of their foe.  They gag and bind her and discuss what to do.  

Nevil begs for help from Shen, the cook Harper contact, for help with the prisoner.  He takes us upstairs to the biggest room at the Inn as a secluded place to deal with the demon.  As we go upstairs to the large bedroom we realize that there is a loft area for eating that overlooks half the lower tavern room.  Nevil quickly writes a plea to Mother Bettewhyte to assist post haste and sends the message with a courier.  Shen is invited to stay to witness the nature of their work as a gesture of trust.  Shen seems to pale as the work continues.  Atalaya confronts her again, saying, “Pencheska, are you having fun?” 

The demon who does seem to be Pencheska seems to be pleased that she was recognized.   Before the group could decide what to do, the demon blinks away and escapes yet again, her clothes and the ropes binding her dropping to the floor. 

Demon Escapes Again

Boz explodes. “Why him?  Why does she keep going after him?”  Atalaya asks Shen if either Sorrow or “Joan” had a room the previous night.  Shen replies that they did not.  Nevil tries to use her Divine Sense to detect Pencheska but cannot.  We decided to keep the room overnight and pay Shen the cost for the night [cost???}   We ask Shen to please request that Sister Betty join us on the Hond Ebrath when she gets to the Wind Rose. 

 Nevil suggests that Boz should try his gifts, but Boz is already finishing her sentences.  Shen is instructed to send Sister Bettewhyte to the ship where Boz will attempt to scry for Sorrow using the Saint Cuthbert Scrying Altar kept on the ship.  Atalaya, Boz,and Cirilli work to use the scrying tool.  Boz does spectacularly and Sorrow is able to help make a connection as well.  As Boz falls into his trance he says, “Alley… I’m seeing a white dragonborn… cheapside tenement or inn or hall… lots of people… prostitutes… pirates… guards … there are guards… our place… our place… our place… dirty ticking… dirty beds… dirty straw… He’s there.”

Atalaya tries asking Boz for clarification.  “Is this in Blue Haven?”  Boz replies, “Yes.”

Meanwhile Nevil and Inman speak with Skarne.  She is wanting to judge his reaction to the discovery of Pencheska.  Her tone starts as threatening and moves to understanding as she believes Skarne’s surprise and worry.

Boz is able to divine enough detail (without hurting himself) so that when he  describes what he saw to Skarne, Skarne is able to identify a little known speak-easy and brothel called Frost’s Place that is the likely prison of Sorrow.

Skarne is asked about the size and manpower to expect at the hideaway.  Skarne describes Frost’s place as a down low establishment on the cheapside.  He says that it is pretty big.  He says that he doesn’t know what Frost’s deal is.  He says that he doesn’t think that the local constabulary goes there. He also says that Captain Hawk would not likely go there and that he didn’t like for his “boys” to go there either.  

Nevil asks Atalaya whether or not we should ask for Hawk and her crew’s help to get Sorrow away from there.  Atalaya is very uncomfortable with the idea.  Nevil asks her if she would prefer to trust the constabulary.  Atalaya responds that before having met Nevil she would have.  Now she is no longer sure about that choice either.  Someone asks if Countess Olivia is in charge of the constabulary and suggests that we ask her for help.  Atalaya asks why the Countess hasn’t done anything about that place already and no one has an answer for her. 

The group ponders options for the rescue of Sorrow as they wait for Sister Betty to arrive.