The Feeble Fellowship

Chapter 1

Session Zero(s)

Episode 1

A thief in the night

Darkness is closing in on Saltmarsh. In a flurry of quick events, the blacksmiths son Jasker mysteriously disappears in the night. Abducted by foul creates in hoods when working in the Empty Net, paying off a debt to the shady Kreb Shankar.

As Mr Shanker values gold more than anything, and large coin have changed hands this night, only someone prestigious could have pulled this off without notice.

The upcoming days Mafera, mother to Jasker, mourns his probable death, now forced to put in double the effort to be able to run the blacksmith The Dwarven anvil.

Episod 2

A package and some fungus

What started as a perfectly ordinary birthday for the pastry cook in Gellan Primewater household, ended up being a lot of work for the poor cook. The only available location was the Empty Net.

After running some errands, including delivery of a body shaped package to the chapel and aquiring rare ingredients, readily available in the market, the party could be held. And of course, Mr Primewater did not need to loose face in front of his peers.

Episode 3

The penitent man

Millicent Araro twitched when his familiar reflection seemed to have twisted to something...else. He dropped the offerings into the bay.

It was at the usual place, on the long and wide wharf commonly known as "The Port" as all big vessels made their landing there. He had chosen it because of the depth. The outmost part of the jetty rested on nothing more than the jet black water, which made it a great place providing Procan with what was expected. Impossible to salvage.

A storm was brewing on the horizon and a chill went down his spine as he turned around and started to walk back towards land. He shuddered as he felt the familiar sensation, although, this time it felt stronger. And there were a low rumbling noise. Not from the storm. From far, far below him.

He switched from his sauntering to a brisk walk.

Play log Episode 3

Scene 1: The Followers of Procan

The acolytes from the Temple of Procan have announced to perform their cleanse of Saltmarsh a bit early and will this afternoon walk from the Temple to Fishmonger Square outside of the Fishmongers’ Plants. As usual they will preform their ritual, which is popular among the villagers and gather some attention, on the old gallows platform. Afterwards they will make their way to the Port and make the sacrifice to the ocean.

This day Father Brinehanded, followed by twenty acolytes in white and one bearer of the temple standard, dressed in purple, keep his speech very short:

"The storm is upon us! We have not enough showed our devotion to Procan. We will go to the Port and make the necessary sacrifice."

"Also, this time Procan urges us to tread careful. Today only acolytes of the temple may perform the ritual. To secure this we kindly ask our friends in the Marine forces to provide sanctuary on the Port. Thank you, and may Procan rest our storms and fill our nets"

With a rearguard of marines, Pvts Farmys and Grooves, the acolytes and Father Brinehanded performed the sacrifice out of sight at the end of the jetty. Shortly the twenty white dressed acolytes and Father Brinehanded, carrying the temple standard, return to land and to the Temple of Procan.

Scene 2: The penitent man can pass

Curious and a bit disappointing of the short and unfulfilling ceremony Millicent Araro twitched when his familiar reflection seemed to have twisted to something...else. He dropped the offerings of 5000 gold pieces into the black water and saw the glistening coins disappear in the bowls of the bay.

Scene 3: Claws

Early the next morning Master Andya Dewakinnara ha Saar are interrupted in his work by some heavy knocks on the door. It is the captain of the Windbreaker who desparetely needs urgent help mending his ship.

Andya gather his tools and go to the ship to investigate, the fore starboard hull have large and deep cuts running almost mid ship. And below the water line. Andya concludes this must have been made by some huge metal claws and repairs will take a tenday and cost about 2 000 gold pieces. The captain are devastated but accepts, also he needs some storage for...delicate cargo during the time as they need to empty the ship to reach the damage. For 3000 gold pieces, Andya will provide storage, guards and keep this quiet.

Scene 4: A father short

Acolytes from the temple shows up at the offices of the marines and ask Commander Tom Stoutly for help in investigating Father Brinehandeds sudden disappearance. He was last seen going east, towards the Crabber’s Cove, late last evening. Something he doesn't usually do, and the rumors about killer crabs and ghosts have kept the acolytes from searching for him.

Pvts Farmys and Groove volunteer and Millicent joins as he knows Father Brinehanded very well and could help in the search.

The start the search in the least crab infested house and finds that this house seems to have been used. They find Father Brinehandeds cloak and a flamboyant purse, unfortunately empty.

Suddenly they hear a voice from the basement and searches for a way down, they find some stairs and in the end a metal banded oak door with a small barred hatch. Millicent sneaks forward to pick the lock with the marines guarding behind him.

A voice beckons him to listen, and locked in the cell is a man who calls himself Xolac, who has been cursed and cannot leave the room if he is not carried out by someone pure of heart. In the end, only Pvt Groove has a clean conscious enough to help the poor man, pale and thin, to the other side of the threshold.

As a reward he shared important information to Millicent regarding unseen forces in the village, and then leaves.

Scene 5: Amnesia

The search does not give any result, and as they are starting to forfeit their mission, two acolytes appears telling them Father Brinehanded have been found. He was found with a bad hangover, sleeping in the small chapel at the cemetery.

After some interrogation his story says he was counseling a fisherman in the Empty Net two days ago, and that everything suddenly went black. then he was found this evening in the chapel. He recalls that the fisherman had recently arrived to Saltmarsh, and lives at a small barge at the docks below Primewater mansion.

Scene 6: A lost cause

They find the barge, and within it they locate a dead doppelgänger, cut in half by the waist by sharp claws. On the deck a colorful red feather rests.

Episode 4

The Workshop

With the new order from the captain of the Windbreaker, Andya have his hands full and needs to expand his workshop to be able to work on the logs now that the spring storm is raging.

Desperately he rents an old workshop close to the Crabbers Cove, which also will double as the warehouse for the delicate goods from the Windbreaker.

The first two days are quiet, besides the thunder and wind pushing on the old building, but on the third night unfamiliar sounds and lights appear around and inside the workshop.

Play log Episode 4

Scene 1: The Contract

To be able to secure storage of 20 metric tonnes of cargo from the Windbreaker. and space to handle the raw materials, Andya ponder who might be able to provide the required space. Eda Oweland does have both the space or the connections, Gellan Primewater definitely have both and Anders Solmor have a reputable secure storage vault on his premises. Andya decides to head to Gellan Primewaters mansion. As soon as he makes it pass Madame Bonnevier, the gatekeeper of the mansion, he signs a contract with Gellan that could put him in bankruptcy if he doesn't pay back on time. The facility is at Crabbers Cove. Newly renovated and pretty cheap for a ten day at its renting price of 45 silver. Also, when talking to very sunny and pleasant Gellan, toasting in a gold yellow strong drink, Andya recognizes a worn thin volume in Gellans extensive library, on black leather in gold it says "Of nautical submersibles and other fantastic contraptions."

Scene 2: Solmors key

Andya decides not to put all eggs in the same basket and heads up to Solmors mansion to inspect the secure vault. It seems to be heavily guarded by local mercenaries, provided by Ingo the Drover. Although all mercenaries in service wear Solmors colors. Young Solmor is keen to help out and offers secure service of two metric tonnes of cargo for the tenday at a price of 30 gold pieces including transport and guards.

Later that day Andya, with the help of Captain Sigurd on the Windbreaker together with First mate Frithoff and Bosun Bjorn prepares for the mending of the ship. Tools are moved from the workshop to the ship and the non essential cargo is moved to the Crabbers Cove Warehouse 3.

A day later two carriages followed by a heavily armed guard arrives and picks up the delicate cargo from the ship for transport to the secure house at Solmors mansion.

Scene 3: The Snapping Line

Andya and Davhorn returns to Andyas workshop and does some preparation work for the work on the Windbreaker the following day.

Scene 4: Nightwatch

Late at night there is a knock on Davhorns door and Ingo is outside, desperate for his service. They are a guard short at the Solmors outfit and offer to pay 20 gold pieces for two days work, guarding the secure storage. He works with Captain Wulf, a hardened veteran and Davhorn gets to do most of the patrolling during the cold rainy night. In the middle of the second night there is a bright light in the bay and a rumbling can be heard from far below the ground.

Scene 5: The Old Switchero

The days pass and soon a tenday has passed and the ship is fully repaired. In the morning of the eleventh day Andya wakes up remembering his contract with Gellan which has passed its due date and on the same time there is an urgent knock on the door. It is a page from the Solmor estate who says is presence is needed. At the same moment Davhorn is drafted to investigate a probable crime scene at the Solmor mansion.

They arrive to the storage building and the roof is completely blown off, from the inside. Andya unlocks the outer lock and Solmor the inner lock and finds the boxes and its innards completely destroyed inside the secure vault. Andya smirks and drop the comment "It was a good thing not to store anything important here" explaining to Solmor that he and Captain Sigurd switched the delicate cargo for Andyas old tools. The delicate cargo were stored in Andyas workshop the whole time, and is now safely back on the ship.

After some investigation they conclude that someone had performed a ritual and placed a seal on one of the boxes to go off at the end of the ten day. This at some time before the switch and before the boxes was locked into the secure storage.

Scene 6: Reputation

Andya hurries to Gellan to pay his dues, and it is a harsh and not as welcoming Gellan as the last time they met. Gellan is a bit disappointed of Andya being late and goes on of how a mans reputation is all there is, but instead of forcing him to pay he offers him work. If he agrees they are to meet a couple of days later, and Andya will be transported with a blindfold to a secret location, to perform his craftsmanship. He will be paid 100 gold pieces a day for the job and 500 gold pieces for keeping quiet afterwards. Also, he gets to keep the volume "Of nautical submersibles and other fantastic contraptions."

Andya promise to take this offer in consideration, and will give his answer presently.

Episode 5

The Bauble of Phishing

The paths of the adventurers start to intertwine, forcing them closer and closer together. As we conclude this session, the core individuals of the party will be accounted for. Although the consolidation of the group has only just begun.

Old differences and painful memories are surfacing as we venture back in time to the Rite of Phishing when Millicent was just a teenager on the precipice to adulthood. In an event that both enlightened yet devastated him, and brought him on the path he still treads.

Play log Episode 5

Scene 1: The Snapping Line - Redux

Andya decides to hire his friend Davhorn for some work and finds him at the Snapping Line, enjoying some ale and the music from a newly arrived bard. They overhear a conversation from a couple of fishermen who have seen strange lights in the bay, and also heard a rumbling noise late at night. Some boats had been heavily damaged by deeps cut in the hull. There was something fishy going on in the depths in the deep harbor.

Galina did not know if she was nervous or excited, the crowd seemed an easy one. That is drunk enough to don´t care to much if the performance was a failure. She started out strong with a stomp and managed to ride the expectation of the audience fairly good. With only a few mishaps, as when the Half-orc spluttered a fisherman's blood over the handsome but awkward gentleman addressed as Andya.

As Andya had picked his favorite table, looking forward to enjoy an evening with cheese and some expensive cold cut, Hanna was sorry to tell him that the newly arrived Half-orc had bought both shanks of the meat she had prepared. A bit annoyed he approached the Half-orc, a giant woman with flexing muscle, as she dug her teeth deep into the leg, chewing greedily. She laughed at him in his proposal to buy some of the meat. And he went back to his place, trying to enjoy the meager excuse for a evening meal.

Millicent kept him self busy, selling a bucket of expensive fish to Hanna, at last she accepted his offer of the rare and stomach challenging dish. She would make a good profit. Millicent glanced through the crowd of patrons as he enjoyed the finale of the bards performance, made a quick nod to his friends Andya and Davhorn as they toasted to him from their table.

As his eyes swept back over the cheering crowd, he blinked twice and shuddered as he recognized a familiar face from long ago. He turned and darted out the kitchen entrance, stopping after only a few steps into the fierce rain as the memories poured over him. Was it Gwolla?

Scene 2: Disaster

It was a magnificent morning, Gantar Farlana and Millicent Araro, teased each other and walked noisily towards the waiting ship where they were met by the priest and a big ugly half-orc wearing ceremonial clothes. As they were 12 years old, they were to perform the Rite of Phishing to invite them into a fisherman's adulthood. They were to set out in the Breeze runner, an elven sailing ship crewed by Captain Cyran Themaris, Millicent's uncle and guardian, and Usunaar Loraroris, Cyran's best friend and first mate on the ship.

The half-orc Gwolla, young and eager to show her worth for her clan, was attending the rite providing the Bauble of Phishing. The artifact was very old and priceless, it was a great honor to be part of this ritual as it also was a political bridge between the Half-Orc clan of Skhu'lla Banc and the local Sea-elf community.

As they set out to the reef where the ritual would take place, clouds started to form at the southern horizon and the wind was changing direction. As they performed the ritual, they attached the bauble to a fishing rod and added a hook, Millicent caught his prey within seconds. It was the rare and delicious Rainbow Unicorn Cod. Although, when Gantar started to do the fishing, his hook got stuck in something heavy. The ship rocked and he was pulled into the water. Millicent dived after him and when they reached the end of the line it was stuck in something big that, when they stood on it, moved.

A dark shadow passed over them and large tentacles moved through the now disturbed and unclear waters. When it finally subsided and the shadow disappeared they swam for the surface and they ship was gone. The rain was pouring and only some debris and floating boxes could be seen. They took aim for the closest island and found the ship wrecked at the craggy shoreline.

First they found Usunaar, he gasped for air, coughed blood and died. He had been injured by the cliffs but also had some nasty bite marks over his chest which his blood flowed from. They heard a low cough and ran over to the beach behind the torn hull. They saw Cyran. A splinter the size of an arm was rammed through his body and pinned him into the beach. Through the rain and the waves they saw three shadows emerging from the ocean.

Gwolla came to her senses and thrashed, her last attack at the monsters eye still fresh, but the monster was gone and there was only grass and the howling wind. She stood and saw the beach with the shipwreck down the slope. She could barely make out the group of creatures in the shoreline and started to run as she recalled her most important mission: Keep the bauble safe. Fear and rage rushed through her veins as she skidded onto the beach screaming for the bauble. She met the terrified and sad gaze from Millicent and Gantar. "The sea monsters claimed it. They...took it and left. Cyran is dead."

As the tears started to pour from Millicent's eyes, the rain stopped and the sun shone through the clouds. Gwolla cursed heavily and set off over the island. She was doomed.

Episode 6

Dishonored

Galina saw familiar faces at the gate, have they also come to taste the dwarven ale at the Miner's Respite? Passing the main gate, further into the village closer to the mines, she reconsidered and was curious as they went to the warehouse where the dwarves had brought the...contraption, they had found during a recent excavation.

Even before the campaign started, the odds were stacked against King Tavish III. Fueled by almost a decade of embarrassment since the Sea Princes captured Westkeep, it was a fools plan that was laid out in the Chambers of War.

Now, weeks into the campaign, a days march from Westkeep, the army was in bad shape. But it was to late to stop now, he thought.

Play log Episode 6

Scene 1 - A letter

Davhorn gets a letter, it is the usual setup so he asks Millicent to tag along for company and assistance, sure of his ability to keep his tongue. They prepare for a short trip to the Lighthouse the next dawn.

The letter says:

"The Lighthouse

At dawn the lights ponder, what lies in the middle? Only the stone is heavy.

Gun’r Goldboom."

Scene 2 - The Set up

Gellan Primewater visits Andya and set him up to go to the mines the next day in the morning, he can bring company if they can be quiet about the trip. Andya decides to bring along Davhorn and Millicent.

Scene 3 - The Miners Respite

Galina is hired by Manistrad Copperlocks to play at the dwarven tavern at the mine, she gets 5 gold pieces for two days work. She joins the caravan heading to the mines and get settled in. At the mine she witness some commotion when and a big contraption covered in sail cloth being hauled from the mine to a warehouse.

There are rumors of pirates visiting Saltmarsh flying fake flag, also there are smuggling being performed in the cover of the night.

Scene 4 - The Davhorn Run

The next dawn Davhorn and Millicent set out to the old Lighthouse, which is more of a big pile of stone with fluorescent moss at the top. They find a wooden box, 1x2x3 feet in the “middle-vault” as promised, and the box is heavy and seem to have a momentum when you stop. It seems to push back.

They check with the Mining office in Saltmarsh if they know a dwarf named Gun’r Goldboom, and they find out he works at the mining operation further east as an engineer.

Scene 5 - Copperlock Mining Operation

They meet up with Andya and are picked up by a covered carriage, Gwolla has been recruited as over watch of the mission. Davhorn brings the wooden box.

They pass a creepy mansion halfway to the mine, but arrive without issues to the main gate of the mining site.

There is a short stop when the coach clears all papers at the guard, and Galina sneaks on board the wagon.

They end up within the fortified mining facility, and are driven to the warehouse with the big contraption. Inside they are welcomed by Mr Goldboom, an artificer inventor and bad ass.

As he reveals the contraption by removing the sail cloth, Andya and Davhorn gets a painful flashback to 123 years ago. At the Siege of Westkeep.

Scene 6 - The Siege of Westkeep

Originally a Keolish fort settlement, Westkeep fell to pirates along with the nearby settlements of Port Toli and finally Monmurg in 446 CY. Unwilling to risk a naval confrontation the King of Keoland, Tavish III, ordered an overland attack on Westkeep by marching his troops south through the Hool Marsh in 453 CY. The resulting Siege of Westkeep was a military disaster that cost the king his life. [ref]

Before the final, and fatal, attack at the fortified city, the king have a briefing of the battle plan.

Captain Davhorn Farmys will circle north of the city with his cavalry elite troops and strike down soldiers heading to the marshes to perform an ambush.

Master Andya Dewakinnara ha Saar and his siege engineers will be covered by the remaining archers and the second cavalry unit while preparing to take down the city walls with the machines of war.

And as they get reports of the reinforcements to the meager infantry arrives, the king gives the order to attack.

In the south, tribes of half-orcs, arrives and set up a perimeter just out of reach for the archers in the city.

As Davhorn and his cavalry arrives at the ambushing soldiers, they find out that it is civilians fleeing from the battle as they was too late to hide within the city.

Enraged by the kings cruel orders, he turns his cavalry to the main attack and see the kings crown flash in the sun heading to the keep.

Part of the wall is easily brought down by Andyas war machine, and as the troops follows the king in the attack, a bright flash blinds everyone momentarily. They stare in awe as a dome of blue light expands and engulfs the whole army. In an instant, half of the kings forces are dead, and the rest in confusion. A barrage of arrows, with tips glowing from magic ordnance, brings death as poison clouds and necrotic wisps spread over the battlefield.

The king gives a last futile order of attack before he is struck down by a crossbow bolt, impaling his head, send the crown into the mud. Ending the reign of Tavish III.

Scene 7 - An interruption

Andya blinks and he is back at the warehouse, he opens his mouth to talk but are deafened by a loud explosion coming from the mine.

Episode 7

A Silver Lining

As the dust settled and miners started to flow towards the new chasm, a gaping wound in the mountain wall, a bright sparkling light seem to emanate from the void.

The adventurers started to close in to the precipice, to get a glimpse of the unearthed rock. They were firmly but politely stopped by dwarven and royal guards wearing heavy armor and a stern face. Back at the warehouse they were ushered into the wagon and driven out from the fortified mining village.

When they looked back, the number of guards seemed to have multiplied, and a dull shimmer from the ground fought with the dim sunlight to put some kind of silver lining onto the heavy clouds. Then the heavens opened.

Play log Episode 7

Scene 1 - A common interest

The explosion made Galina and Millicent curious and they went out to observe the commotion. Gun'r and Andya discussed how to mend the broken siege weapon and Andya got a list of items and materials to acquire. Davhorn presented the wooden box and in it four ceramic containers were found. They were of an exotic origin, and were missing the detonator. Yest another thing to add to the list. Gun'r locked them safely into his safe. They agreed to cooperate in this project, the machine would be of both strategic and scientific interest. And it would give the king an upper hand against his numerous foes.

Scene 2 - All in vein

Around the gaping hole in the mountainside Galina and Millicent saw injured and dead miners, a wall of guards were forming along the edge of the void. Smoke billowing out from the source of the explosion, and soon they could discover that a gas filled shaft had exploded and an underground ravine had formed. The walls were covered in precious gems and metals, and mainly, a large vein of silver ore spread a surprisingly strong but dull light over the chaotic scene.

Suddenly the heavy boots of the Royal guard marched towards the scene and they started to push people from the find. A makeshift fence of ten-foot poles was erected around the hole and covered the view for curious eyes.

The adventurers were gathered and ushered into the wagon and driven off towards Saltmarsh. The rain started to pour down, barely masking the gloom from the mine. The consequences of the find were yet to be discovered.

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