The Wandering Archipelago (D&D 5e)

[Dlover]

"Generally people would try to minimise the number of times they're rescued. Should I dock your pay if I have to save you again?"

[Arch Lich Burns]

Gwen snickers. "It's not like I tried to die, either time. One was an accident and the other was being unlucky. And I'd rather not be saved more than needed. I shouldn't be looked at like a damsel in distress all the time."

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That's what your becoming Gwen.

[Dlover]

"Then perhaps you should do the wise thing and not go to such a place."

[Arch Lich Burns]

"I've only heard it was rowdy, not the slums. It probably isn't any more slums than where our shop is."

[Nioca]

Syli quietly stows the brooch in a pocket for later examination. She doesn't have anything to report so she opts to keep quiet or the time being.

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Probably not going to be active today or tomorrow. Pulling a surprise double at work today, and will be spending most of tomorrow catching up on sleep.

[thinkslogically]

The party finish up their various tasks and errands for the day, and head towards the Temple to meet up. Mehriv and Darruk are first to arrive, since Mehriv is VERY keen not to be late. Korrik and Syli arrive a little while later, followed by Gwen. Kal is in no particular hurry to leave the temple, so is last to arrive, but certainly nowhere close to being late.

Mehriv and Gwen catch up on the day's news.

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Just before 6pm, a horse-drawn coach draws up to the temple door and a finely-polished guard steps down from his seat next to the driver.

"Mehriv of the Tuarjin, you and your companions are hereby summoned to a meeting of the Hightown Council so that you may give your account of this morning's events. Please, step inside the carriage and help yourselves to the refreshments on offer."

The guard gestures to the coach, and the party climb aboard, and are surprised to find the inside of the carriage is deliciously cool. A bottle of cool, herb-infused water and half a dozen cups have been arranged on a side table.

The party are joined a few moments later by Thaquorel, who looks considerably better for his afternoon's rest and is wearing a shiny new uniform. He grins at Kal and Korrik as he climbs in, but otherwise keeps to himself and is unusually quiet. Korrik suspects he's worried about the meeting, but given their close proximity to their chaperone, decides not to question him about it for now.

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The carriage rolls to a halt, and the door is opened by the driver. Mehriv and Darruk recognise this as the Hightown Meeting Hall that they visited earlier in the day (the others work it out from the sign above the door), although now a small crowd has gathered in the grassy gardens around the building, made of what appears to be people of a variety of races and professions. Many are talking and laughing, some are rushing through the crowds to pass messages, or attend to other urgent business, but mostly they just seem to be waiting. As the party step out of the carriage, a few folk point and there are a couple of shouts of "Who are they, then?" and "I dunno, some dragonborn and his servants it looks like".

The party are led inside the building and escorted to the stone-walled Meeting Chambers. A long table with seven chairs has been placed on an elevated dias at the far end of the room, and a different banner hangs behind each chair. A row of seats has been placed just in front of the dias for the benefit of some older dignitaries in the audience, and there's a line of benches behind them, which appear to have been placed for the convenience of the shorter races. Otherwise, it looks like standing room only.

As they wait, the room gradually begins to fill. Mehriv spots the green dragonborn from the Merchants Guild entering the room, in lively conversation with two well-dressed women, though he doesn't appear to have noticed Mehriv yet. The two Larkhall men who attempted to "claim" the ship earlier in the day also arrive with a young, exotic-looking human woman. She is dressed in a light, silk dress and pashmina and wears long silk gloves. Dorral Morley is seated in the front row of chairs, looking defeated.

At some apparently unseen signal, a hush descends on the crowd and they turn to face the dias. From a back entrance, the seven council representatives walk onto the stage and take their seats in their respective chairs. A servant announces them as they walk onto the stage:

"Please be upstanding for this emergency session of the Council of the Seven Houses!

The Council representatives are:
Valeria Morley will lead tonight's Council, Alain Valletort, Tom Greyville, Espen Redvers, Elise Carew, Raini Ambershard, who is speaking on her father's behalf, and Norburn Ridgeway"

They sit in front of the following banners:

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- Morley

- Valletort

- Greyville

- Redvers

- Carew

- Ambershard

- Ridgeway

After the introductions are complete, the meeting proper is called to order.

Valeria Morley speaks first, her face a practiced mask of decorum.

"I will not waste time. As many of you will no doubt be aware, the Iskat returned home this morning without her crew. You will also be aware that this is not the first incident of this type that we have had to deal with in recent months. We have called this meeting to hear from those who were present at the time of the Iskat's arrival and to determine what our response will be. Mehriv of the Turajin was on board our ship when Dorral and myself arrived, and claims that he and his companions were protecting it from thieves and vandals."

The younger Larkhall snorts loudly at this statement, making it clear that he disagrees with the statement and whispers to the young woman beside him.

"Mehriv, will you and your people please recount the morning's events for the benefit of those gathered?"

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((As usual, I've taken a few liberties with the longer update, but if there's anything you'd like to know more about / actions you would have performed up to this point, feel free to make them and we'll add them in. We'll move on with the meeting after you guys have said anything you want to say to the gathering))

[Arch Lich Burns]

Gwen looks at Thaq appologeticly.

When she gets on the stand she presents herself to be more poised, sitting strait.
"I followed my companions to see the great boat's arrival. When it arrived at least one was dead. My companions were able to stop the boat from drifting and jumped onto the boat.

Shortly after there was a crew of men in row boats, looking to steal what is on the ship. Merhiv was able to drive them away. At around this time a couple kids got on the tree and looked to take a swim. The crowd got rowdy and someone fell in.

Then the Larkhalls show up, claiming that it was thier ship. I believed them but fortunally my companions saw the lies. they were able to disuade any other intruders. As for what I did, I froze up. I surely did not want to try drowning in a river of acid, and Merhiv knew what he was doing more than I."

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I know I forgot things but I am not looking back to see what they were and just go by memory.

[spiderwrangler]

As this meeting seems not to call for fast talking and shaded truths, I hold my tongue and let Mehr state our case after Gwen pipes up with her account.

[WearsHats]

For his turn, Kal steps up, with the earnest and guileless demeanor of a paladin with nothing to hide.

"I am Kal, paladin of Pelor and newcomer to the city. My companions and I arrived at the riverfront to watch the ship come in. We were standing on the bridge with Thorquel* It was drifting, clearly unguided. As it came closer, we could see that the pilot was slumped over with an arrow in her. I jumped down to secure the ship with some rope while my companions checked on the pilot. Sadly, she was already dead. While the others searched the ship for any survivors, Mehriv and I stayed above deck to guard. Some of the crowd on the riverbanks were overly enthusiastic. A couple of kids nearly fell in the river climbing out on a dead tree branch, and others were trying to board the ship. We did our best to keep the crowd in line so that everyone would be safe and the ship would be secure so it could be returned to its rightful owners and searched for clues to the attack.

But you say this is not the first time such a thing has happened? Perhaps my companions and I might be of some assistance? My employer can better explain our capabilities and services. "

*

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Or however that's spelled. I'm away for the weekend and tapping stuff out on my phone during intermittent downtime. Please excuse any other errors in my memory. Kal has things straight. I just can't go review right now

[Dlover]

^I think you mean Thaqorel's supervision, since he wasn't actually on the bridge.

"As these folks have said, we boarded the ship to secure it before it drifted further on when we saw that the pilot had been shot. There was an incident involving several thieves attempting to reach the ship using smaller boats, but they were easily dissuaded in the face of being forced to swim. A time later, two men arrived with a dispatch of guardsmen, and claimed ownership of the ship by right of the house name Larkhall. Thaqorel had earlier told us the ship was owned by the Morleys, so we refused to hand it over to them. They were prepared to have the guards take it by force, but relented after a brief debate on the legality of their actions. As that time, I believe Thaqorel was preoccupied for having pulled a civilian from the river, so I can't presume how much he can confirm. Following the Larkhalls' departure, there were no incidents until the Morleys arrived."

[spiderwrangler]

((Thaq was on the bridge to turn the mechanism... He's also likely to get in trouble for allowing us up there....))

[thinkslogically]

At the mention of the Larkhall's attempts to claim the boat and being refused there are some amused murmurs and chuckles from around the room. Alain Valletort looks particularly amused by the news. The younger Larkhall (Calum) doesn't look pleased, but the older man (presumably Malcolm), just smiles and shrugs.

After the statements have been heard, there is some quiet murmuring around the room while people apparently try to decide what to make of the tales. Valeria Morley clears her throat and looks towards Thaqorel.

"You were stationed on the bridge, is that correct? Do you have anything to add?"

"No ma'am, that sounds about right. I met Korrik and Kal yesterday and thought they were decent folk, so I offered them a spot on the bridge to see the Iskat come in since they'd never seen a rivership before. ... Because they just got into town they said. I know it's not exactly correct protocol but..."

Valeria holds up her hand
"I assure you that the council tonight has no interest in guard protocol. And you do not appear to have misjudged them. They did indeed arrive in town yesterday, and appear to have been of considerable use in this matter so far. Now... we've examined our ship and our cargo was untouched, but our daughter Leia, and her husband and infant son are missing."

Gwen and Mehriv notice that no-one seems to be mentioning the fact that they used magic to solve a couple of their problems...

She sighs and gestures to the steward who nods and brings forward a tray of small objects. Everyone who investigated the corpse on the ship this morning recognises the item as the arrow that killed the pilot and even more murmuring sweeps around the room.

"This is the arrow that killed Meili today. And this-" (she holds up another with different coloured feathers)

"-this is one that was pulled out of the hull of the Maru last month, and this one from when they were driven out of their eastern propects by a band of reptilian savages two weeks ago. These..."

She holds up three more arrows "...were recovered by the Navarin's crew last week after their camp was attacked in the night, and this from two weeks before that. They're subtly different, but similar enough that we believe it is the same reptilian creatures."

A more urgent wave of chatter fills the meeting room, and Norburn Ridgeway, a middle-aged man, with a round, pleasant face stands up and says:
"But if that's true, then they're in the south as well. This isn't just confined to the northern prospects."
"No. Not any more."

Valeria nods to the steward again and two more servants enter, and unroll a large map.

"For the benefit of those who are not intimately aware of our current holdings, this will give you a little insight."

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((The background colours on the family crests corresponds to the colour of the boxes. This was a map from my notes, so please excuse the light censorship and small font size!))

"This threat must be dealt with."

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After much lengthy discussion within the room about what should be done (if anything at all), some decisions are reached and the Council make their announcement:

"Let the word be spread that the Council of Hightown is officially seeking scouts and mercenary companies to gather information on the savage reptilian clans that have been plaguing our tradeships of late. Any who return with verifiable information on these creatures will be rewarded for their efforts. We also offer the following bounties:

For true information regarding the numbers, locations and activities of these clans, we will pay 100 GP. For true information regarding the fate of Leia Morley and her family, we will pay 150GP. We offer a reward of 250GP for each of those kidnapped if they are returned dead; 750GP if they are returned alive. For every reptilian savage killed, we will also offer a bonus of 5GP if you can present proof of the kill. Any items of value that are found amongst the savages or outside the lands claimed by the seven families are yours to keep. Anything found within the seven claims remain the property of the council.

Any interested parties may claim a writ of access and free travel from the Town Hall at any time for as long as the bounty is offered."

It would also appear that amongst all the families, only the Iskat (Morley) and Gloriana (Ambershard) are currently in town, with the others still working upriver. The Iskat has been too badly damaged to sail upriver again any time soon. The Gloriana can be made ready in two days, but cannot sail through Morley waters. It seems that no matter what, this work will involve a fair amount of hiking through the jungle...

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As the meeting formally concludes, the council representatives join the crowd to discuss other matters and the crowd begins to slowly disperse.

Phew, what a lot of text. You guys are, as usual, free to retcon your actions if there's anything you wanted to pay attention to or whatever through the course of the meeting. You're now free to do whatever you like. You can consider everyone of importance to still be in the room and available to talk to if you'd like.

[WearsHats]

I assume we'll be applying for a writ, but I'll let the boss deal with the paperwork. I'd like more information about the reptilian creatures and where they've been sighted, but I'm not certain whom to ask other than Valaria. I'll follow the group's lead.

[thinkslogically]

((Let's assume that was covered during the meeting))

Some discussion about the creatures themselves took place through the meeting, but wasn't entirely productive. The reports from the north suggest that the reptiles were using hit and run tactics, and the crews were only able to catch glimpses of the creatures as they fled for cover. They all agree that they saw scaled, humanoid creatures, but there's conflicting reports about the details. The Valletort crews report seeing fairly small creatures with devilish red (or maybe it was yellow?) eyes and heavily spined heads who fired from the trees, or maybe it was from the underbrush? The Redvers report seeing larger creatures with faces like newts and dark blue crests on their heads who fired from the water, though someone else thinks the crests were red, and someone else swore it was an alligator in the water and the arrows were fired from behind the trees...

Obviously, there are no reports of what attacked the Iskat yet.

[spiderwrangler]

((Have the only reported attacks been via arrows, no melee confrontations?))

[thinkslogically]

Yes, so far it seems to be hit-and-run only.

[spiderwrangler]

((Wish my first level monk was 3rd level for this hit and run arrow fight that looks like it's coming...))

[thinkslogically]

We'll see how it goes, but I might well allow you guys to get to level 3 with just standard rests depending on how the game progresses. It depends on whether you all decide to go and live in the woods forever or decide to take more long breaks. I don't think any of you are classes that would really require "training" so much as outside influence...

[Arch Lich Burns]

Gwen is worried as to why they downplayed magic being used to save the ship. But more pressing is why today? Then it hits her.

"Whatever these creatures are, they attacked today out of all days. I do not think it is a conincidence that it happened, with only one crew dead. It seems to be a trap to lure people to them. Whomever goes shall have to tread very carefully."

[thinkslogically]

Dorral Morley looks up, with a deep sadness in his eyes.

"We do not know exactly when they attacked, lass. That ship knows her way home, but who knows how long it was drifting. We can only hope it has not been too long for-"

His voice breaks and he breaks off.

[Arch Lich Burns]

Gwen looks solemn. She looks to whom was looking at the body and the mortitians "Do you know how long the pilot was killed? If it hasn't been long then perhaps there might be a chance to find your daughter."

[Dlover]

Mehr nods to Dorral, "You can be assured that my companions and I shall do everything within our power to resolve this. I cannot allow these distant cousins to continue such savage behaviour."

[spiderwrangler]

I'd like to slip into the crowd and do some eavesdropping.

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Perception: Any juicy whispers?: 1D20+2 = [5]+2 = 7

It doesn't go well.

[WearsHats]

Kal, being a forest dweller raised by a ranger, searches his memory to see if he recognizes the creatures.

1D20+3 = [3]+3 = 6

The vague descriptions don't give him much to go on.

[thinkslogically]

Dorral seems grateful for the help, but otherwise isn't in any state to keep talking.

Korrik hangs out in the crowd for a bit. He overhears the Larkhalls talking about how they might best take advantage of this situation, but they leave before he can hear too much detail. He does notice that the exotic woman with the men is wearing a very valuable armband that looks to be made of silver with a single gemstone set in the middle. In his smuggling days, such a piece of jewelry would have fetched a very good price...

Kal ponders the information about the reptilian folk. He knows that kobolds and lizardfolk might fit the descriptions and were fairly common in the areas around Ceto and his home town. If there are other, more exotic races out here though he hasn't heard of them.