Narrative

Day 19 was Saturday, 3rd Tan, with 15 days until the Tri-moon. The party approached Fairshaws and saw gold sands and white plaster buildings. The settlement looked like a Cornish town, and the temperature was oddly warm. They went through town to the harbour to find a boat.

At the harbour they took passage on the Pride of the Penta Cities, a galleon. The party were assigned Cabin 17. The ship’s figurehead was a wooden shield crystal. While at sea, another ship appeared on the horizon. The captain seemed panicked and ordered an attempt to outrun it, though the threat was not yet identified.

The hostess lady began chanting and called forth great winds and a storm. A tiny flame called Keely broke out from the buffet table heat lamps, set a table alight, and attacked the party. Merfolk on board said that had never happened before. They also warned that pirates had been attacking people more recently, and mentioned creatures able to petrify others by looking at them. The notes record a possible arrangement of 150 gp if the party needed to fight and 5 gp if they did not.

Several passengers or figures were noted aboard the ship. A male half-elf in traveller’s leathers was recorded with the phrase “bit of my kind” and possibly “[permitted],” along with an icon and 10 gp. An elderly dwarf woman wore a silver chain and became worried when she relieved eye contact with Geldrin; she was described as beautiful. A silver dragonborn bard was also described as beautiful.

The pursuing ship drew closer. It had black sails with snake heads and seemed to be propelled by water rather than wind. Its pirate captain was Kairbidius, wearing a big-brimmed hat and worn, mismatched clothes. He called on Salinus and summoned salt elementals. The party killed Kairbidius and his crew. In reward, they received free passage on any of the ship operators’ vessels, 400 gp, a scimitar +1 that can be attuned for water breathing, and a Handblow Pistol of Never Loading +1, a noisy d8 weapon.

After the fight, the party retreated to their cabin with a cask of rum. They later reached Turisle Point, where the docks and nearby areas looked as if they could be underwater at some point. They were told to be back for 9:00. Turisle Point was the only town on the isle, and turtle men appeared to be the locals. Directions were given to the Sailors Rest: third road left, third building.

The party took a shrine tour. The shrine was to the Great Turtle, and the merfolk, called the accordsmouth, looked after the turtles. The locals believed they stood on the back of the Great Turtle. The turtles had a 200-year lifespan. Before the Barrier, the Great Turtle had come into this world while trying to escape his own realm. He had been trying to continue on his way, but picked the people up and was diverted into this world. He rooted his feet in the ground, and the locals believe he is still awake. The shrine was an elaborate fountain made from the same white stone as Seaward. A private shrine or shelter shrine was also mentioned, along with an unclear account that it had a multicore attack and then used his path as a combination of different animals. The water rises high during a Tri-moon and covers the area.

The party told their guide or contact about the fight with Kairbidius. He thought he knew where Kairbidius parked the boat and wanted to show them. At about 19:30 he took them there. They found an old town in disrepair, but one dock was fairly well maintained and repaired. Three houses also looked decent. The first house, closest to the party, seemed lit, so they crept up to look inside.

Inside an otherwise empty tavern were four fish men attaching copper spear-heads onto sticks, with finished weapons stacked against the wall. One fish man told the others that the Boss, possibly the King, would be angry if they did not get the shipment on time, and ordered someone to get the boss. Both other huts had lights, with the furthest one seeming more secured. One fish man used a conch to call out and say that “Kingly comes now.” The party waited. The notes mark 8:30, then 9:30, when the water came back.

The fish people discussed whether there was any sight of someone. A reply indicated failure: “boat” captured, he was thought dead, and the boat had been captured. They brought out the weapons and wondered whether they would be enough. Around 10:00, 11 fish people were carrying things, with 15 overall. A chariot was pulled by barnacled sea cows. Something approached with a hull, and a six-armed fish person on it skewered another fish person and ate it.

The six-armed creature stopped, smelled that it was being watched, and told the others to search for the party. It saw Geldrin and threw a trident at him. The creature liked being complimented, but also threatened to destroy everything. It said it needed all of something or the plan would not work, and that he would be cross, and “he will be worse.” The party thought the six-armed creature would attack their ship for the weapons. They returned to Turisle Point at about 12:00.

People, Factions, and Places Mentioned

Fairshaws, the harbour, the Pride of the Penta Cities, Cabin 17, Turisle Point, the Sailors Rest, Seaward, the old town, the Great Turtle, the Barrier, the hostess lady, Keely, the captain, Kairbidius, Salinus, merfolk, the accordsmouth, turtle men, pirates, salt elementals, fish men, the Boss or King, Kingly, Geldrin, the male half-elf passenger, the elderly dwarf woman, the silver dragonborn bard, barnacled sea cows, and the six-armed fish person or creature were all mentioned.

Items, Rewards, and Resources

The party received free passage on any of the relevant ships, 400 gp, a scimitar +1 that can be attuned for water breathing, and a Handblow Pistol of Never Loading +1, recorded as a noisy d8 weapon. Other noted resources and objects included the Pride of the Penta Cities’ wooden shield crystal figurehead, a cask of rum, the Great Turtle shrine fountain made from white Seaward stone, copper spear-heads being attached to sticks, finished copper weapons, a conch used for communication, a chariot pulled by barnacled sea cows, and the possible payment notes of 150 gp if the party had to fight and 5 gp if they did not.

Clues, Mysteries, and Open Threads

The pursuing pirate ship was propelled by water rather than wind and had black sails with snake heads. Merfolk said the flame attack from the buffet heat lamps had never happened before. Pirates had recently been attacking more people, and creatures capable of petrifying by sight were mentioned. Turisle Point’s docks can apparently be covered by water, especially around the Tri-moon. The Great Turtle’s origin from another realm and continued wakefulness remain important lore. The fish men were preparing copper weapons for a shipment, feared the Boss or King, and used a conch to summon Kingly. The six-armed creature threatened to destroy everything, wanted all of something for a plan, implied someone worse would be angry, and may have intended to attack the party’s ship for the weapons.