Narrative

Day 21 was Monday, 6th Jan 1002, with 13 days until the Tri-moon. Everyone had dreams tinged with cold. One dream took place in the dreamer’s family home, with siblings playing and happy memories around the local town hall. The town hall looked like a crater, but was actually a black hole pulling in more buildings. A horrible voice said, “where is he I know you hide him.” The dreamer panicked, hunted, and woke up, wondering if the voice was looking for Garadul. The note “Void!” was attached to this dream.

Only the party’s room was cold. As the ice melted, a white dragonscale dropped from an icicle. The party went looking for the captain for a boat. They arranged to loan a boat for 100 gp per day with a 500 gp deposit, divided as 125 gp each.

At Pier 12, a large force gathered. There were about 30 merfolk plus two little ones, 20 guardsmen whose sergeant had a necklace, Zinquiss, and a black dragonborn named Wrath. The party spoke to Pact leader Tiana and other leaders gathered there. Pact leader Alana was also present. There were 15 clerics and their leader. The party received two guest shells and 10 spare shells. Wrath would stay on the other side of the Barrier once they arrived. The sergeant took the party’s cart to the keep. The captain was named Captain Huen.

The group set sail on a calm sea. The water seemed clear, with no noticeable sign of the Excellence yet. Merfolk, Zinquiss, Wrath, and half the clerics were in the sea with the party. The party considered that the Excellence had seemed to come from 80 miles away when they were at the turtle village, so it might have come from Dunhold Cache or the smaller islands around it.

The party made or planned a pulley system and net to hoist the shield crystal onto the ship when they reached Fairshaws. Wrath’s middle name was recorded as Kolin. The party asked him to look for the location of Garadul when he got to Black Scale.

They passed an island and nothing seemed to happen. When they arrived at Fairshaws, their boat was seized on the Earl’s orders, and the occupants were detained for treason and related accusations. The party presented the situation as a diplomatic mission carrying members of the Pact. They suspected the Earl was part of the Cult.

The party gave Zinquiss 200 gp for four healing potions. Guards returned and told them to stay on board while investigations took place. Zinquiss came back with three healing potions and one greater healing potion, which were distributed. They also received news: Highden’s battles were not going well and had been strengthened by a lightning dragon; in Heartmoor, people were falling ill and surgeons were deployed, possibly connected to Perodetta; in Grand Towers, Justiciars were leaving to the five points of the Penta City states; and Provincia had locusts and something mysteriously spiritual. A sword was blessed to +1. The party were called to the mess hall by Taina.

People, Factions, and Places Mentioned

Fairshaws, Pier 12, the Barrier, the keep, the turtle village, Dunhold Cache, the smaller islands around Dunhold Cache, Black Scale, Highden, Heartmoor, Grand Towers, the five points of the Penta City states, Provincia, the Earl, the Cult, Garadul, Zinquiss, Wrath or Kolin, Tiana or Taina, Pact leader Alana, Captain Huen, the sergeant with a necklace, merfolk, guardsmen, clerics, Justiciars, Perodetta, a lightning dragon, a white dragon or source of a white dragonscale, the Excellence, and the Pact were all mentioned.

Items, Rewards, and Resources

The party loaned a boat for 100 gp per day with a 500 gp deposit, paid as 125 gp each. They received two guest shells and 10 spare shells. The sergeant took the cart to the keep. A pulley system and net were made or planned to hoist the shield crystal onto the ship. Zinquiss was given 200 gp for four healing potions and returned with three healing potions and one greater healing potion, which were distributed. A sword was blessed to +1. A white dragonscale dropped from a melting icicle in the party’s cold room.

Clues, Mysteries, and Open Threads

The cold dreams, the black hole in the town hall, the horrible voice asking “where is he I know you hide him,” the possible link to Garadul, the word “Void!,” and the white dragonscale are all unresolved. The Excellence may have come from Dunhold Cache or nearby islands, based on the apparent 80-mile distance from the turtle village. Wrath was asked to search for Garadul’s location when he reached Black Scale. The Earl seized the party’s boat and accused the diplomatic mission of treason, strengthening suspicion that the Earl was connected to the Cult. News from Highden, Heartmoor, Grand Towers, and Provincia indicates simultaneous crises involving a lightning dragon, illness possibly linked to Perodetta, Justiciars moving to the five points, locusts, and mysterious spiritual activity.