Session 5 – Sea and Shadows
As the sun’s golden rays stretched across the horizon, our adventurers arrived in Gonbay, a city where the pulse of ancient magic beats in harmony with the bustling rhythm of trade. This coastal metropolis, a melting pot of cultures and races, welcomed them with the vibrant life of its Harbor District. Here, the air was filled with the salty tang of the sea, the cacophony of dockworkers, and the allure of distant lands brought close by the myriad of ships at anchor.
Navigating through the crowded streets, they were captivated by the architectural marvels that towered above, each telling a story of Gonbay’s rich history and the complex dance of power and diplomacy that shaped it.
Negotiation With Ironhelm
Upon reaching the bustling Harbor , their gaze was caught by Captain Ironhelm, his presence as commanding as his ship anchored nearby. The captain, with a deep southern drawl, greeted them, “Well, if it ain’t some familiar faces lookin’ to cross the seas,” he said. After a quick exchange on pricing, he continued. “It’s a steep fee, mind you. At least 1,100 gold for the voyage.”
The adventurers exchanged glances, the weight of their quest pressing upon them. “That’s a hefty sum,” Cetiri remarked, her eladrin grace undiminished by the salt air. Rabbert chimed in, “but what if we could offer you some cargo for the return journey? Would that lower the cost?”
Ironhelm stroked his beard, considering. “Hmm, cargo, you say? That might just work. Tell you what, I’ll wait until tomorrow before lookin’ for another delivery. Gives you time to find your funds… or this cargo you speak of.”
Revelations to an Old Friend
Sparked with an idea, Rabbert led them to the grand library in Gonbay, where they sought the wisdom of Lirael Swiftmane. The Leonin librarian, with her regal demeanor and scholarly air, greeted them amidst the tomes that whispered secrets of ages past. “Ah, Rabbi, and friends, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Lirael’s tone, warm and tinged with a playful note towards Rabbert, set the stage for their urgent requests.
Initially, they proposed a scheme to fund their voyage through a book transport deal, leveraging the library’s extensive network. “I’m afraid that’s beyond my ability to authorize,” Lirael responded, her regret genuine. Yet, she quickly offered an alternative, her mind ever working towards solutions. “There’s a stone tablet in Thewale with inscriptions that could enlighten us greatly. Retrieving it would be worth 4,000 gold to the library. However, it will take time to arrange the funds and necessary paperwork.”
Time, however, was a luxury Rabbert did not have. “Lirael, there is something I need to tell you,” Rabbert interjected, his voice heavy with a dire revelation. “My experiments with time magic… they’ve left me with just a few months.”
The room fell silent, the weight of Rabbert’s confession hanging in the air. Illidan, seizing the moment of contemplative pause, added, “Perhaps, in light of Rabbert’s situation, you could also assist Captain Ironhelm in securing a liquor license? It could greatly aid our cause.”
Lirael’s initial hesitation was palpable. “You ask for much,” she sighed, a frown creasing her brow. But the turning point came when Rabbert, driven by desperation, revealed the critical information uncovered beneath Etenward. The implications of their discovery, especially concerning the potential misuse by those seeking power, shook Lirael to her core.
“This changes everything,” Lirael whispered, her earlier reservations swept away by the tide of urgency. “You must leave Gonbay tonight. I will arrange for the gold and the documentation you require for Thewale, and yes, I’ll see what I can do about the license for Captain Ironhelm.”
Back to the Harbor
The group quickly left. Along the way back to the harbor, Rabbert and Cetiri decided to contact an acauintance from the Taldash desert. Making their way to the city’s Sending Stones, they wondered if they should use a quicker method. A small human at the front desk suggested a Messenger Wi, a small flightless bird, if they were willing to pay. Curious about the creature, Illidan cast a spell allowing him to speak with the creature. The small bird, carrying a pack on its back, said he would gladly help deliver a message to anyone – for a peck. Not sure what that meant, Illidan and Cetiri agreed, and watched Bart lap up a small prick of blood from their hand.
Not to be slowed down, Rabbert quickly made a message to give Bart in hopes of it finding Tiefer, a tiefling they had met during the Festival of Renewal. Satisfied, the group continued to the docks.
As evening cloaked Gonbay, the adventurers stood at the cusp of the Luminous Harbor, witnessing the transformation from day to night. As darkness settled, the water began to shimmer with an otherworldly glow, blues and greens weaving through the waves. This spectacle, born from bioluminescent algae nurtured by the city’s mages, painted the harbor in vibrant light, making each ship afloat in its radiance a part of this mesmerizing scene.
A Daring Escape
The Dream Seekers approached Ironhelm, their voices earnest with the weight of their mission. “We’ve secured everything we need,” Rabbert announced, his determination cutting through the festive air. “But our departure cannot wait until dawn. We must leave tonight.”
“In the thick of this celebration? That’s not possible. We’ll never get the Dock Master’s approval to leave,” Ironhelm retorted, his gaze sweeping across the crowded docks.
As the group pleaded with the Captain to depart immediately, a silent figure in gray robes approached, bearing the promise of aid from Lirael. Without a word, the figure presented the adventurers with the gold and documentation they desperately needed. Cetiri, stepping forward, confirmed the contents of the pouch, reassuring Captain Ironhelm of their readiness and the impending procurement of his coveted liquor license.
“Well I do declare,” Captain Ironhelm said in disbelief as he looked down at the gold and documents. “You weren’t lyin’ afterall.”
Lyria and Illidan, recognizing the urgency of their departure, darted among the crowds to gather the crew, their spirits lifted by the night’s revelry. Lyria, with a keen sense of duty, sought out Ironhelm’s daughter, weaving tales of the grand adventure that lay ahead to inspire her participation.
The crew, though half drunk, were convinced to help ready the ship. As they began their preparations, the harbor guards approached, their intentions clear in the firmness of their stride. “This harbor is closed to departures at this hour. Stand down and explain yourselves,” the lead guard shouted up to Rabbert.
Unyielding, the adventurers sprang into action. Rabbert, with a gesture, summoned the might of the ocean, sending waves crashing against the dock that staggered the approaching guards.
“Well, there’s no turning back now,” Lyria said as she darted off to command the crew and take a spot at the front of the ship. Illidan, noticing more guards approaching, cloaked their actions in a dense fog, obscuring their movements from prying eyes.
Alerted to the new guards, Cetiri, targeted the ballista with a burst of eldritch energy, rendering it useless. As the guards regrouped, launching a desperate attempt to board the ship in a smaller vessel, Rabbert’s magic turned the sea against them, capsizing their boat and giving them the time they needed to escape.
“Who are you?” Lyria said as she approached the hooded figure, now occupying the Captain’s quarters. “I’m Lyria.”
“Though you have no price on your name, I do not give mine freely,” he said, his voice gruff and accented. As the figure pulled down his hood, Lyria was taken aback momentarily. His appearance, perhaps Gnomish, was slightly odd – he had no hair, no eyebrows, pale skin, and his eyes seemed too light for the dim room.”
With the harbor’s magical lights fading into the distance, the ship set sail into the dark embrace of the sea, leaving behind the guards’ shouts and the city’s luminescence. Ahead lay the unknown, their course set by the stars and the secrets they guarded.
