Earthday, Fireseek 20, 597
Temp 62/48F , Clear Sky, None, Wind 6
The PCs are each approached separately by Kora Whistlegap (LG female halfling expert 3), a servant of Lavina Vanderborn. She hands them each a note and informs them that Lavina Vanderboren requests their attendance at Vanderboren Manor, on Festival Street and Blue Skink Lane in the Merchant's District the following evening. The letter does not reveal specifics of what Lavina wants to discuss or how she learned of the PCs, though it does mention she knows of each of their 'unique skills'.
Freeday, Fireseek 21, 597
Temp. 59/48 F, Clear Sky, None, Wind 4
The campaign begins as the adventurers meet with Lavina Vanderboren and learn of the trouble she is having financially. She tasks them with recovering her ship (The Blue Nixie) and her father's signet ring. The PCs are mostly happy to oblige, though Ima holds the final decision to help back by demanding payment up front. A compromise is reached when Lavina explains that she doesn't have the funds to pay up front, but offers an extra 50 gp per person upon successful completion of the task.
The group wastes no time in determining a course of action. They quickly determine the current location of the ship by gathering information about it's current situation and general information about the Vanderborens. The group splits up with Ima and Kull scouting the ship and the others attempting to gather more pertinen t information about the state of affairs aboard the Blue Nixie and drinking copious amounts of alchohol.
They 'borrow' a pair of small boats and row out to the Blue Nixie. They negotiate their way onboard the ship with blu ffs and diplomacy while Ima and Kull attempt to board secretly. The negotiations almost fail when Kull is spotted, but some fast talking saves the day. After boarding, however, the situation turns violent when a bluff goes awry and the leader of the pirates, Soller Vark orders his men to attack . A fierce battle ensues which sees a number of the party almost killed. With the healing support of Doc, the combat prowess of Revus, Doc and Keth, and Quinton's sorcery the fight is won with a few remaining pirates jumping ship and making off witht the boats the party had 'borrowed'.
During the fight and immediately following, the PCs had become aware of commotion below decks. Upon investigation the source was found to be a vicious spider-like creature known as a Rhagodessa. The creature attacked the PCs almost immediately upon their descent knocking Ima unconscious. The fight was joined by most of the rest of the party and though there were a number of other casualties, eventually the group won the day.
The ship was finally searched and though not much loot was found, they were able to successfully recover Lavina's lost harboring payment as well as her father's signet ring. The PCs lowered the ship's rowboats to the water and made their way back to Lavina's estate to inform her of their success, where they stayed the night.
Starday, Fireseek 22, 597
Temp. 58/47 F, Clear Sky, None, Wind 11
Awakened early in the morning by Lavina's servant, Kora Whistlegap, the party partook of breakfast at the Vanderboren estate and discussed what they had found aboard the ship with Lavina. Lavina thanked them and requested the help her further by accompanying her to her families vault under Castle Teraknian. The PCs consented and they all made their way across the city to visit the castle.
At the castle they learned that Lavina's brother, Vanthus who the PCs had learned about earlier from Lavina as well as gather information checks made in the Merchant District, had already been to the family vault on a number of ocaissions. This upset the party almost as much as it did Lavina as it called into question her ability to pay them what was owed for their services so far. Never the less, they descended to the lower level to investigate what, if any wealth remained in the Vanderboren vault.
The vault, once opened with Lavina's father's signet ring was found to be small and decorated with symbols of the Seekers Guild. A lone guardian moved to attack when unfamiliar people entered the antechamber, and though the guardian was a challenging opponent, it was eventually placeted by a bold display of the family signet ring. Upon inspection, a secret door was found leading into the vault proper.
Inside the treasure room the PCs were faced with a puzzling combination lock built into a pillar in the center of the small room. With the help of a clue discovered along with the signet ring along with the murals depicted on the walls of the vault the party was able to crack the lock revealing a number of alcoves containing chests and coffers. To the dismay of all, most of the chests were empty of all but a few scattered coins. However, in the last alcove a couple undisturbed chests were found containing coins, gems, debt ledgers, and personal documents written in Sylvan.
Lavina made good on her promise to compensate the party for their help and offered the promise of additional payment if they would consent to remain in her employ. The group agreed and she gave them their next task - find her brother Vanthus and return him to Vanderboren Manor in hopes that she could talk some sense into him. She has not given up hope that he can be returned to his old good natured self. She gave the party a bit of information to go on, and set them on their way.
The remainder of the day was spent around the city asking around about Vanthus' current status and whereabouts. Little useful information was revealed however, and the PCs spent the night out drinking and returned to the Blue Nixie for the night to bed down.
Sunday, Fireseek 23, 597
Temp. 63/55 F, Cloudy, Heavy Rain, Wind 25
Awaking early in the morning the PCs set about town to continue their investigation into Vanthus Vanderboren's current whereabouts. Their initial inquiries were fruitless, but eventually they recieved information in the Shadowshore district informing about his alliance with someone named Penkus, a notorious figure known for his temper, and pointing them to the 'It Still Floats!' boat shop.
The group headed to the boat shop as it was closing for the night to speak to the proprietor, an dwarf named Panchi. Initially indifferent to their plight, Panchi was eventually convinced to disclose what he knew about Vanthus and Penkus after the PCs agreed to purchase some equipment from him, though the situation was complicated somewhat by Ima's hostility toward the owner and his disrespect for his wares. After Ima was removed from the shop and the rest of the group purchased a number of items, Panchi revealed that he recently sold a skiff and a load of lamp oil to the suspects in question and observed them sailing west after the sale was made.
Their business done, the group with the exception of Ima made their way to a local pub to determine their next course of action. Remaining behind, Ima waited for the shopkeep to close for the night and leave, after which he snuck back to the shop and cut loose from their moorings a number of boats owned by Panchi. Meanwhile, the rest of the group, while drinking at the bar, was approached by a grungy half-elf who introduced himself as Shefton Rosk. Shefton claimed to know the whereabouts of Vanthus Vandorboren and related that, for a fee, he could divulge this information to the party.
After some questioning, it was decided that Shefton was on the level and the party paid him what he was asking for the information. Further, they paid an additional wage for Shefton to ferry them and accompany them to the very spot Vanthus was hiding out - an abandoned, underground smuggler's base on Parrot Island.
A short boat ride to the island and a walk up an overgrown trail to a clearing in the center of the island revealed a trapdoor leading down into darkness. One by one, Shefton included at the insistence of Revus, the party descended the rope into the darkness. After the last PC was down, however, Vanthus revealed his trap and after cutting the rope and shouting jeers down at the now trapped adventurers, he closed the trap door above them and rolled boulders atop it, sealing them in the dark tunnels below.
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