Emberhold Bound

Investigating Meliora
 
The city of Meliora bustled as we set our course. The tension in Meliora was palpable—whispers of war between the Tieflings and their Melioran neighbors, filled the taverns and streets alike. Two cities lay ahead of us—Emberhold, the Tiefling stronghold across the lake, and Wyldreach, home of the Lionin, a race of lion-like warriors preparing a resistance.
 
Rumors spoke of a powerful wizard and an artifact hidden in the conflict, though details were scarce. It was clear that war loomed on the horizon, and some here seemed to anticipate it, some even welcoming it perhaps.
 
We split up to gather more intelligence. Both Rory and Lim Dul returned with valuable insights, though in their own ways.
 
From the information Rory gathered, “Wyldreach ain’t too keen on walled cities like Meliora,” Rory said, scratching his chin. “They think walls just make people lazy. Figure they’ll take a different approach to this whole war business.”
 
“Not a completely incompetent approach if they can fight,” Lim Dul muttered. “Barbarians playing at strategy.”
 
“They’re warriors,” I corrected. “They fight differently, but they fight well. Speculating is pointless.”
 
Lim Dul only gave a dismissive grunt in response.
 
Rory stretched. “Maybe they’ll try somethin’ sneaky—like Renaldine.”
 
Freya gave him a sidelong glance. “Explain, please?”
 
“A priest I know. Never once went to the privy in all the time I knew her. Swore she didn’t need to,” Rory said, laughing. “Turned out—
 
Freya pinched the bridge of her nose. “That has absolutely nothing to do with this.”
 
“It might,” Rory countered. “If they’re planning to,
 
Freya sighed. “Smiling-yes, Rory. Wyldreach’s military strategy is exactly like a priest who refuses to admit they need to relieve themself.”
 
“I knew you’d come around,” Rory said, pleased.
 
Lim Dul scoffed, unimpressed with the entire exchange. “We’re wasting time. Wyldreach’s strategy is unknown as of yet. Ours is to move forward, gather what we can, and act accordingly.”
 
Checking on Jestin – A Bitter Lesson
 
Before we departed, we made one last stop—to check on Jestin, the wereboar we had rescued and left in the hands of guards. The Cathedral Borough housed Meliora’s most reputable healing centers, and we expected to find him recovering under their care.
 
Instead, we were met with confusion.
“Jestin?” The clerk at the desk, an older dwarf named Kane Needlespur, frowned as he flipped through a massive ledger, then checked the log of given treatments. “No record of anyone by that name bein’ brought in nor any curse removals in my records, Are you sure he came here?”
 
Lim Dul let out a, not as quiet he thought, laugh of smugness, shaking his head. When I turned to him, he barely concealed his amusement. It suddenly drains from his face, Kemurial thinks to himself “and is replaced briefly by an aching grim acceptance, as though this confirmation of his anticipated outcome pains him”, with straight face.
 
“Write him off as dead and let’s move on,” he said flatly. “He’s probably dead.”
 
Freya was more measured. “If he’s missing, it could be a dead end. But investigating petty crime might give us an idea of who controls the city’s underground. Such groups may have information brokers.”
 
I clenched my jaw. Jestin had trusted me to see him through this. And I have failed him. It feels like the world conspires against me are my thoughts.
 
“I don’t like it,” I admitted, “but we have to move on. Lim Dul, you were right—I should have followed through.”
 
A rare moment of silence passed between us before Lim Dul placed a firm hand on my shoulder. For once, there was no derision in his voice—just grim certainty.
 
“What did you learn?” he asked.
“To be thorough.” I replied
“That’s right,” he said, squeezing my shoulder once before stepping back. “Follow through. To the bitter end.”
 
The words settled heavily in my chest along side my old friends shame and guilt.
 
With the consensus being to gather more information in Emberhold and possibly reach out to Wyldreach’s resistance, we set out.
 
With a lingering sense of failure haunting my steps, we made our way to the Basilica Order of Everlasting Hope, a chivalric order of Torm stationed in the Lower Lions Ward. When I informed them of Jestin’s disappearance and my concerns about possible corruption among the guards, they took my words seriously—but it was clear that Meliora was already stretched thin. The looming war had consumed every available resource.
 
The weight of it all was evident in the weary eyes of the knight commander who received us. “A missing man is concerning,” he admitted. “A missing man with a dangerous curse—more so. But with the brink of invasion…” He shook his head.
 
There was nothing more they could do.
 
The Brine Leviathan – Our Passage to Emberhold
 
Before leaving, we gathered supplies then sought passage across the lake, opting for a ferry to avoid drawing too much attention. Rory, not for the first time, had the great idea, it being taking a more cautious route getting a ferry or something discreet.
 
The Brine Leviathan was a sturdy vessel, well-maintained though not new, its hull reinforced with steel bands, its sails patched but strong. Every rope was neatly coiled, every plank polished. This was not a ship of luxury, but one of experience.
 
Its captain, Sszarek “Stormfang,” was a lizardfolk with scales the color of a stormy sea and a gaze that missed nothing. His yellow eyes regarded us with the patience of one who had seen countless storms.
 
“A silver per mile,” he said, flicking his tail as he considered us. “Four gold in total. Passage includes food and a place to rest, but if there’s trouble, you fight alongside my crew.”
We agreed.
 
Across the river we see the Board Market, a bustling center of commerce in the midst of a technological revolution. Transportation was abundant, from horse-drawn carts to newly constructed steam-powered machines.
 
We paid part of the fare agreeing to pay the rest on arrival. We found a convenient inn and agreed to meet the crew at dawn and soon, we were on the water.
 
Day 1
 
The first day was uneventful, despite the gray skies that threatened storms. A merchant vessel passed us, but there was no sign of hostility. We entertained ourselves with dice games in the evening—Rory, ever curious, spent much of his time shadowing the navigator, attempting to imitate his every move. It amused me, though I suspected it irritated the crew.
 
As we prepared to retire for the night, we arranged cabins—two to a room, except for Lim Dul, who, true to form, claimed a room for himself.
 
When my watch turn came to an end, I found him already at his door, leaning against the wooden beams. He gave a curt nod.
 
“Not much to watch,” he said.
“Not yet.”
 
Silence stretched between us, the only sound the gentle lapping of waves against the hull.
 
After a long moment, Lim Dul spoke again. “You never did answer me. About Jestin.”
 
I sighed. “I won’t forget him.”
 
“See that you don’t,” he said simply. Stepping past me.
 
And with that, the ship rocked gently beneath us as we sailed onward, the shadows of Emberhold growing closer on the horizon.
 
It was a quiet night.
 
The next morning was not.
 
Day 2
 
The Sabotage
 
The sharp clang of an alarm bell rang through the ship, followed by the sounds of a shouting. Lizardfolk voice, their hissing dialect blending with the harsh accents of the local crew. Running footsteps thudded overhead, the deck vibrating with activity.
 
Rory only halfway to his feet, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "That ain't the breakfast bell, is it?"
 
I was already strapping on my gear. "No. Get up."
 
We emerged onto the deck to find Captain Sszarek "Stormfang" in the center of a heated argument with several of his crew. His tail flicked in agitation as he gestured
 
"Sabotage," the captain snarled, his sharp teeth bared in frustration. "“Food is missing. Grains ruined, water spilled, supplies vandalized.” His slitted eyes narrowed at his gathered crew. If we’re forced to turn around to resupply, it will cost us precious time, money—and possibly risk drawing unwanted attention."
 
“Someone aboard this vessel has betrayed us.”
 
I frowned. “We stood watch through the night. We detected nothing.”
 
Lim Dul smirked. “I’ll admit, I’m impressed. You managed to fail without even realizing it or are you suggesting it was an inside job."
 
I ignored him. “Captain, I can use magic to compel honesty. If you allow it, I’ll cast the spell on my group and yours.”
 
Before Sszarek could answer, Lim Dul made an offhanded, licentious remark at Freya’s expense, his tone dripping with amusement at his quip.
 
Freya, without looking up, murmured, "Disintegrate."
 
Lim Dul smirked. "What was that?"
 
"I was saying should a fight break out I have a spell to cast on you," she said flatly.
 
Sszarek exhaled heavily, rubbing his scaled brow. “Come Kemurial. We should speak privately Kemurial.”
 
A Discreet Solution
 
The captain led me to the aft deck, glancing back to ensure no crew were listening. His voice dropped to a low rumble.
 
“I do not want to sow distrust among my crew,” he admitted. “If I openly suspect them, morale will suffer. Is there a discreet way to get to the truth?”
 
I thought for a moment. "Freya may have a more subtle approach."
 
Beckoning her over, I explained the situation. She regarded the captain coolly. "I can read minds," she said without embellishment. "I can probe deeper if necessary, but the target will know. I can however filter out deceit before it escalates.”
 
A quickly hatched plan to monitor the crews thoughts throughout the questioning while subjecting everyone to the zone of truth forms.
 
The captain’s expression was unreadable. He considered the implications for a long moment before nodding.
 
“Do it.”
 
The Gathering
 
The ship’s bell rang again, calling the crew to assemble on the center deck. Captain Sszarek stood on the upper deck, his posture regal despite the tension in his eyes.
 
He addressed them with an air of authority. “We have all seen the sabotage. Our ship will still reach its destination, but this will cost us, especially if we need to stop. If there is a traitor among us, We will find them, Kemurial, he gestures to proceed”
 
The crew shifted uncomfortably, murmurs passing between them.
 
I stepped forward. “I can compel truthfulness with magic. You will still be able to speak freely, but you cannot lie. We ask only simple, relevant questions. If you have nothing to hide, there is no need to worry.”
As I spoke, Freya sifted through their surface thoughts, picking up fragments of emotion and uncertainty.
 
* "I hate this. Even though I haven’t done anything wrong, it feels like I'm on trial."
 
* "I should be careful what I say. Even the truth can be twisted against me."
 
* "This spell shouldn’t be allowed. Just because I have nothing to hide doesn’t mean I want my thoughts pried into."
 
* "What if they ask the wrong question? Something I do feel guilty about?”
 
* "What even is truth? I mean, I can’t lie, but I can still say things that leave the wrong impression…"
 
Lim Dul’s always perceptive, voice echoed telepathically to Freya, That one. He reacted.
Sending a telepathic thought to Freya.
 
Freya’s focus shifted.
 
“The big guy with the scars twitched at the mentioned the spell. Could be nerves. Could be something else.”
 
She shifted her focus and probed carefully, sifting through layers of surface thought. Her eyes pass over the individual for three seconds her face holds disinterest.
 
I gave a slight nod. "Any objections?"
 
The crew hesitated but ultimately remained silent.
 
Interrogation & Speculation
 
It began with the simplest question.
 
“Did anyone see or hear anything unusual last night?”
 
A chorus of denials followed, though a few murmured about strange creaks in the hull, dismissed as ship noises.
 
“Could an outsider have boarded the ship?”
 
Another round of negative answers. The crew was adamant—no one outside the manifest was aboard.
 
“Could this be a spirit? A curse?”
 
The reaction was immediate. A dozen voices erupted at once, each with their own tale of haunted ships, drowned sailors, and vengeful spirits.
 
“Did anyone knowingly or otherwise have anything to do with the vandalism and sabotage?”
 
Again the crews answers turned up nothing.
 
Rory, grinning, turned to Freya. "See? Ghost pirates! I told you they were real."
 
Freya sighed. "That is not proof of anything."
 
Rory wagged a finger. "Oh, but your invisible mind magic is perfectly reasonable?"
 
“Yes," she deadpanned.
 
Before Rory could continue his argument, I raised a hand for silence.
 
“No ghosts. No spirits. So that leaves… shapechangers.”
 
I have some slight ability to change but have not used it with in the 24 hours, Freya raises a hand, “I can transmute any creature into another.” but she also had not used the power with as many hours.
 
A palpable tension spread across the deck.
 
Captain Sszarek’s gaze darkened. “We will check for stowaways once more, but if someone aboard can change form, then we have a far greater problem.”
 
One of the sailors—a wiry man with sunburnt skin and a nervous demeanor—shifted on his feet.
 
“I… I don’t know if it means anything,” he began, “but last few nights, when I went to check the cargo hold, I notice some missing meat rations and once I thought I saw movement near the food stores. Could have been a rat, could have been shadows—but when I looked again, nothing was there.”
 
Lim Dul’s eyes flicked toward him. "Interesting."
 
Investigation & Discovery
 
With the crew proving their loyalty under magical scrutiny, Captain Sszarek thanked them for their cooperation. His scaled hand tightened around the railing as he addressed the group patience worn thin. “No one moves alone,” he ordered. “Everyone will be paired at all times.”
 
I nodded. “We’ll help. I’ll stay with you, Captain.”
 
Rory, enthusiastic as always, slapped the navigator on the back. "Guess that means we’re partners now, huh? You can teach me how to actually steer this thing."
 
Rory clapped the navigator on the shoulder.
"Alright, partner! What exactly does a navigator do again?"
 
The navigator sighed. "I told you, chart courses, track speed, and ensure we don’t run aground."
 
Rory gave him a slow, considering nod. “So... you just stare at water all day?”
 
Pinching the bridge of his nose, the navigator gave me a pleading look. I ignored it.
 
Freya wordlessly paired with a sharp-eyed elven sailor, while Lim Dul made his way toward Esmond, the crewman who had reacted suspiciously earlier.
 
I met Sszarek’s gaze. “If it’s sabotage, we’ll find them.” The lizardfolk captain narrowed his yellow eyes at the water beyond the railing, his expression unreadable.
 
Marks of an Intruder
 
The Brine Leviathan had three decks—the top deck, the living quarters, and the hold, all connected by a number of central loading bays that ran through the ship’s belly.
 
I stood beside Captain Sszarek, watching him from the corner of my eye as we considered our approach. “His stance projects grim uncertainty and his expression holds embarrassment, perhaps. We should search your quarters,” I said.
 
The captain’s tail flicked. “You suspect me?”
“I suspect whoever—or whatever—broke in may have left evidence there.”
 
Before he could reply, a sharp whistle cut through the air. One of the deckhands waved us over, crouching near the top rail.
 
“Captain, sir! Found something.”
 
We moved closer and immediately saw the deep gouges along the wood—claw marks, grapple hooks, or some kind of slashing implement.
Sszarek crouched, running his talons along the gashes. “This is not normal wear and tear.” After a brief search we find no other markings. Just then, one of the crew arrived, Cap’n the other guests are wanting ya ta come below.
 
Below deck Freya knelt beside some marks, fingers ghosting over the grooves. Faint, lingering, clinging to the scratches.
 
She murmured something under her breath, and Rory—who had been standing next to her—perked up.
 
“Wait, wait, wait.” He turned to Freya. “You just said ‘The residual energy here suggests an ephemeral presence.’”
 
Freya raised a delicate eyebrow. “Yes?”
 
Rory crossed his arms. “So what you’re saying is... ghost pirates.”
 
Freya exhaled through her nose. "No."
 
“Because that definitely sounds like ghost pirates.”
 
“It does not. Likely it was an enchantment meant—-“
 
Lim Dul shook his head in disgust. “Every conversation with you two is…. He trails off grumbling.”
 
Rory ignored him. "I'm just saying, you’re the one throwing around words like 'ephemeral presence.' Maybe the ghost pirates used the food for some kind of spooky ritual—"
 
Freya stood and walked into the dinning area.
Lim Dul says to the nearest crew member “Get the Captain we need to check the cabin.”
 
The Captain’s Quarters
 
We reached Sszarek’s quarters, where Lim Dul, Rory, and Freya were already waiting. The captain’s room was pristine, save for one key detail—claw marks near the window.
 
I glanced at Sszarek. “When was the last time you were injured?”
 
The lizardfolk narrowed his golden eyes. “What are you implying?”
 
“We’re ruling out lycanthropy.”
 
Sszarek bared his teeth in annoyance.
 
I held his gaze. A long silence followed. Then, Sszarek turned and lifted his arm, exposing several deep scars from old wounds. "These are from battles past. Not from what plagues this ship."
 
Freya studied him carefully. “He’s telling the truth.”
 
I thank the captain for indulging my questions.
I gave a nod. “Then let’s keep looking.”
 
Beneath the Ship
 
We expanded our search to the exterior hull, checking for any signs of unusual disturbances. What we found was subtle, but telling—a distinct pattern of missing barnacles just beneath the captain’s deck.
 
Sszarek’s expression darkened. “They climbed up from below.”
 
The revelation sent a ripple of unease through the crew. Without hesitation, Sszarek barked an order.
 
“Check every inch of the ship!”
 
The sailors moved swiftly, as though they’d done this before. Evenly spaced with ropes they began dropping over the side of the ship one by one.
 
Lim Dul joined us, crossing his arms. “So, let’s recap. Something climbed aboard, ransacked the food stores, and then vanished.” His cold eyes flicked to me. “But obviously, we should waste time searching agai—
 
A sharp SNAP rang through the air, followed by a startled yell from the stern.
 
Everyone turned just in time to see a crewman tumbling backward, his severed rope whipping through the air. Something had cut it. He hit the water with a splash.
 
For a split second, all was still. Then—
Sszarek roared. "TO ARMS!" Rory, “MAN OVERBOARD!”
 
Skaven on the Brine Leviathan
 
We rushed to the rail, the salty wind whipping against us as we peered down. The thrashing of water was all that remained of the crewman dragged overboard—until a glint of steel flashed from below.
 
Instinct overrode thought. My gauntleted hand rose just in time—clang! The dagger rebounded off my magical barrier, but the impact knocked me slightly off balance.
 
Then, from the shadows of the ship’s hull, a clawed hand lashed out, raking across my side with unnatural speed and strength. Pain flared, but I was already moving.
 
A hissing, chittering voice echoed from below, guttural and unnatural. Then—silence.
 
“Ratman,” Lim Dul muttered from the deck, stepping forward with a deliberate, unimpressed air. He drew his weapon from his belt, rolling his shoulders.
 
“Skaven,” he clarified.
 
The creature had already retreated, vanishing into the shadowed underside of the ship, clinging twenty feet above the water, unseen from above.
 
The Rescue & Pursuit
 
I didn't hesitate. I grabbed a rope, the same one I had used to search beneath the ship earlier, and fastened it securely to the railing. With the other end still looped around my waist, I dove into the dark waters below.
 
The cold shock of the ocean barely registered as my body adapted, gills opening at my neck, fingers webbing slightly, my movements shifting to an effortless glide.
 
The crewman splashed weakly, barely conscious. I reached him in moments, tying the rope around him before looking up to the deck.
 
“Pull him up!” I shouted.
 
Hands scrambled above, hauling the soaked sailor back to safety. I turned, searching the shadows above.
 
Freya & Rory Engage
 
Above, Freya wasted no time. Arcane words spilled from her lips, and in a heartbeat, she leapt from the deck, eldritch energy crackling around her hands. She soared, a shadow against the morning sun, her form framed in flickering light.
 
She harried the hidden Skaven with rapid bursts of eldritch fire, forcing it to react. One of her bolts struck true, searing the creature’s matted fur.
 
With a screech, the ratman lunged away from its perch, momentarily stepping out of shadow. For the first time, we saw it clearly—
 
A humanoid rat, its twisted, scarred face locked in a snarl. Its fur was thick with grime, its bloodshot eyes darting toward Freya, calculating.
 
On deck, Rory grabbed a crossbow from a startled crew member. He took off running—then leapt over the side of the ship.
 
Mid-air, massive, fiery dragon wings erupted from his back, illuminating the area in a wash of orange-gold light.
 
Freya, still hovering over the water, barely glanced at him. “Showoff.”
 
Rory grinned, leveling the crossbow. “You love it.”
 
He let a bolt fly—but just before impact, a thick black smoke erupted around the creature, obscuring it from sight.
 
Freya scowled. “It’s masking itself.”
 
She ascended back to the deck, weaving a spell to try and locate it magically.
 
Meanwhile, Rory swooped lower, circling beneath the ship.
 
Returning to the Deck
 
Uttering a short incantation, I vanished in a swirl of silver mist—only to reappear gripping Rory’s back.
 
“What the—?!” Rory yelped, flapping hard to steady himself. “A little warning, man!”
“Take me back to the deck,” I requested.
 
Rory grumbled, banking hard toward the ship. “Fine! But you owe me!”
 
The Attack on the Captain
 
Lim Dul, still on deck, moved with his usual cold efficiency, eyes scanning for signs of the Skaven’s passing.
Then—
“Behind you!”
A crewman’s warning cry snapped everyone’s attention back to the deck.
 
The Skaven launched itself from the rigging, its filthy robes billowing, its dagger flashing toward the captain.
 
Sszarek barely deflected the blow, his scaled arm saving him from a lethal strike. The creature twisted, its tail snapping out like a whip, knocking a sailor off his feet.
 
Then, in one fluid motion, the Skaven flicked another dagger—this time, directly at Lim Dul.
Lim Dul shifted effortlessly, sidestepping in mid-air. The dagger whizzed past him.
“Tch.” He glanced at the blade dismissively. “Predictable.”
 
Freya landed on deck in an instant, her eyes locking onto the ratman. With a flick of her wrist, a barrage of scorching rays of fire erupted from her palm.
 
The Skaven barely had time to hiss before it was engulfed in searing flame. It shrieked, clawing at itself as it staggered back.
Rory and I landed just as the ratman collapsed in a smoldering heap.
 
Aftermath
 
Silence fell over the deck, save for the lapping of waves against the hull.
 
Lim Dul crouched over the charred body, his gloved fingers retrieving one of its daggers. He twirled it once before tucking it into his belt.
 
“Well,” he drawled, wiping soot from his coat. “That was fun.”
 
Sszarek exhaled slowly, his frills rising and falling. “We have the culprit… but what of others?” His reptilian eyes narrowed. “Skaven rarely act alone.”
 
I surveyed the deck, unease settling over me. “Then we search.”
 
Lim Dul smirked. “Captain Stormfang, meet captain obvious.”
 
We adopted a buddy system of threes , grouping up again to search for any sign of more intruders.
 
But after a thorough sweep of the ship—inside and out—we found nothing.
 
And yet, as I stood on the deck, staring out over the dark waters blood staining the deck, the smell of burnt hair lingering…
 
I couldn’t shake the feeling that we weren’t alone.
 
We reach Emberhold in another day roughly.