Session 32 - A Busy Morning

Finn started to show Ben around the ship, explaining the various systems alongside the techncial questions asked. His teacher mentioned the new energy source attached to the boiler was similar in nature to the experiments going on in the Spellforge near Phandelver.   As they continued to the top deck, Ben noticed the dragon marks scattered around, asking where the ship had been and how they could have gotten there. After Finn explained what happened to the ship, Ben realised it must have beebn Venomfang near Phandelver. They continued talking about the ship for quite some time before eventually falling asleep.   In the morning, Yaldranth left the inn and went to the docks. On the way he found a woman looking towards the ship, wearning a robe from Overbridge. He asked what she was doing, then quickly realised she didn't seem to be able to speak, so brought out a pen and paper. She explained she was running from someone assigned to guard her, and was hoping the ship could take them away. Yaldranth asked what her name was, learning that her surname was Zaychik. He immediately recognised that as one of the leaders of Overbridge, and quickly gave her his hood. She explained there was an internal power struggle that she was forced into, and just wanted to escape.   The girl asked where Yaldranth was from and what they were doing there. He explained they were adventurers, and what had happened to his home village of Dhaeranthya.   Jurgen awoke to the sound of hammering, and the sight of a strange person with various tools doing something to his door. Understandably suspiscious at first, he asked the nearby Finn what was going on. Finn explained, and Jurgen introduced himself and asked how the two had met. Finn said they met while travelling, where Ben had taught him artificery, and he had made Sonia. Ben then pulled out an intricate metal sphere that unfurled into an otter when he handed it to Jurgen. Unlike other automatons, its behaviour didn't rely on a soul crystal, but instead incredibly complex programming.   Ben said he wouldn't be staying too long after repairs were finished, as he had been asked to look at the ballistae around town. He then looked over Jurgen and asked to see his spellbook, as he had a strange air around him. He handed over his regular spellbook, not the one containing teleportation and dunamancy magic. As thanks, he allowed Jurgen to choose a spell scroll from a seemingly unending collection. He then pulled out a portable hole, and unfurled it to reveal the contents: a fully functional metalworking forge, to the amazement of all in attendance.   As they continued their work, Jurgen went to the post office. Once there he wrote a letter to Magnus, explaining that he had lost the mirror to Bjorn Bjarn and his abilites. Inside, a poster warned not to submit cartographers guild maps, as they were right next door. He sent the letter and walked over to the guild, to the disgusted look of the post office clerks. After the entry pleasantaries, he asked them to bring out their existing maps of Thay to compare to the ones he had brought. The clerk seemed uncomfortable, saying that they normally needed supervision to open. Jurgen then took his out as explanation, to the astonishment of the clerk who said they were very grateful for the updates, concerned how he got them, and that he should first visit the Gravekeepers. The Gravekeepers was the unofficial name for the joint force that fought against Thay, with a headquarters in the central fortress of the town.   When Adam woke up, he noticed Yaldranth was gone, and found the note he left with the barkeep. As he was leaving, he almost collided with a guard running around looking for someone. After they apologised, he introduced himself as Crick. Adam recognised him as being from Overbridge, though Crick said he hadn't been there for a long time. Adam suggested he come with him to the ship, where some of the others might be willing to help the search.   As they walked, Adam told him a bit about their journey, including how he wanted to go to the Pale Forest. Crick told him about an outbreak of people turning to stone near a new archealogical site. obviously worrying Adam.   Crick explained that he originally came from near Steveton, then travelled to Overbridge to enlist as a paladin to try and help the world, only to realise things were a little more complicated. he was then assigned to watch over the person who he was looking for. Adam pressed on details about where she might have gone. Crick asked if anything interesting had happened over the past few days, to which Adam decided they should hurry up towards the ship.   Yaldranth arrived at the boat with the child, and asked Finn if they could come onboard. He said they could, though the extra weight would mean it was closer to sinking. As they started to board, Adam and Crick came round the corner. Adam shouted at Yaldranth to stop kidnapping a child. Before they could board however, Finn stopped them and warned it could capsize the boat, though he did wonder out loud if it would be ok as it had gotten out of Thay. On hearing the name Thay, Crick collapsed unconscious.   At this point, Jurgen arrived to this very strange scene, and Adam asked him to watch over Crick wile he figured out what was going on with the child. He started asking about what was going on, though she was less inclined to talk to him than Yaldranth.   While that happened, John Dungeons awoke to the now extremely strange situation, and decided to try and jump from the crowsnest to the unconscious guard to stab him. Jurgen cast feather fall on him which slowest his dramatic descent. When he hit the ground, he saw Ben on the inside doing something to the ship, and decided to jump and hide in the water below.   Adam kept talking to the child, trying to pry into what was going on. Meanwhile, Yaldranth had joined Jurgen near the unconscious guard to try and help them up and started bringing him onto the ship. As they did so, two more guards from the docks started walking over and asked what was going on. Adam tried to explain what had happened and that everything was ok. They were still suspicious and asked that the entire crew follow them to the fortress, including the Overbridgians. John Dungeons stayed below the water, with the prospects of a solo mission steadily increasing.   During the walk, Finn showed Ben the cube he found in Thay, to not as much amazement as he may have expected. Eventually they arrived at the tower, where only the main party was sent to an inner chamber. The ceiling reflected the night's sky, and sat in front of a table was an old dragonborn who told them all to take a seat.   Looking around the room, Yaldranth noticed many books, most in Draconic with a few in Celestial. Adam could also sense the vague precense of celestial magic below them. Jurgen felt the air around them was thick with divination magic, intended for seeing into the future. As they sat down, they were offered tea, and the conversation began.