Session 42 -Unraveling the Council

Freeday - 7 Sunsebb - Night

  After liberating Primewater Mansion and dispatching Lord D'Maurth, the Try-Hard Misfits searched Primewater's office and found a shipping receipt from the an operation originating in the Amedio Jungle for something called "Mok's Lyck".
  Deciding that it's time for the Sea Prince naval forces to leave Saltmarsh for good, Kyra has her zombies drag the body of Lord D'Maurth out the back door and present it to the watch towers lining the wharfs. Using the eldritch powers surging through her soul, Kyra projects her voice louder than thunder could echo across the sky and demands that all Sea Prince personnel immediately and irrevocably leave Saltmarsh immediately. In token of this generosity, the sailors should abandon one vessel as payment for the transgressions against a sovereign nation.
  Sailors and marines from all points of Saltmarsh rush the docks trying to scamble aboard a ship weighing anchor. Finally as the bells strike midnight, the Sea Prince navy heads forth into the open ocean leaving Saltmarsh free from occupation. Kyra looks to Karia as she says, "I'm so tired and I just don't have the energy to deal with that horrible stinky fish smell at The Snapping Line. Let's just sleep in Primewater's house."
 

Starday - 8 Sunsebb - Morning

  The morning brings noise and laughter as citizens of Saltmarsh celebrate the liberation of their town, which unfortuantely wakes the party after a long strenous night. The group reluctantly gathers downstairs in the foyer before they head toward the Barracks and Jail where the councillors still wait.
  The group greets the councillors still locked within their cells, "It's time we get to the bottom of this. All of you will follow us to the Temple of Procan where we will find out just which one of you betrayed this town."
  The group then escorts the council across the meadow, over Sharkfin Bridge. As they parade through the town center, Ander's bodyman, Skerrin Wavechaser, greets the group, "Good morning sir. And good morning to all of you. I'm here to assist Councillor Solmor, is that okay?"
  The party glances at each other and quickly decide that no harm could come from Wavechaser joining the inquest and proceed toward the church. Upon entering the temple, everyone walks past the pews in the nave. The councillors line up against the Sanctuary walls while the Try-hard Misfits gather around the altar to Procan.
  Kyra begins the inquistion staring with Fireborn, "You've stated multiple times that you know that Primewater is behind the attack. What actual evidence do you have?"
  Fireborn glances down at the ground before responding, "None unfortunately. I kept staking out the Tower of Zenopus since his ships would anchor there, but I never witnessed any cargo moving ashore. However, he must have a friendly relationship with the Sea Princes."
  Primewater retorts, "I have no idea why you have this hatred of me, Eliander. Have I not thrown the most eloquent festivals? Do I not share with the town? Why do hold such hatred toward me?"
  "It's not hatred," answers Fireborn, "but speaking of the parties and festivals, where do you get the money for those? You don't have a large enough fleet."
  "My dear dear Eliander," Laughs Primewater. "This is what old money looks like. I've already admitted that I smuggle now and then, but the King still gets his tithe so what does my little enterprise matter? Besides, even Councillor Oweland there has smuggled."
  "Yes. Back in my youth," responds Oweland, "I did have an operation to avoid certain tithes and taxes or I would not have been able to keep my fleet afloat. But that time has long passed even before I got elected as councillor. "
  Kyra asks, "Primewater, you say you don't smuggle much. What does that mean?"
  "I've only started recently," responds Primewater. "A Ned Swale taught everything I need to know and I'm only doing it for some trinkets that I've been collecting."
  Karia jolts as she responds, "You mean Jed O'Pale?"
  Primewater waves it away, "Whatever this chap's name is. He often performed dock work for me and we got to talking one day and then before you know it, I'm sneaking goods into town."
  Coucillor Oweland chimes in, "Mr. O'Pale has also done some work for me. He seems to always drift to the docks just before there's any sign of my ships on the horizon. Uncanny how he shows up at just the right moments."
  Councillor Solmor looks at Skerrin Wavechaser, "Skerrin, hasn't Jed also worked for us? In fact, I feel he was the first mate on a trip to Redshore Island, but I don't remember making that assignment."
  Waverchaser calmly replies, "That is true master Solmor. He has been first mate on the Redshore trip as well as a few others. However, I'm positive you must have made that assignment yourself."
  Councillor Solmor's face flashes with anger, before responding, "No. I did not. I am positive that I have never actually met this man and I meet all of my captains and first mates."
  "Anders," Wavechaser tensly states, "You must be mistaken. Why would I, a servant, dedicated to your family for thirteen years counteract your wishes while you're distracted?"
  Kyra jumps in, "We've heard tales of Jed. Do any of you know where he is now?"
  Waverchaser glances at the door as the rest of the councillors shake their heads denying knowledge.
  Suddenly Councillor Oweland speaks up, "It's interesting Mister Wavechaser that your arrival matches when young Anders lost his father and the Solmor family started in on hard times until Anders took control. Now to be clear I am not insinuating anything at our young idealist standing here. But I was under the impression that the Sea Princes would never attack true merchants that is until Petra Solmor's ship was attacked. Where were you then, Wavechaser?"
  "Counillor Oweland," Councillor Primewater interjects, "you just might have a point here. I'm slowly remembering some log files from my Jetsome Island traders that they spotted a Solmor fishing vessel in Monmorg around that time."
  Suddenly, the doors burst open as several Sea Prince raiders and a sailor in tattered clothing rush inside. Wavechaser grins wickedly as he shouts out, "What took you so long Jed! Now kill them. Kill all of them." he then puts a knife to Anders throat while also using him as a shield. "A decade in planning and idiotic meddlesome adventurers disrupt everything." He then pulls Anders around the edge of the sanctuary trying to reach the relative safety of the pews.
  Kyra immediately pulls out a small pouch as she recites the arcane language while weaving symbols before her. A fireball zooms forth from her hand growing as it smashes into the Sea Princes soldiers immolating them and a nearby pew. Jed darts to the right hiding behind pillars as he fires arrows. Karia watches as an arrow narrowly misses her, before realizing that Anders was its target.
  Councillor Solmor stumbles as Jed slices his throat open and then dashes toward a pillar. However, Karia slashes Wavechaser in a flurry of sword strokes stunning him while Adlia rushes toward Anders calling upon Ehlonna to heal this mortal soul. Nar darts between Karia to feint past Wavechaser's defenses while the sea raiders scatter from the open door. Jane slams her great axe deep into the Wavechaser's shoulder causing him to collapse while Karia rushes toward Jed hiding behind pillars. Adlia and Kyra bring out their chimes and toll them at the sea raiders slowly bringing about their death.
  As the second raider drops, the last one throws down his sword and dashes out the open doors. Mere moments later, Jed collapses from the combined attacks. Searching him, they discover a small dagger that has an emblem of a wavy four-pointed star on it. Remembering Mina's letter, the group realizes that the Sea Prince attack had been coordinated by Jed and apparently his assistant Skerrin Wavechaser. Who they actually represented remains a mystery, but it seems like the second threat against the council has now been thwarted. Now only the grinning skull remains.