Session 43 - A Councillor Missing

Moonday - 10 Subsebb - Mid-morning

  A couple of days ago, the Try-hard Misfits gathered the town council in the Temple of Procan to uncover who had betrayed Saltmarsh by coordinating with the Hold of the Sea Princes to invade the town. The party started questioning Anders Solmor's bodyman, Skerrin Wavechaser, when the drifter Jed O'Pale burst into the chapel with several Sea Prince raiders in tow. Over the next two days, the party paid a call on Aubreck Drallion since he still owed them reward for saving his documents, but found out he had traveled to Gradsul to acquire his newest ship.
  This morning, the party is gathered on the docks assisting the townfolk with demolishing and removing the last of the hasty erected guard towers and thereby create more room for the day to day shipping bustle. Wee Jane cackles as her mighty greataxe swings gracefully into the struts cleaving them. Townsfolk rush forward to clear the debris as Jane rears back readying for another strike before noticing Capt. Fireborn walking directly toward her. Jane whistles to the rest of the group while pointing toward Fireborn.
  As Fireborn reaches the gathered group, he quickly summarizes, "Good morrow to you all. I've just come from Town Hall with an urgent request. Councillor Primewater has now missed two meetings, including the one yesterday and the one this morning. It is most unusual for him to miss a meeting, let alone two. I've already stopped by Primewater Mansion and his butler told me that Primewater left yesterday without notice. I, err, We, need you to find out what's happening with him. The counil has authorized you to do anything necessary, including searching his home and office."
  Kyra talks to the party, "After studing for several days, I have a way of reaching out to Primewater, but only a very short message. Can we come up with something in just a couple dozen words?" The party quickly tosses a few ideas around, then Kyra pulls out a short piece of copper wire as she recites the ancient recipe. As the energies coalesce, she whispers into the air, "Are you ok? Where are you? Missed Council Meeting. Fireborn concerned. Do you need help? We'll be investigating your house for clues."
  Timeseems to stretch for hours, even through, it's only mere moments before Kyra hears Primewater's voice in her head, "About to transform the meaning of life. Will return for all to worship. Search all you want, there is no stopping me!"
  Kyra quickly relays the information as Fireborn reacts, "What is he up to now?! Transform life?! You need to get on this immediately and stop him before some new disaster rains down on us all."
  As the party starts to head west toward Primewater Mansion, a sail appears on the horizon and everyone stares out to sea. Looking closer, Karia shouts out, "She's flying Keoland colors, but she's decked out like a parade. I can't quite see everything yet."
  Continuing she asks, "Could that be Aubreck's new ship? Look there on the bow, the crew's lining the rails. They are definitely showing off."
  Adlia speaks up, "I think she's named, "Emperor Returned". "
  "Yes that's definitely Aubreck's ship then," Karia answers. "And there he is on the poop deck. Says he doesn't have enough to pay us, but buys a brand new large sailing ship? Hmmph. We are going to get paid!"
  The crowd continues to grow in size as the large sails into the harbor and then slowly pulls up to an open dock over the next hour. Several sailors toss lines to the dock workers who pull them tight and tie them to mooring cleats. As the ship gets fully moored, a gangplank gets run out the side of the ship to the dock before Aubreck steps onto it with his hands waving like he's a town hero.
  Karia pushes forward and tries to confront him, but he interjects as he hands her a heavy pouch, "Ahh yes! I'm quite glad to see you. Here's a little something I owe you. It's not all of it, but I trust you find it to be a nice down payment?" Karia opens the pouch finding it stuffed with platinum pieces.
  While Karia secures the bag, Jane forces her way to the front with Nar on her shoulders who calls out to Aubreck, "Have you heard about the town?"
  Confused Aubreck shakes his head, "No. It looks fine to me except those ramshackle towers."
  Nar responds, "The town was overrun by the Sea Princes..." Jane looks where Aubreck points and smiles wickedly as she starts walking to tear it down, while Nar starts shouting, "Hey! Wait! I'm talking here! Jane? Jane! Where are you going?" Finally, Nar's able to slip free off of Jane's shoulders and hurries back toward Aubreck. Meanwhile Jane slings her greataxe on a shoulder as she gets ready to demolish another tower.
  Reaching Aubreck, Nar continues, "The town was held hostage, but we freed it and then found out that Wavechaser has been behind a lot of shenanigans in town. Then we had to fight a guy in Primewater Mansion and that's when we discovered receipts from this jungle called Ahmeedo and now Primewater has disappeared and he's talking about 'transforming life' whatever that means! It's been very exciting here."
  When Nar mentions the jungle, Karia looks up from the coin pouch and focuses on Aubreck as she asks, "You've explored the Amedio Jungle, right? What can you tell us about it?"
  Aubreck ponders for a moment, then responds, "Like most jungles there is a lot of dangerous flora and fauna, much of which is unknown anywhere else, but there are also lost civilizations gaurding deadly secrets hidden within its depths. I wanted to set up shop there, because it is overflowing with growth. Plants grow easier there and some plants can grow only there. Specifically plants that can then be refined into very profitable merchandise. Let's just say the Adedio Jungle is not for the faint of heart."
  "I'm curious about the jungle," continues Karia, "because we found a receipt in Primewater's office that some form of relic was shipped from there. Something called Mok's Lyck. Any insight into what it might be?"
  "You've got that name wrong," Aubreck answers. "It's not Mok's Lyck, but rather Mok'slyk. It refers to something that is more myth than legend. Often referred to as 'The Serpent', this thing, this entity dates back to before even the Gods existed, according to the legends and was part of what is called the Ancient Brethren. Rumour claims that is the embodiement of magic itself, much like another Brethren is known as the Lady of Pain, whatever or whoever that is. The main reason we've heard of The Serpent is that supposedly a young mage back before the twin cataclysms theroretically learned the secrets of life and death from the Serpent. But then such stories exist for the sun coming to exist or how the moon is dragged across the sky in a chariot. The real answer is that the truth is lost to us."
  After several minutes of conversation and the promise that Kyra can review any of the books Aubreck has regarding the jungle, the party approaches Primewater Mansion. Kyra starts summoning her arcane powrs to blast the door off, when Adlia darts forward and loudly raps across the door. A few moments pass and noises are heard as the butler opens the door before frowning at the party before him. "Master Primewater is not at home. And before you ask, no I don't know when to expect him back." explains the butler.
  Kyra asks, "Do you know where Primewater has gone?"
  "MASTER Primewater," answers the butler, "has gone inland on some business of his own and I do not think it is any concern of yours."
  "Ah, but the council has made it our business," responds Kyra. "Now if you have no further information, we are heading upstairs to his office. Have you done anything in there since he left town?"
  "Very well, do come inside," says the butler. "No. He left in such a hurry that the place is a wreck and I haven't had the time to hire a cleaning crew. This way please."
  After climbing the stairs, the butler opens the door into Primewater's office. The room looks a disaster, no worse. It looks like someone ransacked the place. Kyra and Karia take several minutes to explore and investigate before drawing a startling conclusion. Kyra explains, "It might look random, but there is actually an order to it. Notice, only one drawer in the desk has been yanked free and contents upended. All the other drawers are intact and very neatly ordered. In addition, the bookcase has not been touched, but this random section of wall has been ripped free and here is a small box that is still inside it." Looking closer at the box, there is packing within it and an indentation in that packing that looks like it could have been holding a finger there. Checking the outside, the box has shipping label indicating that it originated in the Land of Iuz and appears to be called "The Secret Touch".
  Kyra grimaces, then states, "I've got an errand to run. Why don't I meet you all back here as soon as I'm done." She then walks out of the office and the mansion.
  The party decides to thoroughly search the room and spend another hour systematically exploring every nook and cranny. At the end of the hour, the only thing that appears to be relevant is a sketch of a cave or maybe a mine with the title "Dreadwood on it. When asked, the butler confirms that Master Primewater left by coach and was heading out on the road to Burle.
  Meanwhile, Kyra exits the mansion and walks over to the bay, where she commands her boots aloft. As she rises over the glistening bay, a few dock workers look up with worry, then recognize her and shrug while getting back to work.
  Kyra quickly crosses the bay and strides straight toward The Faithful Quartermasters of Iuz where the door opens as she steps up to knock. The assistant greets her, "Welcome! Capt Xendross is expecting you. Care to follow me?"
  Upon entering the inner office, Capt. Xendross greets Kyra, "Greetings Sister. Yes we have sold a number of artifacts to Councillor Primewater including the mummified finger known as The Secret Touch. Does this surprise you that we wish to make a profit?"
  Confused for a moment, Kyra pauses then asks, "What could Primewater do with the artifacts that you've sold him?"
  "If he gathers enough of the right pieces, then in theory he could transform himself following the teaches of the Undying King," responds Xendross. "But we have not sold him everything that he needs."
  "Could you tell me what ritual or spell he would need to complete such a transformation?" asks Kyra.
  "Are you wishing to join us? You'd need to leave your friends behind," Xendross inquires. "No. I can see that you are not ready to join us. Well, the knowledge you seek is only given to those trustworthy and loyal to our god Iuz, such a pity. You would fit in very nicely up in the lands of Iuz."
  "Well, can you tell me more about this Undying King that you mentioned," Kyra presses.
  "Certainly," smiles Xendross. "It is said that he comes from the Sea of Dust at a time when that land was fertile and teeming with cities. He sought the secret of death and life and used all his magic to escape them both. These are tales that we tell our children. It helps them learn that there is always a cost. Is there nothing else, sister?"
  " I believe that will be it for today." Kyra answers before heading back to Primewater Mansion. Upon arriving, the party updates her on the schematic they found and everyone heads to the Barracks and Jail where they bring Fireborn up to date on what has been found. "Primewater has a head start on us. I'm not sure we'll catch up to him," explains Kyra. "But if we had horses and leave immediately, then perhaps we can gain some ground."
  Upon fetching the horses that Fireborn requistioned for their use, the party rides north on the road to Burle for several hours before establishing camp for the night.