05 - 01/31 : Squidhunter

The party investigated the moving spider web cocoon, releasing a deep gnome woman from inside. The party uncovered some treasure that had ended up in the Phase Spider Queen’s nest and moved to the mouth of the cave to rest for the night. There, the deep gnome introduced herself as Thwippleflit Mitnitleby and explained how she had fled from her hometown of Ironshine in the underdark after a sudden mushroom-laden explosion ravaged the artificers lab she worked in. Enslo expressed interest and concern in an opening leading into the underdark so close to the town, but would have Zelem look into it. As the party returned to Fortune’s Crossing, they waited at the Seven Stars Inn and got a meal. Chesterfield noticed a snake stealing some of Draltha’s food. When asking if it was some kind of pet, an angered voice denied the accusation, as the snake turned into a Yuan-Ti child named Nessali. After a strange encounter with the willful child, Sendra eventually met up with the party and offered them their choice of magic items as their reward for the job. Procuring their rewards and waiting for the water breathing potions from Vilya would take a little time, leaving the party with a few days to rest. During this time, Draltha encountered Rofferton walking around town and seeming not to know about the party’s capture of him, although he still seemed incredibly scared of Draltha.   When the party was finally ready to embark, they went to the Gilded Mask theater to meet with their ship captain, an elf named Silvy. But first, the party enjoyed a performance of The Knight’s Duet, a two-person show involving a half-elven woman sword dancing while a tiefling woman created illusory obstacles for the half-elf to fight. Both women sang throughout the performance and Yunaleth recognized the Half-Elf’s technique to be similar to her own sword dancing. After the show, the party met with Sylvy and departed for the island of Scarvosa’s Tomb.   The island had an eerie aura, with somewhat new blood on the sand and the occasional screaming heard in the air. The party began to investigate the fort, breaking through a barricaded door to a room full of skeletons. They found a journal in among the remains, but as they sat down to look over it while Yunaleth prepared to ritual cast Detect Magic, the party was attacked by a skeleton with tentacles. During the fight, the party learned that it was not an undead creature, but instead a creature called a Hermit Squid that lived in skeletal remains and was incredibly territorial. A fight ensued and more Hermit Squid were angered, with one escaping back into the ocean. The party took the time to read the journal, learning that Scarvosa’s crew had been chased to the island by some other pirates, but put their faith in a “beast of the sea” that Scarvosa thought would save them. The journal ended with growing mutinous intent and the party continued searching the fort. They found a tunnel leading underground that led to the remains of a bloody battle, where Yunaleth found a magic helmet, and exited on the other side of the tunnel to the southern beach of the island. As the party continued exploring, they were attacked by a pair of Peryton, the apparent source of the haunting screams on the island, but were able to defeat their winged enemies.