Chapter 2 - And for dessert...pickled mephit???
Pickled_Mephit.jpg

Every head in the harbor turned to stare as the Sea Wyvern sailed into Sasserine. As the gangplank lowered, several guards began charging up, until Viselys emerged on deck and waved them off. He then started down the gangplank.

Keltar Islaran met him as he reached the quay. Although he said nothing, the harbormaster's face showed great concern.

Visleys raised a hand, “Have no fear Keltar, This ship no longer flies the banner of the Crimson Fleet. We’ll be hiring on a new crew to tend her, and arrangements have been made for all docking fees,” Viselys shook the old man's hand as the others followed him off the Wyvern.

* * * * *

Back at Vanderboren manor, the heroes discussed specifics of the upcoming voyage. While they did, Adameus stepped away to seek out Kora.

“Did you get it?” he asked the older hobbit privately.

She extracted an object wrapped in a cloth. Unfolding the cloth revealed a small box. “Indeed I did,” she replied handing him the box.

Opening the box, he extracted a signet ring, and placed it on his finger. Returning the box to Kora, he nodded, “My most sincere thanks, this means a great deal to me.”

Returning to the group, Adameus heard the tail end of the conversation, “…three months to reach Farshore.”

“When I speak with father…” Viselys paused seeing Adameus entering, then continued, “MY father, I will ask about Lord Taskerhill speaking on our behalf at the hearing. That, along with the testimony of Lavinia and Tara, should be enough evidence to convict House Kellani.”

Viselys then got up abruptly, "I must speak to my father alone." Viselys has a talk with his father...

* * * * *

The following day, Adameus left early, saying that he had errands to run. Saris went to speak to his father about making berthing arrangements for the Wyvern. "Just make sure that the name 'Van Sky' is heard far and wide, m'boy!" his father had said.

As Viselys predicted, the evidence and testimonies were damning to House Kellani. The Dawn Council did not take long to bring back a guilty verdict.

The Kellani family had their noble status stripped from them. Nobility spared Lady Helena from execution, but she was instead exiled from Sasserine and her family holdings seized.

As she was led from the Council Chambers, Helena screamed at the party, as they sat in the gallery, "you will rue this day, you fools!"

After Viselys testified about her cooperation, the Council sentenced Tara to probation and she was released into his supervision.

* * * * *

Upon arrival at the harbor, the heroes found the Sea Wyvern floating gently alongside the pier; abuzz with activity. Lavinia had kept her word, and the ship was being outfitted with supplies and a full twenty-man crew.

Crewmembers were running and shouting, hoisting aboard various crates and barrels as they arrived. The heroes had already met most of the crew: Lars Moroder; the ever-serious First Mate, Urol Forol; the chatty gnome navigator, Skald; a slender half-elf, Jakob Weathersby; the helmsman, Lirith Veldirose, a bit of a tomboy and a skilled sailor, Father Feres; a cleric of Acerion, and young Tavey Nesk; the Captain’s 'Boy' (who was actually a girl!).

Last, but not least, the party met Captain Amella Venkalli; a slender blonde woman with a foul mouth and a gruff demeanor. She didn't tolerate lip from anyone and made it crystal clear just whose ship it was. As the party walked up the gangplank, Saris swore she gave him a second look.

With the final preparations made, the only thing holding up departure was Avner Meravanchi, who was well over an hour late. He arrived with two servants, Quenge and Barnaby, along with a horse named Thunderstrike. Without hesitation, Avner immediately began making demands including private accommodations and stabling for his horse on-board the ship. At first, Viselys attempted to smooth over the situation, appealing to Avner’s conceit.

“Ah, somebody who respects his betters. What might your name be, boy?” he asked Viselys.

“Well, my name is —“

Avner held up his hand in Viselys' face, “actually, I don’t really care.” Father Feres tried to intervene, but after being ridiculed by the boorish nobleman, he shrugged and walked away.

Captain Venkalli informed Avner in no uncertain terms that he would sleep in the same accommodations as everyone else. But, after much argument, she acquiesced to loading the horse aboard, yelling, "I know you goddam family is paying for this goddam trip, but don't expect me to kiss your smelly arse," in her usual gruff demeanor.

* * * *

After several hours, the Sea Wyvern was finally underway, trailing behind the slightly smaller Blue Nixie. As the ship cleared Sasserine's harbor and sailed out onto Wyvern Bay, Adameus saw Diamondback standing at the stern rail, looking back wistfully at the city as it grew smaller and smaller behind them. He came up quietly behind her, “So, now that we're underway, why don't you tell me your real name and your story.”

Diamondback, glad of the genuine interest, was very forthcoming with Adameus, and he in return felt compelled to share his story, underscoring how much they had in common. He found out that her real name was "Tara," something she told no one else. It seemed, the two formed an emotional connection.

“I just wish I hadn't made so many poor choices,” she lamented to him.

Adameus reassured her, “Well Tara, that's your past, just like Sasserine; it's behind you, now. 'Tis time for a new beginning."

Tara, looked down at the ship's wake as the city disappeared from view, "someone once told me….everyone deserves a second chance."

* * * *

After the first few days after departure, Avner was not seen much. He seemed to stay mostly in his cabin and spent most of his time with a female crew member named Lirith Veldirose.

On the fifth day of the voyage, both ships dropped anchor, and several ropes were cast between them. Lavinia had arranged a banquet for everyone on both ships. The food was excellent, and there was lovely music provided by Miranda, a comely young bard who was also taking passage to Farshore. After dinner, there was dancing and Diamondback’s showed off her tumbling skills.

Before departing the Nixie, Adameus slipped Lavinia a note, sealed with his new signet ring, “Please, read this after I’ve debarked.” Then he prepared to head back to the Wyvern.

In fact, Adameus seemed eager to distance himself, so he was the first one off. When he was half-way between the ships, the rope suddenly gave way, causing him to fall into the sea. Luckily he was was able to swim and he pull himself back up onto the Wyvern's hull.

Captain Venkalli began pulling up the broken rope on the Nixie’s side while Saris threw another rope across to the Wyvern. Upon investigation, the group determined that the rope had actually been cut on the Sea Wyvern's side. The entire group immediately began to search for a culprit.

Suddenly, from up in the rigging, a small winged creature flew down, attacking Saris with an acid spray. Since the creature was flying out of reach, Viselys and Adameus ran below deck to get their missile weapons. Meanwhile, Ornrik cast a magic missile spell which struck the creature, and Saris hit it with an expert shot with his bow, causing the creature to fall to the deck with a crash.

Literally, there was a crash, as that of breaking glass. Upon investigation, Ornrik found the remains of a jar. "This must have been a jar of mephit," he explained, "As such, somebody deliberately released this creature against us."

As the party gathered over the remains of the creature, Saris spoke quietly and angrily, "Someone onboard is not who they say they are….."

Continue to Chapter-3