Below Deck: Sea of Swords

We leave Larael’s keep and gather ourselves. As the sun is beginning to set and we decide to stay one more night and Pearl is going to run an errand to a shrine. She goes to the Shrine of the Raven Queen, the same one she went to visit when we were in the city originally.

• She visits the shrine and is able to get a minute alone to speak with the Raven Queen. As she speaks to her, she sees a reflection of a raven in one of the reflecting pools. As Pearl stares into the pool it almost feels like she is being beckoned. She touches the pool and feels herself being transported into an area with a path and beautiful, ornate door knockers on a door ahead of her. In the room, a raven begins speaking with her.

• The raven tells Pearl to embrace her power as it is always the best path. “I am a creature of memories and all creatures have memories. Past, present, and potentially the future. If you want to help people, you should embrace all aspects of your choices. There is no point in regretting the past.” She replays some of the hardest parts of Pearl’s journey so far, replaying scenes such as her father being smashed, and growing up in the spine of the world. She then shows her to a world that appears to be a forest and there are two figures who are talking and appear to be happy. The Raven Queen discusses that she and The Prince of Frost have a long history together and that she should not dismiss him. She mentions something strange is happening in the Shadowfell and it is weakening. She will need a band of heroes in the future to help figure out what is going on.

Back at the Inn, we talk about the ship trip we are about to make. Brylynn asks the group if we remember the big ruby necklace Larael was wearing. Everyone else in the group is certain (based on insight checks) that she was NOT wearing a necklace. Brlywynn is unsure of what this means.

• Brylynn recalls that rubies and diamonds are the two most magical gems that exist, and rubies tend to be arcane. There could be some magic associated with her ruby necklace, but we are unsure of what it is. We try to talk to a jeweler about it and get information, but he is not helpful.

The next day we go to board the ship. As we board the boat Captain Thunderhale mentions that Larael is coming to send us off. No one is aware of the necklace again other than Brylwynn. She offers to give us a gift before we set sail. She states that Brylwynn seems like she has an affliction upon her. Brylwnn shows her the rune on the back of her hand and Larael offers to cure her. As she is casting the spell on Brylwynn, she says quietly to her, “What a lovely necklace you are wearing.”

• As she is casting the spell, she speaks a language no one in the group understands. As she is casting the spell, she notices that Larael’s necklace has a soft glow.

• As this is happening, RC casts primeval awareness and detects that there is a celestial, elementals, and a dragon within 1 mile, but nothing else.

The ship sets sail. The captain gives us a tour of the ship.

• Brylwynn tests out her magic and has access to her necromancy spells again.

• Pearl casts identity on Brylwynn and detects no ill-placed magic on her.

• Glittr uses the Trident of Fish Command to try and get fish to report to him if they’ve seen other ships in the area.

• Caulkin reads the Manual of Quickness of Action over 4 days, increasing his dexterity by 2 points.

• After about 5 days we reach Whale Bones.

On the first night, we talk briefly about who is going to take the first watch. RC realizes that Bahamut has been relatively quiet over the past day. His eyes turn that bright shade of purple we have seen once before. As this happens, RC reaches out his hand toward Bahamut and feels a sense of resistance. When he makes contact with him, his mouth opens almost as if he were a phonogram. A female voice says:

• Once they’re on the boat: Bahamut opens his mouth and a female voice begins to speak: “oh yes… how I’ve longed for this. You have been chasing giants for so long. The short-sightedness of mortals. So come, rally against your fate. You will serve your use like the rest. Come to the purple rocks. Face Slarkrethel’s minions. Live or die, it makes no matter. I will have what I want soon.”

We look at our map and see a place called The Purple Rock. The captain of the ship only knows of them being mostly self-sufficient island people who eat a lot of fish.

• We know that Bahamut’s voice is that of Beshaba’s when he is possessed. RC knows that the voice in his head is NOT Beshaba’s. 

We go through the days and nights on the ship without much action. One night when Pearl is taking watch, she sees a creature land on the deck. The flying creature says, “I was hoping to meet a little resistance. I suppose you will have to do” as she draws a sword. She says, “Go, get Hephaestus’s grandchild like we were instructed to do” as she opens up a rift and 3 more creatures fly out. 

• The battle rages on. We fight off the three ghosts and the flying creature flies away. She says she has sisters and we will be fighting her again.

• RC realizes that she was here for Bahamut, calling him Hephaestus’s grandchild and that he is RC’s companion