Players: JC, Kathi, Bryan, Kris, Chris, Davy, David

Characters: Illuverin, DM, Erin, A'Tora, Lew, Caland, Vorn

15th day of Kythorn (June) 1368.

Estarria introduces Illuverin to the group over dinner the day before the ship leaves and his new adventures are to begin.   The Dragonswords are a strange mix with some interesting characters.   Although he knows from earlier conversations with Lady Estarria that there is no formal leader he finds himself wondering why Erin, the large barbarian who could probably take leadership if the thought occurred to him, takes as much grief from the others as he seems willing to put up with.   Then there's A'Tora.   This young elf is by far the most beautiful creature Illuverin has seen in many years (perhaps has ever seen) and his heart skips a beat when she smiles at him in introduction.   He kisses her hand and, for politeness sake, tries to keep his eyes off of her incredible figure only somewhat successfully.   Lew welcomes him into the group with a firm handshake.   Illuverin, due to his love of music and dance, is delighted to find out that the man is a bard and expresses the wish to hear him play.   Lew smiles saying that there will be many opportunities for that but for now we should concentrate on the mission before us.    Caland, an elf and an obvious mage, also welcomes Illuverin into the group but makes it quite clear, albeit indirectly, that he and A'Tora are quite close.   Lastly there's Vorn.   Of all the party Vorn seems the least interested in meeting him and indeed makes no bones about the fact he thinks that Illuverin (and indeed all of his kind) is to be tolerated as a necessary evil and watched closely for treachery.   The man's arrogance immediately turns Illuverin off but he holds Vorn's gaze to show that he is not afraid or intimidated.

After dinner the captain, a gnome named Highspirits, stands to address the group.   He informs us that we are to be the crew (a prospect that doesn't thrill Illuverin) and that we will be travelling to the city of Eltabbar, in Thay where we are trying to rescue the Machine of Nastindantilus (Estarria's mission for us).   Highspirits maps out our route south along the sword coast and then west toward Thay.

That night we sleep on the ship to avoid trying to wake early and stumble through Waterdeep in the dark of the morning.  After choosing bunk space Lew, Illuverin and Erin go to the Fiery Flagon, which is in the seaward section of Waterdeep.   They decide to wear the sailor costumes Highspirits has provided to try and blend in and by the time they get there the place is really crowded and swaying with music and song.

A woman he recognizes (and who appears to recognize him) approaches him early in the evening.   She is known as the Kitten and is rumored to be a Lord of Waterdeep.   After an hour or so of dancing, during which the two eye each other with increasing desire, she invites him back to her home for a glass of Fire Wine and other pleasant diversions, and the two spend the early morning hours in the delightful pleasures of the flesh.   When he returns to the ship, Illuverin is happily humming one of the tunes that he'd heard previously in the evening and compliments Lew on a fine job.

At 4 am the ship departs.   It's fairly easy to manage and requires only four people to sail.   Illuverin, Lew and Vorn are up and help with the departure.   At sunrise the captain goes to the bow of the ship, says a prayer and sings a small song, which invokes the flying ability of the ship.   Illuverin takes the first watch in the crow's nest.   His watch, and the rest of the day, passes uneventfully until he again takes the last watch in the late afternoon.   A short time after Highspirits has begun the descent, the ship is attacked by a roc which swoops down out of the setting sun and snatches up Vorn and Caland.

A'Tora casts Ray of Enfeeblement and Highspirits casts Flame Strike at the creatures head.    The Ray of Enfeeblement does seem to be effective as the creature begins to plummet.   Then its downward spiral slows to a feathery pace.   Illuverin can see that Vorn has freed himself from the roc's talons and is falling gently beneath it.

Climbing down from the crow's nest Illuverin runs to the wheel of the ship and steers it toward the falling figures.   He is careful not to position the boat directly under the falling figures but instead keeps it slightly to the side.   Looking up he sees Vorn grab on to the roc's leg and then push himself away.   Suddenly a burst of flame erupts from the talon that is holding Caland and Illuverin knows that the mage has begun a magical attack.   Lew casts Magic Missles.

A'Tora casts another spell and Caland gets considerably larger.   He frees himself and can be seen striking the wounded creature with his bare hands.   After the roc is killed, Caland takes as many feathers as possible and after they land gently in the ocean, thanks to the Feather Fall spell, Highspirits and Illuverin throw them ropes and help them back aboard.

They are passing the land called the Fields of the Dead and Highspirits tells us some of the history of the land.   We continue with watches throughout the evening and night.

Shortly after sunset most of the group become aware of something swimming in the water beside the ship.   Looking over the edge we see four beautiful women beckoning us to join them.   Lew and Erin immediately dive overboard as does Vorn from his position high in the crow's nest.   When Illuverin yells "Man overboard!" the captain comes to see what's going on and he also attempts to dive into the ocean.   A'Tora manages to somehow restrain him and she and Caland wrestle him into one of the cabins and lock the door.

Seeing the others remaining at about 10 feet under water Illuverin drinks his Potion of Water Breathing, drops all of his possessions, and dives into the water with only a dagger.   He swims immediately to the closest of the entwined individuals, Vorn, and begins trying to cut the ranger free.  Vorn, who is obviously under some kind of spell, doesn't like it and tries to attack.

Caland attempts casting Dispel Magic but fails.   A'Tora casts Charm Person on Lew and the bard begins trying to swim to the surface but seems to be held in place.   Caland then grabs a rope and jumps overboard swimming toward Lew.    Illuverin continues trying to cut Vorn free and Vorn continues trying to stop him.   Finally the Cleric drowns and stops struggling.   Illuverin drags him up to the surface and brings him to the deck of the ship.   We prop him upside down and try to get the water out of his lungs but it turns out that he's quite dead.

A'Tora directs Erin and Lew (whom she charmed to get them away from the influence of the water women) to wrap the body and place it below so we can see to burial when we make landfall.

Having been up since early early, and not having had much sleep, Illuverin retires to his bunk.

Somewhat after midnight Erin begins to hear a voice calling from below.   Illuverin, having been awakened by the voice, comes out on deck and opens the hatch to the hold where Vorn is standing shakily below.   Illuverin turns several shades of white and slams the hatch shut calling out loudly for the others.   Erin comes to investigate while Vorn calls out to Illuverin that there is a good explanation for his now living condition.   After Vorn tells us of his Ring of Regeneration Illuverin and Erin help him back to his bunk.

The rest of the night passes uneventfully and Illuverin is woken up for the 4am steering duty.   Shortly before sunrise the captain rises, inspects the ship and then invokes the flying ability.   Highspirits then takes steering duty from Illuverin who takes up watch in the crow's nest.

They are passing the land Amn and will be stopping at Athkathla where Highspirits has business.  He recommends that the group not leave the ship while we are docked as the local tradition of taking slaves has been refined to a high art.

We dock in the evening and make port at Athkathla.   Several crates are unloaded and we stay in port for the night.   We do maintain watches, given the nature of the port and surrounding area but the night passes uneventfully. In the morning a thick fog rises and we get a late start.

The day passes uneventfully and we return to sea level just beyond the peninsula of Kingdom of Tethyr.   A'Tora decides we should have a party and instructs Lew, who is still charmed, to play and sing.   Afterward we continue to sail uneventfully throughout the night and make it to the dock at Myratma at seven in the morning.   We stop and unload some food supplies and then get underway again.

That day it gets really hot and the sun beats down mercilessly as we travel over the desert of Calamsham and dock at Shamidar, in the southern portion of Calamsham that evening.   The night passes quietly and in the morning we unload barrels of spices and then get underway again.

The day passes uneventfully although again it is brutally hot and Illuverin is forced to cover up to avoid making his sunburn any worse.   In the afternoon, while Illuverin is on watch, he spots a cloud floating toward the ship.   It has a damaged keep on it.   Looking more closely through the spyglass he sees a cloud giant waving at him.   The giant unfurls a blue flag with a red cross which Captain Highspirits says is an appeal for help.   He brings the ship up to a dock near the tower.   The giant says he needs healing for his brother who was attacked by a red dragon.

The captain, Vorn, Caland and Illuverin go "ashore" to see if they can help and the spellcasters are able to bring the wounded giant out of danger.   They offer a sack, which has some gems and semi-precious stones as thanks.   Vorn objects violently when Illuverin tucks the stones into a pouch on his belt and makes a derogatory comment about the untrustworthiness of thieves.

Illuverin bites back a scathing reply, especially since he has given the man no reason to distrust him, and his dislike of the arrogant cleric deepens.    "See if I drag you out of the ocean again."  Illuverin says to himself silently.

4 topaz - 100gp each
5 amethyst - 50gp each
5 amethyst - 200gp each
Set of 12 moonstones - blue and white - 10gp each - 1200gp for the set

Continuing on we pass over the Lake of Steam and the border kingdoms along its bank.   Late afternoon we descend to lake and dock at the port of Mintar.   Captain Highspirits strongly instructs the group to stay aboard the ship as the laws of Mintar, ruled by an insane mage, change daily and often call for beheading at the slightest offense.

End of session.