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Session Summary
The party investigated the beach where the Mariner's crew had washed ashore. They were attacked by undead pirates, which they discovered to be from Les Corsairs de la Morte, a pirate crew defeated over a century ago, and speculated that arcane forces had disturbed the skeletons. After learning that the amulet originated from Caelmire in the Shattered Isles, the group prepared to depart on the 23rd of Hoarfrost aboard The Interceptor, where they were welcomed by Captain Viago.
Calendar
Recap
Link to originalOn the 22nd of Hoarfrost, 1724, Marie, Magnus Brand, and Crofton Dudley met with Marcus Valden of the Brotherhood of Coin, who requested their assistance with the disappearance of The Mariner’s Fortune, a ship carrying Ember Steel to House Renaux. The ship left Varlaine 17 days prior but was yet to arrive in Cap Lumiere. Six bodies of the crew of The Mariner's Fortune had washed ashore. At the morgue, the examined bodies showed no signs of external injury but were in an advanced state of decay and devoid of blood. An amulet found on one of the bodies provided Magnus with a vision of a dark raven. Further research at the Crystalum Academy Library led to information on the Shattered Isles, the Scourged, and the Raven King, Ymros, whose imagery matched the amulet. Plans were made to investigate the beach where the bodies were discovered before their scheduled departure aboard The Interceptor.
Log
The Beach
The bodies of the sailors of The Mariner’s Fortune had washed up on the beach east of Varlaine. Marie Beaumont, Magnus Brand, and Crofton Dudley arrived at the scene in a carriage around 8 PM on the 22nd of Hoarfrost, and stood out looking at the vast darkness of the nightly sea. The area where the bodies had been discovered was cordoned off with red tape, courtesy of the Brotherhood of Coin. As Crofton stepped into the restricted zone, a skeletal hand erupted from beneath the sand and grabbed him.
Three skeletal figures clad in pirate garb emerged from the beach and attacked. The trio made quick work of the deceased sailors. Upon investigation, they discovered bronze amulets embellished with the symbol of a winged hourglass, identifying these assailants as members of Les Corsairs de la Morte. This pirate crew had been defeated over a century ago, leading the group to deduce that these undead had lain dormant beneath the sand until recently disturbed. Recalling the arcane stench that lingered around the bodies of The Mariner’s crew, they speculated that the same mysterious force might have awakened the skeletons.
When Magnus touched one of the amulets he saw shadowy figures at the edge of his vision, which vanished when he tried to focus on them. He shared this with the group, and they return to Brotherhood of Coin Headquarters.
Marcus Valden recognized the Amulet found on the sailors’ remains, tracing its origins to the island of Caelmire in the Shattered Isles. With the party preparing to depart on the 23rd of Hoarfrost, Caelmire seemed a promising starting point for their investigation. When asked about potential cult activity in Cantallar, Marcus assured them there were no known cults in the area. He also revealed that the bodies in the Morgue had been quarantined and that no further information had been gleaned by the Brotherhood, either from the beach or the fishermen who discovered the corpses.
The group deliberated on who might accompany them on their mission and asked Marcus if any Hunters were available. While Marcus had considered the same, the closest Hunter was stationed at Valdamere Woods. Waiting for reinforcements would delay the mission by three days, a risk they could not afford. Moreover, given that The Taint affects the blood of its victims and the bodies were drained of their blood, the need for a Scourged specialist was minimal.
The Interceptor
The following morning, the party assembled at the Brotherhood Headquarters and took a carriage to Clearwater. There, A rough looking man sporting a cool mustache and a long coat was awaiting the group. Introducing himself as Captain Viago, he begrudgingly welcomed the group aboard his ship, The Interceptor.
The party settled in and began acquainting themselves with the crew, which comprised 12 members, including:
- Captain - Oscar Viago
- First Mate - Eleanor Darrow
- Navigator - Tariq Bashar
- Helmsman - Loukas Athanassiou
- Boatswain - Maxwell McKinlay
- Cook - Henrietta Langford
Magnus started feeling the effects of his thalassophobia. As he prepared to regurgitate his breakfast into the harbor, Crofton provided him with a potion to help with the sea sickness.
In a discussion about the mission, Viago expressed skepticism that The Mariner could have been sunk by pirates. He recounted a battle he had fought against a pirate vessel, emphasizing that he did not see modern pirate gangs as a significant threat. Political tensions between House Aelerion and House Guissard were a concern for him however. Viago had no prior experience with the Shattered Isles, and he had never heard of Ymros.
When the party informed him of the bodies of the Mariner’s crew that had washed ashore he spat into the sea, a gesture to ward off ill fortune and safeguard the Interceptor’s journey.
