Session 34 2014-03-24
4000XP each making 125200XP Total for each Party Member - Level 11 (next level 145,000)
1 Hero Point spent by Landra out-grappling a Giant Octopus.
Tharin Longview: Purveyor of Fine Whisky
Our heroes arrive at Madrill, splashing down close to the docks and getting the boat moored without much difficulty, it seems that all of the stimulations(sic) Munt has been going through with L-One are making him a better pilot.
The group considers what trade goods (if any) they should purchase while in town, and Tharin decides that he will invest a sizable amount of money into alcohol, with the hope that the people of Glimmerhold are into it. He discusses terms with a venerable old merchant for 5 barrels of Dragon Punch Whisky (almost 3 buttloads!) at 4500GP per barrel, with an agreement that in the future he will be able to purchase a minimum of 5 barrels at the rate of 4200GP per barrel.
Honestly, whoever says Roleplaying Games aren't great fun has never known the thrill of negotiated ongoing purchase agreements for 3 buttloads of Dragon Punch Whisky.
Tharin also hires a Steward, named Stanley for the rate of 50GP per 6 months, with an agreement to review his contract at that time.
Before they leave, the rest of the group agrees to purchase a Field Provisions Box to feed those aboard The Magnitude.
Sailing Away
They set off toward Glimmerhold and get into a routine; Landra keeps watch for an 8 hour shift in the daytime, with Kael doing the same at night. Tharin covers a two 4 hour sections between them at dusk and dawn. They also agree that in case of a storm they'll try to fly above it, and if they can't will consider plunging beneath the waves.
Fun With Tentacles
Things proceed relatively uneventfully until they come across a ship which seems to be under attack by a pair of Giant Octopi and a band of Grindylow. When they fly down to get closer and assist, Kael asks Landra to take his hand and teleports the two of them to the deck of the beleaguered vessel. Almost immediately a huge three-eyed fish-like creature rises from the water next to the ship waving its four tentacles and creating a fascinating pattern of lights which leaves Kael... well, fascinated.
Landra turns to Kael and says "Thanks for the transport." before punching him to snap him out of this. He attempts to teleport two crewmen and Landra back to The Magnitude but she refuses to leave the fight. She has cause to regret this when the tentacled fish-creature attacks her, causing her flesh to transform into a clear, slimy membrane, before the nearest giant cephalopod grapples her. When it drags her through the Wall of Flame conjured by Kael to kill several of the Grindylow, she decides she has had enough and with a massive burst of strength escapes its tentacled grasp.
Meanwhile Tharin has obtained the undivided attention of what he knows to be an Aboleth, and it Dominates him, asserting that he should travel south as fast as he can. While the halfling-cum-water elemental speeds away from the water at a prodigious rate, Kael summons a Giant Octopus of his own which lays waste to several Grindylows in short order before grappling with another of its kind and eventually overpowering its adversary.
Landra fires on the Aboleth, her bullet tearing through the massive brain and finally killing it, which leaves Tharin suddenly free to consider why he thought it a reasonable course of action to head off into the distance.
The rest of the crew come out onto the deck and thank their rescuers, but most expressive is the merchant Darius, who offers them several gifts (below) as well as some gold. Tharin thanks the merchant but tells him that he feels badly taking coin from the man when he will need to repair the ship, and instead asks if Darius could provide some trade tips.
Darius has just the thing, and hands over a well-worn ledger encased in an oilskin sleeve, which details hundreds of trades he has made over the past few years. When studied, this binder will provide insights into what trade goods are likely to be profitable with particular buyers or certain locales. Three magical items are also obtained:
