Completely not approving about what Carridan is about to do to the poor old man, Carmina grabs the druid from the back of his clothing and yanks him away from Jasper.
Carridan looks at Carmina, confusion plain on his face. "What? What's wrong? Didn't you see how he got worse after I healed him the second time?"
"Fer the love of-"Gared started, then sputtering again as the druid moved forward. "Master Carridan! Give th' man a moment! The dwarf moved protectively over to the man, and offered the man a hand in the least threatening and most apologetic manner he could muster. "Sorry fer the trouble, Master Jasper. Ye ought to be safe from any immediate danger."
"Captain Heidmarch already said he was addled in the head," Horven says. "I doubt your healing had anything to do with that."
"!"
Yamyra remains speechless for several moments as she realizes one of her companions just assaulted the man they were here to speak with, as she was attempting to speak with him.
Finally, she begins shaking profoundly as she clutches her arms to herself & backs away from the druid, her face rapidly loosing color.
"What? He was lucid when I first healed him and when I healed him again he went mad again. Didn't he?" Now very flustered, Carridan's shoulders drop and he runs one hand through his hair. "A-and he went on about loosing fingers. I thought a little knock on the head would be kinder."
"Moments of lucidity can still come, even in the grip of madness," Horven says, recalling some old memories of the courthouse. The halfling shudders involuntarily. "Maybe you're right, Carridan. Maybe his madness is curable, but I really doubt a knock on the head would do it. Those men who assaulted him were strange as well. Did anyone else notice that black around their lips? I think something may be going on here."
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As you discuss the thugs who assaulted Jasper, you note Jasper still bears signs of his beating. He struggles to his feet before reaching for a pendant hanging on his neck. Muttering softly to himself, you all feel a healing wave wash over you. Many of his wounds have closed over now.
Once finished, he sinks back to the ground still muttering softly to himself, his gaze still wandering over you.
Returned from her own nightmarish reverie by the priest's act, Yamyra steps forward. "Thank you."
"As I tried to say before," she glares briefly towards Carradin, "We were hoping you might have wisdom you might share with us regarding the Mushfens."
Carridan's brow wrinkles as Jasper calls forth a bloom of healing light from his holy symbol. The flustered druid waits after, his glance bouncing from his allies and Jasper, waiting for the man to perhaps grow even more crazed as his pain lessens further.
"We can help you, Jasper, if you let us," Horven says, trying to establish eye contact with the man.
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Carmina had planned to say something, but the sheer charisma oozing from Horven strikes her speechless.
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Horven must have been gifted with a silver tongue in a previous life for as the rest of you watch incredulously, Jasper's muttering cease and his wild eyes finally focus on you, free of the madness for now.
He slowly gets to his feet and nods in thanks. "Thank you for...trying to help me against those brutal thugs." He turns a clear gaze to Yamyra. "Yes I do. I am quite familiar with them as I have traveled much of the southwestern Mushfens and the Lady’s Cape for many months. To be honest I have been seeking something of interest in the region."
"Oh?" Yamyra responds. To your experienced eyes, she is obviously a bit concerned that this raving street preacher might have interests that parallel your own.
Horven looks at the old man, unsure of how to approach the situation. Entertaining his ravings would probably not get them anywhere, but, the chances were and what Horven feared, there might be a grain of truth to it. "We're looking for a way to get to the Lady's Light. Do you think you can help us chart a course?"
Yamyra nods assent with Horven's words.
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Jasper nods affirmatively, "Yes, I have been there many times. If you wish to reach that place, I can offer this advice: First, you should seek out the witch Maroux, who I have met before. I should warn you that she’s somewhat easily angered by trespassers, so when you approach her hut, call out “Greetings, Lady Maroux - Jasper sent us to you. We seek your advice!” I suggest you offer your help to the woman, since she’s always got little tasks she wants done. She knows much about the region, and more to the point, has lived at the Lady’s Cape all this time and as such will know much more about current conditions and events in the area than I do. I have not been there in a long time. Also I could help you navigate the Mushfens, as I know most of the landmarks of the area. Finally, the Lady’s Cape is home to numerous monsters, but none more fecund than the troglodyte and boggard tribes. These two tribes have long bickered, and you may be able to use that to your advantage, given the right circumstances."
Horven seems surprised by the straightforward answer and looks to his friends. "Sounds good to me. What do you all think?"
Nodding emphatically, Yamyra agrees. "Speaking only for myself, but I would consider it a boon indeed if you were to join us in our investigation."
Carridan watches mutely, rubbing the back of his neck in obvious discomfort as he watches the exchange between Jasper and the others. His eyes brighten when Horven speaks up though, as the halfling seems to have an innate gift with people.
I guess if I don't know how to help it's best to just do nothing? I don't want to make things worse.
"And what...
doom, do you forsee?"
"Yes, don't leave us hanging! Is it invaders from far-away stars? An ancient curse that causes the dead to rise again as flesh-hungry monsters? A beast too horrible to describe with a near-unpronounceable name rising from the sea do devour us all? Come on, tell us already!" Carmina says, sounding maybe a bit more excited than most people would be when discussing such possibilities.
Please let him be just a madman. Please let him be just a madman. Please let him be just a madman...
"!.."
Stricken by Jasper's revelation, Yamyra can do little more than smile glassily.
Gared had stood back and watched the exchange between his companions silently for a while, but he interjected. "Aye then, Master Jasper. If ye'd be accompanying us back to the manor until we make our trip? How are ye feelin' about boats?" The dwarf's tone was casual, but the heavy accent was indicative to his companions of a less than calm state.
Carridan glances uncomfortably from face to face then suggests, "Back to the manor then? To, ah, prepare?"
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After deciding to travel to the area where the Lady's Light is located by water, you all return to Heidmarch with your 'guide' in tow. After his previous outbursts, he has lapsed into a quiet contemplation only fingering his two-headed flail lovingly and whispering nonsensical sayings to himself.
After arriving at the manor and making sure your guest is led to one of the guest rooms available (and a guard posted discreetly nearby), you then head down to meet with the Venture Captain.
Sheila nods at your request. "Very well Pathfinders. I can understand the need to move quickly here." She then gives you the name of Yarnelle Fessender, captain of the Wanton Ways. "With the letter of introduction I have for you, you will not need to pay for this journey. However, the ship leaves the next morning at dawn. If you choose to dally, you will need to secure your own passage."
In preparation of their time on a boat, Carridan varies his prayers, and readies himself for a disquieting time at sea. His normal nervousness is amplified more and more as the time for their departure draws near.
Spells Prepared:
Orisons (4): create water, detect poison, know direction, purify food and drink
Level 1 (3+1+1*): faerie fire, obscuring mist*, produce flame, touch of the sea x2
Level 2 (2+1+1*): bull's strength, fog cloud*, hold animal, spider climb
*domain
Knowing that it might be a while before they're back to civilization again, Carmina decides that her time left on solid land is best used by heading to the nearest tavern for a few dozen mugs of beer.
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After resting up and preparing for your journey, you (along with your 'guide' Jasper) soon find yourselves aboard the Wanton Ways that makes a monthly run between Riddleport, Magnimar, and Korvosa, and is currently bound for Korvosa. Captain Yarnelle Fessender commands a full crew compliment of 30 sailors. After introducing yourselves to her, your initial impression is Yarnelle is polite and professional, but she tolerates no shenanigans aboard her ship. As things stand, you have barely enough room to be squeezed on-board, as it is stuffed with Korvosa-bound cargo.
As you wait to get underway, your casual observation reveals that the captain’s first mate, Pockeye Sewel, is a rather brutal taskmaster and is strongly disliked by the crew. His brother, Chebby, a quiet and shifty fellow, is his right hand man and has the looks of an instigator who enjoys goading the crew into doing things that get them punished by Pockeye.
Other than yourselves, only one other passenger is on-board, a woman named Dialla Marteme. Quiet and not terribly interested in conversation, Dialla boards the ship at the last minute, after you have already arrived.
Seeing the bustle on-board the vessel, Yamyra quickly places herself out of the way of the sailors.
Horven notes the exchange between Dialla and Fessender, sharing the details with the rest of the group with a casual mien. He stresses the importance of not jumping to conclusions, but to be cautious around the last-minute passenger, lest she be another obstacle. Afterward, Horven makes his way to some unoccupied section of the boat to continue his training.
Carridan's face goes white as the group approaches the vessel and he begins to look side to side frantically, obviously looking for a way out or a place to run. Seeing none, his shoulders slump as he steps up the plank. Once on board, he looks utterly miserable and does his able best to avoid the bowels of the ship and stay on the deck.
Despite his discomfort, he notes the exchange between the Captain and the last-second passenger. He spends the rest of the time trying to stay out of the way, looking more and more miserable as the time to set sail nears.
Gared seems to be rigorously competing with Carridan for the most impressive blanch as the group boarded the ship, though the dwarf is significantly more comfortable within the interior where he could almost forget his surroundings.
When Horven shares his noting of the odd exchange, the dwarf blurts out a desire to investigate, desperate for a distraction from the unsteady deck beneath his feat. "We could be talkin' to the capt'n a'fore Dialla then?" Queried the dwarf to his companions, a pleading look in his eyes.
Horven frowns. "I'm pretty sure that if Dialla is up to something, there was enough money to keep the captain quiet about it. The easiest course would be to talk to Dialla herself, but, as I mentioned, that might stir up trouble."
The halfling notes his friend's eagerness to get his mind off the journey. Carridan could probably use the distraction as well. "How about you and Carridan have a chat with the captain, Gared?" I'll go look around and see if I can find Dialla."
Horven had a gut feeling that talking to the captain wouldn't enlighten them and felt bad for sending Gared on a fool's errand, but perhaps it might yield something. It wouldn't be the first time he was wrong, certainly not the last. "Be careful."
Horven moves away from his companions, finding himself among the sailors and such. He creeps about the ship, using the men as a moving disguise.
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Horven has no problem slipping away from the other party members and makes his way to the bow of the ship, where he spies Dialla nearby staring out over the water apparently lost in thought. She also does not notice the halfling observing her, apparently.
Gared and Carridan try to make their way over to Captain Yarnelle, but when she notes your pale expressions she points over to the side of the ship, where a couple of buckets sit. "You cannot handle the waves, use those buckets! And stay outa my crew's way!"
Carridan shakes his head, the captain, like most others, misunderstanding the source of his discomfort. "Oh, I'm not seasick, but thank you for your concern. And yes, I will do my best to stay out of the way so no one gets hurt- gets bothered! So no one is bothered." He fidgets as he talks, rubbing the back of his neck and shifting his shoulders as he looks at Gared, the normally isolated druid already flustered once more.
Seeing her companion's failure to have any converse with the captain, Yamyra maintains her own vigil out of the way of the sailors on the deck.
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As the Wanton Ways heads south along the Korvosan coast, the weather is pleasant and the ocean coast scenery is beautiful. As passengers you are basically told to stay out of the way of the sailors, which for most of you is a simple manner.
The afternoon passes uneventfully, and as evening approaches you all gather in the galley to enjoy a not-so-quiet dinner with the other crew members jammed together in the small area.