"I don't mean to make light of it, but that sounds absolutely adorable. Well, if you insist I will help him get rid of the curse. And while I don't need money, I still require payment." She says looking over Bjorkus. She snaps her fingers and some attendants come to take Kal for preparation. She winks at the bull before following to cast the needed spell for him.
Minutes later, Gabrielle comes back with a frown on her face. "Whatever this is, it's blocking my ability to remove it. He will have to stay here for a few days or you'll have to come back. I am out of the needed magic to take care of him. I do recommend the in-house treatment, mainly so I can get mine." She says coming up to Bjorkus.
Bjorkus raises a brow and nods.
"I'm certain I'll be able to pay in full."
The minotaur frowns when the ritual is not a success but nods in agreement.
"We can stay a few days to make sure Kal gets what he needs and you're properly paid", the bull says with a rumble.
"We have information we need to get to Tessa Fairwind in Port Peril. Would you be able to prepare a magical Sending for us? She's expecting us."
"Yes, I am capable of it."
Bjorkus ponders and then relays the message to be sent.
Found second spy - dead. Carrying coded message, Go to nagas, collect poison and information. Deliver both to the captain of the Diamond Star. What now?
"Opal, do you mind helping me find buyers for the plunder filling our holds tomorrow? I believe I'll be busy repaying the generosity of the high priestess tonight", the bull says with a nod in the direction of the bedrooms.
"The Diamond Star? Elliece is a part of this? Come back ASAP."
"Of course I'll help find some buyers tomorrow. I wouldn't mind enjoying a little bit of fun tonight myself."
Ruul rumbles with laughter.
"Were you thinkin' about joining me in properly paying Gabby here? I'm sure the priestess wouldn't mind a proper tip."
"Well, if you two are up for some company, I wouldn't mind in assisting in paying our bill."
The bull scoops up the sorceress in one massive arm, wraps other around Gabrielle, and departs for the high priestess's personal quarters...
Days later, Kal is fixed up and curse free. And thanks to aid from Bjorkus and Luthor, Opal is able to get full price for plunder here in Quent.
During the trip, Bjorkus finds a moment to chat with Opal.
"You mentioned your father was a famous pirate captain", the minotaur observes as he tends to a sheet of damaged sail. "What do you imagine he'd think of us?"
Opal takes a moment to think about Bjorkus's question, leaning over the ship's railing and staring out into the ocean.
"Well, we managed to make quite a few good hauls that any captain could be proud of. So in that I suppose he would think we've been successful for, but he was also known to be rather bloodthirsty and had quite the bad temper, so I think that he would also consider us weak. We've shown more mercy to our captives than he ever would, plus we have yet to deal any sort of revenge upon Harrigan personally."
Bjorkus nods.
"Osprey would say the same thing. She was a cruel b%&%! but she was responsible for teachin' me everything I know. For her, brutality was part of pirating."
"What happened to your father? Is he still out there terrorizing the Fever Sea?"
"Well, I guess I can't say exactly for sure what happened to him. The last I remember was a cannonball crashing through the side of the cabin I was in and being swept out into the sea from it as the ship began sinking. I've never yet met another survivor of that ship and as far as I know, I'm the only one. Well, except for my mother I suppose. If she was slain she just would have returned to the elemental plane of air I think...."
"That sounds a lot like what happened Osprey", the minotaur says with a rumble. "The Chelish navy cornered us and tore us apart."
"Do you know who it was that sank your father's ship."
Opal shakes her head no. "I was always kept below deck as soon as any ships were started. Considered too young and too delicate be of any use yet. All I remember after being swept out of the sinking ship was two other ships and neither of them flew any flag I recognized and none of the crew that I could see wore any sort of uniform. I always just figured that they were rival pirate crews that finally caught up with him."
"Would you want vengeance for your father's death if the opportunity arose?"
"Of course I would take vengeance if I could, but what happened to him and to your other ship are just part of what it means to be a pirate. It's a far better death to go down with your ship than it would be to end up rotting in jail somewhere or even better than just growing too old to be able to do what you love anymore."
"Well said Moonbeam", the minotaur rumbles. "Better to die a pirate than live as a slave."
You make your way back to Port Peril and to Tessa's townhouse. She are escorted to her study and she is furiously pacing back and forth. "Please have a seat. While you made your way here, I had a friend check up on Elliece, former captain of the Diamond Star. But all he found was a dead imp, bludgeoned to death by an anchor and a piece of parchment." She brings out what looks to be a blank piece of paper. As you look on confusingly, she lights a match and holds the paper up. Slowly, the ink reveals it's words. When revealed, the message details orders: a simple instruction to report to an address in Hell Harbor—the warehouse of one Roweena Kellet. "I need you to go back to Hell Harbor and find out Roweena."
"Who was she? Really?" the minotaur asks.
"It's clear she was more than just a pirate captain."
"She was one of my closest friends, but now it seems she was a traitor to that country of devil sycophants."
"What can you tell us about her? Is there any reason she might have fallen in with the sodding Chelaxians?"
"No idea." She shakes her head. "Cheliax stands for everything we don't want here. It doesn't matter if you're Bonefist or even that sod Harrigan. For any of us to align with them, it's inconceivable."
Bjorkus growls in frustration.
"Alright. We'll get to the bottom of this. At the very least we'll make sure her killer gets what he has coming."
"Do you happen to have anything of Elliece's or a portrait of her or anything? Since no body was found, I could perhaps attempt to scry upon her in case she yet lives?"
"Good thinking."
Kal looks over to Tessa for her response.
"I'm sorry, dear. We had a falling out so I threw out anything I had of her."
"Let's get going then. Hell Harbor is a long ways away."
You sail back to the town of Hell Harbor as a harbor quartermaster in the employ of Arronax Endymion, lord of Hell Harbor and a former admiral in the Chelish navy. Roweena manages two of Endymion’s smaller trade warehouses, but she’s recently gone missing. You are directed to them but you find them empty.
Asking around you easily find her home. However the front door has been broken open!
"I got a bad feeling about this", the minotaur rumbles.
"Moonbeam, get those spells ready."
You cast your spell and the sensor shows you the woman known as Elliece Farhaven. You see her on a ship, staring out into the water. She has a concerned look on her face as she looks around nervously. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." You hear her mutter.
Bjorkus grips his new trident and leads the way in.
Bjorkus leads the way in. There are many shipping and mercantile papers scattered about.
Bjorkus pokes around shop.
"Take a look around."
Luthor finds a ledger listing the names of numerous major pirate lords of the Shackles, each with a large number beside it. "Is this it?" He asks the party.
Chubs' eyes widen when he sees the document. "Theses is bribeses for pirates to turn traitor!" You also notice that of these names, one stands out: Arronax Endymion, whose entry has only a dash, rather than a number, after to his name.
Scribbled at the bottom of one page is a single line: “Send with Corlan.”
Bjorkus shakes his head.
"I don't recognize any of these names. We need to get this information to Tessa. She'll know what to do next."
You take the document and you sail back from Hell Harbor to Port Peril.
"What did you find out?" Tessa asks as you enter her study.
"A list of bribes", Bjorkus says with a nod at Chubwart.
"And their source."
The minotaur quickly hands over the documents.
Tessa takes the documents and looks them over. "This is disturbing. I will have to think on this. Many thanks, for now just be on the lookout but otherwise keep it in the back of your mind.
You have the Free Captain's Regatta to think about. If you don't already know, the Free Captains’ Regatta is a grueling race held among the hazardous sandbars and reefs north of the Shackles among the dangerous currents and winds at the southern fringes of the giant hurricane called the Eye of Abendego. The race is open to any Free Captain with a ship, and while many captains and ships do not finish the race, the regatta has no shortage of competitors each year, for the rewards are truly worth the risk, a hefty prize purse, lordship of a small island, and a seat on the Pirate Council of the Shackles. Of course I could always use more allies on the Council. It will start in one week here in Port Peril. Are you ready?" Her mouth turning into a grin.
Bjorkus considers.
"But the Regatta isn't for months... oh, it's been months since we started this whole thing hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has. It's been a long journey for you lot. I think you in particular need some rest." She winks at the bull.