Wyran nods at Ting's suggestion. "But then I'll need more bolts for my crossbow. And I'm not really very good at cooking game...."
Tessai listened in silence to the others, and then offered her comments - ”So we would need to stock on provisions before departing, and then we could perhaps use Zelkor’s Ferry when we need to resupply?” - she pondered - ”Mixing it up with some hunting and foraging or perhaps even buying from local farmers and hunters, we should be able to make it?”
”As to our course - we will head to the west coast of the lake, and the mouth of the river, I believe?" - the tiefling adds - ”And try to find some clues there, as to what was to happen to this shipment next” - she looks around at her companions - ”Makes sense?”
"You have at least two options for traveling to the area:"
"All of this assumes that you would be starting your investigation in Zelkor's Ferry."
"First, you could travel overland, down the Coast Road."
"Or, you could book passage on one of the merchant ships that sails down the coast to trade with the river boats that travel into the interior."
"The trip by ship would be faster, but you'll be dependent on convincing a river boat captain to give you a ride inland."
"By ship might be faster, but it sounds like the Coast Road would be more reliable. Have you a map of the area so we know the distance? And would you know any of the business contacts or the people that run the town of Zelkor's Ferry?"
"The mayor of Zelkor's Ferry is a gentleman named Odo Bristleback."
He looks over at the retired dwarf adventurer in the room and shrugs at the coincidence.
"He runs an inn and tavern in the village, but our information is that he is a leader, chief citizen, and the landlord for the other businesses in the settlement."
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Malinor looks at Ting and replies, "A road that is rarely traveled on, which goes through swampy terrain, may not be good for carts. Since the area is sparsely populated, I doubt they spend a lot on maintaining the road, and the patrols probably don't often take carts."
Malinor shrugs and continues. "If we secure mounts here we have them when we get down near Zelkor's Ferry. If we don't, then we will have to walk everywhere. And Rappan Athuk may be days away from Zelchor's Ferry on foot. Lefty said that the adventurer's in his tale found Rappan Athak near the Coast Road, not the Ferry. If we wish to depend on boats, then that will almost certainly be faster. Assuming we can find a river boat ready to head up the river. But I am not sure how distant the site is from the Ferry. If it is several days distant they may not know anything is happening at Rappan Athak. Hunters or farmers along the Coast Road may have more information since the road the landmark we have been given for finding the labyrinth."
Malinor smiles and chuckles, "But I will admit, I do have a strong preference for keeping my feet on solid ground and my powder dry.
There's no road to Zelkor's Ferry, but south of the river the land is probably firm enough for a wagon and mules to cross. North of the river is swampy and impassable for a wagon.
"Which one's faster?" asks Garados. The sooner he gets to a tavern, the happier he is, though the idea of romancing a few lonely farm girls does appeal to him too.
"Neither would be particularly faster. A trip overland would require constant movement, but the journey by ship would be dependent on the schedule of merchants."
Bored, Garados shrugs. "Whichever, then. Let's just pick one and get on with it."
Let's take the ship. It just sounds easier.
”In my opinion Malinor has offered several valid reasons for the land travel, so I will agree with his suggestion, with or without mounts” - Tessai offers her opinion - ”The route should be good enough to take a wagon, but as far as I know there is no actual road to lead from the main one to Zelkor’s Ferry. So driving a wagon through that portion may not be easy”
"Hmm.... I walked all the way from Absalom already. I guess riding on a boat may be easier now."
Captain Shorts speaks up:
"I can introduce you to the captain of a ship that makes regular trips down the coast. They make rendezvous with riverboats at the coast and trade. That should get you close and I'm sure that one of the Riverboat Captains will take you upriver to Zelkor's Ferry for some coin."
The soldiers with the obsidian scoop up the stones back into the chest and close it. They carry it to the door where they hand it off to what looks like a squad of soldiers in the livery of the church of Iomedae. Those church soldiers leave with the stones.
The Baron speaks up "I'm sure you'll want to do more research. Mellikon and Odoc," he gestures to his advisors "can help with information."
"Captain Shorts will help with introductions to a ship captain to carry you south."
"My treasurer will help with arranging funds."
With that he nods to you all, stands up, and leaves.
Wyran looks to the treasurer to draw the pay before leaving. "I gotta see about finding a wand of mage armor before we leave. Can't cast the spell myself but it does help a lot if we get into a heavy melee!"
"Yep," says Garados, patting the brace of wands on the bandolier over his chest. "Don't leave home without them!"
He leans over to Malinor. "Sorry buddy. Ships aren't so bad. I mean, I survived one that sank and that was no fun. But hey, I met magical shapechanging monks, so it wasn't all bad."
He lowers his voice. "But the constant rocking always makes me want to pee."
As the Baron stands up and leaves, Tessai stands also - ”We will do our best” - she nodded.
”Should we perhaps invest in additional healing items for our endeavor?” - the tiefling then adds to the group.
As you leave the castle, a short stout royal accountant hands over the promised funds. From the look on his face he doesn't think it is money well spent.
Captain Shorts says he will send a message when he has found an appropriate ship to take you south.
Back in town at The Traveler's Rest you are preparing your equipment when messengers come to summon several of you to meetings:
”Welcome Tessai, I appreciate you giving me some of your time before you depart on your trip south.”
”I have asked you here today to share with you one of Iomedae’s secrets. Normally, we do not share this with those not of the faith, but I have looked into your heart and found nothing but virtue.”
”It is well known that the church here in Egede is famed as the site of The Tomb of Saint Merrick. What is not known is that while the reliquary in the undercroft is real, it’s main purpose is not to be a tomb.”
”Throughout the history of the Crusades, weapons of dark power have been captured from the enemy on the battlefield. When these tainted items fall into the church’s hands, they must be hidden away until they can be cleansed or destroyed.”
”The reliquary serves that purpose. Even now the obsidian you saw yesterday has been locked away in the vaults, warded from scrying and extradimensional intrusion to keep it safe.”
”If you journey south does turn up more of the dark stones or other items that are better kept out of evil hands, the church will safeguard them.”
”It is customary with Crusaders that the church will trade healing magics, gold, and diamonds for the items at an agreed appraised value.”
”Obviously, we keep these vaults under the church secret and guarded to help ward against any of these items falling back into the hands of the enemy.”
Mellikon, the wizard, asks you to meet him at his residence.
”Oh yes young fellows, do come in.” he greets you.
”At first I thought you were the book merchant …. But no matter.”
”The Baron has asked me to give you one piece of additional aid.”
He produces a wooden scroll case.
”Neither of you are learned enough to know this magic, but I believe you will be able to use it in case of an emergency. On this scroll I have inscribed a copy of a Teleport Spell that will allow you to travel instantaneously back here if you find yourselves in trouble.”
”There’s something a trick to this sort of travel. It works best if you know well the place you are trying to reach. I can teach you how to memorize a location to make the spell safer.”
”Hopefully, this magic will prove unnecessary, but if you do run into trouble and need to escape, there’s no better method for fast travel.”
You find her meditating in prayer when you enter, but her eyes open and she smiles at you.
”Good to see you Wyran … and your little friend.” she smiles.
”I’ve asked you here because the Baron requested I offer you additional aid if I could.”
”Know the journey you will make and the potential dangers you will face, I have prepared a scroll to help you.”
She produces a wooden scroll tube.
”This scroll contains a copy of the Restoration spell. It was inscribed with additional diamond dust to empower it to remove the permanent effects of a negative energy attack by the undead."
”My hope is that this is an unnecessary precaution, but the Baron wishes you to be as well prepared as possible.”
”Much of the magic used for combating negative energy and restoring life is powered by diamonds. You should collect all you can find and husband them against future need.”
”May the lady bless you on your journey”
Despite his somewhat casual attitude towards life and relationships, Garados is single-minded in his pursuit of knowledge. He listens attentively as the Master instructs in the ways of visualization and carefully studies Melikon's sanctum in case he needs to use the scroll in the future.
"Master Melikon, is there anything else about this place we are going, this Rappan Athuk, that you can tell us? Any useful lore or known hazards? Surely some reports have come back?"
Wyran scratches Scrapper's head, making him glow with enjoyment. He takes the scroll and tucks it away. "Thank you! I hope I can return it later, but if it is needed I will use it. And the warning about the diamonds needed for such spells too. I'll discuss that with the team and make sure any diamonds found are saved for emergencies like that! I can't cast the magic yet, but I will learn."
"And Thank you for the blessing. I get a feeling that we will need her blessings on this endeavor. But with Her luck we shall prevail on this mission!"
”Of course Archdeacon - I will make sure if any such artifacts cross our path, to bring them to you for safekeeping” - Tessai nodded - ”I do have two questions if you will allow - do you anticipate us encountering such items? And why are they being kept instead of destroyed?”
”I will need to purchase a few additional supplies, and an arcane implement, then I should be ready to leave” - she notes.
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Garados counts out a hundred shiny platinum coins and hands them to the tengu.
Lothorian donates the rest. If we don't get it, we'll probably wish we had.
With the decision made to go by boat Wyran makes some last minute purchases before departing. He then stands ready to board whatever boat, er, ship they will be on.
Two days of preparation go by with the group buying equipment and meeting with your sponsors.
Captain Shorts sends word that he is working his contacts to find you passage south on a coaster.
At the end of the second day a messenger comes, telling you to meet with a Captain Sara Witherspoon at a ship called the Blue Nixie the next day.
You pack and go to the docks and find the ship the following morning. It’s not a very inspiring vessel, but passage is paid for and it floats.
You depart that afternoon. The Nixie doesn’t make great time. She’s a fat bottomed coaster that trades along the coast.
From conversations with Captain Witherspoon you learn that she generally avoids sailing too close to shore because she doesn’t want to attract attention from monsters or pirates. She sails out in the lake and cuts in to specific anchorages where she meets up with trading partners.
It takes seven boring days to make it to the vicinity of the river leading to Zelkor’s Ferry.
There, at the coast a wide, sluggish river empties into the lake.
Some ingenious soul has built a floating dock here at the edge of the lake where ships like the ”Nixie” can dock and trade.
It takes a day of waiting, but a keelboat comes downriver and docks to trade. The name of the boat is “The Lucky Oak” and her captain is Petrus Kolvio. Petrus sails with a crew of four, plus a hired guard, and a couple of dogs.
Petrus picks up a load of tools and trade goods to take upriver and sells Witherspoon some furs and sacks of food (including some mushrooms that grow in the swamps).
For 20 gold each he agrees to transport you inland to Zelkor’s Ferry, a slow three-day trip against the sluggish current.
At the end of the first day, the ”Lucky Oak” sets anchor mid-river in view of a substantial bridge that carries the Coast Road across. From what you can tell the bridge is pretty old but very solid. The banks of the river are high, giving plenty of clearance for boats to pass under.
Early the next day, you pass a set of ruins on a bluff overlooking the north bank. ”Place has been falling down for years, but them monks just keep to themselves…” a boatman says.
Later that day, you anchor early. The captain tells you ”River’s lousy with trolls up ahead. We’ll spend the night here so we don’t have trouble overnight.”
The night passes quietly, with the party helping to keep watch.
The next day you head upriver for Zelkor’s Ferry.
Early in the day a sailor points out a big mound on the north side of the river at a fork: ”That fork disappears up the swamp, but that mound is full of trolls.”
A few hours later you dock at the small settlement of Zelkor’s Ferry.
It appears that the main buildings are an Inn, a stable and smithy, some sort of healer, and a gem dealer.
Tessai grabbed her gear - "Thank you for the transportation" - she nodded to Petrus Kolvio and stepped out onto the dock, looking around and then back at the others - "We should find accommodation, and inquire about our task"
Garados raises an eyebrow at the idea of a gem dealer in the back of beyond, but he walks towards the inn, hopeful of a drink and some company. The long lake and river voyages have left the energetic mage desperate for some semblance of civilization and even a dump like Zelkor's Ferry raises his spirits and his hopes.