Durgan has more healing if needed, but out of prudence he will wait to see if Ameiko or Koya offer any healing before he continues.
”Of course dearie, a very excellent suggestion.” Koya remarks to Durgan. She gathers the horses together, and any other wounded too, and channels.
"Well done everybody, I thought Storm and I were goners there for sure."
”You gotta be careful with them there giants and their friends. A wee thing like you will just get smashed. Better leave them to sturdier folk,” Mukluk nods at Durgan as Mukluk himself is not that sturdy, but will try to protect his friends. ”We nearly lost both you and Stormsy there.” He shows his clear worry, and then remembers that he hadn’t check to see if Moose was injured and goes to do that. If Moose has any injuries, he’d be sure to bring them to the healers for prompt healing.
Then he will help Rory search the bodies for anything of interest.
As expected of goblins and ogres - you find little of value. Maybe a few gold worth of this and that, nothing worth tracking unfortunately.
Sandru works to get the caravan back in order. Once the horses have calmed, you can proceed on with your journey.
The rest of the journey to Brinewall takes the caravan from Sandpoint up along the Lost Coast Road and passes through the villages of Galduria and Wolf’s Ear. You’ll reach each of these villages in the first week. They’re each similar to Sandpoint in that they anchor wide flung farming communities. Unlike Sandpoint, they aren’t as flush with the cash of nobles to boost their towns.
Still, they are pleasant places, and Sandru and the other traders spend part of a day in each village trying to buy and sell trade goods. The villages are otherwise fairly unremarkable, being typical to the region. Nice enough, but rural.
Oh, I almost forgot. There was actually a bandit raid between the two villages, but it was folly. Unlike the goblins who don’t know when to run away, the bandits learned quickly, only to be hunted down by Shalelu and Rory in their flight. You even managed to take a few alive and turn them in at the next town. One had a reward on his head for 200 gold! Stripping their ill gotten gear nets another 150gp in cargo (1) which you can sell or carry along your choice.
Sandru estimates you've another week of travel before reaching Brinewall thanks to the new undercarriages. He advises that it's getting more remote and there may only be one more village for trade and resupply.
Durgan does his best to trade in the small villages, making it a point to review his knowledge of local customs and culture so that he is at least well-mannered and courteous.
In the first village, it happens that the locals just are not interested in the wares the caravan has brought (or at least the part that Durgan is trying to trade). It just isn't what they need.
The second village finds more to like in the caravan's goods, and Durgan is more successful.
Mukluk will tend to tend to Moose while on the road, and then again moreso while in any small town. He will ensure that Moose’s foodstuffs are up to stuff and that there are plenty of treats stored on the ol’ ass to ensure his cooperation on the long trip.
Ameiko, a much smoother talker than Sandru who tends to be more abrupt, does well in the two villages. Together with Durgan, the caravan made 100gold.
Kisaiya, having been practicing her ability to win friends and influence people of late, decides to try her hand at trading. She tries to follow Ameiko’s example.
She also recommends selling that extra 150 gp of cargo they picked up, as the extra space might be needed depending on what they all find in Brinewall.
Thanks to the undercarriages, you should reach Brinewall in about a week, maybe a little less. However, a little bad weather slows the caravan slightly so it takes eight days. The week passes calmly for the most part. There is but one small village, hardly a speck, but quite eager for the goods you carry. Roderic’s Cove by name, in the northeastern reach of the Chrulwood.
From there, Sandru prefers to avoid Riddleport entirely though he misses the trade opportunity He prefers to follow an old track north of Roderic’s Cove that skirts the southern Stony Mountains, then winds up into the Velashu Uplands, following the river northwest to a low pass in the mountains and then due north into the Nolands and, eventually, to Brinewall.
The farther north this route goes, the more disused the roads become. By the time the caravan winds through the Velashu Uplands, the road is little more than a track. ”With the loss of Brinewall as a viable port, most trade between Varisia and the Lands of the Linnorm Kings has been via the sea route” Sandru explains.
The trail the caravan follows isn’t completely abandoned however. Sandru is quick to point out that several Varisian caravans take the route yearly, although he does admit that they generally make a wide detour around Brinewall, which is believed by most to be haunted, cursed, or both.
You’ll pass one of these caravans headed south early in the week. They’re traveling ultimately to Magnimar, from further north and are some nine wagons! They report a clear road ahead, and there is some trading done and sharing of supplies and stories. Both groups are in a hurry however, so there is little socializing. For the most part. A meal is shared - of course - but caravans will often settle in together for a day or more to trade among themselves. That doesn’t happen in this case, primarily due to the rush of the other caravan.
The night before you arrive is Taxfest - an Abadarian holiday! In honor of Durgan’s presence in the caravan, Ameiko offers a short celebration that night after supper, though she’s feeling a bit ‘off’. Naturally, as these things go, the celebration blends into the night as everyone enjoys themselves though Ameiko isn’t quite herself all night. Perhaps just fending off a bug.
When Magnimar was founded in 4608, Brinewall finally began to come into its own. Trade picked up, and several important and powerful merchants, among them the Kaijitsus, took an interest in helping the town grow. But Brinewall never saw the success that visited Korvosa, Magnimar, and Riddleport, and finally fell to an enemy more swift and efficient in dealing death than the dire corbies, Nolanders, and Linnorm Kingdom raiders combined.
What that enemy was, and how it overcame the scrappy residents, is a topic of conversation and storytelling late into the night, but no one has a firm answer.
- - -
The following day, Gozran 16, a Sunday, you rise early - eager to make your destination - today with luck. However, by now Ameiko is pale, and clearly suffering as she struggles through breakfast. Koya ministers to her, with special tea and a lessor restoration, which revives some color in her cheeks, but not as much as you’d hope from such powerful magics. And tea.
Know (Geog)
”I think we’re getting close! Ain’t that right, Moose?” Mukluk says aloud. ”Moose loves the ivy patches around there, he does. Now, what else should I remind you about as we get closer to Brinewall? Well, listen good, listen good just like Moose does…”
Mukluk will explain the spoiler above.
Durgan finds the small village charming, and does his best to find goods to meet their needs.
He takes diligent notes on the condition of the trails and bridges, and joins Sandru in lamenting the loss of the port. "A viable port can indeed greatly increase trade. Especially given proficient sailors such as the Ulfen of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings."
He greets the caravan traveling the other way and swaps news in the short time they have. They seemed to be in a rush.
Durgan is quite happy to celebrate Taxfest! As he is not in a city, he does not spend the day monitoring tax collectors, nor thanking the citizens for their payment, nor extoling the great civic improvements to be funded. He simply offers a brief prayer dedicating the celebration to Abadar, and then buys several bottles of wine from the caravan's stores for everybody to drink. "It is customary for the Church of Abadar to sponsor these celebrations, as you know."
Durgan doesn't know the history of Brinewall, but nods as Mukluk explains.
Having seen Koya minister to Ameiko, Durgan begins to grow concerned. This is not merely over-indulgence from the previous night.
"Koya, have you the skill to diagnose illness or affliction? I can attempt if you do not, but given your greater experience I would defer to you and seek to only assist."
(aid)
Koya isn't sure what it is, though she feels it's abnormal whatever it is. The tea should have worked better if it was just a cold or the like. So she's concerned, but has no immediate solution beyond the lesser restoration she cast.
She does keep her eye on Ameiko though and suggests she stretch out for the last short bit and get some rest. Ameiko protests, but is convinced by her senior.
"It's okay, Ameiko, you should take care of yourself and if start getting shivery, just let me know and I'll ask Moose to bed down with you. Ain't nothing better than a warm mule when the shivers come at you," Mukluk offers, trying to be helpful.
"And if you want, I'll make you a good batch of me Stew of Sisters Three, a good spicy batch that'll get you back on your feet right away, I will."
Kisaiya tries to participate in the Taxday celebration out of politeness, but her heart is clearly not in it. While she has some respect for Abadar, he has always been associated in her mind with the parts of her father she liked the least, and though she knows that is unfair to put all on the faith, she is also only human and has not figured out *how* best to move on.
Noticing that Ameiko is under the weather, Kisaiya makes simple rice porridge and green tea with honey—her traditional sick remedy—for Ameiko. She never says that she is worried, but she tends to hover about and check in on Ameiko periodically, coming up with some excuse or another.
Concern over Ameiko grows and everyone seems to be lending a hand one way or another. She continues to deteriorate with every hoof beat closer to your destination.
The track you’ve been following all this time passes about half a mile east of Brinewall, continuing north and crossing the Steam River into the Nolands over a weathered wood-and-stone bridge. An old and ragged signpost about a hundred yards south of this bridge reads “To Brinewall”. It points down an overgrown trail that winds through a forest. This track quickly fades away entirely into the undergrowth, and further progress toward the ruined village must be made on foot.
However, as the wagons begin to form a camp, Ameiko collapses! Her eyes flicker briefly, before closing as her body, shaking despite the warm day, flops to the ground. It’s about 11am as the members of the caravan crowd around the fallen noble each trying to do what they can to help.
"Oh no, Ameiko," Mukluk hushes to Moose as he moves to see if there is anything he can do to help. He thinks of the surrounding area and if there is city or known healer around that the caravan might divert to.
Know (Geography)
Mukluk only knows of Roderic’s Cove, several days back. And that was a village with only a second level priest and a few elderly healers.
Excited to speed down the narrow, overgrown trail into the Forest, Rory hears that Ameiko has gotten sicker. Waiting outside Koya's wagon he asks, "Should we forget about Brinewall for now and get Ameiko to a town?"
The nearest ‘town’ that Sandru knows of is Riddleport - a den of thieves and miscreants who will more likely rob and kill Ameiko than heal her. But it is an option with care, if a distant one. For it is not close either.
Koya offers to cast augury (link) as she does from time to time when questions vex the caravan. She takes out her sticks, and suggests a question of ”Should we return Ameiko to town for healing?”
That said, she feels this is supernatural, not just a cold or some plague. It came on relatively quickly, and seemed to accelerate as you got closer to Brinewall. So she thinks it is Brinewall related, but what it could be eludes her.
Ameiko, slightly frothing at the mouth with the effort, speaks in Tien, before collapsing insensible again.
- - -
Shalelu has no clues, but stands guard over Ameiko's form.
What would you like Koya to ask?
Oh! Koya does have scrolls of remove disease and remove curse, though she'd rather not use them without knowing which it is. But if the party is stumped, she'll try both readily enough. 'cause Ameiko.
As this is the same day that Durgan first noticed Ameiko being truly unwell, he will not have had time to change out his spell selection to options better suited to diagnosis.
He may be able to prepare such spells the following day.
"Koya, I would not presume to instruct you on how to contact the spirits. I do know that such a method is up to the will of the gods, and as I have heard it told, the answer may be vague or even misleading. They will not clearly mark our path for us, that much I know."
He thinks a moment.
"However, since you asked, I can't help but think that Ameiko's ailment is connected to our mission to Brinewall, and her family's history. It may be a curse of some kind. I wonder if recovering her family's treasure in Brinewall could improve her health.
That is... once she read the letter, she was cursed to find it, and suffers more until it is found. Something like a Geas.
Or, conversely, that she is cursed because she is trying to find it, and the safe thing to do is to abandon this mission.
My intuition is the former, but I propose this question: 'Should we bring the Kaijitsu family treasure from Brinewall Castle to Ameiko?'"
'Should we bring the Kaijitsu family treasure from Brinewall Castle to Ameiko?'"
Mukluk follows along and was about 90 minutes behind Durgan in figuring out that this would be a good question to ask. He supposes that Moose had already figured it out and was just letting Mukluk make his own way to it, as he often did. What a good ass he was.
Kisaiya is despondent as Ameiko collapses. She stays near her, offering whatever help she can.
She has only a basic knowledge of anatomy and bodily health outside of matters of nutrition, so she has difficulty coming to any conclusions on what could be the cause of this catatonia. ”She’s never been sickly as long as I’ve known her, so a curse does make sense. Especially since this coincides with us coming close to Brinewall.” She shakes her head. ”I wish I knew what to do.” She stares at Ameiko. More than anything, she wishes she could hold her right now, caress her cheek. Finally, she tentatively places a hand on Ameiko’s forehead to check her temperature. ”Whatever is causing this, Ame, we will find it and put an end to it.”
"My intuition is the former, but I propose this question: 'Should we bring the Kaijitsu family treasure from Brinewall Castle to Ameiko?'"
Koya holds a cup of sticks and starts shaking them. She increases the rate as she intones the spell. It seems to take forever for one of the sticks to fall out of the cup, but when it does, Koya smiles.
”Weal.” she says simply, ”I don’t know what that means for you, but it will help Ameiko.” She glances at Durgan, ”You are correct, this is not always accurate, but it is a good indicator in most cases.”
”…maybe Shalelu should lead the wagons a distance from Brinewall, see if that improves things for Ameiko." He looks towards Kisaiya and Mukluk. "We could solve the mystery, hopefully lift the curse and then catch up."
Sandru frowns a little at Rory’s suggestion that Shalelu lead his caravan, but he’s not going to make an issue of it now certainly. There’s a larger issue at stake. He speaks up, ”This is dangerous country. With you lot in Brinewall, we might have some trouble if we come upon something on the road out here. I suggest we keep camp here - but without you and with Ameiko ill and in need of watching, the rest of us will need to be on our toes.” He suggests you go, and return quickly if you can.
”As it may be a curse, but unlikely a disease, should I try the scroll of remove curse?” Koya asks, willing to try it - just in case it helps.
"The scroll is yours, Koya, and so it is yours to decide what to do with.
If it were mine, I would hold onto it for now and try it tomorrow if Ameiko's condition worsens. I don't know of any way to detect a curse, unfortunately. Possibly a spell to detect magic or to detect evil might work?"
Durgan looks down the trail. He draws his axe.
"I am ready to go."
Mukluk won't opine on the use of the scroll, leaving that for more experienced healers to determine. He wasn't in charge of this caravan (he was barely in charge of Moose), and wouldn't overstep his place by offering opinions (lest he get murdert).
Mukluk will, however, take Moose for a good frolicking in a nice ivy patch before girding himself for the Briny Castle.
Eventually, he will be as ready as he can be.
"I am ready to go."
The party holds off on the remove curse for now, though Koya agrees to try it tomorrow if Ameiko worsens - or maybe even if she doesn’t improve. If you’re gone that long, Koya will also try Detect Poison, Diagnose Disease, and Detect Evil tomorrow.
You begin walking on the trail to Brinewall, but as mentioned the particularly dense forest quickly swallows what was once a road - now long disused. Eventually it grows so thick you shunt to the riverbank and follow it in the direction of the village. It takes just over two hours to walk here from camp.
I’ve noted where the party is on the map using Mukluk’s steady mule as a moniker. You’re in the NE corner currently following along the river. Ahead and slightly around the bend appears to be a ruined lighthouse before you reach the village proper.
The large grids on the map are 40’ across.
Let me know where you plan to go. Everyone should be able to move Moose to indicate a location. Nothing immediately jumps out at you and the region is alive with birdsong and insects. It feels truly abandoned.
”Now, if I remember right, there is a tower or a lighthouse over this way. I guard tower, I think, but it should be over here. Might as well start there and see if we can get a looksee at the surrounds,” Mukluk offers and guides the party in that direction.
Mukluk is probably at the back of the party, and hoping that Moose won’t be too annoyed that Mukluk has abandoned him for a bit.
Durgan follows the others, and looks for any recent tracks.
While the area seems abandoned, it may be worth closer examination.
You approach the lighthouse - a large stone affair, now little more than an empty shell after its roof caved in many years ago. The second floor looks particularly hazardous with several large holes caused by decay over the years. So let me know if you climb the rickety stairs to get a better view of the surrounding, investigate the lighthouse further, or avoid it completely.
Durgan finds some small animal tracks, but nothing of size has been here in some time - as far as he can determine.
You are able, even without additional height, able to see into the naturally deep harbor where the waters of the Steam River flow into Bunyip Bay.
Two ruined piers extend into the only relatively shallow portion of the harbor here, and once served all of Brinewall as moorings for visiting ships. While both piers are now mostly collapsed, the westernmost one has what appears to be a relatively recent visitor: a Linnorm Kingdoms longship is tied to the pier. The longship seems relatively new, but the vessel is partially destroyed and half-sunken.
”Ayep, an abandoned lighthouse, as Moose would have told you if you had asked,” Mukluk narrates and declines to climb any higher. ”Doesn’t seem to be much to see here? Shall we scoot around this way?”
"Hold up a minute, Mukluk. This might be worth further exploration, if we can find a safe way to do so."
Durgan will attempt to determine the danger associated with climbing the lighthouse. If it is just a wooden staircase collapsing, that he can probably endure, but the stone lighthouse collapsing on him would be much worse.
If he can identify a safe way to climb, he will.
The real danger is collapse of the wooden portions. The stonework seems solid enough. So you would likely take falling damage, and some debris damage if you climb above the first floor.
Mukluk continues to wait for Durgan and then will move to the anointed spot when everyone is ready.
Kisaiya points towards the longship. ”That’s what has my attention. There may be others living here, or perhaps using it as a waypoint. If they are about and friendly, we may learn more than we would just from a quick look about.”
"Mukluk, I have seen that you command some magic. Do you have magic to protect someone from a fall?"
Assuming that Mukluk does not know such a spell, Durgan will follow him to the identified location.
Looking west, south of the docks, you see a number of ruined buildings. You find a smithy and several homes - but there’s one building that stands out a bit. It’s a glassworks in the same design as the Kaijitsu glassworks in Sandpoint - now owned by Ameiko and built by her father.
To the southeast is an almost completely collapsed temple to Desna. South of the road is a rickety wooden fence surrounding the clearing beyond. The gates are made of iron and flanked on either side by statues of a beautiful woman with butterfly wings - Desna for sure!
The gates are firmly shut.
"Mukluk, I have seen that you command some magic. Do you have magic to protect someone from a fall?"
"Oh, that's all Moose's doing. I just do what he done show me. He's not big on falling, except to sleep, and so he ain't seen fit to share that kind of stuff with me. I'll keep it of mind to ask him, but I'm not so sure what he'll say to that," Mukluk replies, trying to imagine how that conversation might go with Moose.
Mukluk points to the buildings.
"If I done recall correctly, that there is the church to Desna, and over yonder is the Glassworks, and maybe there is a smithy about too. We should head over and give it a look through, especially the glassworks, and see if there is anything of interest," Mukluk says.
You carefully climb among the debris to more closely examine the glassworks. There is little left, and the building is smaller than the one in Sandpoint. It looks like it was once nice enough, and is one of the more sturdy buildings in the area having been built of stone and brick. It wouldn’t have done much exporting you imagine given the size. Still, they probably provided all the glass for the castle - no small feat!
Still, you find nothing further of interest in the structure.
Where to next?
”Well, uh, that was a ‘pane’, wasn’t it? Time to move along…to the Church of the Butterfly. That’s right over there, Mukluk guides the party that way, wanting to be somewhat thorough.
”We don’t need to do all this today, but I can’t imagine Ameiko wanting to suffer much longer, but it will be worse if we miss something.”
The church of Desna is as ruined as the other buildings. It was a wooden building, and didn’t stand the test of time well. For reference, the gates to the cemetery are iron. The wood supports are somewhat rotten.
That said, there is some evidence that someone attempted some rehabilitation of the space in the last few years. Whoever did the work though, gave it up pretty quickly and did not return as the dust and debris are thick.
”That people have tried to rehabilitate this place but gave up suggests to me that whatever dangers were here that brought this place to ruin have lingered and continue to chase away speculators. A settlement at such a valuable location wouldn’t be left alone if it was not too dangerous to take up.” She looks about. ”We must remain wary.”
Or, being whimsical flightly Desnans, they lacked the diligence to continue their efforts. Durgan keeps this thought to himself and even reprimands himself a bit for thinking it. The Song of the Spheres is so far from Abadar that Durgan finds it hard to understand the ways of Desna's followers, but Koya has been responsible and thoughtful at least.
"When we have solved the mystery of haunted Brinewall, I will be happy to assist Koya in restoring this site."
Mukluk suggests, then guides, the party over to explore the old linnorm vessel.