Town Leader's page

@Haskyll - Blame Devora for wanting to take the whole body of Lamatar Bayden. She thought the whole body would be more appealing to the fey. Playing Devora in character from the point of view of a lover, she sees that having just your lover's head would be a more sad situation than having the whole body.

The party, I assume with their horses, heads out at first light toward Turtleback Ferry.

The way is clear. The perpetual overcast of clouds begins to break up. Sunshine starts peaking through, a sight not seen in many weeks.

The stone bridge over the skull river was damaged in sections from when the Black Magga crossed over it. Several Black Magga scales were still scattered on the bridge's crest. But the overall structure of the bridge was intact and the party was able to cross, though carefully and one at a time.

Before noon the party reaches the now drying out Turtleback Ferry. Word moves quickly through the town that the Heroes of Sandpoint have returned. A crowd quickly surrounds the party as they pass along the still muddy streets. A not quite young woman runs to the party with a basket of bread. Tallia Henkenson in tears thanks again the party for her rescue.

For those that were at this encounter, she was the school teacher saved by the party.

Mayor Shreed comes out to greet the party and offers a place to rest for the night.

Does the party make a stop at Turtleback Ferry or press on?

"Unfortunately, no. Turtleback Ferry is the home to fisherman and trappers. There are precious few stone masons around. Some of the town's founders, generations ago, were more adept at that trade and built many of the town's stone buildings." the mayor responds to Brandark's inquiry. Most of the structures in Turtleback Ferry are wooden. However, there are about a dozen stone buildings. Brandark will note that the church, now six feet deep in water, was the best of the stone structures, but far below Dwarven craftsmanship. The other stone buildings are of a more crude construction.

After an initial round of cheers from the villagers watching in awe as the massive Black Magga leaves the vicinity.

"Indeed. I too have doubted whether such a thing existed. I would not have believe it had I not just now seen it. The legends are true. And now what was a menace to the Stovall Deep, it is now in Claybottom Lake. Claybottom Lake is less than one tenth the size or depth of the Stovall Deep," the Mayor shivers with the thought.

The waters appear to begin receding somewhat, but the general flow coming down the Skull river is still much higher than normal. "This means that this Black Magga must have come over the Skull's Crossing dam. And that in turns means that the spillway is not working. The spillway is used to control the orderly release of water when the dam is about to be breached. Someone needs to go quick and check this out. Could you please go and reopen the spillway? Mayor Shreed makes a plea to the party.

For now, Turtleback Ferry is safe.

But the mayor approaches the party with great concern, "The dam at Skull Crossing must have been breached. Someone need to go there quickly, and seal the breach, or the town will be lost."

The air is cold this morning. You will know that it will get colder as the tracks lead up toward the towering heights of the Mindspin Mountains.

The party readies themselves and heads out. Most of the village is awake and sends the party off with well wishes. Abria's grandmother gives the party a basket with corn sticks. Another man offers the party a sack of dried venison.

Alderwoman Kraum, with again Oscar at her side says, "We can't thank you enough. But go and be victorious." She gives each party member a pouch of dried sliced apples.

The mule was well tended. There is not an inn at Shinnerman's Fortune. However, there is a cottage offered to the party. They had buried its lone occupant earlier in the day. Alderwoman Straya Kraum, still holding on to Oscar will says, "It was the home of a retired prospector. We called him Old Tubby. He had no family. At least, it is a dry and warm place. You are welcome to it." It is a simple two room cottage. One a bedroom well kept. It contained two beds, one neatly made, the other not. The other is a common room. It has a fireplace with kitchen utensils around it, a small table with two chairs, and a couch, large enough to sleep a Dwarf. The floors around the couch are covered in soft brown bear rugs. Though small it is quite cozy.

Behind the cottage is an outhouse. In front, a well pump. There is a small outbuilding to the right. It contained a large tub and a pot bellied stove. There were several towels hanging on Hooks. It is a bathhouse.

Haskyll will find the table and various tools and utensils accommodating to his task.

Haskyll and Ulfgard makes sure all the Ogres are dead.

Kaos will note tracks heading away to the south. They appear to go in the direction of a pass in the distant mountain ridge.

After the party leaves the scene of the battle.

The party returns to Shinnerman's Fortune without further incidents.

All the remnants of the village comes out to greet the party. Tears flow freely when they see the rescued survivors.

After some hugs and tears, Alderwoman Straya Kraum, her normal stern exterior softer now, speaks to the party, "Thank you for rescuing our friends and loved ones. We will mourn the others lost. But please, it is night, rest. We owe you all our gratitude."

Almost all the villagers stop to listen at the Alderwoman's comments. Afterwards, they all begin to applaud and cheer the party's heroics.

Oscar, the older clean shaven captive, walks up to Alderwoman Kraum and plants on her lips a kiss. The Alderwoman quickly flinches and begins to resist. But then and just as quickly, she relaxes and embraces the older man.

The volume in the villagers cheers goes up a notch.

"Thank you. We can watch your mule for you," the Alderwoman says with a bit of a sigh of relief.

"You are, of course, welcome to stay the night. I am sure you will wake up refreshed while our kin and friends are eaten by the giants. They may not make it through the night," Straya Kraum says with no small amount of irony.

Back at Turtleback Ferry, the Mayor responds to Elektra, "Lucretia is a red haired waif. She is not very imposing. Short and thin, elegantly dressed with a haughty manner." The Mayor pauses, "I will not miss her."

"Lady Lucretia. She was the owner of the Paradise. She was a comely red haired lass. She even tried to get me to visit her gambling barge. But, any extra coin is badly needed to tend to the poor." He sighs as he considers that continous struggle. "Everyone thought Lucretia died when the barge sank. But now, after reading this letter, I am not as certain." He hesitates, "Get to Fort Rannick as quickly as possible." He hands the letter back to Flynn.

The Mayor looks at the letter. Sweat begins to poor down the Mayor's face, "I wonder. It can't be. She must have died when the Paradise sank."

"Lamia? I have read about them. Honestly, I thought they to be legendary. And legend has it, that they rejoice in the destruction of anything good. Vile creatures part beast, part woman." He pauses, then looks Flynn directly in the eyes, "You mentioned a letter. Do you still have it?"

The Mayor looks at Flynn with a quizzical expression, "I don't know a Xanesha. Did you say she had a sister in these parts?"

And then the Mayor responds to Brandark. "The rains have started earlier this year than what is typical, now that you mentioned it. We do see a lot of rain in these parts, but this has been more than normal. We have seen worse; but I will give you, we are beginning to get there," he thinks about it for a moment. "You have given me much to pray about."

"Please do, and with all speed," the Mayor says prioritizing his now multiple concerns.

"There are members of a cult here in Turtleback Ferry?" Mayor Shreed starts to become concerned. "Do you think it has something to do with the absence of the Black Arrows?"

Mayor Shreed looks at Flynn, "You are saying that you have noticed people, here in Turtleback Ferry, with this tattoo? And, you are saying that this tattoo is dangerous?" The Cleric hesitates only briefly, "Who have you seen with this tattoo?"

The party has a letter with Lord Mayor Grobaras' seal that they can show the Mayor of Turtleback Ferry. When he sees the letter, Mayor Shreed opens up to the party's questioning.

When Stone mentions the tattoo, "Tattoo? Forgive me, but I do not know what you are talking about."

Mayor Shreed sighs when Garrath mentions the gambling barge, "The Paradise." He takes a deep breath, "That barge of sin likely sunk from the weight of its passenger's transgressions. But, I really don't know much about it. We did try to send some people down to investigate. But, it sank in some deep water; and then there is Pinkeye." When the party looks at him confused, he explains, "Pinkeye is what we call a Giant Gar that swims around in Claybottom Lake. It has been know to tear people in half in a single pass. The divers were quickly spooked by the dangers in the deep waters below the surface of the lake. They ended up calling off the investigation. So at present, we don't actually know what caused the sinking of the Paradise. A fisherman said he saw the lights on the barge being extinguished one by one as he saw it sink from several miles away. He couldn't tell from his distance what caused the barge to sink."

The robed man looks the party over in amazement, "Yes, I am the mayor, Maelin Shreed at your service." Excitedly he says, "Yes. I sent for help to Lord Mayor Grobaras. And, no. It is only the absence of the Black Arrows that concerns me. I am unaware of any other happenings." Still looking the party over, "Are you Magnamarian Guards?"