Flostam in the Wake Gildember 13th-14th

Marion becomes overwhelmed with emotion and offers for Ryai to stay and talk longer with her. He does, and she asks him plenty of questions, with Ryai avoiding talking about the incident that caused him to leave home. She asks why he made the change in identity. He says that at first, he felt it was out of necessity, but he likes being who he is and feels he can be himself like this.

Marion mentions worrying about Ryai and his safety since he is doing far more dangerous things than Magdalene. He tells her that their parallels are not lost on him and is part of the reason why he gave her the sketch. He said that if something happened to him out here, he'd want someone to do the same for his family. And that he didn't leave because of them and partly wishes they were here. Marion asks if he's reached out to them since, and he mentions he attempted back in Solace but doesn't know if the letter made it. She offers to help get another one to them, which he takes up, sending the dragon scales with it. He spends some more time there before returning to the manor and spending time in the library.

After the event with the Admiral, Ace, and Cyrus returned to the manor to explain their side of the story to Alaban. When they arrive, Admiral Kingsail is already leaving. He reaffirms that he will keep a close eye on their ship no matter what they do. Ace mentions he isn't the only one from Solomnia he's had to deal with. This piques the Admiral's interest, but he doesn't recognize Ace.

The two then talk to Alaban, and he explains how the conversation went down with the Admiral. Kingsail threatens Alaban, saying that if he allows the group to continue, Alaban will be considered harboring pirates. Alaban tells him he doesn't care when the party has saved their city numerous times. The Admiral then spouts about Alaban's honor, which he doesn't care about. But he laments that he has lost his chance to be a knight.

Ace tells him it isn't all it's cracked up to be, to begin with, and that there are better ways to prove his honor. To which Alaban replies that he will, with all the calls to aid he's received from local towns. He looks to raise the militia and start to ride out, his first stop being Long Ridge. Cyrus asks if that means he intends to leave Crossing to him. Alaban asks Ace if Cyrus proved himself worthy tonight, and after some teasing, Ace agrees. Ace returned to his room for the night, and Callum curled up with him.

Konguq decides to stay on the ship to investigate what else is left. She found a secret compartment with a Silver Jewelry box with strange engravings. She also found a very old and spoiled bottle of wine.

Vodren went to inspect the circle of devotion on the lower deck. Despite Ace's efforts, it still affects the ship. Vodren attempts to cleanse it but fails as he gains a vision of sea foam overcoming him. Figuring there was nothing further he could do, he joined Vorlo at the dock tavern for a celebration.

Bron stays on the ship and begins to totter around with some daggers. Before the party can truly rest, one of the constables runs to the Jackdaw, waking Konguq up. The poor man has his arm hanging out of his socket and tells her that the dead pirates began to attack them. When Konguq arrives, she finds a massacre of bodies, including a badly injured Constable Bage. She tells a shell-shocked Constable to get the others from the manor.

The other three arrive, with Ace's leg really bothering him. They investigate the site and find Lacedon tracks and evidence of necromancy on the bodies. The biggest thing, however, was that Oleander Bloodblade's body was missing. With all evidence pointing to Rumblegut, Ryai deduces that he is long gone, probably having teleported to Wayreth Tower. Having deduced that Rumblegut stole him to make another Lacedon, Ryai burns the rest of the bodies with moonbeam. The party returns to their original sleeping places for the night.

Vodren has a dream that night. A shapeless figure kneels before him. As he tries to discover who it is, he finds it's not just one person. The figure changes from Seeker Rowanna to Ace, to a Dwarf he's never met, and others as he realizes these are people who have the capacity to become clerics themselves. When he awakens, he has knowledge of a new ritual that can bestow a Holy Symbol on those he finds worthy.

Ryai, once he finishes his trance, finally takes the time to go through Vanthanoris' things

What he found

• +1 Rapier
• Whetstone
• Jade and Quartz Tea Set
• 6 Qualinesti outfits
• 3 Fine outfits
• Qualinesti (waterproof) paper with ink
• A full deck of Shemesh Cards (which function like Tarot cards. Allowing him to roll twice with his vision and pick a number)
• A lap harp

In addition, left behind was his Red Elk Mount with 20 supply named Corrinth.

Vodren heads off that morning to see Galera and talk about his dream. While Ryai and Ace go to the ship. Ryai tries to have both Ace and him ride on Corrinth there, but Corrinth protests the weight. Ryai jumps off to allow his friend to stay on. Corrinth asks where his master is and if he is unwell. Ryai agrees that he is indisposed at this time.

Konguq wakes up to Morris entering the cabin. While he's not in perfect condition, he is doing better. She then takes her time to show him around the ship until the boys arrive. Konguq goes to fetch the jewelry box she found while Ace has Ryai look at the chests they found. Upon opening them, Ryai recognizes the leather as a torn open Handy Haver Sack. Ace immediately keeps a small one for himself. When presented with the jewelry box, Ryai realizes he hasn't seen anything like it. He hangs onto it. They agree to visit Garham to see if he's seen anything like it.

Brutus comes aboard to meet the crew of the new Jackdaw and check things out. Ryai shows him the spoils of Vanthanoris' things. Brutus notices the tea set and tips off that Garham would be highly interested in it.

They discuss the issue with the hole created in the boat, and a friend of Morris named Scully offers to fix it. He says a patch job will take a few days, and a perfect job will be longer. With winter approaching, they decide to wait on a quote before deciding what to do.

As Ace, Ryai, and Konguq split off to go to Garham, Bron, Vorlo, and Morris try to recruit sailors.

Vodren goes to see Galera, and she greets him with a kiss. The two talk about the night before and Vodren's dream, almost incredulous that Ace would appear in it. Galera also had the same dream and mentions Cyrus was in hers. Vodren also tells her about how Zebiom appeared before Ryai on the beach. Galera seemed less than pleased with that fact, seeing that she hadn't even appeared to her. She mentions wanting to talk to Ryai later about it.

Galera gives Vodren the choice to stay longer with her, but he declines for the moment, wanting to check on how things are progressing with the party. He promises to come back later.

Vodren then manages to catch up with Konguq, Ryai, and Ace, heading to Garham's.

Garham welcomes the group, and Ryai offers the tea set for sale. Garham nearly salivates at the set. Konguq and Ryai step outside to discuss its worth, and Ryai comes back with an offer of 300 steel pieces, and Garham snatches it up instantly. He is quite ecstatic to have it and invites Konguq and Ryai to a tea party before they set off.

Ryai then presents the jewelry box to see if Garham recognizes it. He looks at the jewelry box, heads to his store room, and returns with a piece of pottery that matches the designs on the box. He tells them that the Minotaurs found it northeast and that things like that have been known to wash up on the beaches there. Ryai recalls the theory of continents beyond Ansalon and becomes ecstatic at the possibilities. Garham gives him the pottery shard upon seeing his excitement.

The group returns to the ship and is met by one of Cyrus's friends, Sheryl. She tells them that the plate armor that was promised to them is filled with gnomish mechanics, and they can't separate it. Ryai, knowing a little about engineering, offers to take a look, and Ace follows. Konguq returns to the ship to get the estimate, and Vodren assists the recruiter group.

When Konguq arrives, she is given two choices: 50 steel pieces and the ship will be seaworthy in a week- but not perfect. Three hundred steel pieces in a month, and it will be perfect. Again, with winter on their heels, Konguq decides to wait for the rest of the group.

Vodren goes to catch up with the recruiter group. He finds them with a group of young fisherfolk arguing with their parents about leaving home, which leads to Vorlo stooping to insults. Vodren steps in to try and smooth things over, but the older fisherfolk shoot back, saying that keeping Vorlo around reflects badly on Vodren. Vodren unknowingly agrees with them. Wounding Vorlo deeply, he stomps off back to the ship.

Vodren informs Bron of the hang-up on his armor and tells him that Ryai went to try. He rolls his eyes and heads off himself to collect the armor.

Vodren goes to do the funeral rites for the constables. Casting Ceremony, he gives them all a lovely send-off that the people adore. Constable Bage thanks him for his service. He intended to see Galera but remembered the group needed to decide on the ship and needed to make amends with Vorlo about what he said. Bage reminds him that Vodren will always consider the needs of the many over those of the few. But he still feels regret for his actions. He sends a message to Galera that he won't be able to make it that night with a bouquet of flowers.

Ryai and Ace check out the animated armor, and Ryai cannot make heads or tails of the gnomish design. Some of it he isn't sure actually does anything. When Bron arrives, he takes the armor for himself to work on. From there, Ryai offers to look for Vajra or check out the Standing Stones with Ace. Ace is convinced Vajra skipped town. While he doesn't want to go to the stones, he doesn't want Ryai to check on the stones alone. Ryai bites back and says that Ace should just come with him if he is so worried. He convinces Ryai to at least go and check on the ship before going out to do anything else.

When they arrive, they find Vorlo sitting on the ship's edge, drinking the vinegar wine. Ryai tries to make it taste a little better while figuring out what happened. Vorlo, however, doesn't want to talk about it. Konguq mentions their dilemma but still wants to wait until everyone is with them. Ryai and Vorlo head out to Rumblegut's place instead.

On the beach, Ryai does manage to convince Vorlo to tell him about the slight Vodren did to him. To which Ryai is pretty shocked. Knowing that Vodren grew up around goblin kind, he figured he would be the last person to say that, promising to have words with him later.

Vorlo then catches the scent of something in the sand and begins digging. Ryai notes the animalistic way Vorlo pushes through the sand, using mage hand to help. He pulls a rotting fisherman's head and tosses it into the sea. Ryai reasons that the smarter Lacedon might have buried it but is more concerned with Vorlo's boarish behavior. When Ryai mentions it to Vorlo, he panics, not wanting to be tied up and beaten again. Ryai agrees to keep it private, promising to look into it.

They get to the Stones, and to Ryai's dismay, they have been destroyed. He checks Rumblegut's cave and finds a piece of burnt firewood with the language of magic engraved on it. Ryai looks at it and finds that Zeboim made him do it. Vorlo, in his investigation, finds another shard of the lighting glass.

The two return to the ship, with Morris and Ace making dinner for everyone. Once they board, 7 fisherfolk ask to come aboard, looking to join the crew. The party is quite ecstatic to have them on board. Galera also joins the group for dinner with the flower in her hair. She tells Vodren that she can just come to him now that he has a place.

Ryai and Vorlo update them on what they found at Rumblegut's, and the party realizes that Vorlo and Ryai might have found out more but aren't saying.

They discuss what Zeboim could want with Rumblegut and realize that her plan is to convert Bloodblade into a Death Knight. With their knowledge, Death Knights are either created as a punishment or a boon, and there is no currently known way to kill them. This talk scares off three of the seven recruits. The other four promised to find more.

The party spends their first dinner on the ship, mingling with their crew and deciding on their next move.