Dreams Made Real

As Y'lora struggled to get back out of the water, Alexis noted that the beast that had rammed the boat was a shark. As she was about to get into the boat, she slipped and fell back into the water. The shark came back about and bit Y'lora's leg. Arimas was able to apportate Y'lora out of the water and began moving her back to shore. Meanwhile, after another ramming of the boat (which then began to leak, much to the dismay of Alexis and Thain), Thain was able to cut the shark as it passed by the boat. Wounded, it began to run. However, it's attempts to flee were dashed as Bruno crushed its head with good-sized stone missile. As its lifeless body began to sink, its tail began to change shape and a pair of humanoid legs could be seen just before it sank out of sight.

Pulling the boat inside the tower through the gaping hole in the wall of the tower (courtesy Bruno), the party sat down to rest while Alexis healed Y'lora's wounds. Bruno, Arimas, and Siglan went back up to the top floor of the tower to see if the ring that Bruno pulled from the hand of the wraith on the Isle of Souls would activate the transportation gates. After an hour of pulling, pushing, twisting, and prodding the ring, along with adorning it on various extremities, Bruno gave up.

With the party now rested, Arimas apportated the party to the shore, with Y’lora pulling the boat via rope. The party then talked with Yngvi, the Ascomanni villager from whom she had borrowed the boat. After relating the story of killing the shark in the tower, an apprehensive Yngvi let the party off the hook by only charging them 100 copper for the damages to his boat.

Flashing forward in time a bit, the Sea Tiger, with Vyn aboard, made port in Nestbaggann. Vyn stayed on the boat in order to avoid any imperial entanglements. Captain N’Questra sent several of him men ashore in order to find some way to offload the slaves and captured Master’s minions. While the ship was in port, Verinda, Frederick, and Thargus took the opportunity to see some of the city. They made their way to an inn where Verinda and Frederick took a much-awaited bath. Thargus tried to woo one of the bar wenches. Apparently, it worked, as they left the inn together. Thargus has not been seen since.

Back on the ship, several of the city guard boarded the Sea Tiger and spoke with Captain N’Questra at length. After the conversation was over, N’Questra took Vyn aside and explained to him that the guards were looking for a man by the name of Bannin Stredak who is wanted for murder. They were told that he had been seen aboard a ship in the Sea of the Bereaved and might be making port in Nestbaggann. N’Questra assured the guards that he was not harboring any fugitives and made it worth their while to take him at his word. He then told Vyn that he recalled back on the Isle of Souls that Vyn claimed his name was actually Bannin. In the end, N’Questra informed Vyn that he is effectively abetting a fugitive, and then asked Vyn what it would be worth to him for the good captain to keep Vyn’s presence on his ship a secret. They settled for one iron-bound chest full of copper (the one that the party looted from The Master’s tower). The Sea Tiger, now restocked and unburdened of its many passengers, weighed anchor and is now heading out to sea, making for the Bay of Arnur Culri.

Back in the coastal village on Anur Culri, Johan asked if any trading ships visit this village regularly. Yngvi said that they didn’t, given that they do not have a large enough population in the village (not to mention not having a dock big enough for a sea-faring ship) to warrant regular arrivals of large ships. There is, however, a larger town, Kroel, 30 miles to the west that does receive larger ships. The party rested for the evening, with Siglan spending time at the local temple to Gix, learning of the Ascomanni’s deity what he could, and in turn teaching the locals what he could of his Order.

After a night’s rest, Y’lora, Johan, and Arimas got up to travel to the larger town in order to tell the harbor master that if the Sea Tiger were to make port, tell the captain that the party is in a small village to the east. As they were making ready to leave, Yngvi approached Y’lora, handed her a white rose (which pricked her finger), and told her that he overheard her speaking of her search for the final resting place of her parents on the mainland. He gave her his condolences. Just as the three adventurers were about to leave the village, several of the fishermen arrived back from their early morning catch. Arimas was unfortunate enough to be in the way of one of the men as he tripped, spilling a basket of fish on top of him and soiling his armor. At the end of the day’s march, Y’lora, Johan, and Bruno arrived in Kroel and booked rooms at an inn. In the morning, they found themselves back in the fishing village. To make a long story short, the previous day’s events were only remembered by Y’lora and Arimas. To Johan, they had not yet left for Kroel. This appeared to be yet another dream. This time, however, Arimas and Y’lora shared the same dream. And, when they awoke, Y’lora was holding a white rose and her finger was bleeding. Arimas awoke to find fish slime on his armor. After relating to the rest of the party what they remember of the previous day (which did not appear to have actually occurred), Alexis recounted that white roses only grow in a small region in the Ramfandir Holdings, southeast of Espydur, in the hills around the town of Cloie. This is the same town that The Master’s slave ledgers indicated was the home to the merchant who had purchased Y’lora’s parents.