Date At Start Of Game: 12/23/206

[Author’s Note: This is the log for the 21st session. Note that the order of the events in this record may not be in the exact order that they occurred during play.]

Lucky Lady

Even though Gray Pine’s branch is pointing to the Tokaji Provence the PC decide that the best course of action is to find the Keepers Of The Light so that Po and Cillian can be cured. They also realize that they have a lot of information that the Keepers would desire. To that end the PC look for a ship to take them to the area. They are led to a bar called the Sea Bounty and a man named Captain Tegamo. After chatting with the Captain they discover that he has a small ship that he is willing to take on the journey. They hire him for a modest fee, a lucky charm from Po, and a couple of “thrown” hands of cards that Oren and Cillian “arrange”.

Captain Tegamo’s ship is named the Lucky Lady. It is a low keeled ship with an overly large sail. When the PC board they are met by the crew of the Lucky Lady. Captain Tegamo’s crew consists of three Tree Frog Kin. The leader of the trio, who is the only one who speaks Ape Kin, is named Pomi. At this point the PC are told that, like the crew, they will be asked to sleep on the deck for the journey. After leaving port the PC find that Captain Tegamo and his crew are not only a great team but close friends. Weather is good until the night before they reach their destination. That night the weather is rough which leaves many of the PC seasick.

The Keepers Of The Light

Once the boat is docked the PC investigate how their weapons will work underwaters. Most of the PC resort to asking Pomi for the loan of some harpoons that they can use them while in the water. As Cillian’s power that allows others to breathe water only lasts for an hour they decide to let Cillian find the complex before they all jump in. Under a coral canopy Cillian finds a passage leading into the rock. Guarding the tunnel is a strange shark creature that looks like it is part porcupine and part shark. With that Cillian returns to the group and uses his power on the PC. When Cillian uses this power, which the PC did not know he could do, his skin turns a light blue color as it fires off. After using his power on the party the PC venture towards the coral canopy. Oren decides to get the sharks attention once Cillian sneaks up. As the shark emerges from the cave and circles closer Cillian moves into the tunnel. At this point the PC outside of the cave take down the creature while Cillian explores. Inside Cillian finds a large room with a whirlpool in the center. After making hooks for himself from the magical clay the young theif decides if he wants to try and climb past it. Meanwhile outside Oren and Bilby make quick work of the shark. Po heals the shark to stop it from bleeding to death as the PC don’t really want the Keepers as enemies.

At this point the PC meet up at the whirlpool room. When they see guards on the other side of the room Cillian lights up a flame on his hand and attracts them. After a few moments a contingent of guards start swimming over. The PC lower their weapons and try to talk the men. The leader of the guards is a massive Killer Whale Kin armed with a pike. The rest of the guards are either Shark Kin or Dolphin Kin armed with spears or tridents. At this point the PC notice that the guards are paying a lot of attention to Po. Bilby overhears the Killer Whale Kin telling his men to watch Malotoch and to kill him if he even twitches. Apparently the guards believe that Po is Malotoch!

The guards bring the PC deeper into the cave complex. Leading into the main chamber is a set of magical bronze doors depicting the four elements around a sun. The main chamber of the Keepers Of The Light is a spectacle to behold. It is decorated with intricate mosaics that appear to light the room and keep everything dry. The residents appear to be scholars, guards, and residents. The Killer Whale Kin leads the PC to a Lobster Kin who introduces himself as Hu-Lin. Hu-Lin holds a wooden staff with one end that is covered in barnacles and small sea-life. Hu-Lin takes the Whale Kin, who he calls Captain Baleen, and the rest of the PC to a back chamber where they can talk.

The PC hold a long conversation with Hu-Lin and Captain Baleen where they discuss many topics. At first the conversations are guarded but eventually they relax. The PC explain how they came to be infected and the path that led them to killing Malotoch. They also tell the PC of Anselem and his escape with the secret of Nombrian magic. Hu-Lin promises to use his resources to help find him. The PC also reveal that they are avatars of the Great Tree which impresses the Keepers. At this point Captain Baleen reveals that he is an avatar of something called the Vast Ocean. The Vast Ocean avatars are spread across the world and work independently.

Convinced of their good intentions Hu-Lin reveals that the Keepers do not have a cure for the sickness as it inflicts the users soul but that they have rings that will suppress the effects for the user and that they have information on a possible cure. Years ago they found reference to a magical rod known as Donovan’s Mate that could apparently cure any illness. Until recently it was thought lost but they have managed to track it down. They believe that it is currently in the possession of a dragon known as Cragspine. Cragspine lives in the mountain peaks over the city of Tokaji. At this point Hu-Lin shows the PC a picture in a book. The picture shows a glowing rod held high by a shadowy figure. The rod is roughly a meter long and is covered in black and white puzzle like shapes. Holding the rod up with one hand is a Fox Kin wearing a black and white jester’s costume.

Cillian approaches Hu-Lin about his necklace. He tells him that it can stave off Nombrian magic. This intrigues Hu-Lin who now mentions that he will venture to contact the Great Tree about the situation. When the PC tell Hu-Lin that there is not really a Great Tree he tells them that Gray Pine is the current Great Tree. Hu-Lin also mentions to Cillian that he should get his “condition” examined. This is the first time the PC heard Cillian’s magical aura referred to in this fashion.

Po shows Hu-Lin the link of chain golem that he has been keeping. The Lobster Kin seems intrigued and asks Po if he may cast a spell on it. Po says that it fine and Hu-Lin proceeds to cast a fairly short spell. After a few moments he says that the creature is driven to return to some room that he has to guard. The PC realize that it must have been the last order that the creature was given by his master.

The Lobster Kin leader of the Keepers Of The Light asks the PC how they found out about the place. They tell him that the stick from Gray Pine led them to the complex. At first he dismisses them but later he confronts the PC about it. He claims that he has knowledge that they were told of the Keepers by a Dolphin Kin named Bishop. According to Hu-Lin he has some non-precise magical way to “monitor” Bishop. At this point the PC tell Hu-Lin that Bishop is a Great Tree avatar like themselves and that they just meant to protect him. This is a revelation to Hu-Lin and in some ways a comfort to him. Hu-Lin off-handedly mentions that he thought about wiping Bishops mind when he left the complex but now he is glad that this did not occur. Captain Baleen then tells the PC that Bishop is a friend of his and asks them about his health.

After staying for a night in the complex the PC bid the Keepers Of The Light ado and start to swim back to the Lucky Lady…

Date At End Of Game: 12/26/206