Having killed the 🤨Grimcutty, party is in the lower decks of the 🚢Ekl'alian. Faefina identifies the Grimcutty as a Fear Demon. Disappeared three centuries ago, now back.
🧔♂️Harald decides to let the captain, Hain know. Captain, Kineeta, and other passengers are on deck, doing a headcount. 🐰Faefina tells captain about Grimcutty. Captain gives rules for ship:
On mention of dark magic, Faefina enquires about it. Captain states that it's not directed at anyone in particular, punishment is to be thrown off ship.
Captain says that in light of the Grimcutty incident, passengers should use buddy system, and stay close to crew. Faefina decides to stay close to Leelan 1.
Captain says ship will be in flight in two hours, and requests to speak to party. Captain says that he hasn't gotten payment for the party. Faefina claims that killing Grimcutty pays for passage, captain says it'll take 10 gold off price. Kineeta says she'll pay for it, but is displeased.
Captain asks about relationship with Kineeta, party says she's their patron.
Neka is putting on weird contraption while looking at a map. Gronk asks about issue with Kineeta. Captain says:
"The past is past, yet the present always finds me. I trust she will hurt no one, and Neka won't harm her."
Faefina uses her magic 8 ball to decide whether she can talk herself out of trouble if they get caught when snooping below decks. 8 Ball says yet.
Harald decides to catch up on rest.
Gronk ambles after Faefina and Bori. Sees them sneaking down to lower deck, is stopped by one of the other passengers - a handsome human man, introduces himself as Yola. Asks what brings him aboard. Gronk says party is going to new world to kill more people. Yola says he's going to find a new path in life. Talks of his past. Offers Gronk a drink - Gronk doesn't identify anything wrong with it, and drinks it. Hugs Gronk.
Bori and Faefina are on crew level. Notice three biggest rooms doors, one with night sky motifs, other has two small spears on the front, other has small harp.
Sneaking to level 4, where they fought the 🤨Grimcutty, they investigate. In the gloom, they see small and large crates. Faefina casts Detect Magic, sees that every crate she can see, including 😎Bori, radiates magic. Bori tries to open a crate, fails. Faefina manages to do it. Finds a large golden marble, the size of a head. Bori touches it, hears voice in his head: "Would you like to know wealth, peace, the greatest things that can be offered?" Bori puts it down.
Faefina opens another crate. Inside is a chest, radiating magic. Faefina opens the chest, unable to Dispel magic on it. Bori sees Faefina grow as she does, larger than Bori. Finds gold inside, ignores it, closes chest.
Faefina opens another crate, it has documents inside - mostly letters of rights. Uninterested in them, they sneak to the bottom level. There's less cargo here, but there is a furnace like device radiating sunlight. Both fail to identify it. Bori opens a long crate nearby, finding a polearm. Seems to be crafted of fine metal, with big runes inscribed on it. Bori picks up the polearm. Bori identifies runes saying that weapon will not degrade over time, gives strength to it's wielder, perhaps even commands the winds. Faefina tells Bori to put it back, he does.
Faefina opens a last crate, finds a spell book. Book is full of great arcane lore, spells, and also diary of author, mostly in Celestial. Faefina takes the book, sees it belongs to Joanne Taglieri. Passes it to Bori for safekeeping.
On way to upper level, they see Neka, glaring at them. Neka holds out her hand, palm up, and points her other finger onto it, asking for stuff back. Faefina convinces her that she looked but didn't take anything. Neka is convinced, tells her she is confined to quarters unless told otherwise. Faefina manages to convince her of her contrition, and Neka shrinks her back down to size.
Bori goes to tell Harald about polearm in lowest deck. Explains being caught by Neka, and Faefin'a growth and return to size.
Faefina, reading the book, reads of stories of adventures 140 years prior. She uncovers some secrets about the Arcanum, and finds Draconic dropped in when discussing the author's father. Faefina learns about how Wizards view magic. Also reads a story about the author's first time on the 🚢Ekl'alian, rushing aboard while evading dark priests, and was unable to defeat the priests. Fortunately, Priestess on board was also a follower of Mei, and was able to protect her. Father's location is not given, described as secret and safe.
Harald, attuning himself to his sword, hears a knock on the door. A person looking like a farmer greets him, introduces himself as Haro. Invites Harald to dinner with his family. Harald accepts.
Harald explains party was banished from the city. Haro's expression changes hearing this, recounts his story of cow dying. Complains about King raising taxes. Introduces Harald to family, offers honeyed tea. Talks of fostering sense of community, offers to lighten Harald's sorrow. Harald doesn't think that's likely. The door is open, Harald sees closed door across corridor, feels pulled to look into it. Bids his farewell, Haro asks him to close door behind him.
Harald knocks on other door, hears voice telling him to come in.
Sees half orc man, reading a book. Invites Harald to sit down. Says he's on his way to the new world. Enquires about Judy and beautiful elven woman. Says he'd like to speak to Kineeta. Asks about the ravens he'd mentioned to Harald previously. Tells him to tell Neka to keep using Greater Restoration on Lite. Puts a hand on Harald's head, and Harald's mind feels lighter. Warns Harald that Hain is serious about not going to lower decks. Cautions him to watch his dreams that night. Resumes reading his book, Harald returns to his bunk.
The next morning, party slept well but. Gronk and Harald hear all passengers complaining of nightmares, a Kobold female grasping her head. Yola also complains of nightmares. Neka walks in and notes passengers, claims it's similar elsewhere on the ship.
Tells Harald that Lite's condition hasn't changed. Takes Harald's advice regarding Greater Restoration on board. Advises Harald to be on the lookout for Grimcutty. Tells Harald to tell Faefina and Bori that they're allowed outside but must stay in sight of a crew member at all times.
Harald notices that Del'Sulian hasn't been seen on the ship since the captain ran through the rules.
Gronk, chatting to Yola, sees Kobold skittering along in a staccato fashion. Gronk asks if they're OK, introduces himself and Yola, and it skitters off.
Yola asks Gronk if he wants to see something. Takes him down to the 4th level. Shows him, in corner, Grimcutty hidden in shadow. Asks him to keep it a secret. Gronk says only if Grimcutty comes on deck, Yola says him and Grimcutty will follow him up shortly.
Faefina catches up to Harald, catches up on events. Hears that Grimcutty is still around. Insists on looking for Gronk.
Gronk comes up onto deck, tells party about Grimcutty. Harald decides to tell Neka about 🤨Grimcutty. Opens door, finds Neka healing Lite. Neka looks in Yola's room, unlocking it with some blood magic. Finds small altar, to unknown god. Decides Yola is not who he claims. Tells Harald to gather party, follow her downstairs.
Party meets Neka at doorway, carrying a mae, she cautions them to follow, and to be aware that Grimcutty hides in shadow. Party follows Neka down. A shadowy blast hits her in the head, and she collapses. Party is plunged into darkness. Harald pulls out flaming sword, lights torch. Faefina casts Light.
Siting on Grimcutty's lap lies Yola. Grimcutty strokes Yola's head, is saying he's been trapped for 300 years, but is safe now. Yola stands and introduces himself as a priest of Uo.
Harald checks on Neka, confirms she's still alive. Asks Faefina to heal Neka. Moves closer to Grimcutty and Yola.
Grimcutty slams twice against Harald, hitting once for 8 bludgeoning. Grimcutty grows in size.
Yola utters something in Elvish, fiendish spirits from the darkness surround him and Grimcutty. Yola's veins start to glow with fire.
Gronk tells Harald to get out of the way, uses Suggestion to tell Yola to stop using magic and hurting people. Yola's spell collapses. Gronk moves up to Yola and Grimcutty.
Bori does a running triple kick on Grimcutty. One hits, for 8 dmg.
Faefina casts Healing Word on Neka. Neka breathes in, better, but still needs rest. Faefina casts Spiritual Weapon, summoning a mace that nails Grimcutty for 21 damage.
Harald drops his torch to hold his sword with both hands, hitting twice, tripping Grimcutty and hitting for 9 slashing and 15 fire damage.
Grimcutty gets back up again, and teleports in front of Faefina. It attacks her twice but misses, then scuttles away on all fours.
As it moves away, Faefina swings at it but misses.
Yola pulls out his mace, follows Grimcuttty, and starts to heal him.
Gronk casts Shatter on Grimcutty and Yola, dealing 17 thunder dmg.
Bori hits Yola, twice, knocking him out with an elbow to the face.
Faefina casts Guiding Bolt on Grimcutty, but misses. She uses her Spiritual Weapon, hitting it for 8 dmg.
Harald attacks Grimcutty, hitting for 14 dmg.
Grimcutty hits Harald for 8 dmg, Harald retaliates but misses.
Gronk attacks Grimcutty with Chaos Bolt but misses.
Bori attacks Grimcutty, hitting once.
Faefina skips out, Harald attacks Grimcutty, cutting him open.
Grimcutty hits Bori.
Harald retaliates with a stab into Grimcutty, killing it. As the monster starts to shimmer out of existence, Harald keeps the flame blade in, burning it away. Smoke escapes out of it's mouth in shadows, and it collapses into a heap on the floor.
Bori ties up Yola to drag him upstairs, Bori carries the corpse, Harald carries Neka. Captain is pleased, offers an additional 10 gold, passage to be covered. Suggests party visit Kineeta.
Faefina dashes off to fetch grimoire, goes to visit Kineeta. Bori, Gronk, and Harald make small talk in her absence. Asks Kineeta if she's OK, Kineeta has been doing research. Tells Kineeta about free passage. Kineeta says that Judy has said to carry on. Says also that one of the other passengers is an ally of sorts. Tells Kineeta about grimoire she found. Kineeta explains that Joanne is still alive, and grimoire is being kept by crew members, also that on leaving ship, Faefina will be beset by horrible curses. Says she'd like to copy the spells, but decides not to. On hearing about Metalarc's fate, she decides to keep book for now and return on the morning.
It's night, in morning ship will reach first of island chain for new world. Neka is expected to make a full recovery. Yola is being detained downstairs - he smiles, and says to empty air, that it's a pleasure to meet another follower of Uo.
Bori dreams of better times with Faefina, when the ground suddenly opens and drags her down. He awakens, drenched in sweat.
Party gets 788XP.