• Captain Morgas is a gruff sailor. Closer to surly than gruff. Probably because his domain has been invaded by a group of armed adventurers. From the deck we could see 5 loaded ballistas. 2 on each side and a bow chaser. Not enough ballistas or mortars for a warship. (smuggler keeping other smugglers at bay?) Therastra and Stickpin used the tickets we had and Rumia, Nameless and I spent 200 gp for our cabins. We have a 100 hour trip with three stops, Staringard, Flamedeep and finally Korth.
• Once settled, we headed to the lounge for drinks and snacks. While we chatted up the other passengers, Stickpin went off to do his sneaking an peeking. Nameless continued to act erratically. He headed down to the lower deck and encountered Stickpin and greeted him! Stickpin casually denied knowing the Warforged and told us what happened. We may have to frag Nameless. Not fan of destroying Warforged but he continues to thwart our plans at every turn.(is he working with the Lord of Blades?)
• Theirastra went on deck as soon as she was settled. She looked thrilled to be on a ship I’m sure she will charm her fellow tars and gather some info. Rumia chatted up our fellow passengers and I settled into my cabin to study making potions of climbing. Stickpin told me about his recon. The lowest deck contained a locked door guarded by a merc. I devised a plan. I would smash a smoke stick at the bow of the lowest deck, the guard and crew would rush to check out the smoke and Stickpin would get into the locked room. Unfortunately the merc guard didn’t move when I tried the ruse. I headed to the deck and cleared my throat with some good rum. (might as well drink what sailors drink. Not going to water it down to make grog though.) I noticed that an air elemental ship has been shadowing us for the better part of the day. We’re in a busy shipping lane, but we’ve been passing ships and vice versa all day. I know a tail when I see one. Nothing I can do now. Nap time.
• I was in my cabin when a yell of “PIRATES!” woke me from my nap. I rushed on deck to see our tail floating above the Destiny. Pirates were rappelling onto the deck. I hope my aim is true.

• After Krell and Meena calmed down they handed us a packet. Inside were 8 passports and tickets for a Lyander sky ship. The ship, Cloud’s Destiny, was docked at bay 94. It was leaving in a hour. We stopped by the tavern and grabbed our gear.
• Cloud’s Destiny was impressive. An air elemental kept the thing ‘afloat’. We walked up the boarding ramp and saw a group of Gnomish stevedores blocking our way.
• Without warning the group opened up and two archers fired our way. Nameless caught an arrow right in the face. Alden used his wind power to knock 2 Gnomes over the railing. Theirastra looked like she saw a ghost. She cast feather fall and kept the Gnomes from dying. I wouldn’t have bothered, but I guess Theirastra has seen her share of shipmates go overboard and acted without thinking..
• Again the rest of the group showed their martial prowess while I wasted crossbow bolts missing all my targets. 3 more Gnomes went over the side and Theirastra was busy stopping the Gnomes from unmooring the ship. We made it on board only to be stopped by the Captain. (Capt. Morgas) Alden wandered off to the Lyander deck and left us to cope. Typical noble.

• We set out for costumes. Alden used his glamour armor as his costume. Theirastra chose to go as a mermaid. I grabbed a cheap domino mask and black cape. Stickpin said he’d get himself inside using his tricks. Nameless continued to curse House Cannith.
• While Alden and ’Astra dressed, I strolled over to the embassy. The place was swarming with servers and guards. I finagled a job as the magic detector door guard. I met up with the ball supervisor, Meena. More on her later. Meena told me Ambassador Krell was wearing a gold mask. She entered the ballroom wearing a blue bird mask. A male in a eagle mask arrived. He wore a glove on his right hand, which was giving off a magical aura. Powerful magic. Alden and Theirastra arrived and both looked stunning. I tipped them off to Krell, Meena and the magical bird man. Nameless stood across the street, checking the sharpness of his sword.
• I headed into the ball, to “sweep” for magic. I was able to enter with my tools and weapons. The room was filled with 50-60 guests of all nation and races. (well, most races. Seemed the Goblinoid races didn’t make the list) I did find three Dwarves wearing magical jewelry. Alden found the Ambassador and damn if he didn’t charm his way into a dance. Theirastra found a guard and charmed him into a dance. A bald guy wearing a studded leather duster and smoking a pipe isn’t charming anyone. I headed to the bar and downed a couple nut brown ales. I was starting my third ale and second bowl when I spotted Meena speaking to the magical birdman. They seemed to be arguing about something. I could read their lips and Meena was upset that Birdman showed up. Alden met me at the bar and whispered that Stickpin was in the shadows behind us. Alden slipped a drink into the shadows.
• Meena screamed as the birdman slashed with a sword. The glove was a magical sheath! The blue mask fell off and there was Lucan. Friggin’ undead. Krell made her way to the rear exit. After smashing a guard with a chair, Alden headed after Krell. Theirastra fired up her magic and kept the party interesting. The band of Elves, literally the band, ducked into shadows. I tried to help stop Lucan, but the ales were kicking in. If it wasn’t for the missile wand, I would not have been much help. As Lucan turned to mist and floated out the front door, Nameless decided to join the party. Stickpin pursued along with Meena. Alden had Krell in a bear hug by the back door. ’Astra was standing on a table knocking guards left and right. Before he left, Lucan mesmerized the crowd. About 20 of the guests started a melee in the middle of the room. Three other groups fled toward the exits. I looked at the front doors and saw Nameless cut a guest in two! The guards headed toward Krell and Alden. Meena and Stickpin came back in and Meena laid into Krell about botching an intelligence matter. We tried persuasion and intimdation and both failed. Though the Dwarves were able to escape when Nameless threatened the Ambassador.

We all converged on the man in a bird mask that was described to us by Gurney; it appears that he was in-fact Lucan and that magical glove that he smuggled into the party was the vessel of the soul sword. After a rousing and chaotic battle (my favorite kind), Lucan again escaped, the blasted man, and some elves who had attacked those opposed to him also vanished into the shadows much as Stickpin does. We then conversed with the ambassador, Krell and discussed her contribution to the issues at hand as well as the lies that she had told us about not knowing Lucan. She was unaware that we lifted the package that she had attempted to pass onto the vampire and never admitted to giving him anything. We left with little new information except for that which we gathered from things unsaid.

When we opened the package, we found travel papers and tickets for an airship out of town within the hour. We quickly made our way to the airstrip. We found several blank-eyed gnomes who came at us, weapons drawn. We tried to talk our way through but the domination of a Vampire is difficult to overcome and so we had to attack. The first few who were blown off of the landing strip had done nothing yet and could not control themselves, I instinctively reached out a hand with feather fall on my lips and 2 gnomes floated to safety, this action was oddly selfless and left me feeling oddly disjointed. A third died without a head and others fired shots at me. I felt my newfound compassion slip and when two more gnomes were blown from the landing, I did not react.

I am not sure how to rectify these disparate actions within the same skirmish; I may claim to have been exhausted when others ask me why some were saved but not others but that is not the case. I may claim that my focus was firstly on getting to the gnomes that were cutting the ship free of its mooring when the second group fell, but that is only partly true. It is true that there is a selfish and spiteful part of me that was offended by the second pair’s attacks on my person in spite of their charmed condition and could not be moved to intervene. This does not surprise me, I have been living with and occasionally fighting against that impulse my entire life, but rather the sincere gesture of compassion that was levied against the initial group of innocent gnome intrigues me. I got nothing out of it, in fact I am feeling the strain of that action and without rest will be hard pressed to fight another intense battle. What brought on this change? For now, since we neutralized the slight gnomish resistance and made it aboard the ship before it could sail Lucan away from our pursuit, we are faced with an angry and confused captain who will demand answers of his own, mine will have to wait.

• We were given mage bred horses that could gallop all day. We reached a small Gnome hamlet and saw the black coach Lucan owns. A red headed female came out of the public house and spotted us. She let Lucan know an armed group of people were outside. A brief struggle ensued and just when we were about to capture Lucan, he turned into mist and floated away! We examined Lucan’s coach. It contained a coffin. Lucan is a vampire. I hate undead.
• The mist headed east toward Trolanport. Trolanport is the capital of Zilagro. Gnomes rule here. Trolanport is a water city. Instead of roads we have to travel by water. Theirastra perked up as soon as she saw the boats. Granted it’s no blue water sailing, but we’ve been away from any large body of water. We found an inn and set up our base of operations.
• We split up. Rumia and Theirastra went off on their own. Stickpin did whatever he does. Alden and I headed out in search of “Krell”. Who or what Krell is we didn’t know. Malek mentioned he found the word Krell among Lucan’s notes. Alden used his armor as a notice board. A gnome approached and asked why we had the name of the Aundairian diplomat named Neya ir’Krell. The gnome told us the Aundairian embassy was throwing a masquerade ball tonight. Nameless went in search of other Warforged. He mentions he hates House Cannith several times a day. Between him and Stickpin, I need eyes in the back of my head.
• Back at the inn we told the group about our success in finding Krell. Rumia informed us that she had to leave us for a bit. She needed to head back to her abbey. It’s a hit to the group. Rumia handled herself well in our skirmishes and brought a calming effect to the group. We decided to crash the ball.

• It’s been awhile since my last entry. Let’s just say Whitehearth unhinged me. I’m grateful my father is not one of the eternal cadavers feeding wolves. We made it back to Sharn and turned the schema over to Alaydren. She thanked us and disappeared. At breakfast the next morning, a messenger gave us an envelope filled with 2 pieces of paper and platinum coins. One piece was an invitation to Myriad Tower and the other had a “V” on a dark lantern. The invitation told us to come prepared for travel and a possible mission.
• We geared up ad headed to the tower. I finished my Goggles of Night. Most of my companions are non-humans who can see in the dark. I won’t have to be led by the hand in unlit situations. We arrived and the iron doors were sealed against normal footpads. Rumia, noticed a beggar looking person across from the door. She sat down, chatted a bit and showed the lantern paper. The beggar was a guard and opened the door for us.
• We entered an indoor jungle and met an old man named Viorr Malek. Malek told us he is a captain with the Dark Lanterns. The Lanterns are the intelligence branch for the King of Breland. Malek had us ‘audition’ before he gave us a mission. We had to subdue some dire apes. We did and Malek gave us the job.
• Malek explained that Lucan, a Dark Lantern operative, disappeared a couple of days ago. Lucan broke into a secure Lantern vault and stole the “Soul Blade”, a powerful magic sword. Malek described Lucan as a veteran spy and accomplished fighter. Malek is worried Lucan will try to use his intelligence contacts to work against Breland. Lucan took his coach and left by the East Road. Are mission was to catch lucan, dead or alive, and retrieve the Soul Blade.
• We were given travelling papers saying we were working for the King of Breland and a letter of credit. We headed for the East Road. Malek warned us that Lucan seems more powerful than he was. Tracking criminals, right up my alley.

On the day of the masque, we awoke early and scouted about for the dens of the fish-men crew. We found a cave that demonstrated occasional inhabitation and smelled quite strongly of fish. There were current occupants, so we explored and, upon finding their tributes to their gods while having no reverence of our own, took what looked to be of true value for our trouble. One scout found us out but managed to swim away; we shall have to trouble ourselves with these fishy individuals another time as none of us can breathe underwater and we must prepare for the masque this evening.

We returned to the inn and I began my preparations. Bathing then applying face paint and flakes of shining stone to create the impression of a mermaid. I put the finishing touches on my hair in time to leave for the streamstress’s to collect my own costume and Alton’s mask.

We then spent an obscene length of time waiting in a carriage. We were well within walking distance to the entrance but, even for a masque at which no one is announced these fool nobles require a grand entrance. We are all being interviewed and searched, how grand could any entrance be after the confiscation of your grandfather’s prized Longsword, I ask.

Gurney informed us of the masks that were worn by both the ambassador and the event organizer as well as describing a man in bird mask who bribed his way in auth a magical glove before ushering us inside.

Alton and I shared a dance while searching the room for the ambassador. At the end of the song we approached beer and Alton attempted to work his magic(?) on her. No matter her impression, she did accompany him onto the dance floor. I took myself in search of a my own target. An Aundairian gentleman caught my eye and agreed to a dance. Thankfully he was as gullible as he was handsome and told me that he and compatriot were in the employ of the ambassador and looking out for the same man that we are.

Following the dance, I watched the ambassador follow my previous partner, converse with him briefly and then sit looking somewhat dejected. I offered her sympathy. However, we were interrupted by a man wearing a familiar bird mask stabbing the event planner!

Pandemonium broke loose. The battle appears to be everyone against the bird man, but time shall tell.

My own people, in a village high in the mountains of Adar, believe the Path of Light will not be achieved with violence. Dedicated to prayer and simplicity, they isolate themselves from the world. The world, they seem to think, will be saved by dance and contemplation.

Maybe such a life would not be so bad.

When we confronted Lucan in the small village I was unprepared for his brutality. I leapt through the window of the bar to help Alden fight Lucan’s sister. She wantonly burned down the place with a misplaced fireball. Still, I was prepared to subdue her using the least force necessary.

Then Lucan viciously murdered his own sister.

I prepare myself every day, body and spirit, for the violence necessary to improve the world. But this, I was not prepared for this. It shocks my sensibilities, burdens my spirit, shatters my motivation.

So I have retreated within myself once again. I felt my emotions roiling beneath the surface and knew I could not make good choices. I travel with them, yes, but I am turned so deeply within that the external world is but a shadow. I grow in wisdom, waiting for the time to responsibly rejoin my companions. Until then, I am haunted.

With the shifters taken care of and the leader’s body serving as food for scavengers at the base of the cliff, we resumed the journey to Zilargo. We arrived without further incident. upon arrival we began our search for the mysterious name that was found by the lanterns. Rumia and my search through the canals bore no fruit other than providing me with an opportunity to be upon a boat once more. Alden, with his unconventional method of wearing the name upon his attire and wandering the town, did attract the notice of the embassy from Aundair. The name was that of their ambassador and we were told that she would be hosting a masquerade the following night and, provided that we had an invitation, we could speak with her then. We then split up into several groups to search for a way into the masque.

Alden made himself known to family, and not fully trusting in his competence and being a half-elf myself, I accompanied him. Gurney wandered to speak with the guards who would be manning the doors, and Stickpin went in search of his contacts within the city. Rumia needed to commune with herself and her gods and who knows what Nameless gets himself up to. Alden and I convinced the leader of the local D’Lyrandars to give us his ticket, Gurney got a job running security which should make the process of getting into the masque more convenient, and Stickpin is going to sneak as he does best.

With our entrances secured we went in search of a seamstress to assist with the making of our costumes. I decided upon a mermaid theme, replete with gauze and sequins, and was accompanied by the Lord of Storms wearing the guise of a thunderstorm. I am now seated in the cab of a very fancy carriage waiting. I shall never understand the mind-set of these fancy people sit in line waiting to impress

Well, friends, come the evening I found myself STRANG’LY LIVELY and NOT AT ALL fatigued, so I thought to take a stroll and the pulse of the town. Went this way and that, and soon coming to a likely tavern, who did I see but my old chum.

“Long memory,” says I, for we goblins used to rule the world.
“Long knives,” was his reply, for we will again.
And we spat our hands to shake, and sat down to a drink.

After a while I said, “Well the beer’s not too sour, but your face is. What’s the trouble?”
“Ah,” he said. “It’s the fish men. They’ve snuck into the canals and into the pockets of our marks. Can’t hardly make a living no more.”
“Oho, the fish men then. They’re a slippery lot, and not just because they are. Tell me what you know, mayhap I can help.”

He thanked me, and gave me some particulars. And he said the fish men’ve made some rich hauls of late. Merchant boats. Warehouses. And he gave some hints that beyond his own gratitude, a defeat of the fish men might bring the same from the burghers of the town. I suppose they prefer honest thieves to that lot!

I told him I’d see what could be done, and came straight back here to the inn.

So there we are. An adventure, with gold at the end of it — the best kind! And p’raps some leverage with the gentry, as might help with our present endeavors. Who’s in?