Loose Threads:
Where is Aeric Tinpockets and his crew? Is he under the sway of the naiads and doing their bidding?
What necromantic secrets have the naiads learned and uncovered? Why does it appear to be a blend of their watery magic and necromantic energies?
What may be found out at the Halfway Hideaway? Is it possible to obtain one of their badges through a member or other less savory means?
Participants:
Holt Forrest, Awakened Animal (Moose) Monk
Felix Arceneaux, Human Swashbuckler
Vandra, Human Fighter
Ubukata, Ratfolk Cleric of Tsukiyo
Locations:
First Landing
Halfway Hideaway (maybe)
Pirate Cove
Short Summary
Our group was to meet our contact Aeric Tinypockets in First Landing only for him to not show. After some cursory investigations in First Landing, we headed west to the Pirate Cove. Along the way we believe we found a place called the Halfway Hideaway with ties to Aeric. We were not able to get in, but observed what may be the key to getting in. At the Pirate Cove we fought with Naiads and their undead thralls. The naiads have clearly learned how to animate the dead and we fought a few undead harpies who were mutilated by the naiads. In the end we did not find any further clue to Aeric Tinypocket’s whereabouts.
Full Report
Our group started out in the Blinking Pug. We had come to meet the sailor Aeric Tinypockets. We were to help Aeric investigate further strange happenings on the Pirate Cove.
Time ticked by and after a few hours, Aeric did not arrive. Checking around the tavern the regular clientele said Aeric has not shown up at the Pug in a few months. Before that, Aeric was himself a regular.
Aeric is best described as a tall man standing at 6’5”. He appears human though with some distinctive fey features. He wears a large floppy hat and dresses in typical sailor attire.
Our intent was still to head to the cove, but first we felt it prudent to do a canvass this part of First Landing just to see if anything may be found out about Aeric’s current situation.
Evira the barkeep at the Blinking Pug spoke to how Aeric’s demeanor had changed drastically in recent memory. He has become obsessed with something, and his expression is unnerving rather than friendly. Aeric usually came with a group to First Landing, but his entourage had not been seen as of late.
Gilbert at the General Store said that Aeric’s crew often pass through and head to the port in the northeast, but he hadn’t seen them. Over at the Thaumaturge’s Shop we found that one of the workers had been duped by Aeric. He had paid this worker with some gemstones (half of which were fake) for some specific spell scrolls: Scrolls of Aberrant Form, Fey Form and Cursed Metamorphosis. Aeric also mentioned a place called the Halfway Hideaway during their exchange.
During our travels westward to the Pirate’s Cove we were attacked by a group of giant rats. We managed to deal with them without much issue. Though some of us fell temporarily ill to their diseased bites.
A day of travel southwest from First Landing, and just to the east (relatively speaking) of Scouts’ Graveyard we found what we feel to be the Halfway Hideaway. Following torches deep in the woods we came upon a burrow (like a Halfling’s home) with a Wall of Stone surrounding the entire structure with barely a gap between burrow and wall.
Listening at the wall we heard people having a good time within. Almost like it’s a tavern and/or entertainment venue. I was able to discern that the wall needed a passkey or password to allow a person entry into the structure. We did find some graffiti carved into the wall. But all of it was in escapee’s tongue and none of us spoke escapee’s tongue.
An Awakened Bear and Human who were members of the Adventurer’s Guild like ourselves approached the structure. They seemed cordial enough since we’re part of the same guild. We witnessed both individuals press a badge with an opal on it to the wall. That allowed them passage inside. It is worth noting the human man did yell whenever he spoke. I am not sure if he just was a loud person or was compensating for a hearing disability.
The man did say he ran into Aeric but said he’s been acting strange as of late as he’s been traveling back and forth from this redoubt and the cove. He was also speaking a different language.
Done with this mysterious place, the Pirate’s Cove was next. When we arrived, we heard gunshots. We ran into a Ranger with their wolf companion fighting some Naiads and a couple undead the Naiads had already raised. These undead appeared to be companions of the Ranger. Looking at the Ranger, we saw a red-black substance leaking out a wound on his torso. This substance stunk of rot.
The group avoided traps set by the Ranger as we engaged the animated corpses of this Ranger’s companions and the Naiads. Unfortunately, the Ranger and his wolf were killed but immediately animated, by what I believe (but could not confirm) to be the red-black substance found in their wounds.
Eventually, we brought a naiad and the undead low as one of the naiads ran off deeper into the cavern system. The naiads unleash watery spheres from range at our group. Some of these spheres were black in energy and when they hit, they felt like being hit with acid.
We took a vial containing a black sludge off the corpse of the naiad. Looking over the wounds on the Ranger, there was some mental effect at play. And I have to wonder what sort of alchemical mixtures are likely being developed by the naiads. It is clear there is a blend of the necromantic with mind-altering properties.
After healing some of our injuries, we followed the naiad who ran off into a larger cavernous space. In front of us was a pool of still water and two branching paths that led deeper. I was able to find some hidden Potions of Water Breathing for the group. After just disturbing the surface of the water with my paw, three undead creatures who resembled harpies burst up and out of the water with two naiads in tow.
Thankfully, during the fight that broke out the harpies did not begin singing their enchanting tune. Though their bodies had experienced some hideous changes. Their wings bore no feathers and were full of holes. They showed multiple wounds across different parts of their bodies and these wounds leaked a necrotic liquid. When these creatures attacked, they swung with ichor covered claws that made some of us sick when they hit.
While looking at the dead harpies we could spot some sort of liquid movement beneath their skin. I attempted to cut into the corpse to hopefully find out what sort of evil was at play. While the wounds of the ranger, wolf and these harpies smelled terrible, cutting into the skin only caused the scent to be amplified and doubly sickening. Having grown up in the sewers of Goka, I am not unfamiliar with terrible smells, but this was too much to bear. What’s worse is whatever was moving was shot out with tremendous pressure.
It took a few minutes to regain my composure and settle my stomach. Eventually, with the aid of light we peered down into the pool just before us. We saw a ledge 20ft beneath the water that led to a tunnel. There was more to be uncovered here and we had yet to find Aeric. We were running low on resources and did not wish to risk further injury. Especially if were to go underwater. We instead left the Cove and I hope what we found can help those who wish to head out to the Cove.
I have a sneaking suspicion that either Aeric Tinypockets is under the sway of these naiads and is doing their bidding in the surrounding settlements for them. Or perhaps one of the naiads is masquerading as him. While he himself is dead or imprisoned.