Four newly re-acquainted Bayfolk decided to come together and help figure out a murder. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.
GURPS: Mysterious TidesSession 001
Sightseeing in Piper's Quay
230611Four recently reunited acquaintances share a drink in the Windbreak Inn in the quiet little fishing village of Piper's Quay. Ragnar Rocht, a uplands ranger has come to town with horrible news. His father, also a ranger, was murdered and their cabin ransacked. With no other clues to go on, he headed into town to look for answers and help. As it happened, two other individuals, a Enibrian Monk, Robert, and Callast Nilas come ashore from Captain Jens dory, the Kittiwake, all coming recently from Dove's Crest. The four gather in the Inn to talk about this tragedy.
Callast Nilas, Bro Bob, and Capt. Jens all arrived on his small dory, the Kittiwake. The four gather in the Inn to talk about this tragedy.
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| Ragnar Rocht |
Brother Robert D'Nagien says with a sardonic grin, "Well, there just happens to be very discreet captain just arrived in port who's looking for passengers"
Ragnor nods, "Aye, that sounds about right, and grateful to ya I'd be, thank you."
Callast Nilas offers, "I may be able to help you as well, but first I must track down Callast Zale of this area"
Brother Robert D'Nagien adds. "You might advertise quietly that you're in a hurry to leave. . ."
One of the locals, an older fisherman leans in, "I heard you talking. You say Rogan Rocht is dead? I knew of him. And you are his son, Ragnar? I am sorry for your loss. I knew him," he says, "from way back."
Ragnar Rocht nods sadly. "Aye, he was a good man, a good father to me. Thank you for your words."
As the group talks, the bartender of the Inn, a Sea Elf named Maricia brings a tray over with some drinks. Callast Nilas thanks Maricia for the drinks. "Welcome to my father's Inn," she says.
Brother Robert D'Nagien tilts his head with a look of curiosity at her mention of her father, "If I may ask, who was your father?"
Maricia Creag says, "Ahh, Duglass Creag, previous owner of the Windbreak."
Bro Bob recalls something from his youth in Piper's Quay of the local taverner having found an orphaned Sea Elf and was raising her. This happened before he was born by some 10 years.
Maricia continues, "Most know my story around here, Duglass found me as a baby, adrift along the shoreline. My people are the Sea Elves, far across the Eastern Sea. I've never actually MET a Sea Elf before." She smiles bitterly, "But no ear jokes, get it?"
Brother Robert D'Nagien raises an eyebrow in surprise, "Thaaat's right - I heard of you when I was a kid, but don't recall seeing you around. I was wondering why Duglass wasn't here. . ."
Callast Nilas says, "The Seas around here are very chaotic, such is the nature of Calla"
Maricia leans over the table and looks at Nilas. "You've some Elf blood in your line, I'd say. And you are a Callast? I pray to the Goddess of the Sea as well." She bows her head slightly in deference to Nilas.
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| Callast Nilas Orkan |
Callast Nilas nods to Maricia. "Yes. somewhere in my bloodline, though I know not how far back. Yes, I am a Callast, Callast Nilas. I am seeking counsel with Callast Zale of this area."
She looks out a window toward the Bay, "My father passed on some time ago, left the place to me. He was all I had and I guess I was all he had. We were both stuck here, serving beer and wiping down countertops." She turns to Captain Jens, "An I've seen you before, aye? You sail on the Kittiwake? That red dingy tied up at the dock?"
Brother Robert D'Nagien replies quietly, "I'm sorry for your loss. You sound as if you'd rather be elsewhere now"
Callast Nilas also says to Maricia, "All love is as the wind, a roaring storm or a gentle breeze ever restless and transient. Do not mourn it's passing, but laugh, cry and go live as the gale takes you again."
Maricia Creag says, "I've never known folk of my kind, only met a few Elves and Half-elves before, but never a Sea Elf. I wasn't born here, and I'll probably die here, but you know, there's so much to see out there, I've never even been to Merchant's Gut, and that ain't but 10 or 15 miles down the coast!" She shrugs. "But someone's gotta serve the beer, ya know!"
Jens Marko nods. "Aye, she's small, but she's fast, and she's mine!"
Maricia smiles at Jens with a smirk, though clearly she has admiration for the fact that he is able to move about the Bay freely. Several patrons call her name and she smiles and excuses herself to go tend to them. As she leaves, she looks back, "And if you're looking for Callast Zale, the Shrine to the Sea is just yonder, up the shoreline, but I think I saw him row out yesterday morning. He had his poles and nets and a case of Skulpin Rum. We might not see him for a week or so."
Callast Nilas looks at Jens. "Not surprised that you now have your own ship. Good for you." Jens Marko raises his glass to Nilas. "By the Tides!" Nilas exclaims. "Now I will have to wait a week? This is an outrage." Callast Nilas excuses himself and heads out to find this Shrine of the See to confirm that the Callast he is looking for is actually gone.
Jens Marko turns back to Ragnar. "So, before I get another pint, should we be looking for these bandits of yours?"
Ragnar Rocht shrugs. "Well, I would certainly be grateful for any help I can get. At this point I have no idea where to go or where to look. That'd be graciously kind of ya."
The other patrons of the Windbreak Inn are predominantly keeping to themselves. Small fishing villages like this are reknown to be a bit insular, keeping outsiders at arms length.
Jens Marko says, "Well, I have to head over to Fearghus' shop. I owe him fer some repairs to the 'wake. He might be someone who could be in the know."
Ragnar Rocht nods. "Sorry I can't help with more information. It was ... disturbing, to walk into that. I focused on giving him a proper funeral pyre and gathering what I could before rushing off."
Brother Robert D'Nagien stands up to leave as well, "I need to go and see how my family's doing; it's been a few years. I'll check back in with you this evening or the morning. Are you staying here Jens, or on the Kittiwake?"
Jens Marko says "I'll be aboard the Kittiwake."
Brother Robert D'Nagien says the first part unusually loudly for him - enough to be easily picked up by the locals, then drops back to his customary quiet voice when he addresses the other two directly
Quite a few pairs of eyes look in Bro Bob's direction, a few of them nodding in recognition after a few minutes. He notes the reactions, winks at the others as he shoulders his gear and heads for the door.
Ragnar Rocht finished up his drink, leaves coin for it and heads out to walk around town, hoping he can catch a whiff of the murderers while Jens Marko drains his glass, and heads off to Feargus' workshop.
Callast Nilas heads out of the Windbreak Inn and heads in the direction Maricia pointed.
Just up the coastline, he spots what must be the shrine to Calla here in Piper's Quay. Callast Nilas goes looking for Callast Zale and is thankful that it is nearby.
Old nets, ropes, buoys, and pieces of driftwood make the structure look more like an old junk shop than a temple to Calla, nevertheless this decrepit looking building serves as a shrine to the goddess of the sea. The front doors, two narrow panels, stand wide open. As Nilas approaches, several gulls caw and fly out from the doorway.
Callast Nilas looks inside, calling out. "Hello….. You may love the sea, but never own her. For to love a thing is not to tame it, but to share it in both calm tides and troubled waters."
Callast Nilas is hoping for someone to answer him, the only answer is the smell of dead fish and salt-worn wood.
Callast Nilas calls out, "Don't be a hermit - crab.....come out of your shell"
The Shrine to the Sea is decorated with all sorts of shells, small rocks, pieces of coral and jade, whale
bones, and teeth. Dried and salted fish hang from lines strewn about the interior and small offerings of fish, pearls, or copper coins dot the cluttered floor. The Gulls were clearly helping themselves to some of the fish inside, which, to Nilas' view, completely acceptable. Callast Nilas curses, "By Calla's Thunder! No one around." A dirty cot can be seen behind some netting strung as a curtain. Numerous bottles of Skulpin Rum can be seen laying around. Callast Nilas thinks Callast Zale is more into Enibria than Calla. Defeated, he smacks the side of the rail with his hand and makes his way back to the Windbreak Inn" Callast Zale is clearly not here, like Maricia said. He must be out to sea fishing and communing with his Goddess. Callast Nilas returns to the Inn
Meanwhile, Jens heads down the shoreline to Fearghus Quilkin's boatyard. He passes Merdoch's Sails and Tackle, where he has done business before. Merdoch, the older brother of Fearghus, is known throughout the Bay as the place to purchase sails, ropes, lines, nets, and etc for ships and boats of all sizes. Merdoch and his family can be seen working in the front of his shop. Jens Marko gives a polite nod to Merdoch as he passes. The old sail maker looks up, smiles and waves, "Ahoy Captian Marko, good to see ya, hope your sails have been full of good wind! Be well my friend!" Jens continues on past to the boatyard just beyond.
Jens Marko greets the shipwright as he arrives at the boatyard,. "Ho, Fearghus! I've some of the money I owe you. And a question or two!"
Fearghus Quilkin, the younger brother to friendly Merdoch next door, looks up from some planks he is sanding. "Ahh, ye got my money, bout time. Let's have it then, Marko." Several younger men, two of which look to be his sons or close relatives, continue working as Fearghus heads toward a nearby shack that fronts as his shop.
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| Captain Jens Marko |
"What? Rogan Rocht is dead? That don't bode well,” the grumpy shipwright mumbles.
"Well I sure don' know nothing bout that kind of business. And you'd probably do well if you followed suit. 'Nother person's business ain't yer own, 'specially when its the business of the dead, ya hear!" he growls at Jens.
Jens Marko winces at the old man's harsh words. "Fine, fine, I'll be goin' then. I'll have more for ye next time. Sooner I pay you off the sooner I don't have to deal with yer grumpy mug!"
Fearghus spits, "Whatever, you'll be back, can't seem to keep that boat of yers away from them rocks. Don'cha know, there be all them rocks out there? Watch out fer em! Damn!" He spits and then brushes past Jens to get back to his work.
Jens Marko grins as he leaves the shop. "Well, that went well."
Meanwhile, Bro Bob makes his way across town to the northern end. Some of his relatives still live here in Piper's Quay and he needs to pay them a visit. Piper's Quay is busy this time of year. All the fishermen are gearing their boats up for fishing. A good portion of all the fish in the Bay comes out of the waters near the Quay, they say. Piles and piles of fish are already being dropped on the long sandbar to the south of town while the locals work on preparing them for drying or salting, depending on where they are being shipped. Making his way past the village proper, he picks his way along the rocky path that leads to his family's area, just east and out of sight of the main village.
The wind and sun are getting warm, but there are still plenty of ice floes out in the Bay. Bro Bob sees a rickety wooden sign near the side of the path. It says "Go way. We don't want you here" with several misspelled words and inverted letters. As he approaches the house, he calls out, "Ma! Pa! Nana Hag! Uncle Skunk!"
As he nears, someone stands up from a hidden spot behind some rocks and scrub brush. A gnarly old man, his Uncle Skunk. He is holding a loaded heavy crossbow pointed right at Bob's back. "Dang, there, I nearly skewered ya, Bobbi! How you doin, kid? Ain't seen ya fer a bit!"
Uncle Skunk leads him to a collection of buildings. Bob notices several folk watching from dark windows and between cracks in shoddily built walls.
Brother Robert D'Nagien turns grinning, "Dug another jump pit? Spikes in the bottom of the last one I'll guess. I'm doing well enough for church business. How's everyone?"
Ehh, we're gettin by. What you doin here? Din think you'd be back round these parts no more, not since you got all high and mighty. Praise Enibria," he says, pulling a worn metal flask from a pocket and drinking. He passes it to Bro Bob.
Brother Robert D'Nagien takes it, "And the spirit of the vine" and takes a long drink. "Though I'm sure she'll turn a blind eye to this, so long as it doesn't blind anyone's eyes." he wheezes. The rest of Bro Bob's family emerges. They are all so much older than he remembered them. Their lives are hard on them, it seems. Brother Robert D'Nagien then adds, "and it doesn't draw too many eyes. . ."
Robert senior, Pa D'nagien comes out and addresses Bro Bob. "You're not here on official business are ya, son?"
Brother Robert D'Nagien shakes his head, "No, Pa. Not official. I do want to let you know though, the church is cracking down on some of the traffic throughout the bay. Larger operations, though. The family business isn't producing so much to matter, but y'all be extra careful you don't get in a net meant for some bigger fish"
The older D'Nagien nods his head slowly in understanding. "I hear ya, son. Thankee for the warning."
Brother Robert D'Nagien glances around, counting heads to make sure there all still there - and no new one's but the group seems to be all there, no new additions. Bro Bob settles in and enjoys catching up with his family for a few hours. A bowl of Nana Hag's mussel gumbo and a jar of moonshine are near forgotten comforts. Brother Robert D'Nagien looks at his Pa quizzically, "You putting juniper in the hooch? Nice bite to it"
Before heading back he tells his family, "I ran into Ragnar Roche at the Windbreak after making landfall. He'd just got into town on a black trail - the Old Bear's been murdered while he was out. Says 3 or for sets of tracks came to town a few days ago."
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| Brother Robert (Bro Bob) D'Nagien of Enibria |
Though he does not know any of them personally, Ragnar knows that Laird Sinann leads the clan that rules this area. Maybe one of the Sinann's could help him. Laird Sinann's lodge is the largest building in the village. a large A-frame structure at the far end of town. Then there are two merchants he is somewhat familiar with, Shadwell the salvage seller and Santha the Merchant.
Ragnar Rocht stops in town and looks around, frustrated at the lack of help or information. With a sigh he sees the Lairds lodge and heads that way.
Session Notes
Our first official session for the new campaign. We ended our last campaign several months ago and decided to take a little break. Well break time is over, here we go again! So excited to get my 2nd Bay of Spirits campaign going. The other one is a Play By Post only campaign using the old DnD Rules Cyclopedia. But this one is GURPS, my gaming wheelhouse! Started with 4 of 5 of the players from the last campaign (that ran well over 10 years!) and hopefully we'll be adding one new player in the next couple of sessions.Cast of Characters:
Brother Robert (Bro Bob) D'Nagien, a young Enibrian monk and archer - played by Amergin KCallast Nilas Orkan, a young priest of Calla the Storm Goddess - played by Mike B
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