Mysterious Tides #5.5

The group learns more about the Bay from one of the Laird's sons. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

GURPS: Bay of Spirits
Session 005.5

Prepping For a Voyage

230902-230917

The conversation with Taber Sinann over, the group heads back outside where the guards sheepishly return all of the confiscated weapons. Taber’s younger brother, Elias Sinann, follows everyone out. “My brother has instructed me to outfit you and your ship with supplies for several days? Where is it you are going and what will you need?” he asks, holding his ledger book open with a pen ready to take down some notes.

“Now we’re getting somewhere” Nilas comments with a slight grin. He is pleased to see that their meeting with Taber Sinann went well and now they have some (minor) level of respect.  He looks around at his companions. “Well friends, tell the good man what supplies we will need.” He looks over at Jens Marko, “Jens, it is your ship, make sure we are outfitted properly so that we can catch these scamps.”

Nilas then turns to Elias and adds, “We are definitely going to need enough supplies as far as food and provisions, water, and," taking a look over at Brother Bob, "some suitable beverages for our patrons of Enibria as well. Since we are looking to be in danger, a medical kit or first aid bag along with any possible antidotes or salves for poison treatment would also be useful.   I would also like to add, any assistance with possibly healing potions and if there is something that could help with replacing magical and spiritual energies would be most useful in the event we run into a prolonged fight again.   As for me, that is all I can offer, but my companions will surely have other needs and requests.``

Ragnar shrugs and adds, “I just need food and water. Better to have more than we think we’ll need too, if that can be done.”

Jens nods. “I will be a busy man, but I will have her ready by the turn of the tide.” He thinks for a moment. “Maybe a barrel of fish from Ingmar and her mother, up the way there. Can’t be too prepared, now, can we?”

He ponders their destination. Two, three days, although Callas Nilas says he can help with that. I wonder what that’ll look like. I know a lot of the bigger merchant ships travel with a Callast on board.

The monk shrugs, “Not much that I need, but if you have a spare journal I’ll copy my notes from today for you, and try to log anything of significance during the trip. Let me know if there’s anything of particular interest to you.”

Elias Sinann makes arrangements for about a journal and a week’s worth of food and supplies to be loaded on to the Kittiwake, which nearly overloads the small dory, but Jens is confident that his little ship can handle it. It takes several hours to round up all the supplies and get them loaded onboard, and many of the locals watch with narrowed eyes as the Laird’s men load so much valuable stock onto the stranger’s vessel. 

Nilas observes the transition of supplies and is very pleased with their progress.  He then turns to Elias and adds, “Would it be too much to request some form of letter of marque or parchment authenticating our operations under the Laird Sinann and his son? I was just thinking about something to mark that we are on official business should we run into any more guards or patrols, that we do not get slowed up at all.”

Nilas then looks to his friends and says, “I’m going to double check back at the Shrine to make sure that I have everything and leave a message for Callast Zale, should he return.   Once we are loaded, I will make a prayer to Calla and we can get underway if that suits all of you?”

Elias gives Nilas a side-eyed smirk, “Mmmm, that’s not really a thing. And if it were, Greybschyr is clearly under the fief of the Starling Lords. A letter from da’ would probably hamper you, at best.” The young man shakes his head and makes some more notes in his journal as the remainder of the supplies are loaded. He looks up at the sky and then out to the water with a mater-of-fact countenance on his face. “Hmmm, you should be able to make it to the Gut by nightfall if you pull anchor soon. Not sure if you’ve been to the Gut before, but watch out, they will bleed you dry with taxes and fees and whatnot, and it is their right. The Merchant Barons make the rules there, just watch yourself. There are not a lot of good places to make land between here and Merchant’s Gut, so beware. If you waited to leave until morning, you could probably make it all the way to Larkton on the other side of the Middle Bay, that might be a more reasonable port.” 

He sketches a rough outline of the Middle Bay, showing where Piper’s Quay and the other locations of note are. He rips the page from his journal and hands it to Nilas. “Whatever you do, watch out for Wyrm Cove, its about 5 miles to the west, not quite halfway to the Gut. Give it a wide berth. Lots of rocks and reefs just ‘neath the waves, they say. Too many ships gone down in that area piloted by a Captain that thought himself too good, if you catch my drift.”

Nilas accepts the parchment from Elias and puts it neatly in his belt pouch. “Thank you for your assistance Elias, we will do our best to settle this matter.” Nilas turns to his friends. “Well my friends, it seems as we have one more decision to make. We can leave now and take chances in the ‘Gut’ or wait until morning and push through the day. With Calla’s blessings, I should be able to help boost our sailing speed and wind power, should she favor us, and I have no reason to think that she will not.”

Ragnar shrugs. “I’m fine with whatever you all think best, but just know that for me, the sooner we figure this out, the better for me.”

The monk simply looks at Jens and says, “I think that’s really up to you.”

Nilas looks to his friends once more.  “What say you Jens? We can try tonight or give me one more night's rest and let me replenish some energy so I can focus on my powers from Calla for our prayers for wind in the morning.”

Session Notes

A conversation with the Laird's son regarding supplies and sailing in the Bay.

Cast of Characters:

Brother Robert (Bro Bob) D'Nagien, a young Enibrian monk and archer - played by Amergin K

Jens Marko, a young Captain sailing his dory all over the bay - played by Arne J
Callast Nilas Orkan, a young priest of Calla the Storm Goddess - played by Mike B

Ragnar Rocht, avenging ranger - played by Stephen K

and GMJasonGURPS as the DM