Session VII - The Kettle boats

Wiping Chalaska's blood off their blades, our heroes debate whether to go along with Obrebelle's plan of bull rushing the keelboat right away or resting until morning, risking losing their chance of recovering the remaining dwarven books. Convinced that time is of the essence, they decide to head straight to Womford after having a chat with Nalaskur. 

The latter is most pleased with the party's actions. He appreciates work done efficiently, in a timely fashion, even if the methods are a little crude for his taste. He is eager to hear everything the party has found in Chalaska's quarters that would provide information on the strange symbol he was associating with her. Carefully threading the needle, Nalaskur manages to get a full story from the heroes, from the incident in Red Larch, to the Feathergale Spire to the location of the water cultists hideout. 

Bringing up the likely existence of a fire cult and carefully examining Nalaskur's reaction, Tico's sorcerer sense tingles just a little too uneasily and he can't help himself but magically command the mob boss to spill the beans on what he knows. Unfortunately, this is not Nalaskur's first dance and he manages to resist the arcane influence. Knowing precisely what just transpired, he stands up, furious, and calmly states that things could turn sour real quick for all parties involved if this happens again. Unnerved by the presence of three burly bodyguards and in poor condition after the recent altercations, Tico stands down and the situation, although a little tense, remains peaceful. 

True to his word, Nalaskur allows the party to leave with anything they found in Chalaska's quarters along with her former prisoner and offers ''passe-droit'' to any party members across the Dessarin river using his barges. He offers an olive branch stating he would be happy to work with them again and would provide a generous rewards for the head of the water cult's leader.

In the middle of the night, our heroes head silently in Womford and, following Obrebelle's directions, find their way into the docks where she believes they will find her books. She points them towards one particular keelboat where she's been told dwarven books have been sold from. Considering different options, the party decides to use Tico's talents who grants the party the ability to breath underwater, in an attempt to take the boat by surprise and avoid having to haggle in order to buy the books. 

As our heroes get close to the barque, some sudden and strange water currents pushes them around. Out of nowhere, Tico gets hit full blown by some invisible water creature and is suddenly being dragged further into the depth. Swinging blindly, the heroes fight the water weird as best they can. Elthas stabs with Reszur, Klaes swings his sharktoothed blade, Trash wields an enchanted mace and Tico electrifies the water around him while Oberbelle fights valiantly and Zomith is pondering how she found herself on the brink of death for the second time in just a few hours.

Eventually, the water weird emerges from the water, showing itself while violently rocking the boat. A halfling armed with an heavy crossbow stands on boat ledge shortly after, letting loose a volley of bolts. A few seconds later, a water genasi spell caster enters the fray, firing magic missiles and attempting to hold party members in the water. 

After an  hectic battle, the heroes finally get the upper hand and Elthas gives chase to the escaping caster, stabbing him in the back and reeling him back onto the ship where he is stabilized by way of goodberry.

Furious, the party question the genasi, demanding answers as to the significance of the symbol and his activities in these parts. The latter, clearly afraid and in shock at the mention of the water cult's hideout,  and seeing as the party is having none of his nondescript answers, he simply start spewing names. 

"Go to the hideout and ask for Gar Shatterkeel!", he says. 

"Oh wait, no, he almost never comes up.. talk with Jolliver Grimjaw, rather! Tell him Shoalar Quanderil sent you. He'll get you in all the troubles you can handle!"

Feeling like they wouldn't get much more information out of him, the heroes decide to have him sent to Nalaskur who might be more inclined to less benignant methods for extracting information.

Searching the keel of the boat reveals three more of a total of seven dwarven books with which the delegation left Mirabar, along with other valuables.

With a keelboat now at their disposal, the party prepares to leave Womford behind, heading upriver to Summit hall first, aiding Obrebelle in her quest of delivering the books before planning a route to the water cult's hideout. 

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