Synopsis:

Session begins in the early morning of  November 9th.  It is very cold and a breeze is blowing from the north.  There is heavy cloud cover and a light snow is falling.

Rutlett, Mem, Homer, and Liothien have spent an uneventful night in the manticore lair.  As day breaks they decide to head back to Achintee to rejoin Rolf.  A pulley system is rigged to lower the manticore hides and plate mail from the lair set in a cliff face.  The party members use the same system to lower themselves safely.  All the treasure is bundled and the party heads off to the northwest.  The trip is generally uneventful although the party does scare off a large stag  in a forest clearing.  Near midday the party reaches a junction in the trail.  The southerly trail leads to Killilan, which is about an hour away.  The northerly trail head through the hills to Attadale and on to Achintee.  Liothien tells Rutlett that he is going south to Killilan to collect Kieren and the others.  The dwarves press on to Attadale/Achintee and have an uneventful trip.  Mem does note a large raven in  a tree outside Attadale (omen?)  Rutlett, Mem, and Homer arrive in Achintee at around 6 PM.  They join Rolf at the makeshift camp he has built along the banks of the river.  Master Rutlett heads to the Salty Dog tavern nearby and purchases 6 hand kegs of finest ale for his boys.  He returns to the camp and the dwarves and halfling begin drinking in earnest.

Liothien heads south to Killilan and arrives slightly after noon.  Upon arriving he sees Kieren, Liana, and Cedric who appear to be getting ready to leave town.  Greetings are exchanged, and Liothien relates the events of the past day to the others.  It is agreed that all of them will press on the Achintee to rejoin the rest of the party.  Kieren casts a comfort spell on the group to mitigate the effects of the cold winds and blowing snow.  They set off immediately and have an uneventful trip.  Slightly after dark the weary travelers arrive in Achintee to join their companions.  They take rooms at the Sea Foam Inn.,

Rhyawdd, Rolf, Joseph and Dermid spend the day in Achintee.  Dermid and Rhyawdd take a room at the Crossroads Inn so that they can keep and eye out for Holgrim.  Joseph gets a room at the other inn in town (Sea Foam Inn) to keep watch there.  Rhyawdd spends considerable time and gold at the Salty Dog tavern along the docks to get information about Holgrim and his whereabouts.  Nobody in town has seen Holgrim since he left over a week ago in the company of Dermid and Sean.  Joseph seeks out the Quentin MacKenzie, the priest of Dagda, and makes arrangements to have Lord Ross’s headless corpse prepared for burial.

Rolf meets with Neill Morrison, the boat builder, to check on the status of Rutlett's boat.  The boat has been completed and is ready to sail.  In fact, Malcolm MacDonald has taken the liberty of provisioning the ship for a voyage of at least two weeks.  Rolf pays master Morrison 300 gp for the repairs and provisions.  Rolf and Malcolm then move the boat across the river and beach it on the shore so that it will be closer to the rest of the party in town.

During the late evening the whole party gathers at a large table in the dining room of the Sea Foam Inn.  Platters of roast swine and tubers as well as tankards of rich ale are brought to all and the party settles down for a well-deserved feast.  Tales are exchanged and ale flows freely as there is much revelry.  The party has just completed a most perilous quest into the fairy realms and lived to tell of it.  Talk gradually turns to the future…

Kieren gets Rutlett and Rhyawdd aside and talks with them about the party's future plans.  Rutlett and Rhyawdd both produce maps of  the Isle of Skye and surrounding seas for review.  They review the maps and discuss possible options for sailing to Skye so that the search for Kieren's daughter can begin..  There is lengthy discussion about the merits of sailing either north or south around the Isle of Skye to reach the MacLeod lands surrounding Dunvegan castle.  Rhyawdd suggests sailing into one of the centrally located lochs along the eastern shore of the island and marching overland through the Cuillin Hills.  As the discussion continues other members of the party take note and get involved.  Malcolm and Dermid, the newcomers to  the group review the maps and offer their opinions.

Dermid comments that the overland trails through the Cuillin hills are fraught with many dangers, not the least of which are the roving goblin bands that are allied with Infyrana the dragon.  This vast army of goblins has put a virtual strangle-hold on any travel overland across the island.  Dermid notes that a small stealthy group could probably pass by the goblins without notice , but a group the size of the party would certainly draw unwanted attention.  Kieren asks Dermid if he is knowledgeable about the trails and villages on the Isle of Skye and he replies that he has considerable experience as a tracker and guide all across the Isle with the exception of the fairy realms on the Trotternish (northeast) peninsula.

Malcolm reviews the maps and comments that the party should strongly consider sailing north around the Isle of Skye because there are fewer MacLeod and MacDonald settlements along the way.  He states that it would be best not to draw unwanted attention to the party and its ship.  Many of the local villagers could easily mistake the party for pirates or raiders and skirmish with them.  It is also likely that the party could draw the wrath of the pirates operating out of Soay and Muck which are along the way.  Malcolm comments that the northerly route around the Trotternish peninsula is not without its own perils,  however they have more to do with rough seas and dangerous shoals.  These perils can be avoided if the party makes its voyage during a period of calm weather.  Unfortunately, calm stable weather is rare during this time of year, but if the party is patient an opportunity should present itself.  Malcolm also mentions that there are MacLeod pirates which operate from the Isle of Raasay which is on the northerly route.

After everyone is given an opportunity to voice their views there is further debate and finally the party members agree to follow Malcolm’s recommendation and sail along the northerly route around the Trotternish peninsula of Skye.  The party plans to land in a secluded cove or inlet along the northern shore of the island not too far from MacLeod lands.  From there the party will make a short trek into MacLeod lands to  begin the search for Kieren’s daughter.

Late in the evening Kieran and Rhyawdd speaks privately with Dermid about whether or not he intends to join the party on their quest to find Kieren’s daughter.  Dermid offers his tracking and guiding services to the group on two conditions:  he requires a fee of 500 gp with half paid up front and he wants a share of any monies or goods that are recovered along the way.  Dermid also stipulates that this fee only pertains to the location and rescue of Kieren’s daughter from the MacLeods.  If the party should have to venture into the Cuillin hills and deal with the dragon and her minions, then a new agreement will have to be struck at that time.  Kieren and Rhyawdd agree to the terms and Kieren finalizes the deal by giving Dermid a 500 gp gem as full payment up front.  Dermid is quite pleased at this show of good faith.

November 10, the day begins with a severe chill over the land.  The temperature is only 17 degrees and a fierce wind blows from the north.  There is broken cloud cover and patches of sunlight make their way through to the ground.

The party prepares for its voyage to Skye.  Treasure is sold off or converted for use in buying goods and equipment.  Liothien sells the manticore hides to the local merchant for 2000 gp in gems (3 x 500 gp, 5 x 100 gp).  Cedric later sells the griffon hides to the same merchant for 1000 gp in gems (5 x 100 gp,  10 x 50 gp).

Cedric uses the funds from the griffon hides to put a down payment on the magical plate mail that Rutlett et.al.  recovered from the manticore’s lair.  Terms of the deal are that Cedric pays 1000 gp in gems up front with a balance of 3000 gp due.  This balance can be reduced by trading Cedric’s and/or Rhyawdd’s next pick on recovered treasure.  Reductions for these picks will be 500 gp and 750 gp respectively.

Kieren seeks out Quentin MacKenzie,  the local priest of the Celtic pantheon.  He finds him at the church near the Sea Foam Inn.  Kieren asks the priest if he can perform a divination to find out if the upcoming week will be an auspicious time to undertake a sea voyage to Skye to rescue his daughter.  He offers the priest a 500 gp gem in the name of Briganta as a contribution to the church for his assistance.  The priest performs the divination ceremony at the altar and tells Kieren that 3-4 days hence will be a favorable time to undertake his journey.  The priest also cautions Kieren that he sees possible perils on his journey involving another ship, although he cannot tell anything about the ship, whether it is a pirate vessel, clan raider, fishing boat, or simply derelict.  Kieren thanks Quentin for his assistance and makes to leave the church.  Quentin comments that his divination has shown  him  that Kieren is destined for a greater quest in the future but what it is he cannot say.

Kieren seeks out the rest of the party during the midday meal and relates what he has learned from the priest.  Malcolm comments that at present the winds and seas are unfavorable for sea passage to the Isle of Skye and that the party should heed the priest’s words.  It is agreed that the party will wait until the weather is favorable.  In the interim they make ready for the coming adventure.  Malcolm suggests that any party members that are not familiar with sailing should use the coming days to spend time on Rutlett’s ship (the Sleipner).  He and Rutlett will be sailing it around the sheltered waters of the Loch Carron, which is the body of water on which Achintee, Attadale, and Stromeferry are located.  The party members agree to take sailing lessons from Malcolm and Rutlett.

Three days pass as the party waits for the weather to improve.  The party uses this time to practice sailing and basic seamanship on Loch Carron.  They also spend time provisioning for the voyage and procuring suitable clothing and gear for sea travel at this time of year.  Many of the party members purchase clothing and boots that are water repellent.  Seal skin, oiled wool cloth, and oiled leather are the preferred materials for their gear.

Joseph and Mem seek out the Tom MacRae, the local weaponsmith, and purchase a heavy crossbow.  They commission the modification of  the crossbow so that it can fire a lightweight grapnel or a bolt fitted with an oil flask.  The weaponsmith offers to do the work for 200 gp, which includes the cost of the crossbow as well as bolts and materials.  He says that it may take up to a week to make the required changes.  Mem offers to assist the weaponsmith to speed things up and he agrees.  In 3 days they are able to make all modifications to the bow and manufacture 2 bolts with attached grapnel and 4 bolts with attached oil flasks.  Mem casts a fire trap spell on each of the bolts with attached oil flasks so that they will burst into flames upon impact.

Kieren visits Old Cud (Cameron Gunn) during this time and relates to him the party’s adventures in recovering the shard and sword from the faerie folk.  Cud is pleased with the party’s success and besting of the sidhe.  He wishes Kieren well in his quest to find his daughter on Skye.  Cud also admonishes Kieren to exercise caution in his travels because Infyrana, the dragon of Skye, is reputed to have spies everywhere.  If she learns of what the party possesses, namely the dragon amulet and Wyrm-Smiter, then she may take measures to kill or capture them.

Lord Ross is buried in the local cemetary, and a brief ceremony is held.

On the evening of November 13, Malcolm tells the party at dinner that the weather appears to be improving and that they should make ready to depart in the morning.

November 14,  the weather has improved considerably as the temperature has risen to well above freezing.  An early morning fog lifts by 8 AM to reveal an overcast drizzly day.  A light, warm breeze is blowing from the southwest which will raise the temperature to almost 50 degrees by mid afternoon.  The high tide occurs around 9 AM, so the party sets off shortly afterwards to take advantage of the favorable currents.  The party rows the ship along the length of loch Carron  into a light headwind.  By 11:00 the reach Stromeferry and pass through the narrow channel there.  As they reach the open seas the raise sail and travel due west across the open waters of loch Carron into the sound of Sleat.  The reach the Inner Sound of Sleat by 1 PM and head due north along the eastern coastline to keep as much distance as possible from Raasay and its pirates.  The light winds remain favorable all afternoon and the party is able to reach Loch Torridon as night approaches.  It is decided to enter the loch and beach the ship before nightfall.  Malcolm mentions that the MacKenzie village of Fearnbeg is nearby so the party decides to spend the night there.

As the party’s boat approaches the village, many of the local men take up arms and prepare for what they believe is a raid.  Kieren advances to the prow of the ship and yells to the village leader that the party is merely looking for a place beach the boat for the night.  Molloch the village leader is suspicious at first, until he sees the crewmembers on Rutlett’s boat .  They do not appear to be typical human pirates or raiders.  Molloch waves the boat in and watches apprehensively as the party disembarks.  Kieren speaks with Molloch and the villagers to assure them that the party means them no harm.  He is able to win them over and the villagers of Fearnbeg warm to the party and invite them to share the evening meal in their homes.  Rutlett brings out several hand kegs of good ale and that elicits a hardy response from the villagers.  The party joins the villagers for a hearty meal of fish stew and tubers.  Kieren entertains everyone with music and tales of high adventure.

During the revelry the party learns several interesting pieces of information from the locals.  A ship sank on the shoals north of Raasay island two days ago.  The fierce winds and massive ocean swells smashed the hapless boat on the rocks.  There appeared to be no survivors, although the seas were  too rough to mount any rescue effort.  The villagers don’t know who owned the boat (pirates, fishermen,  MacLeod raider, ?)

The villagers also caution the party to be wary of the ghost ship that sails the waters at the northern tip of the Trotternish peninsula.  They claim that it sails during nights with a full moon.  Unfortunately tomorrow night will be a full moon.

The party spends  an otherwise uneventful night at the fishing village of Fearnbeg.

Session ends.

Map of Party's travels:

 

Experience point awards and character status:

Liana Ashwood - Fighter/M-U
Total EP’s              500
Spell point total:      32 / 32
Hit point total:         38 / 38

Kieren Urquhart – Ranger
Total EP’s              500
Spell point total:     12  /12
Hit point total:        33 / 33

Joseph Kerr – Invoker
Total EP’s              500
Hit Point total:        36 / 36
Spell point total:     34 / 34

Rhyawdd MacPherson – Rogue
Total EP’s              500
Hit  point total:       74 / 74

Cedric – Fighter
Total EP’s              200
Hit Point total:        46 / 46

Rutlett Trollcrusher – Fighter
Total EP’s              300
Hit Point total:        73 / 73

Homer Goodmead – Rogue
No EP’s awarded
Hit Point total:   15 / 15

Mem Hammerworker - Priest of Loki
Total EP’s              600
Spell point total:     18 / 18
Hit point total:        35 / 35

Rolf Trollsbane - Fighter
No EP’s awarded
Hit Point total:  27 / 27