Three Mages
Bits and Bobs
We provide Managaratha with a briefing on our arrival, the captured cataur prisoners, the feather from Suvatra, and other pertinent information. Following this, we spend the night at an inn.
[Salamander 26]
During breakfast, a sluagh approaches. They hear that someone is attempting to reach His Majesty, and should that person wish to contact the sluagh, we are handed a spider. Nesh takes the spider, and the sluagh disappears again.
We then meet the Northport captain, Latirias, at the Northport naval base.
Coordinating with Berana is deemed helpful, but difficult to set up mutual defense. Coordination on offense would work better, but an offensive against the Slith requires multiple mages cooperating to overcome anti-magic fields. The Slith have recently assassinated two mages, which has made the mages more interested in the Slith problem, but that can't be counted on longer term.
Stella spends a DI on us being a Useful Tool. The captain proceeds to identify three mages, deemed more likely to be convinced, who might aid "outsiders seeking assistance". The Navy provides a small list of people to approach if we are interested in helping.
Diomarche inquires about a pattern in the assassinations. Mage Deo Oro's partner, whom we encountered earlier, was one of the victims. The Slith may lack coordination among their factions, with separate Slith countries drawing in country turns against different targets. The Navy suggests putting the merfolk in contact with Northport, Southport, or the (more mobile) Admiral.
Mage Memnon, Mage Alexa (located near Southport), and Mage Nimra are identified as potential contacts. Any mage can give orders to anyone, and the Admiralty operates discreetly beneath the mages' radar.
(Merfolk have kings/queens who possess castles, until they don't).
We decide to gather information on Memnon and Nimra. Memnon's court is north of our current location, and Nimra was last seen in town a month ago talking to the local priest of Tem.
Next Day [Salamander 27]
Diomarche seeks priests of Rush and talks to the temple priest outside the naval base. A recommendation for Alexa is provided as someone who might help once, as a battle research project.
Nesh acquires a map, which shows Northport, Southport (on the west coast), Eastport, the (Saurian) Citadel (in the north), and a central city called Indaton. Smaller towns are situated along the north coast.
Third Day [Salamander 28]
We set sail north, making intentional stops at villages along the way and engaging with the locals to gather any nuggets of information that might aid our mission. By nightfall, we finally reach the north coast, the cool breeze and the scent of the sea marking our arrival in a new territory and emphasizing the vastness of the challenges that lie ahead.
Fourth Day [Salamander 29]
We reach the village with Mage Memnon. Nesh successfully persuades Memnon to come and "bless the Admiralty with his mighty powers", and he assigns a Logistics Guy, Jerome, for further coordination. Jerome notes that Memnon doesn't do "trading favors" but will be pleased if he gets renown for earning a victory against the Slith. Stella talks to a local priest who suggests fancy jewelry and trade goods to trade with Nimra.
Returning south, Managaratha suggests that Nimra, from a trading house, makes deals if you have something she wants.
Fifth Day [Salamander 30]
We send a message through a local captain to Nimra, informing her of our stay in an inn in Southport in two days, and hoping for a meeting. Then we sail south, leaving the Kittiwake with the shipwrights Gale has found to make magical improvements.
Sixth Day [Dragon 1]
Nimra arrives, and we offer her the cataur Loot in exchange for assisting the Admiralty on an initial basis. The Loot exceeds her expectations, buying some of her time. We inquire about any other items of interest that she might be interested in - she says she would be interested in particularly old objects or those belonging to the Lady.
Diomarche checks in with the priest of Rush near the naval base.
Now, we head to Alexa's tower, and Managaratha introduces us. Alexa finds our party battle map with Middlesea interesting and suggests returning the next day for a more detailed examination, which would earn credit for the Admiralty.
Recording details of unusual battles is proposed as an idea, with Gale suggesting observing merfolk fights as interesting data. That might buy some more assistance if we're in the battle.
Loot:
+6 EPs, +10 SPs (?)