Liverbirds Journal - Wreck of the Shining Star

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Date 7/30/3518 - The 30th of Greenwake, Ten Day

Cast of Characters

Daar Na Tosh - Human Berserker

Kaz - Troll Swashbuckler

Aletta Poquette - Dwarf Sneak

Suzie Walnuts - Human Paladin of Isanna

Tahd Thurstenhill - Human Armsman

Verilyn Vickery- Elf Magician

Summary

After the incident at the Spottle parlor, the party did some preliminary information gathering on their new adversary and then sent a formal request to "The Old Man of the City" at his manor. They received an invitation the next day. After some light shopping and prep, they showed up at the front gate of his compound armed and armored. With their invitation validated, they were escorted into one of the two stone towers and led to the third floor. A well-dressed older man with a perpetual scowl sat behind a utilitarian desk, while a massive bronze skinned man with short, cropped hair and beard sat lounging with a book on a comfortable red couch. A third bookish man in a brown robe stood across the room near a wall-to-wall rack of scrolls. Aside from a handful of chairs, the centerpiece of the room was a large, solid looking table covered with a detailed map of the city. Decorative markers dotted the city scape, clearly showing points of interest or plots in progress.

It was a tense meeting. Jak revealed why they were on the list; either to placate Lord Guzz to use him in the future, or to take him off the board and potentially recruit the PC's. Verilyn started to suggest that they just kill Jak and was immediately countered by the man on the couch, who simply appeared next to her, long knife at her throat. They recovered from that faux pas, and after a huddle agreed to be independent contractors for at least one job, in exchange for him influencing the court to rule in their favor over ownership of the Tuvach estate. With this agreement, he gave them the details of the available job. A merchant ship named The Shining Star left for Cathan some three weeks ago; it didn't make it far and was just spotted listing about two hundred miles along the coast southeast of the city. Jak knows that the owner of the ship, Lord Albrecht Maragorn, was shipping some arcane relics along with a hold full of trade goods. Jak believes that there is a powerful and dangerous item in a small, locked box, most likely in the captain's quarters - and he wants it at all costs. A recovery operation is already being organized and will be leaving tomorrow. If the party gets underway now, they should just be able to beat them. With that, they took their leave and started rushing their own preparations. Heading to the docks, their new fishing boat the Whipoorwill had returned for the day. They gave the crew a few days off, and convinced Captain Owen to help them find the lost ship. With hurriedly stocked supplies, the party sailed down the coast for two days before spotting the ship crashed on rocky outcroppings but still upright. The other ship is mere hours behind them, and as they eased toward the Shining Star, they could see that the sails were unfurled, but the deck was eerily deserted...

NPC's Introduced

Jak, a.k.a. "The Old Man of the City", a.k.a. Shanu-re.

Sendor, a towering bronze skinned mystery figure.

Dragho, an iron-thewed barbarian guard

Vreskikki, Jak's personal assistant.

Jak's disciples

Captain Owen

Lord Albrecht Maragorn (off screen)

Locations Introduced

Thrupp House (Jak's Compound) 

Session Notes

The party has made a new, powerful contact, but it is safe to say that they don't all feel the same way about it. Jak is clearly dangerous, and they might be getting in over their heads already.

If Jak is truthful and is as connected as he says, all they need is the 3,000 crowns to pay the taxes on the estate and he will make sure they are awarded it in court. Will he follow through?

Also, what is going on with Verilyn? Only Suzie noticed when she licked that big muscular guy, and she seemed shaken up a bit afterwards. Who is he? Better yet, what is he, and what is his relationship with Jak?

Reputation

Kinsgbridge: 2

Kinsgbridge Dock Quarter: 3

Kingsbridge Underworld: 1

DM Notes

Flying Buffalo, Inc., published a line of generic setting books as part of their Catalyst Series from like 1982 to 1997; in that line are seven Citybooks, and it's no secret that they have been some of my favorite books since I purchased them new. They are also some of the oldest game books I own. I've used them in numerous city settings over the years, and when I started fresh with Tellus I knew they would be going into my city of Kingsbridge. There are hundreds of services, establishments and people in the books - but hands down, I think the most interesting figure is The Old Man. The meeting went well. I genuinely didn't know if they would accept the offer, attempt violence, or just refuse and walk away. It was easily the biggest decision that they've made this campaign, and I am just delighted to see what happens next. And then we get to do their first foray outside of the city, on a boat even! And now we have a ghost ship? I know I can't wait.

References

Wreck of the Shining Star by Richard W. Emerich; Dungeon Magazine #15, 1989

Citbook V: Sideshow, Flying Buffalo, Inc., 1991