Chapter 2 - Session 12

Revelations and Invitations in Port Sardina

Events and Actions

Following their arrival in Port Sardina and the securing of their prize ship, the "Green Gull," the party (Werner De Rendal, Mani, Cosimo, Riu, and Noddy) found themselves quartered in the local fort under the authority of Major Hubert. Werner, concerned about four suspicious barrels of wine added to the prize ship's cargo, penned a note to Major Hubert, sealed it with his family crest, and had a guard posted outside his door deliver it that same night.

The next morning, they were summoned by Major Hubert's aide, Smithers, only to learn that Knick Nab had departed Port Sardina on a ship, arranged by Major Hubert himself. His absence reopened an old frustration — Knick Nab had slipped off alone several times before — and the party debated it before agreeing, at Mani's urging, to always tell one another where they were going from now on. They also wondered whether Knick Nab felt the same unsettling pull they experienced when separated from one another, a sensation several of them had noticed before, and whether his apparent unconcern about it might mean something. Hubert explained Knick Nab felt threatened by an upcoming conversation and feared persecution.

The remaining party members then met with Major Hubert. He discussed Knick Nab's departure, admitting that he had recently learned something troubling about Knick Nab which he had not yet had the chance to raise with him directly, though he stopped short of calling it grounds for persecution. He listened to the party's belief that fate bound them together, and confirmed their desire to continue operating as a group. Hubert informed them that Captain Barrows of the "Advance" was not headed to Port Sardina, revealing that the two had served together as junior officers years before and remained close friends — which explained his familiarity with, and gratitude for, the party's role in clearing Barrows' name at his court-martial. He also spoke about the strategic importance of Port Sardina as a frontline port against the South and acknowledged the South's mysterious wind-commanding powers, noting that the ability appeared to be wielded by more than one person acting in concert — one aboard the fire ship itself and another on the ship trailing it — which he considered significant enough to report back to the capital. Werner described the "glowing blob" burn he received, which Hubert noted did not seem like a power of The Two; Cosimo, pressed on his own familiarity with the ways of the Two as a former altar boy, said he would consult the local clergy and sought library access to better understand it. Hubert expressed skepticism about the quality of the local Governor's library for researching such matters and warned against openly discussing these unusual powers to avoid panic. Werner inquired if Major Hubert had heard of "Gildenhome," but Hubert had no knowledge of it. Werner also asked about his grandfather, a renowned sailor famed for his skill in the harsh conditions of the North (Hubert specifically demurred at calling him an explorer); Hubert knew the name — his own father had trained under the man — and confirmed the expedition had likely passed through the Channel Islands, which had long served as the natural westernmost launching point for voyages further out, before it vanished without a trace, adding that any surviving records would most likely be found in the admiralty's libraries in The Capitol.

Later, the party met Governor Frederick Francisco, who effusively thanked them for saving the port. He invited them to a fete at his mansion the following night. During this meeting, Mani requested replacement clothing and a fencing master, Cosimo asked for library access and to study under a prelate, Riu also requested library access, and Werner asked for clothing, lodging, and training in Gunnery and navigation. The Governor took a personal interest in Werner's prospects, noting he was already a midshipman and pressing Major Hubert to give him preference toward an eventual officer's commission aboard a ship of the line. The Governor and Major Hubert made various promises to accommodate these requests. Noddy and his seagull, Pocket, were also invited to the fete.

Major Hubert informed them they could collect their prize money from Harbor Master Bertin. He also mentioned an opportunity to join an initial force to secure the island where the Southern incursion was found, though it would depart in a few days, leaving little recovery time for Werner.

The party collected their prize money from Harbor Master Bertin, who had them confirm the manifest of rice bags brought off the "Green Gull" (the tally came out two bags in their favor) before paying out 10 silver pieces each; as they had done before, they set aside a silver apiece for their shared coffers, bringing the common fund to roughly 50 silver. Salter, who had accompanied the prize crew, was found already deep in his cups; they gave him only part of his share on the spot, promising the rest once he had sobered up, and he wandered off to drink further. They then dressed as well as their means allowed — mended uniforms and borrowed finery, with Noddy fashioning Pocket a scarf ascot for the occasion — and, weapons limited to swords and daggers worn as ornamentation, made their way up to the Governor's mansion for the fete. Announced to the room as the crew of the "Green Gull" and met with polite applause, they were introduced by their proper titles, including Werner as the third son of Duke Kasimir De Rendal and Noddy, to his amusement, as "Mr. Noddy" — a marked step up from what the guards had been calling him. At the party, they were greeted by the Governor and his wife, Daliah. They were surprised to meet Randolph the Chronicler, who was also a guest and revealed to be the fencing master the Governor had mentioned — Randolph noted he had already shown Mani a thing or two back in the Capital and agreed to continue his training now. Randolph explained he was en route to The Academy — an island itself well south of the mainland, once considered neutral ground but no longer safe to reach casually now that flags of truce go unrespected — and had come this way as a safer, if less direct, route than the larger port that lay along the main channel through the islands.

The fete's guests were mostly naval officers and their ladies, with a smaller number of merchants and their families in attendance and two Priests of the Two present, quietly listening to the evening's conversation. Mani spoke with ship captains about future naval appointments — one thanked him personally, noting his ship had been moored nearest the harbor mouth and would have taken the worst of the blaze — and recounted a carefully edited version of their adventures to Randolph, crediting a decoy cannon and a well-placed shot for turning back their pursuers, mentioning the fight on the island and the prisoners they took, and noting that one prisoner had escaped with help from an old Islander woman and been pursued to a neighboring island — all while omitting the pygmies, the saboteur, the secretive nature of the camp they'd found, and anything mystical; Randolph took it all down in his notebook without pressing for more. Their edited story drew different interest from different quarters — naval officers pressed for tactical detail, merchants asked after cargo and tonnage — but nothing in the room suggested anyone was listening more closely than simple curiosity would explain; Mani, still watchful for the odd three-line mark he had once glimpsed on the back of an envelope, thanked Randolph again for the gift of his main gauche, then checked Randolph's notebook margins and his own reflection in a mirror for it, but found nothing. Cosimo performed impressive magic tricks, particularly for the Governor's daughter, Suzette, and his wife, Daliah, producing coins from behind ears and from beneath a lady's petticoat before making a turtle dove vanish into the rafters; Suzette begged for an encore, and Cosimo answered with a whispered invitation to a private viewing another time. Mani, drawing on his own merchant family background, engaged with merchants and learned about local trade, which included crops like rice and, significantly, slaves; the merchants noted that in more peaceful times traders of any nation could do business here, though these days only Northern ships called.

Noddy observed a "black sparkling mist" during Cosimo's greatest working yet — the elaborate, many-layered miracle that had driven off the southern crew — seemingly drawn from the party's Medallions towards Cosimo; both he and Cosimo agreed it resembled the sparkling auras they had seen around people while chewing Bitterroot. Mani noted that the Medallions seemed to affect him differently than the others: he alone had ever managed to remove someone else's, he had once felt strangely drawn to the great black stone on the island, and yet whenever he tried to take off his own he found himself inexplicably distracted before he could finish. The party discussed the nature of fate, the possibility of powers beyond The Two, Knick Nab's potentially Elven heritage (due to his pointed ears, similar to A'Wood the smuggler), and the mysterious properties of their Medallions, recalling that A'Wood himself had once spoken of his people's belief in fate being guided by figures he described only as "two old women." They resolved to keep faith with whatever force had bound them together and press on, while agreeing Cosimo should be more discreet about performing miracles openly, and that keeping Nicolas close as a friendly, if not fully-informed, ear among the clergy might help shield them from more dogmatic churchmen.

Before the night was out, the party also weighed how to spend the next two years while Werner recovered and their next posting was arranged. They agreed unanimously to stay together and sketched out individual pursuits to fold into that time: Riu hoped to return to the Capital to study under Mistress Clara and Mistress Mary and to visit The Academy for further research, while Noddy meant to press on with his navigation training and his bond with Pocket. They floated adopting occasional group "hijinks" — infiltration, minor mischief, and the odd card game — as a standing pastime, discussed hiring street urchins to retrieve further Medallions from the skeleton in the Capital since only Mani seemed able to remove one safely, and considered selling some of their stored Bitterroot through Mani's merchant contacts before agreeing to preserve it for further study instead.

NPCs & Creatures

Major Hubert: Commander of the fort in Port Sardina.
Governor Frederick Francisco: Governor of Port Sardina.
Daliah: Wife of Governor Francisco.
Suzette: Daughter of Governor Francisco.
Randolph the Chronicler: Chronicler from The Academy, encountered at the Governor's fete.
Bertin: Harbor Master of Port Sardina.
Smithers: Aide to Major Hubert.
Pew: One-legged beggar (mentioned in recap).
Pocket: Noddy's seagull familiar.
Captain Barrows: Captain of the "Advance" (mentioned).
Knick Nab: Departed Port Sardina.
A'Wood: Elf smuggler (mentioned in discussion).
Nicolas: Priest from the "Advance" (mentioned as being in the fort, but not seen by PCs).
Salter: Sailor from the "Advance" assigned to the "Green Gull" (found already very drunk; given part of his prize share, with the rest held back until he sobered up). Known to cast a scent illusion on himself from time to time, giving off a mix of musk, cinnamon, and jasmine.
Priests of the Two: Two unnamed priests attended the Governor's fete, quietly listening to the evening's conversation.

Locations

Port Sardina: A port town in the Channel Islands, off the main channel route and serving as a stepping stone toward the South. The primary location for the session. The town is u-shaped, built around a deep, narrow channel; warships and merchantmen line both sides, some against rickety wooden platforms cut into the cliff face, others in proper berths further in, and a few simply anchored in the bay. One side rises toward finer houses; the other, overlooking the harbor mouth, climbs to the fort.
- The Fort: Military installation where the PCs were quartered and met Major Hubert.
- Governor's Mansion: Location of the fete.
- Harbor Master's Office: Where the PCs collected their prize money.
The Capitol: Mentioned as a place for records and Werner's family history.
The Academy: Mentioned by Randolph the Chronicler; located on an island to the south of the mainland, once considered neutral ground though no longer reliably safe to reach.
Totem Isle: The island with Blackstone Peak and the abandoned Southerner's camp where the ciphered papers were found, previously visited by the PCs. Mentioned as a potential destination for a return mission.

Conflicts

Werner De Rendal is still recovering from severe burns sustained in the previous session. The fort's surgeon treated him overnight with salves, bandages, and a drink that eased the pain but left him a little giddy.
- Two minor burn injuries (-5 penalty each) will take 6 days each to heal (progressively).
- One medium burn injury (-25 penalty) will take 30 days to heal (progressively).
Knick Nab's departure created a point of discussion and concern for the party.

Learnings and Discussions

Knick Nab left Port Sardina, fearing persecution related to an upcoming, unspecified conversation.
Major Hubert admitted he had recently learned something troubling about Knick Nab that he had not yet raised with him directly, though he did not believe it warranted persecution.
Prompted by Knick Nab's latest disappearance, the party agreed to always tell one another where they are going from now on.
The party wondered whether Knick Nab felt the same unsettling pull they experienced when separated from one another, and whether his seeming indifference to it might be significant.
The party reaffirmed their desire to stay and operate together.
Major Hubert believes there are powers in the world beyond The Two and is trying to understand them. He warned the party about the dangers of openly discussing such topics.
Werner asked Major Hubert about "Gildenhome," but Hubert was unfamiliar with the name.
Major Hubert and Captain Barrows served together as junior officers years ago and remain close friends, which explains Hubert's warmth toward the party and his detailed knowledge of Barrows' court-martial.
The PCs learned more about Werner's grandfather, a renowned sailor whose expedition vanished years ago. Major Hubert revealed that his own father had trained under him, and that the islands had long served as the natural westernmost launching point for voyages before the Great Change; any surviving records of the expedition would likely be found in the admiralty's libraries in The Capitol.
The party discussed the "man commanding the winds" and the "glowing blob" burn from the fire ship incident, acknowledging these as unusual powers wielded by the South. Hubert noted the wind-commanding ability seemed to be shared by more than one person acting together, aboard both the fire ship and the ship trailing it, and considered this significant enough to report to the capital.
Randolph the Chronicler is in Port Sardina, en route to The Academy, which is an island south of the mainland — once neutral ground, though no longer safe to reach casually. He is the fencing master the Governor referred to, and had previously given Mani some sword instruction back in the Capital.
Trade in Port Sardina includes crops (like rice) and slaves; historically, traders of any nation could do business here, though these days only Northern ships call.
At the Governor's fete, the party was announced by their proper titles, revealing Werner as the third son of Duke Kasimir De Rendal.
Mani searched the fete for the odd three-line mark he had once glimpsed on the back of an envelope, checking Randolph's notebook and his own reflection, but found nothing.
Noddy shared his observation of a "black sparkling mist" connected to Cosimo's magic and the party's Medallions; he and Cosimo agreed it resembled the sparkling auras seen around people while chewing Bitterroot.
Mani discovered his connection to the Medallions differs from the others': he alone can remove another's medallion, he once felt drawn to the great black stone on the island, and he cannot seem to remove his own without becoming mysteriously distracted.
The party discussed the possibility that Knick Nab might be Elven, similar to A'Wood.
The party debated the nature of the force guiding them (fate, The Two, or something else) and the implications of other powers existing in the world, recalling that A'Wood had once spoken of his people's belief in fate being guided by figures he called "two old women." They resolved to press on regardless, while being more discreet about revealing Cosimo's miracles.
The party agreed to keep Nicolas close as a friendly, if not fully-informed, face among the clergy, judging he could help shield them from more dogmatic churchmen without being trusted with everything they know.
Major Hubert is aware of the four suspicious wine barrels and stated it is a "fruitful endeavor not contrary to the success of the North."
The party discussed hiring street urchins to retrieve further Medallions from the skeleton in the Capital, since only Mani seemed able to remove one safely, and considered adopting occasional group "hijinks" as a standing pastime.
The party can join an initial force to the island with the Southern encampment to search for a cipher, but this mission departs in a few days.

Items Gained

Each present party member (Werner, Mani, Cosimo, Riu, Noddy) received 1 gold piece (10 silver pieces) as their share of the prize money for the "Green Gull."
The party pooled a silver piece each into their shared coffers, bringing the common fund to roughly 50 silver.
Promises of future training (fencing for Mani, Gunnery & navigation for Werner), access to libraries (Cosimo and Riu, for Governor's library), and assistance with clerical studies (Cosimo).
A promise from the Governor and Major Hubert of preference toward an eventual officer's commission for Werner.
Replacement clothing for those who needed it (Mani, Werner).

Items Lost

Werner's uniform and clothing were badly damaged by fire.
Werner's stock of harpoons was depleted, leaving him with only two.