Tides of Death: S2

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==Recap==
The Crimson Fists have overtaken the Forbidden Fruit. John Winters and Nilrem set sail to Arcadia to deliver the horse to the former count of Wake County in Redport. Archie B. Alder and Saol are sent to Sulfer Island (ToD S1). 
===5th April, 1514===
They check up on the horse and discuss what to do with it, then decide to sell it in Weatherlight. 
===In Weatherlight, April, 1514===
John dismisses the crew that wants to go, they are free to leave. 3/4 leave, and John gives them their wages. They get a good reception in town, and get notified how Gadia has been occupied by the undead, there are reports of sailors killed by strange bats (DwD 160).
Winters recounts his adventures in Arcadia with Archie. They separate, John goes to the bar and offers free drinks and tries to gather a few sailors to hire.
Meanwhile, Nilrem goes to the local temple, looking for a cleric, only finds Cleric of Quantarius and checks the price of the gold ring. Nilrem asks about Rho-ei and Telamaki, Illanorum dragon, but the cleric doesn't know about that, and he points Nilrem to , the great wizard of Redport, his former mentor. 
He tries to sell the golden ring, but the price is too cheap, and decides to keep it. Afterward, Nilrem goes to the orphanage and offers a donation of 10 gold. Headmistress meets him, she has a symbol of Malkis on her ring, Nilrem senses something off about her. He introduces himself as an apprentice of Merlin, and explains he needs an intelligent or wise child as an apprentice for himself. The children aren't exceptional. 
John has finished drawing a great notice, and the barkeep hangs it on the board. Makt is the first sailor that comes, who shares his life story, he's on board for the adventure. Nilrem arrives. 
===3rd day, April, 1514===
Nilrem casts to get attention before Winters holds a speech, and gathers 13 sailors. 
Nilrem goes back to the orphanage, at night, to get some older kids and hire them. He casts , tries to find an entrance, no luck. He goes to the dormitory, taps on the window with gold coins and a little girl lets him in. He gathers the children and offers them to be pirates and have a family. None of the kids want to become pirates, kids decide to ask Malkis. The kids pray to Malkis, and Nilrem leaves the kids alive.
===6th day, April, 1514===
Winters hires someone to paint a mural and hands out free beer, a lot of people gather. Nilrem casts on John, he holds a speech. Nilrem notices the Headmistress is there, and he heads out to the orphanage. Winters gathers 60 volunteers and hires 40. 
The sheriff of the town, Nottingham, Amulet of Tempos around her neck, heads towards the Winters. She demands he returns the stolen ship. John feigns ignorance and guards surround them. She takes him to the sheriff's station. They discuss how he got the ship. John 'convinces' her he didn't steal the ship if he agrees to take the prisoners with him out of town. 
The prisoners are excited to get out and be part of the crew, except for the creepy old with a bad attitude.
Meanwhile, Nilrem the door of the orphanage and ransacks the office of the Headmistress. He takes the money from the donation box and finds a prayer book, multicolored sand, and candles which he takes. There is a loose floorboard, inside are parchments in an unknown language, 3 emeralds. He casts and the whole building lights on fire.
They regroup and set sail to Hillsborough. 
Nilrem asks the crew to read the papers from the orphanage. They are in dwarven but complete gibberish. He reads the prayerbook to check for code, there is no code, and the book is an instruction manual to get people to follow Malkis. 
===In Hillsborough, April, 1514===
Ships on the dock have been damaged, the town is full of people. He finds a few more charismatic recruits to go with him, Psychie (12 11 4 14 11 12 11) and Cyprus (10 14 15 13 13 12 10). This entire part of Arcadia is in disarray, there are repeating attacks of fishmen, Mahtavan ships are being repaired here. There are 2 clerics of Voraci in town. 
Nilrem visits another orphanage and finds no exceptional children.
John takes Psychie, Cyprus, Nilrem, and the horse to the town tavern Constellation. Nilrem gets a card game with people. John observes the room and looks busy. Nilrem baits the players, waiting for the right game, and bets gold, emerald, and the horse. It's a tie. People crowd around. Nilrem continues playing. In 30 minutes of play he assures the good hand, offers the man to cut his losses, the man doesn't agree and loses. 
The man introduces himself as Count Fairmane, ruler of Clydesdale. John Winters introduces himself and gifts the horse to the ruler. He notices something is strange but his greed gets the better of him. Nilrem threatened the groom into making a mess so he's not taken with the horse.
Count Fairmane offers a job to Nilrem as a mage. Nilrem declines but offers to enchant his door. The count gloats the famed Aldric himself enchanted the count's doors with . In case Nilrem takes him up on the offer, he needs to contact Kel Sareena.
===Talk with the Wizard, April, 1514===
Merlin the Wizard is in town. Nilrem tells John Merlin is his former master, he wants to ask him about Rho-ei. He gives John Father Hubert's spellbook to offer to sell. On Merlin's door is a crude painting of Nilrem with the words "Missing" craved in, with an offer of 100 gold. 
Winters offers the spellbook and the wizard lets them outside. Nilrem casts on the captain, Merlin is surprised and they grappel him. Merlin greets Nilrem with open arms and Nilrem tackles him, then ties him up. Merlin is confused by Nilrem's actions.
Nilrem hands him the orphanage papers to read, he says it's dwarven gibberish. Merlin says he is quite and expert on Telamaki, Illanorum dragon. They speak of him:
It's Lanorum-type dragon named Telemaki. Has a breath weapon of caustic acid and it works underwater. Telamaki lives beneath the sea, a self-styled ruler of this area. Nilrem mentions Saol and black tentacles coming out of the water, Merlin says it's an arcane spell but Lenorum dragons only use Divine magic. 
Nilrem tells him everything that has happened with Rho-ei. Merlin concludes that doesn't sound like Telemaki at all, Rho-ei is divinely oriented in spell casting, most similar to the goddess of nature Nadinis. 
When asked about the gods, Merlin talks about Age of Mist, and that ruler of Gadia, necromancer Malcifer Winter claims there are other deities, Winter Gods. Merlin has convinced himself those are lies and only Gods that exist are the ones in the sky.
Merlin is certain there is a simpler solution than a long-forgotten god and upon hearing more stories claims Saol is undead. They untie him, Merlin thought Nilrem was kidnapped and his place ransacked. They exchange stories. Merlin also captured a talking fish. 
Nilrem considers contacting Malcifer, to find out more about Saol's nature. He might also be a demon. Rho-ei is waging a holy war against Astair in Dardens, which sounds like Malkis. They talk about Ferris and offer him to work there, then they argue and Nilrem hits him with a single . Merlin realises that Nilrem is not an apprentice material anymore. John leaves Nilrem to do what he wants.
Nilrem tries to convince Merlin to leave, he declines and fires off 2 . Nilrem stops the bleeding, ties him up, sailors arrive to haul out the books and magic things. They smuggle Merlin on the ship and set sail back to Dardens.
Category:Tides of Death Episodes