Session 11

### The Gang toasts to Merrick

The group approaches the shore of Orusar, but the captain anchors farther off shore to avoid the investigating Flamesword soldiers who are investigating a murder and stolen ship at the docks. A portion of the crew decides to leave the ship (for good) while the rest talk about taking on more "reputable" work in the future. The new captain is the half-orc first mate--Captain Hadwin Vome. And Clinky is promoted to first mate. Clink wishes the crew well, and gives them a sending stone in case they ever want to call on them for help.

The group, the former Captain, Arri, Zol, and little Billy, take a rowboat further down the coast and walk to town. When they approach the docks, they see a familiar face--Dilly. Dilly's surprised to see them, and excitedly rejoins Arri and Zol. She asks them how things are, and notices that Merrick is missing from the group.

Arri, Dilly, and Zol head into town to do some shopping. While the Captain and little Billy follow the group to the Lava Pit.

Upon arriving, they notice the Lava Pit is considerably more busy than usual. The performances of "Skar-Kul and the Gang" have attracted fans hoping for an impromptu performance. Frewyn tells the group that she and Vallarie have been extremely busy due to the increased patronage. So the group asks them if they would consider taking Billy as an apprentice. Reluctantly, Frewyn accepts Billy as an apprentice, with Vallarie jumping in saying she'll help take care of him. Meanwhile, the captain gives the group his pirate hat of water breathing, and walks off to talk to Vallarie for the rest of the evening.

The group runs some errands--upgrading their armor and weapons, meeting Callisto of the Bone and Shield. And Barthus has the head of the Drow chief embalmed by an old man in a cemetery.

Skarul returns to the inn where he's met by his sister, Nandise. She asks if he got the present she left him, and mentions that she and her brother Skud are in town for "a job". Skarul tells her to leave, but when she refuses, he walks away to sit alone at the bar. A few minutes later, he turns around to look where she was sitting, but she's gone.

The rest of the party returns to the inn, and Skarul performs a sad melody for the tavern about Merrick. The group is captivated by his performance, and cheer after climactic disappearance at the end of the song. Falgas decides to cover drinks for a night of carousing in Merrick's honor. There's arm wrestling, singing, drinking, kitchen fires, and good food. As it gets late, Barthus starts helping bounce patrons out of the tavern--which is when Skarul sees the face of his sister again, leaving the tavern and waving goodbye.

Skarul goes invisible and follows his sister to an inn on the other side of town, The Shady Inn. It's run down, with a symbol of a cloaked figure riding a horse in front of a dead tree. Skarul follows her to a room on the second floor, and listens at the door.

He hears his sister talking to two individuals, Skud and Skriil, two of his older brothers. They're talking about finding a boy who took the Talisman. They mention searching the city and the dead sands and finding no sign of him. The only two places they haven't checked--the beanstalk itself and the dragon's lair. But they're hesitant to put themselves in any kind of danger to search either of those places.

They also mention feeling curious about whether Skarul would ever "join them". The brothers say they would doubt it because Skarul was "too soft" but Nandise remains curious.

Skarul returns to the inn, and rests with the rest of his comrades.

In the morning, the group hears a knock at the door. It's the Lady of Craith, who is asking if she can have a word with them about some work she needs their help with. Skarul suffers from a horrible hangover and pukes all over the room, while Falgas and Barthus comfort him.

The group meets with the Lady downstairs, who tells them that they're starting to see signs of the Blue Dragon's activity in the desert. And since Alard Vane was originally the one who kept the Dragon at bay, she would like their assistance "dealing with it" in whatever way necessary. Though, she prefers, if they could attempt a peaceful negotiation with the dragon, since the city previously had used blue dragon scales and magic to develop many of the city's defenses over the years.

*Find out what happens next with Skar-kūl and the Gang.*