As told by Sprey D’Eagle.

From Sprey’s Journal, one of several unsent letters:

Uncle Adler,

Gosh I hope you all are doing okay. I’m not sure where Mr. Mooney and the circus have made their way to now, but I hope you’ve been able to go with them.

As for me, our crew has made it to the town of Ylrpahon in search of the mysteries of the Flooded Forest. We weren’t sure what to expect from this place, so before heading out we stocked up on all kinds of supplies. Kuda was looking for ways to get more tattoos, which makes me feel like I need a reminder of all the tattoos he has… Ghaisek also picked up some fancy…lube/ointment thing that he immediately handed to his pet thing, so maybe that’ll come in handy. Could you let Auntie Umber know I also picked up a glassblower’s kit? I thought it was time to start using one again.

After we booked passage on a boat by working our butts off helping with the sailing, we arrived in Ylraphon and set to work learning more about what might be hidden in the Flooded Forest. While I took time to get a layout of the town and swamp, the group visited both temples of Selune and Umberlee. No one knew about the Sunken City we had heard about, but we did get tasked with clearing out “Old Moldy”. Apparently someone named Moander hadn’t done his spring cleaning and we got sent to clean his house for him.

Just outside the house we found a bunch of signs for joining the Convocation in the Sunken City. They made it sound like a party, but I think we all had a bad feeling about it. The house turned out to be some…sunken temple thing that some big tentacle thing had taken over. I guess instead of rats they get tentacle monsters that move into abandoned homes. We got beaten up pretty good, but it was worth it from all the treasure we found!

Everyone got some fun but powerful toys too, and I’m sure their excited to use them, but after the monster we needed some good rest. I guess we’ll be in this swamp a little bit longer and trying to learn from it. Hopefully the circus never makes it over here, it’s a little too humid for Auntie Nabis’ liking.

Take care, Uncle.

As told by Ghaisek.

Greetings Mistress,

I trust the creature Caliban has kept you apprised of goings on here on the material plane (though I may give the wretch too much credit), but it seemed appropriate to provide a formal update. As you know, we had previously traveled to Ylraphon with intent to seek power and enrichment in the nearby flooded forest.

After dealing with that tentacle beast at the house of Moander we took some time to rest and recover from grievous injury -for those among our number careless enough to suffer such wound. Following our rest, we noticed that many of our capabilities had increased. I myself take note of your intervention in such matters of fortune, and offer gratitude for recognition of faithful service.

We soon set feet to purpose, and marched deeper into the flooded forest in search of the sunken city. The Lutrinian, Timothy, led the way for us following encoded messages left through the forest. He has some connection to our Master in Nessus, but is reticent on the topic. I will endeavor to find out more on this matter in due course.

Fearing the possibility of beguiling fey magics, the bard Rolf played songs for a journey towards a purpose of fortifying our minds against such influence. I believe there is some potential for gain in cultivating friendship with Rolf. He is charming and naïve in equal measure, proving himself loyal companion and valuable ally.

Eventually we found a warning posted to “Beware: Winged Fangs”. Were it not for the rumors of vampiric pixies I would have considered such warning to be the product of a deranged mind. In short measure we found ourselves accosted by the very same. We came across an altar in the forest rich with coin and warded by a permanent enchantment of spike growth.

While investigating the altar we were attacked by a pair of these fey creatures along with a cadre of gnolls. A cleverly placed fireball from Preston made short work of the gnolls but the fey proved a greater nuisance. Something within the mists laying over the region seemed to sap us of the very essence of vitality and transfer it in full measure to those vicious little cunts. There seemed to be some magic in the arrows they fired. One such arrow rendered Sprey unconscious in a single hit. Another arrow resulted in immediate cries of terror from Rolf leading me to the conclusion that some enchantment must lay on the arrows. (I doubt whether Rolf has the good sense to actually feel terror without some form of magical inducement, but i suppose that is part of his charm).

Once the violence had ended it became quickly apparent that the gnolls with the fey were mere slaves and unlikely to prove as threat. Some of our number expressed regret at the deaths of those pitiful creatures. In truth, we granted them freedom from the sorrowful mewling existence to which they had been condemned.

I have enclosed with this missive the preserved form of one of these vampiric fey so that you may pass it to others in your service for study. The satyr Kuda was quite useful in preparing the preservative solution. Take note of my continued success in acquiring assistance to purpose from these that would serve lesser masters.

Hail Andariel in her glory, Hail Asmodeus Lord of the Ninth.

Your servant,

Ghaisek

As told by Gaemon Swallows.

My dear sweet Umberllee,
I write this soliloquy as I think of thee

After picking off pixies, we purveyed the praying perch
Scratching off a rune we gave the site a search

The base beheld a brand, the Black hand of lord Bane
Kuda cleansed sigil from stone, to cease this false gods claim

Onward we traveled, Timothy trailing tidings of thieves
We stumbled upon wicked smell of death amongst trees

Making our approach, Kuda found a corpse flower
I think that he smokes it to create his odd star power

As Kuda culled cuttings, the Cordia came to be a carnivorous cabbage
Seeping smells sheepened the stomachs of Sprea and I most savage

The vile vegetation vomited vicious victimized ventures of yore
Gaesik’s gaze glazed, grimly launching eldritch blast, as we’ve seen before

Preston’s fingers flew fabulous flames frying fatally our foes, smoking from the tips
Rolfs poniard projectile pierced plant on point ,thrown from the hips

Timothy swam slime in stream, shooting safely from shore
Taking one for the team as a Navy Seal Otter, adorbe

With the war almost won Gaesick wove his wacky wand for wauggery
And by perchance poofed the prized plant from the plotted perch, Buggery

Lost in soaked swamp Sprea soared to the skys
Spotting smoke from a campfire we surmised

Upon careful approach Timothy and team A made new friends
Though still skeptical team B hung back round the bends

Brother Paul seemed…. to nice, and offly fond of a frog
Seemed possibly their minds might be lost in a fog

Braun, Alitta and Lexi add, make for a marry ol band
Against better judgement we all walk up and join clan

After an arm wrestle, a dinner, and slight exchange of tales
We made up our camp and our group plans to set sail

Timothy forgetting his supplies, with mischievous intent
Decided to stay with Brother Paul in his tent

I don’t claim to know much about this wild land
But staying with him seems a terrible plan

As I write, as I fight, cleansing your world of foul blight in name of the
Bless me, in your way, that I can bring your chaos to the fray my sweet Umberllee

As told by Ghaisek.

Mistress,

I am pleased to report that I have been successful in the task you put before me. As you are no doubt aware, our crew made our way deeper into the flooded forest in search of the sunken city. As we came nearer to our destination, we encountered another group of travelers in search of the city. An unforeseen working of magic, from this wand I acquired, caused Rolf to be upset by the “unnecessary” risk of random spellwork. Consequently, I opted to take a more diplomatic approach to our meeting with this group of wanderers-although my instinct was to incinerate them on the spot.

We ended up making camp with these strangers and learned from their leader, “Brother Paul”, that they were in search of the sunken city to seek out the wisdom of the so-called Frog Sage. The fervor with which Brother Paul spoke combined with the mindless obedience of his companions was immediately concerning. Fanatics certainly have their uses, but I find that left unchecked they cause more trouble than they are worth.

Gaemon, Preston, and Rolf slept in the hollow of some rocks near Brother Paul’s camp, while Sprea, Kuda, and I slept in various places outside. Timothy of course has a penchant for getting into trouble and opted to sleep with brother and one of his companions in the main tent.

In the middle of the night, Brother Paul attacked Timothy and revealed himself to be a green slaad. Once the ruckus woke the rest of our group from sleep I returned my thoughts to a more incendiary solution.

As fights go, the crew acquitted themselves quite well. I’d even suggest that it was one of our more cleanly executed battles -especially in light of how potentially poorly we were positioned for such a fight.

We continued on to the sunken city itself where we encountered a spellcasting grey slaad. The crew proved quite capable of dealing with the threat and were quite helpful in following your instructions to sever the link between the “spawning stone” and the Prime Material. They did have some questions regarding the source of my information that I did not see fit to answer at the time. A small bit of pressure on Timothy in regards to his connection to our Master proved helpful in convincing him to encourage the rest of the crew to carry on without asking too many questions. That said, I imagine the time is quickly coming where they will try and nail me down on some answers. It may serve purpose of finding out more about Timothy’s past in order to leverage his support.

After we completed our business in the sunken city we returned to Raven’s Bluff via Ylraphon and found that the construction of our ship The Vicious Seaward has been completed. We are headed back to the Dragon’s Claw Tavern to speak with Lady Raven and Barkus and receive our next task.

Hail Asmodeus,

Ghaisek