• PCsReginald & Sir Ares collect several rewards after slaying Damian.
• Ares deciphers the drow research notes.
• PCs slay an ogre and find a smashed merchant wagon in the Northern Forests.
• PCs reach Port Middlemond. They spend a week preparing for their next journey.
• PCs join Hazun’s crew, and are attacked by Sahuagin after one day of sailing.

Rewards

The PCsReginald & Sir Ares receive the following rewards after defeating Damian:

• From Damian’s body: A map, a golden pocket watch with R.R. engraved on it, a crushed seashell
• From Brulma: Bull brooch, friendship with the Ironhearts, two of her finest horses (Jett for Reginald, Snowflake for Ares)
• From Salen: Invitation to study with the monks

Ares translates the drow research notes:

• The drow are using an ooze they’ve discovered to make various cross-species horrors
• The ultimate purpose of these experiments somehow relates to “Lolth’s Creatures”
• There is a bigger “northern lab” conducting similar experiments

Ogre

The PCs tell Brulma their plans, then set out for Port Middlemond. In the forest, they defeat an ogre with a broken club. After further investigation, they find:

• A smashed merchant wagon (which they loot)
• Remains of 4 bodies
• Northern Syndicate merchant papers
• A magical amulet

Port Middlemond

The PCs reach Port Middlemond. The Starlight innkeeper Sylvia says a local adventuring party is preparing an expedition to Bladestorm Isle, where a mysterious hostile people are said to live.

The merchant Rubos says the dead Northern Syndicate merchant – Ivan – had no immediate family, but his younger assistant – Leo – had family in Doral Doral. Rubos sends men to retrieve Ivan’s goods.

The local wizard, Videlis, can teach Reginald new spells:

• Level 1: Charm (1,000 gp)
• Level 1: Sleep (1,000 gp)
• Level 2: Knock (2,000 gp)
• Level 2: Esp (2,000 gp)

Preparation

Reginald trains with Videlis for a week to learn charm. Meanwhile, Ares meets the Gilded Saints and practices making forgeries.

PCs meet the reeve, Leonard. He asks for help with Port Middlemond’s disappearing boat problem, and writes a letter instructing the people manning Elder Point Light to help the PCs with their own quest.

Setting sail

PCs make a deal with the merchant captain Hazun: they provide security in exchange for transport to Elder Point Light.

After one day of travel, Hazun’s ship is attacked by a Sahuagin raiding party. Hazun’s sailors panic and coat the tail end of the ship in oil.