Dawn breaks over Cassomir as the party gets ready for another day. While Thistle remains at the Inn, Kyle, Lythar, Tyl and Gron head out to see about Tyl’s armor. On the way to the Anvil of War to see Odal Hammerstrike, Lythar and Kyle notice a Pixie sitting on a lamppost some distance down the street. Realizing it has been noticed, the small creature darts away quickly. Lythar knows that Pixies usually aren’t seen outside of the deep forest, and is further concerned that this one appeared to be trying to surreptitiously watch them. Realizing that pursuit would be futile, the group continues on to the armorer.Reaching the Anvil of War, Tyl endures her fitting with a little bit of snarl and a growl, but otherwise refrains from removing limbs from Master Hammerstrike. After making sure the smith is on time, the party returns to the street, where once again, Lythar notices a Pixie watching them. While he’s unsure whether it is the same creature as before, he again witnesses odd behavior as the Pixie darts away the moment it’s noticed.
Picking up Thistle at the Inn, the group heads off in pursuit of Miles Sinister. The boy from the previous evening failed to show up, and Kyle is concerned something untoward has happened to him. With the knowledge that Miles often frequents a dive on the docks called the Skull and Scupper, the Party heads towards the waterfront.
On the way, Kyle feels a quick sting on his neck, and emits a whuff of surprise. When Lythar asks him what is wrong, he doesn’t seem to remember what he was upset about. The oddness reminds the Elf about the Pixies, and he fills Thistle in on what he has seen. When Kyle is asked about the fae creatures, however, he seems to have no memories whatsoever about having seen any Pixies that day. Lythar’s concern deepens, and he moves the Pixies fully over into the “threat” column.
Reaching the Skull and Scupper, the Party surveys the dilapidated wharfside bar, which is doing a brisk business despite the mid-morning hour. A human and Half-Orc are standing to either side of the door, and the group briefly debates continuing on to Miles’ rumored under-dock hideout. On a whim, Lythar strides over to the door, only to find his way blocked by the two toughs by the door. While he manages to intimidate the human, the Half-Orc isn’t at all phased by Lythar’s bluster, giving him a shove and telling him to be on his way.
Seeing Lythar’s hand dart to the hilt of his blade, Kyle smoothly steps in, befriending the Half-Orc and sweeping him inside for a drink. Lythar gives a flat look to the human, who visibly blanches, and steps into the bar after them, unmolested. Once at the bar, Kyle attempts to talk the Half-Orc, who turns out to be a bungling assassin, into killing Miles, but finally magically commands him to go find the nearest guard and confess his sins.
Leaving the Skull and Scupper, the party descends to the rocks and sand by the water and begins to search the beach for Miles’ hideout. Spying a half dozen armed men standing near some rocks in the distance, the group begins to close the gap when the men open fire with crossbows.
Aided by Tazjh and Tyl’s speed, a team of skunks summoned by Kyle, and Thistle calling fire down on the guards, the group quickly subdues the men. As they’re fighting, they notice a pair of Pixies duck into the cave entrance, and realize they must act quickly to minimize the amount of time those inside have to prepare. The group decides to task Gron with guarding the tunnel mouth, to ensure no one escapes via that route while they’re clearing the warren.
Working their way through the tunnels, the Party engages and kills another half dozen Guards, in the process finding a room full of children. From the urchins, they discover that Matt, the missing boy; and his sister were sent away on a ship. When questioned, a sheepish Sam admits that he turned them in to Miles. The children admit that they don’t know where Miles is at the moment, but that they’d seen him this morning. Kyle and Thistle escort the kids back through cleared tunnels while Tazjh, Lythar and Tyl sweep in the other direction to make sure the children aren’t flanked.
Another quick skirmish finds the team in front of a room full of chests, nice armor, and weapons. Taking a quick glance to make sure it is clear, the group proceeds to a grotto, water filling a long room with another entrance on the other side. Proceeding down a side tunnel, the Party finds itself facing the way they had just come from the other side. Shrugging, Lythar asks Tyl to stay with Thistle and strips down to take a look in the water.
As soon as he’s a short distance from the edge, the water swirls quickly, revealing a water elemental, which attacks Lythar and Tazjh. Lythar manages to dodge a vortex, landing a couple of strong hits on the elemental, but Tazjh is caught up by the water. Thinking fast, Kyle summons a team of dolphins, which die bravely while battering the elemental, which soon catches Lythar in a vortex as well. Tazjh finally manages to lash out with her claws, finishing the spawn off, and the pool returns to quiet drips and splashes.
Treading water, Lythar catches a glimmer of light, and ducks underneath the water to find a submerged passage. Seeing more light as he reaches the other side, he very quietly raises his eyes and ears above the water in an attempt to scout out what may be hidden there. Elven eyes widen as he takes in an officer, two guards, and a goat-like satyr engaged in a conversation. They are speaking quietly, but Lythar manages to catch snippets about a slave ship, Katapesh, Adventurers, and a wolf and lizard.
The Elf slips back through the underwater passage and briefs his friends on the contents of the hidden cavern. While they’re talking, two Pixies come darting through the passage, ducking under the water. Taking a moment to don his armor, Lythar hands his packs over to Thistle, who protects them from the damp by turning into a vicious crocodile. Moving fast, the entire group ducks back under the water, following the Pixie into the hidden cavern.
Breaking the surface of the water on the far side, Kyle immediately hears the haunting sound of pipes. He feels muzzy headed for a moment, then is able to shake it off and casts a stinking cloud in the room, filling it with a noxious fog. Most of the humans in the room begin to cough and retch. Kyle magically suggests to one of the humans that he go help take care of the kids as penance, knowing that Gron guards the cave mouth and will kill him. The human drops his weapons and dives into the water.
Lythar and Thistle also surface and are able to shake the effects of the pipes, and frustrated, the Satyr disappears unseen on the far side of the cloud. Seeing Lythar kill the reachable human near the water’s edge, Kyle dispels his cloud and the entire party joins the fight, killing the remaining Pixie and humans. The Satyr is nowhere to be found.
Gathering anything that looks to be of value, the Party prepares to leave the caves.
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