BBG: Chapter 37

The battle began with Janessa chanting a mystic incantation before holding a small crystal cone up to her mouth and blowing on it. As soon as she did that, a mystical cone of Hoarfrost spread out from he mouth as the Cone of Cold spell slammed into the attacking Umberlant Troops. All ten of them froze on the spot, hoarfrost sticking to their bodies and sapping the heat from their limbs. Unfortunately, it seemed that Lady Morwen, the Halfling Norwick, and the Paladin of Umberlee, Zashir, all managed to avoid the attack either wholly or in part, with Norwick in particular tucking himself into a shoulder roll and managing to tumble out of the danger zone in time to flank me as Zashir just bulled on ahead, thrusting his trident at me. I didn't get to see how Lady Morwen fared against the attack, but from the clerical chanting and pleas to Umberlee to save her from the Cold, I'd guess just as well.

Instead of continuing to take in the battlefield, I was forced to defend myself against Zashir's striking trident. I snapped off a textbook Swordplay Deflection Parry as the trident came in at my throat, bringing it out wide before he uttered a prayer of his own.

"Umberlee make my fist like a thing unto chitin, that I might strike the heathen down!" He called out.

As he did this, I could sense that his off-hand had suddenly been wreathed in divine energy, making it solid. A Spell of Stone Fist, most likely, though it had clearly been altered so that it could fit with Umberlee's whole oeuvre of being the Goddess of the Sea. It certainly hit like that, as he struck out at me with a punch that smashed into my face, hitting me in the chin and splitting my lip, even though most of my face was protected by my Helmet. As I staggered backward, I managed to just barely avoid a thrust of Norwick's Longsword that had come in to backstab me. I shook my head, spitting out blood from my bleeding mouth onto the floor, and retook my guard as I did so.

"Note to self. Invest in a Chainmail Bevor to avoid getting hit in the mouth." I grumbled.

"You won't get the chance!" Snarled Zashir.

"Says who?" I questioned.

"Says us, we'll end you here!" Spat Norwick.

I looked over to see that while Lady Morwen had managed to somehow escape the Cone of Frost entirely, managing to teleport back to the throne, possibly using a Word of Recall Spell to do so, and while she had managed to cast a Mass Cure Moderate Wounds on the Umberlant Troops who were still alive, she was pinned down by Janessa, who was flinging spells and slingstones her way, while Shavariel and Selima dealt with the remaining Umberlant Troops. I looked back at Norwick and Zashir and realized that we had this won. I just needed to stall these two for long enough for the others to manage to take out the remaining four Umberlant Troops. Then Shavariel and Selima could split up, one to help me against these two and one to help Janessa finish off Lady Morwen.

As I realized that, a Grin split my face, and I dredged up mystical power from deep within my core, focusing it into a spell of Biting Words as I laughed off Norwick's Assessment, infusing my taunt with both magic and my skill as an orator for best effect using my spellsinging abilities.

"If you really think that, you must not be able to read a room properly! Allow me to educate you. Unfortunately, I'm afraid the lesson is going to be very painful for both of you, but not as painful as having to teach idiots will be for me!" I taunted.

Norwick snarled at that and surged forward with a cut, only to catch my spell to the face, blundgeoning, slashing, and piercing into him and ruining his attack. His second attack slashed into Aremeg's Wisdom, rebounding off the shield, and my Riposte cut into his leg, Discordant Note screaming across his thigh even as my second strike carved into his upper arm, taking a chunk out of his left bicep below the mail sleeve of his Chain Shirt. Norwick Fell back, swiping his Longsword about chaotically as if to ward me off, and Zashir took his place, his trident thrusting for my face. I dodged to the side, avoiding the thrust, only for him to swipe his trident around and smash the steel-shod buttcap into the side of my knee. I was dropped to the floor from the unexpected attack, my leg frozen and violently shaken into with sonic and cold damage, even as the buttcap smashed my bones.

In came Norwick, snarling, only for me to dredge up more mystic power into a Sonic Scream, letting out a Metal Screech that would have made any metal band from the past half a century back home proud. The force of my Sonic Scream Spell blasted into Norwick, pushing against him and making him seem to hang in the air for just a brief moment as the vibrations thundered into him, letting me roll away from his descending thrust, which punched into the stone of the floor, drawing sparks as his longsword gouged out a divot in the throne room of Castle Jannath. I stood up in time to snap off a Parry, bringing Zashir's thrusting Trident out wide as he came back in. His attempt to sweep my knee again failed now that I was expecting it, and I hopped up and over the swinging steel buttcap of his trident. Another Metal Screech blasted into Zashir, staggering him backward as the sonic force burst his eardrums.

That was my cue to come in with a lunge from Discordant Note, extending my thrust even as he tried to backpedal. My blade caught him in the armpit, between pauldron and breastplate, thundering home deeply as he attempted to reel away from me, catching him flat-footed. My second attack cut into his wrist between his gauntlets and bracers, cutting a line of blood across his arm. He struck back, using his rocky fist, and hammered me in the chest, bruising my ribs below the armor, but once again, he seemed to get in the way of his partner, as though his punch sent me stumbling to the side, it did so in such away that my stumble carried me out of the path of a backstab from Norwick, who had somehow managed to become invisible in the time I had been focused solely on Zashir. As Norwick turned visible once more, he turned his ruined thrust into a cut, much less effective now, but it still cut a line across the back of my calf.

In response, I slashed out low with Discordant Note, screaming at Norwick one last time as I did so. Discordant Note struck into the tendons in the side of Norwick's Knee as my Sonic Scream left him open for the blow, cutting into something vital as he sank to one knee after the blow. Unfortunately, he managed to snap off a parry and avoid taking my second blow. Unfortunately, I was forced to backpedal away from a charging Zashir shortly afterward, his Trident charged with divine energy as he called out for Umberlee to grant him the power to smite those who would thwart her goals. I just barely managed to avoid the divinely charged tines, only for his next attack to graze my temple, a smash with the haft of his trident that rang across my helmeted head like the tolling of a bell and sent me staggering to the side, stars exploding behind my eyes.

I steadied myself, blinking the stars out of my eyes, and realized that another hit would finish me off, no matter where it came from. I felt like the lightest tap would knock me unconscious at the moment, and I huffed and puffed, retaking my guard. Fortunately, I wasn't alone. I felt a hand grasp onto my shoulder and heard Selima murmur a Prayer for Deneier to heal me. As she did that, I felt several of my wounds heal over, receding to dull aches as my body was suffused with positive energy. I looked over and saw that, though Selima was limping thanks to a blow she had taken to her leg and bleeding from a couple of other wounds, the other Umberlant Troops were down. Janessa and Shavariel were both wounded, but Lady Morwen was worse off, huffing, puffing, bloody from a stab of Shavariel's trident and burned from Janessa's spellfire. As I straightened, I nodded at Selima.

"Apologies, Lady Morwen kept healing her Minions, and they took longer to put down than expected." Offered Selima.

"No worries, you're here now." I grinned through bloodstained teeth.

"What do you think a Cleric of a Weak God like Deneir will do for you?" Questioned Zashir.

"I don't know. Let's find out, shall we?" I queried back.

"It doesn't matter. Do you think that even if you win the day here, Umberlee will let you live in peace?" Asked Norwick, still on the floor.

"Umberlee is as capricious as the Sea, fitting given her Portfolio. I believe that she will not care one whit if you all perish here. After all, that simply means that you were too weak to carry out her will." Intoned Selima.

"Perhaps. It is true that she cares not for us save for when we please her, but nor does she forgive slights. I think that you will come to find that out sooner or later, even should you be victorious." Scowled Zashir.

"Whatever happens, happens. Let's finish this for now, yeah?" I questioned.

"Agreed." Growled Norwick.

"Umberlee grant me the power to dash this Priestess of a Weak God as a ship is dashed on the waves!" Prayed Zashir, his Trident suddenly suffused with divine power twice over.

"Have at you!" I challenged.

And the fight continued with a Charge from Zashir, going right for Selima. She managed to mostly get out of the way of the charging thrust, but one of the tines of Zashir's Trident still caught her in the thigh with one of its outer tines. This caused Selima to cry out in pain, though her mace still found its way into Zashir's Side. Zashir cried out in pain as well, snarling in fury before sweeping his Trident back around to attempt to smash Selima with its haft. This, fortunately, wound up crashing into Selima's Shield instead of her head, allowing her time to stagger away and heal herself with a prayer to Deneir to heal his servant. Positive energy flooded her body, knitting wounds closed as she straightened up and prepared herself for another pass.

I saw all this because Norwick was still down on the floor, unable to move, and thus, I could engage him at my leisure. He looked like he was ready for me, though I knew he wasn't, not really. I tested the water, lunging at him from out of the reach of his longsword. He parried the thrust of Discordant Note, but I danced away from him before his riposte, a slash of his Longsword, could find purchase. Instead, I moved slightly to the side and lunged at him again, all while Selima and Zashir clashed in the background, parrying and blocking each other's blows with the haft of his trident or on the face of her shield. I lunged again, this time with a textbook Swordplay Upset Feint. Once again, Norwick moved to parry with his Longsword, but this time, my thrust turned into a cut with a flick of my wrist. Norwick's parry was out of position. He tried to sway backward to dodge the cut, but being down to one leg made that less of a viable solution. Instead of taking his head off, Discordant Note screamed through his neck, cutting his throat.

He would have been dead either way, but this was a worse way to die as Norwick choked to death on his own blood. I winced in sympathy as he slumped on the floor, making gagging noises as his lungs filled with blood from his severed jugular and a red pool began to spread underneath him across the flagstones of the Throne Room. I shook my head at him as he twitched his last before going still.

"Should have let me take your head off. It would have been much quicker." I muttered.

Then I turned to where Selima and Zashir were dueling. Both seemed about on their last legs, but now it was two against one. As I came in with a shouted battle cry, Zashir turned, eyes wide, and flung one last thrust of his trident my way. The tines of his trident bit into my thigh, but Discordant Note punched through his eye in response. I roared in both pain and triumph as we both fell to the floor, weapons stuck in each other's bodies. Unfortunately for him, I was able to stand up again after a moment to remove the tines of his trident from the meat of my thigh. He wasn't able to say the same, as my thrust had rammed Discordant Note into his brain. Huffing and puffing, I discarded Zashir's Trident, placed my boot on his chest, grabbed the hilt of Discordant Note, and pulled. My blade came loose with a sickening schlorping noise that made me want to gag, but I held it in.

I turned to Selima. She nodded back. We were both on our last legs, but we still had plenty of gas left in the tank, so to speak. We straightened up and together, we made our way over to where Janessa and Shavariel were still fighting with Lady Morwen. Janessa was less wounded than Shavariel was, but both were less wounded than Lady Morwen. As we approached, Selima let out a prayer to Deneir.

"Deneir! Heal those who would seek to defy your enemies this day!" Called out Selima.

As she did so, I felt more of my wounds knit closed as positive energy suffused me. The same happened to Janessa, Selima, and Shavariel. A Mass Cure Light wounds spell. It wasn't as potent as the Cure Critical Wounds spells that Selima had previously cast on us, but at four against one, it didn't need to be. It was time to finish this once and for all. I cast a spell of Dragonvoice on myself at the same time as Selima healed us all. Then I pointed Discordant Note at Lady Morwen and exclaimed with the power of the Voice of a Great Wyrm our terms.

"SURRENDER! IF YOU GIVE UP NOW, I SWEAR YOU SHALL NOT BE SLAIN LIKE A DOG IN THE STREET OUT OF HAND, BUT SHALL HAVE YOUR DAY IN COURT TO MAKE YOUR CASE TO THE ASSEMBLED COMMANDERS!" I demanded, using every inch of spell-granted power and every bit of my skill with oratory to try and compel Lady Morwen to surrender.

The others winced at the noise, but I couldn't help how the Spell of Dragonvoice manifested itself. If you wanted the Authority of a Great Wyrm to be projected in your voice, you also got the volume of a Great Wyrm projected in your voice. It was just how the spell worked. Fortunately, it seemed to help with overawing Lady Morwen, who paused as I gave her my terms. However, when she spoke, it was with skepticism, not with acceptance, which wasn't the best thing for our prospects.

"You swear I will have my day in court? How can you swear such? A mere Mercenary?" Queried Lady Morwen.

"I AM MORE THAN JUST SOME MERE MERCENARY, I AM A THANE OF TEARHEIM, PROCLAIMED SO BY THE JARL FINEHAIR BEFORE HIS DEATH!" I informed.

"I see. And how can you guarantee that the new Jarl will agree to allow such a trial? How can you guarantee that the Halflings of Seahearth will agree? Puissant Undertow Montcalm and I brought war to these islands in the name of the Queen of the Depths. How can you guarantee that such a trial would not merely be for show?" Asked Lady Morwen.

"YOU ARE THE SOLE LIVING HEIR TO LORD CADFAEL. THAT ALONE SHOULD GRANT YOU THE RIGHT OF A FAIR TRIAL. IF THAT IS NOT ENOUGH, BOTH THE COUNCIL OF SEAHEARTH AND JARL ULLRSSON OWE ME. BESIDES, THE ALTERNATIVE IS THAT WE SLAY YOU HERE. IT IS FOUR AGAINST ONE, IF YOU FANCY YOUR CHANCES THERE. I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU ARE CAPABLE OF VICTORY AT THIS POINT, HOWEVER." I argued.

Lady Morwen frowned at that, thinking it over as carefully as she could. Fortunately, between the reality of the situation, my spellwork, and my Bardic Gift for Diplomacy and Oratory, it seemed that she had decided to acquiesce to my demand to surrender, throwing down her trident and placing her Holy Symbol on the ground before stepping away from both of them, hands above her head.

"Very well, I surrender. I am trusting your word on this as a Thane of Tearheim. Perhaps I will come to regret this, perhaps not. It is in the hands of the Gods now." Sighed Lady Morwen.

And with that, the Spell of Dragonvoice lapsed and the fight ended. Lady Morwen had surrendered, and though there was still fighting going on in parts of Caer Jannath, this War was effectively over. There was no real chance for the Umberlants to pull out a victory at this point. It was far too late for them to even try to do so. We had won. Unfortunately, my decision to allow Lady Morwen to surrender would have consequences after the fighting finally ended.

Ones that would see me leave the Jannath's Tears Archipelago behind me on my way to Baldur's Gate. . .

XXXX

Several hours later, the last of the fighting in Caer Jannath had finally wrapped up after a few holdouts that had taken control of a Tavern in the Upper City, the Gilded Knot, had finally surrendered to Jarl Ullrsson's forces. The sun was beginning to set on a victorious War Campaign, and I found myself now in a private audience with Jarl Ullrsson in one of the towers of Castle Jannath, which he had made his own while the cleanup of the town and the rest of the Castle was going on. It had been a long day, and Jarl Ullrsson was not pleased with me, to say the least.

"I can't believe you allowed her to surrender!" Fumed Jarl Ullrsson.

"What would you have had me do? Slay her?" I questioned.

"Yes! Why not? You slew everyone else, why not slay her too?" Queried Jarl Ullrsson.

"I gave her the option to surrender. As is dictated by honor, when you have the opponent at a four-to-one disadvantage. Was I then to turn around and say 'sorry I was only kidding' and then thrust my blade through her gullet after she had thrown down her weapons?" I asked.

"Damn your honor, Man! She is the cause of all this! It would have been well within your legal rights to execute her on the spot!" Spat Jarl Ullrsson.

"That may have been true based on the letter of the laws of war, but it didn't sit right with me. After all, she may have been the instigator, but it was Puissant Undertow Juliana Montcalm who was responsible for all of the most heinous parts of this whole affair. It was Montcalm who summoned Xommyrru, Montcalm who contracted the Zhentarim for Drugs that made the townsfolk of Caer Jannath go mad, Montcalm who put the Dwarf, Thurgrim, in charge of operations at Seahearth, and Montcalm who ordered your father slain. Lady Morwen was just the intermediary, and we have proof of this fact." I answered.

"Proof? You mean the correspondence you seized from Xommyrru's Lair?" Questioned Jarl Ullrsson.

"Among other things." I nodded.

Indeed, Lady Morwen had also led us to a number of dispatches proving that to be the case in Castle Jannath. Apparently, it had been one of the factors that weighed in on her decision to agree to surrender at all, that she had largely played a role as an intermediary outside of the initial instigation of the plot. Even that instigation had been suggested by Puissant Undertow Montcalm, who it had been revealed was in communication with Lady Morwen this entire time.

"You realize, as your Jarl, that I could order you to turn over those documents right now?" Queried Jarl Ullrsson.

"It would do little good. Copies have been made and given to Commodore Islandwarden in advance of the trial." I admitted.

"Damn it to the blackest pits of the Abyss!" Swore Jarl Ullrsson.

"I acted only as my honor dictated and as I thought right. It also helped shorten the battle by a decent length, as well as avoiding another possible death curse. Would you have had Caer Jannath struck by a Tidal Wave or something similar? This was the best way that today could be wrapped up." I insisted.

"Yes, but now, we will all likely have to pay for your defiance of my wishes in another way. How do you think that the Umberlant Church will take one of their own Ordained Priestesses being put on trial? Do you think they will simply sit back and not retaliate? What happens if, Gods forbid, Lady Morwen is acquitted? Do you think she will just give up her religious orders and live a quiet life? A tidal wave would have been a momentary calamity. This might hurt these islands for some time to come! Did you not think of that?" Asked Jarl Ullrsson.

"In the heat of the moment, the idea hadn't crossed my mind." I answered.

"No. It didn't. And because of that lapse in judgment, we now have to navigate a difficult situation, perhaps for some time to come. It shows something of a lack of the qualities that make for a good Thane. Because of that, I am now forced to strip you of your title as Thane." Intoned Jarl Ullrsson.

"I see." I frowned.

"Your word to Lady Morwen still stands, though it may yet doom us all, and in recognition of your role in the liberation of these Islands from the threat of Umberlant Domination, your punishment will go no further than that, but you no longer hold the title of Thane and no longer may speak for the Jarl of Tearheim or have a place in my counsel." Continued Jarl Ullrsson.

"I see. And my companions? They had no part in the decision." I pressed.

"Will have no punishment levied upon them." Agreed Jarl Ullrsson.

"In that case, I must make ready. I will be departing to the Mainland as soon as I manage to get my share of loot." I nodded.

"I did not banish you." Pointed out Jarl Ullrsson.

"You did not, but I have business to attend to on the mainland, and if I am no longer your Jarl, there is little holding me here to the Archipelago." I responded.

"Very well. You may leave with my blessing." Nodded Jarl Ullrsson.

And with that, I stood up and prepared to head out. As soon as I reached the door to the Tower Chamber, however, Jarl Ullrsson cried out for me to hold for a moment. I turned, pausing with my hand partway to the door handle, and regarded the Jarl of Tearheim with a cocked eyebrow.

"Robar, though we may have disagreed on your handling of the situation with Lady Morwen, I will not have my parting words to you be full of invective. You were still one of the finest Thanes I could have hoped for in the situation we found ourselves in, and I will forever be grateful to you for that." Insisted Jarl Ullrsson.

"I appreciate your Condor, My Jarl. May your reign be long and your enemies quick to fall." I offered.

"I will drink to that. Farewell, Robar of Ruathym. May you find whatever it is you're looking for on the mainland." Nodded Jarl Ullrsson.

And with that, I headed out of the Tower Chamber and down the spiral stairs into Castle Jannath Proper. I had to retrieve my share of the loot and then meet with my Companions. I had a feeling that we would all be going our separate ways after this, which meant that I would not have the requisite crew to sail the Hammerdown to the Mainland. I wanted to ensure everyone had what they needed before we parted ways, maybe even for good.

After all, I may no longer be a Thane of Tearheim, but I was still their captain, for however long that lasted. . .

XXXX

Later in the evening, after we had all gotten our shares of the loot for the Campaign, I met with my Companions in the Inn of the Rusty Lobster, which was one of the only Taverns that had been left largely undamaged by the Umberlant Occupation, mostly because it had been the favored drinking spot for the various Captains of the Skaug Corsairs while they had been contracted to the Umberlant Cause and as such had escaped most of the damage that the Umberlant True Believers would have done to the locals and their various businesses. After all, Umberlee was a very Might Makes Right sort of Goddess, and if an Umberlant could take something from you without consequences, they would. Accordingly, many of the Taverns had suffered from the Umberlants' attempts at 'requisitioning resources'. Since they couldn't do that against the Skaug Corsair Captains, the Rusty Lobster was still one hundred percent operational.

As I sipped my flagon of local mead, the last I would taste for a while, I looked around the table at my companions, committing their faces to memory before I spoke up next. True, they all knew that I had been stripped of my title as a Thane of Tearheim, I had told them as much when we had received our shares of loot for the campaign. I hadn't told them I was leaving, though. Now was the time to broach that subject, though it might be best to ease into the topic rather than to just rip the bandage off.

"So, what is everyone thinking of doing now that this is all over?" I questioned.

"I have been too long away from home. My father, the Lord of Nel'quazzar, does not even realize that I am alive. I will be heading home to rectify that." Answered Shavariel first.

"You didn't contact him?" Queried Janessa.

"I had no way to do so short of showing up in the palace." Shrugged Shavariel.

"As for myself, I will be headed to Spirit Soaring in Erlkazar. Cadderly Bonaduce is the Chosen of Deneir, and I can think of few people who would be more capable of helping me to understand the deeper mysteries of my God than he." Informed Selima.

"It seems like we're all heading our separate ways." Mused Janessa.

"Indeed. So am I. I need to travel to the Western Heartlands. I have business in the lands around Baldur's Gate which I can't put off any longer." I announced.

"Dang, what will you do with the Hammerdown? You can't sail it with just one person, after all." Asked Janessa.

"First, let me ask you, what will you be doing now that we're all going our separate ways?" I questioned.

"I'll probably stick around here unless something more interesting comes along." Shrugged Janessa.

"Had your fill of adventure?" Queried Selima.

"No, but I don't know if I'm comfortable just adventuring on my own. Adventures are best when shared, after all." Pointed out Janessa.

"Plus, as a Sorcerer, it's probably difficult to adventure on your own. At least in terms of taking contracts at or above your skill level." Nodded Shavariel.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Asked Janessa.

"Just that you're fairly easy to hit if they can get past your spells." Pointed out Selima.

"I wish I could argue with that, but I can't." Sighed Janessa.

"What if you didn't have to travel alone?" I questioned.

"How do you mean? You're all going your separate ways, remember?" Queried Janessa.

"I'm offering you the Hammerdown. With the amount of cash you have, hiring a crew amongst these reprobates should be no problem." I smirked, gesturing toward the Common Room of the Rusty Lobster, which was filled with all sorts of sailors and fighting men.

"You would do that?" Asked Janessa.

"I would." I confirmed.

"Indeed. Better the ship go to you than be sold to the highest bidder." Added Shavariel.

"Indeed, after all, you know how to work the Hammerdown's more magical accoutrements." Concurred Selima.

"How about it? Captain Janessa rolls off the tongue, yes?" I questioned.

"I'll do it. Thank you so much!" Beamed Janessa.

"How will you get to the mainland?" Queried Shavariel.

"Could we not simply do one last voyage as a crew?" Asked Selima.

"No. I have been away from Nel'quazzar too long already. It is likely that my Father has already made arrangements regarding the succession, and the sooner I return to handle that, the easier it will be." Refuted Shavariel.

"And I need time to hire a crew if this is the path we're each going to be taking." Answered Janessa.

"Then it seems that this will likely be our last evening together as Companions." Mused Selima.

"So it would seem. That being the case, I propose we eat, drink, and be merry. Let's celebrate our victory tonight, because we have no idea when we'll ever run into each other again if we even will." I grinned.

And with that, we proceeded to feast and drink like there was no tomorrow. We certainly had the coin for it. I even managed to compose a song on the spot, which heralded our victories over the forces of Umberlee, improvising the tune on my Bandore right then and there in the Rusty Lobster. It was so catchy that by the end of the night, every sailor and warrior in the tavern had begun to sing along to the tale of Robar the Red and his Crew. Somehow, I just knew that was going to spread to the rest of the Archipelago, and likely to the Mainland and Moonshae Isles as well, given enough time.

It was a hell of a party, and by the end of the night, I could safely say it would be fairly memorable for everyone who had been present. Unfortunately, the night had to end eventually. I went to sleep in a room that the Owner of the Rusty Lobster, a Human Woman in a low-cut bodice named Eris Hume, provided free of charge, in recognition of my Role in liberating Car Jannath. The mattress was stuffed with duck feathers, and quite comfortable, though it didn't have a patch on any of the mattresses in any of the castles I had slept in thus far, nor on any of the mattresses I had slept on back on Earth in my old life. For a drunken me, however, in some random Inn on Faerun, it was still very good, though.

Unfortunately, the Morning dawned as it tended to do, and it brought a massive hangover with it. Fortunately, Janessa had left us all Alchemical Hangover cures as a parting gift last night, and I downed mine, the vile-tasting concoction causing me to have to hold back retching just from how offensive the taste was. However, it managed to soothe the pissed off Ogres that were pounding about inside my skull. I stood, washed my face in the basin of water on the table near the bed, pissed in the chamberpot provided, and got dressed. Then I headed downstairs, where Cap'n Bernardo was sitting at the bar. The Old Salt waved me over, and I took a seat next to him.

"Heard you were looking for passage to the Lands 'round Baldur's Gate." He offered in his usual Sailor's Tone.

"I am. Why? Are you offering?" I questioned.

"And what if I am?" Queried Cap'n Bernardo.

"Then I'll accept. How much are you asking for, when do you leave, and what port will we be headed to?" I asked.

"For you? Five Hundred Danter. As for when we leave? With the afternoon tide. Should be there in two days, depending on the weather. As for where we're putting in, I can take you straight to Lower Chionthar. She's a fishing village about eight hours travel north of the Friendly Arm Inn by land and four hours Southwest of Wyrm's Crossing." Answered Cap'n Bernardo.

I did the math, and we were still about nine or so days away from the start of Baldur's Gate One. It would be tight, but I could take a few days to get the lay of the land and post up at the Friendly Arm Inn to wait for Mei. If I timed this right, I might just get there around the same time that Jaheira and Khalid did, which would make this whole thing a heck of a lot easier. I nodded at Cap'n Bernardo.

"Done." I agreed.

"Excellent! The Speedy Drake's tied up on Dock Fifteen down at the Harbor. Don't be late or we'll leave without you." Grinned Cap'n Bernardo.

And with that, my course was set. I would grab my sea chest from the Hammerdown, say my final goodbye to Janessa, and head to Dock Fifteen to board the Speedy Drake by this afternoon. First, though, Breakfast. My stomach growled in protest at the aching pit inside it, as Janessa's Alchemical Hangover Cures always had the side effect of making you incredibly hungry as a tradeoff for getting rid of your hangover. I ordered a pint of Dancing Dolphin Cider from Caer Callidyrr in the Moonshae Isles, Toast with Vilksmarg Cheese, Six Scrambled Eggs, and Berduskan Breakfast Sausage, along with half an Amnian Grapefruit, which had to be imported from the Amnian Colonies in Maztica and thus was commensurately expensive. However, as I was flush with Danter on the order of tens of thousands of it, I didn't truly care about the expense.

I demolished the breakfast easily over the course of an hour, as Cap'n Bernardo just shook his head and chuckled at my appetite. About forty-five minutes into my eating, Cap'n Bernardo finished his own breakfast, paid, and headed out, reminding me that the Speedy Drake was at Dock Fifteen and not to be late for the Afternoon Tide. I assured him I wouldn't, though with my mouth stuffed full of toast and eggs, I wasn't sure if he understood me or not. He seemed like he did, though, chuckling and nodding before he turned and left the Rusty Lobster. By the time I finished my breakfast, the sun was high enough in the sky that it suggested it was eleven in the morning, which meant it was almost time for the lunch rush. Not wanting to get caught up in that, I paid and headed out the door.

Unfortunately, when I stopped by the Hammerdown to pick up my sea chest, I was informed by one of the thirty or so people that were around, a Salty Elf with an Eye-Patch and a garish red sash, who Janessa had already hired as a Navigator, that she wasn't around. She'd apparently already gone looking for more crewmen to hire.

"Try the Dusty Bicenta. The Calishite Man who owns it was talking about having a lot of Sailors in recently." Offered the Elf.

"My thanks, Mister. . ." I trailed off.

"Trayaris, Trayaris Starwander. Expert Navigator." Supplied the Elf, Trayaris.

I nodded, thanking Trayaris again, and headed out. I had to get directions, but I eventually found the Dusty Bicenta. It was a small brick building tucked away in the part of the Docks that was normally visited primarily by tradesmen, instead of sailors. The Owner, a portly Calishite Man named Salah the Fat, however, shook his head. Apparently, while Janessa had been in here recruiting earlier, I had missed her by around an hour.

"She was in here hiring a Ship's Carpenter. It seems like she already was full up on normal crewmen. Try the Stone Marlin near the Upper City. That is where some of the more well-to-do Sailors tend to congregate, the sort who would know how best to sail a magical ship." Offered Salah the Fat.

The Stone Marlin, as it turned out, was a converted tower house that had burned down a few years ago and been rebuilt as a tavern. It was owned by a Dwarf named Buri Goldchain, who had really leaned into the surname part of his name, having a massive gold chain around his neck. Between that and the mohawk, Buri seemed like he was attempting to be a Dwarven Version of Mister T without even knowing who that was. Unfortunately, it seemed as if I had also just missed Janessa here as well.

"She was in here earlier, aye. Small lass, excitable, but clearly powerful. She'd been looking for a couple o' likely lads who'd be good enough to be her Ship's First Mate and Bosun." Offered Buri.

"Great, did she find them?" I questioned.

"Aye, but she went off to the Upper Town to look for a Quartermaster. Try the Tavern-On-The-Hill up there. That's where most o' the folk who can do that tend to congregate." Offered Buri.

That led me to the Upper Town, where a Tavern that was near the Upper Gate on a small hill proudly proclaimed itself to be the Tavern-On-The-Hill in bright green letters. This place, it seemed, was owned by a Halfling Man named Barwick Shinemantle, who wore a bright saffron-colored cloak that was clasped with a cloak pin of polished bronze. I'd missed her here as well, unfortunately.

"Sorry, but you missed her. She went to go get a charter from the Castle for her new crew. Given how few ships there are in port that don't already have one, I expect she'll be headed back to her Dock by now." Offered Barwick.

"Thanks for your help." I sighed.

By this point, however, the Afternoon Tide was coming up, and if I was going to say my goodbyes to Janessa, they would have to be brief ones or I would miss my departure. I headed back to the Hammerdown as quickly as I could manage whilst also lugging around a sea chest. As I arrived, I found her standing alongside two Humans, a Halfling, and a Dwarf. The Dwarf was clad in armor and had a big red beard that had various small ornaments in it, including one of scrimshawed ivory. Meanwhile, of the two humans, one was an Amnian Woman in Blue with tanned skin and black hair pulled back in a loose braid, while the other was an older Ffolk Man in gray clothes with ink-stained hands, while the Halfling was a Man in leathers and had callouses on his hands that suggested he routinely worked with Wood.

"Janessa!" I called out.

"Robar! What brings you back here?" Queried Janessa.

"I came to say my final goodbyes after the more general ones from last night." I nodded, making my way over.

"Captain?" Asked the Human Woman.

"This is Robar the Red of Ruathym, my previous Captain, it's all right, Legardis." Soothed Janessa.

"The Robar the Red? The one they've been singing about?" Questioned the Dwarf.

"That's right." Beamed Janessa.

"I heard a lot about ye, Lad. Names Torvold Bonecarver, formerly o' Ironmaster." Nodded the Dwarf, Torvold.

"Quinton Boughcobble, formerly of Orlumbor." Added the Halfling.

"And I'm Sean O'Reilly, formerly of Brannoch in Snowdown, though I've been living in Caer Jannath for a few years now." Introduced the Man.

"Legardis the Blue, Originally from Athkatla." Chimed in the Woman, Legardis.

"Legardis is going to be my First Mate, Torvold my Bosun, Quinton my Ship's Carpenter, and Sean is my Quartermaster. I think you've already met Trayaris, my Ship's Navigator, though I'm not sure where he ran off to." Grinned Janessa.

"A pleasure." I nodded to everyone.

"We'll leave you be, Captain." Remarked Sean.

"Aye, let her and the Lad have their goodbyes." Agreed Torvold.

"I should see that the crewmen you hired are competent to do their jobs anyway." Opined Legardis.

"And I should make sure I have all my tools aboard." Added Quentin.

The four of them left, leaving just Janessa and I standing on the Pier. I chuckled as I realized that even though I'd been all over town trying to get to say my final goodbyes, when the time actually came, I didn't actually have anything real to say. Janessa must have realized my predicament, because she cracked a wry grin at me.

"Tongue-tied, Robar? That'd be a first. It's not like you to be so quiet, what gives?" Queried Janessa.

"Aye. I'm not the best at goodbyes." I shrugged.

"Well then, let's just say this isn't goodbye then. After all, I'll be sailing all about, you never know. We could easily run into each other again." Tried Janessa.

"We could. That's definitely possible." I nodded.

I had to believe that, even though it was a big world out there, full of dangers. I still wanted to believe this wasn't goodbye. Janessa had been my first real friend on Faerun, and we'd shed blood together and spilled it. I couldn't bring myself to believe that this was the end of all that. After all, one doesn't throw away a bond forged in trial and travail like that so easily. I think that Janessa felt the same way as I did about the situation, too. She certainly seemed to be willing to buy into the concept just as much as I was.

"Well then, until we meet again somewhere down the path." Offered Janessa.

"Until then, safe travels. Don't do anything you shouldn't." I grinned.

"That's a pretty low bar, Robar." Laughed Janessa.

"Take care, Janessa." I nodded.

"You too, Robar." Responded Janessa.

And with that, I made my way down the Docks, away from the Hammerdown and Janessa, toward a new chapter in my life on Faerun, a Chapter that I was actually brought here to deal with. I made it to Dock Fifteen just in time to catch my trip. Cap'n Bernardo grinned as he saw me, shaking his head as he waved me over.

"What kept you, Lad?" He asked.

"Had to say goodbye to a friend." I answered.

"Well you cut it damn fine. We almost set sail without you. Now, hop aboard and let's get moving." Insisted Cap'n Bernardo.

I did so, and Cap'n Bernardo headed up the Gangplank after me. As he pulled up the Gangplank behind us, and I set down my Seachest on the deck, Cap'n Bernardo turned to his fairly small crew and began to bellow orders as the Speedy Drake lifted up in the water as the tide came in.

"All right, you blooming cockroaches, hop to! We've got a tide to catch, you filthy dogs!" Bellowed Cap'n Bernardo.

As he did so, his crew began casting off lines and unfurling sails. Within moments, the Speedy Drake shoved off from the Dock and we began our trip to the Mainland. As Caer Jannath began to shrink behind us, I couldn't help but feel that something significant had just occurred, as if I had reached some sort of narrative milestone in my journey here. I had no idea how right I was, as this would be the end of what I could confidently call the Prequel to the main adventure. I had gained experience, gotten equipped, and made friends and allies here, but this part of my journey was now over.

And when I arrived in Lower Chionthar two days from now, the main attraction, so to speak, would finally begin. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the next chapter. This is effectively the end of the Prequel to BG One for Robar. He managed to get Lady Morwen to Surrender, but was stripped of his rank as Thane by Jarl Ullrsson for it, as Lady Morwen being alive to stand trial complicates things substantially. Then he and his Companions all went their separate ways. Now, he's on his way to the Mainland for the Start of BG One, where he'll land in Lower Chionthar around a week or so before Gorion and Mei leave Candlekeep.

A note on Janessa. We'll see her again. Despite Robar's pessimism about Faerun being a big and dangerous place, they actually will meet again. I didn't just give her a whole new crew of interesting people for no reason, after all. She won't be a permanent party member again, though, unfortunately. She'll be more of a quest-giving NPC, in game terms.

At any rate, the next chapter will cover the Arrival in Lower Chionthar, along with showing exactly how Robar is going to become Level-Compliant with BG One. I set the groundwork for it a long time ago, but it hasn't come up again since, so I don't know if any of you will get what I'm doing until it happens.

Stay tuned. . .