Off to Darguun

Zarantyr – Olarune, 998 YK

It becomes apparent that Jhazaali has a good deal of resources. She gets us (Goth and Maasha included) to Zilargo on an elemental galleon at which point we’re to board a regular galleon to get the rest of the way to Darguun. The elemental galleon is called the Sea Tiger and its captain is Etrigan d’Lyrandar. I hear that they had last come from Xen’drik so I make a couple inquiries about Brook. As coincidence would have it, Captain Sora’vel was in Stormreach at the same time as the Sea Tiger and Captain Etrigan actually had dinner with Captain Sora’vel and met my sister. This fact amused Captain Etrigan to no end and got us an invite to eat at the Captain’s Table each evening. It turns out that Brook is doing quite well at this time and even went with Capt. Sora’vel on a quick turnaround trip to Aerenal (me = envious). It also seems she’s made a very good name for herself with any of the captains or Lyrandar house members that have gotten to Xen’drik and is top choice as a personal guard and city guide amongst them. That’s pretty cool. Jhazaali makes sure I don’t mention the Dhakaani at all and sets up a story where I’m coming from MU to study Darguun and Lhesh Haruuc’s work there. Close enough, so I don’t have a problem keeping to the story.

Soon enough we take port in Korranberg. Our ship leaves the next day (apparently, they were just waiting for us). So, I don’t get a good chance to explore or go to the only library that may surpass Morgrave’s. Hopefully next time we’ll have a bit more time. Early the next morning we head back to the docks to board the ship. That’s when I find out it’s a Darguun ship and I’ll be the only non-goblinoid aboard. I like it. It’s kinda’ a slow immersion into the culture before we hit Darguun proper. All goes well on the ship and I’m excepted well enough due to Jhazaali’s ranking amongst them. Jhazaali had had me wrap the sword up the whole time and I got surprisingly few questions about the sword-shaped thing I always kept with me. Not sure, but I think she may have spread some rumors around that I was not to be trifled with because I don’t think a tall, gangly Tabaxi would normally get respect right off the bat like I seemed to.

We head around into Kraken Bay and up to Rheklor. Here we get onto a barge heading up the Ghaal River about 200 hundred miles. The days go by and I find myself falling into a rhythm onboard. Talking to the workmen and captain about what they do. Where they grew up, and all kinds of questions about their culture, religion, etc. This initially throws people off but with so much time on our hands, they eventually warm up to me and quit being so evasive. That or I pestered them enough about it that they gave in. Though I think it’s mostly due to the fact that our cover story of me studying them was still in play and Jhazaali may have told them to answer my questions or else. Whatever. I got some good stuff on that trip. After we disembark, we’ve got about a 100-mile trek overland to Volaar Draal. This is the dangerous part, but again, Between Jhazaali and the bugbears there’s a good deal of fighting prowess with us and at Ghaal’tash we pick up a few more “undercover” Dhakaani that give us some additional fighters, another hobgoblin bard (Duur’kala), and two goblin scouts. There are a few skirmishes, but they handle it without too much of an issue.