Chapter 3 – There and Back Again

DM - Chad

As recalled by the DM

Of course, after a eventful journey, our group of adventurers went back to Ahab's Inn for some rest and food. Thrall shared with Lia and Tari the quest set forth by King Lemele to find the Dragon Orbs to restore the world. He also told them about the Orges in the Holden Wood, the Pirates of the Hag Needles Isles, and the supposed Haunted Lighthouse on the Old Captain's Rock. After some diliberation...they decided to check out the haunted lighthouse.

First, they went to the Old Captain's Shop to see Thrall's friend, Ishmail. As it turned out, Ishmail left a sign in the window that he was "Gone Fishing" and wouldn't be back until nightfall. So, our adventurers worked their way down to the docks to hire a boat to go and investigate the lighthouse.

Since Thrall had had some unpleasant encounters with the Halfling Harbour Master, Lia and Tari were left with the task of getting a boat. The Halfling was doubtful of the two's abilities and charged them a lot for a boat. But after some smooth talking and bluffing from Tari, they worked down the price and scored a small sail boat. Meanwhile...

Thrall searched around in an attempt to find his friend Ishmail. His search brought him to the end of the pier where three old men were fishing. Though they didn't say much, and very slowly, Thrall learned Ishmail always fished on the dock by the Drunk Duck Inn. Following this acquired information, Thrall rejoined Tari and Lia...got their boat underway, and headed towards the lighthouse.

As they sailed/rowed closer, they began to hear singing coming from the lighthouse. They reached the rock and tied their boat up to the weather beaten dock. Tari was the first to get out...and since she is so quick, she was able to avoid a board smacking her in the face. She then tested the boards as she proceeded marking the good ones with a piece of chalk. Thrall and Lia followed carefully.
As they rounded the lighthouse, Thrall realized who was singing...an old acquintance...a very old and senial man named Gerald. Gerald was sitting on a chest, casting his fishing line into the sea and singing merrily. Happy at the sight of Thrall, Gerald explained that after the boating accident he washed up here and has been fishing ever since. In an effort to get Gerald out of the way, Thrall took him down to the boat to have him fish there. Thrall took the precaution of taking the ores and sail away.

Meanwhile...Tari has opened the chest Gerald was sitting on and found some old clothes inside. She took the captain's hat and boots. When Thrall returned they proceeded inside the lighthouse.
A circular room, covered in sea salt and dust. On the wall were clothes pegs. At the back of the room was a chest clothes for bad weather...and to the left there were stairs going up. The party investigated everything and found nothing out of the ordinary. They proceeded upstairs...

...finding what seemed to be a kitchen of sorts and storage area. There was a place set at the table and there was a bit of food left. It was dried and moldly as if it was there for quite some time. A layer of dust covered everything in the room. More stairs lead up and from above they could notice a flickering light, like that from a candle. Everyone whispered and kept quiet as Tari moved as quietly as possible to investigate. She peered over the floorboards and saw an old sitting at a writing desk, pooling over something. Tari also noticed that he was wearing the exact same clothes that they found in the chest that Gerald was sitting on. Tari reported back to the group and then she proceeded upstairs, followed by Lia and Thrall. The man turned around and addressed Thrall, complaining that it was about time he showed up. [Thinking he was the tinker gnome that was supposed to come and fix the lighthouse light]. Lia and Thrall climbed a ladder up into the top of the lighthouse. They found the lightstone was cracked and took it to see if they could have it repaired.

Meanwhile...Tari talked with the aged sea man and found out his name was Leonard, the lighthouse keeper. He was waiting for a famous tinker gnome to come and fix the lighthouse. From Leonard's talking, it seems that the gnome was very late. Tari noticed some letters in a mailbox in the window. Leonard commented people had been complaining for awhile and he hadn't read the letters there. He said they had been sitting there for a week. But...when Tari examined the letters, the post date was from 10 years ago...

It was then when Lia and Thrall descended from above. Tari turned and greeted them and as she looked back...Leonard was gone and the candle was out. The party decided head out and try to get the lightstone fixed and also they were getting creeped out. Sure enough, Gerald was asleep in the boat. Thrall set the sail and they were off.
Upon reaching Poisson docks Gerald bid his friends adieu and went on his way. Thrall went off to find Ishmail and Tari & Lia went to report that the boat was brought back safely to the harbour master. Since it was after hours, evening, they had to go to his house.

To wrap up swiftly...
Thrall find out lots about Leonard from Ishmail and Tari & Lia met up with Thrall again at Ahab's. They discovered Kayless had a gnomish beer draft pump put in which pumped cold ale, always a plus. She directed Thrall to find the gnome who did it at Seamus' Tavern. Thrall went down and needless to say had the lightstone repaired. And once again, the brave but yet ghost shaken, ventured out to the lighthouse. They climbed the lighthouse to the top with no sign of Leonard. They installed the stone and the lighthouse worked again. When they came down, a new letter was in the mailbox and it simply thanked them for repairing the stone. Our party went back to the Inn to share their tall ghost story and rest for the evening.

Chapter 4 - Coursair & the Coliseum