Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session 41.14 of our face-to-face D&D5e nautical game, which Drew & Divya S. hosted in Needham, Mass., on Monday, 26 October 2015:

In one ancient world, there was a place where strange majicks and demihumans thrived. The “Vanished Lands” were blessed by the gods and cursed by prophecy. Travelers became adventurers, and adventurers strove to be heroes in the face of many perils and wonders.

Sometime after a group of former circus performers wandered aboard the airship Zephyr and a team of diplomatic escorts fought chaos in Tong Sheng, past heroes reunited, and another band gathered on the Sea of Nagendwa….

The “Storm Riders,” Party 41 in Gene D.’s “Vanished Lands” fantasy campaign, using Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition, as of autumn 2015:

• “Kamar Alazar” [Beruk A.]-male Suthern human swashbuckler (proto-Arabic Bard) of the College of Valor, former member of the “Liberators” and “Dragonslayers”; CGn, Lvl. 3

• “Nuriel Earendil” [Brian W.]-male Grey Elf acolyte of light (Cleric of Corellan Larethian); NGl, Lvl. 3

• “Kaelen Northsea” [Bruce K.]-male Half-Elf hunter and horde breaker (Sylvan/Saganim Ranger), seeking his father; NGc, Lvl. 3

• “Eldamir Tempestborn” [Rich C.G.]-male Atlantean human soldier (Theran/Minoan Barbarian), tattooed berserker of the Order of the Kingfisher, specialist in the net and trident; CGn, Lvl. 3

• “Barret” [Drew S.]-male Minotaur wrestler and gladiator (Fighter) with a wanderlust; a would-be Eldritch Knight; LGn, Lvl. 3

• “Puliarus Aearion” [Charles S.]-male Half-Elf sage (Thalassaquendi storm Sorcerer), seeking to befriend all; CNg, Lvl. 3

• “Cassy Keelnipper” [Sara F./absent ]-female Otter-kin Rogue, street urchin, and sailor; NGc, Lvl. 2

“8 to 10 November 1227 B.C.E.:” The “Storm Riders” sailed from the city of Hesolin to the Hifalendorin naval base at the Gargoyle Headlands. They rescued people from Samhain mummers, and Eldamir found fellow Atlanteans. Barret had his new eldritch abilities analyzed at the chapel of Ismiltar, goddess of magic.

The travelers meet with some Atlantean (Theran/Minoan Greek) humans for a banquet. Kamar asks Cassia of Santoros [Beruk/Non-Player Character], a matronly priestess of Addoh (Poseidon), about the subversive cult of Krakas, lord of the maelstrom.

Charioteer Dion Xanthus [Brian W./N.P.C.] tells Kaelen that he wants to engage enemies such as the dreaded Ghost Fleet in proper battle with the Hifalendorin army rather than endless skirmishes.

Capt. Khufu Ali [Bruce/N.P.C.], captain of the sloop H.M.S. Alatuk, represents the Order of the Golden Lion. The Khemtish (New Kingdom Egyptian) human is skeptical of Eldamir’s bold plan to reunite Atlantean exiles.

By contrast, navigator Janos Demas [Drew/N.P.C.] is interested in Eldamir’s proposal of creating a “new Atlantis.” The Sorcerer mentions that their people have traded with the Thalassaquendi (western Sea Elves) of the Kelp Kingdom and the Merfolk of Thellosia.

Capt. Theeros Vanimelda [Divya S./N.P.C.] is loyal to Hifalendor, which has welcomed refugees. However, the commander of the Pegasus carrier H.M.S. Ismiltar’s Quiver notes that an Atlantean colony is rumored to exist on an island in the southwestern Sea of Nagendwa.

Young Panos Nikomides [Charles/N.P.C.] knows relatively little about his lost ancestral homeland but is the first to accept Eldamir’s offer to join the Order of the Kingfisher. Panos and Cassia are also excited to meet Barret because Minotaurs were revered in Atlantis.

Eldamir tries to reassure Cassia that a new Atlantis would right the wrongs of their former naval empire. The studious Barbarian says that he saw a tablet in Hesolin of an ancient treaty between Atlantis and the (proto-Western European) human kingdom of Hifalendor.

Kaelen recounts his crew’s past battles against Merrows (aquatic Ogres) and a Sea Hag. Kamar asks Capt. Ali about ports on the way east toward distant Lirgad. Nuriel learns of the “Grey Wind,” another mercenary crew.

Sometime later, Puliarus goes to the chapel of Ismiltar, goddess of magic, to investigate the scrimshaw that gave him his sorcerous abilities. Senmet bet Nirath confirms its extraplanar origin and notes that the script is ancient but not Draconic.

“Commodore Arthur J. Hudson” [Mark A.S./N.P.C.] provides fellow “Liberator” Kamar horses, a wagon, and a week’s rations. The adventuring party decides to leave immediately rather than wait to escort a caravan.

The grateful “Storm Riders” ride out from the Gargoyle Headlands across the wide Plains of Sathendo rather than take the dangerous sea route to the barbaric city of Gisar [see also telecom team’s notes].

Kamar rides “Baja II,” and Puliarus dubs his steed “Sparky.” Eldamir doesn’t name his horse, but Nuriel calls his “Sirocco.” Kaelen uses the variants “Scirocco” and “Shyrocco,” and Barret calls the beasts drawing the covered wagon “Clippity” and “Cloppity.”

Ranger Kaelen leads the way toward the hamlet of Bancea. Barbarian Eldamir, Cleric Nuriel, and Sorcerer Puliarus follow. Fighter Barret is happy to be back on land, and Bard Kamar sings as he brings up the rear.

The group sees a wooden palisade and a windmill/lighthouse. Kaelen is curious about a Sea Elf woman he glimpses in the tower, and Eldamir chats with Roger, the watchman at the gate.

Roger is suspicious of burly Barret but directs the group to the “Sandy Shoe” inn. Eldamir and Barret find themselves volunteered for a guard shift in the chilly night. Innkeeper Seonis tells Kamar that Bancea has about 40 full-time residents, led by one Tergan Nentor, a retired swashbuckler.

Nuriel is glad to rest in a bed but notices strange carvings of a tentacled brain under the straw mattress. Kaelen gets sick from some grog and then goes to the lighthouse to flirt with Mikkeli. Barret notices that Kaelen left the inn on his own and rushes to “rescue” him.

Eldamir notices that as he and Barret walk around the perimeter, the path seems to guide them in a spiral pattern, similar to Krakas’ holy symbol. He gathers his companions in their rooms as a precaution.

Suthern human Kamar casts Detect Magic and finds that the carvings under each bed and the tower radiate Transmutation. Nuriel suggests pretending to be subject to any enchantment. The Grey Elf points out that most of the residents may be ignorant of any cult activity.

Half-Elf Kaelen wants to burn down anything associated with the cult of Krakas, and human Eldamir starts packing. Minotaur Barret describes a nightmare of a huge frog with sharp teeth and says that he and Kamar should examine the lighthouse more closely.

Half-Elf Puliarus erases the symbols beneath the beds with a Mend spell. Kaelen eliminates Roger and Mikkeli as suspects. Eldamir tries to intimidate Seonis, who says that the lighthouse “will fall to the Old Ones.”

The enraged Barbarian knocks him out. The “Storm Riders” ask Roger and Mikkeli if Bancea will be safe as they prepare to continue their travels….

Sorry for the delayed update. I look forward to seeing some of you at tonight’s higher-level telecom game and to resuming our adventures tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 16!

I also look forward to Jason’s next “Star Wars: Dark Times” session and to discussing Bruce’s D&D5e “Kings and Pawns” sci-fi scenario and other proposals for next year. -Gene