Short

The party interrogated a bound cultist of Bhaal aboard the Chionthar Princess, using magical compulsion to extract the truth. The cultist revealed that the raid's goal was to steal Lantanese firearms from the cargo hold and slaughter passengers in Bhaal's name, with their leader Mirelle having escaped through a dark portal. She also disclosed that the cult operated out of a base deep in the Undercellar beneath Baldur's Gate. The debate over the cultist's fate ended abruptly when Mawyse threw her knife and killed the woman outright, drawing sharp criticism from Vagnfríður, who challenged Mawyse's right to act as judge and executioner, while Velessa's sisters — Ilmryn and Talice — watched the chaos with amusement. Tension between Vagnfríður and the drow sisters simmered as the group descended to the cargo hold, where the goblin artificer Becka Bitesize revealed the full scope of the shipment: hundreds of advanced firearms intended as a diplomatic gift to the Baldur's Gate City Watch, arranged by Duke Liara Porter. As a reward, Becka gifted Velessa a firearm and offered the party passage to Waterdeep aboard the ship's upcoming promotional tour.

During the two days before departure, the party scattered to handle personal matters — Séantal sent a legal letter to Waterdeep, Velessa forged adamantine half-plate for Vagnfríður, Mawyse searched fruitlessly for a local temple to Yondalla, and Talya charmed a group of scribes at Ramazith's Tower museum. Before boarding, Mawyse disguised herself as Velessa to distract Ilmryn, staging a tearful performance and pickpocketing a pouch from the drow's belt — only to find it contained personal mechanical constructs and a private letter meant for Velessa. Feeling guilty, she confessed to Velessa, who had quietly witnessed the theft and returned the pouch to her sister that evening. Once aboard, Vagnfríður privately asked Velessa to look into a troubling physical transformation she had recently experienced, and the two agreed to seek answers in Waterdeep's libraries. The evening wound down with a chaotic newspaper interview in the ship's lounge and a relaxing soak in the spa, as the Chionthar Princess steamed northward along the Sword Coast toward Waterdeep.

Classic

Last we left off, our party found themselves aboard the Chionthar Princess, a gleaming vessel of Lantanese ingenuity, in the aftermath of a brutal raid by cultists of Bhaal — the Lord of Murder. Through a combination of cunning magic and sharp steel, the attackers had been subdued, and one captive remained bound upon the casino floor. Under the weight of a compulsion spell woven by Velessa, the cultist revealed the raid's grim purpose: to seize a cargo hold full of advanced Lantanese firearms and spill as much blood as possible in their dark god's name. Their leader, a woman named Mirelle, had slipped away through a shadowed portal, leaving her followers to their fate. That fate, as it happened, was decided swiftly and without ceremony — Mawyse's knife found the cultist's throat before any consensus could be reached, drawing the ire of Vagnfríður and the delighted approval of Velessa's sister Talice, who watched from across the room with a grin.

The days that followed were spent in the city of Baldur's Gate, each member of the party tending to their own affairs before the ship's departure. Velessa labored at the forge, crafting a suit of adamantine half-plate for Vagnfríður. Séantal dispatched a careful letter northward to Waterdeep. Talya charmed a gaggle of wide-eyed museum scribes who had never encountered a satyr. And Mawyse, in a moment of inspired mischief, disguised herself as Velessa to distract her drow sisters — only to find herself swept into Ilmryn's embrace and subjected to a tearful, improvised performance that left Talice utterly unimpressed. In the chaos, Mawyse lifted a pouch from Ilmryn's belt, only to discover it contained something far more personal than she had bargained for: a letter meant for Velessa. Guilt-ridden, she confessed everything — and Velessa, who had watched the entire theft unfold in silence, simply took the letter and returned the pouch to her sister that evening.

Now, with the Chionthar Princess finally underway and the lights of Baldur's Gate fading behind them, the party finds themselves soaking in the ship's hot tub, drinks in hand, the hum of the steam engine beneath them and the open Sword Coast ahead. A chaotic interview with a tiefling reporter, a dinner invitation from Velessa's sisters, and a quiet, worrying conversation about Vagnfríður's mysterious transformation have all been set aside — for now. Waterdeep awaits on the horizon, and with it, answers, complications, and no small amount of trouble. And so, we pick up as the Chionthar Princess cuts northward through the waves...

"I was good at torture. There's a difference. Torture doesn't get you the correct answer. It just gets you an answer."
— Velessa

Pushing back against Ilmryn's teasing about her interrogation skills, drawing a sharp distinction that undermines her own point

Mawyse abruptly throws a knife and kills the bound, helpless cultist mid-debate, ending the moral argument instantly.

The party was still arguing about whether to hand the cultist to the Flaming Fist when Mawyse simply acted, shocking everyone

"Who are you to be judge, jury, and executioner?"
— Vagnfríður

Confronting Mawyse directly after the halfling cleric killed the bound and helpless cultist without hesitation

Disguised as Velessa, Mawyse is immediately swept into a hug by Ilmryn and begins loudly sobbing about missing the Underdark's 'daily whippings' and 'man slaves' to maintain the ruse.

Mawyse had only read about Menzoberranzan in books and was improvising wildly while trying to pickpocket Ilmryn at the same time

"Talice shouts 'Pathetic!' from across the gambling hall at the disguised Mawyse's dramatic sobbing performance."
— Talice Xilraen

Watching from the gambling table as the disguised Mawyse wept loudly into Ilmryn's shoulder about missing her 'favorite sister'

Mawyse successfully pickpockets Ilmryn's expensive pouch while being hugged by her, discovering it contains tiny mechanical constructs and a deeply personal letter meant for Velessa.

The heist within the heist — Mawyse's distraction plan yielded an unexpected and emotionally significant prize

"I went on a date with her once, actually."
— Velessa

Casually revealing a past romantic connection to Silfy the reporter immediately after the interview ended, while Silfy apparently did not recognize her

Vagnfríður asks for the strongest drink on the ship and is offered gnome-brewed grain alcohol from the engine room, primarily used to remove rust and paint from machinery.

Vagnfríður was clearly stressed about the voyage and Velessa's sisters; Becka answered the question with complete sincerity

Interrogation on the Casino Deck

Following a cultist attack on the Chionthar Princess, the party interrogates a bound Bhaalist to uncover their motives and the location of their leader.

• The party gathers on the casino deck of the Chionthar Princess around a bound female Bhaalist cultist.
• Velessa's sisters, Ilmryn and Talice, watch the scene with smug amusement, with Ilmryn teasing Velessa about her past interrogation skills.
• Velessa uses magic to compel the cultist to speak only the truth.
• The cultist reveals their goal was to steal Lantonese firearms and kill passengers for Bhaal.
• The captive explains that their leader, Mirelle, escaped using a magical portal and that their base is located deep within the Undercellar.
• The party discusses the cultists' limited magical abilities, noting they focus on paralysis to facilitate murder rather than complex mind control.
• Séantal and Talya discuss the tactical implications of the leader's escape via a dimension door, realizing she might still be on the ship.

The Fate of the Cultist

The party debates the fate of the captured Bhaalist cultist, ending in a swift and controversial execution.

• Mawyse expresses a desire to execute the cultist, citing her worship of the god of murder as sufficient motive.
• Vagnfríður intervenes, arguing against mindless killing and suggesting that execution is exactly what a Bhaalist would want.
• The party debates the morality of execution versus imprisonment, with Séantal noting the Flaming Fist's poor track record of keeping prisoners.
• The floor manager, Marceline, prefers to hand the cultist over to the Flaming Fist.
• Despite the debate, Mawyse abruptly throws a knife, killing the bound cultist.
• Talya casts Gentle Repose on the corpse to preserve it and prevent its identification.
• Mawyse wipes her knife on a ship-branded napkin, earning a glare from Marceline.
• Vagnfríður confronts Mawyse about acting as judge, jury, and executioner.
• Velessa's sisters, Ilmryn and Talice, react with approval toward Mawyse's ruthlessness, with Talice declaring she likes Mawyse.

Tensions and Trade on the Chionthar Princess

The party navigates a tense confrontation with Velessa's sisters before discussing a potential voyage to Waterdeep with Becka Bitesize.

• Vagnfríður and Séantal confront Velessa's sisters, questioning their motives and accusing them of spying or kidnapping.
• Velessa defends her family, clarifying that her missing limbs were the result of an escape from the Underdark, not her family specifically.
• Ilmryn confronts Vagnfríður directly, unimpressed by the tabaxi's posturing, and demands to know who she is.
• Mawyse suggests tabling the family drama to focus on securing the ship from any remaining cultists.
• The party follows Becka Bitesize to the cargo hold to inspect a shipment of Lantanese firearms intended for the Baldur's Gate City Watch.
• Becka offers the party a reward for defending the ship, including gold and a firearm for Velessa.
• The group discusses an upcoming promotional tour of the Chionthar Princess, with Becka offering the party passage to Waterdeep.

A Voyage to Waterdeep

The party discusses the logistics of their upcoming trip to Waterdeep aboard the Chionthar Princess and the fate of their young ward, Kaela.

• Velessa and the party discuss the care of Kaela, a young dhampir elf, following Seris's departure from the group.
• Becka Bitesize offers the party a ride to Waterdeep as a reward for defending the ship from the Bhaalist attack.
• The group debates the lack of professional security on the vessel, with Becka dismissing concerns by stating the ship now belongs to Baldur's Gate.
• Becka explains the political nature of the voyage, revealing that the ship and its cargo of firearms are essentially a diplomatic bribe to establish a Lantanese trade embassy.
• The party learns that Duke Racket Glitterbeard of the Parliament of Peers will be joining the voyage as an investor.
• Becka confirms she can spare four rooms for the party on the ship.

The Oopsie Plan

Mawyse executes a daring distraction by magically disguising herself as Velessa to confront Velessa's sisters while the rest of the party attempts to slip away.

• Mawyse proposes a plan to use magic to impersonate Velessa, allowing the party to avoid an unpleasant confrontation with Velessa's sisters.
• Mawyse receives a Blessing of the Trickster from herself to aid her stealth, then casts Disguise Self to take on Velessa's appearance.
• Disguised as Velessa, Mawyse walks onto the casino floor acting suspicious to draw Ilmryn's attention.
• Ilmryn immediately skips up behind the disguised Mawyse and throws an arm over her shoulder, questioning why she left without a word.
• Mawyse puts on a dramatic performance, weeping loudly and claiming Ilmryn was always her favorite sister to maintain the ruse.
• Talice, watching from the gambling table, shouts 'Pathetic!' at the emotional display.
• While embraced by Ilmryn, Mawyse successfully pickpockets a fancy leather pouch from the drow's belt.
• Talya turns herself invisible to watch the spectacle unfold rather than following the plan to leave.
• Mawyse makes a swift exit, dropping her disguise once out of sight, and discovers the pouch contains metallic marble-like objects and a letter.

A Pouch of Secrets

Mawyse returns a stolen pouch to Velessa, revealing its strange contents and a personal letter from Velessa's sister.

• Mawyse approaches Velessa during her crafting work to confess to the theft, handing over the pouch and its contents.
• Mawyse presents Velessa with the letter found in the pouch, admitting she felt uncomfortable keeping something so private.
• Velessa reveals she stayed behind and watched Mawyse's performance despite the plan, having rolled well enough on perception to notice the theft.
• Velessa identifies the metallic spheres inside as tiny, expensive construct accessories that crawl over the wearer when activated.
• The two discuss the differences between Drow and Halfling family structures, including the concept of divorce.
• Mawyse and Velessa discover they were born exactly one hundred years apart.
• Mawyse leaves the pouch and its contents with Velessa, who plans to return the bag to Ilmryn.

Downtime in Baldur's Gate

The party members spend their final two days in the city pursuing personal interests before the ship departs.

• Séantal arranges for a courier pigeon to deliver a death certificate and inheritance information to Caith Durenbold in the North Ward of Waterdeep, paying five silver to the Sword Coast Couriers.
• Vagnfríður requests that Velessa craft her a set of adamantine half-plate armor before the ship departs, which Velessa agrees to spend a day and a quarter completing.
• Mawyse attempts to find a local temple to Yondalla but discovers the nearest one is days away in Gullykin.
• Talya visits the museum at the base of Ramazith's Tower in the Temple District to view magical artifacts.
• A group of young scribes begins following Talya around the museum, fascinated by her satyr heritage, sketching her and taking notes on her biology and habits.
• Talya poses for the scribes and answers their questions about her diet, sleep patterns, and the climate of the Feywild.
• Velessa spends time sunbathing to get a tan, leading to a discussion about whether Drow can actually tan.
• Velessa reveals she has learned to channel healing magic through her actuation needles, a technique taught to her by Becka Bitesize.

Boarding the Chionthar Princess

The party returns to the riverboat casino and settles into their assigned quarters for the voyage to Waterdeep.

• The party boards the ship and discovers their assigned rooms, labeled Party Rooms one through four.
• Nysene and Russora Eomane, Velessa's adopted daughters, immediately claim Room Two.
• Vagnfríður claims the largest bed in Room Four.
• The party discusses rooming arrangements, with Séantal and Talya sharing a room, and Mawyse rooming with Velessa.
• Velessa notices that her sisters, Ilmryn and Talice, are rooming nearby on the same deck.
• Vagnfríður and Velessa engage in playful banter about swimming, weight gain from eating Rothé meat, and Velessa's mechanical limbs.
• Velessa visits her sisters to return the leather pouch Mawyse had pickpocketed, and Ilmryn retrieves a small mechanical construct from the bag and places it in her hair.
• Ilmryn invites the entire party to dinner at the ship's restaurant.
• Vagnfríður pulls Velessa aside to discuss her recent transformation and chest pains, asking Velessa to use her new magical medical skills to investigate the cause.
• Velessa suggests they look for answers in the libraries of Waterdeep.

Interview at the Velvet Lounge

While relaxing in the ship's lounge and spa, the party is approached by a reporter seeking a story about the recent cultist attack.

• The party gathers in the Velvet Lounge, where Mawyse attempts to hide in an oversized chair.
• Silfy, a tiefling reporter for the Baldur's Mouth, approaches the group to interview them about their role in defeating the Bhaalist cultists.
• Talya describes the cultist leader as wearing a dragon-born skull for a hat.
• Mawyse uses the opportunity to promote herself as a heroic cleric of Yondalla and suggests the City Watch bears some responsibility for the incident due to their slow response in collecting the weapons shipment.
• Séantal remains humble and reluctant to be labeled a hero, identifying themselves simply as 'just a cleric.'
• Talya mentions that scribes at a magic store were impressed by her being a satyr.
• Vagnfríður grows frustrated with the questioning and walks away from the interview.
• Velessa jokingly tells the reporter that Vagnfríður is the best cook in Baldur's Gate at the Blade and Stars inn.
• Mawyse worries about the safety implications of publishing their places of work given the recent cultist attack.
• The party eventually retreats to the hot tub to drink and relax as the ship prepares to set sail.
• Saresha Imravel joins the group in the hot tub, explaining she is traveling to Waterdeep to coordinate with the trade embassy there.
• Becka Bitesize joins the group to confirm the ship is about to get underway.

Ilmryn Xilraen

Velessa's full sister and an expert artificer. She watched the interrogation with amusement, teasing Velessa about her past methods. She later confronted Vagnfríður directly when accused of ill intent, and was emotionally affected by the disguised Mawyse's performance, pulling her into a hug. She carries expensive tiny mechanical constructs as accessories and a deeply personal letter intended for Velessa. She invited the party to dinner after Velessa returned her stolen pouch.

Talice Xilraen

Velessa's younger sister and an expert poisoner. She watched the party's internal conflicts with amusement, expressing immediate approval of Mawyse after the halfling executed the prisoner. During Mawyse's disguised performance, she remained at the gambling table and mockingly called the display 'pathetic.'

Bhaalist Cultist

A female follower of Bhaal who was captured and magically compelled to reveal the cult's plans. She disclosed that the goal was to steal Lantonese guns and kill passengers, that their leader was Mirelle, and that their base is located in the Undercellar. She was ultimately executed by Mawyse.

Marceline

The floor manager of the Chionthar Princess. She preferred to hand the cultist over to the Flaming Fist and was visibly displeased by the execution and the resulting mess, glaring at Mawyse for wiping her knife on a ship-branded napkin.

Mirelle

The leader of the Bhaalist cultists who attacked the ship. She escaped the fray using a dimension door and was described by the captured cultist as the one who directed the raid and informed the group about the firearms.

Becka Bitesize

A brilliant and irreverent goblin artificer representing Lantanese interests. She managed the ship's cargo of firearms, offered the party a reward including gold and a firearm for Velessa, arranged their passage to Waterdeep, taught Velessa how to channel healing magic through her tools, and joined the party in the hot tub as the ship prepared to depart.

Kaela

A young dhampir elf and former apprentice who was part of a trio that stole a decanter of endless water from Candlekeep. She is currently without a guardian after Seris left the group, and the party discusses whether to formally adopt her or continue sponsoring her.

Duke Racket Glitterbeard

A wealthy dwarven member of the Parliament of Peers and a major investor interested in the new Lantanese trade embassy. He is described by some as an 'asshole' obsessed with money, and the party previously met him at a bank. He will be joining the voyage on the Chionthar Princess.

Seraphine Moonscale

A dragonborn paladin who has been staying at Vagnfríður's treehouse but frequently travels back and forth to Moonhaven.

Nysene Eomane

One of Velessa's adopted daughters who immediately claimed Room Two upon boarding the ship and was heard excitedly bouncing on the bed.

Russora Eomane

One of Velessa's adopted daughters who boarded the ship with her sister Nysene.

Caith Durenbold

A biological cousin of a deceased noble, residing in the North Ward of Waterdeep, who is the recipient of Séantal's legal correspondence regarding the death and inheritance matters.

Silfy

A tiefling investigative reporter for the Baldur's Mouth newspaper. She carries a notebook and quill and holds a press pass authorized by the Parliament of Peers. She interviewed the party about the Bhaalist attack, seeking personal details about the 'heroes' who saved the ship. Velessa recognized her from a previous date.

Saresha Imravel

The proprietor of the Imravel Exchange. She joined the party in the hot tub, revealing she is traveling to Waterdeep to coordinate with the trade embassy and get to know Becka Bitesize.

The Chionthar Princess - Casino Deck

A high-stakes gambling area on the Chionthar Princess where the party interrogated a captured cultist amidst the aftermath of a battle, with Velessa's sisters watching from the gambling tables.

Undercellar

A subterranean location in Baldur's Gate mentioned by the captured cultist as the site of the Bhaalist base, accessible through a doorway in the Wide and located about 75 feet down, then through a series of turns.

The Chionthar Princess - Cargo Hold

A secure area of the ship containing crates of advanced Lantanese firearms intended for the Baldur's Gate City Watch.

Gullykin

A halfling settlement located east of Baldur's Gate, mentioned by Mawyse as her home and the location of the nearest temple to Yondalla.

Ramazith's Tower

A prominent tower in the northeast corner of the Temple District of Baldur's Gate. Its lower floors house a museum of magical history where Talya was followed by a cluster of curious scribes who had never seen a satyr before.

The Chionthar Princess - Cabin Deck

The residential deck of the riverboat featuring several 'party rooms' for guests, where the party settled in for their voyage to Waterdeep.

Vagnfríður's Treehouse

A residence in Baldur's Gate where Vagnfríður has been hosting Seraphine Moonscale, who frequently travels back and forth to Moonhaven.

The Chionthar Princess - Velvet Lounge

An opulent lounge deck on the ship featuring oversized furniture, a bar, and a spa area with a hot tub, where the party was interviewed by a reporter and later relaxed as the ship prepared to depart.

Lantanese Firearms

Advanced weapons utilizing smoke powder and tubes to propel small projectiles, stored in crates in the cargo hold. They were the primary target of the Bhaalist raid and are being transported as part of a diplomatic trade agreement intended for the Baldur's Gate City Watch, ordered by Duke Liara Porter.

Ilmryn's Leather Pouch

A fancy leather pouch worn on Ilmryn's belt, containing several small round metallic construct accessories and a personal letter. It was pickpocketed by Mawyse during a hug while disguised as Velessa, then returned to Velessa who gave it back to Ilmryn.

Metallic Construct Accessories

Small, round metal spheres with faint seams found inside Ilmryn's pouch. When activated by a button, these tiny robots crawl over the wearer as accessories. Velessa identified them as expensive and difficult to assemble. Ilmryn placed one in her hair upon recovering the pouch.

Ilmryn's Letter to Velessa

A folded, unsealed personal letter found inside Ilmryn's pouch. Mawyse read it before returning it to Velessa, noting its melodramatic and sad tone. Velessa received it and chose to read it privately.

Vagnfríður's Axe

A weapon that communicates with Vagnfríður through vague feelings rather than words. She brandished it during the tense confrontation with Velessa's sisters, noting it would not allow her to simply stand by.

Adamantine Half-Plate

A set of magically reinforced armor crafted by Velessa for Vagnfríður over the course of a day and a quarter during the two-day downtime before the ship's departure.

Acupuncture Needles

Velessa's specialized tools that she can now use to channel healing magic into others, an artificer technique taught to her by Becka Bitesize. Previously they could only provide mundane medical treatment.

Silfy's Notebook

A reporter's notebook used by Silfy to jot down details about the party's heroic deeds and personal backgrounds during her interview aboard the Chionthar Princess.

Press Pass

A badge carried by Silfy, authorized by the Parliament of Peers, granting her permission to conduct interviews on the ship.

Zone of Truth (or similar compulsion)

Cast by Velessa on the bound Bhaalist cultist to compel her to speak only the truth during the interrogation, successfully extracting information about the cult's motives, their leader Mirelle, and the location of their base in the Undercellar.

Dimension Door

A teleportation spell used by the cult leader Mirelle to vanish from the casino deck during the skirmish. Talya identified it and noted it has a range of roughly 800 feet, meaning Mirelle could still be on the docked ship.

Gentle Repose

Cast by Talya on the dead cultist to preserve the body and prevent it from being identified or rising as undead after Mawyse executed her.

Blessing of the Trickster

A blessing granted by Mawyse to give advantage on stealth checks, used as part of the plan to sneak the party away from Velessa's sisters.

Disguise Self

Cast by Mawyse to perfectly mimic Velessa's height and appearance, allowing her to fool Velessa's sister Ilmryn long enough to pickpocket her pouch and give the rest of the party time to slip away.

Invisibility

Cast by Talya on herself so she could lurk nearby and watch Mawyse's performance unfold without being detected by the drow sisters, rather than following the plan to leave.

Spider Climb

Mentioned by Velessa as a spell that requires the caster to keep a live spider under their tongue as a material component, brought up during a discussion about Lolth-sworn drow material components.

Cure Wounds

Velessa revealed she has learned to cast this spell by channeling healing magic through her actuation needles rather than traditional means, a technique taught to her by Becka Bitesize.