Present: Charlie Betts, Jack Richardson, Oscar Katz, William Chapman, Robert Nettleton
Last Session: Treasures Age Old - Session 4 Player Recap

The Conquistidans are searching for "something that could turn the tide of the war". Possibly a weapon/ artefact but not confirmed. Possibly related in some way to the alleged curse on the Casa Del Oro family.

The party set sail for Freeport aboard The Red Scorn, navigating the treacherous coastal waters of the Fogswept Lands. As the vessel became enveloped in an increasingly dense fog, Dino Wrangler (Oscar Katz) used his instincts to sense a storm gathering on the horizon. This region, infamous for its high Merfolk population and jagged shipwrecks, demanded a cautious approach as they neared the pirate haven.

During the transit, the crew interrogated Alfonzo, an elderly man posed as the actual old man currently sought by Doña Isabel del Oro. Over the previous two weeks, word of a massive bounty - and rumors of a connection to a great treasure - had spread through the pirate fleets, which had led to a surge of desperate cons, with crews tattooing elderly men to create fakes like Alfonzo in hopes of duping the mistress of Áurea Isle.

Despite his status as a captive, Alfonzo was moved from the brig to the ship's medical bay, a gesture of mercy prompted by the Selfless nature of Polonius Fumke (Jack Richardson). To ensure his cooperation, the party maintained the ruse that they would eventually deliver him to his destination on Áurea Isle.

His tattoos are examined by Polonius Fumke (Jack Richardson). He recognises the tattoos as coming from an area near the border of West Carrouban and South Carrouban. The tattoo is a pattern centered on the heart, with offshoots progressing along the arteries. The design on his body represents birth (through sprouting seeds), but hadn't been expanded on at all past this (typically Azcelani following this particular tattoo tradition would expand on with other customary tattoos of notable events in a person's life with a tapestry of tattoos) - which seemed to suggest the old man had lived a simple and uneventful life. There was some kind of text that went alongside the artery lines, but it appears to have been copied from hazy memory by someone who didn't know the language - so only very basic broad shapes (passable at a distance) could be copied, but was meaningless as a language - other than it probably came from a very old script.

Alfonzo identified the creator of these tattoos as Inkfeather, a dockside artist known for her missing left arm and striking voice. This description allowed Peg Meg-Leg to identify her as a local who practiced tattoo artistry as a side-gig, giving the party a clear starting point for their investigation in Freeport.

Upon arriving at Freeport, the party rowed ashore accompanied by Alfonzo. Alfonzo was visibly distressed to discover he was not being delivered directly to Áurea Isle as promised (where he allegedly expected to claim a house won in a competition). Despite his protests, the party successfully persuaded him to remain with them until their business in the city was concluded.

Seeking to leverage his academic background, Polonius Fumke (Jack Richardson) decided to reach out to his professional network. He tasked one of Redd James' crewmen with delivering a message to a Confluence University contact residing in Freeport, signaling his arrival and requesting a meeting to discuss their current situation.

While Redd James went to sell the $7,500 worth of lumber and tin salvaged from their previous naval victory, the party set out to find Inkfeather. Their search led them to The Hideout, a pirate club located on Artist Alley - a street in Freeport that had gradually transitioned from its original name, Artisan Alley.

The party spent six hours at the club awaiting Inkfeather's arrival at sunset. During the wait, Bruno (Will Chapman's Character) took over the kitchen to significantly improve the quality of the establishment's food. To pass the time, the rest of the group socialized with the local clientele, sharing tales of Wrinkle Superstition with the gathered pirates.

They also met Yarrsen in the club, a pirate with a hook, parrot, peg leg, pirate hat, and an eyepatch. They discussed Doña Isabel del Oro, and Yarrsen mentioned he'd heard a rumour that Doña Isabel del Oro was cursed at birth by an Azcelani witch, who promised her parents that she would be the "perfect child that no other can follow", which had an unfortunate subtext: Doña Isabel del Oro would be the last of her lineage. Yarrsen had been trying to find St Smithens’ Chalice but had failed to find any leads and was hungry for his next adventure.

Eventually Inkfeather arrived, having come from another tavern previously and already slightly drunk. She downs a couple of rums, and Peg Meg-Leg joins her and orders another round or two. They had met briefly before, and after a quick introduction discussed the old man - Inkfeather had recently taken up tattoo artistry as a full-time job, mentioning that plenty of pirates had been asking her to tattoo up old men to send to Doña Isabel del Oro in the hopes of conning her that one was the old man she was looking for. Inkfeather was in a somewhat unique position having actually seen the man while she was working on the docks, and confirmed that the tattoos she's made are faithful recreations of that original tattoo she was on that man.

Inkfeather mentioned that the old man was brought to Inkfeather by a pirate called Grizzlebeard, captain of the Ursa Major. Apparently, Grizzlebeard seemed to genuinely care for the old man - and Inkfeather mentions that in her brief observation of him mentioned that he seemed to be a simple/uneducated man with a fondness for sweet treats. The party learn that Grizzlebeard is a well-known pirate in East Carrouban - a pillar of the community and in favour with many of the Pirate Lords. He frequents a tavern called The Crossed Swords (though hadn't been seen in two weeks), and learned Ursa Major was still moored in the harbour - meaning Grizzlebeard may still be in Freeport.

The party went out to the docks and found Ursa Major - and called up to it (the boarding ramp had been pulled in). A man greeted them cautiously (freshly shaved, also had an eyepatch), and the party went through a string of stories - that Grizzlebeard had sent them to the ship with the old man (claiming Alfonzo was the old man), that Grizzlebeard was a friend of theirs, that Grizzlebeard wanted to meet with them, etc. The man asked the party whether they had actually ever met Grizzlebeard in person, and after a very shady answer from Peg Meg-Leg, the man claimed to be Grizzlebeard, said he had a hangover, but would be happy to meet them at The Crossed Swords the next day.

The party, not taking no for an answer, began to strategise - and as they did so, other crews (some accompanied by old men, others without) approached the vessel to try to get an audience with Grizzlebeard. The party briefly set up "GrizzFest", organising a queue system and serving snacks to those in waiting (new groups arriving every 10 minutes), before leaving to find Redd James, hoping that his reputation may be more likely to get an audience with Grizzlebeard.

They met Redd James, and the crew member sent by Polonius Fumke (Jack Richardson) had also returned - his contact wasn't at their usual place of residence and the place was locked and empty, so no message could be left.

The party persuaded Redd James to meet Grizzlebeard (as the two had met in the past) - and Redd James, upon seeing the shaven man the party spoke to, revealed that it was Jerry (Grizzlebeard's Crew), who had just told the party he was Grizzlebeard to get rid of them.

In a conversation with Jerry (Grizzlebeard's Crew) (and a mob of about 40 pirates watching who also wanted to speak with Grizzlebeard), it was more widely revealed that the old man was connected to some great treasure, and that Grizzlebeard was somewhere with this old man, among many other details (including links to Doña Isabel del Oro's curse, and the nature of the tattoos). Bruno Culina (William Chapman) also gave a sewn copy of the tattoos to another pirate crew who he had met earlier in the queue (who had brought an untattooed old man). The 40 pirates, also wanting to get in on this treasure, started following the party (not out of loyalty, but because they believed the party had some lead they didn't understand).

Eventually the party decided to go to The Crossed Swords in search of Grizzlebeard. The tavern was already packed. The Crossed Swords was famous for having a fighting ring, where fighters are given a wooden weapon and the first to land a blow to the other fighter wins. They see a brown-cloaked pirate Juarez (who they had seen in Treasures Age Old - Session 2 Player Recap) in the queue, and strike up a conversation. Juarez recognises them as the group who freed a number of slaves from Áurea Isle, but doesn't seem to care - mentioning that it only makes business easier for him - being a slaver on the Chained Hag, under the captaincy of Belladonna Velenza. He works out from the conversation that the party are interested in Doña Isabel del Oro's curse. He suggests he fights Peg Meg-Leg in a duel in the ring, and asks the announcer to call on them as a pair. He removes the cloak, revealing that his body is quite scarred, and he has chains wrapped around parts of his limbs.

He wields a 4-meter long wooden chain, and Peg Meg-Leg wields a wooden Cutlass. Peg Meg-Leg tries to approach and attempts to dodge Juarez's chain strikes, a feint and deft swing hits Peg Meg-Leg in the side and Juarez wins. Following his victory, Juarez heads to the bar, where Dino Wrangler (Oscar Katz) and Polonius Fumke (Jack Richardson) chat with him.

Peg Meg-Leg stays on to fight Bruno Culina (William Chapman) (who fights with a large wooden knife). While Peg Meg-Leg is able to close the distance, Bruno Culina (William Chapman) sidesteps the strike and repositions around Peg Meg-Leg's side, and lands a hit to Peg Meg-Leg's side - winding her^[1].

Polonius Fumke (Jack Richardson) and Dino Wrangler (Oscar Katz) in conversation with Juarez find out that the Chained Hag are also looking for the old man - and apparently are zeroing in on his location. He notices Polonius Fumke (Jack Richardson) was educated at Confluence University and mentions they knew another in the town who had also disappeared a couple weeks ago. Polonius Fumke (Jack Richardson) mentioned he had wanted to catch up with said scholar, but Juarez told him that within a day it'd be impossible unless Polonius Fumke (Jack Richardson) knew someone who could communicate with spirits.

Realising that the Chained Hag crew knew where the old man was located, the party decided to tail him out of the pub, and attack him after he slipped out - with Pulo chasing him and knocking him to the floor. The party carried Juarez back to Peg Meg-Leg's living place and planned to interrogate him for the location of the old scholar and Grizzlebeard.

Points Earned by Characters