Last night was Blue Rose, which is about the only game I can run during the stay-at-home order, because the players are all family.
Last time, the heroes managed to get away from pirates and sorcerers and escape to Mashae (fun fact: on the Blue Rose map it's spelled "Marshae"). Kisha and Arlen are having a spot of dinner when Qinis and his posse (crew, I guess, is more genre-appropriate) walk in and see them.
Qinis sits down and, real friendly-like, tells them that in the morning he's going to have them arrested for stealing his property. They've violated the "peace of the reefs," it seems, which prevents pirates from stealing from each other and otherwise doing violence while on the Isles. They're welcome to contest this, he says, but the council doesn't look kindly on the Finest, so he's interested to see their defense.
The two vata fall back to the inn where Whirlpool and Dobbin are waiting, and explain the situation. Arlen is not at all sanguine about their chances if they go to court, but they aren't sure what their options are. They have a rowboat, but where would they go? It's not going to make it to the mainland or the Teeth, and the Misery is still a day away at least. Kisha suggests maybe they could find somewhere to hide out, maybe bribe a captain to take them away. Dobbin asks Arlen if he could divine any future possibilities, and Arlen casts Visions.
He looks forward to the morning, and sees the group getting arrested as they leave the inn at first light. He rewinds back to the night before (this is more detail than Visions usually grants, but a. the player rolled really well and b. Run, Lola, Run is a really cool movie) and tries taking the rowboat out. He sees them get just off the coast when Qinis' boats surround them and demand the chest. That's not gonna work.
He rewinds again and has them check the docks for help. He sees some sea-folk on the beach, and has Whirlpool talk to them - and finds them sympathetic. The name "Rysa Seaspray" comes up, and Arlen figures this is the best chance they have.
They take the chest and head to the beach, and indeed, they see some sea-folk. Whirlpool talks to one and is initially less than honest about the contents of the chest, but Dobbin steps in and tells the real story, and the sea-folk says that she'll help. She calls for help, and some other sea-folk come ashore. The heroes all take breathing pearls (Dobbin mind-links with Pansy to get her to keep it in her mouth), and the sea-folk tow them along under water past Qinis' men.
Going to Laren's Town takes most of the night, as it's on the other end of the Isles. Along the way they find the Sweet Blossom, and, while taking a breather, Arlen notes that the masthead of the ship is a depiction of the wine-goddess Athne. In the sculpture, though, she's reaching out her hand as though demanding something, which Arlen recognizes as borderline blasphemous (Athne is never depicted as demanding, always as offering, usually a goblet). Kisha figures this means these pirates might worship some Exarchy version of Athne. The ship also smells sweet, and Arlen casts Second Sight. He doesn't recognize the specific arcanum, but it feels similar to Imbue Undead, and it's affecting the whole crew. Are the zombies? Vampires? The heroes don't know, and they're not going to investigate tonight.
The sea-folk tow them on and, as the sun rises, they reach Laren's Town. Rysa Seaspray, the elder sea-folk, comes to meet them, and tells them that the sea-folk have no loyalty to the Pirate Council and are totally not down with sorcery. Kisha mind-links with Shira and tells her the change of plans, and they spend the rest of the day resting.
The Misery arrives and the heroes embark. Shira opines that everything ought to go smoothly now.
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