Across the black water

Quick Links

Lac Dinneshire - Crossing the Black Water

Player Replies

The cold cuts hard as the Howlbears step away from Dinev’s Rest, but the sight of the lantern out on Lac Dinneshere cuts harder still.

Mutt flips through the stolen ledger just long enough to confirm what matters, then looks up and curses under his breath as he watches the dim light moving east across the black water. He stuffs the ledger into his pocket and looks to the others.

“Looks like they’re already on their way with the shipment. OK, with any luck we can get to that boat before it signals the cave. I want us to be the ones making that delivery. If that doesn’t happen, we can at least follow in close behind.”

He rolls his shoulders and shakes out his hands, already halfway into a new idea.

“I’ve never actually done this before, but I think it will work. Once I transform, Orin and Azalie climb on my back, and I’ll pick up Dorf and Fizz.” He glances at Fizz. “If I can get us close to that boat, do you think you can stall it or push it off course for a bit?” Then he looks to Dorf and Azalie. “Do you two think you can take over that boat without sinking it or making a noticeable ruckus?”

“As intriguing as riding on top of you might be… I’m not sure that’s how I pictured this.”

Azalie says it without missing a beat, then gestures toward the water.

“What about that boat?”

A weathered fishing skiff rocks quietly near the shore, half-frozen at its mooring.

“Between your giant mage hand, Fizz’s… thunder farts, and Orin’s magic…” She gives a small shrug. “There has to be another way across.”

Then her expression hardens.

“This won’t be an in-and-out operation. We’ll need all our gear… and potions.”

That settles the matter faster than any argument could. Whatever else the cave holds, they are not going in half-prepared, and they are not going to catch the other boat by trying to race it across open water. But they can still follow. Still watch. Still learn where it lands.

Mutt exhales, the urgency still plain on his face, but he gives a short nod.

“Fine. We trail them. Quietly. We see where they land, and then we move.”

Dorf is already scanning the shoreline and the black shape of the boat ahead, judging distance and timing the way only someone used to trouble in the dark really can. Fizz, for once, does not waste breath on protest. If there are Duergar on that boat and crates full of black crystal being moved into some frozen hole in the rocks, then following them is good enough for now.

Azalie lifts her arm and calls softly to Mellon.

“Scout ahead. Tell us what you see. And be careful.”

The hawk launches into the darkness without hesitation, climbing into the cold air above the lake while the Howlbears turn to the skiff. Lines are loosened, frost cracks along the hull, and the little boat is pushed free into the water. Oars dip quietly into the black surface of Lac Dinneshere as they angle east, keeping distance between themselves and the lantern ahead.

The crossing is tense, but not chaotic. No alarm is raised. No light turns toward them. Ahead, the smuggler’s boat continues eastward until the rocky shoreline begins to rise in dark, broken shapes above the water. There, tucked into a narrow cove, the lantern-bearing vessel slows and glides in near the rocks.

With darkvision and Mellon circling silently overhead, the Howlbears are able to make out the shapes on shore clearly enough.

Duergar.

Several of them.

Small, solid figures moving with practiced purpose as crates are dragged from the boat and carried toward a cave mouth hidden in the cove. No shouting. No wasted motion. Just a clean, quiet unloading under cover of night.

The Howlbears hold back and watch from the lake until the other vessel finishes its approach. Then they bring their own borrowed skiff in closer, choosing a quieter stretch of shore away from the cove itself.

By the time their boots touch land, the trail is no longer in doubt.

They have found the cave.

They have found the Duergar handoff.

And somewhere ahead, perhaps three days farther down the same path, Hagag has already passed this way.

Decision Point

The Howlbears reach the eastern shore and now stand near the rocky cove while the Duergar unload crates into the cave.

In your next post, tell me what your character does:

• sneak closer to the cave

• search for a better entrance or vantage point

• watch the Duergar and count numbers

• inspect or interfere with the unattended boat

• remain back and let Mellon scout first

• or take another approach

Skill Checks

Possible strong-impact checks here include:

• Stealth 

• Perception 

• Investigation 

• Nature / Survival 

Caer-Dineval will available for a short time then the new location will be active - so do any last minute shopping, vaulting, or town actions before my next post.

Current Time: 11:15 PM

Date: Fifthday 15, Ches, 1742

Temperature: 18°

Current Phase: Exploration