[DH] Grand tournament of Zeyshel – 9 Apr. 2019 – Heret

2 Tarsakh, 1396 AR
at the Gilded Mirror, Daring Heights

Visited the trading post in the morning. Progressing well. On schedule for completion in 10 days.

L has returned from Crimmor. Says the governors are pleased with our work so far. The mage will arrive in the next few days. She also acquired a fine gift for the Zeyshelath: an ornate helm with the blazon of the Coinmaiden, all plated in gold and platinum to resist corrosion under water.

11 Tarsakh, 1396 AR
outside Port Ffirst

Three days under the sea! Remarkable. Unable to write until now for obvious reasons. (Preserving submarine writing materials for essential use.) Now camped WNW of Port Ffirst on way to Kundar.

We met Jalvas at appointed time, he then escorting us into the waves and summoning dolphins to carry us to the sea bed. Magic of the cloak totally effective. Breathing water v. strange & uncomfortable at first but soon became familiar.

Journeyed for some hours, I think, beneath the sea. V. dark. At length reached a city of stone and coral aglow with green light, tritons and fishes living therein. J took us to a great feast where offerings were made to their god Persana. Persana’s high priest is the city’s leader, Velsez, entitled the Eldest.

My neighbour at the feast was a cadet, Shuhlyn, due to compete in the great race that is the tournament’s main event. Also present was a giant (Milo spoke to him), some merfolk (Mystigon & Pieni spoke to them). Z throughout was fixed on finding luminous jellyfish – he has some scheme to trap them in glass and make lanterns of them, for what reason I know not – and went searching for someone to help him with this venture, but in vain I think.

After the feast Velsez came to us and offered each a bubble filled with aromatic smoke to breathe. It put a great fear into Milo, I know not why. V seemed pleased with the gift of the helm.

J told that later there would be a battle in the arena. A notorious sahuagin marauder had been captured and was to have the chance to win his freedom. Some merfolk warriors whose community he had terrorized were eager to oppose him but J said that, as guests, we might have first opportunity if we wished. On Z’s proposal, which I agreed, we decided that the creature’s victims should not be denied their vengeance. J said that the great race would be run after the fight.

The feast was followed by a fair. We tried our arms at a shooting gallery, where I won a fine pearl – favourable portent! Another game there was to use the tentacles of some buried creature to capture jellyfish in an exclosure; at this Mys excelled and gathered several dozens. Z also at last achieved his ambition of getting some of the creatures, and P got some too but released them to try to talk to them, whereat they all swam away. Meanwhile Mil had found a competition of a game like vizier and won his match.

All then entered a great arena where the battle was to be fought. At the gate was a book-maker offering odds on the fight and the race both. To show faith in the merfolk, I bet on them to win against the sahuagin; and, having been impressed by the resolve of Shahlyn, I place a bet on her to win the race, though her odds were almost the longest. Many of my companions bet on her as well: I know not why, for none of them had spoken to her. Perhaps they wrongly believed me to know more than the book-maker!

The battle was terribly short, for the four-armed sahuagin was fearsome and easily dispatched his enemies. Not wishing the merfolk to go unavenged – and, for my part, wishing to test my mettle and hoping to impress our hosts – we offered ourselves to take up the cause.

A fierce fight. The monster sunk its teeth into me early; after which I was careful to keep some distance, closing to strike and then falling back. My training of late paid dividends – was able to keep out its reach while the others (including a large long-necked sea creature conjured by P) kept it confined. Eventually it fell, whereat Mys strangely, and gruesomely, cut off one of its gills before a number of tritons came to tidy the body away.

Next the race, around a circuit of obstacles, the contenders riding huge seahorses with great skill. Remarkably the winner was the most unexpected (by the crowd and the odds-givers; I expected nothing) – one Kolgos, a retired officer seeking to regain his former eminence. By victory he becomes the Captain of Zeyshel (next in honour after the Eldest) for the next 5 yrs and will be given special training by the giants of the Sea of Storms. Our own victory was welcomed by the Eldest and rewarded with a favour, to be claimed anon.

Duty done, Mil had had enough of under-water life and returned at once to PF. The rest of us remained for a time – I for two nights. Learned a good deal about the ways of the Zeyshelath, which may be useful in time to come. Bought a few samples of possible trade goods (see inventory). TASK: test market in Amn for these items. No transportation circle in the city, however, so costs of carriage may be prohibitive.

Could have stayed on for another night before the cloak’s magic expired but time is short to reach Kundar to meet this mysterious Squeeb Neepads, so left the others and came ashore this morning. Collected Zozo and started the ride across country – shall have to make all speed on a direct course to arrive in time. Fortunately Zozo seems to have been well cared for at the Flourished Hook and is in good spirits.

After Kundar, eager to return to DH. Trade post should have been completed by then, and perhaps useful information awaiting also.