We find 5g (+2g Kiya) among the bodies of the carrion crawlers (ew). We choose to pursue Ellison by following his footsteps and droplets of blood. We notice that they veer off the main tunnel and exit the sewer, going uphill. It ends in a ladder, going upwards. It ends in a grate in an alleyway.
Tyener and Vistra are disoriented and don’t know where they are. Kiya is more studied and realizes our direction has ended us up in the River District. Tyener is able to track Ellison’s grimy limping footsteps as they lead into the streets.The footprints head to some docks along the river. We notice a halfling in garish clothing leaning against a building. He holds a sign saying “Zeram’s River Adventures”.
He tells us he recently lent a boat to a man who looked hard on his luck, enchanted to go up-river. He rents us a boat. Vistra notices it is low quality. Kiya intimidates the halfling into giving us a bigger, better boat, which Tyener gives him an extra silver for.
The halfling (presumably Zeram?) gives us Command Words for boat:
Zoom – Faster
Zoop – Slower
Zappow – Stop
Pew – Go
Kiya speeds the boat to maximum but fortunately Tyener can steer it well and we don’t capsize. Kiya and Vistra open the bottle of wine. Kiya navigates us to the proper part of the river, near where Rythnax is marked on the map, and we get out of the boat. Kiya and Vistra haul the boat out of the water and into the weeds, where Kiya disguises it. We still don’t see any evidence of Ellison’s boat.
The scenery is grim and swampy. Gray trees, spongy ground, and lots of water and bog. In the distance we see a man camped by a fire. It looks like he has a small dog or black creature curled up by his feet. As it shifts, we notice that it has some black wings. Tyener realizes that it is a wyrmling, newly hatched but not mature. It is a black dragon, a Chromatic dragon, which are typically pretty evil. He knows that Black Dragons are vain, like to be worshipped, and have acidic breath.
We sneak up on the man and dragon, and lose sight of Vistra because she is so stinkin’ stealthy. Tyener fails a couple stealth checks. When we draw closer to the man, he shows signs of burns on his face and arms– like something blew up in his face. Probably the empty scroll we found in his satchel along with the map to Rythnax.
The wyrmling, calls out to Tyener in draconic, “Welcome. Come talk to me.” It would seem they knew they were being snuck up on.
Ellison laughs. “We thought there were more of you.”
Tyener: “I’m just that clumsy.”
“Were you sent by the library? Ellison here says he was chased by a group of adventurers.”
Tyener: “It was just me.”
“Have you come to hear about my adventures? I’m happy to share with you how clever I’ve been.” The black wyrmling said vainly. Ellison interrupts and asks to be paid. The wyrmling laughs and responds that Ellison would never be done with the cult. Tyener notices that the wyrmling is wearing a gaudy amulet.
The wyrmling introduces himself as Rythnax, the mastermind behind all the thefts. He says he will deliver this information to the Cult of the Dragon, and intends for Tyener and his party to die. He uses his acid breath on Tyener, opening combat.
Tyener frightened both the wyrmling and Ellison, who runs. Tyener pursues Ellison and knocks him out. Kiya witch bolt on Wrathnix, who spreads his wings and starts to take off. Vistra, at the last minute, finally got a successful hit and pummeled him to the ground. Woohoo!