Dear Hrathgag-
My friends and I enjoy a drink or two at the Learned Owl in Philomath, and there’s been a few times the night sort of…got away from us. However, they’re telling me we had a wild time with a couple of bearded women the other night, and I don’t remember that at ALL. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?
-Drunken Dwarven Drover
Dear Drunken-
It sounds like you’ve got quite the rowdy group there! I’m not sure I’d worry too much about one wild night in Clearcrest, hmm? Bearded women might not be your thing, but perhaps the experience will awaken something in you. And anyways, it’s not like your friends are using you to establish an alibi in case the City Guard accuse them of destroying government property and fleeing the crime scene, right?
Dear Hrathgag-
Our airship, The Silver Maiden, is setting sail for Erast, and we’ve received a commission to take a group of adventurers on our journey. I’m used to taking care of the crew (Professor Hindenburg in particular requires special assistance), but I’m not sure what sort of service I should extend to the passengers. Should I take them on a tour? Cook for both groups? I just want to ensure everyone has a good trip across the whole continent…
-Sky-Riding Ship Mother
Dear Sky-Riding-
You hardly need my advice with this one. Based on your letter, you’re well-accustomed to a caring role. I’d suggest merely extending that same attitude to your new guests. I’m sure they’ll be well-mannered and accommodating to your rules. Air travel being such a rarity, they’ll doubtlessly be on their best behavior. Just respond in kind, and everyone should have an excellent trip. Keep them out of the galley, though! Adventurers can’t cook a decent meal to save their lives.
Dear Hrathgag-
What do you think of the name “Cash Bags,” eh? Sounds like a winner, right? I’ve got an idea that these are gonna be big. BIG!
-Eccentric Engineer Extraordinaire
Dear Eccentric-
Umm… Yes? I mean good. Certainly. I’m assuming these “Cash Bags” are something useful to the general populace? Perhaps some sort of, I dunno, floatation device? Color me puzzled but intrigued, Eccentric.
Dear Hrathgag-
The allure of the sky is limitless, but the allure of gambling seems even moreso. My friend Black Jack has a habit of cleaning out the crew of our ship (usually while sans shirt), but now he’s attempting to dupe hapless passengers. We’ve recently taken on a group of adventurers, and I can’t help but feel the urge to warn them. Ole Jack is a cardshark, and I’m afraid the fellow is going to clean these folks out before we hit Erast.
-“Old Man” Rivers
Dear Old Man-
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do beyond the warnings you might provide. Adventurers need a constant rush, and on a calm journey, gambling must take the place of deadly combat. Perhaps your passengers have a few tricks up their sleeves as well. Or, failing that, some delightful Potato Slurps to console them in their loss.
Dear Hrathgag-
Why does this idiot keep trying to be my friend? I think I’ve made it very clear that my only interest while aboard is learning about sailing the vessel and keeping to myself. The fact that we’ve taken on passengers makes this more difficult, but I honestly thought a bit of simple avoidance would work. But now the redheaded fool is SEEKING ME OUT. Can I get rid of him somehow? Maybe no one would notice if he…fell overboard? The fellow has a habit of lashing himself to the mast when above deck, so it’s plausible he’d have an accident. Shame Cidrina’s always up there tinkering with something or other…
-Irritable Dragonborn Sailor
Dear IDS-
Some people just enjoy making friends, I’m afraid. Would it be possible to extend a hand in friendship in return? That might solve your problem in a single stroke. It’s not like this person is stalking you everywhere you go and pretending to share a common background to ingratiate himself with you, is he? A bit of common courtesy should do wonders.
Dear Hrathgag-
The Silver Maiden is up and out to the clouds once again, and our new passengers are an odd bunch. The human lad is easy enough to pin down. Aside from a strange obsession with potatoes (and a pretty deft hand at making a fine soup), he’s harmless. However, the short one has a tendency to stare at the crew with a most disconcerting expression, and I’ve had a report from Vera that he broke into my quarters. And the half-elf? Well, I initially thought he was up to some funny business as well, but it turns out he participated in the Kendrick Campaign? The guy doesn’t look a day over twenty-seven. How old do half-elves live?? Should I start digging into their stories, or would it be better to let sleeping dogs lie?
-Capt. Arathak Amberfoot
Dear Captain-
When it comes to travelers, the best course is usually to let secrets stay secret. I can’t say I’d approve of someone breaking into your room, but perhaps they just got turned around and you’d left the door unlocked? The harmless explanation might be the right one, and will likely lead to the least problems. I’m not sure if your other questions were actually questions, but half-elves can make it nearly 200 years. And they’ll look great the whole time if they moisturize properly.
Dear Hrathgag-
When did blue dragons start coming this far east? We haven’t even hit the Western Expanse yet, and we were already attacked by a pair of wyrmlings. For a minute there, I almost thought we were going to get a practical demonstration of the captain’s favorite phrase: “Kill two wyrmlings with one ballista bolt.” You know the one… Anyways, it’s a good thing those passengers are more capable than they look. I can’t say I understand WHY the sorcerer tied himself to the mast, but there’s no denying he knows his was around an explosion. And the other two definitely gave me the time I needed to deploy Cinder. All of which comes back to the question: when did blue dragons start flying over Lillyhammer??
-Gnome-Grown Artificer
Dear Gnome-Grown-
Blue dragons that far inland are a serious concern, and not one that had been reported previously. I urge you to maintain constant vigilance on your travels. At the very least, it sounds as though you’ve surrounded yourself with stalwart compatriots on your journey. With a little luck, I’ve no doubt you can uncover this mystery. Just be sure to report your findings to the Clearcrest Chronicle as soon as possible so we can inform our readers.
The Clearcrest Chronicle 