Campaign Notes 11-28-2011

As Ma Lian threw her fish-oil covered robes overboard, the members of the Grimani goon squad who had been knocked into the water and were still conscious struck out desperately for the canal's embankments. The reason for their haste soon became known as Ma Lian's robes - and an unconscious goon - were yanked underwater, only to reappear a few seconds later torn to shreds. As the goons on the bridge hurled paving stones down onto the boat, two pairs of slick, humanoid hands grasped the side of the boat and shook. It soon became apparent that the boat was under assault by a pair of merfolk.

While Periander moved to the prow of the gondola and began hacking apart the net holding them under the bridge, Katsuo scaled one of the ropes left by the goon squad and threw knives at the goons, wounding their leader. However, he was soon knocked back down into the boat, and another round of paving stones stove a hole in the bottom. Periander managed at last to tear a hole in the net wide enough for the gondola to slip through, and the bridge and goons were left behind, but the party still had to drive the gondola to the side of the canal before it sank.

Tsura used her command of the First Tongue to speak with the merfolk, who were happy to explain that after they had killed the people on the boat they would get fish, but summarily refused her counter-offer. The two merfolk used a variety of methods to harass the boat in its progress, from stealing the gondolier's rowing pole, to grabbing at people through the hole in the bottom, to punching additional holes in the bottom of the boat, but the party nevertheless managed to steer to shore and jump out just before the boat sank into the canal. Fortunately for them, they landed in a neighborhood friendly to the Dandolos and were able to proceed to the Doge's palace on foot without further incident. They were awarded 3 gold pieces each as promised, and an additional 5 gold pieces for the information that Grimani's man Luca the Heartless has merfolk allies.

That evening, during a night out on the town, the party happened on a tavern where a masked man was playing what Tsura recognized as Turathi music. When Janissary soldiers entered the bar and made inquiries about the whereabouts of a certain Turathi man, the musician slipped out...