Demons and Sins

Our Party returns to Turtleback Ferry with the remaining Black Arrows, and takes a couple of days to regroup and reconnoiter.  Torvan and Vig go exploring the six giant mansions up on the hills overlooking the town of Turtleback Ferry, and find one abandoned and empty, two that look used but currently unoccupied (one has a picture of Zeeva and Seoni Foxglove, Aldern's older sisters!), two are occupied by caretakers and servants, and one fully inhabited by servants and family. Nothing looks necromantic or disturbing, though.  Antwon sees a couple more people with Sihdron tattoos, but spends most of his time hanging out with other halflings. The Mayor of Turtleback Ferry and Jakardros meet with the party a couple of times, working out some of the details of retaking Fort Rannick.  They figure that between the last three Black Arrows (and Shalelu), Our Heroes, the other mercenary band stuck in TBF while their mage recovers, and the ten-or-so farmhands and marginally ...

Yup.  The Party returns to Magnimar, talks to the Lord Mayor, and meets their old friend Shalelu.  She's resigned as Sheriff of Sandpoint because she heard about a family member stationed at Ft. Rannick who she hasn't seen in a while.  Our Heroes find a boat willing to take them up to Turtleback Ferry - it's a paddlewheeler, where the wheels are run by a tame Earth Elemental who runs on a sort-of treadmill. All Aboard!  Antwon hangs out with the Halfling crew (4 of the 10 people on the crew). Turtleback Ferry is a sleepy little town, which mostly serves two purposes.  First, supporting Fort Rannick (Magnimar's northernmost defense post, keeping the local Ogres (and the occasional Giant) in check).  Second, it's a hub for the artisans and crafters (mostly halflings and gnomes) who have small holdings and communities in the region.  It has about a third as many people as Sandpoint, but has several merchants and tradesfolk. The Party heads up to Ft....