Session 25: Meeting the Locals

Recap

Session 24 ended at a stalemate with Sable in the Smee Jungle. She refused to leave the Wild Things, admitted she killed Snow White, revealed she struck a deal with Dagon — trading her mother’s life in exchange for being left alone — and made clear she does not trust the party, does not trust herself, and is genuinely frightened.

Mayor Barnaby’s situation

Barnaby has been waiting. He is not a brave man, but he is a good one, and the city he loves is in trouble. He explains:

• Three ships wrecked in ten days. The merfolk of the Cerulean Sea approach have never been aggressive before — they’ve been neutral, occasionally helpful, consistently ignored by larger powers.
  
• The vibration/humming sound continues at night. Fishermen won’t go out after dark. Two of Belleville’s primary traders have already left for Pegport.
  
• He received a formal inquiry from someone claiming to be a Germonian trade official, asking if any young woman matching Sable’s description had passed through Belleville. The inquiry was politely worded and felt wrong. He didn’t respond.

The Rest of the Afternoon

The party has three days before Petra delivers the custom weapons. Belleville is a small city under quiet pressure — the jungle disturbances, the counting sound in the river at night, Barnaby’s inquiry from Germonia. The atmosphere is not panicked, but it is watchful.

Activities

Talking to Locals

The party heads back to the Coconut Grove Inn where they order a meal and chat with the locals. They learn that Pip Knotwell, the dock master, may have some information about the strange sound disturbing the Merfolk and disrupting trade. They also meet a very pompous priest of the One God, and a halfling woman knitting a thneed.