Game summary for April 14, 2026, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Callum Spellhardt (Human Sorcerer played by Parker Harmon), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Polaris Helmsmeade (Dwarf Templar played by Peyton Harmon), and Snagyndar Blackthorn (Huldran War Master played by Casey Scruggs). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.
The team reached the edge of the Greyspace Crystal Sphere, and Helg made some final prayers to prepare his spells going into the mystical Flow. With 36 days to Kyrnnspace, they hoped for a peaceful journey.
About 3 days into travels, they came across a strange sight. A gaudy tradesman ship drifted in a calm pocket of the Flow, towing a thorn-black shrikeship on a long hawser. Lanterns and pennants fluttered as if it were a dockside fair. The name Mutual Benefit was emblazoned on the tradesman, while the towed bird-like shrikeship bore the name The Lark Ascendant.
A tiny gnome in a tricorn hat bellowed through a brass trumpet: “Lot of the day! One shrikeship, gently used, lightly stabbed, absolutely authentic! No refunds! No returns! Minimal screaming! I am Frongall Gamm of Gamm and Grubb’s Reputable Reclamations! We have here one of our fine reclamations, and you there look to be just the sort in need of this beauty!”
The curious gnome dandy launched into full salesman mode: “How much for this almost new, fully armed shrikeship? I am so glad you asked! Let us start the haggle at 25,000 gp! Rumor has it the Elven Imperial Navy has been buying lots of shrikeships in several spheres. Someone friendly with them could likely turn a quick profit! Hustle up now with those coin purses! This safe eddy will collapse soon, and I cannot loiter. With your ship and helm, you could tow this beauty and make a tidy profit! It still has that new ship smell.”
Helg began haggling in earnest, urged on by the rest of the party. He gave a very lowball offer, and the game was afoot. They went back and forth until they seemed poised to settle on 19,500 gp. While discussing, Polaris caught a glimpse of a young boy through the window of the shrikeship trying to remain hidden.
A small, slender ship drifted out of the Flow—a vipership armed with numerous siege weapons, its crew standing ready at their posts. The name Diamondback was painted along its sides. It flew a square flag of solid black.
A serious woman stood upon the deck, clad in a matte-black cloak, spotless gloves, and an exquisitely crafted rapier at her belt. Her glossy black boots clicked sharply against the deck as she moved. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled back into a tight, neat ponytail.
The ship approached their vessels, and Frongall nervously licked his lips. They suspected he recognized the ship—or what it represented. He half-heartedly asked if they cared to bid on the shrikeship.
Much to his obvious surprise, the woman answered: “I offer 40,000 gp for the shrikeship. No one boards. No inspection. Tow transfer only.”
Frongall kept glancing at the black flag and swallowing nervously. He tried to talk the party into raising their bid, but they would not. So, he sold the ship to the woman. As they exchanged a small fortune, a few triangular silver coins fell out of one of the coffers and rattled around on deck. Helg tried to engage the woman in conversation, but she was hostile and dismissive. She kept urging them to leave and mind their own business; of course, they refused. Eventually, Frongall and his crew left while the crew of the Diamondback secured the Lark Ascendant to their ship for towing.
Hekera tried to get Wizzlecrank to read some minds but found the gnome mind flayer curled up in a ball in a corner of the hull rocking back and forth. Cut off from the mind flayer hivemind, he was terrified. He had also been rescued from being petrified in the Phlogiston several months earlier, and the return seemed to have awakened some kind of trauma. He was able to tell Hekera he believed the boy was in danger of his life, but that was about it.
Helg cast blade barrier, which severed the tow ropes and damaged several of the enemy crew. Battle erupted as Callum cast dark way and created a bridge of shadows crossing between their ships. The woman ordered her crew to gut the boy on the other ship, and they rushed to obey, cruel knives in hand. Polaris and Hekera ran down the bridge to engage. Much to their surprise, the woman flew across to the Shooting Star‘s crow’s nest! She then did something truly horrific.
The tangleburn bag she dropped exploded, and the alchemical fire continued to burst and spread in an incredible sticky conflagration. It covered a huge portion of the deck and scorched Helg. Helg cast dispel magic on the woman and flopped down on the deck rolling around trying to extinguish fire with his own body. Snagy activated his battle tactics and prevented the enemies from gaining tactical advantage. Meanwhile, one of the foes tripped over a rail and dangled trying to pull himself back up.
Polaris and Hekera cut through the disciplined pirates trying to get to the boy hiding in the cabin. Callum cast a coldball and nearly blew out the windows which would have killed the kid. Fortunately, the glass broke but did not shatter.
The fire continued to spread, and Hekera realized it was about to explode with tremendous force. If it blew, the ship would be blown in half! Desperate, he hurled his massive adamantine greatsword through the Phlogiston. It spun end over end, propelled by the crocodile man’s prodigious strength. It slammed into the mast and broke free the yard. The sails plummeted and fell down on the fire. The rush of air and smothering cloth miraculously extinguished the fire! The woman tried to fly from the nest but found Helg had dispelled her potion of flying!
The team began to close in and debate how to get to her.
