Treasures of the Savage Frontier playthrough: #7 Smuggler's Dock near Waterdeep
"You see the world in black and white -
No colour or life...
You think you'll never get it right
But you're wrong; you might...
The sky could fall, could fall on me!
The parting of the seas
But you mean more, mean more to me
Than any colour I can see...
All you ever wanted was love!
But you never looked hard enough -
It's never gonna give itself up...!
All you ever wanted to be
Living in perfect symmetry
Nothing is as down or as up...
As us...!
You see the world in black and white
Nothing too bright
You see no meaning to your life
Yet you try...!
And don't you want to see it come soon?
Floating in a big white balloon
Or given your own silver spoon
Don't you want to see it come down
Enough of throwing your arms around
And saying not a moment too soon...!"
Coldplay, 'Low'
After the half-remembered fever dream of our last visit to Waterdeep, we give the city a wide berth and arrive at the smuggler's dock south of the city outskirts.
A scruffy-looking man challenges us as we approach the small area of docks and ramshackle buildings.
“What business have he here?” he demands. When we tell him we are just travellers, he offers “Perhaps I could help ye reach yer destination... say, for a mere 20 coins?”
We offer him what he asks, and he grins. “Ah, I love the sound o' coins flowin' like the Dessarin in springtime, flowin' into me palm!” the foul-smelling sailor says.
JOURNAL ENTRY 25: THE FOUL-SMELLING SAILOR
"There are shops on the road that leads west to the docks. You may find unusual items in some places, common ones elsewhere. An inn lies just west of here.
Be careful of locked doors here in town - people have goods here they don't want inspected. Some of the goods are bad, and some have their own opinions about being inspected."
He chuckled at his little joke, and his breath smelled like dead barnacles.
"You don't look like you're ready to take on the kinds of enemies you'll find in Mintarn and Orlumbor, but when you grow stronger come back to this little town, you'll be able to book passage to go there. There are two docks on the western end of town. Ships at the north one go to Mintarn, and the southern ones go to Orlumbor. Get there by 6:00 in the morning to travel - and whatever you do, don't snoop around the docks after dark.”
We thanked him and moved on, grateful for the chance to once again take a deep breath.
We sit beside the shore for a time, and I listen to the siblings talk. Siulajia is down at the beach, bathing with Shelah's herbal rinses.
“Still find it hard to think she's gone for good... Jay I mean,” Sky muses, looking out to sea. “I mean, Zahri was always a fair-weather sailor – she made it clear she wouldn't stick around if things started to go downhill. Nef... I mean, that one hurts, but she was always restless, I think she's was looking for a way out for a while now.”
“We don't know Jhairli and Elena won't return,” his sister points out.
“They have... child-care issues I guess,” he muses. “Can't blame them for putting their kid first. I never know how much the elf really understands what's going on anyway. It's liken she's looking at some different place most times, looking back at a past we just can't see...”
“But you'll stay, won't you?” I ask quietly.
“Sure I will,” he smiles. “This is my land. Sheela's too. No way out even if I wanted to. And I'm not the kind of man who walks away from a fight.”
Shelah comes over to sit beside me, and musses my hair.
“Your braids have come undone,” she teases. “Let me fix them up...”
I like her hands in my hair, as she brushes it and reties my braids. She hugs me and looks into my eyes.
“I won't leave you, Raye,” she promises. “You have my promise of that. My brother's too. When things calm down, we'll visit your home and get Lenili back...”
“Leni will be safer there,” I point out. “But it has a been a year. I miss her.”
“I wouldn't have blamed you if you'd gone with Jay,” Sky says quietly.
I nod – but I did not really have a say in that matter, did I? Others chose my path for me.
But her lands would have felt strange to me. The Savage Frontier is... familiar to me, somehow.
Shelah brushes strands of hair from my eyes and kisses me.
“The last two songbirds,” she smiles. “It's enough for me. I'm glad you stayed, Raye.”
“I am also,” I admit.
But really, I have nowhere else to go.
Rathe
Afterwards, when Siujajia returns and the others bathe, Shelah speaks with Amanitas via the Crown. I know not why she puts such faith in that mad old man. But we must find help where we can, I suppose.
“Zhentarim soldiers have seized the Way Inn and the town of Daggerford!” he tells us*. “With Llorkh now under our control, we need these towns to bring supplies and information from the south! The Lord's Alliance must control these towns, or our own supply road from the south will be cut off. You must free Daggerford and the Way Inn, and do it quickly! Oh, and your dwarven lady-friend says hello!”*
“Always a cat up a tree,” Sky smiles faintly. But the news perks him up.
“So Kori made it to Llorkh! I'm hoping that means the others will be heading here any day soon! Gods know we need their help... We are going to miss the magic from Jay and Nef...”
“Do you think we can win this?” I ask seriously. “I mean it, please,” I add. “Tell me truly. I am no child in need of comforting. If we must fight and die for this, I accepted it long ago.”
He sighs. “Things won't be easy with just the four of us,” he admits. “But I won't let that stop me. And I know you won't, either. If Taeral and the twins get here, who knows what we can get done?”
A faint hope then, but better than no hope.
A fair dawn brings good fortune, however – my other companions from our patrols to Ascore arrive in the little sea-town by river upstream! The twins hover back as Taeral strides up, and Sky embraces the moon elf like a brother.
“Well met, my friend!” he laughs. “Your coming is very much welcome!”
Taeral Aenelis, Fighter 7/ Mage 7
I introduce them to Shelah and Siulajia, and the twins curtsey prettily. They all seem to know the enormity of the trask facing us, but at least now we are seven once more.
It shall have to do.
Nila, the magical twin, is able to use an Identify spell to determine Sky's new sword is an extremely potent weapon, the 'Sword of Stalking'. Sometimes known more politely as a 'hand-and-a-half sword', even a regular bastard sword can do serious damage to larger foes.
Bolstered by new hope, we break camp and head in to explore the little seaside port.
The Farwood Twins - Kathori (Ranger 7/Cleric 5) and Nila (Mage 6/Cleric 5)
15/ This tiny chamber contains the trapdoor leading to the old dungeons beneath Waterdeep and the caverns of the sea elves.
16/ The gate to the east leads to the open wilderness south of Waterdeep.
14/ “Hello,” the woman in this tavern greets us, her voice light and pleasant.
“Would you like to rest here for one platinum coin?”
We are in need of lodgings, and are happy to pay.
“In that case, this house shall be your place of rest... Permanently!” she cackles.
“Oh dear,” Shelah says awkwardly.
Before our eyes, the woman begins to change shape! She is a greenhag, an evil witch-creature who can take the form of others, like those we fought in Leilon!
Two of her 'sisters' are with her, and the seven of us engage in exhausting battle.
As before, they change form, taking on the shapes of women who have met... including Siulajia!
“I'm having flashbacks of some very disturbing dreams...!” Sky exclaims.
He is very hesitant to strike at her image, but his sister takes the matter out of his hands by shooting her dead with an arrow in the heart.
We eventually slay the other two, pretending to be she-dwarves, and heal up as best we can.
We continue to explore, wary that our enemies can now infiltrate seemingly safe towns under mystical disguises.
13/ A sign beside this door says:
'Borders accepted – Miss Salinia'
“That sounds promising!” Shelah smiles.
Indeed, Miss Salina proves to be a pleasing wench indeed, who welcomes us with a beaming smile.
“Hello, I'm Miss Salinia! Rooms are one platinum piece. Would you like to rest?”
this is a much nicer wench than the last one!
We are wary aftre the last time, as it seems te hags took her form to gull us, but this time our trust is not misplaced and the woman takes very good care of us indeed. There are enough rooms to house us all – the two men, the twins, myself and Shelah, and Siulajia gets a room by herself. It is nice to have someone kind take care of us and make us meals, even for only a few days.
We rise refreshed after a hot bath to face a new day.
12/ A hooded figure approaches us here.
“Have you alms for the needy?” he asks.
“Thank you, good adventurers, for this gift. You may be happy to know that the door beside which you stand leads to a hidden temple where your wounds may be healed. When you enter, you will ne asked the question: 'To whose side would you fly when danger is nigh?' You must answer: 'Mask'.”
The man turns and wanders away.
“The god of thieves,” Shelah tells me. We have no knowing of such a god in Ice Peak.
In the building beyond, a man with his face covered guards the outer room. He asks his question, and we reply.
“Welcome to the temple of Mask, most worthy thieves! How may we help you?”
It seems they will heal us here, and for free.
10/ As we pass this doorway, we hear the clash of swords from inside.
“No, no, no!” a booming voice shouts from within the building. “That thrust would have bounced off the flimsiest of armour! Step into it, like this...!”
A mural painted on the wall here shows a red dragon burning a town, its wings spreading majestically as it flies overhead.
“Scary,” Shelah muses solemnly.
“Well, it's not like we're going to find a huge flame drake hiding in a little smuggler's town like this,” her brother reassures her.
I tell them that the terrible wyrms of the north are all white, but no less terrifying in their power. Thankfully, ice drakes have not been seen by my people for many years now. Perhaps they yet sleep – a troubling thought.
9/ This room has been decorated with lavish tapestries, hanging curtains and mountains of soft, satin pillows. On the far side, a man is upon one knee, speaking respectfully to several fire giants! They see us and attack – yet another needless and bruising battle, but our new team fights effectively, recalling our battles on the road to Ascore together.
8/ A sign carved in the shape of a scimitar above this door reads:
'Ahbadi the Armourer'
'Quality beyond question'
'So no questions asked!'
7/ A brass sign besides this door reads :
'Sword Coast Mapmakers
' Charts Maps Ancient Lore'
“Oh, I love maps!” Shelah sighs, no doubt recalling the times she spent with Jhairli.
The mapmaker sells all kinds of intriguing maps, with names such as 'Farms of Longsaddle', 'Luskan High Captains', 'Tunnels of Orlumbor' and the more vague 'Firedock Map' and 'Treasure Map'. Shelah buys them all, of course.
4/ This warehouse is stacked high with with crates of goods. The moment we enter. A robed man sees us and calls out: 'Thieves!'
Despite the fact we mean them no ill will, enemies run at us from all corners of the room, knives drawn. Hold spells work of course, and men who tried to kill us can surely expect no mercy?
3/ A sign above this door reads:
'Upstream Boat Rentals'
'river boats on your demand'
'no questions asked at your request'
5/ A ship is tied up at this pier. Men are hurriedly unloading cargo, as armed guards stand by. Something else is also standing guard, but it's too dark to see what it is.
We advance for a closer look, and instantly realise our mistake. “Thieves!” yells one voice; 'Soldiers!' yells another, though both are not correct. From all around us, figures run with weapons drawn.
We warriors fight the giants, who seem vulnerable to Sky's new sword. Hold spells work as well as they always do on men. When the giants are dead, I hold the heads of those paralysed under the water until there are no more bubbles. During the fighting, the ship has pulled away into darkness and the pier is now deserted.
6/ There is another ship docked here. They don't want to be friends either. When we are done with the frozen pirates, Sky asks me if I am okay. I dry off my hands and tell him yes, I am well, thank you.
2/ This area has been outfitted as a barracks, with bunks against each wall. Some of the bunks are oversized, close to twelve feet long... and they are not empty...!
After the battle, we search the room and find a piece of paper:
JOURNAL ENTRY 36: A SCRIBBLED NOTE
We opened the hastily-scribbled note.
It read:
Kaarno-
Golozz the Greedy says he's going to toast you with his breath and eat you for dinner tonight unless he gets the gold you promised him from that ship we took off Leilon! He's not joking! He could burn this whole village to the ground at any moment!
You know how his moods are - you can't use logic with him! I heard him roaring through the walls last night while I tried to sleep!
Get him that gold, and fast!
- Osalt
That is... most sobering...!
No mere pirate captain would toast foes with breath or roar through walls, no matter how fierce.
“Okay, maybe I was wrong about the dragon...!” Sky admits soberly.
I confer with Shelah and we both cast Resist Fire on our comrades before we advance. The twin sisters also help. They have said little thus far, but they seem nice. I should ask them about their forest goddess.
1/ This room has a large hole in the ceiling on one side. It is filled by an angry red dragon, which speaks in a haughty voice:
“So have you brought...”
Suddenly, it's eyes go wide in rage.
“You are not my servants!” it bellows. “YOU WANT MY TREASURE!!!”
We do not, but dragons do not listen to reason.
With a swing of its great tail, it sweeps away a post on the far side of the chamber, releasing tons of rock from the ceiling and covering the far door.
“I'll have to dig that out later!” the dragon growls. “But first, I'll make you pay for putting me though all this trouble!”
“Hat follows is a blur, but protected as we are, we may stand a chance...! Kathori, Shelah and I loose arrows with Siulajia, while Sky charges it, shouting to get the beasts attention. Taeral and Nila loose bolts of lightning at it, rebounding them off the wall in this relatively-cramped space.
The creatures snaps at Sky with its jaws, but he dives low as we pelt its huge form with missiles, both magical and mundane. Sky is able to get underneath it, and drives his new sword with both hands up into its neck! The red eyes dim slowly as the huge beast crashes to the ground! We have slain the dragon!
I am a little disappointed if I am honest, but at least it shows our new team will be effective in our battles.
Even with the far room hopelessly blocked by tons of rock, we find several valuable items beside the dragon's lifeless body, including a mace and the most beautiful armour I have ever seen, made of some lightweight, crimson metal!
Nobody seems to mind us taking these things. There seems no way to explore the deeper caves here without being able to dig through tons of rock, so we retire once more to Miss Seliana's residency to rest after our exhausting battle.
Downstairs, I hear Skylar and Siulajia talking quietly. I saw them holding hands earlier, and talking for longer... but when I pass her door later than even she lies alone and sighing.
aww fuck, this playthrough feels CURSED
My people have a saying, that it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good. I wish they would be happy together, but a dark gloom has settled upon us since Zahri left us.
That afternoon in our room, I hold the new armour up the mirror, to imagine how I would look in it. Shelah slides up behind me and holds me.
“You would look beautiful in it, Raye,” she murmurs. “Please, I want you to have it! And then... come to bed. With the armour on..!”
“I may not be able to sleep in it,” I say gently.
“Then I shall have to take it off,” she smiles as she lies down and beckons to me.
“You thought of everything,” I smile shyly.
Notes:
This feels like the slow recovery from last episode's low point, as a new makeshift team forms around the Icedane twins.
I assume Kori the dwarf went to Llorkh, but she's a spare if anyone should die between now and Yartar.
From now 'til then, 'Play To See What Happens' is in full effect – I will take any deaths that occur, even if it's Sky or Shelah. That would suck, but it's narratively appropriate, and its up to me to play then well. I can use specific spells like Neutralise Poison or Stone to Flesh, but not anything that results in Constitution loss.
I knew the dragon was coming up – it surprised me the first time as I reached it before we discovered the journal entry, and its a fill six-square specimen like Thorne in Pools of Darkness!
But I was prepared, and had the lucky swing of initiative. My two (level 6!) mages bounced lightning bolts off the wall its next to, so that was 40 damage right away before anything else, then they switched to the automatic damage of magic missiles. Given the new guys relatively low hit points, I was expecting some casualties, but it didn't even breathe once before it bit the dust.
I also noted Siulajia is blowing hot and cold again, and it this point I think this playthrough is completely cursed and I'm prepared to play it through regardless. If he lives to marry Rathe, I'm perfectly happy with that at this point. This is the first time she gets to narrate and she's a nice little character in her own right.
I found an old blog entry discussing the romance, and apparently its MUCH harder on a reply, because she prefers lower-level characters like the ones made for this game. Sky was level 9 in my first playthrough and she was fine. For the replay he was only two levels higher at 11, but apparently that's making the difference between her liking him and not.
Posted Aug 14, 2026, 10:16 PM UTC