Other than farms, there was also a group of fishermen in the outskirts of Baldur's Gate.
Three fishermen, Sonner, Jebadoh and Telman, had a problem they wanted us to deal with. "We're being harassed by a priest of the Bitch Queen Umberlee. We don't even know why, but whenever we attempt to fish she turns the weather sour. Two of us were washed away just walking to the rocks, but we cannot prove to the guard it was her. We be needin' someone to strong-arm her into leaving us alone. We've not much money, but I'll gladly give you… a magical weapon from my grandfather's adventuring days."
The fishermen told us that the priest lived in a small shack to the north, just a little past Wyrm's Crossing into the city.
---
Umberlee is a goddess who is certainly worth mentioning. In the classic literature the Odyssey by Homer, Poseiden, god of the seas, serves as the primary divine antagonist who relentlessly sabotages Odysseus's journey home by sea. The Greeks had a funny relationship with the god of the seas. Though the Greeks worshiped Poseiden, the seas remained treacherous at the whims of their cruel god no matter how hard the Greeks tried to appease him. The Forgotten Realms is no different in this regard, as the seas maintains its danger because the goddess who rules over the seas is just as cruel and capricious. That's Umberlee, self-professed BITCH Queen of the seas.
I suppose a kinder deity would have made sea travel a tranquil and safe form of travel. In any case, in spite of being an outright evil god with a capital E, worship of Umberlee was present in every port. This was because, evil or not, she was goddess of the SEAS. Ports cannot function without sea travel! She's cruel enough as it is, and nobody wanted to get on her bad side.
Branwen was discussing this with us on our way to visit the priest of Umberlee.
"Wait, wait, wait. If we EVER want to ride a boat, doesn't that mean we should never cross Umberlee either?" Imoen asked. "Or her priests, for that matter?"
"Uh… well, it's not the first god whose priests we would have crossed. We've killed multiple priests of Cyric in particular at this point," I replied. "Branwen?"
"Gods and goddesses have many priests and worshipers. The gods will not be bothered to avenge every one of them. Even Tranzig was not immediately smote by mighty Tempus for his crimes against me, a priest of Tempus," Branwen replied, "And yet, if possible, a peaceful solution is more desirable than battle when a priest of Umberlee is involved. I say that even as a priest of Tempus, god of war."
---
It turned out that the priest of Umberlee was but a child, barely a teenager at best!
This was Tenya, and you can bet she had a chip on her shoulder!
"Stop!" the child yelled at us. "You are trespassing on my land-home! None come this way armed as you are. It was those horrible fishermen that hired you, wasn't it? Speak!"
Land-home? Oh, because she's a priestess of Umberlee she calls her house on the ground a land-home. Right.
Jaheira had stepped forward to do the talking. "Calm yourself, child. We're here to settle this dispute you have with the fishermen. We're willing to hear your side of the story."
"What goes on is none of your business! Leave now, lest you earn the same fate that they have!"
"That sounds like an admission that you killed some of the fishermen," Jaheira said sternly. "Did you think we would give you a choice in the matter? If you refuse to speak, you'll be punished for the crimes the fishermen have accused you of."
"As cowardly as they are treacherous, hiring others to do what they could not! Tonight I shall put an end to all of this! The seas cry for vengeance!" Tenya screamed, and raised her mace.
Nope. Branwen casted Command, and Tenya prompted fell asleep. When she awoke, Tenya found herself tied up. She cursed in a distinctly un-childlike manner and struggled against her bonds, then started to wail and sob.
I had been waiting right behind Tenya, ready to strike if the spell didn't work. But Tenya is only level 5 and she's not an elf. No save vs Command for her.
Jaheira shook her head at the sight of the crying child. "Too late to start crying now, you murderous little-"
"Dear, allow me?" Khalid said gently to his wife. Jaheira pursed her lips, but stepped back.
Khalid got to one knee and spoke to Tenya at eye level. "Serving Umberlee is a difficult calling for any priest, much less one so young. You've been through a hard time, haven't you?"
"That's not it at all!" Tenya cried out. "Umberlee is demanding, yes. But the fishermen are real evil ones!"
"Then let not their crimes be hidden any longer. If you don't tell us, who else will?" Khalid said to her gently.
Sniffing, Tenya told us. Tenya's mother was a priestess of Umberlee who collected offerings from the fishermen, enforcing Umberlee's will using an elemental summoning bowl. The fishermen captured and tortured her mother for the command words for the bowl. "Now they all misuse a gift from Umberlee to pillage the seas, and my mother's spirit can't rest until it is returned. I have more power than mother had. Umberlee gave me her anger, but I can't find the bowl. All I can do is hurt them till they give it back or die, but I'm so tired."
The party conferred for a quick discussion.
"At the very least, her story provides some sort of motive why a priest of Umberlee is attacking some fishermen. Even I don't believe a priest of Umberlee would trouble fishermen for no reason as the fishermen had claimed," Branwen said.
The rest agreed with Branwen's reasoning.
"If we agree to help you, what would you actually have us to do?" I asked Tenya.
Tenya took one look at me, then snorted and looked away. "I'm not talking to a child."
My face felt red hot. "Look who's talking, you stupid kid! I'm nearly twice your age!" I snapped back at her, clutching my Quarterstaff+3.
"Calm yourself, she's just a child," Jaheira said to me. To Tenya, she said, "Tell us what you want, child."
Tenya turned to the other side and 'hmph'-ed again.
Jaheira's face turned red. "You little brat!" she snarled while clutching her Club+2.
Khalid gently pushed us both back then knelt by Tenya. "Oh please, wise priestess of Umberlee. Tell us how we appease you and your goddess for this terrible afront."
Tenya blushed and wiggled in place. "We need the Bowl of Water Elemental Control back. I don't know where Sonner and his group are hiding it though."
Khalid bowed. "Your wish is my command, beautiful priestess. We shall return here as soon as we are able with the bowl."
We untied her and made our way back to the fishermen.
---
It took some, how shall we say, convincing, but Jaheira managed to squeeze the truth out of the trio.
The first thing Sonner tried to do was offer us more money to complete the job. Jaheira, who was doing the talking, wasn't having it. "I'd rather hear the truth. You had failed to mention that the priestess was a child. Now that you've tried to bribe me, I'm starting to really believe you killed her mother," Jaheira said.
"That bitch priestess? She was taking tribute from us for years. The price just kept climbing, and you can't sail without appeasing Umberlee!" Jebadoh said. "The cleric of Talos in Baldur's Gate said-"
"Suffice to say, we made other arrangements for out safe passage at sea. Part of that deal was a little payback as well," Sonner said, cutting Jebadoh off. "We are all pawns within the 'friendly' rivalries of the gods. You had best tread carefully, lest you step on some pretty powerful toes."
That gave our group pause. Tenya had said that her mother had been collecting tribute from the fishermen, which was consistent with the fishermen's testimony. Worse, Talos was the god of Storms and Destruction. Unlike Zeus, the god of lightning in the Forgotten Realms was an evil god. (Although, arguably one could say Zeus wasn't a particularly nice good by modern standards) While worship of Talos is not regarded well and outright banned in some realms, no one wanted to be on Talos's bad side. The same went for a lot of the evil gods who commanded natural calamities like Auril (goddess of winter), Beshaba (misfortune), Talona (plague).
It wasn't as if the priestess of Umberlee these fishermen had slain was an innocent herself. And yet..
"Murdering and torturing a priest of Umberlee at the behest of a cleric of Talos? Can't say that's a good move," I said, appearing behind the trio. "There's degrees to a incurring a god's wrath, you know. Extortion is one thing, but you guys have gone out of your way to anger Unberlee as much as possible."
Sonner looked surprised at my sudden appearance from behind him. "What about you then? Do you want risk incurring the wrath of the god of Storms, little halfling?"
I glared right at Sonner. A moment passed, then I looked away. "No, I don't think I do. Come on everyone, show's over. We're leaving."
The rest of the party looked at me in shock.
Khalid stood stupefied. "But-but-but I promised Tenya-"
"We came for answers. I'd say we got what we wanted."
"You can't be serious!" Neera said.
"I said, we got what we came for," I said to them, taking a step forward towards my party, so that Sonner's group couldn't see my winking face.
"Got it chief. Let's go," Imoen said and walked away with me. The rest followed silently.
Once we had put some distance with the fishermen, Imoen asked, "Did you drink another Potion of Master Thievery?"
"Yes. I think it's worth Sonner's group and Talos not knowing for sure how they lost the bowl," I replied, and took out the Bowl of Water Elemental Control and an enchanted flail to show to the rest. "Turns out Sonner was carrying it on his person the whole time. I also nabbed the magical weapon he wanted to offer us too, heh."
In the game, I remembered there would be no repercussions from Talos either way. The use of a Potion of Master Thievery was not necessary there. In person though, I wanted to have a bit more assurance that I wouldn't be targeted by an angry god.
---
Tenya gladly accepted the bowl back from Khalid. "May your mother rest in peace now, little one," Khalid said to her.
"Umberlee is mother now, and she is well pleased. She will deal with Sonner's group in time, and Talos will no doubt abandon them for their failure. If they are wise they will never set sail again, for the sea will take their worthless lives. I have no reward for you, but the Sea Queen remembers those that serve her well. You will be paid… in time."
Why did I even bother when there was no reward for this quest? Other than the Flail+1 from Sonner, I mean. This was all done in preparation for the poison quest. With this, our preparations were complete. Phat loot awaits!