As they prepared to set out for the boat waiting for them just offshore, the Sultan asks to join the party in their trip to Marsember. During the five day voyage to Marsember, the Sultan has an idea. "What if I scare the dickens out of the princess? Surely this might break the charm on her."
Delf and Brau'ni aren't convinced, but hey, it can't hurt. So, later that evening, the Sultan, regaining some of his abilities, hovers quietly over to the princess as she is looking at the ocean near the bow of the ship. Firouz opens his mouth widely, revealing massive teeth, and points out that a single bite could easily kill her. The princess screams and falls faint. After some water is splashed over her face, she awakens, her head in the arms ofTiron. "What has happened... where... am I?"
Tiron explains everything to her. It seems the Sultan's plan has worked, although nobody bothered to tell Asaron about the plan - he was not pleased!
Arriving in Marsember, early on the 6th of Flamerule, the boat docks and the princess and her entourage disembark and head for her new home. She thanks the party for all their help and invites them to the wedding, which, understandably, has been delayed.
Marsember is the second largest city of Cormyr, and, like the capital at Suzail, is a seaport on the Dragonmere (the Lake of Dragons). The city is built on a series of small islands, with each island crossed and recrossed by a number of canals.
Marsember is the City of Spices, and is so named because four competing trading families based here have shipped spices to and from lands far across the Inner Sea for decades, drawing much of the trade in condiments for the region here.
Because of the large numbers of small fishing boats that work out of its harbor (or anchor in the mouth of the Wyvernflow, but bring their catches here for sale), Marsember is the kingdom's busiest port.
Marsember is infamous for the intricate network of sewer-like, narrow, winding canals that run throughout the entire city. Spans of stone connect the upper floors of buildings, and light skiffs are poled through the streets. The city was originally built on Marsember Marsh and expanded over time, taking what territory it might. Flat, hard ground is at a premium in Marsember, so that only the courts of the wealthy and places of government have large plazas laid out above the high water mark.
Marsember's sole large church is Momingmisr Hall, a temple of Lathander under the control of High Morninglord Chansobal Dreen (NG hm P12). He has 16 priests of various levels serving under him. There are also shrines to Tymora and Umberlee in the city.
The light skiffs used in the canals of Marsember should be treated as coracles, though their dimensions are 8-10 feet long and 2-4 feet wide.
Marsember is ruled in the name of the king by Ildool (CN hm F7), a grasping political hack who retains his job in part by bemoaning how terrible it is so that no others covet his post. Rumors fly that Ildool skims his tithes to the crown, but all accounting to date has been proper. It is said that Ildool would open the city to slavers, Zhentarim, and other foul creatures if not for the efforts of the War Wizards and his herald, Bledryn Scoril (LG hm F9), to keep him on the path of the righteous.
The other major official in Marsember is Ayesunder Truesilver (LG hm F14), Warden of the Port, charged with protecting a 12-ship detachment of the Imperial Navy.
The party comes across a message post in Marsember:
25th Kythorn, 1368Lavavien Heartstone is looking for rare books and other antiques for his new store. If you have items of this type, please contact him at the "Memories Alcove" antiques store, Marsember.
19th Kythorn, 1368
A group of traders from the land of Sembia en route from Selgaunt to Hillsfar have reported seeing something very strange off the Rauthauvyr's Road just south of Essembra: what appeared to be a giant axe, sticking out of the ground. They claimed it was "as large as a hill giant, but then again, much larger."
16th Kythorn, 1368
Haresk Malorn, High Councilor of the Council of Six, Ashabenford, has determined that the warrant for the arrest of Celindil Sunrose, daughter of Lyra Sunrose, is, for all intents and purposes, to be ignored by all officials of the city of Ashabenford and nearby countryside. This includes Shadowdale, Mistledale, and Battledale.