Womford

Our party members had an uneventful trip to the village of Womford, a tiny settlement on the banks of the Dessarin River, south of the Ironford Bridge. A dilapidated dock jutted out into the river, and three keelboats were tied up there. A large mill sat on the riverbank, with several big granaries nearby and a handful of small, run-down cottages. The party enjoyed a few drinks at the Spitfire Inn, asked about the strange books they had heard of, and were directed to the docks by nervous villagers. Apparently they were not thrilled with the unsavory folk that have of late made the village their own staging ground for who knows what. What's more, three trouble-making teenagers have gone missing, believed to have put in with this collection of miscreants loafing around the Womford docks or causing mischief up and down the Dessarin River at intervals. Kahntun and Alexander were eager to sort these ruffians out, so the party made their way to the docks. But Leopold had other plans in mind. "Just let me handle this. Don't worry about a thing." LiKi reminded him that they were looking for books, while Kahntun and Alexander exchanged doubtful looks.

Crossing Words with Pirates

The Womford docks on the Dessarin River.

So, here's what happened:

The party walked directly up to a keepboat with two unsavory looking characters working near the stern; Leopold asked if they had read any good books lately (wink wink). They exchanged looks of confusion. Kahntun took a more direct route, "do you have any valuable books you'd like us to take off your hands?" They called down into the cabin of the boat.
Up came a burly, smiling water genasi and an evil-looking halfling. The genasi was jocular, yet his jokes had edges that cut.
Kahntun asked the genasi his name. In solemn salutation, he responded."Shoalar Qaunderil, my lord." Then, after a brief, deadpanned pause, erupted in brittle, cackling laughter. Kahntun's brow furrowed noticeably."What can I do for ye? I see this one's got the eye patchy already. He's quite a dandy, but maybe we can perhaps whip him into the shape of a respectable scalawag. Yes, perhaps we can."
Kahntun asked Shoalar if he had heard of a genasi named Livid Litborn or Bastian Thermander. Shoalar said he had heard of him, but being a water genasi, typically doesn't associate with those of the fire-based sub-race. "When fire and water meet, that's just a bunch of hot air. I can do without that lot." He then added more darkly, "but again, what can we do for ye? What are you doing here?"
LiKi asked about the books.
Shoalar denied knowing anything about them.
It was obvious to all that he was lying.
Leopold attempted to persuade Shoalar to let them join his gang. Pike made an insolent comment. Leopold swiftly removed the halfling's left ear with a quick swipe of his rapier.
As Pike screamed,falling to his knees, holding his wound with wild-eyed bewilderment, Shoalar laughed, then suggested "perhaps there's more to you than meets the eye. That was savage; yes, savage indeed. We're looking for people to fence goods to. People we can trust. Perhaps you could fill that role. But you'll have to prove you're committed to the lawless life. See that boat over there? Steal it from those peasants and follow us to Rivergard Keep. This will be a good step toward proving your worth to old jolly Jolliver."
The party remembered the oxymoronic name from the note they found in Wave Echo Cave, "Jolly Grim."
The party went to the other boat landing, hoping to quickly explain themselves to the local keelboat skipper, but Shoalar was too close. It would have been obvious. So Leopold cast prestidigation in order to conceal a moonstone in the sailor's hand (a meager compensation for a 3,000 gp keelboat, an insult really), but alas, these locals would not give ground. As the villagers looked on from the hill above, Alexander stepped into character and punched one of the sailors and shoved the other off the deck, adding softly, "I apologize! You will be more than compensated for this; have faith!"
The villagers were starting to cause a commotion. There were shouts of discontent, insults, and threats raining down on our heroes, so before things could get further out of hand, they stepped aboard the keelboat and pushed off into the gentle current of the Dessarin River.
Shoalar shouted from the deck of his own boat, "Hahaha. Feels good doesn't it! Jolliver will be pleased. You laggards make your way up the river in that heap, but we are going ahead to inform the boss of your visit. Look for Rivergard Keep on the western banks of the river, you can't miss it. We will see you soon!" And with that the genasi pirate pulled ahead and pulled away from our heroes.
As their new aquintances faded into the horizon, Alexander voiced his discontent. "I think I'm going to be sick. That was not cool. I only hope this lead is worth it. If not, we may have permanently ruined our reputation in the Dessarin Valley. Let's not screw this up."

The genasi pirate, Shoalar Quanderil.

Shoalar's first mate, Pike (now missing an ear thanks to Leopold's bold move).

TLDR:

The party went to Womford following up a lead connecting a shady keelboat captain to books stolen from the Mirabaran caravan.
They met a genasi pirate named Shoalar who appeared to work for the "pirates" Savra spoke about occupying Rivergard Keep.
Leopold appears to have convinced Shoalar of our party's villainous ways, earning them an invitation to speak with the leader of his gang, Jolliver Grimjaw.
Shoalar and his crew sailed ahead while our party trailed behind in their "borrowed" keelboat."

Womford

Crossing Words with Pirates

The genasi pirate, Shoalar Quanderil.

Shoalar's first mate, Pike (now missing an ear thanks to Leopold's bold move).

TLDR:

Up next: The Party Enters Rivergard Keep and Meets Jolliver.