The Stubborn Arse
| Type | Ice-breaking Merchant Ship |
|---|---|
| Captain | Jeswyn Merrow |
| Route | Kalani Strait (Eastport to West Port) |
| Notable | Merfolk Battle of 1487 DR [citation needed] |
| Vibe | Heavy oak, frozen fish, and stories of regret |
The Stubborn Arse is a renowned, heavy-timbered ice-breaking merchant vessel that operates across the treacherous Kalani Strait, connecting Eastport on Farmarch with the western shores of West Port and the mainland of Felldrei. Known for its reinforced oak hull and stubborn resilience, the vessel is the only ship capable of safely navigating the strait's freezing winter expanses.
Contents
Crew and Command
The ship is captained by Jeswyn Merrow, a sturdy and experienced dwarven mariner who possesses deep knowledge of the Zendrian Sea and once knew of Brogmar Mossbeard’s past life as Harry Dennison. The crew is a colourful and tight-knit collective, including:
- Elias: Chief deckhand.
- Mouse: A young cabin boy.
- Slippery Pete: Rigger and sailor.
- Kael: Lookout, who staffs the frozen crow's nest.
- Kettleback Barnaby: A Tortle cook who manages the galley.
- Shiv: A temperamental Ice Mephit crew member who helps keep the catches cold.
- Beorn: A seasoned sailor and storyteller.
- Marta: A beloved crew member who was tragically abducted by a flying shadow.
Historical Events of 1487 DR
The Merfolk Skirmish
During a routine crossing in the winter of 1487 DR, the ship was ambushed by a vicious band of Merfolk. The bloody skirmish was fought across the ice-slick decks. The crew and the Heroes of Eastport successfully repelled the attack, aided by Brogmar Mossbeard's summoned beasts (a spectral bear and lion) feeding upon the fallen fiends.
The Shipwreck Investigation
Against Captain Merrow’s advice, the adventurers investigated a nearby shipwreck during their voyage, discovering vital supplies and a mysterious door carved with the letters "HD"—a relic from Brogmar's past as Harry Dennison.
Skaf's Consciousness Trip
During a quiet night on the voyage, the half-elf warlock Skaf consumed a heavy dose of the hallucinogenic drug Voidbloom in the ship's galley. Skaf reportedly experienced a complete mental dissolution, claiming his consciousness expanded until he "was the ship itself," feeling every creak of the oak timbers.
The Crooked Man and Marta's Abduction
After Frostfeast, a gaunt figure appeared aboard, spoke of the Mirrorwind and was identified by Beorn as the Crooked Man of sailors' stories. Around the same period, the figure warned Muffin that his heart would crumble and his dreams turn to ash, and a flying shadow abducted Marta from the ship. Her whereabouts remain unknown.