Starwater Plesiosaur

A massive plesiosaur that had taken up residence in the gravel beds of the Starwater River, killing two Kingsguard and smashing three rafts. Was being controlled by Grimm via a low brass whistle. Sanji observed fear in its eyes when it attacked Wickett with acid spray, and it strained toward Vaela's thrown pickles — suggesting it was acting under duress rather than aggression. Once Sanji recovered the whistle, it stopped struggling. Answered Skrit's 10 points of Lay on Hands with a docile 'eee' before turning to the pickles. Not killed; fate at session end unresolved.

Session 08: Shown to have rope scars and lash marks from prolonged captivity and harsh treatment. Bears a brand at the base of its neck: tally marks and a set of antlers, matching the brand on the offal barrels at the ambush site. Successfully coaxed 100 yards downstream to a deep pool south of the crossing using pickles. Has not departed the area. Vaela earned advantage on all future checks involving aquatic creatures from documenting it. When Vaela's hand brushed the marginal notes in her book during this encounter, she heard a voice say 'I'm home.'

Session 10: Now universally called 'Pickles' by the entire table including the DM — the name arrived fully established this session with no on-screen naming scene. Was wailing in apparent distress toward the raft attackers across the river; stopped instantly when a strange distorted sound (explicitly NOT the whistle the party remembered) rang out — source never confirmed. On her own initiative rose from the deep and chomped Toby, the whistle-carrier. Joined combat on the party's side; Toby briefly broke free, was re-chomped nearly headless, and was finished by Vaela's Firebolt. Calmed at the end of combat and was fed a jar of pickles by Vaela (fetched by Skrit from her bag of holding, which turns out to hold dozens of jars); returned to her deep pool afterward.

Session 11: Name established as Pickles. Surfaced by the wagon after the night's combat, seemingly happier than the party had ever seen her. Communicated via Mother Halda's Speak with Animals: the Starwater River is her home; the mill upriver is 'the place where the ropes are'; she already planned to avoid the men there; in that part of the river she cannot think clearly; other animals at the mill are in circumstances similar to her own; regarding who hurt her, relayed with apparent satisfaction that 'he was tasty.' Watched Vaela melt the flattened whistle into oblivion on the riverbank gravel — no more chains. When Vaela promised the party would destroy the ropes and free the animals, Pickles answered through Halda that she is in and can pull the raft forever. The party declined to rope or harness her; after Animal Handling rolls (Vaela 14, Sanji 22) she grabbed each raft's dangling tow rope of her own accord and pulled the party upriver. Role updated to ally.

Session 12: Towed the party's two rafts upriver of her own accord but stopped short of the Old Redwater Mill — consistent with established lore that an animal's own head 'stops belonging to it' in that stretch. Dropped the tow ropes without prompting. Was badly spooked by Vaela's minor illusion of a chain and dove underwater, swimming away. Earlier in the session, Vaela threw her a pickle to calm her (Animal Handling 19, recovering a weak 12 slow-down attempt) — DM noted she will be more responsive to signals like that going forward. Did not return by session end. Ledger's closing narration offered the only hint at her stopping point: 'She hit a wall and there was no going further for her.' DM confirmed the reason was neither exhaustion nor shallow water — 'this is as close as she wants to get.'