Setting Notes - The Jenivere

The Serpent’s Skull Adventure Path begins with the PCs all aboard the same vessel, the Jenivere, a ship making the journey from Magnimar to Eleder. After days or weeks of time aboard the comfortable vessel (see the Journey of the Jenevire sidebar below to determine how long) all the PCs know at least the following about their ship and shipmates:

The Jenivere is a large merchant ship, a Wyvern-class vessel commonly used by the Inner Sea nations for trade, exploration, and even war, valued for its combination of seaworthiness and capacity for carrying numerous passengers. Wyvern-class ships have made the dangerous journey to Azlant, Arcadia, and even around the southern tip of Garund, but the Jenivere and her crew run less perilous voyages. For the past several years, Captain Alizandru Kovack has made the western run between Magnimar to the north and Eleder to the south and then back with few complications, despite the fact that his route carries him through waters controlled by the piratical Free Captains of the Shackles, brushes with the eternal winds of the Eye of Abendego, and into periodic conflicts with the Nidalese navy. Although Captain Kovack's crew appreciate this record, the baseless fear that the Jenivere has robbed luck’s coffers one too many times lies heavy on the hearts of many.

While the Jenivere is a merchant ship, primarily concerned with delivering goods to and from Sargava, she’s traditionally kept several compartments open to take on paying passengers. This trip is no exception. At the start of the campaign, the PCs probably number among these passengers, along with six other travelers aboard the vessel. As the characters have spent some time aboard the Jenivere, they have at least passing familiarity with these others making the passage to Sargava, and a few notable members of the Jenivere’s crew.

Journey of the Jenivere

The Jenivere makes numerous stops on its nearly 4-month journey from Magnimar in Varisia to Eleder in Sargava. It has thus far taken the following course and is nearing its final destination. This itinerary should help characters determine where they boarded the Jenivere, potentially influencing their backgrounds or character traits.

Port of Call	Days in Port
Magnimar, Varisa	Departed
Kintargo, Cheliax	2
Pezzack, Cheliax	3
Corentyn, Cheliax	7
Ilizmagorti, Mediogalti Island	2
Ollo, The Shackles	7
Quent, The Shackles	2
Port Peril, The Shackles	3
Bloodcove, Mwangi Expanse	4
Senghor, Mwangi Expanse	3
Eleder, Mwangi Expanse	Arrive

Days at Sea	71
Total Journey	104

For the past couple months or weeks you've been a passenger on the merchant ship Jenivere, heading to Eleder, Sargava. Now after almost one hundred days the voyage is nearing its conclusion, but things have quickly taken a horrible turn. Despite a few loud arguments with his first mate Alton and dozens of questions from his passengers and crew, Captain Kovack has drastically changed from the set route, bringing the Jenivere dangerously close to the fabled Smuggler's Shiv. The Shiv is an island steeped in superstition and legend, said to contain many deadly creatures, tribes of violent cannibals and has been the death of many of a ship. Despite this strange course change, the Jenivere is still swiftly reaching her destination and you all hope to make it to Eleder without any problems. However, someone aboard has other ideas...