Chapter 15: With Uncertain Ends

[Ken]

Yes, Belarin will choose the galley area, and we can handle the scrying in the main thread. Thanks! He'll wait a bit as Histra suggests.

[Jeff]

Are you also waiting for others to be involved? I guess: just say when.

[Elvis]

Krez and the Emerald Claw always pique Thul's interest.

Thul follows.

[Darren]

Kal was never one for academic study, but watching others in the field always interested him. He chooses a spot near Belarin and sits down to watch the process.

[Dave W.]

Mar 23, 2018 10:31:30 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Kurra doesn't lose interest, but she does seem more curious about the physical aspects of Adamant. "Are you a lay-follower, or a spell-user, then? And why Dol Arrah? Why not Onatar? It is far more likely that the Cannith workers who built your creation forge paid him respect, aye?"

"I am a Vassal. My Lady loans me Her power... I have healed the sick and injured. I have created food. I have been able to detect lies and dispel the magic of others. I can ask my Lady to imbue a weapon with Holy Light. All by the Grace of Dol Arrah."

"Dol Arrah is special to me; She is my Patron. I can see why one might link a warforged to Onatar. I do not know why but for whatever purpose it was Dol Arrah's voice that first woke that part of my soul."

"Of course I worship all the Host... They each have their own voice but sing to the world in the same Majestic Harmony. They all command my respect and service."

If you wish to do anything else this day or night, say so now.

Before too long, Adamant will ask if anyone has dealt with the scrying focus "a certain Lord left us".

Adamant makes it clear he wants to contribute in any way possible with running the boat. He will work tirelessly and cheerfully at whatever tasks Brack and Kurra put him to.

Once he sees that a number of the party go with Belarin for the scrying, Adamant chooses to stay above deck as lookout or deckhand as needed.

---

sorry this is a bit rushed... busy day

[Ken]

Taking Histra's advice, Belarin waits until about 10 minutes after sunset. Then, with the obsidian mirror in one hand and his pact dagger in the other, he waves the knife-wielding hand in intricate patterns over the mirror. Concentrating on the image of the hated vampire in his mind, he says, "They rise at night, the legend says / So part the veil and show me Krez."

____________

Belarin casts scrying.

[Jeff]

Kurra follows out of curiosity. She perches herself halfway down the ladder once Belarin begins.

Belarin concentrates, and feels power stirring in the dark crystalline mirror. He feels it reaching out across the distance...and then it seems to strike something. Belarin feels an internal impact, painless but firm. And then the magic simply dissolves.

"Be careful, if that's what I think it is," she says to no one in particular. "The Traveler's Curse takes many forms. I don't think it...negates divinations, but it can, when you least expect it, interfere."

---

Krez's Wisdom saving throw: 22

The spell fails. Belarin must wait another 24 hours before targeting the same subject.

[Ken]

"Dammit," says Belarin. He puts down the mirror and rubs the bridge of his nose. "Well. Whatever the reason, it didn't work on Krez tonight.

"I can try again on him tomorrow...but I could attempt to spy on someone else tonight. Say, Wylkes or Branash. Amy preference?"

[Jeff]

“Unwise,” Kurra says. “The Storm Lords are notoriously well warded. Countermeasures. They have many enemies, maybe more than you. You may end up revealing yourself.”

[Darren]

"I agree with Kurra," Kal says. He moves closer to Belarin and lowers his voice. He glances at Streko. "But, maybe let Streko see his sister or his parents? It might do him some good..."

[Joe]

Mar 23, 2018 19:47:20 GMT -4 Ken said:

"Dammit," says Belarin. He puts down the mirror and rubs the bridge of his nose. "Well. Whatever the reason, it didn't work on Krez tonight.

"I can try again on him tomorrow...but I could attempt to spy on someone else tonight. Say, Wylkes or Branash. Amy preference?"

Streko watches as the attempted scrying takes place and then sighs heavily when he hears of failure. "There is probably no reason to tempt the coin lords further. This is, after all their domain. If anyone is hungry, I've made some sandwiches and there is wine available for all. Streko goes over to the tables and picks up a sandwich. He takes a bite. "They're very good!"
______________________________________________________________

Streko serves sandwiches to any who request them and shows them a bottle of wine on the counter, with some mugs lying around them.

[Ken]

Mar 23, 2018 20:25:55 GMT -4 Darren said:

"I agree with Kurra," Kal says. He moves closer to Belarin and lowers his voice. He glances at Streko. "But, maybe let Streko see his sister or his parents? It might do him some good..."

"It doesn't work like that, Kal," whispers Belarin, "but it's a nice thought."

He stretches his neck and arms, and then gets up from the floor. "I'll rest up and try again ... tomorrow," he says, stifling a yawn.

[Darren]

Mar 23, 2018 23:20:12 GMT -4 Ken said:

Mar 23, 2018 20:25:55 GMT -4 Darren said:

"I agree with Kurra," Kal says. He moves closer to Belarin and lowers his voice. He glances at Streko. "But, maybe let Streko see his sister or his parents? It might do him some good..."

"It doesn't work like that, Kal," whispers Belarin, "but it's a nice thought."

He stretches his neck and arms, and then gets up from the floor. "I'll rest up and try again ... tomorrow," he says, stifling a yawn.

Kal frowns and sparks crackle across his now clenched fist. "What good is power if we can't use it to help those closest to us?" he asks of no one in particular. He looks over his shoulder at Streko and slowly uncurls his fingers. Turning the rest of his body to look at his small friend, he smiles. "A sandwich would be wonderful, my friend," he says. "And perhaps a story. Let us talk of a younger Streko at a happier time and of life at home and perhaps, for a few moments, we will forget where we are and what we must do."

[Elvis]

Thul climbs back up after the botched scry attempt.

His stores of pipe weed are running low.

Hopefully Last Chance will have something worth smoking.

Thul finds the Captain, "How far inland does the Hydra go? Will we have enough provisions to get there and back?"

[Joe]

Mar 23, 2018 23:27:06 GMT -4 Darren said:

Mar 23, 2018 23:20:12 GMT -4 Ken said:

"It doesn't work like that, Kal," whispers Belarin, "but it's a nice thought."

He stretches his neck and arms, and then gets up from the floor. "I'll rest up and try again ... tomorrow," he says, stifling a yawn.

Kal frowns and sparks crackle across his now clenched fist. "What good is power if we can't use it to help those closest to us?" he asks of no one in particular. He looks over his shoulder at Streko and slowly uncurls his fingers. Turning the rest of his body to look at his small friend, he smiles. "A sandwich would be wonderful, my friend," he says. "And perhaps a story. Let us talk of a younger Streko at a happier time and of life at home and perhaps, for a few moments, we will forget where we are and what we must do."

"What a WONDERFUL idea!! Allow me tell you about the time Varna tried to run away from home and I found her lost in a wood just down the path from our home. She had wanted to go to the big city, with dazzling lights and great fashions. The best part, for me, was she was heading in the wrong direction! We were still quite young, you see, the Mark of Healing hadn't even appeared on my skin, and it was the first time I thought, 'Olladra is looking out for you and your family, Streko!' And, to this day, She has never let me down. Oh, I've been diverted here and there, but always for the good of others and, quite possibly, myself. It's when my faith waivers and I become unsure, that I forget how Olladra weaves her web. Such fine threads surely can't be seen at all times, but that doesn't mean they are not still there. Such is the meaning of faith itself, I suppose. I work for House Jorasco, thanks to my Dragonmark, but my soul belongs to the Sovereign Host, and to Olladra in particular. My heart is always with my family, both of blood and of friendship. This wine truly is quite good, isn't it? Now, perhaps we can go up top and enjoy the fresh air, the quiet of the waves and we can speak of both our families. After all this time, I know but snippets of your past, and I long to hear the story of how you met Tangat and how he came to be so integral to your life and, now, ours. Spare no detail! Also, I am bringing this wine up with us, for it is quite exceptional and we SHALL finish it!"

Streko stuffs the last of his sandwich in his mouth, grabs the bottle of wine and climbs up to the main deck, looking back to see if Kal is following.

[Dave B.]

Shorak looks at Melethos, "I will do my best to guide you all through the wilds of Xen'drik, but remember that I do not have any firsthand knowledge of the areas we'll be traveling. I expect there will be familiar dangers to watch for, but there will just as likely be surprises, even for me. I also think my little tirade about walking into ambushes may have been taken to heart by the more demonstrative of us."

Shorak slides down the rope ladder when Brack calls for them to come down. Hearing Belarin announce his intentions, Shorak decides to remain on deck and just enjoy what he can of the ride on the ship. He leans his arms on the side of the ship and looks out over the water and up in the sky, enjoying the beauty of it all.

[Brian]

Melethos watches his friend descend the rope ladder, and then follows. In the galley, he discovers that Belarin's scrying did not work. Unfortunate, but not a disaster.

"Will Krez know of the scrying attempt?" he asks Belarin. "Or who may have tried the spell on him?"

[Jeff]

Mar 23, 2018 23:52:48 GMT -4 Elvis said:

Thul finds the Captain, "How far inland does the Hydra go? Will we have enough provisions to get there and back?"

"From delta to headwater, at least our route, we're looking at a thousand miles. Stopping in Last Chance will give us some provisions for much of that, but there will come a day when we rely on fishing, possibly hunting. Mostly fishing. I'll show you how, if needed."

"So you're a pipe man, Thul? I suppose Karrnathi leaf is best?" A friendly smirk.

[Darren]

Mar 24, 2018 0:31:01 GMT -4 Joe said:

"What a WONDERFUL idea!! Allow me tell you about the time Varna tried to run away from home and I found her lost in a wood just down the path from our home. She had wanted to go to the big city, with dazzling lights and great fashions. The best part, for me, was she was heading in the wrong direction! We were still quite young, you see, the Mark of Healing hadn't even appeared on my skin, and it was the first time I thought, 'Olladra is looking out for you and your family, Streko!' And, to this day, She has never let me down. Oh, I've been diverted here and there, but always for the good of others and, quite possibly, myself. It's when my faith waivers and I become unsure, that I forget how Olladra weaves her web. Such fine threads surely can't be seen at all times, but that doesn't mean they are not still there. Such is the meaning of faith itself, I suppose. I work for House Jorasco, thanks to my Dragonmark, but my soul belongs to the Sovereign Host, and to Olladra in particular. My heart is always with my family, both of blood and of friendship. This wine truly is quite good, isn't it? Now, perhaps we can go up top and enjoy the fresh air, the quiet of the waves and we can speak of both our families. After all this time, I know but snippets of your past, and I long to hear the story of how you met Tangat and how he came to be so integral to your life and, now, ours. Spare no detail! Also, I am bringing this wine up with us, for it is quite exceptional and we SHALL finish it!"

Streko stuffs the last of his sandwich in his mouth, grabs the bottle of wine and climbs up to the main deck, looking back to see if Kal is following.

Kal smiles listening to Streko and imagining him and Varna as kids playing under the watchful eyes of their parents. He thinks of his own upbringing in Sentinel Tower and what a cold, stark place it seemed. He remembers watching his brothers train, remembers the smell of a musty book being pushed in front of him and the sound of the preceptor's finger as it tapped hard against the page, calling his attention back to his lessons. A darkness and gloom hangs over Kalarian, but Streko's smile dissipates the clouds with a burning ray of sunshine. Rather like the power of Olladra he wields in combat, Kal thinks with a small smile. My friend, a warrior on and off the battlefield. Kal smiles, then heaves himself up and follows Streko on deck.

"Tangat?" he says, looking down at the furry companion by his feet. "Why, he is a wolf of the Talenta Plains, Streko. I found him among the Halflings. Or, rather, I should say that I found him after the Halflings were gone." Again a sadness comes over Kalarian as images flood his memory. "You know I served with Deneith, posted with the Kaarnathi army on the Talenta Plains, during the war? We were...." Kal finds it difficult to say the words out loud, to speak about these things with a Halfling, to even give voice to what he was a part of. "The purpose of our unit was to control the Halfling population. You understand? We were occupiers on the Plains and the native population was considered our enemies." Kal pauses, then spits out, "Their enemies. I loved those people, once I got to know them. I...." Kal swallows, wrestling with a decision, then lowers his voice and moves closer to speak for Streko's ears only. "I wanted so badly to fight, Streko. To prove myself to my family, to prove that I was a warrior. But I had power, you see?" Kal rolls up his sleeve to expose his Dragonmark. "I had this. And this," he pushes back his cloak to expose his right leg, covered in straps and buckles, positioned and tightened to keep his knee from bending at unnatural angles. "And so they coddled me and wanted to keep me from the front lines, from fighting. My mother saw to my posting, placed me as an adjutant to a Deneith general who covering himself in glory and who was headed out to the Talenta Plains to subdue the natives. I still remember the day we marched out," he says, looking into the distance and seeing it in his mind's eye. "It seemed so glorious, Streko. Banners snapping in the wind. Trumpets calling out, drums beating. Horses stamping their hooves with excitement and the shine of everyone's armor. It was glorious." Kal takes a deep breath. "But then there was the smell. Behind us, in columns a hundred deep, were the dead. Skeletons and the like, the living corpses that the Kaarnathi necromancers marched into battle. I will never forget that smell."

Kal takes a sip of the wine Streko has offered him. "This is quite good," he says, swirling the liquid around in his cup. "Well, as is often the way, the glory of the march was replaced by the horrors of the battlefield. The things that were done, that I saw done," Kal stops. He tried to speak again, but cannot. "I'm sorry, Streko," he says quietly. "I'm sorry for everything. I would have stopped it all if I could," he nearly whispers. "But I spent most of my time in the general's headquarters tent, filing reports and organizing paperwork. I was no hero, Streko. I was hardly even a soldier," he says, clearly ashamed of the lie he's tried so hard to hide for his whole life. "At night, I would walk out to the prisoner camps and oh....by all the gods, Streko, it was magnificent. Those people, your people...." Kal smiles remembering it. "Their spirit simply would not be broken. There was singing and they would dance and despite everything that was done to them, they simply carried on. Their bravery, it spoke so loudly to my soul. They were who I learned to admire, who I wanted to be. I found myself spending as much time in their camps as I could and they took me in, welcomed me, even though I was part of the army that was oppressing them." Again, Kal smiles to remember it, then grows quiet and sad. "Still, I was part of the army that was oppressing them, and there were orders that would be followed. One day I would laugh with them, and the next they would be gone."

Kal puts his hands over his face. He takes a deep breath, scrubs at his cheeks, and continues. "I learned all I could." Kal taps the blade of the over-sized sharrash at his side, hearing the ping of the metal and smiling. "I even convinced them to make this for me and teach me how to use it." He holds it out to Streko. "Much too large for you, I'm afraid, but a traditional weapon of the Talenta Halflings." He smiles as he takes the weapon back, then gives Tangat a scratch behind the ears. "Him, too. A tangat is a traditional Talentan sword. A deadly weapon, fearsome to its foes but much beloved by its people. Just like Tangat here." Again Kal smiles. "He found me on the Plains and we defended each other, just like a Talentan warrior and his tangat." Kal gently strokes the fur of the now sleeping dog. "He's been by my side ever since." Staring at his smaller, furrier friend, Kal drifts off into silence.

[Elvis]

Mar 24, 2018 8:28:45 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Mar 23, 2018 23:52:48 GMT -4 Elvis said:

Thul finds the Captain, "How far inland does the Hydra go? Will we have enough provisions to get there and back?"

"From delta to headwater, at least our route, we're looking at a thousand miles. Stopping in Last Chance will give us some provisions for much of that, but there will come a day when we rely on fishing, possibly hunting. Mostly fishing. I'll show you how, if needed."

"So you're a pipe man, Thul? I suppose Karrnathi leaf is best?" A friendly smirk.

"Karrnathi leaf is what I started on as a lad. It's bitter and shite, but it smells like home." 

He holds up the pipe. The bowl is dark granite and heavy, carved in the likeness of a dwarven king, beard tapering to a chisel. The stem is slightly curved, blackened ivory.

"I've sampled leaf from every place my boots marched, so I'm not overly picky. I am partial to Tilsonburg's Mild, out of Zilargo."

"You?" 

[Ken]

Mar 24, 2018 8:11:42 GMT -4 Brian said:

"Will Krez know of the scrying attempt?" he asks Belarin. "Or who may have tried the spell on him?"

Belarin considers for a moment. "Doubtful on the first, definitely not on the second."

He looks up at the hatch through which Kal and Streko returned to the main deck. "Did I say something wrong?" he asks those still in the galley. "Kalarian seems more on edge than usual."

[Joe]

Mar 24, 2018 10:03:13 GMT -4 Darren said:

Mar 24, 2018 0:31:01 GMT -4 Joe said:

"What a WONDERFUL idea!! Allow me tell you about the time Varna tried to run away from home and I found her lost in a wood just down the path from our home. She had wanted to go to the big city, with dazzling lights and great fashions. The best part, for me, was she was heading in the wrong direction! We were still quite young, you see, the Mark of Healing hadn't even appeared on my skin, and it was the first time I thought, 'Olladra is looking out for you and your family, Streko!' And, to this day, She has never let me down. Oh, I've been diverted here and there, but always for the good of others and, quite possibly, myself. It's when my faith waivers and I become unsure, that I forget how Olladra weaves her web. Such fine threads surely can't be seen at all times, but that doesn't mean they are not still there. Such is the meaning of faith itself, I suppose. I work for House Jorasco, thanks to my Dragonmark, but my soul belongs to the Sovereign Host, and to Olladra in particular. My heart is always with my family, both of blood and of friendship. This wine truly is quite good, isn't it? Now, perhaps we can go up top and enjoy the fresh air, the quiet of the waves and we can speak of both our families. After all this time, I know but snippets of your past, and I long to hear the story of how you met Tangat and how he came to be so integral to your life and, now, ours. Spare no detail! Also, I am bringing this wine up with us, for it is quite exceptional and we SHALL finish it!"

Streko stuffs the last of his sandwich in his mouth, grabs the bottle of wine and climbs up to the main deck, looking back to see if Kal is following.

Kal smiles listening to Streko and imagining him and Varna as kids playing under the watchful eyes of their parents. He thinks of his own upbringing in Sentinel Tower and what a cold, stark place it seemed. He remembers watching his brothers train, remembers the smell of a musty book being pushed in front of him and the sound of the preceptor's finger as it tapped hard against the page, calling his attention back to his lessons. A darkness and gloom hangs over Kalarian, but Streko's smile dissipates the clouds with a burning ray of sunshine. Rather like the power of Olladra he wields in combat, Kal thinks with a small smile. My friend, a warrior on and off the battlefield. Kal smiles, then heaves himself up and follows Streko on deck.

"Tangat?" he says, looking down at the furry companion by his feet. "Why, he is a wolf of the Talenta Plains, Streko. I found him among the Halflings. Or, rather, I should say that I found him after the Halflings were gone." Again a sadness comes over Kalarian as images flood his memory. "You know I served with Deneith, posted with the Kaarnathi army on the Talenta Plains, during the war? We were...." Kal finds it difficult to say the words out loud, to speak about these things with a Halfling, to even give voice to what he was a part of. "The purpose of our unit was to control the Halfling population. You understand? We were occupiers on the Plains and the native population was considered our enemies." Kal pauses, then spits out, "Their enemies. I loved those people, once I got to know them. I...." Kal swallows, wrestling with a decision, then lowers his voice and moves closer to speak for Streko's ears only. "I wanted so badly to fight, Streko. To prove myself to my family, to prove that I was a warrior. But I had power, you see?" Kal rolls up his sleeve to expose his Dragonmark. "I had this. And this," he pushes back his cloak to expose his right leg, covered in straps and buckles, positioned and tightened to keep his knee from bending at unnatural angles. "And so they coddled me and wanted to keep me from the front lines, from fighting. My mother saw to my posting, placed me as an adjutant to a Deneith general who covering himself in glory and who was headed out to the Talenta Plains to subdue the natives. I still remember the day we marched out," he says, looking into the distance and seeing it in his mind's eye. "It seemed so glorious, Streko. Banners snapping in the wind. Trumpets calling out, drums beating. Horses stamping their hooves with excitement and the shine of everyone's armor. It was glorious." Kal takes a deep breath. "But then there was the smell. Behind us, in columns a hundred deep, were the dead. Skeletons and the like, the living corpses that the Kaarnathi necromancers marched into battle. I will never forget that smell."

Kal takes a sip of the wine Streko has offered him. "This is quite good," he says, swirling the liquid around in his cup. "Well, as is often the way, the glory of the march was replaced by the horrors of the battlefield. The things that were done, that I saw done," Kal stops. He tried to speak again, but cannot. "I'm sorry, Streko," he says quietly. "I'm sorry for everything. I would have stopped it all if I could," he nearly whispers. "But I spent most of my time in the general's headquarters tent, filing reports and organizing paperwork. I was no hero, Streko. I was hardly even a soldier," he says, clearly ashamed of the lie he's tried so hard to hide for his whole life. "At night, I would walk out to the prisoner camps and oh....by all the gods, Streko, it was magnificent. Those people, your people...." Kal smiles remembering it. "Their spirit simply would not be broken. There was singing and they would dance and despite everything that was done to them, they simply carried on. Their bravery, it spoke so loudly to my soul. They were who I learned to admire, who I wanted to be. I found myself spending as much time in their camps as I could and they took me in, welcomed me, even though I was part of the army that was oppressing them." Again, Kal smiles to remember it, then grows quiet and sad. "Still, I was part of the army that was oppressing them, and there were orders that would be followed. One day I would laugh with them, and the next they would be gone."

Kal puts his hands over his face. He takes a deep breath, scrubs at his cheeks, and continues. "I learned all I could." Kal taps the blade of the over-sized sharrash at his side, hearing the ping of the metal and smiling. "I even convinced them to make this for me and teach me how to use it." He holds it out to Streko. "Much too large for you, I'm afraid, but a traditional weapon of the Talenta Halflings." He smiles as he takes the weapon back, then gives Tangat a scratch behind the ears. "Him, too. A tangat is a traditional Talentan sword. A deadly weapon, fearsome to its foes but much beloved by its people. Just like Tangat here." Again Kal smiles. "He found me on the Plains and we defended each other, just like a Talentan warrior and his tangat." Kal gently strokes the fur of the now sleeping dog. "He's been by my side ever since." Staring at his smaller, furrier friend, Kal drifts off into silence.

Streko nods in silence and watches the joy, the misery, the pride, the defiance, and half-dozen other emotions warring inside his friend's heart. "War brings out both the best and the worst in all of us, as you well know. You are, in fact, more of a hero than you believe, if even half of what you say you went through is true, and, of course, I believe it is. House Jorasco, for all its so-called nobility as the House of Healing, won't even bother to heal someone in many cases if the injured cannot pay. It is part of my own legacy that repulses me and one I cannot deny, for each time I look at my chest, I see the mark burned over my heart. In this way, I found Olladra to be the God most befitting me. I know the difficulties of having multiple mistresses, as they say. Olladra, Jorasco, Varna, my family, all tugging from different directions, wishing me their love and their devotion, leaving me unable to pick and choose, but to serve all as best I can."

He places a hand on Kalarian's arm.

"You make me a better person, Kalarian d'Deneith. You remind me, through your actions, that I can also fight through the sadness that comes with the morning sun, and the midnight moons. You ARE my brother. Wars begun and ended by others make no difference in the here and the now. In the here and the now, we fight for each other and stand with each other. For our future and the futures of all those we hold dear. The past is just that. The past. It means nothing except to serve as a tool to learn and grow from. Olladra is about trickery and luck. We use whatever tricks we have to survive and give back to others. As to luck, well, we make our own luck. Our enemies, and they seem too numerous to count at times, are all terrified of us. Do you know how I know this? Because we are family. We are not plain mercenaries, except for that thug, Thul! It is difficult to battle against those with one common purpose, which is to take care of each other. Yes, we have lost family members in combat and we have gained new ones. I quibble, moan, complain and pout. Too much, I would say at times. But, let there be no mistake, my brother, there is no place I would rather be than by your side. Unless it was by Varna's side...and then, I suspect, I would find you there as well. So much the better. My, this wine has gone right to my head! I suppose I should find some cheese and bread. Maybe some meat for the Great Tangat!"

He ruffles Tangat's fur across his neck and back, then hands Kal the bottle of wine.

"Finish that, would you? I shall return momentarily with some snacks for us all. I've never met a wolf who didn't enjoy a small snack every so often between meals. And I've never met a d'Deneith who didn't enjoy a tasty bottle of wine with his snack."

He winks at Kal and heads back to the kitchen to fetch some food and drink.

[Jeff]

Joe, Darren: No need to quote the entire giant posts of multiple paragraphs. We know which ones your posts are connected with.

Mar 24, 2018 12:23:58 GMT -4 Elvis said:

"I've sampled leaf from every place my boots marched, so I'm not overly picky. I am partial to Tilsonburg's Mild, out of Zilargo."

"You?" 

"That's a good pipe. I can't seem to keep one for more than a month without losing it, so they're never properly broken in." He indicates the one he's got now, a long-stemmed briar, seeming of quality but also quite plain. "Can't say I ever tried much Zil leaf. But I submit that the best comes from the Marches. I'd return to Zarash'ak just for more Blackwater Mellow." His eyes brighten then. "But ahh, Last Chance'll some rare selections worth looking into."

Down below, when Streko has finished with sandwiches—an uncommon food arrangement that only halflings of the Five Nations have adopted (Talentan cooks wouldn't dare it)—he does see that although here's plenty of grains to be had, the galley is in need of some supplying if variety on this voyage is of any importance. And it sure could use some fresher bread.

All that's left of the wine is the very cheap stuff now.

---

If anyone has anything else they'd like to do before this day ends, say it now.

[Ken]

Nothing more for Belarin tonight.

[Dave B.]

Shorak is good to move forward.

[Brian]

Ready to move on.

[Darren]

"Lord, Streko," Kal calls out with a laugh, "slow down or at this rate we'll be out of supplies before we even reach Last Chance!"

_____________________
That's it. I'm done.

[Elvis]

Sail away sweet sister...

[Dave W.]

Ready to move on...

[Jeff]

Night falls, and as it does the glowing Ring of Siberys blazes almost directly overhead in the clear night sky—neither of which any of you have seen for some days now on account of all the stormclouds. The thick line of golden dust stands out against the black, while several moons (none of which are full) hang amidst the dome.

It becomes apparent that at a late hour, Captain Brack leaves the helm unattended—the ship slows down somewhat but doesn't actually stop—and he disappears into his cabin by means of the door in the sterncastle just beyond the hatch that leads to the galley suite. Kurra still comes and goes.

Around midnight (when most of you would have gone to sleep), Brack reappears and finds Adamant. "There is little to do but keep a general watch-out," he says, "but if you would patrol the top deck, I would be grateful. The ship will her course, do not worry. But if ever you spot anything concerning, come to my door. If ever you spot anything even more concerning, just holler. You'll be heard."

Wir, the 18th of Aryth 998 YK

Adamant finds the night watch to be peaceful, though eerily quiet. The constant lapping of the water against the hull, the creaking of ropes, and the whisper of sea breezes are his constant companions. They provide an ambience he's never really had before, and it is calming. Still, he could get used to this. On the Merrow Down, the night watch still had crewmembers doing chores. Why is the Dragonfly so much quieter? He doesn't understand.

He also constantly feels the compulsion to stand near the helm...just in case. But he finds the ship maintains a steady course, though during the night the sail is relaxed and bound—it is the water wheel doing most of the work.

Adamant always feels the sensation, which only grows stronger as the hours pass, of being watched. But no one appears, and none answers when he speaks—either to this mysterious presence or to Dol Arrah. Brack returns to helm at dawn, waking before any of Adamant's other breathing companions. "Thank you," he says to Adamant, not even asking if anything happened.

"Don't worry. You keep an eye on her, she'll keep an eye on you," he says with a wink as he takes the helm again.

The next day comes and each of you feels refreshed again. It feels good to wake and go above at anytime with no imminent fear of the Coin Lords' wrath. You also find that Brack has left out a small barrel of fine dark powder: Brelish coffee, the label declares it. And Kurra returns with the jug under her arm, pouring clean water into a barrel for your use. "Use the stove anytime," she says to Streko, "If you know how to use it. Just don't burn the ship down, eh?"

Brack calls out from the helm to those who go above: "We'll be in the middle of the gulf by the fourth bel. Making good time." Gesturing at the crow's nest, he says, "Might even be able to see some features of the mainland by then, I expect. With the spyglass."

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Adamant's Perception check: 20

If anyone wishes to do anything on day 2, say so now.