Chapter 9: A Primitive Sea

[Darren]

Kal stares at Shorak, staring at the amulet around his neck. The haze that covers him from the alcohol he's been drinking seems to immediately lift as though pierced by blazing rays of sunlight. Can it be possible? "Shorak!" he calls out to the drow's back. "A moment, please."

Moving closer, Kal reaches a hand tentatively towards Shorak's amulet, but he stops short of touching it. "That amulet....where did you get it? Are you an agent of Deneith?"

[Dave B.]

Nov 19, 2011 9:46:37 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal stares at Shorak, staring at the amulet around his neck. The haze that covers him from the alcohol he's been drinking seems to immediately lift as though pierced by blazing rays of sunlight. Can it be possible? "Shorak!" he calls out to the drow's back. "A moment, please."

Moving closer, Kal reaches a hand tentatively towards Shorak's amulet, but he stops short of touching it. "That amulet....where did you get it? Are you an agent of Deneith?"

"An agent? No." Shorak replies in some confusion. He pulls the amulet out completely so Kal can see it easily. "This was given to me by my mother. She received it from a man who once saved her life."

[Darren]

Kal studies the amulet more closely.....

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Is it, in fact, the Deneith symbol?

Can Kal make a History check or something to see if he knows anything else specific about it?

[Jeff]

No History check necessary...

The chimera design is clear, and House Deneith has long claimed that creature as its universal symbol. No other artisan would dare invoke the chimera. But, the silver-lube talisman also doesn't look like an official Deneith device. Yet something about its design makes Kal think the talisman was associated with the Defenders Guild. It is quality work, though, and obviously enchanted.

Sem stands off to the side while Kal and Shorak have this discussion. Kal's been seeing the gnome watching him lately—almost feeling like quiet disapproval about his recent shift in attitude.

Meanwhile, Starg has been seen marking up an empty crate in the cargo hold. The minotaur is obviously fascinated with the chalk, and has been etching curious mystical shapes in the wood...then hastily washing them off. It looks almost like a guilty pleasure. He seems self-conscious about it.

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Shorak's fiddled with the bracers enough by now to get the sense that wearing it would give him a lethal edge with his crossbow... And so the stats are now on his character sheet. Enjoy. It was part of the Red Atoll's rewards.

[Darren]

"If you would mind," Kal says, his eyes fixed on the amulet, "I'd be interested to hear more about this man. The chimera is a symbol of House Deneith, so whether you know it or not, you apparently have some times to them by way of the man who gave this to your mother."

Without turning, Kal says, "I see you lurking there, Zil. Why not join our conversation if you have something to add?"

[Jeff]

"Nothing to add," Sem says, then indicates Shorak and the talisman. "I'm just glad to see you engaged in something potentially productive during our last days at sea. It's clear to me that you've mastered all levels of wizardry and do not require my tutelage any further." The gnome lets out a dramatic sigh, then gestures toward the south. "It feels good, actually, knowing that whatever the dark continent throws at us, there'll be another ritualist among us."

[Darren]

"It's true," Kal says with a grin. "I am....a WIZARD!" Kal puts particular emphasis on the last word, then waves his hands in front of his face, making sparks shoot about in the air. He tries very hard to keep a straight face, but bursts out laughing, anyway. "Try not to be so serious all the time, Sem. You'll find yourself at the bottom of a bottle before you know it." Again, Kal laughs, very aware of the irony of his statement. "If you have something else to teach, I'd be happy to learn it. After I'm done speaking with our drow friend here, of course. I would think, as a collector of knowledge, that you might find some interest in this amulet of his, too. You can clearly see that it has Deneith trademarks about it, but I've never seen a trophy like that given to any member of the house before. I am inspired to discover its origin...."

[Jeff]

"If said trinket protects us, or any of our group's number, then by all means, take an interest. I'm more interested in Shorak's mystic jungle culture than the heirlooms of a well-trodden continent." Sem shrugs. "If there is anything you wish to learn, by all means, I can't have strayed too far."

The gnome walks off.

[Dave B.]

"I don't know much. He was a Deneith soldier. His name was..." Here Shorak stops, obviously trying to recall the name. "Sigor. Yes that was his name. It's been a while since I thought about it.

He looks back at Kal, "Do you recognize the name?"

[Jeff]

Kal doesn't know the name, offhand. It would help to know the surname, but Shorak doesn't know that.

[Darren]

"No, I don't," Kal says with disappointment. "You never met the man? What did he do to save your mother?"

[Dave B.]

"No I never met him. This all happened before I was born.

He saved my mother from an attack from Yuan-ti, but he himself was mortally wounded in the attack. He died from the venom in his wounds.

She built a Cairn to honor him. I can show it to you after we arrive in Xen'drik, if you'd like."

[Darren]

"That would be...good." Kal says. He can't say why he is so interested in the subject, really. House politics never really concerned him before, but for some reason he feels the need to know more about this man.

"Well," Kal finally says, "I should probably go find Sem. I wouldn't want to get scolded for being late to class." Kal smiles, then moves off to find the gnome.

[Joe]

Streko has heard rumblings amongst the crew about some epithet in the Hlafling tongue that has been branded to the ship in some manner. Further, he has heard HIS name attached to the vandalism.

He searches for it, finds it, blushes slightly, then scowls.

"Kalarian d"Deneith!"

He is about to do searching for his friend when he smells the sharp smell of fish, with an odd herbal texture that confuses hi for a moment, then makes his shudder in panic.

"Karnathi sage? On FISH? Where's the cook?? NEVER use Karnathi sage in seafood! Great host, are you trying to make everyone on board suddenly have the urge to..."

He races toward the galley...praying to Olladra that he isn't too late!

[Jeff]

Kal finds Sem hanging out near Starg, tossing minor insults the minotaur's way while the minotaur ignores him. But Sem isn't offering anything; clearly he's waiting for Kal to request it.

Meanwhile, Streko finds the cook, Garrel, in the galley, liberally dusting the recent batch of fish that the sahuagin have brought with sage. When the elderly dwarf hears the halfling's reproach, he gets indignant and brandishes a kitchen knife still dripping with fish guts.

"Karrnathi sage is one of the only spices I've got left, as it happens!" He indicates the shelves, which were cleaned and stripped almost bare after Krez's attack. "And the fish they're bringing us? Nice of 'em, I suppose, but this is Shargon's Teeth, boy. And they're pulling 'em up from the deep— these ain't your everyday catches. If you don't counter oils in these godsforsaken deep-bass with something, we'd all be fightin' for the privvies."

"I'll do the cooking," he says, red-faced, "You do the praying!"

[Darren]

Kal laughs, first at Sem's insults, then at listening to the cook berate Streko. As his laughter subsides, he says, "That thing the sahuagin shaman did with the pearl and the bubble of air...that's mighty useful stuff. Know anything like that? Or maybe something to turn lead into gold? That might come in handy, too....."

[Jeff]

"You haven't half the skill for anything of that sort yet," Sem says casually. "And even House Kundarak can't make gold out of granite. Even in your fancy Deneith soldier school, you surely needed to learn how to use simpler weapons before taking on the complexities of a longsword, no? Or do beginners learn how to use a sharash in House Deneith?"

"You must cast your eyes lower first, Kal. Master the knives before picking up the greataxes, eh? Still, I know you prefer the flashier, more dangerous magics. Perhaps you would find a use for Explosive Runes? Would you care to learn that?"

He looks over at Starg and chuckles. "You inscribe some marks on something...a book, a scroll, a minotaur's box. When someone goes to read them....boom."

[Darren]

Kal grins. "I like the sound of that." His hand drops to rest on the hilt of his Rekkenmark longsword. "And no, no one that I know of in the Sentinel Tower knows how to fight with a sharrash besides me. The Halflings on the Plains weren't even too keen on teaching me, to be honest with you." Kal flashes a smile at Sem. "I am pretty irresistable, though. It's a surprisingly easy weapon to pick up. Of course, not cutting your allies heads off instead of your enemies requires a bit of work..."

[Dave W.]

Adamant, coiling a rope nearby after his latest adventure in seamanship, overhears Sem and Kal. "Yes, hard to believe but it's true, he's irresistible. He tells me that frequently."

"Sem, You should teach him a spell to open locked boxes. Or one to divine passwords."

[Jeff]

"I could have a crack at it, if you like." Sem points in the vague direction of Shorak. "But what that box probably needs is an artificer. That's their game. And there are plenty to be found in Stormreach, but you also have to be careful who you go to."

[Dave W.]

"How will I know a worthy artificer from an unworthy one? Perhaps Spindrift would have some advice."

"But, I'm sorry to have interjected, I'm sure explosive writting will be useful as well." Adamants eye shine brightly as he places a metal hand on Kal's shoulder, "With that you could find work at the Chronicle!"

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anyone object to Sem taking a look at the box? I'm afraid I'm a little obsessed with it for some reason.

[Dave B.]

Shorak looks over at Kal, Sem and Adamant. Picking up a bit of the conversation, he looks back down at the puzzle box in his hands and sighs. He rises and saunters over to them.

"Sem, perhaps you could do some research on the box? I thought I could get it open without any magical means, but so far, no luck." He hands the box to Sem.

"Oh Kal, before I forget. These bracers aren't much of a benefit to me. I figured you or Belarin could use them." With that he offers the spiked bracers to Kal.

[Jeff]

Adamant:

"How will I know a worthy artificer from an unworthy one? Perhaps Spindrift would have some advice."

Sem shakes his head and tsk-tsks. "Well there's the question of the century, Adamant. Allow me to rephrase your question: How would you know a worthy man from an unworthy one? I'll leave the philosophy to you."

When Shorak approaches about the box, the gnome smiles. "I'd be delighted to give it a try. If I break it, I bought it, all right?" He winks at the half-drow.

_________________________

I'm ready to "move on" to the next phase of things, but I'm going to wait until Brian's back and ready to post again. So I'll probably post later in the afternoon or tonight.

[Ken]

Belarin walks by, seemingly lost in thought, when he overhears part of the conversation.

Nov 22, 2011 12:31:56 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

"Oh Kal, before I forget. These bracers aren't much of a benefit to me. I figured you or Belarin could use them." With that he offers the spiked bracers to Kal.

"Oh yes," says Belarin, walking over, "let Kal have them first. If they're intended to improve aim, his need is the more urgent." He grins teasingly at Kal.

[Darren]

"Hm," Kal says, holding the bracers in front of him. "They don't really match my outfit, but I suppose I'll give them a try."

Kalarian winks at Sem as he says, "Oh, and Belarin, I have something for you to read. Give me an hour or so to finish some things and then I'll bring it to you....."

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Kal's ready to do some learnin' and some movin' on.

[Joe]

Streko, once again chided by a stranger for attempted to rescue the palettes of his friends, will sulk in his hammock and await the next round of mayhem. :-)

[Brian]

From high above the deck, footsteps can be heard coming down the main mast. After several moments, Condign drops down heavily onto the wooden deck.

"I thought I would be stuck in that lookout post until next week. Luckily, someone came to relieve me." He stops and looks at his friends' astonished glances. "What? It is not like you have not seen me in a few days."

After shaking the water from his cape, he asks, "So, what do we do next?"

[Ken]

"Well, Kal wants me to read him a bedtime story. Aside from that..."

_____________________
Very nice, Brian. And now that Belarin's other business is taken care of (he says coyly), yes, ready to move on.

[Jeff]

When Adamant asks Spindrift about artificers in Stormreach, the warforged nods. "There are many, but they're not all the same. And not all should be trusted. It really depends on your need. If you're looking for some simple patch-up work..." The first mate taps Adamant on one shoulder, where one of his more notable dents can be seen. "Then seek out anyone affiliated with House Cannith. The price is fair, if not cheap, and the quality is assured."

He cocks his head sideways. "If you need someone more discreet, well... Whenever we pull into port, I seek out a human named Gajun for any repairs neede for the Merrow. He used to do shipwright work for House Lyrandar; now he just tinkers on his own. He can't always help me out, but he's well-connected. Perhaps you could join me when I visit him."

The next couple of days roll by. The weather is fair, relatively speaking, which means strong winds, lots of sea spray—or 'spindrift' as the interim captain points out, and rumbling clouds which sometimes unleash rain. The jagged rocks of Shargon's Teeth become more ominous during those times, but the Blue Fin sahuagin continue to help guide the ship's passage.

Despite the storms, it's getting warmer by the day. Which is odd, considering autumn will be giving way to winter soon. But this far down, the world is becoming tropical. Shorak knows from experience how warm most of Xen'drik is (though of course it has mountains and stranger-climate regions of its own).

Kal works with Sem to learn another ritual, but the gnome's easygoing patience is beginning to wear thin. Kal's outward interest in the arcane seem much too flashy for the erudite gnome, and the dragonmarked heir can sense his mentor's flagging enthusiasm for teaching him. Nevertheless, Kal adds a new one to his dragonshard ring. Though he hasn't tested it real yet—Sem warns him that it can be lethal—now Kal has a new defensive option to consider.

Far, the 6th of Aryth

On the second day, you begin to spot other ships also making their way through the islands and reefs, going toward Stormreach or out toward the open sea. Most are private vessels, but from a distance you can make out some flags: Breland mostly, with one or two Aundair ships. No sign of anything Karrnathi.

Later that day, in the afternoon, there is a stir among the crew...as Morsha comes up on deck. She is awake and looking in better health. But even more surprising, she is not swaddled in her usual garb. Instead, she wears only a sleeveless white shirt and sailor's leggings. Her ornate and extensive blue-violet Siberys mark can be seen in whirls across all exposed flesh. Only her face is entirely free of it. She has allowed her thick brown hair to blow loose in the wind. With her slightly pointed ears fully exposed, she has never looked so elvish, or so like an heir of Lyrandar. She looks more fey like this, more in tune with nature, like some half-blooded nymph who quit the forest for the high seas.

A nymph who can swear like the sailor she is. And she's no waif. She still wears a heavy cutlass at her belt, and she's tall and muscled enough to cut an imposing figure.

The Merrow's crew looks on in wonder, then look away, afraid of their captain's wrath. One man stares much too long at her, and one of his female comrades slugs him lightly in the gut to draw his eyes away.

Spindrift immediately reports to Morsha, and Anng offers an informal salute. The captain actually looks in good humor; perhaps she is free of the burden, free of the secret. You suspect quite a few people already knew about her Siberys dragonmark, but some clearly did not. It's become all the talk on the ship, mostly in whispers, but in the end no one was truly that surprised. Morsha's command of the elements goes beyond the power of a typical heir of the storm.

When she's spoken with her first mate and helmsman, Morsha approaches your party. As always, Larest, Sem, Starg, and even Histra are close at hand to listen. The necromancer makes no comment about Morsha, but Belarin can detect a small trace of relief in the human woman's expression—glad that the captain overcame her necrotic administrations.

"You've been busy, so I hear," Morsha says with an easy and knowing smile. Her eyes flick over to Shorak first.

__________________________________

Not the best example, but this illustration shows how the Siberys mark (in this case, a dwarf with the Mark of Warding) looks like tattoos all across the body, but obviously not covering every inch of flesh.

Kal has mastered the Explosive Runes ritual to his dragonshard ring.

[Dave B.]

Shorak can't contain his joyous grin, when he sees Morsha come on deck. When she looks his way, he smiles warmly and nods in her direction.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Captain! You have been sorely missed."