Chapter 14: A Cloud of Fear

[Ken]

"Yes, let's be off," says Belarin. "It's a good day to make a wish in a fountain."

[Dave W.]

Aug 10, 2017 11:48:33 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"I am undecided where to go next. I do not think my path leads to the Eye relic you and your friends are searching for. It doesn't...feel right for me. The events on the lighthouse island, and those human guards...it feels too much like what began my troubles of conscience. If I am to serve the god of battle, I want that battle to be for...something. Definitive. Purer? I need a clearer path before me, Adamant. Do you understand this?"

"Your instinct is leading you elsewhere. I respect that. If you feel that you need to travel a different path then you should do that. The gods speak to us in may ways. Trust what you heart tells you."

"I wish to find another temple, anywhere else, and see how the gods are worshipped there. I need to see the variance for myself. So if you leave the city and travel into the jungles, I will not be going with you. Though, if you need my service before then, I offer it to you a little while longer. Until you must leave."

Adamant nods and reaches out to grip Aven's shoulder. "You will be missed ... I will miss you..." There is a sadness behind the warforged's tone. "But I can see this is right. You need a proper teacher. I am not qualified."

"You should go to Sharn and see the temples there. If you find yourself along the border of Cyre, look for The Chapel of the Morning Sun... My teacher, Father Charl is passed but they should remember me. I would think Sister Narvala is now in charge."

"I will pray for you and perhaps we will meet again."

Then he turns his body and holds out the halberd somewhat. "If it would aid your quest, I will give Dire's Folly back to you. Perhaps you can sell it to the temple and acquire more supplies."

Adamant hesitates, "No, the weapon is yours." He says firmly, "Dire's Folly has served me well but it is time to part. May it serve you as well."

---

I'm going to miss Dire's Folly a bit, but it is what Addy would want.

Adamant is ready to go.

[Jeff]

"Not yet, in any case," Aven says. "I would at least like to see the Tents." He turns with Adamant to rejoin the others. "But thank you."

The two Blademarks, and Starg, fall back into line when you head out into the rain again.

As you're nearing the Temple district, you see that the battle—or whatever it is—on Falconer's Spire has concluded. You see one of the four airships involved pull swiftly away from the Spire: a large, but sleek vessel with a ring of blue fire encircling it. In the gloom, you can't make out much color or ornament beyond this.

The airship immediately turns and glides to the southwest, clearly heading inland. There is a flash of lightning, and you all see three winged shapes wheeling around it. Not attacking it: keeping pace with it. Wyverns.

[Brian]

"I wager three gold that airship belongs to Krez," Melethos mutters. He has pulled his hood up over his head, hiding his face from the rain, though the gleam of his teeth can still be seen within the cowl's darkness. "No, five gold. We owe that particular menace a stake through his bloodless heart." The tiefling battle master dodges a large puddle on the ground and wonders if this infernal rain will ever stop. "A stake with Kal's name inscribed on it in silver."

Melethos slows until Kalarian walks next to him. When he speaks, his voice is filled with emotion. "Back at the lighthouse--you lost your ring, while I gained my name back. The ending seems...uneven. We should have both suffered from our sacrifices. Still, you did a great honor to your name, and the name of your family. I am proud to call you friend. When you kill Krez, and you will kill him, I will have your back. That is a promise."

Lightning flashes, breaking up the moment. "We will reach the fountain soon," he says to everyone. "It may be watched. As my mentor said: hope for peace but be prepared for war."

Melethos gestures for Shorak to lead the way.

_____________________________________________

Do'h! Simultaneous post for Darren and me!

[Darren]

Kal grunts. "Well, it seems at least some of the competition is well funded, anyway...."

Posted at the same time as Brian....

"Thanks, Con...Melethos," Kal says. "I appreciate that. I think we can all take turns hacking Krez to little pieces, though. I'm not greedy." Kal grins at the tiefling, then continues walking, his sharrash tapping lightly on the ground with each step.

[Joe]

"Such an end is inevitable for Krez and I will be glad to take part in its occurrence." Streko attempts to keep pace with both Kal and Melethos. "Although I don't feel the need to rush headlong into it," he says, his legs working twice as hard to keep up with his human and tiefling friends.

[Jeff]

When you reach the street where resides the Onyx Fountain—a two-story dome-shaped building that Shorak knows to be deeper underground than it is tall—you see right away that the doors are shut. Which Shorak knows they seldom are. The double doors are made of green marble, but they're usually wide open, inviting all to come to this place known among Stormreachers as the epicenter of the art scene. Worse, this area is flooded. There is a dip in the street at this junction, and normally a wide grate sucks in all the runoff water. But it's either clogged now or the passages below it are overwhelmed; now a massive puddle has overtaken street in four directions, and the edge of the pool touches the Onyx Fountain doors. This seems likely why the doors are not open.

There are also two bodies lying in the pools now, a swell, the swirl of pink in the water suggests an earlier scene of violence. There are no bystanders. The area is deserted.

In fair weather, Shorak knows this area is bustling with activity, even at night. A cafe across the street is open, and multiple taverns issue music. Not so now.

[Darren]

"Hmmm," Kal frowns. "Not a good sign." He runs a hand across the glass rod stored within his pocket. "Or maybe a sign that this is more important than we thought. Let's see if anyone is home. You two," Kal says to the Blademarks, "come with me and flank the door. Keep an eye on the street out here and tell me if anyone appears to note our presence. Shorak, out of sight, if you please, and do the same." Picking his way carefully through the pool of water and past the floating bodies, Kal approaches the door and raps sharply with the head of his Halfling weapon.

[Dave B.]

Shorak finds a position out of sight of the doors, but giving him a view of the surrounding area. Keeping an eye out for anything untoward. When he has a chance he will take a moment to search the bodies. He is a thief after all.

[Brian]

Melethos scans the area around the fountain, from store fronts to nearby alleys. The bodies have not been dead long, and he hopes to catch sight of anyone paying particular attention to the carnage that recently happened.

______________________________________

Sorry, didn't know you were waiting for others. I was waiting for a response to Kal's knock.

[Jeff]

Kal and the Blademarks are forced to wade into knee-deep water just to reach the doors. There is a single square of green-tinted glass set in the marble doors. When he raps on the door, an indistinct face appears on the other side within seconds.

"This is not a good time, patron of the arts," a voice issues from the door itself in little more than a whisper, but is quite clear to understand. Magic, clearly. "Return when the storm has abated, perhaps."

Shorak cannot find a way to approach the bodies without being in full sight of...everywhere. They're floating in the very center of the vast pool, above where the drain would be. Both he and Melethos, staying watchful, see no one around. Almost conspicuously so. This street seems to be more deserted than most.

Starg remains at the back, well outside the edge of the pool of water. Aven stays close to Adamant. "What is our business here?" he asks. "What does Kal need?"

[Darren]

Kal removes the glass rod from his pocket and taps it lightly against the pane of glass, in full view of the face on the other side. "I was told to bring this here," he says. "I'm looking for answers that none can abide."

[Ken]

Belarin looks around. "None of this looks promising," he says. He shifts his sight to perceive arcane auras.

_______________

Sorry for the delay. Got back home from Massachusetts last night and promptly passed out after unpacking.

Belarin uses eldritch sight to scan the area, starting with the bodies.

[Joe]

Streko remains at the edge of the pool, afraid he might end up over his head if he were to wade in. Watching Kal and the Blademarks wade through, he suspects he was right to stay back. So, he looks around, attempting to notice if anyone is paying attention to the group, or perhaps preparing to attack them.

[Dave W.]

Aug 13, 2017 10:25:24 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Starg remains at the back, well outside the edge of the pool of water. Aven stays close to Adamant. "What is our business here?" he asks. "What does Kal need?"

"I'm honestly not sure... I either have forgotten or was unconscious." Adamant looks around, "Why is the water so high here? Shouldn't there be a drain? Is the drain blocked?"

---

Are the bodies actually blocking the drain?

[Dave B.]

Seeing how deep the water is, Shorak decides to not attempt to loot the bodies. He just shrugs and waits for Kal to hopefully finish his business quickly. "Stay alert. This area is far too quiet for my taste." Shorak says to the group. He follows this up by keeping his eyes moving left, right, up and down. "With water that deep, danger could come from there as well."

[Brian]

"I agree with Adamant," Melethos says. "Should there not be a drain for this water?" He begins searching the ground for a blocked drain.

[Dave W.]

"Yes, Melethos," Adamant says stepping into the deep puddle, "Let's see if we can free the drain while we wait for Kal."

"These bodies should be treated more respectfully in any case." Adamant moves forward cautiously and grabs one of the bodies and starts dragging it to whatever un-submerged place he can find.

[Jeff]

Aug 13, 2017 11:19:26 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal removes the glass rod from his pocket and taps it lightly against the pane of glass, in full view of the face on the other side. "I was told to bring this here," he says. "I'm looking for answers that none can abide."

Elven eyes peer through the window at the object in Kal's hand. They narrow. Then the voice says, "Then you will wish to speak with the Viceroy Morian herself. She is in attendance every Zol* after dark." The eyes seem to look upward. "Weather allowing, of course. I advise you to seek her then. She has rarely missed a day."

Belarin looks around, but there's only so much within the range of his magical sight. Nothing seems to stand out.

Streko and Shorak both notice a single gargoyle perched on the domed roof of the Onyx Fountain, watching them back in utter stillness.

Melethos and Adamant both wade into the deepest part of the street pool, approaching the bodies. They're human-sized, both floating face down, but the water and the general gloom obscures further details without a much closer look. As Adamant takes hold of one of the figures—a stocky human who does not look like a warrior—he sees that tendrils have latched onto the body. At first they look like some form of seaweed.

But then he and Melethos both see that they're dark, weedlike tendrils thrust up from somewhere down where you think a drain should be. And as if sensing that Adamant has tried to move the body, the tendrils begin to move and constrict the body further.

---

*Because I assume none of you have learned the days of the week in Eberron, it goes like this:

First Day - Sul
Second Day - Mol
Third Day - Zol
Fourth day - Wir
Fifth day - Zor
Sixth day - Far
Seventh Day - Sar

[Brian]

Melethos's eyes widen when he sees the tendrils tighten around the dead body. "Something now lives in the sewers." He looks at Adamant. "Do we risk cutting them free? We still have not visited the Tents, and I am loathe to start something that could delay us further. But this"--he points to the weed-like tendrils--"is not right."

[Darren]

Kal smiles, not wishing to appear threatening in any way. "I'm afraid our business is urgent," he says to the face behind the glass. "We may not have until tomorrow." He glances back at the carnage behind him on the street. "Is it possible to find the Viceroy anywhere else?"

[Jeff]

"Not through here," the elf on the other side of the door answers. "If she has personally given you an invitation to her home, by all means, pursue that avenue."

[Dave W.]

Aug 15, 2017 5:28:59 GMT -4 Brian said:

Melethos's eyes widen when he sees the tendrils tighten around the dead body. "Something now lives in the sewers." He looks at Adamant. "Do we risk cutting them free? We still have not visited the Tents, and I am loathe to start something that could delay us further. But this"--he points to the weed-like tendrils--"is not right."

"I'm sure we should move on. We are over-extended as it is. But it bothersome to just leave this. I mean they are dead, nothing more can be done to them, but it is also not right to leave them in the street."

Adamant looks to Kal talking through the door, then back to Melethos. "Let us say this. If we complete what needs doing and find ourselves with an hour or so, we will return, you and I, and deal with this. But the weight of what needs to be be done today is pressing on me."

"I also currently have no cutting weapon. I think Syndra would be a poor substitute. I will have to buy at least a dagger before we return. I'm afraid I had grown too accustom to a weapon that could become any weapon I wanted. Not a wise dependency."

Adamant starts to head back to where Belarin and the rest are waiting.

[Ken]

Belarin says to Adamant and Melethos as they return, "Is there a problem?"

[Dave W.]

Aug 15, 2017 15:38:55 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin says to Adamant and Melethos as they return, "Is there a problem?"

"I'm afraid so. There is some sort of tentacles holding the bodies you see floating over there. That is what is blocking the grate." Adamant looks over at the bodies and a note of regret slips in, "I feel that I should do something about it... but I do not want to get tied up with it. We have obligations we are already committed to today."

"Will Kal be long? What is he about anyway? What are we accomplishing here?"

[Darren]

Kal frowns at the voice behind the door. Letting out the sigh of one who bears a heavy burden, he begins to turn away. "Very well. If we are able, we shall return tomorrow." Moving past the Deneith soldiers, he motions for them to join him. As he reaches Adamant, Belarin, and Melethos, he says, "This is a dead end for today. There is a viceroy here that we need to speak with, but she will only be here tomorrow, so we might as well move on for now. If we're still in the city tomorrow, we can come back then." Seeing Adamant pushing at the floating corpse, Kal frowns again. "Adamant, stop poking at that. It's disrespectful. Come on," he says, moving out to the edge of the water where Streko waits, "we don't have time to play with bloated corpses. We've got a lot more to do before the day is over."

[Jeff]

Kal can feel the eyes of the Blademarks on him as he acts and speaks—but he also knows they're going to keep an eye on him for security reasons. They do not voice any opinions. They wouldn't, by default.

Aven holds up his halberd at Adamant's words. "Delver's Folly is currently a fine cutting implement." He regards the floating bodies. "Though I admit I am more inclined to use it to protect the living."

[Dave B.]

"There is no telling what those tendrils are attached to. Considering the many denizens that reside in the sewer, best to leave it be." Shorak says. "Are we ready to move on?" Shorak takes a step or two in the direction they need to head to reach the tents, hesitating only long enough to be sure he is being followed.

[Joe]

"I agree with all of you, both that something should be done and that we are not in a position to do that thing. Some of us would be of no use at all, as the water practically covers our heads...okay...my head. I would be of little to no use here. Still, our time in the realm of the dead has me wondering what horrors these two are dealing with at this time and if we should do something to protect their spirits, if not their bodies."

He puts up his hands. "I know...I know. Guilt is a more incessant conversationalist that even I, however, and it whispers directly into my heart. Alas, let us move on quickly, so at least we no longer have to look upon the dead that float."

Streko returns to his place next to Kal and will continue toward the tents.

[Brian]

"Very well," Melethos says, with a last look at the dead bodies. "We move on."

He gestures for Shorak to continue, and indicates the others should follow.

_______________________________________________

On to the Tents, then. Same marching order as before.