Chapter 15: With Uncertain Ends

[Brian]

"While I am not great with heights," Melethos says to Brack, "I do well enough to serve as lookout. Simply tell me when I am needed. For now, though...is there anything for which you require help? My homeland does not have many seas, and I have little experience with ships. I think I would like to learn more about sailing."

[Elvis]

"Looks lonely and quiet up there." Thul says to the Captain, "Perfect."

[Jeff]

"Eyes of a hawk are helpful," Brack adds.

Then he clears his throat again, an especially loud and growling sound coming from a shifter. "So let's see if I have this straight." He beckons to Kurra. "Come hear this, so we're all on the same page." He looks to those of you who are around, then stares up into the sky as if trawling his memory. "The enemies of your party include....

"A necromancer who specifically has it in for you..." He indicates Belarin.

"A vampire who serves the Emerald Claw. Yes, I heard the Order was involved in the hunt. From what I hear, they're putting their all into it..."

"A House Medani harridan of some sort..."

"And a...nyco-loth. That sounds like a drow tribal earth demon. What is it?"

He looks towards Thul. "And a cloud-giant? Really? That's a tough one to swallow, friends. We may run into some jungle giants, but cloud? Rarest of the rare. Well, almost."

"Anyway, names and specific threats would be helpful to know. How dangerous are they, and do you expect any of them to have the ability to locate and follow a single ship around Xen'drik?"

[Elvis]

"Cloud." Thul nods, confirming.

"She knows exactly where the Eye is. She's been sending everyone that asks, racing towards it."

[Jeff]

Brack gives Thul a friendly look but cocks his head. "Has she got a big boat to tail us in? I guess I just want to be sure. Is this lady giant a threat I need to account for, and is she coming after us specifically?"

[Elvis]

Thul shrugs, "She wants the eye. Whoever ends up getting it will have her as a problem."

Thul ponders a bit as he puffs on his pipe (and admiring the Captain's)

"The fiend with the four-arms and axe is a tough bastard, but has a mouth like a halfling's - never shuts up. I'll get him next time."

Now, the cat-fiend, he's going to be a problem. Too fekking clever, that one. He won't come at us straight on. My gut tells me he is going to be the biggest threat."

Thul looks around at the others, waiting to hear their take on the gathering legions arrayed against them. 

[Ken]

"The necromancer is," Belarin says after a glance at Histra, "Branash ir'Serell, and yes, he probably has the arcane skill to track me. The Claw vampire is Major Krez. I don't think he'll try to track us, but I hope to track him.

"The Medani woman is Lamara d'Medani. She ambushed us recently, and may try again, but she's likely not able to track this ship."

He continues, "As for the nycaloth... well, he's a DEMON demon. No subtlety whatsoever. I don't expect him to track us, but I do expect we'll see him before the end of this trip. That said -- I agree with Thul. If the cat-demon we saw was a rakshasa, it will pose the biggest threat. They have an impressive combination of intelligence, malice, and magic."

He looks at the others and adds, "Any disagreements?"

[Brian]

"The cat-demon was a rakshasa," Melethos says flatly. "Of that, I have no doubt. They are not new to me, and I recognize their stench when they are around. I agree with Captain Thul and Belarin. The rakshasa will likely pose our greatest threat." His hand drift to the hilt of his sword. "One or all of them may attack at any time, though I suspect Branash or the rakshasa may pose the more immediate threat. The cloud giantess and Krez are more interested in the Eye. As to Lamara"--Melethos shrugs--"she remains a mystery."

[Jeff]

Mar 20, 2018 12:51:26 GMT -4 Ken said:

"Branash ir'Serell, and yes, he probably has the arcane skill to track me.

At this, Histra says, "No, I don't think he does. He is not a scryer; few in my family are. Which means he will either seek a diviner, or simply seek the Eye and use it against you first." She shrugs. "Branash is a weasel. He will find bigger allies to do his work for him, such as the yugoloth."

"Yugoloth. Nycaloth. Demon." Brack shrugs. "Well I had hoped to learn something new this trip. Apparently I already have. Aye, we'll be on the look-out for this one." He gestures at the crow's nest.

"All right, so," Brack says after listening to the rest, "this cloud giant is an eventual threat only. And I would think anyone seeking the Eye can't waste time chasing a grudge first, not if they're serious about it."

"So. A rakshasa? I'm not going to say I don't believe you. The Six know I've been raised on all the stories. My own great-gran use to tell us she was a rakshasa, and we'd never know which one of us she would one day devour, or when. Scared the sh—" He stops and smiles fondly, though. "Well, from what I hear they play the long game. And if there was one of these fiends after you, it's likely to be someone you already know and trust in disguise. Think on that."

Then he clears his throat. "You should know I don't give a Bilge Rat's ass about the Eye myself. Beggin' your pardon, but I hope you all come away from this lengthy errand safely and empty-handed. I've heard enough stories about things best lost or forgotten to know that even if you find it, you won't retain it. Bring it back to the Five Nations and some king or queen will try to swipe it." He inclines his head to Thul. "Aye, even young Kaius III. Although maybe it's best if a peace-loving king does get it, and lock it away in the royal vaults for all time."

[Darren]

"On that, you and I agree," Kal says to Brack. "As to the rest, Thul, are you certain they even managed to escape the castle? Perhaps they, if you will forgive the phrase, 'went down with the ship'?"

[Dave W.]

earlier to the Captains request for lookouts...
"I'm also not fond of heights but I will serve as lookout at need. May I suggest if you have a night watch up there, I can do the entire night if you wish."
returning to now time

---

"All that has been said is the truth as I know it. However, I may be misunderstanding, but didn't we banish the cloud giantess and her castle? Can she really chase us now? I suppose she has agents."

"I will disagree... slightly... on the threats... all of our foes are dangerous: the rakshasa, Krez, the Yugoloth... especially if we get in their way; which we certainly intend to. But there's a -- I don't know, maybe professional? -- sense about that."

"I am more concerned Branash ir'Serell. He doesn't want the Eye really... his grievance is personal. Perhaps I am mistaken but as he's already risked his position in the family to get at us, is there anything he won't sacrifice? He may not have the power of some of our enemies but he is perhaps more driven at us specifically."

[Elvis]

Mar 20, 2018 14:29:55 GMT -4 Darren said:

"On that, you and I agree," Kal says to Brack. "As to the rest, Thul, are you certain they even managed to escape the castle? Perhaps they, if you will forgive the phrase, 'went down with the ship'?"

"It's doubtful that some woodsy magic would be enough to end them so easily."

[Dave B.]

"I don't actually know anything about the fire cult. Just that I may or may not be a target. Not entirely sure about that." Shorak says. "As for a lookout, that was one of my main duties on the Merrow Down. i enjoyed being up in the crow's nest. It offers the type of view I can truly appreciate. I'll be more than happy to do the same whenever you wish me to."

[Jeff]

"'Fire cult' makes me think of two things," Brack says to Shorak. "I once encountered deranged cultists who worshipped some sort of fiery beast in Stormreach's sewers. Another Dragon Below cult, if you ask me. There was a rash of fires attributed to them. But that was years ago and I've not heard about them since.

"The other is a mixed group of fire-obsessed thugs who people say are the eyes and ears of the Battalion of the Basalt Towers. That's that army of fire giants who attacked the city some sixty years ago. They were driven back by the combined efforts of the forces of Rushemé and the Stormreach Guard. But this was all before my time. I'm not that old. Still, these agents of the Basalt Towers are said to lurk around the city even now."

Brack shrugs. "Any of that sound familiar?" Then he gestures to the crow's nest. "Feel free to become acquainted—any of you. There's a spyglass up top, too. But, umm, one or two at a time up there. If the 'forged goes, then it should just be him."

[Jeff]

At some point, Kurra walks up to Adamant. She is just a few inches over four feet high, so the warforge towers over her. But somehow her stature seems higher; she exudes confidence and attitude. She's got a metal tool in her hand that he doesn't even recognize, a metal rod that looks like an auger and hand-winch got in a fight and both lost. The dwarf-woman taps Adamant lightly on the chest. "Cyran, eh? And is that a Delver's Light in there?" she asks, then points to the Octagram on the right side of his chest. "What's this about?"

[Jeff]

And as the day progresses, Sem Darlesh and Larest, who you are all very accustomed to seeing together and in scholarly discussions, seem to go their own ways. Larest, especially, seems to look inward and busy himself with his spellbook, while Sem is often standing atop the sterncastle, looking down at the water-wheel and in the northern horizon.

Histra, Belarin is glad to see, doesn't just go below and hole up in the darker parts of the ship. She stays on deck, sometimes sorting through her spellbook, sometimes practicing arcane gestures with one hand, and sometimes just genuinely examining the Dragonfly itself. "This is livewood, unless I am mistaken," she says to him at one point. "This ship is alive, in a manner of speaking."

[Brian]

Remembering Shorak's expertise as lookout on the Merrow Down, Melethos offers to share crow's nest duty with his half-Drow/shifter friend. He'll start climbing the main mast, keeping his breathing steady against the rising anxiety of being up so high. Once in the nest, he grabs the spyglass and searches the horizon, waiting to see if Shorak joins him.

[Darren]

Mar 20, 2018 11:01:33 GMT -4 Darren said:

"Sem, Larest, Belarin, Starg," Kal says, moving towards one of the hatches to go below to the common room, "I'd like to speak with you about this cave shortcut. We should discuss what we think it might be, and what the potential dangers are, and ways we can mitigate that risk. We must make sure we have all the information we possibly can."

___________________
Not sure how you want to play this out, Jeff. Essentially, I want to make Arcana checks, Lore checks....whatever checks we can to make sure we have as much information about not only this specific anomaly, but this type of anomaly, as we can get.

Just refreshing this because it seems like it got missed.

[Jeff]

Sorry. I absolutely didn't see that post, Darren.

But both Sem and Larest resist at this time. "I have nothing about this on any of my maps, Kal," Sem says. "The best we—or at least I—can do is talk manifest zone theory. I've heard zero tales about this cave."

Larest seems to agree. Starg is willing to go and talk, even though he isn't sure he can offer too much.

---

No knowledge checks to be made at this point. It's much too vague. Brack's mention of such a place is, right now, all you have to go on. Even a fantastic Arcana roll on Kal's or Belarin's part won't fill the information void they have concerning the anomalies of Xen'drik.

[Ken]

After Sem and Larest weigh in on Kal's suggestion of a discussion, Belarin adds, "I've stepped through a manifest zone once before, but all I know is that no two portals are alike. It'a a risk, Kal -- maybe a worthwhile one, but yeah, a risk. Sorry I can't help."

Mar 21, 2018 11:32:06 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Histra, Belarin is glad to see, doesn't just go below and hole up in the darker parts of the ship. She stays on deck, sometimes sorting through her spellbook, sometimes practicing arcane gestures with one hand, and sometimes just genuinely examining the Dragonfly itself. "This is livewood, unless I am mistaken," she says to him at one point. "This ship is alive, in a manner of speaking."

Belarin says, "Larest does manage to find fascinating business associates... for which I'm grateful." He smiles. "I was thinking as I spoke to Brack earlier, 'Damn, we really have made a lot of enemies, haven't we?' I look forward to a quieter time with you once this damn quest is over. Maybe my list of enemies will include just several members of your family at that point. Well, not your grandfather.... he seems to at least respect me. I hope to talk with him again. Did I tell you he found me in Dolurrh?"

[Dave B.]

"It was fire giants that wiped out my tribe, so that could be a connection. I haven't really had a chance to investigate any of it yet."

Shorak will definitely follow Melethos up the mast to the crow's nest. "Well, how do things look?" Shorak takes a deep breathe, enjoying the smell of the water laden air. "This trip will certainly be interesting. Dangerous, but never boring." He looks out over the ship, happy to be doing something that he feels that he excels at.

[Jeff]

It's a rope ladder, not the mast itself, that he Melethos climbs. He feels as though the mast sways a bit when he reaches the top and climbs into the platform, around which a thin wall and railing keeps its occupant relatively safe. It might just be his imagination. And then Shorak climbs up as well. Together, it's quite snug in here, and the main deck seems far below. Lashed on a leather strap to the central pole is the spyglass the captain referred to. It's a wooden cylinder, thicker at one end and with glass lenses installed, both ends also capped.

But the view is quite nice! With no ropes, sails, gunwales, or fellow passengers blocking their view, Melethos and Shorak can easily imagine just floating high over the water, seeing the horizon stretch into nothing. Only a thin stretch of the eastern horizon is just empty water, though. Distant land lies in every other direction, with the closest—Stormreach and its coastline—going further away by the minute.

Mar 21, 2018 23:16:52 GMT -4 Ken said:

"I was thinking as I spoke to Brack earlier, 'Damn, we really have made a lot of enemies, haven't we?' I look forward to a quieter time with you once this damn quest is over. Maybe my list of enemies will include just several members of your family at that point. Well, not your grandfather.... he seems to at least respect me. I hope to talk with him again. Did I tell you he found me in Dolurrh?"

"He appeared to warn you of Branash," Histra says, nodding. "I think Thestra respects you as well, at least nominally."

[Ken]

"Well, that's a start," Belarin says. "Perhaps I'll find something on this voyage I can use to barter for the return of the Candle." He then puts his arm around Histra's shoulder and stares out toward the horizon. "For now, though, I'm content."

[Dave W.]

Mar 21, 2018 11:12:04 GMT -4 Jeff said:

At some point, Kurra walks up to Adamant. She is just a few inches over four feet high, so the warforge towers over her. But somehow her stature seems higher; she exudes confidence and attitude. She's got a metal tool in her hand that he doesn't even recognize, a metal rod that looks like an auger and hand-winch got in a fight and both lost. The dwarf-woman taps Adamant lightly on the chest. "Cyran, eh? And is that a Delver's Light in there?" she asks, then points to the Octagram on the right side of his chest. "What's this about?"

Adamant nods acknowledgement of both being Cyran and having a Delver's Light. His eye gems brighten at the mention of his holy symbol, "Ah, my Octagram... it is the symbol of the Sovereign Host of course. I was forged to be a soldier but after the fall of my country, I was called to serve my Lady Dol Arrah." Adamant lifts his eye gems skyward in imitation of a human wistfully recalling a pleasant memory. "I first heard Her voice in the throats of the monks of a monastery in Breland. Their chanting filled me with warmth... it is a remarkable thing."

"My Lady blesses me with a ray of Her power through the symbol... Just as Olladra blesses good Streko."

"I'm sorry, I could go on for days on this subject... " Adamant pauses to see if he is boring the dwarf woman.

[Brian]

Mar 22, 2018 1:05:42 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

"It was fire giants that wiped out my tribe, so that could be a connection. I haven't really had a chance to investigate any of it yet."

Shorak will definitely follow Melethos up the mast to the crow's nest. "Well, how do things look?" Shorak takes a deep breathe, enjoying the smell of the water laden air. "This trip will certainly be interesting. Dangerous, but never boring." He looks out over the ship, happy to be doing something that he feels that he excels at.

Melethos hands Shorak the spyglass. "I see lots of water, and the shoreline. A few birds--what did you call them? Gulls? But nothing else...so far." He waits as Shorak looks through the spyglass. "That is a nifty trick, using your shape-changing ability. But you do so infrequently. Is that a personal choice, or a practical one? If you do not mind me asking, of course."

[Dave B.]

Shorak accepts the spyglass from Melethos and carefully scans the distance in all directions. "A little bit practical, but mostly personal. I honor my parents in this way. My father never wanted me to feel less then the rest of the tribe, by not having a drow mother. My mother thought I showed heart and courage by accepting my mixed heritage." He smiles wistfully and a bit sadly as he remembers those times.

[Brian]

Melethos nods at his friend's words. "Take it from a man with red skin and horns--how you appear on the outside often has little to do with who that person is on the inside." A gust of wind kicks up, and Melethos grabs the mast to steady himself. "This is your land, Shorak. You know it better than any of us. I have a feeling..." He hesitates. "I have a feeling our lives will depend on you greatly. Without your skills, we may not make it back to Stormreach, with or without that damned Eye. But know I would put my life in the hands of no lesser a person than you. You have often stood quietly in the background, letting brasher personalities--myself included--take the lead. That must change. Kalarian may be our voice on this ship, or even in the jungle, but he listens well. Speak up when needed."

______________________________________________

Wow, that went deeper than I had originally intended. I almost feel like granting Shorak an Inspiring Leader bonus for that little speech.

[Jeff]

Mar 22, 2018 10:33:41 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"I'm sorry, I could go on for days on this subject... " Adamant pauses to see if he is boring the dwarf woman.

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?"

The hours start to go by peaceably, making some of the calmest most of you have had for days. With luck, there will be many such uneventful days to come on this voyage. At some point, Brack calls up to Melethos and Shorak, saying there is no need for look-out duty at this time. It's when land draws closer that threats need to be searched for.

For now, the Dragonfly continues due south, heading toward the ever-growing landmass of Xen'drik.

---

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

[Ken]

As the sun begins to set on the first day of their voyage, Belarin says to his companions, "Time again to see what Major Krez is up to. I'm going below to start casting. I'd appreciate some company!"

Belarin finds a spot on the floor below and takes a seat. After a minute, he gets up, grabs a sack of flour, and sits down on that. "Much better," he says. Once those who wish to view are assembled, he takes out the obsidian mirror he purchased yesterday. "I'll do my best to relate what I'm seeing as I'm seeing it."

_____________

I'll pause here in case anyone wants to chime in.

[Jeff]

Histra stays close to Belarin for this. "It would be prudent to wait for twilight to pass. Upon first waking, a vampire with Krez's level of command and comfort might well being his night with blood. If you wish to learn about his surroundings and not merely watch him feed, you should wait a little while. There are many unknowable factors, all of which are subject to change under duress."

---

Is Belarin choosing the galley (central room of the suite)?

When precisely do you want to start the spell? Remember you only get 10 minutes. And when you do start the spell, do you want to handle in Belarin's private thread, or here? Your call!