Chapter 18: Where the Mighty Rivers Roam

[Ken]

"Kal?" says Belarin. "You're safe. You're back. Are you... all right?"

[Darren]

"Damn," Kal mutters as he rubs a hand over his eyes. He presses his thumb and forefinger into his eyes. A sharp pain forms there. "I'm not used to this type of magic," he says. He leans back on his hands, his legs still folded in front of him.

"Okay," he says, "When I asked about Larest's location, I was told there was none. When I asked if he was alive, the response was 'never'. Which...makes me think Larest was not who he said he was." Kal looks back at Sem, Starg, and Histra. "How much did you really know about him?"

Kal stretches his legs out in front of him, nearly kicking Belarin in the process. "As for the rest, it wasn't very useful. The Eye is still in Gehrest, so I guess there's that. I was simply confused about our destination. It is hard to concentrate under the influence of those magics. As for whether or not we're being followed, the answer was just 'maybe' which is about the least useful response I could have gotten." Kal rolls his eyes and again presses his fingers against his eyes to try to dull the pain. "I can try again, but not until Long Shadows is over."

[Brian]

"Never?" Melethos mutters. "Not an answer I would have expected." He turns to Histra, Sem, and Starg. "Can you explain what Kal was told about Larest? How could a man never be alive?"

[Jeff]

Sem and Histra look at one another. He looks intrigued; she looks tired.

"He was not an open book," Sem says. "So I only knew him as well as you can your temporary employer. I suppose I knew him more from his academic reputation. Which was above-board."

Histra says, "I know less than that. But I took him at his word. We had a few lengthy conversations. And written correspondence before that. But even this doesn't feel quite right."

Starg doesn't engage in this conversation right now.

Sem lets out a sigh. "It may simply be that Larest had more than one, well, identity? Whatever his past, perhaps Larest was only his latest reinvention. Truly, I don't now. But I cannot believe there is any malicious intent in any of this. Maybe Demise knew more about him than we did?"

[Ken]

Belarin nods as Sem speaks. "If so, that might explain why she singled him out that night." He seems lost in thought. "'Never alive'... I'll be pondering that one for a while."

He looks up. "But I agree with what's been said about him. He had... or HAS flaws, but I've never doubted that his motives were altruistic. A puzzle I'll happily wrestle with during Long Shadows."

He puts a hand of Kal's shoulder. "For first contact with an extraplanar being, that wasn't bad!" he says cheerily. "Get some rest. I wish I had some whiskey for you."

[Dave B.]

Shorak rises and stretches, almost cat-like. "Well that was interesting, if not as informative as we hoped." He shrugs and smiles, "Anyway, we will have a feast of smoked boar ribs for dinner tonight. Streko, if you want to add anything to the meal from the mushrooms and roots we foraged, that would be welcome." Shorak looks up at the newly installed crow's nest. "I think I'll take a watch in the new crow's nest, in the meantime."

[Darren]

Aug 23, 2020 18:46:10 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin nods as Sem speaks. "If so, that might explain why she singled him out that night." He seems lost in thought. "'Never alive'... I'll be pondering that one for a while."

He looks up. "But I agree with what's been said about him. He had... or HAS flaws, but I've never doubted that his motives were altruistic. A puzzle I'll happily wrestle with during Long Shadows."

He puts a hand of Kal's shoulder. "For first contact with an extraplanar being, that wasn't bad!" he says cheerily. "Get some rest. I wish I had some whiskey for you."

"Talentan Rye," says Kal as he reaches out a hand for Belarin to help him to his feet. "Once you've tried that, everything else pales in comparison." Kal reaches down for his staff and leans against it. "I don't think Larest was a bad person, but it would be nice to understand more about the person who set us on this path." Kal shrugs. "I guess we won't get any new answers today. If I try this again, perhaps we should consider our line of questioning more carefully first."

[Brian]

Melethos raises his hand, stopping the conversation.

“Maybe we’re thinking of the professor in human terms.” His gaze shifts briefly to Adamant. “What beings could be considered having never lived?”

[Dave W.]

“You did fine Kal, It is very difficult to come up with these questions when you can’t dialog like... a person.”

“Please, may I suggest? Can you write down the questions and answers as best you can recall right away? Maybe some sense can be gleaned by seeing it all written down in order.”

Adamant rubs a think finger against his metal skull. “Never alivie? That is a puzzle. It has to be more than just the name, right?”

“Undead? I think we would have noticed. There are some who would suggest he was a secret warforged. Maybe some sort of construct?”

---

Does never alive strike any sort of note with Adamant? Maybe religion?

[Joe]

"Let us survive the next three days and then we shall try again. We shall also be better prepared, I would hope. In the meantime, I shall concoct a spicy mushroom sauce to dribble over your smoked ribs. That does sound quite...divine, if I may say."

[Darren]

Aug 23, 2020 20:21:29 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

“You did fine Kal, It is very difficult to come up with these questions when you can’t dialog like... a person.”

“Please, may I suggest? Can you write down the questions and answers as best you can recall right away? Maybe some sense can be gleaned by seeing it all written down in order.”

Adamant rubs a think finger against his metal skull. “Never alivie? That is a puzzle. It has to be more than just the name, right?”

“Undead? I think we would have noticed. There are some who would suggest he was a secret warforged. Maybe some sort of construct?”

---

Does never alive strike any sort of note with Adamant? Maybe religion?

"I don't know," Kal muses, "those two answers taken together....'What is the location of Larest ir'Zathryn?' 'There is none.' 'Is Larest ir'Zathryn alive?' 'Never.' I used his entire name. Both times. That says to me that Larest ir'Zathryn never existed. It doesn't mean that the man we know as Larest wasn't a real person or even that he's not still alive. It simply means that 'Larest ir'Zathryn' never actually existed."

[Jeff]

"Do not scrutinize the answers more than the one who gives them," Histra says with a tone of warning, looking directly at Kal. "Your magic may compel truth from this being, but the knowledge it—"she"—possesses cannot be infinite."

Sem nods. "'Maybe' is a yes and no answer. Not the same as 'I don't know.' But you've got to learn to be more careful with your wording, Kal. You and I can work on that together for next time, if you want? When you say 'Are my companions and I being followed?' it leaves the door open to interpretation. There are, no doubt, ships both before and behind us on this voyage. Anyone sailing down this river behind us could be considered 'following' us, right? Just as we might be 'following' a ship somewhere ahead of us that we don't even know about simply because we're on the same winding river. With that opening, what answer might this Keeper of Secrets want to give you?"

The gnome then falls silent in contemplation. Dusk is falling swift now.

Sem shrugs. "All right, well, I'm interested in whatever our cooks have cooked up. Shall we retired for the day, with no more deep and magical delvings?"

---

Is there anything anyone wishes to do the rest of this day? Let me know if anything specific is planned for the 25th as well, the last day before Long Shadows.

[Darren]

"Good point, Sem. And the help would be much appreciated." Kal sucks in a sharp breath. "Owwwww," he says, pressing his palm against his forehead and grinding his teeth against the pain. "Streko, do you have any remedies for the pounding in my head?" Kal whispers, his eyes pressed tightly closed as he gropes his way towards the steps leading to the galley.

____________________
I think I'm all set for today.

[Brian]

The others disperse, most heading to the galley. Melethos stays behind, makes his way to the bow of the ship. There he stands and stares out at the waters before them, wandering what they will encounter during the Long Shadows.

____________________________________

Ready to move on.

[Ken]

The following morning, Belarin greets everyone warmly. "I'm inspired to honor an old tradition!" he says as he hands each person a wooden disc, about 4 inches wide. Carved on one side in the face of a medusa, although it's a comical caricature as opposed to the real thing.

"Place one on the door of each cabin, or on your preferred hammock! It'll keep 'the terrors of Droaam' and other threats at bay during Long Shadows." He turns to Histra and winks. "Hey, I'm an expert in these matters."

______________

Belarin's Dexterity check = 23.

[Dave W.]

"Get a good rest everyone. Hopefully the next few days will not be too dark but it's always better to be rested."

"I will prepare for the watch."

---

Normal watch procedure. Long Shadows doesn't start until tomorrow, right? Adamant will start the chanting thing at the point where Long Shadows officially starts.

[Jeff]

It's the 24th now, about to become the 25th, the last day before Long Shadows and then the end of 998 Year of the Kingdom.

[Jeff]

Wir, 25th of Vult 998 YK

The twenty-fifth of Vult dawns after a quiet night.

It is unassuming and calm. There is a fine drizzle of rain that's refreshing, and it seems to come and go. 

But there is a tenseness to the world as well, as though the land itself were anticipating the days of Long Shadows which begins at midnight. 

Aug 24, 2020 16:27:01 GMT -4 Ken said:

The following morning, Belarin greets everyone warmly. "I'm inspired to honor an old tradition!" he says as he hands each person a wooden disc, about 4 inches wide. Carved on one side in the face of a medusa, although it's a comical caricature as opposed to the real thing.



"Place one on the door of each cabin, or on your preferred hammock! It'll keep 'the terrors of Droaam' and other threats at bay during Long Shadows." He turns to Histra and winks. "Hey, I'm an expert in these matters."

The likeness might be simplistic, but it's well made, and the shape of one disc to another is impressively uniform. Belarin has clearly done this before.

Thul looks at the carved medusa head that Belarin holds out to him. "I don't keep souvenirs," he says, "And I don't expect I'll be making it back home anyway." But he takes it from Belarin with a grunt and a nod, and the warlock watches him place it in the center of his cot.

When Belarin holds out out to Sem, the gnome opens his eyes wide in mock terror and freezes in place. Belarin sees the gnome mutter a word of magic and then his whole body appears to turn to solid stone! The gnome's eyes remain black, though, and his lips curl into a slight smile. But Sem holds it for quite a few moments, then the stone-hue of his body washes back in with color and he moves again. Sem accepts the wooden token with a flourish and a bow. "Okay, so maybe a little bit of illusion is okay is today?"

Starg takes the token and keeps it in his hand for a while. "Thank you."

Late the same morning, Shorak in the new crow's nest spots some white sails on the river well behind the Dragonfly. He uses the spyglass to try and glean more details, but the moment they are a few leagues away. He'll need to wait a little while, if it draws closer. He suspects he's seeing only a single ship large enough that it has more than a single mast or two. There is nothing Cog-like about it, and no misty cloud on the water.

I realized I never did show a sail—but I should, since the Dragonfly is a sailing vessel and only relies on the paddle wheel beneath the stern when wind isn't an option or slow maneuverability is called for.

[Dave W.]

“Thank you Belarin,” Adamant takes the disk. He spends a moment to examine it. “It reminds me of Greshnazza. Well, sort of.”

“I don’t dream per se, and don’t have a hammock... I will keep it on my person, hopefully that will do the job.” The warforged puts it in his belt pouch.

[Dave B.]

"Nice work." Shorak says of the disk Belarin hands him. "I'll put it with my dream catcher."

"There's a ship many leagus's behind us." Shorak calls down to the deck. "It doesn't look like the cogship and there's no fog."

[Darren]

Kal shudders visibly when Belarin hands him the wooden token, but he takes it anyway. At Sem's illusion, however, Kal's face darkens into a bitter scowl. "You would not joke so if you had experienced it for yourself," he says, and hands the carved image back to Belarin as he passes him and goes to stand at the bow of the ship.

[Brian]

Melethos accepts Belarin's token and places it on his cot. He does this with a certain amount of reverence that might not have existed before his experience in the Cave of Self.

Back on the deck, he hears Shorak's report on the ship. "Please let me know if it starts to draw nearer," he says to the changling. "Despite the start of Long Shadows tonight, we'll still need to keep sharp watch. Like I mentioned yesterday, I will be taking extra watches for the next three days. Not that I don't trust you"--he gestures to al his friends--"it's just that I'm superstitious."

[Jeff]

Aug 25, 2020 0:55:04 GMT -4 Darren said:

At Sem's illusion, however, Kal's face darkens into a bitter scowl. "You would not joke so if you had experienced it for yourself," he says

Sem shakes his head and sighs. "When all this is over, Kal, I welcome you to come visit my homeland. Gallows humor has kept the Zils resilient for centuries. Just because we talk our way out of them doesn't mean were are not threatened by monsters." Sem keeps the carved image, though, and raises one eyebrow when he sees Kal reject it from Belarin.

[Jeff]

Brack turns around and looks through his spyglass. He just grunts. "We'll keep watch."

Other than being watchful, let me know if anyone has plans for this last day before Long Shadows.

I'm going to close up Chapter 18 when this day concludes.

[Dave W.]

"I intend," Adamant announces to the group in the morning, "when the day gets short but before the sun sets to summon clean water and do a thorough cleaning. I'm sure there will be a good quantity if anyone else cares to do the same."

"I will take my idling time 5 hours before midnight so I will be ready to start the chant as the Long Shadows arrive."

Throughout the day, he will practice the chant with anyone who wants to.

---

putting Create Food and Water back on the spell choices for the day.

Hey, I just noticed that clerics and paladins can apparently create holy water. But it requires powdered silver (25gp worth). We should look into getting some of that someday.

[Ken]

Belarin spends the rest of the day with Histra, asking about the effect of Long Shadows on necromancy and whether the ghoul can be "healed" of the damage inflicted by the drake.

__________

Y'know, pillow talk.

Nothing else.

[Darren]

Good to move on.

[Jeff]

Those who observe the ghoulish harpy from time to notice that although her withered and boiling steam-scarred flesh have do not look "better"
*, she does walk with renewed strength now anyway, unbothered by the grisly state of her body.

When Belarin asks Histra about the creature, she hesitates at first and instead encourages him to study his own magic in preparation for the coming days... This she does even with others around, in the galley when getting water or breakfast, or up on deck to get some air. Others are able to observe an energy about her, and eagerness that dispels the low-level disdain she often carries about her. She has taken to wearing her long gloves again.

But Histra soon relents and in private, tells him about the ritual she has in mind during Long Shadows.

By high noon, Shorak and Brack report a better view of the sailing vessel behind you. There appear to be two ships, one well ahead of the other, though they are similar in appearance: wind galleons! Often called windships. Shorak feels certain these are the same ships he first saw not long after Last Chance, sailing east out of Stormreach. At least, this appears to be two of them. He thinks there were six of them.

Once identified, various people gather around. Brack keeps his attention mostly ahead, but Kurra and even Calirataia come up onto the bridge to look at them though they are still far behind.

"They'll be overtaking us in no time," Kurra says. "They're faster by far."

"Lyrandar?" Sem asks, asking to see through the spyglass.

"A Lyrandar pilot certainly commands the elemental, and the ship's design is the cooperative work of both House Lyrandar and—"

"Zil elemental binders," Sem says with a smile. "Contractors. But then all elemental vessels are."

"But as to who owns it and crews," Kurra concludes. "We'll see. Or not. Maybe they won't care about us in the least."

"They'll care," Brack remarks. "This far from port, they'll care who we are." He looks to Kal and Melethos first. "Take precautions. Windships aren't warships, at least. They're too frail to risk a battle. They depend on speed."

Thul grunts. "They're coming down this river. They've got the same information we have."

"Rivals," Sem says.

---

*Undead minions, like all monsters, can actually spend hit dice to heal themselves during short/long rests. So the harpy is already back to max hit points; though Histra also has spell options for faster healing, if needed.

**Ken, watch Belarin's private thread.

[Brian]

Aug 25, 2020 18:48:06 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"They'll care," Brack remarks. "This far from port, they'll care who we are." He looks to Kal and Melethos first. "Take precautions. Windships aren't warships, at least. They're too frail to risk a battle. They depend on speed."

Thul grunts. "They're coming down this river. They've got the same information we have."

"Rivals," Sem says.

Melethos takes in the two windships. They are moving fast.

"Captain Thul, Adamant, man the rear crossbows. I'll take the ballista. Kal, you're in charge of the others. Make defenses as you see fit. Let's make this ship look unappetizing."

With the wind blowing back his cloak, the tiefling moves to aft of the ship, positioning himself at the ballista and loading a bolt.

[Joe]

Streko comes up to Melethos, staring back toward where the oncoming ships approach. "If you wish, I can empty the river right in front of them when they get close. It might damage their craft badly enough that they will have to stop for repairs or, at the very least, think twice about taking us on."