Chapter 18: Where the Mighty Rivers Roam

[Dave W.]

“Well I had intentions for the day... we’ll see how this goes.”
Adamant moves to ton of the mounted crossbows on the rear.

[Dave B.]

Shorak remains in the crow's nest as much as possible, keeping an eye on the gaining ships. If he sees any potential threats of an attack from them, he will call down a warning. When he has time, he cleans up with the clean water Adamant conjured and maintains his weapons, just in case a fight ensues.

[Brian]

Aug 25, 2020 20:46:05 GMT -4 Joe said:

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."

Melethos rubs at one of his horns. "Let's see what their intent is first. They might sail on by without making a threat. But if they look like they're going to attack, I'll keep your offer in mind."

[Jeff]

Aug 25, 2020 20:46:05 GMT -4 Joe said:

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."

Starg stands over Streko. "Indeed, I would advise not attacking first. If they are not hostile, why make them so?"

Aug 25, 2020 20:57:41 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

Adamant moves to ton of the mounted crossbows on the rear.

Note that the starboard-side crossbow at the stern is basically gone now. It was so burned that Kurra has removed it. So there is just the port-side one and the actual ballista now.

[Darren]

Kal stiffens at the mention of Lyrander ships. "You don't think....?"

______

(Ugh. On my phone. Can't remember her name. The chick who hates Kal and almost killed Tangat.... what's her name?)

(I know....there's a lot of chicks who hate Kal. 🤣)

[Brian]

Lamara?

[Jeff]

Lamara is an excoriate from House Medani (Mark of Detection). Not Lyrandar, the Mark of Storm. She's the one who worked for Malov.

Ralsor was Lyrandar. So was Morsha, you later learned (bearing the very rare Siberys dragonmark.)

[Darren]

Yup. Lamara is who I was thinking of. And apparently had my houses all wrong. Ignore me. Going back into my hole now....

[Jeff]

The minutes stretch on, and it soon becomes apparent that the closest wind galleon isn't going to simply trail the Dragonfly. It looks like it will soon pass on the port side, keeping a berth of at least two hundred feet (unless it changes course). The second windship remains further back on the horizon.

The closer one, however, you can get a better look at now. For one, it's larger than the Dragonfly, a three-masted galleon, but it's a unique vessel that only a few of you have seen up close before (Shorak and Streko have). Huge fins spread wide, and most of the hull itself is raised up above the water itself, and only a pair of massive rudders glide across the river. There is very little drag. So much weight lifted up like that, and the fact that the sails are fuller than the Dragonfly's, can only be the work of an air elemental. Mounted on the stern of the ship is a small tower you can barely see due to the swirling air around it, which seems to funnel the elemental air to all the sails.

There is a single flag fluttering at its central mast: a long, streaming pennant of blue with a few subtler colors within.

"The Twelve," Brack declares after getting a closer look with his spyglass.

In Stormreach, the Citadel of the Twelve was the vast compound that housed a number of dragonmarked offices (which some of you made use of). But across Khorvaire, the Twelve is known as the arcane institution that unites the houses in common purposes. Their collaboration has led to some of the greatest innovations of the world such as airships, the lightning rail, message stations. They are headquartered in the Tower of the Twelve in Korth. Its greatest rival is the Arcane Congress in Aundair.

[Dave W.]

Aug 26, 2020 9:37:05 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Note that the starboard-side crossbow at the stern is basically gone now. It was so burned that Kurra has removed it. So there is just the port-side one and the actual ballista now.

Adamant will take the port crossbow.

[Darren]

Kal watches the streaming pennant. "Rivals, for sure," he says, coming to stand next to Melethos, "but we have no chance of slowing them down unless we want to start a battle with them." Gazing up at the larger ship, he adds, "And they're bigger and outnumber us. I say we let them pass unless they want to start a fight."

[Brian]

"Agreed," Melethos says, staring after the wind galleon. "We will meet them later. Perhaps we will have more allies by then." He raises his voice. "Let them pass unharmed, unless they act against us."

[Ken]

Belarin comes back onto the main deck. He notices the looks of concern and, more importantly, the manning of crossbows.

"Visitors?"

[Dave B.]

As the wind galleon closes, Shorak remains up in the crow's nest. He keeps a close eye on the approaching ship, trying to make out any people on deck. He's more curious than anything, but he still makes sure there is no apparent attack forthcoming.

[Jeff]

The wind galleon speeds along. Shorak can see it has its own ballista mounted near its starboard bow, but otherwise the vessel doesn't look arrayed for war. He can see a few people milling about on the deck, some of them stout enough to be dwarves, but mostly human-like in size. Just as the ship reaches the level of the Dragonfly, now about three hundred feet distant, a pair of birds swoop into view overhead. They are silent, and seem to come out of nowhere.

Shorak whirls and eyes them. Ospreys. River hawks. Not necessarily out of their element here, but they do seem like they're associated with the wind galleon.

Everyone can see them, but not close up. They don't appear to be hunting for fish—but eyeing your ship.

[Ken]

His eyes on the birds, Belarin walks over to where Kal and Brack are standing.

"Could be shapechangers," he says. "Or druidic magic. Or just really strange birds."

[Joe]

Streko watches the ships quietly. He is fascinated by seeing an elemental ship again, and feels just a twinge of jealousy. "For taking shortcuts, we still seem to be getting passed by an awful lot," he mutters.

[Darren]

Kal winces at Streko's comment. He had been thinking the same thing, but didn't wish to say it aloud.

Watching the birds, Kal adds, "Or familiars." He gestures briefly towards Tangat. "Either way, they are likely scouts. Doesn't necessarily mean they are looking for trouble. Just being cautious. Still," Kal looks over his shoulder at Histra's undead tauth, "perhaps we should display a similar caution and put our own scout in the air?"

[Jeff]

"Yes," Histra says simply, coming up behind Belarin.

With a creak of its wings, the tauth takes to the air, launching from one of the Dragonfly's own outward-flung appendages. The two ospreys above continue their airborne survey. One of them swoops past the crow's nest, only ten feet from Shorak. It's a beautiful bird, and Shorak doesn't see anything unnatural about it, but he does strongly suspect it's been magically directed. These animals hunt for fish, and would want nothing to do with another animal Shorak's size.

"Familiars, possibly," Sem ventures. "If that's the Twelve, then there is plenty of magic—and mages—aboard. Unless they're captained by a villain, I don't expect them to be hostile. Kal, this might be the actual right time to display your heritage. These are dragonmarked rivals."

The tauth closes on the wind galleon, and after waiting a few moments to make sure it isn't shot out of the sky first, Histra reaches out to Belarin's arm for balance. Her eyes darken as she is rendered blind, now able to see through the eyes of her servant.

"I count at least ten on deck," Histra says.

"A sizeable crew, they'll have," Kurra remarks.

"What should I look for?" the necromancer asks. "They have certainly marked me."

Calirataia appears at the port side and sits herself on the gunwale. She has used her fey magic to appear somewhat less tree-ish in appearance, appearing now more like a sylvan elf in threadbare clothing. She waves to the ospreys with a smile that seems genuine.

[Brian]

Melethos approaches Histra. "Do you see evidence of any other Houses? Someone who seems in charge?"

[Darren]

Seemingly unconsciously, Kal pushes up his sleeves just as he used to, the dragonmark on his right arm standing out stark against his skin. The pattern has grown and changed since their adventure started. Seems like so long ago....

Kal waits to hear Histra's response to Melethos' question.

[Jeff]

Histra maintains concentration, and you can all see the tauth circling the other ship as the ospreys circle yours.

"I do not see uniforms or emblems, though the tauth's vision is not yet sharp. There are some matching colors. Yes, I would say there are affiliations here. There are humans, a half-elf, some dwarves, some half-orcs. I think there is a Tharashk presence. I cannot identify a captain."

Even as she says this, the ospreys wheel away, and the wind galleon surges on. It looks like it will speed ahead and leave the Dragonfly (and the other windship) well behind.

One of the birds is heading toward the closer wind galleon, while the other heads north toward the other ship.

[Darren]

"I suppose they have decided we are not a threat to them," Kal says. "Although," he watches the ship behind them, "we are technically surrounded now. Don't let your guard down until they are both past us. Histra, keep an eye on that following ship."

[Joe]

"Pity there isn't a way to contact them to advise them that Houses Deneith and Jorasco are present aboard as adventurers of this expedition. Alas, I am sure we will meet them again, probably sooner than we might wish."

[Jeff]

"If those birds were familiars," Sem says to Streko, "Then they at least know there's an heir of Deneith aboard. They can see well enough."

Histra has the tauth return.

Brack says, "If these windships are on the same expedition you are, be assured they are in the lead. At least here on this wedge of the continent. Which means the Shortcut bought you the time I thought it might." He shrugs.

"True," Sem says, grinning. "We're hardly last now."

Soon the windship fades from view and the day stretches on. The wind is dying down, and the loud sounds of the jungle on either side of the river also become pacified.

Adamant feels a grim sense of responsibility as he sees the sun beginning its descent toward the west.

nd that is when it becomes apparent that the second wind galleon is drawing near. Unless it veers from its course, it looks like it might be veering to come up alongside the Dragonfly. AIn the crow's nest, Shorak sees a similar pennant flying atop its central mast, though there are subtle differences in the shape of the ship. At its current speed, in less than ten minutes, it may have caught up. He also spies a single black bird heading toward the Dragonfly, clearly launched from the windship.

[Dave B.]

"Looks like the other wind galleon may be trying to get a better look at us or even make contact." Shorak calls down from the nest. "There's a black bird of some kind heading directly toward us."

[Brian]

"Belarin!" Melethos calls out. "Eyes on that bird. If it becomes a threat, blast it!"

[Darren]

Kal draws Skyfang, eyeing the range between him and the bird. Flames lick the edge of the blade. "Shorak, call out the second you detect a threat."

_________________
I think Kal may actually have the longest range (not sure how far the crossbows can shoot) with Fire Bolt (it's doubled because of Spell Sniper).

[Ken]

Belarin says, "Ready!" He places one hand over Histra's on his shoulder, assuring her that he's not going anywhere, and he unsheathes his pact dagger with his other hand.

[Jeff]

It's soon obvious that this is a raven. Large for its species but hardly unnatural. Calirataia watches calmly, and even makes a soft trilling sound.

The raven settles onto the port-side "wing" of the ship, about five feet out from the gunwale. It makes a few gurgly sounds, like a raven does; more musical than a crow's harsh croak. Then it says, as if in imitation of another, "Friend? Friend?" Those standing on this side of the ship can see the bird has a something tied to one of its legs, like a tiny scroll case.