Chapter 19: Endless Nights

[Darren]

Kal hesitates, pulling the feather back for a moment and looking Sanne in the eyes. Finally, he relaxes and hands her the feather. "She gave it as though it were a great gift, but I have to admit that I'm unaware of it's true value. Still, if nothing else, it is a great reminder to me of what we accomplished and so it of great importance to me."

[Brian]

"Trephsam," Melethos says, then frowns at Kal. "My lord, if the hunter knows we freed the sphinx's mate, which led to Argushem's release and the subsequent slaughter of his family, we may have earned yet another enemy. A danger to keep in mind."

[Jeff]

Sanne takes the large feather gingerly and admires its bright teal and brown. She smiles. "It is a gift, so long as it wasn't taken in force. Hold onto it, it might save you someday." She hands it back with a nod of appreciation. "We will see the sphinxes again, I am sure of it. I knew that Argushem escaped but only suspected it was due to the mate's power. I am glad. It sickened me to see the male so caged, but my own companions restrainted me."

Kal, Streko, and Belarin suddenly remember being on the gala floor that night, when the sphere of darkness at the center of the room was dispelled, and the Coins Lords revealed the imprisoned Argushem...

Feb 8, 2013 12:58:47 GMT -4 Jeff said:

This majestic creature wears nothing, and the physique is clearly masculine. He looks drowsy, struggling now to sit upright instead of laying as he obviously had been. He lifts his head to look at his surroundings through heavy-lidded eyes. You're too far away to make much of his expression.

Murmurs ripple across the ballroom on both levels. On the ground floor, the strongest reaction comes from the House Vadalis table. But they are not all united. There is alternating outrage and interest among the scions of the House of Handling.

Erdonn clears his throat. "If it is any consolation," he says to Kal, "I would not worry about having 'too many' enemies. Aside from those friends and allies we believe we can trust, our opponents will be numerous; I do not think you need worry about discriminating. For example, even in a lawless city like Stormreach, the Blackwheel Company isn't something one needs to worry about too much. They're a business venture, if less respectable than House Deneith's. Yet out in the jungle, far from anyone's authority or sovereignty, the rules will fade."

"I am not quite as cynical as Lord d'Sivis," Sanne says, "But I do share his caution. Even if circumstances grow contentious near our destination, we need to keep the peace among the houses. I do not expect Vadalis and Sivis and Deneith to abandon civility. Yet the Blackwheel Company has an employer, and they will fight who they must. The Order of the Emerald Claw will engage in battle. And their like."

[Darren]

"For certain, I expect everyone to turn against each other at some point. I think it is in the best interest of those of us who are wise to stand back from the fray and let the others wear down their resources." Kal returns the feather to where it came from, then goes on. "My lady, you said that not everyone on your ship has the same destination or goal, yet clearly you and Lord Erdonn are seekers for the Eye. Who among you does not?"

[Jeff]

"Someone has to take the ship back. Sailors and crew, and Lady Alfinas herself. The Asperii is property of the Twelve, and we'll not leave it idling at the mouth of a river to be easy prey." She looks around. "Just as I'm sure the Dragonfly will not be staying on the Hydra for longer than it needs to?"

"Have you encountered any natives?" Erdonn asks. "Beasts, dark elves, or giants?"

Attachments:

[Dave B.]

When Erdonn asks if they've met any beasts, dark elves or giants, Shorak can't help himself. He barks a short laugh. "That and more." He says with his most charming smile.

[Darren]

Kal echoes Shorak's laugh. "All of the above, my lady."

[Jeff]

Both guests don't seem to find the humor in it, and wait to hear more.

[Darren]

Kal clears his throat, but continues smiling. "My lady, if you can't laugh at the perils we face, then you are sure to descend into madness. This is how we cope. Okay, let's see..." Kal folds his arms, thinking back. "The dark elves we encountered were Sulatar, and they were inside the shortcut. There was a stronghold in there. Did you know that? A stronghold built by Azers, I believe, and occupied by a dragon. But the Sulatar were there as well. It was all very confusing, in fact, but in the end I don't believe any of the Sulatar made it out of that cave."

Kal rubs his chin. "We enountered a group of lizardfolk. They were negotiating with another tribe of...what were they called, Sem?...anyway, their parley was attacked by the slaad. Possibly sent by the cogship? We're still not sure. But we befriended the lizardfolk, regardless, after we helped them with their amphibious troubles."

Kalarian scratches his head. "The giants? They attacked us seemingly without provocation. There was an owl harpy with them." Kal's eyes flick quickly around the deck, wondering if the other two have seen Histra's grizzly creation. "At least, I think she was with them. She seemed intent on me, in particular, anyway." Kal grins sheepishly. "My charm, I suppose. Anyway, the giants tried to sink us, but we suspected the trap and they were never much of a threat."

Kal takes a deep breath. "And you? Does a ship such as yours intimidate so much that you are simply left alone?" Kal smiles and looks longingly at the ship. "Must be nice," he says with a chuckle.

[Dave W.]

"And the gigantic gar... don't forget the gar..." Adamant interjects again, excitedly.

He again touches the octogram... stop interrupting, he thinks. Those that know him might recognize the nervous habit; it would be hard for strangers to notice his discomfort.

[Jeff]

"Kapi," Sem says, when Kal asks for his input. "A sort of simian creature, intelligent and peaceful enough."

Histra has the ghoul-harpy keeping a low profile near the bow, kept out of the immediate coldfire lamplight. But it's clear there's something there, and both Sanne and Erdonn have glanced that way a few times. They haven't asked about it.

"You have had a harrowing journey," Sanne admits with a shake of her head. "We do avoid many deliberate attacks with sheer speed. But not all. The giants you speak of...hill giants, yes? They did take some throws at us a couple of days ago. We were clipped, nothing more. There were no harpies. They would be troublesome indeed in numbers. They are uncommon in this land; those who've roosted in Xen'drik do so near Stormreach, immigrants from Droaam."

The Sivis gnome leans over in his stool to whisper something to her. It sounds like a question.

"Yes," she answers him aloud. "I think so." She turns back to Kal. "I will warn you of a force we have reason to believe is unexpectedly competing in this hunt. And they are a formidable threat to all of us: the Battalion of the Basalt Towers. One of the larger and more organized groups of giants active in Xen'drik. Fire giants, very hostile. They know about the Eye and seek it for themselves, too arrogant and distrustful to ally with anyone except the Sulatar. Whether the Sulatar are joining with them, we don't know. The Battalion travel by land, on foot, in a great caravan...but we're not sure how many they are or where they are. I expect we will all find out soon enough."

A reminder: Shorak alone already knows this name. The Batallion of Basalt Towers were an alliance of fire giants who got organized and attacked Stormreach about sixty years ago in an attempt to claim it for their own. They were driven off by various factions of the city in an unusual display of cooperation. This was long before Shorak came to Stormreach himself, of course. The Battalion of the Basalt Towers had not been heard from again except in whispers. But given their activity in the Skyfall Peninsular, the Titan's Teeth region, and norther Xen'drik in general has always led him to think they could well be affiliated with the fire giants who attacked his tribe.

"The slaadi are the most surprising. I have never seen one. But that is concerning; they propagate most disturbingly. You believe the Cogship has used them?"

When Adamant mentions the giant gar, both woman and gnome turn to face him. "You have had river monster attacks as well? Have you seen any fintails?"

[Ken]

"The slaad," says Belarin. "We encountered them in the shortcut where we met the Sulatar, azers, and the dragon. If I had more time, I'd open a restaurant there - it's clearly popular. We didn't part with the slaad on pleasant terms, and I think the cogship's crew were more than happy to use them as a tool to slow us down. Likely only a temporary alliance ... I hope!

"And yes, we did spot a fintail!" he continues excitedly. "I actually controlled it for all of a few seconds, enough to keep it from devouring Lord Kalarian here. Massive creature. Spectacular."

[Jeff]

“A dragon...what kind?” Sanne asks. “Is it interested in the Eye? It was friendly to you?”

[Ken]

"Uh, brass," says Belarin, immediately worrying that he's said too much. "And he was not so much friendly as ... approachable. He probably would be interested in the Eye if he could get it without traveling. He's a bit of a homebody."

[Darren]

"Oh, yes," Kal considers when Belarin speaks, "I suppose I was somewhat responsible for freeing the slaadi in the first place. I had nearly forgotten that...." Kal lets out a slight hmph.

"Anyway, the dragon? I wouldn't say it was friendly, necessarily, but it was willing to bargain with us. It was there to study an object of power hidden inside the shortcut." Kal watches the faces of the two dragonmarked heirs. "Since you seem to already know so much, I assume you know what I am talking about?"

[Joe]

"This shortcut," Streko adds, "is a nexus of chaos, which is why it is so difficult to navigate, and why so much strangeness seems to congregate there. The dragon didn't seem interested in anything other than his obsession at the moment, and would only assist if we could help him. About as neutral and self-serving a dragon as one could hope to find, I suppose. I would prefer not to traverse through it again if at all possible."

[Dave B.]

"Don't forget that Captain Thul befriended a Xorn there as well." Shorak adds.

[Jeff]

Sem's mouth twitches when Shorak speaks.

"Captain Thul?" Erdonn d'Sivis repeats. He turns to look at Thul, who stands smoking his pipe, looking back disinterestedly.

"A xorn." Sanne considers this neutrally. "Yes, the Shortcut as an . . . alternating manifest zone. I've heard that but never anything more than as a rumor. I believe it well enough. You made it this far, ahead of us, after all. And to have seen a dragon . . . well, your adventures are wondrous indeed."

The Vadalis heir stands up, and you can all sense that something's shifted in her tone. "Is there anything more that you would like to learn from me? From us."

[Darren]

Kalarian quickly rises to his feet. "Have we done something to offend you, Lady Sanne?"

[Jeff]

The Sivis gnome climbs off his stool and stands as well.

The Vadalis heir makes a dismissive gesture. "Never mind, it is unimportant," she says. "I think we have learned as much as we can. Still I hold to our invitation." She gestures toward the Asperii, which continues to move at the same pace and direction as the Dragonfly. But she looks around at the nearly lightless land and the darker sky. "Though I would understand if you choose to delay a visit to our ship. The truth is, both the Peryton and the Asperii will be moving only slowly during the days of Long Shadows. It is not a time to 'exert' the elementals that power us. So we will not be far from you, should you wish to talk again."

[Brian]

Melethos does not move, but he uses his ring to think to Kal.

I don't like this. Something definitely has changed. What may be unimportant to her may be important to us. He pauses. This change happened after Captain Thul was mentioned.

_________________________________

I'm going to try an Insight check, maybe see if Mel can glean what caused the change..

Melethos: 1D20+1 → 9(8 + 1)#Wisdom (Insight) Check

[Ken]

"We'd certainly enjoy a visit to your ship," says Belarin, trying to keep the mood light. "At least most of us would. Oh, before you leave, please accept these little tokens."

He hands each of them one of the wooden medusa medallions. "Something I made recently, to honor a Long Shadows tradition back in Breland! Place it where you sleep or outside your door." He concludes with a smile, "It'll, um, help keep the 'monsters' away."

[Jeff]

It is not clear to Melethos what happened or what was said. Sanne and Erdonn accept Belarin's gifts with some puzzlement. Belarin feels a slight tingle when he reaches out towards the gnome; the near-invisible energy barrier around Erdonn.

"Is this...?" The gnome lifts a monocle up to one eye and peers through it at the wooden medusa icon, just for a moment. "Ahh, I see. Thank you." Belarin feels sure the monocle allows him to divine magical auras, like his own fey-gifted sight.

To Kal, Sanne says, "Well, yes. Some of you?"

But it is clear to Belarin and Kal that the mood has changed and despite their renewed invitation, neither human nor gnome wants to see it through now. At least not tonight.

To Kal (only) the reason comes clear now: Shorak referred to Thul as Captain Thul. Yet he was introduced by Sem as General Thul. (And Sanne and Erdonn had seemed genuinely impressed by the variety and rank presented.) But, the discrepancy seems to have added an element of exaggeration if not outright falsehoods to the news relayed by him and his friends.

---

Insight: Adamant = 9, Belarin = 15, Kal = 23, Shorak = 5, Streko = 13

[Darren]

Kal approaches Sanne, getting close to her and gently placing a hand on her elbow. "My lady, may we speak privately for a moment?"

[Jeff]

She stiffens. Kal can see that she has been taken by his charm, and looked often at his handsome face. But the turn in the conversation has soured her somewhat. "I would prefer Lord d'Sivis hear anything you would tell me," she says quietly, looking at his hand.

[Brian]

Melethos's face remains impassive as he communicates with Kal.

I don't know what you're doing but don't do it alone. Keep me near your side.

[Dave W.]

Adamant leans towards Belarin and whispers, “what is happening, did my interrupting cause a problem?”

[Darren]

Kal looks around at his companions, then nods, motioning Sanne and Erdonn closer to him and lowering his voice. "My lady, it would seem that you have mistaken our expedition as one associated with either House Deneith or King Kaius. I can assure that neither is the case. In truth, my lady, we are perhaps the most 'unaffiliated' expedition I have come across so far. Our motives are our own, and not dictated by anyone above us. We choose for ourselves and not based on the whims of anyone else. While I understand that at some point you and I may be considered rivals, I do hope that until that time comes, we may be considered friends." Kal steps back and bows formally to Sanne.

[Jeff]

“I would like that,” Sanne answers.

“It grows late, Lady d’Vadalis,” Erdonn says.

She nods at him and turns to Kal. “We aren’t planning on sailing with speed during Long Shadows. We will hail you during dayligh—daytime hours. If you are in need of something, you will call for us? Mischief will keep an eye out.”

“And eye out,” the raven repeats.

[Darren]

Kal bows again. "It has been a pleasure, Lady Sanne. Lord Erdonn." Kal stands straight. "We shall watch each other's backs during the long nights to follow." Kal offers his hand to Lady Sanne to help her back onto her sled. "My lady, would you deliver my regards to Lady Huru d'Tharashk, as well? Should the opportunity arise, it would be nice to speak with her again, as well."