Chapter 19: Endless Nights

[Ken]

"A pleasure to meet you," days Belarin to the two guests. "I hope we can talk again soon."

He turns his head to look at Adamant and gives the warforged a shrug.

[Jeff]

Mischief takes to the air.

"Be well," the older gnome says to Kal and Belarin then steps up onto the soarsled. You can tell he's not especially comfortable with it.

Sanne, however, steps up gracefully and easily, assisted by Kal. "I will tell Huru. Though, she does not like the title 'lady.'" She says this with a knowing smile, as if to say, Half-orcs, right?

When both dragonmarked heirs stand firm, the soarsleds rise up. Kurra stares at the devices eagerly, as though trying to reverse engineer them in her mind. Sanne d'Vadali's leather-clad form creaks quietly as she bows as well. "Enjoy the wine!" she says.

Then they're off, floating across the water toward the wind galleon.

The raven has now landed on the empty crow's nest. Makes some noises. Then flits off as well.

[Ken]

"Uh, what happened?" says Belarin after the two visitors have departed.

[Brian]

Melethos nods. "Yes, something changed but I don't know what." He looks to Kal and Streko. "Did either of you catch what happened?"

[Jeff]

Sam cracks his knuckles and sighs. "I don't think that went terribly at all, but . . . I would think a unified front would be more conducive to earning trust from others, especially those with resources. Isn't that right, General Thul? Or is it captain? Private?"

Thul just smokes his pipe and turns away from the other ship, moving to the opposide site, disinterested.

[Darren]

Kal sighs as he watches the two heirs drift back to their ship. Turning, he leans against the railing of the Dragonfly. "As Sem said, we must listen to each other better. Sem introduced Thul as a general in the Karnathi army, but then he was referred to as a captain, and they saw through the ruse. These are people of power and they are used to only treating with others whom they feel are significant. We gave that advantage away, unfortunately. But I don't think all is lost. I told them that we are.... independent. I believe we can gain their trust, if we want it."

[Ken]

Belarin frowns. "Well, as Sem said, that didn't go 'terribly.' Any occasion where we don't make another enemy is a positive one! We have quite enough of those on this quest. And they pointed out something that we'll need to consider. Once the water part of our journey ends, we'll likely come across our competitors much more often, including them." He gives a nod of his head toward the other ship. "As friendly as some of these encounters might be, ultimately it'll be a race. The cogship crew - Riedrans or whatever - won't be the only group tossing obstacles in our path."

[Brian]

The ship gently rocks as Melethos understands the mix up that caused their conversation to end. A minor error, but one they'd have to focus on in the future.

"Long Shadows starts in a few hours," he says to no on in particular. "I suggest everyone do what they need to do to prepare. I'll stand watch for the next few hours, possibly overnight. We'll see." He nods at Sem. "Remember I was introduced as Condign. That name should be used while we interact with our visitors."

[Darren]

Sept 14, 2020 10:44:26 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin frowns. "Well, as Sem said, that didn't go 'terribly.' Any occasion where we don't make another enemy is a positive one! We have quite enough of those on this quest. And they pointed out something that we'll need to consider. Once the water part of our journey ends, we'll likely come across our competitors much more often, including them." He gives a nod of his head toward the other ship. "As friendly as some of these encounters might be, ultimately it'll be a race. The cogship crew - Riedrans or whatever - won't be the only group tossing obstacles in our path."

Kal nods. "That may be where our small party size works to our advantage. We may be able to move without making as much noise. And hopefully the larger groups will be so busy fighting each other, they won't notice us as we slip past."

[Ken]

"I can help with that when the time comes," says Belarin. "And there's something else that will help keep us unnoticed by others." He catches Histra's eye. "Histra and I recognize that the harpy ghoul is rather, ah, distinctive."

He lowers his voice slightly. Although the ghoul is standing far away from the group, it's almost as though Belarin doesn't want to be heard by it. "Histra believes that she can transform it into another type of undead - an incorporeal one - that can float along with us. This way, the word 'offensive' will be used only to describe its capabilities, not its odor. It'll be more powerful than the ghoul, less likely to reveal our presence, and, naturally, still under her control.

"So if you see us disappear for some time during the Long Shadows, that's what we'll be doing." He pauses. "At least part."

[Darren]

Kal just rolls his eyes at Belarin, but the corner of his mouth turns up in a smile in spite of himself.

[Jeff]

Brack stands at the wheel still, eyeing the Asperii, refraining from comment.

Histra moves to stand beside Belarin. "Much of the work will necessarily be in the open here," she says to him quietly. "In part because Kurra has forbidden the dead or the undead from going below. This is acceptable."

Kurra gets to the business of checking on everything, top to bottom, on the Dragonfly in preparation for Long Shadows. The sail comes down, the crossbows and ballista are armed (and infused with some sort of magic).

Calirataia remains shyly out of sight.

---

In your next post (all of you), let me know if there's anything else you plan on doing this day, and whether there's any change in the night shift.

[Dave W.]

“I thought about offering to create a zone of truth wherein people may not lie... but im not sure that would have helped.”

“Well at least we didn’t get into a fight. I will start preparing the Chant.”

Adamant first takes the stools back to storage and retrieves his glaive. He then spends several minutes washing. He makes sure his person and everything on it are as clean as possible. He will then rest as best he can until it is time to start his chanting.

---

I don’t know if he has the 4 hours for a long rest but if he does he’ll take it.

added: Adamant will still take normal watch but will be changing during it.

[Brian]

As the others go about their business, Melethos moves to the bow of the Dragonfly. There, he stands watch, his hand straying occasionally to the crystal resting against his chest.

The splash of fish and the gentle push of the ship through the water creates a calm sound, and the tiefling feels the tension drain out of him.

Long Shadows. He hated this time of year for as long as he can remember. Maybe distance will but some of his bad memories to bed.

He does take a short rest--thirty minutes at best--before his watch starts. He plans to take a few more watches.

It will be a long night.

____________________________________________________________

Melethos will take his standard watch plus one additional one.

[Joe]

"Not enemies, but not allies, at least not yet. On this night of nights, it is probably the best outcome to have hoped for. In the meantime, we should all prepare for the first long night. I doubt it will be good for any of us, except maybe Lady Histra." He nods to the necromancer and goes about his business.

Streko will take his normal watch as well. He will chant with Adamant for a time during that watch, as to keep from trying to interrupt to start a conversation.

[Dave B.]

Shorak shrugs. "It will be what it will be." He says philosophically and smiles. Shorak will continue his watches as normal. He does hang his dreamcatcher over his sleeping area and places Belarin's 'gift' under his pillow. "Just in case." He mutters to himself.

[Ken]

When Belarin retires for the night, he approaches Histra and invites her to join him in the cot. To her surprise, though, his intentions seem less lustful and more tender. He embraces her, content to lie with her and provide each other the emotional strength they'll need for the dark days ahead.

_____________________

Nothing else for the day.

[Darren]

Kal briefly goes down to the galley to retrieve a cup, into which he pours a generous amount of the wine that Lady Sanne brought for them. Returning the stopper to the bottle, Kal secures it within the galley cabinets, then takes the cup and swirls it gently as he returns to the top deck. He stands near the railing of the ship, looking across as the Asperii. He raises the glass slightly in toast, then drinks deeply, enjoying the flavors and spices. With a sigh, Kalarian leans his elbows on the railing, contemplating the other ship.

_______________
Kal will take his normal watch unless Melethos instructs otherwise.

[Jeff]

Without a word, Histra orders the ghoul-harpy to skulk away from the bow, giving Melethos space when he strides to the front of the ship.

When Kal returns to the railing, cup of wine in hand, he finds it tastes wonderful. He doesn't know the vintage, but it does taste very definitely of Khorvaire, and civilization, and comfort. A feeling he hasn't had in a while. The numerous soft magelights on the other ship complement the flavor well.

"For what it's worth," Sem says to him, approaching, "I think Lady d'Vadalis likes you, even if she doesn't fully trust you." But then the gnome backs away, giving Kal peace. Tangat, of course, sits at his master's feet, tail swishing across the floorboards.

True night approaches.

I'll move us into the passing night shortly.

[Jeff]

The hours go by, and the Asperii drifts a bit further apart, but stays close enough to see its lights.

Some of you retire, and the first watch starts up. By the time Melethos and Streko near the end of their first watch, Adamant has finished his brief "repose" and begins his song. Streko can linger and join him for a time, if he chooses.

But within minutes of starting up, Calirataia appears near amidships and begins to hum a soft and stirring harmony. She sits on the wood, folds her legs up, and remains this way for a time in the increasing darkness.

By midnight, the stars are blotted out altogether. The three full moons grow dim but remain present, and the Ring of Siberys is just a ghost of a haze in the north.

Where is Adamant doing his chant? In motion or in one place?

Spellcasters who prepare spells: make your choices now for the morning.

[Dave W.]

Adamant reminds Streko and anyone else of the “rules” of the Psalm of Awaking Dawn, “There are 7 sections, each of 7 stanza arranged by topic and done in order: Dawn, it always starts with Dawn ... doesn't it?... then Honor, Sacrifice, Righteousness, Strength, Enlightenment, and then we return to the Sun. And then we repeat… for three days.”

“It is permissible… even encouraged… to ad-lib some verses but it is best to stay in the theme of the current section.”

“And again, it is not necessary for me or any one of us to sing through all the days so long as the chant does not stop. If I am to rest, someone else must take it up. Though I have carried the chant for the whole of the Shadows in the past and will again if needed.”

“Tonight we will do the first section facing East, in anticipation of the awakening Dawn you see. Then we go clockwise… we will move around the ship… to sing a section at each of the 8 compass points excepting only due West. And so Dawn will always face East, Honor Southeast, Sacrifice due South, Righteousness Southwest, Strength Northwest, Enlightenment due North, the Sun Northeast.”

“This is the method I was taught. Thought these are traditions only. If events require that we be at some other compass point to defend the ship perhaps, we will certainly do that. But I would like to return to the proper pattern when we can.”

“Does that make sense? Are we ready?”

[Joe]

Streko pauses to listen as Adamant begins his ritual singing. Eventually, he yawns from fatigue and heads down below to sleep.

[Darren]

Kal listens to Adamant with a bemused smile on his face. "My faith in the gods was never very strong," he says, placing a hand on the warforged's armor plated shoulder. "My faith in you, however, is unwavering." He raps his knuckles against the construct, enjoying the ringing sound, then smiles and heads below.

[Brian]

Once his watch shift ends, Melethos still feels edgy, his nerves taut with stress. As planned, he continues during the second watch, moving to the places on the ship opposite of Adamant. The warforge chants drift softly into the night.

Melethos did not think a creation--a non-living being--could understand much about beauty or religion. Then again, the tiefling had underestimated Adamant since their first meeting.

The hours pass. By the time the second watch finishes, Melethos is tired enough to know he needs sleep. He heads down to his room and his cot, lays down, and closes his eyes.

[Jeff]

Aside from the darker sky, the night doesn't look or sound too different than most. The jungle is muted but not silent. One by one each of you finishes your shift and head down to bed, as even the full moons gradually fade from view. 

Zor, the 26th of Vult 998 YK

The First Day of Long Shadows

But the morning is different. It is a morning without dawn. It is anything but illuminated. The sky is instead a deep blue, darker at the horizon, and a single moon rises as in in place of the moon, and it's pale, brighter than anything else around it, but still not bright at all. Adamant knows this isn't the light of Dol Arrah at all, which lies hidden somehow behind a planar veil. Adamant and Streko both this moon is Sypheros. It sweeps slowly sideways through the sky. By all predictions, the Shadow Moon should be out of sight completely right now, but since Mabar is coterminous, its corresponding moon has come to the fore.

The river is eerily still. There current keeps the water in motion, but it's slow. The air is still. The Dragonfly's sail has been rolled up completely. Captain Brack doesn't seem to expect to use it at all in these three days. But the paddle-wheel is still churning to fight the current and make some kind of progress southward. A few hundred feet away, the Asperii keeps pace with the Dragonfly, its sails are unfurled but they are doing little more than rustling. They are not using their air elemental right now.

Gar and boar meat serve as breakfast for those with appetites, but even those now feel thin. The food stores look like they'll last through Long Shadows, but soon after more will be needed.

Adamant continues his song, and those who move close to him do feel a measure of peace despite the disquieting stillness of the Long Shadows. Calirataia is often near him, joining in wordless melody, but she does fall silent often and vanish again. Yet this morning she is standing on the bridge near Brack, watching the riverbanks. The land is quiet. No sounds of birds or insects.

By mid-morning, fogs begin to creep on the water.

[Darren]

Kal finds himself humming mindlessly as he walks around the deck of the ship. When we becomes conscious of it, he realizes it is Adamant's melody that vibrates his own vocal chords. His lips curl upwards as he gives the warforged a sidelong glance.

Seeing the fog roll in, though, Kal grows concerned. "What do you think Melethos? Should we double our guard? Decreased visibility is not ideal. Perhaps we should communicate with the Asperii and coordinate a signal system? Between the two ships, we can watch a wider stretch of the river, provided we don't lose sight of each other..."

[Brian]

Sept 16, 2020 14:34:12 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal finds himself humming mindlessly as he walks around the deck of the ship. When we becomes conscious of it, he realizes it is Adamant's melody that vibrates his own vocal chords. His lips curl upwards as he gives the warforged a sidelong glance.

Seeing the fog roll in, though, Kal grows concerned. "What do you think Melethos? Should we double our guard? Decreased visibility is not ideal. Perhaps we should communicate with the Asperii and coordinate a signal system? Between the two ships, we can watch a wider stretch of the river, provided we don't lose sight of each other..."

"Yes, double the guards," Melethos says, his gaze fixed on the fog. "I think of the cogship when I see that mist." He pauses, then continues. "I will leave to you the decision to coordinate with the Asperii. Like it or not, as a Deneith lord, your voice carries much weight. Personally, I would inform them of what we are doing, but let them decide their own responses." He smiles at his friend. "But that's me."

[Ken]

Belarin looks around and says, "I'll admit, this is a little terrifying. Not the darkness - I'm used to that. It's the quiet." He pauses. "When Long Shadows has come before, I've been in a populated area. To be out here, and hear Nature itself silenced...? That's creepy."

[Brian]

"And by double the guards," Melethos adds, "I mean I will take guard all day, the bow of the ship. We need a second to cover the stern. I suggest a third wander the deck to add another set of eyes, unless Shorak in the crow's nest is sufficient. It's your call, Kal."

[Dave W.]

Adamant started chanting softly at midnight. When daybreak without sunrise comes he increases the volume a bit. Not shouting or even terribly loud but it adds a firmness, a solidity to it.

He considers turning on the Delver’s Light to provide a false day. It seems somewhat sacrilegious though. A great time to think of that! I should have discussed it with Streko before this. We will muddle through.