Chapter 20: Coming Dawn

[Dave W.]

“May I try it?” Adamant asks Melethos. “You say it can be caught too?” He asks Kurra.

---

Adamant would like to throw it and catch if he is allowed.

He would like the weapon mostly as a backup but also to give him a ranged attack. But he will of course go with the consensus .

[Brian]

Melethos picks up the hammer and hands it to Adamant. Smiling, he says, "If you like it, it is yours."

[Dave W.]

“Thank you Melethos.” Adamant says brightly. “I’ll confess it interests me”

He gives it a toss and holds his hand out to return it.

[Dave B.]

Shorak watches Kurra explain the armor to Streko and the hammer to Melethos. He raises an eybrow for each item. "Interesting." Is his only comment. When Streko dons the dragon scale armor, Shorak smiles and says, "Streko! You look amazing. That armor must have been made for you, or you for the armor. Either way, it's perfect."

Watching Melethos and Adamant give the hammer a try puts another smile on Shorak's face. "Definitely a very useful weapon."

After the fun with magic items is over, Shorak heads up to the crow's nest. "I want to get a better look at those storm clouds." He says as he makes his way towards the ladder up. Once he climbs up, he trains the spyglaas on the storm, sweeping left and right to get as good a look as possible.

[Jeff]

The hammer scraps across the deck and makes its way back to Adamant. Since he is actively seeking it (i.e. using his reaction, if this were in combat), it lifts and rises right into his hand at the last moment.

Shorak heads up, and starts watching the distant storm. Through the spyglass, he thinks he sees some flying shapes beneath those dark clouds. Just specks from this distance, no telling what they are.

[Joe]

Streko pulls Melethos and Kal aside prior to his spending time with (and in) the armor for attunement.

"It is my intention to wear and use this armor for our mission. Having said that, you should know that its original owner, shall I say, is a black dragon known as Rhashaak. He is ancient, some say a million years old, others not quite that old. Regardless, he is said to sit on a throne in Qbarra and unable to leave this place. However, he will be alerted to my attunement to the armor and it is unclear to me how he will react. It is possible he may have minions on this hunt who will react poorly to seeing me in this magnificent scale. On the other hand, I may be worshipped. I would not depend upon that however. I just wanted you to know."

[Dave W.]

Adamant concentrates and feels the hammer fly crisply to his hand. "It is magnificent." He says. "I will keep it if allowed, thank you."

May 12, 2021 21:58:41 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

When Streko dons the dragon scale armor, Shorak smiles and says, "Streko! You look amazing. That armor must have been made for you, or you for the armor. Either way, it's perfect."

"You really do, Streko. It is a brilliant pairing."

After the fun with magic items is over, Shorak heads up to the crow's nest. "I want to get a better look at those storm clouds."

"Do not get too good a look, if it comes close please come back down." Adamant says with a note of concern, projecting his own fear of heights. "You do not want to ride out the storm up there."

[Jeff]

Adamant hangs the hammer in a leather clip at his side, alongside his other, nonmagical hammer (for now). "You know you need to name that, don't you?"

Kurra then says, "Have you got that final sketch for me? If so, I'll get Tree Girl." She says this loudly and looks around, as if waiting for the dryad to manifest. But she doesn't just yet.

Brack shows everyone the ship's progress on the map, for anyone who wishes to see. And sure enough, the Dragonfly is now sailing due west. "At this rate, we'll be at those great Stairs in . . . maybe two days. This is a good time to start solidifying any of your land plans."

---

Giant slayer hammer added to Adamant's inventory.

Attachments:

[Dave W.]

May 13, 2021 11:37:08 GMT -4 Jeff said:

[Kurra says]"You know you need to name that, don't you?"

"Giant's Bane? A little too direct… The Hammer of Dawn? … ummm, too much perhaps. Dragon Snout? Too silly… I will think on it…"

Kurra then says, "Have you got that final sketch for me? If so, I'll get Tree Girl."

"I am ready, Calirataia? Are you busy?" He calls out.

[Jeff]

Calirataia rises up from the deck in front of Adamant. She takes immediate notice of the new hammer hanging from his belt, but says nothing. She gives Kurra a quizzical look, but the dwarf only shrugs. "I am here."

[Ken]

Belarin smiles at the sight of Streko in the dragonscale armor. "Fearsome indeed, Good Streko! So fearsome I may have to call you 'Bad' Streko from now on. As for Rhashaak, no surprise. The treasure was supposedly his, and we already know that the ship was named Rhashaak's Fang. We might have to deal with him at soon point. If so, bad luck for him."

[Ken]

May 13, 2021 14:15:05 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

May 13, 2021 11:37:08 GMT -4 Jeff said:

[Kurra says]"You know you need to name that, don't you?"

"Giant's Bane? A little too direct… The Hammer of Dawn? … ummm, too much perhaps. Dragon Snout? Too silly… I will think on it…"

Belarin, who had only been paying partial attention to this discussion, suddenly perks up. "Rising Fist," he says simply.

[Dave W.]

"Hello, I'm going to show Kurra the symbol we talked about."

"So I was thinking of a rising sun as the center. It is my favorite time of the day and I think it should be taken as a sign of Hope." The center of his sketch is a half sun with rays coming from it.

"But I also would like a reminder of perhaps the happiest moment of my life. Where vines and flowers adorned me." He looks toward Calirataia and indicates for Kurra two strands of ivy under the sun and curving up the sides. "See how they intertwine? That's how Life is, connected, supporting each other." He pauses.

"Oh, and a few flowers because they're pretty."

"I'm sure you can do this better than my clumsy fingers."

---

It's rough, I don't really have the skills or tools for the artwork but I drew this up on paper and took a picture…

[Dave B.]

When Brack pulls out the map, Shorak focuses the spyglass on it for a moment, then calls down to the deck. "Let me know when we want to discuss our land trek and I'll come down." Then he goes back to his watch. He keeps an eye on the storm clouds. If they look like they may threaten the Dragonfly, he will come down from the crow's nest sooner, as Adamant suggested.

[Jeff]

Kurra gives the sketch an appreciative glance. "Hey, that'll do, 'forged. We'll make it work."

Calirataia smiles and taps the thin sheet of wood Adamant has drawn on. "It's wonderful, Adamant. Kurra, I will help when it's time."

The artificer nods. "Adamant, tell me when you're ready to go 'under the knife,' as it were." I'd rather do this in my workshop, where I have everything I need.

Shorak keeps an eye on the weather. The storm never moves closer, though after a time he does see it begin to lessen and he sees no more shapes in the sky. More locally, though, he's still seeing a uptick of avian life. The occasional glidewing soars in close to the Dragonfly, less than a hundred feet, but it moves on without attacking.

Nicely done, Dave!

[Jeff]

Sem watches the exchange between Calirataia and Adamant with a big smile on his face. "Can I just point out, Adamant," he says, looking up at the warforged at least three times the gnome's size, "that without the meddling of one Professor ir'Zathyran, you would never have had this 'happiest moment' of your life? Not only did his archvillainy bring you to Xen'drik itself, he chartered this boat with this dryad on board." He looks around at everyone else and lingers a moment on Melethos—who has been the most vocally antagonistic of Larest over these many weeks. "I realize he may never be forgiven, but I hope he will also be someday . . . appreciated." The gnome lets out a sigh.

Then Sem sits himself down cross-legged on the deck and unfolds one of his own Xen'drik maps. "Shall we talk about what will happen when we get the Stairs and start our journey on foot? This is a discussion for everyone, really. Shorak, you're going to need to stay in the lead and scout as much as you're willing. Kal, you're our leader. Melethos, our military commander." The gnome puts a finger to his chin as if in deep thought. "Adamant, our armor and flank. Captain Thul, our muscle. Streko, our healer and good luck charm. Histra, our necromantic support. Belarin, our bard-substitute and comic relief. Starg, our mascot and sometime pathfinder. Sem Darlesh, our wizened loremaster and unmitigated sight for sore eyes." He looks up at Calirataia. "Having said that, I do wish we could have you with us going through the jungle, my dear."

The dryad smiles, then grows instantly sad. "I will miss you all."

"But c'mon, we've got a few more days, right?" Sem says, poking at his map. "Let's talk logistics. Leaders of the Company of the Eye, we're still making for Menechtarun, yes? For that, I think, 'tunnel' or portal that Thul found out about?"

[Darren]

May 14, 2021 9:43:21 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Sem watches the exchange between Calirataia and Adamant with a big smile on his face. "Can I just point out, Adamant," he says, looking up at the warforged at least three times the gnome's size, "that without the meddling of one Professor ir'Zathyran, you would never have had this 'happiest moment' of your life? Not only did his archvillainy bring you to Xen'drik itself, he chartered this boat with this dryad on board." He looks around at everyone else and lingers a moment on Melethos—who has been the most vocally antagonistic of Larest over these many weeks. "I realize he may never be forgiven, but I hope he will also be someday . . . appreciated." The gnome lets out a sigh.

Kal frowns at Sem. "That's an excuse used to sooth the souls of many a villain. Yes, good things have happened in our lives now that we are here. But what might have happened had we stayed there? The world moves as it will, Sem, but you cannot say that the outcome here is better than the outcome there. Our experiences in the Cave showed us that."

Kal shakes his head. "Anyway, yes, I think the plan remains unchanged. We should seek out this tunnel."

[Jeff]

Sem shakes his head. "I'm not especially superstitious, Kal, and I don't know that I believe in prophecies. I won't put that on Larest. But I do think that if we were all in Sharn right now, Major Krez or someone worse would certainly be the one reaching the Eye of Azalar first. You may call that the world moving as it will, but I wouldn't.

"All right, so we'll go up the Stairs and just follow the river on foot as far as we can. This will bring us to the foothills of the Fangs. They are quite a barrier. We can go around or we can look for a pass. Now bear in mind there's also a good change our friends with the Twelve will be going the same way. They'll have a head start, but I'm betting we can find their tracks, and follow them. Would we want to consider that?" He looks up at Shorak. "Or just decide when we come to it?"

"Regarding Tharkgun Dhak, we should be pretty far from it, but I also haven't heard any reports of the place in a long time. We knows what this region is like now?"

[Dave W.]

May 13, 2021 21:47:08 GMT -4 Jeff said:

The artificer nods. "Adamant, tell me when you're ready to go 'under the knife,' as it were." I'd rather do this in my workshop, where I have everything I need.

"Tonight? After you eat?" Adamant suggests.

The warforged is about to reply to Sem's argument about his happiest moment and the Professor but Kal jumps in first. "Honestly Kal, haven't you gnawed on this bone long enough? What is to be gained at this point? At some point you have to let go of it, for your own sake if none other."

Turning to Sem, "For my part, I have forgiven Professor ir'Zathyran. It was a terrible mistake but I will not ask his shade to pay further for it."

"And yes," he looks at Calirataia, "I would not undo what this path has brought me."

[Brian]

May 14, 2021 9:43:21 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Sem watches the exchange between Calirataia and Adamant with a big smile on his face. "Can I just point out, Adamant," he says, looking up at the warforged at least three times the gnome's size, "that without the meddling of one Professor ir'Zathyran, you would never have had this 'happiest moment' of your life? Not only did his archvillainy bring you to Xen'drik itself, he chartered this boat with this dryad on board." He looks around at everyone else and lingers a moment on Melethos—who has been the most vocally antagonistic of Larest over these many weeks. "I realize he may never be forgiven, but I hope he will also be someday . . . appreciated." The gnome lets out a sigh.

"But c'mon, we've got a few more days, right?" Sem says, poking at his map. "Let's talk logistics. Leaders of the Company of the Eye, we're still making for Menechtarun, yes? For that, I think, 'tunnel' or portal that Thul found out about?"

Melethos merely returns Sem's look. His feelings about Larest didn't die with the man. No one has the right to force people into their service, not matter how noble it may be.

Then he wanders over to Sem while the gnome and Kal discuss their next steps.

"I beieve that was the plan," Melethos says. "To Menechtarun and the portal."

[Dave B.]

Shorak climbs down to the deck when he sees everyone starting to look more closely at the map; maps, now that Sem has added another. "Well, scout was what I was initially hired to do and I've had some good fortune with doing it in the past." He looks down at the maps. "I would suggest you come up with three possible paths to take and we'll see how successful my scouting is. Hopefully, the best path of the three will show itself once we come to that...those forks in the road." He shrugs at that. "I find when trying to plan too far ahead to traverse the jungle, things usually never go as planned and those plans must then be changed." He waits to listen in on the planning. Chiming in with any advice he deems appropriate.

[Darren]

"I assume," Kal says when Shorak joins them, "that getting too far away from you will be a bad idea? How does the curse work, exactly? If we get split up, will we be able to find each other again?"

[Joe]

Streko studies the maps as well. He is no strategist, let alone a tactician. However, based on all the information available to them, Streko sees no other option. "As Melethos suggested, we should take the quickest path through the mountains in order to get to our objective prior to those who already have an advantage over us. There will be danger no matter which path we take. We should therefore choose the path of least resistance and, as you say, Shorak, prepare for other contingencies as needed."

[Brian]

"Once we're in the jungle, splitting up should be avoided," Melethos says. "We stick as close to Shorak as we can. If he says stop, we stop. If he says move, we move." He nods at his changeling friend. "If you pick a path, that's the one we go down." Then he smiles. "Just make sure it's the correct path."

[Dave W.]

“Shorak is our expert, we should trust whatever inspirations he has. We will pray he is inspired often.”

“Maybe we should have drawn a tighter alliance with the 12. I suppose though they wouldn’t have wanted to travel at our speed. It might have been nice to know there were true allies ahead of us. Well, nothing to be gained thinking on that now.”

“I suppose the safe route would be to follow in their footprints. If we find a reasonable place to diverge and save travel time, we would want to seriously concider that. But diverting without any sense of getting ahead of other groups seems risky.”

“And we’re sure magics that show the path to an object don’t work reliably? Would praying for divine intervention?”

[Darren]

May 16, 2021 15:14:56 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

“Shorak is our expert, we should trust whatever inspirations he has. We will pray he is inspired often.”

“Maybe we should have drawn a tighter alliance with the 12. I suppose though they wouldn’t have wanted to travel at our speed. It might have been nice to know there were true allies ahead of us. Well, nothing to be gained thinking on that now.”

“I suppose the safe route would be to follow in their footprints. If we find a reasonable place to diverge and save travel time, we would want to seriously concider that. But diverting without any sense of getting ahead of other groups seems risky.”

“And we’re sure magics that show the path to an object don’t work reliably? Would praying for divine intervention?”

"I think our alliance with the expedition of the Twelve is as tight as it can be. They would not want to travel with us knowing that we are not aligned together at the end. A pact of non-aggression is, I think, the most we can hope for and something that we should be grateful for. With any luck, it will also mean that we are united against the enemies who may face us all, such as Krez and the Emerald Claw. As for following behind them, well...that only ensures that we get there after them, or find them dead along the path, neither of which I want to see happen. We know that we are already behind them, so we must put our faith in Shorak to move us through the jungle faster than they do." Kal pauses. "I would, however, like to know the answer to Adamant's last question. What do you think, Sem?"

[Ken]

Belarin considers speaking up when Sem defends Larest, but he holds his tongue. The legacy of Larest is a complicated one, and the story is not yet over.

"With this wand," he says, tapping his new acquisition, "I could make sure we're able to stay in touch - in a normal land, which this isn't. I agree we shouldn't split up. Arcane ways to communicate may be as effective as colored flags to a blind man. And yes, let's try to meet up with our friends from the Twelve. Once we get within spitting distance of the Eye, that's when we'll see Krez and the Cogship crazies make their respective moves. It'd be nice to have friendly faces around at that point. We can 'negotiate' possession afterward."

[Dave B.]

"You are all correct. We should not split up once we start moving on land." Shorak confirms. "Just be aware that this is not an area that I am familiar with. But, my time spent traveling in the jungles should give us an edge when it comes to finding an easier path when there isn't one terribly apparent." He motions to Adamant and the other spell casters present. "Magic will work or it won't. I can offer no other advice. I was never trained in the art of spell casting and I certainly haven't discovered any latent natural bent for it."

[Jeff]

May 16, 2021 15:14:56 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

“And we’re sure magics that show the path to an object don’t work reliably? Would praying for divine intervention?”

May 16, 2021 17:22:46 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal pauses. "I would, however, like to know the answer to Adamant's last question. What do you think, Sem?"

Sem shrugs. "Not all magic goes awry in Xen'drik. Usually just things that search far afield are subject to its anomalous ways. Hence teleportation and scrying—particularly across many miles—is unreliable. But divination of the immediate area? I've not heard of anything like that failing. But I'm talking about arcane magic here. I can't speak to divine intervention . . . at all."

When Adamant is ready for his chestplate-engravening, let me know.

[Dave W.]

May 17, 2021 7:51:58 GMT -4 Jeff said:

When Adamant is ready for his chestplate-engravening, let me know.

Adamant will stay with this conversation just in case but when it's done, assuming Kurra is available we can do it then. Woo-hoo! New ink!