Chapter 20: Coming Dawn

[Darren]

Kal sits down on the floor next to Sem. "You find comfort in all of this, don't you?" he asks, gesturing to the books. "It's got order to it, doesn't it? Makes sense? Everything out there," he waves vaguely to the deck above their heads, "it's chaos." Kal nods. "Anyway, there's a ship behind us, some sort of longboat with shields stacked on the sides...lots of oars. Sound familiar to you? Just trying to figure out who we're likely to run into tomorrow."

[Jeff]

Jun 17, 2021 14:55:50 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal sits down on the floor next to Sem. "You find comfort in all of this, don't you?" he asks, gesturing to the books. "It's got order to it, doesn't it? Makes sense? Everything out there," he waves vaguely to the deck above their heads, "it's chaos."

"Well, yes," Sem admits. "But mostly it's about . . . well, I'll have to start earning my keep soon. The proximity to landfall really drives that point home. I know Shorak's going to help us navigate the land, but I've got to navigate our road, if you understand me. This is something that Larest and I would have done together, and whenever faced with determining a passage when presented with several, well, we have our minotaur."

Jun 17, 2021 14:55:50 GMT -4 Darren said:

"Anyway, there's a ship behind us, some sort of longboat with shields stacked on the sides...lots of oars. Sound familiar to you? Just trying to figure out who we're likely to run into tomorrow."

 
"Longboat." Sem stares into space, thinking. "I guess I'd have to see it myself in the daytime. But I don't recall anything. Oars? Is it bigger than that boat of tieflings back near Last Chance? I remember oars, but not shields. That boat didn't look big enough for such a long journey as this, though . . . "

[Darren]

"I think it is," Kal says, then he sighs and pats Sem on the arm. "Put it out of your mind until morning." Kal leans his head back against the wall and is quiet for a moment. "What was Larest a professor of, exactly? And how did you meet him? Was it academics that drew you to him?"

[Jeff]

"A professor of antiquity, I guess you could say," Sem answers. "Xen'drik is my speciality, and that's why he brought me into this, but he studied various ancient civilizations. The Dhakaani Empire, and the like." Sem then reminds Kal of when they both spoke about this many days ago:

Aug 9, 2018 16:38:13 GMT -4 Darren said:

"Have you known him long?" Kal asks, taking a seat next to Sem so as not to be looking down at the Zil. "Was much of his life dedicated to this quest?"

Aug 9, 2018 17:03:22 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Sem Darlesh shakes his head. "Six months maybe? No, more than that. It began with written correspondence, then I came over from Zilargo and attended a few of his lectures at Morgrave University. Distrustful academics like us like to hear with our own ears if our colleagues really know what they're talking about it. And it turns out, he did."

"I do wish he hadn't mismanaged your trust," the gnome says with a sigh. He looks at Melethos as he goes on. "While he did have our help—mine and Histra's—to find suitable adventurers, I wish he had found another way. He was, at least, very good at taking the long view. He was counting on the outcome of the expedition making everything better again."

Meanwhile, above deck, Calirataia is theatrically wandering around, trying to engage everyone in conversation. She speaks poetically, avoiding any real deep conversations, just wanting everyone to have fun. The food table has been nearly picked clean, and even Tangat finally settles down looking sufficiently fattened.

Jun 17, 2021 10:23:47 GMT -4 Brian said:

"While I hate to bother Belarin and Histra," Melethos says, "would sending her tuath to check out the ship help? Or is it too lightless for sight at that distance?"

Brack, Shorak, and Thul remain on the bridge. The Karrn looks too drunk to be of much help right now. The shifter looks at Melethos and shrugs. "I couldn't say. I'll be glad to get all the dead off this ship entirely."

Other than normal watches being instated, let me know if there's anything else anyone wishes to do before the night wraps up.

[Darren]

"Ah, yes," Kal says, leaning his head back again. "Of course. Perhaps I've been hit in the head too many times. A few days ago feels like a few years ago. Thank you, Sem," Kal says, his voice beginning to trail off. "Your help," Kal pauses to yawn, "your help has been....invaluable...." Kal's chin sinks to his chest, the alcohol finally getting the better of him.

[Dave B.]

"Make sure to get plenty of water into her before she sleeps." Shorak calls to Belarin when the warlock leads Histra below decks.

Heeding his own advice, Shorak exchanges his small cup for a large mug to fill with water for the rest of the evening. He didn't imbibe much, but better to be safe and hydrated. Especially if that new ship turns out to be a threat to them.

Shorak happily plays along with Calirataia's antics. Feigning fear at her necromantic attire. Then thanking her for inspiring the evening's festivities.

Once it is apparent that the party has waned, Shorak calls out, "I'll take first watch, since it seems some of us have already gone to recover from all the fun. I'm heading up to the crow's nest. Give a yell if you need me." Shorak swallows the last of the water in the mug, places it on the table and swiftly scurries up to the crow's nest to keep watch.

Good to move forward

[Dave W.]

Adamant will play along with Calirataia as well, but trying to make sure to not monopolize her… as though there was all the time in the world.

At some point he will find Kal, “Kal, I will watch tonight as usual, I think you and the rest should rest as much as possible. Tomorrow may be hard.”

[Ken]

Belarin smiles and waves at Shorak after the suggestion, and he does strongly encourage Histra to drink some water when they're in the galley. Then he escorts Histra into their cabin, helps her get undressed, and then happily holds her as she snores the night away.

__________

Ready to move on.

[Joe]

Streko goes to Cali's side and thanks her again for the brilliant suggestions and the wonderful entertainment. He will then take first watch, after which he will retire for the night.

[Jeff]

Sem and Starg go to both Streko and Adamant to point out that they expect not only to go ashore sometime during the day to come, but to ascend the giant stairs that are carved into the cliff near the waterfall. "We are mages," the gnome says, "So the prayers and spells that are available to you two are not well known to the likes of us, except of course what we have already seen from you. Now, fortunately, this isn't rock climbing. These stairs are ancient but well made, and they should be wide; we have only to walk up them. But we may have rivals nearby, and from what I've read, the giants made the stairs to be defensible. And it's . . . high up. It's going to be some work. If you have spells that can help keep us from falling, just in case, or involving stone in some way, that might help?"

Starg looks at Adamant. "No need to conjure food tomorrow, I would say. Choose spells of motion and freedom, if you have them. I will prepare the spell of Flight, of course, and Telekinesis."

"And I've been in Sharn," Sem adds, "so I always have Feather Fall." He taps his temple. "But whatever precautions you have, take them."

---

Morning will come shortly. So Dave and Joe: think about what spells you'll want to prepare at dawn. Ken, you do get to make some choices to, right, for the wizard part of Belarin.

[Ken]

Yep, wizard spells selected.

[Joe]

Spells chosen.

[Dave W.]

“I also suppose I will not be summoning my steed on the steps… I have no anti-falling prayers, though that sounds very handy. But I will make some changes.”

---

Spells choosen.

[Dave B.]

Shorak stays alert during his watch from the crow's nest. He will occassionally train the spyglass on the ship followoing behind them, more out of curiosity than fear of attack. If there is any danger from them, it may come on land, but probably not while they are on the Dragonfly. When his watch is finished, Shorak happily goes below to get as good a rest as he can. The coming days will be taxing, just from the journey alone. The unknown dangers they face will be another issue. They will just have to deal with them as they come.

[Brian]

Melethos quietly stands watch. With the ship behind them, he pays particular attention to the Dragonfly's stern. Lorjad would have his hide if he allowed a known potential threat come closer without notice.

But then his watch ends, and he heads down to the bunk for sleep. His dreams are dark, restless. When he awakes, he cannot recall what they were about.

Donning his armor, he thinks about the day ahead. Moving through a jungle and climbing stairs in heavy splint mail won't be enjoyable.

____________________________________

Ready to move on.

[Jeff]

The evening winds down. Brack retires into his cabin and shuts the door, getting some sleep so he can replace Calirataia later. The watches proceed as normal, but those who drank a lot are feeling it tonight (and probably will in the morning). Streko and Melethos begin their watch, and nothing changes. The distant longship grows no closer; if they can move faster, they're not trying to.

The sky is nearly cloudless, and though no moon is completely, those gazing skyward can spot nearly ten of them waxing or waning gibbous. The Ring of Siberys shines in the northern sky.

When Shorak and Kal come up for their watch, Brack comes out again, too. He looks miserable for not enough sleep, and possibly a pounding head, but still gives them a toothy grin and stoically takes the wheel. Shorak finds the climbs to the crow's nest interesting. The tree-shape of the mast is still there but as he climbs he finds it becoming more and more transparent to his sight, like an illusion he has no trouble disbelieving and seeing through at ease. But it doesn't fade entirely, and when he reaches the crow's nest the whole ship looks interesting again with its fairy lights and garland. He easily spots the distant longship in the Dragonfly's wake, and is glad to see it remains distant.

Calirataia by this time has shed all her own personal illusions, and is once again herself, her gossamer clothes returned, her skin a light brown, her long hair the color of wet bark. 

Freed up to rest, she instead goes to sit near the bowsprit and she waves Adamant over. The two talk there, under the eaves of a magical autumn tree beneath the stairs, for hours. Even in the moment, the paladin can feel the memory sinking into him deeply. He knows he will remember this night for long years, if indeed he lives long enough to do so. Calirataia talks with him, in dribs and drabs, about her homeland in an island-forest Aerenal, which was named Thal Taluna. From this, he learns that there were indeed other dryads living near to her and who she would visit, but it was elves (and very rarely, a non-elf guest of the Areni) whose company she delighted in most, for they came from outside her forest with news of the world. 

Carlitaia tells Adamant several stories* both from the livewood forest and from Aerenal that the elves told her. She does not speak of how her trees came to be cut and made into a ship. That is clearly another phase of her life. She also does not speak of time; Adamant isn't sure how old or young Calirataia is, though she is ever youthful in appearance; but he can tell she is far, far older than he. Most are. She also asks him plenty of questions about his memories of Cyre. When he speaks of it, she reaches out and traces her fingers along his new breastplate designs, smiling. When he strays into matters of the fate of Cyre, she steers him back to the joyful memories of his country. He cannot help but wish he had this conversation with her the first night they spoke together. But he also remembers that long before he talked with her, she sang with him during his evening vigils. When their conversations finally fades this night, she begins a wordless song and he can see it's one of his own hymns to Dol Arrah.

And so passes the night.

---

Chapter 21 will begin soon, but feel free to post anything else about this evening as you wish. (I'll be away for much of the day today.)

* Stuff I might refer back to in the future.

Attachments:

[Dave W.]

Adamant soaks up every word… every tone… Calirataia says. The moment is magical.

He tells her about Crye and High Walls. He tries to stay positive and is easily steered back when he strays. He also expresses his feelings with gentle touches and he joyfully joins her in singing.

And for the first time in his life, part of him… only a part, of course… resists the call of dawn.

[Ken]

When it's his time to take watch, Belarin gently disentangles himself from Histra. He hadn't been sleeping well, anyway.

On the deck, he sees Calirataia and takes a step toward her, but then he sees her with Adamant and decides to let them be. "Respect from one star-crossed couple to another," he says in a whisper.

As he keeps watch, the voices in his head keep repeating something that Histra said earlier. They've been doing it for hours. However, the voices crudely distort Histra's voice to make her sound even more inebriated than she was:

"It is difficult to thrive in a family of necromancers if you choose not to be one."

Belarin stands by the railing and stares out, deep in thought.

______________

Ready to move on.