Chapter 20: Coming Dawn

[Jeff]

When Adamant draws nearer, the dark eyes of Daystorm become bluish, which seems at first like a trick of the light. But when he touches his faceplate to the horse's, the animal's eyes lighten until they are only a few shades darker blue than Adamant's own eye-gems. He feels an instant connection. The horse, he knows, is more intelligent than a normal horse. He cannot speak, but he understands both the Common tongue and Celestial.

A hoof "paws" at the ground. He seems eager to move. He lowers his head and prompts Adamant to climb up.

[Brian]

Melethos approaches the steed Adamant summoned--Daystorm. He reaches up and pats the horse's neck.

"Brightly done," he tells Adamant. "Brightly done indeed."

[Jeff]

Will Adamant take 'im for a spin? (Granted, there is no big track, but plenty of local space to trot around at this time. Daystorm doesn't look suited for the thick jungle.

If so, then I can also move us forward to the others' waking.

[Dave W.]

"You're eager, my friend." Adamant says to Daystorm, "These are not the plains of Irian, but we can move a bit." Adamant climbs into the saddle, "I will get better at that." and settles into the saddle. He tries to get Daystorm to trot as far up the beach as is practical and then sprint as far back as room allows...

Adamant feels the wellsprings of a variety of emotions, having lost the symbol of Cyre, his love for Cali, his concerns for his friends and their mission... but as soon as Daystorm starts to move it is all lost in the joy of the ride...

---

Heck, yes, let's go for a ride...

[Jeff]

Daystorm allows the others to draw near him and even touch him. But when Adamant mounts up, the charger begins a circuit around the thick, dinosaur-chewed grass. Instantly, the paladin feels his link with the animal solidify. Though he wears a saddle, he seems to require no bridle or reigns to understand Adamant's preferences. He can move with his own will, but unless he intends to resist from time to time (which Adamant understands will occur), their combined motions are synchronized.

Gradually, over the next couple of hours, some of the others begins to stir.

Long rest isn't completed just yet, but those sleeping can be roused by the thundering (if muted on the turf) hooves.

In any case, post again later.

[Darren]

The cavalry begins its charge across the Plains, massive warhorses barreling into small Halfling bodies, scattering them like wheat. The brave ones who managed to avoid the hooves spin with their wicked war scythes, slashing at the horses' heels. Some of the knights fall, their heavy armor making them easy prey for the agile Halflings. They begin their own charge, the small dinosaurs that they ride far more maneuverable than the barded horses the Karnaathi soldiers ride. Kal tries to hide a smile as his countrymen are harassed and harried. But then he hears the hooves behind him. The second charge has begun...

Kal opens his eyes, the hooves still ringing in his ears. He shakes his head, not able to shake the sound. Then he sees Adamant thundering down the beach on the most brilliant charger he's ever seen. "What in all the hells?" he mutters. "How long have I been asleep?"

[Dave B.]

Shorak, used to the loud noises and city sounds of the streets outside his room in Stormreach, just turns over onto his other side, his left ear on his left arm and his right arm covering his head and right ear. The only sound he makes is the grumbling of his stomach.

[Ken]

Belarin opens his eyes slowly. "Oh, my head... oh wait, that pounding's not in my head."

[Joe]

Streko marvels at the joy of watching Adamant ride a horse, or something akin to a horse, perhaps a spiritual construct in the form of a horse. It doesn't matter.

"I could watch you all day, my brother, but I do need to rest. Now that my watch is near an end, perhaps I can have my chance to sleep and recharge, as it were."

He looks around him. "We're not out of the woods just yet, after all!"

[Dave W.]

“My apologies.” Adamant dismounts. “Please sleep.”

To Daystorm he says, “You are magnificant. I wish I had some edible treat for you. I can only offer grasses for now. Another thing I will have to work on..”

He leads his charger over to where Calirataia sleeps and checks on her.

---

Just checking... I did spend 15 lay on hands points to remove 3 levels of exhaustion on Cali a bit above...

[Brian]

While Adamant checks on the dryad, and Streko lays down to rest, Melethos approaches Kal and Belarin.

"Calirataia will wake soon and should help us locate the Dragonfly. Soon, it'll be time to move. While Streko sleeps, Shorak should try his hand on that chest's trap. If he's successful, we'll need time to examine what's inside. I say we take what may be useful and leave anything else behind." His eyes dart briefly to Belarin, then he continues. "We did well against the gaunt, even though the battle came close to killing more than one of us. The stress of battle won't go away with a nap. We need a few days to recover. Let's do what we need to do here and then focus on finding the ship."

Melethos looks expectantly at each friend.

___________________________________________

Kind of trying to move things along.

[Ken]

Still partially covered by Histra while lying on the sand, Belarin peers over at the chest, then back to Melethos, and over to the chest again. "Sounds wise," he says softly to his friend. Then he closes his eyes and tries to squeeze in a few more minutes of sleep.

[Darren]

Kal listens to Melethos, but his eyes are still on Adamant. "Yes, yes," he says without turning his head. "Can we talk about the horse? Why is Adamant riding a horse???"

[Brian]

"He summoned it," Melethos says, glancing over his shoulder at the warhorse. "It's called Daystorm. We now have a mounted warforged Paladin who may be in love with a dryad." He looks back at Kal and grins. "Not something you hear of every day, right?"

[Ken]

"Tangat has competition for team animal," says Belarin, without opening his eyes. "I should get a bat."

________________-

Note to DM: Yes, Belarin is continuing to get his long rest. I'm just RPing, by Crom!

[Jeff]

When Adamant laid his hands upon the sleeping dryad, and gave her some of his store of healing power, she did not stir, remaining as still as a tree that breathes. But he trusts it did her good, for sleep was as necessary as the lifting of necrotic energies.

The hours of the morning lengthen until the hour of noon has come and gone. Nearly everyone is awake at last. Now it is early in the afternoon. The sun is high in the sky, and the land is warm. The first day of the year.

Calirataia still sleeps.

Adamant's horse remains aloof from the party, but seems to prefer remaining in the grass (as opposed to trotting on the sand).

Histra sits up, looks at the sleeping dryad, looks at Belarin, and looks towards the unusual horse. "I wonder if he can see through its eyes," she muses mostly to herself. Then, to Belarin, "No animals for you. You can't be trusted. Though, I can turn you into one." She pulls out her spellbook and begins to sort through her spells for the day.

All of you, with the usual sole exception of Adamant, has become hungry and thirsty indeed. In the absence of all things Mabarian, appetites return with a vengeance.

Melethos remains solid, but you can guess he must be very tired. He's on slept at all, and has soldiered on.

---

Long rest is finished for everyone except Melethos. For them, half hit dice restored, hit points regained, spell slots restored. Joe and Dave both, do select prepared spells as part of morning prayers. The only without max hit points is Adamant (who looks it), but some tooling around Melethos can help him out (if he has those tools on him). But that's only if he puts in the time (8 hours).

[Brian]

"Rise, Shorak," Melethos calls out. "Eat something, then you can see about that chest. Adamant, if we're forced to spend another night here, I will work on you, help restore you some."

While he waits for Shorak, Melethos pulls out his water skin and a pack of rations and sets to eating.

[Darren]

"Where the heck are we going to put a horse on the Dragonfly?" Kal mutters. Then he shrugs. "Shorak, I want to get that chest open as much as Melethos. But we also need to eat. And see about water. Shall we hunt?"

__________________
Assuming Dave agrees, do you want Nature checks, Jeff?

[Dave W.]

As each person awakes, Adamant introduces them to Daystorm.

When the tiefling offers to do some work on Adamant later, he replies, "That will be very kind, Melethos."

"I can still create food and water, though bland, it will feed us all" Adamant offers. "The water will be a bit of a problem, I usually create that in barrels on the ship, but we can just get some wood from this derelict," Adamant points to the broken hull half in the water, "for plates for the food."

---

Doing a little math, Create Food and Water makes enough for 15 people or 5 steeds. So 1 steed is 3 people's worth so Addy can create enough for Daystorm and 12 of us. That should work...

[Jeff]

When Histra sees Melethos go into his pack and start unrolling his rations, she rises and walks over to him. As she yawns and starts stretching, she says, "I wouldn't eat any of that. You took it with you into the border-realm of Mabar, and into the water. Expect toxins." She looks towards Streko. "Unless one of our friends can purify it first, then it should be fine. The water might be fine."

She returns to Belarin. "I am thirsty, though. Perhaps we should look for a stream?"

Hunting will require Wisdom (Survival) checks. And it takes some time (a few hours) and a willingness to go into the jungle some distance. Note, though, that currently the jungle slopes upward as you go in, in this particular spot, and there are chances of getting lost (with, say, a poor Survival check). If two or more people work together, the one with the better modifier makes the roll and the other person or persons are simply granting advantage to that one.

If you want to try to forage instead, same roll as well as a Nature check (to try to guess at the safety of the plants). Can't do both hunting and foraging at the same time, though. You need to devote your energy to one at a time.

Any of those options has to be something you're declaring you're doing, though. So no rolls needed until you've dedicated some time to it.

[Ken]

Feb 16, 2021 14:45:58 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Histra says, "No animals for you. You can't be trusted. Though, I can turn you into one."

"Would you, please, dear?" says Belarin. "I'd like to hang upside down and feel the blood rush to my head."

At Histra's suggestion of going to search for a stream, Belarin says, "Good idea. Everyone, hand me your waterskins -- we'll find some water. If Olladra is with us, maybe some liquor, too."

[Brian]

Feb 16, 2021 16:34:28 GMT -4 Jeff said:

When Histra sees Melethos go into his pack and start unrolling his rations, she rises and walks over to him. As she yawns and starts stretching, she says, "I wouldn't eat any of that. You took it with you into the border-realm of Mabar, and into the water. Expect toxins." She looks towards Streko. "Unless one of our friends can purify it first, then it should be fine. The water might be fine."

Melethos stares down at his rations, shrugs, then tosses them aside. He also dumps his waterskin. Standing, he thanks Histra and picks up his javelin.

"I'm going to look for food," he says. "If anyone wants to join me, you're welcome to come along. I hope to be back before nightfall. We should have a party looking for water too." He hefts his javelin. "Any takers?"

[Dave W.]

"Or I could make some. Again, I can summon enough food and water for all of us for the day." Adamant repeats.

---

no one into summoned food?

[Jeff]

As Adamant speaks with his friends, he "hears" in his mind thoughts from Daystorm. Father Charl had talked about this, but he never truly described the sensation of a celestial steed speaking mind to mind. There are no true words exchanged, but very fundamental questions and comments come through. He now suspects he understands the bond between Kal and Tangat, though those two have had years together on top of it.

Where is here? Daystorm is asking him, or something like it. He can understand the Common tongue and is following what Adamant's friends are saying. We will travel along the long water in a short time?

Adamant knows that while Daystorm is a spirit from Irian, and he is far more intelligent than any earthly animal, his mind is not concerned with great lore. His telepathic "conversations" with the animal must be uncomplicated. In a way, that might be refreshing.

---

In game terms, Daystorm has an Intelligence of 6. His knowledge of his home realm may be greater, but his "concern" for the mortal world is far more limited. He will be concerned with localized events and people. So Adamant doesn't think he will care about maps or the difference between Khorvaire (where he served with Father Charl in the days of the Last War) and Xen'drik across the sea. But he is Lawful Good, and cares about immediate actions.

Also, at some point soon I'll paste in a bunch of information into Adamant's tab on the stats sheet, so you can reference it during combat situations. Specific to the steed but also mounted combat in general. We'll figure it out together as we go.

[Darren]

Kal moves to stop Melethos and Belarin, then points to Adamant. "I know we are all taken aback by the appearance of Adamant's new horse," Kal looks at Adamant, "we still need to talk about that," he says in an aside, then continues, "but listen to our holy friend. He will create all we need for the day. Let us remain here and see to our survival. Look for something to hold the water that Adamant will create. Barrels, or the like, that may be among the wreckage here. Shorak, Belarin, let's have a look at this chest, shall we?"

[Dave W.]

Lucatrent.

'Here' is difficult to explain. I have crossed a great body of water since we last stood in the stables with Father Charl. We are in a place called Xen'Drik.

We are on a quest to retrieve an ancient thing of power. They call it the Eye of Azalar. We will travel a bit by boat… days maybe… and then walk to a ruined city... they call that Gerhest ... where the Eye might be… more days. It will be hot and there will be dangers but we will be stalwart.

For the boat ride I may ask you to return to Irian; there will be little room to move for you on the boat. But I will be certain to bring you back to me when we get to land again.

Oh, but we have lost our boat; it will turn up.

For now we should enjoy the day as best we can. Are you hungry? I am not like Father Charl, I do not eat.

I have never had a steed before, there are things we will have to figure out. I look forward to all of it.

---

Good deal, I'll look forward to Daystorm's details.

[Ken]

"All right, summoned food and drink now," agrees Belarin, "just to satisfy my growling stomach. And THEN we go foraging."

He joins Shorak by the chest. "I've dispelled the major ward. It should be safe enough."

[Brian]

Feb 16, 2021 17:11:52 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal moves to stop Melethos and Belarin, then points to Adamant. "I know we are all taken aback by the appearance of Adamant's new horse," Kal looks at Adamant, "we still need to talk about that," he says in an aside, then continues, "but listen to our holy friend. He will create all we need for the day. Let us remain here and see to our survival. Look for something to hold the water that Adamant will create. Barrels, or the like, that may be among the wreckage here."

Melethos's shoulders drop and he drops is javelin. "All right, mush it is. I'll try and find something to hold the water."

Melethos begins searching the area near the ships for some kind of barrel or crate, anything that looks solid and safe enough to hold conjured water.

[Jeff]

Melethos quickly finds that the "stern-half" of the ship they were on a short time ago is mostly sunken. He would need to swim and explore underwater if he intends to enter the wreck. Moreover, the water is still dark there, though the churning appears to have long since stopped.

The "bow-half" of what he's sure is a different ship, the one inside of which Adamant had appeared, is a different story. Most of it is mired in shallower earth and sand, but a cursory looks shows that it is bones, rubble (from what? not the ship, surely) there. He could sift through it; it all seems very water-soaked in there. It's possible there are other portions of wrecks around it, deeper in the water. He would need to swim to search it out.

[Brian]

Melethos wades out into the water to the bow portion of the wreckage. He begins to shift through the sand and water, moving deeper into the water. If he doesn't find anything, he'll swim a little further out, looking for more wreckage.