Chapter 3: The Enemy Within

[Jeff]

Even Grafth can't discern anything new as he studies the other crates. The stone crate within crate M seems itself to have no cracks or openings. It looks like it was sculpted to simply look like a crate.

In the sickbay, Amal takes a guard position and keeps an eye on Pel even as Kal questions her. The changeling looks up at Kal. "I am trying. My memory is muddled. Those two men answered to him. Both were arcanists, as we saw. Scholars of forbidden arts. Things that Malov himself used to study. But I don't think they were looking for the book. I'm certain he's going to keep searching for it, and you. I think we should destroy it, Kal. Perhaps if he knows it's gone, he'll let us alone. And leave me alone."

[Josh]

Grath, wide-eyed, suddenly steps back from the crate. "Could this be... I have heard tales of creatures born of treachery, a venomous beast whose deceptions can be an adventure's undoing..."

"I believe," he says, looking at his companions, "this 'M' stands for mimic."

[Jeff]

Very astute, Grafth, Matheu says to both Torhak and Grafth. If it is a mimic, then it has been, regardless, transmuted into real stone. I am sure of that.

The pseudodragon hops into the air and lands atop the M crate. With the barbed tip of his tail, he prods the stone crate. Yes. There is no adhesive.

[Darren]

Kal focuses very intently on Pel's eyes. "I need you to try to remember what was said, Pel. What, specifically, was discussed?"

[Jeremy]

Goran mumbles to himself a bit, clearly disturbed by Pel's condition.

"Can we be sure it's even her anymore? I've heard of powerful magic that can inhabit the souls of those who change their shapes and faces..." He scratches his head.

"Don't know if that's true, of course. But after the last week or so, I'm ready to believe just about anything."

He turns to Grafth.

"I'm weary of wondering and mincing around "possible" outcomes. What say we crack open some more of those crates? Torhak?"

Goran draws his sword, his eyes show he is quite serious.

---

Sorry everyone, I was in Vegas, forgot to mention that to Jeff. My bad.

[Josh]

"well, perhaps we should re-seal this crate..." the shifter says. Despite Matheu's assurance, Grafth seems wary of the petrified creature.

"Guessing from the boggin, the cockatrice, this mimic, and even yourself, Torhak... I'd say the 'owner' of this collection is interested in some pretty dangerous things." He smiles at the dwarf. "Did Fehrina ever tell us what exactly she was meant to release?"

He turns toward the door. "No matter. All we need to know for now is not to awaken anything more from these crates. Perhaps we should rejoin the others now. We need to take stock of our situation."

Grafth heads out of the store room. He will return to his room briefly to store his belongings, and then he will find Kalarian.

Jer, is Goran with Amal and Kal, or in the cargo hold?

[mike]

"I would prefer to take inventory of these crates," says Torhak. "Goran has the right of it, I believe. No need to disturb the stone ... but perhaps if we know what they contain, some sense can be made of this."

Torhak moves to the "L" crate, which he begins to pry open.

[Jeremy]

Goran, I decided, is in the cargo hold (since I haven't posted in a while, I'm taking the liberty of hitting the ground running, as it were).

[Josh]

"Do what you will then, but if for any reason these creatures are brought out of their imposed slumber, you will have doomed us all."

Grafth continues to head out of the hold in search of Kal and the others.

[Jeremy]

Goran watches Grafth leave, and rolls his eyes a bit at his companion's dramatic words.

"We're doomed anyway." he mutters to himself.

The half-elf looks at Torhak wearing a mischievous grin.

"What do you say? Wanna bash some boxes?"

[Joe]

Streko stares miserably out into the sky, preferring to be alone to think over what he has heard and what he might be prepared to do to save his sister.

[Jeff]

Kal focuses very intently on Pel's eyes. "I need you to try to remember what was said, Pel. What, specifically, was discussed?"

Pel sighs. "I'm trying, damn it. I feel like I have to sort through what are my own memories, and what are his. It's not a clear delineation. Still....I think that nobleman...his name was Krenstaff....ir'Vorem. He was working for Malov. He was his...not his apprentice, his agent in Passage. The rite he was to have performed in the city was meant to be a test of some kind. Testing in Passage what Malov later wishes to do in Fairhaven."

Grafth enters in the middle of Pel's memory search. She looks over at him.

In the cargo hold, Goran stands with sword ready, but he's not sure it's good for the blade to use it as a crowbar. Meanwhile, Torhak sets to crate L with his pick...

Matheu shifts his position and regards the dwarf. If this crate yields no new information, then I would advise in following the shifter's advice for the time being. I would recommend plying the gnome and the captain for all they know about this mysterious cargo.

[Darren]

Kalarian looks over at Amal. "ir'Vorem. You are from Passage, does that name mean anything to you?"

Looking back at Pel, Kal says, "I know you are trying, Pel. Keep trying. Did they give you any indication about what the rite was supposed to do? What its purpose was?"

[Josh]

"A test?" Grafth moves into the room. "Malov is a fool, then. If he wishes to sow chaos and destruction, does he think that even a test of this would go unnoticed by chorniclers, or the government? He must be truly conceited."

[Jeff]

Sickbay

"Vorem," Amal says, considering the word. "Not really. I'm sure I've heard it. Passage has a number of noble families who fawn over the House Orien lords. This man was probably one of them."

Pel shrugs at Grafth's statement. She looks to the porthole. "Where are we going?"

On the other side of the room, Lever has been kneeling over Mist. You hear a metallic whisper, and the "female" warforged sits upright in a flash. She grasps Lever by the throat and and the harness he wears and throws him over the bed....to land crashing at Grafth's and Kal's feet.



Mist freezes in place. "I apologize."

Lever sits up. "It is well."

[Josh]

"Where we're going," Grafth says, "Is not something that I think you should know. Above deck, you asked us to share no information with you, for fear that such information would be used by our enemy.

"Unless we can rid you of this interference, I"m afraid you will have to remain in the dark."

Grafth looks at Kal and Amal, gauging their reaction to this.

[Darren]

"I agree, Pel. The less you know, the better." Kal moves to sit beside the changeling, blocking her view of the porthole. He looks quickly over at Lever, "All is well? Please take Mist and go see the captain. I believe there are other repairs to be done." Finally turning back to Pel, he says, "Please continue to recount your meeting, if you can..."

[mike]

"What do you say? Wanna bash some boxes?"

"You will find no argument from me, my friend," says Torhak. He starts to tear the boards off of the "L" crate.

If this crate yields no new information, then I would advise in following the shifter's advice for the time being. I would recommend plying the gnome and the captain for all they know about this mysterious cargo.

"I will leave that to those who are skilled with words, little wizard," Torhak says as he pries open the crate in front of him. "I have no patience for such sorts of talk, especially when those involved choose to dance around the truth."

[Jeff]

Cargo Deck

When Torhak is finished prying away the side lid of crate L, he and Gorhan find themselves looking at a large humanoid. If it stood up straight, it would probably exceed six feet in height, but it's hunched and one knee, with a thick tail curled around its body. Its features are unquestionably reptilian, with a frilly It really does look like a sculpture, hunched on one knee with a thick tail wrapping around it. The creature's head looks like the cross between an iguana's and a crocodile's.

Clutched in one massive fist is a thick stone hatchet, and rudimentary garments clad its body. In the other hand, raised is if to ward off the sight of its enemy, is a shield that looks like it was constructed of four oversized turtle shells. Of course, the creature's clothing and weapons are all stone—all part of one block fused together.

Lizardfolk from Q'Barra, Matheu says. A belligerent, tribal species.

Sickbay

Pel becomes distracted by the two warforged. "Where did they come from? I remember the dark one." She indicates Mist.

"I originated primarily from Fairhaven, miss," Lever says, "But recently I have been stationed in—" The warforged looks suddenly to Kal. "I am sorry. You don't want anyone to reveal our location in the presence of this changeling, correct? Though I do not understand why. She is a prisoner?"

Pel's face looks momentarily irritated, then she stares in dumbfounded silence at the wall.

Mist stands up from the bed she was laying on, then immediately moves to where her scimitar had been laid. "What is going on here?" To Grafth she says, "Please explain. I was disabled?"

[Josh]

"I will explain to both of you," Grafth says to the warforged, "as we go to speak with the Captain." He nods to Kalarian, "I'll take Mist and Lever with me, and see if there's anything our captain needs. It would be wise to remain with Pel until we can brief everyone else of the situation."

Grafth beckons the two warforged to follow him. Once they move up a level, out of earshot of Pel's chamber, he says, "Mist, we managed to rescue Pel from the Lyrander dock, but you were damaged in the process. We have traveled to Windshire to allude those who might pursue us, to replenish our supplies, and to find an artificer to restore your vitality, but as Lever can tell you, only part of that list of tasks was accomplished."

He pauses, considering his words, "Let me appraise both of you of our situation, as much as I can. We have headed away from Windshire to find answers... and perhaps a way to stop something very bad from happening to a great number of people. Our friend Pel, the changeling, was attacked by someone with great magical power. This man, called Malov, has the ability to control others, though I do not know by what means. He has attempted to seize control of Pel, which means that he may have the ability to surveil our actions from afar, through her."

He looks at Lever, "Pel is our friend, but right now, her... integrity has been compromised through no fault of her own. Until we can... fix her... we must give her no information about our actions or plans. Does this make sense?"

As they enter the wheelhouse, he forces a smile. "Let's find out what our Captain has in store for us, shall we?"

[Jeff]

Mist and Lever listen to Grafth in silence as they walk up toward the wheelhouse.

"I am not yet full repaired," Mist then says to Lever. "Though I admit, I cannot readily pay for your services."

"I am Leverage," the other warforged replied. "And I am a prisoner aboard this ship. As such, my services are demanded, not paid for at this time."

Mist looks to Grafth, then back again. "I would better protect the crew of this ship and its prisoners if I am in full repair. If you would do this, Leverage, it would be better for you. I am called Mist."

"I will see to it, Mist," Lever says. "You are a very unusual model. You look as though you were designed for stealth and possibly deception. During the Last War, I was a Field Unit Repair Specialist on loan from House Cannith. I am fairly familiar with most warforged designs, but you are new to me. I would very much enjoy studying you."

Mist looks to Grafth again. The shifter is finding this conversation between two artificially-created people a little uncomfortable.

[mike]

"L is for Lizardfolk," mutters Torhak. "Seems more a nursery rhyme than something sensible."

He looks over the crates. "What would have something that might be able to help us? K ... perhaps that would be a kobold. I should just smash it on principle ..."

"E ... an elf, perhaps?"

He walks over to the "E" crate and starts to tear it open.

[Jeff]

Wheelhouse

When they enter the wheelhouse, Grafth finds Fherina and Ralsor in discussion. "...I don't really care what she believes in," Ralsor is saying to the gnome. "And it's certainly not any business of yours, anyway, right? So let's just leave her out of this." They stop when the shifter and the two warforged enter the wheelhouse.

"Mist, is it?" Ralsor says when he sees her. "Is our deal on? You defend this ship and its crew and your fare is waved?"



"That would be satisfactory, Captain Ralsor d'Lyrandar."



"Captain will do."

Ralsor looks to Grafth as Fherina turns to look out the window. "They're messing with the cargo, aren't they?"

[Darren]

"Pel, please," Kalarian says, moving his face close to the changeling's, looking into her eyes again, "you must try to focus. Tell me what you remember. What was the test supposed to accomplish? What else was said during this conversation?" Kal feels a frustration that he fights not to show, knowing that getting information out of Pel might be more difficult than he would have hoped. "The more information we have before we reach Arcan..." he stops, looking at Pel to see if she registered his 'mistake', "...before we reach our destination, the better chance we will have of defeating Malov and freeing you of your affliction."

_________
Not sure if Pel is considered an NPC now and if a Bluff check is appropriate. If it is, I assume that the enchantment from Lever is still in effect....?

[Jeff]

Pel looks back at Kal, suspicion in her eyes.

"Arcanix?" she says, eyes narrowing, a bit of scorn evident.

She stands up from the bed, combing her fingers through her wet white hair, then makes a quick gesture with her fingers, speaking aloud a brief chant.

When she finishes, Kal feels a gentle dizziness....but in an instant he realizes it's an enchantment trying to take hold of his emotions and he pulls away. He shrugs off the spell.

Pel's lips twist in further irritation. She looks towards Amal.

______________________________________

Kal's Bluff check = 17
Kal's Will save = 16 (success)
Kal's Spellcraft check = 9 (fails to identify the spell)

Lever's infusion is no longer in effect, and anyway Bluff, not Diplomacy, applies here.

[Darren]

"Sit down, Malov," Kal says, a coldness in his voice, an unfriendly smile on his lips. "Let's chat, shall we? Man to man?"

[Jeff]

Sickbay

Amal tenses, and draws out his sword, just in case. He nods at Kal, confirming his willingness to attack Pel, if needed.

"Pel's spells are pathetically paltry," the changeling says, then glances in the direction of the porthole again. "We're going north, aren't we? Decidedly away from Arcanix, to the south."

[Darren]

"Hm, are we? Well, these things can be so confusing. Perhaps you are mistaken?" Kal looks out the window. "I'll have to check with the captain, I guess." Kalarian gestures to the bed, taking a seat opposite it. "Please," he says again, "sit. Let's talk." Kalarian's tone is icy calm. It would seem as though he has dealt with situations like this one before.

[Josh]

Wheelhouse

Ralsor looks to Grafth as Fherina turns to look out the window. "They're messing with the cargo, aren't they?"

"Why, Captain, it is as if you know our little party quite well. Indeed, Goran and Torhak are below, prying apart your crates. If you'd like to make an attempt to stop them, be my guest.

"But while I have you both here, I need to reassert the notion that Pel cannot be trusted at this time. Having traveled with her for days now, it is quite obvious that Malov is surveying us through her, usurping her personality with his malevolence." Grafth sighs heavily, "I now little of spells and conjurings, but I know that until we can remove him from her mind, we would be better off confining her, perhaps even binding and blindfolding her."

The shifter has begun pacing the length of the wheelhouse; his face belies the conflict with which his mind struggles. After a moment, he seems to shrug it off. "As for the matter at hand... it seems that Streko was unable to obtain rations before our luck changed, and we do not have much in the way of food between us. I'm accustomed to traveling with an empty stomach, not that I enjoy it...

"We should continue on, nonetheless, and try to keep our spirits up. I can't help but notice that there is some tension aboard this ship... did something happen while we were away?"

[Jeremy]

Goran is giggling...one wonders if it's a side of him the others haven't seen, or perhaps he's finally beginning to crack...

"Perhaps E is for Eagle...or Egret, or Erinyes? All kids of fun things it could be! I like you Torhak, you're a dwarf after my own heart!"

...and the half-elf lustily joins in the work, prying the boards open and singing under his breath.