Chapter 3: The Enemy Within

[Josh]

"And since I want to escape our pursuers, you have my trust. Please lead us out of town." Grafth is ready to be led as required.

[Jeff]

At the Gate

The Aundairian rider looks from Kal to the militiamen, his expression irritated. To the guards, he says: "I'm not dealing with him. Find out his name, detain him if you must, and do not leave this gate. There's a shifter, a halfling, a half-elven Reacher, an heir of Deneith, and an heir of Lyrandar. If you see anyone even vaguely like any of these, detain them by force."

The guard glances nervously out the gate in the direction Goran and Lever walked away, but the Aundiarian rider misses it. Beneath his cloak, Kal can feel his dragonmark itch.

"There's even rumor of a changeling among them," the rider says. "But I don't know if it's true, and if it were I don't expect you to be able to tell." The rider walks away.

The guard turns back to Kal. "Look....just get out of here, all right? Rumors of fugitives from Passage and all that; you don't want to get mixed up. If you could escort this dwarf out, too, I'd be grateful. Your dog seems eager to go anyway." Tangat has been sniffing the ground idly, acting more like a normal dog than usuaul. Now he's eyeing the road and sniffing the wind.

Through the Phiarlan Station

The Phiarlan elf slips the black cloth around Grafth's eyes. It's velvet-soft and smells of lilacs. "Follow my voice and my steps," he says, leading Grafth into the darkness of the tunnel. With the cloth around his eyes, the path is utterly pitch black; even without it, he suspects it's dimly lit.

Sound and smell dominate his senses now, as the elf guides Grafth slowly through another series of corridors, down a spiral stair, and through another long hall. As he walks, he detects many strange things that his mind can't entirely form a picture of, seeming to emit from open doorways that he walks past: the strumming of a lute by someone or something with without fingers or nails, an irregular splashing of water and the fragrance of herbal soap, a child's laughter and the muffled bark of a confined animal, uninhibited weeping from a man, the gentle banter of a man sparring with another...

"Stay to the left," the elf says in a soft voice, prompting Grafth to move to one side of the corridor. As the shifter does so, he feels his coat brushing past someone who was standing to the right. Someones, actually, and Grafth hears the sound of lovers groping one another there in the hall, heedless of Grafth's or the elf's presence.

But soon after, fresh air plays across Grafth in a gentle breeze. "Go left or right now," the elf says to Grafth. "Your choice." He offers no explanation.

[Josh]

The shifter, seeming to consider the ambiguous options, steps tentatively to the left, and pauses.

If he is met with no more instruction, he will remove his blindfold and attempt to find his bearings.

[Jeff]

When Grafth moves to the left, he feels himself pass through a sheen of something, filmy like a spiderweb but also vaguely. Instantly the smell of earth and mineral-rich water fills his nostrils. When he reaches for the blindfold, the elf's hands arrest the motion. "Climb first," he says, guiding one of Grafth's hands to a metal rung. "Twenty rungs, then you may remove it."

Grafth complies, moving slowly upward with Streko grasped in one arm as he navigates the rung ladder. At the twentieth step, he pulls the blindfold free and finds himself in a damp stony space, still extremely dark. But thin shafts of daylight from cracks in the ceiling above tells him he's nearly at the surface. In fact, it would appear he's in the cylindrical space of an old well. Just above him is a round, wooden door...

Which opens easily, flooding him with daylight. The sky overhead is bright and gray. As he climbs up and out of the space, he can see that the well itself appears to have been long abandoned and a large bush grown up around it, concealing it. A glance to one side shows Grafth they're about one hundred feet outside the town wall. And no one seems to be watching.

[Darren]

Kalarian helps Torhak to his feet, then turns to the guard, grasping his forearm with one hand. Kal looks the man squarely in the face. "Thank you, my friend and fellow soldier. Your kindness won't be forgotten." Without another word, he leads Torhak and Tangat out of the gate and begins to look around for Lever and Goran.

_____________
I can't believe that worked....

[Josh]

Grafth places Streko on the ground for a moment, keeping both of them relatively concealed by the vegetation around the hidden exit.

He takes a closer look around, orienting himself to the sun and looking for less obvious pathways. He glances at Streko, searching for any visible wounds or causes for his current state.

"Well, I can only trust that the others have their way back to the ship without incident," he says to no one in particular. He takes a moment to unwrap his new short spear. It is light but sturdy, an adequate replacement for the previous one.

Hefting Streko onto his shoulder once more, spear-as-walking-stick in hand, he heads back to the ship.

If Grafth determines he has exited the town on the east or north sides, he will head through the orchard, taking the "alternate" they had previously spied. If he eremged at the western or southern wall, he will attempt to head through any concealing vegetation that he can find west of the main path, until he passes the crest of the hill, at which point he will return to the path.

[mike]

Torhak gets to his feet, assisted by Kalarian.

Muttering his apologies, he slowly picks up his axe - slowly and deliberately, to make sure the guards see that he does not mean to attack anyone - and slings it over his back.

Still apologizing, he heads out through the gate with Kal.

[Jeff]

Grafth quickly determines that he's almost due east of the town, at the base another slope. The injuries that knocked Streko out appear to be bludgeoning by nature, but they don't look like the word of a hard, concentrated object like a cudgel. Instead, the bruises he's sustained look spread out in greater surface area. It's a bit odd; Grafth has to assume magic might have been involved. But Streko still seems healthy.

When he climbs free of the bushes, he spies the orchard to the south and makes his way up, the Streko-bundle over his shoulder. He half expects to hear Matheu's voice again, but the pseudodragon does not appear.

Outside the western gate, Kal and Torhak catch up to Goran and Lever. "It is an interesting day," the slender warforged says.

Goran is confident he knows the way back to the airship. He looks to the sky, and sees one of the dragonhawks circling the town again. He can't quite tell just how much their group stands out, but he knows it'll be best if they get under the cover of the trees. He's also pretty sure it's going to rain soon. The clouds are darkening, though the day is still young.

[mike]

"It is an interesting day," the slender warforged says"

"Good sir," Torhak says to the warforged, "that is quite the understatement. But I agree with you."

"My name is Torhak Khazardun. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

[Jeff]

Actually, Mike, Grafth (and of course Streko) has not yet met up with Torhak, Goran, Kal, and Lever...but presumably will soon.

[Darren]

Kalarian smiles at the warforged, almost sheepishly. "It's not always like this," he says. "If you want to head back now, I'll understand. You've already helped considerably," he says as he holds up the bracer that Lever enchanted, "and I don't want to implicate you any further without your consent. I'm sure you've figured out that the authorities are looking for us, and although we are innocent of the crimes of which we are accused, we are not yet cleared of them. I want to make sure that you're going into this with your eyes," he pauses, "or, whatever, wide open."

Kalarian moves a step away from Lever, giving him time to consider. He pulls Goran with him. "Those dragonhawk riders have no doubt spotted the ship and may try to ground it. We need to get back as quickly as possible. Keep us under cover, but keep an eye open as we approach the ship for any guards. I have a feeling we might have to fight our way out of here, yet."

Kal finally turns to Torhak. His eyes are cold. "I can't help but notice that you came to the gate without Streko and Grafth. What of them? Are they safe?"

[Jeremy]

Goran looks at the sky, at the weather and the traffic floating through it, and wrinkles his brow.

---

Jeff, can Goran estimate with any accuracy the length of time it will take to walk to the ship?

---

Goran looks at Lever.

"We may need to go ahead, but I'm having difficulty coming to a decision here. I can't tell what's going on back at the gate, or in the town for that matter."

[mike]

Torhak looks back at Kalarian. "Are they safe? I pray so. The guards of Windhaven were about to arrest Streko for murder. I played the part of a madman so that others could spirit him away before he could be thrown in prison. A Jorasco nurse managed to hide him from the guards. But where he is now, I do not know."

"Grafth wanted to look for Streko in the town, but since the guards were looking for him as well, I went in his stead, and advised him to lay low. Presumably, he remained hidden."

Torhak cocks his head in wonderment at Kalarian. "Your tone ... puzzles me, Kalarian. I risked my neck to save your friends, and yet you seem to be accusing me of something. For all I know, the guards' claims that Streko is a criminal are true. I have but known you for a day. However, I have placed my faith in you and your friends, believing you to be honorable and just ... it seems that such feeling is not mutual."

"If you wish me to leave your company, merely say the word, and I shall go."

[Darren]

"Easy, Torhak. I wasn't questioning your bravery in risking your life. It is simply that I tasked you with seeing the two of them safely out of town, and I do not know if that task was carried out. As you say, I have known you buy a short time, as I have known Streko and Grafth but a short time, but I trust the two of them and intend to see them get through this alive."

Kalarian holds Torhak's gaze a moment, taking measure of the dwarf. Finally, he turns away. "Okay. We have to hope that Torhak's distraction worked and that Grafth and Streko were able to make their way out of town. Grafth will certainly be able to find his way back to the ship, so we'll head there and hopefully they'll be right behind us. It's the best we can do right now."

[Jeff]

Goran recalls that the walk from the ship to the town was about a half hour. Ralsor hadn't dared come any closer, for fear that hunters or woodsmen would see the airship. Still, it was a risk.

About fifteen minutes into the walk, the clouds begin to release their burden. A light rain falls over the thinly wooded region, though your cloaks keep most of your bodies dry. The warforged, Lever, seems unbothered by the rain. Both the metal and wooden components of his body seem proofed against water and roll right off.

"The infusion I used on your vambrace," he says to Kal at one point, "Would normally cost you ten galifars to effect. My employers would want me to note this. I will, however, say nothing to them of it."

Meanwhile, a short distance away: Grafth continues his own solo march through the trees and glades. Streko isn't getting any lighter, but he's still less than half Grafth's own weight. The shifter feels Streko stir slightly but doesn't quite come to.

A light fog begins to fall over the woods. Both Goran and Grafth do their best to recall the path with fewer landmarks to guide them along. They move slower, but are still confident they can find the ship again.

_____________________________

Streko is almost conscious again. I'll let you know when he is, Joe.

[Darren]

"You are a credit to your people," Kal says to Lever, though it's not clear whether he means warforged or artificers.

[Josh]

Though not technically alone, Grafth finds the solitude to be quite comforting. Despite the circumstances, he feels momentarily at peace—something he has not experienced in several days time.

[Jeff]

Goran's group is the first to find the ship again. The rain and fog have hidden it well. But the Thunderhead is hovering slightly higher off the ground than when you left it, its highest binding strut just barely clearing the leafy canopy. The rope, with its wood plank "handholds," is there still, but its end hangs fifteen feet above the ground, clearly out of reach.

You can just make out the sound of loud arguing aboard.

You wait for a few minutes to be noticed, and soon you see Fherina's head peek over the railing on the starboard bow. "Hoy! Just a moment!"

In a couple of moments, the shouting voices come to a lull, then the ship drifts downward again until the rope to the open hatch is within reach, then the shouting argument continues again from within.

Just about this moment, Grafth clears the treeline and looks upon the scene, a Streko-sized bundle over his shoulder.

[Jeremy]

Goran motions for Lever and the others to get on board. He will wait until everyone is on board before getting on himself.

He's got an arrow nocked and his bow half-drawn, just in case.

[Josh]

Grafth enters the clearing, stopping near Goran.

"I'm not sure what happened to him," he says, nodding at the inert halfling, "but we made it out of town without drawing attention." He looks around to those still on the ground, noticing the warforged from the pavilion. It seems to please him that at least one thing had gone rigth so far.

Adjusting the glove on his free hand, the shifter heads to the ladder. "I think I can manage the ascent with Streko, but it will be helpful if someone holds the ladder in place while I do."

With someone spotting him, Grafth will enter the airship.

[Darren]

"Thank the gods you're alright," Kalarian says when he sees Grafth and Streko. As if noticing that he's shown uncharacteristic concern, he straightens up and gets a serious look on his face. "Let's get on board and away as fast as possible." Kal helps Grafth get Streko up the ladder.

Kalarian motions for Torhak to help him get Tangat up the ladder. As they are preparing the canine, he looks over at the warforged artificer. "Lever," Kal says, "how long will it take you to repair our warforged? We'll need to be away fast, and while it would be most expedient to have you do your work in the air, I don't wish to keep you away from here any longer than necessary. That said," Kalarian smiles at the construct, "I know this ship is in need of a good artificer, and if you were, perhaps, looking for a change of scene, I know the captain pretty well and could put in a good word for you...."

[Jeff]

"It is good to see you again," Lever remarks to Grafth and immediately moves to hold the rope for him. It takes longer than normal, but the shifter climbs the rope even with Streko under his arm. Once Grafth makes it to the top, the warforged looks to Kal. "I can improve this ladder, given some time, to improve the ease of ascension."

Lever seems to consider Kal's offer, but says nothing about it right now. Torhak and Goran make the climb next, and both Grafth and Lever make it easier on Kal by having him hold onto the rope and Tangat while they just pull him up.

But at last everyone is up. In the cargo deck and the storage chamber, you can see the lettered crates have been shifted around a little bit and spaces apart—Ralsor and Fherina seem to have done as they'd said; examined and inventoried the mysterious cargo.

Streko stirs again, and opens his eyes weakly. He wakes at last, feeling bruised but largely unharmed. He knows he just needs some relaxation time. Grafth is the first person he sees, though he languishes drowsily for a few moments longer...

Fherina pokes her head around the corner. "You'd better come up." Then she disappears above.

Grafth, still thinking Streko unconscious, carries him up...

As you pass through the quarters deck, you can hear shouting within the captain's cabin. An argument. You can make out Ralsor's voice for certain, his tone defensive. The other is the shrill voice of an angry woman.

Up on the top deck, you find the Karrn woman, Misha, standing near near the bow of the ship, wrapped in a blanket and looking soaked to the skin (even the blanket is wet). Her black hair is plastered to her head. Misha turns, and after staring at your group glassy-eyed for a moment, she registers your presence. She looks to Streko first, who even Grafth now sees is awake.

Streko is fully aware now, but feels lethargic.

"I am much better now, Streko," Misha says, her tone unusual for the Karrn. There is none of the irritation you're used to hearing from her. "Thank you for your care. But I don't feel...good. He's with me. He's watching, listening...." She hangs her head down, long dark hair streaming down in the rain.....then becomes stark white in a manner of seconds. She lifts her head up again, and it is Pel's face you now look upon. "He's inside me, seeking possession."

Fherina comes onto the scene at last. "Yeah, she did that a short while ago. Changed into the Karrn. It was pretty funny at first, but Misha flew into a rage. She and Ralsor have been arguing for the last half hour. Now it's not so funny. She hates us."

She gestures at Pel. "Do you know what is she's talking about?"

[Darren]

Kalarian growls. "One thing at a time, dammit. One thing at a time." Kal moves Leverl towards Fehrina. "This is Lever," he says to the gnome. "He's our artificer and he's going to take care of Mist. Please show him the way there." Kal then turns to Lever. "Please work quickly. We need to be off the ground in as short a time as possible."

[EDIT]

...Kalarian addresses Streko. "I know you are weary, Master Streko, but you seem to have a calming effect on people." Kalarian thinks for a moment. "Well, usually. Perhaps you should try talking to Pel, first." Kal crosses his arms and looks at the changeling, his face trying hard to conceal the concern he feels.

[Jeff]

Note: Ralsor is still in his cabin, evidently arguing with the real Misha.

[Joe]

Streko nods, feeling sore and somewhat groggy, but the sight of Pel standing at the bow of the ship sends an unrelenting chill throughout his being. Ignoring all else, he approaches the changeling.

"My dear friend...what is it we can do to assist you? How can we help to block his ability? Is there anything more that I can do to ease your pain and suffering?"

His mind travels like a rolling rock through mud...and he is still trying to push his own mind clear of the fog of unconsciousness.

"You are the key, my friend...help us find a way to get The-Shadow-Be-Damned monster away from you. Think, dear Pel. Perhaps there is some way to locate HIM through his attempts at controlling you. Anything. We are all here to help you in whatever way we can. You will be okay. Olladra and I will see to it, I swear."

The wariness he feels in his body seems amplified in his friend's entire demeanor and Streko, for the first time in quite a while, feels despair nipping at his thoughts.

[Josh]

"This is not good," Grafth says, looking to those around him. He quickly moves away from the group, to a more secluded area of the deck.

Speaking low, he asks, "Matheu, are you here?"

[Darren]

Right. My bad. The post above has been edited...

Kal watches the exchange between Streko and Pel, but feels helpless. "I'll be back in a moment," he says to anyone listening. He decides to head over to Ralsor's cabin. As Kalarian approaches, he raps on the door. "d'Lyrander? May I speak with you?"


___________________
Removed text:
Kalarian next takes a few steps and stands near Ralsor. "Keep an eye above us, my friend. I fear we may have more dragonhawks in our future. Things in town did not go as smoothly as I would have hoped." He lowers his voice and adds, "It would appear we are wanted for murder, and the officials mean to find us."

[Jeff]

Speaking low, he asks, "Matheu, are you here?"

I am, the pseudodragon answers, slipping over the rail and perching at its edge. His telepathic voice speaks only to Grafth at the moment. If I didn't sense something greater unfurling in your path, I'd have liked to stay and observe Windshire for a time. The people there are ignorant, but they have a lens to the larger world through the dragonmarked houses. Yet they choose not to use it.

Pel nods at Streko's words. She sinks to the ground and huddles there, her arms around her legs. "I will try. But Streko...don't...don't tell me anything. Don't tell me where we're going next. I know where we are now....but don't tell me anything else, or he may know. I...can't be sure."

As Kalarian approaches, he raps on the door. "d'Lyrander? May I speak with you?"

The door to the captain's cabin swings open and Ralsor storms out. "Yes, yes, d'Deneith," he growls. "I know. I saw the dragonhawks on their way in. Come on!"

Misha appears in the open doorway, glaring at Kal.

Then she slams the door.

Ralsor leads Kal back up the steps. "Isn't she great?" he says to Kal as one man to another. When they reach the top deck, he takes in the scene. "Welcome back, everyone" he says with a sudden smile and a flourish.

"Streko, you're looking a bit under the weather. Wait, we all are. The sky is stormy, after all. Wonderful." Ralsor seems agitated, straddling the line between giddy and frustrated. "We're all right, it's good. Your changeling friend seems a lot better now, but she's also a bit spooked. Ah, a warforged! A new one. Welcome. We have to get out of here, and this weather is our chance. "

"Kal, Grafth, come with me. Tell me how your trip to town went." He makes his way up toward the wheelhouse. "Is that 'forged our new artificer?"

[Josh]

The people there are ignorant, but they have a lens to the larger world through the dragonmarked houses. Yet they choose not to use it.

"This has been my experience in many places, sadly." the shifter remarks, "but there is another lens I am worried about now. It seems that last night's encounter has left Pel susceptible to our enemy's magic. He can observe us through her, and possible control her in some way."

The shifter pauses, making sure no one else is within earshot. "It would be easy enough to blindfold and lock her away to ensure our privacy, but it seems that Malov would track us through her mere presence.

"You are the wisest among us. Have you any suggestions on ways to obfuscate our unwelcome guest?"

[Darren]

"Indeed, Ralsor, indeed," Kal says, the half-elf's good mood infectious on the similarly rakish Deneith heir. He motions for Lever to follow. "This is Leverage," he says, "though he is often called Lever. Or so I am told." Kalarian steps around in front of Ralsor to impeed his progress. "d'Lyrander," he says, looking into Ralsor's eyes, "speak with him now. If you wish to employ him, make your offer quickly so we can get this ship into the sky. Otherwise, let us have him fix Mist so we can put him back on the ground and be on our way. He has been accomodating so far, but I would not take advantage of him." Kal is silent for a moment. "Despite what you might think, not everyone is Karrnath views warforged as property." Again, Kal falls silent. Then he adds, "With what I saw on the Plains, it's a wonder I can be around them at all..."

Snapping back to himself, he again looks into Ralsor's eyes. "Deal with it now, d'Lyrander. It's not an order," he clarifies with a smile, "just a request."