Chapter 3: The Enemy Within

[mike]

Since returning to the ship, Torhak has kept mostly to himself, remaining above deck by the sterncastle.

He leans overs the railing on occasion, looking at the ground below, lost in thought.

[Jeff]

"You are rushed," Lever says to Ralsor. "Because watchmen from Passage have come to Windshire, presumably seeking your ship and your crew. I do not know why this is, but my impression is that you are innocent of the crimes against you." He glances at Kal. "From Lord Kalarian's words, is it my understanding that you are seeking an artificer for this ship in a more permanent capacity?"

Ralsor blinks. "That....that's right." He looks glances over to Grafth, as if seeking some sort of confirmation of what what he's hearing.

[Josh]

Looking at Ralsor, Grafth attempts a shrug. "It's true... our infamy nearly precedes us." He turns to Lever.

"And it seems as if we have an astute warforged with us right now... but what of your skills? We must repair Mist, and no doubt our captain has need of you on the ship, though I can't speak to this specifically." Reaching into his pocket, Grafth removes the gem that Ralsor gave him earlier. "I had no need of this, it seems." He hands it back.

[Darren]

Kal glances over at the gem, then grins widely at Ralsor. "What can I say? I'm very persuasive." He places a hand on Lever's shoulder plate. "I can vouch for his trustworthiness, based on what I've seen. He helped us get through the gate without even being asked. It didn't look like his former employers respected him much." Kalarian places some emphases on the word former. "So, make a deal and let's get this boat in the air, okay?"

[Jeff]

The Upper Deck

On the main deck, Matheu climbs along the railing and perches like a cat near Torhak. You would make an interesting case study, Mrorian. Do you mind if I study you and the effects the loss of eighteen years has had on you?

The pseudodragon's telepathic voice is mildly patronizing, but even Torhak knows that dragons are known for their arrogance. I don't believe we've been formerly introduced. I am Matheurynivorak, a sage of extensive and obscure lore from Argonnessen. If you submit to my queries, I will happily tell you whatever you wish to know. If it is within my vast breadth of knowledge.


Halfway to the Wheelhouse

Ralsor takes the purple gem from Grafth's hand. "Thanks." He holds it out for Lever. "I'm Captain Ralsor d"Lyrandar. Do you know what this is?"

"An amethyst?" the warforged replies, taking the gem and examining it for merely seconds. "No. It is quartz but not real amethyst. Alchemically dyed to look like more valuable than it is. I have seen this variety of crystal grown for use in warforged, for eyes and touch sensors. This gem is probably worth twenty galifars on the market....but to a Cannith forgeworker who knows its true value probably twice that amount."

"Perfect," Ralsor says, continuing his walk up the wheelhouse, forcing Kal, Grafth, and Lever to follow him to continue the conversation. "It's yours if you join us right now, and its same value in gold for every week thereafter you remain with us as ship artificer."

Lever turns and looks out the window, here in the wheelhouse. In the misty air it's hard to see beyond a few trees. He turns back. "Captain, I will be honest with you. I have never worked aboard an airship before. The only time I have even flown before was aboard the airship that brought me from Fairhaven to Windshire a year ago. But, I must admit to you now, my time in Windshire has been exceedingly tedious, and my immediate superiors have been the human equivalent of workshop sweepings." He pauses, as if struck by the 'gravity' of the insult.

He looks to Kal. "I apologize. That is not intended to be an offense your race."

He turns back to Ralsor. "I am a Field Unit Repair Specialist on probation from the Tinkerers Guild of House Cannith. My standing as a retainer of House Cannith is not good. Leaving my post in Windshire in the company of known criminals would be very bad for my career. But if you did not return me to Windshire....I would not resist. I am not a combatant. I would not regret it."

Ralsor merely stares at Lever for a moment. Then he claps the warforged on the shoulder, just as Kal had. "Welcome aboard!" The Lyrandar captain then takes the wheel of the ship and places his attention fully on steering. He closes his eyes for a moment, no doubt making mental contact with the ship's air elemental.

Lever looks to Kal and Grafth. "I don't understand. What has just happened?"

[Joe]

Streko scootches close to Pel and places his arm around her waist and holds her close.

"One way or the other, Pel, we shall find a way to rid you of this beast."

A dark thought occurs to him suddenly, and Streko feels the urge to cry. He purposefully holds back, attempting to look brave. It doesn't hold. Tears falls freely now.

"Oh, dear Pel, this is all my fault! Shadow's black heart! If I had allowed the guards to beat Malov and take him away, none of this would ever have happened. You wouldn't be tortured so. Can you ever forgive me?"

[Darren]

Kalarian barks a laugh. "I believe, Leverage, that you are now the captive of Captain Ralsor d'Lyrander of the airship Thunderhead." Kal begins laughing so that he almost cannot add, "Enjoy your stay!"

Laughing still, Kalarian moves to the door of the wheelhouse. "Captain," he says, turning to Ralsor, "I believe I will take your captive to see about repairing our other warforged. Then I'll return him to you for whatever repairs are needed on the ship."

Kal leads Lever away towards Mist, hoping to find Amal while he's walking. Before he gets too far, he makes one other decision. "Tangat," he says to his canine companion, switching to the Halfling tongue, "go to Pel and stay with her. Keep an eye on her. I...worry about her. Let me know if she worsens."

[mike]

"You would make an interesting case study, Mrorian. Do you mind if I study you and the effects the loss of eighteen years has had on you?"

"You sound like an elf," says Torhak. "Are you some sort of wizard, clad in scales and fangs?"

"As for your study ... do as you like, strange creature." The dwarf shrugs and goes back to looking over the railing. "As long as you do not get in my way, it matters not what you choose to observe."

"I suppose there are many questions I could ask of you. Only one concerns me, though, for the moment. The Mror Holds ... how did they fare at the end of the war?"

[Jeff]

Upper Deck

I am not an elf, obviously, Matheu replies to Torhak nonchalantly. But I am a wizard. You are astute. I will observe you as discretely as possible, so as not to influence your actions, though I may ask you a question now and then.

But first I will answer your question. The Mror Holds, as I understand it, have faired well at the end of the Last War. Seven years ago the ruler of Karrnath—Moranna, who acted as regent until King Kaius III came of age—made a foolish bid to claim some of the wealthy holds of Mror. Essentially, she turned on one of Karrnath's greatest allies out of desperation. Cyran spies alerted the dwarves first and Moranna's armiers were obliterated. Beyond that one moment, the relationship is stable again. The clans of Mror are growing wealthy, as they work to make solid the relationships each one had with one of the Five Nations during the war. They are often still at odds with one another, though.

At that moment the Thunderhead raises up higher into the air, and those on the upper deck can see how the rain and the mist will be a boon to escaping unnoticed. Just in case....

Pel shivers in the rain, but she doesn't return any of Streko's physical contact. "Don't apologize, Streko. I'm here because I chose to be, because I wanted to help another changeling. Gurend. I took the book from him, after all. If anyone should be apologizing, it's me."

"I'm very serious about what I said: don't tell me too much, all right? Malov is in me somehow....and he might be listening. I...should not be given any weapons, either. I left my weapons in the room....keep them away from me, just in case."

As Grafth stands in the wheelhouse, he sees Ralsor call upon his dragonmark once again...this time he summons a cloud of fog out of the very air and centers it near the bow of the ship. It's only forty feet in diameter, not quite long enough to conceal the ship, if viewed from the front it is likely effective in hiding it. The bound elemental itself, as it churns the air, helps to spread it a little wider.

Ralsor opens his eyes again and moves the ship slowly until he's confident that he's completely cleared the treetops....then turns the wheel and steers the ship up and away....

He looks to Grafth. "We'll celebrate an easy escape once fifteen minutes passes. If any of those dragonhawks sees us, they'll catch us fast. No airship can outfly them. We were lucky last night. So...tell me about your visit to town. You got us an artificer; that's the best news. Did you get food?"

In the Quarters Deck

Amal sits up when Kal and Lever walk in. He smiles big. "Welcome back, my lord. I hope things have been all right? I couldn't stop Pel from getting up and walking around short of forcing her down. I thought it would be all right."

He looks to Lever expectantly, who seems to be staring at the prone body of Mist, laid out in one of the beds like a patient. Then Lever realizes the Blademark is looking at him.

"Greetings," the warforged says. "I am Leverage. I am a prisoner aboard this ship." He looks to Kal. "Is there a brig?"

Amal looks to Kal, puzzled.

[Joe]

Streko notices Tangat approaching them and a weak smile stretches his mouth just a bit. He takes in a deep breath. He speaks to Tangat in halfling: "Would you fetch a blanket please? Pel could catch a terrible cold sitting out here like this."

He continues to hold her close. "I will do my best to keep you from harm, dear Pel. As to keeping you in the dark, isn't it ironic that the one person who could most help us is the one being compromised in the worst way? For what it's worth, your predicament lends an even greater urgency to our plight...your welfare is of the greatest concern and, with your help, we WILL find a way to rid his malevolent influence from your soul."

[Josh]

Grafth relates their brief trip to town, mentioning that they split up once inside the pavilion, his interrupted trip to the artificer's office, and his time in the Jorasco hospital.

"I was just about to gather provisions when the situation started to get out of hand. I left the building at Torhak's behest, but Streko remained inside. Perhaps he managed to get some food before his accident, though Torhak now carries his pack. I shall inquire about this."

Grafth retrieves Streko's pack from Torhak, congratulating him on his successful diversion. Handing it to Streko, he asks, "Before you were rendered unconscious, were you able to purchase any provisions?"

[Joe]

Where is Grafth again? I am a bit confused as to everyone's location. Streko is still at the bow of the ship, sitting with Pel, correct?

[Darren]

Kal shrugs at the Blademark. "Who would have thought that warforged had a sense of humour?" Kalarian explains Lever's new position on the ship, then leaves the warforged to work on Mist. "Find Ralsor when you are done, okay? I know the ship sustained some damage during our escape from..." Kal stops short. "Well, from where we came from. Right now, the less you know abou that, the better." Kal motions for Amal to follow him as he heads back towards the top deck.

"So, what happened while we were gone, Amal? I'd like to hear your report," he says as they walk.

[Jeff]

Joe: Torhak, Streko, Goran, and now Grafth are on the upper deck. Kal is belowdeck with Amal.

[Jeff]

Amal shrugs. "Not too much. The captain and the gnome spent some time in the cargo hold, examining those crates, taking more specific inventory. The captain's female companion...Misha? She paced all around the ship for a time, then she came in her just as Pel was waking up. Pel immediately changed her form in imitation of Misha, and Misha started a fight with the Captain Ralsor."

"Pel became restless, said some strange things, and made her way to the upper deck. I tried to tell her to wait, but she wouldn't listen."

The Thunderhead makes progress....and after fifteen minutes seems to be clear from Windshire.

Kal and Amal return to the upper deck, Tangat with them. When Tangat hears Streko's requests, he dashes off...and returns with a pilfered blanket. But it's apparent that anyone who stays on the upper deck is going to be slowly soaked through.

Ralsor comes down from the wheelhouse once the ship is on its course, presumably pointed north and east toward the Whisper Woods. "Might want to come in out of the rain," he says to everyone on the upper deck. He points to the windowed storage room of the sterncastle and the wheelhouse."


After spending time in silence, Pel looks over at Streko. "Your sister," she whispers, her voice sounding considerably less friendly. "Is most uncomfortable, I assure you. Your cooperation will be required, d'Jorasco, if you would like to see her again."

[Darren]

Kal steps in front of Amal, putting out a hand to stop him. "What strange things did she say?"

[Jeff]

"I don't really know, my lord," Amal says. "Gibberish. A mix of words. I think she was saying things about her youth, but then I heard her mention places. In Sharn, maybe? I'm not familiar with that city, so I can't be sure. The only thing I understood for sure, one thing she mentioned a few times amidst the rest, was 'battleground.'"

[Joe]

When Tangat hears Streko's requests, he dashes off...and returns with a pilfered blanket.

Streko takes the blanket from Tangat, thanks him and wraps it around Pel. "We should be getting inside soon, otherwise I'll be joining you in not feeling well."

After spending time in silence, Pel looks over at Streko. "Your sister," she whispers, her voice sounding considerably less friendly. "Is most uncomfortable, I assure you. Your cooperation will be required, d'Jorasco, if you would like to see her again."

Streko feels his heart plummet in his chest, anger beginning to burn throughout his entire body. He backs away from Pel and stands. His voice, when he speaks, is loud and filled with rage.

"REMOVE YOURSELF FROM HER, SHADOW-SPAWN! GET OUT OF HER AND STAY OUT!"

He can feel his body beginning to shake, whether from the cold and wet or from adrenlin pouring into his system, he doesn't care.
In a quiet, cold tone, Streko continues...

"Harm my sister in any way and I will have your beating heart in my hands and I will squeeze every last drop of blood from it and curse your name until Dolurrh itself spits you out. I promise you this...I will hunt you down until I am satisfied you will never harm another soul. You DARE barter my sister's welfare with me! I'll see you burn in Kyhber's belly for even suggesting such a thing! DARK SIX CURSE YOU, MALOV!"

Streko knows Pel isn't the one who spoke to him, but it is everything he can do not to use his sickle to remove her head. The realization hits him and he drops to his knees.

"Damn you..."

[mike]

"You may want to advise Streko to not attract so much attention, should we visit another town," says Torhak, as he hands Streko's haversack to Grafth. "I fear that until he clears his name, he may be a target wherever we go."

As it starts to rain, Torhak goes below deack and heads down towards the cargo hold. "Come, little wizard," he says to Matheu. "The crates below interest me. Perhaps one of them contains a clue regarding my missing eighteen years."

[Darren]

Kalarian listens quietly to Amal's words. "Hm. Interesting," is his only response. He turns and walks out onto the top deck and into the rain. Seeming unfazed by the weather, he walks directly to Pel, his eyes on her the whole time. "Pellorien, I know you are unwell, but we must speak. Will you come inside with me?"

[Jeff]

Meanwhile, Goran stands idly by.

[Josh]

Just then... Matheu and Streko ignore direct questions from Grafth!

[Joe]

Streko turns on his friends, his face a mask of rage.

"DIDN'T YOU HEAR WHAT JUST HAPPENED? WHAT IS STILL HAPPENING? DAMN YOU!!! MALOV IS INSIDE PEL THIS VERY MINUTE, SPEAKING THROUGH HER, POSSESSING HER!!"

He whips his body around and removes his sickle. He points the blade directly at Pel's face.

"Pel, fight him! FIGHT HIM!"

Both hands on the handle of his blade, his arms shiver from cold, rain, fear, rage and pent-up frustration. Tears flow freely down the halflings face.

"It's been so long...so many years...I just can't do this any more..."

He drops to his knees.

"Forgive me, Varna...may the Fury take my soul...I'm just so tired of this...so tired...

[Jeff]

Pel sobs and turns away, walking submissively to wherever Kal wishes to lead her.

[Jeff]

Torhak makes his way down the hold. Matheu follows, winging his way nimbly through the corridors and stairwells of the ship. In the main cargo room, he finds that the lettered crates have all been separated—presumably with some heavy labor on Ralsor's part. The empty crates—A, B, and D—have been discarded to one side. The C crate, which concensus seems to have agreed is a cockatrice—some sort of bird-thing with the ability to render its enemies to stone—is also off to one side. The side-lid of the crate is still partially pried open, and Torhak can see the thing's beak sticking out from the darkness within. It seems to be calm now, but he hears strange puckering noises coming from it.

The remaining crates are laid out next to one another in a line against the far wall, the tarp removed. They comprise letters E through M, the alphabetic characters branded on every face of each crate. The lids are still nailed shut.

Matheu lights upon the E crate and perches there. They are all stone within these. My sense of smell is superior to those of humans, half-elves, and dwarves. Although some shifters, like your companion Grafth, are considerably more sensitive to olfactory stimuli. Though not a dragon's.

[mike]

Torhak gives the "C" crate a wary look. "I believe we already know what is to be found in there," he says to Matheu. "Best to leave it alone."

He takes out his heavy pick. "Perhaps if we go straight to the end, we might find some answers, eh?" He moves over to the "M" crate and starts prying at its boards.

"Little wizard ... I trust you will say something to me if you sense danger?"

[Jeff]

It my opinion that all the creatures within these boxes have been rendered into stone, as you were. I do not expect they will attack you. But just in case, it would be best that you refrain from deploying abjuration or transmutation magic in their general direction. I do not think you are capable of that, however.

It takes some work, but the crate is no match for Torhak's strength and the use of his pick. It's not a smooth opening, but he's able to grind the side-lid off enough to wrench it free with his bare hands. The fine packing powder spills out.

The daylight shines into the open crate, and Torhak finds himself looking at what appears to be another crate. This one, however, is obviously solid stone.

Curious, Matheu says, and flaps his wings, hovering in the air beside Torhak.

[mike]

"Curious indeed," says Torhak.

The dwarf runs his fingers over the surface of the stone 'crate', examining it thoroughly for markings, as well as the best way to possibly open it.

"Friend Matheu," Torhak says, "can you ask Grafth to come join us? Perhaps another perspective may tell us more about this strange box."

[Josh]

"No need to ask, dwarf," says Grafth. Having retreated from the damp deck above, the shifter now stands in the doorway to the cargo hold. "I'm here."

He enters the room and peers at the crate that Torhak pried open. "Perhaps 'M' stands for 'More Stone'?"

Grafth attempts again to detect any scents other than stone.

[Darren]

Walking past Streko, Kal slips a hand into the small of Pel's back and leads her past the distraught halfling. Without turning around, he says, "When you've pulled yourself together, join us below." He then leads Pel back to the 'sickbay'.

Once they are there and she is seated comfortably, he motions for Amal to stand by near the door, in case Malov should take control of Pel and force her to attack. Kal muses silently, wondering whether the link that Malov has to Pel can be used as a two-way conduit and if they might be able to use that to their advantage. He makes a mental note to ask Matheu about that later. Then he begins his questions.

"Pel, can you remember any of what was discussed before the fighting started? Were you able to get any information that might help us?"