After arriving into town, Kain is pulled aside by a guard. He still holds allegiance to Hyrkhallia and warns Kain that the king has called an emergency session. It will be bloody.
Greywing departs, promising to return. The rest decide to follow up and visit with Tandris at the College of Magik, after visiting an 'old friend' of Sultrani. Ariadne was on the way and since the way was clogged ahead with people and everyone was hungry. She had been humming and singing for dinner. Drawn into it, everyone joins here, listening to her tale of far of Maelshyra set to a violin. Perosk, the owner, later talks to her. She had inquired about certain business and he only knows of one reputable merchant. That of Velar, a mover of quality goods.
Everyone leaves to gather up tea at the market. Ariadne, not quite part of things yet, tags along at a distance. She watches when Kain speaks to Throon, who talks to him about a contract of protection. Uncertain what to do, Kain says no but the Throon bids him to look him up at the Brown Coin later.
Sutrani splits away to meet her friend while the others continue through the market. Kalabar's hobbits meet and warn Twink to leave the city. They tell her that Kalabar has offered a trip on a boat to get out of the city before it gets bad. Ansi, one of the hobbitt gang, has a quiet word with Ariadne. Kalabar knows of her and offers on his behalf to purchase his wagon of goods for 20 crowns. After some bartering she agrees.
Ansi introduces her back to the party, insinuating that she would be a good comrade. No one has any issues, given his recommendation and they go to the college. Sultrani joins back up and they have a pleasant time with Tandris. Given the rising tension they think the trip by ship is a good thing and move rapidly to the docks.
The Hespira awaits them. The captain is Adze. She dislikes the interruption in her trip to Khurahaen but has agreed for up to 3 days treasure hunting in the Wrecks.
Kain slips below to work out while Twink goes into the kitchen. She pisses off the cook but makes good on it. Kain meets up with Jhary who is training. After some discussion they take a liking to one another and train together. He talks about his two brothers as well, Jezzik and Jazane.
Ariadne spends much time on the trip gathering information. They talk of salt zombies, ghoulsand other things in the wrecks. He also spends some time talking to Jezzik and the three brothers and the group come to a quick accord and liking to one another.
Ariadne spends some time with Sultrani and they come to an accord. She will guard his back on her journey. Kain spends some time with the three brothers, especially Jhary. They spar and work with one another, taking in a great appreciation for each others' measure of skill. His brother, Jezzik, examines Kain's blades, remarking that underneath their battered appearance lies true quality.
Time passes, three days to be exact. Three days of boredom with little more than endless sparring and talking. Notes are swapped and we find that the three brothers work for the College of Magik in Talismonde. Well, actually only Jezzik truly works for them since he has a position in their arcane retrieval department. The other two assist as time and occasion allow.
They seek the college's cargo on the ship called "The Fairy Maiden". The group seeks out Kalabar's goods on the "Hobbitt's Kiss". Except for Ariadne who is after some goods for Kolera, who lost them when one of her vessels ended up at the Wrecks. After some discussion, they agree to team up and work with one another.
The captain warns that he will not come too close to the mass of the Wrecks. Still, he does come close, to an area where a mass of recently torn free wreckage has formed a path of sorts. That seems good so the others agree.
It is late morning when they disembark. The way is wet, dangerous and shifting. Some quick discussion and the revelation that Jezzik at least has a way to navigate to his cargo, they decide to go after "The Fairy Maiden" first. After long it doesn't surprise any one that they come across ghouls.
After some quick communication they wait it out, letting them pass by. Then, as luck would have it they come across the remnants of the vessel that Ariadne sought. She sends her servant, the merman Reiner down below to explore. Things go horribly wrong then.
While he is below he awakens something. Something akin to a Kraken! It explodes out of the water, slapping down Twink. Or, it would have but the protective magics that Jezzik had put on her kick in and she is transported back to the ship.
Everyone is embroiled in the battle, usually avoiding writhing tentacles as they slam into and upset the area. Jezzik is pulled under and Jhary quickly follows afterward. Lightning flickers down below, showing he's still alive and fighting. In the end the water settles as it sinks below the surface, finally dead.
We take stock and lick our wounds. The fight was not without hurt but all is well enough. The Lightning in a Bottle is recovered, still intact in its crates. Luck follows along with them and they quickly find the Fairy Maiden wreck and then the Hobbitt's Kiss.
Getting back involved getting into a struggle with the ghouls and spirits that possessed some swollen salted bones. It was a quick struggle that ended with them wet and a little more blooded but otherwise healthy.
On the ship, the three brothers talk more freely. They tell Twink about the Century Soup Festival in Viruelandia that starts in a year. They also speak about the possibility of joining the group planning on participating in the World Ring Quest that will start in Talismonde.
No comments:
Post a Comment