The next day, while they're still on the ship (OOC: Possibly all day, but otherwise until that changes) Varielky is seemingly idle unless specifically asked to help somewhere. She might help Tamazaert with Sura if she can, but that's probably the most action she'd initiate. She's waiting for everyone to find answers to the questions that were asked the previous night but doesn't push anyone to do so with haste. She could have used this time to continue the work on her shield, but with Auger's absence, she doesn't have access to fitting tools.
In reality, however, Varielky isn't truly inactive. After the events of last night, backed by many events in the past, Varielky wants to know more about the people around her. Going around from person to person, she tries to learn more about everyone. Be it by initiating a conversation or simply observing their behaviour. She doesn't want to be intrusive, however, so she's mostly observing, which is why she might seem idle to most. In conversations, she might ask a question to initiate talking, but from then she'll let the other person share... or not. She won't press. If anyone asks anything about herself, she'll share what she can as well, knowing there is nothing about herself for her to hide from them at this point.
((OOC: This is basically me combining Varielky's resolution to know people better and care more about the people she meets, as well as using the Know Your Enemy Compatriot feature, which I forgot was even a thing. I'll break it per character. I know you're busy at the moment, so I don't mind waiting for the answers, or if it's just an annoying task (in case there's nothing special that you thought of) then knowing that alone is fine as well. We can just say she gets to know someone (or not) better, without actually telling me in case there's nothing important.))
Tamazaert: Varielky will ask the young mother about the life she had before she was taken to the Orc camp (you might have written about that in the past, but if so I forgot), and about her plans (if any) for the future. Especially concerning Sura, as it would seem that going back to Kalahata might lead to his abduction again, but staying with them means danger will always hang above their heads. Regardless of the answer, Varielky offers to teach her a few defensive techniques, considering a rough life expects her wherever she goes. Tamzaert already picked up a weapon once, and Varielky thinks she should know how to use it effectively. (No questions for the KYE ability as with only relative answers, there's little for me to learn unless Tamazaert is secretly a twist villain or something.)
Benita: Varielky will ask Benita about her life before the two met. She doesn't need to learn every little detail, but she's mostly doing it to show interest and know her friend better. In Benita's case, Varielky would like to know about her current (and I suppose therefore max) hitpoints and her Armour Class, compared to Varielky's.
Granophyre: Varielky doesn't have much to ask Granophyre. She'll listen to anything he has to share about himself, but otherwise, she'll probably just observe him to know (compared to Varielky's) his total class level (if any) and current hit points.
Snow: (No point in asking for your characteristics as I can see the character's sheet.) Varielky will want to know more about Snow's past. (Unless there's anything that was kept hidden from us, I suppose I know most of it through Snow's thoughts, but now I want to give Varielky the option of knowing it too if it's fine by you.)
Chanakya Trivedi Das: In the case of Snow's father, Varielky is more cautious about sharing information, though she might share basic information about her life if he asks. Meanwhile, she doesn't have much interest in him at the moment, but decides to uphold her resolution and try to learn at least a little about him. She'd do her best to memorise his name, and ask a little to know about his life to this point. Perhaps, if his journey ever took him to Drey, it might provoke more questions about his thoughts about the people there. In his case, Varielky would like to know, in comparison to herself, his total class level and... current hit points, I guess.
Snow wakes up early with a head full of questions, having been unable to figure out the magic behind the Reaver’s Word and wondering what secrets his father had uncovered in his decades long quest that had seemingly got him so close to finding the Old Mystics.
He looks about the deck to see if his father has risen before him, and if there is no sign of him he will head to his cabin and knock on the door. He will grab some food and drink and find a place to sit and talk with his father, if possible.
"I hope you managed to get some rest. I have to confess that sleep did not come easily to me. I have so many questions, as I expect you do too. But before we delve into our current predicament, I would like to know more about where you have been. Would you tell me the story, share your journey with me? I was young when you left, but I would like to understand now", he asks, curiosity etched on his face. His training as a bard had made him inquisitive above all things, searching out stories that contained understanding and knowledge.
"I remember you spent so much time with your research, so much time in the library at the Tree. What did it show you, what visions did you have that made you leave?", he prompts, knowing of his own experience in the Tree and how it led him on his own path.
His father had said there was one lock remaining in his research, but asking about that would be like reading the last chapter of a book before the rest.
(OOC: Snow is a pretty much an open book, no skeleton's to derive, and anything that has been said in character is fine for Varielky to know)
Tamazaert is a 1st-level fighter when Varielky begins to observe and consider the young mother’s stance and reflexes, but Tamazaert is a quick learner. Following your recent shared adventure at El Harrouch Castle and with pointers from Varielky, she advances to level 2.
Varielky recalls when she met Tamazaert, then a captive in the orc harem at Brod Kagkul...
Brod Kagkul
Tamazaert approaches Varielky and takes her hand in her own, kissing the shield-maiden’s knuckle. “Please, sister. I can’t stay here longer. They take the babies when they get older. I couldn’t stand it. Please! I won’t slow you down, and Sura,” she says, indicating her baby, “Sura is a good boy. He will be quiet.” This is more hope than reality, for the baby is fussing at that moment.
The headwoman then glares at Tamazaert, and moans in Shian, “You too stupid,” but something tells you that the slab-shaped woman’s meaning is different from her words. She grips Tamazaert’s arm forcefully, her lip quivering, then turns to Varielky and hisses “HURRY!,” before slowly moving toward the entrance, rocking sideways with each stiff step. One of the other older women has meanwhile wrapped some food in a sack and filled a water pouch, both of which she hands to Tamazaert, who nods modestly in thanks, kisses the woman quickly on the cheek, shrugs the bag over a shoulder, and, with her baby in a sling over the opposite shoulder, looks to Varielky. “I am ready.”
...and later, when the party first arrived to the hotel penthouse in Kalahata, how the young mother revealed the truth about her past…
Kalahata
Tamazaert, without Sura, enters the suite’s living room area to join the rest of you, a peaceful smile on her face. “He’s asleep,” she says quietly, to no one in particular, moving to the food and hungrily eating several olives in quick succession. Then, realizing that she has interrupted, for you have fallen into a secretive silence, the young Shian looks at each of you in turn, her expression more and more crestfallen.
“I know,” she says, biting her lip, “that I have already overstayed my welcome.” Granophyre begins to interrupt, but she cuts in, “And I can never repay you for what you have done for me and Sura. I want to thank you, each of you, for freeing us, and taking care of us, these last few days. I will gather Sura when he awakens and find my...family.”
Ednyss sees she is not being completely open, and Benita clears her throat softly before answering, “Look, Tamazaert...I don’t know much about you, but…,” she continues flatly, gently, “there’s no family. Is there.” And she holds the young mother’s eyes.
Tamazaert, Ednyss sees, is on the verge of saying something dishonest, but with Benita holding her gaze, the words don’t escape her. She begins to well up and responds by shaking her head, closing her eyes, then looking up at the ceiling as a tear slips down her cheek.
“My family was like that cutpurse’s Ednyss spoke to. I could see it in her eyes. The Orphanage, where the headmistress teaches all of the children to be thieves and shares none of the rewards. That was my family. Before I left Kalahata.”
She looks at Ednyss. “I could be a messenger, Master Graybeard,” then turns to Granophyre, “or for you, Master Strewn,” and casting about the room, continues, “or, for...anyone. I can read and write Shian and Jenghen, and some Orracan.”
Granophyre looks around the room, a silent request for your thoughts.
Granophyre says to the young mother…, “I believe you can help considerably with small daily tasks such as keeping our lodgings clean and running errands, and, if you maintain a healthy distance from the goal of our investigations while translating, we may avoid involving others, such as curious librarians, in our search.”
Tamazaert’s humble smile brightens the room, and she curtsies deeply to Granophyre, with a wide circular gesture around her heart, which you will learn is the Shian expression for thanks.
Benita is just lower than Varielky in total class levels. She has fewer hit points and worse AC, almost a given since she prefers to remain unencumbered and only wears a cuirass skirt and halter-top, compared to the shield-maiden’s shining armor coupled with Tuff’s magical shield. On the other hand, Varielky already knows Benita is unusually agile and limber, with reflexes like a wild cat (and a higher DEX). “My life wasn’t very different than Tamazaert’s.” It may dawn on Varielky that somehow she knew this. Her friend Ednyss, always deeply understanding of people’s inner hopes and fears, she recalls, had fastened his sage expression upon Varielky soon after they had entered Kalahata, after a young girl had tried to pickpocket him, and he had spoken some sense into the urchin:
Both Benita and Tamazaert watched the dialogue with empathy, for they each seem to see themselves in the teenager. They catch each other’s eyes for a moment, and Ednyss notes a moment of surprise, an unexpected recognition between the pair, who turn away again almost immediately before your group continues onward.
“The only difference is, I grew up in Indallia, found my way to Kalahata, and then to Ishi Ammah. I was lucky. I can move fast, and I can fight. That’s how I met Bali. He saw me defending myself in a pub brawl – one I had started,” she says, coyly, “hoping to rob the till in the confusion. But Bali said I should audition at the arena. I did, expecting only disappointment. Kovalenko saw something in me I didn’t even see myself, and he took me on. Those were the happiest days of my life. Until you joined the squad, bruiser!,” she says, jabbing her friend and smiling mischievously.
Granophyre’s total class level is equal to Varielky’s, and he has more hit points. “It has been a dozen years since my last voyage on an airship,” Granophyre relates to Varielky as he stands at the gunwale looking out over the desert below. “Tuff was with me then, of course. How he loved flying.” The old sage smiles sadly as he says this, then turns away to look out toward the horizon.
The elder Das has a lower class level and fewer hit points. He seems sturdy and carries himself with poise, but Varielky doubts he’s ever been in a fight. He strikes her also as reclusive, and not a talker, as the arena squad would say.
(OOC: I guess I wasn’t clear in my instructions: “Success means you can move on to the next activity. Failure means try the same activity again with your next roll.” Since the first roll failed, the second roll should have been a do-over: Petting. 20!!. The third roll would then show success in feeding, with no roll yet for the saddle. But no need to edit, we’ll say the natural 20 allowed Auger to leap ahead a bit.)
Auger starts to notice that the roc is no longer willfully ignoring his communications and his attempts to connect, and, mentally backtracking, Auger realizes that the beast has probably heard him more than it has let on. Over the course of the day, the bird once again disappears for a long period, returns with a mostly dead giant lizard, of which it devours part, while Driss and Auger now have their choice of goat and lizard flesh. Auger notices that the creature seems to eat far less than one might imagine.
“They’re magical creatures,” relates Driss, “which seem to feed as much upon sunlight and fresh air as they do the flesh of beasts. I’ve seen em go several day, a week even, without eatin, and a goat is enough food for that long too. Lucky fer us or we’d be singing songs from his gullet by now.”
A heavy rain comes in and you huddle against the escarpment beside the spring overnight.
The next morning, Driss moans. “Yumm sleepin on cold stone isn’t my way, and this old body strong but apt to be sore after sech a night. I’d fly us out if I could, but Baylun here won’t obey me. Could be a lot o trouble tryin that. Lesse if he’ll let you mount im.”
(OOC: Please roll DC 14 with advantage [same routine as above - failure means try the same task again with the next roll]: 1. Put the saddle on Baylen, unfastened; 2. Attach the saddle; 3. Mount the roc)
When Snow knocks on the door of the captain’s cabin, there is no answer. Eventually, perhaps, the bard opens the door, and finds the sight within both familiar and jarring. The cabin holds a central desk, and shelves and another desk around its circumference. These are filled to overflowing with tomes; scrolls; ledgers; bottles of ink – most of them empty, their contents spilled upon the floor; thrown-away pens rolling slowly left to right and vice versa as the hull gently rocks; tankards and plates, half-filled, or dry, stained and cleared; and a sort of day-bed which is unmade and in as great a state of chaos as everything else.
“Oh. Snow,” comes Chanakya Trivedi Das’ voice from where he sits behind the desk, quietly engrossed in making calculations with an adding device, an astrolabe, and compass, and poring over a map detail of the lands and seas. “Would you hand me that, please?,” the exact object of this request, in no manner obvious. “The tome there. I have been meaning to give it to you.” Still, there is absolutely no way of telling which tome the man is speaking of. He stops what he’s doing, sighs quietly, and walks to a spot near a wall where it seems ten or twenty books have fallen from the shelves. Bending down, he moves many of them aside rather absently, and from their depths, removes a small dusty codex with a tough binding of green leather embossed with gold leaf, its inside cover written upon in ink, “Snow,” and dated ten years ago. He stands and hands it to Snow with a brief smile before returning to his work.
To Snow’s queries, the elder Das sits back for a moment from his desk, although half an eye continues to wander back to what he was doing.
“Aye Snow, aye. I got all the rest I need. Less and less as I get older. Where have I been? Far and wide, far and wide. Knowledge is not always easily accessed. Or free either, to whomever may wish to learn it. It does demand a price. Tell me, Snow… is that sindarrin… I believe I have met him before. It couldn’t be…?”
(OOC: Ah - sorry I read it as complete the set and then we could move on to something else. Repeating last section and continuing the day).
When it comes time to place the saddle atop Baylen, Auger cannot help but smile. Everything goes smoothly and fairly easily. This time when he makes an adjustment to the saddle there are no issues. The sense of making progress is wonderful. Until he attempts to fasten the saddle. At this point his fingers fail him and the saddle nearly falls off. Like yesterday. But with Driss' assistance, Auger is finally able to fasten the saddle.
Details
Animal Handling rolls
Roll 1: 15
Roll 2: 2
Roll 3: 17
Saddle is attached on 2nd try. Roc not mounted.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow stands in the doorway of his father's cabin taking in the scene. His mind flashes back to his childhood home, running around the clean and tidy rooms before entering the organised chaos of his father's office. At least he always assumed it was organised. At least back then he made some semblance of an attempt to keep it clean if not tidy. The half empty tankards and dirty plates a testament to how much his obsession had grown.
Taking the tome from his father, he turns around into the doorway and blows off the dust before running his fingers along the leather, feeling the embossing. As he opens the cover and sees his name and the date he is actually taken aback. Ten years ago his father wrote his name in this book. His eyes start to well up as he realises he was on his father's mind all those years ago. That his father must have planned to return to see him, if only to give him the book.
He stares at the man before him as he gives a very vague reply to his request for answers. Again, his mind flicks back in time to when they used to share meals, his mother trying to have a conversation but his father never fully present. That was near to the time he left.
He starts to flick through the pages of the book, trying to make sense of the scrawled writing. It contains some kind of cipher, he determines as his brain registers his father's question about Strewn.
"Oh, yes. I don't suppose there is cause for secrecy any more, Sorakayoshi knows he is here anyway. It is indeed Granophyre Strewn. I am currently in his employ", he says absently as his eyes search the first page, trying to spot to the commonality in the symbols.
He shakes his head and snaps the book shut, realising he is only half present whilst looking at it.
"Thank you. For the book, it is comforting to know you were thinking of me all those years ago", he says. He wanders over to the map to try and see what his father was working on, having a keen mind for cartography himself.
"Did you think about what I said yesterday? About the consequences of helping us. And about how we can help each other going forward so that isn't a problem", he asks as he pours over the map beside his father.
Investigation (he does have Cartographer's Tools): 17+7=24
(OOC: From now on, he will spend any spare time deciphering the book)
Varielky is very content with Tamazaert's advancement. It may only be the start, but it's a good start. If it's just a few guards, she might be able to defend Sura and herself. Against other dangers too, surely. Varielky is content with herself, too. She did the first step toward getting to know the others better. By all means, to this point, this was a good day.
Now, Varielky has nothing in particular she wants to do, so she'll wait until everyone finds their answers.
Snow: Did you think about what I said yesterday? About the consequences of helping us…
Chanakya Trivedi Das slows his writing and then lays down his pen. “Do you remember the song from Seagrass Flying, Snow? The most un-elvish of elvish melodies, for ’‘twas a sailor’s reel in ancient times:
For do not hang your head my love,
And let your green eyes shine,
For high tide follows low my dear
And you shall soon be mine.
“We must accept the bad with the good, and knowing that the good is coming soon, just past the next breaker, makes it easier to survive the bad, doesn’t it?”
Granophyre knocks politely at some point in the morning, pokes in his head, and the elder Das invites him to critique his research. Strewn, who at that moment notices that several of his own publications — signed copies, no less — flop open on the floor at his feet, forces a smile but demures. “I shall be patient and await your discoveries in the Pomeroy Journal when the time is ripe,” he says, and after making polite conversation, for he remembers meeting Chanakya Trivedi Das, while the elder Das seems to have forgotten having met Granophyre, the old sindarrin soon retreats, “for I am reminded that I have some reading of my own to catch up on.”
Snow has trouble making sense of his father’s work. The map of the lands and seas for example, seems to be terribly out of scale, and to begin with has north and south poles reversed. Chanakya’s writing is a series of almost flat lines with only the barest shading of contour to indicate that one letter succeeds another.
Late in the day, toward evening, the white sand and orange rock beaches of the Rainbow Coast and the glittering blue waves of the Gulf of Awhar are passing under the ship, and you are over international waters, beyond the border of Oraccu u Shia, all of the eastern continent, Yurrieli, behind you, and only twenty leagues ahead, the Dwarven Isles. Here, over bright white clouds under wide blue skies, the elder Das shouts an order, and two of his ghostly crewmen drop anchor into a puffy, silver-lined cumulus beneath you. Why this would have any effect may be a mystery to you, but the ship does indeed stop rocking on passing breezes and floats serenely, hidden behind the cloud to any onlookers below.
“Let us rest the winds for a time here while plans are made. I find myself between commissions, it would seem,” says Chanakya. “May I know, where would you have me take you?”
———
(OOC: all three, Snow, Varielky and Auger, have intentions set for the next few days at least, which stretches into a week or two, I think. Granophyre suggests finding a safe place to wait for Auger’s return, sending his Golden Bird to Kalahata to look for the southerner at the Temple of Ritha Demsha, where Ednyss Greybeard, according to Benita, continues his faith-quest. The construct would then return when Auger is seen, setting a place to meet. Perhaps Auger might think to send Py to the same temple, and a reconnection can be set in that way.)
Snow spends the day sat with the tome his father gave him in hand, along with some borrowed parchment and pen, trying to decipher it's meaning. He makes sure he is within sight of the control booth, paying close attention to whatever his father does when there, keen to get more understanding of the workings of the airship. He thinks back to his ship, well boat, still moored in the Vale, and wonders if he will ever retrieve it, with it being so close to El Harrouch.
When asked about their destination, he will answer honestly.
"I am afraid we are not finished with our business in the Vale of Deshar, and will need to head back in that direction. It may be we can wait a little while though, to let the dust settle, before we do so. And we will need to make a stop along the way in Kalahata".
Two winged forms, one, a small Fey relative of the large desert insects known as alyasub, the other, a glinting metallic sparrow of golden quicksilver, find each other, circling excitedly over the tree-like spire shooting up above the temple of Ritha Demsha in the Shian Capitol of Kalahata. They rustle and squeak, pipe delicate melodies, and then, they part, flying with haste in opposite directions.
It is their second meeting. The first was by chance, the two having fitfully sought each other out, their masters hopeful but not entirely convinced that they would ever find one another. This time, their encounter is at exactly 12 bells, and their excited exchange is brief: a time; a place; and a date are agreed.
THREE DAYS LATER
It is the first day of the Jenghen month of Light, which in the Kingdoms is known as Ravenna, and in Elvish lands — for the Elvish new year is celebrated on the spring equinox, rather than the first full moon after the winter solstice as the humans do—the Elves call this the tenth of Lobelia.
Spring moves toward summer, and in the Oraccan Steppes, temperatures flare while sagebrush dims to amber; and the high-walled city hugging the blistering desert sands suffers the nose-wrinkling odors of beasts and persons of all kinds, while its sewers swelter and churn with the choking stench of its denizens’ refuse. Those with means escape now, if they have not already, to their summer dachas beyond the Kalaat Falls, in the Vale of Deshar, where the climate remains dry and warm, where grapes plump on vines as the spring harvest is reaped by Shian farmers in kaftans and abayas who share conspiratorial glances when their overlords, the Jenghen imperial garrison, saunter by throwing insults, or canter past on camelback threating to trample any who stand in their way.
Deeper in the Vale lie its hidden secrets, where enslaved children and young teens work long, joyless days in the poppy fields, pulling weeds and harvesting the poppies of their dark, poisonous sap, which is transported to refineries to boil and reshape into soft bricks which can be easily transported throughout the empire to the decadent palaces of princes and magnates who spend their days and nights partaking of this same poison, tamed just enough to lift them lazily through smoky dreams, rather than to kill; and to linger in their consciousness just enough to pull them inexorably back again and again to drift, to float, carefree in their waking sleep.
It is night, in the river town of Asni, in the Vale of Deshar, and it is a clear night. Stars glitter overhead as the inhabitants offer evening prayers and make plans for the future in hard-edged, hushed voices among quiet enclaves of family and trusted friends.
Nearby, in an overgrown meadow surrounded on all sides by tall old forests of honey locusts and jujubes, a hulking shape lies motionless at one end, save for a few dim lantern lights visible through its rear cabin windows of thick glass, as small bats dart back and forth overhead and other nocturnal creatures of the wood — for the small monkeys and hyenas have settled down by now — sing their soft, discordant melodies, until a sudden hush overtakes them all.
Then the stillness is broken by a rush of air, as, gliding low over the wood, an enormous form drifts and then lands, its wide wings flapping crisply, then folding at the edge of the meadow opposite the anchored airship
As it turns out, people are an acquired taste... figuratively speaking. One might only pretend to be interested at first, or force themselves to be so, but if one persists, they don't have to force it anymore. How long must one persist? Changes from person to person. Some are born with this quality, curious about every person they meet. Varielky was not one of those, but she is very good at preserving. She is not at the end of that road, far from it. Perhaps she could never match the same curiosity some people are born with, but a spark of interest is an improvement already.
However, interest does not end simply with knowing one's name and history. Even without intending to, Varielky begins to notice smaller details about the people around her. Expressions she might not have noticed, or was not able to understand in the past. Basic body language. No, this was not limited to people alone. Varielky began to feel more interested in the world around her, too. A bit. She might never be able to even come close to Ednyss' abilities in those regards. Even the average person is probably just about as curious and perceptive. But, even if to others it might not seem like it, this small improvement over the course of merely two weeks is a significant feat for Varielky.
(OOC: I'm assuming a bit about the "Mediterranean weather" from my experience with it. If it doesn't match our real Mediterranean weather, just ignore my presumptions.)
If there's one thing she'd be happy not to be able to perceive though, it's the heat. Only the beginning of Light, but it's already incredibly hot. As someone who spent most of her life in a northern province, it was shocking how hot it can get when she first came here. Even if it weren't as far north as actual Drey, there were still a few hundred miles (if I managed to read the map correctly) in between. The height of summer in the north was about the same as early-mid spring in Orraca u Shia. And the worst part was that thanks to her handful of years of experience in this province, she knew it only gets worse. Light will only get hotter, but with unpredictable turmoils. Words and Perfection will be tolerable. Might was the absolute worst, by all means. It gets Varielky to wonder how people manage to live with the heat further southwards. She considers asking Auger at first but probably forgets about this though before they meet. After all, he's the living proof that it was possible.
If she didn't know Auger was supposed to ride that thing, Varielky would probably draw her sword at the sight of the massive bird. They've run into enough trouble with all sorts of oversized beasts. Instead, all she does is give a short whistle, the kind that bends down the pitch slowly and returns quickly. "Auger beat you to the race, Bee. Here's one animal you won't be the best at riding."
The weeks pass by all too quickly for Snow, what with his study during the days and the evenings filled with long conversations over a goblet of wine or two with his father.
He couldn’t have imagined a month earlier that he would get to talk to his father man to man, so this time was incredibly special to him. To find out what his father has been up to all these years was great, but to see his father’s genuine interest in his own life was the icing on the cake.
He still hasn’t forgiven his father for leaving them all those years ago, but he has begun to understand his reasons.
And the book his father gave him turned out to be a treasure. He has already deciphered a couple of the spells, one of which helped him to understand the workings of the airship better. It takes some time to cast, but the ability to see magic will be incredibly useful in the future, he is certain.
And no disrespect to the Animu Borongo, but the Reaver’s Word was another level, and he had enjoyed learning to fly it. The difference it would have made to his own expeditions would have been enormous.
Learning that Auger was ok was a relief, but it had also signified their need to get back on task. He still couldn’t quite believe what was to come next. Kalahata was a place he would quite happily forget and never visit again. And yet they had to.
As he watches Auger arrive on the back of the Roc, a broad smile crosses his face, remembering the last time he had seen him. How things had changed in the weeks they had been separated.
Initially the days go by with Auger wondering if it was all a waste. Baylen likes his petting then hates his feeding. Baylen allows Auger near for the saddle fastening but not the placement. Baylen flies with Driss as the rider, but barely tolerates Auger's presence in the side saddle. Auger cannot figure out why. Frustration does arrive for him, even as Driss counsels patience. Baylen had been mistreated and trust would take time. And so it was that when Auger sent Py away to see if he could reconnect with his friends, he was not sure that his side trip would even amount to anything, not soon. When he eventually learns of Py's chance meeting with Granophyre's golden sparrow, Auger still wonders whether he would be able to ride back to meet with them or not. And so on the 9th day on the mountain, with Py off again to set a meeting time, Auger is fairly convinced that Driss would be dropping him off and that would be it for Auger and Baylen. At the feeling of wasted time and delay, Auger lets the frustration get the better of him. Baylen bucks the saddle around yet again, and Auger for the first time says something negative to the young Roc. The saddle is nearly thrown off the cliff edge, and Auger scolds Baylen, doing so in the language of the Roc, "Baylen bad! Baylen stupid!"
Baylen, young, hardheaded and abused, did not take well to the words. Auger sees it right away and regrets his mistake and tries to say so, "Auger sorry! Auger stupid!"but the words are too late. Driss, the seasoned old hand, catches the implications of what is going on and steps in between them as the great bird, reacts to turn and scream at Auger in its fashion, and in the process sweeps Driss to the cliff edge where he teeters for a moment before beginning to fall. Auger and Baylen both react at once. Auger moves to Driss and catches a hand to go down with him, hoping his coat would keep them both from falling too fast and too far. It would not, it turned out. Baylen cries out, in dismay, his precise words lost to Auger, and follows after. As Driss and Auger fall together, the coat lends its effect as best as it can, but the weight is too much. They pick up speed. Baylen cries out again in frustration as it dives and attempt to sweep them up, but they are falling too close to the cliff and Baylen cannot get the angle right to grab them and control his dive. Sensing the problem, Auger wonders how well Baylen can hear him as he calls out instructions to "Glide! Watch! Catch!" Then for Driss' benefit, Auger says, "Hold tight, this will feel..."Auger then reaches into the Sea of Stars and empowers himself in a fashion as he has never done before. Leaving a resounding thunderous crackling behind them, Auger moves himself and Driss away from the cliff and slightly upward, hoping to both reduce their momentum and to create enough space for Baylen to... to what, Auger thinks. Where is he? Did he? Auger cranes his neck as they begin to fall in earnest yet again. Thinking this might be the end for himself and Driss, Auger tries to think if he can movethem over a longer distance and it is in that moment of realization that no, he could not do that, where Baylen sweeps in and gently grabs them and brings them back to safety.
Later that day, Auger would remark to Driss at the sudden change in responsiveness to him from Baylen but even before Driss can say anything, Auger sees it from Baylen's perspective. Though angry, the Roc cared for them both and despite its own efforts it appeared it was going to lose them. And in the moment of crisis, Baylen heard Auger's instructions. Those instructions must have seemed like a very odd thing to do while they were clearly falling away. The bird had decided to listen and, lo and behold the two people it cared about most had appeared below right where he could get them. Trust. Trust had formed for the first time. Now there was trust and so the learning could truly commence from then on.
From that point onward, Auger would be able to fly with Baylen. Not expertly, not with amazing grace as a flyer, and certainly Auger was not comfortable with any acrobatic flight. But he flew solo with Baylen up and high into the sky with the mountains in the distance and Auger realized that he was seeing a view from his dreams, or something very much like it. And he let himself smile and feel true joy for the first time in a while.
---
Such was the story Auger would recount for everyone when they meet in the Vale and reconnect. Auger introduces Driss, and allows him a chance to meet them all as Auger attends to Baylen and then when Driss returns to the bird, Auger asks him to hold with Baylen there in the meadow while he converses with the others. Auger inquires after them all, seeks details of what has transpired in the weeks apart and tries to reconnect as best he can while also sharing details of what transpired for him and his regrets that he left them at such an inopportune moment.
Finally if the discussion turns to next steps, Auger expresses some small amount of surprise "... and so when Py told me you wanted to meet up again here in the Vale I thought perhaps you had learned some new information needed here. Don't we mean to free the High Priestess, so we can speak to her? Kalahata should be our next goal, right?" Auger includes everyone in the discussion but looks mostly at Granophyre for confirmation. "Still we are close to Asni I suppose. Shall we check in on our friends here before we leave?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow is riveted by Auger's story of his challenges with Baylen, asking questions to draw more out of him as he speaks. He is expecially interested in the emotions that he felt as he went through the bonding and training process.
He welcomes Driss, but knowing he used to work for, or with, Sorakayoshi, tries not to speak too openly in his earshot.
He does however introduce Auger to his father, explaining that it was only through the serendipitous re-union of the Das family that they were able to escape.
When it comes to the discussion of their future plans, he confirms that Kalahata is indeed still their destination, but leaves the details to Strewn to fill in.
"I am not certain about revealing ourselves to the locals at this time, I expect there are a lot of people searching for us. We likely should avoid picking up the Animu Borongo for the same reason", he says thinking for a moment.
"Of course it is a decision for all of us. And I can always go in discreetly"
“Ask me if I would want to ride something that huge. May as well paint red circles on my back,” Benita La Cass replies to Varielky, but the Queen-in-exile notes just a hint of envy in her friend’s eye.
Granophyre watches Baylen appreciatively as the creature lands, then observes, “It seems Auger has made more than one new ally,” as Driss drops down from the saddle’s passenger bucket, then takes Baylen’s reins, eying the Reaver’s Word and its occupants with interest and offering a curt wave hello as Auger joins the others.
You all find spots to sit or relax in the common room in the first lower deck of the Reaver’s Word, the entire level having been converted into a number of small but well-appointed staterooms, whose furnishings were paid for, the elder Das has informed you, by the imperial bursar, to provide ample comfort to His Excellency’s retinue during their journey to the Vale and back. Sipping wine, Granophyre responds to questions regarding the Poppy Citadel.
“I should know, indeed, what to expect, and I have been focusing, during these recent quiet days, upon my own captivity within the walls of the Poppy Citadel following my journey home for Tuff’s memorial.
“It is an ancient palace, the Poppy Citadel, said to have been built throughout the course of a hundred years through many broken backs of Shian laborers who, however, were well paid for their efforts, and their names are inscribed — all of them — to this day, in magical glyphs of Idiwala around the circumference of the citadel’s lower levels. These guildsmen and women worked under the direction and with the assistance of a great djinn, Harata-n’Khalá, who lent her power to Shian royalty throughout the tremendous endeavor and is said still to reside within the walls — the literal walls, mind you — or, according to one account, within a subterranean palace no less grand than the gold leaf-walled palace we see above ground. It is the magic of Harata-n’Khalá which wards and protects the Citadel, according to a deal struck long ages ago with the Shian Queen.
“As you might expect, the ground level and lower levels are devoted to administration and courts, while above are restaurants, temples, the royal residence and guest floors, and servant’s quarters and workrooms. Above that, lodgings for noble visitors, then the grand ballrooms, salons, and royal galleries. Above that, the royal lodgings, and higher still, archives and the great Shian Library. Higher yet, and the area is devoted to the royal aerie, however, as I discovered, there are also cells for political prisoners awaiting transport, which was the category I seem to have fallen into. Above the aerie, the Queen’s Terrace emerges from a single round salon.
“With any luck the High Priestess of Idiwala, the Safiyah upon whom my hopes hinge is in custody in one of those cells all to familiar to me. Or rather, if she is indeed still detained, we can hope she is there. For as I learned, an aerial entry to the Citadel is the closest by far to those cells, and is hardly guarded. For only imperial officers ride rocs. Until recently, that is,” says the old sage, nodding to Auger.
Snow listens to Strewn's description of the Poppy Citadel, having a vague idea that he had been held captive before but not knowing all the details.
"It does seem entering from the top will be simpler than having to make our way through all those levels", he says, but a frown crosses his face. "It will however make it difficult for us all to go, unless we can take the Reaver's Word. We also need to be clear about our objective", he adds meeting the Sindarin's eyes.
"Are we just gathering information, or is this a rescue? And if it is a rescue, we know the Abziri Viscount is also held captive, what about him?".
He shakes his head as he thinks about the enormity of the task.
"First things first, is it possible to dock the airship at the citadel? And if so, how do we do that without immediately being boarded and arrested?"
Auger follows along with Granophyre and listens to Snow's ideas and concerns.
"It does seem I could land Baylen there with one of you and then perhaps we could clear the way for a mooring,"Auger pauses a moment, thinking, "but I have to believe the airship would create a lot of attention, whereas with just Baylen, the comings and goings of a single Roc might not stand out. Once there we would need to know where to go and to walk around freely. I think we would do well if at least one of us wore the uniform of an officer. Perhaps acquiring such a thing would be good before we make this attempt.
"Though I only talked with him a little, I would like to see the Viscount freed as well, if only to cause more trouble for those who would work with Goblins here in the Vale. I wonder if he would act as friend or ally to the people of the Vale. Still, flying away with him and the High Priestess... that would mean we would need to moor the Reaver's Word. Unless there are any other options to consider..."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
“There is… one more detail. Perhaps two,” says Granophyre. “My recent sojourn to Core of Amethyst was made possible through instantaneous travel. A dominion portal exists in the upper level of the Citadel; its magic controlled by an Eye. Such portals exist in ancient palaces throughout the lands and seas, and can be created by expert practitioners of the arcane arts. I learned that the mayor of Hyewush, Anafora Volubelle, has created a portal of her own in her residence, and that was the partial explanation for her appearance in the Citadel, aside from the unlikely good fortune which caused her trip to Kalahata to align with the moment of my internment there.
“These… portals are maintained in deepest secrecy. Those who use them do so after taking a solemn vow, which I have just broken. But I do so, for perhaps the portal within the Citadel could be used as a means of escape.
“As for entering the Citadel to begin with. I do not think drawing attention with the unexpected docking of a fugitive airship would be wise. However, while only two seem able to ride upon a roc, we witnessed the same roc transport two persons in its talons: Auger and Driss. And too, I have one artifice which might suit the situation. Auger and Varielky, you witnessed its use during our pursuit of the hyena riders to Brod Khagkul.” (OOC: The levitate spell. Read the description and pay attention to what happens when the spell ends.) “If the ship is positioned just right, one could fall — slowly, fall — from a height above the clouds, to land safely upon the aerie terrace.”
The next day, while they're still on the ship (OOC: Possibly all day, but otherwise until that changes) Varielky is seemingly idle unless specifically asked to help somewhere. She might help Tamazaert with Sura if she can, but that's probably the most action she'd initiate. She's waiting for everyone to find answers to the questions that were asked the previous night but doesn't push anyone to do so with haste. She could have used this time to continue the work on her shield, but with Auger's absence, she doesn't have access to fitting tools.
In reality, however, Varielky isn't truly inactive. After the events of last night, backed by many events in the past, Varielky wants to know more about the people around her. Going around from person to person, she tries to learn more about everyone. Be it by initiating a conversation or simply observing their behaviour. She doesn't want to be intrusive, however, so she's mostly observing, which is why she might seem idle to most. In conversations, she might ask a question to initiate talking, but from then she'll let the other person share... or not. She won't press. If anyone asks anything about herself, she'll share what she can as well, knowing there is nothing about herself for her to hide from them at this point.
((OOC: This is basically me combining Varielky's resolution to know people better and care more about the people she meets, as well as using the Know Your
EnemyCompatriot feature, which I forgot was even a thing. I'll break it per character. I know you're busy at the moment, so I don't mind waiting for the answers, or if it's just an annoying task (in case there's nothing special that you thought of) then knowing that alone is fine as well. We can just say she gets to know someone (or not) better, without actually telling me in case there's nothing important.))Tamazaert: Varielky will ask the young mother about the life she had before she was taken to the Orc camp (you might have written about that in the past, but if so I forgot), and about her plans (if any) for the future. Especially concerning Sura, as it would seem that going back to Kalahata might lead to his abduction again, but staying with them means danger will always hang above their heads. Regardless of the answer, Varielky offers to teach her a few defensive techniques, considering a rough life expects her wherever she goes. Tamzaert already picked up a weapon once, and Varielky thinks she should know how to use it effectively.
(No questions for the KYE ability as with only relative answers, there's little for me to learn unless Tamazaert is secretly a twist villain or something.)
Benita: Varielky will ask Benita about her life before the two met. She doesn't need to learn every little detail, but she's mostly doing it to show interest and know her friend better.
In Benita's case, Varielky would like to know about her current (and I suppose therefore max) hitpoints and her Armour Class, compared to Varielky's.
Granophyre: Varielky doesn't have much to ask Granophyre. She'll listen to anything he has to share about himself, but otherwise, she'll probably just observe him to know (compared to Varielky's) his total class level (if any) and current hit points.
Snow: (No point in asking for your characteristics as I can see the character's sheet.) Varielky will want to know more about Snow's past. (Unless there's anything that was kept hidden from us, I suppose I know most of it through Snow's thoughts, but now I want to give Varielky the option of knowing it too if it's fine by you.)
Chanakya Trivedi Das: In the case of Snow's father, Varielky is more cautious about sharing information, though she might share basic information about her life if he asks. Meanwhile, she doesn't have much interest in him at the moment, but decides to uphold her resolution and try to learn at least a little about him. She'd do her best to memorise his name, and ask a little to know about his life to this point. Perhaps, if his journey ever took him to Drey, it might provoke more questions about his thoughts about the people there.
In his case, Varielky would like to know, in comparison to herself, his total class level and... current hit points, I guess.
Varielky
Snow wakes up early with a head full of questions, having been unable to figure out the magic behind the Reaver’s Word and wondering what secrets his father had uncovered in his decades long quest that had seemingly got him so close to finding the Old Mystics.
He looks about the deck to see if his father has risen before him, and if there is no sign of him he will head to his cabin and knock on the door. He will grab some food and drink and find a place to sit and talk with his father, if possible.
"I hope you managed to get some rest. I have to confess that sleep did not come easily to me. I have so many questions, as I expect you do too. But before we delve into our current predicament, I would like to know more about where you have been. Would you tell me the story, share your journey with me? I was young when you left, but I would like to understand now", he asks, curiosity etched on his face. His training as a bard had made him inquisitive above all things, searching out stories that contained understanding and knowledge.
"I remember you spent so much time with your research, so much time in the library at the Tree. What did it show you, what visions did you have that made you leave?", he prompts, knowing of his own experience in the Tree and how it led him on his own path.
His father had said there was one lock remaining in his research, but asking about that would be like reading the last chapter of a book before the rest.
(OOC: Snow is a pretty much an open book, no skeleton's to derive, and anything that has been said in character is fine for Varielky to know)
VARIELKY
Tamazaert is a 1st-level fighter when Varielky begins to observe and consider the young mother’s stance and reflexes, but Tamazaert is a quick learner. Following your recent shared adventure at El Harrouch Castle and with pointers from Varielky, she advances to level 2.
Varielky recalls when she met Tamazaert, then a captive in the orc harem at Brod Kagkul...
...and later, when the party first arrived to the hotel penthouse in Kalahata, how the young mother revealed the truth about her past…
Benita is just lower than Varielky in total class levels. She has fewer hit points and worse AC, almost a given since she prefers to remain unencumbered and only wears a cuirass skirt and halter-top, compared to the shield-maiden’s shining armor coupled with Tuff’s magical shield. On the other hand, Varielky already knows Benita is unusually agile and limber, with reflexes like a wild cat (and a higher DEX). “My life wasn’t very different than Tamazaert’s.” It may dawn on Varielky that somehow she knew this. Her friend Ednyss, always deeply understanding of people’s inner hopes and fears, she recalls, had fastened his sage expression upon Varielky soon after they had entered Kalahata, after a young girl had tried to pickpocket him, and he had spoken some sense into the urchin:
Both Benita and Tamazaert watched the dialogue with empathy, for they each seem to see themselves in the teenager. They catch each other’s eyes for a moment, and Ednyss notes a moment of surprise, an unexpected recognition between the pair, who turn away again almost immediately before your group continues onward.
“The only difference is, I grew up in Indallia, found my way to Kalahata, and then to Ishi Ammah. I was lucky. I can move fast, and I can fight. That’s how I met Bali. He saw me defending myself in a pub brawl – one I had started,” she says, coyly, “hoping to rob the till in the confusion. But Bali said I should audition at the arena. I did, expecting only disappointment. Kovalenko saw something in me I didn’t even see myself, and he took me on. Those were the happiest days of my life. Until you joined the squad, bruiser!,” she says, jabbing her friend and smiling mischievously.
Granophyre’s total class level is equal to Varielky’s, and he has more hit points. “It has been a dozen years since my last voyage on an airship,” Granophyre relates to Varielky as he stands at the gunwale looking out over the desert below. “Tuff was with me then, of course. How he loved flying.” The old sage smiles sadly as he says this, then turns away to look out toward the horizon.
The elder Das has a lower class level and fewer hit points. He seems sturdy and carries himself with poise, but Varielky doubts he’s ever been in a fight. He strikes her also as reclusive, and not a talker, as the arena squad would say.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
AUGER
(OOC: I guess I wasn’t clear in my instructions: “Success means you can move on to the next activity. Failure means try the same activity again with your next roll.” Since the first roll failed, the second roll should have been a do-over: Petting. 20!!. The third roll would then show success in feeding, with no roll yet for the saddle. But no need to edit, we’ll say the natural 20 allowed Auger to leap ahead a bit.)
Auger starts to notice that the roc is no longer willfully ignoring his communications and his attempts to connect, and, mentally backtracking, Auger realizes that the beast has probably heard him more than it has let on. Over the course of the day, the bird once again disappears for a long period, returns with a mostly dead giant lizard, of which it devours part, while Driss and Auger now have their choice of goat and lizard flesh. Auger notices that the creature seems to eat far less than one might imagine.
“They’re magical creatures,” relates Driss, “which seem to feed as much upon sunlight and fresh air as they do the flesh of beasts. I’ve seen em go several day, a week even, without eatin, and a goat is enough food for that long too. Lucky fer us or we’d be singing songs from his gullet by now.”
A heavy rain comes in and you huddle against the escarpment beside the spring overnight.
The next morning, Driss moans. “Yumm sleepin on cold stone isn’t my way, and this old body strong but apt to be sore after sech a night. I’d fly us out if I could, but Baylun here won’t obey me. Could be a lot o trouble tryin that. Lesse if he’ll let you mount im.”
(OOC: Please roll DC 14 with advantage [same routine as above - failure means try the same task again with the next roll]: 1. Put the saddle on Baylen, unfastened; 2. Attach the saddle; 3. Mount the roc)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
SNOW
When Snow knocks on the door of the captain’s cabin, there is no answer. Eventually, perhaps, the bard opens the door, and finds the sight within both familiar and jarring. The cabin holds a central desk, and shelves and another desk around its circumference. These are filled to overflowing with tomes; scrolls; ledgers; bottles of ink – most of them empty, their contents spilled upon the floor; thrown-away pens rolling slowly left to right and vice versa as the hull gently rocks; tankards and plates, half-filled, or dry, stained and cleared; and a sort of day-bed which is unmade and in as great a state of chaos as everything else.
“Oh. Snow,” comes Chanakya Trivedi Das’ voice from where he sits behind the desk, quietly engrossed in making calculations with an adding device, an astrolabe, and compass, and poring over a map detail of the lands and seas. “Would you hand me that, please?,” the exact object of this request, in no manner obvious. “The tome there. I have been meaning to give it to you.” Still, there is absolutely no way of telling which tome the man is speaking of. He stops what he’s doing, sighs quietly, and walks to a spot near a wall where it seems ten or twenty books have fallen from the shelves. Bending down, he moves many of them aside rather absently, and from their depths, removes a small dusty codex with a tough binding of green leather embossed with gold leaf, its inside cover written upon in ink, “Snow,” and dated ten years ago. He stands and hands it to Snow with a brief smile before returning to his work.
To Snow’s queries, the elder Das sits back for a moment from his desk, although half an eye continues to wander back to what he was doing.
“Aye Snow, aye. I got all the rest I need. Less and less as I get older. Where have I been? Far and wide, far and wide. Knowledge is not always easily accessed. Or free either, to whomever may wish to learn it. It does demand a price. Tell me, Snow… is that sindarrin… I believe I have met him before. It couldn’t be…?”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
(OOC: Ah - sorry I read it as complete the set and then we could move on to something else. Repeating last section and continuing the day).
When it comes time to place the saddle atop Baylen, Auger cannot help but smile. Everything goes smoothly and fairly easily. This time when he makes an adjustment to the saddle there are no issues. The sense of making progress is wonderful. Until he attempts to fasten the saddle. At this point his fingers fail him and the saddle nearly falls off. Like yesterday. But with Driss' assistance, Auger is finally able to fasten the saddle.
Details
Animal Handling rolls
Saddle is attached on 2nd try. Roc not mounted.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow stands in the doorway of his father's cabin taking in the scene. His mind flashes back to his childhood home, running around the clean and tidy rooms before entering the organised chaos of his father's office. At least he always assumed it was organised. At least back then he made some semblance of an attempt to keep it clean if not tidy. The half empty tankards and dirty plates a testament to how much his obsession had grown.
Taking the tome from his father, he turns around into the doorway and blows off the dust before running his fingers along the leather, feeling the embossing. As he opens the cover and sees his name and the date he is actually taken aback. Ten years ago his father wrote his name in this book. His eyes start to well up as he realises he was on his father's mind all those years ago. That his father must have planned to return to see him, if only to give him the book.
He stares at the man before him as he gives a very vague reply to his request for answers. Again, his mind flicks back in time to when they used to share meals, his mother trying to have a conversation but his father never fully present. That was near to the time he left.
He starts to flick through the pages of the book, trying to make sense of the scrawled writing. It contains some kind of cipher, he determines as his brain registers his father's question about Strewn.
"Oh, yes. I don't suppose there is cause for secrecy any more, Sorakayoshi knows he is here anyway. It is indeed Granophyre Strewn. I am currently in his employ", he says absently as his eyes search the first page, trying to spot to the commonality in the symbols.
He shakes his head and snaps the book shut, realising he is only half present whilst looking at it.
"Thank you. For the book, it is comforting to know you were thinking of me all those years ago", he says. He wanders over to the map to try and see what his father was working on, having a keen mind for cartography himself.
"Did you think about what I said yesterday? About the consequences of helping us. And about how we can help each other going forward so that isn't a problem", he asks as he pours over the map beside his father.
Investigation (he does have Cartographer's Tools): 17+7=24
(OOC: From now on, he will spend any spare time deciphering the book)
(OOC: Right, thanks for the reminders.)
Varielky is very content with Tamazaert's advancement. It may only be the start, but it's a good start. If it's just a few guards, she might be able to defend Sura and herself. Against other dangers too, surely. Varielky is content with herself, too. She did the first step toward getting to know the others better. By all means, to this point, this was a good day.
Now, Varielky has nothing in particular she wants to do, so she'll wait until everyone finds their answers.
Varielky
ALL
Snow: Did you think about what I said yesterday? About the consequences of helping us…
Chanakya Trivedi Das slows his writing and then lays down his pen. “Do you remember the song from Seagrass Flying, Snow? The most un-elvish of elvish melodies, for ’‘twas a sailor’s reel in ancient times:
For do not hang your head my love,
And let your green eyes shine,
For high tide follows low my dear
And you shall soon be mine.
“We must accept the bad with the good, and knowing that the good is coming soon, just past the next breaker, makes it easier to survive the bad, doesn’t it?”
Granophyre knocks politely at some point in the morning, pokes in his head, and the elder Das invites him to critique his research. Strewn, who at that moment notices that several of his own publications — signed copies, no less — flop open on the floor at his feet, forces a smile but demures. “I shall be patient and await your discoveries in the Pomeroy Journal when the time is ripe,” he says, and after making polite conversation, for he remembers meeting Chanakya Trivedi Das, while the elder Das seems to have forgotten having met Granophyre, the old sindarrin soon retreats, “for I am reminded that I have some reading of my own to catch up on.”
Snow has trouble making sense of his father’s work. The map of the lands and seas for example, seems to be terribly out of scale, and to begin with has north and south poles reversed. Chanakya’s writing is a series of almost flat lines with only the barest shading of contour to indicate that one letter succeeds another.
Late in the day, toward evening, the white sand and orange rock beaches of the Rainbow Coast and the glittering blue waves of the Gulf of Awhar are passing under the ship, and you are over international waters, beyond the border of Oraccu u Shia, all of the eastern continent, Yurrieli, behind you, and only twenty leagues ahead, the Dwarven Isles. Here, over bright white clouds under wide blue skies, the elder Das shouts an order, and two of his ghostly crewmen drop anchor into a puffy, silver-lined cumulus beneath you. Why this would have any effect may be a mystery to you, but the ship does indeed stop rocking on passing breezes and floats serenely, hidden behind the cloud to any onlookers below.
“Let us rest the winds for a time here while plans are made. I find myself between commissions, it would seem,” says Chanakya. “May I know, where would you have me take you?”
———
(OOC: all three, Snow, Varielky and Auger, have intentions set for the next few days at least, which stretches into a week or two, I think. Granophyre suggests finding a safe place to wait for Auger’s return, sending his Golden Bird to Kalahata to look for the southerner at the Temple of Ritha Demsha, where Ednyss Greybeard, according to Benita, continues his faith-quest. The construct would then return when Auger is seen, setting a place to meet. Perhaps Auger might think to send Py to the same temple, and a reconnection can be set in that way.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow spends the day sat with the tome his father gave him in hand, along with some borrowed parchment and pen, trying to decipher it's meaning. He makes sure he is within sight of the control booth, paying close attention to whatever his father does when there, keen to get more understanding of the workings of the airship. He thinks back to his ship, well boat, still moored in the Vale, and wonders if he will ever retrieve it, with it being so close to El Harrouch.
When asked about their destination, he will answer honestly.
"I am afraid we are not finished with our business in the Vale of Deshar, and will need to head back in that direction. It may be we can wait a little while though, to let the dust settle, before we do so. And we will need to make a stop along the way in Kalahata".
—TIME PASSES. DAYS BECOME WEEKS.—
Two winged forms, one, a small Fey relative of the large desert insects known as alyasub, the other, a glinting metallic sparrow of golden quicksilver, find each other, circling excitedly over the tree-like spire shooting up above the temple of Ritha Demsha in the Shian Capitol of Kalahata. They rustle and squeak, pipe delicate melodies, and then, they part, flying with haste in opposite directions.
It is their second meeting. The first was by chance, the two having fitfully sought each other out, their masters hopeful but not entirely convinced that they would ever find one another. This time, their encounter is at exactly 12 bells, and their excited exchange is brief: a time; a place; and a date are agreed.
THREE DAYS LATER
It is the first day of the Jenghen month of Light, which in the Kingdoms is known as Ravenna, and in Elvish lands — for the Elvish new year is celebrated on the spring equinox, rather than the first full moon after the winter solstice as the humans do—the Elves call this the tenth of Lobelia.
Spring moves toward summer, and in the Oraccan Steppes, temperatures flare while sagebrush dims to amber; and the high-walled city hugging the blistering desert sands suffers the nose-wrinkling odors of beasts and persons of all kinds, while its sewers swelter and churn with the choking stench of its denizens’ refuse. Those with means escape now, if they have not already, to their summer dachas beyond the Kalaat Falls, in the Vale of Deshar, where the climate remains dry and warm, where grapes plump on vines as the spring harvest is reaped by Shian farmers in kaftans and abayas who share conspiratorial glances when their overlords, the Jenghen imperial garrison, saunter by throwing insults, or canter past on camelback threating to trample any who stand in their way.
Deeper in the Vale lie its hidden secrets, where enslaved children and young teens work long, joyless days in the poppy fields, pulling weeds and harvesting the poppies of their dark, poisonous sap, which is transported to refineries to boil and reshape into soft bricks which can be easily transported throughout the empire to the decadent palaces of princes and magnates who spend their days and nights partaking of this same poison, tamed just enough to lift them lazily through smoky dreams, rather than to kill; and to linger in their consciousness just enough to pull them inexorably back again and again to drift, to float, carefree in their waking sleep.
It is night, in the river town of Asni, in the Vale of Deshar, and it is a clear night. Stars glitter overhead as the inhabitants offer evening prayers and make plans for the future in hard-edged, hushed voices among quiet enclaves of family and trusted friends.
Nearby, in an overgrown meadow surrounded on all sides by tall old forests of honey locusts and jujubes, a hulking shape lies motionless at one end, save for a few dim lantern lights visible through its rear cabin windows of thick glass, as small bats dart back and forth overhead and other nocturnal creatures of the wood — for the small monkeys and hyenas have settled down by now — sing their soft, discordant melodies, until a sudden hush overtakes them all.
Then the stillness is broken by a rush of air, as, gliding low over the wood, an enormous form drifts and then lands, its wide wings flapping crisply, then folding at the edge of the meadow opposite the anchored airship
Thus are Auger and the others reunited.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
As it turns out, people are an acquired taste... figuratively speaking. One might only pretend to be interested at first, or force themselves to be so, but if one persists, they don't have to force it anymore. How long must one persist? Changes from person to person. Some are born with this quality, curious about every person they meet. Varielky was not one of those, but she is very good at preserving. She is not at the end of that road, far from it. Perhaps she could never match the same curiosity some people are born with, but a spark of interest is an improvement already.
However, interest does not end simply with knowing one's name and history. Even without intending to, Varielky begins to notice smaller details about the people around her. Expressions she might not have noticed, or was not able to understand in the past. Basic body language. No, this was not limited to people alone. Varielky began to feel more interested in the world around her, too. A bit. She might never be able to even come close to Ednyss' abilities in those regards. Even the average person is probably just about as curious and perceptive. But, even if to others it might not seem like it, this small improvement over the course of merely two weeks is a significant feat for Varielky.
(OOC: I'm assuming a bit about the "Mediterranean weather" from my experience with it. If it doesn't match our real Mediterranean weather, just ignore my presumptions.)
If there's one thing she'd be happy not to be able to perceive though, it's the heat. Only the beginning of Light, but it's already incredibly hot. As someone who spent most of her life in a northern province, it was shocking how hot it can get when she first came here. Even if it weren't as far north as actual Drey, there were still a few hundred miles (if I managed to read the map correctly) in between. The height of summer in the north was about the same as early-mid spring in Orraca u Shia. And the worst part was that thanks to her handful of years of experience in this province, she knew it only gets worse. Light will only get hotter, but with unpredictable turmoils. Words and Perfection will be tolerable. Might was the absolute worst, by all means. It gets Varielky to wonder how people manage to live with the heat further southwards. She considers asking Auger at first but probably forgets about this though before they meet. After all, he's the living proof that it was possible.
If she didn't know Auger was supposed to ride that thing, Varielky would probably draw her sword at the sight of the massive bird. They've run into enough trouble with all sorts of oversized beasts. Instead, all she does is give a short whistle, the kind that bends down the pitch slowly and returns quickly. "Auger beat you to the race, Bee. Here's one animal you won't be the best at riding."
Varielky
The weeks pass by all too quickly for Snow, what with his study during the days and the evenings filled with long conversations over a goblet of wine or two with his father.
He couldn’t have imagined a month earlier that he would get to talk to his father man to man, so this time was incredibly special to him. To find out what his father has been up to all these years was great, but to see his father’s genuine interest in his own life was the icing on the cake.
He still hasn’t forgiven his father for leaving them all those years ago, but he has begun to understand his reasons.
And the book his father gave him turned out to be a treasure. He has already deciphered a couple of the spells, one of which helped him to understand the workings of the airship better. It takes some time to cast, but the ability to see magic will be incredibly useful in the future, he is certain.
And no disrespect to the Animu Borongo, but the Reaver’s Word was another level, and he had enjoyed learning to fly it. The difference it would have made to his own expeditions would have been enormous.
Learning that Auger was ok was a relief, but it had also signified their need to get back on task. He still couldn’t quite believe what was to come next. Kalahata was a place he would quite happily forget and never visit again. And yet they had to.
As he watches Auger arrive on the back of the Roc, a broad smile crosses his face, remembering the last time he had seen him. How things had changed in the weeks they had been separated.
Initially the days go by with Auger wondering if it was all a waste. Baylen likes his petting then hates his feeding. Baylen allows Auger near for the saddle fastening but not the placement. Baylen flies with Driss as the rider, but barely tolerates Auger's presence in the side saddle. Auger cannot figure out why. Frustration does arrive for him, even as Driss counsels patience. Baylen had been mistreated and trust would take time. And so it was that when Auger sent Py away to see if he could reconnect with his friends, he was not sure that his side trip would even amount to anything, not soon. When he eventually learns of Py's chance meeting with Granophyre's golden sparrow, Auger still wonders whether he would be able to ride back to meet with them or not. And so on the 9th day on the mountain, with Py off again to set a meeting time, Auger is fairly convinced that Driss would be dropping him off and that would be it for Auger and Baylen. At the feeling of wasted time and delay, Auger lets the frustration get the better of him. Baylen bucks the saddle around yet again, and Auger for the first time says something negative to the young Roc. The saddle is nearly thrown off the cliff edge, and Auger scolds Baylen, doing so in the language of the Roc, "Baylen bad! Baylen stupid!"
Baylen, young, hardheaded and abused, did not take well to the words. Auger sees it right away and regrets his mistake and tries to say so, "Auger sorry! Auger stupid!" but the words are too late. Driss, the seasoned old hand, catches the implications of what is going on and steps in between them as the great bird, reacts to turn and scream at Auger in its fashion, and in the process sweeps Driss to the cliff edge where he teeters for a moment before beginning to fall. Auger and Baylen both react at once. Auger moves to Driss and catches a hand to go down with him, hoping his coat would keep them both from falling too fast and too far. It would not, it turned out. Baylen cries out, in dismay, his precise words lost to Auger, and follows after. As Driss and Auger fall together, the coat lends its effect as best as it can, but the weight is too much. They pick up speed. Baylen cries out again in frustration as it dives and attempt to sweep them up, but they are falling too close to the cliff and Baylen cannot get the angle right to grab them and control his dive. Sensing the problem, Auger wonders how well Baylen can hear him as he calls out instructions to "Glide! Watch! Catch!" Then for Driss' benefit, Auger says, "Hold tight, this will feel..." Auger then reaches into the Sea of Stars and empowers himself in a fashion as he has never done before. Leaving a resounding thunderous crackling behind them, Auger moves himself and Driss away from the cliff and slightly upward, hoping to both reduce their momentum and to create enough space for Baylen to... to what, Auger thinks. Where is he? Did he? Auger cranes his neck as they begin to fall in earnest yet again. Thinking this might be the end for himself and Driss, Auger tries to think if he can move them over a longer distance and it is in that moment of realization that no, he could not do that, where Baylen sweeps in and gently grabs them and brings them back to safety.
Later that day, Auger would remark to Driss at the sudden change in responsiveness to him from Baylen but even before Driss can say anything, Auger sees it from Baylen's perspective. Though angry, the Roc cared for them both and despite its own efforts it appeared it was going to lose them. And in the moment of crisis, Baylen heard Auger's instructions. Those instructions must have seemed like a very odd thing to do while they were clearly falling away. The bird had decided to listen and, lo and behold the two people it cared about most had appeared below right where he could get them. Trust. Trust had formed for the first time. Now there was trust and so the learning could truly commence from then on.
From that point onward, Auger would be able to fly with Baylen. Not expertly, not with amazing grace as a flyer, and certainly Auger was not comfortable with any acrobatic flight. But he flew solo with Baylen up and high into the sky with the mountains in the distance and Auger realized that he was seeing a view from his dreams, or something very much like it. And he let himself smile and feel true joy for the first time in a while.
---
Such was the story Auger would recount for everyone when they meet in the Vale and reconnect. Auger introduces Driss, and allows him a chance to meet them all as Auger attends to Baylen and then when Driss returns to the bird, Auger asks him to hold with Baylen there in the meadow while he converses with the others. Auger inquires after them all, seeks details of what has transpired in the weeks apart and tries to reconnect as best he can while also sharing details of what transpired for him and his regrets that he left them at such an inopportune moment.
Finally if the discussion turns to next steps, Auger expresses some small amount of surprise "... and so when Py told me you wanted to meet up again here in the Vale I thought perhaps you had learned some new information needed here. Don't we mean to free the High Priestess, so we can speak to her? Kalahata should be our next goal, right?" Auger includes everyone in the discussion but looks mostly at Granophyre for confirmation. "Still we are close to Asni I suppose. Shall we check in on our friends here before we leave?"
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow is riveted by Auger's story of his challenges with Baylen, asking questions to draw more out of him as he speaks. He is expecially interested in the emotions that he felt as he went through the bonding and training process.
He welcomes Driss, but knowing he used to work for, or with, Sorakayoshi, tries not to speak too openly in his earshot.
He does however introduce Auger to his father, explaining that it was only through the serendipitous re-union of the Das family that they were able to escape.
When it comes to the discussion of their future plans, he confirms that Kalahata is indeed still their destination, but leaves the details to Strewn to fill in.
"I am not certain about revealing ourselves to the locals at this time, I expect there are a lot of people searching for us. We likely should avoid picking up the Animu Borongo for the same reason", he says thinking for a moment.
"Of course it is a decision for all of us. And I can always go in discreetly"
“Ask me if I would want to ride something that huge. May as well paint red circles on my back,” Benita La Cass replies to Varielky, but the Queen-in-exile notes just a hint of envy in her friend’s eye.
Granophyre watches Baylen appreciatively as the creature lands, then observes, “It seems Auger has made more than one new ally,” as Driss drops down from the saddle’s passenger bucket, then takes Baylen’s reins, eying the Reaver’s Word and its occupants with interest and offering a curt wave hello as Auger joins the others.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
You all find spots to sit or relax in the common room in the first lower deck of the Reaver’s Word, the entire level having been converted into a number of small but well-appointed staterooms, whose furnishings were paid for, the elder Das has informed you, by the imperial bursar, to provide ample comfort to His Excellency’s retinue during their journey to the Vale and back. Sipping wine, Granophyre responds to questions regarding the Poppy Citadel.
“I should know, indeed, what to expect, and I have been focusing, during these recent quiet days, upon my own captivity within the walls of the Poppy Citadel following my journey home for Tuff’s memorial.
“It is an ancient palace, the Poppy Citadel, said to have been built throughout the course of a hundred years through many broken backs of Shian laborers who, however, were well paid for their efforts, and their names are inscribed — all of them — to this day, in magical glyphs of Idiwala around the circumference of the citadel’s lower levels. These guildsmen and women worked under the direction and with the assistance of a great djinn, Harata-n’Khalá, who lent her power to Shian royalty throughout the tremendous endeavor and is said still to reside within the walls — the literal walls, mind you — or, according to one account, within a subterranean palace no less grand than the gold leaf-walled palace we see above ground. It is the magic of Harata-n’Khalá which wards and protects the Citadel, according to a deal struck long ages ago with the Shian Queen.
“As you might expect, the ground level and lower levels are devoted to administration and courts, while above are restaurants, temples, the royal residence and guest floors, and servant’s quarters and workrooms. Above that, lodgings for noble visitors, then the grand ballrooms, salons, and royal galleries. Above that, the royal lodgings, and higher still, archives and the great Shian Library. Higher yet, and the area is devoted to the royal aerie, however, as I discovered, there are also cells for political prisoners awaiting transport, which was the category I seem to have fallen into. Above the aerie, the Queen’s Terrace emerges from a single round salon.
“With any luck the High Priestess of Idiwala, the Safiyah upon whom my hopes hinge is in custody in one of those cells all to familiar to me. Or rather, if she is indeed still detained, we can hope she is there. For as I learned, an aerial entry to the Citadel is the closest by far to those cells, and is hardly guarded. For only imperial officers ride rocs. Until recently, that is,” says the old sage, nodding to Auger.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow listens to Strewn's description of the Poppy Citadel, having a vague idea that he had been held captive before but not knowing all the details.
"It does seem entering from the top will be simpler than having to make our way through all those levels", he says, but a frown crosses his face. "It will however make it difficult for us all to go, unless we can take the Reaver's Word. We also need to be clear about our objective", he adds meeting the Sindarin's eyes.
"Are we just gathering information, or is this a rescue? And if it is a rescue, we know the Abziri Viscount is also held captive, what about him?".
He shakes his head as he thinks about the enormity of the task.
"First things first, is it possible to dock the airship at the citadel? And if so, how do we do that without immediately being boarded and arrested?"
Auger follows along with Granophyre and listens to Snow's ideas and concerns.
"It does seem I could land Baylen there with one of you and then perhaps we could clear the way for a mooring," Auger pauses a moment, thinking, "but I have to believe the airship would create a lot of attention, whereas with just Baylen, the comings and goings of a single Roc might not stand out. Once there we would need to know where to go and to walk around freely. I think we would do well if at least one of us wore the uniform of an officer. Perhaps acquiring such a thing would be good before we make this attempt.
"Though I only talked with him a little, I would like to see the Viscount freed as well, if only to cause more trouble for those who would work with Goblins here in the Vale. I wonder if he would act as friend or ally to the people of the Vale. Still, flying away with him and the High Priestess... that would mean we would need to moor the Reaver's Word. Unless there are any other options to consider..."
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
“There is… one more detail. Perhaps two,” says Granophyre. “My recent sojourn to Core of Amethyst was made possible through instantaneous travel. A dominion portal exists in the upper level of the Citadel; its magic controlled by an Eye. Such portals exist in ancient palaces throughout the lands and seas, and can be created by expert practitioners of the arcane arts. I learned that the mayor of Hyewush, Anafora Volubelle, has created a portal of her own in her residence, and that was the partial explanation for her appearance in the Citadel, aside from the unlikely good fortune which caused her trip to Kalahata to align with the moment of my internment there.
“These… portals are maintained in deepest secrecy. Those who use them do so after taking a solemn vow, which I have just broken. But I do so, for perhaps the portal within the Citadel could be used as a means of escape.
“As for entering the Citadel to begin with. I do not think drawing attention with the unexpected docking of a fugitive airship would be wise. However, while only two seem able to ride upon a roc, we witnessed the same roc transport two persons in its talons: Auger and Driss. And too, I have one artifice which might suit the situation. Auger and Varielky, you witnessed its use during our pursuit of the hyena riders to Brod Khagkul.” (OOC: The levitate spell. Read the description and pay attention to what happens when the spell ends.) “If the ship is positioned just right, one could fall — slowly, fall — from a height above the clouds, to land safely upon the aerie terrace.”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer