Auger lets himself feel the music and enjoy it while he eats. Looking down he can scarcely believe that he finished what was in front of him and so quickly. As he sits back with his ale, Auger already feels that he is fighting the urge to sleep. So when Snow, clearly energized by the inn and the music, asks his question Auger does not immediately respond. Knowing that Varielky was still feeling the pain of their friend's departures, Auger replies and engages at length with Snow on his questions about where he comes from.
(OOC: sorry but I am time-pressed so will summarize things Auger shares)
Auger is from the south, Anshin Prefecture and Belliu village on the edge of the Lake of Ever. Auger's family name, Fetherlac, is a direct reference to this lake.
Auger is married with three children at home. Until recently Auger appeared to be living the boring and happy life of a village carpenter, with the proximity to the lake creating opportunity to acquire some shipwright skills.
Auger will, very rarely, drop into a southern old tongue to describe an idea or a phrase (OOC: when Auger does that it will appear in the text as Vietnamese). He does so in this instance when speaking of some major carpentry order in the not too distant past "Tìm kiếm chất lượng, dành thời gian", loosely, "If you want quality then give time."
Should Snow make the mistake of asking about the details of carpentry work then Auger goes on and on and on.
Auger has only recently found his connection to the Sea of Stars and had a vision that brought him into contact with Strewn and his company.
Auger will seek similar kinds of information from Snow. And though he does not expect to hear much, he listens carefully for what Varielky will share as he realizes he does not know much of her past, just that she and Ednyss had served in a war together.
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DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Varielky starts with the ale, then moves to the food. There was not much reasoning for that, that's just how it happened. When asked about her past, she's comfortable with allowing the others to speak first. 'Come wine gone secret, right?' Well, she's not going to be that drunk. Either way, what she's about to tell is the same she always does, which is not even a lie. "There's not too much to tell." She shrugs when eventually her turn to speak comes. "I was born in a village in the northern part of Indallia. I lived and trained there until I decided to leave one day to fulfil my calling. I was travelling down the Rainbow Coast when the Jenghen Brigades decided to recruit me. I thought of an army as what you hear in stories, so I had no objections. In truth, most of my service was rather boring, except the battle in Lokimorra - if you've heard of it - just before I was honourably discharged, more or less. Then... I arrived at Ishi Ammah where I met the Amazighs, as I've told you before. Leaving Ishi Ammah for - well, I suppose you know already - and a month and a few days later, here we are." She realises it sounds very short and perhaps even boring, but she doesn't really care. It's the truth, but only the safe truth, which she could tell anyone without worry.
Snow listens to the stories of Auger and Varielky, nodding along and engaging with the odd, “Ok” and “Interesting” comment.
When Auger tells of a partner and children back home, a slightly melancholy look comes across his face. “I bet they miss you very much”, he says before adding more cheerily, “But think of all the carpentry building up for you at home!”.
Talk of the Sea of Stars is of particular interest as well, he feels like asking more, but leaves it alone for now.
When Auger mentions how a vision brought him into Strewn’s company, that really resonates with him.
Varielky’s tale was short and to the point, certainly just the abridged version, but he wasn’t surprised. He was effectively still a stranger to them after all. He thinks on the name Lokimarra for a moment, but Varielky moved on.
There was certainly more to tell about both these two. Their skills were one thing, but their equipment was another, as was the fact Varielky prayed to a Dreyen god. That wouldn’t have gone down well in the Jenghen army!
When it is his turn to share, he sits back and holds his hands up before him, shoulder high. “Ah, my story. A child of brilliant parents, my father was an academic from the Kingdoms. My mother was more artistic, herself the child of Elven diplomats also living in the Kingdoms. A happy childhood, to a point”, he says the last with a slight shrug. “My father was a little like our mutual friend, intelligent and some might even say brilliant. But with that came an obsessive streak that began to take all his focus, until one day he went following his research and never came back”. This would explain the melancholy look when Auger mentioned leaving children at home.
“A young Snow spent his early years after that trying to live up to the memory of his father, but the pressures of academic life proved too much, and he fell from grace”. He sighs at this, looking into space for a moment.
“But all was not lost, young Snow stumbled on his own path, strictly less academic but no less rewarding. And one that kept him on the path to knowledge”. He looks back to his companions, “He learned the ways of the bard and found his path to knowledge that way”.
He gives Auger and Varielky a smile, “And young Snow became the man you see before you”.
“Now I travel as my father did, searching out ancient knowledge and artifacts. Ever with the hope that my path may cross with his, and that I might even see him again one day”.
He looks to Auger, “By the way, it was a vision of the Vale of Deshar that brought me on this journey, much how you became involved with our friend. Coincidence or something more, I wonder”.
(OOC: Snow had not heard the word Lokimarra, until this morning. After the incident with the trio of urchins, the adults shook their heads ruefully and a few uttered the word. Perhaps, many Shians died in the battle, leaving their families destitute, children with no hope.)
Shortly after your arrival, the crowd began to thin, and by now the time must be approaching ten bells. The music has calmed as some of the players packed up instruments and bid their friends good night, and the kitchen closed.
As the evening passes into night, you begin to notice that under the jovial mood sits a closed, nervous energy unusual in the Shians you have known.
Overhearing snatches of conversation from your neighbors, here in Jemmu Village, the talk is of the lockdown; of Piotr Brezhnyev, the winner of the Games; wariness at the Governor’s presence in Kalahata; a rumor that the Viceroy Abziri and High Priestess of Idiwala have been arrested; and in an undertone, people speak of many arrests, but among them not a single dwarf. Only Shians were taken in, by all accounts.
Auger thinks a moment on how best to respond to his new companion's question. He did not speak of his patron previously and with the recent revelations of her past and his family's connection, he felt even less forthcoming on that matter. Auger decides to align with how Varielky has interpreted things in the past. Quietly he responds, "I think something more is involved in the nature of this trip." Even more quietly, "The Gods or greater beings do guide us it appears. Definitely something more."
As the conversation continues, Auger remembers Granophyre, starving in the boat and thinks to order a second meal and then to bring it out to him. Finding Strewn safe and sleeping in the cabin (OOC: I hope), Auger leaves the meal and returns to the Inn after being gone for 20 minutes. While on his walk, Auger does try and see (OOC: Darkvision 120') if any shops or businesses nearby might sell wood, if only for shoring up boats perhaps. He would have to check again in the morning. There might be time to work on his wood carving on this trip.
Py, why don't you perch on top of the cabin of the boat and attempt to get your own rest. If anything bothers either of you, then come and let me know.
Returning to the Inn, Auger again is struck by how tired he feels, and thinking on Granophyre's words, decides to ask after rooms for the night for each of them and pays. Auger does sit down for another ale before retiring for the night and notes the tense conversations going on around them. A Viceroy. A Priestess. A champion. The Governor. Arrests. Auger was going to be quite pleased to leave Kalahata behind, at least for a time.
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DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
A small suite with four small bed chambers is available. Even Granophyre is able, with Py's help, to slip in and up to a room to sleep in comfort after eating the meal which Auger carries out to him in a large cheesecloth, accompanied by ale in a canteen. You'll return the containers the next morning to a hook outside the tavern door. The night passes quietly, and you all enjoy the benefits of a long rest. Auger does not see a woodshop or lumber for sale, but there are crates, barrels, and various sources of wood. The next morning, you discern the sound of the blockade troops stirring in the near distance before sunup. Granophyre taps on your doors and suggest an early start to the day.
3rd of Grandeur
The next morning, you are up at dawn, and the mist remains, but its chill embrace is welcome as you share the physical work of stepping the mast, during which time Granophyre stretches his legs, walking circles around the village in the half light with a blanket wrapped over his clothes — at a casual inspection, a Dwarven beggar and nothing more.
In an hour, the mast is up, the sail is raised, and the Animu Borongo begins its northward journey. The river is unfamiliar and Snow must pilot the craft slowly to avoid rocks, shoals, and other obstacles, difficult to see in the mist. You pass sharp hills and high palisades to the east; while to the west, the Sebu River Road is barely discernible a stone’s throw from the river’s bank, but in another hour the fog has lifted partly, and as the Sebu bends around a high cliff to your right, a rushing sound suddenly crescendos to a roar, and you see opening before you the great Kalaati Falls.
Golden sunshine glitters upon the two thousand-foot cataract through the mist, a dozen flamingoes and a flight of cranes sail through the heights under the whitewater precipice, while swifts wheel directly overhead and orange-feathered ruddy shelducks float in the near distance, diving periodically for a morning catch. Even more awesome than this natural wonder, at the edge of the falls to either side, white foam spraying over their shoulders, stand enormous, eighteen hundred-foot tall relief depictions of the human god forms of Demsha and Demesh, cut from the red rock cliff, their heads and shoulders lit by morning light. Mists clothe them in gossamer, and each one holds an enormous, ornamented urn atop its head. The cool air is fresh, clean, and bracing, and the scene is unlike anything you’ve witnessed before.
(You may post any actions you wish to take, things said, etc. before leaving the village. Please separate them from the "present" with a Horizontal Line.)
Before he heads up to the room, Snow wanders over to the remaining musicians and lauds their performance. He speaks to each of those remaining, shakes them by the hand, and offers a couple of silver each as tip, making them promise to buy a drink for those that had already left.
(Early morning)
Snow does his best to direct the stepping of the mast in the way the riverboat men from Kalahata instructed him. As they work he takes a look across at Varielky, remembering something she had said the night before.
“If you don’t mind, could you tell me about Lokimarra? It was mentioned in regard to some street urchins in Kalahata, and I just wanted to know what it might mean. They were pretty desperate in truth, and it would be good to know why”, he asks her.
(Present)
Snow stands at the tiller, carefully steering the Animu Borongo whilst periodically casting a gust charm into the cantrip battery, keeping the boat moving at a steady but safe pace.
As the Kalaati Falls come into view he stands awestruck, taking in the mixture of natural beauty and stone carving. He is drawn from his reverie only by the feel of the boat slipping backwards down the river, as the magical wind dips.
“A sight such as that is enough to bring tears to the eyes, truly worthy of the gods they depict”, he says loudly as he resumes powering the cantrip battery, still staring at the scene.
“We can drop the anchor and tarry here for a while if you like?”, he calls to the others, motioning to where the anchor is located.
"That makes sense, though it does not mean anything special in this context, I suppose." Varielky answers. As she's busy with the physically-demanding task of raising the mast, she does not tell the tale as a glorifying war story. She was not certain if that's what the captain was interested in anyhow. "The brigades were sent to fight in a large battle against Drey - the most action I've got in all my service. The Dreyen warriors are mighty, however, and the glorious battle caused lots of worthy blood to be spilt. Many warriors found their way to Hallvala that day. It comes as no surprise that many have lost a parent there - on both sides. So, as far as desperate urchins go, the name Lokimarra shouldn't mean too much. Their parents died, possibly heroically. If anything, they should be proud it was that and not a boring, if not dishonours death. Could have been a thug who came to claim a ship they never owned. You never know who is left behind the body you just slew. And, personal advice? Try not to think too much about it - it will do you no good." Well, easier said than done. Not all were raised with the perception that death in a glorious fight is what every person should strive for. Besides, even for her, killing was not simple at first, and dealing with it took time. "But you should be prepared. If they ever wish to exact revenge, give them a fight that would not shame them or their ancestors. If you send someone to the afterlife - in either form of it - you become responsible for the soul's placement and whether it was just or not."
Auger decides to pass on bringing any of the wood he sees on board, hoping to find something better on their travels. Auger works to step the mast with the others and asks Py to keep an eye on Strewn while they work.
(The present.)
Auger suggests Granophyre leave the cabin and take a look at the amazing sights. When Snow offers putting in to enjoy the view Auger agrees, but mostly so he can take his handaxe and with Py's help, try and find a tree worth cutting for some wood to carve.
While waiting for the boat to anchor, Auger asks Py to fly to the top of the falls and have a look around.
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DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
The musicians’ faces brighten and their eyes bulge in response to Snow’s kind words and generosity, certain the bard must be a famous musician from afar. “Play with us next time!,” they beg him before saying good night.
(Early morning)
Snow’s knowledge of the Animu Borongo is growing. He can confidently lead the others in restepping the mast, and discovers a likely shortcut to do it faster next time, if there is a next time.
(At the falls)
Granophyre needs but little coaxing, and stands on the balls of his feet, smiling with just a hint of sadness in his eyes as he takes in the scene.
Py, “Fzzzzzzzzzz…,” buzzes upwards and away.
Taking in your more immediate surroundings, to the left of the falls, from your perspective, the road switches back and forth repeatedly through sloping aisles hewn into the red rock cliff face, softened, now, in early spring, by sprouting sagebrush and palos verdes. Near the base of the switchbacks, perhaps several hundred yards from the falls, a tall sandstone temple to Demesh stands, mirrored on the opposite shore by a temple to Demsha.
As you take in the scene, a barge floats upriver, slowly passing you as boatmen with long poles lower their ends to the riverbed and use them to push the vessel along. It moves towards an alcove just at the feet of the towering Demsha carving.
Py glides back down. ‘The river continues above, several barges have floated, carefully, into the urn carried by the Demesh carving.’
You look back up and it seems — perhaps it is the shifting light — that the top of the Demsha carving does not reach all the way up now?
Snow watches the barge pass with great interest, keeping an eye on exactly where it was going.
“It looks like we will need to follow that barge to the alcove at the feet of the carving. I will likely need your strength again Varielky, the oars will allow for more accurate steering”, he says squinting into the distance.
“Hopefully it will become clearer how we proceed as we get closer”.
He watches the urn curiously, almost not believing what he is seeing.
The Animu Borongo, directed carefully with oars and sail, moves toward the eastern shore at the base of the falls, following in the wake of the barge. The barge slows as it passes the temple, where an acolyte standing at a low terrace over the water lowers a long thin pole with a cup at its end, and as the barge passes, one of its drivers reaches up to drop some pieces of gold into the cup, which then, with a shift of the acolyte’s grip, rises a few feet to allow the vessel to pass, then, lowers again in your path.
Sighting beyond the barge, you see a second barge, already at anchor in the narrow cove at the base of the cliff.
As you approach, there is no longer any doubt. The Demsha figure, though composed of smooth, solid red rock, is in motion. In a long, graceful movement, she has lowered the urn to hip level, turning it downwards by degrees so that its lip now faces up and away from the cliff, water showering out of it and falling like a slow rain over the covered cove.
The river folk on the barge shout hallo’s to one another, the sound inaudible to you due to the roaring of the falls, which as you draw closer envelops your body in its pounding discourse, while a scrawny elder on the closer vessel lights a pipe and sits on a barrel, lost in thought.
At first, Varielky stops rowing for a moment. Demsha... the goddess has not been supportive of their journey in the past. For a second, she fears the urn might be moved further, and perhaps flip their boat over, sink it in the river. That would not be the strangest thing that has happened to them. However, seeing little to no reaction from the people around, Varielky calms. If moving rocks were strange to them, someone would have reacted by now.
Ednyss would want to be here, she thought. Temples of Demsha and Demesh so close to each other...
Auger thinks he sees the point of this thing and watches to ensure his belief is right, that these temples provide passage up and above the falls, via use of the urns. Seeing that Snow in particular appears to have caught on, Auger does think that boats may operate in close proximity while being raised or lowered.
Looking at Granophyre Auger says, "This will be a sight not to miss, but we will be near a barge it appears as we go up. Perhaps you should stay in the cabin, we are still close to Kalahata."
To Py he sends, Stay above us but close and invisible. I will need your eyes at times.
As they move towards this area, Auger occasionally does pass his perceptions into Py, so that he can see from its point of view. He wants to see the spectacular view and he wants to keep an eye on any boats that might join them in an urn on the way up.
[edit] If Snow is too busy with piloting to take the step, Auger will step forward and query for the correct amount and then pay for passage up the falls.
Snow digs in his coin pouch and withdraws 5 gold pieces.
“Easy on the oars please Varielky, slow and steady passed the temple”, he says as he holds his hand up signalling to the acolyte that he will be paying the donation.
“As soon as we are let passed, let’s head to the cove, but keep our distance from the barges”
As he passes the cup he will drop the coins in, hoping it is an appropriate amount.
Apparently 5gp is enough, for the acolyte draws in the long pole and waves you on. You enter the cove, water continues to splash over it as the Demsha figure kneels and brings the urn slowly down, until it dips into the pond and then meets the edge of the cove. The two barges queued in front of you push off and enter the dark urn, the foremost one lighting a lantern.
If you follow, you wait there In the urn a few minutes until a horn sounds from the Demsha temple, answered a moment later by another distant horn from the opposite shore. The urn, with your vessel inside it, detaches from the cove, tilting up to catch the rear of your vessel inside its circumference, and then you slowly rise.
In a minute or two, at 150’, the edge of the urn passes over the top of the covered cove and morning light reflects inside. Py messages to Auger that the Demesh figure is simultaneously lowering his urn, vessels within, from the top of the falls safely to the cataract’s base. Then, you’re rising above the mist, above the temples, and the flamingos and herons are arcing gracefully in front of you as they soar high above the Orracan Steppes! (OOC: If you wish, play music from Jurassic Park for this magical moment.)
You reach the top without issue, and are deposited gracefully at the top of the falls, where a line of red rock sculptures keep craft from accidentally crashing over the precipice. You sail and row forward to moor temporarily at a long dock on the riverbank.
There, Granophyre shares this map, which appears in the air over a small magic stone he keeps in a vest pocket, of the Vale of Deshar. He asks your thoughts as to how best to proceed, now that you’ve entered the vale.
Auger looks at Granophyre and then briefly at Snow. On the map he sees the only destinations that make sense to him and he points at at it, while looking back at Granophyre.
"Is there any reason to stop at these towns before we get up here to the Abziri zone? Perhaps we need to ask around a little about the location of Safiya in..." Auger looks down at the map again. "In... innn... Outghal and then perhaps Fahnaout. At any rate, up the river as quickly as we can without drawing undue attention."
Auger takes a moment to look at their small company. Snow certainly looks the part of Captain and Master of the Animu Borongo, but he, Auger, looked like a passenger and perhaps a rich one, if any sight his coat. And Varielky might be small in stature, but is unmistakably a warrior. And Granophyre...
"I would suggest we find some ways to maintain a lower profile. I think if I keep my tools about me and leave my coat off and switch to my road clothes from before Kalahata I can take on the appearance of a simple boat-hand. Varielky, perhaps you can do something similar. Granophyre... I think it best if you minimize your time out of the cabin during the day at least. Eyes can be anywhere. What say you all?"
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DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
"That is an option, and if that is what you all agree on, I will try to make myself appear like a... ah... someone who works the boat? Or something like that. However," Varielky stops for a moment, she takes a deep breath. Was it the right thing to do? It would surely jeopardize their mission, but at the same time, almost necessary. Surely the others will have their opinion on the matter. If they decide otherwise, she will accept it, but she is not going to give up before trying. "Do you remember our conversation from yesterday's morning? The misuse of power, children sent as slaves to the vale to farm poppies? I still wish to stop that, or at least save those we can. I'm... not really sure how - maybe it's impossible. I realise we cannot care for all those children, nor could we even hope to take them with us. And yet, and yet..." her fists clenched, Varielky doesn't know how to complete the sentence. Will they simply pass through the vale without helping any of them? Similarly to what she told the captain in the morning, sparing lives also carries responsibility, and the lives they spared were not easy to bear.
Snow looks at the map being projected by the small stone with a trained eye. “The detail on this map is exquisite”, he says looking at Strewn. “Maybe I can borrow this some time and copy some of the detail onto my own map?”, he says motioning to the chest in the corner where he keeps his cartography tools and maps.
He listens to both Auger and Varielky. It seemed there was more to this journey for Varielky than merely escorting Strewn. Having seen the children in Kalahata resorting to mugging people due to the misfortunes of war, he felt sympathy for her point of view.
“It seems we all have our own agendas on this journey, and I believe that as long as we respect those agendas, our journey can be fruitful to all of us. I had not heard about the child slavery here, but it is not something I find palatable, nor something I could stand idly by and watch”, he says pondering the situation for a moment.
“I agree that keeping a low profile is the safest course of action. This is not the most usual craft to be seen sailing up river though, particularly with our method of propulsion”, he says pointing at the cantrip battery. “which is obviously foreign, as is the Captain, and we may well attract attention regardless”.
He strokes his chin for a moment. “I am also not certain whether we will be able to pass under these bridges with the mast raised”, he adds pointing at the bridges on the map. “And we might have to moor the Animu Borongo at Outghal and travel to Tahnaout on foot, by the looks of the size of the stream there”, he adds pointing at the waterway linking the two towns.
“I know I am the new guy here, and I am not familiar with this area, but it may be having a guard on board would not stand out any more than we already do. And having a wealthy employer would make sense as to why this sort of craft were here in the first place”. He shakes his head unsure, “Either way holds risk in truth, do we try and avoid trouble and be less prepared, or do we stay prepared and possibly invite trouble?”, he adds with a shrug.
“As for helping the children, we cannot do that alone. If that is something we are going to try to do we would need local allies, if such exist. Maybe we could keep our eyes and ears open along the way and be open to opportunities?”, he says pondering.
Realising he had been talking a lot, not unusual for a bard but possibly too much for this group, he looks to Strewn. “What do your instincts tell you?”
Auger lets himself feel the music and enjoy it while he eats. Looking down he can scarcely believe that he finished what was in front of him and so quickly. As he sits back with his ale, Auger already feels that he is fighting the urge to sleep. So when Snow, clearly energized by the inn and the music, asks his question Auger does not immediately respond. Knowing that Varielky was still feeling the pain of their friend's departures, Auger replies and engages at length with Snow on his questions about where he comes from.
(OOC: sorry but I am time-pressed so will summarize things Auger shares)
Auger will seek similar kinds of information from Snow. And though he does not expect to hear much, he listens carefully for what Varielky will share as he realizes he does not know much of her past, just that she and Ednyss had served in a war together.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Varielky starts with the ale, then moves to the food. There was not much reasoning for that, that's just how it happened. When asked about her past, she's comfortable with allowing the others to speak first. 'Come wine gone secret, right?' Well, she's not going to be that drunk. Either way, what she's about to tell is the same she always does, which is not even a lie. "There's not too much to tell." She shrugs when eventually her turn to speak comes. "I was born in a village in the northern part of Indallia. I lived and trained there until I decided to leave one day to fulfil my calling. I was travelling down the Rainbow Coast when the Jenghen Brigades decided to recruit me. I thought of an army as what you hear in stories, so I had no objections. In truth, most of my service was rather boring, except the battle in Lokimorra - if you've heard of it - just before I was honourably discharged, more or less. Then... I arrived at Ishi Ammah where I met the Amazighs, as I've told you before. Leaving Ishi Ammah for - well, I suppose you know already - and a month and a few days later, here we are." She realises it sounds very short and perhaps even boring, but she doesn't really care. It's the truth, but only the safe truth, which she could tell anyone without worry.
Varielky
Snow listens to the stories of Auger and Varielky, nodding along and engaging with the odd, “Ok” and “Interesting” comment.
When Auger tells of a partner and children back home, a slightly melancholy look comes across his face. “I bet they miss you very much”, he says before adding more cheerily, “But think of all the carpentry building up for you at home!”.
Talk of the Sea of Stars is of particular interest as well, he feels like asking more, but leaves it alone for now.
When Auger mentions how a vision brought him into Strewn’s company, that really resonates with him.
Varielky’s tale was short and to the point, certainly just the abridged version, but he wasn’t surprised. He was effectively still a stranger to them after all. He thinks on the name Lokimarra for a moment, but Varielky moved on.
There was certainly more to tell about both these two. Their skills were one thing, but their equipment was another, as was the fact Varielky prayed to a Dreyen god. That wouldn’t have gone down well in the Jenghen army!
When it is his turn to share, he sits back and holds his hands up before him, shoulder high. “Ah, my story. A child of brilliant parents, my father was an academic from the Kingdoms. My mother was more artistic, herself the child of Elven diplomats also living in the Kingdoms. A happy childhood, to a point”, he says the last with a slight shrug. “My father was a little like our mutual friend, intelligent and some might even say brilliant. But with that came an obsessive streak that began to take all his focus, until one day he went following his research and never came back”. This would explain the melancholy look when Auger mentioned leaving children at home.
“A young Snow spent his early years after that trying to live up to the memory of his father, but the pressures of academic life proved too much, and he fell from grace”. He sighs at this, looking into space for a moment.
“But all was not lost, young Snow stumbled on his own path, strictly less academic but no less rewarding. And one that kept him on the path to knowledge”. He looks back to his companions, “He learned the ways of the bard and found his path to knowledge that way”.
He gives Auger and Varielky a smile, “And young Snow became the man you see before you”.
“Now I travel as my father did, searching out ancient knowledge and artifacts. Ever with the hope that my path may cross with his, and that I might even see him again one day”.
He looks to Auger, “By the way, it was a vision of the Vale of Deshar that brought me on this journey, much how you became involved with our friend. Coincidence or something more, I wonder”.
(OOC: Would he know about Lokimarra?)
(OOC: Snow had not heard the word Lokimarra, until this morning. After the incident with the trio of urchins, the adults shook their heads ruefully and a few uttered the word. Perhaps, many Shians died in the battle, leaving their families destitute, children with no hope.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Shortly after your arrival, the crowd began to thin, and by now the time must be approaching ten bells. The music has calmed as some of the players packed up instruments and bid their friends good night, and the kitchen closed.
As the evening passes into night, you begin to notice that under the jovial mood sits a closed, nervous energy unusual in the Shians you have known.
Overhearing snatches of conversation from your neighbors, here in Jemmu Village, the talk is of the lockdown; of Piotr Brezhnyev, the winner of the Games; wariness at the Governor’s presence in Kalahata; a rumor that the Viceroy Abziri and High Priestess of Idiwala have been arrested; and in an undertone, people speak of many arrests, but among them not a single dwarf. Only Shians were taken in, by all accounts.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Auger thinks a moment on how best to respond to his new companion's question. He did not speak of his patron previously and with the recent revelations of her past and his family's connection, he felt even less forthcoming on that matter. Auger decides to align with how Varielky has interpreted things in the past. Quietly he responds, "I think something more is involved in the nature of this trip." Even more quietly, "The Gods or greater beings do guide us it appears. Definitely something more."
As the conversation continues, Auger remembers Granophyre, starving in the boat and thinks to order a second meal and then to bring it out to him. Finding Strewn safe and sleeping in the cabin (OOC: I hope), Auger leaves the meal and returns to the Inn after being gone for 20 minutes. While on his walk, Auger does try and see (OOC: Darkvision 120') if any shops or businesses nearby might sell wood, if only for shoring up boats perhaps. He would have to check again in the morning. There might be time to work on his wood carving on this trip.
Py, why don't you perch on top of the cabin of the boat and attempt to get your own rest. If anything bothers either of you, then come and let me know.
Returning to the Inn, Auger again is struck by how tired he feels, and thinking on Granophyre's words, decides to ask after rooms for the night for each of them and pays. Auger does sit down for another ale before retiring for the night and notes the tense conversations going on around them. A Viceroy. A Priestess. A champion. The Governor. Arrests. Auger was going to be quite pleased to leave Kalahata behind, at least for a time.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
A small suite with four small bed chambers is available. Even Granophyre is able, with Py's help, to slip in and up to a room to sleep in comfort after eating the meal which Auger carries out to him in a large cheesecloth, accompanied by ale in a canteen. You'll return the containers the next morning to a hook outside the tavern door. The night passes quietly, and you all enjoy the benefits of a long rest. Auger does not see a woodshop or lumber for sale, but there are crates, barrels, and various sources of wood. The next morning, you discern the sound of the blockade troops stirring in the near distance before sunup. Granophyre taps on your doors and suggest an early start to the day.
3rd of Grandeur
The next morning, you are up at dawn, and the mist remains, but its chill embrace is welcome as you share the physical work of stepping the mast, during which time Granophyre stretches his legs, walking circles around the village in the half light with a blanket wrapped over his clothes — at a casual inspection, a Dwarven beggar and nothing more.
In an hour, the mast is up, the sail is raised, and the Animu Borongo begins its northward journey. The river is unfamiliar and Snow must pilot the craft slowly to avoid rocks, shoals, and other obstacles, difficult to see in the mist. You pass sharp hills and high palisades to the east; while to the west, the Sebu River Road is barely discernible a stone’s throw from the river’s bank, but in another hour the fog has lifted partly, and as the Sebu bends around a high cliff to your right, a rushing sound suddenly crescendos to a roar, and you see opening before you the great Kalaati Falls.
Golden sunshine glitters upon the two thousand-foot cataract through the mist, a dozen flamingoes and a flight of cranes sail through the heights under the whitewater precipice, while swifts wheel directly overhead and orange-feathered ruddy shelducks float in the near distance, diving periodically for a morning catch. Even more awesome than this natural wonder, at the edge of the falls to either side, white foam spraying over their shoulders, stand enormous, eighteen hundred-foot tall relief depictions of the human god forms of Demsha and Demesh, cut from the red rock cliff, their heads and shoulders lit by morning light. Mists clothe them in gossamer, and each one holds an enormous, ornamented urn atop its head. The cool air is fresh, clean, and bracing, and the scene is unlike anything you’ve witnessed before.
(You may post any actions you wish to take, things said, etc. before leaving the village. Please separate them from the "present" with a Horizontal Line.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
(In the evening)
Before he heads up to the room, Snow wanders over to the remaining musicians and lauds their performance. He speaks to each of those remaining, shakes them by the hand, and offers a couple of silver each as tip, making them promise to buy a drink for those that had already left.
(Early morning)
Snow does his best to direct the stepping of the mast in the way the riverboat men from Kalahata instructed him. As they work he takes a look across at Varielky, remembering something she had said the night before.
“If you don’t mind, could you tell me about Lokimarra? It was mentioned in regard to some street urchins in Kalahata, and I just wanted to know what it might mean. They were pretty desperate in truth, and it would be good to know why”, he asks her.
(Present)
Snow stands at the tiller, carefully steering the Animu Borongo whilst periodically casting a gust charm into the cantrip battery, keeping the boat moving at a steady but safe pace.
As the Kalaati Falls come into view he stands awestruck, taking in the mixture of natural beauty and stone carving. He is drawn from his reverie only by the feel of the boat slipping backwards down the river, as the magical wind dips.
“A sight such as that is enough to bring tears to the eyes, truly worthy of the gods they depict”, he says loudly as he resumes powering the cantrip battery, still staring at the scene.
“We can drop the anchor and tarry here for a while if you like?”, he calls to the others, motioning to where the anchor is located.
(Early Morning.)
"That makes sense, though it does not mean anything special in this context, I suppose." Varielky answers. As she's busy with the physically-demanding task of raising the mast, she does not tell the tale as a glorifying war story. She was not certain if that's what the captain was interested in anyhow. "The brigades were sent to fight in a large battle against Drey - the most action I've got in all my service. The Dreyen warriors are mighty, however, and the glorious battle caused lots of worthy blood to be spilt. Many warriors found their way to Hallvala that day. It comes as no surprise that many have lost a parent there - on both sides. So, as far as desperate urchins go, the name Lokimarra shouldn't mean too much. Their parents died, possibly heroically. If anything, they should be proud it was that and not a boring, if not dishonours death. Could have been a thug who came to claim a ship they never owned. You never know who is left behind the body you just slew. And, personal advice? Try not to think too much about it - it will do you no good." Well, easier said than done. Not all were raised with the perception that death in a glorious fight is what every person should strive for. Besides, even for her, killing was not simple at first, and dealing with it took time. "But you should be prepared. If they ever wish to exact revenge, give them a fight that would not shame them or their ancestors. If you send someone to the afterlife - in either form of it - you become responsible for the soul's placement and whether it was just or not."
Varielky
(Early morning.)
Auger decides to pass on bringing any of the wood he sees on board, hoping to find something better on their travels. Auger works to step the mast with the others and asks Py to keep an eye on Strewn while they work.
(The present.)
Auger suggests Granophyre leave the cabin and take a look at the amazing sights. When Snow offers putting in to enjoy the view Auger agrees, but mostly so he can take his handaxe and with Py's help, try and find a tree worth cutting for some wood to carve.
While waiting for the boat to anchor, Auger asks Py to fly to the top of the falls and have a look around.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
(The prior night)
The musicians’ faces brighten and their eyes bulge in response to Snow’s kind words and generosity, certain the bard must be a famous musician from afar. “Play with us next time!,” they beg him before saying good night.
(Early morning)
Snow’s knowledge of the Animu Borongo is growing. He can confidently lead the others in restepping the mast, and discovers a likely shortcut to do it faster next time, if there is a next time.
(At the falls)
Granophyre needs but little coaxing, and stands on the balls of his feet, smiling with just a hint of sadness in his eyes as he takes in the scene.
Py, “Fzzzzzzzzzz…,” buzzes upwards and away.
Taking in your more immediate surroundings, to the left of the falls, from your perspective, the road switches back and forth repeatedly through sloping aisles hewn into the red rock cliff face, softened, now, in early spring, by sprouting sagebrush and palos verdes. Near the base of the switchbacks, perhaps several hundred yards from the falls, a tall sandstone temple to Demesh stands, mirrored on the opposite shore by a temple to Demsha.
As you take in the scene, a barge floats upriver, slowly passing you as boatmen with long poles lower their ends to the riverbed and use them to push the vessel along. It moves towards an alcove just at the feet of the towering Demsha carving.
Py glides back down. ‘The river continues above, several barges have floated, carefully, into the urn carried by the Demesh carving.’
You look back up and it seems — perhaps it is the shifting light — that the top of the Demsha carving does not reach all the way up now?
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow watches the barge pass with great interest, keeping an eye on exactly where it was going.
“It looks like we will need to follow that barge to the alcove at the feet of the carving. I will likely need your strength again Varielky, the oars will allow for more accurate steering”, he says squinting into the distance.
“Hopefully it will become clearer how we proceed as we get closer”.
He watches the urn curiously, almost not believing what he is seeing.
The Animu Borongo, directed carefully with oars and sail, moves toward the eastern shore at the base of the falls, following in the wake of the barge. The barge slows as it passes the temple, where an acolyte standing at a low terrace over the water lowers a long thin pole with a cup at its end, and as the barge passes, one of its drivers reaches up to drop some pieces of gold into the cup, which then, with a shift of the acolyte’s grip, rises a few feet to allow the vessel to pass, then, lowers again in your path.
Sighting beyond the barge, you see a second barge, already at anchor in the narrow cove at the base of the cliff.
As you approach, there is no longer any doubt. The Demsha figure, though composed of smooth, solid red rock, is in motion. In a long, graceful movement, she has lowered the urn to hip level, turning it downwards by degrees so that its lip now faces up and away from the cliff, water showering out of it and falling like a slow rain over the covered cove.
The river folk on the barge shout hallo’s to one another, the sound inaudible to you due to the roaring of the falls, which as you draw closer envelops your body in its pounding discourse, while a scrawny elder on the closer vessel lights a pipe and sits on a barrel, lost in thought.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
At first, Varielky stops rowing for a moment. Demsha... the goddess has not been supportive of their journey in the past. For a second, she fears the urn might be moved further, and perhaps flip their boat over, sink it in the river. That would not be the strangest thing that has happened to them. However, seeing little to no reaction from the people around, Varielky calms. If moving rocks were strange to them, someone would have reacted by now.
Ednyss would want to be here, she thought. Temples of Demsha and Demesh so close to each other...
Varielky
Auger thinks he sees the point of this thing and watches to ensure his belief is right, that these temples provide passage up and above the falls, via use of the urns. Seeing that Snow in particular appears to have caught on, Auger does think that boats may operate in close proximity while being raised or lowered.
Looking at Granophyre Auger says, "This will be a sight not to miss, but we will be near a barge it appears as we go up. Perhaps you should stay in the cabin, we are still close to Kalahata."
To Py he sends, Stay above us but close and invisible. I will need your eyes at times.
As they move towards this area, Auger occasionally does pass his perceptions into Py, so that he can see from its point of view. He wants to see the spectacular view and he wants to keep an eye on any boats that might join them in an urn on the way up.
[edit] If Snow is too busy with piloting to take the step, Auger will step forward and query for the correct amount and then pay for passage up the falls.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow digs in his coin pouch and withdraws 5 gold pieces.
“Easy on the oars please Varielky, slow and steady passed the temple”, he says as he holds his hand up signalling to the acolyte that he will be paying the donation.
“As soon as we are let passed, let’s head to the cove, but keep our distance from the barges”
As he passes the cup he will drop the coins in, hoping it is an appropriate amount.
Apparently 5gp is enough, for the acolyte draws in the long pole and waves you on. You enter the cove, water continues to splash over it as the Demsha figure kneels and brings the urn slowly down, until it dips into the pond and then meets the edge of the cove. The two barges queued in front of you push off and enter the dark urn, the foremost one lighting a lantern.
If you follow, you wait there In the urn a few minutes until a horn sounds from the Demsha temple, answered a moment later by another distant horn from the opposite shore. The urn, with your vessel inside it, detaches from the cove, tilting up to catch the rear of your vessel inside its circumference, and then you slowly rise.
In a minute or two, at 150’, the edge of the urn passes over the top of the covered cove and morning light reflects inside. Py messages to Auger that the Demesh figure is simultaneously lowering his urn, vessels within, from the top of the falls safely to the cataract’s base. Then, you’re rising above the mist, above the temples, and the flamingos and herons are arcing gracefully in front of you as they soar high above the Orracan Steppes! (OOC: If you wish, play music from Jurassic Park for this magical moment.)
You reach the top without issue, and are deposited gracefully at the top of the falls, where a line of red rock sculptures keep craft from accidentally crashing over the precipice. You sail and row forward to moor temporarily at a long dock on the riverbank.
There, Granophyre shares this map, which appears in the air over a small magic stone he keeps in a vest pocket, of the Vale of Deshar. He asks your thoughts as to how best to proceed, now that you’ve entered the vale.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Auger looks at Granophyre and then briefly at Snow. On the map he sees the only destinations that make sense to him and he points at at it, while looking back at Granophyre.
"Is there any reason to stop at these towns before we get up here to the Abziri zone? Perhaps we need to ask around a little about the location of Safiya in..." Auger looks down at the map again. "In... innn... Outghal and then perhaps Fahnaout. At any rate, up the river as quickly as we can without drawing undue attention."
Auger takes a moment to look at their small company. Snow certainly looks the part of Captain and Master of the Animu Borongo, but he, Auger, looked like a passenger and perhaps a rich one, if any sight his coat. And Varielky might be small in stature, but is unmistakably a warrior. And Granophyre...
"I would suggest we find some ways to maintain a lower profile. I think if I keep my tools about me and leave my coat off and switch to my road clothes from before Kalahata I can take on the appearance of a simple boat-hand. Varielky, perhaps you can do something similar. Granophyre... I think it best if you minimize your time out of the cabin during the day at least. Eyes can be anywhere. What say you all?"
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
"That is an option, and if that is what you all agree on, I will try to make myself appear like a... ah... someone who works the boat? Or something like that. However," Varielky stops for a moment, she takes a deep breath. Was it the right thing to do? It would surely jeopardize their mission, but at the same time, almost necessary. Surely the others will have their opinion on the matter. If they decide otherwise, she will accept it, but she is not going to give up before trying. "Do you remember our conversation from yesterday's morning? The misuse of power, children sent as slaves to the vale to farm poppies? I still wish to stop that, or at least save those we can. I'm... not really sure how - maybe it's impossible. I realise we cannot care for all those children, nor could we even hope to take them with us. And yet, and yet..." her fists clenched, Varielky doesn't know how to complete the sentence. Will they simply pass through the vale without helping any of them? Similarly to what she told the captain in the morning, sparing lives also carries responsibility, and the lives they spared were not easy to bear.
Varielky
Snow looks at the map being projected by the small stone with a trained eye. “The detail on this map is exquisite”, he says looking at Strewn. “Maybe I can borrow this some time and copy some of the detail onto my own map?”, he says motioning to the chest in the corner where he keeps his cartography tools and maps.
He listens to both Auger and Varielky. It seemed there was more to this journey for Varielky than merely escorting Strewn. Having seen the children in Kalahata resorting to mugging people due to the misfortunes of war, he felt sympathy for her point of view.
“It seems we all have our own agendas on this journey, and I believe that as long as we respect those agendas, our journey can be fruitful to all of us. I had not heard about the child slavery here, but it is not something I find palatable, nor something I could stand idly by and watch”, he says pondering the situation for a moment.
“I agree that keeping a low profile is the safest course of action. This is not the most usual craft to be seen sailing up river though, particularly with our method of propulsion”, he says pointing at the cantrip battery. “which is obviously foreign, as is the Captain, and we may well attract attention regardless”.
He strokes his chin for a moment. “I am also not certain whether we will be able to pass under these bridges with the mast raised”, he adds pointing at the bridges on the map. “And we might have to moor the Animu Borongo at Outghal and travel to Tahnaout on foot, by the looks of the size of the stream there”, he adds pointing at the waterway linking the two towns.
“I know I am the new guy here, and I am not familiar with this area, but it may be having a guard on board would not stand out any more than we already do. And having a wealthy employer would make sense as to why this sort of craft were here in the first place”. He shakes his head unsure, “Either way holds risk in truth, do we try and avoid trouble and be less prepared, or do we stay prepared and possibly invite trouble?”, he adds with a shrug.
“As for helping the children, we cannot do that alone. If that is something we are going to try to do we would need local allies, if such exist. Maybe we could keep our eyes and ears open along the way and be open to opportunities?”, he says pondering.
Realising he had been talking a lot, not unusual for a bard but possibly too much for this group, he looks to Strewn. “What do your instincts tell you?”