Kali knew this moment of alone time wouldn’t last long, and her assumption was correct once she felt eyes on her. Her head turned the same time as Misha did, the hybrid hanging her head in the crook of the others neck, muttering a curse under her breath. Kali pulled off the paladin and sat next to her while the captain approached, wiping the side of her mouth when she spoke and avoided eye contact with her until she was asked for a massage.
”Ah, uh, no, sorry, I ain’t a masseuse.” Kali forces a laugh. “I’ll, uh, leave you two...” She gets up and dusts off the sand from her body, flashing a sad smile over to Misha. “Don’t stay out too late, I think Wolf is gonna be cookin’ up somethin’ good tonight. See ya, Carrhae... Misha.” With that she heads back down the beach for the ship.
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Aeydof the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm /ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
Misha took a couple of discrete breaths to calm herself, to try lower the passions that were about to erupt inside her.
"Ah." she said, almost through gritted teeth, smiling. "Hello, Kapitan!" Gently and reluctantly as she could, sat up and felt Kali get off of her and sit next to her. Misha almost protested as Kali left, but watched her go sadly as she walked down the beach. She tried to talk about what Carrhae wanted to know about before her lust turned into something else.
"How interesting, your dream ees so very detailed and speceefeek. The way you describe thees woma.." Misha stopped for a second, lost in thought. "..this woman."
Misha was quiet for a very long time. The look on her face after that time to Carrhae was one of..confusion? Disbelief? Pale. Thin. Dressed in black. And the sword of ice. No. It cannot be. She was talking about..
"Jeel?" she breathed. "You..you are descibing Jeel! How? Do you know thees woman?"
Carrhae waves goodbye to Kali. Once she's gone, she turns back to Misha. "The two of you really have something special. I'm happy for the both of you. It can be hard to find someone that you truly love. I'll try not to take up too much of your time with this." Her eyes widen upon seeing Misha's reaction to the girl she was talking about in her dreams. "I-I don't know anyone named Jeel, I mean Jill. That's why I was hoping that you would know whether I was seeing a vision of something that might happen in the future. Did you know her? What happened to her?"
Wolf has spent the time setting up an entire little area for his lesson with Sloop. He also made sure to get a little bit of extra everything for the lessons. Tail eagerly wagging as he was waiting for Sloop to return. Upon seeing him and the litter of lipstick marks on the tabaxi though the wagging goes down some. Taking a deep sigh he says, "Alright Sloop. Rule number one. Wash up before you start. Make sure your hands and everything are thoroughly clean. And then we're going to start grilling up these patties. Honestly cooking is easy. It just takes some time and basic knowledge."
Carrhae slows down for a second. "You mentioned before that you've gone on missions that took you out of Acheron before, did you meet her on one of your missions? And was it at the tower that I saw her heading towards?"
"Bane's Feest." Misha breathed. "You don't even know her."
Again, it was a while before Misha spoke again. There was a lot of revelations rattling in her mind, her brain trying to sort through this information.
"Jeel was a woman I knew back on Atlas." she admitted, carefully. "We fought together on that world as comrades. She was strong, honorable, but..troubled. Alone. She was, perhaps, from someplace far, like me, perhaps - she spoke another language I did not understand. I was pulled from that duty by Acheronian Command, and we said goodbye. How ees eet possible you are having visions about..her? A person I used to know. Perhaps.." she thought again, then shook her head. "No. Ees not possible. Eet is such..what ees word, coinceedence? Why..why are you seeing thees person. Maybe time on Acheron..? But..you never took een Incense."
Almost instinctively, she scooted away, inwardly searching for answers she didn't have. "What ees happening..?"
Something that shouldn't be happening was happening to Carrhae. Having visions and dreams about someone that she didn't know - that MISHA knew? On her time on Acheron, Carrhae did not smell the Smoke. Why was this happening? How was this happening.
Jill.
It's been years. But why Jill? And why Carrhae? Misha became nervous. She stood up. Taetanicus would have answers.
"I don't know what's going on Misha, but it's clear that I brought up a lot of heavy things for you to think about. We can worry about this later. I don't think Kali's too far gone, you should be able to catch up with her if you get going." She says, trying to get her friend to think about something more pleasant and less confusing.
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Carrhae waved goodbye to Misha, making a mental note to see if she couldn't research anything about having dreams of things that other people remembered. She also made it a point to research whether someone could be tickled by tentacled creature. Just in case.
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Syltra returns from the island mountains with lots of different fruits and nuts to try, and brings them to Wolf if she can find him. "I have never seen some of these before, and I thought you might like to cook with some exotic ingredients!" She says, handing over several large bags of fresh local produce. "Perhaps something to go with the burgers. I will leave you two to it!"
Far to the north, a sea town port district has seen better days. Saltmarsh's final mission is one of investigation. A series of mysterious murders has shakenthe downtrodden folk of the Styes — a decaying port fallen on hard times and is slowly being reclaimed by the sea. Even after a murderer called the Lantern Ghost killer has been caught and executed, some townsfolk in the district believe that the true killer is still out there. Saltmarsh implores the Belle to follow the clues that the local militia ignores to solve the root of the problem.
Your mission is simple. Travel to the Styes, and find out what you can. Your point of contact is the priest Master Refrun. He will be expecting you.
Carrhae had promised the people of Saltmarsh that the crew of the Belle would once again come through for them and solve this series of murders. On the journey there, she thought about what could have possibly caused her to dream about something that happened to Misha, years before the two of them even met. Perhaps I should ask her if she's ever dreamt about something that's happened to me. Carrhae also began to think about what would come after this. The crew of the Belle were almost finished with their mission and they likely had to be thinking of this themselves. She knew that Misha would get called back to Acheron, sooner or later, but the rest of them weren't going to get called back. She figured that some of them might stay along on the Belle, but this job proved as profitable as she said it would be, so the option of taking the money and retiring to spend the rest of their days living like royalty was there. And to be honest, it appealed to Carrhae. She had gone through more in four years that most people would in their entire lives. Maui and Oahu are beautiful islands. Kali and Misha might be on to something, sunbathing all day and having trysts with beautiful locals."
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Dark in her quarters, Misha kneeled low, her head down.
She sat in the Banite circle of rooms surrounded by candles and held her hammer chest high, arms extended. Ignoring the throbbing protest of her shoulder and bicep muscles, she held the hammer firm, and did not move - determined - to get the answers she wanted before she dropped her sacred weapon. The lean muscle fibers were swollen with near fatigue, and she grit her teeth against the burning pain that told her she had held the hammer high long enough, and sweat dripped down her back and chest. But, no, she thought. I will NOT.
Father. Tell me. I WILL remain here until you tell me. Tell me what I want to know.
Tell me what the visions mean.
As almost gave up. There had been no response for hours. She almost gave up, until she finally experienced what she wanted to know.
BEFORE
Legion Commander Taetanicus brought Misha over to the table. On it, a blonde woman from Toril lay dying. Surrounding her were technicians awaiting their commands. The ward smelled like blood, sweat, and death. With Misha, he walked over to the table and observed the woman. This one was called Carrhae. Her body was broken and mangled. She had been crying, and most of her was completely unrecognizable anymore. Misha looked at the woman. Still swelling with pride of the success of her mission, and the honor and glory she had achieved from it, she paid little heed or sympathy to the woman on the table. To Misha, it was another mission complete, and had no connection to this person. There were other, more important things to worry about, like Hell. Taetanicus had escorted Misha to the table to see this woman, and Misha looked Taetanicus, and back to the woman a few times wondering what the Legion Commander was thinking as she stared grimly and silently at the woman. Occasionally, the woman twitched, and convulsed, as the final drops of life ebbed away from her body and spirit.
"This one is special."Taetanicus finally said, almost startling Misha because it had been so silent a moment before. When he spoke, it was always like a thunderous, commanding voice that no one could ignore. "You will assist me, Praskovya. Come. Place your hands on her head." "Yes, Commander, I obey." Misha bowed, and did so, because that is what she was told to do. She walked to the front of the table, and placed the palms of her hands on Carrhae's temples. She looked at Taetanicus for further instructions. "From this moment on, you will be in charge of this woman's rebirth."Taetanicus commanded, walking behind Misha, and placing his enormous hands on her armored shoulders. "You will forever have a connection to this soul, like a Sister in battle, a Warrior bond that will be inseparable. You will guide her back to strength, and in times of darkness you will be there to make sure her soul never dies. The Lord General Bane has foresaw a great future, a great destiny, for this soul. By His Will she will continue the purpose she was meant to fulfill. From this day forward, she will have a special honor among our people. She will never be Acheronian, but she always be your Sister. Praskovya, prepare yourself to receive this special privilege - this honor, and forever from this point, you will honor her. Glorify Bane by accepting this Grace." "Yes, Command-" Misha began, but was suddenly filled with the burning holy energy from Taetanicus - an incredible surge of light and power roared through her and set every nerve ending in her body on fire, complete fire, hotter than the largest star in the universe. She screamed, and through the channel Carrhae's life force was restored.
Carrhae's physical restructuring in the Genesis Chambers from that point on was rapid and masterful. It was rumored by other Primes that Misha never left the Chamber's observation area as she regrew.
TODAY
Of course. The Bonding. Thank you Father. I praise you in your Name. With a sigh of thankfulness and relief, Misha closed her eyes and let her aching shoulders take a moment to recover. Within moments, the chemicals in the muscle fibers recalibrated and refreshed. The fatigue was gone. She opened her eyes and smiled.
The Belle of the Sea was quick to note the Styes visible squalor. The haze of smoke hanging over the district is visible for miles, and its stench travels far downwind. Water flowing out the river mouth carries reeking sewage, streaks of dye, and islands of floating garbage far out to sea. Even from here on the Belle, the view only gets worse. All of the Styes appears to have one foot in the grave. Welcome to the Styes - the decaying remains of a once-notable port district. Under bent gables, the carcasses of its houses lean against each other — languid, broken, and awaiting the peace of collapse. Door frames sag, dislocated from sod walls heavy with mildew, while splintering timbers support rotting boardwalks like broken limbs, disappearing into the thick, rancid water of the harbor below. In numerous places, sections of the boardwalks have fallen away completely, leaving broad holes that expose polluted water.
The map above shows the layout of the district and the locations of important buildings and land features. The islands that support the buildings are almost all artificial. Some were created by ancient spells used to lift the floor of the bay above the water. Others consist entirely of huge boardwalks supported above the brackish water by decaying pilings. The district is made up of four quarters. Travel from one to the other is either by foot over rickety walkways or by skiff.
Once, the Styes was a marvelous port district. Its magnificent buildings crowned an artificial island that was the centerpiece of a broad bay, held aloft on great oak pilings. Those huge beams supported great facades of marble grandeur, connected by boardwalks that thronged with richly clothed merchants, exotic travelers, and the passing palanquins of nobility. Known as the Island of Pleasures, the site was a destination for rich and decadent folk up and down the coast.
Time can be cruel, however. Warfare, corruption, famine, and natural disaster ruined many who loved the Island of Pleasures, and as their resources dwindled, so did this once-magnificent district. But even as fortune turned and the region rebuilt from devastation, the Island of Pleasures became an unneeded luxury. New people called the district home: poor, desperate folk crowded beneath fallen gables in hovels tattooed by mildew and damp rot. On their heels came folk whose trade was scorned elsewhere. Alchemists fouled the air and water with poisonous concoctions from failed experiments. Sweat-shop manufactories set up in the Styes and all but enslaved their desperate workers. Tanners and millers and dyers and butchers invaded the district, scraping every penny out of their businesses with no concern over the impact their toxic operations had on their neighbors or the environment. The district bears little evidence of its former glory as it daily sinks deeper into the muck.
This place is truly a dump. The four Quarters are:
The Low Quarter Also known as Flotsam, the northwest section of the Styes consists mainly of slum tenements, dubious taverns, rickety warehouses, hovel-crowded alleys, and decommissioned ships converted into buildings. This entire area is slowly sinking into the sea. As old buildings become unlivable, new ones are built atop them, and the tangle of structures is four or five stories deep in some places. Many of the lower structures are completely walled off from the outside, making them ideal places for hidden temples and black markets. Swaying rope bridges provide the best avenues between the blocks of this quarter, since the old boardwalks are sinking like everything else.
The Alchemist's Quarter The Alchemists’ Quarter is the northeast section of the Styes. Long ago, it was the seat of the district’s scholastic and religious leadership, but its once-fine temples and universities have long been dismantled for construction materials, or converted into dim, smoky factories and noxious laboratories owned by shady alchemists. With no regulation to speak of in the Styes, alchemists are free to conduct whatever dangerous experiments they like, and to cut corners on safety and quality control. Iron chimneys belch smoke and foul vapors into the air, while liquid and solid waste are dumped into the water around the quarter. A large part of this area has become so clogged and befouled with refuse that the water now moves only along shallow, sluggish channels that snake through the reeking expanse of mud. Still, it’s common to see desperate scavengers wallowing in the filth, scrounging for anything of value that a distracted alchemist might have carelessly tossed out with the trash.
The High Quarter The seat of local government in better days, this quarter is the southeast section of the Styes. Most of the buildings here were once municipal offices, but only a few are still in operation. All the rest are either deserted or have been rented to strange and furtive eccentrics. This section of the district is the least populated, and its often-empty streets and boardwalks are in stark contrast to the crowds that frequent the other three quarters. Militia patrols are common here, but guards in the High Quarter are universally corrupt, accepting bribes from nobles, bureaucrats, and powerful merchants, and extorting protection money from everyone else.
The Merchants' Quarters The southwest section of the Styes hosts most of the district’s industry and mercantile efforts. Most of the community’s fishers live here, and numerous warehouses line the edges of the quarter. Most of these places are either abandoned and boarded up, or serving as flophouses. Of the four quarters, the Merchants’ Quarter is the most welcoming to visitors — though that’s not saying much. It’s also said to be the healthiest part of the district — but that’s not saying much, either.
You are free to explore the district as you see fit by picking a location on the map above. The Belle is parked at AREA 1.
Sloop is in his normal spot, high up in the crow's nest observation post, calling down below everything that he sees as the Belle approaches the city....if it can be called a city. As they approach the city from the far west, Sloop calls out "Ahoy! The harbor master's office appears to be over yonder!" as he points to location #1 on the above map.
Noting Sana's advice about taverns being places to gather information, she has the Belle move towards the Lamp. As the ship closes in, Carrhae recoils in disgust and pulls her scarf over her nose, trying to use it to block out the stench. "This is an information gathering mission, not a social outing. No drinks. And besides, the stuff we have is better anyway.
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
"Don't say that in their earshot," Sana says with a faint smile. She may not have been able to track down Chandor while on Oahu, but her exciting encounter in the woods with a few bears have still put her in a good mood.
“But the best information comes from loose lips Captain. And enough rum makes lips very loose.” Wolf replies giving the captain his best puppy dog eyes and hoping to get her to allow him a drink or two.
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(Carrhae makes the aforementioned awkward entry+ dream interpretation/foot massage request of Misha/Kali)
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Kali knew this moment of alone time wouldn’t last long, and her assumption was correct once she felt eyes on her. Her head turned the same time as Misha did, the hybrid hanging her head in the crook of the others neck, muttering a curse under her breath. Kali pulled off the paladin and sat next to her while the captain approached, wiping the side of her mouth when she spoke and avoided eye contact with her until she was asked for a massage.
”Ah, uh, no, sorry, I ain’t a masseuse.” Kali forces a laugh. “I’ll, uh, leave you two...” She gets up and dusts off the sand from her body, flashing a sad smile over to Misha. “Don’t stay out too late, I think Wolf is gonna be cookin’ up somethin’ good tonight. See ya, Carrhae... Misha.” With that she heads back down the beach for the ship.
Aeyd of the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk
Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm
Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid
Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue
Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm
/ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
Misha took a couple of discrete breaths to calm herself, to try lower the passions that were about to erupt inside her.
"Ah." she said, almost through gritted teeth, smiling. "Hello, Kapitan!" Gently and reluctantly as she could, sat up and felt Kali get off of her and sit next to her. Misha almost protested as Kali left, but watched her go sadly as she walked down the beach. She tried to talk about what Carrhae wanted to know about before her lust turned into something else.
"How interesting, your dream ees so very detailed and speceefeek. The way you describe thees woma.." Misha stopped for a second, lost in thought. "..this woman."
Misha was quiet for a very long time. The look on her face after that time to Carrhae was one of..confusion? Disbelief? Pale. Thin. Dressed in black. And the sword of ice. No. It cannot be. She was talking about..
"Jeel?" she breathed. "You..you are descibing Jeel! How? Do you know thees woman?"
Carrhae waves goodbye to Kali. Once she's gone, she turns back to Misha. "The two of you really have something special. I'm happy for the both of you. It can be hard to find someone that you truly love. I'll try not to take up too much of your time with this." Her eyes widen upon seeing Misha's reaction to the girl she was talking about in her dreams. "I-I don't know anyone named Jeel, I mean Jill. That's why I was hoping that you would know whether I was seeing a vision of something that might happen in the future. Did you know her? What happened to her?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Misha was looking at Carrhae with too much concern and curiosity to answer.
Wolf has spent the time setting up an entire little area for his lesson with Sloop. He also made sure to get a little bit of extra everything for the lessons. Tail eagerly wagging as he was waiting for Sloop to return. Upon seeing him and the litter of lipstick marks on the tabaxi though the wagging goes down some. Taking a deep sigh he says, "Alright Sloop. Rule number one. Wash up before you start. Make sure your hands and everything are thoroughly clean. And then we're going to start grilling up these patties. Honestly cooking is easy. It just takes some time and basic knowledge."
Carrhae slows down for a second. "You mentioned before that you've gone on missions that took you out of Acheron before, did you meet her on one of your missions? And was it at the tower that I saw her heading towards?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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"Bane's Feest." Misha breathed. "You don't even know her."
Again, it was a while before Misha spoke again. There was a lot of revelations rattling in her mind, her brain trying to sort through this information.
"Jeel was a woman I knew back on Atlas." she admitted, carefully. "We fought together on that world as comrades. She was strong, honorable, but..troubled. Alone. She was, perhaps, from someplace far, like me, perhaps - she spoke another language I did not understand. I was pulled from that duty by Acheronian Command, and we said goodbye. How ees eet possible you are having visions about..her? A person I used to know. Perhaps.." she thought again, then shook her head. "No. Ees not possible. Eet is such..what ees word, coinceedence? Why..why are you seeing thees person. Maybe time on Acheron..? But..you never took een Incense."
Almost instinctively, she scooted away, inwardly searching for answers she didn't have. "What ees happening..?"
Something that shouldn't be happening was happening to Carrhae. Having visions and dreams about someone that she didn't know - that MISHA knew? On her time on Acheron, Carrhae did not smell the Smoke. Why was this happening? How was this happening.
Jill.
It's been years. But why Jill? And why Carrhae? Misha became nervous. She stood up. Taetanicus would have answers.
"I don't know what's going on Misha, but it's clear that I brought up a lot of heavy things for you to think about. We can worry about this later. I don't think Kali's too far gone, you should be able to catch up with her if you get going." She says, trying to get her friend to think about something more pleasant and less confusing.
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Misha nodded slowly, smiling weakly. "No. Ees ok. Amazing how you continue to..surprise me, Comrade.."
Lost in thought, she walked back to the Belle.
Carrhae waved goodbye to Misha, making a mental note to see if she couldn't research anything about having dreams of things that other people remembered. She also made it a point to research whether someone could be tickled by tentacled creature. Just in case.
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Syltra returns from the island mountains with lots of different fruits and nuts to try, and brings them to Wolf if she can find him. "I have never seen some of these before, and I thought you might like to cook with some exotic ingredients!" She says, handing over several large bags of fresh local produce. "Perhaps something to go with the burgers. I will leave you two to it!"
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
THE STYES
Far to the north, a sea town port district has seen better days. Saltmarsh's final mission is one of investigation. A series of mysterious murders has shaken the downtrodden folk of the Styes — a decaying port fallen on hard times and is slowly being reclaimed by the sea. Even after a murderer called the Lantern Ghost killer has been caught and executed, some townsfolk in the district believe that the true killer is still out there. Saltmarsh implores the Belle to follow the clues that the local militia ignores to solve the root of the problem.
Your mission is simple. Travel to the Styes, and find out what you can. Your point of contact is the priest Master Refrun. He will be expecting you.
Carrhae had promised the people of Saltmarsh that the crew of the Belle would once again come through for them and solve this series of murders. On the journey there, she thought about what could have possibly caused her to dream about something that happened to Misha, years before the two of them even met. Perhaps I should ask her if she's ever dreamt about something that's happened to me. Carrhae also began to think about what would come after this. The crew of the Belle were almost finished with their mission and they likely had to be thinking of this themselves. She knew that Misha would get called back to Acheron, sooner or later, but the rest of them weren't going to get called back. She figured that some of them might stay along on the Belle, but this job proved as profitable as she said it would be, so the option of taking the money and retiring to spend the rest of their days living like royalty was there. And to be honest, it appealed to Carrhae. She had gone through more in four years that most people would in their entire lives. Maui and Oahu are beautiful islands. Kali and Misha might be on to something, sunbathing all day and having trysts with beautiful locals."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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TODAY
Dark in her quarters, Misha kneeled low, her head down.
She sat in the Banite circle of rooms surrounded by candles and held her hammer chest high, arms extended. Ignoring the throbbing protest of her shoulder and bicep muscles, she held the hammer firm, and did not move - determined - to get the answers she wanted before she dropped her sacred weapon. The lean muscle fibers were swollen with near fatigue, and she grit her teeth against the burning pain that told her she had held the hammer high long enough, and sweat dripped down her back and chest. But, no, she thought. I will NOT.
Father. Tell me. I WILL remain here until you tell me. Tell me what I want to know.
Tell me what the visions mean.
As almost gave up. There had been no response for hours. She almost gave up, until she finally experienced what she wanted to know.
BEFORE
Legion Commander Taetanicus brought Misha over to the table. On it, a blonde woman from Toril lay dying. Surrounding her were technicians awaiting their commands. The ward smelled like blood, sweat, and death. With Misha, he walked over to the table and observed the woman. This one was called Carrhae. Her body was broken and mangled. She had been crying, and most of her was completely unrecognizable anymore. Misha looked at the woman. Still swelling with pride of the success of her mission, and the honor and glory she had achieved from it, she paid little heed or sympathy to the woman on the table. To Misha, it was another mission complete, and had no connection to this person. There were other, more important things to worry about, like Hell. Taetanicus had escorted Misha to the table to see this woman, and Misha looked Taetanicus, and back to the woman a few times wondering what the Legion Commander was thinking as she stared grimly and silently at the woman. Occasionally, the woman twitched, and convulsed, as the final drops of life ebbed away from her body and spirit.
"This one is special." Taetanicus finally said, almost startling Misha because it had been so silent a moment before. When he spoke, it was always like a thunderous, commanding voice that no one could ignore. "You will assist me, Praskovya. Come. Place your hands on her head."
"Yes, Commander, I obey." Misha bowed, and did so, because that is what she was told to do. She walked to the front of the table, and placed the palms of her hands on Carrhae's temples. She looked at Taetanicus for further instructions.
"From this moment on, you will be in charge of this woman's rebirth." Taetanicus commanded, walking behind Misha, and placing his enormous hands on her armored shoulders. "You will forever have a connection to this soul, like a Sister in battle, a Warrior bond that will be inseparable. You will guide her back to strength, and in times of darkness you will be there to make sure her soul never dies. The Lord General Bane has foresaw a great future, a great destiny, for this soul. By His Will she will continue the purpose she was meant to fulfill. From this day forward, she will have a special honor among our people. She will never be Acheronian, but she always be your Sister. Praskovya, prepare yourself to receive this special privilege - this honor, and forever from this point, you will honor her. Glorify Bane by accepting this Grace."
"Yes, Command-" Misha began, but was suddenly filled with the burning holy energy from Taetanicus - an incredible surge of light and power roared through her and set every nerve ending in her body on fire, complete fire, hotter than the largest star in the universe. She screamed, and through the channel Carrhae's life force was restored.
Carrhae's physical restructuring in the Genesis Chambers from that point on was rapid and masterful. It was rumored by other Primes that Misha never left the Chamber's observation area as she regrew.
TODAY
Of course. The Bonding. Thank you Father. I praise you in your Name. With a sigh of thankfulness and relief, Misha closed her eyes and let her aching shoulders take a moment to recover. Within moments, the chemicals in the muscle fibers recalibrated and refreshed. The fatigue was gone. She opened her eyes and smiled.
THE DYING DISTRICT
The Belle of the Sea was quick to note the Styes visible squalor. The haze of smoke hanging over the district is visible for miles, and its stench travels far downwind. Water flowing out the river mouth carries reeking sewage, streaks of dye, and islands of floating garbage far out to sea. Even from here on the Belle, the view only gets worse. All of the Styes appears to have one foot in the grave. Welcome to the Styes - the decaying remains of a once-notable port district. Under bent gables, the carcasses of its houses lean against each other — languid, broken, and awaiting the peace of collapse. Door frames sag, dislocated from sod walls heavy with mildew, while splintering timbers support rotting boardwalks like broken limbs, disappearing into the thick, rancid water of the harbor below. In numerous places, sections of the boardwalks have fallen away completely, leaving broad holes that expose polluted water.
The map above shows the layout of the district and the locations of important buildings and land features. The islands that support the buildings are almost all artificial. Some were created by ancient spells used to lift the floor of the bay above the water. Others consist entirely of huge boardwalks supported above the brackish water by decaying pilings. The district is made up of four quarters. Travel from one to the other is either by foot over rickety walkways or by skiff.
Once, the Styes was a marvelous port district. Its magnificent buildings crowned an artificial island that was the centerpiece of a broad bay, held aloft on great oak pilings. Those huge beams supported great facades of marble grandeur, connected by boardwalks that thronged with richly clothed merchants, exotic travelers, and the passing palanquins of nobility. Known as the Island of Pleasures, the site was a destination for rich and decadent folk up and down the coast.
Time can be cruel, however. Warfare, corruption, famine, and natural disaster ruined many who loved the Island of Pleasures, and as their resources dwindled, so did this once-magnificent district. But even as fortune turned and the region rebuilt from devastation, the Island of Pleasures became an unneeded luxury. New people called the district home: poor, desperate folk crowded beneath fallen gables in hovels tattooed by mildew and damp rot. On their heels came folk whose trade was scorned elsewhere. Alchemists fouled the air and water with poisonous concoctions from failed experiments. Sweat-shop manufactories set up in the Styes and all but enslaved their desperate workers. Tanners and millers and dyers and butchers invaded the district, scraping every penny out of their businesses with no concern over the impact their toxic operations had on their neighbors or the environment. The district bears little evidence of its former glory as it daily sinks deeper into the muck.
This place is truly a dump. The four Quarters are:
The Low Quarter
Also known as Flotsam, the northwest section of the Styes consists mainly of slum tenements, dubious taverns, rickety warehouses, hovel-crowded alleys, and decommissioned ships converted into buildings. This entire area is slowly sinking into the sea. As old buildings become unlivable, new ones are built atop them, and the tangle of structures is four or five stories deep in some places. Many of the lower structures are completely walled off from the outside, making them ideal places for hidden temples and black markets. Swaying rope bridges provide the best avenues between the blocks of this quarter, since the old boardwalks are sinking like everything else.
The Alchemist's Quarter
The Alchemists’ Quarter is the northeast section of the Styes. Long ago, it was the seat of the district’s scholastic and religious leadership, but its once-fine temples and universities have long been dismantled for construction materials, or converted into dim, smoky factories and noxious laboratories owned by shady alchemists. With no regulation to speak of in the Styes, alchemists are free to conduct whatever dangerous experiments they like, and to cut corners on safety and quality control. Iron chimneys belch smoke and foul vapors into the air, while liquid and solid waste are dumped into the water around the quarter. A large part of this area has become so clogged and befouled with refuse that the water now moves only along shallow, sluggish channels that snake through the reeking expanse of mud. Still, it’s common to see desperate scavengers wallowing in the filth, scrounging for anything of value that a distracted alchemist might have carelessly tossed out with the trash.
The High Quarter
The seat of local government in better days, this quarter is the southeast section of the Styes. Most of the buildings here were once municipal offices, but only a few are still in operation. All the rest are either deserted or have been rented to strange and furtive eccentrics. This section of the district is the least populated, and its often-empty streets and boardwalks are in stark contrast to the crowds that frequent the other three quarters. Militia patrols are common here, but guards in the High Quarter are universally corrupt, accepting bribes from nobles, bureaucrats, and powerful merchants, and extorting protection money from everyone else.
The Merchants' Quarters
The southwest section of the Styes hosts most of the district’s industry and mercantile efforts. Most of the community’s fishers live here, and numerous warehouses line the edges of the quarter. Most of these places are either abandoned and boarded up, or serving as flophouses. Of the four quarters, the Merchants’ Quarter is the most welcoming to visitors — though that’s not saying much. It’s also said to be the healthiest part of the district — but that’s not saying much, either.
You are free to explore the district as you see fit by picking a location on the map above. The Belle is parked at AREA 1.
Sloop is in his normal spot, high up in the crow's nest observation post, calling down below everything that he sees as the Belle approaches the city....if it can be called a city. As they approach the city from the far west, Sloop calls out "Ahoy! The harbor master's office appears to be over yonder!" as he points to location #1 on the above map.
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Noting Sana's advice about taverns being places to gather information, she has the Belle move towards the Lamp. As the ship closes in, Carrhae recoils in disgust and pulls her scarf over her nose, trying to use it to block out the stench. "This is an information gathering mission, not a social outing. No drinks. And besides, the stuff we have is better anyway.
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
"Don't say that in their earshot," Sana says with a faint smile. She may not have been able to track down Chandor while on Oahu, but her exciting encounter in the woods with a few bears have still put her in a good mood.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
“But the best information comes from loose lips Captain. And enough rum makes lips very loose.” Wolf replies giving the captain his best puppy dog eyes and hoping to get her to allow him a drink or two.