From the journal of Lenata of Celestian.
So much has happened I scarcely know where to begin. I suppose, I should start with the moustache man's (Vedis and I nicknamed him this as he never gave us his own) strange appearance at the Laughing Beholder. As we entered, five drinks floated our way and hesaid "What took you so long, come on in kids and we'll fill you in".
The thing is…while he provided a few more clues of what might be happening, offered the aid of the Seekers should at least one of us join their group and share all the information we find and somehow wrangled us a ship from my godmother, he didn't really fill us in. Truly, we aren't that much more "enlightened" than we were to begin with, we just have more resources. I'm not complaining mind you, I love the little ship we have and space traveling doesn't give me the queasy stomach that portal hopping does. We also apparently have turned privateer. While I acknowledge we have to pay our 50% (ship rent) 10% tithe (Seekers) as well as the costs of feeding our selves and overall ship's costs somehow, I hadn't quite expected that twist. The rest of my party I note accepted this new career path without qualms it seems, tho I do note that Sapphira went over the ship's contract with House Moune with a fine tooth comb and wouldn't even consider letting us sign until she had he "boots on the deck inspection".
But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Upon our arrival at the Laughing Beholder our new host led us to a shielded, private dining room where refreshments had already been laid out. Curiously, he began his tale with an admonishment for me to hold my piece. I hadn't said anything! He want onto tell of three ethereal beings that were older and more powerful than the Gods, it is hard to argue this point when I had seen so much evidence to support it lately. Those three were the Serpent, The Lady of Pain and the Spelljammer. The Serpent himself had chosen a demi-human to teach and now Vekna was a God. It would seem our tattoos; our marks were indication that our fates had been rewoven on a primal level. Even without our marks, our return from the realm of dread, which we found a way out of was nothing short of a miracle itself. It would seem the Spelljammer for reasons as yet unknown had chosen us. The Seekers decided that we should be aided. Of course, nothing in life is free; in exchange for access to some information and access to a ship Kenari and I joined the Seekers and had to agree to share any and all information we learned as well as a mandatory 10% tithe, the ship a light, fast craft called the Silent Star that required a 50% share to house Moune as well as our allowing one of their men to join us for "supervision". The good news is as soon as we pay them 150,000 gp or 10 years passes our little ship is ours free and clear.
Soon after a messenger from the inner city arrived; he clicked his heels and bowed to Moustache Man after he handed him a couple of scrolls and left. The scrolls were our Letters of Mark. They weren't race specific but did contain some boundary rules. No Elvish or Bralian ships (duh) but Mindflayers, anyone on the bounty list and members of the 10th pit mercenary group were fair game. However, the letters of Mark only counted with ships underway in the Flow or Wildspace, so pulling into port finding our targets in a bar and conking them over the head wasn't allowed, mores' the pity. As a group we decide to have a look at the ship and the bounty list before signing our lives away (so to speak). Vedis asked if we could swing by her apartment to get her things before we head out (good idea, I should swing by my quarters at the temple and do the same thing).
We headed to Vedis' apartment the back way when all of a sudden there in our path no more than 100 ft away were three monks. A half heartbeat later they saw us and took off running, one of them with a shimmery footprint. Just about the time I'm sighing in relief that they turned tale, Kenari yelled "It's the damn monks again, get em". Really! Oh, for pity's sake.
So we all gave chase through crowds and twists, alleys and byways until the monks flew up the side of a building and the chase continued on the rooftops. I have no climbing skills nor it seemed did Sapphira. We continued to follow Vedis, Kenari and Ef Utan from the ground. After a few blocks we heard Ef call from above us, he had a limp monk by the collar. Apparently, he had come upon one stuck in a crack between chimney's and had knocked him out before hauling him (rather roughly judging from scrapes on his face) from his trap. He climbed down with his prize so I could try to lift some information from his mind. Just then, in the distance I saw Vedis fall. Moving as quickly as we could we dragged the monk between us and got to Vedis. A human might have been killed by such a fall and even her more dense structure was damaged and she was stunned, with a Cure Moderate wound spell she was good as new. Just them we heard a loud whoop and saw Kenari sailing to the ground riding on the back of a monk, steering with his braid like one might ride a wind sail. Needless to say he wasn't in the best of shape upon landing.
After a short debate amongst ourselves about the best location for debriefing our quarry we chose a dark alley a short distance away. My simple mind read was only for surface thoughts and their discipline was fierce. I got nothing. Vedis was pissed off and channeled her rage into her question and got into one of the monk's face. His face paled and he drew a pictogram in the dirt. Just them moonlight gleamed through the dark and revealed a silvery scar across his throat. He was a mute. The pictogram was a symbol for "Muwara". Ef Utan knocked their heads together and rendered them senseless. Kenari relieved he prey of his shimmery boots and bundled hastily into her pack and we left the alley.
Quickly, we made our way to Vedis' apt and collected her belongings. We then made our way to the docks. There in slip 5 was a beautiful little dragonfly ship. I called for permission to board and upon ascertaining who we were bid to enter. It wasn't new but new enough, piloted by a minor relic in the shape of a chair. Just its foot was a metal rune set into the floor. Just past the helm were the captain's and crews quarters followed by the hold, which was significantly bigger on the inside than it should have been.
We left the ship and returned to the Laughing Beholder where we signed all the contracts and received a list of potential marks.
Tal Gilgalad aboard the Hammership Barracuda – 8,000gp
Eric the Human aboard the Groundling ship Raven – 5,000gp
No name aboard the Squid ship Frostfire – 7,000gp
Menara aboard the Galleon Nex – 10,000gp
Cain aboard the Hammership Rampage – 10,000gp
We decided since our ship was not heavily armed nor protected to go for the Human Eric first.
Before we left though Kenari and I had to join the Seekers and I figured we'd get some maps and I'd take a quick look in the library. We also needed provisions for ourselves and munitions for the ship. Vedis decided to stay behind and work one last shift at the Laughing Beholder while the rest of us left for the Library of Spheres at Seeker headquarters and arrived without incident. The library itself was beautiful, it could have been a Celestian temple with its inlaid marble floor, soaring domed roof and stylized starscape decorating the walls. In the center was a 30 foot circular counter with filing cabinets and shelves manned by a couple of Librarians. Kenari and I announced ourselves and were directed "down the hall, first left, second right and fourth door on the left." A gnome answered the door and apparently had heard of Kenari and my use of the Celestian foyer as a shooting range. Great! He went over the rules and stressed that we must keep a journal and of course the 10% tithe. A quick trip through the library revealed only one entry about the Spelljammer's ultimate helm. It seemed to not be species or gender specific referenced were a variety ranged from a human female pirate to an instectoid and everything in between, with the most recent reference about 2500 years ago. While I was in the library Kenari finally found out what those shimmery boots she relieved the monk of did. Apparently they allowed the wearer to walk without sound or track and they were worth about 5,000 gp to the right buyer. Satisfied, we joined our friends and made our way back to get Vedis.
It cost about 500 gp each for 8mos worth of provisions. Sapphira suggested a communal account and Ef Utan offered to keep the books. We also decided to share the work instead of hiring a crew that would also need to fed and paid. Graciously, after some sincere expressions of gratitude Kenari agreed to see the boots she lifted from the monk as she had a better pair for her own use. She only got 3,000 at the market but it was enough to initially fund our voyage. I purchased a few maps of the system and we arranged for ammunition from the dwarves (in other words we bought rocks) for use in our catapult and headed back to the ship to finish outfitting her before leaving. We had gotten word from Luigi that Eric the human was last seen at a place called Barr Sinister.
We arrived at the ship and all was quiet, we had just entered the crew's quarters when we noticed a rather large berth and sizable cache of weapons. It would seem our overseer had arrived. In the hold we found her…all 9 ft of her, humanoid…kind of. Except the 9 feet tall with bulk to match and the head of an Oerth Hippopotamus, her uniform was militarily crisp and her only tribute to her gender was a small pink bow between her little piggy ears. She seized my hand and pumped it furiously as she introduced herself. We explained who we would go after first and explained his last known whereabouts. She seemed to titter to herself, indicating to me at least she was no stranger to the place. Good! That combined with her size and weaponry make me feel a bit better at least.
From the journal of Kenari Sanura
Finally, someone is going to give us some answers!
As we walked to the back rooms we… well… I should say Vedis was accosted by what looked like a furry lizard that escaped from a dye shop. It turns out the thing wrapped around her face was her pet lizard that came from her dreams. Personally, if I could pull things out of my dreams, I'd be dreaming on a much grander scale…but there's no telling what benefits our stony friend may have from such companionship.
We make our way to a specially shielded room, and I quickly hop into the booth and look at the bejeweled wizard with excitement while Sephira and Ef Utan take their usual positions around the room.
"All right, then… let's get this party started!"
Gods… not another history lesson! I do my best to focus on the wizard as he drones on about entities beyond Gods and how lucky we are to be here considering where we've been.
"Luck is a lady after all," I say with amusement as I glance at the rest of our party.
"And an amazing kisser," the wizard adds with a grin.
I'm not sure what to say to that considering I was merely repeating a saying I had heard in Gheldeneth once. Bes, the patron of luck in Mulhorand, while wise to worship is not one you would particularly think of sharing kisses with; the lion skin and feathered crowns would surely get in the way.
I have to admit his talk of the World Serpent interests me though… for even in Mulhorand do we have the tales of Apep, the great serpent that lives in the celestial Nile to come to life each day and threaten Ra. Perhaps some things are so great that they go beyond the stories of priests and into the realm of universal truth?
The wizard mentioned that someone must be interceding on our behalf, because the World Serpent interceded to give a creature named Vecna powers. Who would want to help us? He mentioned three creatures: The Lady of Pain, the World Serpent, and the Spelljammer itself.
After seeing the Lady of Pain first hand and still living to write about it, I have to think it's not her. That leaves either the World Serpent playing both sides of the table (so to speak) or the Spelljammer. I don't know… does a sentient fish-ship have the ability to send out bubbles that grant tattoos? If IT wanted our help… why wouldn't it just come to us? Perhaps it is unable? It is definitely something to think about when we aren't on the move.
I am shaken from my reverie by the mentioning of the wizard's group called The Seekers. Apparently they search for new things for the joy of finding new things. That's something I can relate to, actually. The true joy is in the doing, after all. I wonder if they will let me join them.
My eyes light up at the mention of getting the use of our own ship. At last… true freedom! But then the wizard whips out a contract and the legal speak begins to buzz from his mouth like a swarm of bees.
Goddess save me from lawyers… they are the ultimate killers of joy. Thankfully Sephira is well versed in their dark language and is willing to look over the contract. From what I could tell before I had to tune it out is that it sounds like we get a ship with a babysitter in trade for no fun and half the profits. It seems that Mulhorrand isn't the only culture that deals in indentured servitude after all. But… it's either indentured privateer or hoping that we find the right portal when we need it… and right now we're just not that capable with portals.
Right now, anyway.
"So what are we waiting for? Let's go check this ship out!"
As we step out of the bar into an alleyway I can't help but notice a flash of yellow and red silks through the crowd. My lip curls and my tail puffs up as I snarl, "It's those damn monks again! Get them!" The monks take off with a shimmer of something magical and before Lenata even knows to roll her eyes the chase has begun.
Ef Utan pushes a path through the crowds as we attempt to cut them off on a side street and Lenata manages to talk our way past the city guard when a bar fight moves into the street… but once we spot them scaling the side of the building to get to the rooftops they have moved into my territory. I quickly leap after them with the aid of my clawed gauntlets as I risk a brief glance at Vedis who has managed to keep up with me. I am impressed by the Maenad's tenacity; there is definitely a fire within her. I wonder why she doesn't let it show?
Silly cat…stick to the chase!
I deftly leap over boxes and smirk as I notice one of the monks getting stuck in a crevasse in the brickwork that he thought was a short cut. I'm not interested in that, however…I want the one with the shimmering boots running across the tightrope.
My father and I did this for fun when I was but a kitten, silly monk… you're not getting away from me now. I pour on a boost of speed and bound across the tightrope to leap on one of the monks as I hear the cursing of the Maenad followed by a large thump. I hope she's ok…I know she's ok…with Lenata around she's got to be.
I have to admit, though…her falling off the side has given me an idea.
Our first encounter showed me that I'm not ready to handle one of these guys in combat by myself, so perhaps a more creative solution is in order. I quickly glance over the side of the building to scope its height. It looks like my boots of landing should protect me from the fall… here's hoping the monk doesn't have something similar.
While the monk is stunned I grab him by his braid and plant my feet in his back as I leap over the edge with a whoop of joy. The monk proves with a satisfying crunch when we land that those magic boots of his are nothing like mine. While he's counting his broken ribs I take the time to pull a rope out of my pack and string him up like a wild boar. Pull my tail, will you… you can ponder your karma while I take your boots.
Eventually we all meet up again no worse for wear, Ef Utan dragging the now unconscious monk that was stuck in the crevasse.
"Are we done accosting monks who run away from us and bestow us with gifts, now?" Sephira asks sarcastically. That sorceress is a hard one to understand. She's far from naïve, so she must know what it means to have a rival organization put a contract out on you. Perhaps she has seen so much that she just doesn't care? I'm almost afraid to ask.
After some debate as to where to question the monks that we've captured we finally just drag them into a nearby alleyway to let Lenata and Vedis investigate while Ef Utan and I watch the ends of the alley.
After a moment of concentration I can hear Lenata's frustration as to the willpower of monks. Apparently she wasn't able to get anything. I have to smile at Vedis' solution, though; apparently her time as a waitress gave her enough pent up anger that when she decided to release it at the monk he couldn't tell us quick enough who he was working for. Too bad his vocal chords were already cut for just such an occasion. The best he could do was scribbling a pictogram in the dust.
Just what exactly is a "Muwara?" It sounds like a noise I make when I'm happy for goodness sake.
Apparently that's all we're going to get out of them. Ef Utan simplifies things by knocking them out and we promptly leave them in the alley to continue on our quest.
I'm eager to go see the ship now that I've taken care of my grudge… but apparently Vedis wants Ef Utan to accompany her to her apartment while she gets some things for the trip. She did quite well keeping up with me as she did for someone of her size and stature… the least I can do is offer a little patience in return.
I never imagined that a space ship would look like a blood-sucking bug. Until this week, however… I never would've imagined a space ship, so who am I to talk? If it flies and can take us places, it can look like whatever it chooses. Let Sephira examine the details (it seems to be her thing)… I'm going to scope out the living quarters in this thing.
Thank goodness for magic sometimes. I was prepared for us all to have to squeeze into close quarters… but it looks like this ship is a bit bigger than it seems on the outside. It's still a bit cozy… just nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. Lenata doesn't understand why I'm hanging up my hammock when we haven't even signed the papers yet. It seems to me that the signing is a foregone conclusion… so why not scope out a spot while we're here? One should always take opportunities when they present themselves; you never know if they'll come again.
After the examination of the ship we decide to go back to the bar to finally sign the documents and get filled in our quest. Our wizard friend is no longer there… but a courier from the Seekers was kind enough to inform us of a few leads of less reputable people that might be brought in for questioning regarding the Spelljammer. After seeing the phrase "Hammership" appear more than once, I have to think that going after this Eric the Human on a groundling ship might be a better idea…Orc barbarians or no. I certainly hope their information is good and we're not wasting our lives for nothing.
Meanwhile, it seems that Lenata wants to check out the Seeker's library while Vedis works a shift at the Laughing Beholder to see what gold and information she can pick up. If I am going to join these Seekers, I guess I should go with the cleric. Perhaps being in a library to do research will make Lenata happy with me for once. It looks like we've all got the same idea as Vedis stays to work. With someone like Luigi around, I'm sure she will be safe from meddling monks at the very least.
After talking with that gnome, I am more convinced than ever that indentured servitude is alive and well in the universe. 10% tithe, indeed. Combine that with the 50% tithe they're taking for the ship and we're right up the Nile without a paddle. I'm all for keeping our money in a more solid not-taxable state (i.e. magic items)… but according to the rest of the group I need to sell my shiny new boots so we can get the funds to supply the ship.
Goddess forgive me but I am relishing this… as now it comes down to it as the simple Prime with her balls of string that everyone blames is now the one they come to for help. I will say an extra prayer to Bast tonight in thanks.
After the details are finalized and the shopping for ship supplies is sorted out we finally decide on a name for our motley group: The Spelljoined. Rather fitting… considering if it weren't for this tattoo I think we'd all be glad to go our separate ways.
According to Luigi Eric and his barbarian hordes were last seen at a place called Barr Sinister. Apparently the only thing at this place is a dark and dingy bar that lives up to its name. What better a location to begin our hunt?
As we make our way back and aboard the ship, I hear a sound so gruff and tuneless that I have to believe it comes from a Dwarf. Could that be our babysitter? Maybe not if the size of that gun has anything to say about it…
By the Gods I have never seen a creature such as Wilhelmina Uft. Nine feet tall at least, she towers above us all like Taweret herself. After seeing the weapons she carries I don't think she's interested in fertility and childbirth, however. Perhaps these Gif are the children of the goddess? If the situation warrants it, maybe I will ask her someday.