From the journals of Kenari Sanura

Alas, there doesn't seem to be a market for dehydrated brains in Greyhawk. Perhaps I should've tried to sell them in Sigil? At least there's a number of the creatures around there… they must have to shop sometime, right? In the meantime, perhaps I can use it to get a few drinks at the bar. I can just imagine it now… Guess how many brains are in the jar, and win a prize!

Heh… but I digress.

While Maldin couldn't sell my brain food, he at least was able to tell us some interesting things about that chess set. Apparently the pieces are Suel craftsmanship, carved to look like the Greyhawk pantheon of gods, and over 1,000 years old. In fact, it was made around the time Celestian (mighty Celestian, great Celestian) left, and the Spelljammer last showed itself.

At least that lends itself to what Parvatta said about it being important… but how is it connected to the Spelljammer? And why is it so damn important?

The last thing Maldin showed us is an arcane mark on the bottom of Flarg…Fhalarga… Celestian's brother. It's a peculiar seal… and something for us to start researching, at least. Which means…joy of joys, we get to go back to the library.

At least this time we managed to find something. Sure, it took Ayrun sneezing and bumping Ef Utan… who stumbled into Lenata… who knocked me off the ladder to grab a book to catch myself to find it, but hey, the Gods work in mysterious ways, right? I just wish they kept more consistent hours.

It turns out the symbol is particular to an Elven Man O'War. We pay one of the scribes to copy the image for us, and then all agree that a trip to Spiralspace is in order so that we can pay Theron a visit. Who better to know about an Elven symbol, then an Elven information dealer?

Fortunately for us, the information is easy enough for the sage. So easy, he doesn't even charge us for it. Apparently the symbol belongs to the Elven house of Leafbower, which generally includes fleet admirals and diplomats. He lets us know of the existence of one Admiral Vilius Leafbower, who is over 1,200 years old, has fought in the Unhuman Wars, and happens to reside on Refuge.

Three guesses where we decide to head next. Before heading to Refuge, however, we pick up Vedis, confer with our Davatti friend, and decide to drop them off back on Bral.

Good thing, too… because there was a message waiting for us at Luigi's.

Heh… the balls of the man… apparently Torgan Betts wants to meet us at midnight in a graveyard to talk. First he tries to kill us, and now he gets all melodramatic? Rest assured I trust the man about as far as I can throw him, and suggest checking out the area before the meeting time to make sure it isn't trapped. Ayrun agrees, and since the sorcerer has proven useful in the past (and I could use some back-up), we turn ourselves invisible and check the perimeter while Ef Utan and the others wait for Torgan to show up.

It doesn't take long to wait, though… which makes me think that either he had the same idea (which well he should after what he pulled), or we caught him trying to set us up beforehand. I listen as best as I can while searching the area, and pick out the occasional words of "Cain, assassination list, and help."

I'll have to ask Ef Utan about it later, though, because I notice something moving in the grass. I do my best to follow it and when I think I've got it pinned down, I point it out to Ayrun and ask him to cast that glitter magic he used back at the warehouse (I'm running low on Halfling pipeweed). Unfortunately I didn't realize that while Ayrun might be a useful spellcaster… he could use some work with aiming at things. Puffs of glitter start popping into the air all around us, and I have to concentrate through the coughing and sheen of glittering clouds to see the outline of another figure.

I dive at the outline and tackle the figure to the ground… only to be caught off guard by the cushioned landing. Well what do you know… I think I tackled a woman. After some fumbling I manage to grab her arms while she's coughing and Ayrun and I take her down to the others and what looks like an apologetic Torgan Betts.

"She's one of mine, I'm afraid. When a high paid assassin is after you, one can't afford to be too careful."

"Tell me about it," I say with a snarl. "How much did you pay for Dorum Larbo, anyway?"

Before he can reply, Ef Utan rears back and slams his fist into Torgan's face. "That's for setting us up, you berk. Turn stag on us again, and you'll find yourself lost."

I'm not sure what he just said… but from the tone and the look on Torgan's face, I'm pretty sure Ef Utan expressed what we all felt.

Once we make it back to the ship, Ef Utan fills me and Ayrun in on what we missed. Apparently Cain has been hired to take us all out. Big surprise there… I figured it was only a matter of time, honestly. The curious part is the other names on the list…

Kenari Sanura

Ef Utan

Sephira Nye

Lenata of Celestian

Vedis Valentine

Torgan Betz

Kisan Torenako (a Shou)

A Dwarven Admiral

A Giff Lieutenant

A Mindflayer Ambassador

Now I've got a pretty good idea why he's out to kill us… and Torgan is probably on the list in order to tie up loose ends who know too much… but what about the others? It might be worth investigating after our visit to Refuge.

In the meantime, I think I have an idea on how Elliwinkle can earn her keep around here. I just need some parchment and ink so I can start sketching… and a Gnome that's crazy enough to build it…

We say goodbye to Parvatt / Parvatta for now as we leave Bral to return to Refuge in our search for the Leafbower family. I only hope that this trip proves itself useful… because last time I had to keep myself entertained in the gambling houses for something to do.

When I begin to see the strange mass floating out in space during my watch, I have to fight the urge to try and kick myself. I really have to stop telling the universe that I'm bored; it seems to take offense every time.

As we get closer to it, the details of the creature become clearer as the multiple tentacles and large beak come into focus. By Bast's third whisker… what in the hells is that thing? I've heard sailors talk of giant squid in the seas of Mulhorand… but this… this is something straight out of a nightmare. I finally get over my shock and call a warning out to the others over my shoulder. Ef Utan's clank of armor precedes him as he steps out onto the deck and promptly swears up a storm. "Krajen!" he yells out. "Get us the hells out of here while I prepare the ballista, Lenata!"

Ef Utan's yell propels me into action and I get an idea as I rush to help Ef Utan; squid in space or squid in the water, I'll bet a gold piece that they still hate fire.

"Wait," I pant as I drop my sack to the ground and rummage through it to pull out a wax sealed glass bottle full of an amber liquid. "I know fire in the Flow is bad and all… but what if we tried strapping some of this alchemist fire to it?"

Ef Utan grins evilly as he grabs the bottle. "Why not? If it doesn't work we're probably toast anyway. Go grab Vedis and we'll see if we can make this irritating enough that it will look elsewhere for a quick snack."

I run to get Vedis below decks and we come back just in time to see the fire splash in the distance over the raging Krajen. The Maenad smiles and cracks her knuckles as she narrows her eyes in a stare at the creature. "He's a bit far away, but I think I can make him a crispy critter for a bit longer." It doesn't take long before we can see the fire spreading and moving towards its large bulbous eye. The strain is visibly hard on her, though, as a vein pulses at her temple.

"We're going to shoot it again, right?" I ask as I toss Ef Utan my last bottle.

"Wouldn't dream of doing otherwise," Ef Utan answers with a grunt as he clicks the lever into place and ties the bottle to the bolt. With another large "TWANG" the bolt shoots toward the flaming Krajen, this time impacting on the tentacles and blowing two of them off.

The creature screams as it flails in pain, and then takes off at high speed… towards us. Before I can ask Ef Utan what to do next, I hear Lenata yell out, "Grab on to something, quick!"

I dive for one of the deck rails and hold on for dear life as the ship climbs steadily upward, creaking and moaning in protest all the way. Just when I think the ship won't be able to take any more, it flips back and rolls until we are once again right side up… but with the Krajen on a path below us…

… and the sails on fire.

The gods are merciful, however, as it seems that the second shot was enough to dissuade the creature from trying to eat us. I scramble up the netting as the rest form a line with water buckets, and before too long the fire is out and under control. Our sails are a bit worse for wear… but they aren't anything that a few well-placed mending spells from Ayrun won't fix.

Thankfully the rest of the trip is quiet until we reach Refuge. After making an appointment with Admiral Leafbower in three days' time, Ef Utan and Lenata decide to go take the time to re-stock our supplies of Alchemist's Fire (good thing too, since they used up my personal stock), and Vedis, suffering from a bit of a headache after the Krajen, suggests that we go to the Golden Helm and get a few drinks.

Hmmn… drinking or shopping… decisions, decisions. I'm a firm believer that none of us should go off alone any more, though… so drinks it is.

"Sure, we'll come to the party!" I hear a Vedis say cheerfully as I turn around on my bar stool to see a tall man with long hair and strange tattoos chatting her up.

"What party?" I ask with a raised brow.

"This one!" the man says without skipping a beat as he tucks a card into the cleavage of my armor with a sly smile and heads out the door. "You two wonderful beauties will be the life of the party, I'm sure. Everyone who is anyone on Refuge will be there!"

"This guy is good," I mutter as I pull the card out and look at it. Hmmn… Tain the Reigar. Well, we've got three days to kill, right? That's one for a party and two for the recovery afterward…

"Welcome friends!" the floating mouth announces as we walk up to a mansion the likes that I have never seen as fairy lights, naked humanoid women and the sounds of drums seem to float from the bushes. "Come on in and be sure to have fun unless you want to be made fun of!"

Thank goodness Ef Utan was willing to play guardian for us while we took some time to really let loose for once. He looks rather suave in the monk robes, actually. I wonder….nah… you don't mix work and pleasure, Kenari. Besides, you wouldn't even know what to do with yourself. Instead, I decide to stick with what I know… and that's dancing.

"I should take notes for the temple festivities back home," I say with a grin as I find myself drawn towards the drumming around the fire. "I'll be with the music." With a spin and a twirl towards the fire I focus and feel the shiftweave move around me to form a bellydance outfit of jingling coins and billowing fabric.

I can feel the thrumming vibrations of the drums as they pound out a beat that travels from my chest down to my toes, and let my soul go, if just for a moment, to think of nothing else but the rhythm. Tonight there are no monks out to kill us… no slavers, and no blasted Spelljammers to worry about. Tonight there is just the heat of the fire warming my skin… the music reaching into my soul, and….

My thoughts are brought up short as I catch myself coming out of a twirl into a wall of black, furred muscle.

"I'm so sorry," I mumble embarrassingly. I can't seem to drop my hands, though, the mutinous things. Bast help me, his chest is so strong. I duck my head in hopes that he won't see my blushing as I inhale deeply. His scent… it's like leather, musk, and something I can't quite identify. I'm thinking of trees when I suddenly feel the brush of whiskers and exhaled breath along my neck. I gasp softly and not just from the goose bumps running down my spine. Is he a… I look up tentively through my wild hair to see the smiling chiseled jaw of a male Catfolk covered in black fur… his long hair kept back in braids.

"I'm not," he breaths as he dips his head into the crook of my neck and inhales deep. I shiver in pleasure as I feel his nose, whiskers, and (dear gods) tongue run up the tendons in my neck to finally nuzzle behind my ear. "Mmm… cinnamon and cloves."

I find myself reaching my hands up to his shoulders just to keep myself from falling into a puddle on the ground. "My name is Kenari," I manage to whisper before I lose myself in deep blue eyes.

"I am Dassam, Kenari," he says in a low voice as his strong fingers weave through my hair to stroke the back of my neck, "and I would walk with you."

Words are beyond me now as my body succumbs to the new sensations. Instead of answering, my hands travel up into his hair and pull his head down to mine as I kiss him with abandon. Before I know it he's lifting me into his arms and carrying me into the darkness.

Sorry, father… you did your best when you told me about how it would be the first time… but nothing could have prepared me for this…

Oh my Gods… whatever did I drink last night? I feel like I'm trying to give birth through my belly button…

Between the groans and the trips to the lavatory I manage to beg our aspiring pilot Aspodel Quickfoot to take a quick trip to the apothecary for some hangover medicine. I hope the others are doing better than I am… though If I remember right through the haze, I still wouldn't trade it for anything.

Mmmn…Dassam… I wonder if I will ever see him again? After the last look in the mirror, it seems that my glass leaf bead from Spiralspace is missing. I think…yes… I believe I gave it to him before we left. His scent was so earthy… it reminded me of thick wooded forests and cool breezes, and… hurk

… I'll be right back.

From the journal of Vedis Valentine

I am… so hungover. And horny, but we'll get to that later.

The course of our investigations into the Tenth Pit brought us back to Refuge to speak to an old elf, Admiral Leafbower, about the magical chess set Kenari found on the Frostfyre. We made our appointment to see the ancient one and were resigned to wait a few days. I guess Admirals are busy people.

With a few days to cool our heels and a bit of replenishing to be done (we lost a couple of our ballista bolts to a creature known as "the Kragan," a gargantuan tentacled beast that swims the flogistan between spheres. I got to see first hand what a tiny spark can do to our ships' main sail and helped Kenari and Ef on the bucket brigade to put the conflagration out.)Efutan and Lenata went to go see what could be bought in the famous Arcane marketplace while Kenari and I went to hit the bar. You would think with my having worked in a bar so long that I'd do my best to avoid them, but I find that taverns and places like them happen to be where I'm most comfortable. I feel in control, knowing everything that goes on behind the scenes and I like the boost to my psychic abilities they grant. It's much easier to know how others are feeling when they are thinking about what it is they want. I can hear their desires and it makes me feel a part of them. There's so much to listen to and I find myself growing even more quiet just to hear.

Kenari found the most beautiful male in the bar to chat with. He seemed human at first, but it was later that a few details, half-forgotten, slipped into place. The tattoos, piercings, ostentatious silk garb, and the aura of glamor about him finally clued me into his race: a Reigar. There happens to be a famous Reigar on Bral, known for his wild parties that last weeks long. Body painting, drinking, carousing, jumping naked into the lake, orgies, gourmet nibblies, you name it. More than half the rare expensive delicacies and vintages end up on that estate, the other half being fought over by the tavern keepers and the gentry.

So, in any case, when Tain invited us to his own soiree, we HAD to jump at the chance. When we returned to our ship, the Admiral's message had beaten us there and it seemed that we would be in town for a coupe of days before our meeting would take place. With nothing else needing our attention, it was all-clear for us to party past dawn and take the next day to recuperate. I decided right then and there that I was going to live the experience to the fullest—to cut looser than I have ever done before.

I had the most amazing night since I left Rajrin. I felt so close to the dream, so connected to the essence of the universe and all its peoples. I drank something known as Absinth: a green, thick syrupy alcohol that tasted odd and sweet. Tain remarked at one point that it was flavored with something called 'fen-nol,' and got its psychotropic properties from 'wyrm-wood,' both herbs found in some places on the primes, neither sounding very appetizing, in my estimation. But the way that he spoke of its mind-opening possibilities had me itching to try it. Perhaps it would blow the door open on my consciousness, like the herbs the seers used back home to amplify their powers.

I could hear colors, see sound, and feel every mind at the party with me. When Kenari danced, I could feel her joy. I almost got out there and danced with her! The pulsing of the drums brought me in close to the bonfire, although I hadn't moved very far from Efutan's side. It was exhilarating!

I don't know really how it happened, but I found myself drawn into conversation with a beautiful elven couple, locals to the sphere. Charmed by the gorgeous pair, I took their invitation to sit beneath a tree and continue our association. One thing led to another, I suppose, and soon I found myself entwined with the both of them like the boughs of the tree. I hadn't had a lover since my first, back home, and now I am reminded of everything I've been missing for the last twenty years! Come to think of it, I'd never really considered whether or not I was attracted to females. In the light of day (with a pounding headache) I can't really say I am. But she was. Oh, yes, most definitely. I could feel her desire like it was my own, every sensation amplified beyond understanding. I can't even summon up a stitch of embarrassment that we did it right out in the open like that. We certainly weren't the only ones engaged in such activities out there on the lawn.

The night passed in an ecstatic blur of sight and sound intermingling. Uproarious laughter bounced around everywhere until the first false strains of dawn could be heard cresting the hills. By then, I think I was starting to come down, because although everything was still amplified, by this point the intermingling was making me nauseous and the sensations were bordering on pain.

We trudged wearily back to our ship in the dock. I'm ashamed to say that I asked Ef to carry me and he informed me that he couldn't. I sometimes forget how heavy I am. So instead, both he and Lenata had to half-drag me back, which was just fine. Until I caught Mr. "go ahead and party, I'll keep you all safe and not partake" bodyguard tried to put the sensitizing lotion into my ear! As if I needed it! Apparently, he was a little miffed about not getting his own party on, not that he'd even mentioned such a thing the whole night through. In any case, it was a dirty trick he tried to pull and I'm still miffed about it.

We'll see how he likes being pranked when he's feeling the sting of Baccus's poison, if he ever lets his hair down that long. Hmmm… maybe on the next long voyage, I'll get him drunk and he can wake up trailing the ship just inside the air bubble on a rope, or maybe I'll just use my Psionic Outburst on him when his head's aching from the night before. Or maybe I'll just take his clothes and run them up the main sail when he takes a shower. Or maybe I'll just get him naked and…. ugh. No no no no! Bad Vedis! You're not supposed to look at your shipmates like that! Don't sleep with your coworkers; how many times did Luigi say that? It always ends in disaster!

But… that box is looking pretty good right now, if any of the toys survived being snatched up by that halfling girl back at the party. Maybe I can kick Ef out of the hold for an hour or two. Or maybe he'd want to join me… damnit! NO! Ayrun's off the menu, too, so don't even think about it!

I shouldn't even be contemplating sex right now. I really do have the most massive headache since earlier this morning, although it's down to a dull roar since I downed a gallon of water and this alchemical remedy one of the young clerics brought back. Oh, how nice. Tain sent a note and actually remembered me by name!

Mmm… Tain.

Oh, Gods Damn It. I think I'm in heat.

From the journal of Kenari Sanura

Eventually my day improves as a delivery of flowers from Dassam makes me smile, and we all manage to recover and make ourselves presentable as Admiral Leafbower is finally ready for us to make his acquaintance.

I'm practicing my formal Elvish while we're waiting in his antechamber when a trio of wealthy looking dwarves and hobgoblins (of all things) walk out of the room in a deep discussion. I do my best to listen (because I'm nosy like that), but all I can make out is "No, he's a Leafbower; we can trust him."

Well that's good to know. Since that's coming from a bunch of hobgoblins, however, I have to wonder whose side that's supposed to be a good thing for?

We take our turn and enter the large tree-filled domed room decorated with globes and stars. On the far end is a very old looking elf sitting comfortably in a plush chair. We talk with Admiral Villus Leafbower for a while, and learn that the chess set was indeed his, it was crafted by a battle-poet named "Carnthalion" who died during the Inhuman War, and the last place he saw it was on Evermeet in Torril.

Interesting, but still a number of answers where we're not sure what the question was. At the admiral's request we leave the chess set with him for his promise that he will continue to research the set for its importance.

Meanwhile, it seems that the others picked up some rumors at the party last night about some slavers, as well as an anti-slavery group affectionately known as P.O.T.S. (Pragmatic Order of Thought Society). Lenata wanted to go look for the slavers with Ef Utan, but I just had to wonder how the cleric would do when the inevitable trap is sprung.

"Hmmn… you're much more honorable there Lenata… why don't you go with Vedis and look for the anti-slavers, while Ef Utan and I check out the slaver trouble?"

"But…"

"Look at it this way: if you get caught and bound, all it takes is a gag to stop you. Me, I've got experience in getting out of situations like that." I could tell she wanted to argue, but I think I caught her speechless when I actually used logic on her for once. I give a nod to Ef Utan and secure my gear before we head to town and visit a so-called merchant named Dabend…