From the journal of Kenari Sanura
Ok, this has got to stop. This is the second time in less than two days where I've woken up not knowing where I am. I shake my head to try to get rid of the fog, and can't help but notice the rattle of chains accompanying it.
"Glad you could rejoin us," Ef Utan remarks dryly.
I look over and see him chained next to me in the darkness. As my vision focuses I can make out others as well along the sides of what seems like a large ship hold.
"We walked into a trap, didn't we?" I say with a sigh.
"Oh yeah… big time," Ef Utan mutters. "Last I remember was some kind of smoke in the air, and then I woke up here. I can't see a blasted thing, though. How about you?"
I grin before I remember that nobody can see me. "Just another reason to bring the cat with you," I joke as I lean over as far as I can so that I can grab the lockpicks hidden in my head scarf. After a few grunts and fumbled attempts in the half-light I hear the satisfying click of another lock that has given up when confronted with my skills. "And this is the other one," I finish as I make quick work of the rest of the locks.
"Never doubted you for a second," Ef Utan says with a laugh as I free him from his chains. I take a moment while he's working the circulation back into his arms to scope out the rest of the hold. I know there's other people here, but I could swear I caught a glimpse of something unusual down at the other end that I just have to check out first.
May Bast protect us all… what is that thing? I rear back in horror and disgust as I finally make out the details of the statue at the other end of the hold. Once I got past all of the tentacles I was finally able to make out a face that I wish I'd never seen in those religious textbooks back at the Seeker Library: the face of Demagorgon, the Prince of Demons.
"We all need to get out of here…NOW," I say to whomever is willing to listen as I make my way to the double doors at the other end to try and access the situation. Slavery is one thing… but something tells me we aren't meant to be slaves for very long before we turn into snacks for that (ugh) creature they seem to worship.
I pick the locks on the double doors and sneak up the stairs (which unfortunately lead straight to the deck) to see that we're on a still-docked (thank Bast) Hammership with 5-6 crew, a 1/2 dozen armored and well-armed humans, and one large (and ugly) 6'5" Orc carrying a broadsword. I'm scanning around the deck for exits when I hear the strangest thing: Fluent Elvish coming from the Orc. I take a second look at him and notice that he's not your typical Orc at all; he's actually rather well-dressed, clean-cut, and dare I say advanced looking for an Orc.
Odd…definitely odd, and something worth investigating once we all get out of here.
I make my way back to Ef Utan and let him know the situation. "Good news is, we're still docked on Bral. Bad news is… there's at least a dozen people and one large Orc in our way to the docks."
"Hmm… any suggestions?"
"This may sound crazy… but I think we should free all the prisoners and just rush them… with you in the lead, of course."
"Of course."
"If the Gods are on our side, we should be able to catch them by surprise just long enough for the prisoners to escape to safety. That is, if you're willing to take on that Orc."
"What will you be doing while I set myself up for martyrdom?" Ef Utan asks sarcastically.
"Me? I'll be getting our stuff back, of course!"
I was a determined catfolk on the prowl as I sneaked through the chaos of 25 newly freed prisoners running for their lives. I could only hope that Ef Utan managed to keep the or busy without getting himself killed while I slipped through the doors on the other side of the deck.
I only managed to search through the first few rooms, however, before my ears picked up a whole new ruckus on deck. The guards of Refuge decided to make a timely appearance, apparently thanks to a raid by the P.O.T.S. Just in time, too… because I was having a bit of noisy trouble with some of the locks around here.
That's between you and me though… got it?
After spending the next few hours stuck in a drab room getting debriefed by the Magisters, however… I think I'd have rather taken my chances with the crew on the ship. After seeing the bruises on Ef Utan, though… I decide that's another thing best kept to myself.
By the time we're finally free to go, I'm so frustrated, angry and BORED, that I am ready to hunt Dabend down and make him give us our stuff back or else I will take out the monetary equivalent from his hide!
Sigh… I knew looking for those slavers was going to be a wash after that bust at the docks… but I just needed to get it out of my system. I miss those gloves, dang it…
Anyway, once I got over myself I decided to wander down to the docks to see if I could find Aladan Leafbower. Not only was he captured like we were, but he was a member of the EIN, so maybe they'd know something about the slavers?
A long shot, I know… but that's been our style lately.
It didn't take long to notice that something was definitely up with the Elves. There was a lot of activity on the docks, with many of them too busy to talk to a stranger like me. Fortunately luck was finally with me, though… in the form of a young (I think-hard to tell with Elves) Elf leaning back in a chair and enjoying the sunny day.
I ran my fingers through my hair and put on my best smile as I leaned over suggestively and nudged his knee. "Excuse me," I purred, "but do you think you could help a girl out?"
"I don't know, I thought he was kind of cute," I said to Lenata of Celestian as we waited for our drinks at The Golden Helm. "Tavist said he would meet us here and let me know what he found out…" I muttered as I scanned the crowd.
"Tavist? I thought we were looking for Aladan?"
"Tavist was the only one who would talk to me," I explained with chagrin. "He actually knows Aladan though, so he said he'd try and contact him for us."
Ef Utan Izenik chuckled. "He probably had contacting something else on his mind."
I grinned as the waitress finally shows up with our ales. "Well, like I said… he IS kind of cute."
Eventually Tavist showed up, but regretfully told us Aladan won't be available till around 8 Bells to meet at a bar of our choosing. I am not one to waste some rare down time, however, especially after being stuck in a hold and then questioned for hours by the authorities.
"Well then," I say as I raise my glass. "Party time is a'wastin! What say we relax and make a day of it, then? We'll meet over at The Puzzled Scaver, because those Halflings know how to have a good time!"
"To a good time with pretty women!" Tavist joins in happily as he raises his glass.
"Afraid that's all you, Kenari," Ef Utan replied after he finished his ale. "Lenata and I are going to go talk with Rinthallion of the EIN to see if we can learn anything about that weird Orc."
"Weird Orc?" Tavist asks with sudden interest.
"Let them go do the questioning," I say as I hear musicians tuning up and leap to my feet. "I am on a mission to have a good time! Come on!" I grab Tavist's hand and pull him to follow me onto the dance floor.
Ef Utan laughs and waves a hand in my direction as they leave. "Just be back to the ship by 7 bells."
Thanks to the Gods, I was actually able to have a relaxing afternoon without anyone trying to kill me or kidnap me for once. Tavist wasn't a bad dancer, even if I had to swat his roaming hands a few times, and he was more than willing to keep up with me as I did my best to drink, dance and gamble the day away.
Try as I did to avoid anything important to our quest, however, I did meet a curious Elf while trying my hand at a new card game. It seems this Elf named Mallath was all kinds of special, because he was assigned to a "Wanderer" ship going out to explore deep space. I don't know if that was true or the ale talking, but he did have some great stories about seeing the Spelljammer when he was a child, whole worlds on the backs of turtles and space shaped like cubes.
I'll bet you think I'm Barmies, right? The dark of it is… this is nothing new to me. Have you seen my charts? Seriously… things go down every day in this crazy universe that will make your head explode… and that's even without meeting an Illithid.
Eventually Tavist and I stumble back to the ship no worse for wear to find Ef Utan signing for deliveries made by the EIN. "What do we have here?" I ask with only a slight slur; thankfully dancing helps get the alcohol out of your system.
Ef Utan pries open a crate to see palates of bread and wax-sealed jars. "It seems Rinthalion appreciated our information about the Ogre," Ef Utan answered as he read the note found inside the crate. "We've now got supplies of Elven Waybread, as well as Snowberry Fire Peppers."
"Ooo… this I've got to try!" I mumble to myself as I pry open the wax just a sliver and dip a claw inside. _Holy mother of… _ I bend over suddenly and cough as my eyes begin to water. "That's good stuff…" I choke out, "…and I do believe I am sober now."
"Great, because I am starving," Lenata said as she walked down the gang plank to join us.
"Where's Vedis?" I say curiously as we make our way through town to The Puzzled Scaver.
"Last I saw she was passed out with a bottle of absinthe on the deck," Lenata answered with a furrowed brow. "I'm starting to worry about her… she's been drinking an awful lot after that Reigar party."
"Eh… I'm sure she'll be fine," I say as I stop and lean against a food stand. "I imagine her constitution is as strong as her hide," I say with a chuckle.
"Um… Kenari? Your hand is smoking…" Lenata says as she motions to my hand unknowingly resting on the edge of a grill and starting to smoke.
"Bast's whiskers!" I exclaim as I pull my hand away. I check for injuries, but to my amazement… other than a little bit of singed fur, I am undamaged.
"Snowberries are amazing, aren't they?" Tavist jokes. "I tried one on a dare at a party once… good thing too, considering the fire I fell in."
"Fire resistance, eh?" I'm surprised no one can hear the wheels turning in my mind. "I wonder if we can make a potion out of those peppers?"
"Sure you can… if you can survive drinking the thing," Tavist laughs. "Come on, I see the bar up ahead."
From the journal of Vedis Valentine
The sails are floating in an everpres- evanesc- effervesc- umm… nifty breese. Yup. They float so pretty. Why am I writing? There's so much out there to taste.
I wonder what the mast tastes liek.
K. Like splinters and crust. Splinters don't taste as good as I thought.
Someone make the birds shut the hell up.
I'm on a dragonfly! Why isn't it flying? Oh, that's right, 'cause it's docked. And Lenata's not here to make it fly.
What a nice elven couple. Seriously. You will never believe: they gave me an ENTIRE CASE of elven absinthe! It's not even my birthday!
I never have to leave the ship again…. oooh wassat? SHINY!
Brb
'Mback. I don't even know where I was. But that's ok. Wow. Are we in Spiral now? Or am I just halli- hallucinating the trees? Who knows? I don't know. I wonder if Simmi knows.
Whose journal is this? I hope its mine because if not that would be embear- embass- awkward.
Simmi is being a meanie and won't talk to me. He just keeps chewing on the tanglefoot bags and givving me nasty looks. I'm hurt. :-(
Haha. Languages are funny. I thought I could speak goblin for a minute there but it turns out it was just gibberish. Oh well I just hope I didn't off-end anybody.
Mmmkay I'm done writing now. My hand is trying to crawl away on its own….
(The rest is just inane scribblings and lewd stick-figure drawings, two of which have pointed ears.)
From the journal of Kenari Sanura
Eventually a much healthier Aladan Leafbower finally walks in to join us at our table, and proceeds to thank us with a toast from his personal flask of an ancient family vintage mead. Mmmm… just what I needed to calm the burn.
We order dinner, and during the conversation while I'm swatting Tavist's hand of my knee, I can't help but notice that Lenata and he have been smiling at each other quite a bit. Good for her, I say… Aladan seems like a good guy, even if he doesn't have any new information about the slavers.
One thing he DOES know about, however, is that there is definitely something big going on with the EIN. Top brass are heading to Bral on "The Silverswift" in order to be there for the maiden launch of "The Wanderer."
"Hey," I mention as I tap Tavist on the shoulder. "That guy we played cards with… he mentioned that ship too, and everybody seemed really interested in that Orc."
Ef Utan draws his eyes away from a rather pretty Moon Elf soldier smiling at him. "I've been getting the feeling that this Orc is a big skeleton in the EIN's closet; we need to try and find out more information about him. Is he here to assassinate someone at the ship's launch?"
"Or does he just want to steal the ship?" I suggest as I munch on a particularly good piece of mutton. "Just saying," I mutter as I notice everyone looking at me. "It is supposed to be all high-tech and unique, right? There are emissaries from all over the place that could be targets… but that ship is one of a kind."
I can tell from the grim look on Ef Utan's face that he's seriously considering the possibility. Crud… I didn't mean to turn this into a business meeting! "Enough of that, though. I've been having a good day so far, so let's not ruin it!" I grab my mug as I slide one arm around Tavist's shoulders and drape a leg across his lap. I've got no intention of sleeping with anyone tonight… but dang it, I deserve to have some fun, right?
Come morning, I swear to Bast… let me wake up in my own bed, and I will get right back to business!
Well Bast, I don't seem to be in my hammock this morning… but all things considered, I'll be nice and get back to business today anyway…
…after Dassam wakes up and I get a little dessert with my breakfast, that is.
Eventually I am able to pull myself away from his warm bed with heady kisses and promises of my return after we continue our research back on Bral. If only you lived somewhere with a portal, Dassam… then it wouldn't take a frelling month in the Flow to get to you!
When I get back to the ship I find that another delivery has been made from the EIN, this time from Admiral Leafbower.
"Ooo! I love presents that don't try to kill me," I say as Ef Utan pries open the crate. "What did we get this time?"
Lenata takes the note from the crate and reads. "According to this, it's a set of magical sails for our ship, in thanks for returning his chess set and saving his…" She blanches for a moment and her eyes grow wide.
"His… what?" Ef Utan asks with a raised brow.
"His nephew… Aladan," Lenata finishes weakly as she blushes a bright scarlet.
"Aha! You and…oh my," I chortle. "I'll think we'll just leave that out the next time we see him. Why did he keep the chess set, though? Don't we still need it?"
Lenata clears her throat and continues reading. "It seems that he had some priests of Corellian cast some divinations, and they said that 'It's the meetings brought about by the chess set that are important, not the set itself.' The sails are self-piloting sails that operate by an Elvish command word, for the times when we need all hands on deck, so to speak."
"Nice," I say as I run my hands carefully along the shimmering silk. "Shall we install them?"
Ef Utan nods and picks up the box for us to take aboard, when we suddenly hear chuckling from the corner. As we all turn, a figure covered in platemail from head to toe (how in the 9 Hells was he so quiet?) appears from the shadows and laughs. "You should know the Queen of Thistles is watching you…" And before Ef Utan can even put down the box, he is gone.
"What the… now COME ON!" I say as I flap my arms to the sides in frustration and sigh.
"Come on, Kenari," Ef Utan says with a nod towards the ship. "We'll just add her name to the list and figure it out later…"