Vorik stifles a yawn "Seems the consensus is to go to my family's estates. If you can, drop us off at Karrlakton so I can pick up my sister and then we we'll travel overland on our own."
Nic sits idly muttering strange words as he rolls his fingers, palm up - a fork slowly spinning unsupported three inches in the air. After a few seconds of this, he grabs the fork, pointing at Vorik. "If that's our destination, then I agree that walking's our best bet. As much as I want to see more of this beautiful ship at work, I'm not comfortable traveling with.. uh.. precious cargo through manifest zones. I haven't heard that they were all that stable." A quick glance at the recently-freed Kaius makes it clear what the 'precious cargo' is.
Pulling a long stemmed pipe from his jacket, Darius thumbed it full of tobacco and held it lightly in his hand. "So home we go. Very well. We will do as Vorik suggests."
Returning with a smile playing across her lips, the beautiful captain says, "Have we come to a decision? Ah, so the Kessler estates it is? Well, you're suite is prepared, and there are beds enough for you to each have your own. Who ever knew being a criminal could be so cushy?
"We'll be flying over the Mror Holds, and last I heard they've been being pelted by some vicious winter storms up there, so if you feel a jostle or two don't be surprised. I've piloted this ship for ages, and I know my way around a storm!"
"Thank you, captain for your splendid hospitality. You do your House and your fine ship already proud. A toss and jostle in a storm would be the least of our worries knowing you're leading this ship."
Then glancing pointedly at Darius.
"Though a jostle sometimes can be expected even without a storm . . . from what I've heard and observed here and there."
Then with a gracious nod to the beautiful captain, the half-orc monk smiles innocently.
"But I guess storm or no storm, an occassional jostle is always expected in an airship ride. It's quite liberating and exciting from what I've heard though I'm not particularly actively wanting to face one."
Then with a playful banter to Darius, Dakvor gestures to The Shadow.
"Our friend here seems to welcome such an experience from what I gathered from our brief but eventful time with him in Dreadhold. He's an enthusiastic one for living life to the fullest I guess."
"Oh he likes living life to the fullest?" the Captain asks, laughter in her voice, "I'm heading up to the wheel to take us over the mountains, it looks like we're clear from any prison trouble. Rest well gents!"
Meeting the Half-Orcs eyes, Darius frowns for a moment, before nodding softly. 'A dangerous game yes but one that could bare fruit... Very well!' Clearing his throat softly, Darius stepped forward, smiling warmly. "Captain I will escort you, if I may. I have a need for the clear night sky and my pipe, after that dreadful Prison." Smiling, he bows fluidly. "Lead on m'Lady!"
"Thank you kind sir!"
With that, they are both off to the wheel. The rest of you are free to join them, retire for the evening, or do whatever else you please.
___
Up at the helm, Captain 'Ria grabs a scarlet tricorn hat, pulls her hair up into a tight ponytail, and grabs hold of the vessel's polished Wheel of Wind and Water. Smiling at Darius, she looks one last time to the prison, which at this point is growing smaller and smaller in the distance, and directs the Sky's Embrace towards the imposing mountains of the Mror Holds.
Unshuttering one of the lanterns, Darius reaches in to his coat, drawing out a long thin length of tinder, setting it alight from the lantern, before sparking up his pipe, taking a few deep draws before sighing in contentment.
"Fortuitous, Ria, that you would be waiting exactly where we needed you!" Smiling he exhaled a ring of smoke, leaning against the rail. "It warms this old Elf's heart that the Gods still find him in favor. Or atleast that his head, and the heads of his companions, are stll worth something to someone. Do those of Lyrander make it common place to aid in the rescue of Monarchs?" He fixes the woman with a slow, steady gaze.
"Ha!" Captain Ria laughs, adjusting her tricorn hat nervously, "Actually, I believe we have a policy of not assisting those who break others out of prison. I just made an exception today, I'm looking for a tale to spin, a song that will sing on after my children's children retired from the sky."
"Ah. Hunting an Epic! Aren't we all?" Nodding softly, Darius puffed on the pipe contentedly for awhile. "I have a, ah... delicate question for you Ria. While on your travels, do you make it to Sharn often?"
<Bones decides to get some rest, but ask that someone wake him about an hour before the destination is reached.>
"Ah. Hunting an Epic! Aren't we all?" Nodding softly, Darius puffed on the pipe contentedly for awhile. "I have a, ah... delicate question for you Ria. While on your travels, do you make it to Sharn often?"
"Quite often, I'd say at least every other month. It depends on my current assignment. Why do you ask?"
____
"Ah. Hunting an Epic! Aren't we all?" Nodding softly, Darius puffed on the pipe contentedly for awhile. "I have a, ah... delicate question for you Ria. While on your travels, do you make it to Sharn often?""Quite often, I'd say at least every other month. It depends on my current assignment. Why do you ask?"
____
I will post an edit with the info in a few minutes.
edit: Airships travel at 20 mph.
I estimated it to be about 825 miles.
That is about 41 hours.
Edit 2: <Bones would like to be awakened in 4 hours. Then he will sharpen his weapons>
Darius frowned softly, staring out over the side of the Aiship. "Have you ever hard tell of a man known as the Shadow? Are there rumors?"
Vorik makes his way to the sleeping chambers, takes off his armor, and proceeds to pass out on one of the beds.
Loche looks for something to feed his companion before bedding down for the night. The good thing of a beetle was that it ate most things. Kitchen refuge was a snack. Boxes were more filling. Tree logs were a main meal.
Loche does his best to instruct his companion to deposit any poop near the side of the ship where it was less effort to shovel it over the edge.
It was part of having a companion that most people forgot. Sure, sure it looked great having a giant beetle at your back but feeding and cleaning up the mess afterwards made elephants seem attractive.
Nic forgoes his original bunk on the ship to stay with his new crew.
I don't have a clue what I've gotten in the middle of, but I was paid to see this thing through. He takes a look around at the strange group. Two Karnathi - a human and a dwarf, a woodsman, a half-orc, and an elf who looks far too comfortable with those knives. What kind of misfit crew is this?
They did look to know their business, though. And they did make it out of that ridiculous prison.
He eases his constantly sore body down into his bunk, willing elusive sleep to come.
Darius frowned softly, staring out over the side of the Aiship. "Have you ever hard tell of a man known as the Shadow? Are there rumors?"
"There are many criminals who go by that name, especially in the City of Towers. I believe I've heard tell of an elf with that moniker ... a poisoner of some renown..." Ria said, her voice trailing off in thought.
For the next few hours the ship sailed through the wind, powered by the glowing ring of fire, towards the mountains that held the land of the Dwarves.
____
"Ah..." Trailing off, Darius scratched his head softly, turning to stare over the side. "So nothing is forgotten. I would have thought in a City that size. Oh well. I will have to move quietly then. It shall be fine."
Darius and the captain talk for hours, neither seeming to tire. The wind grows chill as they near the mountains. Up ahead, storm clouds are brewing. Captain Ria eyes the clouds, but seems unconcerned, steering her ship slightly to the right (North) of the forming storm.
The ship sails smoothly over the snowy peaks, and gradually, the night turns into a pink dawn, as the moons sink down beyond eyesight, and the eye of Dol Arrah rises into the sky. The mountains glow with the sun's light, reflected in the frigid peaks.
Captain Ria adjusts her scarlet tricorn hat to block the rising sun and says to Darius, "Hmm... Pink skies in morning, sailors take warning."
Just as the words slip from her mouth, a massive gust of wind comes from the storm to the south, rattling the ship. Ria grasps on to the Wheel and will the ship's bound elemental to stay the course, as yet another buffet of cool wind slams into the vessel. To Darius she says, "Hang on handsome! I think we're hitting some trouble here!"
The storm to the south suddenly grows far darker - and now, over the peak just to the north of the ship, another storm cloud appears! The two mountain snow-storms are converging!
What are you going to do?
"By the Dark Six!" Gritting his teeth, Darius stands straighter, gripping the rail. "Ria I am here if you need me. Just point and say and I'll do what I can!" Offering up a faint sign to the Six with his free hand, Darius grins wildly, the adrenaline bursting through his veins shaking free the last cold grip, the Island Prison had had on him.
After promptly bidding Captain Ria a good night, Dakvor wasted no time and promptly fell asleep on the assigned accomodation for the group.
The half-orc monk and the rest of the group was rudely awakened by gusts of wind slamming hard the ship. The monk took the time to retrieve his belonging and readied his light crossbow, thinking that being up here in the air, his bolts might be more useful intead of just his bare hands.
"Well, not quite the jostle I'm expecting! I guess it's a proper storm that fate's gonna serve us today!", Dakvor says to no one in particular as he goes up to the deck of the ship towards where the captain is; his curiosity overcoming his trepidation that it may be dangerous going out with the winds tossing the ship.
<Bones offers his assistance in whatever way the captain request.>
Nic is jarred from a very pleasant dream, but his fuzzy mind struggles to remember the details. THe soft skin of some pleasant woman is all he can recall.
Noticing again the ship's irregular motion, Nic decides to go see how he can help, strapping his black leather scroll-case across his torso as he tosses on his over-coat.
He grins at the half-orc's words as they both pass from the dark of the cabin into the pink-skied dawn, the wind pulling at his coat. His white eyes take in the large storm clouds almost immediately, "Morning, Dakvor. Ever see a storm-cloud up-close? The good Captain was kind enough to introduce me to some no the way to our rendezvous. This could get interesting." He checks his gear one more time, his usually stiff body struggling with the rolling of the air-ship.
As you and the crewmen make it up to the deck of the air ship, the winds get stronger, and despite the captain's hold of the Wheel the ship rocks as if hit by powerful waves.
Captain Ria wastes no time preparing you all for the rough ride, "Everyone grab a Life Ring - four to a ring, they line the railing! If the ship begins to go down, cut the twine in the middle and it will activate the hoop - allowing you to float down safely to the ground! When you have a hold of one, get near the center of the deck, and begin to make your way downstairs! In the storage closet there are some cold weather outfits! I have a feeling you'll be needing them! And someone, please get a ring for Til! ... now, which one of your ruffians is the most charming?"
Following her orders you see the wooden rings lining the railing, each has four hand holds on the edges of the hoops, and a piece of twine stretches over the middle.
As the two huge storm clouds join, they begin to spin, not vertically, as a tornado would as it descends to the earth, but instead horizontally, opening a yawning, snowy portal!
Vorik makes his way, clad once more in his armor and armed with his sword and shield just in case, up to the deck. Hearing Ria ask for a charming individual, the Paladin attempts to make his way over to her. "Hear you need a charming ruffian??" He asks with a smile.
Loche moves carefully along gathering his companion. Loche waves off the Cold Weather gear. He'd been born in the north lands and he had a natural affinity with the cold. It took extreme cold pass what most weather gear was built to handle to bother him. If it was that cold then he'd be asking the spirits to give him protection.
Loche also didn't bother with the rings. They were too small for his companion and Loche could fly naturally though he was still learning the basics of maneuvering in tight spots. Even a turkey could land relatively well without much fan fare.
"Alright you elements. You've huffed and puffed enough. Settle it down a might before I get angry myself."
Perception Roll:
Nic sees the large Karnathi volunteer to help with the elemental as he makes his way towards one of the rings. "Vorik! Captain! Would a third help your efforts or just muddy the waters?!"
If his aid is requested, he'll try to make his way to them. If not, he'll go for the rings. He will try to get 3. One for himself, one for Vorik, and one for Til.
As he surprises everyone with his nimble feet, he prepares to cast out a Web in case someone falls.
Captain Ria, gripping the Wheel of Wind and Water is focused on controlling the elemental bound to the ship, willing it to swing the ship south to the south and away from the snowy window opening in the storm.
"Sir Vorik, I would appreciate your assistance! Nic, hon, just prepare a spell in case we have a ... "hard" landing!"
Bones , notices very small winged humanoid shapes zooming in and out of the icy portal forming in the center of the storm.
___
Vorik, you may assist the Captain in a battle of personality to control the elemental, and therefore control the ship.
Nic manages to grab three rings.
"Nic, hon, just prepare a spell in case we have a ... "hard" landing!"
Nic grins as he slides across the deck, giving a rakish salute as he bangs against the railing, grabbing the group of rings, "Way ahead of ya, captain!"
'Looks like we have winged company readying for a feast. Prepare yourselves or you'll be dinner for the buzzards or worse.'
The Paladin calls up The Devourer to aid him in calming the elemental.
Dakvor returns Nic's smile. "Well not really. All I experienced with my stepfather's travels were incessant rains in an airship, But no, not at all as interesting as this as you say it!"
Then in a rush, the captain instructed them on what to do. The half-orc monk dutifully complies as he quickly accepts that he's no expert in a ship whether for the air or water.
He manages to cram on top of his clothes the winter garments from the hold; even hastily jamming on top of his bandana, a funny-looking hat appropriate for cold weather.
Warming up to the changeling, Dakvor follows Nic on retrieving liferings that's supposed to make them float instead of falling straight down.
"Master Til!", he calls out as he sees the halfling cook come up above deck in winter clothes. "We've got a life ring for you here!"
The half-orc monk despite the obvious danger of the situation can't help but feel exhilirated of everything right now!
And with a wide grin and his left fang glistening in the dawn light, Dakvor calls out to The Shadow.
"Well Darius! Is this fun or not?!"
Laughing wildly, from his spot at the rail, Darius turns to look at the Half-Orc. "Fun? No. No this is living!" He yells loudly, before looking at Ria. "I'm staying right here!"
Vorik grabs hold of the Wheel with Ria, willing the elemental bound tot he ship's ring to turn the ship away from the frigid portal, but to no avail. Loche searches his memory, but for all his experience with the animals of the wilderness cannot seem to place the strange flying creatures at the portal's edges.
"HOLD ON!" the blonde haired Captain screams, her voice barely audible to those on deck over the howl of the winter wind, "Looks like we're going to get pulled in or come down! When it happens, cut the twine on the rings and we will float down to safety!"
____
____
The ship's elemental strains against the pull the portal, but fails to turn, instead bringing it and its crew closer to the rift.
As the ship is tugged closer to the icy rift, the small flying figures come into better focus. They appear as small winged men, made completely of ice. They dart around the edges of the portal, but soon notice the ship - and its crew! They begin to fly towards the air ship!
What do you want to do? The bow of the ship is 20 feet from the rift.
Darius pitched and rolled with the ship easily as he crossed the deck, drawing his blade, moving towards the prow. "BRACE TO REPEL ATTACKERS. GRAB YOUR BLADES AND KISS THE WORLD GOODBYE GENTS!"
Laughing wildly the Elf prepared himself to meet the on coming demons.
Dakvor heartily laughs with the gleeful elf.
Then, the winged creatures Loche mentioned earlier now appear into focus as the ship inevitably gets suck nearer into the portal.
Dakvor knowing the elements right now is against him but deciding to still try it, loads the light crossbow he's already holding and fires off a shot towards one of the approaching creatures.
A sudden realization hits Nic as he braces for some kind of aerial disaster, and his white eyes sweep across the deck urgently.
He also watches the elf and the half-orc in their crazy display, "I like a good story as much as the next guy, but shouldn't we be preparing to de-board before we're all sucked into that great snowy vortexy thing?"
Much to Nic's relief, he finds the banished monarch standing calmly behind him, a life ring in his hand, holding himself in the door frame of the stairwell that leads below deck.
On the other side of the deck, Dakvor's arrow spirals through the air, but misses the icy creatures. Darius eyes the creatures, ready to attack.
It suddenly occurs to Nic that the vortex is actually an unstable manifest zone. Manifest Zones connecting to Risia, the plane of ice are common in the mountains, and have been rumored to have formed in storms that "connect" the frozen hell with the mountains.
"Nic, darling, there's no time! Let's get inside before we're blown over! If we jump, we'll be caught in the storm as well! We'll have to take our chances!"
Ria steps away from the Wheel, fear in her eyes, despite her outer calm. She signals for her crew to gather and go below deck, and instructs you can your companions to do the same.
Kaius does not argue with her, and Til quickly accompanies the monarch down the staircase. Already, ice is creeping up the bow, and the railing along the deck is being pulled apart by the winds.
Loche follows Captain Ria's signal and leads his companion below deck. It is a bit of shove getting the large beetle's carapace through the door but the beetle turns a bit sideways to fit it's way through.
Vorik takes the Captain's hand, and helps her downstairs, his stalwart presence easing her fear some.
Vorik takes the Captain's hand, and helps her downstairs, his stalwart presence easing her fear some.
"Thank you Sir Vorik. I never thought my tale would include a knight in shining armor ... even if you are a tad on the quiet side!"
When you arrive below deck you find the eight crew men bundle in their cold gear, yet armed for battle. They are huddle together, yet ready for anything. Already, they are breathing out little frozen clouds of air. The portholes are frosting over as you and the captain make your way down.
Til and Kaius hold onto a life ring, and Kaius holds a dagger for what it's worth. Til holds a frying pan in his right hand.
Captain Ria urges you down the stairs quickly, pulling a key from her pocket while ushering you down out of the chaos and cold of the Manifesting Portal.