Jayse dips his head in for a few breaths, taking in the incredible perspective of the bleak landscape. When he returns, he shakes his head, "Now that's a crazy sight. Though I'm not sure what it reveals to us. Does this mean either the Herald or the Dweller are somehow connected to the Plane of shadow?"
Straehan purses his lips, measuring his response. "Weeellllll, it was disconcerting but it isn't a dead world. I'm quite certain that is the Plane of Shadow... but we can discuss that on our way out of this place creepy place."
Ushari stares at Straehan for a moment before replying, "You say To-may-to, I say To-mah-to." Shrugging her shoulders, she waits for Fin to finish her explorative peek into the other Plane.
Once the group has returned to the goblin cave proper, she thinks for a moment. "Hmmm, so we now know the Plane of Shadow connects with Miir. I wonder if the contact with the Plane led to the downfall of the Shaudrani civilization, especially seeing what we saw lurking there." She pauses for a moment, "And...I wonder if the Plane connects in other areas elsewhere on this world."
"Does this mean either the Herald or the Dweller are somehow connected to the Plane of Shadow?"
Ushari nods, "It would not surprise me at all. The impression I got of the Dweller was of darkness...so a safe assumption, I would say."
Your group heads back down the circular stairs as the discussion continues. Straehan plucks at his goatee, "Given the proximity of the Hill Tower, and the similarities between that building and that one tower on the other side of the Gate, and given that 'Shaudran' is quite close to 'Shadow' linguistically... I think there is a definite tie between the Shaudran and the Plane of Shadow. The Herald's spot near this gate, if he were not tied to either the Shaudran or the Shadow plane, would be a strange coincidence. So I'm thinking they are all tied together somehow. As I recall the Dweller's title was Dweller in Darkness... and that plane we just saw certainly fits the bill." With a small twinge of relief, you leave the claustrophobic tunnel behind.
"It isn't a certainty by any means... but it gives our research some direction. When we arrive in Orfallen, it will be a hell of a lot easier trying to cross-reference 'Dweller in Darkness' with the Shadow Plane rather than blindly searching on the name alone. And if the Dweller IS tied to that plane... it narrows down what types of creature he might be."
Ushari sighs in relief as they exit the tunnel. "That creature we saw...the Nightwing...I am not sure where I have heard that name before, but researching that creature would also be wise. I am wondering if it is working for the Dweller in Darkness, or possibly it is the Dweller we all saw." She thinks back on her previous encounter with it before, "Although, I did not get the same impression of omniscience from it."
"Hmmm, so we now know the Plane of Shadow connects with Miir. I wonder if the contact with the Plane led to the downfall of the Shaudrani civilization, especially seeing what we saw lurking there." She pauses for a moment, "And...I wonder if the Plane connects in other areas elsewhere on this world."
"From what I've gathered, there are portals to many different planes of existence here... but most of the known ones are on the Mainland. But where there is one, there could be others... so it's very likely there are other portals to the Shadow Plane - particularly given the uniqueness of this particular gate. Whoever created this gate was playing by a whole different set of magical rules. As for what did in the Shaudran..." He shrugs, "I suppose it is possible. I can't recall offhand what Isolde said about their downfall."
Your pace doesn't slacken as you head for the exit of the Herald's chamber, where Rashgari and others wait anxiously.
Ushari sighs in relief as they exit the tunnel. "That creature we saw...the Nightwing...I am not sure where I have heard that name before, but researching that creature would also be wise..."
"That's a reasonable suggestion. If we ever wind up on that plane - I'd rather know what we face."
Rashgari approaches, dipping her head in respect, clearly waiting to hear your opinion. Fin's circlet lets her understand Straehan's words. He explains what you saw, what plane it was, and the dangers of what might come through the open gate. He recommends that they fill the room with as much rubble as possible as well as the corridor outside.
She thanks you all and escorts you out through their tunnels, introducing you to some of their children and women who are fascinated by Fin's hair, the differences between male and female humans, and comparing their heights to the gnome's. They are unfailingly pleasant under the watchful eyes of Rashgari.
As you leave, Buli waves goodbye while working with several of the larger goblins to load up his cart with their metal ingots.
Ushari handles the young goblins attentions with her usual grace and charm, but she cannot get the image of the forlorn place she saw earlier out of her mind. Her attention wanders as a result, and she is very glad to be departing.
She stresses to Rashgari if anything unusual happens up near the gate, do not hesitate to evacuate the cave complex, and then send a message to Isolde, who can then contact her via the scribed box provided by the witch lady.
On the way back to Forestal, she is silent and brooding. It is like she carries the shadows from that place in her heart and mind, it seems.
Findelgwing blushes a bit when the goblins point out the physiological differences between the boys and the girls. Naturally her suddenly turning pink leads to a slew of other questions which she leaves to Straehan to explain away. Although she should seem more excited to be returning to Forestal and the Mako, the strange alien landscape leaves her with the unsettling feeling that everything she sees around her is but a mere veil pulled over a frightening backdrop.
Jayse waves to the goblins once more. When he sees Findelgwing go all pink from embarrassment, he looks at the kids and gives two steps of the same silly dance he did before, then wanders off after the group.
You head back down the cart trail anxious to return to Forestal, the Mako, and your further adventures. As you pass under the shadow of the Hill Tower, which is far less ominous than it once was, you decide to pay Isolde a quick visit... updating her on all you've seen and learned.
She accepts you warmly, providing you with a hot meal, and listens carefully as you share all that you have experienced. Her brow furrows as you mention the gate to the Plane of Shadow and your suspicion that perhaps the Dweller in Darkness comes from there.
"This is an ominous thing. Many evils come from that world, for it touches on the Black plane itself... from where all unlife springs. You have met this Dweller's servants twice and both times they were the unliving. You may find that this Dweller is a powerful necromancer, possibly an adopted part of the Shadow or the Black... still... I think it more likely that 'he' is a creature native to one or the other plane and a strong force of unlife."
Listening to Ushari's theory that the Dweller was linked to the destruction of the Shaudran, she smiles, shakes her head, and says with a note of hope, "We do not know much of what happened to them, but all accounts say the Shaudran brought about their own doom in a single night. Were he that strong, the Dweller would have already drained this world of life. But, IF he is that old, IF he ascended as they fell... it is because he fattened himself on the corpse of their empire like a carrion crow. I will follow this lead and try to learn more for you."
Isolde offers no comment on much of what they say. Only the mention of the Grey Lady and their increased abilities draw her attention and, though she attempts to conceal it, her concern. She says cautiously, "Maybe you have a patron from the outer planes... the power you have been given is rare."
Ushari thinks for a moment on what Isolde has told her.. "Well, Isolde, if your theory of the Grey Lady is correct and she is from one of the Outer Planes, she has granted us a rare gift indeed!" She pauses and reflects on the divine spark now dwelling in her, granted by their mysterious patron. "I suspect she did not grant these gifts to us on a whim. More likely, she feels we will need them to...save Miir from the Dweller, I would guess." She faces Isolde, and suggests "Perhaps, if you learn more about the Grey Lady, it may provide further clues as to the nature of the Dweller."
"...More likely, she feels we will need them to...save Miir from the Dweller, I would guess." She faces Isolde, and suggests "Perhaps, if you learn more about the Grey Lady, it may provide further clues as to the nature of the Dweller."
Isolde's frown deepens. "This is not a gift granted for the purpose of defeating a single creature, no matter how ferocious. Power and responsibility go hand in hand. Your lives have been profoundly changed, your potentials expanded... stopping a single evil would be a very small price to pay for such a benefit. You have been given a new life.. expect the price required to be commensurate with that gift."
Jayse listens to Isolde's words, quietly mulling over their potential ramifications. Ushari's thoughts bring a twist to his mouth, "Moreover, it really concerns me that we know so little of her. She gave us this power," his light blue eyes touch on Isolde briefly, "and this responsibility, but we don't know who or what she is. What team are we fighting for now? I'm not aware of any strings attached to our… gifts… but like Isolde said, nothing is given freely." His blue blade leaps into his hand in a blink and he spins it idly while he talks, his eyes tracing its movements, "Well, nothing of substance is given freely, anyway. Isolde, do you know of any way for us to find out if she gave us these gifts or if she merely brought out something we already had? It seems beyond coincidence that I was 'given' this blade, and my whole people are labeled as blades with psionic power. Did she give me something new or simply speed up my development?"
He's quiet for a few more more seconds before speaking again, the blade dissipating, "I guess it doesn't change much of our plans, though. We still should check on those villages and then take our knowledge into Orfallen to see if we can connect some more lines or ferret out some new leads. Not to mention the search for our wrecked ship."
"There are certain immutable, universal laws that not even the Gods can ignore. A man cannot be made to walk a path that is not his own. A man whose hand is only destined to wield magics cannot be turned to hold a sword instead."
She looks pointedly at the glowing blade in Jayse's hand, "That was yours before you were ever born. No God could put it in your hand, nor take it away. They could, however, make you come into it early or late, or shape whether you would wield it skillfully or not." She looks at the group as a whole, "It is the same for all of us."
"For nearly all people who possess more than one art, to learn and grow in their power is difficult. A woman might be a soldier and a wizard but she is only able to improved one skill at a time. This is not so for you. Your powers in your arts increase simultaneously, keeping step with one another. This is the gift you have been granted - and it is exceedingly rare."
"Who the Grey Lady is... I can pursue this question but it could be very dangerous. If she is a God or Avatar who has purpose to remain secretive..." She gives you a grimace, "Crossing her desires carries great risk. There are many tales of Oracles who transgressed against deities and the punishments they endured."
"I can say this without risk, I think. A gift such as you received must come from a God or an agent of one. At it's most benign, it would be a reward for service, an acknowledgment that your acts pleased a God. You showed great bravery in choosing to fight the goblin army even though heavily outnumbered. A God of War or Bravery might look on such an act favorably." You get the impression from the look on her face, that she is skeptical this is the explanation for what happened to you.
"In such an event, the deity would generally be one that someone in your company reverences. That person would recognize their own deity. Or, if you were not a worshipper of that deity, his or her appearance would bear symbols so that you might discover who had blessed you and some clue as to 'why'. But this is not the case, is it?"
"Your benefactress and her reasons are unknown; So the price of this gift is unknown. That concerns me. I will try to find out more about her."
He's quiet for a few more more seconds before speaking again, the blade dissipating, "I guess it doesn't change much of our plans, though. We still should check on those villages and then take our knowledge into Orfallen to see if we can connect some more lines or ferret out some new leads. Not to mention the search for our wrecked ship."
Straehan silently files away Isolde's words before turning to Jayse, "Yeah, I say we press on with our own agenda. I figure if the Grey Lady wants us for some purpose, we'll find out about it whether we sit here or in an Orfallen tavern."
Ushari nods at Isolde, and prepares to leave. She gives the older lady a hug, and says, "Thank you for helping us, Isolde. Please don't do anything too risky to anger this Grey Lady. Like Straehan says, she will make her desires known to us eventually."
Jayse smiles at Ushari's suggestion that Isolde stay safe, "I don't know, Ushari, I think this old root could give even our mysterious benefactor a run for her money if she decided it was worth it. Thanks again, Isolde. Give us a shout if there's anythign we can do for you."
Isolde looks startled at the young woman's display of affection, patting her on the back lightly, awkwardly. "Thanks. I will be careful as I may."
"I don't know, Ushari, I think this old root could give even our mysterious benefactor a run for her money if she decided it was worth it. Thanks again, Isolde. Give us a shout if there's anything we can do for you."
Isolde snorts, "I am too old to be playing with Gods, Avatars, and agents..." You get the distinct impression she cut that sentence off unfinished. She seems to have bitten off a word or two - possibly 'any more'? She shifts from foot to foot, clearly debating, then adds, "You are at play in The Great Game now. Not the games of Kings and Crowns, but THE Game... the Works and Wars of Gods across the manifold planes of existence. Keep your eyes open."
"I will send word of what I find; You do the same. And let me know if your travels take you off the island. And don't forget to send word when you find any large oak trees. That is very important."
"Will do, Isolde."
What is with this woman and trees?
"I will send word of what I find; You do the same. And let me know if your travels take you off the island. And don't forget to send word when you find any large oak trees. That is very important."
"We promise, Isolde. We will be travelling up the coastline once we return to Forestal, but we will stay near the shoreline. We will let you know if we leave Amador Island."
Another day sees you arriving in Forestal; your trip through the woods surrounding the small seacoast town being largely uneventful. You are greeted by the casual waves of several locals, seemingly accepted as members of their community.
As you walk down the shingle enjoying the cool fresh breeze coming off the water, Fin bounces with glee. Bobbing in the gentle waves lapping the shore, is the Mako. Her ropes tied off neatly, sail furled but ready for use, and her black hull gleaming with varnish. The elongated painted eyes along her bowsprit watch warily, guarding the ship from evil spirits.
Thrane approaches you, escaping your notice until he speaks, "She's all ready for ya. We've put some provisions in her storage locker as well... just some food, water, extra canvas, rope... that sort of thing."
Ushari nods to Thrane, "Thank you very much for these provisions. We greatly appreciate your assistance in getting the Mako ready for us." She smiles brightly as she turns to the others in her fellowship, "Nautical tradition states every ship must have a Captain..." turning to look at Fin, she continues, "Where to, Cap'n?". She follows up her questions with a salute to the elvish girl.
.
Something in the exchange causes an errant bit of poetry to bubble up in Straehan's mind, a snatch from a longer work. He doesn't know its source... but it seems an old, tattered thing to him. Mostly to himself, and nearly silently, he quotes the fragment he remembers:
"It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul."
Jayse slaps the dwarf on the back, "Much appreciated on the supplies, Thrane. All quiet since we left?"
He's in the midst of congratulatin Fin on her Ushari-granted captain-hood when Straehan whispers off his remembered words, [b]"How… very poetic of you, Straehan… what was that?"
Thrane winks at the tall monk, "Dull as dishwater since you left... and I hope it stays that way."
Straehan looks a bit startled by Jayse's question, "I really have NO idea where that came from... but it definitely wasn't the crappy poetry I apparently write."
Ushari pulls Thrane to one side and asks him, "Do you have a moment..." As they move off to a private area, she says to him quietly,
As she returns to the others, she comments on Straehan's poetry, "Another piece of the puzzle that is our lives."
Findelgwing manages a crooked smile at Ushari's words and Straehan's spontaneous lyricism. Taking out a map she copied of the coastline in her free time one night, she traces her finger along the coast to Orfallen and says in a confident tone, "North!"
Thrane looks surprised, then speaks quietly:
When Thrane returns with Ushari, he says, "Well, I'm not one for goodbyes. Thank you all for your help and I'll be hoping to see you folks come back at some point or to send us word on how you are doing. Good sailing and good luck to you all." He gives a final polite nod, as do a few other townsfolk who have gathered to see you off.
"Righto!" Straehan claps his hands, anxious to get underway. He moves cautiously along the narrow, pontooned gangplank (nearly falling into the water) and leaps onto the stern of the sprightly little craft. He strikes a rakish pose, oversized boots and overly short robe proudly displayed, one hand on the tiller, surveying the shore behind the boat.
"Cap'n Strae has the con!" He moves the tiller experimentally back and forth and looks at it oddly... "What the hell is wrong with this bowsprit - it moves! Is that supposed to happen?!"
Despite his sharp senses' intrusion, Jayse lets Ushari's conversation remain private. As Straehan takes up his rakish pose, Jayse decides to join in the fun. He sprints the last few steps, taking a massive leap across he open water, landing in a roll on the small deck of the ship, taking up Fin's rallying cry in midair, "North!" He rolls to his feet, a smile on his face, "And what's a bowsprit?"
Straehan offers the answer in his best professorial tone. "The bowsprit is the thingie at the pointy end of the boat that goes forward. And, at the ass-end of the boat, is the steering dealiebobber.... It could be someone made this boat backwards and all the front stuff is on the back and vice-versa."
Ushari smiles at the antics of both Jayse and Straehan. As she moves aboard the Mako, she surveys the boat, making sure all of the loos gear is stowed, with the ease of many years of practice.
She grins at Straehan, ”You had better be careful with that, sometimes it moves on its own…” she has a noticeable twinkle in her eye in her response.
Jayse gives Ushari a questioning look, "You still talking about the boat?" He barks a laugh, his spirits high at the prospect of their journey, "So... when do we leave?"
"NOW works for me! How about you? Fin. CAPTAIN FIN! Stop ogling her and get on the boat, woman!"
Jayse gives Ushari a questioning look, "You still talking about the boat?"
Ushari glances at Jayse, and blushing slightly, responds "Why, who else would I be talking ab..." She abruptly cuts off her reply, belatedly realizing what she said. Her blush grows more noticeable at this point.
"Yap, yap, yap!" Fin says in a teasing tone. She double-checks everything, then gives the Mako a strong push to get her moving before hopping aboard and adjusting the sails to catch the breeze.
The sail catches the persistent breeze eagerly, snapping taut, and pulling the sleek craft briskly out into the sheltered bay. The day is bright and a bit warm for early spring but the wind makes it pleasant. After a few minutes the town dwindles until it blends in with the treeline.
The Mako passes quickly through the fishing fleet and sail boats, accompanied by the waves of locals you've come to know. Outside of the sheltered bay the wind picks up, whipping northward. Fin, sitting on the raised rear deck, pushes the tiller over easily and sets their course with the wind at their back. The miles fly by as the Mako cuts through the slight chop like a black blade. Through the long day, your small crew keeps their eyes peeled for any sight of pirates, but the horizon remains empty. Hours later, evening falls, lighting the water in shades of red and black. Off the starboard side, there is only unexplored rocky coastline and an incredibly thick evergreen forest of tall, spire-like trees.
Duration:
Wind Force:
Wind Direct: (If needed)
Using previous sailing rolls
Ushari sighs, a feeling of tiredness in her bones. Sailing could be tiring, especially if no one else could relieve you. As evening starts to fall, she turns to the putative Captain, whos is still at the helm, and says "Fin, we need to decide where to stop for the night, and weigh anchor. I advise us to anchor off the shoreline in a shallow cove, and stay out of sight as much as possible. Just because we did not see any other ships doesn't mean they aren't out there."
As if the thought that the others would get tired and not want to sleep on the boat never occurred to her, Fin gives a "Hmm...". Turning her keen elvish gaze towards the coast, she pilots the Mako closer looking for either a cove, river inlet or a gentle beach where they can simply pull the small craft up onto the sand.
Jayse watches the women pilot the Mako as the sun begins to dip into the water, "I'm happy to park wherever tonight. Yall are the sailors." He watches the water glide by for a while before looking up to watch the coastline. "So how long before we run into one of these small villages we're supposed to check in on?"
A brief conversation ensues in Aquan between Cap'n Fin and Swabbie Straehan. He snaps her off a salute and turns to Jayse.
"Well if the current and winds hold, which seems to be happening, and if we kept going all night instead of seeking harbor... it'll be the rest of this night and another full day before we get there. So about two days from Forestal. If we stop at night. Add an extra half a day to a full day."