Kaul gives the figures and the harbormaster replies quickly, "Fees are two silver shields per foot so that'll be 20 gold sails a night. You can pay by the day, due the prior day. South Beacon Dock 8 will be available by Forenoon Watch. I'll take the fee now."
Kaul jingles his purse, then looks to the others;
"Only 'ave 10 sails on me lads. We'll need 10 more."
The Harbormaster raises an eyebrow and Veric smiles and pats his coin purse saying, "If you don't have the money, we do."
Corliss digs 10 gold pieces out of his belt pouch, trying to choose northern coinage for payment.
"Veric, mate, have you a temple in mind? We're in your hands for the moment."
case in point
The harbormaster scratches a note in his notebook, tears off the sheet to hand you your receipt and then scuttles off on long thin legs. Veric watches him go and gives a shrug. "Much better than the previous harbor master. That guy was just a mean drunk."
He turns to Jim while rewrapping his long hair in his Varisian scarf. "Perhaps I should orient you first then. Magnimar has three main parts: the area along the Yondabakari River to the south, the lower city here, and up on the bluffs to the north is the high city." He gestures at the immense bridge that projects from the bluffs over the bay. "That is the Irespan. We're in Beacon's Point here with the Wyrmwatch lighthouse an easy point of reference. Between here and the Irespan is the Dockway District with the famous Bazaar of Sails, the largest freemarket in Varisia where you'd find your spices and the like," he gestures at Estabo. "Underbridge lies in the shadow of the Irespan and above, the Capitol District. There are several other districts, but those are the basics."
He turns back to Jim. "Not so much temples as the monuments, or at least the spirits that ward them, sometimes grant favors."
"As for which monument might be most beneficial, I don't know. Which most appeals to you? Near here is the Battle of Charda, then there is the Founder's Flame, the Cenotaph, Indos cul Vydrarch, The Fifth Wind, Our Lady of Blessed Waters, the Mapstone, the Guardians, the Shadow Clock, and Mistress of Angels. At least those are the major ones."
Jim listens to the lengthy litany, shaking his head. "I have no idea what all those names mean. Given our pasts, though, I'm thinking Mistress of Angels is right out. How about the Fifth Wind? That sounds a mite friendlier, hey?"
Moving slowly and gingerly into the glare of the overcast sky, Dingus finds a sturdy young gentleman in a clean, green uniform waiting for him on the veranda holding a sign that has 'Dingus' written on it. After Dingus waggles his hand at the man, he comes over and helps the cringing creature with his bags. "Are you OK, sir? Well, you'll have some time to rest and recover on the voyage. Not a great deal of time, mind you, being as the Winshin is one of the fastest ships around, but you'll have nothing to do other than rest and breath the fresh sea air. Come along now, I know Captain Cresilla is ready to go." The mate continues talking as he hustles Dingus seaward to the private docks near the Marina where a streamlined and elegant three-masted schooner awaits.
The crew looks very professional as they are all dressed in the same green uniforms and efficiently get Dingus to his berth and make ready to sail.
Veric shrugs. "I'd think an angel would be more likely to help, but at least the Fifth Wind is nearby and on the way to the Bazaar of Sails." The monument in question is in fact, extremely nearby as Veric gestures to the towering stone structure that comes into view as you walk around the harbormaster's office. A couple blocks along the docks and you come up to the 50-foot tall pylon and can inspect the detailed carvings of flying monsters and cloudy creatures that cover it. From nearly every projection hangs a colorful scarf, ribbon, or windsock dancing in the shifting winds.
"It is said that the very perceptive can predict the weather by watching the movement of the winds and some swear that hanging a favor on the rock will bring good fortune to the start of a sea voyage. Perhaps you could do something to gain a boon."
Jim chuckles. "An angel might hold their nose and help me if I smile pretty, but Kaul isn't so blessed." The Taldan grows silent as he studies the patterns made by the streamers as they move.
Jim studies the dancing colors trying to detect some pattern and as the minutes pass he loses his sense of the others and finds his breathing synchronizing with the random fluttering of the makeshift flags and pennants. He feels a larger movement around him stretching from the stone pylon through the air over the city and across the gulf and in al directions. He feels a chill from the north and suddenly knows that a heavy sleet will fall this evening.
His eyes blink and he sees him mates about him again. Rafe looks somewhat concerned, but Estabo and Kaul look rather bored. Veric looks interested as Jim eyes dart around. "Anything? You were out to sea for some time there."
Once Dingus recovers from his hangover, he finds that his scaly benefactor has left a package on the small table in his cabin. Dingus unwraps it to reveal the three other books that he had been lent previously and a pouch with 10 gold sails. A note reads, May the books help the voyage pass quickly and be of some use in Magnimar. Best wishes for a safe journey and please send word of what you learn as soon as you can. -Steele.
Dingus does find that the voyage passes extremely quickly as the Winshin glides northward and he practices his hymns, songs and Varisian dance steps. A steward in green livery brings him his meals, leaving the dishes at his hatch whenever Dingus doesn't greet him. What would surely be over a month of travel on a less extraordinary, but efficient ship, Winshin covers in just over three weeks.
Dingus takes in the city from the bow as the green suited sailors ease the ship into port and he finds an interesting view of giant monuments jutting over the roofs of the bustling port centered on a titanic bridge that covers several neighborhoods with its shadow before it ends abruptly out over the harbor.
The purser has him sign off the ship as Dingus disembarks onto the vibrant docks. The ships crew pays him no mind after that as they begin loading and unloading cargo and Dingus is left to his own devices, but likely puts finding some very warm, yet glamorous clothing at the top of his list.
The Taldan takes a deep breath, exhales, then shakes his head, grinning. "That was...something. I felt what you spoke of, aye, and there's sleet coming this evening. Best we warn the crews, hey? And the harbormaster, I suppose. Mayhap it'll get us on his good side."
"But we just got here, Jim. We still have our shopping to do. Estabo and I will make sure to be back at the boat at the first sign of dark clouds. Promise."
Veric gives his characteristic shrug. "It's not that late in the day yet. I don't know if any of us can afford the docking fees if we're just doing one monument each day."
Jim tears his gaze away from the monument. "Aye, you have the right of it. How far is the Mapstone from here?"
Jim muses that perhaps the windy stone might have revealed more to Dibbets, but he only received a weather prediction. Veric smiles, "Not at all. A couple blocks landward. It's at the Seerspring Garden just on the other side of the Merchant's Guildhall. The Garden is as good a place as any to seek inspiration."
Rafe and Estabo bid their adieu and Veric leads the others... south several blocks past a keep-like structure with many richly dressed men and women of various trades entering and exiting. Just beyond the stout walls of the Guildhall, the group enters the serene heart of the lower city at the Seerspring Gardens. Limpid pools are skirted by paths among various evergreen and bare deciduous trees.
A path leads to a fountain at the center of the garden where an unblemished bronze statue of a lithe woman at double scale stands with hands open at either side of her head as if receiving inspiration from above, but Veric continues south to a massive marble block some fifty feet square and rising three feet with a scale model of the whole city in relief upon it. As you watch, a worker standing like a giant among the tiny city casts a stoneshape spell to reshape one of the buildings that must have recently been remodeled.
"Impressive, mate. So what's the trick to this one?" Jim studies the phenomenally detailed sculpture, trying to identify the location of the Seerspring Garden.
...and has absolutely no clue.
Corliss waits until the worker finishes remodeling the small city before approaching him.
"You seem to have a strong understanding of the city," he begins, flashing one of his crooked smiles and speaking in his best non-piratey, civilized voice. "Any chance you could tell us about its monuments and what boons they can bestow?"
The worker has gingerly stepped through the map and off the platform to survey his work while dusting his hands off on his apron when Corliss approaches. "Hey now, there's folks that make their living off giving tourists tours of the monuments," he chuckles. "Oh well, I can give you the copper pinch version: That's the Wyrmwatch and Battle of Charda at Beacon's Point there, then there is the Mistress of Angels over in Ordellia on the west bank of the Yondabakari, take care on the other side of the river, it's a little rough."
"You've probably seen the ones around here already, the Mapstone here and that big warrior over there to the south is the Founder's Honor. I have heard that leaving an offering of fruit or flowers to Alcaydian might give you some luck in striking a deal or getting a bargain or something if that's what you mean by boon. The Lady's Fountain there is said to grant inspiration."
"Hmmm, over by the Irespan there's the Eyes of the Hawk in honor of the Vanderale twins defeating a swarm of demon spiders that came out of the old bridge. Sometimes contestants fighting at the Serpent's Run will meditate there to get some luck in battle. The Fifth Wind is by the water west of there. Then there's the Cenotaph and Indos cul Vydrarch up in the Capital District. Oh, and the Founder's Flame and The Guardians up in the Noas District. I've heard wizards are particularly interested in those monuments, the guardians being the twins again. Ah, both the twins were wizards, you know."
"I might be forgetting a couple, but I've got to get back to work. I hope that helped. You should really hire one of those tour guides if you're really into the monuments. Have a good visit now."
Kaul eyes the statues with disdain, then turns his beady scowl toward the patrons around the streets as he grumbles a reply to the stoneworker and Corliss;
"Hur. All sounds very fancy. Only stones I need are ones in me breeches... Only boons we be needin' are the coin and trinkets o' the city's fair citizenry..."
"You might want to go through life with a dead hand robbing your arm of its strength, mate, but I'm not so content. What good's a chest full of coin, when you can't lift it?"
Dingus finally finds a cramped drafty room near the docks which suits him completely. He decides that with the speed of his ship he might have actually beaten his shipmates here, and after a quick trip to purchase some second-hand garish outfits, he settles in and spends every day on the docks eagerly awaiting the arrival of his crew. After about a week of this manic behavior he decides that they probably died on the trip, and with no real direction decides he must go on with life. Spending much time practicing and reading up on this Soralyon he decides to base his future on becoming entwined with this sect.
GM
Dingus has a dream one night about the black marble statue of Soralyon storming through the streets smiting things left and right followed by a stream of serpent people and magnificent snakes, so decides that he must be destined to become a Prophet of the Mystical Angel. He carves his own holy symbol from a piece of driftwood, and everyday attends the statue of Soralyon in Magnimar preaching and reciting passages from the books... though not a lot of people take him seriously. After a couple of hours of this preaching he notices that for some reason people are throwing coppers at him like he was some kind of street performer... His anger rises.
From the corner of his eye Dingus sees the mapmaker arrive to change the ridiculously overcomplicated city map then steps up to the idol of Soralyon to begin his daily sermon. Perhaps today he will be taken seriously. He begins by dancing about the statue in his freshly laundered grey and purple robes as Richard coils about the statue looking for a cool shady niche to pass the day in. The coins begin to rain down, and Dingus begins to lose his loosely attached cool.
"Fools and Non-believers. Listen to my words and gain wisdom. The Mystical Angel holds the key to your riches and enlightenment. Follow us now as the mysteries of the past open up new roads to a enlightened future".
Craft: Religious Symbol of Soralyon
Diplomacy to woo the crowd.
Shipmates
As the group gathers around the statues in the square, they notice a crowd gathering around one particular statue. Stepping a bit closer they are struck by the familiarity of the voice chastising the crowd. Looking closer at the statue they see a familiar serpent coiled around the shoulder of the statue in the shade of one of the wings... then whirling about like a dervish in shiny grey and purple robes they see their old friend Dingus leaping about in some structured pattern, and singing strange stanzas of verse in between his preaching...
At the same time, they see a couple of Runeguards with stern looks on their face approaching the skinny sorcerer from another direction.
Dingus' display definitely draws attention. Five citizens stand watching with curiosity and a couple passersby toss copper pinches at the mad prophet which only makes him madder. A balding gnome and a human woman in arcane-looking robes seem particularly interested in the sorcerer and move forward at a business-like pace.
Meanwhile, Veric takes no notice of spectacle, but elbows Jim. "Do you see that?" he asks as he points out a yellow-winged butterfly in the shadow of the tiny Irespan depicted on the Mapstone.
"Uh, guys...," Corliss begins when he catches sight of Dingus (or his doppelganger) dancing and preaching nearby. "How the hell did he reach Magnimar afore us? Snakes can't fly...can they?"
Kaul halts, then turns his baleful gaze towards the distant spectacle of a snake-hipped sorcerer preaching and gyrating.
"Hur... Ding?"
It dawns on the brute bosun that it actually is his serpentine shipmate! Grimace becomes grin as breaks rank and lumbers toward the assembled group;
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Dingus pauses in mid rant when he hears the familiar voice of his comrade in craziness.
"Kaul! Kauly! is it really you? I thought you were dead but you don't look dead. And is that Corliss standing there with his mouth wide open"?
The skinny sorcerer starts that way... then remembers the thrown coins, and scampers back to claim them before starting again... then remembering Richard scurries back to collect his long time companion. By the time he's ready to greet his shipmates Kaul has closed the distance. Dingus leaps into the air wrapping both legs and arms around the burly pirate.
Meanwhile, Veric takes no notice of the spectacle, but elbows Jim. "Do you see that?" he asks as he points out a yellow-winged butterfly in the shadow of the tiny Irespan depicted on the Mapstone.
The Taldan focuses on the butterfly to the exclusion of the reunion going on near him. "Aye, I see it--but does it mean anything? Do you know if there are any monuments in the shadow?"
Veric narrows his eyes speculatively at Jim. "You don't find it odd to see a butterfly mid-winter? My people think that it means the favor of Desna. Have you done anything to earn Her favor?" He shrugs. "Maybe you're just lucky. The Eyes of the Hawk monument is near it, but only the Shadow Clock is in Underbridge." The butterfly flaps off heading northeast gaining altitude until it disappears.
Meanwhile the human woman and the male gnome in similar robes watch the curious reunion of Dingus and Kaul with uncertainty.
Jim shakes his head. "Not that I know of, except maybe killing those Norgorberite spider cultists who were using this old temple of--oh, wait." He grins. "Maybe we did, hey? So what do you know about the Shadow Clock? The name seems apt to our problem, at least."
"Never been there actually. Underbridge is a pretty dangerous place even by pirate standards," Veric chuckles. "Not sure who built it or what it is honoring, but it was considered a mechanical wonder once. It marked off time without magic, but not much more than a landmark anymore."
"Dangerous place, is it? Kaul will love that...every now and then he gets all nostalgic for the Bloodsalt. KAUL! Got a lea--wait, is that...Dingus?" Jim heads over.
Dingus still clinging to Kaul pulls his head back and kisses the brute on the forehead... quickly regretting the action as his lips are covered in sweat, mud and whatever else lurks on Kaul's face. He then hears Jim's voice and sees him and Corliss standing nearby. He quickly leaps to the ground, and begins to pepper him with questions.
"What are you guys doing here? Is the ship Okay? Is my chest full of garments safe? Where's Dibbets? Do you guys have somewhere to stay? Is that a new scarf you're wearing? It brings out your eyes nicely. What are we doing next? Do you want to help me bring my people into civilization and world dominance... I meat acceptance"?
He then frantically waves the others over.
"We crossed paths with a ghostly pirate called Cap'n Cujo," Corliss tells Dingus. "Undead fella drained some o' Kauly's strength an' damned near all o' Jim's. We're in town seekin' some sort o' cure for what ails 'em."
Kaul mugs a mako grin;
"Hur. Dibbs is back at port, drainin' the casks and kickin' up a stink as per usual mate. Yer chest is safe... still onboard the Fortune I recall."
The robed gnome and human approach sheepishly at Dingus' invitation. "We don't mean to interrupt your, uh, reunion," the gnome says to Dingus. "We had noticed you preaching at the statue of Soralyon, and not having seen you in town before, were curious about how you came to know of Him."
Dingus turns to the pair of strangers. "Ohhh! those are very fetching robes. Can't wait till I get my own. I am from a land far away, and my patron sent me here to meet with the important individuals concerning our people perhaps beginning to follow Soralyon. Our beliefs seem to coincide and it is my duty to find out more. Can you help"?
He then turns to his puzzled shipmates and back around to the new arrivals. "I'm Dingus. These are my shipmates; Kaul, Corliss, and Jim".
The robes are a lovely purpley-blue with a sliver trim of interesting glyphs. The gnome bows, "I am Prasidium and this is Cesta. Well, this is most exciting. I am so curious about where you are from, but perhaps I shouldn't ask; I'm sure you may have your own ruins to protect. Ours are not so hidden." He gestures to the massive bridge that is still visible through the tall buildings around the park. "Our focus is on lost Thassilonian lore. Not the corruption of the late empire, but the original era of virtue. Yes, we would be happy to share some of what we know."
"Ohh I like lost lore. I'm in search of much of that myself. Perhaps we could share notes"?
Dingus claps his hands excitedly.
"Perhaps we could set up a meeting to discuss our common goal. I have been led to Soralyon as an inspiration for my groups continued search for relevance through uncovering history. I'd like to spend some time catching up with my old friends as well. Is there somewhere we could meet up later"?
Prasidium smiles. "Of course, we have a meeting at Heidmarch Manor a little after noon this coming Oathday. Why don't you join us there? The Manor is over in the Alabaster District at the south end near the House of Lords. It has been a pleasure meeting you, Dingus and we look forward to further discussions. See you then." The gnome bows and Cesta gives a nod as the Runeguards take their leave.
Jim nods to the newcomers. "Sorry to interrupt, but are you folks saying that you study ancient things? Like, say, these monuments?" He waves in the general direction of the Mapstone.
The silver-haired gnome pauses to chuckle at Jim's question. "No, not the monuments. They aren't ancient at all. Most are merely a couple centuries old; Thassilon existed over five millennia ago."
Jim whistles. "Pretty old! Thanks! Well, I won't keep you, hey?"
The gnome waves as the pair move off.