Ellery stands towards the back of the group with a look of disinterest at the current situation.
Dervak wakes up early. It takes him some time to get used to the fact that he can no longer see in the dark.
Fumbling around for a candle, he tries to light it, fails, and then decides to go back to sleep.
He rises a bit later when the sun is up and goes to find a mirror. Dervak spends a long time looking at his new face and thinking.
What did my mother look like? She was Taldan, I know that. Mulgar told me a bit... light brown hair. Green eyes. Bronzed skin. Father was a Kellid. Lighter skin but jet-black hair. This is what I would have looked like if he hadn't gone to the Darklands? If he hadn't wanted the power of Orc blood in his veins?
Dervak runs a finger along his teeth.
Not a beast anymore. Not a monster.
Still feeling weak, he goes to meet the others.
"More books today? I don't know that I'll be much help... my head still feels fuzzy."
Mara slept badly, Meg's death weighing heavily on her conscience. It took longer than normal for her to rouse herself in the morning and commune with the spirits of her parents.
Orisons: Detect Magic, Light, Guidance, Read Magic
1st lvl: Ant Haul, Cure Light Wounds x2, Liberating Command, open slot
2nd lvl: Barkskin x2, Gentle Repose, open slot
3rd lvl: Heroism, Speak with Dead, open slot
4th lvl: Threefold Aspect, open slot
She ate very little at breakfast, and then went to tend to Meg. After changing to her crone aspect, she washed and blessed the body, before commencing the ritual to contact the dead woman's soul.
She addressed Meg's spirit, "Meg, I'm very sorry about what happened. I wouldn't have asked you to take part if I'd known how dangerous it would be.
"I want to bring you back to life, if that is your wish. There are three possible courses of action:
"One: We can preserve your body and take it with us by boat to Cassomir, where we can get the divine magic to restore you to life.
"Two: I can reincarnate your soul into a different humanoid body within the next day or two. I can't control the exact form, so you might come back as a gnome or an elf, for example.
"Three: If you don't wan't to return, we can bury you body according to the local customs, and your spirit can travel to the Great Beyond, to whatever fate has in store for you.
"Now I'm going to ask you about each choice in turn. Answer "yes" to the option you want to choose.
"Do you want us to transport your body to Cassomir, and raise you from the dead in your current body?"
She waited nervously to hear Meg's reply.
Meg answers the first question Mara asks, "No."
Mara gulped when Meg answered 'no' to the first question, but breathed a sigh of relief when she answered in the affirmative to reincarnation. "Very well, I"ll get everything ready!". she told the dead woman.
She changed back to her normal aspect and informed everyone of Meg's decision, then set about making the necessary preparations.
Once everything was ready, she gathered everyone to witness the ceremony. She prayed to her ancestors and recited the ten minute ritual. As she finished, she held her breath and waited to see if it worked.
Meg's body slowly transforms as it reforms and is restored from the magic. She turns into a stocky and stout form of a dwarf. She gasps alive, "Ugh.. that was something. Wait a minute something's wrong."
Theophilus sleeps fitfully. The mad hatter has strange dreams of being chased by viscous and blood thirsty rabbits.
The White Rabbit snores contentedly.
In the morning, the two play cards for an hour before joining the others.
Theo helps Mara where he can.
Ellery sleeps for a few hours and then gets up and starts paging through some of the books they have collected. He will be nearby when Mara casts her spell, hand on his rapier in case things go awry.
Mara was overjoyed to see that Meg was alive again. She gave the dwarf a hug, exclaiming, "Oh Meg, I'm go glad you're back!" There had been no reason to think that the reincarnation wouldn't work, but thinking that it should work and seeing that it did work were two different things.
Later, she spoke to Cesadia, "I'm covering the cost for Meg's reincarnation myself. Someone else would have died if she hadn't been there; it's not fair to burden her with the cost."
Meg looks confused, "But why am I a dwarf?"
Cesadia replies smirking, "The spell Mara used to bring you back to life also turned you into a dwarf. Apparently in your dead state you thought having your body shipped to Cassomir to be raised properly was a worse prospect than a chance of becoming a dwarf."
Meg makes a sour face, "Cassomir... ew. I always wanted to be an elf maybe I thought I would come back as one. Well thank you anyway."
Three hours later...
Allard Hagely, a detective dressed in a fine suit and sporting a pipe arrives from the Sleepless Agency, "Ah. Just delivering a message. The Sellen Starling has arrived early should you want to meet the captain. I suppose they will leave tomorrow at first light."
After reincarnating Meg, Mara asked around town to see how much diamond dust she could acquire, for use in restoring Dervak's health after his harrowing experience.
When the news came that the Sellen Starling had arrived early, Mara exclaimed, "Yikes! We need to pack up Lowls' notes and take them with us! I'd better go meet with the captain, I suppose."
She headed down to the docks, to talk to the captain and find out how much luggage they could bring on board.
To da boat!
At the mossy quays thrusting into Avalon Bay many ships are docked; simple fisherfolk, coal barges from Hyannis, and lake traders. You arrive at your intended pier to meet captain Freeling a halfling woman with fiery red hair and blue eyes. As you approach you hear voices shouting in anger.
“I’m not making them reload it,” says the fat man in an ill-fitting harbormaster’s jerkin. “And you’d best be on your way shortly, shorty.” The curly-haired halfling woman in high leather boots jabs her finger up at the man. “What do you mean, you won’t reload it? It’s loaded wrong! Ships can’t just list to one side like you drunkards. Hardwood is heavy and as thick as your skull. Your people loaded it nine stacks deep to port and three stacks starboard. I’ve got to get it all the way to Cassomir, and I won’t make it if my boat rolls as easy as your sister!”
Sellen Starling
The Sellen Starling is a wide keelboat, like many keelboats it has a single large sail and several long poles for navigation. Its spacious hold is divided into port and starboard sections, as the kell and mounting for the mast take up the center portion of the hold. A shipment of rare hardwoods fills most of the keelboat’s hold. Its cabin is divided into a small captain’s room to the fore and a large room aft; this aft room is used for food storage and berths for the occasional paying passengers.
Oo, shotgun!
Mara decided to try to smooth things over, and get the cargo rearranged to the captain's satisfaction. After reciting a discreet prayer, she introduced herself to the halfling woman, "Hello, I'm Mara. I've got passage booked on this ship."
She turned to the Harbormaster, "I'm sure we can work something out here. Me and my friends are going to be passengers on this vessel, and we're willing to lend a hand."
"You can make me reload the freight," says Dervak to the harbormaster. "I don't mind heavy labor."
"Psst, Mara, I'd be better if you could help with more of your magic."
Mara said to Dervak, "Unfortunately, I have to wait until tomorrow until I can help with your strength."
The harbormaster waves his hand at the party dismissively, ”You’d do it even worse I bet! Better let me and me men supervise.”
Skywin retorts, ”You couldn’t supervise hardwood trees growing!” Between the three groups, and after much bickering, the boards get loaded evenly.
Mara talked with Skywin and confirmed how much baggage the group would be able to bring on board, what the sleeping arrangements would be, and the departure time.
Once that was sorted out, she sought out Keldrin and let him know of the change in the departure date. "The Sellen Starling came in early, so we'll be leaving in the morning. Do you want to get a drink this evening? I won't be able to stay too long, because I've got packing to do; we were expecting to have a couple of more days!"
When Mara mentions that the party was willing to lend a hand, Ellery's hand makes some signs.
Skywin leads Mara and anyone else interested on a tour of the ship. The passenger cabin is a single 30ft by 20ft room. She says matter of factly ”Whatever you can stuff in there.” It will be cramped but you should have room for all the research notes and books you need and still be able to roll out your bedrolls.
Later Mara finds Keldrin, ”Of course! Hate to see you heading off again but I understand in any case.”
Theophilus enjoys the tour.
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Once he is done stacking freight, Dervak makes sure his own possessions are loaded. He ensures that his share of the fine wine, sherry, and brandy from Iris Hill is safely secured and he writes down how many of each he has. He also fills some empty bottles with cheap wine and writes in block letters FOR ROWAN WHEN HIS SHARE RUNS OUT.
Then he joins Skywin on the tour of the keelboat.
Dervak is clearly still weakened by his ordeal, but walks with greater confidence than before and is more outgoing in his speech. He also seems happier.
Dervak introduces himself to the halfling with a broad smile. Glad those tusks are gone...
"Captain Skywin Freeling, is it? I am Dervak. Happy to make your acquaintance. It's a long journey to Cassomir; I will be happy to help out however I can."
"I'll contact you magically, from time to time," Mara explained to Keldrin. "It'll be a message of 25 words or less, and you'll be able to reply in kind. So we'll be able to stay in touch."
She headed back to the manor house to start packing up the books and notes for the journey. On the way, she stopped in at a couple of shops to buy some last-minute items.
Skywin replies to Dervak, "You'll be more useful than some of these dogs." She glares at a sailor napping in the hold. She appraises Dervak's falchion, "In any case I'll be glad to have someone who knows which end of a sword to use."
Keldrin smiles and claps his hand on Mara's back, "I'd like that!" He raises his glass in toast, "To old friendships that are new again."
After the books and notes were hurriedly packed into boxes, helped load them onto a wagon and took them to the ship. Once the research materials were on board, she headed to the Stain for a drink with Keldrin.
To Keldrin's toast she replied, "To good friends!"
After a good meal and pleasant conversation, the time came all too soon for her to bid her old friend goodnight. "Alas, the captain wants to sail with first light, so I'd better be going."
The sound of morning birds squawking and cawing is a good sign that things have returned to normal at Iris Hill. It's early morning but you feel that with the help you provided Skywin yesterday she'll wait a little bit. The sky is clear and breezy, perfect sailing weather. After a last check you're sure you loaded all the books and notes you need as well as provisions for the trip.
Mara awoke and meditated with her ancestor dolls.
1st lvl: Ant Haul, Cure Light Wounds, Liberating Command, Remove Fear, open slot
2nd lvl: Barkskin x2, Resist Energy, open slot
3rd lvl: Heroism x2, open slot
4th lvl: Restoration x2
After eating breakfast, she recited a couple of prayers to reinvigorate Dervak.
She double-checked her gear and then headed to the ship with the others. Once at the docks, she looked around for Keldrin, to bid him farewell for now.
Mara is plagued by nightmares of the Dark Whisper.
Having thoroughly gone through all of Lowl’s notes Theo and Mara learn the following:
Rowan for much of the day drinks until he passes out. When he wakes he drinks and the cycle continues.
After referencing the Chain of Nights Mara is certain that Rowan and Theo are both suffering from some sort of madness. Likely inflicted on them by the encounter with the Dark Whisper. Theo is suffering from Delirum and Rowan is suffering from Mania: drinking.
Mara slept badly, being plagued by nightmares of the Dark Whisperer.
1st lvl: Ant Haul, Cure Light Wounds, Liberating Command, Remove Fear, open slot
2nd lvl: Dream Shield, Lesser Restoration, open slot
3rd lvl: Heroism x2, open slot
4th lvl: Restoration, Threefold Aspect
In the morning, after reciting a prayer, she examined Rowan and Theo, trying to determine the extent of their mental illnesses. She said a prayer for each of them to try to improve their mental conditions.
She explained to Dervak and Ellery, "I believe the encounter with the Dark Whisperer has caused Rowan to suffer from a mania regarding alcohol. I've cast a spell to reduce his affliction, but please keep a watch on him, lest he poison himself with excess drink."
She aided Theophilus with his research for much of the daylight hours, and then sat on deck relaxing and watching the passing scenery.
Theophilus doesn't feel much different....
"I am sorry this happened to Rowan. I owe him for defeating the Dark Whisper. It feels wrong to repay him by tying him up the next time he passes out, but I think we have to. We can't let him keep doing this."
Ellery nods and makes some hand signs.
Dervak's going to tie up Rowan next time he falls asleep. DC will be 29 to escape (counting the -3 to Dervak's CMB from the negative levels), so there is no way Rowan can escape.
Then he will feed him with a spoon or just let him sweat the drink out of his system for a while.
Rowan doesn’t look great (but literally none of the party looks great right now).
”And I could still beat the dark whisper... I’ve still got lots of fight left.
If you tie me up, I’ll eventually get free. Just lock me in a room with my flask for an hour and see what happens. If I survive, just leave me be until you can fix me.”
Skywin checks on her passengers, "Oy! I don't appreciate you tying up my passengers, he wants to drink himself to death then Pharasma take him. So long as he doesn't bother my crew or cargo you let him free, you hear me?!" The halfling moves to untie Rowan, unless stopped...
"He is a threat to your cargo, Captain Skywin. He could ransack everything looking for more drink. But you are in charge."
Dervak stands aside.
Ellery cocks his head a bit at how quickly Dervak backs down, he then shrugs picks up a random book, and starts to read it.
Rowan is locked in the captain's quarters and Captain Freeling sleeps with her crew. When Mara checks on Rowan she notes that he's not drinking himself unconscious anymore. In fact he's his usual state of inebriation.
Skywin explains, "We're going to avoid docking at Illmarsh. Those bastards never receive ships and are right creepy folk to boot."
A chill fog rolls in limiting visibility and forcing the Sellen Starling to hug the coast of Lake Encarthan. As you pass by Illmarsh, 200 feet away, you catch sight of cloaked figures passing a long barbed chain from one dilapidated wharf to another rendering the jetties unapproachable.
A quarter mile behind the Sellen Starling a longship with red sails looms, following your keelboat's wake. Before you can catch more than a glimpse, the ship is swallowed by the fog.
Ellery begins to spend less time in the small quarters, usually finding an out of the way place on the deck. Reading through the copy of 'The Forgotten Servants' that he had picked up back in the mansion. Occasionally pulling out his dagger and picking at his nails watching anyone else on deck.
1st lvl (5): Ant Haul, Cure Light Wounds, Liberating Command, Remove Fear, open slot
2nd lvl (4): Dream Shield, Lesser Restoration x2, open slot
3rd lvl (3): Heroism x2, open slot
4th lvl (2): Threefold Aspect, open slot
Mara pointed out the longship to Captain Skywin, asking, "Are their any pirates in these waters?"
When not studying the ritual, the Mad Hatter is found fishing off the rear of the boat. He doesn't seem to mind not having a pole, line, or anything fishing related.
Dervak watches off the stern of the ship, trying to catch another glimpse of the longship with red sails. He doesn't mind the chill, but the fog is annoying. The warrior has his falchion on his back.
A brief bemused smile crosses Skywin's lips before turning serious again, "Of course. Why I was so glad to have you on as passengers." The halfling eyes Theo fishing without any tackle and says in a hushed tone, "He alright?"
After a couple of hours or so the fog mostly clears and there is no sign of the mysterious ship.
Mara told Skywin, "Theo is rather, shall we say, eccentric. He seems to be enjoying himself, at any rate."
The White Rabbit laughs.
Mara no longer has nightmares and Rowan has been cured of his mania, though he still drinks, especially right before a fight.
Both Mara and Theo feel confident enough to lead the casting of the Dreamland Excursion ritual. Unfortunately Ellery won’t be able to participate and travel to the Dreamlands. Mara remembers that Lowls somehow brought the party to the Dreamlands without their active participation, somehow, while they were drugged.