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"Well, that was abrupt," Ayreth observes aloud as Paul rides off. "But perhaps it was for the best." She shrugs as she recalls the events from the previous night.
Turning back to the group, she says in an exaggerated accent, "I's reckon we should make use of the lights whiles we gots it." She winks at Blue Heron.
I think this is getting more interesting by the hour....I can't wait to tell the elders back at the Tower about this. My grandfather will never believe me. Paul will be missed, but we shall make do. And Can someone check this bruise on me...I think a rib or two is sticking out my back. Feels like I got kicked by an angry ogre.
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Ayreth walks behind Lindell. "What tower?" She pokes at his rib. "Is it your wish for me to pull the rib out your back?," she teases. She touches it gently this time.
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The Tower back home. The Elder mages keep a repository of books, curiosities and other magic items there. My grandfather is a member of the council. I had heard about this "ship" crashing and he asked if I had any inclination of investigating. I of course said yes, and he asked that I bring back a report of anything of note. As for the rib, just tuck it back in, please.
Bartholomew studies the woman closely, especially when she pauses at Alar. Did she...? Maybe. But for now, he wasn't going to press her. Whatever issues she was dealing with it seemed likely that she wasn't in the best state, and though Bart was many things, he liked to think he wasn't cruel. After a curious moment, Alar gave a dip of his head to the woman. It was yet another moment of intelligence, and the Starry Lion seemed comfortable with sharing it, even if Bart frowned. The lad trusted the group, but maybe not -that- much.
Bart considers how to best translate what he wants to say, then snaps his fingers and moves over to Alar's saddle bags, pulling out the pillow that had come with his bedroll. He walks up to the woman, then gestures to himself and everyone else. He gives a low bow of his head, almost regretful, and then pantomimes resting his head on the pillow. The party wasn't that injured, thankfully, but they had still spent some energy coming out here, and Bart felt that rest would be coming soon. Then he makes another gesture, holding up his hands as if to say 'stop', then a considering gesture.
Finally, he points at the sun, and then points at the horizon. When the sun sets, they'll need to stop for rest. He hoped that got through. He had no idea if she was actually from the ship, but if she was, did they have suns where she came from? Or pillows, for that matter? He wondered what it would be like to sleep without a pillow and considering asking her, then decided against it.
I will do a quick check of the area and set up an alarm in case of interlopers.
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The Tower back home. The Elder mages keep a repository of books, curiosities and other magic items there. My grandfather is a member of the council. I had heard about this "ship" crashing and he asked if I had any inclination of investigating. I of course said yes, and he asked that I bring back a report of anything of note. As for the rib, just tuck it back in, please.
"Interesting. And do you take after your grandfather in having a talent for the arcane? Another infusion of energy leads to, "Well, I suppose it's your rib to do with as you will. Could've been a nice souvenir. Speaking of being kicked by an ogre.... oh, never mind... she wasn't a very large ogre, after all. Just don't ever eat an ogre's pretzels or tell her that she looks pretty in a tiara."
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No, my skills are of a more...inquisitive nature. My parents were a little disappointed that I showed no arcane affinity, but as I got older they accepted the fact that I showed skill at getting into places and things others could not.
The elf-bat-woman trained her bat-like gaze on the boy gesturing toward the sun and the pillow he held in his hands. Lifting her senstive eyes to the sun, she swiftly noted its position and with her only good hand, gestured its fall across the sky. Then she stomped her feet to show there would be climbing as there were a few hills between the mines and the place she was leading them toward.
As they rest, Gii channels his divine powers to heal himself and Blue Heron. When his wounds have closed and set, he sits down beneath a tree and begins to pray for guidance.
When the group sits down to rest and recover, the elf-bat-woman looks over her remaining wounds, noting the various deeper, open cuts from Alar's previous attacks.
Muttering quiet words in her strange tongue and keeping to herself, anyone who notices her from where they sit will see all her apparent wounds knit over and heal completely.
A small smile crosses her bat-like face as she feels a sense of relief that comes from no more pain from injury.
Blue Heron frowns to herself when she watches the strange woman heal herself. I should have helped her. Benevolence is for all. Why did it take her healing herself for me to realize she was hurt?
Once fifteen minutes have passed, Gii stands again, certainty in his eyes. He places a hand on her shoulder, once again channeling the powers given to him by Nethys, and the last scratches and bruises fade from both their bodies. "There, that should do it," he says, giving Blue a calm grin.
Then, he heads over to the bat-elf woman and sits down in front of her. He rests his quarterstaff across his lap, before gesturing and chanting for a moment. He then presses a free hand to his head, slightly tussling his black hair. Once the light glow fades into him, he pantomimes speaking to the woman. "I should be able to understand you now," the Nethian states, though he doesn't expect her to understand him, in return.
As she sat, head-bent, resting, her single bat wing lowered onto a grassy-patch, the elf-bat-woman began to softly chant a phrase in a sing-song voice,
"The Eye watches. Above and behind the sky.
It sees our dreams. It wants the planets back.
It can see us now. It will be with us soon.
The Eye watches."
The phrase in Aklo was repeated numerous times in the same soft, sing-song voice until the woman went quiet and simply stared out.
Bartholomew moves over to the woman's side, eager to hear more of this strange language. It sounded incredibly odd, but beautiful in its own way, and familiar in a manner Bart couldn't understand. He had learned several languages, had taught himself to speak fluently in them and read them all on his own, so what was one more? Alar moved to stay beside the lad and then lay down as an animal might, relaxing a little.
Gii nods to Bart as he sits besides him. Looking to the elf-bat woman, he points at his eye and shrugs. "What is the Eye?" he states, before repeating the motion. Then he points at the woman, before pointing at his eye again, and then grasping his hands like a handshake. "Are you comrades with the Eye?" he continues, repeating the gesture once more.
Bart listens in intently, focusing on Gii's words and the womans responses. It was difficult to understand. The words were... almost like elvish? Not quite though. It reminded him of the time he had tried to wrap his head around Sylvan, one of two languages that Elvish came from. It had hurt his head, all told, and he had never gotten more then a few words. Alko was like that, but harsher, sweeter, colder. If a language could even be given such descriptors, those were the ones Bart would use.
Linndell wanders around the camp looking for any danger.
Gii nods to Bart as he sits besides him. Looking to the elf-bat woman, he points at his eye and shrugs. "What is the Eye?" he states, before repeating the motion. Then he points at the woman, before pointing at his eye again, and then grasping his hands like a handshake. "Are you comrades with the Eye?" he continues, repeating the gesture once more.
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+5
The elf-bat-woman stared intently as Gii attempted to make his meaning known. At first she cocked her head to the side as a thinking animal does, then she seem to come to a realization of sorts, and responded with a frown, but not one of anger. Her eyes dipped at the sides and shimmered with what could only be confusion and fear.
Gii rubs his chin, trying to decide how to continue. He points to his eye again, then slaps a fist into an open palm, before gesturing to the rest of the party. "The Eye will hurt us?" he asks, a soft frown on his face. Then he points at the woman and pantomimes walking with his fingers, points off into the distance, then points at his eye again. "Are you taking us to it?" He tries to revert to his normal calm visage, hoping she doesn't take it as him not trusting her.
Blue Heron watches the strange conversation curiously. It must be an oni of great power.
Gii rubs his chin, trying to decide how to continue. He points to his eye again, then slaps a fist into an open palm, before gesturing to the rest of the party. "The Eye will hurt us?" he asks, a soft frown on his face. Then he points at the woman and pantomimes walking with his fingers, points off into the distance, then points at his eye again. "Are you taking us to it?" He tries to revert to his normal calm visage, hoping she doesn't take it as him not trusting her.
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+5
The elf-bat-woman looks timidly from Gii to Bart and back again to the priest.
Gii nods at her words, sighing at the lack of any concrete information about this "Eye." He politely declines the bugs, before leaning back and staring at the sky.
Bart listens to Gii's translation and takes one of the bugs offered absently, eating it with little concern. He had eaten far worse on the streets after all. He even offers one of the ones he had been given to Alar, who also takes a bite. He considers what he had read long ago, but can think of little. "I know I be hearin about the Eye in some religious texts, but darn it if I can't remember if it was in 'The Outer Planes' or somethin else... Ya ever read that book Gii?"
Gii thinks for a moment. "Now that you mention it, I may have. I spent most of my days in Absalom reading, after all."
It seems some knowledge is coming back to you ...
From your wanderings and dealings with various scholars you have heard of the gods of the Dark Tapestry via the Ancient Osiriani texts.
The Gods of the Dark Tapestry form 2 categories: the Outer Gods (true gods) and the Great Old Ones (demi gods). These beings are ancient, eldritch horrors of the Dark tapestry and the keepers of immense magic.
The Great Old Ones are said to dwell in the darkness between the stars known as the Dark Tapestry or Dominion of the Black. They are thought to be a vast, alien intelligence.
It has been written that the The Great Old Ones have limited ability to travel but have the ability to influence the wider Universe via dreams and mind control and thus may be referred to as the “Eye” – for their ability to be all seeing and controlling.
Linndell wanders around the camp looking for any danger.
All seems quiet (apart from the elf-bat-woman and the others talking) -- you cannot see any threats in the vicinity of your camp -- just rolling hills of various sizes.
Gii starts upon everything clicking together. "The Eye... the Dominion of the Black... the Dark Tapestry... we're dealing with things beyond the stars," he says, worry clear on his face. His eyes waver slightly behind his spectacles. "The Great Old Ones..."
Gii calls the others over, and explains what the conversation has caused him to remember, trying to impress the gravity of this knowledge upon them.
Bartholomew winces as he recalls briefly reading about them, and for a moment the child looked to Alar, who was in turn studying him. For a moment the pair seemed to communicate with but a glance. Then Bart nodded. "Things between tha stars too. And it don't matter. People are gettin hurt, I'm gonna help them."
He considers what they learned, then his gaze hardens, taking on a look that held a bit too much significance for one as young as he. It was a look that had seen hardship and said it was going to face it anyway. "Dis be what's affectin the town ya know. Probably anyone who be havin dark dreams. We need ta stop them."
Gii nods at both Ayreth and Bart. "Well, I suppose it's good to at least have an idea of what we're up against. But for now, we should find this ship she's taking us to, and see what we can do from there."
Well, which way now? I am ready to push on? Have we learned anything from our friend?
The morning comes quickly, with the Bat-elf-woman prodding each of you to rise, an eager and slightly nervous look on her bestial face.
Your things packed, and the site undisturbed, you set out again, the morning mist slowly being burned away by the summer heat. There are more clouds today, obviously brought on the evening winds the night previous. You walk for some time, though not so long before you begin to see signs of what you seek.
Just over the rise, about a half mile away, you periodically see strange vapors come into view, shimmering and multicolored, but hazy, very much like a mirage. You continue at a good pace, and soon after you stand at the top of a hill and come to a wondrous sight indeed.
A great furrow has been carved through the hills here, creating a brand-new valley amid the peaks. The ground is blasted and scorched, and the trees surrounding the area are charred and burnt leafless. The furrow only somewhat resembles a crater— for the huge object embedded at its center obviously struck the ground at an angle. This object resembles nothing so much as a streamlined arrowhead of stone and strange crystal. From your position on the hill you can see that it is approximately 200 feet long by 75 feet wide.
A huge crack along the object’s southern side allows brief glimpses into the dark interior, revealing the thing to be hollow. Now and then, crystals along the object’s length sparkle and sizzle, sending up a faint plume of strange green smoke. Dozens of large vultures perch atop the object or lurk in the burnt branches of the surrounding trees— the birds are strangely silent and watchful, as if they know death is imminent in the area.
The bat-elf-woman gets a far off look in her eyes and pauses for a moment, looking at the party gathered about her. She nods and points
and then begins moving closer to the wreck.
Well, this is interesting. Those birds do not look friendly.
Linndell listens intently, trying to hear if anything/one is in the immediate vicinity.
Linndell listens intently, trying to hear if anything/one is in the immediate vicinity.
Other than the dozens of vultures, most of which are normal sized, you see very little in the way of other life forms. You do notice, however that a few of the scavenger birds are rather large indeed, nearly double normal size.
"The keeper of the inn was correct. Something did fall from the sky. It is strange to think that there were people traveling upon it."
Gii whistles. "The kinds of magics that must have been used to power such a thing... I am very curious." True to his words, there is an enthusiastic smile on his face, and a noticeable bounce in his step. 'Great Nethys, I know not what I may find, but in your name, I shall discover what I can!' the evangelist thinks to himself, a sharp look in his eyes.
I am going to do a little scouting.....
Linndell sneaks off trying to get closer to the site,using any cover around and observing the surroundings.
Gii grunts as he wakes, the same dream still clinging to him. "This must be the work of those Great Old Ones the elf mentioned..." he complains, but after working the sleep out of his joints, he begins his usual morning rituals.