He laughed openly at that. "Our last defector was the one who took my right arm, Woman. We don't assume treachery until it's the final hour, even still." he said. Taking another long draw, let Cid continue for him. "Headstrong was a poor choice of phrase. Eager, would have been a better word." he said as he shrugged. "The boy's got the same aura as you folk. There's more to the story, actually."
Finally sitting down at a table, Cid put his sword on the table, sheathe and all. Must not have liked it being out of sight. Come to think of it, he'd had his hand on the weapon the entire time he'd been there. "When a person becomes a member of Wyvern's Soul, they're given one of these." he says as he places a strange, ornately carved piece of stone on the table. "It's a sender. It sends and receives messages to the home guild. Nothing fancy like words, cause if we did that it'd cost us a fortune to have them made, apparently." he mumbles the last bit in obvious frustration.
"It can send one word back to base, and it can send 2 word a day. Usually, you send the key words, like 'ready' or 'pickup' but Arcturus sent on we're not too sure about." he said as he scratched his forehead.
Ranky, not wasting any time, finished his sentence. "Gradaal"
"Hate to be the dumb one here, Randy, but I have no idea what that word means. From the feel of things, though, I'm guessing it's unusual and ominous."
Yeah, maybe I was proud of my use of 'ominous', what of it? I was raised in a monastery in the middle of nowhere, not a library.
He smiles, then tilts his head to the side for just a moment. "It takes a special kind of person to know every word of Goblin." With a quick chuckle, his smile kind of fades. "It's goblin for 'Attack"
"No word from this missing person, hmm? It might be the case that's what was intended." To Jahl'ra, this seemed a bit of an extreme measure to take simply for a missing person not family. Yet perhaps they feel their honor is at stake. While the bard fell clearly on the other end of that spectrum, his cheiftain would have been somewhere in the middle. Very well.
"Hate to bust your bubble, kitty, but a word was heard from him. It was 'attack'. Haven't you been listening?"
I laughed out loud. It's not often that I have a witty comeback, especially directed at someone clearly wittier than me. Still, I amused myself. After a moment, I tried to regain my serious composure but only after polishing off my last stein of ale.
"I think I'd be a great choice for this mission. Just tell me where you want me and when you want me there."
So many people were talking and going back and forth, it was hard for Illenara to keep track of what exactly was going on. Her new friend didn't have much chance to answer before the big man and the cat caught her attention, that was a little disappointing.
"Hey Rex, did you catch everything that's going on?"
"Silly girl, you know I don't speak human," the little dinosaur replied.
"Oh yeah, sometimes I forget that I'm the only one that can understand you. Oh well, guess I'd better pay better attention. This sounds like just the thing I came out her to do!" Illenara switched to a common tongue, "Hey, hey mister, mister big important guy! What are we doing exactly? Saving people? What's a blood basilisk? Are there scary monsters there? Any more details? Ooo! I've read a lot of books, I could help if you tell me more about the place and what's there!" Illenara was ready to help, and she was excited that she might have a chance at being of some assistance.
Deylar chooses to stay quiet as Ranky outlines what will probably be their first mission. There will be plenty of time later to show these new companions the ways of Nethys. He knows he has only just begun learning the ways of magic, but he also knows that his actions are his best way to spread the message. If you were a better preacher, you would be sitting in a temple somewhere. Being out in the world is certainly better.
The excitable elf brings a smile to the tiefling's face. A student of the Art, assuming that creature is more than just a pet. Perhaps she is an ally? At the very least, a practicer to study and learn from. Just like anyone can pick up a blunt object and learn to hit things with it, anyone can study the rituals of magic. Not all will find it an easy path to follow, not all will get very far, but all are welcome to try.
"Hate to bust your bubble, kitty, but a word was heard from him. It was 'attack'. Haven't you been listening?"
Jahl'ra blinked, trying not to become upset at the woman's invective. "Attack, yes, but a simple command can be simply deceived. And in a foreign tongue? A foreign hand may mingle. But my interest is piqued at this plot. I will go, if you would have me."
Pinching the fire from his plant, Ranky re-pockets the strange dried leaves before following up behind Jahl'ra's statement of wanting to go along. "That's all well and good, but it's not for me to decide, Cat. It's not my job. It's Alexander what does that. S'got an eye for talent, he does." he says with a smile.
Cid returns with his patented "Hmph" much to the metal armed man's dismay. "The last 2've been useless. Archie got himself caught by goblins, and Relveti hasn't left the guild hall." he says with obvious hints of frustration and disappointment.
As he says that, a small, yet obvious ding is heard within the mind of everyone on board, noted by the sudden silence that falls over. A small halfling in the corner who's red in the face with drunkenness looks around with a cup still in his hand. "Anyone else hear that?"
Before he can even finish his sentence Cid is completely past everyone and through the door while Ranky pinches the fat between his eyes. The rest of the crew is in complete confusion. After a moment passes, everyone just sort of goes back to their business and comes back to their merry making, but a few of the more silent types against the walls share nervous glances with each other.
Ranky, leaning back in the excitement of the situation muffles a laugh. "We're going faster than we expected, I guess."
"I still remember the look on their faces. Nothing could have prepared them for what they were about to see on that deck. The spark in their eyes' didn't just change. The ignorant got a little smarter, and the smart felt stupider. Chul'Galbrann, from 20 minutes away, still showed its' cards.
... And it always had a royal flush."
As the sound echos in his mind, Deylar silently chastises himself for not knowing the exact dweomer that caused the warning. Its obviously not a good thing, clearly an alarm of some time, and based on Cid's reaction it could be a serious one.
He watches Ranky's calm reaction and it feels forced to the tiefling. "Should we be concerned, Master Ranky? We are fairly high up in the sky, and while there are spells that grant the ability to fly they are beyond me at the moment. If something were to happen, only our friend Aviz would be safe......."
"Is there something we should be doing to prevent such a catastrophe?"
"Ooo, an Alarm spell. Nifty, I like those. I hope we don't run into those Blood Basilisk things though, I haven't read much about them. Thinking that the speeches and introductions were mostly done, Illenara went back to sitting at the table with her new friend Rose. The woman looked a little funny, not so much in her appearance, but in the odd way in which she was carrying herself. "You think she's poisoned, Rex? Should we tell somebody?"
"I think that's what you humanoids call being 'drunk'. Look at all those flagons in front of her.
"Wow...She's good. Is it any fun?"
"Silly girl, I'm a dinosaur! Remember? I know less about human behaviors than you do.
"Yeah, I know, I've just never seen anyone in a state like that back in Kyonin. Think we'll see a lot of people like that in Chul'Galbrann?"
"Quite possible! But at any rate,that Alarm spell that went off...What do you think it means?"
"I dunno, maybe we're close to something? Oh! Hey! Maybe we're close to something! Let's go check out the deck!" Once again Illenara took off running, almost tripping over a chair, almost toppling the table at which Rose was sitting, and almost flinging Rex off her shoulder. She rushed to the deck as quickly as she could, almost barreling over a few of her fellow guild mates along the way. In mere seconds, she was gazing out upon a sight unlike anything she had ever dreamed of.
Ranky smiles before he gets to his feet. Giving the Orc a swift tap on the hip, he raises the lug up, as well as beckoning Deylarr follow. "You lot are interesting folk, I'll give you that." he says, somewhat with a satisfied tone. "Cid is the head defense for this ship, so he's got to be on-call otherwise the... welcoming wagon could get confused. That's what the Alarm spell was for. It effects everyone, but Cid in particular has to respond to it with some serious haste." he states.
"We're not in any danger, either, so no worries, but I recommend you brace yourselves. If I had to guess the City's guardians are right on de-" As he goes to finish his sentence, a Dwarf, as well as 2 humans flee into the room, nearly barreling over everyone in a rush. As they do, they're shouting the same thing between each other. "Giant monsters! Giant monsters! Brace yourselves we're all gonna die! Get off the ship, Get off the shi-"
He's swiftly caught at the shoulder by Ranky, who's neither happy to be cut off mid-sentence, or happy that someone is causing chaos. The Dwarf is a ranger, by the looks of it, if his crossbow is of any count, but the full plate doesn't help him in the situation. As Ranky catches him by the collar, the man is jerked accordingly, and a sharp blast of lightning seems to crackle from Ranky's metal hand.
[Damage 5d6 = (6,6,6,6,6) = 36
The man shakes violently at the touch and immediately collapses to the ground before Ranky lets him go. His body shakes violently from the residual electric surges after he hits the floor. The cabin falls silent as the blue energy slowly veining it's way back down to Ranky's metal fingertips dissipates. With a boom, he quickly follows up. "EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU WILL CALM DOWN RIGHT NOW."
With a quick point of a finger, he directs everyone towards the Dwarf. "He's not dead, and if he is, he shouldn't be going to the city anyway. Listen to me! The view from the deck right now is one you're going to burn into your eyes for the rest of your life. It contains the kind of sights you're going to see if you make it! IT IS JUST A TASTE!" he shouts.
With that, he gets down from the table, and points to the door. "Now then. Unless one of you wants to resuscitate this Dwarf, who I'm certain is stabilized, go. Now. And see it." he says, presenting the hand towards the door.
Aviz frowns and glances about at the mental ping, stopping the scowl he was giving the elf. "I'd save one other person as well. I suppose you should all be nicer to me now." He says with a grin. As the dwarf and humans run into the room Aviz growls, taking the fauchard off his back and moving forward.
Then Ranky shocks the man, earning an appropriately shocked look from Aviz. Bit harsh, could have just hit him over the head. He quickly unfurls his wings with a serious expression, then leaps up to a table for height and flies above the heads of the crowd to get through the door and up on the deck, preparing for the worst. He floats around the flying ship, not currently trusting the safety of it.
For the second time in as may minutes, Deylar finds himself at a loss to fully understand the exact magics being wielded in front of him. The Eye has decided to teach me humility today. As Ranky makes his proclamation, Deylar is quite sure that the lessons have only just begun.
The crowd starts moving forward and Deylar does as well, but the sight of the twitching dwarf stays in the periphery of his vision. Another test, this time pitting his natural curiosity about the nature of magic with his inborn instincts to help and serve. His shoulders slump a bit as he alters his course to the door so that he passes by the prone dwarf.
"No disrespect, Master Ranky, but I must......" Hopefully this isn't my last act with this company. And hopefully Nethys will grant me the speed to still witness the wonders above...
He drops to one knee next to the dwarf and mumbles "Magic harms, magic heals" as his hands begin to glow.
The light has barely left his hands and Deylar is up and heading toward the stairs, afraid of what his choice might have cost him.
Rova listens to the conversation, eating warily. When suddenly a small elf confronts the group and begins asking a barrage of questions. Rova doesn't hear them, he stares at the green beast on her shoulder.
Destroyer help me. Is that some kind of snake? he thinks worriedly. His yellow eyed gaze remains fixxed upon the creature until a sharp tinge in his mind startles him out of his hateful contemplation of the evil of snakes. Whats that! he looks around for a target, a hand on the hilt of his blade.
His thoughts calm as Ranky helps him to his feet, time to see the city it was. When out of nowhere a screaming dwarf who smelled of ale and panic dashed into the room, shouting nonsense about great monsters. The smoldering smell of his shocked flesh brought a morbid grin to Rova's face. He swiped a cup of ale of the table and headed for the deck.
"Let's see this floating city."
Witchcraft, I tell you! What did you think I would have thought of that noise in my head? It's sometimes tough to tell what is and isn't witchcraft sometimes, but I could tell that there was a noise in my head that everyone heard. So, naturally, I was alarmed. The strange sporadic woman darted up to the deck (rather clumsily I might add, especially compared to the looks of her) and I wasn't far behind her. When I kicked my feet down from the table and stood, I knocked over the table and sent the chair flying a little behind me. I was drunk enough not to care, but not too drunk to know what I was doing.
I was hot on the girls tail, she was a bit more reactionary than I, but I was faster. Not that it terribly surprised me, she was quite small. Still, the moment she busted out on the deck might as well have been the moment I did as well. I was prepared for anything I might see, but I was too preoccupied by what it could be to notice that people were flooding below deck. No one coming up there seemed to have a sense of urgency about them.
Through the wood of the boat, much to the local new blood's dismay, comes a hideous amount of vibration through the walls. A low hum grips the floor with such strength that moving becomes slightly difficult, and actually agitates the skin. Ranky, cracking his neck ahead of the group, heads up first through the stairs.
The sound is something loud, and seemed to rock the ship before dissipating with an echo. As the party travels up beyond the steps, people have decided to take refuge within the upper level, just before the door. A halfling, the same one that asked the earlier question, sits in the corner against the wall mumbling "It's enormous. It's too much. Too much... Something that big...!" in concert with other people who've decided to come back in.
Much to the confusion of everyone, Ranky sighs a long sigh again. Something he'd gotten used to, apparently. "Zarthid's Linnorm. Hope the lot of you have strong wills. He'll put the fear of god in you if you don't." he says, bolstering himself.
Ranky shakes his head as he puts his hand on the door, with the light and soft wind seeping through the crack of it. "Brace yourselves. He's a monster." With that, he throws the door open.
The light that shines through the door welcomes the slow in-rush of clouds. The ship is just above the cloud level, and small bits of the vapor rolls over the deck with whimsy and grace. In the distance, just on top of those clouds far, far away, lies a city that defies common sense. Before anyone is able to truly admire the towering spires and monuments from so far, the sun is blotted out by something truly magnificent, yet terrifying.
Looking up, the silhouette of a grand, wingless serpent dances entirely over the clouds. With an eruption it bursts out, it's many eyes trained on the boat. A sea of white scales and strange plate growths accompany it's massive, strange jaws as it sails totally over the ship, rivaling the boats very size. A deep roar erupts from it's location, hurting the ears of all who hear it. The sound shakes you to the very core, going so far as to blur your vision even from the large distance between it and the ship.
As it winks beneath the clouds once again, or rather, dives, the peripherals of the great city of Chul'Galbrann come back into full view. The terror that just revealed itself is one thing, but the awe-filled sight of the city is another entirely. The city is truly magnificent, even from this distance, as it's most basic forms are to be beheld.
From here, the city's outer walls shine with that of a brass glow as stone and steel an metal defend whatever juicy inner workings might be there to be beheld. The main chunk of land is one thing, but smaller islands float above it and even smaller ones with tall buildings float above them with staircases, or some form of long line that seems to lead all the way to them with frequent stops inbetween.
In the middle of the grand city, obvious to anyone and everyone is a colossal tower that goes even higher than the tallest island above the city, a beacon of brass and marble. Ships circle the city entirely, but one thing is for sure, they've already made it past whatever this giant creature is.
Standing at the front of the ship is Cid, visible to everyone, whom seems to be holding a strange, gold and marble cylinder in his left hand. Ranky makes it a point to grab Deylarr and Illenar who are no doubt wide-eyed at the spectacle. The metal hand raps around Deylarr as, in the distance, the giant creature erupts from the clouds again.
Having grabbed Deylarr he holds onto the nearby railing as everyone is out on the deck, figuring him weak. With the creature erupting out of the clouds, it charges towards the ship, it's scales placed in such a way as that it whistles with a furiously high pitched, yet harmless noise. Cid, not wasting any time, raises the item high and from it, displays a tremendous, golden symbol. The symbol plays about the creature as it veers by. At the last moment, its eyes widen at the sight of the symbol and it veers hard towards the right as it's eyes widen throughout the length of its' body.
The full 130 feet of the creature veers aside from the boat, disappearing beneath the ocean of clouds as the "New Blood" travels closer to the city. It disappears entirely beneath the clouds, arcing over and over around to other ships which immediately display the same symbol. This happens for a solid 4 minutes before anyone bothers mentioning anything. Everyone stands in silence until Ranky takes a moment to look about, savoring the awe in the air.
Aviz looks down at the shaking people, grinning at his flight above the deck. But as the giant flying reptile reveals itself he utterly pales, an interesting sight as his onyx skin takes on a tinge of gray. By the ninth what the holy hell is that.
And then his eyes fall on the impossible city. He's glad he's airborne; it helps calm him as well as giving him a better view. He openly gawks at the city before being interrupted by Ranky and Cid's movements.
When the creature charges Aviz feels the blood drain from his face again. He draws his fauchard, quickly gaining altitude in an attempt to avoid the blow before it veers off harmlessly. He looks at the golden symbol. Bloody hell, imagine trying to siege this city.
What was that?
An noise of some sort sounded in Jahl'ra's head. He had seen that sort of magic before - or heard, rather - but he didn't know the particulars. Useful, but not impressive. What was impressive was what came next.
Ranky put down the dwarf with merely a touch, the electricity's effect clearly not for show. But what was even clearer was the man's temper. Shorter than a gnome. And that's not with a foe, either. As the humming bothered the catfolk in its pseudo-deafness and vibrations, he decided to follow those heading above deck. Though he didn't like looking down from above, he didn't really intend to look over the side of the deck. That was besides the point, though - his curiosity had gotten the best of him. As he walked, he spoke to Aviz in passing. "If you're going to save one, pick me - I'm light." Though he might have a few pounds of body weight on some of the crew, he was not heavily loaded with equipment as some were.
Once above deck though, he saw there was plenty of reason to fear: The giant serpent could have sundered them with one thrash of its tail .Gods protect me! Sheer emotion overcame his mind. He knew if Ranky was not afraid - and he'd done this before many times - he had no cause to be. But his body's natural instincts took over, his legs quivering, and he shielded the front of his head with his hands. The bard's eyes could not look away, however, him seeing the symbol and the serpent finally pass. That alone could be a story of its own.
Fear gave way to awe, and awe to respect. I wanted to see the world? There it is! Giant serpents, floating cities, men with metal arms. I cannot go back to where I used to be.
It sure was a good idea. Best one you ever had in fact. It was so good it rivialed the time you tried to breath water like a fish. You stupid stupid green git! Lets just dress up and pretend we are a halfling and fool the world! No one will notice! NOT ONE BLINKING FOOL WOULD NOTICE A GOBLIN IN A FANCY HAT!!! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, YOU STUPID GREEN GIT!!
Sigh. Why i decided to get on that "ship" in the first place, i will never know. Oh ya,when that stupid hummie called out Last call for Chul'Galbrann! i jumped at the idea. Stupid green git. I thought Cool! Thats where i wanted to go! Life of luxary here i come! A ship is like a wagon right?
WRONG! So very wrong! No wagon bucks off the ground like that! No wagon hurls straight into the sky! Thats not a wagon! Stupid stupid git! I had never felt such a gut clenching, head spinning, feet tripping wretched feeling before. There we were, hurtling straight into the sky like an arrow shot at a Flappy in the air. That part wasnt so bad, but to see the stuff under your feet fall away... I have never falled into the sky before, the ground zooming away, i felt a shudder of terror as we were about to collide into the clouds and i screamed out HELP! We is gonna crash inna tha clouds! We all be squished like dropped eggs! UPSIDEDOWN EGGS!!!
That was no wagon. That was an evil upside down falling egg thing. An Up-Down Faller.
Then the Up-Down Faller began to shake. And the puking began. Not only did the Up-Down Faller steal away the ground, it also stole my lunch and my feet and my thoughts. Its evil! I lost my brekky, eggs and toast on tha ground all mushed together in a brown soup. The sight made me lose it all over again, even when there was none left in my tummy. When i tried to get up, my feet couldnt stand. It stole my feet from me! And my head! Oh, the pain and dizzyness! I couldnt remember even 1 word. Just Up-Down Faller. Evil Up-Down Faller..
I think i knocked out at that point. Cause i dont remember anything else. Cept waking up inna bed where i am now. An that was the easy part!
Sevia had so far been comfortable to remain somewhat secluded in her quarters for the few days they had been in the air during the trip. She had not been a stranger to voyaging for long on ships, and distinctly recalled the long days at sea during her trips to and from Tian Xi. Each had been tediously long and with little to do within the cramp aboard the wooden sailing ships; much time she'd passed simply sleeping through her trip, or meditating above decks.
This sailing ship was much more wondrous however, both grandiose and offering exquisite views of the landscape all around them. The lack of churning water pitching the ship around like a bouncing ball was also a major plus in her mind, grateful for the calm.
So far her only interactions with the rest of the...colorful passengers of this ship had been somewhat limited. She'd used her innate racial ability for disguise to take the appearance of a normal, hooded human when she'd gone out for meals in the galley; and only spoken briefly to some of her compatriots, eating quickly and leaving. Sevia thought perhaps it might be her fear to commit herself back into society, remembering all too well her days in Shadow Absalom as part of a thieves gang. So she'd carefully watched the rest of them and tried to gauge their attitudes and dispositions.
So far they were quite varied.
Sevia had been at the moment rereading her Letter of Recommendation from Master Ip when she'd felt the hull tremors. Being familiar with ships, she'd immediately jumped to her feat and tucked the letter away, eyes turning to her window, widening as a large shadow passed the porthole. One second ticked by...then two...finally she'd gathered her wits and turned around, storming out of her cabin and racing up towards the deck.
She'd managed to arrive just after the large group from the gallery had bolted up the stairs ahead of her, bursting out onto the breezy sun soaked deck. She reached up to brush her black hair out of her face as the wind fluttered it about, wiping the hood off her head and giving the sun a good kiss to her face, before turning around to look for what caused the shadow. When she did she nearly fell down to the deck, though that might have just been the boat shaking. Staggering over to an unoccupied spot on the railings where most of the adventurers had lines up, she lined up with them to gaze at the great sky worm.
"They certainly don't have THOSE in Shadow Absalom" Sevia said aloud to herself in amazement. Her sight catches the city then, and it's just as magnificent, maybe as big or even bigger than Absalom, and certainly as grand a view. A loud whistling sound throughout the air brings her gaze back to the flying worm, her eyes widening in apprehension as she sees it charging the ship. A moment of guttural fear later and the beast swings aside of the ship at the last moment, rushing by the ship and blasting the deck with a gust of wind strong enough to catch her off guard and send her almost sprawling against the railing.
Finally finding her footing again, Sevia stands up and braces herself against the railing as she looks back at the retreating worm, a mix of emotions coursing through her body and making her shiver in delight. Dread, excitement, wonder, curiosity, apprehension, relief, foreboding, a whole mix until eventually she realizes she's grinning like an idiot and laughing out loud.
As the beast surges beyond the group, the gold of the item Cid is holding disappears as it crumbles to dust in the wind. It would appear to be just 1 use only. The symbol that it broadcast hangs suspended on the front of the ship for some time before dissipating. It appears to be a series of bowls layered within each other, with bowls floating above it and the large spire in the middle.
Most of the other adventurers stand idly, responding in haphazard ways. Some in awe, some laughing, some terrified, and some surprisingly stone faced, albeit much paler. The deck still holds a strange amount of silence and babble as Ranky wanders over to talk to Cid for a moment.
"Oooo, he was kinda cute. Wonder how he got to be so big," Illenara pondered aloud, watching as the massive beast soared away.
Illenara had read of such creatures, but none so grand in size or apparent power. Perhaps she would have the opportunity to research and study it once she was safe and sound in Chul'Galbrann. She was impressed, but not completely terrified, and she didn't see why everyone else was either. If you know about something, then you have nothing to be afraid of! Except maybe brutal dismemberment, but if they did their job right then brutal dismemberment would not be on the day's agenda. There were bound to be more books than she had ever seen back within this floating sitting, infinitely more than she could imagine. Between mercenary work and taking time off to explore her wonderful new home, she was going to grow old reading through every new book she could get her hands on. I was a good thing that she was an elf and had plenty of time to grow old!
More impressive than the great flying linnorm and the magical linnorm repellent was the massive city that loomed before the New Blood. Illenara couldn't take her eyes off of it. It was more than she ever could have expected, and she wasn't even close enough to set foot in it yet. Thousands of possible sights, experiences, and adventures filled her imagination. Extravagant mansions and towers, magical lights and trinkets everywhere, the soaring architecture, thousands upon thousands of new and interesting people to meet, friends and comrades left and right, and maybe, just maybe, a place that she could finally call home.
"Just look at it, Rex...Our new home."
"Don't get all weepy-eyed on me just yet, we still have plenty to do before we can settle in."
"You're right! The guild! I'm so excited! Do you think they'll like us? Do you think we'll make plenty of friends? I wonder what kind of adventures we'll have!"
"In time, young one, all of that will come in time."
By the All Seeing Eye!
Deylar is glad for the grab and assist from Ranky, because at the moment the slightest of breezes cold have knocked the tiefling over. His head turns back and forth quickly, unable to take in the awesomeness of the linnorm and the majesty of the city at the same time. Coming back to his senses he tries to squirm out of Ranky's hold to get a better unobstructed view of the sites before them in the sky.
Of course he is prevented from moving by that arm, that fantastic arm. Deylar is suddenly very aware of the fact that he is in contact with the thing. Before he can indulge his curiosity he remembers the dwarf.
But I wonder....... Deylar is distracted again (or some would say 'rescued') as the linnorm breaks through the clouds for another brief instant before flying under them again.
The word 'humility' suddenly feels entirely too small.............
It brought me back to when I very first started learning to throw a basic punch in the monastery. Up until then I had felt so tough, like I was a big kid. Seeing what there really is, seeing what my sensei could do after a hard day of just learning the basics, seeing sights like the one I saw that day for the first time; these are the things that make us realize just how small we are and just how much more we have to learn.
I felt sobered, though not out of fear or dire consequence, but rather out of sheer spiritual force. Getting caught up in life can often lead to forgetfulness in just how small our place in the world can be. I did not fear the monster anymore than I feared death and there was a small part of me that believed Cid and Ranky knew what they were doing. Ultimately it was as I expected. If this was how things in this floating city were just for entering it, then this was a new chapter in my life. This was the climax of my story.
After a few moments of pause, I finally decided to quit staring and grinned.
"I suppose we have to start somewhere, hm?"
After the beast had passed, I walked to the railing of the ship and leaned against it not far from Ranky. I expected myself to be shakier after a sight like that, but I felt oddly stronger. Realizing how small I am just made room for me to grow. Constant betterment of one's mind and body, that's what they trained me to do. I was going to be the best there was and you were just as likely to be able to stop me as I was able to hide it.
"I'm going to like it here."
As the groups' spellbound nature waned. Jahl'ra took it upon himself to discover exactly what the creature was - and the symbols. Unfortuantely, the people who'd have firsthand knowledge seemed to be busy. There were others though...
The magic-obsessed cleric would be knowledgeable about this, Jahl'ra told himself. He strolled over to the man, taking care not to look over the side of the ship. Surely with such a focus, he will be able to discern exactly what the workings and play here are. While the bard trusted for their safety, the situation indicated a level of power and wealth beyond his imagination.
"I've never seen such a thing," the catfolk confessed to the priest. "But with those glowing eyes, I bet you have. What in Nethys' name was that? And those symbols? I've never seen the like." While it was no surprise to Jahl'ra he handn't discerned such magic before - it was only one shallow field of the many he read and dabbled in - he was always looking to learn.
And the whole deal with them floating in midair, seemingly not being sent crashing to the ground because it repelled the creature was sort of important.
As Sevia's laugh waned into a chuckle, she took a moment longer to savor the sight of the retreating sky worm, whatever it was. She guessed it might have been a protector of the city, judging by its proximity, and how the ward or symbol that man at the bow had used to ward it off with. Sevia had seen many great things in her life so far, one did not live in the Shadow of Absalom, or brave the journey of Tian Xi, without doing so; yet she felt someone small in comparison to the shimmering city in the sky that grew bigger as they approached.
Finally having taken her fill in of the view, she looked around herself to the others on the railing near her. She spotted Iron Arm Ranky nearby, someone she'd seen and heard him in passing on the ship earlier as she'd been in disguise, his identity wasn't any kind of secret. What drew her curiosity more was the Tiefling he was holding up, a strange looking one to say the least, the glowing eyes were certainly intriguing. She watched as a...Catfolk approached them, from the way he spoke, it sounded as if he expected the Tiefling to perhaps know something.
Eyebrow perked in curiosity, she slowly padded her way closer, habitually adopting a cautious approach from her years of work and training. The Fetchling slipped in behind the Catfolk as the three seemed focused on the view, finding a space on the railing to eavesdrop on the small group.
There was a floating city, Rova couldn't believe it, these humans, what went on in their heads?
The sky darkened, and a beast of grand awesomeness rose from the clouds. Rova's heart jumped at the sight of the monster.
"YES!" he shouted. A vestige of the greatest monster, whether willing or not, this monster had the strength of The Destroyer.
At the Linnnorm's thunderous roar, Rova ran to the edge near the foredeck getting as close to the enourmous dragon as he could before letting out a roar of his own.
he screamed from deep in his diaphram. A fierce grin cracking on his lips after. The beast moved to another ship, but Rova felt more invigorated than ever. This was fruitful, a good thing his tribe had convinced him to leave, he already had seen far less boring things on his journey than another battle with Orc weaklings.
Sidling slightly closer to the air skirmisher for protection, Jahl'ra cast a disparaging glance at Rova. Monstrous. And useful. He would be the first to enter a fray. Hopefully not to perish for a while - as long as he was with them.
But a loose cannon always did collateral damage. And with all the might of the rough beast himself and his absence of temper, that is quite a weapon to unleash.
For the first time since the trip, Jahl'ra was happy to think of altitude as a neutral party.
With the moment having passed, and the Linnorm flying far out of view into the cloud bank, the various members of the crew find themselves standing in Awe of the brass city of Chul'Galbrann which gets closer every second. More details can be perceived as the ship gets closer, such as holes in the great walls that allow smaller ships to travel through them, as well as spires that aren't as large as the one in the center on the smaller islands.
Ranky finally lets go of Deylarr and points at one such spire on the far eastern edge. "That one. Alexander's Island. That's where Wyvern's soul is, and where you'll be living. You'll have to make do as an adventurer or end up as a scrapper." he says as he walks towards the front with Cid after their conversation.
Cid, making it a point to break away from Ranky, engages Aviz in a bit of a conversation as well. "Well. What do you think? Zarthid's Linnorm... Certainly one of the more powerful things in Chul'Galbrann." he says with an obvious smile as his hair blows against the light wind.
Ranky, not wasting much time or waiting for an answer turns around as he has everyone's attention. "We'll be arriving in 10 minutes! Those of you not here for Wyvern's Soul should get below decks! Those of you that are, stay on board!" he says with a boom. Many of the people on board shrug, giving the city one more glance before going below and some openly display their dislike of the idea of being told what to do, but do so reluctantly.
When done, a handful of the remaining people is left. The Cat, Rova, Rose with her stein which she forgot to put down, Illenara in her awe, Aviz and Cid, Ranky himself, Deylarr who, too, is still in awe, the other people, and surprisingly enough two others. One is a man clad in full plate armor, which seems to be popular, and the other is the Dwarf who'd just recently been healed by Deylarr who seemed addled, still.
Walking up rather doggedly and breathing heavily, he gets to the Cleric of Nethys and takes his hand, shaking it heavily. "Thank ye, mate... Thank ye for helpin' me out back there. Didn't get to see what was makin' the noise, but at the least I'm awake fer' me stop! Name's Dauglin! Dauglin of the Fray! Pleasure to meet ye." he says, shaking your hand the entire time.
Aviz continues to stare at the city, gazing at the holes in the walls. Interesting. Although I wonder if that's good for defense. The danger passed, Aviz perches on a high part of the ship, either the crow's nest or atop a cabin.
He turns his gaze to Alexander's Island. So that's where we'll be. How did it get it's name? Another question gnaws at him, so he swoops down in front of Ranky. "What's a scrapper?"
Aviz arcs a brow at the statement about the Linnorm. "One of the most powerful things? That bodes well. Where the hell did you find that thing, and why does it help defend the city?"
As the others file below decks Aviz's gaze turns back to Alexander's Island. For better or for worse, here I come.
With the wind gently going by, Ranky smiles at the question. "Scrappers clean the streets. Hired muscle in certain places if they're lucky, but they live off of other people and stay in the undercity with the goblins, ratfolk and other darker races. Heresay says there's even a few Drow down there, but I stay away from it..." he says, obviously bothered by the place.
As the creature in the distance surges back up from under the clouds and darts back down, it seems somewhat passive, really. "It was supposedly created by the city's founder. Zarthid was the wizard of the group, and there were 3 others, but no one knows their names. That's why it has it's name. Zarthid's Linnorm."
I leaned over the edge of the boat just looking at our destination. A spire where Ranky had said we'd be spending our days. The wind from the movement of the ship blew my hair our of my face and I felt powerful, yet somehow small. My face wasn't one of awe like many of the others, no. It was one of possibility. As I remember Ranky calling for all but a handful of us to return below deck, I took my arms from the railing and leaned away, setting my practically-empty stein on a nearby crate.
My swagger always had been very proud and confident, but I walked with purpose now. I hadn't done a lot to get to this point, not as much as many of the others anyway, but I had made an impression. This was a doorway. I had only been a scrapper until this point, I had only cleansed the world of evil magic. I was going to do something real now and it would help me on my ultimate journey, a journey of revenge and enlightenment.
"About our first mission, with a situation as touchy as the one Arcturus is likely in, we'll be off right away, aye?"
A big part of me was eager to see my new headquarters, but a bigger part was eager to get started.
With the announcement of their pending exit, Jahl'ra excused himself to gather his things and say goodbye to the smallfolk below deck. It bothered him to take a hiatus presently as Aviz seemed to be learning the relative power of the city's guardian. Leaving earshot as he was being given the explanation, Jahl'ra sighed. At least things should settle down now.
There were but a handful of them left when he returned above deck. With the exception of Deylar, whose might obviously came in the form of magic, Jahl'ra was clearly the weakest of the bunch. Ranky's explanation of the scrappers and "darker" races as the catfolk returned above deck bothered him a touch, but it gave way to a mild fear; a touch of judgment by might then? It seemed those found less capable went to go clean dirt.
As he plainly couldn't compete on the obvious metrics, he'd have to show aptitude of wit.I will have to fight dirty to stay clean.
"I hope so," replied the bard to Rose, knowing he wasn't the intended audience. "It's been a while since I've wanted to sink my teeth into a task."
Rova stared at the tower. It will be called Rova's tower soon enough he thought ruefully. This was a calling. Pure challenge that he would meet with pure violence.
Leaning on the rail, he grunted agreement to the lady's sugesstion that they get started. Oh he would love to see the city but it had been nearly a week since he had killed somebody, and he was getting antsy.
"This weakling Arcturus, will lead us to foes. Killing them will be a good start to our career as mercenaries."
He nodded. "You'll touch down at the guild house for about 2 hours. That's when the 'Grand Magus' shows up. You'll have just a moment to prep a scroll, if I know how you magical types work." he said as he shared a look between you and the far-off Deylarr "The Rest of you can get acquainted with the others that might be there. The inn is full comrades, usually. You and the cleric should meet Marco, if you have the chance." he says.
Throwing a look over to Rose, he smiles. "You're asking questions before you've even arrived. Fine, I'll tell you what I know right now to save time." he states.
"As I said before, Arcturus is a new blood, through and through. A spritely kid with red hair in a breastplate. A really mundane fellow, really. He's the type of kid that seems like he works hard for little reward. Of all the new kids I've seen get on this ship, he had the smallest amount of magic on him ever." he said as he clenched his metal fist.
"Typical fighter, really. Longsword, Heavy Steel Shield. Breastplate. His most obvious feature is his long red hair and his red eyes. Can't miss him. he says with a sigh. "He went to the fort north of Ostenso, where merchants from the motherland of it go to avoid bandits and the like looking to make a quick buck. He could've been at the fort, or with a caravan. The only reason I'm sending so many of you is because there's a lot of area to search." he stated with a matter'o'fact tone.
"Who knows. If the lot of you work well together you'll stay a group. Wouldn't be the first 'group' we've had in the guild. Wherever he is, the man's definitely gonna be near the main road. Can't be farther off than a day. We got word that there actually Is a wrecked caravan on the road to the fort. If any of you are the nature-loving type you might be able to find a trail, but it'll be a few days old by the time you get there..." Having said all that, he actually looks about to see if any of you are the nature loving type. He doesn't seem capable of telling, though...
"Sorry, there are only a handful of things I know how to do well and nature isn't one of them. Wasn't raised for it."
I figured between the lot of us we could figure it out. It was rather a shame I didn't know much about tracking seeing as how I was a witch hunter, but my old partner Braxton was the one who was good for that. It was like he could smell the magic. No matter, what I lacked in tracking skill I made up for in seeking and destroying. Once we knew where they were, there was no hiding from me.
"I'm sure whatever gremlin caused it left a trail we could sniff out. Don't you cat-people have strong noses?"
I was actually not sure at the time if that was a rude question to ask or not. I'd never even really heard of cat people, but I figured if cats had strong senses of smell, maybe cat people did too.
"Erm, Catfolk," corrected Jahl'ra. He was used to doing that, and the mistake didn't really both him anyway. Like anything though, if a minor annoyance was left alone for long enough, it could become more major. "My nose is good, but I am no hunter; I look for information on paper, not on the plains. Our friendly flier I think would be a much better choice for searching by sight." The bard happily points-out Aviz, his ability in that regard undeniable. "A breastplate will gleam in the sun."
"Oooo, we need to find something? Oh no, wait, someone, right, Arcturus." Illenara had been standing by in silence, looking out upon the fast approaching city. She had still caught most of the conversation that had been going on nearby, and she had already begun thinking about how they could go about it. Survival and tracking wasn't one of her strong suits. She had a library's worth of knowledge on the natural world tucked away in her brain, but she had never actually delved too deeply into it. She wouldn't know the first thing about tracking someone down either, but if she managed to get within eyeshot of whatever she was looking for, then she was confident in her abilities to spot it no matter how hidden it may be. What she lacked in survival skills, however, she could make up for by calling on more skilled help.
"I have really good eyes, I could probably spot the shine on his armor from a mile away! Also, if we can get his scent, then I could summon something to help us. They can't stick around long, but at least they could get us going in the right direction! How long before we set out? I'm so excited to get started working with all of you!" Illenara was ready for adventure. She was ready to help her new friends in any way that she could, and she was confident that she had the power to do just that.
"Silly girl, you don't need to waste your magic for tragic, I can sniff things out just fine!" Rex interrupted Illenara in their shared tongue.
"Oh, right, thanks buddy!" Illenara switched back to common. "Ignore that spell part, if we need to track him down, we can just follow Rex's nose!
Fascinating. What is that creature? I've never seem anything like it.
The lorehoarder turns to Illenara. "I do not believe we were properly introduced. My name is Jahl'ra, a simple adviser - or formerly one - of my tribe in Osirion. I've never seen a creature like your familiar before. What is it?"
Bit of a wild goose chase. But I'd be a fool to expect much more just staring off. Aviz grunts. "I'm not an expert but I spent a lot of time in the woods." His eyes flick to the cat man as he is addressed. "Catfolk. Hmm. Only heard stories about your kind." He leans back, banging a fist against his breastplate. "Aye, that it does."
Aviz arcs a brow at Illenara, as if noticing the elf for the first time. "What the hell are you talking to?" His disdain for elf blood shows itself a bit.
"Hey, calm yourself, fly-boy. You never had a pet before? I admit it's a bit strange, but those of us that don't need a wall of metal to survive have to stick together."
I laughed. I knew most warriors chose to wear armor and I suppose there was nothing cowardly about it. I also figured we had to get along, at least for a while. I also hadn't really put it together that Illenara was a witch - well, wizard is the technical term - and not just a monk or something like I used to be. She had a quarterstaff and she looked quick on her feet, so it seemed like a reasonable judgement.
"Anyway, what do we do with Arcturus once we find him. Alive or otherwise?"
Ranky gives a quick laugh. An abrupt "Ha" "Well that should be obvious. You bring him back, unless he's a corpse." he says.
Aviz breathes out slowly. Not now, there will be plenty of time for arguing later.
"I say we bring him back even if he is a corpse. Have to give him proper burial rights."
"That was my main concern, actually. And what if he is a coward traitor? Ya know, coverin' my bases. Kinda new to hunting something and not killing it when I get there."
I must have had a pretty smug look at that point. Not on purpose, mind you, I wasn't completely sober from seeing the linnorm. Just mostly.
Ranky sighs a long sigh. "I don't like the thought of him being a traitor, and you'd do well to not throw that word around so lightly in Wyvern Soul." he says, pointing a metal finger at rose. "I know you don't mean much by it, and that may very well be the case, but it's not something to so easily assume in a new blood, alright?"
A little bit frustrated at the thought, he asks a pretty decent question. "How would you feel if I assumed every single one of you were going to backstab me and chop off my arm?" he asks.
"To hell with that. One magic arm is enough of a nightmare, I can't imagine you running around with two of those things." He laughs. "Whatever the situation there's only three endings to it. Bring him back alive if possible, dead if not, or we won't find him. Seems pretty straightforward to me."
"Eh, it's not so much that I assume it's true than I'm preparing in case it is. Circumstances and all that."
I suppose I had stepped on that nerve a couple too many time, no matter, I saw it the same way the winged man did.
"Not finding him probably isn't an option. Escort him back or carry his body. If he's someplace else, we'll have to go there I imagine."