As Tyrus works through the days, Kris paces. "I suppose it's fortunate any of us have enough knowledge of religion to pursue this." When Tyrus produces the mensha, his eyes widen. "Where did you get this? No, nevermind. I don't care - just keep at it."
A pair of days pass by, with no success. Kris becomes increasingly agitated. "Why doesn't Arrond show up to lend a hand?" he asks, churlishly. "Lianna was supposed to be one of her favorites. Bloody useless divines! Even the so-called 'good' ones never lend a hand. It is always... always left up to us to find a solution. To make our way forward."
Kris's anger builds as he paces until his teeth are clenched and his nostrils flared. He moves to a window which looks out the rear of the house, offering a view of the mountainside and the cave. He stares up at it intently for a few moments with one hand on th window sill and the other on the pommel of one of his daggers. He seems to calm. He shakes his head briefly and vigorously.
"Keep at it, Tyrus," he says to the older man. "You're a brilliant man, I have great faith in you. I'll be back in the morning." Then he walks out of the common house.
When Kris leaves Dante leans over to the others. "Does Kris a little too agitated about this?"
Day 2 rolls
"He's worried we're going to run out of time. I am, too." she glanced down at her Eidolon. "Can you... help...?" she asked, sounding somewhat nervous about even asking. It merely blinked at her, then shook its head. None of the other entities she could call seemed to have knowledge about religion, either, and those studies had never been part of Luca's life. After all, the only people who got to go to church were the ones who were accepted.
She did, however, eventually look up at Kris. "Has... anybody... actually asked for their help?" she asked tentatively. From what little she knew, deities were often reluctant to intervene until and unless someone actively asked.
"Maybe. But he seems far too easily flustered. Almost to the point where he is hampering progress." Dante looks at the door Kris exited for a moment before shaking his head. They all wanted to help. And the time frame was getting to them. Some more than others. It would certainly help their cause if they were the reason Lianna survived.
"Only the devote can ask them of anything. And they don't have one here. And I was never one for that kind of thing," says about asking the gods.
"Has... anybody... actually asked for their help?"
Kris pauses on his way to the door. "Yes. Norren has often. Even I have, though I had not thought to pray to a god again in my life. It made no difference."
Luca nodded slightly. Given the general aloofness of deities - and how her life had gone thus far - she didn't find it very easy to put her trust in a higher power. She was fairly sure they existed, yes, but that was about it. The things in her mind were far more consistent in demonstrating their presence, and while she didn't like them, she definitely believed they would act in the world... whether she wanted them to or not. "I see." she said, quietly and a little sadly.
Without much else to do, she quietly retrieved the plant from before - the one that seemed to have a connection to her powers - and held it out for her Eidolon to sniff. "Um... I'd probably be safer if I knew what this was..." she suggested, trying to find a line of approach that would convince them to be more obedient. Not that she expected them to ever listen if they had another idea, but it was worth a try.
"They didn't feel moved to rescue one of their own before. Why would they help us now?" there is an obvious bitterness in Tyrus' voice.
This plant is... strange. It has some kind of power in it, you are sure of that. Though it seems dessicated and damaged, you are fairly sure it isn't actually dead. More like 'dormant.'
Working together, Tyrus and... 'Fluffy' are able to determine that the plant would almost certainly be highly reactive to fluids, especially those possessing innate magic - such as Lianna's pool. What the effect of that reaction would be, however, is still unknown.
"Even I know that is not how they work, which is why I don't bother putting faith in them," Dante responds.
Tyrus looks carefully at the plant, fingering one leaf gingerly, crushing it between his fingers and smelling the oil.
"Not dead... dormant?" he looks to Fluffy, apparently seeing something in Fluffy's expression "Dormant." he said firmly. "Needs some sort of catalyst some sort of link to an element... perhaps Acid for Earth?" a look at Fluffy "No, no..." A look down at a now-bubbling Torble "Water?" a look over at a suddenly alert Fluffy "Yes, water......not Fire... no... Probably some sort of Water would do it. A magical fluid." nods all round "Yes. I imagine the dormant state would be broken if immersed in Lianna's pool." Tyrus looks over into empty space "And I see you agree, Logan. Excellent."
Tyrus' words made Luca increasingly nervous. She didn't really like the idea of mixing the plant and anything to do with Lianna - it seemed wise to try and focus on the other bits, and only get anything with it involved as a last resort.
"Well, uh, let's get back to the ritual..." she whispered.
"And this will help how?" Dante asks looking up from some notes.
On the evening of the second day, Kris returns to the commons with Norren. The captain had picked up a new injury by the appearance of the thick bandage tied across his left shoulder, but showed no signs of pain.
"I hear you all expect me to become a priest, eh?" he says on entering. "If that's what Lianna needs of me, I'll do whatever you say will work."
Kris looks to the group. "Has there been any progress?"
"Yes." Luca answered. "I think we have most of the ritual completed. The part that's stymieing us is applying the proper religious aspects to the ritual. Once we can break through that, I think we can tie it all together well enough - if there's anyone else in camp who might have knowledge about matters of faith, would you mind asking them to come in and help?"
"Let me look at that, Captain."
"Yes. Almost have it. The Gods... The Gods are hard to fathom. We're close... so close... something in the Blood. God's don't have blood. God's Blood they say, but that's an herb far to the north. Probably a coincidence. Hmm??" Tyrus looks to the side - at nothing "Well, what would you know. I'm you now. I'm now you? Now I'm you. Yes. I really need to sleep."
With quick deft fingers, Tyrus unwinds the bandage, inspects the long gash underneath, and applies a quick unguent from a pouch at his belt. He then resets the bandage to allow the arm to sit more easily. Norren frowns at the rambling Tyrus, then gives Kris a look - the latter man just waves off his leader's concerns. As his subordinate seems to have no problem with Tyrus' behavior, Norren shrugs and says nothing.
"Yes, please rest," Kris says. "If we cannot complete our work tomorrow..." Kris trails off. "Well, in any case let us get our sleep. I will return in the morning."
As he and Norren take their leave, they begin arguing over something in hushed voices, but they quickly move out of earshot.
Amidst the whispers, you are almost certain you hear the name "Yllaine."
Luca was a little too engrossed with her books to pay attention to what Kris and Norren were doing. Her Eidolon, meanwhile, raised one ear... but seemed disinterested, and simply yawned.
The next day Tyrus woke early - before dawn. Commandeering a large outdoor area he ordered the careful placement of chairs and tables, and proceeded to tie twine from one to another. Crude imagery of the gods was sketched into - and occasionally into - the wooden tables. Snippets of coloured wool were tied around the twine, suspending mugs filled with different quantities of water. As sun set he carefully stepped out of the man-sized cat's cradle.
"I have it. The vase by the Ottoman. Look." with that Tyrus cuts a piece of twine, and three clay mugs smash into the (hideous) vase which is - by some miracle - untouched.
As Tyrus explained what he'd found about the religious aspect aspect of things, Luca's gaze went unfocused... and a soft, alien noise emanated from her mouth, matched by an identical sound from her Eidolon. She didn't even seem to realize what she was doing as she took out their biggest piece of paper and started writing on it in fine, precise handwriting, completely ignoring the rest of the world and any attempts to communicate with her. Luca didn't stop writing for nearly two hours, except to get new things to write with, during the course of which the parchment was filled with details on the ritual, diagrams, and precise instructions on performing the entirety of the ritual. Tyrus had unlocked the last piece of the puzzle - and it seemed like they'd managed to figure it out after all.
All falls into place, with Tyrus' already-considerable intellect amplified (though also somewhat... modified) by the mensha drug. He scrawls out the divine interactions that must take place for the ritual to complete. The resulting work is a huge, hodge-podge monstrosity - but it is within the ability of the present spellcasters to cast, and that is all that matters.
Kris returns to the commons with Norren to find Luca and her eidolon in some sort of fugue state, scrawling arcane instructions out line after line. His eyes light up. "You've done it!" he says elatedly. An almost palpable wave of relief flows from him. He enters into a conversation with Tyrus over the details of the solution, with the older man speaking in cryptic half-rational figures and metaphors.
Once Luca finishes writing, Kris looks over the completed notes.
"Yes, I see now. Eight different conjunctions! What an irony that a magician of such genius died to a rockslide. But perhaps it is for the best." Then he looks to the rest of the researchers. "I must beg the honor of presiding over the arcane half of the ritual, my friends. I have spent so much time with Lianna, hope has waxed and waned so often, and now we finally have her deliverance at hand!"
Before Kris entered, Dante got to witness them figure out the rest of the ritual. It was a both an exciting and terrifying experience. Tyrus looked like he might snap at any minute and Luca and her eidolon, which had changed over the last few days seemed to conspire together for the first time. That and she was talking more so that was an improvement, maybe. Dante is standing in the corner watching it all happen and making sure things don't get out of hand, one hand on his sword at all times.
"You've done it!"
"Is that what that is? I thought they were going mad."
Kris looks up at Dante. "Madness and genius so often walk hand-in-hand. In Tyrus' case, you're simply seeing the effects of the mensha." He looks at the others. "We have everything we need, yes? Let us not delay!"
Dante takes Tyrus' hand and leads him out of the Commons. "Yes, well done. Now let's save the person all this work has been for alright? Sure, sure. Logan can come along too. And Anne. And Mordecai." Dante continues to name those Tyrus names in his rambling state. It was highly inventive but it lasted way too long. He was going to be this way for a week? Oi.
Tyrus stumbles a little as he takes Dante's hand, the Mensha taking a toll.
"Don't let the girl's guardian drink the woman when you put her in a pot." he whispers in warning to Dante.
"Um, maybe you should sit down..." Luca said, tugging on Tyrus' sleeve. He really hadn't been himself for the last few days - that drug was weird, and perhaps it would be best if he just sat in the back of the room and watched?
As the group moves outside, they find that Yllaine and Lara are waiting for them. "They've done it!" Kris announces to them quickly. "We can save her. Come, come!" You all follow Kris as he leads the way up the cliffside stairs and into the cavern that holds Lianna's pool.
Working off of Luca's notes, Kris begins to arrange people to begin the ritual. He indicates that Norren should stand by the side of the pool near the entrance, carrying one of the buckets they had brought to transport Lianna down to the ocean - if the ritual worked. Kris himself stands on the other side, near the back of the cave and directs Tyrus, Luca, and Dante in drawing various magic runs in the dust around the pool. Some are simply etched into the dust with a finger, others drawn by sprinkling other substances about. Yllaine and Lara stand off against the wall so as not to interfere.
Lianna does not show herself until just as they are about to begin, and then only a vague image of her face rises out of the water. She speaks softly. "What is this?"
"This is how we save you, my lady," Norren says from his place near the entrance, framed by sunlight. "Kris and the others have created a spell that will let me carry you down to the sea."
Lianna gives a faint laugh. "If that... is true... it is impressive. Mortals... are so inventive." The pauses between her words grow longer. "Succeed... or fail... I thank you... all... for... the attempt..."
Her blurred image sinks back into the water without even a ripple.
"Quickly now," Kris says, and begins his intonations.
Magical energies rise as he continues, with Norren making his contributions when instructed. The magicians in the group feel the ritual's potency gather until a great deal of power had focused in the runes, kept in a delicate balance by Kris. At a key point, he very nearly loses control - but his skill proves up to the challenge. With the power in the cave nearing its peak, Kris nods to Norren. "Now."
Norren takes the amulet that was found in the tunnels as well as a two vials of water, one fresh from a spring on the island and one from several miles out to sea. He breaks the amulet's vial containing Lianna's blood and pours it into the bucket, followed by the water. He then carefully sets the bucket down onto a rune before him, drawn in salt purified from ocean water. A smell like the sky after a lightning strike permeates the air. Norren lifts the bucket and submerges it into the pool - and when he draws it back out the water level drops rapidly. A moment later there is no more pool - only a depression in the cave floor, and a bucket full of water.
The muscles on Norren's arms bulge. "It's heavy. Damned heavy."
"It worked," Kris breathes. "To the shore, Norren! We have no way of knowing how long the ritual will hold. Quickly, but do not spill the water!"
Norren begins carefully moving towards the stairs. "Bloody wizards," he huffs, his voice showing the strain. "All that fancy magic, and the real work still comes down to muscle."
As he leaves the cave, Kris turns to the others. "If any of you have spells that will help him, I'd suggest using them. Nobody but him can carry it, and it is over a mile to the shore."
Luca's Eidolon turned to her and growled slightly. Not aggressively, but more... talkatively. As the girl's mind went blank, the connection to the void was made... and she slammed both hands into the ground. As she did, Vilstrak rose up around Norren. Three of them linked their arms together in a triangle formation, fully intending to lift him up and essentially let him ride towards the ocean, using their individual strength (quite impressive) and numbers to distribute the weight of both Norren and the bucket. Perhaps they couldn't carry the bucket themselves, but they ought to be able to carry Norren well enough. The fourth Vilstrak moved ahead, intending to clear the path of rubble and other problems as the other stone men swiftly began moving towards the sea. If they couldn't quite make it to the shore in time, despite their speed, they'd sink into the ground with time to spare as a way of ensuring the water was kept safe - and Luca would summon more servants if necessary.
She didn't have any ways of making other people stronger - this was the best she could do to help the others.
Dante watches Norren go then looks back into the cavern. This was it. Win or lose, whether Norren mad it or not, things were going to change from here on out. No more tunnel, no more, kiddnapping, hopefully, no more prisoners. Supposedly this was when it would all stop in the favor of a free island nation. Founded on very unfree ideals. He hoped the burden was heavy. The weight of his mistakes.
"What are they doing?" Kris asks as Luca's Vilstraks appear. When she explains, he looks unsure. "I... do not know if that will interfere with the spell. I suppose it will do as a last resort."
A crowd of townsfolk have gathered at the bottom of the stairs, the news about Lianna's presence having spread quickly once the secrecy was lifted.
"Out of the way!" Norren says to them as he descends, and Luca's creatures also shoo them away as they work to clear the path for the pirate captain.
Norren stoically troops along, passing through the town and heading for the docks. Luca's Vilstraks fade and return as she continues to replenish them. The exertion takes a visible toll on Norren; sweat pours down his face. At one point he nearly trips, his tired legs trying to rebel - but he recovers without spilling any of the enchanted water. He continues on, slower now. Finally, he makes it to the pier - as he makes to heave the bucket into the water, his leg goes out from beneath him and he topples off, but bucket falling with him. Both hit the water with a great splash.
Norren resurfaces again, sputtering and looking around himself. "Did it work? Did it work?
Nothing happens for a few moments. "I... don't know." Kris says hesitantly.
Suddenly there are flashes of light within the water - brilliant blues and green lighting up the depths. The surface begins to froth and churn for dozens of feet around the pier - and then Lianna explodes from the water, rising on a twenty feet plume that carries her up and up. She is no longer shaped of the water itself, having seemingly recreated a physical form and returned to flesh and blood. She is stunningly beautiful, and completely nude. Her laughter and calls of joy bring a smile to every face around, and the onlookers cheer.
She gestures, and suddenly Norren, too, is lifted from the water by a rising fountain that never ceases. Lianna grips his head in her hands and kisses him, his eyes going wide in surprise. When she releases him, she looks into his eyes and simply says "Thank you." Then she looks to the others on shore. "Thank you all! Oh, I had almost forgotten the feel of the sea! The feel of life!"
The water surges again, and both she and Norren are deposited back onto the land. "I did not think to live again, my friends, but know that I will never forgot your labors. I tire already - I must return to the sea and rest. I must find my Lady again, and return to her service. But for now, I give you this - all that I am able to give, until I have regained more of my strength."
She lifts her hands and exhales a cloud of steam that wafts over the crowd. It smells like the air after a spring rain, fresh and full of promise.
You have gained the trait: "Lianna's Blessing."
Lianna's Blessing: If you are within ten miles of the sea, once per day you may reroll any failed skill check, ability check, or save, and take the higher result. You can elect to use this ability AFTER seeing the first result. This trait disappears when you reach 4th level.
Luca sagged slightly as Lianna finally rose up from the sea. That had been a much closer call than she'd wanted, but all together... they'd managed to muddle through somehow. She also nervously averted her eyes from the woman - not just from her physical form, but from her own nervousness at what it might want now that she was back. She quietly slipped behind Tyrus, glancing out at the gathered crowd. "...Do you think they'll let us go now?" she asked quietly.
Standing behind Luca, Lara grunts. "You guys? I think so. Whatever else Norren is, he seems to take his word seriously. Which also means Yllaine and I are sticking around until he gets his ransom." Lara sighs. "Still, so long as he doesn't try and stick us back to digging tunnels in the damned rock, there are worse things that could happen."
"Did... did that actually happen?" there's doubt in Tyrus' voice. Days of Mensha Madness were taking their toll. "The lights? The fountains?"
After a slight pause he starts forward "Lianna, please. I..." he pauses.
I helped . All my life I've been inconsequential. Dreamed of doing something like the great Magi of old. This is .
He looked around. Cheering people. .
They don't know who 'Tertius' even is. 'Tyrus' is someone they respect. Someone a Demigod respects. Logically I beg her for my life, right here.
But I do that, and Tyrus dies. I'm just Tertius again. Begging someone with power for crumbs.
He blinks
"I would like to talk with you, when you're recovered. I wish you the very best of luck in your recovery."
The ruined amulet seems to burn in his pocket, but he says nothing, letting the others take their turn.
"Kris, I know nothing about relationships. But I know that woman is about to leave. If you want to tell her something, do it now."
"Captain! Well done! I could never have made it! They will speak of this well past the point we're dead. Might I suggest getting someone with artistic ability to do some sketches. It seems like this would be the point to raise a shrine to our friend here."
"Ladies. Inasmuch as I can render your stay more pleasant, please feel free to call on me. I do not expect we shall be friends, but we were - are - comrades in a great act."
Wandering back to Luca he considers.
"Luca! We did it! For a second there I was worried your friends were about to try something... On reflection I think I'm more concerned our goals aligned so completely."
"I do have some hope for the future, though." he reassures her, taking her arm and pressing the amulet into her hand.
"I know you dislike how Norren works, Dante. I hope you can see there is a hope, now, for a change."
"One thing this has proven is that while a pair of teenagers and an old man might not look imposing, they are not to be underestimated. Dante - you wanted to leave. Luca - you're looking for something, as am I, and I doubt either of us will find it on the island."
"If we leave, let's stay together."
Luca simply nodded as Tyrus pressed the amulet into her hands. It was... probably for the best this way, and she certainly recognized that this was not the time to set out on her own in life. Not when they seemed to be getting stronger, instead of weaker... or when they seemed so pleased with recent developments, for reasons she didn't know and was afraid to ask about. "May I see that bag of the stuff you used to get smarter? I'm not going to use it." Luca said.
Tyrus nods "Of course." and hands over the bag. "That should fund us for some time."
Taking the bag, Luca promptly stuffed it away, deep in her clothing, and gave Tyrus a smile. "I don't think they'll try taking it from me, even if they figure out I have it." she said, quietly enough that none of the pirates were likely able to hear her. "They may be grateful for everything we did now, but I doubt that will last much longer than the next thing they want from us, and I'd rather not give them access to anything of ours that's valuable." It was quite clear that after everything that had happened, she had exactly no trust when it came to the motivations of the pirates. At the moment, the best she could hope for was that the three of them - magic-users all - could be dangerous enough in their own right to not be pushed around anymore.
Lianna's eyes seem to sparkle as she smiles at Tyrus. "I would dearly like to speak more with you as well, Tyrus Regulus Veneficius. I am sure we will meet again."
Kris looks confused at Tyrus's words to him, but says nothing. Norren nods vigorously at the wizard's mention of a shrine. "That's just the thing, Mr. Tyrus. Just the thing. To Arrond and Lianna, of course. I hope the day comes quickly when we can spare the effort for that kind of thing."
"Farewell, my friends. For now." Lianna says, and with two quick, graceful strides she dives back into the harbor water and slips below the surface with nary a splash. Once submerged, her form grows hazy and indistinct and moves with incredible speed - soon lost to sight.
Norren gets up onto a rock and speaks to the crowd. "Alright, everyone. This is an incredible day, and hopefully bodes well for the future of our little town. We'll still need to work damned hard to survive and thrive - but not today! From now on, this day will stand as our first holiday! Gordan, fetch a couple barrels of ale from the stores. Anders and Veldi, figure out what kind of feast we've got the provisions for. The rest of you - go get something done so you can drink yourselves silly without any worry tonight!" A cheer greeted his words, and the crowd began to disperse, with many calling out to volunteer to help with the feast preparations.
Then, Norren turns to the few former prisoners. "And you lot. I keep my promises - those of you who fought for me, aided me, you'll leave in two days. My cutter will drop you off in Gemny, a city in Rivettia. You three," he turns to Dante, Luca, and Tyrus " - I owe you the most. We don't have a great deal of coin here, but I'll see to it that you don't get back to the mainland with empty pockets. After what you've done for us, I regret that I cannot trust you with the location of this place - but you've always got a home here." Here Norren leans close to Tyrus and whispers. "If you ever need to return, go to the Oilbelly Wharves in Gemny and find the temple of Arrond. Ask the priest where you can find the Iron Shark's crown - I'll get word about it."
For helping to save Lianna, Norren gives your group a sack of coins containing 75 silver pieces. (yes, I said silver pieces - but fret not, it's more than it sounds like. Please see the post in discussion). You also have all the possessions you brought to or found on the island.
We could save his life and he still wouldn't trust us. ...Hmph. How very typical it was - you did everything you could to help, when you could have easily only pretended to try and let them fail instead, and you were still only as important as the next thing they wanted. This was why she didn't like adults - especially those who saw themselves as in charge of everything.
Luca quietly retreated to the edge of the area and sat down, and as she did so, her summoned monster (admittedly looking much less fearsome than before) sat down and simply stared towards where everyone else was. Neither of them seemed interested in being in the middle of a band of rowdy, drunken, uninhibited pirates.
Tyrus cheers with the others.
he responds to Norren quietly.
"I wish I could stay, and help... but I have to find my cure. Rest assured that I hope to return one day - this island... it feels like home, now."
Tyrus shakes hands with many of the Pirates, then goes to sit with Luca. Unlike her, he is ebullient.
While he waits, Tyrus spends his time trying to capture what he saw.
Glass, it seemed, was the medium with which to best capture the water-born Lianna. Like all alchemists he understood how his blown glass vials, beakers and other paraphenalia were made.
Though the island is nowhere near equipped for proper glassblowing, Tyrus is able to commander enough equipment for a very makeshift workshop, making use of the island's small smithy. It takes a great deal of work to find the materials, but where they can the islanders happily gift them up for the purpose of the shrine.
Given the timeframe and materials he has to work with, Tyrus opts to create a small glass statuette that could later be set into a pedestal or other display platform.
The first day of work gives Tyrus a misshapen lump of glass that does no justice to Lianna. He melts it back down the next day and tries again, with a few helpful tips from some of the more artistic townsfolk. The result is entirely different, depicting Lianna rising from a swell of water. Imperfections in the glass creates clouds and shades of color here and there, but it is likely the best that can be done. Norren thanks Tyrus profusely when he presents the gift.
"For now we'll keep it in the commons," the captain says. "But once we've built a proper shrine, it will be by the seaside for as long as this town stands."
The business with Lianna finished, Dante is eager to leave the island but not without mollifying the people a bit. Since the tunnel turned out to be unnecessary he decides to see if he can take it into a productive direction.
At least with its connection to the fort they have an underground means of transportation that could be concealed for tactical movement. He also takes the maps and consolidates them to provide an easier understanding of the complex in the fort. At least the tunnel won't be for nothing.
Luca, meanwhile, simply sat down and practiced her calligraphy - using what writing tools were available as she tried to produce works that were at least moderately decent.
It went surprisingly well, actually, though the alphabet she wrote in wasn't something most people could read.
Norren seems surprised when Dante rallies the townsfolk to complete the tunnel path. The workers themselves certainly see the sense in completing it, as it gives them a sheltered, secure path between the two sides of the island that doesn't lead them along the dangerous edge of the forest - though with the war on the goblins that route has become at least somewhat less perilous.
Dante isn't quite able to help them push the tunnel all the way through in the time he has left on the island, but he does keep the work on a steady, straight course, and provides the islanders with more accurate knowledge of the old wizard's tunnels. One of the town elders approaches him afterwards.
The elder, a matronly woman that nonetheless projects a stern, powerful demeanor, speak to Dante. "Thank you for sticking to the work. I know you and Norren didn't see eye to eye on... most of anything, and I can't fault you for that after the way he brought you here. We wasn't supposed to keep being pirates, you know. I hope that with Lianna saved he'll remember to give all that up. Anyway, I just want you to know that a lot of us are grateful for your help."
Luca sits down with a bit of spare parchment and creates rather beautiful works of calligraphy in a script that is by turns beautiful and unsettling.
"Didn't want this to be meaningless," he says in response. "Now it can be used for transportation, protection or storage." He pauses a moment to look at the work going on. "Norren isn't a good man, but at least he is honorable. That I can at least respect. And I won't be around to see things change either. Norren offered passage to port. I might return someday to see how things are. I hope they have changed, for his sake and yours."
The islanders celebrate in a fashion as grand as their meagre wealth will allow both that night AND the next, and the crew that prepares the ship for departure move with the grogginess of the extremely hungover - but they get their work done anyway, and soon the ship pulls away from the docks. On it are all the former prisoners who had "earned" their early freedom by helping Norren - though some, such as Logen, had opted to remain behind and join the settlement.
Norren himself is not with the ship, and it is captained by a woman called "Sib." The weather is fair and the winds favorable during the several days of voyage, which the sailors proclaim as a sign of Arrond's favor. One morning the cry of "Land ho!" rings out from above. Captain Sib sails for the city of Gemny, a sizable port city. Other ships can be seen in the distance, but instead of making directly for the port Sib takes her ship in close to the shore. There, she orders the passengers onto a longboat, rowed by several of the crew.
"Gemny is a bit over a mile to the west," she says before you depart, and indeed you can see the outskirts from where you stand on the deck. "I've orders to leave you with food as well, but then I'm taking this ship elsewhere lest any of you think to bring the law down upon us." She smiles sardonically. "Fair winds to you!"
A short time later, you splash ashore from the longboat, which quickly returns to the ship.
Rivetta is an offshoot of Obanese culture, founded by refugees from the war which toppled the empire. As such, the dominant language is Obanese and the culture and customs very similar, though they have diverged somewhat in hundred and some years since the fall of the empire.
A small part of Luca did, in fact, want to call down the local authorities on the pirates. They had, after all, kidnapped her, then threatened her, then forced her to do hard labor, and she'd worked as hard as she could to help them anyway just to advance their goals. And despite slightly burning out, overall she was actually more capable of summoning then before.
Sigh.
Meanwhile, though, she was sneaking a peek at the others.
Tyrus twitches a little as the food is set down.
We've barely enough money to last a week - and less if we help the other prisoners. Food is going to be critical... But if the fat man checks the food, they'll all assume I'm greedy.
Stepping up, Tyrus does his best to become the authoritative leader he thinks the group needs.
"So, Gemny. Does anyone have friends or family in Gemny? I think we should stay together while we try to settle in. Those of you with family elsewhere, if you tell me I will make a list?" While he talks, Tyrus does a quick headcount.
"Didn't want this to be meaningless," he says in response. "Now it can be used for transportation, protection or storage." He pauses a moment to look at the work going on. "Norren isn't a good man, but at least he is honorable. That I can at least respect. And I won't be around to see things change either. Norren offered passage to port. I might return someday to see how things are. I hope they have changed, for his sake and yours."
"A wise decision considering thy current ability. T'wood be a shame to lose a worthy master so soon. I shall remind thee of thy promise though. I do not forget."
Dante turned a curious stare back at the woman, intending to say something, only to realize she had turned away when he did. "Um...did you say something?"
She turns a curious stare back at him. "No. Good luck though."
"*Sigh* Should have expected this. Down here at your hip," said a voice in Dante's head. He turned, then looked down at his hip and to the sword resting there. He drew it and looked at it. It seemed different now. Sharper, tougher, and with the slight sheen of magic.
"You are sentient? You have been in my family for generations. Why did no one know this?" he asks.
"First of all. You need not speak to speak to me lest you prefer looking the fool." Dante stiffens and looks around. A few people are giving him a weird look and a wide berth but they appear to have not heard, just seen him talking to a weapon.
"Could have told me that sooner," he pouts.
"Our communication is telepathic. And I believe thou knowest the reason of my reticence. In time antiquated thine family name was synonymous with honor, loyalty, and chivalry. Thou art the first to wear it well. Regrettably tis all I have for today. The awakening is a slow and arduous process. May be a while before we can have words again. Farewell"
"Wait." Dante says out loud. He tries to communicate a few more times before giving up. The sword had shut itself off from him. So this is the blade the founder wielded? The one who first made the name Florence well known?
Over the next few days Dante continues to try and speak to it, to learn more about his family and it. Unfortunately, as it explained, the awakening process was slow and its knowledge and memories would come in time. But one thing was clear. Lianna's rescue was its trigger. The infusion of divine power from the water god as thanks was enough to pierce the veil the blade had locked itself away into until a worthy wielder appeared. It was a good deed that caught the notice of a divine being, something no other Florence had accomplished in a long time.