"Come now! Your first offer is rather insulting..."
"Good, we're even then."
Kien feels something click into place when the man's tone shifts. Ah, there. Respect. This is a battle as well, as sure as a fistfight. He thought he had no competition here, but he's up for a few licks.
"The Order is famously tight with their coin. I think this is the best offer we're going to get out of them, and it is quite a bit of money after all. Especially as we can turn around and offer our expertise for further expeditions, eh? I say we take the deal."
Kien mulls over the vast price swing for a moment. Let's take it. You got a surprise swing in, don't try to break anything. "Alright. But you approve of any selling, and if you think we're getting cheated then we're allowed to go to other buyers."
"Rare things always have buyers." Luca said quietly. "Fortunately, the better buyers are smart enough to offer good deals - it helps attract better sellers. Fath- someone I know once said that the best deals are those where both parties feel like they've gotten a good deal. I'm satisfied here - push too hard and you just turn buyers away."
"Splendid."
Horl takes care of the rest of the agreements, and even arranges it so that the Order divvies up your resulting share of the monies gained.
Horl departs soon after to "inform a certain fetching lass" of his fortunes, and you return to check on Tyrus.
Tyrus perks up as the youngsters return "Good news?" he asks hopefully.
Luca set the (heavy) bag on the table, panting slightly from having carried it. "We are no longer in immediate danger of homelessness." she said. "Personally, I recommend splitting these 50 coins into twelve for each of the three of us, and the remaining 14 to be used for group expenses like travel and lodging."
"Tried to rob us, I growled and they gave us a better price." Kien raises his brows at Luca's money expertise. "Uhh, yeah. I think that's a good way to split it."
"Fifty gold?" Tyrus was stunned "We could live for a year! I can do my research, we can get a ship, maybe even have enough to pay for treatment!" He hesitates "Are we really so proficient?"
"Risked our lives. That's the kind of payment for such danger. Plan on going back too."
"The information was valuable." Luca said resolutely. "We ensured we got a fair price for it. I agree that Tyrus' treatment should probably come first, though." If only because she desperately needed a father figure in her life and would be in deep, deep trouble without one. Kienyach was reliable, but... not quite a dad.
"I'm amenable to your suggestion, of course, Luca." Tertius/Tyrus nods "Very reasonable."
"So, if all the goods are sold, we have no need to go to Gemny. I'm keen to travel on - unless some other major opportunity has presented itself?"
He brightens as a thought occurs. "I must send a letter to my wife - and my children. Who would have thought I'd be an archaeologist. Could I trouble you all to help me with my recollections of our adventures?"
Luca had the kind of expression suggesting she was considering whether or not she actually wanted to remember. "Well, it all started with some pirates and this island when we were out at sea..."
"Anyway! That priest said you should go to the fortress in the morning, right? So let's take it easy for now, go see them tomorrow, and we'll decide what to do from there. Maybe they can treat you here, maybe we'll have to travel first."
You escort Tyrus - who while still distant mentally is at least hale physically (or as much as he ever is, at least) - to the fortress of the Order. His work in their hospital has left him with a high reputation and many friends, and you are brought inside at once. The elven cleric who had helped you when Tyrus' illness first worsened brings another cleric, a dwarf, to see you.
"This is our prelate, Ulaf Hine," he says. "If anyone in the city can help Tyrus, he can."
"Or more accurately, my mistress Felathren can," the Prelate says as he perches on the bed next to Tyrus. He examines him for a short moment, and confers quickly and quietly with the other healers in attendance. Then he raises his hand with his holy symbol clutched within, and over the next several minutes casts several spells. Examining Tyrus once more, he frowns, and casts a final spell
The dwarf has cast Heal on Tyrus.
When he turns to face you, he looks somber.
"That is the mightiest healing magic I know, and it has had no visible effect. Whatever ails your friend, it is neither poison nor disease that my magic nor my learned healers can discern." He sighs. "I am sorry to admit it, but we cannot help him here."
Luca swallowed nervously - and tried to suppress the flashbacks that happened every time she saw a cleric. No matter how much she wanted to, though, she couldn't forget her sister's blood splattered across her own face.
But... fear couldn't be everything.
"Then where can we help him?" she asked quietly. "There must be someone, somewhere, who can do something."
Kien frowns heavily, crossing his arms. "Had a healer in the army that told me something. 'Magic can cure all except time'. Meant that nothing stopped getting old. Is that what we're seeing here?" There may be no hope to this if it's simply age.
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Tertius's eyes widened as they entered the Fortress, and stayed wide.
Dazed he shook hands with yet another doctor, mumbling an answer to a question. 'I worked as a Tutor and Scholar at the University for years. I organised rosters, and birthdays. I think they liked me, but they never asked me for my advice.'
His wide-eyes teared up a little as a new nurse was introduced to "Doctor Tyrus" by a matriarchal woman who mentioned how much was needed.
When one of the senior clerics, clearly someone 'Tyrus' had a deep relationship with, asked about his expedition Tertius blinked, stammered an answer and realised; not only did the woman consider Tyrus a peer, she was envious of his expedition.
'Why not?' he realised 'Apparently I am a successful and respected physician who gave up a fulfilling and well-paying job to fulfil a lifelong dream of undertaking an adventure through orc-infested woods in order to be the first to enter an archaeologically significant site untouched by human hands in centuries. I return rich, and with insights into magic that would probably make for a well respected book. I am a 'name'!"[/b] he exulted, then paused for reflection "I am a name. And the name is Tyrus."
When the prelate himself cast one of the highest level spells Tertius knew of, apparently out of friendship, Tertius all but cried in joy - despite the hope crushed by the spell's failure.
"If [i]am old." he acknowledged "I have lived a good life. I am with wonderful friends. I do not" he stressed "intend to go easily, though. My notes indicate that clerical healing was only a possibility, not a certainty. Given what we have faced so far, there is every reason - much to my astonishment - to believe that this cure may be within eventual reach."
"Though his - my - notes are obscure, there is a clue as to a cure in my journal. I intend to follow the path laid down by the man I was, in the belief that hope is not dead."
He turns to the dwarf. "Prelate Hine. Your help - and the help of the whole order - has been a balm for my soul. Had you been able to help me I would have loved to stay here; but it appears my road leads on." He sighs "There is a spell - an extract really - that I have been working on. Arcane in nature it is inefficient compared to your divine-granted gifts; but that nature means it might also provide hope in those rare cases, such as this, where the powers of Good are stymied. It is" he hesitates "Necromancy, essentially. Not Black - but not White either. Grey, perhaps. It lends some of the resilience of the Undead to the Living, allowing them to endure long enough that other courses may be pursued. It is... Time. Time to research a disease. Time to draw out a poison. Time to recover from surgery."
"Assuming I can finish my work before we go, I would be delighted to entrust a copy to the Order, here. I caution you that it is not a simple spell, and should only be given to those you trust. There are hints - insights even - in its workings that would be terrible in the wrong hands. I would not see a spell I designed to save lives used to terrible purpose."
"So." Kien breaks the silence. "We have a contract to make more money by raiding these ruins. As capable as Luca is, I don't think the two of us will survive raiding on our own. So Tyrus, Tertius, whatever. It sounds like you're still looking for a cure. How do we move forward on that?"
Kien frowns heavily, crossing his arms. "Had a healer in the army that told me something. 'Magic can cure all except time'. Meant that nothing stopped getting old. Is that what we're seeing here?" There may be no hope to this if it's simply age.
The Prelate shrugs, the long grey locks of both hair and beard hunching around his powerful shoulders. "There are signs of other things at work. His sudden memory loss is not the cause of any physical sign I can see, neither stroke nor hemorrhage. Sudden catastrophes of the mind rarely come along on their own." He rises. "I will pray to my gods for their guidance, but my advice would be to seek the help of more learned healers. We priests of the Order have some knowledge, but we are more warriors and guardians than anything else. You might try the Temple of Kabrael in Athekor - they hoard a great deal of obscure lore."
At Tyrus' offer, he bows. "We would deny no honest gift. Any new knowledge of Necromancy is valuable, here."
The Prelate then departs.
Luca wasn't very familiar with Kabrael - which was a small comfort, actually. The last thing she wanted to do was be around any cleric of her sister's church. She leaned a little towards Kien as he spoke, though, nodding in agreement. "The sooner we act, the better." she said softly. "Come whatever may."
"Tyrus, I suppose." Tertius is hesitant, then nods "Yes. Tyrus."
"Athekor, you say. There's a cryptic passage in my notes that says Laquar, in Kadesh has a school of healing that may help. Pardon Prelate, have you heard of such a place?" He looks to the others "Without context I do not know why the old me decided to head there; but I have learned to treat his notes with some respect."
"Gods onl... sorry, Prelate." he coughs a little "Ahem. We'd need to do some investigation to find ships heading to either Laquar or Athekor. If they're days away I'd like to finalise my spell and give a copy to the order. If months away, we've time to raid ruins, I suppose."
"Pardon, Kien; you say they expect us to raid ruins by ourselves? How dangerous are we?"
"Well we fight small groups of orcs and make them flee, just the three of us. More dangerous than orcs but probably less dangerous than a dragon."
Luca considered the question. "...Not as dangerous as we want to be?" she suggested timidly, more than slightly wary of relying on them for help.
Kien's stoic facade shatters as he snorts in laughter at Luca's suggestion.
Before he leaves, the Prelate blinks in surprise at your mention of Laquar. "Laquar is, if not the greatest than certainly one of the three greatest colleges of learning in the world. Especially learning pertaining to healing, life and death, necromancy, and any such interrelated topics. It is also a sizable distance away, but if you can afford the travel, there is no better destination for you."
Having decided to visit Athekor, you take to the docks again. The captain whom Kien had met before is happy to accept you aboard. His ship is large, and he rarely fills more than a couple of the passenger berths he maintains when sailing from Keldradt. The negotiated price amounts to 45 silver all-together for the three of you and your things. There are three other passengers aboard as well - an older man and a young man and woman who seem to be together.
The ship is due to leave in a little over a day and a half, and you quickly gather your pay from the Order. Horl is disappointed to find that you won't be accompanying them on further expeditions to the temple. though despite his initial sentiment, his parting words to you are: "No matter, I suppose. More profit for myself."
You board the ship with your scant belongings the night before its departure, along with the young couple. you are shown to your rooms (each of you having your own) which are cramped, but dry and well-maintained. By the time you wake the next morning, Keldradt is too far behind the ship to make out.
"We'll be back. Once Tyrus is better." Kien says to Horl.
On the ship Kien takes a quick inventory of all the people present. Sailors had more than their fair share of vices, and he wants to make sure nobody planned to take advantage of them on the open sea. When given rooms, he makes sure that the rooms of both his companions are behind his, so that anybody that wants to get to their rooms has to walk past his. Anybody that comes down to the private quarters that night finds a pile of furniture in front of his door, blocking the hallway. Behind it Kien sleeps in a wooden chair, arms folded and chin tucked down on his chest. If anybody wanted to get past, they'd have to get through all the furniture and then go through him.
Well, here they were again - back at sea, with more experiences behind them. Experiences that, quite frankly, the slightly-taller-than-when-she'd-arrived girl was half ready to forget. Spooky temples in the jungle and monsters in the wilderness were scary, if marginally less so than the things that protected her from them. Fortunately, her eidolon seemed disinclined to simply appear during a calm ship voyage. It did look a bit more... claw-ish... than before, though.
On the bright side, she was now the best at hide and seek, at least for six minutes or so.
Um, T-Tyrus, is your stomach alright?" she asked as she visited the ill wizard.
A day and a half - a day, really, once travel preparations were accounted for - saw Tyrus working furiously through the night to ensure his new spell was handed over to the Order, as well as safely ensconced in his book. Guilt hounded him as he made his way to the ship, having pushed every chore he could onto his companions and ex-colleagues at the order.
Tyrus squeezes through the passages without complaint, and sighs as he levers himself into his room.
'Apparently you've done quite well at this before, old man' he reminded himself. 'If you got over living in a spacious multi-room house once, you can do it again.'
An hour of careful packing sees everything in place, just in time for Luca to visit.
"Yes." He hesitates "Did I have... trouble, before? I think I'm fine now. Excited - to be sure. I have butterflies; I can't remember being on a sea voyage like this before. I did does myself with something to keep my stomach settled, however." understanding dawns "You're welcome to share some, but I must warn you it tastes vile."
Kien notices one or two of the crew giving the women - Luca and the other passenger alike - less-than-wholesome looks, but a prolonged glare from the towering half-elf quickly makes them keep their eyes to themselves. His barricading of the hallway likewise gets him a few odd looks, and once the captain even comes down to inspect the oddity. He and Kien look at each other for a moment, but when the half-elf does not volunteer an explanation the man just shrugs and goes back up top.
Wind and weather are nearly perfect for sailing, and the ship makes good time underneath a bright sun during the day and clear, moonlit skies at night. Three days out of Keldradt you put into put at Orlen, a mid-sized city-state that dominates the southwestern coast of Ottruval.
"We'll be here a couple of days for some trade," the captain informs you. "If you go ashore, be sure to be back by noon tomorrow. We'll leave no sooner than that, but may be out by the evening."
The elderly man goes ashore here, but the younger passengers seem content to remain onboard. They spend most of their time at the bow of the ship, watching the seabirds wheel over the low cliffs and dunes. Elsewhere on deck there is hurried activity as the crew beings to unload trade goods.
Luca shook her head at Tyrus' offer. "The last thing I need is them thinking my food is a poison and attacking you." she said, a haunted look on her face. "And we've been out on the water before. I can handle it." Or rather, she had to handle it. There was no other option here. She spent a little bit of time near Kien, too, looking curiously at his pile of items but generally grateful for the protection. By the time the ship got to Orlen, she stared at it from a distance, then shook her head.
"Kien, can you come with me to the city? I want to find a proper calligraphy set." she said, nervous about asking anyone for anything besides the bare necessities. If she was thought of as just some annoying, needy child...
"'Course." Kien says, not even waiting for her rationale. After a moment he frowns. "You doing alright? One of the sailors been bothering you?"
Luca shook her head. "Nothing that's been a problem. If it was, I'd come to you first." she said. Then, after a moment, "I, um, I'd really rather not have them show up when we're on the ship." From her tone, it was fairly clear that however little she liked bothering other people about anything, she considered her summons appearing and mauling other people to be a much worse proposition. Better to nip problems in the bud instead of letting them fester.
Kien pauses for a moment in confusion, then it clicks. After a moment he chuckles. "They're ugly, but friendly. Know anybody else like that?" He says with a grin that stretches his scars.
At Kien's words, Luca shook her head adamantly. "They protect me, but they are not friendly and they are not safe." she said quietly. "I like you a lot more."
Kien smiles. "Well glad I rank above 'em. Come on, we got some shopping to do."
Kien and Luca spend a pleasant day ashore. The Orlenese are a colorful, loud, boisterous people, and the markets are crowded. Once or twice Kien has to none-too-gently swat the hands of a would-be cutpurse, but the pair manage to make it back to the ship with no unplanned loss of coin.
The ship soon sets sail once again, and the captain informs you that it'll be another four days to reach the next port if the weather holds. The passengers are largely ignored by the crew (especially after Kien's clear-though-nonverbal warning) except when approached.
Just as it rounds the edge of the mid-coastal straits of Ottrunval, the ship is caught in a sudden storm. The passengers are ordered belowdecks while the captain directs his crew to and fro above, with bellowed orders rising side-by-side with prayers to the goddess Arrond. You all notice at one point the ship is moved by a sudden jolt, but that seems the only dire event. By the time the sun rises the next morning the storm has subsided into a cool rain (a blessing in this hot clime).
The captain informs the passengers that the ship was blown into shallow waters and seems to have scraped the bottom of its hull on the seafloor. The damage is not severe, but the ship will move a bit more slowly.
You make it through the straits without any more excitement, and once again enter open water. In fact, you start to leave the land behind. "The inner Lirian sea is treacherous near the coast here," the Captain explains. "We need to get out beyond the rocks and shoals for safety. We'll keep the land just barely in sight to starboard until we see the lighthouse of Parel Byrne. With luck, just another three days even with our damaged keel."
As the ship moved out into the open water, Luca's face abruptly went slightly slack and she moved near to the railing, far from the crew and other passengers... and felt an intent within her mind.
Quietly, Reefclaws appeared in the water below. For what purpose? Luca didn't know, and she was rapidly becoming afraid she'd find out the answer.
Kien takes the sailing in stride. As long as the ship didn't sink and kept moving, he didn't care about how the crew was handling things.
He starts to relax a bit, with the crew in check. He starts standing at the rails and leaning over the edges. Spending a lot of time to himself.
Nobody notices Luca's actions near the rail, and Luca feels' IT take direct control over the summoned creatures immediately upon their appearance. They quickly disappear into the water below.
Luca waited for a few moments after the creatures dropped into the water, but didn't see anything more. She didn't have enough context to know if this was good or bad... but it was, well, something?
Tyrus spends the first day recovering - he'd borrowed hard on his reserves getting everything set up before he left the order.
Around midday of the second day he stumbles out on deck, and then, uncharacteristically, spends a lot of time 'up top' barely touching the book he held.
"This is glorious!" he remarks to a fellow traveller, and does his best to sketch the sun-dappled waves cresting over the bow, and the wheeling seabirds hunting in the ship's wake.
He stays aboard at Orlen; "Last thing you young people need is an old, fat man slowing you down. Make sure you have some fun. Luca; if you're shopping for supplies, I need some more inks, at least one more journal - and if you can find a few simple spells for sale, or some of these books..." he hands over a list of tightly cramped writing "... so much the better. If not, that's fine. Many calligraphers dabble in books, or at least are well versed with those who do."
He hands over the carrying-cup "Take Torble with you. He's no real head for shopping, but I'll know where you are if anything goes wrong, and perhaps he can keep you safe."
There's also a note for Kien. "I'm thinking perhaps I should learn at least the basics of armour use. Perhaps you could find me a shield, or some very light armour? I've noted some dimensions."
He offers to ward the trio before they leave, as best he is able, and with apologies it is not more.
When his companions leave, he joins the couple looking at seabirds - though from a distance - and sketches them looking out at the coast. Finally he forces himself to confront the task he has put off so long; composing letters to his family.
Tyrus spends more time below as the weather turns foul, taking to filling his sparse cabin walls with chalk sketchings.
Still, he is on the deck when the captain explains what has happened.
"Forgive me captain. Ter - sorry, Tyrus Regulus Veneficus. As it happens I am a wizard of some small skill. One of the spells I have allows a subject to swim like a fish, and a second to surround their head with water. I'm afraid I can only cast them so many times per day, but I could potentially allow your boatwright to investigate the damage first hand, and possibly even for long enough to affect some repair." Tyrus consults his memory. "Given time to prepare I could potentially allow someone to stay below for" he looks stunned for a moment "As much as 10 minutes at a time. If I went with them we might stay down as long as..." he trails off for a moment, calculating "three quarters of an hour. Less, if there are more with us. Less again if I must empower swimming, as well as breathing. And it will take me between fifteen minutes to at least a good hour to prepare the spells, I fear."
Save your spells, the captain says. "We can tell all we need from how the inner hull looks - and more importantly, how it leaks. We'll need to bail a bit of water out here and here, but there's no need to risk anyone going over the side, magic or no."
A few minutes go by. You feel IT'S attention recede, and you begin to relax thinking that whatever drew the activity is gone, a fluke or perhaps something that doesn't need concern you.
And then a powerful thought in your mind. "PREPARE."
Danger is coming, and IT can spare no attention to help you further.
Oh boy. Without another word, Luca took off running to go find Kien first, then Tyrus, tugging insistently at sleeves to get them to somewhere private. "I think there's about to be a problem." she said quietly. "I need you to convince the Captain to be ready for an attack - make sure everyone is as far from danger as possible."
Shit. Kien nods, not bothering to ask about how she knew, or if there were any more details. He knows Luca's power is mysterious at best. He finds the captain, hailing for his attention. "Captain, you know how my companions use magic? Well one says we're going to be under attack soon. Best be prepared. Afraid I don't have details."
Tyrus goes tight lipped "And me with my spells all but unprepared" he mutters quietly. "Alright. Let's go."
By the time he finds the captain all he can do is add wight to Kien's warning.
"Indeed, captain. All but a surety. If you'll excuse me, I plan to study some spells as quickly as I can." remembering the Order he continues "I should set up a medical area, as well."
The captain immediately looks uneasy at your pronouncements, and for the barest moment seems to wrestle with whether or not this is some kind of trick - but in the end, he turns outward and shouts to his crew. "Weapons to hand and keep your eyes out for trouble, lads! We may have some coming!"
If they are confused about the sudden warning from out of the blue, the crew give no sign. They take up blades, boat hooks and bludgeons and look around suspiciously.
A few moments go by in silence, and the suddenly something impacts the ship from below, causing a noticeable rise and fall as it settles back into the water. Suddenly the ship begins to change direction, turning away from land and towards the deep ocean. The captain shouts at his helmsman to hold course, but the man shouts back. "She ain't obeying the rudder! Something's pulling us!"
Kien lurches on his feet, whipping around to look into the water. He stares for a moment, then looks back at Tyrus and Luca. "Either of you got anything to help me in the water?" He asks quickly.
"If I can see things, yes." Luca said. Then, much quieter, "...And those things might be able to drop in and help."
Tyrus blinks at Kien's desire to jump into ferocious underwater combat. "Swim, or breathe?" he asks carefully "As I was telling the captain, I can do both." He looks askance at the nearby sailors "Given our history, I prepared spells in case we needed to, ahem, abandon ship. Ah, as it were."
"Breathe."