"An extra pair of hands would be welcome, isnt' that right Deylish?" Voss suggests, then looking back at the other vessel, "Do we want to tow this along, Deylish? Might be worth a few shins."
Deymish nods in agreement. "Rigging up this ship to take it with us to Redstone means I could use another pair of hands. Sirona, I'll take you to Redstone no problem. You've been through a lot and if you don't feel up to working till we get there in a few more days I understand completely. If you do feel up to it, I'll pay you what I'm paying these guys, 3 shins a day. "
I can work, my strength is returning and I would welcome the shins she replies
now, if I can have my things back she adds with a smile.
Sarsam quietly observes the group's interaction, except for when he corrects Voss and Eptin. "Deymish", he says, "Not Deylish". He seems to mind it more than Deymish does, since the merchant doesn't even flinch at the mistake. Things should be named after their name, the nano thinks.
When Sirona asks for her belongings, he collects the equipment taken from near her cage and starts handing them over to the woman. As he does so, he pauses a little with every objects he gives her, analyzing Sirona's cyphers with interest and not much discretion. After giving her the last item, he eyes her with curiosity. "You have implants", he says, stating the obvious. It almost feels as if there should be a follow-up question.
Yes, I have implantsSirona replies
Doesn't everyone? she begins to gear up
What is the cargo, she adds as she slides her Greatsword into it's sheath on her back if you don't mind me asking
Deymish smiles and claps his hands together then rubs them vigorously, "Excellent, wonderful! Welcome aboard Rayzel's Folly! As to the cargo, I've an urgent delivery medicine for an Aeon Priest. They've got a little clave there north of the canal."
Servae says "I can keep that other boat on track once we lash them together." She gathers her gear and makes her way to the raider's ship.
The next few days pass without further event. Deymish is happy for it, and the synth-sails dock in Redstone in late morning. There are four working piers here, and the aldeia is built into the side of a 15m escarpment at the water's edge. There is a gentle slope up from the water level to the quarry and desert beyond. Most of the buildings you can see are made of a strange, bright red stone.
Deymish says, "I'd like to get these supplies up to the Clave." He points to the far end of town, where you can see a small tower rising above the rest of the town's buildings. "We can just head up Market street here. Xarmun is expecting us, and then we all get paid!"
There is a man sitting at the end of the dock in a bit of shade, fanning himself, his right leg is missing below the knee. As Deymish approaches, he gives a hearty greeting "Hello again Spakel! Keepin yourself busy minding the docks?"
The man, Spakel, looks as though he was startled awake by Deymish's words. His eyes are sunken into his face and large black bags can be seen under his eye. He is unshaven and his short hair is wild and unkempt. "Huh?! I, ah, um..." recognition crosses his eyes, but the words seem slow to form on his lips. "Dey...Deymish?" he asks. He closes his eyes in a long, slow blink and shakes his head opening them widely again. He pats his chest on the right then left side, searching for something. He reaches inside his vest and takes out a folded paper, holding it out for Deymish. "Sa-say, you haven't seen this person have you?"
Deymish takes the paper, unfolds it, looks at it for a moment, then folds it back up. "No Spakel, no I haven't, but I'll keep my eyes open." He hands the paper back to Spakel and then walks over to Servae, whispers something in her ear and she sets down her crate and walks back to the boat and heads below deck.
"Sirona, would you mind taking this extra crate of supplies?" Deymish asks.
The group heads up through the town toward the Clave tower, you see very few people on the streets. Several merchants in the market bizarre area as you pass, but very few customers.
The tower has three stories and a conical roof. It has a few shuttered windows on the upper two levels. Unlike the other buildings in Redstone, it is round, and surrounded by an equally circular wall. The tower has a diameter of about 6 m. The wall, a bit over 21 m. The wall is 3 m high, .3 m thick, and made of redstone. A locked gate of iron bars blocks the entrance. A tall woman with pale brown skin and short hair. She wears brigandine
armor and a helmet, and carries a long spear. "Blessings of the Order upon you, how may I help you today?" she asks. Her face shows you that the woman is on the verge of exhaustion.
Deymish smiles as he unloads the crate he carries onto the ground gently. "Delivery of medical supplies for Priest Xarmun."
She yawns, covering the sudden outbust with the back of her hand. "I am very sorry, but I have been instructed <yawn> not to disturb the Priests. You may <yawn> return tomorrow and make your delivery then."
Deymish's smile diminishes slightly, "But it was my understanding that the Priests needed these supplies quite urgently. I have no problem waiting till tomorrow, but the urgency communicated to me was quite clear."
The woman shakes her head countering, "I am sorry sir, but they left no such special instructions with me. Please <yawn> return tomorrow."
"Well, if they change their mind, or you see them please tell them I am here with the delivery and will be at the docks. Or the tavern." Deymish says. Turning to the party, he says, "Come on, I guess, back to the synth-sail."
You head back to the canal, but as you get closer you can clearly see that the raider's synth-sail is gone. Only Deymish's boat remains...
Where did the other boat go? Sirona sounds concerned
"That other mercenary—Servae, right?—probably stole it. It doesn't concern us, anyway. It's not our boat. A good thing we had the cargo with us", Sarsam says in response to Sirona's question. He then turns to Deymish. "Do you know this town? What is there for us to do until tomorrow? I expected to spend some time learning from the local Aeon Priests, but it doesn't look like they are receiving guests. Perhaps an archaelogical site nearby...?"
If you say so, Sarsam; you go find that archio-whatsit she throws an arm around Eptin's shoulder So, Eptin our friend there wants to be boring, what do you say that we go find that tavern our boss mentioned?
Deymish looks around to make sure nobody else is in earshot, then leans in a low voice, "Seems that Servae might be wanted for something that took place in the Steadfast. She didn't wrong me, and I didn't wrong her. I told her if she needed to go, take the boat and go. I guess she did."
In response to Sarsam's questions, "Well, I've been here a few times. Pretty small town as you can see. Probably 300 or so live here. Most of them work in the quarry just north of town getting out them red stones you see all over. Hard working people, Randax's tavern is a good place ta relax after a long day. The rebrus is cold, and goes down smooth. Corl Vehm, he sorta manages the town. Big fella, healthy eater. Balding. That is about the extent of my knowledge of Redstone."
Voss frowns at the loss of shins the departed vessel represents, but brightens at Deymish's explanation, "That's a good thing you did there, Deylish" clapping the merchant on the shoulder.
Looking about he smiles, "I'm parched! A mug of rebrus would be wonderful...Ladies?" he asks, extending an elbow each to Eptin and Sirona.
"Deymish," he corrects Voss and pats him on the butt in return. "I never cross a person who hasn't crossed me."
I'm in, you coming Eptin?
Excelent! Sirona says, grinning broadly as she throes an arm around each of their shoulders I look forward to drinking you both under the table
Deymish leads you to the nearby Randax’s tavern. As most of the inhabitants of Redstone work in the quarry, the tavern is nearly empty and very quite at the moment. "This place can get pretty crazy after shift!" Deymish says reminiscing. He walks up to the bar and slaps down a few shins, "Round a’ rebrus for my crew."
The bartender sort of stumbles forward from the stool he was sitting on, his eyes barely open as his body seems to collect the shins and fill four mugs with amber liquid on muscle memory alone. He takes out a bowl of crisps and sets it on the bar as well before stumbling back to his stool and collapsing onto it.
Deymish grabs his mug, the bowl and heads for a table.
While the Deymish and the others head to Randax’s, Sarsam wanders around the small town taking a closer look at things. Having already surmised that most of the town works in at the quarry, it is very quiet and empty at the moment.
After some time, you come upon two women talking outside a small, red stone home. Both women look quite haggard, with heavy, dark circles under their eyes. One is dressed in dark clothes, huddled in a black shoulder wrap. The other is dressed in stained work outfit from the quarry.
"I still can’t believe he’s gone," the woman sobs. "These last few weeks have been tough. Tough on everyone, but I never thought of Opjos could just...leave me like that."
The woman in the work outfit tries to comfort her, "Amiee, I know this is an impossible time for you, but you need to know that your strength is something I admire. I cannot image what a wreck I would be if Rintall did the same thing. Opjos was a good man, but everyone has a breaking point. Here, take these." She hands a small basket to the woman. "Maybe tonight will be the night..."
Amiee gives a sort of manic laugh, "Tonight? Not tonight, not ever! I don’t think the dream will stop until we all end up like Opjosh." Amiee breaks down crying and excuses herself, rushing inside the house.
Sarsam walks by the women without minding them much; yet, he can't help but overhear their conversation. Though local gossip is of little interest to him, the last sentence professed by Opjosh's wife draws his attention. He takes a second look at the two women and notices the weary look in their eyes. The immage of the ywaning sentinel at the tower also springs to his mind. Until we all end up like Opjosh. His curiosity piked, Sarsam approaches the two women somewhat bluntly. "What is this dream you speak of?"
Sirona takes a long drink from her mug and the raises it to her friends. In my experience, weird is usually more fun anyway; normal is overrated.
The other woman has her back to you as you approach, and starts to answer you as she turns to face you, "You know the ..." As she turns and meets your eyes, you can see the exhaustion in her face, and her whole body. She stops mid sentence, looking at Sarsam in obvious confusion. "You are...who...did...where?" she asks, searching for the right words. "You don't know the dream?" Her eyes widen in surprise and she leans forward toward you, "You will! You will!"
She turns and starts running down the street away from you...
Deymish laughs and takes a long draught from his mug. "You two certainly aren't like anyone else I've taken on my crew before, that's for sure! You guys did a great job handling those raiders though!"
After about twenty minutes, several small groups of workers being to file in to the tavern. They are definitely dirty from a hard day's work, and each worker appears to be on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion. Mugs of rebrus are ordered, most of the workers drink their mug down after a few minutes and leave. A few are seated at a table next to yours talking about quarry operations.
"I just don't see how we can keep working like this, accidents are happening all the time and it's a matter of time before someone ends up dead." one of them says.
"I think Xarmun or Brogun are close to figuring this out. They won't let us down." says the other.
Lifing his mug to his lips, Voss drains half the contents in one gulp. Smacking his lips in appreciation, "Ahhh, that's good! "
He then joins in the conversation "I think , my dears, weird is a matter of pershpective"
He smiles at Deymish's thanks, "Thanks, Deylish. It's been an interesting trip so far..."
Overhearing the two miner's conversation, Voss leans over and asks "Beggin' your pardon, you all having trouble in the mine?"
The two miners look over at Voss suspiciously.
"Never seen them before." the first one says.
"Maybe they are here to try and buy the old woman out. Gillis won't like that." the other one says.
"Maybe they are here to cause trouble! Lookit her!"the first one points to Eptin. "You see her right? I'm not hallucinating again am I?"
The second one shakes his head, "I see her all right." Turning to face Voss, the man's haggard, weary face manages to slur out, "Wha's it ta'ya?" He sets down his empty mug.
Voss takes this as a sign to order drinks for his new 'friends.' The two take it as a friendly gesture and share a round with Voss.
"Trouble in the mine? Trouble everywhere in Redstone bud. Ever sense the dream started, we all are hurting. Hurting bad like. Nobody's getting any sleep, people make mistakes, accidents, whatever. If you don't know about the dream, I'm guessing you are new in town?"
We are said Sirona, sliding smoothly into the seat beside Voss, So, tell us more about this dream, is it really so terrible that you are afraid to sleep?
Sarsam is a little taken aback by the woman's reaction. Her certainty that he will soon experience this mysterious dream intrigues the nano, and he starts looking for accommodations to test an hypothesis. Upon finding a small inn, he steps inside and calls for the management. "Greetings! I'd like a room for the next hour. Please call on me after that time has passed. Would that be at all possible?", he inquires, pulling out a shin from under his hood.
The first man looks a Sirona with a look of dismay. "It...I can't even, I mean...nothing makes sense! It is so...vivid. Ya know? But nothing in the dream means anything. Like...I cannot put it into words. You get the sense of watching from someone else's eyes, ok. And there is a landscape, like a forest maybe. But made of crystals. Sometimes when you see things, it's like...they have too many sides?" the man shakes his head. "Nobody can really describe it, but whenever you try and sleep you awaken after a few minutes with this horrible images in your mind. I haven't had a good night's sleep in weeks!"
-----
Sarsam finds a small Inn, called Redstone's Rest and the exhausted Innkeep seems especially confused by Sarsam's request. "You want me to...? Send you a girl? Or you have a girl and just need the bed for an hour? I know you can't be planning to sleep..."
"That's exactly what I plan on doing", Sarsam replies to the flustered innkeeper. "Any reason I shouldn't?"
"Best of luck mister," he says. "I'll knock on the door in an hour." He slides a key across the desk to you.
Sarsam settles into the room, pulling the curtains to make the room as dark as possible and gets comfortable in the bed. Going through some mental relaxation exercises, Sarsam is able to drift off to sleep...
Shortly after you fall asleep, you feel your mind pouring away slowly as if it were some viscous liquid. You see a scene before you, but it is as though your mind is behind strange eyes. All of the colors and shapes which register to the eyes you look through, but to your mind they are a jumble of nonsense. Weather predator or prey, you are not certain, but after a few minutes you awake covered in sweat with your heart and mind racing!
"As dream? That everyone has, each night?" Voss asks skeptically, "When did all of this start?"
"It's been...well...it's been eighte...nineteen days I think. Been rough, hard ta remember things, ya'know?" says one of them.
"Haven't The Aeon Priests said anything?" Sirona asked finishing her drink and motioning to the bartender for another "This is their sort of problem, isn't it?"
"They have been trying to help! I heard that Xarmun had even sent out for some medicine to help, but they've been hold up in the clave for the last few days."
"Eptin!" Sirona calls "Daymish said that our cargo was supplies for the calve, Do you think that it might contain this medicine?"
Voss shakes his head, "18 days, without a good sleep...." he says wonderingly, "Everyone is like this?" he asks
He looks at Sirona "It might be, Sirona, it just might be."
Sarsam sits on the edge of the bed and cleans his forehead with the back of his hand. He takes deep breaths to regain his calm, letting the nightmare fade from his mind. How long was I asleep? certainly less than an hour, or the innkeeper would've called... and still, I feel more tired than before. He stands up, walks out of the room, and approaches the innkeeper.
"I had the nightmare. Like seeing through some creature's eyes, and yet, not seeing. Just confusion and terror... it's hard to explain. Have you had the same dream? I heard people talking outside... and your reaction earlier, too. Is this... a widespread phenomenon? What can you tell me about it?"
I should warn the others something is not right in this city.
"Then why in the beyond would they turn us way when we arrived" Sirona asked, turning to Voss, she frowned, an unpleasant thought setting up camp in the front of her mind. "Voss!," she lowered her voice so that the rest of the denizens of the bar could not hear "They wanted us to spend the night; In a town where everyone who sleeps is haunted by nightmares and we have supplies that could help; Voss, Something is very wrong here."
Deymish confirms to Sirona that he is, indeed, carrying medicine requested by the clave. ¨I am sure they have a good reason for telling the guard they did not wish to be disturbed though.¨
The miners nod tiredly at Voss, ¨Everyone is like this. Except you, but in a few days you´ll be just like us.¨
-----
To Sarsam, the Inkeeper nods and smiles sheeplish. ¨You are the first to ask for a room in many days. I hoped it would be different, but everyone dreams the dream you describe. Each day more tried than the last, and each day no better understanding of the images. As you describe, seeing but not quite understanding. Terror and confusion, waking in a start and panic. You would be wise to leave this place. My cousin´s sister took what supplies she could carry and left town yesterday. I am starting to think she was wise.¨
Deymish says, "Maybe we should return to the boat, pick up the supplies and try to deliver them again?"
"Yes..." Sirona says softly, "I think that might be a good idea" She drains her glass, setting it on the table and climbs to her feet "if what these people are saying is true, then we don't want to spend the night here."
"Definitely, " Voss says after draining his own mug, "Worth a try, right Deymish?"
Collecting his gear, he pauses and asks "I wonder what Sarsam is up to."
-Posted with Wayfinder
As you return to the synth-sail, Deymish heads below deck and motions Sirona, Voss and Eptin to join in gathering the supplies for re-delivery.
"Great blackness in the Void!" the man curses. "Someone get down here and give me a hand, we've got a leak!" Eptin hurries below deck, helping Deymish man the pump. "Lucky we came back when we did, or the whole boat'd be sunk by nightfall. Listen, Sirona, you and Voss take the supplies back to the Clave and Eptin and I will get this under control. Ok?"
"Help me with this, Voss." says Sirona, Lifting a large, unwieldy box out of the hold.
"Of course, Sirona, let me help" Voss declares, leaning down to pull the box out of the hold.
He walks it over to the dock and places it there, returning swiftly to take the next box from Sirona.
As Sirona and Voss again unload the cargo for delivery, Sarsam finds his way back to the synth-sail.
as they unloaded the last of the cargo, Sirona called down into the hold; "Will the two of you be alright down there? I don't like leaving the two of you her, but I don't see any other way, we need to get the supplies to the clave, gat paid, and get to the bottom of this before it starts effecting us too" she thought for a moment "I suppose we could just leave after we get paid, assuming we can fix the boat up enough to go, but either way we have to get these"she kicked the pile of boxes next to her "where they belong"
Deymish waves at you with one hand while working the pump, "Go on, we'll be fine here. Get those to the Clave and we can sail off."
When you arrive at the tower this time there is a different guard, a man this time. Whereas the woman before seemed deadly serious, this guy seems more laid back.
"Hello strangers, something I can do for you?" he asks.
Arriving at the ship, Sarsam helps Sirona and Voss unload the cargo again. During the walk to the tower, he tells them about his exchange with the innkeeper and describes the dream he had, explaining he decided to make an empirical research to detect what seems to be the problem afflicting the townspeople.
Facing the new guard, Sarsam replies "We've come once again to deliver the supplies your masters have ordered."
The exhausted looking man sort of tilts his head to the side and narrows his eyes at you. "Delivery you say?" He then takes his right hand and holds it out in front of his face about one meter, then using his left pointer finger runs it up and down a few times about 5 centimeters from his right hand. "Sorry folks, no deliveries on the schedule, and the Priests are very busy. Do not disturb. That's what Hataniah told me."