|
The first thing that Ullamon recognizes is a myriad tiny voices, barely audible. "Is he awake yet? Can I take his color? He has 223 eyelashes. I know what he uses that worm for!"
Ullamon opens his eyes to Traceni, with a giant grin on her face, a cross between a young girl happy to see her father come home, and a young girl happy to see a piece of cake. "Shh! Hide!" she whispers, and an odd pitter-patter and scuttling can be heard in the wood of the ship.
Traceni gets up and leans back, widening the view to show the rest of the Pathfinders and the captain in the room.
"I learned something on this voyage," Traceni exposits, brightly. "Apparently, when you kill an ambassador aboard a ship, you're hated, and sentenced to hang. But when you kill the first mate when he's trying to mutiny, everyone loves you. Did you know that? I didn't. Fascinating!"
Picking stray bits of hair off her morning star, she adds, "You know, I really liked Marzack. Smart man, did a good job. I would have done anything to help him. At least, until I killed him."
Resting her weapon, she stares straight into Ullamon's eyes. "I really like you, too."
Letting that sink in a moment, she adds, "But what I don't understand is why you joined Marzack on his little dalliance. Maybe you don't like the captain. Maybe you don't like sailing these waters. Maybe you don't like the Mordant Spire, crossing Sea Elf territory, all that. But you stayed. You waited. You let yourself do these stupid things, killing an elf in elf land... at least they still call it land, I still have no idea where this land is... and for what? Becoming the navigator on a new ship? Please, help me understand."
Captain Vean seems a little preturbed that the pathinders have attacked his crew"And killed my first mate!" But hearing the evidence especially that Marzarck started the attack he agrees to the interrogation.
Everything but death has left the eyes of the Bonuwat shaman. He has no fear left and speaks. "I went to bed after meeting with the Captain regarding the course for the next day, that part is true." In the middle of the night, when he heard the commotion of battle on the main deck, he got out of his bunk and slipped out into the main hold. "I made my way to Sephriel’s chambers under the effects of a pass without trace magic. I had Marzack’s key," he pauses and his voices loses all regret "I entered the room and stabbed the elf repeatedly! He then left the chamber and took the knife down to the cargo hold, where we fed it to the hungry rust monsters. He returned to his bunk immediately thereafter.
His beans continue to spill. When asked about why he joined the mutinous first mate he answers "I have no hope to move up in the ship’s ranks. I am stuck being navigator." Being navigator is a very specialized skill set. "I welcomed Marzack's suggestion involving a shuffling of the crew’s power structure."
Vean listens to the story with a grim face. "Well that does satisfy the question." He turns to the Pathfinders. "I shall no longer hold you accountable for the ambassadors murder." His face seems to lighten a little, a sign that his skin is safe as well. He orders the sailors to work, and promises any healing that you need free of charge. Killick blanches at this, but an order is an order.
In the morning two days following the squall and the confrontation with Marzack, the Throaty Mermaid arrives at the Mordant Spire as planned. An enormous, extravagant elven galleon meets the smugglers’ vessel a mile from the shore, sending a smaller boat between the ships as an envoy. Captain Veane explains the events of the journey since Magnimar to the small band of masked elves who come aboard. They nod solemnly, and seem unusually calm given the cold-blooded murder of one of their diplomats. As Veane ends his story, another figure climbs over the ship’s rail onto the deck—Sephriel. At the captain's astonishment he bows to hide a knowing-smile.
"I never leave the Mordant Spire for human lands without ensuring that a clone awaits me in safekeeping." He turns to the Pathfinders and thanks them for hunting down and uncovering his murderer. "The diviners were correct and we now have a better idea of who the Mordant Spire’s enemies are and who can be trusted," he looks at the group "Friends such as the Pathfinder Society whom your represent. For your service to the Mordant Spire," and he offers the pathfinders a bag that jingles with coin. He similarly concludes his business with Captain Vean.
After a lavish elven meal for the entire crew and the Mordant Spire envoys, Sephriel and his retinue depart for their island home, and the Throaty Mermaid sets sail for Riddleport, where the Pathfinders will catch passage back to Absalom.
|
Lizzy was curious about the elven ship, but being a mere 2 feet tall she had to stand on her toes to see it.
When Sephriel came up her eyes were fully open...
"But he...and then...how? o.o'??
Looking at the others she showed a big smile.
"So i was right about the possibility the dead one wasn't truly him."
|
First of all, so as to not inconvenience Killick, Branson is more than able to heal everyone up.
Second, Branson has loads of questions about this clone business, but he'll start with his own knowledge:
Third, Branson will tell Sephriel, "Ambassador, on behalf of my self and the Society, I want to say how grateful and relieved we are that you are well, and should you ever have need of our services again, please do not hesitate to call upon is."
