Finally back! Tris thought happily as the barge made upon shore. With leaping, almost dancelike steps, the sorcerers made her undignified way out of the mana wastes. A quick spell and she flies, laughing and praising the return of magic.
Sparel, having had a similar experience the first time he left the waste, watched Tris' reaction from the top deck. Behind him the last of the gold was being loaded into a large basket like-device near the mast by spectral crewmen. Vimes stands nearby.
While still watching Tris Sparel speaks to Vimes out of the corner of his mouth, "You realize no one will be calling you Captain anymore as that title is taken. Also, none of the current crew are real people and they won't be calling you anything. They'll follow orders though. I'll otherwise leave the details to you. Shame more of your compatriots couldn't be convinced to come. Just goes to show that some have vision and others don't."
---Fast forward to the cannons being loaded. ---
Sparel assists in the loading of the cannons directing the elementals to carry things where they are needed.
Speaking to whichever crew members are nearby, "What should we do with them? They're a bit too big to take with us. Shame though, they're quite useful. I suppose I can always make more. I was thinking of simply releasing them and sending them on there way. "
"So, zey are back."
Lu comments over Sparels shoulder. Not that she hadn't seen them approach from miles away, the barge was hardly the epitome of stealth. But stating the facts were an easy way to get the conversation going - and it had been awfully dull back here at the ship. She gives the newcomer an evaluating look and half a smile.
"I have never claimed to be an expert on cannons - but you don't look like one, noh?" *Blink* - and a quick laugh.
"So what have you brought back for us, elf?"
"Zis is more like it!" Lucrecia exclaims and rubs her hands together. "Shall we try one out right away? I have developed quite an enmity for zat zree over zere..." She adds the last part with a big playful grin.
The sorceres snorts at her companions glee. She's way too excitable sometimes... Focusing instead on the slightly more important matters - magic - she addresses the elven caster.
"I doubt the ship can outrun an air elemental - so let's keep that one at least."
The sorceres snorts at her companions glee. She's way too excitable sometimes... Focusing instead on the slightly more important matters - magic - she addresses the elven caster.
"I doubt the ship can outrun an air elemental - so let's keep that one at least."
"True. It can just follow us around until we need it. "
"No reason to get rid of an ally that has proven so very useful to us. We should keep at least one as you suggest."
Belor gathers up everyone on board onto the main deck to make a speech about the next direction.
Greetings everyone. As you know Praetorius and I are captaining this ship and we have discussed between ourselves and with several of you as to our next direction and we have made a decision. We are going to fly to the Shackles. Not only will this give us a good oppurtunity to pick up more of a crew with good experience, but it will also present a chance for our first venture into combat."
"Sparel, as was previously discussed along the way I need to you find the location of a scroll of create Demi-plane, for the important next stage of our journey."
"After our goal is accomplished in the shackles, we have another destination and I will announce it when the time comes."
"Now you all have your roles and positions, so you know what you need to be doing. If you have any issues please take them up with Praetorius or I. You are all dismissed."
"Aye. Aye. "
Sparel will retire to his quarters where he will spend the next several days (or as needed) casting a number of divinations until he can narrow down exactly what he's looking for.
Sparel will start with a basic knowledge checks. Using his Mask of 1K tomes and the Ancestral communion spell Sparel has somewhere between a +30 and +40 depending on the knowledge needed.
Knowledge (arcana) +22(+10 w Mask of 1K Tomes) +8 Ancestral Communion
Knowledge (dungeoneering) +12(+10 w Mask of 1K Tomes) +8 Ancestral Communion
Knowledge (engineering) +12(+10 w Mask of 1K Tomes) +8 Ancestral Communion
Knowledge (geography) +12(+10 w Mask of 1K Tomes) +8 Ancestral Communion
Knowledge (history) +12(+10 w Mask of 1K Tomes) +8 Ancestral Communion
Knowledge (local) +12(+10 w Mask of 1K Tomes) +8 Ancestral Communion
Knowledge (nature) +12(+10 w Mask of 1K Tomes) +8 Ancestral Communion
Knowledge (nobility) +12(+10 w Mask of 1K Tomes) +8 Ancestral Communion
Knowledge (planes) +20(+10 w Mask of 1K Tomes) +8 Ancestral Communion
Knowledge (religion) +16(+10 w Mask of 1K Tomes) +8 Ancestral Communion
Divinations will include:
Ancestral Communion (to boost my knowledge checks.
Vision (probably one of the better ones for our purpose.
Find the path (if directions are needed)
Contact Nalfeshnee (If needed, but will keep this to a minimum. My Will save is +18)
Contact Other plane (will use this for narrowing down. Are there any in the left hemisphere? Right? This continent? That continent? etc.)
Commune (as contact other plane, but this spell would be preferred)
Ringwald posts himself outside the door with a stick wielded like a polearm. He shoo's away anyone who gets near the door and seems like they might disturb his master.
Most of the time he just marches back and forth at port arms. However, he jumps every once in awhile as light flashed under the door followed by all manner of sounds associated with powerful spell casting.
Except of a few infrequent bursts of light (with the tell-tale smell of brimstone) from Sparel's quarters the last few days had been tranquil. Away from the mana-wastes and the need for discretion, Tris mood improved vastly. She switched the heavy grey robes for her ankle-long emerald dress and she was once more spotted soaring around the ship with Fly. Lucrecia kept pestering Aiesha at least five times a day for a chance at the helm, to no avail.
Lima finds plenty of times to slip away and try to hone her aspiring bard talents in her first attempt to write a song, the epic of Praetorius the Scary Vampire Captain and his Legendary Deeds. The title was, so far, only a placeholder and kept strictly under wraps. She felt, quite rightly so, that it might not be the best name yet. And there were a slight lack of actual substantial deeds at the moment, she was confident that they would come sooner or later!
But now, the stillness was shattered by a loud *bang* and Lu's accented swearing. Moments later, Lima dashes over and stops in from of Sparel's room. The halfling seems strangely both amused and worried and takes only a moment to unwind before starting to spew words at the mage's hapless familiar while still bouncing up and down.
"CanyouaskyourMastertocomeoverandhelprealquickthere'sbeenanaccident?!" She takes a deep breath and smiles at the Mephit. "Please?"
Next to the door, Tris stands. The sorceres has one hand firmly around her scroll case and the other tries to keep to keep her hair out of her face in the strong wind. She is leaning against the wall to keep steady and the tips of her mouth twitches as she desperately tries to keep herself from laughing. At the opposite end of the room, next to the outer wall is Lu. Her face is flushed red and she franticly tries to figure out what to do with the teacup-sized hole in the ships hull. She holds carpenters hammer is in her left hand and the wind tugs at her hair and clothes.
"Gah! Zis is not what I wanted ..."
When people enter, the red hue of her face deepens and she states meekly - "I just wanted to move my sleeping spot a little ..."
Lima returns (hopefully with Sparel in tow) to the scene of chaos and finally notices the flying papers. Her mouth opens and closes in rapid succession as the gears in her mind turns quickly.
"My notes!"
the halfling shrieks is disbelief. The tiny bard springs into action and dashes into the room, leaping and running to chase down the errant airborne papers. The sight is finally too much for Tris and she doubles over in laughter. There is even tears in her eyes.
"Carpentry is harder zen it looks!" Lu exclaims with her hands at her hip and an angry glare at Tris. She continues to stare at the unrepentant sorceres for a moment before her look softens and she sights. She flicks the hammer away and lowers her arms in a defeated pose. With another sigh she finally spots Spa. "Tell me Mage, can you fix zis?"
Ringwald points the "spear" (aka. Blunt stick) at Lima as she comes near. It's more cute than actually threatening. The look in his eyes after she speaks is one of consideration. After a moment the Mephit shrugs, puts his weapon at port arms, and opens the door a crack to walk in the room casually. He doesn't bother (or remember) to close the door behind him and it's left open a few inches. Sparel and Ringwald are around the corner and you can't see them directly, but you hear the occurrence.
From around the door in Sparel's room.
Sparels voice sounds as if he was momentarily startled having been in deep concentration moments before.
"What now? Well, I may as well since you've ruined this spell anyway. You're lucky it wasn't one of the more dangerous ones. "
Ringwald zips out of the room followed shortly behind by his master.
The halfling takes a moment to gather her courage and contemplates slipping in after Ringwald. Just as she finally feel brave enough, Spa calls out. She leaps back half a step and stands in attention - and repeats her message in the same frantic pace.
"CanyoucomeoverrealquicktoLucrecia'sroom?There'sbeenanaccident!"
The halfling takes a deep breath and adds a bit slower this time:
"She just wanted to redo the furniture a little ..."
Lima, Sparel, and Ringwald entered Lu's chambers.
Simultaneously amused and slightly annoyed Sparel surveys the room. He makes a motion at a stool on the other side of the room then shifts to point at the hole. As he does so the stool flies from it's position and slams itself onto the hole. Sparel's hand stays taught in the direction of the stool, now blocking the hole in the ship. Clearly part of his concentration is being used to maintain the spell and hold the stool in place.
"From the urgency I thought someone was injured." Sparel says flatly. "Hold that in place for a moment please."
Assuming someone complies Sparel regains his focus. Takes a deep breath and concentrates. His eyes flash is a golden glow for a moment then quickly recede. (Mythic Wild Arcana) Following that he cast a spell pointing at the stool. The wood of the stool bends and flexes to merge with the wood of the ship. Even the stools legs lay flat against the hull. (fabricate) It's not pretty as you can still see the basic form of a warped stool on the wall, but the hole is plugged and the room returns to a disheveled calmness.
"You know who is going to be most upset about this don't you? " Continuing as if the question is rhetorical "Ships are cramped and sometimes we have to make due. If you want to move things around get a carpenter. However, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I've nearly determined where we can get a demiplane scroll. Then you'll have all the room you could possibly want in the ship. "
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"My pride..." Lu mumbles and holds the sacrifice/stool in place. When it mends with the wall she sighs in relief and looks around - only to realize that what she had been planing to sit on was now a permanent vertical fixture of the ship. With another sigh she rolls her eyes. "I'm sure Aiesha will be more zen delighted to hear zis - But on a second zought, let's keep it a secret, noh?"
---
Later that day, in a flash of insight, Lu had decided that one of her charts would look really good on the wall. Lima held the hammer this time!
"My pride..." Lu mumbles and holds the sacrifice/stool in place. When it mends with the wall she sighs in relief and looks around - only to realize that what she had been planing to sit on was now a permanent vertical fixture of the ship. With another sigh she rolls her eyes. "I'm sure Aiesha will be more zen delighted to hear zis - But on a second zought, let's keep it a secret, noh?"
---
Later that day, in a flash of insight, Lu had decided that one of her charts would look really good on the wall. Lima held the hammer this time!
"I think a chart on that wall is just what this room needs. A very aesthetic
Choice.
-||-"I think a chart on that wall is just what this room needs. A very aesthetic
Choice.
"Quite!"
Sparel's first move when attempting to discern the location of the scroll he so covets is to cast vision, and when he does, he immediately falls into a trance. At first, the only thing in his dream-sight is darkness, and then suddenly, flames spring up right in the foreground his his sight. There is the feeling of rising into the air, back and away from the burning flames, and it reveals an endless sea of lava, flame, and ash. Plumes of flame spurt into the air at regular intervals, and the air is searing hot.
Miles away from Sparel's perspective is a gleaming brass city, the flashes of fire reflecting off of domed roofs that span the entire horizon, and spires of brass that rise hundreds if not thousands of feet into the sky. Sparel's vision-perspective then begins to zoom towards the city, the massive spires growing his his vision, until Sparel is rushing along wide brass boulevards and between huge brass buildings.
Then Sparel's vision goes dark, and he awakens.
His next task is to contact the Abyss, casting a spell to link his mind with that of a Nalfashnee. His mind resists the Abyssal energies' influences, and he asks the demon: "Do you know if greater magical items can be found in the City of Brass, in the Plane of Fire?"
The demon unequivocally replies, "yes".
Then he casts a spell to link his mind with a fire elemental, sending his mind to the Elemental Plane of Fire itself, and asks it the same question. It, too, replies "yes", but when he asks "where?" it replies that it doesn't know.
The sail from the edge of the Mana Wastes in Nex to the Shackles is actually a short one - only a few hundred miles to the West, by the Eye of Abendego, the Shackles splay shallowly, ruled by a council of popularly elected pirate lords, a bastion of freedom the world round.
The wind whistles by the ship, and Aiesha calls the crew together in the cockpit, a day out of the Wastes.
She's short with them, and simply asks, "Plan?"
"As long as we're gathered I'd like to share my findings before the captains make any decisions. I've confirmed that the city of brass has what we need, though I know not where from here. We'd have to go to the city to get more specific information. I'd need to prepare new Spells, but we can go as early as tomorrow if that is your decision."
"That being said it's up to you to determine the priority. It may be prudent to gather a crew first. We can let Aiesha and the former Captain whip them into shape while we run our errand or indeterminate length. "
"Ze City of Brass? I heard it is such a hellish place!" The Chelish woman laughs "But I'm not sure if zat was meant as a compliment or not, given the circumstances..."
"Ze City of Brass? I heard it is such a hellish place!" The Chelish woman laughs "But I'm not sure if zat was meant as a compliment or not, given the circumstances..."
"Plane of fire, to be more specific. ". Totaling missing the joke.
Tris rolls her eyes at the poor joke and stubbornly ignores to respond. *Sigh*. I would slap her ... With a quick prayer refocused on the task at hand. She hadn't done many excursions away from the Prime Material Plane - and she wasn't sure if she really wanted to go to a place called "*Something* of Fire". Perhaps the Janni knows more. They are supposed to be from around there - aren't they? With an audible sigh she glances at Aeisha.
"The Planes... " The sorceres paused and bit her lip. "The Elemental Planes - nothing I heard sounds hospitable about them - and the Plane of Fire least of all. Travellers would probably need protection - and Abjuration is not my forte..."
"Yes..." replies Aiesha, stroking her bold chin. "The air and smoke and ash of the Elemental Plane of Fire can be deadly to mortals. The rest of you will need protection from the heat, as will I, following two days. And we will need to leave people with the ship, if I am taking some of you out of this Plane."
"Without magical protection, it's unlikely that any of you will survive more than a few minutes of the trip. Fair warning."
"When you address the mortals does that include the undead? because Im pretty sure I still Burn real well and would like protection aswell."
**Sigh.**
"I have spells that will take care of the protection. I wouldn't have suggested the trip otherwise. That aside, the city is still dangerous, but we do have a specific goal. You'll have to determine if the risk is worth the reward. "
"I could bind a creature to act as an intermediary. Send it it gather information essentially. That might be a good place to start. Pehaps a native. We'd have to pay it of course. "
"Zat sounds like a good idea. Maybe less dropping zem in ze desert zis time, noh?" Lu laughs with a mischievous wink at the elf. "Zey could probably handle it if zey are from ze Plane of Fire...!"
"Zat sounds like a good idea. Maybe less dropping zem in ze desert zis time, noh?" Lu laughs with a mischievous wink at the elf. "Zey could probably handle it if zey are from ze Plane of Fire...!"
A little peeved
"I had thought the threat of immenate death would be enough of a motivator for a small chore. It would see I underestimated the survival instincts of some creatures. "
"Some are just too stupid to die. Or care!" Lu does look happy that she managed to annoy the elf a bit.
"Tar'jub would enjoy seeing more elementals plummeting! Maybe when we get back from Brass City? Tar'jub should be ok in city, not too hot for Imp. Kind of remind Tar'jub of home maybe."
Lu grins and nods towards the imp. "See? He likes it!"
Lu grins and nods towards the imp. "See? He likes it!"
"that's not a bad idea. I can planeshift and telepathically link with Tar'jub and he can teleport around to scout the city."
"Sparel this sounds like an excellent plan, as long as you can guarantee we won't spontaneously combust and burn to a crisp. You have my permission to use Tarjub as you wish"
"Guaranteed in the sense that the spell will protect as I say it will. Clearly if it's dispelled it will no longer function."
"who all is going? We can leave as early as tomorrow.
"Good question! I wouldn't mind some excitement..."
"Tar'jub ready to go when everyone is! Will have fun in Brass City!" the imp chimes in an oddly chipper tone.
The next morning you find Sparel waiting on the deck looking surprisingly un-mage-like. He's wearing Traveling leathers with a sword on his hip and bow across his back complete with quiver. Ringwald flits about the ship, but is nearby. Also a large ornate chest sits open on the ship. It's massive. Like a wardrobe laying on it's side. For those with detect magic there are several protection and offensive spells on it.
Once enough gather Sparel addresses them
"Who is going with me to the plane of fire? I have spells prepared to get us in and out, protect us from the plane, as well as aids to help us find what we need. Captains, The chest is for your use. We need to have access to the gold for payment, but it's best if we don't carry that amount on us. Once you fill the chest I'll cast a spell to store it on the ethereal plane. Once cast I will need this..." Sparel holds up a tiny replica of the chest "...in order to retrieve it. I will give you the replica to hold to reduce any chance suspicions you may hold of ill intent. As usual, we will both need each other. When you're ready I'll cast the spell and we can leave."
The next morning Lu emerges onto the deck in a most curious combination of clothing. She is wearing a thin white linnen dress, similar to those seen in the south or during a hot summer day, with a cloak of heavy furs over it. Hot on her heels is Tris, gesticulating and repeating arcane phrases followed by an insistent "You did hear me, right?" In her hand is a enruned scroll case. With a sullen *yes Mother* look Lu grabs the case and heads over to the small gathering while Tris laughs.
"So, ze Plane of Fire? Can't wait - zis dress is far too zin for zis altitude!" She pulls the furs closer, taking a glance at Spa's choice of clothing as she does. With an smirk and a raised eyebrow she nods towards him. "You are expecting to stab someone noh? Or do you just want to avoid looking like a tasty squishy morsel to ze daemons of fire? Quite dashing I'd say!" With a quick laugh she steps back, hopefully savouring some of the elves annoyance. In a more serious tone she continues, tapping the scroll case with her free hand. "I brought along some insurance - a scroll of Plane Shift should you be inconvenienced. Always handy ..."
"The latter. " Sparel says completely missing that he's being poked fun at.
"When you're not the most powerful thing around it's beneficial to be underestimated. "
Lu sighs, only slightly disappointed. Where is that imp when one needs it? Acknowledging his point, she bows her head half an inch. "True - true... " But the small wry smile quickly return. With a quick laughter she re-aims and tries again. "And how shall we interpret your usual lack of leathers and swords - should we feel offended?"
Lu sighs, only slightly disappointed. Where is that imp when one needs it? Acknowledging his point, she bows her head half an inch. "True - true... " But the small wry smile quickly return. With a quick laughter she re-aims and tries again. "And how shall we interpret your usual lack of leathers and swords - should we feel offended?"
Sparel quirks a smile at her, but otherwise says nothing.
From below deck a slightly annoyed shout can be heard
"SPAREL I am going to need to be carried. Please accommodate me so that I don't burn up before we even get to the plane of fire."
From below deck a slightly annoyed shout can be heard
"SPAREL I am going to need to be carried. Please accommodate me so that I don't burn up before we even get to the plane of fire."
**Casts message**
"I thought we had the sunlight issue resolved. "
Sparel says as he walks over to the dark alcove, casts a spell, and touches Praetorius.
"you'll be fine for a few hours. We should discuss a more permanent solutions when time permits."
"Thank you Sparel, now shall we"
Praetorius boldly walks onto the main deck dressed exquisitely and proceeds to stand next to Lu.
"Your looking beautiful as always I hope Sparel knows what he is doing."
"Thank you Sparel, now shall we"
Praetorius boldly walks onto the main deck dressed exquisitely and proceeds to stand next to Lu.
"Your looking beautiful as always I hope Sparel knows what he is doing."
"More or less. " Sparel says with a slight grin.
Once the chest is full Sparel casts a spell and the chest vanishes. He then wordlessly hands the replica to Prateorious.
"when you're ready Join hands in a circle and we can be off. " he says to the group.