Boopity Dot 1
In the evening Telin retires to his hammock and pulls a leather bound book from a waterproof sack along with a quill and a bottle of ink. Quietly he sits scratching away on the book pausing every so often and gazing into the distance.
Today has been a whirlwind of events. My breakfast was interrupted by a letter summoning me to a meeting by no other than Sigil's Lady of Pain. I was tempted to refuse and flee, but thought better of it and so attended as instructed. I was met by an odd assortment of creatures even by the standards of the hyperdiverse City of Doors. Those in the gathering included myself, a bariaur, a giant dwarf man, an imp, a draegloth, a living construct in the shape of a human, a skeleton, a half celestial of garuda decent, a half dragon kobold and a nalfeshnee. I will describe each of the attendees in greater detail later, but suffice it to say that truly it must have been one of the most varied assemblies the planes have seen.
To this gathering a man who later identified himself as Volo, several dabus and an Inevitable came. The man, Volo admitted to summoning each of those gathered and the nalfeshnee rashly determined to leave. His error was obvious as a moment after beginning to leave he was snatched from this reality into the unknown, apparently by the will of the Lady. Following this demonstration Volo explained that while he had been the one to send the invitation he was acting on behalf of the Lady and under her direction. He went on to further to enlighten us regarding the purpose of our meeting. To put it simply the portals, or doors Sigil is know for, are closing. The cause is not yet known, but several small planes have inexplicably gone missing. The Lady, ever concerned with the balance of the city and has determined that something must be done and placed Volo in charge of the efforts to solve this mystery. What is known is that the cause is beyond the borders of the city and so intermediaries are necessary, hence the gathered collection of oddities. We are to aid in this investigation. After some discussion of the particulars known, it was decided that two teams were to be sent to planes near those that have been disappeared to investigate. One team is to be sent to Mechanica, and another to the Abyss. I have the ill fortune to be have been assigned to the fell plane.
(to be continued)
Unable to sleep Haile wanders the ship, learning its passages and those rooms not locked or obviously private. Eventually he ends up in the lounge (if there is one) to have a drink. He treats imbibing as a ritual but seldom drinks to excess. And he hopes to meet some interesting off duty crew or passengers while there.
Telin continues scratching away at his journal.
Following the meeting we set about purchasing supplies for the anticipated venture. Each team was extended a certain amount of credit and so we purchased various items that may be of use. After having determined that certain items would be bought as a team I took I took the remainder of my allotted portion and filled my haversack with everything I deemed of use, quickly consuming the credit extended. I wish I could have purchased more as I still feel woefully unprepared.
As our shopping trip drew to a close the Inevitable, who we had learned was called Daedelous, informed us that it was time to proceed to the ship, as so we left the city via portal and arrived on the Nemo. The ship is expansive. Each of us have been assigned our own quarters and thus far things seem to be moving forward smoothly.
With a sigh he sets the journal down. Restless he hops up from his hammock and without much purpose in mind leaves his room. After wandering aimlessly for a bit he finds Haile sitting in the lounge. "Master Haile, you are up late. Are you nervous about tomorrow as well?"
Not nervous. Anxious. And amazed by this wondrous ship. Traveling to other plains is somewhat new to me. So far I have done it a grand total of once.
"It is quite amazing isn't it. I haven't traveled the planes a great deal either, though I was instructed regarding the basics of the major planes. The Abyss is not a nice place.
What are you drinking? You said earlier that you do it for religious reasons. You are a Caydenite I presume?"
Gilly sleeps soundly unaware he's missing out on a late night drinking session.
Raising the smallish glass up Haile lets the light of the cabin filter through the honey-amber colored liquid. This is a moderately good brandy. Would you care for some? He indicates the bottler near him. And yes, I am a follower. My rescuer was a devotee of Cayden Cailean and I soon converted, partly in thanks for my deliverance, but mostly because it spoke to me. Freedom and bravery you know. He finishes the drink and with a smile he adds And spirits!
"I'll take a small glass. I don't drink heavily, but perhaps a little will help settle my nerves." Telin takes a small glass and after sipping a little seems to relax some.
Haile pours a light shot and offer it to Telin. In the name of Cayden Cailean. he intones as he passes the glass. I do not drink heavily myself. I was taught to do so would be disrespectful.
Sheila again loudly kicks open the door, this time to the bar. This is starting to be a pattern.
"Nerves? What's there to be nervous about cupcake? Didn't I already tell you we'd be fine? And these are the best beds I've ever seen. The only ones actually."
With a sigh Telin turns towards Sheila, A resigned look upon his face he speaks, "well my monstrous associate, going to the Abyss is like going home for you. For some of us the Abyss is the threat used to keep children in line. The irony is that the truth is worse than they realize." Telon takes another sip staring unfocused into the distance, "this brandy isn't half bad. Anyways, there are few places I wouldn't rather go to." His eyes refocusing and with a quizzical look he asks Sheila, "you've really never seen a bed? I prefer a hammock myself, but you've really never seen a bed?"
"Monstrous? Oh you know how to flatter a girl." The draegloth takes a mis-sized seat at the bar with a forward slouch, all four arms leaning on the table.
"Haven't seen 'em in person before. I learned about them from the Beast, and what I've heard from the other adventurous types that walk into the pits thinking they know what they're doing. Eventually I got a good pile of bedrolls to use, but never something like these in this ship. People with no pull like me make do with what we get. In my case it was a nice out-of-the-way cave close enough to the Beast that none of the other demonkin would usually bother coming by." She turns a glowing eye to the other two bar patrons.
"What did you say about ham? I haven't found any food yet."
"I could do with a good meal myself."
"You. Haile. You wanted to know what I was when we met. I told you, so what are you exactly? Do humans get that size?"
On my world those in power breed humans with
dwarves. The result is referred to as a Mul. Such offspring are valued as workers and
fighter for both armies and the arena. Almost all are slave. Muls are sterile. My mother was a Mul but unlike most others she was not sterile, or somehow rendered able to have children. I never met my father. Mom did not speak of him. I am not sure their mating was consensual.
"Well we have somethin' in common. I have a dysfunctional family too."
"And I thought my family was bad..." Telin sits pensive drumming his gauntleted fingers on the bar making a quiet tick, tick, tick, tick.
"Did your father also leave when you were conceived, then never reappear?"
Telin gives a dry laugh, "Not even close. No, my family troubles are nothing so dramatic. My father is an overbearing taskmaster, never satisfied and unwilling to leave me be. I suppose it's because my mother died when I was very young giving birth to my..." Telin pauses as realization of what he's saying washes over him. When he resumes, his voice has changed, losing it's easy ambling tone and taking on a more clipped manner. "Well, I needn't bore you with the details of my past. Perhaps it would be better to discuss the morrow. Or maybe we should discuss what purchases we made. I bought a great number of supplies that I believe may help us in our work in case something unexpected happens" It's fairly obvious to anyone who is remotely observant that Telin did not mean to discuss his past and is trying to change the topic to avoid speaking about it further.
Haile shrugs. My mother loved me. She spent time with me as allowed. We were both salves after all; property. To say it was dysfunctional implies it was not the norm. In fact it was quite normal on Athas. It was the way of things.
When Telin tells more than he intended Haile does not push it. How do we prepare for tomorrow?
Telin seizes immediately on the opportunity Haile presents to further steer the conversation, "yes, tomorrow. Do we know what we will be doing other than showing up in the Abyss to ask questions? Is there a city or something like that that we will be going to? Daedelous hasn't been very talkative. I'd like to sit down with him and get some more information if we can."