Hearing Seif ask if he should blow the horn, Gnasher pauses. He'd heard of a boat created by two brother elements that could sail land as easily as it could sail the sea. As he wondered if this horn would summon that boat, he heard Seif blow the horn. Looking around for a moment, he decided that either the story were a myth, or this wasn't that boat. Shrugging, he shifts his bardiche on his shoulder and continues walking back the way they came. Nodding in agreement as Seif voices his earlier assessment. "Agreed, tribe head to pier. Maybe not have to sleep in swamp again."
You are forced to sleep in the march for another night, as the trek back will take a full day and a half and it was near sunset when you encountered the ram.
Entropy flux
As fate would have it on shift 1 that night, your not-so-peaceful sleep is interrupted as two beings resembling a towering human with skin of polished stone and glittering agate eyes erupt from the ground in the middle of your camp. They do not attack though and wait silently for a response.
Seif-al-Din tries to work out what they are, before doing anything else.
With no idea what they are, Seif-al-Din takes a stab at addressing them in Terran.
Stoically one of them responds.
Roused from his sleep, Gnasher rolls, laying his paw on his bardiche. Hearing Seif speak with the creatures and they answer back, he relaxes slightly, and asks. "What do rock men say?"
Seif-al-Din nods.
"They were asking if traffic has been restored to the material plane, and said that they can use common if it would be preferred."
He then bows to the genies.
"Technically, I suppose traffic has been restored - we found the Scroll, and discovered how to activate it - that is how we ended up here. We have just been busy chasing down the Ram, so that we could have the ferryman take us to another island."
Malgrim keeps a wary eye on them and asks, "Are there many of you here?"
"We need to inform Obherek. It may be worth your time to visit him, or it may not. Depends on what you have to offer. Farewell!"
with that abrupt conclusion the creatures vanish back underground. No, they did not explain who or where the Obherek is. Lucky them, not having to trudge through the marsh.
Seif-al-Din shrugs.
"Sounds like there might be several groups here. Let's focus on them in the order they have been presented to us, at least. Hopefully, the individual we are going to see now will be able to tell us more about what is going on around here."
As Seif and Malgrim speak with the rock men, Gnasher listens trying to make sense of the conversation. Traffic restored, Obherek, what the tribe has to offer: all very odd, very interesting things they should consider.
Looking toward Seif as the beings leave, Gnasher nods in agreement. "Tribe need to know what tribe not know." He looks towards the horizon from where they came. "Tribe first get out of blasted marsh."
His rest ruined, he begins to gather his gear, waiting until the others were ready to proceed on through the marsh.
Malgrim nods and prepares to move on.
You travel for a day, out of the marshes and into the mistvales, and camp again. Gnasher is next to the fire, tending his hydra steaks, when the rock he is sitting on erupts in a column of icy energy.
Gnasher, please make a DC 15 reflex save or take cold damage.
It comes and goes as quickly as it came, but the area looks oddly undisturbed or touched in any way. And you do not see any suspicious looking lurkers about.
The odd sensation of falling to the ground is lost on Gnasher as the rock he is sitting on erupts into a column of 'Ice' Standing, shivering, Gnasher brushes the frost from his fur as he looks around for the not so funny prankster.
"Blast!" Cursing aloud as he realizes he'd knocked the steak filled spit into the fire. Gently lifting the end of the spit up out of the flames, he holds out the charred, charcoal crusted meat. "Supper done."
Drawing his shortest dagger he stabs the end steak, prying it off the spit. Extending the spit in one paw he asks, "Who want steak?"
Malgrim will take his steak and eat away before it really goes bad.
Seeing the state of the steaks, Seif-al-Din makes a point of casting Purify Food and Drink on *all* of the hydra meat.
that does the trick nicely and the meat starts smelling fresh again, though a little ripeness makes it taste good, right? Poor Gnasher has a few frozen parts, mainly his tush.
Nobody to blame near by.
Seif-al-Din puts an Infernal Healing on Gnasher, and goes back to dinner.
The rest of the night passes uneventfully. Do you return to the hut now and blow that horn?
"I am ready to blow the horn, but it might be wise to rest in case what comes next is worse then hunting the ram." Malgrim says.
"I and Shadow are ready."
Feeling the infernal healing flow through his body, feeding his Abyssal bloodline, Gnasher gives a wolfish smile, tearing into the piece of steak. "Thank you Seif."
His pride recovering from the frosty damage as he slept, Gnasher was ready to move on in the morning. Tired of roaming the wilderness, target of others jokes, he hopes they will be able to reach the hut by the end of the day.
As they crest the hill and the docks and hut become visible Gnasher gestures towards the pier. "Seif, try horn now."
The sounding does not work before they reach the pier, but it does summon Urah, who groggily exits the hut, shades his eyes, and waves at you all. He looks well rested and well fed, even from a distance.
Seif-al-Din tries the horn again upon reaching the pier, and assuming the ferryman does appear, gives them the egg, as instructed.
You wait for a bit but nothing arrives. How long do you sit there?
Malgrim finds some shade and settle in to wait.
You wait over an hour, but your patients pays off as a ship] (colossal in pathfinder size terms) glides up to the dock. The ship is a magical wonder - a self-propelled galley, staffed by a single ram-headed helmsman of enchanted brass. Upon handing over the egg, the strange construct’s eyes take on a greenish-golden glow as he turns to the tiller and guides the Nexian galley out to sea.
Seeing Urah exit the building, Gnasher waives calling out, "Greetings Urah." Having traveled with Urah for a time, he could tell by the man's demeaner that all was well.
As Seif sounds the horn and nothing immediately appears, Gnasher stretches, walks over to the hut he takes a seat on the ground leaning up against the buildings cool wall.
More than happy to take a day or two to enjoy doing nothing, Gnasher, his eyes shut, hears the splashing of the oars as the galley approaches. Opening his eyes, he sighs and begins to stand. "Boat here."
As he moves to the gangplank with the others he gives a small shudder. He was a desert creature and had never been on a river boat, let alone out to sea. Shifting his bardiche in his hands, almost as if to reassure himself, he holds his head high as he walks up the plank.
He watches as Seif hands the egg to the brass creature, wondering if the fellow's creation was a nod to the Ram they had killed. Turning towards the bow of the galley, Gnasher decides this realm was a strange one, and its occupants even stranger.
Seif-al-Din is curious about the construct, but wisely refrains from interfering with it, and settles down for the ride.
You explore (I assume) the ship and find that it is quite comfortable. Though it does not include a pantry, there are comfortable places to sit and congregate. After all, this was intended to be a plane wherein to relax and enjoy.
Malgrim explores the ship and then once he is done finds a place to look out over the sea to see what might surface as the ship goes by.
Malgrim explores the ship and then once he is done finds a place to look out over the sea to see what might surface as the ship goes by.
Nothing else to add other than what I already told you. But as you are peering out at the sea for a couple of hours, another galley similar to yours pulls up within shouting distance to yours and a woman wearing expensive robes and jewelry hails you and asks you to come alongside so that you may speak. Accompanying her are four other figures, a bit larger than her but not 'large'. It is hard to make out any details from this distance though.
Seeing the other galley Gnasher remembering Seif had commented about several groups being possible. He wonders what the woman may want to speak about and if she was related to the rock people.
Calling to the helmsman. "Helmsman take tribe near other ship."
Malgrim nods and quietly says, "We should be careful. Anyone who is here has been stuck for a very long time. They may be low on resources."
You guide your ship closer and, true to her word, she merely passes on a message. the four companions are a bit pasty and silent, though their eyes sparkle with strange light.
“My Mistress in the Brass Dome would speak to you, if you would hear what she has to say,” she says. “She is curious about you, and suspects you are curious about her and this world you find yourselves in. And if you are willing to help her, she can help you — you will not leave Kakishon without her aid, and should this be your desire, you would do best to accompany me back to the Pleasure Palace of Nex.”
"Well, at least that gives us someplace to go. I think we should hear what she has to say, if we can get the boat construct to take us there." Malgrim says.
Seif-al-Din gives Malgrim a puzzled look.
"The clockwork captain *is* taking us somewhere...? The egg was an invitation to a particular location."
Making a mental note of 'the mistress in the brass dome' and the 'pleasure palace of Nex' Gnasher keeps an eye on the four pasty, silent, companions. listen as Malgrim and Seif talk, Gnasher realizes they'd boarded the boat with it's destination determined. Shaking his head, he answers noncommittally, "Our boats destination will continue to it's end goal. We are still trying to sort out how and why things work here. We shall try and visit your Mistress at the Pleasure Palace of Nex. When we arrive who should we tell them invited us?"
Seif-al-Din bows apologetically.
"We are already enroute to a location that we may not be able to reach again if we change course now. However, we would be delighted to meet your mistress once we have finished. Where is the Brass Dome?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Though a little disappointed, the woman rolls with it. "A pity. When you find the time please visit the Pleasure Palace of Nex. It is on the island of ... wait. I have a map here if you would like a copy."
Since I know you guys, I'll just assume you facilitate the transfer. see the link labeled Kakishon above for an updated map.
"This map is helpful. I wonder if we can get onto these boats at all of the red dots? If so do we need an egg or something similar each time we want to travel between islands? There is a lot we do not know." Malgrim says with a shrug. "The map does not seem to show the way out of this plane though."
Watching Seif respond to the woman, gnasher listens and watches. Paying attention to his friends style and method, Seif certainly had a gift for communication that clearly surpassed Gnasher's rough upbringing.
Raising an eyebrow at the offer of a map, Gnasher leans out far enough to accept the rolled vellum. Attempting to emulate Seif, Forming the words were difficult for his tight-lipped muzzle, but nodding he eventually said, "Thank you M'lady."
Passing the vellum to Malgrim he looked over his friends shoulder. Nodding, "No way out? tribe not stay here forever." He looks towards Seif then the direction the ship is still headed.
Seif-al-Din bows politely.
"Thank-you. That is extremely helpful. I look forward to meeting with your mistress in the future!"
He then happily copies the map.
The 50-mile voyage beyond the horizon takes approximately 12 hours from the Waypoint pier. As the traveler approaches the end of your voyage, ambient light begins to dim and distort, as though filtered by a thin veil of dark mist. Sounds become simultaneously muted and echoing, and in the far distance a loud but growing susurrant hiss suggests that the ship is being carried along with a strong current. The ship continues to speed ahead, moved forward by quickening waters as well as the relentless strokes of its animated galley oars and a freshening breeze. The light around dissolves into a misty twilight of winking stars and roiling clouds above a roaring sea. In a moment, the mists part and the traveler can see with terrible clarity that the sea below seems to end, as if sliced off by an impossibly huge razor. This is 'the end of eternity'.
As the ship plummets over the edge of the infinite, falling for 6 rounds before hitting bottom. Each round every character must make a DC 20 Acrobatics or Climb check. Each failed check results in 2d6 points of damage as the character is buffeted about, falling from his perch but catching himself again. A PC who fails two checks in a row falls completely off of the ship. the good news is that you will no longer need to make any more checks. The bad news is that it is going to hurt when you land. Of course, creatures that can fly or otherwise slow or halt their falls can effect a much more controlled descent over the edge. After a distance of just over a mile, the traveler finally hits bottom. That is a long way to fall.
Shadow initially maintains their grip, but is ultimately shaken free...
Thrown off the ship, Shadow is nearly killed, barely a hairs' breadth away from the grave...
Seif-al-Din, on the other hand, is immediately bucked off the ship...
...whilst he is badly beaten, he remains conscious.... barely.
"That does it. If that *wasn't* an assassination attempt, they have a lot of explaining to do... and I might still want their heads."
Urah downs a potion of fly and coasts down to meet you all at the bottom.
Note: The damage from falling is different in this situation. Do not bother calculating and rolling the falling damage. Just roll the damage from being tossed around.
Squinting his eyes as the light begins to change, Gnasher asks "Where noise coming ... nevermind." Having heare the world was 'round' it took Gnasher a second to realize this was not their world. This world had an end to it and apparently they were going over it. Unable to keep a grip and hold it, Gnasher is bashed around the ship.