Ravenna realizes the phantom cloud monster is an amalgam of your own deviant abilities that you gained in the Missing Moment. She channels her arcane knowledge to divert the psychic energies, and the phantom dissipates! She quickly raises her rifle and fires on one of the star-snakes, scoring a hit.
The wounded snake retaliates by casting a spell, trying to slow Ravenna. The other one twists the coils of its serpentine body, causing the starlike motes on its scales to shift and move as they glow brighter, creating a mesmerizing swirl of light and darkness.
Ravenna's stubborn nature wins through, and she shrugs off the worst of the magical assault before firing again.
Sir Batman puckers up his bronze-colored butt cheeks, resisting the inner monolog.
The Champion of Mazludeh Raises his Shield, Strides into Naga territory and Shield Bosses her face!
Eat Shield, b%+$$!
A stunned silence carries over the audience at such foul language!
“Wowwww…”
As fascinating as the monstresses are, Sylva ▶️rushes right at the one Sir Bat’s attacking—
“Let’s dance!”
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Nox looks around for something to help with the star serpents and decides the belay-pins nearby should be sufficiently heavy. So he weaves his hands and calls upon that mysterious force in the realm between to solidify the shadows enough that they rip up and throw the belay pins at the serpent like a tiny unsharpened javelin. While trying to recall anything about these beasts that he might know.
Ravenna doesn't recognize the creatures, but Nox identifies them as lunar nagas. Aside from their hypnotic abilities, they possess soporific venomous bites and spellcasting abilities. They have no particular resistances of weaknesses.
Sylva kicks one of the nagas and Ravenna clips another with a bullet, but Nox and Batman miss. The naga in melee hisses and snaps at Sylva, while the other one casts as spell, sending a lightning bolt crackling towards Ravenna!
Sylva is stupefied!
“You… stringy dink!”
She doesn’t attempt another dim-witted taunt, but simply strikes back!
“YA, YA, YA!”
The attack looks stupid too, as she can’t land a single blow!
Sir Batman--Reacts--by granting Sylva his Liberating Step Reaction!
The Champion of Mazludeh Raises his Shield, and Shield Bosses her face!
And again!
Ravenna's arm jerks and shudders from the electricity running her body, sending a shot wide, but she puts some distance between her and the monsters as she reloads again.
Ravenna hits the wounded naga with a bullet, then fakes it out, allowing Nox to hit it as well. The sprite then demoralizes the injured foe. However, neither Sylva nor Batman are able to hit.
The nagas repeat the same tactics. Sylva is bitten twice, causing her to fall even with Batman's intervention. Another lightning bolt crackles through the air at Ravenna!
Sylva lays on the ground, as if sleeping…
Ravenna's arms jerks from the electric shock once again, but this time it causes her to pull the trigger at an improbably lucky instant. She blinks in surprise, but quickly loads a special bullet full of healing chemicals.
Sir Batman pats Sylva on the arse.
Get up princess! Naga ain't dead yet!
The Champion of Mazludeh Raises his Shield, and Shield Bosses her face!
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Seeing that Batman has given rise to Sylva, and that his trick with the belay pin is doing absolutely nothing against the highly mobile and evasive Naga he places a hand on Ravenna's leg.
"You can't fall here."
The dark coils around him and Ravenna, kissing the scorches of the lightning burns. [b]"I don't know what else to do, they're too wiggly for me."[b]
Sylva rises…
“Ow.”
And strikes back—like an empire!!!
…and, uhh, prepares to fall like Rome.
Ravenna's critical hit finishes off the wounded naga, which evaporates into wisps of star stuff. Batman and Sylva move to attack the second foe, but neither manages to hit. The naga hisses with annoyance as it bites Batman three times in succession!
Sylva sees her ineffectiveness in combat has caused her foe to underestimate her.
This is to my advantage! “Eat my short fists!”
She lands a blow and hits HARD! (And then she goes back to missing a lot, but let’s focus on the positive.)
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Nox grumbles at the blasted naga thing and cups his hands in prayer towards Mazludeh, "Do not let your champion down in his time of need."
Of course his words were just that, no divine magic would ever spring from this sprite instead the gloomy night wraps around Batman and he feels right as rain, except not in this fridged climate.
"And you foul Naga, leave and never come back!"
Sir Batman Reacts by Shield Blocking a bit of that initial bite, but he still seems to be sporting newly colored red on his bronze-colored bat-shaped body!
The Champion of Mazludeh Raises his Shield, Steps, and Shield Bosses her face!
With Sylva back up, Ravenna ejects the healing cartridge, stashes it into her bandolier, and replaces it with another, more lethal package. She raises her jezail once more and fires before reloading yet again.
Only Sylva manages to hit, a critical blow that gets the naga's attention! It whirls on her and returns the favor!
Sylva falls easily from the blow.
Ravenna grits her teeth and keeps firing, trying to put the monster down before it can hurt any more of them.
Feeling a bit stupefied than normal, the Champion of Mazludeh shrugs it off as to too much fresh sea air.
The Champion of Mazludeh Raises his Shield, and Shield Bosses her face!
And again!
Sylva dutifully rises. She strikes…
…she is glad she managed to hit, and almost certain she will pay dearly for her insolence!
Between all of your attacks, the second naga goes down as well, dissipating into motes of starlight that streak back up into the sky. And with its defeat, the world around you returns to normal.
Sakuachi returns to her senses, blinking rapidly. "Another vision. It was vague again, but I do recall an acute feeling of... betrayal? Dismay? Something happened with you and that being... the Blackfrost Whale..."
Whatever the case, the visions seem to have awakened more of the powers you acquired during the Missing Moment!
Ravenna rushes over to Sylva, breathing hard, and kneels down to check on her tiny friend. "Are you all right? You had me worried."
Sylva is in pretty rough shape from being bitten so much.
“Oh… I’ve been… better, thank you. Can you just… hold me?”
After about 15 seconds, Sylva passes out. But she’s not dying. Just very sleepy!
Sir Batman calmly walks over to Sylva. The Champion of Mazludeh begins Laying On Hands the injured Rogue, while trying to peer about for something...
Anyone see a fancy sword? I have the biggest impulse to say, "I have the Power!"
Fortunately, the rest of the night and the entire next day pass without incident. As the sun begins to set on the final day of the voyage, the Mendevian coastline and eventually the city of Egede come into view.
Before Captain Tinhill can moor the Mermaid’s Tears at Egede’s docks, though, a small keelboat rows out to meet the ship. Egede's dockmaster on duty calls out from the boat in a greeting that sounds a bit like a challenge. He is a white-haired man with a close-cropped beard and deep lines creasing his face.
"Hello there! I regret to inform you that your ship is not welcome here. You might be fine people, but your ship looks like it was dragged from the bottom of lake. We don’t want trouble, but we don’t want spectral ships or ghostly crew docking at our port either. Really... this is for your own safety!"
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Nox peers over to the dockmaster. "Um... well the ship isn't spectral all the time, I don't think the crew can leave the ship. And they are sworn to take us wherever we're needed on our quest to save this plane as well as others from an ancient evil. Is there any way we could perhaps change your mind on the inability to let our vessel dock? As you said it does need some sprucing up, and our crew isn't exactly able to do that themselves I don't think. We have coin for supplies if that is an issue."
The dockmaster grunts. "Well. I suppose I can ferry you and your living companions ashore. Gather your things and climb aboard."
Captain Tinhill gives you a grin. "Nary ye worry, mates," the ghostly halfling says. "I've fulfilled me oath. You're safely to Egede, and thus me work is done. I thank ye for sharing an eventful final voyage with me. And now, I sail on to join Besmara on her endless voyage through the celestial seas! Fare ye well, me hearties!"
As you row to the shore with the dockmaster, Captain Tinhill doffs his hat and waves to you. Then the Mermaid's Tears turns about and sails off into the horizon. The ghost and the entire ship slowly dissipate into thin air.
***
Chapter 3: What Remains
It isn't long before you reach the docks of Egede. Egede is the second-largest city in Mendev. It’s also the final stop on the River Road—a series of highways, waterways, and backroads spanning most of Avistan and used primarily by crusaders. Though the Sellen River (after which the route takes its name) actually ends in Chesed to the southeast, the River Road is classically said to terminate in Egede.
During the war, much of Egede’s economy revolved around providing weapons, armor, and other support to the crusaders who traveled the River Road to the Worldwound. To a lesser extent, the city was also a bastion of healing and recuperation for those who managed to return from the war.
Though the closure of the Worldwound was obviously a positive development for the people of northern Avistan, the end of the Mendevian
Crusades proved to be a mixed blessing for Egede. For the last half-decade, the city has been in a decline. The only people coming through nowadays are pilgrims known as Reclaimers—courageous ex-crusaders, benevolent druids, and descendants of Old Sarkoris who’ve made it their mission to restore the Scar. Though these folks sometimes bring goods to trade for construction materials or adventuring supplies, on the whole Egede has far less hustle and bustle than its mid-war heyday.
It is nighttime, and you are rather exhausted from a week on the choppy waters of Lake Encarthan. Finding an inn would be a good first order of business...
Sir Batman proudly stands on the prow of the ship, as it makes its way toward harbor. The bronze-colored sprite waves at those passing by and salutes any military type vessel. At the approaching harbor Master and his retinue, the Champion of Mazludeh begins to begin trade talks and the like, but promptly closes his mouth once Nox settles things amicably.
What Grandpa Nox says.
Laughing, the sprite prepares to make way....
Sylva wipes a tear as she says goodbye to the captain.
She is silent on the ferry… but once in town, she is wearing a fashionable teal dress with large fuchsia buttons, with a matching hat and boots. “Okay, that Lunar Venom gave me a nice rest. And two really weird dreams, but the second one ended well, so yes, I’m sufficiently rested.
“Let’s do something fun!” She has no idea what kind of fun she wants. Not getting murdered by giant, pretty-faced snakes would be adequate.
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Nox and Hildy clamber into the dingy and hunker down. "Batman I'm... Look i'm not even that old compared to you right?" He looks around the boat for help, "Right?!?"
With no obvious response he waves his hand with a 'feehh' and nestles into Hildy's fur as they drifted towards Egede. "So, what has been happening in the city. And what might be a good inn that you'd recommend some travelers to the region?"
"There hasn't been much happening since the crusades ended, alas," the dockmaster laments. "Most of the shops here are struggling to keep the lights on in these far more peaceful coins. Surely they'll welcome whatever coin you bring with you."
He recommends an inn called the Soldier's Rest. It's a modest place, clearly suffering from the economic downturn, but you are able to negotiate a fair price to rest and relax.
Over the next couple of days, as you buy and trade supplies, Sakuachi meditates on her quest to find a living god. She and her companions also question locals for advice, maps, and guidance to help the group reach the Sarkoris Scar.
Just before dusk one night, as you are finishing up a day's shopping, you find yourselves passing through a circular plaza. At the center of the plaza stands a metal sculpture of Iomedae on a stone plinth. The Inheritor’s holds her sword high, as if ready to call down divine justice on any evildoers who dare enter the plaza.
From nearby alleyways, a trio of humans dressed in old Mendevian armor step into the square to intercept you. “Stop there,” says one, hand on the hilt of his sword. “In the name of the Committee of Moral Rectitude, I command you to leave Egede at once.”
Sir Batman stands proudly in front of the Iomedae statue. The bronze-colored bat-shaped sprite looking splendidly in his cleaned and shining armor. His trusty shield at his side.
Thinking of replacing this shield with perhaps something a bit Sturdier
At the malicious approach by the trio of humans dressed in old Mendevian armor, the sprite sighs.
I suppose one last bashing with this one then.
Straightening to his full 6", Sir Batman walks right up to the trio, flutters his wings to lift himself to equal eye level with them and promptly raspberries them!
Piss off, old timers! We literally been through the s+@$ to finally get here and not a single, not a duo and most definitely not a trio of asshats are going to provide anything but respect, courtesy and comfort for our continuing journey!
⏩ A string version of The Little Sprite theme music begins to play softly, so side one might think they’re imagining the tune. Sylva attempts to salvage a situation before blades come out swinging!
“What my friend means is, I think there is a misunderstanding. The ferry man has made it abundantly clear we are welcomed, under the conditions which we agreed to prior to boarding his boat.”
One of the men hesitates, the music seeming to take him back to a happier time in his life. The other two scowl, though. ”You haven’t told the truth about why you’re here in Egede, though. We know who you really are—demonic agents aiming to spread sin in this innocent city! We’ve seen your demon brands!” one says, pointing to the Gatewalker mark on Sylva’s body.
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"Gentlemen, gentlemen please. We are but humble travelers passing through the land. We are not at all inclined to the carousing of Demons, daemons, or devilry of any kind. I understand that perhaps in lacking a foe after so many years of constantly fighting and supplying against the world tear may have caused you to become suspicious of outsiders, we mean no harm. We have paid for the rooms in which we rest our weary heads and bodies. We have plan to pay for the goods we will source from your markets. But we most certainty will not be making deals like a foul entity waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting, quite the opposite actually. We seek out the dreamer who has branded us as such, so that we may prevent others from falling to the same fate, as well as finding a reason as to why we were branded in our dreaming moments. So please, excuse my well meaning, if, blunt friend and his temper. We have been beset upon by ghosts, pirates, and many other ghoulish entities in our journey and only wish to find a peaceful moment of respite in your humble town."
Hildy stands nobly as any mighty steed of a goodly knight may evoking the image of a tiny crusader giving a speech to his men before a valiant charge to the fronts, where lay the demonic enemy of man.
Sylva glares at the man.
“How dare you.”
The musical accompaniment blurts a discordant toot, then warble-warbles to a halt…
Then electrically slides back again with a championing of trombones!
“I am a Shelynite! I gave up my blades just so I could better follow her way, sparing opponents, even those who deserve death! You look at a mark that was forced upon me and call me demonic?! You don’t know me at all! And you point and blurt assumptions when we could very well be allies! Or… do I need to prove I am the Shelynite I say I am?”
She means, does she need to spare these men should they attack. They are trying to intimidate sprites they think are weak, so Sir Bat’s way is best: a show of strength!
The trombones are surely helping.
As you speak to the radicals, you can see townsfolk watching you from the windows or alleys of nearby buildings. The townsfolk mumble Iomedaean prayers as they watch.
Nox's and Sylva's words seem to placate the men, who look somewhat ashamed with themselves. But even as they are about to relent, a wooden cart comes rattling up the western street. Muscular peasants push the cart from behind at the behest of an older male dwarf who stands atop the cart’s cargo: a large metal crate with a hatch facing the plaza.
The dwarf wears the burnished plate mail of a Mendevian crusader. His gray beard has been plaited into formal braids threaded through silver rings. “Hold!” he shouts at both you and the Committee loyalists, the latter of whom cease their aggression immediately.
Still atop the metal crate, the dwarf introduces himself. "I am Gaar Steelflare. You’ve been observed by the Committee for Moral Rectitude, and you must now stand trial."
Sir Batman falls to the ground afflicted with a serious bout of the giggles!
"I can only assume you're addressing these fools," Ravenna replies, indicating the goons who had just been threatening them, "for insulting and threatening visitors to your town."
Gaar scowls. "I've heard your flowery words and pretty speeches. You talk the talk, but there's one sure way to prove yourselves free of sin and demonic influence. It’s known that evil bears the seeds of its own downfall. So if you are consumed here today, your guilt is proven. If the evil does not kill you, then you are free to go!"
With that, he kicks the cage, which opens to unleash a huge black ooze! The ooze slithers towards you menacingly!
”Wha—you’re the only one being evil, you murderous
Sylva rushes the ooze—
—and dashes back to Sir Bat’s shield!