The Seventh Sword
Session Forty-Three of the Notoriety of Kings Campaign

Caladay, 25 Kindlesmoke 204

Elias awakes late the following morning. Alessandre is tucked under his arm, sleeping peacefully on his chest. He can tell from the light flooding through the port hole that is well after dawn, probably approaching midday. Looking down at the bard, Elias can't quite believe it. The first of Brightday when he stepped back and trod on her foot seems a very long time ago. He lies there just looking at her for some time.

On the focsle Nicos is all ready into another day of sun and beer. He is fast running out, so he determines to ask the Odyssian Cleric, Úsaan, to metamorphose liquids on some water for him and get him some more drink. He is playing with his scrying mirror, and cannot resist spying on Elias. The mirror flickers and shows the picture of Elias and Alessandre lying in Elias's bunk. "Ahhhh," says the fire cleric with genuine joy.

Raza hops down onto the head and sits by Nicos. "I need some beer," he says. Nicos looks at him oddly. "What about your order?" he asks. "Screw my order," says Raze, "they're two thousand miles away!" Nicos smiles and hands Raza a foaming jug of ale. "You know, you've become considerably more likeable in the last two seconds."

Raza takes the drink and knocks back half of it, rocking slightly as he does it. Raza has had enough. Everyone in the world appear to be trying to kill him, he cannot think for the muttering of the moon gods in his head. There are far too many unanswered questions spinning in his mind that he just can't cope any more! If he can, he intends to spend the rest of the voyage in an alcoholic stupor. Considering past evidence, that should not take too much beer. "What'cha looking at?" Raza asks Nicos. The cleric shows him Elias and Alessandre. "Oo!" Raza exclaims. "Can I watch?"

Arvan is looking for Alessandre. She only awoke yesterday and she may need more medical attention. He knocks on her cabin door, and when he elicits no reply, he opens it slightly and pokes his head in. Alessandre is not there. He shakes his head and goes up onto the deck where he can hear much laughter coming from the focsle. Heading over there he sees Raza looking over Nicos's shoulder at the mirror and laughing evilly. This is too much even for Nicos who hands Raza the mirror. "Just look, get on with it you perverted monk," says the cleric.

Arvan steps down to the head just as Raza starts to drool. "Have you seen Alessandre?" he asks. "No!" exclaims Nicos, standing in front of Raza. "We haven't seen her." Raza grins and shows Arvan the mirror. Elias and Alessandre are no longer lying still. "Can we get any different angles on this thing? Can we scry under the sheet?" Arvan is in disbelief. "She had all her blood drained from her by the vampire," he says. "I can't believe Elias would do this."

As the day progresses, Raza stays with Nicos and gets progressively more blotto. Arvan tries to see Alessandre, but neither she nor Elias have stirred from the cabin all day. Nicos invites Úsaan Altorro to join them and the Odyssian cleric agrees to whip up some more ale as long as he can join in the drinking. Nicos brings out all his empty kegs that Úsaan fills with water and then turns into beer.

Elias and Alessandre arrive in the afternoon and Nicos is glad that everyone (except Brack) has come to join him in the sun. Raza is feeling it hard to meet Alessandre's gaze. Eventually, the drunken monk takes her aside and tells her that a bard is just what the party needs. Nicos gets the alarming impression that Raza fancies Alessandre, but nothing can possibly come of that. Can it?

Arvan asks after Alessandre's health. She smiles and says that she is still weak, although feeling much better. "You should rest," says Arvan, giving Elias a meaningful look. Nicos looks at the way Alessandre sits on the deck between Elias's legs and pulls his arms around her. "So you two are open about all this now?" Nicos asks. They nod. "I'm happy you two crazy kids have worked it all out."

Raza manages to thoroughly embarrass himself all afternoon, by talking in front of Úsaan about how he has chatted with the moon gods, and how he is a godspeaker. He even does a striptease and bears his tattoo. Arvan keeps him under control with a firm hand on his shoulder, and Úsaan is convinced that Raza is just a drunk basket-case. The monk is persuaded out of talking to the captain and climbing to the crow's nest to ask the crow why he lives there. Eventually he is tricked into a drinking game and collapses to the deck, momentarily unconscious. He then wakes, screaming that the floor is out to get him, and Arvan takes him to his cabin.

Sharday, 26 Kindlesmoke 204

The day continues in much the same way as the one before. Úsaan creates more ale and joins the party in more shenanigans. As Úsaan gets merrier, he gets more talkative. He tells the party that they have inspired him. He, too wants to seek out adventure, and therefore he has embarked upon a quest. His quest is to find out what happened to his great-great grandmother, Niamh. He tells the Chosen that in northern Norandor there is a sunken temple that mysteriously rises out of the sea once every thirty years on the first day of winter. Thirty years ago, his great-great grandmother led a group to that temple, up by the town of Bear's Reach, but never returned. No-one knows what happened to her. "What about her companions?" asks Elias. Úsaan shakes his head. "They never returned either: a wizard, a half-orc, a hobbit, a druid and a bard. Nothing was heard from any of them again." Úsaan will go and he will find out. But it is top secret! The party must tell no-one, because even his church do not know he is going!

Nicos asks Arvan more about the Great Dark. He can't get his head around the fact that Arvan spent ten seasons there. It is true that Arvan has known many of the people in the Dark for much longer than he has Nicos. But he confesses that most of the creatures of the Dark were only out for what they could get. He is much happier where is. Nicos tells Raza that a whole monastery full of hobbit monks once on his quest to find Rio. Raza is interested to begin with then the alcohol begins to take its toll once more and he begins singing.

Sunday, 29 Kindlesmoke 204

The Enlightenment hits the first bad weather. There is no sitting on the during this storm. The ship lurches from side to side terribly, and everyone is confined to their cabins. Not a situation that upsets Elias and Alessandre very much. Nicos sits in his room with his mirror, slowing filling it with pipe smoke. Raza drinks almost continuously. When he isn't drinking he is on deck spewing up over the side. Grindel notices that the monk is getting in the way of his crew.

Below decks Caius has a bombshell to drop at Arvan's feet. "I have something to tell you," says the blink dog, "that I have been thinking about for a while. What do you know about the woman who is looking after the king?" Arvan looks up, "Aylisha?" Arvan tells his companion that they don't know very much about Aylisha at all. Raza says that she isn't who she claims to be, but as to her motives, who can say? Caius snorts. "She smells strange," he says. "Something hidden. I almost recognised the scent, but I couldn't place it. Now I think I have. Her scent is very similar to that of Grexam."

Sunday, 36 Kindlesmoke 204

As day dawns the sea is flat and unnaturally calm. There is still a wind, however, and the ship makes good progress. Although everyone is glad that a week of rough weather is at an end, there is something supernatural about this respite. The crew are a little edgy. At breakfast, Madak delivers a message from the captain. He wants Raza to stay off the booze. The monk got in the way during the storm when he was on the deck chundering away. Raza is horrified, but both Nicos and Úsaan Altorro have every intention of abiding by the captain's wishes.

Raza doesn't like this one bit, and in the end Arvan has to accompany the monk to his cabin. Once there, Raza confesses that he is drinking to forget that everyone he has ever met in his life is out to kill him. Arvan tells him to be strong but Raza doesn't want to be strong. If he can't be drunk he wants to be unconscious, and he asks Brack to beat him into a stupor. Arvan stops Brack from eagerly complying. "I want to mutiny!" yells Raza. When asked why, he says that it is because the ocean is square and they are in danger of sailing off the edge. Arvan gives in and lets Brack hit Raza. He thinks that Raza must overcome his own fears, but Raza has to figure that out for himself.

At the focsle Elias has a burst of inspiration and asks Nicos to scry on his uncle in Tibrai. Quite why this hasn't occurred to him in the past is anyone's guess. Everyone tries to scry for the him, but with no success. That could mean that he's dead. Elias is feels a little sorrow at this. What has happened in Tibrai in the seven seasons since he has been there? Alessandre gives him a reassuring hug. "Don't panic," she says. "From what you told me, Narramac could scry successfully into Tibrai. If he couldn't do it, do you really thinks Nicos can?" Nicos looks offended for a moment and then shrugs, "Fair enough," he nods.

It is just after lunch that a cry goes out from the lookout. Almost at the same time the keener-eyed members of the party spot something moving across the surface of the sea. Straining their eyes, it seems to be a group of figures walking atop the water. The normal swells and currents of the ocean are muted around them, the water flattening like a mill pond in a thirty foot radius of the group. Raza (who has rejoined his companions) can make out twelve figures, although the sea distorts their heights making it difficult to tell how large they are.

Úsaan Altorro reports that they are certainly not members of a Sharrashan church, but he can offer no clue as to what they are. A shout goes around the ship. It would seem that some of the old seadogs know, or have at least heard of them. The term "Seawalkers" is bandied about, and in seconds Captain Grindel is on the deck. Staring at the group Grindel smiles and orders full stop and a flag of friendship to be risen. "What are they?" asks Raza, but the captain ignores him and Madak steps in. "The captain has seen these people before. They are seawalkers. They are very good luck. One seawalker is worth ten water clerics! They will have news about the sea. If they deign to come aboard."

By now the party are very curious as to the identity of these new arrivals. Even Brack has joined them on deck, although he stays as far from the rail as it is possible to be. The seawalkers are closer now, they have changed their course to intercept The Enlightenment. They are all human (or at least humanoid) and wear long cloaks of green and blue. "Ahoy!" Grindel yells. "Would you come aboard for a parley." The seawalkers stop about two hundred yards from the vessel and engage in a quick conversation. One of their number buds off and walks toward the ship. Reaching the side, she gestures and is borne upwards on a column of water. Calmly she steps onto the deck of the ship.

"You honour my ship with your presence," says Grindel with uncharacteristic humbleness. The seawalker nods slowly and pulls back the hood of her cloak. The face that is revealed beneath is a woman of Hadradan features. She has passed her fortieth season, and the hard lines etched in her face tell that she has seen much in her life. "I accept your hospitality captain, and your request for a parley," she says. Although her skin is the delicate copper colour of the Hadradans, her accent most certainly is not. None can place it, save Arvan. It takes him a moment to recognise the familiarities in her speech. The lilt and emphasis she places on words come from someone who has been used to speaking Thari, the secret language of the druids. These seawalkers are druids?

But before Arvan can voice the suspicion, the seawalker and the captain have bustled off to Grindel's cabin to speak. Arvan tells the others that he believes they are druids. Nicos is of the opinion that they're 'cool'. He is particularly impressed by the way the remaining eleven seawalkers have pitched a tent, lit a fire and started cooking lunch, all on the surface of the ocean.

Twenty minutes later the seawalker leaves Grindel's cabin and walks back to the focsle accompanied by the captain. It is here she catches sight of the party for the first time and walks over to Arvan. She nods in way of greeting. Raza asks whether she has news for them. She replies that she informed the captain of a large hurricane brewing far to the east. It may be impossible for The Enlightenment to avoid it. Arvan steps forward. "I am Walker-in-Shadows of the Norandon Circle," says Arvan.

The seawalker regards him for a moment and then smiles gravely. "I am Otomi Shareed of the Oceanic Order. I too am a druid, although my order is not under the purview of the Grand Druid, nor do we have much contact with him." Arvan says that it is a great shame. There is a darkness coming, and all must be united against it.

"You speak of the unnameable enemy to the south," she says matter-of-factly. Arvan says that he does and that he is surprised that Otomi knows of His existence. He is not widely known in Norandor. The Oceanic Order seems much better informed than his Circle. Otomi says, "Such is the nature of the Oceanic Order. For it was our purpose repair the damage He had done. The Enemy is the reason for the Oceanic Order's existence, and for our continuing work, so it is not surprising that we should remember him when the rest of the world forgets."

After so many unproductive encounters with alleged allies who had to have information practically beaten out of them, the party are amazed that Otomi Shareed is more than willing to reveal everything she knows about Karatath and the Great War fought against him. They only hope that this is a sign of things to come.

"When the seas were destroyed," says Raza remembering what the Vampire of Sorgar told then. Otomi nods, looking a little impressed. "It was a dark time. The Enemy reached out his hand and destroyed all the oceans in the northern world. Billions of sea creatures perished. It was his most terrible triumph. Ninety-five years passed before the Enemy's defeat. It was the last great act of the elves to restore the oceans of the northern world before they left us. It was then, more than 1200 years ago that the Druidic Order of Urova created a new Circle to repair the damage that had been done to the oceans. We were tasked with repopulating them with life, and when that task was complete, we took it upon ourselves to protect them against such evil in the future. As you protect the land, Walker-in-Shadows, so we protect the sea. But we remember the Enemy, and we are constantly vigilant."

"Are there any signs of the Enemy?" Arvan asks, "His supporters have returned to Urova, and perhaps other places. The seals that are holding him prisoner are weakening." Otomi looks shocked. "This is grave news indeed. To my knowledge my Order have found no evidence of the Enemy on or under the oceans, but I will pass what you have said on."

"Now tell me," continues the sea druid, "what is your mission? Why are you here in this vast ocean?" Arvan glances at the others, there is a mute agreement to be truthful with Otomi. They tell her of their journey, their quest and what they carry. Otomi nods. She has heard of the Blades of Virtue, but only knows that they were a powerful weapon in the fight against the Enemy during the Great War. She commends them for their valour. Nicos points out that he's a hero. "The Hadradans may help you against the Enemy. Some of them travelled to fight in the Great War all those years ago. I spent my first two and one half in the Empire."

Otomi wishes them well, and says that she will carry their warning to all the druids of the sea. Arvan tells her that he is gratified that druids exist in the oceans, and that they too are as well-protected as the land. Otomi seems to take that as a personal compliment. As she turns to leave, the crew parting like water before her, Raza asks. "Do you know of a black sea?" Otomi turns. She is standing on a column of water that is about to lower her back to ocean. "I do," she says. "South of the Girdle there is a sea as a black as tar. It is beyond the purview of my order."

And with that the column descends slowly and she steps off onto the sea to rejoin her companions. The Chosen begin to discuss this news. "Does anyone think it's a coincidence that these swords are said to have the power to boil away the seas, and that's exactly what happened a thousand years ago?" asks Nicos in a moment of uncharacteristic clarity.

Caladay, 39 Kindlesmoke 204

The ship again hits stormy weather. This is possibly a prelude to the hurricane that Otomi Shareed mentioned. The Chosen stay below decks trying to keep themselves busy through the worst of it.

Vítday, 43 Kindlesmoke 204

An event takes place late in the night that Raza has dreaded for many weeks. He is sleeping soundly on his bed when he feels a pressure on his chest. Before he can react there is a knife at his throat. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you," comes a delicate, yet deadly voice. Raza's eyes pop open. Sitting atop him, and on the verge of shoving a curved dagger through his windpipe is the elven warrioress who tortured him in the Dreamheart. She is not wearing the armour of the Brotherhood of the Black Rose, but that doesn't make her seem any less dangerous. Raza tries to swallow, but thinks better of it. Despite his life being in jeopardy his mind wanders to the dream he had in the Plains of Acheron when he and this elf were married.

"I did if because I wanted to see you again," he says. Of all the things the elf was expecting him to say at this point, that certainly was not one of them. "What?" is all she can manage. "I wanted to see you," says Raza. "We have to talk about the Enemy," he finishes lamely.

"You promised me!" she explodes. "You faithfully promised that you wouldn't speak to these moon 'gods', and like a fool I believed you! I defended you, Yisweran! I told General Thaniel that you were an honourable man. I stood before the White Council, before Grimalkin himself! I spoke for Andel at his trial." The elf swings herself off Raza and withdraws the knife. "Why? Why did you do it, Raza? What could have possessed you? I told you have dangerous they were. Why?"

Raza pushes the mention of Andel's trial from his mind for a moment and presses forward with a much more important question. "What is your name?" She says "Rhiana," before she can stop herself and then shakes her head to clear it. "Just give me an answer you irritating Man!" Raza shrugs. He says that he is not sure why he talked to the moon gods. Part of the reason was because he wanted to see the elves again, to convince them to come into the fight against Karatath, and he couldn't think of another way of doing it.

"But do you not realise that all you have done is make them come after you? You have forced their hand." Raza shrugs. So he'll die, that's not as important as the mission. Rhiana could speak to this White Council and try and convince them. "I am not your ally, Yisweran!" Rhiana yells. "I know," says Raza. "You have come to kill me." Rhiana bows her head at his. "No I have not," she says. Her tone of voice has changed markedly. She does not sound murderous or angry, she seems penitent.

"I have not come to take revenge on you for your action. I am no longer a member of the Brotherhood of the Black Rose. I was cast out for acting against Grimalkin's edict and coming after you." She turns her head so Raza can no longer look her in the eyes. "The punishment was just. I was possessed by a mania unworthy of me. I have no love of godspeakers. My father…. you do not need to hear excuses." She raises her head to Raza and hands him the knife that was at his throat. "It is your right to revenge yourself on me for everything I put you through in the Dreamheart. You should use that knife to kill me. I only ask that you dispose of my body over the side of the ship. It would not be right for an elf to be discovered, humbled in such a way."

Rhiana turns her back on Raza, and stands there awaiting the killing blow. Raza looks from Rhiana to the knife in his hand and back again. "You have a nice back." – "What?" the elf exclaims for the second time in a minute. "Just get on with it." Raza waits. He is not wracked with indecision about whether to kill this elf, but he is wondering exactly what he will say to her. "No," he says finally and throws the knife to the deck."

Raza says that he will not kill her. The mission against Karatath is too important, it is something that they should all be fighting against. Rhiana says that the Moon Gods are a greater threat than the demon would ever be. "Why?" asks Raza. "Tell me why. Please. Tell me what the moon gods are and why you fear them."

Rhiana thinks over what Raza has said. She grimaces, as if not certain what to reveal. Then she says, "They are not gods as you understand them. They are elemental beings who seek revenge. They are as old as this world. They did not pop into being 204 years ago. It is their mission to wipe Iourn clean of elves and dragons. They cannot act directly so they must act through their priesthoods and the godspeakers. Through a godspeaker they can channel the full force of their might. Through Uros they were able to bring physical manifestations of themselves into this reality. Through you – I shudder to think what they could do through you."

Raza has more questions, but Rhiana isn't answering them. She wants to know why Raza has spared her. Raza says that he has not forgiven her for what she did in the Dreamheart, but such acts were petty compared to Karatath. Rhiana says that she knows the danger. She saw the Enemy's dream in the Dreamheart. She felt it touch her.

"That more than anything else convinced me that this Karatath is a threat the elves should take seriously. I visited Andel before he died…." – "Andel is dead?" Raza exclaims. Rhiana says that he is, but will not reveal how he died. Raza assumes that he was executed. "What do elves believe happens to them when they die?" Rhiana looks at Raza incredulously, as if the question could not be more off-topic. She sighs, mentions something about Arvandor and quickly continues.

"Andel told me that the mission the six of you have embarked upon is of crucial importance and must not fail. He said that the fate of the world hangs in the balance and only the Chosen of Narramac can stop if from falling into the abyss."

"Then you will help me?" asks Raza hopefully. Rhiana throws up her arms. "There is nothing I can do! Even if I were to speak to the White Council, they would not listen to me. I am a disgraced member of the Brotherhood of the Black Rose. I am an outcaste who has given into her most base, almost dwarven, instincts. They would not listen to anything I had to say."

"In any event your part in this mission is doomed to failure. General Thaniel and the Brotherhood will soon to leaving the Greymere. After what you have done I doubt that Grimalkin would be able to stop them even if he wanted to. This is the dangerous time. You have told the gods where you are, but you have not visited a place of power to receive your instructions. The Brotherhood must kill you before you reach such a place. There is nothing I can do to help you."

Raza asks her to stay and answer more of his questions, but she will not. She has tarried in this world long enough. With a gesture Rhiana opens a portal to the Greymere. "We will not meet again, Raza," she says. "I only hope you part can be played by someone else."

Terday, 44 Kindlesmoke 204

dawn, Raza gathers together the other members of the group and tells them everything that happened to him the previous evening. There is much muttering and grumbling that Andel is dead and it is all Raza's fault. If he hadn't given away Andel's identity to the Brotherhood back in Uris, he might still be alive. Raza hangs his head. He knows this. Everything he does seems to go wrong.

"That is why when the Brotherhood of the Black Rose comes for me, I want to face them alone." It surprises Raza that his wishes meet with such resistance from the party. None of them want him to face the Brotherhood alone. "We stand together," says Elias. Raza says that the quest is far more important than he is. He has brought the Brotherhood down on him by his own stupidity and he sees no reason why anyone else should suffer because of it.

Nicos does want to leave Raza to be killed, but he points out that should the Brotherhood attack they will all have their teeth handed to them in a bag. "There is another way," says Raza. "What?" asks Nicos, "What other way." The monk pauses dramatically and says, "No, there is no other way."

Raza tells them of the flower given to him by Ishara, and partially identified by Gaston. He believes that if he is killed, the flower will restore him to life. He would rather that didn't happen because then he will have the Watchers after him, but perhaps if he died the elves wouldn't notice if he came back and he would be able to operate without a death threat from the Brotherhood.

Arvan shakes his head. They have to assume that the Brotherhood are not stupid. They would surely know if Raza had been raised from the dead. Arvan says that he will stand by Raza regardless of what the monk was. Alessandre agrees. Everyone, in fact, says that they will not abandon Raza to certain death at the hands of the Brotherhood of the Black Rose. Raza is touched, but he still thinks that if he talks to them he may be able to convince them not to kill him. No-one can see that happening.

Caladay, 46 Kindlesmoke 204

At dusk the party is ordered on deck by Madak. Grindel is addressing the entire crew, and his words are grave indeed. The hurricane that was reported by the seawalkers has now been sensed by Úsaan Altorro. "We can't go around it, we can't outrun, so we'll have to go through it. I won't deny that this will be bad. If every man gives everything it still might not be enough. Our cleric will do his best to lessen the winds and the waves around us. We'll just have to plug our way through."

Grindel goes on to say that everyone will have to pull their weight on this venture. He tells Madak to find something for the party to do. Brack does not like this turn of events one little bit. A hurricane and a genuine danger the ship will sink. He doesn't think that even the Blade of Fortitude will give him sufficient stamina to walk to shore once he sinks to the bottom of the ocean.

The next few hours are full of frantic preparations as gear is stowed and the sea gets progressively rougher. Grindel is at the wheel of the ship, and his presence is oddly comforting. The sea gets wilder, rising and falling in humps higher than the main mast. The main sails and dropped, and The Enlightenment turns to face the full force of the storm.

It is terrible. Rain lashes a deck inconstant tilt from one extreme to the other. The crew and members of the Chosen dash lithely around the deck, holding onto ropes and trying to control the ship. But as the hours of darkness begin they are mostly just holding on. The vessel lurches up and down like a roller-coaster as it climbs mountainous waves and then drops to the ocean on the other side. Elias spends the first hour worrying about Alessandre, but after that there is no time to think of anything other than not being swept off the ship. Raza is picked up by a large wave and almost rinsed from the deck, he is saved only by his uncanny reflexes as he grabs hold of the gunwale of the ship.

Three men are now required on the wheel, two sturdy sailors standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their captain. The wind howls, the waves worsen, and the sails that are flying are torn away like paper. The Enlightenment slams into a wall of water two hundred feet in height, shudders and begins to climb. The ship is slanting at a seventy degree angle from bow to stern. Elias slips and lands on his back against the door to Grindel's cabin, that fortunately holds. Looking up he can see the dark clouds above him and little by spray everywhere else. Up towards the focsle Úsaan Altorro is standing, seemingly untouched by the weather, calling all the power of Sharrash to help them. The Enlightenment groans under strain. Other crewmen and Alessandre are clustered around Altorro holding on for their lives. Upwards the ship climbs until it reaches the crest of the wave. The ship levels out. For two long moments it hangs there, seemingly suspended in mid air. Elias leaps toward the gunwale and something to hang on to. The bow goes down and he loses sight of Altorro. The ship slides forward and falls.

Elias and the others feel themselves lifted from the deck by the force of the fall. The Enlightenment plummets two hundred feet, nose first, into the boiling sea. The bow, entire forecastle and half the deck are entirely submerged. Elias catches sight of Alessandre as she disappears below the waves and his heart is in his mouth. The wood of the deck screams at the task asked of it. The waves cascade around them. If the ship does not right itself now then it is all over. As if in slow motion the ship painfully pulls itself from the sea. Water runs off the deck and back to ocean. Elias searches the focsle and sighs when he sees that Alessandre is still hanging on.

For hours the hurricane rages. The worse is far from over. In the long hours before dawn when muscles have turned to jelly and feet to lead, a freak wave sunders the main mast. It falls across the deck pinning several crew members and Arvan beneath it. The crewmen are killed, but Arvan is still alive and in considerable pain. Raza, Elias and Madak scramble to help but they cannot lift the mast. Concentrating Arvan casts a spell and warps the wood beneath him. The druid plummets in to the hold, free of the mast. He lands in the arms of a stuffed grizzly bear the ship was transporting to Hadras.

The ship lurches and starts taking on water from the hole Arvan made and the dozens of others springing up all over the ship. Most of the chosen rush to the hold. Brack uses the healing properties of his axe on Arvan and the group set about trying to repair the damage. Arvan shapes the wood closed around holes, Elias casts mending spells. The Enlightenment is in a dire state and the light of dawn brings no relief.

Sharday, 47 Kindlesmoke 204

Surely the holy day of the goddess of water will herald good fortune for The Enlightenment and her crew? Well, it certainly starts badly. The hurricane, which has now been raging for twelve hours shows no signs of abating. A crewman is washed into the sea. Without thinking Úsaan Altorro jumps in after him, but when the Odyssian priest returns, he returns alone.

The swell snaps the rudder and the ship begins to drift. With no way to control the vessel the only thing that can stop the ship being hit broadside by a large wave is sheer luck. Ravenna invokes the Blade of Charity. She isn't sure if it will help, or if it does, for how long but she reasons that they have very little to lose.

The hurricane continues for three more hours. How the ship remains floating during that time is a mystery to all. Úsaan later says that it was the divine will of Sharrash that they survived. He didn't look too sure of that at certain points. But just after midday the wind drops and the ship is left in rough but manageable seas.

The Enlightenment is a pathetic sight. She has taken on a great deal of water and is listing badly to port. The main mast is gone, it was swept overboard in the hurricane's last huzzah. The rudder has been destroyed. Over the next few hours work is undertaken to bail out as much of the ship as possible, and to creature a makeshift rudder. Under wholly inadequate sails the ship continues to make its way to Hadras. They still have a very long way to go.

Morday, 48 Kindlesmoke 204

Luck changes at dawn. A sharp-eyed member of the crew spots land several miles to the south. Grindel orders that the ship change course and make for it. The atoll the ship makes for is a verdant crescent of land surrounding a deep lagoon. The atoll is forested along the northern side with trees that might make a suitable replacement for the mast. Many have been felled by the hurricane all ready. It seems like a gift from the gods. The only thing to gives them pause is what is currently in the lagoon, and up the beach.

A vast sea serpent has been grounded here by the hurricane. It is ten feet in diameter and two hundred feet long; three quarters of which is on the beach and in the surrounding forest. It is a deep russet red, with a draconic head and scaled ridges down its spine. It has no limbs and does not evidently possess the strength to moves its own bulk back to the water. It can raise its head twenty feet into the air and look around. It is wounded by the rocks, but it is suffering from drying out in the sun, more than anything else. It is certainly able to breathe air, and it is certainly blocking the path that would need to be taken to gather wood.

"Well there's something you don't see every day," says the captain, spitting on the deck. The ship weighs anchor in the lagoon some way from the monster. What is there to do about this new problem? Elias suggests talking to it. He can speak draconic after all. If they can reason with it then he is certain it will help them. No-one else can see how they have the means to get it off the rocks, but Grindel is willing to let his guests go to shore and try rather than risking himself. Brack decides to remain on the ship so it is Elias, Alessandre, Arvan, Ravenna, Nicos and Raza that head in land.

The feel of firm ground beneath their feet is incredibly welcome. Warily the group walk up the golden sand toward the creature. It strains itself against the rocks, trying to attack them. Elias walks up to it, tells the creature that they do not mean any harm and are hear to help it. It roars and lunges forward, but Elias is standing more than twenty feet away – the distance Nicos judged was adequate. He tries talking to it again, and again, and again.

"It isn't intelligent," says Arvan. "It's not like a dragon." Elias feels a little silly. Arvan walks to the front of the group and casts a speak with animals spell. The serpent is in pain, and is desperately hungry. It is also very frustrated that it cannot quite reach the party. Arvan is at a loss. The right thing to do would be to return this thing to the ocean, but they do not possess the means to do that. They will have to put it out of its misery, there is no other way. Nicos tells everyone to stand back. He will fireball it from a distance until it is dead.

It is then Arvan notices something extremely worrying. The serpent is prevented from striking by a wall of coral and stone beneath it. That obstruction is reducing its range of attack to the twenty feet that Nicos noted. However, as it is trying to get at the party it is lunging forward and rocks are starting to crumble. "Everyone move back!" yells the druid. And everyone does…. apart from Nicos. The serpent darts to Nicos with the speed of an arrow and closes its gigantic teeth around his waist. It hoists him thirty feet into the air, shakes him vigorously and swallows him.

For a moment the party are stunned. "Nicos!" yells Elias and moves forward. Alessandre grabs him, pointing out that the best way to save Nicos does not lie is following him down the monsters throat. The group race further down the serpent's body to a place where its jaws cannot reach and attack the creature there. Brack has seen what has happened and orders that someone row him ashore so he can help.

Meanwhile Nicos has been bitten, swallowed, crushed and burned by digestive juices. A whisker from death he casts a healing spell and blacks out. Coming to he is lying in the darkness in a pool of acid inside the serpent, and the muscles are preparing to crush him again. He ignites his fire aura and feels the serpent writhe in pain. Nicos stumbles forward, he has been extremely badly hurt, and closer to death than he has ever wanted to get.

The fire aura seems to keep him from being crushed, but he can feel the acid burning him through his boots. There is no way he can climb up and out of the mouth, so he decides to find another exit. A fireball is out of the question, because it is not night time, and the blow back would almost certainly kill him. He moves down the serpent's innards while out side Brack has joined the others in trying to cut a way in to save Nicos. They are getting very worried as it has been several minutes since he was swallowed.

Nicos thinks he must be seeing things. He can see a light from the darkness ahead of him. As he approaches he sees that it is emanating from a metal sphere large enough to block the way forward. His curiosity piqued Nicos heads towards the strange object and peers toward the light. It seems to be emanating through what can only be described as a porthole. Suddenly a face appears before Nicos. The fire cleric finds himself staring at the bespeckled face of an ancient gnome. The gnome waves.

Nicos closes his eyes, but when he opens them the gnome is still there. "Let me in!" he yells, but the gnomes cannot seem to hear him. After a minute of Nicos trying to mime opening a door while the acid is burning the soles of his feet, the gnome finally gets the message and Nicos can hear a heavy metal hatch being unscrewed. With a clang it opens and the gnome appears. "Hello dear boy!" he says. "Come in, come in!"

Nicos clambers up onto the sphere that is pock-marked and slightly charred. He manages to wiggle through the gnome-sized aperture and finds himself in cramped comfort. He is in a small room, fitted in expensive walnut panelling and buffed to a shine. To one side is a complicated collection of bells, levers, pulleys and whistles. To the other is a small coffee table and an elegant dresser filled with best bone china. He sees that a bed can be pulled down from a recess in the wall. The rest of the place is filled with small cupboards and strewn with papers. The gnome himself is bald except for enormous mutton-chops that look makes it look as though he is being attacked by two giant, hairy caterpillars. He dressed almost entirely in tweed and balances a set of half-moon glasses on the end of his prodigiously long nose.

"Have you been swallowed by this creature as well? How simply dreadful for you! Were you cast overboard in a storm?" Nicos explains that the serpent has washed ashore on an atoll. "Has it really? How absolutely fascinating! Where are we exactly." – "I don't know, exactly. Have way between Norandor and Hadras." – "The middle of the vast sea? My goodness. I must have travelled thousands of miles. I must right this down. This could tell us a great deal about the migration habits of these sea creatures. Now where did I leave my pencil?"

"Where are you from?" Nicos asks cautiously. "Where am I from? From Walhoon of course! I…. oh, I'm sorry I have not introduced myself. My name is Wilf. Professor Wilf Zipweed Wunderflaps. You can call me Professor Wilf." – "Nicos Allumière says Nicos, and the two shake hands. Professor Wilf explains that he is an inventor and an explorer. He devised the gnomosphere that Nicos is currently sitting in as a underwater observation vessel. It was being lower from the side of a ship and into the deep, where he could observe undersea. "We know more about the Outer Planes than we do about the bottom of the ocean," says the professor authoritatively. "What went wrong?" asks Nicos. "Ah," says Wilf, "Yes. Well, you see I was being lowered away when suddenly this great big sea serpent popped up and swallowed me. You see I painted the gnomosphere to blend in with undersea life, and seemed this creature thought I was some sort of appetiser. Very tragic. But I am forgetting my manners as a host. Would you like a cup of tea?"

Outside things are getting desperate. "Must save Nicos!" pants Elias, having terrible mental images of his friend lying in a pile of goo, slowly dissolving. The group are making slow progress hacking through the serpent which is writhing in pain unable to escape. The best it can do is roll toward them and try to crush them. It successfully pins Arvan who has to shape stone to escape. The druid moans about getting continually pinned under things. Things do look particularly bleak for Nicos. "I just hope he isn't suffering!" says Elias.

"Honeycake?" asks Professor Wilf. Nicos nods. He is holding the tiny china cup delicately between his thumb and forefinger and enjoying the respite from the dangers of his life. Professor Wilf tells Nicos how justifiably proud he is that his machine is a product of gnomish ingenuity and does not rely on magic at all. "They told me I needed magic lights, but I didn't! They said I needed magical propulsion but I didn't! They said I needed a magical sea-serpent detector but…. ah. Well. I'm sorry I can't offer you a second cup of tea, but I don't have much milk. It's rather difficult to keep fresh." – "Where do you get the milk from?" asks Nicos. Wilf opens a cupboard revealing a small Chihuahua. It is obviously female and the nipples are attached to a small mechanic device that whirrs softly.

"That's to keep the milk up," says Wilf. "The trouble is you can't get much milk out of a Chihuahua. I originally devised a gnomosphere with room for a cow, but I couldn't create a sphere that was both large enough and strong enough to withstand the pressure of the sea at the depths I wished to investigate. Then I thought of creating a smaller cow by selective breeding. I tried crossing one with a hummingbird, but all the eggs broke when the cow gave birth. Then I thought instead of using a smaller cow, I could use an animal that was all ready small. A stroke of genius, that." Nicos sets the cup down on the table, suddenly the tea doesn't seem so appetising. However, the honeycake is delicious and Nicos cannot help like this Professor Wilf. He likes him a great deal.

Outside Brack strings the killing blow and leaps aside. A cascade of stomach acid pours out of the now dead serpent covering Ravenna. As she staggers back clutching her eyes in pain Elias, Brack, Alessandre and Raza move into the belly of the beast. Turning left they head towards the head and soon come across the metal sphere. Elias sees the gnome waving at him, and then sees Nicos who toasts him with a tiny cup of tea. Elias's relief that Nicos is safe is immediately eclipsed by the realisation that he was worrying himself to death while Nicos was having tea and cakes.

Opening the hatch Nicos introduces Professor Wilf. The gnome puts on some yellow waders and climbs out of the gnomosphere. He asks whether their captain would mind giving him a lift to Hadras. Elias shudders slightly and says that Grindel might agree to it. "The gnomosphere will have to come too!" says Professor Wilf. Elias is not sure that the captain will agree to that, but Wilf seems sure he will be able to convince Grindel.

This leaves Raza and Alessandre alone inside the serpent. Alessandre is completely taken with the gnomosphere and clambers up to have a look in. "This thing is fantastic!" she tells the monk. Raza shakes his head. He wants to strip the serpent of anything that can be sold in Hadras for hard cash. "There's more to life than hard cash," says Alessandre suggestively. "You don't have to worry about money," Raza snaps at the bard. "You're going to marry a rich baron." Alessandre rounds on Raza angrily. "Elias isn't going to marry me!" she exclaims and flounces out of the beast's innards. Raza shrugs.

Outside, Captain Grindel and many other members of the crew have arrived. Professor Wilf trots over. The Chosen can see him introduce himself to the captain and then explain himself. Grindel sends him running back with a flea in his ear. Wilf is very upset that the captain will not countenance taking the gnomosphere on board The Enlightenment. "What am I to do?" asks the gnome. "I cannot just leave it here!"

Grindel did agree to take the gnome back to Hadras however, which is something. Wilf asks the party to help him roll his gnomosphere out of the serpent and onto the beach. This they to. The floor of the sphere seems counterweighted in so way so that it remains level even when the outside is rolled. Wilf says he designed it that way so his fine china would never break.

Sunday, 49 Kindlesmoke 204

The last day of Kindlesmoke is spent on the atoll gathering wood and repairing the ship. Professor Wilf regales the party with tales of Walhoon before he realises that they are top secret. He sighs. He doesn't want the Gnomish Investigations Bureau after him. Not again.

Today is also Elias's birthday. He is twenty-six seasons of age, meaning that he has reached his sixth and half year. A small impromptu beach party is thrown for him. Even Grindel walks sullenly over and tells the party "Good job" for the way they dealt with the sea serpent. As for presents, Alessandre gives Elias something he has always wanted, and something he will never forget.

Vítday, 1 Gathering 204

After a day and a half of trying Raza manages to extract some choice parts from the decaying sea serpent. He removes both eyes and three teeth in the hope that he can sell them for a profit in Hadras. Also, Snowy looks inexplicably larger and more ferocious from this day. Could it be she is half grown at last?

Caladay, 4 Gathering 204

After five days on the atoll it is time to leave. The Enlightenment is not quite the ship she was, but she will get them to their destination now. Professor Wilf unloads boxes, bags and Chihuahua from his gnomosphere and then returns to it briefly. Getting into the rowing boat that takes them back to the ship he look forlornly at the sphere sitting on the beach. "It is breaking my heart to leave it," he says, "but I will build a new sphere – a better sphere. One that doesn't look quite so much like fish bait."

"Is it safe to leave it here?" asks Nicos. "Oh, I'm not leaving it here," says the gnome. "The GIB would frown on that." The words are not cold on Wilf's lips before the sphere detonates in an explosion easily equal of one of Nicos's fireballs. Where the sphere once stood there is a crater, and charred bits of metal rain down on the vicinity.

Once back on board, Wilf takes the empty cabin and soon life on board the ship gets back to normal. Despite all their adventures so far, it is still four weeks to Hadras. Who would have thought this place could be so far away.

Vítday, 8 Gathering 204

The dark of Calafax is over, but The Enlightenment hits further storms resulting in the party being confined to their cabins. It is not as bad as the hurricane, but it isn't pleasant travelling this way.

Terday, 16 Gathering 204

It is Raza's birthday. Remarkably for all the trouble he has caused, the monk is only 4¾ years old (19 seasons). This is a very good excuse for a party. Úsaan Altorro and Professor Wilf join Alessandre and the Chosen in celebrating Raza's life with a goodly collection of booze. It is Nicos's intention to keep the party going until his own birthday in four days time.

Caladay, 18 Gathering 204

The revellers are forced below decks by a near-hurricane force tropical storm that lasts for three days. The Enlightenment is seldom in any real danger of sinking, but there are some moments when it is touch and go.

Morday, 20 Gathering 204

It is in the middle of this rough weather than Nicos celebrates his birthday. This is not the way he would like to have celebrated. He would like to have celebrated with Rio, somewhere nice and hot, not in a boat in the middle of "a fecking lot of water." However, he is determined to enjoy himself and rises to the challenge admirably. Unlike the other members of the party, this is Nicos's true birthday. He is exactly seven years of age.

Vítday, 22 Gathering 204

For the first time since leaving Sorgar they see another vessel! They must be nearing the Hadradan empire as this is a ship out of Hadras. It is enormous, half as large again as The Enlightenment. Madak tells them that they are still some way from their destination

Caladay, 25 Gathering 204

To complete the set Ravenna has her birthday. The youngest member of the Chosen, Ravenna is now 4½ years old (18 seasons). The long party that began with Raza's birthday nine days ago continues unabated.

Sharday, 26 Gathering 204

On this day the party catch sight of land. This is the coast of Hadrada. The ship swings south so that the western coast of the Hadrada is off the port side. Madak explains that the city of Hadras sits at the centre of two huge peninsular, each several hundred miles in length. They are currently travelling down the far coast of the easterly peninsular. "The peninsulas stretch out from Hadras like the open legs of a willing woman," says Madak, "with the City of the Sun at the centre…." He leaves the rest of the analogy up to the minds of the party. They must follow this coast all the way south, then turn when it turns and head north to the Hadradan capital.

The land is still several miles distant, green and dotted with settlements and cities. Some of the settlements seem to be as large as Uris. That is a sight to give any poorly travelled Urovan pause. Other ships now become much more common, and the crew is getting excited that they are, at last, nearing their destination.

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