Day 22 (continued)
The boat sets off. It is an old Paddle Steamer. Theren retires to his cabin. Lavender sits on a bench up on the deck, feeling paranoid. Gage explores the boat. Temerity finds somewhere quiet with his menagerie.
Gage enters the main salon and finds a number of guild stands recruiting. One is the Ranger’s Guild. A lithe elf mans it with short blond hair and a silver bow on his back. Gage examines one of his pamphlets. The elf introduces himself. His accent is snobbish to the point of absurdity. Gage tells him that he is looking for assistance with stealth. The elf suggest another stand, one that is wreathed in shadows. Gage explains that he wants Gloomstalker training. The elf tells Gage to follow him. He shoves Gage into a locked room, where he fights unseen things and his eyes slowly adjust to the dim light. It takes a long while, but eventually he stumbles out of the room and the elf welcomes him to the Ranger’s Guild.
Theren meditates in his cabin. They booked cheap accommodation and their quarters are down in steerage. Through two small portholes in the side of the cabin, Theren sees water splash against them. He feels a familiar icy fear rise within his chest but he quells it. The water still unnerves him, but he is controlled. He closes his eyes. He can still feel the residual effect of the battle. Gold threads of magic appear behind his eyelids that grow to blinding. His patron tries to speak. Something must be said. But the connection cannot come into effect. Theren’s control of his fear is limiting his ability to connect. He is frustrated but the touch of power he felt in the battle was intoxicating to him and he feels an insistent need for more.
Temerity sits with his menagerie. Aurius is running around Korako playfully. Guido is in a drunken sleep. Chikatika simply stares at Temerity. Footsteps approach but he discerns that it is no-one from his party so he ignores them. A dwarven sailor appears. He sees Temerity, who has polymorphed himself into a massive demonic rabbit. The dwarf summons his colleague, a hulking orc named Grash. The dwarf tells Grash to carry the rabbit to the brig. Grash pets the giant rabbit and does as he is instructed. The menagerie scatters, except for Guido, who remains oblivious in his slumber.
Lavender sits on her bench watching the world go by. A chill runs down her spine and a cold wind whips around her. She sees sparkling snowflakes and feels the bite of the wind. She sits in silent contemplation. Anaphel sits beside her in companionable silence. They discuss Auriel’s comforting presence. Anaphel feels that Auriel is not good at giving directions, however. They discuss existential purpose. Lavender feels that her purpose is changing. She gained purpose when she entered and restored Auriel’s ruined temple. Now she has purpose trying to solve the riddle of what blackens her brother’s heart. Anaphel explains that they were sent here as a missionary by their mother Auriel 300 years ago. Lavender is surprised at Anaphel’s age. Anaphel explains that they find the mortal realm stifling. They cannot explain what they have achieved in 300 years. Lavender explains that they may not ever see the effects of their actions, but that they will spread, like ripples. Anaphel mentions something the Wild Wanderer used to say in the immortal planes, explaining the butterfly effect. Anaphel explains that they are homesick but that they cannot return until their duty is fulfilled. Lavender understands that a god’s power comes from the faith and devotion of their followers, but that Auriel had faded from the world, as was evidenced by the ruins of her temple. If Auriel had been abandoned, maybe she didn’t have the strength to help Anaphel. Anaphel tells Lavender that she is very kind but she brushes off the compliment. They share a moment of connection.
Day 23
Dawn rises and the breakfast bell rings aboard ship. Lavender and Anaphel head down to eat. Temerity remains in jail – as he awakens, he returns to his tiefling form. He realises where he is. He tries to cast Knock on the door to his cell but the staff have asked the Mage’s Guild representative to put a magic sink on the brig due to the unnerving presence of the demon rabbit and his spell doesn’t work. His ears detect the faint sound of jazz on board the ship.
Theren is completely spark out in bed. He is suffering from magical exhaustion from yesterday’s battle. Gage tries reading the ranger’s pamphlet but he gets fidgety. Instead, he services his equipment.
Breakfast is over. Lavender wonders about where the rest of the party is. Gage prods Theren to awaken him. He is very groggy and feels utterly drained. Gage sees the symptoms and intuits their cause. They both go to breakfast but there’s nothing left. Theren staggers around and feels hunger consuming him. Lavender and Anaphel have retired to the parlour to read quietly.
Temerity hears Grash approach. The orc is devastated to find the rabbit gone. Temerity wonders where his animals are and why he is in gaol. He begins to realise that he is the bunny that Grash is searching for. He asks Grash to free him. Grash fetches the dwarf to get permission. The dwarf, Kevin, asks Temerity who he is. Kevin also realises that Temerity must have been the rabbit. Temerity proves this by morphing into the rabbit and back again. Kevin warns Temerity never to do that again whilst on board. Temerity acquiesces and Kevin releases him. Temerity heads off to find his menagerie. Korako and Chikatika are waiting for him outside the brig. Guido is still sleeping where Temerity left him. Aurius is up in the parlour curled up on Anaphel’s lap.
Gage and Theren join them in the parlour. Anaphel tells Theren to go back to bed. He says that he will shortly. Lavender notices the difference in Gage after his new training. She discusses their plans moving forward: disembark at Durvish City, walk to Onasea and get a boat across the sea. Crystalmine in the closest village to Onasea, but Theren mentions that it has no port and no easy road to Adalens. They would be better to take the longer journey across the water to Port Adal. They discuss spending some time in Durvish City to restock and to check up on what has happened there since the incident with the necromantic energy that began their quest. Theren finds that the conversation has awakened him a bit but he still takes Anaphel’s advice and retires to sleep some more.