Day 26
The party makes their way towards the lakehouse, with Gage driving the crocodile. He changes back into a tiefling midway and everyone tumbles off. Temerity feels pain when everyone falls off him. Gage lands on his finger. Theren somehow lands well, despite his drunken state.
They arrive at the lakehouse and rest overnight and wake at midday. Theren is hung over. Mary-Ann rootles through the cupboard and makes a hearty stew for everyone. Theren cannot take it and vomits everywhere. Everyone else feels fortified by the stew.
Lavender decides it’s time to move but they need to wait for the appointed time. Time passes by. Everyone rests. Theren heads into the woods for solitude. He throws eldritch spells around, blasting whatever he can find to improve his magic skills. The action of casting his magic feels like he’s coming closer to his patron, but there’s nothing definable, simply a strengthening of a bond.
Mary-Ann writes a note and leaves a couple of gold pieces behind to pay for the supplies she’s used.
Day 27
Temerity tries polymorphing into a dragon to see if everyone can be carried by him. Lavender thinks it might be a waste of magic. Temerity doesn’t care – he wants to be a dragon.
Temerity polymorphs into a bronze dragon. It takes him a short while to work out the wind, but he gets the hang of it. He demands that everyone gets on his back to try carrying everyone. They all hold on for dear life while Temerity flies.
Later, Mary-Ann bakes some cookies. Everyone eats some and take the rest with them.
Day 28
The party prepares for their journey back to Onasea.
As the sun sets, the ring is getting colder – rime forms on it. Lavender removes her glove to inspect it. The air around it glistens with frost. She returns her glove and keeps her hand close.
Temerity flies on as fast as he can. He manages to arrive in Onasea at night time. The moon is cold in the sky and reflecting off a sea like black glass. Magic is prickling in the air. Lavender removes her glove – the moonlight is refracted by the jewel in the ring. She replaces her glove, feeling contentment.
Temerity approaches the harbour. He uses his wings to brake and hovers in mid-air. He transforms back 300m in the air. Anaphel immediately begins flying. Temerity grabs the menagerie and casts featherfall on everyone when they’re about 50m from the ground. Lavender slugs Temerity in the face and breaks his nose. Temerity simply grins.
All of the fishing vessels are lined up in the harbour. They are accompanied by a sleeker, darker ship that they haven’t seen before. A figure is near the ship, wearing dark clothes and with hood up. Lavender sees an older woman stood there, face weathered from sailing with a knowing smile.
Lavender approaches and addresses Captain Voss. She shows the pearl. Weathered hands take it from her. Voss says that she owes Orris Locke a favour, but also that half of Onasea are currently searching for them. Voss advises that they move swiftly. Lavender agrees.
Voss leads them onto the ship and shouts her orders to the crew to set sail. The Tidecaller moves away from the village. The ship rocks gently. Theren feels the bond with his patron calm him and his fear dissipates.
Voss informs that it will be 3 days to Adalens. She has the boatswain take them to their quarters. Gage offers his services. Voss tells him that she will absolutely make use of them if she needs to.
The quarters are comfortable enough. Theren wants to sleep after a disconcerting journey. Mary-Ann joins the card game.
One of the sailors tries to discourage Mary-Ann. She is not put off. Gage, Theren and Temerity also join the game.
Theren goes bust, Mary-Ann wins with 21. The sailor is impressed. On the second round, Temerity goes bust and Mary-Ann wins again with 20. The sailor wonders if she’s cheating. Gage recuses himself from the next round. On third round, Mary-Ann and Theren go bust and one of the sailors wins. Mary-Ann starts chatting to the sailors. Gage tries speaking in thieves’ cant. On the final round, the sailor wins again. None of them respond to the thieves’ cant.
Mary-Ann asks about trouble. They both laugh uproariously – trouble is normality. Theren leaves the game. The game continues.
Lavender sees Anaphel standing staring at the moon on deck. Lavender asks what they can see. Ana does not reply. Eventually, they say that that they don’t have something any more, referring to their connection to Auriel. Lavender removes her glove and shows the ring. She says that it feels different since seeing the light of the moon. Lavender offers Anaphel the ring, but they refuse, saying that it is safer with Lavender. Anaphel worries that they would rush into things.
Lavender asks if Auriel has a counterpart, possibly a patron for their adversaries. Anaphel wonders if it’s something to do with fire or heat. Anaphel thinks that perhaps Adalens is the place to ask about such things, perhaps a holy person.
Anaphel feels this very much needs investigating. A tiny excited glint shines in their eyes. They want to go and research. They ask Lavender to join them.
They arrive to find the gambling continuing. The sailor wins again. He asks Mary-Ann what business they have at Adalens. She says she’s seeing her god-daughter. The sailor says that they wouldn’t be on the Tidecaller just to see a god-daughter. Temerity replies that they’re saving the world. The sailor asks about smuggling and getting into unsavoury business. Temerity says of course they are.
Mary-Ann decides to retire from the game. The sailors try to persuade them to take one more game. Temerity declines but gets his lute out. Gage has drifted off to sleep. The sailors conspire with Temerity to draw a penis on Gage’s forehead. Temerity wagers he can draw the rudest thing on Gage while he sleeps. He wagers 5 copper pieces. The sailor draws a penis but the scrotum is a bit wonky. Temerity draws an intricate array of diagrams, all involving Gage engaging in inappropriate activities with a variety of partners. It circumnavigates his head. The sailor is very impressed.
Theren walks over to Lavender and Anaphel, who are researching religion. He offers to help. Lavender is surprised but Anaphel is glad to have the assistance. Theren knows of a few gods/goddesses that could fit this pattern. Sol is one of them, Pellor is also a sun/light/healing god and Sargonnas is god of vengeance and fire. Lavender remembers that Pellor is worshipped by House Locke. Theren wonders about Sargonnas, as this isn’t something he’s heard before. Lavender wonders if the name came from Theren’s patron. Theren feels a frission across his skin at the thought of a deepening with his patron.
They decide to sleep on it and retire. Lavender offers to help Gage to wash off his face.
While he sleeps, Theren hears a voice calling his name. He awakens and sees Anaphel looking at him. They say that he was shouting in his sleep about water. He assures them that he is OK.