250th! Quarter-millennial episode!
You returned to the harbour as the fog receded, victorious and having not lost a life amongst the crew of The Perk and those who joined you. Already the harbour town of Kennutwaki showed new life- people were peering out of doors and windows or even out on the streets with torches lit, investigating what the unfamiliar clarity of night meant. Ciddar was still mostly unconscious, moaning and drooling but occasionally asking for his sword back. Docking at the harbour, you came ashore as a crowd began to gather, more so as Ahappi called out to them and urged an audience—asking for Talars and Hargan Saltbeard and the Kennutois and others to all come listen. In time, they came. But also some spirits came—the emaciated, crab-encrusted ghost of Merwyne Holland manifested and cleared a space around her with her harpoon, moaning softly. The sea-captain Nardoc Paulwain, of bleeding empty eye-sockets, also appeared on the docks. But they did not attack anyone—the woman’s ghost wailed that she was not freed; that she was being dragged to Hell with Lobata in Her continued servitude, and so were the other haunts that Lobata had trapped.
This caused much consternation amongst the growing crowd, but Ahappi began speaking as the ghosts faded away. He reminded them how several heroes from the community had joined him, and announced that together they’d defeated Lobata and she would not return to Kennutwaki again—UNLESS he wished it so, as a Greatest Hero of the Sea serving Magasta. Now it was up to the community to decide their fate: Magasta’s waves had spared them centuries ago in the Shattering, but now the Hero Wars brought new threats. If the Kennutois and colonists could not find allegiance and stop offending the sea spirits, he would let Lobata return and wreak havoc here; to the doom of all. The crowd was with him up until this point but then began to grumble some doubts. However, they listened. Even the Talars didn’t shout out; even the ambitious Patroc Ralbot.
Then a voice came from down the docks: it was Captain Jayn Kell of The Pale Bette, older Pithdaran sailor and widower of another sea-captain’s ghost, who appeared with their middle-aged children around her, twisting into a spiral of three spiritual forms that acted as one, their features shrunken with seawater leaking from their orifices. Captain Kell vouched for Ahappi’s words. She had long resisted Lobata’s call, strong enough of will to keep the insanity from driving her out to sea into Her clutches, but still slowly building a crew to eventually seek vengeance on Lobata. She had suffered much, losing all her family and almost her mind. She insisted the community must re-unite, returning to how she’d seen it when she was one of the first colonists to arrive here and help begin Kennutwaki’s town and sea trade. Her words carried much heft and soon the Talars spoke up too- Lady Vankmeer agreed that there could not be further losses, that the island must unite to survive. Patroc Ralbot reluctantly agreed with her—IF the Kennutois would keep their spirits away from their town, and keep to their grove, but trade could begin again between the two sides of the island. Apika Spiritseer agreed. She’d seen enough torment and felt guilt for the many of her people who had gone away to their ancestors and could not return since the strife began. She wanted peace, and could marshal the island’s spirits to do this. Hargan Saltbeard, pacing around throughout the discussion as if he were indifferent to it all, just bellowed a laugh. “You’re all doomed! Haha! Makan has shown me the truth! The Hero Wars will drown this isle; the ice comes even now in Dark Season, and soon it will choke the seas. These petty efforts of this community will be to naught!” This was not welcomed, but it was tolerated—the locals seemed used to his outbursts, and he soon left (not carried to get “his” harpoon back; he considered it a gift to you). Aided by some drinks that you’d procured, including some socializing with jolly trolls from the Vankmeers (too long cooped up by her manor), the little party carried on into the night.
Speaking of gifts, the Kells presented you with the (former adventurer) husband’s prior treasures, recovered from his sunken ship after Lobata killed him:
And the Kennutois gifted you with a bound rabbit spirit fetish in a mummified foot pendant: once per day with a gift of 1 MP and a Binding/Spirit Combat roll it will grant wearer its beast power, allowing one jump of up to 6m horizontally or vertically, with Athletics roll on landing to avoid falling prone (all takes 1 action). Fumbled Binding roll/broken fetish frees it back to the spirit plane. [Miguel has; nice Beast rune affinity]
Pleased with your success, seeing peace already coming to Kennutwaki with the two peoples tentatively mixing it up near the Shrouded Mistress, you had one last order of business. Ciddar had awoken and Ahappi had asked Apika if she might try to rid him of the Yellowskin. She had no familiarity with this curse but hated the Vadeli so she was willing to try. She prepared in her grove, it being the safest place for her, and you brought him there the next morning. She was already in a trance, discorporated to the Spirit Plane, and her assistant explained the situation. You had to leave Ciddar in a bare spot of ground and hope for the best. It was a long struggle back-and-forth, with the curse of the Yellowskin besting Apika once but she gradually wore it down, aided by her many spirit-allies in the otherworld with her. Ciddar’s body and mind seemed ravaged by the tumult and he was left totally unconscious and seemingly barely alive. What state he’d be in once, or if, he awoke, you could only wonder. But the Yellowskin, the assistant said, was torn out of his body and tucked away within a secret node of Earth-spirits on the Spirit Plane, where they hoped it would remain harmless and could keep guard on it. Apika was tired from the experience and you were led away. A revelation: animists (or non-Malkioni?) are better able to battle the Vadeli sorceries, perhaps? Or Apika was either a great shaman or a lucky one?
You left in the Shadow, towing The Perk behind it with Fraud and Ahappi and 1 last crewman on board. That chap was a stubborn one, who’d tried to make a case to Ahappi the night before that the Perk was too valuable to get rid of, and he could be a loyal crewmember of the Perk still- or even new captain? It was an opportunity, he argued, for Ahappi to now have two ships! The crew revealed, grudgingly, that the mast held a sylph (air spirit) binding to fill its sails and speed it along, so it was indeed a precious ship. But you all agreed it was despoiled by the seal-pup trade and Red Vadeli blood. It could not remain on the seas; the Vadeli would find whomever had it. You decided to sink it in deep waters. So you took it out to sea, gave the crewman every last chance to come to his senses and pledge loyalty or be left at the Kennutwaki docks, but he remained (insanely) steadfast. He went down with the ship once Ahappi stove its bottom in.
Ahappi spoke to his sea-wife Ouwashilombiss as you were about to part, and learned that yes, his quest was over (hurrah!) and he’d done marvellously, impressing the sea-lord with his prowesss, but he should not return to her just yet. She could not induct him into the cult of Magasta. He would need the aid of proper worshippers, and she had arranged with the Ouori of the Trenchward tribe for this to happen when you came to them. (It is Dark Season, so many will be further north fighting for dominance and worshipping Valind on ice-floes) Happily, the Seastrength blessing on Ahappi would continue until he devoted himself to Magasta, or at most for this Dark Season. You saw that this was good justification to all head to the Strait of Tibbol-Korrin together rather than meet there. And so off you went- expecting less than a day’s voyage in these fine winds. Amur piloted you along well, noting that the Shadow needs proper drydocking maintenance soon but was suited to this last trip before finding a good port for awhile.
Tibbol-Korrin was familiar in name to you all, and in some detail to others such as Ahappi. It is an important tactical point in the seas west of Giraine, with twin forts (of Tibbol and Korrin) respectively owned by barons originating from Pasos and Nolos. Until recently, the two baronies had been chronic enemies, feuding over the straits; with a long history before then of pirates or other raiders controlling the area, leaving the straits often too dangerous for merchants or others to use for shelter from storms or other purposes such as smuggling routes (and the two forts serve as small trading posts). But now, word has it that the enmity has ended. A secret romance between opposing, highly placed people in the baronies—perhaps even one of the Barons?—became common knowledge and led to a truce. There is an upcoming marriage that will seal a treaty between these baronies; further aiding unity between Nolos and Pasos too, important during these fractious times of the Hero Wars.
Omen the fish soon popped up by Ahappi with cheery greetings as ever, having heard much gossip from the sealife of Ahappi’s quest. He had big praise for Ahappi but also bad news: there had been a naval battle outside of New Arvonesse, and while the Seshnelan ships had been driven off, the port of New Arv was under siege from the land now, with smoke curling up daily from the skirmishes. Omen did not know more. You would be headed there soon, you decided!
Omen knew that the Ouori would mate at a place the humans call Lovers Leap; a place he thought had love or life powers (this area is on the edge of his domain of power so Omen is unsure). Northwest of the strait there is a rocky isle where Ouori mothers come to give birth and nurture their pups. This secret place is forbidden to the people of Tibbol-Korrin and they have maintained a pledge to keep it sacrosanct for the Ouori. But obviously the Vadeli have taken this as an invitation to do Horrible Things! You were ready to bring some justice to this Zridge the Tart. Omen thought it was a bad idea to go to the Ouori island, but he’d contact them and get someone to meet you with information about this Zridge (or pup murders) if they had any.
Onwards!
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