A Cleansing Experience
Part 1
SUMMARY: On their way to a different mission our easily distracted heroes explore an apparently haunted fort. Players: Astaren, Durrankar, Kravar, Munch, Stirling, Thyrson, Yelrona GM: Whirlpool
The good news:
You've got a job!
The bad news: You are taking an orb stolen from none other than the Demon-Binder himself, Asumit, and escorting it to the grand cathedral deep in Bryn Myridorn from Alexandria, all the way there by foot and by airship. They deare not attempt to transport it magically -- it is expected that Asumit may be able to sense such a thing, according to your employers in the Alenxadrian government. The orb itself has been locked in a heavy, lead-lined box and secured in the hull of the airship you are now boarding at tthe Alexandrian airship docks, one called the Conventional Leap.
It's a fast little blockade-runner style ship that looks like it's seen plenty of action over its decade plus of service, no doubt dating back to the days of the Sendor War where it would've been used to zip through the lines of Bludgunni and 'Protectorate' airships.
Here, with your mission known to you, you may settle in to wait. Hopefully, this will be a boring job, but then, we're talking about Asumit.
Yelrona wonders what route the Leap would take to get through the Kessel run. Regardless, she perches herself somewhere where she has a view of the surrounding airspace, and issues a small prayer for a VERY boring trip.
Munch buzzes idly, spending much of his time near the prow of the ship, but wandering often. He gets bored easily. That's not a good thing. "So this is a -bad- magical thingie, right? So why don't we just break it? I'm really good at breaking stuff. On purpose even sometimes!"
Kravar, like most adventurers who live in Alexandria, has seen more than his share of airships. After a cursory glance over the vessel he draws many conclusions about it's capabilities and likely purpose. And also takes note of the most likely places to jump off in case of a crash. He spends just as much time making chit-chat with the other adventurers on the ship. "Has anyone been to Brun Myridorn before? What is it like?" seem to be some of his favorite lines of conversation.
Stirling eyes the airship for a good long while before he boards, his artificial eye whirring as his gaze takes it in. It might be a boring trip and he might also have a belt full of shells ready for any situation. "Keep your senses open for trouble, especially demons and the like considering who it used to belong to. Also be prepared for this ship to go down."
Astaren is munching on a cookie, oatmeal rasin, as he boards the ship. There is a book in his other hand he is reading as he makes his way into the deck. "If you have protective spells, I suggest you have them up at all times." Looking over his book to Munch, "Artifacts are not so easily broken. The knucklebone is said to need to be roll 20 times on a 20, and the Deck of Meny Things has to be lost to a god of law in gambling, and the god can't be aware of its true nature. This orb, not a clue where to even start honestly."
"Do we know what the orb is _for_?" ROna asks curiously.
Durrankar says, "Because breaking bad things tends to let out whatever evil is in it....and it makes our jobs harder. So we're looking to cleanse it." he then looks to Kravar. "I have not, but...I imagine I should venture there soon." He then hrfs at Rona. "Asumit had it. It's reason enough for me.""
Munch blinks with a soft click. "I can hit it really hard. REALLY hard. Has anyone tried that yet? They didn't ask me about it if they did." He blinks again at Durrankar. "Ah, so we -don't- want to break it. Okay."
"Welcome, brave souls. I am Shora Meswrit."
the armored, Khazadi woman has emerged from below decks. "Sunblade of Daeus. To answer your question, no. We don't know exactly what it was for, but that it was in his possession and he was using it to do... /something/. We've seen these orbs before. We're hoping its connection to him goes both ways ,but more than that, you'll need to ask the high priests in Bryn Myridown. A war against Skald is coming -- only delayed by our concerns about Heth, to be honest. It is long past time that this so-called 'Master Binder' was put in the ground, even if it's hard to kill a wizard."
Yelrona nods. "Hear, hear!"
Munch fehs. "Wizards are -easy- to kill. Little guys can't take a punch at -all-." The metal man considers a moment. "-Keeping- them dead, on the other hand. That can get rough."
Astaren glances over at Munch for a long moment, then shrugs his shoulders as he finds a safe spot to sit down, and goes back to reading.
Stirling chuckles "I would give my remaining good leg to get 10 minutes of face to face time with him. Can we take a quick scan of the orb just to get an idea of what we are dealing with?"
Kravar watches the Khazad with interest. He nods as she speaks and then adds, "I take it then there is some elaborate plan for this orb? Study it and devise a way to dispose of it safely? Or turn its sorcerous power against it's very creator?"
"We have it secured firmly in a lead-lined box to avoid scrying. Opening it would allow him to sense its location, possibly. We'd rather not risk it," says Shora, shaking her head.
She just grins at Kravar. It is a grin without humor, without mirth.
"Something like that," she agrees. "We need to be etra, extra careful."
Durrankar says, "Well....I don't think the softskin is simply going to let it go without a fight. So prepare for one." he then takes a deep breath. "Do you want help to move this ship faster?""
Stirling nods "Good start and don't stop the ship for anything. If we run into anything unexpected we deal with it hard and fast and deal with the consequences later." he says checking the feed on his deathray.
Yelrona nods agreement. She settles down in her chosen spot, her bow across her knees.
Kravar digs into the side pocket of his pack and produces a spyglass, which he raises to his eye and begins to peer in different directions. "Do you suppose anyone knows it's on this ship?" He asks conversationally. "The box itself may be warded from scrying, but if someone was in Alexandria to see it loaded...?" Another thing that many long-time adventurers of Alexandria have learned, is never to understimate how many demons, cultists and miscellanious villans there may be in the city at any given moment.
Munch nods in agreement, and heads for the front again, partly to keep watch, part to enjoy the wind fluttering his stubby little wings, and partly to keep out of the way.
Yelrona shrugs. "Even if not, reports of _this_ group getting on an airship will get his attention pretty quickly."
"That's a kind offer, but not at the moment. We've plans, you see."
That's when the airship's engine starts. You, and three other airships it would appear, lift into the sky, each heading in a weterly direction that will take them to Bryn Myridown -- though each veering slightly to take a differnet route. Airships may be able to go as the crow flies, but there safer lanes of traffic that avoid, say, stormy weathers, mountains, dragons and so on.
"Since we've locked the orb behind non-detection, but we know he's probably watching, we're doing our level best to ensure that he hsa to spread himself as thin to keep up with and identify the real orb and reduce his chance of claiming it should he succeed against us. We may well have the orb. I don't actually know and neither do you. WE will proceed as if we do because we must." Shora lets out a breath. "But we may also be the decoy. Either role is of vital import to the success of the mission for obvious reasons."
Durrankar thumps his tail as the airship begins to lift off. "All the more reason to -ACT- like we have the actual orb and KNOW it. If we do, we'll move faster and get it delivered faster. If we're the decoy, just as good..."
Yelrona nods approval of the strategy.
Munch understands they might get attacked, and they all need to be ready. Everything else is just details.
GAME: Astaren casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 16 DC: 17
Stirling nods. "Everyone know how to fly if they fall off?" he notes scanning the sky and the crew just in case someone is dead or dying and shouldn't be.
Durrankar says, "easy enough to do, Stirling."
Kravar begins to walk the deck of as it moves. "Have we any way to send messages to the other ships? It would be best that all know if they are attacked - or if we are."
Astaren glances up at the plan and nods, "Obvious, common plan. Sound to." then glances to Stirling, "which form?" grinning a moment, but then turns serious with a nod, "Yes, I have the spell ready along with feather fall. Always prepared." then glancing back to his book as he flips a page, "Anybody want some tea? Helps calm the nerves for me."
"I can't fly," Rona admits, "but I can land safe, at least."
Munch nods. "Landing won't be a problem if I jump off. My wings don't work well, but they do work. Getting back up might be hard, if the ship is going fast."
"Right," says Shora to Astaren. "It's nothing unanticipated but it's a solid enough plan. Everyone settle in and enjoy the tea, eh? We've got a long day ahead of us. /Our/ job hopefully never starts and we can leave this all in the capable hands of the airship crew."
Haha. Yeah. Right. Like THAT will happen.
Astaren sips his tea, and reads his book. All the while sitting on a floating disk, so any turbulance or heaving the ship does, the wizard doesn't feel.
'You'll pardon me if I don't hold my breath.' And Durrankar's head turns towards his staff. "you don't even breathe." 'You missed the point again Durrankar.' "Just say that you don't expect the trip to go smoothly." 'Same thing.'
"Does the staff fly?" Rona asks curiously. "I mean, if it should happen to fall overboard."
Munch blinks, and eyes his axe. The dragon head etched into the metal eyes back. "Do we sound like that?" "You do. I don't. I'm the brains of the family, remember?"
Stirling shrugs to Rona as he starts pacing the ship, checking out the engines and that everything is running smoothly "Eyes on the sky, folks."
Durrankar says, "it won't." Durrankar bluntly says to Rona. "Anymore than your weapon could.""
Kravar chuckles. "Does everyone have a talking stick?" He takes another long look in various directions with his spyglass. First at the horizon, then at nearby clouds. "If we do come under attack from a flying enemy," he muses to Stirling. "We should take flight ourselves. Meet them in the air, rather than risk a fight aboard the ship."
Astaren glances over to Kravar, "Nope, just singing stars here." then goes back to his book.
Stirling turns a hateful glare at the rest of the party before getting on with his inspection. "Tell you what to do with a talking stick..." he mumbles.
Reaver the Axe sniffs. "...he called me a stick..."
Yelrona chuckles. "What's the preferred term? Inanimate Alexandrian?"
Munch buzzes, and shrugs. "Proper names are always good. I'm fine with 'war golem' or just 'golem'. Reaver is an axe. More metal than wood. The wood part used to be the important bit, but, magic. I think he mostly lives in the metal part now."
Kravar hmms. "Reaver. A worthy name." He nods at the axe as if it's a living being. Then he turns towards Durrankar's staff, quirking an eyebrow. "And what is that one called?"
Reaver nods back. For someone built without joints or moving parts, he's fairly graceful.
Time passes.
The city of Alexandria recedes into the distance.
Alexandros sits sandwiched between the redridge mountains with and Skald on one side, where the binder resides, and the Mythwood, the elven realm. Right now, it's travelling along the edge of that grand forest, travelling towrads the battle-scarred landscape of Sendor. Hey, look! There, on the border between Alexandria and Sendor proper sits the famed Fort Gettys, where a great battle took place where the Alexandrians and their Myrrish allies broke through the Sendoran Protectorate lines and pushed into Sendor proper as part of their invasion to liberate the country! The fort is still a ruin, long since abandoned, and the grounds still show the signs of war even as nature has reclaimed it.
Munch watches with passive intrest. He's not much for geography, and less for history. Is favorite class is lunch. Or would be, if he'd ever gone to school or had any class. Classes. Well, either, really.
Durrankar looks at the blasted ground, and thumps his tail. However, he keeps sniffing the air, not that he can scent much with how fast they're moving.
Astaren glances over the railing at the ruined fort and shakes his head, then sips his tea and puts his book away. Watching the skyline idly, and munching on some more cookies.
Yelrona mostly pays attention to the air around them and not the ground beneath. That said, she knows enough history and military theory to recognize many of the landmarks they are flying over, the world turned into a living map beneath her, and she can't help but notice that.
Kravar walks around the railing of the ship and takes looks in various directions, doing his best to scan the skies with his spyglass for trouble. He spends a bit longer peering at the fort, then offers the spyglass to the others if they want to take a look.
Stirling does watch the countryside, clearly following the landmarks for all the different parts of the battle. Still he glances to sky every now and then.
GAME: Stirling rolls perception: (5)+18: 23
GAME: Yelrona rolls perception: (11)+23: 34
GAME: Kravar rolls perception: (20)+19: 39
GAME: Astaren rolls perception: (19)+23: 42
GAME: Durrankar rolls perception: (3)+26: 29
GAME: Munch rolls perception: (10)+17: 27
Yelrona stands up suddenly, looking more intently at Fort Gettys. "There's something down there," she says, pointing. "Can any of you check it out at this range?"
Astaren glances at the fort again, "Captain, change course, keep your distance form the fort." calling out suddenly as he glances over to Yelrona, "Something, not sure what, better safe then sorry."
Munch blinks, and turns his attention to the fort, magicite eyes whirring softly. "What am I looking for?"
"Let's start with any weapons pointed in our direction," Rona tells Munch, "and expand out from there."
Thyrson has arrived.
Kravar squints through his spyglass, lowers it briefly to look without aid and then peers through again. "A shimmer in the air. Some sorerous illusion, perhaps?"
Astaren shakes his head, "A shimmer, nothing more. Just, stood out as odd. Worse case, it is a illusionary terrain hiding a strike force ready to attack us. Best case, dust in my eyes." smirking faintly, "So lets assume worse and keep our distance. Force them to come to us if there is anything, and make any weapons they have less likely to hit." glancing over to Munch, then the others, "Anybody got anything ready to knock projectiles out of the air?"
Munch buzzes. "I'm quick, but not quick enough to catch arrows. Or ballista bolts."
Thyrson was sitting, lost in thought or memories, looking out over the ruins. His hands tighten around his staff (it doesn't talk) and he surges to his feet. "Where? This was the site of a gyre to the elemental plane of Earth during the battle for Fort Gettys."
"AMongst other things? What do you see? We need to investigate. Our mission is of utmost importance, but we can't ignore a potential threat to us, the orb, or to any of the other airships. Perhaps we ought to let you have a look?" It is, in a sense,. what you're here for. Shora seems cofnident about this.
Astaren glances back to Shora, "I thought I job was to escort the orb to saftey. Unless some of the other ships will be taking this route. If so, then we are obligated to look, and verify if there is or is not a threat." reaching up to rub his head and glancing to the others.
"It is," agrees Shora to Astaren. "But I'd rather not leave a potential threat behind, either. There's may well be a second wave of decoys after us. It shouldn't take us out of our way by that much."
Also, she's a paladin. Of /course/ she wants to make sure it's safe.
Munch buzzes. "My first inclination is to head down there and deal with whatever it is in a final sort of way. LEave no potential enemies behind. But, the smarter choice-"
"That is to say, my suggestion." Reaver pipes up.
"-is to keep moving and just avoid it. If it's an attack, let it follow. If it isn't, no harm done, make a note for the trip back."
Durrankar looks to Astaren. "I have a few spells that could rreally....really mess up a small force."
Kravar nods in understanding to the Khazad. He checks to make sure his shield is slung securely over his back, then checks a few other weapons. "If you can keep the airship moving in a straight line," he begins, "We'll be able to find you again, no matter how long it takes us." His cloak waves and then flaps before snapping into a pair of huge wings. "Does anyone need a lift?" he offers, one foot already on the railing and ready to leap off the ship.
"I agree with Astaren," Rona chimes in. "If it attacks us, or one of the other ships, we'll have to deal with it, but otherwise we should leave it behind us and investigate it on our way back. If we stop to check out every anomaly, we delay our mission, and if we expend our spells or our fighters now we don't have them if Asumit attacks."
Thyrson leans on his staff, scowling down at the surface moving by beneath them. He looks at Astaren and Durrankar. "I don't have any remote sensing spells." He holds up a hand to Kravar. "Unless you can articulate why we should jump, instead of completing our mission, please wait. Asumit was always one for distraction."
"I don't disagree with your logics," says Shora with a sigh. "But it pains me to leave potential dangers behind for others to face when I know I have the backup of several highly proficient warriors. Especially with low odds of /having/ the dang thing." She makes a face.
Astaren shakes his head slowly, "really wish I had prepared scry today. Durrankar." glancing over to him, "You have control weather right? I wonder, if there is something like a hallucinary terrain down there, it would not be prepared to react properly to sudden change in weather. I don't have anything that can reach that far, and we are way out of range for any of the standard sensing spells. Think that might work?"
Durrankar says, "Control winds, control weather, but I'd need 10 minutes to cast it......."
Kravar leans against the railing, but doesn't jump yet. "By that time we could fly down there, re-fight the Battle of Rune and make it back..." He turns his head to look back at the others.
Astaren shakes his head, "Down we go, we have ways of getting back up." Glancing to Thryson, "Teleport memorized, and have you taken time to familiarize yourself with a spot on this ship? I have worse case scenario, but only regular teleport." Tapping his book, "I am for springing the trap. DOn't want some innocents coming in behind us and getting ambushed."
Baz da Ork has left.
Yelrona shakes her head. "You want to leave the ship undefended?"
"We can wait right here, assuming you want to go. I just don't like the idea of leaving it behind if you've seen ms omething unusual. I have ways of contacting the city and they can dispatch others if there's trouble." Shora adds.
Thyrson shrugs. "And in that time, after we jump, demons could gate in and destroy the ship." A pause. "Maybe I'm wrong." He nods curtly. "I can teleport as needed, and can probably carry someone brave without a saddle."
"You could contact the city and have them send a team to explore Fort Gettys while we finish our mission," Rona counterproposes. If they find anything dangerous they can call us back and tell us, and we can come check it out afterwards."
Durrankar says, "Rona does have a point. If the ships simply fly higher, arrows may not reach them. Spells, on the other hand." he then looks to Astaren. "you both have good points.""
Munch buzzes, and heads for the railing. "Bored now. Going. Others come, some don't. Catch up, or won't." And then he's over the edge, headed face first towards the rapidly approaching ground.
"At times like this, I am reminded why Rune is often mired in inaction. We sit and we debate..." Astaren cuts himself off as he stares after Munch, "Well ok then." offering a faint smirk, "Shall we?" Turning to the captain and handing her his book, "Keep this on deck, it has special markings on the outside, works as a location finder for teleporting spells. I will use it to bring anybody who goes along back." Then with a few waves his hand, the man turns invisible and can be heard jumping off the ship himself.
Kravar frowns sternly as Munch goes over. But rather than displeasure, his voice shows only eagerness as he leaps off of the ship next, bellowing, "Wait! It was my idea! Wait for meeeee!"
Yelrona looks at the railing where Munch has jumped overboard, closes her eyes for a moment, offers a brief prayer to Tarien, and nods to nobody in particular. "All right then," and she jumps over the railing as well, almost immediately slowing. It's gonna take her a while to reach the ground at this rate.
GAME: Astaren casts Invisibility. Caster Level: 16 DC: 18
The airship slows down as people start JUMPING OVERBOARD to check out what's going on with Gettys.
One never knows, after all.
Shora's hand went to her face.
Thyrson closes his eyes for a long moment, looks up at the sky, lets loose a prodigious string of epithets, then turns into a gold dragon and starts circling downwards -- going slowly, though. He doesn't entirely trust that the ship is safe.
GAME: Thyrson casts Form of the Dragon II. Caster Level: 16 DC: 26
Munch is quite tempted to use a Barbarian Featherfall... which is to say, just hit the ground and walk it off. But no, he might have fighting to do, so when the ground starts to get uncomfortably close, his tiny little wings flair outward, stretching and expanding to many times thier previous size... but not growing in strenght. The stretched membranes rip and tear under the stress, and in moments are little more than fleshy ribbons. But they've served their purpose, and the golem hits the ground at little more than a walking pace. Not taht he stays slow for long, heading towards the fort at a jog, with little more than a glance to see whom if anyone, followed.
GAME: Munch casts Feather Fall. Caster Level: 6 DC: 13
Durrankar pats Shora's shoulder. "I know exactly how you feel. Warrior caste are impulsive and brash. Unfortunately, they are also the ones who keeps other warrior caste at bay. We shall take care of this, then we shall return." He says as he hops over the rail as well.....and drops about halfway down before he changes into an eagle.....and he circles to see what all is below....
"Investigatin potential threats along the route /is/ important but perhaps I was too enthusiastic," mutters SHora as the others begin to depart the ship. The airship slows down and waits for your results.
Descending towards Gettys allows you to land a comfortable enough distance away to choose your appropach should you want to. Now on the ground, you can see the former trenches and earthworks still viisble from the warfare up close and the nature spreading across grounds still scarred and blasted.
Thyrson circles above the battlefield, not landing, but rather on overwatch. He casts his eyes upwards repeatedly, keeping an eye on the ship overhead.
Astaren lands gently and invisibly after activating his ring. Starting forward slowly towards where he saw the shimmer at earlier.
Munch slows a bit to make sure the other's can catch up. He's not the quickest fellow, but he does tend to set a fast pace on foot. His leathery 'dreadlocks' wiggle and rise to a makeshift halo as Astarren comes near, magicite eyes peering a moment before continuing onward.
The eagle backwings near the ground before the form of Durrankar reveals itself to land on his feet. "Lead the way, Astaren."
Kravar swoops down near the others, but he pulls up and flies ahead, a shortbow out. Anyone with eyes would have seen the ship, he reasons, and seen the adventurers jumping off. So taking them by surprise hardly seems like an option. His wings seem to be as strong as any other limb and he streaks over the fort, peering down to see if he can spot the shimmering effect he saw earlier.
Astaren holds up a finger "Wait, you can see me Durrankar?" pausing a moment then shrugging, "Two things, I am not the leader of this group. Also, I am a squishy shamen cast type." smiling ruefully, 'But I suppose I am the invisible one." Turning to start walking forward again at a slow pace.
Thyrson keeps circling, keeping one eye down and one eye up. Then he switches to figure-eights.
Durrankar says, "I could if I wanted to, Astaren, but there is one thing about invisibility. While it renders you invisibile to 'sight'....it doesn't cover your 'scent'." He then sniffs, just to make the point. "Also...you're the one who saw what we're looking for....so you must lead.""
GAME: Durrankar rolls perception: (5)+26: 31
GAME: Munch rolls perception: (14)+17: 31
GAME: Kravar rolls perception: (2)+19: 21
GAME: Astaren rolls perception: (18)+23: 41
GAME: Thyrson rolls perception: (19)+22: 41
Munch buzzes quietly, and draws his axe to his hands. "Trick, trap, distraction, or just coinsidence, I don't like it."
GAME: Durrankar rolls will: (18)+21: 39
GAME: Astaren rolls will: (6)+16: 22
Thyrson slows his circling, watching the actions of those below. He calls out. "The land itself is illusion. Be careful."
GAME: Durrankar rolls knowledge/arcana: (9)+5: 14
Durrankar blinks his eyes as he looks around. He knew the trees and ground seemed strange to him.....and now he knew why. He could /SEE/ why. "Someone has gone out of their way to conceal it's rebuilding." he says starting to head forward. "The ground and the trees are not natural, and move with no wind. This is an illusion."
GAME: Durrankar rolls spellcraft: Trained Use Only: 0
GAME: Durrankar rolls spellcraft: Trained Use Only: 0
GAME: Durrankar rolls Spellcraft: Trained Use Only: 0
Astaren nods to Durrankar, 'so not a threat then? Are we save to return to the ship?" glancing around as he walks forward, "Though begs the question, who is reubilding it, and why. It is strategic though... but which side." tapping his chin as he considers.
GAME: Durrankar rolls spellcraft: Trained Use Only: 0
Munch buzzes, and shrugs. "Let's go find out. Bet they havn't wandered far if the illusion is still active. And if it's bad guys, after we kill them can take out a wall or three."
Durrankar looks to Munch. "hang on a sec Munch." he then sniffs. "Astaren....head on ahead and see if they're enemies or not, before your invisibility wears off." he then looks and thumps his tail to munch. "I'm sure you'd like to attack when they're weak, right?"
Munch shrugs. "Weak enemies aren't as fun."
Durrankar says, "And we could've bypassed this....so we're doing this little bit -MY- way."
GAME: Thyrson rolls spellcraft: (17)+21: 38
Thyrson calls out from above. "It's possible to create magical terrain, but this is a lot. Also, this would likely require additional enchantments to make it permanent, and likely some tweaking to the spell itself to broaden it." The dragon pauses. "Enough that it would take considerable skill and effort."
GAME: Astaren rolls will: (18)+16: 34
Astaren shakes his head as he looks around and hmmms for a long moment, "This... cannot be left as it is, but for now there is nothing here. Let us get back on the ship, and be on our way I guess." staying invisible as he considers. "Still, why is this area empty... this much effort, to not maintain some kind of guards?"
...faint wisps of mist emerge from the earth here. Something is definitely wrong, now.
Chilling your skin, it /definitely/ has the feel and weight of undeath to it. That sort of chill. You've all felt it before.
It would appear Gettys has been consumed in negative energy. But why here and now of all times? Why the rebuildign that you can see? It's all concerning. This deosn't smack of Heth -- the wights aren't smart enough for that, largely.
Tbat's when you see your first ghost. A man in a Myrrish uniform walks blithely past you as if you're not even there, faintly transparent. He launches into battle against... an ogre? An ogre ghost? What?
Uh oh...
Part 2
SUMMARY: Our heroes are followed by a Bludguni airship. Players: Astaren, Durrankar, Kravar, Thyrson, Yelrona GM: Whirlpool
...to your relief, it would appear that the ghostly battles springing up around you is rather a recreation of the battle for Fort Gettys. They don't even seem to notice you're here. It's awkward, but well, that's life. Then again, a haunted battle scene is entirely a normal thing to find... sometimes.
Yelrona looks around, her eyes glowing as she tries to get a feel for what's happening. "So this is all cool and everything, but... is it something we should be messing with?" It's a genuine question, as Rona has no real idea.
Kravar flies down to land next to the others in the party. "So Alexandria and the Myrrish were allies in this fight?" He fingers the hilt of a khopesh at his belt. "Together against Sendor? Did the Sendor army include ogres?"
Astaren closes his eyes as he considers, "Be on guard, a trap possibly. You do not have people rebuilding, who would not of experienced this already, so most like we sprung a trap, which is why everybody else is gone most likely."
Durrankar quietly watches the events transpire. "Perhaps....perhaps it is a historical thing as well." he then sniffs. "Astaren.....can you scout the building....while your invisiblity lasts?"
Shora's voice is over your messaging devices you've been given. Because of course you have.
"Are you seeing anything else down there?" Sh e has no idea, after all.
"Some ghosts are reenacting the Sendor War," Rona replies. "No idea what that's about." She shrugs. "I'll scout around a bit."
She goes invisible and sneaks off, keeping her eyes wide open.
Kravar scowls. Perhaps he should have left his spyglass with her, that she could see for herself. But he does his best to send back a message describing the ghostly forms re-enacting the battle of Fort Gettys. "Perhaps we can put them to rest," he finishes. Either by ending whatever holds them here, or destroying them. Kravar has encountered ghosts before and at best they were 'not harmful at the moment.'
GAME: Astaren rolls perception: (10)+23: 33
GAME: Astaren rolls knowledge/local: (16)+10: 26
Astaren steps out and shakes his head, "Battles everywhere being re-enacted, this is odd." Tapping his chin invisibly as he considers, "not sure. Something to investigate later I suppose, I think we should get going and continue on. More construction further in as well."
"if you are sure, Astaren, then let us proceed. As long as they do not try to bring us into their battle, we should not interrupt it. But, we should find a way to release them from this perpetual hell. As it is most unnatural." Durrankar seems to be respecting the spirits' desire to fight here.
"Works for me," Rona replies. "I need a lift back to the ship, though."
From there, you're able to signal back to the ship and get yourselves raised back up.
It's not even a long effort.
Shora looks relived to see you all ,listening to what you tell her with a nod.
"I'm glad we checked this out. We'll alert the Vardamans. Now we've some lost time to make up. Mind if I press-gang you all into an extra shift aboard to help make up for lost time?'
Durrankar says, "It's a good idea. this place seems to have historical significance...""
Yelrona is a bit confused by the question about extra shifts... it's not like they're rowing? But, "Sure, that's fine" she agrees.
"It's FOrt GEttys. One of the pivotal battle sites of the Sendor War," answers Shora. "Breaking it is what allowed ALexandria to push into Sendor and aid the Myrrish peoples in recovering their lost territry. All that was justb efore the mists took Alexandria." She lets out a sigh.
And with that, you're roped into the crew and put to work. The extra hands will help them keep things going and ensure that the crew is safe and has a better shot at being rested should anything else go wrong.
A lot can go wrong. It's an airship. It's bound to crash, right?
Astaren finds himself a spot to sit, and resumes his vigil on the sky and ground.
As much as Durrankar's spells can help out an airship, he knows nothing of how an airship works. So he stays out of the Crew's way. He does help with holding ropes when needed, but he has to be directed constantly, which is more of a pain that most realize.
GAME: Yelrona rolls fort: (9)+9: 18
GAME: Durrankar rolls fort: (9)+18: 27
roll for Kravar.
GAME: Kravar rolls FOrt: (17)+15: 32
GAME: Astaren rolls fort: (8)+12: 20
GAME: Verna rolls FOrt: (7)+11: 18
GOOD NEWS, EVERYONE.
You're able to fly for several hours without interruption, now more properly over Sendor.
It's all going pretty well at the moment, actually, even if you're all starting to feel a little drained from the great battle... with airship parts.
By the end of your assistance-shift, you're all settled in the dining area, enjoying the oh so luxury meals that you're being provided with. It's nothing special, to be honest, but it does at least 'hit the spot'.
That's when you notice a distant glint in the sky behind you through the aft windows.
The airship is making a gentle turn and that glit in the distance appears to be following you.
Durrankar stands up and tears a piece of meat from the bone. "We're being followed." he says bluntly.
Yelronastands up, looking out the aft windows. "Who has that spyglass?"
Kravar can't quite hide his excitement. A spyglass you say?! He fishes the instrument out of his haversack and offers it to Yelrona. Squinting through the window he notes, "Did you see how it caught the light? It's either another airship, or a metallic dragon." He pauses and looks at the party. "Those are the goodly dragons, right...?"
Thyrson sits quietly through the travels, saying at one point: "The mists came when the peace treaty was signed." He pauses, and looks back. "Probably."
"Or a mage taking a dragon's form, or any number of other things," Rona muses, squinting through the spyglass.
Astaren glances back to the glint and sighs, "Seems so." he offers and goes back to watching the front thoughtfully.
It's still too far out to get more than a basic glimpse, even with the assistance of a sypglass.
It is apparently another airship, a larger and more powerful one from the silouhette it carries.
Beyond that, though, identifying it is proving difficult. You'll need to get a closer look if you want to.
It's definitely trailing your ship,t hough.
Yelronarelays what she sees to the rest of the group. "Anyone up to doing some flying spying, or scrying?"
GAME: Thyrson casts Invisibility. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21
GAME: Thyrson casts Form of the Dragon I. Caster Level: 16 DC: 25
Thyrson disappears, then there is the leather creak of wings and an absence.
Kravar moves to the deck and positions himself near the rear railing. He holds a small shortbow at his side, and sets a quiver of arrows near his feet within easy reach.
Yelrona accompanies Kravar, keeping an eye on the other ship through her borrowed glass.
The first thiung you have to do is convince Shora to slow the airship down. She won't stop. You're too close to Vinas and she wants to ensure you get there in a timely fashion. She will, however, agree to slow down. Slow enough that Thyrson can get back to the ship once he wants to.
And thus, Thyrson is able to shoot off.
GAME: Thyrson rolls perception: (6)+22: 28
GAME: Thyrson rolls knowledge/geography: Trained Use Only: 0
Thyrson appears with the creak of wings and a little pop. He's back in giantborn-form when he becomes visible. Breathing a little heavily, he calls everyone over. "It's a Bludgunni craft, pursuing us. The crew is a mix of goblins, oruch, arvek and a single Ogre Magi, as one might expect. I did not attempt contact."
"Bludgunni?" Kravar repeats. Then he curses. "I was hoping for sky pirates."
"...bludguni? That's odd," replies Shora. "WE weren't anywhere near actual Bludguni territory. Why are they following us? WE're going to put down in Vinas. See what happens."
And with that, you veer y our course, aiming to head for the capital of Sendor.