Tolð 1-6, 653 DR: The group finally leaves the City of Taldàna but is forced to make an unexpected detour. They witness the burning of a Taládan city and are almost overrun by an enemy warship. Less than a week into their quest, all hope is nearly lost at the hands of Zultayan pirates. An inexhaustible friend is found.

Continued from Gambit of Sered Dassur.

Alídor, 1 Tolð 653

The High Lady’s quest weighed on every mind, but none spoke of it. Over time, everyone had made a habit of stealing glances at the hooded magician, looking for some evidence that his familiar was nearby. It could be a sudden dip at the end of his bejeweled cudgel, or an inexplicable slump to one shoulder as the invisible monster perched and stared back at them. Luckily, their glances and emotion seemed to be as alien to the creature as its purposes were to them. It could discern nothing from the distrusting gaze of Ērēus or the glower of Jak, both of whom prayed for the chance for a single swing at the monster. Both biding their time and keeping their tongues still.

It was dawn when they reached the docks. The wharf was already swarming with large and sweaty laborers hauling crates, barrels, and ropes between the ships, piers, and warehouses. Blackened masts of burnt ships still rose from the choppy waters further down the harbor’s edge. It would take a long time to remove the sunken ships. They waited at the pier’s end until Paldor pushed his way through the workers to greet them and invite them on board the Aylyréar. When something else demanded his attention he handed off the duty to another who showed them to their room and how their items could be fastened to the floor and walls. While this was happening there was a commotion along the piers and all the work and associated sounds came to a halt. Climbing to the boat’s deck, the group saw the ship’s captain arguing heatedly with a soldier. More soldiers were gathered in the streets leading to the waterfront, waiting for orders to move forward. Paldor was yelling now and his face was red from it. Finally, throwing his hands up he strode back toward the ship and gave some quick orders to a young sailor who went disappeared beneath the deck to make preparations. Tressta explained to the others that the ship was being commandeered, and was being forced to transport soldiers to the front. She explained that the captain was upset because they wouldn’t be able to haul everything he’d paid for, and the ship had no defenses should the soldiers’ presence mark it as a ship of war. Even as she translated this, soldiers began moving down the dock and climbing the gangplank. There were only enough hammocks underneath for a couple officers, the others would camp on the deck.

Within hours, the Aylyréar was pulled from the dock and soon under sail in the Nyr Alùrin. Paldor’s mood never lightened during the first day despite the soldiers’ promises that this was a one way trip. Leaving the shelter of the peninsula the ship headed into the taller waves and the sails were dropped to their full lengths. Many of the soldiers found themselves gripping the rails and more than one lost their rations. Small fights erupted between the crew and soldiers because the men did not stay out of the sailors’ way. Paldor yelled at the leaders who in turn yelled at the soldiers. As passions boiled, Zêla found a place on the ship’s bow to play music and calm the crowd. The soldiers eventually settled down and the crew went about their duties.

Kændor, 2 Tolð 653

Once underway, the ship made good progress. During the second night a sailor could be overheard yelling that they’d rounded the Horn of Caldàeth.

Malídor, 3 Tolð 653

In the evening of the third day since leaving the City of Taldàna, a storm tossed the ship around and slowed their progress south. The soldiers that had managed well the first two days, joined their sickly comrades at the railings. The ship’s overcrowding was growing intolerable but the sailors assured everyone that the City was not far.

Amdor, 4 Tolð 653

On the fourth evening, as the sun sank behind the Tor’n Muran, everyone gathered on the ship’s deck to wonder at the distant horizon’s glow. At the same time Paldor started barking orders. His crew rushed among the sails. The military captain asked about this flurry of activity but the ship’s captain only pointed to the south. Those that managed to push their way to that side of the ship saw another sailing ship approaching from the south. The military captain ordered that the ship be taken to shore but Paldor disagreed, claiming his ship could move faster on the open sea. Dammon came forward and explained that he would “take care of” the approaching vessel. Paldor looked distraught but turned and gave the command. The ship turned toward shore and the other gained faster. Along the ship’s length, the soldiers braced themselves against the port railings and readied bows and arrows for the enemy’s approach. As the ship neared Dammon cast a spell with a loud voice and expansive gestures. Although there was no effect at first, a triumphant cry went up from the sailors as they watched the enemy’s mainsail fill with wind and rip from its lines. The ship veered as the lateen mast rocked back and forth in its moorings. The sailors of the ship hurriedly loosened the lines on its remaining sails slowing the ship to a near stop in the water.

As Paldor’s ship pulled away from their pursuer, the enemy sailors were able to raise their two remaining sails and pursue at two-thirds speed. As they grew closer to the City of Shalvàsal the glow on the horizon became more pronounced. Fires rose from the rooftops, and people ran about the docks with buckets to stop the flames. Both captains looked sadly upon the burning city and decided to land at the Town of Laítharan instead. Turning the ship north, everyone watched the burning city disappear behind them until only the glow of the flames could be seen against the night sky.

Wōdìndor, 5 Tolð 653

By morning, the soldiers had disembarked at Laítharan and were preparing to march south toward the invading Saránðans. Even now, refugees from Shalvàsal were arriving in the town, looking for shelter and food. Everyone waved to the soldiers as the sails were raised once more and the ship moved out to sea. Ērēus was the last to leave the aft rail as the land disappeared behind the waves. Despite his calling, Ērēus’ heart was torn with the thought that in the moment of its greatest need, he was leaving his homeland, perhaps forever. When he could see the land no more he turned his back on its horizon.

To pass time, Jak and Ērēus sparred on the ship’s deck. The sailors watched this for a while before asking to join and try their hands at sword and spear. Tressta tried to sleep some but had been having strange dreams ever since they left Taldàna. It was if a roomful of hushed voices were talking, singing songs, saying prayers. The more she listened to their words, the more indistinct they became. Finally she asked Dammon about the problem and he wove a simple detection which uncovered a mixture of magics from Sorádra to Endàrtra, all carefully woven around her. Dammon speculated that it might have something to do with the High Lady’s boon but couldn’t be sure. As distracting as the voices were, so were the captain’s attentions.

That night Jak sat on the deck, talking to the crew. He learned that Paldor had assembled the entire crew in Taldàna, and that factions of the sailors did not trust their crew mates. Some of the sailors went so far as to suggest that others were pirates, and wondered aloud why Paldor would have hired such unsavory men. Jak and the sailors traded stories well into the night. There was talk of ghost ships, sunken Eylfāe warships, and whaling in the north seas. Fascinated by all of this, Jak also shared his own stories which kept the sailors entertained for hours.

Iyldor, 6 Tolð 653

In the pre-dawn hours of the Sixth another storm moved across the water. The group was awakened by the swing and shaking of their hammocks and the creaking of the ship’s timbers. Outside the waves heaved and splashed against the boat and the crew yelled back and forth across the deck. Despite the rocking of the storm, all seemed peaceful until a loud shuddering groan drummed through the Aylyréar. Everyone bolted awake as the waves started crashing against the wooden sides like giants’ fists. With every smash the boat quaked and shuddered, for despite the waves around it the ship was not moving. Something was holding the ship still within the stormy waters. Climbing up to the deck, Tressta overheard a crewman yelling, “Ahead, over the waves!” Everyone peered through the dark, waves, and rain but could see nothing until a large round shape like the top of a giant skull appeared and then sank beneath the heaving waters. Wave after wave began crashing across the deck. Dammon detected Weaving but could not concentrate enough to localize its source. He tried dispelling the magic but it proved too strong.

It was shortly thereafter that they heard two of the most awful sounds anyone could imagine. Two large splintering impacts were heard beneath the deck. The crew members stopped and exchanged blank stares, reading in each others’ eyes the look of doom. As the water pulled back from the ship to form the next wave, those at the rail could see two chains extending from the starboard side into the dark and churning waters beyond. The ship had been harpooned. As the timbers shifted and protested beneath them another sound issued from below the deck. This was not the sound of the sundered hull, though that was frightening enough. This was a living sound with an inhuman voice that cried out from somewhere beneath them. Another wave crashed across the deck. Those that could wrap their arms and legs around the lines did so, others were swept into the storm. Through the waves the skullish domed shape reappeared, much closer than before. Dammon, who could see well despite the darkness noted that the dome was carved with nautical motifs. Tressta climbed below deck between wave crashes as the remaining crew was escaping the flooding levels below. Those that passed her were yelling “Monster!” Peering down into the jumbled lower deck, Tressta saw what appeared to be shifting crates that soon came into focus as a wooden Ogdar wrestling with giant metal hooks. Jak readied his spear. As Jak moved closer, Paldor scrambled down the staircase yelling that the golem would hurt no one. Seeing Paldor, the wooden construct yelled that it could not remove the hooks. Jak grabbed an axe and pounded at the hooks and chains, but nothing could be done. Water poured in around them as they wrestled with the giant hooks. The ship was doomed.

On the top deck, Dammon watched as the domed vessel came into full view through the waves. Regarding their doomed ship from its narrow deck stood a crew of Zultàyan sailors who would doubtless have been smiling, if it were possible.

Continued in Attack of the Lōyōlīyeð.

Characters

• Dammon Shroudson
• Jak of Cænden
• Tressta Drynsval
• Zildara of Zalan
• Amùlo of Kuguntor
• Arguin of Durul
• Arkur
• “Bad Eye” Sewin
• Balàdâsha (Cook)
• Big Woggar
• Bolun
• Calidae of Osylmith
• Daemeda
• Dorkun
• Eldùad Juarn
• Elen Syransval
• Ērēus of Amra
• Eungor
• Farwin the Daft
• Familiar
• Feghr
• Garrut
• Gathud
• Geddiç Borm
• Graiç of Mazzam
• Gwenda Ironknee
• Handir
• Imerid the Red
• Kavrus Karder
• Lourn the Whaler
• “Mean Jor” Fasturgoth
• Myrad
• Oston
• Paldòr Batrūlan (Ship Captain)
• Salas Maradis
• Salur the White
• Salur Urdeth
• “Tattoo” Nilgyir an Tirwyn
• Thyar of Naddal
• Ulvis Gayr
• Yyered of Alúrin
• Zêla ma Ler

Played: 26 Jul 2003