[Game Thread] The Voyage of the Avilers

[HughtheHand]

Nelbin stands quietly on the deck as the others come aboard. His gaze, which had been quietly passing across the activity on deck, suddenly locks onto something. Nelbin's expression grows grim and the stocky gnome stares straight ahead, Huxley's words falling deaf about him. His head makes slow, circular motions. Then as the others all begin to head belowdecks, some of the focus returns to his glassy eyes.

Slow hands seek up to his chest where they find a pendant, a silver pendant in the shape of a star, and hold it fast. Glancing about at the others, Nelbin follows them below.

Down in their quarters, Nelbin sets his pack onto a low bunk that he can scramble onto without too much fuss. His belongings stowed, he looks around at the wooden ship, hearing the creaks, feeling the waves far below them. Nelbin appreciated ships, So many metaphors he thought, smirking. Dark thoughts brushed the sudden smirk from his face as quickly as it appeared.

Turning to Cern's words, Nelbin looks at the elf with his wide pale eyes. "I would, but I have things I must attend to. Things that demand my attention." The gnome then turns and lies down on the bed and shuts his eyes, his hands grasping the star pendant on his chest.

[Virulain]

"And here I worried I'd be down in the bilge," Antimony sighed, relieved for once of at least some of her dark worries. "Chin up, elf--you could be treading water in all the lovely leavings of an entire ship. This is positively palatial. Did you see the slave ships at port? Think of that, and let your mind be at ease with what's here. We can't all sail like the Wave Riders." She let her jade gaze linger on him for almost a moment too long. Had he recognized the name that Jalamar had dropped? No one else seemed to. Trafalgar wasn't a name that should fall on indifferent ears... How soon are heroes forgotten?

Perhaps she'd make a point of singing it. Then again, would the sailors get antsy about songs with sea monsters? Hell, she didn't know. After sorting out her few belongings and stowing what she could in a footlocker, she turned to the elf--Cern--after the gnome self-importantly dismissed the man. "I'll gladly follow you up for a turn. I'm Antimony; if you've heard of me, don't ask."

[Cedric]

Kai gives Huxley a ghost of a smile, the poor lighting in the cabin giving him a skull-like visage with his high cheekbones and sunken eyes "My thanks, Master Huxley, these lodgings are as good as can be expected, they will do nicely. turning to the other passengers in the cabin he bows his head just a fraction towards them "I am Kai Kortel, a pleasure to meet you, I'm sure."

He puts his slingbag in a bunk of his choosing, reaches into it and pulls forth a thick, leatherbound book. Sitting himself down besides his bag he unties the cord holding the book closed "I will join you on deck later on, for now I need to catch up on some.... reading."

[mcl01]

Staring rather blankly at Antimony's odd introduction, Cern's expression is rather inscrutable. What is this lady implying? Is she famous or renowned for something? And why does she keep on staring at me? Am I supposed to recognize her name?

Feeling rather uneasy and uncomfortable from her long stare, he shrugs nonchalantly and scratches his head once more. "Err, nope... sorry but can't say I have." Cern turns his head slightly to avoid her prolonged gaze. "And it's not so much that the ship's not up to my tastes or anything. Far from it. It's just simply..." Pausing for a moment, he takes a quick glimpse around the crowded room and shakes his head. "Well, nevermind for now. Let's just head up above."

What's with all these people...? It's going to be a long journey...

[HughtheHand]

A soft humming waves through the hold as the ship rocks in its berth. Low and sweet, the melody is a lullaby. Soft and warm, the tune sounds like a warm ember nestled in a blanket. Goddess, please help me to know that which I've seen, that I may attempt to bring your divine knowledge back to the waking world.... The star pendant glows softly, then fades back to its former silver.

[UncaJJ]

Glibnick

moments ago thanks to posts written at the same time Glibnick turns from introducing himself to Huxley to present his palms to Cern. "I be Glibnick as I did say, and yes, I be a passenger also." I wide grin splits Glibnick's face at the anxious look on Cerns face. As the introductions are finished, Glibnick leads the way up the gangplank.

As the Dwarf reaches the top of the gangplank and turns to the wide eyed Gnome waiting there. "I did... errr... lose me oldest brother to a fit of self mutilation when I did be a child, but I thank yeh. I be Glibnick the Downtrodden, and I do be thanking ya fer your prayers!"

The grinning Dwarf lets everyone else head down below decks before making his way as well. Those right in front of him might notice the light from outside being extinguished as Glibnick's wide frame fills almost every bit of room in the stairway. Looking back, one would notice he is moving in slightly sideways, and although he is as wide as he is tall, the fighter does not have the bulging gut one would expect from someone so large.

Claiming a bottom bunk as everyone finds their spot, Glibnick slides his backpack under the bunk, as well as his shield for now. As some start discussing going back topside, the Dwarf calls out to them. "I do beg you stay for one moment please." He pulls a small bound journal from his belt pouch and opens it. "I beg yer indulgence, but I don't trust the happenstance of the old man on the dock. Did any hear him say aught but The lord of the Maelstrom? Going to sea with portents of a storm like that are not good in my opinion!"

 

Glibnick the Downtrodden - Dwarf Fighter 1
Round: - Crazy Old Men on a Dock
Initiative:
HP: 13/13
AC/T/FF: 19 / 13 / 17
For/Ref/Wil: 5 / 2 / 1
Effects:
Movement: 20 (Ignores Burden and Armor)
Action Points used: 1/?5?
Actions
Move:
Standard:
Minor:
Free:

Combat Rolls

[Virulain]

"Yes," Antimony replied. "I heard that. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to learn much else." Her friendly expression cooled a breath and then she smiled again. "But the Maelstrom watches every ship, wouldn't you say?" Despite her casual words, she wracked her brain for any memories regarding the Maelstrom in historical tale or religious lore.

[Colatine]

Nelbin sits as if in a trance, communing. In such tight quarters, it is hard to have any privacy; yet the cleric did not mind. His mind drifting into a plane known only to the faithful.



Antimony wracked her mind, trying to recollect something about the Maelstrom. It was at the edge of her mind, something about an ancient sea lord. She could recall a few sentences of something she had read once.

When warriors of the deep sit at the sentinel’s feet
Marks the first return of forgotten crowns.
When the dark dragon’s fire ignites funeral pyres
Marks the second return of unwanted thrones.
When giants wake from eternal sleep
Marks the third return of golden thrones....

She knew there was more, but could not remember what it was.

[Colatine]

With the early dawn, in fair weather conditions, the Avilers, along with the rest of the ships, set sail for the Savage Coast. It was a month long journey with the fleet taking a northwest tack, then turning south and slightly west, following the favorable currents.

A lumbering oaf of a sailor comes below deck, only his broad welcoming smile shinier than his bald head. “My name’d be Ox. Noticed you were new aboard . . . listen, me and the boys get together for a little card game at nights some times, why don’t ye join us tonight?”

---------------

The day passes with the crew working hard onboard. The Captain himself rarely comes on deck, spending time most of his time in his quarters. There is a lot of hard work onboard, with the crew apparently ignoring you- it is unclear whether this is from disdain, shyness or some other reason.

Glibick is hailed from the Crow’s Nest as he gingerly strolls the deck. Sea faring dwarves are a rare breed. Before he can even look up, an older man beard glistening with sea spray and his eyes squinting from gazing towards the horizon too long is standing next to him. “I’d be Old Pete, aye, I should tell ye about the time I sailed with Thorgor; he was a good dwarf, a good swimmer too- he was a mage, if ye can believe it…anyway, I came down to tell ye, that Ox, he might be dumb, but he is a shark when it comes to cards. Ye folks better be careful.” He looked you up and down appraisingly. ”Ye’d be strong, maybe I can arrange a boxing match, we can make a pretty wager, if ye win…ye and Ox, what do ye say?

Kai found himself alone in the quarters, the creaking of the ship disconcerting. ”Water, please some water…” came a weak call from the hold.

Cern found himself with a shadow- it was the cabin boy Dert. ”Those are some nice gear you got there mister.” the boy said.

Antimony observed that Jalamar stood apart from the others on deck, attending to his morning prayers, though something seemed to be distracting the priest.


Zalen Tralfagar found Nelbin alone when he could. ”The trance you went into, can you tell me more about it?” he asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

[HughtheHand]

Nelbin looked with large innocent eyes at the scarred, haggard man standing before him. "Trance? Do you recognize the sleep of Desna? She folds us all into her lap when we lay ourselves down, yet only few remember her caress when the morning light dawns. Perhaps you too would learn the grace of the dreaming goddess?"

Nelbin shakes his head and chuckles to himself quietly. "Forgive me, I did not mean to proselytize, sometimes I am just overcome..."

Nelbin looked at the man agian with his large, unfocused gaze. "I have been meaning to share my visions with the others on this ship. It pertains to each of us equally, and Desna's visions often carry different portents to different minds. I saw strange things, bones, shackled creatures of darkness, gleaming eyes... I must share these visions with the others. At least, those who are willing to listen. Often the willing are few..."

Nelbin nods at the man in apology. "Such a vision should not be divulged to a single soul alone. Let me seek out those willing to hear first, then I shall tell of my dreams.". Bowing slightly, Nelbin moves off to ask each of the travelers if they would be willing to gather and hear of his dreams.

[Cedric]

Kai looks up at the sound of someone pleading for water, closing his book he quietly walks towards the hold where the voice is coming from but upon seeing it locked he decides it must contain the chained man he saw earlier, the one who looked so familiar... "Hello?" he calls towards the hatch, crouching down before it "I.... erm... I am Kai, I'll see if I can find some water or someone to bring you something, hang on a moment."

Should have ignored it, not my problem... he thinks to himself as he walks off looking for someone to fetch the pleading man something to drink, prisoner or not he wasn't about to let him die of thirst, besides he had enough problems with things as it were wihout having to listen to someone cry for water near him.


Note: If he runs into Nelbin he will want to hear what he has to say after he has found someone who can attend to the prisoner.

[mcl01]

At Dert's comment, Cern can't help but look himself up and down in confusion. While his clean clothes were in relatively good condition, they were still simple and worn from use. He had little else on him as well - a few concealed daggers and some parchment and ink in his pack. The rest of his stuff was currently stowed away in a hidden niche he was sure no one would find. Since he found the sleeping quarters much too cramped for his liking, he had decided to sleep up on deck that night. With no place else to store his stuff, he had pried loose a floorboard on the deck to hide his belongings.

"By that, what do ya mean, kiddo? I don't have much you could really call nice. I've nothing to call my own except the clothes on my back and what I carry with me."

OOC Just for future reference, Cern will most likely be sleeping above deck every night. He's not one for closed spaces

[Virulain]

Antimony sidled alongside Jalamar, looking out over the waves rather than looking straight on. After they had passed some time in silence, she glanced at him. "The name you mentioned before we set sail isn't one I often hear. How'd you come to sail aboard the Avilers with... His brother?" The question was twofold, of course. She spoke quietly, not one to wish being overheard, and her tone was soft but not meek. She had an interest in such things. "I'm rude; I apologize. I haven't been much in civilization... Recently. I am Antimony Wainwright. I didn't have the chance to return your introduction of the day before. Forgive me." The priest seemed an interesting person; that Cern was too nervous... And sleeping on deck? The open air was nice... But Antimony felt as though at any moment the grand sweep of the sky could tear her away from the deck. There was just... Too much of it bearing down on her, with nothing holding it at bay but a mast. Been too long underground.

[HughtheHand]

Nelbin goes to each of the travelers, as well as the first mate Huxley, and asks them if they wish to hear of his visions. He tells them to gather in 15 minutes in their quarters below deck.

[HughtheHand]

Fifteen minutes later, in the hold of the ship, Nelbin waits. His large, unfocused eyes look at those who accepted his offer.

Without introductions, he suddenly begins.


I was standing in the back of an immense cavern, covered in darkness deeper than night. The shadows hid me well.

I could feel the pressure as if something massive were pushing down on me. I was somewhere deep; My instincts told me that I was deep underwater. Several tunnels curled away from this cavern, and from them came the faint and rhythmic sound of drumbeats.

I felt it's presence then. It was massive, but more than that I felt it's Hunger-it struck me with terror. It was a need ingrained into the thing; a hunger to devour all things before they become. Yet it was bound, shackled on a humongous altar of bone and teeth .

It sat, waiting. You were frozen in place, watching. Minutes passed.

A shadow coalesced in the center of the cavern; the torches flickered though there was no breeze. The shadow formed itself into a huge and ugly being, similar to the one on the throne, but smaller. It radiated a dark power. It glided silently across the hall, until it floated before the altar.

My perspective changed; now I was standing elsewhere in the cavern, still hidden, watching the pair of beings from the side, each in profile, facing each other. The larger, more powerful being began to speak in a strange, guttural tongue to the one floating. He went on at length, gesturing often, growing more animated, more violent. The floating creature leaned forward, listening eagerly. Its eyes gleamed red in the torchlight. At last the bound finished its tirade, and the other nodded it's head.

The torches grew dim, and the cavern became dark; the creature and the altar faded away, leaving the mighty being hovering alone in the hall. Alone except for myself, still watching, still hidden in the protection of Desna’s darkness. For the first time, I noticed what appear to be thin wires, attached to the being’s arms, legs and head, stretching upward, vanishing into the dark ceiling of the hall.

Then I see the eyes of the being began to glow,and I had a flash of recognition, it was familiar- I knew it. The light hurt my eyes.

It turned its head toward me. It sensed that someone was watching.

The light from its eyes was blinding.

I awoke.