Jammers: Turn 6, Chapter 7 Summary

The Ongoing adventures of my Spelljammer PBEM game.

Here's the Jammers web address:

http://jammers.s5.com/

Comments, questions always welcome:)

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

IC:

The night passes uneventfully aside from a rainstorm which passes
sometime after midnight. It is hot and humid but the fresh air after
the long trip makes the night reasonably enjoyable.

The next morning the crew gets up and enjoys some breakfast before
again taking to the skies to continue their exploration of the Isle
of Dread.

As the day progresses the coastline of the big island remains rocky
and forbidding, not a sight that encourages casual tourists. After
noon, however, the sights begin to change and some sign of
intelligent life appears.

A large peninsula is attached to the big island by a very narrow
isthmus, only two miles across. The isthmus is cut off from the rest
of the island by a massive wall, as long as the isthmus is wide.

"I do recall this." Argonui says, "I believe the villages are on the
peninsula."

"Golly good! We're nearly there" Ives booms out. "We should be ready
to deal with those lake monsters what!" Loosening his pistol in his
holster Ives nods and looks out over the land.

"Excellent, we'll just circle the coast and try to spot some sign of
a village now." Ferric says with a smile.  Leaning on the tillers and
giving a few orders to the sail hands Ferric changes the ship's
course running it parallel to the coast of the peninsula in a
southerly direction.

Holland responds, "Yes, let's head down and look for the village."

Resuming his position at the ballista, Sekeht keeps an eye on the
skies while occasionally glancing down at the land below the ship.

Freneth continues to man his post, though like the previous day, he
does not bother putting on his armor, and he constantly moves to the
water barrels, dipping out drinks, and looking thoroughly miserable
in the heat.

After Freneth's third such trip Ferric chuckles, "After this I
suppose you shall wish to visit that frozen chunk of ice where they
kept Holland, eh Freneth."  The large grey skinned man shows no signs
of even noticing the heat though he is fully clothed and wearing his
plumed hat as well as leather armor.

Freneth grins, his beard split by his not quite even teeth. "It was
much more comfortable than this," he responds. "How you can wear all
of that, this one will never understand." He uses the dipper to
indicate Ferric's clothing.

"I suppose its in my blood." Ferric replies. "I never have minded the
heat. Cold is a different matter though, especially since I don't
usually bring much in the way of heavy clothing."

Allagan adjusts the lines and loops a rope around his spear to keep it secure.

Allagan asks Raken, "How many worshippers does it take to bring a
God's power into a sphere?"

Raken laughs. "Too many, and it may depend on the sphere in question.
You would likely have to convert several villages to Zeus before his
power could be felt.  Of course, Celestian's domain is all of
wildspace, so I am not so limited there.  Unfortunately, it is upon
worlds that his power diminishes.

Allagan muses, "Hmm..."

Raken shakes his head. "You're more than welcome to try and convert
the locals, though they may not appreciate your efforts. Deities can
be quite... vengeful."

Allagan speculates, "Hmm, a little lightning, heal some infants..."

"Be struck down by a thunderbolt, devoured by a dinosaur, cooked for
dinner by natives..." Raken counters.

Talus adds, "They probably have their own shaman, it would be
dangerous to meddle."

Allagan cocks his head from side to side and says, "Still.."

Dhebun looks at Raken, a frown on his face.  "It is a foolish man who
places himself upon the anvil and then shrinks from the hammer's
blow, Raken.  Face the hammer and show it your mettle."

Raken laughs.  "Tis not I putting myself upon thyne anvil, Dhebun..."

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

After moving along the coast for another two hours the crew spots
cleared land below, the regularity of the clearing can only mean
cultivation. Getting closer,  large huts and a small stone pyramid
can be made out. There is a small, sheltered harbor. Perhaps a dozen
large canoes, and many smaller ones, can be seen drawn up on its
beach. There is enough room to land in the harbor, and as a  galley
the NIGHTWIND should have no problems being beached, or you could
just anchor in the harbor.

Holland says, "Fresh food and some directions."  Holland adds with a
frown, "We should be as quick as we can though, who knows how much of
a lead we have."

Ferric says, "If anyone has last minute adjustments to make with
their gear please do so now. If not then get to your battle stations
and get those weapons loaded. If there are unpleasant surprises to be
had we will be well served by having a salvo of heavy weapons fire on
our side to even things up. After all these may not be the same
pleasant natives from Rories logbook and I don't fancy myself as
being the main course for anyone's dinner, lizard or humanoid."

Talus takes his place and helps load the catapult.

After everyone has taken care of their personal needs and the weapons
are all loaded Ferric says into the speakertube.  "Oquid, set us down
in the middle of the harbor there but be ready to take us straight up
if anything goes awry."

Following instructions the NIGHTWIND sets down in the harbor. As the
ship sets down several of the large canoes can be seen pushing off
from the beach. Each is a double-hulled canoe with a couple dozen
natives paddling it out. As they approach the large galley the canoes
slow down. Human warriors in feathers and loin cloths stand on the
central platforms of each canoe holding spears and slings. The canoes
float between the shore and the NIGHTWIND, their crews silent and
watchful.

Ferric says wryly "Guess I'll chance their aim." then walks to the
railing and shouts, "I am Ferric Gundson, who leads here?"

"I don't think they speak our language," Sekeht says in a hushed
tone. "They barely have waterships. They've never been in wildspace."

The canoes continue to float quietly as the warriors stare at the
ship... until a large man on one of the two-hulled canoes steps
forward. He is a muscled, heavy-set man though not tall (none of the
natives seem to exceed 5'8 or so). He is incredibly ugly, his face
somewhat flat and crossed by a scar from a massive set of claws. He
bears a shield, and holds a flat war-club studded along the edges
with some sort of stone or teeth. His hair, like that of all the
natives is jet black and his skin tanned but covered with bright
tattoos (many more tattoos then any of the other warriors about him).

He says, "I am Masawa, War Leader of Panitubi, Mate of Sanar. I speak
here. What is it you wish?"

Sekeht frowns briefly as he realizes his mistake.

Italapate grins. "A little song, a little wine... maybe to watch a
native belly dance or two....."

"My companions and myself wish to speak to your tribe's leader and
wise ones."  Ferric replies. "Would you be so good as to have them
informed?"

Sekeht looks at Ferric quizzically. "Perhaps we should get someone
with some diplomatic skill to talk to these people instead," he says
quietly to those near him.

After Ferric requests a meeting with the tribal leader, Leera moves
to the front and adds "I am Leera Lightbender, the Lady Mage of this
group, and this is Ferric Gundson, one of our war-leaders. He speaks
for us though we have come in peace, not war. He speaks well and
truly.... we would like to speak with the other leaders of your
people."

"Very well." Masawa growls, looking a bit angry. He motions to
another canoe which paddles alongside the galley. "If you wish to
meet the Mother, come." He obviously is waiting for those who wish to
come to climb onto the canoe alongside the NIGHTWIND.

Despite Masawa's apparent anger, the rest of the warriors seem rather
curious rather then angry.

Date/Time: 3:05 pm, 6th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC
--
"We sleep safely in our beds, only because rough men stand guard in
the night, ready to visit violence upon those who would do us harm."
H.G. Wells.

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State University
Instructor, Humanities, Columbus State Community College