FLUFF: Jammers: Turn 31 Chapter 7

The Adventures of my Jammers PBEM game.

I hope folks are enjoying these, if there is a consensus that they
suck I will be happy to stop posting them. Let me know what you folks
think. (My players should feel free to comment as well:))

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...
{} = Actions and descriptions within these brackets take place within
the psionic mindscape and are OOC knowledge for all accept the
parties directly involved.

IC:

"Are we returning to the village or looking for our ship?" Sekeht asks.

Holland replies, "That depends on a lot of things."  Holland looks
over at Kain.
Holland asks, "Kain, were you able to contact Oquid or Argonui?"

Kain replies, "I was able to speak with Oquid and... Grigree. Oquid
seemed very ... scared, but Gringee was calmer. I could not reach
Argonui, Oquid said they
stabbed him many times and he was ... thrown over the side, but I
found his mind... I just couldn't connect because it wasn't a human
or demihuman mind."
When questioned Kain goes on to relate the conversation in more detail.

Holland replies, "So Argonui is alive?"

Kain answers swiftly; "Yes, I ... think so, his ... mind is certainly
... active. I can't tell how ... healthy he is, or ... where."

Ferric smiles, "As I said, he will turn up again."

"To think Billy's gone.  He was a worthy companion." Shaking his head
Ives grips his sword hilt tightly "For that they shall die."

"Wait," Sekeht says. "If Argonui's not human or demihuman, then what is he?"

Kain pauses for a moment before replying, "He did not have the same
kind of ... mind as those ... fish creatures, but he could have been
almost ... anything else, a creature in ... disguise, a ... plant
creature, a ... dragon, a ... insect, or ... something far less ...
exotic, I have ... no idea really."

The Cutlass says, "Ho-ho, mateys! Did ye just ask about Argonui? Do
ye mean _the_ Argonui, old man with a white beard, kinda mysterious?"

Holland arches an eyebrow, "Yes, _the_ Argonui.  What do you know of him?"

Raken eyebrows also arch upwards.  "Cutlass knows Argonui?  Exactly
how old _is_ he?"  He shakes his head "Why do I get this feeling of
dread?"

Sekeht says, "The Lady Moune said he was trustworthy, didn't she? But
I don't think he was forthright with us about his motives."

Raken responds "we can hardly speculate right now.  I have a feeling
we'll be sorting everything out from a pile of corpses..."

Jumping into the conversation Ives quips "So we're going with our
standard plan then.  Argue over details and kill everything that
moves what!"

Raken laughs and pats the big giff on the shoulder(blade).  "Now
you're catching on!  That's our plan for just about every
situation!".

Snorting a little Ives shakes his head and says "Frankly I'd rather
quit the jawing and get on with the fighting.  That or firing with
the Gonne, I just hope Segal has it ready when we get back."

Raken mutters something barely audible, to the effect of "sometimes,
I agree..."

"This Lady Moune's unknown to me, but I can answer for Argonui. If
he's with ya, he'll be wanting me melted down to slag.  Promise ye
won't let 'em do that to me, eh mateys?" Cutlass says.

Raken asks "how do you know him?  What is the history between him and
yourself?"

"One of my wielders and I handed the worm a reverse, lad, and he
bears a grudge.' the Cutlass answers.

Raken quizzically looks at Cutlass.  "Exactly how long ago was
this? May I ask what happened?"

Holland asks, "Why do you call him worm?  Tell us more about this reverse.."

"Matey, ye were born a merchant, no? Always with you it is something
for nothing.  Promise me ye won't let me be melted down or destroyed
and my lore will be yours." the Cutlass answers.

Leera laughs. "My good penknife..... you really aren't in a position
to bargain. We have you, and I hold you now. Make yourself useful....
no.... make yourself indispensable to us, and you surely won't suffer
for it. Cross us, and I'll have
you made into a set of bracelets and matching earrings."

Leera bends down and picks the cutlass back up. "Now, answer the good
mage's questions."

"Oho, lassie.  So ye think the ole Cutlass has a losing hand, do ye?"
Cutlass chuckles, "I know much, treasure sites, ancient lore, the
weak points of a hundred fortresses and the rocks and shoals of a
hundred spheres. I know this Argonui, and I know more of the foes ye
be facing here and now in this gods-forsaken lost world. I'll be
telling ye all I know of the slimey things to help ye get off-world,
and prove me good intentions. But if ye want more than that, ye must
show yer colors. I be harder to scuttle then ye think."

Eyeballing the Cutlass Ives snorts and says "Would you accept being
hauled up before the elven admirals for trial and judgement? After
being pumped for information by the Seekers of course."

Holland says, "Argonui has a claim on you and there is obviously some
bad-blood between you.  If you want us to argue your case with
Argonui you had best start making yourself useful or else we will
just give you up and let Argonui do with you as he will.  Treasure
and Knowledge be damned!" Holland folds his arms across his chest,
"Make your decision."

Raken interjects, "Holland, you read the Crystal Ball more than I do,
but I seem to recall a story about an dragon, iron in scales I think,
that had a distaste for pirates, has been seen in Bralspace
recently... could it all be the same being?  The dragon we saw, the
dragon in Bralspace, our Argonui?"

Holland taps his chin and replies, "I recall reading of an Iron
Dragon, known as Blackclaw.  Something about it being seen in Gods'
Marbles and it being a well-known foe of pirates and illithids.  But
this was months ago."

Ives says, "As I said, Blackclaw was given a set back by Blackjammer and the
Cutlass nearly a century ago. Makes sense to me."

"Blackclaw..." Raken mutters.  "too bad we didn't get a real good
look at that dragon that passed over us.  But it all fits together."

Frowning Ives mutters under his breath. Then with his ears edging
forward stiffly Ives booms out "Blackclaw. Am I right, he's the Iron
Dragon made fun of by the opera?  Do you know where the Starwing has
been stashed?"

"I believe Argonui is the worm he means," Sekeht tells the giff.

Raken's eye light up.  "Worm...or Wyrm...the dragon!"  He curses
something under his breath.  "Kain said Argonui isn't human, more
like an unhuman creature, such as a dragon... such as the one we saw
passing overhead while we fled the island!"

Raising an eyebrow at Raken Ives says "That wouldn't hold with
Aroguni still being on the Nightwind.  Though it might be fun having
Aroguni taking on the other dragon.  Good fight to watch. Sekeht why
would the dragon give us its dragon name, when its got a perfectly
good one for its more humanoid form."

"I'm not sure," Sekeht says. "I don't know much about dragons."

Raken retorts "but wasn't Aroguni tossed overboard?  The natives
might have taken him by surprise, 'killed' his human form, and then
tossed him overboard.  At which time Aroguni the dragon returned to
human form, took stock of the situtation, and then thought it best to
head back.  Back towards us!"

Raken paces a bit, "The dragon we saw had silver or white scales.
You mentioned some sort of play with an 'iron' dragon... iron that
from a distance could be mistaken for silver or white color.  It all
makes sense!" Looking just a bit pleased with himself, he continues
"like it or not, I think we've been dealing with a dragon all along.
Of course, what's our next move?"

Holland looks over at Ferric, "So, is this Argonui a dragon in
disguise? You obviously know something about him."  Holland frowns,
"I am getting tired of all these secrets."

Date/Time: 10:05 am, 9th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC
--
"...How shall a man judge what to do in such times?!"
"As he has ever judged," said Aragorn "Good and evil have not changed
since yesteryear..."
J.R.R. Tolkien, _The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers_

Paul Westermeyer,  pwestermeyer@????????.??.com