FLUFF: Jammers: Turn 45 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:))

Website: http://lost.spelljammer.org/Jammers/

----------- = 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:

Italapate clambers aboard first, then his companion climbs aboard. The
new comer appears is about 5'8" and 150 or so pounds.  He has black
hair, worn short in a style that could almost be described as a military
cut. His eyes are slightly
almond shaped and his ears are slightly pointed. He is wearing a short
sleeved shirt of white linen with a colored vest over the top. His pants
are bloused
into the tops of his knee high leather boots and he wears a carefully
wound turban.  He's wearing leather armor, and bears a rapier and main-
gauche.  A pack and a lute hang from his back.

"Ah, Italapate good to see you in piece what!  Who's your new friend?"
Ives booms out as moves closer to Lellyn.

Holland's eyes narrow as he looks at the new arrival with Italapate but
says to Ferric, "Let's get some altitude before we do anything further."

As the ship is rising Holland says to the newcomer, "You don't look like
you've spent the last five years on this planet, so there are only two
ways you could have gotten here and I know that you didn't ride on this
ship.  So, I want you to stay quiet and keep your hands away from your
weapons while Italapate explains why we don't throw you overboard."

Holland, with an arched eyebrow and small smile, looks over at Italapate
and asks, "Picking up strays now Italapate?"

Lellyn stands easily near the ships railing, out of the way of the crew.
Quietly he watches the interactions of the ship's crew and observes the
general condition in which the ship seems to be kept.

Italapate grins, "Of course!  He was jumping off Cartan's ship as I was
trying to jump on.  Kept me from flying off with 'em.  He seems
harmless, just signed on with the wrong ship.  The shaman of the
phanaton tested him and I, Lellyn here seemed to pass the phanaton's
test.  But talk to him, Holland, not I.  We have simply fled danger
together for days."

Holland nods and then turns to address Lellyn, "First, please do not
take offense but we have already had one traitor infiltrate our midst.
I do not care to repeat that mistake.  As a member of Cartan's crew, you
don't automatically generate much trust here.  Please explain yourself
and don't be coy.  If we think you are trying to hide something or be
deceitful we will just toss you overboard and save ourselves the
headache."

"You do well to use caution; I bear you no ill will for its exercise".
Lellyn replies with a nod to Holland. "My tale is just as Italapate
tells it, though I think you prefer to hear the long version "

"I had come to Bral in pursuit of a personal quest, and found my coin
purse growing thinner and the end of my quest no closer than when I
arrived." Lellyn begins, his voice quiet but easily heard by all near
by. "Thus I was driven to seek employment, as I found street busking not
to my liking. And so it came to pass that I hired on to the DRAGHAZAR,
to entertain a scion of House Cartan and his fellows as they voyaged in
search of a long lost treasure."

"All seemed well, the journey from Bral to the flow was as you would
expect, and without incident. Soon after the ship entered the flow
however, my fortunes changed for the worse. Suddenly, and without
explanation, I was put to work with the common crew. When I dared to
protest such treatment as being outside of the conditions of my hiring,
subtle persuasion was brought to bear." Lellyn's eyes harden slightly
and his tone becomes flat as he continues, "The persuasion took the form
of a large and somewhat sadistic giff armed with a lash. Upon my
recovery I found myself doing double duty, performing for Cartan and his
fellow miscreants at their whim and serving with the crew the rest of
the time."

"Thus passed the voyage until we reached this sphere, whose name I was
never given.  We came planet-side and captured two natives paddling a
canoe. I never made their acquaintance as they were quickly taken below
decks.  Soon the bowels of the ship rang with the screams of first one
and then the other of those poor souls. Their bloody and broken bodies
were later thrown over the side without fanfare. Disposed of as if they
were no more then the leavings from the ship's galley." With visible
effort, Lellyn relaxes himself and his tone returns to its previous
pitch.

"I sensed a change in the demeanor of the crew shortly thereafter. I
found sly gazes cast my way, when no one thought I was looking. I could
literally feel the malice seething on that ship, with me as its focus.
Soon I realized what was happening around me.  The crew knew what I had
failed to realize. There was no way that Cartan and his lackeys would
allow me to return to Bral. I knew that they had taken and tortured to
death those poor souls, a tale which Cartan would never allow to be
told. At some point, I too would be cast over the side, bloody and
lifeless. I'm sure you realize, I personally found that a somewhat
distasteful proposition."

"So began my own sessions of plotting, planning, and skulking. I knew I
had to leave that ship and that there were none there who would lend me
aid. Soon I had divined my course, and awaited a landing for its
implementation. I secreted my few possessions near the ship's bow, close
by the ram, during the course of the day as negotiations progressed with
the natives. Since the ship had been welcomed, I reckoned that I could
take refuge among the natives. It seemed a far better and longer life
than awaited me if I remained aboard the DRAGHAZAR. As the crew grew
busy, raising ship, I snatched my rucksack and employed the ships ram as
a ramp. I thought to swiftly drop to the ground and secret myself in the
thick foliage nearby until the ship was out of sight. Alas, that was not
to be."

"As I slid down the ram I made a rather shocking discovery. What
appeared to be one of the natives was attempting to make his way ON to
that miserable ship. Together we plummeted to the ground. I really have
never decided which of us broke the fall of the other. Thus did I meet
Italapate, stalwart shaman of Coyote.  We spent the next few days
skulking in the jungle and eventually became the guests of the Phanaton.
There we remained until your arrival.  And now, you must decide what
will pass. Your actions becoming a part of the tale, one whose ending I
hope shall remain far in the distant future.". Lellyn's voice fades
quietly away, his head inclined to indicate that the story has reached
it's conclusion.

Raken's eyes sadden at Lellyn's tale.  "Damn," he breathes, "There's no
way in all Nine Hells will Cartan allow us to return to Bral unmolested
now."  He continues, "Lellyn, is it?  I would ask that you check your
possessions for anything out of place, and allow us to use spells to
detect magic, in the event that something was place upon you that could
be used by spell or device to find us.  Be assured we do not wish to rob
you, but wish only the safety of our ship is preserved at all cost."

Looking somewhat startled Lellyn replies "Search as you will.. by spell
or with your eyes. I have nothing to hide and bring nothing aboard your
ship that would cause harm. All that I ask is that you do not damage my
Sayadena, my lute, she has been long with me and is a friend I would not
loose. As for magical things I own none. Fortune has not brought such
wonders into my keeping."

"Don't misunderstand," Raken replies, "I do not question your integrity.
Cartan is cunning.  He might have slipped something on your person
without your knowledge, something that may be used by spell or device to
find you, and by extension, us."  He sighs, "I am probably being
paranoid, but you yourself know what the man is capable of.  It would be
best to avoid a fight."

Lellyn replies, "Seyla, his song is of darkness, in this you know truth.
Let us search together through these things. I think that even Cartan's
mercenary was not aware that I would slip away as I did, but I too would
like to know if they
have done as you suggest."

Raken smiles. "I'm know I'm being overly paranoid, but I can't shake the
feeling that we are all but destined to fight it out with Cartan, one
way or another, before we return to Bral."

Holland listens passively and then at the end says, "I presume the
lashes were to your back.  If you would be so kind as to bare your back,
we would greatly appreciate it."

"That was some time ago, Holland," Sekeht says. "Scars do heal."

Distaste obvious in his voice Lellyn replies "If you would do this
thing, then let it be done quickly and below deck. It is not seemly that
a man should bare himself in public. In truth I know not what you will
see, for as this gentleman says," Lellyn nods in Sekeht's direction
"time has passed and wounds heal."

Cutlass says, "Why waste time? Ye have spellcasters who can scry his
heart and loyalties, no? Or read his mind? If ye have a true castaway
from ye foes then ye've found a prize. He can tell you much of them."

With his back to Masawa, Talus catches Kain's eye and looks at his
medallion briefly before asking, "You detect anything odd Kain?"

Sekeht looks at Kain, then at Talus. "Was this done to me when I joined the company?" he demands.

Holland responds calmly, "Somewhat; after warning you, we did cast some
divining spells during your interview.  Now isn't the time to get into
that, we have more pressing matters at hand."

"But Kain doesn't use spells," Sekeht mumbles.

"Ok, I will see what I can see." Replies Kain.

Approaching Lellyn, Kain asks, "I will have to touch you for this. I
hope that is alright. You should not feel a thing, and of course if you
are telling the truth there's nothing to worry about."

Kain then pauses for some seconds, explaining, "I just have to think of
a suitable question first", before reaching up to place his right hand
on Lellyn's temple.

"Ok" Kain announces, "Can you please tell me how many masts this ship has?"

Lellyn replies, "I do not understand what telling you what you can see
with your own eyes will prove. Yet if you would have me say it, seyla
then. Two, the ship has two masts."

Kain nods,  "He seems to be telling us the truth."

Holland then says to the group, "If none of you find fault, we will
offer berth to Lellyn."  Holland says to Lellyn, "We can discuss
passenger fees later."

"Fees?"  Ferric shakes his head.  "An enemy of my enemy is my friend,
especially if that enemy is Cartan.  I mean to face that dog at some
point and would be quite interested in anything Lellyn has come to know
about the ship or the man.  Not to mention the damage to reputation we
can do with his tales once we return to Bral."

"Now that Italapate's back with us, let's get rid of Masawa and return to Bral," Sekeht says.

"You forget our missing passenger Sekhet.  We'll not leave without at
least making a good effort to find him.  I have a certain vested
interest in his company during our return."  Ferric says.

"Forget? Um, yes," Sekeht says slowly. "But each minute we would wait for him endangers the ship and crew."

While the others are questioning the new passenger Allagan looks over
the side for the war canoes and what is going on ground side.  he sees
that the war canoes have been left behind, and the ocean is just a line
on the horizon (perhaps three miles away).  But he can easily see the
zombie camp Italapate had described earlier.  The zombies appear to
still be lumbering and building war canoes as Italapate described.

Allagan says, "Hey, ah, Holland..  Do you have any fireballs handy?
Taking out the work force and their war canoes might make things harder
for the fishies."

Holland replies, "Actually I do."  Holland takes a few steps over to the
rail and looks down at the zombie camp.

"Ah, more fireworks!" Raken says.  "This should be fun.  I wonder how
long the fishes' slave tribe will last without their zombie pets."

To Masawa, Raken says "I certainly hope your tribe wasn't counting on having a zombie force to protect them."

Masawa glares at him.

Leera scowls as Holland. "Why waste your Art here? We'll likely need it before the day is through!"

Holland replies, "I don't see it as a waste.  Anything I do here will
serve to blunt the conquest of the fish creatures.  I will still have
some fireballs for Cartan."

Allagan says, "I think laying these poor souls to rest is worth it."

Dagger still in hand Talus says to Masawa, "It didn't look like all
those people were in a very friendly mood.  Feel like explaining that?
Because I bet if we
flew down and gave you to them, they would get you in a talkative mood pretty quickly."

Allagan adds from the rail, "It would be a shame if they did something to Sanar, wouldn't it."

Masawa glares at Allagan, "The Mother will be safe.  She has many
allies.  If the other villages dare oppose her, they will fall sooner
rather than later."

Talus replies, "You are referring to those fish creatures?  Well, I am
not sure how you got involved with them, but I don't think they are
going to be able to help with these many warriors landing on your
beaches."

Allagan remarks, "'Sooner rather than later'?  So the plan _is_ to
conquer the planet and then what?  Sieze a ship and take to the stars?
Is that why you
murdered our companions and seized our ship?"

"You chose to journey to the City of the Gods." Masawa answers with an
evil smile, "We were chosen to make certain your flying offering was
collected.  It was the God's will that you arrived when you did."

"Those Fish men, they are no Gods," comments Kain from his place by the
sails, "Just a different race trying to make slaves of you and your
village."

Allagan replies, "So how long have you been serving the 'gods'?"

Masawa growls, "Who but the Gods can know a man's thoughts? We have
served them for five cycles of the sun, ever since I discovered the City
of the Gods for the Mother of Panitubi."

"Who but Gods can cast fire from the sky, or hold power of life or death
over a man?" Kain asks, "Their skill with the mind is no more than
your's with the war club, only different."

Allagan asks, "How did you discover the City?  And why?  It isn't like
you came upon it by accident, you had to travel a long way to get to
it."

Masawa looks obstinate for a moment, then he shrugs and growls, "Mother
Sanar knows much of the old days. After the previous visit from those
like yourselves, those from the stars, She told me to journey to the
city, that the river would flow to the plateau, and that the City would
be found in the center of the plateau. I led an expedition... it took us
weeks but we got there eventually.  The Gods welcomed us."

Talus remarks, "I bet they welcomed you.  They have probably been
waiting for a long time for new slaves to do their dirty work."  Talus
asks, "What about this
black pearl we heard talk about?  What is its significance?"

Masawa replies, "The Pearl of the Gods? I have never seen it."

Talus replies, "You may have never seen it, but you seem to know its
history.  What is so important about the 'Pearl of the Gods'?"

Masawa answers sullenly, "In the legends it is like an eye for the gods,
that it allowed them to see and hear all they wished to know."

Allagan shakes his head and says, "I don't understand. Five years ago
you went to the temple, you had warriors and witchdoctors living there,
but you never
collected the treasure that you knew was there.  You knew there was
treasure, the fishies knew there was treasure, items of power that could
help you in your
conquests, but you never claimed it.  Why?"

Cutlass answers, "You misunderstand, matey. The tadpoles knew about the
treasure, but they didn't pass that news onto their slaves. That's why
they kept it guarded, for future use.  They couldn't use most of the
items themselves, and didn't trust the natives with 'em."

Allagan nods his head, "Oh, that would make sense then."

Holland says, "Ferric, please bring us down to around 150 feet.
Everyone, battle positions-man the weapons and keep an eye out for any
air predators."

Talus moves to the midship ballista, helps arm it and then scans around for any targets.

Freneth hurries over to the midship ballista as well, easily slipping
his accustomed combat spot.  Seeing Talus helping him, Freneth smiles.

Nilaroo moves to his position at the catapult.

Ives joins Nilaroo at the catapult.   After its loaded Ives loads his
two pistols with fresh charges of powder and shot.

Once down to the target altitude Holland begins to chant as he points
down at the zombie camp.  One by one in quick succession Holland
launches three balls of fire towards the camp to destroy it.

Sekeht watches Holland's fiery attack with interest.

Allagan says a short prayer as the zombies are laid to their final rest.

Below,a handful of figures scatter in fear as the ship descends upon the
camp, but the majority of the figures working at logging and carving the
canoes continue to work.

Holland's fireballs incinerate three quarters of the camp.  Most of the
working figures now lie in blackened, motionless heaps upon the ground,
and the harvested logs and completed war canoes smolder and burn.  No
return attacks come from the destroyed camp.

Immediately after his third fireball Holland says, "Ferric, take us back
up..  High up, above any predators.  We will attempt to contact the
dragon one more time, then unless anyone objects, we will depart this
sphere."

Date/Time: 2:15 pm, 12th 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,  westermeyer@????????.net