FLUFF: Jammers: Turn 51 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:

Talus replies, "The 'Eternal Lotus' did say that the war between the
'Cold Ones' and the Thri-kreen is what caused the downfall of the Thri-
kreen empire.  Think
of that..  An entire empire.  We don't know why the fishies stopped
going off-world, maybe the volcano had some activity and flooded their
temple and killed off a bunch of them, or something.  It would be
interesting to find out the why."

Talus says, "Wildspace is already chaotic enough without adding the
fishies to them.  I don't know if I could bear it on my conscience if
they did get out when we could have stopped them."

"They have done us great injury, including slaying one of our crew,"
Sekeht says. "They deserve to be stranded here, and we should make sure
they are if we
can. Their spellcaster is strong, though, and if we are to strike it
should be quickly, before she has the chance to renew her magical
energies."

 After finishing tying off the sheets, Lellyn turns to the rest of the
group. "You ask whether to flee or to fight. I say to you all, we MUST
fight these people for they are evil and corrupt all that they touch. So
for me the question is not DO we fight but HOW do we fight and WHEN.
Fight now, if we can find them, and we know that they will be ready The
place of the fight will be of their choosing and they will set the
tempo. This is not good. To defeat them we must remove or neutralize
several of their key members."
 
Lellyn continues, "I say to you then, wait. Today their ship was damaged
but none of their key crew members were harmed. Their witch is powerful
and crafty. Their ship is well commanded even if badly damaged. That
ship is a warship however and this one is not. Should we wait, and plan,
and prepare to face them another day we can lay the odds in our favor.
There are several ways that come to mind that we can make them dance to
OUR tune."
 
Lellyn concludes, "Today, I think, we should mourn our dead, and then
leave this place. Let our own magics be renewed along with our spirits.
Then we prepare ourselves for the day we meet again. For when we DO meet
them again I intend to face that accursed witch and watch the look in
her eyes as I thrust my blade through her black heart."

Holland asks, "Lellyn..  It is Lellyn right?  This witch you spoke of,
did she carry some sort of wand or staff?  What more can you tell us of
her?"

With a nod to Holland, Lellyn replies "Delmaria she is called, and a
more evil and twisted soul you will not find swiftly or easily. She
delights in causing pain and death. I do not know what magical tools are
at her disposal as I have not seen her with any that I recall. By her
nature though I would guess that she possesses such things and will use
them only to save herself or to cause such havoc as to "justify"
revealing them. She travels with 2 bodyguards, always. They are fierce
and seem loyal to her. If she has any weaknesses, I would guess them to
be pride and vanity. Shame her and she will never forget or forgive,
those things are not in her nature. That is all I was able to learn of
her on the journey here as she did not fraternize with the ship's crew.
Little I know it is to go on."

Talus interjects, "We could wait in the flow outside the sphere for them
to leave and hit them then. Another wall of force would work wonders,
they can't
completely fix their ship here."

Turning to Talus, Lellyn responds, "This also we can try. How would you
place the ship? Do you know where they will leave the sphere? As for
using another wall of force I would not rely on it. They know now that
we have that capability and will probably plan on it being used against
them again. It would be better to come up with a new tactic and surprise
them."

Talus replies, "Well then, what do you suggest?"

With a shrug Lellyn answers, "My suggestion remains unchanged. In short,
let us leave this place and renew this fight only when we are ready and
have chosen the time and place of battle. Be that tomorrow, next week or
next year. As soon as any of us come up with a workable plan that rains
destruction on our foes and leaves us alive to tell the tale of it I
will support him, or her. Until then I say wait."

After cleaning and sheathing his sword Ives booms out "We've got our
payment, and a contract to keep what!  No profit in chasing after them.
Besides I doubt we could hurt them worse than Cartan will once they fail
to return with the Cutlass."

After remaining silent for some moments, perhaps thinking, Kain starts a
long stuttering speech, "We know the fish have destroyed a spelljammer
before, one they could easily have captured, maybe they no longer wish
to rule other worlds but simply defend their own. But if the witch found
fish allies she would be much more powerful."

Kain continues "If we leave now and head home we force our foes to chase
us if they want to avenge their defeat, and we need only look behind us.
If we stay and seek her here we may not find anything and must keep a
careful watch in all directions as we travel home perchance we should
hit an invisible wall in our path.

Eventually Kain's conclusion arrives, "Even if we find our quarry we may
succeed only in forcing the witch to ally herself with the fish, a
situation we should avoid. I think it best to leave now with all speed,
and hope their humiliating defeat will encourage our enemy to give chase
rather than lingering in this sphere."

Talus responds, "And in turn having to look over our shoulders at every
port, thinking, 'Is this when they will attack?'.  Never going anywhere
alone for fear of being attacked or abducted.  Is that how you want to
live?"

"Um," Kain replies "I already fear that, the witch is just one more foe to add to a long list."

"Fah!" Ives exclaims "They are Cartan's lackeys or mercenaries.  His
lackeys we can face in duels as Ferric already did with Dougal, and as
for his mercenaries unless there's profit in it why would they bother
with revenge.  That and pay them enough mercenaries like Herminard can
become very helpful. Besides we still have the Red Masks too deal with,
not to mention the Shipwreckers"

Talus replies, "What?  Usually you want to shorten a list of people pissed off at you, not expand it."

"Of course, lets just get the Shipwreckers and the Red Masks off ours
first, then Cartan's bunch." Ives booms out in reply "Not to mention
there should be some good rewards in hauling in the pirate crews"

Ferric shakes his head, "Unfortunately Cartan has enough influence that
we would likely be the ones tried for piracy were we to bring in our
aggressors. We may still have to weather some sort of scandal upon their
return but with luck their revenge will take the form of daggers in the
night which we will be better able to fend off than public charges."

Talus replies, "'Daggers in the night'?  Just what we need.  We already
have enough problems on Bral without totally alienating a major House.
Cartan may not think too highly of us now, but if they get back, all
bets will be off."

"Bah, just have Lerra flooze a little with him.  Past history suggests
it worked before." Ives retorts "Besides its not like he won't be mad at
us for seeing the Cutlass destroyed or removed from the Spheres what!.
 
Snorting Ives continues on "That and we can always prove how incompetent
his lackies were, after all nothing goes down the chain of command like
unpleasant tasks and blame.

Leera's head snaps around at Ives' words. She turns away from the
conversation she was having with Oquid. She walks over to Ives, looks
straight up at him and snorts. "Watch your tongue, beast. My personal
affairs are my business, and none of yours. I've sworn an oath to this
company and won't betray it, but I'll not have you directing my social
calendar." She away from Ives and winks briefly  as she catches
Holland's eye. She returns to her conversation with Oquid.

Rolling his ears, Ives, speaking to the air replies "Illusionists."

"Have a care, Ives," Sekeht says. "Leera's done much for this company,
including bringing Talus back to us. She deserves our respect."

Ferric shrugs, "I would suggest we pick up Argonui before we try
anything rash.  He may provide us with wise counsel and prove to be a
counter to their witch should we engage again before leaving the
sphere."

Talus smiles, "Yes, he would definitely be of great help."

Holland replies, "Kain, we have some time now.  Could you please try to
contact Argonui again?  I know it is difficult and you might not be able
to reach him, but we should try."

Kain nods his ascent, ties off his lines and settles down in brief meditation at the base of the mast.

Less than a minute later Kain looks up and calls "Argonui is close by,
maybe as little as 1 or 2 miles. But he has a thought shield, some kind
of magic perhaps, I can not speak with him. Before I thought he might
have, but it is clearer now he is closer."

Kain then returns to his place on the lines.

Holland asks, "Freneth, Grigree--what do you two think?  Everyone else has spoken."

"Among my people, it is considered unwise to leave an injured animal
behind. They are more dangerous.  I do not like the idea of giving those
fish creatures access to a ship.  Perhaps there is no need to slay the
crew. Perhaps merely destroying the ship?  Or the helm?" answered
Freneth

"Rrr, I don't want leave the shrike in one piece on this planet," says
Grigree after a pause, "but we should, rrr, recover before pursueing
them further."

While the ship is hovering Allagan leaves the lines and approaches
Dhebun.  Laying his hands on him Allagan prays for a healing blessing,
he then returns
to Ives and Ferric and prays for healing blessings for them too.

Nodding up to Allagan, the dwarf stays still, wincing slightly as the
priest's hands are gently laid upon his wounds.  "I am grateful for the
gift of your god, Allagan, and for your friendship. I shall take your
place on the lines if you wish to bring your god's favour to the
others."

Once finished with healing Allagan returns to his place on the lines.

Nilaroo eases the tension on the catapult, and quickly makes the rounds
of the other deck weapons before returning to the catapult.

Vais, ignored down on the Helm, calls up through the speaker tube.  "How long will we hover here?"

"Thanks, Vais." Ferric says. "Let's head up and South for now.  We'll
cruise at a higher altitude and maybe we'll catch sight of Argonui or
the shrike's smoke trail.

Talus goes over to Italapate's body and strips it of items and places
the items in a small sack.  He then takes some spare sail cloth and
wraps up Italapate's
body and ties it off.  Talus then secures the readied package to the
railing, waiting for internment.  Talus takes the small sack down to
Italapate's room and
drops it off on his bunk.

The NIGHTWIND begins to rise under Vais' power and Ferric's sail-
handling.  The sky remains overcast, with the cloud cover at about 1,500
yards above sea level.  As the ship flies south no one can spot the
DRAGAZHAR, nor her smoke trail.

After a few moments, however, they can see a massive dragon drop from
the clouds above and glide down towards the NIGHTWIND.

"Did it ever occur to you coal chewers that the last thing we need to do
right now is bicker amongst ourselves?"  Dhebun snorts and points to the
dragon in the distance, with obvious concern.  "I respect all of you,
but right now I respect that dragon more, if you know what I mean!"

Returning to his post at the catapult Ives helps man the weapon.

Freneth swings his ballista around to face the approaching dragon, but otherwise holds his position.

Sekeht brings the ballista around to aim at the approaching dragon. "Is that Argonui?" he calls out.

Holland says, "I certainly hope so."  Holland leans in close to Ferric
and speaks quietly for a few seconds and then says to the crew,
"Alright, stand easy everyone.  Let's not get the big dragon upset."

Leera draws the Cutlass and points it at the approaching Dragon. She
asks, "So, my pretty penknife, you see who's coming? What shall we do
with you? Last chance for a deal. Talk quickly....."  She lowers the
Cutlass and holds it out so all can see it.

"Nay, lass." the Cutlass answers, "Ye've seen me worth, but ye could not
gain say ole' Blackclaw.  If that drake chooses to take me now, ye
cannae stop him.  I just ask that ye put in a good word for me, an let
me put me case afore this judge fairly."

The dragon is huge, easily twice the length of the NIGHTWIND.  It swoops
in with lazy flaps of its massive wings, coming alongside the NIGHTWIND
at about 50 yards distance.  It peers at the deck, it's dark eyes
glittering.  The dragon's scales are metallic black with silver
highlights, so that they look like moonlight reflecting on a rippling
pool.  It is hard to tell for certain, but it certainly looks like the
dragon seen earlier over the center island.

Holland yells out, "Ahoy! Argonui or Blackclaw if you would, you are welcome aboard."

The dragon nods once, then it sails above the NIGHTWIND and rears back,
plunging towards the deck with its tail up and its rear claws extended.
As it does so it shimmers, shifts, and shrinks so that a blurry moment
later Argonui land softly on the deck. The old man is still tall with
long grey-black hair, and grey eyes.  His clothing is still the typical
nondescript grey woolens of a native Bralian.

Date/Time: 2:45 pm, 12th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC


-- 
"Check it out -- I'm a FUNCTIONAL ILLITERATE!  Don't know why I didn't
think of it before.  That's one sweet quirk.  HEH...  I'm immune to
books! What I can't read can't hurt me!"  Dave Boswell, _Knights of the
Dinner Table_

Paul Westermeyer, westermeyer@????????.net