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Dalia, Part Two

Page history last edited by Michael 13 years ago

 back to The Link Is Forged

 

34 Talislandre, Year 620 of the New Age

 

Some of Our Heroes are drawn through a dark space, into the Ether! And specifically, into a net being drawn through the Ether by Baratus sky pirates! Toth, Master Wong, Joeil, and Malgon are captured and roughly disarmed by the crew of the Elendir's Bane, whose captain is named Basilic. Malgon's green skin causes no end of resentment and disgust among the Baratus, who hate the Archaens -- he is tied to the upper mast.

 

Another "plane traveller" known to Toth is already aboard the sky-ship; her name is Becca. While some discussion and negotiations about the status of the non-Cymrillian captives is going on, a larger Batatus sky-ship attacks! Our Heroes (including Malgon) agree to fight with Basilic's men, and battle is joined!

 

Becca fires an impressive weapon at the attacking ship, causing great damage (and some damage to the Elendir's Bane). Malgon attempts a casting of the "Celebratory Comet Chant", but it mis-fires and centers its illusory effects on him. As the ships are closing, Master Wong hurls Malgon across the gap; an image of a sort of large, clawed creature forms with him when he lands, to his confusion.

 

The crews of the two ships jump across the narrow gap; Wong and Joeil board the attacking vessel as well. Their amazing skills in combat (even without their normal equipment) turns the tide of battle. Eventually, Joeil faces the enemy captain in single combat, and slays him!

 

Basilic and his men are suitably impressed and grateful towards most of Our Heroes; but Malgon's failure to cast healing magics after the battle merely confirms their low opinion of him, and he is again tied to the mast.

 

After quickly repairing the two ships, and moving treasure and hostages into the Elendir's Bane, the Baratus make for a "flotilla" in the Ether -- a mass of ancient ships bound together, home to a population of Baratus sky-pirates. During the two day journey through the grey, sunless Ether Malgon is mistreated and degraded; he also realizes that he has somehow gained a strange, etheric symbiote, named Sosa.

 

The residents of the flotilla are pleased by Basilic's victory; besides returning Our Heroes' goods to them (except in Malgon's case), Wong and Joeil are bestowed with prizes -- the Brass Lash in Wong's case, and custody of Malgon for Joeil. Three or four days pass at the flotilla -- time is difficult to measure in the Ether -- and Toth contacts other members of the "Union", the organization which he and Tessa belong to.

 

Our Heroes are taken off from the flotilla on a sky-ship, and transfer to the strange, metallic sky-ship of the Union. After some rather extreme hygiene measures (which reveal Sosa to all), the Union informs the Talislantans that if they are to return to their world, they must have their minds "conditioned" to prevent revealing the existence of the Union. After some disgruntled discussion, all agree to this, and meet with a Union technician who performs the strange ritual.

 

Toth uses his "path finder" abilities to direct the Union ship to a place in the Ether from which Our Heroes are able to plane-travel back to Dalia -- arriving just outside the Tanasian palace on the night of 38 Talislandre! After some pounding on the front gate, Our Heroes are admitted by the surprised Tanasians.

 


 

10 experience points were awarded, with an additional 5 points for Becca (first run bonus)

 

on to A Picnic!


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