IWoS 2: To Serpent's Cove

General Summary

Bright and early the next day, Izha and Dawn leave the Spinster's Jewels in order to duel, as was promised some time ago. Izha ultimately wins the combat, though Dawn grumbles about her using her Fulminant Circlet. Izha asserts that she only promised not to use her guns, and that there was nothing said about her circlet. When Dawn continues to complain she tells him that their enemy will not hesitate to fight dirty, to which Dawn takes offense because he feels that Izha is treating him like a green warrior.   Heather, who is uncharacteristically dressed in only her tattered gambeson, decides that it is time to put her armor on. The party notes that perhaps it is in everyone's best interest to avoid giving her any more to drink in the future, though Plays for the Stars asserts that it is all a matter of moderation. Needless to say, Heather dons her armor, and during this time, Dawn, Izha, and the rest of the party finish their meal in the common room of the inn.   After making sure that they have everything ready, the party departs Rasaak to begin the day-long journey back to Khabrel on the backs of their Stormriders. Up in the air, Stars is more than a little bit uneasy, but eventually recognizes that there is some poetic potential to being so high up and seeing how small and insignificant things appear to be down on the ground where they all seem to be so much bigger and more meaningful.   The party arrives in Khabrel at around sundown, and as they dismount, an old friend, Larien a'Kromë, the commanding officer of the Dominion's administrative evaluation commission in the Eastern Ward of the Pāll-tanír, walks up and greets them. He informs them that the commission has moved their garrison from Rasaak to Khabrel for the foreseeable future due to its more valuable strategic position and the looming crisis that is threatening the entire continent. Furthermore, he warns them that a younger member of his group has been seeking the party out in connection to a vision that the Stranger imparted upon him, a young man who is supposed to have returned from his scouting trip to the fortress of Talathien in Ibadith.   Sure enough, a few minutes later, Kilian a'Nara walks up to the group and confronts the party. He explains to them that he saw them in a vision that was granted to him by the Stranger, a vision to do with the necromancer that now threatens the land. It is his belief that the party's hand in releasing the necromancer, though unintentional, means that they must be honor-bound to stop him. He then relays what it is that he saw at Talathien, and the horrors that were involved therein.   Izha suggests that Larien and Kilian be part of the debriefing over the information that was collected from Stalks in Shadow's tip. Larien mentions that he is supposed to be working on plans to develop fortifications around Khabrel but relents and says that it may be prudent to go, anyway. The group heads inside, to the conference room, where Taaka and Issad appear to be poring over documents and a map of the immediate region. The two express their disappointment that the information from Shadow did not seem to be as substantial as they hoped, but note that it's still valuable information.   A number of things are discussed. Particularly, potential plans for the evacuation of surrounding towns and villages are inquired about, and Taaka and Issad mention that they are working on the logistics of such a large-scale movement of people. They also mention that they are in talks with the government of Madras to hopefully establish a safe channel of transportation between Khabrel and Madras, especially now that Dorost is still in the process of rebuilding.   In addition, there is talk of the shadow dragon that Issad sent some men to deal with months prior, and the way that it is slowly making its way easy, putting it on a direct collision course with the necromancer stationed there. All agree that this cannot be allowed to happen, but there is a little bit of disagreement on whether to pursue the dragon before Serpent's Cove. Eventually, it is decided that the party will head to Serpent's Cove before striking out north, to take care of the dragon.   Later that evening, the long-overdue duel between Issad and Dawn takes place, with Issad emerging victorious. At the same time, Izha teaches Heather how to create bullets and allows her a brief period of time to examine the gun. The next day, the party stocks up on provisions for the journey ahead. Stars, however, isn't too keen on travelling the whole way in some shoddy cart and tries to reason his way out of it until he comes across the strangest contraption that he has ever seen: a metal carriage that appears to be moving under its own power, and with no visible magic around it either.   Stars speaks with d'Mierin Jarisovë, an elledynnë who appears to be on Dominion lands with special dispensation, to tour the automobile and the technology that powers it, called the Duality Engine. He tries to convince Mierin and his companion tolvaar to accompany them to Tan'Ayya, but the two are adamant that they need to visit Isarnis, even after the party is brought to them. Izha offers the names of a few influential people that she thinks can help the two better sell their product, Issad and Taaka among them.   Afterwards, the party gets on its way. Shortly after emerging from the Ivory Pass, the group notices that the stormriders are getting a tad antsy, and correctly determine that it is likely because an Arventir is approaching. The group hustles and makes it almost to Kattala before they see the storm front approaching. Using all their abilities in tandem, the group pushes for the town, which now has a protective dome like Tan'Ayya and Khabrel, but a few minutes after entering, in a flash of pale grey lightning, the dome dissolves and the storm sweeps through the town with its full destructive might.   Deciding not to stick around and deal with the aftermath after discovering that the runestone protecting the town was destroyed by a tussari stormcaller, the party continues down the road. A few days later, Stars stops the group having heard a strange, mournful melody drifting across the desert. Izha and Dawn investigate from above and see a large crystal formation in the middle of the desert, seemingly made from crystallized lightning.   They also notice a few shapes on the ground, people, as well as a large stormrider. They inform the party and head back up to continue observing. The people on the ground approach cautiously, but all care is thrown to the wind when Heather spots The Stormcaller and rushes him, ignoring the large shardscape rift in the middle of the formation. The Stormcaller speaks to Izha and tells her that he doesn't have the time for blood traitors and promptly leaves with his men, just as the members of the party were making their way up to the rift.   Left with nothing else to do, the group examines the rift, finding that it leads to the Melodious Forest, one of the interstices of the Wyldrysc. They see songtrees, with their cylindrical crystal fruit that produce the soulful chiming music. Heather briefly ponders jumping in but decides against it, and Stars, who has gone invisible in preparation for combat, eyes the crystal with interest.   But before their investigation can proceed any further, they are interrupted by one of the crystallized storm spirits moving from its location. Stars also spots a wolf made of glass, but is unable to signal to the party where it is because he is invisible. Combat is joined and after a long and arduous fight, the party emerges victorious, but only just. Heather expresses her desire to go back home, and for the first time, doubt that they will not be able to do what needs to be done.   She resolves that she will crush the Stormcaller, and that if she has to become a monster to do so, she will. The party heads back to the road to reconcile themselves with recent events, Izha flying up on her mount to clear her head.