Chapter 41 A Small Amount of Rage.

I tried my hardest not to taste the water as I breathed it in. It reminded me of taking a long deep breath of cold winter air, which had been salted and flavored with...other less pleasant flavors. In fact, it would probably not do well to mentally dwell on this now or ever.
We had been underground now for nearly two hours, and Marda and Yun were quietly “Discussing” the directions we should take. Squabbling would have been too rude a word for it. They had been doing perfectly well as far as I know, and we had not found a dead end yet. Marda however was using her hands to make an invisible map in mid air, While Yun's were simply clutching their head as if trying to squeeze the information out. With a small grin on her face, Melfina waded over to me, “I think our captive is stirring a bit.”
Sure enough, the skinny jackal like form of Jonas was in fact moving about a bit in the shallow water. I had made no attempt to save the body from the grime, and we had been forced to drag him through the portions that were completely underwater. Now I had to make sure that he would remain unconscious until we got to a place we could properly ask questions. Crouching down, I wrapped my arms around his throat, blocking air from getting through. I had seen it done before, and thought it couldn't be that hard right? Holding him like that, I could have easily killed him, and that's what he deserved right? Just squeeze a bit harder, and a bit longer...
“Druss!” Marda had come back to see what was holding us up. Hearing her voice I immediately let go, panicking. We needed him for information, we had already lost so much here in town. Quickly checking to make sure he was still alive, I looked at the others rather abashed, and started to move on again towards the designated direction.
What had come over me? Was it the normal anger I sometimes felt? Maybe it was the thought of the questioning we would have to do to get the information out of him. Deciding right there I didn't want to be a part of that, I just did what I was needed for, and dragged the limp form behind me. Sure enough, within ten minutes or so, we were back in the war room. Only a few faces were vaguely familiar from before, but Masika was still there, and she quickly spotted us.
“Well Hello again! Dani has gone out to see her specialist, so she will be gone for a while. What can I do for you, and who is that?” Masika had been sitting on the edge of the Wartable a long handled shovel in her hands. Cleaning off the blade of the shovel, she put away her tools in a small pouch.
“Someone who has a lot to answer for,” Marda replied curtly. “Do you have a table we could use? We need to tie this one down.”
“Well yeah” Masika replied, “I have a nice preparation table upstairs in my crematorium, But I don't really want any claw marks or anything in it... plausible deniability and all that you know?” She paused for a moment in thought. “I do have an old butcher block table that was used before I got this nice one. It's down here in the storage room. It even has the old tools with it. They are a bit rusty, but that may not be a bad thing...” When we nodded in agreement she took us over to the storage room. A few old crates were in the way, but we quickly moved them out.
Now came the hard part. I didn't really want to be part of what was going to happen in this room, but I didn't want to let my group down. How was I going to explain to them? Turning around, Yun has already shifted back to their usual form. “Druss, if you don't want to be a part of this its fine. I know that this sort of thing can get to you, and I don't think we need any feet smashed today. If we do, I'm sure Marda will be happy to take care of that.”
Masika was looking around the room, very carefully not looking at Jonas. “How about I find something for myself to do while you all are busy. I could grab everyone some refreshments like a nice charcuterie board. We just got some really nice cheeses, and the local bakery makes this really nice herb bread.” grabbing her shovel, she started to head towards the tunnel up.
“I could help with that” I offer. Following her up the tunnel, I make a remark of her shovel. “I see you carry that tool with reverence. Have you carried it far?”
“Hmm? Oh, Yeah!” Patting the shovel she keeps going. “Effective and practical, not unlike your tool.”
I swing the axe of my back, briefly admiring the workmanship once again. “Yeah, While I have had an upgrade, the Black Blades have got me through a good deal.” We had reached a small stout door. She stopped and turned, considering me for a moment before opening the door.
“Alright since we both need some plausible deniability,” with a practiced smile and a knowing look, “the cutting board and knife is there, I'll grab the food.”
The room was a small pantry with a built in counter for food prep. While not a large area, it obviously was enough to keep the previous occupants of the war room fed. I went to grab the cutting board and a couple knives and set them up on an end counter turning to see when Masika had gone.
Opening two tall narrow cabinet doors she pulls out wrapped hard cheese and summer sausages. Crusted breads and fruit were also gathered, and we both stood next to the counter, cutting and slicing.
Getting a good variety together on a platter, I left her there to clean the knives and took the food down. That way, as she put it, nothing could be heard, nothing could be known. It was only a few feet from the tunnel entrance when I heard an unholy animalistic Yowl, mixed with a high pitched raging yawp.
I hurried over from the base of the tunnel, the presentation of the platter of food suffering slightly in my haste. Yun must have heard me coming, as they were coming out of the room as I got there. Shaking their head, they hold up a hand to stop me. Small dots of red have appeared on the skin, almost like freckles. Blood freckles. “Don't worry about it, Jonas is dead, Marda is just getting revenge at this point. Although he did give us some information for his trouble. Melfina hit him with some sort of spell to tell the truth. The fact he had to say the truth seemed to hurt him more than anything else we could have done. While we didn't get everything we wanted from him, we still got something.”
Setting the charcuterie board down, I listen to what Yun has to say. When asked who Jonas' leader was, the Jackalwere had simply laughed, saying that Melfina and Jonas shared the same boss 'Yours and mine is the same.' Thoughts swam through my head, none of the hypotheses connecting with anything I knew of her. Yun went on, having already fought these internal battles themselves. The question had been asked if there were more captives here in town, but no helpful answer had been given, so we don't know. Othertoe's plan in davenport was apparently 'So many souls ripe for corruption.' I”m not sure I like how that sounds. Davenport was already going to be tricky, what with the Legion and the Othertoe facing off. I'm sure the Legion wouldn't really want fighting in the streets, but it may come to that. The Legion has a thing about bullies.
Most of the questions had not been very helpful then. Melfina and Geno come out as well now, with Marda behind them. still breathing heavier than expected. Marda was covered in blood. Hands, torso, most of her face and legs were thick with it, and the soles of her boots look like she had stepped in a couple inches of it. The toes and heels were covered more than the middle of her boots, as if she had been kicking and stomping on a bag of blood. She had not yet looked up from her blood covered boots. Geno too has blood flecks all over his face, and I move to get some rags so they could wash off. Masika comes down to help me find linen scraps to use, now that the dishes had been washed. Also getting mops, buckets and additional rags, she moves to the entrance of the store room where the questioning had taken place.
“I”ll help.” Marda states in a flat voice. She had not yet started to clean herself off.
“Marda, when you need to talk, I will be here” I call out. She stops at the doorway, nods once, and goes back in. Melfina moves to help too, not needing to tell or be told. For the same reason I didn't go into the room, I stay out again, instead pushing a half of a grape to Spike, who had been set on the war table. With Yun and Geno both there, we look at each other.
“Melfina said something about Asmodeus.” Yun says. “Does that name mean anything to you”
It tickled the back of my brain, and a few slices of cheese later I caught it. “Yeah,” I respond. “I think Max or his dad mentioned him once. One of the princes of a plane of Hell. Deceitful, a liar through and through, mostly a giant dickhead. Has lots of powerful evil celestials that do his bidding sometimes.” I couldn't remember a whole lot about him, but not really one I would want to know about.
“Melfina asked that jackal guy what Asmodeus wanted with davenport. That's when he talked about all the ripe souls. Clearly someone Melfina knew something about. Just wondering if you knew anything.”
While I had known Melfina longer than Yun and Geno, this is the first I had heard about this. I know Melfina had trouble with remembering some things, maybe she had figured something out? I think back to the laugh I had heard, and a small shiver went up my spine again.
While waiting, Geno tells me what happened. Once that Jonas guy had just started laughing Marda had gone into some sort of rage, jumping up on the table, kicking and pounding the guy to death. Surprisingly it had not taken long. Holding up a couple rings of molten metal, I'm shocked to find the remains of the anti-magic shackles. Geno had noticed the had started to melt, and had tried in vain to keep them intact. Well, Working anyway. They were now always going to be intact, but never usable again, although Geno says he could fix them with time. Marda had apparently kicked in the guys rib cage, then broken of his wrists using the end of the table to stomp them off. And done a few more unspeakable things to other body parts. Overall, I had seen her once the carnage had been complete.
Asking Melfina if she still has energy left, would she be able to send a couple of messages, she agrees around a mouthful of sausage and cheese. After swallowing that load, she nodded her head. Contacting Leona first, She told her that we were all safe, were they and did I need to come over? After a brief pause, clearly hearing a response, she replied that I did not need to go over, and that Leona had discovered a way to keep from getting shocked. Sometimes.
Asking her next to contact Bellia, I wanted to know when they were due to come in, and if they needed help. Almost immediately Melfina reacts, her body taking a posture as if she was being buffeted by a strong force. After the onslaught of the return message was done, she leaned against the large table. “They should be here tomorrow. They seem to have picked up some fucko, but I couldn't really understand how or why.” She took a breath, shaking her head. “Bellia wants to meet at a place called 'Doughnut ask me'”
With baffled looks we turn towards Masika who had finished putting away the cleaning supplies. “It's a little cafe where discretion is part of the menu. The only thing the staff pays attention to is the food. It's good food too. Specializes in breakfast foods mostly doughnut related.” I guess that would be a good place to go, although I feel the guard would have someone on permanent look out there.
Turning from the mops, Masika points skyward. “The last of the fireworks should be happening soon, if you want to watch there are some great spots here in the graveyard.”
With Yun mentioning it would probably be good for mental health, we all follow Masika up, eventually finding ourselves on top of a large mausoleum. A small marble rail around the whole perimeter of the roof kept us from falling, and large stone slabs made an inner perimeter, conveniently at bench height. Finding them still warm, even in this residual light, it was pleasing to sit on them in the fresh air. While waiting for the fireworks to start, we talked, mostly about small insignificant things, setting aside the events of the past few days just to have the break from it.
“Druss, what did you want to be when you grew up?” Melfina had come over to sit next to me, she had asked the question with an odd tone, as if she had wanted to ask something else, and rushed this one out to take up time.
“That's easy.” I respond. “I always wanted to be a blacksmith, I just found myself doing other things first. My dad didn't want me to be a blacksmith, and as a way of 'I do what I want' I joined the Army to show him that he wasn't in charge of me. Of course, I got to be a blacksmith in the Army, so it kinda worked out, right?” I would have asked Melfina what she wanted to be, but then I remembered she wouldn't remember. Looking to other other side of the Cleric, I saw Marda had climbed up beside her. Pulling her into the conversation I ask, “What about you Marda? What did you want to be?”
“I wanted to be an artisan.” She responds, pulling out a knitting project. It seemed to be a very small sweater. “I always knew how to knit or crochet, and it was a great way to mentally escape military life. I couldn't really do it in the open, but it allowed me to use my hands for making something, not destroying it. And look!” She held up the sweater again, absolutely beaming. “It's going to be for Sora!” The sweater in question looked well made, if slightly disheveled. It was nearing completion, and looked very warm.
“I would have liked to get into something more.” She continues. “Making mundane items into works of art. Like fanciful leather working, or jewelry. But I never had time when I was younger. Military life was hard as a woman too. I couldn't show I was remotely soft. I bet you can make just about everything Geno.” She said, looking at the goblin. “What did you want to do?”
“I wanted to be a professional athlete.” He simply stated, looking out into the sky at the fireworks in the distance. “Goblin ball was the thing to do growing up. Played in a large sphere of water, it was vicious, and brutal, and the most fun anyone could have in water.” Geno started going into the rules of the game involving ritual magic and underwater net tending. A good bit went over my head, but luckily the fireworks picked up as the last of them were set off at once. A Cacophonous light show, the reverberating sound being felt in my chest, then the sky was dark once more.
“Well, There you have it” Masika started. “it is about time to call it a night, where are you going to stay? Did you want to stay here?”
Looking at the others I try to think of something quick. This would be a fine enough place to drop the pillow fort tent, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to potentially show it off in front of that many people. “You know, when was the last time you built a pillow fort?” I ask. If we could build a normal pillow fort, we could possibly arrange the opening of the tent to be at the entrance. While it wouldn't fool anyone that actually goes inside it would mask having a strange tent put up inside and underground.
Getting back into the war room, Melfina and Masika started talking divinity again, and I took the time while Masika was distracted to set up the tent. Adding other blankets and a few small tables around it, the pillow fort came out better than I would have hoped. While it wasn't something we could all fit into normally, it didn't matter. We managed to hide the tent well enough and as long as we didn't all leave it at the same time, people would only see a silly looking blanket fort. Inviting Masika in for some hot chocolate, we all gather in the common room, complete with pillowy fire. Sipping our beverages, the Tabaxi is rather impressed with our little set up, but asks us something that catches us off guard.
“So does the turtle talk to everyone, or should I be worried?” She asks.
We all blinked at each other a few times before Melfina told her it was something that was possible, and that Masika should feel blessed by it. We chatted for some time before turning in. Tired as I was, I fought off the normal anxiety of the night, and sleep took me.
Waking in the morning, I could not remember any dreams that had taken place the night before, and I found that slightly disturbing. Getting up, I find Masika still asleep by the pillow fire, curled in a large ball, tail slightly twitching. Leaving the pillow fort, and stretching my back, I find Yun and Marda both up. Marda, working on a different project now, has some bright orange yarn on her needles, while Yun pours over the papers again, seeing if there is any new information. This was perfect. I needed them for something.
Asking them if they could go to the three rivers inn and pick up my family, I wanted to go myself, but I didn't know if my letters had effected our situation at all, and I didn't want to chance the guards arresting me. Without another message from Melfina, Max and Leona would have no idea where to go and I wanted to see them and To'Li. With just a few preparations, and a change of clothing, the two were off, with instructions to meet us at the cafe. From the moment they left, I couldn't sit still with worry and anticipation.
Once everyone else is up, we clean up the pillow fort and pack away everything for travel. With the ship in, we will be leaving this town for a while if we can. Taking the tunnels for a short distance, we come up a few blocks from the cafe. It was early enough in the morning that we could choose where we wanted to have a table. Once getting there, Melfina gets a table in the back garden, which gives us privacy, and keeps us from being seen from the street. While the cafe staff may not ask any questions, that doesn't mean passers by will not spout some tales of Dragonborn in the area, and there were going to be three of us. That thought sent a flutter through my stomach. It will be great to see Bellia again, and this will be the first time meeting To'Li, There hadn't been a whole bunch of communication about the name, and she had been rather put out that she wasn't there for the hatching. And she was sure it was going to be a boy. It will be fine. Totally.
The back door of the cafe opened to allow Marda out into the private area with Max's towering figure right behind her. Leona comes next, holding To'Li in gloved arms. Rushing forward, I grab them both in a tight hug, delighted to see my daughters. My shoulders feel a bit lighter now that I have them both with me. Taking To'Li in my arms, I take a small pleasant jolt from her. She seems to be unable to take all of the outside world in. looking around wildly, chirping and giggling at the plants and objects around us, I notice she has gotten bigger. Probably as tall as Marda now, a small amount of guilt trickles out from not being there with her. But it is hard to feel anything but glee when looking at her. So Happy she is!
Absolutely beaming at Leona, I notice that her Fur is still poofed out, but she has large thick elbow length leather gloves. Noticing the inquisitive look, she explains that they helped with the shocks. Removed most of the pain anyway. The euphoric feeling of having my daughters back, and spending time with them again just brought me such energy, I began tossing To'Li in the air, catching her with her my laughter and hers ringing out in the world around us.
On the third toss, Geno told me to throw her really high up, and I hesitated, looking at him. Giving me a wink, he pulled out a few feathers, and started muttering to himself. I still wasn't sure, but I knew To'Li was enjoying this, and I would do everything I could to catch her anyway, so I gathered my strength and tossed her high into the air, holding my breath as I go to catch her. On the apex of the toss however, her fall slows, and she simply starts floating down towards my arms, like a feather.
“Why is my daughter slowly floating through the air?” The voice was sharp, crisp, and one of the most beautiful sounds I could hear right now. It was a voice that represented mental stability. My mental stability. If Bellia was around, while I was still on guard, I could be more at ease. I simply felt better when certain people were around, and I currently had nearly all of those people here, with me.
“Well my dear,” I answered without looking away from To'Li, who was currently looking around her surroundings with a mixture of fear, confusion and glee, “I'm sure Geno would have a scientific explanation for it, but if you come over here you will be able to catch her yourself.”
To'Li had been laughing mirthfully, when her fall had suddenly slowed. I'm sure she had no idea what was happening, and had looked to me to see if I was worried. When I hadn't reacted with worry, her instincts probably told her nothing was wrong, but with that silly look of confusion on her face I could tell she was forgetting to be scared while she took in the world around her. I held one arm up, ready to catch my daughter and I reach my right arm out for Bellia.
I feel as she takes my hand, the vibration moving my whole arm. I pull her close, then move aside, placing her where I had stood, and wrap my arm around her in a side hug. As To'Li comes down into her arms, confusion once again takes hold, and she looks to me, but Bellia throws her back into the air. Falling at a normal rate this time, Bellia catches her, and gives her a great big hug.
Looking to the others, I notice the strange man Bellia brought with her. Hunched over a cane, with a beard reaching nearly to his belt buckle, and was possibly the oldest, and oddest Elf I had ever met. I think he was an Elf. The Elven features were far too pronounced to be a half elf, but I had never seen an Elf with a beard. He looked as if he was going to call the dirt under his foot a whippersnapper.
“Bellia, Dear, this is Listens to Lightning.” I said it carefully, but in a manner conveying it was too late to change it. “To'Li for short. It seemed an appropriate name with the circumstances of her birth. Who is this that you have brought with you?”
Before Bellia could speak, the old Elf cried out. “Are you responsible for that blasted ship?!” he was waving the cane around his head, no longer leaning on it. It didn't seem like he really needed it. “That ship came down, out of the sky of all places, and crashed into my home! And Broke my Mug! I demand Restitution!” said mug was pulled out of a robe pocket. Or at least the handle was.
Sighing, Bellia set To'Li on her hip, and explained what had happened. A large storm had hit several days ago, probably the night To'Li had been born, and had caused the Garfunkel to crash into a mountain where this hermit had been living. Apparently he hadn't talked to anyone for a hundred years, and blamed Bellia for the damage. Bellia had simply been the first to talk to him. Looking to him now, he was standing taller, fully straight up now, and was nearly as tall as me. Mr. Corbin had never had a beard. Who was this guy?
He was looking at us closer now, and I figured it would be polite to ask his name. “Vern! My name is Vern, are you in charge of that ship!?” He squints an eye over all us, examining the group. “You all seem to have some sort of destiny about you! Are you going to replace my Mug?!”
“Well Master Vern,” I start in a pacifying tone, ”What kind of recompense are you looking to get?” I was not about to say that I was in charge of the ship, since I wasn't. Nor was I going to say I would pay for a new house, or cave, or whatever he had lived in.
“Yes, your fate is definitely tied to something big. I would like to travel with you. That will work as payment.” Nodding to himself, he had decided it.
I didn't know if I wanted to have someone else to look after, so I tried to dissuade him. “We Will be traveling to Davenport, which could be a pretty dangerous place. The travel there could be troublesome too. Will you be able to handle yourself should we get into a fight?”
With that, he reaches into his robe, and pulls out a portable battering ram. “No, No. wrong pocket..” Putting the ram back into wherever he had kept it, He pulled a longbow out and gave it an experimental draw. OK. He had some knowledge of how to use it. I don't want to count him out just because of his age. “Yes, he says, I think I will be fine. I don't want to miss what Destinies await you anyway. It's been a long time since I was in Davenport. It will be nice to see the place again. Yes.”
Well, I wasn't going to fight him, and no one else seemed to want to object. Thinking it would be nice to let Dani know that we were going to leave town, I ask Melfina to send her a message. Rubbing a bloody thumb across her lips she asks Dani to meet us at the docks in an hour, and an angry yowl comes out of the elderly Elf.
“What are you doing?! You can't cast magic! They will find you! Magic is banned for a reason!” More noise came out of the man in sputtering rage and fear. He was looking around wildly, as if the shrubs and flowers were going to spring to life and arrest us.
Melfina naturally took this as an affront to her abilities, as she tried to pacify the now distraught Elf. He clearly knew what magic was, and was obviously old enough to remember the caster wars. Geno got into it as well, and I needed to stop this before Vern found out about Yun. Although, it could solve the problem of Vern. He may not want to come along if he knew the only one in the group that couldn't cast spells was Marda. Either way we needed to get moving. With the suggestion that we should get the mounts before more people are up and about, we eat the last of our breakfasts, grab some scones to go, and head to the Temple of Kusco.
I was relieved to see mittens healthy, and he seemed happy to see us, Although I knew he wasn't going to be thrilled with where we were going. Vern seemed to think it was imperative that he too get a mount. He was a little put off that there wasn't a spare moorbounder for him as he seemed to get along with them really well, but the only thing available was a large goat. It was something that would have done better on a mountain side, and the creature in question had a tendency to scream. With shaggy hair, and spiral horns sticking straight out of the head. Sitting atop of it Vern's beard and the goats hair sorta blended together. As we ride over to the docks with the general caterwauling coming from the both of them, the mount and rider seemed to get along just fine with each other.
Getting to the ship, it is a welcome sight. Sort of. I remember not enjoying a single day of the last time I was on the ship, but it would be better than skulking around town in the tunnels. Loading the mounts took some time, as normal we didn't want to put the moorbounder with the other mounts, especially the new goat. That time should be enough for Dani to get to the docks.
Sure enough, right at the desired time she arrived in her long cloak. Waving her onto the ship, she looked well enough, but her arm was still covered by her cloak. Only when we got into a cabin did she take it off to reveal her new arm. Stark White bone was joined to her shoulder where the injury had happened. As if the flesh had been melted away, only the bones of her arm remained, fully functional. She had gotten it at the same curio shop Marda had gone to with Henry. Yun even put a finger between the bones to make sure it wasn't an optical illusion. Like my own arm, it didn't have any feeling, but the original dexterity of her own arm was present. I was very happy should would have that at least. With Vern overseeing the loading of his goat, Gerry, we are given a little bit of time to talk with Dani.
Revealing that Asmodeus is the true leader of the Othertoe, Melfina also tells us that she remembered more of her past. She used to work for Him. The rage that that took hold of Marda is also something to worry about as it could be some sort of curse. Marda tells of the death of Jonas, and how he turned into a Jackalwere. With the death of the Othertow agents that we know of, and no more leads, we had to move to our next destination of Davenport.
Taking it all in, she nods thoughtfully. “Thank you for killing that bastard for us, I only wish it had been sooner. As for the Othertoe, I don't think you all could take on a Demonic Prince right now either. Hopefully you won't have to. Do you have any friends in Davenport?”
“We have the legion outpost there in town, which is our next stop.” I tell her. “I have some old contact's still with the legion who might be able to aid us.” As long as we don't freak them out with all the magic. Then a thought occurred to me. “The tower in Cherwood. Had a portal in the basement. Do you know of anything like that there in Davenport?”
“There was a tavern called the Dog's Breakfast. The owner's name is Drax. Half Orc with a wild anger streak. He was a friend of the guild master's but he won't know how to use the portal. See if you can touch base with him, and let me know. We might be able to do something about it. Until then, try to be careful.”
“Thanks Dani.” I reply. “Take care of yourself, the new arm looks good.” I want to be supportive, but I still feel bad about the circumstances. She seems to have put it behind her. I really need to learn that myself.
Leaving the Cabin, Dani makes her way off the ship, and I spot Vern talking to Captain Velma. She had seemed to have a problem with him coming back onto the ship, and he had told us he would take care of it. Now the good captain held an expression of utter terror. A look that would normally belong to someone who had just spilled something foul on a superior officer. Abject terror had taken hold of the captain. Just who in the hell is this guy? As he turned to leave, a smile on his face, Captain Velma looked relived that he was no longer talking to her, and went to go busy herself by doing anything else.
The ship sailed from the dock soon after, and we were told we would sail out of sight of the city before taking off. As the ship was preparing to take off, I suddenly remembered exactly Why I hated this ship. We had secured To'Li to a harness always connected to her mother so she couldn't fall over board or get into trouble. Luckily To'Li had taken to the water like a duck, and was enjoying every second of it. I however was not. As the ship gave a great Jump off of the water, Spike took that time to loose control of himself, and ended up under my foot. Slipping on the shell, I fell backwards, flinging my arms out behind me, and propelling the turtle shell across the deck. Sitting up from my fall and rubbing my head, I look up to see spike wedged in the wall just above Vern's head. The old man had been clutching to some secured barrels, Muttering to himself about summoning every mage hunter in the world to our location. Now he was angry at me for nearly assassinating him with a reptile. I'm sure that if he could hear the spectere right now he would go into apoplectic shock. Not that he would be able to hear anything now that both Mittens and Gerry had once again started their cacophonous caterwauling. This was going to be a great voyage.
The next day was in fact better. I was able to spend most of the day with Bellia and To'Li. My daughter was simply doing her best impressions of a bird now that we were up in the sky, and Bellia had given her a crest band that would grow around her horns they grew in. Bellia had explained that it was supposed to gather the natural lightning in the body, and keep it from randomly sparking out. Leona and max discussed it over lunch, talking about modifications that could be done to make it more functional, even going so far as making it part of a helmet. Bellia had overheard unfortunately, and after giving me some deadly looks, I turned the idea down. For now. Who knows what she would like to do later in life.
Bellia had also talked with Geno about work, and of course Geno loved everything about the ship. As they both went around looking at all the functional parts, with To'Li in tow, they were constantly talking about theories of this and that. The metallurgical parts were understood, but just like the train, other parts went over me.
In the evening after dinner, we were all telling stories to each other again. Bellia had just taken a sleeping To'Li to bed, and we were all still on deck when all hell breaks loose. A large creature, scales and head similar to my own flew down onto us form out of the night. Huge wings came out of the torso, and two powerful legs hung underneath. A long tail, ending in a stinger was wipping back and forth as if it had a mind of it's own. Dragons!
Before we could react, they were on us. We only saw the one, but more were approaching faster than we could react. With four off the Port side, we didn't have time to get the ballistas ready. With one landing on the deck between Marda and Melfina, we start defending the ship. Arrows come from the shadows, the only thing I see of Vern is his large bow disappearing back into shadow. Marda lets out her yawp again, unleashing several attacks on the Dragon that landed next to it, and A fireball streaks off the starboard side to explode some sixty feet away. I had heard dragons could cast spells and had abilities like my own fire breath. If that happened that ship would be destroyed. Although they were distant cousins, I wasn't going to let them hurt the ship if I could help it.
With the spectere appearing I can hear Vern's displeasure from wherever he is lurking, attacking with his bow. As I prepare my bow for an attack, a large wall of blades appears, floating on one side of the ship, the blades all grinding and whirring together. Anything touching that would be torn to shreds in an instant. Nocking arrows, I get four shots off on one of the dragons that has landed on the front of the ship, near the spectere. As Geno whizzes past me to hit his own targets, tow dragons come far to close to me than I would have liked. The first one my right actually flies Through the blade wall, coming out of the other side cut and bloody. Flinching away from that one, I ws unprepared for another to grab me from my Left, and carry me bodily off the ship. With a scratch from the stinger, I felt the poison land on my skin, burning there instead of in my blood. I was however off the ship. I had to look down, as the dragon had carried me up and out, over the vast wild lands far far below us. Terror gripped me, and I nearly dropped my bow. Injured, and completely at this things mercy, there wasn't much I could do except hold on and hope this thing didn't drop me.
Completely disregarding the fight, Yun turned and looked at the dragon holding me. With a shout, they commanded the dragon to put me back on the ship, then leave. As chaos reigned supreme on the ship, I had no idea if Yun had cast a spell, or if it had even worked. I was still trying to figure out how to get out of this vice like grip. Wait. That was how. As Melfina's spiritual scythe came down on one dragon, and Another writhed in apparent agony on it's own, I simply did what another dragon born had done to escape me. Disappearing in mist, I appear again nearly 20 feet above the ship. Dropping my bow, trying to keep it on the ship, I call my Tool to my hand. As the axe blade shines in the light, I fall towards the dragon that had come through the blade wall. With a mighty gravity aided swing, I cleave it nearly in twain, kicking it off my blade to tumble into the whirling blades. Turning to find my next target, I find the dragon that had held me, flying as far as it can away. I guess the spell had worked. The dragon that had been writhing in agony was flailing in place, the wicked stinger attacking the deck around it, with no apparent target. The last Dragon still fighting was been pushed against the blades by the spectere, Marda and Melfina flanking it, the Dragon lashed out at the Spectere, which had no effect. As the tail was caught by the blades, it was sucked into the deadly maelstrom, a scream cut short as it died.
The tormented dragon, tired of fighting whatever invisible enemy it had, took to the sky again, and left. As it wasn't carrying anything, and I wanted to keep it that way, we let it go. While I had always disliked this boat, being on it was much more preferable than being next to it. With enough excitement for one day, I turn in.
The morning greets with beautiful skies, and a clean shaven Elf. Vern, for whatever reason, has decided to shave off his impressive beard. More impressive considering he is an Elf. An impressive sleek jawline was hidden behind that beard. Most prominent however was a long, vivid scar that ran from the lower ceek, down across the chin, and back up the other cheek. It was a most peculiar scar. I would have asked, but To'Li had once again wrapped one of the crew members around a mast with her tether. I had to go help Bellia with the apology.
Later that day I caught Vern writing some sort of script on the side of the ship. I couldn't really understand it at first, and I had no idea what language it was. Then it all popped together in my head, and I saw it was a spell to make a small flash appear, or a image of something. A simple sleight of hand type of thing. Street performers called it prestidigitation. Looking at Vern, he was quickly gathering papers and chalks and moving towards his own quarters. Was this guy really trying to work out a simple spell to entertain kids?
My question was blown out of thought by a loud thunder crack coming from the cabins on the front of the ship. Marda and Melfina had taken quarters there and after a quick glance neither of them were on deck. As fast as I could get there, Vern was right behind me. Whatever was happening in there could be really bad, and my family was in the front of the ship. We get tehre in time to find Melfina disheveled and slightly bruised/
It was only moments before Yun and Geno had joined us, and we were all asked to stay. Vern happily Sat down on a sea chest as if we were going to read a book to him. Telling us that they had been trying to figure out more of the rage problem, it seemed to be part of the curse. Vern chimed in, revealing that Asmodeus' followers were known to curse others with a demonic rage, which if allowed to remain, would eventually turn that person into an avatar of the Demonic Prince.
“There are items called soul stones that would capture that essence and Block the Prince from coming over, essentially trapping the curse inside you.” Vern informs us, but then shrugs. “As to where you can get one, I'm not entirely sure where I put mine.” I had one, long ago, but hid it in davenport. I still have the map of where I buried it three hundred years ago.” my eyes started bugging out a bit. Just who was this guy? “I had survived the sinking of Lewisville, and was wandering around for a bit, but needed to drop off the soul stone. I should be able to figure it out once we are there. It couldn't have changed that much.”
Yun reminds us that Lewisville was once part of the continent, where a major military base had been, complete with Shipyards and army contingent. A Magical academy had also been located there. A good part was lost to history, but it was often said by the survivors that the dragons had done it to spite the rest of the world, before the dragons themselves disappeared.
Hopefully we would be able to find that soul stone in Davenport, Meet up with the legion, and maybe even get the portal working in the Dog's breakfast. If we were going to take on the Othertoe and their big bad boss, we would need all the help we could get.