Winedark, Chapter Eleven

General Summary

Wherein a new threat emerges, personal histories investigated, and a return to the watery part of the world is commenced

The Siphoning of Fear

We begin in terror. The Vastblasters are restrained by giant black and purple tentacles--the sight of which is becoming distressingly familiar. Their intrepid crew chief, Maltina Bigmoon is bruised and bloodied before them. Briefly, they wondered about their captor(s), before that question was quickly answered.
An individual calling himself The Ulam arrived in their basement prison and helpfully explained that they are there because they are brave adventurers. And the fears of brave adventurers are the most potent, the most delicious. He then preceded to siphon some more fear from our heroes.

• Irk was gripped with his familiar terrors, now magnified and mutated. Instead of squids and dragons, he saw squiddragons, or maybe dragonsquids. Whatever it was, it was made of nightmare.
• Kharlo Chondricht experienced many of his fears thanks to The Ulam's assassins, but found his deepest terrors complicated--witnessing not only the evaporation of the Great Current but also the destruction of anyone who he ever cared about.
• Pitch's fear revisited a past event--being trapped in The Vast by wreckage. This time, however, there is no Pact to save them, no hope of escape.
• Water's fears manifested in the obliteration of the sacred sites of the Drembari tortles, and thus, the extinction of their kind.
• Kasula Neristina, revitalized by the sea floor, saw that same sea floor covered by inescapable black fog, vibrancy swallowed by endless void.

The Ulam appeared satiated with these fears, at least for the time being, and left our heroes alone with their terror and pain. It was quickly decided to get the hell out of here as soon as possible. Different ideas about how to do that were enacted. Pitch misty-stepped her way out of the tentacles. Kasula also decided to adroitly misty step. Kharlo, on the other hand, decided to cast It's Me, Kharlo! and convince the tentacles to let him go. This somehow worked, as Pitch blasted both Water and Irk free from their bonds.
Their liberation made one heck of a lot of noise, so the Blasters found themselves facing down a series of enemies that anticipated their arrival. The first among these were some gibbering mouthers that, apparently, fed on the unfortunate adventurers that succumbed to The Ulam's siphoning. These were dispatched, but not without difficulty, as the party was deeply wounded to begin with. This would be a complication that would ensure throughout their escape.
Moving up the stairwell revealed an ambush set for our heroes by some hired muscle and one lone DreadSquid cultist. Vigorous battle followed with the Blasters again winning the contest. After debating whether or not a rest was in order, it was determined that speed was of the essence, as our explorers weren't entirely sure what awaited them upon ascension to the next floor, but it probably wasn't good.
What awaited them was, in point of fact, The Ulam himself. After some witty banter back and forth, The Ulam decided to tell them what their fear is for--the summoning (Ulam, apparently, means "summoner") of Grazzerk the Saltworm, which is decidedly not the DreadSquid, but also probably up to no good. He then vanished, but not before telling the Blasters that he would see them again soon. Creepy!
Further investigation revealed that Grazzerk the Saltworm is, in fact, a lich. And the collection of fears is a kind of power source for his resurrection. Presumably, when enough fear has been gathered, he will return. The presence of the DreadSquid in the Isles seems like fertile ground for fear, to be sure.
The Blasters decided they had just about enough of this place and exited out into the early evening light. They are about two hours from Awa Harbor and decided to make their way there post-haste and tell Marrowdall Twinstar what new threat faces the Bari people.
Marrowdall met them at the Filthy Horn and was filled in on the details. He promised to take this information back to Loshi Saltbloom and then informed the group that the DreadSquid now has a name--Vo'ku'a, The Ender of Things, Which Will Swallow the World, Many-Fingered. Nice to meet you Vo'ku'a.
With that, the Blasters took themselves to bed for a much needed rest.

The Past Beckons, the Future Calls

The next morning found Pitch about "Envoy" business. They, again, sought out 3rd Decree Wilreth Elvalor at his rooms in the Black Fiddle. This time, they wanted to return to the diplomatic business of their previous life, their "programming" to use Pitch/Envoy's word. Elvalor assured them that yes, they are still doing Alerki Ascendency business and are well-positioned to continue to do just that. This answer was not satisfactory to Pitch, but they seemed to accept it, at least for now.
This morning also saw Kharlo be about Stormtooth business. He decided to seek out the rumored former Stormtooth Izzak and see what clarify, if any, she could offer about his burgeoning powers. After a bit of a testy back and forth, she let him into her confidence. She did, indeed, used to be a Stormtooth and somehow lost her power--and thus, probably the favor of Kogos, when she survived the sinking of her ship. Kharlo's powers manifested in seemingly a diametrically opposed way, complicating matters quite a bit. After a brief discussion of who has what gift and what it means to die and live as a Stormtooth, Kharlo was probably left with more questions than when he first arrived at the net mender's door. But one thing was clear--to seek further information about what is happening to him, he needs to venture to a source of the tempest god's power; he needs to run Kogo's Gauntlet.
Also, he could seek out an individual known as Tronnam Bonetide for more information about the Saltworm. He is currently aboard The Seven Rows. So, a family reunion might be in order.
Armed with equal parts clarity and confusion, Pitch and Kharlo returned to the Filthy Horn, and their compatriots, to meet with Marrowdall and discuss next steps.

A Kevin-Kevin Invitation

As is becoming standard practice, Marrowdall presented the Blasters with three possible avenues to pursue in the Favor:

• The Half-Drunk Flagon, the Favor entry from Matahak, has not returned from an outing to Matahak. It should have been back a tenday ago. It might be worth following up on that and seeing what it was, exactly, they were after.
• In an intriguing turn of events, Stavrik Kevin-Kevin has reached out to Marrowdall to ask for a meeting with the Blasters. Apparently, he has information that might aid them in the contest. Curiously, he did not offer this same meeting to Coffin Nail, the vessel sponsored by Luu, his home isle. If the Blasters accept, they are to meet him at his estate in Kattagari on Luu.
• Lastly, there has been an increase in pirate activity and the Sea Sibyl is worried that some of the plundered vessels might be carrying artefacts, documents and perhaps even components of Instrument itself. Traveling the shipping lanes and hunting down some pirates may then prove to be a useful excursion.

It was near unanimously agreed that a chance to chat with the family Kevin-Kevin is too interesting to pass up, so that was set as the next destination. All that remained to do was to see about the ship's business and prepare to depart for Luu, and for the unknown.

And That's Where We Left It

We'll see exactly what that unknown entails during our next session.

Various & Sundry Details

• Kasula also spent some time advancing personal agendas, visiting hydroponic herbalist Milik to ask him to propagate some of the Magic AF Vastbloom she collected in Huckle. After some convincing, he agreed. Who knows what might become of these efforts?
• Irk spent some time in quiet contemplation, perhaps praying for guidance from Kogos to withstand what us to come: a lich and a squid and maybe the Luu dragon? Oh, no thank you.
• Water was about their own business, but felt a strange sensation deep within themselves--the ephemeralness of a wave crashing upon a liminal beach.

Character(s) interacted with

• The Ulam, "summoner" of Grazzerk the Saltworm, smarmy jerk
• Xobias "Discretion" Dappleheart, concierge and owner of the Filthy Horn
• Wilreth Elvalor, member of The Decree and acquaintance of "Envoy"
• Izzak, erstwhile Stormtooth, hermit, net mender
• Milik, ancient/old operator of Milik's Ocean

Notes

when there is nothing / there is still Fear
--fragment found among The Ulam's papers

Report Date

15 Aug 2021

Primary Location

Awa

Secondary Location

Awa Harbor