A Witty drink

General Summary

We left the island of the Cassiomani and sailed through the portal and sit down to discuss just what it is we need to do:

• return to the Rholdamese captain awaiting our return about the pirates ( How to get rid of bodies )
• The Thane's moot, with their discovery of the Blade of Thanes ( Some people just don't want to be found )
• We've agreed to kill 3 fae for the Good Granny to return the Lady of the Forest ( Remind, Replace, or Merge )
• We need to pick up the money and info at banks held by Griffon & Sons as payment for the Greek fire (somewhere around I need a book on you know, the moon and stuff )
• Holy ground, so Cap can recharge his shield
• Fae Gathering at the winter solstice (back to the Remind, Replace, or Merge )

There was a lot of discussion on this, before we finally decided to finish off the first problem and start to sail towards the Rholdamese captain. 
After a day or so of sailing, our telepathic twin wakes up screaming, "The pirate town is under attack." He screamed and clutched his head, "My brother, that way!"

"Let out the sails," Cap yelled. The Rholdam ship, Her Lady's Grace, turned to us charging in and we saw their soldiers preparing to load the canons again. "Raise the flag, let 'em know who we are!"
"I'll go help over there," I shifted into a bird and flew across and shifted back holding up my hands, "Don't fire, we're here to help. Where is the twin? His brother screamed."
The man stared at me in shock, then pointed to the back. I ran over and healed him. I turned back to the captain, "What happened?"
"The ship sailed in and the winds and water acted all out of norms, they hit the town and destroyed it." He stared off, "Then they sailed off."
"Tell our twin, it's stable now, but lots of people need help."
Cap and I spent the next several days healing those in the most danger, at the end of it, we've amassed enough good will, we find 3 former pirates who seem mostly trustworthy to help us, and Baron de Santa Maria loaned us 4 of his soldiers.
We stopped at the Grifon & Sons branch at the pirate's town and drew 600 gold from the earnings. The bank is moving their main branch down to Lowheim as Meerkeep has been sacked by the ghouls. I have a vague memory this was where the Dark One was buried.
They also passed on the news that centaurs, orcs, ghouls, and Children of the Wind are moving towards war. The North and South empire are calling up soldiers to prep for war. The centaurs have shot down trade between Rholdam and the Empire.

Take a drink

A day or so out at sea and we found a small dinghy with 5 men on it. We pulled them aboard and found 4 seafolk and Whit eating peaches.
"Ahhh," Whit said as he saw Marcus, "Child of two fathers," then he turned to me, "Mortal that was, mortal that might not be. Do you feel yourself fading away yet?"
"I'm sorry," I said, "Can you explain that? I'm not fading away."
"You did take on a new role, that changes things. I understand you have questions. Grab a drink, and let's see what I can answer."
"Does it matter what fae souls I take?" I asked.
"What a fun question, drink up," and I found myself drinking as he said, "One by stealth and wicked's just rewards. One by honor and duels. One by faith freely given."
"Whit, meet my friend, Papa Legba," I said opening Papa Legba's lantern.
Whit turned and looked at the shrunken head, "Nathan, how are you?"
"I do be fine," Papa Legba said, "Be there some rum for me as well?" Whit poured out a mug for the head.
"I've been sent for a reason, but before we get too far, do you know what is the purpose of life?"
"Forty-two," Lili answered.
"I tried that and all I got was a bunch of dolphins," Whit answered as he sat down. "Pay attention to the stars. Seek out Rianna by Singing Isle. A War Thing is coming," he pulled out his shoe, "We saw humanity and peace from change imposed. It did end the Ghoul War. Machikos and Kayas are trying to fix that."
"Who is Rianna?" I asked.
Whit gestured with his cup and we all drank, "She was one of my friends, The Caller, and we all just do what she said."
"Why did you say I have two fathers?" Marcus asked and he took a sip.
Whit tipped his cup to him, "Because two lives live in you, first mortal, then else."
"Can Father Hidalgo safely deliver my sword?"
"Yes, last in honor into next millennia or the world will end," then he looked at Marcus in confusion, "The Man on the Moon is hosting the fae gathering and you'll get to meet Daddy."
Cap interrupted, "What is the purpose of the shield?"
Whit poured himself another cup from a bottle of wine, I'm not even sure where the bottle came from, "By faithful wielding to bring home the mourning (or morning?) son to raise the red sword blade in time of need to bar the song from those cast out, hope renewed air (heir?) born (bourne) forth (fourth). Red blade raised in time of war, holy war."
"What is the purpose of the scroll?" Marcus asked trying to regain Whit's attention.
Whit looked back to Marcus, "It was to tie the lady to mortal kind with consort true when eyes awake and fulfill long priestess wait through heirs' sleep," Whit paused, "Welcome new Lord of the Wild Hunt?"
"What do I need to do with the Staff of Storms to fulfill destiny?" Lili asked as she poured herself another cup.
"Storms to rage and shores do tremble," Whit recited, and there was a bunch more, but I lost it, "One called back the other freed." Then Whit bowed and wandered off, but we couldn't find him.

New party members, of sorts

Now that we've finished talking to Whit, we turn to the seafolk, who are all astonished to be saved. They swore loyalty to Cap, by sword, by sea, by blood, by salt.
Technically speaking, Cap is now a thane, since he has men sworn to him. We could technically demand entrance to the Thane Moot.
"Me men, do you be knowin' anyt'ing about the Singing Isle?"
"Take a siting by the nose of the dog and then about 60 leagues out, and use your ear to guide you to port," the oldest and most grizzly sailor answered. "It's a little-known place, not many have been to."

Report Date

26 Mar 2022