Pirates of the Aether

[Lentrax]

The librarian ponders for a moment, running through a list of books he knows, and a section of the library he is familiar with.

"Let me see..." His voice trails off as he thinks, then he slumps his shoulders.

"This way." He says. "I am not familiar with anything, but we can speak with the other librarians. He moves to a table in the center of one of the intersections, upon which is a small silver bell. The librarian rings the bell, then waits. In a few minutes, there are nine more librarians in the intersection. You pose your question to them, and they all put hands to their chins as they think.

Suddenly, one raises a finger. "Aha! This way." This librarian is very old. He walks with a shuffling gait that enables him to walk at a decent pace and not fall behind. He leads you to a section of the library that appears to have fallen into disuse. Many of the books here are covered with dust, and cobwebs have formed on several of the shelves. He leads you to a shelf upon which are five books.

"These five books," The old librarian says, "Contain everything we have in this library on Dragonborn. If they do not contatin what you seek, the wizard may have more."

He lowers his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "But be warned. The wizard does not like strangers making odd requests of him."


Maia and Aimari wander the docks looking for a place where they find crew.

They find themselves walking into a tavern called the Eye of the Storm. The inside is clean, with most of the tables full of sailors. There are a few lewd comments at ytour entrance, though not as many as before. A serving lass shows you to a table, and several men offer to buy your first round.

[Wordplay]

'Perhaps it's better if I tell yer Majesty alone, fer now. As I said, she may have been mistaken. If she's right, I dinnae want the Destroyer tae find out'.

Kieran whispers to the King.

Spoiler

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'She said I was the Arbiter'.

[Lentrax]

The king's eyes go wide. Unabashed shock, pure and unadulterated flash through his eyes.

"The... The Arbiter? Truly?"

The king falls to his knees. "He has returned! We are saved!"

"All hail the Arbiter!"

[Vixsor Lumin]

Arryl's eyes go wide. "Ummm captain?"

[Wordplay]

Huh...this is exac'ly what I was tryin' tae avoid'.

'They seem tae have accepted this rather uncritically. Mus' be desperate fer a saviour'.

On th' plus side, free ship upgrades are lookin' plausible.

If there's one thing I've sought tae be, it's loyal. At first that was jus' tae my family. Then I found a crew, and they became a part o' that family. When it was all taken, all I could think o' was gettin' it back.

While I was a simple aetherman, I could become uncaring. Think o' nae-one but myself, and the people I had lost.

But this crew put their faith in me, and it all changed. I couldn't afford tae think only o' myself and mine. I lay awake at night, thinkin' o' all o' them.

Now a country has put it's faith in me. I cannae abandon them. But can I continue tae keep the people under me command safe, if I'm tae safeguard a nation? I couldn't even protect one family. How can I protect the world?

'People o' Serzai. I ken this likely comes as a shock. I dinnae ken whether I can be the man the Oracle says I am. I can only promise this, whilst I have breath in me body, I will do me best tae serve ye'.

Ye dinnae need tae be thankful for it. My soul is pledged twice over, but if I can, I will dedicate it again. We're strangers - we've jus' met, but there's so much faith, it deserves tae be rewarded.

Kieran whispers to Arryl,

'Aye, it's what the Oracle said. That woman'll be the death o' me'.

[Lentrax]

All the people in the room fall to their knees.

"All hail the Arbiter!"

[Techwarrior]

Erin sits down to read through the first of the books.

[Space Lawyer]

Maia accepts the offer to pay for the drinks, keeping an eye on the bartender as she pours, making sure nobody touches else touches it from bottle to table. She lowers her head and whispers to Aimari,"I think this will turn out rather better than our last attempt."

Maia stands on her chair We're looking for crewmembers. We have enough hands, so we're only taking those with skill. We want two things above all: a healer, somebody to patch the crew up, and an engineer, who can work with some ideas we've got for a few interesting inventions. So, any takers or leads?

[Lentrax]

The first book Erin reads is entitled, "The Birthing Cycle of the Dragonborn."

It has some useful infromation in it, an idea or two involving seriously dark magic, and three pictures you wish you hadn't ever seen. The other books do not give you any other useful information.

At the Eye, a few men ask questions invoving pay. After a few more questions only four are left. Two healers and two engineers.

Healer 1: Half Elf male. Says he is a servant of the Protector.
Healer 2: Human female. Servant of the Lady.

Engineer 1: Dwarf male. Claims to have been a shipwright for close to 80 years.
Engineer 2: Gnome male. Tells you he hasn't blown anything up for close to 30 years.

[Techwarrior]

"Do you have some parchment, ink, and a pen? I'd like to write down a couple of things I found that might help with figuring out what has happened."

Diplomacy (1d20+2)[4]

OOC Edit: This is gonna be bad...

[Wordplay]

I wish that they'd stop that. This is gettin' uncomfortable.

Kieran clears his throat.

'The Oracle gave us a place tae go tae, tae scout upon the Destroyer. After that I am tae return tae her tae seek further Counsel'.

'Thank ye fer everythin' ye have done fer us, and fer the world. I'm almost embarrassed tae ask, but could we have the use o' yer library agin, and perhaps the assistance o' yer court wizard'.

'Also, Yer Majesty, per'aps ye could tell me what exac'ly Princess Reya's order were?'

[Lentrax]

"My daughter was tasked with finding traitors to the realm and seeking them to their source. She uncovered and disposed of sixteen spies in the last two years alone."

The king rises to his feet.

"People of Serazi, please leave us. We have much to discuss with the Arbiter."

When the people had all left the chamber, the king turns back to you.

"You are to head to the land of the black sands yes? Be warned, though the magics of the last war do not affect that area, there are far worse dangers awaiting those that travel there.

"Heed these warnings three:
Step not upon the golden sands.
Turn not away from the path, neither to the left, nor the right.
Guard your eyes from falsehoods. Truth be as narrow as a blade."

[Vixsor Lumin]

Spoiler

Show

Lore check on the land of black sands (1d20+4)[11]

[Space Lawyer]

Maia elects to interview the dwarf engineer first.

"So, a shipwright. We have been discussing plans for a small craft, suitable for one person alone to operate. What do you think of the possibility of such?

To the gnome engineer:

Instead of working to avoid blowing things up, how would you feel about working to ensure their destruction? We have plans for some...rather interesting weapons.

[Wordplay]

Kieran mutters the song to himself a few times to try and memorise it.

'Arryl, we'd better take this down'.

Kieran was about to bow, then something the King said caught his attention.

'Traitors tae the realm? What, may I ask, was their treachery. Did she ever find the source?'

This is nae what I expected at all.

'Ye were already preparin' fer war before ye heard the news o' the Destroyer...why was that, yer Majesty?'

[Lentrax]

"We always prepare for war as the reappearance of the land of black sands approaches. It ensures we are ready to hold off the denizens of the Destroyer."

The kings sits down in his throne once again. "As to the traitors, knowledge of the Destroyer is a highly prized commodity. One we keep as secret as possible.

"Could you imagine what would happen if everyone found out the world was going to end in three years?"

[Lentrax]

The dwarf engineer downs His entire pint in three swigs, then sits back to think as he lets out a massive belch. "A one-pearhson craft, is it? Tha's mighty tricky tha one."

He rubs his chin. "It migh' be poss'ble, but maybe not as well as it would cost. Unless o' course it were fer scoutin' ou' the serface, methinks."

The gnome laughs in your face.

"Not blow something up? That's like asking a flaskinkettleeggamajig to not make a belching sound everything the whatsabutton gets red."

"what kind of weapons?"

[Wordplay]

Kieran blanches for a moment, swallows, but collects himself.

Aye, of course it is.

Frankly I expec' they'd be furious tha ye'd kept tae yerself a problem which wasnae exclusively yer own, preventin' anyone else from helping.

However, Kieran says

'Aye, understandable yer Majesty. Thank ye fer yer advice, we will indeed be visitin' the Sands'.

'Perhaps we could have the assistance of yer librarian and perhaps yer Court Mage. We mus' depart soon. Thank ye fer all yer help. I will nae fail ye'.

A thought strikes Kieran.

'Yer Majesty, if I could ask a personal favour. I had a family once. They were taken from me. It's unlikely that they fetched up here, but I would be ferever in yer debt if ye could aid my search. My daughter Myrta, son Gawin and wife Alera'.

[Vixsor Lumin]

Arryl jots the warning down on his personal scroll, and then slips it back into its case. He bows and flares his wings out a bit as they prepare to leave. Inside his head, he is fuming but trying to hold it together.Losing my head metaphoriclly in the pre of a king, is a good way to lose it literally as well. he keeps repeating to himself.

[Lentrax]

The king raised his eyebrow. "Peculiar. No wonder you were seen as the Arbiter. He also had his family lost to the darkness all those long years ago. I will send word to the Magister to expect you. Please, excuse me while I speak with him. I will send a messenger with his response as soon as I have it."

[Lentrax]

The old scribe points to a sign that reads, "No copying of any information without the express written permission of the King or the Magister is allowed. Violators will be executed. Immediately."

Erin then notices there is a similar sign on top of each set of shelving.

[Wordplay]

Now left alone, Kieran turns to Arryl.

'I'm sorry, my friend, that I didnae tell ye sooner.'

Kieran looks down ruefully.

'About me family, I mean. I didn't want anyone on the crew tae think I was distracted, or that I would put the crew second.

I suppose I also didnae want ye tae know how I'd failed las' time I was Cap'n'.

I'm sorry, I didnae trust ye with it'.

Kieran looks Arryl in the eye.

'Perhaps I can make good, by trustin' ye with somethin' very important tae me?'

[Lentrax]

The dwarf goes on for some time, speaking of things like aerodynamics, fluid pressures, weight and force. He starts sketching out possible designs on a napkin, until the serving girl takes it away.

"How many times, Gurth, do we have to tell you not to draw on our napkins?"

The gnome thinks about weapons for a while, but most the devices he proposes are so ludicrous as to defy convention.

"Seriously, have you been listening to yourself? A cannon that shoots flaming cows? What would you use to power it, the magic Heffer?"

[Techwarrior]

"Where might I find the Magister?

[Vixsor Lumin]

Now left alone, Kieran turns to Arryl.

'I'm sorry, my friend, that I didnae tell ye sooner.'

Kieran looks down ruefully.

'About me family, I mean. I didn't want anyone on the crew tae think I was distracted, or that I would put the crew second.

I suppose I also didnae want ye tae know how I'd failed las' time I was Cap'n'.

I'm sorry, I didnae trust ye with it'.

Kieran looks Arryl in the eye.

'Perhaps I can make good, by trustin' ye with somethin' very important tae me?'

Arryl places a concoling hand on Kierans shoulder. "No apology is required friend. All men are entitled to their secrets and burdens, just know that you dont have to carry them alone." he smiles at his Captain. "What can i do for you sir?"

[Wordplay]

Kieran nods gratefully at Arryl.

'Thank ye, my friend.

It's about...should the worst happen...how I wish tae be buried. Burin' Cap'n Reya made me consider such matters...

I'd like tae be launched intae the Aether, as she was, but with one difference. Please blood the corpse, and burn a bottle o'spirit as an offerin'. There's a promise I made...a long time ago.

If anythin' should come fer the body...dinnae worry. It just means I paid me debt, and found peace'.

Kieran coughs.

'But I have nae intention o' dyin' just yet. Let's get tae tha' library. The Oracle gave me some clues. We need tae search fer information on the following things - Sharelorne, land o' shiftin' sands, San-Jun, Arbiter, Arctus somethin' or other - oh, and anythin' about auguries...'

[Vixsor Lumin]

"Consider it done." Arryl says. Then as they make their way to the library he adressess the subjects that they are searching for. "I'll look into the shifiting sands and this Sharelorn. Is that a person or a place?"

[Lentrax]

"I can send him a message requesting your access to his library, but I won't hear anything back until tommorrow. May I suggest returning in the morning?"

[Lentrax]

Kieran and Arryl arrive in the library. They are greeted by a sage, who you notice seems more relaxed and welcoming of you this time.

[Techwarrior]

"Yes, thank you. Your aid had been most appreciated. If he is open to the idea, I'll be aboard the Lady's Gambit; my name is Erin, Erin Lantin. Again, thank you for your aid."

Erin bows to the librarian, and then takes his leave.

Why do I get the feeling he won't actually send that request.

Would Erin actually leaving the library at the same time as the captain and Arryl arrive?