The Saga of Annon...EaRtHqUaKe?! (TalRun #11) With Izolde gone (though she's only a mile or so away... camping along the river), and Tobril choosing to sleep groundside, the rest of the crew is left on the ship (save for Chiang, who's still on an errand) to stand guard during an uneventful night. Whew... what a day! From Bad to Worse... Deorig and Mya take turns standing guard, but during the dawn shift, Deorig drifts off. It's then that Tobril makes his getaway on his equs... the backpack wasn't full of wine, but instead his bare necessities. Amidst a rather heavy fog, it's Zarafa who discovers Tobril is gone when she climbs down to do some plant hunting (during the early morning). She wakes Deorig and Mya (and checks on Annon) and tells them... then they discover a note left by Tobril for Deorig. Basically Tobril's note says: "I can no longer consider this crew reliable, nor do I feel they support me as Captain – their actions are mutinous at best. With the book's destruction by Chiang and Izolde, I'm at my wits end and MUST attend to something of great import. As the ONLY reliable crewmember that has windship training, and whom the other crewmembers appear to respect, I entrust the Tyr-Tyreen to you. Please return it to the Zir windshipyard where this journey began AFTER you drop Annon off at Teralz' estate – Teralz will probably want his windrigger, The Shard of Annon, returned from the windshipyards as well, but that's for you and Teralz to negotiate. You have proven a loyal crewman. Here is the key to my safe (in my quarters). Within, you will find enough gems and coinage to compensate you and the remaining crew for the wages promised – perhaps a bit more. Please to not seek me out. Continue with the voyage and may the wind guide you well. – Tobril." The situation has gone from bad to worse, as Tobril has left the building. There's a debate on deck as to whether pursue Tobril (despite his request not to), or with Tobril not around, whether to try and track down Izolde... she couldn't have gotten too far before last night. As various cases are made, all hell breaks loose... Fists of Fury... The exact time is irrelevant, but sometime during the foggy early morning, everyone on board the Tyr-tareen is jarred very violently! It's as if someone rammed the underside of the ship. The Tyr-Tyreen is thrust upward some 10-15 feet in just a few seconds. There's an ominous sound of splintering and cracking wood, though no one can see anything except that the ship is pitching badly. Topside, Deorig, Mya and Zarafa struggle to keep from sliding over the side – Mya and Zarafa find the banisters, but Deorig grabs some rigging just in time and avoids the 75 foot fall! The ship as it continues to shake violently, splinter and crack and Annon (who'd been in a doorway) also finds herself sliping towards the edge. Fortunately, Mya grabs her. Then, a few minutes later, the shaking and splintering stop. As everyone assesses their injuries and what in Zoriah's name possibly happened, the horrible situation is revealed. Because the crew had become accustomed to life airborn, it's immediately noticeable that they're no longer floating – though there is a slight swaying sensation. The ship is tilting some 30 degrees up to starboard and down to port. Looking over the railing, a massive arm (some 30 feet in diameter) of gnarled wood seems to extend from 75 feet below, with 6 massive fingers (of gnarled wood) grabbing the lower decks. It looks like some overmuscled are and hand. The fingers have embedded themselves deep into the hull and completely splintered the lower decks. The wooden arm and fingers no longer move, but now sit as unmoving as any ancient tree. The Tyr-Tyreen has become an ornament in the hand of this massive gnarled mass. With the ship pitching some 30 degress to port and the top part of the main mast having cracked and fallen below, walking on deck is a challenge. The upper mast has cracked halfway up, with other rigging equally damaged. It's clear to Deorig (and everyone actually) that it would takes years (or never) to fix the ship even if they could extract it from the gnarled wooden fingers. Zarafa says she'll check the below decks and finds the ship levitational destroyed, along with most of the breakables on board. The Tyr-tareen seems to have flown its last journey! Not even the Tamar Knows... No one, not even Mya's Tamar stone, can explain this happening. No animals can be seen or heard for miles. A great root mass seems to come from the base (groundside) of the the mighty wooden arm and thread it's way several hundred feet in every direction, like some great willow tree. What could have caused this? Was this Tobril's revenge? Was this a reaction by the books destruction? Could maybe the Sadonicus thrown overboard days before be responsible for this? Could Annon, or her mystery tattoo be the cause? Chiang isn't due back for another couple of days... what's a crew without a ship to do? As the Dust Settles... Well pragmatists that they are, the crew begins unloading all the useful items they can that are carryable to the ground. The food stores and liquors that are damaged, but still edible are also brought groundside for a shipwreck feast (before the stuff goes bad). Amidst all that, Izolde returns on her equs... brought by the sound of the massive carnage from earlier. She gawks at the scene, then approaches. As they convey what's transpired regarding both Tobril's leaving and the ship's destruction, she joins them for the feast. Hours pass as they prep for hiking... Deorig talks Izolde into allowing her equs to be a pack animal. Archons-R-Us... As the shock of the situation is now fading and some of you are trying to build a camp nearby - after all, Chiang's still due to come back here - the dark, stormy overcast sky above your camp is suddenly illuminated by a piercing ray of light (with the accompanying obligatory thunderclap) that comes from seeming nowhere. The beam of richly golden light with edges of violet strikes the ground and a 10 foot tall humanoid form appears within the beam. Awe strikes Mya specifically as she recognizes the vision as that of an Archon – a fabled being from the Radiant Sphere (a theorized plane of existence by Talislantan scholars). The other character are impressed/terrified, but don't know what it is.This diaphenous being is inspiring to behold, and as it moves (by floating) the beam of light moves with it. It speaks [nsert the voice of a young french girl of about eight]:
This Archon figure points to the great gnarled arm that has captured your windship.
Any who try to interupt and speak find themselves unable to speak, cast, or move their feet.
The Archon's face emotes what appears to be pity.
It smiles.
It winks, then looks around nervously, and speaks in a whispering tone.
With that, the Archon kisses each of you on the forehead before the beam fades and the Archon along with it. Aftermath... Debate ensues after the Archon's visitation. Was it really an Archon? By nightfall, because Chiang's still due to come here, they all agree to set up camp and settle down for a restless night before deciding what to do next. Zarafa's "sisters" pay a visit (using a witchgate) at dusk to see if they can help their "sister" in need, but upon hearing of the agents involved, and the circumstances, the leave their "sister" to her own troubles – so much for sisterhood. Unexpectedly, Chiang arrives early, by some 2 days – which is rather impossible, and Chiang and Psi feel as if magic was involved... somehow. Anyhow, upon hearing their plight (as part of the doomed party), and that Tobril has left, Chiang agrees to travel with the party, as Annon still can't go home. This is mainly due to the fact that Teralz IS NOT in Zann anymore, or at least not yet... so Annon can't be returned. They all sleep rather unsoundly, but nothing desturbs them further. The next morning, a Gnorl shows up, who's story and reasons for being interested in the party are questionable... but everyone's too tired to really force him to leave. [enter new PC character, a Gnorl, for Tony to play]. Chiang and Izolde venture to the nearest town to gather supplies for what will be a long "on foot" journey to Sindar – specifically, Nankar, where there is said to be a someone who can help or has a clue. ### END Chapter One, The Saga of Annon GM Comments: Well, this is a great place to end the first chapter of the campaign, as the player's have finally cracked! Tobril has abandoned his ship & crew... Izolde was fired... basically it's all in turmoil. Yet, somehow most of the player's are willing to venture forth to try to stop things they have unknowningly set in motion. |
|
