A slight haze hangs in the morning sky, the metallic smell of expended arcana in the air. Dock workers move with purpose, shuffling large crates up to the skyship loading area. Gulls call out over the nearby bay, their voices mixing with shouts of workers, sounds of pulleys and cranks. A large spiral stone staircase rises from the street.
“Should we get some cover and cast the spell?” Artemis asks the rest of the party. It feels too out in the open here, almost like a public square.
Nodding, Vellym subtly gestures towards an alcove. Hidden mostly from view, Artemis pulls out the scroll of Seeming. She’s familiar with this type of magic, but not of this magnitude. As she mutters the draconic words on the scroll, it lights up a soft orange colour. She feels the arcana surge from the thick paper into her hands, enriching her voice. As the scroll turns to ash, Artemis feels the full effect of the magic coursing through her; she vibrates, straining to control it. Eyes closed, Artemis focuses on a distinct visual for each of her companions. The scroll’s magic seeps out of her, towards the other three. As she feels the spell take hold, she opens her eyes again. breathing a heavy sigh of relief as she sees the imagined three new figures before her.
Sufficiently disguised for the next 8 hours, the group takes the opportunity to investigate the skyport’s upper level. Two ships are docked here. The first, conventional in appearance, resembles a marine tall ship. Large canvas sails rolled up on vertical masts, a large wooden hull planked similar to its sea ship cousins. The other ship is much smaller. Unusual webbed sails, overlapping close to its deck. It’s next to this smaller ship that the party spots Duerek, the boisterous dwarf from the museum mixer.
The skyship ‘The Scarab’
The Skyship
The dwarf is leaning over the railing of the skyport dock, watching on as a crew loads crates onto the ship.
“Hey, ah, Duerek? Mr. Kranst?” Morgryn puts on the accent from last night’s gala.
The shorter man turns, looking up at Morgryn and the others as they approach. “My, erm, brother… Willem, mentioned you were looking for some adventurers for hire.”
They converse, Morgryn putting on a balancing act attempting to keep his story and characters in line. Duerek has the ship’s crew packing up with supplies. He wants to go to Port Zoon immediately, and it’ll be about a week’s travel.
The party is familiar with Port Zoon, the Coast’s center for arcane technology. It’s also a major hub for the Clovis Concord navy, and a good place to prepare for an extended excursion. While none of them have spent much time there, getting out of Port Damali today with Duerek is an increasingly attractive offer.
Rocky muscles some of the supplies onto the ship to show his worth, while the other three assure Duerek of their airworthiness.
Now up close, they get a better look at the ship. It’s about 50 feet long tip to toe, and designed by a gnome friend of Duerek’s.
“This isn’t his first ship, but it’s his best.” Duerek explains. “Commissioned it meself.”
Farewells to Port Damali
Logistics worked out, the party agrees to meet Duerek and the crew in a few hours when they’re ready to depart. However, on their way back down the formidable stone staircase, they’re stopped by a cloaked elven figure.
“What’s your business here?” He asks them, suspiciously.
Hoping their disguise of Seeming is enough, Artemis answers the official as nonchalantly as she can. “We heard there’s good paid work available, and so my friends and I thought to check things out.”
The elf asks a few more questions, but eventually, the tense moment passes. He’s on the lookout for four individuals wanted for robbing the Arkin Museum and describes the four of them in detail. It would be impossible not to identify them if it weren’t for their magical disguises.
“I heard suspects were captured?” Artemis ventures.
“Yes, however, I don’t think the right villains were caught.” He narrows his eyes, looking each of them over. “If you hear of anything… suspicious… please do let me know.” He leaves his contact information, before ascending the steps past them.
The Best Food in Town
“Whew, that was close.” Rocky breathes a sigh of relief once they’re safely back in the throng of the busy streets.
“Shh!” Vellym nervously looks around.
Rocky’s stomach grumbles loudly.
“Why don’t we go get something to eat while we wait.” Artemis suggests.
“And plan out how to get back up there without raising more suspicions.” Vellym adds.
After some minor arguing about what the best cuisine is in Port Damali, Artemis convinces everyone to try Marquesian flatbread from one of the pubs nearby. It probably helps that Rocky will eat anything at this point, as long as it comes with beer.
He plants himself down at the table with his favourite order of a pitcher of the house ale all for himself. Vellym and Morgryn hand out their shopping haul. Rocky doesn’t see why he needs a healing potion, but he knows better than to reject a gift from a new friend.
Artemis’ new pet comes out to join them. It’s amusing how he wiggles the little feathers on the top of his head. Rocky wonders where the little guy came from.
“You’re right! This saucy bread stuff is delicious!” The familiar chirps.
Once Rocky is sufficiently full, and they’ve put together a plan (though to be honest, Rocky isn’t really sure what the plan is), Artemis sends her familiar off to scout invisibly.
Quickly scouting
Letting her senses dull, Artemis feels herself pulled dizzyingly into Tay’s field of vision. He whirls around avoiding dock workers and tourists alike, finally making his way up to where the Scarab floats, parked and waiting.
“Looks like they’re just about done. One or two more trips from the ground level to go.” Artemis speaks quietly to the rest of the group.
“Do you see our new friend?” Morgryn asks slyly.
“Nah, no mysterious elf. ‘Least that Tay can see.”
With the coast relatively clear, they stealthily re-approach the Scarab.
Spotting a crate being hauled up to the Scarab, Vellym gestures to Rocky. “There, Rocky, let’s try and sneak in behind that one.”
Artemis and Morgryn go up the main stairs, leaving some space between them just in case Tay’s perception wasn’t great during the scouting mission. She gets to the waiting Duerek, just in time to see Rocky leap from the crate onto the loading platform. Wincing internally, Artemis and Morgryn try to distract Duerek from the unintentional display Rocky and Vellym seem to be putting on.
“Weren’t there four of ya?” Duerek questions.
“Uh, yes!” Morgryn stammers. “The others are… on their way. Shall we?” He puts a hand on Duerek’s arm to try and steer him onto the Scarab via the other boarding plank.
Grumbling something about ‘how hard it is getting reliable help’, Duerek begrudgingly lets Morgryn lead on.
“You said something about an interest in Blightshore?” Morgryn ventures, trying to make conversation.
Artemis notices Duerek’s eyes narrow in suspicion. “I didn’t say nothin’ about that place to ya.”
“Your brother mention it, Morgryn?” Artemis chimes in.
“Ah, yes, my brother said something about that.” Morgryn nods.
“Well, then, are we ready to go?” Vellym’s voice is heard from behind a stack of crates.
“Where in the-” Duerek jumps. “What are you doing over there? How’d you just sneak right past me?”
Vellym smiles sheepishly. “Oh uh, Rocky and I just figured we’d lend a hand with the last few crates.”
Rocky steps over, waving, a large smile on his face.
Duerek shifts his footing but just shakes his head. “Alright you four. Let me show ya your quarters, and we best be off.” Gesturing to a gnomish man at the helm, Duerek leads the adventurers down to the lower deck.
Captain Decklepockle
The Scarab hums to life. The blue glow of the brumestone crystals intensifies as Captain Decklepockle sets course for Port Zoon. He looks toward his crewmates he’s been running with for the past decade. Thorne, the muscle, leans against the railing watching the city shrink as the ship gains elevation. The ship’s arcanist, Gideon, fills the sales with wind and peaks over at the brumestone to make sure everything is acting as expected.
The Captain expects Duerek to be back on deck shortly; after he shows the new potential crew their quarters. He’s not sure what to expect of them so far. They seem to be running from something, the way they snuck their way aboard earlier. But Decklepockle is here to fly and maintain the Scarab, he’s not paid to pass judge on his boss’s guests.
A moment for truth
Once Duerek shows them their rooms for the voyage, he returns up to the main deck. Morgryn fidgets, the Seeming magic feeling odd against his skin. “Hey Artemis, how much longer do we have on these disguises?”
Artemis seems to think for a moment before responding. “About an hour, I think. But I can drop the spell at any time.”
Morgryn nods, then looks to Vellym, who’s quickly becoming the group’s strategist.
“Think we should just come clean on the disguises?” Vellym asks. “I’m pretty sure half the crew already suspects me of something after my not-so-sneaky entrance earlier.”
“I was real sneaky!” Rocky exclaims.
“Yes Rocky, you did great.” Vellym sighs.
“How much do we want to tell Duerek?” Morgryn asks, warily.
“I mean, we’re on his ship… we should probably be fairly straight with him.” Artemis suggests.
“I agree.” Vellym nods. “However, that doesn’t mean we need to tell him everything.”
Reluctantly, Morgryn agrees. “Alright. So we tell him we may have caught the attention of some shady blokes, but we’re the good guys? Keep it vague, would be my suggestion.”
“Sure. You want to do the talking?” Vellym suggests.
And that’s how Morgryn finds himself leading the four of them back up to the main deck and face-to-face with Duerek Kranst.
“Mr. Kranst. Duerek, may I call you Duerek?” Morgryn continues when Duerek provides a stiff nod. “We have just a little something we’d like to clear up. Before we’re too far along on this journey.”
The skyship is soaring over glittering turquoise water now. White sand beaches on one side and an endless expanse of ocean on the other. Port Damali shrinks into the background.
“Well then, speak up would you.” Duerek urges, arms folded across each other.
“Yes, well…” Morgryn looks at the others. Vellym nods in encouragement. “We’re all under a bit of an illusion spell at the moment. You see, we’re sort of worried we may have some shady folks after us. Since we helped save the city and all, from such shady folks.”
Duerek nods slowly. “You all do seem to be acting a little sketchy.” He doesn’t seem pleased.
Morgryn looks to Artemis. “Drop the spell.”
Artemis takes a moment, looking from Morgryn to Vellym, before Morgryn feels the light touch of Artemis’ magic extricate itself from his skin.
Shaking a little, Morgryn notes to himself. “That’s better.” Then, turning to Duerek. “Ta-da.”
“Well, happy you don’t seem to need to hide your appearances with me, I guess.” Duerek doesn’t look fully sold, but at least he isn’t throwing them off the ship. “Come. Meet the rest of the crew.”
Meeting the crew
Duerek introduces them to Thorne. She’s adorned in worn leather armour and brandishing an axe. Her burly frame towers over each of them, save for Rocky. She smiles coyly at them and nods as they’re introduced.
Next, the group meets Gideon. The older human is wearing simple clothing and his salt and pepper hair is cropped into a bowl cut with the top completely shaven (or balding, Morgryn can’t be certain). He’s grizzled and his skin is tanned a dark bronze. “I’m also the cook.” He smiles politely.
Finally, they meet the Captain. Decklepockle, a gnome with greyish skin and a trimmed beard. Not only does he pilot the ship, but he also is the inventor of this style of craft and led the design of the Scarab in particular. “Fastest ship this side of Exandria.” Decklpockle winks.
Out of the frying pan into the fire
As the introductions are made, Vellym twitches nervously, only half paying attention as he surveys the area. He’s so caught up in checking their surroundings, in fact, that he almost misses something odd looking on Rocky’s axe.
“Hey, Rocky.” Vellym starts. “Do you mind showing me your axe for a second there?”
Rocky whips around and excitedly pulls his axe down from its latch on his back. “Oh of course!”
It doesn’t take long for Vellym to verify his suspicions, and his stomach drops. “Oh boy.” Capturing the rest of the group’s attention, Vellym points out a slim disk stuck to the axe. “I’m guessing this isn’t yours?”
Rocky looks at it quizzically, while Artemis begins summoning arcane energy.
“It’s not magical itself, but I can sense some divination magic coming off of it.” Artemis confirms.
Vellym shifts nervously. “It’s probably being used to scry on us… can we get rid of it?”
Rocky takes aim to throw the puck overboard.
“No! Wait!” Vellym cries out, wracking his brain for another option. “If it just stops, they’ll know we found it and ditched it. But if it continues to move, they might track the wrong course.”
“That’s really smart.” Rocky holds his hand to his chin in thought.
“Oh!” Artemis exclaims, snapping her fingers to cause Tay to appear on her shoulder. “Hey Tay, do you think you could do us a favour?”
She sends her familiar flapping seaward with the scry disc.
“Try to drop it on a boat or something,” Artemis advises.
Assassin Attack
With the excitement of possibly being spied on behind them, Rocky takes a moment of reprieve to sort some of his things in the room he and Artemis will be sharing. The twin beds are tiny, and he wastes no time in shoving the two together so he can take a quick nap.
What could be a matter of seconds or hours pass by, and Rocky bolts upright to the sound of raised voices and explosions. He grabs his axe and bolts up the stairs to the main deck.
It’s chaos, and Rocky is all for it. There appear to be four assassins who’ve taken the crew at knifepoint. Rocky roars and sprints off to swing away at the closest adversary.
One by one they deal with the assassins. Rocky frustratedly swings his axe too high again. Fortunately, Morgryn is there to gut the tricksy assassin on the other side with his blade. They keel over as Artemis thunderwaves another off the ship to their inevitable death far below.
Vellym has the last one pinned against the ship deck’s railing. “You have nowhere to go, surrender!”
Rocky catches a grin on the assassin’s face, as they flip backwards off the ship. Vellym scrambles to catch them, but it’s too late. The fight is over.
“Did he have a ship down there or something?” Rocky asks as he makes his way over to Vellym.
“No.” Vellym shakes his head. “Those were Myriad assassins. They’d rather die than get caught. He knew he was going to his death jumping off the ship like that.”
“Oh.” Rocky replies thickly, still grappling with the strange behaviour.
The skyship continues to cruise towards Port Zoon, now that Decklepockle’s life is no longer threatened. He catches Rocky’s eye and gives him a thumbs-up.
Healing potions are doled out. Artemis and Morgryn tend to Gideon’s almost-mortal wounds, and Duerek finishes wrapping up his arm that sustained some heavy blows. The ship’s owner turns to the crew, and then to Rocky and the other newcomers. “I’m not gonna ask for details of why the Myriad are chasing you. But colour me impressed. You dealt with that scum like it was your day job. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go take a nap.”
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