A Hitchless Plan!

We have our plan set. Potions of water breathing and invisibility will be used to allow us to be in the water, and then to follow those who are present in the water to collect the, unbeknownst to them, trapped box with the light spell cast on it. Oh, and our Druid plans on being a shark! Then we will follow them until we can collect Rayhan and put paid to this Father Jackal person.

So, the plan seems to be working. We are in the water, and Blaze, my beautiful wife's magically bonded winged friend drops the box into the water from above. The splash alerts us, and the glowing box is easily followed as it sinks to the bottom. And within mere minutes a group of five humanoid creatures that are most definitely aquatic in nature, just slightly smaller than an average sized adult male human come swimming to the box. The collect it and depart, and as per the plan, we follow. The journey isn't long, about 10 minutes, when a crack in the underwater cliff face is seen, and the creatures, sahuagin I believe them to be from stories I have heard from fellow travelers that I have talked with in the past. And sure enough, they enter. We follow. 

The cleft turns into an underground passage that leads to a grotto with a small beach are on its north side. Where four out of the five now sit. The fifth carrying the box I presume as I no longer see it seems to have gone past this area, through one of two doors that can be seen from where we are in the water.

I decide to move silently out of the water and beyond the four guarding creatures to try to see if I can follow the path taken by the one carrying the box with the forged scroll. I get by them and easily track the missing creature to the door heading northward, the other door leading to the west. Apparently Spring and Connie followed me out, and one of my invisible companions decided to alert Alri, who had remained in his form of a shark and thus still in the water. A splash of the tossed rock also id heard by the four aquatic humanoids, one of which slips back into he water.

I see a perfect opportunity to ambush the remaining three. Pulling Tempest, I swing it and bisect one, slicing from left shoulder through to its right hip. This action also dispels my invisibility and now the creatures can clearly see me. As the newly made carcass into its two now separate pieces, the other two rise to their feet. The melee starts in earnest. While Connie engages in combat with one of them, I cut down another. I hear my wife's voice casting protective spells behind me. May the Gods bless her, she is learning to leave the hacking and slashing bits to myself and the others more suited for the brutality that is close combat. Meanwhile, Connie and I finish the last one that is here on the beach.

I then see Alri come out of the water as himself, bleeding some, but alone. I assumed he had finished off the one in the water. I was wrong, for it rushes up behind Alri, attacking him from the water with its trident. I jump into the water, and even with the handicap of swinging a blade in the water, slice deeply into it, stilling its threat to us.

Now all four are deceased, and a quick search finds very little of value. We move on. Or we would, except the door is firmly locked. But I had foreseen this potential problem. Going onto a headquarters of a merchant guild, I was sure that locks would be an issue that would need to be surmounted, so I spent a large amount of coin on a wand that my verne would be able to use, or in a pinch I have some training in using these devices. So presenting her a gift of a wand of Knock was fun. Of course, when I surprise her with the emerald necklace and earrings sometime in our future I expect that I will be on the receiving end of a very pleasant surprise of my own!

So through the door, down a short hall and then through a room. There is a hall leading to the west and one to the north. The trail continues north, and so we also go north. This leads to a unholy chapel that has a horrible stench coming from it. Bodies! Many many decaying and rotting bodies lay scattered about this room. But three of them rise. Some form of undead creatures. But Connie, using on the Divine might of her Deity Iomedae obliterates them. All I could do was admire the swift totality of their destruction!

Continuing on, we see a door at the end of the corridor that we are heading through open and a group of six humans, guards, I believe come into the hall. I immediate stop and wait for what I know will be coming.

And then a small glowing pebble of fire streaks past my head heading swiftly to the group of people. Then with a explosive Whoosh!, It burst into a ball of fire that fills that end of the corridor. When the fire recedes, three of them are clearly dead, and the remaining three are hurt. Spring has sprung indeed! Moving swiftly, I close on on, and with a precise strike I end one. Connie summons a mystical blade and strikes another one down. The remaining one react by pulling hand crossbow and despite my wife's magical copies confusing the senses, manages to strikes her true self. Al rolls a summoned ball of flame down at him, but he dodges. Then Spring fires a small stream of frost at him from the tip of one dainty finger, and it is just enough to put him down. I don't think anyone notices, but I slip Tempest's sharp tip into his ribs and make sure he won't recover from his swoon anytime soon. Hurt my mela, will you? Well not again you won't!

o0o

Verbiage from the Well of Spring… (dry it may be…)

Shopping all day and then being greeted and told we are no longer welcome because we fought intruders that meant us harm took its toll on our physical being and we found a quiet corner of the keep to actually rest and refresh our bodies, all the while keeping a vigilant watch, lest we be infiltrated again.

The day was hot so snuggling with my husband in a cool inner room was quite acceptable to me, and, I assume him. Of course, clothes make it even hotter. That box of talcum I purchased in the market certainly was fun spreading over our perspiring skin. I think we might have used less if we’d simply stopped at just tickling each other with the soft, lamb’s wool poof, but, well, one thing led to another, and we are married… I do not recommend kissing the body after the powder is applied. It tastes just awful!

But the way our skin moved silkily against the other’s was very pleasant, just as the sly sales lady had whispered when she conned me out of a silver coin! Worth every copper! I imagine, had we not brushed it from our faces before we met with the others, we could have frightened them into thinking we were ghosts! What fun that could have been!

After enjoying my husband’s particular vocation, we fell asleep, awaiting the appointed hour.

Waking and preparing ourselves for the night’s adventure, we left with plenty of time to reach the water’s edge before sunset.

I instructed Blaze, gave her the string holding the box Connie prepared, together and coached her where to drop it. We waited until time, then swallowed our potions of invisibility and underwater breathing, slipped into the water and started our journey.

It was an unnerving trek as the water grew darker, the weeds and fish tickled my legs. I am not the best of swimmers, and being fairly buoyant I found it intriguing trying to stay under the water, but I managed by holding Kiril whenever I felt like I was lifting off. We arrived at the location, or near enough and shortly after, Blaze dropped the box and it began sinking to the sandy bottom.

It no sooner touched down when five Mer-Warriors? Greenish-grey webbed footed and handed creatures with like fins ruffling out from their heads. (Cauliflower ears?) Anyhow, these fish-of-some-type swam up. One of them picked up the box and they quickly began to scuttle off with it.

We followed, at a respectable distance. Al, playful shark that he had become, chose not to alert them to his presence just yet.

It was fairly simple to follow them across the ocean floor, the box glowing with the light spell. A rocky crag appeared and they swam right into it and it wasn’t until we got close that we saw a rough corridor leading through. We followed cautiously.

We soon arrived in a cave and the creatures climbed from the pool, one of them heading off down a hall. We pondered our options and, there was no way around it, after trying to follow the fellow, we had to alert Al to exit, change back to his normal form and come with us.

I threw a rock in the water to catch his attention. Not smart.

You know, for a clever person, I seem to be pretty dumb sometimes. The splosh caught the attention of the weird fish-men and, although we were still invisible, the fish-dudes thought there was ‘supper’ in the pond and one dove in with the intent on spearing supper… I think Al, in shark-form, surprised him a tad.

Meanwhile we had our own battle on land, as the others noticed us, or we attracted their attention, either way, Kiril became visible, then Connie, as they battled the three fishy-guys. By the time I was ready to help, casting mAge armour and then mirror image, my assistance was not required. But it was fun dancing about, invisible while my mirror images were fully visible! I think, done correctly, this could confuse and bewilder an army of miscreants!

Al finished his battle, beached himself and returned to a fairly respectable person. We followed the footprints of the one who’d carried off the lighted trap-box.

Now, I don’t remember if we opened the door, or if we fought the next set of creatures first. I think the door. It was locked firm. Kiril surprised me with a beautifully decorated wand, with strange circular markings and the word ‘Hitachi’ inscribed on the hilt. Smiling I aimed the wand at the door, “Knock knock, Hitachi calling…” I wonder if this means he doesn’t have the necklace set… hmmm…

The door groaned then popped open.

Then we met some more creatures… A whole room full of rotting, stinking, gross, squishy, dead bodies. Only some of them weren’t so dead.

A wonderful blast by Connie levelled half of them before we’d even gotten going! My carefully constructed images disappeared just when I could have used them most and I attracted the attention

of two of these battle-hardened fighters. I survived their onslaught, and, in the end, finished off the last with a simple frosty ray. Of course, he had been considerably weakened by the other’s attentions or the frost would merely have chilled him…

Now we hear something and are not sure what is around that corner or behind that door…

I hope Blaze is enjoying herself in the sun while we toil here, under the sea…

o0o

Kapesh! We're here!

Verbiage from the Well of Spring…

Well it was certainly a wonderfully exciting day! All the sights, smells and colours! I can’t wait until Kalmarane grows, although, it is nice having it smaller – we know so many more of the people!

I have now enough fabric and notions (buttons, lace, thread, needles and the such) that I will have a huge wardrobe when we return! Maybe even four abayas! Of course, not in the traditional black – ugh! I think I will enjoy many many hijabs as well! Kiril may snort at his new wardrobe, but I have also purchased some material to fashion a few new dishdashes and keffiyehs. It was exciting to find that new, braided agal in bright colours too! Now he will have a formal, un-traditional outfit to wear for the opportunities when we must visit dignitaries. My handsome Oahrd. (I know he is going to laugh when he sees that! I cannot remember the Elvish spelling of things! Drats!)

OH! And that necklace set, the one with the emeralds that Kiril says match my eyes, I so hope he remembers which stall it was. Oh, who am I kidding? He probably already has it hid away in that bag of his!

It is enjoyable buying gifts, small trinkets, for our friends and I think Alma is going to enjoy that hookah, hers is looking rather worn.

With such a lovely morning spent shopping and the remainder of the afternoon in those ingenious glass tubs set up on the rooftop under the heady grape and citrus vines. Pure sinful luxury. It was difficult to return to reality as the sweet girl shyfully reminded us we had to get dressed for the evening’s events.

And what a dress I wore! Kiril had somehow managed to procure for me a dress made in some far-away land’s traditional garb. Stylish and form-fitted, I was shocked at the neckline that hinted at the swell of my chest! Still, if Kiril deemed it acceptable, I would wear it proudly! Besides, the fit was uncanny!

I slipped some pearls around my throat, and, as was my custom whenever given the opportunity to dress-up, I lined my eyes with kohl, brushed my cheeks with pink, and my lips with red, rose petals. A trick Haleen taught me. I also made several slits in a rose leaf and mashed the leaf until it became pulpy, and then gently rubbed the leaf across the lid of my eye, leaving a slight bright-green hint of colour. I loved the ease of the strappy Roman sandal and tied the lace at the back of my knee.

Suitable dressed and feeling a fashionista, I was rapidly feeling dowdy compared to the eventual winner of the bidding contest, a gracious, but reserved woman with an edge to her. Stunning in red and gold, the woman screamed detached confidence.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. We enjoyed a wonderful supper, hummus! Oh! Such a tasty staple that I have been craving since the last batch I made fell to the floor and was enjoyed by the few pets we now allow to roam our home in Kalmarane. Yes, a delicious supper, conversation and wonderful entertainment. I think everyone thought I had imbibed a bit too much when I jumped up to join in.

Raqs Beledi is a cultural dance Haleen had exposed me to, early. “A wonderful way to keep from gaining love-handles,” she’d smiled.

The dancers were gorgeous in their bedleh and sarongs and had a spare belt which they tied around my hips so I, too, could shake-my-change! It was great fun! And, as all wonderful times, this too must end as the dancers left us to our hookah and refreshing cool drinks.

It is time for business. My husband is determined we sell this scroll to a trustworthy person who has the means to protect it. Although we hope they will not misuse it. I am again informed that I have no right to demand anything once the price has been exchanged.

A cagey discussion ensues; each of the persons our host has brought together for the purpose of obtaining the scroll warily announces a price they are willing to pay. We scoff at their low bids.

“Come friends, we have been led to believe we will be able to retire on the treasure we should obtain. At least thrice your attempts.” I grow weary of the obtuse attitude of the one, and decidedly irritated at the repeated bid of the other. The third, being quickly outbid, nervously ejects himself from the proceedings.

A price is finally agreed upon; ninety-thousand gold pieces! A king’s ransom indeed! Do we share it equally among our party members? After all, Al was not around for much of our struggle… “Stop it!” I admonish myself. “How quickly greed sets in! I have more than I’ll ever need now, and I begrudge a friend his share!? No, no I will not become that person!”

Falling into bed, my arms wrapped seductively about my husband as his strong form pressed against mine. We peeled the layers of fabric deemed necessary for proprieties sake and shunted them away from the heated bliss our skin was becoming. Kiril’s touch sending shivers along my spine, his lips following those rough fingers… the taste of his skin as my lips caressed him… It is a good thing his watch went without incident; how humiliating to be caught red… errr, cheeked? Asleep soon after Kiril and I celebrated privately, I awoke refreshed when Al, I think, knocked on the door handing the guard of the scroll over to me.

Kiril looks so adorable, his hair mussed in sleep. I choose to sit-up, my back resting on the luxuriously padded headboard, writing, while I await morning.

Suddenly, I hear the tinkle of the bells Kiril set at the main entrance as an early warning system. Awakening Kiril, who grabs his weapons and charges down the stairs.

Me, taking the time to cast a spell before following him, bump into both Connie and Al as we stop at the head of the stairs. The light of four candles burn in branches of the overhead chandelier illuminating Kiril in a clash with several ninja-style combatants. We each begin to take actions to eliminate these interloping would-be thieves.

A swift and bloody fight takes place, arrows loosed and spells uttered as we struggle to contain the melee and protect not only ourselves, but our valuable treasure, which Kiril snatched and stuffed into his waistband as he exited our room.

Utterly fascinated, I watch his sinewy muscles roll as Kiril fights, shirtless. The drawstring on his Bedouin-style pants loosening to leave the material hugging his hips, his flat stomach rippling with muscle. Unwilling to capture him again in a web, I loose several spellbinding coils of purple sparkles that flit like butterflies before scarring the hides of these assassins!

A dreadful fight. Al’s cheetah is a clever help, although the blood is quite gory. As it ends we find we have a slew of dead minions and Al is telling us that in passing our host’s room on his way to the tussle, he noticed our host being spirited off via a portal… or was that Connie?

This is going to get interesting…er…

o0o