Triumphant Arrival

After Gustavius’ departure, the group settled for 10 long days of travel. Keeping them all busy wasn’t an easy task since such professional adventurers were certainly not used to staying on the side.
Erleothir however seemed to be enjoying the time alone, the calm and security of the ship, the silence… knock, knock, knock. His meditation was softly interrupted. “Who is there?”

“It’s Rameldin, may I come in?”
Erleothir reluctantly opened the door, now really wasn’t the time to discuss and he knew how talkative Rameldin could be. Not that day though, they went for a walk on the deck and noticing his darken mood, she restrained a little and tried to get him to talk about his worries. She couldn’t get him to talk much as he insisted on waiting for a group discussion he would lead before arriving to Kitaesi. He asked her to be patient and, feeling better knowing he wasn’t upset with her, Rameldin followed his advice and went looking for another friend to talk to.
Yesnarel was a bad pick being all busy at his own project: learning from Captain Padoka. The young mage did his best to get closer to the man and learn something from his experience. The only thing he got in the end was some serious daily hang-overs. He wasn’t used to such an intense level of studying.

Far from that agitation, Mulchanor spent most of his days in the forge preparing some grenades for future battles. He was humming happy dwarves tunes as doing so, his mood greatly improved since his last talk with Jack who picked up his old gun back.

Sighing at the thought that Alast was now gone, Rameldin suddenly remembered the new addition to the group: Draugh. For sure he was bored too and would appreciate some company!

She found him in his room, recovering from a strong headache, reward of his failed attempt at keeping up with the drinking crew. He seemed rather glad to have her visit and made some room for her on his bed. Seated next to one another, Rameldin started asking her many questions about all and everything and mostly about their fellow companions. There was some tension at first in the room, nothing aggressive, more like a challenging atmosphere of seduction between the two. Despite his young years Draugh was trying his best to seem older and impress the lady, while she on the contrary was doing her best to get him to relax, at ease, to speak. She clearly won the round when she offered to massage him in order to relieve him from his persistent headache.
“But tell me, what do you think of the people we travel with?”
“I don't know, since I joined your group we tortured two guys, Yesnarel electrocuted one and the other died, Gustavius put you into prison, Erleothir screamed a lot, then there is that other dwarf who's sleeping all the time and I have no clue who's steering that ship”
The massage started innocently on the shoulders and moved slowly to his temples as the conversation went on. Both were getting to know one another but the conversation came to a halt when Draugh fell sound asleep on his bench. Rameldin looked right and left and mentally shrugged her shoulders as she made herself a place at his side for a nap.


12th January 5001
The trip was rather uneventful and all were glad to meet in the kitchen one fine day in the early afternoon. This meant only one thing: Kitaesi was very close now and Erleothir was going to talk. The speech was inspirational as well as scary for the less experienced persons of the group. There would be no way back, they were in for a fight against the Dark Lords and now all knew the war would start once all the keys and safes would be found.
As the meeting was coming to an end, they heard a commotion on the deck and all followed the crew. They were surprised by the sight. A larger mountain range with gently rising slopes was facing them and more surprisingly: Padoka woke up and decided he'll take care of the maneuvres.

The Captain emerged from his cabin, stumbling as usual. Helped by Jack, he climbed to the steering wheel and intended to drive the ship. On the deck, there were gasps and Rameldin clinged to the closest stable element she could find and that turned out to be Mulchanor’s arm. He shook his arm free, without any compassion for her fear and stepped forward, to the railing. Rameldin knelt on the ground, covering her head of her hands. Though some of her companions were mildly worried about Captain Padoka’s competence in driving before 20h, the crew seemed confident. Padoka moved some of the stones and crystals on the steering board and the ship accelerated sensibly and while he was making no attempts to lift the ship the treetops of the scarce pines on the ground were coming closer and closer. Soon enough they were flying at the same height as the trees, flocks of birds flying away to the side while angrily bleeping. the yellowish stony ground burned by the sun was uncomfortably near and the horizon had vanished. And suddenly, as the mountain summit was coming always closer and closer, the ship lifted up eversoslightly, brushing the line and crossing onto water 200 meters below them. The view was breathtaking.

They had just strifed the top of what was a gigantic cliff over the west side of the Bay of Kitaesi, and were now facing almost the entirety of the bay. To their right, towards the south the ground was getting more and more accidented and the cliffs on either side of the bay were more hanging over the water with strange formations of spikes looking like claws emerging from the ground. Behind the horizon to the south they knew the bay opened into the ocean. in front of them they could see the equally shaped cliffs forming the eastern wall of the bay in the warm afternoon sun. As they looked down upon the deep blue water they soon noticed a large warship going full sails toward the city of Kitaesi, their final destination for this journey.

Kitaesi was in the most northern part of the bay. One of the biggest city of the Shadakine Empire. Thousands of houses and buildings behind heavy fortifications, all in a Moorish style, some buildings towering a bit higher than others but never more than five floors, but the most fascinating thing in the city was a large sugar loaf on top of which a large palace of white an red stones laid. as thy looked closer at this strange mountain in the middle of the sea of buildings they noticed that it had been modified slightly to make the palace an untakable fortress. it seemed that the engineers had managed to divert th river flowing through the city to flow through the sugar loaf itself after carving a canyon on one side of that massive rock, surely a herculean work at the time. much less breathtaking was a diffuse mass of wrecks and shady buildings on the eastern side of the city, just outside the city walls. Their view continued northwards and they could see some huts and farms on the fertile ground in front of the north walls of the city and stretching into the heartland. to their surprise they also noticed a large amount of tents and camps in that same area. and far away at the northern horizon, more little sugar loafs and the beginning of some cloud draped dense sub-tropical forest. But their gaze was suddenly interrupted.

A canon shot could be heard from the battleship: was it going to attack the city? Another canon shot, this time coming from the harbor was heard in the distance. Yesnarel smiled softly and shared his knowledge with the group.
“This, my friends, is a greeting. The city welcomes the mariners back home and from what we can hear, they are going to be some celebration for them too. They certainly have won a nice battle or have been away for a while”.

The “Repulse” docked a few minutes before the "Dragonfly" and Mulchanor played the game of the hero, saluting the crowds and cheering back at them. Then, as Yesnarel has correctly guessed, the whole city was in a tumult of a giant festivity. flags were hanging from the windows, ropes were tied above the streets between the canyons of the building to which lambions and more decorations hung. the strets were full of people dressed in colourfull clothes enjoying a good time, eating and buying little things at market stalls everywhere. At every corner musicians and show people, dancing, and juggling. In the meantime, excited at the idea of partying and socializing, Rameldin ran down to her room to get ready.

So, the "Repulse" would be the boat of a national hero, Captain Farsig. He probably would know many thing and many important people. He might be able to help in their search for Karnelian. Who knew?

Once ready she came back on the deck to find the crew overly happy, the Captain had decided to give them shore vacation so that they would enjoy the festivities too. The "Dragonfly" still couldn’t be left alone and so a few unlucky ones would stay onboard to keep an eye on the ship and everyone’s belonging. The group happily touched ground and started toward the city. A few meters away, they were stopped by shadaki guards:
“No weapons are allowed in the city walls for the time of the festivities. Please make sure you do not carry any or you will be prosecuted.” The scimitars at their belt were rather convincing but the company still tried to negotiate their way in. Mulchanor insisted, evoking the gun as the extension of a dwarf hand, to no avail. The guards didn’t bulge. Yesnarel and Erleothir walked back to the ship to drop their stuff while Mulchanor kept arguing. The alternative would be to put all weapons in a trunk that would be locked and stored in the town’s castle. As the discussion went on, Rameldin turned discreetly to the mage “I have a few things hidden in my dress, do you think they will control?” Yesnarel looked at her with surprise “it’s not worth the risk Rameldin” and he more or less dragged her back to the ship. When all thought Mulchanor and the guards had reached an agreement, he put an end to the negotiation on the reason that he wouldn’t be to accompany his gun. It was then his turn to go back to the ship to drop his rifle, he paid two of the guards to stay and keep an eye on his beloved gun and the "Dragonfly".

Before finally leaving the landing area Erleothir asked one last question to the guards: “Do you know an inn where they serve good Vasagonian beer?”
The guards shrugged and advised him to follow the crowd toward the central plaza but that finding a place to stay would be difficult with the unusual amount of visitors.
“Ok, then, shall we?” Rameldin was eager to enter the crowd and reach the heart of the party. She wanted to meet Captain Farsig, she was dressed to catch his attention, she was determined to mingle with the rich and powerful.

The group was advancing relatively fast in the crowd - almost like beeing pushed forward - and they failed to hear someone running after them, calling Erleothir’s name. Mulchanor was wondering aloud how a single man could earn such a big party. Draugh was walking proudly in his armour, catching woman eyes and suddenly catching the eye of a short, fat and sweaty man. It was enough to startle him and that’s all what the man needed to finally catch up with them.
“Good evening to you dear Sirs and Mademoiselle” he bowed a little “My name is Toxif and I come to you sent by a common friend, Alast. He has arranged for you to stay in an inn on the eastern side of the city, in the … slums. It’s the Broken Mast Inn”
“So, the place is a dump..." commented Mulchanor.
“No we prefer to call it "easily accessible for adventurers on a low low budget.". In fact, it is the best inn you could hope for ... in the "Brackwaters" that is."

Rameldin pouted “But I want to meet Captain Farsig ! I want to dance and I don’t want to ruin my dress in the dirt”.

Erleothir ignored her and asked about Alast “how is he doing? Is he waiting for us there?”

Toxif elusively answered “He’s… in a safe place. The boss at the Broken Mast Inn will be able to tell you more”.

After exchanging another glance, they decided to follow him and off they went, crossing the streets toward the East gate, leaving the celebration behind them and facing the slums.

Many departures

Finally sitting down Rameldin was still talking when Gustavius ordered some food and beer. Another blue triangle had been found and, this time, this small victory wasn't achieved in blood. Soon the conversation turned to be a discussion as Gustavius escalated his terms and sarcasms toward a young insolent Rameldin. Diplomacy is not a dwarf art, neither comprehension. Soon Erleothir was trying to diffuse the situation under the amused look of Draugohtar and Yesnarel.
Rameldin high voice turned to catch the attention of the surrounding dwaves while she talked out loud about those "blue triangle" turing Gustavius face even redder than usual and more annoyed than it is his habit. Her loud intervention was actually a blessing as she grabbed both triangle right under Gustavius beard and played with them. Amazingly the triangles glowed and were now one. Gustavius took it again under the amazed look of all when the discussion went higher than expected.
Strong word too harsh to describe here were thrown from both side, quoting either the ineptitude to help from one or the mule character of the other. Eleothir tried to calm both and stood as the new found leader he is. He decided for the greater good to bring her in her room till she could calm down. When he returned he was for sure not in her grace any more. Sometimes being a leader is making the wrong deeds for the greater good. Gustavius felt now at ease to impress and teach the hazardous company about the true meaning of all of this scavenger hunt.
Seven keys exist and each can open a safe. So far they opened two and found two triangle. Which now, due to Rameldin, are only a square. Powerful enemies are looking for the remaining triangle, five still seems to be unaccounted for and the Hazardous allies are away or dead. Gustavius tried to explain the urgency and utmost secrecy of the situation, which Rameldin didn't seem to care about. The newcomers in the company listened carefully and despite the gravity of the situation they were ready to go with the flow, even if a sudden painful death was to be expected at the hands of one of the many invisible enemies. Once all were set Gustavius was sent to Rameldin's room to solve their little differences before departing for Kitaesi, as Erleothir had been informed to go by some mysterious way.

When everything seemed to be finally leading him to a deserved rest, Erleothir was surprised to hear once again the strident Rameldin's voice claiming she was innocent and won't leave the Inn. All our heroes came out at the same moment, finding Rameldin escorted by guards and Gustavius talking to them.
-Why are you taking her, shouted Erleothir.
- She is not welcomed here in Bor as per Master Gustavius informed us
- What is on your mind Gustavius? Didn't I ask you to settle your differences previously???
- Erleothir, I cannot trust a female that doesn't share a bunk during a night. If we are a company and she behaves like this here can you imagine how she is going to be as soon as we encounter real problems?
- I am not a female, I have a name!
- Silence! Come with us to the guarrison!
When Rameldin was too much of an annoyance for all, Draugohtar slapped her not once but twice till she calmed down. Enough to be dragged to the prison. Meanwhile Erleothir and Gustavius discussed on how to take her out of prison and the dwarf decided, in a rare moment of kindness, to go and fetch her. A weird story about sharing the bed and the female appellation made another crisis between those two, but this time Erleothir will teach them how to behave or, at least, he though so. Once at the prison they learned that she will need to leave Bor as she turned to be persona non grata in the Kingdom. She will be on shackles till she board the Dragonfly. Gustavius tried to take her on his shoulder till then but she refused.
- Well, as you can see Erleothir she thinks of herself again prefering to delay us in our quest instead of making our life mo...
- Enough of this you too! Rameldin, we need to leave, please do accept to be carried away and we'll leave Boradon to Kitaesi, I will explain everything later.
- I don't like him, he doesn't respect me, he is not...
- STOP IT FOR ISHIR SAKE!
I do not like what you did to me too Erleothir, said Rameldin but carry me, at least you are not like the dwa...
Why do I joined this company again, silently though Erleothir while taking her over his shoulders. Quickly boarding and saying goodbye to Boradon, Mulchanor had been informed previously and was already sleeping, completely unaware of the new turns and company members from the last days. After a couple of days in the air, toward Kitaesi another skyship boarded them for their surprise but only Gustavius recognized the vessel.
- It can't be! Tolbiac? What is he doing here?
A brief encounter with this adventurer dressed in a leather armour was enough for Gustavius to abandon his friends, providing Erleothir with the blue square informing them of the necessity of his leave for the greater good. There was something more important than the crucial quest they were just in.
- So all that we talked yesterday was for nothing? Say Erleothir?
- I'm glad he leaves, I don't like him! Smiled Rameldin.
Mulchanor and Yesnarel were not there to see him leaving and Draugohtar nodded to him respectfully as Gustavius left, he too, knew the meaning of duty.

Gus gone, Erleothir was now the only one from the original team. Lightning and Griselda dead, Mulchanor, Yesnarel and Draugohtar were new found additions to the team. Kitaesi was now a vast openness of opportunities with no clues of were to go.