Game Date: 21 Browning-4 Yearwane, 994 KC; Play Date: 1/23/2001
21 Browning: The red-bearded priest, Tryggvi, quizzed Star on everything that had happened to her since she awoke on the beach near Harwen. He seemed especially interested in the flashes of memory she had already received, and her magical talents. Star was uncertain what to do here--she wasn't sure just what question to ask, and had to gift to offer the Oracle. Tryggvi flet confident that an appropriate service could be negotiated once she knew more of herself. Star requested that her service not be in "this dry barren wasteland"; he assured her that some of his order lived near the coast, and that she would be allowed to serve there.
Meanwhile, Sarah and Ruqayyah were shown to guest quarters (one of the stone huts), and were shown where to get water and other needs. The rules of the shrine were simple: except for the pilgrim path, don't go out of sight of the clearing without a priest; they were welcome to interact with any other pilgrims who were also so inclined. Ruqayyah went exploring in caracal form.
The other pilgrims seemed to be mostly Visalan, with a few Krithians. Ruqayyah saw one nonhuman: a young male centaur, who was tuning a lyre. Curious, she meowed, then changed back to human to say hello in Krithian. The centaur replied, with a heavy accented, and introduced himself as Graywind. He sang and played for her, first a song of his people (in an unfamiliar language), then others in that language, a few in what she thought was Sivian, and one simple ditty in Krithian. His skill was impressive, especially with his instrument. When he took a break, she sang for him, first in Krithian then in the Desert Tongue. He was impressed in turn.
Ruqayyah returned to the hut just as Star arrived there. They discussed Star's talk with Tryggvi. ("Who am I?" would seem to be most informative, but awfully general.)
That night, Star dreamed about being taught spear-fishing, in a river in a woods, near where the river entered a lake. Her teacher looked the same age as Star, but she felt that her teacher was older than that. The woman looked very much like Star, but had a mark on her right palm that was the mirror image of Star's. (A close relative?) The fish they sought was a very colorful sort of trout; Star speared one after several clumsy attempts. Eventually Star became conscious that both she and her teacher were nude. At one point, she looked down at herself and noticed that her body was much younger and slighter--and male. (The star mark was unchanged, and her reaction was more "oh, yeah," than "what the--?")
22 Browning: On waking, Star recalled her earlier memory flash of being in water with an apparent relative. She realized now that the other person in that memory had been neuter, neither male or female. She sensed that it was matter of choice, but was uncertain what to make of that conclusion.
Mid-morning, Tryggvi and some other priests came to talk with Star, mostly to clarify a few points from the day before. Star related her dream form the night before. She believed that the other person was the same relative from whom she had been separated when coming to this world. And the fortune-teller in Berigissel had told her that finding "other stars" would help her get home sooner. The priests suggested a question for her to ask: "How can I find one of my kinsfolk who can tell me who I am and how to get home?" If Star could learn how this means of travel worked, and control it, that power could be used to repay her debt to the Oracle--perhaps by gathering information, or carrying an item or message. If she gets an answer and cannot repay the service immediately, then she can simply owe the debt until she is able to repay it. Star agreed to ask the question suggested by the priests. The priests departed to carry the question to the Oracle, and would return in a few days with an answer.
Star was eager to find a river, so Tryggvi acted as her and Sarah's escort. At the river, she attempted to Walk on Water, but bungled the spell and sank to the bottom, unable to leave the riverbed until the spell expired a few moments later. (Fortunately, she could breathe water!)
Ruqayyah stayed in the clearing to meditate, practice her spells, sing, dance, and visit with the centaur again. She managed to complete one of the spells she was trying to learn: Death Vision. She had a vision of herself in a large open space indoors, with several people around (none seen clearly). She was crouched down, holding a lion cub protectively in her arms. Ormenlind was there, on foot, without the snake or horse, and striding towards her. He held a sword (apparently taken from a crumpled body in armor behind him), which he lifted above his head and swung at her--as the vision ended.
When Star and Sarah returned, Ruqayyah told them of her new spell. She suggested it as a way to jog Star's memory, but it was "not a nice spell." Star agreed, and Ruqayyah cast the spell. Star saw herself in a forest, surrounded by half a dozen short (3'-4' tall) ugly men with gray-brown skin, little hair and clothing, armed with axes and spears. Around them all were several gigantic ants, each about a foot long. The shortest man barked a command, and the men and ants converged on her... When Star recovered, she remembered that these men were her people's natural enemies, but she could not recall their name.
Star found Tryggvi and told him of this vision. After consulting another priest, he told her that the men were Muryans, an Unseelie race associated with ants. The name strikes a bell for Star--both the men and the ants were Muryans.
23-25 Browning: Over the next few days, as Star awaited her answer, she spent time with some of the other pilgrims (with Sarah translating, as usual). None had seen any other people that looked like her.
Graywind received his answer and departed at the full moon (24th). Ruqayyah, being rather manic because of the date, gave him a very gushy (and almost certainly confusing) farewell. Also during this time, she mastered the Shield spell.
26 Browning: The priests came to Star around midday, with a one-word answer: "Marwar." Star recognizes the word as the name of the destination that she and her relative were trying to reach. (However, none of her party knew where it was.) Tryggvi released her to pursue the rest of her answer before repaying her debt. He suggested that if "Marwar" appeared on any maps, perhaps the geographers in Veluvar could help her identify it. Star resolved to leave immediately.
29 Browning: Star and her friends returned to Veluvar, and visited the cartographer again. He recognized the name "Marwar," and showed it to them on a map: It was a settlement on the westernmost Storm Isle, about two weeks' sail from here (perhaps more due to the region's infamous weather). Following the Storm Isles was probably safer than following the Pirate Coast, but both had their dangers (hence their names). He doubted that ships went there often, but they did regularly sail most of the way there. Perhaps a Northlander ship might pass near it on its return to its homeland; however, he warned Star to take care who she approached--she was an attractive young woman, and Northlanders were notorious for their appetites. (It occurred to Star that she could make that a non-issue.) The other possibility was a Haldin ship, which might be safer for a mage; the Northlanders were a very superstitious lot, while Haldin should more easily take in stride the three women's unusual appearances. Before they left, Ruqayyah collected her copy of the Outlands map.
Sarah led them to the harbormaster, to try to locate a ship headed that way, preferably one from Haldinibar. They were in luck--a Haldin ship, The Silver Falcon, would be leaving in a few days to return to its home port of Aramakla. The captain, Luned, was rumored to be part-sidhe.
They found the ship, and saw that the crew consisted of both men and women, all either human or too close to tell the difference. The petite woman giving orders (in Sivian) had a with a hip-length silver braid, fine features, and sunburnt face and hands. She soon noticed the strangers, and came over to see what they wanted; up close, they would she that the captain had bright violet eyes. Sarah explained that Star wanted passage, but knew no Sivian. They soon established that while Luned did not know Star's native language (or Krithian or Merfolk), she did know the Seelie court tongue--possibly better than Star herself did.
The captain took them went a short way from the ship to talk more privately. Star explained what little she knew of herself: a water sidhe, with water magic, and trying to reach Marwar. Luned had not been able to afford a ship's mage in some time, so was willing to negotiate passage for service. She warned Star that her appearance might draw more attention than she wished from some of the male crewmen (and one or two of the women?); if it became a problem, Luned would discipline them. Star asked if it would be better if she did not appear as a women; Luned left that up to her, as long as it didn't disrupt the operation of the ship. The falcon would put in at Dildin, the port closest to Marwar on their route. Star might be able to arrange further passage (or knowledge) from there.
Star demonstrated her spells to Luned's satisfaction; using those skills would earn her passage. The ship would leave at first light in two days. Star would need to bring nothing special--she would be provided for out of their stores. She could come stay aboard at any time before then. Star wished to come the next morning, so was told to report to either Luned or her first officer (who knew a little Seelie) then.
That afternoon, Ruqayyah asked the harbormaster whether it would be legal for her to dance for money in the town square. There were no laws against it, as long as she didn't disturb the peace. She was directed to a public area nearby that would be appropriate. She danced, and earned a few silvers. With the money, she went shopping, and found an artisan with a small wooden carving of a centaur among his wares. She bought that, and asked him to make another, which he said would be ready the next day. She took the carving to Star and gave it to her as a gift.
That night, before going to sleep, Star attempted to transform to male. She felt something, but the change had no immediate effect except to make her irritable and moody, and make it hard to sleep.
30 Browning: Star woke as male. Ruqayyah noticed immediately; Sarah did not until Ruqayyah asked what happened. She also asked which Star preferred; Star had no real preference: "both are me."
Star planned to go to the Falcon around noon. Sarah planned to leave the same day. Star planned to return, and both Sarah and Ruqayyah wanted to hear more when he/she did. Star had also promised to tell his/her story to the fortune-teller Rehana in Berigissel. She promised to leave messages with Meg in Carnvrin, and the temple in Berigissel.
Star braided his long hair to keep it out of his face, then went to the Falcon. Luned gave him an appraising look, said "Impressive," and began his orientation.
Ruqayyah collected her centaur carving, then she and Sarah set sail in the early afternoon. They continued Ruqayyah's Merfolk lessons.
2 Yearwane: Sarah and Ruqayyah reached Berigissel about midday. Sarah left Ruqayyah there, and returned to her life on the sea.
Ruqayyah went directly to the temple, where she learned that the clerics with the Asanos had departed on the 28th. Darra had arrived the evening of the 30th, and left yesterday at dawn to follow them. She was given the cleric's itinerary: leaving Mundec midday on the 4th; rituals in Grimfeld the 6th (new moon), Bregmund the 12th (waxing half), and Gunrothric the 18th (full moon); a week of purification rites starting the 24th (waning half); then the final ritual in Krynan the 30th (new moon). Ruqayyah weighed her options, and decided to run cross-country (as a caracal) in order to intercept the others in Mundec by the 4th. She had very little to carry, and found her to adjust her rucksack so that she would not be encumbered even in the smaller form. She began her "forced march" that same day.
4 Yearwane: Ruqayyah found a good pace to allow herself to shapeshift, run for hours as a cat, then continue on more slowly in her natural form, without completely exhausting herself. The second morning, the spell succeeded so well that she felt no fatigue, and was able to run longer and faster without tiring.
Somewhat late in the morning, Ruqyyah saw a road she thought to be the one to Mundec. In the distance, she saw a small dark horse running along the road in that direction. The horse looked familiar, so she angled to intercept it. Just as they both caught a glimpse of city and sea ahead, the horse (which was Darra) noticed the caracal. She slowed as the cat closed with her. They exchanged a meow and whinny of greeting. Darra motioned for Ruqayyah to jump onto her back, which she just managed to do. Darra then sprinted the last leg of the journey to Mundec.
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This page last revised 2/6/2002. | Copyright 2002 Timothy E. Emrick. | time@sluggy.net