CH. 16: Homecoming

[Chris1234]

Naras says to Serenna, "I seem to do that. I'm sorry. I'm going to try to explain to my companion. Will you let her go, if she wants?"

Over her shoulder she says (common), "Val, despite only coming here to try and help these people it seems I have greatly upset them. Perhaps you should go, just in case, if they'll let you.."

The dwarf continues (merman), "I will heal your brothers." Naras casts two spells, 2x Cure Light wounds, one on each of the two still wounded and then {Unless it will cause offense, Etiquette (10)}, sits down cross-legged on the floor.

Naras continues talking to Serenna, "I did check for trickery as I wanted to stay alive. I'm sorry that caused offense. I intended no offense or rudeness at any point. So, for that too, I'm sorry. It seems I have a ways to go with humility." She takes a deep breath before continuing, "I've told you that I came here to help. It is true, and the whole truth. You owe me nothing for healing you or your brothers. So, what next?

[HorizonsDream]

"We don't have solid proof that she is a fiend," Jocelyn points out. "Your word might go a long way where you are from, but here most people just see a, and forgive my bluntness here, a crazy woman trying to kill a person."

[Breila]

"Jocelyn is right" Ouragana says. "Unless we can understand how you identify a fiend, we can't let you out. We cannot risk that you are mistaken and kill someone innocent."

[chese780]

"I'm going to need a fill in later. For now, I'm just going to sit and wait."

(OOC: And to me, I think you're all a bit crazy lel)

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn, Ouragana and Drav (The Hold)
"There is nothing more to understand than what I've told you," Penta replies through the door. "I can sense fiends the same way you can sense a breeze, or feel heat, or know someone is watching you even when they are hidden. It's clear we have nothing further to discuss. You have made your choice. I am locked up here, while the demon roams free on the ship. I only pray you don't come to regret that decision."

Val and Naras (Undine Village)
Naras' apology seems to mollify Serenna and she calms down some. "Your friend may depart, if that is what she wishes," she says, crossing her arms.

Naras heals the two young men, one after the other. They immediately wake up, and seem disoriented and confused at first. "What happened?" asks the elder.

"Mother? Where is she?" asks the younger of the two.

"The Ixitxachitl have taken her," Serenna tells them.

Both of the males seem a bit younger than Serenna, but not by very much. The older of the two has long, blue-green hair pulled back into a ponytail. The younger one has short, blond hair.

Naras used to sit down in front of Silverfrond all of the time, and it never seemed to offend her. So she takes the chance and sits. None of the undine seem to mind.

"Land-walkers!" the youngest one exclaims when he finally notices Val and Naras. "What's going on?" he asks, turning to his sister.

"It's...complicated," Serenna answers. "Our people found them and brought them here. They helped heal us. So...at least for the time being, they are not our enemy."

"Then...you have our thanks," the blond says, nodding to Naras and Val.

"But what now?" asks the pony-tail one. "We don't have the manpower to storm the Ixitxachitl colony."

Serenna shakes her head. "No, but even if we did, it's too dangerous. They might kill the chieftainess during the attack. We need a small group to slip in undetected, find her and bring her back. And we need to leave as soon as possible."

"We're too weak now," the ponytail points out. "Even with the surfacer's healing, I can barely move. We need to rest first."

"There's no telling what they might do to her if we wait!" Serenna argues.

"But if we leave now, we won't be of any use. We can barely swim straight, and all of our magic is depleted. We have no chance of success without resting first," says the blond, putting his hand on Serenna's shoulder. "We have to trust that she will be alright until then."

"Besides, if they were going to kill her, they would have done that during the attack," Ponytail adds. "They must want her for something."

"Very well," Serenna says, reluctantly. "But then we can use that time to come up with a proper plan of attack. We need a strategy. Any ideas?"

"What about the land-walkers?" asks the blonde. "Is there any aid they could provide us?"

(Naras casts Cure Light Wounds on both mermen. Both are restored to 1 HP automatically.
Naras makes an Etiquette check [TN 10] (1d20): 10, pass.)

[Chris1234]

"I will," replies Naras without hesitation. "Although if the boat goes too far away I would thereafter be reliant on you to get me back to land somewhere, otherwise I would perish. My name is Naras, by the way. For the others, they may choose to help. I'd like to think so, but I don't speak for them." Naras smiled grimly."Serenna, I have a similar effect on them that I did on you. If you will permit me, I will talk to my companion and see if she will go and ask them if they would be prepared to help. I offer, without obligation to you," the dwarf added, eyeing Serenna blankly, "...to stay here and help the three of you to recover. I could an provide mundane aid to 3 more. If you give me a small amount of time, 20 minutes if you measure it in those terms, I could provide one more measure of magical healing. Tomorrow I can gain new spells, but my spellcasting appears to not work unless I can speak into air. It's the sound you see." Naras indicated to Val, seeking the Undines' leave to communicate in Common.

Assuming the seapeople give approval, Naras updates Val on the situation, the request to help, the nature of the quest and the foe, stating clearly that no reward is to be expected and finally that she (Naras) intends to stay and help as best she can regardless of any other decisions.

[HorizonsDream]

"Come on, Ouragana," Jocelyn says with a sigh. "There might be a way to get the proof we need," she says once they are further away from Penta. "I could try to turn her."

[Breila]

"This seems sensible" Ourgana agrees. "Right now, we have no other way of telling if Penta indeed has unusual abilities or is simply a deluded fanatical".
As they walk up the stairs, Ouragana announces: "I'll go on deck and practice my navigational skills. Not that the Bullring sisters need it, but I could use the practice."

[spyguy1503]

Gallath speaks up after staring into space. "She has my trust. She had plenty of chances to turn on me and didn't. I'll vouch for her."

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn, Ouragana, Baeros, Gallath and Drav (Berth Deck)
Jocelyn, Ouragana and Drav head upstairs to join the others, leaving the marines to guard Penta should she try to escape again. They find Baeros and Gallath on the Berth Deck, along with Naishe.

"There, see," Naishe says in response to Gallath, wrapping her arms around his arm. "He vouches for me, and you trust him, don't you? So, discussion over. There's nothing left to talk about."

Val and Naras (Undine Village)
"Others?" asks the blond one.

"You mean other land-walkers?" asks Serenna, skeptically. "Can they even swim? Or fight underwater?"

Thinking about it, Naras realizes that fighting underwater is quite different than fighting on the surface. Being surrounded by water slows your movements down and renders most weapons useless, including slashing, bludgeoning and projectile weapons--although piercing weapons would still work, albeit with less efficiency than normal. Plus, casting doesn't work and communication is impossible. All of this could be negated by a spell of Free Action, but that's beyond the ability of either a kohen or a pastor. In other words, even if the others agreed to help, they'd be completely useless.

Nevertheless, the undine grant Val leave to return to the surface. When she does so, however, she discovers the ship has moved on. It was moving at about 2 knots an hour when they jumped off, and that was about two hours ago or so. She could summon Mist and go after them, but it would take a few days to catch up (assuming the ship stops moving in the meantime). At this point, it would be easier to just head to Enott and meet up with them there.

Val returns and reports the situation to Naras. The dwarf realizes she has a choice. She and Val could ride Mist, her pet orca, and head to the harbor town of Enott on the island of Draska. They might even catch up with the Bullring, assuming the ship stops long enough at that island to test the cannon. This would mean abandoning the undine to their fate. One could argue that she had done enough to help as it is, and there is no need to go beyond that.

On the other hand, she and Val could remain and help the undine rescue their cheiftainess. It's not like either of them has any investment in defeating the Poison Curse. And since Jocelyn wants to win this one with diplomacy, something neither Val or Naras are particularly good at, they probably wouldn't be of help anyway. Plus, there may be some benefits to helping the undine. Serenna may not be particularly grateful, but the chieftainess might. And Serenna had mentioned they had treasure. If she plays her cards right, she could get a nice reward which would help in getting the temple back in Narin on its feet.

Ultimately, the choice was up to them.

"As for spellcasting," adds the Ponytail, "there may be a way around that." He looks to Serenna. "There is 'the ring.'"

"Absolutely not!" insists Serenna. "That is one of our sacred treasures. I will not have it given to some land-walker we just met!"

"But it would allow her to speak and move freely in the water," Ponytail points out. "And I'm not saying give it to her, but loan it to her. If she decides to run off, it's not like she can get very far, even with the ring. And we can ask her to hand over something of equal value for collateral, while she has it, if that helps."

Serenna frowns and thinks about it. "I...suppose..."

[Breila]

"If only it was that simple, Naishe" Ouragana says in a soft, sad voice. "People can be mistaken, or simply not know any better. I, for one, know too little about demons to see one if he or she is in disguise. So a demon could befriend me, and bring ruin to myself and anyone who trusts me. I so much wish I could go to the Academy and do some studies."

[Chris1234]

"The boat's gone and most of my kit with it. But I will still try and help you recover your chieftainess," Naras replied. "Let me translate and I'll see if my companion, her name's 'Val' by the way, is going to help."

Naras translates to Val faithfully what has been said, adding "...the 'Ixitxachitl' creatures sound unpleasant and worthy of upsetting, which seems to be my strong point." She smiles, pleased to have a purpose again, even if it is somewhat unhinged. "There's no reward but the merfolk, who, by the way, have said thanks for the healing, do seem very strong on honour and who knows, a bit of loot from the Ixitxachitl might come along. You up for it? Have a think for a minute, I need to talk to these folks again."

The dwarf reverts to the undine tongue, "I've told my colleague and she's thinking about it. I've left most of my stuff on the ship, but I have this ring. It's probably useless underwater, but for me it is pretty valuable. Probably more valuable that the rest of my stuff together, but I'm no expert on that. Here." She hands it over as an act of good faith. "Now, I can help you recover from your wounds with rest, I can look after six people, so if you have other wounded, you may wish to bring three more here too. If any of your people have been afflicted with a magical effect, polymorph for example, I can try and dispel that.Ummmm.. when my colleague's had a think and given her answer, I'll pray to my god, Gonto, for a while and hopefully may be granted another healing spell {Cure Moderate Wnds}. If this is successful, who would you like me to cast it on. I think that's about all I can do for you today. Oh yes, please may I have the honour of knowing your names?" She looks to the unnamed pair.

[BishGada]

Baeros gives a strong pat on Gallath shoulder and says to Naishe and Ouragana, "For me that's enough! And the whole situation is under control... and somewhat boring. Let's do something interesting! Gallath, wanna train Thrax?"

[HorizonsDream]

While everyone is talking, Jocelyn takes the time to concentrate and tries to turn Naishe.

[Nuke]

Val is a little confused by all of the interpersonal dynamics transpiring around her. As she is filled in on the additional situation, she thinks it over.

"If we decide to help, Mist will be a great help. We would need her help. But, I am sure we can catch up with the other eventually, so, it's your call."