We had exhausted all of our leads except to make it across the Red Line. We have been talking about the mythical beast for what seems like years and now there is no path but through it.

Noctus and his horde still scare us. We know when we are over powered. So we make plans to sneak our way there looking like one of them. I work on disguises for the party. We all agree that mundane costumes are likely best as Noctus would be able to see through illusions (not that any of us are good at them anyway).

Eventually we head off for our voyage which is thankfully uneventful until we reach the line.

Noctus has blown a huge hole into the side of the line. Literally a big red wall. His folks were in the process of fixing it and he had a small armada guarding it. Turns out they are expecting us. Turns out our disguises and Mavericks bluff are better. Turns out that only worked once. The command ships were going to be a bigger problem. I mean, how was I to know what a fleet admirals uniform looked like? Not my fault Maverick was only an Admiral. I’ll make a long story short – we ran. Shenora through up some cover which worked way better than my water wall and we scadddled through the opening. Unfortunately a bigger armada day waiting for us on the other side. Personally I was going to go down fighting but I was convinced to surrender. So we did, for about two minutes, until Barbados and Harold appeared riding our recently freed Leviation. I know pirates are mostly known as loners but we are quickly learning that good deeds are not unnoticed. Their entrance wrecked half of the ships and gave us time to get out of there.

We pause on our journey to Cannibal Island to rest and refit. Some nice fresh fruit did sound good. Strange place this side of the red line, but all that bad. Anyway, we were soon back in our way.

Reaching Cannibal Island we find that we are not surprising anyone. The welcome mat was laid out for us. Really. First time for Shatral and I. I heard this guy liked snakes so that’s probably why he was nice to us. We’ll sort of. He wanted nothing to do with giving us the last two sin weapons at first. Then he attacked us. I dunno. Seemed like another chance to get out asses kicked but we fought as hard as we could. I summoned a T Rex. It was awesome. And then it tried to eat me. WTF. Last time I do that. Stupid beast. We got rid of his vampires mostly without harm and pounded on him some. I got the distinct impression he was agreeing with us. But after a while he seemed us worthy and teleported our if there. Hey, I can’t get any of my teleport spells to work around here. No fair. Oh well. He left the weapons. Now where is Noctus again?

Well now, we had a really quick discussion on our island, deciding we had to go past the Red Line. It was time. I made sure to talk out disguises and code signals for our ship. You know, anything that would make it more likely that we’d make it past and Noctus ship. All preps done, we set out.
I was kind of worried about Dork, he was really quiet during everything. I just couldn’t convince him to be livelier. So, we get to the Red Line, and it was not at all what I expected, an actual fucking wall. I kind of thought it would be more of a metaphorical wall. Oh well, we discuss options, like diving under the water to go through, diplomacy or fighting. Underwater turned out to be no good since the hole in the wall was literally something to be sailed through. Fighting through seemed like sure death. So, Diplomacy was our option. I went over the things I’d remembered so Sweetheart could be prepped, and the others helped him with other stuff. I gave him a confidence building kiss on the forehead, and went back to my post. He went a little off script in the threats, but his improv worked great. Thing was, it wasn’t likely to work on the 2 really big ships by the hole. We talked about options for getting past the two big ships, and the people lining the wall through the hole. Shenora wanted to use her distraction spell, and that seemed like a good idea. We also agreed, that she and I would find a way to deal with the people on the inside. Surhlock was ready to do wind and water stuff to get us through, Arakor was our master sailor (we had to have the most skilled pilot to make this work), and Sweetheart raised the morale of the crew. There we are, all prepared, and wouldn’t you know it, the big ship had some fancy big wizard on board, and he nullified Shenora’s spell. Damn, it was action time. Some quick thinking saved all of us, we really thought as a team. Arakor got the ship moving pronto, I distracted the pilot’s area of the second big ship, Surhlock made a water barrier for the second, Shenora blocked up one side of the wall inside the hole. After my distraction, I remembered Barrage, and took out all the people on my side of the inside wall. Shenora then had a genius idea, to put Hungry Darkness in the entrance to the hole, it shut down following up.
So, wer’e through, and all is golden, right? No. Another big Noctus fleet on the other side, and they are ready for us. This was gonna be bad… Pretty clear they had us, and we could either die, try to abandon everything to escape, or surrender. None of us liked it, but surrender seemed like the best option because we’d escaped a Noctus prison before. There was some little shit taking enormous glee from capturing us. We all pretty much tore down his ego. Talking lots of shit about him, and I pointed out every imperfection in his uniform. He told us to lay down our weapons and sit down. Again, everyone rebelled. I just didn’t like his attitude, so I said “Fuck you, I’m not standing or sitting”, and then I took a knee. Just as he was ready to poutgasm, his day got a lot worse. Harold and Barbados came to us riding the Leviathon, you know, like it was a mount. They got us out of there, and destroyed a lot of that Noctus fleet.
What a happy reunion. I made sure to check in with Shenora to make sure her being pregnant wouldn’t ruin her wedding with Harold. She was looking a little sheepish, so I decided to give her a gift. Oh damn, I forgot to give her the hedgehog! Luckily I remembered I had that silver coffer on my robe, and gave it to them. Well, I gave it to Harold since Shenora ran below deck (I guess she really had to use the toilet). While they were down there, we kind of noticed that Barbados was dying. Sweetheart wasn’t able to do anything much about it because it seemed like a strong curse. Harold and Shenora came back up and we were starting to think the dude was a goner (and some didn’t have much of a problem with that). The problem seemed to be that whatever body came back would have the same problem, so I suggested that we kill him and reincarnate him. Seemed like a loophole, and the others agreed it would be a good plan. Who should do the dirty work though? Shenora didn’t want to kill her future brother-in-law, and the rest seemed likely to overdo it in front of Harold. So, I volunteered. No fuss approach, say something nice to the dude, and then stabbing him in the heart. I heard a bit of scoff over a knife being able to kill Barbados, but then they realized that, if he wanted it to affect him, it would. Spell cast, wait for effect, and then he’s an Orc. Well, briefly, and then Harold changes him back. He tells us about the island and the inhabitant, some snake dude. Ok, so poison control. I was ready to go when Shenora points out that resupplying would be a good idea. We pick an island, and set sail.
I have more rope burns and manacle marks, and someone drew some very unflattering messages onto my face. I wish I could remember what happened since it seems like we had a party. Then I got really tired, and woke up a few days later. The crew seemed really happy to see me until I saw something they needed to clean. One of them whispered “Why isn’t he doing it today?” Not sure what that’s about.
We make it to the island, and we go to the docks. Almost snuck in, but saw that Noctus doesn’t seem to control anything here, so just be ourselves. We go shopping, and I give ideas about items I’d seen listed as good for poison immunity and help with curses (lucky I saw that inventory wish list from the Hag back in Niddhog’s Grave!). Sweetheart and I finish early, so I suggest he find out what he can about the Cannibal Islands. We just got that people avoid it. Seemed a bit sparse for an island in the greater area. I suggest we go to the city archives or library. Sweetheart again does the talking, and discovers that it is a citizen only place, and citizenship is proved by some papers. We go find Arakor and have him steal some papers and check them out, he says he can forge them. I then make sure to ask the magicy people to check them out, and there are arcane marks on them. I was ready to go from there, but Arakor says we should get the stolen papers back. He leaves that to Sweetheart to offer that he was returning lost papers. Worked well enough, so on to the library. Super well organized place, but SO MANY LINES. Get in a line to find out what line to go to. Get in a line to request permission for entrance. Get in a line to verify papers. Get in a line to check for appointment slots. Get in a line for a second official to stamp the paper as valid. Get in a line to enter your needed room. Get in a line in that room for validation. Get in another line to go to the bathroom. The others then say it was super easy with arcane marks. Smug bastards… Anyway, we find a map section that shows the islands as previously known as the Kazabon Islands. That map sets off alarms and we have to talk out way out, but Arakor notes the place they took the restricted stuff (could come in handy later). We leave the island without having destroyed property or killed anyone, very successful and kind of disappointing at the same time…
Arakor finds a way to the island. Barbados gives us more info. We get to the main island, and a castle is lit up with welcome messages. I thought this was a stealth mission, but Barbados said he went through the same thing. Well, they laid out a red carpet for us, like literally. I strutted up, and made it look good. Shenora forgot to clap, but at least she giggled. Get in the castle and see dude that did Barbados in, and then Barbados drops. Someone mentioned that this was getting expensive, and I pointed out that Harold is loaded, so he can afford to pay to bring his brother back to life. Shenora seemed unhappy about that. Was I rude again? Sometimes I don’t know. Meh, they’ll let me know.
I chatted up dude, and he traded his throne for the swords from Noctus. He seemed like we should know who he was, and I let him know gently that we didn’t. He was grateful. I tried to negotiate a trade, but we couldn’t come to an agreement, so Option C. Some vampire minions of his teleport in. I focus on them, and kill a couple. It is nice how they poof into smoke when done. Then we beat him down, until almost death before he teleports away. Sigh. We loot the place, and kill all the vampire asleep. I wanted to take a little one with us, but I was vetoed. It really would be inconvenient to be one with the whole running water problem. Outside we find Pride and Lust, and a note. Note gives coordinates, and Sweetheart tells us about a history of a Pirate Prince named Kazabon (like the island), and his throne. Pertinent to what Noctus is doing. I ended up choosing lust. I like him already. Dork is going to get Pride if Arakor doesn’t find a way to trade.
I wonder how Madame Queen is doing with our island’s admin. I bet things are gonna be super cool when we get back. Mini me is probably doing lots of fun stuff too. Well, that is for later. Now I need to finish my clay sculpture I’m making for Surhlock of him in battle pose, and Lust has some fun suggestions.

It’s been a few weeks now since Harold let me know that I must be pregnant. I am not exactly sure how that Santa guy knew, but he let me crew know, and true or not they seem to be delighting in the tale that I am with child. I must admit, the discussion after Harold alerted me to my possible state is one I don’t remember as I was probably in some state of shock. I mean, he’s the most powerful magician I have ever met sands crazy Noctus. You’d think he could turn off that tap or something.
When we crossed into the red line and met the fleet of ships ready to have for dinner, Harold and Barbados came and joined us for a Leviathan ride. As soon as Harold arrived the crew started in… no mercy, making jokes and planning festivities. It was just way too much for me to handle and I ran away under decks. Sethi was the one who really had my eyes rolling back in my head.
What I didn’t expect was that Harold came down after me. That was so embarrassing, I hate acting like a girl. I just looked up at him and he came and gave me a big hug. It was so weird, I haven’t ever felt this before…. my eyes were tearing up. This feeling all teary and sick all the time is for the birds. But Harold didn’t seem to be laughing at me.
“I don’t want to tell you what to do, but I really wish you would use magic and not reach for that sword. I fear that if you get hurt, you might hurt the baby.” I stayed still with my head against his broad chest. It was an entire conversation in a two-sentence statement. He was worried about the baby. There was no question of if I wanted it. He was letting me know he wanted it, and a way that appeared he didn’t know it before, but now he did.
“It’s not going to make a difference if we can’t stop Noctus.” I reminded him. “First things first I suppose.”
“We might have a few things to figure out.” Harold smiled. He reached down and gave a very sweet kiss as his thumb traipsed down my cheek, drying the tear that escaped.
“I didn’t tell the crew anything…” I began to explain. “They are idiots with good hearing I suppose.”
“It’s fine,” Harold said. “If you can get around it being offended by it, it can be very entertaining.” I pulled back and looked at him in astonishment.
“Are you laughing at me too?” I asked.
“I’d rather be laughing with you.” He smiled.
“Ok,” I whispered and nodded. “Let’s go back up and be entertained.” He kissed me one more time, wrapped his hands around my thighs and started to kiss me even more passionately than before. I responded in kind, before a larger wave of hit the ship and knocked us a bit off balance. We recovered but it was enough to sober us to the moment and realize where we were. He smacked my butt as I turned and we went back to top deck.
Barbados had a nasty wound that was eating his arm off, and Sethi had come up with a rather genius way to cure him. We had to kill him, then reincarnate him and let his body grow hold again. Then Harold was able to make him strong again. Barbados was able to share the thing he was bested by, and we decided a stop at a local port might help us better prepare. They told us about how they had already made their way up here to try to retrieve Lust already. It was a battle and it was the curse that got the best of them. The guys were off getting papers for us, and Harold and I went shopping.
“What about this?” I turned around and there was Harold holding up a full plate metal suit.
“Not really my style.” I grimaced.
“I think it would look good on you.” He said with a smirk, but turned to put it back down. Then he grabbed a shield. “This?”
“Little big,” I said. “If I use anything it’s a buckler. Why are you pointing out everything that is locking me up?”
“I just want you to be safe. Make you a bit harder to hit, ya know.” He justified.
“Well, I don’t think any of that stuff will work now or later. I can’t really grow out in a tin can or keep balance with a belly and a tower shield.”
“Good point I suppose.” He said as he moved over to the case. I was looking at a new sword sheeth that applied poison, but realized that I might be at risk for poisoning myself if I tried it. When I turned around looking down the cases, Harold appeared in front of me holding out an amethyst jewel dangling from gold and silver linked chain, with stiffened wire. It was beautiful and I could tell it was magical.
“What is that?”
“It’s yours.” He placed the edged behind my ears and settled the jewel upon my head so it dangled on my forehead. He pushed my hair back down around my are and it fell over my shoulder. I gave him a knowing look. “Ok, it’s also a protection from curses. I’d rather not have to kill my brother and girlfriend in the same lifetime.”
I caught a glance of myself in the mirror and looked as Harold stood over me seeing our reflections suddenly captivating. His broadness seemed to dwarf me, as if I could fit in his pocket. He placed his hand gently on my shoulder and smiled. “Looks good” he said either at the headband or the picture in the frame.
“Ok, I guess we don’t need to look anymore.” And walked to pay the merchant.
“Hang on,” he suggested. “Let’s get your amulet enhanced again too.” I rolled my eyes but understood his protective vibe, so I just nodded and looked at more gems.
We caught back up to the crew, who managed to stay quiet and get the maps and supplies we needed without killing or pissing anyone off. Life is feeling a bit too mild for what we are about to face. I don’t want to get too hopeful or fearful of the future or this parasite growing inside me, because if we can’t stop Noctus, nothing will matter.
More days of sailing, which was exciting because for us, we were in new territory. Nights were even more fun below decks with Harold traveling with us. Before long we landed at the isle under the cover of darkness, which lite up upon our arrival. There was a sign that said “Welcome Madd Dogs.” We went in and met the undead snake guy who apparently makes deals for souls. I offered Noctus’s soul but he was clear he had no soul any longer. We looked over and noticed that Barbados’s arm started rotting off again and a rapid pace. Harold was doing everything he could to keep him alive and he looked to be in a great amount of pain. We also noticed quickly that this snake guy, had both Lust and Pride. We tried to see if he wanted to trade Lust and Pride but we didn’t have enough interesting souls we were willing to give up. It was inevitable that we were going to have to kill the thing, so I finally called him a name and off we went.
The first thing he did was summon some vampire things. I did take cover under a force shield and wield some spells because I wasn’t really wanting to have an undead baby. Plus, I could tell when I hit him the first time, Harold was burning his eyes into the back of my head. Eventually we ended up defeating the snake king, but he simply gave up the swords and left saying he would come back to collect later. He left a note and some coordinates as well as some information about his throne that we now know Noctus has control over. Apparently he must think he’s a pirate king now. Kazabon is the name of an island that keeps coming up. But first we have a castle here to look around.

Dude, that was a LOT of reading. I don’t think the drinking helped out but I was able to decipher enough I think. ok, so each of these sin weapons also has a crystal that goes with it to match it up and become more powerful. It took us forever to find the sin weapons we have and the books don’t say anything about where to find the crystals other than they were separated so they couldn’t be rejoined and used for evil. Luckily, Shenora and Mav had ideas on how we could locate the crystals. Some sort of spell that lets them “see” the history of an item. I was really hoping they could figure something out because Noctis is getting too powerful to deal with and this seems like our only option. And every time he destroys a city, he’s really digging into our profit margin. To everyone’s relief, Mav and Shenora were able to figure out not only where the crystals were, but where the last 2 sin weapons were. Well, relief and horror because while Pride used to be with the one Harrigan brother, he’s apparently dead and now Noctis has the Pride sin weapon. And without that weapon, we can’t figure out where its corresponding crystal is. We also found out that Lust is on some sort of Cannibal Isles past the red line. Which is also where Noctis is. Over the course of a couple more days, we get locations on the rest and I’m not real happy about it. The other 7 crystals are virtue crystals. The first crystal we find out about is Gragas, which is also known as Diligence, is on a gold ship. A gold ship? Sounds awesome. Also sounds familiar. Where was that? Oh yeah, Lightning McQueen had it on the floating island until we freed the dragons and shot it up into the sky far and away. Apparently it’s stuff somewhere between the heavens and the clouds just floating around. The 2nd one we find out about is Patience. Killian(Patience) is on an island of Besmara worshippers and goes with Shenora’s Wrath sword.Where to start?

First, we started by scrying on Killian and finding this island. All manner of races and creatures, just worshipping Besmara. I mean, she’s worth it. She’s awesome. However, we needed that crystal. We teleport in to the island and walk right now. Everyone is just praying effectively. After a little talking, Shenora just walksup to it and asks if she can hold the chalice that the crystal is embedded in and they just calmly agree. She looks at it, pops the crystal out and then we pop out just before everyone comes out of their stupor and starts attacking each other. This is going to be a bloodbath and I want nothing to do with this. However,I will have no issues coming back after it’s done to do some cleanup work and take whatever is left.

Next, we headed to talk to Nightmare really hoping he’d help us out. We have an idea where the ship is but because it keeps moving, we can’t teleport to it and no spells will allow us to fly up to is long enough. Knowing how dire things are though, nightmare agreed to do his claw-time rift thing and opened a portal to the ship. As soon as we get there though, there’s this really shiny dragon on the deck and he is NOT happy to see us. But, we got a bit of a jump on him so we all dive in the best we can hoping he doesn’t use his breath weapon because I remembered what happened when Shenora used a spell that twinkled like this dragon. He did breath, but I was lucky enough to not be near it. Everyone else got out of it mainly unscathed and this thing to to the air. I took this as a chance to go find the friggin crystal while they did all of their ranged attacks against it. I wouldn’t be any help with my little bow. Searched the main level….nothing. Went below to try and find it when Suhrlock activated his magic eyes and didn’t see it down here either so we headed back to the main deck(but not before I got a few little things from this treasure hoard myself). Surhlock magic eyes’d the boat and found it way up at the top of the mast. Nightmare yelled something about losing his grip so Dorric scrambled up the mast and got the crystal and fell back down to the deck. We all ducked back through the portal before the dragon decided to come back. But note to self…lots of gold on the golden ship. The next 2 we attwmpted to figure out where Gluttony and Envy. Temperance(Gluttony’s other half) is in Aqua 8. Sheridan(Kindness) is in a large city on Motaku Isle. Seems some large guy in a red hat giving out presents has it.

Next, it was to the one I was looking forward to least. Echo was with the Leviathan. You know, the big bad one that wanted us to release it. Well, after teleporting there and going exactly to where we knew it to be, we had to strike a bargain to release it. Some sharks had gotten in and were nibbling at him. Not doing much but it was annoying him. And we had to release him. In return, he would allow us to go stop the sharks and get the crystal out of him. I really am hoping we dont’ have to go out the other end with this thing. This is already gross enough. So, while in half shark form, I swim down with Dorric who also turned into a shark. We make our way down and, once again with magic eyes, we find the crystal. it’s lodged into one side of his belly. With a little force we pry it out and as soon as we did, the Leviathan started going bananas. Dorric dimension doored us far enough away though to catch up with the rest of the team before the Leviathan slinked down into the deep only to explode straight up into the middle of the city. I totally didn’t want to see that aftermath.

After this, we headed to Motaku Island to find Sheridan and the hat wearing gift-giver. It was a bit of a trek but we sort of located him. I say sort of because he was fast. I mean, really fast. Dorric tried catching up to him and as he caught up to him, the guy stopped, handed him a present, then took off again. Dorric tried grabbing him but he was just too fast. Rami went next and the same thing happened because I think he was really more about getting a present instead of actually catching the guy. I also tried to catching him and just take the hat but I couldn’t snag it in time. Although, I did receive some nice gloves from him. Which helped since it was cold up here on the mountain. Everyone else got a present too before I sneakily snatched the hat off his head. And once it was off, this dude was NOT happy. Not with us, but just in general. Apparently he was the exact opposite of kind. Not that I blame him after being put under a spell. But I bet he’ll miss that speed eventually. We got what we came for and headed back to our stomping grounds. Now, there’s just 1 more weapon to find the crystal for of the ones we have in our possession…Chellan. He’s resisted my attempts so far to give him to someone else to handle so we can find it.

In the morning, Chellan and I have a little talk. I know he doesn’t want the crystal because it wants him to be different. But we need it so this time there was no negotiation. I forced him to relent and gave him to Shenora to examine. he got us back real good though. Where was Yorick, otherwise known as Charity? In Aqua 8. Yeah, that Aqua 8…the one we just let the Leviathan destroy. After some scrying though it didn’t look like he completely destroyed it. What we did see was the crystal embedded in a throne while the Queen was shackled up. Taken prisoner by what was left of Noctis’s men for giving away stuff. We freed the queen and took the crystal. Hopefully she can get Aqua 8 back to it’s former glory. I’m thinking we should claim it though. I mean, our very own people to make ships and stuff? Or ships to sell back? The possibilities are endless. Next though…how the hell do we get past the Red Line without alerting Noctis. we need to get Lust and find it’s crystal….I hope it’s in the same area.

So now we had all three books that hopefully tell us how to defeat Noctis using the sin weapons. It took Arakor another week to read them. Sure glad Noctis is still busy on the other side of the Red Line. Anyway, he finally emerges from his hut to tell us the news. And like usual, the first thing he wants is his cut of the stakes. Greed is at it again I suppose. The answer, we don’t need just the seven sin weapons. We need their corresponding virtue gems which someone meld with the weapons to make… nuclear bombs (whatever those are)? I dunno but I guess we will find out.. Ugh, how do we find those. Fortunately the guys have a plan. Maverick and Shenora know spells that can trace the past of the sin weapons to see where and when the gems came off. Go there, get them, and job is all done.

One is out in space. No really. It is floating in with the stars on the damn golden ship that used to hold our island up. Okay. We have a plan Life Bubble. Greater Teleport. Get it and get out. Except there was a prismatic dragon guarding it. Yikes and double yikes. The thing about prismatic dragons, apparently, is that they are smart. Smart enough to get out of there before we kill it. We eventually find the gem up in the crow’s nest. Surprisingly Rami wasn’t up there from the start. Anyway, we got out of Dodge as soon as we had it. It is then that we realize that we cannot mate sin to virtue without a special ceremony. Best to find all of the gems first.

Another gem was inside the belly of the Leviathan we met last week. A little Aquan negotiations and he was more than happy to let us take it back. Turns out after eating it, Mr. Levi was simply too passive for his own taste. We needed Arakor to swim inside and make the shark parasites chill out, but the gem was ours.

Number three was owned by this crazy guy named Nick. Apparently he was once super rich and now he is super generous. And apparently this is my gem. I gotta be careful once I get a hold of it. Anyway, it turns out he is generous even with his funny gem hat. But before we get it he gives all of us gifts. And my gift may change my life forever. This gem allows me to control the special abilities of one of my summons, including the mad mothmen that I have been toying with. You see, they can cast almost any spell if it suits fate to their favor. It was always hard to get them to do my bidding. But now, it is my bidding and I can cast so many spells. Sure, each time I summon one of these guys they can only do it once a day before they get burned out. But I can just toss that one back and get a different one summoned. Shatral has been unhappy with me for the past couple of weeks already. This is only going to make it worse. I wonder if we are reaching the end….

Anyway, I digress. We learned that Noctis has a sin weapon and its gem. We know another weapon is on Cannibal island across the red line. Time to get to work.

So, we got back, and what do you know, it was pay time!! I sure do not envy Surhlock that job, but definitely has a knack for it. Well, Arakor was going to need some time to read the books, so I needed some things to do. Then I had the greatest idea ever! Just had to check with the old woman about it, and she dug around and found one, a Pearl of Mind Seed. Now I just needed to find someone physically spry, but kind of foolish from our knew secondary crew. Found him and hit him with it. He looked confused, and had to sit down. I walked by and gave him a composite longbow saying “you’re gonna need this later”. I think he only needs a week to cook, and then we’ll have another me!! My friends are going to be beside themselves with joy!

I spent most of the following two weeks with Dork and Sweetheart. In most weeks I had weird dreams, but a bit different. Oh well, still haven’t gotten info on the dreams. First week, I’m told I was “psychotic” again, but no one was upset (BTW, how did I get all of these rope burns, and manacle marks? Guess I should ask Sweetheart). Second week was a little weirder. I woke up with more pillows than usual around me, big fluffy ones too. I thought I must have woken up somewhere else, but found that it was my room. As if that wasn’t strange enough, I found a gleaming white scroll case with a scroll of nice papyrus inside. It talked about the virtues of being “helpful” and serving others. I put it in the bag with the creepy skin book. I really need to find the owners of these, they look too valuable to just accidentally leave behind. Then I went out again, and people kept thanking me for changing their lives for the better, how I spent days bathing the poor, and buying food for them. Someone said I was the purest person they’d ever met… Did someone drug me with happy juice or something?

Well, two weeks were up, and Arakor talked about gems for their weapons. So, Dork and I spent the time helping the others make their weapons nice. There was some dragon in a weird place on a golden ship, and a cool guy that gave me a gift. Oh, and we let loose the Leviathon to get one. Shenora was briefly as to a goddess to a bunch of people. We think taking her stone means they’ll all kill each other, so we should go back and loot that island.

Oh, best news yet! Shenora is pregnant! Seems like the wedding is on pause until the baby is born. I let the whole town know, and they are planning on throwing her a baby shower. I gave them some ideas, and told them to spread the word quiet-like, we want this to be a surprise!!

Last, I met up with Me 2, and he is doing well. He has dramatically improved in sailing abilities, has a super personality, has gotten the psionic thing, and is a whizz for archery. I can’t wait to show him to my friends. Another funny thing, he handed me a raffle ticket to me, and I figured out that was the one I planned on winning. What luck!

Attitudes to others
Rami (CG): Arakor – killing friend, Maverick – Sweetheart, Dorric – best friend, Surhlock – mentor friend, Shenora – leader friend
Rami “psychotic” (CE): Arakor – Kill with, Maverick – confused on kill status, Dorric – Will not kill, Surhlock – Try not to kill, Shenora – Inconvenient to kill
Rami “helpful” (NG): Arakor – admires ambition, Maverick – true joy to know, Dorric – true friend, Surhlock – admires wisdom, Shenora – admires grace

We have been trying to make our way to Plunderhaven for a while now, mostly out of curiosity but now because we are in search of the two other books that might help us solve the puzzle of the sin weapons and unlock the artifact that is powerful enough to overcome Noctis. As curious as I was however, I haven’t been feeling well. I thought perhaps it was a poison tipped blade but the effects are sticking with me much longer than any other poison I have heard about. I do hope it goes away soon, but the idea of going out into the open sea really did turn me green. I felt pretty embarrassed about the fact a couple of waves might make me lose my lunch over the side of the ship in front of our new crew. So I told the guys to go ahead without me. They assumed it was to stay with Harold, and I didn’t correct the assumption because it was better than the truth. A pirate who suddenly has become sea sick, yeah that’s a great reputation. It’s hard enough to hold my own as a woman on a ship, so I can’t lose any credit by tossing cookies. I went back to Nidhogg’s Grave, and got a room at the new inn.
I spent the first entire day just sleeping. It was the first time I think I have slept for more than 14 hours without it being spell induced. It was mid morning when I heard a soft knocking on the door. At first I thought I imagined it, but it persisted. I figured it was probably the innkeeper needing something but I still didn’t feel good so I just pulled the covers up over my head. Clearly I have a sickness and he’d thank me later for not getting him sick too. A few moments later I heard the distinct sound of a spell being cast, as my door unlocked itself and it slowly began to open. I readied my hand to grab Garvok as I pushed my hair out of my face to see my intruder.
Peeking though the crack was a doe eyed Harold. I pulled back my hand from Harold as I tried to hide my embarrassment of being sick.
“Harold? What are you doing here?”
“I heard you were still in town. Are you alright?” He asked with serious concern on his face.
“Oh,” I realized he was disappointed that I hadn’t gone on to help the Madd Dogs find the other books. “It’s a little embarrassing,” I admitted, “But I think I have been bested by some type of sickness. I’m sure it’s just temporary, but I didn’t want to get everyone else sick.”
“Were you poisoned?” He asked.
“Stop with that.” I said. “I know how you feel about me using a blade and spells. I don’t think I was poisoned.” I tried to straighten out my expression as he shot me a shaming look.
“Magic is safer, that’s all I’m saying.” And he stepped inside and started to remove his heavy coat.
“I’m not sure you want to come in. You don’t want to catch whatever this is I have.” I said, really wanting to hide my bedridden unwashed body from his site.
“I’ll take my chances.” He said as he removed something from his bag. “I brought you something, to make you feel better.” I half expected it to be some type of slave or herbs he would want me to blend up into a juice.
“Am I going to have to drink it or wear it?” I asked. Harold smirked a wild eyed side glance.
“While wearing it sounds intriguing, I do think you’d rather eat it.” He revealed a plate of warm bread pudding with candied boiled plums. One of my most favorite desserts. It appeared to still be warm.
“Oh my goodness! Harold, you really can be sweet when you want to be. Better not let anyone know about that.” I winked as I sat up in bed, pulling my hair back off my shoulders and tying it into a quick knot to keep it from looking too messy. He came over and sat on the side of the bed holding the plate and a fork. I looked up at him and leaned over the plate to smell the perfect scent of… and then it happened. I jutted over to the other side of the bed as fast as I could and threw up. Harold froze as I couldn’t seem to catch my breath.
Each time I tried to look up, I couldn’t bring myself to look at him with the bread pudding.
“I’m sorry,” I finally said not looking up. "Something about the bread pudding… There seems to be something wrong with it. "
"Hmmmm… " Harold said. “I don’t think it’s the bread pudding, but I could feel him move it away from me.” When I finally looked up he still just sat there with a small smirk on his face.
“You don’t have to say and watch me be sick. This is disgusting.” I said incredibly embarrassed. I felt a wet rag on my head and while it felt very comforting, it did startle me a bit. “I don’t want you to get sick.”
“I don’t think what you have my dear, is anything I can catch.” Harold said. There was something about the sound in his voice that gave me the courage to look at him finally, and when I did he looked to be panicked and snarky in the same second. I was confused, but couldn’t ask him to clarify because the bread pudding was in the same room still and I got a whiff of it, and began to dry heave.

It is hard to describe to others what it is like to be a summoner. On one hand, I can bring countless beasts into the world to do my beckoning. Mindless nothings that mean little to me, but handy to no end with the myriad of options at my finger tips. Or I can have trusty Shatral by my side. Sure, he is more limited in skills but way more powerful in a fight. Frankly, I just feel better with him by side. Yet even though I know death is not permanent for him – he just gets banished to his home plane where I can recall him a while later – I still hesitate to order him to battle. He is not mindless and means something to me. Getting him banished feels like I let him down. I know he only wants to serve and protect me, but don’t I owe him to protect him too. And last week I failed. I wasn’t paying attention to him. I was too into my own self and my own spells to notice the hit that he took. I could have saved him. I’m sure of it. He probably knows it to. I am going to have to make it up to him somehow.

I believe the others have recounted our tales of adventure quite well. In search of two more books we went. To Aquaduct 8 and then back to the fallen Plunderhaven. Seems we have been trying to get there for weeks but always something comes first. And to do so without Maverick meant that I had to put on my happy face. I didn’t want to. Even when Shatral was nearby it felt different. Tense. I am not one for many words or reassuring talk. I must show him through actions. But not this week. We are over-matched by Noctis and his armies. To make matter worse, Shenora was strangely quiet and missing (I am guessing it something with her and that demi-god magician). So for now we are living off of stealth and disguise. Not Shatral’s forte if I do say.

In the end, it all seems to have worked out for the best though. Well most of it. We learned a bit out the inner workings and history of Aquaduct 8 (keep feeding the best or get far, far away). We found Plunderhaven and the second book. We didn’t die.

Now if only LJ didn’t get away…. He might come in handy some day. I’m still pissed about the whole logpose thing, and Arakor holds a grudge like no other. But the man seems to have some skills. I ain’t never going to trust him, but from one pirate to another, he has proven to be resourceful. Let’s see if he can also be useful.

After a week of drinking and reading the book while the others tended to their own things, it all still seemed very confusing to me. I don’t think it was because of the alcohol though. Things became a bit clearer after we went to go to to the special shopkeeper lady about the book and she let us know that there were actually 3 books in total. We found out that the military had one of the books before everything went south and the other happened to be at Plunderhaven although the person who owned it wouldn’t sell it to her. They apparently knew it was kinda important I guess. Sigfried said he would look into getting the book from the military side of things. As I shook his hand, I slipped a little piece of our ship’s wood into his belt pouch. He wouldn’t tell us where they might have kept it hidden so I figured this way, when we see him again, we can do some sort of teleporting spell or scrying or something to see where they are keeping their important items for us to get later. I mean, they dont’ really exist any more so they shouldn’t really need them. And if they are working for Noctis, he REALLY doesn’t need any more weapons in his arsenal.

Now, we need to figure out where Plunderhaven is. But that could be anywhere. After some asking around, we find out that some escapees of the demolition got to Aqua 8, so that would be the best place to start. We also found out that Aqua 8 is under Noctis’s control now. Some of us wanted to just teleport there but Nightmare wasn’t having it. He said he’s help get us there, but he’s done fighting for a while. But he’ll only go by ship. not a problem for me. I don’t get to pilot the ship enough as it is so I’m down for a road trip. And we still have the Noctis flag we can try to slide our way in undiscovered. Rami said that Mav was staying behind to help the injured people still, which was ok since this was just an information gathering mission anyway. Shenora was also staying behind as well, although we really could have used her. I think she wanted to spend more time with Harold before this gets underway for some serious world changing shit possibly. But, she knows how to get to us if she needs to teleport to us when she’s ready.

After 3 days of travel, we’re within sight of Aqua 8. And since we had to take to open water, we made sure to fly the Noctis flag in case we came across anyone. Well, we didn’t while we were on open water but as we approached the city, we saw a Noctis ship, then a 2nd, then a whole fleet. Good god there were a lot of them. But Surhlock made the ship look good and we were all outfitted to look like Noctis employees. We even disguised the ship to look like the one we had taken and given to Nightmare. Once in dock, we see an entire galleon of austerians and lots of Noctis people. Uniformed type soldiers. And everyone either looking like beggars or wearing a Noctis pin to show their loyalty. I’m guessing the ones without the pins aren’t loyal. Maybe we can get some of them to come work for us. But with mine and Rami’s demeanors, we weren’t going to get any information. Best way would be to ask around in taverns and nobody is going to speak to us. Not nicely anyway. So, out of the 4 taverns, we randomly pick one. Rami, Dorric and I were following Suhrlock from the shadows. I mean, if something goes down, I don’t know what’ll happen. As we’re watching him go into the first one, he comes right back out again. Apparently, it was a Noctis supporter tavern. Not gonna get anything there. We decided to go to the poorer part of town. Probably the better way to go about things.This time we scouted it out first, checking to see what the clientele at this establishment looked like and lucky for us it was all downtrodden people. So Surhlock magic’ed out of his Noctis supporter attire to his regular attire right before going in. He was in there for about 10 minutes or so before coming back out and telling us that there was someone who was in jail and heard 2 guards say something about some prisoners and Plunderhaven. Great, so now we have to break into a jail unnoticed and find 2 people who might know where Plunderhaven sank? And to top it all off, the jail is in a section of town surrounded by unclimbable walls. So how do you get into a place surrounded by walls? The only way of course….the sewers. We stealthily(some more than others) traverse the exterior wall and happen to find a grated opening. Except the grate is cemented in place and not just a locked gate. We do have some ways around it but it could be a one way trip for a couple of us so we want to make sure it’s the right way first. Surhlock changes into a smoky cloud of gas and goes through the bars(which were still too tight for me to squeeze through) and does some scouting. Apparently, it dead ends into another grate so this is a dead end for us at this point. After doing some more searching, we found an ungrated pipe, although it was below water so we’d have to swim for it. Personally, I have no issues with that. Rami wasn’t too keen on it though but decided it was our only way in. We dive in and swim for it after Dorric casts some spells on them to be able to breathe underwater. I politely refused, what with my were-shark abilities and whatnot allowed me to change into a full shark. I don’t think Dorric was expecting that but he got to see it first hand as I dove off the cliff and turned into the shark before hitting the water. I’m guessing he thought he was the only shapeshifter in the party. We go through the pipe which eventually come to a large cavern-like area. With the way the pipe looks, it looks like it just broke off and fell into the darkness below. It should have the pipe on the other side but I can’t see it. So, we decide to hug the wall and follow it around to the right. We came across an opening that I think just led back out to the ocean. Then another that also felt the same. Except for this one, there was a giant chain link attached above the door. and Just 1 chain was about the size of our ship. I want no part of whatever is down there. We continue around and come back around again, following the wall, to where we started. We found more chain links all leading down into the depths below. So 3(4 total if the one hadn’t broken off where we started from) huge chains are holding something at bay? Now I definitely don’t want anything to do with that. This time we follow it around but stick to the ceiling and finally find an upward shaft. As I surface in my shark form, I finally get my first glimpse of what’s going on. I see convicts and guards. There’s a bridge crossing the space above the shaft but the shaft extends up quite a way with more criss-crossing bridges, more convicts, and more guards. We definitely aren’t going to be able to find who we’re looking for with guards around. After letting the guys know what I saw, we decide to keep following the wall around to see if there’s another option. And luckily there was. it led to a manhole and as I used all of my newfound strength to lift the lid enough to see, I could tell we were definitely in the upper city where the jail is. We also figure out that we’re on a back street so we have a chance to get out unnoticed. Using my keen sense of direction, we follow back in the direction the jail is in, sticking to the shadows. We see sentries walking the perimeter and a guard shack at the front where the entrance to the jail clearly is. Just as I was about to sneak off and take out the guard in the shack, Surhlock grabs may arm. Apparently there are wards and spells guarding the area. Some against invisibility and some against just people that aren’t approved to be there. But as he’s scanning, he notices that there is a slight break int he wards as they are sweeping around. About a 27 second window. So I start humming a tune so I can keep up with the allotted time and sneak over and take out the guard. Dorric and Rami follow with Surhlock coming up last since he needs to cast some spells as we go. I take out the guard with Urgot, hoping that it reanimates as a zombie fast enough but as time ticks down, it’s clearly not going to happen so we just prop him up in the chair and make it look like he’s sleeping and slip in the back door into the prison. We do some listening and more sneaking around, avoiding walking sentries, and finally find the holding area. And there’s a shitload of people. How are we going to find the right 2 people? Just ask. We semi-silently ask about anyone that knows anything about Plunderhaven. 1 guy speaks up and as we approach him, wouldn’t you know it. It’s that asshole shopkeeper who fucked us over on the logpose, giving us that 1gp logpose when we paid for a 1000gp one. He said he was there when the sea turtle was killed and knows where it is and will take us there if we promise not to kill him. I’m totally going to kill him, but I’ll let him believe I won’t. To cover our tracks, I pick out about 20 people who said they were good at picking locks and set them free so they could set everyone else free and make a dash for it. We let them know that if any of them are looking to sail on a crew, or are looking for work to meet us at the flower islands. Surhlock tells them where that is. We get back out, wait for our 27 second window and make a dash for it. We get outside close tot he wall and Suhrlock teleports us right to the dock and the gangway for our ship. As we’re getting ready to set sail, we notice that the ship with all of the austerians on it is gone. Fine by me. As soon as we’re ready, we get out of there, Noctis flag flying. LJ Silver, the shopkeeper, gives us a general heading. I’m sure he doesn’t believe we’ll spare him so I’m sure he isn’t giving us as much info as he should be. There’s only so much we can threaten with. We swing by the Flower islands and pick up about 50 or so people. Of those, about 38 are sailors, or claim to know how to sail as well as fight. It may displace some of the current crew but oh well. We need the best. The rest can work in the mine’s or apprentice to get better while doing shit jobs on the ship. As we round a cliff close to where LJ says Plunderhaven is, we see 2 ships flying Noctis’s flag with some sort of crane in the water. As we’re looking, we hear a splash and I dont’ see Silver anywhere. Dammit! I dive in after him, changing in midair and as I hit the water and look around, I see multiple versions of him swimming away. But I’m no dummy. I know that illusions won’t displace as much water when swimming, but unfortunately that only narrowed it down to 2, swimming in different directions and only time to catch 1. I went after one of them and bit into thin air. Double dammit! he got away. I come back up and let the team know what happened. Their next suggestion is I go swim over and check out the other ships and what they are doing. Makes sense since I look like a shark so it would be totally normal. I head over, surfacing as I get closer and find that the ship with the crane is the austerian ship. Awesome. I also see them lift out a huge net filled with stuff that clearly looks like it came from Plunderhaven. They beat us too it. But I’m hoping they won’t care about books. The 2nd ship looks like just a few austerian officers and some prisoners on board. Not enough to crew the ship though, which is odd. I dive down and as I do, I pass by several body parts. That can’t be good. As I get closer to Plunderhaven, I can see that the magical air bubble is still intact and that there are prisoners down there loading stuff into huge rope nets. With a couple officers looking after them. it’s not like they have anywhere to go. Clearly if they try to leave the sharks get a meal. I thought about just biting the rope and making the austerian crane ship have to go back to Aqua 8 to refit for more rope but apparently Rami and the team saw some sort of island with a port in it so they wouldn’t be gone very long. Ok, plan B. we wait until it’s dark when the recovery operation stops for the night. Dorric does the water breathing thing on the guys again, just like at the prison and we swim down. Clearly they break for the night and with no fear of being swarmed by the prisoners and no attacks from anyone else coming down, even the officers don’t take shifts and we sneak up on them and kill them. Nice quick slashes to the throat. Nice and quiet. Once again, with Urgot on the big one that way we can send him back up with instructions to go nuts on any austerians on the boat after becoming a zombie. Maybe they’ll just think he went crazy from something down here. We free the prisoners and send them back to our boat. I tell the sharks not to eat them. These are friends, not food. They didn’t seem happy about it so we did feed them the other smaller austerian. I’m betting he was more meaty than all of the prisoners combined anyway.

We went through a few different shops and didn’t find anything for books, but we did find a secret hiding spot in LJ’s shop that had some nice little treasures for us to take back with us as a nice parting gift. Then it hits us. it’s a book. Where do you find books? We headed to the library and it was wrecked. While we didn’t find the book, we found something else. There was a note from LJ with a map. The note read “Don’t say I never did anything for you”. It must be the book. We follow the map and it leads us to the business hall or whatever it’s called. it’s locked so I get it open and inside is a shambles, however, using his map, we are able to find the book. We head back, though I take a short detour to the austerian cran ship just to see if there’s some way I can get in to get some of the loot but there just isn’t any good way to do it. We get back to the ship and there is Shenora, waiting on the deck with the new guys getting them prepped. oh, now it’s on. We fill her in on everything, show her the book, and get down to doing what we do….making boats sink by shitting themselves. Shenora and I sneak over to the austerian ship while Surhlock, Dorric, and Rami head to the smaller ship where currently only prisoners are that are left. Shenora does her thing and as soon as the wood turns to stone, the ship starts tilting back out of the water. Apparently Surhlock had to calm down the prisoners on the other ship who were freaking out. Good thing he went over there. As soon as the ship was at 45 degrees or so, Shenora finished it off and turned the stone to mud, causing a gaping hole in the boat. It went down fast, loot spilling out of it like it was just shitting mud and gold, taking the austerians down with it. We figure that the austerians weren’t much of swimmers, considering they have hooves and stuff. And even if they get into Plunderhaven, they’ll run out of food and water soon enough and die of hunger and thirst. Now all that loot is ours. Even better than we could have anticipated. Yay for Shenora showing up at just the right time. We head back to Nidhogg’s Grave with the book and as we get there and settled in, Sigfried shows up with the 3rd book. Time to get reading. And time to see exactly where it is he went…..

Well, we decided that the town was mostly doing fine, so time to start thinking about what happens next. Sweetheart said that there are still a lot of sick people, and he needed to stay behind. I’m sure Nini will keep him company.

The god brothers decided to join us for a discussion. Siegfried, charming as ever, seemed to be biting back snide comments. I’m concerned that he is going to have a stress stroke! We all have a discussion about the Book. Turns out it is the first out of 3. the second was in a military vault, and the 3rd is more obscure. Siegfried offers to get the second one, and we offer to come along. For some reason he doesn’t want us along. Well, Arakor was able to slip in a small piece of our boat so we could visit the place later. We decide to look for information on the 3rd book. Surhlock was our face man (except for when Arakor spruced up and helped). Turns out that more information is at Aqueduct 8. Fortunately, Nightmare decides to come along, and gives us the Noctus sailcloth from his ship.

I don’t much remember the next few days. Something about a fleet, and bluffing through. I’m told I was acting “psychotic” again. I have a few cuts into me in some kind 2 head pattern. I don’t know how they got there, but they won’t heal. I had Dork take a look, but he almost threw up and wouldn’t talk about it anymore. I really need to ask Sweetheart what he has learned.

Anyway, we get to Aquaduct 8, and it is swarming with Noctus people, and those damn barbarian who drink shit and hit hard. We can’t really be seen here or we’d be in deeper than we could get out of. So, Surhlock disguises himself really well, Dork turns into a crow and sits on Surhlock’s shoulders, and Arakor and I sneak around. Surhlock asks around, and turns out that the book location is known by some people from Plunderhaven who are in prison.

Getting into the prison was a tad more difficult than we expected. The sewers were theoretically an option, but extremely difficult to get into. They were grated and formed into the concrete. We may have been able to open it, but it would attract attention. Another spot allowed us to get down, but only one at a time, and this seemed like a bad idea. The wall to the part of the city with wealthy people and the prison was very well guarded and getting over the walls would be near impossible. So, last option was the sewer pipes to the bay. Those still needed several spells to maneuver through. On the way we ran into a bit of water going down with chain links as big as our boat. People were putting fish down the hole constantly. Surhlock and Arakor heard it say something about wanting to be freed. I thought that was a great idea, but the others said I couldn’t (I assume just for today).

We ended up getting out of an exit near the prison. We snuck in and deal with the magic and Arakor killing and re-animating the guard. We ended up finding the people we needed (one of them happening to be someone Arakor hates). I made sure to say that we need to let the people go, and it ended up bringing us more followers. Surprise, surprise, it is in Plunderhaven. And dude that Arakor hates knew that location. Back on the ship, I ask Nightmare about the creature, and he says it used to be a moving island, and is now chained to a leviathan. Or at least, that is what he heard it was.

We get there to find a Noctus fleet plundering. We find a way down, kill guards, get books (since everything else has been looted). Shenora kind of wakes up (turns out she needed time to herself for something), and then we sink the main Noctus ship, trapping them in Plunderhaven with no food or water. Also getting treasure down there for us to retrieve. The guys figure it may take a month for all of them to die.

We get back to meet with the god brothers, and now we have all the books.

Apparently, I drank too much at Aqueduct 8. I thought we were selling this new million dollar ship so bank some serious coin(and to hire some new crew since we lost/killed the rest of the old crew), then give Nightmare the ship voucher for 350k, since that’s what he was trying to get back. But it appears the team sold back the voucher and is going to give the million dollar ship to Nightmare. I thought the point of being pirates was to MAKE money? I mean, I think even with giving him the voucher back that he’d still be an ally for us. Too late now though. After briefly discussing going to find Plunderhaven, we decided that it’s probably best to go check on all of our outposts, especially since it’s been a few weeks since Aqua 8 got hit. First stop was the previously floating island. No longer floating, which we knew about. No longer inhabited we didn’t know about. After poking around at the carnage, I was able to determine it was dragons that destroyed the island. Damn them. But, silver lining, dead people does not equal no gold. We just need to get some people here to start mining it again!

Next stop was Obses. Once again, destroyed. Luckily, people survived this attack. Once again, by dragons. That big, black bastard must be doing this. Shenora took his eye out. We need to find him and take out the rest. This guy is seriously digging into our pockets and me and the swords aren’t happy about it. After doing some looking around, we’re about to find about 35 able bodied men to become our new crew. we sort of glazed over what happened to the last crew, but I’m sure word will eventually reach them as to what happens when you turn your back on the Mad Dogs since I did let that one guy live to tell the tale. And after having all of our gold and booty taken by the old crew, luckily we had enough now with our recent conquests to keep this crew happy enough for now until we plunder some more. Especially from Plunderhaven. For now, they will need to just protect the boat while we go to check out New Aurum. We did take a few days of rest and some quick training. Shenora showed some of them with magical aptitude some things as well as some fighting. I worked with some of the less savory fellows on tactics and sneakery and the advantages of flanking. It’s enough to get them started and better than a skeleton crew spell that can’t protect the ship at all.

Our 3rd stop was New Aurum. At least it looked better than the last time we left it. But, with no real economy for gold, we can’t do much with the gold we did acquire as part of our shares on the recent loot. Then, all of a sudden, that hag from the mithril mine was just….there. Out of thin air. Not sure how she knew to be here but I’ll take it. I’ve discovered a couple items I was hoping to find the next time we visited Plunderhaven. And since that wasn’t an option now, this seems like a good enough time. More specifically, some special boots to replace my current ones. Not ones to replace, per se, but to add in addition. It did cost a bit more but I was able to convince Chellan that it was a good investment. Better ability to kill things means a better possibility for more loot even if we have to spend on the front end. The other thing she happened to have was an amulet that did better against dragons. And since one of our new missions we’re going to undertake here soon is to kill that bastard Nidhogg. I’ll take one of those, thanks. More money spent, and this time I was barely able to convince Chellan it was a good spend. Sure, we can already bypass the hardness of dragon scales, but there were some additional benefits. he may live on, but I won’t necessarily so I’d like to protect my neck as best I can when dealing with a bloodthirsty dragon. And just as I was done, the hag pulled out a book. And for reasons I can’t explain, I was really drawn to it. As soon as I opened it up, I knew I had to have it. We checked. Nothing magical, but something was there. I forked over the money and Chellan didn’t even say a thing. I think he knew there was something about this book too.

While in New Aurum, the next order of business was to contact Nightmare somehow. The hag/witch/shop owner told us she knew of them. And that they were way out past the Red Line. Not someplace we could get to easily or quickly. And dangerous too. So, after putting our heads together, we remembered what happened last time we tried scrying on Nightmare. He pulled us into his boat. He was pissed last time but this time we have better news for him so maybe this time we can get him to come to us instead. It takes a day because Maverick had to study the spell. The next day, it’s go time. Maverick fires it up, looks into the pool of water so we can all see it and we’re all just mortified. oh, we saw Nightmare. All sorts of fucked up about just about dead. Same for Sigfried. I’m guessing they went after Noctis together and though that together they could take him out. Maybe they thought it was like the good old days when they could just bully him. Well, not any more it looks like. They stirred a hornet’s nest is what they did. And I’m guessing Noctis has done whatever he can to be this powerful to get revenge on them while destroying everything else. I mean, I can’t fault him for that. But I will fault him for destroying places under our protection. You don’t mess with an undine’s money. But that vision of Nightmare and Sigfried dead or almost dead was the last thing I remember. I passed out when Noctis turned to us through the scrying pool. It must not have just been me though because everyone looked like they’d just waken up. But I’m guessing it was enough distraction for Sigfried and his teleportation magic to get him and Nightmare out of there because they were with us now and Maverick was feverishly working to get them healed up. A few spells later and they were back to themselves. Well, mostly. Nightmare was still an asshole but Sigfried was also not listening to anything and they were blaming each other. What for? No idea. I’m guessing as to who’s bad idea it was to try and go up against Noctis at this point. They go separate ways. I decided to follow Nightmare because I want to get this business with him taken care of and get him off our back about it. he heads to the bar. I like his thinking. Probably where I’d go first too after getting my ass handed to me and barely making it out alive. He’s not much in a talking mood though so I break out the book and start reading some more. next thing I know, he’s looking over my should and trying to take the book from my hands. Uh…no. Get your own book. He’s persistent and Rami and Maverick had to convince me to give it to him. I relented and gave it to him before a brawl broke out. Apparently, he likes the book too. Nothing was distracting him form it. After some reading though, he closed the book, put it down and stomped outside. I threw a few coins on the table and followed out to see where he was going. He was making a beeline straight for Sigfried, who was sitting under a tree with Shenora and Surhlock. Contemplating I guess. Sigfried got up as Nightmare got up to him and took a shot to the face, which knocked him back into a building that crumbled the corner. Add another thing to the list to fix here. he said he’s found a way to beat Noctis and then just stomped off. Or, started to until Rami and I saw it in the distance. Flying straight towards us. And it was hauling tail. As it got closer, we could tell who it was. Nidhogg. Missing eye and all. But he looked….bigger. Different. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. But he seemed tougher than even the last time we fought him and took his eye. I’d say it’s the toughest fight I’ve ever fought, knowing that we’ll eventually come head to head with Noctis and hopefully NOT pass out like every other time so far. Even with Nightmare and Sigfried joining the fray, it was long and hard fought. We’d be attacking and just as we’re finding a groove, Sigfriend tell us to line up straight ahead. I’m sure he’s dealt with this more than us so that’s what we do. And just in time too as Nidhogg’s wings light with fire and he sweeps them down and sends flames from the port down and sets half the city on fire. Seriously man? We just got this built back up. And was that enough? Nope, once again, we had to split this time as Nidhogg’s tail came straight up and we all moved to avoid a devastating lighting strike sort of deal that ripped a 30 foot deep trench down the middle of the city that quickly started filling with water. Hindsight on this? Another way for merchants to sell wares and get deliveries! Anyway, not what I thought in that moment. What I thought was I didn’t want to die. And this thing was taking a beating. At one point, it seemed to just disappear and rematerialize somewhere else. Actually, it seemed to happen 3 times. Once we we gave it a good beating when it first showed, then again when he seemed to take on the appearance of something angelic holding a spear or something. But we kept whacking away. Throwing spells. At one point, I got close enough and got in a lucky strike against the “angelic” dragon and was able to knock the spear right from it’s hands. That didn’t seem to stop him though because something that seemed like huge meteors started falling from the sky. not fast, but someone determined that if they reached the ground, we’d all get wiped out. And we could see half of us were tethered to red cords and 3 to blue. And each meteor was colored. Red team took on the blue meteor and blue took on the red while Nightmare and Sigried kept Nidhogg busy. The red team took out the blue meteor quickly. It seemed like Dorric just punched the crap out of it until it was little pieces. Shenora, Surhlock and I took on the blue one. We took a bit longer to handle it. But just in time before it reached the ground. That’s when time seemed to stand still again and Nidhogg disappeared and reappeared. This time in a colossal dragon form. I mean, as big as a mansion. Talk about hitting the broad side of a barn. Once again though, we had to scramble to the front and behind him as his wings swept down again to destroy more of the city with fire. Only, this time, as it moved toward the city, it hit a magical barrier and just dissipated. And as I looked, there was Harold, floating in midair. He must have cast some sort of spell to protect the city. I’ll have to thank him later. Fixing this stuff costs money. With some final blows, we finally beat/slash Nidhogg to death. Of course, he’s destroyed half the city again. Shenora wants to rename the city again, not feeling that the first rename brought us much luck. Not sure how much lick has to do with it when we’re being hunted by supervillians who want us to suffer. But with the death of Nidhogg, she wants to rename the city Nidhogg’s Grave. Not exactly an inviting name if we want people to come to the city to trade, but we can try it out. Not sure the landlubber’s we were trying to attract fr trade will quite get the gist of the meaning of it, but hopefully the word will be a good word so we get some more money flowing into this place so we can start using money again. People keep talking about us like we’re the new law around here. I really disagree with that. we aren’t putting laws in place. We’re just protecting what’s ours. The only “law” I’m dealing out is justice if anyone screws with my money. We did make Nidhogg’s body into the new centerpiece of the city. He burned down our favorite bar so his body because the new one. Shenora and Harold and whoever else with magic were able to prop him up over the river and solidify his body into stone. The cool part is the entrance. it’s his mouth! Minus a few teeth. Sigfried wanted a canine. And so did I. It was heavy but I still got one. Just for decoration. And while everyone else was doing that, or fixing other stuff, I sat in here drinking and reading the book. Apparently it’s some sort of puzzle or prophecy or something that deals with our weapons. At least, that’s what was explained to me by Sigfried. I’m not really a “book” guy. But I tried. Apparently we’re going to need Barbados’s help. Hopefully Harold can talk him into it. Which might not be a difficult sell now, with Nidhogg out of the way and knowing what Noctis is doing. Now we just need to also get maps redone and redistributed so everyone knows the new city name again. Luckily, we’ve been through this before so we know how to get it done quick. And hopefully more traders from inland come so we can get some more exotic stuff in here. I like the sea, but everyone knows the sea. I’m sure some of these free captains and whatever pirates that weren’t killed on Plunderhaven have a taste for more exotic things. Plunderhaven! Hey, maybe we can check that out while Harold, Nightmare and Sigfried figure out what this puzzle is and get Barbados to help us. I mean, he is Harold’s brother after all….

So, we get our ship back to port (I honestly can’t remember which one, we keep jumping around and it disorients me…), and then we go check on other islands. I’m gonna just have to check in with Shenora about which island we’re on, she’s best at that. Moving the ship around without a regular crew was becoming tedious. Yea, the magic crew does everything ok, but they just aren’t quite as fun. It turns out the others agreed, so off we go to recruit people. Shenora and Sweetheart work their magic on the people and we get full up, with enough gold to keep them happy. I welcomed each personally to the ship, and gave them each a raffle ticket. Ugh, I guess that means I should find a prize of some sort…. Then we sail them out, and it became obvious they were green as fuck. I had to catch 3 from falling from the Crow’s Nest. It’s such a soothing place to hang out, I don’t know why so many lose their stomach up there (at least they had the good sense to do it over the side, but I don’t think Surhlock was happy with it getting on Shatral…). Anyway, on one of the islands we finally find someone who wants gold for items! She was some kind of weird looking old woman (I’m told a hag). I think she needs to see a healer since I don’t think those warts and stuff are healthy. Next time we see her, I’ll ask Sweetheart to help out. But the main thing was getting more stuff. Arakor told us to get some kind of dragon amulet thing, and I saw the wisdom in that so took his advice. That turned out to be a super good idea. There was some kind of book that we saw that looked really odd and mysterious, so we bought it for Arakor (he’s become some kind of language scholar recently….). BTW, turns out Dork’s name is Dorric. That’s gonna be hard to remember, and he seems to like Dork well enough as it is. He keeps reminding me of lessons I’ve taught, but I don’t really remember the number order. I guess I should have written out the curriculum because now I’m just agreeing with whatever lesson number he says, and adding more on the fly. It might be embarrassing if I reuse one and he catches it… Oh well, I like him a lot, I think he is my best friend. He even helped me with a goal of mine. Since Arakor is some kind of shark thing, I figured being a Half Air Elemental would be nice. I wasn’t sure how I’d find one to bite me, so Dork turned into one and bit me. He really is a pal. Now I need to watch it to see how this works.

Dreams have become more of a problem, those weird dark clouds are getting closer, and I’m getting a headache.

Next thing is to decide what we are going to do. Shenora says we should scry on Nightmare again since that brought us to him again. We agreed, and Sweetheart prepared to do this the next day. We were all ready to do this, set it up on the Docks so Nightmare could see the nifty ship we got him. Everything was gonna be great, until it wasn’t. Thing was, we saw Nightmare, and the super considerate paladin guy in real bad shape with Noctus standing over them. Definitely an “Oh Shit” moment. After I wake up later (not sure how I ended up asleep with half the town nearby). Shenora was already up, but was too busy to explain because Paladin and Nightmare were there in really bad shape. I wake up Sweetheart and get him on healing them right away. Looks like we are gonna need both to deal with Noctus… Um, so, Nightmare was not in a good mood, and Arakor was feeling grumpy. So, I made sure to give Dork Lesson 3 “Don’t Do That” for how to deal with godlike beings. The god brothers got into some fight, and we split up to deal with them. Me, Arakor, Sweetheart, and Dork followed Nightmare, and the others stayed with Siegfried. I made sure the who tavern had shit ready for Nightmare, and Arakor sat down to read his book. Nightmare decided he wanted to read the book, so I had to get Arakor to give the thing up before someone died. Nightmare got resigned and up at the same time and left the tavern. We followed and he started saying weird stuff to Siegfried about what they needed to do. Seemed like it might be best to let Siegfried read the book, so I worked it out that he politely asked Arakor for the book, and that worked out. So, more obscure stuff from Siegfried, and he and his brother start agreeing on something (and I don’t get the impression they agree on much).

Wouldn’t you know it, just as we started to get along, some more shit goes down. Arakor and I spot Nidhog on the way. Dude looked unhappy. Shenora and Arakor made cute gestures at him for some reason, but Nidhog just smirked at him. He was coming down like a meteor so it didn’t seem like we’d get a lot of warning. I did my prep with a little time to spare, so I peppered him with some arrows. One Eye didn’t even shrug. Guip, glad the god brothers are nearby. I think this fight went on for a while. Nidhog changed shape and did weird shit that dragons just don’t normally do. Meteors, creating ravines, firebursts from a black dragon, and wielding a lance. If it weren’t for sweetheart, the god brothers might have been done for. I’m hoping that will count for something later! Dork, Arakor and I were on point for hitting him, but I think we were just annoyances until the end. Shenora was doing all kinds of stuff to distract and harm Nidhog. Surhlock came up with an ingenious way to keep chipping away and the dragon’s ability to hit hard, and eventually that took out Old One Eye. We strip the dragon of all that is useful (apparently we are going to have a new figurehead for the boat). The guys planned on fixing the town. I couldn’t do much with that, and my headache was getting a lot worse.

I dreamt of the clouds, and the smaller one rushed me. I was covered by hate, and my head got worse, and….

WTF, it has happened again. I wake up in a different bedroom that I expected. I check my stuff, and it, at least, is all still there. Someone has messed with my book though. Damn it, I’ll skin the next bastard I find that has touched my book!!! I make some notations about where I think I am and why. I remember something about mashed potatoes, social lessons, blackbird pies (gross), shopping, god brothers, and a dragon. Fuck, we killed Nidhog. I was gonna turn in the others to him so I could get in better with Noctus (well, all but Dork, he amuses me). I slipped out of my room, and stalked around (turns out my ring now lets me go invisible). All my plans have been set back. I’m going to have to work harder to turn things around. Time to get to work. I find a nice hiding spot and go hunting from there. I round up a few low lifes, and place them in the right pattern to start summoning this Demogorgon thing. All was going well until some idiot messenger came looking for me. I almost killed him on the spot, but told him to get me some food, drink, and supplies, and then to fuck off. I get some sleep, and that other is still close. It’s hard to hear what the Demogorgon wants. I am so close! I wake up and realize I have to start over. There is a piece of shit paladin around. I think he saw me, and was about to approach. He was glowing with painful light, and I had to retreat. Things don’t look the same.
Apparently, people are on alert for some kind of killer, and this makes things a bit harder to find my resources. Only, my headache is crazy, and I lose most of them. I can’t even see straight, and barely make it back to my ritual site. I just tie up the couple I still have, and fall down.

Asleep, I see the other again, he’s getting closer. No! He’s not supposed to be back! My head gets worse, I can’t see, and….

I wake up confused again. Instead of my room I’m in some small cave, and you don’t want to know the things I see. Looks like someone went crazy here and set up some ritual with, well, with things that should not be done. I’m considered a little trigger happy, but whoever did this is messed up. I see writing in blood on the walls that talks about opening gates, and summoning the aspect of slaughter. Wait, it’s in Abyssal. How can I read Abyssal? I don’t really know how I got here. I think I went for a walk to calm down. I think I might have been drugged and kidnapped. I’m gonna just play it cool, I don’t need whatever problem this is.

I go into town, and Shenora (taking a break from Harold for breakfast) tells me I am “psychopathic”. I don’t think that’s fair, but I’m not gonna argue with her since she looks mad, and her fiance is around somewhere. A lot of people in town seem scared of me. I can’t really figure out why. I see Siegfried, and was gonna ask him what is going on. Then he started to pull out one of his swords, and I knew I was in deep trouble. Then he narrows his eyes looking at me, looks confused, and wanders off murmuring about not having the time to fix this. Lucky for me, Nightmare was still in town, and people become more concerned with him than anything else. He got irritated and knocked down a couple of houses.

Anyway, I run into Dork fixing some building. I just start helping him, and I start to feel better. I go around with him making sure people are taken care of, and I pay for an all you can drink night at one of the taverns for people. They just look so shocked by all that has happened recently. The next day, I hang out with Dork again, he is making a lot of progress with his lessons, so I decide it is time for Lesson 50 “Dating”. He almost got that barmaid to sit in his lap until he turned into his ooze form to impress her. She apparently didn’t appreciate being hugged that way… Later that day, I run into Sweetheart, he looked exhausted. I gave him a kiss on the forehead, and told him it would be alright. He scowled, so I think he needs more than a little affection. Poor guy, I bet there is a lot of healing to be done.

I’m having the dark cloud dreams again. One of them seems like it is trying to bargain with me, and the other is stalking me. I really should talk to Sweetheart about this when he is feeling better. Speaking of that, I think I know what would work. He needs a dog! I have two big ones I could give, but I don’t think those are right. He needs one he can cuddle with. Most of the dogs in the town just won’t do. They are too loud, or not fluffy enough. Eventually I see a little girl playing with the cutest fluffiest little dog you have ever seen! She says that this was her neighbor’s dog, but they are dead now (I have to force down a tear). She wanted to keep the dog, but her parents said they can’t afford to keep it. Well, this is a hard one. Sweetheart needs a dog, and the girl needs something to brighten her life… Luckily I hear some quiet meowing a couple streets over. I tell the little girl that I’ll be back and go to investigate. Sure enough, it is a little orange kitten all alone. He is very friendly, and comes when called. I pick him up and look at him. He purrs contentedly, and falls asleep on my shoulder. I go around and get stuff for him to be comfortable and go back to the little girl. She is just beside herself with glee. I tell her that I think this little kitten might end up being friendly for her, and helpful with mice. I offer to talk to her parents for her. So, kitten, dog, and little girl in tow, I set off for her house. Her father is home, and is a bit surprised by all of us showing up in his kitchen. i put the kitten in his daughter’s lap, and talk to him. I suggest that the kitten could be useful, and would make his daughter happy. Just to sweeten the deal, I slip him 10 gold. He became really excited about the cat, and started to suggest names with his daughter. He looks like a good dad. As I scoop up the little dog and start to leave, I hear them settle on “Captain Buttertoes” as a name.

Sweetheart was off being busy, so I needed something else to do. Dork was busy, Arakor was busy, Shenora was busy (hehe). I casually decide Surhlock needs a visit. On the way, I remember that he needs my help, so I start talking about Peach Cheeks again. I think the town is really interested in him now. Several people talk about throwing him a party of some sort. Sounds like the kind of thing that would be fun if I wasn’t in a relationship. After this, it is time to chat with him. He’s been really lonely without Shatral. I go get some herbs for him (he’s always using crazy amounts of those for his magic). I find him at dinner, and he’s looking a bit distant. I give him his herbs and he offers a polite thank you. Still, I think he needs some cheering up before his party. We play some cards and dice, and I tell him jokes. He livens up and says he’s ready to eat, talks about a nice roast. Well, crap, he can’t eat that heavy before his party, It’ll slow him down. I start arguing with him about keeping his figure, and getting worse sleep. He looks annoyed, and it takes a lot of persuading before he gives in “to shut you up”. It’s nice to win every now and again. It’s about that time, so I tell him that some people had questions for him about some magic crap at this other tavern, and let him know it’s important. He looks at me like I’m crazy, so I decide I need to do more convincing. Just as I start to talk, he says “Ok, ok, just don’t say another word, I’ll go. I don’t want to know why this is important. I’m going!!!” Phew, that was almost ruined.

Stupid dream again. Just glad I don’t have a headache. I catch Sweetheart at breakfast, and after he finishes I ask to speak with him in private. We go to my room, and I surprise him with the dog. He gives me a quizzical smile, and asks what this was for. I just smile, and he takes the dog. Seems like the right thing to do since he played with her. He decided to name her “Nini”. I like the name. I left so he could enjoy his gift. Just felt like wandering the town. People were talking about Harold and Shenora, wondering what was going on. Well, I can’t have people saying the wrong things, so I make sure to let them know they are engaged. Everyone was really surprised and happy. They want to know when the ceremony is, and I just said “Summer”. I hoped that was far enough out for Shenora. I bet she’d like a fancy wedding, so I tell them she likes daisies and lilies. People nod knowingly (does that mean something?), and spread the word.

Another stupid dream. Spent most of the day with Dork. At lunch I talked to Arakor about Abyssal, and he said I have a Gaping Maw accent. Not sure what that means, but I’ll keep it in mind. He offered me a book on it he found, and I pretended to read it for a bit before going to find Dork again. I join Sweetheart for dinner, and he’s playing with Nini. We chat, and it seems like he is an old fashioned one. Sigh, I guess he regrets the bit and bridle, and wants to be dated first. I’m not really the marrying type, so I’m a little worried about this relationship. Well, might as well get something from this. I tell him about my dreams, and that I don’t know what they mean. He seems worried, but said he needs to check on something first.

See the clouds in the dream, and they both seem mad. Big one is angry I talked to Sweetheart. Little one is trying to attack. Little bit of a headache. I wake up and don’t feel great. People said I was moping. Hadn’t seen Surhlock in a couple of days since his party. He comes in the room, looks at me, and goes to the furthest table from me. Guess he’s embarrassed, I know the town had a lot of good things to say about him after the party, maybe it hurt his professional image. Come to think of it, I don’t think anyone in town calls him by name anymore, all of them are addressing him as Peach Cheeks. I decide to ask Dork to take a break from work and we practice throwing. His weight distribution as a little ball is odd, but I think I can get him 50 ft pretty accurately. I like the nice clunk/thud sound he makes when he hits something. I finally see Shenora again at dinner, and she has mellowed a lot! Reminds me to look for a present again.

Ugh, the big cloud now looks like a storm cloud. I wake up scared. I think it is going to do something to me. I hope Sweetheart can figure something out. Ok, focus, today is about Shenora. No one knows how to make blackbird pies here. I also saw that she just got a new rapier scabbard from Harold. What else can I get her…. I don’t think she wants a cat or dog. Maybe a mule? No, that’s not right. I started hunting around the island for something interesting. Fern? No. Shiny Rock? No. Pointy Hat? No. Seaweed Garden? No. This was just going badly until I found the greatest gift ever! There it was, small, cute, and spiky. A hedgehog! It was a bit skittish at first, but I used some animal tricks I learned from one of the new crew members. I got some stuff she’d eat and was ready to give her to Shenora. Only Shenora is off with Harold again. Like, not even around kind of way.

Where can I keep her hedgehog until she gets back? I know, I’ll put him in a little box on Arakor’s bed with a note on keeping him healthy for a few days (he is Arakor sized, so I think that is the best plan). Wait, did I sign that note or not?

The thing that I liked about being a pirate was setting our own schedule, chasing the loot, plundering the assholes… but I’ll tell ya, this job has really changed in the last six days that equaled six months that turned our whole world on it’s ass end thanks to Noctus. I was always used to scooting under the radar, trading in even but shady deals and letting the laws of loot was to be looted. So when Arakor killed of our entire existing crew that lived though the mutiny, I wasn’t exactly pleased but I could fit the idea in the flexible bounds of my value system. Plus, there wasn’t much I could do about it and those bastards should have had more faith in us that we would be back. I mean shit, I was only four days we were gone, but even six months seems not too much to ask. We left them fat dumb and happy, and I expected at least a shrine or something for our generosity.

The thing is however, in order to live that life of a pirate, you are still reliant on someone else to draw the arbitrary lines of law, so we know where to dance around and under them. But in this new Noctus rule world, it appears people are looking to us to re-establish the rule of law. Us. Pirates… free captains… law. Well, we have a good plan for business and we do have a track record of bringing people together for a common purpose… plus we can kick ass when we need too. However, we are not to be the ass kickers of Noctus who has become a monstrosity all because he was bullied as a pip squeak by Nightmare and Sigfied, his brothers. So plunderhaven had to wait and we went to check on our properties and investments to get them up and running again. New Orion was alright for a second, but Angel Island was demolished two days before we arrived by a vengeance seeking Nidhog. Apparently he was still pissed about the eye, but I am still pissed about New Orion, that has been new two times already because of his ass, and now Angel Island too. I’m glad the wand of splendor can provide a fun time for building back relations, and Mavrick is excellent entertainment, but everyone is really starting to look at us for more now. More protection, more order… and it’s just not the free spirit yahoo ride the world was a week ago. I have had to take on more of a role as navigator and Shurlok has really stepped up as far as keeping the books. It appears however Mavrick has something going on with Remi, who is getting stranger and stranger as the days pass. I think we might have not disconnected his teather in time on Noctus’s floating ship and something happened to him, he seems a bit touched in the head and other places. Something seriously seems to be tormenting him so he seems to be tormenting others around him. He brings us little “gifts at times.” He’s like a cat and brings me dead birds from time to time. At first I ignored it but he keeps leaving them outside my room every now and again and it’s getting really weird. I try to be nice, but lost it the other day when I was barefoot and stepped out right onto a warm little bird carcus who’s beak stabbed me in the foot. Didn’t make me bleed or anything but hurt like hell. I saw Remi and just rolled my eyes and called him a psychopath. I’m not sure he didn’t know it wasn’t a compliment.

Anyway, we went to move some of our people we recruited for our new crew from Obese, and check on the Mythiral mines before deciding how to approach Nightmare and Noctus. I do believe that one way or another things cross your path that need to be brought to you, and that’s when we ran into the old hag Matilda again. She’s a bit “airy fairy” as we recall, but I always think those kind of hags have the best stories. She’s doing pretty well for herself, as one of the only traveling bands of merchants (her and three other dudes) who can actually trade items for gold. We had gold and buying from her would actually improve our circumstances as far as helping to jump start the entire economy again so we could spend our gold. She had this really expensive book however, and it wasn’t even magical. I had a feeling about this however, because those type of things don’t happen for no reason. Shurlok must have had the same notion, because it was with a nod, he bought the book and gave it to Arakor to read. We had no real reason why, but just felt it was a good way to get 50K in gold back into circulation and maybe it would entertain Arakor long enough that he wouldn’t get all pissy and kill off this new crew.

Oh, this new crew isn’t so bad, but you forget how much green sailors just don’t know. They don’t even know the right questions to ask, and they don’t have any preference on weapon choices and barely are aware of any magical talents they might have. Luckily, Harold was able to show me a few techniques in teaching and learning, and some of them I can utilize with my clothes on… so I can teach and mentor a few crew members in both light weapons and magic. It’s something to do on the high seas, builds a good sense of comradery and keeps everyone from thinking of those we left on land. I guess this is where I feel most like my old self even when the world is on the brink of falling into Noctus’s ego rift.
We returned to New Orion and decided it was now time to try to scry on Nightmare, knowing that he would detect us and most likely pull us to him. It just so happened that when we scryed, we were able to see Nightmare, passed out and in the middle of a battle. And in the background was Sigfried. As we were looking around, Noctus looked right into our scry eye and it happened again, where we all passed out. I woke up rather quickly only to find that Sigfried and Nightmare had in fact teleported to us though our spell, and Noctus actually dropped the spell when Mavrick passed out. So he wasn’t able to come though at that moment which was probably lucky for us all. I was the first to wake up and ready to be fully accommodating to Nightmare, but his was not his usual self. He stomped off to the tavern as a somewhat average looking individual, no longer shrouded… well… Nightmare. Sigfried was much more pleasant to talk too as he was last time. Man of little words, but clearly he was torn between knowing he took part in causing this sibling rivalry that is killing our world and going to be the reason he needs to now eliminate his brother. He talks about how he’s been overrun with evil and his brother is fallen, blah blah blah. Seriously they all needed therapy, but it’s too late for that now. After listening to Sigfried for a while, Nightmare comes back out, hands him our book we bought, throws him into a building we just had fixed last week… and tells him he has a deal. I have no idea, but now I know that we need to get the cliff notes version of that book from Arakor. And we know it’s about our sin weapons, so most likely we will be involved, or they are going to be asking us for our weapons. As that happened, we heard the familiar incoming cry of a pissed off one eyed dragon.

The battle was one of our more epic battles as Nidhogg has made some advancements since we last saw him. He had these spells that would try to hit us from the sky and we had to destroy them in distinct teams before they nuked us out into orbit. Thank goodness Sigfried and Nightmare were there, because will all those new tricks he had, we couldn’t have taken him without their help and guidance. They were good about letting us know his new fire wing tricks where the first flap would shoot out sideways, burning half our town…again… asshat… and the second would dig a black line trench down the center of our town… asshat. I mean, we were looking to upgrade the aquaduct system anyway but I’m not sure that’s where we would have chosen to put the new trench. Nidhog transformed a few times, too and depending on what was going on, I switched quickly from spitting spells and trying to get his other eye on the end of wrath. At one point I plunged Garvok into the chest of Nidhogg four times, and three of the times Garvok fired off within his chest. I have gotten pretty adept at dodging his fireballs but it was something to be holding that power in the chest of dragon and lighting him up like a roman candle… and it still didn’t seem to effect him much. He turned into a man, and Arakor did a nice job of disarming him of his lance thing he kept spinning around, which was helpful as we fought off those death orbs. Then he turned into a giant huge dragon of ridiculousness. It was then that I got hit by Nidhogg, and man, he hit the dickens out of me. Mavrick was able to come to my aide, but I did not fancy getting hit by him at all.

I have to say, Dorric is not a … ooze… of many words, but he is very efficient when it comes to creating some damage. I felt bad when I saw Shatral take a big hit from Nidhogg and knew we wouldn’t see her for a few days. Mavrick was singing as usual and sounded great and Arakor and I were able to slide together at times to provide some nice size striations along the dragon hide, but when with Dorric there I could also back up and throw some spells. Then he started with those fire wings again and we watched as half the town was now being destroyed. I turned around to watch the walls of fire now tumbling towards our favorite tavern and it took a turn up and formed along a fire wall of sorts. As it settled back down, Harold stood behind a wall of force and protected what was left of our little town. The next fire hit destroyed the wall, but it was all we needed to push forward and kill Nidhogg, his giant caucus falling into the cavern his tail slap caused earlier. He dug his own grave.
He came… it was the second time our team was in peril and he came. I’d ask him if he is watching us or how he knew where we were and he passes it off like, “well all this was hard to miss.” However, we didn’t see him at Aquaduct 8 or past the red line when those huge battles were going on. It makes me wonder if he is keeping track and watching me which is creepy in a makes me feel good way. I know when I acted a bit… jealous… as some of those moronic townspeople keep spreading around… he didn’t seem to mind. But he’s not really the type of guy to pay much attention to rumors and such, as he’s kinda used to just doing what he wants to do. And on occasion he wants to do me.

It wasn’t straight back to the mansion this time however, because it was one of our favorite ports, one of the main stables of our reconstruction of our monetary system that needed some attention first. He was sweet though, as side of the powerful wielding introverted magician that I wouldn’t have ever expected to see. I seemed to be the one most concerned with how we needed to immortalize the event of Nidhogg’s death and make his carcus a beacon of hope and prosperity for the free captains. I realized, that is more of Mavricks department however, and asked him to start on a new song of the tale of the tails ale. So for a few days Harold walked with me as we planned and architected a way to clean his bones and utilize his body in making a new, unique and celebratory tavern inn and trading post in the new aquaduct of the town known as Nidhoggs Grave. I mean really, all these cheery town names, New Orion and such have brought us no luck. We are pirates afterall, and it’s time we acknowledge the tales that make us great and get down right truthful and gritty with our establishments.

We were able to build up the land under Nidhoggs body, so that his cleaned skeleton now is back a few feet above sea level and there was still room for small boats to go around in the aqua ducts to each side, making it easier to get water to the business establishments the canals. We shaped some stone bridges every so often and even got a little decorative, where the druid came up with a few interesting ideas by putting crystalline infused courtyards around town with almost cute little wells. For being a brutal killer, he has a keen sense of style. Remi often can be seen with Dorric helping, but his taste seem to move rather quickly from plants, greenery and animal care… in particular he’s taken up some fascination with rodents I think… to more of a dark, gothic celebratory demonic feel. I usually only see such a stark difference in taste in one person when Harold and I are just playing around with role play stuff, but for Remi he seems to have picked his two genre’s and it’s sticking. He watches all of us a lot, and Harold mentioned something strange to me as we were working on the interior tail tavern one day.

“You know, I think Remi has taken up a pastime of talkin’ about us around town.” He said.
“Us, as in the Madd Dog crew?” I said at first. “He might still be trying to recruit for more crew, if Nightmare doesn’t want his boat…”

“Nooo…” he said with a chuckle mixed with a slight tinge of either annoyance or curiosity.
“Oh, what are you talking about then?” I said as I pulled away from the wall where I was planning the long counter and bar stools, and how far they should pull away for the kegs. “He’s been becoming weirder and weirder lately so I have no idea what he’s up too. He seems to be spending all kinds of time with Mavrick and Dorric, so who knows what kinky tricks they are up too.”

“I thought we had the corner of the market on Kinky” he said more than delighted with himself.

“Hmmm,” I said walking towards him biting my lip the way I knew would drive him just a little bit crazy. “I happen to enjoy your form of kinky fuckery just fine, but I’m not sure I would want to go near the dark ravines of what those three might come up with.”
“So you haven’t been telling tales outside of our…” He walked toward me and wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into a hug.

“Of our what exactly?” I said, wondering what he might call it. When he didn’t answer and started to kiss my neck while letting his hands roam slowly up my sides, I wondered what he wasn’t saying but seemed to be asking. “I haven’t had time to spread much of anything my dear… you tend to keep my mouth… busy.” The next thing I heard was a guttural growl and a flood of endorphins rush to my hot spots and he lifted me from where I stood and pawed at my body.

“Wow,” I growled, “You are doing this manually eh? Not just going to displace my clothes right off my body?”

“I don’t want to go too far with the kinky fuckery and scare you off,” he said. “Besides, I like to unwrap the pretty package… but…”

“But you are having a hard time finding how to get it off?” I giggled and the double meaning and lifted the tie on the bottom of my corset that his agile fingers struggled to find. I handed his the string and he placed me upon a platform I didn’t realize was there previously. He pulled the string with one and slid his hand up my thigh with the other, watching my clothes unravel off my body. I snapped off an invisibility spell over us, and then cast a see invisibility spell so we could see each other. He grinned at my creativity in sexy spell working but left everything else to more vanilla and sensual endeavors.

An hour or so later, we managed to pull ourselves back together realizing that we weren’t exactly hidden by anything but some bones and stone and hoping the invisibility spells didn’t wear off before we were dressed again. We walked the town side by side and I can’t say as I didn’t notice that we garnished a lot of attention, but Harold seemed to be used to it and honestly I was no stranger to gaining attention either but I did seem more at home in the lime light than Harold. I remembered what Sigfried was saying about a wizard who was really into all the women and how he was very similar to Harold, and realized this is a man who can really multi-task. And while Harold might be taxing me in regards to my sexual attention, it’s quite plausible that he like the wizard in Sigfrieds tale has many other conquests in other ports. I offered him opportunities to do other things and was sure not to make him feel tied or beholden to me but he stayed the week, and each night we stayed together as a natural and foregone conclusion. Seeing as how the world might end any moment when Noctus gets at us, and especially how he sees what we did to his favorite pet, I’m just in it to enjoy the moments we have right here and now. So if I have to kill a hag here and there to get me and mine, and Harold doesn’t seem to be pitching a fit, that’s fine too.
Meanwhile we did spend the week between reading the book when Arakor wasn’t reading it, in bed together and understanding that we were going to have to do the quest that is laid out in it’s pages. It’s a puzzle and we have the weapons it refers to, in order to unlock an artifact that might be the only thing strong enough to defeat Noctus. I’m still a bit unsure of exactly what Harolds real tie to Noctus, Sigfried and Nightmare might be, he knows of them but doesn’t seem terribly interested in interacting with them over spending time with me. And I can’t say as I mind. But as the week winded down, we waked through the town realizing that all the crafters and repairs were creating a lovely little seaside garden town again and we shared the spirit of being crafters of a type and creating something together, after all the times we have had to go destroy something together… it was a nice contrast.
Nightmare and Sigfried stayed the week as well, mostly recovering from the battle and discussing this quest we would have to endeavor upon to find the missing lust weapon as well as unlock the artifact. Harold seemed to think when it was time, Barbados could be made to help with his weapon but didn’t say much about the details. Something a bit strange about all these brothers, but Harold has yet to really explain any of it to me since he keeps me pretty well occupied with other things.

Tonight we are going to all meet at a grand feast in the rib room of the grand opening of Nidhoggs Tavern and Inn Island. It turned out pretty glorious, as we leathered and petrified his original skin to use as the structure between the ribs for the walls, but still leaving the skeletal structures exposed for a wonderful effect to the large structure. We left the wings as well in the same skeletal shell design and managed to run some water wheels under them and they cascade down inviting small children to slide down and enjoy in the hotter days. We managed to ferment and fray some ligaments into soft rope that hang from the tips of the wings letting some of the older children swing and land giggling into the water. I don’t particularly like children but they do add something different to the dankness of a mundane day as long as they stay away from me. The entire place is a family friendly full of frivolity to entice trade and commerce while celebrating the debauchery we free captains love. Little something for everyone, a haven, perhaps much like Plunderhaven used to serve but open to all with a level head. Speaking of head, we were thinking of putting the skull onto the front of our ship, but the thing is just about half the size of our ship and throws off the sailing navigation with the extra weight. So we were able to prop up the neck and attack the skull in such a way, the grand entrance of the building is a staircase adorn in orange and reds, with black handrails that lead up to his open jaw. There is a staircase that leads back down to the rib room, but the other side is a similar shaped ramp that I and others as dexterous as I can standing-slide down quite easily in order to make a grand entrance. It’s quite fun. Anyway, tonight we feast at the grand opening and meet with everyone to put out plan in place about how we should deal with going after the missing weapons and the artifact. It most likely means we will be parting ways, and leaving our town to those we have only been able to minorly train to protect these great new buildings. It also means tonight will be my last night with Harold for a while, so we might have to come up with something memorable in case we die.

For the time being we set aside our previously aborted trip to find Plunderhaven. It still seems like some easy loot waiting to be found but for now the rest of the gang has other ideas – repaying our debt to Nightmare. First, we visit our islands only to discover that Caelum, home to the angelic archers and our gold mine has been laid to waste by dragons. Ugh. Someone will have to pay for that eventually. We head back to New Aurum where we run into the old hag who actually has some stuff to sell and is willing to buy our loot. A few more meta magic rods I did acquire. And, we pick up a really cool really old book for Arakor to Read.

The hag also tells us that Nightmare, Seigfred and Noctus are all past the red line. Apparently the old buddies have scores to settle against each other. Well, the last time we scried on Nightmare he pulled us to him. Maybe it will work again? Well it kind of did. Maverick looks through the window and sees Nightmare almost dead, Seigfred torn into pieces on the ground, and Noctus standing over them. Just his gaze knocks us out, again. When we come to Nightmare and Seigfred are there and in desperate need of healing. Do it all Maverick takes care of that problem too.

We tried to give them their ship but to no avail. Maybe we get to keep it after all? Sweet. But first we try to talk to the bickering bullies. A difficult lot they are. But they are also keenly interested in Arakor’s book. Apparently it means something to them. Too bad shark man ain’t as quick of a study as them. We’re going to have to find some downtime for him to finish.

Anyway it didn’t matter at the moment. Before anything else happened we were attacked by the dragon. He flies in and we get to work. And work. And work. Arakor, Rami, and Dorrick were pounding the crap out of him. Shatral tried to help but was dismissed home almost immediately. Shenora and I kept blasting away as much as we could. I used up my whole compliment of quickened rods and nearly all of my damaging spells. But the real saving grace is that the bickering bullies decided to be useful. They were getting pounded but better then than us.

I switched to summoning shadows, one after another as they kept falling. But they were getting hits in and weakening him all along. Still, he had massive attacks that we kept having to avoid. And then he transformed into a human with a lance. And back into a bigger dragon. It seemed to go on maybe for ever. Nothing I have seen could take that kind of punishment. And finally it fell, right before it seemed about ready to explode. Whew. Too bad half our city has been laid to waste (thanks Harold for protecting the rest). More work to do. Island keeping is a pain. Glad we still have those Lyres of Building.

Well, I finally found them – the weapons, I mean. And their current wielders.

They’re apparently some kind of pirate crew and are now the de facto world government, thanks to our captor Noctus having gone on a rampage while we were locked away. Oh, and the sorceress – Shenora – is shacked up with a local god. It’s been an interesting week to say the least. Once we made our way back to their home base, the shark man (Arakor, I believe?) took Rami and went to engage in some team building exercises. Not sure exactly what happened but the morale of the remaining crew seems to be much improved. Their summoner spent the week going over ledgers.

After things had been sorted out on the island, our crew came together to plan our next steps. It was decided we would make for Plunderhaven, but before we could embark…well, things got interesting. Another lost soul washed up on our shores and after a quick heal from Maverick she began to converse with Shenora.

I must admit, I was too busy going over my daily social interaction lessons from Rami to catch exactly what was said (he has graciously agreed to assist me in being more, well, socially gracious) but soon Shenora and this older woman came to blows! I panicked and transformed into an ooze. Surlock stepped in before things got too heated, and my fastball special combo with Rami ended up not being needed. After the situation calmed down, we had a new temporary crew mate in this spellcaster.

About halfway to our destination, we ran into another vessel of comparable size with ours. It was flying the flag of Noctus and was making a course to intercept us. The group decided we would get the jump on them and teleported over to start some mayhem.

The battle was hard fought. I switched to making concentrated single strikes against our foes as my other monk techniques seemed quite ineffective. Arakor laid waste to several of the enemy crew with his two artifacts despite being swarmed at one point. Rami’s bow practically sung. Surlock and Shenora did some truly terrifying things with their magic – I’m pretty sure one of the sailors we were fighting actually turned into a gibbering wreck. It was a little disconcerting. Regardless, we pulled through thanks to their combat prowess and Maverick’s bolstering songs and healing.

After the fight, we had a brief conversation with the ships previous captain. Before we could get too much out of him, he teleported away. Regardless, we sailed away with another ship and a hull full of loot which I will certainly use to upgrade my tattoos.

Apparently, our crew thought we were dead after being gone for 6 months. We heard there were mutinies. But the thing that really set me and Chellan and Urgot off was that the crew that was left after the various mutinies had spent all of the gold we had in our hold. And I lost it. None of them deserved to live. After how well we kept them happy. How much money we made them and after a few months to go haywire? Not happening. The next batch of crew will know what happens if they even think about it. it was a slaughter, and it was meant to be. But, you can’t get the stories to repeat if you don’t have someone to tell them. I made sure one got away to make sure tot ell the story of what happens to a crew that thinks we’ve died. There will always be one of us to come back.

Finally, a good night’s sleep in a good bed. I really needed that after the last few days. Although, I’m still hearing it from both Chellan and Urgot about that dragon hoard getting away. Chellan because he just wants it, and Urgot because of how much it was. I had to exert a little extra control over them both this morning. After I finally wake up enough to go downstairs for breakfast, there was someone new down there. I didn’t catch her name but I did hear something about her washing ashore after losing her entire crew to Noctis, who is apparently going on a killing spree it seems like after we ruined his ship and experiments. As we ate, Shenora came down in a more cheery mood which was almost opposite of Rami’s. He seemed very sour. I would have thought the murdering of the bad crew would have cheered him up. But Shenora’s mood quickly turned. She attempted to make some chit-chat with the newcomer, but the woman was very nasty to her. After finding out about the washing ashore, she had mentioned something about being with Harold. Now, she didn’t seem like a spring chicken so when she said she was with Harold, I could tell that Shenora was curious as to how and I’m guessing, based on age, asked if she was Harold’s mother. Well, immediately came an insult from her asking if Shenora was his bitch. That script flipped faster than Shenora onto her back when Harold is around. I heard the ringing of steel from scabbard, a look of fuck you in her eyes, and the casting of familiar spells like Haste. And before Maverick could step in, that sword slashed down with quickness and I thought she would have been dead, but apparently Maverick had healed her when she had gotten in earlier that morning(which I didn’t know at the time). Suhrlock kinda stepped in between them(which seemed odd since he’s the one that cast Haste I’m sure) and Maverick tried to speak up to get them to calm down but that just didn’t seem to work. I asked this new person(I never caught her name) if she’d ever heard of the Mad Dog Pirates who captained the Brown Star and that seemed to get through. She backed off immediately. I’m sure getting whacked by Wrath also had something to do with it. Eventually we come to a cease-fire. And since we’re short on crew, we invited her along. If she can cut the mustard, she’s on the crew. If not, I’m sure something else will kill her. After being gone for 6 months, we need to get operations back on track…Clearly. Our closest base of operations is the mithril mine. Although, secondarily, we really want to find Plunderhaven after hearing Noctus killed the turtle it sat on and it sank to the bottom of the ocean. But, first things first. We set sail from Rickety’s which is where our ship ended up at thanks to Harold and Rickety I’m assuming. Heading south to the cove and the mine. Not long after we head out though, both Rami and I spot a ship beginning to come around the coast of an island a ways off. We can’t really make out the flag yet though. But as it gets closer, we realize it’s Noctis’s flag. And while we’re debating on how to get to them before they see us, like flying, or what I thought would be more fun, teleporting to the top of the cliffs of the island they are near and jumping off and feather falling on top of them, Rami notices before the rest of us that they must have seen us because they are enveloped in a fog. What one might call and unnatural fog. So now we cant see them at all. But, that also means they can’t see us. But, based on their speed at the time, direction, their ship looking very similar in size to ours, I was able to pull up pretty close to them. Close enough for Shenora to do something to them that made them just ignore us completely. So, with them distracted, we all went invisible and decided to go after 1 big guy. Why just 1? Because I remember these bastards. They are ex-military navy guys that Noctis has clearly recruited. Probably upon pain of death if they didn’t join him. But that isn’t my problem. I know what these guys can do and will do. I remember from what they did to the sahaugin port where the mine is at. They’re tough bastards. And tough was right. In one fail swoop we all just let loose on one of the bigger guys. Just wailed on him. And there he stood. Staggering around, but still there and still able to fight back. Then his buddies came to their senses after we made our presence known and came on like gangbusters. I got hit by 4 guys and just got hammered. it hurt….A LOT! We finished off the first big guy and kept concentrating on them one at a time. Suhrlock summoned what appeared to be a tiger behind one that was fighting me and Shatral took up position on another one giving me 2 options to flank along with Shenora for a bit and then Dorric. And every time I hit them, I just couldn’t find the weak spots like I normally could. Once in a while I hit home pretty good, but more often than not it as like hitting a whale with a toothpick. And the hits just kept coming. Rami was raining down arrows while Mav was doing his singing thing and having to heal us from the massive blows these guys were dealing with just claws and bites. Luckily, my cloak saved me a few times from what could have been a devastating shot. I felt a fireball erupt from Shenora’s sword but was able to duck behind the guy she was attacking and avoid it. Then she stopped out and Dorric stepped in. After that, I heard what sounded like some hexes but they didn’t seem to be coming from just Suhrlock’s direction. I guess this new chick also has some witchy abilities. Thenbehind me I hear the crackle of a lightning bolt or something. I felt the edge of it more than saw it. But what I did happen to see right before my eyes was a spray of color come from Shenora’s hand at the 4 guys who were attacking me. 3 smaller guys and 1 big guy. The big guy just all of a sudden had his eyes roll into the back of his head and he just dropped over dead. And the one next to him stopped what he was doing and had some sort of wild look in his eye before batting himself about the head and shoulders or rambling about nothing. We finished off the others then finally finished off the crazy one.

We decided to do a quick check below decks just to make sure that someone wasn’t going to pop up and attack us while we decided what to do with this ship. we checked out the captains quarters and lo and behold there’s a dude in it! He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world that we were there. He looked entirely comfortable although somewhat perplexed when we asked him what he was doing on our newly acquired ship. Apparently, he is Noctis older brother. Not a dick like Noctis is though. Apparently, he’s a guy who got bored by the mundane and went plane-hopping and set this as his return location for a teleport or something if he needed to return somewhere. Apparently he used to be a fleet admiral for the navy, which more than pissed me off. Although, I’m no fool. I’m not going to fuck around with a guy who goes planes-hopping for fun and is the older brother of a demi-god like being. Who knows what this guy is capable of. But apparently, Noctis used to be the wimp of the group and Siegfried(that’s what he said his name was so we’ll go with it) and Nightmare used to torment him. Great, the older brother of a uber-powerful guy and friends with another totally uber-badass. Although, maybe if we talk to him we can get him to talk some sense into Nightmare about this whole ship thing…Not that we got a chance to ask him anything because like that he got bored and disappeared. Now we had to make a decision. Keep going to the mine or head back with this new ship to Rickety’s. We decide to make the day trip back so it’s moored and much safer. But, having this new ship now, we decide it might be better to go to Aqueduct 8 first and see if we can find a buyer for the ship since we now have zero funds and zero crew at this point. And we definitely need both. I agree with Chellan and Urgot on those points.

So, we prep and teleport to Aqueduct 8 and it looks like a disaster area. I mean, they are clearly recovering but there was definitely something that happened here. And after asking around, it appeared that Noctis had shown up and was tearing the place apart until Nightmare showed up and Noctis beat feet out of there. But, no Nightmare here. We still have to find him too and give him the voucher since the ship place is back up and running….no need to tell him about the other ship we captured….

Ugh, the headache was much worse when I awoke the next day. I was so mad that I just had to kill something, it’s the best stress reliever that I know. Fortunately enough, Arakor was in that mood. The crew had mutinied, and Arakor decided to let them know that this shit would not do. So, we set up a nice slaughter. I convinced him that adding in some terror would make it more fun. Arrows came out of nowhere, slicing hairs, nicking ears, tearing pants, it was beautiful. And Arakor would be waiting at the end, in completely unexpected places. I have to give it to him, how he got through that latrine pipe without getting wet was incredible. He is quite the murder sprite…, I’m growing quite fond of him. I took many of the bodies, asking for no questions. I tried all kinds of fun things with them to make the new bow happy. I don’t have time to get into the details since the headache is getting worse.
The dream went further, with the voice of the Demogorgon coming closer, and starting to wrap around me. It felt warm and terrifying, and dangerous, oh so thrillingly dangerous. Then the other appeared, and he was coming closer. Damn him, why can’t he just die!? He just kept coming and getting bigger and bigger, and the headache worsened, and my head felt like…..

Damn, I had an odd dream again. Come to think of it, how did I get here? I remember having a headache on a night on the ship. Then, things get foggy. I think there was some kind of dungeon, and a dragon, and a new bow? I hate it when this happens. People tell me I get really creepy every now and then, but I never remember that. I think someone has been putting something in my food again. So, looking through my stuff I do find a fancy new bow. Feels kind of evil, covered in blood and stuff, and it has some kind of note attached to it in horrible handwriting “Try liver next time”. I’m not really sure what that means, and I don’t think I’m going to ask anyone. I guess I should keep it bloody? Well, we do end up killing people, so that shouldn’t be too hard. Nearby there was this odd leathered book. Seems like it is the skin from some kind of person, and I feel like it is familiar. I take a peek, and there are some crazy writings about a princess hunting a paladin with demons. Someone must have lost this. I guess I can keep it until I find the owner.

I get up, and find we are at Rickity’s. I decide I’m gonna play it cool, and just sit down for breakfast. This new ugly guy sits down and starts talking to me, I caught him saying his name was Dork. I’m not sure who disliked him enough to name him that, but he seems like a decent fellow, and was actually kind of fun. Dork mentioned how I promised to teach him social skills, so I said sure (hoping he wouldn’t notice my confusion). I guess I can’t let him down, so I started by explaining the concept of napkins. I think that me dabbing his face with my spit may have crossed a line though… Seeing as i didn’t really have anything else planned, I decided to continue our lessons throughout the day. I heard that I had a really bad temper yesterday, but luckily not against my friends, so I’ll just toss out some coins here or there so people will forget. Dork had some trouble with Lesson 1 “Hello”. He grabbed a barkeep by the beard saying “I need a drink sweetheart”, looking back at me and winking. I may have to be clearer about my instructions… The day kind of went like this. I’m not sure how I am going to let him know that I may need to charge for these lessons… I run into Maverick, and he was being sulky again, said something about not appreciating the bit and bridle I tried to use on him. I didn’t think that he and I had that kind of relationship, but I do get drunk every now and then. He thought it was disrespectful or something. I joked that he should be appreciative when I bring the bit and bridle. He started to say something else, but I broke the tension by patting him on the butt and saying “Later, Sweetheart”. He sounded happy about that as I left, but I decided to give him a few days before I go back to his bed (apparently he’s a kinky one, and I’m not always into that).

My dreams were normal, except that all of them had 2 black clouds in them. One was big and offered fun tricks and talents, and the other was small and hateful. Must mean something, I’ll ask sweetheart next time we roll around. Woke up the next day before Dork, so I went out for a stroll. I kept hearing something about Shenora and Harold. The word on the street was that she proposed to him. I kept asking around for details so I’d know what kind of engagement gift to get. The story went that they had some smouldering exchange on top of mashed potatoes, and Shenora threw a leg over his shoulder saying “let’s make this party go on forever”, and then offered a coral ring. They disappeared, and people say that the looks of both of there were fairly enraptured. So, I guess she needed a romantic gift. I wasn’t able to get a patterned rapier hilt, so I bought her a blackbird pie (those were my favorite as a child, so I’m sure the thought will count). This got me in a good mood, so I wanted to spread the joy. Shenora was happy, Maverick was happy, Dork was happy, and Arakor was happy (if bloody). So, Surhlock needed some joy sent his way. He had been moping about early senility, and I decided he needed some distraction. So, I spread rumors about him being hung like a centaur, and that people never find another lover satisfying after him. I then paid a number of prostitutes of different races and sexes to back that story up. They did get more creative than I specified, but I’m sure he’ll be happy to also be known as “Peach Cheeks”.

Same damn dream as the last night, very boring. Well we started seriously talking about our next move, when I see a boat in the distance coming our way. I didn’t point it out since it would take 5 minutes before anyone but Arakor could see it, and I’m told it is “Showing Off” to say what I see unless it is dangerous or valuable. Eventually someone falls out of it. She was plain looking, and unremarkable. So, I assumed she was dangerous because plain and unremarkable people don’t just wash up in boats near us. I politely ask who she is, and she gets huffy about it and says she’d curse me. Not much of a threat since I could have put arrows into her eyes before those fingers twitched, but I let it go since she was in a bad mood. So, Shenora, who is always more genteel than me, restarts communication. They both started on who was Harold’s girlfriend (guess plain girl hadn’t heard the rumors), when plain girl calls Shenora Harold’s bitch. I assume this was insulting since I’d heard Harold was the bitch behind closed doors. Well, that was it, Shenora got ready to go. All in one moment she was hasted and pulled her rapier out stabbing. I saw Dork turn into a small crystal ooze, and I pick him up (we’d talked about this moments before). Shenora killed here kind of (Maverick spoiled the fun. Guess he might need a quicker visit if he’s gonna start spoiling our fun. Sigh, I do not like relationships). I had really been hoping to throw Dork at someone…. Well, Dork and I plan to do this later. Anyway, plain girl recants, and I whisper to Dork “Lesson 2 – Introductions”. Long story short, she’s tagging along.

We try to figure out where to go, and I just defer to Shenora on this, she always has the more entertaining ideas. So, out we sail. I see a ship in the distance, and warn the other guys. I expected directions from the gang below after a good whistle, but they were debating things out still. Well, by then the other ship spotted us, and put up some kind of mist thing. Well, we had to fly over then (which was still cool since I like turning into an Eagle). We set up for the fight and started. Damn those things hit hard. I got duck punched by one of them and went down. I thought my life was supposed to flash before my eyes, but all I thought about was chicken nuggets. In the end we won and got a new boat. Except we didn’t check the captain’s quarters. There we found some stiff inside. I bowed and said hello, and he sweetly called me a Dog. How did he know that was my childhood nickname? That really was very sweet of him to take the time to figure out. Anyway, he is another of those god brothers, so he poofed away. So, we took our new ship back and started teleporting about.

You know, I never did get to give Shenora that blackbird pie…

It could be said that perhaps “Playing it cool” is not one of my stronger suits. However, sometimes that can work in a girls favor apparently.
I explained how I landed in Rickety’s mashed potatoes already. Well, the detail of how that was the best memorized place was not lost on Harold. He teleported in moments after we did. He was broadly placed at the head of he table which allowed me to roll onto my side as I rested my head on my hand and gave him a wry smile. “Hello,” was all I said by he (and everyone else in the room it seemed) got my full meaning. Something pretty reassuring about making a high powered godlike wizard blush like a raspberry bush. As everyone was orienting themselves and catching Rickety up on the major events, it didn’t take long for Harold to take my hand and ask to find somewhere more private. I recognized the general design of a dimensional magic mansion, but was shocked to find that it was decorated more to my taste and style than what I had seen from him in the past. There were decorative throw pillows (which did come in handing for positioning later) and the bed was now taller with a set of steps to get up to it. Sheer drapes cascaded down form the large four posts at each corner and there were candles that reflected off framed pictures that threw reflections of tiny dancing lights all around the room. There was a bathroom with a side for me and for him and inside was a fuzzy robe in my favorite color, and a larger one for Harold to match. These were only a few of the detail I could traverse before he scooped me up and just hugged me. It was a bit strange, we hadn’t really had that type of intimacy before. This hug was much more than just pleasure of bodies coming together, but it was an overwhelming message that was hard for me to handle. Perhaps that’s why I instigated turning to more lustful and familiar actions in that moment, because that was the type of longing he and I know how to fulfill. Again and again. And again.
He did explain that he was sure we were dead, but there was something he was holding back in his voice. I wanted to know exactly what it was but I was too afraid to ask him. Things were starting to feel a bit back to normal and I was about to get dressed and search for some food when he grabbed me around my waist and tugged me back against his body under the blanket, which before now we had very little need to use. He said, “Let’s just eat here,” and began to nibble my ear. When I explained I was actually quite hungry, in walked a servant with a buffet worth of food. Oddly enough all his favorites, but an equal amount of mine as well. It occurred to me, he had been paying attention to the things I liked not just in bed but elsewhere too. For someone who lived on an island alone, had one best friend in Rickety and was uninterested in what anyone else was doing, he seemed to have abreach in his formal value system. This makes me smile. He’s tilting his hand, and I can see he has real love for his brothers, true respect for his friend Rickety and perhaps the Madd Dog Crew. It also appeared that there seemed to be a special little spot in there for sexual playthings like myself. True, I have no idea what he was up to in the six months I was away. It could certainly be that someone else gave him the idea for this place, but something tells me I don’t have to worry about that too much.
That was I didn’t have to until this hag washed ashore. When Harold and I emerged from the mansion after about a day or so, the high tide started washing ashore some interesting things. Much debris from the battles that were going on, and the hag did appear to be not much more than debris. I felt bad for her… at first. She was starved and almost dead with all her crew being killed off. We went ahead and docked her only for me to regret it. It wasn’t the Hag that made me regret it as much as it was what I had to explain to Harold. It was just the Madd Dog’s at the pier. We asked her from where she hailed and she stuttered and was having a hard time communicating. Suddenly she said “Harold.” I couldn’t help but all eyes now turned to me for my reaction. “I’m sorry, Harold?” I said. “Yes, Harold. I’m with Harold,” she started spouting with an indignant amount of confidence. I wasn’t trying to be rude, but she looked so old, and perhaps my emotions got the best of me.
“What do you mean, you are with Harold?”
“I mean, I’m with Harold,” she insisted.
“So, are you like… His Mom?” I asked, in all seriousness.
“Are you his bitch?” she said without skipping a beat.
That’s when it happened, I simply reached for Garvok. The crew saw it coming and it was with smiles on their faces they tossed me a few smiles and buff spells. She managed to get one off with a really nasty dirty look on her face, and it did make me a bit sick to my stomach but it was most likely the idea of her and Harold together that pulled my blade right into her neck. She was still so weak from the journey she died immediately, or she would have if Mavrick didn’t heal her immediately. Shurlok giggled a bit, as if he didn’t haste me for the fight, and acted like he was all good and was urging me to let her live. He put his body in between me and the hag pleading for me to stop with his words and daring me to do it again with his eyes. I was done though. I didn’t need to keep killing her only to have Mavrick try to play martyr or heal her every time I killed her. I looked over and Dork, I mean Dorric was all wound up into his glass shard blender form, and Rami was visibly disappointed he didn’t get to throw him at the hag. Arakor then pulled the “Do you know who we are?” card and told her. She then backed down and became very silent and wiser to stay away from me.
The embarrassing part was when I went to wipe her blood from Garvok, who was snickering by the way, who was also sneering and snickering at me but Harold. He must have come out when he heard his name and now it was my turn to blush.
“What?” I said trying to play it off as I broke eye contact with him to sheath Garvok a bit harder than usual.
“Feel better?” He was almost giddy. It was annoying.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. Oh… that back there?” I said acting obviously obtuse. “Did I accidently slice up a conquest before…”
Before I could finish the sentence, Harold had cast something on me for a moment and I then recognized it as a suggestion spell to be silent. Then he said, “Save that feisty for the bedroom, my dear.” With two blinks we were back in the room with the four poster bed, freshly made and now a scent of flowers in the air. I had on some wild outfit that had a lot of leather and silk but not a lot of it at that as it was skimpy as anything. In my hand was a long pole with a little loop on the end. I was a bit startled at first but curious so I gave a little smack of the loop onto my hand. I flinched a bit as it stung, and then I heard Harold say, “You think I have been a bad boy?” I turned and looked over my shoulder to see him hungerly starting me down. “What are you going to do about it?”
About a day later, Harold and I had lost the taste for the leather, swings, whips, clamps, electrodes, rings, restraints, ticklers, paddles, stirrups and other assorted toys that came out of the adventures of dungeon man. We also started to explore some other rooms in the mansion, other courtyards. After an excursion in the hot tub however, he wrapped me in a towel and carried me into room that had a comfy little sitting area and we had tea and little treats. It was there we put on our now favorite after sex robes, and I leaned back against his chest as we ate and drank tea. It seemed to be morning as the sun started sweeping in between the trees casting warm light and coloring everything very vibrant. He started telling me stories about his brothers, and not just what all he had to go though to bring Barbatos back to life, but how it was growing up. What they were like when they were learning magic. That’s when he told about how he grew up with Noctus and Nightmare and he wondered what could he have done to keep it from getting so out of control. It was more of just sharing his history with me however he was sharing his feelings in a way that made him vulnerable. I liked it when it was just the two of us alone in whatever dimension. Somehow it felt safe here in a way the outside world could never really offer. Later on, Harold was taunting me on my “little magic” but he actually ended up teaching me a few spells I’m not sure I would have known I had the innate magic for if he didn’t show me. I see why he created his own world away from everyone, but had to admit that life would hold no appeal if he weren’t there. I wonder if it was just his brothers he was running from, or perhaps there was a more complicated heartbreak in there. There always was in earth ending stories after all.
We stayed another day in the mansion. It was lovely meals at night, and sitting drinking fairy wine in front of the fire as he taught me this odd came you play with 52 flat pieces of paper. His favorite seemed to be if you lost a hand we had to take off pieces of clothes. I figured he should be sick of seeing me naked by now, but he assured me it would take a bit longer for him get sick of that. Well, that was my cue, as I don’t want him to get sick of it by any means, and I suggested it was time to return to the real world. After three more hours and a quick nap, we re-emerged at Rickity’s. The crew seemed nothing but amused and I assumed they were happy for the break as well.
It was time however to look at our vesting’s in a world without any order or economy. Our teleport stations seemed to be still functioning but we were now poor and without a crew. Madd Dog’s didn’t seem to mind if I gave the dragon eye from the portal that held the gateway to all the trapped creatures and giant dragon hoard, to see if he would work on stabilizing it so we could go back and retrieve. Harold was happy to do it as he loves these types of challenges, and didn’t mind doing us the favor. I heard about Plunderhaven, and learned a new spell in which I thought we could go down and see what state it was in, but Rickety said we should stay closer to the shore. Noctus’s men were trolling the waters hunting free captains. We decided to go to New Ordealns first since it was closest to us, and we could quickly teleport to our other keeps to get things in order.
As we pulled up anchor, I almost forgot about the hag who was looking much better and well rested. She seemed to be tolerated and Mavrick had let me know she was amenable to signing on as part of the crew since hers was lost in it’s entirety. As we pulled away, I looked back to Harold as he held the portal key in his hand, and he just winked before turning and heading away. I rounded the ship toward the forward mast and suddenly he was standing front of me. Just for a second. I was startled for a second but smiled as he smiled at me. He simply leaded down and gave me a sweet kiss and a soft squeeze on my shoulder. Then he was gone. I never even saw him look at the hag, who I now know is named Artxtra. And she seemed to know not to look at him either.
We were about a day out and we spotted a ship. We quickly discovered it was flying Noctus’s flag and we had seen those beefy creepies before. We tossed around three ideas, but decided to meet them on their ship because, hey… it was a pretty damm fine looking ship and truth be told we still owe one to Nightmare. It wasn’t easy, but we managed to seize their ship. Dorric proved his worth as a crystalline blender so I think I need to call him by his proper name now. Art Ax will remain to be seen. As far as I could tell she likes to cast and hex, but I’m not sure what she’s doing, but Shurlok seemed to think she was alright. When we went down to the captains quarters however, someone had popped back in… apparently years ago he was the fleet admiral and this ship was his dimensional anchor. He seemed to have no interest in the ship but did reveal himself to be Noctus big brother. He told us Noctus was always the little wimpy one in the heard and was picked on and teased relentlessly. He seemed to hold some empathy for his little brother but obviously had no idea how powerful he had become in that he was destroying the world. He left without much of a clue as to where he was going.
We went ahead and sailed the ships in tandem back to Rickety. ArtAx decided she might be better off staying behind at Rickety’s in case any of her crew came back. I felt bad for a second, until the thought crossed my mind that she might be staying back to make a play on Harold. Just when I thought that however, she leaned into Rickety and started talking about what great hands he had and something about reminding her of scorpion skin… I don’t know, it was a little disturbing to watch her flirt. Harold must have left back to his place however because he wasn’t anywhere to be found. We made quick work of our reunion and departure and set out again to see if we could collect more ships and start our own fleet. First however, we decided now that we have this other ship to teleport to Aquaduct 8 and see if we can settle up with Nightmare. Especially since now we knew more about this new big brother on the scene.
Overall, not the best poker face, as Harold taught me. I tilted my cards and may have to admit I like Harold a bit more than just a bed buddy. And as it turns out I might have a bit of a jealous streak, which was weird and unexpected. At least for now however, he tilted my world in my favor. And he let me whip him.

Amnesia. It is hard to describe and very disconcerting. I don’t remember anything from Noctus’ caverns after the first day. My compatriots tell the tales but yet nothing. No recollection at all. Is this the first sign of insanity. Or senility. Neither can be good. I almost hope it was a magic effect cast by Noctus. Regardless, I seem to have found my wits again. For now.

What I did learn is that during our time in the maze our crew rebelled. Then there was a mutiny. Half of them are dead. The other half followed shortly thereafter at the hand of Arakor. Crazy shark guy just went beserk. Joku put up a bit of a fight but to no avail. Maverick was talking about resurrecting our old friend. I wonder if he did without Arakor (or I) noticing?

We made our way back to Rickety’s where an empty desolate ship floated into port. It’s lone occupant, a powerful witch/magus was nearly dead. Maverick healed her which was almost a mistake. She started spouting off about her relationship with Harold. Oops. Shenora kind of didn’t take that well. Fortunately Maverick talked everyone down from the cliff. I held Shenora to stay her sword for a moment to let her chill for a bit. I think we gained a new ally.

We take a few days to set the administration of our islands in order and then head out.

We set sail hugging the coast to avoid Noctus’ detection. He has apparently wiped out all forms of government and has been laying waste to anything on the open seas.

Within a day we see a ship flying Noctus’ glad approaching. Thank goodness for Rami’s keen eyes seeing so far ahead. Oh. We wasted that advantage discussing all kinds of options. In the end we all find a way to fly and charge over. The ship is a former military vessel with its crew made up of a bunch of tough barbarian/alchemists. They didn’t go down easily barely being affected by physical attacks. They hit hard. Rami went down, close to death. I used up a lot of my spells. But eventually we prevailed.

We now have a nice new ship, hopefully enough to get Nightmare off our backs. So we went to Aquaduct 8 and caged in our chit. Then we took the nice loot from the battle and bartered it into much upgraded tattoos for everyone. Yippie.

So after my watch, as expected, I went to sleep. Apparently, someone wasn’t doing their job because when I woke up, we were back in the main room again with all of my shit missing. Luckily, we’ve been through this before so I concentrated and called Urgot and Chellan back to me. Everyone else was also able to get their gear back as well. Only this time, we decided to take some different routes and doors since clearly the last way didn’t quite work out. We still didn’t find any way up and all we got was placed back here again after sleeping. Screw that man. Time to try something different. So, it’s back to the same ol’ thing. Check the door, find the trap, disable the trap, unlock the door, then keep going. Now, there was a time or two I did miscalculate the disabling of the magical traps. I had to quickstep a few. One of them did hurt like hell though. I’ll need to work on that.

We went through one door into a room that had some writing on the wall. Some sort of riddle. I’m not really down for riddles. Not to mention I couldn’t read it anyway. Something about a lightning tree and healing. Either way, definitely things that seemed outside of my scope of responsibility. I don’t so lightning and I don’t do healing. As soon as we all stepped inside to look around some more, this tree-like thing rose out of the ground I had to do some fancy dodging to keep it away from me but eventually I moved in closer after Shenora did her hungry pit thing. but while I moved up closer, our new compatriot Dorric jumped right into the hole. Something about he could heal it, whatever that meant. He did something and all of a sudden things calmed down to nothingness again and he just jumped out of the pit without a scratch. Alright, maybe he’ll be a little handier than I was thinking he might be, even without any armor on.

We move through some more rooms, most of them filled with nothingness until we came to a door that was blocked by something very odd. Scales. No, not musical scales or the scales of justice, but lizard-type scales…Dragon scales….oh shit! We scramble back as this red dragon comes smashing through the wall…I thought I heard him say Oh Yeah! as he did but that might’ve just been my imagination. We all get ready, prepped with spells like usual but instead Dorric runs up and in a whirlwind of punches, kicks, elbows, and knees he totally obliterates this dragon and some out of it holding some sort of staff or rod or something. I was able to skin the dragon and Shenora took out its eyes. Those things are worth a pretty penny. I’ll have to see what we can make out of this later. We kept going and eventually entered a room with a vertical shaft and Chellan just started buzzing, saying we were close and it was right above us. The hoard of treasure he had seen. It was a bit far up. We tried to fly up but ran into am amtimagic field. We then figured we’d use a grappling hook. Twice Shenora tried and twice after getting it hooked a huge tail came sweeping into view and knocked it off. Maverick caleld out to it, since the tail looked like a copper color which normally means a nicer dragon and eventually, after having a fireball thrown at us, the dragon came down to us and Maverick was able to convince it to let us up. Although it kept a close eye on me. Well, more Chellan than me I think. It wouldn’t let us up at first but I eventually convinced it we wouldn’t try anything. You’d think a dragon would be better at sniffing out a lie like that for a sword named Greed and another named Gluttony in the possession of 1 person.

After hitching a ride on the back of the dragon and reaching the magnificent hoard, it’s explained to us that we’re in an endless loop, starting the next day back at the beginning. Rami(I think) managed to see that there were some semi-invisible lines attached to all of us. The dragon explained that’s how they kept everything here tethered and repeating the same day. There were cages lined in this place with things. Most alive. Some dead. In one of the dead cages Rami found a bow with 2 demons heads on them. Looked pretty bad ass. Should work well on keeping people scared of us that we want scared. But to get out and up, we had to pick a lock on some special gate. we noticed there was some sort of teleportation stone or something holding the gate in place. And apparently, time down here moved much slower than int he outside world. The dragon kept talking about his family and seeing them again. Which is fine with me. he can’t take all of this with him. I’m pretty sure Chellan and Urgot agreed on that with me. Or was I agreeing with them? It’s kinda running together now. I’ll have to make sure I maintain my focus. We all get to flying(after I got it cast on me since I’ve abandoned that armor now) up, up, and away until we hear the sounds of battle raging above us. We burst through the opening to find Shenora’s boyfriend and his golems fighting things. I couldn’t really make heads or tails out of it. I was busy trying to locate where these “soul lines” of ours were attached to. Apparently we had about 5 minutes before this entire place was about to blow. We found all of these soul lines attached to some machine hooked up to a throne or something. We tried to reach out to detach the lines but almost got zapped. After using magic eyes, our spell-usable friends determined that the machine was somehow using magic to power it. So, they cast some sort of hyper-powered spell to dispel the magic long enough for us to smash the machine to bits. But once we did that, the entire place shuddered. It was coming down quick. We headed back down to see what we could do about freeing those that were stuck in cages and stuff but by the time we got back down and pried out the teleportation/gate thing, we had just run out of time. Our stronger people were able to dislodge the stone and just as I was about to head in to try and grab what I could of the dragon’s hoard, someone grabbed my shoulder and we blinked out. Dammit! Feet away from riches! And where did we end up? Rickety’s. On his dinner table. Great. Now I need to to wash this armor again. Not to mention get out of here before Shenora and Harold get it on right in front of us. Not cool on the dinner table. Guess I’m eating in my room….

This is how I, Shenora Longstringer, ended up laying in a pile of mashed potatoes with a fork sticking in my side atop of Rickety’s dining room table six months from disappearing from this earth by sailing into a magical fog.

Shenanigans. This time they are not mine, or our crews shenanigans either but it was our job to make it look good. Ok, perhaps what we did wasn’t the equivalent of what Harold did… saving the world, raising his brother from the dead… yeah, ok, that might have been much more impressive. All the more reason why you see, when you land in a pile of mashed potatoes you have to make it look good.

So yeah, blah blah blah, we were in this dungeon like maze with dead ends, zombies and all that crap. But when we went to sleep, it was like the day reset and we did it all over again. We didn’t know why this happened, but luckily I was able to map out the route pretty well the day before so we just took a different pathway to discover another way out. I was in particular looking for an “up” direction since when we woke up, all of our stuff, the wands, our loot… all returned right back to where they were. So here we go again, and this time we found some new and interesting creatures. A riddle that told us how to put a flesh to root tree to rest, that was fun. A room that seemed to be blocked by a scaly door, turned out we were looking at dragon ass. Funny thing, there seems to be some type of on button installed on that guy Dork, and he just burrowed into his ass, literally and came out with a rod on the other side. I did manage to take it’s eye too, but it was with a bit of trepidation thinking if we didn’t get out of here I’d just have to rip them out of his head again tomorrow. Regardless of what people think of me, I’d rather leave the scalping and skinning to the ranger types, but as spell components go, dragon eyes are better than gold.
That was when we found the room with the vertical tunnel and Rankor’s greedy sword started flipping the hell out. We could tell the dragon lair that they keep getting called back to each night was in the up position. And… after we flew up to the edge of the antimagic field… yeah, that sucker… we could tell there was a copper dragon on top of that pretty hoard. Mavrick was really good however at talking to the dragon after he smacked my grappling hook off the ledge a couple times, to let us come up and talk. Well, that’s where we found out the truth of where we have been for what we thought were the past few days. Noctus was keeping us, along with all types of other creatures captive among his demiplane ship. We could see the portal, and the copper dragon, Bill… explained that time goes much slower in here. He was very sad that even if he were to see his children, they would most likely be much older than him now. That’s when I saw it, the rows and rows of cages that held creatures of every kind from every world. Bill said each night he is taken though the portal and dissected, each day living waiting around to live out his nightmare. The only thing he had was his hoard, and even with that he offered me the staves to use if we could get them free. First time I ever felt guilty for payment, but luckily that feeling passed quickly. This was also when we saw it as we went through the anti-magic field, these mechanisms that tethered us to something. Bill said we all had them, and if you tried to cut it we would die. We saw some creature in another cage who clearly had cut it and it was indeed dead. Rami got a bit weird… even weirder than normal and was talking to the dead thing for a while. He did find a bow which was cool but still… he was starting to give me the heebs. Oh… did I also mention that he decided to mind link me and Dork. You know what Dork sounds like in my head… like bubbling pudding trying to pronounce annoying words like “moist” or “soap” with a hard p. It was convenient for getting around the basement parlor of Noctus’s ship, but gotta turn it off.

Anyway, we figured out we had to go though the portal and disable the device that we are all tethered too so we can not only free ourselves but creature on this hellish ship. So we jumped though the portal, and it certainly wasn’t what we were prepared to see.

The skies were dark with smoke and fog but lit up bright against fires and magical remnants from a huge battle that was at its climax. There was no way to see who the clear winner was or even who was fighting, but it reminded me soon of the other Great War on the floating island. That’s when I realized it was golems that were battling and I had seen that once before. I looked though the dust and smoke as everyone was still pouring out of the portal, and I saw him. Focused and steadfast, determined and in all his godlike gloriousness, he battled as I had seen him do before. I had never seen a more welcomed and sexy sight as Harold in that moment. “He came! He came!” I exclaimed aloud, which was weird because usually that was only in my head and in private. I began to run towards him feeling my heart swell in some romantic ecstasy, he must have been searching for me! As I ran towards him, his face did seem truly delighted to see me, but then I saw it… it wasn’t delight as much as shock. Well that’s natural, but it wasn’t shock as much as surprise. Wait… if he came for me, why was he surprised to see me. I slowed my run noticing his arms were not out stretched for me as much as they were for the concentration for the spells he was wielding. That’s ok, I can respect a man at work, especially if there is still a good chance that this display was going to save all our asses. But this is how it went. I think I did an ok job of playing it cool. I think I even had my hand on my hip at one point.

Me: You came!
Harold: What are you doing here?
Me: Uh, we floated into Noctus’s fog and got stuck in a dungeon created for us in the hull of his ship.

(dodge flying rock)

Harold: Oh, you guys have been gone like six months. No one knew where you went.
Me: Nightmare knew.
Harold: Huh?
Me: Nevermind. There’s all kinds of things down there, and we are tethered to some device that keeps us trapped. And the day starts all over again. It’s only been two or four days or so for us.

(Brace harms over my head and shield eyes from ashes)

Harold: What was he doing to you all down there?

(Wince from flash of dazzling fireball)

Me: Experiments, everyday apparently. ( In my head: Not the kind I like you performing on me thank you very much)
Harold: Well, the experiment is over. Noctus is gone. This whole place is gonna blow in five minutes.
Me: Yeah, well, best get us untied then. This way?
Harold: Uh, little busy here.
Me: Oh, yeah… I knew that.

So perhaps not the most romantic of reunions, but we were able to find the device we were tethered to very fast. Mavrick took small time of dispelling magic on the device which I would have done should one had not worked, but he is good. Then we let loose the pudding diamond drill bit we call Dork, and he made short work of destroying it. With two minutes to spare, we went back to the portal and dislodged the teleport stone. Harold yelled to us, to meet him at Rickety’s, a place he knew was safe and I had well memorized. So I grabbed everyone’s hands and teleported us to the very place.

Well of course the most memorable moment I had at Rickety’s what the time Harold and I were left in the room alone, and he no longer could deny his powerful animistic hungry lust. He threw me down onto the table and began to feverishly kiss me. I had my clothes on and of course didn’t want them ruined. I mean, I wanted him but I also like this outfit. He must have known what I was thinking. Harold pulled up from enveloping his face into my neck and stared into my eyes, asking for permission. I nodded yes, and without another pause I was naked across this very table for his pleasure with my armor and clothes neatly stacked and folded on the chair.

So that is why I am not laying on this table laden with mashed potatoes and possibilities.

So, we found some spot to crash, and set up watches. I considered killing someone, but it would be tedious to explain. Well, my dreams were much the same, a voice in the distance whispering “Demogorgon”. For some reason, I feel drawn to it. But, damn it, that other was was there too, I hate him, but can’t manage to kill him… The voice seemed to have a minor irritation at the presence of the other. Maybe I won’t kill the others, but get them to help me get rid of this other.
So, we end up in the same damn room we started in, and our stuff was in the treasure chamber. I couldn’t contain my panic, I don’t think I can deal with this again. Sigh, we go back some other way, I wasn’t really paying attention, mapping is just not my style. I think we killed something while I wasn’t paying attention. There was some tree thing we had to fix, and I helped Dorric and Shenora communicate. After this I tried to hook them up, I think Dorric needs some help, and I’ll get him in Shenora’s good graces if it kills him. I’m having trouble with Lesson 1 “Hello”. Anyway, then we get stuck somewhere, and kill a dragon I wanted to keep. Seriously, why can’t I have a Red Dragon? I don’t think that feeding it should be that hard, just give it some townsfolk. So, we kept on, and ran into another dragon! I wanted this one too, but it was a little to pollyanna in the end. Still very pretty, but whatever, this one can die. It did give me a bow that spoke to me, almost like the dream. I need to feed it. I suspect it likes blood, but maybe pus too… I’ll just have to offer it choices. Well, back to the cave. We were told (and some saw) that our souls were tied to this place, along with the monsters. So, we’d be stuck here in an endless loop of exploring and waking up without our weapons. Sigh…, that would be incredibly boring… If I don’t hate something, there isn’t much reason to kill it more than once, well, maybe every now and then. Well, we had to fly up to get out (Oh, did I mention the goody two shoes dragon got us past the anti-magic barrier). I tried to help Maverick fly, but he didn’t appreciate my superior directions. When will he learn… So, up we go and then we see a battle going on with creatures and golems. Naturally Shenora wet herself. I guess I can’t fault that since that kind of power is respectable. Well, we get up and have to destroy this machine after some magic stuff. Then we have to pull out some stone so we can have this little dimension we were in and free (or kill) the things inside (maybe the red dragon will be back…, I might be able to catch it), and take the treasure. So, we teleported back to the pub, and crashed dinner. Quite fortunate, as I’m feeling hungry. Ugh, that headache is coming on again…

Killing Plug felt good. What felt better, feeling Gluttony in my hands. Or Urgot as it liked to be called. It felt right to wield him against those traitorous pirates working for the Navy. And just as we finished the last one off, I ran to the stern to grab the wheel but it was too late. We had already started entering the fog. All I heard was Nightmare yelling something that sounded like Noctis. Then everything was gone until all of a sudden we felt like we had run aground. We all ran to the port side to look and I’ll be damned if we hadn’t run aground somehow. Even Rami was there. Which was good. I’m sure Nightmare teleported him from our ship to rain down death on the traitors we couldn’t see clearly. Then came the footsteps as we stood there trying to figure out where we were. Loud. Thunderous. Whatever it was, it was something big. Being followed by a bunch of other footsteps. Someone was bringing an army. Then, he came into sight. A monstrous…man? I don’t remember much after initially seeing him until I woke up with a massive headache and missing my armor and weapons. It wasn’t until Shenora seemed to be talking to her sword(she’s not real good with doing it in her head for some reason) that I also made the attempt. I immediately heard the call of Urgot. Chellan, on the other hand, had nothing to say. He did give me a glimpse of where they were. In some sort of treasury, surrounded by everyone’s items plus a dragon’s hoard of other stuff. I think maybe he thought he’d died and gone to heaven? After Shenora called her stuff to her, I called Urgot and Chellan. I had to do a LOT of convincing to get Chellan to come back to me. I promised him we’d see it again soon. That seemed to work. As I looked around, we were actually an extra man heavy in the room we woke up in. Some lightly clad fellow, mumbling about losing his crew or something. Not wearing much though. Not sure how effective he’d be in a fight. Hope he can hold his own because he ain’t our crew. But if he can, maybe we’ll bring him aboard. Since we do have a bigger ship now, we’ll need more hands. Shit! We never got to give Nightmare that extra 350k ship IOU thing, I bet he thinks we just ran off with this ship, even though we really paid for this completely after replacing his voucher. After everyone has their stuff back thanks to Suhrlock and his gauntlet of holding a bunch of stuff, we start heading out. But since we have no idea where we are, I’m checking everything twice. Traps, Locked doors. Rami starts finding secret doors left and we wander around unlocking doors, finding secret doors and traps. Nothing really going on other than trying to get to the floors above us because apparently that’s where the hoard is at. One door after another. Monsters behind some that we had to fight and we’re still no closer to finding the way up dammit…I thought it would be somewhere close to that weird amalgamation monster that hit me like a boulder from a giant. Well, maybe more like a greatsword from a giant. It really hurt. Maybe I should get it looked at before we move on….

I spent a long time thinking about my plans and where I was going. To be honest, I don’t think the others noticed. They seem to ignore me until I’m needed. However, this was useful. For a long time I’d been curious about who my mother was, but never focused on it for too long. During all the crazy battles and conquests, and I have been picking up rumors. Yea, I’m an Aasimar, but a lot of the people in ports who I get these rumors from use some protection sign at me after telling me their tales. From what I can gather, my mother’s people were part of a rebellion on the mainland, turning to demons to overthrow some crazy paladin king. Now, I can respect using the tools you need to get a job done, but apparently a lot of people don’t care for that sort of thing. Other people said that she left me some kind of inheritance so that I can avenge her betrayers. I really doubt that, I know how salt tails grow in the telling, but I am curious about her pacts with demons, and I suspect that I may be able to claim something on those if I’m smart. Oh, and turns out my father was a drunk in a gutter that happened to have a place to hide for my mother one day that paladin’s were on her trail. He irritated me with asking for coin, so I shot him through the eyes.
So, my quest had been completed, and I found what I needed to find. So, I decided that I will use those that ignore me. First chance I get, I’m going to cash in on this demon pact thing, and set one lose on anyone that continues to ignore or underestimate me. Maybe my heart is growing darker, but I can seriously say it is better this way, better to embrace the dark madness and grab as much power as I can.
Just as I made this decision, some idiot runs the damn ship on a sand bar. I steel myself, and shove down most of my darkness, and merely let chaos run free. So, I jump from the ship and investigate. There was some large rigging set up to catch ships, and people are squealing about Noctus and his dragon. I recall that black beauty, and can appreciate how useful he is. Now, I didn’t really do much to Noctus, so I may be able to use that to make a bargain, but I may just kill him with the others, if that is possible. Anyway, I hear something coming, something not large, but with heavy steps. I climb the rigging to get a better look, and eventually see some undead too. I jump down to protect Surhlock, since he was being respectful (I suspect I won’t kill him now). But when the procession came near… Something about it just knocked me the fuck out. I had a sensation of falling, and then, nothing…
I woke up in a room with the others, and another fellow. Only, I didn’t have my bow or robe. I was losing my shit, but tried not to let anyone else see that. Turns out Surhlock was able to get my stuff back (so I guess it would be rude to kill him). I felt a lot better with my bow, that is for sure. The new fellow is some kind of druid with a hardon for oozes, name is Dorric. He is alright, I guess I don’t have a reason to kill him yet. We went into some rooms and just wandered around. I helped find things until Arakor remembered that he had some mask to do it, so I daydreamed for a while. We fought some undead things in one room, and they were gone quickly. We wandered around more, and found a room with undead with long tongues. They were kind of easy to kill, but then all of the stuff that we had used against them became condensed into some weird conglomeration of stuff that was immune to those things until we used them. We killed it, and that was that. I have a feeling that we have scratched the surface of what else lives in these rooms. Now, what was that name I keep hearing in my dreams, …“Demogorgan”…?

I don’t know why we thought that turning in a find voucher worth 350g would be so easy. I suppose we figured that it may have belonged to an insignificant imperial or a pirate booty from the hundreds of other lucky like similar to ourselves but had the misfortune of missing just one hit, or not having the healing power of our performer. We took for granted that the voucher was submitted for someone else once upon a time.
And even though it wasn’t him, Plug who generally has had a back and forth with us on showing us up ever now and again, managed to said our ship right out of dry dock while we indulged with our party wand. If we were not blood thirsty up to this point for that bastard, we were parched for his blood now. However, it was in the moment we realized who had our ship that we were visited, or brought to visit the one and only Nightmare. This is not someone who we wanted to cross paths with, however the realization that the voucher belonged to him, and he was the one who was searching for us and burning down all places we have business connections became distinctively clear. He could have killed us with a wiggle of his nose, but he listened to our story. About how we didn’t know it was his and Plug actually took his ship. We then got into an arrangement by which we needed to get that ship back from Plug. Gladly. Here’s the thing however, we also said that he could take our voucher for the 350g but I’m not sure he ever really heard that part of the discussion. We were almost forcibly pushed and transported onto the new ship which lets face it, is bad luck to be sailing without a name. Never christened… just bad juju. Regardless, we killed Plug, but we had no time to celebrate our victory or discuss terms with Nightmare about how we can possibly have this ship, because it sailed right into a fog bank that seemed to sail us right into some type of net anti-magic dungeon trap. We were enveloped into the fog just before hearing Nightmare yell “Noctus!!”
We landed abruptly on a beach with large rigging. We immediately started pooling our knowledge about who Noctus might be, and as I started to recall some almost ancient legends of old, Mavrick immediately pipped up and told and sang every story of history about him. I just stood with my hand on my hip and nodded along at that point with an assured look of “yeah, I knew that” as I looked further at the rigging and watched for whatever caught us to come eat. Especially since Noctus as we now were all fully educated by Mavrick, was the owner of Nidhogg, which of course was the huge dragon whose eyeball may and may not have ended up on Garvock like a shish ka bob. Heh, hey, yeah, I’m sure they won’t notice that it was me wielding Garvock, I mean, I am just a little swashbuckler. Legends are always about the talking magical weapons, right?
We did see some figures starting to approach, but just before we were able to do proper introductions, we all fell asleep. When we awoke extremely well rested I called out to Garvock. I could hear him but it took a moment for me to realize he and my bag of stuff, was not on my hip. He said he was in some type of treasure room. I asked Mavrick, Shurlok and Arakor if they had their weapons and they realized no. Suddenly this other guy pipped up, who I honestly thought was just a pile of dishes for a second, but turned out to be a rather disturbing looking Tiefling. He’s soft spoken enough right now but I get and eerie feeling talking to him, like… sure, he’s ugly but… he’s so ugly that there must be something even darker in there that makes him painful to be around. Like… bad breath, toe cheese and hangnails or something. Regardless, we realized that we could call our weapons to us, thanks to some direction from Garvok and some strategic placement of Shatral, we got all our stuff back and a few other special items.
We got our bearings and figured out that the loot room was above us, but there is many doors in this place. We started traveling though and found just a lot of magically locked doors, one hell of a cold cone blast by the way, and even a dead end. We really are just looking for stairs and maybe a way back to our ship, but the feeling we are going to be meeting up with a one eyed pissed off dragon is never that far out of the back of my mind.

The process of writing is actually quite therapeutic…at least, that’s what my new companions have told me. Regardless, I suppose I will try.

My name is Dorric Grimdall. I’m a native of these waters and of the Shackles. I was born in a fishing village of no consequence to parents of no means. There was an old retired scholar who played the role of babysitter and teacher for the village’s children. A better child than I would have taken advantage of such an opportunity. However, my fiendish blood set me apart from the other children – not in looks for its touch was subtle, but in behavior. The schoolyard was often the site of brawls between myself and other children. It was there that I first killed another person.

I would have been sentenced to death if the old schoolmaster had not shipped me off in the dead of night to a former colleague of his. It was there, on the mainland and amongst a cloister of monks that I began to gain a handle on my nature and impulses. I learned to center my mind, allow my emotions and urges to pass through and to channel my energy towards the betterment of myself instead of simply lashing out.

Though I gained much from the lessons at the monastery, such a place was not ideal for an adolescent. Thus, in my spare time, I explored the cliffs and cave systems beneath the monastery – secretly hoping to find some small diversion by which to employ my training. My explorations continued for several years before I found what I was seeking…and so much more.

My final excursion from the monastery saw me reach the upper edges of the Underdark and stumble upon a colony of Myconids. I readied myself for a brawl but instead was approached by a single, older member of the colony. As its gaze passed over me, I could feel its emotions passing from curiosity to interest, and then…finally…to some sort of acceptable. It raised an appendage to me and my sense of surroundings vanished.

Recalling the vision itself is nigh impossible. All I can remember is vague, but insistent dread seemly tied to weapons of great power scattered amongst the Shackles themselves and various humanoid figures that I am sure must come to wield them or great disaster will befall these seas.

When I came to, the Myconids had vanished. However, I now had an overwhelming sense of purpose and a newfound connection to the land of my birth. I set out that night in search of the foci in my vision. Years passed in fruitless searching…until just recently.

I was out sailing when a massive fog rolled in, out of nowhere, and resisted my every attempt to dispel it. Before long, my ship ran aground on an island that I was sure had not appeared on my maps. I hoofed it to the center of the island, making my way inside the castle there in an attempt to locate higher ground and ascertain my surroundings. After that, my memory grows fuzzy. Sometime later, I awoke in a dark room – my magic seemingly spent. I had just finished preparing a new set of spells when five individuals dropped from a hole in the ceiling…