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?