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A Journey to the Sea (Greyhawk) UPDATED 7 February 2008
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<blockquote data-quote="sniffles" data-source="post: 3607559" data-attributes="member: 30035"><p><strong>Letter #41</strong></p><p></p><p>It's difficult to tell time here without shadows to judge the hours by, but I believe we'd only been traveling with the air whale for a few hours when we were attacked. When we spotted the dark shape ahead I was apprehensive, but it wasn't until I realized it was a huge flock of ravens that I grew concerned. I grew more worried when Thor exclaimed that our whale friend was very weak and his health was failing. </p><p></p><p>Then Thor warned that he sensed some larger creature at the center of the raven flock, goading them on with fear. The ravens were heading straight for the injured whale, which was moving too slowly to flee. I landed on his back, resuming my natural shape, and summoned a spell to heal some of his hurts. Ninad drew a wand out of his bag and added its curative power to my efforts. </p><p></p><p>When I had done casting my healing spell, I called on more of nature's power to give myself wings so I could fight and fly. I also cast a spell on Varian's hippogriff to permit it to fly even faster than it normally could. By the time I had done casting all these spells, the ravens had reached us.</p><p></p><p>Ninad produced another wand as the ravens neared, and sent a blast of fire into their midst, much to Thor's dismay. He would have liked to let them be, as the thing among them was forcing them to attack us. Ninad tried to direct his fireball at that creature, but it was so large that it burned some of the birds as well. </p><p></p><p>The larger creature dived on the flying carpet that was presently occupied by the twins - Erasyne had elected to ride on the whale's back. Once out of the flock of ordinary birds, the creature was revealed to be crow-like in form, but it possessed three horrible eyes. When it gazed at us we all felt ourselves quail slightly, though no one succumbed to its evil stare.</p><p></p><p>The ravens engulfed the carpet in their flock, pecking and clawing at the twins. Despite the wounds they dealt, Shishir sent Balamani to carry a fire spell to burn the evil bird-thing, then fired one of his icy orbs at the creature. </p><p></p><p>Thor meanwhile used his affinity for winged creatures to good effect, causing almost half of the ravens to stop attacking. I summoned up a spear of ice and shot it at the evil creature. Ninad hit it with more balls of flame, unfortunately burning more of the ravens in the process. </p><p></p><p>Varian managed to get control of the hippogriff and charged the creature with his lance, dealing it a fierce blow. I called a flame to my hand and hurled it at the thing, but sadly my aim was poor. I was prepared to throw another flame at it, but it then decided to flee. </p><p></p><p>Ninad wasn't willing to chance it coming back after us again, so he set off in pursuit on the carpet, sending more fireballs its way. The creature, now blackened as much by charcoal as by its own coloring, began to plummet into the bottomless air. </p><p></p><p>As it fell, it occurred to Ninad to draw out the shard dowsing rod he carries. He was horrified to realize that the bird-creature carried one of the black crystal shards, for there was no way that anyone could now catch its falling form. </p><p></p><p>Greatly disappointed at having lost one of the shards, we regrouped aboard the whale to treat our wounds. I gave thanks to the Keen Eye that I hadn't suffered any harm during the struggle. </p><p></p><p>Once my companions and the whale were feeling a bit healthier, we set off again, this time accompanied for a while by some of the ravens the evil bird had been commanding. Eventually they went their own way, and we realized that the light was growing dimmer. There was no sign of any solid surface on which to rest this night. Thor and I made efforts to communicate with the whale as best we could, and felt that it had no desire to stop moving and no objection to our using its back as a resting place.</p><p></p><p>On the following morning, my companions had only just awakened and I was busy absorbing the magic of nature when I noticed that the twins seemed to be doing something odd on the carpet. They'd already boarded the carpet and flown away from the whale a short distance. I saw a puff of what looked like dust. Curious, I managed to communicate to the whale my desire to approach and look closer.</p><p></p><p>The twins were arguing with a small creature that appeared to be a denizen of the plane, who seemed to be poking his head out of an opening into… nothing. Shishir was trying to ask him if he knew the way to the king of the air whales, and the creature - a mephit, I think - was not reacting favorably to the conversation. </p><p></p><p>Then a hummingbird came fluttering out through the opening around the mephit's head. The mephit angrily withdrew through the opening, and the hummingbird alit on the whale's back and turned into Thor. He explained that he believed the other side of the opening had led into the Astral Plane, which he declared was very dull - mainly because there weren't any birds, I suspect.</p><p></p><p>After this diversion we proceeded on our way, letting the whale choose our direction, though his choice agreed with where Xymos's ring indicated we should go. The air around us grew colder, which I noticed more now as I'd chosen not to transform into a bird and was instead riding on the whale. </p><p></p><p>After a time another dark mass appeared ahead, though not as dark as the flock of ravens had been. Soon we could see flashes of lightning. It was a great storm, accompanied by considerable rain. The whale seemed to be making an effort to fly above it, but as he approached it the storm appeared to be deliberately heading toward us!</p><p></p><p>In the center of the storm was a darker shape, which Thor identified as some type of elemental. He had the presence of mind to cast a spell on us to resist some of the effect of lightning. The elemental was apparently angered by our presence, or perhaps disliked the whale, for it began shooting lightning bolts at us. I had cause then to regret having chosen studded armor, but at least I wasn't as vulnerable as Varian was in his suit of plate. </p><p></p><p>I shaped myself into an eagle and began flying alongside the whale, hoping to stay unharmed so that I could later heal my friends. Some of the lightning bolts from the storm seemed to occur at random, but some were decidedly intended to hurt us. </p><p></p><p>A bolt struck Shishir, attracted to his metal bracers. His brother sent a ball of fire at the cloud that held the elemental, but it had no visible effect. Thor, in the form of a dire eagle, flew into the cloud to attack the elemental with his talons. Xolo and Erasyne took out their bows and fired arrows into the cloud.</p><p></p><p>The carpet bearing the twins sped well ahead of the whale, who was still slowly flying along. Varian, standing on the whale's back, shouted a challenge at the elemental. It responded by blasting the whale and everyone riding him with lightning. I was spared as I was flying alongside. </p><p></p><p>I saw that the hippogriff had been very frightened by this and was about to take flight. Fearing it would be further injured and that Varian would lose his steed, I landed and returned to myself, alighting on the hippogriff's back. I put my hand on its feathered neck and healed some of the damage the lightning had done. Xolo had also run to the creature and caught hold of its bridle to prevent it fleeing.</p><p></p><p>Varian was trying to get to the hippogriff himself, but the whale had rolled slightly when the lightning hit and he lost his footing and fell over. At the same time, I saw Erasyne disappear from the whale's back, replaced by Ninad. I could see that Ninad was ready to cast a spell as soon as the elemental came within range.</p><p></p><p>Thor came winging out of the cloud to the whale's back and resumed his gnome shape, then summoned a spell that rather amusingly granted the whale a pair of insubstantial wings. It began to move faster. </p><p></p><p>The elemental sent another bolt of lightning at the whale as it began to move away. The rain was decreasing, indicating we had reached the edge of the storm. Shishir hit it with two orbs of ice, which seemed to do it some harm. Its cloud swallowed up the flying carpet for a few moments. Then the carpet came out of the cloud and we were on our way out of the storm.</p><p></p><p>The elemental evidently had no desire to pursue us once we left its territory. The twins used their spells to dry us all, as we were thoroughly soaked by then. </p><p></p><p>Some time later we saw the other air whales. There were many of them ahead, all gathering in the same area. As we drew nearer our whale sang a joyful song to its brethren, and in their midst we could see one vast, snowy white whale. </p><p></p><p>We knew immediately the white whale must be their king - but Xymos hadn't told us that he was also a god. His presence was, of course, awe-inspiring. He sang a song in a voice so deep and powerful that it was almost painful to my ears. When we approached, a great slow voice asked us who we were.</p><p></p><p>Thor, who was still in eagle form, began to squawk and chirp at Ianus. I don't know what he said, but we could hear the god's reply. Between whatever Thor said and other comments from Ninad, our quest was explained to the god. </p><p></p><p>In the meantime the woman we'd come seeking, Nadereh, arrived aboard another air whale and demanded to know what we were doing there. She was surprised to learn that Xymos had sent us. She insisted that what we'd been told about the fates of the djinni wasn't entirely correct; most of them survived being set free. But my companions weren't satisfied with this. Thor was presumably demanding to see Pheretimma. </p><p></p><p>Nadereh told us she'd already given Pheretimma's bottle to Ianus. It was the whale god who set the djinni free, by absorbing the magic that bound them to their bottles. While Thor was squawking at the god about this, Varian suddenly asked if Ianus had seen the floating egg he seeks.</p><p></p><p>For a few more moments the discussion of Pheretimma continued. Then in his great voice, Ianus announced that he also had the egg and asked us which thing we would most want to have: Pheretimma or the egg? </p><p></p><p>I know what Thor said even though I couldn't understand his words. Shishir blurted out the same thing. We were only lately helping Varian find the egg; we had been in Pheretimma's company for months. </p><p></p><p>But before anyone could say anything further, a djinn abruptly appeared amongst the whales and exclaimed, "I am Shazar and I wish to speak also."</p><p>_________________________</p><p></p><p><strong>Quips & Quotes:</strong></p><p></p><p><em>Varian's mounted mini, attached with blue-tac, fell off his mount.</em></p><p>patv: "Your butt's not sticky enough. Do something about that."</p><p></p><p>patv: "The ravens seem like they might be awed."</p><p>Devo, Hedrin and Zora (like crows cawing): "Awe! Awe! Awe! </p><p></p><p>patv: "The whale's song seems more serene."</p><p>Zora: "Serene Dion?"</p><p></p><p>patv: "You realize you're probably going to want to stop and rest soon."</p><p>Zora (singing): "Stop, in the name of lunch…"</p><p>DH (singing): "…before you break your fast…"</p><p></p><p>patv: "You're all affected by a minor form of awe."</p><p>Everyone: "Awwww!"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="sniffles, post: 3607559, member: 30035"] [b]Letter #41[/b] It's difficult to tell time here without shadows to judge the hours by, but I believe we'd only been traveling with the air whale for a few hours when we were attacked. When we spotted the dark shape ahead I was apprehensive, but it wasn't until I realized it was a huge flock of ravens that I grew concerned. I grew more worried when Thor exclaimed that our whale friend was very weak and his health was failing. Then Thor warned that he sensed some larger creature at the center of the raven flock, goading them on with fear. The ravens were heading straight for the injured whale, which was moving too slowly to flee. I landed on his back, resuming my natural shape, and summoned a spell to heal some of his hurts. Ninad drew a wand out of his bag and added its curative power to my efforts. When I had done casting my healing spell, I called on more of nature's power to give myself wings so I could fight and fly. I also cast a spell on Varian's hippogriff to permit it to fly even faster than it normally could. By the time I had done casting all these spells, the ravens had reached us. Ninad produced another wand as the ravens neared, and sent a blast of fire into their midst, much to Thor's dismay. He would have liked to let them be, as the thing among them was forcing them to attack us. Ninad tried to direct his fireball at that creature, but it was so large that it burned some of the birds as well. The larger creature dived on the flying carpet that was presently occupied by the twins - Erasyne had elected to ride on the whale's back. Once out of the flock of ordinary birds, the creature was revealed to be crow-like in form, but it possessed three horrible eyes. When it gazed at us we all felt ourselves quail slightly, though no one succumbed to its evil stare. The ravens engulfed the carpet in their flock, pecking and clawing at the twins. Despite the wounds they dealt, Shishir sent Balamani to carry a fire spell to burn the evil bird-thing, then fired one of his icy orbs at the creature. Thor meanwhile used his affinity for winged creatures to good effect, causing almost half of the ravens to stop attacking. I summoned up a spear of ice and shot it at the evil creature. Ninad hit it with more balls of flame, unfortunately burning more of the ravens in the process. Varian managed to get control of the hippogriff and charged the creature with his lance, dealing it a fierce blow. I called a flame to my hand and hurled it at the thing, but sadly my aim was poor. I was prepared to throw another flame at it, but it then decided to flee. Ninad wasn't willing to chance it coming back after us again, so he set off in pursuit on the carpet, sending more fireballs its way. The creature, now blackened as much by charcoal as by its own coloring, began to plummet into the bottomless air. As it fell, it occurred to Ninad to draw out the shard dowsing rod he carries. He was horrified to realize that the bird-creature carried one of the black crystal shards, for there was no way that anyone could now catch its falling form. Greatly disappointed at having lost one of the shards, we regrouped aboard the whale to treat our wounds. I gave thanks to the Keen Eye that I hadn't suffered any harm during the struggle. Once my companions and the whale were feeling a bit healthier, we set off again, this time accompanied for a while by some of the ravens the evil bird had been commanding. Eventually they went their own way, and we realized that the light was growing dimmer. There was no sign of any solid surface on which to rest this night. Thor and I made efforts to communicate with the whale as best we could, and felt that it had no desire to stop moving and no objection to our using its back as a resting place. On the following morning, my companions had only just awakened and I was busy absorbing the magic of nature when I noticed that the twins seemed to be doing something odd on the carpet. They'd already boarded the carpet and flown away from the whale a short distance. I saw a puff of what looked like dust. Curious, I managed to communicate to the whale my desire to approach and look closer. The twins were arguing with a small creature that appeared to be a denizen of the plane, who seemed to be poking his head out of an opening into… nothing. Shishir was trying to ask him if he knew the way to the king of the air whales, and the creature - a mephit, I think - was not reacting favorably to the conversation. Then a hummingbird came fluttering out through the opening around the mephit's head. The mephit angrily withdrew through the opening, and the hummingbird alit on the whale's back and turned into Thor. He explained that he believed the other side of the opening had led into the Astral Plane, which he declared was very dull - mainly because there weren't any birds, I suspect. After this diversion we proceeded on our way, letting the whale choose our direction, though his choice agreed with where Xymos's ring indicated we should go. The air around us grew colder, which I noticed more now as I'd chosen not to transform into a bird and was instead riding on the whale. After a time another dark mass appeared ahead, though not as dark as the flock of ravens had been. Soon we could see flashes of lightning. It was a great storm, accompanied by considerable rain. The whale seemed to be making an effort to fly above it, but as he approached it the storm appeared to be deliberately heading toward us! In the center of the storm was a darker shape, which Thor identified as some type of elemental. He had the presence of mind to cast a spell on us to resist some of the effect of lightning. The elemental was apparently angered by our presence, or perhaps disliked the whale, for it began shooting lightning bolts at us. I had cause then to regret having chosen studded armor, but at least I wasn't as vulnerable as Varian was in his suit of plate. I shaped myself into an eagle and began flying alongside the whale, hoping to stay unharmed so that I could later heal my friends. Some of the lightning bolts from the storm seemed to occur at random, but some were decidedly intended to hurt us. A bolt struck Shishir, attracted to his metal bracers. His brother sent a ball of fire at the cloud that held the elemental, but it had no visible effect. Thor, in the form of a dire eagle, flew into the cloud to attack the elemental with his talons. Xolo and Erasyne took out their bows and fired arrows into the cloud. The carpet bearing the twins sped well ahead of the whale, who was still slowly flying along. Varian, standing on the whale's back, shouted a challenge at the elemental. It responded by blasting the whale and everyone riding him with lightning. I was spared as I was flying alongside. I saw that the hippogriff had been very frightened by this and was about to take flight. Fearing it would be further injured and that Varian would lose his steed, I landed and returned to myself, alighting on the hippogriff's back. I put my hand on its feathered neck and healed some of the damage the lightning had done. Xolo had also run to the creature and caught hold of its bridle to prevent it fleeing. Varian was trying to get to the hippogriff himself, but the whale had rolled slightly when the lightning hit and he lost his footing and fell over. At the same time, I saw Erasyne disappear from the whale's back, replaced by Ninad. I could see that Ninad was ready to cast a spell as soon as the elemental came within range. Thor came winging out of the cloud to the whale's back and resumed his gnome shape, then summoned a spell that rather amusingly granted the whale a pair of insubstantial wings. It began to move faster. The elemental sent another bolt of lightning at the whale as it began to move away. The rain was decreasing, indicating we had reached the edge of the storm. Shishir hit it with two orbs of ice, which seemed to do it some harm. Its cloud swallowed up the flying carpet for a few moments. Then the carpet came out of the cloud and we were on our way out of the storm. The elemental evidently had no desire to pursue us once we left its territory. The twins used their spells to dry us all, as we were thoroughly soaked by then. Some time later we saw the other air whales. There were many of them ahead, all gathering in the same area. As we drew nearer our whale sang a joyful song to its brethren, and in their midst we could see one vast, snowy white whale. We knew immediately the white whale must be their king - but Xymos hadn't told us that he was also a god. His presence was, of course, awe-inspiring. He sang a song in a voice so deep and powerful that it was almost painful to my ears. When we approached, a great slow voice asked us who we were. Thor, who was still in eagle form, began to squawk and chirp at Ianus. I don't know what he said, but we could hear the god's reply. Between whatever Thor said and other comments from Ninad, our quest was explained to the god. In the meantime the woman we'd come seeking, Nadereh, arrived aboard another air whale and demanded to know what we were doing there. She was surprised to learn that Xymos had sent us. She insisted that what we'd been told about the fates of the djinni wasn't entirely correct; most of them survived being set free. But my companions weren't satisfied with this. Thor was presumably demanding to see Pheretimma. Nadereh told us she'd already given Pheretimma's bottle to Ianus. It was the whale god who set the djinni free, by absorbing the magic that bound them to their bottles. While Thor was squawking at the god about this, Varian suddenly asked if Ianus had seen the floating egg he seeks. For a few more moments the discussion of Pheretimma continued. Then in his great voice, Ianus announced that he also had the egg and asked us which thing we would most want to have: Pheretimma or the egg? I know what Thor said even though I couldn't understand his words. Shishir blurted out the same thing. We were only lately helping Varian find the egg; we had been in Pheretimma's company for months. But before anyone could say anything further, a djinn abruptly appeared amongst the whales and exclaimed, "I am Shazar and I wish to speak also." _________________________ [B]Quips & Quotes:[/B] [I]Varian's mounted mini, attached with blue-tac, fell off his mount.[/I] patv: "Your butt's not sticky enough. Do something about that." patv: "The ravens seem like they might be awed." Devo, Hedrin and Zora (like crows cawing): "Awe! Awe! Awe! patv: "The whale's song seems more serene." Zora: "Serene Dion?" patv: "You realize you're probably going to want to stop and rest soon." Zora (singing): "Stop, in the name of lunch…" DH (singing): "…before you break your fast…" patv: "You're all affected by a minor form of awe." Everyone: "Awwww!" [/QUOTE]
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