Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Mother of Dreams - Episode 5 (updated February 1st, 2005)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="RangerWickett" data-source="post: 1881241" data-attributes="member: 63"><p><strong>Episode Four: My Hero, Section V</strong></p><p></p><p>Babb squinted at his reflection in the flat of his blade, then smirked. He lowered the sword and looked out from the deck of the <em>Tvencleft</em>, searching for anything dangerous. Everything looked safe.</p><p></p><p>Babb huffed, disappointed.</p><p></p><p>The others were all asleep, but Babb did not feel tired. They had all come aboard the ship together, expecting to be well underway before they woke up. Lacy had finally changed into something respectable, and the others had joked about how much of a percentage Tri’ni was entitled to, but Babb had felt uncomfortable. He had taken off his armor and tried to sleep, but something inside him had told him to go on deck.</p><p></p><p>The <em>Tvencleft</em>’s crew of Vanessi priests were working quickly to weigh anchor and leave the island, with only a few still on shore to ensure the Meliskan priests would not try anything rash. All the precautions meant there wouldn’t be any fighting, and even the angry yelling was dying down. It left a bad taste in Babb’s mouth.</p><p></p><p>Therva walked by, directing the crew in Tennae to ready the ship for departure. Babb tapped her on her shoulder.</p><p></p><p>“Hey lady, we’re just leaving?”</p><p></p><p>Babb could almost see her trying to parse what he was saying, squinting as she translated. Then she nodded. “The Meliska priests are not we will fight. They say we lie. We with you will go to Turinn and come back after the Meliska priests not want will fight.”</p><p></p><p>Babb frowned. “You’re sure one of you guys didn’t kill their priest?”</p><p></p><p>“We no do kill.” Therva scowled and looked out to the sun, low to the north-east. “In night, all were sleeping.”</p><p></p><p>“What happened? How did he die?”</p><p></p><p>“Priest was woman,” Therva said. “They say, she no did. . . .” </p><p></p><p>Therva squinted, stuck on a word she did not know. She said something in Tennae, then made exaggerated motions to her throat and chest, breathing deeply. She shook her head, and spoke again in Tennae.</p><p></p><p>“Breathe?” Babb said. He mimed being choked, and when Therva laughed at him, he glared back. “So you’re saying she suffocated?”</p><p></p><p>“They say she no did breathe, yes.”</p><p></p><p>Something had happened in the night, Babb remembered, and he had had trouble breathing. And now he thought he remembered a woman, but it was all hazy. He briefly considered getting the others, but they had been ignoring his concerns this whole time. No, he should stay on deck.</p><p></p><p>Therva went back to directing the crew, and Babb waited. The deck was crowded, and he found himself pressed near the forecastle. He found himself looking at his sword again, and he remembered doing it before. Something seemed to be weighing down on him, and he turned to look behind him, but there was just the stairs of the forecastle. </p><p></p><p>Frowning, Babb sheathed his sword and made a mental note not to look at it again. The <em>Tvencleft</em> swept away from shore, heading south, and Babb wondered when they had left. For a few minutes, he just waited, until he noticed that work on the deck was slowing down. The ship was sailing on its own, and the crew were all sitting down, or leaning against the railing. Some were even lying on the deck, getting ready to sleep. In the distance to the south, the clouds were gray, and Babb was fairly certain competent sailors would be taking precautions against a storm.</p><p></p><p>“Someone’s using magic,” Babb muttered, and the simple statement seemed to shake away the haziness in his head.</p><p></p><p>He remembered earlier, at night, being at the Meliskan temple, hearing a cry for help, and he had run down a hallway lit with candles. A hallway where he had seen mist. Babb grunted and kicked the staircase beside him. He shook his head, snapped his fingers, and tried to focus. Finally he slammed his head into the main mast, and everything was clear.</p><p></p><p>“Hey, lady,” Babb said, shaking Therva, who was staring blankly back at the island.</p><p></p><p>She turned and smiled at him, and spoke in Tennae. He tried to shake her again, and contemplated slapping her, but he doubted it would do any good.</p><p></p><p>“Great. I get to do this alone.”</p><p></p><p>Babb went down the stairs to belowdecks, turning one last time to see if anyone on deck looked conscious. They were all motionless, at different stages of falling asleep. Something inside him suggested they might just be tired from staying up performing rituals all night, but Babb head-butted the nearest solid object, and that part of him shut up.</p><p></p><p>Once we has below deck, the dim light of the day faded to gloom, and the sounds of the ship and the sea became muted. The air was damp, hard to breathe. Babb lit a lantern, and the fire struggled to catch, but eventually it forced some illumination into the narrow hallway.</p><p></p><p>Judging from the number of people on deck, Babb imagined none of the crew were down here, which left just his friends and Seekan. Four doors down, Babb’s berth was on the left, Seekan’s on the right, with Allar and David fifth on the right, and the women sharing a room fifth on the left. Something inside Babb told him to check the storage hold one deck down, but Babb slammed his head into the wall again. The pain helped him ignore the voiceless suggestion. </p><p></p><p>He stomped toward Seekan’s berth, then drew his sword and kicked in the door.</p><p></p><p>It was empty, not even a bedroll or a hammock. The porthole window had been covered with a curtain, and Babb squinted in the darkness to make sure the lizard wasn’t hiding. The air grew damp and Babb wanted to go inside the room and close the door behind himself.</p><p></p><p>“Dammit,” Babb shouted to the air, “stop that! I’m going to find you, Seekan. Where the hell would you-”</p><p></p><p>Babb drew in a breath and looked behind him. Across the hallway, the door to Lacy and Tri’ni’s room hung open. He ran into the room and saw Tri’ni lying on her bedroll, and Seekan standing over her, one hand extended. The air around his hand shimmered with white light. In the back of the room, Lacy slept obliviously.</p><p></p><p>Babb slashed with his sword, and Seekan turned to face him as the blade bore down for his neck. His gold-green eyes widened, but when the blade struck where he was, it cut through him without resistance, trailing vapor. Seekan’s form wavered, his edges flowing like mist, and something slipped through his hand, falling to the floor.</p><p></p><p>Babb spun his sword for a backswing, and again he cut through Seekan’s body, but it was as intangible as fog. Seekan cringed as the sword sliced his body, and he collapsed momentarily into a cloud of gray mist, rolling with purpose across Tri’ni, putting her between him and Babb. Then Seekan’s body became tangible again, and he glared at Babb.</p><p></p><p>Babb felt a brief desire to sleep, but it was much fainter than before. He growled and raised his sword to strike, hoping this time the lizard man would stay solid, but then Seekan grabbed Tri’ni by the throat and yanked her across him as a shield. She did not react, as if she were in a deep slumber.</p><p></p><p>“Drop her,” Babb demanded, holding his sword at ready.</p><p></p><p>Seekan shifted slightly, reaching out with one hand to try to grab something on the floor, the gem, now glowing almost as bright as a candle. Babb stomped on it, and Seekan hissed, drawing back.</p><p></p><p>“No gem for you,” Babb said. “I haven’t crushed it yet, and if you don’t want me to hurt it, you’re going to let Trin go and stay solid.”</p><p></p><p>“I need the gem,” Seekan said. “She resists, and I need this girl’s dreams to keep her from overwhelming us. You felt her power. If you do not trust me, we may both die.”</p><p></p><p>“Sure,” Babb said. “Try whatever tricks you want, ‘boss.’ I’ve been wise to you from the start. Now you’ve got ‘til the count of three to-”</p><p></p><p>Babb tried to talk, but he suddenly felt like he was breathing water. The air turned cold, and his limbs refused to move, unless he wanted to go to sleep. Babb managed a gurgling growl and slightly lifted his sword for Seekan, before he saw that the man was slumped on the ground, his limbs spasming.</p><p></p><p>Unable to fight the compulsion, Babb sagged, and the moment his hoof came off the gem, he was able to breathe again. He lay there catching his breath for a moment, then felt a cold mist sweep across his legs. He looked and saw Seekan’s form faded into vapor again, sliding across the floor. Babb scrambled away and hacked at the mist, but only cut into wood. Seekan’s mist form flowed past him and out the door, then headed down the hallway.</p><p></p><p>Babb leapt into the hallway after Seekan, and saw the mist roll to the base of the stairs. For a brief moment in the dim sunlight, Seekan shifted into his solid form, then cringed and staggered down the stairs to the storage hold. Babb was about to follow when Tri’ni screamed. Babb cursed and ran back to her, dropping his sword and holding her steady.</p><p></p><p>“Trin, wake up. Get ahold of yourself, dammit.”</p><p></p><p>Tri’ni’s face was clenched with pain, her eyes tightly shut. Babb didn’t know what else to do, so he slapped her, and her eyes opened, gleaming green even in the dim light of the toppled lantern.</p><p></p><p>“What happened?” Tri’ni asked, frightened. “I had . . . I had a nightmare. It was . . . horrible. Babb, what-?”</p><p></p><p>“It was that bastard Seekan. He was doing something to you with that gem we found for him.”</p><p></p><p>Tri’ni struggled free of Babb’s arms and shook her head. “Seekan? No, he wouldn’t. Babb, why do you. . . . Wait, I know that feeling.”</p><p></p><p>She shivered, and her expression slowly shifted to one of cold dread. Tri’ni let out a cry and covered her face with her hands, shaking her head. Babb reached out to her, not wanting to leave her, but knowing they needed to move quickly to catch Seekan.</p><p></p><p>“Trin, he’s getting away.”</p><p></p><p>“No,” she said, choking. “I trusted him, and he . . . he went into my mind. He. . . .”</p><p></p><p>She collapsed, unable to talk. Babb retrieved the lantern and his sword and stood, then headed out the door after Seekan. He had seen him head to the lower deck, but to be safe Babb wanted to check up on deck. He slammed his head into the wall just to be certain, but he still thought it was a good idea, so he ran up to the main deck. Now everyone was passed out, motionless, maybe even dead. Babb was about to go back below deck when he saw the dark clouds that had been in the distance were getting closer. The ship was headed for a storm.</p><p></p><p>“Good job, Vanessi,” Babb muttered.</p><p></p><p>He stomped back below deck, and saw Tri’ni leaning on the wall outside her room, struggling to walk. Babb waved for her to follow, then leapt down the stairs to the lower storage hold. It was completely dark here, and Babb’s lantern hid more than it revealed. Crates and barrels littered the low-ceilinged room, vanishing into shadows to the fore and aft. The walls creaked, but he could hear nothing else.</p><p></p><p>“Alright Seekan,” he called, “I’ll talk now. Tell me what’s up, and . . . and we can stop the evil gem together.”</p><p></p><p>“She’s not evil,” came a reply from the aft.</p><p></p><p>Babb headed toward it, sneaking, keeping his lantern low. “Of course not. Why did you kill the priestess, then?”</p><p></p><p>“The woman saw me taking the dreams of the others. She would have alerted them, and your companions would have been discovered before I could retrieve the gem.”</p><p></p><p>“You’re being awfully forthcoming,” Babb said. He could not quite tell where the voice was coming from. “What’s the deal, boss?”</p><p></p><p>The creaking of the ship increased, and the air grew thick again. Babb slammed his forehead into a nearby crate, and the sensation subsided. He hoped he could stop whatever Seekan was up to soon, because his head was starting to hurt.</p><p></p><p>“You must trust me,” Seekan said. “I have searched for this piece of the Mother for years. You are all that stands between me and saving her. I merely waylaid you last night, and I do not want you as my enemy now.”</p><p></p><p>Babb finally spotted Seekan, standing beside the wall, clenching the gem in his fist. Babb leveled his sword at the scale-skinned man.</p><p></p><p>“You were screwing with Trin’s head,” he said. “I’m not gonna let you get away with that.”</p><p></p><p>Seekan turned and gave a restrained sigh. “Were I to explain it, you would not understand. What I took from the girl was a trifle, but it will keep the danger at bay. I would prefer your help, but I do not require it.”</p><p></p><p>“Babb,” Tri’ni cried.</p><p></p><p>Babb turned to look back at the stairs, but could not see Tri’ni. He flashed his lantern and saw her just as she rounded the nearest set of crates. She was holding a dagger, and looked enraged.</p><p></p><p>Babb said, “Stay back.”</p><p></p><p>Tri’ni seethed wordlessly for a moment, then pointed her dagger at Seekan. “You tricked me. You’re one of them, aren’t you?”</p><p></p><p>Seekan considered her, showing no emotion. “I can believe the tales you told me. Some of us trillith are as cruel and manipulative as you said, but I am not such as them. I did only what I needed to protect us all. Now, do not attack me, or else I will not be able to control this spirit’s power.”</p><p></p><p>“What the hell are you talking about?” Babb turned to face Seekan, then Tri’ni, his lantern only illuminating one at a time.</p><p></p><p>“He’s lying,” Tri’ni spat. “I won’t let you control me again!”</p><p></p><p>She rushed past Babb and stabbed awkwardly at Seekan, but the blade slipped harmlessly through him as he transformed to mist. Again the mental force washed over them, and Babb staggered sideways into a stack of crates, knocking them over and shattering his lantern. Oil spread across the floor and cracked wood of the crates.</p><p></p><p>“<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />,” Babb cursed.</p><p></p><p>He turned and saw Seekan trying to keep away from Tri’ni as she stabbed at him. The light from the gem glowed through Seekan’s hand, and Babb rushed toward him, aiming a swing for the gem.</p><p></p><p>Seekan’s misty form recoiled, and he returned to solid form long enough to slash at Tri’ni with the claws on his left hand. He struck Tri’ni on the arm, cutting her and shoving her away. Babb caught her and pulled her aside.</p><p></p><p>“Keep back, dammit.” Babb slashed at Seekan, cutting just fog. He growled.</p><p></p><p>“In fact,” Babb continued, “get the hell out of here. The ship’s going to catch on fire.”</p><p></p><p>“I won’t let him get away,” Tri’ni shouted.</p><p></p><p>Seekan backed away, now in the furthest open space of the hold. He hissed, “I cannot let you endanger the Mother. I am sorry.”</p><p></p><p>Babb squinted in confusion as Seekan slipped his mistform hand between two planks of the interior hull, then turned his hand solid again, ripping a chunk out of the wall. Seekan did it again, digging deeper, and Babb realized he was trying to tear his way out of the ship.</p><p></p><p>“You <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />er!” Babb shouted. “We’re below the water line!”</p><p></p><p>Seekan nodded, tearing another chunk away. “As I said, I am sorry.”</p><p></p><p>Water began to spray through a crack in the wall, tearing through the misty form of Seekan, leaving only his right arm and head fully intact. Babb tried to attack, but found his limbs would not move, like something was holding his muscles from the inside. Seekan narrowed his eyes at them, then tore a final piece of hull free, and the sea poured in.</p><p></p><p>Turning solid again, Seekan reached through the hole with his right hand, the hand that held the gem. Then he began to shift to mist and water, disappearing into the ocean. Babb heard Tri’ni scream beside him, and suddenly a jagged line of white light cut across the room like lightning, striking Seekan before he faded away. The scaled man turned solid and spasmed, his body halfway through a hole far too narrow for it.</p><p></p><p>Babb could move again, but just then the sea water reached the burning oil of his lamp and extinguished the flames, casting the hold into darkness.</p><p></p><p>“Trin,” he shouted. “We’ve got to get out of here!”</p><p></p><p>“He’s getting away,” she called back, and he could hear her plunging through the water. “You bastard! I won’t let you do this to me!”</p><p></p><p>The water was to Babb’s knees now, and crates were beginning to shift, crashing into him. He lost his balance and fell, and he groped blindly to try to find the wall.</p><p></p><p>“Dammit, I can’t see in the dark. Trin! Which <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />ing way is out? Leave the bastard to drown, but get <em>us</em> out of here!”</p><p></p><p>Over the gushing of the seawater and the clunking of wood against wood, Babb heard Tri’ni gasping, her voice ragged. He struggled toward her as best he could, and finally managed to grab onto her shirt. The water was waist-deep now.</p><p></p><p>“What the hell is wrong with you?” he shouted. “Let’s get out of here. We’ll kill him later if he hasn’t already drowned, alright?”</p><p></p><p>He felt her nod, and she grabbed his hand.</p><p></p><p>Weakly she said, “Follow me.”</p><p></p><p>She pulled him along, and with her help they made it to the stairs to the crew quarters. Babb could hear panicked shouts overhead in Tennae, and then Lacy’s voice calling for him.</p><p></p><p>“Lacy, down here. The ship’s flooding.”</p><p></p><p>Lacy’s face appeared at the top of the stairs, and she waved them up.</p><p></p><p>“Hurry,” she said. “The Meliksan ship is close. We’re going to try to reach them before the storm hits.”</p><p></p><p>Babb chuckled. “Great job again. Your god’s top notch, Lace.”</p><p></p><p>Lacy glared at him, then saw Tri’ni, her arm covered in blood, her expression anguished. </p><p></p><p>Lacy gasped. “What happened down there? Where’s Seekan?”</p><p></p><p>Babb shook his head and whispered quietly to his sister, “Not now. Let’s just go.”</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">* * *</p><p></p><p>The <em>Tvencleft</em> limped to the <em>Lupaseloma</em>, and despite great distrust and bitterness, the Meliskan priests let them on board. Babb wanted to explain that he had caught the killer and left him to drown, but he doubted they would be happy knowing his employer was responsible.</p><p></p><p>For the most part Babb ignored the conflict between the two temples. After telling Lacy and Allar what had happened, he left it to them to explain why the ship had sunk. All Babb wanted to do was sit on the railing out of everyone’s way, and wait for them to reach land. He did not know what to do with Tri’ni, but eventually she came over and sat next to him, dangling her legs over the side of the ship. It was starting to rain.</p><p></p><p>“Hey there,” Babb said.</p><p></p><p>Tri’ni nodded, brushing wet hair out of her eyes.</p><p></p><p>“Do you know what was going on?”</p><p></p><p>She shook her head. Her voice caught in her throat. “He said he wanted to reunite the soul in the gem with its owner. Babb, is he dead?”</p><p></p><p>Babb shrugged. “You can never tell with wizards. Or lizards, for that matter. He looked pretty scared, though. Maybe whatever he was so damned afraid of got him too.”</p><p></p><p>“He took something from me,” Tri’ni said. Her tone was frustrated. “I don’t know what, though.”</p><p></p><p>Babb huffed. “Bastard said something about collecting dreams. Have any good dreams lately?”</p><p></p><p>“No. I was dreaming about-”</p><p></p><p>She stopped, crunched her face, then sighed angrily. “I can’t remember.”</p><p></p><p>“You looked terrified down there,” Babb said. “Was that how it was with the one that you and your father dealt with?”</p><p></p><p>“My . . . father?” Tri’ni looked at Babb, confusion in her eyes. “I think. . . . I don’t remember what. . . . I was dreaming of my father, but who was he?”</p><p></p><p>Babb drew in a breath, nervous. “You don’t remember?”</p><p></p><p>“He was. . . . No. I- . . . I remember living with him, talking with him, . . . I know I saw. . . .”</p><p></p><p>She paused, frightened. “He’s dead. Babb, I don’t remember what happened. I know he died, and I remember we killed the trillith, but. . . .”</p><p></p><p>She tried to talk for a moment, but no words came out. Finally, she said, “He’s gone. He took my father from me.”</p><p></p><p>Babb did not know how to respond. After a moment he said, “It will come back to you. It’s just like, you know, a hangover. You’ll remember.”</p><p></p><p>Tri’ni seemed to be in shock, and Babb looked away, uncomfortable. They sat quietly for a moment in the rain. Lightning flashed far away, and thunder rumbled.</p><p></p><p>“Hey,” he said, “you used magic, didn’t you? I saw you with the lightning and all.”</p><p></p><p>Babb glanced at Tri’ni. She smiled slightly for a moment, then again looked sad. The rain hid her tears.</p><p></p><p>“You alright?” Babb asked.</p><p></p><p>She shrugged, sniffling. </p><p></p><p>After a moment, she chuckled weakly and said, “Y’know, he never paid us.”</p><p></p><p>Babb nodded. “You’re right. He never paid us. We’ll make the bastard pay for that.”</p><p></p><p>Tri’ni didn’t reply. Babb sighed.</p><p></p><p>“Hey, tell me something.”</p><p></p><p>She looked at him, confused. “Alright.”</p><p></p><p>“No, I mean, just tell me something about yourself. Anything.”</p><p></p><p>She smiled slightly, then looked down. “Maybe later. Anyway, I like your stories better.”</p><p></p><p>“You’re right,” Babb said. “I’m not in the mood for talking now either.”</p><p></p><p>Thunder rumbled again, and Tri’ni quietly began to cry again. Babb stayed beside her, and would not move as long as she needed him there.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RangerWickett, post: 1881241, member: 63"] [b]Episode Four: My Hero, Section V[/b] Babb squinted at his reflection in the flat of his blade, then smirked. He lowered the sword and looked out from the deck of the [i]Tvencleft[/i], searching for anything dangerous. Everything looked safe. Babb huffed, disappointed. The others were all asleep, but Babb did not feel tired. They had all come aboard the ship together, expecting to be well underway before they woke up. Lacy had finally changed into something respectable, and the others had joked about how much of a percentage Tri’ni was entitled to, but Babb had felt uncomfortable. He had taken off his armor and tried to sleep, but something inside him had told him to go on deck. The [i]Tvencleft[/i]’s crew of Vanessi priests were working quickly to weigh anchor and leave the island, with only a few still on shore to ensure the Meliskan priests would not try anything rash. All the precautions meant there wouldn’t be any fighting, and even the angry yelling was dying down. It left a bad taste in Babb’s mouth. Therva walked by, directing the crew in Tennae to ready the ship for departure. Babb tapped her on her shoulder. “Hey lady, we’re just leaving?” Babb could almost see her trying to parse what he was saying, squinting as she translated. Then she nodded. “The Meliska priests are not we will fight. They say we lie. We with you will go to Turinn and come back after the Meliska priests not want will fight.” Babb frowned. “You’re sure one of you guys didn’t kill their priest?” “We no do kill.” Therva scowled and looked out to the sun, low to the north-east. “In night, all were sleeping.” “What happened? How did he die?” “Priest was woman,” Therva said. “They say, she no did. . . .” Therva squinted, stuck on a word she did not know. She said something in Tennae, then made exaggerated motions to her throat and chest, breathing deeply. She shook her head, and spoke again in Tennae. “Breathe?” Babb said. He mimed being choked, and when Therva laughed at him, he glared back. “So you’re saying she suffocated?” “They say she no did breathe, yes.” Something had happened in the night, Babb remembered, and he had had trouble breathing. And now he thought he remembered a woman, but it was all hazy. He briefly considered getting the others, but they had been ignoring his concerns this whole time. No, he should stay on deck. Therva went back to directing the crew, and Babb waited. The deck was crowded, and he found himself pressed near the forecastle. He found himself looking at his sword again, and he remembered doing it before. Something seemed to be weighing down on him, and he turned to look behind him, but there was just the stairs of the forecastle. Frowning, Babb sheathed his sword and made a mental note not to look at it again. The [i]Tvencleft[/i] swept away from shore, heading south, and Babb wondered when they had left. For a few minutes, he just waited, until he noticed that work on the deck was slowing down. The ship was sailing on its own, and the crew were all sitting down, or leaning against the railing. Some were even lying on the deck, getting ready to sleep. In the distance to the south, the clouds were gray, and Babb was fairly certain competent sailors would be taking precautions against a storm. “Someone’s using magic,” Babb muttered, and the simple statement seemed to shake away the haziness in his head. He remembered earlier, at night, being at the Meliskan temple, hearing a cry for help, and he had run down a hallway lit with candles. A hallway where he had seen mist. Babb grunted and kicked the staircase beside him. He shook his head, snapped his fingers, and tried to focus. Finally he slammed his head into the main mast, and everything was clear. “Hey, lady,” Babb said, shaking Therva, who was staring blankly back at the island. She turned and smiled at him, and spoke in Tennae. He tried to shake her again, and contemplated slapping her, but he doubted it would do any good. “Great. I get to do this alone.” Babb went down the stairs to belowdecks, turning one last time to see if anyone on deck looked conscious. They were all motionless, at different stages of falling asleep. Something inside him suggested they might just be tired from staying up performing rituals all night, but Babb head-butted the nearest solid object, and that part of him shut up. Once we has below deck, the dim light of the day faded to gloom, and the sounds of the ship and the sea became muted. The air was damp, hard to breathe. Babb lit a lantern, and the fire struggled to catch, but eventually it forced some illumination into the narrow hallway. Judging from the number of people on deck, Babb imagined none of the crew were down here, which left just his friends and Seekan. Four doors down, Babb’s berth was on the left, Seekan’s on the right, with Allar and David fifth on the right, and the women sharing a room fifth on the left. Something inside Babb told him to check the storage hold one deck down, but Babb slammed his head into the wall again. The pain helped him ignore the voiceless suggestion. He stomped toward Seekan’s berth, then drew his sword and kicked in the door. It was empty, not even a bedroll or a hammock. The porthole window had been covered with a curtain, and Babb squinted in the darkness to make sure the lizard wasn’t hiding. The air grew damp and Babb wanted to go inside the room and close the door behind himself. “Dammit,” Babb shouted to the air, “stop that! I’m going to find you, Seekan. Where the hell would you-” Babb drew in a breath and looked behind him. Across the hallway, the door to Lacy and Tri’ni’s room hung open. He ran into the room and saw Tri’ni lying on her bedroll, and Seekan standing over her, one hand extended. The air around his hand shimmered with white light. In the back of the room, Lacy slept obliviously. Babb slashed with his sword, and Seekan turned to face him as the blade bore down for his neck. His gold-green eyes widened, but when the blade struck where he was, it cut through him without resistance, trailing vapor. Seekan’s form wavered, his edges flowing like mist, and something slipped through his hand, falling to the floor. Babb spun his sword for a backswing, and again he cut through Seekan’s body, but it was as intangible as fog. Seekan cringed as the sword sliced his body, and he collapsed momentarily into a cloud of gray mist, rolling with purpose across Tri’ni, putting her between him and Babb. Then Seekan’s body became tangible again, and he glared at Babb. Babb felt a brief desire to sleep, but it was much fainter than before. He growled and raised his sword to strike, hoping this time the lizard man would stay solid, but then Seekan grabbed Tri’ni by the throat and yanked her across him as a shield. She did not react, as if she were in a deep slumber. “Drop her,” Babb demanded, holding his sword at ready. Seekan shifted slightly, reaching out with one hand to try to grab something on the floor, the gem, now glowing almost as bright as a candle. Babb stomped on it, and Seekan hissed, drawing back. “No gem for you,” Babb said. “I haven’t crushed it yet, and if you don’t want me to hurt it, you’re going to let Trin go and stay solid.” “I need the gem,” Seekan said. “She resists, and I need this girl’s dreams to keep her from overwhelming us. You felt her power. If you do not trust me, we may both die.” “Sure,” Babb said. “Try whatever tricks you want, ‘boss.’ I’ve been wise to you from the start. Now you’ve got ‘til the count of three to-” Babb tried to talk, but he suddenly felt like he was breathing water. The air turned cold, and his limbs refused to move, unless he wanted to go to sleep. Babb managed a gurgling growl and slightly lifted his sword for Seekan, before he saw that the man was slumped on the ground, his limbs spasming. Unable to fight the compulsion, Babb sagged, and the moment his hoof came off the gem, he was able to breathe again. He lay there catching his breath for a moment, then felt a cold mist sweep across his legs. He looked and saw Seekan’s form faded into vapor again, sliding across the floor. Babb scrambled away and hacked at the mist, but only cut into wood. Seekan’s mist form flowed past him and out the door, then headed down the hallway. Babb leapt into the hallway after Seekan, and saw the mist roll to the base of the stairs. For a brief moment in the dim sunlight, Seekan shifted into his solid form, then cringed and staggered down the stairs to the storage hold. Babb was about to follow when Tri’ni screamed. Babb cursed and ran back to her, dropping his sword and holding her steady. “Trin, wake up. Get ahold of yourself, dammit.” Tri’ni’s face was clenched with pain, her eyes tightly shut. Babb didn’t know what else to do, so he slapped her, and her eyes opened, gleaming green even in the dim light of the toppled lantern. “What happened?” Tri’ni asked, frightened. “I had . . . I had a nightmare. It was . . . horrible. Babb, what-?” “It was that bastard Seekan. He was doing something to you with that gem we found for him.” Tri’ni struggled free of Babb’s arms and shook her head. “Seekan? No, he wouldn’t. Babb, why do you. . . . Wait, I know that feeling.” She shivered, and her expression slowly shifted to one of cold dread. Tri’ni let out a cry and covered her face with her hands, shaking her head. Babb reached out to her, not wanting to leave her, but knowing they needed to move quickly to catch Seekan. “Trin, he’s getting away.” “No,” she said, choking. “I trusted him, and he . . . he went into my mind. He. . . .” She collapsed, unable to talk. Babb retrieved the lantern and his sword and stood, then headed out the door after Seekan. He had seen him head to the lower deck, but to be safe Babb wanted to check up on deck. He slammed his head into the wall just to be certain, but he still thought it was a good idea, so he ran up to the main deck. Now everyone was passed out, motionless, maybe even dead. Babb was about to go back below deck when he saw the dark clouds that had been in the distance were getting closer. The ship was headed for a storm. “Good job, Vanessi,” Babb muttered. He stomped back below deck, and saw Tri’ni leaning on the wall outside her room, struggling to walk. Babb waved for her to follow, then leapt down the stairs to the lower storage hold. It was completely dark here, and Babb’s lantern hid more than it revealed. Crates and barrels littered the low-ceilinged room, vanishing into shadows to the fore and aft. The walls creaked, but he could hear nothing else. “Alright Seekan,” he called, “I’ll talk now. Tell me what’s up, and . . . and we can stop the evil gem together.” “She’s not evil,” came a reply from the aft. Babb headed toward it, sneaking, keeping his lantern low. “Of course not. Why did you kill the priestess, then?” “The woman saw me taking the dreams of the others. She would have alerted them, and your companions would have been discovered before I could retrieve the gem.” “You’re being awfully forthcoming,” Babb said. He could not quite tell where the voice was coming from. “What’s the deal, boss?” The creaking of the ship increased, and the air grew thick again. Babb slammed his forehead into a nearby crate, and the sensation subsided. He hoped he could stop whatever Seekan was up to soon, because his head was starting to hurt. “You must trust me,” Seekan said. “I have searched for this piece of the Mother for years. You are all that stands between me and saving her. I merely waylaid you last night, and I do not want you as my enemy now.” Babb finally spotted Seekan, standing beside the wall, clenching the gem in his fist. Babb leveled his sword at the scale-skinned man. “You were screwing with Trin’s head,” he said. “I’m not gonna let you get away with that.” Seekan turned and gave a restrained sigh. “Were I to explain it, you would not understand. What I took from the girl was a trifle, but it will keep the danger at bay. I would prefer your help, but I do not require it.” “Babb,” Tri’ni cried. Babb turned to look back at the stairs, but could not see Tri’ni. He flashed his lantern and saw her just as she rounded the nearest set of crates. She was holding a dagger, and looked enraged. Babb said, “Stay back.” Tri’ni seethed wordlessly for a moment, then pointed her dagger at Seekan. “You tricked me. You’re one of them, aren’t you?” Seekan considered her, showing no emotion. “I can believe the tales you told me. Some of us trillith are as cruel and manipulative as you said, but I am not such as them. I did only what I needed to protect us all. Now, do not attack me, or else I will not be able to control this spirit’s power.” “What the hell are you talking about?” Babb turned to face Seekan, then Tri’ni, his lantern only illuminating one at a time. “He’s lying,” Tri’ni spat. “I won’t let you control me again!” She rushed past Babb and stabbed awkwardly at Seekan, but the blade slipped harmlessly through him as he transformed to mist. Again the mental force washed over them, and Babb staggered sideways into a stack of crates, knocking them over and shattering his lantern. Oil spread across the floor and cracked wood of the crates. “:):):):),” Babb cursed. He turned and saw Seekan trying to keep away from Tri’ni as she stabbed at him. The light from the gem glowed through Seekan’s hand, and Babb rushed toward him, aiming a swing for the gem. Seekan’s misty form recoiled, and he returned to solid form long enough to slash at Tri’ni with the claws on his left hand. He struck Tri’ni on the arm, cutting her and shoving her away. Babb caught her and pulled her aside. “Keep back, dammit.” Babb slashed at Seekan, cutting just fog. He growled. “In fact,” Babb continued, “get the hell out of here. The ship’s going to catch on fire.” “I won’t let him get away,” Tri’ni shouted. Seekan backed away, now in the furthest open space of the hold. He hissed, “I cannot let you endanger the Mother. I am sorry.” Babb squinted in confusion as Seekan slipped his mistform hand between two planks of the interior hull, then turned his hand solid again, ripping a chunk out of the wall. Seekan did it again, digging deeper, and Babb realized he was trying to tear his way out of the ship. “You :):):):)er!” Babb shouted. “We’re below the water line!” Seekan nodded, tearing another chunk away. “As I said, I am sorry.” Water began to spray through a crack in the wall, tearing through the misty form of Seekan, leaving only his right arm and head fully intact. Babb tried to attack, but found his limbs would not move, like something was holding his muscles from the inside. Seekan narrowed his eyes at them, then tore a final piece of hull free, and the sea poured in. Turning solid again, Seekan reached through the hole with his right hand, the hand that held the gem. Then he began to shift to mist and water, disappearing into the ocean. Babb heard Tri’ni scream beside him, and suddenly a jagged line of white light cut across the room like lightning, striking Seekan before he faded away. The scaled man turned solid and spasmed, his body halfway through a hole far too narrow for it. Babb could move again, but just then the sea water reached the burning oil of his lamp and extinguished the flames, casting the hold into darkness. “Trin,” he shouted. “We’ve got to get out of here!” “He’s getting away,” she called back, and he could hear her plunging through the water. “You bastard! I won’t let you do this to me!” The water was to Babb’s knees now, and crates were beginning to shift, crashing into him. He lost his balance and fell, and he groped blindly to try to find the wall. “Dammit, I can’t see in the dark. Trin! Which :):):):)ing way is out? Leave the bastard to drown, but get [i]us[/i] out of here!” Over the gushing of the seawater and the clunking of wood against wood, Babb heard Tri’ni gasping, her voice ragged. He struggled toward her as best he could, and finally managed to grab onto her shirt. The water was waist-deep now. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he shouted. “Let’s get out of here. We’ll kill him later if he hasn’t already drowned, alright?” He felt her nod, and she grabbed his hand. Weakly she said, “Follow me.” She pulled him along, and with her help they made it to the stairs to the crew quarters. Babb could hear panicked shouts overhead in Tennae, and then Lacy’s voice calling for him. “Lacy, down here. The ship’s flooding.” Lacy’s face appeared at the top of the stairs, and she waved them up. “Hurry,” she said. “The Meliksan ship is close. We’re going to try to reach them before the storm hits.” Babb chuckled. “Great job again. Your god’s top notch, Lace.” Lacy glared at him, then saw Tri’ni, her arm covered in blood, her expression anguished. Lacy gasped. “What happened down there? Where’s Seekan?” Babb shook his head and whispered quietly to his sister, “Not now. Let’s just go.” [center]* * *[/center] The [i]Tvencleft[/i] limped to the [i]Lupaseloma[/i], and despite great distrust and bitterness, the Meliskan priests let them on board. Babb wanted to explain that he had caught the killer and left him to drown, but he doubted they would be happy knowing his employer was responsible. For the most part Babb ignored the conflict between the two temples. After telling Lacy and Allar what had happened, he left it to them to explain why the ship had sunk. All Babb wanted to do was sit on the railing out of everyone’s way, and wait for them to reach land. He did not know what to do with Tri’ni, but eventually she came over and sat next to him, dangling her legs over the side of the ship. It was starting to rain. “Hey there,” Babb said. Tri’ni nodded, brushing wet hair out of her eyes. “Do you know what was going on?” She shook her head. Her voice caught in her throat. “He said he wanted to reunite the soul in the gem with its owner. Babb, is he dead?” Babb shrugged. “You can never tell with wizards. Or lizards, for that matter. He looked pretty scared, though. Maybe whatever he was so damned afraid of got him too.” “He took something from me,” Tri’ni said. Her tone was frustrated. “I don’t know what, though.” Babb huffed. “Bastard said something about collecting dreams. Have any good dreams lately?” “No. I was dreaming about-” She stopped, crunched her face, then sighed angrily. “I can’t remember.” “You looked terrified down there,” Babb said. “Was that how it was with the one that you and your father dealt with?” “My . . . father?” Tri’ni looked at Babb, confusion in her eyes. “I think. . . . I don’t remember what. . . . I was dreaming of my father, but who was he?” Babb drew in a breath, nervous. “You don’t remember?” “He was. . . . No. I- . . . I remember living with him, talking with him, . . . I know I saw. . . .” She paused, frightened. “He’s dead. Babb, I don’t remember what happened. I know he died, and I remember we killed the trillith, but. . . .” She tried to talk for a moment, but no words came out. Finally, she said, “He’s gone. He took my father from me.” Babb did not know how to respond. After a moment he said, “It will come back to you. It’s just like, you know, a hangover. You’ll remember.” Tri’ni seemed to be in shock, and Babb looked away, uncomfortable. They sat quietly for a moment in the rain. Lightning flashed far away, and thunder rumbled. “Hey,” he said, “you used magic, didn’t you? I saw you with the lightning and all.” Babb glanced at Tri’ni. She smiled slightly for a moment, then again looked sad. The rain hid her tears. “You alright?” Babb asked. She shrugged, sniffling. After a moment, she chuckled weakly and said, “Y’know, he never paid us.” Babb nodded. “You’re right. He never paid us. We’ll make the bastard pay for that.” Tri’ni didn’t reply. Babb sighed. “Hey, tell me something.” She looked at him, confused. “Alright.” “No, I mean, just tell me something about yourself. Anything.” She smiled slightly, then looked down. “Maybe later. Anyway, I like your stories better.” “You’re right,” Babb said. “I’m not in the mood for talking now either.” Thunder rumbled again, and Tri’ni quietly began to cry again. Babb stayed beside her, and would not move as long as she needed him there. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Mother of Dreams - Episode 5 (updated February 1st, 2005)
Top