Dreams In The Deep

[Gray Shade]

The Heart of the Matter

Pollock listens intently to Romanna's explanation and watches her closely as she draws the rough map.

"You arrived by ferry, eh? I'm sorry, I thought you'd arrived by ship--from the mainland. Very well. Perhaps we'll stop in and ask Abner a question or two, but my suspicion of him is not what it was if you came over on a routinely running ferry."

She sits back and looks at you, then continues, a look of perplexity on her face. "Now that I think about it, I don't remember seeing it when my boat came in, either... But thinking back, realizing that we made it to shore with little trouble, it seems... It seems that your ship must have brought the storm with it, so to speak." She stands up, looking at you inquiringly.

"In one way or another, I suspect you are entirely correct. There are a few items I maintain worthy of immediate investigation. However, because we are limited to only one 'immediate' time . . . " he trails off and looks out at the ocean, seeming to forget his forgetfulness and enjoys the moment. He meets Romanna's eyes and says, "Oh, I'm sorry. I don't mean to keep you out here in the rain. I just can't remember the last time I saw the ocean or enjoyed its scent and feel."

He then turns abruptly and starts back up the rocks toward the path to town. "Come on. We'd best make haste if we are going to get to town and meet your friends before I sit down to dinner with this high priestess. And I'd quite like to immediately investigate this lighthouse, once we've rallied with allies." He squints at the gray/white sky, through the drizzle of rain. "I cannot tell here: How much of this so-called daylight have we left? And when exactly does the High Ecclesiast sit for her evening meal?"

* * *

Once Romanna answers, Pollock will wave her on to follow and head quickly (but not so quickly she can't keep up) toward the town. Once there, he will try to help her rendezvous with her fellow Gamael worshippers.

 

[Lazlow]

Not just, at all! What? You don't think I would consider you a possession? One does not 'possess' a companion.

Of course, yes. Sorry old friend - sometimes it's hard to think 'outside the stick', so to speak.

She said it's a week's journey. A week . . . just gone. No, I've never experienced this before either, but I can tell it's not good. We'll have to be very on our toes through this adventure, I believe. Please, friend, watch for details I may miss, eh?

Indeed I shall. Of course, if we don't know what we've missed, it may be hard to know what to look for... And not to belabor the point, but... How do we know we haven't experienced this before?

* * *

OOC: That is, I don't think Pollock's ever experienced this kind of memory loss before. I assume he's read about all sorts of dark forces erasing minds, and certainly about mortals losing bits of memory after traumas and being unable to recall horriffic experiences, but nothing where everything is so seemingly "normal", right?

OOC: As far as you know, yeah.

 

[Lazlow]

OOC: Very good information and notes, thanks! The "world" is coming together quite well!

Thanks! Feel free to add, too.

...Although, I suppose you should let me know of major things (at least on this island) before they're implemented.

 

[Lazlow]

"You arrived by ferry, eh? I'm sorry, I thought you'd arrived by ship--from the mainland. Very well. Perhaps we'll stop in and ask Abner a question or two, but my suspicion of him is not what it was if you came over on a routinely running ferry."

"That being the case, then perhaps we could question him later tonight. I'd like to get to the town and find my friends as soon as we can."

"In one way or another, I suspect you are entirely correct. There are a few items I maintain worthy of immediate investigation. However, because we are limited to only one 'immediate' time . . . " he trails off and looks out at the ocean, seeming to forget his forgetfulness and enjoys the moment. He meets Romanna's eyes and says, "Oh, I'm sorry. I don't mean to keep you out here in the rain. I just can't remember the last time I saw the ocean or enjoyed its scent and feel."

She smiles, albeit uneasily. "Oh, I certainly don't mind the rain - when it's real rain... With Gamael's help, we'll lift the veil and allow the sun to shine once again."

He then turns abruptly and starts back up the rocks toward the path to town. "Come on. We'd best make haste if we are going to get to town and meet your friends before I sit down to dinner with this high priestess. And I'd quite like to immediately investigate this lighthouse, once we've rallied with allies." He squints at the gray/white sky, through the drizzle of rain. "I cannot tell here: How much of this so-called daylight have we left? And when exactly does the High Ecclesiast sit for her evening meal?"

"Hard to say in this accursed weather," Romanna replies. "But we should be able to hear the bells in the watchtower at mid-day, and again three hours later, at the start of the fourth watch. We'll head back to the abbey then, it will give us plenty of time to prepare for the evening meal. We might even have time to make a trip up to the lighthouse, if you wish."

 

[Gray Shade]

Indeed I shall. Of course, if we don't know what we've missed, it may be hard to know what to look for... And not to belabor the point, but... How do we know we haven't experienced this before?

Pollock wags his head low with the realization that his walking stick may be right.

(OOC: Bet that's not a line you thought you'd ever read, eh?)

 

[Gray Shade]

"Hard to say in this accursed weather," Romanna replies. "But we should be able to hear the bells in the watchtower at mid-day, and again three hours later, at the start of the fourth watch. We'll head back to the abbey then, it will give us plenty of time to prepare for the evening meal. We might even have time to make a trip up to the lighthouse, if you wish."

"Oh!" Pollock says looking around with the exact same lost and confused then amused expression he wore when he found out he was on an island. "It's still morning, then. Outstanding. We've nearly a full day. Come along, now, we need to make for the town and your friends first. As for the lighthouse later . . . we'll see how we are doing on time." With that, he will engage her in small talk along the way, at some point asking, "so why again did you come all the way out to this island to meet with these fellow Gemaelians?"

 

[Lazlow]

You both make your way back up the rocky slope and soon find yourself on the path in front of the Abbey again. The road slopes slightly downward as it winds its way north toward town, and back south past the Abbey and on up to the crest of the slope, upon which the now-darkened lighthouse sits, a dark sliver of charcoal grey stabbing upward against the bleak rainclouds that loomed over the island.

"Our mission is to establish a small grove dedicated to Gamael here on St. Germain," Romanna explained on the way down the road. "I am to help my brother, Julien, in the rituals and dedications involved. The leader of our order hopes to have outposts on all of the Sunset Islands."

Perhaps sensing an unasked question, she quickly adds, "Our goal is not to build up a congregation of Gamaelians here - indeed, we would be hard-pressed to achieve such a lofty goal on this island, especially - but merely to confirm his presence, attest to his works. Even the followers of Surlamon realize that his watery realm is but a subset of Gamael's dominion."

The road is easy, thanks to the downward slope of the hill, and within a half hour you've reached the outskirts of town. Most of the buildings here are all of similar design; simple, single-story stone edifices with heavy thatched roofs. Here and there a larger version of this same plan peeks out above the rest. Towering high above the entire scene is the watchtower, stretching some thirty feet up in the air on spindly wooden legs. You can just make out the three bells in the top of the tower, their well-polished brass offering some feeble reflection of the sun's faint glow.

On the way into town, you pass a structure that seemed to have collapsed in upon itself, and down into the ground underneath it somewhat. Romanna points at it and says, "Aye, that's the trouble with the buildings here. Due to the scarcity of building materials, most everyone builds out their dwellings underground. The above ground floor is used for storage, or livestock. The people live in the lower floors, where it's warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Course, if you get too much rain, or dig improperly, that's what happens."

You pass under the watchful eye of the guards in the watchtower into the town proper. There is little activity due to the rain, but an occasional brave soul is seen on the streets. "They'll be at The Sturgeon - an inn, down by the harbor. Come, this way." Romanna leads down a street heading west, where you can just make out the masts of a few fishing boats.

"So... Tell me about yourself, Pollock. Where are you from, and what order do you belong to?"

 

[Gray Shade]

He nods politely and smiles to her explanation of why she's on the island and tries to absorb as many details as possible in the town.

"So... Tell me about yourself, Pollock. Where are you from, and what order do you belong to?"

He purses his lips and shrugs. "Well, my life before the order is pretty bland, really. I'm originally from the Second Kingdom, a small farming village called Green Hill. My father wanted me to be literate, so he gave me over to the monastery to become a monk, thinking that the religious life would serve me, or my family's reputation really, better than me staying in the family business of farming. I don't really think it has, since I have not been home since me real training began. Oh, no, don't look at me like that--I'm very happy with my lot, and I know that my family doesn't miss me anyway--oh, now it sounds even worse." He scratches an invisible beard then finally says, "Suffice to say, all of us are as happy as we can or could be with the way things are." To prove it he smiles at her. "As for my order, it is not really a religious order, per se, more of the group devoted to the propogation of good itself. We're often known as the--AH! This must be the place!" He points up at the sign of The Sturgeon, and with wide grin, stands aside and opens the door for her.

 

[Lazlow]

Romanna, listening intently to your story, looks up with a start as you open the door to the inn. She thanks you and walks inside, where a warm fire burns away lazily in a large, central pit, around which are placed tables and chairs. To your left is a short bar with a large bearded man behind it. He looks up from the ledger he is studying and nods at you, then with a double-take, looks at you a bit more intently and says, "Hello there. Sorry for the look, I just didn't expect to see any strangers. What can I get for you?"

Romanna steps up. "Thank you sir. I suppose some breakfast would be in order," she says, almost surprising herself as she realizes neither of you have eaten yet today. "But before that, I am looking for some companions of mine. We were to meet here last night, but I was delayed by the storm. They would have rented rooms - there were three of them, a Dwarf, a man, and a woman, all dressed similarly to myself."

The innkeeper looks at her quizically. "Well, lass, I did indeed see your companions last night, I believe. The Dwarf, red hair and beard? And the woman, short blonde hair?"

"Yes, and the man looks very similar to me. My brother."

"Aye, that he did, that he did. Aye, lass, they were here last night but they didna rent any rooms. Had a meal, but then left with another man. Didn't see them after that."

Romanna's brow furrows in confusion, and she looks at you helplessly for a moment. Presently she composes herself and speaks.

"I... I don't understand. Did they leave a message for me? Do you know who it was that they left with?"

"No, I'm sorry. No message. And I didn't get a look at the gentleman, I only saw him through the door of the kitchen, there. I'm sorry." He waited a moment, then said, a bit awkwardly, "Well... How about that breakfast, then? Our spiced porridge is the best in the Isles, and sure to warm you up on such a dismal day."

Romanna, lost in thought, looks around her, then again gives you that helpless look.

 

[Gray Shade]

Pollock steps up to the bar confidently, with a friendly smile for the man. "The spiced porrige sounds delicious, and put some rashers on the side, if you would." He wagged his finger between himself and Romanna. "An order for each of us. And some hot tea, please."

When he's turned around, Pollock rubs Romanna's shoulder reassuringly and says, "We'll get to the bottom of this. Someone must have seen who they left with, and with so few strangers around, surely we can identify who led them away. It may have been something so simple as a local follower of Gemael who was kind enough to offer them his own house for the night."

When the man comes back, Pollock will lean in close and slide a few silver the man's way. Once he's sure the man's taken his meaning, he'll say, "Kind sir, my companion is desperate to find her brother and his companions--surely you understand. Do you know who else was here when they left with the man? A maid or 'regular', perhaps? Surely someone saw the man, yes?"