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Message: <blockquote data-quote="simmo" data-source="post: 1400311" data-attributes="member: 9744">chapter 4 To Boldly Go"Would you like to fly on a ship with people that claim to know me?" asked his companions who were still standing by the docks."I don't know," Andrew by the possibility of travelling in a flying ship. "It depends on what it is going to be doing.""I DON'T WANT TO FLY," Caleb stated as he paused in his polishing of his hammer."Yes, I got that bit Caleb." Malkir had almost forgotten that the earth genasi was still sitting there. "Oh, I didn't get a chance to sort out the possibility of caverns and tunnels as the portal to Sigil on the other side has been knocked down.""OK, let's not tell anyone until they are on the other side shall we?" Littleby said in a fierce whisper."The gate to the Outlands is still fine. Probably our best bet is to get to the Outlands. There is also this business with an incoming flying ship. You're probably going to be able to see it coming as it's quite big and belching smoke was mentioned at one point. Please let me know when you are finished with your admirable ferrying 'get rich quick' scheme, so that you can come and join us." Malkir set off again up the main avenue towards the hills. "I think that I need to be following the goblin now.""It certainly sounds interesting." Andrew left the docks and hurried after the mystic. They walked quickly up the street and after a time reached the remains of the city gate."Andrew, I'm not entirely sure what is going to happen when this ship arrive and..." Malkir said as they walked past the ruined gate."That's OK." Andrew replied."And..." The two caught up with the strange goblin who was ambling along staring at destruction left by the modrons. "Sorry but I did not catch your name.""Pic," the goblin held out his hand to Malkir's companion. "And you are?""Andrew Rimilia." He said as he shook the goblins hand."Delighted to meet you." The goblin smiled and then looked at the crystals which he pointed at Andrew and Malkir."Likewise," said Andrew who was studying the goblin intently.The crystal glowed pulsed and glowed faintly. Some of the metal rings around them rotated and the goblin nodded his head, writing down a string of numbers."What's going on?" asked Andrew curious about the strange device."I'm just taking some measurements." The goblin replied cheerfully."What kind of measurements?" Andrew asked, suspicious that the goblin was doing more that he claimed."Well, you appear to be human, male and well some other interesting bits of knowledge." The goblin tried to smile reassuringly. "I am just making observations.""Yes, of course you are." Andrew stated, not convinced in the slightest."We meet many interesting creatures out here that look human but are not in fact human." The goblin put the strange contraption in a pouch and took out a short stubby wand with red and blue dots painted on it."Your crew, what is the mix of races?" Malkir asked."Yes." The goblin replied, glad for the change in topic. "The captain is human, of course. The Cygnaran Navy would never allow any one other than a human to lead a ship. We've picked up some people along the way. There's a bladeling, Calvun, our resident cosmologist. I'm in charge of the engines and...""If you are in charge of the engines," Malkir interrupted. "Then why are you here and not on the ship.""Because I have been sent here to study the modrons close up." Pic offered by way of explanation."Did you enjoy the experience?" Andrew asked. He saw that the goblin was hiding something, but could not put his finger on it."Yes it was rather interesting." He turned to address the mystic again. "We have some dwarves in our crew. The healer in chief is a dwarf called Skinner."After waiting for an hour in the hills outside of Haven the ship finally came in to view. It started as a small speck in the sky and grew over time in to a larger speck until eventually some details could be made out. A thin line of black smoke trailed behind the flying ship, polluting the pristine blue sky. The ship laboriously travelled acrossgot closer they could see that it was a very large galleon shaped vessel with a rainbow coloured sail that shifted in colour as it caught the wind. Steel plates were attached to the hull in various places and long, thin pipes travelled the length of the ship. Some portions of the deck were covered over and strange short fat pipes protruded out of the ship at right angles along the deck. Small figures could be seen climbing over the vessel which bopped along through the air as if riding a rough sea."Most impressive," said Malkir who marvelled at its size, but preferred the sleeker designs from his homeworld."Yes, the profiteer is a wonderful exploration vessel." The goblin stated proudly."Why that name for the ship?" The mystic asked, curious about the strange choice of name."Because we are looking for new sources of wealth and trade for Cyngar." The goblin was a little confused why Captain Malkir was asking a question with such an obvious answers, but had to remind himself that this was a different Malkir."That's not a bad idea." Andrew said, thinking about the business potential of flying ships."The people of Khador are growing in strength as well as mechanika." Pic explained to the man who was not Captain Malkir. "The followers of Menoth seem to come up with new and inventive uses of oil based weapons almost on a daily basis. We were sent out to find out new technology and magic to keep us ahead of the others. Of course, no one really understands the necrotech that comes from the nightmare lands of Cryx, such is the way that it is.""It's a peculiar thing." Malkir remarked pensively. "But I've found that since coming to Sigil, a single world may not be as important it originally felt.""What gave you that idea?" Pic asked sounding somewhat insulted."Well, when you live in a city that houses creatures from a thousand worlds. That is home to organisation that span numerous worlds and have plans for the whole Multiverse.." The mystic's view of his home city and home world had changed drastically since travelling the planes. Having see Acheron, the Outlands, Elysium and Sigil he felt that he could more easily put his small home world in to perspective compared to the Outer planes."Yes, yes." Pic stated sounding exasperated. "I've heard it before. But, here's no place like the Iron Kingdoms.""Your ship is getting closer," Malkir remarked now that he could make out more details of the ship."Yes, it will arrive shortly." Pic said having calculated that it would be another hour before the ship was close enough to board."What are those funny stubby pipes sticking out of the side?" The mystic had been trying to work out the function of various bits on the ship and noted the lack of ballistas or catapults."They're for defensive measures." Pic hoped that they would not ask him any more questions about the ship. "So tell me more of your world.""Well, we have an illithid problem," Malkir replied as if that answered everything."What is an illithid?" The goblin asked, curious to find out more."How do you explain illithids." The mystic smirked and tried to think of how best to capture the essence of mind flayers. "Uh, humanoid creatures. Do you know psionics, powers of the mind?""No but I've heard of mind-walkers before," Pic said."Well, illithids are powerful in this way and they're favourite nourishment is brains. They are also in to mental control." Malkir shuddered at the though of just how many illithids inhabited his world and how many more might life on the second moon that had heralded their arrival."Captain." the goblin said speaking in to the three crystals. "We nee to stay away from the illithids." He paused briefly waiting for a response. "Yes, we should no approach the nautiloid on the Outlands again.""Illithids on the whole are not good news." Malkir commented. "They tend to see other races as cattle.""Aha, that would explain the farming reference." Pic smiled having solved a mystery that had been bothering him for awhile. Now that the man who was not Captain Malkir had given the strange creatures a name, a great many things were falling in to place. Of course, alien races and all that was Skinners field of expertise and Pic was keen to discuss it with the dwarven healer as soon as the ship arrived."They're terribly keen to turn up somewhere, as long as they are in charge." Malkir was interested to observe the reaction that his words were having on the flat faced goblin. He could tell that the creature had met illithids and wanted to see if he was allied to them or not. The signs that the goblin gave off indicated that Pic was not fond of illithids even in the slightest."What other kind of ships do they have?" Pic asked wondering if the illithids might be planning an attack on the Iron Kingdoms."Well nothing like that." Malkir said pointing at the ship. "Ours function entirely based on magic. Oh and really big dragons.""Interesting." Pic theorised that if the illithids relied on magic and mental powers for their strength then perhaps mechanika and especially warjacks was the way to defeat them. "We have dragons as well, but fortunately they slumber.""We thought that ours did," Malkir replied with a bemused smile. "They were not exactly common. But once the illithids invaded, they seemed to be... using them. Which is exactly as unpleasant as it sounds."Pic shuddered visibly and wished that he could be back inside the safety of the Profiteer sooner. "They must be powerful indeed.""They can be extremely powerful. Anyway that is the general situation. There are humans and their allies on one continent. There are illithids on the other continent and the illithids would like to be on both continents." Malkir finished his description of Lammed by giving a very general description of the stale-mate on his planet."So how is it that you are not Captain Malkir? Is he from your world too?" Pic was trying to think of a way to introduce the man who was not Captain Malkir to his Captain and wanted to find out a little more about him."I don't know." Malkir replied honestly. "At the Convergence I was aware of many of my selves. Captain Malkir was one of them.""I see." Pic stated not having much of a clearer picture of what the Convergence was. "Where did this Convergence take place?""In Sigil," Malkir said as if that explained everything."In Sigil?" Pic asked, not quite believing the response."In a manner of speaking." The mystic said, remembering back to his encounters at the tower at the edge of time.</blockquote>

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