The Saga of Lucius Victorium Gnaeus
Episode Seven
Floating on an airship was an odd sensation. It was nothing like my experiences on sea ships. Somehow the airship was more stable and the sensation was more akin to standing on springy, green grass. I tried to concentrate on the instructions I was being given. The Gnomish engineer Molly Sprocket was trying to give me a lesson in crewing this marvelous vessel. “...and don’t do that or you will make the whole thing instable.” Molly eyed me suspiciously. “Did you get all of that?”
“I’m so sorry Molly. Would you mind saying it again?” I asked sheepishly. The little gal spoke in an amazing high staccato voice, which I found delightful, but also amazingly easy to fade into the background like a morning bird singing.
“A little focus here Lucius!” she demanded.
“Of course, you have my undivided attention,” I replied. The truth was she was quite darling when she was frustrated. She reminded me of a cute little animal, scurrying and peeping about in search of its mother. She truly was a delight and…
“So that’s how the horizontal rudder works,” she stated. Her eyes narrowed at me. “Your undivided attention, remember!”
“Yes, yes of course,” I reassured her. “The horizontal rudder,” I repeated.
Molly’s exasperation was nearly palpable, and I honestly tried to focus. “At least you are trying to learn. That stupid cat won’t even listen to anything I say,” Molly said.
I smiled. “Well, have you ever known a trained cat? Perhaps if you offered Edgy food?”
“Edgy?” she asked.
“That’s my little nickname for him. It seems to fit,” I replied.
“I have other names for him,” Molly stated. I smiled and our lesson continued.
*****
I soon regretted not paying closer attention to my lessons with Molly. Sailing this airship with a skeleton crew of greenhorns was going to be tougher than I anticipated. We swayed up and down and back and forth making very little progress. We were much like a young boy trying to learn to walk on stilts - a couple of quick steps and then a fall.
Shen wandered across the deck and asked Molly, “Is the displacement field wearing off?”
“Yes, and it will soon be gone,” Molly confirmed.
“Can we reactivate it?” the Half-elf sorcerer asked.
“I doubt it very much. It was the result of a bargain Grim struck.”
“Grim was the Cambion who planeshifted away,” Shen remarked.
“Yep, and he was the captain. He summoned a demon and made a pact with him,” Molly said.
“How do you know?” Faithless asked. I had noticed the Tiefling making her way over to the conversation. She always seemed particularly interested in Captain Grim.
“He made me watch the summoning and negotiation. I guess he wanted me to see how powerful he was or something,” Molly said.
“That’s delicious,” Faithless quipped.
“What?” Molly exclaimed.
“Hey, just because the guy is our new number one enemy does not mean I cannot find him incredibly dreamy,” Faithless retorted. “Besides you have to admit seeing him summon that big, bad-boy demon and forcing him into a pact was pretty sexy!”
“What is wrong with you?” Molly exclaimed.
“What kind of demon was it Molly?” I asked.
Molly recovered enough to say she did not know anything about demons. However, she did note the big, ugly demon, was held in a pentagram, and Grim kept calling him ‘Uncle Balow.’
“We may have earned a very powerful enemy considering those connections,” Shen stated.
“I think I’m in love,” Faithless said and promptly skipped away from the conversation.
“Grim is dangerous,” Molly confirmed. “That’s why we have to keep this ship moving. Let’s get back to it.” Molly pointed at Faithless and asked, “Is she alright?”
I nodded and said, “Mostly.” I headed back to my station on the ship.
*****
“Hey. watch the second rope there. Get with it or get out of the way,” Lukas the cabin boy was yelling at me. “You want me to show you how to do it?”
I had endured all of the mouthing off I could take from this young boy. I motioned for him to come over. “So do you need me to show you how it’s done?” the boy asked in a highly condescending tone.
“No, I think I can figure it out. I was calling you over to get away from the aft of the ship,” I replied.
“Why’s that?”
“See that sleepy half-orc that just emerged from the rear cabins and is rubbing the sleep from his eyes?”
“Yeah, that’s Thock,” Lukas replied.
“Precisely. He just woke up and that means he is hungry.”
“We have lots of food. I bought a bunch in Haven,” Lukas cheerfully replied.
“Yes, well, Thock is rather fond of fresh flesh, particularly human flesh,” I whispered.
“He’s a cannibal!”
“He does not see it that way. His orcish blood sometimes boils to the top and you my friend are particularly young and fresh.”
“You think he might eat me?” Lukas had a sense of dread in his voice.
“He would regret it of course, but sometimes his base urges take over. It would be best to keep a low profile, especially when he is sleeping or has just woken up,” I advised the cabin boy.
Lukas nodded thoughtfully and slinked away. No more orders and obnoxious comments came from the cabin boy.
*****
“You are getting better at that,” Thock said looking over my shoulder.
“Thanks, I’m trying,” I replied. “I think we are finally making progress.”
“What’s with Lukas?” Thock asked.
“Why do you ask?”
“Every time I see him he runs the other way.”
“I told him you might eat him.”
Thock roared with laughter. “Too stringy.”
“Don’t tell him that!” I exclaimed. “It’s the only thing keeping the kid’s mouth shut.”
Thock slapped me on the back and moved on to the galley to get a bite to eat.
*****
Molly stopped by near the end of my shift and was pleased with my progress, only making gentle reminders to help me with my job. I was starting to get more confidence in helping steer the ship. Molly mentioned we were seeing more population as we continued on our trek. It was undoubtedly going to bring the ship more attention. Molly also shared that our craft was one of only seven airships left in the entire world. We chatted amiably for a bit longer. My shift finally finished and I headed to bed.
The second day we made even more progress. Everyone was doing better at steering the airship and the miles were flying by. The day was delightfully uneventful and almost relaxing. And why shouldn’t I feel relaxed? What could possibly threaten us while we were flying over 100 feet off the ground? I went to bed confident I would get another restful night of sleep.
*****
A scream tore through the night air jarring me from my slumber. In my semi-conscious state I grabbed for my weapon and saw Shen dashing past my door. I ran after the Half-elf with my weapon at the ready. Shen ran out of the aft cabins with me on his tail. I saw Edgy emerging from the cabins too.
Then, I heard it. A beautiful sound that seemed to caress my very soul. A delightful song so enthralling I was drawn to its source. I saw Shen hesitate in front of me and quickly threw off the effects of the charming song. Shen and I had avoided the magical lure of this music, but it was clear Edgy had not. The Tabaxi was moving quickly towards the forward part of the vessel.
Shen continued across the deck and skipped up the outer steps of the forecastle and I saw him unleash Shen’s Marvelous Missiles of Unerring Flight. I was at a disadvantage. It was not pitch dark, thanks to a half moon and little cloud cover, but I had no idea what the threat was. I only knew where Shen and Edgy were. Further, Edgy was under the influence of a magical song, and what very little willpower the Tabaxi normally possessed was tapped. I despaired momentarily at the whirlwind of chaos I was being swept up in.
From the chaos of man comes the order of divine Kord.
Edgy came running past Shen. I witnessed the sorceror’s heroic effort to tackle the Tabaxi. Edgy managed to slip Shen’s grip and galloped forward to the front of the ship. It was then that I saw the enemy. Oh, but if mere words could describe this malformation of femininity! It possessed the torso of an unclad woman, but it’s face was a menacing sight with dark eyes and pointed teeth. It was from this dangerous maw that the song emitted. It’s legs were like a bird’s and terminated in very large, grasping talons. A pair of wings flapped from its back to keep this abomination aloft.
Now atop the forecastle fully, I could see there were at least three of these beasts. Thock, the mighty Half-orc, was slashing at the creatures with his mighty weapon. A flash of hellfire scorching one of the harpies told me that Faithless had joined the fray as well, although I could not see her. Edgy meanwhile was in full sprint heading towards the foul fowl when suddenly the Tabaxi pulled up short. Remarkably, somehow his will re-asserted itself and he broke the effect of the harpy’s song.
Suddenly, the airship precipitously dropped a few dozen feet! I struggled to maintain my balance. I wondered if the airship’s magical gems were somehow failing and we were in danger of crashing! I quickly realized the advantage the drop had given us. The harpies were caught off guard by the drop and cried out it in anger. They disappeared in the darkness for a moment. I heard Faithless call out that they were underneath the ship.
Thock went to his belly and leaned his torso out over the bow of the ship to try and see the beasts. Talons quickly locked on the barbarian and a pair of harpies were flapping madly to try and pull Thock from the deck. Faithless rushed over and cast her hellfire at one of the harpies. The spell hit home, but the wounded harpy was undeterred. The two harpies pulled Thock aloft away from the ship and then let him go. I watched as Thock plummeted into the darkness below. Enraged, I sent a Bolt of Kord at one of the beasts. The harpy easily dodged the bolt.
Rage has no place in battle, only the calm of Kord.
Shen cast Shen’s Thundering Shatter at a pair of the harpies. I heard the loud ringing and the pair of harpies dropped lifelessly from the sky. Edgy attacked one of the harpies and wounded it. I prayed for the Great Spiritual Hammer of Kord and followed that up with a Bolt of Kord. The hammer missed, but the bolt did not, and another harpy fell lifeless from the night sky. Faithless poured hellfire on another harpy, and the singed avian creature and its companion flew off in retreat.
*****
Miraculously, Kord be praised, Thock survived the drop. We hauled him back aboard. I prayed for healing for the barbarian and he was soon feeling whole again. Molly Sprocket, our Gnomish engineer, emerged from the depths of the ship. She told us she had dropped the ship from the gem chamber and reassured us the ship was not in danger of falling from the sky.
We continued on our way. However, I would not allow my vigilance to slip again. Clearly, the harpies’ attack had been a message from Kord.
The complacent warrior is soon truly resting in peace.
*****
The next couple of days passed uneventfully and we set the ship down on a small body of water not far from the village where we had promised to meet Philbert on Market Day. A group of us escorted Molly into the village to meet with Philbert. As we came into the village, the market was laid out much in the way we had seen before. It looked like even the same caravans were back. I recognized our former caravan master from our trip to Haven. He smiled and approached.
“Well met Lucius,” he said in greeting.
“Blessings of Kord,” I replied.
“How are your travels? Are you again seeking work?” he asked.
“Things are well Master Cassius. Kord has provided and I am not seeking work,” I replied.
“Good! Good, my friend! Have you heard rumors on the road?” Cassius asked.
“The road is paved with rumors Master Cassius,” I replied.
He gave a chuckle and a nod at this, but continued, “I have heard of a great flying ship in the area. Do you know anything of it?”
“I know a great deal of it,” I answered.
“Do tell brother Lucius,” Cassius said.
“Sadly, that would betray an honor-bound confidence. I can only confirm that it exists and is a wondrous craft,” I said.
“Well, I envy your knowledge, but admire your honor more. I wish you well Lucius.”
We grasped forearms quickly and took leave of each other’s company.
Molly asked me after the exchange with Cassius why I had not told the merchant more about the ship. I replied that I did not trust him.
*****
We quickly found Filbert meandering through the market and the sibling reunion was touching and amusing. Following a loving embrace, Molly thoroughly dressed Filbert down for his actions and the danger he had placed her in. Filbert was contrite, but could not hide his joy at seeing his step-sister again. We moved into a more private location and settled into a conversation about our future plans.
We told Filbert we needed the main propulsion gem he had stolen and wanted him to join the crew as our cook. He readily agreed to join our crew, but admitted he did not have the gem, but that it was hidden nearby.
“Where is it?” Molly asked.
“In the graveyard,” Philbert whispered.
“Filbert! Why?” Molly’s tone was one of absolute exasperation.
“It is in a good spot. I slipped it into a commoner’s coffin. I know just where the grave is.”
We quickly agreed we would have to come back in the evening to dig up the grave. Filbert promised to pick up a few provisions and meet us at the ship later.
Shen had followed up a lead Filbert had given him about a possible new crew member. He had managed to hire a strapping youth from a farm named Marco. He had promised the young man the princely sum of six gold per month! Occasionally, my companions low breeding revealed itself. Everyone knows overpaying the help is just asking for trouble! The farm boy was grinning widely when I met him. Why wouldn’t he? An untrained servant making over a gold per week should be smiling! I suspected if we posted those rates in the village we would have had half the population on our ship!
*****
We returned to the ship and planned our night time foray into the graveyard. When the sun went down we headed back to the edge of the cemetery outside the village. Shen cast his Ineffable Invisibility on Thock and me. When we reached the gravesite I cast Kord’s Blessed Silence on our location. Thus protected, we began digging and soon reached a plain wooden coffin. The spell and prayer kept us from being seen or heard, but it did not keep us from those charnel odors of a fresh grave. As the rot reached my nose I had to turn to the side and retch. After recovering from my brief illness we pulled the coffin from the hole.
The prayer causing silence had expired and Thock quickly noticed that there was some thing scratching inside the coffin. We motioned for the rest of the group to join us and I explained that there was probably an undead creature trapped in the coffin. Everyone took up ready positions as Thock prepared to open the coffin lid. I had my holy symbol of Kord out ready to force the creature from us.
Thock pried the lid open and a wretched undead creature climbed out. I immediately recognized this monstrosity as a ghast. I held forth my holy symbol and chanted, “Be gone! The Power of Kord compels you!” The ghast retreated before the mighty Will of Kord. As the vile ghast retreated away from us, Shen reached into the coffin and retrieved a massive gem. We decided quickly to leave the scene. “What about the ghast loose in the village?” Shen asked. “They buried it. They can deal with it,” Thock answered. We made haste away from the graveyard and returned to the ship.
On the walk back to the ship I wondered to myself if the villagers had known that they had buried a ghast. Another frightening thought occurred to me then - what if the magic of the propulsion gem was somehow responsible for this undead manifestation? I largely dismissed this possibility, but I would still keep it mind as we traveled under its power.
Fret not of possibilities and trust the Will of Kord.
*****
The fortnight journey back to the lone heath bogs near Rel Astra was done largely at very high altitudes. Although I did not drop my guard, it was a relaxing journey. We set the ship down in the bogs near an isolated settlement where I suspected my sister and mother were hidden. Indeed, in short order, I was reunited with my kin. After a tearful reunion they apprised me of the situation in the city.
My poor father was wrongly accused of treason against the city by our family’s rivals. What was a greater mystery to me was why the judge of the case, Lord Fabrece, might be inclined to rule against him. I knew of no grievance between our noble families and no close association between him and our rivals. What I needed was a connection and introduction to the judge so that I could ascertain what was afoot in this conspiracy.
My mother suggested that I seek out my old friend Tillius Cember. He was still a senator and had given what aid he could to our family during the crisis. Perhaps he could give me the introduction I sought. We spent the night in the bog and then planned to head to Rel Astra the following day.
*****
Rel Astra is a massive, diverse city. Its ruler is Drax. Drax is an animus - an undead construct of the Emperor, Ivid the Mad. As the Emperor has devolved more and more into his insanity - Drax and his city have become increasingly independent. Despite this, Rel Astra still remained a city married to its laws that emphasized gravitas and duty from its citizens. Needless to say, flying a ship directly into the city would be a bad idea.
We flew a circuitous route around the great port city and set our craft down in the sea. Once we reached a respectable distance from the docks we took one of the smaller crafts to the city docks. We wandered about the city for a while, and as dusk came upon the city, I led my companions to the villa of Senator Cember.
When we reached the villa it was a bit late, but it was clear the senator was entertaining. There were all the signs of a classic Rel Astra noble party. The bedecked guards were greeting folks as they came in the doors with solemn nods. From within the villa we could hear the sounds of merriment and mirth. My companions and I hesitated. We were certainly not dressed for such a high gala. I resolved finally that we should push forward as time was of the essence.
The guards immediately stopped us. I took a direct approach telling them to inform the senator that his friend Lucius Gnaeus was here to see him. A look of recognition passed over one of the guard’s faces and he whispered something to the other guard. The guard departed and instructed us to wait at the entrance. In short order the guard returned and quickly ushered us inside.
“My friend!” Tillius greeted me warmly.
We exchanged a hug and he motioned at a table burdened with a banquet, “Tell your friends to eat and drink while you and I catch up.”
I thought Edgy’s remaining eye might come loose at this suggestion and he pounced on the banquet table inhaling the victuals. Tillius and I retired to a side room.
I informed Tillius of my plan to meet with Lord Fabrice and see if I could convince him of my father’s innocence. Tillius counseled against this, telling me that our family’s enemies had gained a great deal of fortune since I had left. In fact, our family was just one of several that they had ruined in their avarice. Unfortunately, Lord Fabrece was solidly in their pockets.
“What leverage can I gain over Fabrece if he is already corrupted?” I asked.
“You may remember that there was a cloud of suspicion over Lord Fabrece some time ago in a plot to overthrow Drax,” Tillius replied.
“I don’t remember that,” I admitted.
“Yes, he and a wizard were implicated in the plot. As the net was closing in on them, the wizard mysteriously disappeared and has not been seen since. Naturally, the conspiracy charges fell apart after that.”
“Lord Fabrece covered his tracks it would seem,” I said dejectedly.
“Not entirely, my friend,” Tillius said. “I happen to know there was some correspondence between the wizard and Lord Fabrece that must be terribly damning.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked.
“I learned through my connections that Lord Fabrece sponsored an expedition to invade the departed wizard’s tower to recover these missives. However, the group was unsuccessful and many died due to the tower’s protective wards,” Tillius stated.
“Serves them right,” I replied.
“I think you are missing my point - if you were to retrieve these letters - you would have great leverage indeed over Lord Fabrece. A favorable judgment for your father could be virtually guaranteed,” Tillius explained.
“Where is this tower?” I asked.
“I will have my guards escort you. One of them recognized you anyway. There’s no need to tip Lord Fabrece that you have returned,” Tillius said.
“Thank you so much Tillius. No matter what happens, I owe you a great deal!”
“That much is certain Lucius,” Tillius smiled. “Good luck my friend.”
Tillius ordered his guards to accompany us back to our ship, which obviously did not thrill the pair. After I managed to tear my companions away from the feasting table we made our way back through the city to the docks and back out to the ship. As we boarded the ship, Molly spying the pair of guards asked me, “Who are they? New crew?”
“No, it’s a long story, but the short of it is they are our guides for a raid on a wizard’s tower,” I answered. She raised an eyebrow in response, but said nothing.
I settled in for a short fitful night of rest.
The signs of Kord’s guidance require faith.