The Story

Session IX (03/23/02)

• June 7th, 183 2C. Sperin, Thurton, Kira, Aliana and Creyton are in the back of the skyship as they land next to the island. They disembark and have brief conversation with Captain Jen and Firstmate Dale. George is spotting and he freaks Kira, Creyton and Aliana out a bit. Finally, an exhausted looking Anastasia emerges from the tower. They spend some time catching her up with what happened, but as dawn nears the excited group is overcome with exhaustion.
• June 8th. In the early afternoon, people finally stir. Some cooked fish, fried and breaded, is left on the table by George. Everyone enjoys breakfast as the Nyrgil fishes. They come to sit outside on the rock, enjoying the sea air and the delightful weather. They share more of the story with Anastasia and Ana shares what she learned from the old seer on the nature of magic. George lurks about as the idle away the afternoon, enjoying some time of recovery from the recent, hectic events. Aliana decides she doesn't want to wait and starts to go upstairs to see the old seer, but George simply informs her that she will not do that. She decides that the Nyrgil is very wise. During the late afternoon and early evening hours, Creyton spends some time with Sperin, talking with him and teaching him how to shoot the bow. Ana changes Thurton's bandages then heads off on her own to meditate as she learned the last couple of days on the island. Thurton and Aliana take her lead and try to "focus" themselves as well. Kira whittles some wood, quietly keeping watch over her charges. Night comes and everyone gets a room but Thurton who sleeps downstairs. Everyone falls asleep to the calming rhythm of the Blue Sea.
• June 9th. Another lazy day on the island. Still no sign of Wren/Scout who, Ana informs everyone, went to the mainland for supplies in Harry's boat. Time goes by. Aliana asks Kira about what she can do. There is a discussion of Kira's capabilities during which, Kira explains that Aliana's stone and necklace are touched by the Dragon, whatever that means. The group discusses the Highlord and the various aspects of his being. Creyton coaxes Sperin to open up the whiskey Sperin brought for Wren. When Sperin has a sip, Aliana chides him for drinking when he has given it up. Sperin stalks off. Aliana gets frowned at by the collective group. Thurton and Aliana engage in many hours of long, quiet conversation. Aliana tries to apologize to Sperin, who doesn't accept it. Thurton and Dale cook lunch and share conversation. While Sperin is off swimming naked, Creyton is napping, George is fishing, and Thurton and Dale are engaged in the kitchen, Aliana, Anastasia, Kira and Jen find themselves sunning outside during the pleasant afternoon. They share a good amount of "girl talk". Jen seems to think Sperin is cute. Ana denies anything going on with Thurton. The meal is served. Everyone eats. The old seer comes down to get some food. He asks Jen to join him upstairs and ensures everyone else that he will see them soon. Creyton goes up to his room to nurse his broken arm. Sperin avoids Aliana. Ana and Thurton share more conversation, discussing their situation and what they've learned. Jen goes upstairs to talk with the old man. Dale goes to sleep in the Redwing. Aliana and Kira talk more. Sperin goes fishing with moderate success. Evening rolls around. George goes to sleep. Jen comes back down and explains that she and Dale will be leaving soon. Jen and Kira go off for some private conversation about things. Jen goes off to prepare the Redwing while Kira finds herself chatting again with Aliana. Jen and Dale go around and say their good-byes. Jen flirts a bit with Sperin, who was attempting to nap out on the dock at the time. She and Dale go back to sleep in the Redwing because they must leave early. Sperin falls back asleep on the dock. Aliana, Ana and Thurton stay up late into the night talking, trying to put the pieces together on everything that has happened.
• June 10th. In the morning, the Redwing is gone. Wren/Scout returns from Bairn with some supplies, most notably chickens. Thurton is roused from his slumber in the main room to help unload the boat. Everyone eventually stirs. Most of the group spends the morning doing some weapons training under Creyton's tutelage. Wren begins to cook brunch, which is salty fish soup. Kira tries to help, but likely only makes it saltier and garlicier. No one likes it and mild hijinx ensue when people try to hide this fact from Wren. Wren presents Ana with a carved wooden rose he bought for her in Bairn. It becomes painfully obvious that he has a soft spot for the witch. However, Wren seems to be playing the field. After several games of checkers with Kira, he plays her for a kiss. He loses, but she still rewards him with a peck on the cheek. Thurton spends the afternoon in the small garden with the plants. Aliana lazes around, then starts dinner. Kira and Scout go out on a short boat trip where he gives her some tips on boating and they flirt a bit. Ana hangs out while Sperin fishes some more. Aliana manages to prepare an excellent fish bisque for dinner. People eat and chat, then drift off to their rooms. Ana furthers her study of mediation. Aliana and Creyton talk for a bit, then Aliana cures his broken arm. He seems to have a hard time dealing with that.
• June 11th. Ana is up first and she prepares a preemptive breakfast before Wren stirs. Thurton has some bowel issues and spends a good deal of the morning out at sea trying to deal with them. The old seer comes down for breakfast and says that he will see everyone that night. It is another lazy day on the island. People relax and talk. Kira shows Sperin how to handle a knife. They discuss how the old man always takes payments for any questions and ponder what to best ask him. Aliana jots down some questions. Finally, the day passes and, after dinner, everyone goes up to see the old man. They talk with him for some time, Aliana asking most of the questions. They share information on the men in the studded leather armor, which they view in the water camping on the shores of the Blue Sea, they discuss Aliana's items and the old man names them an elfstone, and elvin ward of protection, and a elvin sword, they discuss their destiny, the Senate, and share a water vision of Craf Moonsong who is at Kiltin's Rest. Ana starts asking about destiny and fate and the old man agrees to do a large vision for all of them in two nights. They come back downstairs. More conversation is shared, then people drift to sleep.
• June 12th. The weather gets a bit chilly as clouds pass overhead and it is windy, but it never rains. Thurton spends time in the gardens and manages to successfully grow a Triktodite plant for the old man. Most people spend the day inside, playing checkers, reading and talking. Creyton seems to keep to himself for the most part, contemplating things with a desire to be left alone.
• June 13th. The day is pleasant and clear and warm. It is spent in anticipation of seeing the old man that night. People relax, cook, and talk. Kira whittles. Aliana finally makes peace with Sperin about the drinking comments. Thurton seems a bit out of it from his efforts in the garden. Wren flirts with Anastasia. George avoids the annoying humans. Finally, after the sun sets, the old man invites everyone up to the very roof of the tower. He brings up a chair. From this vantage point, they watch the sun set behind the Westworld Mountains in the distance, across the water. They old seer just waits. He has a few gadgets with him. Finally, as the moon rises, the man casts his spell and, in the mist of the sea, everyone sees a vision. Some parts are the same for everyone. Some are different. Everyone sees themselves, all together, traveling to various locales later identified as Elvinhome, the Northern Woods, ancient ruins, a place of pine trees, Flagaton Pol and other places. The old man is exhausted after this and retires. He promises to explain his interpretation in the morning. Some talking is shared on the roof of the tower. It is learned then, or soon after, that Creyton saw himself hunting in the woods, tracking something. Aliana saw herself in the Imperial Tower. Anastasia was on the island, learning from the old seer. Thurton was communicating with animals. Sperin was riding a horse, wearing bloodied armor. Kira was serving as a protector of the group. Aliana and Ana linger longest and talk deep into the night on what all of this might mean.
• June 14th. The old man addresses everyone after breakfast. He explains that either through their own decisions, destiny, fate, coincidence or whatever, they were all brought together. He is not sure why, but mentions that they each have something to learn. That is what he took from the vision. He reminds them that it is only a vision and not fact or truth, but possibilities. It is all up to the individual to take from it what they will. To learn these things, they must travel to many places and he agrees to help them. He explains that they are to first to go Elvinhome, then the First Fort, then the Circle of Pines, then Flagaton Pol. Creyton is to guide them as best he can to these places. The old seer instructs Wren to help them with what they need for traveling and that he will call back the Redwing to help them start on this quest. The rest of the day is spent in preparation. People pack and gather odds and ends to take on the trip. George provides everyone with dried fish for the road. Kira and the old seer spend some time up in his laboratory talking during the afternoon. Thurton talks with George as they get a few things together for the road. Creyton and Sperin discuss all of this strangeness going on around them. Wren asks Anastasia on a date when she gets back and she accepts. Creyton has a long discussion with Aliana about the nature of things and how he feels about them. Then, finally, everyone goes to sleep for tomorrow, the journey begins.

End of Act I