Session 106

General Summary

Dazki pulled himself together enough to explain what had happened over the past few days:

Roamer, a shapeshifting doppelganger, had overpowered the elf, stuffed him into a weapons storage room, and assumed his form. This had happened while Marvin was distracting Lance so that Dazki could have some alone time with Kiirni. (Editor's note: this link should take you right to that spot.)
Roamer's goal was to find an assassin who was sent by Kiirni's tribe to kill her before she could reveal the location of the tunnel under the Invictus Una.
Vic had learned Roamer's secrets, so Roamer was the one who murdered him, under the cover of the Fervor which he was partly resistant to.
Roamer apparently left behind some kind of link to Dazki, which Grogery fears may be related to Turmoil.

The party, Lance and the ship's crew regrouped to discuss next steps.

Lance intends to turn himself in to the authorities once they reached Fort Rondo.
Captain Orcanus wanted to leave Grimes at Fort Rondo as well, to force him to take some time off, but the party convinced him to let Grimes stay on with them (provided that he stay in the cargo hold for the remainder of the trip).

Out of earshot of the captain, Grimes seemed to speak more freely to the party.

He confessed to being the assassin that Roamer was looking for. Her tribe had hired The Hounds Guild to do it, which is how he got the job.
With the assassination plot foiled, Grimes won't be able to be give his Hounds Guild contacts what they're looking for, which is going to complicate things. For now, the plan is to have Marvin disguise himself to pose as Grimes for the meeting, but there's still no plan for what to do about the fact that Kiirni is still alive.
Grimes gladly told the party (probably) everything he knows about the meeting: he was supposed to meet at an altar about 2 days away from Dew Mill, and he needs to make some specific transactions to confirm his identity. He knew that one of the things he needs to trade is some sharp sugar, and the other one is probably something called "dragonbark", according to a Sending reply from the Queen of Hearts.

After stopping briefly at Fort Rondo for Dwardazik to unload his merchandise (and for the captain to unload Lance and Vic's body), the boat continued on to Dew Mill.

On the way, Dazki mentioned that he seems to have gotten a new ability from Roamer which allows him to "steal" abilities or spells from a single willing person each day; Grogery cautioned him about using his spells and abilities that are already affected by Turmoil interference.
Dazki also helped Dwardazik and Grogery make some progress on The Book of the Mirage. Grogery made a breakthrough on the first chapter.

Full Recap

Dazki: Ugh. All right. So, Roamer, I think I told you his name was. Roamer. Yes, he was the dog. Came onto the ship, looking for someone who was — er, is / was / may still be — on the ship, with the goal of assassinating Kiirni. Dwardazik: ...huh? Dazki: Yeah. Not entirely sure why — the connection between us was vague at best: I could kind of see through him, but not completely. We could see into each other's thoughts. Even with Grogery's spell, I still kind-of feel a connection. I think he's worried about it, because that's never happened before. Maybe something to do with the drugs, but anyway... Dwardazik: So, he was here to prevent someone from murdering Kiirni? Dazki: Yeah. He was here trying to do that, so he came on as the dog. Started sniffing around. Apparently, he thought I was the one most likely to be the assassin. Knocked me out when I was alone with Kiirni, talking with her. When Marvin was distracting Lance. He shoved me in the closet, took my form, and he was an imposter from then on. He was trying to figure out who the assassin was, who was an asset, and who was a threat to him. Dazki suddenly seems to lose his train of thought, zoning out for a bit before coming back to it. Dazki: I — ... ... sorry, my head... the trauma... and being unconscious, and ... uhh... Dwardazik: Dazki, are you all right? Dazki: No. Dwardazik steps forward to hug him. Dazki: So anyway, like I was saying, while I was here under the disguise of Dazki, I went to try to get to know, figure out which one of you would be an asset, which one would be a threat, to rescuing my little jewel. Figure out who the intended assassin was. Figure out which ones would be useful, which ones I needed to distract. Because it didn't seem like any of you would be the assassin. Barry over there, COMPLETELY unconcerned with him, he has his own stuff he was working through. Same thing with Kesmet: way too obsessed with himself and The Hounds Guild stuff to be any kind of a concern. Kesmet: Hey! Dazki: Grogery, he was the one that I thought actually stood a chance of figuring me out, so I had to try to keep away from him as much as possible. Marvin was infatuated with Kiirni, which I absolutely could — and did — use to my advantage. And the dwarf. The selfish, deceitful dwarf. Easy to manipulate, easy to fool, easy to trick. More brawn than brains, definitely not any kind of a real threat, just had to keep him where I wanted him. Which seemed easy enough to do. Dwardazik: He's back! My Dazki's back! Dazki: And then I used you guys to investigate the ship — poorly, might I add — while I tried to speak with the crew. Dazki suddenly spaces out again. Dazki: Er, whoa... uh, sorry, what? Where was I? Grogery: You were saying that Kesmet and I, finding a lead for tracking down the Hounds Guild once we dock, was "investigating the ship poorly". Dwardazik: You were insulting me, kinda like how you were insulting me right after Roamer stabbed me in the back. I honestly can't tell if that's you or not you. Kesmet: Actually, Dazki sounded very salesman-like just then. I think he got possessed. Dazki: Yeah, I think I was at — Roamer tried to figure out which one of you he could use and not use, then question the crew, and then tried to get you to not investigate the murder that he committed. Obviously, it was Roamer (disguised as me) that Vic had seen. He had a little bit of resistance to the drug. He was poised and ready with Kesmet's dagger. Quick stab in the throat, and then a yank, made that happen. Dwardazik: Wait-a-wait-a-wait-a-minute! WHEN did you get replaced?! Dazki: About an hour after the dog got on the ship. Dwardazik: UGGGGGH!! Dazki: Yeah, apparently he thought you guys — we all — were pretty stupid, for just trusting a random stray animal. Given what happened, I can't say he was wrong. Kesmet: I mean, hey. We can't win 'em all. We've had our fair share of scuffles. Statistically, it was bound to happen that one of our random enemies would get lucky. Dazki: So anyway, investigating the boat, trying to figure out who was the assassin sent to kill Kiirni. He was convinced it was Orcanus. I think you even heard one of his little conversations about that, Marvin? Kesmet: The captain?! Dazki: Yeah. Marvin: Yeah, I did pick up on that. Dazki: He seemed dead set on it. Dwardazik: He wanted to kill her? Orcanus did?! Dazki: He thought Orcanus did. He didn't know who the assassin was. Someone sent by Kiirni's tribe to kill her. Kesmet: But he's so silly! Dwardazik: Someone sent by Kiirni's tribe, to kill her? Dazki: Yeah, they want to kill her so she doesn't reveal the tunnel underneath the Invictus Una, because it's a critical trade route so that they can get food and other supplies that they don't have access to outside of this region. Dwardazik: That means Orcanus is a double agent? Dazki: I didn't know who it was! Suspects. He didn't know who it was! And he still doesn't. Kesmet: So, it was kind of a, "nothing personal" kind of situation. Whoever this assassin is, they were trying to silence her before revealing whatever this trade route is. Dazki: Yeah, but — Grogery: And Roamer came to rescue her and figure out who the assassin was so he could kill the assassin and then escape with Kiirni. Dazki: Yeah, but I — The others begin talking over one another. Dazki: Can I finish, guys?! Instead of having you ramble like idiots?! A bit of silence. Dwardazik: ...you know what, this Dazki's kind of mean. Kesmet: We're not buying anything. A bit more silence. Dazki: ...thank you! (Sigh) So. Investigated the crew, gave a big speech. That speech is actually the reason why he thought Orcanus was the assassin. He charmed several members of the crew, and Orcanus was the only one that was able to resist his magic. So, your little idea, Marvin — "Confess", and you cast Command on Grimes — he had actually been doing that for several questions before you came up with that idea. Apparently, some other kind of bardic magic. Dwardazik: Look, Marvin, maybe you should be more aware of this stuff? I mean, aren't you a bard? Wouldn't you have known that — Dazki: As I was CONTINUING to say, Orcanus resisted his magic. That's why he thought Orcanus was the assassin. Tried to get him to confess, because he didn't want to kill an innocent person — (He glances at Vic) — well, another innocent person — well, I guess he wasn't too innocent, but — anyway, a person unrelated to the assassination plot. And then, once Dwardazik tried to go into that room, he panicked, stabbed the dwarf, told him the truth, ran back out to rescue Kiirni, battle ensued, did his best to slow you guys down and prevent you from stopping them without doing any serious harm, and the two of them have now escape to who-the-hell-knows-where. Oh, and apparently, there's a werewolf on board?! Dwardazik: Something like that. So, Dazki, are you connected to this interloper? Roamer? Dazki: There's still some kind of a... distant connection. I think I ended up... exchanging something with him? I don't know how to describe it, but I can still kind-of feel a small connection to him. Dwardazik: My concern is — well, obviously for you, but — if we potentially can't trust Orcanus, and he's going to try to sell us out, and we just lost the person who we could blame, then we might have to work with these other two people... I can't believe I'm saying this, but... if we're going to complete our mission and get through the damn wall, we might need to find this Kiirni. Dazki: Yeah, but here's the thing. He doesn't know that it's Orcanus, he didn't have any proof, and when he confronted Orcanus about it, Orcanus did not confess in spite of certain magics being levied. So, we don't know that Orcanus is the person who was sent to kill Kiirni. And, honestly, I think he might have even changed his mind on who the potential assassin might be at the end. He heard the werewolf roar something like, "She is mine", or something like that. So it might be this werewolf that, apparently, is on our ship now. Marvin: And so, how did Vic end up with a knife in his throat? Dazki: Oh yeah, when he was threatening to expose the secret of someone onboard. That was Roamer, in my body, and so Roamer took that opportunity to use Kesmet's knife, stab him through the throat, and pull. Marvin: Well, that solves that mystery. Dwardazik: Are you doin' OK? Dazki: For the third (fourth?) time this conversation, no, no I'm not. Keep up. Grogery: Careful. Your Baxton is showing. Marvin: He's been through a lot. Grogery: I know. Dwardazik: Well, I know, I just dug him out of the weapons closet! Kesmet: Grogery, are you able to cast Calm Emotions on Dazki? Dwardazik: I don't know if we even want that right now? Might be better for him to explain to us what he's currently feeling. Might give us insight. Dazki: Currently, the worst migraine I've ever had. Marvin scratches at a wound from where the werewolf bit him. Dwardazik: OK. Calm Emotions might work. Grogery: I am very low on magic right now... Marvin scratches more furiously. Marvin: Well, that's a damn shame. This scratch isn't going away anytime soon. Kesmet: I could cauterize it? Marvin: ...no. Dwardazik: Kesmet. Cauterizing it won't work on something like this. It's not profusely bleeding. Kesmet: OK. Grogery: Was it poisoned? Did the werewolf get you? Marvin: Oh, the werewolf got me, all right! Kesmet, you know some shit about werewolves, how fast does this stuff take hold? Kesmet indicates that it's heavily dependent on the lunar cycle. Regardless, the longer it goes on, the harder it is to cure it. Grogery: Might as well nip it in the bud right now. This is important enough. Marvin: Before you do it, though — Dwardazik: You're not seriously considering this, are you? Marvin: I mean, I've been feeling pretty useless lately, not gonna lie... Dwardazik: Look, Grogery, I think that bite might have done something to him. He's thinkin' crazy. Grogery, with a hint of shade: Yes, because having a potential source of power tends to alter people's outlook. Such that they tend to disregard the consequences of said power. Dwardazik: Wait a minute, are you implying what I think you're...? ...Marvin, do you want this power? How about we ask you? Kesmet: Marvin. This is going to be the worst STD you can possibly imagine. It's going to be incredibly itchy. And it will flare up, at least once a month, for the rest of your natural existence. Is it worth it? You have a very short window — roughly, five or six days — to get it cured. Marvin: Yeah... let's get it cured. Dazki: On top of that — Marvin, you're not useless. You're just as valuable a party member as anyone else here. And I appreciate having you around. Dwardazik: Oh, Marvin gets appreciated, but what am I?! I saved you! Grogery: Everyone here is appreciated! Marvin: First off, Dazki, thank you. Dazki: I was never in any danger. Dwardazik: You know what, nuh-uh, I'm not talkin' to you right now. Marvin: To be fair, Dwardazik, when he was insulting you earlier, I'm pretty sure that was the influence of whatever connection that was. Kesmet: Hey, where's that paladin dude? Was he ever suspected of being the assassin, or whatever? Marvin: He's too high to be the assassin. Kesmet: Actually, he's probably in the cargo hold. Which is very low. Dwardazik, to Kesmet: Swap places with me. I don't want to be next to Dazki. They swap, which moves Dwardazik further away from Dazki. Dazki: Dwardazik. I promised you. If I was ever going to have any kind of physical conflict with you, I would do it openly. That promise still stands. I'm not the doppelganger. Dwardazik, ignoring him and looking to Barry, who's even further away from Kesmet: Hey, Barry, how you doin'? Barry: ...this whole thing's really confusing. Dwardazik, patting him on the shoulder: We'll be OK. We'll figure things out. Marvin: So, let's be real, guys. This was kind of all my fault. I brought the dog onboard. Dazki: He would've gotten onboard one way or the other. Kesmet: If you want to go that route, I'm the one who gave him the dagger. I share some of the responsibility. Grogery: If you want to play the blame game, I had every single tool in the toolbox to be able to figure this out: the ability to see through Roamer's disguise, the dog's disguise, the ability to calm all of our emotions, the ability to get people to tell the truth. But just through poor preparation, and not having the spine to do anything, and being wrapped up in all of this — Dwardazik: Yeah, and I could've punched Dazki earlier. Kesmet: Yeah, you guys suck. Barry: Yeah, or you could've spoke to the guy's ghost or something! That's a cleric thing! He would've told you right away, right? Grogery: It's not something that I'm particularly inclined to do. Dazki: Either way, we all could've done things better, but it's not anyone's fault. We just need to learn from it and move on. Marvin: Fair enough. Dazki: No one here is blaming you. Dwardazik: "Just move on", as one of our party members gets thrown into a closet, nearly killed, and cursed! Dazki: Look! He was here to rescue someone he loved. I'm not gonna blame the man for that. Err... not "man", "creature"... non-binary-gender shapeshifter... Marvin: Oh, it wasn't another drow? Dazki: No, it was a doppelganger. Marvin: Oh! I just assumed it was another drow in disguise. Dwardazik: Wait, what's a doppelganger? Grogery: It wasn't a drow, specifically... weird grey thingy. I thought it was some sort of Turmoil interference or something. Dazki: I think he did have some kind of Turmoil interference in him. That's how he was able to steal my powers... doppelgangers, I don't think they can normally do that. Grogery: Either way, everyone here seems to be OK. Dazki: Yeah, and he went out of his way — other than Vic — not to hurt people. Grogery: And Vic was also about to hurt Kiirni. Dwardazik: I got stabbed in the back. Kesmet: I got shot with lightning. Marvin: That was Kiirni. Still inexcusable. Dazki: And yes, he did panic and stab Dwardazik.... he/it/whatever... I'm referring to this creature as a "he", because he impersonated me, and I'm a male. I don't mean any disrespect towards shapeshifters. Dwardazik: It's not even here! Kesmet: Isn't he?!?!?! Dazki: As far as I know, he isn't. Kesmet: Well, this is all fascinating and good, but can we all not stand in a room filled with dry-bloody-corpse? Let's go back up top and get some fresh air. Marvin: Should we check on the paladin first? Lance? Kesmet: Nope. Marvin: He's been down there for a while. Kesmet: That is his business. First, fresh air. Then we go check on him. Marvin: He might've overdosed. Dwardazik: Lance is his own thing, and I don't want to deal with whatever's going on down there. Kesmet: Tell you what. Barry and I will go check it out. You guys drag Dazki out onto the main deck and get some fresh air. Dwardazik: Dazki can walk, himself! He doesn't need any help! He's a strong, independent elf! Marvin: Where is this coming from, Dwardazik? You were hugging him just a minute ago, and now you're avoiding him like the plague? Dazki: Look, I'm sorry for whatever the doppelganger said or did, but it wasn't me! Dwardazik: Yeah, honestly, the doppelganger was nicer. Marvin: You got stabbed, in the back! Dwardazik, flustered: Yeah, well... Dazki is... would've... he just talks, he wouldn't... at least Roamer has the balls to... face-to-face... Marvin: He didn't face-to-face! You said he stabbed you in the back! Dwardazik: That's the same as "face-to-face", for a rogue. Marvin: You! You're the one in need of fresh air, Dwardazik. Go get some fresh air. Dazki: Well... I'm here whenever you want to talk, Dwardazik... Dwardazik: No, you're the one who doesn't want to talk, Mr. "I'm OK" three times! I don't need to talk to you, you're OK. (He storms off. Grogery slips out after him.) Dazki, looking around at everyone: What, did... did the doppelganger do something, like, awful, other than the obvious stabbing him in the back? Marvin: He said some mean words. Barry: I mean, the murder's not that great? Dazki: I meant to Dwardazik, but yes, murder is never a good thing. Marvin: OK, guys, I'll meet you up top in a bit, but I also want to check on Lance. We don't need any more dead on this boat. Kesmet: OK, so Marvin and I... you know what, we can have Barry go upstairs too, he seems to have been hyperventilating in this corner, he needs some fresh air too. Marvin and I will, alone, no one else around, check on Mr. Paladin. Dazki: Sure.

As Dwardazik storms his way up to the top of the boat, he passes Orcanus on his way up to steer the ship, carrying a naked, unconscious, no-longer-werewolf Grimes under his arm. Dwardazik gives him a nod.

How much of that stuff is in Lance? A Lot

Marvin knocks on the door to the fore of the cargo hold, and then Kesmet kicks it open.

Kesmet: Lance! Are you OK? Have you overdosed? He sees Lance unconscious on the floor. Yep, he's dead. Upon further inspection, Lance seems to be mumbling a little bit. Kesmet: Does he need cauterization? Marvin: Where do you see blood?! Do you see blood? Nobody sees blood. Marvin casts a healing spell to get him up. Kesmet: Lance, wake up. You missed all the action! Lance, groggy: Who... who turned on the lights? Kesmet, producing some flame in his hand: His name was Jonathan. You gotta go get 'im. Come on, let's go, up and at 'em! Lance, get the fuck up! Marvin: You've been down here for a while, man. Lance: um... ... ... you've been down here for a while! Marvin: Oh, we're playin' that game, eh? Lance: Come on, man, just... just let a guy hang out on his last day of freedom, OK? Marvin: "Last day of freedom"?! Dude, there's been some shit just happened, OK? Lance: Listen, I... the writing's on the wall. I heard the confrontation. I'm a bad guard. I'm goin' down for this, and I guess I just... took a little too much? But I'm not going to be able to for a while, so that seems fair. Marvin: You can sit here and feel sorry for yourself, or we can try to do something about it. This isn't over yet! Lance: I mean, did everybody... are they still all alive up there? Marvin: Vic is super dead, but you knew that already. Everyone else is still alive. Lance: So... ugh. I have to come clean, though. Marvin: Yeah, it's a long road ahead of you, if you have to do that. Kesmet: That sounds like something that's between you and... you. Let's get up to the main deck. Lance: Yeah. As long as I can finish this mission, maybe they'll forgive part of the drug thing. Marvin:
Marvin: So... yeah. Let's get you up to the main deck, where everybody else is. And... your mission, exactly, is: get Kiirni there, find the tunnel, and seal it up, right? That was the mission? Lance: No, all I gotta do — it's the easiest job every — I just gotta make sure the prisoner makes it to the forward team that was supposed to meet in Dew Mill. That's it! And I can't even do that right, 'cause I'm down here drowning in guilt! Marvin: So, what was the forward team supposed to do? Lance: I assume they locate the tunnel from there. Marvin: OK... so, as it turns out... apparently, one of Kiirni's own clan had intended on assassinating her. To prevent her from leaking the information that would seal the tunnel. Lance: Like I said before, I took the duty of protecting you from the prisoner just as honestly as protecting the prisoner from others. Marvin: I get that. What I'm saying is, her own clan's out to get her now. Lance: Well, I would assume so. She's a traitor, right? No home to go to. She's betrayed everybody, right? Marvin: It would seem so. Lance: Still, that's kind of a sad way to end your struggling life, right? Your own clan killing you? I wonder how the other guards are going to deal with me... Marvin: We'll work that out... one step at a time, OK? Let's get upstairs. Lance: ... ... ...OK. OK, fine.

Grogery is sitting on a box just outside the bunk room, contemplating something. Dazki sits down next to him.

Dazki: Hey, what's going on? Are you doing all right? Grogery: I don't think anyone on this ship is doing OK right now. Dazki, with a long, drawn-out sigh: Yeah, I know. Grogery: Except maybe Kesmet. A lot of stuff just rolls right off of him. Dazki: You know, I'm actually kind of jealous of him, with that. But yeah, I got exposed to the drug too. That's what Roamer used to knock me out. I'm feeling some weird effects from it as well. Grogery: What kind of effects? Dazki: Obviously, there's still the lingering connection to the shapeshifter. If I remember correctly from hearing through our link, it was some kind of emotion type thing? Grogery: Yeah. It's supposed to amplify your emotions so you can properly express them and get it out of your system. But, not all emotions can just be "gotten out of your system". Dazki: Yeah. Yeah, I know, I really just want to be done with all this, you know? I want to go home, I want to go back where people actually appreciate me — not saying that people here don't, but it's different with family. Where I feel a different kind of love and appreciation and everything like that than I do with you guys, you know? It's just... things feel simpler. Easier to understand there, you know? Grogery: Maybe for you, I guess. Dazki: Yeah... that's fair... Grogery: A lot of what I'm going through right now is... I can't even cast Sending to my brother anymore, you know? Dazki: I honestly don't. I've never been blessed with magic like you have. So the best I can do is write a letter to my family, hope it gets there, hope they see it, hope they're still there, hope that in what, five, ten years when I go back, they'll remember me. So, I have never had that. I don't know what it's like to have it, and I don't know what it's like to lose it. Grogery: Like, I guess I could still try Sending to him. Half the time it gets there, and half the time, it goes to a random person. I can't let my parents — well, they're... yeah, they're still kind-of my parents — I can't let them figure out that I'm doing this. I don't know if they would try to do something to punish him. Do you know of a way that I could maybe send him a letter, without them figuring out that it's me? That seems pretty hard, considering that they probably don't trust him to go through his own mail right now. Dazki: If you want, you can dictate a letter or two to me. I'll write it down, it'll be in my handwriting, and I can send it for you. Grogery: That would be good. Dazki: Yeah, absolutely. And if you guys had any kind of codes, or other special things that only the two of you would understand, then we can put those in there so that you two could communicate that way instead of through whatever letter I'm writing, so that they wouldn't necessarily be too suspicious. Don't get me wrong, you and your brother already run in even higher circles than I do, so sending him a letter out of the blue might be a little suspicious. But, it's worth a shot. Grogery: It's better than letting him think I suddenly died. I told him, when I was able to get in contact with him, that I was in a spot where I couldn't Send to him very easily. That was back when I thought we were still getting interference from Overlook. Dazki: Well, here's another thought. Could you describe your brother to Marvin, well enough that he might be able to cast Sending to him? Marvin isn't having any issues with that. Grogery: Usually, it's a lot easier if you actually know the person... Dazki: Yeah, I just don't know if you have to actually know the person, or if you could be "familiar with them" through stories from someone else? Especially if you know the name and things like that? I don't know if that's doable. Grogery: It's someone you have to be "familiar with"... I've never tried to Send to somebody whom I don't actually know personally. Dazki: It's worth a shot? There's still ways we can get you in contact with him, to let him know you're all right. You're not alone. Grogery: I think I'm understanding a lot of... so, one of the tenets of Pelor is to try to avoid negativity when you can. It's not so much "don't feel sad", but by trying to force these feelings down instead of trying to seek resolution for them, it's like you're basically ignoring a wound that's been inflicted upon you. Dazki: Well, hey, positive outlook too, right? Maybe we find these people on the other side of the Invictus Una, they can help us solve whatever's going on with your magic, and you'll be able to Send to him again, soon! Right as rain! Grogery: It's gonna be hard in the meantime, but all wounds take time to heal. Dazki: And, hey, I know it's different, just like I said. But you still have a family here, all right? Grogery: A family of... uh... it's sometimes hard to feel close to you guys, both because everyone has their own issues and, like... I dunno, it's probably just the Fervor talking at this point, but it's like... Dwardazik has something going on with him, Kesmet doesn't really care about any of the specifics of what we're trying to do, I'm not really sure about Marvin, and... it's also kind of hard to unload baggage onto an elf whom I kind of see as an authority figure, if you know what I mean? Dazki: Heh... yeah, I'm gonna have to say... you're higher up on the totem pole than me. Grogery: You're the one who walked into the casino without anyone blinking an eye. I had to sneak in! I have to constantly put on a show for everyone who's not in the party, because I have to make a good impression, both for my sake and for everybody else who shares my race! Dazki: We all have to put on a show. I know yours is different, I'm not trying to diminish what you have to do, because it is much, much harder. But everyone wears a mask. Yours is harder to wear than the rest of ours. And I'm sorry that a good person such as you has to deal with that. Grogery: Thanks for talking with me, this has actually been... pretty great. Dazki: We're friends, it's what we're here for. Grogery: And I know that the connection with Roamer could probably help us in figuring out where he is, what he's doing, and all that. But currently, I have Baxton's ring, so if you need that to kind of get a break from Roamer — Dazki: It's pretty vague, and it's kind of... I have a feeling it's not going to last much longer. It feels like he's trying to actively break it. Grogery: Then that probably means we should try to hang onto it for a bit. Dazki: Like I said, I think I have... something of his, still, inside of me. It feels different, if that makes any sense. Grogery: Let's just hope it's not a Baxton Eye, or whatever Dwardazik and I are going through. Dazki: Well, if it is, then we're all in it together. One more thing that makes us a team, right? Come on, let's get on back upstairs. Grogery: Before that... just in case something like that happens again, I am attuned to Baxton's Ring of Mind Shielding, which I think provides some mental protection. Dazki: If you want it, it's yours. I don't know that I could deal with him right now. If you don't want to deal with him right now, I can take it off your hands. Grogery: He's been pretty quiet lately. I think he is probably extremely fed up that we're all being emotional messes, and "why won't you just obviously kill the elf, he's an imposter!". He hasn't actually said that, but I can almost feel him thinking about it. Dazki: Fair. Grogery: So, if we do end up in a situation like that, I'm probably the least likely to get affected by any of those mind-affecting things. And I do have the resources to be able to remove that from people, so that seems like a pretty good choice. Dazki: And like I said, Roamer didn't really seem to want to hurt anyone other than the person who was out for Kiirni. So, I've got a feeling that we're probably going to be safe from him. Anyway, I'm gonna go grab Barry and head up to the deck. Grogery: All right. Let me know when you want to go through that poetry book. Dazki: Sounds good.

Main Deck

It's the middle of the day. Everyone is back on the main deck, the last few members arriving in the middle of Kesmet explaining something.

Kesmet: ...and that's how you get infinite wishes! Simple. Marvin: Yeah, I... don't think that's how it works, Kesmet. Kesmet: No, no, it totally does! This one guy that I met in a bazaar told me. Marvin: A bazaar. Dwardazik, pointing to the weapons: Hey, lads, go ahead and pick up your weapons if you haven't already. Kesmet: So. Dazki: Yeah? Kesmet: I'm goin' to bed. (He leaves to go to bed.) Grogery: Also, just so everybody is aware, I only have the ability to raise one person before refreshing spells. So, don't everybody all go dying all at once. Dazki: ...we'll keep that in mind... Marvin, with a forced laugh: Hahaha, Grogery, you're such a kidder! (...thanks again, by the way, of taking care of the werewolf shit...) Grogery: You're welcome. I think, for large enough ships, it might be a good idea for them to just have a cleric onboard. If you think about it, we can make food and water, we can heal injuries even when you're away from a lot of supplies. A lot of clerics can do things to impact the weather, so that might help your ship to go faster, or be able to go in different directions more easily. Then there's the things like removing curses, — Dazki: I am gonna say this, Grogery. It takes someone particularly attuned to the gods to do those things. You're a little bit special in that regard. Not everyone's going to have someone as powerful as you around. Barry: Yeah, I don't think I can really do most of that stuff! And I paid a lot of money! Grogery: I can imagine a particularly large, heavily-invested ship, having a cleric onboard specifically to prevent problems. Marvin, obviously sarcastically: Oh yes, Barry, because we all know that gold is a true indication of one's own devotion! Barry: Well... well, good! Marvin: No, I... I was lying. I was lying, Barry. It is not. You'll get there one day, though. I think. Grogery: By the way, Barry, if you ever want to learn how to cast clerical spells, or just practice with healing magic in general, I'd be willing to help you out with that. Barry: ...OK, but nothing you say is gonna bring her back if she's dead, right? Marvin: ...wat. Dazki: Huh? Grogery: There is some magic to do that, but it is extremely powerful and extremely expensive. Dazki: Who are we talking about? Barry: I still don't know, but I miss her real bad! Probably 'cause she's probably dead. Dwardazik: Grogery, you should keep that resurrection spell for someone you really care about. Grogery: I mean, like, OK, there's basically four types of resurrection spells, OK? There's... Dwardazik: All seems kind of crazy to me. You can die, and just... get brought back to life. Marvin: You have firsthand experience with that, buddy! Dwardazik: I know, I know. Marvin: Fuckin' living legend over here! Dwardazik: I'm no Kraghunter. Lance, suddenly snapping into a bit of a concern: Where did you guys put the convict? Marvin: So, that's what we were trying to tell you... uh... Dazki: She... escaped. Lance:
Dazki: She and her shapeshifting lover escaped. Lance: Nah, nah, she what now?! Marvin: She poofed! She's gone! Flew away like a bird! Dazki: She shot a lightning bolt into the hull of the ship and got away. Lance: Well, how did... I thought... ahh, fuck. Marvin: Remember that dog? That dog that I... thought was a dog? Apparently that was a fuckin' shapeshifter! Lance: Fuck, that was... that was really my only saving grace, for this whole situation... Marvin: Well, you spent a lot of time with her, right? Obviously, guarding over her? Did she confide in you at all about anything? You looked after her way better than Vic did, right? Lance: Of course I did, she's my supplier, you moron! Dazki: Ahh. Marvin: Oh. God fucking damnit. Well, there it is. OK. And that explains that. Kesmet, walking out onto the deck: Keep it down out here! Some of us are trying to sleep! (He walks back again.) Marvin: I am going to play the lowest bass notes possible on my mandolin, in his ear, later. Lance: Nope. That's it. I gotta turn myself in now. Marvin: So, OK, Lance. Lance. Come on. Did she confide in you at all about anything? Do you any idea the first place she would go, if she had escaped? Lance: I know a lot of places she wouldn't. Dazki: We can start crossing places off the list if we need to search, then. Lance: I mean, her tribe's trying to kill her, right? So, not there. Marvin: Not there. So she wouldn't be heading towards the tunnel, I assume. 'cause the tunnel would obviously lead to her tribe, and they could be waiting for her there. Dazki: Makes sense. Lance: I think she's gonna lie low. I don't think... shit, man! She doesn't make the same mistake twice. Marvin: You obviously don't have the information about the location of the tunnel yet. Lance: No, only she has that. Marvin: So, this whole plan was set up with your superiors, and they sent you on this mission, without already having that information? Lance: If we had the information, we would've just killed her in town! ...well, not me, personally... Marvin: Oh. So, I assume this "forward team" was going to torture the information out of her? Lance: The rangers. She struck a deal. She was gonna lead 'em right to that tunnel. Look, I'm not a commanding officer! I just follow the orders! Dwardazik: Lance, just explain to 'em what happened. Tell the truth. Do it The Dazki Way™, and everything will be fine. Lance: No, I'm gonna have to turn myself in. Dazki: Dwardazik, are you under some kind of spell again? Dwardazik: Don't know what you're talkin' about! Lance: I just... when we get off at Rondo, I'm gonna turn myself in. I'm gonna explain everything. That's it for me and my career. Marvin: Hang on, hang on. What do you know about the Hounds Guild? This is a complete shot in the dark, but... do you have any info on the Hounds Guild that could help us? We're heading in that direction, this is all connected. "The Metronome Man", plus the Hounds Guild, plus this tunnel, The Phantasmagoria... Lance: "All connected"? Dazki: Yeah, yeah. Lance: The Hounds Guild doesn't deal in the drugs that I need. Grogery: But do they still get supplied from the tunnel? Lance: How the heck would I know? I'm not from here. Grogery: OK, here's something interesting. Grimes is associated with the Hounds Guild, for obvious reasons. Apparently, what happened with him is that he got cursed while off sailing, and he couldn't get back into town before it took too deep a hold of him where he couldn't get cured. Lance: Wait, like, a witch's curse? Grogery: Like a... werewolf... kind of curse. Lance: Wait, you guys let a werewolf drive the ship?! The ship that's supposed to safely travel... what kind of "favors" does this captain make?! Grogery: Listen. I don't think anybody knew he was a werewolf. Grimes just generally acted sort-of shifty. He has a deal set up with some Hounds Guild members where we are going. Lance: Why ask me things? I know nothing. Marvin, agreeing: Grimes might be our other lead to this tunnel. Grogery: Listen. We talked with Grimes. We've struck a deal with him: in turn, he knows that the Hounds Guild are bad news, but he doesn't have any choice but to associate with them, because he needs a way to control the curse afflicting him. Apparently, the Hounds Guild knows ways of doing this. So he was going to do some favors for them, and in return, they would kind-of "bring him into the fold", so-to-speak. Lance: Do you have any evidence that'll stick on him? Evidence on this fella tends to just run right off of 'im. Grogery: I mean... throw a piece of silver at him? Lance: He was caught, slaughtering livestock, and murdering a farmhand. Nothing sticks. Grogery: We have a confession out of him that at least two people have witnessed. Marvin got bitten by him. Lance: Sure, but earlier today, he was screaming that he was a thief and an assassin! Everything he says is a lie! Dwardazik, calling up: Hey, Orcanus! Orcanus: Aye? Dwardazik: You listening to this? Orcanus: Yeah, I'm listening. Grogery: He is going to lead us to the Hounds Guild in the area. If they have any sort of association with the drug trafficking that's going through The Wall™, we can use them to figure out where the supply routes are, and hopefully run across Kiirni's clan. Lance: Why are you telling me all this? You're just implicating me in more crimes that I have to tell... Grogery: I'm just saying that it's a possible path of redemption for you. "Hey, Kiirni got broken out, but we found this other lead that can take us to her". Marvin: Exactly. Grimes is our Plan B. Lance: Well, it's not gonna fly, man. I'm not gonna be on the lam trying to hunt down some vigilantes or whatever, like some goddamn hero. I'm not that. Marvin: Sounds like the only other solution, based on your own words, is that you go to jail. So what's it gonna be, Lance? You wanna be the hero? Lance: I have always been a professional. A hero is not a professional. Dwardazik: Ain't that the truth... Marvin: Yeah, you got me there. Lance: I will accept the consequences of my actions. Marvin: Oh, that's some bullshit. Reject it! Grogery: It would be sad to see you punished for something that is just — Lance: Something what? Something that I DID DO? Something that I should have been competent enough to deal with, and wasn't? Why can't I take the blame here? It's my blame! I did it! I failed here! Dazki: You were not the shapeshifter. You did not shoot the hole in the hull of the ship. You did not do any of that. You attempted to discharge your duties to the best of your abilities. You were tricked. It happens. Learn from it, stand tall, admit your mistakes, and move on. Lance: It'll be up to the courts to decide if that's a good enough defense. Marvin: So you're just giving up? Lance: It's not giving up. If you had done all the things that I've done, I would've turned you in! I am not above the law that I serve. Grogery: Well, we have fraternized with people who were trying to overthrow the government of Ashport, and then realized what we were doing, and killed him. Dwardazik: Shit, this ain't a drinking contest. We don't need to one-up each other on our crimes, do we? Grogery: The only reason we're not currently in jail is because we got pardoned. Lance: I'm not going to run from these problems. I'm going to the court, and I'm going to repent for what I've done. I am guilty. Marvin: What exactly did you do? Get high? Yeah, the prisoner escaped. You are clearly addicted, and that is not your fault. Grogery: You're also using language implying that you personally did a bunch of bad stuff? Which, I mean, it doesn't sound like you did? Dazki: Yeah, so, what exactly are you claiming that you're guilty of, here? List the crimes for me. Lance: Well, I definitely lack professionalism. I do drugs to solve a problem instead of admitting that I shouldn't be doing this job in the first place. Marvin: That doesn't sound like a crime. Unless... if just holding this drug is a crime? I don't know... Lance: I could be at fault — Marvin: It sounds like you'll just get fired, if anything. Lance: The convict, she's a terrorist, right? Marvin: Sure, I guess? Dazki: Last I checked, "smuggling" and "terrorism" were two different things. Grogery: There might be different laws in place, since it involves bringing things across the Invictus Una. It's one thing if you're just moving drugs from place to place, but this could be Turmoil-contaminated stuff. Dwardazik: Well, while you guys figure out what's going on over here, I'm going to go check up on Kesmet. (He leaves, giving a nod to Orcanus on his way.) Grogery: We could also possibly spin this as — Vic wasn't exactly doing a great job either. Lance: Vic didn't break any laws. Marvin: Oh, I find that hard to believe. Grogery: Vic was probably torturing Kiirni, and he got knifed because of it. Lance: Well, as much as I hated the guy, it was all within the letter of the law. And if I get blamed for his death too, then so be it. Dazki: The law sounds like a shit law. Marvin: Exactly! Sounds like the law needs a change. Lance: OK, but that's not my job! That's not my job! I am meant to uphold the law. I, instead, decided to trust a bunch of people, whom I knew were dangerous, with who is potentially a known terrorist, and went to just do drugs, to hide a problem where I said everything was fine, and it clearly wasn't fine. Left a bunch of known dangerous people with a terrorist, and I did that like three times, and now she's escaped because I'm grossly incompetent — borderline accomplice — in this whole situation. Dazki: You are not "grossly incompetent". You are having a serious medical issue that caused some problems. Yes, there will be consequences, but don't just give up. Lance: I don't understand how it's "giving up". I don't understand it. If I am to trust the law, then I will give myself to the law. Marvin: Then how will this ever be made right? Who's gonna do it? Who's gonna make this right, if you're in jail? Lance: Make what "right"? I'm not a seeker of glory. Grogery: So you're going to give yourself over to the authorities and say "I was doing drugs instead of doing a competent job at protecting this prisoner, and possibly as a result, said prisoner escaped". What happens if they decide not to lock you up for it? Maybe they'll put you on probation or something? Lance: It's up to them. It's not up to me. Grogery: Parts of it could be up to you. If you argue on your own behalf, and you're willing to do the work to try to recompense what has happened, and be a better guard, then — Lance: Turning myself in is doing that. Grogery: We're not arguing necessarily against you turning yourself in. It sounds an awful lot like you're going to turn yourself in and say "OK, take me away to jail now", instead of trying to argue on your own behalf. Lance: I'm a professional. I'm going to prosecute myself. Dazki: No, you're not a prosecutor. Grogery: A professional doesn't accept a job poorly done. Dazki: You said you're a professional guard. Responsible for upholding the law, yes. You're not responsible for trials against people who have made mistakes. You need to get a lawyer to defend you, you need to stand up for yourself, you need to do what you can to argue your point, and at the very least argue for leniency, because you have extenuating circumstances. Lance: Well... we'll see when I get there, right? Dazki: Just promise me you're gonna make the decision to advocate for yourself. There is nothing about being a guard that says you can't advocate for yourself when you've made a mistake. Lance: Well, yeah, I'm not... ugh, no, I can't say that, because I am a bad guard. Grogery: You'd be an even worse guard if you didn't try to be a better one. Lance: I will attempt to protect myself as I protect others, but I am incompetent at both. We will see how it goes. Grogery: Well, let us know if you need any — Dazki: No offense, Grogery, but I think he's probably done with our help. Grogery: I can see that, but offer to aid whenever possible. Lance: Well. We should probably clean up that room, or we're going to have nowhere to sleep tonight. Grogery: I can help with any sort of rites for Vic. Is there a reason why we all came out here? Oh yeah, OK, we've already explained that Grimes is a werewolf, and that's kind of the whole plan. Apparently, he has some "errands" to run for the Hounds Guild. They say that they'll start teaching him some things after he's done with all of them. Jury's still out on how we want to handle that. If we want to set up an ambush for Hounds Guild members at that point, or watch from a distance so that we can follow him further up the chain of command? That sort of thing? Barry: So you're sayin' there's still a way in, then, as long as we have one hostage? Not hostage, not hostage, I meant the word... ... ... "accomplice"? Dazki: OK, I'll go head down and see if I can help repair the engine. Grogery: I did some of it. Was there a reason why we all collected up here? Was it just to meet and debrief away from a dead body? Dazki: Yeah. Grogery: OK. Barry: I still don't understand the plan. Dazki: I don't know that we have one. Barry: We should have a plan. Grogery: At the last stop, Grimes was going to do some "errands" for the Hounds Guild. I guess we're to observe / tail him? And when we're in a good spot where we can ambush the Hounds Guild, get some more information, figure out where Dennis is... wait, Kesmet's not here. He would be totally onboard for all of this. We'll try to use that as a way to get more information on where Dennis is, and how "The Metronome Man" is implicated in all of this. Try to determine, for sure, if they are getting supplied by Kiirni's tribe, and if so, then we have a possible link for trying to figure out where that hole is. But I think that our target is actually on this side of The Wall™, interestingly enough. Barry: I just don't get it. Why would he help you ambush the people that are gonna help him? Grogery: Kesmet made a very convincing case that the Hounds Guild are a terrible organization to be in, because his family got killed by them. Marvin: You think Grimes will actually help us, knowingly? Grogery: Well, everything Grimes says is about two and a half levels of shady. But he's the best lead we've got, and beggars can't be choosers. Marvin: True. I have a proposal. ...Grimes and I are about the same height, and if I'm not mistaken, my hair color isn't too far off from his. I bet I could pull off a pretty convincing disguise and make myself look like him. That's something to consider. Grogery: That is something to consider. We would probably still need Grimes to work with us, though, because he'd need to tell us where he's been told to be. Marvin: I think we can at least get that far with him. Orcanus, yelling down: Well, if you want any information from this scumbag, you're gonna have to get it quick. I'm droppin' his ass off in the next city. I'll find somebody else to run this ship if I have to, I'm just very unconvinced. Marvin: I don't blame you! Orcanus: He needed a break, and I'm gonna force him to take one, werewolves be damned. I don't care if he wrecks that whole city. Grogery: Is there a reason why we can't just go straight through to Dew Mill? Orcanus: I'm not keepin' a body on my boat any longer than I have to. I'm stopping at Rondo first. Marvin: And how are you going to explain the body? The truth, is that what we're goin' with? Orcanus: The truth hasn't steered me wrong yet. Grogery: I mean... "the prisoner escaped, and Vic died in the chaos". That's basically what happened. Marvin: That's true, but — Grogery: There's a hole in the side of the ship now! Marvin: Are we just going to be able to continue on our way, or are they gonna hold us? Orcanus: I ain't gonna let 'em hold ya. You didn't do nothin'. Marvin: I appreciate the thought, but — Orcanus: You guys capable of running the ship? We can go to Dew Mill, easy. Grogery: We need Grimes to show us where his Hounds Guild contacts are. Orcanus: Well, you'd better get it from him soon, then. If he's the person that's gonna run my ship, then he's not leavin' the cargo hold. I don't need more wolves. Dazki: Sounds fair. Grogery: What do you mean by "more wolves"? Orcanus: It's just been heartbreak after heartbreak, with all these dogs comin' and goin'! I don't know if my heart can take anymore! Awkward silence Dazki: All right, well — Orcanus: I LOVED HIM LIKE A SON! Marvin: You... you know that dog, Kraken, was a shapeshifter, right? Orcanus: He was a SAINT! He was so furry! Dazki: He blew out one of the windows in your ship! Grogery: He's the one who stabbed Vic, and he stabbed Dwardazik! Orcanus: He didn't do any of that as a dog! Grogery: But... he was... the dog... Dazki: To be fair, that dog does actually have to be out there somewhere for Roamer to have turned into it. Orcanus: You're saying there's still a chance, then? Grogery: Yeah... Dazki: I'm saying that that dog exists, somewhere in this world. And if you keep sailing your heart out, one day you may find him again. Orcanus: ...champions of the sand, I have a quest for you! Dazki, laughing: I can't promise we will be able to fulfill it, but go ahead... Orcanus: I must see my dog one last time! I know I only knew him for a few hours, but it was the only dog I ever loved! Marvin: Something tells me that's some bullshit... Dazki: Yeah, I think you're going to have to be the one to find this dog. It won't feel the same, unless you're the one to find him. Otherwise, you would be denied the reward of all of that effort and the love put into it. Without that, it'll just be hollow. Orcanus, dangling Grimes over and down to the party: All right, but this jackweed is not gonna leave the cargo hold. I can't bear to even see anything next to a dog! Dazki: I'll bring him down there. When he wakes up, he and I will work on the engine to make sure it's in tip-top shape. Orcanus: We will finish my favor. At least one of 'em. We just drop off the two guards at Rondo.

Meanwhile, Dwardazik had a side conversation of his own with Kesmet, after he walked off. Kesmet was pretending to sleep:

Dwardazik: Hey, Kesmet. How ya doin'? I know that there was a werewolf involved, and I know you hate those things. Kesmet, pretending to be stirred awake: Huh? No, no, just the Hounds Guild. He's fine, he's an idiot, he's not part of 'em. Dwardazik: Hmm. All right. You doin' all right? Kesmet: Yep. Dwardazik: Yeah, you look like you're doin' all right... I'm gonna be bunkin' in here, all right? I don't wanna go sleepin' in a room with a dead body. Kesmet: That's understandable. Barry sleeps in here, though. Dwardazik: He'll find a new room. Kesmet: OK.

They all take a short rest to let their emotions calm down, and then they regroup in the meeting room.

Barry: All right. Planning. Dazki: Sounds like you have an idea? Dwardazik: I'm planning some food. I'll be right back. (He leaves, coming back very quickly with food.) Barry: We gotta have a plan. Grogery: It sounds like we gotta get Grimes involved, if we're gonna talk about the plan? Dwardazik: Do we really need to get that guy involved? Grogery: We need to know what sort of "errands" he needs to do. Dwardazik: That's putting a lot of faith in him telling us the truth, and even helping us to begin with. Grogery: Kesmet was really convincing. Barry: All right, to the cargo hold! (He confidently marches down.) Dwardazik: Ugh. Let's go follow Barry, I guess. Everyone goes down there. Marvin: You're not gonna bite anyone this time, are you? Grimes: Listen, man, I don't... I told you it was a problem. And now it's a double problem. Marvin: You didn't tell me shit. Grimes: I told some of you shit! Grogery: How is it a "double problem"? Seems to be the same level of problem? Grimes: No. No, it's not. It's not, because now — (nervous laugh) — we can't finish our deal. Marvin: "We"? Dazki: Why not? What was the deal? Grimes: So, like — (nervous laugh) — remember? Crimes, on the ship, remember? Grogery: Yeah? Grimes: Well, now my crimes have literally flown the coop! Grogery: Oh, you were working with them to get the drug supply? Grimes: I don't give a shit about the drugs, that's just a side gig. Marvin: Were you the one tasked with killing Kiirni? Grimes: She was gonna die anyways, man! Marvin: OK, so that's a "yes". Grogery: So, wait, did the Hounds Guild want to kill her? Marvin: Probably the Hounds Guild and her clan didn't want the tunnel to be destroyed. Dazki: Her clan probably farmed it out to the Hounds Guild. Grimes: This is bad, man, 'cause now I'm gonna have to go out there, and I'm gonna have to meet 'em empty-handed, and — you know what? I'm not goin' out there! They can hunt me down, I'll just be a wolf elsewhere. Kesmet: In all fairness, they're not that great at hunting people down. Dazki: You can tell us where the meeting was going to take place, and we can go instead. Marvin: And, to be clear, this is the Hounds Guild that tasked you with this? Grimes: Well... well, yeah! Marvin: So that means that they're aware of where this tunnel is, correct? Grimes: Probably! Marvin: Are you? Grimes: I'm not goin' to the tunnel! Marvin: That doesn't answer the question. Dazki: Could you tell us where it is, if we wanted to go there? Grimes: ...whaddaya got?... Marvin: There it is. Nice. Dazki: Interest in taking care of your problem with the Hounds Guild, if you tell us. Marvin: Yeah, we might be able to make that go away! Grimes: ...nah, I don't really know where the tunnel is, I just wanted free stuff... you know, a dying man's wish, and all that... Marvin: It was a shot in the dark to think that you might know where it was. If you did, you'd be a liability too. Grogery: But the Hounds Guild should know where the tunnel is. Marvin: From the fact that they care, I'd assume so! Grimes: I mean, most definitely! Marvin: So, why don't you tell us where you were gonna meet them? We might be able to make them not bother you. Grimes: And then you'll let me escape into the night, never to be seen or heard from again? Dazki: We will not give a shit where you go or what you do. Grogery: One of the things I would personally like to learn, while interacting with the Hounds Guild, is how to help werewolves not be as dangerous. You said you were going to go to the Hounds Guild, specifically to learn how to not "wolf out"? Grimes: They seem to control it! They only wolf when they wanna wolf! Grogery: If we were to learn this information, you'd probably want to learn it too, right? Grimes: Yeah, I might even trade some gnarly deeds for that! Marvin: "Gnarly deeds"! Grimes: Well, yeah! I mean, I was gonna kill a prisoner, just for information! I said I was an assassin at the very beginning of this thing! He told me to confess, and I said I was an assassin! This is really on you guys! Grogery: Wow, Roamer is a moron! Dazki just starts laughing. Grogery: Can Roamer feel how much of a moron he is? Dazki: I don't really feel him anymore, I don't think, so I'm gonna go with no. Editor's note: someone had an equipment malfunction around this point, so this resumed after an impromptu few-minute break. Grimes: So, you guys, you want to deal with the Hounds Guild, it sounds like? Marvin: One could say that, yes. Dazki: "Want to" and "need to" are two entirely separate things. Dwardazik: We just need to complete our mission. That's all. Grimes: Well. If it's a "NEED"... — Dwardazik: Don't press your luck. Marvin: You also "NEED" to not get killed by them. To get them off your back. Grimes: Well, what are you gonna do about it? What if I just stopped talkin' right now? Marvin: Then they'll probably end up killing you. Grimes: Well... then... then you won't get what you want, if I'm dead! Kesmet draws a silver dagger, and Grimes immediately backs away from him, frightened, stumbling over some boxes. Kesmet: What's the matter? You were talkin' all that good shit a second ago, about denying us just plain information. Ready to pay with your life to deny us that information. And suddenly, you're scared of a measly ol' dagger? Make up your mind! Grimes: There's no need to get rough, OK? Kesmet: Rough? You think this is rough? Did you miss the "murdered my family" part? You will die at their hands! And you're afraid of this thing?! (He waves it around a bit more.) Enough with the bluffs. We know you're too much of a coward to die just to spite us. Grimes: OK, OK! But I don't know how I'm supposed to live if I don't get anything! Marvin: What are you talking about? Grimes: I'm just gonna give you all the information, and then I'm gonna leave the boat, and then I'm just gonna be a poor, broke, doesn't-have-any-gems-or-anything, halfling, and I'm gonna murder somebody with the wolf again, and I'm not gonna be able to pay off anybody, because you won't give me any gems, and then it's gonna be — you're not gonna sleep good at night! Knowing that... that you've sent me to my death, mister! Kesmet, putting his knife away: Bitch please, I was taking a nap not five minutes before we came down here. Marvin: Have you considered acquiring gold through less-scrupulous / more-legitimate means? Grimes: You wanna invest in my business? Marvin: Grimes? Grimes. Listen. You're — Grimes: No-no-no! No, none taken, all right? I'm gonna help you out! I was never not gonna help you out! I thought I made that really obvious! Kesmet: Well, then, what was with the bullshit?! Grimes, getting indignant: What was with your bullshit?! With the knife?! You-you-you pulled a knife on me, man! Marvin: Yeah, that was a little uncalled-for, Kesmet. Kesmet: Everything I do is uncalled-for. Kesmet: You were gonna literally let yourself get killed by them, just to spite us. We're not even the spitable ones! Grimes: I just wanted the gems! Dwardazik: Look, this is ridiculous! Grimes: What kind of fuckin' business venture is this?! I try to negotiate, and then you threaten to stab me! Dwardazik: We're just tryin' to make a deal, dude! Kesmet: Just tell us what you want, instead of saying "oh, maybe if you give me this"... Jesus, you're just like those guards back in that one town. Try to figure out how much they want for a bribe, and they're actin' all cagey not tellin' you an amount, and then they try to arrest you so you have to, like, trick em... Grimes: Oh, I've been there, man. Grimes: It's 10% daily wages. (Kesmet writes this down.) Grimes: Hey! What — wait — amazing idea! The guys I'm s'posed to meet. Never met 'em before. Kesmet: Oh fuck. Grimes: They've never met me before either! Marvin: Do they know what you look like? Grimes: I don't know! That's the good part! Grogery: Marvin had the idea of him trying to disguise himself as you. If you guys aren't familiar, then he can probably pass as you? Grimes: So, if I give you all the information, you can take the deal! Like we were talkin' about before! Marvin: Yeah! Sure! Grimes: OK. Marvin: That way, you don't get killed by them, 'cause you didn't take care of Kiirni, and yeah! Win/win! Grimes: And they'll kill you instead of me, and it'll be perfect! Marvin: Exactly! Dwardazik: Even hearing her name pisses me off. Marvin: It'll wear off in time, Dwardazik. Dazki: Why still so angry? Marvin: He did get stabbed in the back. Dwardazik, sarcastically: I dunno, man! Maybe if someone asked! Grimes: Maybe 'cause, you know, she is supposed to be dead by, like, multiple hands; she's probably real shitty... Grimes: Hey! Back to my plan, though. Marvin: Yeah? Grimes: So. We're meant to meet at an old altar, like, two-days-ish into the the swamp, all right? Marvin: Into the swamp? Grimes: You're going into — ... — you're going into the swamp, mate. I dunno what to tell you. Marvin: Where is the swamp? Dwardazik, looking out the window at all the swamp flora and fauna outside the window: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...... Grimes: ...nobody tell 'im... Marvin: ...we're already in the swamp. I understand that. Where, in the swamp, is this altar? Dazki: Can you give us directions? Grimes: Yes, yes! Of course! Dazki, forcefully: Will you please give us directions, now? Grimes: Well, there's tree markings you're supposed to follow. It's like two days out from Dew Mill. Uhhhhhh... ehh... east-ish. Northeast. Marvin: You sure about that? East or northeast? Dwardazik: We're supposed to follow tree markings in a swamp? Grimes: If you're not up to it, we could all just die? Dwardazik: Why don't we just put you on a leash and have you lead us there? Marvin: You probably have a good sense of smell, I'd imagine? Grimes: Well, not like you wouldn't know the markings any better than I would! You got this. Marvin: The markings are nondescript? Grimes: It's cant, dude, it's cant! So easy. Dazki: So Barry and I will be able to read them. Dwardazik, rolling his eyes: Oh, great. Grimes: See, that's multiple people right there! Now. Because we haven't seen each other, obviously you gotta be suspicious of other people tryin' to sneak in on your deal. So. We are to identify each other as the proper parties, with two very specific transactions. Dazki: And those are? Grimes: I haven't fully gotten around to deciphering the clue, but you guys are smart — Dazki: ...allegedly... Grogery: ...we did just get bamboozled... Dwardazik: ...I would say that's a bit suspect... Grimes: — and I think my quarter kg here of sharp sugar is one of the ingredients. So, it's "sugar and spice, for something that's nice". Dwardazik: ...wait, what? Grimes: That's the first one. I don't know what "spice" means. Dwardazik: Wait, you need to clear something up. How is that relevant? Marvin: Transactions. Dwardazik: No, I get that part, just — Grimes: If you show the right items, they'll think that you're me. Because I'm the only one that knows this. Marvin: So, the clue was "sugar and spice, get something nice". Grimes: "Snakes and snails, for wagging dog tails". I think that one's about werewolves. Dazki: Heh. Yeah. Grimes: So as long as we fit that, they'll think that you're me, or whatever. Kesmet: So do we provide them "sugar and spice" and then we get "something nice" from them? And then do the secondary transaction, where we give them the snails? Or do we do the whole three items first, and then they do the other items? What's goin' on? Grogery: Or is it that we'll give them "sugar and spice", then they'll do something nice, but if it's an "I'm being followed", then we give them snakes and snails, and they'll kill whoever's following you? Is that how it is? Grimes: The second one's like a werewolf one, yeah. Dazki: Makes sense. You need a symbol for "things aren't going well, and I need assistance". Grimes: But we don't need that one, because — Grogery: It would probably be a good idea to have stuff on hand, just in case we're misinterpreting it. Grimes: I'm not misinterpreting anything! You're misinterpreting! Dwardazik: Ugh. Are we gonna have to wing this again? Grimes: It's not winging it! There's so much information! Grogery: So is there, like, a "spice"-type drug that you're also supposed to run to them? Grimes: ...ohhhhh, another druuuuuug... oh, that's really smart! Dwardazik: ...really? Kesmet: Is that the shit that got us earlier? Grogery: The Fervor is mushrooms. Grimes: That's not spicy, that's mushrooms. Kesmet: Well, maybe it's spicy mushrooms! Dwardazik: I dunno, what's in that room back there? Another drug? Grimes: Unfortunately not. But, there you go. Two days, meet with the people, show the special items. If they give you something nice back, then — I don't know what happens next. You... don't... get eaten by a werewolf? Dazki: Sounds like, either way, we get what we want. Grimes: Yeah, I mean, we both win here, right? I mean, mostly? I'm still super poor, and I'm gonna leave this boat and starve to death... Dazki: Well, you can use your talents to make money! You're a very skilled engineer. Grimes: You guys are a load of bullshit... Kesmet: Oh my GOD, you're being like the guard again. How much do you want?! Grimes: Whaddaya got? Dwardazik: Buncha silver. Grogery: Bunch of silver-contaminated gold. You're gonna have to give us a number so we know how many coins to sanitize. Dwardazik: I can't believe we're gonna pay out this dude... Grimes: Gems? Gems are good! People loooooove gems! Marvin: You can't take mine!!! Grimes: Well, jeez, now I really want it... Dazki: Hey, Dwardazik, do you have any contacts you could get him in touch with, so he might legally acquire gems? Grimes: "Legally acquire gems"?! I know you've brought gems on my ship! I can smell 'em! Grogery, aside to Kesmet: Can werewolves actually smell gems? Kesmet: I dunno... Dwardazik: I'm not trading my gems to you. I have no interest in dealing with this kind of stuff. Grimes: All right! All right! Fine! Fine! I just, I hope all the things I told you are accurate. Dwardazik: Yeah, I kinda hope for you too. Dwarves have a very long memory. A bit longer than the lifespan of a dog. Kesmet: So, can we have a pouch of sharp sugar so that we can — Grimes: Oh, you can have this whole block. That's kinda what it was for. Now, they're probably dealin' with a bunch of tribe stuff, right? So, uh, just ignore all that shit, and just deal with the Hounds Guild! I'm sure they've got the right tribal connections and all that. Marvin: We still haven't figured out what this other — obviously, the sharp sugar is the "sugar" in the clue, but — the "spice"? Grimes: Eh, just make it up! What could go wrong? Grogery: A lot. Grimes: They're gonna kill ya anyway, it really doesn't matter. Kesmet: Would you stop? They're not gonna kill us. Dazki: Hey, um, you know what? I have a thought. Marvin, do you have a Sending spell to ask one of our contacts? Marvin: Yeah? Who did you have in mind? Dazki: Someone associated with... Marvin: Oh! Oh. Kesmet: The one that stands on desks? Dazki: No, Queen of Hearts. Might be able to ask her about that, and let her know it's about working against the Hounds Guild. Grogery: Like, "we're trying to infiltrate, they have a code, they're asking for sugar and spice," Dazki: ", we have sugar, what is spice?" Marvin: I can do that, but I don't know if she'll take too kindly to me. I don't know her that well. Grimes: Honestly, if they're just a bunch of wolf people, just kinda make it up. You're charismatic, right? That was my backup plan. Kesmet: She probably likes assertive men. So start up your message like, "Listen up, bitch", and then demand information from her. Dazki: You know, that is probably the worst suggestion you could give there. Kesmet: No-no-no, no. No. See, here's the thing. Last time we came for help or whatever, she was like "you guys now owe me your lives" or some bullshit like that. Which I still don't know if it's been cleared up with Jack. So we need to take the high ground here and say "look, tell us this thing, maybe we'll give you something back, maybe we won't". We need to have that attitude. Dazki: She likes to play the games. It's fun for her. Dwardazik: Look, I prefer not to get assassinated in my sleep. This sounds like a method that's gonna get me assassinated in my sleep. Kesmet: You're a light sleeper. You'll wake up for it and be able to defend yourself. Dazki: You worry that everything is gonna get you assassinated in your sleep. Dwardazik: And you don't worry enough! Kesmet: At the very least, taunt her that we ruined her plans or something. Because her, like, handmaiden decided to betray her and get us a meeting with Jack earlier? Dazki: Yeah, definitely DON'T bring Ten of Hearts into this. Grogery: Maybe make some sort of reference to the fact that, if we can get past this first line of people, maybe we can actually meet someone important. Dwardazik: Can we, maybe, NOT tell the Hounds Guild person that we're in with another mafia gang? Grimes: You guys know the Queen of Hearts? Man, she's super hot! Dwardazik: At this point, I'm not even surprised. Grimes: It'd be so sweet to be manipulated by her... Dazki: No, it's really not. Really not. Marvin: Been there. It kinda sucks. Dwardazik: She knows a really great bartender, though. So actually, it is kinda cool to know her! The bartender, by proxy, is what I mean. Grogery: Kesmet, do you still have any of those caramels? Kesmet: Yeah, a few. Why? Grogery: Aren't they spicy on the inside? Kesmet: I dunno! I'm actually... hmm. The guy did say that I'll need some. And he gave me six. Grimes: Oh, did he?! Kesmet: The guy gave me six more smokey caramels, after the first time. The first time, he gave me a good amount, and he was scared of me for some reason. Grimes: And Deuce said you needed 'em? Dazki: How do you — wait... — also, yes. Dwardazik: I wonder what they taste like. Grimes: Honestly, if that guy said you needed 'em, then you need 'em for somethin'. Kesmet: All right. Yep, these are the ones. Dwardazik, pulling out his ale and taking a sip: All right, now I see what we're doin'. So, we got six smokey caramels. How much Fervor are we gonna get? Dazki: We are not taking any of the Fervor. Dwardazik: All right, so we got a whole bunch of Fervor. What else do we need? Add in an extra dagger. Grogery, whadda you got? Maybe make some extra of that bread and add that in there? Grogery: Wait, are we talking about cooking?! Dazki: No, Dwardazik's just being a shit. Dwardazik: Oh, I thought we had a plan going on here! My bad. Grogery: I'm pretty sure that Pelor bread is about as far away from being a drug as you can get. It's specifically not fun. Kesmet: I'm thinking we give him the quarter brick of crack, and the six smokey caramels, and that might be it. Grogery: But that's not spicy, though? I'm a fan of contacting Queen of Hearts to see if we can get any hints there. Otherwise, we can... well, the ship is going to stop in Rondo to let Lance and Vic's body off. Perhaps you can go in for supplies real quick? Dwardazik: You know what I would prefer to do? Not that anyone cares what the dwarf wants, but I really would rather just forget that we even had these drugs on here, and just keep goin' on with our business, and have this whole drug issue fall onto someone else! Not us! Grimes: Yeah, besides, that Lance fella is probably gonna spill the beans on all the stuff that's on here. And if any goes missing, it's gonna look real bad for some of us. Dwardazik, mockingly: What are you suggesting over here, Grimes? That we kill Lance? What a shitty idea! Grimes: I mean, I won't... I won't say anything. Grogery: We're not gonna kill Lance. Dazki: There is gonna be no more murdering happening on this boat. Dwardazik: I'm gonna slay that bed, later tonight.

Marvin sends a message to Queen, after running it by everyone:

Sting operation on the Hounds. Need to bring "sugar and spice" to get "something nice". Got sharp sugar, what is spice? Also, Dazki misses you.

The discussions about Sending get Grogery thinking.

Grogery: Hmm. I know it's difficult to get to this level of magic, but there are so many kobolds worshiping Pelor in The Spire of Beasts. I wonder if we can establish a little clergy over there. That'd be interesting. Dazki: I'm sure you could. Maybe not from here; I don't think that they would've reached that level without some better guidance. Grogery: Yeah, but I mean, plan for the future and that sort of thing. Dazki: Yeah. And Dwardazik, what is your suggestion for how we find the Hounds Guild, then, if we don't go along with this? Dwardazik: Well, we simply use your ability to interact with whatever criminal syndicates exist in this place, completely avoid... (He motions over to Grimes) whatever this is... and do it the old-fashioned way of contacting people in the local area, eventually trace the supply of drugs back to wherever they're coming from, and eventually trail the people bringing them in. Grogery: If it were that easy, they wouldn't need to bring Kiirni all the way out here just to figure out where the tunnel is. Dwardazik: Yeah, but we have a Dazki. He just somehow does everything. Grogery: They have expert scouts as well. Dazki: As much as I appreciate that compliment, Dwardazik, I do think that this is a reasonable way to expedite the process. Dwardazik: No, by all means, let's do it. What could go wrong? Kesmet: Many things. Marvin: Does "dragonbark" ring a bell to any of you guys?

He relays Queen's response:

By "spice", you mean dragonbark? I've already billed you for the info. Why don't you ask your NEW contacts? Heard you got that now.

(Medicine 14) Dragonbark is made from the bark of a special tree. You get a chili high. It's incredibly spicy, like you're chewing on hot coal. Used a lot by lizardfolk. After the pain goes away, you're overcome by adrenaline.

Marvin: Where can we find a tree like this? Swamps, I hope? Grimes! Where do we get dragonbark? Grimes: Fuck, I don't know! Why you yellin' at me? Marvin: 'cause you're the drug guy! Grimes: I'm A drug guy! Not THE drug guy! Marvin: Well, you're the only drug guy we got. Dwardazik: Grimes! Stop panicking! Just tell us where to get the dragon stuff! Dragonbark! Come on, man, come on man, stop tweakin'! Kesmet: Maybe we ask the captain? He's a dragon-dude, right? Dwardazik + Grimes: That's racist! Kesmet: Are we really concerned with racism at this point?! We're planning a sting operation on a powerful guild of mafia thing. Grimes: I don't know, I guess that would be considered spicy? There's a lot of spicy things, man! What do you want from me?! Dazki: How's this: we believe it to be a tree bark, right? How about we ask the people among us who are proficient in wilderness survival? Grimes: I mean, you guys are literally going to a lumber mill. Dazki: There we go. Dwardazik: Ah, yes! So, we go to the lumber mill, grab a bunch of bark, hope it's the right bark, and then we show up to the meeting and don't make a fool of ourselves? Marvin: Well, it's just gotta look like the stuff! Dwardazik: ...uh-huh... and I'm sure they're not gonna sample it, or test it, or anything like that? Dazki: Barry! Would you be able to recognize this dragonbark? Barry: Bro, I have no idea. Dazki: All right. Would you be willing to help us try? Barry: ...OK? Yeah! Yeah. (He puts on a transparent show of confidence.) As the new cleric of the party, I vow... to, um... bring- bring- bring... bring prosperity and... um... Dwardazik: Keep going! Kesmet uses Minor Illusion to play an epic song in the background as Barry continues. Barry: And-, and-, and though we all exhibit individual... bodies, ...together, we're... we're more bodies... than we are, individually! And so, as-, as my part of leading this... body-hydra, ...I swear that I will... I will... remember what you ask me! Dwardazik, beginning to clap: I completely agree! Barry: The problem is-, the problem is — I will do drugs. Dwardazik: Spoken like a true leader! Kesmet: Barry, are you reading that off your arm? Barry, quickly putting his arm behind his back: No! Kesmet: It looks smudged. Are you reading that correctly? Dwardazik: By all means, let's have Barry handle the whole thing! I'm sure nothing can go wrong with that! Dazki: Given what we have to do, there's no way to find anything that's going to have no risk. Dwardazik: We could, you know, do my plan? Grogery: What, just ask around and hope that — Dwardazik: Not just ask around. I dunno, Dazki does his Dazki Things™, and he works around into small alleys, and we gather the infos! Grogery: I mean, we basically "worked around the small alleys" of the ship and did Dazki's Thing™ while Dazki was being impostered. Grimes: And you didn't even, you know, solve anything... Grimes: Listen, listen! You can't just go out there sniffin' around. You're colonists! Outsiders! You speak the wrong thing to the wrong person out there, and you're gonna start a tribal war against you, man! Dwardazik: Then what do you want us to do?! Grimes: My plan! I want you to do my plan! Dwardazik, manhandling him roughly: Listen here. Your plan is complete stupidity. You're lucky that we're not throwin' you off the boat. Grimes: You couldn't throw me off the boat, even if... you wanted to! 'cause the captain says I gotta stay here! Marvin: Oh, the captain had his own ideas for what to do with you. Grimes: ...yeah: lock me down here. Marvin: No, he wanted to throw you off! Dwardazik: You think you're locked down here with us? We're locked down here with you!!! Marvin: ...uh, I don't think it... Grogery: Wait, that's not... Dwardazik: Huh? Marvin: Eh, nah, that just... Dwardazik: Hey! Be quiet! I'm interrogating him! Marvin: Recover! Recover! Grimes: No, what — what's wrong with my plan? Do my plan! Do my plan, don't mess with the tribe people, and then — and then, I don't know, be killed by the Hounds Guild (I don't know what your plan is after that). And, frankly, I don't understand why you're so keen on being murdered by awful people, but, you know what, to each his own. Best to not ask questions. Dwardazik, letting him go: You know what? He has a point. We can catch another boat and just leave. Marvin: We have to get to the Phantasmagoria. Dazki: You're more than welcome to go do that, Dwardazik. You're more than welcome to quit. Dwardazik: Hey, you! Shut up! Dazki: If it's too dangerous for you, please go! Dwardazik: Nah, nah, it's not too dangerous for me, Dazki, I just don't have a suicide wish here. "Oh, what's this? Is this a razor? I'ma go ahead and eat it! Oh, what's this, is this poison? I'ma go ahead and eat it! Oh, what's this? Is it something like a dagger? I'ma go ahead and stab myself in the back!" Marvin: Dwardazik, I don't recall you having all these concerns back when we took down Vicra? Dwardazik: Dazki over here is nothing but a beardling, and honestly, he's worse than that. You can't even keep yourself safe! Marvin: ...pretty sure he's older than you. Dwardazik: He doesn't act like it! Dazki: At least I'm not keeping all sorts of secrets from the people that are supposed to be my friends, and that I'm supposed to be relying on! Grimes: Wait, wait! Dwardazik: "Friends"? "Relying on"?!?! You don't "rely on" me at all! We can barely be considered acquaintances, the way you treat me! You don't trust me at all! Grimes: Wait, we can't fight! We can't fight! Dazki: If I didn't trust you — (He holds out The Book of the Mirage) — would I be letting you read this? Would I be helping you with this? This is, by far, the most dangerous thing that I have! The most dangerous thing that I know! And I am willingly giving it to you, willingly helping you with this! Grimes drools a little. Dwardazik: That's what you think! Dazki: That is what I am trying to do, yes! I don't know what more I can do! Dwardazik: You don't care about yourself at all. "I don't care about me, stop thinking about me", you don't care about yourself at all! Grogery: I think I see the logic here? If we don't care about ourselves, then Dwardazik has to extra-care about us to keep us safe. He's worried that we're being risky. It's not selfless to throw yourself into danger, because there are people who care about you who are just going to run in and save you, putting themselves in danger as well. Dwardazik: I am tired of having to save you every time you make a mistake! I've already had to do that once before in my life. I'm tired of dealing with it again. Dazki: You know what, maybe trust people to work their way out of their mistakes, then. Dwardazik: What were you gonna do, pick your way out from the weapons closet? Wake yourself up from being covered in whatever the hell you were covered in after being ambushed? Marvin: The lesson learned there is that, especially around individuals that we come across these days, no one can ever be alone! Grogery: We learned this lesson a while ago: don't go into dangerous situations alone. Dwardazik: It's not that! It's the fact that (he points a big finger) Dazki over here just blows it off like nothing bad happened to him, acting like "oh, I don't appreciate everyone trying to save me or anything like that, I'm just going to care about the people who tried to hurt me more than I care about myself"! You've got classic Stockholm Syndrome! Marvin: I'm pretty sure he's just trying to see the big picture... Dazki: No, it's called repressing my own feelings to try and get the job done! Dwardazik: That job is gonna kill you if you don't put yourself first. Dazki: If it does, so be it! It's important that we get this done. I'm gonna be as careful as I can, but that doesn't mean we can avoid danger at all times. I trust myself, and the people around me, enough that I believe in our capabilities. You need to trust us as well. Dwardazik: I trust us. I don't think you trust you. Grogery: Hey, you two. Can I get in a word edgewise about this? Dazki: Please do. Dwardazik: I think you're the only one who'd understand. Grogery: So. I'd hope that it's pretty clear to everybody that, as somebody who specialized in healing magic and literally raising people from the dead, that every time people get into danger, and people die, even if there are enemies, I have to make the choice to not bring people back. To not just run in and heal them just because they got hurt. Yes, I appreciate it when people are careful, and measured, and consider both their own safety and the safety of others. But it's also kind-of inherently my job to keep people safe when things go wrong. Grogery (cont'd): I can do things like go to places involving thieves and get into wild battles where something is going to attack me and try and eat me, because I have someone like Dwardazik to fight off the strong beasties, and someone like Dazki to help navigate those social situations. I am a last line of defense if the unthinkable happens, so that you guys can feel free to be able to do your jobs better. To push risks a bit more, for a better reward. Marvin: Very well said, Grogery. Grogery: ...at the same time, don't do stupid things. I have a limited number of resources. If you think something is too risky, talk to me about it! I'm ultimately the one that's gonna have to put up or shut up when something goes wrong. Marvin: Yeah, like me gettin' bit by a fucking werewolf! Grimes! Grimes: You got bit by a werewolf?! Aww man, my bad. Dwardazik: Ugh. This isn't over. Grogery: No, Dwardazik, you have a point. We shouldn't be taking stupid risks. We should be gathering more information about all this. For instance: Grimes, you keep mentioning these tribal people. I feel like we need to dig into that a bit more. Dazki: Also, Grimes, how long after the boat docked did you need to meet those people? Would we have time to do some information gathering in the city, before we had to make the exchange? Would we have time to learn a little bit more before we rush out into the swamp? Grimes: Uhh... I mean, it's two days to get around to where we're supposed to be, after we get to the town. But we've made really good pace up the river, so I'd say we have, like, a good day or two of wiggle room. Grogery: Also, Kesmet was able to entertain the fire elemental a lot. If we're able to do a good enough job with that, would that potentially give us even more wiggle room? Grimes: Why do you need so much time? Grogery: I'm just trying to hedge our bets. Kesmet: Oh, shit, I forgot to finish telling my story to the elemental! (He makes his way into the elemental's room to keep doing that.) Dazki: Well, Dwardazik has a point. We do need to take time to gather some more information. Grimes: Yeah, but that's, like, what? A day's worth of work? Dwardazik: An important day's worth of work. Grimes: Guys, you got this, all right? Marvin: Speaking of acquiring more information, I was thinking about sending a reply to little Queenie? ("Dazki says because the new contacts aren't as cute as you. Any dragonbark suppliers out our way?") Grogery: She bills us for information. We have contacts within Jack's circle that we could talk to. That being said, having a good relationship with the Queen is probably also a good thing. Marvin: Exactly. Wait, how much does she charge for information? Dazki: Probably way too much. Marvin: Oh. Dazki: I would say we search around the city for at least half a day before sending that. Marvin: OK, I won't do that. Grimes: OK, so, don't get involved in the tribe politics, do talk to the Hounds Guild — Grogery: Yeah, "tribe politics". I don't want to be assuming, but, like, what are these tribes? Grimes: I dunno! That's why I was told not to get involved with them. Marvin: You don't know what kind of people they are? At all? Grimes: Oh, all kinds! It's mostly greenskins out there in the swamp. Marvin:
Dwardazik: "Greenskins"? Grogery: Orcs, or goblins, or... I'm presuming not lizardfolk? Marvin: You wanna run that by us again? Grimes: What? Grogery: Are you talking about orcs or goblins? Grimes: Orcs! And goblins... kinda. They're really more of a pest, but, uh... Grogery rolls his eyes, "audibly". Grimes: Hey, don't worry, man. You're not a pest! They're not all pests everywhere, it's just, they cause problems out there! I dunno. Grogery: Yes. Because short people who cause problems to other people should always be considered a pest. ... ...I'm just messing with you. I understand where people's attitudes on that come from, and I'm trying to change that. Grimes: Hey, man, I don't judge. I'm just tellin' you what I've been told, all right? Marvin: ...sounds like a lot of judging to me... Grimes: I didn— I was specifically told not to deal with the tribes, 'cause they're real... real ridiculous, all right? Marvin: That's not what I was talkin' about. Dwardazik: The last thing I think we want to do is get full-on into ridiculous tribal politics. Editor's note to self: replace the previous trope link with a Gilligan-style link if the party does that thing again where they insert themselves into every side-subquest offered to them. Dazki: Which, of course, means that's going to be something that will happen, regardless of what we try... Dwardazik: Unfortunately, yes. Grimes: I'm sure the guild has ties to some of 'em and doesn't like others, and I just... I'm not at that level, man. Dazki: I'm sure they have ties to some of them. Whatever Kiirni's tribe was, they were working with them to get her killed. Dwardazik: Ugh... does that mean we're gonna be working with more drow?! Dazki: You know what, I have no idea. Dwardazik sighs. Marvin: Maybe they'll be a bunch of bearded female dwarves! Dazki: Maybe they'll be followers of Eilistraee instead of Lolth! You have heard of Eilistraee, right, Dwardazik? Dwardazik: It's a myth. Dazki: She's not a myth, there are — Dwardazik: No, it's a myth that any drow actually follow her. It's just used to make dwarves hesitate, before striking you in the back with their poisoned daggers. Dazki: There are drow up north that worship her. It's not a myth, these are real people. Grimes: Well, I'm sure you can get plenty of information, as long as you don't talk to any of the tribes. Marvin: Sure! Absolutely! Absolutely not gonna do that! Grimes: Or, you know what? Fuckin' do! I don't care! It's just, you're supposed to die by the Hounds Guild, because that's what you wanted. So, you don't want to die before that. Dwardazik: This boat ride can't end soon enough... I need ale...

It's time for fast-forwarding through time... time!

Kesmet finishes telling the story to the elemental.
Dwardazik and Grogery study The Book of the Mirage. Grogery has a breakthrough (editor's note: and has been added to the list of people who have access to Chapter 1 secret when logged-in... now might be a good time to make sure you're still logged-in, since World Anvil has had a tendency to log me out sometimes).
Dazki has a conversation with Grogery about an ability that he seems to have "acquired" from Roamer, which we'll get to below this bulleted list.
When the boat stops at Fort Rondo to drop off Lance and Vic's body, Dwardazik also takes a bit of time to sell his goods.

Dazki: So, I think I ended up getting something from Roamer. Grogery: OK...? Dazki: I think I can do something similar to what he did... in a much more limited fashion. Grogery: ...OK...? Dazki: So I think, if you are willing, I can have a vague link to you, and in an emergency — at some cost to your mental energies — use an ability of yours. Grogery: So, you'd be able to heal yourself? Dazki: I think I could basically use anything of yours. Magic would take much more out of you, from what I understand. They discuss some more about the details of how it works. Grogery: We can experiment with this. I consent to that. Just a warning, this feels very much like Turmoil stuff, and Turmoil stuff was inflicted upon me as a punishment... I guess, just, keep that in mind. It's setting off all sorts of alarm bells if we try to abuse this... Dazki: Yeah, no, this is an emergency kind of thing. Not something that I want to just do, all of the time. And, you know, depending on the situation, I may want to link with someone else. Grogery: Also, another warning... my Sending is messed up, and I think some of my other spells might also be messed-up. If you end up stealing any of those, we might get very bad consequences... not sure how the interaction would work. Dazki: Got it. Grogery: This can work out, since you're usually far away from everyone else. If you desperately need healing, you're probably the one I'd be least likely to get to. Dazki: It's not something I'm going to particularly use for magic, hopefully. But the way it works is that you consent at the beginning of the day, and then I can take whatever spells or abilities I want. Grogery: OK, well, I trust you to think ahead about whatever it is that you're doing. That's all I ask about this. Dazki: Like I said, I don't want to use this. Period. This is a bad idea, doing it. But as an emergency, it might be worth it occasionally.

Fort Rondo. The last solid ground before hitting the swampland. A large fort — now more of a village — with a bridge going from one hillside to the other. Fields of rice and "other things" filling whatever available dry land is left here. From the ashen wastelands, to the fertile ground of Fort Rondo, before a lovely forest of palms and cypress, struggling to rise above a dense fog that clings to the ground. As you switch to the smaller river, the land becomes increasingly similar in appearance to the water — the land becoming ever more waterlogged. It becomes hard to tell where the river and the land touch through the densely packed fog.

Session 106

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