Session 41: The Great Wight Flight


 * We all get the same message from Tallow (the gnome spy from Dark Lanterns): to come to a laundromat in Sharn. Sarienne and Tork arrive first and chat.
 * "I wrote a book! Do you want to see it?" "Yeah!" "…Vikrit has it."
 * Vikrit and Mogen arrive next, then the rest of the party.
 * We go inside the laundromat. Tallow is there and he beckons us to the back of the room, up a narrow back stairway to a big circular room full of pigeons in cages.
 * He points out that he had people follow us and we extremely didn't notice. People are on edge in the city.
 * He says that they did some research into Gatekeeper lore; he also says King of Braeland has started mobilizing and the Aundairians as well. He mentions people are hungry to have the Aundairian terrorists brought to justice… and he could easily hand us over.
 * He says Karla is an asset of theirs in Thronehold who will explain the tasks for us. He mentions he thinks we'll be able to fly the ship--Mogen points out we'll need to command the elemental.
 * He mentions Lord Darro may be influencing Queen Aurala. He then says the GKs are probably the only ones who know about the seals; he points out we can fly to the Eldeen Reaches; he wants to know the political sense of the druid groups if they're willing to be under Queen Aurala's control or willing to resist the Aundairian army.
 * Apparently Jana tried to get a quick ride to Thronehold but "her paperwork" has gotten her delayed, which will allow us to go to the Eldeen Reaches.
 * Mogen: "Looks like Lady Ir'tain is Lady DEtained."
 * He mentions he struck a deal with Boromars; Ivan now has full ownership of the Reef and they've put actually competent guards.
 * He asks what we've named the ship; Sarienne reports "The Great Wight".
 * He points out that we can only bring about 4 other people with us, and gives us our briefing books.
 * Sarienne asks how we'll find Karla; he gives us an address to Morgrave House and says Karla is "distinctive". We'll meet in 4 days.
 * We go back to the Reef, where there are a bunch of new (competent, so not hired by us) workers. Yanger wants to talk.
 * He asks us what happened; Mogen says we were imprisoned and had to make a deal.
 * Yanger says they've made progress on figuring out the seals. He thinks the sentinel/guardian was placed by the Gatekeepers or someone else to prevent people from messing with the seals. In the Starpeaks, the Stargazers got there first and there was weird dimensional stuff going on; what we did at the Tower of Boldrei didn't result in that.
 * Kalti gives us a new guide he's written on how to close dimensional seals.
 * Vikrit asks about whether he needs to go back to Wynarn and he says he needs to go fill out paperwork for his sabbatical and stomps off. Kalti suggests he's "sensitive" and we need to work around his moods. He then adds that they would prefer to come along by caravan.
 * Kalti suggests each seal has a key, so we'll likely have to track them down. He asks if we still have that "crystal ball"--Mogen says yes but we don't know who is listening. He leaves the room after a bit.
 * We discuss who we want to come with us. We can take 3-4 people…
 * Vikrit mentions his relationship with Rhavi is different now so he won't be coming. Also it will be difficult to get him back onto the boat.
 * Getafix agrees to come on the trip, but says he refuses to make any more "Breakfast of Towers" for Cornerio.
 * We save a spot for Orielle.
 * Mogen goes to talk with Ivan. He's super excited--he's gotten everything working, he actually owns the place… it actually seems like he wants to stay here. He also mentions that Dax has been very pissy lately since they took the Warforged away.
 * Vikrit talks with Jusk, who apparently has nothing of value in his room anymore. Vikrit tells him they're going away for a while and that we'll keep paying him to take care of the animals. Vikrit is suspicious when he says he spent his money on feed (instead of gambling it), and he seems a bit insulted. He agrees, though, and asks for an advance. Vikrit asks him to save a gold piece for emergencies.
 * Mogen speaks with Dax; he thinks Ivan trying to "do legitimate business" isn't "real" and doesn't want to take part. Mogen says he's the best person for the engineer job on the ship, and convinces him to come.
 * Tork checks his gem to see if Esther is within 100 miles; it's glowing very faintly.
 * The list: Dax, Orielle, Getafix.
 * Tork and Mogen go to the library.
 * Tork introduces Mogen. Fola is confused because Tork calls her his old friend, and she thinks he's talking about the humans from his village.
 * Tork tells her he thinks his village was an offshoot of the Gatekeepers. She asks if he heard any names: The Hierophant, Lucien Greatoak? He remembers the statue of Godara; she says she's 'The' Gatekeeper who started the Second Temple. After the Age of Demons, there was little life left; she was the one who brought life in from the other continents.
 * After some pressing, Tork realizes that he went to The Second Temple. Fola is shocked and amazed; when he mentions the naga, she says lizardfolk come in different sizes because when Godara brought them to Khorvaire, some were warped by the energy. She thinks the naga or yuan-ti may be the result of being warped by negative energy.
 * Mogen thinks this tracks; Tork rolls a 1 and it sounds ridiculous to him. (NOTE THAT NO ONE THINKS TO MENTION THIS SHIT TO VIKRIT.)
 * Fola says she'd want to come on an expedition to the Second Temple.
 * Tork asks about The Gloaming - she says there's some kind of dark magic in those marshes, mentions it's a manifest zone.
 * She says we'll have to bring some "natural" gifts to them -- this will obligate them not to murder us on sight… probably.
 * Mogen asks "how far up" the manifest zone goes, mentions flying like a bird. She says they're mostly on the ground or underground, says they've found a bunch of dead birds around.
 * Mogen finds a map of the Eldeen Reaches. Tork looks into whether there are ghosts in The Gloaming--the answer is absolutely yes.
 * Vanesse goes to the temple.
 * Greg the half-orc speaks with her there. He says Ash has been in her room since they got back. He asks where she got the sword and she says "The Shadow!". He does not believe her.
 * Ash emerges and is reluctantly deferential toward Vanesse, who tells her she'll be leaving for a while.
 * Vikrit goes back to talk to Yanger to ask about whatever the naga did to him. He explains what happens -- he says the naga are covetous creatures and not as smart as they think they are, so they do experiments.
 * He asks V what's different, Vikrit casts a high(er than possible before) level healing spell on him to demonstrate.
 * Vikrit asks if he magically feels different, Yanger casts a spell and says he's the same.
 * He says if anyone were to know about this it would be druids.
 * He also says "good job" to Vikrit about the gate.
 * We all reconvene 4 days later at an airship docking tower in Sharn.
 * Zazz is there with Brother Xonak. She says they'll keep watch on the Reef. She also says she thinks the person who owns the crystal ball (Mordekai the Flesh Weaver) is now aware that it's gone.
 * We get on the Great Wight! Tallow is there and leads us in. He points out the life rings and goes.
 * Dax moves the black powder to somewhere as damp and far away from fire as possible.
 * Mogen goes down to the crystal where the elemental lives to introduce herself. She whispers to it and it awakens. It speaks to her in Ignan and says its name is Brezhnia. She asks if it wants anything, "Brezhnia wants to be free!" "Uh, do you want anything to eat?" "Sure! Brezhnia is always hungry!"
 * Mogen gives Tork her cigs to throw into the fire. It continues to ask Mogen to free it, and she realizes it means we need to do something at the wheel. Tork goes up and tries then fails. He turns his hat around and tries to appear captainy, then rolls much better, shouting "Brezhnia, aloft!". This time, the light flares and shoots out to create the ring of fire.
 * We rise up super fast. Mogen and Vikrit run upstairs. Tork flings the cigs into the ring of fire. The ship begins to slow slightly. Tork continues steering and rolls well on his Profession (Sailor) check, and off we go!