The Wind Dancer (Recap from 10-06-23)

 

The Wind Dancer (Recap from 10-06-23)

(Da’Leysen the 6th Unndilar 847PD) The group woke early and were served a nice breakfast. Franziska Hartmann, the head chef of The Wind Dancer, made really good offerings for each of the party, even going as far as making Zerhkwood spore porridge for Neheedra and Drivena, which surprisingly tasted just like the underdark fare they were used to. She also served her famous Morning Muffins (Everyone who eats one gained 10 additional hit points for the next 24 hours). After she served the muffins, she sang and played her dulcimer which granted all who heard, the “Something to fight for” boon. This boon offered, all who heard it, the ability to do  each of the following once: 

• Choose to automatically succeed on a saving throw 

• Negate a critical hit, turning it into a regular hit 

• Reroll damage dice for an attack. (though they must use the second result, even if it is lower.) 

This applied for the next 24 hours.

The excitement of the start of the journey was palpable, both on the ship and for those in the city. The demarcation of such a large sky ship is a wondrous sight. There was a bit of a celebration in the streets around the sky port. The crew dressed up in their blue and white uniforms and stood at attention on the quarter deck, while Captain Nasser signaled the mooring lines be made loose, and the mainsail set. As the mainsail unfurled, lofted, then finally caught the light wind, and as the brumestones hum quietly, the massive ship gently moved away from the sky tower. The massive image of a nude dancing lady with a sword over her head, wind whipping her body length white hair around her, was prominently displayed on the billowing mainsail. As the sail luffs it gives the illusion of a dark skinned woman dancing with sword and wind. To the group it looked surprisingly like Eilestree, the Drow Goddess of song, dance, swordwork, hunting, moonlight and beauty. Though the crew all said it was a portrait of the whirling dervish goddess, from the deep desert of Rumedam.  Most of the crew were natives of Marquet, some of the crew even had dervish ancestry.

(Miresen the 7th Unndilar 847PD) The ship headed south westward to skirt the jagged Hearthstar Peaks of the Vezdali Peninsula to avoid the everlasting arcane eruption on one of the taller peaks which served as a landmark for approaching ships. On clearing the peninsula the ship turned due west into the sky of the open Lucidian Ocean. Quickly losing sight of land, the gunnery master Bovo Cutton called for target and cannon drills. Captain Nasser ordered the ship brought down to within 200 feet of the water, and empty target barrels be discharged from the ship. The crew, and party members tried their luck shooting the ships cannons and muskets at the floating targets. After the drills the ship rose once again high into the sky and continued westward catching the westerly trade winds that would carry the ship to Tal'Dorei.

Rising to an altitude of 30000 feet the days were uneventful. As they gained altitude the group saw a merchant on a magic carpet towing his wares on a tenser's floating disk heading toward Port Demali, waving at the Skyship as he passed. 

Later in the evening the group had a formal dinner with the captain and crew, served by the ship's head chef. Later the chef played her Dulcimer softly while passengers and members of the crew danced. Others played Dragon Chess and smoked pipes. All the while the servants brought wine, ale, brandy and cakes. The first night of passage was smooth and uneventful, a storm was seen far below the ship but here above the clouds the westerlies were strong and constant. That night during meditation, The Goddess Eilistraee appeared to Drivena in her meditations. She guides, and teaches the Drivena a sacred ritual that must be performed the following night of the full moon. The ritual was “The Sword Dance”, a ritual usually held when a new sword was forged, or acquired by a worshiper of Eilistraee. 

This was done in order to ask for, and receive, her blessing of the blade, and to bind the Sword Maiden's life energy to her sword. It was performed by planting the weapon in the ground (the point turned down), and then dancing with the blade. As the dance continued each limb momentarily moved against the blade drawing blood. The ritual was successful, if the priestess could maintain her dance, embrace the pain, while staying focused on the dance with the goddess. If done properly, the sword would gleam with the silvery light of Eilistraee as the dancer's blood was drawn into the blade. From that point on the weapon would not rust, and became magical (+ 1 to +3) to hit and wound creatures that could only be hit or wounded by magical weapons. The weapon must have been forged by the priestess, and once the ritual is performed the sword becomes the spell focus for the priestesses spells. 

The Goddess went on to explain, thereafter Drivena should do “The Evensong”, an intimate ritual that all followers of Eilistraee must perform at the end of their days. It was a wordless message to her goddess (usually involving a personal dance, and, or song) in which she lets out all the emotions, experiences, and reflections that she had gathered during the day, so that the goddess could become close to her on a more intimate level. These things Drivena agreed to during her meditations with the goddess.

(Grissen the 8th Unndilar, also the “Deep Solace” holiday 847PD) The second day of travel was clear sailing, and a very pleasant warm summer day. The group enjoyed their time in the fair weather lounging on the sunny deck of The Wind Dancer. Then they interacted with the crew and had fine meals in the galley. That night there was a brilliant sunset and smooth clear sailing into the star filled evening sky.  Drivena quietly donned her cloak, and slipped out of her room. She silently made her way to the quarterdeck. She found herself alone on the wooden deck, bathed in the bright white light of full Catha. She dropped her cloak, gripping her sword point down, and she drove the point into the wooden deck. Silently she knelt in the moonlight in front of the sword, slowly swaying to some unheard music. Drivena then began her dance to Eilisraee.

Corovar was meditating on deck when he heard the sword hit the wood, so he came to investigate. Seeing what appeared to him to be some sort of ritual, he did not interfere and quietly watched from the shadows as Drivena performed her dance.

She bowed in close to the sword, it parted the pale lavender skin of her arm as blood started to flow. Not wincing, or even missing a step, she in turn drew blood from each of her limbs as she danced with the sword in the pale moonlight. Her blood was absorbed into the blade with every cut, and each time the faint glow of the sword increased in intensity.  As the dance ends, Drivena embraces the sword one last time and falls to her knees, as a spectral vision of Eilistraee embraces her, then slowly fades like mist into the wind. 

She was startled as Corovar stepped up, and cast healing magic saying, “If you are going to do rituals like that you should probably let someone know.” She nodded shyly and thanked him.  She was exhausted and sore, and unsteadily rose to her feet. She donned her cloak pulling it around her. Weakly she pulled the now brightly glowing sword from the deck. She bowed to Corovar and went below decks, to meditate and rest from her ordeal. That last cut was very deep, almost too deep. She felt levels of exhaustion she had not felt in a long time, but deep inside she also felt the warmth and love of Eilistraee.

(Whelson the 9th Unndilar 847PD) Another day of clear sailing, and a very pleasant warmth. The day's travel was uneventful and VERY relaxing. It gave the party some much needed down time to just relax and enjoy their time in the sunlight. The sunset was again spectacular as the group went for their night of rest. During the later hours of the night around the 4th nightwatch, there was the sound of an alarm. The watch spotted a battle off the starboard side of the ship about 1000’ distant, between a Chimera and a Manticore. Both were engaged in a furious aerial battle, the Chimera was winning. The Captain called for battle stations and altered course giving the fighting monsters a wide berth. As the two monstrosities fell behind in the distance, once again the night was peaceful as dawn broke in the east painting the sky with a brilliant sunrise. The group already wide awake opted for an early breakfast.

(Conthsen the 10th of Unndilar 847PD) The fourth day of travel, another day of clear sailing and pleasant weather. Due to the fair westerlies, the ship had made the passage to Emon a day earlier than expected. The crew spotted the Sky Tower that morning signaling their arrival to Emon. The crew docked at the skyport and went about their duties. The Captain told the passengers they may enjoy the city, but to be back at the skyport early the next morning for departure to Marquet.

The group went down into the city and bought a map of Emon. They then walked to Gilmore's Glorious Goods, a magical shop in the Abdar's Promenade district. There they were greeted by Gilmore, a very handsome man with a slight paunch, with long, thick, coarse black hair that was tied back into a ponytail. He wore marquetian style silk clothing, with gold-trimmed purple robes that opened at the chest displaying various golden necklaces and medallions. The group bought some supplies and Gilmore gave them all vouchers for free drinks at “The Laughing Lamia". This was a four-story building with a rowdy tavern and  dozens of tables. The upper rooms varied in size and themes. The fair was good but the place was overpriced and catered mainly to tourists and pilgrims new to Emon.

The group toured the city and saw the attraction of Thordak's Crater, which despite reconstruction efforts, the center of the district remained a smoldering ruin, even decades after Thordak's attack, in 842 PD. After which, they visited the campus bookstore, and bought some books. As evening approached the group made their way back to the Skyport to have dinner aboard The Wind Dancer. Drivena, Chardalyn and the emissaries from Xhorhas continued on foot for Rhun-Shuk, to attempt to establish diplomatic relations with the dark elves there. They bid the rest of the group farewell and wished them safe travels before they set off toward Rhun-Shak.

Travel to Marquet: (Folsen the 11th of Unndilar 847PD) The ship left Emon and began crossing the Ozmit Sea, a large body of water that separates Tal'Dorei, Marquet, and Issylra. That afternoon during the 3rd watch, a crewman spotted a Broom of Flying, drifting slowly in the wind coming within 20 feet of the ship. Malik snared it with a rope and hauled it on board.

As evening fell the first night watch saw clouds increase and engulf the ship. The cloud cover was heavy and vision was obscured to only 15 ft. The ship slowed to a stop to wait out the cloud cover until they could once again safely make their way. The captain had ordered lifelines rigged and non-essential persons to stay below decks for safety reasons. Members of the watch were connected to the lifelines that ran fore and aft. The ships bells were sounded every 5 minutes to alert any possibly approaching vessels to give way. As the second watch came on, the clouds began to thin and the wind picked up again. The ship once again started gliding south through the clearing sky.

Loot:

A Broom of Flying with command word in Primordial.

The group bought:

Superior healing potions for 500 gp each

+3 Crossbow Bolts for 9200gp for a case of 50

Magical Spice bags for 50gp each

Sunburn Curative “ Rumedan Balm” ½ dozen at 25gp, each has 20 doses

Some books for 250gp.

Gilmore's Glorious Goods tee shirts for 5sp each