CH. 11: Dark Side of the Mond

[HorizonsDream]

"Might be the Bullring," Jocelyn says. "And I'll talk to Andar and Arelion about going to Sanctuary."

[BishGada]

"The Bullring? The ship we are looking for?? That would be nice to have luck on our side for a change." Baeros grumbles.

[Breila]

"I need to study my spells. To make good choices, I should know what we plan to do" Ouragana informs the group.

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn, Ouragana, Val and Baeros (The Seleya)

"And I'll talk to Andar and Arelion about going to Sanctuary."

"I've already spoken to them about it," Saren says. "Although reluctant, they both agreed it would be for the best."

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn nods to Saren before she looks over to Oura. "The plan was to find the Bullring, and if the ship approaching is the Bullring, then we are catching a ride with them," she explains. "Remember, all of this so that we can remove the threat on my life."

[Breila]

"Yes of course" Ouragana consents. "Then I will wait with my studies, since it seems we're not going back into battle at once. If the ship is indeed the Bullring, maybe I'll consult with Thaddeus, too."

[spyguy1503]

"No one here could touch that dragon, so that could be it." "One ship? That is odd, especially for a port city."

[JadedDM]

The massive galleon pulls up to the harbor, on the other side of the pier where the Seleya is docked. While the caravel is 70' x 20', the galleon is 130' x 30', which makes a marked difference in size between the two.

Sierra steps over to the railing of her ship and looks over to the caravel. She is a dwarven woman with red hair in several braids. She's well-armed and muscular and has a stern expression on her face. "Hail there!" she calls. "I am Captain Sierra Bullring of the guild ship, Bullring."

Saren stands and answers back. He is an adult half-elf with brown hair, a well-trimmed goatee, and blue eyes. He is also dressed in the vestments of Octhanus, the goddess of healing, love, compassion, and peace. "Ho there! This is Captain Saren of the independent ship, Seleya!"

"Friend or foe?" asks Sierra.

"We are healers and diplomats on a humanitarian mission!" Saren responds. "We bear no ill will to anyone."

"Ah, Mercies," Sierra mutters, rubbing her chin. Gallath recognizes the name of one of the three factions of the Church of Octhanus. The 'mercies' are dedicated to healing the sick and wounded. "What happened here?" she calls out loudly.

"The city was attacked by the League!" Saren calls back. "I fear it has fallen, despite our efforts!"

"Damn the League," Sierra says under her breath. Then, out loud, she asks, "Permission to come aboard?"

"Granted!" Saren replies.

"Maybe they can provide some answers," Sierra says softly to her crew. "Terra, with me." She looks over at Gallath. "Actually, why don't you come, too, kid? You're investigating the League, right? Maybe you can learn something more."

A plank is lowered from the Bullring to the pier, so that Sierra, Terra and Gallath can descend, then walk up the plank to the Seleya.

Saren turns to the others. "The Bullring...that is the ship you were searching for, yes?" he asks Jocelyn, Ouragana, Baeros and Val.

[spyguy1503]

Gallath nimbly steps onto the Seleya, hands discreetly on his weapons, following the captain a step behind.

[Breila]

Ouragana looks at Jocelyn, who usually does the talking for them.

[HorizonsDream]

"That would be them," Jocelyn says with a nod. "Though, I don't know who the new guy is."

[spyguy1503]

(OOC: Is this loud enough for me to hear?)

[JadedDM]

The three visitors from the Bullring board the Seleya. Jocelyn, Ouragana and Val all recognize Sierra, of course. Flanking her is her sister and first mate, Terra Bullring and a young elven man they have never seen before. Terra is an attractive dwarven woman with short blonde hair, wearing a black cloak. The elf is thin with blue eyes and blond hair. There is a strange and almost random streak of crimson through his hair. Both are wearing leather armor, although the elf appears to have some serious wounds from a recent fight.

There are four people standing with Saren, none of whom Gallath recognizes, all of who look to be in their late teens.

The first is a tall muscular male human with plain features, long, greasy and unkempt, black hair, a small black trimmed beard and several scars on his face and neck. He is dressed in leather armor. Two dogs sit at his side, one little more than a puppy. He looks like he's recently been in a nasty fight.

The second is a human woman with long black hair and blue eyes. She is dressed in the vestments of Octhanus, like Saren. However, her vestments have been torn in several places (including the sleeves having been torn off, revealing her slender arms). Her body is covered in bite and claw marks.

The third is a somewhat tall and very slightly built woman with pale skin and hair and water-blue eyes. She is so wispy that one wonders that she isn't carried off by the breeze. She is dressed in the grey uniform of a Storm Sorceress (an order of mage mercenaries who often hire themselves out to protect and guide ships at sea).

The fourth is a half-orc woman with close cropped black hair, grey skin, brown eyes and protruding lower canines. She has a swimmer's build, and is wearing shark leather armor with no footwear at all. She is covered in bruises, having also apparently been in a fight recently.

Only after taking in these four does Gallath notice a fifth person; a middle-aged male dwarf further in the back. He's big and burly with lots of body hair and a scruffy but full beard. He seems to favor one leg and is wearing battered chain mail.

Sierra and Terra seem to immediately recognize the three humans and half-orc, and appear surprised. "Well, well..," Terra begins, "I didn't think I'd ever see you lot again. It's been about a year, hasn't it? Fought off any dragons lately?"

Sierra nods politely to the party, but turns her attention to Saren. "So what the Nine Hells happened here?" she asks.

"A League attack, as I said. Two wizards seemed behind it, causing fires and summoning zombies and slaadi. The citizens took sides, and there were many casualties as a civil war erupted," Saren explains.

"Aye, I think we ran into them on our way here. Riding a big bone dragon and they damaged my ship and dropped several monsters on us before flying off," Sierra says. "No telling where they are now."

==========

(OOC: I wouldn't think Gallath could hear them, as they are speaking softly and that conversation occurred before he boarded the ship.)

[spyguy1503]

Gallath whispers to the captain. "Are these the black dragon fighters?" Louder, "The monsters appeared to be some sort of undead."

[Nuke]

Val, as usual, stands quietly, .letting the others discuss recent happenings and future plans.