With the two drow spellcasters still invisible to most of the party, the Truth Seekers began to retreat rather than trying to catch them.  Narlan was escorted by Amber, Thengal, and Matar to the bioship as Castinar and Shadow covered everybody’s retreat.  Finslayer managed to talk Castinar into being the rear-guard, but was disappointed when no kuo-tao came within range.

 

As the party began to retreat the Dark Stalkers moved towards the bioship as well.  Their shaman covered them, summoning up snake-like spirits to strike at the few kuo-tao remaining.  As the two groups met up near the boarding ramp one of the drow pointed towards the far side of the dock, where more kuo-tao were climbing out of the water and making their way towards the ship.  Others remained in the water, swimming rapidly towards the bioship.

 

Once everybody was on board Castinar did one last scan to make sure they weren’t leaving anybody behind.  He called to the drow shaman, but the shaman just waved him off.  “I’m in no danger” he assured Castinar, “and I still have a few spells to keep those googlers busy while you all leave.”  The shaman turned to cast a spell, then turned back to Castinar.  “Don’t get the idea that I’m doing this as some noble surface-dweller gesture.  I’m just curious to see how the googlers react to the venom my spirit snakes carry.  Now go!”

 

Castinar leaped through the portal, which snapped shut behind him.  “Hold on!” came the call from the pilot’s cabin as the bioship lurched forward.  Those near the back of the ship could feel a slight up-and-down motion as the living vessel carried them quickly away from the docks.

 

But not quite quickly enough.  “Googlers in the water, trying to latch on to the hull” the ship’s pilot called out again.  “Move away from the walls!”

 

The order confused most of the Truth Seekers, since there really wasn’t much difference between the walls and the floor of the ship.  Still, they followed the lead of the Dark Stalkers and crowded together in the center of the hold.  “This is going to hurt” one of the older Stalkers commented.

 

A few moments later the entire ship spasmed once, then twice.  There was a sharp <crack> sound at the same moment that static electricity sparks jumped from person to person up and down the length of the boat.  Some were strong enough that those shocked cried out in pain.  The smell of ozone filled the hold as the ship began spasming once again.  Prepared this time, everybody gritted their teeth against the shocks.  They were still painful, but this time they weren’t so surprising.  The Seekers looked at each other, concerned.  They felt helpless, unable to fight back against an unseen foe. The ship spasmed a third time before the pilot called back that it was all clear.

 

The tension slowly drained away as the bioship sped away from Sakar.  Sane called for a status check.  Everybody was wounded, with Diana, Shadow, and Narlan having the most serious cuts and burns.  Several of the Dark Stalkers, including Jax, were badly wounded as well.  The clerics in the party went around, doling out healing.  Amber used most of the healing stones that Laila had given the party, using the strongest to bring one of the Dark Stalkers back from the brink of death.

 

It was a long and uncomfortable journey back to the Fortress of Midnight.  There simply wasn’t enough healing magic to heal everybody fully, so they all had to deal with at least some degree of pain.

 

Sane asked the Stalkers about Valdaeron and the rest of their company.  Jax explained to him that Valdaeron had to stay in Sakar to wrap up some “unfinished business”, and that they were to wait for him at the Fortress of Midnight.  The thought of sleeping the that haunted castle disturbed several party members, Castinar most of all.  But Diana reassured them.  “I couldn’t bring us down here, having never been here” she said.  “But I can take us home – after I rest.”

 

After disembarking, the group made its way into the Fortress.  This time the occupants of the castle weren’t as tightly controlled, and the group saw several ghostly apparitions watching them from doorways as they walked through the dark and silent hallways. 

 

The Dark Stalkers didn’t want to leave with the party, so they began setting up a temporary camp in one of the main halls while the Seekers retired to a side room where they were able to rest and recover.  After a somewhat relaxing night (Castinar swore he saw ghostly heads poke into the room and look around more than once) the clerics once again used their faith to heal the wounds of the party and of the Dark Stalkers.  Diana then created a Portal, opening a doorway back to the Retreat.

 

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OOC:

 

You’re back home!  Not much the worse for wear.  A few things happen over the next few days that may influence your actions over the next little while.

 

You find out that Valdaeron’s words were true.  King Azoun has been killed, and civil war has swept through Cormyr.  However, it wasn’t too bad, as most of the fighting was limited to the noble houses.  Few large-scale battles were fought.  So although Cormyrian leadership suffered, the national infrastructure was not badly damaged.

 

You also discover that Val’s story about the strange magic surges you felt seem to be true.  To your own perspective nothing has changed, but several of those around you that you trust, including Mogo and Tharg, comment on the changes they see in you.

 

Narlan recovers quickly both from his wounds and his ordeal at the hands of the drow.  He is quite embarrassed about his worthlessness during the battles in Houses Zimrath and in the warehouse.  Once he is able to get around he takes a horse to the Cormyrian compound and meets with the Purple Dragon detachment there.  There is a War Wizard with the group (something the Seekers were unaware of) who contacts Suzail with the news of the young Silversword noble’s rescue.  A few days later the same War Wizard shows up at the Retreat (where Narlan chooses to stay).  He informs the party that the Regent Alusair is very pleased with the news that Narlan Silversword lives and wishes to reward the party which rescued him.  The Wizard offers his services in transporting the party to Suzail instantly, although he cannot guarantee how long it will be before the Regent (who is very busy) can see them, what the reward might be, or how they will get back.  For those of Cormyrian citizenship an “invitation” from the Regent is not something to ignore, but everybody else is free to do as they please.

 

Three days after the party returns home Jax shows up at the compound.  He asks to see Ariessus.  When alone he hands a small package to his sister.  Opening it up Ariessus finds her Holy Symbol (the one that had the book in it) and her Stone of Heating.  Jax explains that Valdaeron sent it back (although Val did not return with the Dark Stalkers).  The items were found in Merra’s room.  From the items around them it appears as if Merra was trying to melt down all of Ariessus’ magic items and make a statue of Lloth out of them.  While the melting destroyed most of Ari’s items (armor, sword, etc.) the holy symbol and stone apparently would not melt. 

 

Other than that the party is free to do whatever for however long they wish to stay in town.  Both Nikki and Sane will be doing their own thing as Judd and David take a short break from the game to deal with real-life priorities.  Since the party will be somewhat leaderless for a while, this might be a good time for everybody to pursue their individual character goals for a short time.  Once all of those are taken care of, and the scene in Suzail and threads spawning from that are done, we’ll get the party ready to head back down into the Underdark again. 

 

Saif