11th Breeze

The deck of the Navigator ship barely rolls as we seem to skim across the surface. My perch in the Crow’s Nest allows me to look over all my charges, Émy friends, and report that all is well. Blackhawk stands in the bow, the salt air blowing back his cloak as his eyes scan the horizon, hoping to spot quickly receding glimpses of far-away islands in an attempt to find his place in this world. Raven stands to port, absently petting DeVal in a constant attempt to appease his agitation. Her eyes also scan the horizon, not in an attempt to know were she is, but to see where she wishes to go. Jaden tucked away with Lia in the stern of the ship, hoping for a moment of privacy, but ironically not wanting to be left behind. This constant struggle keeps him on the deck instead of simply retreating below with his Love. Stephen has the hardest time amongst us. With Jaden occupied, his avenues of conversation and companionship are very limited on the tiny boat, the busy Navigators, the taciturn Paladin, the reserved Druid, the determined Ranger, and of course the stoic Fian, what is a Bard to do. We sense his unease and make attempts, and are grateful that he bears our limited company well, although deep down I suspect that perhaps he engages us more for our benefit than for his, much has changed with Stephen in the short time that I have known him.

I report that Our health is in fine order. We extricated ourselves from Chaos Island (Wanderland) with minimal difficulty. That is not to say that opportunities for trouble did not present themselves, but with our cargo in tow, me made a determined decision to avoid all distraction while heading straight for Young Master Tharni and the Navigator’s ship.

We each rested away the few hours left to us this morning in separate corners of the Garden, myself in quiet reflection, and some others I suspect and doubt shared this intention. With the hint of Dawn, I make my way to the gate. I settled down in front of the “stone’ Dragon emblazoned on the Garden wall and removed my sketch from just yesterday. My encounter with Vana’s servant inspired me to make some additions to my sketch. The Dragon’s scales I modified to more resemble rose petals that would absorb the Sun’s energy rather than reflect it. Dragon talons took on the shape of giant thorns. The creature’s crest developed a leafy quality with the tail ending in a thorny vine. While I worked, I heard Stephen’s song of Dawn Greeting. The words did not carry, but the Elven tune I did recognize. I am to believe that Stephen has chosen to embrace his Elven bloodline.

Upon completion of my work , I tucked away my supplies, and before stowing my book, turned it to show the Dragon, "You have served as my Muse, timeless Guardian of Law, but Lady Vána now pulls at my heart and I find myself in her service. This shall serve as my standard and your vigilance shall serve as my guide. Keep thee well Guardian and know that your work here is appreciated and honored. Till we again meet." With that I began to turn and return my book to my packÉ.when suddenly, the enormous ship-sized head swivels to look at me. It addresses me with a voice like a Dwarven Mine, and a dialect I barely recognize as the oldest Elvish dialect, the language of the Elves of the West.

"Firstborn, your kind is called. But my kind is older still. You bear your own nobility and your Lady's grace like a fine mantle, and I must acknowledge the power that flows through your veins. Your portrait of me is a fine likeness, I am pleased that you brought it into existence."

The great eyes, like distant forges, focus intently on me.

"However, Creature of Order that you may be ... you may not enter this Garden again unchallenged -- for at your heels nips Apocalypse, and collectively you unwittingly draw it where you go. Find comfort in knowing that this place will endure at the End, even if all else is gone... and that the secrets here will remain for others in another age."

"You call yourselves Foxes, but I shall henceforth call you 'Stormcrows' -- for you and the others swirl about on the winds, presaging the Storm which will destroy all before it."

"Do not even dream of coming here again until I have reason to name you otherwise."

With that the dragon resumed it stony presence. Blackhawk had arrived for the tail end of the Dragon’s address. His grasp of the Elvish tongue is still young, and the Dragon’s dialect proved even more troubling, but he understood the tone enough to realize the Dragon’s threat. We decide it is time to leave, our intrusion has been tolerated but we pose a danger as Chaos follows us. Stephen and Jaden arrive , each expressing thanks to the Guardian for allowing our visit. Finally Raven arrives and performs a final blessing over the Garden.

With a heavy heart I leave the peaceful Garden, resolute not to look back. But upon exiting I hear a gadp from behind. As I turn, I see the gate has vanished to be replaced by solid wall. It truly seems that we are not meant to return in the near future.

With no chance of return, we set out. We meant to climb to the giant staff before descending to the boat, but almost as soon as we set out the party became engulfed in a rapidly moving cloudbank. Raven called up elements of the wind to provide relief. She directed the wind in many directions to no avail before settling on a updraft that seemed to free us temporarily from the misty cloak.

While enclosed within the confines of the cloud we heard repeated peals of thunder. Many got nervous as we were within a cloud, thus very susceptible to lightening. Eventually we reached the far side of the cloud bank. As we passed through, we were surprised to find that the fog dissipated upon our exodus.

The thunder continued, although Raven suspected that it was drums we heard. True to her instinct, we eventually came upon a crows gathered for a musical concert. Stephen inquired a crowd member about the gathering and was told it was a Bandolini and his all Skeleton Band. Stephen was intrigued but we needed to press on to the boat.

Eventually we reached the summit of the hill and approached the giant staff. Not getting too close. We did see two charred piles of debris at the staff’s base. Thinking vermin curiosity was to blame, we again set out.

The trail down is reached and our descent is met by an old human male leading a metallic mule up the trail. We step aside to allow him passage and he does indeed pass with just a simple hello. The mule left deep tracks in the trail. It is while admiring these tracks that Blackhawk sees two other sets, female both, one booted, one bare. Our thoughts immediately turn to the two mysterious woman we encountered on the road. Blackhawk expressed his doubt, but we have known these women to cover intervening distances very quickly We also postulated that they may have been the two debris piles at the giant staff

One last avoidable encounter awaited us, but DeVal’s senses might have saved us. He leapt from Raven and took off through the woods. Raven gave pursuit with me following, Jaden and Lia next. Blackhawk and Stephen thought it prudent to step of the trail. At this point a reptilian humanoid walked up the trail. It seemed agitated. Likely sensing our presence, but unwilling to do anything about it.

Back on the trail, we were rounded a bend in the trail into a clump of, according to Lia, Blood Vermin. Flames erupted around us as Raven, Jaden and Lia all called down fire on these new enemies. I raced to quickly engage a smoldering vermin in hopes of quickly disabling the wounded beast, but it proved to be of tougher stuff. Stephen with sword and Blackhawk with bow also joined the fight. Blackhawk and I suffered minimal wounds as more flames, Magic Missiles, punches, and Blackhawk’s Wounding Rapier eventually finished the vermin off. Normally vermin would have valuable pelts, but only one was not thoroughly singed and we did not have time to deal with it.

We started to think we should be seeing the shore soon when suddenly Raven noted two figures ahead. Suddenly everyone froze. Our Rust-colored ‘Brion was back. It was not so surprising that he was here, but his companion was, Stavros the Tinker. He walks into our midst, walking right to Stephen’s pack and pats it as if feeling for the Journal and checking that it was still safe. “I see you still cannot resist and therefore are not threatening my brothers. Its getting busy out there.” He walks back through the group pausing to pet a partially growling DeVal. He departed with Stavros and left us frozen still for several minutes. While in this state some Vermin came by, sniffing us, but not bothering our immobile forms before departing.

When we finally reached the shore, Tharni had pushed the boat back out to sea. He explained to us that he had his own encounters with boulder-throwing beasts. Passing the book over to Sir Ian we allow ourselves to relax as the Navigators busy themselves with preparing the boat to get underway.

The Symbolism does not escape me as I ride in the Crow’s Nest with the Navigator’s called up Wind at our back. We know the Storm is coming, chasing us since the Moonwind and the Trident, but as I look down upon Sir Ian, with a bundle held tightly under one arm I wonder what part of the Storm are we about to release.