The Invasion - Part I

This morning Boris woke up refreshed and free of pain. He still had some scars on his body yet he was glad Asapi did not aim lower with his dark energy bolts. He grinned at his last thought yet realized it was time to get back out into the world and ensure his father Camilo made it safely to Numinous Gleann along with his crew.

He had remembered the message from Mr. Dubois and wrote another quick note to be sent from Numinous Gleann. "Mr. Dubois I will be in Numinous Gleann for a day starting tomorrow and will be ready to meet you and go over important details. R/Captain Mondragon". He put the note on his back pocket and dressed for battle. He saw a scroll with a note on the night table and looked at the note. "Captain Mondragon, feel free to rub both hands on this scroll and think of the destination and individual you wish to join. It is called a teleport scroll and will get you there instantly". Regards. Duke William Serenite", " Hmm, indeed a good friend I have found in the Duke. One day I must repay him for saving my life".

It was a short walk to the dock and Boris knew he had to breathe that ocean air to clear his thoughts. Yet this was not a tranquil scene. "Men, prepare the cannons and man the gates. Other towns are under attack". He saw men set in battle positions and knew they were ready. Then the thought of his father, crew and ship could be in peril and he rubbed the scroll thinking of Camilo Mondragon. He felt a flash of light engulf him and seconds later he arrived next to his father. The "Dragon" had docked and he looked at his father. Such resemblance, what he saw was an image of himself 20 years older.

Both men embraced suddenly and were at a loss of words. Boris spoke first "Words are not needed. You and Mother did what you did to save me and I understand it. We must get you ready for the trip back to the old lands, she is expecting you and together both of you must keep those old lands safe. I have some unfinished business here and will visit ye in the future" The look of relief on the face of Camilo Mondragon was noticeable and he just uttered in a whisper "I love you son. You have made us proud". Then he cleared his voice "Aye Captain, I am ready to depart once the longboat is ready" Both men suppressed a smile and a quick wink was exchanged. They both knew about protocol in front of the crew and would follow it to the letter.

A man Boris knew was approaching the docks with his retinue. Boris walked up to the man and extended his hand out to him "Mr. Glasgow, tis a pleasure to see Numinous Gleann is safe. please allow me to introduce my father Camilo Mondragon". Boris knew he had another trusted friend here and one whose town he would help defend with his life if necessary.

 

Cassyr rarely traveled far from the tower. Most of his time was spent on his studies since it was first erected.. Now that he has been forcibly evicted from his own property by this entity, he is traveling again to find out how to stop it. Cassyr looked upon the small town as he walked around Fawn Lake. When Cassyr first stumbled upon White Hart on Abundis, he believed that this would be the perfect location for the tower. Strange energy had somewhat drawn him to the area. The dark power infesting his tower may have been the cause.

He thought to himself "I'm going to need some more help on this one." Stryker Spawhawk sent Captain Mondragon to Cassyr's tower. Maybe Stryker has more information to give that could be useful to Cassyr about the good Captain. Balec decani is another man that could be useful in this journey as well. Balec was one of Cassyr's first contacts with the community of White Hart. Both Stryker and Balec were good, respectable individuals that can be counted on. Cassyr considered them both to be good friends of his. "I must speak with them and make them aware of the current situation. Hopefully they can help me in anyway possible." Once the Longbow Lodge came into sight, Cassyr made his way towards the establishment. "One drink for the road won't hurt and I may happen to stumble upon one of my them there."

It was then that the cawing sound of a raven could be heard coming over the lake. Eberis had returned and was flying straight for Cassyr. The raven landed in front of Cassyr and a new message was crumpled between the birds beak. After retrieving the message from Eberis, Cassyr quickly read through the note. "Lord Asapi, Rats Nest, and four statues? More dark powers are showing themselves across the land. This is very troubling indeed." He folded up the message and placed it within his robes. "Eberis, come with me. I am going to have use for you in the coming days. There will be a lot of messages sent it seems." Eberis perched up on Cassyr's shoulder.

"Now lets go see what Stryker and Balec are up to."

 

"I would say they are out touring the countryside. Its tough to know if they are in a pitched battle along the roads, the undead and bandits are quite thick on the road to Harvest," said Stryker. He nursed his mug of ale in the Longbow Lodge. The structure was like the taverns of Braemar and Soltown, set in a 'rustic' house of three stories with a large hearth on the first floor. The fire crackled and popped as the Stryker rose to take the poker and stoke the fire within.

It had been a day since the main airship had set of for Aerie, so there were a few free evenings until it returned.

The door opened and there was a quiet hush as the man in the black robes entered.

"Greetings, Cassyr. You are a seldom sight down this far into town.. what news of your Tower?" Stryker set his poker down and picked up his mug again. He spoke to the bartender to get a top shelf bottle for a drink to drive the chill away from the Magi.

 

The several patrons averted their eyes and began speaking in hushed tones. The only person to have not looked away was Stryker. Cassyr lowered his hood and a smile grew across his face. "Well hello there Stryker, it is good to see you once more, " said Cassyr. Whispering, Cassyr told Eberis "wait outside for me friend, I don't believe that dead ravens are allowed in here." The bird took off and flew out the door of the lodge. Cassyr walked up to Stryker and with every step the people in the lodge scooted their chairs out of his way. There were people in the community that still felt uncomfortable about Cassyr's presence in White Hart. This was something that he hoped would eventually change.

Cassyr held up two fingers to the bartender signaling for a double of the fine top shelf bottle that Stryker had just asked for. The bartender poured the drink and Cassyr put it down in one gulp. He asked for another and turned to Stryker. "My dear friend, while I enjoy discussing our day-to-day lives amongst one another I must speak to you about something dire and of great importance." The bartender placed the drink on the bar and Cassyr took a sip. He proceeded to discuss his visit from Captain Mondragon and the strange encounter that occurred in the Tower with the dark entity.

"What do you know about this Captain Mondragon? Will you aid me in this task because I could use your assistance? Do you know where Balec is at for I must speak with him also?"

After taking another sip from his drink, Cassyr pulled out his pipe from beneath his robes and started packing tobacco into it. He lit the pipe and took a small drag off of it. "And I must ask one last thing, where is the airship and may I use it?"

 

Considering the number of questions that were coming from Cassyr in rapid succession, the matter on his mind must have been direly important. Stryker took a long draught from his draft and listened. Rubbing at his beard, Stryker attempted to answer with a hint of mutual concern to Cassyr, "Captain Mondragon is a special individual .. from where I have been in the past, we would call him 'dahakoan' or loosely translated 'kin of the dragons'... I think Snowsong took notice of his presence, and certainly of his winged companion. Of course, I will try to aid you as I am able."

"Balec ... I last saw him running the dogs around for training, so he could be anywhere in the area. And the airship is on its way to Aerie with Vinni... unless we need to pull out the new acquisition."

The Imperium had sold some of their older naval stock of armored airships, and it was just too good of a deal to pass by. With deals made and exchanges underway to patch the airship, it was not fully functional for war, but was certainly airworthy.

"Alright, Cassyr. We will take the new one out as a flight test, but if you are willing to share the fuel cost, we can go where you are needed."

 

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Camilo Mondragon” as I reached my hand out to shake his, “Captain, we have been successful in duplicating the silver cannon you gave me. It took the craftsmen some time to find the right formula and proportions.”

I pointed to the hills overlooking the bay, “We are currently using guards in rotating shifts to man the guns and look out for any ghost ship coming close” A smile cross Captain Mondragon, I could tell he was pleased at our progress.

“So Captain, to what do we owe the pleasure of the company of you, your father and your ship?” I sensed some urgency on the face of the Captain.

 

"Mr. Glasgow. my father needs a longboat as he must sail alone east until he finds the vortex and returns to the old lands. Marak will guide him there and I must journey west towards Rats Nest. I believe that place holds the clues as to how the invaders arrived on the Novian continent". Boris looked at his father, "Father, Mr. Glasgow will help ye with the longboat. I must depart as time is against us". Mr. Glasgow, I leave my father in good hands with you and will brief you via seagull of what I find. The cannon is spectacular and I am sure will come in handy soon".

Boris bowed respectfully to both gentlemen and headed back toward the ship. "Josephus, take us to Rats Nest". He prepared a note to Mr. Dubois. "Mr. Dubois, the invasion is well underway. Saw Resolute attacked yesterday and Etceter today. We must find the source of this evil and I believe the clues start in Rats Nest. I sail in that direction as I write this note". He attached the note to the black seagulls beak and spoke to it "Go take this to Mr. Dubois and hurry.".

Boris remembered the woman he saw briefly in Rats Nest and thought he saw at Parrot's Roost. He knew that woman had something to do with this one way or another. He had to find her and through her find a way to stop what had been unleashed.

 

Camilo Mondragon looked at me expectantly. “Mr. Mondragon, come with me a moment please. Captain Raine, please select a good longboat and have it at the ready, along with some light provisions.”


He followed me to my home and up the stairs. I invited him to sit in a chair near my desk. “I know you are anxious to leave to go home, but before you do, I wanted to give you something.” I wrote quickly and sealed the letter with my seal in wax. “If you are ever this way again, this is a letter of introduction from me and a request from whom ever reads it to grant you shelter and aid.”


He stood and shook my hand, “Thank you, for your help.” “Let’s away now and get you launched, I know you want to get started” As we walked to the dock I touched his arm, “Your son is carrying the weight of a high calling, please be assured that many of us will stand with him. He will not fight alone.”


When we reached the dock, he entered the longboat. We waved goodbye as he paddled away. My job for Captain Mondragon completed, I turned to Captain Raine. “Don’t you have a certain female barkeep to escort home?” “About that sir, would you have time soon to perform a wedding?” Excited I grabbed his hand, “Of course I can, it’s about time, but I have to ask, does she even know?” He looked at me sheepishly, “Well I hope she says yes tonight when I ask.”


We both laughed as I bid him farewell, At least I have some good news for my wife later.

 

The "Dragon" sailed due west passing several ports along the way as the strong easterly winds were favorable. A northerly then easterly course brought them into Etceter. Boris gathered the entire crew on the top deck as the sun was setting. "Gentlemen, we will spend the night and leave tomorrow at mid-day. I want the crew to enjoy themselves in this fine town. Half will leave soon as we dock and return by midnight. The other half will leave then and be back on deck at 0600 hours. Any questions". There was total silence and Boris knew the men were antsy to spend their gold on women and song.

"Lieutenant Bombardin, take Razulah with you and see if he can obtain more of those herbs we enjoy and a good stock of rum. Here is the gold for those items. Razulah, ask around in town to see if anyone has seen the woman with this description"..
Boris gave Razulah a sketch he had made of the woman's image for him to use in his investigation.

Both men looked at the Captain. "Captain are you not coming with us?". "Nay gentlemen, I must prepare some maps of our next ports of call and wait for incoming black seagulls. I will keep an eye out since there are no other ships in Etceter Harbor.
If I see any strange ships pull in then I will send a fire arrow towards shore. Use that signal to meet me on the coast across from Parrot's Bay if necessary".

Boris looked at the men leaving the ship with smiles on their faces and for the first time in a long time felt the yearning to let loose and have a good time yet the responsibilities of a ship would delay those simple mundane pleasures.