The Hunter's Mark - 10.9.24 - Dee'arna
Sept 12, 2024 18:07:44 GMT
Andy D, Tom M, and 2 more like this
Post by ruthcd on Sept 12, 2024 18:07:44 GMT
Notes from Dee’arna’s diary, the morning after the events of The Hunter's Mark
I decided to return to Port Ffirst to understand more of the area and I thought I would begin my exploration at the establishments that Kem was barred from, largely for my own amusement. I found The Sunken Anchor to be a touch too loud, but took the moment to go back over some of the maps I’ve been working on, with an acceptable beer in hand.
It wasn’t the wisest choice for a research spot, so I was delighted when my reading was interrupted by a beautiful woman, with hair like a gathering storm, called Safire. She spontaneously invited me into a mission of sorts, which seemed synchronously suited to my areas of interest.
The background facts - Safire and most of the other people in said tavern are linked as sole survivors of shipwrecks. And all had been left with a mark on their hand - a crab and a skull, except for herself. A mystery within a mystery. And this mark apparently allowed some “horror of the deep” to see and hear through them.
I kept the brand on my own hand secret, but clearly this incited my curiosity. Theirs had never spoken a word to them in three years - so I concluded it was not part of the same group as the One and Many. Our curses do not have the patience for three years of silence - we each hear the whispered poetry. Although my mind does come back to the question of The Deepest One?
She was looking for the secret of how to rid these sailors of the mark, and hoped to find knowledge somewhere under the sea, amongst Tritons. I could have asked questions all day about her situation, but I opted to join the adventure, and allow answers to come my way.
So I joined the crew of the Waveskimmer, who were united with Safire in purpose. She had also invited Erron, who I met recently when we aided Pyrin with the coffins. (I remained silent on my recent discoveries regarding the Hekrati.) And a warrior called Elarris who knew a great deal about various points of interest under the sea.
He told us about a fascinating ship made of stone, now a shipwreck filled with treasure, before an ancient door under the sea. And just when I washungry interested enough to dive in to find it, he gave dire warnings about dangerous fish and the need to run away. I felt like I was being baited by secrets once again, but assured him I could always come back another time.
On the Waveskimmer, Safire was able to shift the weather to help us move swiftly - a useful set of spells. But I was more focused on the opportunity to learn ocean cartography from Ismail and his crew, who were so generous with their knowledge.
We then went underwater to visit a Triton town - granted the ability to breathe there, which alone was a fascinating and beautiful experience. Safire spoke to the elders of this community for guidance on the way to get rid of the mark and through some divination pointed her, and us, right towards the enticing underground doorway Elarris warned against. Serendipity.
There we found this stunning ‘stone ship’. Unfortunately, it has been massively damaged. And inside the main cabin were the destroyed remains of who knows what knowledge - books turned to mulch. Luckily I was able to recover a sealed chest that contained the captain’s log book for future study. Erron also took the time I spent in the cabin, retreiving a great deal of silver, which was later shared - I appreciate our split priorities there.
When some of these ‘deadly fish’ attacked, I was able to call upon Lasseega’s power and use the copy of myself that she granted me to cast spells for the first time! It was wonderful to see how effective it was, and how blessed I am, as my mirror self sent ripples of death into a school of piranhas and they all wilted away.
Having fought off some sharks too, and recovered a missing Triton body, we were able to get to the important stuff - entering this ancient doorway on the floor of the sea. Inside was an ancient temple with a central place surrounded by pillars, and a series of round tubes leading to it. There was writing in Aquan on the wall, which thankfully Safire could read.
Through this we understood that it enabled movements of ships, like some kind of grand teleportation. It needed the relic of a god to activate these powers. Here Safire drew out this ‘Heart of the Storm’, a glowing blue and red crystal - allowing the runes on the walls to glow in a matching beautiful blue light.
Just as she was pondering activating it further I suggested that we look around for something that matched the mark on her hand. My studies tell me that the symbols chosen by a pirate flag or a cursed hand often go back to much older iterations. Finding something like that would prove the connection she needed. I was honestly much too distracted by the ‘underwater temple’ experience to spy any details, but thankfully Erron has a good eye - and as I suspected discovered an engagraving on the walls, a version where the skull and the crab are merged as one. Proving to a degree of certainty that these present troubles are likely linked to ancient ones - as is so often the case in my field.
I decided to return to Port Ffirst to understand more of the area and I thought I would begin my exploration at the establishments that Kem was barred from, largely for my own amusement. I found The Sunken Anchor to be a touch too loud, but took the moment to go back over some of the maps I’ve been working on, with an acceptable beer in hand.
It wasn’t the wisest choice for a research spot, so I was delighted when my reading was interrupted by a beautiful woman, with hair like a gathering storm, called Safire. She spontaneously invited me into a mission of sorts, which seemed synchronously suited to my areas of interest.
The background facts - Safire and most of the other people in said tavern are linked as sole survivors of shipwrecks. And all had been left with a mark on their hand - a crab and a skull, except for herself. A mystery within a mystery. And this mark apparently allowed some “horror of the deep” to see and hear through them.
I kept the brand on my own hand secret, but clearly this incited my curiosity. Theirs had never spoken a word to them in three years - so I concluded it was not part of the same group as the One and Many. Our curses do not have the patience for three years of silence - we each hear the whispered poetry. Although my mind does come back to the question of The Deepest One?
She was looking for the secret of how to rid these sailors of the mark, and hoped to find knowledge somewhere under the sea, amongst Tritons. I could have asked questions all day about her situation, but I opted to join the adventure, and allow answers to come my way.
So I joined the crew of the Waveskimmer, who were united with Safire in purpose. She had also invited Erron, who I met recently when we aided Pyrin with the coffins. (I remained silent on my recent discoveries regarding the Hekrati.) And a warrior called Elarris who knew a great deal about various points of interest under the sea.
He told us about a fascinating ship made of stone, now a shipwreck filled with treasure, before an ancient door under the sea. And just when I was
On the Waveskimmer, Safire was able to shift the weather to help us move swiftly - a useful set of spells. But I was more focused on the opportunity to learn ocean cartography from Ismail and his crew, who were so generous with their knowledge.
We then went underwater to visit a Triton town - granted the ability to breathe there, which alone was a fascinating and beautiful experience. Safire spoke to the elders of this community for guidance on the way to get rid of the mark and through some divination pointed her, and us, right towards the enticing underground doorway Elarris warned against. Serendipity.
There we found this stunning ‘stone ship’. Unfortunately, it has been massively damaged. And inside the main cabin were the destroyed remains of who knows what knowledge - books turned to mulch. Luckily I was able to recover a sealed chest that contained the captain’s log book for future study. Erron also took the time I spent in the cabin, retreiving a great deal of silver, which was later shared - I appreciate our split priorities there.
When some of these ‘deadly fish’ attacked, I was able to call upon Lasseega’s power and use the copy of myself that she granted me to cast spells for the first time! It was wonderful to see how effective it was, and how blessed I am, as my mirror self sent ripples of death into a school of piranhas and they all wilted away.
Having fought off some sharks too, and recovered a missing Triton body, we were able to get to the important stuff - entering this ancient doorway on the floor of the sea. Inside was an ancient temple with a central place surrounded by pillars, and a series of round tubes leading to it. There was writing in Aquan on the wall, which thankfully Safire could read.
Through this we understood that it enabled movements of ships, like some kind of grand teleportation. It needed the relic of a god to activate these powers. Here Safire drew out this ‘Heart of the Storm’, a glowing blue and red crystal - allowing the runes on the walls to glow in a matching beautiful blue light.
Just as she was pondering activating it further I suggested that we look around for something that matched the mark on her hand. My studies tell me that the symbols chosen by a pirate flag or a cursed hand often go back to much older iterations. Finding something like that would prove the connection she needed. I was honestly much too distracted by the ‘underwater temple’ experience to spy any details, but thankfully Erron has a good eye - and as I suspected discovered an engagraving on the walls, a version where the skull and the crab are merged as one. Proving to a degree of certainty that these present troubles are likely linked to ancient ones - as is so often the case in my field.
We returned to the Tritons with the body, and they gave us her sirensong lyre as thanks. Although I’m not much of a musician, its manipulation spells are very familiar and comfortable to me, so I have held onto it.
Only one major thing of note after this - when we had left this area, a great tidal wave rose up and crashed into Port Ffirst doing some damage to the seafront. It seems Safire’s relic triggered something mighty, even unintentionally.
Both the company and the archaeology were delightful, so I have agreed to help out again should the opportunity rise. Every day I am so thankful I came to Kantas, it holds a wealth of uncovered knowledge, and I am sure I will find the power I am looking for here!