Jammers Summary: Chapter 3, Turn 6

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

Deigatt rises early, as usual, and spends some time on the deck of the eelship practicing with his great axe. Later in the galley, after he's downed two heads of cabbage and half a loaf of bread, the minotaur announces, "I would like to haccompany Comrade Holland to the spellcasting competition hand cheer him hon. I will return this hafternoon to take a shift guarding the SILENT STAR."

Leera feigns indignance. "But Deigatt! Won't you cheer for me as well?!"

Deigatt looks at Leera with wide eyes. "I did not realize women were hallowed to compete." He puffs his cheeks and his eyes dart to Italapate's, then Kain's, then back to Leera's. "That his," the minotaur continues, "I was not haware that you were halso competing, Comrade Leera. Hof course, I will support your hefforts has well."

When Deigatt looks to Kain, Kain shrugs. "I can't help.. ah.. you out there Deigatt," he smiles.

Billy chuckles at the minotaur's gaff, "I'll be here 'til you get back Deigatt, though I do need to leave to visit friends this evening. Don't worry over the ship."

"Olympic Games?" Raken asks. "Interesting. I think I'll accompany you and watch the ceremony. It's always interesting to see priests of other pantheons trying to out-shine each other. Luckily Celestan does not allow himself to become involved in such... pettiness," he says with a smile. He quickly throws his cloak on and joins the group heading to the Pantheon.

"I.. ah.. am going to visit the harbormaster's office," Kain announces. Adjusting his rucksack and sticking his hands in his pockets, Kain adds, "I hope to.. ah.. catch some of the competition, if not I'll just, well, come back to the STAR."

Leera gathers her spell components and asks Holland, "Would you like to walk together to the contest?"

"May I accompany the two of you or will there be, hoom, trade secrets to be exchanged?" Nilaroo asks, adjusting his coin purse on the front of his belt. "After all, this should not last all day and I can certainly arrange for the purchase of, hoom, timber after your contests are done with."

Leera laughs, "You may be right, Nilaroo, but I'd like to think that we'll manage to stay in the contest for some respectable period of time!" Leera inclines her head and smiles. "Of course you can come."

Holland nods and says, "Sure Leera, I would like that," and then says to Nilaroo, "Nope, no trade secrets at all, feel free to join us."

As the wizards leave to the competition, Grigree says to them, "Good luck with spells today. I be, hrrr, here to watch ship." He then waits on deck for 'Pate, Ferric, and Seguld, watching the people walk by on the dock.

On the way to the pantheon of Olympus, Leera asks Holland, "So, do you know how this contest is going to be run? I wasn't able to learn much when I signed up...."

Holland smiles and says, "Basically it is a free for all. Illusionary opponents versus us. I am not too clear on anything other than that."

Leera steps back and eyes Holland's belt pouches, trying to discern which spell components he has made most accessible. She asks, "What's your strategy going to be.... lots of bangs and booms, I assume?

Holland laughs, "My strategy? To win of course.."

Leera smiles winsomely, "You seem reasonably confident of your abilities.... How would you feel about a side contest between the two of us? The winner is the one who advances farthest in the competition." She pauses and slowly a mischievous grin spread across her face. "What should we wager?"

Holland taps his chin and says, "Hmm.. Perhaps loser treats the winner to dinner?"

Leera nods, "Done."

--------------

Ferric rises shortly after the Brallian dawn. He makes another thorough sweep of the FLOW checking to insure there are no more secret compartments. Finding none he picks up any bits of gear left onboard by the former owners and takes it back to the STAR. he finds everything of value has been removed the night before. After finishing he makes sure Seguld is ready for the showing in case their buyers lower themselves to haggling.

Seguld joins Ferric on the deck, in his hand are a number of small pieces of wood. His hands playfully whittle the wood with a cheap knife from the galley and he seems content to just whistle and whittle. After a while, he breaks his silence and turns to Ferric. "Afterthis c'nwe goto Moune'splace? I still wannasignmyselfup. Then, wec'nhitthe Hammer and the'Nevitable." Seguld adds, "I'm gettin'a newpist'lfer meself." as he proudly balloons up his chest.

Later, after thinking a while, Seguld comments, "But, wecan't be goneallday. I Promised 'Roo that I'd helpwit dacarpentrystuff, an'weneed mo'wood ta finish."

The two wait idly on the deck of the Star, Ferric holding a bottle of wine liberated from the stores of House Moune the night before.

Italapate wanders onto the deck and eyes Ferric standing guard over a bottle of wine. He moves across the deck and leans on the gunwales facing the representative from House Moune. "What are we waiting for?" he asks.

"We wait for a man who may wish to buy the FLOW." Ferric says tersely then turns his head and studies the wharf area for a while.

Italapate nods his head. "Great! Maybe we will get rich and retire..." He grins while continuing to lean against the ship.

---------------

An hour after dawn, Deigatt takes his axe and heads into the city, letting his backpack ride high on his back to keep it from any thieving hands. As he was on his earlier visits to the Rock, he is astounded by the diversity of beings moving through the streets of the asteroid city.

On Ferric's advice, the minotaur takes Hammer Street, passing first through Giff Town, where the many grey-skinned inhabitants remind him of Captain Wilhemina of the FLOWFISH, and then through the Dwarven district, many of whom watched him suspiciously as he moved carefully through the street.

Finally, the buildings on his right ended, and a grassy field lay before him, just as Ferric has described. In a grove ahead of him, he watched several humans moving about, several dressed in shiny armor, others in the dark robes of priests. Deigatt stopped, inhaled deeply, sucking in the air of the city to bolster his nerve, and then continued forward, traveling down the road between the Temple of Tyr and the College of Celestrian, turning left to go around the Polyglot Shrines until finally he came to the Planar Church of Olympus.

Deigatt is surprised to find little activity around the Planar Church of Olympus. Slowly, he approaches the temple, stopping when he someone step from behind one of the columns of the colonnade. Humanlike, she is short and thin, and Deigatt can see the tips of her pointed ears poking out through her dark brown hair. "Minotaur," she says, eyeing him curiously. "You have business here?"

Deigatt snorts, his anger rising at her haughty demeanor. He takes a step forward, then stops as the elf raises her right hand in a foreign gesture. The minotaur takes a deep, calming breath.

"I thought there were to be games, here," he says finally. "Spellcasting games. My comrades har competing."

"The games are in the arena," the elf replies, lowering her hand to her side. "Follow Lake Street from Temple Square until you get to Tower Street. Turn right and follow that, then go around the Elven Forest when you get to Armada Street. When you get to Grand Street, you'll be at the Festival Grounds." As she speaks, she points to her left to indicate the direction to Temple Square. Deigatt glances over at the road that runs between the church and the Polyglot Shrines, and he's startled to see an amused minotaur watching him.

************

An hour later, Deigatt stands on Grand Street looking across the Festival Grounds and at the Arena of Frun behind them. Daunted by the utter chaos of light and sound and movement, he looks to find a route around the dancers and troubadours and stentorian vendors, but he sees that both Park Street and Low Park Street, the two roads forming the long borders of the Festival Grounds, are filled with people of many races, quite a few of which the minotaur has never before seen or heard of.

Resolved, he steps forward, hoping to make a path of his own through the crowd. After several frustrating minutes, he finally reaches the arena. Making his way in, he finds a spot high in the stands and begins to look for his friends.

He sees Talus and Raken are already present, having saved seats for Deigatt and Kain. Deigatt joins them and the three chat while waiting for the games to begin.

Kain makes his way through the crowd to Talus' side just before the competition of wizardry. "It was… ah… fairly busy at the Harbormaster's Office, surprisingly enough," Kain says loudly so he can be heard over the roar of the audience. "So.. ah.. I went and paid our docking fees for the next two weeks to save myself another trip."

--------------

At the appointed time Captain Iacot appears, accompanied by a burly, black bearded warrior in chainmail. Iacot smiles as they approach, and motions towards the galleon, "This is the vessel?"

Ferric nods and gives him a tour of the vessel.

Iacot is friendly but professional as he looks about the GHOST. He asks a few easily answered questions about performance, and often turns to his companion who doesn't speak but nods yes or no. His companion spends a lot of time looking at the rigging, and even climbs up into, examining the ropes and pulleys. His manner is that of an experienced sailor.

After the short tour Iacot asks, "May I ask why House Moune isn't interested in this vessel?"

Ferric shrugs, "I've honestly no idea. I'm not consulted on such matters yet." Ferric says with a conspiratorial smile.

He nods at Ferric's answer, "Hmmm... Well, she is a bit beat up." He and Seguld then begin a short dance of haggling prices, finally settling on 125,000 gps. "I'll return this afternoon with the payment, and my crew. You will notify the Customs Office? Shall we say around an hour past the Noon bell?"

Agreement is passed all around. and the gentleman and his friend depart.

---------------

Leera and Holland wait with the other competitors, perhaps 3 dozen men and women of a variety of races. Many are priests of the Olympian gods being honored by the festival, and these seem especially determined to out do each other. The competitions rules are explained, they are fairly simple. Each contestant will start with all the others on the open arena floor. A horde of illusionary monsters will appear and begin attacking the contestants. The contestants are to respond with spells as they see fit, no spell effects are permitted to leave the arena floor area, however. If any spectator is injured by a contestants spell then full criminal penalties apply. If a creature scores a palpable blow upon a spellcaster then that spell caster will be surrounded by a purple faerie fire and is out of the tournament. They must withdraw and cast no more spells. Disbelieving the illusionary monsters does not stop them from scoring a touch and removing the spellcaster from the contest. Contestants may cooperate with each other if they wish, but there is only one winner.

The stands are very crowded with an uncounted multitude of races and cultures. By tradition the Olympic Games, as the Pantheon priests call them, do not charge spectators but many vendors roam the stands with food and drink and a carnival atmosphere pervades the arena and festival grounds around it.

The contestants stand in the center of the arena in two lines, back to back. Holland and Leera are side by side facing the same direction. A smokepowder pistol goes off and dozens of illusionary monsters appear and charge towards the contestants!

Three green, pebble-skinned reptilian creatures appear before Holland, wielding bone daggers and clubs. They rush towards the mage with great speed, their odd, gait propelling them as quickly as the fastest war-horse.

A spider like creature, approximately man-sized, appears before Leera and scuttles towards her. It has no arms or legs but is clothed in an ugly red robed and is covered in tattoos. Its eyes are an evil yellow color and the claws on its eight legs clatter on the stone pavement as it scurries towards Leera, poison dripping from its fangs.

Holland links his thumbs together and spreads his hands out and mutters a few quick words as a tall, thick wall of licking fire appears directly in the path of the reptilian creatures, too close for them to swerve around, forcing the creatures to pass through the deadly flames. The creatures disappear as they hit the wall, blinking out of existence. Holland's wall continues to Flame before him as he looks for other opponents.

Leera casts a quick spell, and then takes a single, short step toward the creature. It pales and flees.

As the creature runs, Leera's hands move with quick, practiced motions. As her spell takes effect, the outline of her form becomes blurred, shifting and wavering.

The creature (many spectators point at it yell "Look, a neogi!") stops at the wall of the Arena then turns and rushes back towards Leera. She pulls something from her pouch and makes a quick series of gestures with her hands, flinging what looks like flower petals towards the spider creature. whatever the spell she cast was intended to be, it doesn't succeed and the creature continues rushing towards Leera. Her blurred form dodges left and right as it slashes at her with its front two legs.

The crowd gasps as the second wave of monsters appears. In front of Holland a dark form appears, looking something like long black cloak of flesh with a large, teeth lined mouth. The creature flies towards Holland in a lazy, undulating motion with its mouth opened wide in an evil looking grin.

While Leera continues to fight the neogi, a large creature with the forequarters of a hawk and the rear of a horse appears in front of her and leaps into the air, beating its powerful wings as it flies towards her.

Though Raken hollers out encouragement for his fellow comrades ("Take that oversized garment, Holland!!; Watch the hippogriff!!), his voice is drowned out in a sea of cheering and shouting.

Holland's brow furls in concentration and a single bead of sweat appears on his forehead, sliding down the right side of his face as his hands are still interlaced in front of him. From the tall wall of Flame a giant open hand, palm forward, of flame shoots out at the black creature. The creature dives underneath the hand, however, and swoops down upon Holland, enveloping him in its embrace. When it disappears a moment later Holland is enveloped in the purple faerie fire which indicates defeat. Glancing about, he sees over two-thirds of his fellow competitors are bathed in a similar glow.

Meanwhile, Leera steps forward and casts a handful of colored sand into the air before her. A shimmering wedge of clashing colors springs into being and envelops the neogi. It collapses to the arena floor then disappears. The hippogriff dives at her at the same instant, but her blurred figure causes it's strike to miss by inches.

The Hippogriff swoops about and comes flying towards her in a second pass. Leera makes a series of arcane gestures and a shimmering pattern of light appears before the onrushing creatures. The hippogriff stops cold and hovers above Leera, staring at her.

Leera quickly casts another spell, while the light show fascinates the hippogriff, and grows a set of eagle wings. She rises about ten feet into the air and stays as stationary as possible, circling as tightly and slowly as possible.

The hippogriff comes out of its daze, and suddenly disappears.

As Leera circles slowly above her position, the third round of monsters appear. Directly in front of her there appears a giant, furry rodent of some kind; perhaps 8 feet long. The creature waddles forward and looks up as Leera circles above it. Then, without warning it spits a huge glob of spittle at her. Leera is covered, for a moment, by the viscous liquid before it disappears, along with the furry creature, leaving a purple tinged Leera to follow Holland to the stands where they watch the rest of the days competition.

In the stands, an ancient gnome excitedly tells Leera, "Idesignedthat prototypeGiqantSpacehamsterFireextinghuisher youfoughtthirtyyearsag, quiteexcellent,isn'the?"

Leera stares at the little gnome as he then disappears into the crowd.

Shaking her head, she returns to discussing the remaining half dozen mages with her companions. The events and festival fun continue throughout the day. The final winner of the spellcasting contest is a powerful looking minotaur in a grey tunic. He hurls fire spells and lightening bolts like they were going out of style, and is announced as "Dorn of Toril" at the close of the ceremonies.

***************

At noon, the transaction passes off without a hitch. Ferric and Seguld then meet with the captain of the RESPLENDENT and pass on his 70% share before adding Seguld's name to the Contract. They return then to the ship with 30 Arcane Platinum trade bars (worth 1,000 gp each).

***************

Later that evening Holland takes Talus and Kain aside, "Talus, Kain, I would use some information.. Talus, could you please find out if the VERGEDAIN'S HAMMER's route from Greyspace was on the Greyflow connecting to the Arcane Innerflow into Bralspace."

Talus shrugs, "I can try, though it may be difficult to get such information."

Holland replies, "Whatever you can find out would be great. Ironpiece's orbit would have brought it near the Arcane Innerflow's portals in the past month or so. The Realmspace ship likely came that ways as well. I think that the recent pirate activity is from pirates based near Ironpiece, perhaps on an asteroid, perhaps the Barre Sinister. The information you find out will help verify or refute my thoughts."

Kain puffs out his cheeks as he exhales and nods. "As Talus said," he shrugs, "it could be tough, but I'll see.. ah.. what I can find in the morning. Have to go out anyway and pay our docking fees," Kain shrugs again.

Holland says, "Whatever information you can find out would be great. Thank you both."

Date/time: Evening 13th day of the 5th Month, 5049 OC