[PLAYER'S NOTES: First 26 entries are illegible. Summary of their information is that Nim has grown through the various stages of elven childhood. She is now a young child of 14 years equivilant in elvish years that is part aquatic elf, part high elf. She was brought up by her Uncle for the majority of her years before leaving for a port city and becoming a bar wench and learning the less shady portions of the thief lifestyles... and then finally moving on to Piracy where she became a Cabin "boy" where few knew she was really a she. This is the first entry, preluding entry into the Planescape setting and Sigil.]
27) Springfest 15, 327
We caught up with the Flying Spiderwasp early this morning. It was a perfect set-up too. We had snuck up on them anchored off the Blijit Coast before dawn. After sneaking aboard, several of the crew started quietly looting. Either someone slipped up or the watch wasn't put down because instantly a door was thrown open and 20 or 30 armed guards rushed out on deck. They all had crossbows and swords.
As there were only 30 of us, we signalled a retreat and started to withdraw. Half the boarding crew was instantly cut down - though for the record they'll rest at peace in the sea as they fought bravely and took down half a dozen with them.
Upon the remaining boarding crew climbing aboard, several of the guardsmen followed onto the Walloping Toadstool. At this point, melee was all over our deck. I was driving bolts pointblank into people with no thought for the future. It was like Captain Lasur said - fighting to save one's life gave an incredible adrenalin rush.
Suddenly, a robed man caught my eye on the FlyingSpiderwasp's deck. He had just come up top and started to chant. He was also pointing at our ship while chanting. I know what happened LAST time one of those magicians finished a spell. I took sharp aim and fired a bolt directly at him. His eyes then caught mine, he directed his arm toward me and shouted something like "Ban...!" when my bolt took him in the left eye. He fell back over but my body started to tingle.
At this point we were starting to move away from the other ship. Ours had finally gotten the mainsheet up and removed all the guards from our deck. There are only a skeleton crew aboard right now and we are currently attempting to go undermanned to the next porttown. A few of us are also working on disguising the ship so it can't be recognized. Captain Lasur is still with us but Flynne isn't. We don't think he is dead though - most likely he fell overboard and swam to the coast. If he is alive, Captain Lasur says he'll know how to find us again.
28) Springfest 15, 327
The tingling in my body is still going on. It has been several hours and I thought it would be a good idea to throw something else in. I have spoken with Captain Lasur about it and he says its bad business when a wizard casts a spell on you. I just don't know. I'm a bit nervous about the whole thing. I've had a good long cup of hard ale and am planning on sleeping the tingling off - hopefully it will be gone tomorrow.
29) Springfest 16, 327?
Arrrgggg! There is a SERIOUS problem here. I know I had not drank that much the past evening. There are also several major problems. Perhaps writing them down and going back to sleep will change the effect.
1) Woke up suddenly in a large room. Very unusual because I was so comfortable. There was a deep feathery bed underneath me and no swaying in the room - yet I had fallen asleep in my normal room on the Walloping Toadstool. Huh?
2) Got up and ran into a chair - it clattered across the room, not bolted down like all the other things. I am led to believe I am not in my room.
3) Opened the door a crack and peaked out. Appears to be a hallway - can't see anything further down but I hear noises of people. There are no hallways on our ship.
About this time I figured some exploring was in order so I reached down to put on my boots and I couldn't see my arms. Oh they were there alright, I could feel them, just not see them. I then noticed that even my feet were gone. My body was as well. Its all here though. I can feel it - just not see it. Even the mirror here is no help. The clothes move around that I am wearing but I can't see my face or any flesh. WHAT HAPPENED???
30) Sameday, Later
Well, I had gone back to sleep, hoping it was a bad dream but it isn't. I am awake again. I have snuck a peak out of the nearby window and picked up some dressing habits of this area. I am going to try to disguise myself as a blindman wearing a veil. Hopefully, none will notice my body is missing. I have even taken my favorite oar and wheedled it down to a simple walking stick a blind man would use. That nice big cloak I have should come in handy too! Now I just have to go downstairs and figure out where I am. Of course the I couldn't care less - I want to know REALLY where my body is but one thing at a time.
31) Sameday, Later
I think I am in hell or something close to it. Where is Captain Lasur? I walked downstairs, prodding and probing around - trying to look blind. I got downstairs with only a few glances in my direction. Upon reaching the bar I gazed as best as possible about the room.
The barroom was larger than I am used to and shaped like a sailor's delight - with various shipwright instruments thrown about as decoration. It was very dark and the murky lighting provided was given off by small glowing bugs sitting in jars of liquid. A light layer of fog hugged the ground, covering the knees down while a layer of smoky haze filled the ceiling. The two of these combined made the inhabitance look like monsters though I shrugged it off.
I recognized none nor did anyone's clothing give hints to my location except that I was in a very seedy place. Fumbling up to the bartender I saw him cleaning a glass. Actually, I should say he was cleaning a pair of glasses. He had four arms. Stuttering slightly, I mummered a request for some ale and asked if he knew the where abouts of the Walloping Toadstool. He placed a cup of some strange smoking liquid on the table while I placed a silver coin down. The 4-Armed thing then placed several funny looking coins on the table in place of my silver coin, muttered something like "Never Heard of it." and turned his back on me. Not the friendly sort at all. I'd be more aghast at the mutant except for my own mutation - maybe its common here.
I took the cup over to a lone table in the corner and tried to sip it with the veil on. It didn't work very well. Nor did I really trust the drink. At this point, I noticed one of the natives giving me a good lookin' over. He was garbed in a black leather overcoat and had a brimmed large hat decorated with small skulls on it. I figure he might be able to help me out so wander over to his table.
His eyes flash bright red suddenly and I hesitated while attempting to backpeddle to my own table but he engaged me in conversation. "Evening stranger, your not from around these parts" he states. His voice reminds me of barnacles being scrapped off a keel and I can't help but notice his hands are all grey and leathery. Deciding to go with the flow, I crackle back "Yesum, I'm from da northern seas tho a bit outa my water here." Afterall, honesty is suppose to be the best policy right? He then flows his arm across the table, gesturing for me to take a seat. I nod my head and fumble for the chair with my hand, still covering to be somewhat blind.
This ghastly looking fellow, obviously a lander, begins shuffling some tarot cards. I've had my fortune read a few times but I figure today should be very telling. I impart him for a reading and he obliges. He only shows three cards, one for past, one for present and one for future. I'll skip the deadly tone of voice he delivered them with and simply impart their message to see if it makes sense later.
1) Past: The Tower. Implies being locked up inside a shell.
2) Present: The Devil. Could imply I am now in a hell.
3) Future: The Moon. Implies lots of change and savageness
Over our conversation, I came to learn his name was Cha-Kan and that he is some type of hunter. His primary objective is to destroy those that have come back from the dead and stalk the living. Wish he would have been with us back on that island - he would have scared those ghouls back to the grave. He's also got a couple of fancy looking swords on his sides but I notice they ain't too ornate and that the hilts look well used. Tough guy. Tends to be a bit tightlipped though he did tell me I am in the City of Doors. It didn't sound familiar to me and a later check of my map showed it doesn't exist. He also told me that he hates to see a youngster like myself floundering about. Youngster my foot! I'd gag his mouth with that whitish straw hair he has under his hat 'cept for I think he would enjoy it - either that or he'd put up 'nuff of a fight to make it not worth my while. At that point, I got up from my chair and started to head for the door. He said one last thing to me "Fine then, Flynne, if you get tired of stalking the streets for your shipmates come to the Armory 3 doors down from the Black Sails. Ask for me. Maybe I can help." Okay, so I used the firstmate's name, besides that, at least he did offer to help. I grunted a "Thankye, matey, I doubt I'll be needing it, but I thankye just da same." and headed out the door.
It wasn't normal. The buildings were all huge. There was no smell of water in the air. There were no seagulls flying about. As a matter of fact, a thick haze filled the sky and I could see buildings going on in every direction. Even up. Way up. I looked around even more and found that the buildings ran in a big circle and I was on the inside of it. No words really do justice here. I'll just put it down to figure out later.
Anyway, I started breathing heavy and I think hallucinating because some big bug creature that looked like an oversized praying mantis walked up to me, gazed down at me - remember, I did say BIG BUG and asked me very politely in the common tongue "Pardon me mate, but er you feeling well? You look fairly ill - and thin. Perhaps you should be resting - or feeding?" I decided the better part of valor was to flee. So I did. Fled as fast as my legs could take me - no less would do. The streets were full of strange things though. Insect people, large gorilla-creatures - even a few Hippos walking on two legs and holding weapons. Oh sure, there were some humans now and then - even a few elves but they were talking to the beasts. I beat a hasty retreat back the way I had come and into the bar and up to "my" room. I didn't even wonder what the patrons must have thought of the blindman running up the stairs.
So, hear I am yet again. I am studying people out of my window. I'm trying to get a good look at the local garb so I can make yet another disguise and this time try and not befuddle it. I think first though, I shall try sleep one more time. Maybe it really is a dream. Though if it is, I shan't say that I have a hell of a pinch mark on my arm.
31) Um....?
I skipped the sleep and tried the disguise once more. A last ditch effort so to speak. I snuck up and out the back door and headed for the first official looking person I could see. They were afterall, suppose to help. I hobbled up and over to this six foot tall humanoid dressed in dull red armor. He had a sword taller than me on his back and a large clipboard with paper he was jotting notes on. I figured he could write and read so that imparted intelligence - not the insanity of a barbarian. Too bad I was wrong. The conversation was quick and to the point, "Excuse me sur, perhaps you could tell me where in the City of Doors is the wharf?" He just gazes down on me and gruffly asks "What did you say?" I crackle out a bit louder "...the wharf...you know, the docks...?" He curtly responds "No, what did you call the great city of Sigel?" I weakly responded "You mean Doors...?" He reaches out to grab me while growling "That's it oldtimer, off you go. Penalty of badmouthing the city, fine of 54 somethingorothers and you can't pay so its the mines for you."
"Screw that" I thought as I popped him in the gnads. I wasn't planning on spending time in any mines nor paying any fees so I hightailed it around the corner and into the bow entrance of the bar I had left by the stern side. I casually gazed out the door and a few moments later he thundered by blowing a whistle.
Focusing my attention into the bar I found only one patron paid me any attention. Cha-Kan was still sitting in the corner sipping his drink. He raised his glass in an imaginary toast to me. I imparted a semi-friendly nod and headed upstairs. I was a bit putoff that he gave me information that got me in trouble with the law - but I never was good with them in the first place. And for all I know, it could have been some secret tongue for the local guilds.
31) Whoknows...
Okay, its only been a few hours. Basically, I gave up on sleeping - lets say just a touch of nerves here. Instead, I completed a disguise change into some type of holyman. At least I ASSUMED it was a religion. Its a full billowing robe complete with a veil or turban or something that covers the head. I was easily able to hide myself inside. I worried some about the skin cosmetics holding up but I shan't have bothered. The real problem was the eyes. I can look in the mirror and get this frightening appearance of a heavily cosmeticed person yet the eyeholes show a nice pattern of the inside of the robe. A close conversation with anyone, even Cha-Kan, wouldn't last. On the bright side (Ahhh IS there a bright side?), at least I have all my skin disguise cosmetics.
Anyway, long story short. I stalked downstairs and out the door with only a subtle glance at the patrons. Cha-Kan was still there but he hadn't even turned a head toward me. Once outside, I had noticed the streets had cleared from earlier. Who knows what time it was, I haven't felt hungry yet nor did I feel anything but disjointed.
Once outside, I found myself walking along, minding my own business. I guess perhaps I did have it coming by not paying attention but I don't see what all the commotion was about - it was only an oversized insect. Point is, I was wandering aimlessly, trying to think things through, when this foot long bug oozed across my path. Not thinking about it, I went and gave it a swift kick out of my way. It bounced some 5 feet or so and let out the biggest howling noise I have ever heard. Almost instantly, this big n' tall guard came bounding around the corner and assaulted me for attacking a creblin - or something like that. Funny thing was, it was the same guard I had run into before. He didn't recognize me so I tried to explain my newness here and ignorance to local customs. He goes on to say I should know the rules and that I'll learn them soon enough in the mines. I didn't like his attitude - cocky and knowitall it t'was. So I just STOMPED on his leg, running my foot down his shin. He then let up a howl to rival the bug while I beat yet another hasty retreat down an ally and over a few streets. This is just getting monotonous.
At this point, I figured my disguise was shattered like a small galley on a correl reef. I hid out in an alley by this different tavern and waited. Soon some gentleman walks out - he's got on royal blue robes, gloves and some type of dark glasses covering his eyes. "Perfect" I thought, as I bonk him on the knoggen. He goes out like an old lighthouse. I strip him down to his skivvies and leave him in the ally and hi-tail it back to the Black Sails or wherever its called. Only I feel a touch guilty - who wouldn't about striking this innocent bystander for his stuff? Anyway, I leave this little note on him saying I was new in town, both hunted and clueless, and that if he needs anything I happened to borrow he can come to the bar with the black boat sticking in it and snag a table by himself - and loudly ask the bartender for Doreen. I did leave him some extra cash to hopefully amend things.
32) Whenever.
Slept for the night - or day. Whatever it was. Time simply passed. My earring still works - and my gills still need to be bathed though this is no real surprise to me. I simply comment on it for the fact that life seems normal - excepting the fact that I am not on my ship - let alone even near water and am surrounded by screaming bugs that are deemed citizens.
I'm being hunted by the same law abiding guard that just won't give up doing his duty. I'm also taking a break from stitching my new disguise. I've modified the billowing blue robe to be a magician's robe. Some of my old violet clothes have been torn up and used as extras; giving me a hood and long sleeves as well as appearing as pants. Underneath it all, I am wearing my leathers. I've got my face already covered in cosmetics and I'll be covering the eyes with these fancy new glasses. My hands will be gloved so I shan't even bother with paint there. I'll just scoop all my stuff in one backpack, sling my crossbow over my shoulder and head over to that armory. It's time to pay a visit to Cha-Kan and see if he can't be a smidgin' more useful. Perhaps I shall even introduce myself as whom I really am this time, Nimimosha.
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