The Delta

[The Forgotten God]

The south side of al-Khial has the only suitable docking area for any sort of vessel as a wide freshwater river flows fdirectly from the Tower of the Sun six miles inland. After a half mile a hundred meter waterfall cuts off any chance of getting further upriver. An old abandoned fishing village sits at the ancient docks.

[The Forgotten God]

At an hour past midnight the Odyssey glided silently through the waters, slipping into the wide mouth of the river, coming into view just a mile or so from the docked warship. Demeter called to Ceutinde. “Silence below deck if you could,” she said, “that’ll make it harder for them to hear what’s going on.” A half dozen sailors stood by with a swift longboat to ferry the adventurers to shore. She turned to Nigel and the New Mighty Thornhearts. “All right,” she said, “my sailors will get you to that boardwalk while I lay fire down. It should give you surprise so use it wisely.”

[Silvia Raizer]

Silva was dressed all in black, shirt, breeches, boots and leather armour. She had left her hat behind and her hair had been plaited and wound around her head in a crown to keep it out the way. She had her sword, her dagger and her arquebus to hand. She waited for Nigel to give his orders.

[Ceutinde]

Ceutinde cast the spell as requested, the final gesture looking like she was locking her own lips. That work done, she strode up on deck, finally wearing the armor she'd had made for the adventure, hissing, "I don't want to hear a word. I went to my usual leatherworker, and apparently he doesn't do much practical work. There wasn't time to get it redone after I saw it." She was in a brown leather bodice and skirt, midriff and collarbone inexplicably bared, and thigh-high boots. Her medical bag was over her shoulder and a bollock dagger with a remarkably anatomically correct hilt was through her belt.

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

Justine was dressed simply, as usual: a dark violet-colored knee-length dress, leggings reinforced at vital points with leather, her tall black boots, her belt carrying her sword and daggers firmly about her waist, her arquebus strapped over one shoulder. A new addition was a light breastplate, blackened. It curved along with her body but was nowhere near as...detailed...as Ceutinde’s. She couldn’t help but smirk at that. “Would you like a cloak? You may get cold in that,” she offered kindly, though with no small amusement.

[Ceutinde]

She gestured at her chest, where faux nipples stuck out of the leather. "As if anyone could tell. Yes, I'll grab one of mine before we go. Though it's probably best to keep this uncovered; at least I can be a distraction."

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

“I have a short one, something that won’t get caught on things. And it’ll show off your lovely legs, too,” she suggested. “Still a good distraction. But don’t let Mr Thornheart get too close a look. He’ll be more insufferable than usual.”

[Thalia Vedas]

Thalia looked out to see what appeared to be awaiting them. She was not a fan of the direct approach abd did her best work from a distance.

[Nigel Thornheart]

Nigel busied himself checking the provisions and munitions for the beachhead assault, stopping dead in his tracks when he saw Ceutinde’s “armor”.

“You just earned yourself a spot on the cover,” he remarked, deciding to ask for the name of her armorer later so he knew who to make the book’s dedication to.

[Ceutinde]

Ceutinde rolled her eyes and told Justine, "I can handle him. If you insist, I'll take the cloak, then. So long as you still get a view. I..." Then Nigel interrupted. "Only if I get the original. I have always wanted a painting of myself as a damsel in distress with tits triple their actual size. For burning."

[The Forgotten God]

The longboat fills up swiftly with adventurers and equipment, as Sabrina Zavier and Elise fill out the crew. Whoever funded this expedition had deep pockets; with a quiet word the vessel’s sail fills with wind and ushered them swiftly to the northwest, easily tacking over the coastal waves on the relatively short voyage. The small vessel rocks and cold waters splash on the explorers with every bump. The salt stings eyes unaccustomed to seawater and any weak stomachs start to feel queasy as they pass over a reef where the tides flows faster than it had in the deeper harbor.

About fifteen minutes into their short voyage they see orange lights erupt from the side of the Odyssey as the silenced guns fire a volley. A few seconds later they hear a crack as the cannonballs exit the zone of silence and break the sound barrier before arcing into the docked warship. There’s a horrible crunching sound as the missiles smash planks and the masts of the larger vessel. They count three broadsides over the next minute as the gunners pour hot lead into their adversary.

The longboat makes landfall and the Odyssey launched a fourth unanswered broadside before ceasing fire. Smoke and small fires burn on the galleon but there’s still no sign of a response. As they disembark the adventurers see the moonlit docks and the grey ancient village behind it. It is eerily quiet, only the lapping waves making a sound.

It takes a minute before Kjell and Ceutinde and then Thalia see it, another ten seconds before the remainder notice. The fishing houses and taverns that make up the dead island’s old port have faint green lights have very faint, nearly imperceptible glints of a sickly green light in their windows, flickering like a candle’s flame, and a very thin trickle of what looks like fog is rolling out their windows.

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

"Stay back!" Herneiros declares, taking the lead. "The Mist has already taken the village... everyone getting off the ship, stay close behind me. I cannot protect you if you are not nearby... ignore any voices you hear... don't chase any shadows that move... it will try to separate those who are not prepared."

This was why their employer insisted on bringing an illiterate savage who bathed in the sea.

[Kjell Ó Raghallaigh]

“I’ll bring up the rear,” Kjell told Herneiros, and added in Elvish, “Pretty sure most of them are tourists.” In her experience, tourists didn’t have great odds, especially if they were first-timers.

She went past the others as they readied their procession, but when she passed Ceutinde, she hesitated and stopped, pulling the holsterless gun from her belt and offering it to the healer, handle first. “Do you know how to use one?” she asked, struggling a little to look her in the eye. Because she was so tall. “Better to have one than not to have one. Couldn’t help but notice you only have an... ornamental dagger at your disposal.”

[Ceutinde]

"Nice as it might look, it'll cut just fine." Ceutinde replied, running her thumb over the glans-shaped silver pommel before reaching out to take the pistol. "But thank you. I understand the general concept, though I can't say I've ever used one. Point and squeeze?"

[Kjell Ó Raghallaigh]

“You need to pull the hammer all the way back first,” she said, showing Ceutinde where it was, just in case. “Doesn’t go off half-cocked.”