The Eternal Wanderer glided slowly over the smooth surface of the neogi base star. There were numerous openings on the sides of the pyramid shaped structure for ships to enter. Upon closer inspections, it was found that most of the openings on this base star were in use. Neogi ships could bee seen docked in the ports, and all of them were either burning or wrecked. Ville was looking into the various openings with a telescope.
"I just saw some movement in that one," he said, pointing to one of the ports. "It looked like battle," he added.
"So apparently this thing isn't deserted," Onestar said. "Blaise, how much do you know about the layout of these things?"
"Not much, I'm afraid," Blaise answered. "Ironport had been long converted when I visited there. But, if you'll take an educated guess, I'm assuming that the command center is in the upper portions of the structure, with slave quarters and barracks in the central section, and most of the major ports and supply areas in the lowest levels."
"That being the case," Ville commented, "there could be some kind of slave revolt going on in there."
Onestar nodded in agreement.
"Damian," he said, "move us closer to the top, near that open port."
The ship moved accordingly and moved, silent as death, toward the top of the huge pyramid. Ville sighted several neogi and umber hulks in an open port shouting curses at the Wanderer as it flew overhead. Beside them in the port was a wrecked mindspider.
After a few minutes the Wanderer was at one of the highest ports on the structure. Blaise opened a dimension door, allowing Onestar, Phantom and the rest of the boarding party to enter the structure.
Crystal Ravenheart gagged at the smell in the port. Numerous bodies were about, and they were fresh. Braving the terrible smell, the party started to move about the deck. The Brightscales sisters had the point, with Phantom, Belieth and Kath right behind them. Karramon was following Onestar and Hall with a rather large firearm—something called a "shotgun," and several men-at-arms followed, with Normikon bringing up the rear. In the port was a wrecked deathspider. From the look of the bodies in the port, it looked like the neogi were trying to board the craft, but it was destroyed before they could get free.
The two lizardkin cautiously went up a set of narrow stairs and into a large, dimly-lit room. Tables and stools were scattered about in disarray. Blood-stained papers were all over the place, and numerous bodies were present as well.
Among the bodies were several humans and elves. Hall bent over one of the elves and rolled it over. Half of the elves face had been torn off, probably by an umber hulk. Hall winced in disgust. The symbol on the elf's armor was still visible.
"Olvenholt," Hall said. "The elven federation on Cartania. No association with the Imperial Navy."
"Here iss a human!" Iesia called. The human was wearing a uniform of the Muldravian Stellar Navy.
"It looks like Cohmot's information was more accurate than we thought," Hall said quietly.
"Agreed," Onestar said. "These wretches hardly knew what hit them." In the distance, some sounds of battle could be heard.
"Onestar," Phantom said, "might I suggest we get what we came for and get off this thing?"
"Yes," Onestar said. "This appears to be part of the command center. Spread around the room and see what kind of information you can find. I want to know what happened here."
"Looks pretty obvious to me," Kath joked, going through some papers. "The Muldravians and the elves dropped by and kicked their butts!"
For several minutes the crew looked for log entries and star charts, placing anything of value on a lopsided table in the center of the large room. Everyone jumped when Slyssia let out a startled hiss.
She was standing in front of a storage closet, and in it was a neogi. The neogi had a injury on its head, and was muttering something in its own language. Every now and then it would giggle.
Hall and Belieth looked over at the creature. The neogi seemed hardly aware of them.
"Can you understand what it's saying?" Onestar asked.
"No," Hall said. "It's in some kind of battle shock. I'm guessing it hid in this closet to save it's tattooed hide."
"Gentlemen," Normakon asked, "might I suggest we tie it up and bring it with us? Judging by its markings, this neogi is probably a junior officer, or the equivalent. It might be able to give us valuable information. Most of the material on these papers is inconclusive."
The neogi giggled again. It's eyes were somehow out of focus. Onestar thought for a moment.
"Kath," Onestar said, "tie up 'Giggles' here and get him back to the ship. Lock him into a detention cell."
"With pleasure!" the scro said.
"You like to tie thingss up, Kaath?" Slyssia said with a sly grin.
"You bet," Kath answered with a wink.
"Not now you two," Phantom said. Slyssia grimaced and stuck her forked tongue out at Phantom.
One of the men-at-arms helped Kath carry Giggles back to the port. As the two were departing, everyone heard a strange noise. Everyone froze. The two lizardkin took defensive stances, while the various guards prepared the weapons.
"Crystal!" Hall whispered, beckoning her to come closer. She silently walked over to Hall, who whispered something in her ear. A few seconds later, the two bards were in the middle of a spell. The sound grew louder.
Crystal and Hall suddenly became alarmed.
"Back to the ship, now!" Hall yelled.
"What did you..." Onestar started.
"NOW! Damn the gods, NOW!" he said. At that a hideous, slug-like creature burst through the wall and started working its way into the room. The startled guards released a volley of arrows at it and started back for the port. Normikon unleashed a bolt of magical energy at it, causing the beast to shriek. The sound was more horrible than any one of them had ever heard.
"Go on!" Onestar yelled, "this may be more effective!" At that the samurai leaned against a support pillar, raised his hands and crossed his wrists, allowing the Bracers of Wilsapace to touch. After a few seconds and bluish cone sprang from the bracers and pushed against the creature. The beast was pushed back several yards, like it was trapped behind a strange wall.
"That will only hold it for a few moments," Onestar called, "now move!"
Everyone stumbled back to the port with Onestar and Normikon bringing up the rear. Belieth had run ahead and was opening a dimension door. Kath and the guard ran through first, carrying Giggles, followed by the rest of the men-at-arms, and most of the landing party. The huge, slug-like creature smashed through the wall where the stairs had been was slowly started oozing into the port. Normikon went through the dimension door, with Onestar and Belieth going through last. Hall pulled them through from the other side as the huge maw of the slug prepared to devour them.
Back on the muster deck, the frightened landing party looked at the port and saw the huge creature thrashing about in fury that it's prey had escaped.
"Hall, Crystal," Onestar panted, "would you mind telling us what that thing is?"
Crystal was wheezing, so Hall answered, after catching his breath.
"A Witchlight Marauder," Hall said with a strange smile.
"Is that all?" Onestar said sarcastically.
"Yup," Hall answered. Crystal just nodded.
"Get us out of here," Onestar said.
"Resume course for Beacon," Blaise called. The ship began to move away from the huge structure, as the Witchlight Marauder continued to thrash about in fury.
"Phantom, Hall," Onestar said, "the next time I call for an unnecessary landing like that, punch me in the nose."
"Count on it," Phantom said.
The Eternal Wanderer moved free of the field or wrecked ships and resumed it's path for the world of Beacon.
For two days, the neogi that everyone had nicknamed "Giggles" hadn't said a word. Different types of interrogation had been tried—hypnosis, intimidation, coercion, bribery—none of them worked. Phantom and Ville looked at the neogi in frustration. The creature was still laying on the floor of the detention cell, still looking slightly insane, and muttering something in its own language.
"I think it's putting on an act," Ville scoffed.
"I'm afraid you're right," Phantom agreed. "Do you think we should get Estress?"
"Nah," Ville said, with a slight tone of contempt. "He hates neogi; says it's bitter."
"Boysenberry pie have we..." Giggles said, "boysenberry pie..."
"I say we toss him out the jettison," Ville snorted.
Phantom paused for a moment, and grinned.
A few minutes later, Ville and Phantom were in the jettison room. They had tied up Giggles and placed him in the catapult-like machine that was used to jettison materials from the ship. Giggles was tied to a long, leather strap that collected in a pile near the catapult.
[What the devil are you two doing?"] Hall's voice said, coming from the ceiling.
"I think Giggles here needs some fresh air!" Phantom said as he opened the jettison. Outside, wisps of vapor fell behind the ship as it moved along at spelljamming speeds. Phantom gave a signal to Ville, who released the jettison.
"Boysenberry pie have we..." Giggles kept saying, "boysenberry piiiiiiiiiiii..."
A few seconds later the neogi was dangling at the end of the fully extended tether, well beyond the ships gravity plane. Phantom and Ville could just barely hear him shrieking.
Ville looked at the leather strap, and then at his dagger. Phantom looked at him, shaking his head "no."
"Why not?" Ville said with utter contempt. "Are you saying that Giggles out there is worth something? If it were up to me the neogi would be extinct, along with some other races I can think of." At that he walked out.
Phantom stood alone in the room and shook his head. Ville appeared to be getting worse. Phantom shifted his thoughts to other things. Things with dark, soft fur and lovely green eyes...
"Hall?" he asked.
After a few minutes the bard responded.
[What can I do for you?] Hall answered.
"This place we're going to, Beacon City, do you know of any good liquor stores there?"
[Well... that depends on your taste.] Hall was a little confused. [Are you looking for something specific?]
"Yes," Phantom said. "Something that would appeal to," he paused, "a tabaxi."
[Ah-hah!] Hall had to laugh a little. Everyone on the ship felt a slight vibration when he did. [Kimberley's. It's a wholesaler, right off the main square. They have something for every taste you can think of.]
"Thanks," Phantom said as he started to reel in Giggles. A few minutes later he hoisted the neogi onto the deck of the jettison room. The neogi had vomited all over itself and was clearly terrified.
"Now that you've had some time to think in private," Phantom said quietly, "perhaps you're willing to answer a few questions?"
The neogi, suffering from dry heaves, looked at Phantom and quickly nodded its head.
Quan Dien sat in his quarters, watching a crystalline ball slowly begin to glow. Two white spots appeared in the globe.
"I trust you have examined the situation?" said a voice from the ball.
"I have," Quan Dien answered. "Just as predicted, the neogi didn't change their security system after that traitor fled. The Muldravians and their associates were able to glide right in there are practically annihilate them. The few who escaped are either scattered around the sphere or have left it entirely."
"So be it," Montrazar said. "The neogi have served their purpose with us. They are of no further use."
"I agree," Quan Dien said, "but they were useful as mindless grunts. They enjoy combat so much that they don't think it through. That brutish mentality can come in handy from time to time."
"Perhaps, but now we must move on to other things, namely Hypathia."
"I'm preparing a team of my best men to go after her," the humanoid said.
"No, Quan Dien," Montrazar hissed. "I want you to deal with the arcane personally."
"M'Lord," the humanoid started.
"No questions, servant," the lich said. He paused, just long enough to make Quan Dien angry.
"I want you," Montrazar said, "to travel to the Playards and destroy the arcane woman. If she succeeds on her mission, the Muldravians will become increasingly powerful. That will get in my way. Do it." The image faded and the crystal went dark.
Quan Dien snorted with contempt. That crazy old lich was sending him, the greatest pirate in Wildspace, to do thug work. After this, Quan Dien said to himself, I'm taking my troops and leaving. He didn't like the way things were beginning to look in Solaris, especially now that the elves had pulled the Muldravians into center stage. He could have done without that. Grumbling, Quan Dien started for the bridge.
Several minutes later, the whale ship started for the Playards.
"So," Onestar asked, "Giggles finally spoke?"
"Yes," Phantom answered. The two men were on Onestar's office, discussing what Phantom had finally extracted from the scatterbrained neogi. "Apparently Montrazar convinced the neogi to side with him in this little game of chess he's playing. So, they have been working with Montrazar's numerous thugs, making life miserable for everyone else in the sphere."
"What of the Witchlight Marauder?" Onestar asked.
"The neogi obtained the control key some years back in Darkspace, and they transported the Marauder here in stasis. They were planning to turn it loose on Cartania when the time was ripe."
Onestar shrugged at that thought.
"When the base star was attacked, about two days before we showed up," Phantom continued, "some of the Muldravian commandos freed the Marauder and then got off as quickly as they could. With the Marauder loose on the base star, their job became much easier. The Muldravians simply pulverized the neogi ships as they attempted to escape the base."
Onestar shrugged again. This was a type of efficiency that was disturbing even for him.
"Who commanded the attack?" Onestar asked.
"Someone by the name of Ferrengal."
"Deliliah Ferrengal?" Onestar asked.
"That sounds right," Phantom said. "Do you know her?"
Onestar nodded.
"I know of her, and believe me that's sufficient."
[Onestar?] Crystal's voice called.
"Yes?" he answered.
[I can see Beacon. We should be there in less than two hours.]
"Thank you," Onestar said. "We had best get ready for landing. The Calla Maraine is expecting us."
A few hours later, the Eternal Wanderer was locked in orbit around Beacon. For some reason, the city guard would not allow them to land until some things were cleared first. The dwarf they spoke with on the hailing crystal seemed especially nervous. Some strange things were happening. In an attempt to kill time, some of the crew engaged in some experimenting...
"You're in for it now, Ville!"
Ville Lavonius looked up, trying to determine where the voice came from. Although the cargo hold of the Eternal Wanderer was completely dark, he wasn't worried. He could now see heat shapes, his warm footsteps on the floor beneath him. A side effect from the cursed crystal imbedded in his forehead by Colicor.
Ville tried to listen for any other sounds. Off in the distance, somewhere before him, there was a strange sound, almost like a string being pulled taut. There was a slight 'twang', and the swoosh of air before him.
The chief of operations dove to the ground. In the darkness above him, an arrow flew over where his head was moments before. He didn't wait for another bolt. Taking a stone from his pocket, he tossed it off to his right. Another arrow shot over that direction.
Silently making his way in his attackers general direction, he stopped for a second when, off to one side, a globe of heat began to move toward him. He recognized the size and shape: It was Normakon, the beholder navigator.
Concentrating, Ville could hear a slight hum coming from the floating creature's form. He wasn't sure whether Normakon shared his infravision, so he decided to move first. Beholders, Ville thought, have a number of powers in their eyestalks. If I go underneath him, he thought...
Suddenly, a bolt of magical energy shot from Normakon's one eye. Ville was able to dodge the blast and leap forward under the beholder. Ville lunged up, hitting Normakon's underside with several claw-like fingernails. There was a shriek as the beholder floated away.
Ville looked at his hands, now glowing a richer red from the blood of the creature. As he watched, the blood faded, seemingly into his hands. His eyes grew wide as he could feel energy surging through him, strengthening him.
Another noise, quieter than before, attracted his attention. Something was moving his way, something humanoid. Ville wasn't sure who it was. Although he could see shades of heat, it would take him time to determine between human and demihuman races. Ville didn't bother waiting to see who it was. He leapt into the air, hitting his enemy. Both men fell to the ground. Ville grasped his enemy's throat with one hand, raised the other arm above him, ready to strike...
"STOP!"
Suddenly, magical braziers of light flared into existence on the walls. Ville blinked as his eyes adjusted themselves to normal vision. Beneath him, Phantom had both his hands around Ville's, trying to stop the attack. Three men approached the pair, locked in combat on the ground. They stopped just before Ville.
"Not bad, Mister Lavonius." Ville looked up and saw Onestar, Hall and Blaise looking down at him. They were in the cargo hold of the Eternal Wanderer, all the crates moved off to one side. Nearby, Normakon floated quietly as Armas checked over one of his wounds. Kath stood near the doorway, long bow in his hands.
"Thanks, Kath," Hall said, looking at the Scro. "Head back up to the bridge and let Belieth know we've finished."
"Aye, sir." Kath opened the cargo hold door and left.
Ville released his grasp on Phantom's throat, stood and offered Phantom a hand. Phantom stood, stretched his neck for a few seconds, trying to get the kinks out.
"I'll say this much, Ville," Phantom said, rubbing the back of his neck, "you've developed some killer moves."
"I tend to agree," Onestar replied. Blaise was making notes with a quill on a complicated-looking device, something between an abacus and a parchment pad.
"Blaise?"
"Your reactions seem to be about three or four times faster than a normal humans," Blaise replied, not looking up from his notes. "Also, we think your hearing has been augmented as well as your vision."
"Well, I did hear that arrow you had Kath shoot at me." Ville replied in mock anger.
"How far could you see with your infravision?" Hall asked. Ville looked over the room, making a mental note from where he first saw Phantom coming his way.
"I'd say about 30 feet, but it might be longer."
Onestar turned and walked over to Normakon. "You all right?"
"I'm getting better," the beholder replied, his basso profunda voice reverberating off the walls. "When his claws hit me, I could feel something being drained from me. It's a hard effect to describe, but vampiric is the best term I can think closest term."
"Vampiric?" Ville said, looking their way. Neither Hall nor Blaise heard Normakon's comment. Ville began to walk over toward samurai and beholder. "Don't tell me I'm gonna start growing fangs and drinking blood."
"Armas," Onestar asked the rotund cleric, "do you have your holy symbol on you?"
"I never leave home without it, my dear boy." Armas removed a disk from his pocket, black with seven stars outlining the circumference. He held it up to Ville, who just looked at the symbol.
"The symbol of Celestian," Ville responded. "What about it?"
"Armas, try and turn him," Onestar replied.
Armas closed his eyes, muttering a silent prayer. Ville just looked at it as Hall and Blaise approached the others.
"Do you feel any different?" Hall asked.
"Nope."
"He might be some powerful form of undead," Blaise commented. Ville shot him an angry look.
"Just because I look like death with a suntan doesn't mean I'm not alive."
"He is not undead," Armas said. "I've ran into more than a few of those types myself, and I can usually tell whether they're living or dead, even if they don't run."
"Well, then," Onestar began, "what have we learned thus far? Ville isn't undead, but he does seem to have some sort of vampiric absorption ability. His senses have been improved, he's developed infravision, and nasty claws that absorb blood but with no ill effects."
"I don't know about that," Ville confided. "I was on the bridge the other day, near the Evermap. I wanted to check our location, and when I got close to it, the image started to get...blurred."
"Blaise?"
"All systems are working at optimal conditions," the arcane replied. "I gave it an overhaul last week, and it's working fine."
Phantom walked over to the rock Ville tossed to distract Kath. He picked it up... just a piece of coal, but Phantom examined it closely.
"Hey, Ville!" Phantom called. Ville and the other moved over toward Phantom. "Isn't this your Continual Light Rock?"
Ville looked it over. Standard gear onboard the Eternal Wanderer is for each crew member to carry a rock enchanted with a Continual Light spell. Ville's rock, however, was black as night.
"It is..." Ville commented. He gave the stone to Hall.
"The dweomer's been completely drained," the bard exclaimed. "I want to take this back for study."
"This could be interesting," Onestar commented. "The crystal imbedded in your forehead may be causing some magical interference. Be careful when you're around some of the more sensitive equipment."
Ville nodded.
"I've been working away from the bridge lately. Perhaps I should continue to do so?"
"If you must," Onestar concluded. "For the moment..."
[Everyone!] Crystal's voice rang off the walls of the cargo area. [We have been cleared for landing.] Somehow, Crystal's voice sounded different, like she was stressed.
A strange look came over Hall's face. He quickly started for the bridge. Onestar and Phantom followed him.
Ville remained behind for a few moments lost in thought. When he reached the door, Armas looked back and saw Ville standing there.
"Hey, Ville! Wanna join me for some ale? I know of a great place just off the docks."
"Not now, but thank you. I'll catch you later."
Armas shrugged, then left. Ville just stood there, looking at his chalk-white hands and enlarged fingernails.
A few minutes later, Hall, Onestar and Blaise emerged on the bridge. The ship was entering the atmosphere of Beacon, and the air was getting colder. The fiery ring that circled the planet looked eerie in the icy clouds around the ship.
"Belieth," Hall called, "what's wrong?"
"We received a message from the Spelljammer's Aid Society office," she answered. "They were instructed to deliver it as soon as we arrived in system."
"And?" Onestar asked.
"It's the Calla Maraine," she said softly. "They found it on the other side of the planet. It's been destroyed."
