Chapter Nine: Sword

We find a little cave to rest in overnight. We investigate the cave in order to see if its safe. We are attacked by a Feral Yowler approaching from behind us, and there's another one further in the cave.

Tenneth uses defiling magic in the fight against the howlers. We determine that this was the wyvern's lair. We find a baby wyvern, which Kriv befriends, and he names it Akra.

Tenneth is bitter about it. We get a long rest in the cave. Vex has a conversation with Tenneth about defiling magic. Vex says that we're going to develop an unpopular reputation if this continues. Tenneth says nothing. Vex says that she'll leave it up to to Tenneth to decide what to do

Xa'oc's coloration on his arms starts to match the spiral pattern of his magic sword. Tenneth asks Xa'oc about it. Xa'oc just says, "It happened."

We continue traveling towards the camp. Our 2nd day of travel is uneventful. We take another long rest. Tenneth reads from his book openly in front of us. Our 3rd day of travel is uneventful.

We arrive at a very small cave opening as indicated by the map. Vex says that we are the ones sent to help from Ramas. They say there are only eleven of them left.

We meet a elf named Gava. They live on a ridge, the cave is just a gate. Among the inhabitants are:

- 2 humans

- 1 half-elf

- 1 halfling

Aruna and Kriv notice that the halfling is staring vacantly at the fire, and its unsettling. Also the elf is wearing thri-kreen armour.

Gava introduces us to Hasani. They haven't been able to figure much out because they're just trying to survive. They warn us that we might need to retreat to the cave without notice. They started off with a lot more people, and then one person went missing. And then more people started going missing, and they don't know why. The only evidence they've found is blood spatter, dropped equipment. They started using a buddy system, but then they would both disappear. They have stopped leaving camp altogether if they can help it. They don't get attacked in the camp. They don't know how to track.

Ramas came up because he knew they were having a problem, and then he offered to help, and they accepted because they didn't have a choice. He didn't ask for any payment up front. Ramas said that he's making connections. Hasani could find money in the city if he went back. We are still suspicious that this is an elaborate trap to get Xa'oc's sword.

The people here have various issues with the city and they banded together to survive. Hasani has lived out here for about two months. Hasani offers to take us to the sites where people went missing to investigate.

The halfling reaches for Xa'oc's sword just to touch it. Xa’oc leaps back and clutches Mist Song possessively. Hasani says that she hasn't moved from the fire since she arrived, until now.

Vex tries to read her mind. Vex gets an image of a dark cave with a lot of pits, and the feeling of being sopping wet and unable to move. Vex knows that there's a different plane called "the gray" that is a realm that people go to when they die. Tenneth knows that you can't get back from the gray, and "those who dwell there lose their physical bodies, and when they are asked who they are, they reply 'no one.'"  There were rumours of powerful wizards going there, but no one believes it. The gith claim to have passed through there. Vex is impressed with Tenneth's knowledge

When Vex asks the halfling who she is, in her thoughts she answers "no one", and when she asks where she is, she says, "nowhere."

Hasani says she just wandered in, has been like this the whole time. He hasn't seen anything else like this.

Kriv asks Xa'oc if the sword talks, Xa'oc says that "This One was meant for it.”

Kriv asks Xa'oc if he knows what the sword is meant to do, "Mist Song was meant for This One, This One was meant for Mist Song."

Kriv asks Xa'oc if he's allowed to hold the sword, and Xa'oc refuses and takes a few steps back.

Kriv asks Xa'oc if it worries him that he feels this way about the sword but nothing else, and Xa'oc says, "No."

Kriv suggests to Xa'oc that the reason he can't give up the sword is because it has enchanted him in some way, Xa'oc says "No," and furthermore that Xa'oc won't even put the sword down.

Kriv says that he thinks that the sword has a power over Xa'oc's mind, and that he's worried about it, and suggests that Xa'oc speaks into the halfling's mind.

Xa'oc telepathically says to the halfling: "This One will not relinquish Mist Song, it's This One's"  The memory Xa'oc gets is: falling, a bunch of haziness afterward, and then climb back up, and wade into a pool of water.

Kriv says to Xa'oc that there was a being that made us and was dissatisfied with what they were and cast them out, and they believe that it was killed by the other sorcerers, and perhaps it has not remained dead, though his clan fled from that place long ago. "If this halfling has been in the gray and has encountered that being, and if the sword is tied to that being, then it is very dangerous, and very dangerous to you, and I'm worried by the fact that you can't put it down."

Xa'oc offers to kill the halfling, but Kriv says the halfling won't be able to take it. Xa'oc says, "This One appreciates your concern.  This One is fine.  This One is better."

Kriv asks, "In what way?"

Xa'oc: "Mist Song makes this one stronger... faster."

Kriv says, "As your friend, I think it is taking a hold in your mind in a way that is not from within you."

Vex asks Kriv if the cave full of pits sounds familiar to Kriv, and it isn't, so Vex thinks that image might be of the gray. The halfling wants to keep following the sword. Next time we will investigate the area.