We picked up last time at the red-lit "cavern," where Punt rushed to smash the big crystalline wheel that seemed to be propelled by a stream of red spirit-fluid coming from a narrow tunnel on the right side of the chamber. Groloday did some odd thing with a zebra-hair brush or fan on the ground, saying that it should bring help later. You went down that tunnel after piling some loot together, and Ji sensed an ambush of two enemies waiting ahead. You bravely confronted them in a smaller chamber where the huge (about 8m long) spiritual body of a giant baby lay writhing in a cracking grey energy field emitted by 2 crystal rods on either side of the stone slab under the child. Also in the room was a rack of torture instruments, stone slabs that seemed to be torture platforms, and three large ceramic casks. But you had little time to worry about that as enemies rushed you.
Two fast-moving human zombies in rusted chainmail lept off slabs and attacked with poleaxe, flail, or claw, and a bloated undead torturer thing attacked with a screaming green energy whip that rendered magic use impossible for a couple of rounds. Also, a fungus-laden insectoid thing flapped noisily above, using humming telepathic waves to hurt Ji's head. Arrows from Idylla took the latter enemy down, while Groloday and Ji fought mightily to hack apart the undead. Then Ji and Groloday smashed the crystal rods as you heard crashing from the other room and saw the walls quiver; the rods blasted Ji and Groloday's arms with repulsive energy but you lived. Then the baby cried and sank into the stone slab, and all went dark as the whole complex shook and wiggled like jello. When you lit a torch, you saw the walls closing in and the place collapsing upon itself. You rushed out with enough time to spare to grab what you'd collected, and a final blast of air spat you into the soft clutches of the Sorrowful Two willow trees outside as the complex sealed shut back into oblivion, or wherever.
Punt smiled, hefted his sack of bones and loot, and headed to the north end of the Rubble, where he was later spotted by Ji and Idylla sitting humming a song. You hastened your mounts to the Real City, met along the way by a patrol who was looking for you, and made it to New Pavis with Dorgon's corpse for resurrection. While you were waiting the Lhankor Mhy cult had the privilege of identifying your wonderful items, including:
1. A smooth white marble bowl, 1 ENC, matrix for Purify Water (holds 1L at a time).
2. [already identified automatically by touching it; just a recap]: a large, smooth, flat turquoise stone which is a Truestone (piece of solid Law from the Block) containing a Zola Fel priest's complement of magic: Breathe Air/Water 2, Float 2, Fire Shield (used by Ji), Soul Sight (used by Idylla), Purify Water 3, Command Undine 2, Divination, Summon Cult Spirit, Worship Zola Fel, Sanctify, Spellteaching. (total of ~18pts!)
3. A dragonhide belt, matrix for Protection 7! 0.5 ENC
4. A "flamelance"; God Learner weapon like a long spear of twisted bronze with odd knobs and levers; push a button and a hole opens in one end, casting a Firearrow with chance to hit of DEXx5% (improves w/experience); 50m range; 4 ENC, uses 2MP from POW 10 spirit bound inside. I had mentioned that you could use your own MPs but I was wrong; it is not a matrix or even a spell, just a magical effect produced by the sorcerous device. The device seems unpredictable and unstable; it would be dangerous to harm it or fumble while using it. ;-)
5. A mechanical right arm with a sucker at the base, functions unknown but assumed. 10 ENC
6. An iron broadsword etched with black runes of Death, Darkness, and Cold Fire. Called the Blackblade; it has a unique magic matrix that can only be used on the sword, creating a Blackblade "not-flame" of silent dark flame for 6MP (must roll casting), lasts for 1 hour and does 3d6 damage like a fireblade, but does not ignite, is not snuffed out by water, and harms gorp etc.; not blocked by fire resistance and harms regenerating things just like fire does. Woo hoo! 1.5 ENC, 15 AP, 1d8+1 damage.
7. Perhaps even more woo hoo, The Royal Might of the True Light is an ancient Yelmic gilded broadsword (18AP enchanted; 1d8+2 damage; 1.0 ENC -- not 1.5 as a typical broadsword is), from what you've learned of it so far, it has a spirit (POW 16) inside and its blade holds a Sunspear matrix. Very nice; hilt fashioned like a dragon (I have a pic).
8. A bunch of odd old coins that you mostly used to fund the identifications, healing, etc.
At the Temple Barge, Groloday and Ji learned from a frenetic Che'enshashan that a Giant's Cradle was coming and River Voices were being sought to come north to Bullford and meet it that night, but you tried to inform him that none were available. Idylla and Ji returned to the fort after seeing Punt and then seeing The One fly overhead to the north; Groloday claimed to have other business with the New Teeth near the Real City and has not been seen since. A few days passed at the fort; Elohwyn awoke and other characters complete/neared recovery. Troll drums were heard but no trolls were seen near the fort, phew!
The Cradle was met by a host of riverfolk and close allies at Bullford after it came through the falls at Leaping Place, and people climbed aboard or escorted it downriver to Pavis the next day (Day 2 of Dark Season). In Pavis, Cold Wind and other Orlanthi gained access to the Cradle and negotiated to protect it. Hargran's Zebra Riders seemed to consider accosting it, but were discouraged by other Pavic forces gathered along the river to watch. It seems that the New Teeth and other Pavic units acted little for/against it. A small Mostali survey team was welcomed aboard the Cradle for a short inspection; groups of helpers from various races kept coming and going from the Cradle all along its route. Punt even walked alongside the Cradle down to near Sun County after he put his sack aboard the Cradle. The first night in Pavis, ogres pretending to be helpers were discovered, and a small chaos army attacked the Cradle from Ogre Island, but was easily repelled by the defenders, plus a huge army of trolls from the Stronglands (every one?) that gathered to help the Cradle pass out of the Rubble safely, and scared most of the remaining defenders either off the Cradle or into its underchambers.
In Sun County on day 3, the army at Harpooon tried to use their spear-thrower to stop the Cradle, but its defenses were stronger than last time (No lunars breached it unlike before) so they underestimated it and gave up quickly after light losses. The Cradle was unaccosted for several days. At Raus fort on day 4, Caernak Arcus and crew were welcomed aboard, and then gained a large escort from Five Eyes the next day. A wind-riding Gagarthi bandit horde tried to assault the Cradle south of 5 eyes but was swiftly driven off by the huge procession and magical defenses (deck is protected by something like a Warding 50, but better).
In the 3 days you've been aboard the Cradle, mostly on the top deck and at night on the second level where previous occupants have left sleeping chambers ready, you met a few occupants including a bunch of seemingly mindless wooden devices like the Bracketeers (and other things called Leapers, Lancers, and Grapplers), that look like chess pieces but hop around with some odd purpose. Most of the deck is open, as a transparent ?glass? plate that covers the huge chamber below where you can see the 10m long baby. Also, Blorn is a SIZ 8 but burly humanoid statue (skin like a mozaic of river pebbles) who silently moves around to do most of the heavy work (STR 34!) such as covering the deck with a canvas to shade the baby below. Punt's sack was taken below somewhere by Blorn. Word has it that there is a nymph named Nemolayope and something called "Pinchining" down below in the baby's chamber, where you periodically see other large things moving about the baby's resting area. Sometimes you see through the glass that something blurry and golden is spinning around the chamber below, running circles around the perimeter of the boat and making a chiming sound.
Temporary defenders of the Cradle include a bunch of trolls (at night; including the famous Bruebegahn, friend of Shennin Ashal), a scattering of Orlanthi including the Cold Wind agents Korlo Barikson and Daemon Mooncleaver, who arrogantly claim to be in charge of the defenders, and some riverfolk including you River Voices, who are treated very respectfully by most residents including the trolls. The One has been flying above the Cradle for its whole journey, breathing furious flames on foes.
As you entered the Mosquito Swamp, you had a nice cool and insect-free travel until you came within sight of Corflu's plateau, the Wens. Along the river about 2hrs from Corflu a sizeable force of Lunar priests, a huge horde of swamp broo trained as Lunar army regulars, Lunar elementals and spirit, and assorted other Lunar forces attacked the Cradle! First the full moon blazed with angry fire, hurling a horrendous Moonspear straight from the Red Moon onto the Cradle deck, destroying all of the statues (save Blorn), and a few unlucky people nearby the Cradle, but the deck defenders got enough warning to head below decks. The cry came up to defend it, and you rushed back to the bow, where you engaged a team of six newtling broo in Yanafel Tarnils gear (trueswords, fishskin armor, protection, etc.) and a powerfully-magicked Lunar priest of the Red Goddess, who had a Moonblade like none you'd ever seen (10d6!). But Caernak and Arcus confronted her, and Arcus stuck his mighty spear clean through her belly into the deck!
Meanwhile, the two Humakti from Raus fort that Caernak brought, and Greyreed otter-friend plus Srussut and Rup had a desparate battle against the broo. Several of you were almost killed but you prevailed with Caernak and Arcus's help (once Arcus un-stuck his spear, which he had fumbled withdrawing!). We ended there as you licked your wounds and hope that disease would not strike you down before you reach Corflu.... where you see the glow of Lunar magics flickering to life even now... and the shadows of many ships, with The Watchdog of Corflu striding among them...