Drakuun - Release the Kraken
Having left the villager’s head behind, I set off in search of more information about “whiskeystone.” My travels took me through a number of villages spread far across the realm. Many a night was spent in the woods, fire burning, alone with my thoughts. I slowly began to prefer that to the former bustle and business or the Githzerai city.
No one I met had any particular knowledge about whiskeystone, but there were a number of rumors. Though the details were quite varied, all of the rumors pointed towards the Uru river. I set off in that direction, making not a few enemies along the way. I wasn’t particularly a killer before, but Ioun’s will needs to be satisfied. There are times I can’t hear myself think over the din of Ioun’s commands.
In particular, I made enemies with the worshipers of Derengi. This deity desires the acquisition of wealth above all things. The acquisition of wealth, in itself, is not inherently bad, mind you. To travel and seek out knowledge, one needs funding. These followers, however, only cared about the wealth as an end in itself, and that I could not allow.
I encountered a band of these followers as I approached the Uru river. Their numbers were too great for me to overcome. Even Ioun’s blessings were useless against their nets and spears. I succumbed, expecting death.
My strength had apparently impressed, however, and I did not receive the death I anticipated. Instead, I was pressed into slavery, forced to row on their vessel. The conditions were poor, but not savage. At least they knew the worth of a relatively healthy workforce. As long as we kept quiet and did our work, we were generally well treated.
This was advantageous for me. I had been trained in hard work and mental discipline. So, even as my seat-mate Brandom was beaten several times for trying to hold conversations, I was able to focus, ready to take advantage of any opportunities that might present themselves.
One day on the river, such an opportunity did arise. I heard a booming voice across the water. Another ship was approaching. They had no idea what this ship’s Captain was capable of.
As they approached, I felt the ship shudder as the trebuchets on deck fired. Even if the approaching ship was doomed, at least the crew would be distracted for a while as they tried to take prisoners. This was my chance to escape.
I could feel the power of Ioun flowing through me as I broke through the leg of the bench to which I had been chained. Able to move about freely, I also broke the leg that Brandom was attached to, formed our oar into the approximate length of a fullblade, and headed up to the deck.
As I got topside, I saw that the approaching ship was no mere merchant vessel. There was clearly a wizard aboard, as the air was unnaturally cold, and several of the more capable crew were shivering. There was also some other magic at work: another of the crew was surrounded by a black mist. There was what appeared to be a cleric of some kind, and finally a brutish half-orc trying to punch or grab everyone in sight.
Although my initial plan was to simply jump overboard and swim for freedom, the appearance of this capable bunch presented the opportunity for revenge against my captors. They had delayed my mission long enough and needed to die.
I set Brandom to disable the unmanned trebuchets and joined in the fight. Clearly Ioun approved, as I was able to sever a man’s head clear from his body with a single swing of the oar I was wielding.
The battle was a great success. I recovered the gear I had lost during my capture and made to leave. As I was lowering a longboat into the water, one of the attacking party came up to me, wanting me to stay. At first, I was not particularly interested. But, it turned out they they were also in search of whiskeystone.
I decided that having some allies might make things easier than going it alone. Besides, their wizard seemed to be quite a scholar. There is much I could learn from him. I can only surmise that Ioun had some hand bringing that ship to me so that I could pursue my work once again.