3. The voyage

Turner had been young when she came to live at the Tower. Young enough the memory of her craning her dark head back to see the smokey blue tiles across the roof was fuzzy.

Less fuzzy was the critical scrutiny in Wizard Collins eyes as he scanned the small form with nobby knees, a serviceable navy dress with a dirty streak across the skirt, tangled hair and big blue eyes that awaited a decision on her future. Apparently, Paige Turner Busch was a distant relative so far removed could the wizard even consider her a relative? But the truth of her being an orphan with no where to go was not debatable.

Before a decision was delivered, Mrs. Watson made it clear that the poor dear was not going anywhere on that night. Clucking the whole while the plump woman guided her to a curved wall room filled with oddities and pieces of lab equipment. Getting settled included clean sheets, a basin of warm water (one of the marvels the Tower offered) with her chemise laid out, her hair brushed with gentle hands like her mama and a cup of milk with a gingersnap. To this day gingersnaps made her think of home.

Because not immediately but in time that turret did become home. Turner never knew what the two elders discussed that night but she could theorize. Surely, the fact that both were past their prime was an issue. Questions of ability might have been explored as neither had raised a child. But in the end, Wizard Collins determined guidance and an education could be his contribution as Mrs. Watson taught Turner to be a young lady. Yes, it had been an unconventional household but the trio had been forged into a true family.

Living as an only child, it was odd for Turner to enter her room and find her book not laying on the desk where she left it. It was even more odd to see many different outfits filling up the drawers. Lace inserts and finely embroideried silk robes seemed like the greatest of mysteries in the wizard's limited experience.

Spells kept Turner's raiment clean and orderly even though she had only the one garment the wizard wore when she had been abducted. But Vanessa was so much more than tidy, she was flamboyant and stylish. Always a sleeve dipping to show a shoulder or a scarf rustling in the breeze. The woman didn't spend her time studying the different books left from the previous owner but would spend hours on finding the perfect updo to emphasize her cheekbones. Sometimes, Turner would find herself staring before quickly lowering her eyes back to her book.

As you move closer to the planet, you see the creature starts to descend towards the southern hemosphere. A firey aura starts to appear as it enters the atmosphere, you see how it opens its wings and slows its descent. This creature is huge!

In some respects Vanessa had a similar upbringing: Being an only child with a clear future set by caretakers in hopes of elevating them into a respectable position. That's....about where they end however; While Turner had no reason to rebel, Vanessa was always looking for an opportunity to establish independence of self.

It should be made clear Vanessa is not a slob, and will refute any claims without hesitation. She's just a little...messy: an article or two of clothing she left hanging, an overturned book she abandoned for containing words with far too many syllables; nothing Vanessa would consider problematic, although she'd seldom admit her concept for personal space isn't the best due to the lack of expectations set forth in that regard besides "don't touch that".

Does this make room sharing inherently interesting? Yes it does. Vanessa decided not to pester Turner during sleeping hours or unnecessarily get her involved with any personal activities (exercising, concocting fermented beverages, meditating to keep the aspect of the beast manifesting, etc.) choosing to soak in the ambience.

Vanessa wasn't making every effort to check, but she's pretty sure Turner has been sneaking looks, and Vanessa isn't sure if it's out of suspicion, curiosity, or something else.

As you aproach the planet, you can see, through a powerfull looking glass, that the creature has slain and now eating some other kind of creature. Finally you have something to scale it with. Like a wolf heating a hare, the creature is eating a tarrasque. The creature's size is boggling the mind.The creature, who now is covered in the tarrasque's blood, looks to the sky, seeing your ship, but currently, it seems that it does not consider you a threat to its meal.

Still in shock from the sight...
I think it would be safer to explore another part of this planet, one very far from this creature...

The elf retained a mask of resolve, though his brow furrows deeply. He ponders this inscrutable beast. The elf advises, "If we land on this planet, we enter its hunting grounds. Let's divert to the sea world and reconsider...though a neighbor to this winged foe may yield krakens for its feast as well."The captain then pivoted the celestial rudder and drew the sails to draw away, sailing for anywhere the colossus slayer would disappear in the curvature of the sphere where it feasted.

"Planets have native giant-monster population large enough to support flying mega-predator from space. Might be safer to leave entirely."

At the end of the day (according to the ship's clock) you reach the crystal sphere wall, where Takeshi's spell tells him there is a conduit.



The portal opens and you can sail into a conduit, with eddies and swirls, but no real current. Not a problem as there is no help or hindrance in this conduit.

Your ship glides into the conduit and with the crew's combined magical energy, you travel through the rough phlogiston. It's a long and tedious voyage where everyone except Venessa contributes with their magic

You enter a new crystal sphere, and each of you can "taste" that the magic here, is the one you used to wield. In each of the other spheres you have been in, the magic has been there, heading your call, but it has always been just a little off. But there the magic is right.


You recognise some of the major landmarks on the planet below you. This is it: You are home!



~The End~

Epilogue: Takeshi

The return to Waterdeep brought a surge in Takeshi's fortunes and frustrations. The journey he underwent drew the fascination of his peers, and the vessel he now commanded drew unwanted interest. The mage eventually moved much of his study to the vessel due to the need to host honored guests and preserve his studies. The mage conversed with the other Orders of Scribes, but eventually the elderly elf began feel like butter stretched over too much bread. The wizard trained his newfound friends who desired the paths to mastery of mana, joyfully watching their rise from fragmentary spellslingers to arcanists in true.

Then, on a foggy morning, the wizard, his tressym, and the ship vanished from the mists of Waterdeep. Some say he sailed the coasts of Faerun in pursuit of passage to Kara-tur. Some rumor the wild mage that accompanied the elf on his return trip accidentally destroyed the ship in a feat of arcane wonder. But those who sailed with Takeshi knew where to find him: Looking up through the mists, one would have seen a faint, ethereal flare of light as if a star winked out of existence. This, these special celestial-bound souls would recognize as phlogiston sparks. The servant of the Ascendant Dragon had a multiverse to see and scribe. Perhaps one day his journeys would come to rest in the Royal Book of Waterdeep. For now, Takeshi the sage slips from the records, sailing where only the memory of his friends could tell.