Chapter 2: Terrors of the Void

Quaxiver came to the table bearing a plate of nuts and fruits, for all that talk of sweetbreads by Imti left an unfulfilled hunger in him. Jzu balanced three tankards, one clutched in each hand, the third held by the tail, as they sat themselves down with the giff. "Astral elves creating trouble in Wildspace, cosmic spanning threat, no world is safe." The hadozee proclaimed ominously.

"But not that one, he's okay," says Imti, clarifying that Ziggy is part of the crew. "Well, more like fabulous. Absolutely."

The commodore takes a swig of his massive mug, draining it in one gulp, "Sounds like a wild adventure," he says with a chuckle, then holds out his hand, "I'm Commodore Krux. Though I'm guessing Ol' Sartell already told you that, right?"

He looks around, becoming a bit more serious as he leans in to whisper, "A fleet of astral elf ships visited the Rock of Bral a few days before launching the attack on Oerth. The elves gave fair warning to various captains on the Rock, urging them to steer clear of your world lest their ships be fired upon. The elves undoubtedly left spies behind to make sure their warnings were heeded. Best we continue this chat aboard my ship."

This One nudges Quaxiver
That is why i didn't mentioned elvels
He turns his attention back to Commodore Krux
We would be deligted to see your fine vessel

This One was canny about spies, and it seemed that his caution was warranted from the way Krux responded. The astral elves were already here and trying to intimidate the spacefarers. "If they are already here, we weed them out." Quaxiver whispered back to This One. "Or if they overheard us, it means we won't have to go look for them; they'll come looking for us," the hadozee concluded grimly.

"Can we finish a drink first?" asks Imti, though she has no drink to imbibe.

Jzu reluctantly plopped one of his three tankards in front of Imti.

Krux nods, waving to the beholder barkeep for more drinks, "Large Luigi runs the best bar on the Rock," he says, belching loudly, "I'll get us some more drinks and then we can go talk somewhere more private."

He looks at each of you in turn, frowning slightly at Ziggy, "I can tell you aren't originally from Oerth," he says, "Where are you all from?"

Imti's happiness at the incoming alcohol is suddenly tempered. "I... don't remember," she says softly, her eyes distant and lacking expression.

She falls into a silent meditation that is only broken once a tankard is placed before her, whereupon she stuffs her face into the liquid like a heron fishing a frog out of the water. Leaning back now with cheeks full of ale, her throat works to gulp everything down and she repeats the process.

The sudden arrival of the neogi vessel really freaked Ziggy out. The astral elf has a bad history with the space arachnids, which he calls "spiders from Mars" and has been uncharacteristically quiet since the close encounter, despite trying his best to act cool.

"Oerth was a stop on the grand tour, Commodore," Ziggy sighs, striking a discordant tritone on his cittern.

♫
Quaxiver tried to change the nation
This One wants to turn the world, well he can tell you that he tried
Imti made a transformation
I'm just a rock and roll star

So inviting, so enticing to play the part
I could play the wild mutation
As a rock and roll star

Get it on yeah

I could do with the money
I'm so wiped out with things as they are
I'd send my photograph to my honey
And I'd come on like a regular superstar
♫

"Born on a ship!" Quaxiver quaffed his own drink, then realised that a bit of generosity would go some way to cozing up with Krux. He slid the third of the tankards to the giff; Jzu held on to his own tightly, seeing as his master was freely giving away his drinks. "Raised on a ship! Will die on a ship too, looks like. Sure glad I didn't end my life planet-side. And what vessel do you sail Commodore?"

Krux raises his tankard solemnly when Imti mentions her lack of memory, sharing in a moment of silence for that clearly painful truth of her existence.

Krux clearly has issues with Ziggy's ancestry, but does his best to remain cordial, "Aye," he says, "I know how that is."

At Quaxiver's comment, he smiles, "Best way to do it!" he says with a laugh, "That's how I'm hoping to go, too!"

"My ship is the Second Wind. My pride and joy!"

"I would very much like to see your fine ship! And perhaps that could be a better place to continue our conversation."

Krux gives everyone another minute to finish their drinks and then stands, "Follow me!" he says, clomping out of the bar and leading you to the docks.

Stately galleons, sleek cutters that resemble flying fish, and warships built to look like hammerhead sharks line the docks of Bral. Krux waves his arm toward a craft that seems modest by comparison.

The ship's sails are patchworks of mended canvas, while its hull seems barely held together by thick vines that bind it like rope. Its strangest feature is the full-grown tree that sprouts from the aft deck.

"The Second Wind," Krux declares pridefully. "Isn't she something?"

"Now that's cool," whistles Imti. "Permission to come aboard?"

I have heard of ships with living trees. Elven design, yes? This One is clearly impressed.

Krux gives you a moment to take it in, grinning like a madman as he stand proudly before his baby. "Sort of," he responds to Quaxiver, "His name is Starbough. He's a treant, actually."

"Permission granted, sailor!" he says to Imti, giving her a slap on the back which stings more than Krux meant it to. A side effect of being so much larger than everyone else.

"Not sure who designed it," Krux says, "All I know is that she's mine. That's all that matters."

He leads you onto the ship and down a couple flights of stairs into cargo hold, "This should be good enough," he says, nodding to himself, "Now, why don't you tell me what your plan is from here? I know you had some trouble with them astral elves. You looking to fix whatever it is that they did?"

Ziggy marvels at the treant along with everyone else. "This ship is a thing of beauty, patchwork sails and all! Everyone needs a second wind, man."

In the cargo hold, Ziggy decides to let the others do the talking. Because astral elves are a sensitive topic right now. And because he doesn't know what the plan is. Ziggy's not too big on plans.

"Ain't really got one," says Imti. "Truth is, we escaped real quick from Oerth and were lucky enough to find some elves that blabbed once we ran them through with a ballista bolt, so that's how we found out about their business."

She fishes a maggot out of her pouch and says, "This here's a part of what they were throwing at... wait." Imti fishes in her other pouch and pulls out a small crystal shard. "This is a part of what they were throwing at the planet. Don't know how it sucks out the life force and sends it home, though."