The three witches swam slowly and cautiously through the shipwreck field. They had settled into a pace which allowed the lumbering reclaimers behind them to remain within half a dozen strides. On Crone Shirvein's orders, Glaemna and her battle sisters were waiting outside the field, just out...
Idirna's eyes explored the mighty Ironclad as she made her way towards the vessel. It was an awe-inspiring focal point for the enclave. While the dull armor and hard angles of the craft contrasted with scyphon architecture and fashion, it surprisingly looked fitting in Mirith, similar to how a...
The water across the shipwreck field was clouded with silt and blood. A scyphon war party, along with the help of Vythan warriors, had been hunting sand sharks and the larger sand tigers all morning. Glaemna, champion of the battle sisters, shook off bits of shark from her harpoon as she swam...
The emissaries were forced to speak over the excitement bubbling throughout Mirith since the recent return of the Kuraselache warparty. As they conversed outside Shalmel's hut, an adolescent female brought each of them a large half clam shell of crab meat and sardines before promptly swimming...
A pair of glowing jellyfish were fixed to Shirvein's shoulders, their pink tendrils cascading down her back like a cape. Her dark tail flicking calmly back and forth as she paddled around the inside of her brightly-lit tendrilla. For the past ten minutes Shirvein had listened to Idirna's – her...
The giant stalker-fish had been tracked and slain, and its skin paraded through the colony. Shirvein took advantage of the triumphant moment to announce the new enclave's name – Mirith. Her people were still celebrating. The sounds of conviviality drifted up to the Crone and Jeipha as they...
The inner circle gathered inside the glowing gelatinous shelter of a newly constructed tendrilla*. Shirvein, grateful to finally have a proper scyphon dwelling, nibbled on a chunk of turtle meat while Glaemna finished her report.
"She survived, but she'll need time to recover," Glaemna said...
Shirvein glided over the jelly-coated floor of the colony site, her inner circle swimming just behind. The scyphons in her path, however hard at work they appeared to be, scattered out of the crone's way as she advanced. It had been a frantic day — plunging into a long forgotten sea, with...
Lillare found Mergim gazing at the surrounding island from the balcony just outside the throne room. She seemingly glided beside him and lifted her pale hands to rest on the balcony rail. They stood in silence a moment, admiring the view.
"Your homeland is beautiful," Mergim finally said...
The banquet table closest to the great hearth was set and full. For more than an hour the Gewgaw nobles had sipped brandy and bathed in the hearth's firelight and warmth. Across the assembly hall, lurking and occasionally cackling in the shadows, was a pack of carnals. The eerie jesters...
Heavy winter capes dragged over slush and snow. A pack of hooded Gewgaws gripping light-stone lanterns were on the move. The crude trail they navigated, like the rest of the western Shearcliffs, was still veiled in highland fog. No wind had yet come to carry it off. Ollerrol, wrapped up...
It was a night of celebration. Harp strings chimed, flutes twiddled, violins wailed, and boot heels rapt against floor planks. The sun had set long ago but the village of Loch Monsto had never been so awake. Candelabras gleamed over lace-covered banquet tables. Servants skipped to and fro...
Handsaws buzzed and hammers cracked. Planks of pine and oak were hauled out of flat carts and stacked over autumn-browned grass. A pyramid of cedar logs, each one sanded and treated against water rot, were piled near the lakeshore. It was a cold Shearcliff morning yet there was a warm smile...
His mask was off. It was propped against a tin of body powder alongside a towel and empty wine goblet, all of which were laid out on a nearby stool. Kraucac, mesmerized by the lovely warm light playing across the mask, eventually looked away from the grinning jester in favor of a clear view of...
Each gust of cliff-wind danced his golden cape around his body. Kraucac rolled his gloved fingers over the pommel of his whip-sword as the gnoll barked through its broken speak. The Deputy, having arrived at the bridge spanning Sheercliff Falls, had requested a dialogue with the dogmen's local...
A tired and restless parade of Gewgaws—the entirety of the party—marched through the heart of the colony where they made their way onto the road heading north. They made use of as many of the Finecian carts the foxfolk were kind enough to spare. A dialogue had just ended hours ago between the...
Every Qrirish eye widened at the sight of the heirloom masks. Party Master Ollerrol, positioned at the front of the Gewgaws, couldn't help but part her painted lips in awe. As she did so her hand reflexively veiled her mouth.
"I have seen one like this before," she announced and gestured...
The mighty carrack flew a single pitiful sail. The barrier storms had lived up to their dreaded reputation and took the rest when it hammered them. The party acquired the trade ship at the Port of Falonria, the closest hub west of Qririan. It had been an ugly bit of business but such things...