Chapter 26

The group wakes mid-morning on the Iron Vulture to find the predicted rainstorm has arrived. It is akin to a verical river. They head to the Broken Spy Glass to update Tella on what they discovered in the warehouse. Gven seems to have caught the stomach problems Mond had last week and stays on the boat.

Passing through the market, it is clear that no one is happy about the rain. Everything and everyone is either damp or, if less well prepared, soaked. The merchants range from subdued to surly and the few customers that are about move quickly to buy necessities and get back indoors. Life in the city continues on.

As they make their way, Grindlefoot’s discomfort at the pouring rain motivates him to stop at a merchant’s booth who is selling quality cloaks and boots to replace his poorly made ones. Grindlefoot is overcome with joy at the upgrade to his gear. The merchant sees this and is also happy to have made a lucrative sale in the terrible weather, they throw in a complimentary tin of oil for Grindlefoot to maintain the water proofing of the cloak and boots.

The party enters the Broken Spy Glass via the back door. The rain has kept customers away from here as well. The only people in the place appear to be Tella, behind the bar tidying up, and a dripping-wet Rightside, huddling dangerously close the fire.

Tella greets the party as they enter, reflexively asking what he can get them to eat and drink. Rightside looks as you’d expect a wet cat to look: stringy body, matted fur, and a foul expression. He’s mumbling “I-hate-being-wetting” over and over as he works to dry himself.

Tella listens as the group outline the events of the previous night. He ponders their story for a bit, then says that regulating and outlawing the use of magical and clerical powers is a done deal. It is what it is. Yet, there is magic everywhere, all around us, and people have an innate need for connection, usually with higher powers of their choosing. That leaves us with a grey area, one that can cause discomfort and distrust. Especially for the Eyes of the Star and Hand of the Wand, who are trying to keep the peace in a reasonable manner. Magic and religion may not be practiced openly, but they are still here, all around us and an intricate part of our lives. Tella makes a subdued gesture and offers a silent prayer to Sedocra, the Goddess of Charity.

Rightside speaks up from over by the fire, “Sometimes we get sad, Tella. My mother had a medallion she kept wrapped in special cloth. She only brought it out on important occasions, or when things were really hard. She’d say a prayer and we’d feel like we weren’t alone. It always helped us feel better.”

Ro’qu-ell-a, the red-haired halfing flutist that was previously busking by the docks and now entertains the clientele in the Broken Spy Glass, nods her head in quiet agreement.

Tella advises the group to make their way up the hill to the University where they’ll find professor Verin, an Aarakocran, in the library. They’re extremely knowledgeable about regional history and owe Tella a favor.

An hour later, Dolor, Grindlefoot, Mond, and Bilwin find the enormous stone library on the unversity’s campus. They wander the halls for only a short time, quickly finding the professor in a lecture hall, deep in conversation with a dark-haired human women and scribbling on a blackboard. Dolor clears his throat loudly as they enter the classroom and the two look up.

After brief introductions and saying that Tella sent them, Bilwin pulls the old map out of its protective case and unrolls it on the table for the professor to view. Professor Verin recognizes the islands and some of the names. Amonah, Ba-it, and Kuht were popular gods in the days of yesteryear, each one with an affinity for a specific race. The professor’s excitement is clear on their face and in their actions, as they begin outlining the hierchy and history of the deities that the populace worshipped long ago.

Meanwhile, Gven saunters through the classroom entrance. She began feeling better after Cap’n Don gave her a mysterious draft of ill-tasting gelatinous liquid. Regaining her strength, Gven went to the Broken Spy Glass, where Ro’qu-ell-a told her that the others had ventured off to the University in search of Professor Verin and answers to their questions. Joining the group by the chalkboard, she settles in to hear the stories.

Professor Verin is describing how the gods emerged from a large hole in the world and made their homes among the different races and continents. After some years, they closed the hole to signify their commitment to the lesser beings whose worship and prayers gave them so much power. The group of islands off the coast in the ancient map were the seat of the pantheons to the gods, surrounded by turblent waters and sea serpents.

As the professor was describing the histories and scribbling on the blackboard, everyone had their backs to the door into the classroom. Suddenly, a crossbow bolt flies between the group, past Verin’s head and imbeds itself into the black slate!