Uphill Battle

[Bjorn]

Once again, Bjorn reaches out through the dream for a mind  This time it is for N'Boru's -- time to show off some spiritual power.  No need to try and chase down back to the reality to follow the anchor, but it's no easier.  The Fire Dream has a different feel, and minds embedded in it flicker and dance.  I have returned, N'Boru.  With allies to aid you in your cause.  Will you come and speak with them?

Out loud, he replies, "I hope that you won't need much in the way of supplies, Colonel; both for the sake of the villagers, and for our own.  My schedule doesn't afford three years to return to Anabara.  But rest assured, one way or the other, we'll see you back home."

[Brian]

Westley chuckles at that.  "Good, good," he murmurs.

N'Boru's reply is confused, but swift: I come, great spirit.

Supported by Din, the elderly man works his way from the village to Bjorn, peering up at the Anabarans and the freed thralls in astonishment.  "Greetings, Sky-lords," he says, bowing low to everyone.

The freed thralls merely look confused, and bow back.  Westley chuckles and also returns the bow.  "We're no lords of this sky," he says wryly.  "Just visitors, for a time.  But I digress; I am colonel Westley Riggins, the leader of this journey.  As you may have guessed, we're from far away."

"Beyond the void?"

"Indeed!  But the journey was long, and wearying.  We've come to ask if you are willing to trade; we are in dire want of food, perhaps some medicines if you have them.  In return, we offer our friendship, and...."  He pauses, squinting, assessing the village.  "Items of worked metal that you may desire."

N'Boru and Westley hem and haw for a bit, but rapidly hash out an agreement.  The village is willing to give all the food they have on hand (Din seems unsurprised by this) in exchange for metal cookware, since Westley is reluctant to trade weapons.  The deal is sweetened by the fact that all of the freed thralls except for Tom and Seven want to stay and help the villagers out.

And with almost anti-climactic ease, the deal is done, the freed thralls transporting heaps of what look like potatoes and onions, as well as a fair amount of dried meat.  After considering the supplies, Westley comments, "This should suffice for a month or two.  With the remaining stores aboard, we'd manage for some six months, if we had to.  Longer, if Hugo was clever.  Do you think the journey could be made so quickly?"

In the meantime, Quincy asks Phil, "What's going on?"

[Bjorn]

Bjorn frowns at the colonel's question, rubbing at his jaw.  "I think less than that," he says eventually, "but I'm not sure, and I think this is something to sort out before we set out."

With a mental sigh, he reaches out to summon a void spirit.

[Brian]

The spirit appears as before -- likely the same one, since it has the same voice.  Except for Din, and Bjorn, it also seems no one else can see it.  "As I am summoned, I arrive," it says in what sounds to English to Bjorn's ears.  "Is the time of departure to be now?"

Phil gets a tingling sensation in his hands, though he can't actually see the speaker of these words.  The feeling is oddly reminiscent of the energy that passes through him when he uses his healing power.  Quincy looks unsettled, too, his eyes widening as he looks around for the speaker.

[Bjorn]

"It will be soon," Bjorn reassures the spirit.  "First, though, I ask of you: how long will this journey take? For we must provision and prepare ourselves."

[Dracos]

Dracos turned towards Quincy and shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure myself.  Let us both listen and watch and things here should become clear in time.  I know they do not mean us harm, at least."

He looked around for the voice as well, drawing over his ability to see magic and perceive things outside the normal spectrum.

Dracos

[Brian]

Phil's other-worldly sight (literally!) lets him see the ephemeral outline of ... a three dimensional model of a black hole?  Bjorn's hanging out with weirder people by the day.  Quincy looks uncertain, but nods.

The void spirit hovers for a bit, an extended pause before answering.  When it finally does, it says, "One hour, by your senses, in the direction of flow.  One week, otherwise."

[Dracos]

Dracos frowned slightly, his grasp on the world they were in seeming more and more tenuous.  He eyed bjorn, much wanting to find the time to seriously touch base.

Dracos

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods at that.  "Then, great spirit, we are prepared.  Let us board our vessel, and then we will commence our journey."

He nods at Westley, and hopefully everyone gets on board the damn ship.

[Carthrat]

Tom boards the ship, giving Westley a thoughtful eye. He's got questions, but they'll wait for the moment.

[Brian]

"One...hour," Westley says, for the first time looking rattled.  "And....  Three years...."  He hangs his head and sighs, then claps his hands together.  The crew races to set things right -- unload the freed thralls, the horses, and so on.

But the crew is precise, much in the manner of men who live on a military enterprise and have no where else to go.  Very shortly, the Starflare is underway, moving up and forward (away from the road; the crew calls this direction 'Edgeward').

"The Shroud will be closest this direction," Captain Vega muses over his shoulder.  "We're not terribly used to passengers, so please make yourselves at home.  Be sure to brace yourselves before we cross the Shroud; you'll have warning.  But once we're through, 'tis all wonder and boredom."

[Bjorn]

"Then if you don't mind, Colonel," Bjorn replies politely, "I'll take these new passengers aside.  I have messages I should rely to them, somewhat privately I'm afraid."

Assuming Westely raises no objections, he beckons to Philip and Tom to come with him -- and holding his tongue until he sees whether the unanticipated Churchman is coming along, as well.

[Dracos]

Dracos raises an eyebrow and glances at Quincy. "Apologies, but I think I must hear this privately...perhaps it would be a good time to get to know our odd traveling companions?" He suggested and headed off, or at least, does so if the man doesn't look totally floundering.

Dracos

[Carthrat]

Tom puts a brief hand on Quincy's shoulder. "Take it easy, it's been a difficult day." Understatement of the year, at that- Tom himself trails after Bjorn and Phil.

[Brian]

"R...right," Quincy says, swallowing nervously at finding himself surrounded by forces from Anabara.  Bjorn, Tom, and Phil find their way to a small conference room, currently abandoned.  It's like a smaller model of the officer's mess, without any bookshelves -- there's seats for eight.  A single window offers a view to port, though from here it looks like an endless sea of grass only interrupted by distant mountains and forested smudges of green.