Taurba - After Action Report 4 (continued)

Comnar took us up river on his ship, the Wave Glider. Our first stop on our journey to Safeway was the town of Portage. As we were pulling into port, two other ships engaged in a pitched battle over a berth. One ship was the clear victor and claimed the slip. From our vantage, it was a wreckless and dangerous display with the potential to harm innocent by-standers It was explained to us that both vessels were crewed by T’skrang and that this kind of thing was common.

We docked shortly after the T’skrang and entered the town for the night. Ermin, in pursuit of the crew, was the first at the gate. The guards questioned him and charged him an entry fee. The rest of us approached as I was counting out coins. To our surprise, we were hardly questioned at all and were changed less for the four of us to enter than Ermin paid alone.

We got a limited taste for a big city. Following the T’skrang lead us to a tavern. Captain M'graw and the crew of the Draco Felix celebrated their “victory”during the “Great Battle for the Most Choicest of Berths at Portage where the Draco Felix Bravely and Heroically Bested the Tail-dragging Crew of the Serpent's Maw.” Ermin and Oren reveled with the crew. It was good for Ermin to socialize with his own kind. Quinn also sought socialization outside our circle while Cetharel and I held a quite table near the back. Not sure of the way things are done on the outside, I did pay respect to Captain M’graw. I gave her a knowing nod as Ermin demonstrated Dragon Tornado Style for the onlookers behind me. I only have one T’skrang in my unit, I am not sure how one focuses a whole crew.

The next day, Comnar dropped us on the west side of the Tylon river. We thanked Comnar for his aid and started our over-land journey to Safeway. Since departing the badlands, we changed our travel schedule to something more natural. We moved during the day and camped during the night.

Along our travels we experience an awesome and terrifying event. The sky was darkened by a flock of Espagra. Mostly the cloud flew overhead but some dipped from the sky with an eye on us. I shouted to the group to head for a stand of nearby trees. I hoped that seeking cover might help us fend off the beasts.

The plan worked partially. After we took to the woods, some of the beasts gave up pursuit. However, three of the beasts did not give up so easily. There were many colors of Espagra and these seemed adept at climbing in trees. We fought the creatures and stung them enough that they flew away. We did not chase after them. We decided to camp in the trees until the danger passed.

The next day of travel was not so eventful. We did what we could to keep the shelter of trees nearby just in case. That night we camped again within the trees. We discovered a statue of Jaspree with a wounded white Espagra draped across its arms. The creature was in a bad way and did not offer us malice. It white color made it unusual. We had not seen any like it in the swarm we had witnessed previously. Seeing its connection to Jaspree, we did what we could to treat its injuries. The creature scratched at the statue. There was a bowl on the ground. It looked to fit into the statue’s hands. We replaced the basin and it filled with water. The Espagra drank and was healed. Our injured also partook of the waters.

During the night, during Ermin’s watch, our camp was approached by two dwarves. They had asked permission to join the fire. Rather than be good guests these scoundrels attacked. The rest of us awoke to nets being thrown on top of us and the battle cry of Ermin. While we struggled to free ourselves, Ermin fought the invaders. His first blow stuck mightily and cleaved the head clean from one of the dwarves. Several others had emerged from the woods. Their target was the white Espagra.

The hunters expected the creature to be weak and wounded but what they found surprised them. The creature exhaled a cone of frosty gas and ice shards. With one of their number dead and the Espagra healed, the attackers decided to retreat rather than face our wrath.

We made it to the town of Safeway without further incident. The Espagra stayed with us. Quinn took to calling it Blanca. Blanca took a shining to Quinn. It stayed with the Obsidiman as we entered town.