To Spell and Back Again

## **Synopsis**

In Chapter 91: To Spell and Back Again, Erland and Orba took their time in the aftermath of the Room of Safe Deposit's sabotage – playing up Erland's affliction and reiterating a need to pay a visit to noted "healer" Marvyn Bishop.  The night watch at the Broken Crown offices was eager to see us off – and with the Band of the Benefactor firmly in place, we were free to leave without further obstruction.

The anticipation for Graven had been excruciating, so when his companions rounded the corner without shackles or an armed escort he was tremendously relieved – though he now faced the problematic task of having the cursed ring removed so deep into the night.

Before riding out in the direction of Na-Garwas, we stopped by All Hands on Deck to check in with Safira and track down the entrepreneurial Skip – who had done his part in collecting Erland's letters from the Mailhouse and even took us for a bit of extra gold with a quick game of "two up".

Light coin purses aside, the information we got was mostly promising: we had until at least tomorrow night to plan an exchange or demonstration of the mutant whistle – and Marvyn himself hinted at a potential method for contacting Grahmari, should we wish to make contact with the infamous alchemist.

Safira and Erland, desperate for a full night of sleep, laid down their heads while Graven and Orba took the road west – at one point passing by our old bounty-hunting rivals looking particularly solemn after learning that a friend of theirs, Colt Moreno, had been killed in the slums of Lipatro.

Upon reaching Na-Garwas, we retraced our steps to the gatehouse that was home to Donovan Ainsley.  We would have felt worse calling on the cleric of Grom'legail so late if the situation was not dire, but Donovan didn't seem to mind – in fact he welcomed the opportunity to assist Graven as he believed it would further weaken Q'usñi while the god of light continued his efforts to transfer power to a new chosen mortal.

To protect himself from harm, the elder Ainsley insisted we speak a prayer to Grom'legail – but the words became unintelligible as Graven's mind fought back against this act of blasphemy.  Searching deep within his subconsciousness, Graven put the prayer together piece by piece – every misstep causing the very letters themselves to lash out in anger.

With Q'usni bearing down from the sun above, Graven finally recalled the prayer's ending – "to be feared and welcomed" – and as he spoke the words he returned to the calm interior of the gatehouse where Donovan was able to slip the now-dormant cursed ring from his finger.

Showing gratitude and now feeling that a particular well of power might have shifted within him, Graven and Orba didn't get back to Wampurani-Na until the sun was already rising, leaving just a few hours before a scheduled visit aboard a ship at the Tall Ports.

In the morning, Erland and Safira took the now-open-to-the-public Steederway to other townships for a bit of errand-running: Safira determined to improve her handling of the Wild Ordnance bow with Sarn Darrow and Erland eager to mail out a response to the ransom note – a task complicated by the monk Shekar, who was now planting booby-traps after our no-show showdown in Na-Upa.

It was over at the docks, however, where a long-awaited conversation was hopefully about to take place as Graven crossed the threshold of the Samincha.

## Trivia

* Natural one count: one natural one was rolled in this Chapter, by John.