Episode Twenty-Nine: Lost in Sea

They’re escorted below decks to meet the other priest by four guards. They won’t let them go without their protection. Castor searches for magic on each deck as they descend. She sees that Tobias’ specs glow teal as well as the nets on deck and the plates in the boiler room. The cloud and general area of it glow yellow and are outlined with purple. The waypoint is brown. Ivetta’s chest, on the mark, glows faintly purple as well. Castor recalls purple around the cursed captain.

The lift descends further and further. They hear a mass of people and the people get more and more riled up. The metal grate holds people back from the shaft. Lots of angry, smelly Irishmen down here, banging on the grate and cursing obscenities. “Get back, get back the lot of you!” The guards draw their tiny pistols and hold them at the rowdy men.

One turns to the group, nervously asking, “are you sure you need to go to him?”

Ivetta and Castor look to Tobias. He sighs, gesturing them to open the gate, “let me see if I can't speak with them.” One does as he bids, the other three threatening with their pistols and shouting at them to “get back!”

Tobias puts his hands up to calm them. “Fockin’ traitor!” one of the Irishmen yells at him. Castor is confused by this. The crowd is more riled.

“Please! Just listen to the guards for a moment.” Shouting obscenities interrupt him but he presses on shouting over them, “I understand your unrest but we are doing everything we can to bring this flight to an end. Progress is being made. I only ask you wait just a little bit longer. I understand you have little reason to believe me. But I also ask what alternative you see yourselves having. I doubt there are many among you who would be able to run a ship of this size. Should the crew falter and fail–”

“Let us back on deck!” He swayed maybe a few with his speech but most continue jeering. Someone from the back shouts over them. The crowd shifts to the side and a person pushes through. “Move, move! Have you no sense?! What are you Protestants or Catholics?! For shame on you! How dare you! Are you not men of God?” The crowd looks sheepish as the priest comes to the fore. “Get back, leave them alone.” A few leave, then more trickle off then the gathering simply dissipates. He looks at the guards saying, “I'm sorry these…” he trails off catching sight of Tobias. “Y-y-you! I’ve seen you! You are Tobias!” He drops to his knees and grabs Tobias’ hands.

Shocked Castor prompts, “How– how do you know him?” He looks to her and startles, falling over onto his ass. He scrambles up again, “You- you- you are Castor! I– my dreams, they are real! You are here!”

“What?!” Ivetta is just as surprised and terrified.

The priest continues, “and you are Ivetta! Yes! Yes! God has answered my prayers! You have come to save us!”

Tobias reaches out a hand to help him up. “In this moment we’ve come to speak with you.”

“Yes! Of course! Of course! I tried to get– I asked about you everyday. The captain, he would not let me see you. Would not let me leave here but you’ve come! Yes, I knew you would come.”

Castor is wary but kindly says, “Let’s go somewhere more comfortable? We should talk about this.”

“Yes, we can go to my chapel.” the guards side eye each other. The four depart, looking back they find the guards not following. Castor asks, “you will come back for us?”

“We’ll stay here as long as we can.” They shut the gate once more.

“Come with me.” he leads them through the corridors. Once white walls are now dingy, lights are broken or out, it smells bad. Portholes are broken, crusted with feces. Fish bones crunch beneath their feet and the air is filled with the sounds of crying babies.

They come to this large room, obviously once a bar. The only signs it's been converted to a chapel is the floor has warped wood in lines where people have stood in prayer and a torn piece of fabric that creates a makeshift cross nailed to the wall.

He leads into a normal looking room off to the side. It's quite small, probably once a closet but obviously now his bedroom. “Perhaps we should just speak in the chapel–It- there might be more room there.” He chuckles self-consciously to himself and leads them back out. “Now, you are here, now what can I do? How– how can I help you?”

“It’s clear you have some knowledge of us.” Tobias begins

“I’ve seen you in my dreams. The Lord has blessed me with visions.”

“Could you perhaps explain the contents of these dreams?”

“You– all three of you will descend into the dark abyss that lies beyond. You-” he points at Castor, “you, like Moses before you will part the sea and travel below and destroy the evil that is beyond. I’ve seen it. I know all of you fear the weather that follows us. But I know that you will be safe within it. The Lord will keep you as he keeps all his shepards. Please, you must save us.”

Ivetta stammers, “hol- you’re saying we need to go into the cloud?”

“Yes, I’ve seen it. Like Moses!”

“What is in the cloud?”

“A great evil that needs to be destroyed.”

Castor chimes in, “And we three…destroy it? Just us?”

“You.”

“M-me?” Castor looks shaky.

“Do you know what this evil looks like?” Ivetta asks him.

“Dark, like the night sky with no stars. It stares into your very soul. A black abyss, a void. It is evil. Of the devil. When I saw it I was terrified to the core.”

“Did it look like a dome with a tree made of tendrils above a pit?”

“Yes, tendrils. So many! Enveloping, destroying. But you will bring us peace.”

“Did you happen to see how?”

“The Lord did not grant me this sight. But I know that He will steal you on your way.”

Ivetta looks seriously at Castor, “I’m not letting you go down there by yourself.”

“No, it must be the three of you together. The three wise men of old.”

Castor stutters, realizing herself, “I’m-I’m sorry I didn’t get your name. You know us–what can I call you?” She reaches out and touches his hand both in greeting and to test if he is afflicted with magical alement, but she finds nothing.

“Biles, Thomas Biles. I know what I see is real. You *will* be the ones to save us.”

“We- will certainly try…”

“When did these visions of us start happening?” Ivetta asks.

“Many months ago as soon as this… pestilence came upon us.”

“Did you see anyone else? A Chinese man perhaps?”

“What? No, I have told you what I have seen.”

“Just making sure.”

“You three are the ones who will save our world. You will either return us to the realm of man or deliver us unto the kingdom of God.”

Castor sinks into a chair staring at the ground, feeling the weight of the lives riding on her shoulders.

Tobias steps in, “did you see any symbol of the divine in this vision?”

“I did not but such visions could only be from one source.”

“You saw this pit, yes?”

“Yes. The void. The darkness.”

“What did you feel as you gazed upon it?”

“It stared back at me and I felt cold. Cold over my entire body I could feel the evil.”

“Could you describe what Castor looked like in these visions?”

“There was a glow of white around her. A halo of the–the holy. That of an angel.”

Tobias thinks back to when he saw her in aschar. He remembers her glowing yellow eyes, how the air felt and wind whipped. But he doesn’t remember her glowing, he chalks it up to dream logic.

Castor asks slowly, “Is…is there anything we can do for you for you all down here…now?”

“Deliver us from the evil that befalls us all.”

“I mean at the moment.”

“That is all you need do. The people here are desperate. You’ve seen, they will not wait a moment longer. They need some sort of absolution.”

Tobias asks, “Castor, can you take a look around?” She looks at him confused. He taps his glasses. A look of understanding crosses her face and she casts detect magic in the room. She finds nothing and shakes her head. “There’s nothing I can see here.”

Ivetta blurts, “have you ever heard of something called the Mora vos Malus?”

His face does not light with recognition, “No, I have not.”

“Well, thank you for your time, I think that’s all the information we need right now.”

“I’ll pray for you. Please, don’t forget about us down here.”

“Don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.” Castor says.

Tobias adds, “We have not forgotten the people down here, nor has the captain, I assure you.”

“Based on how long it took to see you, I don’t suppose we’ll be seeing eachother again. This is farewell.”

“Is there anything we can do to prepare?” Ivetta asks before they depart.

“I don’t know. The Lord has shown me he will safeguard your journey, not the tools you will need to succeed.”

Castor adds, “You have been a great help. Thank you father To-Biles.”

“I will walk you back to the elevator.” The guards are still there but they look like they were about to leave. It's an awkward, silent ride up.

They convene back in their cabin once more to discuss. Castor begins, “The same thing happened in Florence. The mist containing the demons was held at bay.”

Tobias says, “It could be a false vision. But at this point I think we’re running out of options. If it is a trap I think the best option may be to go ahead and spring the trap.”

“Alright, I'll brush up on my walking on water skill. Let me just think about that.”Castor says nervously.

“There's still the dingy.” Tobias supplies.

Ivetta adds, “I have fish bones with glyphs on them. That is our only weapon. You cannot possibly suggest we go in there with no other weapons.”

“I'm sure the captain will part with a pistol or two, given that we may be able to stop the cloud. Not sure how much use it will be against an unknown enemy.” Says Tobias.

“Speaking of which, how do we…if she’s still here– do we worry about the cloud or the perpetrator first? If we destroy the cloud and leave the loop then they might escape and hurt others. How do we draw her out first and do we want to do that?”

Tobias thinks for a moment. “If we want to force her hand, then I would imagine that revealing the first officer and captain are cured would be the way to go about it.”

Ever fearful Castor asks, “Make them targets and watch them? Or would she go after the one who f-fixed them?”

“We should see about meeting with the sorceresses so Castor can get a read on them.”

“But people don’t just glow. Their magic doesn’t show unless they cast a spell.”

“Someone who is attempting to conceal their identity with magic may, however.”

“Disguise magic?”

“If she is in disguise I imagine she is within the group. There’s little we can do but wait for her to come to us.”

“Are we assuming this is the same sorceress who has been chasing us?” Ivetta prompts.

“The same symbol appeared on the captain and first officers seems suspect at the very least.”

Castor reasons, “But the symbols for hexes are similar. Like letters, the same for everyone. But I don’t know. I think *she* would be far more aggressive and active in stopping us.”

“What do we think the great snap the captain heard was?”

“Heels, bone, a whip?”

“It could be her.”

Castor insists, “Your hex was different! His vision was nice and yours was very not.”

“Yes, he spent time with his family.”

“And they were awake, you were asleep. I don’t think she’s the same person.”

“It might be a younger version of herself who has not perfected her dungeon.”

“I hope not but if she is she might have an inkling of good in her that we might nurture to fruition.”

In the evening, Castor sits down once more to meditate and try to master aschar. She sits cross legged in the cabin among her sleeping companions. Like previous times she meditates until she reaches the dark and quiet.

She begins hearing people. They’re cheering and chanting, there seems to be a lot of them. Castor herself feels terrible, but simply as though she’s eaten a lot of oily substances. She examines herself and finds herself to be a rather rotund man. She looks left and right and sees other men. They’re all dressed in the same outfit, an odd white uniform with large letters ‘NY’ in their front. They all sport white caps, oddly sharp shoes and several carry blunt instruments and round rocks. She sits slightly below ground, a gate between her and the eye-level ground.

Outside the pit where she sits there’s a large gathering of people surrounding a green field with paths. Several other guys in uniforms, these wearing gray, a ‘c’ emblazoned on their shirts and caps, stand in the oddly shaped green area. A guy with a blunt wooden instrument stands in front of all the other men. Castor takes note of what he’s doing as he swings at the rock they throw at him. He misses the rock, half the crowd cheers and he returns to where Castor sits. He’s chewing something, with his mouth full of whatever it is he speaks gruffly to Castor, “What the hell you don’?”

“Ah– You tell me.” She chuckles trying to pass off her odd behavior as a joke. He gives her a look and says, “get out there, Babe!”

Castor double checks that she’s a man and stutters, “You–you got it boss.” She walks out with her own blunt instrument and stands where that other guy did. She gets slightly distracted by the half of the crowd that jeers at her as she steps up. The rock flies past her.

“Strike!”

She doesn’t like the sound of that so she concentrates on the rock this time. She swings at the rock. The man shouts ‘foul tip!’ about five times until, finally, she hits it. She slams the wood into the rock, a jarring crack reverberating in the stadium, vibrating through the wood.

The rock hurtles away. It goes… goes… goes over the fence. The crowd cheers, standing on their feet and going wild. Castor stares at the rock, watching it go out of the crowded area. The man in the underground shouts at her, “RUN!” She begins running toward the dugout. He waves her off back toward the field. Eventually, she figures out she has to follow the dirt path all the way around the diamond. As she gets to where she hit the rock the others wearing the same outfit flood onto the field. They slap her on the back and cheer, everyone is happy. The joy rubs off on her, although she doesn’t entirely understand why, but she smiles anyway.

The color in the atmosphere slowly seeps away, everything fading to gray. She blinks and she’s back at the bottom of the stairs in her childhood home. She backs away from them, fearful of what happened last time.

At the top of the stairs, her mother’s door stands ajar. This time she hears the timbre of a male voice. More curious than fearful now, Castor ascends the steps albeit slowly. She pushes the door open. It creaks.

A familiar face cranes his face to see her, “Oh, it’s you. Why did you come back here? We were fine without you.”

“M-Marco?”

He turns away from her and offers her mother a cup, “here drink this, it will help.”

“No, don’t drink that mother!”

“Don't interfere, you've done enough damage.” He snaps, “You left her, left me.”

Her mother croaks, “don’t waste your breath on this ingrate.”

Castor protests, “I– didn't want to– I didn’t have a choice! God sent us on this quest. You know that you were chosen too! I just want to help!”

“Don’t lie. You *wanted* this. You want this quest. People to follow you around, worship you!”

Stung Castor bites back, “No! You know that's not true! I was happy– content here! I had everything I n–”

“Everything? Or nothing?”

“I–”

“You wanted power!”

“No! He gave it to me but I needed to control it so I *wouldn't* hurt people! So I can help!”

“All you do is destroy. You hurt me. You hurt her. All you do is hurt others.”

“I wish that wasn't true–-Please, I'll help you! I'll find a way to fix this. I have to help you! I never should have abandoned you but I couldn’t–” Marco rises from the chair, towering over Castor, she cowers curling in on herself. “I'll find a way back to you! Help before they–”

He spits acidly, “It's *too late* you've done enough! You are weak! You can't do anything! You can't ever do anything right!”

Castor can’t take much more of this, “I can-can try!”

“Don’t bother, you’ll just ruin it. Just give up!”

Castor squeezes her eyes shut, balls her fists and screams, “I can't give up! I won't give up! Never!” When she opens her eyes she feels a hand on her shoulder, warm and comforting. The warmth fills her soul but before she can look whose hand it is she finds herself in a black void.

Still in her meditating trance she finds herself in the dark. A young woman's voice speaks. "Alright Mary Sue. Open your eyes!" She does so, finding two young women in front of her. One stands behind the other, each aged around 16 or 17. Both wear pastel colored dresses.  Castor realizes she's looking at a mirror, light bulbs line the edges of the square illuminating their faces. The room behind them is neat with everything, even the walls, matching the color scheme of pastel pink.

The young woman standing beside her puts her hands on her hips. "I think I did a good job. Wait, one more thing." She grabs a powdery thing from the table and pushes it into Castor’s face. She just manages to stop herself from coughing from the powder that plumes off of it. "There! Now I'm done. What do you think?" Castor inspects herself more closely in the mirror. Whoever she is, she looks very similar to Castor herself. Only finding a few key differences. Mary Sue is taller and unscarred. Her hair is done up in an elegant bun and delicate makeup highlights her features.

For perhaps the first time in her life shes pleased with her appearance. She whispers incredulously, "I'm–I'm beautiful."

"You sure are Mary Sue! Now come on quick, we're going to be late for the dance!" The other girl grabs her wrist and pulls her up, yanking Castor away from her shock. She pulls her through the open door. She stops suddenly and goes back grabbing two purses from a wooden chest at the base of the bed. “Almost forgot the tickets!” Castor is dragged out of the room again and down a hallway. They pass another room with a young boy watching a moving picture box. An angry looking man lounges in a cushioned chair smoking a big cigar. The young woman calls, “Goodbye daddy!” He grunts. Like a flash they’re out of the house and getting into a very shiny red wheel box. A white square on the front reads ‘California.” Finally she is released as the other girl gets in the right side of the box leaving Castor to climb behind a circular protrusion. She sits there and waits for the wheel box to go.

“Come on! Ben’s not gonna wait forever.”

“Ben?”

“Mary Sue, you’re joking! Your crush!”

“Oh! R-right! T-tell me about him?”

“What do you mean? You’re the one who’s been following him for three months!”

“I have?”

“Are you crazy?”

“I’m just–n-nervous.”

“You’ve got nothing to worry about now, come on, let’s go!”

“I–I don’t think I can do this.” She moves closer to the door, her hands try to work the door latch trying to get out.

“Mary Sue! Don’t be silly. It will be fine!”

“I–can’t.” She gives Castor a look but sees the genuine fear on her face and says, “alright scoot over.” She gets out and gets in the driver’s seat while Castor simply slides on the smooth seat to the other side, breathing a sigh of relief.

“Now let’s get to that dance!”

“And he’ll be there?”

“Of course!” She twists her wrist and the wheel box roars. The two rocket backward, reversing out of the drive. Castor is thrown around, missing those straps in that underwater ship. Her fingernails grip the seat trying to hold herself steady. When they seem to be stabilizing and going straight a while Castor digs around in the purses and finds a card with the other young woman’s face painted on it. It reads: Sally Day Perkins. She finds a similar card with her picture and finds the last names don’t match, Sally must be Mary’s friend.

“Ah we should have put the top down,” Sally complains.

“But wouldn’t that mess up our hair?” Castor points out.

“Oh! You’re right! Good call Mary Sue!”

Castor is anxious and flustered the entire drive trying to ask Sally questions about how to talk to boys and such.

“Sally, how am I supposed to do this? What–what do I say?”

“What do you mean? Talk to him about things he likes. You know him. Just talk. Go dance, have fun!”

“You'll be close right in case something happens?”

“Like what? I’ll be in there of course but I've got to meet Jerry. You’ll be fine Mary Sue, I promise.” Castor simply nods and spends the last few minutes of the drive staring out the window. Sally brings the wheel box to a halt outside a huge brick building. A banner advertises the dance tonight and they hear soft music coming from inside. Other young men and women dot the outside, all dress in their best. Sally gets out and rushes to a group of other girls. They squeal and exclaim how pretty she is and she does so in turn. Castor tentatively gets out and joins the same group just before they begin heading inside.

A huge room decorated with crepe paper and baubles. On a stage there sit instruments ready to be played but at the moment music comes from a large horn a black spinning disk beneath it. There are many students inside already but more simply mingle at the edges of the room.Several girls split off from their group to find their dates. Only a few people litter the dance floor. Castor casts about with her gaze trying to see if she could determine who this Ben is without knowing what he looks like. A gang of five or six young men stand by the punch, decked out in leather jackets and sunglasses. They remind Castor of the Mora vos Malus so she averts her eyes swiftly. Sally bursts, “Mary Sue! Mary Sue! There he is!” She hops excitedly next to her and points. Castor’s eyes flick to where her finger lands.

Her heart skips a beat. Entering the hall with a group of his friends comes the most perfect man Castor has ever laid eyes on. Already she feels her cheeks heat pink. Next to her she hardly notices Sally scream with glee and leap into another boy’s arms. Not taking her eyes off him, she glides toward the other side of the room. He faces the wall talking to two of his friends. They see her approach.

Castor gets close enough he can hear her and stutters, “B–Ben?” His friends chuckle and push him toward her, shoving off, leaving them alone.

“What– oh, hello.”

“Hi, um, B-Ben…”

“What’s going on? What's happenin’?”

In typical Castor fashion she trips over her words, “I–I, um, do-do you want to dance with-with me?”

“Ah, you’re very forward. Um– I can’t really dance.”

“I don’t know how either. Then would you want some punch?”

“Yeah- I’ll get some for you.” He moves away with nervous speed.

“I thought we would go together…” In his haste he trips over himself. Castor snatches his arm to save him from falling. And helps right him.

“Wow, you’re strong. Um yeah together…” The pair move to the punch bowl. He ladles her a cup. The leather clad lads still stand there, Castor feels their eyes burning. Once Ben has his glass she moves away to a table and chairs. They sit. Ben attempts small talk.

“So, uh, you like dances?”

“This is my first. But I-I like the decorations.”

“I thought I’ve seen you at dances before.”

“Well– I, um…I’m sorry I am very nervous.”

“Why are you so nervous?”

Castor averts her eyes, “b-because I’m talking to you.”

“Ah–why–”

Biting the bullet, Castor blurts, “I like you!”

Ben, who had been taking a sip of punch, drops the cup. It falls to the table spilling all over. He brushes some of it off him. Startled, he looks down and then back to her, back and forth several times. “You’re not pulling my leg are you?”

“N-no! I’m serious. I l-like you and I’d um, I would like to get to know you better.”

He too blushes and says, “I…like you too.”

Caught by surprise, Castor gawks momentarily, “you–you do?”

He gives a curt nod and stands suddenly. “Let’s dance–” He sits back down with the same speed, turning to hide an uncomfortable tightness in his dress pants. “A-actually let’s not.”

Castor graciously doesn’t draw attention to his excitement, averting her gaze and stuttering, “I’m–M-Mary Sue.”

Still red-faced he says, “Benjamin. But my friends call me Ben.”

She gives a shy smile, “Tell me about yourself. What do you like to do?”

He talks about himself. That he’s on the school baseball team, he likes to tinker with cars, and that he’s thinking of becoming a mechanic after school but his dad doesn’t approve. They talk a while, Castor pointedly dodges questions about the person she is not. Until Ben asks again, “Would you like to dance?”

“Ah-of course.” He holds out his hand and her heart flutters. They join the far more populated dance floor wiggling and moving to the fast-paced song the band is playing. After only a few more minutes the fast song ends and the band begins playing a slower song. Ben gently pulls Castor closer and they sway together. Castor apologies several times for stepping on his feet. Ben hardly notices. He smiles and she smiles back at him. On his face is a dreamy look that Castor imagines she wears as well. They’re so close. The music swells in the background and she finds herself listening to her baser instincts. Before Castor can think herself out of it, she’s moving closer. She presses her lips to his, her eyes naturally falling closed. Ben reciprocates the kiss, falling into it. For Castor the world stops moving. In that moment, she is happy.

The kiss lasts probably a little too long but at the last, they break apart. Realization strikes her and she apologizes, “I - I'm sorry I was too forward…”

“No-no. It was– I liked it.” The dreamy look on his face stays even as he asks, “Can we…sit?” She nods, leading the way back to their table. Butterflies fill her stomach as does a warm feeling. As if she did what she needed to do here, like she could leave at any time. The thought sends a pang of sadness to her heart but she knows she can’t stay forever. But she can enjoy herself.

Just for tonight.

She opens her eyes, her fingers tingle. She clenches the hand resting atop her knee and feels the power buzzing there. The corner of her mouth quirks up and she feels she has full control over her aschar.

In the morning Castor was excited and noticeably more chipper.

Ivetta finds this odd and calls her out, “why are you so happy? Don’t get me wrong, it's a good look but… what’s going on?”

“So last night I meditated…” She explains what she did in her vision. “Apparently they were very happy with my hit of this rock. It went over the fence and people were cheering. And then a couple other things happened that weren’t so great but–but then...it was wonderful. I--I can control aschar now! I can do it!”

“You can?”

“Yes!”

“What changed?”

“I–I did what the visions told me. I did it and I did it well enough I guess. But I can do it! I can control it. I won’t have to worry about hurting anyone anymore!”

“That’s fantastic, Castor, I’m so proud!”

“But after I saw Marco and my mom and they… they said some pretty mean things but I don’t believe it was really them…”

“Was that a different vision?”

“I saw something similar last time I was successful.”

“Not to take away from the happiness but what did they say to you?”

“I don’t– It was mostly. It wasn’t true that I wanted attention and to be on this quest. They weren’t very nice but I know it wasn’t them so I won’t let it bother me.”

Around 1pm Tobias goes to talk to Ms. Barber. Ivetta and Castor hide down the corridor waiting to break into her room.

He knocks and no one answers. She opens it slightly a minute later, “Oh father, what can I do for you?”

“Hello, Ms. Barber, I was wondering if you have time to speak? Over tea or what have you.”

“Give me a moment. Ah, why don’t I meet you somewhere then we can speak.”

“How about the library? An hour?”

“Alright.” Tobias relays this info to the other two and heads to the library.

“I appreciate the time coming to meet me, Ms. Barber. I was just wondering generally what are your thoughts on our plans going forward?”

“I think what you've done with the enchantments, what you call glyphs are going well. More of that might be useful.”

“I agree but our party only has only two magic users so I was wondering if your party of significantly more have come up with another plan or ideas.”

“Unfortunately, before we met you all we didn’t have much more to do than fish. You clearly have more magic knowledge on your side.”

“And what are your, if you don’t mind my asking, thoughts on the acting captain?”

“Murdock? He runs the ship fine enough. I wish he would have listened to us more. But… ”

“Does Murdock have a history of disregarding those advisors who rank lower?”

“Just me it seems.”

“That seems awfully malicious.”

“Malicious?”

“It doesn’t seem like the feeling he gave off to me.”

“Well, that would make sense.”

“What about the captain and first officer? Did you know anything about them before the ship set off?”

“Before? I knew just as much as any other passenger.”

“Their afflictions did seem to manifest just as the clouds appeared. There would have been no reason to keep people below decks before. Was there any witness to the onset of their insanity?”

“You'll have to ask the crew. I wasn’t important enough to be there.”

“Do you mind if I ask what you were doing? Why are you traveling the sea?”

“Why am I traveling?”

“You must understand, a man like me that does quite a bit of traveling tends to develop a curious sentiment. Forgive me if I am prying. I just like to know about the times and places I end up in.”

“When the Titanic set off, I was a servant of Mrs. Cavich.”

“Is Mrs. Cavich still aboard?”

“I assume, somewhere.”

“I take it she did not develop magical potential then?”

“No.”

“Were you given your own room–”

“These seem to be a lot of questions. I don’t seem to see the point.”

“As I said Ms. I can get curious, I apologize.”

“I have my own room now, yes.”

“Did the Mrs. appreciate the insights you had in the, forgive my wording but Pagan, interests?”

“She knew nothing of it. None of her business, my private affairs. It was a simple interest. Not worship. I’m a Chistian like everyone else aboard this ship.”

“I did not mean to claim otherwise. You act perfectly in line, as I would expect from a good Christian.” She looks slightly angered. “I wonder if you know that we have been planning on venturing into the fog in the not too distant future.”

“Into the fog? Planning on getting yourselves killed?”

“Planning to try saving the ship.”

“You’ve proven me wrong before but I would caution against it.”

“I’d say we’ve proven a lot of people wrong in our time aboard.”

“You certainly have.”

“Just as you have, perhaps, proven a fair amount of bias wrong in your time here.”

“As I said.”

“I do think it may be worrying for us to leave the ship. There’s still a magical malaise lingering aboard it.”

“What do you mean? The other visitors?”

“You are well aware of the captain and chief officer’s conditions, yes?”

“Afflictions of madness.”

“Afflictions of madness brought on at the exact time the cloud appeared. A coincidence. Or at the very least connected to the cloud and not to a person.”

“I suppose, it's a jump. It’s possible.”

“I believe you said this yourself but our party seems rather, well versed in magic.”

“Yours, you keep reminding me…”

“I have to remind myself, as I am not gifted as such.”

“Naturally.”

“But we have gathered some rather interesting information. We have been to the cabins of the afflicted men, and using the magic at our disposal have garnered glimpses through their tumultuous minds.”

“Murdock let you see them? I suppose you’ve earned his goodwill.”

“We have managed to draw some information about the moments just before they fell to madness.”

“What have you found?”

“We found that it is very unlikely that their affliction was caused solely by the cloud.”

“What is your implication here, father?” She bites back.

“I am saying that we would be remiss to attend the cloud if a source of it still remains aboard ship.”

“I think I’ve heard quite enough Father. As a man of God I don’t believe you should be going around accusing others. I’ve done more than enough for this ship.”

“No one has been accused as of yet.”

“You certainly have a funny way of showing it. Come in here asking all about me, my life, people around me.”

“I’m trying to gather information. If you have any information that might lead to the capture of this individual–”

“Nothing I wish to share with you.” She stands up, Tobias follows suit. She turns on her heel and storms out.

“Ms. Barber! If we leave and your time is spent catching fish, how do you expect to rid yourselves of the cloud without us?”

“I will figure it out, as I have figured everything else out on my own!”

“I suppose you shall figure out how to catch more fish then.” She turns around and raises her hand. Her face scrunches but nothing happens. After a moment she pivots on her heel and fumes away.

Castor and Ivetta attempt to break into her room as she’s gone. But Castor has reservations about breaking in and perhaps incurring her ire. Ivetta tries picking the lock but can’t quite get it. They know there is a glyph on the other side of the door but after a time of debate they give up, hoping Tobias gleaned something more useful.

“She seemed defensive and certainly secretive. I would like to try to keep an eye on her. If our conversation has driven her to a more desperate place, we might have pushed into making a move sooner rather than later.”

“There’s a glyph on her door, we couldn’t get in.”

“Did you tell her the captain was alright?”

“No I said you procured information from them before they went mad and their affliction was not caused by the cloud but by a person, likely aboard the ship.”

“What did she say to that?”

“She got mad and left at the implications but just before she left she raised a hand as if she was trying to cast something. I am not sure if she failed or changed her mind? But there was no flying out of windows so I assume it failed.” Castor checks and makes sure he is unafflicted. He is fine.

“We found nothing really, didn’t get inside. But I could try jumping off the side, Father Thomas said we’d be fine.”

“We can always lower the lifeboat.”

“We might need to encourage Lee to move on with Montezuma so you can use aschar.”

“It might be another realm beyond the cloud but we don’t have any proof so that might be necessary.”

They talk more trying to come up with plans and perhaps means to move more quietly about the ship. Castor makes a pair of boots that levitate but they are very difficult to use and Tobias faceplants almost immediately, bloodying his nose.

"Alright, that didn't work, now what's our plan?"

Tobias insists on surveilling Ms. Barber, thinking perhaps she might do something foolish. He follows her about the ship for the rest of the day but finds nothing of real import. She walks from her duties on deck then goes back to her room.

Castor and Ivetta go to talk to Lee. They knock. This time he answers, opening it himself. “Back again I see. What can I help you with?”

“Hope you’re not b-busy. We were just…you haven’t talked to Montezuma at all right?”

“Not in many days.”

“When you do leave you want to take him with you? What is your plan?”

“I have no qualms with Montezuma. But I don't plan on leaving anytime soon.”

“Oh. I–I- don’t want to be rude but it might help if you–weren’t here… You know how I told you about chati and when two are together they can’t do their very powerful things?” He nods in understanding. “I–I might need that to get rid of this cloud. I don’t want to ask you to leave but I think it might…help?”

“You have your mission, Castor, I have my own. But we cannot gamble these people’s lives on your plan alone.”

“But it-it would be more likely to work if one of us is here. I don’t presume to know what your quest is–I-I’d like to know if you’d like to tell me but I want to help these people and I don’t know if I can do that to the fullest extent of my power if you are still here.”

“Since you’re now in possession of my necklace, you can leave at any time. If I were to leave and you would also leave later, these people would be stranded here. Damning them. A terrible fate.”

“But we’re not going to leave until we help them.”

“As much as I’d like to believe you, Castor, I do trust you but I can’t know that for sure.”

“I–I–suppose not…but if there were a better chance…?”

“I don’t know that there is.”

Ivetta chimes in, “Is there any way chati can communicate with one another in a magical sense that either of you know of?”

“Ah–I don’t think so…”

“I have never met another like you so I cannot say.”

“Would you two humor me? Perhaps meditate and see if you can feel each other.”

Each closes their eyes and meditates. Castor is about to give up, having felt nothing when Lee says, “It doesn’t seem to be working but perhaps with practice it might be a reasonable idea.”

“You felt something then? Some inkling of something.”

“There is always something to feel when it comes to magic. Whether it was related to what we were attempting to do, I cannot say.”

An idea strikes Castor and she puts her hand out and prompts, “can you hold my hand a moment? I want to try something.” Ivetta backs up several steps.

“Alright.” He holds her hand.

Castor is pulled into a vision and watches a man in a strange beige outfit walk across a stage. He steps up to a stick in the ground and speaks into it. Out of the blue the edges of her vision become hazy. On all sides darkness presses causing intense pain. The man vanishes, replaced by the vast ocean. In the depths looms a gigantic beast. A Lovecraftian beast lies in wait, just below the waterline. A sharp pain throbs as she snaps out of the vision. The pain radiates as if she had hit her head.

She jerks, stumbling back, hand flying to grab her head. Lee looks dazed as well, he too clutches his temples. His tone is even, yet concerned, “What did you do, Castor?”

“I didn’t do anything but that’s never happened before.”

“Did you guys see anything?”

Castor looks to Lee, “what did you see?”

He describes, nearly spot on, the exact thing Castor did. “That’s–that thing–that sea creature. It was huge and looming under the water. It was terrifying. But– this has never happened before. Other times I’ve touched chati. It's just something about them or their life. Ah! This realm is so odd!”

“Seems to be a running theme.” Lee says, calm as ever.

“Is there anything else you remember?” Castor describes the man in beige.

“So I suppose everything is pointing us to the ocean and getting rid of what is out there. Whatever is blocking and doing this magical hindering.”

“Did it look like the thing in the vision when we got here?”

Castor thinks a moment, “it was similar but I couldn’t really tell.”

“Thank you for trying. I didn't mean for it to hurt either of you.” Ivetta says.

“I think Castor needs to part the sea,” Tobias says nonchalantly.

“It’s worth a shot.” Ivetta adds.

“At this point it is the only plan we’ve got.

“Whatever you decide to do, I hope you keep me updated.”

“Of course. But we’re probably going to try to lower the lifeboat down and I’ll try to move the water to try and see this thing.”

“You want to see the bottom of the sea floor?” Lee asks.

“No, the things from my vision, the tentacles, the dome, the pit, whatever is in the cloud.”

“You have no idea how far this is. Such a feat… even I would struggle to accomplish. Do you believe you are up to the task?” Lee questions.

“I don’t know but this is why I thought maybe using aschar would help. But I can’t because you’re here. You see my problem?”

Ivetta jumps in, “That’s why I wanted to see if you guys could make a connection. If you could, we could call you back if things go wrong. You could come back and help these people if we fail.”

“Even if that were the case, I would still remain here.”

“Alright, well, thank you for your time. And if you have any ideas…” They leave heading back to their cabin for the night.

The next day Tobias tails Ms. Barber. She gets up early and goes on deck and does magic shit. He doesn’t know what she’s doing. The other sorceresses come up and monitor the automated fishing nets. Some meditate, others show their peers spells they’ve figured out. After lunch they all return to their rooms.

Eventually Ivetta, and Castor talk to the right people and are allowed to see Montezuma. The guards open up the cell room door allowing them entry. He sits alone, gagged and chained to a chair.

Castor gasps softly and stutters, “I–I’m sorry they– here.” She crosses the room and ungaggs him.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I–I didn’t know what straights you were in. We just wanted to ask some questions–if you’re amenable.”

“You know, ever since you showed up my quality of life hasn’t exactly improved.”

“You’re not in the boiler room anymore. It would be nice… if you could answer some of our questions. Perhaps we can talk to the captain about making– your arrangements more comfortable.”

“Bribery then, is it?”

“I just would like to know some things. And you're a kaldien–”

He cuts her off, “I thought you were *so moral,* Castor. Shouldn’t you be helping me out of the kindness of your heart?”

She balks, “I mean–you are kind of trying to kill my friend–” Ivetta’s jaw sets watching him barb Castor like that. “I don’t think that–”

“Oh, not just him.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I–I am now!” She looks fearful.

He chuckles, “I am the sworn enemy of any chati.”

“Yes, you’re a kaldien... You hunt and kill chati and then what, you go back?”

“I don’t kill them.”

“You don’t? What? I thought that’s what kaldien do.”

“You assume a lot.”

“I have had people tell me they are killers. I’d like to know the truth.”

“We take these dangerous people out of the caelium and return them back to where they belong.”

“Where’s that?”

“I think you've heard enough already. Now why don’t you run off to the captain and see what you can do for my accommodations.”

“I don’t… think you’ve quite earned it.”

“Oh, well I see you are not as ethical as I thought you were.”

“I assume that you weren’t expecting to be dragged along with Lee. How are you going to get back to your temple? Or wherever go back to?

"It might not be today and not maybe not tomorrow but someday someone will slip up. I will get out of here."

"Slip up? What does that mean?"

“Run along Castor, can’t you see how busy I am? I need to get back to–”

“Being tied up?” Ivetta interrupts.

“I would have thought you might enjoy company.” Castor says.

“No, being tied up is more interesting.”

Ivetta takes the folded paper from her pocket and show him what is on it, asking, “What do you know about this symbol?” He doesn’t react in any noticeable way.

“Even if I knew anything, do you think I would actually tell you?”

“Maybe you would if we could help get you out of here.”

“I’ve already answered your questions and you’ve refused to help me. Why would I believe you would after I answer some more?”

“Because we need answers to get out of here.” Ivetta says.

“And that seems to be your goal as well,” Castor chimes in.

“I’m sorry but we’re not on the same ‘team’ here.”

Castor changes tactics, “So they sent you alone to go capture a chati in the lower caelium. That’s a pretty top tier assignment so you must be pretty powerful.”

He tisks, “So many assumptions you make.”

“I’m going off the information others have given me, if you want to correct me–”

“Why don’t you go speak to them?”

Irritated Castor replies, “They’re certainly more friendly.”

“Here, I have a deal for you. Let me out of these bindings and I will tell you everything you want to know.”

“I’m sure.”

“My word is as good as yours, for all the good you’ve done me.”

“Well, you have upheld your end, so I *will* talk to the captain about maybe some…what do you want? Free time?”

“I would like to be released.”

“Wouldn’t we all? But we can’t have you going around killing or trying to capture people. So I think that’s a big ask.”

“Only one, I’m after. Or, perhaps more now.” Castor grits her teeth, remaining neutral. Ivetta bites back a retort, trying not to react. “Anything else? Or are you just going to stare?”

“I will be back tomorrow to see if you are more amenable.”

“I'm sure you will.”

The two leave him to his solitude once more and meet back with Tobias.

Later that day, in the evening the trio goes to see Murdock once more. In the wheelhouse he stands about and greets them as they enter, “Mr. Konig, Ms. Macabro, Ivetta, good evening.”

Castor wishes to herself he’d simply call her by her first name but dismisses it. “We just had a couple things. I–I don’t know how to run a ship but–ah– there are people down in third-class. I don’t know if you know that–”

“Trust me, I am well aware, Castor. Tell me, how did the meeting go with that chaplain?”

“About as well as it could have.”

“Did you find anything that could help our predicament?”

“Ah– possibly?”

“More riddles, as tends to be the nature when working with magic.” Tobias adds.

“And have you spoken with Ms. Barber? Very well versed with these things or perhaps the other man working the boilers, Lee?”

“We talked with Lee and…I don’t know if he thought it was a good idea but it certainly was an idea.”

“I’m sure between the five of you you should be able to come up with something. I hope, I pray.”

“We will. That’s why we’re here. But in the meanwhile there’s a bunch of people down below and they really want to go outside. I think that’s possible…there’s a lot of room on this boat. I just don’t understand why they’re down there.”

“While it is possible, it is not the best course of action.”

“Wh-why not?”

“Given the opportunity there could be a mutiny. Those below deck do not know the situation. Nor do the people above deck for that matter but those below far outnumber those above by a significant margin. If they were to take over the ship– well, we’d all be dead wouldn’t we?”

Ivetta asks, “what story are you telling them?”

“What story can we tell them? There is a cloud chasing us? We can’t make it back to civilization? What would you believe?”

“That doesn’t answer my question, with all due respect.”

“We’ve told them as much as we can. We’re not able to make it back, there is something chasing us.” Ivetta stops herself from leaving. “For months, I’ll have you know, we were functioning on our own. You were not here.”

Castor sighs, “I–I understand but it has been months and the only view they have of the outside to keep them going insane is the tiny round windows they push their waste out of. E-even just a few being let on deck in shifts would help their mental capacity a lot. I don’t think they deserve to be down there like that…”

“Castor I would love to be able to allow them to roam about the deck, even in shifts as you say. But the risk of the crew being overthrown is not worth it.”

Ivetta says, “I understand you’re trying to prevent a panic but it's getting to the point that you will have an uprising on your hands regardless.”

Tobias says, “with any luck we can solve the cloud issue before it comes to that.”

“That would be preferred. As it stands now, I simply do not have the manpower to succeed if they decide to overthrow us. We are not a military unit.”

Castor's shoulders sag in disappointment but nods solemnly. After a beat she asks if she might have a set of manacles so that she might put a dispel magic glyph on them and with them, secure Montezuma so he might walk around for a time without issue.

“While I trust you Castor, the only reason I haven’t thrown Montezuma overboard is that he might be an asset in the future.”

“I–he has information that we might need and there’s not much we can bargain with. I thought maybe that might suffice.”

“I am sorry but I can’t risk the safety of the ship so you might get answers out of a very unstable man.”

Ivetta says, “it would be a mistake to write him off as unstable. He is very calculating.”

“The man is sick.”

“He is very much lucid.”

“His morals leave much to be desired.”

“Yes but I am saying he is not insane.”

Castor asks, “Is there anything we can do for him?”

“If you think it will help, I will instruct the crew to, I don’t know, do *something* for him. Walks around the ship perhaps.”

Tobias suggests, “Lee seems to be quite fond of him and I do believe he could handle himself. Mayhap you could let the two see each other?”

“I have no problem with it. If you believe it will help, I’ll allow it.”

“I think that’s a great idea.” Ivetta says.

Castor agrees, “It certainly aligns with his goals to make him a better person.” She then proceeds to fill him in on their current plan to combat the cloud.

“You’re going to what? Can you do that?”

"I–I can try.”

“What would it accomplish?”

“We might be able to see the source of the cloud. I don’t know, honestly.”

“If you find this source you can stop it?”

“Yes? But we might need weapons of some kind. Sticks, guns?”

“If you think this plan will deliver us from this nightmare then I am all for it.”

“I am a man of military means,” Tobias states, “ But means mean little without the tools to enact them.”

“What do you need?”

“A gun might be a nice start. Hopefully we won’t run into anything that requires its use but I’d feel more comfortable having one.”

“We don’t have many but,” he reaches to his waist and retrieves his own gun, “here, have mine.” He gives him another round of ammo totaling his shot to 12.

“Thank you.”

Castor also says, “Thank you captain– oh how is the captain by the way?”

“Recovering. He has granted me control of the ship until he sees fit.”

“That-that’s good. I–I like you, you’re a good captain.”

Ivetta asks him too about the symbol and he says he has never seen the like. They say their goodnights and leave, turning in for the night.

The next day Ivetta and Castor venture to talk to Ms. Barber decidedly without Tobias’ company. They go to her room and knock. “Who is it?”

“It's–ah-ah–us.”

“Just a moment.” They feel something magical in the air and then she opens the door. “Oh, Ivetta, Castor. Please come in. I haven’t seen you in a while. It is good to see you.”

“And you. How-how are you doing?”

“You as well.” She pulls the door wide and lets them in. Her room is extravagant comparatively. She has a dresser, mirror, and a mattress. A monogrammed journal on the dresser, her name in gold. Large windows are open and white frilled curtains flutter in the breeze.

“Wow, your room is really nice,” Castor exclaims.

“Yeah, our room is not like this.”

“The perks for helping save the ship. I am sorry that you don’t have this.”

“It's–not a big deal. It’s just really nice. I'm glad you’re here. We came to get your opinion on our plan.”

“I appreciate being kept in the loop.”

“Of course, you’re the leader of the other magic–of course. Anyway, we talked to this priest below decks and he had visions of us saving the ship.”

“Visions?”

“Yes. He claims God showed him things, which is definitely possible as we have had similar experiences.”

“Magical visions of the future, hmm?”

“I don’t suppose you’ve had any of these?”

“I have dreams but I don’t believe they are visions.”

Ivetta says, “they very well could be.”

“They are of no relevance I am sure.”

“Nothing about the ocean or the cloud?”

“I have dreamt about the ocean and the cloud but they are not helpful.”

“Any creatures?” Castor asks. “A pit perhaps?”

“No.”

“Well, um, so he saw this vision and he saw us parting the sea like M-Moses.” She describes what he said in detail.

“You can do that?”

“I-I hope so it's kinda the crux of our plan.”

“You said this priest saw you moving into the cloud unharmed?”

“Yes. Protection from things like this has happened before so I believe it will again. We’ve been protected from evils in mist.”

“If your parting does not work are you going to go into the cloud?”

“I suppose so, yes. But I think–”

“I would like to join you.” She is resolute.

Ivetta blurts, “really?”

“I can do anything to help.”

Castor starts thinking out loud, “He saw just the three of us… but we might need someone to pull the rope back but there are the others…I don’t–see why not.”

“There’s also that other man aboard.”

“Lee?”

“Yes, the Chinaman.”

“Have you met him?”

“No but I have heard of him.”

“Would you like to? He is helping.”

“If he is then I will speak to the captain, find out where he is, and speak with him myself.”

“We’re thinking perhaps tomorrow. To try.”

“I will tell the others. As I said, I’d like to come with.”

“It will be dangerous but that is your decision.”

“I understand the risks.” Castor nods.

Ivetta says, “oh there's one other thing we’ve been seeing in visions. Maybe you might have seen it in your dreams. We don’t really know what it is but here it is.” She shows her the symbol on the paper.

Ms. Barber has no reaction, “no, I’ve never seen this before. What is it?”

“We were hoping you might have an idea.”

“Some sort of glyph perhaps?”

“What might it do if it were?”

“I don’t know. You came here and taught us glyphs.”

They come to a natural end in the conversation and the two young women take their leave. They drop in on Lee and inform him of the arrangement they made with the captain. He agrees and is completely fine with it. Next they return to Montezuma to ask more questions. After dancing aggravatingly around her questions Castor begs to know the answer to where he thinks the chati belong.

“Looking to protect yourself?” She doesn’t flinch.

“Do you know what the Mora vos Malus is?”

“Even if I did know…”

“I’m trying to help you.”

“All you’ve gotten me is visitation with Lee.”

“Which is more than sitting in this room.”

“I suppose. What is it you want to know about them?”

“What is their connection, if any, to the kaldien?”

“None. Other than they are, or once have been hunted.”

“Who hunted who?”

“This group you are referring to are a number of Proditor Confisus among them, which we hunted.”

“Those who use magic for their own gain,” Castor recalls.

Ivetta pauses a moment, “so if there was someone who went around putting people in, say, a mind prison, you would hunt them?”

“Yes.” Montezuma says simply. Ivetta noticeably softens, some of the tension she holds draining.

“So Malum has nothing to do with Mora vos Malus?”

“Malum?” Why do you speak of Malum?”

“Do-do you know who that is?”

“Do you?”

“I thought I did, but then you asked why I was talking about him so who do you think he is?”

“Malum is just one of the many figures I studied in my time, in my preparation for the job I carry out. A legendary figure of evil. A popular curse amongst my peers.”

“So when are you from?”

“What?”

“What year is it where you are from?”

“If I told you the year you would not understand.”

“Try us.” Both Ivetta and Castor say in unison. He shakes his head.

Ivetta asks, “so you don’t exclusively hunt chati. You also hunt Proditor Confisus?”

“Any who abuse magic.”

“Do you hunt all chati or just those who abuse magic?”

“I’m sorry, if you want more information out of me, I think you know the price.” He jangles his shackles.

“Well thank you for your answers. And if we don’t come back, I hope you have a good life.” She turns to leave but Ivetta hangs back. Castor gives her a look and whispers, “don’t hurt him.”

“I’m not going to.”

She whisper-shouts now, hopefully out of earshot of Montezuma, “I don’t know that! You two literally tortured a man while I was captured before!”

Ivetta looks slightly sheepish… “I saved him later…”

Castor faces Montezuma again, “thank you Montezuma for your help. Ah… goodbye.” She exits leaving Ivetta alone with him.

Ivetta walks closer to him, “if there is any chance you could help us defeat the person who did this to me,” She pulls her jerkin revealing the scar of the symbol on her chest. “Then I can’t fully consider you an enemy.”

“The one who did this to you is the same as trapped you in that prison?”

“Yes.”

“Then I am sure there is another kaldien on the case.” Ivetta looks slightly defeated.

“They haven't so far and she’s been chasing us for I don't know how long.” He remains silent to her comment.

He scoffs slightly, “You best see to your friend. She might be anxious alone.” Ivetta ignores the slight and leaves without another word.

They meet up again and then prepare the lifeboat for the next day. Castor casting a levitation glyph and tying the rope securely.

Tobias has spent his time reading Dante. But nothing in the poem speaks out. Yet upon reflection, the only way that someone could descend into hell like this, not being God himself, is if that person had spiritual protection. God was most likely watching over Dante as he went through the nine levels of hell.

Back together in the cabin, Castor insists they pray for their mission tomorrow to be successful. Tobias prays for divine favor.

The morning sees a light drizzle as all the characters gather on the aft deck. Murdock, Lee, Ms. Barber and the magical ladies are all there. The trio of Ivetta, Castor, and Tobias join them all. Ms. Barber stands by the rope, Lee and the magical ladies stand near the rope. Castor clarifies, “So we will lower the boat and try to part the water. If that doesn’t work we’ll let the boat go out and if we get into trouble and need to be pulled back we can signal…perhaps with fire? A flare?”

“We might still have rockets.”

“Perfect. We’ll light that if there’s a problem.” Murdock sends a man to fetch one. “Who is coming with?”

“I’m not letting you go out there alone,” Ivetta insists.

“You have me, Castor.” Ms. Barber states.

Father Tobias says, “I don’t know what good I’ll do, but I’ll be there.”

Castor looks at him, “You’ve got the gun–and the brains.” She turns to the group at large and attempts a rousing(?) speech. However, the chill wind dampens their spirits. “You’ve all been blessed with these magical powers. I know you’re scared–I’ll be honest I am too. But we have to try. Either we try or we fish for the rest of our days. Try or piece together the ship as it falls apart beneath our feet. We try here or we die here. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life running…” She looks forlorn for a moment before shaking herself. “I’m sure you all have family. Something, someone to get back to and for them, we have to try. Not only for us but for the 3000 souls. God granted us these powers, why else but to help in this situation? You all know how. Let’s see what we can do t-together.” (FUCKING CRIT FAILED ON THE ROLL THO)

Murdock comes up behind her and claps his hand on her shoulder, “well said Castor.” People smile and nod, probably with sympathy. She turns to Lee and stutters, “t-thanks for everything and good luck with Montezuma. Sorry- I-I talked your ear off.” He smiles slightly and gives a thoughtful nod.

Ms. Barber gets in the boat, followed by Castor and Ivetta. The man returns with the rocket,  shows them how to use it, and hands it to Tobias. He too gets in the boat.

They lower the boat. The glyph on the boat makes it slightly unstable and they have to move about to keep it balanced. They let out slack very slowly and it sinks slowly down in the air toward the water. The boat rocks, very wobbly but it doesn’t tip. They are close to the water now. The ship is now a fair distance away. Ocean stretches around them, wide open space all around, the cloud looming in front of them.

Castor holds up her hands, preparing to try parting the water. Ms. Ellen Barber joins her. They manage to push down around twelve feet. But their concentration cannot hold and it fills back in. Chilled to the bone, the boat rocks again, this time Castor has to dodge to the other side of the boat to keep it from flipping. “What do we do?” The soaked Ms. Barber shouts over the noise of the turbulent water.

“Try again!” They manage to push slightly deeper but it fills in once more.

Tobias, trying to keep his balance, spots a massive black silhouette moving beneath them. He pulls his gun and shouts, “There's something in the water!” The boat shakes again.

“What is it?!” Shouts Ellen.

“I don’t know, I’m from Austria! We don't even have a coast!” A deep groan emanates from the water. Terrified, Ivetta begins casting cold resistance and underwater breathing on herself in case they capsize. She starts casting the same on everyone else starting with Castor, in her nervousness she fails.

They hear something emerge from the water, dripping water. Each turns their head in the direction of the ship to see a massive black tendril rising out of the water getting taller and taller, dwarfing their small vessel. The groan sounds again. It wavers there a moment then, like a gigantic tree, falls back toward the water and onto the rope that tethers them to the ship. Water splashes everywhere, huge waves come toward them. The rope is severed and water surges into the boat, nearly capsizing it. They do not go under and slowly come to a stop, adrift in the ocean, surrounded by an eerie silence.

Castor sits facing the ship that quickly fades into the distance and pushes with wind. This successfully propels the boat toward the cloud. Ms. Barber asks, “Castor, what are you doing? Why are we going towards the cloud?”

“We have to keep moving and there’s no way we can catch up to the ship again.”

“Let me help you.” She sits next to her and they push themselves into the cloud. Ivetta successfully casts cold resistance on Castor and Tobias.

They are enveloped by the cloud. Darkness, fog, and utter silence surrounds them, pressing in. They don’t hear the sounds of the sea, the wind, the crashing of waves. They hear the beating of their hearts and their own labored breathing. Castor lights an orb and holds it aloft. For a brief moment it hovers above her hand until suddenly it gets pulled away through the fog. On its journey away, it illuminates shadows emerging from the water, moving ominously in the fog: tendrils swaying. The hazy light fizzles out leaving them in darkness once more.

Ivetta splays her hands next to Ms. Barber. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to cast cold resistance on you.”

“Please, do it quickly.” The spell fails and she tries again. “Have you done it?”

“Not quite.”

From within the fog they hear something emerge from the water. Then another. And another. And several hundred more. Tobias readies his gun. Castor and Ivetta cast shield on themselves. They see the tendrils now, surrounding the boat. It moves through the glassy, black water of its own volition, very very slowly.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Castor reaches out to touch one of the tendrils.

They all simultaneously lunge at the boat. Castor reals back and tries to push them away with magic. Ivetta covers her face, screaming. Ms. Barber aims a slicing spell at them but her spell does nothing. They all recover from their shock to find none of the tendrils able to reach them. The entirety of the boat, in a sphere around them, is protected. The tendrils writhe and slime on the outside of this magical barrier but they cannot reach them. They cover the entire sphere.

Castor’s brand sears with pain. But she ignores it moving to the edge of the boat. She asks Ivetta to cast underwater breathing on her. She acquiesces trying several times before succeeding. Castor unties the rope from the back of the boat and ties it around her waist before she gets in the water, casting another light orb (this time it stays with her).

Ms. Barber exclaims, “Castor where are you going? What are you doing!?”

“We’re not going to find anything out here. It’s below us.” Ms. Barber looks absolutely mortified. Before nodding frantically. “Do you remember that vision I told you about? These tendrils are on a tree-like thing and whatever it is it is over a pit and under the water so I–I’m going to see it. If I can.” She hands them the other end of the rope, “I’ll tug on this if I need help. And-ah- I’ll be back. P-probably.” She gives them a tiny, unsure smile, takes a deep breath and dives under.

Under the water she swims downward. The tendrils surround her, still held back by the bubble. Same as the above water, they write about her. She tries to push them away with magic but they do not react. She swims around trying to get to a place where the tendrils leave her alone. After about 4 minutes she gives up. She pokes at the tendrils again, this time with the sharp end of her cross, what with being unarmed. Instead of poking fleshy tendril, she hits what feels like glass, scraping the sphere. Tempting fate, she taps the cross a couple more times but nothing happens. Her lungs start to burn, needing oxygen, so she pulls herself back to the boat through the darkness with the rope.

Castor emerges from the water and gasps for breath. She whips the wet hair from her face and hauls herself up, back onto the boat she sits dripping. She coughs and says, “those tendrils were everywhere. I couldn’t see anything. Just them all over the bubble.”

“It was worth a shot.” Ivetta mother-hens a bit and checks to make sure she’s uninjured.

Politely pushing her off she chuckles slightly, “I’m–I’m fine, Ivetta.” She turns to Tobias, “probably don’t fire at them though. I tried to jab at them but it just scraped off the bubble like-like glass.”

“Could that have been the dome from your vision?” Ivetta asks.

“I don’t know. Don’t think so it was underwater protecting the pit.”

The tendrils try to get at them still. They don’t stop moving and slithering over each other on the glass. They’re organic, slimy and muscley dripping and leaving residue of their slime on the glass. They can see their internal parts, shades of black. (I asked if they had suckers. DM said no but Josh said they seem to have four suckers stuck in this bubble right here)

Castor tries to push them forward with wind again but the speed of the boat doesn’t change. It continues gliding slowly through the still water. Tobias comments, “I think we’re being drawn to a specific point.”

They resign themselves to wait to see where the boat takes them. They sit and wait for an hour, then two, five, twelve. The tendrils are still there. They sit In the boat for a day and the tendrils remain. Castor tries to light a fire in her palm, perhaps to scare them but they do not react. Tobias suggests they try parting the sea here. Castor agrees. She and Ms. Barber push a very large chunk of water away. They can see the bottom of their shield, the tendrils writhing down there. The boat moves toward the shield.

“Maybe this isn’t the spot.” Tobias says. They release the water back and wait another day. By this time they are quite hungry and extremely thirsty. They know that if they don’t find water today, they will perish.

The tendrils begin to dissipate. Fewer and fewer vie for their target. By midday half are gone. Another hour passes and they all retreat into the water. The fog still stands around them but now an ambient red glow fills it. A huge silhouette above the water moves rapidly toward them.

Their boat bumps into it. The metal object clangs. Castor knocks on it, it echos. Too close to the thing to see it all but they believe it to be a boat. They slide to one side and along it. Castor spots a rope ladder down the side. Tobias grabs it and holds it steady. Castor goes up first. Ivetta just behind. Ellen follows and Tobias ties the boat to the ladder and follows them up.

Black spores rot the wood of the deck. Mist and fog cover the deck, hiding things within. Everything, save the deck is clearly made of metal. Ivetta holds her fishbone weapon in her hand, ready to strike and Castor detects magic.

The majority of things around them glow purple and yellow with magic. The black spores, the cloud, the red light, what lies below the water, so many things glow. Castor calls, “hello?” but receives no reply.

Ellen arrives, Tobias on her heels. One of the first things he notices is a huge cylinder with another right beside. He investigates finding them to be the largest canons he’s ever seen. He searches for the wheelhouse. “The ship looks abandoned, but it looks to be a warship. Be careful.” Tobais calls to the others.

Walking left they find a huge metal structure in the center. In the dank dark they can barely make out a staircase, up and down. Castor lights a light ball, he begins heading downward but the others convince her to go up instead. They head up, finding open doors leading to darkened decks. Three or four stories up there is a wheelhouse. Inside a large steel wheel, before it is a desk with buttons and mechanical things they don’t know what to make of. Here too is the black, mold-like spores covering the walls and ceiling. Tobias looks at the instruments to glean any sort of information. Ivetta looks around for any sign of people. She finds uniforms hanging, hats with a symbol emblazoned on it. Ivetta calls Father Tobias over to see if he knows what this could be. Tobias uses his heraldry skills to discern. It’s similar to things he knows but sees specific differences he doesn’t recognize. It is similar to Brandenburg.

He says, “It looks German, North German. Not exactly sure as to its nature but that’s not entirely surprising.”

Ms. Barber interjects, “Can we find some food? I don’t like this place. I’d like to get out of here as soon as we can.”

“I agree. If we could find a map…” Castor shuffles around and looks for any sort of schematic or plan of the ship. She finds the blueprints but they’re written in German. She asks Tobias to translate. “Do you see some sort of kitchen or mess hall?” He finds the ship has a great number of batteries. But he finds a mess hall and they head off toward it.

The group descends through pitch black ship, creaking and groaning. A stench greets them as they enter the mess hall. Castor, unaffected, continues into the darkened mess hall. She’s halted by Ivetta’s gag at the stench. She turns around to face them, “What? What’s wrong?”

“It-it stinks of rot.” Castor pales, stiffening in fear of what that might be.

“I-I-I hope it’s not…b–b-bodies…” she turns woodenly, crossing herself.

Strewn on counters and tables are trays of very old, rotting food. She sags in relief and they each begin searching for any food that is viable. Ivetta finds canned food, a strange symbol on it. German writing describes what it contains. They find beans and some meats, fruits and most importantly, water. They find enough provisions to last for the next few months. They find bags to bring along with them. Ivetta instructs them not to chug the water but drink it slowly so as not to become sick. They all nod and follow her advice.

They search for weapons. The armory door is locked, as is the engineering. They make make-shift spears from things like curtain rods.

They search the captain's quarters. In it there looks to have been a ruckus. Papers and furniture are strewn about. Tobias takes a look in the log book but the last entry is unhelpful. At sea, used this much fuel, at this heading, standing orders to patrol. There is no mention of cloud.

On the plans they find the name of the ship: *Bismark*. Tobias notes the years on the log– 1939.

Ivetta finds a pipe and tobacco leaves on the floor but finds nothing more of significance.

Tobias searches the few other officer’s rooms and finds in one, one of the windows is cracked. A small hole in it. Something is peeking out from under the bed. He investigates further and finds the object of metal, some vague sort of weapon. It seems to be a gun but it's unlike any he’s encountered. It is long and has a narrow rectangle jutting out of the center (it's an MP40). The trigger end looks familiar but the narrow barrel is odd. But he takes it, intent to learn how to use it.

After about an hour of searching the ship they've explored it to its fullest and head out. Ms. Barber is the first to climb down and stand in the boat, Castor behind her. Castor looks down before stepping in and sees the black mold absolutely  covering the wood of the boat. She cries “Ms. Barber! Get out of the boat!” and climbs up so Ellen can get out. The latter has a puzzled look on her face and then she sees it. She scrambles to get out, clawing up the ladder in her haste.

The boat is covered in black, tar like goo. The spores have spread. Though they are darker in color than that on the ship which is gray. Ivetta scrapes a sample of it up with a spear to see if it is poisonous. Ms. Barber is freakin’ out. Castor tries to shake a canvas off to see if the mold can come off. She drops the first canvas but tries again. None comes off.

Castor tries to dispel magic on their dingy. She reaches out, feeling with her magic try to pull it off. It resists, though: it doesn't want to give. Finally the goo budges, she pulls it off. It immediately catches fire. Reacting to that she pulls some water from the sea to douse it, leaving the boat singed but seaworthy. The sharp stench of atmosphere surrounds the boat.

In the fog, they hear the groan again, emanating from toward the red light. Castor begins climbing down the ladder. “We should go.”

“What? Why are we getting off?”

Tobias says, “Ms. Barber, we just spent six months on the Titanic. We can’t man a ship of similar size with just the four of us. Do you wish to stay another six here?”

“No-no…”

Ivetta insists, “We have to leave. The only way out of here is if we do something.”

They get back on the boat and drift through the fog for a week, though it is hard to tell in the omnipresent darkness. This journey is more pleasant what with having food and water. Castor periodically dives to try to see the tree yet it is always pitch black even though the tentacles are gone. They take shifts, two keeping watch at a time. In this week, they’ve seen no tentacles. The red light becomes dimmer as they get closer to it. They float without seeing anything until at last through the fog a black shape sticks up out of the water.

They get a little closer and the silhouette becomes more clear. Not the same kind of ship as before. This one is wooden, its sails torn. A carved, worn figurehead at the bow. Black spores cover this ship too, so far as they can see. As they skim along the side they see no name and it passes a lot quicker than before. Ivetta grabs the ladder before it goes too far.

Tobias says. “Seems closer to my time but still seems strange. The mold seems to have taken this ship as well, we should make this visit a short one.”

Ivetta , Tobias, and Ms. Barber go aboard. Castor stays on the ship and keeps mold at bay.

The deck is similar to that of the Queen Anne in design. The deck is in disarray, looks like there's been a scuffle. Breaks, cracks, holes, tears everywhere. Cannon balls are strewn about, no longer rolling about. The door to the captain’s quarters is shattered. Ms. Barber gets on and looks weirded out, “this looks ancient, what is this?”

“Looks modern enough to me.” Tobias quips.

“What?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“This ship must be hundreds of years old. What is it doing here?”

Ivetta says, “what are any of these ships doing here. We should to look for supplies.” She searches and finds herbs and the captain's log. It’s written in a strange language but the year is something 24, 1794. Tobias takes a look and finds some words that stand out: HMS Ferdinand, and Cortez. Tobias recognizes the heraldry as Spanish. He also finds a beautiful golden cross on the table. They leave the cabin. Ivetta lights a ball and dips down the stairs, Tobias on her tail.

If above decks was disheveled, below decks is ravaged. Ivetta sees huge spherical holes jabbed in the side of the ship. 15 holes, the mold surrounding the openings quivver in gelatinous piles. Fear shoots through her body, “We need to leave, now!”

She runs back up the stairs just reaching Father Tobias before everything goes black. He reaches out and snatches her as she passes out before she falls back down the stairs. He catches her up in his arms and runs onto the deck. “Ms Barber!” he calls. He receives no answer. He rushes to the side of the boat and calls to Castor, “Can you catch Ivetta?”

Catching Castor off guard she shouts back, “What– what happened?!”

“I think it’s the mold.” Tobias holds her over the side above the boat and waits a moment before she tosses her down. Castor catches her with magic, laying her in the boat.

They hear multiple things come out of the water. “Ms. Barber, if you can hear me, we really need to leave!” He casts his gaze about the dark deck but doesn’t see her. Right before he leaves, the deck he lights the rocket and aims it at the captain’s cabin. Slowly the cabin catches and the blaze lights the area. He climbs down the ladder.

Castor lights a ball and finds Ivetta’s skin being covered with the black goo. Terrified, she immediately dispels magic and her skin clears. Tobias joins her in the boat and moves to bring the dingy about to the other side.

A large splash echoes from the other side of the ship, the noise quickly dissipating. Castor uses two spears to stab the side of the ship and pull their boat to the bow and along the other side.

Around the side they see the punctured hull and a lot of splashing, a woman being pulled under the water.

“Ms. Barber!,” Castor pulls her up with magic but she feels resistance- like something is pulling back. But she keeps pulling and gets her on the ship. Tentacles lash her arms and legs but as she pulls her they hit the barrier and wiggle on the surface trying to reach their prey.

Ellen is unconscious and her skin is slowly graying under the black goo. Castor almost gets all the black goo off but some remains on her cheek. It sits in a patch, tiny tendrils wiggling under her skin trying to spread. Dispelling magic again, it clears fully but concerningly, she does not awaken. More tendrils latch on to their mystical barrier but they leave a hole at the top letting the red light shine in.

Tobias rouses Ivetta; she coughs and hacks, feeling like shit. Ms. Barber does not wake up with the same efforts but her breathing sounds okay.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Castor questions her, fearful.

"What happened?" Ivetta parrots back.

"We went down into the hold and there was more mold. You got a bigger wiff and passed out." Tobias supplies.

"That black goo– it was all over you but I got it off." Castor says, Ivetta's eyes widen and she hurriedly brushes herself off.

"I think we should refrain from more ship visits." Tobias suggests. They all agree.

"The tentacles punched holes in the ship."

"Makes sense. The crew of the Ferdinand was attacked, we could see the damage. But the Bismark was big enough as a ship. They could have retreated. They would have had time to write something but there was no alarm in the log."

Of a sudden, the boat drops out from under them, some water rushes in. They catch up to it in a tangle of limbs and elbows. "What was-" Castor begins but they're all jerked down again, more violently.

A mighty groan echoes around them. All at once the tentacles disappear from their swarming the bubble. The red light surrounds them now, no single source can be found. All falls still.

They right themselves again, staring around trying to see anything moving in the eerie silence.

Ivetta, Tobias, and Castor, who desperately holds onto Ms. Barber, are off balanced as they’re thrown into the air. A massive something pushes the boat up out of the water. The force sends Tobias and Ivetta crashing up into the glass shield surrounding the boat. Only Castor manages to hold on as she hears the crunch of their impact and then the thud of their unconscious bodies falling beside her. She catches a glimpse of the fog once more before the bubble is yanked down under the water.

Tiny tentacles scraggle up the bubbles surface, some manage to get in. Blackness surrounds them. Pulled downward. Castor is left alone holding on for dear life for many minutes. She lets go to raise a light and force the tiny tendrils back out of the shield.

Growing brighter and brighter, a white light glows in the distance behind what appears to be the trunk of a giant tree. One of its massive tendrils pulls the bubble down. They hit the seafloor so hard the boat shatters beneath them. Castor is thrown off her feet again. Sand billows behind them as their bubble is further dragged by the tendril. They pass huge, sheer rocks and see a weird metallic object covered with that black goo.

About 600 ft from the gigantic tree looming in the distance, Castor spots a cave. Seeing no other option to stop themselves getting dragged to the tree she heaves with all her magical might and just barely pushes their bubble, only just managing to roll it into the cave. Behind them, the mouth closes.

TBC

Episode Thirty: Base Instinct