Deep Pockets

## **Synopsis**

In Chapter 92: Deep Pockets, Graven stepped aboard the Samincha with great apprehension – not knowing how his presence would be received or if he'd get any of the information he'd been desperately searching for regarding his family or the Chimera in Finlock Forest.

As it turned out, Booraj had not led Graven astray and Villepont Willoughby's intel was sound.  Not only was Pockets an Operative Emissary, he'd specifically facilitated the transaction between Lady Sengri'la and the Shade Assembly – whereupon they agreed to keep the three-headed monstrosity in holding for an unspecified amount of time.

It became clear that somehow Sengri'la was cognizant of Q'usni's final request – and that she hoped by corralling the beast she'd be giving Graven a fighting chance at fulfilling his obligations.  Housing a Chimera, however, came at an exorbitant monetary cost – a debt that Sengri'la, Booraj and others had done their best to curtail as the years went on but was now overdue… putting the creature's continued imprisonment at risk.

All of this was good to know, but Pockets saved his biggest revelation for last: that he was, in fact, married to Sengri'la – and that he'd promised to sneak Graven into the Shade Assembly for no other reason than love for his wife, who he hoped to free from a lifelong obsession with locating her lost brother.

Because of his current commitment aboard the "Favor Ferry" – Pockets wouldn't be able to escort us for another two weeks, which would hopefully give us enough time to complete Khlyff Ironcloud's quest in the Rapra Mountains and gain some much-needed experience fighting with the new abilities we'd acquired during our stay in Navika-Pura.

Speaking of new abilities, Safira narrowly avoided an awkward conversation in Na-Upa on her way to Sarn Darrow's training grounds – where she hoped to get another shot at transferring the spirits to her preferred weapon.  After a brief discussion about Vane mo-Hakra's departure from the accelerated program – Sarn led us down to his indoor pool where we began a modified version of the same spectral vision from before.

This time, with improved clarity and better control over her protective sphere, Safira danced her wolf spirit between the shadows – using stealth when she could and then turning to warding beams from her bow when her enemies closed in around her.  Just as the sphere was flickering out of existence, Safira arrived at her destination and spoke the elven prayer that allowed the spirits to bridge the gap between her chosen weapons.

Back at Battle-Ready, Safira marveled at the new markings that had appeared in the wood – and said goodbye for now to an almost giddy Sarn Darrow, who still had more to teach if we could spare the time to learn.

Whether we'd have that luxury was up for debate, however, as there was plenty left to do… including figuring out how to approach the Marvyn Bishop situation.  In Na-Garwas, Erland used the Mailhouse to dispatch a note with a time and place to meet – then high-tailed it to the run-down neighborhood of Lipatro where he hoped to talk reason into his newfound nemesis, Shekar.

As with his booby-trapped parcel, however, Shekar was not physically present – and had paid off a few desperate individuals to stage an ambush involving hot oil poured from the rooftops.  Erland stuck around long past his welcome to try and get a message to Shekar, but the citizens of Lipatro had nothing to offer except threatening words and leering glances – making the situation precarious enough that a prompt exit into the river seemed the best course of action.

With all of the action happening in Na-Upa, it was a refreshing afternoon rise at All Hands on Deck for Orba – who poked around the bar with Graven after he'd returned from the Tall Ports.  In addition to some lucrative gambling with the local longshoremen, we acquired some Mycrawl from Hatchet and reconnected with the Advocates – who generously provided a stipend for supplies.

Things were starting to come together for our trip north.

## Trivia

* Natural one count: three natural ones were rolled in this Chapter. 1 by Matt, and 2 by John.