The Undertow: Session Fourteen

Mikansia: the main character, a female elf played by Lena. She recently returned from Kotae Mah, where she had tried to return Jabez's sword to his father, Santeri. Santeri told her to keep the sword.

Nomi: A former dark elf who had been redeemed by Marian, the Countess of Fire. She now travels with a dark dragon named Fish. They work for the Sword Runners, along with Mikansia and Akseli.

Those That Sailed: A group of humans who had traveled to the Island of Eternal Youth.

The Creature from Dream: 

Mikansia woke up in her little cottage, rolled over, and reached for Jabez's sword, which she kept right next to her bed, like she did every morning.

The sword wasn't there.

Mikansia was up in a flash. The rest of her small cottage was untouched. Even the fancier sword, made by Ensio and Decima, that she had as a backup was still there. The windows were intact, the door locked as it had been when she went to bed. No one else was in the cottage. They'd just come for Jabez's sword. That made it personal.

Mikansia opened the door and strode out into the compound. The Sword Runners had set up shop on a mountain in the southern reaches of the Etranger Mountains, many hundreds of miles south of Elfharrow and the North, practically within sight of the cursed lands of the former Herculean Empire. Humans came from far and wide to get elven-quality weapons for their own private enterprises. To Mikansia's right was Fish and Nomi, who were just waking up. They always slept outside, regardless of the weather. Nomi kept warm by snuggling into Fishy's scaly hide. Fish slept because Nomi was there. Mikansia was a bit suspicious, wondering if Nomi had stolen the sword, but not enough to act on it.

To Mikansia's left was the forge, where Akseli was standing guard. He, Nomi, and Mikansia took turns guarding the forge and it had been Akseli's turn that night. Mikansia walked up to him and Akseli smiled warmly at her. Mikansia told Akseli that someone had stolen Jabez's sword. Akseli was shocked; who would do something like that?? Mikansia said she had no idea, but she wanted to know if Akseli had seen anything that night. Akseli told her that Ember, Dale's wife, had been up and heading somewhere, only to be harassed by two of the newer guests. Dale had come out of nowhere and knocked a few teeth out. They fled. Mikansia asked if he could go to the gate and make sure nobody got out without being searched. Akseli said he would and he heartily recommended talking to Ensio and Decima, who were in the forge, doing their work.

Ensio was an elven forgemaster who could no longer abide the seclusion of elven society from the planet. He'd come down to help spread elven smithing. He met Decima, a native of the Argentum Empire, and the two had fallen head over heels for each other. In order to be with Ensio Decima became a member of Those That Sailed, going to the Island of Eternal Youth. Now immortal, they settled down atop their mountain and began spreading elven weapons and art as far as they could. Decima became an accomplished smith in her own right, rivaling Ensio's talents. Their son Dale, when he grown older, began to take care of their airship, and was currently sixteen.

Mikansia stepped into the forge to find the two, hard at work. When she got their attention Ensio and Decima greeted her with a smile. Their smile dropped when Mikansia told them someone had broken into her cottage and relocked it as they left. That meant someone had a key that only Ensio, Decima, and Dale had. Decima hurried to lock down the compound. Ensio went with Mikansia back to her cabin, just to search the place again.

Nothing had changed. Ensio was really concerned. It wasn't that he hadn't believed Mikansia, but any claim that severe required another set of elven eyes, because you know...

Decima all of a sudden asked what elven eyes were better at then humans. Ensio jumped; Decima had come back a lot sooner than they anticipated! Mikansia smiled, despite herself. As they walked out to investigate the three guest longhouses Decima continued asking what elves were better at. Ensio tried to dodge the question again, but Decima persisted. Sighing, Ensio told her elven eyes were better at checking out Decima's fine ass. Decima nodded in agreement. Mikansia only managed a grim smile.

They turned the first longhouse inside-out. The guests complained, particularly two very grumpy men. Mikansia was not very kind in response, to the point to where a riot began to build. The guests streamed out of the longhouse and began to make  a ruckus, causing everyone else to come out and see what was going on. There was no sword in this longhouse. Nor was there a key.  Ensio started calming down the building mob while Mikansia and Decima hurredly checked the other two longhouses. Still nothing.

The gates were now locked. Fish and Nomi were now in front of them, taking a nap. Nomi was sprawled atop Fish, looking quite comfortable. Akseli had gone to bed, as the compound was secure and he'd been up all night. Mikansia didn't want to suspect Nomi, but the doubt was growing in the back of her mind.

Mikansia went to talk to Ember, Dale's wife. Ember usually wasn't up at three in the morning. She had shown up at the mountain a few years ago, a little girl running from something awful in the Fer Kingdoms. Quiet and shy, Ember couldn't help but jump whenever a man shouted. Even Dale, who loved her quite, tenderly, had to restrain his voice around her. So Ember became the cook of the compound, as it was a place that was secluded from the hustle and bustle of the compound.  Now they had a three year old daughter, Simone. Who was running toward Mikansia now, something in her little brown fist. Throwing her arms around Mikansia, Simone beamed up at her and told her that she had brought Mikansia a present!

It was a fistful of dough.

Simone was so proud.

Mikansia couldn't help but smile, genuinely, for the first time since waking up. Simone ran off. Apparently she was supposed to be helping her mother with something.

The kitchen was a wreck. Ember was busily picking up the unbaked contents of a nearby overturned cart. Mikansia helped Ember clean up a bit. Simone had been trying to wheel the cart over to Ember ("Mama dough ready! MAMA NEED HELP!") but had accidentally knocked the cart over with a crazy turn. Ember smiled in exasperation.

Mikansia asked Ember about being accosted last night. Ember said she had gotten up to use the outhouse, only to have two of the newer guests come up behind her and pinch her butt. After a minute of being bothered Dale had shown up and literally knocked teeth out of the two men who had been harassing her. Ember didn't think they'd taken Dale's keys when Mikansia brought that up, but Dale would have to be asked about that specifically.

Dale was working on the flying ship, doing routine maintenance. Mikansia asked about the previous night. Dale was nervous. His timeline of events didn't line up with Ember's. So Mikansia asked again. Dale repeated his story, but a bit louder. Mikansia grabbed the key ring off of his belt. Her key was missing. Dale tried to fake surprise. Mikansia dragged him to Decima, who was surprised her son could do such a thing. Dale said the scaly feathered one he'd been meeting in his dreams said it knew Mikansia and that it needed Jabez's sword.

Mikansia's jaw dropped.