Before We Go.

The portal stood before them. A circular glyph of arcane scrawling.

Virgil halted a few feet before walking into the teleportation ring, Turning turning to face his companions.

"Guys, wait a moment," he said, holding up a hand. "I've got no idea what is beyond that portal, but I just wanted to say that traveling with you all has made me feel like we can achieve the impossible."
The faces look back on him all read differently.
Ulfgar's proud knowing face. The voice of reason, the rock of conscience.
Stedd wore his grim demeanour, eyes darting here and there watching for any slight movement or imminent danger. Virgil could see the weight of decision and consequence upon his face. He knew Stedd was fighting a guilt from a decision that had nearly cost the lives of his friends.
Lirra, leaned against her great spear, calm and relaxed. The confidence she showed, it empowered them. Virgil knew this to be fact.
Virgil looked to Obcaeco. The girl blinded literally by her faith and lineage. Half angel, half human. The one who sees much, and sees no more. 
She smiled when Virgil's gaze fell upon her. It was a kind, warm smile. A smile of one who is fighting a battle within, yet shows none of it to those around them.

"Ulfgar," Virgil said breaking from his inner thoughts. "How about a prayer before we leave?

Virgil took a knee in front of the armoured dwarf.
Stedd was first to kneel with Virgil, then Obcaeco, and Lirra as Ulfgar looked upon those before him for the briefest moment before he began. 

"Family comes to us in times of need," his words and tone fatherly and warm. "It is not the family of lineage, but the family that is forged in times of strife and struggle." Ulfgar closed his eyes, a hand hovering above the heads of these brave folk before him. 

"Mother Truesilver, I call to you now. 

To look upon us in this time of strife.

Let this family be forever watched over. 

Let their faith in each other strengthen them. 

Let their courage be bolstered in times of fear.

Let no force break their bonds to one another."

There was a pause. Only the dripping of the water in the adjacent caverns could be heard. 

"Ye can stand up now," Ulfgar chuckled. "We got work to do."

 

Together they rose, as Virgil took a deep, steadying breath.

"Alright," He said, drawing Thorn giving it a customary look over. The cool green crystal housed within the core of the device pulsed slowly at his touch, reassuring him of it's readiness.

"Let's get this done."

All In

Books, Lots of Books.

Virgil took a moment to reflect on the feat he had achieved. He currently stood in an ornate library, within a hidden castle, surrounded by an enemy force that he now controlled.

He couldn't help but grin at this.
With but a few augmented words he had turned ally against ally and overthrown a major enemy stronghold.

The powers that Neifion had given him felt godlike and for the first time he could remember, he felt like he was doing good. Something that his parents would be proud of.

Deception, gambling and exploitation were all things he used for personal gain. Never for a moment did he think his talents could be used in this way.

He had killed. Again. As the grin evaporated from his face, he recounted the fight against the commander of this castle, the cold calculating elf and his cultist guards. He had almost discounted it considering the whirl of events that followed.
He'd also sent his enemies into a trap, a trap in the form of dozens of lizard folk spears and teeth, to be torn apart in an ambush.
Virgil put the books down he was stacking onto a nearby pile and took out his own journal and lay it atop a chest high column of invaluable volumes of what appeared to contain information about the stars. "Henry's gonna have kittens when he sees these." He mused before focusing back to the blank page of the magical tome.

Castle Neyartar is under our control.
Coerced local lizard folk tribe to turn against current cultist regime and assist in coup.
Lizard folk still believe that we are cultists. We have taken no prisoners to ensure our cover remains in tact. Using this to our advantage.
Cultist presence in castle has been removed. Dispatched majority of Cultist forces through deception, ambush and confusion.

He lowered his pen, allowing the words to seep into his magical journal, before adding.

Was this the correct course of action?

This last question wasn't an easy one to write.
He understood Neifion was concerned with bringing balance, restoring the natural order of things but had he achieved this here?

He thought back further to the chain of events to date. He turned his memory to what these cultists were capable of in Greenest. People slaughtered on the streets. Families torn apart. He'd seen dozens die that night. He'd witnessed the power they would bring to bare against defenceless folk.

Grim faced and resolute, Virgil closed the journal and returned it to his satchel before a reply even arrived.

Yes, he was doing the right thing.
The balance will be restored.

Child of The Sea

Cove stuffed her belongings into her backpack. Some salted meat and dried fruit were bundled in along with a other items she deemed necessary.

Lastly, Cove paused and looked to the polished oak table and the sole occupant upon it. 
A small, dirty, threadbare doll that was missing an eye looked back at her lovingly. She had an arm that had been mended several times and meticulously plaited black woollen hair. Her dress was blue, like Cove's skin and had a beautiful, albeit dirty pattern that reminded her of the ocean around it's hem.

This she placed in her pack last, carefully so as not to upset her.
The ridiculousness of this wasn't lost on Cove as she tucked her in, chuckling lovingly. She was 17 years old now and knew playing with dolls should be beyond her.
But Tilda was her oldest family member.

 She donned her fur lined leather coat and swung her laden pack onto her shoulders before opening the door to the small but comfortable cabin that was her home.
As she climbed the few steps on to the deck of The Osprey she was met with the entirety of her family waiting for her, standing to attention. Thirty two sea tested men and women that made up The Osprey's crew. She noted some of them were glassy eyed. Others were doing their best to smile bravely.

Two figures above all else caught her attention after the initial surprise faded and was replaced with near overwhelming love that she fought to contain, lest she weep openly.

Her Fathers. The Captains of the Osprey.

"Look at our girl, ready to leave us on the next leg of her voyage." The man to her left said said stepping forward, arms out in front as if presenting her to the crew. Denon's face wore the experience of thousands of days of seafaring. It was hard to say how old he was for his skin was like leather yet his vibrant and jovial nature eluded to a much younger man. His coat was pressed and it's buttons polished he wore his thick, auburn hair in a tail that was clasped in an ornate silvery loop. His smile was wide and Cove could feel the pride he felt for her. It was almost tangible, like a blanket she could wrap around herself that would keep her warm and safe.

Denon stood next to her, before her other father, Renyar, moved forward. He too wore his pressed jacket with a tricorn hat that covered his bald head.
"Such eagerness, yet so ill equipped!" He quipped in a loud voice, before standing to her right and faced the crew, "just like our dear Cove to rush into the thick of it." Reyner added, his smile beaming.

Cove looked up at the two men with such adoration in her heart that she could feel the tears welling almost to bursting.  As the crew laughed an all knowing laugh the tension broke and she felt her blue skin flush. She sheepishly joined them, laughing at the misadventures and trouble she had made for them over the years. Her eyes turned down as she blushed before Denon's voice brought the crew's attention back to him.
"Before we let you leave, you will stand before us all and be held accountable for your actions." Cove gulped nervously at these words as it was the same words used to discipline the crew when a grievance was brought to her fathers. She wasn't in trouble again? Was she?

Raynor, as if on queue added, "Who among you who wish to bring your words to bare, do so now."

Cove held her breath, not sure now of what was about to happen. Her fathers could hide their emotions well behind their commanding presence. 

"I will speak," came a voice from the crew, the accent thick and distinctive that Cove knew the voice belonged to Wilten, the ships Carpenter. He was an ox of a man. A powerful frame that housed the experience a skilled artisan. In his hands he carried a long  object, wrapped in sail canvass. 

"Wilten, attest now to Cove's actions." Denon commanded. Wilton nodded, not meeting Cove's eyes. Quiet settled over the crew. Even the lapping of the sea seemed to stop.

"I've seen my share of storms over the years and I've lost people to them." This last part he said with a tone of deference. "So on that night when I went over in that storm, I thought that was it for me." He paused a moment, sniffed again before looking up. 

"Then you were there," His voice quivered slightly as he fought to keep his emotions in check. His head tilted and she could see the smile behind his bushy salt and pepper beard. "Our little water sprite." 

Cove couldn't resist any longer. She dropped her pack to the deck and ran forward sobbing. Wilton took a knee as she approached and she kept into him, Wilton's bear like arm wrapped around her tightly. 

Raynor and Denon looked on smiling as the Crew burst into cheers. A moment passed Wilton gently moved Cove back a step, still keeping to a knee. 

"Cove was able to ferry my lumbering arse back to The Osprey. I have no doubt I'd be fish food if not for her." He stated loudly as he began to unwrap the long object. He spoke to Cove now, excitement in his words.

"After the damage we took a few months back on the topsail yard, I got the idea to make you something from the timbers,"  Wilton produced a beautifully carved and polished staff from the canvass wrap. "Ive seen you training with the mops and I asked your dads if I could make you this." He turned it in his hands and Cove saw that Wilton had planed it on six sides, and carved images of ospreys into the centre. Beautiful flowing patterns ran the length of the staff, each end capped in polished steel. He presented it to her and she gingerly accepted it. She could feel the carvings under her fingers. The polished wood felt familiar. 

Yes, this was most certainly a part of The Osprey. 

"You saved me, no doubt about it." Wilton added, "I'll always be in your debt, Little Sprite."

He stood and turned quickly, joining the crew again before they both potentially broke down again. "Thank you Wilt!" She shouted to the bear of a man. She watched as the crew around him patted him on the back roughly and ruffle his hair.

Cove took a few steps back as Raynor's voice asked again who would speak. 

A woman this time stepped forward, a woman with pale skin and flowing markings across her face, her hair swirled loosely of its own accord. Zephyn was an Air Genasi, the Ospreys Navigator and Cove's mentor in Martial Arts. 

"Zephyn, attest now to Cove's actions." Stated Denon. 

 Zephyn stood forward and pointed to Cove making a series of gestures with her hands that Cove understood and turned to her fathers. "I will speak her words." She said as Zephyn nodded her approval to her captains. 

Zephyn began, her hands moving intricately. And Cove began to speak.

"Cove came to us when she was but a child. Removed from a life that would have been one of horror for her. This life was known to me and I'll be forever grateful to our captains for their compassion."

Zephyn stopped briefly before bowing curtly to both captains with a hand on her heart before she began again. Cove continued to interpret. 

"In her time here she has been a beacon of light that has helped guide this ship. Her character and heart has touched us all. She is a fine student, sailor and above all she has a unblemished soul."

She could feel the tears welling again at Zephyn's words. She knew that her crew loved her, as she loved them. She didn't realise how her leaving might effect them. Her hands continued to weave.

"Cove, I've taught you how to navigate by the stars," Zephyn took a bag from her shoulder and handed it to her nodding for Cove to open it. 

She pulled the flap back and within she saw the all too familiar tools needed to navigate by the stars. Sextant, paper, charcoal and a map of the sword coast. 

For you, to navigate your way forward, then eventually, back to us. Zephyn signed to Cove. These words, Cove kept for herself. Zephyn bowed low and Cove, in turn did the same. As she had been instructed. A proper farewell between mentor and pupil. 

Cove took her gifts and returned you stand between her two fathers. She put her pack on, Denon giving it a look across and evening the weight across her shoulders. 

Denon nodded to Raynor, who drew the Sabre from his hip and held it aloft. Denon joined him and the crew parted in the middle, drawing their swords and making an arch. Behind them waited the Gangplank that lead into the Neverwinter docks. 

She turned around to her fathers who both looked down to her, smiling. Each so very proud of their girl. 

"Protect yourself," Raynor said in a lowered voice that was only for her. "And protect those who need it."

Denon smiled a very charming smile. "Find what you seek, then come tell us all about it." His voice encouraging and boyish.

She stretched an arm around the waists of her fathers and squeezed tightly. 

"I love you, Dads," she whispered as she felt both their hands around her completing the embrace. "Thank you for my life!"

"Farewell, Daughter." They both said in unison. 

She looked up them both, rising onto her tip toes to kiss each on the cheek, at this the crew cheered. 

She turned and strode intently though the raised swords, gazing at her family as she passed them, she captured their faces in her mind and took her first step onto the gangplank. A chant of "Cove! Cove! Cove!" Sprang up behind her. Turning, Cove took one final look back, taking in the last member of her family. The Osprey herself. Her home for the last thirteen years. 

With possession of the knowledge of her family and the memory of their love swelling within her, she disappeared into the crowd of the busy streets of Neverwinter.