The Fairy Diary Day 644 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

One incident marred our entry into the harbor of Corbelin. A couple of the returning fishing boats came alongside and questioned Captain Goff about our passengers. Evidently the renegade queen somehow had been trying to solicit the aid of these elvish fishermen in securing her release. At that point Merlin intervened and explained to them the crime for which she will be tried back in the Faerie Kingdom. 

The fishing crafts backed off but I had an uneasiness that they were not totally convinced. 

Such was my concern that I thought it best for Dunfallon to set up his “army” on deck once we were moored – to protect the ship, the prisoners and the Crack of Doom. In addition the pixie had Cluyjil take up a position on the quay beside the ship. 

It was also time to bid goodbye to Nora. He had more places to go and places to see. After quartering Rayjil, Noralei went for a ride around the harbor with him as her way of saying farewell. 

We are going to wait for the morning, before procuring a wagon to transport the bell, our prisoners and us. 

Advertisement

The Fairy Diary Day 625 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

It has been a good first day. Even though we did not make it out of harbor with the fishing fleet as Captain Goff had hoped. We held off for the return of Conjil carrying Gibley and Dunfallon. Thankfully we did not have to wait too long. 

However, it did take some time to settle the dragon into her position on the main deck amidships. (I think she would prefer to perch on the taffrail, but that would put us down by the stern).

We received our first message on my scroll from Emminie. The Sprites have expanded their exploration- so now besides connections with the pixies they have added contacts to the goblins in the great shaft and the trolls of the surrounding area. He is confident that if there is any activity from the Frost Fairies he will hear of it in short order. 

Noralei has inspected the harness apparatus and has pronounced it sound. We will hold off on using it until we can convince Captain Goff that it will be beneficial. 

Merlin monitors the seers stone and I back him up when I can. I am paired with Noralei for our watches, and Rumble with Dunfallon on theirs. We take turns introducing Gibley to the work of a sailor. And that work has introduced the goblin to the rigors of seasickness. 

The one surprise so far is the voice from Dunfallon’s ring complaining about being seasick too. Is it part of the Will’o’the Wisp that has been placed in the ring?

The Fairy Diary Day 619 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

Dunfallon roused us early. He had been up to walk off his impatience, and ran into a band of traveling elves. They were headed down to Corbelin to attend the festival of moon flowers. And they invited him and his friends (us, that is) to be their guests. 

The elves had not waited, but headed down the road. If we wanted to attend, we could meet them at their rendezvous, which our pixie recognized as the inn in which we had stopped on our last trip to Corbelin. 

Dunfallon wanted to go in any event, if we chose not to. Before I could put it to everyone else, however, a reply came in from Merlin to my note of yesterday. 

The wizard informed us that he was awaiting our arrival at a different inn down near the harbor. And he requested that we collect moon flower blooms on our way in. 

We thought his request rather strange, but we did so. And piled what we could find along the way into the second wagon. (Dunfallon would not hear of placing anything near his “army”).

Conjil was somewhat adverse to the aroma coming from the blooms, so Gibley made certain to keep them at a distance from her. Noralei loved their scent so she gladly kept busy stowing them about the second wagon. 

When we passed the inn surrounded by celebratory elves our pixie begged leave to join them and promised to rejoin us later. 

I gave it not a second thought until we arrived at the harbor. The wizard was a little miffed that we were not all together. He wants to run through his explanations only once. So, we will have to wait for him. 

In the meantime we settled Conjil and the wagons into a special place that Merlin had secured for us. 

The Fairy Diary Day 263 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

A day of breakthroughs. Though it certainly did not start that way. Of the four of us, we three fairies were feeling depressed, even despondent. I admit we were homesick for Nonin-gal-dith. Something about this fishing village made us long for home. 

But Dunfallon rallied us. He opened with a joke and followed that with one of his stories – about a prank he played on a bully. (Though he did not say so, I suspect it is a tale from his own experience).

After that we agreed to join him as he continued to explore the perimeter of the enchanted barrier. 

At the point when we were about to finish the last section, I received a message from the High Fairy. He was excited to learn we had landed and had some advice from the Dromadil pixies about skirting the barrier. It seems a way in was always found near a stream or some similar water course. 

The High Fairy ended with a word of warning – once through, our pixie would need to seek out any nearby black plants – and destroy them to bring down the barrier. 

With this news, it was more important than ever that we hear from Nora. 

We hurried back to the harbor, and there found Nora waiting for us – with news about not one but two streams that empty into the bay. 

The Fairy Diary Day 261 #TFDbyRWOz2

Meribabell writes:

We are still in the deserted fishing village. All attempts to take either of the roads out of the town failed just beyond the last buildings. We encountered a barrier, much like the one described in the reports concerning the area around the black crystalline tower. 

So we concentrated on the village itself looking for clues or any explanations for this enchantment. 

Dunfallon and Noralei checked out the east end, while Rumble and I went down to the harbor quarter. Rumble continued on the road to the north with the intent to work his way back from there. 

I entered several of the buildings – both shops and homes – they were all neat and tidy. It was as if they were expectant of the soon return of their owners.

I turned my attention to the harbor. It was different there – the ones out by the harbor mouth – which we had passed on the way in – only had their masts showing (probably more than anything that sight is what had spooked the captain). But the ones tied up along the quay seemed gray and fuzzy. Upon closer examination I realized they were covered in hornets’ nests. 

But no hornets. 

That is when Nora happened by. He saw me too and came over to talk. I asked him if he had seen anything of interest in the bay. And at the same instant I added “were there any rivers or streams emptying into the bay?”

This tickled the water horse’s curiosity and he set out to explore. 

As we gathered this evening all our observations were similar and we all await eagerly to hear from Nora. 

Day One Thousand One Hundred Fourteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The harbor was empty by the time we left last night. And not a soul around to ask what was going on. Even our guards were in the dark.

They took us back to the villa (or as Elijah likes to say, we escorted them to safety). And while he held vigil in our set apart room, I turned in.

I felt groggy upon waking, almost drugged. And I had some difficulty gaining entrance into the set apart room as Elijah did not answer my knocking.

I was at the point of asking a guard’s help, when Tomas exited the room with Elijah.

Tomas worked the rest of the day on the villa’s power problem. And Elijah filled me in.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Thirteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We did not see Tomas  the rest of the day yesterday. Because of the good report we did not think it odd. But when he did not show this morning, we wondered if another attack was underway.

We asked to go into the city and were denied. The first time ever.

When Elijah asked to go down to the harbor and the desalination plants, our guards granted the request.

To our surprise the docks were empty of ships. A few were out in the harbor – warships.

We expected to see Tomas at the desalination plants, but were again disappointed.

Sensing that he needed our intercession, we sought out a place to be in the presence of the One who sees.

Day One Thousand One Hundred Six #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We all accompanied the Captain, Elam and Sy down to the docks to bid them Godspeed. Mr. Kagi received us with open arms and wanted to take everyone away with him right then. But we committed our friends to him and to the One who sees all.

And thankfully Mawuli heeded the call and gladly joined with them too. He told me of his realization that to ship out on his father’s former vessel had long been a desire of his heart.

The Captain for his part wanted to have Tomas along, but he joyfully knows that each has a part to play.

We watched from shore as the ship threaded its way through the other vessels in the harbor.

Day One Thousand Ninety Three #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Tomas had encountered Elam’s group and took them on a tour of the desalination plants situated out beyond the bar of the harbor. It is the other reason for the presence of Tomas here in Babylon. They had been sabotaged by the former occupants of the megapolis before they abandoned the city.

He set them in working order again. (We now understood the reason for the surfeit of water around the city).

And the Captain excitedly recited all the news about his ship. Chief of which was the presence of Mr Kagi, who is still its proud owner.

He wants to go out again today and bring Mr Kagi back to meet everyone else.

Elijah thinks it a capital idea.

Day Eight Hundred Seventeen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Watching the ships in the harbor last night mesmerized me. Their lights traced ever-moving, intricate patterns.

And at the same time they spoke of the affluence and commercial power we saw reflected in our surroundings today.

Quasimo took us through this area of garden-like estates, or palaces (for lack of a better word). We saw no one except at a distance, gardeners at work or servants of some kind.

Quasimo had us stop for a simple meal at one whose owner he knew. The master was away and the servants knew not to refuse him.

All was well until the time of our leaving. One of the servants noticed that Quasimo no longer bore the mark.

We ran.