Session 3: The Search

Aro took a deep breath as he left the apothecary. He had done all he could for Kylar, and now it was up to the apothecary’s skill and Kylar’s strength to pull him through. With a heavy heart but determined spirit, Aro set off into Kotana, intent on finding clues that could lead him to the Faceless Accord or his friend Alexis Ivers.

As he wandered through the bustling market, his eyes caught sight of a bounty poster. The man depicted was accused of witchcraft, and a shudder ran down Aro's spine at the thought of someone discovering his own abilities. His mind briefly flickered to Kylar; he hadn’t had any visions recently, which he took as a hopeful sign that Kylar was doing well.

He approached a merchant, inquiring about Alexis Ivers. She was a local, and someone ought to know her whereabouts. The merchant squinted at him, considering his question.

“Alexis? It’s been weeks since she’s come to the market, ever since folks started getting sick,” the merchant said, eyeing Aro cautiously. “She’s likely isolating to keep healthy.”

Aro tossed a few coins onto the merchant’s table. “Do you know where she might be?”

The merchant pocketed the coins with a nod. “She might be dwelling in an outpost along the coast. Can’t say for sure, but that’s where I’d start looking.”

Thanking the merchant, Aro headed towards the shoreline, following the coast in search of any sign of Alexis. After a while, an outpost came into view, catching his attention. Outside, he noticed a freshly dug grave plot with a small stone marked: “Alexis Ivers - ‘Count on it’.” His heart sank at the sight, but he pressed on, noticing footprints in the soil, likely made by someone with a smaller build—perhaps Alexis herself.

Aro knocked on the outpost door. “Alexis, are you in there?”

A voice shouted back through the door, laced with irritation and a familiar edge of stubbornness. “Who’s asking, and what do you want? Can't you see I’m busy dying?”

Aro’s heart lifted slightly. “It’s me, Aro. I’ve been looking for you.”

There was a brief silence, then a note of recognition in her voice. “Aro? What in the blazes are you doing here?”

“I needed to find you. I’ve been looking for someone in the Faceless Accord, hoping they might help me find my brother. But first, I want to make sure you’re alright.”

Alexis’s tone softened, but she still refused to open the door. “I’m sick, Aro. It’s that algae sickness. I don’t want to risk you getting it.”

Aro sighed, leaning against the door. “I’ve been on a ship with someone infected, and I haven’t caught it. I think I might be immune. Please, Alexis, let me in so we can talk properly.”

There was a long pause, and then a series of curses from behind the door. “Fine, you stubborn fool. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The door creaked open, and Aro stepped inside. Alexis promptly closed and locked it behind him. The interior was dimly lit, and Alexis’s pallor and the patches of algae on her skin were immediately evident.

“You look terrible,” Aro said, concern etched on his face.

She let out a weak laugh. “Always knew how to sweet-talk a lady, Aro. Now, what’s this about your brother and the Faceless Accord?”

Aro quickly explained his search and his hope that the Faceless Accord might have information about his brother. Alexis listened, her expression growing more serious.

“I do know about the Faceless Accord,” she said quietly, glancing around as if wary of unseen listeners. “But talking about it isn’t safe. Even here, walls have ears.”

“I need your help, Alexis,” Aro pressed. “If I can find them, maybe I can find a way to help you too. This sickness is spreading like wildfire, and there has to be something we can do.”

She nodded slowly, her eyes softening. “Alright, I’ll tell you what I know. But we have to be careful. Come, let’s sit down. We have much to discuss.”

As they settled in, Aro felt a glimmer of hope. Finding Alexis was a step forward, and with her help, he might just get closer to finding his brother and understanding the mysterious sickness that threatened them all.

Session 2: To Kotana

The Talan trade ship sailed steadily towards Kotana, the sea calm after the recent skirmish. Aro, still shaken from the pirate attack, was keeping a close eye on Kylar Vaas, a friendly deckhand he had befriended. Kylar had taken a severe wound during the battle, and despite the confusion, Aro hadn't noticed the extent of his injuries until now. Shrapnel had pierced his skin, and he was bleeding out rapidly.

Aro’s heart sank as a vision flashed before his eyes. He saw Kylar lying dead in a pool of blood, his eyes, mouth, and skin covered in moss and seaweed, his lifeless body consumed by vegetation. The image was haunting, and Aro knew he had to act quickly if he wanted to prevent this vision from becoming reality.

Kneeling beside Kylar, Aro pulled out some of the shrapnel, working quickly but carefully. He tore pieces of his own shirt to use as makeshift gauze, sterilizing the wounds with the last bit of his ale. Kylar’s condition was dire, but Aro managed to stabilize him, though he began coughing up algae and moss mixed with blood.

"We need to get you to a healer, Kylar," Aro muttered, his voice filled with urgency. "Just hold on a little longer."

Throughout the remainder of the journey to Kotana, Aro stayed by Kylar’s side, helping him sip water and trying to keep him comfortable. The hours dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity, but finally, the ship arrived at the docks of Kotana.

As the crew disembarked, the quartermaster approached Aro, handing him his pay. "Your pay’s cut, Fluke, due to your mishap with the cargo," he said curtly. Aro accepted the reduced payment with a nod, his mind focused on finding help for Kylar.

Kotana’s docks were bustling with activity, but as Aro guided Kylar through the streets, they encountered a scene that sent a chill down his spine. The first road they took was encrusted with algae and kelp-like vegetation. The buildings, ground, and even the citizens were covered in patches of this strange growth. It mirrored the algae Kylar had been coughing up, and the air tasted foul.

Aro covered his mouth and nose, urging Kylar to do the same. "Stay with me, Kylar. We’ll find a healer soon," he promised, his voice muffled through the makeshift mask. They navigated through the sick part of Kotana, the eerie silence broken only by Kylar’s labored breathing and the squelching sound of their footsteps on the vegetation-covered ground.

As they turned a corner, Aro spotted a sign for an apothecary. Relief washed over him, and he hurriedly guided Kylar towards the small shop.

Bursting through the door, Aro called out, "We need help! He’s badly injured and needs immediate attention!"

The apothecary, an older woman with a calm but focused demeanor, quickly assessed Kylar’s condition. Without hesitation, she beckoned them inside. "Lay him down here," she instructed, pointing to a wooden table.

"This isn’t new to us," she said, her voice steady as she gathered herbs and tinctures. "We’ve seen this before. We’ll do what we can."

Aro watched anxiously as the apothecary began treating Kylar with practiced hands, applying poultices and administering potions to stabilize his condition. The room filled with the scent of medicinal herbs, mingling with the ever-present odor of the algae outside.

"You did well to bring him here," the apothecary said to Aro, her eyes briefly meeting his. "Now, let’s hope he has the strength to fight this."

Aro nodded, relief mingling with the lingering tension. He had done all he could; now, he had to trust in the apothecary's skill and hope that his friend would survive.

Session 1: Pirates!

The morning sun cast a golden glow over the rolling waves as the Talan trade ship sailed steadily through the sapphire waters. Aro, known as "Fluke" to the crew, was perched in the crow’s nest, keeping a vigilant watch. The pirate ship that had appeared on the horizon was now alarmingly close.

Without warning, a cannon fired from the pirate vessel, and the Talan ship shook violently from the impact. The force threw Aro off balance, and flames erupted on the deck below.

Acting on instinct, Aro tried to slide down the ropes of the crow’s nest to get to cover, but his grip slipped. He fell hard onto the deck, landing on his back, knocking the wind out of him. A pack of bullets he carried flew from his back, scattering across the deck to an unknown location.

Lying there helplessly, Aro watched as the Talan crew sprang into action. The roar of cannons thundered in his ears, and the sharp scent of gunpowder filled the air. Despite the chaos, Aro’s vision remained sharp, and he struggled to his feet.

The battle was fierce but brief. The Talan crew's retaliation was swift and powerful. The sounds of combat gradually faded, replaced by a deafening silence. Then, a cheer erupted from the crew. Aro stumbled to the edge of the ship and peered over the railing.

The pirate ship was ablaze, sinking slowly into the depths. Several pirates, desperate to escape the flames, jumped overboard. Aro’s heart sank as he realized most of them couldn't swim. His vision returned, showing the inevitable—those who had jumped overboard were already dead in the water, their bodies claimed by the sea.

Breathing heavily, Aro steadied himself, the adrenaline coursing through his veins slowly subsiding. The crew's cheers continued, but Aro's mind was elsewhere, haunted by the vision and the knowledge that more dangers lay ahead.

Session 0: Opening Scene

 The morning sun cast a golden glow over the rolling waves, illuminating the Talan trade ship as it cut through the sapphire waters. Seagulls cried overhead, diving and swooping in the brisk sea breeze. Aro, known to the crew as "Fluke," worked diligently on the deck, his hands calloused and sure despite the mocking nickname that followed him since the day he dropped precious cargo overboard.

Aro tugged at a frayed rope, securing it tightly to the mast. Sweat beaded on his forehead, glistening in the sunlight. He glanced around, ensuring his work was done properly; the last thing he needed was another mistake to add to his reputation. The crew bustled about, each man absorbed in his own tasks, but Aro felt the weight of their lingering gazes, the quiet snickers that often followed him.

“Oi, Fluke! Don’t drop that line, now,” one of the older sailors called out with a chuckle. Aro forced a tight smile and nodded, hiding the frustration that bubbled beneath the surface.

As he moved to the next task, coiling a thick rope, a shadow flickered at the edge of his vision. He paused, eyes narrowing as he focused. It happened sometimes—a glimpse, a fleeting vision of death. He saw the shadow again, this time clearer: the sailor who had mocked him, pale and lifeless, a faint image of what could be. Aro shivered, shaking his head to dispel the vision. He couldn’t afford to let his mind wander, not here, not now.

“Fluke!” The first mate’s voice snapped him back to reality. “Get to the crow’s nest. We need eyes on the horizon.”

“Aye, sir,” Aro replied, quickly making his way to the rigging. He climbed with practiced ease, the wind whipping around him as he ascended. Reaching the top, he settled into the crow’s nest, peering out at the endless expanse of ocean.

From this vantage point, the world felt vast and limitless. His thoughts drifted to his brother, somewhere out there, hidden within the ranks of the Faceless Accord. Aro’s heart ached with the longing to find him, to prove his own worth, to show his father that he was more than just a fluke.

Suddenly, a vision struck him—stronger this time. He saw a ship, burning and sinking beneath the waves, screams of the crew echoing in his ears. He gripped the edge of the nest, knuckles white, forcing himself to breathe. He had to be careful, had to keep this hidden. If anyone knew about his ability, the consequences would be dire.

“Focus,” he muttered to himself, scanning the horizon. In the distance, a dark shape loomed, barely visible against the morning mist. A ship, approaching fast.

“Ship ahoy!” he called down to the deck, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. The crew sprang into action, shouts of commands and hurried footsteps filling the air. Aro remained in the nest, eyes fixed on the approaching vessel, the weight of his visions heavy on his shoulders.

As the ship drew closer, he could make out the flag it flew—black, with a symbol he recognized. Pirates. Aro’s heart pounded in his chest. This could be the test he needed, the chance to prove himself. He watched the pirate ship with a mix of fear and determination, ready to face whatever came next.

Below, the Talan crew prepared for confrontation, and Aro knew that his journey was only just beginning.