On our way back to the docks we see a sight that makes us stop in our tracks. Noticing that an Illithid Nautiloid has pulled in beside your ship is bad enough… but when it’s bright pink and covered in garish lights and banners, it’s really a mind bender. A scantily clad woman comes out onto the deck and gives us a wave.

“E’llo, lovelies! Afraid Captain Angel and the rest are over at Lucille’s for the day… but if you come back later I’m sure we can give you what you need!”

Ef Utan smiles ruefully. “Perhaps another day…” he says to himself as we board the ship and decide to make our way to Waterdeep. Not only will it be a good place to pick up supplies and trade goods, but I should be able to check their portal to Sigil to see if it’s still under lockdown.

When we finally make our way to the large human city, we can’t help but notice that they’re not too keen on Spelljammers anymore. Who can blame them though, what with the war raging around the Spheres. Thankfully the Nomad is equipped for water landings, so we land a ways out and take one of our smaller boats inland to run our errands. While Lenata and Vedis take some of Hatuk’s clan over to the Garillous Grocer, Ef Utan decides to watch my back while I try the portal.

Using what knowledge I’ve learned about the way these portals work, I have to say that it seems to be in order. There’s only one way to find out, though. I take a deep breath and step through the shimmering energy…

… and come out by the same Dwarven merchant we met so long ago on the busy streets of Sigil. When I look around I can’t help but notice that things are still a bit tense, however. Once again… can’t blame them, especially after what I’ve seen of the Lady of Pain’s crisis-management skills.

While I’d love to ask around for more information, that’s not why I’m here… and Ef Utan is waiting for an update. I hop back through the portal with a shrug. “Everything seems to be working ok from here,” I say.

“Excellent. Why don’t we go wait at the boat while the others finish their shopping,” Ef Utan suggests. “I’ve got a few phrases I’m stuck on in my book…”

_~

Eventually the ladies make it back followed by a pair of Hadozee pulling a dollie full of crates, and we manage to get all of our cargo loaded and ready for our next stop to Refuge.

A few days pass in our travels with nothing too drastic happening, thank goodness. We passed another Warbird in a fight with a Mantis, but thankfully it looked like the Elves weren’t having any problems this time around. Works for me… we just got the ship repaired, anyway. It wasn’t until we were about four days into our trip with Aspodel taking a turn at the Helm that I heard a scuffle above decks, and shouts from Ef Utan and Lenata.

“Hold that thought, Nerak,” I say to the Positai crewmember I was playing cards with. “I want to know more about your Positive Plane… but right now it sounds like we’ve got trouble.” I strap on my clawed gauntlets and run up the stairs to the main deck only to be blinded by a flash of light…

… and suddenly I’m floating in the Flow with no ship in sight and clasping my hand over my mouth so I don’t waste all my air in a scream.

Ok, Kenari… think… you were probably hit with some magic for this to happen. You can’t use your guns for propulsion or signalling… you can’t maneuver, and if you’re not careful, you won’t be able to breath for much longer either.

Quickly running out of ideas, I pull a Sunrod from my pack and light it. It’s not much… but at least it won’t explode out here if I use it.

Please, guys… come get me… this really sucks…

… …

… … … anytime would be good…

… … … …

… … … … … my air is getting stale quick…

… … … … … …

… … … … … … … I can’t feel my legs anymore…

… … … … … … … …

… … … … … … … … … I don’t want to die out here …

… … … … … … … … … …

… … … … … … … … … … …

… … … … … … … … … … … …

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

“Hmmn… what? Where am I?” I mumble hoarsely.

“The good news is that you’re not dead and the stasis will wear off soon,” I hear Ef Utan say above me. “The bad news is that our Helm is out of commission and we’re now stuck at a snail’s pace in the middle of nowhere hoping for a ship to pass by and give us a tow.”

“Oh Gods…” I mutter as the feeling starts to come back to my fingers and toes. “Do we have any alcohol on this ship?”

“That’s the last thing your body needs right now,” Lenata warns me. “In it’s weakened state…”

“… it will take less to get me drunk,” I mutter as I stumble off to my room. I just had a near-death experience, dammit… I need some time to myself.

_~

Nearly a month passes in the Flow with Vedis doing her best to try and keep the crew cheerful. Normally I’d be all for cheering up the crew… but it’s just not in me right now. All I can think about is how cold and alone I felt out there as I slipped into oblivion… and how determined I am to never let that happen again. While Vedis and Lenata are out there trying to keep the crew in-line, I’m scribbling plans for personal propulsion systems for jammer crews. You never know… if the gnomes of Ironpiece have survived, they might be interested in this. Goodness knows it would’ve helped the crew of the Crashbang so long ago.

Finally the irony of the Gods came to our rescue… in the form of a Warbird able to give us a tow to Refuge. I’m tempted to joke to Ef Utan about the gods of neutrality evening things up… but I think that can wait till we get our ship fixed.

When we finally make it to Refuge I’m half tempted to fall to my knees and kiss the dirt. Thankfully the moment passes as practicality kicks in. “So… Helms cost an arm and a leg, right? How do you suggest we get it fixed?”

“There’s always those sails… we could see if we can sell them,” Ef Utan suggests.

Hmmn… I wouldn’t want the wrath of an irritated crystal dragon coming down on me if he found out we sold his present. Besides… I get the feeling like those things are going to be really important. “Or…. we could go see Tain,” I reply. “He’s the one who gave it to us for artistic purposes in the first place, right? Maybe we can parley the stories of our adventures into him getting us a new Helm so he can hear about more?”

“It’s definitely worth a try,” Lenata answers with a nod. “Let’s go pay our Reigar friend a visit.”