CHAPTER XXXI
in which the gang has a pleasant chat with Xisben and Weaver ...
What Dreams May Come
Haas wandered back towards the wharfs from her individual adventure, encountering the same band of nulls that the rest of her party had run into moments ago. After ignoring their warnings about the danger in the area, she headed north a wharf where she reconnected with the Silver Foxes. The group filled her in on all that they missed, putting an emphasis on the dead raft, the tavern dreams, the direwolf blood, and Glad's continued reliance on Mr. Face, all of which Glad tries to unsuccessfully downplay. Haas reveals her own find, a circlet that restores items passed within it. She also mentions a Mercayan statue near their old pillar site that could prove immensely valuable if they can find a way to transport it.
Having caught up, everyone except for Krom and the centaurs falls asleep whereupon they wake in a recollection of some bar Mouse one knew. Though the dreamlike scenery was familiar, portions of the dream were off. Mouse didn't recognize the bartender, the patrons seemed like mechanical afterthoughts, and the 'alcohol' tasted of blue. After some goofing off with the dream effects, a stranger barges into the tavern and looses an arrow at their table, which Mouse manages to dodge. He's followed by another man who throws the assailant of the tavern and reprimands the Silver Foxes for drawing so much attention to themselves. Their savior, the Protector, lets them experiment with dreaming as they wait for the Weaver to ready himself. This results in a fight between Mouse and Haas wherein Mouse switches Glad's appearance with his and causes Glad to get attacked by Haas until he reverse the deception. Eierryn watches amused, and once freed from the deception, Glad experiments with his own appearance before settling on a dragon-human hybrid in his pillars colors.
An Arrangement
The Protector gets unnerved by some unseen attention and switches the meeting place to a garden. When the group points out the locations hard to defend position, he switches to the clutch of Vulsh where Haas reconvenes with an emissary of her people whose been trying to get in touch with her. They settle on a later meeting in Brenthia upon Haas' return. Not long after the emissary's departure, the group is summoned to a tailor shop where they discuss future arrangements with the Weaver. He has decided to ally himself with the group despite some reservations about bringing LeShrac into his realm. He notes, however, that LeShrac's interference has been a bad influence on the dreaming in particular, thinking him linked to some Gassy like creatures intent on invading his territory. And he does want to help free Equinos if possible.
The weaver thinks the general goal of weaving a fantasy is possible and agrees it would require a potent potion. But he points out that the Silver Foxes will have a lot to worry about in the real world and may need help in administering it. He mentions dragons in passing which prompts the group to inquire about dragons he's spoken to and dragons he could find.
Interview With a Dragon
They tell the Weaver about a Green dragon said to match Shul in influence, but he doesn't recognize the reference. He does, however, take them to meet another dragon he has been in contact with, Xisben. Glad, Eierryn, Haas, Tilly, and Mouse find themselves floating above a clockwork construction. A city of strange design. Far above a dragon like thing in a cosmos that doesn't resemble their own world's stars roars mightily. A piece of him descends and takes a form not unlike Glad's dragon guise. He speaks without moving his mouth and Tilly trembles and cries in the presence of her pillar's creator. The gang ask Xisben for advice. He mentions that Mercayen's fall is greatly disturbing and has moved other dragons to return to their anchors...the pillar. But the journey is long and time doesn't run for the dragons the same way it does for mortals. He is willing to offer what help he can when briefed on LeShrac. The general hope is that restoring Equinos will help restore the area and shift the wind making it harder to reanchor Mercayen. Xisben, however, still has far to travel. He suggests entreating one of the other two dragons still around for help. Not Theruk, but Veckra. Knowing that they are a not welcoming to outsiders, he also gifts the group with a way to prove their alignment with Xisben.
After their meeting, the Weaver arranges for the Protector to craft potion laced weaponry for their battle against LeShrac and gives them Wraith Liquor to use when away so that they can meet in the dreaming if needed. Haas and Mouse show interest and learning to dream without the liquid like Gorbie can, so the Weaver offers to keep an eye out for potential tutors to send their way. Glad wakes first and gives Krom and the centaurs an update, though they remain highly skeptical of the dreams realness. As does Tilly upon waking up. She has a hard time accepting that the fabled conceptualization of her pillar actually exists, though Glad tries to convince her to just run with it. As the rest of the group wakes, Krom, Prixus, and Elias drift into sleep so that they can recieve their weapon orders and Xisben's gift. Meanwhile, Glad relates everything that happened to Chracio and asks for help. He doesn't get a definitive answer, but does receive a swelling of external pride and a sense that something has been set in motion.