Malchia & Valdis
Disoriented by the trip, Valdis and Malchia staggered around for moments. Whatever magic had moved them had also caused a great deal of stress. For Valdis, master of movement, it was a strange feeling, but he focused and came out of it faster than his foe. He only need to be faster by a moments. He slammed the sword into the Nipits head, knocking him back. He raised his sword to finish the task, but Lewis alerted him to he paused. Looking around, Valdis realized he had no idea where they were, floating in darkness. He may need to communicate with his foe before killing him.
Another several quick strikes, probably more than were needed, knocked out the Nipit. Thankfully, the Guardian didn't explode or fall. Looking around, Valdis went gently to the edge and looked down. Water, glorious water. He had feared only air. He would survive the fall, but the Guardian may not. Was there land nearby? Yes, he could see lights in the distance. Now to get there. First, he stripped the Nipit of anything dangerous. He had Lewis make sure the giant bat was indeed dead and scorched its body will all manner of things he found to make sure the infernal beast would not return. Fire, acid, electricity, holy water, piss. In the armory, he grabbed the shackles that would prevent the Nipit from doing anything magical.
Realizing his exhaustion, he rested, leaving Lewis to watch and setting the defenses of the Guardian to protect them. The shackled Nipit went into the brig. The lowered the anchor and hoped for the best overnight. It was not a peaceful sleep. Throwing food to the Nipit, Valdis asked him questions which were not answered. Well enough, time would soon come when he would have all the answers he needed. Based on Lewis' information and Valdis limited knowledge of the stars and charts, he was still able to determine that they were outside of the city of Undrile. How and why he did not know. He needed to contact the crew, Nathan, Rin, someone. If only this were the days of old, when magic worked better. The ship had ways of communicating that he would have been able to use.
Undrile was a big enough city, someone there would be able to help him, even if for a fee. Leaving Lewis to watch the ship and prisoner, Valdis went ashore. It took him most of the day, Undrile was a chaotic city. But he found a cleric and arranged to have the spell sent. He would have preferred a different deity, Lakius or Tyrogaotre, but Lavash'Ki would have to do. He could not defend the ship alone, and the Nipit might have allies looking for him. Valdis made it back to the Guardian and waiting.
On watch, securely placed, with Lewis lurking, he just needed to survive a few hours at most, or so he hoped. One day turned into three. There was plenty of food. Numerous other ships had stopped by and asked if they could 'help'. One time Valdis had to fight off a boarding party. It was annoying, but even the dozen pirates were no match for him. A mist rolled in and Valdis grew suspicious. A small boat pulled up and hailed him. Taking no chances, Valdis raised his defenses. They talked for minutes, and Valdis was confident the men in the boat were no threat. They offered to bring out food, and keep him company for a small fee. Valdis declined and watched them go. Sure they were gone and no other boats were near, he turned to check on the Nipit. A moment later, Valdis was dead on the deck.
Free from his Shackles, thanking his rescuer, Malchia took no time to mourn. He set about the task of getting the ship to the collector. Minutes later, in a flash, it was gone. The Collector be praised, the ship would be renamed Malchia's Bounty, Ark of Collection. It would sail the world as a symbol of the Collector's magnificence. From now on, Malchia would be known as the greatest Herald of the Collector. He would be given the task of Collection that so many had failed before but that he could succeed at, the assembly of the daggers of Dedestroyt.
Nathan arrived just too late. No one knew where Rin was. The ship was gone. Valdis body was recovered and a ceremony was held when the surviving crew could attend. They commissioned a new ship and set a new course. Finding the Guardian of the Tides.