Brand and Vaeol - Chapter 23

From the Daylog of Vaeol-Zheieveil u’Zhasaele Zolaemaue be’Son

3. Zielae, 24,535 - 7th Day in Qabarat
Today, as forelooked, we got a call from the Threefold House. Lady Nauve and I met Lady Sheiele - Her Highness’s steward, Master Desh from yesterday, along with Master Tholias - an earthlore-master, Master Iahas of the Soulcraft Lorehall, and Master Hileas - a historian. Also came Lady Heme a high priestess. They welcomed us to a redehall, where we all had tea. Then they asked us of the Aslanta’s fetch and what outrightly they seek.
I outlaid to the Masters my understanding that the Aslanta had come to our world in service to an Elfcraft-seer who had hired them to find Corpsicum. At that word, they asked me whether I know Corpsicum. I answered I had merely heard the name, and that in Son it is bethought a seldom stone of unknown birthstead, which we had hoped to learn in Qabarat. 
All looked to Master Tholias, who read their faces and told that he has seen Corpsicum and even has a small bit. He asked how much the Aslanta wish, whereat I answered I know not. Then Master he outdrew a small glasshold, in which stood a swarthy green lump that rather looked like coalstone. He told it is Corpsicum, which is found on but one stead on the world: Candares that lies far eastward. One may go there. Yet Corpsicum belongs not to the Lashunta who dwell there, but to the Kaymos, another kind who dwell there. He outlaid Corpsicum is an ore-gem offdrawn from waters that run through the Kaymos’ gravesteads, which then settle and harden in pools, much like peat-iron. He shrove it holds a weirdness, though what mightiness is widely unknown. I then beseeched that, if Master Tholias’s Corpsicum sample was enough, would he willingly yield it for the Aslanta? He answered that, if indeed his sample was enough, it might be bedeemed.
Our talk headed to the Aslanta’s worldfare hither and how they may go home. I told their gatecraft-worker had died at cometide. The worldgate they had used is unknown, as is its work-spell, and also that they fear its far end may be broken. Master Iahas answered the only known worldgate to Blue-Queen lies in El, among the Elves.
At end, I yaysaid to speak with the Aslanta about how much Corpsicum they seek while the Loremasters reckon Candares. I went back to the Embassy and spoke with Brand. In answer to my question, he drew forth a backpack. Master Tholias’s sample is not enough.
This evening, I went to the Battle Yards and looked for Lady Semuane. I sparred with outriders and warriors until dusk, when I found her bathing. She greeted me gladly and took my hand. Together we withdrew to the bath-pool.
I asked how her shoulder was faring. She answered that, thanks to my early help and the healers following, it is almost good as never wounded. I thanked her forgiveness, and furthermore for taking my dare in the first stead, whereat she laughed.
I asked her to be my guest at tomorrow’s dinner at the Embassy. She smiled, agreed, and kissed me. Then we clothed.
I left with a queerness in my belly. Somehow our flirt has unsettled, and I know not whether it lies from feeling that I am beswaying her or that Remaue may grow upset. Remaue too seemingly felt it when I told her, though I had done so with her blessing, and hopefully for her gladness.

From the Journal of Brand Likario

26. Neth, 4718 - 7th day in Khabarat, 66th Day on Castrovel
The Lashunta for these last couple days have busied themselves, though haven’t seen fit to tell their plans. This has left us free to do as we wish, which I have turned into the city's exploration. I took most of the men, along with enough Korasha servants and guards to help against anyone wandering off, but for Vern and a couple others who stayed behind. I made a special point to bring Draxy along, since not only is he our other Elvish-speaker, but it also gave me a chance to watch and learn what else he may know.
I realized while we were out, that I had forgotten the rain, which is so commonplace here that it almost shocks more when it is not showering. I hardly notice even when I get wet.
We started with the great harbor market, through which seemingly pours this whole world's wares. We beheld the unearthly glowing silks these Khabarat Lashunta pride (which apparently come from elsewhere), as well as things to my mind equally exotic, and an array of embroidered and screenpainted clothes as elaborate as anything I’ve seen in Vudra or Tian Xia. not that the common person wears much here. Whitfully, however, wools and furs are absent, due to the weather’s heat. We saw hides, however, of various beasts, including a shiny, half-invisible one that resembled the cat-monster that had attacked us while we were lost in the jungle. Keeping with these people’s martial bearing, there is a huge weapons market, with not simply common arms but quite well-crafted and even richly wrought. All manner of bulk foodstuffs, including bright powders I guess may be spices or dyes.
Between the market and harbor rose an arched bridgeway that stood starkly in its buildcraft. The Lashunta do not build squat or ugly buildings, for their works have a slightly alien, classical feel. Yet this looked both slimmer and lighter than others in the city, with fluted columns and even an unexplainable shading to the stone, which nevertheless seemed familiar with ruins I’ve seen back on Golarion. I asked our guide who had built this bridgeway. He answered Elves had, back at the city’s founding.
Told the steward who led our escort, Elves had colonized this part of the continent, which they name Asana, some twenty thousand (ten thousand?) years ago, during what he called the Age of the Sage-Queens. There had been a war between Lashunta and Elves, which had ended in truce. As settlement, the Elves had gotten Khabarat as gift. As time went, Lashunta came to dwell here as well until what he called the withdrawal, when many Elves left for Sovyrian, after which Khabarat became a mainly Lashunta city. 
I wonder if this withdrawal might map to the great Elven migration back to Kyonin some two thousand years ago. For that matter, how did the Elven Retreat from Golarion right before Earthfall affect their population and colony activities here on Castrovel?
When I asked, our guide told that Elves still dwell in Khabarat, though in lesser numbers than in earlier ages. Indeed, he explained that all Khabarat takes pride in its Elven heritage, which thus explains why so many Lashunta here speak Elvish. Also, the city holds many festivals and even gods of Elven origin. 
I then asked whether Elves dwell anywhere particularly. He waved at the bridgeway’s northern end and said an Elven Quarter lies that way.
Armed with this knowledge, today I proposed another city-tour, this time toward the northern boroughs. Our hosts led us along the harbor’s side, from where we worked our way inland. Toward the cliffs and foothills we found what I sought. While there was no stark shift in buildings, for Lashunta love trees almost as much as Elves, there was a suble admixture of live wood with warped stone that behinted Elven magic. My eyes caught the effect of houses and trees wrapping together until they became no longer separate.
Then we saw an Elf, not alone, for almost as many Lashunta wandered this street as beyond this neighborhood. Indeed, we saw much the same garments and wares for sale as we had in the city’s other quarters. Yet this fellow saw us and froze. I nodded and greeted her fairly as I could in her own tongue. She did not react. When I looked back after we passed by, she had vanished.
Even before we met any other Elves, Draxy began fretting. As we neared a clump of point-eared shopkeepers, he suddenly halted. I asked him the matter, whereat he moaned it was unwise being here. He insisted we should leave. I drew him into a sidelane and asked what he meant and I impressed on him the truth that his mistress Vanya was dead and in likely misluck he would never return to Golarion and face Archmaster Virian’s displeasure unless he helps. Reluctantly, he confessed that Virian had warned the Elves would likely resent anyone sidestepping their monopoly on access to Castrovel, and moreso might even come between and forbid us gaining corpsicum. 
When I asked Draxy, however, what Elves here in Khabarat may likely know of affairs on Golarion when the Sovyrian Gate lies at the world’s other end, he could not answer. So I bade us rejoin the company and worry no more on things beyond our control. Whether I have succeeded at bringing him to heel I don’t know, but at least he calmed down.
Our further exploration of the Elven Quarter yielded shopkeepers with whom we inquired on their wares. Yet they did not engage, did not seemingly wit our different looks from themselves or the Lashunta, and if they did understand our origin from Golarion, gave no acknowledgement. I hate to say, but I can see how Draxy believes any Elf may be conspiring against us. It takes firm will to resist such dark whims.
Then we reached a crossroad at the quarter’s edge, where two great thoroughfares met and made a ring around a parklike grove. Under a great milk-tree’s boughs I saw a stone column, little more than a tapering boulder with one side flattened, with Elvish script engraved. Before this shrinelike plinth sat a lone Elf, legs crossed, hands folded in prayer. One word drew me, however, which I could roughly translate: ‘The Singer of the Skies’.
I walked near, though I avoided bothering the praying Elf, and took the chance to inspect the plinth more closely. While I couldn’t make out any more script, at the column’s crest was carven a doubtlessly butterfly-like shape, and about it specks that I would take as stars. I knew who this shrine is dedicated to.
I almost wept and spoke her name: Desna.
I turned back, and found the Elf’s eyes open and staring. I had doubtlessly broken into his prayers. At a loss, I mumbled my best apology. In answer, whether in acknowledgement or accusation I couldn’t tell, he spoke: “It is the solstice.” Yet that word explained all. “The Ritual of Stardust?” I asked, in my broken fashion. His eyes widened. I never expect to surprise Elves, though then apparently I had. Yet on this world I had seen stars only from the mountain observatory Lady Vaeol and I had visited. The Elves, who had carried their memory here from Golarion, did not expect to meet such knowledge.
By then, the men had crowded near and were asking what was happening. I told them this is Desna’s shrine, at which they cheered. Though it did the Elf no good with his prayers, they knelt, touched the stone, and said prayers. Some even left small tokens in offering, for here, for the first time since we got lost on this strange world, was something familiar, almost a touch of home. Moreso, if the goddess of wanderers heard and was kindly, and with luck, she might even help us get home.
This eve, I briefly ran into Lady Vaeol and Remaue. We spoke not, for they were hurrying. They have something in hand, which involves more, for the servants gave word that Her Ladyship, Ambassador Nauve is tonight throwing an official dinner for some worthies. Vaeol seemed especially excited. On a hunch, I bethought her exchange with Lady Semuane at the ball.
Then I saw the guests arriving. Among them I saw a man, a Korasha, which struck me odd, since he came with a retinue, both Damaya and Korasha, and I have never seen a Korasha so attended. He stood tall, at least as Korasha go, and was well dressed in a silken kilt, a golden collar, and a silver belt bearing the badge of Son. Yet moreso his body, and more importantly his bearing, stood out. He walked with a limp, and one of his brow-feelers was shorter than the other. With the network of scars that covers his shoulders and ribs, I could only assume it had been severed in a battle-wound. While the Lashunta describe themselves as warriors, in him I saw a soldier, and in the respect yielded a commander, possibly even a general. In this world of matriarchs and lady-knights, what does it take for a Korasha to rise to command?