House of Keys
On this night, we venture away from the planet of Castrovel, and head towards the Burning Archipelago, in one of the many cafes that fill Dawnshore, where two women are discussing in low tones. We see Valentina Terris, dressed in her usual business affair, hefty suitcase at her side. Across from her, a Ryphorian woman in mystic robes, wearing a pin with the symbol of the Xenowardens on her chest...
Valentina Terris: "--explain to me why you're here, Miss...?"
Keille: "Keille. But I'm not looking for you, Miss Terris. I'm looking for your clients, the Dream Team." Valentina stiffened, and gave Keille the full lookover. No magical auras that would be unusual on a dabbling mystic, and no divinations or recording devices hidden away in her clothes. Posture suggested she was desperate, but earnest. There were light disturbances in the planar flow that surrounded her, which indicated she'd likely come straight here after leaving the Drift. So her troubles weren't local. Valentina Terris: "My clients are elsewhere, I'm afraid. But if you gave me a little more detail, I might be able to pass the request along." The Ryphorian nodded, and produced a small manila folder from her person. Hardcopies... Either an old soul like Nic, or something that required a high level of security. Given the way Keille placed it on the table -- like it was half paper, half landmine -- Valentina assumed it was the latter. She opened it, and forced her expression still. Pictures of Jedarat, and the New Horizons xenoarchaeology team that had recently gone missing. Valentina had come to the cafe to take a phone call from the company, after hearing of strange behavior with their terraforming machinery. Valentina Terris: "And what business do you have with Jedarat?"
Keille: "You know of it?"
Valentina Terris: "There's little in the Pact Worlds that slips by me, darling. The question?"
Keille: "Oh, yes. Some of my fellow Xenowardens were involved in the environmental projects there. There were some... Arguments. About the terraforming New Horizons was preforming."
Valentina Terris: "Ecoterrorism. They think you're to blame?" Valentina already knew all of this, but she let Keille speak anyway, hoping that it would lead to more information. At the very least, it never hurt to confirm. Keille: "Yes! They are demanding answers, and running our names through the mud with our corporate partners. Some of them are even withdrawing their financial support."
Valentina Terris: "I see. So you need someone to help clear your name. Where do my clients come into this? I know a good detective, if you prefer--"
Keille: "No. I-- Well, my wife. She's a visiting scholar at the Deep Cultures Institute." Ah. Here we go. Keille: "Everyone thought they were crazy, and they still listened! They helped Nib, and turned up four bubble cities in a matter of weeks."
Valentina Terris: "And why do people think you're crazy, Keille?" The Ryphorian flattened a little, her brow furrowing with embarrassment. But then that desperation kicked in, and she spoke in a fury. Keille: "I had... Well. A premonition. A result of a divination. That this issue -- the problem with the machines, and the missing team -- is bigger than it appears. That if I were to pursue it on my own, or get some cut-rate mercenary group to handle it. Well, it wouldn't end well."
Valentina Terris: "Elaborate." The woman practically slid into her seat, checking over her shoulders for any eavesdropping, and then leaned across the table, her voice low. Keille: "I saw Jestyr, Miss Terris. Standing in front of a tower made of black rock, with sand all around the base. The Horsemen of Abaddon rode behind him, separated by three owls -- one black, one gray, and one white. I saw the end of days." Valentina merely nodded on the surface, but her mind was racing behind emotionless eyes. Many scholars had read the Owls of Dylath-Leen, but nowhere did it mention a black tower... Vulreach. Her mother had told her of it, in the legends of End Day. She'd not seen mention of it anywhere else, even on records collected from the Akashic Record. Valentina made up her mind. Valentina Terris: "I believe you, darling."
Keille: "Really?"
Valentina Terris: "Don't doubt me, it's not becoming. I will speak to the Dream Team. It'll take a few weeks, however." Keille deflated, all the air falling out of her, her face plastered with relief. Keille: "Thank the gods and Saints. A few weeks is fine -- New Horizons has the entire site locked down, and it might take me the better part of a month to get all the paperwork in order. Here, take my SID." She emitted a signal from her comm unit, which Valentina's picked up and saved. After that, the woman thanked her a few more times before attempting to pay for her coffee -- which Valentina continually declined -- and then eventually left in a hurry, eager to tell her fellow Xenowardens the news. Valentina stayed behind in the cafe for longer than she'd planned, going over each of the files... Her gut told her that Keille was right -- something was wrong here. It was too simple on the surface, too clean. It was all coming to a head there, and Valentina meant to be on top of it when it did. She closed the file, tucking it into her briefcase, and left for her next meeting. The vision fades...
Keille: "Keille. But I'm not looking for you, Miss Terris. I'm looking for your clients, the Dream Team." Valentina stiffened, and gave Keille the full lookover. No magical auras that would be unusual on a dabbling mystic, and no divinations or recording devices hidden away in her clothes. Posture suggested she was desperate, but earnest. There were light disturbances in the planar flow that surrounded her, which indicated she'd likely come straight here after leaving the Drift. So her troubles weren't local. Valentina Terris: "My clients are elsewhere, I'm afraid. But if you gave me a little more detail, I might be able to pass the request along." The Ryphorian nodded, and produced a small manila folder from her person. Hardcopies... Either an old soul like Nic, or something that required a high level of security. Given the way Keille placed it on the table -- like it was half paper, half landmine -- Valentina assumed it was the latter. She opened it, and forced her expression still. Pictures of Jedarat, and the New Horizons xenoarchaeology team that had recently gone missing. Valentina had come to the cafe to take a phone call from the company, after hearing of strange behavior with their terraforming machinery. Valentina Terris: "And what business do you have with Jedarat?"
Keille: "You know of it?"
Valentina Terris: "There's little in the Pact Worlds that slips by me, darling. The question?"
Keille: "Oh, yes. Some of my fellow Xenowardens were involved in the environmental projects there. There were some... Arguments. About the terraforming New Horizons was preforming."
Valentina Terris: "Ecoterrorism. They think you're to blame?" Valentina already knew all of this, but she let Keille speak anyway, hoping that it would lead to more information. At the very least, it never hurt to confirm. Keille: "Yes! They are demanding answers, and running our names through the mud with our corporate partners. Some of them are even withdrawing their financial support."
Valentina Terris: "I see. So you need someone to help clear your name. Where do my clients come into this? I know a good detective, if you prefer--"
Keille: "No. I-- Well, my wife. She's a visiting scholar at the Deep Cultures Institute." Ah. Here we go. Keille: "Everyone thought they were crazy, and they still listened! They helped Nib, and turned up four bubble cities in a matter of weeks."
Valentina Terris: "And why do people think you're crazy, Keille?" The Ryphorian flattened a little, her brow furrowing with embarrassment. But then that desperation kicked in, and she spoke in a fury. Keille: "I had... Well. A premonition. A result of a divination. That this issue -- the problem with the machines, and the missing team -- is bigger than it appears. That if I were to pursue it on my own, or get some cut-rate mercenary group to handle it. Well, it wouldn't end well."
Valentina Terris: "Elaborate." The woman practically slid into her seat, checking over her shoulders for any eavesdropping, and then leaned across the table, her voice low. Keille: "I saw Jestyr, Miss Terris. Standing in front of a tower made of black rock, with sand all around the base. The Horsemen of Abaddon rode behind him, separated by three owls -- one black, one gray, and one white. I saw the end of days." Valentina merely nodded on the surface, but her mind was racing behind emotionless eyes. Many scholars had read the Owls of Dylath-Leen, but nowhere did it mention a black tower... Vulreach. Her mother had told her of it, in the legends of End Day. She'd not seen mention of it anywhere else, even on records collected from the Akashic Record. Valentina made up her mind. Valentina Terris: "I believe you, darling."
Keille: "Really?"
Valentina Terris: "Don't doubt me, it's not becoming. I will speak to the Dream Team. It'll take a few weeks, however." Keille deflated, all the air falling out of her, her face plastered with relief. Keille: "Thank the gods and Saints. A few weeks is fine -- New Horizons has the entire site locked down, and it might take me the better part of a month to get all the paperwork in order. Here, take my SID." She emitted a signal from her comm unit, which Valentina's picked up and saved. After that, the woman thanked her a few more times before attempting to pay for her coffee -- which Valentina continually declined -- and then eventually left in a hurry, eager to tell her fellow Xenowardens the news. Valentina stayed behind in the cafe for longer than she'd planned, going over each of the files... Her gut told her that Keille was right -- something was wrong here. It was too simple on the surface, too clean. It was all coming to a head there, and Valentina meant to be on top of it when it did. She closed the file, tucking it into her briefcase, and left for her next meeting. The vision fades...
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