Session 53 - The Ball Drops

General Summary

8th Harvest - contd.

Unsure of what exactly had happened, Janora headed forward into the house looking for a quiet space to try to figure out what happened. Turning down the southern hall from the sitting room, the witch stopped at the dining room door, but the dozen or so people eating and the boisterous conversation was not what they were looking for. Continuing down the hall and around the corner, Janora saw that there was only one door at the far end with a guard standing in front. The guard, a youngish human man with a black domino mask, called out in a pleasant voice, "I'm quite sorry, but this area is out of bounds for the evening."
"Not a problem," replied Janora, "I'm just looking for a moment of quiet somewhere."
The guard laughed and said, "Tonight, probably out in the street."
The witch grunted in reply, but gave him a wave and retraced their steps. Stopping at the kitchen door, Janora pushed it open, but quickly let it swing closed when they saw the bustle of servants running around. From there they headed out into the foyer and noticing that the upper landing had cleared out. Making their way upstairs they found that several of the earlier card players were still sitting around the table, smoking and gossiping. They welcomed Janora to sit down and the witch pulled out their own pipe and began to pack it.

---

Back downstairs in the ballroom, Denye, Vellikar and Ranunkel were still circulating and struggling to make polite conversation. Denye in particular was struggling to keep from repeating herself and beginning to get exhausted from such outgoing behavior. Ranunkel and Vellikar likewise were running out of conversation topics and were mostly just listening to the crowds around them for any useful bits of information. Vellikar got very excited when he heard an older looking gentlemen declare, "The Queen should just annex that city for Paxtopa." Finding a place to linger, Vellikar eavesdropped on the conversation, unfortunately much of it was just gossip about a recent trip, although the druid did catch the names of several excellent restaurants as well as a theater.
Ranunkel had decided to find Ell and headed outside to the patio. The dwarven druid was distracted however when he saw the brightly painted tent and the sign proclaiming, "Madame Starspire; Fortunes Told, Pasts Revealed, and Futures Promised." Detouring directly for the tent, Ranunkel stepped inside and found a middle-aged looking woman with orange skin, glowing red eyes, curling green hair, and a set of orange horns that curved back, seated behind a small table. Looking up, the woman said, "Welcome, welcome, welcome, how may Madame Starspire assist you today?"
"Well, Madame Starspire," replied the dwarf, "I think I'm here looking for some information."
"That, my friend," the teifling said with a laugh, "I have in plenty. What is it you wish to know? Do you seek your one true love? Or where a hidden treasure lies?"
Ranunkel thought for a moment, "Perhaps a treasure, I am on a bit of a quest, you see. If you could help with that, it would be great!"
"Perhaps, perhaps," said Madame Starspire, picking up a deck of cards from the table, "Tell me more about this quest, what is it you seek? Is it object, person, or abstract?" As Ranunkel explained more of his search for the Stone of Connection, the fortune-teller shuffled the cards, nodding as she listened. When he had finished, she fanned the cards and held them out, inviting the druid to pick three. He did so and setting the deck aside, the tiefling took the three and laid them out, revealing the Devil, the Emperor reversed, and the Sun."
"To begin with," said Madame Starspire, "The Sun in the future position is excellent, this quest of yours will come to a successful completion. These other two cards, however tell me that it will not be easy. The first says the object you seek was once held by someone or something truly evil, while the second tells me that they were thrown down and you will likely find the object in a ruin of some sort." The seer closed her eyes for a moment and wrinkled her brow. Opening her eyes she said, "I am sorry, I do not get any sense of name or direction, only a sense of both fire and ice...a glacier wrapped around a dormant volcano."
"That's...that's definitely more than I had before," crowed Ranunkel, "thank you, thank you very much." Giving the fortune-teller a bow he backed out the tent and went in search of other useful information as well as his friends. Picking up a drink, the druid began making his way across the patio examining the building as he walked. Several large windows could be seen on both the first and the second floors, althought there were none on the first floor of the corner tower. Finding an out of the way spot, the stone druid muttered a phrase and holding his breath, stuck his head through the wall. It passed through the stone of the building without issue, but with a thump and a crack of wood, the druid hit something he couldn't pass through. Pulling his head back, Ranunkel pulled a splinter from his forehand and muttered, "Damn wood paneling."

---

While Ranunkel was consulting with the fortune teller, Jilken had wandered outside and been drawn to the dueling ring. The pair currently in the ring were both human, both young men, and both terrible with their blades. Neither looked like they had done anything other than fancy court fencing. Within a minute or two one of the young men was disarmed and sprawled on the ground. 
The next pair wasn't much better, but the third at least held some possibility when they chose a scimitar and a shortsword instead of the whippy fencing blades. Unfortunately, neither had any real skill and it was a good thing the blades were blunted by a blueish strip of magic along the edges, or both boys would have died from the blows they inflicted on each other. Scanning the crowd gathered around, the one person who seemed like they would be any sort of a challenge would be the large man in splint armor who seemed to be running the dueling ring. 
Satisfied that she would get at least one good fight, Jilken looked around for possible weapons. She couldn't use any of the swords and she didn't want to reveal any of the weapons she had concealed within her costume. The Aiel found what she sought at the edge of the patio, a handful of three foot long wooden rods. They were a bit longer and heavier than Jilken was used to fighting with and she took a few practice swings to make sure they would work as intended. 
Making her way back over, she added her name to the list and soon found herself in the ring against a tall, lanky half-elf with a rapier. They traded blows for a few rounds, blocking some, with Jilken pushing him back. Unable to see where he was putting his feet, the opponent stepped on a stone and lost his balance for a moment. Jilken took the opportunity to knock his sword out of his hand, but she lost her grip on the stick and it went rolling across the ground. Not letting up, the Aiel swung the other stick around, knocking his feet out from under him and sending the man sprawling. He easily enough conceded with a laugh.
The other two fights proved to be not more of a challenge. As Jilken adjusted to these sticks, her fighting got surer and she began to toy with her opponents a bit, driving them around the circle and focusing most of her blows on the posteriors of the combatants. Her fighting had definitely attracted the attention of the spectators and halfway through the second fight they were laughing and cheering as Jilken fending off blows with just the pair of sticks, each time sending her opponent to the ground.
After the third bout, Jilken made eye contact with the man in leathers and asked, "So, you going to give me a real workout or what?"
He barked a laugh and said, "No reason I can't have a little fun myself, why not."  Stepping into the ring, he pulled two shortswords and took up a ready stance. Jilken did likewise and a moment later the guard captain attacked, feinting with a shoulder height blow as the other sword came in at the hip. Jilken knocked both blows aside contemptuously before coming around and cracking him in the thigh with one of her sticks.
The guard captain grunted at the impact but lunged at the Aiel with two more strikes. This time Jilken didn't even try to block them, just danced out of the way, before giving him a smack across the ass. This caused a great deal of hooting and laughter from the spectators.
Two more swings, and this time the guard captain scored a hit, sending a shock of pain down Jilken's arm. The Aiel simply laughed and whirled, bringing the sticks around for two more blows. The captain parried the first blow, but the second caught him just behind the knee, causing him to stumble. 
He turned the stumble into a feint to the left and then brought his right sword around catching the elf just along the lower ribs. He tried for a second hit, but overextended and as Jilken danced out of the way, buried the tip of his blade into the dirt. Cursing, he yanked it out just as Jilken swung, trying to catch him in the side of the head. Unfortunately she lost her grip and the rod went flying over the heads of the onlookers towards the back of the garden. Not even pausing, she brought the other around and struck the captain in the shoulder.
Clearly tiring, the guard captain flailed at Jilken, but both blows went wide. Shaking her head, the Aiel brought the stick around in a two-handed swing, sweeping the man's legs out from under him and sending him sprawling. As the crowd went wild, Jilken brought the wooden stave around and tapped it lightly against the captain's throat. 
Laughing, he released both swords and called, "I yield." Jilken held out a hand and helped the man to his feet. The crowd of spectators had begun chanting, "Wolf, Wolf, Wolf," but Jilken ignored them and spoke to the captain, "That wasn't too bad for a northerner, would you like to go have a drink."
The guard captain, shook his head, "Not while I'm on duty. Besides, my master has asked me to help with this entertainment and I dare not leave these folks unattended. But that was quite a fight, I'd hate to see what you would be like with a sword in your hand."
Jilken grimaced and shook her head, "Give me a spear any day, blades are overrated."
The captain, who introduced himself as Mark Edie, clapped Jilken on the shoulder one last time before turning to address the crowd, "Alright, now that you've seen a real fight, who thinks they have it in them?" 

---

Back upstairs, Janroa was feeling more like themselves, and enjoying the gossip from Kasfire Jeewsti and Esrina Haverlocke when they heard the sound of raised voices on the stairs behind them. Both voices were male...and young. Sneaking a glance, the witch recognized one as the young man, Engnas Paraya. The other was a younger looking gnome, dressed in brown robe with worn elbows and stained grayish-green patches.
The gnome asked “What do you mean you went to the Coronal Nugget again?”
"And why not?" asked Engnas with a laugh, "Besides, this was horse racing. Half the horses were from my family’s stocks, hell, at least five of them I’ve trained.”
The gnome threw up his hands and almost shouted, “That makes it worse!" Rubbing a hand across his face, he lowered his voice somewhat and added, "You know they don’t like cheaters. That’s what got Gorscha in trouble…why would you even risk it?”
Engnas looked shocked and urged, "Keep your voice down!" In a more mollifying voice he said, "It’s not cheating, I didn’t interfere with any of the horses or change the outcomes of any of the races. Just a little bit of extra knowledge, that’s all…and I didn’t win on every race, just enough to almost triple my pot. Now, let’s go to your room, you said you had something to show me.” 
The young gnome shook his head, but resumed climbing the stairs and the pair disappeared through a door near the table where Janora and others were sitting. Over the link, Janora sent through the link, "A pair just walked past and one of them mentioned Gorscha. I think they were talking about horse racing or something."
Denye asked, 'Where are you? I'll be right there." 
At the same time, Ell sent, "Just give me a moment, Jilken is kicking someone's butt and I need to be here to collect on a few bets."
Janora snorted but replied, "I'm upstairs on the landing smoking with some old biddies."
While they were having this conversation, Lady Haverlocke pulls out a copper flash and waggled it, "Anyone feel like a little nip of my ambrosia."
Janora bit their lip in thought, but then gave an almost imperceptible shrug and asked, "What would that be?"
"A family recipe," replied Lady Haverlocke, "Quite good on a cool night. It's mostly made with apples."
Janora's eyes widened a bit at the description but nodded, reaching out for the flask. It was quite good, extremely sweet and a bit syrupy, and burned on the way down. As the applejack hit the witch's stomach, the room spun for a moment or two but they held it together and passed the flask back saying, "Thatss quite gooood." Leaning forward and lowering their voice a bit, Janora asked, "Since we're such good friends, who were the two who just passed us and went into that room? The taller fellow looked familiar, but his name is escaping me."
Lady Haverlocke took a nip from the flask as well, "Oh that was Xoni, Master Faelran's second son. The human fellow was one of his friends...Engas or Megass, I can't recall. His family is in horses I believe, over in the Uplor province."
"Really," replied Janora with a bit of suprise, "I would have thought the young master would have joined the rest of the family in playing host tonight."
The elderly woman in the crow mask laughed, "Ah well, Xoni is rather the despair of his parents. He's a bit of dreamer...and has some unconventional ideas."
Janora nodded, "Young men I suppose...they often get strange ideas."
"Exactly," agreed Lady Esrina, "I'm sure Xoni will grow out of it in a few years. If not...perhaps I'll suggest to his father that he spends a few seasons on one of my boats."
"One of your boats?" asked Janora, puzzled, "Pardon my asking, but what exactly is it you do?"
"Oh," replied the old woman, "I run one of the most successful shipping companies in Paxtopa. Surely you have heard of us, Haverlocke Freight?"
The witch shook their head, "Can't say as I have, but I haven't spent a lot of time in Haven." Not wanting to be too obviously pushy, Janora let the subject drop as Kasfire asked if she would be having any ships coming past Mosshall soon?
Denye had gotten up the stairs just in time to hear the comment about dreamers, but Ell was just behind her with Ranunkel and Vellikar trailing in his wake. Catching sight of the others, Janora sent, "They just went through the door there to my right." With that Janora knocked the pipe out and tucking it away, excused their self and headed back downstairs.
Over the link, Denye asked, "What do you think we should do Ell, this looks like a nice house."
Ell chuckled, "As much fun as it might be, we should probably come up with a non-violent plan."
Denye nodded, "I had assumed that. This isn't my territory...books are usually much easier to question."
At that moment, Jilken appeared at the head of the stairs. Laying eyes on her, Ell smiled and sent, "Jilken, I think you might have the best chance. There is too much of a chance they would recognize me. Maybe you could try to join them and get these boys to talk."
Jilken looked uncertain, "I suppose I could try. Do you know if either of them saw my fight downstairs? Or if I just beat one of them?"
"No idea," replied Ell with a grin.
Jilken sighed and shook her head, but began walking to the door that Janora had indicated. As she neared, a guard stationed further down the hall cleared his throat and said, "That's family quarters, miss. The area is off-limits for all but the Faelrans and escorted guests."
"Oh I see," replied Jilken, thinking quickly, "Did you see Xoni come through recently? We were talking before my duel and he invited me up. Something about showing me some etchings."
"Aye," acknowledged the guard, "I believe young Lord Engnas and Xoni entered not too long ago. Well, I suppose you can knock and if Xoni lets you in it will be alright."
As Jilken took him up on the offer and knocked on the door, over the link she said, "Denye, come with me, you said you wanted to meet this Xoni." This caused Denye to panic a bit and the disguised Corva wizard fled down the stairs. The Aiel had to knock a second time, but Xoni opened the door, giving the elf a quizzical look and asking, "Can I help you?"
Jilken grinned broadly behind her mask, "You are Master Xoni, correct? I was speaking to a friend of yours, Engnas, and he told me all about you and I just had to make sure I got to meet you before the party was over."
Denye, who had almost reached the bottom the stairs, turned around, ran back upstairs and shouted to Xoni, "Being a dreamer is a good thing...and you aren't an embarrassment." The Cervan turned bright red and fled back down the stairs, straight out the front door, calling over the link, "I'm going back to the inn, I will see you there."
In response to Denye's comment, Xoni raised a fist and exlaimed, "Down with the monarchy!"
The guard, who had begun moving in that direction, sighed and said, "Master Xoni, your father has asked you repeatedly not to say such things within the house."
Xoni simply glared at the guard before turning back to Jilken and inviting her in. The room proved to be a comfortable looking sitting room, with a sofa and several chairs arranged before a fireplace. Several bookcases and a small table with a pitcher of wine and a few glasses completed the room. Engnas was sprawled on the couch, but he sat up as Jilken came around the side and sat down at the other end of the sofa, "Thank you," she said, "I am grateful for the chance to get away from the press of the party. There are quite a few people here and frankly I don't know almost any of them." Over the link, she asked, "What was I supposed to be asking these two? I wasn't really paying attention to other things while I was dueling."
"You're supposed to befriend them," replied Ell, "and then while they are drunk get them to tell you all their secrets. Particularly anything they know about Gorscha."
"Say you saw Engnas at the races earlier today," suggested Denye, now several blocks away and back in her familiar bird shape.
Thankful for a useful response, Jilken said, "So I thought I saw you at the horsetrack this morning...heard you did pretty good."
Engnas looked puzzled, "Races? I didn't even know there were any here in Haven today. I'm afraid you must have mistaken me for someone else. The last time I was able to attend a horse race was at the Colosseum in Dreford, almost a fortnight ago. Too bad, I do so love watching the horses run...such beautiful animals. Plus there is the family involvement in the sport after all.
"Oh well then," Jilken said with a shrug, "I must have been mistaken. I've never been to Dreford, how did the racing go?"
"Quite well, quite well," replied Engans, accepting a glass of wine from Xoni. As Jilken did likewise, the young man continued, "There were almost a half-dozen of my family's stock running in the dozen or so races. I managed to place some excellent bets." Chuckling at his own fortune, Engnas asked, "And what is your interest in horses?"
Jilken leaned back and took a sip of the wine before replying, "Well, you see I've recently had quite a few experience with special horses and I am currently riding a Shin'a'in battlemare."
At that, Engnas' eyes went wide, "You...You have a Shin'a'in battlemare. I didn't think those clans ever let their mares off the Plains."
"Fully bonded to me," Jilken confirmed, "I spent a season riding the plains with Liha'irdien and am a sworn clansib."
"That is amazing," said Engnas, clapping his hands and whooping. "We've gotten a few culls of their more standard lines, but they have all been geldlings. Do you think it would be possible to put this battlemare to stud? My family would quite happily pay a king's ransom for such a thing."
"It would be a fruitless task," said, Jilken shaking her head, "Ironheart has her own mind, and would not let any of your stallions mount. I do not think she would be willing to mate with any horses off the Plains."
Engnas looked crestfallen, but remained eager to talk about horses. Xoni on the other hand had taken one of the chairs and was staring into the fire with a bored and slightly sullen look. Jilken read this as frustration from what the guard had said earlier and began to direct questions to Xoni drawing him into the conversation.
It didn't take a lot for Xoni to share some of those forbidden ideas. "The monarchy should be destroyed," he said, "as well as the rest of the aristocracy. No person should bow to another, each of us should be left alone and given the freedom to make our own choices. Power should be derived from the property one holds."
"What about those who don't own property?" asked Jilken skeptically, "Or those who are defenseless to the predators in our world."
"That is exactly the problem." replied Xoni excitedly, "the monarchy and our entire societal structure has left people weak in mind and body. And I never said it would be easy, but people must learn to defend themselves and as for those who don't own property, they should go and claim some. Without this archaic feudal system holding us back there is plenty of land to go around."
Jilken, not persuaded by his arguments, never the less let him continue on, making non-committal comments and generally acting a little bubbly-headed. When he wound down, Jilken made her excuses and thanked the pair for the conversation before escaping out onto the upper landing and finding all of her friends gone, headed back downstairs in search of them...as well as a stiff drink or two.

---

Meanwhile, Janora had decided to speak with the fortune-teller and find out if she was a scam artist. But on the way through the ballroom, Erky Timbers stopped the witch, saying, "I have a message for you....only I just realized tonight that it WAS for you."
"What do you mean?" asked the witch, confused.
Erky touched the holy symbol around his neck and said, "The Weaver granted me a vision a moon ago."
"Oh, ene of those messages." replied Janora tartly, interrupting the gnome cleric. Looking around they shook their head, "Not in here, let's go outside and find a quiet spot. This music is making my head throb." 
Erky nodded and in a low voice said, "That is probably a good idea, I'm not sure I want a lot of people to overhear this." 
Janora led the way out toward the back of the garden and a nice patch of shadow. Taking a seat on a convenient bench, they asked, "Now who did you say this message was from...the Weaver of Fate?"
Erky nodded and touched his holy symbol once more, "Yes, Lady Istus, Spinner and Weaver of Fate. She will sometimes give me glimpses of the future or hints at what may come to be. She never says outright who a message might be for, only a clue to the identity, trusting that I will recognize it at the appropriate time. I don't know why...perhaps so the the warning come at the proper moment, who can say. But in your case, I was given a vision of your mask, but it wasn't until the party tonight that I knew it was you behind the mask."
Janora removed said mask to stare into the wolf's eyesockets for a few long moments before sighing and muttering, "This is what happens when you start mucking about with gods." Turning to Erky, they asked, "And what was this message?"
Sobering, Erky recited, "The Wanderer’s return heralds the age of transition. As the planets shift, so do the realms. Spaces once excised may return or find new neighbors."
Janora looked dumbfounded for a moment, but shook their head and asked Erky to repeat the message, passing it word for word over the party radio so Denye could transcribe it. Leaning back, they said, "Thank you, thank you very much. Is there anything I can do to repay you for carrying it? Or for your goddess perhaps?"
"No, no, no," assured the gnome cleric, "it was my privilege, Esme has been telling me some stories about you and your friends. I don't know what it means though...but it sounds serious."
Janora shrugged, "That does seem to be the pattern in my new line of work. I'm not exactly sure what it means either, but it will probably make sense to at least one of my friends."
At that moment, Denye sent, "I think I know what it means...or at least the first part. The Wanderer is almost certainly the comet Vehacarro. We also know that Igniuc and Olrade are going to be in a conjunction soon. This probably means some sort of temporal-spatial transition matching the celestial. On top of that, "the spaces once excised," makes me think of the Lost Kingdom. We've been seeing a lot of cults popping up and that probably means..."
Wincing, Janora sent, "Denye please, I am happy to hear that you understand it, but could you explain it later? Right now I don't think I can listen to you and try to listen to other people." 
"Oh, of course," Denye said with a touch of remorse, "we can talk about it all in the morning."
Turning their attention back to Erky, Janora thanked him again and headed in the direction of the fortune-tellers tent. Stepping inside, they saw the same orange tiefling woman who was writing something in a notebook with a silverstick. As the witch entered, she set the book aside and greeted Janora, saying, "Welcome, welcome, how may Madame Starspire help you this evening? Do you wish to see into the past? Or perhaps you desire a glimspe of the future?"
"That's all very impressive, I'm sure," said Janora dryly, "Janora Crowcaller, nice to meet you." Stepping up to the table, the witch asked, "So how is it you do what you do?" 
The seer laughed, "Well general I read the tarroka cards, but I also have a crystal ball and several other methods of sortilege that I use to employ my gift."  
Janora looked down at the deck of cards skeptically, "Those pieces of paper can tell you the future? I don't even sense any magic in them."
"Ahh, but the magic is within the seer and the supplicant," explained Madame Vera, "the cards are simply a tool to describe relationships within reality, a way for the the universe to answer us." Picking up the cards, the fortune-teller gave the pack a quick suffule or two and asked, "Would you like to ask a question?"
"Why not," replied Janora, "can you tell me why I got drunk tonight?" The tielfling looked nonplussed by the question but fanned the cards out and invited the witch to pull three and lay them face down on the table. 
Setting aside the rest of the deck, Madame Starspire turned them over, revealing the Wheel, the Emperor, and Temperance. The tiefling nodded, "Yes, things tend to come in cycles and you are someone who likes to maintain control over yourself, but this third card says that things must find balance. So I would image that you got drunk tonight because you drank alcohol."
Janora, who had crossed their arms and was giving the cards a death glare, said, "That card says I'm drunk because I needed to let loose? Does it say anything about I was immune to the effects of alcohol for the first half of the party and then suddenly I'm tipsy." 
Madame Starspire blinked and wrinkled her brow, "No, nothing about that, but that wasn't the question you asked. The only other thing I get is a sense of water and waves washing against a beach."
Janora grunted and in a seemly non-sequiter asked, "Did you see that other magic user that was here, the orcish woman? She was out here on the patio for quite a while."
The seer shook her head, "I'm afraid not. I've been in here reading for clients for most of the evening."
"No problem," replied Janora, "Before I go, I would love to see your crystal ball. Do you think I might ask a question of it?"
The tiefling smiled broadly and said, "Of course, of course." Setting the cards aside, the tiefling brought over a large crystal orb on a golden base. Bringing over a couple of candles she sat them on either side of the orb. After sprinkling some incense onto a nearby burner, Madame Vera settled back into her seat and asked, "And what question would you ask of my all seeing-eye?"
"Well," replied Janora, leaning back skeptically, "now what does this best tell you? What kinds of questions give you the clearest answers?"
"I've never had anyone put it quite like that," said the seer with a laugh, "but I suppose I would say that questions of the past are the best, history is so much more concrete than the future after all."
Somberly, and moving carefully, Janora removed the Binder from it's pouch and set it on the table, careful not to let it sound. Leaning back and crossing their arms, the witch asked, "What can your ball tell me about the history of this bell?"
Madame Starspire raised an eyebrow at the question, but settled herself and began starring into the crystal ball. For several long moments, she said nothing, but then the seer threw herself backwards in her chair, raising her hands. "That's...that's Redanar's own bell...wielded by Redanar herself in the Binding of Ollamaas. This bell is over a thousand years old.
"I knew that already," replied Janora, "what are you talking about? What makes that so special?"
"This is one of the most powerful artifacts in all of Vestra," repeated the tiefling, "Wielded by one of the Titans in the largest workings since the gods created this world. All of the bells used in that ritual absorbed some of the Shiner's power and none were stronger of will than Redanar. Not even Thajenel could sway his sister when she had set her course." 
Janora blinked once or twice at this information. Cocking their head to the side, the witch said, "I must apologize but I need to ask, in your vision did you see the bell being used?"
Madame Vera nodded, "That was what frightened me. The eight Bright Shiners were gathered in circle, standing on the eight points of a star, an arcane sigil created from energies channeled from the heavens above. A figure with burning red eyes stood in the center, easily 10ft tall, covered in shadows that writhed and wrapped their hulking frame."
"That does sound..." began Janora, but the tiefling kept speaking, her face gone slack and voice monotone, "It won't be enough...he'll come back. Without the Betrayer all the Shiners could do was split his essence in two. If those should be brought together and touch Ollamaas would be reborn...and the world lost, for we have none who could stand against the son of the Chained Oblivion." The seer slumped in her chair and took a shuddering breathe or two, before she opened her eyes and quickly scanned over the interior of the tent.
Slightly alarmed, Janora cast Goodberry, creating a handful of large, plump berries and rushed over to Madame Vera's side. Pouring the berries onto the table in front of her, the witch said, "Here, try one of these, they are very nourishing and fortifying. Thank you, that was incredibly helpful and I do truly apologize for having doubted your skill." Patting the fortune-teller on the shoulder before moving toward the door, Janora mentally relayed to Denye what they had been told. Stopping at the tent flap, Janora turned and gave the seer a bow, saying, "May the Raven Queen smile upon you."

---

Back upstairs; Ell, Ranunkel and Vellikar loitered on the upper landing, waiting for Jilken. The trio had taken over the table when Earl Jeewsti led Lady Harverlocke downstairs for a bit of dancing. As they waited Ell remembered the key he had been given and over the mental link shared the offer he had received from Lady Frowyn. He finished by saying, "Obviously, I don't want to do such a thing, but what should I do with the key?"
"What about that guard captain, Mark Edie?" suggested Denye, blocks away and making her way through Haven towards Docklands, "Just tell him you found it on the floor in the foyer and wanted to make sure it was given to someone of authority." 
That sounded like a good plan and Ell gathered up the pair of druids, both of whom were starting to look a little overwhelmed by the party, and headed downstairs to find Captain Edie. The imposing looking man was still out by the dueling ring, although no one seemed particularly interested in a fight, he was leaning against a table drink a tankard of something. As Ell approached he stood, setting the tankard aside and asked, "And how may I help you tonight sir? Were you looking for a duel?" 
"No, no, nothing like that," squeaked Ell, his face coloring a little. Fishing the key out of a pocket, the young man held it out saying, "I seem to have this misplaced inside a few minutes ago. I don't know what it goes to, but I thought it was important that I return it to someone so it does not fall into nefarious hands."
Mark took the key and examined it, "It does look like a House key, thank you for returning it. Where did you say you found it?"
"Oh, ah, it was on a side table in the library," stammered Ell, "I must be going now, my friends are getting tired and I should see them home." Turning, he made his way back over to Ranunkel and Vellikar. Janora had joined the pair and as Ell approached, they said, "I don't know about you, but I am more than ready to call it a night."
Ell nodded and said, "I'm almost ready. I think I'd like to visit the fortune-teller myself." Over the link, he added, "Keep an eye on these two, would you?"
Janora smiled and joked, "You might want to give her a moment or two to recover after her interaction with me." "But definitely ask her for the crystal ball," added the witch, smugly.
Ell flashed Janora a puzzled but curious look but turned in the direction of the fortune-tellers tent saying, "Keep an eye out for Tear, I haven't seen him in a while." Pushing aside the tent flap, the warlock found Vera Starspire sipping a steaming cup of tea. Setting it aside, the tiefling waved Ell to the supplicant's chair saying, "Come in, come in, and how may Madame Starspire aid you this evening, my lord?"
Taking the seat, Ell said, "Well, it seemed like many people were coming to see you and I thought it would be best to come myself and see you. I wouldn't want to miss anything at this grand event."
The seer laughed, "Well it is true that many people wish to know what their future holds. Do you have a specific question in mind, perhaps you would like to know if there is a special someone waiting for you."
Ell blushed again, stammering, "Oh no, nothing like that. I am much more interested in the past and was hoping you could look into your crystal ball for me?"
"Of course, of course," said Vera, standing up and moving over to the crystal ball she had just put away. After arranging the table and taking a seat, the fortune-teller asked, "What is it from the past that you seek?"
"There was...there was this girl," began Ell slowly, "Her name was Rose. She was a small goblin girl that I played with when I was very young. Recently I've been thinking of her recently, perhaps you could see what happened to her."  
Nodding, Madame Starspire bent her head to the crystal ball and gazed into its depths. For long moments she said nothing, but then she began to speak,  "I see a young boy, maybe six years old, sitting on his bed, happily talking to the wall. No sign of a goblin girl, but there is something there…let me try again." Not saying anything, Ell waited and a moment later she began speaking again, "I see a young you, sitting in the wardrobe with a candle, showing drawings to empty air…no, there is something, a glow around the boy…it feels…divine, but no deity I have ever touched.” 
Shaking her head, looked up at Ell again before focusing once more on the crystal ball, “Let me try again, I sensed that energy somewhere else." Several long moments pass before the seer speaks again, "I see a round room with a half dozen doors with tall statues of angels in between, a mosaic of a family crest across the domed ceiling. I see a young boy with the same glow standing on one pouring water into an urn in the statue’s hands. Oh, one of the statues moved, I see steps leading down. Yes, that power is quite strong down there." Coming back to herself she looked up at Ell and said, "Find that room and you shall find your answer. That isn't quite as straightforward as she lived happily ever after, but I am sure that the boy I saw was you."
Ell nodded and took a couple of deep breaths before pulling a badge from a pocket. Holding it out he asked, "The family crest on the ceiling, did it look like this?" At her nod, he stood and slipped the badge back into the pocket. From another he produced the small coinpurse he had won earlier and dropped it on the table. Bowing slightly, he said, "Thank you, that was...enlightening, please take this with my gratitude." 
Absorbed in thoughts of what the seer had said, Ell pushed out of the tent and didn't notice when Tear slipped up next to him. The small goblin startled the noble by tugging on his sleeve and said, "Here boss...I make report for you." Ell shook his head to clear it and looked down at his friend who was holding out a grubby piece of paper covered in nearly indistinguishable marks. Even with Eyes of the Rune Keeper, the warlock could only decipher that it was supposed to be goblin. 
The goblin kept his voice low, but proudly announced, "Lots looking for love or asking if husband or wife was cheating. Some ask about business and money. Young sounding girl ask about winning Longnight Queen. Saw man with baa baa horns go in...he ask “Will I live long enough to complete my work? She say if finished by first Qwickn.”
Ell stopped in his tracks as he processed what Tear had just said. But it only took a moment or two for the young man to began grinning wildly. Ell clapped Tear on the back, and said, "Oh Tear of Midnight Sorrow, that is such good work. Let's go find our friends and get out of here." Seeing that the others were no longer sitting at the table on the patio, over the link he called, "Janora, where did you and the others move to?" 
The witch replied, "We met Jilken in the foyer, but we still haven't seen Tear."
"I found him," Ell sent back, "we'll be right there. I think this is the perfect time to make our exit." Leading the goblin through the house, Ell picked up the rest of the party and ushered them out into the street and a block or two down to a major intersection where he hailed a coach. On the ride back the party had agreed to let everything settle and discuss what they had learned in the morning. The group got back to the inn only about ten minutes before Denye, but eventually she returned as well.  Janora and Vellikar headed directly for their rooms, but the others ordered food and wound down a bit after changing out their party costumes.

9th Harvest

Over breakfast, the party began going over everything that had been discovered at the party and adding it to what had been learned from the bar crawls previous. Ell suggested, "I don't see why we shouldn't stick to our original plan. Denye has things she needs to be in one place to work on and I know you, Janora, are looking to head home to check on your village. There are a few things I can do around here, perhaps I can learn some more around Court."
"How long were you thinking," asked Janora, "perhaps the first of Sov'van?"
Denye nodded, "I certainly have enough projects to keep me busy. I need to adjust Vellikar's glasses, and then I have at least three different artifacts to work on. Plus there is the whole research list...the Wayfinders Library is right here."
Ell shrugged, "I think the only real deadline we have is that Count Longdew has to finish his deal by the first of Quickening, but that's several moons away. I don't know how immediate any of the other situations we learned about are, the plague seems to have ravaged Caisia and the priests are holding onto the populace with fear and zealotry. Almost one in ten dies and we know it spread to the animals too. I'm fairly sure that is why Count Longdew is buying the sheep...he's planning on making a killing selling the wool to the Caisians. There was the earthquakes to the south that the Tabaxi spoke of. We know there have been earthquakes here as well, probably one that opened that second Gulthais Tree."
"Didn't Stalker say something about that?" asked Janora before answering their own question, "He said something about the Hive Queen consulting the Helix of Memory and her warning about the return of a great evil."
Jilken snorted, "That sounds kinda important...we should probably look into it."
"Should we drop the quest for the bells?" asked Denye.
Ell shook his head, "Maybe not, we were talking about going to Umberfell in search of a lost city. We might be able to work with the Tabaxi on our way through and discover what is happening."
Denye nodded, "I still haven't heard back from Secret of the Bluff, I need to check in with Auburgine, but assuming I get permission I should be able to get us quickly to the edge of the Savannah." 
"Maybe we don't take quite so much time off then," said Janora, "I do need some time to look in on things, but perhaps we meet up a bit sooner."
There was a bit more discussion, but in the end the party agreed to meet in Dreford at Three Bells on the 28th of Harvest. Janora was the first to push away from the table and headed upstairs. They reappeared a moment or two later carrying their packs and bidding the others adieu the witch headed outside. Conjuring the St. Bernard, Janora loaded the packs onto the dog and headed off for the city gates.

Report Date

07 Aug 2022