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+ | < | ||
+ | turn:144 | ||
+ | title: | ||
+ | start: | ||
+ | end: | ||
+ | posted_date: | ||
+ | played_date: | ||
+ | weather: | ||
+ | location:in the town of Maelbourg, the Barony of Huerten, the Kingdom of Rang | ||
+ | xp_ziedon: | ||
+ | xp_kreemon: | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | The day got worse and worse for Ziedon. The volume of the chant became louder, until at times it was almost impossible to concentrate. It would then soften, but never as much as the last time. Ziedon felt he was running out of time to deal with this problem, and given how the last fight with the priests went, he would probably need help, and a good plan. He had just decided that, when the chanting reached a crescendo more powerful than any before it. Ziedon crushed the fragile mouse skeleton he was working with, and fell to the floor, palms against his temples. He had no idea how long he was unconscious before Korisca shook him awake. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon slowly rose to his feet, holding his head. "I still hear the roaring of the priests' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kreemon related the information they learned from Forgolon, with occasional corrections by Korisca. "It has been about three days, hasn't it?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon frowned as he listened to Kreemon and says. "We are just past the three day mark since the priests have invaded my soul." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So... What do you plan on doing?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "It appears I have little choice. I must find this last priest or the rods, and destroy them, if I stand any hope of surviving these evil magics laid against me. Will you two help me in riding myself of this curse?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "To the House?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon turned to Korisca. "And you? Will you help me?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Korisca pulled a chair away from the table and plopped down into it. "I don't know, Ziedon... You've been a good friend, but... but it's the House. Do you know what they can do to a person?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I appreciate your support and willingness to help me. But maybe there is another way. If I could sneak into the House and find somewhere to hide, I could spend the next few days exploring the innards of the House to determine where the priest is located or where the rods are housed. Then, the day of the earthquake could be our rallying time to strike. We can coordinate things via the message ribbon. What do you two think?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "That could possibly work," Kreemon said. "If you found somewhere secure, where you could hole up, like a storeroom or the like. Forgolon wasn't too helpful with a map of the House, so your own experiences in there are your best guide." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then I will rest now and wake in the wee hours of the morning to depart when the House is at its ebb." | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Well, while I rest, if you could go and examine the outside of the House. I am interested in any windows or cracks or possible entrances above the first floor, anywhere around the building." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon turned his back to return to his room. He walked slowly, casting enchantment after enchantment at Korisca. That delay of hers was too suspicious. Finally, he closed the door. "While I am resting," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Confident that the bird would do as he asked, Ziedon lay down on the bed and fell asleep. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When he woke, it was somewhat after midnight, a little later than he'd intended, but the extra rest was worth it. He studied his spells, picking a selection that would keep him concealed, without neglecting a fair defense. This took him longer than usual. That incessant chanting kept breaking his concentration. One time it was so bad that he almost knocked his spell book off the desk. It seemed to be worse when he was dealing directly with magic like this. It was no wonder the wizard in Forgolon' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Finally, Ziedon finished, and stood up. Tah' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Are there any windows or portals above the first floor? Hatches on the roof?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The windows are hard. There is one perch on top." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Does the perch allow entry into the building?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Tah' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon opened his door to see whether Korisca had returned. "What did you find?" he asked when he saw her picking at little bits of bread and hard cheese at the table. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, you're awake. It looks like a lot of priests are hanging out outside the House right now. They' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I looked for windows like you asked. All the windows facing the street are glass, but some of the higher windows on the side are normal shutters. The problem is, they were boarded up when the snow started. I know you can get through small spaces, but it depends on how good a job they did, and whether they had you in mind when they did it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "When I was there, the main door was open for the Midnight Song, which is a little strange; they usually only have Midnight Song in the summer. The priests' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Sorry I couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon steepled his fingers under his chin and said, "Thank you Korisca; you were indeedly helpful. I wonder if they must actively continue the Song to make its effects still last." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kreemon, who was a light sleeper, had been awake since the conversation started. He walked in and joined as if he'd been in the room all along. "You know Ziedon, it appears that the House is waiting for you. Maybe you should give it a few more days before you go exploring. The longer before you arrive, the more lackadaisical they will get. In the meantime, we could use your help talking with some of the people that Forgolon mentioned would be good to consolidate Leera' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon thought silently for a few more moments and then said, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I know of each of those people," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kreemon left the boarding house and carefully made his way back to the tavern, watching the streets for anyone following. The streets were all but empty during this late hour, and the bar was closed. He would have to try again later. | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | The next morning went smoothly. Kreemon was back with the papers before Ziedon awoke. Despite his curiosity, he left the seals in tact. After all the trouble that resulted the last time he slipped open a seal, he wasn't about to do that again without considering the consequences. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When Kreemon got back, Ziedon was shaving his beard, and Korisca was looking through their ever-growing pile of clothing and make-up. When Ziedon was finished, Korisca helped him apply the false moustache, first smearing his upper lip with a sticky paste. Both the paste and the abrasive horse hair were irritating and smelly, but they would keep people from recognizing him. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Whatever "three days" meant in Forgolon' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Our first guy likes to spend time in his garden," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kreemon said, "I am ready." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Oh, if my name must be mentioned, why don't we go with... Hathron." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Okay. Remember she is Leera and I am Allagan." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon let Kreemon lead, staying next to Korisca in the back as they headed to their first possible benefactor. Kreemon glanced back occasionally to make sure he wasn't pulling too far ahead, and followed Ziedon' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Eiselon Makierrei was indeed in his garden, bent over trying hopelessly to right a row of flowers that had sunk into the mud. He glanced up at the sky and frowned under a bushy moustache at some foreboding clouds. The man was as Forgolon had described him, short, balding and potbellied, with heavy eyebrows and beady eyes, almost comical when described, but disappointingly ordinary when seen in person. | ||
+ | |||
+ | From a distance, Ziedon stepped closer to Kreemon and used him to block his actions from view. Thus hidden, he cast his spell of persuasion, keeping his voice low. After completing one spell, he cast a second, this time remaining silent, but letting his hands move freely through an intricate pattern. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "If we are to meet with any others today," | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kreemon stayed in the lead. When they were within hailing distance, he said, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The townsman looked up at them, then stood, his arms hanging away from his sides as if they were resting against a much larger body. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon watched the townsman carefully as he stepped into his view. "We are not with a guild. We just need a few minutes of your time." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Townsman Makierrei looked Ziedon up and down, then shrugged his shoulders. "Sure. Come on in," he said, and led the way into his house. The front door opened into a sitting room, where there were six comfortable chairs around a low, highly-polished table made of a kind of wood neither Ziedon nor Kreemon had seen before. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon made sure to wipe his feet off before entering, and then stood inconspicuously against the wall to let Kreemon do the talking. Kreemon deferred to Korisca, pulling a chair out for her to sit, and then took a seat at her right side. When both were settled, he pulled out a letter, glanced at it briefly to ensure it was addressed to the right person, and said, "We were told that you might be able to assist Leera in establishing herself here and claiming her birthright. I believe this missive will explain the matter." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Makierrei took the letter, examined the seal for a good long time, then broke the seal, unrolled the letter and read it carefully. "So Leera, or Korisca, or whatever her name is, is the daughter of Ulan. I'll take it on faith for now that this Fereleia person is her mother and Ulan's consort." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon gently interjected, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Makierrei thought for a moment, tapping his finger on the table. "Maybe you're right. Solidifying Ulan's holdings would be good for this town, especially after the way that sorcerer murdered Galgewe." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon said to Korisca, "If you would, Townslady, please show him the letter from your father." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Korisca handed over the letter, and Makierrei read it through. "It does sound like Ulan," he said. "I never knew he had a consort. Alright," | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon added, "It certainly would be helpful." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, of course." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I want you to draft a letter to Cewethir, saying that, from my travels outside of Maelbourg, I know of Korisca Ulan, and can vouch for her legitimacy. Incorporate appropriate details from this letter and elaborate when necessary to get the point across." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Yes, Eiselon," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "My wife," Makierrei said. " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you very much." Kreemon held his hands out, palms upwards, and shrugged his shoulders. "At this point, this is as far as we had planned. Do you have any suggestions on how we should proceed to consolidate Townsman Ulan's holdings and legally transfer them to Leera, his rightful Heir?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Your counsel would be greatly appreciated," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I haven' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Who has stepped up and tried to take control of the holdings since this Galgewe person was murdered? Who would know exactly the extent of the current holdings?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I wouldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kreemon said in a little bit of a huff, "This Galgewe had no legal right to sell Townsman Ulan's holdings or purchase things in his name!" Then Kreemon visibly deflated, sighed and continued, "But as you suggest, it might be more trouble than it's worth to try to reclaim that which was sold and return that which was bought. If we are able to secure whatever was owned at Galgewe' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon interjected, | ||
+ | |||
+ | "The difficulty might be in keeping what Galgewe bought. He was a foreigner and an Andrithan, and while he clearly had something over Artak and used Artak' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "So how do you recommend we go about securing the Townslady' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I think you're already moving in the right direction. Secure the support of some townsmen, and if possible, the House, and things will fall into place on their own. As soon as the guilds meet to discuss the matter, and as long as the House doesn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon asked, "Who can call such a meeting? How is it done?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Any group of three townsmen or thirty journeymen can call a meeting. A called meeting is rare, but the weather over the past few days makes for an obvious excuse." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "To retain Townslady Leera' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Like I said, gaining the support of the guards will be difficult. You'll need a lot of money." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Are there any other Townsmen that you would recommend we speak to, to bolster Townslady Leera' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I would try to gain the support of the top townsmen, the ones with the most sway. They would be Townsmen Silnquost, Worsen, Orfort, Raiborder and Kal." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You have already been so helpful, I hate to ask... but... would you be willing to write short letters to each of those townsmen to facilitate the matter?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I don't think any of the five would respect a letter from me, except Raiborder, and he hasn't been heard from in weeks. I suppose Silnquost might listen." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon replied, "Then perhaps letters just to Townsmen Raiborder and Silnquost? Every little bit will be sure to help." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Makierrei thought for a bit, then answered. "Very well. I suppose the gain from Ulan's holdings being grounded is greater than the chance that I will make a bad name for myself by supporting Korisca' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "If you think it best, perhaps you could include in the letter the need to call a meeting in three days time ?- especially concerning the weather, but at which time Korisca' | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Makierrei got up to arrange the letters, while Ziedon waited patiently, trying not to say anything further to distract him. Kreemon, on the other hand, continued to talk with him. "While your wife is writing," | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Rain hardly seems likely any time soon. I think the clouds emptied out during that blizzard." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kreemon held up an arm. "Broke my arm when I was younger, and it always gets an ache when rains are coming, by the pain I am feeling. I imagine there will be a huge downpour in just a few hours." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "A few hours?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon remarked, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Which three?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ziedon clarified. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "As I said, Raiborder hasn't been heard from in weeks. But Townsman Silnquost is not overly difficult to find. Check the public guild house, or his own, and someone will be able to tell you where or when to find him. Cewethir is probably at his mines, assessing the damage from the storm. He should be home late tonight, or if you're lucky, you'll meet him at the Yellow Sheep -- that's a miners' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How do we get to the mines from here?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Would you be willing to write us a letter granting us permission to visit the mines?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | " | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then we will wait until this evening when he is at the tavern." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Makierrei was surprisingly inept at description. Having seen townsman Silnquost before, Ziedon could match things up, but Makierrei couldn' | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Thank you again," | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||