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<blockquote data-quote="Alexander Bryant1" data-source="post: 7454617" data-attributes="member: 6916184"><p><strong>Eleanor's Journal - Part 02</strong></p><p></p><p>The master changeling, Telaken the doppleganger, was to watch a demonstration of his new powers at the games. From his letter: <strong>I was pleased to see a few tickets to the Champion’s Games awaiting me. These seats should give us a good view of the coming of a new Age. I truly look forward to enjoying the privileges of true power.</strong></p><p></p><p>More changelings in the works. And we had just released one. How many more had that beatific elf let back into the world to terrorize and corrupt in her personal quest to feel wonderful about herself or bow to the whims of her mercurial goddess. Oh yes, I knew about this Sehanine: chaos and mischief and cruelty and, above all, disrupter to civilizations such as Greyhawk represented.</p><p></p><p>It was another night of troubled sleep for me.</p><p></p><p>We met the next day, 26 Coldeven, and travel to the arena. My Nessian silvers – with the Fittenberg boots and Rondon gloves to match – should present me in the appropriate light. They set my mind at peace: their carefully-engineered fabrics sewn to exacting specifications exuded a devils-may-care turn that belied their rigor and raw intellectual majesty underneath; their colors were produced, not found, after thousands of hours, or centuries depending on how broad your scope, of craft arriving at this apex; folds that tumbled according to temperature, the down-force of the material planes, moisture and so much else. Donning these garments, truly inhabiting them, was vanity to some among the dim who did not comprehend; even most who wore them well did so without deeply appreciating at the elemental level what it was they became: acknowledgment of hard-won knowledge and reaffirmation of will against a world ever seeking to reduce us to apathetic dust.</p><p></p><p>Just in case, though, I also packed my RaTs. Rough and Tumbles, created for me just that second week in Miss Zinia’s employ, three years four months, thirty-seven hours, six minutes and, tick tick tick, 15 seconds now.</p><p></p><p>Officer Vereene relayed her charming of a maintenance man named <strong>Leef</strong> who works in the arena. Some salient points she was able to take away:</p><p> • All equipment is ferried by elevator to the underground complex from above; after the start of the Games, maintenance staff reside down in the complex until the end</p><p> • Each team has its own minimal quarters – there are no shared bedrooms between teams</p><p> • There are vents throughout the complex which may be locked (and possibly trapped) or may not</p><p> • There is a separate barracks for Loris’ private security force in addition to Greyhawk-employed arena guards called Gray Wardens</p><p> • There may be a guarded passage from Loris’ house to the arena</p><p> • There is a waterway that runs through the arena providing fresh water</p><p></p><p>Leef also gave her a map of both levels of the arena.</p><p></p><p><strong>Opening Night Dinner</strong></p><p>There was a delightful dinner that night where the rules and prizes were explained by old <strong>Tellebir Welleck</strong>. Briefly:</p><p></p><p> • A party or individuals can always surrender: drop weapons and kneel with hands in the air</p><p> • Combatants may fly up to 40’ above the ground; burrowing into the arena is disqualified</p><p> • Winning gladiators cannot loot the fallen</p><p> • Combatants may not endanger the spectators</p><p> • Disqualified gladiators must move to the outer ring</p><p> • No time limit on battles</p><p></p><p>The schedule:</p><p>Day 1: four-team elimination, that is, the winner in a free-for-all of four teams advances</p><p>Day 2: day of rest</p><p>Day 3: one-on-one team vs. team</p><p>Day 4: one-on-one team vs. team or battle an exotic beast</p><p></p><p>The prizes, to be handed to the team manager for splitting however they agreed:</p><p>1st round: 2000GP</p><p>2nd round: 5000GP</p><p>3rd round: 10,000GP</p><p>Winner of the games: 20,000GP</p><p></p><p>Lord Chosik was present for the occasion reinforcing the importance, though not the details, of our mission and the necessity for our winning the first battle.</p><p></p><p>The champions from last year’s Arena Games were present as well, a trio I was aware of: Orik the warrior, adjunct Kellek and another troublesome elf, Tira, who is under five investigations at last count. Her two teammates along with her own fame and fortune shield her, and her membership in the Thieve’s Guild makes her invisible to the law, so she is unlikely ever to be even fined a silver piece let alone imprisoned. They were together the fabled “Orik’s Warband”, fighting again this year though Tira has recused herself.</p><p></p><p><em>My thoughts: Why did Tira recuse herself? She isn’t a judge or anything connected to the Games in that way as far as we know.</em></p><p></p><p>Loris gave his short, standard speech and then, later, in conversation with Lord Chosik he said in a tone clearly mocking him: “Councilman, what news of your sister? Have you found her yet?” It was a telling moment. That Loris has done something to or with Lahaka seems even more likely, but we must proceed without blinders or assumptions.</p><p></p><p><strong>A crush from Karush</strong></p><p>During dinner, I talked to <strong>Karush</strong>, the leader of one of the teams we were facing, a confident, pruning ladies’ man though certainly not without his charms. He seemed very interested in me despite – or perhaps because of – my appearance. Enjoyment of witty banter aside, it was imperative we advanced to the next round in the Games to be in a position to investigate, so I feigned great interest at conversing with him. This blossomed into the real thing when I electrocuted him only to give him pleasure not unlike goosebumps.</p><p></p><p>I would discover that like myself he was not entirely human, though unlike me he probably knew what the rest of him is.</p><p></p><p>At any rate, he said he would help us. I said I wanted to see more of him, after. It was a deal.</p><p></p><p><strong>Adventures in the dark darkness</strong></p><p>After, while I was sleeping, Rishkar and Rey headed deep into submerged tunnels. They found and eliminated eight ghouls there, possibly the outer ring of an entire band. Perhaps our chances tomorrow will not ride completely on Karush. They also found a hidden chamber that communicated with the sewer and has at least one hole poking up into the city. They both wanted to go exploring again the next night, after we had won the first contest.</p><p></p><p><strong>Our showing in the arena</strong></p><p>Well, most of us didn’t die.</p><p></p><p>Officer Vereene lost her celestial horse, and Greyhawk’s lesser pubs will find themselves saddled with an extra gallon of their cheapest ale now that Lucian Cromwell is gone, and my RaTs have a score of holes in them from more elves causing me trouble, but otherwise we survived.</p><p></p><p>Karush and his team rode from their corner to help us mow down a shaman and his guard. We then turned to the Elven trio of women raining arrows all over the battlefield.</p><p></p><p>A simple smoke screen or fog cloud would have essentially disarmed them: they were very lucky we didn’t have anything like that. Extremely poor planning on our part. We even knew the trio would be there facing us, and that they would likely have bows. Our lack of foresight should have murdered us: they should have won. We only defeated them because Karush rode across the field – taking many arrows that felled both his men – and struck at them, forcing a surrender from their leader after we felled two of their three. Several of their magic-tipped arrows plunked into me knocking me unconscious as I tried to approach, so I did not even see the end of the battle. </p><p></p><p>How come I to the Games to fight with so little thought to the combat? Was I going to charm them? Perhaps these Bow Maidens of Sehanine were out there to parlay? That must be what I thought.</p><p></p><p>Ridiculous. </p><p></p><p>After felling the elves, Karush knelt and put his hands up in surrender looking up at me.</p><p></p><p>So we won when we should not have. But we did win.</p><p></p><p><strong>The spoils of battle: data at last</strong></p><p>While we recovered underneath the arena, a courier delivered Rishkar’s crafted frost sword. He allowed me to see its pommel and examine the blade. The craftsmanship is excellent, I could plainly see.</p><p></p><p>Lord Chosik was waiting for us, smiling broadly. He awarded us the bronze bull and 200 platinum. This was all given to Rey, for some reason, which I accepted on Officer Vereene’s assurance. I do not in the slightest believe that Rey is some kind of thief, but it put me in the position of asking for my own money from an ambassador. Hopefully, as an ambassador, she will properly request from me that I take my share when appropriate as soon as we can surface.</p><p></p><p>Lord Chosik brought us more riches than these: he awarded us his confidence and bestowed information.</p><p></p><p>“I had a hidden agenda for entering you into the Games,” he explained. “You have risked injury and possible death to win a difficult match. I can now be forthright with you.</p><p></p><p>“My sister <strong>Lahaka</strong> disappeared just after the Games last year. She was, is a traveling musician. Some months before the games, she caught Loris’ eye. They began to be seen together. And then she vanished the day after the championship. I have found nothing in twelve months of scrying and investigating.”</p><p></p><p>We engaged him in a question-and-answer.</p><p></p><p>Eleanor: Where was she seen last? Near Loris’ palace.</p><p>Eleanor: Was she romantically close to others? She is a free spirit. Many lovers. There were signs that she was probably going to move on from Loris.</p><p>Eleanor: Did she appear happy? Yes, initially. But she was going to leave Greyhawk shortly after the Games. Her friends said she seemed like she was growing weary of Loris’ company.</p><p>Eleanor: Was the relationship understood to be monogamous? Yes.</p><p>Melinde: What did Loris have to say? She left. That was all.</p><p>Melinde: Did Loris seem bothered? Not at all.</p><p></p><p><em>My thoughts: The window of investigation thus appears to be that day after the championship.</em></p><p></p><p>Eleanor: She left without contacting you, my lord? Was this unusual? Very much so. </p><p>Melinde: Did she have any friends? Many, but none know where she had gone. They thought her happy during the year she was with Loris, until the end.</p><p>Rey: Did your sister speak with the winners from last year? Yes. She sang at their victory celebration. Orik is an incredible warrior; Kelleck is an adjunct professor here in Greyhawk; Tira a member of the Thieves Guild.</p><p></p><p><em>My thoughts: I know Sandrishan Kelleck. I was in a class he taught at university. His theory class was middling – I felt he hadn’t a true grasp on some of the subject matter – but he was competent and, though a bit sour most mornings, was friendly to me. And we shared something else in common ….</em></p><p></p><p>(Chosik continued): Loris has removed everyone who could be close to him save perhaps for his personal security head, <strong>Okoral</strong>. He has no close relations, does not seem to be interested in female companionship at all.</p><p></p><p>Rey: How old is Lahaka? 31.</p><p>Eleanor: What actions have you taken to look for her? I sent out, at great personal expense, spies, criers and posters to all the surrounding towns asking about her whereabouts. I engaged multiple scryers. Many had seen someone like her but nothing ever came of it. Her friends have no clue, and musicians who might know her have heard nothing.</p><p></p><p><em>My thoughts: We are probably looking for Lahaka’s body at this point.</em></p><p></p><p>We concluded the questioning session and promised to use whatever method we could down here under the arena to find clues. There were several places on the map Leef provided that would be worth investigating.</p><p></p><p><strong>Squim and the Varmint Patrol</strong></p><p>After Lord Chosik left, the burnt and battered bodies of other combatants started being carried through to the medical center or their own rooms. One in particular interested us very much.</p><p></p><p>While I spoke with Sandrishan, Officer Vereene and Ambassador Rey found Varmint Patrol, a group of were-rats plus the merchant captain Fellador Arma’s son, Kragen. They had not been prepared to fight in the arena and had fared poorly.</p><p></p><p>Squim was in the medical bay fretting about his fallen teammates who were alternately burned or sliced to pieces. The ambassador and the paladin each used a healing spell, and this earned his trust enough to be led away for questioning. He had little choice since they were flanked by three Gray Wardens, arena security. Officer Vereene was able to bribe them in disturbingly easy fashion allowing us to separate and question Varmint Patrol’s patron.</p><p></p><p>Their story was this: through a series of strategic bets and the prize money itself, Varmint Patrol was to have become rich off of this first round and instantly retire, leaving the Games. Kragen was looking to make easy coin through his participation. He was able to buy his way into the group through giving Squim the family compass that his father was searching for. Squim initially wanted nothing to do with this deal, wary of placing the well-known merchant’s son into a path of danger, but Loris’ chief of security – who somehow got wind of this – expressed considerable interest in the compass.</p><p></p><p>Officer Vereene: What happened to the compass? I passed it along as a promise of future wealth.</p><p>I had already registered the team but then Kragan wanted in. I didn’t want harm to come to him, given his father, so I refused. He had only offered a compass which was not of interest to us.</p><p></p><p>Officer Vereene: What made you change your mind? Okoral, “speaking on behalf of Loris” (meaning that Loris would not be connected officially, true of all his dealings), wanted the compass. So we found Kragan again and said Yes. I told him he would face easy opponents, but instead we were matched with Orik and annihilated.</p><p>Rey: You were meant to die.</p><p></p><p><em>My thoughts: An excellent and surprising insight from Tall and Silent. They were meant to die, and none would know then of the compass.</em></p><p></p><p>Officer Vereene: What did you face out there in the arena? Fire. Walls of it. Storms of it. No one could get by Orik or the wizard’s golems to get to that bastard himself.</p><p></p><p>Officer Vereene: When was the transaction, handing the compass to Okoral? A few days ago.</p><p></p><p>They then found and cornered <strong>Kragan</strong>, 18 years old and thoroughly shaken by the sudden overwhelming defeat. He’d only survived by immediately surrendering. This seemed to fit his description: well-manicured, beard carefully trimmed, unused armor never scratched. Not prepared for real fighting beyond a skirmish with a dueling teacher, according to Officer Vereene.</p><p></p><p>He tried to escape but the ambassador wasn’t having it. Officer Vereene ultimately calmed him by stating he wasn’t under arrest – the compass theft was family business, not Greyhawk’s – and could he answer a few questions about how he came to be on the team?</p><p></p><p>Kragan had given the compass to ‘the patron’ – he initially hadn’t known Squim’s name – who didn’t want him on the team and laughed in his face. Later, though, he came back and said OK so long as the payment was still the compass. The agreement was that they weren’t going to fight, not really: the battle was supposed to be rigged up for a round with lots of betting on the side.</p><p></p><p>My thoughts: Check to see if Orik’s Warriors or Varmint Patrol were moved at the last minute to fight one another. If so, who moved them and why?</p><p></p><p>They asked him about Phreet. He didn’t think much of her. She had, he said, been hanging out with his dad’s crew but kept trying to steal stuff, so his father put her in the brig. He’d intended to let her out and tell her to go away, but then the compass went missing so he kept her a little longer.</p><p></p><p><em>My thoughts: The compass obviously represents Phreet which seems to lead to the Lady Etona. Okoral would be in a position to move fights around, no doubt. Did he?</em></p><p><em>Does Okoral need to be a changeling himself to accomplish any of this. Presumably no: money is as effective as powers, but what is the long game here? Does it extend all the way up to Loris?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p></p><p><strong>Talking to Kellek</strong></p><p>While they were interviewing Kragan about Phreet and the compass, I spoke with Kellek. He was open and cheerful enough, particularly after remembering that I had been a student of his, and the one who shared his interest in perfectly engineered designer garments.</p><p></p><p>He remembered Lahaka at the evening feast that Loris put on last year. She had been wearing an Umarra (!!) from the fall line. If you are from caves and live on leaves and bugs, you possibly do not know that Gwendolyn September Umarra is one of the preeminent gown designers in Greyhawk.</p><p>Lahaka’s dress, on loan from Umarra for the occasion, was a snow-white Hidden Color silk gown, an experiment of color then that is quickly becoming known now. We talked much of it, though I did not think to ask if Umarra ever got the dress back.</p><p></p><p><em>My thoughts: Use this opportunity to speak to Umarra herself (!!).</em></p><p></p><p>Tira would possibly know more about where Lahaka went, but she recused herself from the Games and was not available.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Talking to Orik</strong></p><p>Orik didn’t remember Lahaka until his memory was jogged through prompting.</p><p></p><p>“Oh yeah. I was planning on getting together at a later time, but I never saw her again.”</p><p></p><p>Rey: Do you think Loris knew where she went when she disappeared? Or knows where she is now? Dunno. They used to be an item, so maybe.</p><p>Melinde: Was the relationship between Loris and her amicable? Dunno. She was all over me that night, though.</p><p></p><p><em>My thoughts: What if Loris had not been not using Lahaka for some purpose but was really fond of her, or just resented the appearance of his being a cuckhold, and so was moved to remove Orik and replace him with a changeling who then was supposed to throw the match to Varmint Patrol? Far-fetched but not impossible. It would tie into changelings to replacing people – specifically Orik – at the Games.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p>We reassembled in our room and traded information. That evening we would be looking for Leef to get us in to some forbidden places. More bribery, apparently, but the Flows know I am not above it if it means understanding the truth.</p><p></p><p>It finally occurred to me that Lord Chosik’s offer to help us included materials. We decided to requisition some potions and certain specialized clothing:</p><p> • Gaseous form</p><p> • Invisibility</p><p> • Sleep bombs</p><p> • Water breathing</p><p> • Silence cloaks/boots</p><p>We sent a courier with the request. Over dinner and some rest, as we waited for the reply, we talked about our plan for the night.</p><p></p><p>The evening shifts are more lax than the day and get better for us as the graveyard hours go by. Leef will be on his own shift tonight, and Officer Vereene will use him to make friends with his friends: that and money should get us upstairs closer to the high-security area in the center.</p><p></p><p>We shall see what we can.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Alexander Bryant1, post: 7454617, member: 6916184"] [b]Eleanor's Journal - Part 02[/b] The master changeling, Telaken the doppleganger, was to watch a demonstration of his new powers at the games. From his letter: [B]I was pleased to see a few tickets to the Champion’s Games awaiting me. These seats should give us a good view of the coming of a new Age. I truly look forward to enjoying the privileges of true power.[/B] More changelings in the works. And we had just released one. How many more had that beatific elf let back into the world to terrorize and corrupt in her personal quest to feel wonderful about herself or bow to the whims of her mercurial goddess. Oh yes, I knew about this Sehanine: chaos and mischief and cruelty and, above all, disrupter to civilizations such as Greyhawk represented. It was another night of troubled sleep for me. We met the next day, 26 Coldeven, and travel to the arena. My Nessian silvers – with the Fittenberg boots and Rondon gloves to match – should present me in the appropriate light. They set my mind at peace: their carefully-engineered fabrics sewn to exacting specifications exuded a devils-may-care turn that belied their rigor and raw intellectual majesty underneath; their colors were produced, not found, after thousands of hours, or centuries depending on how broad your scope, of craft arriving at this apex; folds that tumbled according to temperature, the down-force of the material planes, moisture and so much else. Donning these garments, truly inhabiting them, was vanity to some among the dim who did not comprehend; even most who wore them well did so without deeply appreciating at the elemental level what it was they became: acknowledgment of hard-won knowledge and reaffirmation of will against a world ever seeking to reduce us to apathetic dust. Just in case, though, I also packed my RaTs. Rough and Tumbles, created for me just that second week in Miss Zinia’s employ, three years four months, thirty-seven hours, six minutes and, tick tick tick, 15 seconds now. Officer Vereene relayed her charming of a maintenance man named [B]Leef[/B] who works in the arena. Some salient points she was able to take away: • All equipment is ferried by elevator to the underground complex from above; after the start of the Games, maintenance staff reside down in the complex until the end • Each team has its own minimal quarters – there are no shared bedrooms between teams • There are vents throughout the complex which may be locked (and possibly trapped) or may not • There is a separate barracks for Loris’ private security force in addition to Greyhawk-employed arena guards called Gray Wardens • There may be a guarded passage from Loris’ house to the arena • There is a waterway that runs through the arena providing fresh water Leef also gave her a map of both levels of the arena. [B]Opening Night Dinner[/B] There was a delightful dinner that night where the rules and prizes were explained by old [B]Tellebir Welleck[/B]. Briefly: • A party or individuals can always surrender: drop weapons and kneel with hands in the air • Combatants may fly up to 40’ above the ground; burrowing into the arena is disqualified • Winning gladiators cannot loot the fallen • Combatants may not endanger the spectators • Disqualified gladiators must move to the outer ring • No time limit on battles The schedule: Day 1: four-team elimination, that is, the winner in a free-for-all of four teams advances Day 2: day of rest Day 3: one-on-one team vs. team Day 4: one-on-one team vs. team or battle an exotic beast The prizes, to be handed to the team manager for splitting however they agreed: 1st round: 2000GP 2nd round: 5000GP 3rd round: 10,000GP Winner of the games: 20,000GP Lord Chosik was present for the occasion reinforcing the importance, though not the details, of our mission and the necessity for our winning the first battle. The champions from last year’s Arena Games were present as well, a trio I was aware of: Orik the warrior, adjunct Kellek and another troublesome elf, Tira, who is under five investigations at last count. Her two teammates along with her own fame and fortune shield her, and her membership in the Thieve’s Guild makes her invisible to the law, so she is unlikely ever to be even fined a silver piece let alone imprisoned. They were together the fabled “Orik’s Warband”, fighting again this year though Tira has recused herself. [I]My thoughts: Why did Tira recuse herself? She isn’t a judge or anything connected to the Games in that way as far as we know.[/I] Loris gave his short, standard speech and then, later, in conversation with Lord Chosik he said in a tone clearly mocking him: “Councilman, what news of your sister? Have you found her yet?” It was a telling moment. That Loris has done something to or with Lahaka seems even more likely, but we must proceed without blinders or assumptions. [B]A crush from Karush[/B] During dinner, I talked to [B]Karush[/B], the leader of one of the teams we were facing, a confident, pruning ladies’ man though certainly not without his charms. He seemed very interested in me despite – or perhaps because of – my appearance. Enjoyment of witty banter aside, it was imperative we advanced to the next round in the Games to be in a position to investigate, so I feigned great interest at conversing with him. This blossomed into the real thing when I electrocuted him only to give him pleasure not unlike goosebumps. I would discover that like myself he was not entirely human, though unlike me he probably knew what the rest of him is. At any rate, he said he would help us. I said I wanted to see more of him, after. It was a deal. [B]Adventures in the dark darkness[/B] After, while I was sleeping, Rishkar and Rey headed deep into submerged tunnels. They found and eliminated eight ghouls there, possibly the outer ring of an entire band. Perhaps our chances tomorrow will not ride completely on Karush. They also found a hidden chamber that communicated with the sewer and has at least one hole poking up into the city. They both wanted to go exploring again the next night, after we had won the first contest. [B]Our showing in the arena[/B] Well, most of us didn’t die. Officer Vereene lost her celestial horse, and Greyhawk’s lesser pubs will find themselves saddled with an extra gallon of their cheapest ale now that Lucian Cromwell is gone, and my RaTs have a score of holes in them from more elves causing me trouble, but otherwise we survived. Karush and his team rode from their corner to help us mow down a shaman and his guard. We then turned to the Elven trio of women raining arrows all over the battlefield. A simple smoke screen or fog cloud would have essentially disarmed them: they were very lucky we didn’t have anything like that. Extremely poor planning on our part. We even knew the trio would be there facing us, and that they would likely have bows. Our lack of foresight should have murdered us: they should have won. We only defeated them because Karush rode across the field – taking many arrows that felled both his men – and struck at them, forcing a surrender from their leader after we felled two of their three. Several of their magic-tipped arrows plunked into me knocking me unconscious as I tried to approach, so I did not even see the end of the battle. How come I to the Games to fight with so little thought to the combat? Was I going to charm them? Perhaps these Bow Maidens of Sehanine were out there to parlay? That must be what I thought. Ridiculous. After felling the elves, Karush knelt and put his hands up in surrender looking up at me. So we won when we should not have. But we did win. [B]The spoils of battle: data at last[/B] While we recovered underneath the arena, a courier delivered Rishkar’s crafted frost sword. He allowed me to see its pommel and examine the blade. The craftsmanship is excellent, I could plainly see. Lord Chosik was waiting for us, smiling broadly. He awarded us the bronze bull and 200 platinum. This was all given to Rey, for some reason, which I accepted on Officer Vereene’s assurance. I do not in the slightest believe that Rey is some kind of thief, but it put me in the position of asking for my own money from an ambassador. Hopefully, as an ambassador, she will properly request from me that I take my share when appropriate as soon as we can surface. Lord Chosik brought us more riches than these: he awarded us his confidence and bestowed information. “I had a hidden agenda for entering you into the Games,” he explained. “You have risked injury and possible death to win a difficult match. I can now be forthright with you. “My sister [B]Lahaka[/B] disappeared just after the Games last year. She was, is a traveling musician. Some months before the games, she caught Loris’ eye. They began to be seen together. And then she vanished the day after the championship. I have found nothing in twelve months of scrying and investigating.” We engaged him in a question-and-answer. Eleanor: Where was she seen last? Near Loris’ palace. Eleanor: Was she romantically close to others? She is a free spirit. Many lovers. There were signs that she was probably going to move on from Loris. Eleanor: Did she appear happy? Yes, initially. But she was going to leave Greyhawk shortly after the Games. Her friends said she seemed like she was growing weary of Loris’ company. Eleanor: Was the relationship understood to be monogamous? Yes. Melinde: What did Loris have to say? She left. That was all. Melinde: Did Loris seem bothered? Not at all. [I]My thoughts: The window of investigation thus appears to be that day after the championship.[/I] Eleanor: She left without contacting you, my lord? Was this unusual? Very much so. Melinde: Did she have any friends? Many, but none know where she had gone. They thought her happy during the year she was with Loris, until the end. Rey: Did your sister speak with the winners from last year? Yes. She sang at their victory celebration. Orik is an incredible warrior; Kelleck is an adjunct professor here in Greyhawk; Tira a member of the Thieves Guild. [I]My thoughts: I know Sandrishan Kelleck. I was in a class he taught at university. His theory class was middling – I felt he hadn’t a true grasp on some of the subject matter – but he was competent and, though a bit sour most mornings, was friendly to me. And we shared something else in common ….[/I] (Chosik continued): Loris has removed everyone who could be close to him save perhaps for his personal security head, [B]Okoral[/B]. He has no close relations, does not seem to be interested in female companionship at all. Rey: How old is Lahaka? 31. Eleanor: What actions have you taken to look for her? I sent out, at great personal expense, spies, criers and posters to all the surrounding towns asking about her whereabouts. I engaged multiple scryers. Many had seen someone like her but nothing ever came of it. Her friends have no clue, and musicians who might know her have heard nothing. [I]My thoughts: We are probably looking for Lahaka’s body at this point.[/I] We concluded the questioning session and promised to use whatever method we could down here under the arena to find clues. There were several places on the map Leef provided that would be worth investigating. [B]Squim and the Varmint Patrol[/B] After Lord Chosik left, the burnt and battered bodies of other combatants started being carried through to the medical center or their own rooms. One in particular interested us very much. While I spoke with Sandrishan, Officer Vereene and Ambassador Rey found Varmint Patrol, a group of were-rats plus the merchant captain Fellador Arma’s son, Kragen. They had not been prepared to fight in the arena and had fared poorly. Squim was in the medical bay fretting about his fallen teammates who were alternately burned or sliced to pieces. The ambassador and the paladin each used a healing spell, and this earned his trust enough to be led away for questioning. He had little choice since they were flanked by three Gray Wardens, arena security. Officer Vereene was able to bribe them in disturbingly easy fashion allowing us to separate and question Varmint Patrol’s patron. Their story was this: through a series of strategic bets and the prize money itself, Varmint Patrol was to have become rich off of this first round and instantly retire, leaving the Games. Kragen was looking to make easy coin through his participation. He was able to buy his way into the group through giving Squim the family compass that his father was searching for. Squim initially wanted nothing to do with this deal, wary of placing the well-known merchant’s son into a path of danger, but Loris’ chief of security – who somehow got wind of this – expressed considerable interest in the compass. Officer Vereene: What happened to the compass? I passed it along as a promise of future wealth. I had already registered the team but then Kragan wanted in. I didn’t want harm to come to him, given his father, so I refused. He had only offered a compass which was not of interest to us. Officer Vereene: What made you change your mind? Okoral, “speaking on behalf of Loris” (meaning that Loris would not be connected officially, true of all his dealings), wanted the compass. So we found Kragan again and said Yes. I told him he would face easy opponents, but instead we were matched with Orik and annihilated. Rey: You were meant to die. [I]My thoughts: An excellent and surprising insight from Tall and Silent. They were meant to die, and none would know then of the compass.[/I] Officer Vereene: What did you face out there in the arena? Fire. Walls of it. Storms of it. No one could get by Orik or the wizard’s golems to get to that bastard himself. Officer Vereene: When was the transaction, handing the compass to Okoral? A few days ago. They then found and cornered [B]Kragan[/B], 18 years old and thoroughly shaken by the sudden overwhelming defeat. He’d only survived by immediately surrendering. This seemed to fit his description: well-manicured, beard carefully trimmed, unused armor never scratched. Not prepared for real fighting beyond a skirmish with a dueling teacher, according to Officer Vereene. He tried to escape but the ambassador wasn’t having it. Officer Vereene ultimately calmed him by stating he wasn’t under arrest – the compass theft was family business, not Greyhawk’s – and could he answer a few questions about how he came to be on the team? Kragan had given the compass to ‘the patron’ – he initially hadn’t known Squim’s name – who didn’t want him on the team and laughed in his face. Later, though, he came back and said OK so long as the payment was still the compass. The agreement was that they weren’t going to fight, not really: the battle was supposed to be rigged up for a round with lots of betting on the side. My thoughts: Check to see if Orik’s Warriors or Varmint Patrol were moved at the last minute to fight one another. If so, who moved them and why? They asked him about Phreet. He didn’t think much of her. She had, he said, been hanging out with his dad’s crew but kept trying to steal stuff, so his father put her in the brig. He’d intended to let her out and tell her to go away, but then the compass went missing so he kept her a little longer. [I]My thoughts: The compass obviously represents Phreet which seems to lead to the Lady Etona. Okoral would be in a position to move fights around, no doubt. Did he? Does Okoral need to be a changeling himself to accomplish any of this. Presumably no: money is as effective as powers, but what is the long game here? Does it extend all the way up to Loris? [/I] [B]Talking to Kellek[/B] While they were interviewing Kragan about Phreet and the compass, I spoke with Kellek. He was open and cheerful enough, particularly after remembering that I had been a student of his, and the one who shared his interest in perfectly engineered designer garments. He remembered Lahaka at the evening feast that Loris put on last year. She had been wearing an Umarra (!!) from the fall line. If you are from caves and live on leaves and bugs, you possibly do not know that Gwendolyn September Umarra is one of the preeminent gown designers in Greyhawk. Lahaka’s dress, on loan from Umarra for the occasion, was a snow-white Hidden Color silk gown, an experiment of color then that is quickly becoming known now. We talked much of it, though I did not think to ask if Umarra ever got the dress back. [I]My thoughts: Use this opportunity to speak to Umarra herself (!!).[/I] Tira would possibly know more about where Lahaka went, but she recused herself from the Games and was not available. [B]Talking to Orik[/B] Orik didn’t remember Lahaka until his memory was jogged through prompting. “Oh yeah. I was planning on getting together at a later time, but I never saw her again.” Rey: Do you think Loris knew where she went when she disappeared? Or knows where she is now? Dunno. They used to be an item, so maybe. Melinde: Was the relationship between Loris and her amicable? Dunno. She was all over me that night, though. [I]My thoughts: What if Loris had not been not using Lahaka for some purpose but was really fond of her, or just resented the appearance of his being a cuckhold, and so was moved to remove Orik and replace him with a changeling who then was supposed to throw the match to Varmint Patrol? Far-fetched but not impossible. It would tie into changelings to replacing people – specifically Orik – at the Games. [/I] We reassembled in our room and traded information. That evening we would be looking for Leef to get us in to some forbidden places. More bribery, apparently, but the Flows know I am not above it if it means understanding the truth. It finally occurred to me that Lord Chosik’s offer to help us included materials. We decided to requisition some potions and certain specialized clothing: • Gaseous form • Invisibility • Sleep bombs • Water breathing • Silence cloaks/boots We sent a courier with the request. Over dinner and some rest, as we waited for the reply, we talked about our plan for the night. The evening shifts are more lax than the day and get better for us as the graveyard hours go by. Leef will be on his own shift tonight, and Officer Vereene will use him to make friends with his friends: that and money should get us upstairs closer to the high-security area in the center. We shall see what we can. [/QUOTE]
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