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Lylandra's War of the Burning Sky continued
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<blockquote data-quote="Lylandra" data-source="post: 7021647" data-attributes="member: 6816692"><p>After they return from their rather strange "adventure" in Vule, the party immediately reports to Simeonne. She is shocked to hear that Ivellios, a long-time acquaintance and friend of the Lyceum school turned out to be desperate enough to blow everyone in Seaquen up. She insists that he is being transferred to the dungeons and that she will question him herself, but the elves seem to have a soft spot for the elf and ask her to let him be a "messenger" between them (the Lyceum) and Toma once he realizes his errors. Simeonne is not fully convinced and not sure what to make of Toma, but she's clever enough to not open up another battlefront by sending an "army" of mages to Vule. She thanks the group for saving her school and the whole city, but insists that the existence of Vule has to remain secret unless they want to risk a panic. </p><p></p><p>She also tells them that there will be a war council the next day and asks the party whether they could talk about their journey and the situation in Gate Pass. They agree to attend but are not sure whether it would be alright to let two "resistance fighters" with no rank speak for all of Gate Pass. Simeonne assures them that they will suffice since they are the only "representatives" of Gate Pass that she can 1) get her hands on and 2) seem trustworthy enough. Plus the Tome might be of major importance. Katrina encourages them to not think too lowly of themselves since they all just managed to save a city and that she won't hesitate to partake in such an illustrous event. Simeonne then hands them their official invitation and dismisses them. </p><p></p><p>They all go off to sleep and Tinu, Torrent, Katrina and Cuin discuss how to get information on the other conference attendees. Right before they nap off, the elves agree that they could smply ask Simeonne on her opinion about the others and decide to visit her early on the next morning.</p><p>Hungry for a grand tour of information-gathering, the two elves get up early (they prefer to let Torrent sleep since she's more of a nightowl than an earlybird) and head towards the headmastress' quarters. They are kind of surprised to see Xavious Foebane leaving her rooms quietly, gesturing them to hush and then whispers to them to "let the lady have at least five minutes on her own". They chuckle and offer the dwarf a big, seemingly-knowing grin. Afther the requested time, they politely ask Simeonne whether or not she's in need of a barber and a more-or-less professional masseur. Totheir surprise, the calm headmastress gladly accepts the offer, stating that her hair is generally a mess and that she simply doesn't know what to do with her curls. She also says that she hates formal dresses but that she doesn't have any choice in an official international meeting.</p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Note: I left the details of the Simeonne-Xavious relationship open on purpose. They are supposed to be "very close" friends and Simeonne is an unconventional, down to earth, but still kind of motherly/caring wizard. But of course the elves had to ship their "teacher" with commander Foebane <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></em></p><p></p><p>While they give her one of the most epic private morning spas she has propably ever had, the elves talk about the upcoming war council and the names of the attendees. They also mention Lee and tell Simeonne that they found his demeanour suspicious, but have no proof that he is up to no good. She tells them to be careful with accussations since Lee is a good friend of the Lyceum and also an important official in Seaquen. However, should they find any clue that Lee could be disloyal to Seaquen, she will definitely help them. They then talk about the other guests and Simeonne offers them a quick description of the three foreign officials, Giorgio the wayfarer (whom she included because the wayfarers could help them unlock the secret of the Burning Sky), the gentle paladin Laurabec (as a spokesperson for the refugees), Lorb "ex pirate" Votberg and their future army commander Xavious Foebane (whom they already know).</p><p></p><p>After their talk, they meet up with the rest of the crew in the dining/breakfast hall and witness how a badly hidden Haddin stares into Crystin's direction. They ask the young seer about her father's behaviour and she tells them that he's doing that avery morning, before heading off to gods-know-where. She says that she's okay with it, as long as he doesn't try to come close, but that she's worried about what he might do in the mean time. She also tells them that she's made friends with the paladin Laurabec who wants to build a temple and is looking for some advice. Tinuviel states that he's happy that she has found something to do and encourages her to help the unknown woman. </p><p>They are then greeted by Banhaman Vett who asks them whether they want to take some extra job since he's heared that they are pretty good fighters. He wants them to look for his missing animal shipment, but they say that they don't know whether or not they will find the time to look for his missing... attercops. Tinu is worried (again) that the 'cops might impose a danger to the area should they have managed to escape, but Cuin says that they simply don't have the time to look for everyone's personal Kiki. Still the missing ship would make a perfect excuse to go and check up on Lee again.</p><p></p><p>So they head off to Lee and ask him whether Banhaman's ship has returned yet and question him on some details of the ship's travel route. Lee doesn't know too much about this specific ship, but suggests that they may start seaching in the swamp area since there can be treacherous currents in winter. They then ask him about his half-orcish and biomantic visitors and talk about his stance in the upcoming war council. The druid explains that he will advocate against war, but he won't insist or try to change anyone's mind. For the orcs, he says that they are fishermen who wanted to know whether the unnatural winter in Dassen has any influence on the fish schools they might find in the Seaquenian sea. And Dogwood simply wanted to get ink from Lula, a request he denies all too often. They find this explanation rather fishy (they beat his bluff with a huge sense motive) and Tinuviel starts feeling uneasyness in Lee's otherwise calm demeanour.</p><p></p><p><em>Note: I tend to offer Tinuviel emotional insight based on his Trillith spirit's awareness whenever he beats his opponent's bluff while Cuin goes the more classical Sherlock Holmes way. They both beat Lee who is really not the best bluffer in the world despite having a rather believeable story. </em></p><p></p><p>The two head back to Simeonne and tell her about their meeting with Lee. They say that they still don't have reliable proof, but they ask her to maybe question Lee herself and that, should Lee be really a close friend of the Lyceum, he would clearly understand why they had to be cautious. Having a potential "ragesian spy" among the war council would be a disaster and disinviting Lee would be seen as an affront, so other plans are not really an option. Since the council is scheduled to be in a few hours, they also have no time for additional preparation. Tinuviel proposes the idea that they could lead Lee into the Lyceum's dungeon area and have Haddin make him tell the truth. He says that he will take all blame on him, should he have wronged Lee and that Simeonne may then remove him from the war council for disloyalty. The headmastress agrees to this plan and tells them that she will make sure the dungeons and Haddin will be ready. </p><p></p><p>They head back to Lee and tell him that Simeonne wants to talk to him in private before the council since she's afraid that someone might plan an ambush. They convince him to follow them to the Lyceum where he gets taken and held by surprise. Haddin then dominates him into revealing his true plans and his connection to the Ragesians. He doesn't reveal too much though, because he's suddenly disintegrating in front of their very eyes. They do get to know however, that Lee had worked for the Ragesians because he was convinced that no one can beat the fully unleashed ragesian power. He wanted to set an example by demolishing Seaquen so that no one would be foolish enough to risk their life in battling against the Ragesians, leading to less bloodshed. Poor Torrent (who was called in as well) is mortified at Lee's revelation and destruction. </p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Note: They totally bluffed Lee. And they finally found a use for Haddin, even if they found their plan to be morally dubious. Also, I realized Lee's disintegration contingency at the last second. So, with Lee removed from the scene even before the war council, I had to rethink the whole plan. I decided that Lee would not have had the control rod or my party wouldn't have any reason to go for the tomb of the Pyromancer. So I gave it to the inquisitor as the Ragesians and Lee thought it would be safer in a no-divination zone. I was also sure that maybe they wouldn't wait for the wayfarer play to search for the Ragesians, and as I wanted to use the threat of the storm as a motivator, I had the inquisitor put the orb of storms to full throttle once he realized that Lee was missing. Which kind of changed the order of events in this adventure.</em></p><p></p><p>After this shock, they quickly change their clothes and attend the war council (Katrina had to help unnaturally reserved and pale Torrent, but she insisted that the woman who started it all should be present). First, Simeonne has to explain the absence of Lee, but manages to turn his betrayal into a call for decisive action as more and more people might despair like him should the nations of the world do nothing. Then the other representatives and officials make their points. Lorb complains about the prosperity and safety of Seaquen and says that the Seaquenians feel threatened by the masses of refugees. He's in favour of a military option, but doesn't want to send his guards since they have to protect Seaquen. Laurabec goes on a long monologue on how bad the situation for those poor souls is and that she wants to unite them all by building a temple. She then uses tear-jerking examples of individual refugees, but completely overdoes her speech and is then cut off by Lorb since she seems unable to make a clear point besides "the refugees". They are then infuriated by Kazhar's (and Ostalin's) demands of land for help and rebuff their request harshly. Sindaire wants to join effort but explains their sensitive situation of an open rebellion whose leader was killed. The old gnome says that they will gladly team up if they get a "glimpse of hope" that their army could be successful (aka "You got torch, we join"). Dassen seems slightly positive, but their representative cannot sign anything without the approval of their queen (which he tries to get). Giorgio of the wayfarers offers his organization's services and claims that they work on "beating the burning sky". He also invites them to the premiere of the trials of Toteth Topec (which some find weird, but he's a wayfarer and they *are* weird). </p><p>Katrina then introduces the trio as the "heroes and representatives from Gate Pass" and lets them then speak for themselves. Cuin'halar and Tinuviel then tell the story of Gate Pass which always resisted Ragesia and which actually managed to have the emperor leave them be. They say the people of their home are already fighting Ragesia and that they only left because they think the Ragesians and especially the Inquisitors are up to something nefarious. They then present their transferred tome and say that they and the Shahalesti are already deciphering its contents and that it might be related to the scourge and that because of that, no mage is safe no matter where he or she lives. They also touch the refugee problem and say that Seaquen should offer them a new home for anyone will fight to defend the place they call home. They point at Foebane's effort to train volunteers in the art of war and claim that many refugees will gladly join his army should they feel that they and their families have a future in Seaquen. </p><p></p><p>Just when they finish their inspiring speech, the doors fling open and princess Shalosha introduces herself, looking a bit embarrassed to be greeted with such shocked faces. She then reads out her pre-written speech and both Cuin and Tinuviel get visibly angry on the Shahalesti stance and demands. They realize Shalosha's own unhappiness though and once she makes it clear that they have a fleet "for protection" and that they will lead the yet to be formed anti-Ragesia-alliance (plus demanding to govern Seaquen on top of that), Simeonne dissolves the council before any violence could break out. Cuin'halar storms out and doesn't even want to look the "arrogant enemy princess" in the eyes. </p><p></p><p>In a calmer moment, Shalosha puts her cousin aside and tries to talk to him. She asks him why he's befriending one of those "demon worshippers" who killed her mother and why he left Calanis and his people behind, but also apologizes for her father's demands. She says that it wouldn't have been her way to deal with Seaquen, but that she still hopes that they could form an alliance. Tinuviel says that the proud people of Seaquen will never give in to threats and that her armada is making matters only worse. He also explains that he has befriended Cuin because his parents were good friends of his father Tharaleth who rescued some of the last Taranesti from certain death and that his parents left Calanis because they couldn't stand Shaaladel's politics anymore. He asks her whether she feels no remorse for the mass killing of innocent elven children, even if some of the Taranesti might haven been evil, and she agrees that he has a point. She says that she will send word about what happened here to her father, but she cannot promise anything. She then asks where she may find his Taranesti friend since she is curious about his point of view. </p><p></p><p>Shalosha then heads (accompanied by her guard) towards the elves' dorm. Cuin is surprised to see Shalosha, but agrees to talk after a moment of inner growling. To his surprise, she apologizes for being prejudiced against him just because he is a Taranesti and explains her previous discussion with Tinuviel. Cuin is surprised as well to see the shining lady this humble and accepts her apology, but not without telling her the horrors that happened to his people becaue of her father. She then tries to explain why she's not on good terms with his people: That back in "the old times" the Taranesti worshipped demons and that they cruelly sacrificed her mother and her cousin for their foul rituals. Remembering their vision, Cuin tells Shalosha that this incident was an accident where a young, untrained "mental mage" (their term for a psion) tried to defend himself from a Shahalesti ambush and his powers went wild. Shalosha understands,but says that while Silvenn was maybe cut to pieces, her mother was till clearly defiled and used for an evil ritual as even her soul was nowhere to be found. Cuin tells her that he's sorry for her loss and he will try to find out what truely happened back then. </p><p></p><p><em>Note: He surely didn't want to tell her that the "mental mage" in question was Trilla. He also wasn't sure about what to make of Shalosha's story, but he thinks that she's being sincere. Also, yay for having at least one Shahalesti who doesn't just (verbally) fight with them. I wanted to empathize that Shalosha is a person that can and should be negotiated with and that she's a genuinely "good" character. I had to insist a little bit more than I wanted, but I didn't want them to lose this opportunity to get to know her better just because of their stubbornness and prejudice. I asked Tinu's player beforehand on how often he had been to Calanis as a kid and realized that despite being cousins twice removed, they didn't really know each other well. For Shalosha, family is a big matter, so I gave her a bit of a sour undertone that he didn't seem to care for their family at all</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lylandra, post: 7021647, member: 6816692"] After they return from their rather strange "adventure" in Vule, the party immediately reports to Simeonne. She is shocked to hear that Ivellios, a long-time acquaintance and friend of the Lyceum school turned out to be desperate enough to blow everyone in Seaquen up. She insists that he is being transferred to the dungeons and that she will question him herself, but the elves seem to have a soft spot for the elf and ask her to let him be a "messenger" between them (the Lyceum) and Toma once he realizes his errors. Simeonne is not fully convinced and not sure what to make of Toma, but she's clever enough to not open up another battlefront by sending an "army" of mages to Vule. She thanks the group for saving her school and the whole city, but insists that the existence of Vule has to remain secret unless they want to risk a panic. She also tells them that there will be a war council the next day and asks the party whether they could talk about their journey and the situation in Gate Pass. They agree to attend but are not sure whether it would be alright to let two "resistance fighters" with no rank speak for all of Gate Pass. Simeonne assures them that they will suffice since they are the only "representatives" of Gate Pass that she can 1) get her hands on and 2) seem trustworthy enough. Plus the Tome might be of major importance. Katrina encourages them to not think too lowly of themselves since they all just managed to save a city and that she won't hesitate to partake in such an illustrous event. Simeonne then hands them their official invitation and dismisses them. They all go off to sleep and Tinu, Torrent, Katrina and Cuin discuss how to get information on the other conference attendees. Right before they nap off, the elves agree that they could smply ask Simeonne on her opinion about the others and decide to visit her early on the next morning. Hungry for a grand tour of information-gathering, the two elves get up early (they prefer to let Torrent sleep since she's more of a nightowl than an earlybird) and head towards the headmastress' quarters. They are kind of surprised to see Xavious Foebane leaving her rooms quietly, gesturing them to hush and then whispers to them to "let the lady have at least five minutes on her own". They chuckle and offer the dwarf a big, seemingly-knowing grin. Afther the requested time, they politely ask Simeonne whether or not she's in need of a barber and a more-or-less professional masseur. Totheir surprise, the calm headmastress gladly accepts the offer, stating that her hair is generally a mess and that she simply doesn't know what to do with her curls. She also says that she hates formal dresses but that she doesn't have any choice in an official international meeting. [I] Note: I left the details of the Simeonne-Xavious relationship open on purpose. They are supposed to be "very close" friends and Simeonne is an unconventional, down to earth, but still kind of motherly/caring wizard. But of course the elves had to ship their "teacher" with commander Foebane ;)[/I] While they give her one of the most epic private morning spas she has propably ever had, the elves talk about the upcoming war council and the names of the attendees. They also mention Lee and tell Simeonne that they found his demeanour suspicious, but have no proof that he is up to no good. She tells them to be careful with accussations since Lee is a good friend of the Lyceum and also an important official in Seaquen. However, should they find any clue that Lee could be disloyal to Seaquen, she will definitely help them. They then talk about the other guests and Simeonne offers them a quick description of the three foreign officials, Giorgio the wayfarer (whom she included because the wayfarers could help them unlock the secret of the Burning Sky), the gentle paladin Laurabec (as a spokesperson for the refugees), Lorb "ex pirate" Votberg and their future army commander Xavious Foebane (whom they already know). After their talk, they meet up with the rest of the crew in the dining/breakfast hall and witness how a badly hidden Haddin stares into Crystin's direction. They ask the young seer about her father's behaviour and she tells them that he's doing that avery morning, before heading off to gods-know-where. She says that she's okay with it, as long as he doesn't try to come close, but that she's worried about what he might do in the mean time. She also tells them that she's made friends with the paladin Laurabec who wants to build a temple and is looking for some advice. Tinuviel states that he's happy that she has found something to do and encourages her to help the unknown woman. They are then greeted by Banhaman Vett who asks them whether they want to take some extra job since he's heared that they are pretty good fighters. He wants them to look for his missing animal shipment, but they say that they don't know whether or not they will find the time to look for his missing... attercops. Tinu is worried (again) that the 'cops might impose a danger to the area should they have managed to escape, but Cuin says that they simply don't have the time to look for everyone's personal Kiki. Still the missing ship would make a perfect excuse to go and check up on Lee again. So they head off to Lee and ask him whether Banhaman's ship has returned yet and question him on some details of the ship's travel route. Lee doesn't know too much about this specific ship, but suggests that they may start seaching in the swamp area since there can be treacherous currents in winter. They then ask him about his half-orcish and biomantic visitors and talk about his stance in the upcoming war council. The druid explains that he will advocate against war, but he won't insist or try to change anyone's mind. For the orcs, he says that they are fishermen who wanted to know whether the unnatural winter in Dassen has any influence on the fish schools they might find in the Seaquenian sea. And Dogwood simply wanted to get ink from Lula, a request he denies all too often. They find this explanation rather fishy (they beat his bluff with a huge sense motive) and Tinuviel starts feeling uneasyness in Lee's otherwise calm demeanour. [I]Note: I tend to offer Tinuviel emotional insight based on his Trillith spirit's awareness whenever he beats his opponent's bluff while Cuin goes the more classical Sherlock Holmes way. They both beat Lee who is really not the best bluffer in the world despite having a rather believeable story. [/I] The two head back to Simeonne and tell her about their meeting with Lee. They say that they still don't have reliable proof, but they ask her to maybe question Lee herself and that, should Lee be really a close friend of the Lyceum, he would clearly understand why they had to be cautious. Having a potential "ragesian spy" among the war council would be a disaster and disinviting Lee would be seen as an affront, so other plans are not really an option. Since the council is scheduled to be in a few hours, they also have no time for additional preparation. Tinuviel proposes the idea that they could lead Lee into the Lyceum's dungeon area and have Haddin make him tell the truth. He says that he will take all blame on him, should he have wronged Lee and that Simeonne may then remove him from the war council for disloyalty. The headmastress agrees to this plan and tells them that she will make sure the dungeons and Haddin will be ready. They head back to Lee and tell him that Simeonne wants to talk to him in private before the council since she's afraid that someone might plan an ambush. They convince him to follow them to the Lyceum where he gets taken and held by surprise. Haddin then dominates him into revealing his true plans and his connection to the Ragesians. He doesn't reveal too much though, because he's suddenly disintegrating in front of their very eyes. They do get to know however, that Lee had worked for the Ragesians because he was convinced that no one can beat the fully unleashed ragesian power. He wanted to set an example by demolishing Seaquen so that no one would be foolish enough to risk their life in battling against the Ragesians, leading to less bloodshed. Poor Torrent (who was called in as well) is mortified at Lee's revelation and destruction. [I] Note: They totally bluffed Lee. And they finally found a use for Haddin, even if they found their plan to be morally dubious. Also, I realized Lee's disintegration contingency at the last second. So, with Lee removed from the scene even before the war council, I had to rethink the whole plan. I decided that Lee would not have had the control rod or my party wouldn't have any reason to go for the tomb of the Pyromancer. So I gave it to the inquisitor as the Ragesians and Lee thought it would be safer in a no-divination zone. I was also sure that maybe they wouldn't wait for the wayfarer play to search for the Ragesians, and as I wanted to use the threat of the storm as a motivator, I had the inquisitor put the orb of storms to full throttle once he realized that Lee was missing. Which kind of changed the order of events in this adventure.[/I] After this shock, they quickly change their clothes and attend the war council (Katrina had to help unnaturally reserved and pale Torrent, but she insisted that the woman who started it all should be present). First, Simeonne has to explain the absence of Lee, but manages to turn his betrayal into a call for decisive action as more and more people might despair like him should the nations of the world do nothing. Then the other representatives and officials make their points. Lorb complains about the prosperity and safety of Seaquen and says that the Seaquenians feel threatened by the masses of refugees. He's in favour of a military option, but doesn't want to send his guards since they have to protect Seaquen. Laurabec goes on a long monologue on how bad the situation for those poor souls is and that she wants to unite them all by building a temple. She then uses tear-jerking examples of individual refugees, but completely overdoes her speech and is then cut off by Lorb since she seems unable to make a clear point besides "the refugees". They are then infuriated by Kazhar's (and Ostalin's) demands of land for help and rebuff their request harshly. Sindaire wants to join effort but explains their sensitive situation of an open rebellion whose leader was killed. The old gnome says that they will gladly team up if they get a "glimpse of hope" that their army could be successful (aka "You got torch, we join"). Dassen seems slightly positive, but their representative cannot sign anything without the approval of their queen (which he tries to get). Giorgio of the wayfarers offers his organization's services and claims that they work on "beating the burning sky". He also invites them to the premiere of the trials of Toteth Topec (which some find weird, but he's a wayfarer and they *are* weird). Katrina then introduces the trio as the "heroes and representatives from Gate Pass" and lets them then speak for themselves. Cuin'halar and Tinuviel then tell the story of Gate Pass which always resisted Ragesia and which actually managed to have the emperor leave them be. They say the people of their home are already fighting Ragesia and that they only left because they think the Ragesians and especially the Inquisitors are up to something nefarious. They then present their transferred tome and say that they and the Shahalesti are already deciphering its contents and that it might be related to the scourge and that because of that, no mage is safe no matter where he or she lives. They also touch the refugee problem and say that Seaquen should offer them a new home for anyone will fight to defend the place they call home. They point at Foebane's effort to train volunteers in the art of war and claim that many refugees will gladly join his army should they feel that they and their families have a future in Seaquen. Just when they finish their inspiring speech, the doors fling open and princess Shalosha introduces herself, looking a bit embarrassed to be greeted with such shocked faces. She then reads out her pre-written speech and both Cuin and Tinuviel get visibly angry on the Shahalesti stance and demands. They realize Shalosha's own unhappiness though and once she makes it clear that they have a fleet "for protection" and that they will lead the yet to be formed anti-Ragesia-alliance (plus demanding to govern Seaquen on top of that), Simeonne dissolves the council before any violence could break out. Cuin'halar storms out and doesn't even want to look the "arrogant enemy princess" in the eyes. In a calmer moment, Shalosha puts her cousin aside and tries to talk to him. She asks him why he's befriending one of those "demon worshippers" who killed her mother and why he left Calanis and his people behind, but also apologizes for her father's demands. She says that it wouldn't have been her way to deal with Seaquen, but that she still hopes that they could form an alliance. Tinuviel says that the proud people of Seaquen will never give in to threats and that her armada is making matters only worse. He also explains that he has befriended Cuin because his parents were good friends of his father Tharaleth who rescued some of the last Taranesti from certain death and that his parents left Calanis because they couldn't stand Shaaladel's politics anymore. He asks her whether she feels no remorse for the mass killing of innocent elven children, even if some of the Taranesti might haven been evil, and she agrees that he has a point. She says that she will send word about what happened here to her father, but she cannot promise anything. She then asks where she may find his Taranesti friend since she is curious about his point of view. Shalosha then heads (accompanied by her guard) towards the elves' dorm. Cuin is surprised to see Shalosha, but agrees to talk after a moment of inner growling. To his surprise, she apologizes for being prejudiced against him just because he is a Taranesti and explains her previous discussion with Tinuviel. Cuin is surprised as well to see the shining lady this humble and accepts her apology, but not without telling her the horrors that happened to his people becaue of her father. She then tries to explain why she's not on good terms with his people: That back in "the old times" the Taranesti worshipped demons and that they cruelly sacrificed her mother and her cousin for their foul rituals. Remembering their vision, Cuin tells Shalosha that this incident was an accident where a young, untrained "mental mage" (their term for a psion) tried to defend himself from a Shahalesti ambush and his powers went wild. Shalosha understands,but says that while Silvenn was maybe cut to pieces, her mother was till clearly defiled and used for an evil ritual as even her soul was nowhere to be found. Cuin tells her that he's sorry for her loss and he will try to find out what truely happened back then. [I]Note: He surely didn't want to tell her that the "mental mage" in question was Trilla. He also wasn't sure about what to make of Shalosha's story, but he thinks that she's being sincere. Also, yay for having at least one Shahalesti who doesn't just (verbally) fight with them. I wanted to empathize that Shalosha is a person that can and should be negotiated with and that she's a genuinely "good" character. I had to insist a little bit more than I wanted, but I didn't want them to lose this opportunity to get to know her better just because of their stubbornness and prejudice. I asked Tinu's player beforehand on how often he had been to Calanis as a kid and realized that despite being cousins twice removed, they didn't really know each other well. For Shalosha, family is a big matter, so I gave her a bit of a sour undertone that he didn't seem to care for their family at all[/I] [/QUOTE]
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