gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
All of them!
ZEITGEIST [ZEITGEIST] The Continuing Adventures of Korrigan & Co.
All of them!
SanjMerchant
Explorer
And were you able suppress the ominous, maniacal laughter you no doubt felt welling up inside?
Seriously though, I would've thought either Tomas would go all "My faith Triegenes will protect me!" or Amielle would say something along the lines of "Hokey religions and ancient magic are no match for a good pistol at your side."
gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
And were you able suppress the ominous, maniacal laughter you no doubt felt welling up inside?
Seriously though, I would've thought either Tomas would go all "My faith Triegenes will protect me!" or Amielle would say something along the lines of "Hokey religions and ancient magic are no match for a good pistol at your side."
They said all that sort of stuff and then went along with it anyway (just in case).
Only trouble is, I forgot about that part of the ritual in the final encounter! (Which we played out last night.) In fact I didn't remember it until your post!
We decided in any case to draw a veil over the final throes of the encounter, as it seemed like a forgone conclusion, it was late, (last orders in the pub we game in), and we didn't want the fight to run over into next week. So I asked the players to pitch scenarios which I will stitch into a narrative so we can start Diaspora in the next session.
Needless to say, had I remembered the full details of the ritual, the fight was certainly not a forgone conclusion by any means.
After reading your post I had a real Homer Simpson 'Doh!' moment and sent an email to my players explaining my mistake and asking how they would handle the new situation - again, narratively. I could have just pretended it never happened, but I felt like being honest. This is a 'teaser' (and a memory event) after all, not part of the main campaign.
RangerWickett
Legend
Amielle is immune to curses.
gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
Now that I did remember!
gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
Session 23 (146) - The Pyres of Pernicity
The king and his retinue charge in to rescue the prisoners, Tomas leading the way.
Pernicity is ready for them – her insouciance a ruse. She orders the charred pile of corpses to rise to her defence, then hits Tomas with a curse, causing him to giggle and laugh uncontrollably. Then she takes to the air. Her zombies swarm towards Tomas. Before she can conceal herself in the trees, Dame Melissa lights Pernicity up with faerie fire.
Amielle hits the zombies with a grenade, tearing huge chunks out of them and thinning their numbers. “That was much more impressive than the pistols,” says Stanfield. “Maybe lead with that next time.” Amielle gives him a look that can only be described as ‘Danoran’.
Mounted on her noble stag, Dame Melissa charges towards the cliff edge, where prisoners are being tied to the stake. She drives the dark fey before her. Too late, she realises that the fey were using the prisoners as bait. They swarm around her and summon magical bonfire gusts to drive her towards the cliff edge. Poor Weodam stumbles and falls thousands of feet. Dame Melissa holds on for dear life.
King Lorcan uses his command of the earth to scoop Melissa up and protect her from being driven back again. Meanwhile Stanfield’s incarnations and Malthus take out the dark fey. Malthus possesses radiant magic, unbeknownst to Amielle. He is able to strike several foes at once. He also summons the spirit of Weodam, to lash out vengefully at the dark fey.
Those at the rear of the king’s retinue are set upon by undying spirits that have followed them up the mountain, but Rachel Lang’s ward protects them from the terror of these piteous wraiths.
Pernicity rains down more magic on poor Tomas, striking him with a flaming scythe, stunning him. The zombies are on the godhand. They knock him down and begin tearing at his flesh.
Amielle aims at Pernicity and fires. Melissa shouts a warning, conscious of harming the prisoners. The shot draws cries of pain from the furthest cage. “Oh,” says Amielle, “she doesn’t take any damage?” Magic is so confusing!
Lorcan shifts a boulder towards the zombies. More of them are tearing at Tomas Masaryk, who remains stunned by Pernicity’s curse. The godhand is in a bad way. He cannot shrug of the effects of the magic. Then Malthus lends a hand, using divine magic of his own, and Tomas is able to shake off the witch’s spells.
Harkover Lee creates a dimension door and steps through it to cross the battlefield and free the prisoners. They are reluctant to leave the Hunch, fearful of the darkness. Harkover creates a vivid image of a horrifying spirit and chases the poor prisoners away. While his intention is only to deprive Pernicity of her ritual protection, it is nonetheless necessary to whitewash this act from the account of the assault the hill, as few of the prisoners (if any) will survive the depredations of Cauldon Hill at night.
Pernicity tries to make the King laugh uncontrollably too. The King laughs in her face, voluntarily of course. He shoots her with his silent bow, and now she can only whisper.
Amielle draws her musket but again suffers a jam! (By now, only the far-sighted Stanfield can still see the merit in these new-fangled firearms.)
All the dark fey, zombies and spirits are soon dead. Realising her ritually bound prisoners have now fled out of range, Pernicity flies away over the treetops, still giggling (albeit very quietly).
The retinue pauses only for Harkover to free Tomas from his curse, and to learn from those prisoners who were not chased to their deaths that the Red Contessa took another group up to the summit.
They brave the hideous mind-eroding cacophony that besets all those who approach the summit of the hill, singing songs and reciting prayers.
The king and his retinue charge in to rescue the prisoners, Tomas leading the way.
Pernicity is ready for them – her insouciance a ruse. She orders the charred pile of corpses to rise to her defence, then hits Tomas with a curse, causing him to giggle and laugh uncontrollably. Then she takes to the air. Her zombies swarm towards Tomas. Before she can conceal herself in the trees, Dame Melissa lights Pernicity up with faerie fire.
Amielle hits the zombies with a grenade, tearing huge chunks out of them and thinning their numbers. “That was much more impressive than the pistols,” says Stanfield. “Maybe lead with that next time.” Amielle gives him a look that can only be described as ‘Danoran’.
Mounted on her noble stag, Dame Melissa charges towards the cliff edge, where prisoners are being tied to the stake. She drives the dark fey before her. Too late, she realises that the fey were using the prisoners as bait. They swarm around her and summon magical bonfire gusts to drive her towards the cliff edge. Poor Weodam stumbles and falls thousands of feet. Dame Melissa holds on for dear life.
King Lorcan uses his command of the earth to scoop Melissa up and protect her from being driven back again. Meanwhile Stanfield’s incarnations and Malthus take out the dark fey. Malthus possesses radiant magic, unbeknownst to Amielle. He is able to strike several foes at once. He also summons the spirit of Weodam, to lash out vengefully at the dark fey.
Those at the rear of the king’s retinue are set upon by undying spirits that have followed them up the mountain, but Rachel Lang’s ward protects them from the terror of these piteous wraiths.
Pernicity rains down more magic on poor Tomas, striking him with a flaming scythe, stunning him. The zombies are on the godhand. They knock him down and begin tearing at his flesh.
Amielle aims at Pernicity and fires. Melissa shouts a warning, conscious of harming the prisoners. The shot draws cries of pain from the furthest cage. “Oh,” says Amielle, “she doesn’t take any damage?” Magic is so confusing!
Lorcan shifts a boulder towards the zombies. More of them are tearing at Tomas Masaryk, who remains stunned by Pernicity’s curse. The godhand is in a bad way. He cannot shrug of the effects of the magic. Then Malthus lends a hand, using divine magic of his own, and Tomas is able to shake off the witch’s spells.
Harkover Lee creates a dimension door and steps through it to cross the battlefield and free the prisoners. They are reluctant to leave the Hunch, fearful of the darkness. Harkover creates a vivid image of a horrifying spirit and chases the poor prisoners away. While his intention is only to deprive Pernicity of her ritual protection, it is nonetheless necessary to whitewash this act from the account of the assault the hill, as few of the prisoners (if any) will survive the depredations of Cauldon Hill at night.
Pernicity tries to make the King laugh uncontrollably too. The King laughs in her face, voluntarily of course. He shoots her with his silent bow, and now she can only whisper.
Amielle draws her musket but again suffers a jam! (By now, only the far-sighted Stanfield can still see the merit in these new-fangled firearms.)
All the dark fey, zombies and spirits are soon dead. Realising her ritually bound prisoners have now fled out of range, Pernicity flies away over the treetops, still giggling (albeit very quietly).
The retinue pauses only for Harkover to free Tomas from his curse, and to learn from those prisoners who were not chased to their deaths that the Red Contessa took another group up to the summit.
They brave the hideous mind-eroding cacophony that besets all those who approach the summit of the hill, singing songs and reciting prayers.
gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
Session 23 (146) - Ritual of the Red Moon
At the western edge of the peak they see dark figures dancing around a pyre. Harkover Lee uses clairvoyance and sees many witches, including Sister Pernicity, led by the Red Contessa; a huge fey serpent-maned lion; a bubbling cauldron of blood.
One of Stanfield’s incarnations can use clairvoyance too, and he checks out the eastern peak. There he finds the missing captives, guarded by undying spirits.
Stanfield and Dame Melissa spot patrolling dark fey bearing lanterns. The group considers how best to approach, when Dame Melissa grows tired of talking and attacks.
Tomas heads to rescue the prisoners, but his blows fail to land on the spirits. He does, however, resist their fearful aura.
The others follow suit and take out the dark fey patrol, but they have been noticed!
Sister Pernicity flies out above them and casts a spell. The King shoots her with his silent bow, (“no gloating from you!”) but Amielle’s guns misfire again. (Seriously, that’s four 1s in two sessions; some tech demo this is turning out to be.) It is left to Harkover Lee to blow Pernicity out of the air with a fireball. She lands, singed, but still giggling. (Again, inaudibly.)
The Red Contessa monologues as her witches join the attack. She announces the treachery of Rachel Lang, who she calls Sister Languor. Languor steps from the shadows and strikes Harkover with her staff, making herself invisible to him. The Contessa also causes two huge henge stones and the bubbling cauldron to animate and attack.
King Lorcan creates steps so his retinue can easily reach the peak. He climbs them to face off against the Contessa, trading insults. To his astonishment, she proposes marriage!
Down below, Dame Melissa responds, “We don’t negotiate with terrorists!” She hurls her returning spear at Pernicity, hits, and then hurls it again the instant it returns, killing the witch at last.
The Red Contessa and her coven all hurl curses at the king. They land, and he cannot exert himself without suffering serious wounds. All of his defences are lowered at once.
The Stanfields take out most of the lesser witches between them.
The serpent-maned lion attacks the Green Knight. Dame Melissa draws her cold iron dagger and fights back.
Both Harkover and Malthus have been studying he nature of the ritual protecting the Red Contessa. (Harkover while fending off blows from Rachel Lang.) While Tomas was fighting desperately to free the prisoners on the eastern peak, it would appear that the Contessa’s bond was with the whole of Flint! If the ritual completed, it would be permanent.
King Lorcan ran up the steps he had formed and came face-to-face with the Red Contessa. Alongside him was one of Stanfield’s incarnations. They were set upon by the Contessa’s animated allies, although King Lorcan raised an earth wall, so one of the huge henges had to plod right the way round the ring of stones in order to get at them. The bubbling cauldron attacked by splashing them with its scalding contents. Stanfield’s incarnation lashed out with his magical dagger and to his surprise actually damaged the cauldron. [Opportune 20 there.] The Red Contessa gave a shriek of alarm, alerting her foes to the importance of the cauldron.
Harkover Lee stepped away from Rachel Lang and opened a portal on the western peak. He stepped through and immediately cast dispel magic on the bloody cauldron. Sadly, even Harkover could not cause the Red Contessa’s wicked bond to falter.
By now, Tomas was beginning to falter in his fight against the spirits. Stanfield’s warrior incarnation stepped up to fight alongside him. Rachel Lang turned her attention to Malthus, who turned out to be surprisingly adept at blocking her blows. (One of his previous incarnations had been a godhand.)
The Red Contessa began to utter more terrible curses.
Dame Melissa felled the fey lion. Then she drew her sword, focused all the might of her fey power and swung it at the cauldron, striking another blow just where Stanfield had damaged it. The cauldron cracked! The Red Contessa screamed in anger as the cauldron dashed about the peak like a headless chicken, sloshing its contents all over the place.
The king’s retinue then renewed their assault on the Contessa, only to discover the full extent of Rachel Lang’s treachery: they were personally bound in a second ritual to the red witch. Any damage they did to her was spread among them – all save Amielle. This would be a much tougher fight than they had realised!
It is at this point that a detailed account of what transpired becomes impossible. The memory fades…
History records that Stanfield died once again upon the mountain, but was restored to his old life and position soon after.
King Lorcan almost died too, but when he returned to consciousness, he named Dame Melissa Galhot as his successor.
Dame Melissa went on to become one of the longest reigning monarchs in Risur’s history, prosecuting the Third Yerasol War against Danor with some success. Eventually, in her dotage, she handed the crown to King Aodhan (whom she often referred to as her noble stag).
Only when Aodhan took the throne, was Stanfield able to take full advantage of what he had learned from Amielle Latimer and develop modern technology in Flint, turning the little town into a hive of industry.
Amielle Latimer had long since departed, returning to her life as an inventor and adventurer.
Masaryk remained in Flint and introduced the clergy faith to Risur, here, where the taint of evil was at its strongest. His original church at the foot of Cauldron Hill was only abandoned after it was rendered unsafe by earthquakes.
Harkover Lee still serves the kings of Risur in an advisory capacity.
But what happened to Malthus...?
At the western edge of the peak they see dark figures dancing around a pyre. Harkover Lee uses clairvoyance and sees many witches, including Sister Pernicity, led by the Red Contessa; a huge fey serpent-maned lion; a bubbling cauldron of blood.
One of Stanfield’s incarnations can use clairvoyance too, and he checks out the eastern peak. There he finds the missing captives, guarded by undying spirits.
Stanfield and Dame Melissa spot patrolling dark fey bearing lanterns. The group considers how best to approach, when Dame Melissa grows tired of talking and attacks.
Tomas heads to rescue the prisoners, but his blows fail to land on the spirits. He does, however, resist their fearful aura.
The others follow suit and take out the dark fey patrol, but they have been noticed!
Sister Pernicity flies out above them and casts a spell. The King shoots her with his silent bow, (“no gloating from you!”) but Amielle’s guns misfire again. (Seriously, that’s four 1s in two sessions; some tech demo this is turning out to be.) It is left to Harkover Lee to blow Pernicity out of the air with a fireball. She lands, singed, but still giggling. (Again, inaudibly.)
The Red Contessa monologues as her witches join the attack. She announces the treachery of Rachel Lang, who she calls Sister Languor. Languor steps from the shadows and strikes Harkover with her staff, making herself invisible to him. The Contessa also causes two huge henge stones and the bubbling cauldron to animate and attack.
King Lorcan creates steps so his retinue can easily reach the peak. He climbs them to face off against the Contessa, trading insults. To his astonishment, she proposes marriage!
Down below, Dame Melissa responds, “We don’t negotiate with terrorists!” She hurls her returning spear at Pernicity, hits, and then hurls it again the instant it returns, killing the witch at last.
The Red Contessa and her coven all hurl curses at the king. They land, and he cannot exert himself without suffering serious wounds. All of his defences are lowered at once.
The Stanfields take out most of the lesser witches between them.
The serpent-maned lion attacks the Green Knight. Dame Melissa draws her cold iron dagger and fights back.
Both Harkover and Malthus have been studying he nature of the ritual protecting the Red Contessa. (Harkover while fending off blows from Rachel Lang.) While Tomas was fighting desperately to free the prisoners on the eastern peak, it would appear that the Contessa’s bond was with the whole of Flint! If the ritual completed, it would be permanent.
King Lorcan ran up the steps he had formed and came face-to-face with the Red Contessa. Alongside him was one of Stanfield’s incarnations. They were set upon by the Contessa’s animated allies, although King Lorcan raised an earth wall, so one of the huge henges had to plod right the way round the ring of stones in order to get at them. The bubbling cauldron attacked by splashing them with its scalding contents. Stanfield’s incarnation lashed out with his magical dagger and to his surprise actually damaged the cauldron. [Opportune 20 there.] The Red Contessa gave a shriek of alarm, alerting her foes to the importance of the cauldron.
Harkover Lee stepped away from Rachel Lang and opened a portal on the western peak. He stepped through and immediately cast dispel magic on the bloody cauldron. Sadly, even Harkover could not cause the Red Contessa’s wicked bond to falter.
By now, Tomas was beginning to falter in his fight against the spirits. Stanfield’s warrior incarnation stepped up to fight alongside him. Rachel Lang turned her attention to Malthus, who turned out to be surprisingly adept at blocking her blows. (One of his previous incarnations had been a godhand.)
The Red Contessa began to utter more terrible curses.
Dame Melissa felled the fey lion. Then she drew her sword, focused all the might of her fey power and swung it at the cauldron, striking another blow just where Stanfield had damaged it. The cauldron cracked! The Red Contessa screamed in anger as the cauldron dashed about the peak like a headless chicken, sloshing its contents all over the place.
The king’s retinue then renewed their assault on the Contessa, only to discover the full extent of Rachel Lang’s treachery: they were personally bound in a second ritual to the red witch. Any damage they did to her was spread among them – all save Amielle. This would be a much tougher fight than they had realised!
It is at this point that a detailed account of what transpired becomes impossible. The memory fades…
History records that Stanfield died once again upon the mountain, but was restored to his old life and position soon after.
King Lorcan almost died too, but when he returned to consciousness, he named Dame Melissa Galhot as his successor.
Dame Melissa went on to become one of the longest reigning monarchs in Risur’s history, prosecuting the Third Yerasol War against Danor with some success. Eventually, in her dotage, she handed the crown to King Aodhan (whom she often referred to as her noble stag).
Only when Aodhan took the throne, was Stanfield able to take full advantage of what he had learned from Amielle Latimer and develop modern technology in Flint, turning the little town into a hive of industry.
Amielle Latimer had long since departed, returning to her life as an inventor and adventurer.
Masaryk remained in Flint and introduced the clergy faith to Risur, here, where the taint of evil was at its strongest. His original church at the foot of Cauldron Hill was only abandoned after it was rendered unsafe by earthquakes.
Harkover Lee still serves the kings of Risur in an advisory capacity.
But what happened to Malthus...?
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gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
Session 24 (147), Part One - Incoming! (& Outgoing)
Sea spray driven by the ship’s sheer speed blurred the vision of all on deck as the Impossible escaped from Mutravir. There were celebrations, during which a concerned young officer pressed rather too close to Gupta, taking her hand, pleased to see her safe return and hoping for a reciprocation of affection or concern. Gupta took a step away and urged the poor man to get a grip of himself.
Rumdoom gave a hearty cry of triumph and turned to Leon with a glance towards the island. “What was that, then? Ten, twelve teleports?” Leon nodded and smiled, “Give or take.” “Can’t be all that bad, then, can it?” said Rumdoom, giving himself a hearty slap on the chest. “I feel fine!” (Was that a twitch Leon spotted in Rumdoom’s eye?)
Ken Don and Livia Hatsfield were taken to the brig for the time being and Vitus Sigismund was shown to guest quarters. Rutger Smith restored order and reminded everyone that there were still hostile ships in the area. When his men had returned to their posts he relaxed and congratulated Korrigan. The two men lit a cigar apiece and Smith talked briefly about the fact that his ship had yet to see action. Yet again she had slipped away from the enemy. Among other Risuri captains it was held that he, Captain Smith, was keen to prove himself in a naval exchange but Smith confided in Korrigan that – though he was far from reluctant to defend himself - he was a keen adherent of William Miller, who advocated violence only as a last resort. He was glad to be Captain of a ship that could outrun most enemies.
While they talked, Korrigan noticed Matunaaga standing pensively close by. When questioned, Matunaaga said that he was concerned for his home and his people. The Ob’s Grand Design allowed for the possibility of extra-planar intrusion. The unit knew only too well what a threat the gidim might pose, and Mutanaaga’s people suffered as their thralls for many aeons before winning their freedom as allies of the Ancients. Worse still, Xambria had defected to the Ob, and had lived in the Hidden Valley for three long years. Though she had been taken there with the usual precautions, she was a geographer and an astrologer. Pinpointing their location would not be too hard. Korrigan reminded Matunaaga that so far the Ob had shown no interest in his people, but he nonetheless gave Matunaaga permission to travel home and warn them of the threat.
Vitus Sigismund thanked the unit for his rescue and they in turn thanked him for his aid. He said he would like to return to Crisillyir and continue his investigations with renewed caution now he knew how high up the ranks the rot extended. They promised to arrange this when it was safe. They would have to be careful, though: a Docker contact of Gupta’s informed them via sending that Danoran ships had already been alerted to keep a look out for and engage the Impossible.
Meantime, Vitus and Korrigan discussed the fate of Ken Don. Vitus was keen to see Don punished. As he could not rely on the clergy hierarchy he seemed to suggest that he would take the matter into his own hands (quite literally). Korrigan persuaded him that Don might serve them both well if he was allowed to return to his post. They went to talk to the morbid librarian who – despite his resentment at what had happened – conceded that he had little choice but to cooperate. When everything was explained to him, he seemed to agree that the Obscurati was dangerous – particularly when he realised that their Grand Design would detach the Bleak Gate from Lanjyr.
Time passed. It was dark now and the sea was smooth. Uru was in the rigging when he was joined by a yellow canary. A canary in the open ocean? Miles from shore? At night?
Surprise, surprise! This was a messenger from Gale. It sang a request that she be allowed to pay them a visit. Uru took the canary gently in his hands and went below. There it was agreed that Gale should be allowed to know the rough location of the Impossible. When asked where she was the canary was able to respond, ‘Elfaivar’. They would sail close to the eladrin jungle-lands on their proposed course to the Beran channel (where they hoped to find safe port at Manhill or Citadel Cavello; they had already begun to think about the possibility of trying to beat the Ob to Kasvarina Varal, but needed to be careful how they pursued this objective!) So they told Gale where they would be in about a day or so.
Shouts of alarm could be heard from the quartermaster’s stores. The crew were deathly afraid: Rumdoom had broken in and was helping himself to copious quantities of food and drink. When they approached he raged incoherently, drove them back with waves of cold, staggered about for a while and then collapsed in a sobbing heap, wailing “Who am I? Who am I?” Gupta was able to calm him sufficiently to avoid any recurrence of the Icy End (which would have been disastrous on board a ship, as the hull disappeared). When he finally went to sleep they put him in the brig just to be safe. Korrigan asked Matunaaga to return with Rumdoom’s wife, who was best placed to restore the dwarf from his condition.
A sending announced that Stover Delft was incoming, in response to Korrigan’s report. Before they replied with the ship’s longitude and latitude, as requested, they decided it would be best if Leon made himself scarce. Delft had said that Leon’s presence put him in a difficult position – Leon was a wanted criminal in Risur. Besides, Leon could kill a couple of birds with one stone – take Vitus and Ken Don ashore on phantom steeds, and try to make contact with El Extrano. He and the Crisillyirians departed at once.
Once they reported the location back, a few minutes later the experimental teleportation beacon aboard the Impossible activated, and Stover Delft appeared, accompanied by RHC teleportation specialist Lauryn Cyneburg and two elite Risuri marine bodyguards. Delft opened his mouth to talk, then bent over with nausea, as did the marines. Lauryn handled it better, but said to Delft that she told him so. Once the nausea passed, Delft explained that he thought it would be cheaper and faster to just come here and talk than to trade sending rituals for hours. Lauryn warned him something odd was happening to planar travel, but as long as it wasn’t fatal, he was not be deterred.
Delft asked for a full report on the events at the Obscurati convocation, then proposed the party’s next mission: find Kasvarina Varal, extract whatever information she might have about the conspiracy or how to stop the colossus, and eliminate her if she’s a threat.
Cyneburg commended them. She said this was their most successful mission to date (slipping in critical reminders of the release of Borne and Tinker’s death). Although she could not condone all of their methods, they had exposed the Obscurati completely. To put the icing on the cake, Uru handed over ‘Gran Guiscard’s’ autograph book, which contained signatures of almost all of the Ob officers in attendance – updated with a note indicating those they were certain had not survived. They also reminded their ‘superiors’ of earlier successes and – in response to criticism that they had released prisoners without approval – reminded them of other prisoners they had handed over who met a sticky end in RHC custody. (That reminded Korrigan of another unsolved mystery: when he spoke to Duchess Ethelyn of Shale, she asked him to look into the whereabouts of her ‘handmaiden’ and accomplice, the sorceress Sokana Rel. Korrigan did as he was asked, but could find no record of Sokana and no indication of her whereabouts.)
Speaking of dead prisoners, Korrigan commended Reed Macbannin and emphasised that he had gone some way to make amends for his crimes. His help had been crucial to their escape. Delft was less convinced and joked that Korrigan was going soft, which led to another discussion about the fate of Livia Hatsfield. Cyneburg reminded them of the seriousness of her treachery and that her only saving grace was that she left a detailed ‘suicide note’ before her departure. They would take her back to Flint and put her on trial – taking into account the fact that she had been of great help to the unit during their mission. They would also make sure to find out exactly what the Ob wanted to know about the Rites of Rulership. A direct threat to the King was implicit.
This in turn led them on to a brief discussion of Xambria’s defection, and an attempt to judge how serious that might prove to be. Uru pointed out that they could not be certain if she was even still alive, as Vicemi Terio and the ghost council had attacked her along with the others. But if she was, how much damage could she do? Delft conceded that he had dropped the ball on this one. Korrigan had stepped down as unit leader when Delft allowed Conquo/Xambria to join so he would take full responsibility for failing to have her vetted properly. What value she had for the Ob was uncertain, so they put the matter to one side.
They then had a long, involved and occasionally fractious conversation about their next steps, recognising the huge challenge of covering thousands of square miles of jungle, some of which was occupied by hostile forces. Lauren Cyneburg shared a gazeteer she had compiled detailing the colonies and principal cities of modern Elfaivar, and the unit discussed the possibility of calling in favours to help in their search: Could the Berans help, through their trading posts? Would their connections with Morgan Cippiano be of use in the clergy colonies? Could they track the path of the colossus in the Dreaming with the help of the Unseen Court?
The possibility of scrying was raised and dismissed: Not only was Kasvarina an Ob officer (and founding member, or so it would seem) she was also – in the words of Harkover Lee, relayed now by Cyneburg, “one of the most, if not the most powerful spellcaster in the world”. Before her memories were stolen, that is.
It was agreed that they would need to be careful, and choose a safe place to dock. The idea of switching ships was mooted several times, but the Ob could always scry them, and the Impossible was so darned fast! Delft told them that he had arranged for an honour guard to sail out from Sawyer, in the Risuri colony of Kellandia: the RNS Alesia and the RNS Chell should join them in a couple of days. (Both captained by men who had served with Korrigan in Yerasol.)
Uru wondered aloud if maybe Gale could help when she arrived (she had been in Elfaivar after all), whereupon Delft balked and brought an end to the conversation, keen to leave “before the terrorist gets here”. Before he went he toured the ship, getting to know the crew and encouraging them to live up to the example set by Korrigan & Co. While he did so, Cyneburg shared with them some newspapers from home, and opened up the equipment parcel she had brought along, including lightning weapons and portable shortwave transmitters (which Uru had helped to develop [by rolling a 20]). She said that the Clockwork Count had shunned the public eye leaving Justin Rollins to take all the credit! The man was becoming unbearable.
While Cyneburg prepared a teleportation circle, Delft, returned, popped some tobacco in his mouth and shook each of the constables’ hands. He apologised for thinking that every time he saw them might be the last and then spat on the deck “for luck”. As they stepped through the portal to Flint, Cyneburg could be heard to say, “If you think it’s that lucky you should give them your spittoon”.
Sea spray driven by the ship’s sheer speed blurred the vision of all on deck as the Impossible escaped from Mutravir. There were celebrations, during which a concerned young officer pressed rather too close to Gupta, taking her hand, pleased to see her safe return and hoping for a reciprocation of affection or concern. Gupta took a step away and urged the poor man to get a grip of himself.
Rumdoom gave a hearty cry of triumph and turned to Leon with a glance towards the island. “What was that, then? Ten, twelve teleports?” Leon nodded and smiled, “Give or take.” “Can’t be all that bad, then, can it?” said Rumdoom, giving himself a hearty slap on the chest. “I feel fine!” (Was that a twitch Leon spotted in Rumdoom’s eye?)
Ken Don and Livia Hatsfield were taken to the brig for the time being and Vitus Sigismund was shown to guest quarters. Rutger Smith restored order and reminded everyone that there were still hostile ships in the area. When his men had returned to their posts he relaxed and congratulated Korrigan. The two men lit a cigar apiece and Smith talked briefly about the fact that his ship had yet to see action. Yet again she had slipped away from the enemy. Among other Risuri captains it was held that he, Captain Smith, was keen to prove himself in a naval exchange but Smith confided in Korrigan that – though he was far from reluctant to defend himself - he was a keen adherent of William Miller, who advocated violence only as a last resort. He was glad to be Captain of a ship that could outrun most enemies.
While they talked, Korrigan noticed Matunaaga standing pensively close by. When questioned, Matunaaga said that he was concerned for his home and his people. The Ob’s Grand Design allowed for the possibility of extra-planar intrusion. The unit knew only too well what a threat the gidim might pose, and Mutanaaga’s people suffered as their thralls for many aeons before winning their freedom as allies of the Ancients. Worse still, Xambria had defected to the Ob, and had lived in the Hidden Valley for three long years. Though she had been taken there with the usual precautions, she was a geographer and an astrologer. Pinpointing their location would not be too hard. Korrigan reminded Matunaaga that so far the Ob had shown no interest in his people, but he nonetheless gave Matunaaga permission to travel home and warn them of the threat.
Vitus Sigismund thanked the unit for his rescue and they in turn thanked him for his aid. He said he would like to return to Crisillyir and continue his investigations with renewed caution now he knew how high up the ranks the rot extended. They promised to arrange this when it was safe. They would have to be careful, though: a Docker contact of Gupta’s informed them via sending that Danoran ships had already been alerted to keep a look out for and engage the Impossible.
Meantime, Vitus and Korrigan discussed the fate of Ken Don. Vitus was keen to see Don punished. As he could not rely on the clergy hierarchy he seemed to suggest that he would take the matter into his own hands (quite literally). Korrigan persuaded him that Don might serve them both well if he was allowed to return to his post. They went to talk to the morbid librarian who – despite his resentment at what had happened – conceded that he had little choice but to cooperate. When everything was explained to him, he seemed to agree that the Obscurati was dangerous – particularly when he realised that their Grand Design would detach the Bleak Gate from Lanjyr.
Time passed. It was dark now and the sea was smooth. Uru was in the rigging when he was joined by a yellow canary. A canary in the open ocean? Miles from shore? At night?
Surprise, surprise! This was a messenger from Gale. It sang a request that she be allowed to pay them a visit. Uru took the canary gently in his hands and went below. There it was agreed that Gale should be allowed to know the rough location of the Impossible. When asked where she was the canary was able to respond, ‘Elfaivar’. They would sail close to the eladrin jungle-lands on their proposed course to the Beran channel (where they hoped to find safe port at Manhill or Citadel Cavello; they had already begun to think about the possibility of trying to beat the Ob to Kasvarina Varal, but needed to be careful how they pursued this objective!) So they told Gale where they would be in about a day or so.
Shouts of alarm could be heard from the quartermaster’s stores. The crew were deathly afraid: Rumdoom had broken in and was helping himself to copious quantities of food and drink. When they approached he raged incoherently, drove them back with waves of cold, staggered about for a while and then collapsed in a sobbing heap, wailing “Who am I? Who am I?” Gupta was able to calm him sufficiently to avoid any recurrence of the Icy End (which would have been disastrous on board a ship, as the hull disappeared). When he finally went to sleep they put him in the brig just to be safe. Korrigan asked Matunaaga to return with Rumdoom’s wife, who was best placed to restore the dwarf from his condition.
A sending announced that Stover Delft was incoming, in response to Korrigan’s report. Before they replied with the ship’s longitude and latitude, as requested, they decided it would be best if Leon made himself scarce. Delft had said that Leon’s presence put him in a difficult position – Leon was a wanted criminal in Risur. Besides, Leon could kill a couple of birds with one stone – take Vitus and Ken Don ashore on phantom steeds, and try to make contact with El Extrano. He and the Crisillyirians departed at once.
Once they reported the location back, a few minutes later the experimental teleportation beacon aboard the Impossible activated, and Stover Delft appeared, accompanied by RHC teleportation specialist Lauryn Cyneburg and two elite Risuri marine bodyguards. Delft opened his mouth to talk, then bent over with nausea, as did the marines. Lauryn handled it better, but said to Delft that she told him so. Once the nausea passed, Delft explained that he thought it would be cheaper and faster to just come here and talk than to trade sending rituals for hours. Lauryn warned him something odd was happening to planar travel, but as long as it wasn’t fatal, he was not be deterred.
Delft asked for a full report on the events at the Obscurati convocation, then proposed the party’s next mission: find Kasvarina Varal, extract whatever information she might have about the conspiracy or how to stop the colossus, and eliminate her if she’s a threat.
Cyneburg commended them. She said this was their most successful mission to date (slipping in critical reminders of the release of Borne and Tinker’s death). Although she could not condone all of their methods, they had exposed the Obscurati completely. To put the icing on the cake, Uru handed over ‘Gran Guiscard’s’ autograph book, which contained signatures of almost all of the Ob officers in attendance – updated with a note indicating those they were certain had not survived. They also reminded their ‘superiors’ of earlier successes and – in response to criticism that they had released prisoners without approval – reminded them of other prisoners they had handed over who met a sticky end in RHC custody. (That reminded Korrigan of another unsolved mystery: when he spoke to Duchess Ethelyn of Shale, she asked him to look into the whereabouts of her ‘handmaiden’ and accomplice, the sorceress Sokana Rel. Korrigan did as he was asked, but could find no record of Sokana and no indication of her whereabouts.)
Speaking of dead prisoners, Korrigan commended Reed Macbannin and emphasised that he had gone some way to make amends for his crimes. His help had been crucial to their escape. Delft was less convinced and joked that Korrigan was going soft, which led to another discussion about the fate of Livia Hatsfield. Cyneburg reminded them of the seriousness of her treachery and that her only saving grace was that she left a detailed ‘suicide note’ before her departure. They would take her back to Flint and put her on trial – taking into account the fact that she had been of great help to the unit during their mission. They would also make sure to find out exactly what the Ob wanted to know about the Rites of Rulership. A direct threat to the King was implicit.
This in turn led them on to a brief discussion of Xambria’s defection, and an attempt to judge how serious that might prove to be. Uru pointed out that they could not be certain if she was even still alive, as Vicemi Terio and the ghost council had attacked her along with the others. But if she was, how much damage could she do? Delft conceded that he had dropped the ball on this one. Korrigan had stepped down as unit leader when Delft allowed Conquo/Xambria to join so he would take full responsibility for failing to have her vetted properly. What value she had for the Ob was uncertain, so they put the matter to one side.
They then had a long, involved and occasionally fractious conversation about their next steps, recognising the huge challenge of covering thousands of square miles of jungle, some of which was occupied by hostile forces. Lauren Cyneburg shared a gazeteer she had compiled detailing the colonies and principal cities of modern Elfaivar, and the unit discussed the possibility of calling in favours to help in their search: Could the Berans help, through their trading posts? Would their connections with Morgan Cippiano be of use in the clergy colonies? Could they track the path of the colossus in the Dreaming with the help of the Unseen Court?
The possibility of scrying was raised and dismissed: Not only was Kasvarina an Ob officer (and founding member, or so it would seem) she was also – in the words of Harkover Lee, relayed now by Cyneburg, “one of the most, if not the most powerful spellcaster in the world”. Before her memories were stolen, that is.
It was agreed that they would need to be careful, and choose a safe place to dock. The idea of switching ships was mooted several times, but the Ob could always scry them, and the Impossible was so darned fast! Delft told them that he had arranged for an honour guard to sail out from Sawyer, in the Risuri colony of Kellandia: the RNS Alesia and the RNS Chell should join them in a couple of days. (Both captained by men who had served with Korrigan in Yerasol.)
Uru wondered aloud if maybe Gale could help when she arrived (she had been in Elfaivar after all), whereupon Delft balked and brought an end to the conversation, keen to leave “before the terrorist gets here”. Before he went he toured the ship, getting to know the crew and encouraging them to live up to the example set by Korrigan & Co. While he did so, Cyneburg shared with them some newspapers from home, and opened up the equipment parcel she had brought along, including lightning weapons and portable shortwave transmitters (which Uru had helped to develop [by rolling a 20]). She said that the Clockwork Count had shunned the public eye leaving Justin Rollins to take all the credit! The man was becoming unbearable.
While Cyneburg prepared a teleportation circle, Delft, returned, popped some tobacco in his mouth and shook each of the constables’ hands. He apologised for thinking that every time he saw them might be the last and then spat on the deck “for luck”. As they stepped through the portal to Flint, Cyneburg could be heard to say, “If you think it’s that lucky you should give them your spittoon”.
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RangerWickett
Legend
Ah, you reminded me of an inside joke.
Since Lauryn is using teleportation portals, I named the two Risur ships after Alesia Glidewell, the voice actress and body model for Chell, the protagonist of Portal. Alesia went to my same college 3 years ahead of me and was friends with one of my long-time gamer buddies.
Since Lauryn is using teleportation portals, I named the two Risur ships after Alesia Glidewell, the voice actress and body model for Chell, the protagonist of Portal. Alesia went to my same college 3 years ahead of me and was friends with one of my long-time gamer buddies.
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