NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ilex" data-source="post: 5690066" data-attributes="member: 82687">25x01Writer's note: it's been two weeks, so here's two weeks' worth of update in one! (i.e. it's longer than usual). <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />WEEK 8 | MONDAYOn her way to breakfast in the Inn's common room, Savina paused at the building's door to enjoy the breeze. The weekend had been exhausting. It will be good to return to our normal routine, she thought, and then had to laugh to herself for being glad to get back to "normal" life … that is, life as a Sovereign Inquisitor engaged in the complicated and top-secret political maneuver of going the long way around the Circle. Not long ago, she would barely have known what any of that meant.And the sulfur in the breeze would have bothered her terribly.Suddenly, she missed Pol Henna and her original normal life. The thought struck her: Why shouldn't I teleport home for a weekend? She had almost forgotten that it was possible.  She could visit the Temple and spend some time with her parents.  Odetta would probably be off negotiating trade agreements, but she could see how her brother Cassio’s studies were coming and if Dianora was still flirting through every ball.  What would her family think of who she was becoming?  Would they understand her need to continue this quest?Mulling over the idea, she walked into the dining area. Kormick was slumped at the bar and pouring powder into a steaming mug. Curious, Savina paused to watch as he took a sniff of the mixture. Something tugged at her attention. The other night, in the midst of the confusion of the fight with the bounty hunters, she had felt… something.  Yes—it was when he'd <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/5659084-post394.html" target="_blank">attacked</a> the glasses-wearing man on her behalf.  Barely noticed in all the excitement, she had felt some trace of the Goddess about Kormick.  But… no. I can't be right.  She closed her eyes, and then opened them and looked again. Something shimmered.   How can that be? After another evaluative sniff, Kormick threw his head back and swallowed the contents of the mug at a gulp. Then he turned around with immense weariness and saw her."I am… excruciatingly hungover," he announced."What did you just mix up for that drink?" Savina asked."Who knows? Stuff. And… things. It helps the head."The drink was a folk remedy, nothing divine.  That wasn't the power she had sensed—the power she could still faintly sense.  Savina stepped closer, trying to see the answer in his bloodshot eyes. "Has Alirria blessed you, Jan?" she wondered aloud.Kormick snorted as if she'd made an unexpected joke. "Savina, I am barely a Justicar of one god. Come on. Let's go decide what we're doing next in this political farce." Giving her a benign pat on the shoulder, Kormick set off for the party's table at the back of the room.As she followed him to the table, Savina decided that she would say nothing more about it… for now. But this would bear watching.Over breakfast, she mentioned her plan to visit Pol Henna for a day or two. She wasn't prepared for the response. Tavi choked on his tea, Rose nearly dropped her spoon, Kormick began to laugh, and Twiggy shook her head solemnly."No," said Mena, glaring at her. The Defier seemed surprisingly angry."Dame Mena," Savina replied, a little stiffly, "I will do as I wish.""A letter says a lot," countered Kormick. "And has less risk of you getting locked up in the di Raprezzis' mansion by the crazy lady.""I cannot imagine that it would be unsafe," Savina persisted. "I am a Di Infusino.  Would Signora Giovanna really attack me?" "Her bounty hunters attacked you," Tavi said.  "Well…" Savina hesitated. "I suppose I could wait.""It's your decision, but I do appreciate having you stay here with us," said Rose softly, and thus it was decided.The conversation progressed to a review of their most urgent priorities now that Ehkt's Judgment had passed. Nyoko explained that she'd received an invitation to perform the Dance of the Seven-Fold Secrets for the Head of Lands, Lord Tanaka, at one of his indulgence parties. She hadn't been told a date or a place, but the invitation confirmed Kormick's earlier intelligence that a party was coming up. She would accept the invitation—which meant she had to learn the dance.It was important that as many of them as possible try to obtain an invitation to the indulgence party, because that would give them greater odds of speaking privately to Lord Tanaka himself. Tavi and Twiggy decided to angle for information about the secret party, too. Savina didn't offer to help. Neither did Rose. It doesn't sound like an event for refined people, Savina thought, with a little shiver of distaste as she imagined the  underground free-for-all.   And where is the reverence for our Lady’s gifts? It sounds like they gorge on all her blessings without truly understanding or appreciating any of them.Instead, Savina offered to continue seeking out the city's secret Alirrian population. Although the Affirmation officially protected their activities, their presence was still almost entirely underground—memories lingered of the massacre of their sistren not so many years ago. "You should go along, Mena," Twiggy said.  "You said you spotted a few Alirrians among the <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/5573743-post371.html" target="_blank">Snuffers</a>."  "Perhaps today is not the best day," Mena said.  Savina was sure now: Mena was angry about something, simmering in her chair like a teapot near to boiling.  Twiggy did not—or chose not to—notice.  "I think it's a good idea," she persisted.  Mena cast an unsettling look at Savina, sighed, and gave one sharp nod of assent.Kormick declared that he'd continue building a relationship with Cauldron's organized criminals, the Eighths.  Savina suspected that he had his own Undian reasons for doing so, but she couldn't deny that forming such a connection would help them gather information about the indulgence party, the Tide, and anything else that wasn't necessarily easily found in the broad daylight. "I'll borrow the murder slave," he added, "if you don't need her for any bloodletting assistance."Savina didn't think she would.###  Mena led Savina to the Snuffer's Temple, where they would attempt to make contact with the Alirrian healers Mena had already noticed hiding among the Ehktians there.  Savina was wearing her Alirrian robes, her holy symbol flashing in the sun.  Mena's irritation with the girl was still so fresh that every flash seemed a personal annoyance, a reminder of something not resolved.  Mena would have preferred to wait until she was calmer, less emotional, but perhaps now was her best chance.  She took a deep breath and began.   "Let's talk about <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/5678666-post402.html" target="_blank">last night</a>," she snapped.  "You knew where Ellisen was hiding in the cavern, but you protected him.  Why is that?" "I… His lover fought so hard for him, but was betrayed by torture and will die.  His friends are gone.  I thought perhaps he had suffered enough.”  "It endangered us all." Savina drew herself up, anger in her voice.  ”I would not willingly send anyone to that woman Mawu.  Did you know she believes heathens have no souls to suffer?!”  She took a breath, resolute. "I do not apologize for having had my fill of death.“ "That's admirable," said Mena softly.  She was relieved to see the girl look startled at this unexpected concession.  It was a heartfelt concession, too, no doubt about that.  Her anger now cooling, she relaxed into a more teacherly mindset and explained.  "But it’s not my point.  I'm angry that you didn't share your thoughts with the rest of us.  I'm angry that you instead sabotaged our efforts secretly. Those people intended to capture Rose, and they directed violence against all of us.  And they will not be the last.  If you value Rose's life at all—if you value all our lives—you must give us advance warning the next time conscience pricks you." Savina was silent for a few paces.  Finally, she murmured, "That much is fair, Mena.  And I do apologize for my misjudgment, as I had hoped he would be content to run." Mena smiled in true relief.  As they neared the Snuffer's Temple, Mena added, "Do let me be clear.  I deeply understand your desire to prevent a death.  But I could never wish upon you the burden of knowing that your actions cost a friend or comrade their life.  There are always consequences, even for good intentions."Savina cast her a probing look, no doubt alert to the emotion in Mena's voice.  But Mena pointedly walked on toward the Temple, relying on Savina's tact to let the conversation end there.  Neither of them said another word about it, but they worked comfortably together for the rest of the day. TUESDAYNyoko squirmed a little inside.  Now that she was actually standing in the dance studio in front of the dance master, she was surprised that it was this hard to make her request.  Using her Adept training to calm her mind, however, she focused on her mission and then composed her question.  "Iwai-Sensei, I wish private instruction to learn… to learn the Dance of the Seven-Fold Secrets."  She felt surprised eyes upon her from the Adepts warming up in the room behind her, but she ignored them.To her relief, Iwai-sensei was nodding.  "You were a most able student for the Dance of Sedellus.  I will be honored to instruct you further.  Here is a list of things you will need…"  From memory, he rattled off special make-up, fabrics, and other items that Nyoko would have to buy.  Then he bowed, she bowed, and she headed for the door to do some shopping.DM’s Note: For game mechanics purposes, the Dance of the Sevenfold Secrets counts as a ritual that only Nyoko can perform.  The cost involved in obtaining these items represents the ritual costs. On the way, she saw her rival, <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/5559127-post368.html" target="_blank">Unsuku</a>, glaring at her.  Glaring as if her eyes were bows and their beams were twin arrows, striking at once.  WEDNESDAYTavi couldn't remember the last time he'd endured such excruciating pain.  His skin felt flayed; his muscles pummeled flat.With everything he had, he stifled a groan of pure agony and sent a psychic grunt to the frantic Phoebe warning her not to poke out the eyes of his tormentor.  Looming above him, his Adept masseuse murmured, "Does that feel sufficiently effective, Signor-san?""Great," Tavi answered, teeth gritted.  "But more, please."He'd decided, that morning, that the best way to get invited to an indulgence party was to become better known as an indulgent man of… excessive tastes.  Accordingly, he'd visited the Adept spa and asked for the full deep-tissue package.  Unfortunately, Adepts were known for their finesse, decorum, and artistry, not for unseemly and illicit excess.  After hours of relaxing steam room sessions and massages that artfully walked a delicate line between sensual and sexual, he'd realized that he wasn't getting anywhere—wasn't meeting the quail-egg-craving extreme-pleasure enthusiasts who might invite him to the Lands party—so he began asking for more.  More extreme.  More unusual.  More, more, more.The Adept climbed on top of him, planted an elbow against his back, and slowly raised the rest of her body off the floor until she was balancing her entire weight on that single elbow, nestled snugly alongside his spine. "After this, more exfoliation," she murmured.Tavi swallowed a scream.THURSDAYTwiggy, who'd initially been envious of Tavi's spa plan, had felt better once she'd seen him return home the previous night, bright pink and limping, and make a beeline straight for Savina's healing prayers.And Twiggy’s method of getting an invitation to the indulgence party was enjoyable, too.  She was wandering the local markets, visiting apothecaries and farm stands, seeking a place with the correct array of herbs for her purposes.  It was fun—for once—to see a veritable catalogue of the local flora under circumstances in which she could reasonably expect that none of it would leap up and assault her.  It brought back memories of her childhood, of those fleeting moments on her father’s lap as he taught her about trees and flowers, how to make them grow, which ones were poisonous and which were tasty, how to tell them by name and taste and smell . . .Finally, she discovered an unpretentious little apothecary storefront that, within, opened up into a treasure trove of natural healing remedies and more exotic specimens.  The customers browsing were quieter and better-dressed than the surrounding neighborhood warranted.  Twiggy bought a small collection of herbs, making no effort to hide what she was selecting: euphoric, mildly hallucinogenic, sedating…  Combined, they would have even more fascinating effects.  At the counter, the shopkeeper cocked an eyebrow at her.  She gave him a knowing smile in response.  He bowed graciously.  She bowed back.She was on her way to becoming known as the heathens' expert drug dealer.  FRIDAYKormick, with Arden behind him like a slim, malevolent shadow, arrived at the bar where the Eighths congregated and saw that a place was already set for him at his usual table.  He shot Arden a satisfied look and read answering satisfaction in her face. It hadn't been like this on Monday, when they'd first arrived for lunch.  Kormick had conspicuously laid aside his Inquisitorial and Kettenite accoutrements as he'd entered.  The regulars and staff—almost all of them members of the gang—had glared as he'd settled into a chair and ordered.  Arden had snagged a pair of wooden chopsticks to twirl and leaned against a wall with the bored-yet-alert look of a competent bodyguard.As the waiter served his stew and a few other men lurked around in a transparent attempt to be intimidating, Kormick had glanced up after his first bite and announced pleasantly, "Gentlemen, you're in my light."The next day, when it happened again, he commented, "If we had some conversation, it might not be so tense in here."  They stayed silent.  The next day, Kormick spoke around his last mouthful:  "Still so quiet, eh?  I regret to inform you all:  I am exceedingly fond of this particular stew."The next day—yesterday—the waiter had attempted to bar his way to his usual table.  Kormick had laid a hand on his warhammer.  Arden had appeared at his shoulder, twirling a chopstick that somehow, after several days of loitering, had been sharpened into a killing point.  "I would not come here triflingly," Kormick observed to the room at large.  "You know that."The waiter had cast his gaze to Arden, who looked him in the eye and spoke for the first time all week: "My boss does not lie."Kormick had been interested to note that Arden faked an Undian accent beautifully, just as if she really were a member of his hometown crew.  That could prove useful if I decide to bring her and her murderous talents back to Dar Und…The waiter, for his part, had glanced into a shadowy back room, received some signal, and stepped aside.Today, Kormick sat down at the set place and grinned as the stew appeared in the hands of the grudgingly polite waiter.  He'd just accomplished some good old-fashioned gangland diplomacy.###  That evening, Arden slipped into her usual booth at the Inn of Agreeable Company, reflecting that she was now playing the role of two underhanded characters who hung out at two separate underworld taverns:  first was her role here, as the Tide's <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/5567827-post370.html" target="_blank">newly recruited</a> heathen lackey, and second was her role as Kormick's minion for his outreach to the Eighths.  That's a lot of lies, she thought, and was troubled to find herself smiling rather than … well, troubled.  She was at a dangerous point with the Tide: they clearly wanted her to do something more—that is, something in the homicide category—to win their trust completely.  Unless she did that, she was never going to learn all their plans, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could credibly resist their pressure.  Tonight's conversation might get awkward.  But her contact, Shen, thumped onto the bench across from her in an obvious hurry.  "Not much time tonight," the Tidesman said, flashing a grin.  "And I can't tell you much.  But we're about to move.  Very soon now.""What are you going to do?" Arden asked, not having to work hard to feign wide-eyed interest in the answer."Can't tell you now.  You're not inner circle, not yet.  But when it happens, I want you to know it was us, so you'll know that you're on the winning side."SATURDAYAt their weekly meeting with Lord Ono in the Inquisitorial House, Savina smelled the distinct odor of his antacid tea and felt—as she always did—sorry for the beleaguered man.  He needed a vacation so very desperately.They had reported their efforts for the week and discussed a few of the finer details, but most of the conversation focused on Arden's disturbing intelligence that the Tide were preparing some imminent attack.  "You could learn nothing more?" Ono demanded, taking another swallow of tea.  "Not even something said by accident, something you overheard?""I'm sorry, my Lord," Arden said.  "They don't trust me that much, and the thing is, I'm not sure how much more of their trust I'm willing to earn.""Well, that's understandable," Ono answered, with another swallow, "but I don't like—I don't like it—" He broke off, coughing."Are you all right, Ono-san?" Savina asked.  He kept coughing.  With a crash, the teacup fell from his hand and shattered, and in an explosion of red, his cough sprayed brilliant blood across his desk.</blockquote>

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