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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 2155284" data-attributes="member: 3448">Session 18, cont'd:6/1The next day is full of festivities and ceremony, as the new governor takes office.  None of our heroes pay the celebrations any mind, however, choosing to work on practicing their respective skills instead.  After many hours of hard work during the day, they are eager for the Gala in the evening.The preparations are largely uneventful.  Dove and Sister Aurora offer a spare invitation to their sister Desi, but she declines it with a wan smile.  "Thank you; Vannser had already asked me if he should try to get an extra invitation for me, but I just don't feel ready for a big event yet.  I think I'll just stay home, where I feel safe."Sister Aurora and Dove exchange worried glances.  Before her kidnapping, Desi would have viewed the opportunity to attend a state ball as a prize beyond price.  But even now that she has been freed, it will take time for the emotional wounds to heal.Melania spends some time getting a suitably fancy outfit, since the only comparable clothes she has are for entertaining at parties, not enjoying them.  She asks Ginara if she would like to come with her while she tries on possible dresses and Ginara surprises her with the enthusiasm of her response; Melania never thought that Ginara had much interest in clothing.As the time of the Gala draws near, the whole group gathers at the cath Kalissar townhouse.  Following their usual somewhat antisocial ways, Lhovrik and Ginara's parents have declined their invitations and are neither hosting a gathering nor attending any of the numerous pre-parties in the elite social scene.  On the upside, this allows Lhovrik to commandeer the family carriage without any difficulty.  The butler seems slightly nonplussed when the Skyrnaths arrive on foot, but he maintains a steady expression, and everyone climbs into the carriage with the assistance of the more junior servants who are spending the night as footmen.The trip to the Governor's Palace is uneventful and short.  The Palace, in the heart of the Noble Quarter, is designed for massive social events like this.  A swarm of carriages surround the gated walls of the Palace grounds.  As the cath Kalissar carriage approaches the gate, Dove and Ginara notice that one of the guards atop the guard tower is scanning the area vigilantly through unusual lenses over both eyes.  A footguard approaches the carriage and looks at each occupant while confirming that they are on the list of expected guests.  This guard wears a monocle, much like the one that Kinric has used on occasion.  Seeing that everything is in order, he waves the carriage through the gate.The carriage rolls around a great U in front of the enormous Palace.  The Palace is ornate yet tasteful; while it is impossible to not realize how expensive it must be, it is mostly breathtaking for its beauty.  Great domes rise up from the Palace, in the finest Imperial style, and a splendid, sprawling garden extends beyond the building itself.The cath Kalissars and their guests head into the Palace.  Protocal suggests that they should attend the formal reception in one of the great ballrooms.  They thus join a long line of guests awaiting the opportunity to greet the Prince, the Governor, and the other high dignitaries.  The crowded line mills slowly forward.  Most of the people in the line are humans, although there are a smattering of halflings and a few more exotic peoples; Sister Aurora perks up with interest when she catches a glimpse of a wolfen wearing the regalia of a Champion.  Melania looks around attentively, hoping to find Yeron Moril, or at least Andolin cath Deliton, and is pleased to spot Yeron further forward in the line.  As they finally reach the doorway into the ballroom, they pass by Captain Taledra cath Varish, on duty in her capacity as captain of the Governor's Footguard.  She smiles and nods at them, but otherwise remains at her post, staring out at the crowd through a monocle.The ballroom is spacious but mostly filled.  Along the far wall, a line of dignitaries sit or stand on a prominent dais.  In the center, His Imperial Highness Gallus cath Belath, Prince of Arnesia sits on a raised throne.  The Prince almost shines with a radiance of his own.  He looks to be in his thirties or early forties, although the better informed members of the group know that he is, in fact, well over a century in age.  On his right hand sits the new Governor, bedecked in all the formal insignia of his office, as well as a variety of other decorations including his Champion's sash.  To the Prince's left sits a man wearing the unmistakable vestments of a lord of the Church-- Metropolitan cath Sanek, the highest ranking cleric in Lir Sanek or the surrounding lands.  Near the Metropolitan, but standing off the dais, are two other religious leaders: an elderly woman wearing a silver sickle and formal gray robes and an Aretash monk surrounded by a few other, clearly deferential monks.  Sister Aurora is sure that the woman is Archdruid Riothan, while the monk must be the Abbot of the Aretash monastery of Lir Sanek.  Lhovrik, for his part, notices that the dais is also attended by two wizards of great reknown: Archmage Lorak cath Galdra, reputed to be the most powerful mage in Lir Sanek, and Grand Master Selendrina, the head of the guild mages.  Consistent with the attitude towards guild mages that Lhovrik has learned from his mother, the Archmage appears to be largely ignoring the guildmistress.  Unlike all of the other figures on or near the dais, very few people seem interested in paying their respects to the arcane masters.While the dais displays some of the great personages of the Empire, the left wall of the ballroom is dominated by some of the strange delegations that imperial ceremonies attract.  Closest to the entry door, and surrounded by a wide area that the crowd seems uninterested in entering, a large, six-foot diameter orb floats.  The rough sphere is dominated by a single, giant eye over its gaping maw.  At the top of the sphere, ten eyestalks project upwards, looking around in every direction at once.  The eyestalks project through a finely made piece of clothing that hangs down from the beast, making the creature look like a cloth cylinder except for the open area in the front from which the mighty main eye stares out.  Sister Aurora easily identifies the creature as a beholder, one af the most feared creatures of all.  The beholder floats above a silver disk on the floor that has arcane symbols inscribed around its edge.Further into the room, a small cluster of elves stand.  The elves are tall and elegant, wearing fine silver robes that could be silk, but might be the famous elven chain that is stronger than steel mail yet as light as cloth.  The leader of the elves is one of the few people besides the guards who bears a weapon: a long sword with an exquisite white rose at the pommel rests on the elf's hip.  The elves quietly talk among themselves, occasionally staring at the Prince and Governor, but ignoring the humans around them the rest of the time.The remaining groups along the left wall are small human delegations.  The closer group is smaller, only three people.  The leader wears a long armless robe that hangs open in the front, while his two attendants are dressed in fine but unremarkable courtiers clothing.  The last group is a handful of humans dressed in clothing similar in style to imperial fashion yet subtly different.  Each member of this group has a chestful of bright ribbons and medals; the apparent leader, an attractive middle-aged woman, has far more ribbons and medals than any of her companions.Sister Aurora immediately heads towards the beholder.  Lhovrik tags along nervously.  "I really don't think we should be going near that thing.""But think of the opportunity to learn about it.  When else are we likely to get an opportunity to see a beholder up close?""Hopefully never..."Sister Aurora stands in front of the monstrosity, considerably closer than anyone else has been willing to approach.  Most of its eyes continue to survey the crowd, but one eyestalk focuses on her.  "You may perform an obeisance."Sister Aurora bows awkwardly.  "I am Sister Aurora of the Rays of Truth.  This is Lhovrik cath Kalissar."The creature turns a second eyestalk to examine Lhovrik.  "You are a human nable.  Who are your most significant ancestors?"Lhovrik relunctantly tells the beholder a little about his parents and then briefly describes some of his more prominent but more distant ancestors.  The beholder listens patiently.Sister Aurora asks, "Who are you, and what brings you here?""I am Ixithilrix, of the true breed beholder city.  I have come to observe your political event and to gain knowledge.""The true breed beholder city?  Where is that?"The creature stares at Sister Aurora with one of its small eyes.  "That is very valuable information.  What information do you have to offer in exchange?""I'm afraid that I don't have a lot of information that you would find valuable...""Then this conversation has little further point."Lhovrik finally manages to convince Sister Aurora to come away from the creature."That was fascinating.""I'm just glad that it was only an illusion, presumably with some divination to allow it to perceive us.  At least, I hope I read those runes right."The rest of the group notices that Kinric has approached the human delegation with the ribbons and medals and is exchanging some friendly banter with the lady that leads the delegation.  After a few minutes, he slips away.A clumsy member of the crowd thwarts Kinric's efforts to approach Ginara stealthily.  "Ginara, while you're here, you might want to speak to the Nusaybian ambassador.  It could be worthwhile for you to make her acquaintance." Kinric smiles at Ginara and slips off through the crowd.Ginara gamely makes her way across to the ambassador.  She curtsies and introduces herself.  The ambassador smiles in response and tries to make up for the awkwardness of Ginara's efforts at small talk.  After a minute or so, Ginara decides that she has adequately followed Kinric's suggestion and heads back to her friends.As they slowly make their way up to the dais where the most honored guests sit, Ginara carefully watches the Nusaybians for any signs of interactions between the Nusaybians and the Aretash monk who stands near the Metropolitan.  She does see one Nusaybian approach the monk, genuflect deeply, and have brief conversation with the monk before receiving a blessing and returning to his compatriots, but it's hard to see anything sinister in that.After quite a long time in the reception line, the group reaches the honored guests at the dais.  The Prince greets each of them and the Metropolitan makes the sun disk of blessing over each of them, much to Sister Aurora's excitement.  As they approach the Governor, an aide whispers their names in his ear.  The Governor looks with a smile at Lhovrik and Ginara.  "What are your parents' names?""Karina cath Kalissar and Loraton cath Kalissar-Valnay, your Grace.""Ah... I thought so.  I met them in the South, during the war.  They were good people.  I'm sure you will also be a credit to four family."Dove notices that, in addition to the Governor's regalia of office and his Champion's star and sash, he has another medal, which is awarded to heroes who are killed in the service of the Empire and then restored to life.  She is suitably impressed, whispering to her friends as they walk away, "The Governor was killed in action in the war against the kobolds.  That's hard core..."Having paid their respects, the group begins to head on to the rest of the party.  Before they leave the room, though, they notice a man, Nusaybian based on his dress and the couple of ribbons on his breast but not part of the ambassadorial party, approach the Governor.  The Governor's face shows surprise and pleasure, and he firmly clasps the man's forearm.  The Governor speaks to his aide, who leads the Nusaybian towards a small door to the green room.Sister Aurora catches Sir Kinric's eye, although perhaps less suavely than could be hoped.  He makes his way across the crowded room."Do you know who the Nusaybian speaking to the Governor is?""I'm afraid I don't, Sister Aurora.  But it is interesting... I'll have to see what I can find out." Kinric slips away from the group, and the group leaves the main ballroom.Melania finds Yeron picking up a drink and walks over to him.  He smiles warmly, "Ah, Melania, I was hoping I might see you here.""It's good to see you as well, Yeron.  How have you been since our trip to the North?""Quite well.  I have had to deal with some rather tiring business at work-- interminable old disputes that take many people's time and yet never seem to be finished.  But otherwise, I've been well.  And yourself?""I've been well.  I've been thinking about a conversation we had on the trip north.  You mentioned the possibility af my being involved in more diplomatic work, and that's something I would like to pursue.""Glad to hear it.  I think there are some tasks that we could use your skills on.  Come by my office some day in the next week or so and I'll introduce you to the people you need to know.""Thank you, I appreciate it."</blockquote>

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