34 Spring
Most of the money in the recovered ledgers originated in Danor and was funneled through Macbannin. It was an enormous sum. The factories mainly produced raw materials, including items that had at one point been stolen.
47 Spring
A new
Flint Observer:
- The paper reports that King Aodhan is arriving in Flint for the Iron Rite. The Coaltongue is a powerful steamship, designed by Geoff Massarde. Fitzcairn Luckshore, a technician, claims the ship will sail swiftly with its screw propeller—up to 18 knots.
- The editors note that the paper appeared earlier than usual due to the Rite.
- The police have increased security around the royal shipyard and the plaza. The RHC is helping with these efforts.
- The launch will be a grand gathering of dignitaries: the king, the duchess (his sister), Harkover Lee, all the mayors, major industrialists, and naval representatives. (The admiral will not attend—he is suffering from exhaustion.) Dale has not yet replied to his invitation. In the Nettles, underground troubles continue. The governor of Shale will not be present—she is anti-tech—nor will the liaison of the Unseen Court, who also refused. Lya Jierre, Danoran Minister of Foreign Affairs, will not attend either, fearing accusations of espionage from nationalist groups.
- Rebel workers overturned chemicals during protests against the authorities. Two workers were killed. Police are searching for the organizers. Demands for higher wages, shorter hours, and better safety remain unanswered.
- Climate researchers warn that excessive smoke could block sunlight and bring on long winters. The end of the world may be approaching.
- A benefit concert at the opera house, supporting the orphanage (a treetop school at the edge of the Cloudwood), will take place on Spring 62.
- The Fey Court is displeased with the construction of the Coaltongue, claiming it disrupts the natural balance. This worsens diplomatic relations with the Dreaming.
- Saxby confirms that RHC agents involved in the Cauldron Hill investigation have been removed for being “too personally involved.” A new team of inspectors is on the case. We, of course, consider this nonsense.
- Archaeologists in eastern Risur are excavating a step pyramid, believed to be linked to the Ancients, according to Professor Xandria Meredith from another university.
- A golden artifact is on display at the Partright Museum.
- Smuggling of residuum is on the rise, costing the government tax revenue.
Staf gathers information about Leone Quital. He is of Crisillyiri nobility, often abroad, and mostly involved in wine and cheese.
Felix has been plagued for several nights by the same recurring dream: he sees a purple banner, then a crowd of people, then a map of an unknown city. A girl with a cleft lip sings the Risuri national anthem. Finally, he sees a bed and a broken whistle. The images return each night.
49 Spring
Today is the inauguration of the ship. We prepared a profile of groups that might cause trouble:
- Dockers – city laborers, restless, colorfully dressed.
- Primalists – followers of old druidic faiths, with wild hair and sandals.
- Former allies of Gale – elves and half-elves.
- War veterans – still hostile toward Danor; men in their late 20s or in their 50s–60s, often missing an eye or an arm.
The inauguration is held on an island, with 700 guests admitted by lottery in addition to the dignitaries.
In the afternoon, Harkover Lee has requested that we provide security aboard the ship. Before that, we check the crowd gathering at the plaza. We coordinate with the police. Guests will only be admitted in another hour or two, so we take time to observe the crowd:
- Ayleen uses her bat to scout from above.
- Sarïa listens for emotions.
- Felix and Staf mingle through the people.
- Kane moves alone among the crowd.
The dockers are well represented, as are veterans and a number of half-elves.
- Ayleen spots purple banners tied to a tree. A man stands nearby, watching the bridge. The elf addresses him; she warns something may be about to happen, but he denies any knowledge. When Staf and Felix arrive, Staf grabs him by the collar and shackles him. Interrogated under magical suggestion, he admits he is waiting for his companions. They plan to strike the king—and the governor as well. He provides the names of his four friends and agrees to help identify them when they arrive.
- Kane notices a docker studying a map of Seobriga, a city in Ber. The man pretends to be alone, but he is lying.
- Sarïa hears singing: a girl with a cleft lip joins in the national anthem. Two tough-looking men nearby take offense at this. She follows them, sensing their tension.
When the crowd is admitted, we screen them. The two men Sarïa followed turn out to be companions of the arrested man and are detained. The docker Kane saw is also one of them. Later, Thames Grimsley pushes through the crowd, relieved that we intercepted the group. They had been planning something, he says. He mentions a missing fifth man and hands us a letter addressed to the governor. Ayleen insists on inspecting it first; it turns out to be a respectful plea for assistance. She reseals the envelope with
mending.
Two guests never arrive, and the fifth companion remains missing.
We continue to monitor the crowd. The first carriage to arrive belongs to the RHC. De Stoof steps out in his finest suit. We are not to address the nobility directly—if anything goes wrong, it’s up to us to handle it quietly. De Stoof mingles with the nobles, charming them to raise funds (though really for Saxby).
Harkover Lee soon descends the gangplank. He reminds us that tonight we must keep watch aboard the ship, eyes and ears open. Not all guests are pleased with today’s proceedings.
Shortly after, Duchess Ethelyn of Slate arrives, accompanied by an elven lady-in-waiting. The duchess adheres to the old traditions and opposes technology. The ship will set sail after the christening, hosting the evening’s festivities.
The next half hour sees the arrival of about a hundred important guests. Geoff Massarde, the tiefling engineer behind the ship, is among them. He always has a glass of wine in hand, tapping it with his cane whenever he gets a refill.
At one point, the duchess and her elven lady approach us. She requests a cabin aboard the ship where she can rest during the event—understandable, given her age (nearly 80). From her body language, we sense her opposition to the vessel. She also mutters something about “infernal” to her attendant.
“Vive le roi!” The king arrives. The governor disembarks first—a deva, his skin greyish-blue. No attack from the missing fifth man.
The king performs the ritual to christen the ship, to the joy of the crowd. The dignitaries then board the vessel. Eight four-masted ships wait in the harbor to escort us. We cross the gangplank last.
