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Message: <blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 3618301" data-attributes="member: 11">InterSession #8.3: Denouement & Decampment – Farewell, Goodbye…Balem, the 5th of Ter – 566 H.E. (637 M.Y.)There was a certain gaiety and ease in the tone of the signers of the Charter of Schiereiland as they gathered to have brunch and discuss business before some of their number took their leave from the others temporarily. A table had been carried out onto the lawn, and they ate under the warmth of the rising sun, a refreshing breeze coming over from the nearby <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Wizard%27s+Sea" target="_blank">Wizard’s Sea</a>.  Perhaps it was that they knew they would soon be free of their signed duty to one another, if only temporarily, but for once their voices never became too sharp.Telémahkos blond hair shone in that mid-morning light, and he laughed at his own joke.  Timotheus guffawed and slammed the table with his big calloused hand, and Laarus’ polite smile was even more good-natured than normal.  The priest of Ra was immaculate in his bright red cassock, as he always was when not on the road.  His hair was recently cut; his teeth shone pearly white.  He stood as he noticed Lavinia Vanderboren was standing, and soon everyone was doing the same, Markos dropping his napkin to the floor as he did as the others; belatedly.“Enjoy!” She smiled at them, all.  “I shall bid those of you who going on this day a fare journey… May it be blessed by Ptah with only curious and beneficial occurrences… I leave you now to your own business and will be busy with my own by the time you are done.  Again, I thank you all for your aid in my time of need, and I hope that I might soon be of aid to you all as well.”Telémahkos said good-bye last with a chaste kiss, and waved when she turned to look at him as she entered the house.  He then turned to the others, grasping the ornate basket-hilt of the recently identified Steel Whip. (1)   Victoria Ostrander smeared butter on her bread with military precision, but somehow looked more feminine in a fine gray tunic and breeches, despite it being something a young affluent squire might wear.  The shine of her silver spear of Anhur about her neck was sending lights dancing across the table.  She brushed her lengthening black hair behind one ear, as she told an attentive, but ever-silent Bleys Winter what her training to acquire access to deeper mysteries of her order would be like. (2) Bleys had finished eating, and thus his knife and fork were neatly crossed atop his clean plate.  His crimson shirt was freshly laundered, and he had his watch-mage’s cloak draped over the high back of his chair.  His black eyes narrowed as he caught sight of Tymon staring overly long at Victoria, and the portly young man quickly looked down at his plate and mumbled to his eggs.Telémahkos cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “I wanted to gather everyone just so we could talk over our plans and any last information we need to share.  I thought it would be important to keep certain things in mind as we traveled separately, in hopes perhaps of some of us learning more.”  The rest of the party looked up at him, as he had remained standing, while the rest retook their seats.  He could see that Markos has a book open in his lap, and was reading it happily, and only half paying attention.  Bleys was placid as ever.  Timotheus looked impatient, rubbing the fine hair of his soldier’s cut.  Tymon hung on his every word.  “To begin with, I can confirm the information I shared earlier regarding the plot against House Wetherwax I thought we were looking into at the start of this whole episode at the cove. Lavinia has told me that she once overheard her brother and someone she could not see talking in the garden at the Vanderboren Azure estate. She was inside and when she looked out all she saw was an older man in travel clothes leaving. As he left he said to Vanthus, ‘And when the Wetherwax fleet is crippled, then we can really start our work. . .’, or something to that effect…”Bleys Winter nodded his head, apparently musing on the implications of what had just been revealed.“Sure, I know some people I might be able to ask some questions of,” Timotheus replied happily.  He ripped a big chunk of bread from the loaf in the middle of the table and began to smear it about his plate to sop up the left over sausage grease and butter. He smirked distracted by the list of names he was tabulating in his head, oblivious to the bit of dark grease smeared at the corner of his mouth.Telémahkos looked around, but no one else commented.  Laarus of Ra sipped some tea, while Victoria kept eating. Markos gave a half-nod, but barely  took his eyes from his book.Clearly having expected more of a reaction, but getting none, Telémahkos continued, “And it appears quite clear that Vanthus murdered his parents."  He explained about how Vanthus’ magically enhanced athleticism was a clue to his involvement in the death of his parents. (3)  “Their bodies were never recovered.”  He produced the map that Lavinia had given him and read a note off the back. “Even my fool parents cannot stop the inevitable…” The map looked as if it had been torn from a book or journal.“After we go to the King Stones, I think we need to go after this bastard…especially if he is still working against Weatherwax,” Telémahkos concluded.Bleys looked to Timotheus, curious if the big man might object to Telie’s use of the word ‘bastard’, but as he said nothing, nor seemed to care, the watch-mage spoke up with his own thoughts, "Again, Telemakhos, you make leaps based on something you know that I do not. What transpired with Lavinia's parents? What was the manner of their death?""Lavinia's parents were killed when their ship sank on the way back from <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Fort+Thunde" target="_blank">Fort Thunder</a> in the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Hellish+Isles" target="_blank">Hellish Islands</a>,” Telémahkos explained, sitting back at the table, and pouring himself some wine to wash away the bitter coffer breath of his earlier meal. “The wreckage and some bodies were later found but Vanthus and Lavinia's parents were not among those recovered." “So we cannot know that they are truly dead then,” Markos said, finally looking up. “If there are no bodies, there is no evidence of his guilt…”“My belief in his guilt based on the evidence, or lack thereof, won't affect how we deal with him anyway… If we agree he is a danger, we should go after him. I wonder… if there was… any evidence in…" Telie's eyes widened with a dawning realization."That's it!' he exclaimed, looking to Laarus.  He began to speak very excitedly. "Your vision… The ship… The barrels of <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Red+God+Fire" target="_blank">Red God Fire</a> with the ‘Q’ branded onto them! If that was not a vision of the past, I am still sure it is how Vanthus sank that ship and maybe how he plans to deal with us!" Telémahkos grew suddenly confused, and thus quieter. "…Or someone else in the future ... that we may be able to prevent? Uh…"Laarus was startled by Telémakhos' outburst, but he quickly composed himself. And hung his head, deep in thought, and did not look up when he finally spoke. "It was certainly of the future," he began. "They always have been. Getting more frequent and detailed as the time of the event arrives. The last two were, anyway. I've not seen anything since. It should have already happened. But it didn't. I don't know why."  Laarus raised his head and continued, "Vanthus could have employed such tactics. But I see no reason why he'd use such against us. He may not even be responsible for the attack on his parents. His escape from Kraken's Cove strongly suggests he at least knows something, though. And without their bodies being recovered, the parents could, as Markos said, be very much alive." Bleys sat up and looked to Laarus, "Visions?" And then to Telémahkos, "Dare I ask how you know of the details of these visions?" He rubbed his chin, mulling over some other thought, before asking, "And Vanthus? How would he know of us?""Telémahkos knows the details of the vision because I told him," Laarus responded for Telie. "There were some items… I did not know their meaning and felt he would be able to shed light on it.""My apologies Laarus. I did not really think of your visions being a secret before I had the thought about the barrels marked with a ‘Q’" Telémahkos covered his mouth in genuine embarrassment. Laarus shook his head and held up his hand, responding to Telémahkos "I did not ask for your discretion in this matter. It was bound to be revealed eventually. The truth can never stay hidden for long."Telie nodded meekly, letting the last of his regret wash away before jumping back to the matter at hand. He turned to Bleys, "If Vanthus was skilled enough or knew enough people, he could have learned of us asking after him. I am sure he was aware of the charter just as general news." Obviously concentrating on these possibilities, Telémahkos began to pace. "I do not know, Bleys… Perhaps he learns of us in the future as we chase after him…  But then according to the one who should know best." He gestured at Laarus, and continued, "The time of my 'death' has already past." He stopped near Tim and added, "It is enough to make one's head spin.""No kidding," replied Timotheus under his breath. "I'm staying out of this one."“You seem to have a lot of faith in these visions,” Victoria began, but Bleys was voicing his confusion.  “It seems what I have learned is that there is more to learn,” the watch-mage said. “As I suspect the rest of us are just as confused, and wondering…" He raised an eyebrow and looked square at Telémahkos. "Your death?" And then shifted his gaze inquisitively to the young priest."Laarus suspected that if we had stopped at the Quillton port rather than heading straight for the manor, I might… have been blown up. Since it seemed unwise to stop in the town first, it never became a necessity to reveal this information,” Telémahkos explained. “Especially since it was a bit disquieting.”Markos shook his head slowly at Telémahkos’ words, but did not comment on them. He sat up and lay his book down, and asked sounding weary, "Is this something worth investigating while I am in Moon City? (4) I can bring the map with me, the notes from <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Spellbook+of+Leemo+Varand" target="_blank">Leemo's book on transmutation</a>, and whatever else. Leemo's notes are particularly intriguing in combination with what we know about what happened in Kraken’s Cove, which was where both Vanthus and pearl were headed, and now this map mentions a pearl and clearly specific places were marked on it for a reason. Anyway, gaining access to Moon City's library will be roughly…" He paused to think. "I’d say a hundred silver pieces a day." (5)"You were not blown up," the priest corrected Telémahkos in the midst of Markos’ pause. The price might have been garbled in the crosstalk. "Though, the end result is the same. As you found that disturbing enough the first time, I'll refrain from going into the full details."Bleys remained calm.  He noted Victoria’s silence once again, and then said, "I would like to hear more about these visions, if you were so willing to elaborate, Laarus. How do you know that they are always of the future? And you said something about barrels of <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Red+God+Fire" target="_blank">Red God Fire</a> branded with ‘Q’… Do we have any idea what else ‘Q’ might stand for?""Because that's what they are. They've always been visions of the future," Laarus stated.  He was addressing Bleys, but looked over at Markos who suddenly stood and began to examine the sky in the direction of the sea, one hand shading his eyes.  The priest of Ra continued, "These recent ones have involved casks, branded with a ‘Q’. Twice in a small, dark room. On a ship, I assume. Once rolling across the deck of a ship like those we've recently been upon. Once being kicked off another ship by a small figure. The last two I saw burst into flames and liquid fire, but I've always heard the explosion."“The ‘Q’ is for ‘Quillton’,” explained Telémahkos. “It is a shipping brand.”"So, you have had other visions of the future which have come to pass? Your whole life or only recently? Do you believe them divine insight…" Bleys, as always, was flat in tone, even when asking seemingly endless questions of the priest. "...of Ra? Are they manifested in this illness that gnaws at you?"”We need to leave very soon if we are to make it to Quillton to get that ship,” Markos said, looking at Timotheus.  The big man stood and stretched, nodding.“Yes, over the past several years," Laarus admitted hurriedly. "The bile forms at the back of my throat whenever they come. I must either spit it up or choke on it. The only ill part about it is what I'm made to see. But, they are not sent from Ra… That much I know…" He stood as well, and looked to Telémahkos and then his cousin, Markos.  “I will accompany you to town, for my training at the temple of Anhur begins today…” (6)“As does mine,” Victoria stood as well.  Bleys was drawn into reflection, considering what Laarus Raymer of Ra had told them. “As I shall be arriving in Sluetelot first on my way through to <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Lilly+City" target="_blank">Lilly City</a> as soon as my training here is over, I shall take the tax money (7), and payback <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Barton+Digits" target="_blank">Barton Digits’</a> generosity by allowing him the profit of handling our payment.  I shall also check in on Euleria and see what progress she has made on our requests of her.”“Yes, I sent the letter yesterday by <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Faultless" target="_blank">faultless</a>,” Bleys added, finally standing. (8)“Until we meet again!” Telémahkos raised his glass, and the others hesitated and lifted glasses of their own.“And when is that again exactly?” Markos asked, hefting his pack onto his back.“Between the twenty-seventh of Ter and the first of Quark, at Death & Taxes,” Laarus replied.Forced to race to town in the unrelenting heat of the approaching mid-day, Markos, Telémahkos and Timotheus barely made it aboard the Silver Milk; the caravel that would bring them to Azure in three or four days time.  Meanwhile, Bleys, Laarus and Victoria would remain in Quillton for training, though Bleys had yet to arrange for it.End of InterSession #8.3-------------------------------------------------------Notes:(1) Bleys had taken Telie aside that morning to inform him of what he learned of the magical rapier.  You can read about it, <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Magical+Item+-+The+Steel+Whip" target="_blank">here</a>(2)    Victoria would be training at the temple of Anhur in Quillton.  Priestly training for militants involves a great deal of mental and physical punishment to strengthen will, resolve and concentration.(3)    See InterSession #8.1(4)    Markos would be taking advantage of the gift of discounted training at the University of Thricia in Moon City, which was given the charter by House Curen.  It was also the place where he completed his arcane training that he had begun aboard the Lady’s Lament.(5)    This is a guess based on the fact that he is a former student.  Access to libraries in Aquerra is very expensive, with research at a Library of Thoth beginning at 100 sps / day.  Remember, Aquerra has a silver standard.(6)    Priests of gods of the same pantheon can often train at each other’s temples, assuming there is a ranking priest present.  For some specific abilities, however, this may not always be possible.(7)    The signers of the Charter of Schiereiland, as nobles, only needed to pay 3% of their gross earnings from plunder, rather than the normal 6% for all other folks.  This amount came to: 212 sps, 6 cps.(8)    The text of the letter in the in the “sblock” below (not because it is secret, but only to save space):[sblock] Euleria, Please have the horses brought to Sluetelot. We'll meet you there at the end of this month. We'd like you to secure provisions for us all for 2 weeks; you're at liberty to procure more given reasonable pricing. Victoria will need to inspect mounts as she will purchase a light warhorse. Our venturing leads to the King Stones by way of Wesmearshire. To this end, any further necessities you may foresee need met, you've discretion to do so. If Falco's still available, we'd like to re-hire him. Timotheus will hire Dunlevey if he's available. He offers month’s wages in advance; position potentially permanent, prospect of advancement. Laarus will meet with you several days before with further coin and instruction. Thank you, Bleys Winter [/sblock]</blockquote>

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