Spheres of Influence:Rhiannon in Jepardy? GAME

[Gwaihir]

Relsyn

Relsyn speaks with Wrinkle over a light dinner of bread and a bit of ham. He drinks his beer slowly. "I did see a reference to a staff that may or may not have been the one we are looking for."

He finishes his dinner and retires to his bedroom to spend a bit of time with Jewel and work on his dissertation.

In the morning he rises, spends an hour in devotions, and eats a liesurely breakfast of a plate of eggs flovored with some sort of hot spice. He walks over to the Church and enters the Library to talk to Foscil.

"Good Morning, Foscil, how are you."

Foscil Replies.

"I came across a passage last night in this book," He begins to locate the proper page, "that refers to a staff that may have been used by St Salix. It also mentions that this may be the same staff sometimes called the Elioim Staff. Isn't that still floating around Malta today?"

 

[Zachian]

Airith

Airith looks for a secret door for a couple of minutes but doesn't see anything along the north-east wall of the bedroom.
I know there is a den over here somewhere. Maybe the entrance is in the hall.
Airith once again listens at the door. He doesn't hear anything so he opens the door and looks down the hall. It is a fairly wide hallway with bookshelves along the east wall. Because it is so dark Airith has a hard time seeing much in the hallway. He approaches the hallway shutting the door behind him.
I could use some light but I don't know if I should. Of course I am not going to find anything if I can't see.
Airith grabs his dagger along his back and quietly casts Light. His dagger glows bright and Airith nervously looks down the hall. The light is shining to the corner at the end of the hall but not much further. He doesn't hear anyone coming so begins to look for an entrance to the den among the bookcases. After a couple minutes of searching Airith finds a pull under a shelf in the bookcase next to the bedroom wall. Airith pulls it slowly and the entire bookcase swings towards him. He peers inside the room and sees a rectangular windowless room with bookshelves on either end and paintings on the other two walls. There is a desk and chair at the far end of the room and two other chairs facing the desk. The paintings on the walls look very expensive and so do the books as Airith takes a closer look at them. Airith closes the bookcase after he makes sure there is a latch and gives the books along the south wall a quick lookover.
At least I can leave the light on.
Airith heads over to the desk and takes a seat. He looks through the drawers but doesn't find anything of interest. Paper, pens, ink and various business papers with inventory and prices on them.
He would probably keep it close, within arms reach.
Airith swivels the chair towards the bookcase behind the desk. Airith takes a look at all the books and finds it strange that the books right in front of him are the only matching set. Upon closer look he sees that they are not books at all but rather a solid piece of wood carved to look like a set of books. Airith works with the books for a moment and opens the compartment by swing the panel up from the bottom. Airith takes a look inside and sees a stack of letters, a small book, a pouch and a ring.

 

[Zachian]

Airith

I go through all the trouble of buying all this stuff and I didn't even need it.
Airith takes the ring, examines it, then places it in one of his vest pockets. He is pretty sure it is the ring he is after. If it isn't, it is at the very least a very nice forgery. Airith next examines the stack of letters. He begins to read through a few of the letters.
Wow, I bet Relsyn hasn't read anything this juicy at the library. I'll bet his wife probably didn't write these either.
Airith takes note of who the letters are addressed to, then places them back in the cubby. He then takes the small book out. It looks to be a diary full of juicy gossip and notes about various family and people throughout Malta. Airith takes a few minutes to look through it then places it in his sachel to take along. Airith then takes a look in the pouch to see several very nice gems and jewels. He places them back in the cubby, closes it, then turns to the desk and takes out a sheet of paper, ink and pen.

Dear sir,
As you read this letter I would like you to keep a couple of things in mind. You are not missing anything of great value. I didn't take the gems or jewels, and the personal letters are all there. Also, I haven't rummaged through the rest of the house to rob you blind. I am simply taking the ring and the book.
I am not going to say anything about what I have found here. If you want it to stay that way I suggest you don't get any of the authorities involved or try to get revenge yourself. If I feel that anyone is looking into the matter, your wife will be made aware of your stack of letters, and more so the other families in Malta will also be made aware. I may not know much but of what I do know, about anyone involved in playing the Game, no one wants to be caught cheating on his wife. And even if it isn't true the accusation itself would be enough to bring unwanted attention.
Also by not telling anyone about your loss, the fact that you had a ring belonging to someone else will not be known to anyone.

Hopefully this is enough to keep the law off my back.
Airith folds the letter and places it in the cubby with the letters and the pouch. He closes it and tidies up the desk and swivel chair. He cancels the Light spell on his dagger as he approaches the bookcase door and places it back in its sheath. He listens for a while before opening the bookcase, seeing if anyone approaches and letting his nightvision readjust. Airith opens the bookcase exits and quietly closes it behind him. Just as he closes it he hears someone closing the front door and coming his way. He quickly and quietly opens the bedroom door enters and closes it behind him. He takes a look at the bedroom again looking for a place to hide. He heads over to the Lady's quarters but before he can open the door he hears the footsteps just outside the room. He heads over to the corner of the West wall turns and stands quietly as a young lady enters the room with a candle lighting her way.

Airith isn't sure how to activate the ring that was given to him but he is concentrating on activating it now. The young woman doesn't seem to be aware that she is being watched and takes the candle to the bedstand. She moves rather slowly as she turns the bed down and prepares for her employers return. She simply leaves when she is fiinished with her duties. Airith takes a moment to regain himself. His heart was pounded so loud he thought she would hear it for sure. Once he feels ready he makes his way out the window, closing it partially and then making his way back to the corner wall where he had entered. He crouches down and attaches his climbing stuff, careful not to make to much noise. Airith doesn't hear anyone around so he makes his way over the wall and down the other side. Smoke is patiently waiting for Airith and gives him a big lick as Airith gets to the ground. Airith quickly removes his climbing gear again and puts it back in the sachel.
"Let's get out of here."
Airith and Smoke make there way back the way they came. Once they reach the bridge Airith peeks his head over but doesn't see anything up or down the street. Both Smoke and Airith hop over and Airith climbs on Smoke.
"O.K. boy, let's head back to Under's."
Airith starts to sing an old Halfling drinking song, while partially slouched forward in the saddle. Smoke slowly makes his way back to the Underplow.

 

[Tilmamir]

Inwe

As the hall clock chimed five-thirty, the doors to the next hall opened. The room everyone was standing in, to Inwe's eyes, seemed huge and posh. Looking through the open doors, the room beyond was two orders of magnitude richer and finer than any she has seen. Silk banners and tapestries hang down from a beautifully arched great hall. Gold leaf and silver inlay cover even the smallest and most insignificant furnishings of the room. There, there is a seat for everyone at one of the five tables arranged to face a center isle.

Opposite of the arrival order, the most important families are let in the hall first, save for the proudly strutting hosts on the balcony. Women in white, men in red, it reminded Inwe of the time she shot a large buck in the snowy winter - blood on pure white. Of course that was to feed the community, not to show off… Inwe was brought back to the moment when Coffield took her arm gently and led her into the hall.

Fine wine was set at each seat. "To make the enjoyment of the event even better," Coffield said, "and to keep the mood light." It took half an hour to seat everyone, and again, some astonishment was shown when Russell Manning Jr. had the audacity to take a seat higher than his brother.

The head families came in last, and arranged themselves for the ceremony on the raised dais at the head of the room.
"Unlike common weddings, this time the bride will enter first, as her position is lesser than her fiancé's." Coffield whispered to Inwe. Just as he said, the bride came out of a side room and headed toward the dais. Her dress was the most deep Navy with white embroidery, white beads, and pearls sewn in fine intricate patterns. Many nods of approval and clucks of admiration were signaled to her as she passed down the isle.

The groom entered with trumpet fanfare and great applause. His suit was spun gold, fine as silk, and almost luminescent under the great chandeliers hanging from the overhead beams. Under the coat, he wore a vest of silver, or was it mithril! He approached the front, and climbed the stairs.
What followed was a very unusual ceremony of exchanges between families: promises made and vows spoken. The groom promised to accept her, in her lowly estate, and raise her to the lofty heights only his family could provide. She, in turn, had to vow to increase his family, never dishonor him or any of his family, as well as obey his every word.

After the final words were said, everyone relaxed a bit, and chatted before dinner was served. "You know, I had to do this ceremony, too. Mostly for pomp and show. My late wife, ELI bless her, was wonderful. But, those promises are only bound to be enforced if the wedding was arranged, not for those who really love each other" Coffield explained.

"Can anyone even move without having a rank or proper place?"
Coffield chuckled, "No, I'm afraid not."

"Then how can anyone improve themselves, or adjust to a higher place?"
"Oh, with enough money, one can earn an uppance. As Master Manning showed tonight, one can just assume it. If everyone else agrees, it is so. Perhaps it is earned by blackmail, also known as 'Influence.' Perhaps by 'charm,' meaning charisma and earning a following or leading a guild."

"Can someone get it by theft - like some precious object? Say, your family emblem there?"
"No, not really. There are several kind of trophies, but the trophies themselves are not the source of the Status, just the flower that blooms on the thorn branch."

The former conversation was started over the entrée. The first course was a fresh fruit salad, with apples, nuts, berries, and cream! None of these grow in the springtime, thought Inwe. With Lord Fairweather on her right, Inwe was adjacent to another woman, very ornately adorned. She chimed in as she overheard their conversation.

"Sorry to have overheard your charming conversation, my dear. My name is Lady Bosun. By the way, you look stunning. I never knew that such plain clothes could be absolutely overpowering in this crowd. And your youthfulness only adds to the glow surrounding you."

IG: "Thank you. My name is …"
CF: "Lady Galanodel" chimed in Coffield. "My guest for the evening"

LB: "How wonderful. I see you are new here. I hope you are enjoying this party. This is one to remember. Lady Goodwin is gorgeous, over there. And, Lord Cruz, yes over there at the table in front of us, always a charmer. …"
IG: "I noticed everyone here seems to be keenly aware of how he sits in comparison to everyone else. How do you fit in here, Lady Bosun?"

LB: "Actually, quite poorly. I am here because I married down a bit. I just don’t have the influence or charm to move higher. I envy those who so easily carry their influence upward. Oh, I am sorry. Understand I would not have said that but for you are a foreigner here."

IG: "I understand." Inwe reassured her.

LB: "So, dear, how did you meet Lord Fairweather?"
IG: "We meet quite accidentally, actually. He was so kind to invite me. So what does it feel like to live so worried about status?"
LB: "Worried? Oh not at all. Everyone knows the Fairweathers. They are so respected, honest, kind. I am sure he could find a guest anywhere - he is so distinguished. Why do you think he invited you?"
IG: "You are correct, he is kind and distinguished. When I met him, we got to talking. As a visitor here, he was trying to explain more about the city. That brought us to the wedding, and he invited me."
LB: "Where was that?" Lady Bosun pried.
IG: "In a nearby tavern - he was sitting at the table next to me. He …"
CF: "I saw she was a lonely young woman, and I wanted someone to talk to. Something I do not get much of here"
LB: "Where were you from, Lady Galanodel, before arriving here?"
IG: "Among my kin, for a while. I spent a few years on my own in the wilderness North of here. Mostly, I stayed near the forests of my youth."
LB: "But surely, you cannot be over ... hmm, eighteen years?"
IG: "Yes, in human years, I would be about seventeen."
LB: "Human years? How many winters have you seen?
IG: " Really, not that many. only one hundred twenty one."
Lady Bosun gasps, as do the apparently ten other people in adjoining tables: front, back, and on each side.

It is silent around Inwe, aside from a very nice conversation with Coffield Fairweather about the elven art and crafts in his home. Dinner was marvelous - green salad, followed by peahen in wine sauce with potato mash and carrots, a fine gravy with almonds, and a lime pie that Inwe thought wonderful.

After dinner, the tables were cleared and quickly removed from the room. Chairs were brought in, and an chamber group began playing quiet conversational music. At one point, Lord Coffield Fairweather was called away for a few minutes by a servant, but returned in short order. Finally, as the dancing began in full swing, Coffield pulled Inwe aside…
" Lady, I am old, and getting tired. If you wish, I will stay a while longer, but if you have no argument, may I escort you back to my home?"
"Of course," Inwe agreed.

It was dark, perhaps 11:30pm, when Inwe left with Coffield. Having given the carriage leave to return, they walked quietly back to Fairweather Hall. Inwe prepared to leave, but Bee was there ready to pamper her some more.
"Oh my, lady dear! You must not go, please stay. We let the guards have the night off, and have no one to take you back to the other side of the river tonight. I assure, all will be well here"
"Well, I should be getting back,[pauses] but you are right, I should not travel the unknown roads this late at night alone. Where can I sleep?"

After Coffield bid Inwe a good night, Bee led Inwe back to the lady's chamber. She left a candle and wished Inwe a good night.

Late that night, when Inwe was deep in her trance, there was pounding at the door. Coffield answered the door himself, and then left immediately.

After leaving a note thanking Coffield for a very nice evening, Inwe headed back to the Underplow early the next morning.

 

[Tilmamir]

Together

At dinner the next day, Inwe was sitting at the table when Relsyn returned, followed by Wrinkle. After drinking some ale, Inwe noticed Airith returning from some task, smiling broadly.

Shortly after this, Bee hustles into the Underplow, looks frantically around, then spots Inwe.
"Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Ohhhhhh, Nooo" she sobs.
"Lady Inwe, please you must help! Master Coffield left early this morning, taken by the guard! Oh-me-oh-my! I can not believe this is happening…"

It takes a glass of wine and some soothing talk from Relsyn and Inwe to settle Bee down enough to make introductions and get a story out of her. It seems that a lord Snively was murdered some time after the wedding was winding down. It happened at his home, north of the Bastion Monument. Master Coffield had had heated words at the wedding, and was heard to say "I'll beat you at your silly game."

Be explains, "Now he is held as a suspect. There is no way Master Coffield could order or do so malicious an act, no no no no… why would he take the ring, anyway, and leave a note? Silly."

 

[Zachian]

Airith

"Why don't we discuss such matters in a more private setting."
Airith hops from his chair and makes his way over to the bar area. Underplow is serving drinks and keeping his customers happy with his usual chit-chat and greetings. Airith grabs him by the shoulder and whispers in his ear.
Under, "Sure use it, yes by all means. I'll have your dinner held until your say so."
Airith motions for everyone to make there way over to the private dining area. He opens the door and waits as everyone enters. Inwe and Relsyn are still trying to calm Bee down, Wrinkle takes a seat and looks on with sympathetic eyes. Airith makes a sweep of the people in the bar but no one seems overly interested in the group.
"Now we can discuss things more openly. Under will keep people out of here for us and none of this needs to be heard outside these walls."
Airith makes his way to the table and climbs up on a chair to talk with the others.
"Last night I was hired to take a ring from a house and return it to its former owner. Or so my employer said. Everything went fine and I returned the ring this morning and received payment. The person I returned it to made no mention of the murder or arrest which I find interesting. As for the note that was left behind, I left it in hopes that the authorities would not get invloved and the matter would be dropped. Apparently that isn't the case. Bee does Master Coffield have a butler by the name of Ackland?"

 

[Tilmamir]

Bee

"Sob, sob, sniff... No, he did not. [hicup, snif] It was just me and Dwayne, the butler, gardener, and he also served as coachman. We hire others to do odd jobs, but Master Coffield liked to live simply."

Wrinkle asks "who is Ackland?"

 

[Zachian]

Airith

"Ackland was the man that hired me. He said his master's ring was stolen and wanted it returned. I agreed to retrieve the ring for him and returned it this morning. He made no mention of there being a murder or Master Coffield's arrest. It makes me wonder exactly who hired me and what is going on. I take it I can trust everyone here not to talk to anyone about this. If it gets out that I talk about jobs to others it will be hard to find any work at all, not to mention previous employers may come looking to make sure I never talk again."

 

[Tilmamir]

Bee looks at Airith, "Did he do it? Can you help Master Coffield?"

Airith looks startled, forgetting Bee was not part of the group, but regains his composure. "I do not know what he has done, I just know ... nothing."

Bee turns to Inwe, "But, surely you can account for Master Coffield's time after the wedding! [snif snif] I know he did not leave after I left him in his suite door. The bell in the kitchen and in my room rings when anyone comes in or out of the house. I woke up when the master left with the men at the door. He was not a suspect then, or he wold have been arested by soldiers."

Airith asks "who was murdered again? and when was he murdered? oh, and where?"

"Ummm, I don't know,really. A delivery man stopped by to deliver the bread for breakfast, and asked me if I heard about the murder of Lord Snively. Awful man, lots of people hate him. I said 'no, but good riddance' and then he said that Master Coffield was being held as a suspect! That scared me. ... I remember him saying that it was after the wedding - it must have been because he also said it was in his garden. That's right."

 

[Tinuviel]

Inwe

"I can certainly account for his presence at the wedding. I was with him the whole time." Turns to Airith. "How do you choose your work? Should you not be more sure ahead of time what the outcome will be?"