Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Delemental" data-source="post: 2735690" data-attributes="member: 5203">That night, Tolly had a visitor.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He awoke to the feel of a gauntleted hand shaking him.&nbsp; When he opened his eyes, the room was dark, and he could see the silhouetted form of an armored person standing over him, features hidden by the darkness.&nbsp; One the other side of the room, he heard Osborn and Rupert breathing deeply as they slept.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “No shouts, no sudden movements, speak only when you are spoken to,” said a deep male voice.&nbsp; Tolly nodded.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “You wished to speak with us,” the man stated flatly.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes,” Tolly said.&nbsp; “You are aware, I presume, of the re-emergence of psionics in Aelfenn?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “What we know is not your place to ask,” the inquisitor said.&nbsp; “Continue.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I can give you fragments of psionic weaponry and psionically-imbued items that I have not yet disposed of properly.&nbsp; They are in my pack in the south corner – I know better than to try and rise to get them for you.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “You are wise, Brother Nightsleaving.&nbsp; Is this why you wish to speak with us?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “That, and because of certain patterns I have observed.&nbsp; We have encountered psions two or three times in the past year.&nbsp; In each case they appeared to either be trying to eliminate a leader or take one under their control.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Explain.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tolly laid out the party’s encounters in detail.&nbsp; He told the inquisitor about Marreck and the theft of the Bailite oathbond dagger.&nbsp; He spoke of Xerxes and how he had tried to abduct Princess Aralda.&nbsp; He talked about Sun-Harrow and Takar and how they had corrupted the orcish warchief Orth.&nbsp; He spoke of their strange dream-encounter with Lord Momuus, and of the meeting with Aran that happened later.&nbsp; He told him everything that Aran had said about psionics, and the alternate version of history they had heard, and about Kristyan and the two alleged factions within the psionic community.&nbsp; He even mentioned Kyle’s staff and its apparent ability to detect psionic auras.&nbsp; The inquisitor listened to every detail, never making a sound.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Archprelate Jerome’s sudden death makes me suspicious,” Tolly concluded.&nbsp; “The Hand of the Earth does not just suddenly die.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “It has happened, Brother,” said the inquisitor, “and Jerome was not a young man.&nbsp; But there are enough irregularities into his death that we have begun an investigation.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “He resurrected me,” Tolly said.&nbsp; “If there is anything I can do…”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “We will contact you.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I suspect Archprelate Jerome may have had some knowledge of this,” Tolly added.&nbsp; “It was he who sent me to the desert where we encountered Takar and Sun-Harrow.&nbsp; Ardara’s Hand works in mysterious ways.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tolly suddenly felt a hand press firmly, but not painfully, into his chest just below his throat.&nbsp; “How far do you trust your friends?” The inquisitor asked.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tolly swallowed nervously.&nbsp; “The sentinel Autumn I would trust with my life.&nbsp; The hin Osborn I would trust with my life, but not my money.&nbsp; The monk Xu I am not certain of; she is too guarded with her past.&nbsp; The bard Lanara… is a cansin.&nbsp; I know not what to think of her.&nbsp; The priestess of Erito, Ka… Madrone, I definitely trust.&nbsp; The warrior, Ariadne, while spontaneous, also seems trustworthy.&nbsp; The wizard, Kyle… I trust him.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The hand moved up to Tolly’s throat and the pressure increased.&nbsp; “Be careful who you trust,” the inquisitor said darkly.&nbsp; There was a moment of blackness, and then the armored figure was gone.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; After a few minutes, Tolly stood up and checked on Osborn.&nbsp; The hin was snoring deeply, and did not respond when shaken.&nbsp; There was the barest fragrance in the air around him, which Tolly assumed was a sedative of some kind.&nbsp; With a sigh, Tolly laid back down, though sleep did not return easily.
*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; When the party came down for breakfast the next morning, they were shocked to see Lanara was already downstairs, eating a large bowl of porridge.&nbsp; Arrie and Maddie looked at each other questioningly; Lanara was normally a notoriously late sleeper.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “So, Lanara, how was your trip?” Kyle asked when he sat down.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lanara leveled a stare at him.&nbsp; “You really want all the gory details?”&nbsp; Kyle faltered a bit.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Did something happen that would require gory details?” Autumn asked.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The bard sighed.&nbsp; “Bandits aren’t the most fun people to travel with,” she said.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Why were you traveling with bandits?” Autumn asked.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “It wasn’t voluntary.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Maddie’s eyes flashed.&nbsp; “If you were violated, Lanara, we’re going to go find them, and…”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “They’ve been dealt with,” Lanara said, in a tone that said the subject was now closed.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; There was an awkward silence for a while, until Lanara said, “So, what has everyone been up to?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “We found out that Archprelate Jerome is dead,” Autumn began.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “And we went on a tour of the city,” Arrie said, putting her arm around Maddie, “right, Kyle?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kyle looked at Arrie, then glanced over at Autumn sitting next to him.&nbsp; “I’ve been crafting magic items,” he said quickly.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lanara’s brow raised a bit.&nbsp; “You spoke up awfully quickly there, Kyle.”&nbsp; She was just about ready to launch into the poor wizard, when she suddenly turned back to Autumn.&nbsp; “Wait a minute, Jerome’s dead?&nbsp; Tolly doesn’t still have those damn diamonds, does he?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “No, he gave them to their new Archprelate, Frelarr.&nbsp; Tolly suspects foul play.&nbsp; He’s waiting for the Inquisition to contact him to see if they suspect the same thing.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Actually,” Tolly said, “they came to me last night.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Really?” Osborn said, surprised.&nbsp; “When?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “What did they say?” Autumn asked.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I cannot say much, other than I gave them the information I had, and they were not surprised.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Maddie frowned.&nbsp; “You know, Tolly, it’s hard to hear you say you ‘can’t say much’ when we’ve put our lives on the line for your cause.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “This is agreed,” Tolly said, “but the Inquisition has ways of making it clear they do not wish this discussed too freely.” Tolly unconsciously rubbed at his neck as he spoke.&nbsp; “All I know is that they have some suspicions, and share some of my opinions.&nbsp; Whether they can use the information I gave them remains to be seen.&nbsp; They will contact me if they need more.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Well, if they want us to help, they’ll have to give us more information,” Autumn said.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I am sure they will contact us if that is what they want,” Tolly replied.&nbsp; “Until then I suggest we go about our business normally.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Arrie glanced down at the floor near Tolly’s chair, and saw a battered warhammer sitting there, with old dwarven runes carved into the head.&nbsp; “What’s with the hammer?” she asked.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “It was loaned to me by the church while I complete work on my new weapon,” he said.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Oh,” she took a closer look at the runes on the side.&nbsp; “Property of the Church of Ardara,” she read.&nbsp; “So, Tolly, are you going to have that tattooed on your chest?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tolly looked blankly at Arrie, unamused.&nbsp; “Ariadne, I think you need to spend more time with your sister.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Arrie looked over at Autumn, who at the moment was giving Kyle a quick kiss.&nbsp; “Ugh, I don’t go in for that sort of thing,” she said.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Not that sort of time,” Tolly said, exasperated.&nbsp; “You’ve become far less restrained recently, Arrie.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “So?” said Osborn and Lanara at the same time.“Actually, Tolly,” Xu said, “Araidne has begun practicing meditation in the morning.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “If anyone thinks that my behavior has become a problem,” Arrie said, “please tell me.&nbsp; But Tolly, my powers of concentration are not diminished, I simply choose not to exercise them.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “It’s called ‘relaxing’, Tolly,” Lanara said.&nbsp; “You should try it.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes, perhaps you could come with us on a tour of the city,” Maddie said.&nbsp; “It’s a lot of fun, right Kyle?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kyle tried very hard to focus on his breakfast.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Nothing wrong with having a good time,” Osborn said.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tolly sighed again, then stood.&nbsp; “I am going to the forge now,” he announced, shouldering his borrowed warhammer before departing.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Autumn looked around at the others after he left.&nbsp; “Try not to provoke the poor man,” she said.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “But it’s such fun, and so easy,” Lanara argued.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “The man’s spiritual leader just died,” the sentinel pointed out.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Arrie nodded.&nbsp; “There’s a trick I’ve learned recently,” she said.&nbsp; “I’ll just try to apply it whenever he talks.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “What do you do, listen to the voices in your head?” Osborn asked.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Actually, it’s more like not listening to anything at all,” she explained.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I thought you might be referring to that pole trick we saw the other day,” Maddie said with a grin and a glance toward Kyle.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Oh, no!&nbsp; That’s much different, and not for Tolly’s consumption.”&nbsp; Arrie leaned over the table toward Kyle.&nbsp; “Wouldn’t you agree?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “What pole trick?” Osborn asked, saving Kyle from having to answer.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “We can show you,” Maddie said.&nbsp; “We should all go.&nbsp; Their matinee show is even more impressive.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “That sounds good to me,”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yeah, I’d like to see this show you’re talking about, Maddie,” said Kyle quickly.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Autumn looked at Kyle curiously.&nbsp; “You said that awfully fast, Kyle.&nbsp; What’s up?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He shook his head, quickly stuffing more food in his mouth.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Eventually the entire group decided to go, except for Tolly.&nbsp; Even Autumn came along, walking hand in hand with Kyle, who had the look of a condemned man on his face.&nbsp; Xu was also looking very nervous.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “What’s wrong, Xu?” Arrie asked, when the monk jumped at a merchant who suddenly shouted nearby.&nbsp; “I’ve never seen you this agitated.&nbsp; Normally you’re very centered.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “It’s… nothing,” Xu said.&nbsp; “It is related to the problems I have mentioned before.&nbsp; Being out here, so publicly, and having been in one city for so long…”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Well, if it helps, Xu,” Kyle said, “I’ve noticed that there are a number of people in this city from Xhintai.&nbsp; I wouldn’t say they’re common, but you don’t stick out in M’Dos quite as much as normal.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “The larger number of people from my country is also a source of concern,” Xu said.&nbsp; “Any of them could be Hungai’s bounty hunters.”“You know,” Arrie said, “Maddie has already undergone a drastic change in appearance, so to speak, in order to hide.&nbsp; I don’t see why you couldn’t as well.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yeah,” Maddie said, “we could help!”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Lanara could help, too, if she’s up to it,” Arrie added.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Sure,” the bard said, not terribly enthusiastically.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Arrie, Maddie, and Lanara began discussing ideas for clothing and hairstyle changes on the way to the dance parlor Maddie had discovered.&nbsp; The afternoon act was indeed more impressive; it featured two dancers, one a gnomish woman whose routine utilized a gnomish double spear set into the ground.&nbsp; While watching the performance, Xu suddenly felt something pressed into her hand.&nbsp; &nbsp; She looked around, but there were too many people around her to identify anyone.&nbsp; Very quietly, Xu rose and went across the room to where the light was better, and looked at the paper in her hand.&nbsp; It was actually two sheets of very thin, translucent rice paper.&nbsp; There were markings on each piece that were lined up to create characters in the Xhintai language.&nbsp; Xu saw that if separated, the marks would look like random lines, completely illegible. &nbsp;The Dreamlord Aran proclaims that those like him did not end the Earthlord.&nbsp;Xu quickly pocketed the note and returned to the others.&nbsp; After a while they emerged from the parlor.&nbsp; Kyle was very studiously avoiding meeting Autumn’s eyes.&nbsp; When Arrie glanced over at Autumn, however, the sentinel flashed her sister a wink that said I’m not mad at him, but I’m going to make him squirm for a while, too.When the party crossed through a rather empty alley on the way back through the city, Xu stopped the others and showed them the note, explaining how she got it and what it meant.&nbsp; All of them remembered that Aran had mentioned that he would keep in touch through underlings.“The note says ‘those like him’,” Arrie said.&nbsp; “Does that mean like him in abilities, or like him in attitude?”“I’d guess the former,” Kyle said.&nbsp; “If Kristyan’s faction was involved, I think Aran would tell us.”“If he knows,” Osborn pointed out.“Well, if there has been any brain-tampering, Kyle’s staff will tell us,” Arrie said.“So, should we go find Tolly at the forge and tell him about this?” Autumn asked.“No, I don’t think we should announce this for everyone in Ardara’s church to hear,” she replied.&nbsp; “Let’s wait until he gets home.&nbsp; For now, though, we still need to buy some new clothes for Xu.&nbsp; Can we show you some ideas we had?”The women went off to the tailors, while Kyle and Osborn headed to a tavern.&nbsp; They returned to the Whistling Mermaid around the same time as the women, quite intoxicated.&nbsp; Xu was now dressed in flowing, brightly colored clothes, and had ribbons braided into her hair.&nbsp; “We went with the idea that the hunters won’t think that a monk trying to hide will make herself more visible,” Arrie said.Tolly returned home later that night.&nbsp; He looked at Xu’s new wardrobe.“Interesting,” Tolly said.&nbsp; “Is this how you spend your days?”“Sometimes,” Arrie said.&nbsp; “Come upstairs with us and we’ll show you what else we do during the day.”“I am not certain I wish to know,” he replied.Suddenly he was picked up by Arrie and Autumn, with Lanara, Xu, and Maddie right behind him.&nbsp; “No, we insist you come with us upstairs right now,” Arrie said as they went up the stairs.&nbsp; Behind them, the other patrons of the inn cheered at Tolly’s apparent good fortune in going upstairs with five attractive women.&nbsp; Once he had been shoved into the women’s room and the door was closed, he turned to them.“You know,” Tolly said, “if word of this behavior ever got back to my brothers at the church…”“You’d be a hero,” Lanara interrupted.&nbsp; “‘Rocks and steel, such tempering and endurance’, they’ll say.”Tolly then noticed that Kyle and Osborn were also in the room.&nbsp; Xu handed Tolly the note, and translated it for him, as well as their uncertainty of Aran’s exact meeting.“We could also attempt to use a commune,” Kyle suggested.&nbsp; “The relic that Maddie has should still work.&nbsp; Maybe Erito would know for sure.”“Or Ardara,” Tolly said.&nbsp; “I can commune with her in the morning as well.”“Why not both?” Arrie suggested.“Good idea,” Kyle said.&nbsp; “How about we discuss what questions to ask, and plan to contact Ardara and Erito in the morning?”The party spent the next hour refining their questions.&nbsp; They decided to focus most of the questions regarding Jerome’s death to Ardara, and ask Erito about other matters.&nbsp; After they finished, conversation lagged a bit, until Arrie spoke again.“So, who wants to braid Tolly’s hair while he’s asleep?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Did you say ‘braid’ or ‘shave’?” Maddie asked with a grin.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Ooh!&nbsp; Let’s do both!”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Tolly shook his head.&nbsp; “I think I’ll sleep at the Cathedral tonight.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Chicken,” Lanara said.*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; *&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lanara opened the door to Kyle’s lab.&nbsp; After their conversation had broken up, Kyle had gone into his room to check up on a few works in progress.&nbsp; He was sitting behind a desk when she came in.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Autumn said you wanted to see me?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kyle nodded.&nbsp; “Come in.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lanara walked in, looking around at all the glass tubing and containers in the room.&nbsp; “Shouldn’t you be playing with Autumn instead of all this stuff?” she asked.&nbsp; “Surely those dancers put some ideas in your head.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kyle ignored her.&nbsp; “I have a spare tanglefoot bag for you.&nbsp; I heard you say a while ago that you were out, and I’m not using it.”&nbsp; He held out a leather bundle in one hand.&nbsp; “I can always make more of these if you want, you know.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I’ll keep that in mind,” Lanara said as she reached for the bag.&nbsp; But Kyle withdrew it as her hand was about to close around the strap.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “First,” he said, “you tell me what really happened out on the road.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lanara stared at Kyle for a moment, then turned on her heel to leave.&nbsp; Kyle gestured with his free hand, and the door swung closed in front of her.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “You’ve been sullen and moody since you returned,” he said.&nbsp; “You’ve said nothing about your trip, which isn’t like you.&nbsp; You were up early this morning, which also isn’t like you.&nbsp; And you’re carrying a sword, which definitely isn’t like you.”&nbsp; He leveled a glare to match Lanara’s.&nbsp; “I’m socially awkward, Lanara.&nbsp; I’m not stupid.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lanara continued to stare at Kyle for a while.&nbsp; Then, unexpectedly, a tear rolled down her cheek.&nbsp; The sight was so unnerving that the fire completely left Kyle’s eyes, and he was left looking blankly at her.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Tomorrow,” she snapped.&nbsp; “Noon.&nbsp; The Flaming Cauldron.&nbsp; You and me, alone.”&nbsp; Her voice suddenly softened, and behind the hard exterior there was a twinge of sadness, and fear.&nbsp; “We have to talk.”</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Delemental, post: 2735690, member: 5203"] That night, Tolly had a visitor. He awoke to the feel of a gauntleted hand shaking him. When he opened his eyes, the room was dark, and he could see the silhouetted form of an armored person standing over him, features hidden by the darkness. One the other side of the room, he heard Osborn and Rupert breathing deeply as they slept. “No shouts, no sudden movements, speak only when you are spoken to,” said a deep male voice. Tolly nodded. “You wished to speak with us,” the man stated flatly. “Yes,” Tolly said. “You are aware, I presume, of the re-emergence of psionics in Aelfenn?” “What we know is not your place to ask,” the inquisitor said. “Continue.” “I can give you fragments of psionic weaponry and psionically-imbued items that I have not yet disposed of properly. They are in my pack in the south corner – I know better than to try and rise to get them for you.” “You are wise, Brother Nightsleaving. Is this why you wish to speak with us?” “That, and because of certain patterns I have observed. We have encountered psions two or three times in the past year. In each case they appeared to either be trying to eliminate a leader or take one under their control.” “Explain.” Tolly laid out the party’s encounters in detail. He told the inquisitor about Marreck and the theft of the Bailite oathbond dagger. He spoke of Xerxes and how he had tried to abduct Princess Aralda. He talked about Sun-Harrow and Takar and how they had corrupted the orcish warchief Orth. He spoke of their strange dream-encounter with Lord Momuus, and of the meeting with Aran that happened later. He told him everything that Aran had said about psionics, and the alternate version of history they had heard, and about Kristyan and the two alleged factions within the psionic community. He even mentioned Kyle’s staff and its apparent ability to detect psionic auras. The inquisitor listened to every detail, never making a sound. “Archprelate Jerome’s sudden death makes me suspicious,” Tolly concluded. “The Hand of the Earth does not just suddenly die.” “It has happened, Brother,” said the inquisitor, “and Jerome was not a young man. But there are enough irregularities into his death that we have begun an investigation.” “He resurrected me,” Tolly said. “If there is anything I can do…” “We will contact you.” “I suspect Archprelate Jerome may have had some knowledge of this,” Tolly added. “It was he who sent me to the desert where we encountered Takar and Sun-Harrow. Ardara’s Hand works in mysterious ways.” Tolly suddenly felt a hand press firmly, but not painfully, into his chest just below his throat. “How far do you trust your friends?” The inquisitor asked. Tolly swallowed nervously. “The sentinel Autumn I would trust with my life. The hin Osborn I would trust with my life, but not my money. The monk Xu I am not certain of; she is too guarded with her past. The bard Lanara… is a cansin. I know not what to think of her. The priestess of Erito, Ka… Madrone, I definitely trust. The warrior, Ariadne, while spontaneous, also seems trustworthy. The wizard, Kyle… I trust him.” The hand moved up to Tolly’s throat and the pressure increased. “Be careful who you trust,” the inquisitor said darkly. There was a moment of blackness, and then the armored figure was gone. After a few minutes, Tolly stood up and checked on Osborn. The hin was snoring deeply, and did not respond when shaken. There was the barest fragrance in the air around him, which Tolly assumed was a sedative of some kind. With a sigh, Tolly laid back down, though sleep did not return easily. [CENTER] * * *[/CENTER] When the party came down for breakfast the next morning, they were shocked to see Lanara was already downstairs, eating a large bowl of porridge. Arrie and Maddie looked at each other questioningly; Lanara was normally a notoriously late sleeper. “So, Lanara, how was your trip?” Kyle asked when he sat down. Lanara leveled a stare at him. “You really want all the gory details?” Kyle faltered a bit. “Did something happen that would require gory details?” Autumn asked. The bard sighed. “Bandits aren’t the most fun people to travel with,” she said. “Why were you traveling with bandits?” Autumn asked. “It wasn’t voluntary.” Maddie’s eyes flashed. “If you were violated, Lanara, we’re going to go find them, and…” “They’ve been dealt with,” Lanara said, in a tone that said the subject was now closed. There was an awkward silence for a while, until Lanara said, “So, what has everyone been up to?” “We found out that Archprelate Jerome is dead,” Autumn began. “And we went on a tour of the city,” Arrie said, putting her arm around Maddie, “right, Kyle?” Kyle looked at Arrie, then glanced over at Autumn sitting next to him. “I’ve been crafting magic items,” he said quickly. Lanara’s brow raised a bit. “You spoke up awfully quickly there, Kyle.” She was just about ready to launch into the poor wizard, when she suddenly turned back to Autumn. “Wait a minute, Jerome’s dead? Tolly doesn’t still have those damn diamonds, does he?” “No, he gave them to their new Archprelate, Frelarr. Tolly suspects foul play. He’s waiting for the Inquisition to contact him to see if they suspect the same thing.” “Actually,” Tolly said, “they came to me last night.” “Really?” Osborn said, surprised. “When?” “What did they say?” Autumn asked. “I cannot say much, other than I gave them the information I had, and they were not surprised.” Maddie frowned. “You know, Tolly, it’s hard to hear you say you ‘can’t say much’ when we’ve put our lives on the line for your cause.” “This is agreed,” Tolly said, “but the Inquisition has ways of making it clear they do not wish this discussed too freely.” Tolly unconsciously rubbed at his neck as he spoke. “All I know is that they have some suspicions, and share some of my opinions. Whether they can use the information I gave them remains to be seen. They will contact me if they need more.” “Well, if they want us to help, they’ll have to give us more information,” Autumn said. “I am sure they will contact us if that is what they want,” Tolly replied. “Until then I suggest we go about our business normally.” Arrie glanced down at the floor near Tolly’s chair, and saw a battered warhammer sitting there, with old dwarven runes carved into the head. “What’s with the hammer?” she asked. “It was loaned to me by the church while I complete work on my new weapon,” he said. “Oh,” she took a closer look at the runes on the side. “Property of the Church of Ardara,” she read. “So, Tolly, are you going to have that tattooed on your chest?” Tolly looked blankly at Arrie, unamused. “Ariadne, I think you need to spend more time with your sister.” Arrie looked over at Autumn, who at the moment was giving Kyle a quick kiss. “Ugh, I don’t go in for that sort of thing,” she said. “Not that sort of time,” Tolly said, exasperated. “You’ve become far less restrained recently, Arrie.” “So?” said Osborn and Lanara at the same time. “Actually, Tolly,” Xu said, “Araidne has begun practicing meditation in the morning.” “If anyone thinks that my behavior has become a problem,” Arrie said, “please tell me. But Tolly, my powers of concentration are not diminished, I simply choose not to exercise them.” “It’s called ‘relaxing’, Tolly,” Lanara said. “You should try it.” “Yes, perhaps you could come with us on a tour of the city,” Maddie said. “It’s a lot of fun, right Kyle?” Kyle tried very hard to focus on his breakfast. “Nothing wrong with having a good time,” Osborn said. Tolly sighed again, then stood. “I am going to the forge now,” he announced, shouldering his borrowed warhammer before departing. Autumn looked around at the others after he left. “Try not to provoke the poor man,” she said. “But it’s such fun, and so easy,” Lanara argued. “The man’s spiritual leader just died,” the sentinel pointed out. Arrie nodded. “There’s a trick I’ve learned recently,” she said. “I’ll just try to apply it whenever he talks.” “What do you do, listen to the voices in your head?” Osborn asked. “Actually, it’s more like not listening to anything at all,” she explained. “I thought you might be referring to that pole trick we saw the other day,” Maddie said with a grin and a glance toward Kyle. “Oh, no! That’s much different, and not for Tolly’s consumption.” Arrie leaned over the table toward Kyle. “Wouldn’t you agree?” “What pole trick?” Osborn asked, saving Kyle from having to answer. “We can show you,” Maddie said. “We should all go. Their matinee show is even more impressive.” “That sounds good to me,” “Yeah, I’d like to see this show you’re talking about, Maddie,” said Kyle quickly. Autumn looked at Kyle curiously. “You said that awfully fast, Kyle. What’s up?” He shook his head, quickly stuffing more food in his mouth. Eventually the entire group decided to go, except for Tolly. Even Autumn came along, walking hand in hand with Kyle, who had the look of a condemned man on his face. Xu was also looking very nervous. “What’s wrong, Xu?” Arrie asked, when the monk jumped at a merchant who suddenly shouted nearby. “I’ve never seen you this agitated. Normally you’re very centered.” “It’s… nothing,” Xu said. “It is related to the problems I have mentioned before. Being out here, so publicly, and having been in one city for so long…” “Well, if it helps, Xu,” Kyle said, “I’ve noticed that there are a number of people in this city from Xhintai. I wouldn’t say they’re common, but you don’t stick out in M’Dos quite as much as normal.” “The larger number of people from my country is also a source of concern,” Xu said. “Any of them could be Hungai’s bounty hunters.” “You know,” Arrie said, “Maddie has already undergone a drastic change in appearance, so to speak, in order to hide. I don’t see why you couldn’t as well.” “Yeah,” Maddie said, “we could help!” “Lanara could help, too, if she’s up to it,” Arrie added. “Sure,” the bard said, not terribly enthusiastically. Arrie, Maddie, and Lanara began discussing ideas for clothing and hairstyle changes on the way to the dance parlor Maddie had discovered. The afternoon act was indeed more impressive; it featured two dancers, one a gnomish woman whose routine utilized a gnomish double spear set into the ground. While watching the performance, Xu suddenly felt something pressed into her hand. She looked around, but there were too many people around her to identify anyone. Very quietly, Xu rose and went across the room to where the light was better, and looked at the paper in her hand. It was actually two sheets of very thin, translucent rice paper. There were markings on each piece that were lined up to create characters in the Xhintai language. Xu saw that if separated, the marks would look like random lines, completely illegible. [FONT=Book Antiqua] The Dreamlord Aran proclaims that those like him did not end the Earthlord.[/FONT] Xu quickly pocketed the note and returned to the others. After a while they emerged from the parlor. Kyle was very studiously avoiding meeting Autumn’s eyes. When Arrie glanced over at Autumn, however, the sentinel flashed her sister a wink that said [I]I’m not mad at him, but I’m going to make him squirm for a while, too.[/I] When the party crossed through a rather empty alley on the way back through the city, Xu stopped the others and showed them the note, explaining how she got it and what it meant. All of them remembered that Aran had mentioned that he would keep in touch through underlings. “The note says ‘those like him’,” Arrie said. “Does that mean like him in abilities, or like him in attitude?” “I’d guess the former,” Kyle said. “If Kristyan’s faction was involved, I think Aran would tell us.” “If he knows,” Osborn pointed out. “Well, if there has been any brain-tampering, Kyle’s staff will tell us,” Arrie said. “So, should we go find Tolly at the forge and tell him about this?” Autumn asked. “No, I don’t think we should announce this for everyone in Ardara’s church to hear,” she replied. “Let’s wait until he gets home. For now, though, we still need to buy some new clothes for Xu. Can we show you some ideas we had?” The women went off to the tailors, while Kyle and Osborn headed to a tavern. They returned to the Whistling Mermaid around the same time as the women, quite intoxicated. Xu was now dressed in flowing, brightly colored clothes, and had ribbons braided into her hair. “We went with the idea that the hunters won’t think that a monk trying to hide will make herself more visible,” Arrie said. Tolly returned home later that night. He looked at Xu’s new wardrobe. “Interesting,” Tolly said. “Is this how you spend your days?” “Sometimes,” Arrie said. “Come upstairs with us and we’ll show you what else we do during the day.” “I am not certain I wish to know,” he replied. Suddenly he was picked up by Arrie and Autumn, with Lanara, Xu, and Maddie right behind him. “No, we insist you come with us upstairs right now,” Arrie said as they went up the stairs. Behind them, the other patrons of the inn cheered at Tolly’s apparent good fortune in going upstairs with five attractive women. Once he had been shoved into the women’s room and the door was closed, he turned to them. “You know,” Tolly said, “if word of this behavior ever got back to my brothers at the church…” “You’d be a hero,” Lanara interrupted. “‘Rocks and steel, such tempering and endurance’, they’ll say.” Tolly then noticed that Kyle and Osborn were also in the room. Xu handed Tolly the note, and translated it for him, as well as their uncertainty of Aran’s exact meeting. “We could also attempt to use a [I]commune[/I],” Kyle suggested. “The relic that Maddie has should still work. Maybe Erito would know for sure.” “Or Ardara,” Tolly said. “I can commune with her in the morning as well.” “Why not both?” Arrie suggested. “Good idea,” Kyle said. “How about we discuss what questions to ask, and plan to contact Ardara and Erito in the morning?” The party spent the next hour refining their questions. They decided to focus most of the questions regarding Jerome’s death to Ardara, and ask Erito about other matters. After they finished, conversation lagged a bit, until Arrie spoke again. “So, who wants to braid Tolly’s hair while he’s asleep?” “Did you say ‘braid’ or ‘shave’?” Maddie asked with a grin. “Ooh! Let’s do both!” Tolly shook his head. “I think I’ll sleep at the Cathedral tonight.” “Chicken,” Lanara said. [CENTER]* * *[/CENTER] Lanara opened the door to Kyle’s lab. After their conversation had broken up, Kyle had gone into his room to check up on a few works in progress. He was sitting behind a desk when she came in. “Autumn said you wanted to see me?” Kyle nodded. “Come in.” Lanara walked in, looking around at all the glass tubing and containers in the room. “Shouldn’t you be playing with Autumn instead of all this stuff?” she asked. “Surely those dancers put some ideas in your head.” Kyle ignored her. “I have a spare tanglefoot bag for you. I heard you say a while ago that you were out, and I’m not using it.” He held out a leather bundle in one hand. “I can always make more of these if you want, you know.” “I’ll keep that in mind,” Lanara said as she reached for the bag. But Kyle withdrew it as her hand was about to close around the strap. “First,” he said, “you tell me what really happened out on the road.” Lanara stared at Kyle for a moment, then turned on her heel to leave. Kyle gestured with his free hand, and the door swung closed in front of her. “You’ve been sullen and moody since you returned,” he said. “You’ve said nothing about your trip, which isn’t like you. You were up early this morning, which also isn’t like you. And you’re carrying a sword, which definitely isn’t like you.” He leveled a glare to match Lanara’s. “I’m socially awkward, Lanara. I’m not stupid.” Lanara continued to stare at Kyle for a while. Then, unexpectedly, a tear rolled down her cheek. The sight was so unnerving that the fire completely left Kyle’s eyes, and he was left looking blankly at her. “Tomorrow,” she snapped. “Noon. The Flaming Cauldron. You and me, alone.” Her voice suddenly softened, and behind the hard exterior there was a twinge of sadness, and fear. “We have to talk.” [/QUOTE]

Verification