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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(contact)" data-source="post: 480443" data-attributes="member: 41">Coldeven 1120:  Storming the gates of Heaven Heydricus rests and examines his wounds.  A young Pholtan priest approaches him, and calls upon Pholtus to return Heydricus to his proper state, in accordance with the Laws of the Body.  In exchange, Heydricus keeps his opinions to himself as the young cleric drones on about Obedience, the Law and Servitude.After an hour or so (the sun never moves from its position at the top of the sky), Tau exits the Pholtan shrine.  He looks distracted, and reports that Pholtus will not restore Prisantha and Elijah to life.  Tau fends off Heydricus' questions about his divine interview.Two of the shrine clerics exchange knowing glances, and whisper something to each other about "the Question".Heydricus takes Tau aside and explains that hope is not yet lost.  King Belvor of Furyondy promised the party a favor in exchange for their information about Thrommel's capture.  Heydricus intends to collect that favor in the form of a pair of resurrections. Elijah's status as an undead monstrosity awaiting a negative material infusion prevent her from leaving the outer planes, so Tau beseeches the Prelate of the shrine to care for her body until help can be summoned.  Prisantha's body is bundled and prepared for travel.Tau plane shifts the two childhood friends, hoping to arrive back in the prime material somewhere near Furyondy.  As fate (or Pholtus) would have it, the duo appears on a dusty road near Veluna, the duo's old stomping grounds.After rummaging through their mostly empty coin purses, Heydricus points out that an old friend of his lives in Veluna who might put them up for the night.The two adventurers walk into the bustling city, bloody, dirty and burdened by a person-sized bundle slung over the shoulder of the huge sorcerer.  Traveling East from the marketplace, they find themselves in a well-to-do neighborhood composed of small residences surrounding larger villas.  Heydricus leads them to one of the villas, a modest home by Chendl's standards, but palatial to the eyes of the Wintershiven priest.A young woman, petite and red-headed, is working in the flower-garden that surrounds the approach to the main house.  She stands up and squints at the travelers, silhouetted against the afternoon sun.  When they get closer, the woman barks out "Heydricus!  Gods alive, I thought  you were dead!""Hello, Alli," Heydricus says in his warmest voice."I'd hoped you were dead, anyway, you rat-loving sloth merchant!"  Alli grips her garden shears in the unmistakable pose of a seasoned back alley knife-fighter."It's good to see you too," Heydricus says as he drops Prisantha's body into the freshly planted flowers.  "Is Millia home?""She's never home when you come calling, you fatherless dog-scratching vagrant."  Alli growls as she steps forward.Alli pauses and squints at the bundle in her garden.  "Is that . . . Gods, Heydricus . . . is that a corpse?""Not for long,"  Heydricus cheerily replies, and walks up to the porch.  "Come along, Tau, I'll fix us some bitter-sweet water.""The hell you will!"  Alli starts to say when she is interrupted by a new arrival.A tall, raven-haired woman, older than Heydricus and beautiful in that way that young women can never be, is standing over the body of Prisantha.  She is dressed in finery, and her jewelry is expensive, if subtly stated.  She stares at the sorcerer and quietly adjusts the neckline of her dress, lowering it ever so slightly.  "Heydricus," she says, and allows the name to linger on her tongue."Millia,"  Heydricus says with a smile.  He bounds off the porch in one sure stride and takes her hand in his, kissing it.  "Allow me to introduce my companion Tau of Wintershiven, Loremaster of Pholtus, Mendicant of the Blinding Light.""You're filthy."  Millia states in a distant and distracted voice as she stares into Heydricus' amber eyes."Ah, you remember."  Heydricus whispers.  He turns back to the porch and moves inside.  "Alli," he begins in an authoritative tone, "take the body into the stables, but for the love of Tritherion don't unpack it.  Tau, let's get cleaned up.  Millia, it is my most fervent wish that you will join us for dinner.  Shall we say,"  Heydricus looks at the sun, "sevenish?"Coldeven, the 12th Alli confronts Heydricus once more in the morning, warning him that Millia's new betrothed is an Upright and Industrious man, and certainly won't stand for any of Heydricus' rooting about.  She also points out the dubious pedigree of Heydricus' line, and implies rather strongly that he fornicates with lower beasts.  Heydricus, for his part, assures her that the dagger she has concealed under her shift won't be necessary, as he plans to leave directly, and would she be a dear and pack a trail-meal for two?As Heydricus and Tau are taking their leave, and as Heydricus is exchanging soft words with Millia under the withering gaze of Alli, a young gentleman of Veluna arrives, replete in a black, stiff, reactionary tunic, and the ruffled collar of the financial servitors of the court.  He is also sporting a pair of jealous eyes that he is boring into Millia and Heydricus, and a sextet of Royal Guardsmen."Toban!  At last!"  Alli cries, with a triumphant glance at Heydricus.  To the guards she says, "You can find the victim in the stables, officer!  This will teach you to come nosing about your betters you wretch!"  This last was, of course directed towards Heydricus.  "No offense, Father," she says to Tau."Right!"  The Guards-Captain barks.  You two," he says pointing at Heydricus and Tau, "stay where you are!  You," he says to his guards, "search the stables!"Heydricus' eyes narrow and he steps off the porch, throwing back his cloak and revealing the platinum pin identifying him as a Knight of Veluna.  "What is the meaning of this, Captain?"The Royal Guard's mouth falls open, and he steps back a pace.  "I . . . Sir!  My Lord!  I was investigating a report of a murder, sir!"Heydricus stands up to his full height.  "Do you imply that a Knight of the Realm would commit a murder, Captain?""No sir!"  The guard barks."Then, your work here is done.""Yes, sir!""Captain," Heydricus begins, "I commend you on your zeal to serve the Crown.  My companion and I require transport to Chendl.  It is a matter of the greatest urgency.  Find and commandeer a passenger coach, then return here at once.""Yes, your Lordship, at once!"  The guard barks.  "Men!  With me!  To the market!"Heydricus looks at Tau, "That was fortunate."A few moments later, the guard arrives with a cart and buggy, driven by an older Velunan male, who seems thoroughly unexcited by this surprising opportunity to serve the Crown.  As the coach pulls away from the villa, with Prisantha's ripening corpse secured to the baggage rack, Heydricus watches the scowling and cursing Alli, the frightened and furious Toban, and Millia, a curious dream-like half smile on her face."It's good to have friends, Tau."  Heydricus says.  "Now, I stole this wine from the house, what say you we get drunk?"The coach arrives in Chendl late the next evening.  Heydricus and Tau direct the driver to the High Court, and instruct him where he might find payment for his day's journey.  That settled, Heydricus leads Tau through the maze-like interior of the place, looking for Esril.They find the swordswoman of Chendl engaged in her devotions to Kelanen.  She is briefed and sets out to find Belvor.  The King is still in his night-gown when he hustles into the training room."My Lord the King," Heydricus begins, "I have come for the favor you promised . . ."Heydricus and Tau, Royal Writ in hand, walk to the Temple of Tritherion and approach Halrond with the Entreaty and Command, signed by the King himself, to "withhold no effort in the cause of the Crown, as commanded by your lawful ruler, to resurrect the Lady Prisantha, and her common companion Elijah".Halrond reads the letter, and marks the serious look on Heydricus' face.  "Very well," he addresses his under-priests, "prepare the body for resurrection."  Halrond turns back to Heydricus and Tau.  "We will have her back before full moon.  And your Elijah tomorrow.  Prepare an assault squad."Tau is left in Chendl, but Heydricus is needed to guide the Tritherion band as they plane shift Mount Celestia, knocking petitioners from their path, and raiding the shrine to Law.  Heydricus, while a bit shocked at the commando tactics chosen by Halrond, is nonetheless impressed.  No one is harmed in the careful raid, and by the time Heydricus' head can clear from the plane shift back to the prime, Elijah is sitting up groggily, asking for water.Heydricus, as excited as he's been since Zinvellon died, exclaims to himself, "Tritherion kicks ass!"-----Next: The Iuzians Get What's Coming, and Mayhem Ensues: 35 beings are sliced into ribbons, bludgeoned to death, fully incinerated, flayed severely, roasted with Holy Napalm, and fried with electrical force! Will any of those be Liberators?  Stay tuned!</blockquote>

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