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Message: <blockquote data-quote="spyscribe" data-source="post: 2817150" data-attributes="member: 5808">Part the One-Hundred NinetiethIn which: if we don’t find Barnabus soon, Thatch is going to have a stroke.Stroke.  Stroke.  Stroke… Stroke.The really frustrating thing about a rowboat, Thatch reflects, is that you can’t see if you’re making any progress.  I mean, sure, I can see the island we just left getting farther, and farther… and farther, but that’s not exactly encouraging.Thatch tries to glance over his shoulder on the backstroke, hoping he can catch a glimpse of the large island they sighted that morning on the horizon.Yup, there it is.  A green blob.  Green blob in front of me, green blob in back of me, white blob to the right of me…  Thatch blinks.  Then looks again.  Is that a—“I see a sail!”  Kiara shouts.It’s true.  After close to a week of empty seas, there is suddenly a small vessel, speeding along several hundred yards off their port side.###As Reyu (wildshaped into a pelican) draws alongside the other vessel, she knows that at least part of their search has ended.  The boat is a small swift craft, clipping along at full sail.  And at the top of the mast, above the sail, a small pennant bearing the same sigil that they have found throughout the islands flaps in the breeze.  From what Reyu can see, the crew is entirely human: three men and two women.  Two are obviously professional sailors, while the other three wear elaborate grey and red livery.  Around the necks of these three hang medallions embossed with the same sigil that is on the vessel’s flag.As Kiara hangs back, ready to fly back to the longboat for help if needed, Reyu circles the boat slowly.  She makes sure that she has been spotted, then comes in for a gentle landing on the deck and shifts back into an elf.Her sudden appearance is met with understandable surprise.  One sailor loses his grip on a line he was hauling, but a barked order quickly quells any panic.  Good, Reyu thinks, these humans do know how to think before acting.  She tries not to think about the fact that she is effectively staking her life on their continued good sense. Reyu bows slightly and speaks.“I do not wish to alarm you,” she says calmly.  “My friends and I have come to these islands seeking a great wizard by the name of Barnabus.  Do you know where we can find him?”A tense silence follows her words. Reyu catches the strangers sneaking glances at each other, as if wondering how to respond.  Finally, one of the men in livery—whose slightly more ornate braiding appears to designate a position of authority—meets her gaze and speaks.  “I don’t know any Barnabus.  I work for the Count.”“Do you know where we might find him, then?”The man appears more and more confused by the moment.  He does not reply, but silently points in the direction of the large island that the party has been rowing towards.Reyu smiles.  “Very good then.”Behind the man, a woman in livery speaks up.  “You know you are in the Count’s domain.”  It’s almost, but not quite, a question.“I knew we were in someone’s lands,” Reyu answers.  “But we have no knowledge of your Count.”Once again, the crew of the small ship exchange uneasy glances.  “He unaware of your presence?” the man asks.“To my knowledge.”The man appears to come to a decision, and snaps to with brisk efficiency.  “You should report to the Guard immediately.  We will escort you.”Reyu is unruffled.  “We would like nothing more.”The crew indicates to Reyu the proper direction for them to take, and Reyu and Kiara both fly back to the rest of the party in the longboat.###Anvil is quite pleased to finally have contact with an official authority.  “Excellent.  Take us there, Thatch.”“Easy for you to say,” the fighter mutters.Sensing Thatch’s fatigue, Kiara helpfully perches on his shoulder and whistles a jaunty tune to help him keep time.  Much to her disappointment, he does his best to ignore her completely.Eva helpfully suggests that Kiara probably just isn’t whistling loud enough.  Thatch glares at her as if to say, “If I wasn’t charged with keeping you safe, I’d kill you right now.”###Thatch finally pulls the longboat in to dock alongside four or five light skiffs at port on the island indicated.  Word of their arrival appears to have preceded them and a small crowd of has gathered.  Liveried sailors, a fair number of dock-workers, fishermen, and a few teamsters press forward to get a look at the strangers coming into port.  A line of armed liveried men, most likely the County Guard, keeps anyone from getting too close.  The commander of these last watches the party dock soberly, his expression betraying no emotion beyond a sense of guarded wariness.Anvil greets him without qualm.  “We are here seeking the wizard Barnabus.”The guardsman stands firm.  “I should take you to see the Count.”“As we have told the others, we would like nothing better,” Anvil replies.  “Please, take us to him.”###The guardsman commanders a skiff and by early afternoon the party has been taken to yet another island, to be met by yet another group of liveried guards.  While their escort is a bit severe and not inclined to small talk, they are also not unfriendly, and the group chooses not take offense at the healthy display of caution.Mostly, the party members hope that no one will mind the fact that they killed a deadly plant and an acidic pool on their way in.This island is the largest they have seen so far, and although there are a few gently rolling hills, the terrain is for the most part flat and the walking is easy.  They are taken down a wide dirt road past several hamlets to a large manor house, built on the center and highest point of the island.###Although the manor house sits resplendent behind open gates, the thick stone wall those gates are set in is clearly built to withstand unwelcome visitors.  Along with the Count’s mansion, the walls also shelter guard barracks, servant quarters, and a stable.And as the party approaches, no one can help but notice that the Count’s sigil is on every wall, gate-post, and uniform they pass.Lira also can’t help but notice that the entire compound reeks of understated wealth.  Everyone’s clothes—down to the boys sweeping out the stables—fit perfectly.  The wall surrounding the manor and its outbuildings has been cleanly finished on both sides.  For that matter, she’d be willing to bet the stones for the house have been imported.Which begs a nagging question.  The Halmae, although certainly vast, is a heavily-traveled sea.  Surely, someone would have made contact before now?After all they had heard about the Islands of Mirage, Lira had thought she was prepared for anything they might encounter.  Strange beasts, reclusive wizards, untold riches.  But… a kingdom?  Or, rather, a county that has remained unknown to its surrounding neighbors for who knows how long?The front door of the manor has been carved in an intricate relief depicting the known world.  The Darine Peninsula curls up the right hand side, and on the left the mountains of the Ketkath appear to have been depicted in a thousand individually carved peaks.  And in the center of the doors—and the center of the Halmae—is the Count’s sigil.The doors swing outward, revealing a short man of middle years, wearing a much more decorated version of the livery they have seen on the guards, rich with deep blues and reds.  Around his neck is the now expected medallion.  He makes a sweeping bow at the party’s approach.  “Greetings,” he says, turning to include each of the adventurers as he speaks.  “I am Lord Marmion, chamberlain to the Count.  Welcome to the Islands of Agramount.”</blockquote>

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