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Monday, June 17, 2024

The Battle for Vulture Point Act III Scene II

The next morning saw Cybele and Dietrich renting a small cart and driver to take them and the morbid prizes from Hightower Tor to the intersection of Ferrantino, Scornbul, and Serin where, as promised stood the stalwart, Spartan and serene stone structure that housed the city's Paladins. A brief introduction, and the handing over of one of Dietrich's cards (provided in a timely fashion by his new solicitor), led them and the remains in their care to the office of Honesto Merin. That worthy paladin accepted the two nobles graciously, inquiring after their health and sense of the city, and, once he placed the young Von Eisenwald, into a reminiscence of how the old von Eisenwald, Dietrich's uncle, had been a good friend to the paladins and the city. Dietrich took this complement on his line graciously, with the wish that he too could perform such service. Indeed, Cybele took that opportunity to say that if there was ever anything the Paladins needed to not hesitate to call on her services. (Bec: I'll just accept that plot coupon now!)

Then, over the sweet coffee in tall, thin mugs that was the custom in the north, the three discussed the matter at hand: the items taken from Hightower Tor. Honesto confirmed that he was aware that the Tor had been looted, and was hopeful that these two were finally coming forward to make clear that claim, and was surprised to know that the pair were part of a second, unplanned expedition into the chaos crypt. With the knowledge of further actions there by multiple parties, he states that he will redouble his efforts to find the previous delvers and see what they learned. Honesto is quiet and serious during their recitation of battles with chaos beasts both in the Tor and at Vulture Point and sketches out briefly the political problems with arranging a garrison at that location - though he will again take up the cause in the face of this new information.

He was able to identify at least some of the remains, placing the circlet on the most decorated of the skulls as belonging to General Moltalvo de Molro, who fell in the second to last battle before the taking of the Tor. These circlets are no longer used in the armed forces, but the Paladins revere them as artifacts of the empire's past, and Honesto asked that Dietrich give him some time to secure the funds for its purchase before putting the item on the open market - a Paladin's lifestyle is such that they seldom have much liquidity. (Bec: you mean they have a vow of poverty? That sucks! Tom: no, it's that they're always preparing for the next Chaos invasion. Brian: Exactly - unlike everyone else they actually do spend all of their gold upgrading their weapons and equipment for the next fight.) Lord Von Esienwald waves this away, giving the circlet as a gift to the Paladins on the spot. 

Concerning the remains, Honesto is willing to have the Paladins take possession of them, but ultimately they will have to go to the Cardinals for their return to the endless ocean and the next tide of life. The pair thank him for this as the remainder of the day they have other appointments. As a final request, Dietrich asks what steps might be required for him to gain entrance into the Paladin order. Honesto is thrilled by this and arranges a time for the pair to meet again, along with Honesto's brethren in the city, so that they might more fully discuss what needs be done. 

Their official work completed, the two nobles leave, heading deeper into Serin to their next appointment

Once he had broken his fast Hiram Desaud took to the streets of Emirikol armed only with the solicitor’s card from Raul de la Bellasteras and the burning desire to soak the man for as much money as possible in the replacement of his shattered sword. Following the broad thoroughfares of Serin across one of the many bridges to the western side of that sundered quarter he eventually located the offices of Bauhausen and Derr. 

While the house is obviously of tallfolk construction the well-worn shallow steps out front make it clear that Raul's solicitors, like Dietrich's, are of halfling descent. The interior is everything a prosperous law office should be - clerks busily working of briefs and contracts, assistants pulling information from the filing cabinets that line the walls to waist height, or from the latter-accessible bookcases that ascend from there to the ceiling. To his right is a long, narrow closet containing two rows of identical gray bowlers and coats, with two yellow bonnets and patterned shawls to add color. He is in the office only a few moments before a helpful clerk asked his name, and, upon learning it, offers him a seat for a moment while Signor Bauhausen was contacted. 

Hiram's wait was remarkably short before the clerk escorts him into Signor Bauhausen's office - some chairs for tallfolk facing a human-sized 'status' desk made of polished oak that completely dominated the room, with several long low locked chests to on the wall. Signor Bauhausen greets him at the door with a bow, stating that sir de la Bellastaros had already contacted him about the affair, and he extends his deepest regrets, please, please have a seat, would you care for a drink? The halfling lawyer then clambers onto the boosted seat behind his enormous expanse of desk, all the while passing along the apologies of sir de la Bellasteros for the unfortunate incident as one of the women in the office arrived with a platter of holding a pot of tea and a pitcher of fruit drink. Hiram declines, trying to feel out the situation, and begins to lay out his requirements. 

He is politely interrupted by the solicitor, who informs him that sir de la Bellasteros has already sent over a package with which to make amends - it arrived by courier this morning along with the letter explaining the situation. The Bellasteros heir had gone into his family's heirlooms to make restitution for his error - at this Signor Bauhausen hopped back off his stool and unlocked two of the locks on his offices complicated chest to withdraw a sheathed rapier. He carefully handed it over to Hiram, pointing out the quality of the workmanship. Hiram couldn't deny this - the fine leatherwork of the sheath, the filigree of the hilt, the red veined green of the bloodstone on the hilt - but he still wasn't comforted. The bloodstone was an odd choice, as the stone bore connotations of protection and defense or hearth rather that was unusual for a dueling blade. He slid the sword from its sheath and learned why. 

Not a metal blade at all, but a flawlessly balanced wooden training blade - the sort of thing given to rich, often spoiled children who have clamored at their father's knee for their own sword. Hiram silently held his temper, his acting training preventing the slightest sign of the insult from showing on his features. (Tom: Oh, that's a priceless insult. Dave: no, he'll pay for it all right.)

Seeing nothing, Bauhausen continued to prattle on as he reclaimed his seat, "Indeed, Sir de la Ballesteros informed me that had he but realized your age he certainly never would have consented to the match. Most shocking, but I do admit you carry yourself in a very adult fashion young sir and can understand how he might have been confused." (Dave: does the lawyer know what's happening here? Brian: he seems oblivious, just happy that he was able to settle the affair so easily. Do you want to take it out on him? Dave: Not in this town. I need the lawyers on my side, remember?) "I hope it meets with your approval - I know that the Ballesteros family must be sorry to part with it." 

Hiram smiled gracefully, "Not to worry, I'm sure that sir de la Ballasteros will be seeing it again." 

The official meeting over, Bauhausen continued with some pleasantries, asking how long the young sir would be staying in the city, if his parents were here with him, and if his family had arranged for a solicitor within Emirikol as yet. (Dave: it's tempting to take him up on that, but I'm not sure I want to share lawyers with my new arch enemy. Tom: yeah, that's just asking to get screwed.) After a few more minutes Lord Desaud made his goodbyes, accepted his cloak from a clerk at the door and made his way back onto the street, looking for a weaponsmiths shop. 

Finding one with a gnomish proprietor who was either fresh to the city or who was prickly enough to not abandon his thick accent, he inquired about the costs of having a new blade placed on the hilt. The gnome is initially shocked, but is quickly mollified when informed that Hiram has no intention of damaging the masterwork of the wooden blade - he just has needs to the hilt to be visible on another weapon. The gnome then quickly points out the various blades he has available, but Hiram is momentarily stymied - the cheaper, more workmanlike blades would not do justice to the hilt and scabbard, while the ones of equivalent craftsmanship were slightly too dear for his purse. He promises to return to the shop within the next few days and makes his way, having moved from seething to plotting, towards Ferrantino library to meet his companions. 

Cybele and Dietrich head through the streets of Serin to the Ferrantino library. That edifice was as impressive up close as it had been driving past the day previous - gleaming white marble stairs and pillars leading into a large central chamber lit by both magical globes and large skylights. The expected echoing effect of such a space was obviously being muted by permanent enchantments to muffle the sound within the atrium, allowing the crowds of scholars, tourists, hucksters and couriers to move about and through one another without disrupting those actually working. In the center of this room stood a table promising information to the new attendees, so after a moment of marveling at the size and scope of the learning about them the two nobles made their way to that point. 

Cybele offers up her questions first, asking where she might locate information on both a wizard mark and on the magical properties of some materials. She is directed to the old part of the library - taking the long corridor to the north, and then down a flight of stairs to the arcane researches section. She is also warned that there are wards preventing access to some parts of those areas, but such restricted stacks will be well identified. Dietrich then introduces himself and says that he has received an invitation to make an appointment with the lady d'Farrentino. He too is sent to the old part of the library, only to head up the stairs to the Loremistress' offices to make an appointment with her secretary. Nodding their thanks, the pair follows the given directions, with Dietrich stating that he will come to aid Cybele in her research once he is finished making his appointment. According to their earlier agenda, Hiram would be joining them at the library later for the three to share lunch. As they parted company at the stair, they saw a sign warning that in the lower levels there was no fire. They both took this as being a statement of hard, magically enforced fact rather than a warning against open flame.

Up the stairs Dietrich once again learns that the Von Eisenwald family name - and his appearance to his deceased uncle - proceeds him: the secretary places him immediately, and the two quickly settle on an appointment for dinner between lord Von Esienwald and lady d'Farrantino two days hence. Dietrich learns that just as his uncle was a friend to the paladins, he was apparently also a friend to the library, so it seems he has many roles to fill as the next lord. 

Downstairs Cybele began her investigations into the mark found on the lead case at Hightower Tor. With three lines of inquiry - the Imperial Wizards Registry, the letters of the local wizards in the archives and the contracts of the city - to search through, she began with the imperial registry. The mark was not listed, which means that it was adopted by someone within the last 40 years, as the Republic had de-funded the imperial wizard's registry at that date. She also learned quite a bit about the official terms of the registry, and how students very seldom take their master's marks upon their master's deaths - when it has happened it has a disturbing tendency to mean the master has stolen his apprentice's body. Still, other than diminishing the likelihood that the mark's owner was of a long-lived Elvish blood due to its recent adoption there this was a dead end. 

As she prepared to move on to the collected letters she was interrupted by Dietrich and Hiram, who had finished his morning's activities and met his fellow on the way into the library. As it was still over an hour before lunch time the pair asked for directions and she set them to researching the uses for Green Dragon's Blood, one of the other items found along with the Cockatrice Feather in the Tor. 

Her next line of inquiry was equally fruitless - the letters from the local wizards were not cataloged as in a matter that made sense to her, leading to several frustrating returns over the same information before she tossed up her hands and moved on. She did not have great hopes for the contract files, but as fortune would have it she located the mark almost immediately - the mark's owner, one Alsan Nightshade (Bec: Aslan Nightshade? Does that ever sound pretentious! Dave: And confused. Tom: Maybe he's bipolar?), had recently secured ownership of one of Serin's wizard towers. The towers themselves are centuries old, and any vacancy produces some complicated contractual wrangling and character references with the city for the right to residence in the hallowed spires. The papers showed some concerns about the human wizard's personality, but other than some rumors that were run down as being groundless there was no evidence of chaos taint or illegal activity. Hence he was awarded right-of-residence in the tower with the standard contracts for mandatory civil service on 6 major holidays and if the city ever needed defending from invasion. 

Jotting down the pertinent details she went to join her comrades, who were being stymied by a surplus of information. Green Dragon Blood, and dragon blood in general, is a component in hundreds, if not thousands of major enchantments and transformations. It can restore the near dead to life, provide proof against any toxin (while being a virulent toxin itself), grant the ability to communicate with animals, allow the transformation to other forms, restore sanity to the mad or flesh to one’s ancestors - all when mixed with other magical items or enhanced by other magics. While they cannot know what it does, there can be no mistaking the apparent value of the vial. Before the group can engage in any further discussion, they, and everyone else in the room, are interrupted by the sound of a crash from the floor below, followed by a cloud of white smoke billowing up the circular stairs from the arcane research levels below.


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