Requiem
Session Thirty-Six of the Notoriety of Kings Campaign

Zephday, 24 Heathaze 204 [continued]

The flames quickly burn away both Nicos and Rio's clothing. The assembled discreetly leave the room. Elly even goes as far as to blindfold herself with an illusionary towel. The Chosen depart leaving Rio and Nicos alone. Eventually the servants Molly and Sarah arrive with clothes and the pair dress and make their way back through the palace. Nicos is tightly gripping Rio's hand.

As they make their way to the White Suite, Nicos is ababble telling Rio how wonderful it is to have her back. Rio is silent, after her initial euphoria she seems to have retreated, and is saying very little to Nicos. When she is asked what is troubling her Rio can't meet his gaze. "Who am I?" she asks. "You're Rio Shai'ir," says Nicos authoritatively. "Am I?"

Raza in the meantime has gone to visit Gaston. This is just the beginning of many visits to Gaston over the coming days. He presents the court wizard with the magical device the beggar was wielding. Gaston recognises it as one of the magical mortars given out by the church of fire to its servants. A cleric of fire can 'load' it with fireballs. Once loaded anyone can use it if they know the command word. Raza thanks Gaston, and determines to give the mortar to Nicos. It is the full moon tomorrow, and Nicos can charge it while his powers are at their greatest.

Raza quickly leaves and heads over to Eurikas. Utter paranoia has gripped the monk of late. They trusted Tular and they got burned, now he doesn't trust anyone. He is looking for conspiracies where there are none and suspecting everyone of being a Malificent. He certainly does not trust Narramac, for the old wizard has refused to reveal too many things of late.

At Eurikas, Raza changes into the white smock and goes to meet the scrivener Kybos, who has been his personal researcher over the past few weeks. Kybos is getting more and more confused at the eclectic and seemingly unrelated topics that Raza wants to research, but he's being paid so he is trying not to let it bother him. Raza has returned for answers to the question of why there are only nine fire eyes. Kybos says that he has an answer taken directly from the Korvast Scrolls. The text reads as follows: "The high priest of the Church of Calafax will never be still. He will walk the land, never stopping for more than one night, except in times of great need. He will travel where he is most needed and right the wrongs only he can right. In this task he is granted nine diviners, the eyes of Calafax who see where he cannot and know where he will be most needed. Eight fire eyes each look to one of the cardinal points of the compass, and one other looks upon the Firewalker. That Fire Eye is the chief among the Fire Eyes for he (and he alone) sees the future of the Firewalker himself. Calafax grants this boon and no more than this, lest the Firewalker command too much power and see into realms that are the province of the gods."

Raza nods, but does not thank the cleric. He asks if any more progress has been made on finding a link from the various mythologies he mentioned, and Kybos says that it has not. Raza sighs and gives the scrivener another task. "I want you to find out all you can about Castle Dolanz. When it was built; why; what lay on the ground before it was constructed." Kybos looks at Raza blankly, but agrees any way. "Another thing," says the monk. He describes the supernatural abilities demonstrated by Aylisha at Castle Dolanz – telepathy and superhuman strength. He wants to know what can cause that. Kybos ventures that it could have been caused by magic, but Raza shakes his head. "It was not magic, find out. I will return this evening for some answers." Kybos resists the temptation to throttle him.

Nicos's stomach has screwed up to a ball the size of a walnut. He is sitting in his state room in the White Suite with Rio. He has dreamed about this moment for seven seasons, but now it has come, it is not what he expected. Rio gazes out of the window sorrowfully. She is not of perfect mind. "I remember, Nicos." Nicos's ears perk up. "You remember us, and Scaldarnus and everything?" Rio nods. "That and more than that. I remember everything I did as a Bombastic, everything of the last seven seasons," when she turns back to Nicos there are tears in her eyes. "I've done terrible things, Nicos, terrible things. I've held onto mothers and made them watch their husbands and children burned to death in the name of Calafax. I set a fire in the Circle Slums that killed hundreds before it could be stopped. At Castle Caled I tried to kill you!"

Nicos takes Rio in his arms and tries to comfort her. "I've killed people too, you know," he says, thinking of the guard at Osroth Manor. "You just have to live with it. Anyway, it's not like it was you. It was Wren." Rio pulls away abruptly. She isn't angry, but there is a manic look on her face. "There is no Wren! It was me! It was all me! I thought you understood. I wasn't being controlled, I wasn't being threatened. Wren isn't a different person, she's me! I wasn't bullied into being a Bombastic I was convinced. I let myself be convinced!" Rio turns away so Nicos cannot see her face. "I'm a murderer. Nicos. I didn't deserve to be saved; and I don't deserve you."

Nicos steps forward. He tries to convince her that she is wrong. She has been given a second chance, just as the teachings of Calafax say. "I've been a Bombastic for seven seasons, Nicos. How can I go back after that? I don't think I have the faith to return to the Church of Fire, and I'm certain they don't want me. I couldn't face it."

Nicos now broaches something he has been thinking of for some considerable time. "Rio. You and Boudewijn…. that is Wren and Boudewijn…. did you, that is….. were you?" Rio looks puzzled for a moment, and then nods. Nicos feels his walnut-sized stomach fall into his left shoe. "Did you love him?" – "I did. Right up the moment Narramac put that spell on me I did. When he arrived to take me away, I was glad. That's why I begged you not to kill him." – "And now?" Nicos prompts. "Now I don't have any feelings for him either way. I have feelings for you." Rio shakes her head as Nicos moves forward. "But are they real feelings? How is what Narramac did to Wren any different from what Boudewijn and the Bombastics originally did to Rio? I don't know who I am any more."

Nicos is at a complete loss as to what to say. "I want to see him, Nicos," says Rio slowly. "I want to see Boudewijn." Nicos nods his head slowly. He'd like to see the scum-sucking bokebucket again. Even if its only to rub his nose in the fact he's lost, and he's going to be executed. He agrees, and Rio says that she wants to leave immediately.

Meanwhile, Ravenna has tapped Elias for approximately 2000 crowns in hard cash, that the bullied baron has removed the money from his account with the Agiostic Church (much to Drasha's annoyance). But she has made her position on spending money on his barony very clear, and she tries to keep herself silent. Besides she is still suffering from inhaling so much smoke this morning. Returning to the White Suite Ravenna goes in search of Ellyboodle. She finds the gnome sitting in the garden with her head in her magical back-pack. She scuttles out carrying a small ferret. "Oh, this is Tikki," says Elly with a smile. "I wasn't looking for her so she's been at the bottom of the bag." Ravenna nods way that she hopes appears wise. "Would you like to meet a crime lord?" she asks. Ellyboodle says that she would like nothing more. Ravenna smiles and tells her that she is going to the estate of Fenton Pryde to settle her uncle's debts. Elly jumps at the chance to come with her.

Pausing only briefly to ask a servant to invite Alys to the White Suite the day after tomorrow, the pair head out across town to fashionable Chapel Lane. They pass the nearly appointed houses, including the one once owned by Ravenna's uncle. They stop at a large wrought-iron gate behind which a gravel path extends to the Palgrave Estate. There a guard of surprising girth commands them to stop and takes them to the gatehouse. He sends a messenger to the main house, at Ravenna's insistence that she sees Fenton Pryde.

A few minutes later the nameless noblewoman whom Ravenna met on her last visit here in Suntask arrives. She conducts Ravenna and Ellyboodle up to the house. As they wander through the lavishly appointed corridors, Ravenna warns Elly not to take anything. Finally in a small office, the lady sits herself behind a desk. She announces that Mr Pryde is not available at present, but she can help with any business that Ravenna has. Ravenna says that she is here to clear her uncle's debt. The lady nods and draws out a large ledger. The transaction is soon settled, the women refusing to count the bag of money Ravenna gives her out of politeness. "I trust, this settles all dealings between my uncle, myself and Fenton Pryde." The woman smiles. "Your uncle's debt to us is cleared. As for yourself, I cannot speak for any intentions Mr Pryde has for the future."

At the Church of Fire, Nicos rather tentatively knocks on the door of first flame, Vina Leikey. Following the events the last two days, Nicos is by no means her most favourite person. "Keep this brief, Allumière," Leikey says. Nicos firstly asks for an audience with Boudewijn. Vina wants to know if he plans to have him pardoned as well. Nicos looks offended. He says that, if anything he wants to speed up Boudewijn's death. "If you need an executioner, you only have to ask." Leikey grants him the audience. Then Nicos asks if she has any objection of him attempting to rebuild Scaldarnus. Her demeanour changes, becoming slightly friendlier. If Nicos has the resources and the will, she would welcome Scaldarnus's resurrection.

In the dungeons, Nicos and Rio are led by the cleric Minton (he's on the day shift) to Boudewijn's cell. Rio shivers with being back in this place. The clerics of the church of fire are not at all pleased with seeing her at liberty. Rio tells Nicos that she wants to go into the cell alone. Nicos is against it, but eventually he relents. Rio spends ten minutes in the cell with Boudewijn before Nicos eventually calls Minton to open the door. He doesn't know what has passed between them, but Rio has obviously been crying. It is time for him to have a talk with Boudewijn.

He stalks into the cell and greets Boudewijn by smacking him around the mouth. "How does it feel to be the condemned man?" he asks. "You haven't won," says Boudewijn smugly, "Not yet." Nicos laughs at the other man's bravado and tells Boudewijn that he has run out of friends and time. Kelton and Rembrandt aren't likely to turn up and rescue him now. "I suppose you have killed Wren," says Boudewijn with utter hatred. "No, I saved Rio," Nicos says flatly. "She's back as she was. Not the monster you made her." Boudewijn sneers. "I doubt that, Nicos. All that was done to Rio was to tell her of the Bombastic way. It took some convincing but she came into the fold willingly. I didn't get an archwizard to rearrange her mind with powerful magic. You haven't saved Rio, you've magically recreated a woman who never existed! Rio wasn't turned into Wren, she evolved into Wren. You've tried to have your pet wizard undo that, but you can't undo something that wasn't done in the first place! You're the one who's created a monster. One day it'll bite you!"

Nicos responds to this by pounding on Boudewijn's face for several minutes. "So it was you! You who took her away that night." – "Not me personally. After I left Scaldarnus I joined the Bombastics. They were always on the look out for new recruits. If you'd be there that evening we could have take you as well." – "Bastard!" Eventually Minton comes in and pulls Nicos off the bloody pulp that used to be Boudewijn's face. Nicos stares at the sagging form of Boudewijn, chained to the wall, puts his arm around Rio and leads her back to the White Suite. "Well?" he whispers in her ear when they are clear of the temple. "There's nothing left between Boudewijn and me," Rio says slowly. But the manic look is still in her eye.

In the evening, Ellyboodle, Drasha, Rio and the Chosen meet in the White Suite. Raza arrives late after picking up his information concerning Castle Dolanz from Eurikas. Kybos told him that the it was built in 123 LE to the specifications of Olran Tivner, the then count of Hessex. The castle is reputedly haunted by three ghosts: the original wife of Olran who drowned herself in the well after the death of her baby; ten soldiers who stayed behind to man the walls when the castle was attacked by orcs in 172 LE, and the ghost of a hound who wandered in one day. Raza is looking for a connection with the Great Dark and Karatath, but he finds none. He told Kybos to dig deeper.

Eventually, Narramac emerges and says that he has some things to say about tomorrow's ceremony on the Hill of Heroes. Drasha takes the opportunity to leave. She tells Elias to remain in the White Suite this evening – "You asked me to tell you when you were too stupid to know what was the best course of action" – affectionately touching his cheek as she leaves. Earlier in the day, Drasha had asked Elias if he minded her trying for Arvan's sword tomorrow. Elias had said that he didn't, but knowing that the entire ceremony is fixed and that Elly was going to get the sword he told her not to get her hopes up.

Narramac says that he has been working on the sword all day. It is more of a challenge to adapt the magic so that it will only accept Ellyboodle, but he believes he has managed it. Elias is less and less happy with this plan. It isn't really fair is it? "It has to be done this way, Elias," says Narramac. "There has to be a great ceremony. You have to be seen to be heroes. Are you ready, Ellyboodle?" – "Sure," says the gnome unconcernedly playing with her ferret.

Narramac says that tomorrow at dawn the five members of the Chosen, himself and other members of the court will go by carriage to the Hill of Heroes. Ten thousand people are waiting to try for the sword. They will be assembled in a long queue up the hill. He has arranged for Ellyboodle to be about two hours down that queue. "Can't have her first in line, that would be suspicious. Don't want her last in line as we'd be sitting there for three days."

Once Narramac is certain everyone is happy with the plan, he retires. He is still tired after saving Rio this morning. Nicos thanks him again for that, but he tells the cleric to think nothing of it. He leaves muttering that it is the least he can do. Rio and Nicos spend the evening in talk. He tells her everything that has happened to him in the last seven seasons, or at least he tries to. Rio listens, but doesn't talk about what she has been up as it seems too painful a subject. When it is time for bed, Nicos retires to Elias's room. He dearly wants to stay with Rio, but it is too soon for that. Elias finds the cleric in his bed close to midnight. "Don't tell anyone I'm here," says Nicos feebly. He then starts to tell Elias everything that has happened since Narramac's spell this morning. He tells his of Rio's doubts, and asks Elias for help. Elias hasn't got a clue what Nicos should do, but he can offer to get raucously drunk with him. It is an offer Nicos readily accepts.

This leaves Raza, who in an uncharacteristic bout of self-aggrandisement heads to the nearest Agiostic Temple. There is places a bet on Ellyboodle being the next Chosen of Narramac. He puts down 300 crowns and gets odds of one hundred to one.

Caladay, 25 Heathaze 204

It is the first day of the full moon of Calafax and the heat is intense. It is almost approaching 34ºC in the shade, but the sky is beetle black. There is a storm coming. Elias remembers Drasha's warnings about floods in Umbria and shudders at the sight. Ellyboodle has long gone to the queue when Raza, Elias, Ravenna, Nicos and Brack assemble in the courtyard beneath the White Suite. A large carriage awaits them, Gaston busily casting protective spells into it. Gaston ignores the presence of Narramac assiduously, and when Raza tells him to make up with his old mentor he almost takes the monk's head off.

It is the same carriage that brought them into Uris at the beginning of Suntask, although this time, its twin has also been wheeled out on the parade ground. In this carriage will ride Gaston and Alberdark. King Yaddagon is too weak to make the journey. At the appointed time, they clamber into the carriage and are off. "This is a bit low key for you isn't it?" Ravenna asks Narramac. "Just because I'm not making the mountain speak doesn't mean to say this won't be memorable."

Despite the time of day the road to the Hill of Heroes is lined with hundreds of people trying to catch a glimpse of the Chosen and other great figures of government. Eventually they press upwards to their destination. The coach clatters to a halt, in front in the large stone courtyard in front of the Tomb of Kings. Great statues of previous kings of Norandor stand to either side as the Chosen and Narramac climb down. Before you the Hill of Heroes falls gently into parkland and down into Uris. They can see the river passing through the mightiest city on the continent, and away in the distance is the old city and the spires of the royal palace. The parkland is fit to bursting with thousands of people. It is as if the entire city has emptied. Not even the land around Mount Korvast was as crowded as this. All members of society from pauper to duke stand side-by-side waiting for Narramac to speak and to begin the Ceremony of the Sword.

Delegations from the sixteen legal churches are also present: Lerren of the Church of Life, Bethwyn O'Mare of the Church of Fortune's Favour, Isla Xallas of the Sensationalists, Munro of the Church of Earth, Zoar Zellical of the Justicians, Sir Geffris, paladin knight of the Order of the Hawk, Marice Ulno of the Sylvani Faith, Tomlin Faltu of the Church of the Land, Sorgann of the Church of Air, Elgarth of the Arcanum Incognita, Vina Leikey of the Church of Fire, Lord High General Babann of the Church of Contention, Kathryn Stormwarden of the Church of Water, Timisin of the Odyssian Church, Deena Altaire of the Agisotic Church, Tarex of the Watchers on the Cusp of Oblivion and Quanlan Constantus of the Scriveners of Doom. Even they seem excited at what will happen in the next minutes and hours. As the second coach pulls away and they are joined by Alberdark and Gaston, the Chosen and Narramac climb up on to the Pulpit – a large stone dais that was used by the kings of the past to address their people. As they do so a terrible hush falls over the crowd. All that can be heard is their breathing, and the shuffling of their feet, uncomfortable in the heat. And another sound…... Wooden wheels on stone. A third coach is coming up from the city.

All eyes turn to the coach, and a murmur begins in the crowd that turns into a shout, then a cheer as the truth is made plain. King Yaddagon has arrived! Travelling with the Princess Celestine and the Lady Aylisha Allenkai, the King of Norandor, Kin of Uros, Prophet of the Moon Faiths has stirred from his death bed and has come to the Hill of Heroes. The cheering continues unabated as Yaddagon steps down from the carriage unaided and walks up into the pulpit. For a moment he and Narramac regard one another. This is the first time the old friends have met in thirty seasons. The king smiles and embraces his old wizard. Another cheer, louder than the first, rocks the hillside as the King and his followers take their seats opposite the Chosen of Narramac. After a few moments, Narramac raises his hand for quiet, and ten thousand people fall silent.

"The reason we are gathered here today is not one of mirth, or of glory, but of sorrow. Four months ago, I instigated a grand quest to determine who was worthy of a great power, and a great task. Five of those victors sit here before you. Ravenna Tannesh, Elias Raithborne, Nicos Allumiere, Raza de Luna and Brack Ogrebane. Five. You all know that six started that quest and six claimed their prize. Six hands for six swords. You have all heard the tales, but let me tell you of Arvan. He was a druid of the Norandon Circle. He dedicated his life to keeping us safe from the Wild, to preserving and protecting this beautiful land we call home. He was a half-orc, as gentle and caring a being as you could hope to meet; an individual who defied the prejudice levelled at his kind. He was a hero, who laid down his life so that others may live; who did so willingly and without hesitation – not for glory or to be remembered in old songs but because it was a job that had to be done, a job no-one else could do. But there is more to Arvan than the legend. The bards do not sing of Arvan the teacher, Arvan the just, Arvan the philosopher or Arvan the friend. It is Arvan the friend that Ravenna and Elias and Nicos and Raza and Brack will remember. On the Plains of Acheron, they lost something that can never be replaced. Thus, today is not cause for celebration. It is a Requiem, for one that is forever lost to us. Without whom we are all diminished. And so, as we begin this Ceremony of the Sword, bear in mind that we seek only a successor, not a replacement. For no-one could replace Arvan, and I salute him."

At these words, the Chosen regard each other silently. The grief of Arvan's loss is a wound easily reopened. Narramac steps down from the pulpit and walks to a large stone that has been placed at the edge of the circle. There is lays the hilt of the sword that was Arvan's and returns slowly to his place. "I will not choose this successor. The sword will choose. I invite those assembled to come forward, one by one and take the hilt. If the sword responds to your touch then you are worthy, and will become the sixth member of the Chosen. But before you do I issue this warning (if Arvan's death is not warning enough) Taking up the sword condemns you to a long and difficult road into darkness. A road from which you will not return unchanged, if you return at all. Now: begin!"

The park wardens, town guard and soldiers control the crowd as best they can, and soon a thin trickle of hopefuls walk to the stone. They look at Narramac, at the king and at you all before grasping the hilt of the sword. For each in turn, nothing happens. When the sword fails to activate, a look of relief plays across many faces, as they replace it on the stone and the next person in the line takes his chance. One of the first to try for the sword is Duke Ipso of Timberlake, creating something of a stir in the crowd.

Two hours down the line, Ellyboodle shuffles forward slowly. She is all ready bored. Behind Elly is a bent and broken man wearing an eye patch, then a paladin, then an enormous man, then a warrior woman and then…. "Hello Ellyboodle!" cries Count Dolanz. "Not so far apart I see!" Elly smiles, trying to remember who this man is. "All the best, I really mean that."

The crowd moves slowly. Ravenna sees that Ralyon Artusi is in the crowd, but fortunately he is well behind Ellyboodle, so he won't be embarrassing himself before all these people. They see the fire clerics Minton and Crisp; Misgon tries for the sword and is rather annoyed when it doesn't work for him; Sergeant Culdoon of the palace guard; a half-orc barbarian they have never met called Bronx. Other nobles such as Count Kristus also give it ago, but all to no avail. Then a woman appears whom the Chosen know. He long black hair covering her pallid face, the assassin Whisper walks slowly up to the sword. As far as the Chosen were concerned, Whisper was imprisoned in the Maw of Io with Deerkor, although Elias always feared she would find a way out. The sword (thankfully) does not work for her and after a moment she places it back on the plinth. With a smile for the Chosen she walks provocatively into the crowd.

"Did you see?" asks Drasha. While the king takes a break and a drink, Drasha hurries onto the Pulpit and takes a seat next to Elias. Elias nods. "I had hoped that woman perished." Elias nods again. Soon the ceremony recommences, and finally after what seems like an age, it is Ellyboodle's turn.

Ellyboodle walks slowly out onto the grass and up to the stone. Dolanz, five places behind her shouts "Good Luck!" She cannot easily reach the sword and vaults up onto the top. The beautiful silver handle lies at her feet. Elly bends down and picks it up. Narramac leans forward from where he sits in anticipation. Elly raises the hilt into the air and……… nothing happens. The look on Narramac's face is one of pure confusion, as is Elly's. She looks across at Narramac, waving the sword feebly in the air. There are shouts behind to the tune of "Come on! Let us have a try". A heavy drop of rain lands squarely in the centre of the stone courtyard, leaving a mark as large as man's fist. It is followed by a second. There is a distant rumble of thunder, from an approaching storm that is yet far away across the sea, Narramac stands. His voice trembles as he says to Elly, "Put it down and move on." Elly places the sword and climbs slowly from the stone. "Bad luck!" calls Dolanz. But now he looks at the sword with hope in his eyes.

And the crowd moves forward, pulling their cloaks over them as the rain begins to fall more heavily, and Dolanz tries to catch the eye of the Chosen. The man with eye-patch grasps it to no avail. The paladin steps forward, put is proved unworthy. The large-shouldered man reaches out to the blade. SCHRING!

The blade, that hasn't seen the light of day since the 34th of Midsummer shoots from the hilt forming a deadly curve. It is a weapon unlike any the Chosen have seen. The figure raises the sword into the sky and there is an explosion that rocks the hillside. Narramac is on his feet as the rain falls in torrents, and the sixth member of the Chosen throws back his hood. A half-orc is revealed. A half-orc only too familiar to everyone there. Arvan. Through death and beyond, Arvan has returned!

The end of Requiem
The Adventures of the Chosen of Narramac continue in
The Seventh Sword

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