Waiting for Mortis
Session Fifty-Six of the Notoriety of Kings Campaign

Zephday, 17 Mizzle Month 204 [continued]

On the way back to the White Suite Elias feels that it is time to distribute the magical items he inherited from Alessandre. He lends the bard’s ring of protection to Nicos, and her magical short sword to Brack. It’s difficult with him to part with these items, and he wants it perfectly clear that should the group ever part company, he wants them back. As soon as Elias’s back is turned Nicos says, “Quick Brack, he’s given us his stuff, let’s leave the country.”

Reuben Stone says that he will return to the White Suite at dawn to continue the investigation, and bids the party good night. Ravenna races into her room and summons Sarah and the heavily pregnant Molly to wrestle her into a dress. She has to keep her appointment with Ralyon Artusi. She is still suspicious of the man and hopes to use the evening to find out more information. “I won’t be back this evening,” she says. “Make sure you’re back by dawn,” says Elias, “we’ve got a lot to do.” Ravenna smiles. “I’ll be back,” she says.

“Right, who wants a drink?” Raza asks. He can still hear the moon god muttering around in his mind (although he denies it) and is finding the inclination to race to Mount Korvast and summon the gods hard to resist. He hopes to find something that will make him sleep. Nicos persuades him to head to a tavern with them rather than staying in the palace. Raza wants to go somewhere near-by, but when it is suggested that they head to the Bluefish Tavern he quickly convinces them to go to The Wheel instead. He has no desire to bump into Zookie if he can avoid it.

As the rest of the party head off to drown their respective sorrows, Arvan descends to the palace dungeons. He wishes to speak with the Lady Aylisha. The guards allow him to enter without any trouble and soon he is standing outside Aylisha’s cell. She looks as serene as ever. She stands when Arvan arrives and walks slowly to him. “Arvan,” she says. Arvan returns the smile and Aylisha can sense a change in the druid. A change for the better. Arvan’s soul has been cleansed some how. The stain it wore after he returned from the Great Dark has been washed away by a return journey. “I am delighted to see the change in you Arvan. What brought it about?”

“I learned that obsession is not the way to understanding,” the druid replies and tells Aylisha of how the blades deceived them in the Great Dark, and what they nearly became. “You tried to tell me what I was becoming,” he says, “but I ignored you. I treated you very badly.” – “Not as badly as you treated yourself,” Aylisha counters. “I didn’t accept help from the others when it was offered and that vexes me.”

“You have had the wisdom to see your mistakes and put them right, Arvan. Few can say that. Look to the future. Raza has told me the danger we all face here in Uris.” Arvan shakes his head. “And I do not know what we can do about it. Twice we have faced Mínaris and twice he has defeated us with a wave of his hand.” – “There are those that will stand with you, is that not so?”

“Some,” Arvan admits. “More if they knew what they were facing. What will you do?” Aylisha replies, “When the king dies, as he will in a few days, my role here will be at an end.” – “Will you leave? Raza told me that he didn’t think this cell could hold you.” – “I may stay. If you need my help.” – “What can you do to help us?” – “Anything you ask of me, but as I told Raza you cannot come to rely on me. You must tell me what you wish me do, and you must be sure.”

Arvan nods. Aylisha continues with a warning. “News of your return has now spread all over the palace. Beware of Count Kristus. He was cunning enough to find me out and imprison me here. He is laying the foundations for Galahyde to come and take the kingdom. Alberdark wages a war of words with him, but it is a war that Alberdark will lose once Yaddagon is gone. Just because Kristus is not a powerful sorcerer or a demon does not make him less dangerous. He has the resources to destroy you and your companions if you are not careful.”

The politics of the Norandon court was something he though he had left behind long ago. “It is good to talk to you as I once did,” Arvan says. “I have missed it.” He turns to go and then a thought strikes him. “Have you heard a man called Alastor Helm?” Aylisha says she has not. “He may be involved in some plot with a claimant to the throne.” – “A plot against the king?” Arvan shrugs and replies that he does not know. The Chosen are conducting their investigations.

Arvan sighs, “It will keep us busy until we find a greater role.” His companion smiles slightly, as if she knows a great secret. “Or until a greater role finds you,” she says.

At The Wheel, the rest of the Chosen are celebrating their first fruitless day of investigation. For a few minutes they are putting aside analysis of the various clues for some hardened drinking. The presence of the Chosen of Narramac in The Wheel soon gets around and it is not long before a large crowd of revellers appear to hear their stories and buy them drinks. Nicos thinks that it is good to be home.

Raza just wanted to buy a bottle of strong mead and hurry off to bed, but he allows himself to be swept up in the revelry of it all. He tries to leave on several occasions but can’t quite bring himself to do it. Late in the evening, the four of them and Shredder decamp to Elias’s townhouse and raid the old Leston brandy store. Shredder is reprimanded for eating more of Elias’s wolfhounds and the party continues into the small hours.

Raza has a problem, however. The alcohol is dulling his senses, but it is not dulling the voices of the moon gods in his mind. He has all ready been without sleep since his first night in the Greymere and the signs are beginning to show. He is jumpy and cannot keep his mind on any one topic. The moon gods are calling him. “I have to go!” he says. “I have to go.” He is seriously considering returning to Mount Korvast, but his legs are behaving and he’s not going to go there tonight. Eventually the rest are persuaded to return with him to the White Suite. Nicos wants to steal the road sign from Chapel Lane and attach it to his bedroom wall.

Arvan returns to the White Suite, takes a look at his comfortable bed and heads to the garden to sleep under a bush. The garden still looks too tidy for his liking and he casts ‘plant growth’ before turning in for the evening. It is much later when he is awakened by a strange sensation. A pricking in the Weave. He shakes himself awake. The silver birch in the north corner of the garden shakes slightly and a figure steps from the trunk.

She is wearing the practical garb of one who lives in the wilderness, but her long golden hair and ageless face marks her unmistakable as Morgase Esseni, Great Druid of the Norandon Circle. “Hello Arvan,” she says. Arvan is a little surprised to say the least. “Great druid? what are you doing here?” he asks. “I came for two reasons,” she says. “But first, how are you Arvan? How is your soul since we last spoke?”

Arvan finds himself having a strangely similar conversation with Morgase as he just had with Aylisha. The Great Druid is pleased that he seems to have thrown off the malaise he displayed when he came to the Úngorn in Heathaze. “I have very little time,” she apologises. “The first reason for my coming is to tell you and your companions that The Order stands ready to help you against any further evil that befalls the land. We have not the numbers to stop an army, but we will do anything that we can. This goes beyond the fact that your companions have earned our friendship and trust. We fight a common war and it would folly to fight it separately.”

Arvan is grateful. They need all the allies they can get and the Order is an extremely potent force. “Do you know exactly what it is we face?” he asks, and goes on to explain to Morgase about Mínaris. Arvan tells her that Mínaris is a servant of Karatath and that he plans to turn Norandor into another Great Dark. Morgase is shocked. “Of course, of course the Order must stand against.” – “You will have a better chance of stopping him that we will,” Arvan remarks. “Perhaps our magic can be brought to bear in some manner,” the Great Druid muses.

It is at this point that they hear the torturous singing emanating from the court yard. Elias is trying to shout down everyone else in his rendition of “Four and Twenty Virgins” which is hardly acceptable behaviour for a paladin. Morgase raises a quizzical eyebrow at Arvan who buries his head in his hands as Nicos, Elias, Brack and Raza come swaying into the garden. They are more amused than surprised to see Morgase there, and descend into fits of giggles.

“I’m sorry,” says Nicos. “We’ve just got back, and you know how it is.” He can then hold the mirth in no longer and laughs heartily. “I was just telling Arvan that the Order is ready to help you.” – “With what?” asks the fire cleric. – “Mínaris,” says Arvan curtly. “Oh, him. Why are we staying here again? We do far too many of these damn stupid things if you want my opinion.” Then Raza says that if everyone is going to be fighting Mínaris together they should have a group hug.

Arvan gives the Great Druid an apologetic look, but she doesn’t seem offended. She says that she must return to the Úngorn, but before she goes there was another matter. A matter for Arvan alone. “During the summer, the Inner Circle was sundered. We lost too many to death and betrayal. As you know, Druid Jelanie has risen to the status of Archdruid, but in doing so she has defied convention. The challenge to rise in status within the Inner Circle can only be made at a Moot. In these times we have to hang on to our traditions, Arvan. The next Moot is to be held at the Vernal Equinox, eight weeks from now. There are vacancies for one of the three archdruids, and three of nine druids. The decision must come from within you, of course, but I would encourage you to challenge for the role of Druid. Your experience in the Great Dark, battling the creatures of The Enemy is unique in the Order. Your voice in the Inner Circle could be essential in the months and years ahead.”

Arvan doesn’t know what to say, but Morgase can sense this. “Think on it, you do not need to decide now. I need to return to the Úngorn, there are matters that need my attention. If you need us, send word and we will come.” Arvan thanks her and asks her to keep Tok and the others safe for him. “When your companion sobers up,” she says indicating Elias, “tell him that Blossom asks after him.” With that the Great Druid returns to her home via the birch tree.

Arvan’s amazement at her words is eclipsed as he tries to stop Elias, Brack and Nicos from having a barbecue in the rain. He eventually chases them inside and goes to sleep. Raza cannot be bothered with going to bed and decides to try and sleep outside in the rain. Arvan has been resting for only a little while when he hears movement in the garden. Cursing the fact that he is destined to get no sleep at all this evening, he stands and move in his silent, druidic manner through to the lawn where Raza is sleeping.

A lithe figure is crossing the garden toward Raza. As Arvan emerges from the shadows the figure turns and Arvan sees that it is the elf Rhiana. She holds his gaze for a moment. “I need to speak with Yisweran,” she says simply. Arvan gestures silently toward Raza but he moves with her.

Raza is not sleeping. He has his hands over his ears and rocking backwards and forwards. Rhiana takes his wrists and pulls his hands down. “Yisweran!” she says urgently. Raza opens his eyes with a sense of peculiar bafflement about his features. He then fixes on Rhiana. “You came,” he says. “I have been sent to help you,” Rhiana says. “Who by?” the monk asks. “Does it matter?” replies the elf. “A friend. It would be poor end to the story if you weakened through sleep and summoned the moon gods.” – “I don’t hear the moon gods!” Raza lies. “Do not try to deceive me! I can use my skills to help you sleep Raza, and I can teach you how to help yourself. If you’ll let me.”

As Raza thinks about his Rhiana turns to the druid. “Arvan, help me get him to his bed.” – “I can walk!” announces the monk, blatantly demonstrating that he cannot walk by pitching himself into a muddy a puddle. Between them Rhiana and Arvan carry the groggy monk to his room and sit him on his bed. Rhiana begins to help Raza out of his wet clothes.

“I will only let you help me if you do something for me,” Raza says. “What?” Rhiana asks suspicious. “First I want to see General Thaniel!” Rhiana poo-poos that idea with alarming speed and Raza continues, “And I want you to see the king.” She shakes her head, “Under no circumstances! I am an elf! I mustn’t be seen by any except the six of you who went into the Greymere.” Raza is stubborn. “Then I will not let you help me.” – “Raza! Put things in perspective, you fool!” she yells rapping him on the head with her fist. “If I do not help you then you will weaken. If you summon the gods the whole world could be destroyed.”

Raza gives her a petulant look. “All right,” the elf says. “You let me help you this evening and tomorrow I will consider your requests, all right?” The monk nods. “But what can you teach. I am a monk, I am all ready in full control of my mind.” – “Not as a Dreamer is,” Rhiana replies. “I will teach you to be in full control of your dreams. In time you might even learn to enter the world of dreams.” This prospect excites Raza somewhat and fills Arvan with a sense of impending doom.

“Now,” says Rhiana placing a hand to the side of Raza’s head. “Relax.” The elf closes her eyes, but opens them a moment later and glares at the uncooperative monk. “I can’t do this if you fight me Yisweran!” she exclaims. Raza relaxes and within half a second he is asleep on his bed. His first sleep in three days.

“I can’t teach him anything tonight!” Rhiana says to Arvan. “He is too annoying.” – “Will you return tomorrow evening?” Arvan asks. “Yes,” says Rhiana, “and every evening after that until he learns. And even then I will not go. There can only be one godspeaker at anyone time Arvan. Despite his insanities Raza genuinely wants to the do the right thing with his power. If he dies, or if the Brotherhood kills him, we will only have to find the next Godspeaker, and then the next. And so I am stuck with him for the foreseeable future.” Rhiana doesn’t see very pleased with her lot.

A banging starts up in Nicos’s bedroom and Rhiana becomes sensible that there are others about the White Suite. “Try to convince him to let me help him without all this every time,” she asks. Arvan says that he will do her best. The elf nods and steps back into the Greymere.

Arvan leaves the sleeping Raza and heads back into the garden. As he does so, Elias’s door opens and Elias charges over the Nicos’s room. Wrenching open the door he finds Nicos hammering the road sign they collected into his wall. He takes the hammer from Nicos, hits the fire cleric over the head with it and returns to bed. Arvan watches all this with increasing despair and returns to the shelter of his bush, and what is left of his good night’s sleep.

Caladay, 18 Mizzle Month 204

“You’ll never guess what,” says Nicos over breakfast the following morning. “That sign we got last night is for Park Lane, not Chapel Lane. There isn’t a Park Lane in Uris! Where the feck did we get the sign from? And where did I get this enormous bump on my head?” Elias examines the hammer shaped indentation in Nicos’s cranium and says that he has no idea.

They are sitting around the breakfast table in the White Suite with Reuben Stone. Brack has told them all that he realised last night that he completely missed his birthday. On the 14th of the month he became 63 seasons of age – his 15¾ year. It must have happened when they were in the Greymere.

The only person who is not having breakfast is Ravenna. Stone is getting impatient to be off. There is much to do today. They must speak with Dellan Gant if nothing else. He curses that they are no closer to finding Alastor Helm. Nicos sighs. It’s just like Ravenna to be off shagging when she should be helping. He takes up his scrying mirror. “Show me Ravenna!” he commands.

A crimson image appears in the centre of the mirror. A most dishevelled Ravenna is sitting with her legs to her chest in a silver cage. Nicos swears loudly and the rest of the Chosen gather around the mirror. The air is soon blue with expletives. Ralyon Artusi has to be responsible, the scumbag! The cage is rocking slightly. “She’s on a boat!” exclaims Nicos, remembering the barges he saw from his spell-induced vision in the warehouse. “Where is Ralyon Artusi?” asks Elias. Nicos commands the mirror again and Ralyon’s face comes into focus. He is on a horse in a woodland. It is impossible to tell where.

Before they can charge off to ransack Artusi’s townhouse, Lucien arrives. “Good morning, sirs,” he says. “The Chamberlain is willing to see you now.” – “Why do we want to see him?” Raza asks. But they did want to see him. They wanted to see the king, and to do that they have to go through Alberdark. But what about Ravenna? She is in trouble and they have to save her. Elias has all ready lost Alessandre, he isn’t about to lose one of the few other women he holds any affection for.

However, they are in the palace and Alberdark’s schecule may not give them another opportunity. “Let’s be quick then,” says Elias. Within ten minutes a servant has shown them to Alberdark’s apartment and they are facing the chamberlain. He looks extremely tired, and doesn’t seem particularly thrilled to see the party. “Only five of you?” he asks. Raza nods, “Ravenna’s been…..” – “….. Indisposed,” Elias finishes quickly. “Very well, anything to shorten the interview. What is it you wanted to see me about?”

“Why didn’t the king declare an heir?” Elias asks quickly. Alberdark shakes his head. “I wish I knew, Elias. After you left for Sorgar he deteriorated quickly. Without your sword to sustain him, Raza, he almost died. All of the king’s energies were spent on breathing. He had little time for anything else. That means it will be up to the Council of Peers and the Enclave to decide the successor and they will certainly decide upon Galahyde the Black.”

“Why don’t you just off Count Kristus?” Nicos asks amiably. Elias shakes his head and begins reciting the ‘I-didn’t-hear-him-say-that’ mantra he has had to rely on so much around Nicos since becoming a paladin. “Kristus is a symptom, not a disease,” says Alberdark simple. “Even if such a recourse were open to me, another would leap to take his place in an instant. He is merely the most infamous supporter of Galahyde, but he is hardly the only one.”

“The city is in a profoundly poor state,” says the chamberlain. “There is a crimewave across half of it. Gangs of urchins, highly trained in the martial arts, have been mugging unwary citizens.” Raza tries to look innocent. “I do not know where this will end.”

“We want to see the king,” says Raza quickly trying to change the subject. “I do not decide who has access to His Majesty any more,” says Alberdark. “Who does?” asks Elias, “Celestine?” – “No, the High Holy Witness of Doom.” Nicos jumps up, cursing with the articulate speed that comes from constant practice. “What’s he doing here?” Alberdark says, “It is his duty. The king is the Prophet of the Moon Gods. It is the duty of the most senior member of the Watchers to be with him at the moment of death to deliver his soul unto Mortis. The very fact that Tarex his is here has convinced everyone that this time the king is really dying. He has never come before.”

“What happens when Yaddagon dies?” asks Brack. “Well,” Alberdark says indulgently, “As there is no undisputed successor, the Council of Peers will be convened and attended by as many members of the titled nobility as can squeeze into the House. All the high priests of the sixteen true churches will meet in an Enclave here in the Palace. All ready the high priests of all the faiths are here, as well as scores of other members of the faithful. I would imagine the Village of the Eighteen Churches is empty at present. Together the two bodies will decide the next king. Technically the House of Peers and the Enclave need to come to agreement on the successor, but in reality the Enclave can override the nobles. Although that is unlikely to be done. If King Yaddagon had declared an heir that candidate would carry significantly more weight, but the matter would still pass to the priests and the nobles to decide.”

“Of course, you do not need to be a Fire Eye to see the path events will take. The king will die without naming a successor. The Council and the Enclave will agree that Galahyde the Black must be the new king. He will ride from Dismallion with his entourage and that will be that. As known supporters of the current king I would advise you to leave the city before he arrives.”

The party have never heard Alberdark sound so defeated. But then, what can he do? He says that when Galahyde is named the new king he will give his unwavering support to him. Alberdark serves the law of Norandor, and the will of the Moon Gods. “What can we do to help?” asks Elias. Alberdark smiles, “I have no use for a band of cut-throats,” he says. “That’s not fair!” cries Nicos. “We’re not cut throats.” Brack shrugs. “Some of us are,” he says. Alberdark agrees to pass on the party’s request to Tarex, and they depart.

The meeting with Alberdark, depressing though it was, has to be put out of their minds, as the remaining five members of the Chosen reunite with Stone and race across Uris to the Artusi townhouse. The well-appointed dwelling consists of an elegant three storey white-stone dwelling in the traditional manner, courtyard and stables bordered on all sides by a fifteen-foot wall. Arvan wildshapes into a blood hound and has a good sniff around the exits for Ravenna’s scent. He finds nothing. It must be the direct approach then. Nicos, Brack and Stone hammer on the front door.

A servant of Nicos’s age opens the door. “We are looking for Lady Ravenna,” says Nicos. “Could you tell us what time she left last night.” The servant recognises the Chosen of Narramac. “I am not sure Lady Ravenna did leave.” – “Where is Artusi?” asks Brack. The servant is not sure whether the maser his home as he normally keeps to his private apartments on the first floor. “If you come in and take a seat I will find out for you.”

There is a fire burning in the grate in the sitting room. Nicos plunges his hand into the flame and removes some ask. Casting the ‘clues of ash’ spell is attempt to see the last few minutes before the ash became ash. He discovers that the fire was lit this morning by servants and that the room has not been used. The servant then returns. “I am sorry,” he says. “Neither my master or the Lady Ravenna are here at present. I can take a message if you wish.”

As the party are deciding what to do, Stone stands. “To hell with this. The first floor, you say?” Stone strides toward the stairs. The servant tries to stop him but Stone simply shunts him out of the way. Ravenna’s abduction is the first clear link they have had to Alastor Helm and he is not about to let it get away from him. “You cannot go up there!” says the servant. Elias takes him by the arm and tries to calm him down. As Stone is followed by Nicos, Arvan and Raza, Brack investigates the ground floor to see if anything else can be found.

The double doors on the landing were locked right up until the point Stone kicked them in. What he and the others discover upon entering this upstairs dining room is a complete mess. Furniture and tables have been turned over, dinner is lying congealing in the floor. There is an enormous hole in the far wall that looks as though it might have been caused by a lightning bolt. “This is unacceptable!” cries one of the servants who has followed the group upstairs. “We will summon the guard!” Stone grins at that. “Go ahead,” he says.

“What a mess!” Nicos exclaims. “Well, it could be worse. At least there’s no blood.” Arvan indicates the pool of blood at Nicos’s feet. The cleric screams, runs to the fire and pulls out some ash. “Time to get to the bottom of this!” Casting his ‘clues of ash’ spell Nicos discovers nothing. Arvan points out that as Nicos only sees the last five minutes before an item is consumed. He has to pick the right bit of ash. The blood on the floor is about ten hours old, so they are looking for ash that is about the same age. Nicos starts to dig in the cold fire place and extract a pinch of ash that he judges should be right. He gets lucky first time.

The vision Nicos sees takes but a few moments. Ravenna and Ralyon Artusi are seated at the table that is now overturned. They are having dinner. Suddenly, Ravenna’s head begins to nod. She has evidently been drugged! Artusi stands and walks toward her, laying a hand on the sorceress’s shoulder. He apologises, saying that everything will turn out for the best, and that it had to be this way. Ravenna doesn’t agree and lashes out wildly with her newly acquired talons, slicing him across the stomach. He cries for help, and a pair of armed toughs charge into the room. Although woozy Ravenna is has enough presence of mind to send a lightning bolt careering across the room. It cleaves through one of the thugs and punches a hole in the far wall. Artusi calls more of his servants into the room and Ravenna is eventually overpowered and restrained. One other thing that Nicos does see before the scene fades is a face looking from the adjoining room, through the hole Ravenna’s bolt made. Nicos recognises the face as Selgin. The herald who was once in the service of Alberdark, that they met in Timberlake in the summer and who has a certain fancy for Ravenna himself.

Coming to his senses Nicos relays the information to his friends. In the meantime the city watch have arrived and (under the instruction of Mr Stone) have arrested Ralyon’s servants just in case. Brack returns to report that he has found nothing conclusive in the rest of the house. Where can they go from here? Elias suggests the docks. “To what end?” asks Stone. The logic is that Ravenna is on a ship. If they go down and talk to the harbourmaster and look at details of all the ships that left the docks this morning then they will have narrowed it down. They have nothing else to try and head to the docks.

En route, Brack notices that they are being followed. The man in black that Stone saw watching them across the street from The Unborn Calf. The man does not seem to be trying to hide. He is following them from the roofs of the streetside housing. When the party stops, the man calmly steps from the roof and floats gently to the ground. He walks confidently toward them. He is in his middle years with slightly greying hair. Fastened tightly around his neck is a black cloak that completely covers his body and pools at his feet. On closer inspection it is revealed that the cloak is not made of cloth, but of very tightly packed black chain mail. It must also be silenced in some way, because the man does not make a sound.

Nicos steps forward in a manner he hopes is intimidating. “Who are you and why are you following us?” he asks. “My name is Malant,” says the man and opens his cloak slightly. Beneath it he is wearing black robes with silver trim, emblazoned on his breast is a sixteen pointed star with an eye in the centre. Everyone recognises the star as the symbol of the Arcanum Incognita. Elias knows such a star with an eye at its centre is the symbol of the Desideratum Veritas. They are the inquisitors of the church of magic and mystery. The people who gives clerics of the Arcanum Incognita the heebie-jeebies. Malant fastened his robe.

“I am conducting an investigation alone very similar lines to your own,” Malant begins. “You have information that I require.” – “What information?” asks Elias. “The list of Jhasik Tannesh’s creditors. I require a copy of that list. I have not the time to research the information, and not the desire to take it from you. I therefore propose a trade of information. Information is currency. I will tell you something you wish to know in return for a copy of the creditors list.”

After a few minutes of arguing that Chosen agree and ask Malant a number of questions that he does not know the answer to. He doesn’t know where Ravenna is and he doesn’t know why she was kidnapped; he doesn’t know where Helm is either. As Malant takes a copy of the scroll he tries to dissuade the party from continuing with the investigation. “This is personal,” says Elias. “They have taken our friend.” Stone also points out that he has a desperate desire to see Helm ground into little more than a damp smudge.

“I do not require your help,” says Malant calmly, “and you should avoid getting in the way of the Desideratum Veritas. At present it may seem as though our goals are one, but events may change. It would not be wise to cross my church.” Nicos snorts, “We cross everyone, it’s never hurt us in the past.” Elias urges Nicos to shut up, saying that they need all the allies they can get. Malant regards them for a moment and then he says.

“I can see that I cannot dissuade you. Very well. I will tell you a little about the enemy you face in return for your co-operation. This investigation is a matter internal to the Arcanum Incognita and under the jurisdiction of the Desideratum Veritas. Helm, his follows and their magical paraphernalia belong to my church. In return, I will help you rescue your companion.”

The Chosen agree. Nicos tells Stone that it doesn’t matter what they say now as he intends to go back on his word later. Malant then says, “The group you are searching for call themselves The Potentates. They are a group of rogue wizards from Sorostrae who practice a new form of magic. A hybrid of wizardry and sorcery. The Potentates capture sorcerers and drain their life energy to power their magic. They do not, therefore, need to prepare spells as most wizards do. Forty sorcerers have gone missing in Uris since the beginning of the summer, forty-one including Ravenna Tannesh. They have been waiting for something, what I cannot say, but I believe they are now preparing to leave Norandor.”

“The Potentates were originally formed five years ago, but their organisation was broken by the Desideratum Veritas. All the leaders were taken except for one: a particularly powerful wizardess called Elsabette Morketh. She fled Sorostrae, and came quite recently to Norandor. There she met up with Alastor Helm and tried to start the Potentates off again. Of course, now she was calling herself Argesteine Fletcher. Morketh is no longer in Uris. Helm is the only link to her.”

Malant has told them much and heads to the shadows of a nearby alley-way. He tells them that the list of creditors will be able to lead them to Helm, steps into the darkness and disappears. “Why does no-one ever give us a straight answer?” Nicos fumes.

The party soon arrives at the docks. As Nicos, Elias, Brack, Raza and Stone go to see the harbourmaster, Arvan casts a ‘detect magic’ spell, wildshapes into an albatross and begins to scour the harbour for any vessel with something magical on it. Of course, seeing as most ships take clerics of the Odyssian Chuch with them where ever they go, this does not reveal to much.

The harbourmaster is not in, but his assistant is a big fan of the Chosen of Narramac, and incredibly helpful. He shows them all manner of ledgers. Eighteen ships sailed this morning from Uris, he shows a list of the ships and the names of the captains. Nicos has an idea. “These people are protected from scrying right? So I’ll try to scry all these ships with my mirror. The one that keeps me out with magic is the one we’re looking for.”

No-one can fault the plan. Of course, Nicos has never seen these captains, so it is very difficult to identify the captains. However, by the time Arvan has come and tried, and Elias and Brack have tried there are only five ships that they have unable to scry, and that was through lack of talent, not an impenetrable magical barrier. “Maybe it’s none of them,” says Raza, getting a little despondent. Elias looks through the list of creditors, remembering what Malant said. “What about Ulgin Tronkyte?” he asks the lad standing in for the harbourmaster.

“I know him,” says the lad. “He does the run from here to Demdomin in Calclafique. You’d know him if you saw him. Very ugly, smokes a pipe.” That sounds bells ringing in Nicos’s mind and he instantly pulls out the mirror. But he cannot scry Ulgin Tronkyte because of a magical field that prevents scrying. “He’s our man,” says Nicos. “When did Tronkyte last sail from Uris?” asks Elias hurriedly. The lad consults a ledger. “A while ago now,” he says. “He left Uris on 45th of Autumn Colours.” Elias smiles grimly. “The day after the attack on the warehouse on Bridle Walk!” Raza asks for a list of all Tronkyte’s travels, and is shown the ledger.

“The Bloodwench?” says Nicos with disbelief. The Chosen soon spot a discrepancy in the dates. The journeys from the 40th of Brightday have been taking almost twice as long as they did before. The obvious conclusion is that Tronkyte isn’t going to Demdomin, but somewhere else, somewhere further away. The number of days away leaves sufficient time for a round trip of more than 5000 miles. Not quite enough to get as far as Tibrai, but enough to get to Sorostrae and back.

Again the Chosen have more information, but it is not enough to find Tronkyte and Ravenna. Leaving the harbour and their fan, they decide to check out the last known address of Argesteine Fletcher. She had been staying a room in The Fluglehorn. They quickly head over there. By the time they arrive it is lunchtime and Nicos buys some pies for everyone.

A quick conversation with the inn-keeper reveals that Argesteine Fletcher did keep a room upstairs, but she moved out on 15th Brightday 204. The same day that Alastor Helm moved out of his home, and Jhasik started to rent that warehouse from Dellan Gant. “She had a large number of female callers,” says the innkeeper, winking discreetly. “If you know what I mean.” Nicos laughs, “You mean she swings both ways? “Alessandre swung both ways didn’t she, Elias?” Elias ignores him. “Do you remember any particular visitors,” he asks the innkeeper. “There was one woman who came very regularly. In fact, I think she was here on the day that Fletcher moved out.” The innkeeper describes a woman that Elias recognises from a picture in Jhasik’s apartments. It is a perfect description of Ravenna’s mother!

“Ravenna’s mother and Elsabette Morketh?” Nicos chuckles. “Hey! I’m going to try to scry this Morketh woman.” He picks up the mirror and commands that it show him Morketh, before Arvan can stop him. The scrying works all too well. There is an explosion, the mirror flies out of Nicos’s hand and the cleric is blown back into the far wall and falls to the ground. Brack is there in an instant and gasps as he turns Nicos over. The cleric’s eyes have been burned out!

Moaning in agony, Nicos is pulled to his feet by Elias and Brack who take him to the nearest Vítaen temple for healing. Luckily they have the money to pay the Church of Life. Arvan, Raza and Stone remain in the Fluglehorn. When they return Nicos is almost five hundred crowns poorer, but his eyes have been restored. He takes this as an object in not using his mirror so much in the future. He was lucky the mirror wasn’t destroyed.

Elias wants to know how this strange magic is capable of doing that to Nicos’s eyes, and of throttling Arvan earlier. “This is different,” says Elias, and christens the new magic as Thisisness, and practitioners Thisisists. After a few tongue-tied moments, Stone presses them to move on. They depart for Chapel Lane to speak with Dellan Gant.

At the Palgrave Estate, Stone introduces the party to the attractive Neen, who has been acting as nurse for Dellan Gant ever since he escaped from the clutches of Alastor Helm. She tells the party to be careful what they say around Gant as he has a very fragile mind. Very soon, Neen unlocks Gant’s room and lets you enter. Dellan Gant is standing at the far wall looking through the barred window at the garden below. As he turns to look at the party and they realise that he is not same Gant that they remember from last summer. He is incredibly drawn, and looks twenty seasons older. He has lost a lot of weight and his hair has turned white. He turns and smiles. “Hello. Do I know you?”

A fragile mind does not begin to describe Gant. His mind has been addled, gone is the streetwise wit and the figure that remains, although polite enough is not in possession of all his faculties. The party quickly twig to this, as he offers them a cup of tea from his invisibly teapot. Gant is perfectly normal until Elias tries to cast a spell on him to see if he is suffering from a ‘feeblemind’ or equivalent spell. Gant flies into a rage, believes that Elias is Alastor Helm and starts to throttle him. The rest of the group begin to help and then stop when it becomes apparent that Gant only remembers what happened during his captivity while he is angry.

As Elias is slowly being choked to death Raza and the rest ask questions of Gant. Gant tells them that he and his group of Bronsk, Lalmon, Penner, Garth, Baschev, Cven, Hurg, Cven, Mann, Hugo and Honour were captured by Helm and his Potentates. Mann was a sorcerer and Helm locked him up in a silver cage. This obviously distresses Gant somewhat. Gant speaks of a snatched conversation between Helm and one of this lackeys that went something like this:

“It’s not safe for us to stay here much longer. Not with these prisoners,” said the Potentate to Helm who replied, “They can be transported as soon as the ship is ready. We can’t afford to leave here until our mission is complete.” – “But the city is about to erupt into war, Alastor!” – “I am sure our conspirator will settle matters before the death of the king. It would be in his interest, if he wants to replace him.” – “It’s too dangerous!” – “It would be more dangerous for us to leave this city empty handed. Do you think we would be rewarded if we returned home without the vessel?”

They have to stop the interview there as Elias wrenches Gant off him and staggers to the corner of the room to regain his breath. At this point Neen returns. She says that someone has arrived to see the Chosen of Narramac. Descending form Gant’s room to the tower the party are greeted by their servant Robin. “Thank the gods I found you,” said Robin. “Lucien has sent us all out looking for you. You have to come back to the White Suite. Selgin is there and he says he knows where Ravenna is!”

The party and Stone hurry back to the White Suite to discover Lucien remonstrating with Selgin. Selgin says that he will wait for the Chosen no longer and that he must go and rescue Ravenna, on his own if necessary. However, he is much relieved to see them. He quickly tells them everything Nicos saw in his vision and more. He followed them. Ravenna has been taken by wagon to a ship anchored in a bay a few miles north of Uris.

A wagon! So the swaying motion Nicos saw in his vision was not a ship after all. Selgin says that it will take several hours to ride there. Elias knows this place. It’s where they went to get water from the bottom of the Great Sea, where he was attacked a giant eel, and where Arvan tried to teach Brack about animal companionship.

In minutes the Chosen are leaving the royal palace. Elias, Nicos, Selgin and Stone on horseback, Brack riding Shredder and Raza jogging along behind. Arvan wildshapes into a hawk and flies swiftly to the beach. Anchored about five hundred yards off the shore is a vessel at least as large as The Enlightenment. On the proud is a carving of a hideous hag with jagged teeth and the legend “The Bloodwench”. On deck the crew are busying themselves. Arvan hovers above and waits for his companions. The six following are on the road, but it will be at least a three hour journey to the beach in this manner. They have no idea whether they will arrive in time.

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