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While Egmund is hopeful that things have ended so non-violently, he still opens himself up to Osiris to see if there is still remaining evil in the area.
"I hope that Cassiel let go of her hate and has moved on. Maybe now she is happy, Sad, and at peace.", he says continuing to scan the room.
When his eyes catch Lilybeth they gleam with unspoken admiration.
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Sad Rock stands steady as if not sure what happened. He continues to look around for danger, but seems a bit lighter as well. He is not used to such lightness in his life.
"Eggman, what happened? Is ghosty ghost gone?" Sad asks, then looks to Lilybeth. "Calistrian, is all going to be okay now?"
I'm not a Callistrian! Ah, never mind...
"Eh, I think so... There's still ghouls around, so we could do some undead slaying! But I guess if J.'s mind has been cleared, we just need to drop her off at the mansion and our job is done!"
Leia detects magic, and looks around the place.
The group heads back out of the necropolis. J rushes over to the entrance of the old school building and gasps.
"Hey, I don't feel the same heaviness over here anymore either. I wonder if Cassiel's departure has anything to do with that. Do you think the haunts will return? You guys really did an amazing job in the necropolis."
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Sad de-glums briefly as Cassiel's ghost is confirmed gone and the party was successful.
He continues to protect J all the way back to her home. He seems somewhat more cheerful for having done some good in the world...this one time.
"Hey, I don't feel the same heaviness over here anymore either. I wonder if Cassiel's departure has anything to do with that. Do you think the haunts will return? You guys really did an amazing job in the necropolis."
Sad shakes his head, not sure why J is surprised.
"See? Sad told you. Sad *not* monster. Sad good packminder," Sad says again, having finally made his point.
J smiles at Sad Rock. "I never said you were a monster, Sad Rock. In fact, quite the opposite. Who told you that you were a monster?"
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Sad looks to J, then to Davnet.
"We should take J back home. No need to put her into danger," Sad says worriedly. "If we explore as packminders, we don't need to risk Junia."
Sad looks at Lily.
"Maybe we bury bodies upstairs in dirt. Good dirt, good bury!" Sad seems excited to maybe do some digging. Sad likes digging. Quiet peaceful happy digging.
You gather the bodies of the dead to be buried once you leave the Precipice Quarter. You make a quick stop by the Arboretum, but discover from Pip that the animals sadly attracted a small pack of ghouls. Pip hid during the slaughter, but is happily inspecting what little remains of the carcasses. He has little else of interest to offer you, although he does ask about the Master Gardener, and if you made any arrangements with her.
As you are leaving the Precipice Quarter, you are hailed from behind by a familiar voice. J mutters "brother is here" under her breath, and Grishan is nowhere to be seen. Turning around, you see it is Major Colson Maldris, who by his soaked clothes has been waiting for you for some time.
Major Maldris is wearing a uniform similar to J’s, but with more medals and polish, and emerges from a side alley at a brisk pace. “Finally, I found you. I heard around the lodge that a team of Pathfinders was headed in to the Tri-Towers Yard.” Colson bows his head. “My brother was one of many children who died when the earthquake hit. As a result, I take great interest in expeditions that take you to that cursed site. The last Pathfinder expedition seven years ago found his body, and as a result, my family was able to give him a proper burial. Those agents also found some...” Colson pauses, and then continues delicately, “reports about my brother’s after-school activities that would have been quite embarrassing if made public. Did you, by chance, find any information about my brother?”
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"Did you, by chance, find any information about my brother?”
"We found a lot of things at the Tri-Tower area, but the most important thing we found was Junia's peace of mind. Anything concerning anyone who died there is in the past and should stay there in my honest opinion."
Lilybeth pauses for a moment
"Looking to the future, as you can see by Junia's clothing she's quite interested in your cause. I'm not sure if this is genuine intent or if she's revolting against her mother," Lilybeth winks at Junia "but I guess she might want to know more about Liberty's Edge. She has very fond memories with regards to your younger brother, so sharing stories might also be helpful for both of you."
Secretly whipsering to Junia and Grishan via the message
I assume you are interested in both those topics? Grisham is probably interested in all the good Colson has done in the last 15 years?
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Davnet doesn't recognize the medal-bearing stranger, but doesn't like him on first blush. Recognizing the similarity to J's uniform, he hopes there is no danger.
After the man's soliloquy, Davnet interjects. "Greetings, Unnamed One! I am Davnet Dragos. It is perhaps easier to answer questions about your brother if we knew who you were. I have also heard that one should never be embarrassed by family, unless of course one is so insecure in their own worth as to require coat-tails as a mount." All of this is delivered dead-pan; Davnet is just reacting to what has been said, thinking out loud.
"We found a lot of things at the Tri-Tower area, but the most important thing we found was Junia's peace of mind. Anything concerning anyone who died there is in the past and should stay there in my honest opinion."
As Lilybeth talks and does not mention Grishan or the packet you found in the Arboretum Arcanis, J visibly squirms and makes a face, unable to hide her nervousness around her companion's older brother.
Major Maldris becomes suspicious at Lilybeth's evasive answer and catches J's reaction, but doesn't ask a follow-up question. H looks a bit disappointed but nods in agreement. "Yes, that is to be hoped of course. Good afternoon, Miss Dacilane." He makes a short, formal bow to J, clicking his heels at the same time.
J squirms even more and blurts out a "Sir" and nods her head as she avoids his gaze.
"Looking to the future, as you can see by Junia's clothing she's quite interested in your cause. I'm not sure if this is genuine intent or if she's revolting against her mother," Lilybeth winks at Junia "but I guess she might want to know more about Liberty's Edge. She has very fond memories with regards to your younger brother, so sharing stories might also be helpful for both of you."
Colson nods in agreement and brightens when he hears of J's interest. "A convert! Yes, if she joins the Pathfinder Society, I will be certain to keep a close eye on her. We are happy to share what we can with those who support the cause of freedom, and hope that they do the same."
He then turns back to the group at large. "Are you sure there is nothing else you have to report on my late brother and his activities? Anything at all would be appreciated."
Major Maldris looks confused at Lilybeth's answer. "Are you a medium? Is this a seance and have you made contact with him?"
Colson becomes increasingly agitated as he talks to Lilybeth, while J's discomfort grows visibly. Unlike the last time, the major seems too distracted, and is not aware of her reaction this time.
He stammers, "You made contact with him? In the afterlife? How did this happen? I have spoken with numerous priests who were never able to reach him. How did you manage this? Was there some token of his that you discovered in the Tri-Towers Yard?"
Maldris looks eagerly to Lilybeth for more information until she speaks the last word.
"Forgiveness?" he blurts out angrily, "What have I done that needs to be forgiven? What has he said to you?"
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Lilybeth opens her eyes again
"I'm not going to lie. There currently is a connection to Grisham, but it is not going to last indefinitely."
"We did put some things right in the Tri-Tower area today and spirits of schoolchildren have finally started moving on to Pharasma's boneyard."
"You just told us you have tried to contact your brother before. You've got contact with him now, maybe even for the last time, so this might be your final chance to tell your brother what's burdening you."
"I suggest you close your eyes and speak your heart. Maybe he will answer."
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Davnet stands silently and watches the exchange, given that his earlier statements were ignored by the blue-coated stranger. At the man's anger, he steps forward and raises his hands in a calming gesture.
"Please, do not anger yourself. This is a complicated situation, apparently, but growing angry will do nothing to clarify it."
Major Maldris sighs heavily and hangs his head, ignoring the comment about the sword for the moment. "You are right, of course. Family matters are always difficult. Well, if you truly have a connection to him ..."
Colson collects himself and thinks for a moment what he is going to say. Finally, he clears his throat and begins.
"Brother, you had a brilliant mind, and I could see that you would do whatever it took to serve the cause of freedom. I suggested that you help the Eagle Knights, and thought that if you could find something useful, this would help you join them when you became an adult. I know you found something ... something bad about our family and our father in particular, and it seems that these Pathfinders have as well. I ask you to please understand that I was only looking out for the good name of our family and the advancement of the common people of Andoran. What happened in the past should remain in the past. Our father's mistakes should not lay on our shoulders. He had his own inner demons to wrestle with. I realize now as an adult that I used you. I was so blinded by my own ambition that I did not see that you were still a child. I am very sorry for this, please forgive me."
Colson then addresses the assembled Pathfinders. "It seems that you have made contact with my late brother, which means that he must trust you to some extent. I thank you for the kindness you have showed my family, but I must ask you to please give me his notes you must have recovered. If they were revealed to the public, they would shame my family and those of many others here in Absalom. I hope you see that the Society does not benefit from this exposure. It is important to consider the bigger picture, the greater good, and the unfortunate realities of politics. Skilled orators can take even the hint of scandal and spin it into a mountain to bury their target, preventing almost anyone from seeing the accomplishments and value of the people beneath. Remember what we discovered two years ago, my friends, and the seeds of corruption threatening
Andoran that sparked the decision to separate Liberty’s Edge as its own entity. Were this information to become public, members of that conspiracy among Andoran’s politicians would use their oratory against all our works, which would deal a crippling blow to our cause’s influence. They would tarnish not only my own reputation, but the reputation of the Liberty’s Edge as a whole, and by extension, the reputations and of all of the Pathfinders who tirelessly work under our banner to promote the cause of freedom. It may even spell the end of our movement to promote the cause of freedom throughout the Inner Sea and beyond!"
As he finishes to looks at each of you closely, as if judging your reactions.
J is visibly moved to tears by Maldris' speech, but whether this is her own reactions or those of Grishan is hard to tell.
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Davnet is impressed with the admissions this stranger has made, in front of other Pathfinders. And yet, he seems to think that because his family is named in the notes, that he should get them.
"With respect, I do not think that anyone should have possession of such information. As you say, what is in the past should be left there. Any scraps of paper found here should be destroyed, so that no one can use them for personal gain."
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Egmund asks, "Please forgive me Mr. Malrdis but I don't understand your intentions."
"Do you want to protect people from the notes of a long dead boy to make sure that they could not harm anyone? This is something that I could support doing and agree with Davnet that Grishams writings be destroyed here and now."
"Or is it that, as some others in the society say, that you only want to use these writings to manipulate others? This is something I would not allow."
"Please help me understand your intent."
Colson nods at Jessop's comments. "I would prefer that since the information concerns my family, it stays with me. If you give it to me, I can guarantee that it will be used to promote freedom and equality."
His face grows a bit more solemn then. "If you wish to destroy it, then I would ask you do right right now, so that I know I don't have to look over my shoulder any more."
"What is your decision?"