Curse of the Crimson Throne

Game Master Euan

"No. I haven't really needed one. Perhaps someday, when I'm worthy, and then events will provide the inspiration. It'd be silly to call myself Dragon's Nightmare if I never cut through a dragon's scale--well, I've done that, but it was only a small dragon. And something simple, like Jack, is too flesh and blood. There are a million of you so a few thousand Jacks is fine. However, there are very few of me so it wouldn't do to be sharing a name with anyone."

"Now that you've said it that way, I can see what you say." Barael considers for a moment. "I don't know more than one Dandilion, and in Nik's boredom, you've probably cut down hundreds of those, so maybe, you know... it's a pretty name and all.."

"Yes. It's pretty, but not unique. There might be no other swords with the name, but I am looking for a name no one or thing has ever had. It should also be memorable and awe inspiring."

"You must not be looking when her hair comes alive then. Talk about memorable and awe-inspiring..." Barael hits a threshold, and deliberately switches gloved hands, the sword still held a little distance from himself.

Barael becomes a litany of questions.

Eventually, Barael grows quiet. He gets quiet, sooner, depending on Sward's reception. His eyes becoming slits, a last question falls from his lips. "Do you fear death, like we do? Or do you just transform into something else? I know you can break and reforge a blade..." Tiredness gets the better of Barael, though the sheathe nevers slips in his hand, nor do his eyes close for the rest of the night.

Briar practices his dawdling.

What is taking Sward' so long?

and you're once again with the party (all 10 of you now... easy to track).

Nikolay arrives with Deyanira and greets the party. He tries to keep a straight face about being unable to find Saul, but quickly begins to unload the haversack and distribute the purchases.

bluff: 1d20 ⇒ 6

"Thanks for keeping an eye on my sword, Barael. I felt naked without it, but its absence surely kept at least one guard from giving me a second look."

Charlie watches as Barael goes to the far off place in his skull that he seems to go fairly often.

What is up with that boy? Is he going slowly insane?

Fondo attempts to give Deyanira a grandiose hug, but remembers his manners. "Poor'inedra, it's a delight to see you safe. With the Gray Maidens running rampant, we're fleeing the city until we've found a way to end Ileosa's reign of terror. Er, where's Ruan?"

He gives Nikolay a nod of thanks and presents the purchased scrolls to Deyanira. "These'll help us in our escape. One to call horses for the lot of us. One to keep us in good shelter during our travels. And one to buoy the spirits in dark times."

Briar rouses when Nilokay returns, anxiously looking for Majenko, confirming that the Sward didn't forget the magic incarnate in the City.

He will pack his arrows away after restocking his supply.

"Now, can someone again explain to me why we're fleeing the City? Why are we not fighting or just moving on with our lives?"

"These fine gentlemen have requested our escort to safer pastures while we plot the overthrow of the Queen. The Seneschal holds the greatest claim to challenging her authority, and must be made safe while we gather forces to fight her and her Maidens."

He pauses, finding the words unfamiliar in his own mouth. His hand goes to the Harrow deck, Zellara's voice echoing in his head. Protect my city... He shakes his head as if to clear it. "Me, I'm pretty sure the Queen'd like to have our heads, or mine at least. So the signores' plans sound like the best option if I were to stand by the friends I've come to love. Or there's the open road, should we choose to run. But I fancy that's not an option for all of you."

Deyanira begins to speak but Neolandus drowns her out, "You may move on with your lives if you wish, but I would not go against the Queen if you value your lives. There is much to tell you of what I've found, and in her shadow is not the place to tell it. Let us make haste and get some distance between us and our Queen and I will tell you the story in full. Then you can decide for yourselves what to do."

He turns to Charlie, "Have you another restorative spell? I'm afraid I'll not be much good walking in the dark without it. My dexterity you see..."

Deyanira finds her voice as she looks harshly at the old man, "I have steeds I can summon. They will not last overlong, but they are fast - faster than any on land though the Sable Marines could still catch us if they were hot on our trail. Thankfully they tend to stay close to the city, but we should make some miles before sunup or they'll spot us for sure."

She turns to Fondo as an aside, "Ruan is with his friends, good Varisians all. He'll be safe. Eries is keeping an eye on him when his friends aren't. I dare say he'll be safer than we." She looks around at the group.

When (if?) the party is ready to depart, Deyanira summons Phantom Steeds (move 80') for each of you. They will last, thanks to her rod of extend, 3 hours or 24 miles by ~2am. They can ride over sandy, muddy, or even swampy ground without difficulty or decrease in speed so you can stay along the coast for much of that travel to throw off pursuers.

"No, simply running isn't an option. We'll be back."

Dandi looks through her things again, worrying once more over her supplies. Her impulsive use of certain items has left her supply tight, and now they leave with no idea where she might find more to ease the demand on Wraith.

"We have to..."

"Eries is wily. Ruan *will* be better off than we are. I want to hear what you say Neolanus, but I'm sure that I'm in for the long haul. This injustice will not stand. Man, I could use a drink. Thanks for the restock, Nik. And yes, Neo, I'll hook you up. How much do you need?"

Briar nods, convinced that leaving the City would be wise for now...even if it's just to hear what the Seneschal has to say.

"Let's go then. The sooner we leave the sooner we can return. Those magical horses do sound lovely."

Briar packs up his crap and is ready to go.

"Yes. Let's be off."

Nikolay puts his armor back on, secures his sword, and straps on his new haversack before taking out some whiskey to sip until the others are ready.

As the party heads out along the coast, Fondo seems to relax a bit. It's good to be on the road again. He manages to guide his horse alongside each traveler at some point, chatting them up in a way that eases the journey.

That is, he helps the party sustain a forced march for an hour longer than might be best, until all are ready to rest Battle herald ability.

Technically, you've had a full day, so just riding to ~2am is already a forced march so we'll call it a wash with Fondo's ever present skills.

Near the end of the first nights ride you find a small grotto that seems to suit your purposes just fine as a defensible place to sleep for the rest of the night. Getting a late start the next day you again ride for a time then turn inland and begin the trip to Harse in earnest.

The journey is made much easier by Deyanira who, thanks to Fondo's scroll purchases, provides a measure of cover in the night (secure shelter so only two of you sleep on the cold hard ground) and steeds during the day (a mix of mount and phantom steed). Charlie is also called upon a few times to get Neolandus and Vencarlo completely back to health (they had quite a bit of ability damage still remaining, most of it dex (from poison) and con (from torture)).

Ultimately though, the trip is short, just three days or so of hard riding, until the night before you arrive in Harse...

- - -

The crackle of the fire is peaceful, and you enjoy watching the occasional spark fly up into the night. It seems a long time since you fled your city, but in fact, it's only been a few days. You're nearly to Harse now, and should arrive there late tomorrow, or the next day if things go poorly. Neolandus still hobbles, and may never be his fully healthy self, but Vencarlo has sprung back rather more resiliently (though he was tortured rather less as well).

In the quiet of this night though, you do have a visitor - Zellara! She comes out of the darkness and into the light. Vencarlo leaps to his feet drawing his blade and Neolandus shudders out of his musings with a start. You quickly quiet the two of them, and listen to what Zellara has to say.

"You have fled rather than be under the heel of the tyrant, and that is good, but it must be temporary. You shall return, in time, and confront the Queen in her own lair - but there is much to do between now and then." She draws out her cards and performs a reading.

"I see the Shoanti, in the deep past. They dwelt here, protecting the mighty pyramid from outsiders, long before the Chelaxians came and ran them off. The Shoanti are the true natives of this land and it's protectors. I see a parallel between your flight and the flight of the Shoanti all those years ago. You must be as the Shoanti. You, as they, are nomads now, but there is something else, something important." she flickers in and out with the firelight for a moment before re-solidifying again. She said something, but it was lost to the crackle of the flames and the stillness of the night.

"For the future, Korvosa is a dangerous place, and unsafe for you to venture for some time. You must be strong, you must learn strength and ancient knowledge from the Shoanti before you can proceed to face the Queen. But do not tarry, for you are truly being hunted, and by more than just the Queen - I see insects on your path as well, with hideous bulbous eyes chasing you for something you possess…"

She fades in the firelight even as she turns over the next card her reading unfinished.

Dandi grows mesmerized by the flicker of the ghostly woman's form, rocking with it now and again. She starts at the mention of the insects, then soothes as she remembers the masks.

"The Mantis are coming?" She looks from one to the other of her companions, wondering, hoping, she is mistaken.

Neolandus and, to a lesser extent, Vencarlo, look shocked. Neolandus remains quiet, but Vencarlo asks, "What was that - a ghost? She seemed to know us, or at least you. And those things she said, are they true? I know the Shoanti predated the Chelaxians here, but what could the Shoanti teach you about the Queen?"

Neolandus looks at Vencarlo, and mutters, "They know much I think." but will say no more tonight.

"Thanks for keeping an eye on my sword, Barael. I felt naked without it, but its absence surely kept at least one guard from giving me a second look."

Barael's eyes widen to normal as Nik claims his weapon. "It weren't no trouble at all. He kept me up with some pretty lively conversation. You're just lucky I didn't get to him first when we ran the Armory." Barael gives Nik wink and a nod. "That's a fine thing you have there, and it's reassuring to know its and your strength are with us."

***

Barael listens intently to Zellara's reading. Shoanti, eh? Might be interesting, that. Never known me more than three of them, but, oh, the stories they told.

When the reading turns to notions of a pursuit, Barael starts making a grinding noise. "Crk, Crk, Crk..."

Hearing Dandi snaps him out of his brooding. " We could spike the Masks to some trees, and be done with them..." He doesn't look sincere, and he looks from friend to friend, hoping he doesn't have to give up those magicks.

"Neolandus. When you feel up to it, I'm looking forward to hearing how you ended up in Glorio's basement."

I'm on the street again. This one has trees. So I got that goin for me.

"Ahh Zellara The Mysterious. She is as wise and she is oblique."

"I, for one, will not let another person in power cast me out onto the Streets without a fight. I'll see the queen or myself burn in Hell before I succumb to this nonsense again."

"As for the masks, I have a spell that can briefly hide them from magical prying. Doing so, however, would greatly limit my ability to keep us all in good health. While they were of great help in the past, I'm not sure if we still need em. It would warm some of the old cockles to see them burn. All these iceholes putting themselves in our business is pissing me off. I'm anxious to give in to the sin of wrath, even if it's only a small token."

"I expect they'll still be after us for merely taking them knowledge local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 but I would feel a little better giving them the finger along the way."

Neolandus takes an interest, "Masks? What masks?"

Presuming someone fills him in, at least a little...

He stands over Barael, "Dear god man what are you doing?! They can track us by those things. They can scry us at will - they know exactly where we are, and by now, where we're going! They work for the Queen, so there's no doubt she knows as well."

He sits down heavily again and turns to Vencarlo, "I'm afraid we cannot go to your friend for comfort and supply, there is no time and I will not risk their lives for our brief safety. No, we must talk now, even though we are almost certainly being watched." He looks around in the dark and begins his story.

"I knew King Eodred II’s death was questionable and when I confronted the Queen about her role in it, she sent these Red Mantis folks at me. It was only my superior knowledge of the secret passages of the castle that enabled my escape. I fled to one of the least likely places - an artist friend, Salvator, I had made over the years. It was his idea, poorly conceived as we now know, to hide me with the Arkonas."

"However, I did not flee without knowledge. I had been pouring through records in the Endrin Academy, and piecing together information and rumors he heard to try to determine what caused Queen Ileosa’s sudden personality change from a petulant spoiled queen to a scheming murderous tyrant. You didn't know her before the change, but she is quite the changed woman."

"I knew that Queen Ileosa had been “borrowing” the treasury key to look through Korvosa’s holdings. I was also familiar with several old and obscure legends about the chambers below Castle Korvosa - chambers, it is whispered, that were old even when the Shoanti dwelt here, and that used to hide something of great power or evil. I think she found that evil."

"There was little more information to go on, but I did uncover mention in some documents from Korvosa’s earliest days of something called Midnight’s Teeth, and that these teeth were believed to be some sort of sacred relic of great import to the Shoanti. Circumstantial evidence indicates that the Shoanti kept these teeth in the chambers inside the pyramid that now serves as Castle Korvosa’s foundation."

He draws in a ragged breath, as if the story itself is hurting him to tell.

"My research revealed that several hundred years ago, a powerful blue dragon and agent of Zon-Kuthon named Kazavon brought the orcs of Belkzen to their knees and began conquering the neighboring nations of Ustalav and Lastwall, until he was finally defeated and his remains scattered. Some of these remains, according to certain Zon-Kuthonic scriptures, contained fragments of Kazavon’s essence. One of these relics was the Fangs of Kazavon."

"I think the Midnight Teeth are in fact a piece of that relic. My hope is that the Shoanti, with their very strong oral traditions, will know more about this object and how to overcome it. My goal, before I was so rudely treated, was to gain the Shoanti's trust, gain that information, and overthrow the Queen."

He shakes his head, "Now however I am not sure that is advisable. I am too weak to show the Shoanti true strength. They will not trust me. Further, I am not sure how far I can flee, nor how fast and we are almost certainly hunted."

He looks to Vencarlo, "No, I think I must go into hiding, perhaps with the dwarves of Janderhoff - I have some strong contacts there who would protect me. At least for a time until I regain my strength and can challenge the Queen properly. I might raise an army there. Civil war?!" he shakes his head, "I hope that path can be averted."

"I would have you contact the Shoanti, learn what you can of this relic. As your ghost has said, it seems to be your destiny anyway to travel in their footsteps for a time anyway. Vencarlo, you shall come with me."

He stands, taking charge of the situation as is his station. He turns to Deyanira, "First thing in the morning, please create a pair of steeds for Vencarlo and myself. We shall need to ride, and ride hard if we're to outpace our perusers. I wish the rest of you good luck, and for the love of Korvosa, destroy those masks!"

Fondo fidgets in place as Zellara appears. His lips move silently with hers, almost as though he were a ventriloquist. Face the queen.

When she departs, he makes a sign in the air, warding against curses and the like.

"Ay, the Mantis'll be after us wherever we go. But there's no harm leaving them what they've lost. It'll keep them from scrying the masks, at least. Brov, let's start digging their grave."

Harrowed card for this day of the trip: 1d6 + 1d9 + 1d2 ⇒ (4) + (2) + (2) = 8
We travel with the only things we keep
until we die: our breath, our hearts, our lives.

Barael takes in the knowledge of the masks and their connections, and bounds to help Fondo accomplish the task of being rid of them. "They were nice while they were useful, but the price of keeping them is likely our lives."

Barael waves a mask at Briar, before handing over to Fondo. "You think you could craft something like this? Except, you know, without ties to a deadly assassin's guild?"

"It weren't no trouble at all. He kept me up with some pretty lively conversation."

"Well, I'm glad the two of you got along."

Nikoaly feigns a smile as he processes that the sword is no longer his secret alone.

---

Knowledge on teeth?: 1d20 ⇒ 4 Knowledge (arcana) +17, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +8, Knowledge (local) +18, Knowledge (planes) +17,

"Neolandus, do you think the queen possessed, enchanted, or just changed. Many a person has given into temptation and become evil without being coerced."

Briar takes in Zellara's appearance and the Seneschal's story in stride, calmly nodding and understanding what must be done. He has little to add with each.

However, what drives him near ballistic is the silliness of Barael and the reactions to the masks. He takes the offered mask and barely restrains himself from beating Barael over the head with it.

"Fools! You wish to bury magic? You think you can hide from magic? That is both a dangerously foolish thought. The *ONLY* thing that can protect you from magic is more magic," Briar scoffs a the ridiculousness of the idea.

YOU DON'T BURY MAGIC! THE FOOLS! Briar scoffs in his own head. Might as well bury other own heads for all that they use them.

"No, do not bury the useful magics. Instead, let us make them our own. Instead put them in the otherworldly bag," Briar gestures to Charlie's haversack. "Put them in until I can get to a craftorium and I can see about tweaking the magics thereon. Or laying one magic upon another. There are other, better solutions."

Fondo rolls his eyes at the elf, then titters a bit. After a dignified moment, he interjects, "Can you guarantee that placing them in the bag will make them useless as a scrying focus? If so, I've no objection. But I don't want false assurances, Brother Rose. I want certainty." He says the last pleasantly, looking the elf keenly in the eye.

"Signores, we shall see you on your way on the morrow. I feel confident we'll find friends among the Shoanti. I've known a few. They can be rough and tumble, but I've always found that an ASSet where it matters." He winks in an only slightly crude manner.

Turning to Deyanira, he says, "If the Mantis are indeed lurking about, we'll need alarms of sorts, especially those sleeping outside. Have you such prepared?"

Barael pulls back the mask while Briar and Fondo debate. He places them both in his new Haversack, for safekeeping. He then looks intently at them both. I hope Briar can convince Fondo.

"Can you guarantee that placing them in the bag will make them useless as a scrying focus? If so, I've no objection. But I don't want false assurances, Brother Rose. I want certainty."

Briar smirks.

He understands so little about magic for one who practices so much.

"In the Aether, they will learn nothing from our words or what we say or what we do. They might as well be sticking their heads up an atol and checking for rain for all the good scrying will do them," Briar answers calmly. "As for certainty, you'll have to look elsewhere for that...magic, by definition, defies certainty, does the impossible, and exceeds mortal understanding."

Briar laughs aloud.

"Someday, Varisian, you will understand that there are no boundaries for magic, nor any limits. However, in this case, I can assure you that they will not hear our words nor see our faces. Scrying is useless."

Briar looks around, this conversation over (at least in his mind).

"Tomorrow we hunt a different beast...the beast of Shoanti admiration. Though it is worth little in terms of magic, it serves our goal and the goal that my brother has put me on. And for that, I am anxious to see what will be revealed. Let us rest then find our quarry on the morrow," Briar says, still gently laughing at the mask situation as he makes his bed. "Let me know when it is my turn to watch the night for dangers. I have much to ponder."

Fondo smiles and turns to the others as Briar withdraws. "Well then. It seems he's certain then. Sometimes I think he's a better flim-flammer than even my most gifted cousins. 'You never know what magic can do. It can turn this rock into a dove, or turn that gold I gave you to tin.' Keep them guessing, as Purodad used to say. I'll wager Briar's the best. Or he's all hot air."

He settles in for the first watch alongside Barael. "Eight bunks, seven to sleep, two on watch. Perfect. This is the kind of magic we children of the road most fancy."

Dandi stays up late watching Barael's mask filled bag. [i]I hope he's right about those. He's seldom wrong when it comes to magic, but I'd rather not die on the rare time that he is.

What the heck?

"Neolandus, how are they able to scry these items? It's my understanding that only people can be scried. Do you know if putting them hidden is enough to keep the Mantis from our trail?"

knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Barael pats the haversack, and smiles nervously. He listens to Fondo's concluding remarks, and nods, with only mild confusion. Nik's sword was much easier to follow.

"Well, we managed to dig ourselves out of a labyrinth, only to find ourselves in a different kind of maze. Next corner we turn, there might be Mantis sawtooth pain symbols waiting for us. Next hallway, Shoanti tiger heads by the hundreds, all hostile to our best of intentions. Was hopin for some genuine recuperation in Harse, but I dashed that hope like an egg on a rock by holding onto those Masks." Barael shifts uneasily in his lean on the tree. "Neolandus spoke knowingly on the magicks in the Mask." Barael leans in a little closer to Fondo. "Brov, do you think Briar knew that stuff too, and liked the magic too much to tell us the danger of the scry?" Barael shoots a furtive look in Briar's direction.

"Neolandus, do you think the queen possessed, enchanted, or just changed. Many a person has given into temptation and become evil without being coerced."

"That's a good question. The Queen had been a petulant sort of evil, a curse found among some of the aristocracy with too much time on their hands and no projects. She was petty and mean, but seemingly didn't have the will to do any real harm."

"But that changed rather quickly just before the King's death. In a matter of weeks, she went from petty to scheming and gathered power around herself with uncharacteristic ease. No, I think there is definitely another force at work on her. She is evil, but now she is a greater evil."

"Neolandus, how are they able to scry these items? It's my understanding that only people can be scried. Do you know if putting them hidden is enough to keep the Mantis from our trail?"

"I'm no wizard, so I don't know about scrying, but rumor has it they find their masks to be quite precious and have magics that can detect them over many miles like a compass." He shudders, "I've seen their handiwork first hand, and they're quite well equipped and tough. Anything that makes their jobs easier is a grievous mistake"

"To meet with the clans, you'll have to go into the Cinderlands above the Storval Rise. I would start with a man named Thousand Bones. He's had some contact with Korvosa and I think he would be more agreeable to our cause. The Shoanti have many good reasons to hate Korvsosans, so don't expect a warm welcome."

"I believe Thousand Bones' clan is to the east of the Yondabakari River, but where in that vast wilderness you'll find him I do not know."

"I've never been north of Harse." Barael claps Fondo on the back. "I'm in your capable hands, Brov."

Barael turns back to Neolandus. "We've met Thousand Bones before, so hopefully we meet him and his first."

"I'm sure magic can see to that, Brov." Fondo looks toward where Briar is snoring, not one lick of sarcasm in his voice.

"Nik, can you hook me up with your starry-eyed vision thing? I have some ideas I would like to express not out loud."

Briar relaxes and takes his turn at watch.

** spoiler omitted **

"Nik, can you hook me up with your starry-eyed vision thing? I have some ideas I would like to express not out loud."

??? Briar maybe?

Taking the hint and before falling asleep, Briar casts Telepathetic Bond on himself, Charlie, Nikolay, and, uh,1d3 ⇒ 3, uh...Barael.

Nikolay pulls out some parchment and starts writing down the conversation for the others.

Dandi looks from one to the other of her friends as they get lost in their thoughts, then shrugs and joins the Seneshal instead. "So, the queen, was she always fond of wearing Green, or did that only start when the uptick in the Great Evil began?"

Dandi looks from one to the other of her friends as they get lost in their thoughts, then shrugs and joins the Seneshal instead. "So, the queen, was she always fond of wearing Green, or did that only start when the uptick in the Great Evil began?"

"I, er, uh, I don't know. I must admit I never really paid much attention to the Queen's wardrobe." He sips some of the whiskey floating around and considers the question longer than he's willing to admit. He eventually shakes it off and prepares to turn in for the night so as to get a fresh start in the morning.

Vencarlo too turns in and climbs into a bunk. "Good night all."

Note: Vencarlo has not yet revealed where in Harse you were going, at least not out loud. So unless someone read his mind, his friends are safe.

Barael moves away from the group for privacy. He pulls a Mask out of the bag, and sets it firmly in his lap as he sits. He taps on it, trying to get its attention.

Barael puts the mask back, and joins the others.

Fondo looks at Nikolay's notes shrugs. He looks about the cabin and out beyond into the countryside. "When I was a younger lad, I fancied a bit of a bijav. Er, party. It was to be quite an affair. My cousin Boldo brought his fiddle. Borracho, just before he left for distant shores, brought his horn. Cousin Trudo brought his drums. All the bravos in the region were to bring their lads and ladies."

"Alas, this Sczarni clan, went by the Reekers, showed up. Awful bunch from Irrisen. Their local cousins gave 'em our measure, including which of our lasses were with dowry, and whose rings were real gold. We'd hoped to finish the night with a bit of flash and flesh in our wagons, but instead lost a year's earnings to cunninger rogues than we."

"Just goes to show, a party never goes the way you'd expect if you don't know the guests, but they know you. Mind, next time we met, we did know them. They lost a fair bit more than a year's wages. Hard to grow your manhood back, yeah?"

Bluff to get the point across: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

Fondo successfully conveys that (1) he didn't REALLY take anyone's manhood; (2) he finds a trap unlikely to work against assassins who already have the party's measure (or more so than the party has theirs); and (3) even a failed effort might yield valuable information, should the party survive. So why not?

Greetings from the Alaskan shorecoastline. I'm on a boat...a ship, really. It travels in water and has food on it. Cruisin' up to see glaciers and whatnot with TheWife. I have surprisingly good internet access, but have fun and distracting things to do as well, so I'll be posting less often. Apologies...sorta. I did eat a pretty sweet medallion steak tonight and as many cookies as I shove down my gullet. Hard to be too sorry about that.

Briar listens to the thought conversation from his Telepathetic Bond and adds little. Privately, he doesn't think any such plan would work, but is happy to lend his magics to the cause. He has been wrong before and will be wrong again in the future...but the one constant will be that magic will be with him in whatever he does.

Briar looks for a good place to rest and makes a bed for which in to meditate. He will answer questions about what potential magics he could bring to bear, but will gently guide the party toward their main mission of frollicking with the Shoanti rather than trying to defeat all of the Mantis agents.

Or how about we just kill them when they come? Or even better, kill them as a show of skill in front of the Shoanti?