Evie listens intently to the kobolds' jibber-jabber and is stunned by what is finally revealed in translation. ”What?!?” She looks to Jabber in disbelief at first, then quick resignation, hanging her head at the thought. ”Well, s*%$.” She taps her leg slightly, indicating to Barrister to take up a close position at her side. ”Okay, Little Prince, then let’s go.” The little kobold cocks his head to the side, looking at Evie quizzically, as if not understanding her request. ”Yes, you…you’re coming with me. It’s been a while since I’ve been here and you can get me there the fastest. That and I need you as witness for what we saw earlier.”
She looks to the other kobolds who are scampering about, some out of fear, others out of excitement at the new drama unfolding, many looking to Jabber for what to do next. The little kobold looks to Evie, then to his people, then back to Evie again. He raises up a little and takes a deep breath, as if to steel himself for what comes next and give the appearance of bravery. ”I will go. I will show you. Get you there fast. Find out why this happened.” Evie can tell from his eyes that he’s scared but his unknowing bravery has been very impressive so far.
She lets him lead her through the streets and alley ways to get to the Sphere and Rose, not knowing exactly what they’ll find when they get there.
When they finally arrive, the scene is chaotic. Despite the hour, there are still many people about and it’s a scene that is not dissimilar from the Scales, except for the players on the stage, so to speak. There are those that seem horrified and aghast at what seemingly has happened. Then there are those that are excited by tragedy and work quickly to feed the rumor mill. Then there are those that simply walk by and keep walking, either unaffected or not wanting to be affected by what is happening.
Evie can easily see where the murder occurred, if not the murder itself, due to the concentration of people and guards. She moves closer to the crowd but knows she will only be able to get so close. She must continue to rely on her new found friend to try and get more answers. ”Okay, little one, this is probably as far as I can go. Maybe you can get in there and find out more, or maybe find another Founder and see what’s going on for me, yeah?”
As she waits, she gently strokes Barrister's head while making note of the people milling about, trying to see if she recognizes anyone, even trying to see if she can find Taisper in the crowd, just in case.
Gods…there’s always evil in good places. Stupid man. You didn’t deserve your fate but I think you displeased Erastil with your ways. He is not a god fond of fanatics. It’s a sad thing you didn’t learn that lesson before now and take a moment to correct your course. Now it's been chosen for you.”
She makes a quiet prayer to Erastil to watch over the soul of Jhod and help bring his killer to justice.
The Spymaster snaps his fingers in an abrupt manner and four glowing spheres pop into existence. He bends down to get a better look at Jhod's wound. "So if this is indeed the work of an animal, why in the nine hells is Verik, of Abadar no less!, a suspect in Jhod's murder?"
Borodin stands upright and looks to his comrades. "The last time I checked he was partial to maces and long swords and showed no signs of Lycanthropy."
Verik watches the golden key fade from above his head, standing up to nod in appreciation to both Akiros Ismort and Archbanker Vinodragov. "I will do as you say, Akiros, though it will take some time to gird myself in my plate from my chambers. I will go as soon as I am armored and better armed. I can meet you there if you do not wish to wait directly." After a moment of consideration with a worried visage, Verik adds, "I request that you send whomever you can spare to find and protect Aleza Bellavieu at her manor house, if you haven't already. If it is as you say with the deceit of a false messenger to lure Jhod in, and...and a woman allowed to be seen with a limp leaving, then I am...greatly concerned for her safety. You know better than most of the vile shapechanger of the cult that has now been twice vanquished by your own hand, and I dearly hope this is not something of that likeness."
He says the last with something of a rush, not daring to allow the full crush of fear and worry crash through his ordered mind. He knows he has to fulfill his duties as High Cleric and Founder of Newhaven first, and Banker second, before his personal desires of seeing Aleza again. Leaving Akiros from the front meeting rooms, Verik makes his way with haste towards his chambers at the rear upper wing of the Bank, busying his mind with the preparations he needs to take should some dark mischief manifest itself this night.
Jemini, Nikolai, and Borodin stand over the body of Jhod, trying to determine what killed him. Unlike many of the stories told by bards and theater troupes, there is no single overlooked clue that paints an accurate picture of what happened. Jhod did not provide a way for them to find the truth of his last moments. There is simply death and blood. With as many new arrivals in the city thanks to the summit, there is more noise of carousing and from the small gathered crowd than usual - but they are left to little noise here in the alleyway. The sound of clanking interrupts their investigation as Verik - clad in full armor - arrives to assist them. Akiros walks behind him in a far quieter fashion. "I have cleared away the cloud of suspicion that the true killer attempted to cast upon Verik. I believe his expertise and knowledge can be most useful for the investigation. As for me, I must go speak to another." He nods to Verik in some seeming secret between them. "Should you discover something that I have missed, let one of my lieutenants know so that I can be informed."
As Akiros makes his exit, the four Founders hear a familiar squeaking voice. Jabber slinks into the alcove, having slipped past the guards. "Bane-kerr Jarr-oh! It Jabber, your friend!" He rushes up to Verik, but avoids Jhod's body. The kobold seems to treat it with superstitious caution, barely looking but not turning his back. "So sad! Miss Eve-ee want to help. I get her? I get her. Then Jabber help too!" He looks to Verik for permission in total earnestness.
"Well, I can't see anything that would help narrow down suspects. Anyone else have a clue?"
The Magus stands back to let anyone else have a closer look should they want.
Verik regards Jabber for a moment, comprehension dawning on his face as to what the kobold chieftain is actually talking about. Evie Damyanov, the Erastilian hunter and favored of Aylene, sent with them from Varnhold to speak on her behalf. A slight frown crosses Verik's face as he weighs the decision in front of the other Founders. Earlier he privately objected to Jemini on the inclusion of both Evie and Arkady to the Founder's Council - ignored and refused of course - and generally he felt the sudden involvement of a wandering Brevian that likely had more understanding of Nomen centaur affairs than human ones was both a detriment and a distraction. It certainly didn't influence his mind in the fact that this Evie felt emboldened to speak so bluntly to the Founders of Newhaven so, after all that they had fought for and built over the past years.
Nevertheless her bold statements earlier, directed equally at Jhod Kavken as well as himself, hinted at wisdom and a devoted Erastilian that was seemingly not under the yoke of Jhod's domineering patriarchy and ridiculous notions. Verik doubted that there might even be a priest of Old Deadeye beyond an acolyte level within Sanctuary now, making Evie Damyanov perhaps the only Erastilian of quality to represent the faith in these terrible affairs of a murdered patriarch. Looking briefly down at the horrible manner of Jhod's death it could even be that she had insight to the wounds that he would not. That alone sealed the decision for him.
"Yes Jabber, please escort her here immediately - you may tell the guards Verik Jarrow commands she be passed through."
Verik kneels down next to the body with an ungraceful clanking of his heavy armor, bringing around a satchel kit to pull forth some tools for closer examination, as well as chalk and a writing slate for his observations. With a pang of shame and regret that his worn leather satchel was the very one Jhod had provided to him years ago when Verik was first learning healing and herb-lore skills, the Banker shakes his head with a heavy sigh and orders his mind to focus on the murder wounds. Verik measures the wound on Jhod Kavken's body - both across the neck as well as the depth of it, recording the measurements with his other hand on the writing slate. He peers intently at the remnants of his once-friend's neck that could almost be described as a decapitation, blanching visibly at the ghastly nature of it. Then he halts his writings and peers closer at one side of the neck where the ragged edges have a distinctive appearance to them, as well as an absence of flesh and muscle. Verik breathes in sharply and uses a probing tool to confirm something in his mind, writes a scrabbled note on his writing slate, then looks up to the rest of the Founders.
"This...I do not believe this is a single bite or tearing out of the throat, even though it appears that way at first glance. I'm no expert but the savage wounds of the lizardmen and other beasts at the 'Battle of Hydra's Bridge' showed me that much at least. It's not a massive bite and tearing of the flesh from the jaws of a wolf, bear or large cat." Verik points at the body with a tool as if giving instruction. "Notice there are no puncture wounds elsewhere on his body by claw or bite to bring him down to the ground either, though that is not conclusive I know." He wrinkles his face and says to them, "It reminds me of...a series of bites and not just one, a smaller maw that bored into his neck and removed muscle and flesh. Almost like a lamprey eel such as has been documented in portions of Lake Encarthan, though I am not stating Jhod was murdered by lamprey eels you understand! Just that it is more like that than a larger predator."
Evie sees Jabber coming back through the crowd to get her. "Bane-kerr Jarr-oh say okay you come. Okay to come. Not good. You see. You help."
Evie allows the little kobold to take her hand and lead her through the crowd. She looks to the guards as they let her through and then sees the Banker leaning over the mauled body of Jhod. The wound is fresh and open and blood has pooled around Jhod's head and shoulders, spilling over the cobbled street of the alley way. She is not unaccustomed to the sight of blood but the savage nature of the attack is unsettling. She hears the Abadarian's last bit of conversation and his educated guess as to what has happened. As Evie approaches, he looks up to her with a look of concern mixed with a brief look of sadness, but the sadness is quickly masked and the concern soon changes to one more clinical in nature.
"Banker Jarrow, if I may?" Evie kneels by the body of the man who once warmly welcomed her into his enclave in the woods for a time. But that time is past and pushed into memory. Now the misguided Erastilian lays ravaged on the street. She kneels by his shoulder, being careful not to put her knees in the blood and then removes her bow from her back, placing it across her lap.
She gently places her hands on Jhod's chest for a moment, eyes closed in prayer and concentration. Barrister quietly moves towards the top of Jhod's head and lays down in a resting but alert position, placing his head down on his paws as if he, too, is mourning. Evie then raises her hands to the sky, quietly chanting words in what some would recognize as Sylvan, releasing Jhod's soul to the elements and wishing him safe passage on the way towards Erastil's woods.
With his mistress's prayers done, Barrister raises his head and goes back to a sitting position, while Evie begins to inspect the wound. "I would have to agree with the Banker. This wasn't done by something large. The wounds match the size of a human mouth but the bites are so many and so vicious that it looks like one large tearing."
She looks over the rest of the body and around it to see if there are any other clues as to what or who did this.
"A human mouth?" exclaims Verik incredulously, looking first at Evie then back down at the wound to try to envision what she is seeing. "Well, certainly not a normal bite of a human, but I understand what you mean. Given the brutality of it I naturally assumed it was some sort of feral creature, but Akiros describing someone leaving the Sphere and Rose suggests the attacker may have had a more human-like appearance. Perhaps something unholy and devoid of life. We faced ghouls in Dragonswatch when we put down the Red Stag a second time, yet I don't think this is the same as that. A vampire? I don't think they would be so brutally obvious as this...hmmm..."
Verik attempts to recall to his mind his studies of the undead and its various forms that might explain such a wound, finding his mind unusually clear in recollection under the circumstances.
Evie looks to Verik with a strange look. "A strigoi? I heard tales of them as a girl but they're supposed to take all the blood. They're very greedy. They don't just leave it in a pool and they usually take many more than just one body in a night. As for other walking dead things, most don't move around well and those that do give off a horrible smell. Someone would have noticed. Even if a shambling one could pass itself off as drunk just to make a single kill, I wouldn't think it would have the ability to think that way or be able to wander off unnoticed...or pull itself off of its prey."
Evie looks sad at the last thought. The thought that Jhod was someone's prey. She can only hope that his last moments were very fast but she fears that he died in abject terror.
The remembrance of the argument between the Abadarian and Jhod at the Founder's meeting is in her thoughts, but gut feeling places no suspicion for her on the Banker.
Standing, she slings her bow and wraps her cloak a little tighter around her shoulders against the cold.
"Have you had time to check the area yet? Or the body?" The words stick in her throat a little knowing that Verik and Jhod were close friends at one time, and despite their recent quarrels, she knows this is probably a difficult thing for the Banker.
She turns to start looking around, but then turns back again, looking to Verik and speaking quietly. "By the way...you should probably post some better guards at the gates. I went out earlier to check on things outside the walls and it was very easy to move to and fro unnoticed. If there is a sly killer about, they would have no trouble."
He pauses from his examinations to look up at her in turn with a slightly incredulous expression. "Sanctuary is not under siege, Mistress Damyanov, and even in our current state of affairs we do not 'lock down' the movement of our citizenry in such a manner. There are perhaps as many as eighteen-thousand on the rolls of the new year's count! While the castle and other critical edifices are guarded and controlled in such a fashion, doing likewise to the city would take an order of martial law from the Founders."
Evie shrugs, seemingly unfazed by Verik's probable irritation at her comment, and continues to look for clues.
"You are quite right, Banker. The city is not under siege, but every siege begins with a single act. You have a Founder dead at your feet."
With her last comment, her voice softens. "I do understand that it would be ridiculous to try and monitor the movement of all your citizens. Yet, have you thought that Jhod might not be the only prey?"
She looks to the other Founders, surprised that they've just been standing there, observing and not speaking, seemingly having no open comment about the situation. She then looks back to Verik with true sorrow in her eyes. "I am truly sorry for your loss. Jhod was a good man before he lost his way. I know you were close for a time. Despite your past problems, he was undeserving of this end. But so you hear it from me, my soul doesn't feel like you had any involvement with this."
Verik looks up back up at her sharply then, regarding her with a quizzical expression as if to look for any hint of sarcasm or veiled malice in her words to him. Apparently he finds her words true, and his expression changes to one of regret and sadness. "I...thank you. Mistress of Erastil. The bickerings and distrust of two men overshadowed the potential of what they could have achieved together. Even faithful servants of the divine who are supposed to guide and provide example to others are not immune to the failings of pride."
Verik sighs then, and returns his gaze back to the examination of Jhod's corpse, searching for answers. Without looking up at the others he says, "There is a divine prayer I know, from my early days at the Banks of Absalom. Something Justicars of the Master would use to discern the truth of a murder. I would have to pray for it - perhaps a quarter-span of a standard short candle - but I could write questions in Jhod's blood upon parchment and seek answers from the beyond." Verik clears his throat and continues, "It is imprecise and not nearly as potent as a speaking as what the Pharasmans could do, but it would be less contentious and could give us a direction as to the manner of his murder." He looks up at the rest of them for consensus, including Evie. "It would have to be approved by the Founders assembled here...and by the ranking Erastilian present. If agreed, I would need undisturbed time to pray to the Master for it to be undertaken. The choice is yours."
Borodin has been standing silently through the exchange, lost in thoughts of the past. When he realizes they are no longer examining the body he asks, "If you don't need the light for further study, I would like to extinguish it."
At the mention of his spell Borodin agrees. "I agree, Verik, and I'm sure Jemini and Nikolai would have no objections. Evie?"
Evie looks to the man named Borodin, recognizing that this is the first time he's ever spoken to her but pleased that he, indeed, did finally break silence.
Again she shrugs, seeming to be almost casual about the situation. However, both men get the feeling that the now-ranking Erastilian could level a man in a second with her arrows with barely a blink. "I see no problem with it, Aldori. Jhod's soul is already walking with Erastil as we speak, so I don't see how his blood would object to questioning. In fact, I think Jhod's soul would welcome it so that we might bring his killer to justice. I myself would welcome it because I didn't know one could do such a thing and my curiosity is peaked!"
The five of them stand quietly in the darkness. The sounds of the city - of late night carousers and hard-working tradesmen up too early - wash over them in the alley. Per Borodin's request, they have removed the light from the alley. As their eyes grow more used to the gloom, they see it as Jhod likely did in his last moments. The stars twinkle above, but the alley itself is nearly pitch-black, especially in the dark corners. Whoever lured him to his death would have likely slipped out of the shadows with no warning, as Jhod had no torch on his person and was known for stubbornly refusing light magic on account of it taking away from nature. The investigators merely stand and reflect on what must have happened, with the exception of the kneeling priest.
Verik normally prays for his spells the first thing in the morning, taking the hour after dawn in quiet contemplation of Abadar's mysteries. The next hour is usually devoted to his constitutionals, or sometimes less if he has a particularly pressing day ahead. Either way, he has taken to the habit of leaving a few spells unprepared, in case of an emergency like this one. Most clerics and priests who petition the gods for divine spells pray for all of them at once, but Elsir showed Verik several years prior how to sequester part of his mind, so to speak. In the course of a normal day, Verik rarely casts more than a handful of spells, so the inefficiency does not interfere. It takes nearly an hour of silent supplication for him to open the part of his mind that he set aside. Finally, he stands and nods to Borodin to summon new lights, and begins his spell to determine who or what killed Jhod Kavken.
Verik withdraws a scroll case from a pouch at his side, opening it to retrieve a pristine quill and several sheaths of blank parchment. From a belt pouch he produces a small vial of fine black ink, which he sets out before him. The Banker fidgets momentarily to maneuver himself with his heavy armor into a seated position upon the ground, double-checking that he has everything he needs to conduct the incantation. Finally he sets a golden key symbol from his belt upon the parchment, and begins to write upon the parchment; he carefully commits four questions to it, writing each in larger than standard script that takes up the entirety of the page. Verik does this without speaking to any of the assembled around him, as involved as if transcribing a contract in the privacy of his personal study. When completed he puts away the ink, picks up the parchment and blows on the ink to help it dry, showing the others what he has just written:
'Question of the First Order: Who are you?'
'Question of the Second Order: What are you?'
'Question of the Third Order: How was your blood shed?'
'Question of the Fourth and Final Order: When was your blood shed?'
"I shall now pray for the archons of the Lawgiver to allow a conduit to briefly pass from Jhod Kavken to this parchment, using his blood as the binding reagent. We shall see the truth made manifest upon the scroll from his perspective. I cannot interfere or change what is written here." With that he grasps his golden key symbol in one hand while placing his other hand in a dark stain of Jhod's spilt blood, ensuring it stains his hand and fingers even as he shuts his eyes tight and murmurs fervently in Celestial.
A minute or so later the murmuring stops and Verik opens his eyes, the look in them being somewhat distant. He touches his bloody hand upon the parchment at the point of the first question, whereupon the blood seems to seep and spread into the lettering, the black ink taking on the hue of bright crimson. Then the words change, transforming the question into an answer from beyond:
'Firstly Thus - I am Jhod Kavken.'
Verik gives the most imperceptible of nods, and proceeds to touch his hand to the second question, whereupon it too changes to bright red blood and replaces the question with the answer:
'Secondly Thus - I am a murderer and a liar.'
At this Verik nearly recoils in surprise at the words supplied, looking up helplessly at the faces of Evie, Borodin and the rest of the Founders assembled around him. "I...I knew he had troubles in Mivon that eventually forced him to wander into the Stolen Lands, but I...well I he never told me all of what drove him north. He was ashamed and I did not want to press the matter that pained him so...but I never thought..." Verik trails off with no further explanation, perhaps realizing so very little about the man that was former friend-turned-enemy. After a pause he presses on, transforming to bright blood the answers of both the third and fourth questions for all of them to see:
'Thirdly Thus - I came for Verik. A woman called to me. Yellow was her hair. She bit me. Bit me. BIT ME.'
'Fourthly Thus - This very night my blood was shed.
With the last question answered, the blood-scripted answers upon the parchment seem to darken and dry instantly. Yet the parchment is intact and in a morbid way could be considered evidence, a direct testimony by the victim of a terrible crime.
Jemini is visibly taken aback by the second answer. Her eyes immediately shift, the pupils appearing to grow and glow with a blue haze. She takes the time to thoroughly look over the remains of Jhod as well the immediate vicinity.
Evie looks to each Founder then to the scroll. Outwardly, she doesn't seem at all surprised by the answers given by Jhod's blood and seems more curious than anything else. She moves to touch the scroll, looking to Verik for both approval and permission. "That is truly an amazing thing! To be able to get answers from the dead without ripping their soul back to get it! Well done, Banker."
She stands from kneeling, looking first to the body of Jhod, then to Verik and Jemini. "Please forgive any offense, but I don't understand your surprise. Everyone has their own secrets and each man has the ability to do the most horrible of things given the right circumstances."
Evie looks to the others standing there and shakes her head. "Honestly, what surprises me more is the collective silence over a Founder's death. Given what's at stake and the fact that this may be just the start of things to come, I would think there would be something to say. I did not know that death prevents speech so easily here."
She shakes her head again and then looks to Verik. "I'm not sure what else needs to be gone over or how much more time is needed in this alley way, but the Erastilian priests will need to be summoned soon. His soul is gone but preparations and rites will still need to be done."
Uncomfortable around this magic, Nikolai folds his arms across his massive chest. To make room in the alley, he stands behind everyone else and listens.
"So undead, again. The mark of the lich?" The big man looks pensive, as a hunter lying in wait for hours with no quarry."[/b]
"I can only speculate on the nature of this blonde woman or creature that poses as such, and even then not with any degree of confidence." Verik shakes his head and rises wearily to stand in his armor. "I am just glad that it is not...well I do not know what to recommend in terms of running this to ground further. If only the murderer had a crafted object in possession that I knew of, I could possibly track it down to its wielder."
Verik nods to Evie. "It is as you say, though to my knowledge there are none of Erastil here in the city that are seasoned to do as you would suggest - they would have to be sent for in White Hart at first light. In the meantime, I could suggest the High Sexton of Pharasma take charge of his remains in their shrine at the graveyard. It is not far from here."
Evie nods in agreement. "Well, if we're not able to find anything else here after searching, we may have to look for clues elsewhere. I'm just not sure exactly where to start. In the meantime, if you could send word to White Hart while the body is watched over by Pharasma, I think that would work. I would feel better if I accompanied him...out of respect."
Akiros Ismort stands silently in his office, located in the barracks of Sanctuary's Home Guard. Carefully organized in front of him are the handwritten reports containing the interviews of each witness to Jhod Kavken's brutal murder. Even in a town swollen with visitors and refugees, blonde hair is a somewhat rare trait in this part of the world. With the investigation the first priority of the Guardsmen, they interviewed dozens of potential suspects over the course of the next several days, only to come with no leads. It was not until Akiros, in his careful review of the witness statements, noted that the initial witness who pointed them in Aleza Bellavieu's direction was a woman. The Guardsman, Petres Turbarrien, who took the statement could not recall much about her, and her name and address turned out to be a falsehood. Petres was detailed-oriented and precise in his reports, but this report had been uncharacteristically vague.
Elsir attempted to assist Petres in the same manner as he had helped Aleza shape the illusion of Hargulka a few years ago, through the combined use of illusion and telepathic magic. Strangely, even though Petres was known by his fellow Guardsmen for his ability to clearly recall and describe every woman he met with precise detail, the attempt failed utterly. When Elsir summoned the illusion from Petres's memory, the visage of the memory of the woman was hardly more than a blurry smear. They would not be able to use it to identify her, which unsettled Akiros. He holds the sour recollection of the madness that gripped the city when Malgorzata slew Corwin. With grim certainty, Akiros vows to keep the peace in the city.
Still, the evidence points to a logical conclusion: a vampire. With the undead cyclops wizard-king stirring somewhere south of the centaur's lands, it was almost certain to be an undead attacker. Close examination of the bite marks indicated a humanoid attacker, while the ability to blur the memory of the Guardsman narrowed the possibilities. The choice to attack at night with subterfuge indicated intelligence and a possible aversion to sunlight. After consultation with Lena of the Fates, High Sexton of Pharasma in Newhaven, the Founders ruled out other types of undead. Akiros and his Guardsmen carefully checked for reports of missing persons, but there was no indication that a nest of vampires was active in Sanctuary. If it were a vampire's attack, she must have fled the city having temporarily turned suspicions on Verik and Aleza.
However, the most unsettling aspect of the mystery is not the unsolved murder. Akiros scans over the troubling parchment of the final report even though he already read it a half-dozen times and wrote it himself. In terse language, his report documents that the day prior, Archbanker Vinodragov had performed the resurrection ritual after gaining consent of the other priests of Erastil in White Hart. Like Jemini's failed resurrection three years before, the spell was unable to draw Jhod's spirit back to his mangled body. However, Archbanker Vinodragov reported that it was a distinct difference. In the former, he had felt Jemini's spirit and sensed that she had declined the offer to return to life. In the current situation, he felt nothing. Vinodragov had reached behind the Veil, only to find that there was nothing there. Jhod's soul was not on its way to be judged by Pharasma, nor was lingering in Heaven or Nirvana. Having learned his lesson about public resurrection rituals, this knowledge was known only to the Founders. The Archbanker noted that he had heard tales of the same phenomenon in the Final Blades of Galt that seized the souls of its victims. Such information was secondhand at best because worship of Abadar is punishable by death in Galt. The magic that allowed Verik to read Jhod's spilled blood, like speak to dead, was a simulacrum of the decedent's memory, not a conduit to their soul.
The vampire attacker had stolen Jhod's soul.
Four days of unexpected waiting had made both the Pitaxians and Mivoni irritable. The Founders had voted to delay the peace summit, asking forgiveness for the delay caused by the sudden, untimely passing of one of their own. Both King Irovetti of Pitax and First Consul Raston Selline of Mivon both accused Newhaven of planned treachery. Irovetti, in particular, seemed enraged at the prospect of camping outside Sanctuary, opting instead to return to Pitax by magical means with instructions to notify him when they were ready to resume. Jemini had skillfully maintained the truce between them. Barrels of Bokken's ale, offered as gifts to both armies, purchased a few days of tenuous peace, but tensions were rising. Akiros Ismort and his Guardsmen had to break up numerous brawls and affrays between the two groups of soldiers, even though only twenty-five from each army were permitted through the gates at any given time. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt or killed, but clearly things were headed for blood unless they moved forward with the summit. With both Oleg and Kesten acting as hostages, the stakes of the delay were becoming untenable. Finally, with Akiros satisfied that there were no further leads to follow on the death of Jhod Kavken, late on the night of the 26th, the Founders voted to continue the delayed peace talks the following morning.
Early in the cold morning, the Founders stand at the ready within the main hall of Castle Sanctuary. Borodin's spies had confirmed that Irovetti had teleported back to Pitax's camp earlier that morning. Jemini Lebeda stands in the middle of the room, commanding it with her presence as Lady Marshal of the realm. She remains flanked on both sides with her allies and friends. Nikolai Rogarvia, last scion of his house, looms large - literally and, to the Brevic nobles watching, figuratively - over the proceedings. Baron Berrin Myrdal, ruler of Varnhold and General of Newhaven, stands to Jemini's right with a mostly-casual, easy stance that hides his hard-earned skill with his blade. Verik Jarrow, Banker of Sanctuary, stands to the side in his Abadarian regalia. By agreement of the Founders, the four of them will do most of the necessary talking on behalf of Newhaven to avoid having too many wrangling voices. The other Founders stand at the ready behind their leadership: Svetlana Leveton, voice for the citizens of the nation; Elsir Tel'ran, the elven Pathfinder and time magus; Borodin Loginov, their spymaster stolen from a time that may never come to be.
Some of the Founders are missing from the summit as well. Zander Whitestag, the Warden of the untamed wilderness claimed by Newhaven, left three days prior to lead his men on patrol for sudden invasions of enemy armies. Taisper Stosz appeared to be absent, but that was not unusual; he is likely Watching from the crowd, as he is wont to do. Akiros Ismort is too busy keeping the peace within the city to attend the peacekeeping effort, though he likely does not wish a potential confrontation with Mivoni Swordlords. Oleg Leveton and Kesten Garess are acting as hostages to ensure the safety of the diplomats. Tandlara continues to sleep, watching over them from the Dimension of Dreams.
Others are likewise absent: Evie Dumanov, appointed as representative of Varnhold, rode out from the city at the request of the Founders to search for possible trails of the vampire. As a master tracker, she holds promise as to the possibility of a lead to Jhod's killer. Sworn to secrecy as to the nature of his death, Evie promised to return as soon as she knew more. Arkady Zeitsev, an employee of Verik's who was in Nikolai's company, decided a few days prior that Sanctuary would not be a home for him and his son. He gathered supplies for a trading mission to Pitax - many purchased from Jubilost Narthropple, leader of the gnomish expedition of roving traders - and departed from the city with the blessing of his patrons.
Nevertheless, the nobility of Brevoy make up for the missing members of the Founders. Archbanker Vinodragov likely resents being sidelined to witness the peace, but he has not pressed the independence of Sanctuary's Bank since his arrival. The next generation of Brevic nobility monitors to he situation - Ellana Lebeda, Jemini's sister, Zander Orlovsky, Nadia Lodovka, and Toval Golka-Garess (the dwarven adopted son of Lord Garess) all stand in the gallery to watch the proceedings. Ivahn Medvyed arrived late. Only the Surtovas failed to send a representative, likely relying on one of the others or perhaps not wishing to spark a confrontation with Nikolai. Several of Sanctuary's prominent citizens watch as well, including Aleza Bellavieu, wealthy entrepreneur and holder of Verik's affections, and Doctor Atago, the administrator of the city's charitable hospital. Jabber, "ruler" of the kobolds (to the extent any such leadership exists), hops around trying to get a better view. Many more citizens of the city - including sufficient guards to do battle with a sneak attack or sudden melee - stand in the courtyard of the castle.
All eyes in the meeting hall are on the door of the castle. The Mivoni guards enter first. Consul Selline selected a dozen members of the Aldori Swordpact (at least the unrecognized offshoot of Mivon) to accompany him. Each of the men and women is clearly a talented swordfighter, with their dueling swords hanging to their sides. The dozen Aldori view the assembled group with wary suspicion, but otherwise say little. Raston Selline is slightly older than his peers, gray starting to pepper his hair, but holds himself with great confidence. While well-dressed and handsome in a bland way, Selline has a subtle plainness to him that would make it difficult to pick him out as the most dangerous swordsman in the room. "Thank you for hosting this summit, Lady Jemini," he says with a practiced air. "Mivon did not start this war, and will end it swiftly given the opportunity."
"Wrong, twice of two tries." Entering the room - ahead of his guards - is King Castrucci Irovetti of Pitax. He is unsubtle in every way. His red cloak - or perhaps it is an open robe - flows behind him dramatically. He wears a large suit of full plate that makes him - already a thick man who straddles the line between muscular and overweight - seem large and imposing. His long black hair is swept aside by a golden crown with a front that could be used as a short sword. He carries a large weapon that appears to be a strange combination of a glaive, ruler's rod, and crossbow. The most interesting thing about him, however, is the strange nature of his armor. It is covered in gears at every joint, hissing and whirring as he moves. One would barely notice the dozen guards - Pitaxian wardens in their bizarre full-body red robes, massive pauldrons, and face-covering helms - due to the imposing, distracting appearance of King Irovetti. "Pitax is defending itself against Mivon's aggressions, from Mivon's spies. Pitax stands at the precipice of victory. I seek a peaceful solution to our disagreement, but will end it with violence if need be."