At the mention of skyseers, Cretien looks to the young man to see what he has to say.
"Um," Johnathan says quietly.
"I'm RHC and a skyseer, does that count?"
He glances at Cretien, smiling nervously.
Nevard’s tenders are a wary, suspicious bunch who don't like strangers. You can see immediately from their armor and weapons that they are allied in some way with the Cloudwood Brigands, yet many are also dressed as younger acolyte Skyseers. The grumpiest-looking one, who seems to be called Adarun, is pretty pissed at this interruption to the old man's last few hours of life. You realize that with Morena or Renard on side this would have gone a lot smoother.
He then hears Johnathan and says, "My boy you are of the SIGHT?" his iciness seams to defrost a little and he says, "Howard told us the RHC was coming but not a fellow skyseer... this is distressful, we should have seen this coming... hmmm... Methinks it be the smog that blocks our sight. Makes it more difficult to see the sky. Constable, how may we assist you?"
The other skyseer acolytes and tenders follow Adarun's command and allow the six RHC officers to enter the henge and beyond, to the small tent. You enter the tent, Adarun following behind.
Inside the tent, the light from smoldering incense sticks is dim, to spare the old man’s eyes. A faint stench of withering cloys the air, not quite masked by fragrant scents of cinnamon and cloves. Skyseer Nevard Sechim, once one of the most influential skyseers in Risur back in the days before the rise of industry, when people actually listened to them, looks up wearily.
'It's been a long time since the RHC has sought out my opinions', he says in a deep but warbly voice. He speaks very quietly but the wind outside seems to hush so everyone nearby can hear him. Johnathan, you think he does not look overly frail, and you are surprised he is on his deathbed already - you would have given him a little more time. His eyes wander and fix on Johnathan.
'Welcome Johnathan, Liria has told me much about you. When my nephew relayed to me that the RHC were coming I saw that you would be with them." He coughs into a small green handkerchief. 'I am glad you have made the trip because I have a favor to ask of you. But first, how can I help the RHC?'
Johnathan smiles suddenly.
"You're skyseers too?"
"We were told we had a meeting with Skyseer Nevard, and that he had leads on a person named Gale. I assumed Nevard would be expecting us..."
Johnathan stands quietly in the tent a moment before looking Nevard over. He smiles, somewhat sadly, then bows politely.
"Skyseer Nevard. A gift."
He takes something from his pocket and places it gently in Nevard's hand--a tooth.
Aldarun says, "Not all of us have the sight but the ones who are here believe in the old ways"
Nevard's old face smiles and he says, "Thank you young man... there may be hope yet for those of us who follow the sight." he scratches his temple and says...."Hmmm, Please tell me what I need to know so that I may assist you further."
"Our commander said you may have leads on a person named Gale."
Cretien stands quietly to the side, observing what takes place. He knows his kind find little love among the skyseers, and he sees an opportunity to learn more about a subject to which he was hardly exposed.
Cute and cuddly boys, cute and cuddly. Savan continues to allow the others to do what they do.
I wonder if that will yield any leads he wonders while looking those around him
The old man looks around and says, "Well my nephew said in his letter that Savan and Mithas were a bit more talkative than this. Oh well, I do know Gale and have known her for some time."
He then sighs, "I also know she has been causing a good deal of mayhem in Flint. Indeed, she has come to me several times asking my guidance. Ha, She hasn’t listened
to me much. But the last time she visited me she said she had started to follow my advice and had found a mutual
threat that even the people of Flint would take seriously."
He stops for a short second and continues "I might not agree with her tactics, but I likes her because
she’s one of the few beautiful women who’ll give an old man like him
more than polite conversation, and she always is accompanied by the
sweet music of birds." at which he becomes wistful.
A mutual threat, that would probably enormous indeed. Do you know anything about it? Or could you arrange a peaceful meeting if we all promise to a "Parley"?
Nevard says, "I honestly do not know that much about that, which then leads us to my dying wish and favor. First, there is something I must do. And if you like, you six officers can come with me - perhaps we will be able to find out something about this Bleak Gate murderer. I want to seek one last vision before I die. I want to go to the highest point of the city, with the clearest skies and the strongest font of magical power: the peak of Cauldron Hill, where the witches were. There I think I will be able to pierce the strange veil that seems to have fallen over the vision of the skyseers. I want to find a path that can let people like Gale and Johnathan here, and those pushing for industry, to walk together in harmony, fore the Danorans relied on industry because they had no other choice. This has to be my legacy to the people of Flint. Unfortunately, Cauldron Hill is the most dangerous and cursed place in the country, so even if we can get permission to go there, I will need armed protectors" he looks meaningfully at Merle.
'I would ask the six of you to find Reed Macbannin, the mayor of the Nettles district and a mage skilled in the defense against the dark arts, to grant me access to climb to the peak of Cauldron Hill and spend an evening. It’s not unprecedented; Macbannin and some of his apprentices go there to keep eyes out for threats before they get out of hand, and occasionally the military trains elite warriors atop the mountain. With the right wards from Macbannin, it could even be safe. If you can get permission, then you can send word for me through my nephew or courier and we can make the climb and I will seek my vision - Johnathan, son, this can be a great undertaking for you as well, hopefully one that will shed light on your problems as well. Will you help a dying man get his final wish?' says Nevard with a glint in his eye.
If he goes he can count on me he says with a smile
Johnathan listens intently, young eyes bright with wonder and curiosity--though not as naive as when you first met him.
"Of course, Skyseer."
"anything that can put peace between the industrialists and those touched by fey has my vote."
"That seems a reasonable request Master Nevard. We will see what we can do."
Nevard smiles and says, "'Thank you for agreeing to this. I will make sure I am strong enough to make the trip"
How about i go to the mayors office who would like to come with me?
Merle will keep Jonathan company as usual.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Savan will stop off at Mama's alone if everyone will let him. He will also noticeably loosen up as they leave the skyseer, fey and those who deal with them give him the heebee jeebies.
After an hour or so of trudging through the Cloudwood back to the Nettles the group splits up and takes three carriages to their locations.
Mithas, Merle and Angus
The compound’s high iron fence surrounds the opulent manor house and a cluster of servant/stable/carriage/gardeners structures in red brick and stone set in beautiful landscaping with myriad flowers. While it's theoretically possible to bypass the manor and attempt a more perilous climb up the rock to Cauldron's Hill summit, a number of gardeners have already spotted you and, through the railing of the estate you make out a group of men with hunting dogs on leashes patrolling the road from the estate up to the hill.The rain has finally stopped, but you are wet from the climb. The curtains drawn over the high pointed manor windows seem to twitch at your arrival.
A long time after you ring the bell at the gate, a well-dressed butler, thirty years old, brownish hair, good looking with an air of vague boredom, comes to meet you and, once you show identification, lets you into the grounds. 'Mayor Macbannin will be free in about five minutes, he's just finishing a meeting. If you'd like to take a seat in the garden, here amongst the roses in front of the house, I'll come and get you in a moment'. And he's off.
A few minutes later a slightly-stooped man - really he looks more like a beggar - comes from behind the manor and stops in the rose gardens for a moment. He lights a cigarette and gives you a nod. 'Leaf of Nicodemus', he exhales a huff of smoke as he gazes down to the slums stretching out across the nearby hillsides and he shakes his head. 'Can you imagine what it’s like to live down there?' he asks, almost rhetorically. 'Chaos, that’s what it is. The mayor,' he nods his head back toward the house, 'he could come up with the most brilliant plan to help those people. He could get all the money in the city’s coffers. He could do everything right, but he’s just one man. Not a cog in a machine, but a pebble on a beach. Chaos.' He takes another draw on the cigarette, then smiles. 'It’s beautiful, what people can create out of chaos. But I’d gladly give it up to stop their suffering.'
A groom holding the reins to the man's horse arrives and the smoking beggar gives you a polite nod. The butler steps out of the front door and gives you a wave to say the Mayor is ready to meet you.
Chretien and Johnathan
You ask one of the administrators where you can find Dr. Camp and she informs you that he is performing surgery in the giant surgery theater at the western side of the facility. You wait for about half an hour until the Doctor finishes his surgery you think it may have to do with some part of the abdomen.
After the surgery he washes his hands in a basin of warm water as the nurses wheel the woman who had been operated on out of the room. You approach him as he is cleaning off his utencils.
Savan
The carriage gets you to the front gate at about 1530. You walk through the front gate brandishing your reserve officer's identification card and get let in with a nod and a salute. The sounds of musket drill and the different professor's teaching their military crafts.
You find Professor Walsh scolding some officer candidates about the proper care of alchemical loads. He then sees you and says, "Show these you pups how we do!"
"Doctor Camp," Johnathan says evenly as they approach.
"RHC. We had a few questions for you, if you have a moment."
Johnathan smiles cheerily.
"We're looking for Doctor von Recklinghausen, know anything?"
Chretien and John
Savan
Walsh orders then to continue their practice under a corporal from the regulars who is his TA and then taps you on the shoulder and says, "How may I help you Savan... its not often you come to academy outside of maneuvers. "
A/M/M
Mayor Macbannin has cropped black hair, forty or fifty years old, wears a white shirt and black robes and an ornate ceremonial necklace. He listens to your request with a grim expression, but when Angus explains, his expression changes. 'For Nevard, that great Skyseer - gosh he must be about ninety now - of course I will be glad to help. If Nevard's vision can can avert further attacks by Gale, the people of the Nettles district (poor folk mostly working in the Parity Lake factories) have everything to gain.'
GM
AMM
He reaches into a drawer and takes out five slightly rusted iron amulets and shows them to you. 'When you come back with Nevard I will lend these to you to wear. They will protect you from being possessed by evil spirits, though I don't know how they will react with the sinister ritual your friend gave you. I will also provide you with four kegs of goat’s blood, which you must use to paint a ring of red around wherever you make camp. Spirits are distracted by blood, and the color red in general. They will likely smell you, but when they spot the blood they’ll believe they’ve found the trail of a wounded animal, after which they’ll mindlessly walk in circles since they’ll never find the end of the ring. The nights will be clear so we don't need to worry about rain washing the blood away, but you should be careful not to mess up the ring themselves.'
He holds up a finger. [/b]'But be warned: these defences are not flawless. If you don't stay out of sight, the denizens of the Hill will pay more heed to a moving creature than a trail of blood. Also, while a dim fire will be useful because of the supernatural chill on the mountaintop, I suggests you surround the fire with stones to hide its light. And if you do end up having to fight the spirits you should know that ordinary weapons work perfectly well against them, you don't need to silver them or anything like that. Radiant energies are the most effective against spirits from the Bleak Gate, if any of you have access to those.'[/b]
'On your way back down, when you stop by here, I will conduct a purification ritual which I will have prepared to clear away any dark energy that might be clinging to you.'
"Not sure, myself. Dr. Dufrene, RHC. Could you elaborate as to what he was up to, when last you two were together?"
AMM
Savan
"Our Ranger detachments train up there from time to time and we also do weapon testing because well the monsters are perfect for target practice, but it is extremely dangerous."
'Cauldron Hill is very tall and, except for trained cliff climbers, can only be climbed on the southern side where a steep trail winds up the hill. The mayor's manor is positioned on this path and acts as a sort of gate. Traditionally, the Mayor of Nettles district is always a magic user of some power with knowledge of protective rituals - he's directly appointed by the King's Council. One of his main jobs is making sure that no-one goes up the hill without license (Licenses are only given in special cases, for example we gets them for training elite warriors like the rangers), and when the haunted spirits get too excited the mayor goes up with some apprentices to calm them down.'[spoiler]
J+ C [spoiler] The doctor looks at Chretien and says, "Wolfi is an old friend of mine from the Uni days, he and I used to get up to some mischief anyway, he came to Flint because he was having marital problems but his visa is soon to expire and he has gotten an invitation to teach in Ber. But, I think he is in love with Kindleton."
DM /A/M/M
Let's check out the apothecary. That sounds more dangerous :-)
AMM
The carriage drops you off in front of Wareye's Apothecary which has a brightly painted sign on the building. The building sits back on a strand
of shops in the district. Streets run past the front face of the building.
Inside the shop are all kinds of healing elixirs and pills and potions for everything such a athlete's foot to green fever. Inside are two security personnel, a man and a woman both armed with batons. Behind the counter is a female gnome dressed in a extremely colorful outfit with bright swaths of green and pink, she also has a swept up do of the brightest purple. She says as you walk in, "Welcome to Wareye's, how may'n I help ya?"
J+C
"Ah, so Professor Kindleton is... the subject of the marital problems, or the object? Neither? Do you think they might have gone away together?"
John and Dufresne
Savan
AMM