The Ancient Silver Dragon moved through the remains of Manaket while searching for the cause of such devastation. Moving on, they encountered a large....thing and tried to dispatch it with little success. Since continuing, they have realized that they are on a different plane. Not really sure which one.
"Does anyone need any particular weather changes? I can change it to whatever you would like, although bringing down this heat is first on my list. I really am uncomfortable out here. Feels like I am just about to bake."
"The reason I came out here in the first place is Johannes Laryssen asked me to. He sent his third nephew Lars down to a mine in Garund six months ago. Lars was regularly sending reports every week. Johannes missed three. The boats came in from Manaket, but his letters weren't there. Johannes is afraid something may have happened and sent asked if I knew someone I could ask to investigate. I ended up answering his call as I like to help others."
"The rest you know. I arrived in Manaket only find that it is now the Manaket desert. And now we find out that some sort of dimensional bubble is throwing out sand like a geyser. And we have crosses over into another plane. The list seems to get bigger with every hour."
Katja also looks around to see what can be seen or noted.
[list]
An elderly couple walked down the dusty street of Katheer. Occasionally stopping to look at the many stall of merchandise that lined the street. The tangy smell of the sea wafted from the deep harbor below.
The old man pushed open the door of the tavern, holding it open for his wife. The inside of the tavern was brightly lit, contrary to expectations, the farside of the tavern was open to the elements, the woven mat wall rolled up and hanging from the ceiling. Several tiers of seating led out into the air, suspended hundreds of feet over the harbor. Before them an open expanse looked out across the trading port of Qadira.
A young barmaid, barely into her teens approached, Good afternoon, would you like a balcony seat, or here in the house?[/b] she waved at several booths that lined the back of the tavern, their foundation firmly on the ground.
The old woman turned and looked across the tavern, [i]I've always wanted to sit out there, can we? Please?
Of course, Vera, it is your naming day after all., smiling the old man nodded to the barmaid, Can we have that one? He pointed to the lowest tiered seat extending out into the air, visibly swaying from the breeze.
The meal had been mediocre, it was obviously the atmosphere and location that sold the place more than the fare. The couple sat back in the booth watching the ships in the harbor as they sailed in on the evening tide.
A shared bottle of wine sat empty in an ice bucket as they finished off the last sips from their glasses. When is the courier arriving? asked the old man.
Vera smiled and nodded towards the door, now.
A liveried courier had entered the upscale tavern, scanning the growing crowd of patrons as the dinner hour arrived. Noting the old couple he hurried to them and bowed formally, Lord, Lady, I bring greetings from Proctor Kivensk. The courier pulls open his cloak and swiftly opens a dimensional pocket hidden in the seam. He pulls a book out and places it reverently on the table before them. He hopes this serves your purpose and states that he is ever in yo... the courier's greetings are frozen as he stiffens and his eyes widen in sudden pain. A crossbow bolt juts from his chest, a slow stain of red bleeding onto his shirt. As he falls to his knees he tries to say something, his eyes pleading with the couple as the life in them dims.
A scream rends the air from a nearby table as the assassination is noticed by other patrons. In the ensuing pandemonium, the old couple are unable to see where the bolt came from. Vera grabs the book and looks over at the old man, the long step?
Grimacing the old man agrees, aye, we'll never get through that crowd. The two hold hands and jump over the railing, falling towards the harbor far below them. With their hands held together tightly, Vera mumbles a few words and the two disappear a dozen feet from the water.
Vera and her companion sit on either side of a small table. Several candles flicker around the suite as they stare intently at an ancient book on the table before them.
The leather binding of the book is cracked with age, wear patterns from use showing on the surface. Several runes of gold and silver are inland on the surface in intricate whirls and curls, several bending around and under the book to its other side.
Is that it? It doesn't look that old, maybe 50 years, 80 tops.
Chuckling, Vera responds, oh now, this is much more than that. First impressions are often deceiving. This book, if it is the book of Zotun, is from the second age, so many millenia ago. Even the stories of this book are ancient lore.
Who was Zotun?
Don't know for sure. The old stories said he wrote children's stories. His works were said to be much desired by nobility of his time. As far as I know, this is the only surviving copy of his stories.
Reaching a gloved hand towards the book, Vera carefully traces a path across the front, tracing another rune across the front of the book by no more than following the lines of some of each of the runes already carved there. As she traces the last stroke. Silver and gold light runs like liquid fire along the rune, spreading into the runes carved in the book. The book raises a few inches off the desk and slowly spins as the light runs along the path of the runes along the spine and back of the book.
The book settles back down on the table with an audible click as the clasp holding the book closed releases.
Wow. That was unexpected. But living with you, I'm starting to see how unexpected is normal. So this is an old story book? Why the enchantment?
Every story has a grain of truth in it. It's my hope that since this text was purported to have been written prior to the rise of Thassilon.
Validk sat behind the spacious desk of his office in Absalom. He was still stymied by the book. While he could decipher some of the stories in the book, he wasn't able to determine how to access the hidden lore. For the book to have been locked the way it was indicated that it was much more than the simple children's stories it appeared to be.
After the futile hunt through the deserts of Rahadoum, he and the other Guardians had separated to conduct their own investigations and touch base with their various underlings.
Even now Validk was working through a stack of updates, notices, receipts, and the other minutia of running a large international business.
A young doppleganger walked through the door, a small tray and steaming cup held in its hands. Your beverage, sir.
Grasping the cup Validk smiled Thank you Bashirj, how are your studies coming?
Quite well, I've learned several new orisons, would you like to see one?
His smile froze as he took a sip, What is missing? This is not my usual chai.
The young doppelganger lowered his head in despair, no sir, there is no cinnamon.
Cinnamon? How can we be out of it? Tell the chef to get some more from the market. This isn't alchemy! Sighing, Validk placed the cup back on the tray, take it away, and bring me some when it's right!
The cup wobbled as Bashirj tried to calm his nerves, and failed. His features melted and reformed into the face of an elf, then a goblin, a dwarf, before returning to the normal pallid complexion. But sire, there isn't any, not in all of Absolom. At least not that we know of.
Validk frowned, What do you mean, not in all of Absolom. Standing, Validk walked to a large bookshelf lining one wall of his office and pulled a volume out. He quickly flipped through it. This is the height of harvest season for cinnamon. The market should be swimming with the stuff. How long has there been a shortage?
Validk quickly wrote out a message, Send this to our agent in Cassomir. Dismissed.
Katja returned to Rose Manor and sent a message to Johannes for a meeting as soon as he was available.
Once seated and their meal was consumed she began to fill him in.
"I'm afraid there is nothing left. The city is a sand-filled wasteland now, nothing lives or grows there. Some sort of powerful magic that even with all my knowledge I could not discern what it was."
After taking a sip of the delicious wine she continues.
"With Lars gone, how does this affect the estate of his family? Are they capable of sustaining themselves? If needed I can provide resonable accomadations in regards to employment or lodging."
After Johannes has responded:
"As I have some business that takes me to Cassomir, do you have anything I could attend for you while I am there?"
Once they are done, Katja retires to her manor and begins preparations to leave. When she finishes getting ready, she will teleport 10 miles out from Cassomir (over the ocean) and fly in the remainder of the way (she is in human form).
Johannes waved Katja in I see that your news is not good. Have a seat and tell me about it.
Johannes listens intently, his complexion turns pale at the news of Manaket. Most distressing, no sign of the inhabitants? Manaket is much too large for bandits or even upstart pirate raiding. This magic must have been the problem. But you took care of it?
Waving off Katja's offer for his nephew, he barks a short laugh don't worry about it, I didn't particularly care for him as it was. His wife will be better off as a widow. He was good to his kids though, a shame that.
Standing and walking to a wall, he pulls down on a cord, unrolling a map of the eastern portion of the inner sea. Off to Taldor? Well I do have a venture there. Trade from Taldor has been good. I've even managed to get my hands on some Elven silk. Very rare...
In the early hours of the pre-dawn morn, Areniel sits down on the floor of his chamber in Rose Manor and settles into silent contemplation. Two hours pass in stillness as he prepares his mind to ready spells anew. When his mind is ready he turns his energy to prayerful preparation, carefully recounting the prayers that would allow him to invoke the Inheritor's power. Completing that work, he draws his mighty greatsword and, kneeling with it before him, gives an hour to fervent prayer- praising Iomedae for her might, asking for her help in battle, and submitting to her will for another day.
The sun crests the horizon as he rises from his prayers. Walking out into the garden, he strolls amidst the roses as he telepathically converses with the simulacrum who minds his post as the High Templar of Nerosyan. They discuss various patrols and reports, as well as requests for training or aid. When they finish, Areniel teleports to the location given by his double for the patrol closest to the worldwound. Flying, he quickly locates and reaches them. As they break down their camp, he draws a rod from his quiver and summons a great feast before them. They all sit together as they spend an hour feasting on sweet nectar and ambrosia, and Areniel shares with them advice and encouragement. When the meal draws to a close he prays for their safety and success before flying off.
Circling high above, he quickly searches for any demons trying to find ways past the Wardstones before heading to Kenabres to offer training to some promising young Paladins. While traveling he begins to speak telepathically once more... Katja, my love, I pray this day finds you well. The garden was particularly lovely this morning, though it always seems sorely lacking when you are not there.
The wind rushed by her as she soar through the sky, Katja caught a draft and lifted higher into the air. As she looked about the ocean her exceptional eyesight noted the land mass growing larger.
"No fog today, good. Makes it easier to see in other forms." she said to no one in particular just as she began to change. Her form shifted and her massive wingspan melded into the new form. Now a human, she continued flying towards the shoreline. Once close enough she landed on the well-used trail and began to walk the remainder of the way into the grand city.
No sooner had she touched the ground when a gentle voice called to her mind. She responded with equal gentleness.
"My brave fortress of righteousness. You make even the most devout paladin's resolve seem like mere words in the wind. As for the garden, I take extra care when you stay at the manor. I have gone to seek new shipping opportunities in Cassomir, and be back in a week's time should I not see you before then. Take care."
Looking around, Katja observes the area to see if they are waiting for anyone in particular.
Tessara sits at her desk, pouring over notes. It is good that the Crusader front appears to be quiet; she was still smarting from the loss of several of her members in an ambush the previous month, and finding new scouts, let alone training them, was not as easy as it used to be. Too many wanted to just run up to the front lines to impale themselves on the demon's thrust. Still, it was more than made up for by her growing network away from the lines, even as far south as Oppara and Absalom; the latter had enough contacts that Tessara was considering spending some of her resources to open an office down there.
Tessara looked up from her desk as her spymaster, Aiden walked in, carrying a number of papers with her. Today, Aiden was playing as a female; skin tanned to a bronze sheen, breasts perky and almost falling out of her corset. Matched with a very short skirt that showed off her knees, and one would think that a pirate had walked in. Someone wants to play in the bedroom, today, Tessara thought to herself. With a smile, she said to the buxom 'woman,' "Good day to you, Aiden."
"And a good day to you as well, Mistress," replied the spymaster, a bemused expression crossing her face. She definitely wants to play, thought Tessara. Maybe later, my little wench. "Are those the latest from the front?" Tessara says, firmly changing the course of the morning.
"Yes, Mistress, Aiden says, as she puts the papers down on the desk, making sure that her goods are fully on display for her boss. If there is a reaction from Tessara, not even Aiden can tell. Tessara starts to look over the papers, and pulls one from the stack. Looking it over in more detail, she looks up at her spymaster and says, "What's this about cinnamon, of all things?"
"We are receiving reports about an increased shortage of cinnamon spice being available. It does not mean much at the moment, but there are signs that more common crops are struggling to reach markets as well." Aiden looked down at her boss and wondered, not for the first time, how much of her bosses' musings were real, and how much was just to make her squirm. Tessara looked at the notes for a moment longer, then back up to Aiden. "There's nothing we can do about it now. We'll table it for another time. Now tell me, have we heard anything from Arenial lately? He was supposed to be back from the front by now."
"No, Mistress. Do you wish me to send out a messenger for him?"
"Yes. If he is available, find out if he can come by for lunch. May as well eat while I pick his brain. If not, tell the messenger to leave a message asking him to come by as soon as it is convenient." Aiden nods, then turns to leave. She is almost at the door when Tessara stops her. "Aiden, if you are not too busy, stop by around mid-afternoon. There are some 'items' that I would like to go over with you." With a nod and a sly smile, Aiden turns her head towards her boss and part-time lover and says simply, "As you wish, Mistress."
Light streamed through a stained glass window, casting its colored rays across the room. Dressed in the formal robes of a priest, the man looked at the disheveled traveler across from him. Between them a grand oak desk with gold and silver inlays stood as a massive symbol of the power of the priest.
The traveler stood nervously, eyes darting between the dark cloth wrapped object sitting on the desk and his master.
A-as you said, the city was empty. I followed your directions and found the tunnel. The building, it was nearly filled with sand. As I was preparing to leave, a large dragon was flying overhead. I hid and watched. The dragon was soon joined by several other figures, two on a flying carpet. Yet another stood on a hill near the center of town and thousands of floating orbs burst from his hand and flew throughout the town.
The priest stares at the traveler, waiting.
Gulping, the traveler continues his tale, I did what you said, and hid. The talisman you gave me did as you said. When some of the orbs flew into the room I hid in they, well they just popped, like a soap bubble, and disappeared. I waited a day and a night before leaving. I saw no other sign of them.
The priest reached a finger forward and idly nudged a small metallic orb sitting on the desk next to the cloth wrapped package. Quite a few orbs, for the talisman is completely drained.
He next turned his attention to the package. The very reason why he was here. It didn't look like much. Black velvet wrapped around a bundle. The priest opened a drawer and pulled out a pair of slim gloves. Quickly donning the gloves he carefully unwrapped the bundle, pulling each corner of the black velvet back.
Spread across the center of the velvet, and cleanly displayed were several pieces of what looked like a clay tablet with glyphs written across them. Frowning the man looked at the pieces for a moment before gently shifting them around. Satisfied he looked and saw that they formed a disk, about 18 inches in diameter when whole. Now in several large pieces. The glyphs were now seen to be written concentrically around the disk in a spiral. There is a piece missing! The center of the disk was a hole that looked like it would be about 3 inches across. Where is this piece? The priest glared at the traveler while pointing to the empty space.
I do not know! That is all that was there! I swear! On all that I hold holy! There was nothing more! The traveler cringed, fully expecting a backlash.
The priest pulled a glove off and wiped his hands across his face, Without the keystone, the glyph's true meaning can't be revealed. You must do better next time.
The wall behind the priest held a large mural map of the entire known world, spanning over ten feet in height and half again as much long, the detail was surprising. National borders were outlined as well as pin points of the major cities. The priest activated a rune in the map's legend. Magical energy flowed across the map. Most of Rahadoum fell dark and clouded. A large scar like area on the Tandak Plains in Taldor had also darkened.
Your next mission will be rather daunting. You will need to travel to Nidal. Going through Cheliax would be best. You will need to seek an audience with Visceroth. The priest walks over to a cabinet and pulls a pack from within. Everything you need is in here, wages included. Your boat sails within the hour.
As you command. The traveler accepts the pack and leaves.
After the traveler leaves, the priest wraps up the broken disk, and walks to a stone wall. He mutters an incantation before the stone wall. The stone rippled and flowed like water, pulling back and away from a door, solid metal, and dull in appearance. Opening the door, the priest stepped into a small room behind the door lined with shelves stacked with books, scrolls, and ancient artifacts. Against the back wall a solid shelf with nine spaces stood nearly empty. One was already filled with a satin wrapped package, much like the one the priest held. Carefully sliding the broken disk into one of the spaces the priest sighed, too soon, too soon. These seals should have held much longer.
*******
The scene fades from view. In the morning you wonder, a dream, or a vision...
Katja continues along and doesn't bother the boggards during whatever activity they are doing.
Are you going around, over, or through? Their ambush is set up on the path you are walking on.
Katja flies up and over their ambush to avoid it.
May the Master of the First Vault safeguard you on your journey and abundantly bless all your dealings. I do not wish to distract you from the task at hand, my love, but this morning during my reverie I received a vision quite unlike those the Inheritor has sent in the past... I would be most grateful for your aid in discovering the meaning of this vision... perhaps, if are not previously engaged, I could join you in Cassomir this evening for dinner and we could discuss it?
The remainder of Arenthiel's morning passes productively but uneventfully. He leads a soon to be graduating class of promising young recruits through a number of physical drills and interactive lessons on the hidden strengths and vital weaknesses of various types of demons. Each of these recruits has pledged themselves to Iomedae and to the order of Paladins, and their unsullied zeal is a great encouragement to the archon who still too clearly recalls the politicking and in-fighting that characterized the Third Crusade.
As his time with them draws to a close, an old, familiar voice (his own) speaks within his mind... 'a messenger has arrived in our office... our old friend Tessara requests your company for lunch if you remain available?' it asks. 'You may tell this messenger it would be my pleasure to join the lady for lunch'... though I suspect I might see her before the messenger is able to deliver our reply...
Their training completed for the time being, Areniel speaks a blessing over the young troops and bids them farewell. With a great leap and a powerful swipe of his wings he quickly rises 30 feet into the air and vanishes. With a quiet whoosh of displaced air, and a subtle fragrance of honey and cedar, Arenthiel appears in Tessara's office. "Greetings, old friend" he says quietly as she looks up from her reports, "I heard you had need to speak with me?"
Tessara looks up from her desk, realizing that she had left her old friend standing, in awkward silence...again. Standing, Tessara comes around, her hands out. "Areniel, I am so sorry, friend." She shakes Areniel's hand warmly. She then leads the gentleman to her conference room, saying, "I'm really sorry for my inattentiveness. Running a business seems to be much more intense than simply going out to the front lines. There are days when I realize that I don't get out as much as I used to."
The conference 'room' is actually a terrace, with a long table setup in the middle of it. The table is filled with carafes' of juices and the exotic kaffe, rolls, dates (and other fruits), meats of various kinds, and so forth. You notice that, besides yourselves, one of Tessara's spymasters, Aiden is joining you. Today, Aiden is dressed almost as a governess, wearing a full dress and petticoats. As all of you sit, butlers and staff come out to begin the servings. Several minutes of eating and drinking continues, before Tessara asks the most pertinent question of the day.
"So, Areniel, what is really going on out there with those thrice-damned demons?"
Areniel sits politely and enjoys some of the rarer morsels set before him. Not requiring food for sustenance, he had never fully understood why communal meals were so significant in mortal culture but after years of sharing a heroes' feast each morning with hungry crusaders he had grown rather fond of the practice.
After Tessara gets around to asking her question, he replies, "Your network has grown, I think... I myself have only just noticed something unusual and the crusaders are still oblivious to the fact... Unfortunately, I have not yet discerned the meaning nor purpose of this change... the borders are abnormally quiet, that is true, and those demons which have been encountered have all been of lower orders... I have flown a bit further in than the patrols typically range, but thus far have found nothing. They could be rallying somewhere in preparation for another large assault. Khorramzadeh has yet to be dealt with and given the attack which triggered the Fourth Crusade, it could be that he is working to orchestrate another large-scale assualt. Another, more concerning, possibility exists though... there could be some connection between this lull and the recent catastrophic events in Rahadoum and the Tandak plains... Tell me, Tessara, what do your contacts tell you?"
"Yes, about Rahdoum. It was one of the missives that Aiden had brought in just this morning," says Tessara, nodding her head towards her spymaster. In turn, Aiden adds a simple nod, while sipping on some of her kaffe. "I understand that the city of Manaket has been destroyed, but by means unknown at this point. I understand that our mutual friend, Katja, was spotted in the area. Is this true, and if so, does she know anything that my spies haven't sussed out yet?"
At this, Aiden speaks up. In her sultry accent , she says to both of us, "Mistress, I was looking into the history of the Worldwound, again. We've all heard the stories that it was Aroden's death that contributed to the worldwound. Many people often forget that it was not his death itself, but the planar shift of Golarion that opened the rift.
From what I was told about Manaket, do you think that was another planar shift?"
Tessara considers this for a moment. "Perhaps there is something to this, Areniel. I mean, we both know what ritual sorcery was used to align the planes for the demons to start pouring out. Perhaps this is being used as another entry point?" Tessara's face is furrowed as she rapidly becomes more concerned about the point that Aiden made.
"Katja was there, yes... unfortunately, I was not..." Areniel answers with a surprisingly uncharacteristic sense of disappointment in himself. "I was attending a war council in the Fortress of Ragathiel at the time. She and several other Custodians engaged a great beast in combat but were able neither to identify it nor inflict significant harm upon it before it escaped. She has been busied with concerns regarding her financial enterprises of late and I have not yet had opportunity to discuss these matters at any length with her. I hope to do so soon but for now I can provide no further information."
After this response he selects a particularly fine looking and extraordinarily delicate pastry and eats it while seemingly lost in thought... "Please go downstairs and alert the bishop that I will be visiting this afternoon. I have need to inspect the vault containing the Sarkorisan relics."
When he finishes the confection he gently wipes away any traces from his mouth with his napkin and continues, "As for there being another planar shift, what little I know of the situation lends credence to the theory of some manner of planar convergence... there appeared to be two suns in the sky and some magicks were inhibited, but from what I have been told thus far it sounds as though the intermingling was with an alternate material plane rather than one of the outer planes as is the case with the Worldwound... so I don't believe this is that type of 'planar shift', no... At least, let us hope that it is not; creating the Worldwound required the coordination of ritual sorcery here and the nigh deific powers of the Demon Lord Deskari working in the Abyss... if another enemy has arisen with that degree of power and influence it will not take long before it allies with Deskari and obliterates this world, or declares him a rival and destroys this world battling him.' At this thought Areniel pauses again as the weight of that possibility sinks in. "Unless other evidence comes to light I believe we should proceed as though this is something new and different. Perhaps you could inquire of the Custodians about worlds with which we could have potentially converged? One of the alternate Golarions may have 2 suns, or maybe they can narrow to a small number the list of candidate worlds for which there are 2 suns and the inhibition of teleportation and water magicks?"
"Where ever is fine with me. Both of us can get around quite easily, so I don't mind the location. It's the company that matters most to me my love."
Katja enters the city and slowly makes her way around the area. She moseys through the market to find a small snack (human-sized anyway) to munch on as she wanders about. As she engages in idle conversation she slips in here and there that she is looking for someone who knows about shipping and the ways of the sea.
She spends the morning and afternoon doing so, until the evening time comes. She changes into attire more suitable to the event, and chooses a well-to-do restaurant.
"My love, I am seated a small exquisite eatery in the Old Cassomir district. A very nice place it is. Ask the guards for directions to the Red Piper. They'll know where to go."
Giving Areniel's words some thought, Tessara says, "Are the Custodians still at the Fortress? If they are in one place, it will be easy to ask around, rather than moving through several planes looking for them. What you say seems to ring true, and any one of the Custodians may know of such a world."
Thinking about it for a moment longer, Tessara turns to Aiden and says "Go and fetch my gear from the vault, Aiden, and call upon the senior priest at the temple as soon as possible. Tell him that I need two scrolls of plane shift from his reserves. You can tell him that I will pay extra to pull from his reserves, but only if he says anything." Aiden nods her head and starts to leave the table.
turning back to Areniel, Tessara continues. "It will be nice to get out of the office and Nerosyan for a few days, even if it for work. While I go surveying the countryside, as it were, what will you be doing in the meantime?"
"I have an appointment this afternoon with my simulacrum and the bishop at the Cruciform Cathedral, and then I shall be joining Katja for dinner in Cassomir. The work before me tomorrow is not yet clear..." Areniel answers while rising with Aiden to acknowledge her departure and then returning to his seat, "tell me, do you know anything of a 'Visceroth' in Nidal? Or of a temple or priest with a map ensorcelled to change itself to reflect recent events?"
"I have an appointment this afternoon with my simulacrum and the bishop at the Cruciform Cathedral, and then I shall be joining Katja for dinner in Cassomir. The work before me tomorrow is not yet clear..." Areniel answers while rising with Aiden to acknowledge her departure and then returning to his seat, "tell me, do you know anything of a 'Visceroth' in Nidal? Or of a temple or priest with a map ensorcelled to change itself to reflect recent events?"
"I don't know of the latter that you ask, but as to Visceroth, that, or her I should say, I have heard of." Tessara makes a disgusted face before continuing. "I believe that Visceroth is a 'councilor' of some sort, for the nation of Nidal. Wasn't she around when the Starstone fell?" A gentle laugh comes from her lips, "I could not help myself. But, that being said, the old dragon is not exactly an innovator. I understand her specialty is in the slave trades. I believe that she is also on the Umbral Court, although whether as an advisor or an actual member, I'm not sure off the top of my head."
Tessara takes a sip of her kaffe. "Tell me, Areniel, why for do you ask about the dragon? Do you think she might be involved in this somehow?"
"It is too soon to say with any certainty, but I suspect she is not directly involved..." he responds. Over the years Tessara has become accustomed to the musical, ringing quality of Areniel's voice but it has always seemed better suited for rousing speeches or battlefield commands than for this sort of speculative conversation. "I have had an unusual vision, the source and meaning of which I have yet to fully discern. In it I saw a priest gathering broken seals, and charging an attendant with seeking an audience with Visceroth. I don't know what these seals had been binding, nor whether the priest is working for good or ill, but this vision has come for a reason and I intend to discover it."
The archon sits for a while longer, enjoying the food and the company as the old friends catch up and exchange pleasantries. After allowing the conversation to run its course, he stands and says, "Thank you for your hospitality and you aid. May Desna guard you as you journey to the Custodians, and Irori grant you the knowledge you seek. I look forward to speaking with you on your return." As he concludes his farewell he places one hand on his chest and lowers his head in a gesture of gratitude and respect. Then, with a quick flash of light and a subtle breeze, he vanishes leaving behind only the light scent of honey and cedar.
The next instant he arrives in his chamber in the west tower of the Cruciform Cathedral in like manner. His simulacrum is waiting at the ready. The two feel no need for pleasantries and have no need to catch up thanks to their frequent telepathic communication. Together they walk through the cathedral to meet the bishop at the vault...
"All of the wards are calm right now," the archon answers, "demonic activity is diminished around the entire border, and even some distance in from it. Some might be relieved by this but it troubles me. Demons spend eons laying siege to areas of the upper hells, they will not have lost interest in this world so quickly. Either they are organizing and gathering their strength for another coordinated assault, or they are seeking another means of entry, perhaps even trying to open another rift."
Areniel leaves those words to settle with the Cardinal as the vault doors are swung open. Stepping in to the vault as he listens to all that Jkervk has gleamed, he softly invokes the orison by which he can see magical auras and begins scanning the cluttered room. "It is unfortunate that the Pathfinders so often allow curiosity to be so costly. By now they should have learned from the roles of fallen crusaders that the Worldwound should not be entered lightly. Thank you, though, for your aid; I shall strive to put your information to good work. I know that your duties occupy a great deal of time, thank you for greeting us personally but please do not feel that it is necessary for you to remain if you have other responsibilities requiring your attention."
Turning quickly to the Cardinal before he has a chance to leave, Areniel asks, "Who has been in here, and how recently? And, what kind of records have you kept regarding this vault's content?"
As the stunned patriarch processes the questions, Areniel mutters, "Lady of Valor, hear your servant's call and grant the vision to see what has transpired here..." He tenses for a moment as his mind receives an instantaneous burst of information and then slumps slightly as it passes.
Aaron steps up next to likeness and places a hand on him, uttering an incantation of his own. "What did you see?"
"I fear I have arrived too late," Areniel responds, shaking his head in disappointment, "If you look very closely at this side of this table right here, you will notice that the dust is shallower and of a different quality than elsewhere in the vault. Not long ago, a man teleported in here on a small flying platform, to avoid disrupting the dust on the floor. He stole a leather satchel containing an ancient magical disc from this very spot then carefully dumped a bag of fresh dust in its place to cover his tracks. This was no random burglary- he knew exactly what he was looking for, and the current state of the vault's interior. As soon as he secured that disc he quickly teleported away."
Areniel spends a few moments looking through the vault in frustration before adding, "Please pardon my abruptness, Cardinal, but my quarry is no longer here and I do have other business to attend to today. Please make sure that Aaron has access to whatever records you can find regarding the vault or its contents, and I will speak with you again about the theft once I have more information." "and you, keep me constantly appraised of any discoveries that could shed some light on who this stranger is or perhaps more importantly what that disc is and where it came from.
Leaving behind only the lingering scent of honey and cedar, Areniel vanishes from them once more... and appears nigh instantly in his room at Rose Manor. He dresses in what he knows to be Katja's favorite outfit of his and then teleports to Cassomir to keep his date...
Areniel is finishing primping and adorning himself when Katja names the location of their rendezvous. He invokes his divine power to conjure to his mind Katja's precise location. As information about her whereabouts coalesces in his mind he steps between worlds and out on to the streets of Cassomir beside her.
"Made all the more exquisite by your presence, my bastion of goodness and beauty," he replies bowing to kiss her hand before taking the seat closest to her. "Tell me, my love, how has the first day of your new undertaking progressed?"
The archon sits for a while longer, enjoying the food and the company as the old friends catch up and exchange pleasantries. After allowing the conversation to run its course, he stands and says, "Thank you for your hospitality and you aid. May Desna guard you as you journey to the Custodians, and Irori grant you the knowledge you seek. I look forward to speaking with you on your return." As he concludes his farewell he places one hand on his chest and lowers his head in a gesture of gratitude and respect. Then, with a quick flash of light and a subtle breeze, he vanishes leaving behind only the light scent of honey and cedar.
Tessara sits at her chair for several minutes after Areniel leaves, contemplating several things. She then sits up and looks at Aiden. "Do you know, my little spymaster, where Validk might be located this time of year?" Aiden looks at her mistress in turn, deep in thought for a moment.
"He is likely travelling around the lower continent this time of year, but he does teleport back to his offices in Absalom from time to time. Do you wish me to have a message delivered to him?""I do. I think he'll be the most likely to have answers, given the circumstances. Katja would in fact be better, but she is much more difficult to reach, and we need some answers very quickly."
"Do you wish for the message to be coded," Aiden asked, with a slight smirk on his face.
Tessara considers this for a moment, then shakes her head. "No. I know that the old man loves his puzzles and codes, but it appears that we don't have time to deal with this one." Tessara pauses, then says, "I want you to get the rest of those tasks done first, however. I think I need to be ready in case trouble comes calling again." Tessara gives one last nod, and Aiden excuses herself.
********************************************************************
About an hour later, Aiden approaches her boss in Tessara's office.
"Yes," Tessara says, [b]"you have something to report?"
"I do, Mistress. I just finished speaking with the bishop. He says that he is afraid that he does not currently have the spells that you seek available. However, he also stated that his temple is in possession of an item called a page of spell knowledge, that might do the trick that you seek, mistress.'
"How much does he want for it?"
"Twenty-five thousand, mistress."
Tessara looks at her nonplussed. "See if you can bring it down to twenty thousand, plus an offer of future services."
"I'll do what I can, mistress."
"See to it, Aiden. When you return, I'll have the message that I want you to present to Validk personally."
"Of course, mistress." Aiden turned to leave, a smile on her face. It looked like she was going on an overnighter. It should be delightful.
Areniel listens attentively as Katja relays her business dealings and those elements of her day which were particularly frustrating or encouraging. When she finishes speaking, as dessert is brought out, and inquires about his day he replies, "More frustrating than encouraging, I fear..."
"This morning as I meditated an unusual vision came upon me..." He proceeds to share with her every detail of the dream which he is able to remember before continuing, "then this afternoon I traveled to the Cruciform Cathedral where I had seen one of these seals before. When I arrived it had already been taken, so I invoked a vision of the area in which it had been stored and discovered that the same underling charged with seeking out Visceroth had broken in and stolen it. Either he stole it previous to my initial vision, or that vision was of something which happened in the past; I cannot say which, but he could not have had time to steal it today if he was following his master's instructions."
Pausing for a moment to relish the deliciousness of the light, flaky, sweet dessert, the archon briefly considers that it could be better still with the addition of a little cinnamon and says, "I welcome any insights you have to offer, my precious vizier. I know that there are matters in Rahadoum which require attention, and have asked Tessara to do some research on it, but I need to go and speak with this Visceroth and learn whatever I can of this mysterious thief... Would you care to accompany me to Nidal tomorrow?"
Aiden returns to Tessara, another man following behind.
Mistress, Lord Serimus heard of your need. He has asked for an audience.
The man pushes forward, Yes, I had heard that you were in need of a certain item, but were temporarily, I am sure, short of the funds necessary to acquire said item. He dismissively waves a rolled scrolled he holds in his hand. I have that item here. A small favor, and it is yours!
Lord Serimus snaps his fingers and two men come come into the room, each holding the handle of a small chest. It looks like either could have carried the chest by themselves, it is rather small, only a foot and a half wide, and about a foot tall and thick.
They set the chest down and retreat to stand to each side of the door. I am in need of secure transportation of this chest. You are in need of a means of travel. Deliver the chest for me, and our deal is done. I trust your word as a Crusader in service to Queen Galifrey.
He places the scroll on the chest and steps to the side. Deliver the chest within a fortnight and I'll consider your word fulfilled.
So with the appropriate phrase, an appropriate sigil, and a little material to focus the energy, Validk grabs a handful of colored sand, we have a successful application of arcane energy. Validj flings the sand into the air across the stage, creating a cascade of colors clear across the stage. Turning to the dozens of students arrayed in tiers in the packed study hall, Validk smiles, and so, with practice, dilligence, and most importantly, a willingness to learn, we can achieve great things.
Validk gathers up a few notes, I want to thank all of you for attending, and I look forward to seeing more of you in the future.
Many of the students applaud as Validk exits to the side, Orsenn at his side. I still don't know why you insist on having these classes for the first years. Wouldn't you have more impact with the seniors?
Validk shakes his head, I might be able to teach the seniors more intricate and complex formulae, but the new ones still have eyes full of wonder, and seeing that 'ah-hah' moment when it finally makes sense to them is a wonderful thing to see.
Validk walks into his extensive office suite and idly drops his notes on a side table. Walking across the room he opens a small chest on his desk. Ahh, a message! Quickly opening the envelope, Validk quickly scans it. Looks like one of the guardians is looking for me. This came through from Katheer. Get our things and we'll drop into Qadira.
Aiden returns to Tessara, another man following behind.
Mistress, Lord Serimus heard of your need. He has asked for an audience.
The man pushes forward, Yes, I had heard that you were in need of a certain item, but were temporarily, I am sure, short of the funds necessary to acquire said item. He dismissively waves a rolled scrolled he holds in his hand. I have that item here. A small favor, and it is yours!
Lord Serimus snaps his fingers and two men come come into the room, each holding the handle of a small chest. It looks like either could have carried the chest by themselves, it is rather small, only a foot and a half wide, and about a foot tall and thick.
They set the chest down and retreat to stand to each side of the door. I am in need of secure transportation of this chest. You are in need of a means of travel. Deliver the chest for me, and our deal is done. I trust your word as a Crusader in service to Queen Galifrey.
He places the scroll on the chest and steps to the side. Deliver the chest within a fortnight and I'll consider your word fulfilled.
Tessara is sitting at her desk when Aiden shows Lord Serimus to her sanctuary. Oh, great. It's Lord Serimus. He's even more pretentious than the man who wanted me to call him just 'the Doctor.' What does this pompous ass want?
Looking up at the gentleman before her, Tessara says, "Lord Serimus, it is a pleasure to see you; do drop in." Lord Serimus' face falters at the feigned sincerity in her voice. Looking over the chest without rising from her seat, she continues. "To be fair, sir, I can in fact afford to buy several of those pages, much like yourself. It is just that I prefer to find a good bargain, rather than simply buy at face value. That being said, since you believe that I will be going in the same direction as your heavy chest there, I believe that I can make the delivery that you seek. I do, however, have some questions before I agree to this bargain of yours."