Bijannar walks outside for some fresh air.
Using my Mahrka training, what can I glean from the note, judging from the writing style, etc (all the stuff I do when reading mail for the Brotherhood)?
Perception:
EDITED:
To Bijannar:
"Ah, you've unlocked the enchantment. Good... Was there anything hidd--?"
I notice that Bijannar has left the room, scowl and sigh, then inspect the wall where the spell had been.
Toranindracar - You didn't see that Bijannar had copied a message before you walked in the room, only just that he had been staring at the wall and that the spell is now gone before he then turns and steps outside for some fresh air.
You'll have to let your Comprehend Languages wear off if you want to decipher the handwriting, etc. as its affect alters how you are perceiving the actual physical page. From the actual wording of the note though (admittedly a little difficult to tell because the spell is translating it for you), she seems to be using some form of internal code, in the use of assumed terms, with Kal'ishal. The words "hunter", "quarry", "light", and "shadows" seem significant. You also have the sense that she may be referring to more than one relationship, but you can't be certain. The tone and from what you know of the two sounds like a break-up letter, but she seems to also be referring to something else.
I'll go check on Thomi in the bedroom.
"Have we covered everything? Where did you find this book?"
It looks like he has opened a panel in the bed, as well as the chest and armoire. I scan the room; do I see any further things of note ... particularly hiding spots, secret panels or doors?
Perception:
Toranindracar- your search reveals nothing else of note, just the same clothes that Thomi found.
I do a quick scan of the kitchen.
Perception:
After taking note of whatever I find, I head toward the entrance of the apartment, where hopefully everyone can hear me.
To all:
"Well, perhaps it's time we looked for this Anwyn...."
Nothing of note in the kitchen beyond the horrid smell and the odd absence of much food.
"Agreed. She clearly knows more about what Kal'ishal was pursuing."
She turns to Bijannar - "Whatever you did to the illusion caused it to dissipate - care to share what you learned, this time in a tongue I can understand?"
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I join the others, and state:
Whoever did this was very thorough in going through Kal'ishal's dwelling. Isn't it odd that most of his books are missing? There are plenty of shelves, but they are now empty. Even his bedroom contains nothing of value except his clothes.
Perhaps Kal'ishal had a valuable tome in his possession, and the perpetrator wasn't certain of the identity, so all important-looking ones were taken.
To Toran and Bijannar:I didn't see a spellbook, did you? Aren't Brothers supposed to have a book of spells?
Bijannar smiles at Aegwyn when she walks out. He speaks, in Mtol Dærask.
Then, he shrugs his shoulders and leans against the stone steps leading up to the front door. When Toranindracar walks out, Bijannar asks, once again in Mtol Dærask, if he had any luck.
Then, Bijannar relaxes again, studying his new group. His fall on Valan last, whom he offers a smile.
Bijannar replies to Thomi in Mtol Dærask.
I nod assent to Bijannar. "Agreed, regarding the spellbook."
Then I read Bijannar's transcription of the illusory message.
To Bijannar:
"I should be able to memorize the content, yes. One question, however: Due to the spell I've cast, all languages look the same to me right now. Were you able to read it yourself? What language was it written in, and have you translated it or copied it verbatim?"
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Bijannar replies In Mtol Dærask:
Then, Bijannar slowly descends the stairs and stops at the bottom, looking back up at the group, waiting patiently.
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To All: There is only one place around here that such mud and leaves might come from, and that's the Sylvan District. Most likely Kal'ishal was either visiting the Druid's Grove or the Ranger's Walk in the lower portion of that district. They are a relatively short walk from here. I would like to head that direction while we still have some daylight to look around.
"Sounds good."
Agreed.
To all:
"Yes, agreed. I should say if our only lead were the Sylvan District, that might be a bit too large to search tonight, but if you [Thomi] know of certain parts likely to have produced this mud, by all means, let's head there while we're in the vicinity. And if we don't come across the elf lass there, there's some chance she'd be at Gwythyr's performance at the Theatre of Rahan, I should think. Master's blood, if I'd known how much walking would be in store today, I'd have commissioned a pony."
Muttered:
"Hmm... Note to self: commission a pony tomorrow."
Knowledge (local):
Then, apparently, we head for the Sylvan District!
** spoiler omitted **
The Theatre of Rahan is located a short walk from The Scarlet Strumpet in the Guild District. You know it by reputation as one of the more popular and nicer of the theatres in that district. It is the frequent home of many acting guilds and troopes and boasts some of the most popular plays of the city.
Does Toranindracar have a pretty good sense of the various leads involved so far in the case? It might be a good idea for the whole party to exchange information as to what is known and what leads are available.
NOTE: Aside from finding Anwyn, his most important lead is also his most dangerous: the book. He wants to examine it more fully for leads, but of course he wants to find supreme privacy to do so. If there's a chance, say, at the Theatre, to slip away to the privy and examine it, he will do so.
MY FRAME OF MIND: The "missing person" quest is complete, so in theory (I guess) I could return to Avarius and report. But now there is the question of how he died. It's not clear that it was murder (may have been ritual suicide), but if it were, murder of a Brotherhood Adept is a crime that cannot be permitted. Furthermore, it IS fairly clear that someone was helping Kal'ishal to learn mentalism, and if so. that's a person the Brotherhood would want found. My feeling is that if I returned now and reported our findings, the quest would be over and these followups may be handed to someone else -- but if I continue, the glory could be mine. And who knows what I might learn about mentalism -- a secret otherwise so closely guarded? Besides, it occurs to me that turning in the book may cast suspicion on me -- it's possible the only safe thing to do with it is keep it or destroy it.
Let me know if there are any related facts which should be obvious to me, given my Brotherhood training!
Bijannar follows the group, staying in step with Valan.
Aegwyn falls in beside Bijannar as he leaves.
"Is there more going on here? I saw the book - is it possible that he was investigating mentalism rather than studying it? From what I know, mentalists can kill someone without leaving an outward mark. It would be consistent with his death. And did the Brotherhood really not check out his house until we came into this? That strikes me as ... unlikely."
Bijannar looks over at Aegwyn, concern on his face, and replies "I cannot say. A master of the one of the more inquisitive orders - the infamous Order of Lux - just brought me onto this case two days past. So, whether or not they've deployed other agents is beyond me. That said, it wouldn't surprise me. We're sort of like a spider's web. Many strands, not all adjacent or even congruent with one another, all feeding into the center."
Bijannar stops and shudders.
"As to what they're capable of, well, you'd be better off asking a seasoned member of the Order of Lux. I imagine they'd know precisely what a mentalist could do, seeing they hunt them. But that doesn't mean it was, either. I'm not so fond of the witch hunt and I know many spellcasters, both arcane and divine, could kill a man without leaving a mark, as well. I imagine poison could, too. I think knowing why is paramount to learning how."
He then falls back into step with Aegwyn.
To All:
"True, and for that matter, every one of those modes could also be a mode of suicide, as easily as homicide. We have as yet no proof of murder, and we do have several reasons to believe the man was depressed. We have pieces of information, but we don't have a story as of yet.
But for the moment - and I must stress this - as the senior-ranking present member of the Brotherhood of Magus, the organization which exclusively governs the investigation and confrontation of illicit arcanism and mentalism, I must ask that every one of us here swear to keep any mention of the book we have found between us, for now. Any mention of this book to those outside this group - even to others within the Brotherhood - will be considered in direct conflict with Brotherhood business, and will be dealt with accordingly. The book itself will be held by me as evidence, not to be handled otherwise. Discussion of the book will be my sole province, and if any of you feel that the book should be mentioned to someone, I ask that you suggest it to me.
Furthermore, I recommend discretion with any public mention of mentalism regarding this case, as questions could be asked which may lead back to the book. Know that if your questions lead to Brotherhood prosecution, it will bring you harm. Use your, ah, best judgment. Is that clear to everyone, before we find this dæthol?"
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To All: Very clear. If Kal'ishal's death was a murder, my interest is in tracking down the culprits. His demise is an unfortunate setback, and I intend to find those responsible.
The Sylvan District is just ahead. Aegwyn, do you have any premonition as to where we should look first - the Druid's Grove or the Ranger's Walk?
Aegwyn throws her stones, watches the winds catch them, and tracks their path as they are scattered to the road.
Druids bring answers, but also questions and queries. Rangers are about their business, but can be difficult to track. One is as good as the other, but perhaps the questions should be begged, what would Kal'ishal need with one group over the other? Perhaps there is your greatest asset, in thinking why Kal'ishal might need a service, and what led those muddied boots to the threshold of his door, at the twilight of his life.
Aegwyn throws her stones, watches the winds catch them, and tracks their path as they are scattered to the road.
To All:
"True, and for that matter, every one of those modes could also be a mode of suicide, as easily as homicide. We have as yet no proof of murder, and we do have several reasons to believe the man was depressed. We have pieces of information, but we don't have a story as of yet.But for the moment - and I must stress this - as the senior-ranking present member of the Brotherhood of Magus, the organization which exclusively governs the investigation and confrontation of illicit arcanism and mentalism, I must ask that every one of us here swear to keep any mention of the book we have found between us, for now. Any mention of this book to those outside this group - even to others within the Brotherhood - will be considered in direct conflict with Brotherhood business, and will be dealt with accordingly. The book itself will be held by me as evidence, not to be handled otherwise. Discussion of the book will be my sole province, and if any of you feel that the book should be mentioned to someone, I ask that you suggest it to me.
Furthermore, I recommend discretion with any public mention of mentalism regarding this case, as questions could be asked which may lead back to the book. Know that if your questions lead to Brotherhood prosecution, it will bring you harm. Use your, ah, best judgment. Is that clear to everyone, before we find this dæthol?"
Bijannar's analogy about spiderwebs rings more true than Toranindricar may have immediately thought on first pass, and you have to wonder: who exactly is weaving a web here, and to what end?
Varan evinces no especial interest in the book, and merely nods to Toranindracar’s request. He sighs softly, addressing the group, in general, “Alas, the arcane mysteries have always been beyond me. My uncle, my father, my cousins… likely, they would have been of great use in all of this, but they are clear across the continent.” He runs a hand back through his hair, his expression thoughtful. “That said, I will go wherever this adventure leads us, and I will lend my sword and my strength to seeing it through.”
Bijannar nods to Varan once again. Then, he says, "That's good to know. A good sword can be as dangerous as a good spell. In the right hands, of course."
Aegwyn watches the runae as they wheel and whirl in the winds which swirl about her. She silently meditates on her question at hand, at first the runae seem to do nothing, but then she concentrates again and the runae spin and fall to the street below. She opens her eyes suddenly, knowing that to go to the Druid's Grove will bring nothing, but to go to the Ranger's Walk may bring some piece of information on Kal'ishal, or so the winds and the ruins seem to suggest.
Aegwyn looks up - her hair flying around her. We go to the Ranger's Walk. We will find weal there. The winds have spoken
She starts walking, not bothering to look back to see if the others are following.
The origins of the Sylvan District began in Mtol Dærine’s ancient past when the first tribal inhabitants used the nestled hollow of the plateau, protected from the buffeting winds atop the mile high mesa, as simple fields surrounding a large basin which would ebb and grow with the seasons and rains. As time passed and the foundling Brotherhood of Magus taught the local inhabitants the techniques of farming, soon the central portion of the plateau began to expand with more farmlands to sustain the growing community atop the mtol.
As the Citadel began to be reoccupied and the small community grew, the Brothers took to tending their own gardens, growing what supplies they needed and eventually maintaining herb and physic gardens in the Sylvan District's southern areas. The physic gardens blossomed with nettle, dandelion, thyme and chickweed and such medicinal plants as garlic, juniper, cannabis, castor bean, aloe, poppy and mandrake began to take root.
As time and lore increased, so too did the complexity of the flora introduced by the Brotherhood and the newly established Medical College of Dærine until trees from throughout Sæmyyr, the willow, oak, ash and pine had been introduced and a small forest began to grow. As the centuries passed and those who felt called to the protection of Sæmyyr’s sacred nature, new trees were added and tended too, hewn and grown. Inside of a small rock outcropping, now a hill, just to the south and east of the lake had been found a stone dolmen and so here was erected a squat stone tower atop the hill which today is the site of the Druid’s Grove, a place where all of their ilk come to worship in the sacred grove.
Soon, a vast forest began to take shape as the many druids from all corners of the globe came and made the city on the mountain their home. With the Valgaardian druids came the sacred yew, a sapling sprig brought from that region, the dætholayn tree singers brought the sacred banyan and others and gave the District the plan it has today - a forest to the south, some farms and fields in the center, and lush cultivated gardens to the center and north. Eventually, through the aid of the Brotherhood and the many stone masons now living within Mtol Dærine, a second, even larger lake was added, complete with fish and large enough to sail upon. It is around this larger lake that can be found some of the City's most exclusive restaurants and inns, built into and around dætholayn grown trees, including one of the largest trees in all of Sæmyyr.
The entire district, after millennia of nurture and care became a verdant landscape within the heart of the city in the air. Today the lower third of the district is given to wild forest where trees and plants of all kinds can be found and are still harvested for use or sale for their healing properties. The lesser natural lake grew too, through the aid of magic and advancing technology, and now it sits deep and centered in the heart of that forest, surrounded by marsh, in the southern portion of the district.
With the coming of the trees, the druids and members of the Brotherhood also brought fauna, to naturally spread the seed and encourage the natural harmony as a whole. Naturally these woodland creatures were drawn to the lesser lake of their forest home and there the numbers of them flourished, even beyond the control of the druids. Rangers were encouraged to hunt the forest and keep the animal population in control, for only these wise woodsman knew the right balance of life to maintain. Over the centuries, as paths became carved through the forest, leading from the outer edges, sometimes passing near or to the Druid’s Grove and the lonely tower, the area became known as “Ranger’s Walk”. While their ranks are small, they jealously guard and protect over the life they have been given stead of. The Ranger’s Walk is home to small camps of foresters and game wardens, rangers who cull the trees and forest animals and will sell the meat, fur, and other parts, as well as plants for low prices. They act too at times as guides through the forest, whose evening darkness and alien character atop the desert mesa sometimes carries a sinister aspect to those unfamiliar or will escort those in need of a druid’s care to the place they need to go.
A small camp of a half dozen hunter’s cottages lays nestled against the lake, on the border of what has now become a small marsh, and along a path which leads to the Druid’s Grove and others which traverse the forest, the Ranger’s Walk, and ultimately exit the District. It is likely there that Kal’ishal either made contact or was seen by a ranger as he conducted his business.
Bijannar looks around him and smiles.
Aegwyn relaxes a little - more used to the wilderness than the city - and makes for the hunters' cottages.