"That's very generous of you," Nime says with a grin. "We would love to stay at the Gryphine." She looks around at the others. "There's not a hidden set of rooms, tunnels and pools underneath it, is there? I prefer my inns without those if I have a choice."
"I... don't believe so," Sheila says, bemused. "I'll have Welben make the arrangements for you."
"I must excuse myself for now, but I look forward to speaking with you again on the morrow."
Shenuska nods, seemingly distracted by a rather generic portrait by the door - of a red headed lady well dressed in Magnimarian fashion from about a decade ago. It has the stiff, formal quality of standard noble portraits but Shen seems fascinated anyway.
"Is that her? Really?" She mutters. It is only once they leave the room that she realises what has been arranged.
"Are we still able to stay with you Theo? I'd like to meet your girlfriend." She says with a straight face.
Nime smiles at Shenuska's overtures. "Rodrik, Calendula? Where would you like to stay tonight?" she asks.
Theo could already see where Shen's mind was going. "Well we've more than enough guest rooms, I'm sure there's space for you to stay. I don't know if Alika'll be there; she tends to stay with her own family most nights. But you should be fine to stay, I certainly don't see why it would be an issue. Shall I lead the way?"
Calendula gets awkward and scratches the tip of her nose. "Would we hafta meet yer fambly? That sounds exhausting."
"We can stay at the inn if you'd rather," Nime says cheerfully to Calendula. "It sounds rather nice - no dungeons or monsters."
"Or exciting," interjects Rudrik. "We can finally find out what makes Theo the man he is today! Or, y'know, at least have a good ol' fashioned family dinner." The half-orc grins widely - it's pretty well-known that his several siblings have a rowdy household.
Back in the entry hall, the clerk Welben seems chagrined that the council is to pay for your accommodations. He grumbles and grimaces as you wait for a pair of carriages to arrive. One departs for the d'Ontalen Manor, while the other heads to the Gryphine.
Audrahni goes with Calendula and Nime to the Gryphine. Located in the northern reaches of Magnimar's Capital District, the Gryphine is an elegant, two-story building of fitted limestone blocks, with artfully carved pillars supporting a long portico out front. You have been given accommodations on the second floor consisting of a suite of two bedrooms (each containing one single bed and one larger bed) flanking a cozy parlor. The rooms are magnificent, with fine linens and plump quilts on the mahogany-framed beds, flawless Qadiran rugs, hand-painted floral wallpaper, and portraits of Magnimar notables by gifted artists. Fires already blaze in each of the fireplaces of all the suite's rooms, and the windows look down on dimly lit backstreets of the Capital District.
A magnificent dinner fit for royalty is served in the parlor by uniformed servants. Once you finish your meal, you are able to settle into your fine accommodations, and perhaps appreciate the fawning service you receive from a staff accustomed to catering to the smallest needs of the pampered wealthy.
The d'Ontalen manor stood out from its neighbours partly due to the old Taldan design but also due to the rune-marked lanterns lining its perimeter wall, though they were currently inactive, anyone with rudimentary arcane knowledge would recognise them as magical lights. Were anyone to look at the manor with detect magic, they would see a multitude of magical auras coming from numerous places both on the grounds and in the manor itself.
As the group approached the gates, Theo placed his hand on a small stone set in the centre which glowed for a moment before the iron gates slid open on their own. The path leading up was lined with topiary in the shape of various animals and carefully manicured gardens.
"Word of warning, don't touch the lions," he said, pointing out two of the topiaries.
By the time they reached the front door, a tall and slender man somewhere in his sixties had opened it for them.
"Master Theo," he said, looking over the group, "I see we have guests."
"There's quite the story behind it, Wolfram, I'll explain over tea."
************************************************************
Leading the others through the manor, a number of things would stand out to his guests. Aside from it looking as richly-appointed as one would expect, there were numerous instances of mild magical augmentations here and there - magical lights in place of candles, every now and then a spectral servant would pass by carrying an empty tray or a laundry basket.
Theo and Wolfram soon led them to a living room, where an attractive brunette woman in her mid-20s was sitting, reading through a book of arcane schematics. Noticing their arrival, the woman looked up. "Finally make it back, I see, brother?"
"It was a little more roundabout and dangerous than I'd intended, but there's time to explain. Everyone, this is my sister Alantha, Alantha these are some friends I met over in Roderic's Cove, Shenuska and Rudrik."
"A pleasure," she said, standing to greet them.
"Likewise!" Shenuska replies, shaking hands. "Your house is wonderful! Such an integration of magic and architecture. May I look at your book? Interesting - Dunstan has some solid ideas about containing magical fields but his theories on Thassalonian use of runes are horribly flawed - there's no evidence for them, but what can you expect from a man who never left Absalom? If you want the authoritative work on the subject I'd suggest Recalthian - the elvish is... idiosyncratic to say the least but her theories are much better grounded."
Shen is happy, eager even, to be drawn into discussion - as both a bibliophile and a mage these sorts of debates are close to her heart!
"If you don't study the flawed research and find the weak points, how can you help educate the people who take it at face value? From what Father's said, there's multiple archeologists in Xin Shalast who actually buy into Dunstan's theories. Probably because all the good stuff was looted years ago so they've only got the dregs to go on."
"Should I fetch the tea?" Wolfram asked.
"May as well, and can you let Mother know I'm back?"
"Of course, she'll be happy to see you, and I'll also send word to Miss Alika, I believe she was attending a show at the Serpent today. If I remember today's schedule right, it should be finishing rather soon."
Theo chuckled before turning to the others. "Prime example of my obsession with the Serpent's Run - I've asked Wolfram to find me the schedule so many times over the years that he's memorised it."
"That's hardly your fault sir, I have an eidetic memory, I couldn't forget it if I tried. And, after some of your father's experiments I've witnessed, I dearly wish I could."
"If you don't study the flawed research and find the weak points, how can you help educate the people who take it at face value? From what Father's said, there's multiple archeologists in Xin Shalast who actually buy into Dunstan's theories. Probably because all the good stuff was looted years ago so they've only got the dregs to go on."
"Which is why Korvosa is a much better area for study. Granted its a lot harder to get to the real Thassalonian areas, but that means that they are properly preserved and haven't been pared down to nothing. If this is your area you should visit sometime. I have some books in my shop that you'd find fascinating!"
Nime is quite excited at the repast laid out for them. Not quite as happy when she finds out the servants are unable to take part.
"That seems such a shame, there's so much food. Plenty for everyone."
"So many beds," she observes. "May I join you in yours?" she asks Calendula. "I know how cold you get."
...
"There's something else I would like to talk to you about," Nime says. The oracle has been quiet as the ladies get ready for bed."When Shenuska kissed you on the ship, I understand that it was part of a deceptive ruse, but you responded by saying not to kiss you without asking."
She looks at the scarred woman with eyes filled with affection, leaving the unasked question hanging in the air.
Rudrik is all smiles as he takes in Theo's family estate. He nods his head to Alantha, saying, "Hey, good to meet you. Thanks for letting me visit your house!" He cranes his neck about looking at all the finery and art.
He very pointedly keeps his hands wrapped around his belt and touches nothing. Occasionally he glances back behind the group while moving through the rooms and hallways, and it takes a little time for Theo to realize that Rudrik's checking to make sure that he isn't leaving dirty footprints on the immaculate tile.
Calendula stokes the fire, adding another couple logs, the light from below making her seem more skeletal and ragged. "D'ye ever jus stare at a fire and it's so warm and invitin you wish you could jus climb in an curl up?" she asks wistfully, crouching before the fire. "One o th gifts Iomedae gave me was a preternatcherell resistance to flame. When I was just a child, I once fell sound asleep in the coals. Scared my moms right to death. Tain't the same now." She shakes her head sadly and holds herself.
Loosening her myriad scarves and coats, the horribly scarred and grizzled veteran nods in response to Nime. "I'm not gonna say yes, but Shenuska needs to ask anyway, treat me with respect." She grumbles and continues shedding her clothes, content to sit by the fire.
"You have a shop?" Alantha asked, "It sounds like I'd quite enjoy a visit."
Theo soon noticed how careful Rudrik was being. "Don't worry about getting things messy, mate, all the staff have little devices capable of casting prestidigitation for cleaning things up and even the spectral servants can do it - if you were leaving bootprints, they'd be cleaning it up as you went. We've been trying to reverse-engineer that last bit of magic for centuries - even back when we were in Taldor, nearly half the manor was transported brick-by-brick here purely to preserve the magic that generates those servants."
Loosening her myriad scarves and coats, the horribly scarred and grizzled veteran nods in response to Nime. "I'm not gonna say yes, but Shenuska needs to ask anyway, treat me with respect." She grumbles and continues shedding her clothes, content to sit by the fire.
Nime lowers herself down to sit next to her friend. She leans her head over on to Calendula and puts her arm around her shoulders. "I hope you know that I respect you. And I'd like to kiss you, but I'll ask your permission first."
Calendula turns and gives Nime a tight hug. She tilts her head up, staring at her friend in the eyes. She raises her knobby-knuckled hand and with a soft smile, she taps an unblemished spot on her own cheek. "Right here," she invites, moving her hand to tap the large scar across her forehead. "Or here. Anytime, no need to ask. Yer my best friend, Blue."
Nime's smile of affection broadens and she leans down and places a gentle kiss on Calendula's forehead. She lingers for a moment and then pulls away, her eyes moving down to the woman's scarred lips. She then turns towards the fire. "So where can I kiss you if I ask first?" she questions softly.
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Calendula turns away and pulls her knees to her chest, still leaning against Nime. "C'mon Nime, you know how I feel about that." But even so, she considers for a long moment, breathing wet heavy breaths. "Maybe my lips," she finally assents. "But not often. And not now."
She breathes in deep and winces, grabbing at her ribs. "I feel like I'm gonna explode," she complains, rubbing at the sore spot.
Nime responds to Calendula's pain by turning and wrapping her warm arms around the woman from behind and holding her close.
"Oh, sweetie. I don't want anything more that what you're willing to give. I only ask because I think a part of you wants that and I think you would enjoy it. I know I would. You're an important part of my life. You're my friend and there are so many ways I'd like to show you how much you matter." She leans around and kisses the woman's temple.
"I think we should get you to bed," she says in a motherly voice.
It's about that time that a single knock comes from the door to the suite. Audrahni, who has been giving Calendula and Nime their space, answers it. "How curious," the elf says before calling her companions over.
The hallway beyond the door is empty save for a pair of small packages sitting on the floor. Both packages are wrapped in red velvet. One is tied with a black bow, the other green. A folded note is attached to the package with the black bow. The note, written in a feminine hand but lacking a signature, reads, With admiration, a gift of sweet candy and a sweet smoke. Enjoy, new heroes of Varisia.
Even Rudrik is smart enough to be skeptical of this anonymous "gift." He eyeballs the package skeptically from a safe distance.
Even Rudrik is smart enough to be skeptical of this anonymous "gift." He eyeballs the package skeptically from a safe distance.
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Corla has been following Shenuska quietly throughout the day. As they settle in to d'Ontalen Manor, the halfling doesn't seem to be too impressed, having seen her fair share of opulent locales in her travels with Viralane. Her eye darts around furtively, though, as if she were casing the joint...
"Corla." Shenuska says, quietly. "We are guests here. We aren't going to take anything, and I'm reasonably certain no-one is going to jump out and try to kill us. You can relax."
"You can never be too sure," Corla replies. "The last time I relaxed, I lost my eye. I aim to keep my other one."
"How did that happen?" Shenuska asks, curious. "Losing an eye must be quite the tale!"
"Before Viralane came along, I tried to escape from my life of slavery. It didn't work out," Corla says bluntly. It's clear she's not comfortable enough to tell the full story yet.
***
Those of you at the manor enjoy a delicious dinner provided by the estate's staff. Soon after you finish up, a pretty young woman comes into the room. Upon seeing Theo, she squeals with delight and rushes over to throw her arms around him, showering him with kisses. "Welcome back," she says. "Oh, how I missed you!"
Belatedly, she realizes that there are guests present. "Oh, I'm sorry, where are my manners? I'm Alika, Theo's girlfriend. Nice to meet you."
The young woman, about the same age as Theo, was a tiefling. One of the more human-looking kind, save for the golden eyes, the small horns and the long, thin, black tail now coiled around Theo's waist. Her long hair was tied back into a braid that fell past her belt, a jade band holding it closed near the end.
To those who know what to look for, they'd notice her movements were surprisingly graceful and precise. Which made sense when one noticed the rapier and dagger on her hip and that her well-fitted trousers and the loose shirt both allowed plenty of freedom of movement. The resemblance to the portrait of Viorec Saldana they'd seen earlier was also unmistakeable.
"So, are you going to tell us how you met your new friends, Theo?" Sarana d'Ontalen, Theo's mother, said, having joined them for dinner. Attractive for a woman in her fifties, it was clear that Alantha took after her.
"Are Father and Martellus joining us?" Theo asked, one arm around Alika's waist.
"They're meeting with those wine merchants from Cheliax," Alantha explained, "having to wine and dine them, trying to get their business for us rather than some of the other families."
"Ah, the pain of a four-course meal of Cheliax's finest delicacies. Wish I got back sooner now, actually. Well, we may as well get comfortable, it's quite a story."
He went on to regale his family members and girlfriend with the events of Roderic's Cove. Though he did explain that Baraket was something that should be kept quiet.
"That's quite the story, though it has me worrying that we might get a repeat of Xin or Karzoug. You know," Sarana said, "speaking of the Runelords, I've been wondering why you looked familiar, Shenuska. Has anyone ever mentioned you have a startling resemblance to Runelord Sorshen?"
"Sorshen! Gah; that's been bugging me ever since I met Shenuska, can't believe I didn't see it sooner."
"Don't feel bad, brother," Alantha said, "you always say that you're terrible at the history stuff. And that you never got around to getting a good look at the Lady's Light."
"How thoughtful," Nime says picking up the green-ribboned package. "Is this from that nice lady at the Pathfinder Lodge?" She opens the box to see what type of sweets or smokes they've been given.
Calendula stares, nervous, but lets Nime proceed without comment
The package Nime holds contains what has the aroma of expensive, spice-scented Katapeshi tobacco coming from a long, thin mahogany cigar box. As she opens the box, though, a cloud of green gas sprays forth, enveloping her and Calendula!
Nime stumbles back, waving her hands attempting to clear the poison away from her face.
Avoiding the worst of it, she calls out to Shelyn and a strong blast of wind pushes the green vapor away.
"Sweetie? Are you ok?" she says moving to help Calendula. "I'm so sorry, I didn't realize ... "
Calendula launches herself violently at Nime, but mistimes the jump and lands in a heap on the floor, sobbing.
Nime takes the blow while attempting to wrap the scarred woman in her arms.
"I'm so sorry, Calendula," she says, trying to hold the confused woman. "I didn't know what was in it. I'm so sorry."
Audrahni gasps in shock at the sudden but fortunately brief assault. She kneels beside Calendula and Nime. "Are you both okay?"
"I'm ok," the Undine replies, concern filling her voice. "I ... I think she'll be." She continues to rock the woman while looking at the opened box on the floor. "Who would send us something like that?" she asks. She shakes her head in frustration.
The opened box does contain actual cigars, in addition to the poison gas trap. The other one contains rare gourmet candied tropical fruits imported from Garund.
Audrahni summons the night manager, who responds quickly. She is appalled by the occurrence and promises to investigate the matter. Interviews with her staff result in a report within the hour of a chambermaid who saw a lovely, red-haired woman carrying the packages through the lobby.
"That's quite the story, though it has me worrying that we might get a repeat of Xin or Karzoug. You know," Sarana said, "speaking of the Runelords, I've been wondering why you looked familiar, Shenuska. Has anyone ever mentioned you have a startling resemblance to Runelord Sorshen?"
"Sorshen! Gah; that's been bugging me ever since I met Shenuska, can't believe I didn't see it sooner."
"So I've been told." Shenuska replies politely. "I think its simply chance. She was Runelord of Lust after-all, one would expect that she sired plenty of children. I'm originally from Korvosa so it could well be that I'm a descendent. Distantly of course, so don't worry - I'm not going to enchant anyone I promise."
She handles the conversation well, Theo detects the marks of long practise. The answers seem a little too smooth.
"So Alika, what's it like having a famous father? One of the Sihedron Heroes no less? Are you following in his footsteps."
Alika smiles. "It can be quite exhausting, truth be told. Everybody's always stopping him on the streets, asking for his autograph. Gossip junkies try to follow me around, wanting to know my every move. That's one of the reasons why I like being with Theo--he likes me for who I am, not for who my father is.
"Still, Dad is a great mentor. He's taught me quite a bit, and I know my way around a blade. I'm nowhere near his level of expertise, though."
The tiefling's smile fades a bit. "He gets called away on missions all the time, though. In fact, he and the other Heroes just left a few weeks ago on some top-secret task. Sometimes he's able to check in with sending spells, but I haven't heard from him since the beginning of the month. I know he can take care of himself, but that doesn't mean I still don't worry about him."
Nime retires with the others, but after an hour or so of tossing and turning, she leaves Calendula's bed to sit in front of the fireplace. Guilt over her naivete roils around within her.
Eventually the oracle grabs the box of sweets and waves her hand over them and offers a prayer to Shelyn. She then proceeds to eat every one as she stares into the hot coals.
After the fruits are gone, she tosses the box onto the coals and sits for a while more before returning to her friend's side.
As Nime returns to the bedroom, she sees a shocking sight--the window's shutters are open, and a masked bugbear in a red-hooded cloak stands over the bed, raising a curved sword high as he prepares to strike Calendula!
"Oh, my! Calendula, look out!" Nime cries out as she begins the gestures for a spell that she directs at the bugbear.
The bugbear manages to resist Nime's spell. His blade starts to move down towards Calendula's chest--
Calendula immediately moves to action, grabbing her sword from the dresser and slapping it across his face, knocking him down to the ground.
The bugbear falls to the floor, but quickly springs back up and stabs his poisoned sword into Calendula's gut!
Nime attempts the same spell again on the bugbear assassin.