Seeing Sandpoint from the perspective of a doll was... something else.
It wasn’t too difficult getting back into the city proper. Even after the elephants’ rampage, there were many more people in town than usual, so the Oracle just listened for the noise of society. From what Shiloh eventually concluded, she had landed somewhere on the outskirts of Sandpoint, likely in someone’s backyard where the line between civilization and wilderness blurred.
Everything was so much bigger than before. It reminded Shiloh of how Mother had described the infrastructure of Xin-Shalast and how massive and towering that all was compared to the modern cities. Only Eugeni Silva’s New Light and the best of Absalom could compare to anything from Thassilon. Now Shiloh understood how awestruck her Mother had been during her time in the Reclaimer’s capital.
Similarly, Shiloh finally had an idea of just how dangerous the City of Greed had been for the Varisian Rangers to traverse. To the little lancer, the average person was now practically one of those runed giants. Every common animal was now equivalent to one of Karzoug’s monsters. If there was one advantage her tiny size gave her, it was that Shiloh was rather difficult to easily notice. She was nowhere near as good at sneaking as Setsuna (or Mother when Shadow Dancing), but at her current stature, she could at least avoid drawing attention by keeping a low profile, which she was.
As she traveled, part of Shiloh expected Uncle Tusks to materialize from thin air to arrest her. Out of everyone in Sandpoint, he was likely the one person who could track her down in any reasonable amount of time. Granted, she supposed William Lightstaff could as well, especially if he got Uncle Argor involved.
...Sometimes, Shiloh wondered if she was wrong to be so paranoid. Most of the time, her worst fears never manifested, but when they did, they were everything the blonde expected and then some. As life had taught Shiloh, she would much rather be prepared than clueless.
That being said, perhaps she was… wrong to actively think that Tortellini, Kallie, Abasi, and Bethania would sell her out. They had never given her a real reason to think such a thing. Jaya? ...Time would tell. Auronee Baloney Farwynd had been the subject of many, many, many roasts around Verde Heights. Even Mother did not think highly of the backstabbing terrorist.
However, Jaya had been so nice to the little lancer. In fact, her kindness toward Shiloh had been incredibly unexpected. When the blonde had started shrinking, everyone had laughed at her… except Jaya. Well, her and Bethania. So Jaya and Bethania hadn’t laughed. Oh, and Kallie. So Jaya and Bethania and Kallie hadn’t laughed. However, Beth was Shiloh’s unofficial little sister, and Kallie was her official niece. Jaya was essentially a total stranger.
And yet she hadn’t laughed at Shiloh… In fact, Jaya had tried to help! Shiloh definitely understood that it was wrong to judge people based on their parents, so for now, she decided that Jaya deserved the benefit of the doubt.
Anyway, back to more pressing matters. Using the position of the sun, Shiloh was able to orient herself in the direction she recalled the Classy temple being. It was a very distinct building, so even at six inches tall, the blonde would definitely notice it. Despite her reduced size, for now, Shiloh was likely fine with traveling such a great distance. To stay in shape, every other day, she and Pryde would go running around Absalom for a few miles. This was nothing new.
Besides, not wanting to draw any attention, Shiloh was traveling at a very careful pace and keeping largely out of sight...
"That will be up to the town council. You may be fortunate to have some popular opinion on your side before this...but now?" Raye asks with a shrug. "Anyway, I need to go find your final rogue accomplice. Try not to break anything...else," she calls over her shoulder as the now annoying sound of an apple being bitten into echoes behind her.
Another town guard steps around the corner, holding a spear and staring at you through the bars. Namely directly at Abasi and Bethania. The anger in his eyes makes you think that someone close to him must have been hurt and hurt badly by your antics.
Then, his form starts to waver and his eyes take on a blue glow...
The armor fades away to reveal fine clothes, the spear morphs into an elaborate metal staff with a blue crystal in its headpiece, and where once was a fairly nondescript guard now stands Abasi and Bethania's father.
Argor glares quietly at his children for several agonizing seconds. "One day. I let you...you children out of my sight for one. Whole. Day. Not even an entire solar cycle, in fact, and what do you do? You shame my...no...worse...you shame your mother's name by becoming criminals and terrorists! And for what? A fleeting moment of revelry that, at best, would have been a mere afterthought?"
As you cautiously try and make your way through town, you notice several guards go from casual crowd control to active search parties. As one pair pass you, you overhear them say "Captain Raye said so. Heard it from Zoli's little trouble maker. There was definitely another one of them. The one that was riding the cat."
As if on cue, you hear a voice from across the square call out "We've found her tiger! Got it cornered at Rat Alley! Cap wants it brought in alive, but said to take it down if it becomes violent! Come on!"
The two guards nearest you turn and take off, joining about four others all headed through town.
Upon hearing the news, Shiloh felt her heart sink. So her fears had been completely justified. Embreth had sung like a canary.
However, in a fleeting moment of clarity, she also could not help but notice that the guards were not looking for her correctly. They were looking for a petite woman of a 3’2” stature, not a six inch doll. So Embreth had only sung the first verse before realizing his mistake or someone quieting him?
...Shiloh could work with that.
However, in a moment straight out of a Zoli Tileani play, some random guard announced that they had Pryde cornered in a place called Rat Alley. Selfish as Shiloh could be, that almost spurred her to rush over to help her most trusted ally. In fact, she was prepared to charge out of her hiding place when she remembered one important detail.
...Where exactly was Rat Alley?
Pryde was not entirely sure how it happened, but the tigress suddenly found herself cornered by several humanoids all wearing those shiny shells and all armed with shiny claws and horns. She held no delusions about fighting them off. It was impossible. Besides, Shiloh had trained her only to attack on command or in self-defense. Thus far, her antagonists were not attacking Pryde per say…
However, thinking that they had her, they underestimated Pryde. She spotted one of the weakier, smaller humanoids briefly lower his guard. He appeared quite exhausted too. In the blink of an eye, Pryde rushed forward and slipped right under his legs. Quickly getting up to speed, she couldn’t help but grin as the entire troop just dumbly stood around for several seconds in shock. By the time they got their wits about them, Pryde was well ahead of her chasers!
As it would turn out, Pryde would not need her help. The slippery cat somehow escaped. Given that her walking speed was easily double that of the regular armored guard, they were having the time of their lives trying to reach her. They could probably catch her on horseback, but crowded, debris-ridden streets were not the best place for such animals.
In fact, Pryde rather cleverly began to nimbly prance through the debris to escape her pursuers, leaving them in the dust! When her mount got to the other side, Shiloh watched as her mount’s nose began to twitch. The tigress had her scent.
Shiloh saw that the sudden bout of action had stirred up the crowds again. A tiger running around town was definitely… a surprising sight. Out of necessity, the guards appeared to be back in crowd control mode, and none were currently remotely close to her or Pryde. In fact, no one was really around.
There was a window of opportunity here...
The Cladissan option was essentially shot. Even if she managed to get inside their temple, bar some divine intervention from Sabby or her boss, Shiloh suddenly doubted that a bunch of peaceful pacifists would help a supposed violent criminal. There was likely a sequence of words that would get the outcome she desired, but it was becoming increasingly obvious that going to her former allies would likely condemn Pryde to death and that Shiloh was largely relying on a miracle from her divine sister.
So… should she turn herself in or make the run to Magnimar?
...If she had been a more proper size, Shiloh likely would have given up right then and there. However, being only six inches tall in a city of people who wanted her blood… heavily influenced her decision. Without Needle or her armor, at the size of a doll, she was stupidly vulnerable. People were angry and irrational.
None of Shiloh’s math yielding a desirable outcome for her. When given a position of great power, authorities rarely lived to the standards they supposedly followed. She was painfully aware that fact.
It was now or never. Shiloh quickly stepped out of her hiding place and made a soft clicking sound. Pryde’s ear twitched, causing the tigress to turn in her direction.
After hugging her friend’s massive face, Shiloh gave her a sequence of commands. First, the little lancer climbed into her mount’s mouth. It was too risky to ride on the saddle, and even at her current size, it would be really hard for the relatively small Pryde to swallow an entire six inch person by accident. From there, Shiloh would do her best to steer Pryde.
Having worked and trained together with her mount for years, Shiloh made it work. Operating on pure instinct, she pulled from every memory and second of experience she had. As for her trusty feline...
Against all odds, Pryde managed to nimbly navigate their way through Sandpoint and elude the guards. Now having someone who was familiar with the streets of town, the tigress was able to easily avoid places where they could get cornered. In fact, Shiloh’s knowledge of the area let them utilize some shortcuts Embreth had taught her and places where horses and armored men could not navigate easily. In short, they left their chasers in the dust.
They made one unexpected stop. It took everything in her power to stop Shiloh from breaking into tears at what she saw. Somehow, Pryde had salvaged her most important gear. Her clothes were lost, but everything that mattered was safe. Largely due to retaining some of her strength, in just a few seconds, Shiloh was able to comically stuff everything inside her Handy Haversack, which handily resized itself to her level when she was done!
After securing her possessions and giving Pryde some water, the two continued their trek, keeping largely to the woods near the road to Magnimar.
Being somewhat familiar with the route, Pryde was able to follow it easily enough…
As they traveled, Shiloh found herself thinking over her next course of action.
At this point, only a few people could catch her. If Uncle Tusks showed up to arrest her, Shiloh would instantly surrender without resistance. If Uncle Argor (or Billy Lightstaff acting on his authority) showed up to arrest her, Shiloh would point out his lack of jurisdiction, and if that failed, she would grumble but otherwise instantly surrender without resistance. If Mother or her agents discovered her, Shiloh definitely would instantly surrender without resistance.
Otherwise, it was just a matter of getting into Magnimar and getting into the Kyoni embassy.
Not so long ago, Shiloh would have written off the entire plan as insane and impossible, but now?
...Not so much.
"Shiloh," a familiar voice spoke up behind the girl and her tiger. Turning she was greeted with the calculating, bulbous eyes of Master Eugeni Silva. He was floating cross legged in the air about ten feet behind the pair, looking down on her sternly.
"It's time to stop running. You have to join the others," he says without landing. "You know what you five did was wrong."
Uncle Tusks was the one person Shiloh could not escape.
Pryde could (probably) outrun Aunt Zoli. For her at least, Uncle Argor lacked jurisdiction over this situation. Grandma Ryli was miles and miles away. Shiloh actually wanted to find Mother.
Uncle Tusks? He was both legally and literally too powerful.
"I know... I just... I'm afraid... Before some vengeful guard snaps my neck, may I tell you my side of the story first? I don't think... I'll be... treated... fairly..."
She had no plans to lie or toss her partners-in-crime under any wagons (even Embreth), but Shiloh just wanted... someone to know how she felt.
Eugeni turns his back to her, slowly floating back towards Sandpoint. He says over his shoulder, "Say what you will. It's a short ride yet back to town. It does not have to be in silence."
"...Thank you."
After taking a moment of silence to collect herself, Shiloh told her side of the story from the beginning. No lies. No excuses. How she went along with Embreth's crazy plan. How she personally distracted William Lightstaff. How she scaled the statue with the others. How she took her turn and shrank to six inches in height...
"Within a minute or two of me shrinking, there's suddenly two elephants going on a rampage. Next thing I know, there's a collision, and I'm airborne..." she explained, before getting into the details about her wild ride with the seagull. When she finishes, the little lancer adds, "After that harrowing experience, being just six inches tall and having nearly died, I was convinced that surrender to anyone but you or Mother meant instant death. That's why I... ran around like a headless chicken."
Perhaps if she had not been so rattled and only six inches tall, Shiloh could have given a speech that would have won some award. However, she nonetheless tried to find some balance between accepting the consequences of her actions, wanting to make amends, and articulating that she just wanted to be judged fairly.
"I'm very aware of the damage that was caused and the lives that were impacted. That I want to help make right. I messed up; I made some major mistakes, and I accept responsibility. Truly. However, I'm so terrified that I will... Very well. I will accept my punishment. I did much wrong. I want to make amends. I just... hope that... I'm treated fairly and given that chance."
Eugeni listens quietly as Shiloh tells her story. She gets the impression that his mind is several places at once. As you approach the southern entrance to the town, Eugeni pauses and says "Of course you will be treated fairly. However, what you five did was wrong. And you are children no longer. People were hurt with your foolish use of magic. Homes were destroyed. Fortunately, no lives were lost. But in the end, crimes were committed, and you will need to face judgement for that."
Several town guard are standing expectantly at the road, almost as if they had been told to be expecting you there. Eugeni raises his central hand to them to wait, though. He points to the old mirror and sign still posted at the entrance to town. "Welcome to Sandpoint! Please stop to see yourself as we see you!"
"These men will see you to the others. However, I think now is a good time for you to study yourself in this mirror and take its words to heart. Because of your actions today, you indeed do seem so very small..." he says before flying higher and on into town, fully expecting you to comply.
Finally having some assurances that she wouldn't lose her head to some Final Blade, Shiloh complied without resistance. Moreover, she was absolutely relieved to learn that no lives had been lost. As requested, Shiloh also studied herself in the mirror for as long as she could...
However, sadly, she took her Uncle's words the wrong way.
He's right. I need to get stronger. If I had been more powerful, I could have nipped this problem in the bud.
Shiloh looked at her tiny hands.
...And I need to better prepare for these situations. I was caught flatfooted and left completely helpless.
Her little fists clenched.
Never again.
Argor turns his head at the sound of someone approaching, and mutters some magic, his form again turning to that of a local guard. Another guard comes in with miniature Shiloh sitting on the palm of his hand. He sets her down and lets her walk into the cell along with the rest of you. "With her being so tiny, we are going to have to keep you at your word you will remain here. We thought about a bird cage, but Master Silva told us this would be temporary and being in a cage when the spell ended could prove harmful to you. So, if she isn't around for sentencing, then the punishment that would have went to her will be placed on the rest of ya, understood?" the guard says before nodding to his "coworker" before turning to head back out of the jail and up the stairs.
Once alone with you all again, Argor's form returns to his normal appearance. "So you were involved as well, I see. It would seem only one of my wards had enough sense to at least not take part in this nonsensical endeavor, but not enough to stop it before it began."
To the guard's question, Shiloh nodded affirmatively in understanding.
Not wanting poor Lana to get hit in the metaphorical crossfire, the little lancer also quickly spoke in her little sister's defense.
"Last I checked, Lana has been studying Master Lightstaff's newest tomes all day, Uncle," Shiloh clarified carefully. "She has no knowledge about what happened; we never approached her. She is completely innocent."
"IGNORANCE DOES NOT EQUATE TO BLAMELESSNESS!" Argor snaps back. "She could have requested copies of those tomes be transcribed and shipped to Absalom on the next ship! You four were supposed to be taking in this festival together, as you had so vehemently proclaimed for weeks on end! Instead, you seem to have went your own ways almost the instant you arrived!" he continues as he paces back and forth in front of your cell.
"But Father! We-" Bethania starts before Argor wraps his staff against the floor, cutting her off.
"Do NOT 'But Father' me, young lady!" he says through clenched teeth. "You will NOT talk your way out of this. You," he pauses, doing a double take towards Jaya and ceases his pacing. He weaves a cantrip and sends four dancing motes of white light into your cell and floats them near the ceiling, bathing you all in their radiance. He studies Jaya intently, his already sour face growing more stern. He tightens his grip on his staff, almost as if considering something for several long, long feeling seconds.
Jaya looks levelly back at Argor. "If you would prefer to speak with your wards and children in private, I'm certain the Sheriff would be willing to store us in another holding cell temporarily."
Kallie spends the dressing-downs pressed as far into the corner as possible, trying to stay out of everyone's focus. When Argor shows up and lays into his children, it gives her cause to wonder if her Earthmother will be visiting her. She hugs her upper stomach and just stares at the floor imagining that scenario.
When Argor studies Jaya closely, her head snaps up as she makes the connection. She had been a little slow earlier, but now remembers that her her aunt's best friend -- Jaya's mother -- had been related to the goddess Cladissa.
I'm sure Argor would love to hear that!
"Master Argor! This is Jaya Farwynd," she volunteers.
Argor clenches his teeth as he continues to consider something in silence, before ultimately turning to head to the stairs. "I am well aware of who this is, little centauress," Argor almost growls. "You all have impeccable taste in companions, that much is evident and explains a lot. You are to remain here and fulfill whatever sentence the lords of this town bestow upon you. Do not let me learn otherwise."
Without waiting for another comment, he heads up the stairs.
The prisoners are eventually led to the Town Hall of Sandpoint several days later. There, a sizable crowd has gathered to witness the sentencing of these young adults, all descendants of heroes and figures of authority, that have now become forever branded as criminals in the eyes of the people of this town. There is some deliberation back and forth between members of the Sandpoint Mercantile League, the ruling body of nobles here in town, but ultimately your crimes really consisted to the destruction of property and assault of the town guard.
You are eventually sentenced with the task of rebuilding that which was damaged, save for the statue as that requires craftsmanship and skill which you do not have. The homes, shops, and their furnishings will be rebuilt, nail by nail and board by board, by the five of you. Supplies will be provided thanks to a donation from Masters Lightstaff, Silva, and Constantine, as well as Lady Tileani. Construction efforts will be overseen by Old Man Harker from the lumber mill to see that they are done properly.
__________
Several long months of hard, physical work pass by. Through the winter months, you are forced to focus your tasks to indoor work, helping rebuild furnishings for the houses and shops once they are completed. But once the weather lets up and the air warms enough for outdoor work, you are again back at it out in the sun working hard. Bethania in particular struggles significantly with the tasks, as none of her training in life prepared her for labor such as this.
Even so, the hard physical work keeps you all in good shape, your bodies all staying in top form thanks to the efforts you put forth. And you begin to grow much closer with one another as even in your off time, you are limited to residences within the garrison under guard.
Finally, after 8 long months, you finally drive the final nail into the final board, completing your sentence. A small crowd of folks actually have gathered to applaud your dedicated work as the five of you stand there covered in sweat and grime.
Abasi--seething--tried to think of what to say to Argor. Yes, we get it, we made a mistake, now lay off! It's not like you never spent a night in jail, right Dad?!?
...but before he could find the words Argor was gone.
"....Uggggh.
"So, yeah, Jaya...sorry about our dad. He's kind of always like that, I'm afraid.
"Beth's the only one of us who's all that good with people, though Dad learned intellectually how to go through the motions when he wants something from someone, and did his best to teach at least that much to Lana and me."
While he was certainly ready to do something more exciting than home repair, Abasi was a craftsman at heart, and he felt a certain amount of pride at what he'd built.
Earlier (on the sly) Abasi had looked into the history of each family whose home had been damaged, and had made each a masterwork weapon. If they had a family crest, or family arm, or just a favored deity, he'd drawn inspiration from that. If there was truly nothing else, he made them a starknife with their family name engraved in it.
"Look." He said, and then paused awkwardly. "I...What we did was stupid, and I'm sorry we f+**ed up your houses. I'm not great at apologizing, but wanted to give you this."
Bethania leaned over the nearby water bucket, ladling some water over her head to combat the heat of the sun. She looked up as the small crowd applauded, and catches Old Man Harker's leering looks at her, as she had several other times during this whole process. She had to admit, the work had been good for her body. It had for all of them. But the owner of the lumbermill's looks always unsettled her.
She made her way to the others and said, "So...now what? What are we doing now? Do we go back home?"
"So, yeah, Jaya...sorry about our dad. He's kind of always like that, I'm afraid."
"I know. I know he's not the forgiving type."
***
At least that's over. Jaya didn't disagree that they'd screwed up. They had been reckless and irresponsible followed by a generous dollop of stupid. Still, We could have done a lot more good if they'd let us...
"Home? Are you kidding? I just wasted 8 months of my life - you think the next step is crawling back home?!"
Embreth is massively annoyed by the entire affair. He goes along with the work only because he has no other real choice. He feels a little bad about the houses and stuff, but it was all an accident after all. How should he have known what would happen?
When they are finally finished with their sentence the wicked Tileani gives a whoop of joy. "We have to get out of here, guys. This town is way too small for us. We need to go adventure somewhere where a little fun won't get us arrested."
As you all cool off and rest after eight months of hard work, a guard comes along with a chest. ”Your personal effects, everyone. Just as you left them.”
It was rarely a good thing when Judge Umbra appeared unannounced.
Galatea Kailani had learned that fact many times over the years. She had been helping the famous Treeslayer crunch numbers for Kyonin’s quarter century census when her mother’s primary bodyguard, spymaster, and enforcer suddenly materialized from the shadows. Even after all this time knowing her, Galatea still nearly had a heart attack.
“It’s about Shiloh,” Judge Umbra said courtly as she handed over a small file filled with papers. Her voice was as dead serious as the grave.
Despite being relatively short, it felt like an eternity before Mom finished reading the contents. Her hands were practically trembling.
“Oh, Shiloh...” Mom mumbled with a sigh. That seemed to be her catch phrase these days. She stood up to grab some things and added, “Umbra, I am going to visit Master Constantine. Hopefully, the two of us can sort out this mess. Galaxy, dear, while I’m away, can you keep triple checking the numbers for Magnimar?”
“Of course, Mom,” answered Galatea, not really sure what else to say.
Shortly afterward, with a snap of her fingers, Jeevika Kailani vanished in a burst of divine light. After a long moment, Galatea turned to face Umbra, who was just blankly staring at the memo she had given her superior. Despite looking like a grim reaper, the powerful shadowlike woman definitely appeared to be more frustrated than anything.
“What happened, Judge?” Galatea finally asked.
“My apprentice...” Judge Umbra began with respectful bow. “Your sister and her... associates summoned two elephants in the middle of Sandpoint.”
There was a long moment of silence. Finally, Galatea’s brain forced a word out of her mouth.
“...Wat.”
What had followed were some of the longest hours of Galatea’s life. Long story short, her mother’s talks with Argoo had gone absolutely nowhere and left the Treeslayer very frustrated. As a compromise to the many... interesting plans Mom had drafted as result (“Why do we have a Shiloh simulacrum?!”), Galatea had offered to go to Sandpoint to keep an eye on matters. She also talked Mom down into sending just Judge Umbra as an escort (versus a small legion of Elite Eldritch Knights). That was fine by Gali; she needed to continue her training with her awesome mentor anyway.
Besides, it wasn’t like Galatea planned to go alone in the first place; much like how Shiloh had Pryde, Gali had her pet tiger Cheshire to accompany her. The feline would definitely be happy to see her own sister again! With everyone so distracted by the recent chaos, no one noticed when a beautiful but otherwise boring half-elf, her pet tigress, and their invisible shadow trot into Sandpoint.
Today's the day.
Galatea watched as her sister swiftly collected her gear and then hugged Pryde. Obviously, Shiloh had not been allowed to keep Pryde around during her sentence. Gali had taken it upon herself to watch the tigress for the entire eight months. It had been relatively simple; Pryde and Cheshire were from the same litter, and Pryde knew Galatea quite well.
Before Galatea could think further, she felt someone glomp her.
"Omigosh, Gali! It's so good to see you!" chirped Shiloh as she unknowingly threatened to snap her sister's spine.
"You've seen me almost every day, Shy..." Gali murmured as much as her limited air intake would allow.
"I know, but it's still always great to see my sister!" answered Shiloh as she broke the hug. "So... uh... are we all set?"
"Don't you want to tell your friends goodbye, Shy?" inquired Galatea curiously.
There was a long pause.
"...I already told them my plans. They understand. No need to prolong the goodbyes. Anyway, are we ready to go?"
Galatea presented a piece of paper to Shiloh, who quickly took it and started carefully reading it over.
"As soon as that guard over there returned your gear, you were free to go. This official notice confirms your freedom. It is signed by every relevant Sandpoint official," confirmed the raven-haired Kailani sister. Noticing Shiloh's silence, she quickly added, "That's one of my copies. Mom has two copies. S- ...The Embassy has three copies. I'll give you the other ten..."
Very slowly, Shiloh nodded, accepting what she had been told.
After saying her goodbyes one final time to the others (she couldn't resist), Shiloh let Galatea take her to a discrete meeting location. Two very familiar figures were there waiting for the sisters. One was a bland face who would go unnoticed in any crowd. The other was a living cloud of darkness with inky black wings.
"Omigosh! Mother! S- ...Judge Umbra!" exclaimed Shiloh as she promptly glomped both women. "It's been...!"
"Too long, Shion," replied Mom as she tightly embraced her third daughter. Despite its rather... interesting origins, "Shion" was Shiloh's hidden name. Once upon a time, there had been an "Atty" (who had allowed everyone to use it openly, even in the presence of nonfamily) and a "Sunset" (who prefered that hers be exclusive to just the immediate family) amongst House Kailani. Nowadays, "Galaxy" was rather frequently used.
"We're in... foreign territory, so we should keep this quick; there will be plenty of time to converse back in Erages,"[/b] Judge Umbra reminded everyone present.
"...Indeed. I would rather not have to deal with my... associates right now," agreed Mom. "Umbra, please tend to Gali here. I understand that she has some matters to get in order."
"Of course," replied the living cloud of shadows with a chuckle. Galatea allowed her guardian to pat on her the shoulder.
After one final round of hugs and goodbyes, the Treeslayer personally teleported her daughter (and Pryde of course) home. After twenty-six years of considering it to be her second home, Shiloh Kailani would probably never been seen in Varisia again. Galatea honestly found it rather tragic.
“And so ends our mission here,” remarked Judge Umbra thoughtfully. “However, with the census complied, we now find ourselves… free. What do you wish to do now, my apprentice?”
(Between all her work as a bodyguard, spymaster, and enforcer, how the good Judge made so much time for Galatea was mind-boggling. The most Gali had ever gotten out of her teacher was “I don’t really sleep.”)
That was such a good question...
In contrast to Shiloh nowadays, Galatea was actually quite fond of Sandpoint. She had lived here for the last eight months. Years and years ago, she had lived in the small city for months on end with Shiloh and... In her opinion, there was very little reason to be crossed at most of the residents of the Light of the Lost Coast. Gali definitely believed that things could have been handled better in general, but at this point, it felt best to move on.
"I want to see how Shiloh's friends are fairing," announced Galatea.
"...Aren't they your friends too, my apprentice?" the good Judge teased gently.
"S- ...Umbra!" Galatea pouted. "I mean, I've brought them cookies and stuff, but I don't think they consider me a... friend."
"Hmm... Regardless, I think your plans are good. Those drama llamas could use a voice of reason," remarked Umbra.
"Firstly, I'm no voice of reason. Secondly, 'drama llamas' is Sabby's catchphrase, Judge," Gali playfully countered.
"She was always fine with other people using the phrase, my apprentice. I believe Cladissa Herself once famously proclaimed to one Sir Preston Riverwyne that ol' Attica-Sabrina was her Drama Llama."
The master and apprentice promptly broke out laughing. That was a favorite tale among the Cladissans.
"I better get going. Embreth was ready to go find the first wagon out of town," gasped Galatea as she collected herself.
"Before we part, my apprentice," said the good Judge as strong, toned arm extended out of the shadowy cloak, "a gift. I recently recovered it from the Tanglebriar."
Galatea's eyes - the colors of the current phase of the moon - went wide with amazement and wonder.
"...Is that truly...?!" she squealed with delight.
"Indeed. Thought lost during the Treerazer War, this humble ring was purchased almost twenty-six years ago in Magnimar. From there, when Runelord Karzoug threatened to return, it saved Varisia and her Rangers countless times. It served your mother well in Xin-Shalast. And now, I give it to you, my apprentice."
"...I know all that, Judge," Gali deadpanned as she tentatively took the priceless treasure. She was afraid it would disappear... "Regardless, thank you so much."
"Think nothing of it, Galatea," the elder Oracle replied sincerely. She happily accepted her apprentice's offered hug.
They departed soon afterward. As she admired her precious artifact, Galatea's eyes were (metaphorically) shining brightly. As she trotted back to Sandpoint proper, for some reason, Cheshire was having a devil of a time following her, but Gali couldn't see why.
S- ...Judge Umbra is so cool.
She eventually located the others.
"Hi everyone!" her disembodied voice called out cheerfully. A pause. Whoops. I'm invisible.
Galatea promptly became visible.
"Hi everyone! I just wanted to thank you all so much for supporting my sister. It's been ages since I've seen her so... relaxed."
Galatea smiled widely.
She felt a little awkward.
As you all discuss what your plans are for the immediate future, Bethania says "Well, first things first, I am going to see if I can find out what Lana has been up to, and see about getting me a proper bath," she says as she fastens a pair of bracers around her wrists. "Father made my sister and I a pair of magic items that...opens another plane? I don't know how to describe it. Like, a house in another dimension? Anyway, only my sister and I can access it, I think. I'll be back in a bit."
She whispers a command word, and she vanishes as if pulled into herself!
Bethania reappears precisely where she vanished from, and seeks you all out. She looks a bit...distressed?
"So...it would seem like a lot has been going on since we've been arrested here, guys," she gives her brother a concerned look. "I...I think at least Abasi and I are going to have to go back to Absalom. But...I'm not so sure..."
Noticing the looks of confusion on your faces, she shakes her had in realization and retrieves a few slips of parchment with delicate writing on their surface. "Lana has been leaving me messages in the pocket-manor. She and father had a big fight not long after getting back home. She has taken up apprenticeship under some other wizard in Vigil, seemingly to spite him. But...she's kept tabs on things back home. And it looks like Lord Gyr is stepping down as Primarch...and..." she sighs and rolls her eyes, "Father has been chosen by the High Council to take his place."
She looks at you all, namely her brother Abasi as she puts a hand on his arm. "He will be taking office later today...we could...maybe see if Master Silva would teleport us there? But I don't know if Father would even want us present. Part of me thinks he would, another says no. What do you guys think?"
__________
"I could give a rip about your dad, no offense, but a trip to Absalom sounds t!%! right about now. I have to get out of this hamlet!"
The months just flew right by. It was hard to believe that Galatea had been in Sandpoint for over seven of them.
“When her punishment is over, your sister wishes to return home,” Judge Umbra announced one day after finishing their Shadow Dancing lessons.
“Absalom?” inquired Gali. That was... interesting. She could have sworn Shiloh had sworn off Argoo just like she and Cai'nan had.
The good Judge shook her head.
“Erages, my apprentice,” the mysterious woman confirmed. “Shiloh said that she requires some additional time to reflect on her life.”
Nearly twenty-six years after Karzoug’s defeat, thanks to so much of his treasury being reinvested in the place, Erages had become a sanctuary and paradise for Half-Elves and their supporters. It was absolutely thriving these days, and House Kailani was practically royalty there. Mom’s connections to Her Majesty and House Edasseril kept the place well-protected. Gali definitely could see why Shiloh would want to return to her ancestral homelands.
“What about her friends?” inquired Gali. “Won’t they miss her?”
“Their separation will be... bittersweet I imagine, but Shiloh wishes to recover in a more supportive environment,” explained the Judge. “In my opinion, neither here or Absalom is particularly supportive for her. Varisia will always consider her a hardened criminal, and Absalom is functionally run by that... Argoo fellow. He and House Kailani are not on very good terms at the moment. They have not been since your mother’s visit.”
Understatement of the century. Jeevika Kailani had approached Argoo expecting to meet the man who had selflessly helped Atty. What had she gotten? The monster who had sent Cai'nan to his grave.
Umbra, you weren't exaggerating, huh?
Galatea noticed that her former sister was looking at her as well. So the offer was being extended to her as well?
Nope. Nope. Nope. I am not going to watch that pompous jerk officially crown himself King of Absalom. Nope. Never. Not gonna happen.
Her mouth suddenly spoke on her behalf.
"A trip to Absalom? That sounds delightful. If we need some place to stay, I have an inn there."
Galatea spent the next five minutes internally screaming.
Jaya wasn't really pleased. She'd been hoping to return to her research. But after 8-months all my hirelings are long gone. Plus I don't know anyone here that would still work with me.
She looked around at her friends, hoping to see some of the same uncertainty that she knew was in her eyes. "If you just want to get out of Sandpoint, there are plenty of wonders still to see here in Varisia."
Kallie pipes up. "I've still always wanted to visit the Lady's Light! That's like, the biggest remnant of Eurythnia? I mean, outside of a place that's got a whole city built on top of it. Those Korvosans get so testy when you want do dig under their houses."
Bethania looks at Abasi nervously, but her eyes are now belying some brewing excitement. ”A...a ruin delve? I’ve never gone on one, but I hear they are wondrous. And dangerous...” she says with nervous excitement.
”Besides...Father was a prick last time we saw him, not to mention all the other times...”
Abasi purses his lips.
"We definitely need to get a delve on. The Lady's Light sounds fine to me, unless someone else has a better lead."
After a pause, he adds, "But I would like to see how Lana's been holding up without us, and I bet Nigel has something fun to check out at the museum. A quick jaunt home could be cool, if Silva can teleport us."
”But Lana’s notmthere,” Bethania says as she rifles through notes. ”She’s in Vigil. And even her letter about Father’s...this is...is about four weeks old. It was the last note she left...”
"Oh wait, I assumed she was heading home for it, that that's why she wrote you. She's not?
"I mean, mostly this seems like a good excuse to get back to the City, grab a pint at the Amorous Aboleth, and see what Nigel has dig up. And...I'm sure it would mean something to Dad if we came. I mean, yeah, for all that Big Brain of his he's utterly unable to treat us like fellow humanoids...but he is still out dad.
"Maybe Lightstaff would car a Sending to Lana for us. Who knows, maybe she'll come too."
"Wait - Eurythnia? I thought that was near Bakrakhan... Give me a second." She started rooting through her belt pouch, pulling out a variety of maps and books and navigational equipment.
"Yeah, see?!" She smiled as she pointed triumphantly at a corner of modern Varisia. "But it would be interesting for other reasons too. It's this amazing statue - almost 200' tall. There's supposed to be something under it, but no one's ever seen for sure... Maybe we could!"
"Why not both?" Galatea proposed. "We can go visit Absalom first and then go spelunking. My... cousins clearly need some time to catch up with family. Meanwhile, I don't think the Lady's Light is going anywhere. For those uninterested in the coronation, there are plenty of other sights to see in Absalom."
"More than one adventure? Finally! Gimme da loot, gimme da loot!" Embreth says, doing a little jig.
After some discussion, the group decides to try and see if William Lightstaff would be willing to teleport them to the ceremony. It turns out they catch him just in time, as he was already preparing to head that way via teleportation himself, as it is his former teachers big day.
He gathers everyone in a circle and instructs you all to hold one another's hands. Once the circle is complete, he works the magic and in a flash you all appear in a small clearing on a hilltop overlooking a city built atop the mouth of a river emptying into a large lake.
"Tamran," Master Lightstaff says with a smile. "A peaceful, pleasant city since the peace treaty with Molthune. In those years of peace, the Nirmathans have been able to really prosper. Argor and I chose this location as a safe halfway point for teleportations between Sandpoint and Absalom. One more incantation and we should safely be..."
You vanish in a flash once more, and find yourself inside a moderately sized room lit with flickering white candlelight. "...in the Sanctum. Welcome back to Absalom, everyone."
He leads you through his old shop with practiced ease. He knows the place like the back of his hand from his time here helping Argor run the place. However, it is currently closed for business, as evidenced by the lack of staff and the sign on the door that reads "Closed for Election."
Once in the street, Master Lightstaff turns and locks the door to the store with his keys behind you. "I will let your father know you have returned to the city. All of you," he says with a warm smile. He thinks a moment, his expression chilling a bit, before he adds "I trust he will be happy that you are here. Most everyone will be at the ceremony, so try and stay out of trouble, okay?"
He flies off into the air and heads for Azlanti Keep. While the streets are busy by most standards, those of you who have spent regular time in the city feel like it is a ghost town. And what traffic there is, all is headed for Azlanti Keep as well. As you travel along, you see that every shop is closed with similar, self-made signs hanging on doors and windows. It is clear that there isn't a respectable person in town who wants to miss a big event like this if they can help it. In anticipation of this, the guard presence is fairly high in comparison to normal, with several patrols roaming the streets at all times in every district, keeping an eye out for those who would seek to capitalize on the occasion.
The harbors are filled with ships as well. Obviously dignitaries from the nearby nations have arrived to try and ensure good graces with the new Primarch from the start. Merchant lords, adventuring groups, mercenary companies, shopkeepers, citizens, travelers, the streets are filled with all walks of life the closer you get to Azlanti Keep. Eventually, a member of the Constantine House Guard recognizes Abasi and Bethania. "Lord and Lady Blakros! Your father has already made his way to the staging area, but there is an area reserved close to the front for friends and family! Follow me, I will see you to it!"
The man gathers a few others of his troop and begins moving you all through the crowd with a bit more ease. You eventually enter into an area just off stage to the right that is in a much more organized, less mob-like atmosphere. You find yourselves now surrounded with several other members of House Blakros, including Nigel to Abasi's relief, a large minotaur with white fur some of you recognize as Nuar Spiritskin, an Osirion Ambassador and his wife, a young woman wearing a dress with a clasp showing a sigil of House Dacilane from Cheliax, and several others.
You hardly manage to make it into the area when a chorus of horns blasts through the air signalling the beginning of the ceremony. The crowd grows quiet, or as quiet as a mob of this size can. Seated on the stage, you can see Argor Constantine seated nearest the podium, with various other important members of state seated beside him. An older woman moves towards the podium and mutters an incantation, and as she speaks, you can tell her voice has been magically enhanced so that everyone present can hear her at a reasonable volume.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Citizens of Absalom. Respected guests. I am Lady Darchanna of House Madinani, Second Spell Lord of Absalom. Today is a momentous occasion for our grand nation. Today we name the next Primarch in our storied history!" she calls out as she turns and gestures for Argor to join her. He stands and calmly walks to stand beside her at the podium. The Spell Lords on the other side of the stage also rise and approach. One of their number, Third Spell Lord Utgar of House Gyr, carries a small, plain golden circlet resting atop a pillow.
Lady Darchanna turns and takes the pillow from Utgar before turning to face Argor. "Lord Argor of House Constantine! Do you swear, by all the gods, to protect Absalom and her peoples interests to the best of your ability in this office of Primarch, to which you have been elected?"
Argor looks her in the eye and says solemnly, "I will, for all my days."
"Very well. By the authority granted to me by the High Council, I, Lady Darchanna, hereby name you Argor Constantine, Primarch and First Spell Lord of Absalom!"
A cheer goes up through the crowd as Argor reaches forward and takes hold of the circlet atop the pillow. The moment he lifts it from its resting place, he begins to fold in upon himself in a sort of implosion! Lady Darchanna jumps back in shock, dropping the pillow on the stage as a stunned gasp rolls over the crowd!
"Father!?!?" Bethania calls out in confusion.
Suddenly, a pained scream comes from off stage, followed by another, and another, causing everyone to begin looking about in confusion. Suddenly, several figures dressed in black cloak leaps from behind the stage and begin thrusting blades into the backs of the Spell Lords gathered there, all taken completely unawares at the sudden assault!
Immediately to your right, another scream goes up as several more assailants launch themselves at your section! A blade runs across the throat of the Ossirion Ambassador, sending a spray of warm blood out over everyone gathered here. A man who had been standing nearby turns to the group, his plain clothes shimmering away revealing spiked plate armor, looks to several men around him and says "Kill them all. None survive. Especially his children!"
"Gorum's steely balls! Run!" Embreth says to his friends, looking for a way out.
Jaya grabs a pinch of ground mica from her pouch and hurled it at their assailants, igniting it in the air to a blinding, glittering cloud of dust!
Then she starts to run...
The instant Argor imploded, Galatea reflexively activated her ring and vanished from sight. She strongly contemplated fighting the attackers, but she was also really out of shape. As such, Gali just whistled for Cheshire to follow her via scent and then attempted to... retreat with the others.
As the horror unfolds, Abasi bolts upright and stands, transfixed.
Even as assassins appear, his eyes don't move from the empty space where his father was. Where his father should be.
Only the cloud of glitter shocks him from his brooding. With a blink--still not comprehending, still disbelieving that this could have happened--he grabs Bethania's hand and follows the rest, in shock.
Taking care to avoid what she believed was a Glitterdust spell, Galatea did a brief count to see who was running. Herself and Cheshire. Embreth. Jaya. Abasi. Beth.
Someone is... Kallie!
Taking care to keep out of everyone's way (which was actually pretty easy with the nearby presence of Cheshire - a tiger - warding most people off), she quickly located her relative and approached her.
"Kallie, it's Aunt Gali. We have to go. These people just killed Argor Constantine. We can't fight them."
She was only using her "Aunt" title to be reassuring; she did not want to accident terrify her friend. Galatea briefly contemplated taking the centauress' hand but vetoed the idea. Under these circumstances, that was practically asking for a hoof to the face.
Hearing Galatea, Embreth pauses to make sure his kind-of-step-sister is running. "Yeah, c'mon Kallie, move!"
Kallie stood frozen, disbelieving. Her mind convinced itself she wasn't seeing what was transpiring before her eyes, and this was some elaborate play or farce. During their eight months of community service, Abasi had told her of the tales of the Freaks of Absalom, and how they had saved the city time and again. This has to be a staging of one of those times. Like when the shadow dragon was killed by a single spell--
Kallie is jerked out of her stupor by the others shouting at her. Her centaur instincts return in a flash and she bolts from the advancing assassins.
Your group breaks to run, the assailants momentarily halted from Jaya’s magic. As you flee, the sounds and sights of carnage from victims of the assassins continue to rise up over the frightened screams of the mob. You see Nigel knocked down before the man in spiked armor grasps him by his hair and lifts his head back, taking a black blade across his throat! Nuar Spiritskin roars defiantly as he battles the black clothed men, but several spears eventually thrust into him from all sides and bring him down with a crash.
Your reprieve from pursuit is short lived, and you all struggle to remain together as best you can! You all are jostled back and forth in the fleeing mob repeatedly as you flee, but fortunately so too are your pursuers. Adding to the panic, as you flee, the skies above the city darken. Clouds of unnatural hues of deep grey mixed with crimson, and arcs of crimson energy flash like lightning across the sky, and on occasion the bending and crunching of metal can be heard from above!
Suddenly, Embreth feels a hand, light but firm, grasp at the front his tunic from an alleyway just around the corner of a street you had turned down, pulling him towards it. A woman’s voice calls out ”Quickly! This way if you want to live!” The woman is tall and slim, dressed in dark, woodsy tones. A hood is pulled down low over her brow, cloaking her facial features in shadow. A quiver of arrows is slung across her back as well as her right hip, and a slender curved blade hangs from her left. An elegant bow is held tightly in her left hand. Judging by her head’s posture, she seems more concerned with watching for your pursuers rather than your group.
Seeing a woman who is an exact copy of them, but slimmer, Embreth screams again, and begins to run the other way!
The woman is y’all and slim, dressed in dark, woodsy tones.
Embreth slides out from under the woman's hand. "Who are you, lady? This ain't some bard's illusory performance about humanoid robots coming back from the future to save the world. I'm not just going to follow a stranger without question. Why should we trust you?"
As you all duck into the alley for a moment to let her explain, she signals with an urgent hand gesture to be quiet. A group of the assassins pass by the alley, and for a moment, you think all is clear. Then one steps back into view and locks eyes with your group! Just as he is about to call out, a black feathered arrow pierces his throat! He falls to the ground, his gurgling death throes unable to be heard by his kinsmen over the mob!
Looking back at the woman, whose hand is already placing another arrow to her bowstring, she looks to Embreth and folds her hood back, revealing her elven features. ”Because I am trying to save your lives, rather than end them!”
For Galatea, it was a tough decision to pick between being visible and thus a target or being invisible and thus risk getting trampled. However, Gali quickly found a solution. Even in their panic, most people were instinctively inclined to give a centaur and a tiger some elbow room, so Galatea tried to stay between Kallie and Cheshire. Alternatively, she kept to the walls. She was also stronger and much taller than the average person (even most men), so Galatea was able to hold her ground if necessary; granted, that left her almost comical situations where her invisibility randomly broke and she had to hastily renew it.
When confronted by the elf archer, Galatea was obviously hesitant to trust her... until the mysterious stranger put an arrow through the throat of one of their chasers.
Well, if she wanted us dead, then she just wasted a golden opportunity... Is she one of Mom's agents?
"Let's at least get out of sight!" she proposed to the others before shuffling herself into the shadows of the alley. From there, Galatea... began uttering some apparent nonsense in Elven at their mysterious savior. However, if this woman worked for Jeevika Kailani, she would recognize them as codes used to let agents of Mom's branch of House Kailani identify each other.
The expected response would be for the mysterious stranger to repeat certain phrases back...
Embreth shrugs, the slaying being enough proof for the moment. He makes ready to follow the elven woman to hopeful safety.
Kallie veers toward the alley, pausing before entering to bring up mage armor. Then she ducks inside, instinctively trusting the archer woman.