Her jaw clenched shut, Jaya nodded. "You obviously had secrets, I just didn't imagine they were..."
Her fingers twitched in an abortive weaving before she clenched them tightly in her lap instead, her words precise and chiseled as she continued, "I understand that a child is not the parent. You say he didn't send you? That he isn't directing you in secret? Fine. Your first tie to us was mere coin. You owed us nothing of your blood or your secrets for that."
She took off her spectacles to quickly magic them clean while she dared a sideways glance at how Kallie was taking this. "Bonds of friendship might suggest that some truth be expected from you, but ours are still new-spun, despite your... closeness."
Though her fingers were now still, and no words of power escaped her lips, orbs of flickering flame rose around Jaya, darting from shadow to shadow. "Were you afraid that I'd react badly because of the torments your father inflicts on my mother? What did you want to tell us?"
Cai'nan looks about to speak several times, but never quite knows what words to say. But her last sentence strikes him truly confused. "Wait...what torments? I don't have a clue what you are talking about..."
For a moment Jaya's eyes literally blaze, far too brightly to be concealed by the smoked glass of her spectacles, but in a flash they dim, the swirls of flame that dart around the room falling away to nothing as she tucks her head to her chest and murmurs, "Nightmares, other petty agonies she's too stubborn to deflect or avoid. Anything he can inflict on her from far enough away to be 'safe' in case she did ever fight back."
She straightened, "It doesn't matter. I'm sure it's not the hundredth part of his cruelties in any case."
"I sincerely doubt that Cai'nan's father sent him; until last week, I thought he had died in the Mwangi Expanse. From what I understand, after his miraculous return, Cai'nan only reunited with his family with a short time before departing for other shores, largely due to... serious disagreements with his father," Galatea says softly. Knowing that Jaya and Kallie are likely to ask, she also explains, "As you've likely gathered, Cai'nan and I are childhood friends. Along with my sisters Shiloh and Honey, I was fostered by Cai'nan's family when I was younger; Mom needed someone powerful and trustworthy to watch us while she searched the world for a certain Wrathful Runelord."
Kallie stays silent as she listens intently. Her mouth turns into a deep frown and she grows a little pale as she listens to Jaya talk about her mother's torments.
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Aurealia makes her way out of the former gang hideout and says her temporary goodbyes, then goes home. She cleans up and takes a while to rest with a couple shots of whiskey. Once the adrenaline fades and she feels somewhat normal again she heads out to find her aunt. She reports everything that happened with the Horned Fangs to Eldandra, and informs her of their plan to take over the hideout and make sure it doesn't get used for bad ends again. "We're pretty much a unit at this point, Auntie. I think even Cai'nan is going to stick around. Please let us do this. The team needs each other, and it feels like our destinies are tied up in all this now."
Jaya's fingers rippled with suppressed emotion as Galatea went out of her way to talk about what a stand up guy Constantine was.
"I'm willing to take Cai'nan at his word, Galatea, but all you're pointing out is that the eldest scion of Argor Constantine may well have faked his own death before hiring on in secret to our little expedition, waiting to decide to stick around until about the same time as a mysterious 'Farwynd' started trying to get me to help find my mother in whatever lair she's secreted herself away in to escape Argor's tortures.
"Perhaps that's not the help you're trying to give your 'childhood friend' at this particular moment."
She pulled away her auger's stare from Galatea to refocus it on Cai'nan. "So, you didn't know about your father's history with my family. Fine. Why did you feel the need to pull us aside then?"
"Wait... Did I just make you think I was... just praising Cai'nan's father?" Gali says, just barely suppressing a bitter giggle. She sighs. "Clearly, I was being too polite. Jaya, after what that man called me- Say what now?!"
Gali is left visible stunned by the news of what's happening to Jaya's mother.
"Jaya, let me rephrase what I said earlier; Me and Cai'nan do not get along with Argor Constantine," Gali states clearly.
”Because I wanted to warn you. My father...he might just be the most powerful man in Golarion. And he is a bit of a control freak. So he is prone to meddle in my and my brother and sisters business frequently. Hell, my sisters are basically on permanent house arrest,” he says with a sigh. ”The only reason I’m even able to be away is because we can’t stand to be around one another for any great length of time.”
He then looks Jaya in the eye, with sincerity in his eyes. ”I don’t know what my father has done to your mother. And if it’s true, I know I can’t apologize for him. I’m not saying I don’t believe you. I just,” he pauses before adding ”I’ve never known him to care enough about anything or anyone to devote such energy on them. Hell...he never even spent more than one attempt to resurrect mother...” his fists clenched and body trembling as he says this.
”He sounds like an a&~$~$*,” Krodha says from the corner. When everyone turns and seems to understand him, he raises his scaly eyebrows in surprise. ”What?”
Kallie's eyes glisten and she takes several deep breaths as her head snaps back and forth between Jaya and Cai'nan.
She barely acknowledges Krodha suddenly talking. She wipes her eyes as her tail swishes in agitation. "Wait. The Argor Constantine is secretly tormenting Auronee Farwynd? Um, I may not be a devout follower of Cladissa, but my aunt happens to be her herald. That doesn't sound like something the goddess of forgiveness would be okay with."
Her hands ball into trembling fists. "What can we do? We need to do something." She looks expectantly at Cai'nan and Jaya.
”The gods rarely seem to give a damn when it comes to basic mortal affairs,” Cai’nan grumbles, mostly to himself.
He then adds to Kallie ”And, if it really is my father, it’s not like its a known thing. And even if it was, who is strong enough to convince him to stop?”
Kallie throws her hands wide. "Um, how about a goddess?"
”All the gods,” Cai’nan said gruffly. Then he half fumbled over his words as he added ”Male, Female, Dog, Cat, whatever...not being sexist or racist or whatever. Just...they can’t meddle on their own or else all the gods do then it’s Earthfall all over again.”
Kallie huffs. "Then we meddle. Besides, I'd heard this story. 'Cladissa with her dying breath forgave her tormentor, even after she'd been stabbed in the heart.' It's not Argor's place to take vengeance on Auronee. So, you know, this isn't just mortal affairs, now is it?"
"Kallie's right; this situation likely falls within Cladissa's jurisdiction," says Galatea. "Auronee is still her sister, and Jaya is still her niece. If nothing else, Cladissa is most likely allowed to send Sabby or another celestial agent to protect her mortal family."
Croq stands behind her sister with a proud crocodile grin.
"Sis is too modest. We f*&%ing nailed this one!
"We found a Runesword, freed Corstela from mind control, stopped a gang war, defeated a sin-spawn captain who served Alaznist, and even finally set Roderic's soul to his well-deserved rest.
"I really think this is our day!"
Lullaby and Dollan help Aurealia and Croquelle escort the Horned Fangs back to the Black Arrows HQ. Marjorie, however, opts to remain behind with Kallie and the others. As much as she has grievances with being kidnapped, the dhampir isn't exactly enthusiastic about feeling the "soothing" sunlight against her pale skin. While the Cai'nan Conference takes place, Marjorie instead opts to get a snack from the Horned Fangs' well-stocked kitchen and happily lets her rescuers have their privacy.
Aurealia makes her way out of the former gang hideout and says her temporary goodbyes, then goes home. She cleans up and takes a while to rest with a couple shots of whiskey. Once the adrenaline fades and she feels somewhat normal again she heads out to find her aunt. She reports everything that happened with the Horned Fangs to Elandra, and informs her of their plan to take over the hideout and make sure it doesn't get used for bad ends again. "We're pretty much a unit at this point, Auntie. I think even Cai'nan is going to stick around. Please let us do this. The team needs each other, and it feels like our destinies are tied up in all this now."
When Aurealia and Croq manages to locate Elandra, it would seem that the Deputy Commander is currently meeting with Larenza Thort. The Port-Governor is currently accompanied by a pair of familiar guards. They all listen intently to the report.
"We definitely need someone to guard that portal," says Port-Governor Thort. "Julit, what do you think?"
"I can organize some shifts to watch it, ma'am," answers her male escort. "However, given the strength of that Mozamer fellow, I think we should coordinate with the Black Arrows on this one. If another creature on Moz's level stumbles out of that wormhole, well, our gooses would be quite cooked!"
"As it would seem, Larenza," says Elandra, looking to her nieces, "we just happen to have some highly qualified volunteers..."
Port-Governor Thort studies Aurealia and Croq for a long moment.
"You both have proven yourself to be quite capable," acknowledges Port-Governor Thort. "I would like for you two to work with Captain Freson in establishing a garrison down there. I'll deal with the owners of the Creekside. After hearing what was lurking in their basement, I'm sure that Garleena and Thevin Knodston will be... agreeable to this arrangement."
Croq's eyes go wide. "You bet, Gov!"
_________
"Hey Ladies, guess who's officially deputized to guard this rat hole?!?
"I didn't miss picking bedrooms yet, did I? I was hoping Aurelia and I could crash in Moz's."
She sets down the drum and bedroll she was carrying.
Looking around to make sure Aurelia isn't within earshot, she turns to Jaya and says "Hey Jaya, do you think you could teach me some of that 'book magic' you know? What I can do with my songs and my drum is pretty badass, but it comes from the gut, you know?
"Books and me don't always jive, but," She leans in to whisper, "I'm really itching to see if I could surprise my sis and enchant a spear for her that works like Drumstick does. Put some of my metal into the metal, you know?"
Her smile looks uncharacteristically nervous. "But I've been tryin and it's not getting anywhere. I even bought this rare edition of Etta Zurgov's Enchanting Arms Made Easy, but it's just frustrating me. Would you, uhhh....could you maybe help me get through the studying part? It's not really my jam."
Jaya scowled, "I have no interest in playing a game of 'whose parent could beat up whose,' but my mother is hardly defenseless. Even if she weren't powerful enough to fight back directly, there are other ways."
"When I was old enough that she stopped warding her library, the first thing I did was research ways to stop her nightmares, and since she was busy when I wanted to show her my plans for how to, I wrote them down using finger paint." She gave a brittle smile, "I liked finger paint then."
"We can't help her unless she wants help."
***
"Oh! Of course!" Jaya gave a surprised smile. "Well, what has you frustrated, how do did you study your magic, or your, umm, clubbing?"
When Aurealia and Croq manages to locate Elandra, it would seem that the Deputy Commander is currently meeting with Larenza Thort. The Port-Governor is currently accompanied by a pair of familiar guards. They all listen intently to the report.
"We definitely need someone to guard that portal," says Port-Governor Thort. "Julit, what do you think?"....
Aurealia nods. "Will do."
Then she turns to Julit, pulling the locket out of her pocket. "Hey, Julit. I think this belonged to your family. You want it back?" She holds it out, offering it to him.
Jaya scowled, "I have no interest in playing a game of 'whose parent could beat up whose,' but my mother is hardly defenseless. Even if she weren't powerful enough to fight back directly, there are other ways."
"When I was old enough that she stopped warding her library, the first thing I did was research ways to stop her nightmares, and since she was busy when I wanted to show her my plans for how to, I wrote them down using finger paint." She gave a brittle smile, "I liked finger paint then."
"We can't help her unless she wants help."
Galatea quietly contemplates Jaya's words.
"I need some time to think this all over. In the meanwhile, I'll see about selling our newly acquired goods," she says softly. Gali turns to Kallie and adds in a gentle voice, "If you need anything, feel free to come find me, okay?"
With that said, Galatea takes her leave.
Then she turns to Julit, pulling the locket out of her pocket. "Hey, Julit. I think this belonged to your family. You want it back?" She holds it out, offering it to him.
Julit is positively floored when Aurealia presents the locket to him.
"I haven't seen this in over a decade," Captain Freson murmurs softly as he takes the locket from Aurealia and studies it. He seems quite surprised that it's still in great shape! "Thank you so much! I thought... Back when I was a teenager, someone dared me to spend a night in Roderic's Wreck. I got spooked and lost this locket as I fled the place. I never thought I'd see it again..."
He looks up at the Andosana Sisters.
"How about you and your unit join my family for dinner some time soon?" Julit offers. "It's the least I could do for returning this to me."
Jaya scowled, "I have no interest in playing a game of 'whose parent could beat up whose,' but my mother is hardly defenseless. Even if she weren't powerful enough to fight back directly, there are other ways."
"When I was old enough that she stopped warding her library, the first thing I did was research ways to stop her nightmares, and since she was busy when I wanted to show her my plans for how to, I wrote them down using finger paint." She gave a brittle smile, "I liked finger paint then."
"We can't help her unless she wants help."
Galatea quietly contemplates Jaya's words.
"I need some time to think this all over. In the meanwhile, I'll see about selling our newly acquired goods," she says softly. Gali turns to Kallie and adds in a gentle voice, "If you need anything, feel free to come find me, okay?"
With that said, Galatea takes her leave.
Kallie suppresses a scowl as Gali leaves.
She takes a centering breath, then looks at Jaya. "I don't believe that. Maybe, yeah, if she was partly at fault. But this is being done to her. If we stopped it at the source, then your mom doesn't even need to be involved."
She gives Cai'nan a pointed look. "Besides, this is serious. If your dad is keeping watch over you, then it'll only be a matter of time before he learns about Jaya. And what if he decides that Auronee isn't being punished enough? What if he decides that Jaya is next? I know that doesn't seem rational, but he's already defying a goddess, right?"
Cai’nan shakes his head. ”I don’t know. But I do know that, I’m all my years, I’ve never seen ANYONE convince him to do something other than what he wants. The one time I thought I had, I later learned it was actually a clever ploy he used to make someone think they were getting one over on him when in reality it was an arrangement that father was working out several moves ahead, in which he ultimately came out waaaaay ahead.”
Cai’nan slumps down in his chair and adds ”Plus, the more you register in my father’s world, the more interest he will start giving you making sure your actions won’t interfere with his own plans. I promise you, we will be better off never seeing him if we can help it.”
Krodha stands up and excitedly waves his little arms around. ”Wait wait wait!!! Hang on! You can ALL understand me!?!?”
He looks up at the Andosana Sisters.
"How about you and your unit join my family for dinner some time soon?" Julit offers. "It's the least I could do for returning this to me."
Aurealia looks a bit surprised at the offer. "Uh, yeah, sure. I can ask the others. A home cooked meal might be nice. When were you thinking?"
Aurealia looks a bit surprised at the offer. "Uh, yeah, sure. I can ask the others. A home cooked meal might be nice. When were you thinking?"He looks up at the Andosana Sisters.
"How about you and your unit join my family for dinner some time soon?" Julit offers. "It's the least I could do for returning this to me."
Croq nods. "Sure, thanks. I'm game."
"Oh! Of course!" Jaya gave a surprised smile. "Well, what has you frustrated, how do did you study your magic, or your, umm, clubbing?"
"My amazing magic jams? I apprenticed for half a year at the Marbledome in Korvosa, but their sound was lame and Palastus was a dick so I quit early and hooked up with some rocking halforcs out of Belkzen. They really taught me how to let loose and find my own sound. I toured with them for a couple years, but eventually missed my sis and came back to the Cove."
She sighs, and looks a bit sheepish again.
"As for studying...how do I put this? Remember how my mom's one of the best trackers in Golarion, but I get lost tracking an ox cart in mud? I'll practice all night long to learn a new song, if I like it, or to get a new rhythm down on my drum...but you put a book in front of me and six minutes later the letters start to get all swimmy.
"Do you think you can help me? I think I could put some o' my magic into a spear for Aurelia. I really do."
Krodha stands up and excitedly waves his little arms around. ”Wait wait wait!!! Hang on! You can ALL understand me!?!?”
Kallie shrugs. "I was raised by two powerful druids. Talking animals aren't all that unusual to me."
"I'm quite certain that if 'Pretty Please' worked on Constantine, there would be a lot more people still alive. Confronting him is worse than useless without a real plan. I've reached out to my mother. If she's being serious this time, then she's sheltering off-plane. And if she still has her pact with that coven of hags, then even if her magic is disabled, she won't be detectable via divination. It should be enough to at least force even Constantine to expend real effort to target her, for now.
"That all might make her slower to contact me, however. So despite everyone's new enthusiasm towards stopping a decade long assault, for now, patience will be required."
***
"Oh, of course I can help. No matter how quickly learning new things comes to someone, everything will be much simpler once we establish a learning pattern for you specifically."
Jaya stood up and started walking towards the door, "So let's ditch the book! You can always go back to it if there's something specific, but it sounds like this is a crash course for now."
"Okay, so we're skipping theory for now. You just need to get some actual practice at seeing the shadows of magic on our world. Once you've got that, it'll be a lot easier to see more of it when you're divining, and you'll be able to work better on enhancement's like with Aurealia's spear."
Jaya pulled out one of her notebooks and quickly leafed through it, "Let's see... Croquelle, Croquelle, Croquelle... Ah! Detect Magic, Read Magic, Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation... That should give us enough to work with.
[b]"So, I'll start with some spells you already know, and I'll go as slow as the spell will allow, that should make it easier for you to figure out which is which while I'm casting. Once we've done that for a bit, we'll run a counterspell drill. We can even add forfeits if you're feeling daring..."
Aurealia looks a bit surprised at the offer. "Uh, yeah, sure. I can ask the others. A home cooked meal might be nice. When were you thinking?"
"That's a good question. Perhaps tomorrow? Tonight would be a bit difficult to manage on such short notice," says Julit. "If not, I'm sure we'll find some date that works for everyone!"
At some point late in the day, after the debate about her mother's current situation has ended, Jaya likely returns to her current room in the Creekside. After all, many of her scholarly materials are probably there! Anyway, waiting for Jaya in her room is... something she's likely been hoping to see all day.
(In other words, you're as close to absolutely certain as you can possibly be that this message is from your mother.)
Wendy trustworthy. Your aunt. Nightmares continue. Correct. Gilded Pasture location? Eldest Gilda's deity domain. Unsure where exactly. Hesitant to leave. Last nightmare... horrific.
Jaya immediately begins to scribble down notes for her message before she pauses for a long moment, borrowed quill seeping ink onto her fingers.
I can't use the bird again until tomorrow. 25 words isn't a good way to learn all about this Gilda, especially if she's obscure enough that I haven't even heard of her in my readings.
"S+!~!"
She murmured a quick prestidigitation and cleaned the inkspots from herself and headed downstairs to the bar.
"Excuse me, do you know if Ms. Ciara is presently boarding with the remnants of her Order?"
"I believe so, Ms. Jaya," says the innkeeper. "My sister Garleena saw Ciara picking up groceries as usual this morning."
Aurealia looks a bit surprised at the offer. "Uh, yeah, sure. I can ask the others. A home cooked meal might be nice. When were you thinking?""That's a good question. Perhaps tomorrow? Tonight would be a bit difficult to manage on such short notice," says Julit. "If not, I'm sure we'll find some date that works for everyone!"
"Alright, well, I'm going to go claim a room and start getting it the way I like. If you need us, we'll be under the inn."
Jaya gazes into the middle distance thoughtfully at Aurealia's invitation. "Do you have a sense of how formal they'd be expecting us to dress? I have a limited number of gowns on this expedition."
***
"Hey Cai'nan, I've got to get some answers out of Ciara about this Gilda Fey. Up for a quick walk to the Manor?"
Kallie does a little exploration of the lair, trying to match the excitement of the others for the place. Ultimately, she decides she doesn't like the idea of *living* underground, so she doesn't claim a room. Instead, she continues using her room at the inn upstairs.
Cai’nan arches an eyebrow at Jaya’s desire for him of all people to accompany her. ”Uh...sure? Do I need to get Krodha?”
"They'd probably find that a bit aggressive, we'll just run for it if they start anything."
From down the hall, Croq hollers, "Oh, hold on! I've been so caught up in...my project, that I totally forgot."
She comes out with a pearl necklace in hand. "Doesn't this sound like the one Alden said his sister Alana was wearing? I'll come too so we can return this to him, and let him know that Moz was the real killer."
The journey to Peacock Manor is straightforward and uneventful. Upon arriving, the general atmosphere is more... inviting that the previous visit. It likely helps that there's still enough sunlight to readily illuminate Roderic's Cove.
Ciara once again answers the door.
"Oh, hello!" the jovial ginger says upon seeing her old travelling companions and the town's resident drummer, a wide grin breaking out on her face. "What brings you three here so late? Wanna come inside? Dinner's already over, but maybe I could fix you up some leftovers? Or would you rather talk out here perhaps?"
"Hey Ciara! Is Alden here? We think we've recovered Alana's necklace. If we have, then we've also solved who the murderer was...and slain him."
She holds out the necklace as she speaks.
"Okay, so we're skipping theory for now. You just need to get some actual practice at seeing the shadows of magic on our world. Once you've got that, it'll be a lot easier to see more of it when you're divining, and you'll be able to work better on enhancement's like with Aurealia's spear."
Jaya pulled out one of her notebooks and quickly leafed through it, "Let's see... Croquelle, Croquelle, Croquelle... Ah! Detect Magic, Read Magic, Dancing Lights, Prestidigitation... That should give us enough to work with.
[b]"So, I'll start with some spells you already know, and I'll go as slow as the spell will allow, that should make it easier for you to figure out which is which while I'm casting. Once we've done that for a bit, we'll run a counterspell drill. We can even add forfeits if you're feeling daring..."
Croq braces a bit for failure, and insists they practice far from the others. At first, things are indeed frustratingly slow...but Jaya's inspiration to leave the books behind in favor of practical demonstrations begins to bear fruit.
Seeing that Jaya--despite her obvious brilliance--is willing to be patient with her, Croq eventually starts to relax. The turning point comes when Croq's eyes get tired from straining so she lets them defocus and finds she can listen to the rhythm of the spells.
After a few more attempts, she exclaims "Hey! I think this is working! Look, there's a rhythm to each spell!"
Croq jumps up to hug Jaya. "Thanks for believing in me and not getting all impatient or treating me like I'm stupid!"
After deciding to keep her room, she immersed herself in her studies. Working alongside the other magic users had sparked a bit of a competitive streak -- or more of a drive to remain useful in the midst of such potent powers that the others had demonstrated. She resolved to keep focusing on enchantment spells, but not to eschew other useful magics.
Deciding to take a break, she heads out to stroll around Roderick's Cove. Spotting Lullaby, she trots up to her and greets her with a wide smile. "Hey! Glad to see you're still in town! Want to go on a walk? Or fancy a bite to eat?"
Ciara studies the necklace for a moment before recognition flashes in her green eyes and her smile vanishes.
"I'll go get him," she says softly. Ciara hurriedly departs, though she doesn't close the door fully behind her. After about five minutes, the ginger returns with Alden in tow. He goes still upon seeing the pearl necklace...
"I gave that to Alana for her birthday this year," Alden says sadly. He looks up at Croq and asks, "Who was responsible?! Did you bring them to justice?"
Ciara keeps him calm long enough for you tell them the full story. At first, Alden seems skeptical. However, when Ciara reminds him of how a demon and a magical, sapient sword were manipulating Corstela... the headmaster ultimately accepts everything he hears.
"You have my thanks, Ms. Andosana," Alden says softly. He passes the group a small pouch. Going by the jingling, it's filled with gold coins. "That's the reward the Order set for any information about Alana's death. You all deserve it for sending Mozamer to his maker."
He pauses before gently clutching the necklace, tears now starting to fall from his eyes.
"...I need a moment," Alden says before hurriedly departing.
Ciara watches him go but stays at the door.
"Thank you, everyone. Hopefully, Alden can rest a little easier tonight knowing that Alana has been avenged," the redhead to you all. Sensing that there's something else, she pauses before adding, "Was that everything?"
After deciding to keep her room, she immersed herself in her studies. Working alongside the other magic users had sparked a bit of a competitive streak -- or more of a drive to remain useful in the midst of such potent powers that the others had demonstrated. She resolved to keep focusing on enchantment spells, but not to eschew other useful magics.
Deciding to take a break, she heads out to stroll around Roderick's Cove. Spotting Lullaby, she trots up to her and greets her with a wide smile. "Hey! Glad to see you're still in town! Want to go on a walk? Or fancy a bite to eat?"
"Oh, hey Kallie!" Lullaby says excitedly upon seeing her friend approach. "Yeah, I'll likely be sticking around for a bit; I'm still trying to figure out my 'next big adventure' so to speak. Anyway, a walk sounds great! I also wouldn't be opposed to getting something to eat afterward."
Whenever everyone is at the Creekside at the same time, Aurealia gathers them together in the Lounge below. "Julit Freson wants to have us over for dinner. Aunt Elandra and the Port Governor want us to coordinate with him to set up a garrison here, so this will probably be a good chance to get to know each other. What do you guys think, sound good?"
"You know me," Croq smiles, "I'm always in the mood for a meal!"
Aurealia smiles back at her sis. "He was thinking tomorrow night if that works for everyone."