A missing...
moment.
Some moments seem to last a lifetime. Some vanish so quickly they may as well never have existed at all. Since the moment that wasn't a moment, when you chased your dreams and vanished from the world for three months, there have been many moments and most of them have flowed by like water in a river.
Meeting Dr Ritalson, a man as fussy and formal as his organisation, the Illuminated Consortium of Epopts.
Meeting your companions, men, women and dolls(?) like yourself that Ritalson assures you are "The best of the best!"
Grindingly long interviews with the Doctor, sometimes with a scribe, more often with an odd machine that Ritalson tells you is recording what you both say - an invaluable record for future scholars. Moments that will matter.
Painful physical tests, stretching, expanding and cataloging your new powers. Always difficult, sometimes excruciating. These are moments best forgotten.
Rain. So, much, rain. The roads north and east from Ustalav are rarely kind, even the 'great' roads to Brevoy are washed out as often as not, particularly in spring, and despite the efforts of the new kingdom of Nightsong which sits to Brevoy's southwest and offers a modicum of civilisation and decent highway construction, the journey has been long, slow and above all - wet. Moments washing away like the water droplets on your face. So many moments. Not missing, but gone none the less.
Thankfully everything ends, your journey at least, even though the rain hasn't let up and as the border of Sevenarches approaches - marked by a low bridge that barely rises above the fast flowing stream below - Doctor Ritalson pulls out a hankerchief and wipes the excess rain from his face once more.
"I fear this is as far as I accompany you,” he says. “I have matters to attend to farther east. But I’ve no doubt that you can handle this investigation yourselves. Of all my field researchers, you show the greatest promise for uncovering the secrets of the hidden world. I need not remind you of the importance of your mission.” A sure sign that he is about to, and probably at some length.
Ritalson points to the mysterious rune emblazoned across his throat—the same mark that brought you together, the one you all share. “Three months ago, we embarked upon a mystery. All across the world, elven teleportation gates — aiudara — burst with light and lured people like us in with visions of our greatest desires. A subset of we so-called ‘gatewalkers’ returned from the sojourn — some, like you, bearing fascinating new abilities. We all, however, remain ignorant of what befell us on the other side of our doorway, how we came to be marked with this unknown sign, or what may have happened to those who did not return.”
He chuckles ruefully. “In every university and seminary, scholars are ransacking their libraries to understand this ‘Missing Moment.’ Yet I believe that we — that you — will succeed where they all fail. For our quest into the paranormal is not merely academic, but personal."
“Toward that end, I’ve given you my most promising lead: Sevenarches. For centuries, any elf who approached the city’s infamous Seven Arches has been subject to a terrible curse. Yet, on the night of the Missing Moment, the curse was somehow lifted. We need to know why. The city’s famed aiudara no doubt hold some of the answers we seek, and moreover represent a prime research opportunity to study the portals in person. That’s where you come in."
“To help, I’ve arranged for you to meet with an old associate of mine. Fianara Caralestri claims to have crucial information about the arches. Ah, and there she is now!”
An elven woman wearing traveling leathers and a backpack overflowing with scrolls waves from the caravanserai’s porch on the far side of the bridge as the Doctor continues. "If you have any more questions for me now is the time to ask."
None of your kind, or your 'pure-blood' elven kin have been allowed in Sevenarches because of a dangerous curse but you've heard that in the wake of the Missing Moment, the curse has apparently been lifted.
A small little construct, standing at a little under 2ft tall raises her hand in high up in the air and bounces on her toes waiting to be selected to share her question. As the Doctor's eyes fall upon the linen clad poppet, she lowers her hand but continues her slight bouncing.
"Oh, good - its my turn!" She says, with an animated voice. "Dr Ritalson, where are you headed to? Are there other teams investigating other arches that you are going to visit with? I'd like to know all about them! Oh, and do we know anyone who went through these particular gates? Did we hear about their stories or where they are now? Have many elves tried to come close since then? What about Lyra? I know that she will be okay, as she deserves to be okay, but are we sure that she is safe?" The little poppet blurts out all the questions at once, as if in a stream of consciousness. Fortunately, being a Poppet, she doesn't need to catch her breath after the verbal assault of questions.
While it may be wet and it may be raining, the everpresent water doesn't quench the fire that permeates everything that Orania sees. Like other things, she views the rain as just another obstacle to overcome to bring her closer to ... to whatever she feels drawn to. The frustration of not knowing what that something is has lessened, somewhat, by joining the estimable doctor's team, but it always remains, like the painful ache of a not-quite-healed wound.
As Cotton raises her questions, the oracle can't help but smile. The construct has managed to engraciate her way into the hearts of all the team members. Orania has almost managed to ignore the image of the linen creation being consumed by hungry flames she envisions when looking upon her.
To distract herself, she watches the tendrils of steam rising from where the rain evaporates away from her overheated skin.
"When shall we contact you again?" she asks, once the man is finished expounding on Cotton's questions.
Lyra has many questions, but before she can speak, Cotton is already rattling off her questions. This isn't any new of course, she's quite used to construct's enthusiasm.
"What about Lyra? I know that she will be okay, as she deserves to be okay, but are we sure that she is safe?"
Lyra opens her mouth to speak, but stops when Coton asks this question. Caught off-guard, she manages a rather eloquent "Ehhh-what?" as her swivels between Cotton and the doctor. "What-what? What's wrong with me? Why am I not going to be okay? What's going on?"
She does her best to look calm, but her constant fidgeting give away her unease.
As has become his habit, Cage positions himself on the windward side of Cotton, hoping to shield the poppet from any strong buffets of wind and to keep the worst of the rain off of her.
"Are any of the arches here still active? Maybe we can use one to travel to our, uh, moment."
Cage shrugs, still a bit tongue-tied about what drew him through the woods to the underground portal months ago.
Cotton stops her momentary bouncing and stands on her tip toes as she peers up at Lyra, trying to catch a glimpse of her ears and facial features. "Oh, oops, I'm sorry Lyra, I meant Anabel of course! You still have beautiful ears though Lyra, I promise. You are all just so tall, that I forget who is who sometimes." She glances back around in her modicum of shelter provided by her Protector trying to remember which one of the other two women is the elf, before exclaiming "oh!
"It's Anabel I meant. Doctor, are we sure that Anabel is going to be safe? She deserves to be safe too you see, as she has such a big heart but we just need to be sure that she isn't going to disintegrate or anything."
"Yes, I am interested in the answer to that question as well. Disintegrating is not on my to-do list," Anabel says, using her shirt to wipe the rain from her glasses before putting them back on again. She has made sure to keep her alchemical ingredients safe from the rain inside her large leather case, and she squints to try to see what lies on the other side of the bridge into Sevenarches.
The Doctor's lined face splits into a fond smile as Cotton barrages him with questions - its a common reaction to the poppet.
"I have another lead to investigate near the border with the Whistling Plains." He says. "An old colleague of mine. As for other teams, yes I have managed to send out some others but there is no larger concentration of aiudara anywhere in Avistan, which is why I've gathered you all here in Sevenarches."
Then confusion erupts over Lyra's ears and the doctor subsides until Cage addresses him once more. "I'm afraid I don't know Mr Varsus. The arches form part of the capital city so I suppose they would be, but whether outsiders like us would know if they weren't..."
"As for the obnubilate curse Ms Imvara, I am confident that you will be safe." He continues soothingly. "Fianara herself was the first to contact me about it and as you can see she is quite unharmed. I have no intention of risking any of my fellow Gatewalkers."
He waits a moment longer and then replaces his large hat on bald head.
"Well then, you won't learn anything standing around here and getting wet. Chop chop, and make sure you send regular letters back to Caliphas!"
Anabel nods as the doctor reparts. "Right. Let's be about it, then, shall we?" The half-elf moves to speak to Fianara.
Lyra relaxes as Cotton explains her intentions. "Oh. I see. Yes. That is a valid concern."
"In addition to disintegration, there is also the well known fact that elves of all manner are banned from entering Sevenarches. Should she not disintegrate, perhaps we can devise a clever disguise to hide those ears? Maybe we need have a headwrap on at all times?" she suggests. "Or perhaps Ms. Caralestri can impart some of her knowledge of this situation?"
"Well if you give me a little time, I could make something for Anabel? Baba always told me I had a talent for knitting but I haven't had a chance for a while, and I do enjoy it so! Perhaps a brightly colored woolen headband to cover her ears? I have a sunshine yellow ball of wool in my bag for emergencies which we could use if we can't find anything else!" Cotton asks innocently. She pats her little backpack, and Twig, a much smaller lifeless doll with some similarities to Cotton, jiggles in its pocket that she has carefully dedicated to it.
"Although maybe Ms Caralestri has a different idea of course!"
Fianara Caralestri, up close, is a rather rough-and-tumble looking elf with a wide smile despite the downpour and she greets you all with good cheer.
“As I told Doc Etty,” She says after the opening pleasantries are dispensed with, “I have some information I think you’ll find useful—but if you want it, I need help with my own research first.”
She points across the bridge. “I’d like to test a theory, but the Oakstewards still aren’t letting elves into Sevenarches and there's been an uptick in attacks from gorgas — monstrous, shadow-eyed fey creatures, if you’re unfamiliar.” She shrugs. “What can I say? I’m a reader and writer, not an adventurer or expert in espionage. So here’s what I need: Sevenarches is supposedly named for the cluster of seven aiudara in the middle of the city. Well, I’ve been going through old records, and I’ve reason to believe those arches are fake—decoys to draw attention away from the real arches. But if I want to publish my findings, I need proof.”
From her bag, Fianara withdraws a foot-long glass tube with a cluster of hollow bulbs at one end like a mace. “This is an aura recorder I’ve keyed specifically to aiudara. When you pass it through an aiudara, it will record the gate’s magical signature. I’d like you to go to the town’s center then use this to read the aura of one of the gates there, it's only a few miles down the road so it shouldn't be too much of a trip. If I’m right, this will prove that the aura of the supposed ‘Seven Arches’ is all wrong for true aiudara. Once you've got the readings, bring it back to me here and I'll share with you what I know.”
She beams cheerfully. "Should be simple right. I asked Doc Etty for his best so you lot must have plenty of skills between you?" She looks from one to the other, clearly hoping that you'll explain said skills. "Oh and aren't you the most adorable thing?"
"It shouldn't be too difficult to disguise my heritage," Anabel says. "Any head covering will do. A simple hooded cloak, since we haven't time for knitting."
She nods to Fianara in greeting when the elf approaches. Meeting full-blooded elves always triggers a slight pang of regret in Anabel's heart for never knowing her elven mother, but like most of her emotions, she buries it inside herself as she listens to the elf's explanation.
"A fascinating device. I am sure we will be able to assist you in exchange for your own assistance. Quid pro quo. I, myself, am an accomplished investigator with some talent for alchemy as well."
As the others explain their skills, Anabel tries to remember what she's read about gorgas. Then she commits herself to investigating the aiudara.
Cage blushes at the attention. "Umm. We'd be happy to investigate. Doesn't sound too complicated."
Cage tucks the aura reader into his belt next to his smith's hammer. "There. That's not too obvious, right?"
Anabel quirks an eyebrow at the positioning of the device. "Why, Mister Varsus. Is that an aura recorder in your pocket, or you just happy to see me?" she asks coyly.
"Huh?! Oh, uh!" Cage tries to adjust the placement of the detector, becoming increasingly flustered as each arrangement is somehow more suggestive than the last.
Orania shakes her head as Anabel's flirting becomes even more apparent. She'd listened to it for the entire trip without commenting, but with a job laid before them it may prove a distraction.
"Let us keep the focus on the task at hand, shall we?" she says, looking from the investigator to the warrior.
"I don't think I've heard of gorgas," she continues, turning her attention to Fianara. "What can you tell us of them?"
Lyra watches the exchange between Cage and Anabel and gigles, quickly putting a hand over her mouth to contain the laughter.
"Let us keep the focus on the task at hand, shall we?"
Pulling her hand away from mouth, Lyra's lips are turned up in a huge smile. She turns to the oracle and waves a hand dismissively as she says "Oh relax Orania, they are just having some harmless fun."
Stepping in front of Orania with her back to the other two she lowers her voice to a whisper, "Let have their fun now while they can. Who knows what dangers may lay ahead."
Lyra also might know a thing or two about gorgas, so she tries recall what she knows.
Stepping in front of Orania with her back to the other two she lowers her voice to a whisper, "Let have their fun now while they can. Who knows what dangers may lay ahead."
"It's only harmless until it proves a distraction and someone gets hurt," Orania replies with a shrug. "But, as you say, I will speak no more about it." She tries to avoid letting her eyes follow the flames that dance across Lyra's shoulders.
In an effort to distract her own wandering thoughts, she turns to the construct. "Miss Cotton," she calls out. "If we do, indeed, encounter any of these creatures, be sure to stay behind me."
Lyra puts her hand on Orania's shoulder and says sincerely "Thank you." before turning her back to face Anabel and Cage and giving them both a cheeky wink.
"Oh yes of course, I would not dream of otherwise Orania! I will always help from afar like Baba always showed me." Cotton replies, not really understanding the exchange between Anabel and Cage.
Reaching to her backpack, she pulls out her own tiny poppet. "Twig, have you heard anything about Gorgas before? Maybe you've read something?" She pauses momentarilly, as if listening to the lifeless doll's reply before shaking her head.
"No, Twig doesn't know anything about Gorgas either."
"Gorgas? I think I've read about them. Let me see..."
Cage wracks his brain. The bookseller had a couple tattered volumes that mentioned fey, but did they include gorgas?
Cage knows that Gorgas are an embodiment of the fear of predators in the night. They have excellent night vision and are said to be able to tear their victim's shadow and spiritual essence with their jaws. Anabel can confirm their greater darkvision.
Fianara watches the by-play with obvious amusement and claps Cage on the shoulder. "As long as you get the information I might even let you keep it aferwards." She says with a grin. "Excellent for impressing the ladies don't you know?"
After a little more ribbing the group sets out and a break in the rain makes the journey speedier and more pleasant than it has been for many a day before.
As you approach the city it becomes apparent that there is a guard, although they don't seem to be overly officious.
"At least the rain has stopped!" Lyra says cheerfully as they make their approach.
"Ok. Let's get your disguise in place Anabel." she says, turning to help the investigator with her hooded cloak.
Unfortunately she fails miserably and only makes things worse by highlighting the pointy ears underneath the cloak.
”It’s the thought that counts,” Anabel says, trying to undo the damage Lyra has done.
She takes extra care not to be caught, lest the mission fail before it begins.
Orania considers offering aid as Lyra attempts to help conceal Anabel's heritage.
"No, you need to ... no, not like ... Why don't you ...?"
Realizing that her offered assistance won't help the situation, she presses her lips together and makes her way towards the city, stuffing her hands down into the pockets of her cloak as she passes the guards.
Thankfully, and with more than a little luck, the group is able to bypass the guards - who are so surprised by having a poppet come through that they pay very little attention to the rest of the group.
The city is relatively small and it doesn't take much more than following the main road into the city to arrive at Arch Plaza. Seven stone archways stand in a neat circle in this central town plaza. Each arch is twenty feet tall and ten feet wide. Multicolored lights of unknown provenance warp and weave across the arches’ stone faces.
Surrounding the arches is a circle of dwarf oak trees, each just ten feet tall. A hempen rope tied around the tree trunks forms a barricade whose only gap is just south of the arches, an entrance guarded by two serious looking men with staves and flowing green cloaks - Oakstewards. Shops, inns, and merchant wagons surround the busy square on all sides. To the southeast, a small podium rises five feet high.
Anabel looks around for any hidden dangers, or anything that might give them an advantage.
"Anyone up for creating a distraction?" Cage tries to point discreetly at the podium.
"And maybe someone more...unobtrusive should try to sneak this through the arches."
Deciding to take the direct approach, Orania approaches one of the Oakstewards and nods her head in greetings.
"Good day," she addresses him in elvish. "My friend here," she gestures towards Cotton, "has heard wonderous things regarding the aiudara and has chosen to travel a great distance to see them. Would it be possible for her to view them from a closer distance?"
The pattern of flames dancing across and around the gates is quite distracting, but she manages to keep her focus on the guard.
"I'm pretty light on my feet, I'll go." Lyra says, holding out her to take the device from Cage.
"Well, here goes nothing..." she mutters to herself, sneaking forward as soon as Orania's distraction kicks off.
Cotton, cottons onto Orania's idea and nods her head enthusaistically.
"Oh yes please, I have heard of the stories of fantastical other pathways to other worlds! Is it true? I cannot wait to have a peek!"
Lyra circles around behind the stewards to the far side of the circle and ducks under the rope. Immediately a horrible screeching sound breaks out from all around her and the Oakstewards, who had been listening courteously to Orania, curse. One turns away and strides through the arches towards the disturbance while the other gestures everyone aside.
"Stand back people, someone is attempting to damage the Arches. Do not fear, the Oakstewards have this under control."
Cotton places her hands over her eyes for a second and holds her breath as she concentrates on Lyra with all her hope and optimism.
Lyra panics when the screeching sound begins. Unsure what to do she turns to run away, but trips herself up and knocks a few things over on her way out.
"What, over here?" Cage blunders purposely into the security rope, hoping to add to the confusion.
The druid halfway across the plaza turns back sharply when Cage blunders into the rope, which gives Lyra enough time to flee, setting off the alarm once more. The two druids seem thoroughly confused by everything that's going on and end up driving everyone a good fifty feet away from the trees in an attempt to establish what's going on. Thankfully the confusion is enough for Lyra to make a get-away, but its clear that simply sneaking in isn't going to be enough.
A new plan is needed!
"There's obviously a magical alarm on the rope," Orania declares once they've moved out of earshot of the guards. "The question is how sensitive it is."
She turns to Lyra.
"Did you actually touch the rope when you crossed it? If it only activates on contact, then we can work with that. Otherwise, we need to find a way to distract the guards enough to let someone inside through the entrance area."
"I could take off my scarf and show my ears. Make them chase me," Anabel suggests with a shrug.
"How about we try something with a little less immediate threat to your person," Orania says with a grin. "No one needs to get hurt or arrested. Perhaps we could wait until nightfall and then repeatedly trigger the defensive magic? If they become so inured to the alarm, then they might ignore it when it's us moving through to actually test."
Lyra quickly hands detector back to Cage "Thank you for your help, I thought I was in big trouble there for a moment before you set it off too."
"Did you actually touch the rope when you crossed it? If it only activates on contact, then we can work with that. Otherwise, we need to find a way to distract the guards enough to let someone inside through the entrance area."
Lyra's eyes move upwards as she thinks back to the incident. "It all happened so quickly. I was so sure nothing was watching me when I moved in. I ducked under the rope and it went off. I don't recall touching it, but it's possible my back brushed against it."
"I could take off my scarf and show my ears. Make them chase me," Anabel suggests with a shrug.
"How about we try something with a little less immediate threat to your person," Orania says with a grin. "No one needs to get hurt or arrested. Perhaps we could wait until nightfall and then repeatedly trigger the defensive magic? If they become so inured to the alarm, then they might ignore it when it's us moving through to actually test."
Lyra shakes her head at both Orania's and Anabel's ideas, "Both are options, however, I think we'll be better served doing something less dangerous next time. I recommend either doing some surveillance to see if there is a spot that doesn't set off the alarm or asking some locals what they might know."
"Good idea. Maybe there are workers that clean or maintain the arches. We could slip in with them, or at least learn enough to make up a convincing cover story." Cage tries to think through a non-linear approach.
"I could take off my scarf and show my ears. Make them chase me," Anabel suggests with a shrug.
Cotton giggles momentarily at the suggestion. "We would have to rename them the ear snatchers! Maybe it would give them a bit of excitement too - I think they look like they need it."
"I think Miss Lyra is very wise and less dangerous is always the best option if it exists. Cage's idea might work but I don't think I would be un-noticable, as for some reason, I always draw attention to myself." Cotton adds, cocking her head in confusion. "That and the Oakstewards got a good look at Orania in the conversation."
Splitting up to ask around the group goes their separate ways for a while. Cage and Cotton, despite their combined adorableness, make no progress - running into an almost physical wall of local suspicion, but Anabel, Lydia and Oriana are all able to extract similar information, although little more than the group have already seen for themselves.
“Ever since gorgas started hunting closer to the city, there’s been two Oakstewards posted at the arches, plus an ensorcelled rope. If you even try to go under or over it, it starts screaming like an angry squirrel. Don't ask how I know that sound. Birds and things are always setting it off. It’s a real headache.”
All three women have variations on the same theme but the basics are clear. The rope is enchanted, anything going over or under it sets it off and the townsfolk hate it.
Cage is really stumped on this one, but he's throwing ideas out there:
"...or, what if we released 20 squirrels into the area, then one of us turns into a squirrel and dragged the rod through the arches?"
"...or, we could put on a puppet show to entertain the guards, and Cootn can be a 'runaway puppet' that gets up to highjinx. It's all part of the show, folks!"
"...or, we could start a fire! Um, just as small one. As a distraction."
"...people seem really mad about the alarm. Maybe if we arrange to set it off a lot in one day, an unruly mob will form and distract the guards."
You get the feeling that Cage has read a lot of books that feature such shenanigans.
"I also could use a spell that allows me to hold and move the detector through the area, perhaps it's small enough it won't set it off on it's own?"
Lyra tries to keep up with Cage's ideas, starting to respond to each but only getting a word out before he starts the next one. She gives up and lets all of his ideas complete before responding.
"Orania had a similar thought as Cage. Set it off several times in the hopes it would create enough of a distraction. Perhaps we should give that a shot before we start a fire?"
"I think triggering multiple alarms is a viable plan. Let's do that one," Anabel says in agreement.
Lyra nods. "Alright. We can still combine the ideas. After we trigger it multiple times, I can try to move the detector in magically and if it triggers the alarm, oh well, but it may not which would be even better."
"That's a swell idea!" Cage answers enthusiastically. "You move things with magic? I wish I knew how to do things like that. It would sure make things easier around the smithy."
With a new plan in place the group moves in and soon Arches Plaza resounds with the sound of angry squirrels! The Oakstewards seems utterly non-plussed as the alarm sounds in several places at once and Lyra pushing the recorder through an arch with mage hand goes completely unnoticed.
The recorder sits for about a minute and then its lights turn a vivid purple and Lyra has to whisk it away again quickly before anyone notices the strange light, but thankfully the whole process is resolved in a little more than five tense minutes.
With the mission accomplished the Gatewalkers beat a hasty retreat and make it back to the caravansary just as dusk is falling. Fianara is waiting there and takes the device eagerly.
“Just as I suspected!” she exclaims. “Illusion magic.”
She points to a different, unlit bulb. “And not a trace of conjuration. Those arches are as fake as a kelpie’s smile.” She settles back in her chair. “Well then, a deal’s a deal. Here’s what I know: The real Seven Arches are hidden somewhere south, in the Wilewood, which is why the Oakstewards restrict travel there. They also post guards. On the night of your Missing Moment, all seven of the guards at the Seven Arches stepped through the portals, just like you did, but only one of them returned — a self-righteous Oaksteward named Bolan."
She frowns and continues. “From what I've heard Bolan was a changed man when he got back... and not in a good way. After the high council chewed him out for shirking his post, he stole an important Oaksteward artifact and hid out in the Wilewood along with some other malcontents. From there, he’s been sending cronies to the city to harass the citizens, undermine the Oakstewards’ authority, and recruit other discontented druids to his cause. His ultimate aim, as far as I can tell, is a full-on coup. Now I don’t know what happened to this Bolan character when he went through the arch. But whatever he knows, I figure you’ll want to know it, too. I figure the best way to find out about him would be to ask the Oakstewards - so I've written a letter of introduction for you. One of them, a woman named Lemma Feldthorn is a friend of mine and I think she'll be willing to work with you on this. Here it is.” She offers Oriana, who is sitting nearest, a sealed letter and grins. "That's what I've got for you. Probably best to stay the night though - everything I've heard says there's creatures roaming the darkness these days."