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"I'm Zibini," says Zibini as he imitates Lindevaile Tindome's movements, "and I do magic--but they asked us not to do magic here."
The goblin doesn't know the right manners, and his appearance is entirely scruffy. But he also knows that some people find it endearing if you just admit stuff like that. "I wasn't expecting to meet a hing today. You can probably tell!"
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"And as the autumn trees of your lands we shall accept our fate and set root for what is to come." he responds in kind to Lindevaile. The fan brings no particular interest more than a casual glance at its design.
The king accepts the rest of the introductions with adequate attention, impressed by all and perhaps somewhat amused by the goblin's naïveté, but probes a bit further.
"Magicians and explorers have come to our shore, caught in a web of fey that took my Greenwatch to send off. You truly have something to chronicle already, so why continue the foray to my doorstep?" Do you seek an audience for some reason?"
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"Pardon us, King, but we seek your audience as members of our own community wishing to reach out in the spirit of friendship and perhaps mutual benefit. You say magicians and explorers have come to your shores, but has there been any such in recent days? We have heard of only one or two, and yet we know not their fate. Perhaps we can share stories and see if we may somehow be of interest to you?"
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"Yes, we are looking to complete the stories. Also, we would like to offer our apologies for any outsider who hasn't behaved correctly and we are willing to show you in every way that not all outsiders are bad or dangerous. Whatever it takes to convince you of our good intentions, we are willing to do", Lindevaile Tindome adds to Kyra's request.
She takes lock of her sky-blue hair in her hand, and looking at it, continues: "Not all magic is the decision of the person. Some look for it, but for some magic looks for them. Is it then a part of their nature, part of all nature? What should they do, deny their nature?"
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Discreet and tactful.
"Someone specific, yes, but not a friend of ours. He couldn't have been--he lived a long time ago. We're researching someone named Selmius Foster, trying to learn what happened to him. We think he might have died on this island, but we know he wasn't always good at making friends with people who already lived at the places he visited. The story we know is incomplete, so we were hoping we might learn the history to finish it.
"We did not seek an audience, but we are strangers and uninvited guests. Respecting the wishes of the people who helped us is the least we can do!"
Even if we didn't really need their help.
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"As good Zibini here said, the story we want to finish is Selmius Foster's and of the people associated to him. We know he was not doing everything correctly. We didn't take part to his actions, and today would try to prevent his mistakes. We shouldn't be judged for the actions of people who were before our time, but as there is a historical connection between him and us, we feel it falls to us to repair and apologize whatever damage he did, as far as it is possible." Lindevaile Tindome adds her view to the discussion.
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As Zibini and Lindevaile complete the explanation of the group's presence, the king’s strange mien darkens briefly and for the first time you feel as if you have his complete attention. “I see. We indeed remember the Pathfinder Society and Selmius Foster. Not only did Selmius and his henchman Adolphus kidnap our Princess Ganjay, they also committed a crime most heinous and unspeakable, for which Mr. Foster summarily paid the highest price. That being said, we are a just ruler, and neither we, nor the enlightened kingdom of Bhopan, believe in holding people accountable for the actions of those that came before. We are cognizant of this news putting a strain on our relations, but it is our ardent hope that you trust in the justice of our actions. And I will trust in yours, for now.”
His head wobbles in thought before his demeanor changes once again, and he marvels in the decorations that surround him.
"Nonetheless, the world is as it is. Tomorrow evening, Bhopan will be celebrating the annual Masquerade of Seasons, and you are hereby cordially invited by the grace of the Bhopanese people to participate in our most sacred custom. Steward Lelzeshin will be responsible for you while you are our guests. Kindly refrain from leaving his side when you are not in your chambers. We understand that you wouldn’t want to be disarmed in such an unfamiliar place, so consider this a courtesy and an extension of our trust. Proper attire for the masquerade will be provided by our light-weavers. You are hereby dismissed.”
With a practiced dismissing wave of his bejeweled hand, the king steps away to continue the preparations for the morrow. Lelzeshin steps in between to prevent you from following and extends his own hand outward to escort you out of the king’s audience chamber.
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The group is led to a massive suite, with a central lounging area surrounded by a small private bedroom and bathroom for each of you. Along the way you pass by an opulent garden, where Bhopan socialites mill about, perfecting their conversational skills before the coming festivities.
"You have had quite an eventful day, feel free to retire to your suite at this time, but I would suggest that you mingle with the locals, to get a sense of what to expect tomorrow, or perhaps to learn more about Mr. Foster and his fateful trip."
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"Oh, I'd love to get to know them!" Lindevaile Tindome answers to the suggestion. She goes to chat with the nobles, her fine clothes and carefree attitude giving the illusion she's used to noble circles.
"So, what is this Masquerade about? I have done some acting but not as a season. Is it in groups, friends being about one season or all by themselves?"
"Harsh ending for Foster, but we want to finish the tale anyway. But 'He did things unspeakable and paid the price' is a bit bad ending, don't you think? Doesn't sound interesting."
"These I got from Osirion, they go so well with the scarf. Yours are lovely too, where did you get them? Could I get something similar, it would be a nice addition to my dress."
When the night comes, Lindevaile Tindome goes to sleep outside on a balcony or yard, or if not possible, right next to an open window.
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Lindevaile, Kyra and Iustanus seem wholly at ease in the social setting and for the next few hours are able to squeeze out a few more pieces of the Foster story (at least as it is told in Bhopan) from several of the guests.
Selmius and his henchman Adolphus kidnapped Princess Ganjay to force her to help them break into the royal vault.
Selmius was executed by means of a very large and acidic pitcher plant.
Adolphus escaped consequences by playing upon the princess’s sympathies to appear to be just another victim of Selmius.
Adolphus was a terrible man. He seduced Princess Ganjay to earn her trust so he could use her to access the vault, and then kidnapped her.
Selmius Foster was able to enter the royal vault, which only people of royal blood should be able to enter. This must mean that Foster brought
powerful dark magic with him, perhaps from the legendary enemy of their people: an evil fey called the Thorned Monarch, who nearly wiped out all
of ancient Bhopan before the remaining survivors retreated to their current island home.
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As the festivities begin to wind down, Lelzeshin leads you all back to your appointed quarters. He closes the hall door to the suites behind him and clears his throat. “Before we talk further, let me fulfill my duty to explain what awaits you. Tomorrow night is the annual Masquerade of Seasons. We will gather in the grand plazas of the Eternal Bloom and be merry; this, one of our most sacred customs, culminates in the opening of the Eternal Bloom’s flowers to the sound of the Grand Dance, its pollen ensuring prosperity and peace for all of Bhopan. Know that His Majesty doesn’t expect you to perform well in the dance, as it is in fact a somewhat complex affair for those not familiar with the proper steps. That being said, if you do rise to the occasion, you’ll be able to dance and glide among the spires of Hoba Dukuza, and even right beneath the grand anther if you’re particularly graceful!”
He nods his head to indicate that his explanation was satisfactory. There is a long pause, before he continues with a more conversational tone. "Yes, well, Selmius Foster was quite an interesting fellow, wasn't he? It makes one wonder. Why did he travel all the way from Avistan to our far away jewel of an isle. Must be something important. They say Selmius’s main goal on Bhopan was to find something within the
Royal Vault itself and that these ambitions likely all hold the secrets to Selmius’s death."
He stops as if he might have more to say about it, but is not quite sure he can trust you...
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Lelzeshin shifts on his feet as he considers his words carefully. “Well, the official story is that Princess Ganjay was kidnapped by Pathfinders, who forced her to lead them to the royal vault — for it is during an attempted theft from it that Selmius Foster was caught and summarily executed. But the truth, as redacted accounts of the time and other records of the princess’s personality would suggest, was rather different. The princess desperately wanted to liberate her people from the burden of cultural stagnation. When the group was caught, Selmius was accused both of kidnapping the princess and of breaking into the royal vault. The queen at the time had no interest in letting anyone know that the princess was an active participant in the heist rather than a victim of cruel outsiders. The only proof, or any clues about what Foster was hoping to find, would lie in the vault, but that’s not something anyone has been able to check. The vault, you see, requires at least four people to open. Doing so is lethal to Bhopanese people who are not of royal blood, but far less perilous for outsiders. The survival of Selmius Foster and Adolphus attests to that, particularly compared to the death that has come to every Bhopanese person who has attempted to bypass the vault’s wards. I am a student of our histories, and while I had heard many negative things about Pathfinders in those official accounts, I’ve begun to doubt them. Meeting people like you makes me suspect these stories were told to further an isolationist stance and keep us from learning of the outside world. If you need help accessing the vault, I would be willing to help you. Indeed, it might be the only way for us to learn the truth and uncover our past. It might even reveal that Selmius was innocent of his crimes. What do you think?”
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"A dance! This is better than I could have hoped!" Lindevaile Tindome rejoices tomorrow's program. "I really would like to learn as much of the local dance as possible, but there isn't that much time to learn so I have to improvise. We can make it a bit less awkward if you follow my steps." She looks at Azu, then Kaitlyn. "Azu, we followed you in the wilderness, and Kaitlyn in the puddle hopping. Now it's my time. This is my wilderness."
"Selmius can't be much helped but it would be nice to get his story right. I don't understand why anyone would like to isolate themselves from the world that is full of wonderful things, but forcing others to do so is just mean. Everyone should be free to choose to stay or go. I don't have an idea what Selmius was looking for, we have collected some artifacts but only those that were unguarded and so in risk to get into the wrong hands. A royal vault is far from unguarded, and probably safer than what we can provide. So I guess he was looking for some information, maybe even something that would help the locals? I'm all for it, and if we don't find anything then at least we tried and no harm was done."
She closes her fan, turns her hands over so that the fan is hidden under them, and back again, and the fan has disappeared. She repeats the feat, and the fan reappears. "I have some skills that might be useful in getting things done under guards' eyes", she says, snapping the fan open again and waving a breeze at herself.
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"It's a terrible idea!" Zibini hisses, "Part of our goal here is to make a good impression, and try to cooperate. Doing this--and while the king knows we're here--will make all kinds of new trouble if we get caught!"
Grinning and nodding, the conclusion to his argument is obvious: "So we better not get caught."
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Lelzeshin eyes your reactions carefully. "If you are in agreement then, you can get in most easily by acting carefully but deliberately during the masquerade to proceed to the vault, using that distraction to slip in. I can watch along as the evening progresses and even help if necessary, but you must make me one promise. Do not use violence against my fellow citizens, or I will rescind my aid. Any questions for me before I let you retire for the night?"
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"Now that I remember, the restriction of magic use is only for things anyone notices? So if we are anyway going somewhere we're not supposed to go, it doesn't matter if we open the vault door with lockpicks or spells?" Lindevaile Tindome asks.
"I have this", she digs out a Galtian-style hat from her pack, "it can disguise you once per day. And of course I have some basic makeup and costumes but they are less convincing than the magic of the hat."
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The rest of the night passes uneventfully and your accommodations are first rate. The king has even granted a special treat for you. Servants deliver a collection of Bhopanese desserts to your rooms before you retire. The desserts include spicy frozen treats and a cake covered in intricate sugar petals with a pronounced taste of fine alcohol. The desserts are decorated with silver accessories that you are told you may keep.
Later the next day, before the Grand Dance begins, you gather again and realize you can engage in a variety of activities as you explore the mazelike parks and halls of the Eternal Bloom, prior to the actual dance beginning.
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You happen upon a table containing meats and plants on kebab sticks next to some barrel-sized pitcher plants. You notice the plants open only if a drop of blood is spilled on their lid. The kebabs are dipped into the delicious-smelling acid in the plants, which marinates them in seconds as a kind of ceviche.
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A nasty-looking snapping turtle is inside a small, circular pen. The pen sports several holes, through which assembled individuals put their hands while inhaling strange fumes that briefly cloud their vision. At the sound of a bell, all participants attempt to pull their hands out, with the turtle biting the hand of the slowest person.
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Multihued, tame caterpillars await next to a fenced-off area that flashes with sparks and swirls of fire.
The celebrant then walks into the cordoned-off area and tickles the caterpillars, which, depending on the tickling movements and the blood type and ancestry of the blood donor, emit multicolored sparks and gouts of flame from their mandibles, somewhat reminiscent of fireworks.
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"Thievery is severely frowned upon in the monastery where I grew up. On my honor I will not partake in such activity."
"Aw, fine. We shouldn't anyway. Breaking in to investigate is one thing, but stealing stuff will be noticed for sure. We'd give the Society an even worse reputation!"
Zibini sees the barbecue. "Meat!" But wait.. where's the barbecue? Oh. No.
He sees the caterpillars. "Ew! Neat! But--blood again? These people should just go kiss a vampire or something."
The turtles. [b]"That's stupid! I'm in!" Cackling, the goblin is confident in his quickness.
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Lindevaile Tindome enjoys the new delicacies presented to her, trying to absorb all possible experience from the taste. She eats while watching the local landscape in the darkening evening, her dark eyes allowing it for longer than for her human companions.
She heads to the masquerade pre-events with curiosity. Her eyes are right away drawn to the catepillars. "Oh look how beautiful creatures those are! The sparks are like my Tinwëasto!".
She is a bit taken back by the blood requirement. "I'm not that sure I like that, I have bad memories of pain and blood. Could someone lend me a hand, or a drop?"
She enjoys the tickling part a lot more, she tickles the caterpillars and directs then the sparks with dancing hand movements and flicks of her fan.
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The activities go well for the party for the most part. Zibini, Azu and Kat are all thankfully quicker than a turtle, each winning a verdant participation ribbon in the shape of the reptile's tongue. Lindevaille is able to enlist a squirrel-faced local teen to aid in the blood sacrifice but sadly cannot direct the caterpillars to perform on cue. After that, Iustanus can't even find any takers to donate blood.
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With the whistling of ghostly white buds resounding in the air like an ephemeral glockenspiel, the Bhopanese gather in the grand plaza of the dance, under the aegis of the bloom of the gigantic orchid castle. A bat-faced man, clad in the finery of a majordomo that would make the Taldan courts blush with envy, claps his hands firmly four times, and fey musicians appear, ranging from satyrs with their pipes to dryads playing various string instruments made of their own hair, all accompanying the song of sirens congregating in the lake. All fey are dressed in elaborate courtly attire, and the massive stigma of the orchid-castle opens to the sound of the primordial symphony, sending clouds of shimmering pollen in grand, visible arcs of pure magic through the cheering celebrants. With the first notes, the music’s magic begins sweeping away the assembled, masked dancers at a tempestuous velocity, transforming the entire dance floor into a swirl of garments and giggling laughter, as the dance’s magic slowly begins raising every dancer into the air. The magical swirls of pollen quickly create different levels of the dance, as the Bhopanese dancers waltz through the air at heights ranging from safe to staggering.
The group meets up again to enjoy the festivities and to inform Lelzeshin of their decision to play it straight for now. Lelzeshin’s does seem clearly disappointed by your decision to not access the vault, but wishes you well at the dance and disappears to enjoy it as well.
Time is wasting, it's time to impress...
As entrancing as the dance is, it’s no simple matter to strike up a conversation with a dancer beyond pleasantries. Feel free to ask a Bhopanese person a question, they might answer!
As the floor moves with the music, it creates a series of treacherous gaps. Musically inclined participants can plan their jump for a moment when the platforms are close together, and those with athletic prowess can simply clear the gap.
While the platforms are generally rising, they sometimes dip lower. Their speed and patterns seem random at first glance, but close examination reveals the method behind their movement and allows a dancer to keep their bearings.
The ritual blends elements of primal and arcane magic. Closely examining the ritual reveals ways to benefit from its magic to follow along with the dance without experiencing any compulsion to continue dancing until the ritual ends.
When the music speeds up, only those who keep up with the flow of the dance can move with the crowds.
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"This will be so great! Anyone want to be my partner?" Lindevaile Tindome says as the first notes of the music sound out. She watches only few steps of the locals dancing before joining in and improvising. Her Varisian scarf seems to have a mind of its own, it accentuates her moves incredibly well.
When the dancers start to rise, she is even more delighted. "Wow! Let's try how high we can get!" She tries keeping up her improvisation with increasing tempo, swirling faster and faster. Her location is easy to see, as she's taller than most humans at well over six feet and the sky-blue hair freely flowing behind her makes her instantly recognizable.
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Kyra is more baffled by the activities than inclined to participate, but none-the-less worked on conversing with a local in an attempt to convince them to feed the hungry caterpillars on her behalf.
Once the dancing has begun, Kyra watches the moving platforms with great interest, and then joins by trying to leap across the ever changing gaps.
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The group joins wholeheartedly in the beginning measures. Azu skirts arounds the platforms as if he was born here, Lindevaile and Kat hammer the beat in time and Zibini is a hit with his humble presence. "I like the camaraderie of our citizens! Nothing brings us together like this dance! By the end of the night you will almost be one of us!" The goblin's mark shouts out with a rapturous exclaim.
The others start slowly but hope to catch up as the deep rhythm continues and the haze deepens.
As entrancing as the dance is, it’s no simple matter to strike up a conversation with a dancer beyond pleasantries. Feel free to ask a Bhopanese person a question, they might answer!
As the floor moves with the music, it creates a series of treacherous gaps. Musically inclined participants can plan their jump for a moment when the platforms are close together, and those with athletic prowess can simply clear the gap.
While the platforms are generally rising, they sometimes dip lower. Their speed and patterns seem random at first glance, but close examination reveals the method behind their movement and allows a dancer to keep their bearings.
The ritual blends elements of primal and arcane magic. Closely examining the ritual reveals ways to benefit from its magic to follow along with the dance without experiencing any compulsion to continue dancing until the ritual ends.
When the music speeds up, only those who keep up with the flow of the dance can move with the crowds.
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"Go Kaitlyn!" Lindevaile Tindome cheers as the monk succeeds in keeping up with the fastest dancers.
Lindevaile Tindome looks around. "This floor is a bit full and not moving much now. Could I go elsewhere?" Another, emptier and currently quite fast-moving one approaches. "That's a good one! Here I go!" she shouts and with a ballet jump tries to clear the distance.
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Zibini and Kyra keep the other participants engaged as Azu conquers the platforms on his own. Kaitlyn and Lindevaile find success keeping up with the brisk pace. Suddenly, the beat drops and the room goes silent. A distinct set of chords shifts eerily in the music as the gaps in the floor become more pronounced and the magical energies create invisible barriers to movement that ebb and flow with the change in the tones.
As the floor moves with the music, it creates a series of treacherous gaps. Musically inclined participants can plan their jump for a moment when the platforms are close together, and those with athletic prowess can simply clear the gap.
The ritual blends elements of primal and arcane magic. Closely examining the ritual reveals ways to benefit from its magic to follow along with the dance without experiencing any compulsion to continue dancing until the ritual ends.