Calcedon's page

A is good. A slower style suits me just fine.

"There's no way this will end well." Calcedon mused, with a furrow in his brow. He longed to pull out his violin and soothe the people's suffering as best he could, but if he did so, it's possible that death waited for more than just these.

Kneeling down on the floor next to the dead grey maiden, he breathed out a bit of an apology. "I'll be borrowing your fashionable cape. Should I have occasion to return it to you, I will, but it may not be so easy." As he spoke, he worked, removing the crimson cloth attached to her armor.

"I'm sorry. he replied, as if she had objected to the taking of her cloak. "I wouldn't be doing it if it wouldn't save lives. Aren't we supposed to do that if we can?" The cloak at last came free of the armor and Cal wrapped it around his own shoulders in a flourish. As he did, something about his physicality began to shift. His facial hair melded into his skin, his cheeks became less angular and his chin narrowed. Features all over his body became more feminine, and he lost about three inches out of the deal. In actuality, he ended up looking a lot like Li but distinguishable.

"They say imitation is form of flattery, and so I hope you'll take it as such." Looking very much different than when he came in, he took a moment to lay a hand on the fallen maiden's stomach. "I'll give you proper tribute for your bravery, I promise. Do keep an eye on the rest of these people for me, alright? It's time to go to work." With that he made his way toward the lift, hoping he was working it right, and activated the device.

Cal will be casting Heroism and Alter Self before going downstairs. There's not time for a proper disguise, so he'll just be relying on the anonymity of looking different. He'll also have a +2 to Str and a +2 morale bonus to hit, saves and skills from the spells he just cast.

We lost a family friend. I'll post later tonight now that I have time.

I'm still here! I'm excited to move forward too, but I hope everything's okay with everyone.

Calcedon focused on the papers in front of him. Although they lacked the clarity and beauty of music, he had to say he wasn't displeased. The docking profits were up, the stables in the manor were being used as high end security for breeding horses and destriers from nearby well-to-do nobles and businessmen alike who have no walls. And the walls were themselves being repaired, bit by bit. If the city itself wasn't crumbling, he'd have good opportunity to continue extending House Fordyce's holdings. But the city was crumbling.

Pressing his three-fingered hand against his temple, a war waged within. Was it the right decision to move to financier? Was he not called by Zellara to be, to do something different, more direct? How was he supposed to move forward from here? Why was she still not speaking to him? How long would it be before the plague killed them all? What good was money if it couldn't buy an hour?

He looked out the door to the balcony, gazing over the smoking city, squinting his eyes at the movement outside the walls. Voris was still out there, searching for gods know what. He didn't like that the man had left without a word, and he really didn't like if he caught something and would bring it back to the manor. Almost to answer his concern, a shout came up from the courtyard. "First Chair!"

In a flurry of papers, he bounded over a pile of expensive sheet music weighed down with a cymbal, and out to his stone railing he was accustomed to pacing with a violin in his hands. There was something about the tone that he was called that sped his response.
"Report?" He shouted down at Lannah, the source of the call.

The girl started at the quick appearance, but she quickly recovered.
"Voris sent word!" She said, holding up a scroll.

Something was definitely wrong. Not only was the old man not returning to dote on his daughter and granddaughter, but he also didn't know even how to read, much less how to write. Rushing down the stairs he met the girl in the great hall as she was about to ascend the three flights he was cascading down. Without a word he grabbed the scroll, which looked a bit weathered from time rather than from use.

"Where is he?" He asked as she shook her head with no more information. "Who brought this?"

"Kevlast." She mentioned as he continued scanning the document. Gazing in wonder as the manner of his countenance shifted.

His mind whirled as he made the connections, it should have been easier than this. Where were they headed again? "Tell Henrik to fetch my armor. I've got an errand."

BrOP- So a whatever then? Cool. I'll do my best for a good character. I have a little more than 2000 worth of gear right now, so I've got a fair bit of shopping to do. My build is nearly finished though so you can all peruse that soon.

Hey Wicked, good to see you're still kickin' too. Thanks for the notice, but I'm not sure how much my Downtime stuff is actually going to affect anything in this game, and since it's a bit of a time sink, I'm probably going to handwave it a bit. It was really cool to see how the manor could be basically rebuilt, but I'm not sure I wanna drop 8 to 10 hours on it at least right now. If I find that my interest is renewed, I'll do some retroactive stuff and see where it all lines up, but for now, I won't worry about it.

LTB- Nice to meecha, I think our characters would get along pretty well, I like what you've done with him. I have read what you've done as well, and I'm looking forward to working with you too.

Now I've got a good handle on who I am yet, now all I need is to find out where I am and what I'm doing, so back to the research!

Okay, quick question to people. It says day 8 up there, day 8 from when? Does anyone know the date?

Also, I might have a bit of flexibility in how I build Cal up to everyone else's level. Is there anything we're missing in the group that I could take care of? If I made him a bit of a healer, would that be stepping on anyone's toes?

I sent you a bit of a lengthy private message, with particulars, but if you just want to tell me what to do, I wouldn't mind getting started soon. Even if it's just secondary location stuff to explain where Cal's been and what he's been up to since I quit posting. I'm excited to get into PBP again, especially Calcedon again!

Yeah, I'm not working two jobs right now, we've paid off our bills, and I found myself doing less creative things with my free time and found myself missing this game. It's the only one I left that's still going, but that's okay, it was my favorite anyhow.

I might be back, if there's room for me. I would also have a lot of catching up to do. I haven't even read everything yet.

So... after a lengthy break from RP and writing, I'm no longer working two jobs, and I'm checking up on a few things. I'm sorry I left so abruptly I did enjoy my time here, and I was wondering how everyone is doing. It seems things have changed a bit since I was here last.

I have a performance called devestating aria. It does Sonic Damage to a target. Incorporeal things take half damage from energy sources, so even though it woudn't do much damage, but it could harm it and that spell has 1d4 HP. Well, it would have a 50% chance anyway, darn incorporeal...

Calcedon stepped into the darkness, stopping his violin playing for the moment, but the sound lingered in the cave like place, echoing through the chamber. He didn't make it very far, having to put his hands out to feel the wall and take it slow.

Gonna move a bit, not enough to warrant an acrobatics check. Lingering Performance will keep the bonuses going for this round and the next.

The bard played on, squinting into the darkness, not really sure of how to go about it from here.

Cal is a bit at an impasse here, because he cannot see what's going on, and wants to keep up the Inspire Courage. If Garvid had mentioned the hand, I could have taken it out, but as it is I'll just sit out this round.

That's good! Our thoughts and prayers are with you, get well soon!

Calcedon's hand immediately went to his face. Where did he experience this before? His mind raced, but then he noticed the blackness out of the corner of his eye up near Garvid. Now was not the time to reminisce. He pulled out his violin and played a lively tune, hoping to break the mood of the villains and inspire his friends to action.

Inspire Courage, +1 Competence to Hit and Damage, go get em, ye with darkvision potions!

Well, medical problems, work problems and stress aren't anything to shake a stick at. I'm sorry you have to endure them, and my prayers are with you in your time of difficulty. Real life often trumps the game, and there's nothing wrong with that, it's just sad when it has to be over something like what you have to deal with.

Personally, I don't want to see Mouse go, she's fun and is a good street level connection as well as a good combatant. Waiting a couple of months in a game that will likely take years isn't a big deal to me, so I don't mind waiting around for you to get better.

As we are in the midst of a dungeon, it's probably best we just bot you until we get out of here whether or not you continue. So after that, we'll finish out a book, and then we'll go from there.

After he settles down the corpse, Cal grabs the slab of Shoanti and goes to lift it, only to set it back down again. "If we carry this all over, it wouldn't make sense. Let's leave the pieces we have here and come back for them later before we exit. No use wearing ourselves out or wearing ourselves down. We're likely to find worse things than we've found already, and I, for one, would rather be unburdened."

He heads back into the previous room and grabs a sheet from the bed, takes the retrieved parts from the doctor and places them all on the table and covers the corpse with a sheet. "It's not the best rest he can have for now, but it will have to do. The last thing we need is to fall down into a pit or get some kind of fire or acid trap on us when he's in our possession to mar him up even more than he was."

The bard took a peek into the chest cavity as well, squinting his eyes before standing up with a puzzled expression. Leaning over to the doctor he whispered.

"I'll do it. We don't want this thing fighting us." He placed his hand on the body and hummed his healing tune.

Cure Light Wounds should do it. Sorry for the short posts, baby is still running the house. Will fix soon.

Cal nodded at Yazi's reverence, although he wasn't too upset about the flames. He remembered Thousand Bones mentioning that his body was to be burned anyhow, so as long as they got the whole thing back they'd be all right. Of course, it could have been someone else's arm too. Hopefully the rest of the body wasn't as piecemeal.

When Yazi spoke up about needing to move on, he agreed. "Well, I think the decision to investigate this was sound. You all performed admirably, but unfortunately we have more grizzly work to be done. Let's get back to where we were and proceed in the same fashion as before until we reach our goal."

Corporate buzzwords aside, Cal recommends going back up to room D10 and check out that unopened door. Also, sorry for the delays. It's been a weekend. New baby has us up a lot, and I'll post when I can, but it should only get better from here.

Due to Lingering Performance, Inspire courage will last for three rounds.

After getting the morale going for the crew as they prepare for whatever is beyond the door, Calcedon is overwhelmed by the smell of the thing. The smell, a cross between jellied fish and fermented cabbage with a hint of rancid beef, washed over him in waves. He tried to get away, brushing past Yazi, but only managed to get just past her before he painted the wall.

STR check, aid another: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

"Well, it seems there's only one way out of there. It strikes me as being as likely we have a gagged prisoner in there as much as an undead. I'll give ya a hand ole boy, or you can give me one."

Calcedon found wisdom in Yazi's words. "Yeah, the worst thing is finding something we don't know is coming only to have what we do know is coming to hit us at the same time. Let's go back and answer that door, ready to go. It isn't as if they seem to care whether or not we're ready, so we might as well be."

Discussing the finer points of strategy on the way back, Calcedon remains fairly cheerful as he pulls out his violin, plucking the strings and readying their morale.

I propose we prebuff with bless and Inspire courage, we should be able to make short work of whatever is behind that door.

Cal nods his approval at the doctor's assessment, still wincing from the sonic attack. "Yes, give them the potions. I have a few other tricks up my sleeve to keep me useful until the rest of you smash the derro. Music doesn't need to be seen to have its effect."

That being said, it still would not help a bad fort save.

I will have to try something next round.

Light spells counter and dispel Darkness spells of an equal or lower level.

Haste dispels and counters Slow.

I always thought the time and light spells were the same, automatic dispelling. That's why I asked about the duration thing before we went in. Now the darkness spell does say "can" which does muddy the water. By saying that, it implies that it doesn't have to. So your interpretation is a valid one.

But I think the intention is for such spells to be equal because of the quotes included above. The way the darkness spell was applied makes it far more powerful than 2 spells of the same level that if either of them were cast by a PC at this time would dispel the same effect.

Since you are the DM it's your call. It would be just as easy for us to back out of there, practically. Like you said, this isn't as dire a situation as this discussion warrants, but the discussion will help us work together to create a better game environment going forward, so it is worth having. I appreciate your patience, and I want you to know that whatever you do decide, I'm good with it, even if I disagree, because the game is worth more than winning a little concern over the interpretation of a rule we may not have to deal with for much of the game.

Cal casts dancing lights again. All I can do now

Baby boy was born this morning. Another 10 pounder. Mom and Baby are doing well.

Looks like the snake is in the corner, unlike baby. It's hard to get sneak attack from positioning there, you kind of have to rely on feints and other such tricks to get it there. But don't worry, I'll help ya beat it down.

Shaking with the effort to get his muscles working again, Cal wops the skeletal beastie again with his mace. "I've got more where those came from! You won't get us that easy!"

Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

After being surprised that Yazi's magic didn't spot the obviously looking skeleton snake demon things, Calcedon shakes off the enchantment from their spirally eyes. "Get back beast! I'll not have you puncturing our good lady here. Avert your attention!" He took his mace for the pounding of bones, and took a tentative poke at the fanged skull.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Oh. That makes sense then.

I would imagine that Yazi's detect undead would have had more of an effect, as I don't imagine our actions after she cast it to have exceeded 3 minutes. It should have given at least Yazi a chance to act in the surprise round.

I should be able to post later tonight, but now it's dinner time and I have to watch a parade after.

"If this is a limited space, heading to the left until we have explored it all is a good idea. We're bound to find other things besides undead down here anyhow, so lets stay together." Cal agreed with the doctor's prognosis.

Thanks for finishing out that combat right away. It's nice to keep moving through here. If we decide to continue to the left, it might actually help increase our speed through these kinds of dungeons.

Calcedon hums a lively tune, inspiring courage in the group as they face the undead horrors. Secretly he wonders if they assembled the monstrous bones together from separate creatures or there really were creatures like that. He pulls his light mace and readies his shield for whatever may come.

Standard- Perform: Sing, Inspire Courage. +1 to Attack and Damage, does not stack with +1 bonus vs fear from bless spell.

Sorry for the lack of link. I'm pressed for time today.

Whistling his tune, Cal directs his dancing lights to fill the room. Something about those stairs made him a bit uneasy, and this whole place could use a bit more light. The glowing mold was nice, even mood appropriate, but he didn't fancy walking into a place he couldn't see. He was pretty sure no one else did either.

Yeah, so the darkness spell would counter one of these Ioun Torches, rendering it inert. My home group just renders it inert for the duration of the darkness spell, but I think technically it would kill it for good, making it just a dull gray sphere.

The spell Continual Flame itself was likely cast by a wizard, due to it being more available, and possibly done to increase research funds. In the future, if we look into it, getting a cleric of appropriate level would trump the darkness, and many people swear by having the spell heightened to level 5, which trumps all the darkness spells, at least as far as I know.

That being said, we'll have to figure it out as we go, as our characters aren't really that knowledgeable on such things yet. A little experience should get us there though.

Calcedon frowned a bit on the idea of being plunged into darkness. He pulled out a small stone that looked like it was on fire and released it into the air as it revolved around his head in a lazy orbit. He then whistled a happy tune and four more identical lights started dancing around his head as well. "I have an Ioun Torch, and a small magical spell that creates a similar light for a short time. But I don't know if it will deal with the darkness of the derro. Perhaps we need some regular torches? I'm not sure if we're prepared enough to tackle that kind of magic. But if you're willing to give it a shot, I'll give you my support."

He sent the little flames to dance around Li's head and kept them going with a whistle now and again to light the area around her.

Continual flame is the spell cast on the Ioun Stone. Technically that's a 2nd or 3rd level spell with a duration of permanent. Cal will keep the dancing lights in a circle around Li or any other configuration she likes, keeping his own Ioun Stone with him.

I'm cool with that. Assuming Li got back on day 30, which was the 6th of Gozran, I have six more days to take care of to get to the 8th.

Edit:Also, I already had a Silver Light Mace, so... no morningstar.

Hey GM, you wouldn't have a rough approximation of what date it was? I can continue counting days of downtime with straight numbers but that kind of thing kills my immersion. Also, did I get 30 days of downtime or did we just run with 26 because that's how much I did at the time?

Cal listens to Yazi's experiential knowledge with rapt attention. "Cutting and crushing?" Calcedon looks at the sword on his hip. "I might need to do some shopping too. In any case, I'd like to get going. Going into such a place is going to be upsetting, I'd rather not do it at night."

I think Cal has enough for a masterwork Morningstar. That should cover the basics.

Whew, heck of a weekend. Sorry it took so long to catch up with you all, thanks for the encouragement for the play. I might have to do another one in the future.

After the curtain closed, Kailani walked off without a word. Calcedon stood there stunned. He just couldn't believe it. She had avoided him for nearly a year, and there she was. She was even more amazing than the last time she'd done it, and her movements and acting had not lost anything since he'd seen her last. She'd always been beyond his reach, and it seems like she still was. Tossing the "fang" at her father she walked out of the room.

Voris came over and patted Cal on his shoulder. "Lannah was sick. She said she'd do it. Don't ask me if it means anything. She's just like her mother." He also patted his slightly protruding belly and laughed. "I will say she's definitely just as maddening as well!"

The head of the house sighed a bit. "She certainly knows how to hold a grudge. But I can't blame her for her response to what I have done. There's no undoing it. I just wish she resembled her part more tonight, and I resembled mine less."

"I know son. I know. But if wishing were horses, we'd all eat like kings." And Voris walked off after his daughter.

Cal was a little slow on the uptake. "Kings don't eat..." Ah whatever. Voris never did get proverbs right.
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The ulfen man did indeed wait about for a while holding the sleeping babe. He spent most of the time seperated from the group though, minding his own business. Babies were a rather pleasant diversion, and it wasn't as if he were invited into the conversation.

Cal emerged in a bit, wiping makeup off of his face with a towel to see how things were progressing. When Cressida and "Fran" were talking, he let the ladies have their time, and then he listened to the others talking about her fate. Perhaps she could stay here under her pseudonym, as long as no one knew where she was she would be safe. He just worried that it wouldn't be like that forever.

"Of course you can stay here, Fran. I don't mind a bit if you hang out here. It sounds as if Pietro has a few things for you to do, and I'd like you to help out. In your spare time, there are some projects here as well that could use your fair hand, but we'll wait on that. But an artist's style is unique. If we have you painting, we might end up telling someone you're here when we don't want that. Give us a month or so first to see if we can't get to the bottom of things, and then I'll let you paint to your heart's content."

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When Li asked Cal about the locket, he pulled it out. That's really strange that your mother had a locket like this one. My mother wore it, but I don't know where she got it. I thought it was a picture of her, but she had blue eyes. I never had a sister, although I remember my parents had tried quite a lot to have more children. It would have been good for the house as well. Right now I'm the only son of the Fordyce estate. If I pass on before I sire a legitimate heir, the whole place would pass to my cousin from Cheliax, and we all know that would be a bad idea."

He didn't want to think it, but perhaps it was stolen. But taken all the way to Sandpoint and back again? Whatever for? The whole thing was a bit of a puzzle to him. He opened the locket and looked inside again, and there the little brown eyed girl stared back at him. "The real thing is that I have no idea whose picture this is. My mother had blue eyes."

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Nodding his respect to Thousand Bones, Cal let Yazi take the lead in the conversation. It was of particular interest to her as well, but the idea of going after a necromancer gave him the chills. "Yes, lets go and get that body back. I don't like the idea of vistiting the Dead Warrens, but it's better than sending more people there to stay."

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Looking over at Mouse, the bard looked concerned. "You know, we should probably pick up some items that might be good if were fighting the dead, like a mystical mace of light or a holy symbol that causes their forms to return to their rest. I've heard some stories, but it's probably best to go in as prepared as we can."

After the refreshments, the lights came up on stage again to show the original set. Fran's voice again was heard, setting the scene and recapping the action but the music was gone. After the richness of the music displayed before, the emptiness of the immortal king's house was palpable. The riches of joy that began the first act was filled with now bankrupt, the loss plainly seen.

With similar words, the two left to the house poured out their grief to one another, but eventually the king raised his shoulders and spoke of something else. "The dark lord has expanded his territory." said the king to his beleaguered daughter as she sat on the floor with her head down, holding the forsaken violin on her lap. "He now wields a weapon of grand quality, and I am to believe it is my fang. It has been too long since it has left this house, and I intend to chase it down and retrieve it."

The ulfen man and the baby returned soon after this point, her settled and him no longer pinching his nose.

The daughter raised her head, mournful emotions contorted her face while real tears streaked her stage makeup. "Oh, my father. I would wish you not to go, but I know you must. The hunt for your honor, you must chase the shining white ivory until it is reclaimed. But I will miss you. Please do not tarry long."

The middle aged man caressed the side of his daughter's face, looking deeply into their brown depths. "You know well as I that the dark lord could not match me, not even with half my strength. I will retrieve it and discover how he came by it. Perhaps we will receive the words we have longed to hear and we may bring the time of sorrow to an end."

"Wisdom is not borne from despair, my beloved daughter. Lift up your head and serve my kingdom until I return and no doubt will assail you after." At that the father left in the same way as his son did before the intermission. The scenery scrolled back and darkness overtook the stage as the music began to swell.

As he approached the dark throne, sitting atop it's grandeur was Calcedon, his celestial costume removed, and wearing a grotesque mask of pain. His body was naked from neck to waist, displaying his gruesome scars in all their glory. Beneath that was a red belt and dark half robes draping to the floor. He addressed the immortal king in royal fashion, but with stilted speech that set all who heard it on edge. "What brings ye to my abode fair king. I have been rejected from your presence already."

The father looked upon the strange sight before him, not shrinking back in fear or grief, but stood with his shoulders square and looked him dead in the eyes. "I have come to retrieve my fang from unworthy hands and to inquire of my son. Pray tell me what has happened to him."

Calcedon leaped from his chair, brandishing the fang in a menacing fashion. "Are you saying the fang is in unworthy hands father? It was you in your wisdom who gave it to me. As for your son, you can see what I've become. Isn't it grand? Are not you happy that I have found such love?"

"But that is my love father! I discovered the only femininity greater than the love of my sister in our eternal home is the warm embrace of the pain of her absence. I have found joy in my pain and delight in my sorrows."

The middle aged man's face contorted into a unveiled contempt of the disgusting thing his son had embraced. "Did the dark lord teach you this nonsense?"

The son turned his head to the side in an unnatural angle, flicking out his tongue in a way that made it seem longer than it should be. "No, the dark lord did not understand. He thought his pain was greater than mine, and so when I tired of his lack of resolve, I ate him. I ate him and his kingdom and I ate even more. I've added his power to my own and discovered things he could not even dream of in his desire for light."

"Then I shall make you cough him up. And then I will force you to see your folly." The father raised his arms attacked. The fight was fairly lengthy with dialogue similar in theme to what was already presented, with Calcedon spouting madness and cackling with ecstasy at his wounds while the father tried to reason with him in his demented state.

Eventually the son stood triumphant over the immortal king. "You see Father, your ferocity cannot win. Your wisdom has betrayed you, and my beloved grants me strength you do not understand."

"You should not taint my fang with your folly. the defeated king said with defiance. "Your decisions have robbed you of your eternal joy, and you will always hunger for more and be unsatisfied."

"But I have not yet consumed all. I will go back to the place of my youth and use this fang to carve up my sister, and then you will realize your error and dash your own pride on the rocky shore of grief."

The new dark lord chained his own father to his throne using the powers of shadow to accomplish his goals. Several figures dressed in black wrapped the chains around the immortal king in accordance to their master's demand. As the menacing Calcedon stalked off in the direction of his sister's home, the immortal king begins to howl, mournful and alone, a warning to the danger of night.

The scenery scaled back to the celestial home to the sound of the orchestra heightening the tension. Standing there in all her glory was the young woman, beautiful and haunting, staring at her brother's inglorious return. "Have you traversed all the worlds?" she spoke, recalling their last conversation.

"And I am yet unsatisfied. I have returned to consume you and so culminate my pain."

"If you believe you understand it, you do not fully understand your own house. The pain felt here does not desire to inflict it upon others. You are too prideful, but perhaps so was I. I never should have let you leave. She held out her hand as her elegant celestial robes draped from her wrist in a display of grandeur.

The mere movement of her arm would not transfix him, and he advanced with malevolent eyes. "And now you admit your folly? I shall make you pay. For I have discovered my pain is greater than you." Bringing the fang to bear, she stopped the blade with her soft hand.

Stage blood poured out on the floor, splattering her dress. "I love you my brother, I cannot allow this hurt of yours to continue. I will take rage and repay you with kindness. I am greater than pain and no madness can avail you from that truth."

Clenching his teeth and his heart, the dark lord loosened his grip on the fang, which his sister pulled away. "My heart!" He excaimed in a sort of pain which he could not find joy.

She continued her assault, as he retreated from her offered and blooded embrace. "I will treasure this, as I treasure your violin. I will heal the both of our pain as you return to me. Let it be as it was meant to be, full of a happiness that not even darkness can take away."

Calcedon evaded her grasp and reared himself up. He removed his mask to look her in the eye. "I cannot allow you to love that which is inferior. I have increased in my power, but I am still defeated."

She continued to hold out her bloodied hand and for the first time since he had left smiled playfully, yet with the pain in her eyes. "Shouldn't I decide? Do you still not trust me? Stay and I will show you what I have learned. For love is not simply for the benefit of one, it is for three. It is bigger than what is deserved, it is the joy of giving without reservation. For you to refuse would only demonstrate your lack. To accept would return joy and wisdom to this land and satisfy all that you were ever looking to gain."

And the curtain fell. Fran's voice echoed throughout the silent hall, "Through her sacrifice and gentleness she moved past her own pain for the sake of her brother. And so the madness was stayed by the beauty's wound."

Thanks for the support guys, I appreciate it. I'm back in action today, so I should have the final installment up in a couple hours.

"A tale of woe, sadness and pain
As far as the black and back again
You don't understand, or perhaps you do
The tale is unquestionably true."

A young varisian woman danced across the stage, immediately entrancing the audience. Bending near impossible angles and leaning and whirling she dared the spectacular moves that caused audible gasps, from both the chairs and from behind the scenes. Soon she was joined by an older middle aged man you had only seen before in the kitchen and Calcedon from opposite sides of the stage. All of them in celestial costumes. Joining in her dance, although not to the degree of skill, the two men take turns showcasing her talent. Though the woman seems warm and accepting toward the older man, she is more tempestuous and cold alternatively toward Calcedon.

A familiar face and voice appears in a booth to the side. "Fran begins the narration. Calcedon seems to pull his violin out of nowhere and begins to play along with the makeshift orchestra. "Long ago, in a far away kingdom lived a immortal king with his children. He was known as the King of Howls and had lived for countless moons, chasing her ever changing celestial beauty. Their love was woefully short as she was so fickle, but when she had gone he found himself another worthy bride, but she also soon was gone. For many years, the son, his older sister, and their father lived together in harmony, ruling together their kingdom."

"Oh my daughter, you are the most beautiful of all. I dare say you outshine your mother, as well as all the stars of the sky." The old man had a booming bass voice that spoke of authority and grandeur. "I could never bear it if you left me to marry another. Promise me you'll stay and grace my house forever?"

The young woman responded. "Where could I find more excellent men in which to keep company? My father, who caught the moon, and my brother who invented the violin. Where in this world or any other could there be a place for me but here?"

Calcedon stepped around the two of them, playing incredibly skillfully and taking long strides in time with the phrases of his music. He spoke over the music as the mood changed. "If you ever left us, I doubt we would ever have laughter or joy again, for you are the source of all that is lovely."

Laughter bubbled out of her at such a statement and she responded in kind. "But who will make me laugh if you ever go to establish your own kingdom? Perhaps you will traverse the dark and find a suitable bride from far away. And no more will laughter grace the house, while I am yet here."

"I will never leave as long as you wish." Calcedon replied, looking earnestly into the young woman's eyes.

"But what is this?" The older man intoned with his grandiose voice.

All attention on stage went to the left, where Henrik entered, costumed in an infernal black, still sporting his trademark scarf, though it looked fairly out of place. "I have come through the black, to search out the greatest beauty of all to bring her back to my kingdom. I have heard of the king who chased the moon, and I have come to ask of him to court his daughter."

For the next half hour, the interplay and drama of this interloper from beyond the stars attempted to woo the lady with demonstrations of power and tales of the vastness of the black which he ruled. The king loudly proclaimed the virtues and wisdom of his daughter. The Daughter was kind and gracious to the visitor, although she would not return his love.

The brother's arc was tragic in it's simplicity. His brotherly love toward his sister, his desire for her to be protected from that which would be inferior to her, his jealousy at the time his sister was spending with the visitor, his anger toward his father for entertaining the dark lord, all of them culminate in a disagreement with his sister even after she sent the suitor back to his kingdom.

"How could you give him a second glance? Are you not wise enough to tell from a glance that he is unworthy?" Calcedon's performance was heartrending in it's anguish.

"And how could you not trust me to make that decision? Did you not sing my praise? Do you not believe me when I said there is no better place?" The young varisian was well and truly his equal in her talent. She commanded the stage with her every entrancing movement.

"There is none who loves you nor can love you like I do. I could search every world and show you there is none who would equal you, and now I have doubt you would trust me!"

"If you will not be satisfied then perhaps you should go. And know that I will be here, waiting for your return that you would believe me when I tell you there will be no laughter or joy until your return."

As the brother turned to go, their father slowed his departure. He carried a polearm with a strange curved blade on the end. "Take my fang if you are to go. It will protect you in the dark from all the things you cannot see. If you use it with joy, you will never lose your way." The middle aged man held out the weapon, and Cal accepted it, exchanging it for his violin. He gave the father a stiff hug before he began walking in place as the rest of the cast exited stage right.

Fran's voice echoed in the chamber for the first time since the beginning. "And so he followed the dark lord into the black, his heart filled with darker sorrow than even the night between the stars." While she spoke, the settings were dragged off the stage in time with Calcedon walking in place to mimic the movement of the scene as the audience follows him to the black throne where Henrik sits in wait. "Blaming the celestial prince for his rejection, the dark lord tormented him for ages. Having a shred of his father's immortality, he could not be killed. But the torture could not touch the pain in his heart. He set down his fang, and let the dark lord have his way."

Calcedon and Henrik obscured what they were doing, but it definitely looked ugly. Red ribbons and darkness pervaded the stage, and Calcedon's cries of pain sounded painfully real. At these cries, the baby became quite fussy as well, and the large Ulfen carrying her got up, holding his nose with one hand and left the ballroom.

The lights on stage went completely black, and Fran announced from her booth. "We are to have a short intermission. Please enjoy some refreshments." To which an old woman who'd been seen in the kitchen before came out carrying some sweets and champagne. Despite looking as old as she did, her hands were steady, and made sure everyone was politely served.

Dang, that took longer than I thought it would. The final part should be ready tomorrow... well, if I didn't have a double shift I could be sure. But we will see what I can do.

Part two should be out after I get some lunch.

Calcedon nodded gravely at the suggestions. They still needed more information, and it was possible that they'd be able to figure something out along the way. At the very least, they could smuggle her out of town perhaps. Maybe they could disguise her as Li and send her to Sandpoint. "Magic is a handy thing, but it is one we have little access too at this time. Well, the whole situation is a pickle. Hopefully we can remedy this whole situation with some exploration of the truth. In any case, we have a play to put on, and some welcome diversion. So set aside your sour faces, and prepare to be dazzled."

Calcedon ducked quickly out of the room with a grin, and Unx came in wearing a fashionable doublet no doubt belonging to a young Cal some years ago. "This way lords and ladies to your seatingses." the young boy said uncharacteristically. He was just as obviously coached as he was messing it up.

He led them up the grand stairwell under the chandelier to the top of the stairs and off to the left into the ballroom. Situated above the dining room, the spacious chamber boasted two smaller chandeliers, glowing with inner light and a row of large windows along the back of the building high enough to see over the wall toward the city beyond. There was a stage at the far end, seated in front of the stage toward the side was a string quartet, a couple horns and woodwinds with a gaggle of odd percussion instruments and some tympani manned by Spider.

There's only a few chairs set out. Mismatched, worn, but lavish and comfortable, you find there's enough for everyone plus an additional divan set out on which is sitting a tallish platinum blonde ulfen man some of you may have met by the name of Feilaken. Rippling with muscles and a bit of girth around the waist, he pleasantly lounges with a small package in his arms, swaddled in pink silk blankets. "Please take your seatingses." Unx says, consistently messing up the word as the ulfen man nods at your arrival, switching the package to his other arm, as it squirms and lets out a squeak of objection as if one had disturbed it's sleep, which is exactly what happened. The babe settled down again quickly as she could, as the instrumentalists tuned their instruments.

Calcedon stepped out on to the stage from the left, and the orchestra immediately silenced. He clapped his hands together and began his oration. "Good evening friends, I'm glad you could come today to the performance of "The Beauty's Wound." I hope you enjoy, and although we're performing a rendition translated from the original Azlanti, some of the words and phrases are archaic and you might have trouble understanding the precise meaning, but the story is fairly easy to catch, as you will see. Please relax and..." It was at this point that Calcedon noticed Feilaken and his package on the divan, and his voice caught in his throat mid-sentence on the emotion.

The ulfen waved at him with his free hand, saying under his breath so Calcedon couldn't hear but the rest of you could. "If he thinks this is that surprising, the other one will blow him out of the water."

Suddenly, Calcedon seem to come to life again on stage. "Please enjoy the show!" The lights from the chandeliers seemed to dim as the curtain parted, and the orchestra began the overture.

Sorry guys, I had a double shift again. I'm writing something big, but I won't get it out til tomorrow.

Yeah, I'm also looking forward to other people's opinions, whether they feel comfortable speaking them or not.

This will be # 5. We have two girls and two boys and a surprise.

Cal sighed a bit when everything went to business. "She's in my house, in disguise and currently safe. I often bring in artists and performers into my house, so it wouldn't raise suspicion. Because you were concerned about prying ears, we didn't bring her to you straight away. I did the play because it gave you a reason to come here besides business to throw off any spies you may have among your ranks. I thought you might bring your magical friend as your date to verify the truth being told here and you could then spirit her off to whatever safe house you have with a plausible alibi. Currently she trusts us, so she should be fairly cooperative." Cal looked completely at home in his ridiculous costume, although he was mildly irritated at having to explain everything.

"If you left now with the girl, it would only arouse suspicion, especially since she's already in costume. Of course, bringing the extra guard possibly did that as well. If you feel like we're already out in the open, I suppose we can dispense with the subterfuge. It would be a shame to cancel the play, but there can be more pressing matters than such diversions. But sometimes, diversions are the perfect way to do things you don't want other people to know about, am I right?" He reached up above his head and straightened his mock halo. "I gave her a part in the play, and there's usually an after party in which we can accomplish our business in a private room without suspicion. I know this whole ordeal isn't quite to your liking, but I am trying to accomplish the same goal you told us you had. Find the truth, keep her safe from an untimely death and root out the source of the problem."

Sorry for the delay. I had a double shift yesterday, and house guests. I might be a bit spotty in the next few weeks as well, since my wife is nearly due, and we're expecting a new baby soon.