cinaed

Session 114: Days 29 through 31 of Veskdan (6/23)

Az remembers the way through the sewers to Yesra’s hideout. There is the noise of people as he approaches the closed room that leads to the once abandoned prison beneath Stagheart that’s now where the Children of Venom make their home.

He enters and sees there’s more people than there were before. A few are playing a knife game at a table, and one manages to stab his hand, cursing. Another guy leans over and mutters for fuck’s sake before healing him.

He doesn’t see Mixie, scanning high and then low, but does spot Yesra and Endive. Yesra is sprawled on her snake throne with a large constrictor draped across her shoulders. Endive is leaning against her knee. When Yesra spies him, she looks startled before she rises to her feet.

She says it’s been a while, and he agrees before saying he’s here to visit Mixie. She teases him for not coming to visit her before Endive sweeps him into a bear hug. Az pats him on the back and then watches as Endive kisses Yesra’s cheek and goes to get Mixie from one of the other rooms.

As he does, Yesra looks him up and down and says she heard they killed a dragon. When he says yes, she asks if that’s how he got those facial scars. He says yes, but Yesra sees through the lie.

She grabs his chin and looks him over and says while he might not be one of hers, she can’t tell him not to lie to her, but he did spare her life. She owes him more than a life debt, so she wants to know who fucked up his pretty face.

He says that it’s no one she needs to worry about, or that he needs to worry about.

Yesra says it’s a pity, she liked his face. She tells him that she’s been expanding and working with other thieves’ guilds to become a joint community. He asks if they’ve been getting into trouble, and she makes a non committal noise as Mixie comes out with Endive.

Her hair has gotten longer, pulled into a bun. She has a smear of blood and dirt on her cheek and new scars, but she lights up and rushes at him, wrapping her arms around him and exclaiming happily.

Az says they were in the area and he wanted to see her. She says he came out all the way out here for her. She heard that he killed a dragon, but she doesn’t believe he did, more like his friends did. He agrees that’s what happened. She asks if he hurt his party during the fight, and he pauses, remembering reactions to his disguise as Calia before he says no, he mostly spent the fight on the rooftop.

She asks if it’s true he’s going to a fancy ball. All the nobles want an invite. Apparently the Avisian parties are very fancy. She asks if he’s here to buy clothes, scoffing at the idea of wearing Previdian clothes. Ignoring confused glares from a few people at the nearby table, she matter-of-factly tells him that his wallet has been stolen.

He sighs and asks loudly that it be returned with everything inside, before Mixie invites him to play cards. When she asks if he’s okay, he asks why she’s so worried about him. She says she’s not worried about him, but her expression twists a little, and he can tell she’s hiding something that knows will make him mad.

Az slaps twenty gold pieces onto the table. He says if he wins this hand, then she has to tell him what’s going on. She complains that means she has to play fair and he reminds her they’ve been friends since childhood, he knows how to make her play fair.

She grumbles to herself. She wins the first round. Second round he wins, which impresses her. He wins the final round, just barely, and she leans back with a sigh. She says that people who aren’t her also worry about him. He disappears, he goes on a grand adventure and that’s fine. He’s having a great time and she respects that.

Az interrupts and asks if she is really lecturing him when she left the continent and joined a thieves’ guild. She tells him that his sibling Fowlyse has been sending worried letters to her, having freakouts. They’re at some dig site in Striog, doing archaeologist stuff.

Az says he’ll be in Striog soon, he’ll have to make sure he visits them.

Mixie tells him last time it was a six page letter, all about a book they found in the dig site. She adds that if the Hooligans stop in Boravia, he should visit his sister as well.

Az says he’s sure she’s fine. Mixie agrees, adding that she’s really pretty. Az makes a face and says that he knows, she’s said this before. Mixie says it’s a shame that she’s married and Az says dryly that yes, she loves her husband very much and their twin infants. Mixie says maybe they want someone else to rub her feet and his back, before Az says he’s taking his wallet and leaving.

She offers him Fowlse’s letters, which are very wordy. It is an entire stack of letters. Az carefully puts them into his bag as Mixie leans against the table and reminds him that the party is very fancy and that there might be stuff to steal there and bring here.

Az says he’s not stealing anything except maybe an ashtray. She says that would be great, like cutlery and art off the walls. He teasingly says that he’ll steal a coaster and she says that would be great, unless it’s an ugly coaster.

Rather than leaving, he and Mixie drink together. It’s a relaxed atmosphere, a marked improvement over last visit. It looks like the Children of Venom are doing well. Yesra and Endive also join in on the card game too. Az breaks even, leaving with the same amount of money.

He notices Yesra’s engagement ring and immediately eyes Endive’s hand where he sees a thin gold band. He waits until the rest of the room loses interest in their conversation before he tells Yesra that the Col’Far is making moves on people like the Sanctuary.

Yesra sinks her head into her hand and sighs. She says she’s been trying to work out an alliance with the Sanctuary and Lady C. She doesn’t know if that means she’s going to have to start making deals. Not that she has anything against the Col’Far, they’re one of the many thieves’ guilds in the world, but she appreciates the heads’ up.

Az heads back to the house, where Taion has bags of belongings and Yolov is waiting, having dropped off pantry items and a letter for Roland on his doorstep. Az visits with everyone in the house, paying them their wages and checking in on them, before he and Yolov take an excited Taion back to Radiscune with them.

Taion embraces Hava as she tackles him to the floor, making out like college students as Az and Yolov inch around them. They make it back to their room.

Collie gives Diana a tightly rolled up letter for Sir Colby Revlin. She asks Diana not to tell Rhys about this. She explains that Colby’s sister married into nobility and he came along. He wears purple and golds and will be announced with his sister Mori.

Diana asks if she should give him the letter then, and Collie says hastily not to do it right then. She clutches Diana’s shoulders and tells her firmly to wait until the queen has sat down at the table and everyone starts talking to each other. Otherwise people will get upset.

Diana starts to open the letter and Collie says okay, she could’ve explained, but okay. The letter says to the honorable Sir Colby and is a two-page flowery letter that says she understands Rhys was supposed to meet him for dinner a few days after the dragon attack and missed the date. She explains that he was injured during the attack and didn’t want Colby to think he was weak, and while he’s recovering still doesn’t really leave the house. It ends that she knows Rhys would like to see him and he is always welcome to visit The Silver Captain.

Diana compliments Collie on a well-written letter, though she is struggling a little to understand written Common. Collie realizes it and explains the content of the letter.

Az visits Genesis, who is taking care of Counter, and invites Genesis. Genesis ponders this and asks if they want to attend a fancy, stuffy ball where money is wasted and nothing will be said that will affect the common people. Az says that he almost invited a friend who was going to rob them blind, and Genesis says that they want to come and will also rob them blind.

Az also asks if Genesis is willing to teach his friends some dances before the ball as well. Genesis seems amused before agreeing. He also stops by Juniper’s place and checks in, and realizes she and the notes are gone. Despite Yolov having told them that Dailiir was trying to get the Archive together, he is worried enough to seek out Esrani, whose shop is also closed.

Az gets Yolov to reach out to Dailiir, who confirms that Juniper and Esrani are at the Archive continuing her research and explains that Juniper is apologetic but she remembered a book from the Archive that would be important at three o’clock in the morning and didn’t want to wake Az.

The day before the party, Careful arrives at The Silver Captain and does one last fitting. Then Genesis arrives to teach everyone how to dance, dismayed by Taion’s lack of coordination.

The morning of the ball, they know that the ball will begin at six o’clock. They know that all weapons must be ceremonial, and there will be magic dampening the ballroom that will prevent offensive spells.

There’s a quiet, timid knock at the door. When Yolov goes to answer, it’s Asa, in a fancy blue dress with silver stars at her throat. She says that she knows she’s a little early, but she wanted to make sure she looks all right. Yolov is staring at her much in the way he looks at new magic, and manages to stammer out that she looks lovely.

She says good, she hopes it’s okay that she didn’t wear heels, and Yolov tells her that Genesis taught them a few dances and it seems easier to dance without heels, if she wants to dance. She says she likes dancing.

Galowen summons his steed before a carriage brings them to the palace. While the Colma has the largest buildings in the city, the palace is also impressive. There are elaborate bushes that seem magically sharp, almost metallic at the edges of their leaves, as well as a gate and walls that have sharp tips. There are dozens of elaborate fountains that are magically protected from freezing.

There are other carriages that have come up and parked. People are stepping out, dressed as nicely as them. There are sun elves and drow and even a few tabaxi. There is a muscled orc who helps out a floating air genasi from their carriage.

There are a few people already in the courtyard. It is an enormous palace, but still not as big as the Colma. There are two and three stories of the palace, with guard towers and guards on the rooftops as well. There are two cylindrical towers on either side of a propped open entrance. The building stretches out behind it mostly symmetrically.

It looks less like a palace and more like a large, stately home. They had seen parts of the palace in Previdian which was indeed a palace. This isn’t a castle, just an enormous mansion.

Everyone feels intimidated except for Az, who feels in his element. When they enter the palace, their shoes click quietly upon the tiles there. Everything is ornate and truly beautiful, with waiters drifting around with platters of food. There is one set of stairs to the right and to the left that meet in the middle on the second floor. Both stairs are guarded and clearly off limits.

People are idling around, eating some of the food and waiting to be introduced.

An usher, who is a thin human, appears beside the group. She asks if they are Donnie and the Hooligans, which Az says yes and Diana says that’s Donnie and we’re the Hooligans. The usher says wonderful and that he is here to welcome them. She explains that this was one of the first houses built after people came to Avisrune to escape the upheaval in Valnore.

She says that her name is Jazzy and she’s here to assist them. Diana asks if she should snap her fingers to get her attention and Az quickly tells her not to snap her fingers at the staff, distracted by recognizing Lorin, who looks sad and is already holding a glass of wine.

Diana and Yolov look through the crowd and spy a person who is a nondescript member of the staff, a half-elf woman with red ombre hair who keeps looking over at Az before she darts through a staff door and out of sight.

As the staff begins to collect individuals to be announced, arranging them in a line, the party sees the staff looking over the list and murmuring to each other. They also hear Daveena and Elidyr bickering nearby. They are impeccably dressed and look unhappy to be there.

Daveena drifts past them but Elidyr waves at them and walks over. He tells Hava that he tried to get out of this by claiming his wounds were still hurting him, but he feels fine, she did a great job. He asks after her magical foot wraps and Hava tells him they’re great.

Asa takes Yolov’s hand and asks if she should have told him that Daveena was coming. He tells her no, he should have expected it, it seems as though every noble was invited. She agrees that it seems so and they can’t say no to the queen. She adds that Daveena will probably ignore them, and Yolov says that’s fine, though he thinks Elidyr won’t go along with that. Asa laughs and says he likes knowing everyone.

They are the second to last group introduced, hearing Daveena and Elidyr announced before them, as well as the assistant to Striogian leader Sprocket’s assistant, and Prince Citrine of Kastvar.

Then they are led to the ballroom, where there is a staircase leading down to a well polished floor and many tables set up, with two set up clearly for the queen, her retinue, and then the guests of honor. As they stand at the top of the stairs, Genesis disappears from the group and reappears in the crowd.

The announcer begins.

“I now introduce the heroes of Radiscune, slayers of the dragon, Donnie of the Hooligans, consisting of Lord Azeldonne Turen of Striog; Audacity Jones of the Hazahi Monastery of Kastvar; the scaled protector of Kelfemma Drakewarden Diana Whiteleaf and her fearsome drake companion Adrin; Yolov of Greenrun and the Segwin-Farr College of Learned Magical Arts and his companion Asa of the Segwin-Farr College of Learned Magical Arts; Galowen of Kelfemma and his companion; and Hava'Sulvana Tesoria Farai, of Clan Nelath, of Alu’daar and her companion Ambassador Taion of the Mal'vator, Son of the Great Hunter, Son of the Clan-Warden, Keeper of the Mal'vatorian Records.”

They descend.

People clap and cheer as the announcer says, “Welcome them warmly. These are the saviors of our city.”

The party sees familiar faces among the guests: Lorin, Daveena and Elidyr, and Fazrun. Yolov is focused on walking down the stairs with Asa without tripping, but several of the group see the half-elf woman who was staring at Az earlier staring intently at him again before she turns and disappears.

The music swells before the announcer clears his throat and introduces the queen Lyressa Wrenvar and her ward, the princess Kaliana of Previdian.

The half-drow queen is wearing a very low cut dress, standing at the top of the steps. She puts her hands together and says that it is her pleasure and her honor to have them all here today. There will be time for speeches later, but the guests have her thanks for everyone attending at short notice. She also wanted to thank the saviors of Radiscune.

When she inclines her head, most of the party bows to her, including Genesis, who’s returned to Az’s side and whispers that it’s best if they don’t introduce themself. The queen swoops down the staircase and tells them that the people who saved her city shouldn’t bow to her.

When Az says she’s too generous, she says she’s heard stories of their time up north and that Little Nest and Nestling are her kingdom. She says that she’s heard that they have decided to settle here as well. Az says he’s found Avisrune beautiful and welcoming, and the queen seems slightly amused as she says that is not often said of her country. Az knows that most people think of Avisians as cold, reserved people.

Queen Wrenvar tells them that they are welcome to enjoy themselves. The musicians are from the bard college in Previdian, one of the few schools as prestigious as the Colma.

Galowen immediately recognizes the drummer as someone he slept with during the month-long stay in Stagheart.

Kalia has been standing quietly at the queen’s side until the queen turns expectantly to her. Kalia says that they owe the party a great debt as the party tries to study her. She mostly looks bored and a little tired. She says it is an honor. She has heard of the great things they have done for Avisrune and Previdian. Her father speaks well of them.

Az says that’s very kind of her. She says that she’ll have to write to her father when she has the opportunity. The queen claps and says that she needs to walk around and speak with people, especially since her husband is on an ambassadorial trip to Striog and couldn’t attend.

She adds that the delegation from Valnore is running late due to a teleportation issue, adding somewhat dismissively that it’s likely because of the way things are run there. She heads away, Kalia drifting after her, as people begin to approach her.

Yolov breathes a little easier once the queen is away from him. He has been holding Asa’s hand, a little sweaty with nerves. Asa whispers that she was nervous too. He asks if she wants to eat first and they head towards the tables as Yolov internally worries about how much the queen knows about where they’ve been and the expectation of taxes.

He had heard the announcements of Lord Caremin Crestiana, Lady Vani’aeyla Crestiana, and Sir Malin Laesin, Master of the Library of the Crestiana Family as they waited in line. Now he hears a quiet chittering behind him at a banquet table.

A tall gentleman with black hair that has gone salt and pepper and a well trimmed beard, whose blind eyes are milky white with scarring around them, stands behind him. Perched on his cane is a very bird-like pseudodragon. He asks if they mind, and Yolov says he’s happy to move if he’s in the way.

The man says he doesn’t need him to move, his pseudodragon just needs to get some food. Then he introduces himself as Sir Malin Laesin, master of the library of the Crestiana family. He reaches out his hand, his pseudodragon wrapped around it, and Yolov instinctively shakes his hand and says the esteemed Crestiana family must have an extensive library and it must be a great life’s work.

Malin says it is. He has been in charge of it for over thirty years. He invites Yolov to visit, saying that the Crestianas wanted to host this ball at their house but deferred to the queen wanting it at the palace. Yolov is torn between excitement at visiting the library and alarm at the invitation, not knowing if Malin is a man more like his daughter or his son, but slowly says he never turns down an invitation to the library.

Asa says it sounds interesting, squeezing his hand and wondering aloud if the palace has a library as well. Yolov is momentarily distracted and says it likely does, which prompts Malin to remark that it is a great library, though his is better. He again invites Yolov to his library and Yolov says his friends are not very interested in libraries, but he will make the invitation and would be interested to see the Crestianas’ library himself.

Malin excuses himself to attend to his lord and lady and Yolov sees him immediately go into a private huddle with Lord Caermin and Lady Vani’aeyla, a black-haired human man and a pale drow.

Meanwhile Az looks around for the woman who was staring at him. Genesis helps themself to a plate of food, advising him not to get stabbed and then drifting away. When Az tracks down the woman, she reveals herself softly as Juniper. She reminds him that she is a changeling, and came because she has been working on these notes for 72 hours and needs help translating a few things. She probably shouldn’t have come here, but she wanted his eyes on it as soon as possible.

She has to go do her rounds as a staff, but Az agrees to meet her in a side room. The first room he enters has a couple getting friendly with each other. He finds another one.

Diana asks if she can have an entire plate, and the waiter explains that she can’t take the serving plate but there are smaller plates that she can take some of the horse devours. She takes some napkins and gathers up a lot of them, eating the rich food and remarking about the small portion sizes. She calls across the room for Az, asking if the size of this food is normal, and realizes she doesn’t see him. She is baffled by this and then remembers Collie’s letter. She begins to look around for Sir Colby.

There is a young, pale man standing nearby who matches Sir Colby’s description. Most of the party goers are pale and look as though they haven’t spent much time out in the sun, but he has slightly tanned skin.

Diana approaches him and says she has a letter from a friend. Colby snaps that if it’s a letter from Rhys, he doesn’t want it. He seems offended that Rhys called him a friend. Diana tells him that he should read the letter. When she adds that Rhys was badly injured, Colby looks alarmed and immediately remorseful. Colby says that he should have known Rhys was injured and that was why he didn’t come to see him. He asks if he should get Rhys some flowers and Diana says yes and also to give Rhys a hug.

Colby gives Diana a warm hug of his own in gratitude, and then asks her why she keeps referring to Rhys as his friend. Diana says she figured that he could only be this upset over a friend or a sibling. Colby informs her that he is Rhys’ lover.

Diana goes wide-eyed and exclaims that he’s like Hava and her people. Colby looks puzzled over Hava, not understanding the reference, and then asks if she’s never been in love. Diana says no. When he asks if it’s because she has no romantic feelings or just hasn’t met the right person, she says she hasn’t thought about it, but would like to kiss someone someday.

When Colby asks what kind person she would like to kiss, Diana looks around and points at Galowen. He looks puzzled, saying that she came with him, and Diana says yes. He asks if she’s told anyone how she feels, and she says no. Colby says she should just tell him, and Diana exclaims that she can do that. When Colby tells her that she can, she adds that it makes things easier.

Colby takes her hand and says she should tell Galowen that she has never been kissed, but she wants him to be her first because he is the most beautiful person she knows. He says he said as much to Rhys and it made things so much easier, and Diana says that must be what Hava does all the time.

Colby says he was glad to be of help and offers to help with other social matters. He can be very easily found.

Diana thanks him again, and then says she needs to speak to Galowen.

Galowen is hanging out by the band, where the tiefling drummer Riso pauses between songs and says, “Galowen. Funny, I didn’t think I’d see you again since you left Previdian.” Galowen says they go all over the place. Riso says he’s noticed, teasing him over his introduction.

He says that the band doesn’t get introduced since they’re considered staff, but they have a name, the Stew. They will be working together for a while despite the lute player, who is drinking wine out of his water flask and clearly tipsy. Galowen says they sound okay, and Miso says just okay, and Galowen calls him a perfectionist.

Riso says they’re about to get started again and it looks like Galowen is about to have company anyway. Galowen turns to see Diana headed towards him, but Miso is looking at his shoulder where Princess Kalia is standing.

She greets him and he returns the greeting. She says that once the band sees fit to start playing again, he should accompany her for a dance. Not to be rude or forthright, but she is the princess of Previdian and her father is the current head of the Council of Five. Traditionally speaking, if she asks to dance, then he will be dancing with her.

Galowen tells her he had no intention of refusing her, and she demands his hand, which he reluctantly puts in hers. She might be smaller than him, but she sweeps him out onto the dance floor as Diana watches.

Hava is trying to be mostly appropriate, as is Taion, though he does grab her ass briefly. She studies the crowd, trying to see if anyone recognizes her as Maeve or seems interested in her in particular. She sees that the man Yolov was talking to has returned to two people. The woman there turns and stares at Hava for a long moment before she turns and whispers to her husband. He looks at Hava and then looks at his wife and shakes his head even as the wife continues to watch her.

Hava tells Taion she wants to dance, and Taion sighs that it is a stuffy dance. Nevertheless they dance through two songs before Elidyr taps on Taion’s shoulder and asks for one dance with Hava.

Hava agrees and Elidyr begins to dance with her. He tells her that he’s been doing some research that she might find interesting, and he’d like to walk her through the gardens and speak with her later before Ivaesian gets too nervous. They dance until Ivaesian takes Elidyr away to dance with him himself.

It’s then that Kalia and Galowen are on the dance floor.

Hava immediately looks panicked at Yolov.

Az has been waiting for Juniper, who appears in her servant guise. She gives him the translator notes that she transcribed, but she also found information in another book possibly about the entity that the Sworn Edge serves. She wants him to look over her notes and see if it says what she thinks it says.

Az sits down on a bench and begins to look over her notes. It’s hard to read her handwriting and he just saw Kalia take Galowen onto the dance floor. He struggles to focus. Juniper asks if he’s seeing the things she’s seeing. He asks if he can look at it later and she says she wants to get his thoughts now.

He knocks back a glass of wine and looks over it more carefully. There, sketched in one of the pages of the notebook, almost written as a vow, are the words, “To rend the veil that kept the magic from us, and that once Sunk the soul of the blades.”

Az translates it onto a paper of his own and then offers it to Juniper, who reads it and then burns it. She says that’s what she thought it said. He knows that there are very few occasions that use the capital S of Sunk, which means this is about the Sunken Ones.

Juniper says that they’re trying to rend the veil and free those locked away somewhere. Az asks if they know where, and she says no. He offers to help her translate and she says he’ll probably have permission to go there soon, clearly meaning the Archive. She adds that the last time that the Sunken Ones went to war, it took the gods to lock them away.

Az makes a dismissive noise at that, and she says he might not have faith in the gods but he certainly has the faith in something. He says he does and gently squeezes her hand in reassurance, knowing that she has been working very hard, before he goes in search of Yolov.

Galowen is dancing with Kalia who is very good at dancing. Any time he stumbles or misses a step, she gracefully and effortlessly accommodates him. A couple seconds into the dance, she says that she was very interested in meeting him and his friends. She heard many great things about them. She says that they strike her as heroes of folklore, that their pictures will be painted in picture books, that he will be on the cover wielding a sword, a story to tell children at night.

When she asks what he thinks of that, Galowen says that it doesn’t sound horrible. She says it doesn’t and then reminds him to spin her. He obliges, aware that everyone including the queen is watching with intense interest, including Daveena, who looks alarmed.

Kalia says she’s always wanted to be a hero like that. Her brother is often solving mysteries and leading charges and having adventures. She always wanted to save people. Her father isn’t the saving people sort, but she always did. She asks if he wants to save people, if she thinks he thinks they’ll be heroes even after saving the city.

He says he doesn’t see himself doing anything else. She asks if he ever intends to stop being a hero, and he says that it doesn’t seem to be in his nature. She says that’s wonderful.

The music is beginning to shift and swell even as something clatters at the edge of the ballroom. Above the murmurs of the guests talking and the music, there is a sudden piercing, horrified scream.

It rends through the other sounds, the band screeching to a halt. People drop glasses and plates. Everyone stops dancing. Galowen stops, and for a second Kalia almost keeps dancing before she stops too as she turns towards the doors of the ballroom and says, deadpan and without any genuine alarm in her voice, “Oh no. Good that we have heroes here.”

The queen rises to her feet at her table as the doors slam open.

Shadows pour in and a familiar sickly sweet smell of rot hits everyone at once. The people closest to the door are half-concealed within the shadows as they cough and fall to the ground with pink froth at their mouths.

When the smoke clears, standing at the stairs with a mask firmly affixed to his face, dressed to the nines, is Marion. He sighs and says, “I heard there was a party. What a pity I wasn’t invited.”

A bunch of the remaining smoke turns into now familiar tentacles.