cinaed

Session 122: Day 34 of Veksdan (10/13)

Calane works fairly close to the docks. There is a bit of a hike through the white, gleaming stone streets and steps. Everyone can feel it in the calves and thighs. The main office of the Dawnscale Trading Company both is and isn’t a front, because it does function as a legitimate trading company while also hiding the smuggling portion of the business.

The lead office is a clean looking and within a whitewashed two story building that attaches in the back to a very large warehouse. There is a group of people unloading things off carts onto ramps to bring into the warehouse.

There is a lovely sign for Dawnscale Trading Company above two large finely wooden doors. When they enter the front room of the building there is a young half-elven woman behind the desk whose quill is floating as she doodles and chews on a candy piece.

She looks up after a long moment and asks if they’re lost. Galowen asks what gave her that impression. She says because the company isn’t looking for new captains and if they’re wanting passage that’s up to individual captains.

Yolov explains that they’re actually here on request of Captain Kiva to speak with Calane. The woman immediately straightens up and smooths back her hair, asking if he’s here with them.

When Galowen mutters that he’s with some people more than others and Hava turns and gives him a look, the woman realizes who Hava is. She immediately goes cold. Both Audacity and Hava realize that she has heard of Hava from Kiva and is extremely jealous.

She curtly directs them towards a hallway, where there are a series of doors with names: Captain Liava R Tess, Captain Vixan Kerry, Capt Kivasaul Dawnscale, another door where the name has been covered by parchment, and a final door without a name.

Hava pulls away the parchment and sees that it used to belong to Krista Lee. The name rings a vague bell for Yolov. Hava also knows that these captains work directly under Kiva’s command, and learned from Maeve that the Lost Mistake doesn’t work directly for Kiva but under a different person in the Col’Far. She remembers that Maeve worked alongside Captain Kerry before, fighting a nest of sirens.

Hava tests Kiva’s door and finds it unlocked before she goes to the final door that is unmarked and opens it, much to the irritation of the wood elf, Calane Kesarani. When she asks what they want, Yolov explains they were sent by Kiva.

Calane complains about Kiva sending people to her without mentioning it to her and also taking her people to repair his ship before she tells them that Valerie had undergone a tremendous amount of magic inspection and questioning to ensure she was trustworthy. The Dawnscale Trading Company is very careful about who they hire. Valerie passed all the tests and came to work for two days before she stopped showing up.

Yolov asks if they checked her out magically afterwards and Calane tells him that she had a sorcerer, Kalvianis, investigate magically. He says that there was no magic, so Calane assumes the woman is simply mad. She says she can fetch him if they want but only if necessary. Yolov tells her that Kiva seemed to think this might be related to Coisaira and the attack on his ship.

Calane fetches a book that is a list of Kiva’s enemies and explains that there are levels of enemies. Coisaira is the highest leve at one, while Az is the lowest level at eight. She tells them that Coisaira is considered “kill on sight” and to deliver the body to Kiva for consumption.

Yolov says that they negotiated with Kiva on that since a dragon turtle also laid claim on Coisaira. She seems skeptical and the party tells her that they agreed to give Kiva the body but keep the head for the dragon turtle. Calane is impressed that they got him to share his prey, even when Yolov explains that it was for the safety of Upper Crescent Port City.

Hava says she considers Kiva a friend, prompting Calane to ask her name and pull out Hava’s thick file. There are files on every one of Kiva’s allies and enemies. Hava asks permission to look through her file, and learns as she goes through it that Kiva asked for assistance in finding Maeve before they realized Maeve was Breezerunner. Much of the information here is what Hava told Kiva about her own life.

Az asks for his as well and his is much shorter, with a physical description of him and what he stole, with a handwritten and underlined note of “Leave it!”

Everyone has a note describing how they assisted Kiva before with an implication of the Trading Company being willing to assist the Hooligans in the future. Galowen’s includes a note to build firbolg-sized beds for the future.

Calane says that their files will probably change when they have more interactions with the company, and then seems surprised when Diana gets angry over her file. She agrees to give Diana her file and make a note that her file was removed.

Calane explains that she’s a forgetful person who has worked for Kiva for three hundred and fifty years. He has made a lot of friends and enemies over the centuries. The filing system helps her keep track of everyone and shifting relationships.

She mentions the death of Captain Lee, who was here for a drop off three months ago. A burned body with her belongings was found in a shed. None of her crew knew what had happened to her and her killer was never found.

Yolov asks her about Vakari Xolaian’s file and while she pulls it out, revealing a thick folder, she explains that she cannot let them see it because they don’t have the authority. When Yolov says that Kiva is the one who gave them the name, she apologetically says this is above Kiva’s authority as well to let them look at it.

Audacity tells her that they’re asking because they oversaw him giving money to a member of the Col’Far who was giving him information to assassinate Kiva and Kiva’s boss. He shows her a picture of the drow they saw, and Calane tells them they must be mistaken because that is Kalvianis, who is a lieutenant in the Col’Far and a powerful sorcerer who has been part of the Col’Far since before she started working for Kiva.

She seems certain that the party is mistaken but gives them a button that will summon Kalvianas. She advises them to do that away from other people and that if he asks to tell him that they stole it from her so she doesn’t get dismembered. She also tells them Valerie’s home address.

As they leave, Hava goes briefly into Kiva’s office. She finds notes for his captains to search the ports for Maeve, as well as some other notes in his diary about attending Aria’s funeral. When they reach the exit to the office, she also tries to be nice to the receptionist, who gives her the cold shoulder.

As soon as they get outside, Hava asks if women don’t like her. Audacity and Galowen tell her that the woman was jealous and doesn’t know Kiva can sleep with more than one person at once.

The party decides to tell Kiva first before they speak to Valerie and then figure out a safe place to summon Kalvianis. When they reach the ship, Kiva is pacing around the deck and micromanaging the repairs to his ship when Kridos doesn’t shoo him away. He looks tired and anxious, as though he hasn’t slept.

They tell him that they are here with some potentially bad news, which makes him sigh.

He expresses disbelief when they tell him about overseeing Vakari giving Kalvianis gold in exchange for information to help murder Kiva and Abrisolm. They suggest that perhaps Vakari was trying to destabilize the Col’Far by killing Kiva. Kiva says that he would like to believe he was that important.

Kiva says he doesn’t appreciate being hunted. Unfortunately he cannot spread his wings, not in the middle of Upper Crescent, as much as he would like to become a red dragon and eat Vakari and Kalvianas.

Diana hides behind Galowen when she realizes that Kiva is a dragon, and Kiva sighs that this is what usually happens when he mentions being a dragon.

Yolov is reminded of Collie and says they do have some good news for him. They tell him that Collie agrees to it, and Kiva exclaims that he could kiss them, kissing Hava when Audacity nudges her forward.

When they say Calane advised them to speak to Kalvianis away from collateral damage, Kiva gives Audacity a key to a house on Sunwalk Street, House 217. It is high up in Upper Crescent away from populated areas and is Kiva’s private house. It has a big backyard with a shed and will be away from people. He says if they do summon Kalvianis, he might say things about the Col’Far and Abrisolm that are wrong, but which Kalvianis is still furious about.

At this, Az remembers Xolaian as the name of a dragonborn Kastvarian noble who was odd and eccentric. Lady Xolaian and two children died forty years ago in a mysterious tragedy.

Yolov adds that it might be a coincidence, but they heard about his dead captain, who died around the same time that Coisaira’s explorations into the dragon turtle’s lair began. He doesn’t know if Coisaira killed her or if it's unrelated.

Kiva tells them that if they retrieve the stolen amulet, the Col’Far will owe them a favor. If they kill Coisaira, Kiva will owe them a favor. But if they find who killed Captain Krista, Kiva will owe them his life. He would be forever in their service. Diana asks if he means that and he says that he doesn’t say these things lightly.

He says he has grown fond of them. They did protect his crew, although they did steal from him. He asks Az what became of the dragonscale he stole, because he knows Az didn’t sell it but clearly doesn’t have it on him. Az tells him it’s not his concern at the moment.

Yolov asks him about Devyn and the burned Col’Far village, knowing that Endive had been lying to them about who he and Yesra were working for, and learns that it was entirely a lie– Devyn has been dead for seven years and there was never a village. Yolov explains he simply wanted to check in case it had something to do with Elathias and tells Kiva about Elathias’ true motives about Kelfemma.

Kiva snorts over this before he says he’s worried about Elathias after Abrisolm refused to ally with him. Yolov agrees that Elathias is vindictive, mentioning the druidic grove Elathias tried to destroy for refusing to join his army.

Yolov pulls out the Arcane Lock spell scroll that he bought before the Tessvar Forest and explains that he purchased this but now can do the spell easily through his staff. If Kiva thinks it would be useful to protect Kiva’s hoard, he’s welcome to it.

Kiva seems startled, taking the scroll and asking what Yolov wants from him. Yolov blinks and says he doesn’t want anything. Audacity realizes that Kiva has never been given a gift before and tells him that Yolov does these kinds of things before Kiva thanks him.

Kiva says that it will help him sleep at night and when he has to leave the ship before he asks Az not to steal anything else while on his ship. Az tells him he should get over it, prompting Audacity to call him an idiot. Kiva ends up telling Az about Jax, and they bond over complaining about how much he talks about lumber. Az learns about Jax’s teleportation circle, which is in his house.

Kiva asks if they have any more questions, Az asks him to keep an eye on the dock where his sister’s ship will be docking soon. Kiva says he can do that, he will be here until his ship is repaired. He adds that he’ll stay an extra day or two when Hava says she wants to have a conversation with him before he leaves.

The party debates about Valerie, with Yolov saying he would want to know about his memory being altered. She lives in a nice townhouse. The door is opened by a redheaded woman who introduces herself as Lily, Valerie’s mother.

She invites them inside to sit down while she fetches Valerie. Valerie looks almost exactly like Lily, with red hair and freckles and wearing an ankle-length dress. She says if they’re here from the Dawnscale Trading Company, she doesn’t know them and she’s sorry.

Audacity asks how many people from the company have talked to her, and she says two or three. She confirms that one of them was Kalvianis, who was very nice and talked her through all of the things she remembered and didn’t remember, as well as confirmed with her mother that she never worked for the Dawnscale Trading Company, and that another was Calane.

She seems confused over if there was a third person, and describes to Audacity as best she can a hazy memory of a third person. When Galowen looks down at the sketch, he realizes that she is drawing Elathias.

He asks Audacity who he’s drawing. Audacity says the other person who visited and asks if Galowen is okay. Galowen says he doesn’t think so, and Audacity turns back towards Valerie and asks when the guy visited. She says he came after Kal came the first time but before both Calane and Kal’s second visit. He was here for a long time but she can’t remember much about him.

Az asks if he also spoke to her mother and she says she doesn’t know. She apologizes for her bad memory. Audacity says that it wasn’t just her, trauma can do strange things. He tells her that his friend had a similar experience and their friend Hava helped him recover his memories.

Valerie asks if it would hurt, and Audacity says it shouldn’t though the memories might be overwhelming. Hava says it won’t, and Valerie shifts uncomfortably before she says sure, if they think it will help.

Hava casts Greater Restoration on her. It’s the same wash of cool ocean over her skin onto Valerie’s shoulder and she sees Valerie go rigid immediately. For a second, and then two, and then three, Valerie isn’t breathing or speaking, staring through the group before she lurches forward holding her head in her hands and starts screaming.

Hava casts Calm Emotions instinctively, but Valerie shakes it off, begging the group to make her forget. He came to the office and she wasn’t supposed to talk to him, but he asked her questions and got into her mind, and she can’t remember this, they have to take her memories away again.

Audacity sees that she’s not afraid of things she wasn’t supposed to tell. She’s afraid of Elathias. She’s not supposed to remember what she told him.

Valerie is huddled in the armchair, close to hyperventilating, her hands in her hair. Audacity goes to his knees in front of her chair. He reaches for her hands and she squirms away from him. He says that they’re also looking for that man, he has hurt a lot of people.

She interrupts him and begs him not to go after him, he can’t know she remembers.

Diana steps over and asks if she can touch her shoulder. Valerie looks up at Diana and cowers back a little and asks why and what she wants to do. Diana says she wants to help, to let her know it’s okay to freak out.

Valerie takes a shaky breath. She says he told her that if she told anyone that he would come back and make her watch her die. Everyone can tell she means her mother. Valerie says he’ll know that she remembers.

Audacity says that with her permission, he can look and see what she learned. She says that he’ll know. Yolov says that they might not know who this man is, but he’s involved in something they were already planning to prevent. They can keep her and her mother safe at a special house while they deal with him, if Valerie would like that.

Valerie says she would like that, adding that he was so charming when he came to the office, and then he was terrifying. They distract her with the promise of the library, as she is studying literature at school, and Diana helps her and her mother pack.

They go to the magic house with Asa’s assistance, showing Valerie and her mother around and introducing her to Taion and Asset. Taion is delighted to see Hava again so soon.

When Audacity reads Valerie’s memory, everything is watery and strange. She sees Kalvianis touching her hand and changing her memory while Elathias looks on. She sees Elathias, charming and cheerful until he wasn’t. Audacity also realizes that Kalvianis did Greater Restoration, found out what had happened to her, and then modified her memory for Elathias.

Audacity sees Valerie walking home after her second day at the Dawnscale Tradiing Company while Elathias falls into step and escorts her home, asking her about her job and her literature degree. It’s pleasant until he asks when was the last time she saw a particular person: Quivyrnel. Valerie says of course, she came by yesterday and she’s very sweet and beautiful. Quivyrnel is in town because she’s going up north to do a tour of the continent for trade alliances and opportunities.

Elathias asks where Quiveyrnel was headed next, and Valerie says she’s going home to Kastvar for a few days before she continues her grand ambassador tour.

Audacity doesn’t know the name Quiverynel from Kastvar, but he does know that Kiva met someone in Port Vestan. The party didn’t get details about her, though Hava saw her briefly and Audacity gets a flash of an image of a wood elf dressed in very classical Kastvarian clothes. There aren’t very many wood elves in Kastvar due to the lack of forests.

Elathias drops her off at home. The next memory is his other visit. Elathias threatens her and says that if anyone finds out that he’s after Quiverynel, he will kill Valerie’s mother slowly over the course of days, piece by piece, making her death as agonizing as possible and other utterly horrific threats.

Audacity pulls out after that memory. He looks at her and tells her that she is one of the bravest women he knows. It’s only after she goes off to unpack that Audacity looks at Yolov and says fiercely that they need Professor Daveena to erase her memory.

Valerie looks between them and asks if they can help her forget. Yolov says he knows someone who might be able to, and reaches out to Professor Daveena. He explains that they’ve encountered a young woman whose memory has been badly affected and she is traumatized. If he can assist, Yolov would appreciate his assistance with modifying her memory.

Daveena responds a few minutes later saying he’ll be there in an hour.

Audacity goes to his room to scream before he seeks out Asset to check on the security of the house. Asset tells him all about the security and confirms that they can strengthen it so that only the allowed people can enter the grounds for the time being.

Meanwhile Hava goes to apologize to Valerie.

Valerie asks her if her remembering helps and Hava says yes. Then Valerie asks if they’re going to stop him. Hava promises her that she is going to stab him with her trident.

Valerie says it’s worth it then.