Citadel Summary Thread: Post your Recess here!

[Maeve]

As the War comes into its final days things in the Citadel have been heating up. The vote of the 30th had been indecisive and Duke Erwin had thrown a celebratory party to both provide some entertainment for the residents of the island as well as to boost the popularity of his candidate for the upcoming elections.

The next day, Samheen 31st, brought the greatest change with the return of Consul Rosalie Lo Russo from her secret visit to the World's Mouth. Meeting with Chancellor Hector Anzillo she presented her offer of the peace treaty between the soon to be Free City of World's Mouth and the Empire of Seven Isles. The Chancellor used the remaining time of the day to inform all the Imperial Electors of the new development and the Advisory Council meeting of the 32nd got a whole new meaning.

Foregoing the vote for the new Caesar, the Council voted on the proposed peace treaty and it was accepted with overwhelming majority; for the first time in recorded history both Secretary Silk and Muchislie representatives voted for the same option. A delegation comprising of Chancellor Anzillo, Secretary Silk and Count de Besnie was selected to go to the Mouth the next day and sign the actual peace treaty. Working through the night the actual document was hammered out and empowered by Pecunian magick taken through the portal early next morning.

Signed by every member of the Advisory Council as well as all nine Magisters of the Merchant's Council, the treaty became a reality at the first mark of Tradetide of the 33rd. A mere mark later communication was established with the Mouthie and Imperial commanders in the Pan's Isle and a plan to end the war quickly was made. The outcome of that plan was the battle that took place the next day, Samheen 34th, where a Mouth treachery became a turning point that ensured the slaughter of Royalist and Church troops. With King Balthasar dead, and Mouth as their ally, the Empire was able to claim a total victory, before allowing the Mouth to take control of Pan's Isle under the name of the city the colonists had founded: Aveas.

It was some time before the Citadel returned to normal operations and during that time even the elections of a new Caesar were postponed. It was not until the start of Yulember that the Advisory Council met to discuss it once more and another vote took place. The time that passed and the recent developments and lobbying had had tremendous effect on the mood of the Council and Andolin Azarin was chosen as new Caesar. His efforts in securing World's Mouth cooperation, and the Mouth's support for his candidacy, had tipped the scale at last.

While the new ruler of the Empire settled into his seat and preparations were being made for his official crowning. It was to be scheduled for the Chyril 30th of the next year, when spring would be in full bloom, so it would symbolize the rebirth of the Empire as a new power. Until then, Andolin would be a Caesar in everything, but his spiritual link to the Empire and would merely not wear a crown. He was however expected to seek out a suitable wife whom she could marry after the coronation. Of course, help would be offered if he failed to produce one himself.

Soon after the elections Duke Erwin chose to return back home to Dort to restore order there, leaving the Embassy in Ulder Synkaaros' capable hands. His votes were still grouped and Ulder voted in his stead. With the new relations between the World's Mouth and the Empire the Mouthie contingent moved out of the Western Kingdom Embassy and moved into a new building that had been given over to their use by intervention of Baron Marcada. Lady Lo Russo was named the Ambassador, and it was she who held the Aveas vote in the Imperial Council.

The most shocking development was the disappearance of the head of the Imperial Scouts Guild Manyana, whose office was discovered to be a thorough mess one morning, with two dead bodies of men reputed to be the members of infamous Brotherhood laying within. No clues as to her whereabouts were discovered, though here and there a story emerged of how she was seen in various parts of the Empire.

But, not all was so bad. The dreaded Seaside Slayer, who had been responsible for brutal murders of several women in the past months, had finally been caught and after a short and rather emotionally charged trial hanged and his body burned. The citizens of the Citadel let out a collective sigh of relief at such news, but it was not long lasting. Barely two months later a new body was discovered, bearing the eerily similar markings to those before it. When the second body showed up whispers began of how the Slayer had returned from the dead, though the authorities assured the disturbed citizenry that it was merely a coincidence and that somebody was probably using the old stories to mask his or hers murders and draw the investigation off.

Furthermore the city had been witness to a rather strange hunt the kinds of which had not been seen in recorded history. On the last day of Darkenry, a virtual tide of disfigured, disoriented and babbling individuals spread across the Patricians Ring, running amok, and soon the entire city was witness to weird behavior and mayhem. The Imperial Guards aided by the City Blues had managed to apprehend all those individuals and it was soon discovered that they were all escaped patients from the hospital in Patrician's Ring that catered to the needs of those that are not fit for regular society.

Travelers from Amun Rah brought the news that the half-giant tribes of the Great Desert were on the verge of civil war, and the departure of Sheik Hassan to his homeland soon after the turn of the year has given substance to such rumors. Grand Vizier Nu'Phuat has been voting in the Council in Sheik's stead and has so far proven to be an adept politician and an excellent orator, standing by Lady Isis' side and together they have been a force to be reckoned with.

Soon after the War debacle, Ambassador Anton Marvik of the Western Kingdom was called back and in asurprising move Sir Frederic Hagen of the Royal Order of Dominicus was appointed acting Ambassador until a new person could be found for that spot. Reluctantly the blond paladin accepted his position and has since been doing his best to thwart the Mouth efforts in the Citadel.

General Stacco of the Muchislie Marines and the Ambassador of Muchislie to the Citadel had been called home and left with utmost urgency leaving the Embassy in the hands of Count Jacob de Besnie. It is rumored that Lady Marie was not very happy with Stacco's performance and some even say that she accused the aged general of treachery against Muchislie. What would cause such a man to betray the country he had fought for for so many years?

The Temple of Pan has seen a new upsurge of followers, though it has been quite slow in rebuilding. With the High Priest Vanir back aided by Fialessa, the people have started going back to the temple of the God of Passion. The Joy, while still present is not so wildly pursued, with a man named Noland preaching on the necessity of balance between Pan's aspects and the equality of them. There are rumors that Eilish, the daughter of Pan will be returning to the city soon, her presence on Pan's Isle no longer necessary now that the war is over and perhaps not even wished for now that the Mouth have renamed it Aveas. She is expected to take back her Council seat back from Isis' hands.

The month of Yulember saw the return of Illuminatus' faithful and it was with some skepticism that the explanation for their disappearance had been taken. Apparently they have been in deep meditation, using the prayers and spells to keep the darkness at bay. With the rifts closed and the threat of the Changer gone, they have emerged back once more, and are working together with the clergy of the Mother to restore the island to its previous glory. Elaine's song only started the process, but it will take some time and a lot of effort before the damage is completely repaired.

The dark mages seem to have all but vanished, though here and there people whisper of the strange events and gruesome sights, all in all it has been strangely quiet, ever since Lord Redault's daughter has been taken to the University of Magic for observation after the massacre at his mansion when she killed all the servants and played a game of cat and mouse with those that still lived. Subdued she was last seen being taken away in a carriage, screaming how she would be back, and take her true demonic form.

Crime however has been on the rise in a terrible way, especially the more savage crimes. Murders, beatings and arson have all been tripled, though for the most part it seems to have been limited to low life, the people of illicit occupations who are not guarded by the City Blues. It is rumored there is a gang war on the loose in the city and while it is good that the criminals are killing each other off, what happens when one side runs out of targets? It is further reputed that Thomas Crane has left the city after his son William was found brutally murdered, floating under the docks with his throat slashed.

[Maeve]

This is the Recess write up for the Citadel. PM Grey Wolf with your questions. You can send him your write up in PM too for debate, but ultimately we want you to post your final version here, so that it becomes part of the bigger picture. Do you not forget to assigning your skill stars in your write up!

[Rosalie Marcada]

Rosalie’s Recess Summary

Samheen
Rosalie returned to the Citadel as a secret negotiator of World’s Mouth, on the 31st of Samheen seeking out the government of the Empire of Seven Isles. She showed her letter of authorization to the bluntest man she knew: Chancellor Hector Anzillo. From there she carefully worked through the most influential councilors (Erwin, Silk, Isis) as well as both candidates for the throne, wooing them with promises of magnificent Mouthie technology that would give the Empire an advantage when facing her enemies, the Western Kingdom first of all. Rosalie made it discreetly known that the Mouth supported Lord Azarin, upholding the myth he was a former duke of the Mouth though in truth no such thing existed. At the same time however Rosalie was careful to maintain a good working relationship with captain Ulder, offering job opportunities to any former Purple Guard he would recommend to her. She was after all in need of a wider network of informants and it made good political sense to play both sides.

To keep herself safe from the wrath of sir Hagen Rosalie moved with great stealth while negotiations still were on going, not an easy feat, often requiring her to use secret passages, spending time with her heart beating fast with her Condotierre escort hidden in the tree many a time. There was little time for sleep or frolicking.

Taking the advice of Baron Marcada on the matter Rosalie selected a building in the Patricians Ring to be the new Embassy of World’s Mouth as soon as she had clenched a deal by Samheen 35th , marching the entire unit of Condotierre carrying their belongings out of the Terra West building in a show of force. It was the only resignation of her position she gave. She did not doubt the information reached Kings Court swiftly. Already Magister Carloni and the rest of the Merchant Council had take their precautions, calling all Condotierre units in service of the now dead King home. That the King died in the War Rosalie found very convenient, too convenient for coincidence but who was she to complain, for it ensured her home town’s future as an independent city nation.

Rosalie had brought Councilor Severo Lo Russo with her for a few days to negotiate her marriage contract with Illish Marcada. She also introduced him to her good friend Master Crane, whom she still owed a considerable sum of money because of her clubmembership of Risque. As merchantprincess tended to do she expected her father to take care of it. While he was there she made sure to keep Kaspari Verducci at a distance for her father was a sharp man. Even if not as intuitive about such matters as her brother Ramius, he would surely put two and two together if he saw too much. Between her father’s presence and the government negotiations of which she informed him not at all, giving mysterious excuses, Kaspari grew increasingly frustrated, suspecting that she had another lover. When finally it was revealed in what decisive direction World’s Mouth had moved it created a distance between them personally for it was clear that she was capable of keeping great secrets from him. It was also clear she had spend many hours with several handsome men and that did not thrill him at all, made insecure by the fact that suddenly Rosalie was further away than ever, now Ambassador to this new nation and engaged to Baron Marcada. Rosalie’s assurances, smooth though they were, increasingly lost their power.

Yulember & Darkenry
All through the dark months of winter Rosalie worked with the Empire government to realize yet more ambitions of the Mouth. She made sure to keep the slave trade of non-humans to Aveas out of the wind, where as she kept prodding contacts about the inferior treatment of humans in Kislovan, trying to snub the Firelords whenever she could, making them into her political enemies thereby. She also stimulated the use of Roque Red and Cliff White over the Kislovani wines, asking in letters to Aveas’ local government if there was not a local brew available that she could promote instead. She contacted the various ambassadors of the Imperial isles to see what profitable trade agreements could be made for the Mouth companies, some of which specialized in ferrying goods to and fro. The Ambassador was sure to promote espresso and other Mouthie products. She bought her entirely new wardrobe at Audrey’s and set up contacts for the talented lady in World’s Mouth so she could spread her fame in yet a new location. Rosalie’s trademark became the careful use of the Condotierre Coat of Arms in her clothing, for she considered the legion the pride of the new nation. She commissioned the Bardic College to write songs, make statues and create paintings of the heroes of the Demonhunt with the Inquisitors in a clearly visible role. This would not melt, Rose thought with satisfaction, and it would create its own legend.

As the Ambassador of the Mouth Rosalie gained the seat of Aveas on the Imperial Council. This pleased Rosalie well, for she had become addicted to high level politics. With morbid fascination she followed the careers of Andolin, Ulder and Ranier, thinking that especially the later would fall to an assassins hand one day or other. Rosalie too feared the hand of an assassin. She had so many enemies that would benefit from it, not the least of which was lord Angrihil, Firelord and Kislovani aide. The number of her military escort was increased and she became slightly obsessed with knowing what her enemies were up to regarding her person, making sure that her spies reported on the subject regularly. It was the Western Kingdom especially that she feared, having nightmares of dirty paladins showing up to execute her for treason, especially now that Hagen had become Ambassador of her former nation.

Kaspar Verducci had become the head of security of the new Embassy of the Free city of World’s Mouth, often simply known as “the Mouth”. Rosalie took great care to decorate the Embassy as an elegant, opulent mansion, intending to live there rather than at Marcada’s mansion after her marriage. This was something she carelessly forgot to mention to her intended simply assuming he would follow her wishes. Being in charge was another growing addiction, the rush of power and getting away with many secretive initiatives. Apart from its opulence the Embassy was of course well guarded with the latest technology, housing a portal and opportunities to spy on guests, as well as being an impenetrable fort in case of hostilities. She had learned the lesson from the Terra West building and the many opportunities it offered well.

Rosalie frequently played hostess for Baron Marcada, growing in her role as his future wife, finding grudging admiration for the man who was quite a few years her senior. It contributed greatly to increasing her diplomatic contacts, especially among those nobles involved with trade. Her relationship with her future stepchildren was tense. They had been unable to prevent a marriagecontract that promised the widow a third of the estate.

Kaspar’s jealousy grew greater and greater and Rosalie realized that her goal of increased freedom from traditional Mouth culture was only exchanged for the demands made upon her by both her lover and her (intended) husband. This vexed her greatly as it limited how she would make use of all the opportunities she found on her way. Arguments between the two lovers became frequent and no longer for play. He increasingly jealous, she increasingly more distant. Mouthie profanity filtered through the Embassy on a regular basis and the continuing disagreements between the Ambassador and her head of security were well known. During one of those arguments in her opulently decorated office Rosalie had a moment of absolute clarity. Her goal of having a husband to hide her lover would never work. Kaspar threatened to tell Ramius of their love. He apologized swiftly upon seeing her stricken face, kissing her passionately to make up, yet Rosalie knew that now that the thought had entered his head it would return there one day. It chilled her to the bone. With a sigh, tears running down her cheeks Rosalie kissed him back. Still in the embrace, swiftly so that she would not lose heart she put the dagger in his kidneys, twisting the dagger as Ramius had learned her so that he would not even cry out. She could not allow Kaspar to betray her. Weeping bitterly Rosalie held her lover in her arms as he died, covering her in his blood. She sat on the floor with his head in her lap for quite some time, softly swaying before she raised the alarm, claiming that an assassination attempt had been made on her and sergeant Verducci had heroically saved the Ambassador with is own life. He was given a heroes funeral at early Darkenry.

Chyril
Rosalie and Marcada planned their marriage to be a small affair, with just family and a small amount of friends attending. The date set for the wedding is the 23rd of Chyril. Of course Rose expects her brother, her father and her mother to be there. While she has kept Father Bitalli at a distance, being vague in her confessions and lying if she must, she asked the Dominicus priest to bless her wedding.


Skills
Rosalie’s gained the following advancements during the Recess
Diplomacy **
Forgery **
Smaller Blades **
Negotiation **
Leadership **

[Ashtallion Urdil]

Since stumbling from the portal that led from the Aether, where the sorcerer had been trapped, in the mind of Dominicus, Ashtallion Urdil returned to the University of Magicks. Once more he took up a position of study within the ancient towers. His troubles in Kislovan left a sour taste in the adhiel mage’s mouth, though discovering his heritage was a small consolation. Now, he found he could move within the higher circles of the Citadel Court. He was after all now, Lord Ashtallion Urdil Alrul of a most pious and strong Kislovani Noble House. The magus wore his signet ring at almost all times, yet he would never be questioned on his first and more important dedication towards the Sorcerous Arts.

Asht has spent much of his time in study and training, for although he was keen to continue his battlemagery training, he also started to branch out and learn of the other schools of magic the university had to offer. A surprising offer was extended to the sorcerer upon his return to the university. He was offered a position within the Faculty of the University staff, seen more as an equal not rather than a student. His magical prowess was such that he was no longer considered an Apprentice Mage.

Much of his spare time went into the study of such arcane arts, for no longer was Asht content with limiting his desire for greater sorceries and ultimately, power. Many nights he would study the ancient tome, Secrets of Creation, attempting to unlock the secrets it hinted at. He had come to realise that higher magic was not necessarily to be found in the dark arts, simply in the Ancient Sorcery of old, that which the greatest of Archmages used to employ and he has made it his goal to uncover that power. Yet his enthusiasm for the ancient arcane arts has not been met with kind regard from some of the University staff. His studies make them somewhat nervous, seeing such power as uncontrollable, yet the adhiel sorcerer has fiercely debated his research and will continue to do so.

He spent time of course with his sister and fellow student at the university, the two had known each other again for a relatively short period of time and they had to get to know each other all over. For yahrens they had been separated, but the months to come would give him the time he needed with her. Asht helped his sister where he could with her own studies, as he was the more advanced of the two, and only too happy aid her where he could. It was his dream that the two of them would share the power of the Ancients. He wanted his name and that of his sister to be renowned throughout Tazlure and History.

As his interest and talent in sorcery expands, Ashtallion found himself delving into the other branches of magic, divination, warding and particularly runes. With renewed vigour, the sorcerer started compiling his own theories on magical constructs, possible weavings and whenever he had the chance he would try them, not always with successful results though.

When the announcement came that a new Caesar had been chosen, Ashtallion decided it would be prudent that he show his face around the Court more often. For a start, he recognised, if disdained, that political power could be just as effective and sometimes more profound as sorcery. His status as a Lord of Kislovani Nobility aided this, for though a mage, this would not constitute access to the higher circles of political power. Asht found though that he was often too honest and direct and would have to learn how to manipulate people as easily he did energy. Subtlety, coercion, hidden agendas, all were common in such places as the Court. He also discovered a few names, people of note to watch out for, amongst them a woman called Rosalie Lo Russo, apparently a formidable political power. Nothing was mentioned directly, simply to be careful around her. Ashtallion made a mental note of her name should he ever come across the woman. Though he couldn’t help the feeling that some of those eyes were already making a note of him. His connection to his family House in Kislovan had evidently reached the Citadel, for the sorcerer found no end to the intrigues of the Court, concerning him and his House. A nuisance at first, he soon discovered that such rumours and old grudges could prove potentially insidious.

What he did avoid though was any form of introduction to the new Caesar. Ashtallion did not the man directly, yet is reputation proceeded him and there was something unsettling about what he had heard. Nothing overtly scandalise. Just, unsettling for the sorcerer.

There were people he had to reconnect with in the Citadel. And some he had no desire to speak to yet a meeting would be unavoidable. Fauna Winthorpe was one such undesirable. The woman made his skin crawl and his eyes burn with cold anger. From the information he had gather since returning to Citadel, it seemed he had reason to be cautious and his previous suspicions proven correct. She had been, and most likely still was, dabbling in the dark arts….something he would have found hard to believe when thinking of the blonde amunic woman he had first met when he started at the University. He had considered her a friend…now, he did not know what to think of her. Despite his anger at her, he found the lure of power more enticing. Asht was never one to use the darker arcane arts, but he found logic in the possibility of alliances, however due to his curiosity the mage started to track her, trying to read into her actions and movements, something he found considerably difficult because of the demands of his other work for the university and his own studies. Asht was not in the least concerned about his own well being from her, at least not directly, when it came down to the sorcerous arts, he was confident he could match her.

Star distribution:

Alchemy + **
Magic (healing) + ****
Magic (elementalism) + ***
Meditation + *

[Guest]

The autumn months drifted by Ceris in a daze. Her days were a blissful melody of gentle sun and calm waves lapping against the shore. Food was plentiful after a fashion and such simple conditions gave the young student all the freedom she needed. Yet she began, perhaps now for the first time, to feel lonely. Not since her infancy had she been so completely deprived of family. Ventalla was her tutor, but that was not a relationship of camaraderie that she desired. She could not truly befriend any of the students or really associate with them for they would soon wonder why she only ventured out during the hours of darkness. And so she spent her nights deep in study, poring over the texts that Ventalla gave her and her own pursuit after the control of light and shadow. Her focus on meditation and the alignment of self gave her greater control over the mystical forces she now toyed with. Her control grew and soon she could access her powers at will even though she only manipulated the aether on a small scale.

It was not long before she began to feel a correlation between her pursuit of mediation and her practice of the martial arts. Though her practice of this art was rudimentary at best, through meditation and centring herself she began to expand awareness of her own movements, every physical pursuit seemed to take on a quasi – spiritual nature as she pursued the perfection of her own body as religiously as she pursued her attunement to the aether.

However, it was not all study for the Young girl. She had to earn her keep and initially she spent her time in the vaulted library, Re-shelving books. It was not a terrible job for she often would find some volume that interested her and she became perhaps more widely read than a conventional student. However, staying cooped up did not appeal. She spent her time flitting between tending the night gardens and assisting one of the astrologers, an elderly yet graceful woman by the name of Leanne. She spoke at length with her on the topic for she found that the dead of night was one of the best times to practice her manipulation of Shadow and the hardest to practice her manipulation of light. Even so, her professors, though sometimes doting still maintained a certain distance from the swan-maiden.

Fighting the urge to fly south, Ceris remained in the tropical Citadel. The lake she frequented each day remained warm and the climate temperate a strange thing when back in Islay the ground would have been covered in snow.

Darkenry was the worst. Ceris began to feel like she had simply swapped one cage for another. She had gone from the confines of her village to the confines of the University. She longed to break out of the walls and by the hours of day she flew further and further every time she stretched her wings. She even risked her disguise by the hours of night by taking on her Hybrid form. In the darkest of nights when the clouds covered the night sky making astronomy impossible she took to the skies. Her meditations had given her a clearer insight into her own abilities and she now found that she could take the angel form more frequently. She revelled in this and flew higher and further, skipping across the clouds by the light of stars no others could see.

Her studies deepened, she longed to know more about herself and her kind but, try as she might she could not find anything she did not already know. As she pored over texts one night one word burned on the page. Kanthrop. A people of shape-shifters. She longed to leave the confines of this small rocky Isle and explore their ways, in doing so perhaps the young swan maiden might find some sort of answer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Skills:

***** - advance sorcery to apprentice
* - advance flight to apprentice
* - advance polymorph to apprentice
* - martial arts
* -Tumbling
* - Dance

[Corbin Dillon]

Corbin’s Recess Summary

Samheen

The remainder of Samheen was a strange time for Corbin. Much of his time at the University had been spent chasing, and ultimately helping kill, the Changer. Indeed much of his learning had come from direct magic usage, often in rather precarious situations where improvisation was necessary. Thus settling into the routine of learning in a more formal setting had some distinctive drawbacks – having used his powers in anger and in combat, doing so in a supervised manner was something of a shock. He found that some of the students, aware of his accomplishment, came to him for advice and direction. Not necessarily in magic, but for other issues as well. They saw that Corbin displayed a degree of understanding and kindness beneath his buoyant exterior, and also a talent for offering new ways of looking at things.

Eventually he grew back into the habit of learning and concentrated on his magic, building up the theory and practical side of it, under the ever watchful eye of Professor Moore. He paid a particular attention to magical creatures, especially demons, for he knew from experience that they could be the most dangerous foes one would meet. From his experiences he knew how important it was to maintain one’s calm, and stay cool and collected at all times. For this reason he sought to develop his ability to do so by putting himself in precarious situations such as standing on the edge of high buildings and looking down at the ground. It was nerve wracking at times, but through force of will he slowly battled his fears. He also sought out Battlemage Acantha for lessons. He had always been skilled with a sword, and he saw no reason why he should not combine the twin skills of magic and sword. Certainly his emphasis remained on magic, and he had no interest in becoming a bona fide battlemage, but he was determined not to become over reliant on one particular skill.

His time was not spent entirely in the classroom and practice rooms. Whilst he came to stomach such regimens he still thirsted for excitement, and thus it was that he paid several discrete visits to Adessa Anghiril, to speak with her from beneath her window. He knew that her father would disapprove, and indeed that disapprove was an understatement, yet Corbin minded not such concerns. His spirit was, in essence, an adventurous one.

It was not just Adessa who received visits though. Corbin’s interest had been piqued by two things. The first was the arrest of the Slayer, an event Corbin had witnessed. In short, he was less than convinced about the guilt of the man who had eventually been executed for the crime, yet there was little he could do. The murders had stopped, and whilst he headed down to the areas in which the murders had been carried out, generally disguising himself with common clothing, or simply magic, the Slayer did not make an appearance. Whilst he stopped a few muggings and assaults, there was not a Slayer in sight.

The second thing that had caught his fancy was the talk of faeries in the Citadel’s herb garden. He was not entirely sure what compulsion drove him to visit the garden frequently, perhaps the fact that Professor Moore had spoken of the affect the Changer would have had on them – in that they shared a bond. Thus it was that he became acquainted with Zersa in the gardens, and took to visiting the herb garden several times a week, to sit and look for signs of them, he even talked hoping to catch their attention, wondering if perhaps he could help them in some way combat whatever changes the Changer had wrought. But he found no sign at all.

Yulember, Darkenry and Chyril

With his part in the hunting of the Changer, and the capture of the Slayer, Corbin had managed a brief fame which in turn had opened up a brief opportunity to make his name known in society – and this was an opportunity he grasped with both hands, making use of wit and easy charm to make sure that whilst his fame might be fleeting, the memory of his name amongst the well-to-do was not. After all, Corbin had come from a well-off family, and he felt he had been missing out greatly by not enjoying himself on the social circuit. He also kept in mind that part of his reason for coming to the Citadel had been to build up his family’s fame – of course that was tied in with his magick, but he was too sensible to put all his eggs in a single basket. Magick was an egg, society was an egg, indeed in the Citadel it seemed there were eggs aplenty. Yet no wife, which Corbin found to be a blissful absence of burden, but which his parents might have other views. Unencumbered by the hassle of marriage he enjoyed flirtation with the ladies of the Citadel with whom he became acquainted, though not so far as to open the possibility of any young Corbin’s running around the city. That would probably be a touch too much for his parents.

Yet socialising never took over Corbin’s life, it certainly didn’t possess it as had been the case in Roque. The occasional engagement and the maintenance of friendships with those he had met during his time in the Citadel occurred, but it was more a case of making his face and name known than establishing friends and influence, for Corbin had discovered that adventure and magic were far more exciting than getting drunk and flattering ladies into cupboards. With this realisation, and the perspective that accompanied it, came an increased motivation and an improvement in his work at the University. He still maintained the occasional secretive visit to Adessa, and his visits to the herb garden continued as he sought the elusive faeries.

Then came round Chyril 22nd, and Corbin felt a new sense of adventure sweep over him. As he woke up, his lips cracked into a mischievous grin. I think I shall have some fun today was the first thing that flashed through his mind.


Skills

Shielding [sorcery] ** (to Apprentice)
Magickal Rote [sorcery] * (to Apprentice)
Conversation * (to Apprentice)
Demon & Darkness Lore * (to Apprentice ****)
Leadership * (to Apprentice)
Inner Calm ** (to Apprentice)
Seduction / Woo ** (to Basic ***)

[Anora Frollie]

It seemed the first night of her arrival took Anora on a new kind of adventure. After finishing her shift at the gate, the big blonde guard introduced the small girl to the pleasures of the flesh. It seemed that little Anora had a taste for pleasures of the female kind. The night passed in a sensual haze for the little thief and she left the guard the next morning wearing a smile.

While that was all fun and good and something she wouldn’t mind trying again, Anora’s feet were itching to get moving, so she slipped from the guard’s bed and into the mass of people in the Citadel. So many sheep, so few flickers to fleece them all in! Her criminal heart, inherited from her grandma, jumped at the chance. Of course, she had to work on the fringes for a while, making herself quietly known to the criminal powers that be, before finally being accepted into the outer circle of crime. A couple pickpockets here, a few con jobs there. Mostly little stuff, but the fact that she didn’t get caught showed she wasn’t a complete amateur.

That was, until one day, she picked the wrong pocket and was seen doing it. While in the Burpin Dragon, she lifted a few coins from a posh looking man. It wasn’t until after she had left to count her haul that she realized she’d been seen, as a woman approached her, offering her job, starting at the bottom. It seemed the posh she robbed was Christopher Crane and the very large woman was the enforcer of the family, Red. So, soon she was doing odd jobs for the woman, though she only saw him that once. Most of the time, one of his underlings her meet them at the Ha Penny Mermaid. She kept her nose out of the spotlight, trying to keep a low profile.

Of course, there was that one incident, where a lady’s necklace just happened to find its way into her pocket and the damn woman put up a fuss, Anora found herself being taken to the guards. Luckily, her ‘friend’ Krys was working and after a long and sweaty tumble in the guardhouse, she was released with the provision that she come back later. Unfortunately, time held no true meaning to the girl and while she enjoyed her time with the tall woman, Anora wasn’t one to feel bad for breaking her word. So once again, she slipped into the background.
[hr][/hr]
Skills

Pickpocket-****
Con Artist-****
Seduction/Woo-**

[Vanir Alfheim]

Vanir returned to the Temple of Pan to find it destroyed by recent events. He worked hard with Fialessa to rededicate the Temple to its former glory and beauty. She had already repaired the Altars of Blood and Art, yet the Altar of Joy remained. The section of Temple with the Altar remained closed, until it could be fixed properly. They offered private rooms, however, to those wishing to give praise to Pan. Under the guidance and funding of Duke Erwin, they renovated the interior of the Temple as well as the lush gardens outside.

The Temple contains large rooms containing the altars of Joy, Art, and Blood, although the Joy is still closed. The vast hall leading into the Temple has been restored to its once remarkable beauty. The cross-shaped Temple had much work done to it, including the room being restored to working order. It was not of much use, since most of the rooms were unoccupied after the recent deaths of their priests. The rooms would not stay empty for long though.

Vanir had opened up the Temple to exiles from Pan’s Isle, after its invasion by the Oneists and its occupation by the Mouth. He offered room and board to any refugees seeking to get back to their lives in the Citadel. The priest was familiar with how hard it was to get started over with nothing, so he made every means possible to accommodate them. A part of him wondered if Tustra or Leisha would stumble upon his doors, while another simply remained angered over what had happened to the beautiful island he had known. He received some disturbing news among the few exiles though, such as non-humans being used as slaves by those from the Mouth occupation. It seemed so disgusting that he promised to do what he could from the Citadel politics that he hated so much. He remembered that there was a WM Consul reprehensive in the Palace. Barrett mentioned her name was Rosalie Lo Russo, so he made plans to speak with her at once.

Vanir prayed to Pan about the whereabouts of Leafwhisper and their child, but learned only that the child was alive and safe. He tried to focus more on them, yet only got the emptiness of the Aether. The information he gathered on the streets was even less useful as no one could recall seeing wither leave the city, not seeing them anywhere around the palace. The priest would have to simply trust in Pan to keep them safe, until he could find the means to locate them on his own.

Vanir learned of Perdita and Isabella’s deaths, mourning for both of them, yet in different ways. The priest remained celibate for several months in mourning of Perdita’s loss, knowing that a part of him would forever be lost as well. He knew that his position at the Temple as well as Perdita’s lasting love were enough to replace his sexual desires, even if it would not be forever.

Vanir spent most of his time working at the Temple and meeting with guests, whether they be panlings or just full of questions. He never became too busy in the day that he did not devote some time to greeting worshippers. He took the time to answer their questions, sooth their minds, or even teach them about the love of Pan. It was a duty that he took great pride and enjoyment in, since it took his mind off his own troubles. It had been known that he even offered an occasional massage to a stressed panling or two.

The one thing Vanir was most intent of repairing was the final altar of Pan, the Altar of Joy. It had been widely known that Vanir was a devout follower of the Joy, which even lead to his becoming a priest. The Joy had once been prominent in the lands, an act of beauty and joy between panlings or even those wishing to learn. The ways had been lost and corrupted by those that sought to use it for their own gains. Now the Altar lay broken with no means to repair it, other than the hard work of Vanir and Fialessa. They spent many candle marks in the room, trying to repair the Joy beyond means of simple sex. A passion was needed to restore its beauty, yet it was hard to find such a thing. He worked with his lovely companion during the day and night to find ways of repairing. He found himself staring over at her on occasion, but knew their relationship was something more than that of other priests.

The one duty that Vanir took exceptional pride in was the instruction of Fialessa as a priestess of Pan. He taught her about the many ways of Pan and how to express them to others. Most lessons were filled with knowledge of their god and responsibilities at the Temple, plus her upcoming role in it. The fiery adhiel was a fitting apprentice to Vanir’s more carefree attitude and he found himself growing quite fond of her. It was a rather easy decision to name her as the second in command at the Temple with Noland underneath them both, although he had been spending some time with Barrett.

When not focused on daily duties in the Temple, Vanir spent the remainder of his time alone in his room. He prayed often and even went to the Aether for many of his prayers, allowing himself clear thoughts and a more direct line to Pan. It took him a while to clear his head of negative thoughts and fight back the pain of recent weeks that passed into months. He may have been skilled at helping others, but he still had trouble helping himself.

Prayer did little to help his peace of mind, but it served him to help others. Pan worked through Vanir as he had ever since first calling upon the young bard. He entrusted the adhiel with power to help other, whether it be their state of mind or something more. The bond between priest and Pan grew stronger through their love and their faith in each other. Any could see plainly that Vanir was special, Eilish had called him “favored”, in the eyes of Pan. He worked diligently to live up to such expectations and prepare for the return of Eilish. He knew the flighty priestess cared little for the administrative tasks at the Temple, but worked in more conventional aspects.

Days passed into weeks, which passed into months for the priest. Helping others at the Temple, especially when dealing their family problems, made him think of his own family. He felt some guilt over the way he left and not having sent word since that night, even though he had gone to Kislovan for the Caesar’s funeral. Around late Darkenry, he finally wrote a letter to his family. He explained his calling to Pan, his role at the Temple, and even those in his company. Hopefully, his father would take some comfort in knowing that his son, who cared little for politics and nobles, seemed to be in middle of Citadel affairs. He spoke of Duke Erwin’s party and other such events, letting his father know that he hade done well for himself by following his own path. He asked about his brothers and sisters, hoping to hear that all was well. He failed to mention his most recent trip to Kislovan, knowing it would only upset his mother. A funeral was hardly the time to make a trip back home to see his family after all.

Vanir received his invitation to the wedding of Elaine and Sir Ulder, asking Fialessa to be his escort once more. It seemed odd to spend so much time with one lady without taking her as a lover. He was certain that most would not believe they weren’t lovers, often choosing to not even bother correct them. Vanir was happy to learn of the engagement and especially glad that Elaine had found someone that she let get close to her. She held a special place in his heart, even permanently altering his Aether garden, and wanted only the best for her. Ulder seemed to love her dearly and was confident that the former soldier would protect her valiantly.

The most disturbing news came after the war, Andolin Azarin, who seemed to have no love for Vanir, would be crowned the new Caesar. Silk, whom Vanir detested more than anyone, had taken a more prominent role in the Palace. The murderous Secretary no longer seemed content to hide in the shadows, but actually played a hand in ending the war. It would not spare him Vanir’s vengeance though as the priest made a few contacts among those that would see Silk pay for his crimes. He sought a way to end the life of Silk, yet still hoped for Eilish or Sosa’s approval before acting. It seemed now, he simply wanted to find out if there was anyone that could do it and what it would cost him.

Skills:
Instill Tranquility +*** = Apprentice
Meditation + ** = Apprentice+**
MoE: Faith + **** = Apprentice+****
Massage + * = Apprentice

[Fialessa Valenstri]

For Fialessa the ending days of Samheen saw a life changing decision for her. The vision of Pan in her dreams and the acceptance of his pipes had angled her in the direction of his priesthood, though she had not entirely accepted that as part of her destiny.. Then as she met and became further acquainted with his priest, Vanir, the decision seemed to veer ever closer to that end. Could she, would she be able to give up a career as a dancer in order to serve Pan in an entirely different capacity? She knew of course that she would not be required to give up dance, only that could no longer be her primary focus.

It would take another visit to her brother to finalize her plan, and though she knew it not their meeting could potentially be the last one they’d ever have. Kis and Fia exchanged many words during their meeting. He had been going along quite far in his training, particularly gifted it seemed. And both were concerned that nothing had been heard from their parents. Fia discussed her consternation at her crossroads and Kis spoke to her logically as she knew he would. But too he made sense of the way she thought and explained to her that with dance she could benefit some and please people and make them happy for a little while. But as a Priestess of Pan she could soothe the souls of many and bring the faith they two siblings shared to others. Kis made her believe she could make a difference. He also told her he would be leaving the Citadel in search of their parents who had last been left on Pan’s Isle which now was beginning to be referred to as Aveas… neither could stomach that - their home overrun by opportunists. But they could only do so much. So she decided upon the destiny that she assumed Noland had meant when she’d spoken to him the night they reclaimed the temple, cup of blood in her hands.

And so at the last tide of Samheen brother and sister parted for possibly the last time and Fialessa returned to the temple where she had been helping Vanir, Naomi and Noland with the repairs. And though it had been late she sought out Vanir to discuss with him her decision to formally work toward becoming a priestess, and took up a permanent residence within the temple - as opposed to occasionally sleeping there when her work there ran late into the late marks of Gravetide.

Throughout the months of Yulember and into Darkenry, she focused on delving further into her faith then she had ever before. She was pleased to find that both Vanir and Noland shared some similarity of thought with her regarding the balance of the three aspects. Much of her time was truly with the repairing of the temple, in particular the gardens. For plants and flowers had long been an interest of hers. Sometimes she would shadow Vanir in order to learn what she could of being a priest. Within her grew a healthy respect for the Adhiel priest, but most especially when he opened the temple up to the exiles of Pan’s Isle. She would sit often with the refugees, listening to their stories and the trials of the war they faced, and the aftermath - when the Mouthie’s came and stole away their homeland, all in the name of profit. The war she had escaped, but not the stories and the pain of her people. These, the people with whom she could share a particular sort of grief with, as now she too was truly such as they were, exile… refugee from her own home - for it could never really be home again, such as it was. Fialessa was particularly heartbroken to hear the tales and of what had happened there after, but she tried very hard not to show it. And worse yet for her, though half the winter she’d heard nothing from the refugees of her parents and there had been no word from Kis.

Her days were so filled that she did not seem to mind the work she had taken on in the temple, and often by the time she‘d finished her evening‘s exercise she hardly noticed that her nights were given over almost completely to sleep. In fact she welcomed the work, as though it she grew closer to the small group of people that she toiled with in the temple, and she wanted to help as much as she could. She began to look on Naomi, much as she would a sister, and Noland she respected for his own gifts and insights. Vanir’s friendship too, she treasured, for though she could never look on him as a brother - only Kis held that place - she did appreciate the time he took with her. It was perhaps because of their growing friendship that she grew cognizant of his frustration and disappointment in regards to the Altar of Joy. And though it meant many more long hours, she spent them gladly as they puzzled over their inability to restore the altar and what could be done.

Though all was not work and Fia did not give up dancing altogether. When she found free time she continued performing at the Dragon and anywhere else she might get invited for coin and the love of it. She even took to teaching some dances she had known to small children at the temple. As well she focused on the pipes Pan had gifted her with and applied herself toward their mastery and that of creating music.

As Darkenry turned into Chyril, Fia found herself both hopeless and hopeful that a solution to the problem of the Altar of Joy would ever be found, though few clues had emerged. More than ever she wanted to hear from her brother, but she was disappointed to that end as well. Alternatively she was becoming more confident in her abilities to talk with people and soothe their woes, more often than not she took up the pipes and played them, bringing forth the songs of Pan in order to hearten them and bring them happiness, though her own was only superficial.

Chyril fully opening out into its days saw Fialessa continuing to spend long hours into the night on her duties at the temple, with occasional visits to the Dragon to dance and socialize with people she knew. But another opportunity opened up that had her rethink her initial decision to become a priestess over a dancer. She had been approached by Keaira from the Red Banner to train some of the girls there to dance and at least have some semblance of gracefulness. And though she did not necessarily agree in principle with the tenants of the bawdy house, as a Panling feeling that sex was not something to be purchased, she did at least respect their need to make a living. The more important thing was that someone had appreciated her dancing enough to hire her to do it. In all she enjoyed teaching the bits she knew about dancing and even in some strange way practicing with the two other women (Keaira and Fauna) but even as the opening performance grew near, she wondered what sort of reception she would receive and if indeed it was even the right thing for her after all. Kis would likely tell her it was a pleasant diversion, and to remember her other duties. She would likely have to see how things panned out.


***
Skills Improved
Creating Music ** {to Basic + **}
Dancing * {to Apprentice}
Playing Musical Instruments (Pan’s Pipes) ** {to Basic +**}
Pray * {to Apprentice}
Seduction/Woo * {to Apprentice}
Theology * {to Basic +*}
Yoga ** {to Basic +**}

[Alustariel Urdil]

The Rebellion in Kislovan affected Alustariel deeply. Having grown up in the Citadel she had never seen the rift between Humans and Adhiel turn so extremely violent. Battered and bruised she returned to the Citadel and closed herself, for the most part, to the confines of the University of Magic. She would say that the world outside was becoming a frightfully dangerous place and the next time she became embroiled in a tricky situation, she wanted to make sure she had enough power at her disposal to deal with it effectively. She once again submitted herself to rigorous combat training with her Battle Mage mentor Alexu Auros to hone her martial skill. With a great deal of help from her brother Ashtallion, Alustariel’s magical prowess increased, especially with the area of healing for which she spent time at the Temple of the Mother with the Priestesses.

Around them in the Citadel the buzz about the city was spectacular. There was to be a new Caesar, Lord Azarin, which meant that a new power play would begin. She and Asht, with their discovered Anghiril titles entered the foray. As Lady Alustariel Alrul she made quite a number of appearances in Court with her brother. The besotted Lord Argil Insurinn of Kislovan had highlighted the fact that many could her highborn beauty alluring, and while she was not one to use her charm for ill, it was a tool too useful to ignore in the male dominated environment.

Yet there was a great shock that came a month after she returned from Kislovan. On visiting the Temple of the Mother in the Citadel one morning she was told by the serene High Mother that she was with child. The world stood still for a moment. Without too much guesswork Alustariel realized she was carrying the child of Loraith Kasvenir, an Achadhiel of the Calmeanh noble house with whom she had a dalliance in Kislovan. Divination magic revealed the child to be a boy. Ashtallion was thrilled to be an Uncle, but Auros was not so happy. Alustariel’s frail condition was going to limit the physical training she should perform in her Battle Mage training. With the next generation of Urdils on the way, Alu chose to focus on the weaving of magical energies and leave physical training for a time after the baby was born.

Chiryl brought a sad change of scene for Alu. For a very old friend returned to the Citadel for an occasion that she was not prepared for. Alustariel was nearing 79 years of age, and by her Adhiel graces she was as fair and youthful as ever, but many of her old friends were human. As winter came, Eberro Heinsoo, a once mighty adventurer and past lover, arrived in the city. Eberro had whisked her away from Taquar and toured her around the Western Kingdom. He was fifty then, strong, hale and handsome, though he looked very ancient when she saw him this time. He was dying of old age. And though Alu knew such a day would eventually come, she had not prepared herself for it. Eberro had come to see her one last time for he had never stopped loving her. They talked alone throughout the night and when the sun rose at dawn his spirit had flown. Alustariel was inconsolable and had a lengthy grieving in which Ashtallion felt his sister lost to sorrow. Though redoubtably, as the weather became chiller she returned to optimistic and frivolous nature.

As the coronation of the new Caesar approached the now three months pregnant Lady Alustariel Alrul went out to make the names of the Urdil Twins renowned throughout the Seven Isle and beyond, just as planned.

Manipulation of Energy: Sorcery + ***
Magic [healing] + *****
Martial Arts + **

[valsert]

Demons and war, either one should strike fear into the heart of the strongest people. Either one would be a nightmare to torment anyone’s dreams. But for a soldier whose entire life had been ripped from him when his unit was disbanded, they were a distraction.....a chance to ignore the rough deals that life had tossed his way. A chance to forget the injustice of it all. Yet it did nothing to help forget, nor to forgive.

Valsert slowly walked down the street near Bower Market, keeping an eye out for the criminal activity he was certain would be happening at any moment. The street was full of people bustling about, completely ignoring him. It was a solitude of multitudes, but the young man did not mind the lack of conversation. After all, it provided him a chance to think, and to remember back on the last few weeks, and how those choices would change his life forever.

----

Late Samheen / Early Yuleember

The war had been too short for his liking. Sure it was a dark event, with the loss of life bringing despair and chaos to all involved. However for him, at the time, it was the last chance to stand side by side with his brothers and sisters of the Purple Guard, at least partially sanctioned. It was not destined to last though. As with all wars, it was won or lost at a desk, paper and quill the weapons used to change the history of the world, and the lives of those involved.

With the end of the war, also came the end of Valserts false sense of normality. Once again he was faced with the reality that everything he held close was gone. As far as he could see there was nothing left for him in the Empire's capitol, nothing but regret, hate, and memories.

For some reason the idea of traveling to Trothgard came to him, perhaps his chance meeting with a young woman from that land had planted a seed in him. What ever the reason, the icy wasteland seemed, at least to him, to match his mood of solitude. Or perhaps he would travel to Dort, and seek enlistment with his new friends in the Sunfire Brigade. These were not new questions to him. Valsert had been mulling over his options sense the day the guard was disbanded. Mulling over the hate that he still held towards the gangs of the capitol, and over his mistrust of those whose heavy hand had ripped his life and the only family he had known, away. Now with it all taken from him again, and his thoughts fueled by his anger and his sense of loyalty to his friends, those alive and those who had died, his thoughts turned dark.

----

Late Yulember / Early Darkenry

There was much to be done in preparation for his plans, but time was one thing that Valsert had plenty of. Making a mental list of tasks that must be done, Valsert wasted no time in advancing them.
-
The first stop, and a stop that was made nearly daily, was at the Imperial Trading Guild Warehouse, where he knew he would find those of the Guard who would share the same loyalties and hates that he had. It was only there that he knew he would find the soldiers he would need. During his frequent visits, he gathered the names of those who were sure to stand with him, and to some extent those who may come to him once he had been shown to success.

It was not just the unemployed who he sought out on these visits, but friends of other Purple Guardsmen who had joined with the city watch, and even those who now wore the white of the Imperial Guard. He knew that they would need those friendships rekindled in order to have informants within.
-
Man power was one thing he needed, but even that need was dwarfed by the huge wall before him. The wall of money. He was calling on his friends in the purple guard to stand with him, but even they must eat and feed their familys.

Duke Erwin had always been someone that he would call ally, if not actually a friend. He was certainly a friend to the Purple Guard, and thus was on the top of Valserts list of loyalty. Thus it was greatly disturbing for him to find out about the Dukes plans to leave the capitol city behind, bringing one more blow to the nearly nonexistent Purple Guard.

Asking for money from a friend was never easy, but the meeting with Duke Erwin went well, despite it being hurried by Erwin’s need to depart, or so Valsert thought anyway. Yet in the end, it was less a victory for his goal, and more one of two friends parting ways for a time. It seemed that Duke Erwin's efforts were being directed toward his home. No long term funding would be found here, but perhaps as the idea settled on the Duke, he would come around to offering aid to start up the 'business'.

Although it seemed the Duke could not directly assist, there was one bit of assistance that the great man had provided to young Forell during that meeting.
-
Valsert carried the letter given him by Duke Erwin, and knocked on the door at the address provided. Then after a short wait, he came face to face with a man who would be a great asset, a mentor of sorts. Thomas Crane.

During the meeting Valsert laid out his plans, leaving out the bit that would have tied his ideas to the deeper workings of the Empires politics.

A war of sorts was brewing on the streets of the city. A war that could put a strangle hold on the cities crime rings, remove the corruption within the city guard, and rebuilt the trust of the people toward the Purple Guard.

"And Mr. Crane, at the very least this endeavor is going to reduce the profits of all who operate in the moving of 'goods' in our great city. It will happen with or without your aid. Paid or unpaid, my ranks will be full. What I offer you, is nearly full immunity from my work, in exchange for a leg up to provide my boys with a strong start. Your own profits will rise with the lack of competition.

In other words, I offer you a full alliance. Your knowledge and assistance, and my influence, swords...........and strongest of all, my people determination for revenge."

----

Valsert halted just outside of a small shop near the end of the street as three men in matching coats brushed past him into the building. With a smile, Val rolled up the sleeves of his shirt to reveal the purple fabric on the inside, loosened the scabbard guard at his hip, and followed them in.

"all in a days work"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

SKILLS

** - Persuade (Basic + **)
*** - Reconnaissance (Journeyman)
***** - New Skill - Streetwise (Basic)

[Danomel]

Time marches on with total disregard for the wants, needs, and desires of mere mortals. Such were the somewhat less than cheerful thoughts that seemed to occupy Danomels mind as of late. Somewhat surprisingly he found himself reflecting, brooding might be a better word, over many similar and equally melancholy thoughts. Such reflections were all the more disturbing, as their source was something of a mystery. His hope was that they were simply the result of a restless spirit, rather than portents of pending troubles. After all, life was good. So there should be nothing to brood about.

It wasn't that there hadn't been troubles, problems, and concerns. After all, the world tended to be a very turbulent place. There had been the war, the choosing of a new Caesar, along with a host of other incidents of varying degree. But for the most part, the problems of the world had been passing him by. Of course these feelings of pending trouble had absolutely nothing to do with any major life altering decisions he had made lately.

Once Danomel had actually made the decision to seek to become a priest of Aurelius, somewhat to his own surprise he had felt a strong sense of inner peace. He suspected he was probably still not used to the whole "doing it yourself" concept of the Aurelians, which meant he was pretty much on his own for this endeavor. Not that this was something new to him. Conversely the lack of anything resembling a structured organized process was something he did find attractive, if somewhat annoying at the same time. To this end, working in the Archives was a good thing. As it significantly increased the amount of effort he could dedicate to the task.

While there was a great deal of material written by Aurelians there was very little written, at least directly and in one place, about them. That is not to say there was a lack of information, rather it tended to be scattered, one might suspect almost purposely, through multiple references and sources. It was initially a slow process, tracking down scraps of information. However, as Samheen passed into Yulember, Danomel found these little nuggets of knowledge easier to find, partly because he was becoming more familiar with the Archives. But mostly it was acquiring and studying enough scraps and pieces, making the connections between them, and assembling an ever clearer picture of the whole.

Working in the Archives revealed other implications as well; like the fact that he needed to put forth some effort in better mastering some of the basic skills like literacy and math. It quickly became obvious that Danomel was somewhat behind most of the other people he dealt with in these areas. Though shear exposure, these abilities would increase, but it was better to put some effort into them. He quickly concluded that he would never be a scribe. While he could write out the letters and words, the best that could be said of heavy handed style was that it was legible. So it seemed that for the most part reading was going to have to be his forte in the literary world. On the other hand, he was finding math to be a pleasure. At least to his way of thinking, he found it a lot more orderly and logical than the endless anomalies that tended to crop up in the written word.

As absorbing as this routine was, it was also somewhat more sedentary than Danomel was used to. So whenever the urge for a change hit, he would seek out Gerrist who always seemed to be setting up some event for someone and could always use an extra set of hands. Good honest labor was always a nice break, and the extra coin it provided was always a help.

Danomel was glad to see Noland getting some well deserved recognition. Whatever else he was doing, he made time to visit him regularly. If only to remind Noland that in line with his philosophy of balance, he really needed to balance out his duties with getting away from the temple for some personal time every now and then. It was probably as much for himself as it was concern for Noland. Having been in the Citadel for some time now, there were surprisingly few people among Danomels acquaintances that he would call friend, Noland being one of them.

So it went, with his days far more structured, and seeming to pass far too quickly. Work, research, study, and lessons for morning tide and trade tide. Practice and reflection during evening tide. By the time Yulember had passed into Darkenry, Danomel was starting to feel a sense of growing frustration, in that while his goal was as clear as ever, the path to reaching it always seemed somewhat elusive and obscured.

When it came, around mid Chyril, it was such a quiet thing. No great revelations or life altering experiences. It came in the darkest hours of a sleepless night. Having never taken prayer seriously, Danomel felt nothing else left. He seemed to have reached either a turning point, or maybe a breaking point, he was never sure of which. So it was late grave tide, many a burn before the suns light would touch the sky, when he turned to prayer. Not an empty sort of ritualistic thing, not a hollow thing that one might rattle off in the heat of a moment, but something rather more intense. After some immeasurable time, frustration spent, staring into the quiet blackness of the night, he became aware of the presence. How long was it there, how long had he been unaware? At these thoughts, he felt a sense of amusement, and he had to laugh at himself. Then it was gone, but the touch still remained, lingered. Then, finally, untroubled sleep came.
[hr][/hr]
Literacy [Human] *
Maths **
Theology *
Manipulation of Energy: Sorcery *
Pray (new skill) *****

[Fauna Winthrope]

Excerpted from, The Sorceress Agenda: The Litigation of Miss Fauna Winthrope
-- Written by Professor Ventella of the University of Magick
-- The Library of the University of Magick

There is a war in each of us, a war between good and evil, a choice between two opposing sides and this war had been stirring since the dawn of time. Now, Miss Fauna Winthrope came to our University full of hope and innocence. It was her intentions to learn the craft of the Arcana and she was most diligent to learn all she could from us. Although her mind was flighty and her whimsical personalities were unfit for the rigorous and discipline of sorcery, she showed great progress and talent to the ways of Arcana. But everything changed when the deceased Professor Tarrant tainted her. Perhaps, of all the professors here in the University, I am the only one who could understand what befell our prodigal daughter. It was me who saw everything that had happened to her in the depthness of her mind, how her psyche was raped and ravaged, not only by Tarrant, but by the deceased Marius de Winter as well and it pains me to know that most of the professors here misunderstand her for she is only an innocent child gone astray. I can only pity Miss Winthrope who could have brought change and diversity in our Campus.

It was in the middle part of Samheen on the year 1224 AD that we noticed a great change in her. There always has been a deep thirst and hunger for arcane knowledge in her, an unquenchable thirst that only sorcery could provide and we commend her on that. That thirst, perchance, was her downfall. It was that hunger that took Tarrant to notice her. It saddens me to say that even in these great towers of learning, there exists factions of darkness and Professor Tarrant belonged to that faction. To save himself from being murdered by two of his students: The Warrior Sorcerers Ashtallion and Falco, he tore a small portion of his tainted essence and secretly buried it deep inside Miss Winthrope’s psyche, contaminating her and changing her, feeding her with dark emotions and hunger for power. Tarrant was most subtle, the taint of his essence slowly grew inside her mind like a malignant disease until his own essence could supercede her own and Miss Winthrope, innocent and inexperienced as she was, was profoundly succumbed to the new powers she had gained from that corruption. Alas, it was too late before we took notice of that unfortunate change in her and all I could do was quarantine and erect barriers to isolate the taint that was slowly taking over her. And I knew it would not be enough. Tarrant’s essence was so twistedly intertwined inside her psyche that my barriers would deteriorate given enough time or perhaps with her own force of willpower. But I am subtle too, for I have also painstakingly rend a piece of myself and placed it gently upon Miss Winthrope’s conscience, subtly letting it grow to offset the taint inside her mind, hoping that it could cure her. But we were greatly mistaken and Miss Winthrope, with all her cunnings or perhaps, driven by the taint that drove her, sought support from figures in the underworld, dark factions of the University of Magick and the Citadel Government. She sought connections with the Crime Lord, Michael Crane and the Major Domus, Andolin Azarinand there was also a hint of rumor that she had forged a secret alliance with the Noble Vizier, Nu’Phuat of the Amun Rah Embassy here in the Citadel, thus, forming and growing her dark and ambitious power.

The months of Yulember, Darkenry and Chyril 1224 AD brought great change for the dark enchantress. We could sense her powers were growing, but we could not, for certain, measure how far she had been succumbed to the taint inside her and I could only hope that the conscience I had waken inside her was moving as well, subtly, to balance the war within her. Rumors were the only news we could gather from Miss Winthrope’s progress outside the University of Magick. If Miss Winthrope basked in the limelight back in the month of Samheen, news of her were scarce on the following months, seemingly as if the shadows were hiding her. She appeared less and less in the forefront of things, appearing more and more in the background and complacent to weave her deceit within the confines of her own shadowy, tainted world. The War in Pan’s Isle was nothing to her; she seemed to have indifferently shrugged off the news and coldly continued her dark ambitions. Her role in the Palace Court of the Citadel took a great turn when her patron, Lord Andolin Azarin, was unanimously elected as Caesar. Her full support for him blossomed when His Imperial Majesty resumed her as his assistant, even giving her one of the chairs in the Imperial Advisory Council for Magical Affairs he had created, a seat she approved and wholeheartedly took. In that Council of Advisors for Magic, Miss Winthrope took great notice of a certain Lady Sezja and the Dark Enchantress knew in the deepest of her hearts, that the woman also possessed the craft for the Dark Arts. She watched the lady’s every move with envious eyes, fearing her to be a woman who could rival her in arcane and dark power. From Morningtide to the flickers of late Tratetide, her duty was to the Advisory Council of Magic and she experimented and studied, lived and breathed magic, bringing her studies to his Imperial Majesty’s perusal. She set up a laboratory inside the Court Palace, separate from the one she had hidden inside the Red Banner. She spent most her time locked inside her Palace laboratory, choosing to spend most of her time studying rather than socializing with the court politicians of the Palace yet still supporting and loyal to the Caesar, Andolin Azarin, advising him and counseling him if she was needed, though preferring to work in the background, hidden in the shadows, appearing less and less and complacent to observe from the shadows with her scrutinizing, cold eyes, garbed in her dark purple, tattered mages robe and silvery gleaming Staff of Myra. Her duties for the Lord Andolin Azarin sometimes took her to take actions in most covert manner, aiding the Caesar and dealing with sensitive situations for him – things that His Imperial Majesty simply could not openly become involved. Her studies and experiments encompassed from sorcery to arcane alchemy and she almost never seemed to openly show her dark prowess unless she had to. Her main study was the ancient power within the heart of the Citadel Palace, which she had stumbled upon when she had sent her shadow to look for the blind poet Elaine Bannon when the Daemon Changer abducted her. Miss Winthrope diligently studied the dormant ancient weave within the very depths of the Citadel Palace, sometimes, even asking for research materials from the Library of the University of Magick and even seeking help from the Imperial Thaumetergist, Simon Ginneke. All her reports and studies went to the Imperial Advisory of Magic, to the Imperial Caesar and even sending her thesis and reports to the University of Magick for review, perhaps, letting us know that she was still alive despite the scarcity of news we receive from her. Her connections with the Embassy of Amun Rah and with the Noble Vizier Nu’Phuat was still a secret, even to the Ceasar himself, though she gave Lord Azarin full knowledge and report of her movements and information concerning the Red Banner and Michael Crane.

In the flickers of Evetide, when time permitted her, she would assume her responsibility of Flora Missanthrope, the infamous, exotic and star dancer of the brothel under the stern management of Lady Tigre, Keaira Morgandy, the new Madam of the Red Banner. She continued her studies in the Dark Arts and her true dark experiments in the secret confines of her hidden laboratory inside the basement of the Red Banner. She further trained Keaira in the Arts of Mindcraft, honing both their powers. Such were the ambitions of Miss Winthrope and we in the University of Magick could only watch helplessly as her dark power grew under the tutelage of professor Baldeserrato and Professor Tara, the re-incarnated Professor Tarrant, knowing that far too many organizations, from both the government and the underworld protect her. The brothel became Miss Winthrope’s second home and she painstakingly and subtly weaved protections and wardings within and outside the edifice of the Red Banner and protected her laboratory inside with a series of deadly protections as well. The basement of the Red Banner became the second Basilisk Stare, a focal point for any kind of sorcery, assassination, murder, information gathering and a safe haven for any dark mages who would want to hide from the stern scrutiny of the University of Magick, a place to weave their sorcery, hiding it under the gaudy surface of the Red Banner's cabaret dancing and orgasmic sex. Furthermore, Miss Winthrope ruthlessly stump down all those who opposed Michael Crane with her arcane reach, she became his arcane weapon against his war with his father, Thomas Crane. With all the arrays of her sorcery, dark and blood rituals, necromancy, and mindcraft, the dark enchantress subtly paved the path for Michael Crane to assume the upper hand in the civil war he had with his father, becoming an asset he could never replace.

The University Council is fully aware of the danger Miss Winthrope could weave to the Citadel populace and even to herself. With her aptitude for the Arcana and the Dark Arts growing, we think it be best for us to take actions, but what actions could we take against one of our own, against our own prodigal daughter? She is gathering power for the sake of power and she will ruthlessly destroy anyone who will oppose her. The situation is worsening and we fear our need for intervention of Miss Wrinthope is growing more and more urgent.
[hr][/hr]
Blood Magick [Sorcery] – ***
Dark Emotion [Hatred] – **
Manipulation of Energy [Mindcraft] - ***
Knowledge [Magic] - **

[Andolin]

Andolin continued to scheme to get the nomination for Caesar, while studying with Sezja. In short time, he released her from prison and gave her quarters in the Citadel near him. Like Fauna, she became an advisor of his for magic. In fact, he established a Council of Advisors for Magic. During the long weeks, Andolin studied hard how to morph his body, with a view to change his facial features and limbs. As might be expected, the two became lovers. Andolin especially enjoyed Sezja's ability to morph her face and features to please him, and he could do likewise. In the heat of passion they were known not to just act like animals, but to morph their features to resemble animals, amid the passion. A strange but satisfying relationship was formed.

As for Fauna, Andolin let her make connections with the dark underworld of the Citadel and allowed her a small laboratory in the palace for her experiments. Her promise to him was to share all magical discoveries with him, and to spy on the underworld for him. When he was to become Caesar, he would need to either crush them, or bend them to his purpose.

Though eager to learn dark arts, Andolin is not evil, so he decided to temper his lessons with lessons from the kindly alchemist Amchi (Kitlanya's godfather). He had learned scrying from Kitya and Amchi, and he practiced the art by trying to spy on some of his friends and enemies in the Patrician's Circle. Amchi and Andolin spent long tides together discussing alchemy and wondering if there were ways to cure Kitya's insanity. Simon, the Imperial Thaumaturge was also included in Andolin's Council of Advisors on Magic. It helped that he had a seat on the Imperial Council, and Andolin knew the value of cultivating his vote.

A dark figure from his recent past, Lucinda Marcada arrived to threaten Andolin. Andolin had yet to learn that Sezja was also acting as a spy for Lucinda. She claimed to know the secret of Andolin's past, and the identity of his parents. Worse, she knew the location of Balik's tower. Lucinda was perturbed at the closing of the nether, for it has limited her dark arts. She is still a decent enough sorceress (as is her twin Eisolf), but she thirsts for more. Her new interest was in studying a new form of dark arts -- necromancy.

Knowing that she could only ask so much of the man who was to be Caesar, she told him her conditions. First, she suggested that Andolin marry her as one of his wives. She was quite the lovely thing after all, and they had shared a moment of passion at the Pan's Fest. Yet, Andolin refused. So, Lucinda settled for access to the Citadel library and the catacombs beneath it. Andolin gave Lucinda and Eisolf passes to use the library (telling himself that he would use Barrett to spy on their use of the library). As for the catacombs, he would allow them access, but he wanted Sezja present to witness everything. To this, Lucinda agreed.

Andolin told himself that he would be able to read Sezja's thoughts so that she would not betray him. Each time they meet for training, Andolin made Sezja drop her shields so that he might probe her mind for possible betrayal. Though Andolin is a good mentalist, he did not know that Sezja had created an inner shell in her mind where she could hide her darkest secrets from him. Andolin was only able to read surface and conscious thoughts, but not her inner most secrets. Andolin's paranoia tells him that she is hiding something, but he can't prove it. That is why he has Fauna watch her and Barrett watch the library.

Under cover of taking ill and being restricted to his bed for a week, Andolin, in disguise, set off for the Tower of Balik to learn what he could. The imps that guarded the tower were now weaker, but they made no move to stop him. In Balik's library, Andolin found the books of dark arts missing. When questioned, the imps admitted that Lucinda had arrived before him and taken them all.

Andolin attempted to summon Nimtola; but, the Rift was closed and she did not come. Using the golden key around his neck, he at last found the locked secret compartment of Balik. Even Lucinda did not have the power to break the seal on it. In it were papers that confirmed that Balik was indeed his father. There was a note to him explaining his birthright. Balik used an assumed last name, but in his papers explained more.

Balik was a desendant of a family known for great infamy in the Empire before the days of Liberation by Anochrim and the others. The House name was Sorenthis. Its members had sold their souls many times over to dark gods for access to secrets of all kinds. They intermarried and had a history of madness. It was in this madness that the members were most proud, for they claimed it gave them a vison of the world as it really was, free of illusion. Sadly, Balik confessed to his son that the family madness was rarely a gift.

Lucinda had told him that his mother was a servant girl of Xermetria. That is what was believed. Balik admitted that he bedded and impregnated the servant. Yet, his real mother was Balik's sister, Berlinda Sorenthis. Each had a boy around the same time. The servant, Darlise, was separated from her new born, that was sacrificed to the family dark god in return for hidden knowledge and Andolin was placed in her care. Berlinda had died in child birth. Balik, in his grief, had sent Andolin away with the servant to be cared for by Xermetria. When Andolin was older and his foster mother died, he was returned to Balik, who tutored him.

As for his amnesia, Balik had made the mistake of allowing Andolin to witness the summoning of a major daemon a few yahren earlier. Though the boy was shielded inside the pentagram, his mind was not mature enough to witness the horror that was summoned. It caused Andolin to live in fear. His every dream was haunted by views of the nether and voices from beyond calling to him. As an act of kindness, his father had a spell and potion worked to erase his recent memory. It worked, but it caused the boy to lose memory of everything before. In the papers, Balik counseled his son to never try and regain his memories, for fear that the dreams might return. Of course, it was possible that he would be old enough to ignore those fears now, his father still suggested that the memories lay dormant.

Andolin burned the papers and spread the ash so that none could find it. Still, in a world of magic and gods, what secret could ever be protected completely? He would have been better off not knowing. Now there was something else that could haunt him if discovered.

Inside the compartment was a short spell of summoning. It would summon the dark god of his ancestors. Though he learned the short verses, Andolin had no desire to evoke the dark one. He was not evil, he told himself, and had no need of gods any more. There were plenty of benevolent gods that would support him when he was Caesar. He could only hope that the dark god did not seek him out.

Once back at the palace, Andolin started working on his sword skill. To combat the image that he was some dark sorcerer, and to further enhance his image as a warrior, he needed to be better at defending himself in times of battle. It was also good for people to see him practicing with a sword. Also, now armed with knowledge that needed to be hidden even more deeply, Andolin worked with Amchi to strengthen his shields. He needed to defend against probing minds.

Now came Chyrill and Andolin had been awaiting his coronation. He had discussed with the Council and they had agreed that he could take more than one wife. He was posturing which wives to take and was visited by many who sought to introduce themselves. Erwin suggested he marry Scatha to appeal to the poor. Silk has offered one of his own creatures, who would be a spy in his bedchambers. So far, he has resisted.

Speaking of spies, Andolin's patron, Isis, insisted that he accept a gift of a pleasure slave from the Rafao. Not being in a position to decline, and knowing she would be a spy for Isis, Andolin graciously accepted the gift and plans to use her not only as a love slave, but also to watch Fauna and Sezja. His best defense is to use everyone to spy upon the other.

As a politician, Andolin played the moderate. Until the crown rested firmly on his head, he needed to be the great unifier. Thus, he minimized his contacts with Silk and Erwin, so as to not appear too beholden to either. Instead, he set himself about educating himself on each and every island in the Empire. He summoned representatives from each island to make presentations about the issues confronting them, and to make recommendations on how to solve the problems. One can never flatter someone more than showing a great deal of interest in their welfare and advice. He likewise catered to the representatives of the gods and the University of Magic. He needed the power of both to assist him. He tried to show no overt favortism for one god over another, but observers might speculate as to his affinity with Pan and perhaps Aurelius (as he was ever in pursuit of knowledge).

His relations towards Ulder have been polite but neutral. His attitude to his fiance, Elaine was far more friendly. He had offered her the opportunity to remain one of his advisors, for her powers to sense things within the Citadel was quite useful. However, given the awkwardness of her capture and escape, and his confrontations with her husband to be, he let the offer rest lightly in her hands. It was for her to decide. Barrett was likewise useful to him, and Andolin desired access to information as much as a drunk liked his wine. He did not trust anyone overmuch, but that did not stop Andolin from using them, and letting them use him.

So, as his coronation approaches, Andolin finds himself surrounded with spies, blackmailers, and potential blackmailers. He has few friends and a very dark past. Yet, he is to attain the throne of the Empire. Though it has been his goal, already he is seeing that things are never easy. He has promised to address the issue of crime in the Citadel. He has promised to use his alleged ties to World's Mouth to help achieve a more profitable peace. He has announced a desire to sponsor an Imperial University to teach subjects of higher learning in the Citadel (such as math, science, philosophy, history) and to sponsor boarding houses for the offspring of the gentry to learn court etiquette, public speaking, and good stewardship).

To the good, he has gained the ability to morph, has gained experience scrying with his crystal, has improved his swordplay. and his ability to shield. To the bad, he is being blackmailed by Lucinda. She is growing more powerful with her research. Isis has placed a spy with him. He is sure Silk has a spy, or many.

Swords + ****
Shielding + ****
Public speaking + **

[Grey Wolf]

Many have said that it was diplomacy that have secured the seat of Caesar for Andolin Azarin, but the truth was that was only a part of the truth. In the end it had been a trade that secured the votes necessary for him to win the elections, though admittedly Erwin merely have cut his losses over the subject. From eleven his votes jumped to eighteen in the space of two days and the decision was made on who would be the new ruler of the Empire. The coronation was scheduled to wait for the spring to symbolize the rebirth of the Empire and its power.

With Barrett away for the foreseeable future, the ex-Major Domos and the present Caesar was forced to rely on his trust in Sezja and Lucienda and to hope that they would not discover anything damaging in the archives. With the new power vested in him the creation of the Council of Advisors for Magick lay fully in his hands, though the University had been sending requests for one of their Staff to be included as well. The Temples have been strangely quiet though rumors told that they were waiting for the new Caesar to offer them a seat on the new Council instead of asking for it like the University had.

Silk approached the new Caesar as well, and reminded him of the deal they have made before the actual vote took place. With the disappearance of Manyana the Empire was in need of a new Scout Master and the old fox all but hinted that he would be the perfect man for the post. What he did not know was that a small package had found its way to the new Caesar's possession, containing a similar set of papers to the ones Silk secured from him. Magisters of the World's Mouth sent their regard along with the solid proof of his noble heritage. A birth certificate along with several letters from late Marquis Azarin to his sister congratulating her on the birth of her firstborn. A son named Andolin.

Another problem emerged with Lucienda's threats once more becoming less subtle when Mistress Tabeann of the Imperial Archives forbid her the access to the vault that held the most secret tomes. The old adhiel archivist refused to budge, stating that the only way to access those tomes would be under her supervision and with the Caesar's direct permission, with each visit and each tome requiring a new permit. An old law put down by Lagnora Tal Alkeen herself was produced as a proof of her claims, the law clearly stating that only Caesar, Master Archivist and Imperial Thaumaturge had the permission to access those tomes.

The peace negotiations have been swift and lively, with both sides The Empire and the Mouth trading favors, leaving the Western Kingdom to pay the price for most of their demands. Sir Hagen never interfered with Rosalie's efforts, kept in the dark by her manipulations and by the rumors the Condotierre spread around the compound under the direction of Antoine Ciccone. The man, while not quite the fan of Madam Consul, served the Mouth admirably.

It was perhaps her arrogance that cost her the lives of two Condotierre legionaires in the end. During the move of the Mouthie contingent from the Embassy the two soldiers sent to retrieve the archive had been carried away by Madam Consul's confidence and in the confrontation that ensued swords were drawn. The lightly armer and armored soldier of the air legion had not chance of winning against the four guard of the archives. The entire archive was thus left in the hands of the Western Embassy with Sir Hagen himself assigning extra security to the doors. However, thanks to that incident the rest of the transfer went without a problem and the entire Mouthie contingent was allowed to leave and take their belongings with them.

The house they were awarded was the former Redault residence, Lord Aldric selling the house after the dreadful incident in which his daughter slaughtered the entire household in a delusion that a blood sacrifice will restore her to her true demon form. Once all the traps she had place about the house have been removed and the bodies and the blood moved out of the way the mansion was offered for sale. With a little refurbishing it was perfect for the Embassy. New furniture was of course necessary as well as a construction of barracks for the Condotierre unit charged with security. The wall, that was a mere two feet tall was erected to fully shield the compound within and the new gate was installed that allowed the coached to pass through.

What deal Severo struck with both Baron Marcada and Thomas Crane were a secret to Rosalie, but from time to time men from Mouth would come to the Embassy to seek legal or diplomatic help from its staff and some of them delivered personal letters from Madam Ambassador's father. As the news of the crime war in the Citadel began to spread the visits grew less common, but when they came the men always moved in groups and asked to be allowed to stay at the Embassy barracks. Baron often came to the Embassy as well, using the diplomatic channels and connections of his wife to be for his negotiations and deals whenever he dealt with the Mouth. He often inquired with Rosalie of the way the Mouth was run as well as revealing the way Trade Guild worked, his efforts directed on securing the lucrative trade of the Aveas coffee for his organization. The costs of transporting it directly from the former Pan's Isle to the buyers within the Empire were far less than transporting it from the Mouth once it had been taken there from the new colony. He also suggested to her that she ought to inquire about the means by which the Trade Guild might order an airship from the Mouth. Something akin to Madrigal that had visited the Citadel not so long ago.

Her efforts at promoting Audrey and her creations were rewarded by the famed seamstress. With her dresses even more sought after that before she expanded her business hiring several assistants. It also enabled her to cater more personally to the wishes of her more famous customers, and she started making house calls for measuring and design making. There was talk that she was seeking to open a shop in the Mouth as well, though until she could find a suitable apprentice that would be creative enough to deserve to represent Audrey in the Mouth such notions remained in the domain of plans.

The investigation of the Kaspar Verducci's murder revealed nothing about the identity of the assassin who sought to kill Madam Ambassador, and the Sergeant was buried with full military honors after his body was taken back to the Mouth. Corporal Antoine left to see his best friend to his final resting place and never came back. Only days later would the reports reach the new Madam Ambassador that he had switched sides and was now working for the new Western Ambassador Frederic Hagen.

Cooped up within the University as they were, Ashatlion and Alustriel were spared the worst consequence of the rumors coming from their home island. People heard of them and of the incidents that have sparked off the hostilities. It brought them both good and bad fortunes, with the Kislovan Embassy staff accepting them and even inviting them to formal dinners from time to time. While there was no open hostility towards them like in Kislovan, they gained the reputation as those who were the last drops that overflowed the glass of rebellion. With their Embassy connections through Lady Meira Duedhal and Lord Tamriel Anghiril the pair found it easy to move about higher circles of society though the hushed whispers followed them whenever they showed their faces in public.

Aeris' explorations yielded no great discoveries or dark secrets, though she grew more comfortable with her forms and learned to hide her nature better from the always curious humans leaving about her. Professor Ventella spent many sleepless nights tutoring her in the art of energy manipulation and sorcery, and often the pair would discuss the girl's nature in the privacy of his study. He urged her to exercise greater caution and not to allow others to learn of her true nature lest she risk becoming a prisoner of some power hungry mage who got ahold of her feather cloak. Her work at the library took her only a few marks every other night, leaving the rest of the time for her to spend as she pleased.

Corbin discovered that reputation indeed had its merits, though it also had its drawbacks as well. It was the man who bought him the drinks, but they also muttered behind his back when he passed, though the smiles greeted him when he looked at those whispering behind him. The girls on the other hand were less jealous and more eager to seek out the young man's company, every evening at the Burpin Dragon seeing a new argument between Yosie and Beatrice over which girl would serve the young and handsome hero. On a rare occasion that Red visited the inn the pair stayed away, knowing better than to meddle in the red clad girl's affairs.

Not all was well for Corbin as in the first week of Chyril a new murder of the infamous Slayer took place. While the authorities denied any link between the last two murders and the old Slayer, the pattern and marks on the bodies have been remarkably similar to those from before. Again it was mostly the foreign girls and again they were all terribly mutilated and dumped in the harbor. It was Red that approached the young mage with an offer. She heard that he was involved in the capture of the original Slayer and she offered him a reward of ten gold crowns if he made sure this one stopped his murders too. The way in which this was accomplished did not concern her at all.

It was more luck than any skill that landed Anora the contents of Christopher Crane's purse, when she stumbled into the drunken man on his way out of the Dragon. It was the good mood of Red that saved her life and landed her employment with the Crane crime syndicate. The red clad women did not ask for much from the young thief, just that she keep her eyes and ears open and that she give a percentage of her finds to the family. For that she got their protection and a place to fence her stolen goods. She was introduced to Hadvin of the Hadvin's Oddities, the strange man's shop being a place where she could come and pawn her stolen goods.

The bad side of it all was that she landed smack in the middle of the crime war that raged over the Citadel, with her side being the losing one. With William dead and his men being targeted all over the city, Thomas Crane moved shop and transferred his family to Hafne running the organization from the safety of that town. Though the forces arrayed against the Crane and his organization were overwhelming her still managed to hold on and even fight back on rare occasions, the rumors going that infamous Simaldi of the World's Mouth was in league with old Tom. For those who lived on the street it was not so hard to believe that since men with foreign accent often came and did small jobs for Crane here and there, fading as soon as the deal was done.

The rebuilding of the Temple was not an easy task and Vanir and Fialessa found that it consumed most of their time. The actual rebuilding of the physical damage was not the problem. The people have lost their faith in the Horned One and his followers and it was the rebuilding of that faith and Pan's reputation that took so much time. While the Duke had given away money rather freely, even he did not have the amount of money they needed to change the view people had of Panlings as decadent and lazy men and women who cared about nothing other than themselves.

Their care of the poor and refugees helped their image somewhat, but Pan's Isle was rather underpopulated when the invasion began and thus there were not many people who could be turned into refugees. An unexpected help came from the Gulandur adhiel, whose staff spread the tales of the fighting on the Pan's Isle and of how the Panlings gave their lives for their homes, fighting side by side with the dark adhiel and the troops Duke Erwin had sent to their aid. The end of war did not see return of Eilish, though people said she lived still, but refused to leave the island in Oneist hands and still fought against the invaders with a small group of like minded individuals.

Fialessa did receive some good news near the end of Darkenry. Her brother had managed to locate their parents and the trio had left the Pan's Isle leaving to settle in Kislovan, promising to let her know when they settled down there. The girls of the Banner were not the most eager of students and while they did not complain too much when Keaira was around, Fia learned a lot more than she intended. Of the proprietor of the brothel Michael Crane and his harsh ways. Of how even the new Madam was raped by one of his thugs on the day when she got the position after the old madame was found with her throat slit on Fauna's bed. She learned also that many of the girls did not want to work there, but had no other choice, their fear of Michael keeping them there.

With his reputation and connections it was quite easy for Valsert to make his dream come true. Though most of the old Purples did not wish to join his new organization there were those, like himself that still ached over what had happened to the old guard and refused to let go of the vengeance. He started small with no more than a dozen people, but over time his ranks swelled. Not all of those who offered to join were of the old guard and it was up to the leader of newly formed group to accept and refuse those whose service were offered. While not all joined, many were willing to help in small ways, with tidbits of information they picked along the way and by offering their homes as safe havens when the City Guard looked unfavorably on some of their practices.

It had been the Sergeant and his men that had helped the Crane Syndicate immensely in the coming month of the crime wars. With the knowledge that Valsert and his lads were pinning at least a part of his enemy's funds Crane was able to fight back more effectively. From time to time the former Sergeant even received anonymous tips of the scheduled shipments and cargoes allowing him and his men to intercept them and do with the illicit goods as they please. It was no all a walk in the park however, as the focus of Crane's enemies was slowly shifting away from the old crimelord and on the new thorn in their side. People were asking questions about this new threat and were willing to pay big money for the identities of these new crime fighters. It was only a matter of time before someone decided that money offered was too good to pass.

Danomel found himself quickly falling into routine. The work at the Archives was easy and quite interesting at times, his access to the countless tomes and records being a fine side benefit to his work. He was also a witness to a pair of people coming almost daily to the Archives and pouring over the texts on magick and history. Brother and sister by the name of Marcada. It was the sister who was the more vocal one, demanding instead of asking and trying to order the Archive staff around. The brother was much more subtle in his dealings and while he did not try to calm his sister down it was quite obvious that he did not approve of her ways. It was Lucienda Marcada that threw a regular fit, tipping over a bookcase when Mistress Tabeann refused to allow them access into the Archive Vault where the most sensitive tomes were being kept. Apparently only she, Caesar and Imperial Thaumaturgist were allowed access there and these two were not. Threats were exchanged, the situation almost erupting into violence, but it went no further than that.

The Banner thriwed under Fauna's and Keaira's firm hands, the common brothel turning into something different. Michael was busy waging a war against his father, and thus the girls were allowed to run amok in the brothel, spending rather lavish amounts of money on new furniture and tutors for the girls. Fauna was allowed to run relatively free by the Caesar as well, though she found a shaky ally at best in his other advisor Sezja. The other woman's magickal skills were not nearly a match of her own, but she met the new ruler of the Empire much more often than Fauna did and rumors were abound of how she even shared the handsome man's bed.

The shadow war went relatively well, though despite Michael's best efforts he was unable to fully squash his father's agents in the city. The old man was receiving help from somewhere else and in Hafne he was safely out of Michael's reach. The already violent man's temper grew even worse, and while he did not request the sorceress' services as a bed companion anymore, he was never in a particularly good mood. While the University made no further attempts to contain her, she was banned from the University grounds, and even as Caesar Andolin would be powerless to save her should she venture and be apprehended there. Of her connection with Amun Rah very little benefit was had, apart from regular payments finding their way to her hands, each purse containing a small message from the Grand Vizier wishing her good fortune in her endeavors. He asked for nothing in return, or at least he did not so far.



OOC: Ceris and Alustriel still have one skill start left. Please read the Award Start Rules in the Banter and follow them. You can only assign up to 4 stars per skill. No more.

Fialessa. I have taken off a star from Yoga and put it into Seduction/Woo since you had only three stars in that and needed two instead of one to raise it to next level.

Valsert you have one more skill star since you can not raise the skill past Apprentice+****. Think of where you want to put it.

[Aeris Mourir]

Whether it was demons, spirits, or humans Aeris always found herself in trouble. She had participated in killing a powerful creature known as The Changer, and for that she felt that she had helped in the best way she could. This particular woman was a being of lore and power, and no one knew what she was capable of, not even the woman herself.

Over the next several days, Aeris had been scolded by her queen and locked inside her room as a punishment for not presenting herself at a meeting. Isis, Queen of Amun Rah, knew that Aeris loved the outdoors and just enjoyed being in the warm sun or basking in the moon light. Whatever the case may be, the pen knew that she wasn’t getting out of newly found servitude, and that’s not what Aeris had been considering it.

The torture started on the second day of her being banned to her chambers. The food that had been served to her at first was plentiful and luscious but soon, it had swiftly turned into dry and undesirable fuel for her body. She wasn’t pleased about the outcome of the turn of events, and she wondered if she had made the right choice about coming to this rocky haven. It was a trying question and she contemplated it during the time she was completely alone, and one day she had cast her decision.

After her meal had been delivered to her, Aeris went to the window and opened it wide. She grabbed her mantle and spun it around her body like a cloak, but unlike the heavy garment, the manteau veren was as light as a feather and it molded to her body almost instantly. Once she was comfortable enough to walk, in her swan form, she fluttered up to the window sill and looked out.

Heart, don't fail me now. Courage, don't desert me. Don't turn back now that we're here. People always say life is full of choices but, no one ever mentions fear. Or how a road can seem so long, how the world can seem so vast. Courage see me through, heart I'm trusting you.

Somewhere down this road I know someone's waiting, and years of dreams just can't be wrong. Arms will open wide I'll be safe and wanted, finally. Starting here, my life begins, starting now, I'm learning fast. Courage see me through Heart I'm trusting you.

Home, Love, Family. There was once a time I must have had them too. Home, Love, Family.

One step at a time, one hope, then another. Who knows where this road may go. Back to who I was? On to find my future? Things my heart still needs to know? Yes, let this be a sign. Let this road be mine. Courage see me through, heart… I'm trusting you.

And with that, she dove off the ledge. She burned what bridges she still had with Isis, and no she was on her own. Aeris had no one to go to in the Citadel, other than maybe Barrett, or Elvin – neither people she wanted to put in danger. The pen had been flying for a few moments and considered Ashari. Yes, Ashari will help me, the maiden knew. What she also knew that she couldn’t be seen within the city, or Isis would come… or worse.

The lost creature kept to the alleys, staying in the darkness. Her stomach growled from the lack of nutrition, and her throat was parched. She had been digging into people’s trash, and dumpsters from the area, simply to stay alive. This went on for several weeks, and it wasn’t too far into her journey that her pure white coat near her face and lower body had become black with dirt and debris. The feathers themselves were matted down, and crumpled; however, other spots had thinned out considerably.

Aeris was dying. Without the life of water, she would not be able to resist death, nor would she be able to carry out her parent’s will. Food was limited and something more precious, water, was sparse and she wondered if she was going to make it through. She ventured into countless back streets and dark and lonely places to rest for just a little while. The swan sat to take a break in a nook that had been removed from a building in a caliginous lane and was ready to die. Her body was at the last of its miracles and so she sat and waited for the rats. Someone was walking down the alley and her eyes opened once more from her sunken skull. Aeris had nearly blended into void of the wall, and so the person walked completely past her. That aura, the magical being knew it anywhere. The swan tried to squawk but, her throat was too dry. She tried to move and her body wouldn’t give to her command. Tears, that she never knew she possessed welled in her eyes. It wasn’t until her last attempt to gain some attention that she blew away her own mental shields and cloaks. The foot steps stopped, and soon enough a familiar face was looking back at hers.

Ashari took the bird back to the Rose Guild and nursed her back to health. Once Aeris had made her full recovery, she began instruction at the Rose Guild, her new home.

Skills:

Flight-SwanMaiden [Aerobatics] ~ Apprentice+* /+*
Manipulation of Energy: Sorcery ~ Basic+*** /+**
Pray ~ Basic+** /+***
Resolve ~ Basic /+****

OOC: Song lyrics from Anastasia.

[Ulder]

Samheen

Losing the election was a difficult and depressing thing at first. It was very difficult to imagine going through the past few weeks of bloodshed and struggle and get to a place where hope for the future was at last gained, only to have it snatched away with yet another defeat. With the nomination to the seat of Caesar, he and Elaine had hoped they could truly help all the people of the Empire, but losing the election tore that away and now that dream was gone. It seemed to make the difficult weeks of the past even more gloomy and sad, and a palpable sense of defeat and despair lingered over him. Elaine was his greatest healer, and it wasn’t long before her support and Ulder’s pragmatic ways began to tell him that it was perhaps a blessing in disguise. Ulder began to see and understand how free he truly was now. He was free to live a simple and quiet life with Elaine, and he was now unfettered with any responsibilities to the Empire.

The days after the engagement were busy ones. Their passage was booked to first visit his family In king's Court to introduce Elaine to them. His father, ever the gruff and somber sort, was at first shocked that his youngest son was engaged to be married, but after a few days with the young woman, he opened up to her and soon was doting on her as much as any of his own daughters, which was considerable. Ulder’s mother was a less serious, warmer person who seemed to initially be awkward and uncomfortable around Elaine because of her blindness, but to her credit and after some long talks, accepted the woman as someone she could grow to know and love.

Shortly after their arrival, Ulder was absolutely devastated when his mother and father told him that two of his brothers had been killed in the war on Pan’s Isle. There was a great deal of grief and mourning, over hearing the tragic news and this sent him into a long and dark depression that lasted much of the bitter winter. Overcome with grief and anguish, he felt guilty for leaving them to their fate without standing at their side. He felt guilty that the men and women of the Purple Guard had been more important to him than his own brothers. He felt guilty that the last words he ever spoke to his oldest brother were ones of hate and anger. Elaine shared the depths of his pain and sadness and helped him through those toughest days and talk of weddings and preparations was a welcome relief from the misery and sadness that permeated the Synkaaros farm.

Ulder’s sisters took Elaine in immediately and began to share Ulder’s childhood secrets with her right away. They told Elaine of his riding off into the wilderness alone when he was upset, and how his sister Serah would always have to go out and look for him and bring him home again. They told her of the times when the oldest brother Jerran would hold him down in the horse trough and make him cry, and they told him of how the only thing that would bring a smile to his solemn little face were the songs that Serah played on her flute. They even told Elaine of the little dog he once fed scraps to. This was all behind Ulder’s back and unknown to him of course, whenever he came too near they would suddenly speak about needlepoint, or the weather, or Serah would play her flute and they would all sit and pretend to listen. Elaine became another confidant in their world, and they openly shared their thoughts and feelings with her as if she had been a sister all along.

To pass the time and to distract him from the pain and grief, Ulder took Elaine to the Laughing Kings tavern, where he once worked as a stable boy, as well as showing her all the places he talked about in quiet moments at night. He shared his own memories, and those were quite quite different than those his sisters hoarded.

Saying goodbye to his family once more was difficult. After the changes that impacted their lives so much, he felt that he had reconnected with them once more. Invitations to the wedding were given, and he hoped he would see them again soon. At the very end, he said goodbye to his father. Kercher Synkaaros had never understood his son, they had never seen eye to eye. But at the very end of their time together, there was respect and acceptance if nothing else. Ulder did something he had never done before, and that was shake his father's hand.


Yulember

After their visit to his own home and family, they then journeyed to World’s Mouth and Ulder formally asked Nathan Bannon for his niece’s hand in marriage. With the acceptance there came more celebration and merriment. Like in King’s Court, there were many introductions to both family and old friends, as well as getting to know the life of the other before they met. Ulder became close friends with Elaine’s cousin Jonah. They went out hunting together in the winter snows and Jonah tutored Ulder on the use of his bow, and Ulder would teach Jonah swordplay as the sun went down each night. For Ulder, it was a chance to have another brotherly relationship while still mourning the ones he had lost. He was very grateful to Jonah for his fellowship. The time spent in this fashion reminded Ulder of sparring with his men in the Purple Guard and helped to heal the recent losses of his life. When they returned to the Citadel at the end of the month, the winter had still trapped his mirth, and he struggled to smile.

Darkenry

The cold winter brought Ulder to a crossroads. He often spent tides off alone on the island. The former Captain spent this time communing with his own spirit and his unheard conversations with the Gods were his and his alone. He would always return to Elaine every night and tell her of the many things he was dealing with, and the many struggles of his conscience. There was a re-forging of his soul and a re-kindling of his spirit in his relative solitude. He felt broken and twisted on the inside, and remaking himself was something that he felt compelled to work on as he knew he couldn’t go into a life with Elaine feeling tattered and threadbare as he did. It took the better part of the month to gather himself together before he began to feel whole and complete once more. One of his greatest struggles was letting go of all of the ghosts of his past, and once he reached a place of relative peace within, he began to work on where his focus was each day, and what he wanted to do with his future. He left most of the plans open ended, to be resolved after the wedding, and as the seasons changed to spring, his thoughts turned to focus strictly on the wedding and the future.

Chyril

After his inner rebirth, the wedding plans were the focus of the weeks leading up to the wedding. Ulder made certain that the invitations were properly delivered and it brought him some measure of comfort to journey out into the city to speak with friends once again as part of his renewal. The Citadel was their home, and although they frequently talked of horses and quieter places, they felt that they were going to stay in the city for the foreseeable future. It was the wedding and his life with Elaine that bore the brunt of his concentration now, and where there once were dark and melancholy thoughts and feeling broken and battered, there was now a sense of hope once again. His inner demons were now conquered, just as he had done with the Changer.


Skill advances

New Skill - Teach Swordsmanship – Basic
Inner Calm - + **** to Apprentice
Long Bow - +*

[Keaira Morgandy]

Samheen

It was on Samheen 29th that Keaira discovered the dark fury and passion within her, naming that side of herself Tigre and taking it as her stage name at the Red Banner. Charlotte the Harlot was murdered on that same night, her body discovered in Fauna Winthrope’s bed. Keaira became Madame Tigre, suggested by Fauna and promoted by Michael Crane. Wasting no time, Keaira immediately asked him for funding to redecorate the Banner and hire a body guard, both of which she felt were absolutely necessary.

The next day, Keaira sought Fauna out and the two made a blood pact in the Ha’penny Mermaid to act as allies: Fauna would teach Keaira mindcrafting as best she could, and Keaira would be her eyes and ears in the Banner. In addition, it was agreed that Keros Silverflame would play a part in their scheming if he proved useful, for Keaira had caught and held his interest.

Keaira’s first mindcrafting lesson in the Ha’ Penny brought her face-to-face (sort of) with the dark part of Fauna’s mind, and she learned to tap into her hatred and use it for power. The experience both frightened and angered her, however, for Keaira had been unable to control the emotion and had lashed out, causing quite a commotion. This left her wary of the woman and reluctant to practice with Fauna again for some time, despite her thirst for power.

That evening Keaira attended the Dort Embassy party as Fauna’s escort, though the two split up immediately upon entrance. Keaira sought out Professor Moore and proceeded to tell him about the two women battling for control in Fauna’s mind, hoping either for advice on how to deal with her or something more. Deciding it best to have a spy for the University watching the woman, Moore suggested that Keaira should have the honors, offering her both money and magic lessons to simply keep an eye on Fauna. His down payment to her was a ring enchanted with a protection spell, which she placed on her right ring finger.

As a result of the disturbing occurrence of Charlotte’s death, Fauna placed several protective spells on the Banner, using whatever means necessary to ensure their safety. Keaira moved into the Banner as well, having previously been staying at the Burpin’ Dragon, and took two rooms: one being Charlotte’s old room, and the other, a secret room down in the basement, near Fauna’s. She used the latter one for practical things such as studying and sleeping, for she felt much safer near the enchantress. The former was used to entertain customers.

Keaira also made good on her plan to hire some protection, and employed a half-giantess named Neit Akil, who arrived in the Citadel toward the end of Samheen looking for a job. It was too good to pass up: Neit seemed delightfully dim-witted, which would make her easy to deal with and not at all a threat to the complicated web of deception that she and Fauna were weaving together and individually. It was also a bonus that she was a woman, for Keaira had had little doubt that a male unable to touch what he could see would not last long in the Banner – the bartender, Adam, managed only because he was a eunuch. At night, Neit was posted next to the main entrance of the Banner, to serve as a reminder to the men that Keaira frowned upon mistreatment of the girls (unless she or they otherwise agreed on it) and as a safeguard against anyone who might come after herself or Fauna. She was also given a smaller yet comfortably furnished room in the basement next to Keaira’s.

The rest of Samheen was spent redecorating the Banner. The gaudiness of the taproom, while not apparent to some, was painfully obvious to Keaira. The plain velvets and silks were removed, replaced by darker, richer, and thicker fabrics bearing the patterns of roses and elegant, curling designs. This replaced the overdone and falsely wealthy appearance with a rich and sensual ambiance, while still maintaining the usefulness of muffling sounds. The stage that had been set up expressly so that Fauna could perform on the 29th was made more sturdy and became a permanent feature of the taproom, covered by a layer of black velvet. Four smooth pillars of a small circumference were also added to each corner of the stage, gauzy red fabric draped across them and left open on the sides like doorways. Large, soft pillows were scattered across the stage so that when it was not being used for performances it could still be used as a lounge, and the girls of the banner were instructed to lay upon it together when they weren’t with customers. No doubt the sight of so many women lying together would increase the appetites of those who entered, and it would be easier for the girls to work together. They would also feel more comfortable and perhaps pampered, which might encourage them to work better. The tables and chairs were removed, replaced by a few large, comfortable chairs that could easily fit two people. The booths were obscured by fabrics that could be pulled shut, for privacy. The barstool cushions were also replaced by black velvet, to match the atmosphere.

Yulember and Darkenry

During this time, Keaira finished the redesign of the Banner and became more familiar with her duties as Madame. She came to know the customers better: how they handled her girls, how they liked their sex, when they came to the Banner, et cetera. Though naturally cold and uncaring, Keaira worked hard to portray herself as something of an older sister to the girls, even if she was younger than they. She sweet-talked them and treated them well as long as they worked and followed her instructions, often gifting them with simple niceties like perfume and lotions when they were especially good – though if they misbehaved in any way, her wrath was cruel and merciless, and she was known to give them to customers were sure to treat them harshly. She hoped to gain their respect more than their love, or even just make them want her little gifts, so that they would work harder for Michael and she would look better in his eyes.

Things were not all fun and games, however. Though Keaira longed to kill Mike, the bastard whom had practically raped her before the party at the Banner, she was unable to. Michael told her that she was to continue making him happy, and she was forced to cater to his disgusting wishes. Many times she found herself the victim of his desires, left sore physically and emotionally from his ill treatment. This fueled her hatred for Mike, which grew and blossomed as a blackness within her. She ached for his death, watching him bleed to death at her feet in her favorite dreams, waking up with a smile on her lips to the fading sound of his pleas for mercy and searching for the scent of his blood. Each time she was disappointed her hatred rooted itself deeper, and she vowed he would die by her hands.

As for Michael himself, she appeared completely loyal and dutiful, submitting herself to his will without question. Though she certainly did not love him – if she was even capable of the emotion at all – she went out of her way to be useful to him. Keaira was also careful not to act as if she was an ally of Fauna’s, though there would certainly be other means of finding this out. Michael was not gentle with her; but then, he was not gentle with anyone. More than once their personalities clashed, and it usually ended up with Michael taking his anger out on Keaira’s body. She suffered many sore nights and weary days at his hands, but comforted herself with the thought that she was moving up in the world, and that some day Michael would be taken care of as well.

Keaira enhanced her mindcrafting on her own whenever she had the time, too busy (and not yet ready) to take the time to sit down with Fauna for another lesson. Truth be told, the Dark Lady within Fauna had managed to make Keaira quite uncomfortable; the lesson of control was one that she struggled to teach herself through practice, rather than return to Fauna’s labyrinthine mind. Despite that, she’d learned from Fauna about the circumstances of Charlotte’s death, and Keaira was all too aware of the fact that if Thomas Crane was willing to murder the previous Madame, he would be willing to have her killed too. He had already left the Citadel – were it not for that fact, Keaira and Fauna would have already gone to knock on his door and offer to be his spies. After all, he was more powerful than Michael was. As it were, Keaira was instead simply careful to keep her dagger on her person at all times, and enhanced her skill at mindcrafting as much as she could on her own. Perhaps, if the time came, she would be able to save herself.

Though Keros Silverflame was yet to prove especially useful, Keaira found herself concerned about his motives. He visited often to speak with one of the girls – Evie – and brought along a woman she came to know as Claire more than once. Keaira cared little for Evie or Claire, but Keros was sticking his nose in where it didn’t belong. More than once he was caught prying, asking questions and snooping about dangerously close to Michael’s territory. She warned him more than once that he was going to get himself hurt if he didn’t back off, though she didn’t tell him why – or that she might be the one to do it. After all, it was her responsibility to keep Michael safe, whether she liked the man or not. Keaira was careful not to let him learn much about her, so that she remained a mystery, teasing him endlessly when he visited. She would brush up against him “accidentally,” practicing her more sensual dances upon the stage so that he could see her body moving rhythmically. More than once she worked him into a frenzy, acting as if she intended to bed him, before she would then leave him wanting, supposedly to attend to business. It was a fun game, and one she took the time to enjoy.

Chyril

It was in the beginning of Chyril that Keaira came up with the idea to turn the Red Banner into a place of entertainment every 10th evening of each month. She managed to convince Michael that she could increase the patronage to the Banner – thusly making him more money, attracting more customers, and increasing his power – if he would give her the money to buy the girls new outfits and hire someone to teach them to dance. After some inquiries, Keaira heard of a Panling named Fialessa Valenstri who performed sometimes at the Burpin’ Dragon. Upon seeing the woman dance, she hired Fia to train the girls of the Banner not to be so clumsy on their feet (for she and Fauna had more important things to do), and to dance with herself and Fauna on those nights when they gave performances. The gaudy outfits that the other girls had worn were replaced with simple yet elegant and sensual designs by Audrey herself, and Keaira also purchased an outfit to wear when she danced, since Fia and Fauna both had special dresses. She even gave a small sum of money to Adam, instructing him to purchase whatever niceties he wanted for the bar.

A grand opening of the “new” Red Banner was just the thing needed to attract new, perhaps wealthier customers, and invitations were paid for and sent all over, from World’s Mouth to Pan’s Island. The date was set for the 22nd of Chyril, and it was agreed that after the performances were over there would be a bid for the performers. Keaira, Fauna, and Fialessa would each be presented individually, and the customers would be allowed to bid to spend the evening with them. It was specified that this would not involve any sensual acts unless otherwise agreed on by both parties at an additional cost.

Throughout all of this, Keaira was struggling. The Dark Arts had given her a taste of the power she sought, and she both desired and feared it. Though it was likely that the fear would dissipate once she learned to control her power, she was reluctant to return to Fauna’s mind. She herself was cold and uncaring, it was true. The idea of using someone for personal gain, or killing someone who angered her, didn’t phase her at all. But the darkness within Fauna was something worse – something harsher, and stronger, and more cruel. Having always been proud of the fact that ultimately she answered only to herself, the idea of being consumed by such a darkness left her reluctant and wary. She prayed often to Pan for guidance, for he had saved and aided her in Samheen at her request, causing her to become keenly aware of the fact that he was not just a symbol, but her god. Eventually, she decided that she would enter Fauna’s mind again while she slept to speak with the Dark Lady and learn the next lesson.

The Tigre within her stirred restless and eager, growing stronger with each passing day.

[hr][/hr]

New Skill – Resolve
Seduction/Woo – *
Manipulation of Energy: Mindcraft – **
Dark Emotion [Hatred] – **

[Barrett]

Excerpts from One Thinker's Path, Meditations on the Life and Times of a Most Unconventional Thinker

****************************************************
Return to the Oracle

Yet even after The Demon Changer was vanquished, there was no rest for the Querist or his allies. For the forces of the West were mounting more open attacks in the name of their One God. Indeed, the Demons were only a minor threat compared to the powerhungry Dominicus and his blind followers.

Frustrated by a lack of unification between the various faiths under attack, Threespan sought the advice of the Oracle and journeyed once more to the Holy Isle hoping to spur the revered orders into taking an active voice on the Advisory Council to better represent a balance of all their interests.

He met with the heads of the voting orders, tailoring his approach to each in their own language, but never loosing the thread of Unity. His desire for a harmonious balance among the gods spoke well to the children of the Mother. His desire for reason and clear-headed decision making appealed to the representatives of the lofty Father. The Horned One himself had apparently urged his followers to accept the Thinker as an ally, although the means of this is uncertain. Earlier ties and the bond of common loss of life in battle (as inappropriate as that may sound for an Aurelian) paid off with the staunch support of the high priestesses of the Red God. The lesser sects were all in favor of sharing one representative rather than having the Cult of Uphuron's high priest be their sole voice.

However, the Amunic sects greeted him with first suspicion and then scorn. In their stubborn claim that none of the other sects were worthy, Barrett saw an uncomfortable mirror of the One's own claims. Still, he might have been able to sway them given time. His story of communion with the desert spirits of Amun Rah was convincing and there was still outrage over the carnage of the Oasis and a desire for more severe justice than the Rafao seemed to be seeking.

But time was one thing in short supply, for the Aether Battle was drawing nigh. Of the Querist's exchange with the Order of Light, nothing is recorded. But given his earlier treatment at their hands, and the traditional distrust between the two priesthoods (despite the supposed relationship of their two gods) one can imagine it was less than ideal.

So after an audience with the Oracle, in a manner cloaked in mystery to this day, and having received dire, and difficult to interpret advice, Barrett returned to Citadel. After great expense of energy and precious time, he had failed to unify the faiths of the Isles under one banner.

****************************************************

The Aether Quest

Despite the numerous accounts of the supposed Aether Quest for the Godshard, there are very few facts that can be verified. The nature of Aether is such that interpretation of experience varies widely from individual to individual. The accounts of the quest do agree that the One God had exerted direct influence on a particular manifested environment. To what means, one may only guess – but the agreement of such diverse sources does tend to support the theory that a shard embodying part of the god himself was somehow trapped on that level of existence. Querist Threespan was recruited by Imperial Thaumaturge Simon Ginneke to help restore balance in the spirit realm. Barrett never wrote or spoke of this time in the Aether, but it is almost certain that his presence there in defiance of the will of Dominicus necessitated the direct intervention of Aurelius. Certainly the Querist returned to the Tether much changed: both physically and spiritually. Starting at the end of that Samheen, written descriptions of him mention white hair rather than the flame red color that was the mark of his heritage. Also, though it can be found in record that he had not reached his twentieth birthday, his apparent age was closer to forty-five yahren. This is in stark contrast to certain archival records - notably drawings and sculptures crafted to mark the occasion of Demon Hunt of 1224 – that depict Barrett Threespan as a young man. Based upon knowledge that he revealed at various times later regarding the lives and histories of the significant historical followers of Aurelius, this researcher suspects that some manner of personality merge between Threespan and The Thinker took place. However, only the thinker knows for certain.

****************************************************

One Last Duty Due the Caesar Slain

Controversy surrounds the accounts of both the life and death of the great Caesar Anochrim. Reading inferences couched in several of the Querist's writings, this researcher has concluded that throughout these other trials, Barrett carried the additional burden of having determined and begun investigation into the true cause of death of the beloved first citizen. In particular, the exact nature of the poison and possible means by which it had reached Citadel was known. But a single priest did not have the resources to scour the entire Empire in search of clues. To whom could he turn for help? Those students of the Neo-Skeptic School influenced by Threespan's early writings will see the problem that faced him. For, was not everyone a suspect until proven otherwise? Recently deciphered notes of the period indicate the methodical, if imperfect, approach that Barrett used to narrow the field. The greatest cut was the selection of those who gained sufficiently to warrant such a risk. This was combined with available resources and agents as well as potential knowledge of the unique toxins used.

The poison's Amunic origins hinted at the possible traitor being either Isis or Ionis. Yet both had been expending great resources on intrigue at the desert palace. Andolin Azarin had clearly benefited, but Anochrim had been his sponsor. Could it have been a Western plot? While those barbarians – most notably the vicious "families" of World's Mouth – were known to use such tactics, both the poison and access to the chamber staff were likely beyond their resources at that point in time. This left the Furst Duke Erwin and Imperial Secretary Silk as the most likely, most capable suspects.

So careful was Threespan to conceal his thoughts on the matters that no specific writings can be found that set forth his logic in detail. Suffice to say that, having to make a choice lest the trail grow cold, he eventually confided in Erwin, indicating that the master hypothesis showed Silk as the chief conspirator.

****************************************************

After the War
Following the treaty between World's Mouth and the Seven Isles that brought an abrupt end to the undeclared War of Pan's Isle, Querist Threespan disappears from public record for a time. Not much is known for his motivations in leaving Citadel for this period. Perhaps it was disgust at the Council's easy capitulation to the demands of the World's Mouth representatives. Certainly the scholar's own writings display an attitude of discomfort with the so-called colony. To his death, he refused ever to use the new title of Aveas. Perhaps there was no political motivation, and he merely sought a less visible place to recover from a series of draining battles.

What is known that he reappeared in Citadel in a most unusual fashion early the following Chyril. Arriving at Citadel via the "prototype" airship The Golden Grace*, he revealed that he had been sequestered on the isle of Nipponar collaborating with the foremost gnome engineers to create the ship. A mixture of magic and technology, the Grace was about the size of a small merchant ship that received its lift by way of a large ovoid shell of fabric filled with heated gas.

It was funded by Dort's rulers and the imperial Trade Guild in exchange for Barrett's "mission" to bring news to the gnomes of how the West had invaded and slaughtered on Pan's Isle and might just as easily advance to Nipponar if measures were not taken. Associating the West and Dominicus with the threat of potential demonic invasion (Nipponar still being in a state of recovery from dark times) helped to carry home the gravity of the warning, and so a new alliance was formed between the people of Nipponar and the people of Dort. The sojourn on the gnomes' isle was significant on the spiritual level as well. Despite the vast differences in culture and communication, Barrett learned the ways of the gnomes, and the gnomes learned the ways of the Querist. It is perhaps the only instance in recorded history of an Aurelian priest converting (albeit unintentionally) an entire island to the faith.

Threespan wrote in his own journal:
"Seeing the direction of negotiations with the technologically advanced World's Mouth, I wanted a chance to attempt my own creation before having the opportunity to study the inner workings of that city's flying ships. The challenge was quite satisfying for me and for my new friends."
Following that is a list of the gnome engineers who bravely sacrificed their lives in the undertaking.

*Footnote: The designer was not quite attentive to the eyesore that some might consider a large wooden structure being held aloft by a great bag of air. Some in Citadel were uncivil enough to refer to the rotund boat as the "Golden Egg", "Golden Goose" or even (though never in the Furst Duke's hearing) "The Lady K'mith".

New Skills: Engineering; Language[Gnome]

[Guest]

As Samheen drew to a close autumn came in full force, and Keros loved it. Autumn was his favorite time of the year. It brought about changes and heralded the closing of things past and the opportunity for things yet to come. It was almost as if the world were exhaling in a vivid fanfare of color, as it prepared to rest after the turbulent events of the recent past. Keros too intended to rest. He had planned on settling down now that he had returned to the city, finding a stable residence, finding a few good friends, and digging in for the long haul. As is the nature of things though, his intentions never came to pass. Instead his life would head down a path he never saw coming, and yet welcomed all the same.

Upon his arrival in the city he had procured a room above a small declining eatery in the Inner Ring The establishment didn’t even have a name anymore as it’s sign had long since fallen off and no one cared to remember what it had once been. The proprietor was an elderly man, stooped of the shoulders, whose wide set bulbous eyes were nearly as degraded as his establishment. He offered Keros room and board though, in one of the upstairs apartments, and he offered it cheap. In return for helping the owner out around the shop and running his errands and chores for him, Todde (though most people called him toad) let Keros claim the unused apartment rent free.

Keros would spend the majority of each Tradetide laboring in the stockroom, or helping to clean and polish the tables and booths that for the most part went unused. After a while Keros realized that it wasn’t so much that the old man needed help around the shop, but rather he just needed company. So while he spent the daylight hours toiling away and listening to the seasoned businessman weave his tales, he spent the darker parts of his days conducting darker business.

After the shop closed each Eveningtide Keros would set out for the day. Some evenings he would ask questions around town, trying to unravel the mystery of what caused the fire at his childhood home, and some evenings he would head for the Red Banner to talk with Evie or Keaira. Though no one would come out and say it the more questions he asked, the more it looked like the fire had been the responsibility of the nefarious Michael Crane. Eventually Keros even grew so bold as to question Adam and Keaira at the Banner about how their boss had felt about the competition the Pillows had provided. The only response he found was a curt reply that it would be best not to stick his nose in any of Michael’s business if he was smart. Keaira had even told him on multiple occasions that snooping in Mike’s business was a quick path to pain. Unfortunately Keros wasn’t as smart as he should have been.

Near the end of Yulember, Keros was no closer to discovering the truth he sought, but his life had brought other changes. First was a new neighbor. Claire Owens had somehow convinced the old Toad to let her rent the other vacant apartment above the eatery, and Keros quickly found a kindred spirit in the gangly youth. There was something about the girl that just seemed to click with him, though she had none of the usual assets he admired in a woman. Quickly he came to consider her his best friend, and before long he was confiding in her and taking her along on his trips to the Banner so she could meet Evie and Keaira, who introduced herself as Madame Tigre.

Though the month had seemed to drag on for an eternity, Yulember finally closed and it did so on a sour note for Keros, as he experienced his first taste of what he believed to be the repercussions of his investigation. He returned home one night after his usual routine to find his apartment had been broken into. The thing that perplexed him, and indeed frightened him, the most was that nothing was missing. It looked as if someone had snooped around through all of his things, but had taken nothing with them. He assumed that it had been Mike’s goons who were collecting information on him, but he would later find out just how wrong he was.

Darkenry came and with it brought even more changes. Todde fell sick one evening and asked Keros to take over running the shop for him for a while. Doing so left Keros with little time to continue his investigation, and so he let it go and immersed himself in running his old mentor’s business. One day while going to the docks to pick up supplies he noticed a small street vendor selling something he had never seen before. A beverage the man called espresso. Being the curious spirit that he was, Keros decided to try it, and it was love at first sip. Seeing that the small vendor had a great deal of success with just this single beverage, Keros decided it was time to give him some competition, and so he started a new investigation.

His inquiries about espresso led him to the discovery of the Aveas Exports Company. He then went to the ailing Todde to tell him his new ideas. His mentor sat and smiled as he heard all of the new ideas Keros had to bring in new customers and when he had heard them all he did something the young man had not expected at all. He explained to his apprentice that he had spent most of his life running the business and missing out on the finer things. His children were grown and had kids of their own now, and he had missed it all. It was because of his recent ailment, and seeing how much effort Keros was putting into what had been his life’s work that he had come to a conclusion. It was no longer his goal, and he wanted to go and spend time with his children and grandchildren before his time was up. So he offered to sell the business to Keros.

The young man who had aspired to be a courtier and had held dreams of some day becoming a bard suddenly had a door open in his life he had never anticipated. It took a few days to come to a decision, but in the end, Keros decided he would take up the old man on his offer. He gave up his entire life savings on the gamble, but was confident he could make something out of the still nameless establishment. He changed the menu, and began looking for new help. Espresso became his staple item as he began doing business with Aveas Exports Company, and it started bringing in new customers. Claire became invaluable to him as the head waitress and it seemed everywhere that he was lacking, she picked up the slack and always had just the right advice to get him through the obstacles that were seemingly popping up left and right. Just when it seemed that everything was in line tragedy struck once again.

During the second half of Darkenry, all of the work that had been into the eatery almost went up in smoke. Keros had already lost his childhood home to a fire, and now it seemed as if the fire had come back to claim what it had missed the first time. The store was ruined, though luckily the fire had been contained to the bottom floor. Immediately Keros thought back to how his apartment had been broken into and was struck by fear. Had his investigation went too far? Was he now the target of a crime lord’s ire? He felt defeated and utterly lost and decided it was time to give up. Luckily his best friend and biggest supporter Claire had other plans in mind.

When Claire found out that he had given up and decided not to re-open the small shop, she confided something in him that changed his mind. She confessed to him that she had been the one to break into his apartment, and that she had done so out of curiosity, not with intent to steal anything. He found out she had read his journal, and she confided to him things about her own past. It seemed they were two sides of the same coin. He wanted to be angry with her, to push her away because of her betrayal but he couldn’t. She was honest with him, she had come clean, and she was supporting him, something he sorely needed. She convinced him to open the store once again, but bigger and better than before. Together they came up with a plan. They would take advantage of the damage that had been done to completely renovate the location and make it more appealing. The problem was coming up with the money to do so.

Then it dawned on him. His future wasn’t the only one that would be affected by this. He decided to toss the dice and take another gamble. And so it was that he took a trip to World’s Mouth, to meet with a representative of the Aveas Exports Company. He had been purchasing coffee from Arrigo Jovene for some time now, but he had never met the man. He did however understand that money was the driving factor behind any businessman and went to the meeting prepared. It took the better part of a day explaining his plans and intentions to Mr. Jovene, but in the end he got what he had came for and both men walked away better than they had came. The Aveas Exports Company had agreed to cover a full half the costs of renovations and funds to restart the business, and in return would get a perpetual claim to 20% of the profits. Of course with his new idea almost all of his stock would be coming from them as well, which only meant more money for them. More importantly though, it meant they had a vested interest in the success of his business, which might prove useful later on.

Keros had not only secured the funding he so desperately needed though. He came away with another bargain as well. Though he didn’t want to lose any more money than he had to, he had offered Arrigo a separate deal, one he thought would pay off in the long run. In the process he had to sacrifice another 10% of his profits as a kickback to Mr. Jovene, and in return the agent of the Export Company would make sure that the finest of all coffee goods shipped to the Citadel would come directly to Keros, while all the competition would pay the same price for inferior goods.

He explained that didn’t want to get rid of the competition for two reasons. First, putting them out of business would mean less money for his new benefactors as all coffee came from them and he of course did not want to reduce the profits they were seeing. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, when the competition all had clearly inferior goods it would just drive their customers to you for those goods anyway. Keros intended to be the Citadelian ‘King of Coffee’ and if Arrigo would help him, he could line his own pockets in the process. Keros learned a new term that day as Arrigo exclaimed that this arrangement would have them both “Ricco Sfondato.”

Keros returned to the Citadel and informed Claire of the success of his mission. Together they spent the remainder of the month renovating the one time eatery and by the beginning of Chyrill it was ready to open. No longer was it a common restaurant, but had evolved into something new. They no longer served meals so to speak, but rather dealt in lighter fare. They hired a baker who provided them with fresh breads and pastries every day and they served all manners of coffee and teas. They gave the location a complete face lift, providing a comfortable relaxing atmosphere and ample entertainment in the form of both amateur and professional bards and other performers who would grace the newly erected stage. Most important though, the one time failing eatery finally had a name of its own once again. ‘The Simple Pleasures’ because that is what they offered. One could come and enjoy the music, or satisfy their sweet tooth with the selection of pastries available. They also offered private dining rooms away from prying eyes and ears where business, or other matters, could be conducted out of sight of the public.

The real turning point of their success was when notable personalities from around the Citadel were seen frequenting their establishment. When Rosalie Lo Russo was heard to proclaim that ‘The Simple Pleasures’ had espresso that was “almost as good as that back home” and started stopping by to get a mug whenever she was in the neighborhood it made a huge impact on their business. Then when Talanwei Fortisse developed not only a liking to some of the pastries they offered (though he didn’t seem to like the coffee as much) but also graced the stage occasionally to demonstrate his singing voice, the Pleasure began to get a reputation as a “celebrity hangout.”

Caught up in the excitement and hard work of his new business Keros had forgotten about his previous investigation for a time, and it seemed that whatever enemies he had made had also forgotten him. Of course he still frequented the Banner to tell Evie of his newest adventures and to be relentlessly taunted and teased by Tigre, the woman who frequented his dreams but whose true flesh seemed as untouchable as the sun, but he no longer brought up the topics he had been warned away from. Of course he still wondered from time to time, but it seemed like a section of his life that should remain closed.

Everything seemed to be looking up for him, and he thought he had finally found a role in life that had suited him. He had always dreamt of being the center of the social world, and ‘The Simple Pleasures’ provided him with the perfect means to become so. He was able to speak with influential people as well as the downtrodden as an equal when they were in his establishment, and he felt better than he had since his return to the Citadel. Of course there are always kinks in the rope and no such thing as smooth sailing on the waters of life. On Chyrill 18th it so happened that one of the newer patrons finally realized why Keros looked so familiar. By the end of the week the rumors had spread across the entire city. Keros Silverflame, who had always spoke little about his real past and had seemed a mysterious foreigner was in fact the son of a whore and native of Citadel.

Keros did not know exactly how it would affect his business, but he knew he would not deny his heritage. He was proud of who he was, and of his mother. When customers finally got the nerve to ask him about the rumor, he always confirmed it without hesitation. He was proud to be the son of Na’Leah and to have been raised in the Silken Pillows. Let them think what they would. Only time would tell what the results would be.

--------------------------------------------------------------
For more information on The Simple Pleasure please see

http://wiki.tazlure.nl/index.php/Simple_Pleasures

and keep in mind it is still a work in progress and anyone that wants to get involved is welcome to do so.

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Skills
5 *'s - New Skill - Book keeping basic
5 *'s - New Skill - Simple Math basic

[Grey Wolf]

It had not all been Isis' fault, and even if it were the proud Voice of Rafao would never admit it. Aeris never revealed who she truly was, nor did she show proper respect that Isis though was due her. She did not ask for much. Just for Aeris to keep the promises she made. It was the swanmaiden that promised to come see her next morning, and it was the swanmaiden that simply forgot, finding other things to pass the time, other people who were more worthy her attention that Isis. Or so she thought.

Her escape was not a minor disturbance, and Isis threw an angry fit when she discovered the girl was gone. It had been a bad move on Aeris' part. The Queen of Amun Rah had long memory and it had been not just her Immortals that were given the instructions to search for the runaway girl, but also the City Guard. While slaves were treated quite nicely in Amun Rah, sometimes they ran away. Being an Amunic native she fell under Amunic laws and thus when she was reported missing she was assumed to have ran off. It would seem she would need to hide from the law still.

With her new position as the Madame of the Red Banner Keaira found her days filled with chores and obligations. The girls needed to eat, to drink, they even needed to sleep from time to time. Sheets needed to be changed daily, and sometimes a simple washing would simply not do. Blood, sweat and things better not discussed were used, and all in the course of everyday activity. She learned quite a bit about human nature and also of how depraved men of the Citadel could be and just what sick things turned them on.

Professor Moore contacted her from time to time, but he was more interested in her judgment of what went on with Fauna than what happened. While their plans to make the Banner into something other than a whorehouse. Sex made money and he was damned if he gave up on it. Thus they were allowed to make the necessary changes and even to spend the money rather lavishly, but it still stayed a brothel. Even the money started being the problem as the silent war on the streets heated up

The girls grew to show respect to their new Madame, though whether it was only for show she could never be certain off. She was not forced to work as Charlotte was, and though Michael and some of his men still shared her bed from time to time, it was not nearly as often as other girls had to cater to customer wishes. Michael's personality was becoming worse as days passed, his anger never truly abating as Cyril neared. He did not speak of what was wrong, but when one ran a brothel it was easy to learn male secrets. After Charlotte's death Michael has struck against his father, aided by Grey Fox and his men from the elusive and almost forgotten Brotherhood. At first Michael had been successful in the war, but as of late things have taken a turn for the worst and his father was safely out of his reach, supposedly cooped up in Dort somewhere.

Her idea for the Banner was not received so easily, but she found that Michael was quite pliant after he had had a few drinks and was ready to doze off after sex. They were given one chance to prove their claims and show him that the Banner would actually earn more after that evening. After that was handled the rest of preparations went on without a hitch, and the word on the street spread quickly, though there was a certain reluctance in it all. Banner was known as a brothel and many could not quite bend their mind around the whole concept.


OOC: Ulder, if you don't mind I will wait for Elaine Recess before I review yours. If you disagree PM me and I shall review you right away.

[Talanwei Fortisse]

~*~ Samheen ~*~

Talanwei had seen much of the corruption of the Citadel and it caused him much distress. However most of this had been at the hands (claws, fangs, etc.) of demons and a succubus that remained at large. With this grave knowledge he had returned to the Temple of Illuminatus in the hopes of finding direction. The Achadiel began this with fasting and clearing himself of extraneous distraction. Under the tutelage of Quillan and others in the temple, he began to exercise his skill of calling upon the Bright Ones power. He also threw himself more into his swordplay so that his physical development followed a similar progression. The encounter on the causeway stuck in his mind and the Achadiel decided that he would not be bested so easily again. Through the end of Samheen he also performed his duties for the temple as given by those above him.


~**Yulember**~

For the first half of the colder winter month, Talanwei had eased into a routine of prayer and service to the temple of Illuminatus and slowly, he was finding direction. It still lay in the hazy future but he reminded himself that first and foremost, becoming strong in both spirit and body would allow him to better serve. Talanwei heard of the dark tidings of the Slayer that still stalked the Citadel. It was simply another reason to make himself more ready to embrace the path he had taken. Near the close of Yulember, the Achadiel received tidings that his father had fallen ill. Overcome with worry and grief, he immediately left the Temple to be with his family. A few days after he arrived, the patriarch of the Fortisse family passed from the Tether. Having been especially close to his father, Talanwei took this very hard. The man that had instilled in him through the strength of example the desire to be a paladin was gone.


**~Dakenry~**

Talanwei allowed himself time to mourn. He had effectively become the head of the household yielding only to his mother’s age and experience and she needed his help now more than ever. His younger brother and sister looked to him for guidance which he readily provided.

On the 20th of Dakenry he returned to the Inner Ring after he had seen to ensuring that his brother would take the reins in his stead. More than ever, Talanwei wanted to become a paladin to honour his fathers memory. The Achadiel knew, however, that he was not ready. He, in truth, saw many flaws in himself that needed attentions before he would even consider taking this mantle. So for the duration of the month, in relative solitude save those from the Temple, he strove to achieve enlightenment. Talanwei exercised to the point of physical exhaustion with his blade, honed and focused his use of Illuminatus’ power until his skull throbbed from his concentration. Soon, it was apparent this was not the way.


*~*Chryil*~*

It took some time for the stubborn Achadiel to realize that he was figuratively banging his head against a wall. He had tried to force progress rather than allowing his God to bestow it upon him as he saw fit. Quillan had taught him patience, taught him to seek inner peace instead of ham fistedly pounding it into submission. One eveningtide, he brought the grief he held over his fathers death to his tutor. It proved a cathartic experience that helped him to heal. Talanwei has since been working to attain the role of Priest among the temple and serve as an example for new young Aspirants.

[hr]MoE: Faith - +***

Prayer - +****

Swords, One-handed - +***[/hr]

[Grey Wolf]

His mission to the Oracle's Isle has not gone unnoticed and in the days that followed the news of his efforts have spread. While it earned the Querist the enmity of the Lady Isis of the Amun Rah Embassy it also earned him an offer from Duke Erwin before the man left for home. The Duke offered to support his bid for the Council position should he ever find the time to attempt such again and even scolded the man for not telling him of his plans so he could offer assistance.

His experiences in the Aether had been draining to say the least and while there was little he could do, at least Barrett was a witness to the sundering of the Godspeak and the defeat of Dominicus and his host, though it had not been the Aether where the crippling blow was struck. Unable to retrieve the shard he was a witness to the great conflict between the Beavenly Host and the Endless Forest, the direct representations of Dominicus and Mother. Of Pan and his own forces there was no sign, though the bodies littered across the plain were clearly of his followers.

The Querist's Sojourn to Nipponar had drawn a certain attention from both the Duke and some of his associates, with Duchess K'Mith granting him a special gift to take to the short-stature nation. A simple bell fashioned of steel, with a matching mallet. They were her gift to the gnomes and a way for them to make the world know they were in trouble. Should it be struck the Duchess would know and be able to act.

The actual construction of the ship was filled with numerous small accidents and explosions, but that was the way gnomish engineering worked. When something worked without a hitch it was time to get worried. It was the adversity and charred faces that advanced the science and technology, and the obstacles that made it all fun. They turned to be a rather friendly bunch, but they did have one condition that Barrett had to fulfill before he was accepted as a part of Nipponar nation. He would have to grow proper moustaches before he would be allowed to fly away with his ariship. Once he did that the crew would board the ship and the proclamation would be read. In it came antoher surprise as Barrett Treespan, Querist and Priest of Aurelius was made the official Ambassador of the gnomish nation of Nipponar in the Citadel for his kind nature and his understanding of gnomish ways. He was given leave to establish an Embassy there and to ensure that the gnomes of the Empire of Seven ISles were suitably represented in the Imperial matters.

OOC: Though to add a bit of a twist. You don't have to grow moustaches of course, but think of the benefits. You get a free grooming kit if you do. Fully automated.

[Mairi Armstrong]

The rest of Samheen passed quickly for Mairi, and her mouth ached from smiling through all of the meeting and greeting she had done in this time. She acquainted herself with the Citadel thoroughly, its most important inhabitants and its customs, its hotspots and its lowly citizens.

The issue of her homeland was never far from her mind, although she struggled to drum up support for her cause amongst the preoccupied Citadel folk. She began to get a (somewhat negative) reputation for being ‘that woman who’s obsessed with Islay’, and she found it difficult to break into the inner circles of Citadel society.

In early Yulember she decided to return home to oversee some of the rebuilding of Hafne, under the watchful eye of Count Johan. Initially she found the state of the city harrowing – she could hardly bear to walk along the ravaged streets and she couldn’t sleep at night, imagining flames and screams in the darkness. To watch the city gradually piece itself together, however, was an inspiration. She ordered materials, hired craftsmen and coaxed workers back into the town – well, no Armstrong ever rested on his laurels.

It was Darkenry 20th when she decided to visit her home in the Roving of Skara. Her heart leapt within her as she approached her old home, which looked ramshackle in comparison to the quarters she’d known in the last few months. Her visit, however, was not warmly received. Her brother Alasdair was sporting a deep, purple bruise around his eye socket – inflicted by their own cousins. When she asked why the reply was frosty.

“Tis ye, Mairi. Folk round ‘ere dinna like the way yer a toady to that Count,” her father told her. “Yer an Armstrong, nae a Lady. Ye’ve done well fer yerself, we’re pleased with yer fer that, but dinna forget yer roots lass.”

Alasdair stood up and in no uncertain terms told her his views. He wanted a separate nation, and he was prepared to fight for it. Having Mairi as his sister was making his life difficult. Unless she began working for the good of the Clansmen, she was no longer his sister. Fighting back tears, she ran from the house and broke down in sobs on the path. That marked the end of her time in Islay, and she took the portal back to the Citadel the next morningtide to resume her duties alongside the Duke, specifically trying to arrange for craftsmen and supplies to be transported to Hafne.

She would not given up her belief in a united Dort, although the pain of that meeting with her family remained with her. Thus when the Duke asked her to take up a more important role in negotiating peace with the Clans, she accepted gladly. Her expedition to meet Clan leaders from around Islay was organised for Chyril the 23rd, and she was free to find a team to accompany her if she wished. Her mission: to stop another war beginning.

Skills: Negotiation **
Business Perception ***
Persuade ***
Etiquette **

[Claire Owens]

They were all half crook down at the docks in Dort. The captain of the freight vessel had been paid keep his mouth shut and his head turned when his lisping young crew member disappeared with a crate of goods from the cargo on arrival in the Citadel. Too bad he hadn’t been paid enough. Only Claire’s constant vigilance saved her smuggling ring from being completely dismantled by the Guard – while she was delivering the crate to its destination, she noticed that she was being tailed. Immediately, she abandoned the drugs, lost her pursuers and went to warn the retailers that their operation had been uncovered.

She was rewarded for her quick thinking and information before the dealers went to ground or left the city, advising her to do the same. But knowing that her distinctive speech would give her away, and worried about a second betrayal, the achadiel judged it too risky to travel back to Dort by portal or to buy passage on a ship. While the Guards were looking out for her, she was stuck in the city without even an identity pass as a cover.

The only good thing about her predicament was that she now had more coin at her disposal than she’d ever had before, so it wasn’t hard to create a new identity. She outfitted herself with new clothes and equipment, posed as a student aspiring to a place at the Bardic College, and rented herself a nice apartment above a restaurant in the Inner Ring. It even came with a friend. Claire’s next-door neighbour was a pleasant and flamboyant young man with the unlikely moniker of Keros Silverflame, who worked for the owner of the apartments and the restaurant.

Her lifestyle was not lavish, but it was cozy and comfortable. For the first time in her life, Claire had a room of her own. Better yet, she was beholden to no-one, with time and money for herself.

It took her two days to grow bored.

***

Out of curiosity and mischief more than anything else, Claire picked the lock to Keros’ apartment and snooped around while he was away one night. She found his journal in a drawer and flicked through it idly for about two burns. Then she sat down and began to read in earnest.

The beginning of his story was a familiar one. The charming Keros Silverflame was a whore’s get, just like she was – but from there their paths diverged. His life, his relationships, his philosophies and his ambitions were completely different to hers. He moved around in legitimate society as easily as he did in the illicit. His words were a revelation, opening up new ideas and possibilities that the young woman had never considered before. Every night for two weeks, she stole into her neighbour’s apartment to read a little more.

She began to insinuate herself in Keros’ favour, and inspired by his example, embarked on a project of self-improvement which would enable her to blend in more suitably with her surroundings. Her pose as an aspiring thespian worked out better than she had planned. She could spend marks observing people in a tavern, then marks in her room attempting to imitate them – from the way they walked, to their mannerisms and gestures, their facial expressions, speech patterns and intonations. Nobody thought it the least bit odd; they simply assumed that she was practicing for her auditions.

In this manner, Claire began to learn how to behave like a better-socialised member of society. She was also able to modify her lisp significantly. When she concentrated her ‘s’s became more sibilant, although she was unable to eliminate the ‘th’ sound completely. Proper ‘R’s continued to elude her, but she was occasionally able to execute the Citadelian version that required a simpler tongue movement than the fluttering roll of her native Islay.

One night, towards the end of Yulember, Claire became so absorbed in Keros’ journal that she only just managed to notice his return and slip out of his room before she was caught, without even the time to cover her tracks. She decided not to risk breaking in again, but by this time she had his confidence and was ready to throw her lot in with his plans. She gave up her ‘dream’ of becoming a very bad actress, and concentrated on her ‘real’ job, waitressing in the eatery downstairs.

To her surprise, she found herself enjoying legitimate work, despite the fact that the potential spoils were less than what she could have gained through burglary and smuggling. In general, the customers treated her politely and respectfully, and she found herself worrying less about being looked down upon or screwed over. The monotony of her days was broken up by the stories and scraps of gossip that their patrons brought in – Claire was constantly amazed by how much people gave away when they believed no-one important was listening.

As business picked up and her confidence grew, the young woman even began to offer Keros her own ideas about how to run and expand the business. The nameless establishment started to feel like a home; the staff there were like a family. She almost cried the night someone tried to burn them down.

***

The shadow of the criminal world hung over Claire’s life once again. She knew that she would never entirely escape it – even Keros had his links with the women of the Red Banner – but now it seemed to pose a threat to her ambitions, rather than offering an opportunity.

Silverflame seemed ready to give up, but Claire was determined to see their dream realised. When he told her of his fears about crossing some crimelord, she confessed her responsibility for the break-in to his apartment. Coming clean was a frightening step – he’d become important to her and she could have lost his trust forever – but in the end her honesty paid off. Not only did he remain a friend – Keros also became someone that Claire could confide in too. They shared stories and plans for the rest of the night and had renewed their commitment to the business by the next morningtide.

While Keros traveled to World’s Mouth, Claire began to make the arrangements needed for the eatery to be redesigned and rebuilt. Plans like theirs needed muscle and money, so she also spent some time reconnecting with the Citadel underworld. Soon after he got back, she tracked down the members of the smuggling ring that had brought her here, and convinced them to sink some of their coin into covering part of the startup costs of her business – they would also be allowed to use the establishment as a front to launder their money until the debt was repaid.

Through her contacts, she also set up an agreement with a local gang to provide security for the new café. Unlike Keros, she suspected that the fire might have been the work of a protection racket gone wrong, and figured that it would be better to have the people of the streets working on their side rather than against them.

Of course, there was a downside to these arrangements. While their profile grew and patronage of the café flourished, at the back of her mind, Claire worried that their unorthodox associations would be unveiled. Together with the contract with the Aveas Trading Company, they also cut a significant chunk out of their profits, although the business remained comfortably afloat.

Throughout all of this, the achadiel kept a wary eye about her friend’s involvement with Keaira Morgandy, the owner of the Red Banner. It was a sisterly kind of concern – she wasn’t physically attracted to him. The woman had some odd hold on Keros that she couldn’t quite trust or understand. She didn’t raise the issue with him directly, however, having carefully kept her nose out of his private life ever since the business with the journal.

***

On Chyrill 18th, some bastard exposed Keros’ true identity. The rumours sent Claire into an state of agonised fear for her own welfare. For peace of mind, she had to find away to cover up her past activities, or at least to make sure that there would be no consequences if anyone found out.

She was never going to prison or returning to the streets. No matter what it cost her.

~~~

New skills requested:
Con artist
Streetwise