Chapter 15: Session 07

Being free from Marcus's spying eyes, Mitu takes a moment to speak with Bodan and Slip about their shared experience in the Cave of Voices (What happens in the Cave, stays in the Cave...). They converse as they walk, the Talmoril's Sword still pointing to the Northwest -- into the Mountains past the river.

Marcus uses his sorcerous powers to make contact with Soreiss, explaining that he was abandoned and was making his way to Corwinton instead. Soreiss tells him to return to the waywinder stone, and Soreiss -- leaving Lugh on the road to Sashmir -- opens a gateway for Marcus and his eagle. Mitu, Bodan, and Slip pay it little mind when the eaglerider emerges. Soreiss does not bother to stick around, returning instead to Lugh's side, and choosing to head into The Barrens, a slum built outside the city's south wall, in the hopes of getting aid from Lugh's family.

Marcus takes to the sky just as the ground begins to shake. Bodan uses his Earthmastery to anchor Mitu and Slip to the ground so they might weather the tremor. Unfortunately, they seem to be under attack. Slip uses his waterlens to discern a balding Usho magus clad in deep blue and gold robes. A booming voice proclaims that he is hunting the Necromancer Veldir Kedrith, and will slay all his minions if they do not stand down. Once again Soreiss's necromantically tainted eldritch signature has been mistaken for that of his brother. Marcus flies up toward the source of the voice, but loses sight of him. And suddenly, the voice speaking is calm -- an invisible hand rests itself on Marcus's shoulder. The mage addresses Marcus, noting that he is an eaglerider of the Order, and therefore no likely to be in league with Veldir. Marcus explains that what the magus sensed was not Veldir, and offers to say more if he ends the tremors on the ground below, and lands so that all present may speak. The Magus agrees.

He identifies himself as Zillmiran, a name recognized by both Mitu and Slip. The Ogren knows that Tharivol and Uli had some contact with the man back before meeting Mitu, and Slip knows the mage by reputation. Zillmiran is known as an Archmage, a former lecturer at the Southern Academy at Tal'Ushorin, and a condescending prick. Indeed, the rumors were quite true -- immediately condescending, Zillmiran is only respectful to Marcus, and to a lesser extent, Slip. They discuss what Zillmiran sensed, and Slip slips that the archmage sensed Soreiss, Veldir's "brother". For once, there is someone who seems to have never heard of Soreiss.

Zillmiran and the party verbally fence for a while, with Zillmiran belittling Mitu and seeming to read the Ogren's every behavioral trait without recourse to Magic. After a time, and the understanding that they are all heading in roughly the same direction. Zillmiran teleports the party in a northwesterly direction, jumping from hilltop to hilltop. At each stop, he asks a question of the party, and agrees to answer one in turn. Mitu consults the Talmoril's Blade at each stop, and eventually Mevonn's Quill points someplace other than into the high Mountains of the Northwest.

There is evidence that the Krinod of Muros's army is camped in the valleys and far hillsides across from where the party now stands. Zillmiran takes his leave of the PCs, claiming that he must go and find a friend of his down there. Mevonn's Quill, however, does not point at Muros's Camp. Instead, it seems to point along a rough path along the very ridge upon which they stand. After a short walk, the party hears a voice rumble from the rocks beneath them. Unmistakably, it is the voice of Warrin, the chosen of Caarpachi. When Warrin asks whats up with the sword, Mitu explains about the Talmoril; Warrin laughs heartily, and approaches from the rocks. The sword does not point toward him, and Warrin laughs even more soundly. He explains that the sword seems to be pointing to his camp, which leaves only Caedin and Fartlegoth as its chosen. Both options, the barechested warrior admits, are amusing enough to drive him to convulsions.

It turns out that the sword identifies Caedin... who refuses to accept it, and storms down into the valley, into the hordes of Krinod, and soon it is obvious, into the heart of Muros's own encampment. Mitu and Marcus follow, even as Warrin and Fartlegoth offer Bodan and Slip a drink and the general hospitality of their camp. Soon after, Zillmiran arrives again -- Warrin was the very friend he was seeking.

Mitu and Marcus follow the path Caedin has cut through the Krinod, ad find him railing at Min, the humanoid guise of the phoenix Minulex, Akarri, and Izizi. Caedin is demanding to speak with Mevonn, but the assembled Phoenixes are not responding to him. Min actually seems amused. When Muros attempts to approach, Caedin shoots him a comment as well, warning the Archon to mind his business and stay out of this matter. Sensing the implied threat, Tharivol steps in front of Muros to defend him -- but his face clearly shows an understanding that he won't hold Caedin off for long. Mitu tries to speak to the enraged swordsman, but Caedin warns Mitu to back off. So long as Mitu is carrying Mevonn's Quill, he and Caedin are not on the same side. He urges Mitu to toss the sword aside, since Caedin will not take it. Let the Phoenixes handle their own mess for once.

Eventually, the situation calms enough for Caedin to state that he will not even consider taking the sword until he has a chance to speak to Mevonn. Minulex agrees to pass on the message.

Mitu and Marcus follow Caedin back to camp. They discuss the issue of Caedin with Warrin even as the swordsman sits alone, brooding.

They all sense a strange presence a moment before a glimmering humanoid figure, albeit a massive, 8 foot tall one, with a hawks head and eyes like turquoise stones approaches. The being gleams like burnished steel, and all realize that they are in the presense of Mevonn (Who rests his hand on Mitu's shoulder as he passes, filling the Ogren with a sense of serene calm).

Caedin leaps up, but the others watch as Mevonn states calmly that the choice of the Talmoril cannot be unmade, regardless of whether or not Caedin ever accepts the sword or not. Furthermore, he curses the swordsman to be without any sword save the talmoril's blade. If he is to continue as a swordsman, Mevonn's Quill is the only sword that will have him. To make this point, Caedin's own sword cracks and disintegrates. Caedin hurls down the remains of his sword, but refuses to take the Phoenix blade and Mevonn tells Caedin to enjoy his life as a farmer.

Caedin goes off alone, even as others in the camp talk about what just occured. Zillmiran finds it all quite amusing, but is too drunk to participate for long. Marcus, Mitu, and Warrin each have different viewpoints about the whole affair bickering about the differences between chosen responsibilities and those which are imposed. Sometime during the conversation, a storm breaks out... and a short while later, they notice that Caedin has gone.

Just before dawn, Caedin staggers back into camp. His face is bloodied raw, and his eyes dark. When asked what happened, he informs the party that he "had it out" with the Phoenixes, all of them. Then he tells Mitu to toss him the Talmoril's Sword, adding that, ultimately, he lost. After a short conversation, Mitu understands that it was probably Krakaroon who cowed the proud swordsman, since Caedin admitted that it was he who pummeled himself into his present condition. After that, Caedin sprawls out on the rocks to rest.

Meanwhile, back in Kesh, Soreiss and Lugh poke around the Barrens, hoping to find Manny Pazuna, a Kuzani clan cousin of Lugh's that Grandfather had advised him to seek if his travels lead to Sashmir. Indeed, they eventually find Manny (and his door closing Luma son, Lolo), a corpulent Kuzani living in a house in the center of the Barrens. Manny listens to them, and agrees to arrange for them to slide into the Sashmir port a few hours before dawn. Oddly enough, it is Captain Ahze (whose ship they thought they saw in the Barrens' port) who is tasked -- reluctantly -- with ferrying the two travelers as well as Manny's son Lolo into the great city.

Unfortunately, things do not go as planned. As they near the Sashmir docks, they can see something amiss with the dockmaster (who is connected to Manny, and therefore supposed to be an ally). They push into port anyway, and even as the dockmaster helps them secure the ship and climb up to the docks, he apologizes, saying he had no choice.

A flurry of small darts streak out and blanket the area, and all five men (Ahze, Lolo, Lugh, Soreiss, and the dockmaster) collapse.

When Lugh and Soreiss awaken, they are in a small room with a handle-less door. All of their belongings seems present and untouched. A small bowl of dried fruits and bread are set on a table near a pitcher of water and some glasses. A note informs them to be comfortable and eat and drink what they wish. They start making noise on the door, and they discern the sound of approaching footsteps. Backing away from the door as it opens, a smoky miasma pushes into the room. Three shadowy figures wrapped in pale gauze stand there. They wear masks which cover the lower halves of their faces, and only their eyes seem uncovered by the gauze wraps.

The three people identify themselves as members of the Alu Mahar, and apologize for the method of their first meeting. They inform Lugh and Soreiss that their coming was foretold by a book nearly 150 years prior, and that they must not venture into the city until well after dawn. Inquiring why, Lugh and Soreiss are told that the Beast-Who-Wears-the-Skin-of-a-Man watches the city, and would surely find the pair this night if not for the measures taken by the Alu Mahar.

(The Alu Mahar is an ancient order of assassins and mystics founded sometime during the era of the 2nd Prophecy).

The Alu Mahar eventually escort the pair outside, and leave them by the University's great courtyard, near enough their destination. They pass time shopping and drinking at a bar across town before heading into the Blue Candle Tavern, supposedly the oldest Bar in the world. Just about midnight, Marika Dracos arrives -- she is taller than Maraianna, her features more stern and slightly sharper, but her eyes are almost identical. She walks right to their table and Soreiss returns her dagger to her (those she already has several worn openly, once which, it seems, she has used several times since arriving in Sashmir). Marika admits to having some serious confusion -- the world has changed significantly since her time, and she needs a while to sort things out. She implies that she has some of Maraianna'a memories, but lacks the context to properly understand them right now. In Marika, much of Maraianna can be seen plainly; they are not so different at all. Yet, they are not the same, either.

Marika seems startled when she learns that two of her former companions are the most dangerous of the Nightmasters. Anjoule was a rival of hers, but she seems genuinely surprised at his fall. Akur, though, was one of her closest friends and is almost incredulous at the statement. That the dragon fell to the darkroad seems to trouble her. She informs Soreiss and Lugh that she will be remaining in town, heading to Moon Hill to find some answers. She also comments that the Alu Mahar contacted her as well, claiming to have been founded by her, and therefore, are at her disposal.

The meeting ends, and Marika departs the Blue Candle. Soreiss and Lugh teleport away to rejoin the rest of the Party on the glass continent.

As Caedin has taken up Mevonn's Quill, the task of delivering the blade is complete. They all decide that it is best to rest for a few days back in Larka. Caedin surprises everyone by asking Soreiss for a ride to Sashmir. It seems that Muros decided there is no room in his army for the Swordsman.

Back in Larka, there is a huge crate of books and journals on the table in the study. It contains copies of the materials promised to Soreiss by the Syments. Soreiss forgets about sleeping and pours over the ancient notes on Dimensionl Mechanics penned by the Darkweaver himself.

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[Jolt Code: 3B,5C,2CB, 2R]