Session S5.W-18 (Wilmskirk)

1629, Fire Season, probably Illusion Week, Likely Clayday

Dramatis Personae

Events

Finarvi had accompanied Xenofos to Wilmskirk, and Varanis was taking a trip up to Boldhome to offload her Wolf Pirate. They had come into town to find the new Hill of Orlanth in the middle. They were staying at Silor’s, which had by now been renovated in a basic way. They found out at the house that there was a new, or rather old, King. Vamastal was back from a year-long Heroquest. While talking to Silor they got the idea he was suffering from being bored and wondering what to do with only the Hero Wars to entertain him.

Finarvi introduced the house to Baby Lorgilyn, and was introduced to an entire room full of small babies. He and Mellia managed to offend just about every Ernaldan present by worrying out loud if the children ever got muddled up, and in Finarvi’s case comparing them to foals.

Mellia gave them the details of Vamastal’s return. There had been a strange storm when one of the companions landed on Silor’s roof, and Silor and Venlar had gone out to look at the storm, which was unexpected. A cyclone had blown around the city, and Mellia had helped to patch people up, including curing her husband of a dangerous blow to the head, and sending him to hospital for his broken leg. She mentioned that she had been at a First Aid station, and Finarvi mildly chided her for being too close to cyclones and lightning. Mellia mentioned seeing Vamastal, who seemed to be very much stormier than a human should be. In Mellia’s opinion, Jaldis had been running the local hospital ever since she arrived¹She had not, but her personality was all over it..

Venlar had not come to greet his wife that evening, so they went to find him. He was asleep in his room, adorably, and came down for food. The next day Xenofos went to the library to see things like court records, and any notes on the exploits of the King. Mellia went to the hospital, where she was questioned by the High Healer about whether there seemed to be something wrong in general. She admitted being worried about the King’s health, but this was not what the High Healer was thinking. She noticed somewhat after noon that Venlar had not brought her lunch, as he normally did.

Meanwhile, Xenofos was reading some surprisingly full court notes, when he came across the King’s declaration, ‘The foreign scribe reads these words and comes to see the King.’ He decided that was an invitation, and went to the palace. There was an Orlanthi at the door, with Humakti back-up. Xenofos was invited in and sent to where the King was.

Mad King Vamastal was in his throne room, drawing on the floor. He was wearing only a loincloth and soft sandals. He lived up to his name, spouting strange words that might be prophecy, and advising Xenofos while making it seem like he was just talking. He instructed the scribe to deal with the eater stalking the city. After thanking him, and some confusion, Xenofos went to see Mellia, as the King had mentioned finding a healer. After talking over the problem with her, he went to the library to look up any previous instances of tiredness or sleeping sickness, as Mellia was sure Venlar was prey to it, and Silor had also been sleeping unwontedly.

The library had no scrolls on sleeping sickness, and Xenofos did not commend on the general paucity of scrolls in the room. The other scribes were delighted to set up a desk for him, as an important foreign visitor. After drawing, or at least reading, a blank, Xenofos went back to Mellia to say he had found nothing. They went looking around the city, and found that other people were also falling asleep, as if they had some strange sickness, or had been bled dry by vampires. Mellia spotted people sleeping at the market. Xenofos noticed a couple of men with Hulta tattoos. Puzzled by the lack of symptoms other than sleepiness, Mellia suggested talking to High Healer Eldeya, who was certain there *was* a problem, but had no idea what it might be. She mentioned talking to Farinst, as he was intelligent and also was not Vamastal.

Farinst, when finally found, was happy to help, and in fact considered it his duty, as that morning he had overslept and kept the King waiting for an hour. Xenofos did not trust the open, apparently guileless expression, and guessed that he was in fact envious of Vamastal’s position, although he pretended well. Farinst admitted to disliking Vamastal and his antic, but said he thought that the King was the right man, returned. The ex-King suggested that Divination might be the only course at this point, but had no idea if Orlanth, Ernalda, Lhankor Mhy, or Chalana Arroy would know anything.

• 1
  She had not, but her personality was all over it.