Session Season 6, Prax 25

1630, Sea Season, Death Week, Freezeday (to start)

Dramatis Personae

Events

The group was nestled amongst the Telmori, camping out for the night. Varanis took the last watch, and before Yelmrise she poked Berra awake. She had asked the Telmori to let the King know they were heading out, and if he wanted to touch base he could.

The probably a law-speaker said the kiiing does not have need of seeing you right now. Nobody there really understood what he meant, although Lord Raven pointed out to Berra that these primitive hicks – the party – do not understand the concept of plausible deniability and should things go wrong in the city, the King will be able to say he had nothing to do with this. Berra did not get offended by being called a primitive hick in the presence of semi-naked stone-age werewolves.

The group met up with Irillo in Jonstown and as a group headed to Boldhome at speed so that Berra could return in time for Lord Eril’s worship.

Entering through the North Gate, Varanis, Berra and Maalira got to see the impact of the pirates for the first time. Berra had emotions. Varanis had more emotions.

Maalira went to the house and reassured Varanis that they could get new things for the Praxian room. Varanis returned to the Temple of Humakt and danced/fought up a storm as a lay member.

Berra went looking for D’Val, but was tracked down by Lady Graria, who informed her that her presence was required by the High Sword. He was in prayer in one of the minor chapels but stood instantly when she came in, not even seeming to pass through the intervening space. Berra reported “It’s my duty to report that I may be a danger to you and the regiment.” Eril… laughed. Laughed… He was patronising about the chances of Berra endangering the regiment or him, the Hero, although he did ask her reasons why, and she said Jar-eel had come into a Heroquest because of her. He told her that it was known Jar-eel could get into HeroQuests, and the demigoddess was still dead, and Berra should have checked if unsure. Berra pointed out that she was not unsure, just wrong.

Eril suggested that Berra go with Irillo to Tarsh so she could learn more about Jar-Eel. Without Lord Raven. Thus, she would have to study reading much more than she had been. To make up for the sword she was leaving behind, he gave her a bronze sword (a duck-length broadsword), which he pulled out of the slit in his long sleeve, like it had been hiding there impossibly.

Back at the house, Maalira decided that maybe she would go to the hospital to help with the possible injuries from the Humakti rituals. Maalira noticed that the white dragon statue was moved (maybe). No major injuries occurred during the night. Beneva asked about the songs she’d heard about Maalira.

Berra and Varanis danced until near dawn, with Berra also having other duties, at which point Varanis went to salute Yelm at the Air Temple. She then went home to get Maalira and Berra before they went up the 1000 steps. She checked on her jewellery and found a scribing stylus there which she did not know she had. She was not even sure what it was made of, but with some thinking Berra managed to identify it as a mallard tail feather, and a complicated way of Devolin saying ‘kiss my arse’.

Berra stopped on the way up the steps. There may have been some casting of spells. Varanis staggered up the stairs.

Argrath stood to greet Varanis, moving almost like a dancer down the steps of the throne dais, at a fast pace towards her.¹Nobody passed Insight Human. Varanis specialled Loyalty Kallyr and criticals Loyalty White Bull…

“Ah, our dearly beloved cousin. Now all our hopes are complete, for now the exile once more has his family around him.” Argrath made a hug attempt. Varanis accepted it. There was a big Sartarite back-slapping hug. “All! Our dearly beloved cousin and counsellor has returned. Rejoice, all, open the best wine we have, for surely on a new night after a day of Death, new life has come to the Kingdom.” He’s clear of the hazia and looking healthy.

When wine is brought, Argrath pours for Varanis and then for himself, and hands his off to Lord Ebron, who looks at it in slight surprise, and hands it off. It gets to a servant who pours for other people. “Now, you I know, and your companions I think I have heard of. Indeed it is said that greatness walks amongst us.”

“Is he saying the greatness is him or the greatness is us?” – Berra

As soon as Maalira is introduced he gestures to one of the bards. It’s one of the ballads of Maalira, but only slightly exaggerated. It’s plausible! There’s a certain amount of ‘it is said’. Berra checks out the bard for Truth Runes.

“Ah, the favoured dagger of Humakt.” – Argrath
“Yeah, I held up your advance in New Pavis for 20 minutes.” – Berra

“I have decided that in future consultations of the tribes, Duck Point should send someone. Whoooo should I best discuss this with?”
“The Ring of Duck Point, of course.” – Berra
“And who should the messenger be?”
“…. an Orlanthi priest. They best represent Sartar the King.” – Berra
“Wise counsel.” – Argrath

Argath sent the group off to eat, drink, and be merry, and then Varanis starts mentioning the Telmori. “I have heard your words.” He had, he pointed out, to balance history with the ‘sensibilities’ of his chamberlain. Venna was oddly absent. Varanis bit her tongue.

Argrath talked a bit more, showing that he knew the party would be travelling west. He asked if they happened to pass the grazelands, could Varanis’ herald send something in that direction? If not he could seek others.²To help him marry the Feathered Horse Queen Varanis went to sit down, sip wine, and stare at people.

Maalira noticed that there were a lot of Praxians absent. Venna was not there, and there were surprisingly few people who were Praxian-powerful. There was a shaman in the corner, a pile of rags and sticks. There was a High Llama rider, and a … sable? Argent? Weasel? The room was very light on Praxians. Varanis noticed that the surviving Sartarites were mostly here, although Beneva was at work. None of Kallyr’s hero-band were present, but beyond that it was hail to the new chief, same as the old chief. There was a certain amount of genteel jockeying for position.

Varanis looked for evidence of people’s reception. It seemed she was the best thing since sliced kumiss. The King has just greeted her cheerfully and poured her wine – clearly she was worth knowing, and not worth carefully ignoring or no I never met her before in my life-ing. Varanis was polite.

After a while, a curvaceaous young lady came over with an amphora and sat down next to Varanis. Varanis was pretty sure she’s one of Kalis’ people. Berra was pretty sure she recognises that chest, and keeps staring at it.

“The High Priestess is very happy to see you once more, and obviously cannot renew her acquaintance on the same terms as before, while she is married. However, word has reached us from the Paps…” She leant over.

Varanis muttered, “I see. It was a … good ritual.”

“Perhaps later on if you’re not too fatigued you might care to share.”

“We’ll see how I am…” Varanis had just been at Temple, after all. Varanis shared with the others that there may be another child at the Paps. When the woman stood up, Berra remembered her; she was a talented Temple dancer. Varanis retreated from the court once it is polite to do that.

Varanis visited the Flame later, and a voice said, ‘my niece’. She wondered if that is an aunt or uncle, and insofar as a voice could come out of a roaring flame with gender, it sounds male. It was definitely coming from the middle of the flame. If it was somebody corporeal they had worse problems than gender proscriptivism.

Varanis greeted the flame with the uncertainty of not knowing who she is speaking to. He said, ‘remember me.’ She asked, ‘can you prompt me?’

“I in life learned much of rule. Now I am here and am us, and something is amiss.’

Varanis reckoned this bears more thinking, and touched the metal of the brazier. This is hard, because the flame was now burning hot. Her right hand was burned. Ouch. “Okay. I need to do this, though. I need to figure out who this is, and what’s wrong.” She tried again, but this time with a couple of points of Shield. She tried once more to trace Runes despite the blisters. Orlanth took that one for her. It was uncomfortable, and she knew it should be burning her. She traced the Runes and calls for Grandfather Sartar to see if he would respond.³Failed Worship ‘Remember me,’ said the voice again, and then the link was broken.

Varanis looked at Kallyr’s grave then, where a broken sword was stuck into the ground. She poured out some wine, carefully with her left hand, and told Kallyr that she would be remembered.⁴Varanis had promised to make no oaths of vengeance. However, she decided she would find a way to preserve Sartar and the memory of her name. She went to Maalira to get healed.

Maalira learned more healing magic in the next week. Berra took Lord Raven to Wilmskirk. Irillo gave her gifts to take to his son; when they were presented Yamia sent him back gifts of slightly greater value.

Berra tried to find out how dead Gunda was and had a dream of Gunda in the grave, but also Gunda alive and praying by the grave.

• 1
  Nobody passed Insight Human. Varanis specialled Loyalty Kallyr and criticals Loyalty White Bull…
• 2
  To help him marry the Feathered Horse Queen
• 3
  Failed Worship
• 4
  Varanis had promised to make no oaths of vengeance.