In a desperate, end-of-the-world attempt to come up with something that will help save the people of Arx when Azazel and his Abyssal share army come for the Thinnest Point, Medeia gathers the best magical and alchemical minds she can think of to do something Medeia /doesn't/ do: make poison.

Having had luck in the past - before crossing the threshold! - with creating targeted tools against specific threats (like Thornweave Fire and the talismans that protected against the Horned God's magic), she sets out to create something that will specifically harm Abyssal beings. She's not even sure what this is going to take. But she's going to TRY. The blood of Godsworn? Nethicite? She'll clear-cut her gardens if it helps.

After some discussion about collateral harm and intentionality, the hope is that, if successful, the poison should be something that can be coated on the weapons of defenders, perhaps coated upon their armor, and set in strategic traps (near the Thinnest Point?) that can be deployed to great effect without potentially harming allies.

Mabelle is not foreign to experimenting with all those elements. Metals with primum, odd plants, gemstones, her own blood and the time she spent in the Lyceum. Time to mix and try not to die of the explosion.

Galatea's skill at alchemy has few equals. Be it poison, unnatural herbs created during the Platinum Shift, nethicite, or even the blood of the faithful, there are plenty of avenues to take in research. The ritual (revelation 52) of Striking Through the Mirror contains certain techniques for targeted strikes against individual demons, but perhaps it might also provide clues as to more general patterns for substances that threatened demonic lives.

Thea knows about alchemy. A lot about alchemy. Poison. A lot about that too. She will use her knowledge as well as a touch of something else to help aide in the the cause. Thea has her own special additives afterall.

Eirene is an expect occultist. Even without her magic she knows what she's doing with rituals, as well as having knowledge of alchemy. So trying to craft something which harms the enemy isn't too farfetched.

Poison is not Mirk's specialty, but he's worked on the Thornweave poison before, and he helped bind Azazel as well, once upon a time (Action 2936 & Clue 2925), and he knows the rite to hide knowledge from the Despite (Revelation 34). So he draws on that pool of knowledge to attempt to devise something, anything that can harm Azazel. He's in a supporting role, providing advise and knowledge, and perhaps some primum towards a shared ritual, if he needs to.

If it weakens their enemy, even slightly? It's worth it.

So while Mia is no alchemist, she does have an extensive knowledge of the occult. Even more than that, she has a small orichalcum figurine that has long acted a shield against the Abyssal entities controlled by her father, protecting her from their sight and their assault. While she won't offer it up as an ingredient, surely it can provide some helpful insight through.... uhhh... inversion! Yes, inversion. If her figurine protects the wearer from the Abyss, then surely the inversion of some of its properties might help a person attack the Abyss. That makes sense. That totally makes sense. She'll just be standing waaaaaaaay over there while the alchemists test this theory out.

Aco will help, she's only soso with Alchemy but she's got a lot to controbute to a poison. Especially when armed with a bit of magic.

Lianne has spent the majority of her adult life studying the Abyss and its denizens, including a stretch of years specifically focused on how shards are formed. She is uniquely qualified to assist with this project and will focus her efforts specifically on concocting a poison especially effective against shards that this project might drastically reduce the hordes' horrifying numbers. She may be able to provide a shard, if the team would benefit from having a test subject.

That 'blood of a Godsworn' she was talking about? Is me!

Caspian may not know poison or magic very well, but he does know weapons and abyssal. He is quite proficient with the stabbing of and being stabbed by abyssals. There is a trick to making a blade coating, to viscous and it simply drips off, to gooey and it doesn't infect the sight. he offers his insights into weapon coatings as well as how best to fight abyssals and get the poison into their system.

Did someone say poison? Not that a Velenosa Prince who has somehow survived into his sixties would know anything about poison. Okay maybe he knows a little. And maybe he knows a little about the occult. Just maybe. And what little he theoretically does know he uses to help the Lady Medeia with her task.

Mirari is skilled at making poisons, it's something she knows a great deal about and has expert knowledge on. It's more than just alchemy, Mirari herself creates poison through magic. Mirari is also a master weaponsmith and will craft weapons specifically for this cause, seeing if there are ways to alter the weapons design to better hold the poison itself. She will focus all her skills into developing something powerful and effective.

Noah knows all about poisons. He even knows about customizing them. Using them as needed. Dosing people at parties to experiment how they work out. He even knows a few secrets here and there to make them more potent. He is more than willing to lock himself away and study it day and night. He's more than willing to assist. He's more than willing to help come up with a way to help out.

Agric may not be an alchemist, but he does know the occult and is an excellent scholar. He's going to spend time researching anything and everything that may be of use in developing this concoction, focusing on texts relating to the Abyss and similar matters of the occult.

Olivia is going to use her gift with plants to try and rush some hybridized plants that may have a greater impact on Abyssals, with the hope of creating a plant that can have extracts harmful to the intended targets.

Tamsin is not an alchemist, but she is a physician and an invoker. She will lend her necromancy powers to the experimentation, adding death energy to anyone's experiment that wants it. But her real contribution to the effort is going to be in providing leadership! She's going to help arrange lab schedules and coordinate assistants. She'll provide cheerleading to keep people interested and motivated. When things are caustic to touch, Tamsin lends her skeleton pal to carry them around. In short, she'll lead how she's been groomed to lead: by pitching in everywhere there's a gap.

Titania is not good with postions or plants. But what she is good at is talking to people and diplomacy, so she will help get materials. She will talk to those she has to, sit and explain how important this project is.

Raven helps Medeia by letting Media test the potion on one of Raven's spare weapons making sure it adheres to the blade, isn't a hazard to the wielder and so on. Additionally if there is time, Raven will try live testing the weapon with Caspian by finding a low level (non friendly!) demon like a wraith suitable to test the blade on to try to verify the effects.

It did kill a tremendous amount of shards, and certainly was successful against abyssal creatures. Whether the traps in the the catacombs did some good against Azazel is harder to say, but it likely slowled him down, considering he didn't immediately cross into the Thinnest Point.

The Knights of Solace are dedicated to the protection of travelers on the road. As such, we will be sending out units to protect the refugee travelers to ensure they reach safe destinations under the guidance of Solace, that the wounded are taken to Mercy stations, and that they are not robbed, threatened, or attacked in their journey. Hopefully, the kindness of Solace and the security we can provide will encourage some memories to start coming in.

Brannen will help both in the distribution of men as well as in leading groups of knights on their escorts. He will fight those who endanger his proteges and offer kindness and comfort to those requiring solace. As knight and as Godsworn, he will do what he can to offer moral support as an example of knightly virtues, showing those losing hope that the Knights of Solace will not leave them to their fate.

Nurie's skills are not those of a knight, but she does lend her soothing touch and demeanor to help keep those fleeing calm and cared for. She's managed to bring with her clothing castoffs of various sizes, as well as her kit so that she can make things fit more appropriately to utilize any supplies Solace might have sent, as well as to upkeep the knights' own garments when necessary. In the relative anonymity she'll have here, she'll be those kind and loving hands to slip a coat over someone's shoulders, make sure hands are protected with gloves, adding an extra lining to a cloak, mending things while those fleeing sleep, spending time silently or with gentle small talk when it's time to rest. Her love for people is quite genuine, and she'll attempt to have it be yet another light amongst many, for Solace and refugee alike, to help strengthen the hearts and minds of those involved in the evacuation.

The first patrols don't return. Then the next wave doesn't. Then a very major escort, more than enough to handle shav attacks doesn't. And it's not until Jeffeth, Brannen and Nurie head out of the city towards the Northlands to see what's happening do they see it.

They pass wave after wave of refugees, huge columns slowly moving, and there's smoke on the horizon. There's roads that go from Bastion up towards Bonespire, parts of the Great road, but in those northern reaches of the Gray Forest, there's no end to the shavs and Compact citizens alike fleeing south. And as they clear the gray forest to the start of the Everwinter, moving to the top of a high crest that serves as a vantage point over the frozen north towards Bonespire.

It's an endless horde. They can see miles and miles, and they can't see the end of the army, with thousands upon thousands of banners showing the maw of azazel, a mouth that moves and gapes like a living things on their battle standards. And at a closer glance, it's not men marching in the army. Not anymore. Abyssal things, mishapen shards, tattered in armor and twisted by abyssal corruption, and winged demons are among them. An army seeming without end, marching towards Arx.

A pair of winged demons spot them on the crest, and begin to swoop towards them, moving to attack and slow their retreat so they are enveloped by the marching horde. As the winged creatures swoop closer and closer, there's a sound of something like a horse neighing from the treeline behind them, and a giant glittering unicorn jumps out of tree line, and it's mouth just opens wider and wider, and then like an almost snake just swallows the two demons midair then lands and gallops off. It's quite possibly the weirdest thing Jeffeth and Brannen have ever seen but they don't have much time to contemplate it as they make a retreat south towards the safety of Arx.

To strengthen the Lyceum's legacy and form things that will stand the test of time, the Lyceum's past must be understood and accepted. Malrico was a large part of the history, good or bad, its a simple truth and when he was killed it did not change the fact that he had his fingers in more pies than people knew. After his death a map was found, and while it was not like any other map it was clear that it led to something and whatever that was was connected to the Prodigal. Sierra and Sienna brought the map to Jaenelle, and from there it was decided that they would finally figure out the strange symbols and unusual landscape to see where the map would lead them. There is no possible way to know what is at the end of the journey, but whatever it is is part of their history they will take back for themselves.

Jaenelle will use her magesight to attempt to work out the odd map, looking for any clues which may help reading it go smoother as well as finding where the map leads.

Sierra is, naturally, joining on the adventure as one of the providers of the map. Though she can more or less defend herself if need be she is more offering her support as the map owner (well half the map owner since her twin also holds it) and provide support as a more social type or healer type.

Medeia is not the explorer type her sister is, but she is in possession of a vast amount of Lycuem history in her library pertaining to Malrico, the True Lyceum, House Pravus, various Metallics favoring Lycene holdings (like Platinum for Saik, Brass for Hawkmour), and on and on. This map is weird, but so is the history of the Lyceum! There is bound to be some hint to understanding the map somewhere within all of her shelves. Further, the map is probably magical and/or Abyssal. Medeia will further look into any information she might have and consult with her colleagues at the school of the occult in Nilanza to see about uncovering anything that might suggest how to use the map or ensure safety while doing so.

Thea likes a good adventure. It’s been a hot minute since it’s been one for enjoyment. She’ll likely try and show the others how they can be of use, whether it be the map or directing them to some of the others to see in which way they would be better suited.

Pasquale uses his skills in riddles, ciphers and maps to help decipher what the map is telling them. The past informs the future and perhaps there are great lessons to be learned wherever it leads.

Jeffeth is a Knight of Solace sworn to the protection of travelers under the light of Gild. And this is clearly a civilization building exercise. And also also - Jaenelle's the one asking. So of course he takes up the task to accompany the journey and serve as a veritable mobile fortress of defense against anyone foolish enough to try and even singe a hair on the Archduchess' head.

Vasile is a grand strategist. To the point he knows how to move pieces and make sure work continues even when things seem too dynamic for planning. He will employ his strategy expertise to make sure things go smoothly.

Vitalis has ideas about the map, he stares at it intently, but he isn't as learned on the matters at hand as Medeia, nor as gifted with ciphers and riddles as Pasquale. Maybe he'll see something. When they've unlocked the secrets of the map, he does what the Ghost of Ostria does, scouts ahead and makes sure that there are no nasty surprises.

Noah is bored and a little adventure could handle some of that. It could perhaps be because he's been researching Velenosa and languages for a bit. Or it could be that this is his final boss level (it's been a good ride). Regardless, Noah is going with his normal flair for diplomacy and relations - this means he's using his brain for figuring things out and perhaps his persuasion at dagger point if needed. He will research what he can about the map and assist how he can.

Arman considers himself an expert on the history of the Lyceum and on the top of Malrico. As much as one can hope to understand a Herald and the shifting landscape of the 100 cities. Arman hopes to use his expertise and intellect to help decipher the map, wherever it may lead.

It's not easy to find. In fact, it's nearly impossible to find, hidden amongst so much else.

There's a villa in Lenosia. It looks older than most, and it's in among the residences in the oldest part of the city, but it escapes notice as one small villa amongst the very many. It's only on careful investigation that the villa, truthfully designed to be overlooked, has an odd quirk- no one in living memory can ever remember a single person ever entering it or leaving.

Inside the villa, it's simply decorated, and exactly in the style that seems modern enough, and completely unexceptionable. But it doesn't quite make sense, as the place is spotless, but there's no evidence of anyone ever coming in to see to it, or clean it. The Archduchess is able to determine why.

The place is under a powerful glamour, and as she unravels the magical threads around the villa, it becomes clear the spell is old. Extremely old. Older than the Lyceum. Older than the Hundred Cities.

Older by far.

It's a very simple stone hut that is revealed after the glamour is dispelled, and a well hidden trap door in the floor of the place. Descending, they discover an immaculate carved stone passageway leading to an underground chapel constructed of pure gold, and adorned with every gem imaginable. Abyssal script lines the walls. A shrine to Avarice.

The shrine has a mural, telling a story. It shows the very first humans in Arvum, possibly escaped slaves from the elves, and shows their fear and hate directed towards their once captors. It shows a group of humans praying for salvation, and then an image of someone that looks all too like Malrico. It shows the Hundred Cities being built as his direction, with working in allies in Setarco. It then shows the destruction of Caer'alfar, and Malrico holding 13 diamond rings, and then dispatching them out.

The mural ends with several displays. There's a robed figure that looks very much like the Horned God trying to wake the moon, and Malrico recollecting the 13 rings. The final picture shows him placing the rings in a box of black diamond, and the rings shattering, and Malrico casting down the Archfiend Avarice, and ascending to godhood in her place.

On the altar rests a box of black diamond. There's a note written in elegant handwriting that says simply, "To the victors."

Jeffeth and the Knights of Solace will be escorting the newly arrived refugees to safe harbor and shelter. The knights will be protecting the refugees at their landing and riding through with them to various locations throughout the compact to provide them a new home. The Knights of Solace will be gathering in force to support these large groups of refugees, because of this, they will be in position to support the Templars should martial conflict arise.

At their arrival, the Knights of Solace will be providing full security for the refugees to allow them to be cared by the Mercies before escorting them across the land to various safe harbors owned by the Compact.

Jeffeth himself will be amongst the throng of his knights, leading by example. Riding with his knights back and forth to ensure their safe paths. He will most of the time try to endear himself to the refugees, dismounting and hiking among the refugees as one of them. Carrying their burdens, their children, maybe some of them at times. He will pledge his strength to be their strength, so that they are assured they are truly welcome and safe here.

Natalia will be providing comfort and assistance to the refugees while they are on the move. There is a great deal of very scary change going on for a lot of people, and so Natalia is moving amongst them and doing everything she can to keep people calm, hopeful, and tended to. Socializing, telling stories, explaining things sensibly, finding things for people to look forward to, and so on. She'll help at meal times and the like as well. Lots of lending a quiet, comforting presence.

Podraig will be assessing the refugees for combat ability and pointing out those who could potentially pose a danger to Natalia or Jeffeth as the case may be. He'll also be assisting Natalia with providing further assistance in the process.

Rohran will be joining the effort, assisting in whatever way he can. When large groups of people move like this, there's always work that needs doing, and he's not a man who's averse to getting his hands roughed up and dirty. Carrying things; setting up, and tearing down camps; sitting around campfires and drinking ale. He's a man of the people, even these people.

Adalyn will be joining in the effort to assist the flood of refugees. She will be there predominantly as support in whatever capacity is needed - helping to carry items, listening to their concerns and experiences, sharing in burdens both physical and emotional, providing a safe space and an empathetic ear.

Bree became a Knight of Solace so that she might do some good in this world - and here is the chance. These refuges wanted nothing of their plight, and now in their freedom she will make certain that they are cared for, protected, and made to feel safe. Along with her fellow knights, she will ride along with the group, walk apace with them, carry their loads, lend an ear when they wish to speak, a smile when she deems it might help. Throughout, she will also offer her sword to defend them. A true Knight of Solace, she hopes.

Vesper will join her fellow knights in guiding refugees toward some semblance of respite from the drums of war. As boots on the ground, her time will be spent walking among the weary travelers and attempting to keep their minds focused on the road ahead and their spirits up. She'll learn names, share stories and offer companionship to those shouldering the burden of loss. She will also frequently break from the group to scout for any surrounding dangers and report any problems that can't be handled by a lone knight back to the group. The nights are long, and Vesper is distrustful of the road's many threats, so she'll coordinate with the others to sleep in shifts.

Bhandn will be heavily focused on keeping an eye out for trouble (e.g. ambushes). He's also bringing along extra supplies and calling in a few favors to try and accomodate for some of the refugees, as well. While his primary focus will be upon martial services and preventing loss of life, he'll be applying some of his past charity work in the Lowers (action #3647) in how he distributes the extra bit that he's brought along.

Brannen will try to ensure that neither refugees nor the helpers come to harm. Hence he will beforehand check the routes the trek is going to use. If he has enough time, he will also try to foresee difficult terrains and obstacles which may necessitate a change in routes so that they know of alternatives if necessary. During the travelling, he will command the forces of the Knights of Solace so that they are evenly distributed across the refugees so there is always a helping hand where necessary.

It's no surprise that Lord Richard Wyrmguard puts forth most of his efforts in seeing to the health and well-being of the refugees, aiding with the Mercies' efforts to see to their health before the escort begins. He also sees to contributing to making sure everyone's nutritional needs can be met along the way (150 eco resources).

While other Knights have their eyes outward, Richard has his eyes inward, trying to ensure no further injuries are sustained by the people as they travel, tracking proper hydration (both a dearth and a surfeit of water can imbalance the humors), even going to so far as to establish proper stretching habits for anyone willing to listen to him.

He isn't a particularly charismatic sort, but its times like this that his straightforward earnestness has the opportunity to come to the forefront. Plus, travelling in full armor is an excellent workout all its own.

Prior to departing to the Grey River Liam will offer some tidbits how he can. While he isn't the most experienced Knight he has the less common knowledge of having been a refugee and understanding it. He provides recommendations and guidance and helps with planning for handling the no doubt uneasy refugees.

It's a daunting task. There's thousands upon thousands of refugees and former slaves of Eurus, and they are all going to different domains in the Compact. It's not like when they are dealing with Abandoned, who are often culturally identical to the Compact and speak the same language. A majority of the Eurusi can't speak a word of Arvani and the different Dune Kingdoms don't share a religion with each other, let alone the Compact. They are frightened and confused by Arvum, and it takes a master diplomat to ease people in that situation.

Fortunately they have Natalia, who is a master diplomat.

The dangers of riots and violence is allayed with her present, letting Jeffeth finally organize escorts by Knights of Solace to dozens of different destinations of the Compact. The biggest concern is really that locals will try to attack the Eurusi refugees, as the drums of war are beating loudly due to Skal'daja, and foreigners who cannot speak the language associated with that are just easy targets. As the columns of refugees finally get underway, more than once the Knights of Solace have to dissuade local guardsmen or townfolk from picking fights, and on least three separate occassions Natalia saves the day by convincing petty lords to let the columns pass through their lands when they had withdrawn their initial permission to let Eurusi through. Liam knows the Crownlands well, and helps plan routes that minimize trouble. Brannen scouts the routes, doing his best to verify their safety. Richard helps train and comfort refugees, and Natalia and the others spend a great deal of time with them, reviewing the refugees and aiding them. Jeffeth leads, the knights of Solace rallying around their grandmaster. It's tense, and as the refugees travel through the Crownlands and to the Oathlands, Lyceum and Northlands, it's a testament to the knights and Natalia that violence is avoided.

At least at the start.

Rohran and Podraig know military men when they see them. Some of the Eurusi are clearly soldiers, and their questioning reveals they are deserters from the armies of the Dune Emperor of Eurus. One older soldier named Ferys seems to get a great deal of deference from the others, but the man is brisk and secretive, only revealing to Natalia that he came from the Dune Kingdom of Glor'Ruus- where the Dune Emperor now holds court. Several of the other Eurusi seem very wary of Ferys and the former soldiers, and one elderly well liked man named Duuj'ra warns Natalia and others, saying that Ferys is not to be trusted. Adalyn hears similar comments as well.

Trouble comes when they get closer to Sanctum, during the last evening before they'd reach the city. Bree, Vesper and Bhandn detect trouble first- movement in the tree line, and the signs of individuals trying to sneak up to the refugee camp and elude pickets. As soon as Bree raises the alarm, armed raiders rush to attack; an Abandoned tribe, the Ulryn Bloodcallers who had been looking for easy prey.

Jeffeth immediately leads the counterattack, and it's likely the Abandoned drastically underestimated the size of the Solace escort and thought it would be largely unarmed Eurusi. As Vesper and Bree cut down initial raiders, and Bhandn smashed through several Abandoned to get at an archer in the rear, Jeffeth gets into a heated duel with who is likely the raiders' leader but his size and violent vehemence. Rohran, Adalyn, Liam, Richard, Brannen- all of them are fighting, and it's chaos in the dimly lit camp at night, and extremely confused.

And that's when the little old man Duuj'ra tries to murder Ferys in his sleep, trying to cut the throats of Ferys and the deserters as they slumbered.

As Duuj'ra brings his blade downward, the old man is pulled backwards by Podraig who is standing with a Natalia Whisper who looks entirely too pleased with herself. Natalia had made Duuj'ra for an Obsidian Huntsman almost immediately from the start, by the answers he gave and the pieces of information had put together. The woman grew up among the highest ranks of nobility and frankly, she knows liars that are vastly better and more practiced than any huntsman could ever hope to be, and she could tell when something just fit a little too neatly together and was ever too convenient. Duuj'ra the 'elderly' man springing catlike at Podraig and ruthlessly pressing him despite Podraig's edge in reach is more confirmation, as the 85 year old man practically batters Podraig off his feet with the force of his blows as Podraig parries and tries to counter attack. With a war cry, Jeffeth rejoins the fray after finishing defeating the raider warchief, and he presses Duuj'ra together with Podraig, as Ferys and the deserters are waking up and trying to help as well. Duuj'ra jumps suicidally at Ferys, and Jeffeth cleaves Duuj'ra in his side while Podraig takes the man's head off.

Afterwards, Ferys admits that he is Ferys'nam'ruus, an exiled prince from the Dune Kingdom of Glor'ruus, and has come to Arvum to seek aid against the Dune Emperor. He wasn't sure about the Arvani at first. Now, it seems, he can trust them. Particularly Natalia. She doesn't stop looking pleased.

Astrid, asked by Father Aureth to help the Liberators expand their focus to include more than just slavery, has taken this task to heart. The staunchest holdouts on accepting the First Choice in his proper Pantheonic place are those of the Oathlands. So that's where she's traveling first!

Astrid is recruiting Liberators, protectors, and other story-tellers to come with her.

The group will gather in Arx when it's time to leave and take a boat to the border of the Oathlands. There, it's Astrid's plan that they'll borrow some horses from the local Knights of Solace post and begin to ride across the Oathlands delivering sermons, telling stories, and convincing people that not only is Skald an important god to know, but that his message holds application to their everyday lives. She seeks to spread the doctrine of Freedom, and the understanding that the importance of a choice is in understanding there will be consequences and accepting whatever those might be.

Astrid will preach it! Whether through a quiet story around a shared campfire, after buying drinks at a roadside inn for everyone, or from a pulpit with a local seraph's permission; Astrid will be extolling Skald's doctrine and how it underpins the Compact and has influenced their culture from the start.

And, if along the way they manage to convince the Orthodoxy to accept the Lost Gods, then that's a bonus.

As one of the few Oathlanders openly devoted to Skald already, Marquis Gaston Blackram will be joining Sister Astrid's pilgrimage to spread the Good Word of Freedom. He'll share personal tales of Skald's influence on his life and House, as well as why he feels -- especially in these troubled times, with rumors of cultists of Skald's Reflection and slavers popping up everywhere -- that Choice is so important an ideal to fight for on every level; even Orthodoxy itself is a Choice, after all, and so every true Oathlander should be proud to stand for that freedom, and he'll do his best to exhort his fellows to the cause.

This isn't Aleksei's first rodeo in the Oathlands. Beyond just having grown up in Sanctum and knowing How Things Are there, he also traveled back to his home city with Aureth back in the day to first open the conversation about the Lost Gods with the Pure Faith crew. So he takes all of that experience and tries to incorporate it into his approach. He knows that Oathlanders love their theology, so he starts with that foundation, making sure to make it just clear enough that he knows what he's talking about, that he's not just some RADICAL from OFF THE STREET, but with the common people he gives it all a more personable touch than he did with the Seraph of Sanctum. He wants this all to feel /real/ to the people. Practical. He wants to share his enthusiasm for Skald and all he stands for, and impart his love and passion for freedom to those they meet. He talks of the history of the Compact, how humanity came to Arvum fleeing slavery, how Queen Triscali banished it from the Compact some centuries later. How foreign nations like Cardia and Eurus put people in chains.

But not us. Not the Compact. And just because they forgot who Skald was doesn't mean they forgot what he stands for. They're all of them, all of humanity, Children of Skald. And they were born to be free.

Zara's here to make sure that everyone plays nice, with an emphasis particularly on helping the Oathlands -- those stubborn, change-resistant Oathlands Orthodox -- accept the change. She is Valardin. She is a Disciple of Gild, a god beloved by the commons. She apprenticed under the Seraph of Sanctum. She has those Oathlands Orthodox bonafides to help ease the change. She's adept at translating the scary and the new into bite-sized chunks, and she's here to smooth the way with a touch of diplomacy to ensure that Astrid's message is well-received.

As the group of pilgrims make their way across the Oathlands and make their conversations, their conversions and praise the First Choice - Prince Talwyn Valardin will be back in Sanctium organising a party.

It will be a liberal affair as far as the Orthodoxy would see it, white and red wine from the Oathlands as well as fresh farm foods. Hearty bread and cheese - salads and beans, fine music and the special guest - Archlector Astrid. Members of the Orthodoxy will be invited to attend and see the dedication, hear the stories, from the Archlector and the other pilgrims. All in the Great Hall within the House of Valardin within the city.

Music will be put on from several artists sponsored by Prince Talwyn, as well accommodation provided in the House for those who have made the whole trip.

Who said pilgrims don't get to finish in comfort?

Raya isn't an Oathlander by birth, or Orthodox, but she's very adept at walking the Oathlander walk and talking the Oathlander talk due to her years of service and training in a seraphy in those parts. She'll enthusiastically put this to use to spread the good word about Skald. Searching for ways to spin theological dogma and traditional beliefs in ways that integrate Skald more smoothly into Orthodox practices. She'll flatter their theological purity and righteousness, charm them with songs and sermons, and try to make it seem like really this doctrine makes them EVEN MORE right about everything and reinforces their beliefs rather than being something new and untraditional.

What's a rodeo?!!? The Grandmaster of the Solace is here, with a contingent of Solace knights to express the Silver Order's approval and investment in this project. Jeffeth personally will be doing what he normally does: Pushups. Also, generally protecting the group as well as perhaps impressing people with muscle tricks enough that they may let Hamish talk at them for a while.

While he's along mostly as escort and guard -- both for the party as a whole, and Princess Zara in particular -- Holden is in a somewhat unique position. He's a knight of the Oathlands in every traditional sense of the word, and yet his younger brother was the former archlector of Skald -- indeed, one who helped return Skald's worship to Arx; he's been exposed to the philosophy of the Liberators at some length. He is, in a sense, a bridge between the two: the honor and tradition of the Oathlands, and the focus on freedom and choice that the Liberators espouse. And if this is something important to his brother... well, then he'll do this

And so he chimes in, occasionally. He explains the importance of choice in honor: after all, having honor means /choosing/ to do the honorable thing, even when it's not the easy thing. If you have no /choice/, then there's not really any honor to be had either, is there? Freedom, too, is important; if there's no honor to be had without being able to choose it, then what honor is there in taking away all of another's choices?

Perhaps his words won't carry that much weight, but then again... perhaps some fellow knights will listen, as well.

Everyone else can party and evangelize and have nice events and tell people the history or what have you. Hamish is going along to find the most irascible brothers and sisters and seraphs that he can and then arguing them into the ground until they agree that the Lost are great and yes they're going to start preaching about them. He might even use charts. Because he CAN.

Anisha takes care not to wear her mask in public while on this journey. But the task of the Mirrormask is the same, whether masked or not. Encourage thought and reflection. Encourage active choice. And isn't that a lovely thing, when one's trying to speak up the First Choice and his place in the Pantheon among his Lost siblings.

While she has some skill in addressing the masses, Anisha is far more interested in penetration - as a Whisper she can usually gain access to Seraphs and nobility, and sit down to have a careful, thought out discussion. With her love for words and playing, she entangles them, and presents the ideals of the Lost. She's careful to only speak truly, and more interested in having the arguments her fellows present become arguments for her case.

It's not that Astrid and her team are not persuasive, it is not that they are not dedicated, and it is not that they can't present the doctrine in its complexity. It's more that the Oathland holdouts are so stiffly wary of anything new, no matter how "old", that for every seraph they can convince that Skald's doctrine is a forgotten tradition and a valuable part of dogma, they worry that at least one finds some perceived conflict to pounce on and obsesses over it and will not be persuaded.

That isn't . . . quite what happens.

For example.

One seraph allows Astrid to preach to her congregation and quietly supports and extols the virtues of choosing virtue, actively, passionately. Another, neighboring seraph seems initially convinced that should the doctrine spread the commonfolk, one and all, will all go crownsworn and abandon the fields. But as word spreads of crusade, he softens. He becomes excited. Yes, yes, the commonpeople love Skald. The common people will be ready to fight.

Gaston impresses one seraph with his title and background. He seems struck by the notion of Orthodox dogmatism being a choice, of not being a filthy cultist as being a choice. But another seraph seems initially argumentative about being a filthy cultist also being a choice -- until crusade comes up. Yes, being a crusader is a wonderful, shining choice, oh, gods, he always wanted to be a crusader.

Aleksei has somewhat heartening luck with the people, especially the lowest of the common folk, for whom the least idea of slavery is especially frightening and unpopular. Some of them seem ready to arm themselves with rocks and sharpened sticks against Eurus, far away as it is now. This at first spooks the seraph, and then -- inspires him. Look how eager the commonfolk are to arm against the darkness. Crusade!

Zara's status as disciple of Gild helps one seraph make the connection between choice and trade, choice and charity, while another seraph tries with great and infuriating patience, to help Zara recognize that clearly Skald isn't a separate ideal from real and well-observed ideals like Gild and Lagoma. Why add more complexity to simplicity? Except that if it leads to crusade, of course. Yes, the sigil of the broken chain does look very stark and inspiring. Crusade! Holden's tie of freedom and honor is especially popular. Freedom to march, freedom to fulfill grand obligations, obligations to the gods and to the nation. Crusade!

Talwyn organizes a gathering, a mingling, and soon enough, soon enough, the conversation turns from theology to shining armor and shining swords, to fervor, to marches. Raya's new songs are beautiful and when performed by some of those present, seem to take on the tenor of an anthem. Jeffeth's muscle tricks garner scattered applause and the occasional stare. Some of the knights muscle back at him.

Hamish finds that the most irascible brothers and sisters love to argue and take harder and harder line positions against his barrage, but the sheer weight of his arguments and his skill and deploying them combine with the rhythms of excitement for the upcoming conflict. They begin reinforcing his arguments. What was lost can again be found. Especially in the service of a crusade.

Anisha's skill with words and charm is absolutely and stunningly exceptional, but enough of the Oathlands folk are likely to see freedom as too close to doubt that this might normally work against her as a mirrormask. But no one is thinking of freedom and doubt now. Freedom is clarity, freedom is godly, freedom is the beautiful contrast to the heretic dark.

In sum, they are successful, they are more successful than they would have been in a different atmosphere, but the tone of their success is a bit more martial and excited, more hyperfocused as the blade of freedom against the darkness of slavery, than they may have intended.

This action is building off of action #2438. It is reference to the hunt for Transition. Subplot #333 'Blade of Change'

It's late at night when Grandmaster Jeffeth comes to the Shrine of Gild. More precisely the middle of the night, the Templars are dismissed to stand outside while a few Knights of Solace help Jeffeth move in a /cart/. The cart is laden with sacks, and pulled before the Shrine. The Knights are dismissed, leaving Jeffeth alone in the shrine.

First he removes his boots and tosses them to the side. Then his shirt, revealing the legendary physique of the man but also the scars winding down his arm that Lagoma had left him on a recent excursion. Bared before Gild, Jeffeth slowly goes to his knees.

"Hi." Jeffeth chirps up to Gild with a soft smile, his hands placed on his thighs. "I think I'm getting used to being Grandmaster now. Thank you, for helping me with that." He falls silent, looking over his shoulder to the cart, then back to the shrine.

"Remember when I prayed to you real hard, and you gave me.. Well it felt like a hug. That meant so much to me. And you wanted me to go out into the world to help, to build up civilization. I've been trying. I have. I got marked by the Abyss for a little bit, I'm real sorry about that. I don't.. I don't know how it all works. But I didn't want to bring it around you, so I'm sorry I didn't come pray here for a while. I just didn't want you to see me like that." Jeffeth hangs his head at this point. "It should be gone now. I got it trying to get a hold of this sword. A sword to make the Silver Order stronger, more capable to stand against Ruin and all these dark servants that threaten us. It was wielded by a woman named Elysia, she was the Aspect of threee Goddesses. You probably know this but just, you know.. Gloria, Lagoma, and Death." He takes in a deep breath. "So I came up with a plan, retrieving the sword is awful dangerous. So I thought each of us would go to one of those three Goddesses to ask for help. Harlex was given a special sword from Death, Juniper was given this special compass from Lagoma. All to make sure we're safe when we retrieve Transition. I tried to go to Gloria and well... I got my chest nearly caved in and had to go on a very long journey because of the Abyssal mark."

He slowly looks up to the shrine. "Gloria and I have never been close, like you and me. Don't get me wrong I respect and honor her, of course." Jeffeth raises his hands in a forestalling gesture, lest Gild get the wrong idea. "Just.. You know. We've never had a connection. Not like I've felt with you. But I thought it was the right thing. Pray to the three goddesses." There's a small shake of his head. "Maybe I was supposed to do it that way, but I've been learning... A lot of things aren't so black and white like that. Three goddesses helped make the blade. Alright. But the blade is going to be used in your service, so why didn't I come to you in the first place?"

There's an apologetic look up to the shrine. "You know I'm still learning. I'm trying awful hard. But I need help along the way. Leading is hard, ma--" Cutting himself off from saying mama he knits his brow. "I'm so afraid of the people under me getting hurt. Leading them into something where they'll get hurt, or they'll die. I'm taking people with me into get this blade and more than anything, I just want to keep them safe." He looks back up at the Shrine. "We'll be traveling in a dark place to retrieve the blade.. So I wanted to ask you for your blessing. That you would ennable me to protect them. Keep them from getting sick. Please, Lady Gild. I ask that you give me your blessing so that I may faithfully serve you. I brought you..." There's a motion to his cart. "Everything I have. All the silver I currently have and all the resources I currently own. It's everything I have right now. I offer it to you freely to do with however you wish. I am your servant, I love you." With his prayer done, Jeffeth falls silent.

In the hours of the night, Jeffeth goes through his meditation stances Leona taught him. Praying through meditation, meditating through his combat forms. He prays for hours, and hours in front of Gild, until he drops from exhaustion or until she tells him to quit it. All in front of his offering, all the funds he owns. It's certainly a lot more than last time.

It is exhausting, to pray so long, to pour yourself out and out and out -- and at some point, Jeffeth does collapse over himself. His forehead pressed against the stone. And he dreams. A floaty, dark dream.

There is a young girl, he can't see her face. He can't see himself. She is walking in the dark. The walls seem dimly textured of stone. He hears a voice, soft and solid and deep.

"There once was a girl named Jane
An explorer of much acclaim
Who roamed alone, far from home
To discover a maze of secrets and stone."

As he watches, the shadows seem to coalesce. Into limbs and teeth. So many teeth. It crawls after the girl, its movements silent, but swift.

"Alone she ventured, hale and whole
And everything she was, the shadows stole"

Jeffeth doesn't see the moment of impact. He blinks in the dream, and the toothed shadow, the girl, the walls, all of it, are gone.

"There never was a girl named Jane"

He blinks again, and he's smaller, a child again, walking in between walls of stone and darkness. He has a sharpened stick and a pot on his head. It would be darling if he weren't so exposed. If he weren't leading a group of masked children in his wake. They're all so exposed.

The voice starts up again.

"There once was a boy named Jeff
Who wished to save others from vile theft"

His hands are suddenly full of something both soft and unyielding, cloth and wire. A rough doll with glittering red eyes. As he watches it in his hands, it leaps out of his hands and runs behind him, runs behind his train of children. He looks behind him, and all the children have dolls, dolls squirming out of their hands and running to the back. It's like a wall. A wall of dolls in their wake.

The voice continues.

"With his friends he built
A poppet blessed by Gild
Sewn with love, gemstone eyes bright
In the darkness, a generous light"

They proceed. The dolls follow them, each of their eyes brightly lit. Red and green and blue and yellow. Behind the line of dolls comes the shadow-creature, with its terrible teeth and claws. He moves. It moves. But it never moves past the line of dolls. Not at first.

The voice continues.

"And while he wanders
The light he ponders
For when it turns black
He knows he must be back . . . "

The gemstone eyes of the dolls begin to dim as they remain in the shadow of the shadowbeast. They begin to walk slower. When the eyes darken entirely, the dolls fall, and the shadowbeast goes howling over them. Toward Jeffeth. Toward his charges.

". . . Or he'll leave his heart in that maze of stone."

The dream fades, suddenly, but the voice remains. Just long enough to whisper. "Be generous, knight of the road. Be gentle. Be brave. For your friends. For the world."

And then it fades, too.

Jeffeth will be making a journey across Arvum. The Pilgrim's Path and beyond. He will be acting according to (clue 3079) gather the prayers of the faithful, endure the rials set upon him and deliver the prayers back to the spellsinger(s) in Arx. Before going off on his journey, Jeffeth will fast for thirteen days. A week will be taken to recover and get on food again and spend times with friends and loved ones before departing.

Jeffeth will be listening intently to the Gods and is intent on performing all tasks and trials alone. Sir Corban has been marked on this task as well and will be joined to it. Jeffeth's squire is to accompany the quest as well. However, Jeffeth gives explicit instructions that if they encounter 'trials' that they perceive to be from the Gods that he must commit to them alone. Unless they receive contrary instruction from the Gods themselves. Otherwise the other two are to witness his quest and return with the prayers should Jeffeth fail and fall.

He will dedicate himself to the task no matter how long it takes. If they hear of heroes of the faith, or potentially very faithful individuals on the road they will go out of their way to speak with them, and record their prayers. They will help any who are in need of it. During their travel Jeffeth will spend many hours in prayer and meditation seeking their next path. They will continue until Jeffeth feels they have completed the quest, which may well be quite a while. Whenever it /feels/ right.

Sir Corban (quite against his will) has been drafted as Jeffeth's squire for his quest as a Knight of Songs to gather the prayer of the Faithful. It is perhaps a role reversal for them (both historically and in the present day, given Corban's role as First Captain of the King's Own), but it is one that Corban takes up willingly. He will render whatever aid that Jeffeth requires on his quest, but the Knight of Solace is the one in charge here.

The roads stretch out endlessly, even for a Knight of Solace, even for a Knight of Songs, and Jeffeth finds himself relying on Corban's skills with putting together a camp and food as the nights accumulate. The walk itself is a trial. Although the gods do not speak to either of them at any point, the journey is certainly no easier for the lack of formal trials. They run across washed out trails and villages that have just suffered a raid. Being good folk on a journey that demands care and extra effort, they help clear burnt fields and rebuild burnt houses. They patch up ailing roads and help feed ailing children.

And as they integrate themselves with a large scatter of communities, big and small, they gather prayers and songs of devotion. Some are extremely simple, children's traditions passed down for generations. Some are dense with harmonies or imagery and Jeffeth and Corban have to get transcriptions to have any hope of passing them on. They gather prayers for every god, and often for many gods at once, melancholy and celebratory, mourning and hopeful, those with music, and, largely, those without. It is an archival treasure that they piece together, and an archival treasure that they must protect on the road. These long and exhausting roads.

When at length they return to Arx, Jeffeth finds himself confident of what he has brought -- not all of it will be useful for the spellsingers, some of it will surely only be of interest to scholars, but he and Corban have gathered more than a few that thrill them just to read, that fill them with inspiration and energy, that make them want to be more themselves, that make them feel freer. And once they enter the walls and deliver the wealth of words safely to a spellsinger, Jeffeth feels the mark crystallize hard and shatter off his skin. And Corban feels a lightening of his heart, a strangely -- literal lightening.

Transition was originally wielded and presumably made powerful by Elisia. Elisia was born of Three Aspects. War of Gloria. Change of Lagoma. Endings of the Queen of Endings. And so the group seeking to acquire Transition is taking it upon themselves to make a great offering to each goddess. Asking for their help and protection in pursuing Transition now known as Everblight. It is said the Princess of Corruption corrupts maps, and she infects people with strange diseases. So the small team has divided themselves among the three Goddesses, asking for direction, for protection, and success.

Dame Imi Deadfall and Sir Jeffeth Bayweather are the two that are petitioning Gloria in her aspect of war.

Jeffeth and Imi go to the shrine of Gloria and state their purpose to the Goddess. Then for thirteen days, they will give everything they have to honor her.

At dawn, Jeffeth and Imi will take to the field and face any who come to fight them. The invitation is made far and wide, loudly, in Arvum. Imi and Jeffeth will face any challenger, as long as all parties agree to sparring/blunted weapons. No matter who comes, no matter in what number, Jeffeth and Imi will fight side by side.

They'll fight until they drop. Every day. However long that takes each day they will hold out as long as they can, and then in whatever time is left before the next dawn they will try to rest and recover, then do it again. A harrowing experience to be sure, but every moment of it will be dedicated to Gloria. Every drop of sweat, every ounce of blood. All offered to the Goddess.

Imi and Jeffeth will ask that any who come to challenge the pair of them make a donation. At least one silver piece per challenging group. On the thirteenth hour of the thirteenth day all that was offered in donation to fight the two knights will be sacrificed in fire to Gloria.

In return, they ask that Gloria give them the strength and prowess required to cut through the Labyrinth to take claim of Everblight and purify it.

The blade will be kept by the Silver Order and if ever the Faith of the Pantheon goes to War, a vow is made that Transition will be there. Bringing War to the enemies of the Faith.

At the start of the 13 days, Imi will re-affirm her vows to Gloria. In addition to all the things Jeffeth has outlined, based on their previous discussion, Imi is also saying her payers to Gloria each morning and night. And finally, Imi will take a squire from the honorable youth who show up to participate or learn while she is there.

Social, Military, and Economic resources attached to assist with this action and represent the work done.

It's thirteen days of blood, sweat, and tears. Champions come from across Arvum to test their mettle against Jeffeth and Imi, as well as squires, templars, and knights of all kind. Young men and women attempt to prove themselves and attract their notice, in the hopes of becoming squires, while the older and established champions merely wish to fight for Gloria. The donations are relatively modest, but there is a great many of them, and they offer them all to the firepit in the hopes of an answer from Gloria.

An answer does come, after a fashion.

It's on the thirteenth day that they have a lone challenger. She's a slight, frail-looking woman, covered in a large tattered shroud. More curious yet, she appears to be blind, bandages covering her eyes. There's a sense of something... strange as she enters the Shrine. A wrongness that puts them both ill at ease. With every step the strange woman takes closer to them, the unease grows... and they can see that as she walks across the field, the grass has withered and turned black in her wake. "She remembers me." Her voice has such a strange accent - unlike any they've heard before in Arvum. "She cannot help me, but she remembers me. And how I have suffered for her." The woman lets her shroud fall away, and her appearance is most extraordinary - a delicate, pale, blonde woman with pointy ears, wearing a form of black and white clothing which appears to be made of a mixture of feathers, or leather, or silk... or stranger materials yet. She points to Jeffeth with a delicate gloved hand, covered in the same strange material. "I sought Everblight in her name. I was the Aspect of Crusades. When I was slain by He Who Waits, I was made to linger, and they sing songs of my hubris. From the primasens of Eagles to the Wolves, they sing of my folly. You have not heard it, of course." She comes closer still, her movements unnaturally graceful, and now they can see she has what might be the remnants of small wings, tattered and torn. "The Eater delighted in devouring those stories. Less warning for those who would follow. He thinks what happens to mortals who cross He Who Waits is -hilarious-." With each word, her voice has become more filled with silken malice, and then she moves.

She moves almost too quickly to be perceived, a blurring of white and black motion. Jeffeth and Imi wisely stop attempting to use sparring weapons, for what it's worth. Her own weapon appears to be a shattered blade, and when Jeffeth attempts to swing at her and she parries, his arm is filled with incredible pain as his wrist snaps - it feels as if he hit an iron wall. Imi makes her own lunge, but finds herself on the ground when she's shoved away - and then a moment later, there's the sound of both of her legs snapping as their visitor stomps upon her. When Jeffeth turns for another attack, he finds himself sailing through the air... and then impossibly, the woman intercepts him, her palm shattering his armor and leaving him barely conscious on the ground.

"Gloria spurned me when I challenged them in his name. But you dare think she would heed you? You, who bear his mark upon your heart? You saw him, you bloody fool. You -saw- his shadow, and that let him touch you. That was enough. More than enough. He has given you a task, in his own way. A simple task. And I tell you now, little child of Skald, that you will complete it. You will linger until he has decided you have atoned. Living or dead, it will be done." And with that, the woman turns to go. The field has begun to turn completely black, all the vegetation dying. As an afterthought, she tosses what appears to be a golden coin through the air, landing in the cauldron of the firepit where they had placed their offerings. There's a hissing sound as the fire ceases, then a shattering as the cauldron explodes, the entire firepit now covered with ice.

In the remnants of the firepit, upon the hill of ice that now covers it, is a single golden coin with a rabbit upon it.

A group is gathered. Some he knows far better than others, they are not all his closest of allies, not all his closest of friends. But they are, in Jeffeth's eyes: Good people. Good in their different ways. All good in different ways and on their different paths. On the thirteenth hour, on the thirteenth day, this motley group joins the large man in the Lower Boroughs. In the Tragedy. Where Jeffeth grew up. Where Martin died. Thirteen candles are lit as Jeffeth welcomes each person with a warm smile and a tight hug. When the thirteenth hour begins, Jeffeth starts the ritual.

"Compassion." Jeffeth rumbles lowly. The first tabard Jeffeth ever owned, the one given to him by Brother Martin, the only father he ever knew is burned. The man tells a short story about Brother Martin. A story about how Martin once lied to a guard, a guard who caught a child who stole from Martin. A hungry child. But Martin had compassion on the boy and spared him from punishment. That child would later become Jeffeth's brother, Andry.

"Love." A stuffed corgi is put to the flame. Jeffeth's eyes welling up. "Our greatest strength and greatest weakness." He offers no story, yet watches the corgi burn.

"Passion." A mask of a fawn is placed in the flame. "It can drive us to go beyond who we are and what we are. With it we can achieve much." He tells a story of how he danced with a woman in a fawn mask. How their passion transported them to another place entirely, how their passion would empower them and enable them in their stories to come.

"Generosity." A toy knight is placed over the fire and burned. Jeffeth tells a story of how Brother Martin learned to carve, just to give some of the children at the orphanage toys like other children had.

"Humility."

And on and on it goes. Thirteen ideals, thirteen sacrificed items. The ritual all told is one where something dark becomes light. Where something tarnished becomes clean. The big man tells a quiet story after each ideal. And slowly, so very slowly, a grander story is told. Historic wrongs being made right. If scars can't be healed, at least a salve is put on them. Something soothing and warm.

It's a story of turning from the past and looking to the new. While being aware of the past, things must be set new. Hearts must be turned, kindness must be offered.

Shard is here to watch and listen, and watching and listening is pretty much all she intends to do, unless something should somehow go catastrophically wrong. She'll stand silent witness to the ritual from start to end.

Umbroise is honored by Sir Jeffeth's request to support and witness his cleansing ritual. While she has no real use for magic herself, she understands the importance of what he is trying to accomplish. She will be there to witness, and to lend her support, and to learn.

Carmen Harol joins Sir Jeffeth's whatever-this-is, polite but skeptical, listening attentively, one member of this motley crew of good people. She says little, grins where appropriate for the stories, and seems to be taking her social cues from the Whisper on what to do during a whatever-this-is.

Lothar is fascinated to see the ritual in person, and returns Jeffeth's greeting warmly when they gather on the thirteenth day. He watches the burnt offerings and listens to Jeffeth's tales in thoughtful, studious silence.

Jennyva has no idea what's going on.. But everything's fine! She asists doing whatever she can for the ritual, watching and learning as best as she can.

Selene is one of those excellent observers. She listens and pays close attention to Jeffeth's every action. The stories bring out smiles when delightful, sorrow when called for. Not a word from her til the end, but she will watch all the same.

As a witness to the Knight Commander's ritual of cleansing, Isobella watches with polite interest, her cool visage warmed slightly when Jeffeth speaks of her protege, his younger brother Andry Bayweather. What makes a person good? What landed her on this list? And who would scoff if they heard tell of it? All irrelevant in the moment, and she's here with her support.

Everybody knows that if you give a bear a cookie, he (or she!) is gonna want a glass of milk. Just in case there ARE suddenly bears at this ritual, Riagnon isn't bringing cookies so much as... a layer cake of white chocolate curled torte with edible pearls and flourishes. As for the other thing - he's just gonna trust that there will be Oathlanders around with milk. What were we talking about?

Tescelina stands as witness to Jeffeth's cleansing, listening to his story and -- of course -- learning all that she can from the ritual.

On the thirteenth hour of the thirteenth day, Jeffeth prepares his rite of cleansing. He gathers in the Tragedy - home to him, a place of much memory, good and bad. A place where childhood memories linger. Where the death of Brother Martin still haunts the halls. Where children's laughter hangs in the air.

And he lights his candles and starts by speaking of compassion. Then love, and passion and generosity. He has a big heart, does Jeffeth, and the sound of children playing comes echoing through the corridors of the Tragedy. The more he speaks, the more it feels like some momentous time.

This is the time. This is when - and where - the next generation will be built. They are all building for the children, to leave them something better. Something stronger. Old wounds healed. Wrongs made right. A fresher, cleaner world, given to these children - the ones who have been, the ones who are, the ones who yet will be.

Yes, there's love and laughter that linger in the air as his rite concludes. Love, and laughter, and hope bright and sure, like a warm hug that brings comfort even against the darkest times. Things are getting better, aren't they just?

Marquessa Rhea Acheron has tasked Umbroise with the weighty matters pertaining to the conflict between House Bellerive and House Threerivers, and all of the things that have spilled over since. She will be personally traveling to Threerivers, with a proper escort of course, to see if she can talk some sense into Count Trevor, and convince him to withdraw his troops from the lands of House Bellerive and to cease harassing the vessels of Harthall.

On her way there, she will pay visits to the other vassals of House Acheron to talk trade, spread propaganda about how war is bad for trade, and spread a message of unity within the March. Her hope is that by doing so, she will help reassure the other vassals that House Acheron won't tolerate aggressive actions, but offers its support to its vassals in time of need.

When she arrives at Threerivers, she will seek an audience with Count Trevor of Threerivers to see if she can convince him to bring his troops home, that a siege of Bellerive risks a war with House Blackram and its vassals. She will attempt to convince him that none of this is good for trade, and she will offer him some heavy incentives to withdraw those troops such as support in laying claim to some of that disputed territory. One of those incentives will be an exclusive right to a corner of the new great marketplace that the Marquessa has planned to build in Aviaron's Peak.

She will sympathize with him, be fully supportive and understanding for the losses suffered among his soldiers, listen to his grievances and do her best to see them addressed, but she will be firm. While he may be free to do what he wishes within his own lands, besieging the lands of another fealty is not an acceptable solution. She will, however, do everything in her power to assure him that she has his best interests at heart for the sake of the March as a whole, and wishes only to help him out of this difficult situation. She'll try to convince him of the benefits of the Great Road, and how it will help to bring trade to his County, being so close to it, once these disputes can be settled.

Should he agree to return home, Umbroise will do her best to negotiate a deal to divide those disputed lands between Threerivers and Bellerive so that the lines may finally be firmly drawn to everyone's satisfaction. It is her hope that in doing so, future conflicts will not ensue. If he doesn't agree to return his troops home and end the siege of Last Bridge, well... that would be up to the Marquessa, surely, as to what will happen next. But Umbroise hopes it doesn't come to that.

It's no mistake that Riagnon is accompanying Umbroise on her mission. Symbolic of House Acheron's honor and legitimacy, the House Sword's presence is meant to speak to the gravity with which Marquessa Rhea takes these conflicts as well as her investment in discovering a happy denouement. Not a diplomat himself, Riagnon will defer to Umbroise on most matters while flexing every muscle of knightly etiquette in his possession. Hopefully Umbroise doesn't make him fight anyone to the death.

New to the conflict, Kenna is quite happy to be a force behind the scenes. She charms her way into various confidences, working mostly among the army to sway minds and hearts towards a more peaceful action. It's her intent to sway the public opinion against the conflict. She reminds them of the trade ties that are fraying and close to severing. Leaning on her merchant background she reminds them of how scarce food gets during conflicts, and the approaching harvest season that will go unharvested if the armies are not in residence.

Radhilde is not very knowledgeable about everything politics but one thing she knows for sure is that something large is at stake. She fully supports Umbroise, not just as her sister but in House Acheron's ultimate goal of peace, so she also joins the journey to Threerivers. Radhilde intends to use her wits at her sister's side as she lends agreement to her offers of peace and efforts to reason with Count Trevor and will use her perception to take note of anything amiss.

Jeffeth has been asked to accompany the retinue heading up to Threerivers. With him he carries the authority of the Knights of Solace. But mostly, he's bringing big smiles. The large knight is here to offer his support for any negotiations that could be made with the opposing parties. He of course will be making sure to protect the group should anything happen. But mostly he is here to provide support. If they reach any negotiations, if there is any assurances the Solace can make, he can act as an obective representative of the Faith. Peace is best here guys, come onnnn.

Lady Umbroise Acheron's actions are absolutely vital, and in the end make all the difference for ending the war between House Bellerive and House Threerivers. Countess Tresa Threerivers at first is furious and wants to avenge her father, but all of them have their ways of helping talk Threerivers down from the ledge they are at first determined to try to leap off of. Umbroise and Radhilde have an advantage in that their coming to Acheron was relatively tragic- they might be of the liege's house for Threerivers, but like Countess Tresa, they know loss. It's deeply meaningful for her to see Umbroise help oversee the return of the bodies, and then have all the members of House Acheron speak and plead with her. Kenna is meaningful, as a new member and an outsider who has a fresh set of eyes, and speaks compelling about the losses from continued war, while Riagnon as House Sword is a symbol of how seriously Acheron takes the mission. (And he doesn't have to fight anyone to the death.) Jeffeth as a presence helps as well, due to the respect commanded by the Knights of Solace. Ultimately, it's their efforts that has Threerivers willing to seek peace, and agree to the meditation of disputed territory by the Faith as being pushed by the Whisper House.

Riagnon lost his turtle, Responsibility. He's assembling a team of the most talented minds, swords, and bows in all of Arx to solve this mystery!

"Hello, my name is Responsibility. I'm a Crownlands hardshell turtle and this... is my story..."

So begins the 8 1/2 page mission briefing and summary distributed to all those involved in the rescue of Responsibility, the reckless turtle.

In addition to detailing the animal's day-to-day at the Acheron's residence in Arx (life on the Grand Shellington Estate, the turtle-sized castle where the noble turtles of House Acheron reside; relaxing by the turtle pond in Acheron's 'Glacial Grove' courtyard garden; drinking at Spirits in the Redrain Ward; the occasional appearance in the entirely mirror-lined locked closet located off of Mydas's former quarters), the documents also include a few wildly inaccurate factoids about turtles as a species. For example, it claims that one can determine the gender of a turtle via smell according to Marquessa Rhea. It also suggests that as turtles age and grow, they abandon the shells of their youth for newer, larger ones found out in nature. A very vulnerable time for any turtle! Who put these two in charge of a place? Oh, right! No one.

Dame Esoka Greenblood, Gloria's Sword, former wielder of the Twain of Riven, Disciple Leader of the Templars, and prodigal knight of acclimated esteem, will use all her questing powers to find Responsibility, the reckless turtle. She will utilize her knowledge of turtle habitat and habits gained as a girl in the riverlands. She will ignore the factual inaccuracies in Lord Riagnon's instrutions (bless his heart) and tell the people she meets in her search accurate things about turtles. She figures he found a place under the ice to wait out the winter and will check frozen-over ponds and garden arrangements in the Redrain Ward. She prays to Petrichor that nobody ate him. That'd be a tragic end to their noble quest.

"Riagnon, none of these turtle facts are true!"

Eleanor, the (RESPONSIBLE) owner of all of the other residents of the Grand Shellington Estate, is aiding in the search for the missing turtle. This largely consists of two things:
1. armed with strawberries and every turtle fact she knows, Eleanor will try and marshal the other turtle-hunters into some sort of organized turtle-hunting force. They will look in the pond, they will take a census of the Grand Shellington Estate, they will check the spoopy mirror room, they will (carefully) look underneath any old towels or discarded laundry. They will otherwise listen to Eleanor's wise and excellent turtle-hunting leadership.
2. shouting at Riagnon about his incorrect turtle facts.

As Rhea's protege, part of Calaudrin's job is giving Riagnon non-terrible advice. He'll try to manage that this time, when he's not combing the streets, looking in sewers, checking puddles, ponds and reflecting pools for the turtle. He also asks numerous tavern owners if they've been serving TURTLE STEW recently. They better not be.

Tikva is vehemently ready to go on this great turtle hunt. She blithely discards all of Riagnon's advice when it comes to searching for turtles, but spends her time examining the parks and outdoor areas of the Redrain Ward, and a little in the Crown ward, and a little just like... you know, around. It's like a scavenger hunt.

Umbroise really doesn't know what's up with this turtle business, but she'll help her cousin out and see what she can find. She'll first check her own rooms, to make sure the turtle isn't hiding there! And then she'll use her charm and manipulative skills on the Household staff to see if she can root out anyone who may have seen the little bugger... er... turtle.

All of Austen's knowledge about turtles comes from Riagnon. This is concerning.

As is the fact that he's trying to avoid Eleanor every time the subject of turtles come up. Which is difficult to do when you're working together to search for a turtle.

Mostly, to help find Riagnon's missing Responsibility, he's trying to figure out what he would do if he were a turtle. This mostly involves making maps of the Acheron residence and moving a little turtle figurine around it.

When outsiders fight over our souls, when the beast below us threatens to engulf us. When the days turn darkest. We must band together. We must show strength. We must

Find this damn turtle. Jeffeth doesn't have a lot of turtle tracking experience. Though he has found a couple on accident, and he is hoping that real world training will apply to this situation. Like most things Jeffeth really wants to apply himself to, he'll just do it doggedly. Tiredly searching probably the same place ten times over. But he doesn't have any quit in him. So he'll keep a searchin'.

Rhea, who has gotten just-- really, really great at this leadership thing, trust her, she'd give herself an A+, is going to give a rousing speech to the would-be turtle questers. She will be sure to ensure these valiant heroes that they will have all the thoughts and prayers they need to succeed in saving Riagnon's failed -- she means lost, sorry, -- Responsibility. Also? PLENTY of turtle facts (likely to be fact-checked on the spot by Eleanor, but whatever). Finally, she will offer a mysterious REWARD to the one who does, in fact, find Responsibility.

Jasher probably wishes he brought some rum, now.
Sufficiently moved by Riagnon's eight and a half pages of briefing and summary regarding Responsibility, Jasher will join the others in searching for the lost turtle. While his knowledge starts and stops at what Eleanor can tell when she's not shouting at Riagnon, he can combine what little he knows with good old logical thinking to map out where he would go if he was a normal wayward turtle. Come the Abyss or high water, he's not leaving a rock unturned.

In the Grand Shellington Estate, missing turtles are among the most serious events. The men and women who search for them comprise an elite turtle task force. This is their story.

The staff has the 8 1/2 page document in hand about turtles, though even as Riagnon is beaming about his amazing presentation, Eleanor is already marking through lines and correcting the wildly inaccurate factoids to anyone who will listen - which is mostly Rhea, who is being extremely indulgent as is her wont, and Austen, who has a look of long-suffering on his face - or perhaps he's just anticipating suffering a long time. Eleanor is gesturing with strawberries and handing them out to everyone as she continues her educational conversation.

Esoka searches the pond, her lips moving in a prayer to Petrichor that said turtle is not frozen under the ice, or stolen, or.. or eaten. Turtle soup is a delicacy in some parts. Some parts other than here of course. Nothing so awful would be cooked here - and Esoka finds no sign of Responsibility.

Calaudrin takes the show on the road, looking in streets and sewers and pubs and taverns. If Responsbility is taking the day off, he reasons, wouldn't he want to get drunk? But if the turtle isn't going to get drunk, well - this ale won't drink itself and Calaudrin does an extremely thorough job of investigation, and seems happy enough to do it.

Jeffeth is enthusiastic, to say the least. Enthusiastic, but not terribly effective. He goes through the house calling for Responsibility, and he sounds Very Serious when he does, but Responsibility does not show up.

Tikva, having watched all this for a while, is suddenly nowhere to be found.

Jasher, pleased with what he keeps calling a so-shell outing, joins Umbroise in the search, and the spiders - yes, even in a well-kept estate like theirs spiders do dwell - start to swarm. And they start to lead the way to a room... Casimir's room, as it happens, and there's a scratching on the door.

Responsibility! Found at last, for some reason in Casimir's room, and safe - if a little hungry. And just as Riagnon is happily reunited with Responsibility, Tikva bursts through the door waving a very surprised turtle that looks -just- like Responsibility. "I found him!"

Success!

We're going to the catacombs.

It has taken a while to get everything set up and learn about the catacombs. Tunnels change. It's hard to navigate. There are servants of the Queen. Certain parts are more dangerous than others. After learning a good amount, plans are being drawn. They will take the secret entrance into the tunnels under the Murder of Crows. Fitting since there objective revolves around a Murder. Jeffeth has information (Clue 2833) that suggests information about crows and their unusual history may be lost under the city in the catacombs somewhere. So a crack team has been assembled and they will take an expedition into the catacombs to search for this information.

Magpie made a deal that if he opened the door, he comes along. So with Magpie providing the entrance under the Murder to the tunnels. Magpie is along for the trip. Mae knows the way from the tunnels to the catacombs. And Aureth comes to keep Death's servants from harassing the group too much.

Once down they will let their need for the information guide the way. They bring along a lot of items that have been suggested for navigating the catacombs. A lot of chalk. A few very large balls of string. Extremely long wooden poles. A lot of candles.

This is Jeffeth's trip, but he's not the most keen on digging up information or finding things. So he will mostly be focusing on protecting his companions, hoping his more sharp eyed friends find something that may help them.

We go searching for crows!

Does Caith have fighting abilities? Nope. Can she heal people? Nu-uh. So why is she down in the catacombs where she might encounter living skeletons and other assorted peril? In a word: ADVENTURE. Armed and armored with her trusty Jeffeth, she is going to use her tingly senses to help figure out where they should go. Mae is the authority, of course, but maybe something will jump out at her (hopefully not literally). One could say that she intends to stretch out with her feelings..

Surely everyone going along is very capable and formidable. However it's always good to bring a healer along and Juniper is just that person! She packs up a little first aid kit, sets aside her natural uneasiness at the possibility of facing animate skeletons (Death likes her, right? Please please please please) and goes along with the team to help keep people alive.

Mae's been asked about the tunnels under Arx. Fact: No one knows them better than Mae. Okay, maybe someone does, but really, Mae knows those tunnels quite well! So, she's going to be going down with Jeffeth and his team, acting as a guide. Jeffeth's assured he has one of Death's Chosen (Aureth) with him, so that should keep the skeletons from attacking. Hopefully. Right? Mae will then lead the group onward, to Death's domain.

Sir Andry Bayweather may not be quite the warrior his brother is, but is quite good at other things such as finding things which are lost or incoming deadly rolling boulders.

Aureth is not a warrior at all. He doesn't exactly stroll into the catacombs entirely secure in his own person; he comes wearing the spider's silk tunic in all its steelsilk protection that was gifted him by Death, for example, and he doesn't come without being armed, his trusty (crappy) crossbow and its set of bolts packed along for the ride. He can't leave behind his escort because after all he is a Legate of the Faith even if he is a Legate of the Faith doing something rather silly. But his aid in this endeavor is primarily to come, and pray to Death, and generally to let it be known to any nervous or upset skeletons or zombies that he's okay with Jeffeth. Jeffeth is an okay guy. It's fine.

They travel down to the catacombs without further ado, looking carefully for any sign of crows or murders or something. They begin of course in the Murder of Crows bar. That's a good sign right? And since they're going under the city and down to the catacombs and the Necropolis, they bring Legate Aureth and Harlequin Mae and they hope they don't wreck anything important.

Mae knows the tunnels, at least the ones near the Murder, and so she takes the lead with torch held high to illuminate the tunnels. It's quiet here, the only sound their steps and the skittering of crawling things in the darkness that pervades. It's a little eerie, but worse is when they hear a howl of something that sends shivers down their spines. Mae quickly redirects them in a different direction.

Danger averted, it's Caith now who holds up a hand. "That.... way." They are standing at the junction of two paths, and one leads down and one leads up - and she strangely points to the one that leads up. Isn't down where they want to go? Caith is adamant. And so they go.

Up goes the tunnel, and then sharply down again, and now it's Andry who pushes them all out of the way as a statue, previously unseen, comes crashing down from an alcove. It narrowly misses them - was this a trap? Or just a weird coincidence? Spiders skitter out of the hold left by the statue toward the group. Spiders everywhere, and the torch Mae holds blows out, plunging them into darkness.

The spiders converge on Aureth, running up his legs, covering him completely until he is nothing more than an Aureth-shaped mass of spiders. And then he turns and takes a step toward the alcove where the statue was. One step, then another ponderous step, heard and not seen while Mae struggles to relight the torch.

It's Juniper that finally gets it going, just in time to see Aureth vanishing into a hole in the wall made by the statue that fell. Step. Step. Step. And through to a path that leads down, a path that has not been walked in decades - perhaps not in centuries.

At last they come to a halt as a snake slithers toward them. It's a big snake with a book in its coils, and as it stops before them the spiders at last release Aureth, vanishing into the darkness and cracks as the snake stares at them all.

Jeffeth steps forward bravely - this snake is big enough to devour a person, even someone of Jeffeth's size. But it does not move quickly, no. Instead it releases the book from its coils, hisses at them once, and then slithers back down the tunnel, leaving them to their knowledge.

The journey back is thankfully less eventful. Though strangely, when they leave the alcove the wall is repaired as though there never were a statue or an alcove in the first place.

Strange.

After extensive months of research with her protege Jordan, Lou figures she has enough information to go on to start the search for Whitepeak, the fallen city of miracles. She is armed with current maps of Frosthaven from an expedition set in 1006 by members of House Ashford, as well as bits of research that suggest that Frosthaven is at the base of Whitepeak itself. Lou intends to take a group of explorers to journey to Whitepeak, starting in the Frosthaven area, to see if they can found the mountain trail that takes the group up to this famed mountain where the Metallics once trialed their magics. She will be bringing with her the standard exploration gear that may be needed, and ensuring that all travelers are outfitted with that same gear (represented by economic writs), as well as a small group of warriors for additional protection (represented by military writs).

(Lou has the following clues to back up her search for Whitepeak: 769 - In Search of Whitepeak, 839 - A Civic Enterprise, 827- In Search of Triscali, 1093 - The Fall of Whitepeak, City of Miracles, 487 - The Fate of Frosthaven. Lou also has the Explorer Journal from the past Explorer trip to Frosthaven entitled: Society of Explorers - Frosthaven Expedition - 7/13/1006 through 7/22/1006 - which is located in the Society Journal Shelf in Arx - Ward of the Compact - Society of Explorers - Map Room.)

Delilah provides a wealth of experience with the wilds and the weird to the expedition, especially where it comes to recognizing odd signs and evidence for older cultures lurking about. She knows somewhat of what to expect. Especially when it comes to the Metallic Order! So this will be her foremost focus, gathering academic clues or insights as they arise. She can also look for proof they're headed in the right direction, and such. She lends a strong background in linguistics that may be relevant (see +lang/list), especially for identification of less than commonplace languages. Don't look to her for much in the way of combat expertise, but she has a trove of knowledge to tap into to help keep the group safe, informed, and educated. Also, she'll be a record keeper for the Society of Explorers.

Mason wants to see miracles! But really, adventuring with Lou is it's own reward. How could he not go? He'll let her plan everything, she's far better at it. He'll make sure to pack extra warm clothing but otherwise trust everyone else has things prepared.

Eddard is along for the ride. His patron, Lou, is bringing him along to snow. He hopes it wasn't her idea because of Tycho. Eddard is the overlap between Bard's College and Society of Explorers. Perhaps. So much talk of Metallics. He is bringing a hatchet and a mount.

A trip to Whitepeak! Jeffeth is here, as always, to use muscles. Jeffeth is a good tracker, but his primary strength is.. well strength. So he will be the one climbing ranges, securing lines, pushing the front, watching the back. He will be doing all the physically risky business first to ensure the rest of the group is safe. He will also have his armor on him and his weapons in case for some reason combat is required. The groups safety is his primary concern, then finding Whitepeak. However whenever they make camp? While the guards they pay for keep watch, Jeffeth will go out for a little while every night. He probably just needs to stare at the stars and reflect by himself or something like that.

After lengthy travel, the party finally managed to reach the presumed site of Whitepeak, to find a surprising amount of the city still standing. It was a dead city, a city of empty buildings and ruined books, of broken marvels and scattered bones. But among the wreckage wrought by Lorwroth Kinsbane, they did find a few glimmers of knowledge. They found buildings of foreign architectural styles. They glimpsed what might be a system of writing they'd never seen. They found a tiny clockwork griffon, a crystal that can capture sunlight, and one of Platinum's writings.

The long search has ended, and they finally found the city. Now a new long search begins: the sift through the rubble to find the useful scraps left, in hopes that some tiny part of the dream that was the City of Miracles might live on past the city itself. It will take time -- years -- and far more than one expedition to sift through the remains. But the city remains, still there at the end of that very long road.

And adventure awaits.

Jeffeth is going on a journey for memories. He's never really had a memory before of his lives before. Tickles at his mind but nothing real. But this is not for nothing. We're not going on a memory journey just to have memories, we're going on a memory journey to find something special. Jeffeth is in search of a tool, a talent, an ally. He'll be meditating and trying to find something that he had before, when he was more powerful something that could aid him now. He's aware he was an Adept. But he knows Amber has her tools, perhaps Shale had something special as well.

So Jeffeth will be meditating all over. He'll be swinging his giant hammer around and going through his meditation motions at Solace Square, at the Sovereign Bridge, at the Tower of the King's Own, at the Lodge of Petrichor, at the Hall of Heroes. Shale probably never was at Arx, but perhaps something about one of these places can trigger something.

Finally, in full armor, Jeffeth will meditate at the Nox'alfar embassy. He has requested his ally Leona try to run interference so no one at the Embassy tries to fight him, but he will do it all the same. Swinging his hammer around and fighting the air viciously as he meditates. If he gets engaged in a Folly, he will defend himself and do what he needs to do to survive. He will do this for days, until he summons something up that perhaps he can use.

All across Arx, Jeffeth meditates. He practices his moving meditation, sword forms taken to high artistry. In front of the clock tower. In front of Crownguard Tower. Near the Nox'alfar Embassy. Sometimes people come to spar him, but it's not until one of the Nox'alfar joins him that something happens.

It starts innocently enough, just a man sparring one of the Nox'alfar. But as he starts to lose himself in the swordwork the pace speeds up. And speeds up. And speeds up more. And he is out of control now, responding and not thinking, trusting instinct and hoping this Nox doesn't mean to kill him. Jeffeth is sweating, but the Nox'alfar just smiles and picks up the pace again.

He knows the Nox'alfar can kill him. He knows it, and with that knowing comes something else entirely. A vision, at last.

Thirteen lit candles with thirteen objects before each surround Jaenelle as she kneels on the floor. Completely at peace, yes closed with a soft smile, she meditates before the ritual begins.

Her eyes open, and she begins, "it took me a long time to search within myself and those around me to find what I desire most for the world. In the end, I thought of my child and what I wish for them, as they will inherit not only what I wish but what we all in turn wish for. I can only hope what we've left for them is better than what we've been given."

"Love," Jaenelle states the first word, reaching for the scroll associated with it. On the paper are the vows she wrote for her wedding to Mydas. "Love for yourself. Those you surround yourself with. Those you have not met yet."

"Understanding," comes next, and burned at the second candle is a building blueprint for the Nox'alfar Embassy. "Sometimes you may not understand every action done by another, every reaction, but it is important to try."

"Traditions," a small wooden Thraxian toy ship is brought to it's candle, "and the power to embrace change when the tides do."

"Passion," a quill is held over the flame, ink mingling with the melted wax. "Whether the passions of the imagination, the arts, adventure, or personal advancement, each person should always follow what they are passionate about."

"Compassion." A piece of paper, clearly a copy of a page of an official document with names listed down the page. "These names are a handful of the refugees which came to Arx from Stormward. It is important to have compassion for those in need, for you never know when it will be you who requires aide next."

"Patience," a silk rose is burned in the tenth candle. "Patience, reasoning, logic. These are not a weakness when it comes to considering important decisions."

"Security," a chip of a boulder and the crushed dust of the rock is brought above the candle, the flame flickering, "this is a piece of the walls surrounding Arx that I took when parts of it were destroyed and rebuilt. May Arx's wall and those defending the city remain steadfast and strong."

"Loyalty," a ribbon of purple silk embroidered with a fox, "a favor I had made. Loyalty is a two way street, without showing it to others you can never expect it to be shown to you."

"Fortitude," a piece of leather. "This came from the grip of a sword won by Talen during the They Shall Rise competition. We shall always rise above pain or adversity."

"Honesty, and the ability to find you are free to be without judgement," Jaenelle says, and with this she burns a silken veil of green.

"Generosity," a key is placed within the appropriate flame, "the bedroom I lived in when I first became a Velenosa was the Generosity room. It was more than a simple name, but a virtue I embrace with every interaction whether that be stranger or friend."

"Freedom," another scroll, rolled up and burnt. This one a marriage contract, though nothing beyond that can be seen. "Freedom can mean many things to many people. From the Thralls of Thrax, the slaves within other Kingdoms, to the less extreme, freedom is needed by all."

"Prosperity, like the others can mean more than one thing to more than one person," she lifts the final object to the final flame, a handful of leaves pulled from the creeping vines found on the Velenosa grounds. "Comfort. Growth. Innovation. The ability to move forward."

Mydas is present, a silent figure as he watches his wife's ritual, listening, watching, and more importantly, remembering. Witness to Jaenelle's ritual.

HOLY MACKEREL WE'RE LEARNING MAGIC. Jeffeth is definitely calm. HE'S CALM. He definitely is not hyperventilating or making a scene. That is not happening. It might be happening a little. Jeffeth is FOCUSED like no other. Probably too focused, drawing pictures of exactly how Jaenelle's standing, what she's wearing, when she pauses to take a breath. Someone should probably let him know that he doesn't have to wear the same dress Jaenelle is wearing. Jeffeth is so hype, but he's also trying to be a very good student. It's probably like watching a hyper-energetic golden retriever puppy in its first week of obedience training. Trying so hard, but... MAGIC!!! Also. Everyone here gets a hug. Jaenelle probably gets ten.

Like her brother, Eleyna watches and listens carefully, her pale blue eyes riveted on Jaenelle as she goes through the steps of the ritual.

Talen's presence is one that's abnormally silent for the majority of that ritual. There might be even one of those rare smiles when Jaenelle mentions the sword he gave her after the competition he fought years ago. He's there physically, in spirit, or whatever-- in support. Witnessing that offering, that ritual, as it was meant to be.

Calista is present to observe Jaenelle's ritual. She watches quietly and becomes still like a placid lake. Each step committed to memory.

Sudara is observing with the kind of quiet intensity that suggests she is also doing her best to commit the whole thing to memory, though her expression is gentle - almost yearning.

It all starts so well. People gather, some quietly, others with barely-contained excitement (looking at you, Jeffeth). But they settle quickly, calmed by the assurance Jaenelle brings to the moment. She is at peace, and that peace fills the room as she softly begins. In the thirteenth hour, on the thirteenth day, she casts her ritual to cleanse the primum and she begins with words of hope.

"I can only hope what we've left for them is better than what we've been given."

She starts with love, offering a page of her wedding vows. But in counterpoint, a man's voice whispers, "We stood witness, though you saw us not."

Understanding, and now a woman's voice whispers. "Forgive us. We could not stay."

Traditions, and there is a harsh voice, rough and scarred that adds, "Set your sights on the horizon, sail where you will. Tears in our wake, never at our wake."

And so it goes. Each emotion she mentions, and a soft voice whispers a counter, though no one in the room with them speaks save for Jaenelle herself. Until the end of the ritual, and then suddenly everyone in the room is filled with that same peace Jaenelle exudes. That same sense of self, the poise and the calm and the purpose. Even Jeffeth settles now, and as the ritual finishes, they all breathe a little lighter now. And that serenity stays with them, and takes several days to fade.

Crusader. The sword of the Templars, blade of Gloria. In discovering its past (Clues: Crusader - The Templars' Blade, Bay Blades, Treasures of the Templar Order) the Templars have discovered it is located in a cavern one week's ride from Arx, outside of which is possibly the skeletal remains of a fallen Templar. Calaudrin has a cavern which they are exploring, but Preston just isn't sure it is the right one - surely they would not have thought a shardhaven was a good place to secure such valuable items? - so he sets up the large search.

Given a horse travels 40 miles a day, give or take 5, on a long journey it gives them radius to search. It must also be near to the road network which further limits it down. And of course it must be in terrain which supports caverns - it won't be in the middle of the sea, it won't be in a swamp. It narrows it down. But it is still a huge area. Thankfully this has been assigned a high priority by the order.

Preston will be dispatching parties of knights from Arx, hopefully with the assistance of Solace who are far more expert on the roads that they travel all the time, to locate possible candidate sites that match the descriptions in the histories. Though it will be a larg enumber of knights moving, it will be over time, and publicly the Templars will be putting it down to small patrols alongside Solace near Arx given the recent spate of brutal attacks. Just being safety buddies.

Once we have the candidates, then the three amigos (Ok 6 people and only some are friends. The 6 Vaguely Aware Acquaintances?) will ride to check them out. The team is created to bring in those who have supported the research so far, but also those who have sufficient martial skill to secure what they are after as they know the cavern is infested with the abyss. In order to ensure it is correct, Preston will be wearing his Ring of the Order. Allowing them to detect the Abyssal taint without going blindly spelunking and ending up trapped in an underwater cave or such.

The goal will be to retrieve Crusader and the 3 rings that should be stored there, as well as any others. They will bring a small force with them to the cave mouth to secure the area, and also to allow them to bring back goods in secured wagons. Preston will be personally choosing the Templars, and allowing Solace to pick the mercies for that escort, not wanting the Abyss to betray the storage of these artifacts again.

((OOC: I checked with Puffin that 6 people was OK for this mission, rather than the usual 5. However, in order for the code to accept, I've had to set myself non attend because it would have been 6 people otherwise - please ignore that!))

Saddling up once more with feeling, heading off on mysterious ventures based on hunches or intuition (in this case lots of research) is an typical journey for this Fearless Seraph in the company of her sword sister, Esoka. She sticks close by the Champion of Gloria, buddy copping along the way, and to discuss any probable shared twitches or pangs. She brings a trust, stalwart light/faith, that a way will be found, believing in the teamwork of the 6 Vaguely Aware Acquaintances and their Faith in the Gods for what could be an epic ballad of proportions to bring home the relics of the Templars. Gearwise, she'll have her high quality steel armor, diamondplate sword of Eastguard, and back-up lantern of Lagoma and healing pouches (back-up healer).

Esoka saddles up and heads off on this quest with feeling. Literally, in some ways. She occasionally gets /feelings/ when near enemies working the Abyss or, less direly, pangs of direction she feels are tied to Gloria, and she'll be on the look-out for both during their adventures. More practically, she'll take along her diamondplate blade, some holy water, a borrowed flame of Lagoma, and other such trappings. She shall try to come correct to find Crusader and the rings, or at least meet Abyssal things with holy smashing before they overly threaten the party.

Have sword, will travel! Mercedes is along to help if things get dicey -- and it sounds like there is a high probability that they will. Horrible, awful, abyssal monsters that want to kill them? SHE EATS THAT SHIT FOR BREAKFAST. No, not really (abyssal creatures are low in fiber and high in fat; horrible for a healthy start to the day) but dealing with that kind of stuff does come up periodically in her line of work so it is something she has encountered before. Mercedes has her diamondplate sword, her armor and a no-nonsense, can-do attitude. If they encounter anything aggressive, she will hack. She will slash. She will stab. Until the thing is dead. Gone. Donezo. Kaput.

Cora will be using her martial skill to defend what they find. She will also use her healing skills should the need arise. She will be certain to be particularly cautious when it is likely abyssal situations are apt to occur to situate herself so that her teammates are safe.

Sir Jeffeth will be stepping in for Grandcommandermaster Thena. He will be suited up in his rubicund armor and will bringing along Silverfall the diamondplate sword that belongs to the Silver Order as well as his diamondplate warhammer. Unless otherwise directed, Jeffeth is here as muscle. As one of the members of the Six Vaguely Aware Acquaintances (band name, called it) Jeffeth will volunteer to be vanguard and be the meatshield in front of the rest of the party. He will be the guy who climbs things in the cliff to scout ahead, using MUSCLES to guide the way. He also will quietly, when it's nighttime and the campfire is lit, casually but consistently mention how awesome it would be to just hold the sword for a little. JUST FOR A SECOND. If they find it, that is. Above all else, safety first, and Jeffeth is prepared to help with a strategic retreat if needed.

Into the darkness they go, and again the door rumbles shut behind them and there is no going back. For a moment they are in darkness again, but then the darkness starts to be relieved as light gradually suffuses the room. Whispered words fall into the chamber. "So long you have searched. With honorable companions you came. The blessings of the Gods you entreated. In Fidelity you remained true to your quest. With Courage you continued through pain and blood and death. Your Honor you held close, eschewing treasure for the holy relic instead. Through trials you have proven your worth. Find at last what you seek." As the whisper fades an altar appears and on that altar is a sword. It is simple. Beautiful. Perfectly balanced, beautifully made. And in a case are three rings, matches to Preston's own.

Jeffeth Bayweather got the High Lords and the King to sign the treaty as agreed to previously.(Action #2328). He has raised a good amount of funds. It is time to get to business!!! Jeffeth himself will be using his crazy physical prowess to help do the actual manual labor, he'll be hauling stone and moving logs all the livelong day, singing as he goes. Come on guys! Back to work! Yay!

He would like to thank: Archduchess Eleyna Velenosa, Prince Victus Thrax, Prince Darren Redrain, Duchess Belladonna Pravus, Archlector Aureth Grayhope, Marquis Orvyn Harthall, and Prince Edain Valardin for their generous donations to see that the site get built. Let it be known they were the ones who funded this endeavor!

This is to be an orphanage and an abbey. It is meant to honor the Gods and honor Sandrine as a Hero of the Faith for her sacrifice long ago as told in the story of Sandrine. (Clue 29486). But it is not a gaudy shrine or statue, there will be a plaque telling the story of Sandrine, leaving out the part of her current residence. Other than that it is an orphanage and an abbey. Originally Jeffeth had been raising enough resources to build a combination, but people wanted to give and give. So the site shall be one building to serve as the abbey and another as the orphanage. Both will be inside a wall with the inclusion of two watch towers on either end of the walled in bailey. A small area for gardening and farming and some housing to support the staff, soldiers, and clergy who will be serving at Morning Mist Hill.

Jeffeth will also be including a special room in the orphanage. Bigger than it ought to be a room for one person that will more than likely go empty most of the time. It will be comfortable, but not lavish. It will have a large window that overlooks the entire yard where the children will play, with a sword rack positioned to face the window, designed so that the hilt of the blade can face outwards to the window.

Jeffeth will be working hard to help make sure the site gets built, and that it's know that this is now a place of pilgriamage.

Thena contributes the services of the Knights of Solace out on the road to guard and protect those moving to and from Morning Mist Hall, and adds it to the regular Solace patrol routes. The Hall will also become a waystation for Knights moving through that area. She is also SUPER PROUD of Jeffeth even if she doesn't tell him to his face (but she might, who knows).

Being an orphan herself, Harper has volunteered her time with the Knights of Solace as a way to pay them back for helping orphans. So when Jeffeth tells her about this project, she is not only willing to help, but she is also enthusiastic about the entire project. She will pitch in alongside Jeffeth to help build it and to provide whatever support is needed that she can offer. If Jeffeth needs an errand girl then she'll be it. If it's climbing up ladders or other nimble feats to accomplish it then she's more than happy to do that as well.

Jeffeth had no idea how close to Aureth's heart this was going to be, but it totally is, and he supports him wholeheartedly and vocally, both in rounding up support for the project, and arranging for prayer books and Faithy, Deathy accoutrements for the abbey itself. Aureth can be a real powerhouse when it comes to marshalling religious support about something about which he is really passionate, and Roland and Sandrine are pure and good and lovely and he loves them, so.

There are many things that Orvyn does well, but there are some things that he needs to do better and when it comes to charity work, this would be one of those areas that he needs to learn more from. Sir Bayweather has been a long time client and almost friend, sadly the two have not had an opportunity to speak with each other as much as they would both likely enjoy, however the Godsworn Knight of Solace has always been a shining example to Orvyn when it comes to what to put one's effort behind. With that in mind, Orvyn has studied the Knight closely, following his rise in charity and in doing so, has found something that he can finally apply his skills to. Offering funding from the Harthall coffers, as well as his expertise in economic facilitation, Orvyn will ensure that all funds sent to charity will be utilized to their utmost and that not a single silver goes unaccounted for. Unforatunately he knows how beuracracy's work and it is Orvyn's will to see Jeffeth's dream and orphanage realized to the utmost.

With roots twined with the Lowers and having been an orphan himself, Andry eagerly volunteers to be the project's jack of all trades. If there's something that needs to be done, he'll do it. Whether it be assisting with the heavy lifting, or taking on extra Solace patrol duties, spreading the word, building things -- if it needs getting done, Andry's the guy to make it happen. One piece of the project that he takes particular care overseeing is the outdoor play area and the building of physical structures for the kids to enjoy. He makes sure there are plenty of things for the kids to climb on, crawl through, and swing upon. Hey, he might even test a few those swings and crawl spaces out himself just to make sure that, you know, they're functional (and fun!). He won't sing, but he will most certainly whistle while he works.

Martin was delighted when Sir Jeffeth brought this particular project to him. Like many others who are donating their time and energy to the cause, Martin, too, spent many years after he retired from the road as a teacher and caretaker within the local orphanage in Arx itself. He donates what he can in the way of silver and other material goods, as well as the assurance that once it is built and functional that he will continue to offer his time there as well, as a teacher of both religious and secular subjects.

Sabella is talking to all her noble friends about what an amazing endeavor this is! How helpful it will be for the children, how important to the Faith, and how wonderful it is that legends such as Sandrine are honored in this way. She will talk it up while not so subtly hinting that donations would be nice--materials, money, but also manpower to help get this built. The faster it is, the better for the children! She will also stress how wonderful Sir Jeffeth is to have put this all together. What an amazing man to have risen as he has!

What's an orphanage without people to fill it with love? Without priests and knights to open their arms and welcome the orphans, Morning Mist Hill would be just a building and nothing more. So as the site is being built, Caith is going around and talking it up! She is telling people about Sandrine's story, about their journey through the Grey Forest to find the site of her last stand, about how the Reaver's would only allow them to build an orphanage in her honor on that spot if the Compact would agree to a treaty to leave their lands alone, about how all the High Lords AND the King came together to sign the treaty because they all believed in the importance of the orphanage /that much/ and about how now -- right now -- the orphanage is being built. She is bringing people together and she is recruiting folks to staff the orphanage so that on day one?

Morning Mist Hill will be more than an orphanage. It will be even more than a shrine. It will be a HOME.

Sir Jeffeth Bayweather, fresh from the events at the Tragedy, has not just cleaned the orphanage but also continues to show his charity toward orphans. Working, or so it is rumored, with the Nox'alfar themselves he has gotten approval from the Compact's allies to build an orphanage. There is also a rumor that the King and the High Lords of the Compact have signed some sort of treaty protecting that area, and Sir Jeffeth has raised funds himself to build it. And so the Morning Mist Hill Orphanage and Abbey is built. While he hauls rocks and helps the workmen, he is often heard praising all those who gave aid and generous donations to assist in the establishment of this place special to his heart - Archduchess Eleyna Velenosa, Prince Victus Thrax, Prince Darren Redrain, Duchess Belladonna Pravus, Archlector Aureth Grayhope, Marquis Orvyn Harthall, and Prince Edain Valardin.

The Morning Mist Hill Orphanage is not just an orphanage though - it is also an Abbey. Dedicated to the Pantheon, Sir Jeffeth makes sure that the Gods are honored here, and works with the Faith to ensure that the orphans housed there have every opportunity to learn about the Faith and to potentially find in it the home he has.

And they have heroes of their own, too. This is no ordinary site, but the location where it is said the Dame Sandrine, Knight of Solace held against demons to protect orphans from the forces of the Abyss until relief could arrive. There is also a library there, a quiet place for tales of heroism and faith to be read, and this he makes sure is dedicated to Brother Martin, who has inspired so many to walk a path of Faith and Honor.

Grandmaster Thena adds the Orphanage to the list of waystations, and many a Knight of Solace takes an evening's rest there - to recover, to recouperate. In some cases, Knights recovering from grevious wounds ask to work and serve there helping with the orphans. It benefits all concerned and starts to become one of Solace's favorite places to be.

Archlector Aureth also supports the effort, representing the interests of the Faith in the Abbey, making sure its distance from Arx does not cause it to suffer any neglect. Harper Ashdown, an orphan herself also gives what aid she can. Jeffeth's brother Andry helps quietly, with Princess Sabella, Princess Caith, and Marquis Orvyn aid in spreading news about this new orphanage, recruiting staff, and making trade arrangements to ensure that the highest quality materials are used at excellent prices, so that it is built to last.

And everywhere, the memory of Brother Martin and the legend of Dame Sandrine are waiting - in every quiet corner and every stone, from floor to roof this is a place that speaks poignantly of home, love, and chosen family.

Back when Jeffeth was an orphan, he felt a connection to Gild. He would pray to her above all else. He often attributes Her being the one who got him through on those cold bitter nights when he was freezing and he was starving. When the Cullers were calling his name, offering him silver for running a delivery here, or bruising an eye there. He never gave in. As much as he needed the food, as much as his bones shook from the cold. Instead he would say a little prayer, and murmur it to himself and Gild, rocking to stave off the bitter cold.

Once upon a time, a grown Knighted Jeffeth Bayweather would be at the Shrine of Gild at least once a day. He would spend a great deal of time there. Scrubbing the shrine, spending time with the templars, forcing hugs upon Archlector Etienne. That time is long gone. Since the replacement of the altar, Jeffeth has shown up a grand total of one time, to look at it, and he has not set foot in the shrine again, since then.

But there was a bet. A bet that if the plan worked and the Bloodsniffer was beaten, he had to pray at the Shrine once more.

And so Jeffeth returns to the shrine. He's wordless for a long time. The Archlector is there, trying to make smalltalk, but it doesn't really register. Etienne guides him forward and so Jeffeth marches forward, sitting down at a bench that Etienne directed. Looking at that new altar. There's a long pregnant moment of silence, going well past awkward, where Jeffeth doesn't answer any of Etienne's questions. Until, finally: "Do you think--" His voice is gravelly, strained from emotion and that biting feeling in your throat when you try to hold back from weeping. Jeffeth clears his throat. "Do you really think she can still hear us? With that?"

Etienne soothes and urges the big man that of course she can, dismissing his fears and affirming the power of the Goddess.

And so with a tear running hot down his cheek, Jeffeth falls to his knees in front of the altar and with trembling hands, begins to pray:

"My Lady Gild. I've always felt close to you. I've always talked to you when I thought no one else would listen. Times have been hard but it's always easier when I can come tell you about it. But the last few months I've been afraid to talk to you. I'm afraid you can't hear me, afraid that someone else is listening. I'm sorry, Lady Gild. I don't mean to abandon you, I've just been so afraid. I was afraid that it hurt you, what happened to the altar. I guess that's silly, but I don't understand how these things work, I just know that I love you and have always tried to do right by you and make you proud. And when something happened here..." He would grow silent for a long moment, and when he continues his voice is strained. "I felt like we let you down, and I have no way to fix it. I've learnd things about myself, about my past. I've been tricked in past lives, I'm pretty sure. I've done horrible things in the name of good because I was deluded."

"I don't want that to happen again. I don't want to serve the wrong master. I want to serve you, and I want to make sure we're doing it right. So, my Lady Gild, please tell me if you need something, if you want something done. I will do my very best to fix what you need fixed. If this altar is wrong I will break my back to pull it out of here. If you want anything, whatever it is, Lady Gild, I will give my heart, and my body, everything I own, I commit to Gild. Just please, tell me that you're alright."

After a long moment of freely weeping on his knees before the altar, Jeffeth would finally depart. He would then offer evertyhing he currently has as far as resources go. It's not much, but it empties out everything he currently has in sacrifice.

Etienne helps Jeffeth, attempting to bring him back to Gild, offering all sorts of Archlectory wisdom and nuggets of spiritual reassurance that regardless of form or presentation that Gild remains as strong and healthy as before and that faith will conquer doubt in our hearts.

Jeffeth prays, and makes an offering to Gild - everything he has, everything he is. Oh, maybe it's a small thing to some rich person, but he knows perfectly well that when he leaves his offering on the altar, that's all he has. And when he prays, so heartfelt, so fervent, there is that moment where it seems like the whole world holds its breath. Etienne's comfort and supervision and encouragement vanishes, and in that moment there is only Jeffeth, his offering, and the altar he fears.

And then there is warmth, like a hug, like a warm presence. And he gets a vision of a village, small and simple, and feels a deep and abiding love for it. But then as though he is an immortal himself, he sees that village become a town, become a city, become a stunning capitol of an unknown empire, with graceful arches and beautiful spires reaching into the sky. But that deep and abiding love never changes.

And then he sees a rich man - in fact, Jeffeth recognizes Rook approaching the altar, making a rich offering - and there is that deep and abiding love. And then he sees himself, offering what is by comparison a poor and pitiful one - and yet still, that love never fades, never falters.

At last he sees himself again - faithful as a hungry child. Faithful as a growing boy. Faithful as an adult. He sees himself taking Vows, and feels the love and the pride, like a mother proud of a son that achieves great things. And then the silver he has left on the altar glows, much as it did a few weeks prior, and he feels - a push, and amusement, and love. A push to action, and then the silver stops glowing, and he is abruptly returned to the moment.

We are going to Morning Mist Hill. A place lost to maps. A day or so northwest of the Twilight Court, heading towards the Mother river before it branches into the daughter. The mission is to find the ancient site of the orphanage and abbey that Sandrine fell at. We have the knowledge that Gray Forest Reavers, an abandoned Tribe, may have a shrine at this site, and they may be Teindpayers. Also Nox'alfar may be here? Unsure. Prince Tyrval has provided rough directions. A small team is going with Jeffeth Bayweather on this expedition as a scouting operation. The intent here is to get a look at what's going on and how possible setting up a future orphanage and abbey would be, setting up a holy site for pilgriamage.

Sir Jeffeth Bayweather will be ranging. His primary task will be making sure everyone survives to get to the location in question. The others will be brought around to make contact and BE NICE! We do not want to hurt or kill any Gray Forest Reavers here. If there is hostility, Sir Jeffeth is expecting the more social creatures in his crew to smoothe things over and make contact, learn about any potential paths forward. It also doesn't hurt that Jeffeth is bringing gifts (resources) to gift to the Abandoned tribe (or whoever they find), finely made things and treats that they may not be able to get all the way out here!

Bliss is not a diplomat. Nope. In fact, the Whisper loves nothing more, it seems, than riling up those around her - except, perhaps, attention. She can handle herself with her sword if need be, of course, but what she can really do is charm with song. Likely working with Niklas, she will use the universal language to soothe any worries or impress the Gray Forest Reavers.

But what she's really hoping for is an appearance from some members of her fan club. After all, that's why she's been asked along, isn't it? And if the Nox come out to meet their idol, she is just going to have the most wonderful time with them. She's even brought souvenirs - dolls of herself and the like. In a big box. Presumably dragged along by a mule. Someone is bringing a mule, right? Well, if not, there's Jeffeth.

Korka is coming along! She will assist in defending those going, and do her best to assist with smoothing any trouble over with the Abandoned (as she can). If they do make it to the orphanage/abbey, she'll scout it out and gather what info she can on who (and what) all might be using the ruins.

Princess Caith is here to FITE and be a BADASS!! Haha, no, don't be silly. Her role is to charm her little patoot off and soothe any hostilities that may arise. She is good at reading a room, figuring out the emotional wants and needs of a group in order to diffuse a situation. Plus? She's just delightful company! Stories, puns and laughter -- when appropriate. Always when /appropriate/. See: earlier 'reading the room' comment.

Niklas is going along with Jeffeth to act as the group's diplomat just in case any diplomatic crises break out. And to play the banjo just in case people need the morale boost! But mostly the diplomacy thing. While hiding behind Jeffeth for the most part.

Off Jeffeth goes, and he takes a merry band to travel to Morning Mist Hill, the place where Sandrine once met her end in the protection of children. They travel through the day, north and west of the Twilight Court, following the exceptionally vague directions Prince Tyrval gave and hoping they don't get accidentally caught in a Folly and killed. Though perhaps a few of them are privately thinking it would be nice to be caught in a Folly and survive (never tell them the odds).

And then Korka notices something in the trees. They're being followed. No one else notices it, mind - but she does, and when she points out the movement, an extremely aggravated and marginally embarrassed Nox'alfar shows himself. "Humans," says Norever, with a roll of his eyes and a heavy sigh. Even the sight of Bliss isn't quite enough to cheer him.

"You're running into Reaver territory," he says to them. "And if you get into a fight with them I'm going to help them win. Don't kill the Tiendpayers." He glares at them but then as they start to turn away to continue on, he blurts out as though the words are torn from him, "Can I have your autograph?" He hands Bliss a paper and pen and then slices his wrist open, offering it to her to use for ink. Not until she has signed are they allowed to proceed.%
Duly warned they move forward with caution. Jeffeth's size alone intimidates the people who come at last to meet them. But with Caith and Niklas doing more of the diplomatic talking, punctuated occasionally by very earnest comments about Sandrine and the children on the part of Jeffeth, they finally explain their purpose. The Reavers think about this for a long while.

"Alright," they say at last. "But we want a treaty with the Compact to leave our lands alone. We leave the orphanage alone and let pilgrims pass, and you leave our lands alone." Their main diplomat is man who speaks impeccable Arvani. "And don't think you can just agree here - you have to have a signed agreement from the King and the High Lords or we won't agree."

And then the Reavers leave the group with their hefty demands and an elf who crossly encourages them on toward home and away from the Gray Forest Reavers.

Jeffeth Bayweather and other members of the Champions Guild of Arx are going on tour! Sanctum! Bastion! Maelstrom! The Lyceum! Some of those other places! The Champions of Arx will be going on tour to show their prowess to the rest of the Compact. Put on a show to the populace outside of Arx, fight the local talent, show off their weapons! Charge local provinces to take the show to them using their showmanship and weapon abilities to dazzle the crowds and earn silver and economic resources!

What is Bliss particularly good at, compared to many of the other Champions? She has the passion and the drive to make her shows into full-on spectacles. While she does do her part in the dueling, she helps devise stunts, perform tricks, work on songs, make costumes, and choreograph shows in between the bouts. She is determined to make sure that the Champions Guild shines in its showmanship, and the Whisper tries to make sure that everything that's done is a new and exciting feat.

Lys is particularly interested in this! However, while she's a little bit of a brawl recently she's become more of an economist. So she'll help out Jeffeth by being behind the scenes (surprising we know), helping to work out prices for tickets, cover fees, and etc to try and get the most bang-for-their-bucks and get the most back while not making anyone angry.

This is HHHHHYYYYYYPPPPEEEE~! Or at least that is what Caspian is trying to achieve. He is traveling a day or two ahead of the band, making sure everyone who will listen is aware of The Champions of Arx's arrival, spinning tales of close, intense duels, hilarious antics, amazing performances, skills and duels for honor and pride.

Some of the better-known Champions have decided to do a Champions Tour of some of the major cities in Arvum. From Sanctum to Maelstrom, Lenosia to Farhaven, the Champions cross the breadth of the Compact and put on quite the show doing it. Wherever they go, they both sell tickets as entertainment and engage in duels with local champions and each other. It's both recruitment and showcase, while settling many a local duel, and while sometimes their fees are as exorbitant as usual, from time to time they'll take up a particularly amusing cause pro bono. In those cases, those who are dueled for often will tell casual stories of 'that time I hired Bliss Whisper as my Champion against so and so." The locals will be eating off those tales for years, and overall it's a rousing success both for the reputation of the Champions Guild, and for those who participate.

Thena fears that the rumors of a figure gaining influence in the Lower Boroughs point to a possible enemy agent who works for the Abyss and who is trying to gain support under the guise of acts of charity. To counter this, she releases funds from the Silver Order coffers to be distributed in the Lowers with a message. Not a message of opposition, but merely a reminder. This silver is a gift from Gild, and comes with no strings attached. The Knights of Solace want to help you. Remember how the last time unvetted strangers gave out money in the Lowers, thousands were lost to Tolemar Brand and his lies? With the silver comes acts of generosity as Thena increases the Solace presence in the Lowers. Old ladies are helped to carry groceries home. Solace knights take shifts at the orphanage and play with the children. They help put wheels back on carts. They direct people in need of food to the Soup Kitchen or even the Rectory. It's all about small deeds and representing the ideals of Gild and the Faith in general.

Orazio has been a veteran of the Silent War, and now uses that knowledge to gently remind people of the last time mysterious figures came bearing gifts who were not willing to show their faces, and reminds them that someone who hides who they are may have agendas that put the Compact and their own families at risk. He points out the wide number of Faith and private charities available to those in the Lowers, and encourages people to question why, if there are no strings attached, that /all those people/, nobles and common alike, feel comfortable doing charity with their faces bared, while this one person does not.

Cristoph is a quiet auxiliary member of the Knights of Solace. In truth, he doesn't normally do a whole lot. It amounts to charity functions and helping to raise money or just straight up donating. He quietly donates some money this time too! There's no Laurent name attached. It's given over to the KoS to add to the amount they can distribute to the Lowers. In the meanwhile, he'll accompany the knightly order on a few trips and talk with the citizens of Arx. He's helpful as well as diplomatic. He'll empathize their values and usefulness to the every day man and discuss what an excellent job they do on a regular basis. Such honest, good folk! Especially that Daemon guy. He's basically the epitome of goodness.

Daemon might not be the best diplomat the world has ever seen, but it cannot be said he does not try his best when the need arises. As he sets to the Lowers where perhaps his name has some mild popularity, he's going to be spreading the good word of the Faith. He tells the people there that while generosity is indeed a noble virtue, one he hopes all subscribe to, one must be careful of those who bend disguise virtue as manipulation. While the Faith is very honest about their work and have the history to back it up, hooded mystery-people cannot be given the same trust. He rationalizes these words by asking, what's to stop a noble with coin taking up a guise and trying to sway the disenfranchised to their cause? Or some agent of another organization hoping to make connections?

"It helps you today and that is wonderful. But tomorrow, they may use your trust for their own gain, and you may have less than you ever started with."

It's time for MUSCLES! Jeffeth has a lot of them and boy are the Lowers gonna see em! Jeffeth will be putting on a show with his might and athletic ability. You know who can protect you, we can! Cause we got THESE! The Solace is here to protect you as always. Jeffeth will be putting on a show of feats of strength as well as helping with manual labor all the livelong day. Need those heavy things moved? Got you. Need that roof redone? Got you. Need that horse picked up? Got you. Jeffeth will be using his tremendous athletic ability to impress as well as tangibly help many of the people in the Lowers.

Eager to further familiarize himself with the ways of Arx, Sir Brann will but his energy into helping organize efforts. It won't do much good if everybody shows up on the same day. He'll use his natural leadership abilities to make sure these efforts are prolonged and sustainable for maximum impact. without burning everybody out or spreading resources too thin.

Because she knows she is not terribly good at Diplomacy, Cora instead tries to be friendly and helpful with tasks she sees people need doing. She hopes that by doing so she can at the least generate enough good will that those with diplomacy have a better chance of getting the information they need. She's a helper!

Helping people in the lowers is right up Harper's alley. With her patrols, she is often there anyway and already helps where she can and as much as she can. Using her time to help and assist people that need it comes natural. She grew up in the lowers though and knows that the others in the Knights will be reaching out as well. So she focuses on trying to use her knowledge of the lowers to try to reach out and help some of the more forgotten groups and people that the others might not even know about. However, with all of the help that she gives, this time she is making sure they know that it is a mission of the Knights of Solace to help too and that there are no strings attached.

The Knights of Solace are out in force in the Lowers. Under the direction of Grandmaster Thena they work, with Sir Jeffeth, Sir Daemon, and Sir Brannen leading the way. Even supporting members like Duke Cristoph, Harper, and Princess Coraline are helping too, and Father Orazio is also working with them too. They offer charity. They help the elderly. They give aid and, they remind the people, this aid is offered with no strings attached. The Knights of Solace are certainly beloved by the people - and this is part of the reason why.

And in their work they meet a woman in a mask and they talk to her. She is just trying to help the people, she says. They question her but they're polite about it, and she's polite in return. There are just so many stories of a Shade who helped people, she wants to do a charitable turn by the legend. She is using the best of what people remember and trying to live up to that. Even if the Knights of Solace think her misguided, it's clear she's really just doing charity work.

Though there are darker tones too - separate from this woman they hear other rumors of a man named Zick Cuddle, who is preying on people. People are going missing, they hear. People are perhaps dying. The Lowers are a dangerous place always, but just now they're even more dangerous than usual. And the charity work? That's not stopping it.

Aleksei is leading a group of Godsworn and Disciples to the Fortress of Chains (From clue: "The Fortress of Chains"). The purpose of the trip is to find out more about the darkness haunting the location, retrieve any hidden knowledge that might be stored there, and hopefully cleanse the fortress. To that end, the team is going in armed and armored, but not just with regular weapons and the like. Each adventurer will also bring with them a lantern lit from the Eternal Flame of Lagoma and a flask or two of holy water. And Aleksei has instructed each member of the party to bring with them an item or two of personal value that they can use as a focus in case there is dark magic that intends on trying to steal their names. Something to remind them of themselves, that they can anchor their identity to.

In the case that they find the fortress simply too overrun by enemies to reasonably stand against with their number, they'll try to make a strategic retreat.

For Aleksei's part, he'll be in mixed leather and rubicund (and maybe a bit of borrowed steelsilk) and with, of course, Chainbreaker, his alaricite longsword. He'll be bringing with him the locket and signet ring he's already always wearing, his original copy of the Doctrine of Skald, and the ruined/destroyed manacles of a strange, unknown metal recovered from the ancient Temple of the First Choice the Society of Explorers found near the Telmarch. (See @cal 573, "SoE: Choose Wisely". I do not know what metal they are! But Pax surely does.)

Jeffeth is also going in rubicund armor with a diamondplate sword. He will be focusing on protecting Sina primarily. He's used to protecting healers, and even if she may not be one, well scholars are like a distant cousin to mercies. Right? It's close enough! Otherwise Jeffeth will be following orders using his combat skill and athleticism for the good of the group! Also he will be praying to Gild all the time. As far as the items that are rooting him, he is bringing his oldest and prized posession, the tabard he was awarded when he first became a Knight of Solace, diligently washed and kept in pristine condition. His ring depicting Gild. His sword, Absolution. And finally a stuffed animal. In the shape of a corgi. Strapped to his belt.

Esoka goes in armored and armed with her diamondplate blade River's Heart. Along with the holy provisions Aleksei has provided them. She'll also consult with the senior Templars before leaving about what experience their warriors might've had with demons or hostile shavs in that general area of Arvum, to get a better handle on what they'll be facing and what the corruption of the land around the fortress might be like to fight.

Preston will be taking along his nice heavy rubicund armour, his nice big stabby diamondplate sword (and spare), and of course, holy water and his lantern of the TEmplars created for the War of the Pirate King (with the fire naturally relit from the eternal flame). Preston is a Templar, so its his duty to keep everyone nice and safe. Which is easy as Esoka is also a Templar, and Jeffeth is some kind of Knight of Solace type of Ent. Preston will ensure they have a sufficient retinue though to help move their gear, even if the retinue must be left camped off a distance from the Fortress itself. Along with this, Preston will make sure he has the ring he was awarded for the Templars at Stormwall, and his prayerbeads. And if all else fails, his pendant of the Faith. Enough to keep him rooted and sane. If they are forced to retreat, Preston will also try to get the group back to the retinue left in the woods, so they can if needed help fight off any pursuers and get the important Archlector back to Arx.

Sina, as her first real duty as a full Disciple of the Scholars of Vellichor, is along for this mission to help document the journey for Archscholar Bianca and Father Orazio, to be added to the Archives later. She will be documenting it in writing and probably in drawings and sketches as well. She will also do what she can to provide what Scholarly insights she might, and act as another set of eyes and ears as they investigate the Fortress of Chains. The personalized items she will be bringing with her are the hairpins that Princess Donella gave to her as a gift (which can also be used as a weapon in an emergency) and her beloved beaded seashell bag, within which she will keep a lock of hair from someone close to her, and a small rose made of violet satin.

Ten Thousand Shardhavens, they said. And perhaps it is an exaggeration, but staring at the entrance to the Fortress of Chains, it's difficult to believe it is anything but truth. And an oppressive truth at that, for the fortress is not manmade but Sylv'alfar by the legends, and it is a huge and ancient tree. Even from a distance there is sorrow that washes out in waves, and a heavy sort of oppression. The closer they get, the slower their steps are - not so much with trepidation as the heavy weight of - are those chains around their ankles? Surely not.

No, when they look down their ankles are free. And yet there is something in the tree itself, of the tree itself. The closer they get, the more they feel like they can't breathe. Like they are bound, chained all 'round and tight. Restricted.

There's a buzzing in their ears, a whisper repeated over and over and over again, barely heard - just the hum of bees, isn't it? No, no it is words now, a thousand thousand voices whispering. "One of us. One of us. One of us." And in their voice - many voices into one - is rage, and despair, and anger, and a weary sense of hopelessness that makes their feet drag and falter, yet somehow keeps them inexorably moving forward.

And then Aleksei and Sina are pulling them all away, away, away, and the voices turn to anger and they can feel the rage emanating from the giant, gnarled, ruined tree.

They have just enough time to turn and run.

Jeffeth has been told that he was spared the night 100 Knights of Solace disappeared because the Leer saw potential in him. Potential for great darkness. This made Jeffeth very sad. He doesn't want to have darkness in him. He has been counseled by trusted individuals that this could be a lie to make Jeffeth more susceptible to the influence of shadows. In opposition of this the Knight is trying to rely on one he has always relied on, Gild.

Jeffeth believes he has a connection with Gild so is going to ask her over and over in prayer for guidance. Why was I spared? What do I do next? Jeffeth will spend hours and hours in prayer going all night for multiple nights if he must, sacrificing sleep, showing that he truly wants to listen, that he truly wants to serve. He will listen and force himself to stay spry, to listen for the voice of Gild or any guidance she may give.

Jeffeth has apprised Thena of his recent findings and she is naturally very, very wary of any truck with the Abyss. In recognition of Skald’s teachings she has chosen to merely do her best to help him find the right path rather than take any further action. To that end she prays with him when she has the time, spending hours on her knees in the shrine reaching out to Gild for guidance, forgoing sleep and food. She MIGHT let Caith hug her. Maybe.

While Jeffeth might be spending his time in non-stop prayer, Caith is hoping to catch Gild's attention in another way. Where has she been? In orphanages, reading to and playing with the orphans and bringing a bit of light to their days. In the House of Solace, sitting with the wounded soldiers and holding their hands when it hurts too much or just listening when they need to talk. In the soup kitchens, making sure the hungry get fed. She's hugged a lot of people lately -- this isn't terribly different from her usual behavior but she's stepped up her game in recent days. She loves helping people but she is also hoping that her actions will appeal to Gild when she does lift her prayers up to the god.

'Hello Gild. I hope you can hear me. How are you? I hope you are well! I have a favor to ask you but not for myself. Please, please, please help my friend, Sir Jeffeth Bayweather. He is praying to you presently. If I peek open one eye, I can look over at him right now and he is trying so very hard to hear you! I want you to know that he is the kindest, nicest, most compassionate, sincerely /good/ people I have ever met. He is seeking your guidance now and he could really use it. See, he was told by Mirari, a member of a very bad group of people working on behalf of EVIL, that they want him, that he was spared the night 100 Knights of Solace (see Jeffeth's secret) were taken because the Leer saw the potential for darkness in him. This has caused him so much pain and despair. I have told him that he is good. I have told him that we all choose who we want to be and he has chosen to follow the path of the light. I have told him not to trust the words of liars and deceivers. I think he believes me but he has so much guilt and so much pain due to being the one who wasn't taken, the one who was spared, that he needs some help. If you could guide him, Gild, and give him a sign of what he needs to do, it would give him so much comfort and fortify his resolve. I love him -- for how steadfast and true he is, for how dedicated and devoted he is to you, how he has given himself to your service so completely. I know of no better person. Please, please, please. Help him.'

All of them have the same dream. 100 silver coins laid out on a table. On by one, each coin vanishes, until one last coin remains. The coin looks tarnished, covered in some sort of black tar, and it is left alone. Then the table catches fire, and slowly the tar burns away, but the coin is no longer silver, it's gold. On the coin are the words, "Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men." The fire fades, as does the table, and the golden coin stays there, suspended in air for what seems like an eternity. Then the dream ends.

Once the conflict with the Gyre has been resolved, House Blackshore starts opening it's doors to take in commoners who wish new opportunities and a willingness to roll up their sleeves to revitalize Blackshore's industries of farming, fishing, whaling, exotic skins, lamp oil, candlemaking, and ship building. Her call to Blackshore Isle draws many skilled tradesmen, sailors, fishermen, and farmers to work the land. Many nobles praise the new baroness for starting a program for orphans that are coming to age and wish to learn a trade. House Blackshore begins sponsoring their apprenticeships for their service in return. When other nobles ask Baroness Skye where she got the clever idea, she credits Sir Jeffeth Bayweather from the Knights of Solace for bring these deserving orphans to her attention.

Jeffeth will be networking. Hearing from the kids he knows what kids are suitable for apprenticeships and are seeking to get out of the life. He'll be trying to convince some kids who have all but resigned to gang life or life of crime to reform and move on to honest work to help the Blackshores.

He'll be spreading the word that Baroness Blackshore is recruiting kids for an honest life found in servitude of Blackshore. He'll be trying to get kids are ready to age out of the various orphanages to sign up.

The Princcess Consort of Thrax has been invested in her protege from the moment that interest was stated in getting blackshore back. From supporting projects, assisting her in taking survey of her land to redefine it's habitability, assisting to gathering the resources needed and much, much more. So with this final step, she is right there. Whether it's helping displaced individuals who will not be able to return to their homes to resettle in New Hope. Orphans from the lowers who will be aging out and need a place to ply their trade and might desire the satisfaction that comes from getting in on a barony from the ground up and a woman who will invest in them.

Alarissa herself, is making trips out now that the waters are safe and does her best to stand with or just behind her protege and do all in her power to make the young woman shine and succeed. Astrid comes with her as well to lend credit and spend time at the shrine erected there. She even reaches out to the faith to see if they have a Godsworn who might be willing to settle, or two or three, to tend to the shrine and minister to those who will eventually settle and show all that the gods are beloved here. Most of all, she states that for the next year, once the drydocks are built and running and able to take the full orders, that half of Thrax's ships will be built in Blackshore's facilities to show the House's support in the Baroness's capabiities.

Joscelin Arterius is eager to set up futures for the apprentices that are close to Journeymen class or, in most cases, have been waiting for the opportunity for growth as they linger on the cusp of Journeymen. She negotiates with the Baroness to send those willing to Blackshore on the Crafters Guild's coin, in exchange for ongoing trade from Blackshore with exclusive rights (such as first pick) to a limited degree. It's Joscelin's hope that new horizons and new perspectives will inject new art into the Crafters Guild while giving many gifted youngsters the chance to grow into their trade unfettered.

It's exceedingly successful. While New Hope has much to grow, the effective starting infrastructure and population was about doubled. ((53 over, so essentially 5 points * 6 for the total resources and AP, 30ish buildings/300ish pop, about doubled current infrastructure))

The Princess Saoirse Velenosa requested Sir Jeffeth Bayweather to watch her sleep. At first confused she was able to convince him that something was visiting her in her sleep. At first he did not take it seriously but eventually as she gave him evidence and described exactly what was happening the knight became more concerned and dedicated himself to attempting to solve this issue. She shared with him a clue that seemed to indicate that Shadow Hunters were in the room, though they were both careful not to say the name of the creatures. Saoirse told Jeffeth that there were also nightmares, though she did not elaborate much on what the nightmares were.

Jeffeth would try hiding in different places on different nights, forcing himself to stay awake through the night all the while looking through the mirror necklace Thena had given him. Using it as his primary source of examining through the room, Jeffeth would simply hide, and wait. Doing his best to stay awake. He would also keep an eye on Saoirse - to see if the nightmares were something visible as she slept, if there was anything to notice at all.

Saoirse ... sleeps. Since these monsters seem to come when she is unconscious, the princess will be taking to her bed and sleeping to see if they--and the nightmares--come again. If something should wake her, so be it, but otherwise... Zzzz.

While staring in the mirror, it seems some shadows move about the room that aren't visible normally, shadows that seem to dart away and react when watched. They flit around at the edge of vision in the reflection, catching glimpses now and then, trying to stay unobtrusive.

Then Jeffeth sees something rather more startling.

While Saoirse sleeps soundly and peacefully on the bed, when he looks in the mirror, she's not asleep at all. She's standing in the room near the door, talking to a shadow. Turning away from the mirror, she's still resting on the bed, stirring ever so slightly with a frown as if she is having a bad dream, and in the mirror he sees her reflection turn and look right at him, then makes a chiding motion with a wag of her fingers. Then the reflection opens the door the suite and walks out... though the door never moves or opens while he watches outside of the reflection.

For a full day, Saoirse has no reflection at all for the next day. No mirror showed her reflection at all. And the very first time Saoirse tried to point it out to someone else, it returned. Though she could swear her reflection -winked- at her.

Sir Jeffeth is making himself known in the Lowers again. He was once well known and it's time to get there again. A familiar face already, Jeffeth is trying to solidify his place in the Lowers as a reliable friend and someone who can be counted on. Someone to turn to in time of need. He is a trusted ally and one of us!

It's a mixed bag. On one hand, many in the Lower Boroughs welcome a friend, and are always happy to have someone they can count on that they already know. Despite coarse language and abrasive behavior, Jeffeth thinks that much he can be sure of, that if there was real trouble in the Lowers that some would be willing to say something to him. On the other hand, there's something a little off in the Lower Boroughs, something that seems only recent in the past few years- the disappearance of a hundred Knights of Solace in the Lower Boroughs not so long ago is on the minds of many in the Lowers, and some seem a little tenative about public associating with him. As if they are afraid to, and some murmur that the Ulbrans have made it clear that the Knights of Solace are welcome to help, but they won't be told what they can or can't do by the Faith.