Chapter 5: Blood and Fire

[Ken]

Belarin winces slightly at Kal's display; he can practically feel the eyes of the many crossbowmen around them painting targets on their backs.

"Lord Kalarian," he says in a harsh whisper, "I realize that your pride often overwhelms your reason, but could you choose a way to express irritation that does NOT suggest to the guards that we're about to unleash an arcane attack on our hosts? Next time, simply stick your tongue out at Charis."

[Josh]

"Ah, now this," says Grafth with a frown, "is the traveling party I'm used to. Let's get it out of our systems now, hm?"

[Joe]

"My friends," Streko says, adressing all of them except, perhaps, Kalarian, who stride on, "we have been through much of late. We have seen death parade across our eyes seemingly by each toll of the bell. Kalarian would no more launch an attack here than he would upon his own House's compound. He can be, at best, difficult, but we must all remember that we are under a great deal of stress, not just to survive, but to stop an evil that threatens the entire face of Eberron, and I certainly hope if am hyperbolizing, although I somehow doubt I am. We've seen the dead rise, we've seen demons of fire and many other creatures bent on our destruction. I must remind all of you...all of us...that we cannot afford to fight amongst ourselves. We've all gotten to know one another a bit over these past few weeks (yes, it does seem like years, does it not?). I would ask us ALL to remember what we still need to do and focus on that. Charis, your concerns are understandable, but misplaced. And Kalarian needs to spend some time around non-nobility so that he might learn some humility. Aside from that, I would hope we all agree that more important things await. This is but one more bridge we must cross...and we shall be successful at it. Olladra's will be done."

He turns back and, without waiting for a response, follows Kalarian.

[Jeff]

Charis walks in brooding silence. After a few moments, she taps Streko on the shoulder. "Nicely said," she says quietly with a smile. "But I'm not far off the truth."

Lord Dassek leads you through a series of austere halls, turning left and right and right and....clearly, a maze of chambers in a more utilitarian section of the palace. Only once do you glimpse the grandeur of the larger fortress: A tall archway through which a long gallery of white marble statues can be seen. They look like famous Aundairian heroes, or perhaps notable royals, all clutching white stone weapons and posing upon white stone pedestals. Alcoves interspersed between them house grand vases and other works of art. Trimmings of gold line the arches and—

And then you're past it, moving on through more stark corridors. The arrow slits have long since been left behind. Only Dassek accompanies you now, leading the way.

At last you emerge into a large room that resembles a military barrack but is largely empty of people. A total of twenty beds line the perimeter of the room, an open chest next to each. A handful of small privies are connected the room, each containing basins and tubs of fresh water for cleaning.

Occupying the room are four soldiers wearing a Fairhold-specific variant of the Watch uniform and two chamber maids, all of which were presumably instructed to wait here for your party. The soldiers salute Lord Dassek and the maids curtsy in a very formal manner. The colonel approaches them and speaks quietly with them for a moment, then turns back to you.

"This is where you'll rest, and wait, until morning. Everything will happen then. Get some sleep, clean up, and prepare for anything." He eyes Kal as he adds, "If the guards report a disturbance from any of you, be ready to stay here for much longer than one night."

Dassek takes Condign aside and speaks in a low voice. "The audience I am arranging for them"—he indicates Ralsor, Kal, and the rest of the group—"will include the ones I wish to hear you. Can you bear their company for a short while longer, Condign? I would be grateful. And honestly, they need some watching over. I trust you, more than I thought I would." Condign detects nothing insincere about the man's words.

[Darren]

Without a word, Kal flops down on one of the beds, fully dressed. He lays on his back with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling for a short moment before closing his eyes.

[Jeff's backup]

When Condign places his hand upon Kal's chest, the dog's lips peel back and his ears flatten against his head. A deep growl rises in his throat, echoing through the corridor. For a moment, Condign recalls the deep-throated snarls of fiendish wild dogs that used to echo from afar in the dark canyons of the Labyrinth.

Condign looks down at the dog with some surprise, as if he were truly noticing Tangat for the first time. "Yes, I understand your meaning," he says. "But remember what I did was meant to help prevent a more serious problem later on."

Charis:

She regards Condign. "I need no protector."

"You most assuredly do not, my Lady," Condign says.

Dassek:

Dassek takes Condign aside and speaks in a low voice. "The audience I am arranging for them"—he indicates Ralsor, Kal, and the rest of the group—"will include the ones I wish to hear you. Can you bear their company for a short while longer, Condign? I would be grateful. And honestly, they need some watching over. I trust you, more than I thought I would." Condign detects nothing insincere about the man's words.

"Of course, my Lord," Condign says with a nod of agreement. He then proceeds to start his ritual of removing and inspecting his armour and weapons, placing the chainmail, bracers, dagger and crossbow carefully in the chest near his chosen cot. The longsword and shield are set near the head of the bed. The tiefling then moves to the privy, where he attends to his personal care. Returning to the hall, he lays down on the cot and closes his eyes.

[Ken]

Belarin sits down on one of the cots and starts looking around casually, as though he's a tourist in Sharn happily examining an art gallery.* After a minute, he removes some of his heavier clothing and goes into the privvy for a short time. When he comes out, he sits back down, pulls up the covers, and says, "Rest well, my friends. May your dreams be uneventful and pleasant. By the way, one of you tends to snore aboard Ralsor's ship. The truth will be revealed tonight."

___________________
* Belarin is using his Arcana skills to detect magic in the area. He's fairly confident that some arcane observation must be in effect.

[Jeff]

With no forthcoming questions or remarks from your party, Lord Dassek nods and turns away, walking out through the open archway that serves as the main entrance to this chamber. An open portal and a maze of corridors seems to take the place of a locked door.

The four Watchmen take up relatively lax positions near the door, however. The maids seem to place themselves at your service.

Belarin takes his time, analyzing the space around him, searching for a sign of the arcane...and senses no auras in particular. There is the faint trace of residual energies, which Belarin feels is due to the fact that a great deal of arcane magic has been used in this palace for a very long time. But nothing in particular feels present.

Amal removes his armor and washes up. Ralsor walks unsteadily over to one of the beds and sits. "Just...need a moment..." He sways for a moment, then turns on his side and half lays down. Within thirty seconds, the half-elf is fast asleep, fully clothed.

Lever approaches Belarin. "I do not believe there is any magical surveillance here, contrary to my suppositions about this place. Or, if there is, it is beyond my ability to notice."

____________________________________

Belarin's Arcana check (1d20+11=21)

If you wish to do anything more before passing the night, say so now.

I've decided I'd really like to make as many rolls visible to you guys as possible. Although sometimes some rolls really ought to be secretive (like searching for traps), I haven't encountered much in the rulebooks that state as much. It's a weird issue I keep going back and forth on.

[Ken]

OOC: Oops, forgot that we had maids present.

Belarin gets up, strides over to one of the maids, and asks, "Could I trouble you for some tea? I confess to drinking quite a bit of ale earlier tonight, and my mouth will soon feel like the wrong side of a gnoll's loincloth if I don't cleanse the palate. Thank you!" He smiles appreciatively and returns to the cot.

Lever approaches Belarin. "I do not believe there is any magical surveillance here, contrary to my suppositions about this place. Or, if there is, it is beyond my ability to notice."

He nods. "Yes, I get the same sensation. This is an old building that has seen a lot of history, both mundane and arcane, but nothing seems directed toward us. Well... good night, Lever. Sleep w--, um, I hope you have a pleasant rest."

[Josh]

Grafth, rather flummoxed by the presence of the maids, nods to them but requests nothing. He splashes some water on his face stows his pack and coat, and proceeds to fall asleep.

[Joe]

Streko finds a cot and curls up on it after removing his armor and overgarments.

"This is the safest I've felt in...years..."

He, too, falls asleep quite quickly.

[Jeff]

Once you have cleaned up and settled in, the maids and the guards move respectfully away. The guards even step just out of sight beyond the doorway, offering you some measure of privacy.

During the night, each of you sinks into a deep and restful sleep—but not without oneiric incidents. The dream you experienced within the Whisper Wood (except Condign, of course) returns in some form, replaying itself only vaguely but seeming to last just a few precious seconds longer this time. Not enough to convey new knowledge...only a feeling, a strong emotion of impending fate.

Condign—easily awakened, a product of his childhood—at one point stirs when he hears Charis thrashing. He sits up and sees her roll into a sitting position. She sounds out of breath. "No, no," she mutters to herself.

Tangat is roused, gets up, and pads over to her. Charis pats him on the head. "It's nothing, all right?" she says to him with a smile. Then she turns her head, looking back at Condign. Lever, too, looks back at both silently from his place in one corner of the room, where he has been busying himself by reorganizing his artificer tools.

"Nightmare," Charis says softly by way of explanation, then rolls back onto her side and is silent again.

True to Belarin's statement, someone snores during the night.

_____________________

I'll post again soon.

[Jeff]

Sar, the 14th of Rhaan

Despite the fact that the chamber is windowless, somehow the ambient light seems to shift during the course of the night. The room remains very dim for the majority of the evening, but something like dawn greets you by morning. No substitute for the real thing, but enough to avoid disorientation.

One by one, you begin to awaken. The chamber maids have brought fresh water, and you're pretty sure the guards have changed shifts, and now new soldiers check in on you and stand at their posts just outside the door.

Lever seems eager to go. He's examined the room section by section over the course of the night, and seems to crave new stimuli. Ralsor, meanwhile, wakes rather suddenly, having barely moved over the course of the night and still wearing his clothes. He groans, clutches his head, and makes his way unsteadily into one of the privies. His face is brooding, and he talks to no one.

Tangat once again proves his more-than-just-a-dog identity, because he has taken care of his business within one of the privies somehow. There are no messes in the room.

By the time Kal rolls out of bed, Amal has already donned his armor and somehow even managed to polish it. He stands ready, a dedicated member of the Blademarks of House Deneith.

[Darren]

Kal rolls up to a sitting position, noticing a small hole burned into the bed near where his hand was. Apparently his dreams were a bit more vivid than he realized. He rises slowly, his right leg seeming stiff, and nods at Amal. Looking around the room with a grim look on his face, he motions towards one of the maids and asks, "Breakfast?"

[Jeff's backup]

As the first hint of dawn illuminates the chamber, Condign opens his eyes, fully awake and alert. Sitting up, he sees Kal and Amal are already awake and the others are stirring. He reaches into the wooden chest sitting by his cot and pulls out a worn rag and a small jar of what appears to be sand of some sort. He wets the rag in the washbowl, dips it into the sand, and proceeds to polish his armour and longsword. Once done, he refreshes himself and then dons the armour. Sheathing his longsword in its scabbard, he waits for the others to finish.

[Ken]

Belarin jerks awake with a kick of his leg, the sort of familiar motion of someone who's just dreamt that he was falling. He looks around, gives a faint smile, then reaches behind to touch the middle of his back. Apparently pleased to find nothing amiss there, he stands up and makes his way into the privvy.

He emerges several minutes later, looking quite refreshed. "Good morning, my lady, my lords, and other gentle folk. I hope you slept well." He sits down and begins to put the rest of his green-and-black, fey-given clothing back on. He glances over at Ralsor, a concerned look on his face. "For the sake of Captain Ralsor," he says softly, "let's avoid loud noises and ... oh, never mind, we're terrible at avoiding loud noises. My sympathies, Captain -- my head has been where yours is this morning."

[Jeff]

The chambermaids quietly glide in and bring trays of pastries (some of them the best you've ever had) and various flavors of tea (some of which are clearly imported from afar). You can't help but recall that Goran would have been excited by the latter. Half of the pastries are cream filled.

After you've gotten yourselves ready, a woman appears at the entrance to the chamber.

Although she's dressed very well—in an ivory blouse, blue vest, and modest skirt of dark brown—she looks pragmatic. She is middle-aged, but through magic or cosmetics has preserved herself remarkably well. Her jewelry is understated but obviously valuable—perhaps even magical. Long brown hair is bound partially in a topknot. Although her attire is practical, you're reasonably sure that the hair sticks protruding from her topknot are wands. She wears white gloves.

In fact, most of you have been in Aundair long enough to realize that gloves are a part of the nation's fashion. Even the middle class society seems to wear them; the lower class laborers generally do not, but plenty of fingerless gloves have been seen among the rest.

At her side is a tall human in gleaming chainmail and a tabard bearing the royal crest of Aundair. A jeweled short sword hangs at his hip, and he carries a halberd like a walking stick. He looks at you with appraising eyes, settling his gaze at last upon Condign. Clearing his throat, the soldier steps forward and holds up a stiff card, reading from it. He seems to be part emissary, part bodyguard.

"Lord Streko d'Jorasco, Lord Kalarian d'Deneith, Captain Ralsor d'Lyrandar, Lady Charis ir'Vanatar, Master Belarin Malizia, Blademark Amal Lornesh..." He pauses, and looks up as if making sure the names match up with your party. "Leverage of House Cannith, and...Master Grafth?"

"Good morning," the woman says after him, formally and politely. "I am Adele Fulirno, castellan of Fairhold. I am here to determine with whom you will be speaking this morning." She inclines her head at Condign. "And you as well...Condign? Is there a more formal title you prefer?"

______________________________

Forgot to mention: everyone's back to max hit points and everyone's got 1 action point (as you'll always have after an extended rest).

[Darren]

Kalarian steps forward and bows low and formally. "It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady," he says as he rises. "We appreciate the treatment we have been given so far and thank you for it. We are here to assist you in whatever way is necessary so that we may clear our names and help you and her majesty ensure the security of Fairhaven."

[Joe]

Streko wakes up a few moments after Kalarian, spends another several minutes praying to Olladra and thanking Her for all his wonderful gifts and good fortune, and quickly dons hisarmor and vestments thereafter.

After the arrival of the Castellan and her bodyguard, and after Kalarian's honorable greeting, Streko himself moves forward to address them.

"We are hoping to garner a meeting with someone concerning the threat to Fairhaven from Malov. Anything to help expidite this will be most welcomed and we are, as Lord Kalarian said so eloquently before me, honored to have received such wonderful treatment from her Highness. I offer the thanks of House Jorasco and Olladra Herself, as well as the rest of our illustrious band of travellers."

He bows low and respectfully, allowing the domino pendant of Olladra to practically scrape his kneecaps.

[Ken]

Belarin smiles broadly after the Castellan's greeting and nods politely, saying "Thank you." But he adds nothing to what Kal and Streko have already covered in their comments.

[Josh]

Grafth, who has stuffed any excess pastries into an outer pocket of his longcoat, shrugs as the castellan questioningly addresses him as 'Master'. The comfort and security of last night, despite the incarceration, have made him groggy and slightly restless.

[Jeff's backup]

"My Lady Castellan, Condign will suffice," the tiefling replies, bowing deeply.

[Jeff]

Adele Fulirno directs her words to Streko. "That you wish to clear your name, I understand. Barristers, inquisitives, and the lawpriests of Aureon may assist you with that.

"But tell me the asbolute truth: Is it your conviction that an attack of some kind on this city is truly imminent? Do you believe you know where and when the enemy will strike? Do you bring news that can deflect such an attack? If you are correct, this will be worth Prince Aurad's time. He is a busy man, as you might understand. He receives threats and rumors of attacks frequently. More, it seems, since the war ended."

She holds up one gloved hand as if to stave off a floodgate of information. "I'm not the one you will be explaining this all to. Merely the one to decided who will be. I require only your assessment of the threat. I do not wish to waste anyone's time, your own included."

[Darren]

Kalarian sighs. "My lady, I do believe there is immediate danger, but I cannot point to a day on the calendar and say it will happen then and I cannot point to a place on a map and say it will happen there. This is why we have come back to Fairhaven. We want to know when and we want to know where." Kal spreads his hands apologetically. "If the information we have can be of value, we wish to offer our services. Whether we receive resources from her majesty or not, once our innocence is proven it is our intention to continue to try to learn how this threat can be stopped." Offering another bow, Kal adds, "Please take no offense at my words, my lady."

[Ken]

Belarin nods as Kal speaks. He then bows at the castellan and says, "Indeed, fair lady, we believe his designs on the city are grave. He's made his desire to wreak havoc on Fairhaven quite clear, even to his own family. However, I'm concerned that you and others here may have a narrow definition of the word 'attack.' Malov it'Turien knows better than to lead a frontal assault on this city's mighty defenses." He glances at Condign as though to forestall any criticism of Fairhaven's porous borders.

"He's a clever, insidious man. He's a traitorous weasel, too, by the way. When he does make his move, and it WILL be soon, as Lord Kalarian says, he will strike like an archer, seeking to cripple first. Then he will blanket Fairhaven in a veil of ruin."

[Jeff]

"I take no offense," Adele replies to Kal.

When he does make his move, and it WILL be soon, as Lord Kalarian says, he will strike like an archer, seeking to cripple first. Then he will blanket Fairhaven in a veil of ruin."

"That is quite a claim. We are fully aware of the unprovoked attack upon the White Phoenix, and Lord Dassek has already organized his riders to watch the skies and even pursue the Dissolution. He will not be in attendance this morning.

"However, Lord Dassek's testimony has been given. In addition, representatives of Houses Deneith, Jorasco, and Lyrandar have already arrived to approve, or deny, your claims."

"Uh-oh," Ralsor mutters under his breath.

Adele offers a half smile. "Depending on your standing within your houses," she says, looking to Kal, Streko, and Ralsor, you'll want to be on your best behavior."

She looks to Grafth, Streko, and Charis. "Have you anything to add?"

Adele glances briefly at Condign. It seems to him that she's acknowledging his presence, but his time to speak hasn't come yet.

[Joe]

She looks to Grafth, Streko, and Charis. Have you anything to add?&

Streko clears his throat. "Only that we believe that Malov was also responsible for the Lightning Rail attack and is in league with the Emerald Claw as well. Not to mention our own group being attacked on multiple occassions by numerous warforged soldiers and the obvious foulness of undead and the connections to the great houses that Malov wishes to exploit. Hmmm. Well, That, it would seem, is about it."

Streko smiles warmly.

[Josh]

The shifter shrugs again. "I've nothing to add. I'm eager to get this ordeal underway, and subsequently out of the way."

[Jeff]

"Only that we believe that Malov was also responsible for the Lightning Rail attack and is in league with the Emerald Claw as well."

Adele nods. "The Karrn, Captain Relith, is in custody. If his interrogation is consistent with what you're saying, so much the better. The lightning rail incident...is less certain. House Orien remains vexed by the true motivation behind the attack, and identity of the terrorists."

"I've nothing to add. I'm eager to get this ordeal underway, and subsequently out of the way."

"We are agreed on that, M....Grafth."

Adele smiles, all business. "Please, follow me." To Condign, she adds, "Prince Aurad would speak with you as well. If he deems your story worthy, he may bring it to his sister." She turns, and the patrician bodyguard taps his halberd on the ground, pivots, and turns to follow her. He keeps pace with her as she slips out into the hall beyond.

Ralsor is the first to move—just slightly off balance—and with Lever immediately in tow. Amal waits for Kal.

[Darren]

Kal starts forward, but stops next to Amal and places a hand on the man's shoulder. Leaning in close, he says in a low voice, "You're going to meet a prince. I bet they never mentioned THIS to you when you were signing up for the Blademarks." He winks at the man, then moves to follow.