Rory thanks Sythanus for using such a wonderful spell. He finds a bed uses it promptly to find a restless sleep.

Kyriel is happy for the warm place to sleep, and even happier that she gets a room to herself. In the morning she's eager to try to talk to the Duke and Duchess.  "We should probably try to talk to the Duke and Duchess first, then do other things."

They do have reason to seek out the Duke and Duchess… and so the following morning they try the castle.

It turns out, there are procedures here, and those procedures are overseen by a very particular Weremink, the Majordomo Mergyon, who seems to think that his very exacting standards are all that exists to keep the city of Lucimburic from descending into anarchy.  This time of year, the Duke has a very busy social schedule, and there are quite a few people in the atrium of the Ducal Palace, hoping to impress Mergyon enough to be granted an audience.

Among these people, though, Rory sees a familiar face… two!  Phileas and Hylensia Argentos, the middle aged proprietors of a large, skilled, and very famous group of traveling entertainers based in Basilea.  Everyone in the “entertainment business” knows who they are- everyone who is a traveling entertainer wants to be as successful as they are… or at least work for them.  It’s like Kyriel has seen them too, as they’ve played Lutetia Parisiorum and Aurelianorum in the past.  But Rory traveled with them, and knows them well, as they helped escort him and Julia from Basilea to Aurelianorum.

Seeing Phileas and Hylensia brings an instant smile to Rory's face as well as a rush of wonderful memories. He addresses them with a much more cheery tone than even he remembered comeing from his body. "Phileas! Hylensia! So good to see you both. How have you been? What brings you here? Do you plan to winter with the Duke?"

He waites politely, hoping they have ready answers for him...

From here on out, I'll prepare Aspect of the Wolf twice in place of Goodberry and Entangle, since we're in the city.

If bringing the bear is thought to be a problem, it will instead become a much more manageable wolf. In order to attempt to make it feel better, Calatin will assume the same form using Wild Shape, not Share Spells.

Never having been in the Ducal court before, Kyriel lets the others take the lead. Once again, she assumes the role of servant. She takes the time to put on the hair extensions to cover her ears. In her experience, most people assume that like this she's a human girl of maybe 12 years and nothing to be concerned with.

Together with her talent for being unseen, this will give her a chance to observe the Duke's court and see if anything looks out of place.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Fri 01 Mar 2013.

Calatin's bear raises no eyebrows here.  Some people look at it... some try to talk to it.  But no one seems afraid of it.  After all, the Duke and Duchess are Werebears- being discourteous to a bear in Lucimburic simply isn't polite.

This is the most bear-friendly place he's ever seen.  The diametric opposite of every other city he's ever seen.  (Which is a short list).

The only moments of confusion occur when several people attempt to converse with the bear and discover it is a "unchanged" bear.  Then, the attention focuses on Calatin, and they ask questions and seem to assume he must be from the Saravus region (not far away), a place where they know there have always been people with the ability to tame and speak to animals, and even to be animals.

And the ask, "Have you come to pay homage to Arduinna?"


Meanwhile, Rory speaks with the Argentos's as they await their appointment.
Philieas and Hylensia cut off each other's sentences, being happy to see him:

"We are here without our performers.."

"Normally we don't travel in the winter at all, and we can't move a caravan."

"And although we manage a performing troupe our own skills are nothing extraordinary."

"We're quite ordinary, in fact."

"But we do manage and present well, and we thought to discuss with the Duke our services as hosts and masters of ceremony.  I'm sure there is local talent available. "

They are here, they explain, on behalf of the Dragon of Basilea, who wished to have a delegation present at a wedding which many believe will change the history of the region, if not the continent.  Too important a thing to ignore.

And yet, as Phileas explains, "Nor did the Dragon of Basilea wish to see the event overshadowed by the majestic presence of Dragon.  Too much, it would not be gracious to those who are more central to this gathering.  So, we are here."

"Basilea's resident authorities on Human-kind, so it seems," Hylensia adds.

And meanwhile...

Kyriel pokes around a little.  One thing she sees quickly is that security here is different from what she's seen elsewhere.  For one, they are Lycanthropes.  They have a host of special abilities to rely on, including very acute senses of smell.  And the Duke himself is regarded as a mighty fighter, so there is very little concern about guarding him directly.  The guards here seem more concerned with theft than the personal safety of the Duke.

They do appear very busy, though, checking people, asking questions.  Kyriel learns that the upcoming wedding, while not a secret, wasn't expected to be so widely known. But rumor spread fast and there are far more people in Lucimburic, including Official Visitors who have no Official Invitation, than were expected.  There is some worry that certain unwelcome types may have slipped in with the delegates, envoys, well wishers, curious gawkers, and of course many, many merchants.
* * * * * * *

Finally, Mergyon the Weremink gets to the point of interviewing the Argentoses, even as Rory is talking with them.

Phileas and Hylensia introduce Rory as "with us... a performer, and a good one, on my own word."

Just as Mergyon is giving his approval for the group to talk to the Duke and Duchess, a very slimly built pale skinned girl arrives- she looks to be still in her teens, and looks almost too slightly built to be Human- and she is dressed as if it was summer, not winter, but shows no distress at all.  She has a lute lung across her narrow back.

Mergyon recognizes her instantly and greets her. She is Cirrus, and she is a courier for Theoderic.

"They are coming back," Cirrus says.  She quickly explains that Theoderic turned around when news of the victory over the Huns was confirmed, and is on his way here.

As Kyriel noses around, she notes the number of people and how it exceeds the number expected expected by the security detachment. One thing that she's learned is that rumors fly faster than anything, and the fact that the wedding isn't a secret means that anyone and everyone with any means and reason to attend will do their best to do so.

That makes it the perfect time for someone to act. What better way for the emperor to show his strength than to strike at Aelasuria and King Theoderic now at the moment of perceived triumph? If the attack (and she's sure at least one will occur) succeeds, it will demoralize everyone and show that even in defeat the Huns are not to be discounted.

Rory seems to have found a way in. The others probably not. She's about to make her way back to Rory and Master Syanthus, when she spies Cirrus, the girl who sang at the Summer solstice. Maybe she'll remember her as well? It might give her a way to get in and get the needed word to King Theoderic and Aelasuria. She waves to the sylph. "Cirrus! Cirrus!"

Rory smiles as his fellow performers begin to introduce him, "Actually, I'm retired. I've been offered a teaching position with the Academy at Aurelianorum. I am starting a college for Bards, which was one of the reasons I wanted to speak with you. However to you, sir," indicating Mergyon, "I have been sent here with the Academy's delegation," indicating Sythanus, Calatin, and Kyriel, "and I have special invitation to speak with Lady Julia of Basilea."

Rory continues, explaining his plan to create an adjuct college for bards at the Academy. He tells them about his first students and offers them places for any of their own performers.

Calatin replies plainly to their questions, that he is from Britannia. He lets Prum speak for himself, which amuses the druid to no small amount. When asked about paying homage to Arduinna, "I wouldn't mind, actually."

After a few such encounters, Calatin stops Syanthus and the others for a moment before they disperse.

"I don't care much for politics or dinners in grand halls. I've no experience in stopping assassinations or how to act at royal weddings. What I'm asking... is how long are we here, exactly? What would you say if I were to travel to Saravus, given I have the time to get there and back."

Cirrus remembers Kyriel.  Even though her aquaintanceship with Kyriel was brief, it stands out.  The two reunite- Cirrus is a very enthusiastic greeter and embraces Kyriel.  It seems a strangely light, delicate touch despite the apparent effort Cirrus puts into it.

"They're all on their way!" Cirrus says excitedly.

The news spreads quickly, and Mergyon takes his leave to go greet the returning king.  But not before granting the Argentos's the job of taking charge of entertainment over the next few days.

"You have the best of reputations," Mergyon says, "and I simply do not have the time.  But you will want to include Cirrus.  She is remarkable, and she is a favorite of the Queen-to-be."

Hylensia and Phileas graciously agree.  Then they return their attention to Rory.

"Your... ah.. invitation to speak to the Lady Julia," Phileas says as his wife listens with evident interest.  "She is quite peculiar, at times.  But from all she has told us, I think there is a time for honesty, and things she withheld from you."

"But understand, with the best of intentions," Hylensia says.  "Julia is not dishonest.  Never."

"We should sit down somewhere," Phileas says.

Meanwhile, Calatin finds Syanthus and asks about one of his favorite subjects: Geography.

Calatin learns that the Saravus river is a tributary of the Moselle river.  It is an isolated area of deep forest, winding river, and rolling hills.  Far from the main arteries of Roman commerce, development bypassed the Saravus river area, and it's considered a sort of hillbilly country.  Things out there can seem a little behind in time.  There are settlements along the river, even a major town (Sarabruca) and some vinyards, but mostly, it's a very wild region.

It's the sort of place that... well, if the old ways of the Celts survived anywhere, it would be there.  And a mere day's walk away, certainly no one would mind if Calatin looked up his spiritual brethren.

Various discussions are interrupted by the sounding of herald trumpets, and everyone around seems to know:  this means an official announcement.

People gather in the plaza outside, the Clear Fountain Plaza, to hear:  the Duke delivers a brief address, announcing the victorious return, in mere hours, of Theoderic and troops.

Rory finds something interesting to look at on the tops of his boots. "I have prepared myself for any outcome. I simply want closure. It would be to much to bare not knowing."

"You act if we had tragic news," Hylensia says.  "It may not be what you hope to hear, and it will not be what you expect, but it will not be tragic.  It is, however, deeply personal, and a matter of deepest confidence.  There are things that must be kept secret, for Julia's sake."

"And we must know if you are willing to keep these secrets.  She has, we know, shared much with you, but there are things that you ought to know.  But only if you are willing to shoulder the burden of secrecy."

They guide Rory away from other people, carefully checking the surroundings to make sure there are none nearby who might overhear, and await Rory's agreement.

Rory was puzzled by this. Did Julia send an emmissary? He is not cross but confused, "I meant to speak with Julia alone. My matter is with her."

He sighed. Whatever they were going to tell him he obviously needed to hear it. "I know she is a dragon," he says when they are outside of other's earshot, "so if this is your big secret you should fear not, I have already kept it. If there is more you should know that I would die before I did anything that would cause her harm in any way. Tell me, but understand that I know she must be with her goddess. I mean only to hear the words from her own lips so that I may have closure...peace. I would never have peace otherwise."

He holds his breath as he sits. Whatever they have to say he will be a man about this. He has already shed his tears, so they will not have to see him cry. He noddes, indicating he is prepared.

Kyriel is glad that Cirrus remembers her; with all of the hustle and bustle from the summer solstice celebration, she isn't sure that she would. The news that Cirrus brings is very good news indeed. The huns have lost a major battle and the armies are returning soon. Gratefully she returns the hug. As much as she hates to be a downer for this kind of news, she has to get the word out to someone that she knows will be able to talk to Theoderic and Aelasuria. While in the hug she breathes just loud enough for Cirrus to hear "Huns have a bounty on Aelasuria and Theoderic. They must be warned."

While they need the assistance of the Duke, she remembers the last time they were here. The werewolves were far too obvious about their observation of the blackguards. There must be others here in Lucimburic that are more subtle, right? Once again she gives Cirrus a hug. Happily she says. "That's great news!" Much more quietly she whispers "Ask the duke for his sneakiest people to help. We want to entrap as many hun agents as possible."

While the news of their impending arrival is being spread, Kyriel looks at the direction from which Cirrus came with a keen eye to where likely places for ambushes would be. There won't be much time. High points from which to snipe are going to get some careful attention. As she does so, she considers just how many are likely to make an attempt and when. Maybe they could get someone to play the roles of Theoderic and Aelasuria to draw the agents out?

Phineas and Hylensia seem surprised that Rory was aware of Julia's heritage.

"Well then," Hylensia says after an awkward moment, "after such a build up, it would be impolite of us not to share some secret with you.  I didn't know she told you... but did she tell you she is our daughter?"

"We don't make a habit of escorting just anyone," Phineas remarks.

"But that being said," Hylensia continues," I'm not certain of this whole thing you call 'closure'.  You know what she is.  So you also know what truly can and cannot be.  Now, some of our kind, the great ones of Basilea, they... well..."

Phileas picks up the flow of it:  "They would consider you honored above mortals that a Dragon even calls you a friend, and they would be deeply insulted that you would even think to want something called... closure... with a Dragon.  But if speaking to her is what you wish, she will be returning here soon... within days, I imagine.  She learned of the battle at Beda, and she feared that many there would need the help of a healer..."

"Always looking to do the greatest good, our Julia," Phileas says.

"But I assume she will be back.  For the wedding, for the festivities.  If she wishes, I suppose you would speak then," Hylensia says."

* * * * * * * *

Cirrus is at a bit of a loss, with Kyriel so certain of imminent danger, and seeing nothing to worry about, herself.  Cirrus isn't so comfortable with "sneaky".  It's not her way.

And the Duke isn't someone she can simply walk in on, can she?

But if Kyriel is so certain, is it worth a try?

She takes hold of Kyriel's wrist- a light touch, but an insistent one.  "Come with me," she says.  "I might not know what to say."

She takes Kyriel back to the anteroom where they Mergyon had been meeting with visitors, and finds the room has been largely cleared out, since both Mergyon and the Duke suddenly had other things to do.

She asks one of the door guards about the Duke, telling him it is important that she and Kyriel speak to him.

Apparently being known as Theoderic's courier carries some weight.

"The Clear Fountain Plaza Balcony, miss," the guard says.  "You can get there from the stairs at the Ardennes Tower."

The Ardennes Tower is the core of the palace.  It is the tallest structure in Lucimburic.  It would be the highest, but the Wereowl's Tower of Higher Arts is built on higher ground and so manages to rise higher.  It is a big, square vaulted arch at the base, joining the three main wings of the palace in a great T intersection.  Stairs rise at the corners of the tower.  One stair at each corner.

Cirrus hurries up one stair.  It seems like she knows where she's going.

Rory is moved, but only a bit. "She kissed me. She taught me to love. I simply want to speak with her, I mean neither her nor you any insult. I am aware of what she is. I know it probably isn't something normally done. Before her I felt nothing for anyone but myself. She changed me, you see. I know what her answer will be, I simply want to hear it. If she does not wish to speak with me, that will be asnwer enough."

Kyriel knows that many people don't think the way she does. It must be part of her family traits, and it's only been honed by years of hiding in Lutetia Parisiorum. Since the huns have put out a bounty, the most effective way to eliminate any threat to them  is to deal with Theoderic and Aelasuria now at the most public and special time in their lives. Not only will security be strained by all the newcomers, but it will send a powerful message. The huns, even in defeat on one battlefield, will fight on others just as effectively and deadly.

Since Cirrus has gotten them past the initial gauntlet of hangers on and the courtiers, she follows along. Hopefully the duke will remember her as well.

They go up several flights of stairs just to reach a landing.  It’s a long climb to get past the high vaulted arch ceiling of the first floor.

Cirrus does not slow… but she looks a little puzzled, not certain of exactly how high up the stairwell she has to go to get to a “south balcony”.  But it seems.. it would be high up, right?  A little more tentative than before, she hurries up the stairs.  And then, there are hasty footsteps overhead, the same stairway, coming down.

It’s a girl.  Maybe a little younger than Kyriel, and dressed as a maid.  A dusty, dirty one- she’s been hard at work, it seems.  She’s clearly a local, because she’s in that part-animal, part-human hybrid form the Lycanthropes prefer.  Big ears, big teeth, whiskers… this would be a Were-rabbit?

Werehare, actually.  They are first to explain, there are no such things as Wererabbits.

“A monster on the roof!” the girl says excitedly, pointing up.  “Up in the tower!  You can’t get there from inside, you have to go out on the roof…”

She pauses, suddenly realizing that she is reporting the monster to two other girls, who, like her, will probably not wish to do anything about it.

* * * * * * *

There is little more the Argentos’s can do for Rory at this time.  Julia is out on one of her “Good Deed” errands, trying to help people, and that means there’s really no telling exactly when she will be back.  Or what she would want to do.  What they have to say, he seems to already know, and that in itself is a puzzle- the man fell in love with a Dragon.. and knew it?

“The easiest way to find her when she returns, if it is not obvious, is to check with us,” Phileas says.  “We are staying at the home of the Ghostails, the Werefox family that runs the theater.  And we shall be working here for a few days, arranging entertainment for the festivities since the palace staff has no one with any time on their hands.  Quite a lot happening here, it seems.  Everyone’s much too busy.”

They walk up to a little used chamber on the third floor, in the area called the Bartholomew Wing; the palace’s Musician’s Conservatory.  It was built as a practice lounge for musicians hired to entertain the Duke and his family, and also as a studio for the Ducal family to study music, but there hasn’t been much of a musical inclination here in years.  The room has a very unused look, although there are some old instruments on display.

“I suppose this is where we shall work from,” Hylensia says with a sigh.  “Let’s draw up a program, then.  What have we to work with?”

Rory shakes his head. "I did not know she was a dragon when...I suspected there was something unusual about her but..." His pauses are obviously an attempt to gather thoughts so as not to offend. "It was not my purpose to fall in love with her. It happened quit without my approval. I fought it, not her but the way I felt. It honestly matters little now. A human's life is measured in decades. I feel I have given to the world and now I wish to retire. The Academy has offered me the chance and I mean to take it but," There is no ned to rehash what has already been said.

Reaching the musician's room Rory is moved by the disrepair of the place. He dusts off a few of the instruments but finds nothing which is beyond repair. When Hylensia asks about a subject Rory stands stiffly. He carries a copy of Cado play and his own history of the battle of Mos Trajectum. "Perhaps I can offer something." He shows them the play first. "It is based on my historcal account, but a playwrite named Cado changed some of it to make it more acceptable to an audiance at large. I performed it several times, I usually played both myself and Zerova. It is not difficult to learn, and it might make an acceptable centerpiece performance for the Solstice here."

He withdraws the historical account. "This is the original document." It is actually the copy he intends to give Julia. There is a short dedication which does not appear in any of the other copies, For Julia - the deeds recoded here were done in her name.

Kyriel follows Cirrus up the stairs; even though she was in Lucimburic before, she was never in the Ducal palace. The slower pace Cirrus takes means that she isn't exactly sure where to go. As they slow down, she hears the hurried steps coming down and soon enough the werehare comes into view. She's clearly frightened of something by her hurried breathing and then she tells them about the monster on the roof.

Kyriel glances at Cirrus. "High ground. Good for sniping."

Turning to the girl she asks "Which way to the roof? Take me there and then go get help!"

What ever this monster is, she's going to at least delay it until someone more martial can take it out. For the moment she doesn't get anything out of her bag. She might need both hands.

Kyriel asks the way to the roof, and the girl looks perplexed for a moment.  Would it be in any other direction but up?  Realization dawns and she says "Oh, you mean the way to the roof."


This is a little more complicated, and she leads them on a hurried trip up another flight of stairs, down a hall flanked by paintings and carved stone busts, into a room that looks like an old art studio, and up a twisty iron spiral stair to a roof hatch.

"The roof is up there," the girl says.  "It's a walkway and the boys are at one end of it, with the tower and the monster."

"The boys?"  Cirrus asks.

"Nitcher and Tembli and an Elf boy we met," the girl says.

** * * * *

Meanwhile...

The Argentos's are touched that Rory dedicated these... deeds... to Julia.  Musicians dedicate music all the time.  And why not?  They're performing it anyway, and expect to be paid.  Calling it a dedication is really no more special than an orchard keeper dedicating some fruit to someone- and then selling it anyway.  But deeds.. deeds such as the battle described on the pages... that's something.

They ask, after a while:  "You know many things.  Did you know who Zerova was?  The extent of her evil?"

Kyriel sees the trapdoor to the roof and nimbly clambers up the ladder. At the top she turns back to Cirrus and the warehare "Go find the Duke and tell him what I told you. I doubt that this is coincidence. Hurry!"

Once she's done that, she reaches into her pack and pulls out her rapier. As she does so, she wishes that Master Ulpius had been able to give her some kind of enchanted weapon. Who knows what kind of creature is up here? She'd rather face anything with an overwhelming advantage; just another holdover from her time in Lutetia Parisiorum.

She doesn't want to surprise "the boys" and maybe get attacked by mistake. Quietly she calls out. "What's going on?"

Rory noddes, and in his heart he hopes Julia sees the same thing they see. It is a sudden realization that he was not and never has been trying to make Julia love him, only to make her proud of him. "I never set out to make Julia love me, but I have always hoped that in some way I might make her proud. If I had that, knowing she was proud of me, it would make all of this have meaning." He reaches into his pack and removes the other two gifts, the representation of the Fountain of Isis (mentioned in his history related to the priestess of Isis who could teleport) and the Elven cloak. "I know Isis is not Julia's goddess, but it is a memento of the journey this book describes. I thought it appropriate in that regard, not as an instrument of worship. The cloak was made by elves. It protects one form the harshest of cold weather and provides camoflage in the snow. They are gifts for her. I know that she may not wish to speak with me, I would ask that you see she gets them."

He pauses at the question about Zerova. "Intuitively I knew. Mechanically I had to learn. Even now I am still learning the full extent of her evil. She had a moss she used to steal memories..." here he relates the story of the memory moss he consumed. "So you see, I still bear the responcibility of ridding this world of her evil."

Kyriel is headed into another thread:  The Return of Alicor.  She would see him and one other boy go into the tower at the other end of the roof- she has to run along the catwalk to catch up.  The third boy there waits back.  He’s a strange looking whatever.  He has a thicket of spines all over his head and back.