"No, I mean...yes. It was uneventful. Er, relaxing. Yes! That one."

He clears his throat nervously, looking down at his plate and focusing on cutting his haunch of meet very deliberately.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:46, Fri 31 Jan 2014.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 34):

...and the best part, well I guess A best part, is that the arcane matrix underlying the spell isn't totally transindoctrinated, not at all, but it STILL has a maintenance zenith that's comparable to a balanced incantation of the 2nd order, which means...
This message was last edited by the player at 02:03, Fri 31 Jan 2014.

Mmmm, yes, you certainly did look like you were relaxing.  Tell me: did you leave any bubbles for the rest of the clientele?

Lyriel furrows her brow in confusion. Bubbles? There weren't any bubbles other than... Her green eyes dart over to Zuriel, noting with a shock a stray bubble in his...dark hair.

Her fork falls out of her hand and clatters to the table, and her face flushes furiously.

But then...he was...and the towel...

The table soon finds themselves with two highborn intently scrutinizing their food, as if everything in history of all creation depended on maintaining unbroken eye contact with their plates. If the cleric had looked up, she would have noticed Rachel struggling to contain her laughter, aquamarine eyes dancing with amusement.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:34, Fri 31 Jan 2014.

Zuriel gets up from the table, coughing delicately, still seemingly unable to make eye contact. "Perhaps I'd better see to our rooms. Make sure they're...rooms."

He quickly departs, leaving a half-eaten dinner and the scent of lavender mixed with sandalwood behind. As he leaves a single bubble floats in the space he so recently occupied, floating over to rest on Lyriel's plate.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:42, Fri 31 Jan 2014.

Maeve loses her appetite, throwing up in her mouth just a little bit.

Boreas, feeling refreshed from his bath, steps across the hall to retrieve his clothing.  Zuriel, rushing down the hall, bumps into him, causing Boreas' towel to drop to the floor.

The huntsman looks up, eyes meeting Zuriel's amber ones for a moment.  He shrugs and steps into the dressing-room, leaving the paladin to his embarrassment.

Zuriel's eyes widen in shock at seeing the huntsman actually having taken a bath.

Miracles do happen...
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Fri 31 Jan 2014.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 41):

Somehow, the realization that something is going on at the table other than what he was talking about reaches Keef.  He blinks and takes a long look at Lyriel, then Maeve, then the empty seat that was the paladin.

So.... gears are clearly grinding away, ... so... Zuriel doesn't have the money.... Maeve?  Keef opens one of his books to a series of diagrams showing what looks to be a hybred of squirrel and locomotive.

.... the materials... nothing dangerous I promise...well not REALLY dangerous... and all I really need is maybe 1,000 gp to get the work really going...

Keef, I swear by all that is good and right in this world, we will get you whatever you need for your research, Maeve says tiredly, willing to say anything to halt Keef's unending magic babble.  She really ought to have known better.

Oddly enough, Rachel appears to have been listening to Keef with great interest and even seems to have been following some of his "explanations."

Interesting.  The girl might indeed have the makings of a fine mage.  Taking her to Baldwin seems a better and better idea.

Zuriel's sudden absence now registers with Maeve.

All I did was tease him about the bubbles.  Surely that couldn't have been *that* embarrassing. . . .

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 43):

Keef beams and snaps his book shut.

Fantastic!  I'll make up a reduced list and we can go shopping tomorrow morning!

Keef leaps down from his chair, scoops up his notes and books and bounces off.

Keef, we should probably wait until we reach Ikuabai before-- Maeve begins to say.  But the lad is already gone.

I've made a huge mistake.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 45):

To say the night passes uneventfully would be a misnomer, given the assorted dramas that played out during the evening hours, but nothing disturbs the P.A.R.T.Y. once they settle into their rooms.

***

Zuriel stirs at dawn, keenly aware of his promise to accompany Sheriff Mathers to give his report.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:05, Fri 31 Jan 2014.

In reply to DM (msg # 46):

Keef, wakes with Zuriel, but instead of going with the paladin he stands, Longshanks in one hand and book of notes under his arm, and waits patiently outside the door to Maeve's room.

In reply to Keef (msg # 47):

Maeve opens the door to find Keef and his entourage of toad and staff standing directly outside.  With a deep sigh, she wordlessly extends a hand for Keef's shopping list, curious to see exactly what he hopes to acquire.

She takes the list with her as she proceeds to the common room for breakfast, reading over it as she awaits the other members of the P.A.R.T.Y to arise and join them.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:02, Fri 31 Jan 2014.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 48):

Mathers & Co.

The pair winds its way through the sleepy streets, observing an odd assortment of people along the say.  Here and there you see drunkards shambling home, more than a handful doing walks of shame.  Shopkeeps are stirring, too, as they rearrange their displays and restock the shelves in preparation for another busy day.

The pungent scent of autumn fruits fills the air from breakfast carts parked here and there, mostly patronized by civil servants as they begin the unenviable task of clearing the streets, repairing damaged lamps, removing garbage, and maintaining public buildings.

Before long, the pair arrives at the courthouse, a rather imposing building located in the city's northwest quad.  Interestingly, it isn't particularly close to the prison -- located to the north -- and it is staffed by a motley collection of civilian scribes/aides/journeymen and Imperial appointees.

A sleepy-eyed woman stands behind the receptionists desk as the Sheriff ambles in, greeting him with a monotone "Good morning. Please wait." and inviting him to take a seat.  There are plenty of spaces to wait, as you are the only ones there at such an hour.

After a good 15 minutes or so, during which the receptionist absently files her nails, she finally motions for the Sheriff and Zuriel to come forward.

"Warden Jessep will see you now.  Down the hall, second door on the right."

***

Warden Harvey Jessep was a proud man.  Low on the totem pole and assigned to the equivalent of traffic court, he kept his head held high as he dealt with such pressing concerns as parking tickets, impounded vehicles, and zoning disputes.

His desk is covered with paperwork, but somehow manages to look organized despite itself.  The man himself is a heavyset human in his 60s with thinning hair and thick, bushy eyebrows.  He stands from behind the desk when you enter and beckons you to have a seat across from him.

"Come in, come in," he says.  "And welcome!  What can Medenbury do for the Flame this fine day?"

Zuriel shakes his hand, greeting the Warden warmly with a smile. "Well met, Warden. I am Knight-Errant Zuriel Siléndril. Sheriff Mathers, formerly of Vendrinor, and myself are here to turn in the paperwork for a tragic incident that transpired last week." Zuriel hands over the documents, waiting for the Warden to parse through it.

What happened in Vendrinor is way above this man's pay grade...let's see how he handles it.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 50):

The Courthouse

Warden Jessep riffles through the paperwork, scowling in some places, gasping in others.  When he is finished, he dabs a handkerchief along his brow.

"This is real? A dark cleric murdered an entire village, right on our watch?"

He glances at the paladin and decides the question need not be verbally answered.

"Right then.  This is urgent, and you need to talk to Captain Rhys about it.  Problem is, he's not here right now.  We had an incident at the jail late last night, and most of our wardens have been deployed there to help with... containment."

He dabs his forehead again, looking nervous.

"It's closed to the general public, but I don't think the two of you count, given what you've been through.  Besides, you're a badge and a paladin."

Jessep stands and grabs a traveling cloak from its peg on the wall.  You can plainly see that the man wears no armor and carries no weapons, though he does scoop up the reports you brought him.

"Let's go."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:40, Fri 31 Jan 2014.

A prison outbreak? Containment? That sounds...serious. Zuriel shares a worried look with Mathers before tightening his sword belt and following the Warden out the door.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 52):

The Courthouse

Warden Jessep leads Mathers and Zuriel outside, where they begin the trek to the prison.  It takes a good 30 minutes, as the bustle of people continues to increase as the morning continues.

Eventually, you come to a cross-street that has had the northern junction barricaded by a sideways cart.  A quick glance down the horizontal, unblocked road shows that every intersection in sight is similarly barricaded to prevent travel north.

Jessep walks right past the barricade, saying aloud "Warden Jessep, two guests".  There is no visible reaction to this, but nothing prevents the group from traveling further, either.

Presently the prison itself looms into view, an enormous compound protected by three thick stone walls that form concentric rectangles along the facility.  Towers punctuate the perimeter, and guards are everywhere.  There is just a single gate, which now stands before you, and it seems to unlock in phases that require a different checkpoint for each of the three walls.

The prison itself is comprised of five three-story buildings, placed in an arc along the ten-story walls (and twelve-story towers).  "Holding cells," Jessep says, pointing at them.  "And the processing hall," he continues, motioning toward a sixth building, two stories tall, located in the center of the grounds.

It takes a while, but eventually the third and final portcullis is raised, and the trio finds itself standing at the edge of the prison's courtyard, which seems to have recently seen a little action.

The walls are swarming with Imperial crossbowmen, and the courtyard is dotted with arrows.  Blood and gore are splattered throughout the exercise yard, and two piles of bodies have been dragged off to the eastern side, hastily covered with dirty sheets.

The doors to the eastern-most building have been blown off their hinges, and two Wardens stand at rapt attention in the doorway. The four other holding cell buildings are surrounded by a shimmering bubble, which is maintained by four elven-looking figures clad in violet robes.  A fifth such figure stands near them, chatting with a gruff-looking Warden who is built like a tank, and seems to bark orders at anyone who strays within earshot.

It is toward this man that Jessep steers you, dabbling his brow with his handkerchief all the way.

Zuriel looks around at the aftermath of what must have been an extensive prison riot. What in the Nine Hells happened here?!

He waits until they are within earshot before hailing the massive figure barking orders. "Captain Rhys, I presume? Knight-Errant Zuriel Siléndril. The paladin gives a respectful salute as the captain turns to face him.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:08, Fri 31 Jan 2014.

Maeve finishes eating and realizes that Boreas and Lyriel have yet to awake.

I've heard of beauty sleep, but this is ridiculous.

Keef, this is very thorough, Maeve says, looking up from the list.  However: I would almost certainly wait until we reach Ikuabai before trying to find all this.  You'll find a much better selection and, depending on the merchant, possibly at a much better price than you would here.

Not to mention the boarded-up magic emporium, she says to herself thoughtfully, belatedly realizing that she said that aloud.  Keef's eyes light up with an absolutely delighted gleam.

Boreas climbs out of bed groggily, rubbing his eye.  He searches the PARTY's stock and puts on the straw hat, then heads out to market in search of an enchanter.

Good morning. Lyriel mumbles a subdued greeting as she passes Maeve and Keef in the hallway. Oddly, Lyriel seems more conservatively dressed than is usual for her, in a muted gray tunic and traveling pants. She sits down to a quick breakfast, buttering a slice of bread absently. Looking out of the window into the courtyard as she eats, she sees something that gives her pause before rushing out of the building.

Shortly thereafter, those still inside hear a rather irritated whinny from outside in the courtyard. Anybody looking out the window can see the cleric apparently attempting to engage Shahara in conversation, despite Zuriel being nowhere around.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 54):

The Prison

"No," the Captain says, the simple word apparently full of meaning for the women with whom he is speaking.

She glares at him and begins to protest, stopping short as Zuriel and the others trot fearlessly forward.

"Oh.  You've summoned the Flame," she says, putting her hands on her hips defiantly.  The gesture emphasizes her natural curves -- and they are ample, for she is stunningly beautiful. "You can't purge everything away, you know.  I want the rogues recaptured. Alive, as per our mutual treaty."

Rhys says nothing, choosing instead to favor her with a glare that could melt steel.

"Valerie, Magus Third Class, Inquisitor of the Twilight Order," the woman says, turning to Zuriel with a coy smile. "They'll be contained for another hour or so, then you can advance your men however you see fit.  Have fun, but don't break anything of mine."

She takes a step back and blows the Captain a mock kiss.

"When this is all said and done, Rhys, we're building a proper antimagic cell here.  Even if I have to petition the Imperial Assembly to get it done."

With that, Valerie returns to stand near the four similarly dressed elven casters.  After a brief exchange, all five invoke words of power and vanish.  The prismatic barriers flicker slightly, but continue to hold despite their absence.

Captain Rhys, for his part, looks as though he's doing his best to ignore Valerie's presence on the planet.  He acknowledges Zuriel with a crisp salute.

"Busy. What brings you?"

The Marketplace

Boreas has no trouble finding several different vendor purporting to be enchanters.  He browses their wares contentedly, whistling a tune he picked up along the way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:49, Fri 31 Jan 2014.