Kyriel is quiet while Rory composes his message. She isn't sure how she can help Rory with this; her talents certainly don't lie in this area. Of course, Rory seems to have this part well in hand so she smiles and nods at his reading of the message. Simple, polite and to the point. Hopefully it will work.

She looks grim when she hears about the demon. "That's what was happening at the north gate, wasn't it?" Sneaky devious demons, not the direct action ones, that is what they need her for. "I'll need to know everything about this in order to help. Do you have any idea how it got in the city? Who found out about it and killed it? I'll need to talk with them."

She pauses a moment. "As for sending messages, have you managed to send a message to King Theoderic and Aelasuria? The emperor has placed a bounty on her head. They need to be made aware of it."

She gives Rory a grin. "You're one of my best friends too, Rory. We've been through a lot together." She lets him hug her, and she returns the hug. Rory knows that there aren't many people that she'd allow to do that. . . .

When he talks about the claws, she nods. "Yes, I was hoping to use them as part of a weapon. That's one of the reasons I was hoping to talk to Master Ulpius. We also have some information for Cassandra."

The wizards of the Academy have several different ways of sending messages and even objects over long distance. There are spells that will do it, but those have limits, even including, they have discovered, interception by hostile magic.

And there are physical messengers.  They trusted Rory’s cargo to the Dwarves with messengers, and they do know that it went as planned.  The problem was, the Dwarves kept moving, and the situation in the Dwarven Kingdom was and remains quite chaotic.  They are certain it got as far as “Dwarves” but they are not sure it ever reached Specific Dwarves.

Similar issues appear when they plan a message to Theoderic.  They know *roughly* where he is... to within a zone of a few thousand square miles.  They can get a message to places where he ought to be found, or at least, where they could find someone who could relay the message to him.

The Duke of Lucimburic, they recall, is one such person.  Mostly, a homebody, but a reliable friend of Theoderic's.  And, they know that Barstow of Lucimburic has a very capable courier service himself, so they hope that he will forward the information.

That leaves the message to Julia.  The best way they can think of is to send a magic message to the Library of Basilea.  In this season they cannot send a physical messenger, but the sending spell they can use is somewhat limited- they cannot send a long message.

Thankfully, Rory's is brief.

Kyriel has no problems arranging some time to speak to Marcus Ulpuis, and Cassandra.  In what order, and what does she wish to tell them?

Meanwhile, they get their answer from Basilea surprisingly quickly.  Julia is not their either.  She has gone with a small delegation, representing the Dragons of Basilea, to Lucimburic.  Some important festival the Duke of Lucimburic is organizing.

Kyriel understands the problems of getting messages to someone far away, especially when you don't know exactly where they are. Sending a message to the Duke is probably the best that she can hope for. Chances are he has a better idea of where the king is, and means to relay messages to him.

She's a little surprised that the council didn't want to get a report, but after a bit figures that they may be a little pre-occupied dealing with the after effects of a demon being loose in the city. Thinking long and hard about who to talk to first, she decides to talk to Cassandra first and then Master Ulpius. The subject that she broaches with Cassandra is a very personal one--her memories. "After we banished Zerova, we got inside her wagon and found jars with memory stealing moss. A number of the jars are labeled with your name. We also have a book. I'm not sure what's in it. I spent a fair bit of time trying to decipher it, but couldn't get anything from it."

Before she visits Master Ulpius, she talks to Lady Dromessa briefly. "The trip was very illuminating for me on a personal level. I managed to talk with my surviving relatives. They told me things about my family heritage and I think that it will be more beneficial for me to practice the craft they've taught me. I think that studying magic may distract me from that. Therefore, I'd like to renegotiate any compensation. I have acquired a number of things that I think will be useful and I'd like to get Master Ulpius to use them in the enchantment of some magical weapons. I'd also like to investigate the demon that you informed us of. If one was able to pierce the defenses of the Academy, it definitely requires investigation." She remembers the battle with Zerova where even the magical arrows that she had gotten bounced off harmlessly.

Rory rewrite his massage but addresses it to the Duke of Lucimburic. Again he asks his message be conveyed. He thanks Dromessa for her advice. She saved him a wild goose chase. While waiting a responce he begins tutoring his charges.

"I know the book," Cassandra says.  "I know everything in that place."

She explains that the book is the catalog to the stolen memories, some of which are her own, and some of which belong to others.

Some of the memories are of secrets she stole.  She actively scouted for weaknesses,  of the strategic kind, and even more so of the moral kind.  Where were people so weak that through some manipulation, they could be turned towards evil?  That was art, from Zerova's point of view.

She advises going through the book carefully- she can help decipher it.  Where she has stolen secrets that will give the Hun Emperor an advantage, these must be revealed before they can be used.  Who knows how much Zerova told the Emperor before she was killed?

"Many of them will be about priests," Cassandra says.  "She had an interest in corrupting them."

And then, there are the memories taken from others, like Cassandra herself.  She speculates... there are things she knows happened, but she just can't...

"I always thought I just forced myself to forget.  Those should be destroyed.  They are probably all horrible, all of them.  Or can lead people to horrible things."

There is one other subject of interest for Cassandra:  What of Bulwyf?  She wants to hear anything Kyriel might know if him.

* * * * *

Trying to resolve the Rory issue, the wizards do some investigating.  And they send a message to Lucimburic.  This goes by way of trained bird- they have no spell to contact Lucimburic or anyone in it directly.

The message will take a little longer than the first.

Kyriel looks over the book carefully. She hadn't been able to make any sense of anything that had been in there, so Cassandra's help in decoding it will be welcome.

Since she has no idea what kind of things Zerova put Cassandra through and since those are her memories anyway, Kyriel lets Cassandra deal with them however she wants. That's why she told her about them in the first place. . . .

All the news that Cassandra wants comes pouring out of her.
"We laid our trap well. We isolated Zerova from all of her helpers and dealt with them individually.

Bulwyf was magnificent! He stood on the bridge in Mos Trajectum and went toe to toe with Zerova. She had some pretty hefty defenses. One of my magic arrows just bounced right off her! Every time Zerova hit him, the river spirit healed him. She didn't have any one helping her like that!

Rory wrote a play about it. Maybe the circus will come by sometime and you'll be able to see it.

Last I saw of Bulwyf, he was going to help the Beligicans and my people.

He offered to go with me to see my family, but I wasn't sure I wanted anyone with me. A couple of other elves came with me anyway. I probably should have told him to come along. I hope I didn't hurt his feelings."

There is a great relief, for Cassandra, hearing first hand about the death of Zerova.  She'd heard the news, but before this, only indirectly.  This makes it real.

But the fact that Bulwyf has found the next great deed, for her, is bittersweet.

"I knew he would," she says.  "He's a hero.  The noblest hero there is.  He could not be here, with me, while there were deeds that had to be done.  It would crush him, and I could not bear that.  But I wish I could see him again."


* * * * * * *

While Kyriel and Rory occupy themselves with other projects for a few days, a message from Lucimburic arrives.  It is quickly forwarded to Rory.  Although... it turns out, it is of great interest to quite a few others.

Dromessa tells him in person.

"Julia is in Lucimburic, as part of an official delegation from Basilea.. the city ruled by Dragons, as you recall.  Apparently she is of some important status there, beyond merely being one-time envoy to us, and keeper of a vital tome of Demonic lore.  No doubt you wonder why Basilea sends a delegation to Lucimburic at this time."

This is Lady Dromessa's way of saying "You should ask, and you are going to hear why whether you ask or not."

"A royal wedding is taking place.  Clovis's son, Theoderic.  The rogue prince, who is now King of the west, so we've heard, and the last of Clovis's sons in open defiance of the Huns.  Apparently he's decided that as king, he needs heirs."

She puts a hand up, a 'wait, there's more' gesture, and helps herself to a cup of wine.  She offers some to Rory.  "I really need a few more cups to take it all in, would you like some?  You see, the bride is an Elf.  Apparently, a noble Elf maiden from some powerful family in the Alpine Kingdom.  Rory... much as the songs go on about true love... not your songs, I know, but enough of them... a king's wedding is in every way about politics.  There is no escape.  It determines which lineage will gain the crown.  The princes and princesses born to them... they will have Elven grandparents and aunts and uncles- this is a union of a Human lineage with an Elven one on a scale that has never happened before.  And more.. She was here, once.  We met.  She's quite a young Elf, which means, assuming good luck on her part, Theoderic's kingdom.. which now includes Belgica, by the way... may well have its Elven queen for centuries.  This will have some hand in the destiny of every part of Europa, Rory, it's quite clear why Basilea... and everyone who has figured this out.. is interested.

"And of course, we are interested.  Very interested.  When you travel there you will not be alone."

Kyriel smiles at Cassandra. "Don't worry, he'll come back and you'll see him then. Lets start on the book tomorrow, OK?" She's been carrying the book and memory moss so long in her pack that a little more time shouldn't make too much of a difference.

After she visits with Cassandra and talks to Lady Dromessa about renegotiating her fees, she goes to talk to Master Ulpius. "Master Ulpius, in the past you've enchanted a bag for me. It's working very well, but I need something that can help me be more effective if I have to fight demons. While we've been traveling, I've managed to pick up a few things that might help in that regard."

She pulls out some of the items that she thinks might be useful. Zerova's claws, the remaining crystal spider venom, the chaos marbles, some of the shards from the glass creature and the sharp very small fragments. She identifies each as she pulls it out.

She bites her lip as she looks up at him. "I know I'm asking a lot, but I have a job to do and I'd like to be as prepared as possible. The magic arrows I had just bounced off Zerova. Bulwyf's sword was what did her in. I helped deal with her minions. Will any of this be useful?"

OOC: I figure that she'll hear about the trip to Lucimburic eventually, but if Rory and/or Lady Dromessa want to tell her directly they can do so. Otherwise she'll find them after their private conversation.

When Dromessa mentions the wedding he knows who the bride will be. He calls for Kyriel and has her involved in the conversation. "Not alone? So now I am a delegate? This is a private matter, all I need is a few hours..."

He throws up his hands, know Kyriel will not take no for an answer. "Alright then, but just be warned, I may be horrid company."

He goes and packs his things, especially the presents he had gathred for beloved Julia. First was the crystal he bought for her at the fountian, second was the elven cloak, and finally the copy of his documant about the fall of Zerova. He had copied it from the original word for word himself. When he is satisfied he returns. "Well If I'm to have company I suppose it could be worse."

Marcus Ulpius is not surprised to hear that his arrows were resisted.  Demons can be tough opponents.  Sometimes, it works best to have a weapon enchanted for that specific opponent.

But he is grateful for the assortment of, well, knick knacks Kyriel has recovered.

"There is a lot of magic in a Demon," he says.  "When it is destroyed, some of that magic is still bound in the shards that are left.  It is possible I can tap it."

He wants to create some "trade magic".  Nothing extraordinary.  But news travels fast in the upper echelon of wizardry- he has already learned that Kyriel has been tapped for a trip to Lucimburic.   And he has plans.

"They have wizards there, Kyriel.  Wereowls.  Well known to have some unique magic.  If you can interest them in trading, there is much to gain.  There's no time for me to make anything particularly special for you before you go.  But I can put together some things that might ruffle Wereowl feathers- and you might gain something of interest out of it."

* * * * * * *

Cassandra notes Rory's predicament.  She decides she wants to talk to him- she knows heartbreak too, at the least, perhaps Rory might appreciate that despite her young age she has some experience.

On the other hand... Rory does know she is only recently eighteen years old.  There are quite a few girls of that age who are convinced that they are already experts on the subject of the heart.  But few, if any, actually are.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:27, Thu 31 Jan 2013.

Kyriel is easy enough for Rory to pull into the conversation with Lady Dromessa. Chances are, she's not too far away when the message from Lucimburic gets back. She's quiet as she listens that they'll be sending a delegation there and quietly elated. Aelasuria is her friend, and she really wanted to see her wedding. "I'm sure that you'll have an opportunity to talk to Julia alone."

She stifles a grin when Rory gets melodramatic. "Don't worry, Rory. I know how much this means to you. I hope things work out." In spite of Julia's instant dislike of her, she knows that she had a positive effect on Rory, and hopes that he finds some measure of happiness or at least closure in this meeting.

When she meets Master Ulpius, she knows about the trip to Lucimburic already, after all, Rory did bring her in on it. She's sure that she would have learned about it eventually, though.

She nods when he talks about tapping into the magic of Zerova's remnants. "It seems most prudent to use whatever resources we can find or glean. I'll do my best to get a good deal from the the wereowls."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:35, Thu 31 Jan 2013.

Despite her youth, Rory knows Cassandra. He remembers being partly responcible for returning her to Zerova, and that fact alone gets her a place in his heart. He agrees to talk with her, alone if she wishes, but he would perfer they were both escorted...its the proper way to treat a lady.

"Bulwyf spoke of you often and fondly. Many times when I brought up Julia he would answer with somethng about you. I believe he loves you. I believe he will return here, for you."

Strangely enough, thoughts of Bulwyf coming back are bittersweet for the wizardess.  She cannot hide the surge of joy and hope that she feels when Rory says that, but she has conflicted thoughts, and shares them.

“I think he will come back.  It was I who sent him away.  Bulwyf is a hero.  He is like someone out of legend.  When I was little I used to dream… but what would he do, here with me?  Stand guard at my door while I studied scrolls?  And what would that make me, when there are people who really need him, everywhere.  The problem with heroes is that unless you are sharing them with the whole world you are being selfish.  He was born to do great things.  So there you have it.  Of course I want him to come back to me, and at the same time, I regret wanting that.”

* * * * * * *

Marcus Ulpius goes to work.  Years ago, before the Huns cut their path across Gaul, when Marcus was a younger man and Rivia and Kyriel were toddlers, the wizards of Europa had a much easier time dealing with each other.  For a wizard like Marcus, manufactures were his livelihood.  He learned to trade his crafts, but not his secrets, and he learned the preferences of his more frequent clients.

The Wereowls were among these.

They are curious, but quite isolated.  The Wereowls of Lucimburic paid well for the exotic.  Lucimburic being an important source of iron and steel, they could often pay in enchanted items worked from these materials.  They did not have the great weapons and armor crafting abilities of the Dwarves, but sometimes, what they could turn out was surprising.

Meanwhile, Dromessa goes in search of her other “volunteers”.  It’s not so easy.  People don’t like heading off to some wild, strange place like Lucimburic this time of year.  It’s cold, its probably crowded, they have strange habits and stranger food, and who likes to be torn away from friends and family for the Solstice?

Most wizards do not rate politics so highly as she does.

Kyriel grins and nods when Master Ulpius gets to work. She will run errands for him when she has a chance, though she's more focused on trying to ferret out any information on the demon that got into the academy.

She knows there are lots of places that she needs to be, but she's has a gut feeling about something. Quietly she slips off to the shrine of Hecate. Even though she figures that the goddess probably already knows what has happened, she wants to visit the shrine. Like a shadow she slips into the dark room and doesn't even bother with a lamp. Ever since she read the scrolls that her family gave her, her eyes have been able to pierce the sharpest night.

She isn't sure what she needs to do, but she kneels in front of the altar. "Lady Hecate, I bring tidings of the success of our mission. Zerova has been sent back to the abyss. I and all those involved thank you for the help you've given us to deal with her and to return successfully."

After a few moments of thought, she decides to continue. "I humbly ask your help in tracking down whatever seeds of evil that a demon may have planted here in the Academy."

She waits for a few minutes before heading out to find Rivia, Isaniko, and Penelope.

Rory feels bad for Cassandra, but also the confession draws him closer to her. "I understand. I am in the midst of retiring here. I have done my part for this world, and now I want some peace. My plan is to start a small bard's college here, but first I must have closure with Julia. I believe we will have the same issues, even if she does want more with me, I will have to let her go so that she can make her mark on this world as I have already done. Keeping her here with me would be slefish. I suppose we are peas in a pod."

He smiles at her, a knowing almost fatherly smile. "Heartaches are better shared, I suppose that is why I sing so many songs about them. When I have a door...if I have a door, it will be open to you anytime you wish to share your burdens."

He held his staff, clutching it really, wanting to make sure he kept his hands to himself. It would be to easy to take advantage of this young girl's confusion, and Bulwyf is his friend. No Cassandra must remain a platonic friend.

Ever since it was rededicated, (though with short interruptions) the Shrine of Hecate at the Academy of Aurelianorum has been tended to by Arabella.  She still does not consider herself an ordinary priestess.  She has no regular clerical functions to perform, and she doesn't have the social role that most clerics have. She has yet to officiate at a wedding, funeral, or birth.  And yet, she is faithful to her post, certain that Hecate will watch over the Academy, the last bulwark of wizardry, in trying times.

She is there when Kyriel comes to make her requests.

“Hecate does not always work that way,” Arabella says.  “She isn’t known to be amenable to every prayer.”

None of the gods work that way, as far as Kyriel knows.  The world is full of unanswered prayers.

“But the Demon you are concerned about is not a great threat,” Arabella continues.  “I've done the auguries and the divinations, and I listened to what Raz told us.  It was a very unusual Demon.  Telios says that every kind of fear and every kind of evil has its own Demon, because that's what they are made of.  This one was a very specialized creature.  It was a Demon of verbal pain.  It wanted to see people suffer from cruelly spoken words.. even more, it wanted to see people enjoy speaking cruelly.  Because of this it was a Demon associated with civilization.  Places of law and sophistication and safety are its domain.  The barbarous culture of the Orcs holds nothing for it.”

* * * * * * *

Cassandra, meanwhile, is amazed that Rory considers this "retiring".  To run a school for bards?  Wouldn't that be a dream?  In her view, Rory is not retiring.  He is beginning anew.

She reminds him that they were both part of Zerova's retinue once.  Rory wasn't there very long, but he remembers.

"It is like finally being clean," she says.  "All of that is behind you.  You can have a life."

Kyriel nods when Arabella tells her that the gods don't always answer every prayer. As a street child she was used to not having any prayers answered, or at least not answered in the way expected. "In Lutetia Parisiorum, I told one of the clerics there that I was serving Hecate. Since I talked to my family, I've learned that it may have been closer to reality than I thought. I am a Shadowdancer and I think we may have some connection to the goddess, though that's only a guess on my part."

Hearing about the demon is and the fact that it seems to have been a minor demon is good. However, the fact that everyone discounts you because you appear to be inconsequential is part of how she's managed to get so far. She doesn't take this thing for granted. From what they heard before, the demons are extremely long viewed. They'll lay plans that may take life times, even elven lifetimes, to come to fruition. This is something that she won't allow.

Rory allows himself a smile. She knew certainly how to make her case. They shared a great deal in common. When she had parted with Zerova...when they had helped her escape...he had thought of making a pass at her, but she had eyes only for Bulwyf, which was as it should be! Bulwyf was a hero, Rory was merely a stage prop. He noddes at her remindings, knowing she is speaking truthfully. "Were I a lesser man, I would ask you to take Julia's place. That is suppose to be a compliment. I know coming from me it must seem like far less."

He looks off, whistfully. "Bards will take the place of wizards. Oh there will still be wizards, but bards are more socially acceptable. The college will send bards to Kings and Queens to educate their children. Who wouldn't pay for the priveledge of being educated by someone from this academy. They will also funnel in students, those with real talent for magic will be sent back here for training and the bards will get the most charismatic ones for students to send back out. Self perpetuating, the thing will live on long after me, bear my name. At least I will be remembered. I once sought the power to dominate this world. I joined Zerova for it, I tried to find it other places. This world cannot be dominated. There is too much in it, to many kinds of things. Now I just want to be remembered. The college was something I thought of during my journies, a place where people like me could learn and grow. Growing things are good, you are either green and growing or ripe and rotting. I hope I am still green enough..."

He noddes again, "A fresh start. No more traveling, no more fighting, just peace."

Rory is impatient for the festivals to end and Syanthus to get on with his planned trip to Lucimburic.

There are complications, of course.

As he understands, Syanthus and Dromessa are trying to round out the delegation with volunteers.  They are having a little trouble rounding up suitable volunteers.  They may have to do a little academic arm twisting.

It occurs to Cassandra to ask about whether Bulwyf would be there.  But of course, there is no reason he would be, and last anyone knew he was headed in a different direction.  She is a little dejected, having thought that he might be "home" for the solstice.

She returns to the issue of the stolen memories, and works on what's what.

There are a few from clerics.  All of those are fairly recent, taken this year, in the time after they left Zerova.  They had feared Zerova would chase them down, but apparently, she had other purposes.

Cassandra makes an astonishing discovery, among the memories stolen from clerics.

She asks Rory if he remembers.. way back... the destination of Zerova, when they left, was a place called Vipiacus?

Rory split off and went to Aurelianorum, but Cassandra went with Seti and Bulywf to Vipiacus, ahead of Zerova.  There, they met a priestess of Pluto- Leondra.

According to what Cassandra has read, one of those memories was stolen from Leondra.

"Of course she'd have no memory of what happened," Cassandra says.  "That's what makes it such a diabolical theft."

Rory noddes, "I understand that the memory stealing was a difficult thing for you and others. I am not sure exactly what this information has to do with me. Was there something you needed or was it just by way of explaination?"

The question causes Cassandra to stop and think.

“I’m telling you because I know stopping Zerova meant so much to you," she says after reflecting.  "You should know… I don’t think she’s entirely stopped.  She’s dead, but the things she set in motion… I’m also telling you because you know, sooner or later, someone has to learn what’s in the memories that was stolen.  They’re in the little glass jars, but for Zerova to be defeated… completely… someone has to know.  And maybe I just felt I had to tell you this before I decide it has to be me.”

Understanding dawned on him. She was right Zerova had not been defeated. She was his responcibility, not Cassandra's. "Your right, someone has to know, but not you." He took the jar from her, the one with the memory from teh Priestess of pluto. "I eat it, right?"

If she says yes, he chews and swallos the moss...

Rory, in the company of Cassandra, tentatively nibbles just a bit from the Obliviax moss Cassandra identified as containing the memories taken from Leondra.

It is a strange feeling, suddenly absorbing the memories of another person.  It is not a memory “of” Leondra, it is a memory “from” Leondra, filled with her sensations, her associations, all the facets of identity that are bound up in memory.  It is profoundly disorienting, and at last, when Rory feels them safely bound within his own, he has no idea how much time has passed- but the sun has set.

Two things he recalls.  One, an alley off a street in Vipicus… suddenly, Rory seems to know a lot about Vipiacus, it’s all familiar, even if he can’t name the people, but it’s home.  The alley off the street near the temples… it’s dark… lured outside, and now her/his arms pinned by some brutally strong creature… Zerova!  Surprise that the shriveled old woman is so strong… Rory’s own memory intrudes:  No, no surprise, I know.  But he recalls warm, wriggling moss, in Zerova’s hand, up against his temple.  Zerova whispering in a hoarse voice:  think about this.  Think about now.

A fading thought- how monstrous!  To steal a memory, and then steal the memory of the memory being stolen… and then it is gone.

And then the second, earlier memory appears.  A memory of a memory.  Zerova’s hands are still there, one sharp claw at Rory’s neck.  Zerova’s voice:  Tell me about the Temple of Pluto.  Arras.  Your father.  Rory/Leondra struggles.  Says nothing.   Defiance, and silence.  But Zerova is confident.  “Don’t tell me.  Your choice.  But you have to remember.  You have to think about what I tell you to think about.”

The witch is right.  Merely by saying the words, memories come up- the great temple of Pluto in Arras, the servants, the passages… Leondra’s father, the High Priest.  His habits and how he acts.  His stateroom, its furnishings.  Leondra feels herself losing details.  The great door at Arras.. what did it look like?  But it’s in the moss now.  And Rory knows it.  Having never met the man, Rory now “knows” Leondra’s father, Pelion the High Priest of Pluto.

The late high priest of Pluto.

Rory realizes suddenly that he feels physically strained, struggling to free himself from Zerova’s grip.. which isn’t there… the sensation fades away, but the memories remain.

Rory awakens with a start, fighting off an invisible foe. When he does realize Zerova is not their his pulse begins to return to normal. He looks about to find Cassandra. "I trust you did not take advantage of me while I was helpless." He quipps, knowing the answer already. He allows a thin smile, so she knows he is kidding.

He realtes the highlites of what he found out without the horrifying details. He does relate that she should not partake, as it is his responcibility, not her own. If she believes any more need to be consumed, he will do it.

He also relates that she should get to someone in charge so that tey might be informed of this development.

With things kind of re-grouping, the Aurelianorum arc will now be entirely in the other thread.