Andalon raised his own glass to join that toast.

"That sounds like a very good idea to me, too. That would definitely benefit Tusk defensively, so we should look into how we can work with you to make sure it happens. Now is not the time and place for that discussion but let's speak about it together sometime soon," he suggested to Adoven.

Minia pulled herself out of her silence at the talk of drink

"My sister speaks truth, though we are at best willing and enthusiastic amateurs. But you'd be amazed what can be lurking in plain sight sometimes, unseen until the right moment."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:41, Tue 06 Oct 2020.

Alisa too joined the toast - though being pregnant, it was merely water within her glass  "I had no idea the undead presence had been first hand experienced there, and that someone I know rather well had been part of the expedition.  That it should be cleansed does go without saying.  And, I concur with Domitius; Pharasma's church would likely be the most ideal source of aid for something like that." 

She caught sight of Kiera across the distance, in her striking blue gown - did her best to give her a wave and a wink that could be seen.   She noted the Nereid's proprietor was in conversation with a woman whom Alisa almost felt she should know, for some reason.  Which was odd...because she was certain she'd never seen her before.  Yet something about her rang a bell...
This message was last edited by the player at 00:43, Wed 07 Oct 2020.

"I can't imagine they'd be insulted, something crafted by skilled hands is a delight to almost anyone with sense."

Vik took a moment to nod and smile to passing others before returning to the sisters

"Now these conditions are hardly suitable for this but I've been wondering, are there complaints or issues you'd like me to bring up with my husband so we both can better serve as your local lords?"

Andalon smiled at Alisa's admiration of her husband's adventures. He decided this was as appropriate a time as any for re-telling a little more of that story.

"The island is heavily vegetated so it took us quite a while to cut a path up to the top of the hill where there the tower-house is the only building still standing. Inside we found some sort of undead spirit - a woman with her head half severed from her neck. The sight of her evoked a great sense of fear in us although we all held our resolve. She floated up to the ceiling and turned into a gaseous fog that seeped away through cracks in the ceiling. Finding the place haunted and feeling the evil of the place strengthening as night fell we left the building then. Outside, within the area marked by the low boundary wall of the settlement, we were attacked by a direbat ghoul and two swarms of stirges! With a pair of will-o-wisps floating in the air nearby as though savouring the fear and pain of that confrontation. We finally defeated the ghoul and stirges but they very nearly killed Silvius and Quinn, and left Silvius, Quinn and Domitius afflicted with a deadly disease called a blister phage. Fortunately, by the grace of Abadar, I was able to cure them over the next few days on the way home.

"Afterwards, I was able to determine that the tower-house itself is evil, not just the undead inside it. It is as though there is some sort of evil necromantic force throughout the whole building. I think that spirit we saw is some sort of manifestation of that force, perhaps not a separate undead creature at all. That direbat ghoul, too. Even the disease that afflicted Quinn, Domitius and Silvius.

"Dealing with that manifestation of evil is not a mission to be undertaken lightly, but it is certainly something we should aspire to do. If that island can be cleansed and made safe the potential benefits are very significant."

Alisa listened with rapt attention, as the bishop elaborated on what had occurred out there.   Midway or so, her lips parted in something like mild horror.  And by the point Andalon reached the bit about the disease, she slapped her free hand lightly to her forehead.

"And you forgot to mention this one?" she glanced to Dom, in some incredulity. "No wonder you speak of that sheet phantom like a joke.  Compared to this, it is a joke!"   

But she grew serious after that, shaking her head; loathing visible in her eyes and expression.    "So much corruption.  If it remains confined to the isle, that's some blessing.  Yet its existence is an awful, ongoing danger, regardless."    She paused a moment.

"Bishop, that Pharasman priest who was at the religious council -- the big, bear of a man -- Ethankos, I think, is the name?  Do you know him? Has this ever been mentioned to him?  The lingering dead are the specialty of his sect. I've heard there are even necromancers in service of Pharasma, who work only to lay the undead to rest, not make more."

"Oh, and there's also the inquisitor, Marceline, who serves that goddess."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:29, Thu 08 Oct 2020.

With a half smile Dom shrugged "We all lived though Silvius left I think it haunted him what happened and he wanted to get away from Midmarch.  I suspect it may require a joint effort from the Brevic order, the clergy of Pharsma and Lord Henry to bring that island back into the light.

Perhaps our Lord Bishop here should take it to the religious council or would you prefer yon firebrand over there does." Dom said pointing to Thaddeus.

"Oh, don't worry, I will certainly raise this issue when the time is right. If Adoven is truly interested in establishing a stronghold on that island, that will undoubtedly help to bring the matter forward sooner, too," Andalon responded with obvious determination.

Adoven nods. "I do, and I have many resources, both personal and business, to lend to the effort."

Andalon smiled. From Adoven that was no idle boast.

"Indeed. I look forward to seeing that mission take shape in the not-too-distant future. But enough of that for now. Today is supposed to be about Alisa and Domitius."

Turning to the bride he asked, "Alisa, you mentioned Acavna is a goddess of defense and the moon. My memory may be playing tricks on me but I cannot think of any other deity whose area of concern covers the moon. Do you know of any others?"

"Well, to preface my answer, I should first mention my training, as a cleric, was a little unconventional.  Less formal, compared to your own, I'm fairly sure. So I'm far from the religious scholar some are.   But interesting you should bring that up...because it does seem something of a gap, in the present day, doesn't it?   Desna is a goddess of all things celestial, to a degree -- but more closely related with the stars. And," she frowned, in some distaste, "the moon is sometimes associated with a few of the more malign gods, in sinister and usually informal way.   Which I believe comes from the superstitions of mortal kind, more so than any true divine connection."     She had another sip of her water.

"There is however an Empyreal lord -- or rather lady -- Ashava. Who it is said seeks out lonely ghosts who have become lost, and directs them to safety. The moon, I understand, is held as her guiding light for them, through the dark of night.   But there is yet the lack of any prominent, dedicated lunar god, so far as I know. And I believe that stems from Acavna having once held that place - and not being quite wholly gone."

"Ashava? Yes, I have heard of her. She doesn't like Abadar," Andalon responded distractedly as that triggered a chain of other thoughts.

"Oh, of course, 'Moon' is one of the subdomains! I am ashamed to admit I was not a good student when the subdomains were being discussed. There were just so many of them and all too often I just drifted off in those lessons.

"Let me see, I think there was another deity who is worshipped by lunatics and lycanthropes - not an aspect of the moon that would be associated with your goddess, of course.

"There was a story about an Elvish god who hunts in the forests by moonlight. What was his name? Ketephy? Something like that.

"I suppose there may be a number of other deities connected to the moon in other pantheons, too. Perhaps other races have their own moon deities that we don't even know about? That might be something for you to think about, though. You might find other deities with similar interests to those of Acavna and that might provide some common ground for friendly relationships with their followers. Well, that might just be something to watch for in future, I suppose."

"Ketephys, the elvish god of the hunt. My father and I used to offer him a prayer before we would hunt in the woods.  I have spent many nights under his watchful eye of all my fathers gods I probably felt closest to him."  Domitius added "Though I'm no expert on religion, engineering and soldiering are my areas of expertise.  Well that and swordsmanship, Lord Adoven I do hope your man is ok after today's excitement." he waved his hand at the function "This wasn't how I expected the day to run at all."

Alisa was surprised and a little concerned that there might be some issue between the Empyreal godling she mentioned and Abadar.  The last she wanted, in her position, was to give the highest ranking clergyman in Tusk offense. She attempted to rationalize the possible reason:

"I...am surprised to learn that. Lord Abadar and Ashava govern such different spheres, and she is so less renown than he; I find it curious they've intersected at all.  Of course, Ashava is of the Azata - who do lean to chaos.  And great Abadar is a god of strong order and law."   

She smiled wryly on the subject of lycanthropes and loons. "I suppose some might consider a being who throws themselves in front of a meteor swarm to be something of a lunatic.  But one with the staunchest resolve, courage, and compassion, I would point out. It is certainly why I serve and honor Her."    She made Acavna's symbol with her free hand, for emphasis.

She also added "Surely, inasmuch there is more than a single solar deity, no one god would lay sole claim to the moon, either. It is only my hunch -  but I suspect facets of our universe, like the sun and moon, are used as a focal point, or conduit, by those gods whose natures match them."    She smiled on the matter of so called 'sub-domains.'

"You're losing me there, bishop!  I think I may practice a pair of them -- yet if you asked me to name them, much less any others, I'd be at a loss.   Someday, I hope to grasp such things better."   

To Domitius- "You've made mention of Ketephys before, and his honored place in your life. I only know of him from overhearing a conversation betwixt hunters at an inn. I'd love to learn more. In the Medvyed lands, it is Erastil who patrons hunters, and is the most broadly worshiped of gods."   
This message was last edited by the player at 18:18, Sun 11 Oct 2020.

Maple nodded "Come spring we'll have some lilacs to pick then Minia" Turning to Vik she brushed her fingers through her ponytail.
"Honestly yer Ladyship. My sister and I came to these lands because of the disparities between classes. We didn't have much growing up but when we heard about this place we knew that we could start a new life here. Someplace where children wouldn't go hungry. It's....troubling to see that even here there's issues with that. I was thinkin on helping the small folk. Maybe start a community farmin program? No one needs to go without... Might be a tad ambitious though."

In reply to Maple (msg # 73):

"Lot of folk back home could be fed on this spread, beggin' your pardon your ladyship."

Minia nodded to her sister

"Figure you folk might like a good cause to put your gold towards, since you're turning this land into frontier."

"Hmmm... tell you two what..." she says, addressing the sisters in front of her.

"I've been researching into starting my own little winery somewhere- anything to get a friendly edge on the Den and the Nymph-" at which point she'd sneak a wink at Pipre- "-and if you both are willing, well... maybe we can come to an arrangement?  Come by the Nectar sometime, the both of you, and we'll see if we can come to some kind of agreement between the three of us to try and pull something off.  If you two want a chance to prove yourselves, who am I to judge, hm~?"

"And as for you..."  she says, turning to Pipre, "It's a pleasure to meet you- but truly, you must come out of that basement more often.  A rose such as yourself is more suited to the open air instead of always working her petals off, hm~?"

Stepping closer, she'd whisper a quick message to the woman, and then step back, a hint of a rosy blush on her face.


She'd take a step back and wait a few seconds for an opening- and then plusk the glass from her hand before lifting said hand to her lips for a quick kiss, returning the glass and offering a smile, before stepping away.

"...come by the Nectar sometime for a drink, hm~?"

With that, she'd be walking off towards the couple of the evening, with a bit of a grin.

As Kiera drew nearer, Alisa said casually, in introduction, "Oh, look - it's lady Kiera Raincutter, adopted cousin of Solanus.  She runs a fine establishment, the Nereid -- wonderful atmosphere and spirits. Much recommended, if one finds oneself thirsty, in the Lakeside area."

In reply to Kiera Raincutter-Solanus (msg # 75):

For a second Maple was speechless but then nodded. "Yes! we'd would love to work with you! We'll drop on by one of these days with that brandy we promised " before curtsying towards the bride.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:19, Fri 16 Oct 2020.

Adoven says to Dom "who, Robert? He's of sturdier stock than I initially gave him credit for. He's here right now, mingling and making connections. If he's as adept with personal relations as he is with a blade I may have to expand his portfolio. The one thing that every organization needs is Leadership. I may put him in charge of the Military Academy as well."

"Good to hear,  resilience is almost as valuable and makes a good combination.  Did you find him locally, Tusk does seem to draw talent." Dom asked Adoven as he looked across the crowd trying to spot the swordmaster.

"Oh, you're too kind, Ali- but yes, we do have our own share of fine drinks- even finer, if some of the plans I have for the future come true.  Perhaps not as grand as the Dragon's Den, but if you need to wet your insides, we can definitely do that."

She'd lean over and hug Ali, the smile on her face rather evident.

"Have I told you congratulations, yet?  If not- you and Dom are going to make a wonderful couple, and congratulations on getting together~.  I have to admit, I'm kind of jealous..."

She'd wink at Ali, before turning to her companion, and bowing her head.

"Oh, I apologize- I hope I wasn't interrupting, Bishop.  Though I honestly don't think we've been introduced- it's very nice to meet you!"

She was all smiles, waiting to see what might happen next.

In reply to Domitius Medvyed-Solanus (msg # 79):

Adoven chuckles. "Found him at the Gibbs school when I was learning the blade myself. He struck me as a cut above the rest, and I encouraged him to seek his fortune with me in Midmarch. I daresay he's off to a fine start."

In reply to Adoven Lodovka-Sud (msg # 81):

Domitius raised his glass in salute "A good move Lord Adoven, I have done the same with Hargrym now the leaders of his clan are looking to invest when I begin my own march.  Dwarven masons are among the finest in Brevoy and I'm hoping to find good rock in the mountains when I get over there.."

The Bishop of Tusk smiled and bowed in response to Kiera's greeting.

"Andalon de Lebeda," he said by way of introduction. "I am pleased to meet you too. You are the owner of the Nereid's Nectar, if I recall correctly. A lively place, and quite profitable too, I understand. I congratulate you on your success. Brother Florin mentioned that you travelled to Restov with Yolen's mule train on the same trip as him. Have those two ventures been enough to keep you busy or have you been swept up in other adventures too, as seems to happen to most of us here in Tusk and Midmarch?"