Saliq is surprised to encounter two new door wardens at the Mages Guild, who greet him friendly enough but also ask him to take a new scroll with him to be filled out and returned at his convenience.  The scroll itself is much like one he previously submitted but with more questions about who he associates with, and more about his personal background.  It is clear he is not singled out, this is just increased security.   Saliq spends time with the Master Red Wizard, who shows great interest in the tale of the group’s adventure in Dream, and of their encounters with both Elexi and his sister, the Morde Witch.  He congratulates Saliq on his advancing level and casually mentions that he will need to set up a time to perform his newest spells for the council at some point to have these new skill verified.  Saliq checks in with his young acquaintances to find them mostly doing well in their studies but also somewhat puzzled that their friend Darius suddenly dropped out of school altogether several weeks ago.   Saliq is able to secure a tutor for Inas’ to help him develop his new found magical talents.

Inas sends a message to Lord Nightgees through the church as he once did, and is not all that surprised when only a few days later, he gets a return message asking him to meet him in Godswalk Park.

Marissa gets her own ship in tip top shape and meets with many of her friends and comrades from the docks.   As for her family,  she is somewhat scolded by her mother for being away so long without a word to them and reminded that she is an Ehridol and remember that when it comes to what she does and who she does it with. This leaves her somewhat puzzled.
Rath spends days out at night healing others, and burning off some deeper emotion.  He does note that there are far fewer street people than he’s ever noted in Stormhaven.  Certainly the huge influx of country folks during the long winter has long since left the city to head back to their farms.  But beyond that, very few people are even outside at night.  He does notice on several occasions, there are other priests moving through the dark streets, and they seem to watch him closely when he passes.  In fact, he feels a bit watched on many occasions.

Some research into the White Wardstone reveals it to be the true treasure of the dragon’s horde.   Placed into the walls of a building, it becomes a protected area.   Those within its limits of power (by square footage), cannot be scryed upon, or affected by any outside influence.   Remaining within its power, those attuned to it heal five times faster than usual, will be cured of diseases and curses within two days, feel generally better, alert and fresh, and age at slower rate during their time there.

Inas dutifully heads to Godswalk Park to meet the Ranger Lord.

While they were not as close as his adventuring comrades Saliq sincerely enjoyed the company of his brother and sister magicians. The Wizard's Guild, with its dark wood paneled rooms, its mixed odour of old books, ink, rose petals and a dozen other less identifiable magical igredients, its portraits of great wizards past, Master Azuth in his ancient robes,  felt like a place both soaked in history and full of promise for the future - at least if some of the students were able to concentrate on their studies. Having an excellent tavern at hand could be a disadvantage in some respects...


The illusionist was taken aback to encounter the new doorwardens, but then it had been a while . The tales of adventure and exploration explained in his report with Master Azuth, would be repeated in more casual fashion at the Cantrip with some of his acquaintances. Indeed Saliq made a determined effort to strengthen his bonds with his brothers and sisters of the wand, signing up for the next Revels and setting up a notice on the board outside the tavern ('Seeking to trade spells and insights with a fellow scholar of phantasms'.) Given the smallness of the Guild's illusionist fellowship he was not certain he would receive a reply but it was worth the effort.

Saliq would also of course be busy for the next few days, studying how his own mastery of the craft was improving - and of course filling out the scroll. Administration might be less fun than magic but it was important.

The one thing that disquieted him was the way young Darius had dropped out of the Guild. Saliq, after some hesitation, decided to have a quite word with his tutors to see if they could explain his seemingly abrupt departure...

ooc: If anyone wants to switch any of this to PM, feel free, I just find its boring for a bunch of PM's to be going on behind the scenes...


Inas finds the older ranger sitting on a large stone next the Balanced Creek, his gear set aside along with his boots as he rests his feet in the cold water.


Saliq makes inquiries on behalf of Darius "Chip" and finds only that he was excelling in all his work before he just stopped showing up.  He wasn't from a well connected family so its possible the school got too expensive or maybe he had bumped up against the limits of his talents and decided it was best to quit rather than be found out.

One time over drinks, Rose has had a few extras and looks very seriously at Rath and asks, "Do you even know which Goddess you are working for?".

Inas approaches, but he remains standing.  And shod.

"Lord Nightgees; thank you for meeting with me.  Although, I suspect you have your own purposes for doing so, separate from the matters I expressed in my letter."

Marissa's a bit taken aback, but her mother has fits of fancy now and again, so she let's it be. She does seek out her first mate, explains the conversation and asks him for advice. Mostly, she just wants to keep the peace between herself and the family.

Rath stopped moving his glass to his lips and looked at Rose evenly. The question caught him off balance. He smirked appreciatively and set the glass down. He fingered his set of three pendants, pulling them from around his neck. He set down the first -- the coin -- on the table between him and Rose. "I learned early. Luck was everything. Good luck came to folks who don't earn it. Bad luck comes to damn near everyone. And who lived, who died, who got rich, who fell in love ... it was all in Avandra's hands. Get in Her favor, and you got it made." He set the coin aside. "Only nobody's got Avandra's favor. Not for long."

Next, he displayed the shell. "Melora." HIs smirk was gone. Dark weariness showed in his eyes. "Well, I guess I owe her my life. Don't know that She owes me anything, though."

Last, the rustic wood-cut sun of Pelor, gilded and painted blue. He took a deep breath. "I did bad things, Rose. Hurt people." This was nothing that Rose didn't already know. "An old priest of the sun god. He was ... he was kind, when I ... wasn't. Dark as I was, he said there was light. Faint light. Really faint.  But light." Rath picked up his glass, set down his glass, looked like he wanted to throw it across the room. "So. Maybe Pelor set me on a path." He clutched the sun pendant.

He tried a tired smirk again but it didn't stick. "How about you, Rose? Do you know Who I'm working for? 'Cause, no, I don't have a clue."

Brooding on the disappearance of 'Chip' Saliq decided to call upon his family. If the young man had simply dropped out that was regrettable but understandable, but he did wish to know.

In reply to Inas Eoinsson (msg # 5):

The Lord Ranger continues to sit with his feet in the creek,

"On the contrary Inas, you asked for me to come, I came.  Come and relax and tell me what is on your mind.".

In reply to Aldo Rathmus (msg # 7):

Rose half smiles, "So, one of the wealthiest men in the city, and you tithe nothing. Perform no devotions.  Attend no service nor praise their name to people."  She laughs but kindly, "Only a female would still find you charming, it's goddess, there...I narrowed your options in half.".

She takes another drink, "And unlike you, I worry about you, not to excess, don't get a bigger head, so yeah, I got a pretty good theory on the other woman..."

Saliq spends the time to track down the home of Chip, it is on the edge of OldHaven, in an area of craftmen's, most of who have shops or offices of various types with aparments for their living quarters on the upper floor or floors.

The door to the shop says it is closed until further notice.  After knocking and a short wait, a middle aged woman cracks open the door and speaks, taking in Saliq's fine clothing.

"I am sorry, Noble Sir, we are closed.  If you need a builder, we can recommend several good ones".

One of the evening when Marissa is done working with her own crew on her ship, she spends some time, as is the custom, at the local dockside establishment.

As the time passes, Gorrtam, the crew leader for another ship, half orc but smart in a mean and crafty way approaches.  Marissa hasn't had direct troubles with Gorrtam, but he has an unsavory reputation.

"Would like a wurd n' private with Mi'lady".

In reply to GM Bard (msg # 10):

Rath got a sinking feeling in his gut and felt a flush rise up his neck and face. He was slow to answer. "You know me, Rose. I'm oblivious. What's your theory?"

Rose gives him a real smile, "I didn't know about the old priest, you are full of surprises Rath, but don't sell yourself short mister, you aren't just a little feint light, you are the bravest, and best man I've ever met...you, you, nevermind you've heard me say this before so...Ok, Mr Oblivious, I already eliminated half the know world, I'll knock off one more...." and she leans over and kisses him, "It's not me".

Feeling a little self conscious Saliq smiled politely and shook his head. 'I'm a member of the Wizard's Guild madam. I was wondering if a former student named Darius still lived here?'

"I really just wanted to report some things that bear watching, and to seek your advice." 

Inas relates the events that took the party to Witchlight Swamp, the Seven Falls Canyon, and then to the Land of Dreams (and back again).  Always walking on the pessimistic side of pragmatism, he concludes: "I do not know whether this portends a resurgence in dragonkind, much less what such a resurgence might mean.  If all dragons were like Astral, the world would probably be better for it.  But they are not.  A formidable force may have been awakened.  It would do well for there to be regular visits to Seven Falls Canyon, if there are any rangers near there who can do so.  At the same time, I don't think it wise for word to get out.  I don't think it would do for there to be a parade of emissaries from every two-bit lord who wants to curry favor with dragons, or worse, to try to slay one to make a name for himself.  Plus, I may be making too much of this."
 

Inas pauses to allow the Ranger Lord to respond.

The woman at the door goes from looking confused to worried, "Darius, he has a room here but....what do you mean former..?".

That's when a deep male voice calls out, "Marie, send the gentleman up to me, and bring us some tea.".


The woman shows Saliq into a nice modest home, clearly much better built and kept than one would expect for East Gate area, but then again, if the man is a master builder, it makes sense.  The wide wooden staircase that leads to a second floor office is polished and beautiful.

A man sits at a desk, and politely asks Saliq to sit across from him.  It is strange as he says nothing else until tea is served and his wife leaves and shuts the door behind.

Once she is gone, he stands and with the help of a crutch walks around to take a chair right next to Saliq.  His left leg is bandaged, and missing below the knee.

"I fear my wife has had enough grief of late, I wish I could spare her more but I'm afraid my son has done something foolish." He indicates the leg, "I took a late call in New Gate a month ago, water coming through the ceiling in a very nice row home, a job that would have paid for a full year for us to replace it, eager to prove myself,  I went on the roof during the storm, just to patch the leak long enough to begin the bigger job, and fell. I'm lucky, truly it should have killed me, but they couldn't save the leg, not on my salary.  Chip was never good at my trade, and had higher ambitions, he took it really hard.  But he kept saying that there were better ways to make money for school.  He said he knew of a place that was bound to have wealth still in it.  I called him a fool, and sent him back to school, told him we'd find a way, but......if he's gone missing, I probably know where he went. He kept talkign about a place called Calvarix Keep.".

Lord Nightgees listens quietly.

"Even good dragons bear watching, just like some good people, they can be strict and infringe on the freedom of others.  Thank you for these updates.  Of more interest to me is that Elexi has passed beyond the dark veil.  He was guardian for the Witchlight Swamp, its wildlife, and the peoples of the Glades, this will leave those lands unprotected.  Inas I think it is right for you to keep a watch on these areas, it sounds as if you have met locals there who could act as your eyes and ears when you are away.  Will you do this?"