Some Assembly Required

## **Synopsis**

In Chapter 78: Some Assembly Required, Safira crossed paths with a familiar face on her way to meet with Orba in Na-Qhusi.  It was the weapons expert Sarn Darrow, who was taking some of Navika-Pura's young men and women on a wilderness retreat – though he turned his attention to Safira's two bows as she rode by.

He mentioned that some time ago he'd trained with a veteran of the Bloodhawk Infantry – the very same division that boasted the likes of the great archery master Wachi Ferraud.  Safira was guarded about revealing her association with the Bloodhawks due to her deserter status, but Sarn's offer to teach her some advanced techniques using the Wild Ordnance weapons was too tempting to pass up – and we made tentative plans to meet the following day at his training facility.

Beezaura and Graven, renewed in their resolve after releasing Villepont Willoughby from his prior engagements, headed first to the Short Ports where one of the custodians was grateful for any help we could provide regarding the clogged sewage pipe – though a busy workload meant we'd have to come back later when she could supervise us.

The next stop was Reciprocity… and despite a willingness to discuss the body that had washed up on the south bank, Senka Uberti had no desire to converse with Graven – an outsider who was not under her employ.  Irritated at her obstinacy, Graven was forced to wait by the fountain with Mr. One – but while he wasn't much for vocalization, the wizard offered a few nods and shakes of the head for a bit of insight into his relationship with Senka and the missing Mr. Two.

Elsewhere, returning from the incident at the hedge maze, Erland found a private moment alone at the Upa Alehouse to focus on the breathing exercises he'd learned from the healer Ja Haughten back in Tuktu.  In doing so, he unlocked a better understanding of how to control the mysterious powers within him – and also discovered a new twist on an old ability that could help him to ward off attacking foes.

Speaking of foes, as Erland returned to the bar – he barely had time to converse with Sotiria before he was heckled by another monk who hailed from the Temple of the Forked Tongue.  This particular miscreant had been trying to enter Sarn's academy for some time and was peeved that Erland was being considered for an opening… while drinking heavily to console himself.  A nasty exchange of insults resulted in the declaration of a duel – and we added that potential fight to our ever-growing Navika-Pura to-do list.

In Na-Qhusi, Orba's plan for a brief visit to the New Qelqian church was prolonged by a timid man named Raylan who was looking for some guidance in his prayer as he was reaching a crossroads in his life and his relationship with his father.  Orba offered up what little help she could – and the two of them shared a solemn connection before going their separate ways.

As our wizard headed back to the tattoo parlor, Senka was leading Beezaura to the storage basement beneath her brothel – where a chained and gagged man was being held after claiming to have a lead regarding Mr. Two.  Wanting to see what her promised chess piece was paying for, Senka left us to extract the information in any way we saw fit – and while Beezaura largely avoided the use of physical force, she scared her prisoner enough that he agreed to sneak her onto a boat in the harbor where one of his shipmates might finally have a clue that could break the case open.

Graven, however, was still solidly focused on the string of murders – and after talking to a woman across the river who had a good relationship with one of Senka's housekeepers, he thought perhaps there was something that had gone overlooked when the first body was discovered.

Walking through the streets of Wampurani-Na, Graven's train of thought was interrupted after a blue-robed acolyte approached with a request for a meeting – and nearly identical conversations were taking place in the other townships as it seemed someone was keen on getting us together for an important discussion.  With exclusive access to the not-yet-open Steederway, we hurdled toward an unexpected reunion here in the late afternoon.

## Trivia

* Natural one count: no natural ones were rolled in this Chapter.