Session 12

## Notable Events

* Justice disarmed himself, confronted Augustine, and asked for answers
* Augustine panicked and removed Justice’s immediate memory. Justice persisted and asked for the truth. Augustine restored his memories and told Justice he will “accept his [justice’s] judgement”
* Pearl admitted to Nova he wanted to kill her dad - she told him to maybe not?

## Details

The party discuss what to do for Z. Meadow makes plans to make some substance for Z. Pearl and Nova plan to take note of guard shifts. Meadow and Pearl and Nova has Discussions.

Justice leaves with Dimitri. Once safely outside, they tell each other that they aren't enthused at the prospects. Justice tells Dimitri he has to talk to Augustine and rushes to the centre of town. He approaches the tent, asking for admittance to see Augustine Vincendius. The guard corrects him: *Lord* Augustine Vincendius. Justice scowls at his own mistake, but stays silent. The guard enters, but exits soon after, with his helmet crooked. He says nothing to Justice's questions, so Justice enters to a heated conversation between Augustine and Portsin. He tells Augustine about his dream and asks about the dust-storms. Augustine wipes Justice's memory, but then yields and restores Justice's memory. He acts cold and condescending, then leaves. He briefly talks to Meadow and Dimitri outside the tent. Justice eventually leaves the tent and reunites with them. They return to the rebel's base soon after.

Meadow starts brewing alchemist's fire. They carry her set-up back to the cart.

### CONFRONTATION TRANSCRIPT

* **Portsin:** "You know you owe me after what happened in the capital. Don't be foolish. I got Allondash on our side. Without me, you have nothing."
* **Augustine:** "I'm aware of this, I'm just saying- ....Justice. I wasn't expecting you until much later."
* *Portsin gives a curt nod to Justice, then leaves to another room.*
* **Justice:** "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. I can remain on standby if you like."
* **Augustine:** "Our conversation was over anyway. He's not one to see reason. I was going to dig into the dragon knight, but he has a surprisingly well protected mind."

* *Augustine leads Justice into another separate room. He leans on the table, resting for a moment, then smooths back his hair.* "Could you pour me a drink?" *Justice nods, and pours it with his mage hand.*
* **Augustine:** "Thank you, my friend." *It's at this moment Augustine notices Justice's appearance - he is haggard and shaking with apprehension.*
* *Justice starts to take his weapons out slowly. He lays them out of the table, saying nothing. Slowly, he takes out a small sharp purple pouch, and places it on the table too. It unravels, revealing glass fragments. Finally, he moves to the corner furthermost from Augustine, and places a small bouncy ball there. He speaks outloud:* "Stay there. Please." *He hears a hum in the back of his head and notices the ball move slightly. Watching Justice, Augustine's expression changes from mildly concerned to worried.*
* **Justice:** "My life is in danger. There is unrest in the city. I moved this meeting forward because I didn't want you going out alone. That's [the unrest] why I'm talking now."
* **Augustine:** "...Are you sure you do not want a drink?"
* *Justice hesitantly nods, and Augustine hand-pours him some wine.*
* **Augustine:** "Do you want this to be a work; employment arrangement? Or shall I be your friend?"
* **Justice:** "Friend, please."
* *Justice moves to the corner opposite the bouncy ball, and sits down on a side-chair. He is still shaking, but somewhat less. He gathers his courage and speaks:*
* **Justice:** "I'll tell you something I never told you from my reports. Then ask you a few questions. I need you to tell the truth, and if you can't, then to tell me you can't."
* **Augustine:** "This is like an investigation." *Augustine's expression is outwardly amused, but there is a tension.*
* **Justice:** "I-I just like to be organised.... Just don't lie."
* **Augustine:** "When have I ever lied to you Justice? Go ahead. I'll answer as honestly as I can."

* *Justice starts to describe his dream.* "After the events in the cave, the ritual circle faded, and I was holding the spike in hand. I suspect here was lingering magic. Because when I went to trance, I had a strange dream. I was standing in what I now suspect was the Shadowfell. Then I... I saw people I think- I *know* to be dead calling to me. People who I believed died in the dust storms."
* *Augustine's expression turns hard.*
* **Justice:** "Then I blinked, and I was in Barrowbough, but different. I saw a bright future for Norne. The wall was gone. Those same people I mentioned - they were alive and talked to me normally. And you were there. We were all there together. Then, they faded out and I was back in the Shadowfell. In front of me was a 7ft shadowy figure. They said four words: Reforge, Return, Reborn, Reward. I put it as a funny dream but the essence of my magic changed." *He shows Augustine his altered mage hand.*
* **Augustine:** "Did you make a deal of some sort?"
* **Justice:** "No."
* **Augustine:** "It could be a figure just manipulating you, showing you what you wanted to see. Who were these people that you lost? *Friends*?"
* **Justice:** "I can get to that later. I have to ask first: What was your role in the dust storms?"
* **Augustine:** "My role? What my *role* was?" *He grins but it doesn't reach his eyes.* "Well, what do you think? That I'm responsible?"
* **Justice:** "You're deflecting." *Justice is not amused.*
* **Augustine:** Well, why are you asking now, after all these years? Where did you get this information?"
* **Justice:** "You're deflecting again."
* *Augustine sighs.* "Yes, I helped in the dust storms. You know how the council is. They threatened me. I had no choice [Justice clocks him lying]. I was one who voted yes."
* *Justice looks away and starts laughing manically and breathlessly. He also starts crying. He hears laughter echo all around him, but he recovers quickly, focussed on the task at hand.*
* **Justice:** "...Sorry, it's just funny"
* **Augustine:** "Funny?" *Augustine's hand lingers near his pocket.*
* **Justice:** "I always suspected you had a part in it-"
* **Augustine:** "Oh *did* you?"
* **Justice:** "-and I never attacked you." *Augustine sneers while Justice talks. Both men are fully on edge now.*
* **Justice:** "I can tell you're lying to me, and I told you not to. Augustine, I just want the truth."
* *Augustine sighs. He looks defeated. He reaches for his pocket and takes out an orb. Justice silently watches, letting it happen. Augustine runs his fingers over the orb and Justice's vision goes black.*
* **Augustine:** "I'm sorry."

* *Justice's memories now are that he came to tent to tell Augustine he would come with him to Barrowbough and maybe the rest of the party will as well. Justice's 'awakens' to outside the side-room.*
* **Augustine:** "Well, Justice, get some rest. I'll see you later." *Augustine places his hand on Justice's shoulder.*
* **Justice:** "Wh- I- I was going to... I had something- I was going to stay here as my life is in danger."
* **Augustine:** "Yes, you can rest here. I've got business to attend to." *Augustine starts to leave, but Justice lurches and rushes to him. He grabs Augustine by the shoulder. Augustine looks annoyed and indignant. He impatiently turns as Justice babbles.*
* **Justice:** "No. There was something I had to tell you, and ask you. It's very important. It's the reason I've come back. I left something out- I'm sorry for not telling you it earlier. The opportunity came up and I should have waited to hear it from you. I should have trusted you. But here I am. No matter what your answer is, I want to hear it. And I've decided that even if you can't tell me, that's okay, I'd trust you regardless. I wanted to revow my loyalty." *He says this almost desperately. He's come all this way to have this conversation. He can't wait any longer. He **has** to keep Augustine here.*
* *Augustine's annoyance fades to a deeply weariness.*
* **Augustine:** "You really want to know the truth? *Fine.*" *He holds his hand out. Justice looks down and takes it. There's a moment where he can't perceive anything. Then he tastes blood. His mind is overwhelmed with restored memories; memories where Augustine acted as judge, jury, and executioner. Justice struggles to sort through them.*
* **Justice:** "Wh- why? Why?"
* **Augustine:** "I suppose you want to know why I said yes? Because I wanted to. Because I *chose* to." *He sneers.*
* **Justice:** "But- but why did you want to?"
* *Augustine says nothing.*
* **Justice:** "These-.. I-.... You always saw me. I just want to understand."
* **Augustine:** "This was for your own good. I wouldn't want to take away that hope of yours." *He sneers again.*
* **Justice:** "Wh.. wha...My *hope*? It's been gone for a year. I've always known this place is shit. My *hope* has been gone since my children died."
* **Augustine:** "...I didn't know you had children, Justice."
* **Justice:** "I...."
* **Augustine:** "Well, if you want to remain allies, or friends... I'll accept your judgement." *Augustine turns and goes to leave again.*
* '**Justice** blurts out: "Z."
* **Augustine:** "The alphabet letter?"
* **Justice:** "No, Z."
* **Augustine:** ".........Ah.. Zassime." *He gives a bitter laugh.* "I should have cut her throat, not her tongue."
* **Justice:** "..What did she do?"
* **Augustine:** "She killed our parents." *Then he leaves. Drama king.*

* Meadow and Dimitri are waiting outside. They notice Augustine leave hurriedly. He stops and holds his face in his hands for a moment, then brushes back his hair. They start approach. Nearby guards move to intercept, but Augustine waves them away. Meadow and Dimitri watch as Augustine composes himself. He replaces a face of anguish/anger with a second face; a mask. He looks at them in a patronizing manner.
* **Augustine:** "I suppose you're looking for Justice?"
* **Dimitri:** "Yes, is he alright?"
* **Augustine:** "Yes, he's fine. I'm sure he'll be out shortly." *Dimitri clocks him lying.* "Now, I have business to attend to."
* **Meadow:** "You're going alone?"
* **Augustine:** "You think I cannot handle myself?"
* **Dimitri:** "Oh, um, no.."
* **Meadow:** "What business?"
* **Augustine:** "That's none of your concern." ***INSIGHT CHEEEEEEEEEEECK*** *Augustine starts to leave them, barely acknowledging them.*
* **Meadow:** "Before you leave.." *Augustine stops but doesn't look back* "How much has Justice told you about us?"
* **Augustine:** "Enough." *Then he continues to briskly walk away.*

* *Alone in the tent, Justice walks back to pick up his weapons. As he picks up the bouncy ball, he says:* "I'm sorry. That wasn't fun. You know these things take time." *He feels his children hug his legs. He tries to embrace them back, but his hands pass through air. He stands there for a few minutes, not wanting to let the feeling fade. He eventually leaves and meets Dimitri and Meadow outside.*