Inquiring Stars

We roll hit die. Start @ 8:20

### Rewards

Orbor, An uncursed Gerome, A win sparring with Richard Rylance, A meeting with The Lucky Five, Some spell scrolls, quite a bit of gold, an accusation of treason, a new part member in Yfrit

As the Karnival Kruise pulls away from Nym, the planet grows a white sheen, and begins to head off itself, and soon pops out as its invisibility field pops on.

## Take Me to Church

We debate where to go next. The options are proposed: Nafrin, Thaphus, Keller, Magnica, the Haladesh. There’s a lot of hesitancy to go to Thaphus before we’re paid, and Gerome suggests maybe Rylance meet us there. Sheevah writes to him.

Sheevah: U Up?

Rylance: Hello, Sheevah.

Rylance informs us of all the DSK Military doings that deals with Nym, and he says he’s staying home. He’s not gonna meet us there. Both because Gerome rolls a 2 persuasion, and because it’d be *wild* if he did. Everyone’s a little worried on Sheevah’s behalf that anything we do will put us too far behind on her quest, especially now with Vance in the picture, who also has the completed map. We end up deciding on Thaphus, and course is set. Sheevah is now able to helm the ship alone, which she’s very excited about, and we head out.

Gerome makes his wand, watched by Hector as he picks out the best wood to use, a la Ollivander. When it’s completed, it looks like a baton a conductor would use, and he holds it lightly, flicks, swishses, and blasts a Firebolt out at sandbag. He checks out the damage, and finds some of the sand inside has actually solidified into glass. Nice!

Zephi spends the day and a half making small images with prestidigitation in her hand. A few hours before arriving at the Citadel, she waves Sheevah over. She instructs Sheevah to stay standing up against the mast and watch, and forms the The World Tree with Major Image.

It’s a glowing white tree, about 20ft tall, that curls outward into branches. Hanging from some of them are tiny globules of light, glowing brighter than the rest of the tree. Everyone comes to look; Creon applauds her work. Zephi asks that someone investigate it, as she never got close to it and wants to know more about it. Creon approaches along with Sheevah, while Vigil mans the wheel. As the two walk around it, they note that the bark or wood of the tree seems to ripple and flow in an extradimensional way, as the grain folds over and over into itself and into the next. The globules look to contain thousands upon thousands of tiny stars.

Zephi sings a little diddy when Creon asks what the tree is.

*Stars lingered over us, floating in emptiness*

*Watching the world fly by;*

*Then in the sky above glory of Worlds shone*

*This tree appeared in the light;*

*And in 400 years, not one word was spoken;*

*And the forces were silent,*

*Leaving us in the darkness;*

*But then what should appear,*

*Do we hear a new sound in this silent night?*

*For the first time, not just our own mind.*

### Offer No Absolutes

In the distance, Zephi notes that we’re approaching Thaphus, and the Citadel. It floats not far from the star; the Citadel is a large football sized flat plane, made of a milky, off white amber-like quartz. There’s a large collection of Dawnseers milling about, who all look over as we arrive. Most appear to be Aasimar. One walks up, a younger aasimar with a gold band; on top of her typical white robe, she wears goldish plate mail on her shoulders. On her chest, there’s a large insignia of a star.

> Girl: Um—um—um—he-he-hello! And w-welcome to the Citadel!
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> Zephi: Hi!!
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> Madeline: M-my n-name is Madeline Fornet. It is a p–pleasure to meet you all. *(From here on, Madeline’s stutters will be represented with a ~before the word.) [She holds out her hand to shake Vigil’s. Zephi rushes forward and shakes Madeline’s hand with both of her own hands.]* Um! ~Hello, what is your ~business here, on the Citadel?
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> Vigil, *stepping forward*: Hello Madeline, my name is Vigil. We have a friend they’re keeping on ice for us, he’s awaiting resurrection, and we’re here to get some details on that.
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> Madeline: ~Right! ~A ~noble cause. Um, would you like to ~speak to our Morningseer?
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> Vigil: Yes! That would be fantastic, thank you.
> Madeline: Wonderful!
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The party follows Madeline down a long golden path, to the central temple beneath the glass beacon. It’s mostly empty, with nobody in the pews. Leading down the paths toward the front of the temple are large golden swords planted at different angles in the walls. When entering, the light from Thaphus is blinding for a moment, pouring through large amber stain glass portraits at the back. The depict Otia herself, in combat with a dark shadowed figure.
Sitting at the front of the temple is a much older Aasimar wearing full platemail, kneeling beneath a statue of Otia.

> Madeline: ~Right, um—the Morningseer ~Brunhilde Cavarian will be with you soon. Um, ~should you need anything, I will be ~right outside.
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The Morningseer doesn’t yet move, so Sheevah takes the opportunity to inspect the swords on the walls, but they’re just very big and it’s a little overwhelming. Before Madeline leaves the temple entirely, Creon catches her.

> Madeline: ~Yes?
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> Creon: Tell me… who is it that your goddess fights?
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> Madeline: Oh, that is ~Hathos. Um, god of ~Death. Otia and him are ~locked in eternal struggle over their difference of opinion on ~mortality.
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> Creon: And why should Death fight Life? What difference of opinion could they possibly have, they’re siblings.
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> Madeline: ~You, ~you should speak to ~Morningseer ~Cavarian on questions of ~faith, brother.
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He gives her a polite bow, and lets her leave. Brunhilde stands and turns, smiling to greet the party. "AH! Hello there! Visitors." In her right hand the party notices she carries a *large* sword. Creon recognizes it; the pommel has the image of a large glowing golden sun, the same as from his visions. Brunhilde appears to be using it as a cane, her right leg seeming to have been injured at some point in the past.

> Brunhilde: Greetings! My name is Morningseer Brunhilde Kavarian. It’s a pleasure to meet you all! How can I help?
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> Zephi: Hi!
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> Gerome: We want Karn back.
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> Brunhilde: Sorry?
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> Zephi: We have a friend, we have a friend who needs help?
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> Vigil: And we’re—He died recently, and we were told that you and your order could help with some form of Resurrection. And we’re just coming to see what that would require.
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> Brunhilde: Well, death is our great evil which we fight, day in, day out. But, you must understand, there is a cost, a considerable cost put upon our magic. Not by our desire, but by the desire of the universe itself. There must be an exchange of some sort. And you must understand that if you visit the War Chamber, you will see that we indeed have quite a backlog of folks which need resuscitation. We would need something to help move us along.
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> Zephi: Money? Got it.
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> Brunhilde: *[Chuckles]* I’m afraid money is not much of a matter to us, besides paying for the diamonds we require.
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> Zephi: So friendship?!
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> Brunhilde: Friendship is an honorable pursuit of course, but we would need some sort of—this is ridiculous. We should not be having a conversation of such grandeur without properly understanding our situations and getting to know each other first! Would you all like to come and imbibe with me?
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Brunhilde pours out clear liquid into five golden cups from a pitcher nearby, and offers it to all. Zephi checks it out and it seems like a faint nutmeg-y brandy. She sits on the step by the statue and invites everyone to talk about Karn. We explain who he was, and give some insight on his personality and also height, which is a crucial detail of course. We then explain how he died, to which Creon claims he died honorably and resurrecting him would be an insult to his memory. This intrigues Brunhilde, and she turns her attentions toward him.

> Brunhilde: *You* interest me. What do you feel death gives him?
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> Creon: Death is… rest. It is a gift, above all things. I did not know Karn very well, I was not impressed with him, but it seems the least we can do for him is to allow him to continue as he is; at peace. If we bring him back he will be confused, he will be a shell of his former self; it goes against the laws of nature… I have no interest.
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> Brunhilde: My powers are natural. My abilities to raise those who’ve passed is natural. The gifts I am given by Otia are natural. Why should resurrection be any more uncommon than death itself? Death is a limit that we accept. It is a limit we agree to, because Hathos and the bodily limitations demand it. However… what is your name?
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> Creon: Creon Eiljor.
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> Brunhilde: Creon Eiljor. It’s a pleasure to meet you. You speak of your friend as a warrior. That is a marvelous thing, I can attest. [She raises her sword] I’ve fought many times in my life, I spent over 100 years fighting in the Thousand Year War. I’ve brought death. I’m not happy about it. It does not bring me joy to end the lives of those I’ve fought. But at the same time, I’ve brought life through resurrection as well. Death was a last option, something I abhorred bringing to the table, but often it was a way to save *others* from death. It is a horrible trade that is foist upon us by the gods. If we could, we’d all live forever, but it is not the life that we live. And I recognize the humility that you bring to this man’s life, but I think that it might not be your humility to bring, but his. Why not let the spirit itself decide?
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> Creon: I feel that the spirit like its owner would be… too *dull* to make a proper decision for itself.
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> Brunhilde: I assume quite a bit, don’t you.
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> Creon: I suppose I do.
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Brunhilde concludes than none of this really matter, because she’s got a huge queue of Dawnseers to resurrect first. All of whom fought in the Thousand Year War. The queue is so long in fact, it will take over 100 years to get through, at least. Gerome asks how we could squeeze to the top, and Brunhilde explains that people who have spent their days protecting life and have now fallen must take precedent. The only way for us to bring back Karn, she says, would be the devotion of service to the temple. Karn would have to become a dawnseer himself; Zephi and Gerome seem extremely hyped about this possibility. We would have to essentially pitch his case, prove that he would be willing and able to do it, and then further prove that by him agreeing once alive again.
Zephi pitches his case, but Brunhilde isn’t quite swayed by a 16. Zephi asks what would make the ideal candidate for the position.

> Brunhilde: Someone who understands Otia intimately. Someone who ideally knows of her, knows of her power, and respects it. Knows what can be done with it. Knows that sometimes, life must be taken to save other lives. Someone who understands that life itself is the goal, that making people’s lives full and long, as much as you can, making them happy, with friends, and family, and love above all else. But, at the end of the day, someone who will lay down their own life for others.
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Zephi argues again that Karn would absolutely feel those things if he was revived, but ultimately, Brunhilde states that if he didn’t previously have a knowledge of Otia, there’s nothing she can do, as it’s not a certain thing. Gerome also argues his case, and offers to gather more letters of recommendation, from Karn’s former boss, friends, and family. Brunhilde says there’s a chance that could work, and asks if anyone of us follows Otia; Gerome jokingly offers to trade her Creon.

> Creon: You jest I’m sure, but I may actually take you up on that.
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> Brunhilde: Now this intrigues me. *You*, who speaks of the value of death and the value of endings, show interest in Otia, the *Breathbringer*?
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> Creon: You see us as opposites but we are not. I do not worship death. But I have a great deal of respect for the grave, for the connecting force that unites us both. You have made an enemy, where there should have been a friend.
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> Brunhilde: …You present something that is antithetical to a lot of beliefs that are held by the people that surround you here. […] I've lived a long life. Nevertheless, you raise an interesting point. Not one I can fully agree with, but you say it with conviction.
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> Creon: I too speak from experience. I too have lived a long life, and I have seen a lot of death. And I think that there is nothing quite as comforting as knowing that someone you love is really… safe. And not trapped in some… half-life, some prison because of the insistence of others to keep them from death.
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Brunhilde and Creon talk a bit more, and she confirms all those who are brought back lead full and happy lives, not the hell Creon is speaking of. She says that theoretically, Creon *could* devote himself to the church instead of Karn, but she leaves everyone to think about it as she has lessons to teach the younger dawnseers. Creon pulls her aside as she leaves.

> Creon: If I may; your sword. I’ve seen it before. Where did you get it?
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> Brunhilde: This! Well, this is the holy weapon of Otia. I was given it by the previous Morningseer during the war. When he passed, I took up the mantle of Morningseer, took up the armor, the vestments, and this sword. It’s a powerful weapon and has served me well over the years, but now it is nothing more than a staff for my mobility.
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> Creon: If I were to tell you that I’ve seen this sword in visions of swirling blood, what might be your… *spiritual advice*.
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> Brunhilde: Well that… That would be… a perturbing thing indeed… Why don’t you and I speak? Come with me.
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The two leave. Zephi takes another shot of the drink.

### Should've Worshipped Her Sooner

1:11:00 Creon and Brunhilde walk up the spire, toward where the lens levitates. She asks Creon to describe his visions, and he does; she explains that the amorphous, fluid creature he’s seen Otia battling is one of her regular partners in conflict; The Crashing Blood, a god of war and violence. There’s a gray area, though, because Otia herself is also a warrior, it’s just that for the Awoken, fighting is a last resort, whereas for followers for The Crashing Blood, it’s a way of life.

During the war, there was often conflict among clerics of the DSK, between those who worshiped Otia, and those who worshipped the Crashing Blood. The latter did not want to fight when they could avoid it, just to heal. Brunhilde says clerics of Otia would heal even those on the Haladeshian side, because even if they were imprisoned, they could still live. War clerics (of the Crashing Blood) are very prominent within the DSK, however.

Creon says that the blood from his eyes and his visions have been going on for several weeks now, but that he’s been fighting his whole life, and even still, Otia was the first vision he saw, back on Orlin. Brunhilde suggests that Creon has been following The Crashing Blood without even realizing it, and Otia found him, saw value in him, and tried to take him from the Blood. The Crashing Blood does not seem pleased with this, having held Creon his whole life. Creon says he cannot turn his back on his entire life’s beliefs because one woman says she want him, and Brunhilde agrees that it is ultimately his decision. But he should be ready, because if he sides with the Blood, someday his sword will meet hers.

Creon’s issue is with half-lives and undeath, but Brunhilde explains that The Awoken and Otia agree with that, and fight against it; it’s The Crashing Blood who supports those things, as well as lichdom and other forms of undeath. She encourages him to do his own research, and he leaves.

Creon returns to the party.

> Vigil: So what’s up with you maybe becoming a Dawnseer? I thought you were just getting to like us.
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> Creon: I will not become a Dawnseer. Their obsession with life is childish. I have no interest in pursuing this path.
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Zephi asks if Creon would let people in the party die on the battlefield, and he says no, there’s a difference between preventing a death and undoing one But;

> Zephi: So… one of us dies, a few minutes pass, and you can’t get to us in time to stop it. You would let us die, even if you had the capability to undo it?
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> Creon: I believe I would.
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> Zephi: Good to know.
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### When I'm Alone With You

We debate what to do next. Creon briefly returns to Brunhilde and asks how long he would need to stay; Brunhilde says 2 weeks, to learn about and devote himself to the preservation of life, and hands him a sack with a diamond large enough to cast revivify. She says that if it’s gone by the next time she sees him, proving he is dedicated to preserving life, they can talk about it.

He returns, and does not reveal the diamond to anyone else. Gerome decides to seek out some healing for his curse laid on him by the Hag, and also his hand. He finds Madeline and asks about it. He explains both, and Madeline diagnoses his curse; he has a spirit inside him. A remnant of one, at least; a dark fiendish energy.

Madeline explains that he needs a restoration, and will have to pay 100g for diamond dust. He’s not liquid right now, so he’ll follow up later—for his hand, he’ll have to talk to a druid of Sylveon. He says he’ll pass on good word about her as thanks.

Vigil then pulls Madeline aside and asks if anyone has come through looking to resurrect some people he’s looking for; a Halfling with sandy hair or a high elf with anger issues; Ezra or Solas, respectively. She offers to check the War Chamber, but they would likely be more of an independent project. They go to check anyway, as it can’t hurt.

She leads him to a separate hall, full of marble bookcase looking things. Instead of books, there are golden vessels, each one with a name engraved on it. There are a few full coffins, but not many. She looks through the records, and can’t find them, as well as Ghann, but none of them are here.

> Vigil: Ahh. Could be encouraging, I suppose.
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> Madeline: ~Yes. Were they ~friends of yours?
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> Vigil: Yeah! Yeah, they all were. One of them was sort of a…. uh… they were all friends. Um. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you come to be a Dawnseer?
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> Madeline: I’m-- ~I’m the younger Dawnseer they’ve had here in along time. ~~I grew up on Xent, and I used to live in a village called ~Keenborough. And on a ~trip, some of the Dawnseers took note of me and my ~proclivity for healing, and I was ~invited to the Citadel when I was ~fourteen.
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> Vigil: Well, I never would have known you're so new to this; I hope you have a wonderful future, and if our time together is any indication, I’m sure you’re gonna make a lot of lives a lot easier and a lot longer.
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> Madeline: ~Thank you!
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The two leave. Zephi runs into Brunhilde, and asks about extending life—not that she wants to, just that she thinks Billy has done it (as he’s still alive, so say Lem) and she’s looking for some answers. It’s apparently a Necromancy thing, and not something Otia would be down with.
Meanwhile, Gerome and Hector decide to freak out some young Dawnseers with his Turkey. It goes about as well as you would expect. Well, now we have to leave, huh. We all pile onto the ship, but before we can leave Madeline runs up to Vigil.

> Madeline: Um, ~Captain? I have a ~favor to ask you if that’s ~okay.
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> Vigil: Of course! Ask away, if it’s in my power I’ll do it.
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> Madeline: My family still lives on ~Xent. I ~sent word to them ~not too long ago, and ~they mentioned ~something was attacking the village. ~Are you all ~in the ~business of healing this sort of ill?
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> Vigil: Healing? No. But we’ll do something to it, yeah.
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> Madeline: I would be ~willing to heal your ~friend Gerome, if you would ~go help them.
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What a great deal! Vigil agrees, and we agree to take the detour. Vigil asks for a way to identify us as friends of hers when we arrive; she says giving her name should be enough, but tells us to look for a goblin in the town named Orbor, a family friend. Off we go!

## Dad Doors and Gossip Circles

There’s a few days travel. Creon checks on War Toad, doing some training. Zephi takes her hamster on a walk and visits Gerome in the Core Room.

> Zephi: So! That was Gnome & Co.
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> Gerome: That was it! That was headquarters. Were you astounded, blown away by its complexity?
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> Zephi: I mean kinda, yeah. A little. Kinda cool. What are siblings like?
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> Gerome: A lot. In both numbers and emotional weight.
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> Zephi: Mm. So. Why are you not there anymore?
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> Gerome: There’s more to life than just living in Tinkertown, I think. There’s more to be learned than can be on Nym.
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> Zephi: Did any of your family ever leave? Or are you the first one?
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> Gerome: As far as I know, I’m the first one. It’s just your boy.
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> Zephi: That’s pretty cool, boss. I don’t know if my family stayed in one place ever. I don’t know anything, really.
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> Gerome: I don’t know anything about your family either, so I guess we’re the same in that way.
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> Zephi: Yeah! Sorry about your mom, also. That blows.
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> Gerome: Oh, that I killed my mom? Well. [Shrugs.] She was kinda a bitch. I mean, you saw the worms.
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> Zephi: Oh! Wow. Yeah. I did see the worms. The worms were seen by me. Also. You know things. I have a question.
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> Gerome: Shoot.
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> Zephi: When we were goin’ down to Gilligan’s. In that door. What did you see?
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> Gerome: Oh, the portal? I saw my popop. Did you see your dad? Yeah, I think it was a dad door.
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> Zephi: That’s weird! Yours is a good dad. And also sorry about the Prime Institute—but I hear all the really smart people drop out of there anyway.
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Still curious about the Dad Door, she goes to ask Vigil. 2:14:00

> Zephi: So, in the door at Gilligan’s—what did you see? Because I saw my dad. And Gerome saw his dad. So Gerome thinks it’s a dad door.
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> Vigil: *[clears his throat]* Yep. Saw my dad. That old bastard. Saw him, came out of that door, said some stuff. Yeah. Yeah yeah yeah.
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> Zephi: Did he say anything?
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> Vigil: Yeah, he um. He said, ‘clean your room, you’re a disappointment’ that kind of stuff. You know.
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> Zephi: It seems like it was supposed to be a good thing though.
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> Vigil: Yeah! I like being… validated that I’m a. A disappointment. To stay humble.
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He asks about what she saw, and then asks her to talk a bit about Billy, which she does, though she doesn’t remember many specific details. She talks about all the things she knows they did together, and Vigil asks if she’s ever done anything for herself; she says all of it was tied up in him, but that’s a choice she made for herself. And she did magazine covers and went on an adventure, and met a boy, all squarely things for her. Vigil says he did things for himself, but then realized they weren’t actually for him, they were for someone else. Then he opens up a bit more.

> Vigil: I’m sorry, I wasn’t honest with you. It’s not a Dad Door, I didn’t see my dad. I saw the person I met when I was traveling, and it definitely wasn’t my dad, I can tell you that much.
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> *[Zephi sits down and cups her head in her hands.]*
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> Zephi: Who did you meet? OOooooo, who did you meet!
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> Vigil: Oh I also met someone, listen, if you wanna have a gossip circle I’m absolutely here for it.
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Zephi gets excited and messages everyone; *Gossip Circle! Right now! Tiller! Me and Vigil! Come!*

Except Creon who receives the message: *Remember the syrup? And needing to be teammates? We’re doing that now, if you wanna give it a shot. By the tiller.*

Sheevah joins, Gerome is busy, and Creon makes his way there as well. Vigil considers dying of embarrassment, but decides against it.

> Vigil: Um. Hello. I guess I told some of you about this, maybe you’ve heard a little bit of it. But I met a man when I was with The Misfits. Yep, yeah, I did. Had a bit of a thing, didn’t get to actually have a thing, actually. I uh, I use his door as my shield. We were fucking around and I ended up taking the door off its hinges and I thought it was funny so I just kept using it. It’s cute actually, I thought.
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> Creon: Did. Did he have to pay for the damages, or…
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> Zephi: Be supportive! Syrup!
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> Vigil: The man paid, I think. It was a military ship.
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> Creon: So, citizen tax dollars.
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> Vigil: Yeah, your fuckin’ dime paid for my meet-cute. Thanks. What about you, Zephi?
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> Zephi: I—I—No, tell us more!
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> Vigil: No, no, tell us more. You’ve given us zero, and you called this gossip circle.
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> Creon: Is… is that what’s happening? This is a gossip circle?
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> Zephi: We’re opening up!
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> Creon: IS this what you people do? You sit in a circle at night? And you talk about the things that have happened? To you?
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> Zephi: To learn about each other!
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> *[Vigil looks off into the cold depths of space and wonders if he could throw Creon off, in time to have a change of personality AND for Vigil to rescue him, and figures, eh, probably not.]*
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> Creon: You do this… you do this on purpose? You do this?
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> Zephi: Right now, yes.
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> Vigil: Well, with you, no. But, you know.
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> Creon: ‘Kay.
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> Vigil: Honestly, I would love to know *anything* about you, Creon. I know very little, which makes me so nervous, all the time. Can I say?
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> Creon: Good.
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> Vigil: No—
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> Zephi: Tell us about—have you ever had… *feelings*.
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> Vigil: For someone! We’re not implying you’re a robot anymore, it’s played out. It was funny, for a very, very, very, very long time, really, a very—
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> Creon, *interrupting*: I love my mother very much! She’s taught me a great deal. About life, about respect and authority, and war…
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> Zephi: So, did you ever meet anyone besides your mom? Or was it just like, her and then us.
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> Creon: For your information, I have had several meaningful connections between…
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> Zephi: Like who! Could you tell us about one?
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> Creon: Yes. I can. I had a commander named Thomas Soj, who I respected very much, who I continue to respect. Who will be passing away, soon. And… I would very much like to go back to Keller and see him, if this isn’t going to take too long.
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> Zephi: Yes! Why don’t you mention this stuff?!
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> Vigil: Creon, that’s now our *priority*. I feel like if you had said this before, we would have gone. If you have needs, emotional or otherwise, please let us know.
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> Creon: It wasn’t part of our mission. It’s not a need. It was a want, and I will make it happen, but it is my business. Alright?
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We lightly berate Creon for not telling us sooner, and he says he didn’t believe we would care. Vigil apologizes for the crew acting so cold toward him. Creon says he’s uncomfortable with *Apologies* and *Feelings*. Zephi promises Creon she’ll talk about her crush if he talks about a crush he’s had.

> Creon: Something tells me that you’re going to talk about you regardless so… have at it.
>
>

> Zephi: I! Am! Wounded! How dare you! Okay so. I don’t know a whole ton about him; he was a wizard, and real smart, and human. And…. I don’t remember when we met. We travelled together for a long time, and I think he—I’m just guessing. But I think I remember feeling like he was the first person outside of family to think I was Zephi, and not *Zephi Velhiri.* With all the shining lights, and the flashbulbs… I don’t think he really went in for that sort of thing. I was hoping if people shared more about their stuff, I might remember more about mine. Sheevah?
>
>

> Sheevah: I had five siblings and they were enough to deal with for me.
>
>

> Zephi: Mm. I mean, you are a baby.
>
>

> Sheevah: I’m glad someone’s finally starting to notice!
>
>

Everyone talks about Sheevah being simultaneously baby and mom, when suddenly out of nowhere, Gerome poofs into the center of the circle, cackling wildly and wearing ridiculous boots. “Gilligan!” he screams, “They work!”

Zephi asks him to share a crush but he just shows off his new Boots of the Winding Path. He bamfs around all over the deck, and then returns to the circle. He passes on sharing any personal stuff. Zephi asks Creon to share more but he insists he’s “shared 2 things, *today!*, which should be enough”. Zephi is desperate for information of any kind, so the crew spends the rest of the day catching her up on the last 400 years, led by Vigil and Gerome.

Later on, Sheevah pulls Vigil aside and points out that Sahvorim, the planet the scale is supposedly on, is on the other side of the galaxy, as well as in the Haladesh.

> Sheevah: Less concerned about the timeline with this, more concerned about dragging my new family into the Haladesh. And what their opinions might be of that venture.
>
>

> Vigil: Give me a second, my heart is melting. Yeah, but we’re willing to stick our necks out for you, especially for this very important thing you need to do. I don’t know how we’re gonna get there, is the only thing.
>
>

> Sheevah: I think the thing I mainly need help with is just… convincing everyone else.
>
>

Vigil says if she’ll share her story, it’ll be easier to convince everyone, and thinks the group will be easier to convince than she thinks.

## Death Charcuterie

It takes 3 days to get to Xent, and in the afternoon Zephi and Sheevah finally spot a small settlement with people milling about. We land on a hilltop nearby, and approach the village. There are more people than buildings, by quite a bit, with only about 4 small thatched huts. We pass some small raveens throughout the town where people are sifting through water to process clay. A tall hobgoblin in nicer farmer’s wear comes over and asks for our names; Vigil explains we’re looking for Orbor. The hobgoblin introduces himself as Nobel, and says Orbor can be found in the kilning hut, but that there’s nowhere for us to stay. Vigil asks about this.

> Vigil: Yeah, I was gonna ask about that—it looks like you’ve had quite the population boom.
>
>

> Nobel: Oh, we don’t live here, we live down in the marshes. Can’t sleep above ground, it’s not safe.
>
>

> Vigil: Whats wrong with the raised areas?
>
>

> Nobel: You’ve got to hide beneath the earth a little bit; if you don’t… there’s this kind of large-ish creature that comes around in the night, it’s been giving us a bit of trouble for a few months now. We just moved underground after a few of the buildings were attacked. Don’t worry about it, it’s business as usual around here, we’ll figure something out.
>
>

Vigil asks for more details, and Nobel downplays the creature, but says it’s a cow-like beast they call a Catoblepas. Creon asks if anyone’s been killed, and they have, but Nobel downplays this as well. We ask about Madeline’s family, and he gives us directions, but first we ask to see the remnants the best left behind the night before; footprints, mostly. Gerome finds some Saffron colored hair, and Creon says he’s gonna go off and find the monster alone.

Nobody will let Creon go off alone to fight a monster. *Obviously.* We agree to talk to Orbor first, and then go seek out cow Snuffaluffagus. On the way back through town, the party gets a lot of #Looks, because we’re apparently powerful and *noticeable* now.

In the Kiln hut, we spot a goblin hurridly putting out a fire on his leg while the other goblins giggle. He puts it out and yells them off, and then Zephi approaches. They chat a bit, and Orbor is clearly on edge and possibly a little off his rocker. Zephi pushes Vigil in front to talk, and he asks about how life in the town is, and dealing with the Catoblepas.

> Orbor: What do you know about that?!
>
>

> Vigil: Very little, outside what a very fatalistic Hobgoblin outside told us. That some people just die, and the Catoblepas is somehow involved, and that was sort of the whole pitch.
>
>

> Orbor: *Nobel* doesn’t understand what’s going on here, right?! *Nobel* doesn’t get how this whole system *works*, right!! The Catoblepas doesn’t just show up out of *nowhere*! There’s got to be a reason for it, I *know* there is!
>
>

> Vigil: What do you think—
>
>

> Orbor: *NO fucking clue!!* But they don’t want us to find out! Nobel is the village leader, he’s not doing anything. If *Nobel* goes around convincing everyone this is normal, they’ll just accept it. But living underground isn’t normal, *Nobel!!* It’s cowardice, *Nobel!!* He’s a bloody fucking coward, and he won’t do anything about it.
>
>

Creon suggests Orbor fight the thing himself and die valiantly. Now we’re all suspicious of him. Orbor then mentions he’s not actually sure he wants the Catoblepas dead, actually, because he wants something of it.

> Zephi: What do you need! From a *cow!* Sorry Vigil.
>
>

> Orbor: I’ve got a small little hobby. This merchant came by, a few weeks ago, he sold me this orik; he told me I could get milk from it, and sell it! Stimulate the economy, make our village a little better! But the orek isn’t making enough cheese, I need more cheese. And so I heard this thing—apparently, Catoblepas, if you can milk it, it can make Death Cheese. I want to make Death Cheese. I want to taste how good Death Cheese is!!
>
>

> Gerome: What’s *Death Cheese?!*
>
>

> Zephi: Who was the merchant?!
>
>

> Orbor: Uhh… I think the last name was Sildur. Weird guy. Didn’t seem like he wanted to be here. This was…. 2 weeks ago.
>
>

Gerome asks for more info on Death Cheese. He goes wild talking about it, explains the process, and now we HAVE to find this thing. This sounds like such good cheese. Orbor clearly has his priorities straight.

We visit Madeline’s family in the marsh; all of the homes are hidden, doors in the ground and partly obscured by grasses; we enter from above greeted by Madeline's father and find out very quickly that, to put it simply, everyone has been led into complete complacency. 3:22:00

Her father, Izil, explains that the Catoblepas has been attacking for about a month, but it’s nothing to worry too much about, because Nobel says it isn’t. He invites us down to have tea with him and his wife, Madeline’s mother Thrush. Thrush seems a little more preoccupied worrying about the Catoblepas, but even she seems largely unphased.

> Vigil: So how do *you* feel about Nobil?
>
>

> Thrush: Oh, Nobil’s a good guy. No, he is, he is. Ah…. His dad was a little better at running things every once in awhile, but you know, growing pains, he’s been in for a few years now, he needs a liitle more time to get used to it. Leadership is a hard task. […] Nobil’s a bit more insecure of his position [than his father was], I think.
>
>

> Izil: Oh, I wouldn’t say insecure. It’s just growing pains.
>
>

> Thrush: Right, yeah, of course. It’s a village, it’s small but its still a village. It takes time, I imagine he’s under a lot of stress.
>
>

The vibe Is pointing to the fact that *most* people in Keenburrow are like this, actually. We ask about Orbor’s hatred for The System, and they inform us that he very much preferred Nobil’s father. His outward disgust at Nobel is definitely not a sentiment shared among most, who just see this as The Way Things Are.

Well, looks like we have a cow to kill. We find Gerome some Acid Powder and Meats so he can cast Globule of Testing; and he learns that the Catoblepas has Darkvision, Keen Smell, a Passive perception of 12, and is resistant to necrotic damage. Nice!

### Cow Hunting

Session 34

We follow the tracks in the north of the wood by Keenburrow. With Creon and Sheevah in the lead, we’re able to follow them with ease, eventually coming to a clearing. The tracks stop here, because they lead down into a stony area and stream, in front of the mouth of a large cave. Sheevah casts light on her glave, Creon takes out his calliver, and Gerome summons his Force Ballista Boi. The cave entrance has some crushed vegetation, looking as though it’s been stepped upon, so we’re pretty positive this is the place. The water remaining in the cave is almost unnaturally clear. From deep in the cave we hear a very scary moo and heavy footsteps, and, well. Fear.

Creon notices that far into the cave there’s a turn, through which there’s a tiny bit of dim light, and a shadow mooves across it.  ;) Sheevah puts out her light, and we creep into the deeper area of the cave. Ever so faintly illuminated is the Catoblepas itself, massive and sloping around, unaware of its visitors. It doesn’t look like it has a thorn in its side or any way, and though Vigil checks, his cow blindness overwhelms and he can’t tell if there’s any artificial aspects to this cave.

Creon and Sheevah duck behind a rock on its left and Vigil makes a similar move on its right, while Zephi and Gerome stay back on some slightly higher ground as the Catobleaguss begins walking slowly out of the cave. Vigil chucks a spear at its face, with a nat 20 and then runs up and runs up to it. It roars, and initiative time has come. Gerome blasts is with his new wand, and Vigil throws up a magical extra shield when it tries to hit him. He strikes back twice, and the Catoblepas tries again, but can’t manage it. Zephi tries to light it up with faerie fire, but only succeeds in alighting Vigil. It turns to Creon, though, eyes flashing red, and whips Creon’s ass with necrotic energy. Sheevah heals him, but isn’t happy about it.

The Catoblepas’ fur begins to splay outward around its stomach, and Creon and Sheevah just barely manage to cover their noses in time to evade a horrid stench. Gerome protects himself by tying a piece of cloth across his face. The Catoblepas hits Vigil with a solid swipe of its trunk, causing Creon to miss a shot with his calliver. Vigil hits twice with his axe; the Catoblepas looks rough, so Vigil swings again, the Starfather axe kicking in and stunning it. Zephi, not wanting to accidentally hit Vigil again, sends the Catoblepas to sleep instead. But, as it wavers, the monster inevitably, of course, falls on Vigil, pinning him to the ground.

We have 1 minute to milk this guy. Creon checks and its not cursed, so Gerome climbs underneath and gets a few containers of red milk out of it, and then books it. Vigil runs as well, and Creon and Sheevah hit the cow monster as it wakes up, still stunned. Sheevah’s blast turns the cow to crystal, and eventually, to dust. (Foreshadowing?!)

### Knock Knock; Who Was Here?

Creon takes one of its fangs that avoided crystalization, Zephi heals Vigil, and we all decide to investigate. Zephi leads the party through. We walk on the plateau as we progress further, coming to a section where a crack in the stone above lets in some moonlight. There’s a pool of water on the ground, which reflects the light across the stone in ripples. A few small fish dart beneath the surface. On the other side of this bit of cave, across the small pond, there’s the remains of a small encampment; a used-up campfire, bones of small animals used for food, logs to sit on. Zephi walks her way around the pond, followed by Gerome.

Gerome finds that in the water there’s a water-logged journal. Zephi finds faint outlines of 5 bedrolls in the dust and mildew. There’s the outline of something else as well—a circle, 2-3ft across, like a barrel but with weird shapes on the side. She can tell that whoever was here left in a hurry. There are still some packets of rations left scattered, and the journal looks like it was dropped as someone was running. Last, she notices something glinting in the light on one of the logs. Picking it up, it’s a small silver ring with an eye on it. Ooo. In the back of the cavern, Zephi also notes a small hole that someone might be able to pass through.

Gerome takes a look at the ring and identifies it as a Ring of X-Ray Vision. Sheevah looks at the notebook, written in Yuan-Ti.

#### The Silent Syndicate

> “…But that’s all to be considered. We should have been to Keller by now, but those sniveling cretins gave us away at the pitstop when they kept speaking in their native tongue. Hopefully, our favor from the syndicate went in alright and this Sildur character is on his way. In the meantime, this creature we found should steer the villagers away from us. Negu’la’s sight guide me to him. I can’t imagine what he was thinking. For all I know, that pig has killed him.”
>
>

It then trails off. She reads it off to everyone.

Zephi recognizes ‘the syndicate’ from somewhere, and racks her brain. After a few times of repeating it mentally, she falls back into a memory. 1:14:20 (Edited for brevity, full memory here.)

Zephi stands beside Billy in a long, elegant black room. A table takes up a great deal of it, and at the table sit figures in flourished suits. A woman, a creature with a long eel-like neck attached to the body of a spider clambers up onto the table and looks the two over with an unfriendly eye.

“Hmm. Billy Velhiri. The Silent Syndicate hears your offer. We want it.”

Billy: Right. So. Here’s how this works: I don’t want to *get* it. Ah, I don’t think *you* deserve it, *no one* deserves it, *no one* should have this thing, but *least* of all you folks, you understand that, right? So what *you’re* gonna do, is you’re gonna let me and my lovely daughter go, or her mother will reign *hellfire* against anything you’ve ever constructed.”

Zephi: It’s really true, you have no idea,

[The woman, who Zephi remembers the name for is a Neogi, is breathing hard and is very displeased.]

Neogi: The Silent Syndicate will punish you for your insolence, Billy Velhiri!

Billy: No, no, no, I’m sure they will but—” He tsks. “But to do that, you need to be able to get me.

Neogi: What are you talking about, you’re right here!

He winces on her behalf. “Mm. Am I though?” Billy presses a button on his shoulder, and he and Zephi begin to flutter out of existence—the Neogi cries out a NO and lunges, but the two pop away and reappear in the familiar red stone palace Zephi has seen a few times now.

[...]

Billy: [What the syndicate wanted is] a weapon, right. And you know that’s what we sell, that’s our whole—It’s *the* weapon. It’s— Zephi, it’s the weapon that puts me out of business, by making sure that no one ever needs a weapon again, because there *is* no one else. So, yeah, *maybe* we should go find it. But…. It terrifies me. I don’t—I don’t wanna—I don’t—I don’t wanna put my hands on it.

Zephi: No, I get that, but I’m just saying that if *we* found it… *we* wouldn’t use it. *We* know that. We take it *out* of business so we can stay *in* business. And you become the person who took the greatest weapon of all time out of commission, so we don’t have to worry about it. It’s tantamount to saving the world, papa. You just have to spin it the right way. And we would be the only ones who know how to handle it.

Billy: …I don’t know if I could, Zephi.

Zephi: What?! Of course you could!

Billy: I’m very good, don’t get me wrong. I am tremendous. But there are… limits. To a… mortal. [He laughs nervously.]

Zephi: Sure, but you’re different. If *any* mortal can, it’s you. It’s us.”

The memory ends, and Zephi asks everyone if they’ve heard of the Silent Syndicate. Only Gerome may have, and Gerome rolls a nat 20. Hot diggity.

The Hot-wires used to do some dealings with the Syndicate, which is a massive crime ring. Gerome knows that these folks are 1) Wildly Powerful 2) All-Reaching, 3) Here For A Good Time, Not A Legal Time. They operate all throughout Zamana.

Sheevah uses this opportunity to tell everyone that she’s going to have to go to the Haladesh to follow the map to her patron’s scale. She suggests maybe we shouldn’t get on the bad side of a group that has sway and could maybe end up helping us, but Zephi puts a damper on things by suggesting they may already dislike her. Creon seems very willing to go back and cut through some people, Gerome doesn’t understand why you’d go anywhere if you’re not getting paid, Zephi seems nervous about the timeline but willing.

#### Crash Landing

We collectively realize that the group who abandoned this campsite likely left through the crack in the ceiling. Gerome poofs up there with his new boots, landing on the grassy surface. Above the cave now, he can see that far in the back, in the direction of the crack in the wall, the hill dips down into a gulley, which in turn drops into a deep crevice. Gerome throws a rope down, and we all look down. 15ft across, 25ft wide, it seems to be a natural part of the landscape.

Creon peers over and can see the smashed remnants of a spelljammer. There’s a rope hanging down from the crevice to it. Creon descends down, but the rope probably won’t last for anyone else. The spelljammer looks burnt, no more guildroman, and the wood is charred up. He finds a piece of starting tender, so it appears that the ship was burned intentionally. Sheevah takes a look around and, finding no footprints, figures that the rope probably originally lead to another spelljammer that they left in. Creon tries Detect Good and Evil, but can’t find anything.

Creon purifies the Death Milk and does a taste test; Gerome calls him a fucking wimp, and both find it to be creamy and lightly spiced. It’s fine.

We set back toward Keenburrow, Creon carrying the fang, Zephi playing a celebratory tune. The townspeople seem very excited and grateful. Sheevah finds Nobel in the crowd and sees him feigning a smile. Gerome excitedly run off to Orbor’s hut to make some cheese. There are two Oryx, Bella and McCarthy. Gerome becomes proficient in Cheesemaking, and gets to try some Oryx cheese.

Sheevah follows after Nobel, Zephi trailing behind, meandering so he doesn’t get suspicious. It’s the morning now, so he can easily keep busy talking to people. Sheevah sits beside the kilning tent to be able to watch everyone pass by, Creon meditates on the hill so he can prepare Zone of Truth, and Izil, Madeline’s father, approaches Vigil. He thanks the captain for taking out the Catoblepas, and as a token of that thanks, gives Vigil a trinket Madeline made several of; a red clay heart on the end of a chain, to help protect him.

Gerome spends his time becoming best friends with Orbor, brewing some wine to go with the cheese, and they watch the sun rise higher. (Paint this!) Gerome asks what’s next for Orbor.

> Orbor: Oh, well, I’ll make my death cheese, hopefully sell it, and then I’ll try and convince the next passing merchant to take me off this rock. I like Xent but… bigger and better things, right?
>
>

> Gerome: I couldn’t agree with you more. Where is it you want to go?
>
>

> Orbor: I don’t know! I’ve never left Xent. Where should I go?
>
>

> Gerome: I don’t know! There’s so much out there for you to see! What do you think you would do outside of Xent?
>
>

> Orbor: You really wanna know? You really wanna know what I would do, if I could do anything? I’ve always wanted to open a small restaurant. You know, something specializing in just… some good fair. Not anything snooty or anything like that, just something people could enjoy, and taste. I think we get very passive with the things that we eat here on Xent; in Keenburrow especially. […] It’s not very inventive, and we don’t have many spices and what have you. And what spices there are, are expensive. But I’d certainly like to get out there, try some new things, open a restaurant…. I don’t know, anywhere. Somewhere that could afford me the gold to do it. Azotis or Keller, but that’s a big place. I don’t know if I could do a big place.
>
>

> Gerome: Hey, you know, if us little guys can make it planet to planet, you can do anything. It’s a scary place out there, are you one to defend yourself?
>
>

> Orbor: Oh, I can hold myself in a scrap.
>
>

> Gerome: Well that’s good. Maybe you’ll get your restaurant sooner than you think.
>
>

Gerome leaves, that scheming devil. Creon joins Sheevah, who is still sitting on the ground outside the hut.

> Creon: At what point are we going to grab him and torture him?
>
>

> Sheevah: Well, that’s not quite the plan. I figured Zone of Truth would mean we wouldn’t have to torture him, he would just tell them.
>
>

> Creon: It only compels truth, it doesn’t compel them to talk. We still need to get it out of him.
>
>

> Sheevah: …Okay, I see your point. If he doesn’t talk, maybe.
>
>

> Zephi: We just need to bully him.
>
>

> Creon: I have some spells prepared, don’t you worry.
>
>

> Zephi: No spells. I think the way you usually speak is probably fine.
>
>

Zephi and Vigil want to speak to him in a public place, while Sheevah and Creon want to get him alone. This is one of the most frustrating debates I’ve ever had the misfortune to listen back to. Zephi waltzes up to Nobel, and he thanks her, and though Zephi tells him there’s things we need to inform him of, he tries to make obvious excuses. Zephi manages to persuade him, and we go to his hut.

Creon tries to cast Zone of Truth, but Nobel passes the save. Zephi and Sheevah slap Creon lightly.

> Nobel: What’s going on here?!
>
>

> Vigil: We’re just trying to keep you on the straight and narrow, we have a few questions. As we were solving your Catoblepas problem, we found some things we’d like to ask about.
>
>

> *[Sheevah pulls out the journal, and asks if he recognizes it, which he doesn’t but he seems anxious.]*
>
>

> Vigil: You didn’t seem overly thrilled that the Catoblepas is dead.
>
>

> Nobel: I’m… positively ecstatic about it. Yeah. It means my people can move back above ground. Nothing will go wrong, it’s great.
>
>

> Vigil: Just how quickly did everyone move underground?
>
>

> Nobel: A few days, and we lost a couple people in the struggle, but you know.
>
>

> Vigil: Did you dig your own pit?
>
>

> Nobel: I was supervising!
>
>

> *[We ask about who died, the number totaling about 10 in all. He seems like he had previous knowledge that the Catoblepas would show up. Vigil asks about it and intimidates the hell out of him.]*
>
>

> Nobel: I—I didn’t want to tell anyone! I didn’t want anything to go wrong! They—I had no other choice, you understand. They—They—They threatened me, they said they’d string me up and kill me if I told anyone about them. I just had to let them be, and they’d be gone in a few weeks, and I thought the Catoblepas would be gone when they were gone. But then they left, and nothing else happened.
>
>

> Creon: We’ll do far worse to you if you don’t answer our questions quickly and efficiently.
>
>

> Zephi: Who? Describe.
>
>

> Nobel: There was this tall woman, black hair, bits of scale along her arms. And then there were these two fellas, I’ve never seen anything like them, they had dark green skin, sunken in noses, spots of yellow and pointed ears… and there were these other two fellas, I don’t really know if they were fellas, they didn’t speak any language I knew… tall insectoid creatures. Thrikreen, the lady called them? They came to me one day in the night and said they’d be staying until they could get picked up by their assistants, and I should welcome them to the town, and they’d be putting up some defenses in the meantime, to distract folks from the cave. And all I had to do was keep people away from it; they said they’d kill me! I didn’t want to die!And they told me that once they left, if I told anyone they’d ill me, but I think you’re going to kill me now, and it doesn’t matter if they kill me, because you’ll kill me, so it doesn’t matter if they kill me or not—
>
>

Nobel continues to babble and sob. He says the people brought the Catoblepas as a backup plan. Zephi pats him on the face in an attempt to calm him down, Sheevah pulls Vigil and Zephi back and hands him a glass of water.

Nobel: They put a mark on the back of my neck, they said it would kill me if I lied. Or said anything.

He shows the back of his neck. There’s nothing there. Gerome magically tinkers a skull tattoo there anyway. Vigil tells him that the mark is definitely real and well known and that if he ever lies or takes advantage of anyone, it would kill him. He looks panicked, and says he’s gonna either find a new mayor or rethink how he’ll govern. He says that a merchant said he was their contact, came through, sold some Oryx to Orbor, and left; so, definitely Sildur. Creon says nothing.

Nobel doesn’t know where they came from or where they’re going. Having thoroughly traumatized the mayor, we encourage him to do some serious thinking and go to leave. Creon wants to drown him, but it won’t work.

On the way back to the ship, Gerome has a pitch.

> Gerome: Hey guys. Can I hire a cook for the ship?
>
>

> Sheevah: no.
>
>

> Vigil: I mean, we do need a chef…
>
>

> Gerome: It could be short term. We could drop him off on Keller. But I mean, I’ve always wanted a goblin.
>
>

> Zephi: Friend!
>
>

> Creon: Can we take the cheese and leave the man? I would very sincerely not like to make another friend.
>
>

It does not take much debate. We decide to balance the Karn-ic scales. We go to Orbor. Gerome puts on his sunglasses. He leans on Orbor’s work station, tips his sunglasses down, and asks, “You want a job, kid?”

> Orbor: What sort of job.
>
>

> Gerome: A way to get off this rock.
>
>

> Orbor: …I’m listening.
>
>

> Gerome: Maybe a gig as a chef for a couple of traveling adventurers?
>
>

We agree to pay him a silver per day, which overwhelms him and he starts crying. He’s so excited he kisses Gerome’s hands and runs off to grab the very few things he owns, and pass ownership of his Oryx to Izil and Thrush Fornet.

## Amen, Amen, Amen (Take Me to Church p2)

Hector greets us all back on the ship, and an hour later Orbor clambours aboard with his rucksack. “Oh, one last thing.” He turns, looks out over Xent, and gives two middle fingers. “Fuck all of you! You’re horrible!”

We show him the kitchen, and her starts getting set up. Now we have a Quartermaster! Course is set to go back to the Citadel, though Sheevah is extremely nervous that we’re running behind on her schedule. We find Madeline, who is greeted warmly by Orbor. The two have a lovely reunion, and her stutter is far less pronounced with him around. Very happy, Madeline leads Gerome to a back room of white stone, with a bright blue bath. She tells him he has to get in; Gerome gets down to his lil gnome boxers.

The water looks like it should be cool and crisp, but it’s very warm. It’s a salt water float tank, and she asks him to stay still. Creon feels an amplification of Otia’s power, and the light grows brighter. Thaphus beams through the window and the light that streams through focuses on Gerome.

He falls into a deep sleep, and in his dream, awakes on the icy fields of Orlin at night. He hears the Hag’s cackle again; looking around him, he sees the haunted figure of Ullah looking down at him. She reaches down to grab him, but a gauntleted hand grabs her. A sword appears out of nowhere and plunges into Ullah’s chest, and the hag stumbles back. The sword glows brilliantly.

In the real world, Creon has a vision and watches Otia cleave her sword through Ullah’s neck. Her head lobs off and rolls to the ground. Otia looks back, and grins at Creon. Gerome, back in the vision, sees something similar, and watches as sunlight peaks over the mountains. The dead Ullah looks back at him, and cackles once more. “You got rid of me… I’ve got sisters, though.”

He awakes from the vision, and his HP is back to normal now! Yay!

## Keller Bound

We leave the Citadel after a warm goodbye between Orbor and Madeline. There's a few days travel before landing at K-Central; Zephi uses the time to message Sellis, Barren, and Salfando.

Sheevah alerts everyone that she’s found an article in a paper she grabbed at the Citadel about the party helping to rescue Nym. Well, our cover’s blown! “Oh no,” Gerome says, “And we were sooooo careful.” The press will almost certainly be there to greet us when we get to Nym.

Zephi grabs a crate, brings it to the party, and stands on it.

> Zephi: I... am going to go wild when the press is there. This is... your only warning.
>
>

> Sheevah: Okay, I vote Zephi gets to talk to the press then.
>
>

> Vigil: I mean, is there anything we even need to keep secret?
>
>

> Zephi: Our whole shit. Our *whole* shit.
>
>

> Sheevah: We were told to keep a low profile.
>
>

> Vigil: We’re the least covert covert can be.
>
>

> Gerome: Black Ops, baybee!!
>
>

> Sheevah: Well, I think Rylance doesn’t want us to say much to the press—oh, in that case wait, maybe Zephi’s *not* the best idea.
>
>

> Creon: I have an idea.
>
>

> Sheevah: I don’t like that phrase.
>
>

> Vigil: ‘We kill the press!’
>
>

> Creon:  No! We do what *I* did, we have a real motive, and we have real missions, and we tell people overtly that we have different missions, so no one questions. So, we come up with a reason that our group exist that’s very believable, that has nothing to do with all the illegal things we do—
>
>

> Zephi: We’re freelancers!
>
>

> Sheevah: Creon, Creon. H-How well did that plan work for you?
>
>

> Creon: Well it worked out pretty well until I killed my boss and told all of you!
>
>

Zephi zones out of the conversation. She’s been sending nightly messages to Barren, Sellis, Jacob, and Salfando in various combinations. But she hasn’t tried messaging Billy yet. Remembering that he had a band back in his day, and that the party will soon need a group name, she tries messaging him, in faint hopes that it works.

Zephi: Hi. I don’t know if you’re there…. Do you have a good like... band name idea? It’s Zephi. Sorry. I’ll fix things.

[Darcy rolls a lot of dice. This deeply confuses everyone. Laura is deeply shocked. This wasn’t supposed to work!]

Billy: Hello??! What?!?! Are you th— what?! Zephi? I… I don’t… I’m sorry, I’m flabbergasted. My name… Hellboys was our band name, what are you—I’m gonna find you!

[The message cuts out. Zephi messages back immediately.]

Zephi: HI! Sorry, Thought that wouldn’t work! *Hi,* papa. I’ll find you. I’m headed to Keller. Be safe.

Billy: I just hope… this isn’t a trick. That this is really you. I love you.

Zephi staggers up and begins dry heaving over the side of the ship. Orbor comes over to check in on her, and helps her over back to the crew. Vigil asks if she asked where he was, which, nope, definitely didn’t. Gerome makes sure she asked about the band name.

> Zephi: Yeah, apparently they were the Hellboys, which I think is fun.
>
>

> Gerome: That’s a total dad name. Very good.
>
>

> Zephi: Mmm. It was before he was a dad.
>
>

> Gerome: I bet they had leather jackets, too. Sorry, Vigil.
>
>

Zephi asks for idea on anything else she should say to him with her last sending slot. Vigil suggests to ask where he is.

> Zephi: Last today. Not a trick. Don’t remember how to prove it. Can you prove you’re you? Where are you? I don’t remember much. Love, Zephi.
> Billy, *confused*: …I’m at home. With mom. Where else would I be?
>
>

Zephi frowns, and shakes her head and tells the party she's no longer sure that whoever or whatever she's messaging is actually her father. She's out of spell slots to cast sending, though, so it's put off. We move back into trying to decide on a party name. People have.... *ideas*.

> Gerome: Karnitas! It’s in his honor!
>
>

> Zephi: It’s not in his honor, it’s in our shame! It reminds me of our fuckup every time.
>
>

> Creon: The Creonitas.
>
>

> Zephi: That’s worse!
>
>

> Vigil: That’ll remind us of you, our fuck up, every time. How about The Wiggles?
>
>

We all debate. It goes on *so* long. Gerome brainstorms with Orbor and Hector. Vigil suggests something to do with our silver bracelets, and then comes up with the Silverados.

Vigil: It’s slightly shitty, but kind of cute. Very us.

Zephi taps into the voices by meditating, and enters the black void she’s familiar with. One of the creatures comes up to her. She asks if they can hear when she casts sending, and when they confirm they do, she asks if they thought that was really Billy. She needs advice. They have no idea. She asks if, when she plays her music and they fall back, if that hurts.

Leopold: [thinks for a long moment] No. It’s… It’s peace—it’s familiar—[he jerks back in pain] 33:00

They reveal that their memories are gone too, but they've recovered one. The memory is of an adventuring party, not in the purple-ish forms that the Voices currently hold, but closer to human and similar races. They run down a hall, there's a blast of energy and pain, and the memory ends.

## 'The Silverados', Jot That Down

49:00-1:00:00 We land on K-Central and are immediately accosted by the press. The flashbulbs send Zephi into Full Zephi Mode, and she takes point on talking to the press. Vigil largely hides and is disoriented, Gerome insists all of our good deeds are the work of “a sexual savant known as Gerome the Gnome. Me? Oh, no, I’m *Mattersmore*,” Creon is stuffy, and several things are established;

1. The Silverados were responsible for saving Nym & how to get rid of spawn worms is shared
2. Zephi confirms she is The Original Zephi Velhiri
3. The group works together loosely, but we all have our own businesses/day jobs we attend to
4. Our group name is officially The Silverados
5. Vigil is officially stated as Captain

The most major of the journalists there, working with Major Arcana, tells the party to look for an article in the morning paper. Zephi catches up to him and gets his information; he gives her a card with his name, Wyatt Wilson, and contact as well as some for the publishers of Major Arcana. (Darcy I know it’s likely this was improvd but…. May I Please have this I can’t find it in my notes).

Zephi promises to give the party tips on how to speak to the press later, to hopefully avoid what she claims was an absolute disaster of an interview. Orbor requests some gold of Gerome to get supplies for the kitchen-- Gerome sends him out on a 'reconissance mission' to gather up a list of everything he might need, and promises gold once Orbor has shown the list.

### Payday

We roll up to the Rylance estate; Yfrit answers the door, and Vigil immediately wraps her up in a big hug. Rylance then greets us, and pays us our 2500 gold (500 each) for returning Hector, who trails behind and into the house to a warm welcome from the General. We tell him about our adventures; Sheevah and Gerome try to give a physical recreation of the size of the Catoblepas. Rylance then invites all of us to spar with him later, so he can see how we've grown as a team.

With full pockets, we head off to our favorite shops; Sheevah leads the charge toward Arcane Answers. George Ullin is extremely excited to see us (Stella less so, though she does give a half-hearted wave from behind her book).

Creon buys a glove of Missile Snaring. Gerome proposes that George and Arcane Answers become the official sponsor of the Silverados in exchange for a 50% discount, but it's not really a deal that favors George, so he politely turns it down. Creon also buys a crackle shot, i think? Zephi eyes a piece of magical shapeshifting armor, but has to make plans to go to the casino so she'll be able to afford it. Sheevah picks up a bag of holding. Vigil buys a ring of feather fall and a ring of mind shielding. He wants to buy more but, you know, gold is tight these days. Zephi pulls him aside.

> Zephi: I'm running errands in the next few days to... make some money. So if you'd like to accompany me, you're more than welcome to.
>
>

> Vigil: That... is so concerning, but yes, absolutely, I'd love to.
>
>

> Creon *(overhearing and sliding in, clears his throat)*: I, I actually need some money. If we could-- if, if I could join... you.
>
>

> Zephi: ...How's your poker face?
>
>

> Creon: *Impeccable*.
>
>

George mentions after hearing us make plans that his sister, Brenda, is the Ironside Merchant. He asks that if we stop by, that we mention him and tell her she needs to write to their mother more often-- and she might give us a discount for knowing him.

Next we're on to the ship store. I wish from the bottom of my heart I remembered this better as the audio is lost. We find the woman running the store, Brenda Ulin, who takes a clear *interest* in Gerome. Gerome both does not register this, and does not react. The two work together to update some parts of the ship; they add a comms system; Gerome asks everyone to chip in 45 gold, but Creon would be penniless, so Sheevah and Zephi agree to chip in 10 gold extra each so he'll have 20 left. Our favorite oblivious gnomish engineer decides to install the comms himself instead of having the very attractive *very* *very interested* Brenda help out. Zephi admonishes him over message, but he doesn't respond.

There's a really cool weapons system we want, but Vigil and Creon won't and can't, respectively, chip in the 35 gold for it. She says she'll be around for the week before taking off again, so we plan to see her after the casino. Zephi asks Gerome why on earth he didn't just go with it with Brenda, especially if it would get us some discounts.

Gerome: You're gonna need a couple more drinks in me if you wanna talk about that.

Next, it's off to the Rylance's for dinner.

### Dinner with the Boss

Everyone dresses UP to go to Rylance's because it's our ONLY CHANCE. Gerome uses alter self to go into a more muscular version of himself. We formally meet Margaret Rylance, and sit down with both Ryalnces as well as Yfrit. We reconfirm plans for the following day to go sparring.

> Rylance: Gerome, have you--
>
>

> Gerome: I'm so glad you noticed. I've been hitting the gym.
>
>

> Zephi: He's been hitting the spellbooks.
>
>

Margaret is instantly charmed by Vigil, and after the greetings finish up everyone sits down for dinner. We learn that Hector is upstairs in Rylance's lab... which he apparently has in part specifically for Hector, when he visits. They are *very* close, it seems. Vigil asks Margaret for the story of how she met Richard, which is very sweet, but I have no idea tragically. ugh. It SEEMS from context clues that they met on Azotis when they were younger, and she describes a bit of what he was like when he was a younger man.

> Zephi: What was he like as a kid?! I can't imagine him as anything other than a... 40-something year old man.
>
>

> *(Preserved and noted for Foreshadowing lmao)*
>
>

> We all talk more and settle in for dinner, and Hector comes down from the workshop. Zephi asks Rylance for what he knows about the Eternal Conclave, and he gives a little talk about them. *I so fucking desperately wish i knew what he said lmao. these recordings and the wiki ARE my notes. i have NOTHING.* Rylance seems to mention something about talking to a member of the The Misfits, and Vigil asks about his former leader and the rest of the members. Rylance doesn't know where they are, so Vigil probes on how he got Yfrit to join up, and, if i'm getting this right, Yfrit was looking for a place in the world and Adlaema brought the two together.
>
>

Vigil leans in and asks what Rylance knows about "Spawn, Vash, and all of them." Rylance gives his impressions on Vash. I'm so fucking mad we lost this. are you for REAL. How dare the universe do this to us and specifically to me. Rylance seems to say that the Spawn acts mindlessly, which Vigil rebukes considering what we saw and heard on Nym. Rylance also says that the Conclave is pushing for another war, and that the Conclave knows he's trouble, and are pushing against him. Vigil offers that the newly minted Silverados could throw their weight behind him, but he doesn't want to rush things. It's clearly a ticking time bomb though; Vigil asks again to help, as Rylance, powerful as he is, is likely not going to be able to take down a faceless organization we don't know the full extent or power of. The general brushes it off, and Vigil asks why Rylance had us find our ship on Jira-2, then, which is clearly a big part of the Spawn's plan. Rylance says that was largely Adlaema's urging, but he's not sure how she's connected other than being The Oracle.

Vigil: Alright. I'll... I trust you where you're sending us, because Yfrit trusts you. But.... I mean... it feels like we're getting pretty close to the heart of something pretty concerning. I just wonder... how much you know and didn't tell us before sending us on these things.

Rylance's full answer is lost to time, but it's something along the lines of needing to know we were up to the task, and trustable. Vigil tells Rylance he respects that, but things on Nym got really, really bad, beyond just hairy, and if we hadn't run into something like it before, we'd have been crushed. He asks Rylance to stop treating the party like subordinates, and instead like confidants,

Creon joins the conversation, having heard Sylvion mentioned, and says he thinks he can get high up with the elves if Rylance can just keep our names and identities fairly quiet. Zephi slides over and asks if Rylance has heard anything in military back channels about the whereabouts of the Starship Crimson, which he hasn't, and mentions that Billy is Not Dead. Rylance takes *extreme* interest in this, and on request, directs her to a diviner who can help detect the source of Billy's response, which she doesn't trust as being truly Him. She also asks for casino recommendations; Margaret and Yfrit have suggestions that are also lost to time.

Gerome gets up to some silly knife tricks with his Alter Appearance's fleshed over mage hand. Sheevah and Yfrit chat a bit, and Yfrit mentions she would love to go out for drinks the next night at the Flaming Coven. It's amazing! It's happening! Yfrit then also invites Zephi. WELP.

Rylance talks about Vega, currently in the basement, who's having somewhat of a crisis of self. Apparently, he *actively wants* to talk to our two resident soldier boys. Wild. Creon and Vigil head down to the basement to talk to him.

### Older Than Is Likely

In the basement, Vega, agitated, sits in his cell, and they ask him what's up. Vega asks what they know about the gith; it's not much, so Vega enlightens them. Apparently, Githyanki die on their 30th birthdays-- called back to the Solvux from which they were born, they either submit themselves to the Pain Mother, or die horribly and without honor. Regardless, they know they die at 30.

Vega turned 30 last week.

Vega is still *very* much alive.

Something is wrong. Someone has been lying.

Vigil gives his limited sympathies as a cow well-versed in personal crisis'. Vega seems genuinely freaked out. Vigil steps forward and hands Vega the bread, which he takes, and talks about how all of the gith have been lied to.

> Vega: *[...]* I wonder Captain Greyhide, were we dogs of war, hungry for blood? Or were we just dogs, hungry, and fed blood by masters who we did not understand.
>
>

> Vigil: I don't think that what we signed up for was as noble as either of us thought it was. And... if you have some more introspection to do, I'd be really interested in hearing what you have to say. *[He leaves. Creon approaches.]*
>
>

> Creon, *in gith*: I'm not interested in the introspection of a gith. We are not similar. We will never be comrades. And... I *will* kill you, before this is all over. *[Vega sits down and bites off a chunk of bread.]*
>
>

> Vega: Goodie.
>
>

Creon heads up.

### We Should Be Dancing (Yeah!)

Margaret and Richard put on some music on their record player. It's sweet, but a little stodgy. Zephi offers to get them some Real Music for the holidays, so Margaret asks for any requests. Zephi asks if they happen to have a Billy Velhiri album. Apparently Margaret's a fan! She puts on an old Hellboys album and picks up Richard for a jazzy dance. Just heading up from the basemet now, Vigil grabs Yfrit to dance as well-- apparently they listened to a lot of the Hellboys in their Misfits days. She needs another glass of booze from Sheevah and VIgil, but she's persuaded to dance and sing along. She's a talented singer!

As the evening presses on, we decide to go out clubbing; Vigil invites Margaret and Richard, and Creon tries to encourage Richard by telling him we 'need to see him at his weakest'. Oh my god. Somehow this works, and everyone goes barhopping! We pass by the ship and grab Orbor, who excitedly joins. Vigil plays lightning lure with the shot glasses, and Sheevah gazes somewhat longingly at Yfrit. Gerome asks Orbor what's the most amount of gold he's ever held at one time; the answer is maybe 10. Gerome hands him 40, and tells him to keep the change. The night passes in joyful reverie.

## Spar

Vigil is woken up by a message from Rylance, written on the corner of the day's newspaper, telling us where to meet for the spar session. Vigil wakes everyone up for breakfast in 5, and fries up some bacon and yelling, *"Lets get moo-ooving!"*

Nobody stirs. Zephi comes down and asks what's up, and Vigil shows her the note.

> Zephi: ...When did you get this?
>
>

> Vigil: Just this morning.
>
>

> Zephi: But. When. It says... to meet in 20 minutes.
>
>

> Vigil: ...'bout 18 minutes ago.
>
>

Zephi bangs pots and pans to wake everyone up. Gerome laughs. Sheevah removes the pots and pans. Zephi and Vigil set off at a brisk jog, eventually followed by everyone else.

At the gym? Sparring place? Rylance greets us and seems extremely confident about his chances in beating us single handedly.

Well, jokes on him, we win!! We know each other's moves really well at this point and work together as a team. He's impressed.

He's awakened by the gym's special powers and goes to leave, but Zephi is annoyed that he would "beat us up and leave" so she tells him he has to go to brunch with us. Rylance left some treats in our lockers, gold and potions, while Creon goes to the bath house. Gerome heads out early to go look at his stocks. @*Nick you dirty son of a bitch you are just playing youR OWN DAMN SELF in this campaign.* The rules for checking stocks are explained and lost to the ether. goddddd. After a disappointing returns, he heads to the ship and asks Orbor to stock up on some Emergency Poison, just in case. For enemies, of course.

Zephi goes to brunch with Rylance; the other party members don't join. Rylance tells her about his past and upbriging, and that he's an orphan but has no clue as to what happened to his parents-- but they weren't a part of the war, so far as he knows. They also talk about that diviner, and he assures her the person is trustworthy. They split the check because Zephi demands it. After they part, she meets up with Sheevah to buy her a date outfit.

## Long Time, No Tea

Creon heads to meet Thomas Soj, and drops off a letter to Sylvion on the way. Vigil joins him. After giving their names they're lead up to Soj's room; its a hospital or hospice of sorts.The walls are a tame navy blue and the trim is done in DSK gold. The window lets in just the right amount of light to do away for the need of a candle but not so much as to be ostentatious. There’s a small set of drawers and a fold out desk in one corner with a few assorted papers. Sitting upright in a wheelchair by the window is the elderly but familiar figure of Creon's former training officer, Commodore Thomas Soj.Soj is a Giff, a hippo person, not to be confused with a Gith, Creon's mortal enemies.terrible naming coincidence.

Creon steps into the room and greets Soj; "Commodore! You look terrible." Soj laughs, and clearly thinks Creon is a hoot. Vigil introduces himself, and they shake. Soj tells Vigil that Creon is one of the finest men he worked with and absolutely the funniest.

> Soj: Creon! Do you remember that one morning during basic where I told you I hadn’t seen you at camouflage practice? And you looked at me and said “Thank you, sir." BAAHAHAH!
>
>

> Vigil: His sense of humor hasn't dulled.
>
>

> Creon: That's quite enough talk of the old days! Thank you, Commodore.
>
>

> Vigil: So you two were in basic together!
>
>

> Creon: Well...
>
>

> Soj: No, he was my charge! I taught him just about everything he knows! HAAHABAHAHA!
>
>

> Vigil: Was he as boring in his student days?
>
>

> Soj: Well, he was never boring, kept my wits in wonderful shape, having to keep up with him. [...]
>
>

> Creon: How are you really, Commodore.
>
>

> Soj: Oh I'm fine! I'm better than fine, I'm great...
>
>

This is clearly false. Soj hacks into a hankerchief, health suffering. Creon asks if he's heard what happened to Private Naeleth, which Soj has, and he gives his condolences, knowing he and Creon were close. Creon brushes this off, saying Naeleth was a good soldier and nothing more. Vigil, sensing this is a Private Conversation, stands in the doorway like a Cool Kid, doing lookout. Creon tells Soj he's recently run into some trouble, and confesses that Uthorim has died at his hand. Soj... does not seem bothered by this in the way one might expect. Soj asks for some privacy, so Vigil steps out of the room and leaves the door open only a crack.

Soj sits himself down on the bed, and tells Creon to take a look at the vase on his windowsill. Creon dispels some magic and finds it's an illusion covering a metal tube full of official DSK Military documents. Creon calls Vigil back in (who pretends like he wasn't listening to all this) and shuts the door behind him.

Soj tells them he's been doing some digging, and has found some concerning stuff about something called Project Omega. He believes its a coverup for something, though he's not sure what, and not only was Uthorim named, but Creon was indicated as an object of interest. Whatever this is, it's all happening at Dreshan Station, or at least, it allegedly is. Soj is clearly a little on edge about all this, but has boldly done this research which could easily get him killed. But, as he points out, he's dying anyway.

There's a knock at the door; a man who appears to be a Private comes in with a cup of warm tea for the Commodore, having heard the coughing. Vigil gives it a weird look. "We've actually had some pretty bad experiences with anonymous tea, so." Soj looks at them, and Vigil clarifies quietly, "We don't trust strange mixed drinks. And that was pretty convenient timing, besides." Soj seems to agree; he takes the tea, holds it out, and pours it on a pot of flowers.

They immediately wilt, and die.

Everyone makes eye contact. Oh, fuck.

Vigil grabs Creon's shoulder, tells him to look after Soj, and then bolts out the door chasing down the Private. Vigil chases him down, Captain Americaing down the hallway. The man's appearance has quickly changed, he's now in a leather jacket and has a helmet covering his whole face, and a red crack running down it.

Vigil summons his axe, throws it, and pins this guy against the wall. The man struggles against it-- Vigil approaches him and rips off the helmet. The man's head hangs low, a mess of bright, unmistakable blonde hair tumbling out. As the man lifts his head, Vigil sees that where the scar on the mask is, the man has one red eye, which mechanically refocuses to look at him. They look at each other. Vigil's heart drops.

> ???: Hello, Vigil.
>
>

> Vigil: Solas, what the fuck are you doing here?!
>
>

> Solas???: Oh you know. Just working a job.
>
>

Solas tries to hit him, but Vigil shields himself. "Alright, you always were a fucking pansy. My turn." Vigil tries to bash his head against the wall, but Solas manages to duck away both times. They tussle with one another, Solas summoning a cloud of bullshit at one point. Vigil sends out a thunderwave, which alerts Creon down the hall.

> Creon: Commodore, I know you're old and probably going to die soon, but we have to go *right now.*
>
>

Soj grabs a few necessities from the room, including the tube of papers, and they rush out of the room, looking for the exit. Solas and Vigil continue fighting, and Solas finally manages to wrench the axe out and break the hold on him. He whips out a staff, which transforms into a skimmer, and jumps out the already broken window. Vigil chucks a spear at him, but Solas manages to land without much issue several flights below. Vigil and Creon with Soj find each other, and they send some soldiers to chase after Solas, before Vigil jumps out of the window himself to give chase.

Creon and Soj decide its best if Soj stay somewhere else, and they depart for his niece's home, not far away. On the ground, all Vigil can find of Solas is a piece of fabric. He grabs it, softly swears. Vigil swings his bag to the side, rifles through it, and retrieves Grit's necklace; he places his axe on the ground, wraps the necklace around it, and prays to the Starfather.

Vigil: You and I haven't been on speaking terms, but... I deserve closure, and so does he. You must understand the weight of warrior brothers lost.

He hears the clunking of metalwork, and has a vision of the Starfather working, who asks for Solas' description. Vigil gives it in as much detail as he possibly can, and with the ace warm in his hand, he begins chasing again. Soon, though, it grows cold. In a moment of frustration, Vigil breaks off into an alleyway. He wrenches Grit's necklace off the handle of the axe and holds it close.

Vigil: I've done everything right, I've tried to connect to you in a million ways, and I feel like I'm losing my faith before I even found it.

He chucks the axe into a dumpster, and walks away.

Once again, Vigil hears the sound of something hitting an anvil, which fades eventually. He keeps searching for Solas, but doesn't turn anything up. Creon finds him & sees him having a breakdown in the distance. Vigil is sans axe and wearing a necklace Creon's never seen before, with bolts and nuts and nuts and other things. It's not the best look. Creon sighs, and speaks to Soj, who he's wheeling along in a wheelchair.

> Creon: Yep, that's... my captain now. I've really fallen from grace in a way, Commodore. [He clears his throat and calls out to Vigil;] Captain! Is everything alright? Catch your man?
>
>

> Vigil: Yeah, thought looking through trash might help! *[He turns, showing he's clearly been angry crying.]* Ah, no, nope. He got away. Some soldiers are chasing him now.
>
>

> Creon: Oh, well. Next time. You don't need to... get all emotional. *[The two leave as Creon pushes Soj down the street.]*
>
>

A dwarven soldier finds Vigil and tell him they've had no luck. They share a moment, Vigil wishes him well and tells him not to engage if they do find Solas, and they split off. Creon finds the house of Thomas Soj's niece, who happily takes him in. They head inside, and while she's not got 'men at her disposal' as Creon was hoping for security, it's a decently quiet place to leave him off.

In a moment alone, Creon asks if Soj has heard of the Eternal Conclave, which he explains it the organization he believes Uthorim was involved with.

Creon: Ah... I am at a crossroads of some sort. I find myself torn between the way I have learned to be, and the I think perhaps I ought to be, and I... have no one else to turn to but you.

Soj gives him some words of wisdom, and Creon squeezes his hand. Creon thanks him, says it was a pleasure serving with him, and then leaves.

## A Hot Date

Skipping forward in time; Sheevah and Zephi make it past the bouncer at the Flaming Coven, who was certain for a moment there he recognized Sheevah (from her Incident last time). Zephi rolls a nat 20 on Full Zephi mode, and immediately spots Gilderoy. She heads off to greet him and sends Sheevah to grab a booth. She manages to slide in right in front of a stout gnome and some burly lookin fellas with him. He makes a face, Sheevah smiles sweetly and waves, and he flounces off.

Zephi slides in as Gilderoy is wrapping up a chat with his bartender. Gileroy greets her with a kiss on the cheek and asks how she’s been.

> Zephi: Well, I don’t know if you saw this, but I was in the papers recently.
>
>

> Gilderoy: Yes, I did see my *dear* friend Zephi Velhiri gracing the news this week!
>
>

She tells him that she’s here performing her favorite hobby of being a matchmaker tonight, pointing out Sheevah, and they both do a shot to ‘love and matchmaking’. Zephi gets some hard liquors and mixed drinks for the three of them.

Sheevah feels a tap on her shoulder and it’s Yfrit! *Finally!* Her hair is down long, green blouse tucked into long leather pants and a leather jacket with spikes on top. Oo! A *LOOK*! Very cute, Yf! She happily slides in and asks about sparring with Rylance. Zephi joins in and they all chat, Yfrit admitting that she was a foster child and was recruited by Ghann very young for the Misfits.

19:00 Zephi teases her for immediately revealing her Tragic Backstory and asks what Yfirt *enjoys* doing, which is apparently dancing.

> Zephi: So, here’s what we’re going to do. Yfrit, darling, let’s dance. Sheevah, you watch and pick up on some things, and then I’ll switch with you and then you and Yfrit dance and you have no need to worry!
>
>

> *[Sheevah begins chugging her drink, and waves over a server to refill her glass.]*
>
>

> Yfrit: Ah, okay! Sure.
>
>

> *[Sheevah drinks faster]*
>
>

Zephi and Yfrit do some classy-bitch dancing; Yfrit rolls even higher than Zephi, and shows her some things she’s missed in the past 400 years on the dance floor.
Sheevah watches but notices out of the corner of her eye a dwarf with a big bushy black beard looking over frequently in their direction, glowering. He leans over to a dwarf near him and whispers something. Sheevah throws back a shot and approaches Zephi and Yfrit—Zephi tries to hand off the dancing and get a drink but Sheevah grabs her and whispers to both of them.

> Sheevah: This is fun, but I think we have company.
>
>

> Yfrit: Oh, no. Not good, not good at *all*.
>
>

> Zephi: You know! This used to happen to me all the time. Don’t worry, it’s okay—
>
>

> Sheevah: Are they friends of yours, Yfrit?
>
>

> Yfrit: *Friends* is a bit of a stretch. Um…
>
>

> Zephi: Oh god, you *know* them, that’s even worse!
>
>

> Yfrit: I handedly served that man his ass on a platter last week in combat. Ah, and I don’t think he quite enjoyed that.
>
>

> Zephi: You already beat him once! I can go over there and handle this, no fighting at all.
>
>

## An Offer Too Good To *Outright* Refuse (Insurance)

Gerome, meanwhile, having just finished installing the comms system, heads to the junk shop. As he’s leaving, he’s met by Brenda Ulin, The Ironside Merchant. She asks him for a favor; she noticed that the core in Karnival Kruise was a strange one, which Gerome claims is ‘vintage’, though she’s never seen one like it herself.

> Brenda: …But, if you’re such an expert on strange cores, I thought you might be able to look at one of mine for me; it’s been running into some issues, and none of my men seem to be able to sus out what’s wrong.
>
>

> Gerome: Well, I’ve got some time.
>
>

> Brenda: Well, there’s some coin in it for you.
>
>

> Gerome: Alright, lead the way!
>
>

They head to the Western Quarter Docks, to her ship where gnomes bustle about and a furnace core can be heard trying to start and failing. She leads him inside—the ship is larger than the Kruise, made of thick iron and bronze that don’t radiate much heat. That is, until they enter the core room, which feels like a genuine furnace. It’s similar to the Dwarven ship we saw on Jira-2, with two smoke towers and a funnel for magical items.

Gerome is invited to take a look, quietly walking around it for a few minutes, hushing anyone who tries to provide input. He stops, takes out his wrench, and hits a small pipe; a small release chute pops open and a small gold disk pops out and into his hand. He swings the chute door closed, gives the side a hearty pat, and the engine revs.

Gerome looks at the disk; it’s gold and clockwork, and some of the edges are melted, likely from its proximity to the core. It looks like one of the magic items they’ve thrown in to fuel the core, that just didn’t get properly processed and got stuck in a ventilation chute. He can’t quite tell what it is—he could probably harvest it for parts, but he notices some of the gears and cogs have stars on them, as well as circles and spheres, and it’s still rotating and turning. It doesn’t have a power source it’s just… working, even though it’s a bit broken. A dwarf comes over and gives him his gold in a small pouch.

> Dwarf: So, what was it that was wrong with it?
>
>

> Gerome: You had a confibulator in your main combumption pipe.
>
>

> Dwarf: I didn’t even know this furnace core had a combumption pipe! I thought we got rid of that in the previous model! God, I gotta read the manual.
>
>

> Gerome: You know your ah… your trispector machine, that looks a bit loose, and that sauntering table, that’s not gonna hold much longer. Plus, your thrimbobulator… And that door! Oh, my goodness. You guys need a full detail… you know, I’ve got some time.
>
>

He spends the afternoon, 45 minutes or so, fixing things up, and returns to Brenda’s office for another payment. She offers him employment with her, if he ever tires of his current party, but he assures her his current arrangement pays him much more handsomely. She asks if we have insurance. Well. Fuck. If he wants real job security some day…. He has it here. She pours herself a glass of wine, with another glass set out.

> Brenda: Would you like a glass?
>
>

> Gerome: No. I don’t take drinks from strangers. Not anymore.
>
>

> Brenda: Valid precaution. *[she pulls the glass over to herself and sips.]*
>
>

> Gerome: What kind of work would this entail?
>
>

> Brenda: Well… we could discuss it further, but.. if you were to join the crew, I’m sure you’d rise the ranks, you’d have free lab space, and whatever you create, we can sell.
>
>

> Gerome: I mean… what about travel?
>
>

> Brenda: Oh, we go everywhere darling.
>
>

> Gerome: An interesting proposal. What… kind of insurance do you have? I mean, do you have dental?
>
>

> Brenda: What kind of insurance would it be without dental?
>
>

> Gerome: I’ll think about it.
>
>

> Brenda: Sure. Let me know. We leave town in a week.
>
>

Gerome heads out to replenish his stores, and meanders back to the ship to rebuild.

## Graverobbing

Vigil decides to visit Grit’s grave, stopping briefly to buy a wreath of flowers. Outside the city wall are a set of rolling hills; Keller itself is rather dry and arid, like a salt flat, littered with white tombstones, engraved with white and gold of the names of soldiers who died.

Vigil finds Grit’s grave, which has two sets of flowers, but lays otherwise unadorned. It’s been a little under 2 months since Vega killed him, so it’s fairly fresh. He double checks to make sure nobody’s around, and then speaks to the grave.

Vigil: Sorry I didn’t come here sooner, I um… I’d make an excuse, but you never believed it when I was younger, so, ah… I saw you in the morgue, hopefully they did some work on you. Ehm, I met your buddy, from way back when. He’s out… doing things I can’t even pass judgement on, because I don’t fully understand, and I wish I knew you before you passed, because I need some frame of reference for what I’m doing now, and I always thought that we were doing the right thing, and now I’m not sure. And I think you’d recognize it, and the only person from back then I’ve talked to is Yfrit, and she’s gone in the complete opposite direction. And I would just want to know what you thought about all of this, because I always respected what you had to say. Um, I think I just needed to know that you were actually gone. Because the jury’s still out on some of us… I don’t know if what I’m doing is the right thing, or if I’m taking the tepid approach, or if everyone else from our group is just so… fucked up by what we did that they need to find their own way out, and chose these insane paths. I hope you’re doing okay, and I hope you got where you were going, that they were happy to see you when you got there. And I’ll say hi to Ezra for you, if I ever see him.

On the grave, there’s a small simple red rose that rests off to the side, and the petals flare for a moment.

Vigil checks it out, and though he’s no botanist, he knows that Grit was a follower of Wukdite, a nature god, but there’s a weird feeling… why *that* flower.

Grit never wore roses, and it was only placed there within the past few days. Vigil picks it up and puts it in his lapel.

Vigil: I’m glad… I’m just glad for you. That you turned out to be right, in the end.

He pats the gravestone, and walks off. As he leaves, he sees a procession, a funeral for someone else. A coffin is lowered into a fresh plot. Vigil notices a tall elven woman with rich tan skin and a short black bob, wearing a trim suit, beside a hobgoblin general with red skin and black slick back hair and many medals. Six or seven people disperse, and the funeral ends.

Vigil approaches, and catches a peak at the name; Lt. Uthorim Mondovi. There are only two gravediggers there now, but that’s still too many people if he wants to do some inspecting.

Vigil runs over to them, out of breath.

Vigil: Guys, pe—some fucker is defiling a grave over there, you need to help!

They tear off, running for the hills, literally.

Vigil tears off the lid of the casket. Uthorim’s body lays there, embalmed but, you know, he’s dead, it’s a dead body. Vigil frisks him, and sees his tattoo. The inflict wounds spell that Creon cast, those years added to his body, have largely been undone by heavy heavy makeup. He finds the small skull shaped necklace in his pocket, the same he had used to summon the undead in the hag’s den. Vigil grabs it, and also takes one of his cufflinks.

He hears the two gravediggers returning, so he slams the lid shut and bolts. They spot him and try to run after, but can’t catch him.

Vigil wanders the Eastern Quarter, looking for something to do.

Meanwhile, Creon’s just left the home of Soj’s niece, carrying the bottled up missives he intercepted about Dreshan Station. He finds an alley to examine them in, but runs into some gnomes playing craps. Needing the privacy, he flashes his badge, and tells them it’s needed for police business. They flee away, and Creon begins to look through the documents.

For the most part, the notes are benign. Nothing is really noticeably worrying at first. But they’re all referring to the same training program; Division Omega. Many officers leave to join the division, to one of three different training sites; on Argar, on Krynn-5, and on Orlin. Some people who have taken part in the program have names that ring a bell; Crown General Rathal Trisyre, Senator Nalo Kusari, Major Penelo Glynmoira, Commodore Yvon Hammerswift, Admiral Xunag Shadbak, and it notes one of the training officers running the division, Lt. Uthorim. Nothing explains what Division Omega *is,* exactly.

There’s also mention of Uthorim recommending an officer by the name of Creon Eiljor, for potential entry into the program to take up one of the higher level seats in the program itself should he complete it.

The most recent transmission seems as if it only came a few days prior; it mentions a division meeting on car #551 of the Troop Train that is leaving the military line out of K-Central that same night. Soj’s notes help Creon piece this together quickly, it seems like he spent a lot of time pouring over them.

Creon goes to find Vigil, and they run into each other. Vigil looks better than when Creon last saw him, but has dirt on his arms? Weird. Physically bedraggled, emotionally stable. Creon approaches from behind him. 1:27:00

> Creon: Don’t turn around.
>
>

> *[Vigil goes for his axe, which isn’t there, and whips around, seeing Creon.]*
>
>

> Vigil: God dammit, *what*, Creon?!
>
>

> Creon: I said don’t, I said don’t turn around. Turn back around.
>
>

> Vigil: Oh, I’m sorry. Hold up. *[He turns and begins to walk away.]*
>
>

> Creon: I assume you tried to catch the attempted assassin. Were you successful?
>
>

> Vigil: Ah, no, but there’s a couple squads of Starguard on him now, so.
>
>

> Creon: Right, thank you. Now there’s no chance they’ll ever catch him.
>
>

> Vigil: Okay, I didn’t see you help instead of hanging with grandpa, there.
>
>

> Creon: I was protecting him.
>
>

> Vigil: From the guy who—
>
>

> Creon: This is immaterial! I have learned information—
>
>

> Vigil: Well that’s a first.
>
>

> Creon: Bah! We must board a car leaving K-Central this evening.
>
>

> Vigil: Alright, Tracy Chapman, where are you taking me?
>
>

Creon fills Vigil in on everything he knows, limited as it is. Vigil offers the skull necklace to Creon to help sell the lie that Uthorim sent him to the meeting before his death.

> Vigil: I think I have something that could help you with that. *[He pulls out the skull necklace.]*
>
>

> Creon: I don’t—I’m not—I’m not a jewelry man.
>
>

> Vigil: No, but Uthorim was. If you present this and say that he sent you with it, it would be pretty convincing.
>
>

> Creon: What… why?
>
>

> Vigil: Cause he sent you with a trinket, I don’t know.
>
>

> Creon: Is it his?
>
>

> Vigil: Yeah!
>
>

> Creon: …What… what’ve you been up to?
>
>

> Vigil: …Stuff. Things.
>
>

> Creon: Is… is that dirt on your arms?
>
>

> Vigil: It’s, as you say, immaterial.
>
>

> Creon: Right. Well. Thank you for the necklace.
>
>

> Vigil: Of course. Don’t read into it.
>
>

They develop a plan that I won’t outline because nothing even like it ends up happening. Thank god I do this in hindsight and not live. The two decide to head back to the ship and grab whoever is around to help. On the jog to the ship, Vigil describes the two figures he saw at the funeral and asks if they’re anyone Creon would be familiar with—the woman, not so much, but the general… there’s only one Hobgoblin general, and that’s the Crown General, Rathal Trisyre.

## Girl's Night

Back at the Flaming Coven, Zephi gives Sheevah some bardic inspiration and then grabs Gilderoy.

> Zephi: Gilderoy, dear, I was just wondering—what is your protocol on fights that happen here not on fighting days?
>
>

> Gilderoy: Well, we’re not exactly fans of it, but we don’t jump in right away either… Why, is there a scuffle you want to start up?
>
>

> Zephi: No, it looks like someone might want to start a scuffle with *me*.
>
>

She subtly points the dwarves out, and says she should be able to hold her own, but wanted to give him a warning, so he was clear on who started the mess.

Sheevah and Yfrit, meanwhile, dance, and Sheevah is really doing a great job! She rolls a 22 all on her own. Yfrit starts to say, “You know, you’ve got very pretty—” when a gloves hand appears on her shoulder, spins her around, and she and Sheevah now face a stout, upset looking dwarf. “Right. Hello, Dameral.”

Sheevah stands beside Yfrit and Zephi approaches, and they start to argue, Dameral insisting their previous fight wasn’t fair because he’d been drinking beforehand.

Zephi, having rolled a nat 20 Full Zephi mode, forgets that her build is different than what it was, and she’s not as strong anymore. She grabs him by the hair and tries to flip him over, but he won’t budge; instead, she leans over him and asks, “Hello, do we have an issue here?”

Dameral growls and swings at her, and now it’s initiative mode. Yfrit, Sheevah, and Zephi all roll 1s. Girls night! Dameral swings and has advantage because he has a goon near him, stabbing her in the shoulder, but she’s still holding his hair and lights him the fuck up with a Hellish Rebuke. He swings on Yfrit and Zephi again, getting some solid hits in. The goons move in and one manages to hit Sheevah. Zephi heats up Dameral’s breastplate, while Yfrit slams a firebolt at him, who the throws a goon in front of himself. The goon runs off, on fire. Sheevah blasts the other two goons, and the orc from the front door finally recognizes her. Oops. Sheevah heals Yfrit a bit.

Dameral swings on Zephi twice, hitting her squarely and knocking her unconscious. The two goons run back and hit Yfrit, who casts a careful Fireball, knocking back the two goons out, and hitting Dameral a bit. Sheevah heals Zephi up to standing and hits the goons, one gets thrown out and the other crashes into a table. Dameral makes a run for it and is thrown out as well, plus the last goon.

Gilderoy compliments the girls on the show. Yfrit apologizes for the mess and the fight, but Zephi assures her she got into much messier fights in bars back in her day, this was fun.

## Boy's Night

Creon peels off to scope out the train station, while Vigil continues on to the ship. When he’s there, he knocks on Gerome’s door.

Vigil invites Gerome out for Espionage/Boy’s Night Out, and having made everything he wanted to, he agrees. Vigil grabs his longsword, now axe-less, and they plan to label Gerome a “consultant” if questioned.

Creon watches the comings and goings of the station, but it’s not very busy. Nobody sticks out. When the guards aren’t looking, he sneaks onto a car, and finds the car from the notes. It’s about 15 minutes until it leaves, and he peaks through the window, but sees nobody. Vigil and Gerome arrive and spot the car, but not Creon.

Gerome turns into Hohn Jamm, and Vigil makes the call to knock out some guards and steal their uniforms. Vigil creeps up on two and knocks their heads together, strip their uniforms, and dress Gerome in one, Vigil throws on his military jacker so he doesn’t have to take off his armor, and they approach the front attendant.

fr5ed---------------------------xz

(^above see Axii's first contribution to the wiki!)

anyway.

> Guard: Uh, h-hello.
>
>

> Vigil: That’s not gonna look good in the report.
>
>

> Guard: Oh, uh, y- are, are you guys on this—train?
>
>

> Vigil: *“Are you guys on this train”.* Address your superiors as they deserve.
>
>

> Guard: Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorry sir!
>
>

> Vigil: Take us to the meeting car. 551. *Private*.
>
>

The Guard leads them there, and Vigil shoos him off saying they’re gonna have a cigarette break before the train leaves, and he scurries again. Vigil and Gerome wait a minute and then climb up the brass steam engine. Creon hears scurrying and looks out to see Gerome trying to scurry up the side like a desperate, flailing raccoon. Creon goes to question him, but before he can finish the question Gerome just activates his new boots and bamf’s up to the top.
Vigil and Gerome get set, and Creon suggests they come up with signals.

> Creon: We need a code.
>
>

> Vigil: What’s your safeword?
>
>

> Creon: No.
>
>

> Vigil: You say that too often.
>
>

> Gerome: How about banana?
>
>

> Vigil: Or like, cumquat, or—
>
>

> Creon: Do you honestly thing that you’ll be able to hear me, inside the train car, from on top of the *moving train*?
>
>

> Gerome: Hey, yeah, where are we going?
>
>

Hell, at this rate. At that moment they all see a military cart pull up and that Hobgoblin general steps out, and makes his way to the train. Vigil and Gerome nail their stealth rolls, and as the general walks inside, the train begins to move.

Creon peers inside, and watches the general as he sits, checks his watch, and looks around. A few moments pass in silence, before out of nowhere appears a tall woman with caramel skin, elven ears, and short cropped black hair—fitting the description of the woman at the graveyard vigil saw earlier. Creon can hear them crystal clear, with a 25.

> Trisyre: Mm. Jira-2 is brighter tonight than last.
>
>

> Woman: It’s to be expected, this time of year.
>
>

> Trisyre: Ah! Okay, so it is you, good.
>
>

> Woman: Secrecy has made you paranoid.
>
>

> Trisyre: Paranoia is an unfortunate necessity in our station. Perhaps Uthorim would have been good to be more paranoid.
>
>

> Woman: Perhaps. Any idea what caused that?
>
>

> Trisyre: I spoke with Drorena—
>
>

> Woman: And?
>
>

> Trisyre: You know that group they’re talking about in the papers? The ones that were on Nym. ‘Parently they were on Orlin shortly before. Killed Ulla, Uthorim, and Drorena figures, Aldour.
>
>

> Woman: So. This Creon wasn’t as blindly loyal as Uthorim had hoped.
>
>

> Trisyre: ‘Pears not.
>
>

> Woman: Shame. Would have made a good shell for Zarius.
>
>

> Trisyre: Nalo… do you remember your name? The first one. Before we came here.
>
>

> Woman (Nalo Kusari): Why?
>
>

> Trisyre: Well, I just realized the other day… it’s been some time, ‘n I can’t remember what I was called.
>
>

> Nalo: Oh don’t—now you’re Rathal. Crown General Rathal Trisyre. Don’t get in a huff about it. *[a long pause.]* Oh, and when Redmark arrives, *don’t* mention the Conclave.
>
>

> Trisyre, *put out*: I’m not an idiot.
>
>

> Nalo: I didn’t say that! I’m just being cautious. Hiring someone from the Syndicate for Conclave business has made me anxious.
>
>

> Trisyre: When’s he supposed to get here?
>
>

> Nalo: Any moment now, I suppose.
>
>

> *[By now, the train has made it a fair distance outside of K-Central, the lights of the city beginning to fade. Vigil and Gerome can swear they see something rushing through the air outside of the train. A skimmer shoots through the air, catches up to the train, and lands on the car in front of them. A figure turns; red helmet on, a fake scar running through it. The figure doesn’t notice Gerome and Vigil tucked into the shadows; he simply drops down into the cars below, opposite Creon. He opens the door, and Creon hears;]*
>
>

> Redmark/Solas: Evening.
>
>

> Trisyre, *jovially*: You’re late!
>
>

> Redmark: You in a rush?
>
>

> Nalo: We heard Soj is alive.
>
>

> Redmark: Mistakes were made.
>
>

> Nalo: We don’t pay you for mistakes, Redmark. You come on high praise from the Syndicate, I should rather like you to live up to it.
>
>

> Redmark: …Right, well, woulda been fine, but there were two soldiers there with him. Be sure to find him alone, next time.
>
>

> Nalo: See to it that you do. He’s gotten too close for our comfort.
>
>

> Redmark: …Don’t want ta… know any more then I have to. Leave it there.
>
>

> Nalo: Right. Well, this meeting was supposed to be to hand over your payment, but as Soj is still alive, instead we’re just going to confer upon you your next target. Once you finish off with Soj.
>
>

> Redmark: Right.
>
>

> *[Creon sees a paper is passed between them. Redmark takes in what the paper says.]*
>
>

> Redmark: Oh, that’s a… that’s a hell of a target.
>
>

> Nalo: Yes, that it is. But an important one. Not going to ask any questions?
>
>

> Redmark: No… no I don’t make that frequent of business of asking questions, honestly.
>
>

> Nalo: Right, well that’s all from me. We’ll convene again soon. Trisyre—this attack on Nym… its concerning. You know what it could mean. But, regardless, we can use it. You-know-who is um… itching for a fight.
>
>

> Trisyre: Ugh. ‘course she is.
>
>

> *[Nalo teleports out. Redmark stands.]*
>
>

> Redmark: Right. Need anything else from me?
>
>

> Trisyre: No, I’m fine.
>
>

> Redmark: Short meeting.
>
>

> Trisyre, *nodding*: Short meeting.
>
>

Redmark begins walking toward Creon’s end of the car. Creon dips into the caboose, but taken by surprise, he’s too loud. Redmark stops, and carefully opens the door. Creon is tucked into a shadow, but Redmark knows something’s up.

Redmark: Who’s here. C’mon. Show yourself. I heard you.

He’s *incredibly* intimidating. He taps his helmet, his eye flashes red, takes his helmet off, and begins scanning the area. Vigil sneaks above the caboose, and peers inside, and can see what’s happening. Redmark raises his wrist, wear he wears a glove that pops out the barrel of a pistol. Creon, keeping his head, casts Blindness, but the assassin shakes it off. Redmark turns and looks directly at Creon, grinning wildly. “There you are!” He fires his pistol and Creon takes a *crazy* amount of piercing damage (16) as it gets him right in the shoulder. He’s thrown backwards against a window, and glass shatters outward. Wind rushes into the car, and Creon takes a moment and realizes the damage he took was *definitely* enhanced somehow.

Vigil drops down, throws the door open, and chucks a javelin, and hits. Above the train, Gerome sneaks forward, while Redmark turns in shock to look at Vigil, who in turn runs to position himself between old crewmate and new. Redmark dodges both Vigil’s longsword attacks, and scoffs—“What the ‘ell has happened to *you*, Vigil?”-- blood drips out his eye as he whips a hand out, and Vigil feels his muscles constrict. He’s levitated up a foot and Hold Person wraps him up and paralyzes him. He runs to the end of the car and kicks open the door, ready to jump out—Creon tries to hold person him, but the spell fails.

Gerome chucks a shart at him, and while it doesn’t do much damage, but Redmark is blinded and he begins to spit out flames. He hangs off the back of the train and, still blinded, whips out his skimmer and falls away. He smashes into the ground, tumbles and rolls.

And then the train makes a weird noise. Creon leans out, and he and Gerome see that the train is passing over a gulley; Redmark tumbles away into darkness, and the train tears away in the opposite direction. It’s unclear if Redmark is alive or dead—but the Hold Person spell on Vigil does drop.

The General is still in the train car next door, unaware that this has been happening. Creon draws both his guns, and Gerome starts to lay a snare. Once it’s done, he and Vigil hide in the shadows, and Creon calls out for the General, standing at the back of the caboose, the door open, his guns drawn, coat flapping in the wind.

Creon: General, I am Sgt. Creon Eiljor, and I killed Lt. Uthorim. And I’m gonna kill you too.

Rathal roars in response, and charges forward, not seeing the snare. He’s hoisted up by his ankle, three feet above the floor, restrained. He manages to fire a shot, but Creon grabs it with his gloves of missile snaring, fully stopping the damage. He grins widely, and lets the bullet drop. Rathal roars once more, and Vigil approaches him after an unsuccessful shart attack from Gerome. The captain pulls his longsword, and holds it against Rathal’s neck.

Vigil: General, drop your weapons, and you’ll leave this train alive.

Rathal growls, but drops his sword and gun.

## Crashing at the Party

Zephi invites Gilderoy to spend more time with them, but instead, he whisks her off to dance. Yfrit, out of breath, smiles and turns to Sheevah.

> Yfrit: Right! So, um. Odd night.
>
>

> Sheevah: Is this—is this not normally how your nights go? ‘Cause this is pretty average for our group.
>
>

> Yfrit: I’ll be honest, it happens a bit more than I care to admit? Um, but it seems to happen with a bit more frequency around you folks.
>
>

> Sheevah: I would apologize, but I just feel like it’s more fun that way.
>
>

> Yfrit, *grinning widely*: It really is!
>
>

> Sheevah: Another drink?
>
>

> Yfrit: Lets!
>
>

They order; Yfrit knows exactly what she wants, and they come away with two mugs, smoking. They’re awkward. It’s cute. Sheevah gets a message from Zephi.

Zephi: Sheevah. *Woo her*. I promise, it’s not that hard. Ask her about her *interests*. Tell her about yours. You have things in common! Go!

Zephi and Gilderoy begin dancing, right as he requests a song that’s closer to something clubs would have played in her time. They fall into perfect step. She asks Gilderoy about himself, and he gives her the sparknotes. Sheevah and Yfrit watch the two dance.

> Sheevah: Got any friends like that?
>
>

> Yfrit: Like Zephi? [*laughs*] I suspect there’s no one *quite like* Zephi. Um, it’s… no, it’s hard to make a lot of long term friends in the job that I work, and the life I’ve had. So I’ve got the people that I occasionally meet, but no one terribly consistent. Kind of ebbs and flows, month to month, depending on where I spend time.
>
>

> Sheevah: Got any embarrassing stories about Vigil?
>
>

> Yfrit: Ooo! Well, I wasn’t around very long you know, I was only there the last few months of our time, but there was one night I believe, Vigil… we had just gotten back from a mission, and *Ezra* had suggested a sort of dare—he said there was no way in the Hells that Vigil would be able to pull the front door off of his quarters. And, well, he lost the bet, but Ghann was *rather* upset with Vigil for it. But it’s alright, because now it’s Vigil’s shield, which is an odd choice, but I respect it! It’s got nostalgia to it.
>
>

> Sheevah: He seems to make a habit of that.
>
>

> Yfrit: He did that?! Interesting. Well, he’s always been oddly driven.
>
>

The two begin to chat about Sheevah’s crew mates, and Sheevah says she doesn’t quite consider them friends, maybe Zephi, and she doesn’t have friends or family to speak of otherwise. Zephi finishes dancing and comes over.
Zephi suddenly seems full of anxious energy, and some sparks are coming off of her.

> Zephi: What are you—what are you up to, the two of you? What’s going on? Gossiping? You know, I think you two need to have a good time. If you want to dance, you can dance! But also, we should do some bonding somehow! We should play, I don’t know, a game. Yfrit, do you know any games?
>
>

> Yfrit: What sort of games? Card games, or drinking games?
>
>

> Zephi: I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t—you know, actually?! Hold on a sec. I’m gonna, I’m gonna go outside for a sec. See ya. See ya.
>
>

Zephi goes outside, and begins deep breathing. She’s freaking out. The Billy stuff is catching up with her, she’s had a weird two days, and the nat 20 has made her feel untethered.

After 10 minutes, Sheevah and Yfrit leave the bar to come check on her. Zephi is leaning against the wall, still bopping softly to the music as she notices them approach. She tells them she meant to smoke but forgot she didn’t have any, and the orc bouncer Trevor overhears and hands her a cigarette. Zephi begins giggling uncontrollably.

Zephi: You fucking rock Trevor. You’re the only bitch I care about. Fuck. You deserve everything. You’re the only bitch I’ve ever respected.

Yfrit lights Zephi’s cigarette, and a concerned Sheevah hangs close by. Zephi tries to push Yfrit to learn more about her and then runs inside to pay the tab. She goes up to the bar, and she could have sworn— She could have sworn she said something to this guy. But Full Zephi Mode is fading, hours earlier than it should.

The bartender looks at her confused.

Suddenly, she falls backward, into the black.

Session 38As she falls away from the Coven, Zephi sinks into darkness she’s grown accustomed to. She hits the ground with a dull thud and Leopold’s sloping form appears from behind her.

> Leopold: I’m sorry to interrupt… but we’ve found something for you. The memory of when we first met. We’ve expanded on it. Would you like to see?
>
>

> Zephi: Great--- yeah. Sure. Sorry, yeah—this was just it’s never happened like this, has it? Sorry just… go.
>
>

> Leopold: No. This felt… pressing.
>
>

[This memory, like all, is cut here for brevity. for the full and possibly more interesting transcript, please click here.] The familiar rush greets her as the space expands and becomes a room of deep, red colored stone. It leaks a faint black smoke. Across from her, in a plush chair behind a desk made of ebony, is her father. He leans forward and rubs his head.

> Billy: Ugh. Zephi. I thought—I thought we had the outbursts under control. At least in public.
>
>

> Zephi: Well things happen, don’t they?! *[She takes a breath.]* Sorry.
>
>

> Billy: Right but—what’d the paparazzi even say that sent you off? *[...]* Was it about me? You were trying to defend me? *[She nods, and starts to explain, but Billy cuts her off.]* Zephi, I’ve, I’ve made mistakes in my life, I have. I understand that. But… I don’t need you to jump out there and defend me for them. Or defend me against conspiracy—that’s just what they do. It’s their job.
>
>

> Zephi: I get it but it doesn’t matter what their job is, maybe they shouldn’t be doing it! And if it is their job, hell, this is just a risk they signed up for! They can’t tell me you’re a negligent father and expect me to ***take that*** sitting down! They know who I am, what I do! I look pretty, I'm pithy, I play the casinos, and I get angry. That's all I do! *[She takes yet another calming breath.]* Listen. I know it doesn’t upset you the way it upsets me, but the point is that it ***upsets me.*** [...] I’m working on it, I promise.
>
>

Billy calms her down, and takes her on a walk to see her mother in her chambers. On the way there, she sees the planet-sized stone circle, hanging in the sky above an ashen wasteland. Eventually they come to what looks like… no, she remembers. It’s the throne room. They enter from a door behind the throne, and though she can’t make out who’s sitting there, she hears a voice, pristine and soft, flashing daggers beneath it.

> Zephi's Mother: So! You come to my ring *why*? We don’t know much about this ‘Primus’ you hail from. *[A purple cloaked figure, Leopold, and his three companions, bow]*
>
>

> Leopold: Your majesty. We bring word from the master of our Sphere. We seek something within Zamana. An orb. It is of little consequence to other life, but it is critical to the survival of our people.”
>
>

> Zephi's Mother: Enough. I know the orb you speak of. It’s not something mortals should trifle with.
>
>

> Leopold: With all due respect, we wish only for passage through the rings to Zamana. Our master knows not it is located there; it is by divination *we* have located it. We should not cause any other troubles in retrieving this device.
>
>

> *[Zephi's mother pauses, & Zephi can feel resignation and tension brewing from her.]*
>
>

> Zephi's Mother: You have one day to leave the rings.
>
>

> Leopold: Your majesty!!
>
>

> Zephi's Mother, *raising a hand*: Be thankful. You found me in a *good* mood. My daughter gave me a manicure this morning.
>
>

> Leopold: W—What?
>
>

> Zephi's Mother: A manicure. It’s a mortal invention… it’s undoubtedly pleasing, I must say.
>
>

> Leopold: You have a daughter, your majesty?
>
>

> Zephi's Mother: …I do, why?
>
>

> Leopold: It is nothing your majesty. We will adjourn at once from your court. May the blessings of the old king rest on you and your family.
>
>

The new portion of the memory concludes. Zephi sits there in the black.

> Leopold: So. We thought that was impotant.
>
>

> Zephi: *YOUR MAJESTY?!* You called her *your majesty*?! I’m gonna need to know if that was just an over familiar *pet* name or something, or if there’s yet another big fucking thing I’ve been missing.
>
>

> Leopold: Again, Zephi, our memories are as clouded as yours. We’re finding out what we can, that’s what we were able to gather.
>
>

> Zephi: Okay. Okay. That was important. Thank you for that. *[she frowns].* That wasn’t here, was it.
>
>

> Leopold: You mean Zamana? *[Zephi nods]* No. It doesn’t seem so.
>
>

> Zephi: And you’re not from here?
>
>

> Leopold: I don’t believe I am.
>
>

> Zephi: Well. This is bigger in lot of different directions, more than I was expecting.
>
>

> Leopold: There’s something else Zephi. One last thing.
>
>

> Voice 2: We feel as if we owe you… an apology.
>
>

> Zephi: Makin’ me nervous here.
>
>

> Voice 3: It is clear, the more memories we uncover… that we took advantage of you, Ms. Velhiri.
>
>

> Leopold: We sought to be heroes of our realm, whatever that is and may be. And in doing so, it sees we became villains of yours, or at least of your life. And for that, we apologize. It does not change our goal, we still have a desire and need what we need. But we thought we should recognize the harm we may have caused.
>
>

Zephi essentially tells them that what's done is done, and they're in it together now. They talk about how Zephi seems to have lost some of her powers, and she confesses she feels like she's messing up the mission and regrets that Leopold and co. didn't pick someone more capable in the long run.

## Midinght Train to the Mushroom Kingdom

On the train, the boys are having a nonsense time. They stand in a circle around the suspended Crown General, Rathal Trisyre. Gerome picks up his handgun and mace, handing the mace to Vigil.

Gerome cocks the gun, points it at the General, and turns it sideways to be more intimidating.

> Gerome : Who are you.
>
>

> Trisyre: I’m Crown General Rathal Tisyre.
>
>

> Creon: We already knew that, Gerome.
>
>

> Gerome : Hold on, I’m going somewhere with this*. [Gerome pulls down his shirt to reveal his tattoo of the Eternal Conclave symbol.]* Before *you*, who were you? Originally. *[Vigil and Creon act shocked.]*
>
>

> Trisyre: So. You know a little bit about us, ya bought some temporary ink, and ya tattoo’d yourself to make it look like you’re one of us. That’s clever, I’ll give you that. *[long pause]* Do you want me to show you mine? You’ll have to untie me.
>
>

> Gerome : Nah, this feels creepy. *[Rathal laughs darkly, confirming that he is in fact, super creepy.]* Where is this train headed?
>
>

> Trisyre: The train’s just headed to a military base, not that far. I’m there to meet with some other officials to go over… well, you don’t need to know about that.
>
>

> *[Vigil moves his longsword closer to Rathal’s neck, shaving off the hairs.]*
>
>

> Vigil: Actually, I think we do.
>
>

> Trisyre: …I’m headed there to meet with a few other generals to discuss… a suspected mole in our group.
>
>

> Vigil: Who’s the mole, general.
>
>

> Trisyre: We have our suspicions.
>
>

> Vigil: Yup. And it’s sharing time now. So, what are your suspicions.
>
>

> Trisyre: I think you’re quite familiar with the man.
>
>

> Vigil: …Are you saying that Richard Rylance is—
>
>

> Trisyre: He’s been a thorn in the side of the Conclave for some time now. And this meeting with the generals is to make sure they know where he stands.
>
>

> Creon: Do you mean to say that he’s been pretending to be a part of the Conclave?
>
>

> Trisyre: Gods no. We would have picked up on him immediately if he’d done that.
>
>

> Vigil: So he’s not a mole.
>
>

> Creon: That’s not a mole.
>
>

> Vigil: You have to be in with the group—
>
>

> Creon: You have to be one of them to be a mole.
>
>

> Vigil: Not a mole.
>
>

> Creon: Can’t be a mole otherwise.
>
>

> Trisyre: Oh, I don’t care if he’s actually the mole. I just need the other generals to believe he is.
>
>

> Creon: So these aren’t—these aren’t Conclave members, they’re just regular, good men?
>
>

> Trisyre: Not all of them are, no. But you’ll never know who all of us are.
>
>

The train begins to roll to a stop at a checkpoint. Everyone debates what to do—kill him? Knock him out? Trisyre makes the point that if we kill him the Silverados are enemy #1 of the DSK, immediately. Creon sighs and punches him to knock him out, but Rathal just spits out blood defiantly. Vigil whiffs a hit, and Gerome pushes everyone out of the way and pushes a packet of Sleep Tea down the General’s throat. He coughs, and then he passes out. Gerome drops the snare, and they push Rathal into a watercloset—with a nat 20, Gerome  and Creon do this and hide in silence.
Vigil walks toward the voices to intercept. He’s greeted by two men with flashlights.

> Rimmer: Oh! I do believe we’ve met before, haven’t we?
>
>

> Lister: Aw, Rimmer, fuckin’ ‘ell, it’s this guy again. Uh, right, so, what’re you doin’ on this train?
>
>

> *[Vigil draws himself up to his fullest possible height, and groans.]*
>
>

> Vigil: Ugh. You two again. Delinquents as usual. Weren’t you informed that I’m the general’s *personal* assistant for this trip?
>
>

> Rimmer: Right! Uh, yes, of course, we shall leave this cabin at once, let you handle the security here.
>
>

> Vigil: Frankly, you should never have set foot inside. You let us pass, and you’ll go about the rest of your miserable lives.
>
>

> *[Rimmer leaves, backing out, saluting the entire time.]*
>
>

> Lister, leaving, to Rimmer: You know you’re a fuckin’ pansy?
>
>

The doors close, and the train begins moving again. Gerome tattoo’s DOOFUS across the general’s face, and a Gnome & Co. seal on his ass. Vigil makes his way up to the front of the train. The train seems like it was just a subtle way to transport just the general. Vigil searches the cargo and strips some of the uniforms he finds of their trappings. Gerome knows that this ship is realistically unmanned, given its mission and construction, so Vigil and he pick their way into the engine room. It’s powered by some arcane complicated stuff, and they debate turning around or breaking into this meeting. Eventually it’s decided that they have to go back—down two party members and at less than half health, plus fewer spells…. Not the best situation for fighting some generals.

Gerome sets to work on the engine to try and throw this puppy in reverse. He manages to turn on manual, and the train begins moving backwards. As they approach the checkpoint, Gerome slows, and Creon ties the sleeping General up again.

Vigil is walking around the ship and is startled by Rimmer & Lister, who have boarded.

> Rimmer: Mr. Greyhide, sir! Um, can I ask the reason for such an immediate return?
>
>

> *[Vigil turns around as slowly as physically possible, maintaining as much eye contact as he can. There’s a beat. Once he’s turned to face them completely;]*
>
>

> Vigil: I would explain to you what we are doing, but I’m afraid even the smallest amount of information would *incapacitate you both* for the rest of your *natural given lives*.
>
>

> Lister: Right, yeah, we’ll get out of your ‘air then—fuckin hell, Rimmer, ‘ave you pissed yourself?!
>
>

> *[Vigil stares after them, and as soon as they’re gone, slams the door as hard as possible.]*
>
>

### Out Cold

Gilderoy runs outside and finds Yfrit and Sheevah, beckoning them inside to help Zephi. They find her on the floor, eyes glazed over. She’s twitching a bit, and the situation is worse than when Sheevah saw her on Orlin. Even a 20 medicine check can’t wake her. She picks her up and carries her out, and Gilderoy picks up the tab.

Sheevah and Yfrit take a slow walk back to the Karnival Kruise. Orbor greets them, becomes panicked about Zephi’s state, and runs off to brew some tea. Yfrit brings a bedroll up from below deck for her, and the two sit there, with an unconscious Zephi, on the deck. Once in a while, she shudders.

Yfrit offers to go, but Sheevah asks her to stay. She then slips into Vigil’s cabin and pulls out a bottle of moonshine, and hands Sheevah a glass. They try and talk but, both of them being young and friendless, it’s a little hard.

> Yfrit: …oh, I’ve been reading a good book lately.
>
>

> Sheevah: Do tell?
>
>

> Yfrit: Oh it’s a book about… about dragons, when Zamana had them. I think it’s mostly fiction, but it talks about you know, the beauty they wrought, the worlds they watched over, the kindness… the generosity of those creatures.
>
>

> Sheevah, nodding: My planet used to be beautiful. Long time ago.
>
>

> Yfrit: Perhaps it kept its beauty, in some small part. In you.
>
>

> *[Sheevah’s scales flare crystal in a blush, Yfrit clears her throat and looks away.]*
>
>

> Sheevah: Sounds like an interesting book.
>
>

> Yfrit: Very good yes!! *[takes a long drink of moonshine]* So you… don’t have family?
>
>

> Sheevah: Uh, that’s a complicated question. The answer is yes, technically?
>
>

> Yfrit: Mmm… I’ve found people in this line of work… family is never a simple matter.
>
>

> Sheevah: Truer words never been spoken.
>
>

> Yfrit: It’s something you find, more often than not when you live the life we do—not something you’re born of. *[…]* You grow into the family you find.
>
>

> Sheevah: Guess I’m still working on that part.
>
>

> Yfrit: I miss it. The Misfits were that for me. Group of oddballs of all ages and backgrounds, they were family. Showed immense kindness, even if the purpose we served was ill. And that’s why I joined up with Rylance, because he wanted to do the same thing, have this group that would work together, to do *good* things, and could grow together. I feel lucky I’m getting a second chance.
>
>

> Sheevah: I think we’re getting there, slowly but surely. Why are you here then? Why not go out adventuring?
>
>

> Yfrit: I had an incident, during my time with the Misfits. I don’t know if I could see combat again. It… it hurt me. I did things I didn’t mean to do, I hurt people I didn’t mean to hurt. And… I think I’m afraid to dip into that again. The Flaming Coven is the closest I’ve come to comfort with fighting. I can do it without ruining someone’s life, everyone’s okay at the end of it. But going out, finding evil, deciding if its evil enough to be killed… that’s something I don’t know that I can do anymore.
>
>

> Sheevah: I’m not gonna say it’s easy, or even that we do it well—I think we’re still learning. But it’s also always changing.
>
>

> Yfrit: That’s the job, I suppose. Trying to figure it all out. Why did you join up with all of this? What purpose do you have with all of them?
>
>

> Sheevah: It was sort of an accident, and I needed a ride. And then I stayed.
>
>

> Yfrit: Why did you stay?
>
>

> Sheevah: Well, I still need a ride. But… I think what we do is good, and at the heart of it that’s really all I ever wanted.
>
>

> Yfrit: I’ve seen what doing bad looks like, and this isn’t that. There’s a grey area, but this is better. *You’re* better.
>
>

They’re quiet for awhile. Sheevah tries to hum Zephi’s notes to her. Zephi bolts upright, suddenly on the deck of the ship.

Zephi, *singing*: Birthday candle evening star, I’m going to catch you—what?! that’s new. *[she falls back with a thud.]* Where’s Gilderoy. I have *never* in my 400 years had my drink *spiked*. Where? Where?

Orbor arrives with tea. Full Zephi Mode fades. Zephi apologizes and they agree to all stay in. Yfrit means to go, but Zephi asks her to stay, and she agrees. Zephi and Orbor try some of the Moonshine, and Orbor brings out some death cheese to snack on. It’s quite good.

It’s late, nearly 1am. They reminisce on the evening, and Yfrit tells her Gilderoy paid for their drinks, and seems to have a crush on her. Zephi grimaces, and they ask what’s wrong, as she seemed to love it earlier. She informs them it’s all a part of the schtick, to maintain her image. She casts Major Image, a silent boomerang of her at a photoshoot from 400 years ago. When Yfrit questions her, Zephi signs her name in pink sparks with prestidigitation. Zephi, of course, has a brand to maintain.

Out of nowhere, Zephi gets in Yfrit’s face, a breath away, and asks “What do you… want. Want.”

> Yfrit: Friends, I suppose.
>
>

> Zephi: More than anything?
>
>

> Yfrit: Good night’s rest.
>
>

> Zephi: *Want*.
>
>

> Yfrit: *[Glances quickly at Sheevah, and then away]* I, I don’t know, friends are nice. Someone to care for you, to love you, someone who’ll be there, no matter what.
>
>

> Zephi: *[turning to Sheevah]* What do you want more than the scale?
>
>

> Sheevah: Family.
>
>

> Zephi: Fair. But you both have those.
>
>

> Yfrit: We do?
>
>

> Zephi: You do.
>
>

Zephi tries to convince them to stay up and party and tell bad stories, but everyone wants sleep. Zephi climbs up the crow’s nest, and Yfrit sets out to go home to the Rylances, after telling Sheevah the title of the book she’s reading, *Tales of the Old Beast*.

### Boys Night, Now With Shrooms

They approach the gulley where Redmark dropped, and slow the train to a stop. Vigil and Creon go to check it out while Gerome watches the General.

Vigil jumps down with a feather fall, and points it out to Creon, who follows after. Vigil investigates the area, finding some blood and a place it looks like Redmark landed. But he does some mental math and realizes… that’s not an actual trail of blood. That’s red ink. He looks in the other direction, and sees a small crack and sliver in the canyon 25ft down from where he is now, and he can see the faintest hint of blue green light emanating from it.

> Vigil: What do you wanna do, if he’s in there?
>
>

> Creon: You want to shoot him?
>
>

> Vigil: I don’t want to fight him, I’d rather we took him back in one piece.
>
>

Creon casts Lead Warding on them both, and then summons some Fey spirit guardians. Vigil wraps an arm around Creon’s waist and they hop down. They plunge into the cave, and find that the glow itself is coming from some mushrooms; greenish and bluish. Creon plucks one and it sends out spores—they both cough and take a bit of poison damage, for which Vigil smacks the mushroom out of Creon’s hand. He picks it back up and pockets it.

Vigil carefully cuts through a wall of mushrooms and mica, and comes to a 7ft circular chamber. Solas isn’t here, but he finds a torn napkin, and some actual blood, so Solas must have patched himself up here and kept going. On the napkin is the insignia of a Starwhale, likely from the pub. He pockets it.

Creon joins Vigil, and they can’t find anything else in the area. Frustrated, Vigil stabs through the vine walls; they take more poison damage, but the vines also recoil, pulling back to reveal a chute filled with mushrooms. They climb down—it takes nearly 20 minutes, but they emerge on the other side. There’s a thin translucent blue veil of mushrooms, and they hear loud footsteps ambling across from them.

Vigil and Creon look at each other. Vigil reaches out to touch it, which triggers something, and the veil flies open. They can now see a sprawling network of tunnels spreading outwards, rilled with glowing mushrooms. But next they see a ten-foot-tall mushroom, with arms, legs, and a lopsided mouth. It begins marching toward them, and they go to shut the door, and it swings shut just in time.

They look at each other again, and swear never to mention it to anyone. They return up to the train in silence, and are greeted by Gerome.

> Gerome: So! How’d it go?
>
>

> Vigil: There’s an entire network of mushrooms under K-Central and somehow Redmark knows how to use it.
>
>

> Creon: And also monsters.
>
>

> Vigil: Yeah, and also monsters. Also the fungus sprays at you if you make it mad.
>
>

> Gerome: Did you bring me back a gift?
>
>

They three decide to dress Trisyre in the uniforms of a private, and carry him that way when it’s time—they also tie him up, put him in an empty crate, stuff his mouth with fabric, and put wheels on the crate to push him around.

An officer at the station they left from asks what’s up, and everyone tries to lie, saying there were mechanical issues, everyone’s in trouble, and the general is staying at the checkpoint for the evening. But the officer doesn’t buy it, so the three find a horse and wagon and book it with their crated General in tow.

### A Souvenir

Around 3am, Sheevah and Zephi are awoken by a large military cart manned by their three crewmates.

Zephi leans over the side of the Crow’s nest.

> Zephi: What.
>
>

> Creon: We have a plan, and a horse.
>
>

> Gerome: And a goblin!
>
>

> Vigil: Yeah. Well, hobgoblin.
>
>

> Zephi: Why?
>
>

> Sheevah: You did what?
>
>

> Vigil: Lets go upstairs, we can talk about the crimes we committed there.
>
>

> Gerome: Meanest Jack-in the-Box you’ve ever seen.
>
>

A thud comes from inside the box.

Zephi insists we should talk to Rylance—everyone is unsure if Rylance should know we’re doing this. It’s a spirited discussion, and it morphs into figuring out if we should kill the general, or zone of truth him, and how everyone definitely needs a long rest. It’s suggested he be kept in the ship, and Zephi offers to take first watch. Creon huffs.

> Creon: Zephi I need—I need to know that you’re not going to let him out.
>
>

> Zephi's *face and demeanor fall fast. Whispering*: …You think I would do that?
>
>

> Creon: I just think that… you’re going to feel strangely about putting a man in a box.
>
>

> Sheevah: I’d be worried if you didn’t feel strangely, Creon!
>
>

> *[Zephi gets close to Creon.]*
>
>

> Zephi: I just think that… it’s like you haven’t met me.
>
>

We try to figure out where on the ship is best to store a dangerous criminal, and Vigil makes the call that we really should just bring this guy to Rylance.

Zephi casts Sending.

```
SOS; Boys got into trouble; have someone captive; big deal general;

```

```
eternal conclave; need your help and maybe prison cell. Sorry it’s late

```

Rylance responds in a whisper.

```
Zephi get the Silverados here *now.* There’s a break-in.

```

Zephi grabs Vigil. “Gotta go. Gotta go there now. Gotta go there NOW!”

Everyone jumps into the military wagon, crated general in tow, and rushes off.

## Invasion of the Vega Snatchers

Session 39

Zephi finally gets to use a Song of Rest, and when a Starguard comes up to question everyone, Vigil nearly scares him off saying it’s a delivery to Rathal Trisyre, but then there’s a bang and cry from the box. The guard begins to call for help, but Zephi pulls him close.

Zephi: I’m going to need you to listen, and I’m going to need you to listen very closely. The general… has some strange eating habits, and we don’t need to get into it, but he likes… he likes things caught live, and delivered to him, and… I know, it’s terrible, that’s why we do it in the dead of night! And the fact that you’re holding us up is really putting a damper on things and he is going to get *testy*.

Vigil breaks down and starts crying because of the terrible things he’s witnessed, and the guard, horrified, rushes away.

The cart hurries off. Close to the estate, the downstairs lights of Rylance’s home seem to be lit. Off in a nearby alleyway Sheevah notices a 2-3ft black cylinder with pipes and tubes coming out of it connecting back to itself, and the front of it looks like it has an open door on it. Sheevah pulls the cart closer to the estate, while Creon hops out to investigate.

On closer inspection, it seems cast iron and feels *heavy.* The tubing is flexible copper or bronze, and there’s a grill inside that holds up a large tankard of what looks like pulsating green viscous fluid. When it’s closed, it looks like it’s meant to allow the fluid to wind through the device, but it’s open, so the process is halted. Creon motions for Gerome, who runs over to examine it.

Gerome picks up some stray goo and rubs it between his gloved hand. He’s heard about this in theory—in a conversation about how the gith function. There’s something called the Solvex, something Vega has mentioned being birthed from. He doesn’t know what the device does, but that’s a weird thing to find here.

Meanwhile, Zephi and Vigil stealthily approach the house, and notice figures moving inside. Vigil realizes a second too late that he’s about to fall, and catches himself, but a figure turns to look. They don’t see anything, but now their guard is up.

The two look in through the window. For once in his mooing life, Vigil rolls a nat 20 perception check.

He looks inside and notices a few things. First and foremost, bound, gagged, and beaten, Richard Rylance sits on his couch. Off to the side 10 feet off is a tall, elegant woman with long black hair and pale skin. At first she appears to be human, but then he notices she has soft protrusions around her eyes—scales. He’s pretty sure she’s Yuan-Ti pureblood. She has a lyre strapped across her back. Closer to the window is a squat Grung woman, with a five o’clock shadow, a cigar, and a hefty gun slung under her arm. Across the room, by the bookshelves, is Yfrit, struggling while being held up against the wall by her throat by a tall, 6’1 yellow-green lanky gith with long, spiked black hair. In front of Rylance is the most mysterious of the figures. No more than 3ft tall, they’re clad in complete cast iron armor, the helmet a full black dome. *(Laura: it’s Ezra. Jerry: Oh boy.)*

Vigil can hear the woman with the lyre speak.

Woman: So. Where is he. What does his mind say. *[The Black Clad Figure raises his hand toward Rylance, who’s head lazily moves to look back at him. His eyes stare blankly. He blinks, and then smirks. The figure drops his hand, and turns back to the woman. They’re communicating, but Vigil can’t hear it—like they’re doing it without talking.]* What do you mean you can’t read his mind?! What do you mean it’s blocked?! *[Figure looks at her.]* Fine! Trill! Get the wife. *[Rylance gagged, begins to fight against his ties and cry out*.*]* Oh! Now you’re willing to talk. Good. Remove the gag. *[The black clad figure raises their hand, and the gag pulls away from his mouth and into the figure’s hand.]*

Rylance, *gasping*: He’s in the basement. Touch the third stone to the left. Don’t you *dare* touch Margaret.

Woman: Good! Looks like we’re out of here. K'irrk! Hang him with Trill and Frill. Make sure he doesn’t try anything. Then join us below. *[She raises a dagger, and hits Rylance over the head with the handle, knocking him unconscious.]* Oh! Ripper? *[The gith gives a nod of acknowledgment]* Kill the girl. She burned my playing hand.

Vigil punches through the window, and grabs for the grung woman by the window. Chaos ensues. Ripper turns, and initiative time. Vigil also now notices two Thri-kreen, insectesoid creatures with long staffs. 41;17

Creon fires his caliver at the gith, Ripper, shattering Rylance’s other front window and hitting the man in the arm. Yfrit then blasts Ripper and the woman, while Zephi runs to the window Vigil had broken and heats the entirety of the metal suit the small figure is in. The figure staggers, as though they’re in pain, but they don’t make a sound. She ducks and confers some inspiration to Creon.

The Yuan-Ti woman’s eyes turn a rainbow color, and Zephi, Creon, and the grung woman all feel something invading their minds; all but K'irrk, the grung, shake it off, and the woman runs toward the basement door. Ripper turns toward Yfrit and swings on her twice, his blade cleaving through her chest. He turns to run, and takes a punch from her, while the figure in black metal raises a hand and ends the heat metal spell on them.

K'irrk, the grung, makes a strange chittering sound, and though Zephi shakes it off, Vigil is stunned. K'irrk takes the opportunity to hop through the window and begin to make her way toward the door. Zephi swipes at her as she goes and is stung by her poisonous blood. The Thri-kreen rush to the window and hit Zephi, but their strikes bounce off of Vigil’s armor.

Gerome, far from the house, summons his force ballista which runs and jumps through the window; it blasts but goes wide. Sheevah runs up and hexes Ripper, and then blasts him, and he staggers. Creon stashes his caliver and fires a pistol, but Ripper ducks in time. Yfrit runs to Creon and grabs onto him, his mouth suddenly crackling with the energy of Dragon’s Breath. She sends off a firebolt at the Yuan-Ti woman, and then Zephi hops in the window and blasts a thunderwave at the Thri-kreen, sent back 10 feet. She then vaults over the couch and onto the coffee table to get a better look at Rylance; she’s just barely able to grab his face and check on him.

Zephi moves Rylance's face slightly to the side and hears… a strange noise. It almost sounds like a clattering; he’s got a slash under his hairline, and when she looks under it, she sees some exposed wiring. And some clockwork.

The Yuan-Ti pushes past Ripper and runs downstairs; Ripper and the figure in the metal suit dash after her. K'irrk runs as well, but then whips around to fire her blunderbuss at Creon; it scatters against the wall, she curses, and then hops to the top of the stairs. One of the Thri-kreen swings on Zephi, but it aims for her knees and she just jumps to avoid it. The second Thri-kreen throws two weapons at her, one of them slashing through her shoulder.

Gerome rushes to the stairs and wrenches open the door, to reveal K'irrk.

> K'irrk: Ah! Who are you?!
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> Gerome: Ah! Gerome!
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> K'irrk: Ah! I’m K'irrk
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He nat 20’s, and a blast of energy shoots out from his force ballista boi, sending her flying down the stairs and into the wall. Sheevah darts toward the stairs and Vigil follows, and action surges, jumps off the stairs and hits the Yuan-Ti woman twice with his longsword. She drops, unconscious. Creon dashes downstairs and grapples the metal clad figure, pushing them down the stairs, where Creon jumps down to as well. Upstairs in the living room;

> Yfrit: Zephi, can you take a bit of a hit?
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> Zephi: Hit me baby!
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She sends off a fireball, killing one of the Thri-kreen and wounding the one closest to Zephi, who herself takes a bit of a burn. She takes a closer look at Rylance; she pulls back on the headwound and realizes his entire head is just… gears, and clockwork. She heals herself, and turns to the remaining Thri-kreen.

In the basement, the Yuan-Ti woman fails a Death Save, and Ripper turns to her, crying, “Anu!” before smashing the panel on the wall, causing the magic field around Vega to drop. He smirks. “It took you long enough.”

Ripper pulls Anu away from Vigil and into the circle—Vigil has his chance to hit her unconscious body, but decides against full-blown murder. Next, the black metal clad figure runs past and into the circle, and Vigil swipes on them. They stagger, but continue on.

The figure’s helmet slides open, and inside is a murky, green glass chamber full of that green liquid. For a moment, Vigil sees Ezra’s face, looking out at him through the glass, wearing the tiniest smirk. He pulls out a scroll, and readies himself to activate it. K'irrk runs past Creon, taking a solid blow, but manages to make it into the circle. Ezra looks up at Vigil, and in the back of his mind, the captain hears a small, “Hello.”

Ezra then slaps the scroll, the five inside the circle turn a shimmering blue, and they disappear from sight.

Upstairs, unaware he’s been left alone, the remaining Thri-kreen slashes Zephi twice. Gerome, hearing the five in the circle teleport downstairs, sighs and runs to check on Rathal, still locked in the crate outside. His force ballista fires off a blow but only manages to smash a window. Sheevah heals Zephi, and after confirming the sound of Ezra’s spell sounded the same as when we teleported back on Orlin, she blasts the Thri-kreen and explodes his body, guts covering the room and also Zephi. Ick.

Out of initiative, Zephi gets closer to Rylance and tries to heal him… the spell winds around him, looking for purchase, but it finds no life force to grab onto, and drops. He’s breathing, but there’s no… *life* to grab onto. Gerome comes over to look at him, and Zephi quickly covers the wound and metalwork inside him. Though he has no idea about the gears inside Rylance, Gerome notes that all the bruises and cuts seem to be very surface level. When he tries fiddling with the wounds, none of them seem to give a pain response, or have any further affect on the body. His body doesn’t react the way a normal human’s would… and Gerome comes to the conclusion that he is not, in fact, a normal human at all.

Gerome looks at Rylance, and then up at Zephi. She looks back at him, and watches as his eyes flick to her hand covering the wound on his head, and then back to her.

> Zephi: …Can you keep this hush?
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> Gerome, *mouthing*: Why?
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> Zephi: …Not really our business?
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> Gerome: I dunno, this… *[he thinks about it. Constructs and Warforge exist, they’re in the military but… nothing this well-made has ever been constructed.]* Take him upstairs, get him to bed.
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> Zephi: Can you help later?
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> Gerome: Yeah, yeah. Sure.
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Zephi carries Rylance upstairs.

### Gooey Grief

Meanwhile, Creon and Vigil are alone in the basement. Vigil remembers that Ezra was on the verge of learning how to teleport years ago—before Ceramic Cemetery. He turns to Creon.

> Vigil: You know, for all the sleepless nights I’ve spent worrying about where he was… I was always afraid of this.
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> Creon: You were always afraid that he was evil?
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> Vigil: I mean… his entire team left him. And all that he knew up 'til that point was essentially terrorism. And… I was worried that if he was alive, he would carry that forward, that he would miss the point of what we were trying to do. And… not have the realization I had that the methods we used were wrong, and that he’d just keep doing the same thing to different people.
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> Creon: With gith.
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> Vigil: It doesn’t matter. The people who sent us to kill innocents weren’t gith, and *they* were still monsters. It doesn’t matter.
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> Creon: Is that really how you think of your time with the DSK?
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> Vigil: I…. look at my time with the DSK, and I recognize a group of seven isolated people- three of them children!- who were turned into soldiers and forced to go into battles. Yeah, I don’t think that I was the good guy, I don’t think that I have… *any* right to feel bad, to feel like the victim. And I don’t think the people who gave us those orders are any better than the *worst* of the Haladesh. The war was over; we were the cleanup crew. And we just went in, and made a bigger mess. That was our job, and I stepped away from it for years, and I only came back ‘cause of Yfrit sent me a letter. I would understand that… if I found another group that gave me that same kind of family, I might have joined them, but… I didn’t, and he did. And I found a better group.
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> Creon: That’s not chance. It’s a testament to your character.
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Creon leaves and heads upstairs. Vigil looks around the space, now alone, and spots a small white piece of cloth under the bench where Vega used to spend most of his days inside the circle. In rudimentary common, the words are written;

```
I am sorry, fellow war dog. Perhaps we will see each other in the stars.

```

Vigil puts the cloth away in his breast pocket, and remembers that, whenever Zephi sends him a message, he has a chance to respond. So, though it’s been a few minutes, he concentrates, and tries to respond to Ezra.

“Come back.”

### A Familiar Sort of Ache

On the second level of the house, Sheevah darts upstairs; Yfrit’s small wing of the house has its door blown off its hinges, and across the hall, the door of the master bedroom appears both closed and intact. She opens it and sees Margaret Rylance up against the window, holding a knife out in front of her, near hyperventilating.

Sheevah puts her hands up, and Margaret drops the knife.

> Margaret: …Is he alright?
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> Sheevah: He’s breathing, and alive, and everyone is gone.
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> Margaret: *[gives a short nod.]* Alright. Um… can I see him?
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> Sheevah: Ah, yeah, he’s just downstairs on the couch, I believe.
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> *[at that moment, Zephi comes in, carrying Rylance.]*
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> Sheevah: Ah, nevermind! We bring him to you. Delivery!
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> *[Zephi is frozen, surprised to see Sheevah.]*
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> Zephi: Sheevah, go check the box with the bad man. Go check the bad man box!
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> Sheevah: Isn’t that—isn’t that someone else’s responsibility? I don’t—I didn’t catch him! I didn’t put him in the box!
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> Zephi: The ones who did are irresponsible!
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> Sheevah: Alright, I’ll go downstairs and check this stupid Jack-in-the-box.
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Once Sheevah is gone and out of earshot, Zephi lays him down, looks at Margaret, and puts a finger to her lips. Finally, she moves her hand so the wound is visible, and Margaret looks shocked at what's beneath her husband's skin. Zephi, expecting her to have known, uses Thaumaturgy to shut the bedroom door.

> Zephi: I know. It’s not a bad thing, sometimes people’s bodies aren’t what we assumed. It’s not—he’s the same person.
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> Margaret: …Right. Well, I… I guess that’s why we couldn’t have kids.
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> Zephi: …Yeah. Um. Well… I get it. I have a similar… it’s a lot different, but it’s actually a kind of similar thing…
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> Margaret: You have… a clockwork automaton?
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> Zephi: *[burying her face in her hands]* No, no! I… I have a…. I have a someone. Who’s… not a… clock. Not the point. *[she shakes her hands.]* They’re just... not what you first think. He’s still him. The love is the same, right?
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> Margaret: Love is the same. Always and forever.
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> Zephi: I will *[holds a finger to her lips]* if you will *[repeats the gesture].* He’ll need… probably friends. This will be a lot.
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> Margaret: Well, that’s me. And that’s Yfrit. And I should say, it’s the lot of you, as well.
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> Zephi: *[pause]* …His choice. This wasn’t his choice. And it should be.
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> Margaret: I respect that.
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> *[She sits down on the bed beside him, and gently kisses his forehead.]*
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Rather than check on Trisyre, Sheevah, accompanied by Gerome, goes looking for Hector. In the back of the second floor they find a small workshop, and look through for a moment. They don’t see Hector, and it’s unclear how long he’s been gone, but the door isn’t blown off it’s hinges or anything like that. Gerome searches for his records or journals, and finds a small set of blueprints for the spell Flock of Familiars, and a vial of Alchemist’s Fire. \*

Hector’s journal appears to be written in a bizarre language he’s invented for himself, nonsense phrases, almost like a modified Thieves’ Cant. Some might be real—there’s a death ray mentioned. Sounds possible, if not horribly concerning. But one passage Gerome *can* make out, is a late one; Hector writes about having to leave the planet to go get set up on Azotis for “once they get the Veldebox” Gerome takes everything with him, knowing Hector has left.

Sheevah, Gerome, and Creon decide to bring the Trisyre box inside, with Vigil’s help. They carry the box inside the magic field in the basement, activate it, and eventually let him out and activate the field.

Trisyre, *growling*: Where am I!

Gerome: You’re in jail!

Trisyre: It’s not a jail I recognize. Where’ve you put me?!

Gerome: *New* jail.

Vigil: Made it just for you.

He stalks back and forth, eyeing them all.  Sheevah heads upstairs and sees Yfrit on the couch, tending to one of her wounds. Sheevah sits down next to her awkwardly, puts a hand on her shoulder, and casts Cure Wounds.

> Yfrit: Ohh! *[Sigh of relief]* I could kiss you, my god.
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> Sheevah, *squeaking*: You’re welcome.
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Vigil and Gerome discuss the weird green fluid Ezra was in, and determine that it looks to be the same as from the device they found outside. It’s unclear if Ezra’s head was floating in the substance, or his whole body, but the suit seems as though it was full of the liquid. “Ah. My headless jell-o boyfriend.”

Gerome raids Rylance’s fridge for the ingredients necessary for Globule of Testing. He rolls a 0. He pulls out what looks like fine steak, and goes to cast the spell, but it fails… because what he found is tofu. He investigates the canister again, but finds nothing.

Zephi messages Gerome, and he reveals he's just hanging, poking around Hector's stuff. She slips into the workshop; Gerome is bent over, fuming that he couldn’t find enough meat. Damn vegetarians. He straightens up and tries to look put-together when he realizes Zephi has come inside.

> Gerome: Mm? yes?
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> *[Zephi closes the door behind her, focuses, and forces herself into Full Zephi Mode.]*
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> Zephi: So! That thing you saw. What do you… what… what are you thinking? Just tell me what’s on your mind.
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> Gerome: I—Well, our employer has kept from us that he’s far more synthetic than he led us to believe he is.
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> Zephi: To be fair, we never asked! There was a… he’s not what we *assumed*, but he’s everything we thought he was. He’s still the same person, you know?
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> Gerome: Right… I just wonder why he kept it a secret?
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> Zephi: I mean—but nothing about him is changed. It explains some things, I suppose.
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> Gerome: I wonder… I wonder who else knows.
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> Zephi: I can tell you this; not his wife! Um… she didn’t know. I thought she might, and she didn’t, and now I feel pretty weird & bad about *that*. But they seem fine. They seem like they’ll be fine. But… if his wife doesn’t know, his *wife, his* wife, his, his *wife?* Who we’ve seen him love very much? I think it’s safe to say that probably no one… except… *[she looks around Hector’s room]* Well… he was probably made by a pretty powerful artificer.
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> Gerome: I’ve already looked through his records. I can’t find anything. And he appears to have fucked off to another planet.
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> Zephi: Mmm. That’s not very fatherly. I don’t know. I just think—maybe we should keep this to ourselves. If he chooses to tell us it’s a completely different thing, I just… I’ve dealt with something vaguely similar to this before, and… its… I know you don’t like him—I know that actually none of you really like him, which I don’t get, because he pays us quite a bit of money—and he’s like, a war hero, which is great! But… I just… let’s keep it to ourselves for now?
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> Gerome: …Alright. Yeah. That’s fair. I do think we should have a conversation with him, because if there are more out there like him we should maybe have them on our radar? Because *they* may not be our allies. He may have been going easy on us in that practice round, and it was *not* easy to take him down.
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> Zephi: Agreed. Let’s give him a bit of space though, because he’s going to wake up in a very different life than the one he was knocked out in.
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> Gerome: True. He also has a new, evil roommate.
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> Zephi: That’ll be fun!
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### Jack-Out-Of-The-Box

Meanwhile, Vigil goes outside to check on the cylinder outside. It doesn’t look like a transceiver, which shoots down his ‘Jell-o-boy-is-remote-controlling-the-body-from-the-cylinder’ theory, but he does realize that the shape of the bottom looks familiar, that looks just like the strange circle we found in the dust on Xent. He backs up a bit, and from afar, hits the cylinder door closed with an arrow fired from his hand crossbow. The device begins to pulsate, and the glass fills with fluid. He takes a closer look at it now that it works—it looks like it’s a good place for his body to be suspended for rest when he’s not walking around in the suit.

Gerome heads down and updates Yfrit on who, exactly, was in that box she saw them carry downstairs. He sits down across from her, and puts his hands on his knees, leaning in a bit. 307

> Gerome: Hey.
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> Yfrit: Hey.
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> Gerome: Look. You know the Crown General? General Trisyre?
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> Yfrit: Right, name’s familiar to me.
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> Gerome: So, so, I’m gonna say something, and I’m gonna need you to be really cool about it.
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> Yfrit: Right, okay.
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> Gerome: Do you remember that box we just brought in?
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> Yfrit: I… do, Sheevah said it was someone you’d all captured, some important prisoner, I assumed you’d be talking to them soon. *[Gerome grits his teeth and holds the expression.]*
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> Yfrit: …I’m, I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you’re getting at here.
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> Gerome: He’s in the basement. In the prison cell! General Trisyre!
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> Yfrit: …You have the senior ranking official in the military currently imprisoned in the basement of an actively suspect fellow member of said military, while the rest of all you *most* likely about to become subject to high treason. That sort of thing?
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> Gerome: Yeah!
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> Yfrit: Right, okay, that seems fine. You know what? It’s par for the course. I’m shocked, I can’t say I expected it, but… it’s gonna take me a minute.
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Everyone debates what to do next with him next, while Zephi stays upstairs with the Rylances, waiting for the General to wake up. 3:09

> Yfrit: So, what are we going to do with him?
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> Creon: We’re going to interrogate him, and then I believe the best course of action would be to. To kill him.
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> Yfrit: Count me, you know, honestly lost.
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> Vigil: You don’t always speak for the rest of us, you know.
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> Creon: I think I do in this respect, I believe that I am more familiar with the inner workings of the DSK than any of you, and I believe that if it gets out— which is far more likely if he is allowed to live— that we are quote-unquote, “traitors” to the empire, then we will all be killed, brutally, and so I think it would be better for all of us if the one person who could make that happen was, um. Dead.
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> Vigil: Well, seeing as if we kill him we’re definitely doing *so* much worse, and it comes out that we fully killed him while he was our prisoner? I feel like that would be so much worse. And also! We just shouldn’t kill people that we have in our custody.
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> Creon: Mm! That’s very bold of you to say considering what you’ve revealed about your past, but go off, I guess.
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> Vigil: You’re saying ‘go off I guess’ with all of *your* shit? Don’t tragic backstory me, you fucker.
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> Gerome: Also Creon, you can’t go killing him! He has my name on him.
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> Sheevah: This—this may be the one and only time you will ever hear me say this, *ever*, but I think maybe Creon has a point here. No matter what, it’s treason, so we might as well get rid of the one person who can blame us for it!
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> Gerome: Lean into the treason, I like it.
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> Yfrit: I’m just struggling with the moral quandary of it all. I understand the logic behind it, but just sort of the…. ‘can you sleep at night’ logic of it. Because—
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> Sheevah: Well, I think we should talk to him first, see if he’s really not a great guy—
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> Creon: He is confirmed, ‘Not a Great Guy’. He’s one of the leaders of an organization seeking to end death for a specific elite group of people who kidnap and use bodies to perpetually keep their souls alive, so I think that perhaps we don’t need to worry about that.
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> Yfrit: Right, the conclave. So he’s a member.
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> Creon: I believe he is quite high up.
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> Yfrit: Well…
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> Gerome: We should get information from him first.
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> Creon: That’s definitely part of the plan, you know how I love a good interrogation.
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> Sheevah: We could also run it past Rylance first—that seems like a solid starting place.
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> Gerome: From my medical test, it seems like he’s gonna be out of commission for a little while. He was in some pretty bad shape. From the… attack.
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> Creon: Hmm.
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> Yfrit, *sighing*: Oh, god.
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> Sheevah: No offense, but you’re also—not generally the healer of the group.
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> Gerome: I’m proficient in medicine! I’m not good at tricks and stuff, but I think I can identify… internal bleeding.
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> Sheevah: Yes, but you’re not gonna be the one to fix it! So if he needs someone to look at him—
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> Gerome: He’s probably gonna need a specialist. For this kind of a…. thing.
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> *[There’s a long pause. Everybody looks at each other. Creon frowns.]*
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> Creon: I’m inclined to say that I should have a look at him, on account of I *am* a healer, and not you.
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> Gerome: Well, I mean, we already talked to Margaret, Margaret—she’s already on top of it.
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> Creon: Hm.
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> Gerome: We also probably have a bit of a timer on our hands? As far as this general? That we’ve kidnapped?
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> Creon: Yes! We should definitely interrogate him and kill him within the day.
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> Vigil: God, again with the murder.
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> Creon: It’s not murder. It’s not.
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> Vigil: I’m sorry, what’s the word you prefer to use?!
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> Creon: Oh, I don’t know, I think murder is more fitting for oh, you know, going into enemy territory and killing civillians, I would say that what we’re doing…
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> Vigil: Yeah, and I think what you did also just killing people because you’re told to do it
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> Creon, *overlapping*: You mean, as a soldier, killing other soldiers, you know, the actual act of war.
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> Vigil: Killing people, yes. I think that killing people is—I know that’s a wild concept to you, but murder counts as murder, most times.
>
>

> Creon: You can’t make up for what you’ve done before by being good now. You know that, right?
>
>

> Vigil: Is that what you tell yourself?
>
>

> Creon: I’m not trying to be good now.
>
>

> Vigil: I can tell.
>
>

> Creon: Anyway!
>
>

> Gerome: I don’t think we have a day to kill him. I think we need to beat it off Keller *ASAP*. Because, we were seen by numerous people on the train, at the stops, leaving the train, and on the way here.
>
>

> Sheevah: Well Zephi and I weren’t!
>
>

> Gerome: Yeah, I still think they’re gonna want to talk to us. And that’ll lead them here, and the general is downstairs.
>
>

Everyone agrees to interrogate and then leave, asap. Creon, Vigil, Gerome, Sheevah, and Yfrit all head downstairs to see Rathal Trisyre pacing back and forth within the anti-magic field. He sees them, and crosses his arms.

> Trisyre: So! Decided to kill me, huh.
>
>

> Vigil: Not yet. We’re thinkin’ about it though.
>
>

> Trisyre: Ha! I wanna take you first. *[He raises his fists in a fighting stance]*
>
>

> Vigil: I mean… I’m not gonna… have a… duel with you. I’m gonna kill you.
>
>

> Trisyre: Come on! Be honorable!
>
>

> Vigil: No, I’m past that. And so are you! What you’re gonna do now, is you’re gonna answer all of our questions.
>
>

> Trisyre: Am I!
>
>

> Vigil: And we’ll think about leaving you with your limbs and your life.
>
>

> *[Trisyre laughs. Vigil stares him down. Eventually, Trisyre sighs and pulls up the bench, sitting down.]*
>
>

> Vigil: That’s more like it. So, ah, first question, for two fingers. Who are the members of the Eternal Conclave?
>
>

> Trisyre: Well if I knew that, wouldn’t be a very good secret organization, would it. I know my contacts, and they know theirs. I don’t know the full extent.
>
>

> Vigil: Okay, well, we can start with those. Who are your contacts? We already know a couple.
>
>

> Trisyre: You know Nalo, right, cause you peeped on us earlier.
>
>

> Vigil: You know, it’s really hard to shame me for spying on actual war criminals. But I mean, ‘go off I guess’.
>
>

> Trisyre: Bit pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it there Captain Greyhide.
>
>

> Vigil: A little bit. But, I’ve tried to atone for my sins, and you seem like you’re just leaning into them. So that’s why you’re on the chair, and I’m out here.
>
>

> Trisyre: Because I play the game better?
>
>

> Vigil: No, because I realize that it’s not a game. And I’ve stopped killing people because other people told me to. So, there’s Nalo, and who else.
>
>

> Trisyre: …Nyana Herwyn.
>
>

> Vigil: Alright, so, those are your two contacts. But surely, you get the pamphlets. What’s the end game for the Eternal Conclave?
>
>

> *[Trisyre shifts in his seat a few times.]*
>
>

> Trisyre: …Keep our position in Zamana secure. Have fun! Enjoy the whole charade.
>
>

> Vigil: So, you’re doing space eugenics, so you can—
>
>

> Trisyre: It’s one giant game of Aut. And Zamana is the board. And we’re just… enjoying ourselves. Until we get bored.
>
>

> Vigil: Haladesh included? Is that part of the board too?
>
>

> Trisyre *shifts again*: Maybe.
>
>

> Vigil: No. This isn’t a ‘maybe’ kind of conversation.
>
>

> Trisyre: The titles… constructs you use… all of that. Doesn’t really matter, does it? It’s just kind of… pieces. We get to move around as we like. …We have broad-reaching understanding of what the rest of us are doing, but for the most part, as long as we know we’re not hurting each other… we get to have fun throwing people at each other throughout the galaxy.
>
>

> Vigil: So, how much of the war was motivated by this game?
>
>

> Trisyre: How old do you think I am?
>
>

> Vigil: I don’t know, but you sure as hell don’t moisturize.
>
>

> *[Trisyre laughs, and then his face falls.]*
>
>

> Trisyre: You know, Uthorim wanted Creon… I think you would have made a good shell.
>
>

> Vigil: Thanks. But I want someone who wants me for more than just my body. *[Trisyre laughs.]* So, how long have you been playing this game? How old are you? Do you even remember your real name?
>
>

> Trisyre: Lost track, honestly. It’s been some time. You hop around enough… brain gets shifted and changed as you go, you’re not really sure what you are anymore. Who you are anymore. This is my name now, Rathal is, but I don’t even what my name was before *this!* Let alone many iterations before.
>
>

> Creon: Then what’s the point?
>
>

> Trisyre: Control. Knowing that you have some kind of grasp over reality itself. [He stands, walks up to the edge of his confinement.] It’s fun to know you can’t be touched. That you just keep going on, that death can’t catch up to you. Unless… you slip up. And then it’s on you. Time becomes… optional. Maybe in this life, I’ll learn to play the violin! Maybe in the next, I’ll completely forget; then I’ll become a pastry chef. [*Chuckles*] But I’ve found through every one, I’ve rather liked killing. That’s always been nice.
>
>

> Vigil: That can’t be what all the Eternal Conclave members want, to become murderous pastry chefs. Surely some of them have a little more imagination than you.
>
>

> Trisyre: *[sitting again]* Ohhh, there are others, they’ve got other dreams and aspirations. Things they wanna control; but that’s what its about, ultimately! Control. You know, I like the military. I like blowing things up and causing problems for people. But… you know. Nalo… Nalo likes playing at a higher level. Nalo enjoys the overarching game.
>
>

> Creon: Do you even know who you’re playing against?
>
>

> Trisyre: Well… I think I do. My memory is somewhat faded. …There’s a brother and a sister. I don’t remember who’s team I’m on. But one of them, one of them. Doesn’t really matter now, does it.
>
>

> Creon: Why’s that?
>
>

> Trisyre: Oh. Because this. *[He lifts his tongue up to reveal a small capsule which he bites down on.]* Because you’re right! I enjoyed it, it was a fun ride. But, you know. Maybe I’ll get picked up from the afterlife, and get to kill some more. I think I’ve earned that. I’ve followed the Crashing Blood long enough. *[His eyes turn red, roll back into his head, and he falls back to the ground, dead. Creon sighs, slams opens the Anti-Magic chamber, steps over Trisyre and, grabbing him by the lapels, casts Revivify. His eyes flash white and there’s a flash of red hair beside him. Trisyre gasps back to life.]*
>
>

> Creon: You want to life forever, that’s fine. You can live, but you’re going to be in this body. You’re going to be in this body until you die of old age as you’re supposed to. You will not go on your terms; you will go on *mine*. *[He steps back out, and Sheevah drops the field again.]*
>
>

> Trisyre: I never thought life could be such a dirty trick. Well played.
>
>

Everyone heads upstairs where we discuss the next mission, finding the scale Sheevah’s patron needs.

### Rise & Shine & Run

In Rylance’s bedroom, Zephi and Margaret wait for the general to awake. Slowly, Zephi begins to hear buzzing, zipping, and other robotic sounds, as tiny mechanical bug looking things get to work on his wound, healing him. Eventually, he wakes with a small gasp.

> Rylance: Ugh. *[Notices them.]* Hello.
>
>

> Zephi: Hi. Um. Sorry. Um. Um. I sort of made an assumption that ended up being wildly incorrect, assuming Margaret knew… I was trying to heal you, and I…
>
>

> Rylance: *[Touches the back of his head]* …Ah. Right.
>
>

> Zephi: I shouldn’t have assumed, I’m sorry.
>
>

> Rylance: No, it’s alright. It was rather my intention for that not to be understood.
>
>

> Zephi: Exactly. And—Gerome knows too, just full cards on the table. I told him not to say anything, it’s not really our place. Don’t feel like you have to say anything. To anyone.
>
>

> Rylance: I’m not sure where I stand yet. Gerome and you knowing is… alright. It’s fine. And it’s quite likely that I would be comfortable with the rest of you knowing, as well. It’s… it’s something I just have to think about. I didn’t expect to have to think about it. And Margaret… I assume we’re going to have to have a conversation.
>
>

> Margaret: No, no. You’re alright.
>
>

> Rylance: No, of course but… I’m sure you’ve got questions. Um. And that’s understandable. *[There’s a very long pause.]* …Zephi… Did they get Vega?
>
>

> Zephi: They did.
>
>

> Rylance: Right.
>
>

> Zephi: Uh, do you know who it was? Oh, also… Vega’s gone, but! There’s someone in his place now! *[Does tentative, awkward jazz hands]*
>
>

> Rylance: Sorry? What do you mean by that?
>
>

> Zephi: Crown General Trisyre! *[more jazz hands]*
>
>

> Rylance: ….Ah.
>
>

> Zephi: I wasn’t there, I don’t know. I have an alibi.
>
>

> Rylance: Do you have a *reason* to imprison my superior?
>
>

> Zephi: Well, from what I understood, he had a hit out on ya. Sorry bud. Remember Eternal Conclave stuff, I think it’s that.
>
>

> Rylance: Right, I’m putting that together. That’s a shame. I liked playing Aut with him. He always lost.
>
>

> Zephi: Well, he’s downstairs now if you wanna…
>
>

> Rylance: Oh, marvelous, will definitely go down for a game *[buries his head in his hands]* …Sorry. It’s—it’s been a busy evening. Margaret and I were going to get some shuteye, maybe read a book, relax a little bit, take a much needed break, and—
>
>

> Zephi: Yes, we get it, you’re delightfully domestic. We *understand*. *[Rylance chuckles]*
>
>

> Margaret: We really are, you know.
>
>

Rylance asks where the Silverados are off to next, and Zephi gives off a list of errands everyone wanted to run, and Rylance says he needs a bit of rest. He asks not to tell the rest of the party that he’s awake yet, and thanks her for coming to the house so quickly. Zephi waves him off, and heads off. As she leaves, he wishes that the Silverados stick together, acknowledging that families not bound by blood are more prone to falling apart.

Zephi: *[…]* I’m pretty sure the strongest families are the ones that choose each other, and keep choosing each other, every day. Whether blood bound or not.

Rylance, *smiling*: Well. If blood was all that mattered, I’d be shit out of luck, wouldn’t I?

Zephi: *[Snorts]* Have you been waiting your whole life to make these types of jokes?

Rylance: A little bit.

She heads downstairs, and tells everyone Rylance is still unconscious. Margaret follows and tells everyone not to bother helping to clean up, as they shouldn’t be seen at the house. Zephi tries to get people to go to the casino, and it’s broken to her very gently that that’s literally absolutely unquestionably not an option, and we have to go *now*.

> Vigil: I think we’re about to become very wanted people.
>
>

> Zephi: Oh, I’m *always* wanted.
>
>

> Creon: No.
>
>

Zephi panics about public image, and still plans to run some errands with Vigil. The party leaves, filing slowly out of the house. Vigil lingers in the doorway, turns, and sits on the coffee table, opposite Yfrit. He puts a hand on her knee, tapping a tune like they used to do to check in with each other while they were in The Misfits.

> Vigil: You okay?
>
>

> Yfrit: …I’m a bit rattled, to be honest.
>
>

> Vigil: I wouldn’t have guessed.
>
>

> Yfrit: You didn’t… you didn’t kill him, did you?
>
>

> Vigil: No. I don’t know that I could have. Did you know it was him?
>
>

> Yfrit: The general? Wait, who are *you* talking about?
>
>

> Vigil: The—the what? The—oh god, I’m so sorry. No, we didn’t kill the general. He um… I think he’s gonna be staying here for awhile. Um—I, I wanted to tell you… I found two of the Misfits today. They’re both alive, and one of them was here tonight. Um… That was Ezra, in the armor.
>
>

> Yfrit: *[whispering, confused]* W-what? *[Stutters]*
>
>

> Vigil: I don’t know, I haven’t wrapped my head around it yet. [Long silence.] I’m glad that he’s alive, and I’m disappointed that he’s doing this, and I’m guilty that I didn’t go back for him or try to reach out at all… and now he’s here. Um.
>
>

> Yfrit: Are… are we… are we any better than we were?
>
>

> Vigil: Yes. We’re still the same people that did those things, even if it was a different time. But, we’re doing different things now. I think that’s what matters. At least, that’s the way I get out of bed every morning. And if it doesn’t matter…… then we’re just doing good things for the hell of it.
>
>

> Yfrit: I think that’s not a bad way to live. Lets do some more good things for the hell of it. [Vigil pats her on the shoulder]
>
>

> Vigil: We’re… we’re gonna leave, now. I think… probably for a long time. Um… the thing with the general in the basement just means that the Conclave is going to be after us, and so is the military, and so is everyone, and it’d be safer for you, Margaret, Rylance, everyone we know here, if we left.
>
>

> Yfrit, *whispering*: I understand.
>
>

> Vigil: And, I know you have a good set-up, here. But I… I wanted to offer you a place on the ship.
>
>

> Yfrit: i…
>
>

> Vigil: I’ve never been on a ship that I’ve felt comfortable on since I was on a ship with you. I… I’d understand if you said no, but I’d love it if you came through the stars with us. *[There’s a long pause.]*
>
>

> Yfrit: Well, alright. One last journey through the stars, ay?
>
>

> *[Vigil swoops her up in a massive hug, lifting her off the couch and squeezing her tight.]*
>
>

> Yfrit: No—oh, Vigil, Vigil, you’re so much stronger than you realize, no—
>
>

> Vigil, *overlapping*: You love it! You love it! You know you do! *[He sets her back to standing.]* We’re leaving…I guess at dawn, which is like, 45 minutes from now.
>
>

> Yfrit: Right! I’m going to go pack, say goodbye to the Rylances. Just a—quick thing, what’s the sleeping quarters situation like? You know what? Forget it, it’s fine. It’s totally fine.
>
>

> Vigil: Sure. Yeah. It’s not, you know. Bring your fancy pillows.
>
>

Vigil puffs his chest up a bit and looks out the window he broke while grabbing K'irrk, and thinks, hmm. Maybe things are gonna be okay.

Zephi runs upstairs to tell the Rylances that the group is leaving-- Yfrit follows her and is surprised to see Richard awake. She breaks the news that she's leaving, and, though she begins to give a speech, Richard cuts her off and simply wishes her the best. Margaret gives her a hug and a kiss on the forehead, and she promises to write to both the Rylances.

Yfrit and Zephi run downstairs, Yfrit nervous and adjusting her very full leather satchel. Vigil and Gerome move Ezra's goo canister into the cart, and then Vigil and Zephi split off to run some 4am errands.

## Early Birds Get the Answers

Zephi and Vigil walk off together. Zephi asks Vigil to stop with her at the Diviners before going to Arcane Answers.

> Vigil: So, where are we going?
>
>

> Zephi: Oh, I just have some questions about some stuff. That's all.
>
>

> Vigil: ...We're going to a store for questions about stuff?
>
>

> Zephi: Uh-- They have answers, that's what they sell! Just go with it, please, I'm stressed!
>
>

> Vigil: Okay! Are we going to a psychiatrist!
>
>

> Zephi: It's a... It's a diviner, okay? I'll explain on the way.
>
>

> Vigil points out that they're probably awake, in that case, because they're diviners. And if they're asleep, they've probably not very good anyway. They come up to the shopfront, which has a sign that reads *Mysteries of Tomorrow*. There's a light on upstairs; Vigil was right! Zephi uses prestidigitation to send up a small light that waves around near the window with the light on. The light flickers, and a tall figure approaches the window. They look down, and then step away. A few moments later the door creaks open to reveal a tall elven woman "Hello. That's interesting. I made a bit more tea than I was expecting... I suppose you are who I was meant to be looking for. Come in."
>
>

The inside is beautiful; the woman waves her hand and several candles flick on. She brings out two small teacups and sets out some pillows to sit on. Everyone plops down, and they sip their Jasmine tea. The Diviner introduces herself as Memlay.

Zephi explains the situation, after they establish that the woman doesn't know who she is. Though, she says, "my interests are timeless, I'll say that much," which is very funny.

Zephi: I sent a message to someone who... I didn't expect to respond, because I quite frankly... I'm just not sure its them, I'm not sure it can be, and I was wondering if you had a way to figure out who it was.

The diviner clarifies some particulars with Zephi, and then asks her to cast the Sending spell again, and she can hop on and get some answers. She offers Zephi her hand, and Zephi nervously takes it. She shoots a look at Vigil, and he looks back encouragingly. She casts Sending.

```
Hey papa. It's me. We're leaving Keller; don't worry,

```

```
have to do this on my own. Miss you. I hope you're both doing okay.

```

The response comes back;

```
Zephi! You're alive! This is incredible-- we're gonna find you! Don't worry!

```

Zephi is shocked and horrified and confused. The Diviner pulls away.

> Memlay: What you've contacted is... hard to decipher at first. Um... it's something often set up by people of immense power, for those whom... many know them, and many might wish to contact them. It's a sort of Thought Parrot, a device which relays a small portion of their consciousness; things they care about, their likes and dislikes, their personality to convince those who reach out that it's actually them. But it is a... redirection, a--
>
>

> Zephi: I got an *arcane answering machine?!*
>
>

> Memlay: Of sorts, yes. It possess some of his personality, and that's why he seems to express genuine affection and concern for you, but its memories are not, nor is it actually him.
>
>

> Zephi: Fuck. It was... definitely set up by him?
>
>

> Memlay: Well, it could have been set up by a number of people, but they'd had to have him contribute to the creation of the device, it would have to capture a large portion of his forward thought. He would have had to allowed it, or been forced to give it over. Which is potentially possible.... but it's also possible he gave it willingly.
>
>

> Vigil: Can you tell how old it was?
>
>

> Memlay: It's difficult-- the signal on these things fades over time, but it seems... old. Very old. Strong! Well built, well made, but... arcanum fades, given time. magic, the weave, undoes itself, slowly. This has begun to fade quite a bit.
>
>

> Zephi: Is there a way to bypass it, to get to him? Or is that just sort of... it.
>
>

> Memlay: Well... I would suggest finding the source of it, tracing it back, figuring out where the signal is coming from. If you could, you could find evidence as to where the person actually is. I would be willing to scry on this person, but it would cost; and my suspicion is that a person who had set up a thought parrot would most likely have some magic around themselves preventing scrying as well.
>
>

> Vigil: Would you be able to tell where it is, by scrying on it? The location of it.
>
>

Memlay asks a fee of 10 gold; Zephi hands it over without hesitation. She calms herself, and everything stills in the room. The breeze halts.

> Memlay: Right. It's in a room... there's a large desk made of an ornate wood... there's a painting on the wall of a smiling--
>
>

> Zephi: Yeah, that's him.
>
>

> Memlay: Ah. I can see just outside the door... the room seems decrepit, as though its been sitting there untouched for some time. I can see star outside-- the deck of some sort of ship-- that's all I can see. I don't recognize the surrounding space, but I'll give you this; there's an awful lot of Crimson on the decorations.
>
>

> Zephi: Oh, I know the ship.
>
>

> Memlay: Well that should be easy!
>
>

> Zephi: It's been missing for like... 400 years.
>
>

> Memlay: ...Who are you trying to contact??
>
>

> Zephi: I have a question. If someone is not dead, definitely. But perhaps, their soul is tucked away, somewhere.... does this still work? Does this thought parrot still work if they're not necessarily conscious?
>
>

> Memlay: Oh... well... no, I suppose without a soul to reference, to link off of, no, I suppose it would cease to function much sooner than several hundred years. He doesn't need to be awake, but his soul does need to be within this galaxy. It could be any plane within the galaxy, but.... it does have to be connected to the living for this to continue working.
>
>

> The diviner offers her services to Vigil, but he doesn't have any questions. It's been a long day. The two ask some clarifying questions, and then they get ready to head out. As they stand, the sound of hurried footsteps is heard on the floor above. The Diviner sighs.
>
>

> Memlay: Are you awake!
>
>

> Child's Voice: ....No........
>
>

> Memlay: I'm sorry. Have a good evening. *[She turns]* Adlaema, I swear to the gods--
>
>

> Zephi: Hold ON!
>
>

> Vigil: Hold up, oh my *god*.
>
>

> Zephi: Adlaema! That's an... interesting name.
>
>

> Memlay: Oh! Yes, well. Her father picked it out.
>
>

> Zephi: How old is she?
>
>

> Memlay: She's just turned 12 this year. *[Zephi and Vigil's faces do some Weird Stuff.]*
>
>

> Zephi: That's a... great age! If she's still up, and she needs to fall asleep, I'm quite good with a tune.
>
>

> Zephi is very charismatic and convincing, so Memlay agrees, with Adlaema's permission, and brings the two upstairs. They enter her bedroom, small with some paintings of comets on the wall, books on shelves. Zephi sits and asks if she's got any requests.
>
>

> Adlaema: Yes. Um. Could you do the one, could you do the one about the new dawn? The Silver Falls?
>
>

> Memlay: Ah... right. This is a song that she's written. Rather good, it's just... I'm sorry, she gets confused. Would you like to teach it to the guests?
>
>

> Zephi: Oh, I always love hearing new music, and if you're an up-and-coming artist, it is my *duty* as a musician to hear it now!
>
>

> Zephi sits beside her, and Adlaema sings her song;
>
>

> *From the first sphere,*
>
>

> *The mad king rose,*
>
>

> *To hunt his siblings,*
>
>

> *And all that grows.*
>
>

> *Yet Zamana*
>
>

> *Holds one last card;*
>
>

> *Clad in silver,*
>
>

> *The final guard.*
>
>

> *Devil daughter,*
>
>

> *Mind so addled,*
>
>

> *Heir of dragons,*
>
>

> *Crystal shackled,*
>
>

> *Young inventor,*
>
>

> *child the twelfth,*
>
>

> *Wrapped-horn captain,*
>
>

> *Hiding himself.*
>
>

> *And elven blood,*
>
>

> *With soul in two,*
>
>

> *Always at war,*
>
>

> *And yet with who?*
>
>

> *This is the chance,*
>
>

> *These five arms drawn,*
>
>

> *When silver falls,*
>
>

> *Hark, the new dawn.*
>
>

Zephi compliments her on the song, and Vigil asks how she came up with it; Adlaema says a lady taught her. She says sometimes a lady comes and tells her things she needs to know. Memlay seems very tired, having heard this before, but Adlaema continues and says that the lady tells her that there are great people out there and that she, Adlaema, needs to help them. Vigil tosses a look to Zephi, and finds an excuse to divert Memlay away from the room, so Zephi can chat more with the young Adlaema.
The two girls commiserate over having friends that no one can see or hear, and some people don't even believe in. Vigil persuades Memlay away by offering to play a game of chess with her while Zephi lulls Adlaema to sleep; the two walk off and Zephi asks twelve year old Adlaema how she met her Friend.

> Adlaema: Well, she came to me one night when I was much younger. When I was a *kid,* you know, because I'm not a kid now, I'm-- I'm grown. But she came to me when I was a kid, and she took my hand, and we went to this place of glittering rainbows. She said that I had to go there to be protected from what might come, and once she'd take me there, I'd be safe. She brought me back, and set me down on my bed. And she comes to chec kin on me, to make sure I'm doing alright, but that's the thing I remember the most.
>
>

> Zephi: That's really nice! I don't get to see my friend very often, I jus hear him. What does your friend look like?
>
>

> Adlaema: Um... she looks a lot like mum, actually. She's kind of tall? She's got long hair like I do, she wears a very funny costume. It's kind of like... nothing I've ever seen before. It's just white and-- she's always got banglets on her wrist, and they've got the comets that I draw over there! [she points to the paintings of comets on her walls.]
>
>

> Zephi: Oh, I... can you keep a secret?
>
>

> Adlaema: Of course!!
>
>

> Zephi: I do love a nice piece of jewelry. *[While she talks, she puts her head in her hand so Adlaema can clearly see the banglet on her wrist, given to her by... older Adlaema. Young Adlaema's eyes go wide.]*
>
>

> Adlaema, *whispering*: Devil daughter.
>
>

> Zephi: I'd like to think so.
>
>

Adlaema wraps Zephi in a big hug, and promises they'll meet again soon, but in the meantime she has to get to bed. Zephi plays her some music on her mrimba riffing off of the Four Notes, while Adlaema holds on to Zephi's finger. After Adlaema falls asleep, Zephi sneaks 2 gold under her pillow. Downstairs, Vigil manages to beat a very sleep Memlay, and can now add 'beating a diviner at chess' to his list of accomplishments. They head out, drop by Arcane Answers, and then head to the ship.

### Room for One More

Meanwhile, Sheevah, Gerome, and Creon hustle back to the ship. At first they don't notice anyone, but on closer inspection, they see a couple more Starguard than is normal milling around the docks. They decide its best to just board the ship like nothing's rolls, and after a combination of high rolls from the party and a nat 1 from the guards, they board without issue, greeted by Orbor. Realizing that Zephi and Vigil will have no way to know that there's guards about, Creon hops down and loiters outside the ship so he can give them a signal.

Sheevah writes a letter while they wait. Half an hour or so later, Yfrit walks up with a big leather satchel and a pillow under her arm. She checks in with Creon, who tells her to be careful but casual approaching the ship. She boards, greets Orbor, and then heads down to the bunks where she find Sheevah, who hurridly puts away everything she was working on. As it turns out, she didn't get the memo Yfrit would be joining. Sheevah shows her to an empty bunk and Yfrit unpacks her bag, which is mostly books. She and Sheevah are a little awkward with nerves, but both seem to look forward to traveling together. Ah. *Lesbians*.

### Goo guys and Good Guys

On the way back to the ship, Zephi and Vigil chat.

> Zephi: So. Metal goo boy was your....
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> Vigil: Yeah. Yep. Well, not quite. We never really got a chance to explore that.
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> Zephi: Oof. Can I tell you? Feel that.
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> Vigil: Yeah, yeah, a little bit of very oof. How... how did you deal with the whole... maybe, maybe-we-will maybe-we-won't, jokes-on-you-we-can't thing?
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> Zephi: Mine? Oh, mine was, 'what is this feeling so sudden and new, oh my god, i'm trapped away for 400 years later and suddenly realize what those feelings were and I hate myself'. But um... that's where I am.
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> Vigil: Mm. That ol' chesnut. Mine was, 'what are these feelings, I thought we were just friends, oh god you're dead, and i'm old enough to drink so now I will.' Those are my feelings.
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> Zephi: That's sort of similar. Mine just has a little longer of an intermission there. But he's here, in yours, so--
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> Vigil: Wait but-- how does that work? How does that work? I mean... it's 400 years. I feel like you can't bounce back from that really. You can moisturize, but there's really nothing else you can do.
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> Zephi: For him or for me? Because *I* look *fantastic*.
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> Vigil: For-- you're right, but I feel like he wouldn't have your... longevities. I don't know, he could be... but how did he stick around for 400 years?
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> Zephi: Can you keep a secret?
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> Vigil: I hope so, yeah.
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> Zephi: Um... I don't know. I message him sometimes but all I get it this heavy, rasping breathing, you know? But I get breathing, at least. But I have no idea.
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> Vigil: Well I guess it's a good sign, at least.
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> Zephi: Yes but-- the point of this is that you can still... he's here, you know? What did you-- what did you think of all of them back there? Did you get a chance to talk to Vega before he poofed?
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> Vigil: There was time for one quip, I genuinely thought I had more time, but it was too quick. I have no idea what they're doing, but it's what Vega was trying to do, right? He was trying to destabilize whatever he could get his hands on, but now I'm concerned there's more in their plan.
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> Zephi: You think they were bad?
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> Vigil: I mean... to a given value of... bad... Zephi, *yeah*. Vega definitely tried to assassinate someone, he did kill someone else, they were doing the whole jailbreak thing...
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> Zephi: Yeah, yeah I just-- and, listen, what Vega did to your friend... bad. Bad.
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> Vigil: I... I genuinely think that maybe my friend did that to himself. I've no idea.
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> Zephi: Oh. That's... the point here is, I don't really think those people are... *bad.* I don't know, I just.... I don't know.
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> Vigil: They took a family hostage.
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> Zephi: I-- yes, but what would we do if we really needed information? Wouldn't we threaten someone? Didn't we do that to Nobel back on Xent? Creon wanted to fill his lungs with water! We thought he was hiding something so we threatened him and held him down. I'm just saying... I don't know that they're bad. I just don't... I just saw the same things we would do, mirrored back at us. I think if every person who did something bad was a bad person at heart, we'd all be bad too. I don't know that we're not, really. I just think there are bigger evils than some people trying to... I think just get their friend back.
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> Vigil: I understand that there are bigger evils, but I think one of the biggest evils is comparing levels of evil. I think you can let a lot of bad people get away with a lot of bad things. I think if we know their reasons they might be a little more sympathetic, but I think the fact remains that they were trying to break out the man who tried to destabilize the entire DSK. I think that we've all done bad things, and I would prefer not to be judged by what I did, or what I'm doing, but also what they're doing now is aiding and abetting someone who we know is a murderer and and attempted murderer. He admitted to killing some of my friends. The fact that one of my other friends is working with him complicates the issue, but I genuinely don't... I'll be honest with you. I was concerned about Ezra for a very long time. I am now very disappointed in what he chose to do... I'm sure he's having the same feelings about me. I don't... I think if you stick to the relativism of it, I don't think anyone's gonna win. And as much as it sucks, I think we have to think that we're the good guys here, and I think we have to see it through a certain frame.
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> Zephi: I just think there are bigger evils and I don't think it's necessarily a group of five people running away, a group of five people who looked a lot like us.
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> Vigil: I understand where you've coming from. I agree that we have bigger fish to fry at the moment. Although they have been sort of tailing us...
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> Zephi: We've been tailing them, really.
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> Vigil: Yeah... I don't know who they are, I don't know what they're doing, which makes me nervous. We should keep tabs on them, at least. The evils we've done are pretty small compared to the evils of at least one of them.
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> Zephi: Well listen. I'd like to believe that, but I don't most of what I've done in my life. I have no memories. Frankly, knowing what me and my father were up to, I think I'm just as much to blame for the war as anyone else. So.
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> Vigil: Oof. That's a bomb! *What!?*
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> Zephi: ANYWAY! SPEAKING OF BOMBS! Like a beacon in the night! Look at that pale, pale skin.
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They approach the ship, and see Creon in the distance. Creon hears Zephi, blushes, and turns away. "I'm a moon elf, it's not my fault." Vigil checks up on Creon, who says all he needs is a good trance and some hot oatmeal, and you know what, Zephi and Vigil love the sound of that. Zephi links arms with Creon and Vigil has a hand on his shoulder and it really looks like they're walking down the goddamn yellow brick road. The three manage to avoid detection and board the ship without issue.

### Let's Skedaddle, + Hi, Treason

We debate where to go next. Vigil does some foreshadowing and suggests we could get a Pirate Escort through the open territories. We can't tell if it's better to get out of the DSK now, or go to Sylvion now in case things get worse re: our standing. Darcy reveals that Nalo Kusari has been pushing the idea in the papers that the Spawn attack on Nym was done by the Haladesh, and tensions were already high because of the attack on Foundation Day.

Sheevah is really really nervous about beating Vance and the other dragons to Sahvorim. She doesn't want to stop for any missions, and is extra nervous that delays or not going the most straightforward way will get her powers revoked. We decide that it might be best to set course for some stars and planets we don't know, that are unlabelled on the map, rather than test our luck at Dreshan Station, or have to fly through the Haladesh after Wanderer's Cove.

As we get ready to leave, Creon notes that there are even more Starguard now. Many set down tripods and point guns at the ship. Gerome runs below. A voice is blasted out from somewhere, which Creon, Vigil, and Gerome recognize as Nalo Kusari's.

Nalo: Members of the vessel known as the Karnival Kruise; the ragtag group they call Silverados. You are hereby charged with High Treason for the unlawful capture and detainment of Crown General Rathal Trisyre. If you turn him over alive, your sentence will be severely lessened. You have 10 minutes.

Vigil and Creon strategize, and decide that if we respond in complete disbelief, they'll at least talk to us while the core warms up. Vigil approaches the edge of the ship, and does his best.

Vigil: Friends and comrades in arms, we have been much maligned; I'll have you know that we were not the ones that captured General Rathal Trisyre, it was-- them!

He points to the other side of the dock. Half of the Starguard turn to look. Vigil yells, "GUN IT!" The ship blasts into ignition. Nalo shouts at the officers for being idiots. Zephi disguises herself as herself but wearing a nightgown, looking like she's just woken up and is deeply scared and confused, all while sending message to Sheevah, driving, so she knows where to avoid hitting. Sheevah bobs and weaves, and with a nat 20, misses every bullet thrown at the ship. At the end of the dock is a long silver ship looking a lot like Uthorim's; in fact, on the side it reads *Mondovi*. Nalo Kusari stands on the bow, watching and attempts to cast Hold Person on Sheevah, but Sheevah's an expert navigator and manages to maneuver the ship perfectly to avoid it.

The exit to the docks begins to close as Nalo throws a hand out, but Gerome guns it, Vigil screams, and we just barely make it out. Zephi whips around, and from the top of the crows nest sees Kusari looking up at her; she runs her finger over a piece of wire for Message, and in Zephi's ear, says; "Run far little fly, but our spider's web is everywhere."

Hot damn. On to the next nonsense!