Campaign1/session-8
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Hospitality
Session Date: December 11,1999
Assynt 22, 1022 - Continued
While Melosia is touring the city accompanied by Valesco, the rest of the party remains behind in a building the Scaryn refer to as the "Claustrum". Uncertain if the second floor lounge is safe for a private discussion, Charlis and several others maintain the ruse of their reason for being in the Ring of Fire: a follow-up expedition to learn more of the region. However, Sitric finds the situation far too pressing to play along.
"We need to find a way to escape!" Sitric blurts, "We are not safe here!"
"I don't see that we're in any immediate danger." Charlis eyes Sitric with interest. "Our hosts have been kind so far. What makes our departure from here so urgent?"
Aside from such reasoning as "They are Scaryn!", Sitric is unable to provide any tangible evidence of immediate danger to the group. The discussion turns to what Sitric might know of the Scaryn.
"Every civilized people know that a little over a thousand years ago, the Eloshai and Kyelsoran elves fought in a war against the Scaryn. The origin of the war is not well known, but the evil that the Scaryn perpetrated during the war speaks enough of the situation." Sitric's voice turns cold with icy venom. "There is a place in Kyelsoran, called the Ruadh Mâceria. It was once a dense, lush forest like much of the rest of Kyelsoran. They made it into a vast plain which grows only a reddish in-edible wheat. The soil is a foul red clay which will not grow much else."
Almost as an afterthought, Sitric mentions "After their final offensive, which formed the Ruadh Mâceria, it was decreed that no Scaryn would live when we were finished."
"Is that why Melosia cannot speak?" Mazeriyan asks evenly.
"No! That is their lie! She was mute when she was found! We thought all the Scaryn were dead, so I'm sure it never occurred to anyone that she might be..." Sitric's voice trailed off.
"But surely you would have known what Scaryn looked like a thousand years ago..." Max looks skeptically at Sitric.
"They looked different than they do now, according to the few records available. They looked like Kyelsoran, just with a somewhat darker complexion." Trying to divert the conversation, Sitric turns to Selmoc, "You've been rather quiet. Surely you must see that we need to leave this place!"
In a hushed voice, Selmoc leans forward to speak. "I have been trying not to draw attention to myself. I do not think they know I am Nilhen, and I would like to keep it that way. If they know what I truly am, they may detain me for further... " Selmoc pauses, searching for a neutral term, "... study."
The discussion continues with options for escape, and reasons for staying for several more minutes before there is a knock at the door. Charlis rises and opens the door, hoping that additional liquid refreshment in the form of wine has arrived. He is greeted at the door by an attractive Dargai woman with long black hair and deep green eyes, wearing a black overcoat on top of a dark purple dress with an elaborate vine and leaf pattern woven into the fabric.
"My name is Naias, and I am here to answer any questions you may have and also see that your immediate needs are met." Naias draws up a chair and joins the group in a circle around a low table.
"You are Demarian, are you not?" Telovien asks, puzzled at her presence here.
"I am Scaryn by loyalty, and Dargai by birth. My mother is from Demaria." Naias smiles. "I serve on the Praetorum, the ruling body of the Scaryn. I have lived in Ais Tyris almost all of my life."
"Are there other Dargai in your Praetorum?" Charlis leans back in his chair.
Naias pauses for a moment in thought, "No, I think I am the only one right now. Its funny, I've never really thought about it. We don't usually pay much attention to such things."
The discussion of the Praetorum continues, and the group learns that there are twelve members of the council, with one of the members elected leader for the people. Members of the council are all distinguished mages with exceptional records of public service. Replacement members of the council are chosen by the council based on nominees from a larger body.
The discussion of Ais Tyris and it's politics is interrupted when Max brings the discussion back to an immediate issue of concern. "Are we free to leave?"
Looking a little uncomfortable, Naias pauses for a moment and then shakes her head "We would prefer it if you would be our guests while we try to decide how you can return to Hebridonia without endangering our people."
"And what about the King?" Sitric asks, perhaps forgetting the group's ruse.
Again, caught off guard, Naias carefully considers her answer. "Your King is here and safe." Trying to buy some time and learn more about the group, "How did you know he was in the Ring of Fire?"
Charlis effortlessly fabricates a story. "We received a message that he was missing and might be out here while we were at the temple. We immediately left the temple and began our search."
"Can we see the him?" Sitric's face thinly veils his concern for the King.
Surveying the group, whose travels in the wilderness have produced an impressive odor, Naias chooses her words carefully. "I think it would be best if you were made more presentable before coming into his presence." Sensing that a few of the group did not quite understand, "I can take you to a nearby Labrum (bath-house) so you can clean yourselves."
Naias leaves for a moment to provide instructions to one of the guards and then returns to the group. "Once all the arrangements are made, you will be able to meet with your Regent, the King and Caela, whom I gather is currently favored to be a wife for your King. Unfortunately, the King has been unconscious since we found him."
"Perhaps there is something I can do to help." Mazeriyan offers.
"When we go, you are welcome to try, if the Regent wishes it. We believe that the King suffers from mage-sickness, which comes from a spell draining more energy from your body than you can supply." Gesturing toward the door, Naias indicates for the group to follow her. "We cannot confirm this at present, since both Caela and the Regent seem reluctant to provide full disclosure of the events which led to their arrival in the Ring of Fire."
Naias, along with an escort of 4 guards, leads the group out of the Claustrum and down a broad avenue, passing several buildings and many curious onlookers. They arrive at a large structure formed of interleaved columns which together form a permeable wall through which they are able to pass, but which shields the interior from the street. As they enter, the group notices additional guards posted around the perimeter. Inside, a large interior room lined with benches, a large pool and several smaller pools are found. The water of the pools seems to be slightly effervescent, and a thin layer of steam seems to hover at the surface.
Sensing that the group is uncertain what to do next, Naias slips out of her clothes and climbs into the pool, which appears to be roughly 5 feet deep. With the exception of Charlis and Selmoc, who profess religious reasons for not joining them, and Sitric, who "will not bathe with a Dargai", everyone else bathes in the hot spring-fed pool.
With the majority of the group cleansed, Naias returns the group to the lounge in the Claustrum, and informs them that she must go to make the remaining arrangements before they can see the King. The group is again left alone to contemplate the situation. Charlis makes a request for some wine to help pass the time, and moments later a young serving girl enters the room with two bottles and several glasses.
Roughly half an hour later, Melosia returns with Valesco, who bids her goodbye and leaves without speaking further to the group. Everyone is astonished when Melosia speaks to the group directly, rather than through Sitric. She reassures Sitric, clutching his confused and upset face and speaking to his mind. It seems to work, and Sitric relaxes again.
"I don't know how they are able to do this, but it is some magic on their part I believe." Pausing for a moment, as if listening to what she has just said, a habit from a lifetime of interpreted speech, "For now, they tell me it is not permanent." Melosia indicates that she was well treated, and has seen many wonders of the city.
The question and answer session is interrupted by a commotion outside the lounge doors, and as the group gets to their feet, a Scaryn wielding a short sword storms into the room, heading straight for Sitric. Three other attackers are seen through the doors fighting the guards, and after disabling one of the guards, a 2nd Scaryn rushes into the room.
A battle ensues, with one of the Scaryn attacking Sitric, knocking him to the ground and with sharp fangs, attempting to bite his neck. Telovien relentlessly hacks at the prone Scaryn while it attacks Sitric.
The second Scaryn is momentarily distracted by Mazeriyan's illusion of a large taunting elf. With a goblet of wine in one hand and a short sword in the other, Charlis fends off the second Scaryn's advance.
Melosia's scream alerts the group that two other attackers have slipped into the lounge from behind through a wide window in wall opposite the door. Max successfully forces one of the new attackers back out the window, who falls to the road below. The other Scaryn joins its comrade in fighting Sitric, and then Telovien.
After defeating two of the attackers in the hallway, the two remaining guards enter the room just in time to assist Charlis in subduing one of the assailants. The two remaining swords-men are defeated shortly thereafter.
With the exception of Sitric and Charlis, the remainder of the group is unharmed, but shaken from the experience. Valesco and an additional group of guards arrives and takes control of the situation. Valesco is unwilling to answer any questions about the attackers, or their unusual appearance, which includes sharpened teeth and long fangs.
Naias arrives a few moments later with a healer. She explains that the attackers are almost certainly She-ar'tyl cult members, based on their physical appearance. Mazeriyan indicates that he has heard of them before, but only in Demaria.
"The cult's primary power base is in Demaria. But it exists almost everywhere," Naias' brow furrows, "even in Ais Tyris. We are fairly certain that they exist in Hebridonia as well, though by the nature of the cult, they are well hidden."
Sitric rudely refuses healing from the Scaryn healer, and receives first aid from Selmoc. Charlis happily accepts the offer of healing, and the healer pulls a glove made of some gauze-like material over her hand, and places it on Charlis' wound. The glove quickly attaches itself to the surrounding flesh and begins to merge with the wound. When the healer pulls back her hand, all that remains is healthy pink flesh and some stiffness.
With the willing wounded attended to, and the bodies of the fallen removed, Naias is again bombarded with questions.
Mazeriyan and Telovien puzzle over the lack of blood from the wounds dealt to the Scaryn attackers. Approaching Naias, Telovien asks "None of the attacker's wounds bled... why?"
"It is because Scaryn have no blood. Their race is much like the Dargai in that respect." Naias turns to face the group. "We will have time to discuss this in more detail later. I am concerned that the She-ar'tyl have already learned of your presence. We must get you to a place of greater safety."
Previously: Charades
Followed by: Tyr Ektania Specularis
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