Session Twenty Nine: To finding the missing women
General Summary
Introduction
It's been an eventful afternoon. You’re enjoying your "Keepers of the Flame" with a side of drama. Kiasuh explained to Tristan that she met his sister when tending her injuries. Tristan would like to know more. That's where we ended the last session.Still at lunch...
Tristan asks Kiasuh when she patched Elizabeth up and what the injuries were. Kiasuh estimates they met between a few months to a year ago when Elizabeth broke her toes. She came in with a halfling Jorasco who insisted he heal her himself. Elizabeth wanted professional help though. She came back 4 more times with the same injury. Tristan is very confused. Vence asks Kiasuh how Elizabeth broke her toes. Kiasuh says it involved dancing. Tristan asks about the Jorasco person. Kiasuh describes someone named Genti whose mother works at the Spire of Life. Looking at Malak, she suggests he’s Sadie's child. Malak shrugs, unsure. Kiasuh confirms that he is. Vence also confirms this fact, peaking Kiasuh’s curiosity. She wonders how Vence knew. He moves the conversation to a different topic. He asks who else was with Elizabeth. Kiasuh only saw the two but mentioned hearing they were traveling with more. Silmer believes she had a clumsy dancing partner. Vence suggests to Silmer she took up ballet. Dancers who practice this get injured regularly. Silmer deems this weird. Kiasuh agrees, but she’s seen people practice it before. Like Cissa. Tristan asks if Cissa got injured as well. Kiasuh is unsure, but also mentioned Cissa flies half of the time. It’s likely she was cheating. Kiasuh tells Tristan that Elizabeth is fine. She then announces she’s off to work soon. It’s settled that Tristan can come back to ask her more questions later. She then asks Malak what his plans are tomorrow. He mentions meeting the princess. Griff mentions she is a close friend of his. Kiasuh explains her husband is friends with the prince of Aundair. She isn’t surprised he made a good impression. After Malak declares wanting to visit his mother to get information, the group discuss what to do the next day. Griff asks if anyone else can sing the song that made his arm glow. He could try, but his singing won't sound very good. Kiasuh gives it a go. There is no sign of a glow. When Kiasuh gets up to leave for work, Griff offers to help her at the Spire of Life. Kiasuh agrees if he doesn’t get in the way. Griff quips that he is good at following orders. Nesza talks about the mark on the map. He asks if Malak knows how the house can be connected to his issue. Malak knows a good way to find out. He explains the concept of knocking. This annoys Nesza as there was no need to "move inside to discuss the approach", as was previously suggested by Malak. Nesza mentions it might not be that simple. He asks if Malak knows anything about the house. He does not. Nesza wants to investigate the statue again. Malak suggests it’s fine to go back if people don’t talk to the Veiled Ones again. Vence mentions the group was being watched at the Orion station. The Veiled Ones may have already been keeping eye on them. Nesza agrees. He wants to go there at night to have a look. Silmer offers to help as backup. Griff would love to come along, but there are plans to drink at the Lazy Bull as per Vence’s suggestion. Griff invites everyone to join. Malak believes going to the house tonight is better than tomorrow as there will be fireworks then. Nesza asks if there might be extra guards. Malak seems unsure. But he suggests it unwise to knock on the door at night as the inhabitants might be sleeping. Nesza feels he could sell the story of an Aasimar on a journey of worship. Malak suggests the tale would be more believable carried out during the day. Griff mentions having seen guards around town and wonders if it’s normal. Malak mentions the guards were likely escorts of the Veiled Ones. He asks if Kiasuh has seen other guards around. Nothing stood out to her. She asks if Griff is ready to go. Before they leave, April asks where to meet up. Griff mentions he will be back at the Inn and going for drinks later from there. They agree to meet there at 7. Griff heads off with Kiasuh. Tristan walks up to Griff at the door. What Griff said about his sister was not OK. Next time he won’t be polite about it. He asks if this is clear and Griff confirms. Nesza asks Vence about the copper cup at the statue. Vence mentions it was seen at the shrine of the Traveler and then again at the Inn where Almentash was working. He has marked the cup on him to check if it appears in the future again. Malak explains he needs to go past work and the Cathedral and asks if anyone has other plans. Tristan asks if anything was discussed upstairs that the rest of the group should be aware of. Vence unveils a conversation about the lyrics of the “glow song”. He mentions it was written for Myranna by Luscinia, but he has no idea how the two are connected. After Malak is asked to clarify, he mentions the second verse of the song describes Myri and how she went to war. He’s unsure how this is relevant to Luscinnia. It is explained that she is Corvus’ mother. Vence sings the last line of the second verse, making Nesza’s mark flicker in the process. Vence points out to Malak that the songs calls Myranna the Silverbird. When he sang, her hair turned Radiant silver. Malak says that’s indeed what her hair looks like. She got that from him. Silmer mentions the Silverbird was spotted above Breland. Malak asks if it’s his sister’s airship or the actual bird. Silmer takes a moment to think and realizes it’s likely the airship. Silmer then continues the previous conversation, mentioning the arrow in Thaliost. Malak asks if the great cost of it all might be the sickness. Tristan mentons Griff told them about the greenery being all fucked up now. Malak says it makes sense. Tristan summarizes the Luscinnia connection. Malak confirms and explains that Luscinnia also cured Mia. It’s agreed that more verses need to be collected. Vence mentions that Nesza has seen the Silverbird and that he, Tristan and Griff all have a Mark. He asks when they got their Marks. Nesza got his before the silverbird incident. April asks if it just appeared and if it’s more than just a tattoo. She wonders if there was a selection process and how far it extends beyond soldiers. Nesza mentions seeing others with a Mark that might not have seen battle. Tristan confirms and adds that a lot of refugees who left Cyre also have it. Malak explains that it’s recent. His wife and mother both fought in the war and they don’t have one. Nesza asks what they did in the war. Malak explains they were in support roles. His mother fought 49 years ago and Kiasuh around 30 years ago. Malak tells the group he thinks it’s not linked to the Flight of the Silverbird. Griff wasn’t there and neither was Prince Wrogar. April asks how Mia got her Mark. No one knows. Malak is asked if he knows when she was healed. He mentions it being after the mourning. Answering April’s question, Tristan explains he was in Cyre, 6 to 8 months before the end of the war. Nesza mentions he was outside of Methrol. So was Tristan. Vence speculates whether the common relation was being in Cyre during a specific part of the war. Tristan relays that Griff wasn’t. Wrogar was though. Silmer asks if anyone has a map, so things could be put into better perspective. None of these cities are coast related. He specifically wants maps from Breland, Aundair, Thrane and Cyre. Silmer mentions that according to rumour there is an unknown ship going to an unknown island north west of Fairhaven. He assumed it would be his sister. But her ship was spotted in Breland. According to Malak, Cissa and Mia are likely on the unknown airship. Another captain with another ship could be flying them. Maybe Mia is flying an airship. Silmer mentions he should send a message to his sister. He assumed she would be helping Cissa out. Nesza asks Silmer if he can check if George is OK as well. April asks how close one can get to Cyre borders. Tristan says he is unsure but they say to walk into Cyre is to willfully die. April wants to get close enough to take a dirt sample. Vence mentions you can get in via Breland or Karrnath. Vence turns to Tristan and says according to management, the bards will be heading to Breland soon. Malak asks if Elisabeth is with Taliashana. Vence confirms this and mentions Genti and some human male who he doesn’t know are also traveling with them. When it’s asked who Genti is, Malak explains that it’s Sadie's kid. Vence asks how close Sadie and Malak’s mom are. Malak mentions they were close friends until Sadie passed a couple years ago. Nesza asks if Malak can accompany him to knock on the door of that house, followed by the Spire of Knowledge. Malak says he would like to go do that right now as it’s on the way to work. Nesza asks if anyone else wants to join. Vence wants to go to the Spire of Inspiration with April and Silmer. Tristan needs some alone time. After a plan of action is discussed, Vence asks April about the newspaper she found. Tristan is reminded that Apri said something about her mother portrayed as a witch? April pushes the newspaper in his face. The group discus how far off their pictures are. April mentions an article about the Wardens. Tristan reads the newspaper and asks April if it’s correct in saying her mother seduced her father with a love potion. Silmer jests that it sounds right. April explains that her mom makes potions and that her parents love each other. Tristan mentions to not take everything you read in newspaper so seriously. The group slit up. Tristan goes off on his own. Nesza and Malak go to the marked house first while Vence, April and Silmer move towards the Spire of Inspiration.Tristan – Casually climbing up tower walls like a spider
Tristan walks into town alone looking for a high building with an alley besides it. He finds a clocktower and climbs up the wall to get inside. When all the way to the top, he sits down and looks out over the city. He grabs for something in his shirt and starts talking. He mentions it’s been a while since he’s checked in. It’s been an interesting few days. He’s in Flamekeep and he almost got arrested on his first day. He sits back and looks at the sky. Squints his eyes as if he is trying to remember a memory. Something is triggered and he takes out paper to start writing.Griff – Proving he can also heal Thranians
Kiasuh gives Griff the option to check in with the druids or help in the ER. Griff wants to prove he’s not a murderer like she previously deemed, so would like to show he can make a difference in the ER. Kiasuh assigns him to one of her assistants, Cassidy. Griff helps the rest of the day curing people.Malak and Nesza – Statue, house, Statue and off to the library
They arrive at the statue. Nesza investigates the statue. He finds the cup that was there earlier today is gone. Malak checks if the statue has broken toes. They are not. He wears a feather, in the same way Cissa does. They leave the statue and move to the house. Nesza asks Malak how well he blended in. Malak tells him he didn’t blend in well at all. As Nesza asks for tips Malak gets impatient. He steps forward, uses the door knocker and steps back. Nesza postures up expectantly. Nothing happens. Nesza knocks the door. When he touches the door, he hears a voice in his head speaking Celestial. As Nesza is told he needs a key, a keyhole suddenly appears in the door. Nesza asks if there are any clues to where he might find it. The voice tells him the key is in "his study". Nesza tries to ask the door who he is. There is no reply. He takes Malak to a private area. After an explanation, Malak mentions it might be his uncle. They look over the statue again for clues. There is no key but Malak notices some books at the base that are part of the statue. One of the books is titled “Ancient Relics”. Malak thinks he might have seen it at the Spire of Knowledge.The 3 Musketeers
Vence pulls April and Silmer to the side before they go in. He explains that Emir might help in getting information given his relationship with the Circle. He mentions that the newspaper articles about food and wine have caught Emir’s attention and he could use them to explain how he found April and why he wants to help. First though, he’s going to get the key to Cissa’s apartment so he can change into Emir. He’ll then come down to meet them in the lobby. Greeted by Molly, he asks for the key to Cissa’s room and directions on how to get there. Molly explains he can just open the door. He also asks where the circle office is located. Vence then sends the duo waiting outside a message they can come in. As Vence enters the apartment he notices an unusual smell. Vence does not associate it with Cissa, but the scent is somewhat checmical. As if it’s been fabricated. He assumes April might know more. As Thaen he casts sending to Ressina. Thaen: In Flamekeep a few days. Thrane for longer. Could we meet. Like to discuss happenings in Athandra and general Len. And to your happy retirement?Ressina: Well this is a surprise. Very confusing instance. Not in Thrane so can’t meet. Perhaps talk at a House Sivis station tomorrow. Thaen: That will work well for me. How about tomorrow at 3. Do we need a secure channel?
Ressina: Leave the channel to me, 3 is fine. Then as Emir he heads down, only to be encircled by a crowd. A little girl walks up and asks for a signature. After a bunch of signatures, April asks him to sign a potion bottle for her. Emir asks if he knows her. April mentions she has an urgent question for him and wonders if he would mind joining her in the corner for a bit. Emir responds confused. April says she has a friend she’d like him to meet. In shuffles Silmer looking like a bad ass half elf with a facial scar. Emir asks if he wants an autograph. Silmer says no. Emir says he looks imposing. The crowd checks up on Emir to see if he’s OK. April says the crowd is scaring him. Emir says it’s OK. Emir makes a motion and walks off to the side. April asks him if his life is normally like this. Emir starts talking in hush tones and says this is why Vence exists. Emir says that the next time he asks her who she is she should say her name, pointing at her newspaper so he can reference that. April presumes to screams her name out loud and that she makes the best wine in Khorvair. Murmurs start. Emir waves a hand over the crowd and points at the most well-traveled bard he sees to come join them. An older man comes over. Emir says he’ll be his biggest fan if he can help him place why he might have heard of April Highthorn and Windshire. The bard makes up a song on the spot around the contents of the newspaper. This is a song about Windshire
April's parents were in it
Her mother was abducted and her dad is hexed
And they made wine together and other stuff I should not say because she is here April twitches at the song. He gets up awfully close to her, making Emir step in and ask to give her space. April says she has not said yes to the tea yet yeah. He replies with yeah. Silmer is wondering what’s happening. After signing the man’s (Gobby’s his name) lute, he takes April and Silmer to the Circle office. The three of them sit with a half elven bard named Martha. Emir says he is looking for information. He found April Highthorn and heard her mother was kidnapped. April says the only clue she has is Athandra. Martha asks why Athandra is mentioned. April mentions General Len. Martha sits up and mentions it’s a name she hasn’t heard in a while. April asks why she recognizes the name. Martha says she knows the name, but he is not much of a general. There are stories of a Valenar elf marching on different cities around Khorvair. She believes it has something to do with the marked soldiers. Martha mentions that in the Name of Gazeer Len bards have also disappeared. She has no idea why. Emir asks if she names of those captured. Martha agrees to look into this. Silmer asks why he isn’t being stopped. Martha mentions that there is no proof. Word of mouth isn’t good enough for royalty to make a move. The funny thing as well is that whenever it’s looked into they are suddenly gone. Emir says it sounds like there might be a mole on the inside. Martha says that might be possible, but she hopes not. April asks what the last place is he was spotted at. Martha says she thinks it was somewhere in Breland. Emir asks if she could do more research into this. She agrees and tells the group to come back in 2 days. April asks if there have been abductions from farms. Martha sadly says there is only one known case. April asks if he is after soldiers with the mark. Martha says it seems he is indeed using them. She asks Emir what his interest in this is. Emir mentions that the finest winemaker has gone missing and no one is aware of this. At this point she’s found out to be a d’Lyrander and she wonders why Silmer seems familiar. Silmer plays it as coincidence. Overhearing them discuss whether to mention a tortle, Martha confirms there is indeed one that stops by from time to time named Krul. As they say their goodbyes, Emir turns around and asks about the rumors of a dancing statue. Martha explains a court Bird was playing music at the statue. Though she is unsure who it was, they likely conjured an image of Cissa and the statue dancing together. April mentions if there is anything she can do for her to just get in touch. Martha says that if there is anything that April can do for her, she will find her. April says she is not hard to miss with the red hair. Martha waves them off. Emir asks for help with something in Cissa’s apartment. He leads April and Silmer upstairs. Silmer notices frescos against the walls, especially one of a woman with long black hair holding the hand of a child. They assume the woman is Cissa. Silmer takes off his hat and introduces himself. Emir mentions he knows what Vence knows. Silmer asks why they are there. While they are chatting, April recognizes the chemical smell. It’s the scent of a lady that came to visit her mother. The lady was striking. As she enters the room, it seemed as if the room dimmed as she radiated. She visited more than once. April’s mother created other types of concoctions than just potions. This includes perfume with magical properties. April brings it up. Silmer asks if she remembers the name. April thinks long and hard. As she looks around the room, she sees the painting of the woman and child it hits her. It’s Cygnus. Cissa’s mother. Silmer asks if it’s a good thing she was here. He also wonders why they are in the apartment. Emir says he needed April’s with some clothing selections.