Business in Yonara

They all know now. At least, enough of them that it is pointless to make attempts to conceal it. My old friend, Ulrich Ron Lamperos, is in Yonara on business. He addressed me as the person I once was before I had seen him. We were all at breakfast together, so Mister Malopher, Priestess Sophia, Mister Clem and Mister Marlowe were all there. Miss Stonetell was either ill or had partaken in too much drink to rise with the sun this morning. I found it difficult to find a way to respond in this circumstance. As he is wont to do, Ulrich spoke as though his lungs did not require air to do so, giving me little time to collect what scattered thoughts I had to articulate a response.
 
Mister Malopher came to my aid, however, and asked me if I knew Ulrich. He called me by my name. I responded affirmatively and Ulrich, perplexed, asked if I had changed my name. I told him that was the case. He took the news well, and though he demonstrated some difficulty adapting, it was clear that he was trying. I must remember to thank Mister Malopher for interceding on my behalf.
 
A young girl came by as well, before Ulrich. She had spoken with Mister Marlowe about me, and he shared his breakfast with her as she explained to me a troubling situation. Her mother was due to make an appearance in court and she had no lawyer. The girl introduced herself as Kaylin and offered me a small fee to make an appearance. I accepted out of courtesy, though I intend to return her offer when I get an opportunity to do so. Once I had agreed, Miss Kaylin left us.
 
Nobody spoke of the incident with Ulrich after he had left. I set about finishing my breakfast and left with Priestess Sophia to meet with Bishop Malgrave, so that the priestess could commission a sending. As we walked, Priestess Sophia inquired about my circumstances. It was clear from the questions she asked that she has not met another in my situation before. Though it makes me uncomfortable to do so, I made an attempt to explain it to her. Mercifully, Priestess Sophia seemed to learn quickly.
 
When we arrived at the chapel, Ulrich was there with his mentor, Foltore Ron Hyouhaku. He appears to be a Bishop of the Dusk Mage. Perhaps even an Archbishop. I took the initiative of introducing myself and Priestess Sophia. Bishop Hyouhaku accepted our introductions with a level of decorum one might expect of a Dusk Mage of his standing. The two men left our presence and I led Priestess Sophia within the chapel to introduce her to Bishop Malgrave. We conducted our business and promptly left, giving the Bishop time to tend to his duties.
 
We traveled to the town hall at this point to investigate the council meeting. It was there that I was cheerfully greeted by Miss Kaylin. Her mother, Missus Lidda Hilvar, apologized for her daughter wasting my time, telling me that she would not need assistance. I told Missus Hilvar that I would be the one to determine such a thing, and she seemed to reluctantly accept this response. She explained that her landlord, one Alaric Grapeswalle, was attempting to prematurely renegotiate her rental contract because she had been missing payments. We seldom had time for this brief explanation before the proceedings began.
 
Ulrich is representing Mister Grapeswalle, and seems to have already built up an orderly case. As I might have suspected. I was asked if I would be representing Missus Hilvar, to which I answered affirmatively, introducing myself to the council. I was asked if I was being paid for the service, and I informed them that I would be working pro bono. I explained that I had just learned of the case and, as such, knew very little of the situation. Ulrich volunteered to assist me, and we were granted a five minute recess.
 
Ulrich explained that Missus Hilvar’s debt to Mister Grapeswalle has been in default recently, and that it is within Mister Grapeswalle’s rights to terminate the contract if Missus Hilvar is missing payments. We went over a few more of the details before we were called back from recess. I informed Mayor Bannoura that Ulrich had given me some details about Mister Grapeswalle’s case, but moved to enact the Spring’s Grace Clause to delay the proceedings on the grounds that I still knew very little about Missus Hilvar’s side of the case. My motion was approved, and now I must make haste to assemble my case.
 
As we were dismissed, a group of Akacheta approached the council and inquired about the northern plains. Mayor Bannoura informed them that travel to the plains was banned due to a coming high storm. The Akacheta were not happy about this as they left. Mister Marlowe attempted to pick a fight with the Mayor, much to my dismay, but backed off. As we all left the court house, we saw Missus Hilvar having an argument with an older man. Priestess Sophia and I accompanied Missus Hilvar home while the others went in other directions.
 
Missus Hilvar mentioned the possibility of taking the settlement that Mister Grapeswalle is offering her, but I encouraged her to not let the man buy her out of her dream. She seemed to take this advice to heart. After checking on her bee hives, we went inside. She told us that her husband was a Viajero, and often brought back exotic plants that they had used to enhance the flavor of the mead. She showed us some of the things that he had kept. There was a safe and several books in various different languages. We were able to use a clue contained with the safe to correctly guess the combination. Inside, we found even more materials, including information regarding said exotic plants.
 
One such plant appears to grow in the plains north of Yonara. It was then, looking at Mister Hilvar’s illustration of the flower, that I realized that I had seen it in a dream the night prior. I mentioned this to Sophia, and told her that, were we to find this flower, we could potentially improve Missus Hilvar’s finances again. We would, however, require a majority of the five person council to allow us to make the expedition.
 
In time, the others came to the meadery. I mentioned my plan. As it so happens, Mister Malopher, Mister Clem and Mister Marlowe were already planning to do something similar in order to accompany the Akacheta into the plains. Their intent is to hunt the Ta’LeSharo in the area. I allowed myself to express my disapproval hunting a group of people as though they were animals. To my surprise, it was Mister Clem that argued with me about this. Ultimately, I do not believe that either of us were swayed from our initial positions. The others seemed to side with Mister Clem as well, so it seems unlikely that I will be talking sense into my companions into this matter. At least not soon.
 
Shortly after this, I excused myself to return to the Homey Hive. Priestess Sophia accompanied me. There, we met with Ulrich. We discussed some of the matters concerning the case further. Ulrich revealed to us that Mister Grapeswalle intends to convert the meadery into a church of the Mother Sun. I fear I wore my heart upon my sleeve too readily in this company, asking Ulrich if it is fair to pave the road to salvation over the grave of a family’s dream. Ulrich accused me of hyperbole and explained the good that would come of the added church presence, which I cannot deny.
 
After a brief discussion he excused himself. I sat for a time with Priestess Sophia in silence. The storm stirred restlessly. This entire situation seemed wholly unjust in ways that I could not logically explain. These feelings of frustration and anger faded as the sun began to set. I looked to the dusk, and in that moment I was reminded of days long past. Places and faces I would not be seeing soon. I muzzled the nameless beast in anticipation and felt the stirring of the storm grow less erratic but more constant. I looked to Priestess Sophia and asked her if she had noticed any peculiarities pertaining to the ways in which Miss Avalissa and Mister Sivu had been conducting themselves around one another recently. She confessed to noticing something, and I suggested that we discuss matters with Miss Avalissa.
 
We spoke with Miss Avalissa about matters which ought not be committed to ink. However, it would seem that a breakthrough had been reached. We shall see what comes of it in time. Afterwards, Priestess Sophia got into an argument with Miss Stonetell and I excused myself to dinner. I sat with Mister Malopher and Mister Clem. The three of us exchanged some words. In retrospect, perhaps I had said too much. I worry that my old name may not be the only secret that is let to slip before we leave this town.