Reunion

I expected that I might have to find Chieftain Vides’De myself, but it would seem that he had found me first. He met with my companions and myself and we spoke about the Dream spell. I suspect that the Chieftain saw through me. Were the others not present I may have been more honest with him, but I suspect that he has gleaned enough.
 
We were in her office. There was something about seeing her in this context, like she always was, that I could not bear. I found my composure crumbling into nothingness, and I was left speechless. She comforted me, and instead of feeling the storm surge within me, I instead felt the tempest die down. The Nameless Beast was as stunned as I. I was able to simply exist in the same space as her for that brief moment in time, and it felt like I was finally safe again.
 
I posited my theory to Sensei regarding my two-point message conveyance method. Sensei verified that my theory was based on solid principles, but that I was lacking one key component: a sigil. I must discover a sigil that can be placed within a brazier that will tap into the weave in precisely the correct way to establish the connection. Not only this, but I must ensure that the sigil is translated into a tongue that will allow for easier replication so that others can master the spell as well, as it will only be as useful as it is prolific.
 
Sensei said that this undertaking could take the better part of a lifetime to understand. I told her that anything that is worth doing is worth the maximum effort. She seemed to like this comment. For the sake of making communication with others more convenient, I would very much like to discover this sigil as soon as possible. Though I now realize that my drafts as of now do not account well for the privacy of its users. I wonder if there might be a way to allow a user to fine tune such things? Perhaps encryption? Or the ability to disable the audio component? I suppose it is best that I discover the conjuration component before I begin making alterations to the message component.
 
I also discussed Missus Hilvar’s case with Sensei, and was very happy to hear that she has very similar concerns to my own. We spent much of the night together studying law. It was very dense material, but I found it to be therapeutic. It was a return to order that I desperately wanted. Those eight hours felt so painfully short, but it is impossible to put into words how much they meant to me. I awoke this morning feeling mentally refreshed. I now had some direction and some clarity in my mind. It has been a very long time since I last felt this way.
 
Priestess Sophia had apparently spent the night in my room, as Chieftain Vides’De remained after casting the spell. She started to make haste to leave, perhaps expecting me to be irritated by her presence, but I told her that she could stay. She assisted me with my morning preparations and we spoke briefly about my meeting with Sensei. Knowing now of the connection between Sensei and Bishop Hyouhaku, I think I shall keep my connection with Sensei quiet unless it is necessary to speak of it. At least so long as we remain in Yonara.
 
Once Priestess Sophia had left, I made my way to the dining room and sought out Mister Malopher. He appeared to be lost in thought, so I sat beside him and waited for a moment before greeting him. We spoke of the ruins in the plains, and of Missus Hilvar’s case. Mister Malopher intended to seek out the Apothecary for her permission to go into the plains, but said that he would peruse any financial documentation I can find. I thanked him and allowed him to leave.
 
I then approached Mister Clem and greeted him with more than my customary cheer, if his reaction was any indicator. He asked me some rather pointed questions. Moradans seem to have an earnest way about themselves. It does not do to speak around topics of conversation with a Moradan. They will strike at nuance as though striking a rock with a hammer, the objective being to extract the precious materials within. The lack of grace or propriety is of no concern, for they seek efficiency and sincerity in their interactions. Of course, barring a few rare cases, I do not seek to spread falsehoods, so when pressed in this manner, I regret to say that I reveal quite a lot more than I would normally like to. I fear the Mister Clem learned this fact in our conversation, and so I may expect more troublesome questions from him in the future.
 
Once I had finished with breakfast I made my way to Missus Hilvar’s meadery. I met Miss Avalissa on the way. We spoke about many things, and I invited her to accompany me to the meadery, to which she agreed. When we arrived, Missus Hilvar welcomed us. I asked her for some documentation and she led me into her cellar. It is unkempt, dank, and disorganized. A box full with documents lie within. The documents had not been sorted in a long while. She tended to an equipment malfunction before assisting me with the documents.
 
I reconvened with Miss Avalissa and together we sorted and poured over the documents. Miss Avalissa’s assistance was indispensable. She clearly knows a lot about property law and business proceedings. The documents paint a picture of either incompetence or cold calculation on the part of Mister Grapeswalle or one of his associates. To what end, it is difficult to extrapolate. However, the terms of the contract are peculiar. A lot about this case is so incredibly peculiar. I do not have the time to sort out all of the details, unfortunately, and so I must take what I have and construct the best defense that I can. Best not to over think things. The goal, after all, is simply for Missus Hilvar to keep her home and livelihood.
 
Ulrich visited me whilst I was there. Apparently Mister Marlowe and Miss Stonetell had visited Grapeswalle Manor. My horror was apparently laid bare upon my countenance, as Ulrich informed me that the situation was not as terrible as I might think. Mister Grapeswalle had apparently agreed to allow us to travel into the plains, on the condition that we take Ulrich with us. I told Ulrich that I look forward to his company, and mentioned how we have only had time to discuss business matters. He suggested we catch up on our way out of town.
 
I continued to work alone for a time. Eventually, the others began to congregate at the meadery, and so I began organizing the strewn documents so that we could all sit together. Mister Malopher analyzed some of Missus Hilvar’s faulty equipment, and I updated him on the discoveries made by myself and Miss Avalissa. He offered some insight of his own to the situation as well. I believe I now have my plan of attack. It is fortunate that I had done so, as we were soon off to meet Chieftain Vides’De.
 
Whilst we made our way to the Rosenhill Clan’s encampment, Mister Clem approached me. We spoke a bit about the conflict between the Akacheta and the Ta’LeSharo. I now understand that theirs is a history fraught with decades of bloodshed and animosity. I conceded to Mister Clem that I would not object to conflict with the Ta’LeSharo provided there was no other option. I believe that I also managed to cause Mister Clem to consider my reasoning regarding the Ta’LeSharo as well. I apologized for being short with the young man, and it would seem that our bond may have only grown stronger as a result of this disagreement. I am quite glad for it.
 
We arrived at the Rosenhill Clan’s territory in time to witness an apparent disagreement between the Chieftain and his grandson. They parted ways when they noticed us. I approached Chieftain Vides’De respectfully and asked him if he would offer us his wisdom. He took some time to collect himself before welcoming us. He advised that we leave before sunset, and that the Ta’LeSharo in the area have been making dark sacraments to demons in exchange for power. These profane rituals are conducted on the night of the blood moon, and so our best opportunity to leave into the plains is this evening. He provided us with some supplies and wished us luck. We returned to the Homey Hive to collect our things as well as Ulrich.
 
There were two groups of Ta’LeSharo in those plains, not just the Gnolls, but Hobgoblins as well. Ultimately, in order to visit the ruins, we had to dispatch both groups. What a terrible loss of life it was, but none in our rank were among the dead somehow. The Hobgoblins had taken the ruins as a base of operations, led by a pair of powerful spellcasters. We dispatched them and found Missus Hilvar’s flower. Chieftain Vides’De and the Rosenhills Clan met us in the ruins and invited us to join in their festivities. However, I tired greatly from the journey, and so I remained alone in the tower to collect my thoughts here.