Session 27: Bump in the Night

General Summary

Quest	fin	What's up with that?	fin
Kill incandus Carthelian		Pathfinders' Legacy
Chart the Stars		Planeswalkers' Folly
Find the Morningstar (again)		Chess Pieces

Recap

Winter's Third Turning, Second Moon, 1511

After agreeing to host the Omens, Caspian assured them that they could eat the food without fear; he, as their host, is sworn not to bring harm to them while they are under his roof, and that includes bewitching them by magical food. After finishing a delicous meal prepared by the invisible servants during which Augustana unabashadly flirted with Caspian through their telepathic link, the Omens were given a tour of the estate they would make their home. They were given leave to explore the library and observatory, and each recieved a well furnished room to call their own for their stay, though Andy chose to sleep in the observatory, which is full of exotic plants from the Spring and Summer courts. The group, however, was barred from the West Wing, where the rest of Caspian's family lives and prefers not to be disturbed. Upon slight investigation, it was heard that there was some sort of animal living on the other side on the main floor, assumed to be the kennels where the estate's winter wolves are housed. The estate itself is beautiful, ornate bordering on ostentatious. Lush, deep blue carpets line the halls that are fitted with a marbly white wainscoting laced with silver filigree. The halls are filled with family portraits, elegant suits of armor, and illustrious tapestries depicting this house of wolves at war with enemies in dark armor.

Night Moves

A vicious howl awoke those staying towards the back of the house, as well as Andy in the observatory. A shape tore through the gardens, followed by two sentries who shouted words in Sylvan, sending a flood of winter wolves in pursuit of the form as it vaulted the back retaining wall of the manor. Lorelai and Ilya knocked on Caspian's door to warn him, but he seemed groggy and assured that the sentries could handle it. In the front of the house, Amara and Augustana were shaken awake by a pulse within the Call as a hulking figure beat against the estate's wards. Two sentries came inside to get Caspian, who again very groggily answered the door and left to handle it; barefoot in silken pajama bottoms and a gauzy kimono. Outside, followed by Augustana, Caspian argued with the figure, a frost giant, before it began to draw its weapon. Before it could, Caspian spoke a word of power so potent it shook the Call within the wards and laid the giant low. Augustana returned to bed, head ringing with the Call's reverbrations, before Caspian could see her there. In the back of the estate, the winter wolves returned, large beast held in their ranks. To Andy's eyes, the creature looked to be a slightly humanoid, bear/wolf hybrid, glimmering with the cold light of Winter. The wolves returned it to the West Wing, and the sentries slammed the doors shut behind it. Andy prayed to the moon, the Regalia, in hopes of getting a vision. Unfortunately, nothing came through, but Augustana looked to the sky, dreaming about one day finding her place in one of the moon's sattelites, where the greatest of wizards and bards find their eternal rest in the great song.

Morning in the Manor

In the morning, the Omens woke to the aromatic smells of coffee and spices, mingling with the sweet aromas of freshly baked goods. The group came downstairs to meet Caspian in the small dining room (which is by no means small, easily seating upwards of twelve guests with a mezzanine above), where he sat at the head of the table, pinning a book open with one hand and holding a steaming mug of cider in the other. The Omens served up and began to plot their journey to find the rest of their travelling companions.