Chronicles of 'Team B' - Chapter 43 - Seeking an Alliance
General Summary
For the first time in weeks, the Serpent Slayers sleep in safety behind the walls of the Ladeisk citadel. The following morning, Lokan, now with some money in his purse, sets out to wander the town. The late fall brings fine sunny weather to town, and despite growing threats both to the north and south, the people seem at ease before the breaking of the storm.
But his companions have appointments to keep. Agapia goes to the Holy Dormition convent and meets with Mother Feodosia. The abbess is happy to see her, and asks about her journey. The girl recounts all her travails, and says that she learned her lesson about thoughtlessly sticking strange magical eggs in her mouth. She also tells the story of officiating at Yuri's wedding to Svetlana, and asks whether she was right to do so, despite not being an ordained priestess. Feodosia says that the custom of making marriage a sacrament is actually a relatively recent one, and that before, people frequently just put rings at the bottom of a cup of wine, drank it together, and were then considered married. Love, in any case, must win out. As if to affirm her newfound wisdom and responsibility, Agapia presents the nun with the two precious ladles acquired in the Cave of the Sleeping Bogatyrs, tells her of their power to bring back the dead, and asks whether the Holy Mother can make them work again. Feodosia says that she lacks such power, and that it would be a good idea to speak about this to the archbishop. Agapia says that it would be best if the convent kept the ladles, as they might come in handy in the upcoming war, and Feodosia gratefully accepts.
Malina was too tired to speak to the prince after their return the previous today, so she starts the morning by requesting an audience to debrief. Trofim Andreevich sees her, and hears her story of the journey. When she has finished, she asks whether the prince has any new assignments for her. He replies that the warriors she helped bring back are busy planning the city's defenses, but aside from dealing with the flood of refugees he must now contend with, he can't think of anything for her to do. Then she asks whether there are any prospects for finding allies against Grey Wolf and the Kochmaki, perhaps by offering someone an advantageous marriage with one of his children. The prince feels rather isolated and friendless. His second son reigns as prince in Turp, and his relations with Omena are passable, but sending envoys to either city are problematic because the wolves control the territory to the north of the city, and on top of that, both of them fear crossing his powerful rival, the Grand Prince, who he feels is the wolves' puppet master. There is, however, the Grand Prince of Galinda, far to the west, who may be interested. The Church dislikes him, as he is the last remaining heathen among powerful rulers, but he is working to convert him to the True Confession, because maintaining old beliefs gives few prospects to an ambitious dynasty. Because of her own beliefs, this prospects is quite appealing to Malina, and she asks whether the prince would be willing to send her to Galinda, and he says he would consider it after talking it over with his advisors. But time is of the essence, because war will likely come in winter, when the rivers freeze.
Shortly after, Zorina is summoned by Zhadan Cheslavovich. He first asks her about her journey, how far north the Serpent Slayers had come, whether they spoke with Zinovii Surikov, and what became of Zalyn. He also questions her about the recent meeting with the six armed riders in the woods, which he heard about from the prince. He then tells her that Trofim Andreevich is thinking of sending a diplomatic mission to the Galind Grand Prince, and that he understands that Zorina herself hails from that part of the world. Because the journey is long - at least a two week ride in either direction - he would like her to serve as guide. Zorina, thinking that traveling back toward home may allow her to learn the fate of her imprisoned cousin, so she speedily accepts. Zhadan tells her to come up with a list of items she needs for the journey, and that he would meet with her again on the morrow to see if he can fulfill her requests.
Toward the end of the day, all the companions who are not busy with military matters get together to have a drink at the citadel tavern. Here, Malina and Zorina fill them in on the possible westward journey. There is nothing keeping Agapia in the city, and Lokan is eager to make himself useful in negotiating the woods. As for what is needed, the companions discuss horses, a new bow for Zorina, winter clothing, and food. Malina also mentions a wondrous item she has heard of called Sending Stones, which would allow the group to keep in constant communication with the prince while they are way. Lokan, for his part, says that he has heard of an item called a Bag of Holding, which would allow the party to bring whatever supplies they need without overloading themselves. A list is compiled, and Zorina sends it off to Zhadan. Malina sends out messengers to her father, and to the prince.
The following day, the entire party meets with the prince, and with Zhadan, who has been put in charge of organizing the mission. Zorina presents her list, and Zhadan replies that the horses, bow, food and clothing will not be a problem, but he is not in possession of any of the wondrous items the list mentions, and is not sure where one might find them, though the prince does order him to search the citadel stores.
Most of the rest of the day is spent trying to hunt down wondrous items. Through her goddess, Malina is able to discover that there is a pair of matching icons in the citadel stores that perform the same function as the sending stones she spoke of, though it is not clear why Zhadan and the prince are not aware of them. She also discovers a magical bag that matches Lokan's specifications at a ropemakers' shop. Lokan looks in on the ropemaker , asks for a demonstration of its storing capacity, and enquires as to how much he might want for such a bag. The ropemaker answers that the item is very rare and valuable, and that many people are interested in it, so he would want 100 rubles. The party just finalized the division of treasure from the cave, and 100 rubles would match their combined take. Naturally, Lokan begins to search for a workaround. He says that he has a magical earring that allows its wearer to breathe underwater and disappear. The ropemaker says that he has no interest in such an item, but he can arrange a meeting with his cousin - a fisherman and hunter of crayfish, who might be interested. If Lokan can convince his cousin to make a deal, he might earn enough money to purchase the bag, though he should move quickly.
Lokan proceeds to meet the cousin along the riverbank, and shows his earring, saying he got it from Vizier Ilyas ibn Umar in Udyn. The fisherman asks for a demonstration, and Lokan dives in, and then hides in the reeds where the ropemaker's cousin can't see him before coming back. The cousin seems satisfied with the demonstration, but wants to test the item out for himself. Lokan agrees, but says that given its value, he would want half of the money up front, so that the fisherman doesn't swim away with his earring. The latter agrees in principle, and then the two haggle over the price. Unsurprisingly, Lokan asks for 110 rubles, but the fisherman will not go over 30. The two agree to meet in the same place tomorrow for the trial, but on his way back to the citadel, Lokan begins to wonder whether the whole enterprise is worth the trouble, and whether the bag is needed at all, since he and his companions will be getting mounts.
Rewards Granted
- 3 riding horses to use on mission
- 1 composite bow and a quiver with two-score arrows
- a month's worth of hardtack
- winter clothing (?)
Report Date
01 Jan 2021
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