Eren 11-20, 653 DR: Thunderstorms. Lightning strikes a statue in the City revealing gold. The Emerald Splinter strikes the Taládan peninsula. Children thieves. An honest Gnor lapidarist. Rel the Weaver examines some boots. Jak goes horseback riding. Tressta’s parents come to town, but her sister remains missing. Night of the Burning Docks. Introducing Paldor of Ildûn. Tressta gains another admirer. Tressta speaks with each of her parents. Gwendin tells her side-of-the-story at Tomach’s trial, and has nothing nice to say about anyone, but Sered.

Continued from Family Troubles.

Padídor, 11 Eren 653

Eren is normally a quiet and peaceful month set in the center of summer. The Taládan farmers watch their crops grow and wish more rain would come. Herders watch the younger animals find their way further and further from their mothers. It is often too hot and humid for serious work, so the cities are often filled with laborers resting, waiting for the sun to move past noon. In the mountains, the Ortor have plentiful food from berries and roots and more game than even they can hunt. For as many years as most can remember, Eren had been pleasantly forgettable. In the year 653 DR, that would change.

On the third night for the vigil of Ðr. Laérd Luréu of Naddal, Jak stood reverently, quiet with his thoughts. Upon the stone bier before him lay a fallen Ðard, a commander of men in the battle waging along the southern borderland. The man had fought and died in a kingdom that officially ignored such valiant and noble efforts. This place did not look kindly on the rewards and recognition offered heroes in other city-states. Across the round chapel room stood another man that Jak barely knew, but who was becoming more and more important to his own growth with each passing day. With solemn gaze the Ðardor kept his steely eyes locked upon the form of his dead countryman. He too was lost in deep thoughts, for in the last several days his world had been changed for him due to the evil brought into his kingdom and world by Dammon Shroudson. Jak looked to each brass censer and the fragrant incense that wafted through the chamber and wondered why the frescoes seemed to shimmer and the chest of the dead knight seemed to move up and down, as if with breathing. Ērēus would later explain that the incense was called nuchru, but he knew little more about it than its name.

Bærídor, 12 Eren 653

In the dismal drizzle of the next afternoon the group gathered to venture into the City. Dammon sought a gem-merchant and with the exception of Tressta who he invited (for his understanding of Taládic was incomplete) the others chose to follow as well, armed to the teeth. Dammon and Tressta soon found the shop of Lagam Orgamna, a Gnor lapidarist of exceptional skill. They talked at length with the diminutive merchant who was exceedingly interested in knowing where they had come by so many treasures but nervous about talk of things arcane (insisting that curses made things “grow on you”). No one seemed to question this leap of logic. He appraised some stones and offered to look for more. After a time with the lapidarist they traveled to the square where lightning had struck a “stone” statue during last night’s storm. At the square fountain’s center stood the 3rd century statue of an Amran high priest, but half her head and left shoulder had crumbled away revealing a golden interior. Here Dammon met a child thief who, failing to pickpocket the chalky sorcerer, ran away through the crowd. When Jak gave chase, a cloud of yellow dust exploded around the child and he continued his escape at unnatural speed. Jak immediately abandoned his pursuit.

That night, those of the Temple gathered in the wind and rain of a ruined balcony observatory to observe the Emerald Splinter. At nightsdeep a brilliant green bolt of lightning struck the Talàdan peninsula near the feet of the Amran colossus. Everyone cheered and clapped when the timely strike occurred. All were pleased to have witnessed this religious event. Only Zildara saw something different that she did not mention. Others later explained that the Emerald Splinter occurred on stormy nights when Mamra was full. Still others explained that it was a sign of affection from Dalásia to the goddess Amra. After mixing with the excited people in the Temple for a bit, all eventually found their way back to the bed chambers.

Virídor, 13 Eren 653

On the 13th, Dammon received word of an artisan in the City that might aid him in his research on the bear-fur boots he’d taken from the cache under the Tor’n Evalshat shipwreck. Again, his request to be accompanied by Tressta was met with enthusiasm by the rest of the group who were growing antsy sitting around the Temple on these rainy days. So gathering their cloaks about them, they were brought horses and together rode to the western edges of the City of Taldàna. Tressta led them to a rambling collection of inter-connected cottages and sheds. The interior maze of rooms consisted of three concentric rings; the outermost was a warren of rooms filled with women spinning wool and other materials while the middle region consisted of more spacious rooms where a dozen or more men worked counter-balanced looms. The central region was a simple cottage, where they were met by the weaver’s wife Treána, an old but pleasant woman who plied them with sweet flower-tea and spiced shortbreads. Tressta and Dammon were then invited into a deeper room where they met the chief artisan, Rel the Weaver. Rel explained that he was working as fast as was possible on a commission for the Temple, and that the next of the final two tapestries would be done in the next year or two. When he spoke to Dammon he positioned himself inches from his face so that he could see who he was speaking with through his thick spectacles. When shown the magic boots, he eventually rubbed their interiors with a special oil that made writing characters appear. This excited the old man and he was soon running to and fro looking for a folding book. Returning with the book he found what he was looking for and explained that the boots were made in Juduth, a land far to the west. Furthermore, he added with some prompting, that they would keep Dammon’s feet warm (as well as allow him to walk on snow and ice). Thanking the old man for his time and his wife for her hospitality, the group returned to the Temple where Jak joined Ērēus inside the walled grounds to practice his skills of horsemanship.

Palídor, 14 Eren 653

On the following day of waiting for Tressta’s father to arrive in the City, Dammon and Tressta made it outside the Temple without the full group’s attending. They returned to the shop of Lagam Orgamna and made arrangements with the Gnor to cut a fine smoky quartz for Tressta’s brooch. While there Dammon produced two ruby-like gems for the small man’s appraisal. Lagam looked at the twin gems carefully and sweat grew on his brow. He claimed he had never seen their likeness before and that they were in all ways perfect to his eye. More curiously, he added that they were identical to one another. Being paid 10d for his services he hazarded a guess of 500cr each, a figure that made the small man squirm and his heart to miss beats. When Dammon explained that they had arcane properties, the small man consoled himself with the thought that he’d been fooled by their magic and that no stones looked that good, and these were likely glass. When asked if he traveled much, Lagam looked startled and responded that the “experience of travel” changed a person, and that was something he’d just as well avoid. Thanking him for his help, Dammon and Tressta continued to two other arcanist shops. The first shop was run by twin tall men with brooding expressions and low voices, named Vajar and Varg. The two had the unsettling habit of finishing one another’s sentences, and seemed eerily interested in all matters of unclean merchandise. On the good side, they seemed as knowledgeable as they were creepy. A second arcanist’s store introduced the shoppers to a maimed alchemist named Jurtas who offered to look around for a blue crystal to replace the broken stone in Dammon’s staff. More importantly, the alchemist showed them rat-skulls packed with a yellow powder, that when crushed imbued the bearer with enhanced speed. After Dammon bought three of these (remembering the young thief’s trick of days before) the alchemist warned that the dust cloud produced should probably not be breathed.

Alídor, 15 Eren 653

On the following day, the prisoner Lord Drynsval arrived in the City of Taldàna surrounded by an escort of guards. Tomach Drynsval was brought before a judge looking as though his escort had taken turns beating him each hour of his journey. The judge explained that he would be held indefinitely until the matter was resolved. It was further mentioned that his wife, Gwendin was en route to Taldàna and that when she arrived the trial would be rejoined.

That same night, the group was roused from their evening Temple activities to witness great fires along the harbor-line in the City below. There, moored to the piers several ships stood sheathed in towering flames, from which sparks and burning ashes rose into the air and settled among the buildings all around. Leaving the Temple, the group raced down to the harbor-front to find throngs of people watching the ships burn. Some knotted around the bodies of killed watchmen and sailors and talk indicated that a gang of arsonists was moving east along the harbor-front setting ships to flame. During their pursuit of the unseen gang, the group stopped by one knot of onlookers when they heard that the injured man might still be living. Jak pushed people of the crowd aside as Zildara crouched by the wounded man’s side. He had a deep chest wound that she wove a heal upon. While the spell sank into his wounds to mend the worst of his injury she noticed that his skin was a dull-purple and that he was hairless. Following this good deed, they rushed further along the shoreline until they came to the last burning ship, but caught no sight of the arsonist gang. Many times they stopped and asked about their weapons, but nothing came of it. They did learn that one man who had been accused of fire-setting was cornered into an alley by a mob and beaten to within a hair of death. When the authorities arrived the man’s ribs where busted and his jaw smashed. If he was a member of the gang, he would be speaking no time soon. As the group returned along the dock-sides they found many gathered people helping others out of the harbor. In all this night, eleven ships were burned to the waves and an unknown number of people died with their vessels. Three buildings (including one tavern) had also caught fire but enough people had been on hand to quench those flames.

Kændor, 16 Eren 653

Come morning it was also learned that an attempt had been made on Tomach’s life. One guard had been grievously wounded by a man wielding two swords, but others had fought him off. More guards had been posted around his cell. Slowly the people of theCity of Taldàna were coming to feel more and more under siege as more and more soldiers were being placed in public places. Dammon on this day received word that the printing guildhouse of Boronon had also burned down on a night days prior, following an investigation into the tale of Eryvek that he’d shared with High Lady Elesea IX. There were no details in the report indicating that lives had been lost in that event, but it did mention that the pulp and paper would burn for days.

Malídor, 17 Eren 653

In the city.

Amdor, 18 Eren 653

In the days to follow, Dammon would return to the shop of Vajar and Varg and purchase from them a fine black crystal which could be fitted to his staff for several gold. In exchange for this, he offered them three wyvern scales, an aquamarine, and an orm. Seeing the orm, the twins greedily accepted the trade. Later that evening, Tressta visited her father briefly in his barracks dungeon cell, but the old man would not look at his daughter or respond to her words. Following this a Temple attendant informed the group that a ship had arrived at port from Ildûn this day and that the captain was interested in returning at monthturn. The group found Captain Paldor at a tavern that evening hiring sailors for the return trip. The captain was a burly fellow with a large voice and a bristly beard who would only drink his ale from a silver cup. He took immediate fancy to Tressta, and spent the remaining conversation staring at her. They learned that he had moved wine, cheeses, and horses from Ildûn and was looking to take supplies back. In the meantime he’d fired some of his crew, learning that more experienced and desperate men might be looking for jobs in this port, following the burning of their ships. The evening was mostly pleasant except for Tressta, who felt more and more uncomfortable as the hours passed.

Wōdìndor, 19 Eren 653

The next day was the 19th and on that day a carriage arrived from Evérmið carrying the frail mother of Tressta, Lady Gwendin. When Tressta met with her mother, having been away these last seven years, her mother’s first questions were of Tallyssa who Tressta explained she was looking for. Tressta found her mother much more bitter than she remembered before her leaving of Evérmið, and was little surprised that her mother saw much of their ensuing hardships as a result of Tressta’s choice. She explained to Tressta that the kind and charitable mister Dassur had supported them these many years, with only his love for Tressta and his wish to regain and marry her keeping him strong these many years. She seemed displeased at the news that Tomach had been brought into town under arrest but would say little more until tomorrow’s trial.

Iyldor, 20 Eren 653

On the way to the trial, Dammon picked-up his staff with its newly fitted stone and Tressta picked up a new crystal for her brooch. When the trial started, the judge called forth Lady Gwendin who immediately began to tell her tale of an undutiful daughter, a maligned father, and the kind man who had supported their family when their daughter ran away. Others brought before the court explained that Lord Drynsval had been involved in shady business dealings with others in the City which led to the eventual collapse of his business contacts, and precipitated his family’s decline into great debt. Lady Gwendin explained that Tressta’s marriage to Sered Dassur would have “saved” the family as the man was a well-to-do importer. She also admitted under questioning as to the effectiveness of this planned marriage, to the surprise of the judge, that her eldest daughter, who had married well and did not need money, would be illegitimized so that Tressta and her husband would inherit the estate in her stead. This was the agreement they had arranged with Sered Dassur before her departure. The grief they suffered when she left was reason enough for the actions he might have taken to regain her.

Following Gwendin’s testimony, letters were produced as evidence. The first was a letter that Gwendin had intercepted the day before her husband’s arrest. The letter was ostensibly from Sered Dassur and read that Tressta had been spotted at the opera (i.e., Rape of Taldàna) and that their plans had been put in place as arranged. Gwendin explained that she had mixed feelings about the letter at the time and had not given it directly to her husband. She regretted that she had failed him in this. Following this, a guard was brought forward with a sealed letter that the guards had intercepted while Tomach was at business in Evérmið the day he was to be arrested. Seeing the seal on this letter the judge adjourned the court for some hours until a court herald could be brought to the table. The herald recognized the seal as Saránði at which point the courtroom grew very loud with speculation. Opening the letter, the judge read aloud, “Lord Drynsval / It is done / There was some resistance and there is one unaccounted for / The package should arrive in three days / It is good to feel success after so long / Make the proper arrangements and let us finish this / When things have settled I will return to Drynsval and make good our deal / Your associate.”

Trials in Taládan (and most Dekàlan cities) are public affairs, this was no different. Whereas most people only attended when there might be some humiliating punishment (not uncommon) or a death (rare in Talàdan courts), they would also flock in great numbers when the wealthy were brought to the table. There were few greater joys for the poor it seemed than spitting and heckling those who up until recently, were more fortunate. Jak, true to his roots, found pleasure in this too, though without his knowing, his Ðard mentor looked on disapprovingly. When Jak spit into the old man’s ear, Ērēus turned and left. Dragged to the front of the room, Tomach was held between two guards to be questioned and hear the charges against him. To the judge’s questions Tomach answered that he had met Sered in the course of his business dealings in the City and that he believed Sered to be a textile importer. When told that Sered was a Saránðyn, Tomach’s mouth gaped wide and he pleaded with the court that he did not know. The crowd would have none of this, shouting “Liar!” and “Treasoner!”. The judge made two things clear before adjourning. The first was that Tressta was free, for she had remained outside her father’s custody for one year and one day, and that due to this Tomach had no further controls over her. Secondly, if it was found that Tomach knew that Sered was indeed an Enemy-of-the-Kingdom, a request would be sent to the High Lady for permission to execute. With that the room grew very quiet, waiting for Tomach to end this day’s trial. Choking on his words, Tomach uttered the traditional closing to the judge, “You are most wise and fair.”

The crowd erupted with yelling and taunting.

Continued in The Seditionist of Saranð.

Characters

• Dammon Shroudson
• Jak of Cænden
• Tressta Drynsval
• Zildara of Zalan
• Ērēus of Amra
• Ezíkus of Roð
• Familiar
• Gwendin Drynsval
• Jurtas the Lame
• Laérd Luréu of Naddal
• Lagam Orgamna
• Paldòr Batrūlan (Ship Captain)
• Sered Dassur
• Tomach Drynsval
• Vajar
• Varg

Played: 18 Jan 2003