Flald 12, 653 DR: Tressta gets an escort through Kzar Boron. The dungeon gets a new prisoner. Dammon stays a step ahead of the witches’ hunt. Jak and Saldus get a history lesson. A street encounter leads Dammon to a strange meeting. The magician gets caught between a clash of invisible forces. Tressta is finally reunited with Ezíkus, and learns more about the King’s motives. Jak and Saldus trade stories with a well-meaning Ðard late into the evening.

Continued from Stone Wings of Boronon.

Bærídor, 12 Flald 653

Her bedroom chamber was dark and drafty. Outside her window, the sea wind howled and rattled the old shutters. Tressta was not sleeping however; she stood in the doorway of the candlelit hall talking in a hushed voice. Nearby, a guard leaned against a table, a bit too informally, trying to keep the foreign beauty’s interest. He seemed to be doing well this night, because no matter what Soryx said, the woman smiled and seemed genuinely interested. Eventually, Tressta explained that she was worried about her friend Ezíkus, who was imprisoned somewhere within the castle. After some sweet-talking, Soryx offered to show her where he was being held. At that suggestion a wide smile crossed her face. Soryx escorted Tressta through a dusty gallery. Finding a loose stone near an over-sized painting, they both stood back as the wall rumbled open revealing a secret hallway. Soryx grabbed a candlestick and led Tressta through into a hallway of empty picture frames. Soryx explained that much of the Upper Halls had been abandoned years ago and that the place was filled with secret hallways and forgotten rooms. He went on to say that many of the guards explored the empty halls, and now and then found a small treasure or knick-knack that had been left behind when the Boron’s closed them off. The hallway opened into a dusty chapel. An altar stood within a small apse, a red and gold cloth draped across its length. Atop the altar sat a gold bowl inscribed around the rim with the words “Bowl of Tamran Ottar, presented to King Hargir II, 163 DR”. There was a dry brown sediment in the bowl’s bottom, that Saryx thought was the blood of Tamran Ottar. “Nobody bothers this,” the guard explained. In the distance a door opened. Nervously, Soryx led Tressta back through the empty gallery, and into another concealed door in the northwest tower. Closing the door softly behind them, the two ran down a long corridor passed dozens of arched windows that looked down upon the City of Boronon. It was well after Nightsdeep, and except for the docks most of the lanterns below were dark. As they ran along the castle’s perimeter, Tressta realized just how large the place was, and was amazed at how abandoned it all appeared. A person could hide for Tendays in here. Soon, they’d made their second turn and were moving north along the castle’s west wall. Soryx explained that they were circling the inhabited areas in the center and north of the castle. Eventually, they entered the fourth and final tower where the resourceful Saryx found another secret trigger, and opened another hidden door. They descended another set of stairs and were soon moving through narrower hallways. This area smelled bad. After moving along a circular hallway, that rounded the base of the castle’s central tower, they made a couple more corners and were stopped at the sound of voices. Soryx looked puzzled. The cells were being guarded. There were not usually guards stationed here. He turned to tell Tressta to wait, but his beautiful companion was missing. Soon a guard appeared around the corner. The guard questioned what Soryx was doing in the dungeons, but he had no idea what to say. Stammering, he looked at the guard and back to where Tressta had been standing seconds before. After more questioning, the dungeon guard suggested that Soryx not drink on duty and return to his post. The crestfallen Soryx turned and returned down the corridors. He’d be fired if he admitted escorting a stranger through the castle, and he’d be hanged if he admitted she’d disappeared.

After Soryx left, Tressta waited for sometime. Eventually, one of the guards walked over to a cell door and ran through a ring of keys before he found one that worked. The lock clicked and the metal door whined open. Reaching into the cell, he pulled out a ragged looking old man, stripped to the waist, and covered in red brands. It took Tressta a moment to realize that it was Roð. Uncertain whether she could take two armed guards, the rogue deactivated her Cloak of Shadows and waited until the darkness fled her figure. The stepped into the lantern light, she “fainted” to the floor. The guards dropped the old priest and turned in surprise. One of the guards walked forward and nudged her with his foot. Tressta didn’t react. Lifting her by her cloak, the guard hauled her toward a cell door. The Taládan stabbed at the guard with a dagger. Releasing her, both guards drew swords. One crossed the room to block her exit. The three fought for a few moments, until Tressta was backed into an open cell and the door was thrown shut. Her rescue attempt had failed, for now.

Dammon awoke in the late morning to the sounds of people outside his inn window. The day was well underway and the townspeople were already going about their business. After a brief meal, the magician returned to his room and Weaved an Ilûm to disguise his appearance. As he was leaving, he noticed a thin woman talking with the innkeeper. She looked familiar, but he was unable to place her face until he was out on the street. She had been at the Arcanist’s yesterday when the cat had been killed. Behind him, the woman and innkeeper watched the unfamiliar boarder as he moved away through the crowd. After walking the streets of Boronon for a few watches, Dammon found another inn farther from Kzar Boron.

At the castle, Jak and Saldus were surprised to find that Tressta was missing. After alerting a guard to this, they were told to return to their rooms and await one of the king’s Ðardram. While they were waiting, Jak entered Tressta’s room and gathered all her things. Jak and Saldus conferred on their status for a watch or more before a shortish man in a resplendent coat-of-arms appeared in their doorway. “Presenting Ðard Aryn Balsiryx,” the man announced with a bow. Entering from the hallway appeared a tanned woman in half-plate, looking as if she’d just climbed off a horse. The Ðard loosened her belts and sat in one of the room’s many chairs. Though her armor looked cumbersome, she moved without effort. Soon tea was brought and the three conversed at length. The Ðard’s Oðic was very poor, but they managed. Aryn spoke briefly of the Gargoyles and explained that their “activation” was a serious matter that had caused her to return from afield. When asked about Ezíkus and Tressta she admitted that she had not seen them, but had been assured that they were fine. Tressta, she further explained, had trespassed into a forbidden area and was being held on that account. She explained that the security of the King’s castle was very important and until they could find out how Tressta accessed the area that she did, she wouldn’t hazard a guess as to what would be done. When asked about the king, Aryn explained that he held the Land of Ezmir “in trust for the Lady of Taldàna”. The Ðard also commented that the king seemed to be very interested in a chest that Ezíkus had with in his possession. It seemed the chest was warded somehow and that three people had been killed trying to open it. When asked why the King would tamper with a message meant for the High Priestess, the smiled answering “You are from far away. There is no love lost between Ezmir and Taldàna.” At that, the Ðard stood and offered to show them some of the castle. She led them through a concealed door in the northwest tower, down a couple abandoned corridors, to a large domed chamber. Though covered in dust, the guests could see that the walls were covered with garish colors of wide ranging chaos. Aryn explained that the room commemorated the Rebellion of 152 DR, where the people of Ezmir, rallied by the teachings of Tamran Ottar, rose up against the tyrannical Taládan, burning the temples of Amra and tar-burning their priests in the streets. “This dome was painted shortly after we won our independence, 500 years ago,” the Ðard explained. “It does not however tell the story of the Taldàna-Ezmir War in 218 where the Taládan re-conquered the region. No soldier was spared. One cannot blame the the Temple of Amra of course,” she added facetiously. “The immaculate Temple could never order a massacre. That is why they let mercenaries do their fighting for them.” Jak explained that he was a Ðard of the High Lord’s sister and that they were not enemies of the King. Aryn only shrugged; she did not seem to care about allegiances. Following their visit to the dome, Aryn led the two to the roof of Kzar Boron. The Ðard pointed out the silent Gargoyles roosting upon the ancient battlements. Jak walked close to one, but did not touch it. Yesterday’s battle was still to near in his mind.

After securing a place to stay, Dammon returned to the riverside. A group of soldiers were grabbing vagrants off the street for “work” at the castle. As the guards led them away, the crowd parted and Dammon spied a woman scanning the crowd intently. Frustrated, the woman sighed, and continued on her way. At the magician’s instruction, Dammon’s Conscience dodged through the crowd after her. After a few minutes, it reported that she’d stopped in an alley. The woman turned with a dagger in her hand and stared intently at the ground. The familiar seemed amazed that the woman had noticed it. As Dammon got closer, he could tell that the creature was talking with the woman. Turning the corner into the alley, the magician dropped his illusion and faced the woman. “Are you him?” she asked. Dammon was unsure how to answer. “I was sent to find you. Someone wants to meet you. Someone I work for,” she explained. When asked why, the woman could only say “I think you have something in common.” As Dammon was deciding what to do, he could feel his thoughts and memories bubbling to the surface. Something was sorting through his thoughts. Grabbing the woman, Dammon demanded that it stop. The woman replied that her employer was a good man, but not a man at all. Dammon decided to follow the woman and see what she was talking about. Something strange was happening in this city, and he aimed to find out what it was. As the woman led him toward the alley’s entrance, Dammon mentioned that there were people looking for him. The woman nodded. “Yes, witches. My employer has nothing to do with them.” Comforted by that, Dammon Weaved another Ilûm disguise and followed the woman into the street. They crossed the river and came to a large building. The woman explained that it was A Printmakers Guild House as entered through the front doors. Climbing several flights of stairs, they came to some finely furnished offices. He was led into the largest office. Standing across the room, near a large window stood a tall figure draped in cloaks and tapestries. A single large claw hung from an exposed wrist, but nothing more of the figure could be seen. The attendant introduced him to Eryvek and closed the door behind him. Dammon stepped toward the thing and asked “You wanted to meet?” The thing turned around. Dammon couldn’t be sure if had been looking out the window, or had just turned its back on him. It didn’t much matter. The thing’s voice was disturbing and reminiscent of the Neðérim they’d fought in the Tor’n Evalshat.

“I assumed you had questions,” the thing asked. “It is not everyday that the Gargoyles try to destroy someone. I had to meet the person responsible for that,” Eryvek added. Eryvek and Dammon spoke for some time. His host produced a bottle of fine wine and a glass for his guest. Eryvek did not drink. At one point, his host asked “What do you know of your Master?” The magician did not know how to answer but could feel great unease building within his Conscience. “I could take away the wards that bind you,” Eryvek offered. “Someone has gone through a lot of trouble to bury what you know.” At this, his familiar became incensed, gripping deeply into his shoulder and warning that he should leave here, and go to the highest tower like he was told! The magician however was intrigued by his familiar’s distress, and accepted Eryvek’s offer. “Wonderful,” the thing responded as it moved across the long office. Reaching toward him with its only visible appendage, Eryvek began an eerie chant in language both strange and ancient. Again, Dammon could feel the familiar sensation of thoughts and memories bubbling forth. This time it was different however. This time the effervescent visions were torn away by a dark and horrible storm. Somewhere, far away, a horrible shriek reached his ears. Dammon staggered backward, his balance twisted, his bearings confused. When the room came back into focus he saw Eryvek cowering against the far window, pleading with some unseen force. Dammon staggered from the room as the confused guild workers looked on. Finding his way out of the building, he stopped and looked toward the castle. Something had stirred the Gargoyles to flight, for nearly a dozen circled its high central tower. Still staggering from his experience in the guildhouse, Dammon found his way back to the inn.

Tressta sat in her cell and wondered what to do next. She was down to three picks and had to be careful not to make any noise. The prison guards spied on her constantly and who knew what they were doing outside the door. She had a pretty good idea in fact, but didn’t want to think about it. Sometime later an armored man arrived in the outside room, accompanied by two soldiers. He was well-groomed and wore the commanded attention from the guards, who were slow to react. The man grabbed one and sent him sprawling to the floor with a maille fist. From her cell door, Tressta could see teeth on the ground as the guard slowly picked himself up, apologizing through a bloodied mouth. Despite the guards’ protests, the man ordered the cells opened. After seeing the state of Ezíkus he motioned for Tressta to tend to the old man. She obliged and entered the priest’s chamber. After much shouting, the man ordered the cells closed again and stormed out of the dungeon. Tressta could see that the old priest was in bad shape, and hoped that the gaolers would not seek revenge on their prisoners. Ezíkus was relieved to see Tressta by his side. Mustering what strength remained in his old body, the priest explained that they had questioned for many watches in a nearby chamber. Shuddering at the memory, Ezíkus explained that he couldn’t understand their questions. It appeared to him that more than anything, the gaolers had been tasked with opening the Dragul Box. He explained how they would send peasants into a side room, there would be screams, and then after a while they would send in another. He described the whole scene as “barbaric” and wished he’d never come to this forsaken place. Before drifting back asleep, Ezíkus mentioned that there had been another prisoner in the chamber with him. He described a woman that had been caged within a gibbet that hung above the room. Throughout all that had happened she had yelled “Leave him alone!”

Sometime after Ðr. Aryn returned Jak and Saldus to their rooms, they were visited by a second knight who was introduced as “Ðard Thir Malzykra”. Ðr. Thir remained in the doorway and addressed the castle guests. He explained that he had visited the dungeons, and could attest to the health of their friends. He went on to say that the Roðite priest had suffered some in questioning, but would recover. Thir apologized for the treatment they’d received and assured them that once the matter was cleared-up, they would be free to leave. As if to punctuate his belief in this, he handed Jak the dagger of Tressta which he’d been given by the gaolers. “It is an unseemly business,” he admitted. In the meantime, the Ðard asked about their history and seemed to enjoy hearing tales of their adventurers, their mountain crossing, and especially descriptions of fights with the Ortor. When Jak produced his spear, the Ðard looked at the spearhead carefully, suggesting that he’d seen its like somewhere before. After many watches of friendly discourse, the evening wore on into night, and the Ðard bid Jak and Saldus a good night.

Continued in The Dragul Box.

Characters

• Dammon Shroudson
• Jak of Cænden
• Tressta Drynsval
• Ðr. Aryn Balsiryx
• Azylaryx Nurchulkyx (Witch)
• Batir Yrangan (Prison Guard)
• Ezíkus of Roð
• Familiar
• Eryvek
• King Hargir Boron II of Ezmir: dead
• Lord Protector Kaylyar Boron III of Ezmir
• Karus Irixyn (Prison Guard)
• Masda Irzarek (Servant)
• Saldus Greymane
• Soryx Malgrat
• Tamran Ottar: dead
• Terzyr Ryllaryn (Witch)
• Ðr. Thir Malzykra
• Torum Orzak
• Urynax Arygaz (Witch)
• Valus ur Saldus
• Zildara of Zalan

Played: 23 Mar 2002