🃏 Casimir Casanova (he/they), the Muse

A Starbearer of the Arcanist Order, the Muse is a renowned entertainer & the faceless leader of the Revelers.

Made my character for a Durge playthrough - meet Khaless. Raised for assassination, this is her first taste of the world outside of Lolth... Not that she remembers any of that 👀

Aiming for a learning compassion and other worldviews along the journey kinda thing... But maybe too late 😳

Also aiming to have her slowly learn to be Free

Reply-Reply to Shonasof: Discovering Klingons

shonasof replied to your post: DS9: Political Writings III: Worf

It’s still a HELL of a lot more interesting that what Discovery is doing to the Klingons.    

Who knows what this is in response to given how comments work these days, but I really don’t see Discovery as contrary to what I was arguing. Rather, I see it as “getting it” in a way 90s Trek never really managed to(TOS can be excused since those were totally different Klingons who were more expys of Earthican colonialist powers or, occasionally, the USSR than a weird, vaguely defined, imperial space-feudalism). Discovery runs with the 90s Trek concept of “Houses” and the implications of it, which is basically what I’m also doing. This is Long :| :| :|

In ep 2 of Discovery we see heads of 7 Great Houses respond to T’Kuvma’s summon to face a threat to “The Empire”. But the thing is, there is no real “Empire” to speak of. An “Empire” is a polity with a unitary leadership or rule, and the Klingons lack a central government. Rather, the Klingon “Empire” is a corporate(meaning made of smaller autonomous bits, not “a business”) entity made up of a few large Corporate governments, the Great Houses, plus hundreds or thousands of smaller corporate governments(the not-Great Houses) of varying size and importance contained within or allied with those Great Houses, all fighting one another over that “Empire”, as a territory, in pursuit of their own interests. That’s was a “Feudal” society is. If one could unite all the Houses behind them, then it would become an Empire in the functional sense, and that’s obviously what Kol is attempting to do.

T’Kuvma also tries to unite the Houses into a true Empire again, but his attempt is not a self-aggrandizing one that exploits the feudal logic of the House system to make himself overlord(as Kol’s does with his passing out of cloaking technology to proven loyalists, and poaching of feudatories), but rather one that seeks to route around its tendency towards internal conflict through an appeal to shared cultural values and a shared external enemy(sort of like The Church and The Crusades). Which makes sense, considering that their “First Contact” was the Hur’q conquering and plundering Qo’noS, then hightailing it with troves of Klingon artifacts and natural resources(an Era possibly reminiscent of 70s Heavy Metal apocalyptic sci-fi-fantasy album-covers. We just Can’t Know u_u). That experience would tend to make a culture pretty hostile to and suspicious of outsiders, and rallying insiders around attacking outsiders a significant cultural trope. Casting the Fed -an ideologically anti-militaristic alliance of prosperous, loot-rich worlds- as that enemy is particularly effective as it also appeals to the more mercenary aspects of Fedual systems. “Feudal Obligation” as a concept can be boiled down, 7 times out of 10, to the promise “If you kill and rob people who I tell you to, I’ll give you a cut of their stuff”. This leads to what you might call “plunder economies”: a person becomes a lord by promising, and successfully delivering, wealth to others(being a “ring-giver”, in the explicit parlance of Beowulf) then must continuing delivering wealth to maintain that loyalty, necessitating more raiding, plundering and -whenever land and the people to work it become vital or commercial resources- eventually conquest. Plunder economies are, as a structural matter and by definition, expansionary, internecine, and aggressive; looting outsiders when a strong center is present to prevent internal conflict, and looting each other(along with everyone else) when one isn’t.

Discovery takes this feudal dynamic seriously and explores it. For instance, this is why Kol could so easily gain the loyalty of Voq’s followers. Voq couldn’t defend T’Kuvma, couldn’t even feed his followers, let alone give them plunder and wealth, and Kol could. By the terms of political morality a feudal society like that of the Klingons operated under, Voq failed T’Kuvma as a follower by not keeping him alive, and failed his surviving followers as a lord by not providing even the basics of food, drink, and a safe place to sleep. Kol could and did, so they switched to following him instead. There’d have been little or any internal moral sanction on their parts about this; it wasn’t a betrayal to them he deserved to be abandoned. Kol’s snide comment to Voq on his return about his followers switching their loyalty for such paltry food isn’t an insult to them for the ease with which they were won; it’s an insult to Voq for his inability to provide as a Lord should.

What’s particularly cool here to me, though, is that Discovery doesn’t treat the Klingons as a flat culture with just a single moral philosophy; T’Kuvma’s House existed within the Klingon system, but it was built around loyalty to a political, spiritual, and moral philosophy which sought to transcend the feudal House system and its worldview through the cult of Kahless and the more egalitarian ideals of his myth. Thus Voq’s refusal to scavenge from the Fed ships. Scavenging is the obvious choice by the Klingon political/warrior morality of the Houses -if you’re strong enough to take something you should- but an impossible one by the equally Klingon spiritual/ethical morality which T’Kuvma preached, and which Voq favors. So, too, Voq’s inability to see Kol’s approaching and obvious betrayal; Voq and Kol are operating in two Klingon -but different- moral universes, and what appears “impossible” and “inconceivable” to do and remain Honorable to Voq appears obvious, necessary, justified, Victorious(and thus Honorable) to Kol. This is a sort of cultural complexity 90s Trek rarely allowed, and even more rarely explored, in non-Fed, non-Human cultures. Ironically, Worf seems, in retrospect, more like a T’Kuvmaite than most Klingons(minus the extreme Klingon Chauvinism) -emphasizing the universal aspects of Khaless’s life and teachings, and a personal ethic of Honor inspired by his example, rather than the practical Warrior’s life most Klingons we see prefer- and for that he’s called “Unklingon” throughout the 90s Trek Era.

So how does this relate to the House of Mogh? In 90s Trek what we see is an Empire in the sense that a central government’s pronouncements are generally recognized throughout a set territory, but structurally it is an Aristocratic, Feudal Democracy: A High Council of the Great Houses rules the Empire, led by a Chancellor elected by the council from among its members. That, during the Civil War, Kurn brought ships to Gowron’s cause, and could just as easily take them away again, shows that the Houses(and, very likely, Houseless captains who have proven themselves able providers to their followers) provide the ships and soldiers which defend the Empire, rather than being granted ships from a central Imperial Fleet. That Grelka’s House was put under direct economic strain by the Cardassian War suggests that Houses not only provide the ships and soldiers but maintain and supply them(none of the fighting happened in Klingon territory, so the strain only could have come from war costs), rather than having them supplied through a centralized military bureaucracy[1]. When the House of Duras rebels against the rightfully elected Chancellor Gowron, the majority of Klingon ships and troops follow them into rebellion, showing that Feudal obligation and connection carries greater importance in Klingon politics and society than loyalty to the central “Empire”[2].

Obvsl, the writing in the shows is simply convenient to whatever story the writers and showrunners want to tell. Luckily we, as fans, have the luxury of getting to pretend it’s supposed to have internal consistency, and try to imagine it into a form we like that does(which is to say: we get to make it convenient to our own storytelling) >:] So, assuming that Klingon concepts of Honor and morality are just as Feudal as the evidence suggests for their political structure, I figured that Worf’s second Discommendation wouldn’t be as clear-cut as DS9 presents it. Gowron is feudal lord to both Worf and Kurn. Worf, as an individual, refuses to join the invasion on the basis of his Duty to the Federation. He took an Oath to the Federation, Feudal relations are based on Oaths, forsaking an Oath would dishonor him, so he refuses to, and people living in a Feudal system would Get that. Kurn, living within the Empire and bearing no complicating Obligation to the Federation, joins the war-effort and takes his House into the war. Gowron, to punish Worf for his choice, discommendates the whole House. Discommendating Worf alone he could probably get away with(there are other cultural reasons I think that ought to be difficult, but this is all hc anyway so whatever), but doing so to Kurn, a member of the High Council and life-long warrior with friends throughout the Fleet, and the whole House of Mogh, one of the richer and more important in the Empire since the Civil War, would violate his Obligation as Lord to them as Feudatories, and without either having even come close to violating their Obligations to him.

Such punishments aren’t unheard of in Feudal systems, but usually they exist in more centralized ones where military power is concentrated around the Executive, whatever they’re called,  making it easier to destroy Houses that have fallen out of favor. When the military is directly controlled by and loyal to the Nobility, and only loaned to the Central government, that makes forcibly dissolving their Houses much more difficult(and usually impossible unless they’re widely hated or very small). In the more distributed and corporate Aristocratic state that the Klingons have, it’d have not only generated ill-will(because if he can do it to them, two of his oldest allies and the House that saved him in the Civil War, then he can do it to Anybody), it’d have been seen as foolish(and it’d be questionable that the House of Mogh would just accept it lying down to begin with). The thing about overlords is that very few people are usually personally loyal and obligated to them. Rather, people are loyal and obligated to them second-hand, through the upper-nobility who choose to follow them. So the majority of Gowron’s powerbase would be in his support among the Great Houses; not necessarily in his own House, and certainly not in his office. Impoverishing, dishonoring, and exiling form the Empire a House(and its feudatories) that was such a significant part of his powerbase, naturally shaming their allies and infuriating their admirers in the bargain, would have looked, politically, like him cutting off his own foot and sticking the stump in an anthill. Even those Houses with grudges against the House of Mogh(for instance, Duras loyalists) would have thought less of Gowron for weakening himself so massively and unnecessarily over the decision of one man, who is a pretty unconventional Klingon living within the Federation anyway.

Like: Imagine what would happen politically in the US if Bernie Sanders were declared a traitor, had all his property seized, and was exiled from the US for opposing a war with Iran. Then imagine how that would go down if he trained, equipped, and led a sizeable portion of the US Army(many of whom grew up under Bernie’s political and social patronage), owned large stakes in many US firms, and personally managed numerous US cities. Now imagine a Democratic President doing that and what it’d do to the Party’s voter base. That’s the sort of situation Gowron is creating for himself by discommendating Kurn and Worf, and DS9 treats it like it’s nothing because things are easier that way. As someone with an Inveterate interest in politics, I think that’s boring.

And Gowron’s power rests on him being seen as smart and savvy. A consistent part of his characterization since his first ep in TNG has been that he’s a political animal and outsider, not really accepted by the Great Houses, and too much of a plotter and deal-maker, too indirect and ambiguous, for the liking of the Klingon aristocracy. So starting a war by weakening his internal position, alienating his friends, and making himself appear foolish before his enemies, in a society where promotion in most walks of life is handled by killing the person ahead of you for their incompetence, would be a very Bad Look for him.

[1]It’s possible these were exactions which then went to such a central bureaucracy, but that would still mean the central government cannot extract resources directly, but instead must extract them through the Houses, meaning the Klingon economy would still be, structurally, Feudal in character.

[2]and possibly that “The Empire” and the central government aren’t considered synonymous in Klingon culture. Given the mythic quality of Kahless, how inseparable he is from “The Empire”, and the way “loyal to the Emperor” is used even when no Emperor exists, making it more of a saying seeming to mean “a good Klingon”, this could very well be the case. “The Empire” could just be a sort of nebulous geonational concept: basically “Klingon Space”. Sort of like “Christendom”.

Beneath Shadowed Wings: Chapter 12.5 – Rastin and Tealeaf

Before leaving for Cajas, the young druid made her way to Rastin’s tower to have a discussion with the wizard.  He greeted her warmly and she broached the subject of having the pixie slave they had freed work for him or Khaless in exchange for a spell to return her to the Feywild. Rastin told her that he could talk to Khaless about it and that he was sure they could strike a bargain with her; and he knew how terrible an idea it was to break a bargain with a fey.

She then talked to him about the amulets, expressing concerns over the power that they held, and even more so over the power that might have made them.  Curious he asked her what had caused her concern, to which she told him of some of her interaction with Kentha in the stronghold, and his hatred of the Eternal Kings and their amulets.  When she asked Rastin if there was some way she could show him what she had seen he went into his tower and produced a small mirror, a magic item that would let him attempt to see images from her thoughts, if she allowed it.

After seeing what Kentha had said to her he wasn’t able to offer much more comfort to her, other than to say he felt that the concern of the spirit was likely that the two kings had evaded him for so long.  Still, Bitsy felt that Rastin’s understanding of spirits was limited and that he didn’t really understand, so she wanted to try one more thing.

As she had at the Oasis of the Savan clan she set up the ritual to enter the spirit world for both of them.  She had her doubts.  Her connection to the spirits was weaker here in the desert, this place that seemed to lack life.  She was able to though, and soon she connected to Obedion, the spirit of the winds. She had doubted whether the spirit would even show himself with Rastin there, but his presence seemed to grant Bitsy a small bit of comfort; if Obedion didn’t avoid showing himself to Rastin, perhaps he was comfortable enough with the wizard and his plans that Bitsy shouldn’t worry so much.

Obedion then showed her two things.  One was a vision of Kentha’s endless hunt of Svanith and Gbranth, always just failing to snatch their spirits, helping her to understand the frustrated nature of Kentha’s obsession with catching them.  The other was a final parting vision of the Isle of Dalcerra, threatened by storms in the middle of the Dawn Sea.  A reminder of the path he had set for her.

When her mind cleared she looked up to see a very pensive Rastin.  Pensive and slightly foggy minded from the herbs she had used in the ritual.  He hadn’t seen things as she had, probably because he didn’t have her status as a druid of Obedion, but he had seen her figure merge with that of a great white owl that had looked at him with piercing, wise eyes.

Both of them agreed that caution would still be needed moving forward with Rastin’s plan, but at least now Bitsy was able to stand a little bit more at ease.  With that, she left to catch the river boat to Cajas with the rest of her companions.

Valaeth Salutaris — renowned drow playwright & comedian in one of my minicampaigns 🌸✨

The Drider of Araisodar 🕸️

NPC from my DnD campaign, the Dexial Degenerates.

Beneath Shadowed Wings: Chapter 7 – The 2.4.1 Deal

(Alternate Title: A Jewel in the Desert)

The group had a few minor details to clear up before leaving the city.  First, they stopped by their tavern and left one of the Rocky Talkies with Selkie, who they gave the radio handle “Seal”. Next Olek and Bitsy stopped by their favorite armorer: Killa.  Olek gave him the vivisector pieces to include in a piece of armor from the smith, while Bitsy asked for a unique set of gauntlets that could be worn when she was in beast form.  Killa was a little bit taken back the request, but he agreed to try.

Finally, they went to Khaless’ representative to the Consortium and signed up as a group, while Bitsy agreed to remain on as an independent contractor.  After a little bit of discussion, inspiration from Olek’s coupon idea to sell two for one drinks at their new bar, and an interesting in advertising their business, they agreed on the name “2.4.1. Drinks”.  The representative thought they might be joking, but when assured they weren’t, he signed them on as the Consortium’s newest protector group.

The next morning, they met with Korvis Blazebeard, journeyman of the Consortium and his caravan members, Nell Brant the driver, Alistar and Riva Keen the animal handlers, and Ipsen Rillis their quartermaster.  Korvis explained to them that they would need to stay with the caravan at all times. He was glad to have a cleric of Ariss with them and made an arrangement with Kizzy to fill up their water each day in exchange for a bonus at the end of their trip.  Soon they set out, Bitsy taking the form of a Coyote as long as she could before resting, ranging out ahead of them to scout.

Eventually they came to some ruins that the vague road they were on passed through.  Curious, Thyme moved on slightly ahead to check them out, Bitsy coming with to keep watch on him.  The ruins appeared to be little more than eroded old buildings and some four armed, insectoid humanoids disguised as stones among the ruins.

Underestimating their prey the creatures, known as Thri-kreen, attempted to take the two by surprise.  Unfortunately, both proved much heartier than they expected and they fought back. Thyme sent up a series of sparks into the sky to signal the others, drawing them into the battle.  The others arrived, moving in to help.  As Bitsy killed the first of the two attackers, and one leapt to the walls of the ruins to flee, three more jumped from the stones and immediately moved to attack the caravan.  Olek, using the powers of his new axe for the first time imbued his strike with the power of a lion and leapt at his foe, his axe felling the creature.

The remaining Thri-kreen stuck at Nell and the water within the cart.  The third attempted to kill Absinthe, but an arrow from Thorn killed it, pinning it to the wagon.  The bard used magic to be sure that Nell did not die from her wounds.  Desperate now, one grabbed a barrel of water, and one dragged of the form of Nell, paralyzed by the venom of the creature.  Fortunately, Bitsy was quicker, killing one, while Kizzy used a blast of divine power to kill the other.  Safe, Nell thanked them profusely, and soon they headed off again.

After a total of six days they arrived at the intimidating Gabran stronghold.  A massive manmade pit surround the entire fortress, a bridge spanning the gap across.  The fort was made of red stone and iron, and a decrepit shanty town was built in the surrounding pit.  An arena was there, as well as a market for the servants and prisoners.  Outside the pit was a small organized town belonging to the Consortium, known by the inhabitants as Gateway Outpost.

The group stopped in at the Gateway Outpost, an extension of the Consortium here in the wasteland. Once there Korvis pulled them aside and gave them a few words of advice.  He warned them that crime here was punished by stints as indentured servants in the mines or arena run by the Gabran clan and that they would need to be careful to stay on the good side of the Legions.  Indicating that he knew they had some business beyond their Consortium contract, he said he’d been informed by Khaless to wait for them before heading back to Jarmaulk.

Knowing they had a contact to meet here they headed to the local tavern: The Last Oasis.  There were a few people there, a human and a few assorted members of the Consortium, a few workers from the Gateway outpost.  Beyond that were two individuals that stood out: A half-orc wearing a finely crafted breastplate of mithril and a giant falchion, and a kobold wearing a fine hat on his head with a whip at his side.  After a brief awkward conversation, they determined this was indeed Rastin’s contact at the stronghold.  Olek sat beside the other half orc.  The large armored man looked at him and said, “Thog think needs drink.” Olek wholeheartedly agreed. Smiling, Thog asked, “You speak orc?” Olek replied in orc, with a smile. Thog let out a sigh of relief and said, “Thank goodness. Common is such a barbaric language, don’t you agree?  So few words for such important things!  It is so refreshing to speak a civilized tongue again!”

They became fast friends.

Meanwhile Rufus the kobold was telling the party that with their information about the general location of Gbranth’s tomb, he was able to focus his information gathering.  He knew that there was a monolith in a city called Cliffkeep, at the edge of the desert, that spoke of the entrance to the tomb. The Ember Chief of the Gabran had found it, but Rufus did not know what it said.  He also gave them more information about the situation with the clan’s laws. Everything in this desert was theirs, in their own eyes.  Everything in, above and under belonged to the Gabran clan.  The group deduced that telling them about the amulet was likely a bad idea, to which Rufus agreed enthusiastically. He told them that to enter the desert without permission of the clan was a crime that would land them in the mines for decades.  They would need to get permission of the Ember Chief or one of his War Masters, and would need a good reason to be entering the desert.

Thog also indicated that because he was one of the Champions of the arena he could get an audience with the Ember Chief, though he would only be able to bring two of them with him. This gave them some things to think about.

As evening settled, Thyme pondered their problem.  He thought about what he knew of men in power and thought that appealing to man’s baser nature might get them somewhere, so he thought about finding out what kind of partners the Chief preferred.  The obvious conclusion was checking in at a local brothel might shed light on the information he sought.  And despite Kizzy begging the young man not to go – and telling him he couldn’t because he was too young; it was past his bed thyme – he went anyways, as a rebellious teen does.  Olek and Thorn went to watch and see what would unfold.  Bitsy went to keep an eye on things, disguised as a mouse.

Eventually they entered the Common grounds, even worse up close than it looked from the rim of the pit. It was a rundown district where workers in the mines, mostly slaves and indentured servants, lived.  Those that lived there were weary and a bit on the hungry side.  In a district like that the brothel they were able to find was equally terrible.  Thyme went in undeterred.

What followed was perhaps one of the most awkward exchange in the history of the world of Alia.

Thyme entered and saw at once that the woman running this establishment was part of the Wildfire legion that ran this part of the town.  She could tell immediately that he was out of his depth.  As he awkwardly pressed for information she demanded that he pay for a girl, or get out.  He was hesitant to choose a girl, so the Mistress of the house chose one that would suit a “first thymer”.  A middle-aged gnome known as Jewel came forward and after Thyme paid the Mistress 50 gold pieces led him to a room in the back.  Mouse-Bitsy followed.

For the next few minutes Thyme avoided the suggestive advances of Jewel, even going so far as to offer her some dried trail rations if she was hungry.  He learned that few from the stronghold came here, and that they had their own places for that kind of entertainment there.  They were more likely to come to the arena than here, though a few might visit and spend their winnings.

Once he’d learned that he left her room.  The house Mistress gave him a pitying look.  Olek patted him on the back consolingly letting him know that it happened to everyone.  Thorn pointed out it was his first time.  Later Mouse-Bitsy was sympathetic, telling the young man that she wouldn’t tell anyone what really happened if he wanted.

The four of them made a quick stop by the arena, watching an orc fight a dire wolf.  Thorn lost five silver on a bet when the orc knocked the wolf out cold.  Curious they asked a few denizens of the city about the arena and found out that anyone could join if they proved themselves against some weaker beasts.  A member of the legion offered to show them some of the beasts they had, rather proudly.  Bothered, Bitsy, no longer a mouse, went with the others to see them.  She found them in small cages, scarred, feral, and mad. It ate at the deepest part of her nature.  She clenched her jaw and left with the others, for now.

Back at The Last Oasis, Kizzy waited for Thyme with a look of disapproval.  Absinthe watched the frustrated Tiefling, keeping her company. When Thyme returned, he was very quiet about what had happened which only seemed to confirm their beliefs.

Eventually Kizzy told them that the temple to Ariss here could put them all up for the night. Absinthe and Thyme took her up on the offer.  Olek wanted to spend some more time drinking with Thog, and Thorn was more comfortable at the inn.  Bitsy, to Kizzy’s surprise stayed at the inn as well.  She told Kizzy it was because she preferred it, but in all honesty, she didn’t feel comfortable around gods after being raised to believe in the Old Way her whole life.

They rested for the night and agreed to meet in the morning to determine a course of action.

After a restless night, Thyme woke early and was met outside the temple by a hulking goliath name Bron. The man, a carpenter in the city, handed Thyme a crate containing a new lute, and instructions for his next one. The young Tiefling went back into the temple and played a few notes on the beautiful crystalline lute, the color of it shifting with the notes he played.

Thyme was not looking forward to how jealous Absinthe was going to be…

Beneath Shadowed Wings: Chapter 4 - Rastin

Exhausted and sore the group decided to rest for the night in the top of the ruined tower.  Considering how tired everyone was, they decided to save the questioning for another time, however there was tension between Absinthe and Thyme, and even Kizzy’s attitude was cooler than usual.

Zachira led the group back along through the desert and into the Oasis, where chief Zenron gave them lodgings for the night.  There was a bit of a discussion that afternoon.  Absinthe and Kizzy asked Bitsy about the nature of her magic, learning that she was the only user of druid magic that she’d ever met.  In fact between all of them only Bitsy had any knowledge of druids.  In an attempt to help them understand she offered to perform a ritual that would give them a chance to see the spirits the way the people of her tribe did.

That evening Thyme, Absinthe, and Kizzy followed Bitsy to the oasis where she set up a small ritual. It was a small fire, filled with herbs Bitsy’s people had used for centuries to open their minds. As the fumes filled their minds, the bard found it hard to let go and instead found the reaction of the others to be a distraction. Thyme and Kizzy were able, for a brief moment able to see into the world that Bitsy was able to visit. Where spirits lived by her side, and talked with her.

For Bitsy, however, she found her spirit drawn back to the temple of Obedion where she had been granted her druid powers in the first place.  She was then showed something that caught her off guard.  Even as they came out of their vision quest and she spoke once again with Durben, the spirit of the oasis she seemed down and distracted. The others noticed, but didn’t feel like prying too much.

Meanwhile, Thorn and Zachira talked, while Olek got drunk with his chest of coins.

That night, unable to sleep, Thyme and Bitsy has a conversation, where he warned her that she should not show her druidic focus in public too much.  His warning was vague, but Bitsy took it to heart.

Soon after they departed and headed back to Jarmaulk.  There they were greeted at the city gates by Oriana, Abal’s servant, and an elven warrior they hadn’t met before.  He revealed himself to be Xanden, a man that shared goals with the wizard.  He wasn’t more specific than that.  

They were led to the palatial grounds of the Prince Khaless and to the tower of Rastin Therus where they met up with Abal Bahri.  The wizard was there in the tower, pouring over a tome on his desk.  He greeted Abal and then looked at each of them in turn, without judgement.

After getting them refreshments (water for most of them) he listened intently to their story. Absinthe went to tell it, but Olek interrupted and told his version of events.  Rastin listened politely, though often asking others to clarify some of the more interesting points.  He seemed as surprised as them that they have met Svanith, apparently alive.  He shared the details that her knew with them about the three eternal kings of Akkenia, shared a few theories, and then asked to see the amulet.

Once he has examined it, and convinced the group that he only needed it as a focus to break a spell (again, he was somewhat vague on details, though it seemed for the moment that it wasn’t for any nefarious reason), they let him have it, and all of the information they had gathered.  He shared his interest in hiring them to search the other two locations from the map in Svanith’s tomb, though he said he had no intention of sending them off without gather all the information that he was able to.

They were given use of one of the guest houses on the palace grounds.  Thyme hung back to have a private discussion with Rastin, making sure the air between them was clear.  In the morning, Bitsy spoke with him as well, asking about passage to the Isle of Dalcerra.  He said that if she could help him gather the amulets and complete his mission, he would be able to get her to Dalcerra.  Bitsy, in a moment of insight, saw that what he meant by his words was that he couldn’t get her there if he didn’t complete his mission, not that he wouldn’t.

She knew she had to get there, though.

The rest of the day was spent in the city, resupplying, and getting better equipment, their previous encounter showed they might not be as prepared as they thought for the dangers in the Tombs of the Eternal Kings. Olek and Thyme picked up some new armor, (which Kizzy did the next day).  Thyme also took Olek to visit the shop where he has begun his subscription (if that’s what it could be called) to LuteCrate. There they met the proprietor again, Tersim. There she asked Thyme for his old lute as payment for the next month’s.  He was hesitant, and confused. But he did it.  For better or worse.

There Olek found an axe. The blade was decorated with a lion on one side, and a boar on the other. It spoke to him.  He had to have it.  When he asked though he was told it could be his if he “helped the shadows fight of an even deeper darkness.”  For the moment, he wasn’t sure what that meant, but he agreed anyways.

Thorn stopped by before they left and asked about a bottle that Tersim was selling.  She told him that he would have to help build a bridge in the community.  Eyebrow raised, he agreed as well.

They completed some other assorted errands throughout the day, and went to bed that night.  Bitsy slept poorly, still looking like a wilted flower.  Kizzy was preoccupied with thoughts of princess and nobility.  Absinthe, more quiet than usual slept fairly well, though they were concerned about the young druid. Thorn and Thyme has no troubles, but Olek woke late in the night, pieces of the riddle snapping together.

Shadows. Darkness. Shade.

The Shade Mantle, the thieves’ guild.