14^th of Toil to 12^th of Moons, 721IA

 

            After just a bit more than a month of constant adventuring I can honestly say that I needed a good long rest. Even in the stories and legends, the Heroes, after a long and usually harrowing adventure get some down time, some time to rest and heal and enjoy their life… right before it is shattered by some catastrophic event the propels them right back into the midst of action and adventure.

 

 

Since I’m not a hero, I’m not worried about such a catastrophic event. Sure I’ve done some things that many others have not, but this by no way makes me a hero. It probably more of makes me a fool for doing such dangerous things. Not that I’m complaining, really; I’m living far better off than I have before that night of the 9^th of Blessing when Menon and I sat with Sebastian for a quiet evening. I’ve got plenty of coins to get me through comfortably for a time, and I’m starting to make a name for myself, what with my singing in both the Ghostly Minstrel and the Griffon. But to get back to the subject of rest… yes, I believe I earned it.

 

 

It was apparently something that not just I felt, because no one was in much of a hurry to run off after something or other, or delve into the dungeons (though I think I’d probably have told them to go ahead without me. I don’t particularly like dungeons) that infest the area immediately bellow Ptolus. The only thing we really had planned was the party at Castle Shard to which most of us were invited, and that was to be only at the 13^th of Moons, giving us almost two months of rest.

 

 

So we did… at least I did. I haven’t heard much from Eric and Tuur in that time, and while we’ve met from time to time it wasn’t as often as that first month. I do know that they both rented a house at some point, somewhere in Oldtown I think, but I really don’t know what they were up to.

 

 

Aretha and Sebastian, Sebastian being a long-time friend of Menon and me, we saw more of. At some point Aretha finally decided to leave that inn she was staying at and Sebastian decided he had enough of sleeping in Max’s office, so they rented a nice little apartment (similar to Menon’s and mine) in the western area of Midtown, near Max’s/Sebastian’s office. I think Sebastian was hired several times for small (or big, but he wouldn’t talk about it much) investigative jobs, and apparently he’s been doing quite well. Aretha continued to push forward the Shooting Club with lectures and meetings, and she even went so far as to arrange what I think was the first ever Ptolus Shooting Tournament. I think it went really nice, and had a nice amount of people coming to see it. Aretha also did quite well in the shooting contest, what with coming 1^st at close range, 2^nd at medium range, and 3^rd on the 500 ft. shooting. She and a guy we saw at that republican meeting we went to were always one on the heels of the other when it came to the shooting.

 

 

Menon, when she finally woke up every morning (and perhaps “kicking” her latest catch out the door), almost religiously would pick up her short bow and would spend part of the day practicing in the woods near the Livestock Pens south of Guilder Gate. I accompanied her several times on this outing, as it was very nice outside the city, and can honestly say that even I saw the improvement over time, especially in her reaction time. She stopped going to the Necropolis almost entirely, maintaining only a token appearance so as to “maintain contacts in the guild” as she put it. After all, why mourn when you have a very nice amount of imperials in your coffers?

 

 

And as for me, I had regular performances in both the Ghostly and the Griffon, kept buying interesting books (usually poetry, legends & myths, and history, though I did buy a book or two about the arcane arts), and invested more and more time in that song I decided to write for the Republicans. I already went through several drafts till I finally had it just right, and then started searching for a good tune and rhythm, listening intently to both music from the docks and music played in the most exclusive of inns. After all, I wanted this to be accessible to all classes of society. It was just several days before the party that I finally had it all down and ready, but I didn’t want to go out with it just yet. I wanted the opinion of someone who understands in such things. Nivae Tamelli was just such a one, and she being a Republican as well made it even better. I’ll have to see how to get in touch with her. Maybe she’ll be at the Castle Shard party.

 

 

There was only one thing of note that involved some of our past experiences during that time. After some investigation, Eric learned that the Chaositec objects we found in Shilukar’s lair, and in fact all Chaositec objects, were quite dangerous and shouldn’t be fooled around with. He and Menon went together to the Malkuth and learned of a way to neutralize these objects. Apparently there is a capsule of Chaos Liquid in each object that first has to be removed, when that is done the object itself can be shattered normally, but the Liquid should be disposed of carefully as it is very dangerous stuff. They neutralized both objects we had, and left the Chaos Liquid capsule with the Malkuth. Menon was breathing easier that night.

 

 

The day before the party we met Eric and Tuur (who was wearing sunglasses for some reason, even though it was night and we were in a tavern) for a drink at the Ghostly, and Eric asked if we wanted to arrive together at the party. “Sure,” we said, “when do you want to get there?” “Right on time, of course,” said he.

 

 

Aretha and I exchanged glances and told him to go ahead without us; we’ll come to the party at a normal time, actually meaning we’ll be making a fashionable half hour late entrance.  

 

 

Kingsday, 13^th of Moons, 721IA

 

            The ball room was on the second floor of Castle Shard, and as most of the castle, encircling the purple Shard itself. The room was tastefully decorated and sparrows were flying around the room (definitely the touch of Lady Rill), while well groomed kobolds holding trays were walking around offering food and refreshments. A prominent, beautifully carved, ice statue of a dragon was easily seen from anywhere in the room and people coming up to it would be asked what they wished to drink by the dragon and  would soon after be given their hearts desire. As if I didn’t know, this was certainly the most interesting party I have ever been to.

 

            Aretha and I entered the room and looked around seeing quite a few very prominent and interesting people. Sheva Callister was there, standing next to the heartglowing Steron Vsool, paladin of Gaen, and Jevicca Nor with her hand made of red glass (I haven’t seen her before, but I did hear the tale that a dragon took her real arm). It didn’t take me long to spot Eric standing, a bit flabbergasted or perhaps nervous, and talking with a Satyr. Her upper, and human-like, part was extremely beautiful and she was practically wearing air; her lower part was, well, goat-like. I’m sure Eric loved part of her. She was definitely interested in him, it was all too plain to see, and as we came in and Mand signaled us and came over, Eric managed to excuse himself from her and come over to us. “Having fun yet Eric?” Aretha asked with an honest face, and Eric wasn’t sure where to bury himself.

 

            Mand offered to give us a short tour of the room and introduce us to some of the people we did not know, which was practically everybody. It was nice to see him again, and he was courteous and pleasant as always. Some elves that we were told were of the mercenary company known as Darkleaf were there, but I found no reason to go and talk with them; golden Lord Abbercombe was there and cordial and we exchanged some pleasantries; a gaunt elf by the name of Moynath Autumnsong was pointed out to me and he was Lady Rill's mentor and friend.

 

            We stopped to talk a bit with those famous adventurers that were standing with Sheva, and after some small talk Tuur and Eric started asking them about “interesting” places to see and go to in Ptolus or beneath her. Sheva, all delicate smiles and mischievous grins, told about some Drow city deep beneath the ground or the Dark Reliquary, and as they started talking about it I excused myself to go and talk to our host and hostess. As I left I heard a loud hearty voice greeting Tuur and speaking to him as if they were good friends, and claiming how good a person Tuur is and how skilled a swordsman he is in the ears of Sheva, Steron, and company. I looked back over my shoulder to see it was Urlenius, the ogre-mage with those stones floating around his head. I could still hear him talking half a room away.

 

            Many others have arrived at the party in the meanwhile; mainly lords and ladies of the various noble houses, all dressed in their fineries. Ren Sadar and his wife were there, immediately putting a chill down my spine, as well as the beautiful yet modestly dressed Peliope Erthuo of the scholar house; Kristol Dallimothan of the house of dragons was there dressed in black clothes and a silvery cloak, and by his side was an extremely pretty black haired young lass to which Eric took a liking (apparently mutual) and they have spent the whole party together; her name, I was later told, was Domaedia, Kristol’s daughter, and Aretha confided in me that she is older than the 20 years she appears to have. Aretha always seems to know more than she has to.

 

            Many other nobles and prominent people were invited to this party, people I would not have expected to see in the same room together, such as Kaira Swanwing of the Golden Cross and the decidedly demonic looking Navanna Vladaam of the evil Vladaam house; or Dierna Hillerchaun of the Knights of the Pale and the above mentioned Ren Sadar... not to mention the questionable Darkleaf company. But this was understandable, at least to me, and the statement is plain: Castle Shard does not take sides.

 

            I did not take notice of what my companions did all night, but I did see Eric talk with the leader of the Knights of the Pale, and Tuur speak with Kaira of the Golden Cross. Aretha had apparently found some common topics with the head of the Erthuo family, Pelliope. I talked with many a people during that night, and after some time I found myself looking across the room at Nivae. How opportune.

 

            I went over and introduced myself, and she seemed to remember me from the Republican meeting. After a bit of small-talk I told her that I have written a song for the Republicans that might be able to further the cause, and that I would very much like her to see it and tell me what she thinks. “Why later?” she asked, and I replied that I don’t have it on me.

 

            “Don’t you know it by heart?”

 

            “Of course I do, but…”

 

            “Is it finished and composed?”

 

            “It is, I just…”

 

            “Come with me,” she said and took me by the hand leading me to the stage that just up until some time ago was populated by a band of seven human looking beings with golden hair that sang with a tinge of angelic voice. “Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce to you Melelyn Lothven, a very talented young lady and she has offered to sing a song she has just written for us. Please welcome her warmly,” she said and left me on the stage, looking at the whole crowd, clapping their hands and then in silence waiting for me to start singing.

 

            Need I say that it is not exactly what I had in mind?

 

            Nevertheless I found my confidence quickly, straightened my back and leveled my gaze at the assembled people, trying to look at them all, and at each one in turn. And then I started singing…

 

I can honestly say that that was one of the best performances I have ever did. Everything was just right, and the fact that the song was mine from start to finish, and after pouring my heart out into it, I knew exactly how it should be sang and why.

 

A silence followed as my voice faded away into the hall and I finished my song. One of those silences that you get when people hear a joke or a story (or a song) that they aren’t really sure if it really means what they just heard. The silence lasted two or three heartbeats, and then the applause washed over me from everywhere. Oh yes, they understood what the song was about. Some people were clapping enthusiastically and speaking excitedly with those next to them; other had one of those amused smiles on their face that says “I know what you said, and I can’t say that I really mind, but boy is it going to piss-off some people”; and then there were the angry people, the Nobles. Ren Sadar was looking daggers at me and Devina Kath wasn’t all that pleased either (good thing I already sent them a letter thanking them for the scholarship offer, but that at the moment I cannot accept it), Redalla Shever also had an unhappy look on her face, and Moynaths’ gaunt face was openly scowling. Nope, this wasn’t how I planned to introduce the song.

 

It was at that moment, while I was still on stage, that a strange man suddenly appeared next to Aretha wearing armor and a helmet that hid his face. I recognized the man as the Iron Mage, probably the most powerful mage in Ptolus if not the world. It seems like the Lord and lady of the castle were not at all happy with this turn of events. He said something to Aretha (she refused to talk about it later) and disappeared a moment later. Strange, but apparently most people did not even notice this happening.

 

Nivae was excited about my song and came to congratulate me, telling me it was excellent and very well written, and that I sang it beautifully. Every where I went later I was stopped and people complimented me on the song and talked with me a little further. Well of course not everybody.

 

Nivae took the stage after me and, without much effort, told the complicated story of The Rain and Dassan, with so much elegance, good humor, and grace that if we were in a competition she would have taken the first place even if she was tied to a chair and gagged.  Gods but she is good.

 

The party went on for some time on and eventually people started leaving, so I left as well, after thanking our hosts and saying my good-byes to the people that I found common grounds with.

 

What a night.

 

 

Airday, 14^th of Moons, 721IA

 

            We all met that evening because Sebastian claimed he had something important to discuss with us. Once we were all settled down Sebastian said that William, the key guy, has come to see him at his office with news. “You remember how he told us there were two original keys, and that one was lost years and years ago? Well, he some  how unearthed some information about the second key. Last he could trace it, it was in the possession of a chaotic cult by the name of Crimson Coil that used to operate out of this old abandoned brothel in northern Oldtown, very close to the city walls.”

 

            Eric shook his head, “I don’t see why we should care about this. I see no reason in putting such an item in the hands of a person such as William, not saying that he’s a bad person or anything. We should just let it lay.”

 

            “You see no reason to find this key, and take it out of chaos cult hands?” I asked. And a bit surprised I might add.

 

            “No,” he said plainly. “If it’s been sitting there for god knows how long, why should we disturb it and place it in the hands of William?” By this time Tuur was agreeing with him, and arguing against going for it as well.

 

            “So after seeing all that we have seen these past month about chaos cults, and what they might try to achieve with such a key, after seeing what they do to children. You still think there is no reason to find it?” I asked quite incredulous.

 

            “No, I have heard nothing of children in need…”

 

            “Oh, and you keep a tab on all children in Ptolus,” I retorted and was actually getting irritated. I will not relay the whole high argumentative discussion here. Suffice to say it was heated. Sebastian and I were thinking along the same lines and together managed to get it into Eric and Tuur's minds that it was imperative to get the key: to get it out of any chaos cult hand, and that even though it might have been laying in the same place for a long time the fact the information has just resurfaced doesn’t mean that we are the only ones knowing about it. He kept returning to the fact of returning it to William and deciding right now what we will do with it once found, perhaps giving it to the Golden Cross, or the Malkuth, as if those guys needed another item from us. They’re becoming our personal Dangerous Items Safe Box.

 

            “How do you want us to make a decision with only a grain of the information? What if this key will be crucial in opposing a chaos cult? What if we find out that it truly did belong to William’s family and that it is lawfully his?” We gave him loads of question, but he insisted. The whole thing came to a crush when he proposed a compromise: “So when we find the key, how about I’ll hold on to it till we know what to do with it?” I not sure he even understood the meaning of what he said. Sebastian leveled a cool gaze at him “So you do not trust us to do the right thing?”

 

            This flared up the argument even more till finally we said to both Eric and Tuur: “You decided what you want to do. With or without you, we are going to that brothel tomorrow morning.”

 

            They said they’ll have to “sleep on it” but we just repeated what we said, “Tomorrow we go. Period.”

 

 

Waterday, 15^th of Moons, 721IA

 

            Both Eric and Tuur met us outside of Sebastian’s office in the morning. They again tried to convince us to their terms, but we persisted and again told them that we will not make half-assed decisions. Then something caused them to change their minds and they joined us, though we could see it was reluctantly. If they didn’t want to I’m not sure why… perhaps their god told them, or they got some guidance or something. Whatever the reason was, they kept it to themselves.

 

            We didn’t talk much on our way there.

 

            The abandoned brothel was certainly impressive. A grand stone house, almost a manor even, with three towers jutting out of it, two of them round, and one of them square, with narrow windows high on the walls. It was sitting on a small hill full of rubble and broken masonry. Only one way to go inside, so we took it.

 

            The inner courtyard was wide and shadowy, what with it still being morning, and rats were running around. There were some stairs going up to a higher platform, and a large doorway into a darkened room. Menon approached it and signaled that she heard voices, then Tuur peeked inside and even though he was wearing his sunglasses claimed that he saw three ratlings inside. Eric seemed to accept it, but the rest of us just looked at him questioningly. Of course, he supplied no answers. I threw our everburning torch inside so we could at least see what’s going on inside and help. Two objects came flying out of the room and exploded near Tuur, Eric and Sebastian

 

Before we could do anything a look of determination came over Tuur, and suddenly a wave of pitch darkness seemed to emanate from him and cover us all. I heard footsteps going into the room and the darkness receded and entered the room, completely blocking the light from the torch I just threw in. Tuur wasn’t standing by us anymore. We heard a scream and a body fall, then Eric was shooting arrows into the darkness and we heard sword blows. What the hell? I though and knew by looking at Aretha’s, Menon’s and Sebastian’s faces that I was not alone.

 

The darkness vanished as soon as it appeared and the light of the torch illuminated the room again. From where I was standing I saw a huge figure rush from one side of the room to the other, the screech of metal breaking metal, and the sickening sound of iron breaking bone. Something bad was happening inside that room. Everybody jumped inside that room by the time I could react, and as I moved to the opening I saw a huge ratman holding a very big sword. I could just barely see an eviscerated body lying on the floor behind it. Damn.

 

I reached deep inside myself and tried to cause the creature to trip, but knew immediately that it did not affect the creature as it lashed a moment later at Eric with its great sword and then biting him. Eric too, fell to the ground, heavily wounded. Menon was shooting arrows, Aretha was shooting her guns, and both Maxim (Aretha’s dog) and Sebastian were lashing at it trying to bring it down. All that just barely registered in my mind. I just saw the great sword swing up and down, and now that Eric was down, it’ll turn on Sebastian and then probably my sister.

 

I gathered all my strength and felt as if I was forcing my whole body as a loud ringing note came out of my mouth. I knew where I was directing it, and as the creature was turning on Sebastian to try and strike him down as well, its sword shattered into many pieces. The creature was struck dumb for a heartbeat, not sure what to do, and then lashed at Sebastian with its claws. Whether it hit him or not I’m not sure, but a moment later the creature was crying its death cry. Once we helped Eric back to his feet, we found Tuur body cloven in half lying on the ground amid ratling corpses and that huge monstrosity. Eric was crying as he carried his body outside.

 

Even though we had our differences, we have been on some adventures together and it was hard to see him like that. I wasn’t crying, but I was sad. We decided that we cannot continue like this and that we should take Tuur and give him a proper burial. I suggested that we should cover Tuur’s body with some sheets from inside, but Eric was either not listening or too deep in his grief. As we stepped across the gate of the brothel something stopped us. Physically.

 

Something was preventing us from going outside. A trap… a magical trap, actually. Guess we’re stuck here. We’ll have to continue till we find a way to leave and take Tuur for burial. I knelt down beside Tuur where Eric placed him and was about to remove his glasses so as to close his eyes. But Eric stopped me, “Don’t!” he commanded. Commanded!

 

            “Some respect for the dead dammit,” I responded, wrenching my hand free.

 

            “I know why he had them on, he wouldn’t want anyone else to know,” he continued, and blocking all our view he did it himself. Fucking secrets even when the guy is dead, the hell with this was about what was going on in my mind.

 

            It was then that Eric remembered that Tuur would prefer to be cremated, and so after building a small pyre and a short ceremony we burned Tuur’s body. There was nothing else we could do now, but head on in.

 

            The old bedrooms were in a mess, with very explicit painting on the walls. This was definitely a brothel the last time this building was used. As we went deeper into the building I glimpsed a statue around a corner just as Menon opened another door. I felt a wave of revulsion come over her, and immediately turned to see what she was looking at. Eric and Sebastian were standing besides her, swords down, intently looking at something, almost salivating. Menon closed the door quickly and slapped them both across the face, “They’re damn walking corpses, snap out of it!” And a moment later the door opened and a hideous corpse of what I guess was once a whore came out of the room and rushed and grabbed Menon. Sebastian pulled her away and Eric slashed at it. Strange thing is, as fragile as these ex-whores look, one of the managed to grab a hold of Eric and he could not shake her off. I’m not sure what it was that he did, but when he saw that she was strong enough to hold him he grabbed her too and she started screaming. “Hit her with a heal spell,” he shouted to Aretha, “or heal me at least.” Aretha sprang to action, and I’m pretty sure she was aiming for Eric... but her wand touched the creature and at that moment the creature fell.

 

            As Menon went through their room searching for clues or anything of note, I went back to look at the statue I saw before. The statue was man size… but of an extremely obese man, balding and naked. A name popped into my head for some reason, as I remembered seeing a very similar drawing in some book somewhere. The man was Seginal Fesbon, a despicable cleric and mage.

 

            Not at all a nice person.

 

            The statue was standing at the end of a long hallway, and as we looked around the statue we found some scratch marks on the floor to the north of the statue. Should we move the statue?