Session Twenty-Four - April 23, 2005

[Matt]

THE TWO FACES OF EWEN
(OR DR. RAVINARGH & MR. SOURSI)

Larane 21, 730 TR

We begin our day at the former home of Evil Erol in the city of Golotha. We convene in the great hall of the home for breakfast – where we are surprised but pleased to find the staff has made prepared food – and discussion of our actions in the coming day. We decide that it is to our advantage to find and despoil the homes of both Slakka the assassin and Jeremiz the vile toad. Imarë asks the chamberlain, Ogel (an older man with greasy, stringy hair) if the staff knows the locations of these homes, which he does. The servant boy (one Mykkel, age 13, who seems giddy with joy that his master Erol is dead) is assigned to guide us to these places where, according to Ogel, they lived alone and had no servants.

We set out immediately with no piddling or dithering over specifics for the home of Jeremiz. It is located at the end of a small ‘L’ shaped alley off of Arren Street and looks to be 20 feet square made of wood. There is a single door on the first floor and a single window looks out from the second. Sir Baris kicks the door open (made harder by the fact that the door opens outward) and we enter the house with little fanfare from the denizens of the alley who ignore us. The door opens into a five-foot wide corridor which runs across the face of the building and has a curtained opening further down on the left wall, which opens into what appears to be a storage room. The whole first floor is of packed earth and the place is not only filthy but also infested with rats and other vermin.

We proceed up the stairs in the rear to a room which is 20 by 15 and looks as if at one time it were a kitchen area. The only exit, except the way we came, is an opening in the wall across the room which corresponds to the corridor on the first floor. The area to the left smells to be the toilet facilities of the house but does not seem to have had cleaning services for a long period and has odor accordingly. On the right hand side a ladder proceeds up to the top floor. This room is also 20 x 15 and the area above corridors below seems to have no opening while the ceiling is peaked to about 10’. This appears to have been the sleeping chamber of Jeremiz – there is a bed in a curtained corner of the room and a table with papers and a bound book at the top of the ladder with a couple of crates next to it (the book and papers appear blank but are taken anyway).

The missing 5 x 20 area of the front draws our attention at once. Imarë, not seeing any door decides that brute force should be able to open up this space. She starts a board and Sir Baris then helps to rip it and another off, revealing a secret room which contains two chests. The first chest is unlocked and contains clothing of a finer quality than Jeremiz was known to wear and nothing else. The second chest is locked by a padlock on the outside of the chest, which causes little trouble to Sir Baris who pries it off with a spear found in the corner. In the chest we find a fine white linen with silk trim cloak on top, a bag (which we later determine contains 1,212d, a 2c ruby and an engraved silver necklace which weighs a bit more than half a pound), an ivory statue with silver engraving of a knight with a checkered shield (Laranian), a keen dagger in a sheath, and an envelope containing the deed to this property witnessed by one Nobar of Rushez. Fitting the splintered entry door back into place, we have Mykkel lead us to the home of Slakka.

The home (or former home, we don’t know which) is built right next to the wall at the second tower down from the Arren Gate and the door is in the alley which runs right to the tower. This building is also made of wood and is roughly a 25 x 30 rectangle (the city wall runs at an angle and makes the larger end 35’ but contains the corner of the tower) is made of wood and is also three stories tall with a window on the second and third floors. Learning from our prior experiences (and being warned about possible traps in the home of the assassin), Bevan turns the door handle and finds, to everyone’s surprise, that the door is unlocked. The door enters into a 5’ corridor running away from the wall and contains a single door to the right about 20’ down. The room beyond the door is about 15’ x 25’ with a wooden floor and looks to be a storage room. Imarë discovers the first of what turns out to be three pits about 3’ across and 6’ deep (one at the door, one at the bottom of the stair across the room from the door, and one in the middle of the room) by the simple expedient of falling into the one behind the door. They are empty and cause no damage to the elf due to her leather knee boots). Determining that the interior seems to be about five feet shorter than the exterior at the end away from the city wall, the party begins to look for a secret door while Mykkel makes himself comfortable on a barrel (which he checks out carefully first). Bevan discovers a knot near the bottom of the stairs which looks more worn than the rest of the wall and starts to play with it, eventually finding that if she gives even pressure around the knot it will open a door to a five foot wide corridor running along the face of the building with a ladder leading up in the corner furthest from the tower. A similar corridor runs along the second floor and ends in another ladder at the far end, also going up, there are apparently no doors off this corridor. On the third floor the ladder leads to a 5’ x 7’ room with no apparent doors, something we just don’t believe. Sir Baris decides to bash through the wall and finds a room which is the same size and shape of the storeroom on the first floor but has a curtain over an opening in the wall where the entry door was and a door in the corner next to where the tower cuts into the building with a tapestry between the two. An unused bed sits in the far corner and a fireplace is in the long wall.

There is an unaccounted for space above the corridor on the third floor and close inspection reveals a secret door which opens outward. Inside is another bed, showing signs of use, and a fine chest (one with an integral lock). Finding no keys in our hurried search, we decide the BFI will once again be the order of the day and Sir Baris bashes the top of the chest with his axe until it breaks (upon which we hear a crunching noise from within). Inside we find a silk bag with a now crushed skull within (Imarë posits that it is the skull of Slakka’s grandfather, kept close for luck), a smaller chest which contains nine apothecary jars, an envelope with the deed to this house (also witnessed by Nobar of Rushez), a fine suit of clothes (suitable for nobility), and a bag we later determine contains 2,726d and three gold Khuzan crowns. Bevan, upon looking in the small jars, determines that six contain an unknown substance (a dullish green powder); two contain gaethipa (a really powerful and very illegal poison), and a jar of fanosel (seemingly a habit forming narcotic).

Opening the remaining door on this level (with iron bars set on this side of the door), we find a stair running down to the second floor, to a room which looks like a resume for Slakka. No fewer than five skeletons are in different positions (and apparently modes) of death lie about the room. The only feature of note besides this is the board with spikes which appears spring loaded to impale anybody coming up the stairs from the first floor (after disarming the trap we discover a pressure plate on the landing down to the store room). As far as we can tell, Slakka used the secret corridors and ladders to reach his space and had traps to prevent anyone else from coming up (it is generally believed now that Slakka was paranoid and saw danger everywhere. Looking at what happened to him and what he did for a living maybe he was not wrong).

Being near the Brothel, we decide to pay Jarop the £2 for looking the other way about Erol and add £1 to apologize about the death of Jeremiz. The guild master is satisfied with the transaction and the party departs on good terms. We decide to end our stay at the Bridgetower and go to pay our tab and let Orsa know where to find us if anybody needs to. From there we head back to what is now known as ‘The House.’ Here we take inventory of the staff, five extraordinarily ugly people (Ogel says he chose ugly so that Erol would not be tempted to play with the help) who are doing everything they can to stay on in their jobs (even after giving them assurances that they will remain as long as the house is ours to run they are nervous, they have been lied to before). Ogel is the chamberlain and runs the household. Mykkel is the serving boy, Vente is the middle-aged stable boy, Drella is the old cook, and Kalia is the maid/cook’s helper. We now have time to really search the house. In addition to the 3,169d and 3 gold rings found in a chest in Erol’s room, we find a secret compartment in his bed which contains 3 gold crowns and a 8-9c onyx, black with white striations (this stone is associated with Naveh, but is also valuable), and a library with a wide selection of books and scrolls about various subjects. We search the rest of the house, and Sir Baris finds a loose rock in the cell off the playroom which he pulls out of the wall. The rock itself is uninteresting, and after some discussion, Imarë feels around in the hole where she finds an iron handle which she manages to shift. The wall opens and a secret is revealed. The air in this room is old and almost poisonous and the chest is covered in dust while the room is filled with cobwebs. Nobody has been in this room probably since the late, unlamented Lenesque Earl of Techen died. All that is inside is a large, iron chest (an unusual item) which is very well constructed and secured by an integral lock. We are unable to force the chest open that evening and decide to send for a locksmith the next day. Ewen heads out to see if he has a date with Borana’s apprentice, Farla, but she does not appear and he returns, wondering if Farla even received the note Mykkel slipped under the door. With this our day ends and people go off to various bedchambers to sleep (alone).

Larane 22, 730

[GM: The following section contains the GM account of the early hours of the 22nd which took place extra-session.]

Ewen surreptitiously left a message for Rahel of Aerth with one of her men at her gate, on the morning of the 21st, notifying her of his desire to call upon her late that evening. He mentions his need keep his traveling companions in the dark in the matter. He indicates that no return message is necessary; he will come to the gate and, if the visit is declined, it will not be opened to him and he would take that as a refusal and leave. He also mentions in the note that his group is at the Lenesque address, hoping to pique her interest a bit with this.

After midnight, early on the 22nd of Larane, Ewen proceeds from the party’s new quarters in Erol Lenesque’s house down Nemiran Street, heading all the way to Arlun Way. He waits for a few minutes, to ensure he has not been followed, and then doubles back to Rahel’s estate. He does not believe he has been followed, although a burgher and his two guards give Ewen a wide berth. It is a bright and cloudless night with a roughly three-quarter moon. Ewen knocks upon the gate, which opens to reveal the older gentleman who escorted Ewen from the Bridgetower on his previous evening at Rahel’s home. This gentleman steps aside wordlessly, allowing Ewen passage, meets Ewen’s eye, and turns to one of two men at arms standing by. “Delan” he says gruffly, “bring him up to the house!” The man at arms comes to attention, and then says to Ewen, “Follow me, sir”.

He leads the way to the front door, raps, and the doors open. Two more men at arms are there, and he leads Ewen to the left as before. Within a fire blazes and the table is set with various delectable foods. There are delicately roasted meats, manchet bread, cheeses, and tarts. Several decanters also stand upon the polished wood. Ewen notes the tapestry as before, and then notices the amazingly lovely Rahel of Aerth sitting in a chair before the fireplace. “You may go,” she says to the man at arms, who bows and withdraws.

“Welcome Ewen,” she says graciously as she rises from the chair. “I wasn’t completely sure you would come this evening, but it is appropriate that you do so.” She is dressed in black leathers that seem to mold to her form perfectly, and Ewen feels an involuntary response to her rising. “Please help yourself to refreshments. Perhaps you would care for another glass of aquavit.” This last she says with a smile.

Ewen bows in her direction. “I am grateful to you for seeing me at such a late hour.” Glancing at the aquavit, he adds, “I thank you, but I found your aquavit a bit ... disconcerting last time,” with a self-deprecating smile.

“It is very potent,” she says agreeably, and pours herself a goblet. “Do help yourself, we have need of a late supper this evening.” Ewen politely avails himself of the refreshments. Rahel reseats herself and, as she makes no indication to Ewen to the contrary, he is left standing.

“I’ll come to the point of my wish to speak to you.”

“I imagined you had a purpose.”

“I had a dream two night’s back like no other dream I have ever experienced. I hoped to hear your opinion of it, and share with you mine.” Rahel inclines her head, indicating for Ewen to go on, and the harper relates the dream to her exactly as he experienced it, leaving out no detail. Ewen tells his tale nervously, while noticing that she drinks more from the goblet than before during his relating of it.

When Ewen finishes, she smiles. “I wonder if we’ll be hearing about another new song coming from your lute, Master Harper? I am curious that I’ve made such an impression on you that I seem to have found my way into your dreams.” Ewen nods, signifying his awareness of the awkwardness of that, and she smiles again, but not so nicely. “But I make it into many men’s dreams.”

“I am of the opinion that this dream is not to be judged as the typical dream.”

She cocks her head. “Have you been to a desert? Twas not my impression you’d traveled off Harn.”

“Never. The places in the dream are all foreign to me.”

“Even the field?”

“Ah ... already I find the value of seeking the thoughts of another in such matters. No, the field did not strike me at the time as a place I have walked, but the place was of Harn ... Of course, some fields or plains are of more importance than others ...”

“What of these others you named? Jelesa I know - do you? And who is this Khalijah and Trilime?”

“Yes, I have been to the home of Borana the perfumer, and looked upon her daughter. And Trilime Palliser I know of.”

“Trilime Palliser? And what connection is she to your companion, Bevan?”

Ewen smiles and pauses, as if in thought. “Trilime is the daughter of my companion. But the father of the child is of more interest to us, is she not?”

“Her daughter,” she says, as if tasting the word. “But to your knowledge, none of the things in this dream have actually happened?”

“None of these things have happened in the orbit of my personal experience. But I must tell you, I believe that the parts of the dream prior to the field happened to someone.”

“The first parts ... the first three parts.”

“Yes”

She stiffens, and Ewen can hear an indeterminate noise out in the antechamber. “Ewen,” she says sharply. “Come stand closer to me, here, by the fire.” She stands, and Ewen joins her as she requests, eyebrow raised.

At this point the door to the chamber opens and Harth enters. “My Lady,” he says, but before he can finish, a fully armored knight follows him in. He is dressed head to toe in plate. He carries no shield, but a large battlesword is on his back and a wicked-looking ball & chain is at his belt. The helm has a faint gold circlet around the brow.

Rahel curtseys. “My lord,” she breathes. There is a palpable change in the room. The knight moves to the table, pulling off his helmet, and seemingly noticing Ewen for the first time.

“Ewen of Ravinargh,” he says softly. “I have so looked forward to meeting you. We weren’t sure you would come.”

Ewen descends to one knee, his head down. “My lord?” He detects the faintest smell of the crypt.

“Indeed,” he says and waves Ewen to his feet. Ewen rises, and meets his gaze. The knight holds it for some time and then he then turns to Sir Harth, whom he asks if he would do the office of squire. Servants enter carrying a large bound chest. Ewen cannot determine what material it is made of - it might even be kurbul. They set it down and a blonde woman enters. As Sir Harth removes the knight’s armor and weaponry, she carefully places each piece in the chest, which has a tray and seems to have been designed for just this purpose. Another servant comes in carrying a folded garment on a pillow. He places the pillow down and holds out the sleeveless, black silk overtunic for the knight and then a silver chain with a large boar, regardant, as the pendant. At some point during this he waves again at Ewen, as if giving him leave to speak.

“I have come, lord, answering the call of the dream.”

“Dream?”

Rahel says, “If I may?”

He nods, and they are both briefly silent. After a few seconds, he laughs. “We shall hold this discussion for a moment.”

Ewen waits patiently, and presently the servants and Sir Harth leave, closing the door behind them. The knight gestures to the women. “My Lady Rahel you know. This is Merin Sheld,” indicating the blonde woman.

He sits in the chair Rahel vacated, and a goblet of brandy floats to him from the table. “Master Harper”, he says cordially, “it would save everyone a great deal of time if you would permit yourself to be read.”

“Of course, my lord,” Ewen answers The knight nods, seeming pleased at the harper’s courage, or his foolhardiness.

“I will need to touch you. Please come here.”

Ewen approaches, and he holds out his hand for Ewen to kneel or sit nearby. Ewen kneels, and for the first time notices a gold ring adorned with an enormous purple jankorez. He places his hand on Ewen’s shoulder. “You must relax. Take a deep breathe as you do so.” Ewen nods, striving to remain calm. He feels a ‘pushing’ at his temples, similar to what he felt at the Aerths, only this time it seems to go beyond a mere brushing - there is a presence within him.

It seems as though an eternity has gone by, but as the High Deryni withdraws his hand, Ewen realizes it only took a few seconds, a minute at most. He feels slightly fatigued. Merin Sheld hands Ewen a goblet of brandy as he staggers back slowly.

The other three meet eyes, and hold them for a long moment. The liquor steadies Ewen. They break their eye contact, and Rahel turns to Ewen. “You killed Felkar!” she says with some shock and surprise.

“Yes.”

The knight laughs. “Indeed, a very dangerous fellow we have here. Whatever shall we do with him? What say you Ewen - but you are not Ewen are you? What shall we do with you?”

Ewen takes a deep breath. “I would, if it pleases my lord, serve you … I am as a blindfolded man with a sharp sword - dangerous perhaps to friend and foe alike. Help me to see, my lord, so that my sword may be directed to its best effect.”

The knight laughs again. “Brave lad - you do not know what you say.” He stands and walks over to the table, refilling his goblet. “When Rahel came to me full of questions about you, I honestly told her I knew nothing of you. Why should I? I knew not the name ‘Ravinargh.’ But I do remember Pela - beautiful brown eyes.” He seems lost in the memory for a moment. “She was you mother, was she not?”

“Yes, my lord. She died years ago, I am afraid.”

“I am very sorry to hear that.” His eyes level. “And you have the answer to the dream you’ve been pondering. You haven’t yet asked my name.”

Ewen pauses at this, considering. “Your grace’s name … is your grace’s privilege to vouchsafe, of course. I gather you know from reading me that the topic of your name ... has been speculated upon within my current circle of companions.”

“Yes,” he says gravely. “This is not a topic to be bandied about lightly.” Ewen nods gravely. “I believe I am in all five parts of your dream.” Ewen nods again. “If we are correct, the night you had this dream was one in which I meditated upon you specifically, and you yourself have given much thought to me, and to Rahel, and to Jelesa. Even untrained and latent, you were able to sense me casting out my mind. Your mind, however, had no other way to interpret it, and so it resorted to a dream. Harmless, under most circumstances, but as you are just now beginning to realize, you are more extraordinary than you had even supposed - and that is saying a great deal.”

“I see, your grace. I confess, I would very much like to learn the arts of what has been, as you say, latent in my mind. But that is for your grace to say, and I understand that these things must perhaps take their own course...?”

“We shall see, we shall see.” He sets the goblet down. “You are known by several names, even if only to yourself. I, too, am known by many names. These days I generally go by ‘Morgan of Darring.’ But in my youth, the name of my birth, and the name by which most still call me, I am Arren of Melderyn.”

“I thank your grace, and of course ‘Morgan of Darring’ it is. You are my father.” Ewen states this simply, respectfully, with no other inflection.

“Yes, I am your father. So, it seems the question of what are we to do with you remains. And you will likely need to have your burning questions concerning Rahel and Jelesa answered as well. They are your sisters - half sisters anyway. Among many others ...”

Ewen nods, continuing to let Arren steer the conversation.

He returns to the chair. “I suppose I ought to apologize to you for appropriating your most mystifying style of doing away with people. It seemed the easiest way to be rid of that unreliable old man.”

“I am glad if it has been of service, your grace. I confess to having cultivated a style of misdirection which I had hoped would prove useful in future, but my primary concern now is to ensure that I do not inadvertently work at cross-purposes to your grace’s wishes.”

He looks thoughtful. “I can’t say you have so far. You provided me with a perfect cover, although I’ll venture to say that you were rather surprised. Naturally, I am responsible for the hideworker as well. At the moment, I’m considering adding an Agrikan to the tally. What do you think of that?”

Ewen smiles. “They would seem to be a problem of longstanding, your grace. You are, of course, hailed for knowing how to handle them.”

He cocks his head. “By which you mean the King does not? Do not underestimate him. They were causing trouble underground. Now that they are out in the open, they are easier to watch. But you are correct, the time for them to be the law in this city is at an end. They will not care about the Uldseths - or a hideworker who died of his very obscurity - but they will care about one of their own. Especially if it is the right one … Do not ever forget that the right one of my children sits on my throne.”

At this point, Merin brings him a dish of the various delicacies.

“Never, your grace. As for the Agrikans, I have made myself ... well known to certain of them. I would, of course, proceed as your grace sees fit... If it please your grace, I would speak of my traveling companions.”

“That will not be necessary - I have an operative within the Warriors of Mameka who is a sleeper. And since you bring it up, it need not be said that I do not wish your companions to know that I am in town. Especially not Bevan Palliser.”

“Yes, your grace. But I must say, by your leave, that I think them far too close to the truth of these matters. They know of Rahel’s men taking my lord of Quste. And your name, your grace, has been mentioned by Bevan Palliser and the others much of late, although always with considerable discretion, if I might say.”

“Yes. Her mission is near complete, and if my stirring the Agrikan hornet’s nest produces the desired result, she will need to report to the Inquisitor General sooner rather than later. The desired result here is to have the Agrikans rampage through the city to the degree that it will be necessary for the legion to march out to restore order. Once that happens, it will be difficult to argue that the Agrikans should be given back control of the streets. Oddly, you have made this gambit possible with the murder of Sir Felkar. He gave his life for his kingdom, even if he did not know it.” He laughs.

Ewen will nod with, it is to be hoped, a mixture of humbleness and satisfaction, displaying a gleam in his eye at the prospect of the Agrikans’ fate.

“There is another question in your mind.”

Ewen frowns, considering, and then offers, “The Lia-Kavair guildmaster has evinced an ... unseemly interest in your daughter Rahel’s household,” glancing in Rahel’s direction.

He shrugs. Rahel chuckles. “It has ever been so. We can handle Jarop; he is not a concern. You wish to know about Jelesa - and the one called Slakka.”

“Thank you, your grace ...”

“Well, as Jelesa is also my daughter, it was I who visited her the other night. And it was I who stabbed Slakka. I had intended a more merciful fate, however, than the one which befell him. I do not refer to his rather painful necrosis of the gut - that I expected.”

“I am unaware of further developments, your grace...?”

“I have visited Jelesa before from time to time, but never before had I run into someone who wished to impede me ... The thought may occur to you to visit Borana and Jelesa in the next few days. Do not - you will not find them there.”

Ewen nods. “There was a presence in Arren Square the other day...?”

“Yes, the Morgathians learned of the involvement of Slakka in certain Lia-Kavair affairs in which they had an interest. They deemed that they might be able to extract more information from him than others given his weakened condition. As it happens, they also took Borana and Jelesa to the temple.”

“It alarms me to hear as much, your grace.”

He smiles. “It has been taken care of. This very night I entered the Morgathian temple and brought out Borana and Jelesa. Slakka remains within - his fate is of no concern to me - and I have no doubt that if he is still clinging to life, he will be made one of the undead.”

Ewen again nods at this intelligence.

“I have decided that, for their health, Borana and Jelesa ought to take an extended trip.”

“It would seem your grace has matters well in hand. And how might I be of use to your grace?”

Again, he smiles. “Had you turned out to be not my son, you would have served me as a murderer, captured by the authorities. As it is, I am not sure what use I wish to make of you beyond this. I shall need you to steer your companions away from any undue questions about Rahel, the Baron, or my own activities. I understand you have taken possession of a house belonging rightfully to the Crown?”

“Yes. It has been our group’s intention to place the matter before the Inquisitor General, to be disposed as he sees fit.”

“You may place all before Sir Auram.”

“Yes, your grace.”

“And that is the proper approach to take. It is vital that you do not inform any officials here of any involvement I or Rahel might have had.” Ewen nods his understanding. “Now, is there anything else you would wish to ask me, my son?”

“I confess, your grace, that certain plans of mine of longstanding no longer appear ... prudent. Especially those which touch adversely upon Bevan Palliser and her father. I would take your grace’s guidance in that, as in all things, and ask your grace whether it would be best to desist in any plan to reveal aspects of my Soursi upbringing to my companions ... however deceptive my intentions admittedly were intended to be in that matter,” he finishes with a wry smile.

“It is for you to decide what to say to your friends. You must know that the Palliser family does good service to the Crown, and are viewed with favor. And you now know you have a blood connection to them.”

“I understand, your grace. And I am to refrain from contacting Rahel and, instead, await your grace’s pleasure in future?”

He looks at Rahel, who shakes her head. “No, you may contact Rahel as you see fit. You and I is another matter. For the moment, I will contact you. But you must understand Ewen, I keep track of all my children - those that I know - and I did not know you. Now that I do, we shall have to decide what to do. I cannot acknowledge you, but you do not need that now. I do try to do right by my children, and if there is something you would ask of me - the house you now occupy for example - that is within my power, you shall have it. And I would like Rahel to examine you further to determine what powers you have. For it has surely occurred to you by now that, in being my son, you are the son of a most powerful Deryni family.”

“Your grace does me much honor; I thank you for that.”

“And if you prove worthy, you shall earn it and more. Is there nothing you would ask of me?”

“Not at this time, your grace. The habit of careful consideration,” here Ewen offers another wry smile, “has long been a habit of mine. I thank your grace for this evening.”

“Indeed, you are my son.” He rises. “Merin, attend me.” He walks to the door, Merin following. “Good night Ewen, we shall speak again. Stay long enough for Rahel to determine your abilities. We shall see what can be done to improve them then.” He and Merin leave.

Ewen remains long enough for Rahel to employ her Deryni skills as Arren instructed, after which Ewen takes his leave of his lady sister, and returns to the house of Erol Lenesque where, no doubt, he spends a sleepless remainder of the night.

[GM: Here we return to the actual session.]

In the morning, we find the servants have made another nice breakfast. The staff is very helpful, and Imarë asks Ogel if there is a locksmith he could recommend. He says there is Horah of Urmel, and when we ask if he’s the only one, we learn he’s the only one ‘left.’ Ogel doesn’t think much of his trustworthiness, and we consider this. Horah has many debts, and would most likely sell us out. We decide to use the ‘playroom’ to scare him into silence, and send Mykkel off with a shilling to entice him to stop by. Meanwhile, our friend from Boraga’s shop shows up and tells Ewen that his master (Boraga) wishes to see the harper once again. With a sinking feeling that another mascles murder has occurred, Ewen, Imarë, and Sir Baris head out to see who is on the table today. It turns out that six corpses were delivered anonymously this morning, though none of them bear the telltale signs we had been dreading. They are all healthy males who look to be fighting types, one has been decapitated, two have been almost decapitated at the neck, one nearly decapitated through the shoulder, and two have died from arrow wounds (the first a single arrow through the face, the second with two arrows in the chest). Boraga has no idea who they might be and neither do anybody in the party (from the guards we have seen). Ewen and Imarë return to the house to report these latest mysterious killings.

The party then makes arrangements with the captain of a talbar for passage on the 23rd of Larane to Coranan from the Kalphor Wharf. The party then returns to the house to await the locksmith, who arrives in the late afternoon. He appears to be a man living beyond his means, and is a small, unpleasant fellow. He recalls installing locks in the house before, but did not realize it had changed hands. We show him the chest, which is sitting in the playroom with all the implements out and Sir Baris sharpening his dagger off in one corner as a means of intimidation. Horah is impressed with the chest but has absolutely no luck in opening it (he thinks that the mechanism is the problem and even tries oiling the lock). On Imarë’s suggestion, a dinner invitation is sent to Jahmis Keir (as he might have the ability to open the chest) by Bevan.

Ewen and Imarë go to the Bridgetower Inn to see if we can get any news about who the six dead at Boraga’s are. In the common room we find the Aerth brothers Parqu and Arvind talking with a caravan merchant named Hoardal. There are no titled visitors but we notice Rahel’s dinner date entertaining another woman this evening. Ewen sends a pear brandy to the Aerths and we are invited to join them.

A conversation about how commerce is going (fine according to the Aerths) leads to a comment by Ewen about it not being as good for everybody. This causes a change in Arvind, who puts his hand on Parqu’s forearm and says ‘private game’ and they both proceed to a private room. Parqu touches Ewen on the shoulder as he goes by, and Ewen and Imarë join them to find that Parqu is pacing back and forth in the room and Arvind who seems embarrassed. It seems the six men are Morgathian fighters and the Morgathians are furious about their deaths. Parqu thinks the city is on the edge of a knife and that Ewen’s reckless mouth is about to push it out into the open. Parqu seems quite paranoid, his actions in the common room seem much more open and dangerous than Ewen’s comment about business not being good for everybody. Imarë then tells Parqu that the Baron of Quste and Sir Felkar have also been killed recently in the city and this really sets Parqu off. He seems to think the party is involved and is somehow a threat to himself and the family business. He rushes from the room spouting threats about arrest and the Aerth’s and their guards leave the inn. Ewen and Imarë also beat a hasty retreat and head back to the house to inform the rest of the party.

The evening for Bevan and Sir Baris is much more enjoyable. They have a nice dinner with Jahmis and broach the subject of the chest, which he offers to help with for a 50% cut and all enchanted items, which terms are agreeable. He contemplates the chest and tells Bevan that the chest holds much but that the lock is rusted closed. He spreads his hands over the chest and speaks in an unknown language. The air around the chest can be seen to warp, envelops the chest and with a grinding sound, the chest opens. Inside the chest are another chest (about 1/2 of the larger one), and four sacks (three larger and one smaller, the larger containing 2400d in Golotha currency, about 1000d melted down, and the smaller sack has 20 gold crowns). In the smaller chest are a number of gems (a 4c diamond, a 2c sapphire, a 4c green garnet, two 9c opals, three large white pearls, three 6c spinals, two golden rings, four silver bars weighing 1lb each, three silver rings, and a gold bar. The party gets the Golothan silver, 10 crowns, two silver bars, an opal, two silver rings, two spinals, two pearls, and the diamond. The evening ends on a high note as we prepare to journey to Coranan where Sir Auram waits for his report and to possibly grant us the house.

[GM: At this point, Ewen’s nocturnal activities continue, reported by WVC.]

Ewen returns to Rahel of Aerth’s home on the evening of Larane 22. He wishes to obtain her guidance regarding the plan he has begun conceiving after his early-morning interview with Arren of Melderyn in the early hours of the same day. He gives his name at the gate and is let in.

He begins by relating to Rahel the episode in which he slaughtered his family. She appears somewhat surprised, and calmly asks him why he would do such a thing. Ewen answers that it is not in his nature to brook being thwarted, and that anyway he has grown in self-discipline in the intervening years. Rahel accepts this, and Ewen goes on to explain the rationale for his intended use of a fictive doppelganger to cover his tracks in future, as well as his general intention of exploring options east of Tharda, in the Kingdom of Kaldor. Rahel queries him further, and Ewen’s explanation includes a comparison to Arren’s appropriation of the mascles for the murder of the Baron, as a means of diverting attention from the true murderer. Rahel allows that misdirection is a valid tactic.

Ewen goes on to explain his intention of using his interview with Sir Auram to place the Inquisitor General in the position of validating Ewen’s deceitful tale, thus adding priceless credence to the improbable story, while simultaneously providing a ready means for Auram to obey Arren’s injunction to conceal Arren’s part in events from Bevan. Rahel somberly notes that Sir Auram is unlikely to be pleased in this role, unused to being a recipient of such machinations, and Ewen shrugs complacently at this, conveying to Rahel his comfort with the undoubted peril of successfully outmaneuvering, at least on one occasion, the Inquisitor General of Tharda.

Ewen asks a number of questions about the Deryni issue, and learns that Sir Auram is a High Deryni, possessing both a powerful bloodline as well as a depth of training, with Rahel drawing Ewen’s attention to the fact that he lacks the latter. Perhaps one in ten Deryni would qualify as High Deryni. As such, Sir Auram should be capable of reading Ewen deeply, although she also states that she, under Arren’s instruction, placed certain blocks in Ewen’s mind preventing another Deryni from ascertaining Ewen’s parentage, as well as a tag readable by certain select Deryni (Sir Auram included) which indicates that the block is Arren’s work. Ewen would have to voluntarily allow Sir Auram through this block, and Rahel explains how Ewen should frame his thoughts in order to do this. If Ewen chooses not to facilitate this, Sir Auram would certainly detect certain gaps in his reading of Ewen, and may discover the blocks which Rahel has put in place. At any rate, Ewen indicates to Rahel his intention of letting Sir Auram past the blocks. Rahel also states that Sir Auram knows that Arren of Melderyn is alive.

Finally, Ewen tells Rahel that Bevan has questioned her uncle Parqu about Arren’s visit to her family prior to her birth, and that the group has discussed the likelihood that Rahel is Arren’s natural daughter. Rahel knows of Bevan’s interview with her uncle, and this is one reason she has not responded to Bevan’s note. Rahel seems unconcerned at this, and shares with Ewen the fiction that a knight in Arren’s retinue, a Sir Ranald of Brysart, serves as a putative father of Rahel. Sir Ranald supposedly died around 724 and left his belongings, including the house, to Rahel, the story serving as a shield for Rahel’s true paternity. None of the neighbors, of course, ever remember seeing Sir Ranald, unsurprising given the fact that he does not exist. This is the man her Aerth family (save, naturally, Fralys) thinks is her father, and Sir Auram is aware of the subterfuge as well (although Rahel is not Sir Auram’s agent, they do cooperate in many things).

At the end of the interview, Rahel asks whether he intends now to go by the name of Ableron of Soursi, and Ewen tells her that he will with Bevan and company, but that he will retain use of the Ewen of Ravinargh name for professional use as well as general cover. Curiously, Rahel states that this is good, as she prefers “Ewen”. Ewen then leaves Rahel shortly after this remark, no doubt wondering about the comment. Rahel indicates that Ewen should contact her upon his return to Golotha.

It should perhaps be said that Ewen is finding Rahel thus far to be rather conservative and markedly circumspect, which of course should be attributable to a natural caution regarding this new-found and rather singular brother. Having said that, Ewen is finding her vaguely disappointing in some indefinable fashion, and he can’t help but wonder at her fairly cool, detached reference in the previous meetings to the attention she garners from men around her. As such, she will remain an enigma worrying at the edges of his mind, although perhaps he is failing to fully consider how his own convoluted impenetrability must seem to her.

[GM: Here we return again to the actual session.]

Larane 23-26, 730

We go aboard the talbar on the morning of the 23rd and head upriver, arriving in Coranan unbothered on the 25th of Larane. We head to the Tabard & Hearth and are greeted warmly by Anders of Kroll, who tells Bevan her father has taken up his new position in the court and has taken a house in Kuseme. A note is sent off to Sir Auram informing him of Bevan’s arrival and the next morning a sergeant of the II Legion arrives to escort her to a meeting. Ewen decides to tag along and sits in a waiting room while the report is given. Sir Auram tells Bevan that her father, as part of the bargain to join the government, has been knighted and granted a manor of his own (giving him and Bevan new coats of arms) and Sir Arlen’s appointment to command the XIII Legion was part of the same bargain. No special privilege was asked or sought for Bevan. Bevan is told that Arva has returned to the city and is currently organizing a theatre, not as nice as the Palace of the Masques in Aleath but still nice and Ardeth is helping her. The subject then turns to the activities in Golotha and Sir Auram reads Bevan’s mind. He states there is much he was not expecting (the disquiet of the Agrikans for one), the death of the Baron of Quste, which, though he was unreliable, is still unsettling, but Rahel’s activities are not a surprise to him. He then states that Bevan does not seem to know about certain events and wishes to meet Ewen personally. Bevan informs Sir Auram that Ewen was in the waiting room and he is sent for. Upon entering the room, Ewen declares “I am Ableron of Soursi, and I killed Sir Felkar.”