Homontel, and beyond

As we play, occasionally we'll close a thread and open a new one to keep the size of threads (and relative complexity) down to a dull roar. Here's where we store the closed posts from the history of Errant Road.
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Graybeard
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Re: Homontel, and beyond

Post by Graybeard »

"No, no, it was nothing like that," Sister Rose said. "It was something specific to Lucas Ravanel himself. And whatever it was, it was enough to send him into a full-blown panic. Egbert is ex-military, too, and he doesn't scare easily. Your brother keeping shady company wouldn't have been nearly enough to panic him. Whatever it was, it was about Lucas himself."

She turned to Lillith. "So you are also being up front when you say that you didn't do anything to turn Sasha into a half elf, at least that you know of?"
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Sareth
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Re: Homontel, and beyond

Post by Sareth »

Lillith nodded. "I didn't do anything that I know of that could have done this to Sasha. If she's truly a half-elf, it's nothing to do with me."

Lillith fidgeted nervously. Sasha's confessions under the truth spell were reassuring to an extent. Sasha might not have been acting out of errant madness when she'd attacked. But Sasha's mention of her father's death and mother's madness were not reassuring. This was clearly a woman with a family history of mental illness, and a reason to have a grudge against errants. And given how many people didn't see the difference between half-elves and errants...

"I've never met her before, and had no reason to wish her harm. My powers as a priestess-trainee aren't capable of doing this."
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Re: Homontel, and beyond

Post by Graybeard »

Sister Rose raised an eyebrow in Brother Miguel's direction, getting a nod in return, and then let out a long, deep breath. "Well," she said, "with that behind us, possibly we can start doing what we're here for. Sasha, I'm completely puzzled about your ears. Maybe it was something about that awful Centoriel site. Maybe it was exposure to all that death. Maybe it was something else. We may never know. But at least it wasn't malice." I may have to think about that "priestess-trainee" remark -- but that can come later.

Miguel nodded again. "I think we can probably get a healer to look at you when we get to Lorenzel. I hadn't been planning on going there originally, but it's on the way now, and we need to go by the naval base. They'll probably be able to recommend somebody."

He turned back to the wagon. "Personally, I'd like to get out of this town. If I understand Father Rexford correctly, there's another one only an hour or so south, big enough to have an inn or two, although not as big as Homontel is. We have enough daylight to make it before dark, and at the same time, Departure should be over by the time we get there, which may have some advantages. Okay with everyone if we move on?"
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Sareth
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Re: Homontel, and beyond

Post by Sareth »

Lillith looked around at the still smoking temple complex, and the various people attempting to start ordering the aftermath. She noticed several men amongst the bunch, men who had refused to let her help because it would be indecent of a woman to do so. She sniffed in disaproval.

Symbolically kicking the heel of one foot against her ankle to knock the dust free, she nodded. "I think that would be a good idea."
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Re: Homontel, and beyond

Post by Graybeard »

The wagon trundled southward, Brother Miguel at the reins; no point in stirring up trouble.

"I learned a little more about this 'preacher' that we keep hearing about," Miguel said as he drove. "Apparently he's some manner of itinerant, wandering priest who first appeared a couple of weeks ago, or at least appeared in Homontel for the first time. He --"

"A couple of weeks ago?" Sister Rose interrupted. "Egbert disappeared about a week back. Is it possible that they've lost track of time and he's this preacher?"

"I don't think so," Miguel said. "For one thing, Rexford was pretty sure the guy has been around for at least two or three weeks, I specifically asked him about that. For another, reports are unanimous that this preacher is tall, lean and charismatic. Somehow that doesn't fit Egbert very well."

"You're right about that." Rose suppressed a chuckle.

"Anyway, he apparently wanders the countryside stirring up trouble. His modus operandi is to set up a tent revival for the Millenarian Church, start with pretty routine come-to-Luminosita stuff, then use some very flashy magic to capture the crowd's attention. That's when the trouble starts, because the evangelism turns into a full-blown attack on the Orthodox Church. Rexford says there was a mob about ready to march on the Orthodox temple armed with pitchforks two days ago, the last time the guy was in town. Then he just disappeared and the mob dispersed."

"Two days ago?" Rose stopped to calculate. "Wait a minute. Departure was in progress then. And he's casting flashy magic? A Millenarian during Departure?"

"Interesting, isn't it?" Miguel said, then broke off as a parrot was spotted inbound from the north.
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Re: Homontel, and beyond

Post by Drannin »

Argus' shoulder was bothering him. The fact that it was bothering him was also something of a bother. It meant that there was more rock where there used to be flesh.

Harker noticed Argus rubbing at his shoulder and quickly scooted over rubbing his hands over the affected area, almost in a massage. Argus let him. For all his faults, Harker knew his business. After a few moments, Harker looked up grim. "S'all that magic you used on that... golem, boss," he muttered quietly. "The mana flow's fed the the calcification in yer shoulder... it's grown, a little bit."

"How much?" How much closer to death?

"Oh, not a lot." The familiar shrugged. "Maybe a millimeter wider... but still... it's grown." Harker looked nervous... concerned. An odd expression for him, and thus all the more genuine. It struck Argus just how quickly he'd gotten used to having the familiar around again. He'd... missed Harker. A lot.

Fortunately, they were spared having an awkward moment by the sudden appearance of a parrot. Given their rather shortened life spans in the service of Veracia, Argus supposed that he was, in the end, rather lucky.
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Re: Homontel, and beyond

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Sister Rose frowned. "It's a little early to be getting the next messenger. Wonder what's going on?" The bird settled on the wagon and started through the preliminaries. Rose was slightly relieved to hear that the maximum classification level this time was going to be CONFIDENTIAL; she'd been feeling guilty about spreading more highly classified information around, and besides, maybe the parrot wouldn't die at the end of this one. She'd had a pet parakeet from the Southern Continent when she was a kid, and while it hadn't been nearly as obnoxious as these things, the parrots still awakened memories ...

(UNCLASSIFIED) There has been a development regarding your primary mission that you probably want to know about.

(CONFIDENTIAL) You may recall that we had learned of the presence of a pair of Farrelite exchange students, Burton and Elizabeth Arganial, at Emerylon University, and speculated on the possibility that they might have been the victims of the misfortunes at your previous location. (Again, all information on that location itself is classified LUMINOSITA'S SECRET. It will go unnamed here.) Inquiries with the university reveal that the Arganials, who are brother and sister, have not been to class for several days. Furthermore, the girl's roommate, one Rebekah Codoin --
Brother Miguel raised an eyebrow in Argus' direction at the name -- reports that Elizabeth Arganial told her that she was going off on a "vacation," quote unquote, with her "Uncle Arcangelo" and would be away for a few days, and could Rebekah take class notes for her, please?

(CONFIDENTIAL) In light of these developments, we consider it very likely that the unfortunate young people in your encounter were indeed Burton and Elizabeth Arganial, exchange students, and furthermore that the older man whose remains you saw was Arcangelo (Arkie) Arganial. As yet we have no records of anyone by that name living in Veracia or entering by way of airship or warp gate. Of course, the records of such things, particularly at ports of entry in the northern part of the country, are not complete, so the man's origins must simply be regarded as uncertain. We'll keep digging, because of the possible connection to the other events you experienced, but don't expect much.

(UNCLASSIFIED/OUO) In perhaps happier news (or perhaps not), the Cardinal Inquisitor terminated his inquiries at the Kiyokan mission early and has sailed for Saus. Officially, the reason was "urgent business" back home, but privately, I suspect the old goat just got freaked out by dealing with non-Veracians and wanted to get out of there. Sister Margaret says that Brother Farley and his girlfriend are escorting an item to Tsuirakushiti; presumably you will know what she means by that. She will send a fuller report via our next, unclassified parrot.

(UNCLASSIFIED) Good luck as you head south. Some of the towns there are pretty weird, but with Departure ending right about the time you get this, you shouldn't have any trouble in them. Probably.

Bernie


"Well, I'm not sure whether we should feel better at having names attached to those poor people at Centoriel or not," Rose said as she stowed the parrot, a look of relief on its face. "Still, it's something to work on, and we can maybe make some inquiries in the towns. Argus, do you know anyone in Tsuirakushiti who might be involved in the analysis of that desk?"
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Re: Homontel, and beyond

Post by Drannin »

"Revyl Dirienzal. Asshole number 15." Argus said immediately in a flat tone of voice. There was a sudden silence broken only by the sounds of the cart in motion as everyone stared at him. "Er... sorry..." Argus went on, embarrassed. "We... uh... parted on sour terms." A pause. "Along with every last one of my former colleagues."

"He's a diviner," Harker said simply.

"THE diviner," Argus noted. "Divination magic is like an art form to him. Actually, I picked up my object-reading magic from him. An absolute master, and also well-versed in various forbidden types of magic, on a purely scholarly level. Which is a disturbing connection, I know." Argus shrugged."If there's anyone who can pull anything out of that desk, it'll be him. Hell, he'll probably be able to identify what was in there, who made it, it's history, whether it was ever used to bludgeon someone to death..."

"He's a jerk," Harker put in.

"He's arrogant," Argus agreed. "A real know-it-all. Probably because of all of his divination magic." Argus snorted. "Didn't stop him from practically begging me to design some things for him..."

Seeing Argus about to go off on a trip down bitterness avenue, Harker piped up. "We can prob'ly get in touch with some folks on th'island Boss. Find out if Reyvl learns anything."

"I don't have anymore connections, Harker," Argus muttered offhand. "Part of the exile, remember?"

Harker grinned widely. "I do."
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Re: Homontel, and beyond

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"You do, Harker?" Sister Rose asked, suddenly interested. "How?"
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Re: Homontel, and beyond

Post by Drannin »

"Boss did a lot of contract work for various people of import," Harker said, stretching out and apparently enjoying his new celebrity."Even after he got booted out of Tsuirakushiti, folks still remembered me as his little helper. Lotsa job offers." Harker smiled broadly. "I learned from watchin' the Boss.Knew how ta keep tabs on people. Keep connections, you know?"

Argus blinked. "You kept my address book?"

"Er... sorta, yeah." Harker scratched his head. "I been doing a lot of side jobs while looking for you. Most of those jobs are for people back in Tsuirakushiti who like the thought of a familiar for hire. So... I know people. I got contacts." He paused. "Blackmail material."

Argus chortled despite himself. "You know where the bodies are buried then?"

"Yeah." Harker said this in all seriousness. There was a sudden chill as everyone stared at the little familiar. Argus was suddenly reminded of where he actually got Harker in the first place.

Special commission from Saiko Mesuinu. And maybe some of her 'expertise' rubbed off on him. It slowly dawned on Argus that while he was busy drinking himself into an early grave... Harker had been busy in other ways.

"Why?"

Harker shrugged. "Wanted to screw over the folks who screwed you over. Maybe this is more constructive, huh?"

Argus goggled. "You have THAT kind of information?!"

"Uh, not a lot, and not on too many people... but a few factoids on a few very important people." Harker smiled, his eyes glittering in a way that he had learned from Argus. "Includin' something on 'Beebee' Dirienzal that he would NOT want people to know about."

Silence. "Beebee?" asked Sister Rose.

"You REALLY don't wanna know either..."
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