The Savage Tide [IC]

[lostsole31]

After two weeks of studies and training, much of which is sponsored by the Vanderboren estate, the group is called together again by Lavinia.

Celiss, on two days of independent study, was taking what time she could right there in the mansion to further study and practice advanced Carmendine tractates and meditation, and being coached on athletic skills by Wanderfar.

Darrius has just come from a nearby offshore area that has become a rendezvous point to meet with Quickslayer, and be tutored in the understanding of his gifts, particularly how to dilate the self-imposed limitations of how much soul energy may be invested into melds. Darrius now has the basic lingo of his art, and a deeper understanding of who he is, what energies he manipulates, and what it means to be an 'incarnate,' as compared to Quickslayer, who is a 'totemist.' Today, however, he finished playing 'stealth' games on the grounds with Korian ... with Darrius as the hiding 'rabbit' and Korian trying to spot him. Wanderfar has also coached him on grappling techniques.

Though having spent a nearly spartan existence at the Arena, Wanderfar has spent the last day in the mansion studying religious concepts and basic theory under Celiss; he wanted to avoid having a 'colored' view of all pantheism through the eyes of the Fharlanghanites in town.

Though originally Wanderfar's charge, Korian and he have had somewhat of a falling out. It seems that Wanderfar, though similar to Korian in many basic ways, simply lacks the connection to the wild that Korian just can't (and shouldn't) leave behind. The wild is a place to explore and move through to Wanderfar, wherein it is an exalted home to Korian. As such, Vakrissa has taken him on as a charge. Through Rabbi Eliezer (as he is more affectionately known to you now as compared to his more formal 'Rabbi(-Doctor) Cohen') has made strides to see that Korian has some sense of autonomy in town, with some escort. That said, Korian also has spent an intensive amount of time training at the Arena; his physique is already filling out a little more, though his teeth look they are becoming a little more prominent.. Lady Lavinia was persuaded early, despite initial misgivings, that despite his bestial nature Korian can be trusted and means well.

Vakrissa, of course, has spent much time in the wilderness. As above, she is also guiding or escorting Korian through the same, when the two of them aren't at the Arena. She didn't seem to be so martially focused before, but it is known that she has been undertaking intensive armor training, even though as a druid she can wear no metal armor.

In addition to being Lady Lavinia's administrative aide-de-camp, Rabbi Eliezer has undertaken significant mental resistance training with Vakrissa, the better to be mentally guarded against those who would pry from him his Lady's secrets. Lately, he has been conducting studies into 'psychology' at the academy, while going through the city to pick up what gossip he may.
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"Our first point of business," starts off Lady Lavinia, "is to congratulate Corin Denomar here - whom you know best as 'Wanderfar' - on his new assignment. He has told me that he is already restless, and to best suit his nature and his religion, he seeks to travel. As such, I am naming him as my attaché to my family located in Cauldron for the conduct of various financial contracts. He leaves in 20 minutes with a combined trading company caravan. Good luck, Corin, and my Fharlanghn guide you on your travels - for health's sake, and for your Lady."

(Insert any congratulatory remarks and goodbyes here ...)

Corin gives his goodbyes to all of you, and expects to be back in a few months.
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Having settle accounts in town, Lavinia's primary concern has turned to her brother Vanthus. Lavinia explains to the PCs that the two of them were quite close growing up, since their parents were rarely around. They grew to depend on each other, and got into a fair amount of trouble together. After one particularly complex prank involving several elixirs of love being emptied into the nearby water tower, their childhoods came to an end. Lavinia was sent to the Thenalar Academy to live out the next five years of her life, and Vanthus was shipped out to work on a plantation. When they returned to live in the family manor a year ago, they had both changed. Lavinia likes to think she benefited from her time at Thenalar. Vanthus, on the other hand, spent his time away nurturing his bitterness. He no longer had time for Lavinia, slept all day, and spent the nights with what Lavinia recalls as "associates of doubtful character." Eventually, he moved out of the house entirely - Lavinia believes he took up with a lover in Azure District, but she never learned the details.

When their parents died, Vanthus returned for a week to live at the manor, but he had changed even more. Gone was the easy sense of humor she recalled fondly from their childhood, and in its place was a bitter cynicism and a morbid streak that sent chills up Lavinia's spine. After several arguments, Vanthus struck her with his fist. Lavinia was shocked, and for a moment she thinks Vanthus was shocked as well, but an instant later he was back to his new self, all scowls and menace. He gathered his belongings and left - Lavinia hasn't seen him since.

She knows something profound happened to her brother at some point to change him, but she's not sure what this was. She believes he's fallen in with a bad crowd, perhap smugglers or thieves or even killers. Although his attitude might speak otherwise, she hopes that it's not too late, that if he can be brought back to her side she might be able to talk some sense into him and redeem him before he passes for ever out of her reach. The problem is, she doesn't know where he's gone.

"I have few clues to where Vanthus has gone," she says. "I would recommend asking around the city; though I doubt he's hiding out in the Champion's or Noble's District, but even these places may hold clues. I suspect that he may be living with a woman in Azure District based on some half-heard rumors Rabbi Eliezer recently heard, and that's the best information I have to give you. I'm not asking you to contact Vanthus. In fact, it's best that you don't; leave that to me. But I would like to at least like to have him found so I can approach him myself to try to convince him to come back home."

Rabbi Eliezer speaks up, "I will go and chat up folks from place to place. Celiss, you'll be with me for backup in case I get into trouble. Your muscular enough - no offense - that I doubt that we should get into trouble. But you're neither exotic nor monstrous like the rest, so it won't hinder my efforts, either. The rest of you will be in reserve. Vakrissa, I want you to fly high for signs of trouble. Darrius, you'll be Korian's escort; I've come to notice from your rabbit games that you have better sight, but Korian is as good as you at blending into the background. I know, Darrius, that you might actually be better than I at chatting up locals; but you are too noticeable and I don't want to necessarily reveal your connection to House Vanderboren just yet. Trail me from a distance. Break off and circuit whenever I go into an establishment. Vakrissa, you'll signal me visually to co-ordinate our movements whenever I and Celiss exit someplace."

The jobs divvied up, you head out ... Celiss, Eliezer asks that you leave most of the talking to him, but feel free to be polite. Your feminine nature might make potential sources warm to you.

Azure, Champion's, Cudgel, Noble & Sunrise Districts: Nothing.
Merchant's District: People remember seeing Vanthus here and there, although no one's seen him recently. Everyone assumes he's still living at Vanderboren Manor if asked.

Though there wasn't much success today, Celiss, it is important to note that Eliezer is very patient, and says "Don't worry, just getting folks used to seeing me."

Spoiler

Show

This weak-armed dwarf, whom you already know is a smooth negotiator, really knows how to chat up folks innocuously. It is almost an art form with him. Lazer has a +9 to Gather Information checks.

That evening, after the meal and debriefing with Lady Lavinia ...

Celiss, Vakrissa guides you on Anti-Stealth and Sense Awareness training, with Korian as rabbit.

Vakrissa conducts mental resistance training for everyone.

Though blessed with the stamina of a dwarf, the weak Eliezer was given a physical regimen to follow by Vakrissa, and that is what he works on while everyone goes through mental resistance training.
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Day 2

Morning Training/Business:

Celiss spends the early part of the morning in tutelage with an arcane tutor at the Thelanar Academy, discussing spell research. Vakrissa is at the academy for "advanced battlefield control" training. Korian goes with her to study meditative focus for battle. Darrius is honing his trailing/ shadowing skills in town; training must be getting to him, though, as he seems - for some reason, to be more tired than usual. Not enough for alarm, but maybe he didn't get the greatest sleep last night. Eliezer spends time with his people and at Moradin's shrine.

Results of today's IG (information gathering) ...

Azure District: A few people remember seeing Vanthus at taverns here, often in the company of a woman named Brissa Santos, a notorious pickpocket turned semi-legitimate artist who's had her fair share of brushes with the law. Like Vanthus, no one's seen Brissa lately. All attempts to track Brissa fail.
Shadowshore: Not only was Vanthus seen in the area, but that he was often seen in the company of a known smuggler named Penkus. Nothing more is known or found out about this Penkus character.

Lady Lavinia takes the news well, since at least there is progress being made, and hopes that the next day will bear more fruit.

Evening Exercise .... Eliezer goes back to study and pray and heal and teach in his community. Korian and Vakrissa return to the Arena. Celissa works on her own meditative techniques.

Darrius, however .... this was an evening you agreed to rendezvous 'on land' on the outskirts of the Sunrise District with Quickslayer. During the lesson (dealing with binding chakras), he suddenly stops and goes to look at you, with you looking right back at him, but he seems to look past you. You are confused by this, and you speak to him. He looks at that spot and he has to reach and touch you to notice you. He then seems shocked, because it seems like he should've known you were there all alone, that it was the trick of the rising moon. You don't know what he meant, but he calls the lesson early, blaming fatigue.
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Day 3

Morning Business ...

Darrius is working on various athletic skills under Celiss' tutelage, as a running partner and climbing buddy and the like. There's no doubt about it, Korian's teeth are not becoming longer so much as the canines are becoming a little more defined. It won't be long, everyone figures, before he can actually use his teeth in battle. Vakrissa spends some time at her wilderness abode, and takes Korian with her. Vakrissa and Wanderfar had shown Eliezer some techniques for building upper body strength, and he works on that ... it's kind of comical, actually.

During the run around town, the athletic duo (that's you two, Celiss and Darrius), are accosted on one of your laps. It is a nervous-looking half-elf with withe messy hair, a ragged suit of leather armor, and dirty hands. He introduces himself to Celiss (and only looking suspiciously at Darrius) in a quiet voice. "My name is Shefton. Are you looking for Vanthus? If you are, pay me 5 gold pieces and I'll tell you where he's hiding out."

Celiss, the encounter is suspicious, of course. Still, this guy seems earnest enough that nothing beyond his disreputable state betrays that he is a cheat or a deceiver. What do you (or Darrius) do?