Previously, the heroes were briefed by Ser Croy and Dame Pauline on the itinerary for the betrothal celebration, during which a conflicted Quentin confessed to Ser Croy that he had no desire to go through with the marriage. The evening took a darker turn when Astrid returned with Wulf, who had been possessed by Sadwick, a banished imp with a proposition; in exchange for lifting his banishment, he would share intelligence on Epidemius’ plans. The heroes struck a deal, and Sadwick revealed that Epidemius knew about the binding circle and planned to open rifts at the River Gate, the Circle of Magi, and the Careless Wanderer, sending a Subliex through each to overwhelm the heroes’ sources of power. The evening ended with Quentin confronting Dame Pauline over the delegation’s wine, only to learn that she had been acting in his best interests all along, distributing it as gifts to secure important guests for the celebration.
Tenth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262
(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is waxing, Darkmoon is waning)
Darkness had fallen over Kingsport, and curfew was being enforced. Few people were out on the streets, and those that were, hurried to their destinations lest they run across a crownsguard or custodian patrol. The heroes were at the Careless Wanderer enjoying the remainder of the evening before a busy day at the Black Alder Farm to celebrate the Quentin’s success in retrieving the ancestral sword of House Lys, and thereby completing his quest to secure the hand of Lady Gwenaëlle in marriage.
Chakuq was grooming the pelt of the macha yuraq, the white lion he used as a cloak, while humming and singing a hypnotic, ancestral song of his people, the takipa runakuna.
Neamhan was in conversation with Ser Croy about the savagery of the Kaedwyni druids, teaching the old knight not to paint all druids with the same biased brush.
Falka and Luca sat at the fireplace, each reading in their respective tomes. Falka occassionally shared an interesting and surprising fact about the history of Kingsport, as she was still researching potential places of power in the city, despite time running out.
Emrys, contemplating the words from Lady Annabella; “The candle gutters, but does not go out. Find me before the wax runs cold.” In a melancholic mood, he recalled a song that was sung by travellers passing through the Riverlands, which reminded him of the song Chakuq had been singing. When Emrys hummed it, Chakuq recognised it instantly for a song sung in respect to elders, and asked Emrys about the circumstances under which he came across it. When winter was over, the two agreed, they would travel to the Riverlands and seek out these travellers. Until then, Chakuq would be happy in the knowledge that the song of his people had made it into the heart of Lyria.
Quentin sat hypnotised by Chakuq’s song for a while, before he decided to take a page out of Chakuq’s book and care for his armour. As he started to unclasp and remove pieces, Dame Pauline stood up to assist him. He allowed it, as a form of apology for having challenged her earlier that evening. He observed that Róisín’s scabbard was filled with more thorns and brambles than with roses, which he had learned to be indicative of the side of her duality that she resonated with. For the first time he remarked that no matter how he gripped the scabbard, the thorns never pricked him. When Quentin asked Lauryn over and requested a hot bath to be prepared for him in the morning, Lauryn put a casual hand on his shoulder in reassurance that she would arrange for it, drawing tense looks from Pauline and Croy for the breach of protocol.
Astrid, who had been upstairs putting Wulf to bed in Emrys’ room, came down and briefly spoke to Emrys about moving Wulf when Emrys would retired for the night. Emrys, ever galant, said that there was no need on his account and that he would find a place to sleep without disturbing the boy. Astrid went to sit at the farside hearth, staring into the flames. When Neamhan went to check on Astrid she found her unresponsive. When she touched the Helmarker, Astrid shot a fierce look at her, briefly displaying the raptor mask on her face in a flash of frustration.
Emrys came to join Neamhan and the two of them tried to understand what had Astrid so upset. They saw that Astrid was clutching several bonded writs issued by institutions like the Silver Bank of Lyria and the Cyprian Insurrance Company. They were worth a lot of gold, Emrys intimated to Neamhan. Astrid was in conflict as she felt she could do something meaningful to care for and protect Wulf and the two orphans the heroes had rescued from the Cult of the Dark Queen the previous night, but that doing so would mean postponing her personal goals, which requires her to buy a ship. She worried that the children were too frail to survive the winter, which was looking to be harsh.
The frustration built up too much in Astrid and she had to find an outlet. She stood up, told Quentin she would be back in the morning, ready to stand by his side, and left the inn. On the way out she bumped into Father Devon, who came to visit the heroes. The heroes needed a moment to realise that this was not another attempt at negotiations from Epidemius through Pazuzu’s dreamweb, but that the kindly cleric came with an invitation to visit High Priest Selwyn at the Temple of Light after dawn the following morning. The cleric stayed for a spell to drink some mulled wine, which everyone recognised was the right way to consume the poor quality of wine that was left in Kingsport. Neamhan grew some of her berries and gifted them to the cleric, and he promptly tossed them in with his wine.
Neamhan quietly spoke with Emrys about different aspects of social interaction, seeking advice on topics like; fitting in and playing a part at the celebration the next day, how to tell Astrid that she might be expecting a child. She asked if Emrys would tell Astrid for her, which was an invitation the young half-elf declined. He did see it as an opportunity to learn more about Neamhan. He learned that her husban was Gabhan, who was seventeen years older than she was, and that he was a guardian at their village. Neamhan described him as caring, supportive, and very stable; where Neamhan was the air and the wind, Gabhan was the rock and the earth. Emrys left her with some advice; being socialable had less to do with what Neamhan said, but more to do with how Neamhan said it.
The heroes decided that it would be appropriate to inform Magda, the blind proprietor of the Careless Wanderer that it had become a target for Epidemius, and that it would likely be assaulted during the incursion. Neamhan and Emrys went to find her on the third floor of the inn, where she made her home in a cosily decorated room. As they entered the room the familiar sound windchimes could be heard, and they knew Wynn was present. When Magda was informed of the situation she did not seem surprised. She said that she had some acquaintances of hers staying at the inn who would be able to help her defend it, and that they could leave its defenses to her. She also remarked that the grand archmage of the Circle of Mages could protect the tower, and that with a bit of luck, the Lady of Lakes could protect the river gate.
Before the two departed Magda’s room, she said that Wynn had decided on a price for the knowledge where the Heart of Summer was, and that Neamhan should seek him out after the business with Epidemius was concluded.
The heroes went to sleep, Emrys in one of the chairs in his room where Wulf was occupying his bed, Luca in his room, Falka in hers, Quentin in his. Ser Croy retired to the common room, while Neamhan offered Dame Pauline her room provided she did not mind sharing the room with a cat. Pauline did not, and Neamhan transfigured into a cat while hidden and sneaked in the room to snuggle with the Beauclair dame for the night.