Paul Anka

(Disclaimer:  Cat would kill Severus if he so much as hummed this tune at her...)

September 21st - 24th, Albanus 1

The morning after the wedding was September 21st:  the Festival of Harvest, the holiest holiday of the Grain Mother Crescens.  Both Marius and Corvina awoke from odd dreams that seemed full of omens.  As Corresanti geared up for a second great feast in two days, Marius prepared the sacrifices for his family, Gaius, and the Order of St. Cavallius.  In addition, Leyan wished to make an offering of her own, to help bring herself closer to the Gods.

Obviously, the family had no first fruits to offer to Crescens.  So for the Surrexus altar, Marius chose an unusual arrangement.  On the left-hand (sinister) side, he placed a cup of salt water, representing the family's tears.  On the right he laid strands of hair from all the members of the band -- symbols of their family, the blessing that had sustained them in this tragedy.  Between them Marius arranged the teeth of the baby dragons they slew in Tannus, reminders of both this year's bloody "harvest" and of the town whose crops they'd saved.  

Marius was painfully aware that the Temples frown upon unordained priests (like himself...) who perform sacrifices.  Though they may be legal, such "amateur" sacrifices are always risky.  The ritual wasn't the smoothest that's ever been seen;  clearly the weight of all this responsibility weighed heavily on the young cleric.  But the rite was completely properly, and without error.  (In part because of the blessing Corvina had placed upon her brother.)

After duties were dispatched, the band enjoyed one last day of rest, fun, and celebration.  Severus and Catarina had another evening together.  And then, on the morning of the 22nd, people prepared to go their separate ways.  Before Catarina left for the Golden House, Marius cast "status" on her, to ensure she arrived safely.  And as he did, the young priest received a shock:  Catarina was pregnant.  Already.  Shooing the rest of the family out of the room, Marius shared the good news... and then got shooed out himself as Severus and his wife decided that this required a quick, um, "celebration."  An hour or so later, when they'd finished "thanking Crescens" and straightening up, Catarina used her recall amulet to travel to Benobles.  Severus, meanwhile, didn't share the good news;  it still seemed too unreal and tenuous to him.

With Talisar/Marcus the Urchin, they still had too many people for their one teleport scroll.  So the band left Sir Daciens and Talisar in Corresanti, and took Count Corresanti's mage to Viridistan instead.  He then was able to return to Corresanti and bring Daciens and Talisar to the city.  Daciens asked if Titus planned to take the boy as his squire.  When Titus said he was not, Daciens happily did.  Talisar was delighted -- especially when he got to have the young paladin's honor blade.  Though he immediately demanded to know when he was going to get a sword.

With that, the band teleported into the middle of the courtyard of their house in Viridistan... and into the midst of a shouting match between Sir Tinnius and Sir Lucellus.  Well, Lucellus was doing all the shouting;  Tinnius was counting to ten and trying to bite his tongue.  When the party appeared, Lucellus' eyes lit up.  "AHAH!" he shouted, pointing at Titus.  "And here's just the man, Tinnius, to tell you what an idiot you're being!"  Being called an idiot by Lucellus was the last straw;  Tinnius stormed off to his room to question Daciens about the troubles in Rostilla.  Corvina followed, leaving the rest of the band to try to figure out what had happened.

As usual, Lucellus proved completely incapable of telling a story in a linear, straight-forward manner.  But after much growling, snapping, and tail-chasing, the party managed to deduce that Balthasar was gone.  He'd decided that he wasn't cut out to be a paladin;  the sword-work and vows of chastity were simply too tough.  He'd returned Sir Darius' honor knife to him about a week ago;  this morning he'd joined a caravan journeying north, towards Talamanthus.  Darius was leaving on the morrow for the Fallen Lands, with the other senior paladins, and could not deliver the boy home personally.  

The other paladins had accepted Balthasar's resignation.  Tinnius thought it was a sensible choice;  Balthasar was clearly not cut out to be a paladin, though he'd make a fine priest.  Titus asked Darius if the danger of the Fallen Lands had played a part in his decision, and privately the knight admitted it had.  He hated to see Balthasar go, the boy had tremendous potential... but Invictus and the Fallen Lands were so, so terribly lethal.  Maybe it was better for the youngster to go home, where he was safe.

Lucellus, on the other hand, thought this was all stuff and nonsense.  Balthasar just needed a good talking-to.  Girlish... well, "scholarly" boys frequently got the vapors.  Give 'em a good shake and a lecture, and they'd be fine.  Tinnius deserved nothing less than a bloody nose for encouraging the boy's silliness.

Corvina, meanwhile, got a more succinct account from Tinnius.  She wasn't pleased that the four senior paladins of the Order were heading into the Fallen Lands on the morning, and tried to convince Tinnius to remain behind.  But the old knight would have none of that.  He acknowledged the dangers -- but saw no alternatives.  Theodosius had to be found.  The Fallen Lands were too dangerous for lesser men to dare.  Therefore the Order's best had to take these risks.  Tinnius insisted he hadn't become Grand Master to retire.

Although they saw no signs of evil influences on the paladins, the party was suspicious of Balthasar's sudden conversion.  Leyna pointed out that while her cousin acknowledged his failings, when they left he'd been sure he could overcome them -- and he'd wanted to be a paladin all his life.  This made no sense.  So they rode out after the slow-moving caravan and found Balthasar about an hour outside of Viridistan, coughing in the train's thick dust.

Severus immediately announced that it was completely reprehensible of Darius to send Balthasar back to Talamanthus in a caravan, like some commoner.  He must return to Viridistan at once, and send for one of his father's knights.  Puzzled and sheepish, Balthasar did as he was ordered (after the rest of the band reminded him that there was no arguing with Severus on matters of propriety).  Once they had him in private, they grilled the boy.

Balthasar's version of the tale involved an important detail the others' lacked:  there was a girl involved.  A beautiful woman of, um, indecent dress and loose behavior who'd approached him in the market ten days ago to see if he was interested in... in... a 'mercantile' venture.  They'd talked, and Balthasar had become convinced that he'd never make a good paladin.  When Leyna pressed him for reasons, all he could say was, "It seemed to make sense at the time."  He'd quit that very day, and given Sir Darius' honor blade back.  The terrible part was that he regretted doing it almost as soon as it was done.  But it was too late to change things.  Darius wouldn't take him back.  Who wanted a wishy-washy squire, one that couldn't decide whether or not he was serious about his calling?  Titus assured him that he was wrong -- Darius would take him back in a heart-beat.  Privately, the band agreed that this account showed all the signs of a succubus' influence.  No trace of magic lingered on Balthasar.  But if he'd been enchanted ten days ago, no trace would remain.

Sure enough, Darius was delighted, and a short time later Balthasar was seen about the house with his knight's honor blade at his side once more.  Lucellus was overcome with joy, and spent the rest of the afternoon alternating between knocking Titus' spine out of alignment (with congratulatory slaps on the back) and lecturing Balthasar on the wonders of ice-water baths when one was having difficulty with celibacy.

Severus sent letters to Oshan and the Praetor, letting them know that the band was back in town.  Oshan replied that he'd received bad news from Dulsanius -- could the party be ready to go in a couple of days?  The magus explained that he wanted to make a quick stop in Dun Amer, the Dulsanian city whose lord had helped him escape.  He'd heard rumors that his brother, King Ardashek, discovered who aided him and punished Dun Amer severely.  Oshan couldn't reach Lord Breshen, Lady Allafia, or their son Darshen (who had been Oshan's closest friend as a child).  Tevesh, their younger son, simply cursed Oshan when he received his sending.  (This was, incidentally, the first time that Oshan was comfortable enough with the party to admit that he is a prince of Dulsanius.)  After that, the wizard wished to travel to Sobel Ka for two days, to arrange the sale of some magical items he'd made.  (Rings of water breathing, which are tremendously popular in the islands of Sobel Ka.)

The Praetor replied with a curt invitation to dinner the next night.  Severus also sent a message to Anat, offering to trade her information on the whereabouts of the illythid in Rostilla -- in exchange for some specific Altanian slaves.  (Corvina's acquaintences, who'd been captured.)  The drow ambassador was noncommittal, but began looking into the matter.

On the 24th, the band assembled in the courtyard to bid farewell to the paladins, their squires, and the two elves.  This little band headed off bravely for Invictus and the Fallen Lands... only to return a half hour later.  They'd met Captain Cassius, Tinnius said, who recommended that they put off their journey for a day.  The Grand Master didn't know why, but despite some uneasiness, he decided that hints from the Praetor probably shouldn't be ignored.

That same day, a series of messages came from Catarina.  Clarissa Benobles was in the Golden House, safe, with her son Marcus.  Catarina had also discovered that Cavallius (the youngest son of Sir Pelius) was hiding in the inn nearby, working as a stable-boy.  She believed that Abbess Halaessa and the inn-keeper knew his true identity.  There was also a spy in the inn -- though Catarina had not yet been able to determine who he worked for.

In the evening, the entire band walked to the Carcer to join Praetor Ferreus for dinner... in a prison.  It was a rather grim affair, given the grisly surroundings and the inept service (provided by a nervous Praetorian guard).  And it didn't help that the Praetor's idea of small talk was to grill the party about Rostilla and make verbal snips at Leyna, whom he seemed to find rather amusing.  He mentioned, in passing, that Viridia's troops were moving east to parade in Bendigroth.  Empress Mara Gentillia wished to show King Albanus that Viridia was displeased.  He, on the other hand, wished to give General Martialis reason to keep his troops in High Hold.  Southern Bendigroth was going to get trampled a bit.  But really, who cared?

By the time the main course was served, Leyna had had enough and demanded to know why they were here.  Or, as Severus chimed it, what did the Praetor want with them?  Why had he sent them to rescue Sir Daciens?  Why did he care about young paladins?

"I don't," Ferreus admitted.  (Titus frowned, but said nothing.  When he tried to detect evil, something was clearly blocking the Praetor's aura.)  "I care about you.  Or, more specifically, I care about your competancy.  Which you proved, most adequately."

So now what?  What did he want?  "I want what you want, for the most part," Ferreus replied.  No one looked particularly convinced.  "I want my tribute.  The Empress' tribute," he corrected himself.  "I want peace."  Again, no one found this believable -- until Ferreus elaborated on his reasoning.  "If there's a war, my generals will have to sober up.  And a sober general is... dangerous."  The Praetor explained that Viridia's throne was a bit more unstable than Rostilla's.  Dynasties fell, not infrequently -- and it was usually an ambitious general who brought down the old regime.  "Therefore I prefer my generals to be drunk and lazy."  Too bad we didn't know that before, Leyna told him.  We had one you could have had.

Was that all?  No, Ferreus admitted.  "I want people dead.  A lot of them.  People who, for the most part, you wish to see dead as well."  Briefly, he assured the band that he believed them when they said that there was a demonic conspiracy threatening Rostilla.  He believed the same people had undermined Viridia in the past, and were still plotting against the Empire.  And he wanted them dead.  His assassins weren't powerful enough to slip past their defenses.  Therefore he needed a clever and skillful group to kill them.  Marching an army into Rostilla would accomplish nothing;  the Bad Guys would simply retreat into the Fallen Lands, and bide their time until the next assault.

There was one other, new thing that he wanted:  information on a man called "Eboricus".  The Praetor produced a painting of this man, a tall, thin gentleman with a trim goatee.  He couldn't swear that this was Eboricus' true face, or that that was his real name.  But he believed Eboricus was one of the ringleaders of the conspiracy, and he wanted to know more about him.  A man who looked like this appeared in the time of Emperor Darius;  it was he, the Praetor believed, who gave Darius the Sebetu that drove Theodosius mad.  Twenty years ago, the same man came to Baserius, Darius' son, and offered his aid and counsel.  But, Ferreus said, Baserius' wife Mara objected to Eboricus and insisted he be sent away.

Were they agreed?  In exchange for his support, the band would give him any information they found about Eboricus?  And Severus would re-establish the tribute, when and if he came to hold Rostilla's throne?  The party nodded -- and then asked what kind of support he meant.

With that, the Praetor summoned desert... and presents.  "To alleviate your weaknesses."  Severus received a princely spell-book ("Since wizards always need spells.")  Titus got a cape which allowed him to dimension door once a day ("Since there's never a paladin around when you need one.  And when there is, he's not where you need him to be.")  For Corvina there was a beautiful set of drow-chain ("Sorceresses don't need spells -- they just need to stay alive.")  Gaius' gift was a headband that let him see in the dark ("A ranger needs to see his target.")  And Leyna got a bracelet -- "because women always need jewelry."  This particular gewgaw was a bracelet of friends.  It had four charms, which could be keyed to your friends, and allowed you to teleport them to you.  (Which was, the party decided, why Cassius had told the paladins to wait a day before departing.)  The last present was a bead of wind-walking, for Marius.  "Normally I wouldn't consider giving you this," Ferreus grumbled, "given how damned expensive they are.  But since I'm getting the labor for free, I guess I can afford it."  (A reference to the fact that Pontifex Orosius now dwelled in the Carcer's depths, thanks to Marius and Titus.)  Having gotten the goods, the party gulped down their bread-pudding and left as soon as possible.

Returning to their house, Leyna keyed her bracelet to the four senior paladins.  Then they asked Sandarfon if he knew Eboricus.  The name was not familiar to the elf -- but when Severus created an illusion of the man the Praetor had shown them, Sandarfon nodded.  "I knew him a thousand years ago, though he called himself 'Tennex' then."  A Vestran name, not a Viridian one.  "He raised a horde of demons which threatened the Northwoods, and we allied with the Tarakinos... the Tarquins, as you call them, to defeat him."  (The Tarquins are Viridia's ancient royal family, now one of their richest baronical Houses.)  "I thought him dead.  He was cut down, and his head removed.  Then buried, with superstitious -- but effective -- rites."  Clearly, the party thought, Eboricus was something like a liche.  Something that kept his soul bound outside his body.  They sent the Praetor a brief note, outlining what they'd found about Eboricus -- and sure that he'd be impressed with the speed with which they'd worked.