Episode 1: Ierendi, The Tournament of Adventurers

She reaches for his arm, grasping his bicep gently, but firmly, with her slender fingers.

"Anlo! We can return to the ship. Anywhere we please. Just tell me a room or area we have both been and I'll take us there."

If he can hear her, he can hear the tone of relief and hope in her nervous voice.

"Umm... Captain's quarters? No doubt people are looking for us, so it may be our only chance to talk to him before we get hauled off," Anlo suggests.

She takes his arm in hers, as if she's being escorted, and focuses on the details of the Captain's Quarters that she can remember. She can't help but be impressed by the power of the crown she wears on her brow.

Khali looks off into the distance and spots Ringmaster Madagast's quarters. She sees his entertaining room (that is a level above his private quarters). She remembers the lavish entertaining room having a spiral staircase that leads to his personal quarters. With Anlo holding onto her arm she guides their steps in the direction of the room. As she steps, all other distant sights of the places she has been fade from her peripheral vision. They are replaced by the swirling grey mist and her sight remains locked on the Ringmaster's Quarters. To Anlo, only the mist swirls all around, and Khali remains the only thing he can see beside the mist.



After a walking time that is hard to determine the length of, Khali and Anlo step into the quarters. Ringmaster Madagast is there at the room entrance speaking with Caspian who is walking out. As Khali and Anlo step from the mist into the room they hear Madagast finish a conversation with Caspian.

"The hin, the ranger, and Zephyros are missing!? Well then find Anlo and Khali. And round up the remaining contestants. I want to speak with them on the circus deck. And Caspian, get me answers! Tribune Janti is breathing down my neck. This whole ordeal is bad for the circus."

Caspian nods and leaves. Madagast closes the door behind the rakasta and stands in silence facing the door before letting out a troubled sigh.

Before she speaks she pockets the crown that's upon her brow and secures it. "Master....you might want to reconsider that until after you've heard our story. What we have to tell bodes trouble not only for us, but for this entire Kingdom.
A phantasmal hand suddenly appears and attempts to open the door as she calls for Caspain
"Please...Caspian. Come back!"

Startled at the sound of Khali's voice, Madagast turns in its direction. As he does, Khali's phantasmal hand moves to the door, opening it as she calls to Caspian.

Surprised and astonished the ringmaster questions, "Khali, Anlo, What!? Where...how did you get in here? My quarters below are locked. I could believe my weapons thrower has been scaling the walls of our ship, but my fortuneteller?"

"Caspian!" he calls through the reopened door.

A puzzled looking Caspian steps through the door back into the room. When he does Madagast prompts,
"Yes, Khali, please go ahead and relate your story."

Anlo drops into a seat and recounts everything. Being attacked in his quarters, their evidence being stolen, Tas missing, he and Khali charging through the portal, the maze of platforms, the room of golems with the portals...

When it's all been recounted, he slumps back in the chair exhausted.

"Captain, I don't know what the hell is going on but it's big... it's big, and it feels like we're all in a lot more danger than just being scapegoated for something we didn't do."

Khali nods in agreement with Anlo as he recounts the story.

"Our enemy is one I call "The Puppet Master". He has taken ahold of the minds of the contestants; they are doing his, or her, bidding. His 'strings' are objects. I believe it's the pendants that they wear that he, or she, is using to manipulate them. The guild mistress, who passed out the pendants, is somehow involved. The motives of this Puppet Master is unknown to me, but as Anlo says....we are dealing with a very powerful adversary."

She reaches into her bag to display the crown

"This item is used to somehow manipulate portals to other places and even other times. Only a Master of the Craft can produce such an item."

The Master may notice that she is wounded.

"This is big Anlo," states Madagast, his voice tinged with urgency. "I get the feeling that Khali's puppet master planned on using our circus' engagement in Ierendi to throw this island kingdom into chaos. But why? What is the endgame?"

He pauses in thought, eyes narrowing. "The Slave Trade? Maybe. The modern kings and queens of Ierendi abolished that on their waters decades ago." He thinks again.

"Hmmm...mind enchanting pendants and transportation portals...you are right Khali, a master of the Craft must be involved, or perhaps...masters," he states with resolute authority.

"This all reeks of Glantrian craft to me. The wizards of Glantri have their hands and eyes all over the Known World. Perhaps the alliance between the Ierendi Navy and the fire wizards of Honor Island is a thorn in Glantri's side. I'm sure if it weren't for their patrol, the smuggling of magic items through the Minrothad Guilds would move more...freely."

The ringmaster gives both Khali and Anlo a look over.

"But Khali sit next to Anlo, you don't look well." he says urgently. "Mazes, serpents, ballistas, golems. Anlo you've absorbed some impacts as well."

He waves to Caspian and points toward an ornately carved wooden cabinet. "Caspian, please grab two vials of blue liquid from that cabinet and give one each to Khali and Anlo."

The rakasta roustabout complies and then hands the vials to Khali and Anlo."Well, let's hold off on rounding all the contestants up for now," continues the ringmaster. "But what shall be our next move?" he poses the question to Anlo and Khali.

Khali complies, giving thanks to the Ringmaster just before popping the lid and consuming the contents of the vial; draining it. She then takes a closer inspection of the crown, looking it over for details such as engravings, sigils or runes.

"First step; what should we do about this crown? My grandmother was a Master of Divination. If there was an object she valued highly, she would place an enchantment upon it that would allow her to find it. I'm concerned there might be such on this object."

Madagast steps up and eyes the headpiece closely along with Khali.

"I hope that is not the case Khali, but as you say with an item of this power, it is possible. One thing is for certain, this headpiece is not a normal feature in the Royal Tournament of Adventurers arena, which sounds like you are now too familiar with.

No, this magic item is too powerful to fall into...or return to... the wrong hands. Even if it does have an enchantment upon it that would allow it to be found, it is much safer under your protection. I can't see any other way than you keeping it...Learn to use it. It may prove a powerful and useful tool."



Stats
Anlo – Current HP: 23, Temp HP: 0, Superiority Dice: 2/4
Khali – Current HP: 22, Temp HP: 0, Spells Left: (Lvl1 2/4 - Lvl2 2/3), Portent Rolls (4, 10)

Khali tucks it away deep inside her pack.

"So, I have an idea. Instead of sending for all of the contestants, send for only one. We ambush him, or her,;rip off the pendant and interrogate the 'guest'."

"That's... not a bad idea. One would be easier to handle," Anlo muses aloud. "Although... whoever is pulling the strings may not let one come alone? They seem perfectly able to control multiple people at once."

Khali nods

"That is a good point. We need to make sure this ship is prepared for an assault, just like we do for pirates. Only...these pirates have the power of teleportation."

Her eyes and demeanor give away the fact that she is in need of rest.