Episode 1: Ierendi, The Tournament of Adventurers

Tasya takes visual assessment of the situation and the condition of the room. "On first thoughts it would seem our thief was small, agile, and possessed of claws: A monkey or raccoon perhaps? Or..a shapeshifter? Druid?"

Port Lounge

After Steward Kani's exclamation about the missing crowns, Queen Mari steps up to Kani, pains of worry on her face. "Manu!" She gasps under her breath. "You left Manu there!? How do you know she is alright!?"

Kani bows slightly, "I am sorry your majesty, Upon seeing that she still breathes, I thought it most prudent to quickly warn you. I can bring others back for the unconscious courtiers." Kani, who is Queen Mari's senior in age and her personal advisor then adds, "Your majesty, we must remain calm and remember our stately duty even in times of distress."

Kahli (who succeeded in a perception check DC 10) notices that King Palfrit shifts, looking like he wants to go to the distressed Queen Mari, but a stern look from both Lady Kai and Steward Quint stop him.

Also Kahli's attention is drawn to the fact that during the commotion with everyone's focus on Queen Mari and Steward Kani, Elandra Stormblade (Adventure's Club Guildmaster) hands a pin to Captain Zephyros. She quietly whispers something to him and he takes the pin. Kahli then notices that the other contestants wear a similar pin (and Zephyros previously was the only contestant without one on). The pins are made from a stunning blend of gold and silver and are in the shape of a phoenix with small white gemstones embedded.




Lower Starboard Tower

Anlo securely gathers the broken bits of glass in a piece of the curtain. Sea air still blows into the room through the open window that Tasya assesses.

After a bit of shaking Anlo gets a stir out of Steward Manu and Moa. Both are extremely groggy and puzzled. There is no sign of physical harm to their bodies. "What...what happened?" quietly asks Manu. "We...we were supposed to meet Steward Kani backstage. We heard Kani's voice call us into this tower through the backstage door. Last I remember we walked in here and were calling for her."

"The crowns. Where are they?" asks a startled Moa when he noticed the pillows.

"I'm sorry, but they were already missing when you were found unconscious," Anlo informs the stewards, helping them sit up and checking them for injury. "And you are certain another steward called you in here? Or, their voice at least?"

Manu replies, "It was Steward Kani's voice, I'm certain, but she was no where to be found. I called to her and...and...that's all I remember. Then you shook me awake."

Moa adds,"When Manu called out for Steward Kani, I remember noticing the curtain waving in the breeze there," he point toward the window, "and now here we are."

"As someone who knows precious little about magic, I am inclined to think magic is at play." Anlo sits, pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment. "We'll get everything sorted... somehow... right, Tas?"

Khali takes advantage of the fact that the attention is on the Queen and her advisor by walking silently to an obscure place to cast Detect Magic. If successful, her intent is to focus on the pin that's being handed off and the others too.

"Umm..yeah. Sure. We'll sort it out." Tasya tries to sound convincing, though she has her doubts of her own ability in these matters.

Port Lounge

Steward Kani continues, "Your majesty, I will return to Steward Manu and King Palfrit's Steward Moa."

"Kani. Take Steward Ru with you!" orders Queen Mari.

"But your majesty you should keep your bodyguards nearby you," objects Steward Kani.

"That is an order Steward," demands the queen.

"Yes your majesty." Kani bows and heads to leave the lounge. Steward Ru follows.

...

While the conversation takes place, Kahli takes advantage of the commotion and moves silently to an obscure place to detect any magical auras present in the lounge.

She first focuses on the pins, which all glow (including the one being handed off) with a teasing, verdant tryst of fey hues telling her they possess enchantment magic. Further she sees:

Tribune Lanu, wears a pendant that glows a lustrous golden sheen (transmutation).

Tribune Janti has a magnifying glass that hangs from her belt that gives off a translucent gray mist (divination).

Tribune Grakk has a longsword that glows a lustrous golden sheen (transmutation).

Steward Quint wears a ring that gives off a glowing nimbus of white (abjuration).

Gherynid has, attached to his belt, a item that looks like a tiny narrow lantern. In plain sight it emits a fiery red glow, but Kahli's detect magic spell reveals an ebb and flow of opposing oranges and blues (evocation).

Vance Ironclaw’s walking stick glows a basic brown with subtle hints of depth (illusion).

Pipin Shadowstep's dark cloak also glows a basic brown with subtle hints of depth (illusion) and one of the vials on his belt glows a lustrous golden sheen (transmutation).



Lower Starboard Tower

Steward Manu has a sudden realization, "I must go tell the Queen Mari that the crowns are gone!" She tries to stand but is clearly still unstable and loses her balance.

Meanwhile, a breeze blows harder into the room through the open window and the curtain flaps loudly.

Lingering near the open window, Tas feels the gust of air from outside. She turns to focus more on the window and moves closer to investigate and peer through it.

Khali is impressed, but not surprised, that high ranking people have items of enchantment. Its expected, but she's still no less intrigued. Not so bold as to approach the Queen herself, she instead chooses to approach the quieted King instead She interprets his interaction as someone who really wants to help. She makes herself visible to him, bows with her hands folded, and introduces herself.

"Your Majesty. I am Mistress Khali, a member of this troupe. May I inquire who holds the duty as Court Magician? Perhaps if we collaborate we can bring this tragedy to a quick resolution?"

Lower Starboard Tower
Tasya notices a thick iron pin--that normally slips into position to keep the window locked--lying freely on the window sill.

Then she peers through the window and looks around. Outside, about 5 feet directly above the open window, is a protruding beam. Tasya can make out some indented marks on the beam (A). Her knowledge of nature leads her to think that the marks were made by the talons of a bird of prey, yet they look slightly larger than any seabirds one would expect in to find in this port. Adding to her suspicion, she also sees a long dark feather lodged into the corner where tower beams meet (B).

Port Lounge
King Palfrit, at first distracted and focussed on Queen Mari, realizes Kahli has addressed him a moment after she speaks. He is puzzled for a moment longer at the inquiry about a court magician, but he then processes Kahli's request and responds, "There is no one in my court responsible for wizardry, but my advisor Steward Quint has some knowledge in matters of magic. Perhaps he could be of assistance."

King Palfrit waves toward Steward Quint who is close by. Quint, who heard Kahli's request and the King's reply, steps forward. He responds rather coldly with an air of annoyance, "I am studied in the workings of magic. What do you propose Mistress?" His voice has a tone of condescension.

"Anlo..." Tasya calls out to him to get his attention. She waves him over and points out the iron pin and the feather. "Perhaps Khali can use her powers of divination and discover who may have touched the pin last and to what the feather belongs?"

"Um, excuse me a moment," Anlo says to the stewards as he rises and joins Tas at the window. His eyes widen briefly, and in a hushed tone he tells his fellow performer, "That'a a great find! Khali seems like the right call... we probably shouldn't touch it? I don't know. I'm not exactly sure how divination works."

Khali uses a respectful tone while addressing the Steward. "Your Lordship, as you know, important items such as the Crowns have enchantments placed upon them." She glances around at the contestants with their pins, hoping he gets the subtle hint. "Perhaps when the Crowns were forged a clever magician ensorcelled them so that they could be scryed?" She's fairly certain he can't do it or he would've already been out the door to do so.

Port Lounge
Kahli notices that Steward Quint is pleased to be refered to as your lordship. Accustomed to being called upon as the expert in matters arcane, he pridefullly readies himself to offer insight as he follows Kahli's gaze toward the contestants. When he follows Kahli's gaze, for a brief moment he is lost in thought.

He then responds, "It is true that important artifacts can be embedded with magics that reveal their location. The crowns have been passed from royal to royal in a long tradition that predates my time in this court. I am not aware of the details of their creation. Though I have never detected any magical qualities in them." His last sentence is curt and final sounding as if it implies the end of the conversation.

But he then says something more quietly almost as if he is speaking to himself, "Hmm, I do know that alloys exist which can house various magics including charm magic." He has a puzzled look on his face and his gaze turns to studying Elandra Stormblade.

Lower Starboard Tower
Steward Moa still sits groggily and Steward Manu stands still trying to maintain her balance. Anlo and Tasya turn from examining Tasya's find when Steward Kani and Steward Ru enter the tower from the circus stage door.

"Steward Manu," says Kani. "You are awake. And Moa you too. The Queen should like to see you to know you are alright and to hear your account."

Steward Ru notices Anlo and Tasya. The armed royal bodyguard places a hand on the hilt of her sword and asks curtly, "In what state did these two circus members find you?"

"We found them unconscious, and worked to awaken them. I understand your concerns, but truthfully if it had been us who assaulted them... why would we have stayed?" Anlo's question is honest, and intended to put the guards at ease. Even though he understands that is unlikely in the circumstances. "I assume you wish us to accompany you. We will, of course."

With that, Anlo will offer to assist the stewards in standing and maintaining their balance. The ship rocks, and the stewards don't seem to have clear heads yet.

Lower Starboard Tower
"It is true what the knife thrower says," assures Manu.

"Very well," says Ru as she removes her hand from her hilt. "Yes. Come with us. You may relate your account to the Queen as well."

Khali's gaze follows the Steward's towards the Guild Mistress to see if she is doing something else that's odd."Ahh,..Alchemy. A much appreciated form of magic."speaking agreeably.She adds, speaking loud enough for at least the King and his entourage to overhear"In the Circus, we have a saying. 'The Show Must Go On.' Good thing one doesn't need a crown to be a King, eh? I'm sure we can find replicas or substitutes, right?pauses to see what reaction that gets.