Episode 2

At the Tea Station in the Griffon Room...

Trece stands at the high stairs opening that looks out into the main chamber. From there he watches the military display and also sees the performances and musicians. He can still see the Yuorics and Danneins below, off to the side in the crowd on the main low level. The one called Mercon seems briefly engaged in an interchange with one of the Korvaran legionnaires.

All party goers exited the Griffon Room for the entrance of the King in the main room. Still none returned during the main performances. Only now are a few drifting in and out.

Trece sees the Dannein called Bryn walk through the room again, looking around briefly. He nods and says hello, but departs again. Trece watches him go to other periphery rooms as well, but then eventually return to his group in the main chamber.

Trece watches as large cauldrons are lit in the main chamber, that is a mix of both outdoor plaza and covered stone and pillar awnings. The sun has set now and the fires bathe the setting in a new glow.

Throughout the side rooms, other cauldrons and lamps are lit. Some of the lamps have extremely rare and expensive material called glass around them. They are brittle panes of colored material that light can shine through, and one can see through, though not with perfect clarity of what is on the other side. The fire behind these glass panes shines light outward in different colors. Soon many of the rooms are awash in strange colors of orange, purple, yellow, green, and blue. It is a rare sight, one that Trece is not familiar with.

As he looks around to the crowd, it seems that others are enamored with the lamp lighting as well. Many are speaking about it and admiring it.

As the sun sets, the night sky is visible in the main courtyard veranda chamber, that is a mix of indoor and outdoor spacing.

Throughout the chambers of the Garden Palace, fires are lit. Large decorative cauldrons, massive stone fire pits, elaborate candle stands, hanging lamp and torch sconces. All sorts of lighting.

The most impressive of all are the colored glass-panel lamp stands and hanging chandeliers. Glass is a rare substance and usually available only to the rich who can hire the limited pool of artisans who keep the trade a guarded secret. Those who have traveled the Markkelands, Kortella, and Pylos have seen it here and there, but it is not extremely widespread. Sizhen has seen glass more frequently in Alijan. The clarity of this glass here at the Palace is exceptional though. It is far less cloudy than anyone has seen before.

The lighting changes the look of the entire scene. Now the Gala is an image of exotic mystery, everything cast in strange hews, shadows dancing on the edges of all things as fires crackle from shining bases, the smell of scented oils and perfumed-soaked woods burning.

There is talk of how wealthy the Enlightened Sar is and how very skilled all of his servants and artisans are.

Sizhen questions why a leader of a city that works so hard to isolate itself would be interested in such an expansion of trade.

Its not that Sizhen doesn't see value in exploiting such a relationship, especially since The Nasi is offering an avenue to exert control. It just doesn't smell right.

Sizhen makes it clear to the Nasi that foreign trade between his homeland and Heshbaan would require an astronomical investment to carve a trade route through hostile wilderness or deadly waters.

He is careful not to offend The Nasi, but he implies that such an undertaking may be a stretch for the resources of a city that works so hard to isolate itself from the world. But, of course, nothing is beyond the will of Sar Yakud, and with the right guidance may even become an eventuality.

Sizhen demonstrates noncommittal interest in the position. Truth be told, this opportunity is secondary to his main objective and he works to cordially distance himself from The Nasi and revisit communication with Yashub.

In a moment of relative privacy, as the crowd is taken by the display of changing colours and lights, Sizhen attempts a more overt gesture:

"I have the Stabber's possession and you have the Stabber's confession. Two pieces of a larger puzzle. We have many more besides, I suspect. Working together seems the best route. But first -

At this moment Sizhen leans on close and whsipers

" - why do you seek the Red Bastition of Midrad? "

Yashub sees that Nasi Talel has moved up to the platform to unite with the Sar. Yashub knows now that the Nasi may be away in private meetings with the Sar and his Magistrates for an extended time.

Bryn gives Kray an update on an opening, an opportunity. He leads back to the Griffon room, which has fewer people now. Ra u nak, Trece, and their two Bishtu servers are still running the tea stand off to the side. Kray sees that the Gilded Armsman assigned to the room is still there, but is talking to some robed magistrate or noble. Bryn can see a hallway to the back that leads to a stairway, and identifies it to Kray and the others. With little difficulty and hardly a word needing to be spoken, everyone knows what the attempt will be.

Coming from out of the edges of the hallways in all rooms now are dark clad servants, dressed in rather tight black and gray robes, even with trim hoods that cover their heads and most of the features of their faces. They carry all sorts of food and wines, quickly and gracefully placing their carry down on table stations and then stepping back away. It is definitely clear that they are meant to be overlooked, hardly noticed, blending into the background, so as not to take away from the elegant lighting and the meaningful exchanges ongoing between all of the favored people who are the guests at the Gala.

These "invisible servants" say nothing and move in silence. After delivering the food and drink supplies, the attendants bring forth a series of pipes and canisters, setting them out on small tables and tray stations. These strange paraphernalia are quite exquisite, no two exactly alike.





One magistrate passing by looks delighted. He says to Kray and Ivor, with Gibon translating, "Ah, the comforts! If you have not taken these before, you are in for a fine treat. The Sar's gardens produce the best herbs, and his naturalists have skill beyond measure to prepare the comforts."

They watch as the Magistrate gets some assistance from one of the invisible servants to pour a small cup of liquid that he drinks and then loads up a long pipe to smoke it. The man is beaming with joy as he completes the process and then moves over to sit down on one of the lounge chairs as he drinks his wine.

Similar "Comfort Stations" are being set up in all of the rooms throughout the different Gala chambers.

Kray sees the opening that Bryn is going for and makes the play to help. He starts up conversation with the Heshbaan Armsman. It is going well enough, but unfortunately a Korvaran legionnaire comes down a side hallway. Bryn is right on the edge about to make a move.

Thorn, looking on from the side, sees the situation develop and recognizes that there might be a problem coming.

Trece keeps a watchful eye on the new "invisible servants", coming and going in all black and gray with their faces covered.

These servants move with the grace of cats. Their skill at the service work is impressive, but their lurking is somewhat annoying to one who is trying to keep a watchful eye over all things. Trece makes note of their patterns of travel as they go back and forth to and from the kitchen and other preparatory storage chambers.

In the unauthorized sections of the Garden Palace...

Bryn sees clearly that Ra u nak intervened in order for Bryn to get by the last Korvaran guard. Perhaps it comes with no surprise then when Bryn sees the younger Seetan who works with Ra u nak standing in a corner near the bottom of the first stairwell.

Bryn met this man earlier on this night. He goes by the name Trece, but Gibon has told Bryn that the name means "Thirteen" in Zutaran. Bryn heard the story of this man countering an attack by an abomination monster that erupted from the contagion body of Bezil Koral in Hechesi district yesterday. Thorn, Kray, and Gibon recounted the story of Trece laying a severe brutality on the monster using only his bare hands and a sharpened spoon.

Trece is wearing a cloak loosely pulled over his head now. He stares at Bryn silently.

Back at the Griffon Room...

Kray takes a bit of the comfort from the station. One of the "invisible" servants steps forward to show him the operation. Kray needs little direction, an experienced smoker. He recognizes the quality and potency of the substance at once. Knowing that it will set in with a strong euphoria over the next minutes, Kray stops at one intake which is enough to make him feel ... outstanding.