Episode 2

Outstanding is always good!

Shortly later in the Griffon Room...

Several people have taken the comforts now, in all of the rooms. The Griffon Room has a bit more of a crowd gather, but not that much. It is rather sparse still compared to the other rooms that are more elaborate and hold greater number of food stations.

Thorn has kept watch, but doesn't see anything exceptionally out of the ordinary, except for the fact that one might say that this entire party is quite extraordinary.

Throughout the different rooms of the gala new entertainers come forth. They are handsome men clad in exceptionally well sewn yet simple robes with shoulder coats, all colored in grey, black, and white. They are trimmed with sashes and belts that make them look squared away and fashionable, yet at the same time classic and conservative.

People react immediately, some begin to clap. It is time for the orations of "The Poets."

The Poet who comes in to speak in the Griffon Room is of middle age, with hair and beard that is starting the transition from black to peppered gray. His voice is thick with substance. Everything he says is with perfect clarity. He speaks Heshbaan, but in a manner that even intermediate speakers can hear and decipher more clearly than they have any other speaking before. Soon he looks around the room and gradually figures out languages that others speak, so he begins to weave in language fragments of Yuoric, Kortellan, and Pylosean.

He starts with some verse and rhymes and then shifts over to prose, of telling stories about the glory of Goldna ad Dasnish and the favor bestowed upon the City of Gelshemish.

And then back to poetic lines about beauty and love, and then shifting to glory and honor, and then switching to sorrow and loss. And then he continues on, back to sort of interesting rhymes and word plays that are impressive how they weave together in ways that are not obvious at first but emerge over the course of the rhetoric.

It is truly an amazing thing that unfolds over the next ten minutes or so. Here in the Griffon Room, and similarly at different sites throughout the Palace, the Poets seem to captivate the audience in an exceptional way.

Required Action for everyone still active in the Gala main rooms (including the Griffon Room): WIS Save DC 7.

Elsewhere...

Yashub is moving on as planned. Undetected thus far.

Sizhen catches back up with Yashub along the route and poses a few questions once the two men round a corner out of sight.

Strategic Pause

Yashub sees Sizhen round the corner with him as he stealthily passes down a hall into the prohibited sections of the Garden Palace.

The Heshbaan turns to the Alijanian, speaking Kortellan in hushed tones.

"It seems like our paths continue to intertwine. Very well, let us cooperate as we can. I seek to follow these Danneins and Yuorics, the ones who came to Gelshemish recently for exchange among nobility. They are up to something else though, I feel certain of it. As you say, I seek the secret of the Sealed Citadel. I wish to gain the truth about Iz Jeddriss and find out what it would take to put an end to his menace if an end can be won."

He looks over his shoulder and then continues, "As for Dug-nuna, in his last moments he mentioned a slaver named Ishme Adad, and a woman who is involved with Ludari...I believe a grain shipper. I do not know all of what he meant, but he said..."

Just then a voice calls out, from around the corner down the hallway. Acting quickly, Yashub pushes Sizhen into a narrow door threshold, hardly a hiding place, but just deep enough to stay out of the sight of the guard that rounds the corner now.Yashub turns to face the Gilded Armsmen directly and answers back in Heshbaan, Under his breath, Yashub whispers to Sizhen, without looking at him,"Follow the Dannein. Bryn."

The guard responds in kind as Yashub starts walking back to the main gala area. The conversation between Yashub and the Gilded Armsman continues as they turn the corner, back towards the crowd, but Sizhen cannot hear it. He knows that Yashub just saved him from being detected and possibly dismissed from the Garden Palace on violation. He also bought him a chance to continue on in the investigation of Bryn the Dannein who claims to be an attendant for the Jeresian named Lukrayides Lord Mercon.

Ivor listens to the poet, but looks on with a scowl.

Kray, Thorn, and Ivor watch on in the Griffon Room as the poet weaves a thicker and thicker hold on the audience. They begin to notice that this guy is great. His speaking and rhythm and tone and cadence is truly phenomenal.

The distinguished poet steps through the room as if he is gliding in the air, so smooth are his movements. He begins to tell the people the great wisdom of Sar Yakud and his loyal Nasi, and how well they are guiding the community, how well they are protecting the community, how blessed Gelshemish is to be so very free of all strife and problems and threat. The poet begins telling that the cooperation with the Korvarans is such a benefit to the glory of the city and its champions, how much wealth and prestige will be ultimately brought to the city as a return for the raising of the army of proud Heshbaan soldiers, from here in the city and throughout the doresh (countryside).

At some moment though, Kray and Thorn look at one another and see that they are both struggling a bit. What is this guy talking about now, and why are they getting some mentally involved in this appeal? They both have to shake their heads a bit and find themselves having difficulty keeping their thoughts straight. They recognize that they can hardly think of anything else beyond the poet's voice, but at the same time, they feel the strangeness of that fact. And wait, can they even understand this guy? Did he start speaking Yuoric? No, he is speaking Heshbaan, but....how did they glean so much of the message?

Ivor stares at the poet. His face is still like stone in his rough angry stare, but then his expressions soften. He cannot think of anything else but the voice of the poet and the man's mastery over the words. Even though Ivor cannot speak Heshbaan, he clearly understands that Sar Yakud and his Nasi are the most brilliant and trustworthy leaders of any men on this earth. Ivor is enamored with the idea of just how well this city is managed. It is just astounding how perfect this community is. Gelshemish is a place with no strife, no problems, no sorrows. Those who say otherwise must be truly confused.

Thorn, still not quite able to speak, looks over at Ivor. He sees that the big Dannein is completely immersed in the words of the poet. Ivor looks like a man in a trance. Thorn just realizes that he was nearly in the same state of mind.