Dionysus A servant arrives after a few weeks and asks you to meet with the Chancellor.

Arsul "Of course."

• Arsul follows the servant

Dionysus When you reach the office, Damon says, "Baron, please, sit. I've had an interesting request."

• Arsul does

Dionysus "Your son-in-law found out that you were offered lands & refused. He suggested to your daughter, who wrote to me about this:

• Arsul leans forward slightly, listening

Dionysus "If you were to accep the land, we'd be willing to cede it to you now, and allow your children take care of it. They suggest that using the funds from this, you could create an... agency for tracking and taking care of your relations. Something... low key."

Arsul "I refused those lands before I really knew of my family. If this is acceptable to the Empress we would accept them gladly."

Dionysus "You

Dionysus 're entitled to them, for all the work you've done."

Dionysus "We can't give you the lands your mother's tribe was on--that's Kalian. But we can give you land on the Kalian border, if that would suit you."

Arsul "It would. Nylissa, she and her husband want to move with the children to the barony?"

Dionysus "The count has his own lands, but he knows that more land is always a boon, especially to one with multiple heirs. I think he wants his own child with his wife to inherit his lands & service, and the daughters she has already to inherit what they'll get from you. However, he's right about the agency. It might set your mind at ease to know there's someone left behind to look after your family, in case anyt

Dionysus hing should happen... where you're likely to be going."

• Arsul nods "It's good to have someone to watch over the family. But I will be returning."

Arsul "Thank you for this."

Dionysus He nods, "I learned long ago that knowing that if I fell my family would be well helped me keep my mind on my mission. Would you like to see the land?"

Arsul "I have already." he grins slightly. "There isn't a place in Maraddon that I haven't been to once or twice."

Dionysus He smiles, "Very well. I'll have the arrangements made and send you the forms to mark later."

• Arsul nods "Thank you."

Dionysus A few days later, a servant brings you the papers.

• Arsul signs them with an X

Dionysus A man with the servant nods. You hear him mark it and say, "I've notarized it. Thank you, Baron."

Arsul "Thank you."

Dionysus They bow and walk off.

Dionysus A few weeks later, you get a message that Nylissa and the girls are going to visit the lands.

• Arsul will accompany them if he can take the time off from the band

Dionysus It's a week's trip.

Dionysus Or a day's if you take the airship.

Arsul are we allowed to use those resources?

Dionysus I don't see why you wouldn't be

Arsul then he offers. "I hear the view is nice. The girls might enjoy it."

Dionysus They agree to, nervously.

Dionysus You land in a small area on the egde of the swamps. A small town is nearby, and the Count tells you your lands abut the town.

Dionysus There's a manor house and a few farms here.

Dionysus The farms are manned and used, but the manor house stands empty.

Arsul we spend some time seeing the farms and then go to the house?

Dionysus The farmers are happy to greet you and offer you a meal.

• Arsul talks with them a bit about their work and the area

Dionysus They tell you all sorts of things, including, "There was this little timid halfling girl here not but a week ago, asking about the local tribes, sir. Oddest thing, she mentioned a blindman in a Gifted Tunic and a bunch of other strangers as ones she was interested in. Offered a fortune for information."

Arsul "Did she? Where was she headed next?"

Dionysus "Into the jungles, after the local tribes. Something about seeing if her hires had done their work right."

• Arsul nods

Arsul He'll look into that when we're back on the ship

Dionysus The manor house is a little rundown since no one has used it, but still veyr nice. The count says he'll send some people out to fix it up.

Arsul was there anything else Nylissa or the Count wanted to see while here?

Dionysus Not really.

Dionysus They just wanted to know what needed to be done to fix it up, really

Arsul ok

Arsul Well then he takes a moment while their looking over the manor grounds to do some prophecying

Dionysus WHat's the question?

Arsul why is the halfling searching for us?

Dionysus You see a vision of the cower sorceress from the moons paying some stillborn cultists in the jungles.

Arsul what does she have them doing?

Dionysus You see them butchering your old tribe, especially the children.

Arsul When?

Dionysus You see half a cycle of the moons

Arsul ok. I'll rejoin the family and report back to Arlie and Bartleby

Dionysus I'll get back to that soon, then

Arsul let me know when appropriate time has passed to talk to Arlie?

Dionysus This convo is pretty early on

Dionysus Your thing is a little later

Arsul I thought so

Dionysus One night as Arsul is playing, by himself, he hears someone enter his room

• Arsul doesn't stop playing. He waits a moment to see if they announce themselves

Dionysus "Prophet Toutant," a husky, dusty voice says.

• Arsul stops. "Yes?"

Dionysus "Greetings from one seer to another. I am Muhab al-Qintair."

• Arsul puts down his cello and stands. "Hello."

Dionysus "Greetings. I come from the Eyeless Mother."

Arsul "I'm sorry. I don't know who that is."

Dionysus You hear him touching his forehead as he speaks her title again, "The Eyeless Mother is the supreme mortal repository of our faith, Prophet Toutant."

Arsul "Oh I see. And how can I be of service to her?"

Dionysus "You burn brightly amongst the threads. She would see to it you represented us well in your destiny. She would meet with you."

Arsul "Of course. Where and when?"

Dionysus "Both of those you will know of your own accord. I simply come here to ensure that you stepped onto that path. And to tell you to have your three questions prepared."

• Arsul frowns but nods. "Thank you."

Dionysus He says, "May your steps be guided."

• Arsul looks for when and where he will meet her

Arsul "And may you find your path."

Dionysus You count moon cycles that are up to the 24th week of the wait for the contest, in the subnation of Azet in the Myrmexian empire, northern Taggarus.

Dionysus In a great temple pyramid.

Arsul great

Arsul I really don't want to think up questions

Arsul that's hard for Arsul and I

Dionysus Muhab leaves.

Dionysus You can always get them from others.

Arsul this is true but he wouldn't

Dionysus Fair enough.

Arsul but he would let them know he's going

Dionysus Basically, anything you can't get the answer to might be good

Arsul this is something I want to see the whole group's response to, can we wait till next week?

Dionysus Of course.

Arsul thank ye

• Dionysus visits Arsul one night.
• Arsul greets him

Dionysus "Arsul, I'm worried." he says after greetings are exchanged.

Arsul "What's the matter?

Arsul "

Dionysus "I think Leonas is... up to something dangerous."

Arsul "What do you mean? What's he doing?"

Dionysus "I'm not certain, but... He's refused training, insisting that he's got it 'taken care of,' and I know Avery gave him a lot of money, which he spent very quickly, and now he's been... shut in his room for a week."

Arsul "You want me to find out if he's in trouble?"

Dionysus "Please."

Arsul Is Leonas in trouble?

Dionysus You see a vision of him in a circle of blood in his room, lying there, his eyes blood red and pitch black respectively, a brutal, dark spider scar on his chest (you've seen this, its his curse mark), and a snake's tail quivering in his mouth, like a flailing tongue, like the snake is down his throat.

Dionysus And yet, no sense of urgency visits you

Arsul What is he doing?

Arsul that's the next question

Dionysus You see his muscles strengthen, his features become more comely, his bearing become more intense, his being enrich.

Arsul Will this process harm him?

Dionysus Mostly, it seems it makes him stronger, faster, more skilled, but there's a shadow in his future that you can't pierce.

Dionysus But you do hear the flapping of crow's wings

Arsul Is it too late to stop this deal?

Dionysus It shows you barging into his room and being unable to do anything

Arsul Will this process interfere with the band's goals?

Dionysus It seems to be fine, but the shadowy area still looms there.

Arsul What are the particulars of the deal?

Dionysus You don't see anything

Arsul Can we help him with the shadow?

Dionysus You just hear crow wings

Arsul all right

• Arsul comes out of his trance. "He's made a deal with the devil. It shouldn't interfere with our goals but it will not be good for him in the long run."

Arsul "There's nothing we can do now."

• Dionysus frowns, then curses, "Damn."

Arsul "I could have told him it was a bad idea. I'm not sure he would have listened. He's in love with that Crow woman isn't he?"

• Dionysus nods, "He's obsessed."

Arsul "This improves all parts of his body, his strength, speed and his looks."

• Dionysus scowls, "That poor kid. He doesn't know anything, does he?"

Arsul "They'll both regret it in the end."

• Dionysus nods, "So there's nothing we can or should do?"

Arsul "Not that I can see. Just try and keep an ear out for when this goes South for him. I don't think we can help but we'll have to find out."

Dionysus He flinches to the phrase 'keep an ear out,' but says nothing for a moment. Then, "Well, thanks for the help, Arsul. We'll do our best."

---

Arsul What will attract the succubus?

Quothar Your vision shows you a scene from her perception: the world from beneath, somehow, the whole thing as seen from a person looking up from the Hells: she sees the world on a scale of sexuality to purity, with sexuality being a lurid, attractive violet. Strong veins of it look good to her, but she has something more than feasting in mind. She looks for specific threads, ones she has information on: people involved in the Contest or their loved ones.

Arsul How is she armed?

Quothar Is that another vision request, or simply asking for detail from the vision above?

Arsul vision

Quothar http://www.merukis.net/wiki/index.php/Shem/IncubusAmpSuccubus

Quothar Your vision basically conveys that, but the high end of it.

Arsul ok. Does she have faith or magic?

Quothar She worships the Father of Misfortune, who is as yet unfully realized.

Quothar She has particular interests

Quothar Which is to say, she wants you dead for special reasons, and will make do.

Arsul well then I go to some brothels

Quothar Do you intend to not get anyone pregnant?

Arsul I thought about it but then decided not. But I'll keep trac of possible offspring

Arsul by divining if she became pregnant afterwards

Quothar She doesn't. How many whores does he have before he stops?

Arsul umm he keeps going till she comes?

Arsul the succubus I mean

Quothar The twentieth one asks you as she enters, "Are you truly blind?"

Arsul "Yes."

Quothar "And is that truly a Gift you wear?" she remains in the doorway.

Arsul "Yes."

Quothar "What does it do?" her voice is like honey.

Arsul "It's not important. Are you ready?"

Quothar What's the roll?

Arsul said silently

Quothar You get the sense that she is one of them

Arsul ok then I'll attack her, called to restrain until I can ensure that she's the succubus first

Quothar * Arsul grabs her and holds her close, trying to feel her wings or tail

Quothar You feel them.

Quothar And as you press her to your Tunic, you feel her begin to burn.

Quothar You smell charring flesh

Quothar And feel hot flames lick your body as she screams in agony

• Arsul will now attempt to kill her quickly

Arsul do we need to roll initiative or do I have it?

Quothar She's already dead.

Arsul oh

Quothar Your Tunic burnt her almost instantly.

Arsul huh

• Arsul gets someone to go to the palace to help him clean the mess

Quothar "It's only a bit of dust," a whore says. "We can sweep it up if you'd like. Gosh, it stinks in here."

Quothar And it does stink

Arsul "That would be very helpful. I can pay."

Arsul be right back

Quothar "Of course." She sweeps it up.

Arsul back

Quothar The smell doesn't quit the room, now matter how they clean the floors.

Arsul Is there a way to dispel the smell?

Arsul I prophecy

Quothar Holy water

Arsul does it need to be white faith blessed?

Quothar Yes

Quothar Love is best

Quothar But anything will do

Arsul what are the available options in the city?

Quothar Dionysus can bless some water for you

• Arsul will ask him if he can oblige. He'll tell the women that he'll be back shortly with something to help with the smell

Quothar He would be glad to.

• Arsul returns it to the brothel and offers it to the women there

Quothar They try it out, and the smell dissipates quickly,. They are very grateful.

• Arsul returns to the palace and tells Arlie