#location: rugira prime

[letterstosestrilles]

Dear Tyko,

For once, I think one of my letters is going to put you in a good mood, which I’m delighted about, and hope you are too. Especially after the most recent spate, which I know you’re still recovering from.

After all our recent adventures, and knowing what we need strength for coming up, we all decided that we want to see pretty much everyone we care about, at least everyone we can arrange a convenient meeting with. We started, after some deliberation, with Bizza, spending a day catching up with him on Sumula Station and eating so many crepes I felt full to bursting. He’s doing well these days, and the business very well. He even said he’s gone on a date or two, nothing serious, but just testing it out, after how his last relationship ended, and I’m delighted for him.

Next, we went on to Honione. Maliah’s been back a time or two, on the rare occasions we’ve been apart, to say hello and get her bow tuned up, but I’ve always taken the opportunity to visit you on Sestrilles, or deal with some other business. Well, this time we both wanted to go, but I was the major impetus, because I’d been messaging with Sserit and Lian, now that I know Resurrection and have the means to gift such things to my friends. Do you even remember them? Sserit was the ghost who helped us in the adventure in HASAI, and Lian is her girlfriend, and they’ve been sharing a body since then, which they’re mostly fine with but is inconvenient at work, from what I gather.

Anyway, I offered the Resurrection, and after some discussion, they took me up on it, and we went through the bureaucratic process to get Sserit’s body exhumed and then let her move on for a few minutes so I could summon her from the proper place, which I did.

I cast Raise Dead during my service at Mishakal’s temple a few times, and Resurrection once, but I’d been warned in the literature at the temple that the longer someone’s been dead, the harder Resurrection is—not that it will fail, with consent, but Sserit could barely get out of bed for days and I felt, I suspect, not unlike Gaizka felt after they turned a black hole inside out, though thankfully without the dizziness. But I couldn’t so much as cast a Prestidigitation until I’d had a full night’s sleep, and I spent most of the rest of our visit in a hotel room quietly watching movies with a cool cloth pressed to my forehead. Still, though, it’s worth it to have watched the two of them get to hug each other and hold on, and then to see them holding hands several times (and just as many times see them give each other breathing space, especially at work, where they can go back to working on their separate projects more easily).

Once I was feeling better, I did get to tour around HASAI again, much more cheerful full of people and not in the midst of crisis. Fariya was excited to see my gloves, and everyone else was happy to talk about their research, and Maliah got her bow checked and was glad about it.

(I know, I told you this letter would put you in a good mood. Bear with me.)

From there, we moved on to Rugira Prime. First, a visit to Ekresh Veshteth, because I wanted to hear how the aliens in the Twilight of Cinders were getting along and wanted to compare notes on the demiplane Teleport variant Gaizka taught me as opposed to the pocket dimension access spell he cast to get us to the Twilight of Cinders. My variant doesn’t, alas, work to get us there, but he was happy enough to talk about spell particulars and then to tell me that the explorations in the pocket dimension are going slowly but well. All the aliens seem to have been picked up, Aji included, and no new ones have crashed, now that they aren’t being shot out of the sky. They remain something of a mystery, but maybe I’ll go back sometime, climb through that hole in the sky and go meet them properly. It’s nice to dream about, anyway.

Then it was Mashoy, which is at least a little cooler at this time of year than it was the last time I visited. Maliah and I spent a good amount of time visiting our friends at the Court of Flowers (who were all pleased to see her so much more sure of herself and happier than the last time we visited). We had dinner with Pika and her family, and they’re all doing well, taking care of themselves and each other just as we could have wished when she retired. I stopped by Midat’s shop, and we had a lovely long chat about her latest innovations and my gloves, since I didn’t even have Niko’s fabric the last time I came. Not to mention PA! They don’t have its model commonly in Mashoy, and she was delighted with the modifications I’ve made on it, and had some suggestions for interfaces for the arms I want to give it the next time I have time to devote to it.

But more than anyone else, I was in Mashoy to see Brennu, for two reasons.

The first, as I think I’ve told you, was to give him some water from the Deeping Wellemere, when the spell he was under left some remnants that make it hard for him to do what he wants to. He does look a lot better, not least because he doesn’t have a black eye this time, and asked me several questions about the water. I’d written to Ektarika and then when she didn’t have the answers to Cerunwe, asking about whether the water would do anything about mental effects of spellwork. Cerunwe though that anything chronic might be helped, but certainly not reversed.

Brennu also had questions about the longevity I mentioned, though I’m afraid I wasn’t much help there, saying that my best guess is that taking it frequently would be more likely to give him extra years, or taking it when aging was the biggest thing the water could find to fix. He said, wryly, that perhaps I should punch him again so we could see how fast the water would heal something on a regular mortal, and only laughed at me a little when I did a bad job of containing my horror.

In the end, he chose to take it, a sip at a time, and we talked until I was sure there wouldn’t be any immediate aftereffects (Maliah had come along as support and just because it seemed ridiculous that they hadn’t met, and I told him about her quest to keep Squirt, and she did deflect a bit to talk about how wonderful Squirt is, but did let me talk at least some about her heroics), and then I told him to eat a big meal and get some rest to let the water do its work and left him to take my advice with a promise to visit the next day.

And the next day, he said he didn’t have a headache, apparently rare, but that he suspected any effects would be felt more over the next few days as he tried and either succeeded or failed to do things he wanted to. And I, well.

I’d asked Maliah if it was wrong to ask him on a date, when we arrived in Mashoy, because I’d met him under such desperate circumstances and saved him, and since I’d come to help him more, and to act as a healer, no less. And she said that as long as he knew he could say no without anything changing, it was fine, so I plucked up my courage and I did it, I asked him to dinner and he said yes and didn’t even laugh at me when I immediately said he should probably choose the restaurant since I didn’t eat out much when I was in town.

And I’m so glad, Tyko. We’ve been writing ever since, and something about the way we met means that there haven’t ever really been that many things we can’t talk about. He’s always been honest about how he’s feeling, his experiences and what he feels responsibility for and a thousand other things, and so in return I tell him about the harder parts of my journeys in a way that really only you and Maliah hear, and oftentimes in different ways. We talk about books, and the instrument he’s learning, and about resurrection and the trials he had to testify at, and it’s so good to have someone outside of all of this, and outside my family too, who I know so deeply, and am known by so deeply.

Of course, as soon as he accepted, I was struck by a fit of terror, because, well. You know how I date—I date strangers, and if it ends, of course it’s sad, because I’d hardly have dated them if I didn’t like them, but I’m not missing a key piece of my life. But if I date Brennu and do something stupid and lose him someday, I don’t know if we’ll be able to be close in quite the same way we have been, and losing that is terrifying. Maliah, who finds first impressions much harder than lasting ones, the reverse of my feelings on the matter, was baffled and tried her best to comfort me, but I was very bad at being comforted until I actually went on the date.

By mutual agreement, we tried to keep that first date light, talk about all the things we skipped to talk about all the deep dark things in our heads. Brennu had picked a fairly nice restaurant (I was very glad I had an outfit I commissioned in the Feywild) and asked for a private room in the back, so we wouldn’t be bothered by press or other people interested in him appearing in public and me returning to town. We talked about his cousins, who he’s close to in the way I am to you, and about you and Alion and Tiriel and the children on Nosirion-1. I told him stories from before I met him that we’d missed out on, and he replied with the same, and we only talked a little bit about stars and what I’m doing next and all the baggage we’re going to have to work out.

I’m leaving Mashoy in just a few days, sending Niko off to a temple retreat and Maliah to visit Marsa and her mothers, going to Kirim and then to see you myself, but we’ve gone on a few more dates and talked more seriously about things again, the kind of things we talk about in our letters and the danger I’m in from what’s coming next. We’ve also made it clear that neither of us is particularly light or casual about this, but that we’re going to take it very slowly indeed, given what I have coming up and all the much easier baggage of living in different places and not quite knowing the shape our lives are going to take.

When I’m done dealing with Onver, though, and reassured everyone I’m still alive and dealt with the very immediate aftermath, we have a plan to meet somewhere quiet and private to talk a lot more, and I’m already looking forward to it.

There. Resurrection aside, isn’t this letter worth it? I’ll look forward to your teasing in a week or so in person, and will take it happily as long as I get to meet Lindanas again, and maybe even this book group you can’t stop talking about.

Love,

Elyn

[feywildatheart]

Darna, I hate this planet.

Elyn convinced me to leave Nosirion-1 behind with the temptation of witnessing vast mechanical cities moving through the desert like insects scampering across logs, and instead all we’ve found is sand and upset and strife, an endless series of labyrinthine tunnels and so very, very many dead. I should have stayed with the Silver Tree and helped the scientists explore the planet and got to see Loren and Devon settled in properly and spent my evenings singing halfling ballads in the inn with Ren.

…I don’t really mean that, I suppose, but I’m so tired and I’m so angry, and everything that’s happened since we landed here has made my heart heavy. We spent most of the day walking only to discover we were walking in circles, and it’s my fault and I should have known better. You taught me better. I wasted everyone’s time and maybe now more people are going to die because we’ve had to stop for the night before we’ve found Rihash, and that’s on me. I should have seen it. I was so busy worrying about falling into illusioned pits that would have damaged little more than my dignity that I failed to see that I’d led us into a much more devious trap, and this one of my own making. I don’t know how my maps failed me so badly, I don’t know how your training failed me so badly, but I just wish we could leave this place and be done with it.

You can’t know what a comfort your letter was to me. I don’t even know how I managed to get signal enough to receive it, when we’re buried deep under the barren desert, with any cities (any cities that are still standing, in any case) most of a day’s travel away. But I woke this morning to the beep of my LICD as your message came through, and it could hardly have been timed better. Thankfully, Pika was too distracted with some sort of fervent praying this morning to comment on how I was crying openly into Squirt’s fur, not that she’d have been likely to say anything anyway — though then again, perhaps she would have. I’ve stopped thinking that I can do anything like predict her. And Elyn at least was kind enough to only ask me if I was all right, and then leave it at that.

I’m very glad to hear your work is going well. You’ll have to send me what you’ve charted so far, and once you jump to the next site, so I can find you whenever I do manage to make it back to the Feywild. What sort of pattern have you found in them? Don’t think just because I’m half a galaxy away that I’m not just as keen to understand them as I was when I was drawing maps at your side. Please, tell me everything. Tell me everything you would if I were there, if I’d never left.

I… Look, darnaneth, you know me. I don’t think you’d believe me, if I did promise to stay safe. I am your daughter, and you’re my mother, who took up sword and bow to protect Cylla and me while she carried me. I can’t not help, when I see others who could use my assistance. I can’t hang back where it’s safe if it means letting others face the dangers instead.

Even if I wanted to, my companions are both too keen to throw themselves into the fray instead of keeping themselves safe, and so I must be my mothers’ daughter, and trade bow for sword, and wade in to keep them both from getting themselves killed. I did try to convince Elyn, after she nearly died at my feet in this last fight, that she ought to at least consider the merits of fleeing to safety when she finds she’s outmatched, but she doesn’t like the idea of letting others face danger while she hides from it any more than I do.

(I know, I know. The irony of this isn’t lost on me, believe me. But honestly, I’m hardier than either of them are, and I’m not too proud to retreat when it’s prudent.)

I do promise to try, though. I’ve no wish to die, nor do I relish the thought of being grievously injured. I’m trying to be as safe as I can be, and still do the things that need doing. I’m still not entirely sure what it is we’re facing here on Rugira Prime, because Pika’s been even less forthcoming than she ordinarily is, but she’s jumping at every shadow, so I have to imagine the danger is particularly great. And that’s not even counting the cities being swallowed up whole, or whatever it is who’s been stalking the fallen cities and picking off survivors. But I can’t turn my back when people are dying and could be saved, and whatever government there is here— Well, Pika’s told us little of that, too, but I’ve got nothing kind to say about them, when two cities got swallowed up by the desert and, so far as we can tell, there’s been little or no effort on the part of the authorities to discover what happened to them, or locate survivors. Nida — she’s one of the few survivors we found in Arkard, though I’m getting ahead of myself here — she seemed to be full of excuses for why they wouldn’t, how it’s treacherous in the desert and a search-and-rescue mission might be too dangerous, how there might be little to find if an earthquake just swallowed a city up whole, but— honestly, darna, we’re three women (three women and a dog if we count Squirt, which you know I always do) and we found them inside of two days. They’ve been down here for months and months. People could have been saved, and so far as I can tell the authorities have just… done nothing. Just shrugged and chalked both cities up as a loss and continued on their merry ways, and have I mentioned I hate this planet? It’s not just the sand and the heat and the desert, though they’d be miserable enough on their own. The Feywild is a treacherous place to live, and so we looked out for one another. But here, where they need each other the most, they just… don’t, so far as I’ve seen. They just let whole cities be swallowed up and continue about their day because at least it’s not their city. Pika’s so focused on her own objective here, and I pointed out that perhaps we ought to be concerned about what happened to these two lost cities, because if it had happened to them what’s to stop it from happening to the city her objective lies within, and she—

Well.

I’ll get to that.

The point is, people as individuals may be kind and may look out for others — Nida seems to be sheltering a small group of fellow survivors, and Tace sent us out here to discover what had happened, after all, and Snapdragon’s been more generous than I could have ever expected (but, no, I’ll get to that, too. Have patience with me, darna, I’m trying to work myself up to it but it’s no easy thing to talk about) — but Rugira Prime as a whole seems a wretched, unkind, self-centered place. There’s such poverty here, darna, and such incredible wealth, and it’s heartbreaking to the see the two side by side and see no one trying to help those who need it the most desperately.

Nida offered us water and provisions before we left to try to find Rihash, offered it to us, when we’ve got full packs and they’ve been trapped down there for months, using up what supplies weren’t damaged in the fall and unsure of any rescue. There are kind and generous people here, but they’re not the ones who have the power to make a difference in any sort of lasting, meaningful manner, that much is clear.

I’m sorry it’s hard and strange, darna. I hope you know it is for me, too. I miss you both every day. Sometimes I lower my bow and take a breath at the end of a battle and for a moment it’s startling to realize you aren’t both there fighting next to me. Sometimes I have to catch myself before I turn to ask you a question, or tell you a thought that I know would make you laugh. I still don’t regret leaving, but sometimes I wish there might have been a way to do so but still have you with me, more tangibly than just these letters sent between us.

Oh— Oh, darna, I never thought you might read that letter and think it was written by someone else. And I’m sorry I was so short in it, I wasn’t trying to hide something from you that I thought would worry you. I promised you both that I’d tell you everything, and I meant it. I just… I didn’t know how to tell you what happened. I thought maybe with some time I could put my thoughts in order and figure it out, but I still don’t. I’ve spent this whole letter trying to work my way around to it and I still don’t have the right words. But I can’t bear the thought that it’s made you worry more than I know you already do. I’ll just have to do it poorly, then, and I know you’ll forgive me if I’m a bit of a mess through it.

I told you about making that comment to Pika, expressing concern that the thing we’re here for might end up swallowed up beneath the sands next, if everyone keeps shrugging off the disappearance of these other cities. And, I still don’t understand how or why when all I wanted was to ensure that it stays safe, but she took it as a threat somehow, and before I could so much as blink had spun on me and pressed a dagger against my throat and snarled something at me that I can’t even remember now, I was so startled and taken aback and hurt. Not physically hurt, I should say, before you and Cylla both pack up your things and come tearing out here to have words with her, just. I never expected it of her. I’m still shaken, if I’m honest, and feeling like I have to be guarded with her now where I was only ever open with her before. But Snapdragon says it’s borne of fear. She used some terribly lovely metaphor that I’m probably mangling as I try to recall it, but she said that she’s seeing sandstorms in every bit of shifting sand. She also offered me sanctuary, if I felt I needed it, and Elyn warned Pika that if she drew steel on either of us again that she’d quickly find herself left on her own, which was an unspeakable relief, too, to have someone there at my side speaking up on my behalf. And I wrote to Athan, too, asking advice about how to handle a situation like that should it arise again, since it made me all too aware that I may be good at a distance but I don’t know what to do with myself but freeze when I’m taken by surprise like that. He sent some good advice back to me, and I’m planning to ask Tace to spar with me so I can practice his suggestions, once we leave this damned desert behind us and get back to the city.

I love you both so much. You’ve made me cry all over again, just rereading your letter. I have been meaning to see if I couldn’t find a temple where I could make an offering to Cernunnos, once we get back to a city, if for no other reason than because he answered my prayers when I spoke them unthinking in regards to the Yeruses, and perhaps he might be equally inclined to help with our task here on Rugira Prime. I haven’t decided whether it’s more or less likely that a desert people might give offerings to a god of green and growing things.

You are both a comfort to me, in your own ways. I couldn’t ask for better mothers than you. And I don’t care how grown I am, I’ll always welcome and value whatever advice or encouragement either of you might see fit to offer. You two and the things you’ve taught me are at least half the reason why I didn’t find my way into some sort of horrible disaster five minutes after leaving the Feywild.

I’ve just given Squirt a hug so tight that I think I may have alarmed him. Hug each other for me, please, until I can make it back and do it myself. I promise I’ll come home to see you both when I can, if ever our path takes us anywhere near Caliz Beta, or any of the rings into the Feywild.

I love you. I miss you. Please be safe, and send me those maps, so I can know how to find my way back to you.

Love,

Maliah

[letterstosestrilles]

Drawn for a D&D character drawing challenge some of the party is participating in, for the prompt “a favorite moment”. Page layouts from a premade book of them.

An illustration of Elyn’s first conversation with Brennu Zahin, from temporarily breaking a mind control spell on.

[letterstosestrilles]

Dear Niko,

I'm writing to you on my behalf and Maliah's! We're traveling to meet up with her mothers right now, after visiting a demiplane where we re-contacted a society and, more relevantly to me, met the family I was searching for when I asked you about godsfalls the last time I saw you. We've also been up to plenty of other things—a little much to summarize right now, perhaps, but a few difficult fights and a few interesting adventures, to do the very short version. I'll look forward to telling you the more complete story when we see you next.

And of course I'm happy to write you an introductory letter. If you're in Mashoy, you'd probably do well to go to Pika and ask her to introduce you, since she knows all the rituals and politenesses there (though considering how she was when you knew her that might not be how you remember her, which I can't blame you for), but if another voice adding to hers would help, you have mine and Maliah's. I've attached the best letter I can manage. It's not perfect—I never actually met Sandhall one on one, and etiquette is a little stricter there than where I grew up, so I'm just hoping I hit the right now—but I'm hoping that my service to Mashoy will be enough to open that door regardless. And if you need more, a better letter or anything else, don't hesitate to ask.

I hope your travels are giving you what you need, and showing you interesting sights as well. It sounds like you're on the track of something like I've been on the track of something recently, chasing it down until you get your answers. I hope they're kind answers, when you get them. I hope they show you whatever path you need forward. I don't know much about Savras, but the one reading I've had done in their name at least gave me interesting things to think about, even when I wasn't sure I agreed with all of it. May you get the framing you need, though perhaps a conversation with the deity themselves might be a little less opaque than a card reading.

Let us know if you ever need us. We'll be there as soon as can be.

All my best,

Elyn (with all of Maliah's best, too)

______________________________________________________

Honored Dorji Sandhall,

I hope this letter finds you well, and finds Mashoy as busy and vital as it was when I was there, if perhaps more peaceful. I don't believe we were formally introduced except as members of groups when I was in Mashoy and before you for the trial of the conspirators against King Roohi, but I hope nonetheless that you'll allow me to introduce to you, in my own absence, the bearer of this letter.

Mehrnikorsa is a paladin of Reorx, a weaver of great skill, and a friend of mine, as well as fairly new to this plane, having only arrived a year ago. Her current travels and quest have her seeking connections with Savras, and she hopes to speak to you in your role as a retired cleric of the order. I'm writing in support of her request: she's honorable, and seeking to bring only good to the world, and I don't believe that her questions and needs would be anything frivolous or wholly self-serving.

Any aid you can give her would be appreciated both by me and by her. If you have any questions or reservations about her, please write, or speak to Lady Dahlia of the Court of Flowers. It's our pleasure to vouch for Mehrnikorsa.

All my deepest esteem to you, and my thanks for any help you can give in this matter.

With respect,

Elyn of Procyon

[letterstosestrilles]

Excerpts from a well-known bard spotting forum

Thread: Gnomish redhead with gloves?

station.eri: Hey, did anyone catch that bard with the gloves at the music festival on Sumula Station today? A friend of mine sent a video and she looks pretty badass. I'd love a closer look at that tech. If anyone needs some identifying features: gnomish, redhead, covered in wires. She wasn't on the roster of performers, so she must have just ended up jamming. Anyone have an ID? Tour schedule? Better video of her performance at Sumula?

lvl20lute: I caught this performance, actually! Wild. She just popped out of the crowd, set up a loop with a group that was already jamming, and spent the next hour blowing some minds. Didn't get video of the whole thing, but caught a couple highlights. Sound quality is pretty good! Unfortunately, she walked off with a friend without introducing herself, so no idea who she is or what her story is. Maybe she works here on Sumula? But she seemed like a professional bard, honestly.

station.eri: So glad to hear from someone else who heard her live! Those are some great videos.

harpingonanon: Anyone else heard of her? Skills like that, she can't have come from nowhere. 'Net searches are bringing up nothing.

pikaboo: I hear she's traveling towards halfling space, if you want to keep your eyes out for her.

lvl20lute: How would you even know???

pikaboo: I just do.

*

Thread: Bar jam with an unknown bard

orc.arina: SHIT, bard spotters, I just happened into a bar jam and saw some of the best electronic music I've ever heard. There's an entertainment vessel in port here at Velid-Kerverion, and some of them were jamming in one of our bars and in the middle of it all is this redheaded gnome with these gloves that let her play music without an instrument. Check out this video, it's wild. Anyone know who she is? Checked the roster of the entertainment vessel but got nothing.

harpingonanon: @station.eri, it's your redhead with the gloves, though it looks like she's gone wire-free! @orc.arina, last known location was Sumula Station, she just showed up in a jam there too, nobody knows who she is.

orc.arina: She's a fucking GENIUS is what she is, at one point she had a loop in three different time signatures going so it only matched up at weird times and got some solos going on the top like it was nothing.

station.eri: I MIGHT CRY. Who is she??? Where is she going??? She should have a recording contract.

Also, look at that guy in the corner, he's going to propose marriage in about two seconds. ME TOO, BUDDY.

lvl20lute: Whoa, I guess she doesn't work here on-station! I'd been kind of keeping an eye out for her, but looks like that was a useless endeavor. Maybe she was meeting up with the entertainment vessel and she'll be on it from here on in? @orc.arina, what's the vessel named? We can keep an eye out for it.

orc.arina: The Maiden's Harmony, but like I said I don't think she's on it. I'll keep an eye on the roster, though.

pikaboo: She's not on the Maiden's Harmony. She's heading for Elvish space, though I don't think it's for musical purposes.

harpingonanon: Come on, you cannot possibly know that.

Everyone, our mission is clear. #findher #jamcryptid

*

Thread: #jamcryptid

pikaboo: #foundher #jamcryptid On Sestrilles in Elvish space

{two-minute video of the good part of Elyn and Serime's jam}

lvl20lute: Holy shit, how did you know she was going there? Do you work PR for her or something? If so, maybe you could TELL US HER NAME.

orc.arina: Who is that with her??? Does she have a band now??? Seriously, a bard this good should have more of a following, why don't we know her name?

clary-net: Oh wow, I recognize the bard on the guitar! That's Serime, she busks in Sestrilles City. I visit my cousin there sometimes, and she works a few streets over from where Serime busks, so I know her name. I don't know the redhead, though! They seem to know each other pretty well. I could ask my cousin, maybe?

orc.arina: Please do! Any clues are good, seriously. @pikaboo, since you seem to have magical powers where she's concerned, any idea where she's going next?

station.eri: I'm dying, I'm dying. Where is her album? Also, calling it, @pikaboo is a divination expert who's using their powers to tease us all with this bard.

pikaboo: Oh yeah, and this happened: {video of Elyn getting her glove caught on her shirt}

station.eri: HOW IS SHE THIS CUTE, how are mere mortals supposed to survive.

clary-net: My cousin says she doesn't know the redhead's name but that she looks kind of familiar, so maybe she's been through Sestrilles before? I've asked her to keep an eye out, though, because seriously, this bard's got something. Even when she's screwing up, apparently.

*

Thread: Redheaded bard with gloves

witherzither: Hey, I saw a thread a few weeks ago about a redheaded bard with some gloves, and now I've got a sighting! I'm on Iriossis and she showed up jamming with a bard I've seen around a few times and a girl who I don't think is a bard. {video}

orc.arina: @pikaboo, WHY DIDN'T YOU WARN US, WE COULD HAVE BEEN PREPARED. @station.eri

harpingonanon: Wasn't she on Sestrilles like a week ago? I just looked up some vectors and that's some fast travel, she must have some serious magic or money behind her.

station.eri: Shit, that other instrument is cool. Iriossis bard-spotters, what do we know about the redhead's friend there? But also HOLY SHIT THE REDHEAD!!! @pikaboo, where is she going to be next, we need eyes everywhere. Use your magic if you need to, seriously.

Also, am I the only one who's feeling some sexual tension between the redhead and the other bard there? Damn.

clary-net: I grow more and more intrigued, but also why is no one paying attention to the best part of that video, which is clearly the RIDICULOUSLY HUGE DOG.

pikaboo: I don't know everything. But I'll post the next time I feel like she might be getting into a jam session.

station.eri: @pikaboo Seriously, do you know her? Are you a wizard? You can tell us. We just want to #findher. Also, @clary-net, that dog is great but mostly I am paying attention to the love of my life here.

*

Thread: #jamcryptid spotted on Rugira Prime

shiptripgigtips: Hey, I remember seeing some threads about a redheaded gnome with gloves, and then I was in THIS THREAD about a pretty well-known bard from Mashoy on Rugira Prime, Amsula Nyasui Sinal and there was a glancing reference? Last reference had her on Iriossis a couple months ago, so it's a vector that makes sense, especially if she's trying to establish herself in Mashoy. A lot of bards get pretty good patrons there.

harpingonanon: Oh hey, was just wondering about her the other day! The thread doesn't have a lot, but circumstantial evidence tells me that it's probably her. I wonder if she's sticking around for a while! Sounds like it was a pretty big party and she was more honored guest than entertainment, so she's coming up in the universe!

station.eri: YOU'RE DOING AMAZING, HONEY. Also, a name??? Starts with a D and probably from Bay station? Details about her were thin on the ground in the account. Anyone from the Bay region know of her? Like her FULL NAME? And where she's going to be next this time, or if she's going to stay around in Mashoy?

primerhyme: I'm from elsewhere on Rugira Prime, just chiming in here: politics in Mashoy just absolutely blew up, assassinations and corruption charges and some disgraced aristocrats, and it sounds like there was a new-to-the-city bard involved in some of it, so she may be coming up in the world, but maybe still actively adventuring and not sticking around? Hard to say, names are being kept out of the papers.

[letterstosestrilles]

Dear Elyn,

As you will be able to see by the attached image, I have—at too much length—taken your advice for a vacation. The ocean is beautiful and quiet, and this area private enough that I need little care for the eyes of others.

I was glad, in your last letter, to hear that you have made it safely through the errand you couldn’t discuss, and hope you are enjoying whatever else it is you are up to, in the Feywild. I look forward to catching up, when you are back home and have the time.

In the meantime, I am enjoying the quiet and the peace. I’ve picked up one of the romances you recommended, to read once I’m through my current book of poetry (written by a spacer, and I like it enough that I’m sending you a copy even before finishing it). It’s easier, these days, to read shorter texts with easy breaks—even on vacation, I find I’m only able to muster a chapter or two a day before my focus gives way. It’s a relatively small price to pay, in terms of post-mind-magic consequences, though—to be honest—I still hate it. Nonetheless, I’m hoping a fairly short romance will be easy enough to follow, and I certainly have the time to make my way through it. You’ll just have to let me know if you’d like impressions as I go or once I’ve finished.

And I was trying to keep this letter light! Well, you can’t be the only one to have the occasional moment of melancholy, so it must have just been my turn.

It is nice, to have a break and to be away from others, even if I do miss the drier air and the slight and constant rumble of the city under my feet.

I’ve also been practicing, and have my fingering wrangled enough into shape that I won’t be entirely mortified to attach the second file here. (Ten Little Dragons is not a common beginner’s tune on Rugira Prime, apparently, so I hope you appreciate me having to convince my baffled music tutor to teach it to me alongside Donnavi’s Dunes. Which, yes, I have also attached, since I trust you won’t laugh at me. Much.)

Take care, and let me know once you’re safely back on the Prime Material Plane.

Fondly,

Brennu

[attached: a photo of a sea at sunset, an electronic book of poetry, and two audio files of slightly stuttering beginner’s music played on a stringed instrument.]

[letterstosestrilles]

Dear Tyko,

What a relief, to have two weeks and more of peace! I spend a lot of time, in between other things, looking at that photo, I admit, though I know you told me not to focus on it so much as to throw myself into a spiral. It's just amazing, after all this time, to have a picture, to know at least in the slightest who I came from, if not where. I do intend to track the information from the earring down as best I can, but I am listening to you, believe it or not: I'm not going to fall into an obsession about it. You would never allow it, after all. Nor would Maliah, or Pika, or a dozen other people.

So I've been thinking of it, but I've been concentrating more on the present, and the present is a happy time, because Pika's wedding was just the other day. (I'm told you sent her and Tirine and Kazuha a lovely book of poetry and also a feather boa, which of course delighted Pika.)

Maliah and I have spent the past few weeks helping her as much as we're able with the wedding. Some of that has meant helping her wrangle her family (loud and contentious and full of affection and also occasional baffled looks at my accent), and some has meant helping her choose flower arrangements and set up tents. (And oh, do I have a story for you about flower arranging when I move from the general to the specific.)

Tirine, knowing that I'm close to Pika and that I grew up on an elvish planet and spent most of my career as a mechanic on a half-elvish ship, asked me and Bird-of-Paradise to set up the altar for the Undying Court. I'd never done the honor before, and am relieved to say that it went well, when the wedding came.

But there's still more to talk about before the wedding! I've been spending time with various acquaintances in Mashoy, with the relief of not lying to them making it much more pleasant. (Not having to root out political conspiracy also helps.) Midat and I have continued to have some lovely evenings, and I commissioned Pika's wedding present from her (a metal dahlia fit to decorate any mantel that can easily be twisted into a dagger, because it is Pika, after all).

I've also spent some time with Brennu Zahin, having corresponded with him briefly after everything came out in that long day full of politics. He's still recovering his life and health after what I learned, horrifyingly, was a year and a half under enchantment, but we've had some good conversations, and a few drinks, and I imagine I'll keep up with him as best I can even when I leave Rugira Prime.

Part of our wedding present to Pika, speaking of staying in touch with people after I leave them behind, was bringing Loraine and the children by transportation circle here from Nosirion-1! When they arrived, we brought them to her … where she proceeded to say that she was pleased they could accept her invitation. After a very confused few moments, we realized that we'd tried to invite them as a surprise for her, and her as a surprise for us. But either way, the four of them arrived the day of the wedding and are staying for a few days (I think Maliah has been pressed into service telling Jesson and Loren a story about the Feywild to put them to sleep, which is why I'm taking this moment to write you). It's been a delight to see them again, and how they're faring. They get along well with Kikun, which pleases Pika to no end, and were happy to be caught up on our adventures, with emphasis on the arcane and scientific parts of them.

(And the killing the dragon. We do have to keep up our reputation as adventurers.)

I also had a little chat with Loraine, asking about Nosirion-1, and indulging my curiosity about whether Aluarashi had come to visit the settlement. It seems they did, briefly, and were as opaque as one could imagine a god to be but let it be known that they had no objection to the settlement. I do wonder what will happen there in the future, but I'll just have to keep up with her and the children so I can be sure to ask.

Other people who arrived before the wedding: two monks of Pika's acquaintance, from the monastery where she took her orders. Stormflight is a dragonborn who looks constantly on the verge of a headache, sensible and pleasant to talk to. Cloudleaper is … well, monks are strange people, I am beginning to suspect. She's an elf who declines to speak Elvish (and got more than a bit snappish when I addressed her in it), for one thing. Pika says there's something there, some story from her past, but it's still more than a bit awkward.

On top of that, she's very … enthusiastic, I suppose I'll say. She called me “adorable” first thing, which didn't exactly put me in charity with her after years in the foster system before Alion and Tiriel being cooed over by potential foster parents who thought remarking on how small I was would endear them to me, and she was delighted by Squirt but didn't seem to realize how intelligent he is, which put Maliah's back up a bit too. Pika and Stormflight assure us that she just hasn't spent much time out of the monastery in years and is overwhelmed by everything, as well as having something terrible in her past, but I'm waiting to see how I feel about her as time goes on.

Pika recommended that Maliah and I invite her on our next adventures, when we told her how much she'd be missed when we leave, but I'm still thinking about that, and I think Maliah is as well. We have nowhere urgent to be, so we have time to think.

The wedding itself was truly beautiful. It was a lovely day in Mashoy, sunny but not too hot, and one of the larger gardens in the Court of Flowers was stuffed with Pika's friends and family, as well as Tirine's friends and Kazuha's family. Everything was a lovely mess of traditions from all the new spouses, from the shrine to the Undying Court for Tirine and a publicly-made vow, to a veil held up over the spouses and the gift of a tree from Pika's mother, traditions from Lambda Concordia, and private vows under the veil, a tradition of those who worship Bahamut and a lovely one. There were more than a few tears, from myself and many others, before we went off to the food and dancing.

The food, I should say, included a huge delivery of crepes from Bizza, who Maliah and I had contacted. He refuses payment, but that means we're going to find him a lovely gift while we're still in the city, so it all comes out even.

In the middle of dinner, Pika gave a lovely toast that brought both Maliah and I to tears again, thanking her family and her friends for everything they've been and done to her. She called us sisters of her heart, and aunts to Kikun, and I was too overwhelmed to do much but thank her and give her the present I'd commissioned at the earliest possible moment. (Maliah did as well—she befriended weavers while buying the loom for Niko and ordered a bolt of brocade with a pattern of dahlias.)

The dancing was lovely too. I danced with everyone I could but mostly the children—I taught them a few of Mashoy's dances, but mostly the tiefling dances that you taught me, which delighted them. When Maliah started teaching Loren and Jesson some Feywild dances, Devon took me aside, quiet and nervous. He said that he'd heard that Pika's friend who helped deal with some of the legalities of their situation was around and wondered if I'd mind introducing us, and I said that of course I would and introduced him to Snapdragon.

She was warm, and he nervous and sincere, and the conversation was short but I think both of them left it feeling a little lighter. When it was done, he and I spoke a little. He said it's better now than it was, improving by the day and week, and thanked me again for my part in helping. I told him, as truthful as I could be, that it will always be a little hard, but that family helps, and that I hope to help with that. He nodded, and gave me a quick, awkward hug, and I hope that it helped. At the very least, he went to attempt to help Jesson keep the rhythm in the dance Maliah was teaching them.

Since the wedding, all has been quiet. We've taken the children around the city (and under it, with help from Itamu Nadit), and they're enjoying all the sights and all the technology, and I will miss them very much when they go home.

Though, for all I know, I could be going with them. Maliah and I are agreed that we want to stay together, and that while against all odds we've made plenty of friends here on Rugira Prime we want to be away, finding new sights and adventures. Maliah would, I think, appreciate some greenery, and so would Squirt. I still want to see if I can find an adventurers' library, or barring that at least someone who could help me with that flattened-out star map, but I have no idea where to find such a place, or such a person.

And there's the matter of companionship. Maliah and I are a good team, we proved that in the Twilight of Cinders, but there are threats two people alone can't deal with. We'd never have survived Honione without Pika, much less the dragon, or a dozen other trials, so we need someone. Cloudleaper is a logical choice, coming to us recommended by Pika as she does, but I haven't had a chance to speak to her since our awkward introduction, so I'm not making any decisions about it yet, especially not without Maliah, considering how fraught things sometimes were between she and Pika.

I'll let you know as soon as I know what comes next, of course. And in the meantime, all my love to you, and greetings from Pika and Maliah and everyone else who's heard me chattering about you here. I ought to have brought you to the wedding, I still want you to meet the children and I know Pika would have appreciated it, but I suppose we'll have to find another way for you to meet your honorary nephews and niece.

Love,

Elyn

[letterstosestrilles]

Dear Tyko,

Yes, I did get your letter asking how the party went. No, I am not murdered, in jail, or eloped with an aristocrat (though I have certainly spent a few nights away from the Court of Flowers this week). Thank you for telling me about the navigation system I asked about in my last, I've got more technical questions but they can wait for later, because this is already going to be a hell of a letter. You may want to carve out some time and have some tea and a seat before you read this one.

(I'm fine. It's just that a whole lot has happened over the past week.)

I may as well begin with the party, or rather with what happened just before we left for it, which is that Hagi pulled me aside and told me quietly that they thought they had the papers we needed to prove fraud and corruption in Pika's case, but that they were still confirming so didn't feel comfortable telling Pika quite yet. Since telling Pika would have led to her abandoning the party in favor of murder, I kept my counsel (though I did later tell Maliah, to prepare her in case of consequences). The guilt from that, and the tension of it, carried over as we went to the household.

Our hostess was Tokva Zahin, head of House Zahin (and if that name is tickling your memory, it's because Brennu Zahin was among those implicated in the boxes of papers we got—you'll hear plenty about that later), another first-rank household in the city. The house was just as gorgeous as all the other aristocratic homes we've had occasion to visit in the city, with plenty of gardens, spots set up for semi-private conversation (or “conversation”), and a definite, if subtle, security presence.

We were shown into the large room where the party was happening, where forty or so people had already arrived and were milling around in a riot of brightly-colored clothes gorgeous enough to make Tiriel weep. Everyone was dressed to be seen, and everyone seemed more than willing to see as well. Some were dancing, the basic steps we learned from Daisy last week, while plenty of others were talking. There were a few bards providing the music, posted around the room—I recognized Amsula, who I met at Hanamra Serata's party when I first arrived in Mashoy, among them.

Across the room, I saw Bird-of-Paradise, who I never did actually get to talk to at the party, and another person or two who looked vaguely familiar from the Court of Flowers, but my attention was caught by the other people I knew at the party: Hurin and Surya Fesdi, who were talking to a gorgeously-dressed human woman and a tiefling man who we were later introduced to as Tigertail of the Court of Flowers. I put myself near their conversation, flanked by Maliah and Pika, and when they acknowledged us, Hurin Fesdi presented us to our hostess, Tokva Zahin, who was of course very polite in welcoming us.

Once we'd had that welcome, we retired to the side of the room, where Pika pointed out who was there: the heads of all the first-rank households (including Zilvrae Gisha, an older gentleman, stately but perpetually exhausted from what I can tell, and Pai Adnal, who I still know little about), and representatives from several others, to start, including the new head of House Ekett, members of House Talai, and the head of House Dehi, much to our nerves, with two other representatives as well. On top of that, numerous members of the Court of Flowers and three members of the king's council made the company one where—well, I wouldn't say it then, but I'm happy enough to admit to you that I felt outclassed.

Maliah seemed overwhelmed as well, but luckily, our hostess seemed to want to do Lady Daffodil and her apprentice an honor, so she sent over her youngest son, Eusis, to ask Maliah to dance, which she seemed to do well enough at, after looking very nervous for a little while.

While she was dancing, I took a circuit around the room—the first person I saw was a young elvish bard just coming off shift, and I knew it wouldn't do much for my political standing, but I know post-performance nervousness well, so I went and gave him a greeting and told him he'd done well, and he introduced himself as Davena. We talked a bit about his lyre and my gloves, and I let him go get himself a drink and moved on.

I was, more than anything else, looking for Brennu Zahin, though I hadn't been able to find a good picture of him. He's not too closely related to Tokva (some degree of cousin, you know genealogy isn't exactly a hobby of mine for obvious reasons), but he's a part of the main family, so I expected him to be there, and found three candidates to keep my eye on. One was near the dance floor, so I went to stand near him in hopes of being asked for a dance—which I was, but not by him. Instead, a middle-aged human man, no one I knew, offered to dance with me, and I wasn't going to be rude and say no. Besides, I enjoy dancing.

Well, I didn't with him. Even before he introduced himself as Sherin Dehi, my hackles were up. He was full of a sort of charming condescension, the lord bestowing his company on the poor uneducated adventurer for the space of a dance. I do admit, in grudging fairness to him, that I was playing the fool deliberately, once I realized he was not only a Dehi but a Dehi implicated in our boxes of papers, but regardless, he's a very unpleasant man indeed, and when I asked too many questions said that Lady Daffodil obviously had neglected her duties orienting me to the city.

(And it's not that Pika spent a great deal of time preparing us, but still. We're the only ones allowed to do anything like insult her, as far as I'm concerned.)

Once our dance was over, he went to speak to someone who I assumed (correctly, I later learned) was another member of his family, and I washed my hands of him and retired to the edge of the floor, where I tried to get eyes on the three men I thought might be Brennu Zahin. And I'm not going to say what each of them were doing, only the one that I soon learned for sure was Brennu—he was having what looked like a very fraught conversation with Eusis, Tokva's son, and I couldn't resist walking by them to see what I could pick up eavesdropping.

The eavesdropping confirmed to me almost immediately that it was indeed Brennu, and gave me more to think about besides—Eusis was asking what was going on with him, and saying he hadn't been himself lately, spending time with people he doesn't even like. Brennu was dismissive, saying he could take care of himself, and I drifted out of range but very soon after he was out on the dance floor with Lochti Glassweave, a druid on the king's council who seems formidable and who has gorgeous taste in hair ornamentation.

When that dance was done, he seemed to want to head towards the door, but he got caught by Tokva. I was looking at the door, though, and saw a few people slip out, and not long after, Maliah following, so I prepared myself to follow—only to be caught by a young man, Siva Ekett, head of the House, who said he'd heard I was a bard and asked me to play. I consented, said all the polite things, and professed that my companion Nora had twisted her ankle on the dance floor and said I'd be happy to perform once I'd checked on her.

I didn't sneak out to the garden, because there's nothing less obvious than sneaking, around that many people, and sent a Message to Maliah figuring out where she was—a little ways into the garden, eavesdropping on a conversation between Sherin Dehi and a half-elven woman who Maliah had been keeping an eye on, an assistant to the head of an anti-progressive movement of artisans, the Bronze Gauntlet. She didn't quite catch as much as she liked, but between the two of us, we pieced together a few things: that they were planning something and thought it might be their only chance, that the woman was willing to do it—take care of it, as she said. Nothing too alarming unless, like us, you were already on alert.

We got out of their way in plenty of time to not seem overly suspicious, and Dehi was solicitous of Maliah's supposedly-injured ankle, but I managed to get him sent off, and Maliah and I made our way inside. I got a look at Dehi, who was once again talking to his sibling, Orzin, as Pika soon told us, with murder in her eyes.

Siva Ekket and Tokva Zahin intercepted me before I could see much more, and introduced me to the other bards so we could figure out what I should do, since I don't exactly know much Mashoy dance music. Amsula recommended something traditional, or a space ballad, and I remembered the “Song of the Spacefarer's Daughter,” which I learned from Tohiye on Iriossis, and we tacked together an arrangement on the fly.

Performing it was—well, a bit nerve-wracking, playing for aristocrats is a bit different from jamming or striking a few chords in a battle. On top of that, there were certainly a few places where it definitely seemed obvious, to me anyway, that it was a hasty arrangement, unpracticed, but the audience seemed happy enough to clap and thank me when it was done.

I took the congratulations and kindness that people gave me and left my gloves on so I could flip the switch for recording if I needed to do so quickly before retreating to the side of things again. Brennu was speaking to Orzin Dehi and another young woman whose name I never managed to catch. I was feeling restless by then, and worried that whatever move the conspirators were making, they planned to make it at the party. I did my best to search for the hint of magic that might give away something explosive, or otherwise dangerous, and found something else instead—just a hint of sourness, the sense of a lingering unpleasant enchantment, but nothing more, nothing I could follow to its source.

The three of us retired to a couch, and out of the crowd came Zilvrae Gisha, intent on speaking to us. First, he congratulated me on my performance, but his real reason for approaching became clear seconds later, when Yamuna Gisha arrived on a hoverchair, looking beautifully put together and much recovered from her ordeal (and what I wouldn't give for a good look at that hoverchair, it's a few gens ahead from what Sorial had on the Promise). She didn't call us by the wrong names, so at least we got past that hurdle, but I should have kept out a much better eye for her, once I knew Lord Gisha was at the party. Anyway, they both said how grateful they were, and offered us a favor should we ever need one, and invited us to their estate some night before we left the city.

When they left, I caught sight of Brennu and Orzin leaving the room, and I went after them, leaving Maliah in case we needed rescue. Pika came with me, and I put myself near the door, because they were just outside it, to listen, turning my gloves on to record as I went, which I'm now very grateful for. Orzin asked if Brennu still had something tucked away, and Brennu said that of course he did, and then asked if there was something happening he should know about, and if they'd had anything to do with the other day. Orzin dismissed it, some lukewarm reassurance, and there was something in the words, another prickle that could have been magic and could have just been uneasiness.

Before I could figure it out, Pika had hauled me out of the way of the door, claiming I'd nearly swooned after all the heat and excitement, and Orzin Dehi came back inside. Pika said that she'd felt something like magic too, and that made me more than a bit concerned about Brennu Zahin, especially when he was almost immediately found by his cousin Eusis, who seemed even more worried this time.

We needed hard proof. We needed something. And as best I could tell, Brennu Zahin was a weak spot in the conspiracy, maybe even an enchanted one. So I spent a bit of time dawdling as he finished his conversation with Eusis, and when Eusis left, I didn't wait long before going over to him, saying that if he'd forgive me, he looked tired, and offering him a drink, which he wisely checked for poison. I offered an ear if he needed one, not expecting him to take the offer but still disappointed when he brushed it off with a perfect aristocratic facade.

So I tried something I'd never had chance to try before, a bardish trick to disrupt magic that effects the mind, and said I hoped he could get some rest with a push behind it. Somehow, it did the trick—he blinked a few times, opened and closed his mouth, and seemed to have the fine manners shocked right out of him. Eventually, he pointed at a nearby door, and I followed him, trusting that Maliah or Pika would be available if I needed backup, and went up to his room, where he pulled a folder out of somewhere and asked, with wise suspicion, if he could trust me.

I can't even remember what I said, but it was enough to convince him, and he shoved the folder at me and told me not to open it until I was away from his house and somewhere private, so I shoved it in the thankfully-deep pocket of my dress. Before I could ask if there was anything I could do for him, he asked me to punch him in the face, which was, you might imagine, more than a bit of a surprise.

By that time, my countercharm was fading, and he was having trouble saying what he'd like to, but he managed to make me realize that of course he wanted some obvious sign of violence, so he'd be in less danger if the conspirators realized he no longer had the folder. It was best if it seemed wrested from his hands. So I asked him to sit down, mostly so I could actually reach his face, and partly because if I actually knocked him over I didn't want him to hit the floor and get a concussion, and I punched him.

It has nothing on one of Pika's, but he wasn't exactly armored, or dodging. He didn't flinch when I punched him, but he did rock back in his chair. I apologized and asked if I could send anyone—he asked for his cousin, which I assumed meant Eusis, and I assured him I would send him up and got out of there. Maliah met me halfway up the stairs, and there was a lot of confusion, especially when she noticed my somewhat bruised knuckles. I told her we needed to get out of there, and we went down, collected Pika, and went to wish Eusis Zahin a good night.

While I had him there, I took him aside and told him to go to his cousin and get someone to cast Dispell Magic on him as fast as it could be managed, which obviously shocked and concerned him, but he seemed willing to believe me, and on that note, we left the party, and walked back to the Court of Flowers.

I almost immediately opened the folder, which was sobering indeed: some papers were blackmail, from what I could tell not yet used but ready to be if necessary, on members of several families we never interacted with much. Then there was a contract, probably scheduled to be destroyed, for an agent of House Talai, suborned by the conspirators, to kill Itamu Nadit. Then detailed schedules for Itamu Nadit, enough to show just how they managed to almost kill him. And, on top of it, it seemed they didn't intend to stop with the heir to the throne. They wanted a change of government, and weren't willing to wait for it.

It was late. They hadn't moved at the party. Instead of rousting anyone out of bed, I sent an urgent message to Thistle and Hagi saying we wanted to speak to them as soon as they woke up. That done, I told Pika about the papers, and she disappeared—apparently to stand over Hagi for the night scowling fiercely, from what I can tell.

In the morning, Thistle and Hagi were at our door early, looking worried, and I handed them the folder and summarized as they looked more alarmed by the second. After a few questions, Hagi excused themself to make a few calls and we discussed what we should do next, since it was clear information had to get to the king. In the end, we settled on contacting Zilvrae Gisha to ask for an introduction, since he has a lot of political clout and respect in the city.

We discussed the situation while we waited for him to reply—generally, we knew that Roohi's reforms made many powerful people angry, but I don't think I'd realized the extent that kings have been puppets of the aristocracy in the past. (And of course they have, they were trained as mechanics.) The conspiracy almost certainly wanted someone more pliable on the throne, and since Itamu Nadit didn't seem likely to fill that need, they decided to get him out of the way.

I put some news alerts on my ICD in case anything went wrong while we were waiting, and soon enough Hagi came back, with the news that Hanamra Serata was getting together all the materials we've been collecting and writing a letter of endorsement for us. Zilvrae Gisha invited us to his house soon after, and off we went, evidence in hand.

He met us with Yamuna and with his heir, Gerla, and as soon as she realized how urgent things were, Yamuna excused herself. We were taken to a study and laid out our facts as quickly and convincingly as we could. And Zilvrae Gisha—he's obviously jaded to say the least about the political scene in Mashoy, tired of all of it and unsurprised about anything that might come to light—seemed shocked, waved Gerla off to contact the Zahins to confirm that part of our story, and asked us to wait while he got in touch with the palace, once we confirmed that we wanted an introduction, not just to hand off the information.

We fretted for about half an hour before he came to say that we were to go to the palace, with him there to speak for us, so we went up another ring, into the second-highest in the city (the highest being where a lot of the technological controls are), where the palace is, and most of the governmental buildings. It's gorgeous, all stone and metalwork more delicate than any I've ever seen—just as fancy as the noble houses, but in a very different way. Theirs are all ornamentation, ostentatious imported wood and plants to make it obvious what a fortune they're spending (and, in fairness, to create some incredible beauty), but the palace is pretty in a very local way, in ways more like you'd see walking through the somewhat lower rings of the city, only much finer work and on a much larger scale.

We were shown past several guards to a small study—the king's own, we soon learned, because he was there behind a desk when we arrived, tired and sharp and much more plainly-dressed than everyone we'd seen the night before. Zilvrae Gisha introduced us, and I started by handing over the folder, which seemed the most urgent, and then when he asked for other evidence, I brought out what we had, mentioned Belpha's Edict, and generally told him as much as I could in a relatively short amount of time.

He trusted us, or more likely our evidence, and gave me a piece of paper and told me to write down everyone who knew about any of it. I did my best to make it clear who we thought was part of the conspiracy, who knew because of our dealings with Belpha's edict, and who knew about the assassination and who about the corruption, and hesitated at the end, wondering how to put ourselves on the list, when the slightest bit of checking our backgrounds would blow our covers. In the end, I told him that we've been traveling under assumed names and asked if he wanted the names people know us by or our own, and he said that the assumed ones would be well enough, so I wrote those down.

He called for his council, the heads of houses, and many of those named on the list, and asked us to wait.

It was an hour, all of us growing increasingly anxious, before we were called into the council chamber, where the whole council, the heads of the four first-rank houses, and the king (this time wearing his crown), were waiting.

He said that we'd come forward with evidence and that Zilvrae Gisha endorsed us (and mentioned us killing the dragon, which did make us seem more credible even if it made me blush), and asked if anyone would second the endorsement. Hurin Fesdi did so without hesitation, explaining his house's part in the matter.

Tokva Zahin spoke about Brennu next—he was still getting medical and arcane help to get rid of any lasting effects, but it seems he was given an enchanted item that was keeping him silent and probably pliant, and hopefully will be kindly treated by the court as a result.

Next, Fusaha Qasri and Mennefi Dehi, head of the house, were called in. Fusaha spoke first, about what she knew and what actions she took. Dehi said, stiffly, that he hoped that if his heir had truly done what they were accused of, and Sherin as well, that they would confess it all, and the four members of those noble families were called in.

It was exhausting, listening to the testimony as it went on and on, much of it under a Zone of Truth provided by one of the king's council members. The Qasris didn't seem to know much about the assassination, just about the documents. Paha seemed somewhat bewildered and like he stumbled on it half by accident (and did solve the mystery of the dwarven woman—she's an adventurer, it seems), and Nadrine admitted to an active role in the forging and planning. The Dehis—well, my charming erstwhile dance partner crumbled fairly easily, but Orzin was calm and collected and utterly soulless. They said that—well, that everyone in the aristocracy needed favors sometimes, that everyone had secrets, and that with the reforms, it was all even more imperative. If those favors came out in their family's favor, well. So much the better.

King Roohi was about as impressed with that load of horse shit as I was, and sent them away to await, I presume, further trial and sentencing. A lawyer on the council was asked to look in more details at the papers we provided (though, I forgot to say, Hanamra Serata gave her own detailed analysis midway through the day), and agreed. It seems the papers span decades, from long before Roohi took the throne, but they're a sign of just how deeply ingrained the corruption in the city is.

Following that, they called in the red-headed elven woman, Yunna Burningsand, for her testimony. She gave it with resentment, discontented like the other conspirators with the rapid changes Roohi has imposed on the city. When she was nearly done, I saw her move, saw a knife in her hand, and had my hand up to do something about it (what I don't know, most spells I have that would damage her would have also given an impressive earache to the honorable council members), but Lochti Glassweave, the druid, was faster to draw than I was, and had her wrapped up in vines in instants.

When she was carted out and everyone had calmed down a little, attention turned back to us, and Roohi asked what he could do to repay us. And Pika spoke up, to Maliah's and my very great shock, and said she wanted her son back—and she took off her veils and the amulet of disguise all at once. Roohi didn't seem surprised, though others in the room were a little, and called her Lady Dahlia, and proceeded to acknowledge Maliah and me by our real names as well, which was both a relief and a little embarrassing (though I think Snapdragon had a hand in that, or at least hope she did—for the sake of Tace's professional dignity, if for no other reason). Pika pled her case, and Roohi called someone in—Bird-of-Paradise, arriving with a smile and the papers Hagi told me about before the party.

Roohi looked them over, and then the lawyer, and both agreed that there was grievous miscarriage of justice. And right there, Pika got what she's been longing for: her banishment has been lifted, and she has custody of her son again, though there are still details to work out about whether Dehi will have any custody at all. The Dehi family is going to make a trust for him, and on top of that, the king was—terrifyingly generous, honestly, I don't know what to do with money. Am I supposed to make investments? I barely know what those are.

The whole day (and it took the whole day) had left us dazed and exhausted, so once we were rewarded, we returned to the Court of Flowers and Maliah and I went to bed right away, though Pika was so enervated at the thought of seeing her son again that I think she spent the whole night with Bird-of-Paradise fretting them to exhaustion.

Maliah and I got up early this morning, to wait outside her door, because Kikun was going to be returned to her and we didn't want to miss it, even if we were nosy. We were all brought to the conservatory where Snapdragon first met us when we arrived at the Court of Flowers, and soon after, Kazuha, Kikun's nurse, arrived, with a little boy on her heels (well, I say little—his human blood means he's taller than me, and even a bit taller than Pika). Pika practically flew across the room, though for once I don't think she teleported, and took him in her arms.

After a little while, it seemed fairly obvious that she wasn't going to let him go (and I can't blame her!), so Maliah and I withdrew.

I went to visit Midat, and she was happy to see me. I gave her a brief explanation of everything that happened over the past few days, and when she'd processed that, told the even briefer version of everything that's happened with Pika and why I was traveling under an assumed name, and what the real one is. She didn't seem surprised, because I can't say I'm very good at lying and she knew Lady Daffodil well enough to know she was acting out of character, and she was quick to forgive, and even to disclaim the need for forgiveness.

It was the middle of her work day—or, really, early in it—so she asked me to dinner, which I was more than pleased to accept. That done, I went to the post office to mail a few things I've been saving out (you should be excited) and came back to the Court of Flowers, where I've been relaxing, and drinking a bit with Maliah when she returned from an awkward conversation with Mezeru where she confessed that she is not in fact training to be a courtesan.

At the moment, she's spending some time with Squirt and I have been writing this letter in between dozing. There will be more to say very soon, probably about Pika and maybe about this dinner with Midat, but in the meantime I'll sign off and let you reassure yourself as to my safety.

I think I'm good at politics, Tyko. I blame all those gnomish and elven historical dramas Alion got me addicted to.

Love,

Elyn

[letterstosestrilles]

New files on Elyn’s personal device:

[image file of papers on a desk]

[image file of a close-up of one of those papers, showing an invoice for a tech company]

[image files of several other papers, all showing invoices and other business paperwork for the same company]

Metadata: look this company up? shell company? no sign of Qasri’s name in the papers.

[letterstosestrilles]

Dear Alion,

It's been an interesting few weeks since I last wrote to you about the dragon Peninth'zarthan. I'll write Tiriel a letter on her own soon, if she's feeling neglected, especially if I keep getting delayed in being able to send the little decade-celebration token I've picked up, but I do seem to turn to you with the serious questions, and I have one today.

When I wrote you last, I was trying to be vague on details because it's Pika's business that has us where we are, but I'm going to have to tell you at least some background, if not names, to get the advice I need.

Pika has a child. A son, in fact. And he was taken from her by the father, and she exiled from the city where he's being held, all without her seeing the inside of a courtroom or facing any legal accusations. We're in the city now, trying to reverse the legal decision, which we have reason to believe was filed with fraudulent papers and run through a corrupt judge.

Today, we spoke with the nurse who takes care of the child in his father's house. She obviously cares for him deeply, speaks of him as a bright, curious child who, when all's said and done, needs more people to love and to love him. He cares for his father, but his father rarely spends any time at all with him and the father's wife ignores him completely. He asks after his mother, and can only be told that the nurse is caring for him until she can return.

She says he needs stability, and safety, and more people to love him, and it seems like the least he deserves.

I'll save my opinions on neglectful and abusive parents who take custody of children without providing the affection they need, since I know you'll be in agreement but might take exception to my language (though maybe with Kari and Thari and their history you'd be inclined to use strong language yourself). Children aren't pets, and keeping him just because they share blood is a monstrous thing to do, especially on top of what he did to Pika, and that's not the point of this letter.

The point is that, rightly, the nurse asked what plans we have for him, to make sure he's in a safe, stable environment. I said—and I believe—that if I didn't think we, Pika, could provide that, I wouldn't be on the planet, let alone in the room having that conversation, but it's one thing to believe that and another to work out the details. Pika has family of her own, what I think must be a large one, and she's said before that her mother will care for him, and I think it should work well, but there are a hundred questions that still need answering.

Some of the questions are selfish, and I don't expect you to be able to answer those. They're all about what's going to happen to our team if Pika leaves it to care for her child—and about what will happen to the child if Pika keeps adventuring, so I suppose that isn't selfish. Would a judge award custody for him to be sent to his grandmother, with Pika stopping by between adventures once he's settled? (Some of these questions would be answered if Pika told us what she's planning, but, well—you met her. Not much of one for talking. And, in fairness to her, I don't think she can think one step beyond getting her son back, it's consumed her so much. That's why I'm trying to have a few things in place for when she can start thinking about it.)

Most of my questions are—I know that laws, and custody laws, vary wildly from planet to planet and on a planet on a case-by-case basis. For what it's worth, I can tell you here that the guiding principle is that where possible, a child should be in custody of a genetic or initiating parent, which is quite reasonable. But when there are two genetic parents with no love lost between them, and one of them is rich and socially and politically powerful and the other was exiled on false charges, I think it complicates things.

I'm doing this badly. What I really want is a plan. When seeking custody—full custody, I think if Pika ever has to bring her son back to this planet and his father's house, there will be blood—what would make a judge award custody to a mother who's an adventurer? The child's wishes should be taken into account, he's young but old enough to know what family he wants, at least in part, I think. What paperwork will Pika need, and will they need to speak with Pika's mother, if she's the one who's actually going to be the child's primary caretaker? Will there need to be proof that Pika is a fit parent, or … I just don't know what we need, and I know that you and Tiriel being foster parents isn't quite equivalent, but I honestly have no one else I trust to ask. We're on a planet that seems to be teeming with lawyers, but I don't know them, and I do know you, and there are complications on asking them overly personal questions about Pika's business anyway.

I'm out of my depth, but I'm the best expert our team has right now, horrifyingly. I told you a lot about Devon and Loren when I visited, and it's the same over again, but worse. On Mir, it was easy. We didn't have to fight a battle in court, and I love them, but none of us is in custody. We'll visit when we can, and we write letters and send packages in between, but we're not parenting them, not truly, even if I'm Asar-Elyn now. This child—I'm not going to be in custody, obviously, but he's Pika's. She will be, even if she chooses to keep adventuring, and I want to be so delicate, want to make sure that he's safe and happy the whole time, but I know it won't work. His life is going to change, if we do our job right, and he's going to be confused and will have to go through realizing that the only thing his father cares about is their shared genetics (even if that day isn't soon), through upheaving his whole life and maybe losing the nurse who seems to be his one true connection right now (frankly, if I could afford it, I'd pay her to uproot her life and come with Pika and the child to stay with her family so the lot of them could be together, but while I'm doing fairly well right now, I don't know if I could pay her salary in perpetuity. Maybe I should ask about using our funds for that purpose, though).

How do you take in children, knowing how hard it's going to be for you and them? With Devon and Loren, I can say that as hard as their adjustments are, they're with a parent who loves them, that they have us now. With Pika's child, I can say the same. But still—there's so much to deal with, to go through, to work on. How do you and Tiriel do it, over and over again—with me, with Tyko, with Kari and Thari, with the others you've had over the years and will have in the future? We must break your hearts.

This was supposed to be about legal questions, and here I am dumping out all my worries on you, I'm sorry. I hope you're doing well, you and Tiriel, and that work is going well—you were talking about that experiment when I visited about a whole lot of long chemical words that I'm afraid I have since forgotten. Did it go well? Repeatable results? I know how you feel about repeatable results.

Here, a happier story to end the letter, which Tiriel will love, so you ought to show her this part. You can show her all of it, I don't want to burden you with all of this without telling you that of course you can share it with her—hello, Tiriel, sorry this isn't addressed to both of you—but definitely this part.

Maybe you remember us mentioning that on Nosirion-1, we met a paladin of Reorx, a weaver from another plane named Mehrnikorsa, who unfortunately had only the smallest of looms to work on when she's a master of her craft. The other day, Maliah and Pika and I were in a house that had the finest-woven curtains I've ever seen (Tiriel would love the fabric on this planet, I should buy her a few yards of something as well as the little token I've already found), and Maliah got it into her head to find the weavers of the cloth and commission a replacement loom for Niko, as she's called. (Which we can afford now, which I am still not quite used to.)

So now, through Maliah's generosity, Niko will have an easier time of doing the craft she loves, and while I have no love at all for this planet, I can say with perfect honesty that some very good things are happening here alongside all the difficulties.

Love,

Elyn

[letterstosestrilles]

Dear Tyko,

You haven't yet responded (I assume you've spent the past several days trying to figure out how much you should scold me, or maybe just trying to make sense of the complicated web of politics I foisted on you), but I do need to write you again, because plenty has happened over the last few days. Well, a few important ones, anyway. I could tell you about spending a few nights at Midat's place (and about the beautiful mechanical bracelet she gave me in a lovely bright copper—in one position, it has a pattern like circuitry, and in the other, like birds, and it is gorgeous), and about how much Maliah has relaxed now that she's not pretending she's training to be a courtesan anymore, but honestly, I can't concentrate.

I can barely concentrate on the truly important good news (and bittersweet news), which is all about Pika. She's almost a different person now that she's reunited with her son (and is one, in some ways—the Lady Dahlia is quite different to Pika Stormflight, in actions and in speech, by which I mean that she talks), and she's never been more than a few feet away from him that I've seen. She introduced Maliah and I to him (as his aunts, no less, which made us both more than a little teary), and he seems like a wonderful, grave, sweet little boy, and so glad to be reunited with his mother.

I made sure that he has my contact information, because—well, because Pika is leaving us. Of course she is, really, I knew our partnership would probably dissolve when she had her son again because she has him to care for, now. She can't be running off to go adventuring, and I don't think she even wants to, now that she has her place and her family back. I'll miss her terribly, but it's also been difficult between the three of us, at times, so I think it will be better, to give her letters and visits, and let her have the quiet life she deserves.

The quiet life, I might add, not only with her son but with a few other people too! I hadn't thought she would stay in Mashoy, with her family several planets away, but she was making plans for taking up the mantle of Lady Dahlia again, and without batting an eyelash, told us she'll be marrying not only Tirine Larchbright, but Arteshki Kazuha as well, an arrangement meant, it seems, both for making Pika happy and for protecting the child. Tirine and Kazuha both seem a little bemused by the situation, but there's clearly affection there, and I hope the marriage will be happy.

Especially since I'll get to see it begin! In a few weeks' time, when Pika's family can rearrange their schedules, there's going to be a wedding, which I will no doubt tell you all about. Pika is very much enjoying planning it, or at least teasing her family about it, as far as I can tell, and I'm certainly planning to offer my services to play some music for the ceremony should she desire it.

It all does, though, make me wonder where we're going next, what we're doing. Two people (and a dog) is a fearfully small adventuring party, and I don't intend to stop adventuring, even if I don't know where we're going next, and Maliah doesn't seem to have much idea either.

Only, well—you remember Drixam Vimning, who decoded some of the files from my earring? And I don't know if you recall that he said he'd keep working to see if he could get anything more from it. He couldn't clear up any of the other files more than he had, but he did find another, and it's clear, much clearer than the others: a picture, of three gnomes seated at a table. I've attached it, because I need all the confirmation I can get that I'm not making it up, but—he's my father, isn't he? The woman, I could maybe see a resemblance, but the hair is hard to deny, and I think he's my father.

Somehow it's worse, and better, seeing specific faces. Better for obvious reasons, but worse—I've known my whole life that I'm missing people, missing a whole family, hell, a whole identity. But having specific people to miss, specific faces, a father—that's something new, and I'm not sure what to do with it yet.

So I don't know where Maliah and I are going, but if nothing else, there's a flattened star map to steer us. I'm planning to see if there's an explorers' library of any kind that might know more about uncharted stars, or how to make the map three-dimensional again, but I don't know how long that will take, or where such a place may be. And Maliah may have her own plans. We've been concentrating so much on Pika and her new life with her family that we've barely talked about our own future at all.

I'll let you know how the wedding is, and I'll let you know when we decide where we're going next.

Love,

Elyn

[attached file: a picture of three gnomes seated at an oval table. One, dark-skinned, with dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail and a quiet smile, does not resemble Elyn. A woman, with silver hair, is smiling at the person taking the picture and has blue-green eyes that could resemble Elyn's. The last, a man, has a scattering of freckles and unmistakable, very bright red hair.]

[letterstosestrilles]

Honored Lord Brennu,

I hope you'll forgive me writing when we were never properly introduced, but I did want to write a quick note while I'm still in the city. I know I must have turned things upside down for you, and while I hope you're glad of it, I know that whether good or bad, having your life turned upside down is more than a little unsettling. Without you, there would have been great harm done, and my friend's life would still be upended, so I owe you my thanks—as well as my apologies for punching you. You may have asked, but I still feel like you deserve the apology, so I am very sorry that I did so.

It may not help you to know, but I have a small excess of magic, and I'm using some of it to learn Dispel Magic. It may not, unfortunately, help you, but at least in the future, in your honor, if I find a similar situation I'll be able to do more than assault the poor soul who's in trouble.

I assume your cousin Lady Zahin has told you about everything about the council session where everything came to light, and that you'll have your own testimony to make in the coming weeks, so I won't offer my own limited perspective, but I hope it all leads to justice for you, and some closure as well.

What I said at the party holds true: if you need to talk to someone outside the situation, I may not quite fit the bill and certainly don't have a degree in therapy, but I do my best to listen.

I wish you all the best for the future.

Elyn of Procyon (or Dana bint Ma'zi far-Bay, as you prefer)

[letterstosestrilles]

[at the top of a package, slightly dinged by space travel, that contains a beautifully painted fan and five yards of finely woven fabric in a shade of deeply saturated marigold yellow]

Dear Tiriel,

I know it's not quite time for your decade-celebration, but when you're on a planet that provides, you seize the opportunity! Rugira Prime is a little hot for your taste, but some of the fabric here is more finely woven than I've ever seen—this is an example that's hopefully useful without needing to be layered a million times. Please use it for yourself, and not a client! You and Alion deserve a few nights on the town.

I'm leaving Rugira Prime soon, and I'm not sure where I'm going next, but I'll let you and Alion know where I'm going, or Tyko will.

Love,

Elyn

[letterstosestrilles]

[at the top of a package sent from Mashoy, slightly dinged up by long space travel, containing a bobblehead model of a bulette with MASHOY written in brightly colored letters on the stand]

Dear Tyko,

You'll be getting this well after you receive word about everything that's happened over the past few days, but now that I can finally send mail without the return address giving my identity away, I'm sure you can see why I wouldn't want to wait another second to send you this gift.

Don't worry, you don't have to thank me, I already know you love it.

Love,

Elyn

[letterstosestrilles]

Dear Serime,

I know it's only been a few weeks since I saw you last, but I wanted to send you a quick message—with a picture attached, so I can exclaim properly!

We've been doing a few jobs, and one of them involved us doing a large favor for a wealthy family, and in reward, hearing I was a bard, they gave me an absolutely beautiful harp: red wood, with ivory and gems inlaid, and best of all, built for a gnome or halfling, not for a child of some larger race! I worried a little, seeing it, that the sound might not be as lovely as the sight, since in my experience, the more the makers worry about appearance the less they do about acoustics, but my worries were completely unfounded. It's got a sweet sound, not tinny at all, clearly made by someone who knows how to make smaller instruments without sacrificing quality.

It's been so long since I played an actual instrument, other than a magical flute I've acquired in my travels! I'll have to get used to strings again (I've lost all my callus, but should be able to get it back without too much trouble, I hope), and to the differences, freedoms, and limitations of it all. And the next time I'm on Sestrilles, I'll have to bring it to you so we can jam together!

I'm also hoping I can program a few new movement cues into the gloves so as to at least hold a drone with them while I'm playing the harp, but I think for now one instrument at a time is the wiser choice, so that will have to come later. Maliah has already offered to help me record a few harp samples so I can use it with my gloves that way too, so I'll let you know what kind of experiments I end up running.

Be well! It was so good to see you, and I hope I can do so again soon.

All my love,

Elyn

[Attachment: a picture of the described harp.]

[letterstosestrilles]

Dear Midat,

I'm sorry not to be bringing this in person (and to be writing from a public terminal, my ICD gets terrible reception on this planet), but I imagine you're a little busy right now.

I just wanted to say that I've heard about the attempt on Itamu's life, so I wanted to pass on my best through you, since you seem to be good friends. We're doing our best to help out with the larger problem, but I wish there'd been a way to prevent this particular specific problem.

If you or Itamu needs help with protection while I'm still on the planet, don't hesitate to send a message. One bard might not be a whole lot of help, but no doubt Nora would be willing to assist as well. We're engaged tomorrow night, but any other time, if he needs a change in bodyguards, I hope you'll let me know.

And if you or he need backup in any other way—well, again, we're doing our best with the larger problem, but if there's a smaller one we can help to solve, I'm at your service.

Dana