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Sebastian: Sebastian catches up with Isadora as she cools down from her morning run. "I think we may have a problem with Speckler..."
Isadora: "I think I would perish from shock if your first words to me every morning didn't include 'problem.' So, what is it?" Isadora asks as she stretches.
Sebastian: Sebastian looks tired, "He's been cooking his books, skimming what little profit the colony's been making. And it appears that he may have been responsible for the 'missing' items from the Rhianni camp."
Isadora: "At least now I know where to turn for money," Isadora says lightly. She's silent for a few more seconds, drinking water, then says, "How sure are you about the second thing?"
Sebastian: Sebastian pauses for a moment, "I'm not positive. But he would have to have a contact with the outside world. Probably someone else in the camp."
Isadora: "But the proof is gone with the airship?"
Sebastian: "Possibly, but his accomplice could still be here, and that could be useful."
Isadora: "What would you need from me to find him?" Isadora makes one last stretch, arms reaching up to encircle the new sun, then turns to face Sebastian with cold eyes. "This garbage has to be resolved if we're going to last a month out here."
Tamul is out walking in the coolth of the day, and nods as he passes.
Sebastian: Sebastian winces as he takes a deep breath, "Well, I'll probably just need some time to figure out who all has talked to Speckler."
Isadora throws a wave at Tamul, then laughs at Sebastian. "Who's talked to the man who gives out the food? Good luck to you."
Isadora: "Maybe the..." she stops and shakes her head. Was she really just about to say that maybe the spirits could help? "Nothing."
Sebastian: Sebastian looks up sharply, "My Lady, if you have a suggestion, we're a bit pressed for time..."
Isadora frowns. "I'll look into it," she says shortly. "Tamul, you seem to have missed the ship, but given us the extended pleasure of your company. A fine morning to you."
Tamul: Coming out of a brown study, Tamul looks up. "The joy of the day to you, lady, sir. How comes your wound, Sebastien?
Sebastian: Sebastian manages a twisted smile, "It's healing..."
Tamul: "Better than the alternative, certainly. Listen, I'm not really sure who to turn to for help. May I ask the two of you for advice?"
Isadora: "Ask away," says Isadora, seeming annoyed about something.
Tamul: "Er, this isn't a bad time is it?"
Sebastian: Sebastian looks at Tamul for a moment, "Tamul, if you stay long enough you'll come to realize that it's _always_ a bad time. Ask away."
Tamul: Tamul takes a deep breath. "Well, I think someone I know may have done something wrong. I'm just not quite sure what I ought to do about it."
Isadora: "Telling us is a good start." Isadora considers. "Well, telling me. Sebastian would just find out anyway, no matter what you did."
Tamul: "It's just this: I've been asked to broker some tribal relics from this site, and I think, or rather am certain that they're ill gotten. What I want to know from you two is just how ill-gotten they might've been."
Isadora: "Ill like the plague, if they're Rhiani goods. Thefts have been causing us trouble with Dhazari for weeks."
Tamul: "What sort of trouble? Has anyone been crucified for stealing yet?"
Isadora: "Goodness, crucifixion? What HAVE they been saying about us in Kaitaine?" Isadora smiles at him.
Sebastian: Sebastian mutters to himself, "I'm not sure you really want to know, my Lady."
Tamul: "Ah, ha-ha. I had thought of this more a military sort of camp, but I see now I was, hm, yes."
Tamul: "Mistaken. These Rhiani goods, they are fairly distinctive? For instance, would you call this a representative piece?" Tamul pulls out a lovely and simple amulet.
Isadora: "The realities of the camp have outgrow its original mission," Isadora says mildly. She gives the amulet an appraising look, then nods. "Rhiani work, all right. What caused your conscience to prick you, Tamul?"
Tamul: "Mostly just my previous acquiantance with the individual I'm speaking of."
Isadora: "You seem to be a reasonable judge of character. I'll tell Dhazari to expect the return of the stolen items. Have you met many of the Rhiani, by chance?"
Tamul: "The savages? Oh, goodness, no. The children are precocious, but look at what they have to look forward to."
Tamul: "Who is this Dhazari fellow, your local autocthon handler?"
Isadora smiles thinly. "The savages have been more help to us out here than anyone from Kaitaine. Dhazari leads the hunters."
Tamul: "Ah. A redoubtable fellow, no doubt, Isadore. You haven't found that most of your problems are caused by the native workers, like in Pembley's Lifting the Heathen: Thirty Years Raising Grain and People?"
Isadora: "Oh, I couldn't say--I was a terrible student. I've actually found most of my problems to originate firmly in the Ikaiti side of the camp, with the odd goblin invasion to keep things spicy."
Tamul: Tamul laughs. "That's what goblins do best. Why they make excellent spoile- just a moment." Clapping a hand to his head, Tamul crouches. "Ow, ow, owww. Aaron, I'll be right there, alright?"
Okhfels: Okhfels arrives at the discussion. "Isadora, I have my men packed and ready to move onto the island."
Tamul: "Pray excuse me, sirs, madam." Tamul bows and leaves.
Okhfels: Okhfels watches Tamul go. "Who's that?"
Isadora gives Tamul a strange look, but returns his bow hastily as he leaves. To Okhfels, she says, "Good. I'll get some of the men who aren't in your band also, so we don't seem to be singling your group out."
Isadora: "Speckler's go-between for his stolen goods, apparently. And a breath of air from home."
Okhfels: "I think we should move as many people as we can. There are buildings there, good shelter, not tents. It's a good place."
Isadora: "I trust your judgment, but I'm not sure if I should order all the men to go, or only volunteers." Isadora looks a little uncomfortable. "Sooner or later I'll have to admit what it's all about."
Isadora: "...A subject I intend to brief Sebastian on fully, very soon," she adds, casting a guilty look sideways at him.
Okhfels: O Khfels ? nods. "I see your point. Then I guess I'm the point man?"
Isadora: "So it would appear. Tell me if you're getting tired of the role." She smiles crookedly.
Okhfels: Okhfels laughs. "I'd like to dismantle that house for boats."
Okhfels: "There isn't a lot of wood to work with."
Isadora: "Do you need the whole house, or just part? I can explain the situation to Egani."
Okhfels: "The more boats we have, the quicker we can get the job done. But we don't need the whole thing, right away."
Isadora: "I'm sure he'll be thrilled to hear it. Anything else?"
Okhfels: "That's all for now."
Okhfels: Okhfels leans in and gives Isadora a peck on the cheek. "I can go talk to Egani if you're busy."
Isadora: Isadora's face lights in a real smile for a moment, and she touches his face as he leans back. "No, I'll do it. Part of the job."
Okhfels: Okhfels nods. "Alright... I'll see if I can get some tools from the smith."
Isadora stoops and picks up the amulet where Tamul left it. "And apparently, I can give Dhazari some good news for once. I wonder how he'll handle the shock."

Sebastian: Fahja looks at Archelaus, "So, we've freed them. What do you plan to do now?"
Archelaus: "To the eye, the eye!"
Sebastian: Fahja follows along, "What for?"
Archelaus: "To open a gate and get your beloved out of here."
Sebastian: Fahja smiles creepily, "Excellent."
Sebastian: As Archelaus and Fhaja approach the eye they find someone waiting for them.
Sebastian: The Black Lady stands silently, looking at Archelaus.
Sebastian: She looks at Archelaus critically, "And what are you doing? Decide to play with some of the slaves after all?"
Archelaus: When he sees the Black Lady, Archelaus casually swings the head by its hair, than tucks it under on arm. "Hello dear, I need to gather a mighty, mighty gift for our lord and master. I think I might need a wee offering along the way."
Sebastian: The Black Lady tilts her head, "And what is that you have there?" she gestures at the head.
Archelaus: "This...oh, THIS is my new friend. I'd introduce her, but she's singularly poor at shaking hands. She's needed to help with negotiations--no offerings here, never fear."
Sebastian: The Black Lady's eyes darken, "I require that you hand that head over to me now."
Archelaus: "Actually, THIS is the negotiation of which I speak. I'm going to use the eye to help me open a gate now, and I'm going to take this head and all these people with me."
Archelaus: "You're going to go tell the sorcerer I'm on my way to bringing him some REAL power."
Sebastian: The Black Lady's voice seems to chill, "Are you threatening me, you little insect?"
Archelaus strokes the hair on the head tucked underneath his arm. "Not at all, not at all. It's just that..." Standing up straght "...are you sure you want to RISK th wrath of our master, should he be deprived of the power I can bring him? Especially given the location of the moons this time of year."
Sebastian: The Black Lady pauses. She quite obviously doesn't want to let him go, but she's clearly unwilling to risk a confrontation with Archelaus at this time. "Just wait, insect, the advantages will not all belong to you next time we meet..."
Archelaus: "Ho Hum, they all say that."
Archelaus settles himself next to the eye and prepares to activate it.
Sebastian: Opening portals between the two planes is becoming almost second nature for Archelaus. After a moment of concentration the portal begins to open that will allow physical access to the temple on the island in the lake.
Archelaus gives the head a gentle pat. "Time for our big day." Then steps through the portal not bothered if the others follow or not.

Sebastian: Egani is standing over a securely-tied elf when the Navigator Vella appears in the room. "What's going on here?!"
Egani looks up startled. "Aaron, I thought you had the door..."
Sebastian: Aaron turns, "She didn't come in through the door."
Egani: "This fellow, who is impersonating a member of my academy in order to steal some of the academy's property, got unruly with me. What is your role in this?" Egani looks from the enchanted blade up to the newcomer.
Sebastian: Vella blinks in surprise, "I am under contract."
Egani: "To transport him around or to keep the poor little elf safe from the big nasty human?"
Sebastian: Vella smiles thinly, "The terms of the contract are, of course, confidential."
Egani: "Aaron, can you summon Brother Tamul? I think he'll be interested in this."
Sebastian: Vella spares Aaron a glance and turns back to Egani, "I'm afraid I must ask you to release my client."
Egani: "Lady," Egani bows slightly "while I have every respect for your occupation, I believe that to do so would place myself and my possessions in jeopardy. What warranty can you provide as a check on your client's behavior?"
Sebastian: She stands silent for a moment, "It is not my place to offer such warranty, it is merely my place to ensure the fulfillment of the terms of my contract. I'm afraid that having my client trussed up on the floor is not going to do that."
Egani: "I have never had call to hire a navigator. Tell me, do you work for anyone? Regardless of their nature or needs? For instance, I would expect you to charge more to get a thief into a treasury and out again than you would to just transport someone that same distance without the burden of hostile intent. Is that so?"
Sebastian: Vella ignores the jibe and kneels beside the elf. "This won't do at all..." She draws a small dagger and begins cutting at his bonds.
Egani points the short brass tube from his harvesting contraption at the pair of elves and attempts to convert them to essence.
Egani: He's keeping his newly found blade between himself and the intruders in case they get twitchy.
Sebastian: The contraption kicks on, Vella's eyes widen in shock and the elf on the ground begins squirming. Neither have time to move before something inside them breaks and essence begins pouring from their shells. It doesn't take long for both bodies to stop moving, but it appears that they both survive. If only barely. Without some attention they'll both be dead in a matter of minutes.
Tamul walks in, sword in hand.
Tamul: Sheathing, Tamul says "I was just having the most interesting conversation."
Egani looks up from casting his only shot at life-saving magic on the two broken bodies.
Tamul walks over and leans over the still ones. Removing his vanity spectacles, he holds the glass in front of the woman's face.
Egani: "The bodies are still alive, but I fear the souls have departed. I'll have to look up the protocol."
Sebastian: The glass does, indeed, mist slightly.
Tamul: "Oh don't worry. I've dealt with this sort of thing before."
Egani begins to lift the navigator under the arms, to move her to the workbench. "Grab her legs, would you?"
Tamul: "Sure. Say, what if she wants this back when she's done?"
Egani: "Oh, and sorry for calling you, I was afraid that I was in over my head."
Egani: "Sorry? Wants what back?"
Tamul: "Um, her body."
Egani: "Well, the _she_ that would identify strongly with this hunk of meat doesn't really exist any more...at least that's my current theory."
Tamul: "I have a way to test that. I'll need a lot of cinnamon, though."
Sebastian: Egani can tell, when he looks closely, that the souls of both elves are still there, sort of. The frameworks are there, and with enough time and effort they could probably be reconstructed. And if done properly there'd be hardly any scarring at all!
Tamul: "No sentient being aware on even the most basic level can resist my Spiced Chili!"
Isadora knocks on the door.
Egani: Marcia admits Isadora, offers her tea, and explains that everyone is playing out in the workshop.
Isadora assumes an invitation to join them, and heads that way after accepting tea.
Tamul arranges the man so that he's apparently fallen asleep with the woman on the workbench.
Egani: Egani, totally neglecting the fact that he murdered these people, is uncomfortable at Tamul's lack of respect.
Isadora: "Egani, we need to... talk?" Isadora says as she comes in at the end of the arranging.
Egani: "Oh, hi Isadora. You always stop by at the most interesting times. And just so you know, that guy that you wanted gone...he's gone."
Tamul: "Not quite," says Tamul, picking up his hand and letting it drop.
Tamul looks accusingly at Egani.
Egani: "No...not this guy."
Isadora: "Speaking of this guy, who is he? You seem to have an astonishing dearth of live visitors."
Tamul: "Oh, just some elf Egani beat up."
Tamul: "He was a real dick, though."
Isadora: "Really?" Isadora looks at Egani with a newly appraising gleam in her eye. To Tamul's second comment, she replies, "Hardly a killing offense in these parts."
Tamul: "Oh come on, Isadore. If you can't play nice, you can't play at all has always been my motto."
Egani: Gently glaring at Tamul "Well, he wasn't dead -- and technically he still isn't, he was tied up after we subdued him."
Egani: "But then that woman was going to set him free and she just wouldn't listen to reason and I...um...shit, I freaked out."
Isadora: "You what?" Isadora blinks at Egani.
Tamul: "He got scared, like all amateurs do. I'm telling you, Egani, leave rough stuff to profeesionals. They don't leave messes."
Egani holds up a crystal vial almost full of an oily purple liquid. "I um, reduced their essence."
Isadora: "Just out of curiousity, is there any chance you could... oh, say, unreduce it?"
Egani: "This is bad on several levels, some of which have to do with you." Egani looks a bit embarrassed.
Tamul hesitantly draws closer to the vial. Inhaling as if he could smell it, he looks at Isadore sharply. "Why?"
Isadora: "Please, tell me about the badness. Be elaborate if you have to."
Egani: "The worst part is that their essences are mixed. I'd much rather...unreduce it? No...that wouldn't be possible."
Tamul: "It's not as if they won't recover."
Egani: "Well, it's possible that others know where they came."
Egani: "Actually, I think it's nearly certain."
Isadora: "Others who haven't left on the airship?"
Egani: "And now that I'm thinking about it, um, this could be bad."
Isadora is talking to Egani, but listening to Tamul.
Egani: "No, I mean others like the guild elders of the navigators' guild and whomever the thief was working for."
Isadora: "Well, I'm glad your thought processes have carried you so far, even if only belatedly. Perhaps you could go back a step, and tell me who these reduced essences on your table ARE?"
Tamul: "I mean, I think they'll recover. We'll know shortly." Tamul stands idly looking down at the hapless elves.
Tamul: "Hm? Oh, essence doesn't have personhood."
Egani: "The naked fellow claimed to be a member of the A'kesh Academy. The woman was his contract navigator.
Egani: "He was trying to steal some of my tomes. His story was entirely implausible if you know how things work in the academy."
Tamul: "You could see it in his eyes. He was just some kind of two-bit hustler-I've seen a thousand of them."
Tamul: "I mean it's a pretty good grift-the navigator's a nice touch, she must be his leman-but anyone who doubts Egani's probity clearly has no idea of how magical organizations work.
Isadora: "That's the explanation you're planning to give to the Navigator's Guild?" Isadora looks askance at Tamul. "You've really been all sorts of helpful to him, haven't you?"
Tamul: "It's what I do."
Tamul: "I'm just here to help."
Isadora takes a moment to remind herself silently that Sebastian is underpaid.
Egani: "I called him for help when I didn't know what to do. He's the only one who's joined the Brotherhood. If more of you would, I could have let you know what was going on..."
Isadora: "As an alternate plan, you could not use your magical powers to 'freak out' and destroy influential strangers."
Egani: "It was self-defense. If it'd been you, you'd have done something similar, even if only with steel."
Tamul: "I don't know how to stress that they're not <quite> dead!"
Tamul pours himself a cup of tea.
Isadora: "There's a vital difference, though: I'm supposed to make those decisions. It's one of the chief joys of being in charge of a circus like this," Isadora says to Egani. To Tamul: "Is there a functional difference--for example, an ability to bring them back to life?"
Egani: "No, they're not dead, but they're also not in any shape to go report home with an A-OK.
Egani: "I might be able to do so...at least mostly. But they're likely to be considerably hostile."
Tamul: "Sure, just give me fifteen hours of prep-work and two or three weeks of recuperation and they'll be right as rain."
Egani: Musing to himself, "I wonder if I can remove that capability from them in doing so..."
Isadora: "Unless you have any other bodies to show me, I came to tell you that we need part of your house to make boats," she says to Egani.
Egani: "What?!?"
Tamul splutters over tea.
Tamul: "What?!"
Egani: "You'll need to see Count Phorik about that. He had it on the market for quite some time before moving me into it."
Egani: "Why?"
Tamul: "That's not cricket. I just moved in. I mean, it's drafty enough already."
Isadora: "I'll write him a letter informing him of the event," she says, sipping her own tea calmly. "Why? I just said--for boats."
Egani: "Boats for what?"
Egani: "I already made one boat for the colony."
Isadora: "We need to move more people. They'll probably use your fine initial work as a model."
Egani: "M Ove ? them where?"
Isadora: "Over the water--whyever else would we need boats?"
Egani: "The timbers of the house are all wrong for that. That's why I used wood from the area where Salast was hiding. I was thinking that the best bet for a big boat would be to fell one of the giant white trees into the water, if possible and carve it out."
Tamul: "Hm, boats, water, people-you're going to the island, aren't you?"
Egani: "I don't think that's a good idea."
Tamul: Aside to Egani, "You'd use fire, right? I've heard of those sorts of things-called canyous, aren't they?"
Egani: "That mega-spirit is going to get pissy when Archelaus steals the gems of power. I think stationing your men over there is just pissing them away. I mean, don't you think?"
Isadora: "If you think I'm going to take axes to the giant cursed wood just to make a boat, I have to wonder if we live by the same lake."
Egani: Looking to Tamul, "Fire might work. I'd use magic."
Isadora: "Besides, what makes you think I'd want Archelaus to have the gems of power? We seem to be carrying very different assumptions into this conversation."
Egani: "What are you going to do with them?"
Egani: "He'll use them for something clever, you can be sure."
Isadora: "Oh, I'm sure it'll be very clever. I'm not sure it will have anything to do with making this camp a safer place, however, so I fear we may be at odds."
Egani: "Oh, but summoning ancient demon-infested islands makes the camp safer?"
Egani: "Don't get me wrong, it's very interesting. Really! But safer? I'm thinking not."
Egani: "Archelaus may still be working on the yellow mist problem. Is that good or bad given recent developments?"
Isadora: "If the island has caused any problems, they've not been severe enough to bother notifying me." Isadora shrugs. "But, I have other places to visit today, so unless you have anything else..." She gestures with her teacup.
Isadora: "Given recent developments, I suspect Archelaus is part of the yellow mist problem."
Egani: "Wasn't it happening before he came?"
Egani: "Or is that part of your evidence?
Tamul: "Ah yes, post hoc ergo propter hoc, right?"
Egani: "Anyway, none of that really matters. What about these two? Any suggestions?
Isadora: "Suggestions? I suggest you have them awake and able to return to their origin, and hope that the sincerest apologies you can muster will satisfy them."
Egani: "So we're shit out of luck then?"
Egani: Wearily, "I'll see what I can do."
Tamul: "Buck up! There's a whole world of options to choose from, Egani: from brainwashing to implanting an implosive device."
Isadora: "What did you expect? When I kill someone, I clean up my messes. Think of it as an adventure in roughing it, out here by Green Lake."
Egani: "I've never killed anyone before."
Tamul: Tamul shrieks, "They're not dead!"

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