1 Lupar 987AF - 3 Lupar 987AF, Targossas
Attending
Squire Darona Firedancer
Ser Aerek Ancyrion
Countess Nezaya Visindi, Witch
Judicator Erishka Khalimat, Page of Aeowynn
Caefir Aeowynn Banazir, Esquire of the Eastern Sacraments
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life
Cpt. Blackgale (Involuntarily)
Copies Sent To
Squire Darona Firedancer
Ser Aerek Ancyrion
Countess Nezaya Visindi, Witch
Judicator Erishka Khalimat, Page of Aeowynn
Caefir Aeowynn Banazir, Esquire of the Eastern Sacraments
Dawnlord Aroan Shire
Forgive the format, the proceedings were too long to contain on a single letter or scroll. I will bear the expense of the expanded record, for I did promise I would deliver one.
This is a faithful retelling of the ritual of Pryla'ari on behalf of Captain Blackgale, currently in Targossian custody.
It was performed under the supervision of Caefir Aeowynn Banazir, and Judicator Erishka Khalimat.
Representing the Defence were Lead Counsel Squire Darona Firedancer, and Co-Counsels Ser Aerek Ancyrion and Countess Nezaya Visindi.
Private discussion between the Defence Counselors has been removed but all other detail has been faithfully transcribed to the best of my ability. Any errors or omissions are unintended.
Countess Nezaya Visindi,
Witch
I. Introduction, Contents, Record of Participants.
II. The Arrival of Pryla'ari.
III. Ritual Preparation.
IV. The Ritual.
V. Post-Discussion
Aeowynn says, "Should we accompany her from the North?"
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "She said she would make her way to us."
A rim of pale frost sketches itself in midair, widening into a silent oval whorl of falling snow; Pryla'ari glides through the chill aperture, her cloak scattering hoarfrost before the portal seals with a crystalline hush.
Aeowynn lowers her head respectfully before Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life.
You curtsey respectfully before Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life.
Aeowynn says, "Greetings, Priestess."
Aerek lowers his head respectfully before Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life.
Long ebony locks pile high in delicately curled and arranged ringlets atop Pryla'ari's head, leaving only a single strand falling free to frame an aristocratic face of gelid beauty etched with lines of age and wisdom around her dark blue eyes. Draped in exquisite robes of the finest - and latest - Tsol'dasi fashions, her figure is all but hidden from view beneath both glimmering rune and snowy, billowed sleeve. Her niveous skin is rimed with ice, yet her frozen halo interferes not even slightly in either the movement or body of this mistress of the arcane arts. Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life exudes an aura of overwhelming power. She weighs about 110 pounds.
Aerek removes a crested steel helm and tucks it under his arm. A crested steel helm removed from his head, Aerek returns to his normal, less fearsome, appearance.
Darona lowers her head respectfully.
You lace your fingers together contemplatively.
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "Priestess. It is good to see you."
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says, "It has been many years since I set foot in this place."
You say sympathetically in a charmingly wicked voice, "Me too."
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "We appreciate you being willing to make the trip south."
Aeowynn smiles and says, "The Hearth welcomes you... please accept my apologies, we were not expecting you, so do not have quite a welcome party. But even then, we appreciate that you have made the journey."
Aeowynn grows pale as the eerie shade of stolen life force dissipates from around her.
It is now the 2nd of Lupar, 987 years after the fall of the Seleucarian Empire.
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says happily to Aeowynn, "Do not fret. I often prefer to sneak in the proverbial back."
Aeowynn smiles slightly, and inclines her head respectfully.
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life turns to face Darona.
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life asks, "Before we begin, it's best if I make you aware of the price of my services. I presume those involved will be Darona, Nezaya, and Aerek?"
You say in a charmingly wicked voice, "Va. In."
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "That would be correct, Priestess."
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life nods.
Aeowynn says, "Before you proceed, we respectfully ask for the details of what you will be doing with our prisoner."
Erishka nods her head in agreement.
Aerek nods his head affirmatively.
Lameesa, Targossian Crier yells, "Glory to Fire! Glory to Light!"
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "We believe that Captain Blackgale has had his memories magically altered."
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says to Darona, "My price is simple: at a time to be determined in the near or distant future, I may or may not call upon one or all of you to accomplish a task or help me or another accomplish a task that would not directly conflict with your oaths or allegiances at the time of the request."
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says to Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life in a lilting voice, "I am more than happy with those terms, though I am not exactly an accomplished warrior or the like."
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life looks questioningly at Aerek and says, "Hmm?"
You say to Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life in a charmingly wicked voice, "*warmly I have absolutely no objection."
Aerek says, "A Knight is wary of blank cheques, but is confident a Priestess of Life would not twist him toward ill use."
Aerek inclines his head politely at Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life.
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says, "Yes. Nothing so nefarious, I am sure. Simply put, in my line of work, a cupboard full of favours greases many hinges."
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life turns towards Aeowynn and Erishka.
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says to Aeowynn, "The memory of your captive has been magically altered - a veil of sorts, or a mask of memory covering over the real events. What I will be doing is pulling back the veil, to reveal what lies beneath. It is entirely non-invasive, and involves no physical contact with the prisoner. Rather, I will be performing a ritual that will allow those present - yourselves included - to witness the true memories as they are uncovered."
Aeowynn closes the door leading in.
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "Oh, that works."
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "Apologies, Priestess. Thought you were following me."
You say in a charmingly wicked voice, "Such manner, my word."
Aerek says to Aeowynn, "Very well. Your presence saves me the trouble of forwarding my report."
Aerek lowers his head respectfully before Aeowynn.
Aeowynn peers about herself unscrupulously.
Comprehension flashes across Aeowynn's face.
It is late night, approaching dawn. The phase of the moon is that of the Waning Gibbous. The date is 3rd of Lupar, 987. The moon is the Waning Gibbous. The season is late summer.
Aerek asks Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life, "Do you recognize the strange relic that the Captain remembers?"
Aeowynn ceases to wield an Auroran Mace in her left hand. Aeowynn starts to wield an eye sigil in her left hand. Aeowynn's aura of weapons rebounding disappears. Aeowynn throws a sigil at the ground which bursts in a flash of light.
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says, "I do."
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "Or the woman too, for that matter."
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life asks, "Do none of you recognise it?"
Erishka shakes her head.
Aerek looks thoughtful and says, "A stone wreathed in blue flame."
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "I am afraid I don't..."
Aerek shakes his head.
Aeowynn ponders, her fingers brushing through the spines of a tiny desert hedgehog.
Aerek says to Aeowynn, "No, no, use the marmot."
Aerek says to Aeowynn, "I think you get better mileage out of the marmot."
Comprehension flashes across Aeowynn's face.
Nezaya looks utterly perplexed from Aerek to Aeowynn.
Nuding the hedgehog aside, Aeowynn rests her chin on the belly of a yellow-bellied marmot as she continues to ponder the situation.
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says, "Should these visions be truth, then you might remember it by the apparent illusion we were all collectively led to believe was its purpose."
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says, "Fashioned in Seleucar's final decades, though I am unaware of its smith."
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says, "It gentles war stallions that no bit or rider could master."
Darona glances to Aerek hopefully.
Aeowynn says, "...but why would it..."
You say in a charmingly wicked voice, "Oh."
Aeowynn says, "Be... here."
You point off to the southwest.
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "What is it?"
You say in a charmingly wicked voice, "The weird lady in the hills... not me - the one in New Hope."
You say in a charmingly wicked voice, "Brindling something...?"
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says, "The Bridling Stone, yes."
Aerek says, "Sirawyn. The thought had occurred to me. But I don't want to ascribe every mystery to the weird lady in the hills."
Aerek says, "Hrm. I had never known details of it."
You say honestly in a charmingly wicked voice, "I knew the next word was stone, but if I was way off base, I was going to pretend like I mispronounced."
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "Why would she wipe his memory to hide a stone that... Helps people ride horses?"
You say in a charmingly wicked voice, "I mean that would be -one- use."
Her features softening, Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life frowns slightly.
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says, "That was not Sirawyn, I am afraid."
You say in a charmingly wicked voice, "The stone induces passivity."
Aeowynn says, "Or aggression."
You say in a charmingly wicked voice, "If I had one, Hashan's last few years might've been *very* different."
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "Better one scarred memory than a nation torn open..."
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "Somebody was likely planning to use it to do... What? Some kind of takeover?"
A Shornwall defender tilts his head at Darona while rubbing his chin, thoughtfully declaring "Hrm." A Shornwall defender's ears perk up as his attention turns towards Darona.
Aerek says pointedly to Darona, "Speculation."
Aeowynn ponders Aerek with a contemplative expression.
Squire Darona Ancyrion-Firedancer, Scarlatti's Pride says in a lilting voice, "Right, of course."
You say in a charmingly wicked voice, "I mean it boils down to mind-control right? If you had this and someone found out they could be a problem."
Aerek says pointedly to you, "Speculation."
Pryla'ari, Priestess of Life says, "My part in this appears to be concluded, and I would likely wish to avoid where I believe your questions will inevitably lead. Do remember the specifics of our deal, should I come calling."
Aerek says, "So we have identified the Brindling Stone."
Aerek nods his head affirmatively.
END OF RECORD