Rhialto's Marvelous Writings

[Rhialto]

And here is the second stage of my Triplets Adventure. Two more stages to go. Feedback is welcome.

Plotting Against Zoe

 

Now that you know what Sima’s concern is about, you find yourself wondering how to help her. Finding Zoe at the right time will not be difficult – Sima mentioned that the Quiet Girl has been treating her and her brothers well – but knowing what to do with Zoe is another matter. Perhaps Sima, Tabin, or Magsa would be able to help you – but you know that Sima would be furious if you were to ask any person aside from the Triplets.

-          Consult Sima.

 

You find Sima in the Venalicium, researching glamour spells. When she sees you, she, without saying a word, slips a twist of paper out of her pocket and passes it to you. Although you can understand why anyone would be silent in the Venalicium – the librarians are fierce – you are also thinking that Sima is being quiet for more important reasons.

Opening the twist of paper at another table, you discover an iron colored ring bearing a white, a red, and a blue stone in a golden triangle. The untwisted paper bears a note that says “If you are asking for help with improving your relationship with Zoe, this ring from my aunt is one that Zoe admires. If you were to give it to her, she would like that. I am known for giving jewelry to people.”

Marveling at how carefully Sima has planned this, you take the ring and go on your way. [Gain item Ring of Three Jewels (+1 Fitness, +1 stress maximum, +1 Vitality maximum), choose other option]

-          Consult Tabin.

 

[If PC completed Tabin’s Y1 Adventure]

 

You cannot find Tabin, but Tabin finds you in a certain hallway. When you jerk in surprise, he whispers something about the Quiet Girl owing him a favour before getting down to business.

“So, [PCFirstName], I understand that you are having a few family troubles. Emilia Strolin has suggested to me that it is useful to cultivate friends for life. So let me be a friend to you and give you some potion I made. It really helps to deal with stress. Even if you do not use it, surely you can give it to another person to improve relationships. Give and take, you know?”

Impressed by how Tabin is helping you even without revealing why he helps and whom you are helping, you decide to ask him a quick question.

“Why should I trust your skill in potion-making? For all I know, you could be as incompetent at making potions as Cante Caviti. Or maybe Aaran Ledale walked past you when you were making it.”

Tabin frowns. “Well, I am a much better potion-maker than Cante is, and that includes not being in the vicinity of any cursed people or artifacts when making potions. Besides, you saw how much I know about plants last year. Surely you would not doubt my skill after seeing my works. No one need ever use the potion. So take it – if you want, you can have it analyzed by the Artifact Registry – and use it or do not use it as you wish. Fair?”

You hastily nod yes, after which Tabin smiles and goes on his way. So now you have another way to gain Zoe’s information. [Gain item Tabin’s Potion (12 turns: + 4 stress maximum, + 1 fitness, - 4 Insight, - 1 Charm), choose other option]

[If PC did not complete Tabin’s Y1 Adventure]

 

You cannot find Tabin, but Tabin finds you in a certain hallway. When you jerk in surprise, he whispers something about the Quiet Girl owing him a favour before getting down to business.

“So, [PCFirstName], Milena has been complaining about Zoe Melis. I know that this is nothing new, but the origin of her complaint is new. Zoe has apparently taken to writing creatively, and some of the fiction that she writes implies that Milena is a radical republican spy who uses her tutoring service to bribe, blackmail, and spy on behalf of Pievre. Milena talked about it to me, and I persuaded her that Zoe may herself be disseminating claims for some enemy of Milena, her family, or Pievre. Milena was all enthused about confronting Zoe, but I persuaded her that a subtler approach was needed – so I came to you. Will you ask Zoe about her sources for her claims?”

You hastily nod yes, after which Tabin goes on his way, promising that Milena will make it worth your while. So now you have another way to gain Zoe’s information. [Gain memory Tabin’s Gambit, choose other option]

-          Consult Magsa.

 

[If PC completed Magsa’s Y1 Adventure and either or both of Magsa Nembo's New Friend and Magsa's got a new project]

 

You find Magsa standing just outside Durand College, trying his best to look imposing. He drops into a more relaxed posture when he sees you, sheepishly muttering something about Lambert trying to recruit people to steal the Mallen Star. Then he smiles.

“[PCFirstName], I guess you want advice about Zoe Melis. Lambert is useful for many things, but although he can talk about problems, he cannot talk about their solutions easily. Zoe is a very useful friend to have, but how can she be made a friend when she is so reclusive? Lambert has no answer, and he would rather doubt his conclusions than consult any Aranaz student such as Grainne Inneith. But I can help. I may not be a good Durand student – although you helped me to conceal that to some degree – but I am skilled at dealing with strange beings, as you well know. So in order to become a better friend to Zoe, warn her that certain Durand students are not happy about her creative writing. Prudence and Lambert really do not like her inability to distinguish them from other students in her stories – with Prudence it is Flore and Lambert’s is Aymeri.”

“Um, thanks for the advice, Magsa.”

“No problem. I could’ve used her help last year myself, but instead I had you.”

Glad that Magsa’s lack of subtlety involves Lambert rather than Sima, you resolve to give his proposal serious consideration. [Gain memory Magsa’s Gambit, choose other option]

[If PC did not complete Magsa’s Y1 Adventure but completed either or both of Magsa Nembo's New Friend and Magsa's got a new project]

 

You find Magsa standing just outside Durand College, trying his best to look imposing. He drops into a more relaxed posture when he sees you, sheepishly muttering something about Lambert trying to recruit people to steal the Mallen Star. Then he smiles.

“[PCFirstName], I guess you want advice about Zoe Melis. Lambert is useful for many things, but although he can talk about problems, he cannot talk about their solutions easily. Zoe is a very useful friend to have, but how can she be made a friend when she is so reclusive? Lambert has no answer, and he would rather doubt his conclusions than consult any Aranaz student such as Grainne Inneith. But I can help. I may not be a good Durand student, but I am skilled at dealing with strange beings, as you well know. So in order to become a better friend to Zoe, warn her that certain Durand students are not happy about her creative writing. Prudence and Lambert really do not like her inability to distinguish them from other students in her stories – with Prudence it is Flore and Lambert’s is Aymeri.”

“Um, thanks for the advice, Magsa.”

“No problem. I could’ve used her help last year myself.”

Glad that Magsa’s lack of subtlety involves Lambert rather than Sima, you resolve to give his proposal serious consideration. [Gain memory Magsa’s Gambit, choose other option]

[If PC completed Magsa’s Y1 Adventure but completed neither of Magsa Nembo's New Friend and Magsa's got a new project]

 

You find Magsa standing just outside Durand College, trying his best to look imposing. He drops into a more relaxed posture when he sees you, sheepishly muttering something about Lambert trying to recruit people to steal the Mallen Star. Then he smiles.

“[PCFirstName], I guess you want advice about Zoe Melis. Lambert is useful for many things, but although he can talk about problems, he cannot talk about their solutions easily. Zoe is a very useful friend to have, but how can she be made a friend when she is so reclusive? Lambert has no answer, and he would rather doubt his conclusions than consult any Aranaz student such as Grainne Inneith. But I can help. I may not be a good Durand student – although you helped me to conceal that to some degree – but I can help. So in order to become a better friend to Zoe, warn her that certain Durand students are not happy about her creative writing. Prudence and Lambert really do not like her inability to distinguish them from other students in her stories – with Prudence it is Flore and Lambert’s is Aymeri.”

“Um, thanks for the advice, Magsa.”

“No problem. I could’ve used her help last year myself, but instead I had you.”

Glad that Magsa’s lack of subtlety involves Lambert rather than Sima, you resolve to give his proposal serious consideration. [Gain memory Magsa’s Gambit, choose other option]

[If PC did not complete Magsa’s Y1 Adventure and neither of Magsa Nembo's New Friend and Magsa's got a new project but completed Tabin’s Y1 Adventure]

 

You find Magsa standing just outside Durand College, trying his best to look imposing. He drops into a more relaxed posture when he sees you, sheepishly muttering something about Lambert trying to recruit people to steal the Mallen Star. Then he smiles.

“[PCFirstName], I guess you want advice about Zoe Melis. Lambert is useful for many things, but although he can talk about problems, he cannot talk about their solutions easily. Zoe is a very useful friend to have, but how can she be made a friend when she is so reclusive? Lambert has no answer, and he would rather doubt his conclusions than consult any Aranaz student such as Grainne Inneith. But I can help. So in order to become a better friend to Zoe, warn her that certain Durand students are not happy about her creative writing. Prudence and Lambert really do not like her inability to distinguish them from other students in her stories – with Prudence it is Flore and Lambert’s is Aymeri.”

“Um, thanks for the advice, Magsa.”

“No problem. I could’ve used her help last year myself. And because you helped my dear friend in an important project, you did just as good as helping me.”

Glad that Magsa’s lack of subtlety involves Lambert rather than Sima, you resolve to give his proposal serious consideration. [Gain memory Magsa’s Gambit, choose other option]

[If PC did not complete Magsa’s Y1 Adventure and neither of Magsa Nembo's New Friend and Magsa's got a new project and did not complete Tabin’s Y1 Adventure]

 

You find Magsa standing just outside Durand College, trying his best to look imposing. He drops into a more relaxed posture when he sees you, sheepishly muttering something about Lambert trying to recruit people to steal the Mallen Star. Then he smiles.

“[PCFirstName], I guess you want advice about Zoe Melis. Lambert is useful for many things, but although he can talk about problems, he cannot talk about their solutions easily. Zoe is a very useful friend to have, but how can she be made a friend when she is so reclusive? Lambert has no answer, and he would rather doubt his conclusions than consult any Aranaz student such as Grainne Inneith. But I can help. So in order to become a better friend to Zoe, warn her that certain Durand students are not happy about her creative writing. Prudence and Lambert really do not like her inability to distinguish them from other students in her stories – with Prudence it is Flore and Lambert’s is Aymeri.”

“Um, thanks for the advice, Magsa.”

“No problem. I could’ve used her help last year myself. A pity that neither I nor one of my dear friends were helped by you.”

Stung a bit by Magsa’s criticism, you mutter an apology and resolve to give his proposal serious consideration. [Gain memory Magsa’s Gambit, choose other option]

-          Go forth to talk to Zoe when you are ready.

 

You figure that there is no use in waiting any more. You will just have to meet with Zoe when you are ready and hope for the best. [Unlocks stage Talking to Zoe]

-          Go forth to talk to Zoe now.

 

You figure that there is no use in waiting any more. You will just have to meet with Zoe now and hope for the best. [Leads to stage Talking to Zoe]

[Rhialto]

And here is the Third Stage of the Adventure. One more stage to go. Feedback is welcome.

Talking to Zoe

 

You are finally ready to confront Zoe Melis. Or, well, maybe that is not the right word, but you definitely want to learn about why she is claiming what she is claiming, and if she will not tell you easily, this could lead to a confrontation. You sigh at your thoughts. Sima would be better at this type of social maneuvering, you believe.

Regardless of how you define what you are about to do, you realize that Zoe, who has just approached you in a school corridor, is unknowingly setting you up for an attempt to get the information that Sima wants. Zoe is not in class, not in the hospital, not studying in her room or a library – and she is freshly fascinated by some upper year Durand student’s declamation of poetry in a strange language in an alcove that the two of you just walked past, as she tells you with a slightly feverish happiness.

“So, um, hear and see the student with his verses, [PCFirstName]? Are you aware of the language? I am familiar with Auncestrian, Bassan, and Cassettan Elumian to various degrees, as well as numerous Merilien insults, but I cannot identify this language. But you had a mentor from Sae’on, so I am wondering if the verses are what Miya might call Sae’on-go.”

Well, given Zoe’s love of esoteric languages and scholarship, this seems as good a conversation opener as any. Not that it is a good opener. So you guide Zoe to stop in front of the alcove, listen a bit to the droning voice, and shake your head.

“Oan was a mentor about the school to me, Zoe, and did not like to talk about Sae’on except with mild exasperation – people were always exoticizing her because of her home island and its volcano city. So all of our words were spoken in Renaglian and Elumian. I cannot identify the poem’s language. But I can understand the difficulty in identifying and using language and appropriate words and topics. In fact, I would like to talk to you about those issues.”

Zoe flashes confusion before smiling a bit at both you and the still-chanting student-poet.

“Is this a normal way to talk about social matters? In any case, I was hardly a better model, asking you about obscure languages. But sure, ask away. Maybe your questions will allow me to figure out how to interact with other people better.”

This is, you figure, as good a time as any to try to get Sima her answers. And if your talking interrupts the student-poet’s rhythm, well, he sort of set himself up for such interruptions by choosing to use a corridor’s alcove to recite.

-          [PC has item Ring of Three Jewels] Negotiate. Zoe would surely trade a ring for some answers.

 

[success]

 

You draw carefully from a pocket the ring that Sima gave you and let Zoe’s eyes widen as she looks at its bright colours.

“That is a beautiful ring you have, [PCFirstName], but why are you showing it to me? Is there some ring-based tradition that I am unaware of?”

“This ring I received as a gift of sorts from Sima,” you reply, hoping that you are not giving too much away. “We met when I studying, and she got to encouraging me to take a little break, at which point she shared with me some ideas she has about magical jewelry. I felt rather out of my depths, so Sima, in kindness, lent me some of your writing for a relaxing read. I found the story that you had written to be a hilarious spoof of Academagia’s students and faculty, but was concerned that Sima might take offence at the idea that she is associated with Magsa and Tabin. Sima told me when I raised this issue that she cares not what fey-tales a fellow Hedi student like you may write about her, but gave me this ring as a slight apology for getting me concerned.”

“That Sima – as strange as she is friendly!” Zoe’s interjection begins as a whisper yet rises to a squeal, what causes the poet-student in the alcove to stumble in reciting.

“Yes, Sima cares not about your writings, but I am curious – maybe you will spread claims about me in your writings that I will not like. So I will give you this ring if you will tell me what your sources for your stories set in Academagia are – especially those concerning Sima, since your writings about her created this controversy. This way, you who created the story that caused me such concern will benefit from Sima’s generosity. You can consider this your first payment as a writer!”

Zoe giggles, and her normally pale face flushes a bit. “Soon I will be the next Sancus Clausus, whose books I read over the summer when bedridden. I will gladly trade you the ring for more information than you asked for – after all, I was not expecting any ring for what I showed to Sima.”

She takes the ring, slips it over a thin finger, and sighs in contentment.

“Sima’s ring has powerful magic – she must know someone from Vernin at some level. Now. Where was I? Ah yes, the story. Well, I decided to have Sima associated with Magsa and Tabin for a purely humorous reason. Magsa I knew vaguely as an extremely incompetent zoology student, and Tabin competed with me in history last year. I knew about a rival student and a bad student, so I thought that it would be funny to have them linked in my story though the mysterious yet socially powerful Sima – so contrary to reality. The rest of the story I based upon my desire to be known as more than the sickly student from the poor region whose captains kidnap crewmembers, as well as vague knowledge of last year’s pirate attacks. But you know what?” Her question is concluded with a squeaking bark of laughter.

“What?” You are glad to note that Zoe’s giggling, laughter, and monologuing are not disconcerting to you alone. The student reciting in the alcove shakes his head in disgust, stops speaking, and storms off, muttering in Renaglian about how art is not appreciated when others hear it.

“I’ve decided to stop writing such stories based upon Academagia. Sima took it well enough, but others, such as the Pievrian who hates me – let no one hear me say her name – may take such stories the wrong way. So I have decided, based upon this encounter, to dedicate myself to philology. That way, no one can accuse me of not knowing anything about society.”

You numbly wish her well in her endeavor, but wonder what exactly philology is and why Zoe would prefer it to fiction based upon her life. [+1 skill step Character Study, lose Ring of Three Jewels, Zoe Melis gains Ring of Three Jewels, add memory Sima’s Ring to Zoe, unlock stage Reporting to Sima]

[failure]

 

You draw carefully from a pocket the ring that Sima gave you and let Zoe’s eyes widen as she looks at its bright colours.

“That is a beautiful ring you have, [PCFirstName], but why are you showing it to me? Is there some ring-based tradition that I am unaware of?”

“This ring I received as a gift of sorts from Sima,” you reply, hoping that you are not giving too much away. “We met when I studying, and she got to encouraging me to take a little break, at which point she shared with me some ideas she has about magical jewelry. I felt rather out of my depths, so Sima, in kindness, lent me some of your writing for a relaxing read. I found the story that you had written to be a hilarious spoof of Academagia’s students and faculty, but was concerned that Sima might take offence at the idea that she is associated with Magsa and Tabin. Sima told me when I raised this issue that she cares not what fey-tales a fellow Hedi student like you may write about her, but gave me this ring as a slight apology for getting me concerned.”

“That Sima – as strange as she is friendly!” Zoe’s interjection begins as a whisper yet rises to a squeal, what causes the poet-student in the alcove to stumble in reciting.

“Yes, Sima cares not about your writings, but I am curious – maybe you will spread claims about me in your writings that I will not like. So I will give you this ring if you will tell me what your sources for your stories set in Academagia are.”

Zoe giggles, and her normally pale face flushes a bit. “No thanks, [PCLastName]. I have better things to do, as a student and as a writer, than tell you about how I created my stories for a ring, even if it has three beautiful jewels.”

She leaves then, and you feel that you should do the same. Listening to poetry in languages that you do not understand is not wise outside temples. What if the student is proclaiming his love for Regent Briardi or something even more scandalous and possibly illegal? [+1 Stress, pause adventure]

-          [PC has item Tabin’s Potion] Brew. Zoe would surely trade a potion for some answers – but you have to make the potion seem useful.

 

[success]

 

Hoping that Zoe has not been convinced through one of Cante’s proposals not to take strange potions, you try to be as honest as the situation calls for.

“Zoe, you seem tired and sick. This can lead to people making foolish social decisions.”

“Such as trying to wrestle Phillipe Marchant? What is new in Mineta? Has Phillippe fallen in love with the pacifist from his college and renounced violence? Or are you just trying to insult me?”

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you present the potion to Zoe.

“No, I was just trying to set up my offering this potion to you. I have it on a very good authority – who loves to try to learn things about medicine from Gressel's Medications – that this is a very reputable type of medicine that in general improves energy levels.”

Zoe faintly smiles. “Surely you are not giving me this for no reason. But I will take it – worst outcome, I figure, is that I will get a new potion beaker. But what do you want in exchange? Help with studying from my new-found energy?”

“I have heard from Sima that you wrote some sort of comic novel in which she and Magsa and Tabin are linked. She does not care about such false claims that you write in spoofs, but I worry – maybe you will spread claims about me in your writings that I will not like. So I want to know what your sources for your stories set in Academagia are – especially those concerning Sima, since your writings about her are how I first learned about your fiction.”

Zoe giggles, and her normally pale face flushes a bit. “Ah yes, the story. Well, I decided to have Sima associated with Magsa and Tabin for a purely humorous reason. Magsa I knew vaguely as an extremely incompetent zoology student, and Tabin – he competed with me in history last year. I Knew about a rival student and a bad student, so I thought that it would be funny to have them linked in my story though the mysterious yet socially powerful Sima – so contrary to reality. The rest of the story I based upon my desire to be known as more than the sickly student from the poor region whose captains kidnap crewmembers, as well as vague knowledge of last year’s pirate attacks. But you know what?” Her question is concluded with a squeaking bark of laughter.

“What?” You are glad to note that Zoe’s giggling, laughter, and monologuing are not disconcerting to you alone. The student reciting in the alcove shakes his head in disgust, stops speaking, and storms off, muttering in Renaglian about how art is not appreciated when others hear it.

“I’ve decided to stop writing such stories based upon Academagia. Sima took it well enough, but others, such as the Pievrian who hates me – let no one hear me say her name – may take such stories the wrong way. So I have decided, based upon this encounter, to dedicate myself to philology. That way, no one can accuse me of not knowing anything about society.”

You numbly wish her well in her endeavor, but wonder what exactly philology is and why Zoe would prefer it to fiction based upon her life. [+1 skill step Negotiate, lose Tabin’s Potion, Zoe Melis gains Tabin’s Potion, add memory Tabin’s Potion to Zoe, unlock stage Reporting to Sima]

[failure]

 

Hoping that Zoe has not been convinced through one of Cante’s proposals not to take strange potions, you try to be as honest as the situation calls for.

“Zoe, you seem tired and sick. This can lead to people making foolish social decisions.”

“Such as trying to wrestle Phillipe Marchant? What is new in Mineta? Has Phillippe fallen in love with the pacifist from his college and renounced violence? Or are you just trying to insult me?”

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you present the potion to Zoe.

“No, I was just trying to set up my offering this potion to you, which, um…”

But then you realize that you have no idea how to make Zoe trust your potion’s quality.

Zoe faintly smiles. “Why would I accept your potion when you cannot give me any evidence that it is anything other than, for example, dyed sewer water? If I were wanting a potion, it should at least be faintly linked to a skilled potion-maker or the like”

She leaves then, and you feel that you should do the same. Listening to poetry in languages that you do not understand is not wise outside temples. What if the student is proclaiming his love for Regent Briardi or something even more scandalous and possibly illegal? [+1 Stress, pause adventure]

-          [PC has memory Tabin’s Gambit] Strategy. Warn Zoe about Milena’s anger.

 

[success]

 

“So, Zoe, I think that Milena may be angry with you because of your writing.”

“Why? Have you learned about my stories in which I maker a thinly disguised version of her into a radical republican and Pievrian secret agent?”

“Um, yes. I mean, Sima is already aware of how you have falsely portrayed her as associated with Tabin and Magsa, but she cares nothing about such claims. Milena, on the other hand, is already your enemy, so she could cause problems.”

Zoe shudders and winces. “What do you think I should do to deal with Milena?”

Realizing that now is the make or break portion of the conversation, you say “Milena could sue you in court if she were really serious – defamation. So it would be good for you to clearly establish your sources for your claims and your over-all intent.”

Zoe grins. “Well, I don’t see why it is not worth trying. You, [PCFullName], can be my witness. I did no research when writing the novel that I gave to Sima. It is not intended to reveal the truth about any person or organization or state. Any similarities between the novel and reality (except as pertains to the layout of Academagia) are purely coincidental. The story is a wish-fulfillment about my life with many comical – not satirical – elements. But you know what?” Her question is concluded with a squeaking bark of laughter.

“What?” You are glad to note that Zoe’s abrupt laughter is not disconcerting to you alone. The student reciting in the alcove shakes his head, stops speaking, and leaves, muttering in Renaglian about careless words.

“I’ve decided to stop writing such stories based upon Academagia. Sima took it well enough, but others, such as the Pievrian who hates me – let no one hear me say her name any more today – may take such stories the wrong way. So I have decided, based upon this encounter, to dedicate myself to philology. That way, no one can accuse me of not knowing anything about society, and the Pievrian will have less opportunity to seize upon my writings to use against me.”

You numbly wish her well in her endeavor, but wonder what exactly philology is and why Zoe would prefer it to fiction based upon her life. [+1 skill step Civil Law, lose memory Tabin’s Gambit, gain memory Tabin’s Gambit Played, unlock stage Reporting to Sima]

[failure]

 

“So, Zoe, I think that Milena may be angry with you because of your writing.”

“Why? Have you learned about my stories in which I maker a thinly disguised version of her into a radical republican and Pievrian secret agent?”

“Um, yes. I mean, Sima is already aware of how you have falsely portrayed her as associated with Tabin and Magsa, but she cares nothing about such claims. Milena, on the other hand, is already your enemy, so she could cause problems.”

Zoe shudders and winces. “What do you think I should do to deal with Milena?”

Realizing that now is the make or break portion of the conversation, you say “Milena could play a really mean prank upon you, such as causing you to think that you are using ink of one color to write an exam when it is another color. So it would be good for you to clearly establish your sources for your claims and your over-all intent.”

Zoe laughs aloud. “If that is the best that Milena can do to me, then I need no one’s help. Even if she can do worse – and I would not put it past her – your failure to think beyond such minor pranks reveals that you are not whom I should consult to deal with her.”

She leaves then, and you feel that you should do the same. Listening to poetry in languages that you do not understand is not wise outside temples. What if the student is proclaiming his love for Regent Briardi or something even more scandalous and possibly illegal? [+1 Stress, pause adventure]

-          [PC has memory Magsa’s Gambit] Intimidation. Tell Zoe about the anger that her stories are creating.

 

[success]

 

You turn to Zoe, giving what you hope is a fearful yet not creepy look.

“Zoe, people are really upset about your efforts to write stories and give manuscripts to others. They think that you are harming their reputations. And they want to retaliate.”

Zoe’s eyes widen and she shudders a bit.

“Who are these people? Professors? Students not named Milena di Montors?”

“Worse! Prudence Cossins and Lambert Cobo!”

Zoe sighs and shakes her head. “Presumably, they did not like something about how I presented them in on of my stories. But I barely know those two – they are outside Hedi, and Lambert is not involved in academics or the student newspaper. So what is the worst that they could do to me?”

You frantically try to come up with the most intimidating things about both students and settle for saying “Prudence throws a mean punch and is skilled at incantation, and Lambert knows how to find rumors that he tries to link into some great conspiracy that he tries to convince Durand College to believe. One alone would be bad enough, but together? You would be at risk for physical harm and having your reputation smeared.”

Zoe grimaces. “I never should have tried to write about this school using my classmates as characters, let alone shared the story with others. But what do those two students not like about my writing?”

“Prudence does not like how you give the name Patience to a castellan’s daughter student – she wants to not be confused for Flore Yveuillet, even though the two of them both have issues with their names. Lambert just does not like being confused for an Aranaz student, even in fiction – he regards it as a personal insult.”

“Well, you can tell any student you want that I based my stories set in this school on no research into their lives. I did no research when writing the novel that I gave to Sima. It is not intended to reveal the truth about any person or organization or state. Any similarities between the novel and reality (except as pertains to the layout of Academagia) are purely coincidental. The story is a wish-fulfillment about my life with many comical – not satirical – elements. But you know what?” Her question is concluded with a squeaking bark of laughter.

“What?” You are glad to note that Zoe’s abrupt laughter is not disconcerting to you alone. The student reciting in the alcove shakes his head, stops speaking, and leaves, muttering in Renaglian about careless words.

“I’ve decided to stop writing such stories based upon Academagia. Other students, such as the two Durand students whom you mentioned – I have already forgotten their names – may take such stories the wrong way. So I have decided, based upon this encounter, to dedicate myself to philology. That way, no one can accuse me of not knowing anything about society, and the Pievrian will haver less opportunity to seize upon my writings to use against me.”

You numbly wish her well in her endeavor, but wonder what exactly philology is and why Zoe would prefer it to fiction based upon her life. [+1 skill step Journalism, lose memory Magsa’s Gambit, gain memory Magsa’s Gambit Played, unlock stage Reporting to Sima]

[failure]

 

You turn to Zoe, giving what you hope is a fearful yet not creepy look.

“Zoe, people are really upset about your efforts to write stories and give manuscripts to others. They think that you are harming their reputations. And they want to retaliate.”

Zoe’s eyes widen and she shudders a bit.

“Who are these people? Professors? Students not named Milena di Montors?”

“Worse! Prudence Cossins and Lambert Cobo!”

Zoe sighs and shakes her head. “Presumably, they did not like something about how I presented them in on of my stories. But I barely know those two – they are outside Hedi, and Lambert is not involved in academics or the student newspaper. So what is the worse that they could do to me?”

You frantically try to come up with the most intimidating things about both students and settle for saying “Prudence likes challenging people to fights, I guess, and Lambert is always skulking about, trying to hide.”

Zoe laughs aloud. “If those are the most dangerous features of those students that you know about, then those students are no threat to me. What a relief!”

She leaves then, and you feel that you should do the same. Listening to poetry in languages that you do not understand is not wise outside temples. What if the student is proclaiming his love for Regent Briardi or something even more scandalous and possibly illegal? [+1 Stress, pause adventure]

-          Conversation. Try to mention Sima’s concerns in a casual way.

 

[success]

 

You decide that honesty is the best policy – to a certain degree.

“Zoe, Sima is a bit puzzled by your story about Academagia. She wonders why you chose to associate her with Magsa and Tabin. She does not care that you write such falsehoods, nor does she fear that such falsehoods would harm her popularity, but she is curious why you decided to link her to those two students. If she were to ask you directly, she fears losing social status – caring about the scribblings of book-worms is not good for one’s social life, unless one wants to date Durand or Courtenay – or you.”

Zoe smirks. “If only we could all be so socially secure. If someone were linking me to someone else socially – not even romantically – I would be so worried that I would try to seek a synchronicity mage for help – at minimum. Would this claim be part of some plot to lure me – or as you would say, cassetta me? Or as some misguided attempt at friendship? Something in between? Even worse? I would be sicker than usual through not knowing the answer.”

Zoe sighs, and she seems very vulnerable – even more than a sickly solitary student from a poor region would normally be. Still, she has left you an opening, so you take it.

“Surely, Zoe, feeling so worried about such claims, you can better understand Sima’s curiosity, right? I would tell her the answer in strict confidence, so that neither of you would lose reputation.”

Zoe chuckles. “Yes! Even the idea of being, even in some small way, superior to Sima – it is amazing. And maybe this could lead Cyrus Dawes to try to date me, come in time. Or it could be a trap like what I was talking about. But no! Even if this is a trap, I shall control its opening – which is better than other social situations that I have been in. Now. Where was I? Ah yes, the story. Well, I decided to have Sima associated with Magsa and Tabin for a purely humorous reason. Magsa I knew vaguely as an extremely incompetent zoology student, and Tabin – he competed with me in history last year. I knew about a rival student and a bad student, so I thought that it would be funny to have them linked in my story though the mysterious yet socially powerful Sima – so contrary to reality. The rest of the story I based upon my desire to be known as more than the sickly student from the poor region whose captains kidnap crewmembers, as well as vague knowledge of last year’s pirate attacks. But you know what?” Her question is concluded with a squeaking bark of laughter.

“What?” You are glad to note that Zoe’s laughter and monologuing are not disconcerting to you alone. The student reciting in the alcove shakes his head in disgust, stops speaking, and storms off, muttering in Renaglian about how art is not appreciated when others hear it.

“I’ve decided to stop writing such stories based upon Academagia. Sima took it well enough, but others, such as the Pievrian who hates me – let no one hear me say her name – may take such stories the wrong way. So I have decided, based upon this encounter, to dedicate myself to philology. That way, no one can accuse me of not knowing anything about society.”

You numbly wish her well in her endeavor, but wonder what exactly philology is and why Zoe would prefer it to fiction based upon her life. [+1 skill step Intrigue, unlock stage Reporting to Sima]

[failure]

 

You decide that honesty is the best policy – to a certain degree.

“Zoe, Sima is puzzled by your story about Academagia. She wonders why you linked her with Magsa and Tabin. She does not care that you write such falsehoods, nor does she fear that such falsehoods would harm her popularity. If she were to ask you directly, she fears losing social status – caring about the scribblings of book-worms is not good for one’s social life, unless one wants to date Durand or Courtenay.”

Zoe smirks. “If only we could all be so socially secure. If someone were linking me to someone else socially – not even romantically – I would be so worried that I would try to seek a synchronicity mage for help – at minimum. Would this claim be part of some plot to lure me – or as you would say, cassetta me? Or as some misguided attempt at friendship? Something in between? Even worse? I would be sicker than usual through not knowing the answer.”

Zoe sighs, and she seems very vulnerable – even more than a sickly solitary student from a poor region would normally be. Still, she has left you an opening, so you take it.

“Surely, Zoe, feeling so worried about such claims, you can better understand Sima’s curiosity.”

Zoe chuckles. “On the contrary, I delight in having some power over Sima’s mind. Sima, a social butterfly worthy of the cunning queen and friend to feys, cares about me, whom others often wonder about as not able to speak quietly of riddles even crudely. Sima probably cares about this more than she wants to reveal, so I will not reveal the answer so easily!”

She leaves then, and you feel that you should do the same. Listening to poetry in languages that you do not understand is not wise outside temples. What if the student is proclaiming his love for Regent Briardi or something even more scandalous and possibly illegal? [+1 Stress, + 1 skill step Negotiation, pause adventure]

-          Beguile. Praising Zoe for her skill as a writer, try to gain news about her sources.

 

[success]

 

You decide that since Zoe has caused Sima such stress through attempts at being a writer, you should praise Zoe‘s skills as a writer.

Unfortunately, this may be difficult. Zoe’s writing is grammatically sound (as may be expected from an excellent Hedi student), but her story’s plot is absurd, its characters exist only to praise the Cassettan student narrator, and the vocabulary is unrealistic and homogenous. Only in her mind, barely familiar with these people in particular and people in general, would have either Prudence Cossins or Flore Yveuillet – whom she melds into a composite character – talk enthusiastically about the need for trans-and-cis-national panhuman amity in opposition to draconic traduction, belligerence, and aggression!

Still, if you had not been wanting strange situations and knowledge, you would not have befriended the Triplets, let alone come to Academagia! So, hoping that your mind is swift enough that you were not too long in thinking, you say to Zoe, “I am so impressed by your writing. The plot is so interesting and the characters so memorable. Are you trying to establish yourself as a satirist? Others may not like satire, or get angry at you for such writing, but I love satire, and can easily see your story among such efforts in that controversial genre.”

Zoe seems genuinely pleased by your remarks. “Why, [PCFirstName], I am flattered by your words and impressed by your erudition! Most other students here seem to think – when they notice my efforts as a creative writer at all – that satire involves Satyrs and Satyric Revelry, but this is not true! Anyways,” and here she shudders, “I would not want to write anything based upon or about Satyrs! Professor Sido showed me some notes about them from some of his lectures – I was interested in whether they had a language or languages of their own – and he revealed that they are quite protean in character. The ones at Satyrius may seem to be humans with the social graces of the wealthy people in Frontino with only goat features to tell them apart, but the satyrs in other communities are quite different – and I would not be surprised if satyrs behave differently depending upon how close they are to human civilization.”

“You know so much, Zoe! This could enrich your stories!”

“Yes, and I honestly hope to become better at writing stories. But right now, I am just trying to develop the focus to write about long series of events with a unified setting and character. I did no research when writing the novel that I gave to Sima and that she presumably showed you. It is not intended to reveal the truth about any person or organization or state. Any similarities between the novel and reality (except as pertains to the layout of Academagia) are purely coincidental. The story is a wish-fulfillment about my life with many comical – not satirical – elements. But you know what?” Her question is concluded with a squeaking bark of laughter.

“What?” You are glad to note that Zoe’s abrupt laughter is not disconcerting to you alone. The student reciting in the alcove shakes his head, stops speaking, and leaves, muttering in Renaglian about careless words.

“I am so glad that you like my writing that I have decided that I can move to better fiction – stuff that I really want to write rather than stories based upon Academagia. Certain students, such as the Pievrian who hates me – let not her name darken my mood now – may take such stories the wrong way. So I am interested in writing some terrifying stories set in a counterpart to our world – just as we live in a world floating above the surface of a planet due to magic, I will write stories set in a world below the surface of a planet due to magic. Imagine that! A setting with no astrology – and dragons and human foibles and other magics still providing threats.”

You have to admit that Zoe’s idea has potential, and are glad that you were able to get her to tell you more about her hobby and thoughts. Praising sincerely her ideas you wish her well, and expressing hope that you may be able to talk to her about these ideas more, you go on your way, pausing briefly to apologize to the flustered Durand student whose recitation you interrupted. [Unlock stage Reporting to Sima, unlock action Discuss Creative Writing with Zoe]

Action: Discuss Creative Writing with Zoe

 

Flavor Text: You have come to realize that Zoe has a genuinely interesting series of ideas for fiction – and she really wants to talk about them with someone. Once every 7 days, you are cordially invited to talk to her in the Hedi Common Room about her latest story ideas.

Benefits: +1 Relation with Zoe Melis, +1 Famous Prose, +1 Storytelling

Location: Hedi Common Room

[failure]

 

[If Male PC]

 

You decide that since Zoe has caused Sima such stress through attempts at being a writer, you should praise Zoe‘s skills as a writer.

Unfortunately, this may be difficult. Zoe’s writing is grammatically sound (as may be expected from an excellent Hedi student), but her story’s plot is absurd, its characters exist only to praise the Cassettan student narrator, and the vocabulary is unrealistic and homogenous. Only in her mind, barely familiar with these people in particular and people in general, would have either Prudence Cossins or Flore Yveuillet – whom she melds into a composite character – talk enthusiastically about the need for trans-and-cis-national panhuman amity in opposition to draconic traduction, belligerence, and aggression!

Still, if you had not been wanting strange situations and knowledge, you would not have befriended the Triplets, let alone come to Academagia! So, hoping that your mind is swift enough that you were not too long in thinking, you say to Zoe, “I am impressed by your writing. The plot is so interesting. Are you trying to establish yourself as a satirist?”

Zoe frowns. “Why, [PCLastName], are you trying to convince me that you like the story that I showed to Sima? I don’t think it to be good writing, and I am its author. Sima only got the manuscript from me after one of her friends – one of the glamorous girls in this school – mocked me in her presence for always writing and Sima, for some reason that only she knows, tried to be nice by evincing interest in the manuscript. I regard the circumstances surrounding its disclosure to the public as an embarrassment and the story as a writing exercise not intended by or fit for publication. I have enough understanding of social rules to recognize that you are not even really sincere in your praise of it. Bah! You were probably trying to prank me!”

She leaves then, and you feel that you should do the same. Listening to poetry in languages that you do not understand is not wise outside temples. What if the student is proclaiming his love for Regent Briardi or something even more scandalous and possibly illegal? [+ 1 Stress, - 1 Relationship with Zoe Melis, pause Adventure]

[If Female PC]

 

You decide that since Zoe has caused Sima such stress through attempts at being a writer, you should praise Zoe‘s skills as a writer.

Unfortunately, this may be difficult. Zoe’s writing is grammatically sound (as may be expected from an excellent Hedi student), but her story’s plot is absurd, its characters exist only to praise the Cassettan student narrator, and the vocabulary is unrealistic and homogenous. Only in her mind, barely familiar with these people in particular and people in general, would have either Prudence Cossins or Flore Yveuillet – whom she melds into a composite character – talk enthusiastically about the need for trans-and-cis-national panhuman amity in opposition to draconic traduction, belligerence, and aggression!

Still, if you had not been wanting strange situations and knowledge, you would not have befriended the Triplets, let alone come to Academagia! So, hoping that your mind is swift enough that you were not too long in thinking, you say to Zoe, “I am impressed by your writing. The plot is so interesting. Are you trying to establish yourself as a satirist?”

Zoe frowns. “Why, [PCLastName], are you trying to convince me that you like the story that I showed to Sima? I don’t think it to be good writing, and I am its author. Sima only got the manuscript from me after one of her friends – one of the truly glamorous girls in this school, unlike you – mocked me in her presence for always writing and Sima, for some reason that only she knows, tried to be nice by evincing interest in the manuscript. I regard the circumstances surrounding its disclosure to the public as an embarrassment and the story as a writing exercise not intended by or fit for publication. I have enough understanding of social rules to recognize that you are not even really sincere in your praise of it. Bah! You were probably trying to prank me!”

She leaves then, and you feel that you should do the same. Listening to poetry in languages that you do not understand is not wise outside temples. What if the student is proclaiming his love for Regent Briardi or something even more scandalous and possibly illegal? [+ 1 Stress, - 1 Relationship with Zoe Melis, pause Adventure]

-          Storytelling. You have your own talent for telling stories. Try swapping ideas and inspirations with Zoe and then work from there.

 

[success]

 

You decide that since Zoe has caused Sima such stress through her stories, you should  try to talk about stories with her as an opening for further discussion.

Unfortunately, this may be difficult. Zoe’s writing is grammatically sound (as may be expected from an excellent Hedi student), but her story’s plot is absurd, with pirates who do not seem to do anything except serve as ways for her narrator, the Cassettan Student, to gain the praise of others.

Still, if you had not been wanting strange situations and knowledge, you would not have befriended the Triplets, let alone come to Academagia! So, hoping that your mind is swift enough that you were not too long in thinking, you say to Zoe, “Your story is very interesting. What inspired you to write a sort of comedy set at Academagia in which pirates are so heavily involved? I am aware that there were pirates attacking the school last year, but I would not have thought to use this as the basis for comedy.”

Zoe seems genuinely pleased by your remarks. “Why, [PCFirstName], I am flattered by your words and impressed by your perspicacity! Others would doubtlessly assume that I was inspired last year’s pirate attacks and leave it at that, but you go further. Unfortunately, my answer is not that interesting. I honestly hope to become better at writing stories. But right now, I am just trying to develop the focus to write about long series of events with a unified setting and character. I did no research when writing the novel that I gave to Sima and that she presumably showed you. It is not intended to reveal the truth about any person or organization or state. Any similarities between the novel and reality (except as pertains to the layout of Academagia) are purely coincidental. The story is a wish-fulfillment about my life with many comical elements, but it is not meant to be a comedy. I just had ideas about things that I wished had happened to me, and many of them, due the circumstances that would have been required for them to come about, seem comical. But you know what?” Her question is concluded with a squeaking bark of laughter.

“What?” You are glad to note that Zoe’s abrupt laughter is not disconcerting to you alone. The student reciting in the alcove shakes his head, stops speaking, and leaves, muttering in Renaglian about careless words.

“I am so glad that you are interested in talking to me about inspirations for stories, and I would much appreciate such conversations in the future. I hope some time that I can move to better fiction – stuff that I really want to write rather than stories based upon Academagia. Certain students, such as the Pievrian who hates me – let not her name darken my mood now – may take the stories that I now write  the wrong way. I am interested in writing some terrifying stories set in a counterpart to our world – just as we live in a world floating above the surface of a planet due to magic, I will write stories set in a world below the surface of a planet due to magic. Imagine that! A setting with no astrology – and dragons and human foibles and other magics still providing threats. Have you heard of the Auncish writer Thomas Dragon-Resister Deerfield? His Elumian writing is polysyllabic and labrynthine, but the ideas are amazing and terrifying for the careful and patient reader.”

You have to admit that Zoe’s idea has potential, and are glad that you were able to get her to tell you more about her hobby and writing process. Praising sincerely her ideas you wish her well and go on your way, pausing briefly to apologize to the flustered Durand student whose recitation you interrupted. [Unlock stage Reporting to Sima, unlock action Discuss Creative Writing with Zoe]

Action: Discuss Creative Writing with Zoe

 

Flavor Text: You have come to realize that Zoe has a genuinely interesting series of ideas for fiction – and she really wants to talk about them with someone. Once every 7 days, you are cordially invited to talk to her in the Hedi Common Room about her latest story ideas.

Benefits: +1 Relation with Zoe Melis, +1 Famous Prose, +1 Storytelling

Location: Hedi Common Room

[failure]

 

[If Male PC]

 

You decide that since Zoe has caused Sima such stress through her stories, you should  try to talk about stories with her as an opening for further discussion.

Unfortunately, this may be difficult. Zoe’s writing is grammatically sound (as may be expected from an excellent Hedi student), but her story’s plot is absurd, with pirates who do not seem to do anything except serve as ways for her narrator, the Cassettan Student, to gain the praise of others.

Still, if you had not been wanting strange situations and knowledge, you would not have befriended the Triplets, let alone come to Academagia! So, hoping that your mind is swift enough that you were not too long in thinking, you say to Zoe, “Your story is very interesting. What inspired you to write a sort of comedy set at Academagia in which pirates are so heavily involved? Were you inspired by the ultimately heroic pirate captain in the most recent Celestial Battle novel?”

Zoe frowns. “Why, [PCLastName], are you trying to convince me that you are interested in the story that I showed to Sima? I don’t think it to be good writing, and I am its author. Sima only got the manuscript from me after one of her friends – one of the glamorous girls in this school – mocked me in her presence for always writing and Sima, for some reason that only she knows, tried to be nice by evincing interest in the manuscript. I regard the circumstances surrounding its disclosure to the public as an embarrassment and the story as a writing exercise not intended by or fit for publication. Your praise of my work, even if genuine, is not the result of learning, and therefore useless to me. You cannot even cite a source of inspiration for it that is not the sort of psittacine plebeian pabulum that I hate but other students love – to the detriment of my social life but the benefit of my education. Bah! You were probably trying to prank me!”

She leaves then, and you feel that you should do the same. Listening to poetry in languages that you do not understand is not wise outside temples. What if the student is proclaiming his love for Regent Briardi or something even more scandalous and possibly illegal? [+ 1 Stress, - 1 Relationship with Zoe Melis, pause Adventure]

[If Female PC]

 

You decide that since Zoe has caused Sima such stress through her stories, you should  try to talk about stories with her as an opening for further discussion.

Unfortunately, this may be difficult. Zoe’s writing is grammatically sound (as may be expected from an excellent Hedi student), but her story’s plot is absurd, with pirates who do not seem to do anything except serve as ways for her narrator, the Cassettan Student, to gain the praise of others.

Still, if you had not been wanting strange situations and knowledge, you would not have befriended the Triplets, let alone come to Academagia! So, hoping that your mind is swift enough that you were not too long in thinking, you say to Zoe, “Your story is very interesting. What inspired you to write a sort of comedy set at Academagia in which pirates are so heavily involved? Were you inspired by the ultimately heroic pirate captain in the most recent Celestial Battle novel?”

Zoe frowns. “Why, [PCLastName], are you trying to convince me that you are interested in the story that I showed to Sima? I don’t think it to be good writing, and I am its author. Sima only got the manuscript from me after one of her friends – one of the glamourous girls in this school, unlike you – mocked me in her presence for always writing and Sima, for some reason that only she knows, tried to be nice by evincing interest in the manuscript. I regard the circumstances surrounding its disclosure to the public as an embarrassment and the story as a writing exercise not intended by or fit for publication. Your praise of my work, even if genuine, is not the result of learning, and therefore useless to me. You cannot even cite a source of inspiration for it that is not the sort of psittacine plebeian pabulum that I hate but other students love – to the detriment of my social life but the benefit of my education. Bah! You were probably trying to prank me!”

She leaves then, and you feel that you should do the same. Listening to poetry in languages that you do not understand is not wise outside temples. What if the student is proclaiming his love for Regent Briardi or something even more scandalous and possibly illegal? [+ 1 Stress, - 1 Relationship with Zoe Melis, pause Adventure]

[Rhialto]

I have, after much thinking, decided that the final portion of this adventure should be divided into two stages, with the first including an option to end the adventure early. I just could not think of a way for Sima's meeting to be inconspicuous within the school, and I do not want to force any player to have to play as a character foolish enough to follow anybody - especially one as mysterious as Sima - into a shadowy space between buildings with no knowledge of what they are doing. The second and final stage will have many more options. Any feedback is welcome.

Reporting to Sima:

 

When Sima finds you outside the cafeteria, she seems on the verge of … well, you are not exactly sure. She is not frightened, nor angry, but she seems rather expectant. Perhaps this is one of the benefits of her great social skill and ethereality.

“[PCFirstName], [PCFullName], I am so glad to see you during a time when everything is arranged in terms of my not having any other…people to meet and…things to do. Please, tell me how things are going.”

Sima’s intonation makes it clear that she is not just asking about the theatre, school work, or even Rimbal – although Sima has evinced interest in the first two and may discuss the third if the boy interests her.

“Is this about...that?” You could kick yourself for your clumsy wording, but you do not want to give anything away. Some people who are not payed to be in the cafeteria may enjoy being there – some even for the taste of the food – and you would not want to be overheard.

Sima frowns. “We should be talking in a more quiet place. I know just the right location.”

Worried that Sima may provoke some sort of riot like she did last year if you do not follow her, you follow her in silence. At least she smells better than the cafeteria’s food. But when she leads you out of the building onto the campus, you feel a need to pause.

“Um, Sima, we aren’t going somewhere forbidden, are we? I mean, I just need to answer one of your questions, right? There is no reason for us to go the whole Beatrix von Wetgen route and go into the imperial reserve or something like that casually, is there?”

“[PCFirstName], I am flattered that you would assume me to be so associated with strange things that this might be possible with me. Maybe this will prepare you for what is to come. See!”

She leads you to a shadowy places where two buildings are close together, but pauses just before the shadows, writes phemes in the air with her wand, and then turns towards you.

“Any who ask why I used this sound dampening spell that also blurs lips with you should be told that I was interested in your opinion about whether Cyrus Dawes would provide interesting analysis of my hairs’ beauty – he would be a better talker about them than Amada Kiffer.”

You hope that Sima’s instruction, which seems to combine genuine comment about a topic of interest to her with deception, would make any lie that you might have to tell more convincing – although with Sima it can be difficult to tell apart genuine interest, feigned interest, and interest driven by mysterious factors. Still, you know what you have to tell her.

“Sima, I spoke to Zoe, and she claims that there is no secret source of information guiding her story. She just wanted to try writing a story based loosely upon her experiences at Academagia, and by coincidence she created characters who, in addition to being based upon you and Magsa and Tabin–”

“Yes, thank you for settling the issue.”

Of all your experiences with Sima, Sima’s casual acceptance of your claim about Zoe is perhaps the most surprising – although not as terrifying as Sima’s willingness to deal with elementals for a necklace. Given Sima’s earlier detectable consternation about Zoe, you had been fully prepared for Sima to cross-examine you like something out of a Conley trial – or a play about one.

Sima, clearly reading your confusion, laughs in a not-unpleasant way and says “What? Surely you did not expect me to rely purely upon your skill – or lack – in questioning Zoe. All you had to do was get her to say words about the story. Then my…trusted friend from Durand, whom I had glamoured up and given a truth-detecting amulet from my favorite second cousin’s youngest sister-in-law, staged a distraction by reciting some Plezycan epic poem while you were with Zoe, then consulted my amulet to determine whether Zoe was telling the truth.”

“Why did you not tell me? You might have spared me stress.”

“And burdened you with knowledge about the plan – knowledge that might have made you overly confident or that you might have revealed inadvertently to Zoe. The girl is sick and comes from a poor region, but she is more than an aspiring sailor – given how much she reads and how smart she is, I would not be surprised if she has read some book discussing a similar stratagem. There is more to war, a dear friend once told me – surely you know whom I refer to – than Shen Te, and there are more parts to my plan than you and any number of Durand students. Speaking of which – follow me.”

Sima beckons for you to follow her into the shadows.

-          What? Follow Sima into shadows? After all that you know and do not know about her? You’ll pass.

 

[If PC is Male]

 

You give an involuntary shudder and cry out to Sima “I do not make a habit of following people into shadowy places between buildings without knowing what is waiting for me, and that is even without knowing about those things that we had to deal with last year for your necklace.”

Sima frowns at you. “I thought, when I first heard about your confrontation with the street magicians, that you were braver than this. But I cannot wait. Nor can the people whom I must meet with!”

She rushes into the shadows. You, not wanting to be near this location when anything happens – who knows what Sima was doing? – go to do something interesting with your familiar. You never learn from Sima what happened – she is too upset to tell you – but Grainne’s whispers allege that Sima was found with rather grumpy look and unwillingness to shop with friends a few hours later. You are just glad that you avoided whatever Sima had to deal with, although no one will likely now think that the two of you are wanting to date – or are even friends – any more. Sima’s contemptuous gazes towards you whenever you meet are a clear sign of this. [- 1 stress, +1 skill step Familiar Kinship, - 900 pims from Sima Venesico, - 100 pims from Magsa Nembo, - 100 pims from Tabin Furenzti, + 10 stress to Sima Vensico, - 10 Relationship with Sima Venesico]

[If PC is Female]

 

You give an involuntary shudder and cry out to Sima “I do not make a habit of following people into shadowy places between buildings without knowing what is waiting for me, and that is even without knowing about those things that we had to deal with last year for your necklace.”

Sima frowns at you. “I thought, when I first heard about your confrontation with the street magicians, that you were braver than this. But I cannot wait. Nor can the people whom I must meet with!”

She rushes into the shadows. You, not wanting to be near this location when anything happens – who knows what Sima was doing? – go to do something interesting with your familiar. You never learn from Sima what happened – she is too upset to tell you – but Grainne’s whispers allege that Sima was found with rather grumpy look and unwillingness to shop with friends a few hours later. You are just glad that you avoided whatever Sima had to deal with, although no one will likely now think that the two of you are friends any more. Sima’s contemptuous gazes towards you whenever you meet are a clear sign of this. [- 1 stress, +1 skill step Familiar Kinship, - 900 pims from Sima Venesico, - 100 pims from Magsa Nembo, - 100 pims from Tabin Furenzti, + 10 stress to Sima Vensico, - 10 Relationship with Sima Venesico, end adventure]

-          Following Sima into shadows may seem dangerous, and she is mysterious, but you trust her enough.

 

“Sima, you are leading me into a mysterious place to deal with things that I know nothing about. Knowing you, they may be dangerous…but I am willing to trust you to be correct in thinking that between us, we can get this done safely.”

“Beautiful words, [PC full name],” Sima says with mock solemnity. “I for my part believe that you can do more than talk about danger – you can deal with it.”

She reaches back and, taking your hand, pulls you into the shadows with her. [+1 skill step Oratory, + 1 relationship with Sima Venesico, advance to Sima’s Confrontation]

Edited December 22, 2018 by Rhialto
fixed a typo

[Rhialto]

Sima’s Confrontation:

 

When your eyes adjust to the shadowy space between buildings into which Sima has led you, you are relieved to see that she has not led you to an ambushing group of pirates, a mage of great power and unknown friendliness, or a meeting with Legate Orsi. Given that you are travelling with Sima, you feel that you should not be embarrassed that you seriously thought such things possible.

But although there is no surprising person whom you can see, the place where you are is surprising enough to your eyes. You and Sima are standing within an alleyway shrouded with mist and strewn with garbage. By itself, this would not be unusual – Mineta is a large enough city to have many alleys, and if even one half of one tenth of the hints about the Triplets’ deeds are true they must know many alleyways to interesting places that the City Guard would love to know about. But there is, to the best of your knowledge, no alleyway of this length in this part of the Academagia’s campus – and the walls that form the alleyway resemble no exteriors of buildings currently within the campus. Admittedly, the walls are too covered with dirty and torn paper covered with writing – in characters that you are not familiar with – for you to make out what the walls are made from, but since the Academagia permits no walls to be so thickly covered with papers – not even the Vernin College Message Board – this remains as proof that the walls are not familiar to you from Academagia. Or anywhere, for that matter. You know of no script that is so based upon circles and crossed lines with other lines radiating out from the circles or crossed lines.

This is disturbing enough on its own – your mind is forced to think of powerful glamours as the safest explanation, and you are relieved that no stars can be seen through the overhanging upper floors of buildings in the white sky – but Sima’s growing tension suggests that something in addition to the strange location may be wrong.

“Where are they? They were supposed to be waiting for me. Be wary and try not to mention my name. This could be an ambush. And be careful about how you use magic in this place – magic beyond glamours does strange things here at times, especially revision, incantation, mastery, and gates. This place seems to change quite often – it did not resemble this last time.”

You are shaken by how casually Sima mentions mastery and gates magic, but figure that now is not the time to question her about it – besides, maybe she just read about the use of those pillars in some long-forgotten manuscript that told her about this alley. There are many strange books in the Venalicium, you think, most of them making true claims.

“Yeah. About that,” you reply in what you hope is a casual voice that will convince listeners that you are a powerful mage who can fight off any opponent rather than an increasingly confused student. “Ambushes are easy to fight against when one knows who might be expected to prepare an ambush. Besides, maybe they are just late. This place is very confusing to newcomers.” You laugh, hoping to disguise the fact that you, as a newcomer to this place, are one of the confused.

Sima makes no effort to reply to you, and your confusion is only reduced by the fear that arises when you hear a harsh barking laugh – of the sort that Sima would never make outside a performance – and the word “You!” It does not sound friendly, and your wand rises into a better casting position, but Sima pats your arm down as her wand creates a light. Then she calls out in her clearest voice:

“Dacota! I am at this light. I hope that the mist is not too bad for you!”

“If you think that the mist in this gods-hated alley is worst, then you are stranger than I thought!”

From the mist emerge two people dressed in ragged clothing. One throws back the hood on her cloak to reveal a young woman with dirty blonde hair formed into many short beaded braids – whose face is currently scowling at Sima. The other, a girl of around 10 years with black hair cut short to her head, lacks a cloak, and her movements lack her older companion’s aggression. Nonetheless, her body moves quickly and her eyes are roaming in constant search, made only slightly slower by clear amazement – perhaps this alleyway is as unfamiliar to her as it is to you. When she speaks, however, it is with a calmness that causes Sima to reveal surprise and the young blonde woman to lower her chin and become less visibly angry.

”Better to meet in a strange place with only two people than a familiar place with many enemies – or to not meet at all those who owe us money.” Her accent is strange even for Mineta, but it does not sound like a Bassan accent – maybe she is Saisynian? Her appearance would not rule it out.

Sima coos at her, “Is this the little prodigy who knows how to read whom Dacota said would help me with my problems? Show me the reddish-brown cylinder that I lent you and showed you how to use – and that you used, I assume – and you will have my gratitude, and you and your friend Dacota will have my money.”

The girl makes a move towards a pouch at her waist, but Dacota slaps her hand away and says, “Now is not the time to give her the reddish-brown cylinder, Roxan! You read much and have clever fingers for gears and eyes for hidden things, but in the ways of money I am better! Much planning and risk went into our fulfilling this…dombi’s request,” and here Dacota’s voice evinces a puzzlement matched in Sima’s eyes about what a dombi is, “and she must pay us money for your efforts.”

“But, Dom’na, what if the dombi cannot pay? Will she not learn about my skills?”

Sima decides to interrupt this strange girl’s apparently incipient anger. “Payment shall be as we agreed, Dacota. I have three hundred pims for you, after which you, Roxan, can return to me what I lent you.”

This seems to mollify Roxan, but Dacota’s hand seizes Roxan’s pouch and she says to Sima, “Three hundred pims? After all of that work and risk by us? Surely we Southside Pitts deserve more friendliness from you after that – after all, we still have the reddish-brown cylinder.”

“You make it sound as if I had you break into an archmage’s fortified compound or a prison, Pitts,” Sima replies, “but it was not nearly so dangerous. Especially with my help.”

Dacota gives a predatory grin. “I am sure, Miss, that a lot of people in the fancy school where you learn about magic and speaking quietly of riddles and other fine and fey stuff would be very interested to know about your help to us – to say nothing about the Captain of Mineta’s guards. Certainly, your task for us was not dangerous, but we prepared for great danger, as the wise do when dealing with magic. It was as if a great lord from the Chards had sent forth an army to capture a deer! The army must be paid regardless of whether it captures a deer or kills a dragon.”

“To call the Southside Pitts an army would be giving it too much praise. But what do you want from me?”

“Isn’t it obvious, dombi? The Dom’na wants more money!” Roxan’s voice sounds strangely happy and excited, as if this were some great game to her.

Sima sighs, looks at you, and then says, “Dacota, Roxan, I do not want to create controversy or beget brawling; my friend is here as a bodyguard to protect me rather than to ambush you. But I do not want to be taken advantage of – and this is what you are doing by changing the terms of our agreement against my will so late in the arrangement.”

“And I want my brother to be safer in his searches for knowledge,” Dacota snarls. “But we cannot all get get what we all want at all times. This makes the times when we can get what we want precious. I want one thousand one hundred pims from you. If you want to pay less, you should not have met me in a misty alley with only one friend for company. But I am a woman of my word. Pay me the money and Roxan will return to you what you lent to us!”

“I am not in the habit of carry around one thousand one hundred pims with me wherever I go,” Sima says, her lips tightening. “Such a large amount of money could easily be lost or stolen by certain people…such as you.”

Roxan giggles.

“Pity that you don’t use your great magical powers to carry more money,” Dacota says. “Maybe that is why magic school is useless for me – even if I could read. Memorizing all the phemes and learning about how to bend the world as you want it is really useless if you don’t use any of that power to carry loads of money with you at all times – secure from theft, ideally. But don’t you worry about your debt to me, mageling. If you won’t give us the money, we’ll search you for other valuables, and then we’ll see about other solutions. The fine purple overrobe that you wear – some child from a rich family may want to dress as a Hedi student for some Dance of Fools, and what better way to give a Hedi costume authenticity then with a real Hedi robe? Or those shoes that you wear – do you really need them for standing around inside, especially given that the Academagia has fires and many carpets?”

“Well, speaking quietly of riddles has its own advantages in dealing with your threats, such as my bodyguard here.” Sima turns to you. “Deal with these gang-members however you want. I look forward to seeing what you do.”

“Good reply, dombi! Hey, dombi’s friend, if you do well here, I’ll give you a nice title, like I gave to Dom’na Dacota!”

Looking at Dacota’s scowl, you see that you are not the only one exasperated at having extremely sensitive – and criminal – dealings reduced to some sort of spectator sport for a child’s amusement.

Still, you have to start something. No person unwilling to engage in illegal violence joins a street gang, and Dacota’s eagerness for money could easily lead her to attack you.

 

[If PC has memory Sima’s Wit] Bluff. Try to make Sima sound like a mage whom even great mages fear.

 

Success

 

[If PC has no Affection or Love with Sima Venesico]

 

Remembering Sima’s interest in the theater and her ability to trick people with ambiguities, you hope that she is willing to put on a performance that could save her life – or at least her money.

“Roxan, your boss-lady Dacota is going in way over her head in this,” you try to say in a tone of voice that could be seen as tough or sympathetic. “Of all the student mages whom she had to try to rob, she chose Sima Venesico. Now, I know not how common either name is in the world, but I know that when this Sima Venesico tells people to do something, they do it!”

Sima smiles and nods enthusiastically to a frowning Dacota. “Yes. Do you know Phillippe Marchant – perhaps from his involvement in cart racing? He and his brothers are powerfully built and come from a powerful family. Yet whenever I come upon him beating up someone in Academagia whom I want to protect, I just whisper in his ear and he stops and becomes very friendly.”

“So what?” Dacota retorts, her face trying to maintain its fearsomeness. “Even if you have all of this power and you really are Sima Venesico, your power is only useful in fancy diplomatic stuff! You Hedi mages and students think you have such power through your fine words and glamours, but you are nothing when confronting a fist or a knife.”

“But Dacota,” you reply, “Sima is no ordinary student in Hedi, nor even an ordinary mage. She has powerful magic and skills, with which she was able to impress the Academagia’s Legate and defeat a powerful magical creature.”

Sima understands where you are going and joins in. “And you know how powerful the Academagia’s Legate is, right? He uses a man of great wisdom and cunning as his janitor because he is so superior to him. Rumor has it that the Captain of Mineta is planning to give him an Archmageship because of his greatness – and he believes that the Academagia’s Legate is so powerful and skilled that the Golden Families would not object. I am honoured to be the Academagia’s Legate student. And yet, I greatly surprised him with my powerful magic when we first met for my personal testing. Wanna know how?” Her trailing question has playful lilt that invites curiosity.

Dacota’s answer is cut off by Roxan’s excited squeal. “Yes, dombi, tell us! In my home islands, dombis are professional entertainers, but you are better than they are!”

Ignoring Dacota’s sigh, Sima replies with a light laugh. “The world has many cultures, Roxan, and I am honored to be known for my skills in many languages. But I was honored by the Academagia’s Legate in the following way. I, being so brilliant, wanted to show my brilliance and avoid the Legate’s tedious testing. So I persuaded him to bring me to a unicorn – the Academagia has many such creatures – with the promise that if I could force the unicorn from its feet for ten seconds, I would no longer be needed to be tested by the Academagia’s Legate. The Legate of Academagia agreed, saying that since not even he could do such a thing, he would be interested in seeing how I failed to hold it down for five seconds. But I, using my magical powers, knocked the unicorn to the ground and pinned it for fifteen seconds before he interrupted my count and told me that I was a powerful mage who deserved special instruction. Do you really want to risk robbing me?”

Roxan squeaks and shakes her head, but Dacota says, her eyes hardening, “Why should we believe your claims? If you are so powerful, why did you bring a bodyguard?”

Recognizing this as the time to deliver a witty line to shatter Dacota’s confidence, you say, “But Dacota, Sima would go to a meeting with a member of the Southside Pitts with only one person if she were either very naïve or very powerful. So tell me, are you willing to risk everything on the assumption – unsupported by Sima’s conduct – that she is a naïve fool, or will you play it safe by accepting the money that she has offered you?”

Dacota hesitates, then looks at Roxan, who is looking at her with eyes that seem tensely expectant. But then she jerks her head in a nod and says softly and slowly, as if trying to persuade herself, “Roxan is a skillful thief, and she knows how to read, and she urges caution. Very well. Sima – if this is your name – I accept our original agreement.”

Sima gives her a pouch of money, after which Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out cheerfully. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, dombi-feeder,” Roxan replies. “The two of you should both become dombis, if such is possible in Mineta.”

You are not sure how to respond to Roxan’s comment – is she saying that you feed Sima opportunities to be a great entertainer? – but Dacota jerks Roxan away with a snarl and retreats into the mist.

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which I used genuine aspects of my life to make myself seem more powerful to them, was ingenious. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, Cirillo, or…certain other sources in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – to say nothing of her having to associate with people whom you suspect, based upon what little you know about Sima, Tabin, and Magsa’s activities, would make the type of people who gather at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor seem perfectly suited for one of Regent Badcrumble’s tea parties. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Charm, + 1 skill level Wit, + 1 skill level Acting, + 1 Skill level Wordliness, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Wit to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Acting to Sima Venesico, + 1 Skill level Wordliness to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has Affection or Love with Sima Venesico]

 

Remembering Sima’s interest in the theater and her ability to trick people with ambiguities, you hope that she is willing to put on a performance that could save her life – or at least her money.

“Roxan, your boss-lady Dacota is going in way over her head in this,” you try to say in a tone of voice that could be seen as tough or sympathetic. “Of all the student mages whom she had to try to rob, she chose Sima Venesico. Now, I know not how common either name is in the world, but I know that when this Sima Venesico tells people to do something, they do it!”

Sima smiles and nods enthusiastically to a frowning Dacota. “Yes. Do you know Phillippe Marchant – perhaps from his involvement in cart racing? He and his brothers are powerfully built and come from a powerful family. Yet whenever I come upon him beating up someone in Academagia whom I want to protect, I just whisper in his ear and he stops and becomes very friendly.”

“So what?” Dacota retorts, her face trying to maintain its fearsomeness. “Even if you have all of this power and you really are Sima Venesico, your power is only useful in fancy diplomatic stuff! You Hedi mages and students think you have such power through your fine words and glamours, but you are nothing when confronting a fist or a knife.”

“But Dacota,” you reply, “Sima is no ordinary student in Hedi, nor even an ordinary mage. She has powerful magic and skills, with which she was able to impress the Academagia’s Legate and defeat a powerful magical creature.”

Sima understands where you are going and joins in. “And you know how powerful the Academagia’s Legate is, right? He uses a man of great wisdom and cunning as his janitor because he is so superior to him. Rumor has it that the Captain of Mineta is planning to give him an Archmageship because of his greatness – and he believes that the Academagia’s Legate is so powerful and skilled that the Golden Families would not object. I am honored to be the Academagia’s Legate student. And yet, I greatly surprised him with my powerful magic when we first met for my personal testing. Wanna know how?” Her trailing question has playful lilt that invites curiosity.

Dacota’s answer is cut off by Roxan’s excited squeal. “Yes, dombi, tell us! In my home islands, dombis are professional entertainers, but you are better than they are!”

Ignoring Dacota’s sigh, Sima replies with a light laugh. “The world has many cultures, Roxan, and I am honored to be known for my skills in many languages. But I was honored by the Academagia’s Legate in the following way. I, being so brilliant, wanted to show my brilliance and avoid the Legate’s tedious testing. So I persuaded him to bring me to a unicorn – the Academagia has many such creatures – with the promise that if I could force the unicorn from its feet for ten seconds, I would no longer be needed to be tested by the Academagia’s Legate. The Legate of Academagia agreed, saying that since not even he could do such a thing, he would be interested in seeing how I failed to hold it down for five seconds. But I, using my magical powers, knocked the unicorn to the ground and pinned it for fifteen seconds before he interrupted my count and told me that I was a powerful mage who deserved special instruction. Do you really want to risk robbing me?”

Roxan squeaks and shakes her head, but Dacota says, her eyes hardening, “Why should we believe your claims? If you are so powerful, why did you bring a bodyguard?”

Recognizing this as the time to deliver a witty line to shatter Dacota’s confidence, you say, “But Dacota, Sima would go to a meeting with a member of the Southside Pitts with only one person if she were either very naïve or very powerful. So tell me, are you willing to risk everything on the assumption – unsupported by Sima’s conduct – that she is a naïve fool, or will you play it safe by accepting the money that she has offered you?”

Dacota hesitates, then looks at Roxan, who is looking at her with eyes that seem tensely expectant. But then she jerks her head in a nod and says softly, as if trying to persuade herself, “Roxan is a skillful thief, and she knows how to read, and she urges caution. Very well. Sima – if this is your name – I accept our original agreement.”

Sima gives her a pouch of money, after which Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out cheerfully. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, dombi-feeder,” Roxan replies. “The two of you should both become dombis, if such is possible in Mineta.”

You are not sure how to respond to Roxan’s comment – is she saying that you feed Sima opportunities to be a great entertainer? – but Dacota Jerks Roxan away with a snarl and retreats into the mist.

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

“You are a valuable friend whom I adore, whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion and affection flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships and possibly great love are made of? And your solution, in which I used genuine aspects of my life to make myself seem more powerful to them, was ingenious. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, Cirillo, or…certain other sources in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – to say nothing of having to associate with the handsome Cyrus Dawes, the easily controlled Iustus Venture, the cheating Cirillo Laziosi, or people whom you suspect, based upon what little you know about Sima, Tabin, and Magsa’s activities, would make the type of people who gather at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor seem perfectly suited for one of Regent Badcrumble’s tea parties. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Charm, + 1 skill level Wit, + 1 skill level Acting, + 1 Skill level Wordliness, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Wit to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Acting to Sima Venesico, + 1 Skill level Wordliness to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

 

[If PC did not complete Miya Hikari’s Y1 Adventure]

 

Remembering Sima’s interest in the theater and her ability to trick people with ambiguities, you hope that she is willing to put on a performance that could save her life – or at least her money.

 

“Roxan, your boss-lady Dacota is going in way over her head in this,” you try to say in a tone of voice that could be seen as tough or sympathetic. “Of all the student mages whom she had to try to rob, she chose Sima Venesico. Now, I know that magic is more common in Mineta than it is in order cities, islands, and nations, but let me tell you: Sima Venesico is a cut above the types of student mages whom the Southside Pitts usually deal with.”

 

To your disappointment, Roxan’s interest in your remarks is not accompanied by fear. “Truly?” she muses. “Mages here are so different from those whom I remember from my home island. Here, most notable mages seem to be incantors – two schools, Dom’na tells me, are teaching Incantation alone, and one student mage whom I have heard is associated with Academagia is allegedly very proficient in it despite having no access to school or library of Incantation that is known to the Dom’nus - the Dom’na’s brother. Yet where I come from, many great mages are revisors. Probably it has to do with water. My home island’s centre is what was a small sea on Cyve, so it is easier to purify salt water. But in Mineta, much easier to incant water. I suppose that on islands with no water shortages, other pillars may be better taught. There are some people in a distant island whose merchants once sold my parents some porcelain who are apparently obsessed with astrology because, having no lack of water, they are convinced that dolphins live within some river and hope to sell the dolphins’ skins. So, what type of magic do you study, Dombi Sima?”

 

Sima and Dacota both look at Roxan with surprised faces, but it is Dacota whose voice first breaks the silence, first with a barking syllable that Regent Badcrumble would hate and then with the words, “You are really something, Roxan! Times like this remind me why my brother values you beyond your reading and clever hands. So, Sima,” she snarls, “what magics are you studying that could make you so frightening to me? And don’t try to pretend that you are in Godina – I know Hedi robes from others, and you are glamour mages one and all!”

 

Sima sighs and spreads her arms in front of her. “I am, it is true, a glamour mage in training only, but -”

 

“Then you cannot prevent me from taking the money!” Dacota rushes forwards and seizes Sima by her hands.

 

Sima does not struggle, but merely says, “There is no need to resist this. Dacota, you can take my wand and let me release one of my hands so that I can write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to Sima what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out cheerfully. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, dombi-feeder,” Roxan replies. “The two of you should both become dombis, if such is possible in Mineta.”

 

You are not sure how to respond to Roxan’s comment – is she saying that you feed her opportunities to be a great entertainer? – but Dacota jerks Roxan away with a laugh and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Dacota was under much stress after robbing me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just did to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. And that is not even taking into account the fact that not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or even a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money when you could have paid her so easily?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which I used genuine aspects of my life to make myself seem more powerful to them, was ingenious. A pity that Roxan the thief girl was so much more interested in talking about the world and its magical traditions rather than in being intimidated by my alleged powers. With my funds reduced, other people in my life…will not be happy, shall we say? It would have been nice if you could have saved me such money, but I was the one who got so involved with the Southside Pitts and you tried to help me. I wonder if Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo might be able to make up my money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of bluffing and related activities. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Storytelling, + 3 Skill levels Wordliness, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Wit to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Storytelling to Sima Venesico, + 3 Skill levels Wordliness to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC completed Miya Hikari’s Y1 Adventure]

 

Remembering Sima’s interest in the theater and her ability to trick people with ambiguities, you hope that she is willing to put on a performance that could save her life – or at least her money.

 

“Roxan, your boss-lady Dacota is going in way over her head in this,” you try to say in a tone of voice that could be seen as tough or sympathetic. “Of all the student mages whom she had to try to rob, she chose Sima Venesico. Now, I know that magic is more common in Mineta than it is in order cities, islands, and nations, but let me tell you: Sima Venesico is a cut above the types of student mages whom the Southside Pitts usually deal with.”

 

To your disappointment, Roxan’s interest in your remarks is not accompanied by fear. “Truly?” she muses. “Mages here are so different from those whom I remember from my home island. Here, most notable mages seem to be incantors – two schools, Dom’na tells me, are teaching Incantation alone, and one student mage whom I have heard is associated with Academagia is allegedly very proficient in it despite having no access to school or library of incantation that is known to the Dom’nus - the Dom’na’s brother. Yet where I come from, many great mages are revisors. Probably it has to do with water. My island’s centre is what was a small sea on Cyve, so it is easier to purify salt water. But in Mineta, much easier to incant water. I suppose that on islands with no water shortages, other pillars may be better taught. There are some people in a distant island whose merchants once sold my parents some porcelain who are apparently obsessed with astrology because, having no lack of water, they are convinced that dolphins live within some river and hope to sell the dolphins’ skins. So, what type of magic do you study, Dombi Sima?”

 

Sima and Dacota both look at Roxan with surprised faces, but it is Dacota whose voice first breaks the silence, first with a barking syllable that Regent Badcrumble would hate and then with the words, “You are really something, Roxan! Times like this remind me why my brother values you beyond your reading and clever hands. So, Sima,” she snarls, “what magics are you studying that could make you so frightening to me? And don’t try to pretend that you are in Godina – I know Hedi robes from others, and you are glamour mages one and all!”

 

Sima sighs and spreads her arms in front of her. “I am, it is true, a glamour mage in training only but -”

 

“Then you cannot prevent me from taking the money!” Dacota rushes forwards and seizes Sima by her hands.

 

Sima does not struggle, but merely says, “There is no need to resist this. Dacota, you can take my wand and let me release one of my hands so that I can write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to Sima what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out cheerfully. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, dombi-feeder,” Roxan replies. “The two of you should both become dombis, if such is possible in Mineta.”

 

You are not sure how to respond to Roxan’s comment – is she saying that you feed her opportunities to be a great entertainer? – but Dacota jerks Roxan away with a laugh and retreats into the mist. You wonder whether all who are prodigies in theft are, like Roxan and Miya Hikari, able to spin fascinating tales that may not be true about foreign places.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Dacota was under much stress after robbing me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just did to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. And that is not even taking into account the fact that not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or even a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money when you could have paid her so easily?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which I used genuine aspects of my life to make myself seem more powerful to them, was ingenious. A pity that Roxan the thief girl was so much more interested in talking about the world and its magical traditions rather than in being intimidated by my alleged powers. With my funds reduced, other people in my life…will not be happy, shall we say? It would have been nice if you could have saved my such money, but I was the one who got so involved with the Southside Pitts and you tried to help me. I wonder if Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo might be able to make up my money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of bluffing and related activities. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 2 skill levels Storytelling, + 3 Skill levels Wordliness, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Wit to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Storytelling to Sima Venesico, + 3 Skill levels Wordliness to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has item Ring of Three Jewels] Jewelry. “Look at this beautiful ring, Dacota!”

 

Success

 

[If PC has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you thrust the ring into Dacota’s view, making sure that its stones are well illuminated by Sima’s lights.

 

“Ooh, pretty ring,” Roxan sighs. “I became what I am to have such things. Better than begging or sweeping or weaving or -”

 

“Enough! Foolish brat!” Despite Dacota’s harsh words, you can tell that you have piqued her greed. “Are you suggesting that we complete the payment for these services through exchanging this ring rather than any pims?”

 

“Nothing so unreasonable, Dacota,” you say in what you hope is a soothing tone of voice. “My friend will still pay you three hundred pims, but instead of her paying you the extra money that you want, she will give you this ring.”

 

Sima, as if cued, interjects with a slight sob, “It belonged to a dear aunt of mine, and has magic in it that benefits the wearer - it is easily worth nine hundred pims.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima. “The ring could have belonged to Octavius – aye, and have powers essential to Athanasius’s foundation of the Academagia – but I care nothing unless it has value that can be easily fenced or safe magic that can easily be used.”

 

Sima faintly smiles and turns to you. “Recite to them, if you can, the stones’ waters and values.”

 

You call out to Roxan, “You can read, but can you write? This will be better if you and Dacota have a record.”

 

She nods solemnly. “Yes, I can write in three scripts and the Dom’nus – Dom’na Dacota’s brother – wants me to learn a shorthand. So even if you were talking in Bassan, I guess, I could write down the sounds.” She takes a notebook and pencil from a pouch and indicates that you may begin.

 

There follow a harrowing few minutes in which you employ the latest Ruckmarnian technological expertise to explain to Dacota, Roxan, and Sima how you can determine, based upon various properties of the stones in response to various magical and mundane tests, what they are are well as their fineness and weight. Then, based upon what you remember about jewel trading at Brisbane the Gemologist’s shop, you calculate the three jewels’ value as eight hundred pims if removed from the iron setting. By the time you finish, both Sima and Dacota seem numbed by boredom, but Roxan looks fascinated.

 

“Wow!” Dacota laughs with relief when you finish. “Roxan, did you write that down?”

 

“Yes. I can read it out if you want.”

 

Dacota and Sima groan in protest, but Dacota’s smile never fades even as Roxan winces while she puts the notebook away. “Even if your bodyguard was creating stories and not facts, the story will be very useful if we want to fence the ring or its stones. I can get a boy to try the ring if my brother will not try to figure it out.”

 

You hand Sima’s ring to Dacota, who almost rips it from your hand. Sima then gives Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak.

 

“Be glad,” Dacota says, “that we were able to resolve this issue to my benefit so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, jewel-knower,” Roxan replies.

 

You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you must admit that if you are to be nicknamed by an annoying child, jewel-knower is much better than alternatives. Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Your lecture about jewelry was very thorough and useful – but very boring.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I adore, whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion and affection flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships and love are made of? And your solution, in which I gave up a ring rather than more pims, was useful if not imaginative. Pims are much easier to use for securing…useful services than jewelry, although harder to carry. Certainly, my aunt’s ring’s loss may be bad in future, but any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, Cirillo, or some even worse person in order to be able to make up for my shortage of money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – to say nothing of having to associate with the handsome Cyrus Dawes, the easily controlled Iustus Venture, the cheating Cirillo Laziosi, or people whom you suspect, based upon what little you know about Sima, Tabin, and Magsa’s activities, would make the type of people who gather at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor seem perfectly suited for one of Regent Badcrumble’s tea parties. It may have been serious, since Sima was so willing to give up a piece of her family’s jewelry rather than yield more pims – although much of Sima’s connections to magical jewelry is as secretive and mysterious as Sima is, and considerably less pleasant. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Negotiate, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 10 Research levels Jewelry, lose Ring of Three Jewels, + 3 skill levels Jewelry to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you thrust the ring into Dacota’s view, making sure that its stones are well illuminated by Sima’s lights.

 

“Ooh, pretty ring,” Roxan sighs. “I became what I am to have such things. Better than begging or sweeping or weaving or -”

 

“Enough! Foolish brat!” Despite Dacota’s harsh words, you can tell that you have piqued her greed. “Are you suggesting that we complete the payment for these services through exchanging this ring rather than any pims?”

 

“Nothing so unreasonable, Dacota,” you say in what you hope is a soothing tone of voice. “She will still pay you three hundred pims, but instead of her paying you the extra money that you want, she will give you this ring.”

 

Sima, as if cued, interjects with a slight sob, “It belonged to a dear aunt of mine, and has magic in it that benefits the wearer - it is easily worth nine hundred pims.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima. “The ring could have belonged to Octavius – aye, and have powers essential to Athanasius’s foundation of the Academagia – but I care nothing unless it has value that can be easily fenced or safe magic that can easily be used.”

 

Sima faintly smiles and turns to you. “Recite to them, if you can, the stones’ waters and values.”

 

You call out to Roxan, “You can read, but can you write? This will be better if you and Dacota have a record.”

 

She nods solemnly. “Yes, I can write in three scripts and the Dom’nus – Dom’na Dacota’s brother – wants me to learn a shorthand. So even if you were talking in Bassan, I guess, I could write down the sounds.” She takes a notebook and pencil from a pouch and indicates that you may begin.

 

There follow a harrowing few minutes in which you employ the latest Ruckmarnian technological expertise to explain to Dacota, Roxan, and Sima how you can determine, based upon various properties of the stones in response to various magical and mundane tests, what they are are well as their fineness and weight. Then, based upon what you remember about jewel trading at Brisbane the Gemologist’s shop, you calculate the three jewels’ value as eight hundred pims if removed from the iron setting. By the time you finish, both Sima and Dacota seem numbed by boredom, but Roxan looks fascinated.

 

“Wow!” Dacota laughs with relief when you finish. “Roxan, did you write that down?”

 

“Yes. I can read it out if you want.”

 

Dacota and Sima groan in protest, but Dacota’s smile never fades even as Roxan winces while she puts the notebook away. “Even if your bodyguard was creating stories and not facts, the story will be very useful if we want to fence the ring or its stones. I can get a boy to try the ring if my brother will not try to figure it out.”

 

You hand Sima’s ring to Dacota, who almost rips it from your hand. Sima then gives Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak.

 

“Be glad,” Dacota says, “that we were able to resolve this issue to my benefit so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, jewel-knower,” Roxan replies.

 

You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you must admit that if you are to be nicknamed by an annoying child, jewel-knower is much better than alternatives. Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Your lecture about jewelry was very thorough and useful – but very boring.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which I gave up a ring rather than more pims, was useful if not imaginative. Pims are much easier to use for securing…useful services than jewelry, although harder to carry. Certainly, my aunt’s ring’s loss may be bad in future, but any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk. It may have been serious, since Sima was so willing to give up a piece of her family’s jewelry rather than yield more pims – although much about Sima’s connections to magical jewelry is secretive and mysterious. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Negotiate, + 10 Research levels Jewelry, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, lose Ring of Three Jewels, + 3 skill levels Jewelry to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

 

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you thrust the ring into Dacota’s view.

 

“What strange ring,” Roxan says. “I became what I am to have better than what you show us.”

 

“Enough! Foolish brat!” Dacota’s harsh words are envenomed with contempt for your offer. “Are you suggesting that we complete the payment for these services through exchanging this ring – whose quality I know nothing about – rather than any pims?”

 

“Nothing so unreasonable, Dacota,” you say in what you hope is a soothing tone of voice. “Sima will still pay you three hundred pims, but instead of her paying you the extra money that you want, she will give you this ring.”

 

Sima, as if cued, interjects with a slight sob, “It belonged to a dear aunt of mine, and has magic in it that benefits the wearer - it is easily worth nine hundred pims.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima. “And my mother is from one of the Golden Families of Mineta, while my father teaches us about Ruckmarnian steam engines. We can all tell tales about ourselves that, if true, can resolve any problem, but that doesn’t make the stories true.”

 

Sima faintly smiles and turns to you. “Recite to them, if you can, the stones’ waters and values.”

 

You are seized by panic. “Sima, I had no idea that this ring involved incantation magic. Or are you saying that it has a secret water-proof compartment? How can I sell this ring if I know not its qualities?”

 

Roxan shrieks with laughter. “And older people are supposed to be better than I am! I know what water means in the jewelry context, as does the Dom’na.”

 

Sima shakes her head sadly. “There is no need for you to try to do any more. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to Sima what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, glass-polisher,” Roxan replies.

 

You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you must admit that if you are to be nicknamed by an annoying child, glass-polisher is much better than alternatives. Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money when you could have paid her so easily?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which I gave up a ring rather than more pims, was useful if not imaginative, although you lacked the knowledge of jewelry and effective sales techniques necessary to pull it off. Pims are much easier to use for securing…useful services than jewelry, although harder to carry. Certainly, my aunt’s ring’s loss may have been bad in future, but my unexpected shortage of pims now is…problematic to certain other people in my life, who will not be happy. I will, due to your overly ambitious incompetence, have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my shortage of money. At least I did not need to rush back and retrieve another eight hundred pims to pay Dacota due to the wonders of modern banking.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. It may have been serious, since Sima was so willing to give up a piece of her family’s jewelry rather than yield more pims – although much about Sima’s connections to magical jewelry is secretive and mysterious. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Jewelry, + 1 skill level Negotiate, + 1 skill level Transport, + 1 Stress, - 1 relationship with Sima Venesico, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Jewelry to Sima Venesico, + 1 Stress to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has item Tabin’s Potion] Brew. “Look at this potion, Dacota!”

Success

 

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you thrust the potion flask into Dacota’s view, making sure that its contents are well illuminated by Sima’s lights.

 

“Ooh, pretty liquid,” Roxan sighs. “I became what I am to have such things. Better than begging or sweeping or weaving or -”

 

“Enough! Foolish brat!” Despite Dacota’s harsh words, you can tell that you have piqued her greed. “Are you suggesting that we complete the payment for these services through exchanging this single potion rather than any pims?”

 

“Nothing so unreasonable, Dacota,” you say in what you hope is a soothing tone of voice. “Sima will still pay you three hundred pims, but instead of her paying you the extra money that you want, she will give you this potion and the remaning eight hundred and ten pims. Furthermore, she can get you more such potions if you want them.”

 

Sima, as if cued, interjects with a business-like calm, “It was brewed by a trusted friend of mine, and has magic in it that benefits the drinker for at least a day, so it is easily worth ninety pims.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima. “The potion could have belonged to Noemia – aye, and have powers that would allow Rostra to travel to Cyve below and back to the Empire of Man before I snap my fingers – but I care nothing unless it has value that can be easily fenced or safe magic that can easily be used.”

 

Sima faintly smiles and turns to you. “Recite to them, if you can, the essential oils that went into this potion.”

 

You call out to Roxan, “You can read, but can you write? This will be better if you and Dacota have a record.”

 

She nods solemnly. “Yes, I can write in three scripts and the Dom’nus – Dom’na Dacota’s brother – wants me to learn a shorthand. So even if you were talking in Bassan, I guess, I could write down the sounds.” She takes a notebook and pencil from a pouch and indicates that you may begin.

 

There follow a harrowing few minutes in which you employ the latest Ruckmarnian technological expertise to explain to Dacota, Roxan, and Sima how you can determine, based upon various properties of the liquid in response to various magical and mundane tests, what essential oild, herbs, and magic went into making it. Then, based upon what you remember about brewing from Professor Leith as well as other sources, you calculate the potions’ value as ninety pims if removed from the flask. By the time you finish, both Sima and Dacota seem numbed by boredom, but Roxan looks fascinated.

 

“Wow!” Dacota laughs with relief when you finish. “Roxan, did you write that down?”

 

“Yes. I can read it out if you want.”

 

Dacota and Sima groan in protest, but Dacota’s smile never fades even as Roxan winces while she puts the notebook away. “Even if your bodyguard was creating stories and not facts, the story will be very useful if we want to fence the potion. I can get a boy to try the potion if my brother will not try to figure it out.”

 

You hand Tabin’s potion to Dacota, who almost rips it from your hand. Sima then gives Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak. Then Dacota says, “Which one of you will pay the remainder? No more bargaining! And if you resist me, I will regard the deal as dead but keep the potion!” [+ 5 Research levels Brew, + 5 Research levels Analysis, lose Tabin’s potion, lock option [If PC has 800 pims] Pay Dacota what she wants.”, reveal option “[If PC has 710 pims] Pay Dacota the lowered fee the she has agreed to.”, choose again]

Failure

 

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you thrust the potion into Dacota’s view.

 

“What strange potion,” Roxan says. “I became what I am to have better than what you show us.”

 

“Enough! Foolish brat!” Dacota’s harsh words are envenomed with contempt for your offer. “Are you suggesting that we complete the payment for these services through exchanging this potion – whose quality I know nothing about – rather than any pims?”

 

“Nothing so unreasonable, Dacota,” you say in what you hope is a soothing tone of voice. “Sima will still pay you three hundred pims, but instead of her paying you the extra money that you want, she will give you this potion and eight hundred and ten pims.”

 

Sima, as if cued, interjects with a business-like calm, “It was brewed by a trusted friend of mine, and has magic in it that benefits the drinker for at least a day, so it is easily worth ninety pims.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima. “And my mother is from one of the Golden Families of Mineta, while my father teaches us about Ruckmarnian steam engines. We can all tell tales about ourselves that, if true, can resolve any problem, but that doesn’t make the stories true.”

 

Sima faintly smiles and turns to you. “Recite to them, if you can, the essential oils that went into this potion.”

 

You are seized by panic. “Sima, I barely know enough about brewing to know the essential ingredients that all brewers should have, let alone the oils that forms the basis of this potion that your…friend elaborated upon. How can I sell this potion if I know so little about it?”

 

Roxan shrieks with laughter. “And older people are supposed to be better than I am! You shouldn’t try to sell when you are honest and know nothing about your product.”

 

Dacota rubs a grubby hand through her head’s hairs, and you wonder how much of her hair is dirty rather than dirty blonde. She says, “We are not traders, anyways. Try another effort to settle this matter.”

 

You are surprised that Dacota is willing to try to negotiate more with you, but perhaps she has a superstitious dread of potion brewers and those who sell potions – such sentimeents are not unknown to Mineta. Given your lack of knowledge about brewing, perhaps you might be better served by sharing this attitude – certainly, Cante Caviti’s numerous failures and lost pims to sellers of fake potions may suggest that such an attitude is better than trusting potion brewers! [+1 skill level Danger Sense, Choose another option]

[If PC has memory Tabin’s Gambit Played] Politics. Since Sima’s meeting with Dacota is already so reminiscent of espionage, presenting this meeting as part of some broader plot should be easy.

 

Success

 

[If PC has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

You decide to approach this issue from a completely different angle, in an attempt to catch Dacota off guard.

 

“Dacota,” you sigh, in a way that could be condescending or sympathetic. “I undersatand that you have fallen into a bad course in life – which can always be abandoned if one has the will – but I must ask. Are you, among all of your other misdeeds, an atheist or an apostate from the Imperial religion?”

 

“What!?” Dacota looks first stunned, then puzzled, then angry. “You’re probably accusing me of being something unnatural, like an agent reporting to some dragon-worshipping Oursouk, or a wyvern breeder, or a dragon worshipper – but I’m not! And I won’t be insulted by a client’s bodyguard!”

 

She takes a step forward, but Roxan reaches up to tap her shoulder. “Dom’na, I know how to read, and my readings – both of my own books and of what the Dom’nus your brother lets me read – have taught me that an atheist is one who holds gods to be no standard for right conduct and an apostate is one who abandons a religion. Besides, it is not good to assume that a person is insulting when one cannot understand the words. Remember the time that you and I got all upset with your brother’s trying to speak Elumian?” Then, turning to Sima, Roxan says with pride, “I am no apostate, thanks to her kindness three years ago and since – the Awakened Man Measureless Life is still my guide, despite what the laws say about orphans in Mineta!”

 

Dacota flinches and her face can be seen to be getting pale. “Roxan, enough about your Good Man,” and here she digresses with foul language against her brother for his interest in magic and tolerance of strange magics and beliefs. “But in answer to your question, bodyguard, I am no…atospate or…aseitht; I attend services to Aemean when I can, and avoid preachers for him whose ideas seem heretical. Without the New Gods, we’d all be slaves to dragons. But why the question? Am I not a bit too old for you to bring to a temple as a person whom faith has turned away from crime? Don’t the temples prefer children in that role? Children even younger than you are?” And here Dacota, whose voice had been growing increasingly sarcastic, takes another step forwards.

 

“Dacota, I am glad that you are a pious woman who trusts and fears the gods.” The words rush from your lips in a torrent, and you hope that she will listen to what you have to say next – this is the key part. “In a world where the threat of dragons declines – may the gods keep it that way! – Pievre continues as a state that has embraced its twisted humanism and mass apostasy, and the Oursoukis remain a great power, I was worried that even some people not from those spiritually darkened lands in Mineta – the very heart of the True Religion – may have fallen into legal and spiritual errors. You, at least, are better than that. For this I and the girl whom I guard are grateful – as will our employer be, once we tell it about this. But you could risk such good favor by breaking the earlier agreement.”

 

“Your employer? It?” Dacota’s eyes widen as she makes an apotropaic gesture. “Whom do you kids work for?      What have I gotten us involved in, Roxan?”

 

Sima decides to chime in at this time. “Some people, Dacota, want to undermine temples’ powers through several subversive schemes for the dragons’ sakes, such as by spreading the strange doctrines of the Pievrian Republic in Mineta. There is a certain temple-affiliated organization, which we are junior members of, that hunts down such people – or failing that, their propaganda caches. Even schools, after all, can be infiltrated. I thought that Zoe Melis might have knowledge about some aspect of some plot, hence my need to investigate her. She is fierce rival to a Pievrian student, after all, and those who are rivals tend, if they are as smart as Zoe is, to learn about their rivals. I could gladly pay you some more money – my expense account would cover such a payment. But I would have to explain such a payment to the organization, and that would cause them to learn about how un-co-operative you have been, which could cause them to investigate you for being a potential vector for subversion. On the other hand, I was ready to tell them, until you wanted more money, how co-operative and valuable you could be.”

 

Dacota is silent, but you can see the struggle in her eyes. This is the best time, you think, to deliver a supporting idea to nudge Dacota in the right direction.

 

“You may think, Dacota, that all this effort to investigate Miss Melis due to her feud with a Pievrian peer is merely worthy of laughter in the wineshops of foreigners, whether Cassettan or Pievrian. But such lack of willingness to take clues seriously and follow them to their ends is precisely what may allow draconic agents to sow sordid seeds that become bitter blossoms or foul fruits leading to slavery.”

 

Dacota jerks as your words finish, then nods her head.

 

“Little Miss Mageling,” she says, “I am not sure what to believe about what you and your bodyguard say. Yet I follow the clues, and I know that you are no ordinary student mage, given your planning, knowledge, and access to magical artifacts. The risk is great that you are a member of some organization – maybe even what you and your bodyguard claim to be. And never let it be said that I am a dragon’s slave! Even if you are part of some other organization – a coster, say, or the thieves’ guild – I do not want to risk tangling with such a group – my thieves’ guild payments provide only some protection. For this reason, and only this reason – not because I am afraid of you or your bodyguard – please accept the reddish-brown cylinder for a lowered fee – and remember me kindly, never hesitating to hire me for certain jobs.”

 

Sima laughs lightly as she lightens a pouch that she removes from beneath the fold of her cloak, before handing it to Roxan in return for the reddish-brown cylinder. “You really are such a useful girl, Roxan. What is a dombi?”

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I was going to be an actor before I was recruited into the organization, and to this day I am encouraged to use acting in my work for the organization.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, spy,” Roxan replies. But then Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to recruit Roxan – which would be useful, but is not easily doable.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really part of some secret organization of spies that would benefit through recruiting Roxan?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which we pretended to be doing this investigation of Zoe Melis in order to serve a powerful temple-affiliated organization, rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. People will do so many things if they think that they are benefitting the gods whom they adore – or the powerful people who serve such gods. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. [- 50 pims Sima Venesico, - 50 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 50 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 Skill Level Theology, + 1 Insight, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Theology to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

You decide to approach this issue from a completely different angle, in an attempt to catch Dacota off guard.

 

“Dacota,” you sigh, in a way that could be condescending or sympathetic. “I undersatand that you have fallen into a bad course in life – which can always be abandoned if one has the will – but I must ask. Are you, among all of your other misdeeds, an atheist or an apostate from the Imperial religion?”

 

“What!?” Dacota looks first stunned, then puzzled, then angry. “You’re probably accusing me of being something unnatural, like an agent reporting to some dragon-worshipping Oursouk, or a wyvern breeder, or a dragon worshipper – but I’m not! And I won’t be insulted by a client’s bodyguard!”

 

She takes a step forward, but Roxan reaches up to tap her shoulder. “Dom’na, I know how to read, and my readings – both of my own books and of what the Dom’nus your brother lets me read – have taught me that an atheist is one who holds gods to be no standard for right conduct and an apostate is one who abandons a religion. Besides, it is not good to assume that a person is insulting when one cannot understand the words. Remember the time you and I got all upset with your brother’s trying to speak Elumian?” Then, turning to Sima, Roxan says with pride, “I am no apostate, thanks to her kindness three years ago and since – the Awakened Man Measureless Life is still my guide, despite what the laws say about orphans in Mineta!”

 

Dacota flinches and her face can be seen to be getting pale. “Roxan, enough about your Good Man,” and here she digresses with foul language against her brother for his interest in magic and tolerance of strange magics and beliefs. “But in answer to your question, bodyguard, I am no…atospate or…aseitht; I attend services to Aemean when I can, and avoid preachers for him whose ideas seem heretical. Without the New Gods, we’d all be slaves to dragons. But why the question? Am I not a bit too old for you to bring to a temple as a person whom faith has turned away from crime? Don’t the temples prefer children in that role? Children even younger than you are?” And here Dacota, whose voice had been growing increasingly sarcastic, takes another step forwards.

 

“Dacota, I am glad that you are a pious woman who trusts and fears the gods.” The words rush from your lips in a torrent, and you hope that she will listen to what you have to say next – this is the key part. “In a world where the threat of dragons declines – may the gods keep it that way! – Pievre continues as a state that has embraced its twisted humanism and mass apostasy, and the Oursoukis remain a great power, I was worried that even some people not from those spiritually darkened lands in Mineta – the very heart of the True Religion – may have fallen into legal and spiritual errors. You, at least, are better than that. For this I and the girl whom I guard are grateful – as will our employer be, once we tell it about this. But you could risk such good favor by breaking the earlier agreement.”

 

“Your employer? It?” Dacota’s eyes widen as she makes an apotropaic gesture. “Whom do you kids work for?      What have I gotten us involved in, Roxan?”

 

Sima decides to chime in at this time. “Some people, Dacota, want to undermine temples’ powers through several subversive schemes for the dragons’ sakes, such as by spreading the strange doctrines of the Pievrian Republic in Mineta. There is a certain temple-affiliated organization, which we are junior members of, that hunts down such people – or failing that, their propaganda caches. Even schools, after all, can be infiltrated. I thought that Zoe Melis might have knowledge about some aspect of some plot, hence my need to investigate her. She is fierce rival to a Pievrian student, after all, and those who are rivals tend, if they are as smart as Zoe is, to learn about their rivals. I could gladly pay you some more money – my expense account would cover such a payment. But I would have to explain such a payment to the organization, and that would cause them to learn about how un-co-operative you have been, which could cause them to investigate you for being a potential vector for subversion. On the other hand, I was ready to tell them, until you wanted more money, how co-operative and valuable you could be.”

 

Dacota is silent, but you can see the struggle in her eyes. This is the best time, you think, to deliver a supporting idea to nudge Dacota in the right direction.

 

“You may think, Dacota, that all this effort to investigate Miss Melis due to her feud with a Pievrian peer is merely worthy of laughter in the wineshops of foreigners, whether Cassettan or Pievrian. But such lack of willingness to take clues seriously and follow them to their ends is precisely what may allow draconic agents to sow sordid seeds that become bitter blossoms or foul fruits leading to slavery.”

 

Dacota jerks as your words finish, then nods her head.

 

“Little Miss Mageling,” she says, “I am not sure what to believe about what you and your bodyguard say. Yet I follow the clues, and I know that you are no ordinary student mage, given your planning, knowledge, and access to magical artifacts. The risk is great that you are a member of some organization – maybe even what you and your bodyguard claim to be. And never let it be said that I am a dragon’s slave! Even if you are part of some other organization – a coster, say, or the thieves’ guild – I do not want to risk tangling with such a group – my thieves’ guild payments provide only some protection. For this reason, and only this reason – not because I am afraid of you or your bodyguard – please accept the reddish-brown cylinder for a lowered fee – and remember me kindly, never hesitating to hire me for certain jobs.”

 

Sima laughs lightly as she lightens a pouch that she removes from beneath the fold of her cloak, before handing it to Roxan in return for the reddish-brown cylinder. “You really are such a useful girl, Roxan. What is a dombi?”

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I was going to be an actor before I was recruited into the organization, and to this day I am encouraged to use acting in my work for the organization.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, spy,” Roxan replies. But then Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to recruit Roxan – which would be useful, but is not easily doable.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really part of some secret organization of spies that would benefit through recruiting Roxan?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I adore, whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion and affection flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships and love are made of? And your solution, in which we pretended to be doing this investigation of Zoe Melis in order to serve a powerful temple-affiliated organization, rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. People will do so many things if they think that they are benefitting the gods whom they adore – or the powerful people who serve such gods. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think: you are willing to be my dearest friend – let no one accuse us of dating yet – despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. And fear not,” she says, looking at your face’s dawning horror. “What ever else I may be, I am no dragon’s daughter!”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. At least you have assurances from her that she is no dragon’s daughter in human form – and given that you trust her so much you must believe her. But you wonder whether you would be willing to date a robber chief’s daughter, come in time – she may be that, given how little you know about her. [- 50 pims Sima Venesico, - 50 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 50 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 skill level Dating, + 1 Skill Level Theology, + 1 Stress, + 1 Insight, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Theology to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Character Study to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

 

[If PC has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

You decide to approach this issue from a different angle.

 

“Dacota,” you sigh. “I undersatand that you have fallen into a bad course in life – which can always be abandoned if one has the will – but I must ask. Are you, among all of your other misdeeds, an atheist or an apostate from the Imperial religion?”

 

“What!?” Dacota snarls. “You’re probably accusing me of being something unnatural, like an agent reporting to some dragon-worshipping Oursouk, or a wyvern breeder, or a dragon worshipper – but I’m not! And I won’t be insulted by a client’s bodyguard!”

 

She takes a step forward, but Roxan reaches up to tap her shoulder. “Dom’na, I know how to read, and my readings – both of my own books and of what the Dom’nus your brother lets me read – have taught me that an atheist is one who holds gods to be no standard for right conduct and an apostate is one who abandons a religion. Besides, it is not good to assume that a person is insulting when one cannot understand the words. Remember the time you and I got all upset with your brother’s trying to speak Elumian?” Then, turning to Sima, Roxan says with pride, “I am no apostate, thanks to her kindness three years ago and since – the Awakened Man Measureless Life is still my guide, despite what the laws say about orphans in Mineta!”

 

Dacota flinches. “Roxan, enough about your Good Man,” and here she digresses with foul language against her brother for his interest in magic and tolerance of strange magics and beliefs. “But in answer to your question, bodyguard, I am no…atospate or…aseitht; I attend services to Aemean when I can, and avoid preachers for him whose ideas seem heretical. Without the New Gods, we’d all be slaves to dragons. But why the question? Am I not a bit too old for you to bring to a temple as a person whom faith has turned away from crime? Don’t the temples prefer children in that role? Children even younger than you are?” And here Dacota takes another step forwards.

 

“Dacota,” the words rush from your lips in a torrent, “In a world where the threat of dragons declines – may the gods keep it that way! – Pievre continues as a state that has embraced its twisted humanism and mass apostasy, and the Oursoukis remain a great power, I was worried that even some people not from those spiritually darkened lands in Mineta – the very heart of the True Religion – may have fallen into legal and spiritual errors. You, at least, are better than that. For this I and the girl whom I guard are grateful – as will our employer be, once we tell it about this. But you could risk such good favor by breaking the earlier agreement.”

 

“Your employer? It?” Dacota’s eyes widen. “Whom are you kids claming to work for? What have I gotten us involved in, Roxan?”

 

Sima decides to chime in at this time. “Some people, Dacota, want to undermine temples’ powers through several subversive schemes for the dragons’ sakes, such as by spreading the strange doctrines of the Pievrian Republic in Mineta. There is a certain temple-affiliated organization, which we are junior members of, that hunts down such people – or failing that, their propaganda caches. Even schools, after all, can be infiltrated. I thought that Zoe Melis might have knowledge about some aspect of some plot, hence need to investigate her. She is fierce rival to a Pievrian student, after all, and those who are rivals tend, if they are as smart as Zoe is, to learn about their rivals. I could gladly pay you some more money – my expense account would cover such a payment. But I would have to explain such a payment to the organization, and that would cause them to learn about how un-co-operative you have been, which could cause them to investigate you for being a potential vector for subversion. On the other hand, I was ready to tell them, until you wanted more money, how co-operative and valuable you could be.”

 

After Sima has finished her words, Dacota says nothing, but looks at both of you, lost in thought.

 

“The two of you spin a good story – enough to be weavers in the Temple of Iudocia,” she finally says. “But I am not willing to believe your claims – not when there are eight hundred pims on the line for your claims. Do you even know how much eight hundred pims will buy us? Probably not. But for me, those eight hundred pims are more valuable than yielding to an implausible story in hope of some vaguely defined future reward come in time from an organization that I have no proof either of you are involved with. So pay the money that I want – or else!”

 

Sima shakes her head sadly. “Your choice has been noted, Dacota. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder. “Don’t feel too bad that you weren’t able to convince Dom’na Dacota,” she says. “In my home islands, dombis are professional entertainers, but you are better than they are!”

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, faker,” Roxan replies.

 

You are glad that you have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you must admit to wishing that she had used a more obscure nickname for you than faker. Still, you had tried to fake being part of a powerful organization. Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to recruit Roxan as an actress for some confidence tricks – which would be useful, but is not easily doable.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? Are you part of some secret organization of spies that would benefit through recruiting Roxan? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money from you when you could have paid her so easily from the beginning?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which we pretended to be doing this investigation of Zoe Melis in order to serve a powerful temple-affiliated organization, rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious, even though you were not skilled enough to succeed in it. People will do so many things if they think that they are benefitting the gods whom they adore – or the powerful people who serve such gods. But one must be able to convince people of this first, and that can be more difficult than creating an effective, internally consistent, plausible lie. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. With my funds reduced, other people in my life…will not be happy, shall we say? It would have been nice if you could have saved me such money, but I was the one who got so involved with the Southside Pitts and you tried to help me. I wonder if Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo might be able to make up my money.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you were unable to save her from some financial risk – and disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Character Study, + 1 Skill Level Story Telling, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Theology to Sima Venesico, + 1 stress to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

You decide to approach this issue from a different angle.

 

“Dacota,” you sigh. “I undersatand that you have fallen into a bad course in life – which can always be abandoned if one has the will – but I must ask. Are you, among all of your other misdeeds, an atheist or an apostate from the Imperial religion?”

 

“What!?” Dacota snarls. “You’re probably accusing me of being something unnatural, like an agent reporting to some dragon-worshipping Oursouk, or a wyvern breeder, or a dragon worshipper – but I’m not! And I won’t be insulted by a client’s bodyguard!”

 

She takes a step forward, but Roxan reaches up to tap her shoulder. “Dom’na, I know how to read, and my readings – both of my own books and of what the Dom’nus your brother lets me read – have taught me that an atheist is one who holds gods to be no standard for right conduct and an apostate is one who abandons a religion. Besides, it is not good to assume that a person is insulting when one cannot understand the words. Remember the time you and I got all upset with your brother’s trying to speak Elumian?” Then, turning to Sima, Roxan says with pride, “I am no apostate, thanks to her kindness three years ago and since – the Awakened Man Measureless Life is still my guide, despite what the laws say about orphans in Mineta!”

 

Dacota flinches. “Roxan, enough about your Good Man,” and here she digresses with foul language against her brother for his interest in magic and tolerance of strange magics and beliefs. “But in answer to your question, bodyguard, I am no…atospate or…aseitht; I attend services to Aemean when I can, and avoid preachers for him whose ideas seem heretical. Without the New Gods, we’d all be slaves to dragons. But why the question? Am I not a bit too old for you to bring to a temple as a person whom faith has turned away from crime? Don’t the temples prefer children in that role? Children even younger than you are?” And here Dacota takes another step forwards.

 

“Dacota,” the words rush from your lips in a torrent, “In a world where the threat of dragons declines – may the gods keep it that way! – Pievre continues as a state that has embraced its twisted humanism and mass apostasy, and the Oursoukis remain a great power, I was worried that even some people not from those spiritually darkened lands in Mineta – the very heart of the True Religion – may have fallen into legal and spiritual errors. You, at least, are better than that. For this I and the girl whom I guard are grateful – as will our employer be, once we tell it about this. But you could risk such good favor by breaking the earlier agreement.”

 

“Your employer? It?” Dacota’s eyes widen. “Whom are you kids claming to work for? What have I gotten us involved in, Roxan?”

 

Sima decides to chime in at this time. “Some people, Dacota, want to undermine temples’ powers through several subversive schemes for the dragons’ sakes, such as by spreading the strange doctrines of the Pievrian Republic in Mineta. There is a certain temple-affiliated organization, which we are junior members of, that hunts down such people – or failing that, their propaganda caches. Even schools, after all, can be infiltrated. I thought that Zoe Melis might have knowledge about some aspect of some plot, hence need to investigate her. She is fierce rival to a Pievrian student, after all, and those who are rivals tend, if they are as smart as Zoe is, to learn about their rivals. I could gladly pay you some more money – my expense account would cover such a payment. But I would have to explain such a payment to the organization, and that would cause them to learn about how un-co-operative you have been, which could cause them to investigate you for being a potential vector for subversion. On the other hand, I was ready to tell them, until you wanted more money, how co-operative and valuable you could be.”

 

After Sima has finished her words, Dacota says nothing, but looks at both of you, lost in thought.

 

“The two of you spin a good story – enough to be weavers in the Temple of Iudocia,” she finally says. “But I am not willing to believe your claims – not when there are eight hundred pims on the line for your claims. Do you even know how much eight hundred pims will buy us? Probably not. But for me, those eight hundred pims are more valuable than yielding to an implausible story in hope of some vaguely defined future reward come in time from an organization that I have no proof either of you are involved with. So pay the money that I want – or else!”

 

Sima shakes her head sadly. “Your choice has been noted, Dacota. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder. “Don’t feel too bad that you weren’t able to convince Dom’na Dacota,” she says. “In my home islands, dombis are professional entertainers, but you are better than they are!”

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, faker,” Roxan replies.

 

You are glad that you have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you must admit to wishing that she had used a more obscure nickname for you than faker. Still, you had tried to fake being part of a powerful organization. Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to recruit Roxan as an actress for some confidence tricks – which would be useful, but is not easily doable.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? Are you part of some secret organization of spies that would benefit through recruiting Roxan? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money from you when you could have paid her so easily from the beginning?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I adore, whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion and affection flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which we pretended to be doing this investigation of Zoe Melis in order to serve a powerful temple-affiliated organization, rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious, even though you were not skilled enough to succeed in it. People will do so many things if they think that they are benefitting the gods whom they adore – or the powerful people who serve such gods. But one must be able to convince people of this first, and that can be more difficult than creating an effective, internally consistent, plausible lie. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. With my funds reduced, other people in my life…will not be happy, shall we say? It would have been nice if you could have saved me such money, but I was the one who got so involved with the Southside Pitts and you tried to help me. I wonder if Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo might be able to make up my money.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. And fear not,” she says, looking at your face’s dawning horror. “What ever else I may be, I am no dragon’s daughter!”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you were unable to save her from some financial risk – and disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. At least you have assurances from her that she is no dragon’s daughter in human form – and given that you trust her so much you must believe her. But you wonder whether you would be willing to date a robber chief’s daughter, come in time – she may be that, given how little you know about her. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Character Study, + 1 Skill Level Story Telling, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Theology to Sima Venesico, + 1 stress to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has memory Magsa’s Gambit Played] Intrigue. Maybe you can build upon Magsa’s claim to make this business seem more than it is.

 

Success

 

[If PC has Tutoring: Grifter]

 

You seize upon Dacota’s earlier reference to Chards. Magsa had mentioned to you the possibility that Prudence would be upset about being conflated with Flore, but Flore Yveuillet has a rivalry with Catherine Chard due to their families, and Catherine is wealthy, arrogant, and ruthless enough that she might try to bring Sima in to help investigate any possible source of bad tales about her rival – even those written in fiction by a quiet scholar, because who knows what such people may find and how they may write their findings. And where Catherine gets involved, her family cannot be far behind. Or so you hope you can convince Dacota.

 

All of these thoughts flash through your mind – resembling a dragon in flight in their terrifyingness if not wickedness – as you open your mouth.

 

“Dacota,” you say, with what you hope is a conspiratorial tone. “It is strange that you mention Chards in connection with this meeting. You knw who they are, I presume.”

 

“Just because I attend no fancy school does not make me a fool!” Dacota replies. “All with some knowledge of Mineta’s events and people know about the Golden Families, and since I am…working near Academagia, I know especially about the Chards. One of their daughters is continuing their custom of going there. Don’t tell me – she’s behind this, right?”

 

“I am so relieved, Dacota, that you are understanding the ways of Mineta and its great families so well – although I would not dare to confirm or deny whether Catherine Chard was truly behind this task that you and my friend undertook. Certain people, you know, can be so eager to find things to use against their rivals – and their families’ rivals – that they would sink to utterly illegal – and complicated – lengths to harm them. Such people make very useful...patrons, I guess you might call them, but can be very dangerous when crossed. Especially when crossing their clients involves not merely harming them, even if only indirectly, but also their families. Only indirectly, true, but such people are very attached to thier families. And such people, without their families, are…well, I fear that I may have digressed too much. Suffice it to say that our little operation against Zoe Melis was, at a certain level, much more than a student prank. But then, I am sure that Roxan already knows this.” You gesture towards Roxan, hoping that you have understood her role in Sima’s plan correctly. If you misunderstood it, your credibility as a hinter about Catherine Chard’s plotting would be seriously undermined.

 

“Yes, Dom’na, it was strange,” Roxan says, after seeing that no one is stopping her. “I have never been tolds to simply go into a room and use a magical device without being caught. And you, Dombi, emphatically told me that I was not to take anything from Zoe’s room or even mess with her clothing. I did such, though, as you had requested. And I have the tube for you, which I will give to you, come in time – once you pay us the money.”

 

Dacota, who has been growing a bit concerned by what she has heard, turns to Sima and says, “Yes, about the money – maybe I was wrong to break my agreement with you. I do not want to get on the bad side of any Golden Family – not that I am saying that I think that any particular family is behind this – and as more…polite people might say, it is not proper to change terms of any agreement at the last minute. So. Three hundred pims it will be, yes?”

 

Sima laughs lightly as she removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloak, before handing it to Roxan in return for the reddish-brown cylinder. “You really are such a useful girl, Roxan. What is a dombi?”

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, hinter,” Roxan replies. But then Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to turn Roxan into being an actress rather than burgler – although being an actor would not give her any greater respectability in society, despite the actor’s greater legality. Ah, this is but one of many strange things in the world that have nothing to do with magic.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. So you decide to ask some noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you cleverly hinted that we were working for Catherine Chard doing this investigation of Zoe Melis rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. The best deceptions involve no lies – or at least very few – and are all about letting the mark make conclusions. That way, if the mark confronts you about the claim, you can avoid appearing dishonest, if such is necessary, by truthfully saying that you made fewer false claims than the mark thinks. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are somewhat disquieted by Sima’s casually talking about the best way to deceive people. Has she, like you, been trained by some grifter? Has she served as a grifter? But you trust her enough to believe that she would never harm you while the two of you are friends – your adventure last year on the mysterious island with the Triplets proved that to you. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 Skill Level Innuendo, + 1 skill level Flattery, + 1 Intelligence, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Intrigue to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has no Tutoring: Grifter]

 

You seize upon Dacota’s earlier reference to Chards. Magsa had mentioned to you the possibility that Prudence would be upset about being conflated with Flore, but Flore Yveuillet has a rivalry with Catherine Chard due to their families, and Catherine is wealthy, arrogant, and ruthless enough that she might try to bring Sima in to help investigate any possible source of bad tales about her rival – even those written in fiction by a quiet scholar, because who knows what such people may find and how they may write their findings. And where Catherine gets involved, her family cannot be far behind. Or so you hope you can convince Dacota.

 

All of these thoughts flash through your mind – resembling a dragon in flight in their terrifyingness if not wickedness – as you open your mouth.

 

“Dacota,” you say, with what you hope is a conspiratorial tone. “It is strange that you mention Chards in connection with this meeting. You knw who they are, I presume.”

 

“Just because I attend no fancy school does not make me a fool!” Dacota replies. “All with some knowledge of Mineta’s events and people know about the Golden Families, and since I am…working near Academagia, I know especially about the Chards. One of their daughters is continuing their custom of going there. Don’t tell me – she’s behind this, right?”

 

“I am so relieved, Dacota, that you are understanding the ways of Mineta and its great families so well – although I would not dare to confirm or deny whether Catherine Chard was truly behind this task that you and my friend undertook. Certain people, you know, can be so eager to find things to use against their rivals – and their families’ rivals – that they would sink to utterly illegal – and complicated – lengths to harm them. Such people make very useful...patrons, I guess you might call them, but can be very dangerous when crossed. Especially when crossing their clients involves not merely harming them, even if only indirectly, but also their families. Only indirectly, true, but such people are very attached to thier families. And such people, without their families, are…well, I fear that I may have digressed too much. Suffice it to say that our little operation against Zoe Melis was, at a certain level, much more than a student prank. But then, I am sure that Roxan already knows this.” You gesture towards Roxan, hoping that you have understood her role in Sima’s plan correctly. If you misunderstood it, your credibility as a hinter about Catherine Chard’s plotting would be seriously undermined.

 

“Yes, Dom’na, it was strange,” Roxan says, after seeing that no one is stopping her. “I have never been tolds to simply go into a room and use a magical device without being caught. And you, Dombi, emphatically told me that I was not to take anything from Zoe’s room or even mess with her clothing. I did such, though, as you had requested. And I have the tube for you, which I will give to you, come in time – once you pay us the money.”

 

Dacota, who has been growing a bit concerned by what she has heard, turns to Sima and says, “Yes, about the money – maybe I was wrong to break my agreement with you. I do not want to get on the bad side of any Golden Family – not that I am saying that I think that any particular family is behind this – and as more…polite people might say, it is not proper to change terms of any agreement at the last minute. So. Three hundred pims it will be, yes?”

 

Sima laughs lightly as she removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloak, before handing it to Roxan in return for the reddish-brown cylinder. “You really are such a useful girl, Roxan. What is a dombi?”

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, hinter,” Roxan replies. But then Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to turn Roxan into being an actress rather than burgler – although being an actor would not give her any greater respectability in society, despite the actor’s greater legality. Ah, this is but one of many strange things in the world that have nothing to do with magic.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. So you decide to ask some noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you cleverly hinted that we were working for Catherine Chard doing this investigation of Zoe Melis rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. The best deceptions involve no lies – or at least very few – and are all about letting the mark make conclusions. That way, if the mark confronts you about the claim, you can avoid appearing dishonest, if such is necessary, by truthfully saying that you made fewer false claims than the mark thinks. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are somewhat disquieted by Sima’s casually talking about the best way to deceive people. But you trust her enough to believe that she would never harm you while the two of you are friends – your adventure last year on the mysterious island with the Triplets proved that to you. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 Skill Level Innuendo, + 1 skill level Flattery, + 1 Intelligence, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Intrigue to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

 

[If PC has Tutoring: Grifter]

 

You seize upon Dacota’s earlier reference to Chards. Magsa had mentioned to you that Prudence would be upset about being conflated with Flore, but Flore has a rivalry with Catherine Chard due to their families, and Catherine is wealthy, arrogant, and ruthless enough that she would try to bring Sima in to help investigate any possible source of bad tales about her rival – even those written in fiction by a quiet scholar, because who knows what such people may find and how they may write their findings. And where Catherine gets involved, her family cannot be far behind.

 

All of these thoughts flash through your mind as you open your mouth.

 

“Dacota,” you say. “It is strange that you mention Chards in connection with this meeting. You knw who they are, surely.”

 

“Just because I attend no fancy school does not make me a fool, despite what you think!” Dacota replies. “All with some knowledge of Mineta’s events know about the Golden Families, and since I am…working near Academagia, I know especially about the Chards. One of their daughters is continuing the custom of going there. Is there a purpose to this aside from insulting me?”

 

“Catherine Chard was truly behind this task that you and my friend undertook. She is so eager to find things to use against her rivals – and her family’s rivals – that she would sink to utterly illegal – and complicated – lengths to harm them – rivals such as Flore Yveuillet. Miss Chard makes a very useful...patron, I guess you might call her, but can be very dangerous when crossed. Especially when crossing her client involves not merely harming her, even if only indirectly, but also her family. Suffice it to say that our little operation against Zoe Melis was, at a certain level, much more than a student prank. But then, I am sure that Roxan already knows this.” You gesture towards Roxan, hoping that you have understood her role in Sima’s plan correctly. If you misunderstood it, your credibility as a hinter about Catherine Chard’s plotting would be seriously undermined.

 

“Yes, Dom’na, it was strange,” Roxan says, after seeing that no one is stopping her. “I have never been tolds to simply go into a room and use a magical device without being caught. And you, Dombi, emphatically told me that I was not to take anything from Zoe’s room or even mess with her clothing. I did such, though, as you had requested. And I have the tube for you, which I will give to you, come in time – once you pay us the money.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima and says, “Your bodyguard makes bold claims about powerful families and their plans. But why should I believe such claims? Surely a Chard, especially one plotting against another noble, would have better sense than to employ students with such loose lips. Besides, if what your bodyguard says is true, it is so clear that the Chards’ enemies would doubtlessly pay many pims to me for this tip, which might make your lives…unpleasant, shall we say? So why not just agree to pay me the adjusted sum and we can all forget that your bodyguard said such things? Everything is so much simpler for everyone when this can be seen as a simple prank by a collegemate.”

 

Sima shakes her head sadly. “There is no need for you to try to do any more. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to Sima what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, blabbermouth,” Roxan replies. You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but since Roxan just insulted you by calling you a blabbermouth, perhaps it is just as well for you not to know what dombi means. Dacota jerks Roxan away with a snicker and retreats into the mist.

 

“Dacota was under much stress after robbing me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just did to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. And that is not even taking into account the fact that not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or even a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. So you decide to ask some noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money from you when you could have paid her so easily from the beginning?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you cleverly hinted that we were working for Catherine Chard doing this investigation of Zoe Melis rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. But you need more training in tricking people. The best deceptions involve no lies – or at least very few – and are all about letting the mark make conclusions. That way, if the mark confronts you about the claim, you can avoid appearing dishonest, if such is necessary, by truthfully saying that you made fewer false claims than the mark thinks. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. My unexpected shortage of pims now is…problematic to certain other people in my life, who will not be happy. I will, due to your defeat by Dacota, have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my shortage of money. At least I did not need to rush back and retrieve another eight hundred pims to pay Dacota due to the wonders of modern banking.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of confidence tricks and related activities. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are somewhat disquieted by Sima’s casually talking about the best way to deceive people. Has she, like you, been trained by some grifter? Has she served as a grifter? But you trust her enough to believe that she would never harm you while the two of you are friends – your adventure last year on the mysterious island with the Triplets proved that to you. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 3 Skill Levels Flattery, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Intrigue to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has no Tutoring: Grifter]

 

You seize upon Dacota’s earlier reference to Chards. Magsa had mentioned to you that Prudence would be upset about being conflated with Flore, but Flore has a rivalry with Catherine Chard due to their families, and Catherine is wealthy, arrogant, and ruthless enough that she would try to bring Sima in to help investigate any possible source of bad tales about her rival – even those written in fiction by a quiet scholar, because who knows what such people may find and how they may write their findings. And where Catherine gets involved, her family cannot be far behind.

 

All of these thoughts flash through your mind as you open your mouth.

 

“Dacota,” you say. “It is strange that you mention Chards in connection with this meeting. You knw who they are, surely.”

 

“Just because I attend no fancy school does not make me a fool, despite what you think!” Dacota replies. “All with some knowledge of Mineta’s events know about the Golden Families, and since I am…working near Academagia, I know especially about the Chards. One of their daughters is continuing the custom of going there. Is there a purpose to this aside from insulting me?”

 

“Catherine Chard was truly behind this task that you and my friend undertook. She is so eager to find things to use against her rivals – and her family’s rivals – that she would sink to utterly illegal – and complicated – lengths to harm them – rivals such as Flore Yveuillet. Miss Chard makes a very useful...patron, I guess you might call her, but can be very dangerous when crossed. Especially when crossing her client involves not merely harming her, even if only indirectly, but also her family. Suffice it to say that our little operation against Zoe Melis was, at a certain level, much more than a student prank. But then, I am sure that Roxan already knows this.” You gesture towards Roxan, hoping that you have understood her role in Sima’s plan correctly. If you misunderstood it, your credibility as a hinter about Catherine Chard’s plotting would be seriously undermined.

 

“Yes, Dom’na, it was strange,” Roxan says, after seeing that no one is stopping her. “I have never been tolds to simply go into a room and use a magical device without being caught. And you, Dombi, emphatically told me that I was not to take anything from Zoe’s room or even mess with her clothing. I did such, though, as you had requested. And I have the tube for you, which I will give to you, come in time – once you pay us the money.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima and says, “Your bodyguard makes bold claims about powerful families and their plans. But why should I believe such claims? Surely a Chard, especially one plotting against another noble, would have better sense than to employ students with such loose lips. Besides, if what your bodyguard says is true, it is so clear that the Chards’ enemies would doubtlessly pay many pims to me for this tip, which might make your lives…unpleasant, shall we say? So why not just agree to pay me the adjusted sum and we can all forget that your bodyguard said such things? Everything is so much simpler for everyone when this can be seen as a simple prank by a collegemate.”

 

Sima shakes her head sadly. “There is no need for you to try to do any more. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to Sima what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, blabbermouth,” Roxan replies. You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but since Roxan just insulted you by calling you a blabbermouth, perhaps it is just as well for you not to know what dombi means. Dacota jerks Roxan away with a snicker and retreats into the mist.

 

“Dacota was under much stress after robbing me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just did to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. And that is not even taking into account the fact that not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or even a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. So you decide to ask some noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money from you when you could have paid her so easily from the beginning?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you cleverly hinted that we were working for Catherine Chard doing this investigation of Zoe Melis rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. But you need more training in tricking people. The best deceptions involve no lies – or at least very few – and are all about letting the mark make conclusions. That way, if the mark confronts you about the claim, you can avoid appearing dishonest, if such is necessary, by truthfully saying that you made fewer false claims than the mark thinks. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. My unexpected shortage of pims now is…problematic to certain other people in my life, who will not be happy. I will, due to your defeat by Dacota, have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my shortage of money. At least I did not need to rush back and retrieve another eight hundred pims to pay Dacota due to the wonders of modern banking.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of confidence tricks and related activities. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are somewhat disquieted by Sima’s casually talking about the best way to deceive people. But you trust her enough to believe that she would never harm you while the two of you are friends – your adventure last year on the mysterious island with the Triplets proved that to you. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 3 Skill Levels Flattery, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Intrigue to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC completed adventure The Pitts] Romance. Maybe Dacota has some other reason to be here.

 

Success

 

“Dacota,” you lilt in a teasing voice, “how nice to see you again – and in much more pleasant circumstances, too. No goblins or mastery magic – but o, isn’t something missing? Something very pleasant and tender for you? Or rather, someone? A student mage of around your age, perhaps? Would this alley, leading to Academagia, not be a better way fo you to remedy this lack then trying to enter the campus through more conventional means? Especially given how unconventional a person and pig you may - ”

 

Dacoata’s shriek would not be out of place among the sophisticated ladies with no Minetan swagger whom she imagines are the majority of Sima’s peers – although as you would tell her if she were curious, such students are not the only ones whose charms interest you. Right now, however, she is curious about a very different thing – or person.

 

“What!? Which one are you?” She rushes forward to look at your face, but you leap out of the way with a laugh. It would not be appealing to the ladies if you were to be smelling of pig, even though the pig is a pig-god to Goblins and a Bruellian pot-bellied pig familiar to his owner.

 

“No one of much importance,” you sing back. “Just a friend to a certain swineherd. A swineherd whom you may have visited for certain reasons, perhaps related to pigs!”

 

Sima looks mildly amused as well as curious, but Roxan giggles at your display. “It’s true,” she crows. “Dom’na has a boyfriend! One from the fanciest of fancy colleges at Academagia – with all the towers and fine art. He is not so sophisticated, though. She helps him to feed a pig, and he tries to teach her to read Renaglian – when they allow me to be with them, that is!”

 

Dacota turns to Roxan. “Your beating will be so bad that you will lose interest in pigs!” she shouts. Then to Sima she says, “I am not having a boyfriend. He and I are involved in certain sensitive business and…tiogolocal…issues with goblins. Tell your bodyguard to stop this! We have business matters of our own to discuss.”

 

When Roxan laughingly kisses the air, Dacota slaps her. Sima, to her credit, replies calmly, “I should not inquire into others’ private affairs when this would distract from business. But my bodyguard still may try to solve this issue – unless you want to try to attack us outright?”

 

Dacota begrudgingly agrees with a curt nod. However, you can tell that your words have shaken her. This should make Dacota easier to control – or so you hope. [+ 1 skill level Tease, + 1 skill level Innuendo, +15% chance of success, choose another option]

Failure

 

“Dacota,” you say, “how nice to see you again in better circumstances. No goblins or mastery magic – but isn’t something missing? Would this alley, leading to Academagia, not be a better way fo you to remedy this lack then trying to enter the campus through more conventional means? Especially given how unconventional a person and pig you may - ”

 

Dacoata sighs. “Of all the bodyguards whom I could have met, I meet one who knows about my efforts to deal with goblins. I suppose that it is no great burden to tell you that tending to a goblin god is difficult – especially when the god is a mage’s familiar who can breathe fire.”

 

Sima looks curious, but Roxan giggles. “Dom’na,” she laughs, “you really are a swineherd’s apprentice sometimes – and the pig stinks. No fancy words can obscure these things. The Dom’na helps him to feed a pig, and he tries to teach her to read Renaglian – among other things.”

 

Dacota turns to Roxan. “You will be beaten for this so that you will lose interest in pigs,” she says. Then to Sima she says, “Roxan’s…zogolocal…claims are irrelevant to our dealings here and now. Tell your bodyguard to stop this! We have business matters of our own to discuss.”

 

When Roxan laughingly oinks, Dacota slaps her. Sima, to her credit, replies calmly, “I should not inquire into others’ private affairs when this would distract from business. But my bodyguard still may try to solve this issue – unless you want to try to attack us outright?”

 

Dacota begrudgingly agrees with a curt nod. Your words may not have driven her to irrationality, but Roxan’s oinking and discussion of pig-tending were very amusing. If only you were not dealing with her as a robber-girl! [+ 1 skill level Animal Husbandry, + 1 skill level Mimicry, choose another option]

[If PC completed adventure Enter the Work Force] Intimidate. “I fought you once, Pitts, when you were with your gang! I can fight you again when you have only a girl with you!”

 

Success

 

Dacota flinches and scowls at you, before saying, “Ah yes, you’re the Godina brat whose efforts with Mr. McCroskey caused such difficulty for my efforts to…offer protection, shall we say? But I am not afraid of you – you are not travelling, and that makes every fight much easier.”

 

Still, you can tell that your words have shaken her. This should make Dacota easier to control – or so you hope. [+ 1 skill level Intimidation, + 1 skill level Tactics, + 1 temporary Skill level to Wrestling, choose another option]

Failure

 

Dacota peers at at you before sneering, “Ah yes, you’re the Godina brat who interfered with my efforts to protect Mr. McCroskey’s business. Well, you are not working for Mr. McCroskey, and my goal is different here and now. So I am not afraid of you.”

 

Although Dacota’s logic may leave something to be desired – surely a person would not be unwise to fear a previous enemy in a hostile situation even when the reason for the hostile situation is different – Dacota’s argument has succeeded, so far as you can tell, in keeping her calm despite your challenge. Perhaps if you were to use actions rather than talking about past actions, she would yield to you. [+ 1 skill level Reasoning, choose another option]

Wrestling. “When you act tough, Dacota, you should be prepared to fight.”

 

Success

 

“But are you prepared to fight me?” Dacota replies, bracing her body for any physical response from you.

 

Realizing that words would distract you from your goal and give Dacota time to attack you, you simply charge towards Dacota and knock her down. Roxan screams then, and Dacota’s eyes harden as one hand reaches for her belt. But you strike her in a sensitive spot so that she howls and her arms go limp. You then seize her good hand and twist the fingers in such a way that you could easily break them if you were wanting to. She tries to move her hand from your grasp, but you are strong enough to maintain your grip and twist her fingers so that she yelps a bit.

 

“Do you yield?” Sima’s voice, calm despite the chaos on the ground in front of her, suggests that she is not unused to violence.

 

“Pax! O Dom’na, please say pax! Otherwise - ” Roxan’s eyes are wide with terror, but there is also, you think, a measure of thoughtful calculation in her voice. Is she trying to demonstrate her loyalty to the Southside Pitts’ leader?

 

“Yes. Pax! I yield!” Dacota follows with a string of syllables, some of which may be polite words in other languages, before her voice trails off into a sob. “What do you want? I can give you money or information about Roxan’s life these past three years, or -”

 

You never get to hear what else Dacota was about to offer because Sima interrupts.

 

“I am not here for your money, Pitts, nor for any treasure that you may have – not even a set of knives made from non-rusting steel. I just want to pay you for your services at the agreed upon rate.” Sima thrusts forward a pouch of money with an imperious sniff, and Roxan mutely gives her a reddish-brown cylinder before taking the money.

 

“Call your trained attack dog in human form off me,” Dacota whines. You only do so when Sima tells you to, after which Dacota springs to her feet and walk carefully away from you. Although she tries to appear uninjured, you can tell by her ginger motions that you have seriously hurt her. Nothing that a little rest or magic cannot fix, but you hope that you made your mark on her mind as a dangerous opponent.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, thrasher,” Roxan replies.

 

You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you assume, based upon her nicknaming you thrasher, that it may have a complimentary meaning. Dacota jerks Roxan away with a wince and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Dacota was under much stress and pain after her botched robbery of me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just tried to do to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. I am so glad that I had you to protect me in the simplest and most direct way – you are better than a student mage from the Contu school, since all they focus on is incantation. Dacota bit off more than she could chew when she tried to rob us, and she knows it. Maybe she will be more cautious about trying to rob people now. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you fought Dacota into abandoning her demands, was useful if not imaginative – I even learned about certain painful points on bodies by watching you fight! Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your competence, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are happy that you were able to save her from some financial risk through wrestling, that skill that in Academagia is often associated only with bullying. If all wrestlers, you think, were to use their wrestling skills only to help protect other people against wrong-doers, the world would be a better place and people would be in less fear of dragons. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 Strength, + 1 skill level Wrestling, + 1 skill level Anatomy, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Anatomy to Sima Venesico, add memory Dacota’s Pain, end adventure]

Failure

 

“But are you prepared to fight me?” Dacota snarls.

 

“I am, if you are pre -”

 

But your witty retort is cut short as Dacota tackles you with such force that you are knocked hard to the ground. As you try to raise your arms to defend yourself, you see the flash of a knife blade as it swoops in towards your throat. At the last second – or so you think – you are able to roll aside, but the blade still keeps seeking you and you feel its hilt scrapt against your back. You realize that you cannot dodge the weapon indefinitely.

 

“Pax! Say pax! Otherwise - ” Roxan’s voice is faintly gloating.

 

Sima interrupts, her voice revealing more concern for your safety. “There is no need for you to try to do any more. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me. But please do not harm my bodyguard!”

 

Dacota, after some growls, muttered curses, and slaps to your body, rolls you body so that you are facing her and then allows you to stand up facing her, all the while keeping her knife aimed at you and your body between her and Sima. Her suspicion is only mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota has lowered the knife a bit.

 

“I am so glad,” she says, “that we were able to resolve this issue before I had to kill or maim your bodyguard. Maybe this will teach you to be more cautious in dealing with me and my gang in future. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, miles gloriosus,” Roxan replies.

 

You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but since your knowledge of Elumian suggests that miles gloriosus means “braggart soldier”, perhaps it is just as well for you not to know what dombi means. Dacota jerks Roxan away with a snicker and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Dacota’s easy defeat of you and easy robbery of me may have made her over-confident. She was lucky. not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious. As, for that matter should you. Violence is not always the best solution to any problem, and it is riskier than many others because it can most easily be responded to by violence in return – and such violence cannot always be avoided as you avoided all serious contact with Dacota’s knife today. This is one of several reasons why I prefer trying to talk my way out of problems, even when the problems are dangerous people who could easily use violence against me.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money from you when you could have paid her so easily from the beginning?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you fought Dacota in an attempt to get her to abandon her demands, was useful if not imaginative, even though you lacked the skill to defeat her. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. My unexpected shortage of pims now is…problematic to certain other people in my life, who will not be happy. I will, due to your defeat by Dacota, have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my shortage of money. At least I did not need to rush back and retrieve another eight hundred pims to pay Dacota due to the wonders of modern banking.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of wrestling and related activities. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 Finesse, + 1 Stress, + 1 skill level Tactics, + 1 skill level Flawless Timing, - 1 Vitality, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 stress to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Theory of Enchantment. How valuable is the artifact that Sima lent to the Southside Pitts?

 

 

Success

 

[If PC is not a Student in Vernin College]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level clockwork, reveal Negotiate Option, temporary + 10% chance of success, choose other option]

[If PC is a Student in Vernin College]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. You are glad that your studies in Vernin have paid off in this way.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, reveal Negotiate Option, temporary + 10% chance of success, choose other option]

[If PC was a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in another college]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. It almost makes you wish that you had remained in Vernin.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, reveal Negotiate Option, temporary + 10% chance of success, choose other option]

[If PC was not a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in Vernin college]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. You guess that Vernin College was truly the best one for you, and are relieved that you transferred into it. Better late then never, as they say.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, - 1 stress, reveal Negotiate Option, temporary + 10% chance of success, choose other option]

[If PC is not a Student in Vernin College and has memory Sima’s Ring to Zoe or Tabin’s Potion to Zoe]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. On the other hand, maybe you could use your greater knowledge of what Roxan was doing in Zoe Melis’s room in order to try to create the idea that Zoe Melis as dangerous – by implication inflating Sima’s power and making Dacota less eager to rob her. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, temporary + 10% chance of success, reveal Negotiate Option, reveal appropriate Innuendo Option, choose other option]

[If PC is a Student in Vernin College and has memory Sima’s Ring to Zoe or Tabin’s Potion to Zoe]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. You are glad that your studies in Vernin have paid off in this way.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. On the other hand, maybe you could use your greater knowledge of what Roxan was doing in Zoe Melis’s room in order to try to create the idea that Zoe Melis as dangerous – by implication inflating Sima’s power and making Dacota less eager to rob her. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, temporary + 10% chance of success, reveal Negotiate Option, reveal appropriate Innuendo Option, choose other option]

[If PC was a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in another college and has memory Sima’s Ring to Zoe or Tabin’s Potion to Zoe]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. It almost makes you wish that you had remained in Vernin.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. On the other hand, maybe you could use your greater knowledge of what Roxan was doing in Zoe Melis’s room in order to try to create the idea that Zoe Melis as dangerous – by implication inflating Sima’s power and making Dacota less eager to rob her. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, temporary + 10% chance of success, reveal Negotiate Option, reveal appropriate Innuendo Option, choose other option]

[If PC was not a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in Vernin college and has memory Sima’s Ring to Zoe or Tabin’s Potion to Zoe]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. You guess that Vernin College was truly the best one for you, and are relieved that you transferred into it. Better late then never, as they say.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. On the other hand, maybe you could use your greater knowledge of what Roxan was doing in Zoe Melis’s room in order to try to create the idea that Zoe Melis as dangerous – by implication inflating Sima’s power and making Dacota less eager to rob her. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, - 1 stress, temporary + 10% chance of success, reveal Negotiate Option, reveal appropriate Innuendo Option, choose other option]

Failure

 

[If PC is not a Student in Vernin College and has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust through helping her. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, + 1 stress, choose other option]

[If PC is not a Student in Vernin College and has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust and affection through helping her. At this reminder of how you feel about Sima, you feel a renewed surge of determination. You were able to fight through magical curses and elemental nymphs to help her make a fine necklace – surely you can help her against two magicless criminals. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, choose other option]

[If PC is a Student in Vernin College and has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. Maybe you should focus more on being a Vernin student than on strange adventures. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust through helping her. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, + 1 stress, choose other option]

[If PC is a Student in Vernin College and has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. Maybe you should focus more on being a Vernin student than on strange adventures. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust and affection through helping her. At this reminder of how you feel about Sima, you feel a renewed surge of determination. You were able to fight through magical curses and elemental nymphs to help her make a fine necklace – surely you can help her against two magicless criminals. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, choose other option]

[If PC was a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in another college and has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. Maybe it is for the best that you left Vernin College. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust through helping her. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, + 1 stress, choose other option]

[If PC was a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in another college and has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. Maybe it is for the best that you left Vernin College. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust and affection through helping her. At this reminder of how you feel about Sima, you feel a renewed surge of determination. You were able to fight through magical curses and elemental nymphs to help her make a fine necklace – surely you can help her against two magicless criminals. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, choose other option]

[If PC was not a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in Vernin college and has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. So much for the idea that Vernin College was truly the best one for you in which you could truly thrive academically and magically. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust through helping her. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, + 1 stress, choose other option]

[If PC was not a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in Vernin college and has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. So much for the idea that Vernin College was truly the best one for you in which you could truly thrive academically and magically. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust and affection through helping her. At this reminder of how you feel about Sima, you feel a renewed surge of determination. You were able to fight through magical curses and elemental nymphs to help her make a fine necklace – surely you can help her against two magicless criminals. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, choose other option]

Negotiate. Try to sell Sima’s artifact to Dacota.

 

Success

 

[If PC has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder – to say nothing of my friend’s specific instructions about how it should be used – got me thinking about what it could be. I mean, I know that Hedi students are notorious for speaking quietly of riddles – itself a riddle of some sort from a certain perspective – but I trust my friend enough to believe that this reddish-brown cylinder is more than some type of obfuscation. It must have real value – value that she might be willing to give you in exchange for a reduced fee for your services.”

 

Sima’s eyes widen, but then she nods enthusiastically. “Yes, that would work. All I need to do is look at the reddish-brown cylinder for a few seconds, then you are welcome to have it – if you really want it. Better that then having to pay one thousand one hundred pims – more than the value of one year’s education at the Contu School.”

 

“It could be worth as much as all the goods in Alfi – to a mage,” Dacota snaps. “Maybe it is worthless to those without magical knowledge, as we are.”

 

“But Dom’na, even such an item could be sold to a mage. Is not your brother the Dom’nus trying to get in contact with some wizards from…Tai?” Roxan sounds excited at the prospect of selling a magical artifact.

 

“He is as likely to get into the Theian wizards’ circles as I am to be legitimately at a Golden Families’ dance – but point taken. Some mages would pay well for magical artifacts that only mages can use. Very well, bodyguard – tell us about this reddish-brown cylinder.” Dacota looks at you with curiosity and expectation.

 

Relieved that Sima’s comments confirm your beliefs about why she would need the reddish-brown cylinder, you briefly tell Dacota and Roxan about your conclusion that the reddish-brown cylinder is a device to detect magic called a thaumatometer, modified so that it keeps a record of what it detected and where it was used. You are careful to conceal your views about Sima’s personality and why she wants to know about any magic that might be affecting Zoe Melis – as much for preserving good relations with Sima as for preserving her privacy from the Southside Pitts – but you can tell that your words are having an effect on them. When you finish, Dacota whistles in appreciation.

 

“Yes, I can see how this thauma-thing would be very useful. There are so many magical things in Mineta, known and unknown. Even if we cannot figure out how to use it, we can sell it to some other mage, come in time. But why should I pay you kids eight hundred pims for it?”

 

Sima steps forward then, and says with calm determination, “Because that thaumatometer is special beyond its ability to keep a detailed record. I placed an astrological enchantment on it so that if it is used by the wrong person, it causes various embarassing – and easily perceivable – glamours. Right now, the enchantment is not activated – but it would be very inconvenient, I think, if some member of the Southside Pitts were to be using the thaumatometer in some…inconspicuous way only to trigger the enchantment. So perhaps you should regard the eight hundred pims that I would charge for the thaumatometer as not merely covering the sale of the thaumatometer to you, but also the elimination of my anti-theft protections.”

 

Dacota hesitates, and you assume that she is caught between greed over the thaumatometer and reluctance to forgo hundreds of pims in some other form that would be easier to sell or use for purchases. So you decide that you should intervene with another remark to push her into making the best decision.

 

“Dacota, my friend could use her magics to make life unpleasant for anyone whom she wants, if she sets her mind to it, but chooses to negotiate in the hopes that a more useful relationship may be formed between her and the Southside Pitts. But other magic users – students as well as mages – are not so reasonable, and may choose to use magics against you or your followers, sometimes entirely unprovoked, thinking, rightly or wrongly, that no one would listen to complaints from street urchins. To protect yourself from such magics, and to avoid being targeted by any of my friend’s hostile magics – which I assure you are not fun – it is best for you to purchase the thaumatometer from her.”

 

Dacota sighs and nods. “Working in a city with many mages, it is best to have protection against magic, but better than nothing to have a way to detect magic. And your…magic detector is easier for me to get than it would be for me to pay pims to some seller with such an item elsewhere. Pims have wieght and create long memories. Very well. I will accept three hundred pims for my services as well as ownership of the…magic tube. Roxan, give the client the tube once she gives you the money. Then you can look at the records and dispel the enchantment before giving it back to us.”

 

As Sima slips Roxan a pouch full of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, she asks the girl what the nickname dombi means.

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

Sima then shows Roxan how to locate a catch on the reddish-brown cylinder, which, when pressed, opens a compartment in the reddish-brown cylinder in which is rolled up a piece of paper. Sima then closes the compartment and shows Roxan how to find the lens that allows a person to read what is on the paper, as well as how to adjust what the lens shows the viewer. Then she re-opens the reddish-brown cylinder and removes the paper, folding it in her hand, before telling Roxan how to replace paper inside the reddish-brown cylinder. Then, beaming, she writes a few phemes in the air with her wand, causing a series of lights to rise out of the thaumatometer. Assuring Roxan and Decota that the enchantment has been dispelled, she hands it over to Dacota, who leads Roxan away.

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, merchant,” Roxan calls back as she goes into the mists.

 

Sima ignores this attempt at friendliness as she unfolds the paper and scans the writing on it. Then, sighing with exasperation, she moves as if to toss it toss on the ground before thinking better of it and placing it in a pocket.

 

“I had to give up a perfectly good thaumatometer because I wanted to investigate whether Zoe had been somehow influenced into revealing information about us,” she says. “But wouldn’t you know? There was no magic affectring her in her room – so this was all for nothing – and I will have to get another thaumatometer. O, [PCFirstName], did anything go right today in this meeting? Not that I am blaming you – you were able to resolve this issue without violence or magic or my being robbed, which reveals that you have much skill in selling things by making potential customers realize why they need what you are selling even when they had no idea that it existed before you tried to sell it.”

 

“Maybe we could get out of here first?” you suggest.

 

“Ah, true enough.” She leads you out of the alleyway into the blissfully normal Academagia. Then, after creating glamours to protect you from eavesdroppers, she turns to face you.

 

“Having thought more about your solution and my…situation, I realize that I over-reacted and that you handled it very well. I know how to get another thaumatometer, come in time, and my financial situation is so precarious right now due to certain problems that a loss of nine hundred pims by me could have had serious consequences. But I am now within my budget still, and my needling concerns about Zoe have been well addressed. I am just relieved that the Southside Pitts were too ignorant about magic to realize that I could not create, let alone dispel, any anti-theft measure of the sort that I pretended to deal with – I know not if it is even possible. But you know what?”

 

“What?” you ask. With Sima you can never be sure what she will reveal.

 

“I am sorry for having gotten us both involved in such shady and potentially dangerous business. But let us walk and talk as friends for a while.”

 

You agree, happy that Sima is happy despite the seeming set-backs that she has faced, and enjoy the next blissful few minutes walking while talking about various theatrical productions in Mineta. One issue, however, that you are not bold enough to ask Sima about is how it is that she had and apparently can continue to have easy access to a thaumatometer. But if you were wanting a fully open friend, you would not, you realize, be a friend to Sima Venesico. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Fitness, + 1 skill level Dispassion, + 1 skill level Theater, + 1 Skill level Confidence, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Confidence to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder – to say nothing of my friend’s specific instructions about how it should be used – got me thinking about what it could be. I mean, I know that Hedi students are notorious for speaking quietly of riddles – itself a riddle of some sort from a certain perspective – but I trust my friend enough to believe that this reddish-brown cylinder is more than some type of obfuscation. It must have real value – value that she might be willing to give you in exchange for a reduced fee for your services.”

 

Sima’s eyes widen, but then she nods enthusiastically. “Yes, that would work. All I need to do is look at the reddish-brown cylinder for a few seconds, then you are welcome to have it – if you really want it. Better that then having to pay one thousand one hundred pims – more than the value of one year’s education at the Contu School.”

 

“It could be worth as much as all the goods in Alfi – to a mage,” Dacota snaps. “Maybe it is worthless to those without magical knowledge, as we are.”

 

“But Dom’na, even such an item could be sold to a mage. Is not your brother the Dom’nus trying to get in contact with some wizards from…Tai?” Roxan sounds excited at the prospect of selling a magical artifact.

 

“He is as likely to get into the Theian wizards’ circles as I am to be legitimately at a Golden Families’ dance – but point taken. Some mages would pay well for magical artifacts that only mages can use. Very well, bodyguard – tell us about this reddish-brown cylinder.” Dacota looks at you with curiosity and expectation.

 

Relieved that Sima’s comments confirm your beliefs about why she would need the reddish-brown cylinder, you briefly tell Dacota and Roxan about your conclusion that the reddish-brown cylinder is a device to detect magic called a thaumatometer, modified so that it keeps a record of what it detected and where it was used. You are careful to conceal your views about Sima’s personality and why she wants to know about any magic that might be affecting Zoe Melis – as much for preserving good relations with Sima as for preserving her privacy from the Southside Pitts – but you can tell that your words are having an effect on them. When you finish, Dacota whistles in appreciation.

 

“Yes, I can see how this thauma-thing would be very useful. There are so many magical things in Mineta, known and unknown. Even if we cannot figure out how to use it, we can sell it to some other mage, come in time. But why should I pay you kids eight hundred pims for it?”

 

Sima steps forward then, and says with calm determination, “Because that thaumatometer is special beyond its ability to keep a detailed record. I placed an astrological enchantment on it so that if it is used by the wrong person, it causes various embarassing – and easily perceivable – glamours. Right now, the enchantment is not activated – but it would be very inconvenient, I think, if some member of the Southside Pitts were to be using the thaumatometer in some…inconspicuous way only to trigger the enchantment. So perhaps you should regard the eight hundred pims that I would charge for the thaumatometer as not merely covering the sale of the thaumatometer to you, but also the elimination of my anti-theft protections.”

 

Dacota hesitates, and you assume that she is caught between greed over the thaumatometer and reluctance to forgo hundreds of pims in some other form that would be easier to sell or use for purchases. So you decide that you should intervene with another remark to push her into making the best decision.

 

“Dacota, my friend could use her magics to make life unpleasant for anyone whom she wants, if she sets her mind to it, but chooses to negotiate in the hopes that a more useful relationship may be formed between her and the Southside Pitts. But other magic users – students as well as mages – are not so reasonable, and may choose to use magics against you or your followers, sometimes entirely unprovoked, thinking, rightly or wrongly, that no one would listen to complaints from street urchins. To protect yourself from such magics, and to avoid being targeted by any of my friend’s hostile magics – which I assure you are not fun – it is best for you to purchase the thaumatometer from her.”

 

Dacota sighs and nods. “Working in a city with many mages, it is best to have protection against magic, but better than nothing to have a way to detect magic. And your…magic detector is easier for me to get than it would be for me to pay pims to some seller with such an item elsewhere. Pims have wieght and create long memories. Very well. I will accept three hundred pims for my services as well as ownership of the…magic tube. Roxan, give the client the tube once she gives you the money. Then you can look at the records and dispel the enchantment before giving it back to us.”

 

As Sima slips Roxan a pouch full of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, she asks the girl what the nickname dombi means.

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

Sima then shows Roxan how to locate a catch on the reddish-brown cylinder, which, when pressed, opens a compartment in the reddish-brown cylinder in which is rolled up a piece of paper. Sima then closes the compartment and shows Roxan how to find the lens that allows a person to read what is on the paper, as well as how to adjust what the lens shows the viewer. Then she re-opens the reddish-brown cylinder and removes the paper, folding it in her hand, before telling Roxan how to replace paper inside the reddish-brown cylinder. Then, beaming, she writes a few phemes in the air with her wand, causing a series of lights to rise out of the thaumatometer. Assuring Roxan and Decota that the enchantment has been dispelled, she hands it over to Dacota, who leads Roxan away.

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, merchant,” Roxan calls back as she goes into the mists.

 

Sima ignores this attempt at friendliness as she unfolds the paper and scans the writing on it. Then, sighing with exasperation, she moves as if to toss it toss on the ground before thinking better of it and placing it in a pocket.

 

“I had to give up a perfectly good thaumatometer because I wanted to investigate whether Zoe had been somehow influenced into revealing information about us,” she says. “But wouldn’t you know? There was no magic affectring her in her room – so this was all for nothing – and I will have to get another thaumatometer. O, [PCFirstName], did anything go right today in this meeting? Not that I am blaming you – you were able to resolve this issue without violence or magic or my being robbed, which reveals that you have much skill in selling things by making potential customers realize why they need what you are selling even when they had no idea that it existed before you tried to sell it.”

 

“Maybe we could get out of here first?” you suggest.

 

“Ah, true enough.” She leads you out of the alleyway into the blissfully normal Academagia. Then, after creating glamours to protect you from eavesdroppers, she turns to face you.

 

“Having thought more about your solution and my…situation, I realize that I over-reacted and that you handled it very well. I know how to get another thaumatometer, come in time, and my financial situation is so precarious right now due to certain problems that a loss of nine hundred pims by me could have had serious consequences. But I am now within my budget still, and my needling concerns about Zoe have been well addressed. I am just relieved that the Southside Pitts were too ignorant about magic to realize that I could not create, let alone dispel, any anti-theft measure of the sort that I pretended to deal with – I know not if it is even possible. But you know what?”

 

“What?” you ask. With Sima you can never be sure what she will reveal.

 

“I am sorry for having gotten us both involved in such shady and potentially dangerous business. But let us walk and talk as friends – let no one think that we are dating yet – for a while.”

 

You agree, happy that Sima is happy despite the seeming set-backs that she has faced, and enjoy the next blissful few minutes walking while talking about various theatrical productions in Mineta. Despite Sima’s claims to the contrart, however, her laughter lingers in such a way and she touches your shoulder at such times that you believe that to her, at least, this is more than walking and talking as friends. One issue, however, that you are not bold enough to ask Sima about, despite her friendly intimacy, is how it is that she had and apparently can continue to have easy access to a thaumatometer. But if you were wanting a fully open friend, you would not, you realize, be a friend to Sima Venesico. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Fitness, + 1 skill level Dispassion, + 1 skill level Theater, + 1 Skill level Confidence, + 1 Skill level Flirting, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Confidence to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Flirting to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has no affection or love with Sima Venesico and PC has Station: Merchant]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder – to say nothing of my friend’s specific instructions about how it should be used – got me thinking about what it could be. I mean, I know that Hedi students are notorious for speaking quietly of riddles – itself a riddle of some sort from a certain perspective – but I trust my friend enough to believe that this reddish-brown cylinder is more than some type of obfuscation. It must have real value – value that she might be willing to give you in exchange for a reduced fee for your services.”

 

 

Sima’s eyes widen, but then she nods enthusiastically. “Yes, that would work. All I need to do is look at the reddish-brown cylinder for a few seconds, then you are welcome to have it – if you really want it. Better that then having to pay one thousand one hundred pims – more than the value of one year’s education at the Contu School.”

 

 

“It could be worth as much as all the goods in Alfi – to a mage,” Dacota snaps. “Maybe it is worthless to those without magical knowledge, as we are.”

 

 

“But Dom’na, even such an item could be sold to a mage. Is not your brother the Dom’nus trying to get in contact with some wizards from…Tai?” Roxan sounds excited at the prospect of selling a magical artifact.

 

 

“He is as likely to get into the Theian wizards’ circles as I am to be legitimately at a Golden Families’ dance – but point taken. Some mages would pay well for magical artifacts that only mages can use. Very well, bodyguard – tell us about this reddish-brown cylinder.” Dacota looks at you with curiosity and expectation.

 

 

Relieved that Sima’s comments confirm your beliefs about why she would need the reddish-brown cylinder, you briefly tell Dacota and Roxan about your conclusion that the reddish-brown cylinder is a device to detect magic called a thaumatometer, modified so that it keeps a record of what it detected and where it was used. You are careful to conceal your views about Sima’s personality and why she wants to know about any magic that might be affecting Zoe Melis – as much for preserving good relations with Sima as for preserving her privacy from the Southside Pitts – but you can tell that your words are having an effect on them. When you finish, Dacota whistles in appreciation.

 

 

“Yes, I can see how this thauma-thing would be very useful. There are so many magical things in Mineta, known and unknown. Even if we cannot figure out how to use it, we can sell it to some other mage, come in time. But why should I pay you kids eight hundred pims for it?”

 

 

Sima steps forward then, and says with calm determination, “Because that thaumatometer is special beyond its ability to keep a detailed record. I placed an astrological enchantment on it so that if it is used by the wrong person, it causes various embarassing – and easily perceivable – glamours. Right now, the enchantment is not activated – but it would be very inconvenient, I think, if some member of the Southside Pitts were to be using the thaumatometer in some…inconspicuous way only to trigger the enchantment. So perhaps you should regard the eight hundred pims that I would charge for the thaumatometer as not merely covering the sale of the thaumatometer to you, but also the elimination of my anti-theft protections.”

 

 

Dacota hesitates, and you assume that she is caught between greed over the thaumatometer and reluctance to forgo hundreds of pims in some other form that would be easier to sell or use for purchases. So you decide that you should intervene with another remark to push her into making the best decision.

 

 

“Dacota, my friend could use her magics to make life unpleasant for anyone whom she wants, if she sets her mind to it, but chooses to negotiate in the hopes that a more useful relationship may be formed between her and the Southside Pitts. But other magic users – students as well as mages – are not so reasonable, and may choose to use magics against you or your followers, sometimes entirely unprovoked, thinking, rightly or wrongly, that no one would listen to complaints from street urchins. To protect yourself from such magics, and to avoid being targeted by any of my friend’s hostile magics – which I assure you are not fun – it is best for you to purchase the thaumatometer from her.”

 

 

Dacota sighs and nods. “Working in a city with many mages, it is best to have protection against magic, but better than nothing to have a way to detect magic. And your…magic detector is easier for me to get than it would be for me to pay pims to some seller with such an item elsewhere. Pims have wieght and create long memories. Very well. I will accept three hundred pims for my services as well as ownership of the…magic tube. Roxan, give the client the tube once she gives you the money. Then you can look at the records and dispel the enchantment before giving it back to us.”

 

 

As Sima slips Roxan a pouch full of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, she asks the girl what the nickname dombi means.

 

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

 

Sima then shows Roxan how to locate a catch on the reddish-brown cylinder, which, when pressed, opens a compartment in the reddish-brown cylinder in which is rolled up a piece of paper. Sima then closes the compartment and shows Roxan how to find the lens that allows a person to read what is on the paper, as well as how to adjust what the lens shows the viewer. Then she re-opens the reddish-brown cylinder and removes the paper, folding it in her hand, before telling Roxan how to replace paper inside the reddish-brown cylinder. Then, beaming, she writes a few phemes in the air with her wand, causing a series of lights to rise out of the thaumatometer. Assuring Roxan and Decota that the enchantment has been dispelled, she hands it over to Dacota, who leads Roxan away.

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, merchant,” Roxan calls back as she goes into the mists.

 

 

You are relieved that Roxan recognizes your mercantile talents, although you are sure that this is not the sort of praise that you should tell your parents about, no matter how pleased they might otherwise be to learn about your apparent success in following the trade through which they were able to afford raising you. Sima, for her part, ignores Roxan’s attempt at friendliness as she unfolds the paper and scans the writing on it. Then, sighing with exasperation, she moves as if to toss it toss on the ground before thinking better of it and placing it in a pocket.

 

 

“I had to give up a perfectly good thaumatometer because I wanted to investigate whether Zoe had been somehow influenced into revealing information about us,” she says. “But wouldn’t you know? There was no magic affectring her in her room – so this was all for nothing – and I will have to get another thaumatometer. O, [PCFirstName], did anything go right today in this meeting? Not that I am blaming you – you were able to resolve this issue without violence or magic or my being robbed, which reveals that you have much skill in selling things by making potential customers realize why they need what you are selling even when they had no idea that it existed before you tried to sell it.”

 

 

“Maybe we could get out of here first?” you suggest.

 

 

“Ah, true enough.” She leads you out of the alleyway into the blissfully normal Academagia. Then, after creating glamours to protect you from eavesdroppers, she turns to face you.

 

 

“Having thought more about your solution and my…situation, I realize that I over-reacted and that you handled it very well. I know how to get another thaumatometer, come in time, and my financial situation is so precarious right now due to certain problems that a loss of nine hundred pims by me could have had serious consequences. But I am now within my budget still, and my needling concerns about Zoe have been well addressed. I am just relieved that the Southside Pitts were too ignorant about magic to realize that I could not create, let alone dispel, any anti-theft measure of the sort that I pretended to deal with – I know not if it is even possible. But you know what?”

 

 

“What?” you ask. With Sima you can never be sure what she will reveal.

 

 

“I am sorry for having gotten us both involved in such shady and potentially dangerous business. But let us walk and talk as friends for a while.”

 

 

You agree, happy that Sima is happy despite the seeming set-backs that she has faced, and enjoy the next blissful few minutes walking while talking about various theatrical productions in Mineta. One issue, however, that you are not bold enough to ask Sima about is how it is that she had and apparently can continue to have easy access to a thaumatometer. But if you were wanting a fully open friend, you would not, you realize, be a friend to Sima Venesico. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Fitness, + 1 skill level Dispassion, + 1 skill level Theater, + 1 Skill level Confidence, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Confidence to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has affection or love with Sima Venesico and PC has Station: Merchant]

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder – to say nothing of my friend’s specific instructions about how it should be used – got me thinking about what it could be. I mean, I know that Hedi students are notorious for speaking quietly of riddles – itself a riddle of some sort from a certain perspective – but I trust my friend enough to believe that this reddish-brown cylinder is more than some type of obfuscation. It must have real value – value that she might be willing to give you in exchange for a reduced fee for your services.”

 

Sima’s eyes widen, but then she nods enthusiastically. “Yes, that would work. All I need to do is look at the reddish-brown cylinder for a few seconds, then you are welcome to have it – if you really want it. Better that then having to pay one thousand one hundred pims – more than the value of one year’s education at the Contu School.”

 

“It could be worth as much as all the goods in Alfi – to a mage,” Dacota snaps. “Maybe it is worthless to those without magical knowledge, as we are.”

 

“But Dom’na, even such an item could be sold to a mage. Is not your brother the Dom’nus trying to get in contact with some wizards from…Tai?” Roxan sounds excited at the prospect of selling a magical artifact.

 

“He is as likely to get into the Theian wizards’ circles as I am to be legitimately at a Golden Families’ dance – but point taken. Some mages would pay well for magical artifacts that only mages can use. Very well, bodyguard – tell us about this reddish-brown cylinder.” Dacota looks at you with curiosity and expectation.

 

Relieved that Sima’s comments confirm your beliefs about why she would need the reddish-brown cylinder, you briefly tell Dacota and Roxan about your conclusion that the reddish-brown cylinder is a device to detect magic called a thaumatometer, modified so that it keeps a record of what it detected and where it was used. You are careful to conceal your views about Sima’s personality and why she wants to know about any magic that might be affecting Zoe Melis – as much for preserving good relations with Sima as for preserving her privacy from the Southside Pitts – but you can tell that your words are having an effect on them. When you finish, Dacota whistles in appreciation.

 

“Yes, I can see how this thauma-thing would be very useful. There are so many magical things in Mineta, known and unknown. Even if we cannot figure out how to use it, we can sell it to some other mage, come in time. But why should I pay you kids eight hundred pims for it?”

 

Sima steps forward then, and says with calm determination, “Because that thaumatometer is special beyond its ability to keep a detailed record. I placed an astrological enchantment on it so that if it is used by the wrong person, it causes various embarassing – and easily perceivable – glamours. Right now, the enchantment is not activated – but it would be very inconvenient, I think, if some member of the Southside Pitts were to be using the thaumatometer in some…inconspicuous way only to trigger the enchantment. So perhaps you should regard the eight hundred pims that I would charge for the thaumatometer as not merely covering the sale of the thaumatometer to you, but also the elimination of my anti-theft protections.”

 

Dacota hesitates, and you assume that she is caught between greed over the thaumatometer and reluctance to forgo hundreds of pims in some other form that would be easier to sell or use for purchases. So you decide that you should intervene with another remark to push her into making the best decision.

 

“Dacota, my friend could use her magics to make life unpleasant for anyone whom she wants, if she sets her mind to it, but chooses to negotiate in the hopes that a more useful relationship may be formed between her and the Southside Pitts. But other magic users – students as well as mages – are not so reasonable, and may choose to use magics against you or your followers, sometimes entirely unprovoked, thinking, rightly or wrongly, that no one would listen to complaints from street urchins. To protect yourself from such magics, and to avoid being targeted by any of my friend’s hostile magics – which I assure you are not fun – it is best for you to purchase the thaumatometer from her.”

 

Dacota sighs and nods. “Working in a city with many mages, it is best to have protection against magic, but better than nothing to have a way to detect magic. And your…magic detector is easier for me to get than it would be for me to pay pims to some seller with such an item elsewhere. Pims have wieght and create long memories. Very well. I will accept three hundred pims for my services as well as ownership of the…magic tube. Roxan, give the client the tube once she gives you the money. Then you can look at the records and dispel the enchantment before giving it back to us.”

 

As Sima slips Roxan a pouch full of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, she asks the girl what the nickname dombi means.

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

Sima then shows Roxan how to locate a catch on the reddish-brown cylinder, which, when pressed, opens a compartment in the reddish-brown cylinder in which is rolled up a piece of paper. Sima then closes the compartment and shows Roxan how to find the lens that allows a person to read what is on the paper, as well as how to adjust what the lens shows the viewer. Then she re-opens the reddish-brown cylinder and removes the paper, folding it in her hand, before telling Roxan how to replace paper inside the reddish-brown cylinder. Then, beaming, she writes a few phemes in the air with her wand, causing a series of lights to rise out of the thaumatometer. Assuring Roxan and Decota that the enchantment has been dispelled, she hands it over to Dacota, who leads Roxan away.

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, merchant,” Roxan calls back as she goes into the mists.

 

You are relieved that Roxan recognizes your mercantile talents, although you are sure that this is not the sort of praise that you should tell your parents about, no matter how pleased they might otherwise be to learn about your apparent success in following the trade through which they were able to afford raising you. Sima, for her part, ignores Roxan’s attempt at friendliness as she unfolds the paper and scans the writing on it. Then, sighing with exasperation, she moves as if to toss it toss on the ground before thinking better of it and placing it in a pocket.

 

“I had to give up a perfectly good thaumatometer because I wanted to investigate whether Zoe had been somehow influenced into revealing information about us,” she says. “But wouldn’t you know? There was no magic affectring her in her room – so this was all for nothing – and I will have to get another thaumatometer. O, [PCFirstName], did anything go right today in this meeting? Not that I am blaming you – you were able to resolve this issue without violence or magic or my being robbed, which reveals that you have much skill in selling things by making potential customers realize why they need what you are selling even when they had no idea that it existed before you tried to sell it.”

 

“Maybe we could get out of here first?” you suggest.

 

“Ah, true enough.” She leads you out of the alleyway into the blissfully normal Academagia. Then, after creating glamours to protect you from eavesdroppers, she turns to face you.

 

“Having thought more about your solution and my…situation, I realize that I over-reacted and that you handled it very well. I know how to get another thaumatometer, come in time, and my financial situation is so precarious right now due to certain problems that a loss of nine hundred pims by me could have had serious consequences. But I am now within my budget still, and my needling concerns about Zoe have been well addressed. I am just relieved that the Southside Pitts were too ignorant about magic to realize that I could not create, let alone dispel, any anti-theft measure of the sort that I pretended to deal with – I know not if it is even possible. But you know what?”

 

“What?” you ask. With Sima you can never be sure what she will reveal.

 

“I am sorry for having gotten us both involved in such shady and potentially dangerous business. But let us walk and talk as friends – let no one think that we are dating yet – for a while.”

 

You agree, happy that Sima is happy despite the seeming set-backs that she has faced, and enjoy the next blissful few minutes walking while talking about various theatrical productions in Mineta. Despite Sima’s claims to the contrart, however, her laughter lingers in such a way and she touches your shoulder at such times that you believe that to her, at least, this is more than walking and talking as friends. One issue, however, that you are not bold enough to ask Sima about, despite her friendly intimacy, is how it is that she had and apparently can continue to have easy access to a thaumatometer. But if you were wanting a fully open friend, you would not, you realize, be a friend to Sima Venesico. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Fitness, + 1 skill level Dispassion, + 1 skill level Theater, + 1 Skill level Confidence, + 1 Skill level Flirting, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Confidence to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Flirting to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

 

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder – to say nothing of my friend’s instructions about how it should be used – got me thinking about what it could be. It must have real value – value that she might be willing to give you in exchange for a reduced fee for your services.”

 

Sima nods. “Yes, that would work. All I need to do is look at the reddish-brown cylinder for a few seconds, then you are welcome to have it – if you really want it. Better that then having to pay one thousand one hundred pims – more than the value of one year’s education at the Contu School.”

 

“It could be worth as much as all the goods in Alfi – to a mage,” Dacota says. “Maybe it is worthless to those without magical knowledge, as we are.”

 

“But Dom’na, even such an item could be sold to a mage. Is not your brother the Dom’nus trying to get in contact with some wizards from…Tai?” Roxan says..

 

“He is as likely to get into the Theian wizards’ circles as I am to be legitimately at a Golden Families’ dance – but point taken. Some mages would pay well for magical artifacts that only mages can use. Very well, bodyguard – tell us about this reddish-brown cylinder.” Dacota looks at you with curiosity and expectation.

 

Relieved that Sima’s comments confirm your beliefs about why she would need the reddish-brown cylinder, you tell Dacota and Roxan about your conclusion that the reddish-brown cylinder is a device to detect magic called a thaumatometer, modified so that it keeps a record of what it detected and where it was used. You conceal your views about Sima’s personality and why she wants to know about any magic that might be affecting Zoe Melis – as much for preserving good relations with Sima as for preserving her privacy from the Southside Pitts. When you finish, Dacota whistles in appreciation.

 

“Yes, I can see how this thauma-thing would be very useful. There are so many magical things in Mineta, known and unknown. Even if we cannot figure out how to use it, we can sell it to some other mage, come in time. But why should I pay you kids eight hundred pims for it?”

 

Sima steps forward then, and says with calm determination, “Because that thaumatometer is special beyond its ability to keep a detailed record. I placed an astrological enchantment on it so that if it is used by the wrong person, it causes various embarassing – and easily perceivable – glamours. Right now, the enchantment is not activated – but it would be very inconvenient, I think, if some member of the Southside Pitts were to be using the thaumatometer in some…inconspicuous way only to trigger the enchantment. So perhaps you should regard the eight hundred pims that I would charge for the thaumatometer as not merely covering the sale of the thaumatometer to you, but also the elimination of my anti-theft protections.”

 

Dacota hesitates. So you decide that you should intervene with another remark.

 

“Dacota, my friend could use her magics to make life unpleasant for anyone whom she wants, if she sets her mind to it, but chooses to negotiate in the hopes that a more useful relationship may be formed between her and the Southside Pitts.”

 

Dacota jerks. “If your friend is truly so dangerous, then I may be a fool to trust her when she says that she will remove the anti-theft magic on the…magic tube. Of course, I may be a fool to accept anyone’s claims about removing harmful magic, but not all such people are, like your friend, presented as sop dangerous. In any case, I prefer a more definite form of payment than an artifact that its owner admits is, as far as I care, cursed. Who is to say that she could get rid of the enchantment easily enough? However, since you gave a useful discussion of…magic-detecting devices, I will lower the fee to one thousand and ten pims. But if you resist me in any way, I will raise the price to the original sum.”

 

You suppose that this is the best you can get out of efforts to sell the thaumatometer. Still, you are interested to note that your presentation of Sima Venesico as a seriously dangerous mage has rattled Dacota. [+ 1 Skill Level Bluff, temporary + 10% chance of success, hide option “[If PC has 800 pims] Pay Dacota what she wants.”, reveal option “[If PC has 710 pims] Pay Dacota the lowered fee that she has agreed to.”, choose other option]

[If PC has memory Sima’s Ring to Zoe] Innuendo. Try to figure out whether Zoe used Sima’s ring – and imply that it was powerful. Subtly, you hope.

 

Success

 

[If PC has no love or affection with Sima Venesico and did not complete the adventure Just Going About Your Business]

 

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring to bed. Knowing her eagerness to be seen as popular and her low self-confidence, such a thing seems possible. Maybe by making implications about Zoe, the ring, and Sima, you can persuade Dacota to lower her fees. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any new jewelry? My friend is always…investigating powerful jewelry, and some of it can be quite dangerous.”

 

“Is this why she wanted to investigate Zoe?” Dacota’s words, sounding faintly alarmed, intrude with such volume that Roxan’s soft answer cannot be heard by you.

 

“Well, you know how strange certain magical items can be, right? No ordinary mage student – or even mage – would investigate magical items with no knowledge.” You hope that Sima does not mind how you are presenting her.

 

Sima, however, enthusiastically joins in…well, whatever type of deception you are doing. “Yes! Roxan, Dacota, did you know that there is a special office, called the Artifacts Office, dedicated to nothing but identifying the magical properties of items? So my interest in magical items is not common.”

 

“So you were trying to see whether this Zoe Melis, a student in a school for magic, has magical jewelry?” Roxan sounds sceptical – with good reason, you suppose - so you decide to try to play up the uniqueness of the item and Zoe’s relationship to it. Maybe you can make Sima seem so powerful or powerfully connected that Dacota should not seek more money than was earlier agreed upon.

 

“Precisely, Roxan,” you say. “But there is more to Sima’s search then this. Zoe Melis is a Cassettan from Cimone, you know, and…well, certain people associated with powerful interests paid her with a certain magical ring for information about certain people. If we could have evidence from more than the reddish-brown cylinder about what was in her room, certain other people would be extremely grateful.”

 

Roxan just looks at you with puzzlement, but Dacota swears and reaches forwards to touch Roxan not unkindly.

 

“I knew that this was a sordid business, but nothing as bad as what you are making it out to be,” she says. “But I suppose that Cassettans are not worthy of trust, especially when they come from Cimone and probably know about that ctiy’s starving time as well as I know about the…place of much trading.” And here she gives a shudder so violent that you are briefly wondering whether Sima is hypnotizing her. “You shouldn’t trust any people with proud tradirtion of greatness but no obvious wealth, I always said. They will go into various illegal ways to get their money – the worst kind, involving fancy scheming. But look,” and here she turns to face Sima, “I don’t want to get accused by anyone of taking sides in this matter – and by taking the big fee that I was wanting to take, some person may think that of me. But the Southside Pitts need money more than any Cassettan student of Academagia, even though her name is Zoe Melis.” Then Dacota uses a word so foul that yuou and Sima both gasp.

 

“I wish that I did not have to be on anyone’s side in any of this business,” Sima replies. “Still, I accet your reversion to the orginal agreement – as will…certain other people. Very well. Three hundred pims for you, the reddish-brown cylinder for me.”

 

She removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloaks and gives it to Dacota, after which Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Dombi, and farewell, Implier,” Roxan says, but then Dacota pulls her away and the two of them vanish into the mists.

 

“We should go quickly,” Sima says, before you have much chance to try to figure out how you feel about your new nickname. And she takes your hand and runs with you out of the alley into the blissful normality of the Academagia. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really associated with some sort of secret organization?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan, but together we discovered that Dacota Pitts has such strong anti-Cassettan prejudice that we were able to let her develop the crazy belief, through your brilliant series of truths, half-truths, and occasional lies, that Zoe Melis is involved is something very illegal – probably abduction, if my knowledge of stereotypes is correct. Stereotypes are poisonous weeds that can lead people astray, but they have their uses – because of anti-Cassetan stereotypes, I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your clever words, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. I am just glad that you are able to avoid assuming that I am like Miya just because we both have eyes that other have described as looking like almonds.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 Skill Level Deception, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Innuendo to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has love or affection with Sima Venesico and did not complete the adventure Just Going About Your Business]

 

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring to bed. Knowing her eagerness to be seen as popular and her low self-confidence, such a thing seems possible. Maybe by making implications about Zoe, the ring, and Sima, you can persuade Dacota to lower her fees. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any new jewelry? My friend is always…investigating powerful jewelry, and some of it can be quite dangerous.”

 

“Is this why she wanted to investigate Zoe?” Dacota’s words, sounding faintly alarmed, intrude with such volume that Roxan’s soft answer cannot be heard by you.

 

“Well, you know how strange certain magical items can be, right? No ordinary mage student – or even mage – would investigate magical items with no knowledge.” You hope that Sima does not mind how you are presenting her.

 

Sima, however, enthusiastically joins in…well, whatever type of deception you are doing. “Yes! Roxan, Dacota, did you know that there is a special office, called the Artifacts Office, dedicated to nothing but identifying the magical properties of items? So my interest in magical items is not common.”

 

“So you were trying to see whether this Zoe Melis, a student in a school for magic, has magical jewelry?” Roxan sounds sceptical – with good reason, you suppose - so you decide to try to play up the uniqueness of the item and Zoe’s relationship to it. Maybe you can make Sima seem so powerful or powerfully connected that Dacota should not seek more money than was earlier agreed upon.

 

“Precisely, Roxan,” you say. “But there is more to Sima’s search then this. Zoe Melis is a Cassettan from Cimone, you know, and…well, certain people associated with powerful interests paid her with a certain magical ring for information about certain people. If we could have evidence from more than the reddish-brown cylinder about what was in her room, certain other people would be extremely grateful.”

 

Roxan just looks at you with puzzlement, but Dacota swears and reaches forwards to touch Roxan not unkindly.

 

“I knew that this was a sordid business, but nothing as bad as what you are making it out to be,” she says. “But I suppose that Cassettans are not worthy of trust, especially when they come from Cimone and probably know about that ctiy’s starving time as well as I know about the…place of much trading.” And here she gives a shudder so violent that you are briefly wondering whether Sima is hypnotizing her. “You shouldn’t trust any people with proud tradirtion of greatness but no obvious wealth, I always said. They will go into various illegal ways to get their money – the worst kind, involving fancy scheming. But look,” and here she turns to face Sima, “I don’t want to get accused by anyone of taking sides in this matter – and by taking the big fee that I was wanting to take, some person may think that of me. But the Southside Pitts need money more than any Cassettan student of Academagia, even though her name is Zoe Melis.” Then Dacota uses a word so foul that yuou and Sima both gasp.

 

“I wish that I did not have to be on anyone’s side in any of this business,” Sima replies. “Still, I accet your reversion to the orginal agreement – as will…certain other people. Very well. Three hundred pims for you, the reddish-brown cylinder for me.”

 

She removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloaks and gives it to Dacota, after which Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Dombi, and farewell, Implier,” Roxan says, but then Dacota pulls her away and the two of them vanish into the mists.

 

“We should go quickly,” Sima says, before you have much chance to try to figure out how you feel about your new nickname. And she takes your hand and runs with you out of the alley into the blissful normality of the Academagia. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really associated with some sort of secret organization?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan, but together we discovered that Dacota Pitts has such strong anti-Cassettan prejudice that we were able to let her develop the crazy belief, through your brilliant series of truths, half-truths, and occasional lies, that Zoe Melis is involved is something very illegal – probably abduction, if my knowledge of stereotypes is correct. Stereotypes are poisonous weeds that can lead people astray, but they have their uses – because of anti-Cassetan stereotypes, I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your clever words, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. I am just glad that you are able to avoid assuming that I am like Miya just because we both have eyes that other have described as looking like almonds.” And fear not,” she says, looking at your face’s dawning horror. “What ever else I may be, I am no dragon’s daughter!”

 

“Sima, looking into your eyes I think not about almonds but about honey.”

 

“Ah, [PCFirstName], that is only because I am honey to you – sweet and more supportive than air! Thank you for your help, and for respecting my boundaries.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. At least you have assurances from her that she is no dragon’s daughter in human form – and given that you trust her so much you must believe her. But you wonder whether you would be willing to date a robber chief’s daughter, come in time – she may be that, given how little you know about her. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 skill level Dating, + 1 skill level Flirting, + 1 Skill Level Deception, + 1 Stress, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Innuendo to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Character Study to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Flirting to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has no love or affection with Sima Venesico and completed the adventure Just Going About Your Business]

 

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring to bed. Knowing her eagerness to be seen as popular and her low self-confidence, such a thing seems possible. Maybe by making implications about Zoe, the ring, and Sima, you can persuade Dacota to lower her fees. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any new jewelry? My friend is always…investigating powerful jewelry, and some of it can be quite dangerous.”

 

“Is this why she wanted to investigate Zoe?” Dacota’s words, sounding faintly alarmed, intrude with such volume that Roxan’s soft answer cannot be heard by you.

 

“Well, you know how strange certain magical items can be, right? No ordinary mage student – or even mage – would investigate magical items with no knowledge.” You hope that Sima does not mind how you are presenting her.

 

Sima, however, enthusiastically joins in…well, whatever type of deception you are doing. “Yes! Roxan, Dacota, did you know that there is a special office, called the Artifacts Office, dedicated to nothing but identifying the magical properties of items? So my interest in magical items is not common.”

 

“So you were trying to see whether this Zoe Melis, a student in a school for magic, has magical jewelry?” Roxan sounds sceptical – with good reason, you suppose - so you decide to try to play up the uniqueness of the item and Zoe’s relationship to it. Maybe you can make Sima seem so powerful or powerfully connected that Dacota should not seek more money than was earlier agreed upon.

 

“Precisely, Roxan,” you say. “But there is more to Sima’s search then this. Zoe Melis is a Cassettan from Cimone, you know, and…well, certain people associated with powerful interests paid her with a certain magical ring for information about certain people. If we could have evidence from more than the reddish-brown cylinder about what was in her room, certain other people would be extremely grateful.”

 

Roxan just looks at you with puzzlement, but Dacota swears and reaches forwards to touch Roxan not unkindly.

 

“I knew that this was a sordid business, but nothing as bad as what you are making it out to be,” she says. “But I suppose that Cassettans are not worthy of trust, especially when they come from Cimone and probably know about that ctiy’s starving time as well as I know about the…place of much trading.” And here she gives a shudder so violent that you are briefly wondering whether Sima is hypnotizing her. “You shouldn’t trust any people with proud tradirtion of greatness but no obvious wealth, I always said. They will go into various illegal ways to get their money – the worst kind, involving fancy scheming. But look,” and here she turns to face Sima, “I don’t want to get accused by anyone of taking sides in this matter – and by taking the big fee that I was wanting to take, some person may think that of me. But the Southside Pitts need money more than any Cassettan student of Academagia, even though her name is Zoe Melis.” Then Dacota uses a word so foul that yuou and Sima both gasp.

 

“I wish that I did not have to be on anyone’s side in any of this business,” Sima replies. “Still, I accet your reversion to the orginal agreement – as will…certain other people. Very well. Three hundred pims for you, the reddish-brown cylinder for me.”

 

She removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloaks and gives it to Dacota, after which Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Dombi, and farewell, Implier,” Roxan says, but then Dacota pulls her away and the two of them vanish into the mists.

 

“We should go quickly,” Sima says, before you have much chance to try to figure out how you feel about your new nickname. And she takes your hand and runs with you out of the alley into the blissful normality of the Academagia. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really associated with some sort of secret organization?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan, but together we discovered that Dacota Pitts has such strong anti-Cassettan prejudice that we were able to let her develop the crazy belief, through your brilliant series of truths, half-truths, and occasional lies, that Zoe Melis is involved is something very illegal – probably abduction, if my knowledge of stereotypes is correct. Stereotypes are poisonous weeds that can lead people astray, but they have their uses – because of anti-Cassetan stereotypes, I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your clever words, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. I am just glad that you are able to avoid assuming that I am like Miya just because we both have eyes that other have described as looking like almonds.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. One sure thing you now hope after having witnessed Dacota’s prejudice – if you are again abducted onto some ship, you will not refer to it has being Cassettaed, even if all involved are Cassettan and traveling to Cassetta. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 Skill Level Deception, + 1 Skill Level Etiquette, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Innuendo to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has love or affection with Sima Venesico and completed the adventure Just Going About Your Business]

 

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring to bed. Knowing her eagerness to be seen as popular and her low self-confidence, such a thing seems possible. Maybe by making implications about Zoe, the ring, and Sima, you can persuade Dacota to lower her fees. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any new jewelry? My friend is always…investigating powerful jewelry, and some of it can be quite dangerous.”

 

“Is this why she wanted to investigate Zoe?” Dacota’s words, sounding faintly alarmed, intrude with such volume that Roxan’s soft answer cannot be heard by you.

 

“Well, you know how strange certain magical items can be, right? No ordinary mage student – or even mage – would investigate magical items with no knowledge.” You hope that Sima does not mind how you are presenting her.

 

Sima, however, enthusiastically joins in…well, whatever type of deception you are doing. “Yes! Roxan, Dacota, did you know that there is a special office, called the Artifacts Office, dedicated to nothing but identifying the magical properties of items? So my interest in magical items is not common.”

 

“So you were trying to see whether this Zoe Melis, a student in a school for magic, has magical jewelry?” Roxan sounds sceptical – with good reason, you suppose - so you decide to try to play up the uniqueness of the item and Zoe’s relationship to it. Maybe you can make Sima seem so powerful or powerfully connected that Dacota should not seek more money than was earlier agreed upon.

 

“Precisely, Roxan,” you say. “But there is more to Sima’s search then this. Zoe Melis is a Cassettan from Cimone, you know, and…well, certain people associated with powerful interests paid her with a certain magical ring for information about certain people. If we could have evidence from more than the reddish-brown cylinder about what was in her room, certain other people would be extremely grateful.”

 

Roxan just looks at you with puzzlement, but Dacota swears and reaches forwards to touch Roxan not unkindly.

 

“I knew that this was a sordid business, but nothing as bad as what you are making it out to be,” she says. “But I suppose that Cassettans are not worthy of trust, especially when they come from Cimone and probably know about that ctiy’s starving time as well as I know about the…place of much trading.” And here she gives a shudder so violent that you are briefly wondering whether Sima is hypnotizing her. “You shouldn’t trust any people with proud tradirtion of greatness but no obvious wealth, I always said. They will go into various illegal ways to get their money – the worst kind, involving fancy scheming. But look,” and here she turns to face Sima, “I don’t want to get accused by anyone of taking sides in this matter – and by taking the big fee that I was wanting to take, some person may think that of me. But the Southside Pitts need money more than any Cassettan student of Academagia, even though her name is Zoe Melis.” Then Dacota uses a word so foul that yuou and Sima both gasp.

 

“I wish that I did not have to be on anyone’s side in any of this business,” Sima replies. “Still, I accet your reversion to the orginal agreement – as will…certain other people. Very well. Three hundred pims for you, the reddish-brown cylinder for me.”

 

She removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloaks and gives it to Dacota, after which Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Dombi, and farewell, Implier,” Roxan says, but then Dacota pulls her away and the two of them vanish into the mists.

 

“We should go quickly,” Sima says, before you have much chance to try to figure out how you feel about your new nickname. And she takes your hand and runs with you out of the alley into the blissful normality of the Academagia. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really associated with some sort of secret organization?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I adore, whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion and affection flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships and perhaps love are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan, but together we discovered that Dacota Pitts has such strong anti-Cassettan prejudice that we were able to let her develop the crazy belief, through your brilliant series of truths, half-truths, and occasional lies, that Zoe Melis is involved is something very illegal – probably abduction, if my knowledge of stereotypes is correct. Stereotypes are poisonous weeds that can lead people astray, but they have their uses – because of anti-Cassetan stereotypes, I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your clever words, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. I am just glad that you are able to avoid assuming that I am like Miya just because we both have eyes that other have described as looking like almonds.” And fear not,” she says, looking at your face’s dawning horror. “What ever else I may be, I am no dragon’s daughter!”

 

“Sima, looking into your eyes I think not about almonds but about honey.”

 

“Ah, [PCFirstName], that is only because I am honey to you – sweet and more supportive than air! Thank you for your help, and for respecting my boundaries.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. At least you have assurances from her that she is no dragon’s daughter in human form – and given that you trust her so much you must believe her. But you wonder whether you would be willing to date a robber chief’s daughter, come in time – she may be that, given how little you know about her. One sure thing you now hope after having witnessed Dacota’s prejudice – if you are again abducted onto some ship, you will not refer to it has being Cassettaed, even if all involved are Cassettan and traveling to Cassetta. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 skill level Dating, + 1 skill level Flirting, + 1 Skill Level Deception, + 1 Skill Level Etiquette, + 1 Stress, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Innuendo to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Character Study to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Flirting to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

 

[If PC is male]

 

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring in bed. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I must ask: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she was wearing a striking jeweled ring?”

 

“We care nothing about your efforts to uncover secrets about a student in order to help you with your love life – although maybe you will need all the help you can get in order to succeed in love, come in time – unless you want to pay us for it,” Dacota snaps.

 

Roxan nods her head smugly. “Yes, Dom’na,” she says. “I will not answer any questions asked by the bodyguard until we are paid.”

 

“Ah, forget it,” you reply. “I could not care less what Zoe did with any potions.”

 

Well, it was a long shot plan anyway. But why must Dacota assume that you were asking for romantic reasons? You suppose that she replied in an insulting way to a situation that you had set up, as a male student asking about a female student’s bedroom and what she did in it. [+2 stress, + 1 skill level Innuendo, choose other option]

[If PC is female]

 

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring in bed. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I must ask: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she was wearing a striking jeweled ring?”

 

“We care nothing about your efforts to uncover dirt about a student – although maybe you will need all the help you can get in order to succeed in love, come in time – unless you want to pay us for it,” Dacota snaps.

 

Roxan nods her head smugly. “Yes, Dom’na,” she says. “I will not answer any questions asked by the bodyguard until we are paid.”

 

“Ah, forget it,” you reply. “I could not care less what Zoe did with any potions.”

 

Well, it was a long shot plan anyway. [+1 stress, choose other option]

[If PC has memory Tabin’s Potion to Zoe] Innuendo. Try to figure out whether Zoe used Tabin’s potion – and imply that it was powerful. Subtly, you hope.

 

Success

 

[If PC is not Student at Schohanwicht School]

 

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe used Tabin’s potion. Knowing Tabin’s interest in mind-altering plants, it seems likely that if she used it, she would have had some strange reaction. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she had taken any potion? She is such a sickly girl, and I would –”

 

But Roxan, seized by terror, shrieks. “Death and decay – O yes! That terrible smell in her room…her sound sleep…Woe! I could be ill from the same airs that gave her her illness – and killed my parents three years ago! And then where would my books go?”

 

Roxan then collapses to the ground with a moan. Dacota, muttering bad words, bends down to help Roxan, Roxan, however, cannot sit, cannot crouch, but keeps falling down and begins to vomit up gall.

 

“Looks like you triggered a bad emotion in Roxan,” Sima murmurs to you, looking at the scene with cool detachment. “Still, you have given me an opportunity to shine.”

 

Sima writes a few phemes in the air and a soothing array of writhing colours and sound emerges from the tip of her wand, accompanied by a sweet, earthy scent. Roxan, perceiving these stimuli, calms down enough to wipe her lips. Then she sits up, licks some of the gall from her lips, and rubs her cleaner hand on the ground, before saying in a quavering voice, “N…nam –”. But then Dacota clasps her hand over Roxan’s lips and says, not unkindly, “Hush, girl. You escaped disease’s death, orphanages, and terror – do not risk it all through calling upon your Good Man – not here!”

 

Roxan nods, and Dacota, standing up behind Roxan, turns to Sima, saying, “No one ever said that doing work for mages would be easy. But that spell – I would gladly pay for a copy of its phemes. My brother would like it, and even if he cannot use it, he could sell it to a mage who could. So why not trade to us the phemes for that spell and we will count it as worth eight hundred pims?”

 

Sima’s face is impassive as she nods in agreement, murmurs to Roxan about Zoe’s sickness not being contagious, and removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloak. Having handed the pouch to Dacota, she removes from beneath the fold of her cloak a pencil and two note books. Sitting in front of Roxan, she gestures for you to sit down also. Once you have done this, she carefully opens each note book and draws phemes, making notes in Renaglian and explaining the concept of perspective drawings. Once she has drawn each pheme from all six perspectives, as well as made notes about the ways to sequence them, she closes each note book. One she gives to Roxan, the other she gives to you.

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, summoner,” Roxan mutters, before standing up and givng the reddish-brown cylinder to Sima. Then she goes to Dacota, and the two of them walk off into the mists. You are upset that anyone would call you a summoner – such could lead to rumours that you are a gates mage – but hope that the word of a foreign orphan criminal would mean little in Mineta, especially when spoken…well, wherever here is. Besides, you summoned her fears to her.

 

Sima for her part does not seem to care about what Roxan called you, as she leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour, just like the glamour that you used to calm down Roxan?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan – Tabin’s experiments are difficult for anyone to understand – but you succeeded in so frightening her when you got her thinking about her parents’ deaths that I was able to impress her enough with my magic that I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your triggering Roxan, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley. That is one of the many things that I love about magic – the constant surprises that one finds. For example, this spell was introduced to me by…someone as a way to calm people beset by stress, but it might have some hypnotic powers, given how easily Dacota reduced her demands. Ah well, it is a useful spell to have.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of glamour magic. [+ 1 Charm, + 1 skill level Glamour Methods, add item Sima’s Spell Codex, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

 

ITEM: Sima’s Spell Codex

 

Description: When studied, this note book will teach the reader a spell named Soothing Sensations.

Value: 500 Pims.

Action: Study Sima’s Spell Codex

 

Spell: Soothing Sensations

 

Description: This spell causes a cloud of moving and shifting colors, accompanied by soothing music and an earthy sweet smell, to appear. Focusing on these phenomena causes profound relaxation (stress reset to 0) and heightened senses (+ 10 to Perception) but the relaxation causes impairment of certain higher functions dealing with money (- 10 to all economy subskills).

Dual Cost: 1

Duration: 6

Phemes: Miribilis, Soothe, Comfort, Aromatic

Difficulty: v. Charm/Glamour 13

 

Action: Study Sima’s Spell Codex

 

By studying Sima’s notes, you are informed of the spell Soothing Sensations and gain a better understanding of phemes (1 skill step to glamour phemes, + 1 skill step to phemes).

[If PC is Student at Schohanwicht School]

 

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe used Tabin’s potion. Knowing Tabin’s interest in mind-altering plants, it seems likely that if she used it, she would have had some strange reaction. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she had taken any potion? She is such a sickly girl, and I would –”

 

But Roxan, seized by terror, shrieks. “Death and decay – O yes! That terrible smell in her room…her sound sleep…Woe! I could be ill from the same airs that gave her her illness – and killed my parents three years ago! And then where would my books go?”

 

Roxan then collapses to the ground with a moan. Dacota, muttering bad words, bends down to help Roxan, Roxan, however, cannot sit, cannot crouch, but keeps falling down and begins to vomit up gall.

 

“Looks like you triggered a bad emotion in Roxan,” Sima murmurs to you, looking at the scene with cool detachment. “Still, you have given me an opportunity to shine.”

 

Sima writes a few phemes in the air and a soothing array of writhing colours and sound emerges from the tip of her wand, accompanied by a sweet, earthy scent. Roxan, perceiving these stimuli, calms down enough to wipe her lips. Then she sits up, licks some of the gall from her lips, and rubs her cleaner hand on the ground, before saying in a quavering voice, “N…nam –”. But then Dacota clasps her hand over Roxan’s lips and says, not unkindly, “Hush, girl. You escaped disease’s death, orphanages, and terror – do not risk it all through calling upon your Good Man – not here!”

 

Roxan nods, and Dacota, standing up behind Roxan, turns to Sima, saying, “No one ever said that doing work for mages would be easy. But that spell – I would gladly pay for a copy of its phemes. My brother would like it, and even if he cannot use it, he could sell it to a mage who could. So why not trade to us the phemes for that spell and we will count it as worth eight hundred pims?”

 

Sima’s face is impassive as she nods in agreement, murmurs to Roxan about Zoe’s sickness not being contagious, and removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloak. Having handed the pouch to Dacota, she removes from beneath the fold of her cloak a pencil and two note books. Sitting in front of Roxan, she gestures for you to sit down also. Once you have done this, she carefully opens each note book and draws phemes, making notes in Renaglian and explaining the concept of perspective drawings. Once she has drawn each pheme from all six perspectives, as well as made notes about the ways to sequence them, she closes each note book. One she gives to Roxan, the other she gives to you.

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, summoner,” Roxan mutters, before standing up and givng the reddish-brown cylinder to Sima. Then she goes to Dacota, and the two of them walk off into the mists. You jerk with fear when you hear her words – such words could lead to rumours that you are a gates mage, which could in turn lead to your being linked with Euneycia and the Schohanwicht School – but you calm your mind by hoping that the word of a foreign orphan criminal would mean little in Mineta, especially when spoken…well, wherever here is. Besides, you summoned her fears to her.

 

Sima for her part notices your jerk of fear, and after looking meaningfully at you she leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour, just like the glamour that you used to calm down Roxan?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan – Tabin’s experiments are difficult for anyone to understand – but you succeeded in so frightening her when you got her thinking about her parents’ deaths that I was able to impress her enough with my magic that I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your triggering Roxan, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley. That is one of the many things that I love about magic – the constant surprises that one finds. For example, this spell was introduced to me by…someone as a way to calm people beset by stress, but it might have some hypnotic powers, given how easily Dacota reduced her demands. Ah well, it is a useful spell to have.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of glamour magic. Maybe it would be better to do such a thing than study gates magic – Sima may suspect you of being involved in Gates magic. But then again, Sima’s interest in forbidden magics is well known to you, so maybe she would not mind. Ah, now you are more tormented by your worries about Sima than by any temptation of Gates. [+ 1 Charm, + 2 Stress, + 1 skill level Glamour Methods, add memory Sima Suspects, add item Sima’s Spell Codex, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Character Study to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

 

ITEM: Sima’s Spell Codex

 

Description: When studied, this note book will teach the reader a spell named Soothing Sensations.

Value: 500 Pims.

Action: Study Sima’s Spell Codex

 

Spell: Soothing Sensations

 

Description: This spell causes a cloud of moving and shifting colors, accompanied by soothing music and an earthy sweet smell, to appear. Focusing on these phenomena causes profound relaxation (stress reset to 0) and heightened senses (+ 10 to Perception) but the relaxation causes impairment of certain higher functions dealing with money (- 10 to all economy subskills).

Dual Cost: 1

Duration: 6

Phemes: Miribilis, Soothe, Comfort, Aromatic

Difficulty: v. Charm/Glamour 13

 

Action: Study Sima’s Spell Codex

 

By studying Sima’s notes, you are informed of the spell Soothing Sensations and gain a better understanding of phemes (1 skill step to glamour phemes, + 1 skill step to phemes).

Failure

 

[If PC is male]

 

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe used Tabin’s potion. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I must ask: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she had taken any potion?”

 

“We care nothing about your efforts to uncover secrets about a student in order to help you with your love life – although maybe you will need all the help you can get in order to succeed in love, come in time – unless you want to pay us for it,” Dacota snaps.

 

Roxan nods her head smugly. “Yes, Dom’na,” she says. “I will not answer any questions asked by the bodyguard until we are paid.”

 

“Ah, forget it,” you reply. “I could not care less what Zoe did with any potions.”

 

Well, it was a long shot plan anyway. But why must Dacota assume that you were asking for romantic reasons? You suppose that she replied in an insulting way to a situation that you had set up, as a male student asking about a female student’s bedroom and what she did in it. [+2 stress, + 1 skill level Innuendo, choose other option]

[If PC is female]

 

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe used Tabin’s potion. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I must ask: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she had taken any potion?”

 

“We care nothing about your efforts to uncover dirt about a student – although maybe you will need all the help you can get in order to succeed in love, come in time – unless you want to pay us for it,” Dacota snaps.

 

Roxan nods her head smugly. “Yes, Dom’na,” she says. “I will not answer any questions asked by the bodyguard until we are paid.”

 

“Ah, forget it,” you reply. “I could not care less what Zoe did with any potions.”

 

Well, it was a long shot plan anyway. [+1 stress, choose other option]

Pure Luck. Hope that something happens that will allow you to avoid doing anything.

 

Success

 

[If PC is not a Student in Aranaz College and was never in Avila College]

 

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC is a Student in Aranaz College]

 

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? So much for Aranaz College’s belittling luck in favor of careful planning – I know and now you know that sometimes luck saves the day. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues, despite King Aranaz’s disdain for plans that relied upon luck. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Honor of Mallen Field, + 1 skill level Cartography, + 1 Stress, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC was a Student in Aranaz College during Y1 but is in another college not Avila]

 

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? So I guess that your having left Aranaz College can be better understood as a good thing – sometimes luck saves the day, no matter what old King Aranaz said. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. After all, King Aranaz had not led the fleets against the dragons, yet humanity had won the battle. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Manner of a Champion, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC is a Student in Avila College]

 

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you are in Avila – you would not be with me, I hope, unless you were believing that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC was a Student in Avila College in Y1 but is in another college not Aranaz]

 

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. Maybe you should reconsider having left Avila now that you have seen the importance of luck in helping people to escape danger. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, +1 Stress, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC was a Student in Avila College in Y1 but is in Aranaz College]

 

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. Maybe you should reconsider having left Avila for Aranaz, the college that scorns luck – or so I understand. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. King Aranaz had not led the fleets against the dragons, yet humanity had won the battle, while Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 2 skill levels Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 Stress, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC is a Student in Avila College and completed the Y1 adventure The Pitts]

 

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I hope that I am not interrupting anything too important between you – and that [PCFirstName] treats you better than how he treats his female Avila peers. I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me. I know that we dorm-tower eight boys were supposed to stick together last year, but I was so occupied with researching glamours and the law that I guess I was unable to help us. Maybe my helping you now was the gods’ ensuring that even I would be able to do my bit against the Southside Pitts.”

 

“If you had been with us from the beginning, Sima and I might not have been in trouble,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you are in Avila – you would not be with me, I hope, unless you were believing that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Romance, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC was a Student in Avila College in Y1 but is in another college not Aranaz and completed the Y1 adventure The Pitts]

 

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I hope that I am not interrupting anything too important between you – and that [PCFirstName]’s treatment of you has improved now that he is no longer occupying the affections of so many of his female Avila peers. I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me. I know that we dorm-tower eight boys were supposed to stick together last year, but I was so occupied with researching glamours and the law that I guess I was unable to help us. Maybe my helping you now was the gods’ ensuring that even I would be able to do my bit against the Southside Pitts – though you were not sticking in dorm-tower eight at all.”

 

“If you had been with us from the beginning, Sima and I might not have been in trouble,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you are in Avila – you would not be with me, I hope, unless you were believing that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. Maybe you were wrong to hAave left Avilas after all – and for more reasons than your loss of potential girlfriends. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Flirting, + 1 skill level Cartography, + 1 Stress, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC was a Student in Avila College in Y1 but is in Aranaz College and completed the Y1 adventure The Pitts]

 

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I hope that I am not interrupting anything too important between you – and that [PCFirstName] is not merely leading you on as practice for his efforts to seduce Emilia Strolin now that he is no longer occupying the affections of so many of his female Avila peers. Strolin is quite a catch for a male student of anything short of meaningful nobility – her father is wealthy enough that he bought a noble title unencumbered by litigation, yet he is too new to nobility to easily find a serious noble husband for her, come in time. Maybe I should –“

 

“Aaran,” Sima laughs with a bit of forced cheer. “I would never be so bold as to violate the rules against dating – not even with this peer to Cyrus Dawes, who is, despite your allegations, a perfect gentleman as far as all female students whom I have spoken to are concerned. He and I just happened to take wrong turns on our ways back to campus. Such things are not unknown to Mineta – maybe the stars are in such a way that some magical rift has opened to here.”

 

You are not sure whether it is Sima’s natural charm or reference to the power of the stars that makes Aaran so easily accept Sima’s lies, but he swallows his anger and speaks in more measured words.

 

“I, um, confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had his help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me. I know that we dorm-tower eight boys were supposed to stick together last year, but I was so occupied with researching glamours and the law that I guess I was unable to help us. Maybe my helping you now was the gods’ ensuring that even I would be able to do my bit against the Southside Pitts – though you were not sticking in dorm-tower eight at all. I know that it was and is a bad place, but you chose Aranaz College –”

 

“If you had been with us from the beginning, Sima and I might not have been in trouble,” you cut off what might be another incipient rant. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you were in Avila – you would not have been with me, I hope, unless you believed at some point that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any money. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up my money. The only downside was that we had to listen to Aaran’s anti-Aranaz bigotry of the sort that, if left unchecked, could earn him more than merely laughter from…certain foreigners to this fair city.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues, despite King Aranaz’s disdain for plans that relied upon luck. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend.

 

As far as Aaran’s dislike of your having gone to Aranaz, you attribute that to his strange fixation with fate, which seems in part to have manifested in the form of belief that Aranaz College tries to cheat fate through careful planning. Leaving Avila meant a loss of potential girlfriends, but since it also meant avoiding Aaran’s general eccentricity – which this encounter has revealed may easily lead to negative feelings towards people – it is a good thing over all. Besides, Emilia Strolin may indeed be a good girlfriend for many reasons, some of which may be what Aaran suggested. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Character Study, + 1 skill level Honor of Mallen Field, + 1 skill level Dating, + 1 skill level Cartography, + 1 Stress, - 1 relation with Aaran Ledale, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, end adventure]

[If PC is a Student in Avila College and was in Aranaz during Y1]

 

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you are in Avila – you would not be with me, I hope, unless you were believing that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. Sure this has convinced you all the more that you were right to abandon the fate-swindling Aranaz College in favor of Avila! I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. That having been said, you would not condemn Aranaz College as a College of fate-swindlers – they taught you useful skills, you think. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Honor of Mallen Field, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC is a Student in Avila College and was in a College not Aranaz during Y1]

 

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you are in Avila – you would not be with me, I hope, unless you were believing that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. Sure this has convinced you all the more that you were right to transfer into Avila! I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 2 skill levels Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

Failure

 

You do not know how to avoid hurting yourself – especially with your use of magic so limited. Sima has really gotten into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, thinks could go very wrong. Maybe if you just try to delay them, something will happen to save you.

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s taunting voice interrupts your fearful thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that she must have some way to help you. She is Sima after all – some sort of…well, you aren’t exactly sure what, but more than your average 14 year old student mage.

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “help me with this.”

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “I can help you – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will pay you the added money. Just…put the knife away and leave us alone.”

Dacota carefully puts the knfe away before rushing forwards. She seizes Sima by her hands and pulls her into a grotesque embrace so that Sima’s body shields her own. Sima does not struggle, but merely says, “There is no need for such caution. Dacota, you can take my wand and let me release one of my hands so that I can write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out cheerfully. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, coward,” Roxan replies. “The two of you should both become dombis, if such is possible in Mineta. Better a dombi then a person who pretends to be brave when real courage is needed.”

Being insulted by a girl who seems to be some type of criminal is another humiliation, but Dacota jerks Roxan away with a laugh and retreats into the mist before Roxan can give more insults or you can give her a piece of your anger.

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Dacota was giddy with stress after robbing me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just did to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. And that is not even taking into account the fact that not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or even a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money when you could have paid her so easily?”

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Unfortunately, you were too frightened to do anything to help me. Still, it is written that war spares not the brave person but the cowardly person, and the warrior who gives a shield to the enemy in order to flee the fight will easily survive where warriors who fight may not. With my funds reduced, other people in my life…will not be happy, shall we say? It would have been nice if you could have saved me such money, but I was the one who got so involved with the Southside Pitts and you tried to help me. I wonder if Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo might be able to make up my money.”

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. But now that she has all but called you a coward, maybe you will have less opportunity to be her friend. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Famous Prose, + 1 Skill level Famous Poetry, + 1 Fitness, - 5 relationship with Sima Venesico, + 5 stress, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 2 skill levels Tactics to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has 800 pims] Pay Dacota what she wants. [Auto]

 

Without further ado, you remove from beneath your robes a series of pouches, which you hand to Dacota.

“Count the money in these, Dacota,” you say. “These should be containing enough pims to pay for my friend’s…added expenses.”

Dacota does not hesitate, but seizes the bags, opens them, and counts through their contents. Although she is not fast, she is thorough and does not force Sima or you to wait too long. Once she is done, she looks up at yuou and says, “Well, you are more than a bodyguard to your friend. You are a good cart for her also – or maybe a warehouse.”

Roxan laughs. Then she says to Sima, “You still must give us your portion of the money.”

Once Sima has removed from beneath the fold of her cloak q pouch that she gives to Roxan, Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder, before saying to you, “I think that I cannot improve upon the Domna’s words, cart.” Then she and Dacota go off into the mists.

Sima leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? You helped me in the most obvious way, but sometimes the most obvious ways are the best ways to succeed. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your ability to pay pims sufficient for Dacota’s greed, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You hope that all problems that she and the other triplets face could be as easily solved as this one was, although you doubt that they will be. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, - 800 pims, + 1 skill level Accounting, + 1 Skill level Applications of Arithmetic, + 1 Strength, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Accounting to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has 710 pims] Pay Dacota the lowered fee that she has agreed to. [Auto]

 

Without further ado, you remove from beneath your robes a series of pouches, which you hand to Dacota.

“Count the money in these, Dacota,” you say. “These should be containing enough pims to pay for my friend’s…added expenses.”

Dacota does not hesitate, but seizes the bags, opens them, and counts through their contents. Although she is not fast, she is thorough and does not force Sima or you to wait too long. Once she is done, she looks up at yuou and says, “Well, you are more than a bodyguard to your friend. You could be a good banker to her.”

Roxan laughs. Then she says to Sima, “You still must give us your portion of the money.”

Once Sima has removed from beneath the fold of her cloak q pouch that she gives to Roxan, Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder, before saying to you, “I think that I cannot improve upon the Domna’s words, banker.” Then she and Dacota go off into the mists.

Sima leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? You helped me in the most obvious way, but sometimes the most obvious ways are the best ways to succeed – and you were smart enough to be able to lower Dacota’s price, to your benefit and the benefit of our time. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your ability to pay pims sufficient for Dacota’s greed, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You hope that all problems that she and the other triplets face could be as easily solved as this one was, although you doubt that they will be. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, - 710 pims, + 1 skill level Accounting, + 1 Skill level Applications of Arithmetic, + 1 Skill level Negotiate, + 1 Strength, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 2 skill levels Accounting to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

 

[Rhialto]

1 hour ago, Rhialto said:

Sima’s Confrontation:

  Reveal hidden contents

When your eyes adjust to the shadowy space between buildings into which Sima has led you, you are relieved to see that she has not led you to an ambushing group of pirates, a mage of great power and unknown friendliness, or a meeting with Legate Orsi. Given that you are travelling with Sima, you feel that you should not be embarrassed that you seriously thought such things possible.

But although there is no surprising person whom you can see, the place where you are is surprising enough to your eyes. You and Sima are standing within an alleyway shrouded with mist and strewn with garbage. By itself, this would not be unusual – Mineta is a large enough city to have many alleys, and if even one half of one tenth of the hints about the Triplets’ deeds are true they must know many alleyways to interesting places that the City Guard would love to know about. But there is, to the best of your knowledge, no alleyway of this length in this part of the Academagia’s campus – and the walls that form the alleyway resemble no exteriors of buildings currently within the campus. Admittedly, the walls are too covered with dirty and torn paper covered with writing – in characters that you are not familiar with – for you to make out what the walls are made from, but since the Academagia permits no walls to be so thickly covered with papers – not even the Vernin College Message Board – this remains as proof that the walls are not familiar to you from Academagia. Or anywhere, for that matter. You know of no script that is so based upon circles and crossed lines with other lines radiating out from the circles or crossed lines.

This is disturbing enough on its own – your mind is forced to think of powerful glamours as the safest explanation, and you are relieved that no stars can be seen through the overhanging upper floors of buildings in the white sky – but Sima’s growing tension suggests that something in addition to the strange location may be wrong.

“Where are they? They were supposed to be waiting for me. Be wary and try not to mention my name. This could be an ambush. And be careful about how you use magic in this place – magic beyond glamours does strange things here at times, especially revision, incantation, mastery, and gates. This place seems to change quite often – it did not resemble this last time.”

You are shaken by how casually Sima mentions mastery and gates magic, but figure that now is not the time to question her about it – besides, maybe she just read about the use of those pillars in some long-forgotten manuscript that told her about this alley. There are many strange books in the Venalicium, you think, most of them making true claims.

“Yeah. About that,” you reply in what you hope is a casual voice that will convince listeners that you are a powerful mage who can fight off any opponent rather than an increasingly confused student. “Ambushes are easy to fight against when one knows who might be expected to prepare an ambush. Besides, maybe they are just late. This place is very confusing to newcomers.” You laugh, hoping to disguise the fact that you, as a newcomer to this place, are one of the confused.

Sima makes no effort to reply to you, and your confusion is only reduced by the fear that arises when you hear a harsh barking laugh – of the sort that Sima would never make outside a performance – and the word “You!” It does not sound friendly, and your wand rises into a better casting position, but Sima pats your arm down as her wand creates a light. Then she calls out in her clearest voice:

“Dacota! I am at this light. I hope that the mist is not too bad for you!”

“If you think that the mist in this gods-hated alley is worst, then you are stranger than I thought!”

From the mist emerge two people dressed in ragged clothing. One throws back the hood on her cloak to reveal a young woman with dirty blonde hair formed into many short beaded braids – whose face is currently scowling at Sima. The other, a girl of around 10 years with black hair cut short to her head, lacks a cloak, and her movements lack her older companion’s aggression. Nonetheless, her body moves quickly and her eyes are roaming in constant search, made only slightly slower by clear amazement – perhaps this alleyway is as unfamiliar to her as it is to you. When she speaks, however, it is with a calmness that causes Sima to reveal surprise and Dacota to lower her chin and become less visibly angry.

”Better to meet in a strange place with only two people than a familiar place with many enemies – or to not meet at all those who owe us money.” Her accent is strange even for Mineta, but it does not sound like a Bassan accent – maybe she is Saisynian? Her appearance would not rule it out.

Sima coos at her, “Is this the little prodigy who knows how to read whom Dacota said would help me with my problems? Show me the reddish-brown cylinder that I lent you and showed you how to use – and that you used, I assume – and you will have my gratitude, and you and your friends will have my money.”

The girl makes a move towards a pouch at her waist, but Dacota slaps her hand away and says, “Now is not the time to give her the reddish-brown cylinder, Roxan! You read much and have clever fingers for gears and eyes for hidden things, but in the ways of money I am better! Much planning and risk went into our fulfilling this…dombi’s request,” and here Dacota’s voice evinces a puzzlement matched in Sima’s eyes about what a dombi is, “and she must pay us money for your efforts.”

“But, Dom’na, what if the dombi cannot pay? Will she not learn about my skills?”

Sima decides to interrupt this strange girl’s apparently incipient anger. “Payment shall be as we agreed, Dacota. I have three hundred pims for you, after which you, Roxan, can return to me what I lent you.”

This seems to mollify Roxan, but Dacota’s hand seizes Roxan’s pouch and she says to Sima, “Three hundred pims? After all of that work and risk by us? Surely we Southside Pitts deserve more friendliness from you after that – after all, we still have the reddish-brown cylinder.”

“You make it sound as if I had you break into an archmage’s fortified compound or a prison, Pitts,” Sima replies, “but it was not nearly so dangerous. Especially with my help.”

Dacota gives a predatory grin. “I am sure, Miss, that a lot of people in the fancy school where you learn about magic and speaking quietly of riddles and other fine and fey stuff would be very interested to now about your help to us – to say nothing about the Captain of Mineta’s guards. Certainly, your task for us was not dangerous, but we prepared for great danger, as the wise do when dealing with magic. It was as if a great lord from the Chards had sent forth an army to capture a deer! The army must be paid regardless of whether it captures a deer or kills a dragon.”

“To call the Southside Pitts an army would be giving it too much praise. But what do you want from me?”

“Isn’t it obvious, dombi? The Dom’na wants more money!” Roxan’s voice sounds strangely happy and excited, as if this were some great game to her.

Sima sighs, looks at you, and then says, “Dacota, Roxan, I do not want to create controversy or beget brawling; my friend is here as a bodyguard to protect me rather than to ambush you. But I do not want to be taken advantage of – and this is what you are doing by changing the terms of our agreement against my will so late in the arrangement.”

“And I want my brother to be safer in his searches for knowledge,” Dacota snarls. “But we cannot all get get what we all want at all times. This makes the times when we can get what we want precious. I want one thousand one hundred pims from you. If you want to pay less, you should not have met me in a misty alley with only one friend for company. But I am a woman of my word. Pay me the money and Roxan will return to you what you lent to us!”

“I am not in the habit of carry around one thousand one hundred pims with me wherever I go,” Sima says, her lips tightening. “Such a large amount of money could easily be lost or stolen by certain people…such as you.”

Roxan giggles.

“Pity that you don’t use your great magical powers to carry more money,” Dacota says. “Maybe that is why magic school is useless for me – even if I could read. Memorizing all the phemes and learning about how to bend the world as you want it is really useless if you don’t use any of that power to carry loads of money with you at all times – secure from theft, ideally. But don’t you worry about your debt to me, mageling. If you won’t give us the money, we’ll search you for other valuables, and then we’ll see about other solutions. The fine purple overrobe that you wear – some child from a rich family may want to dress as a Hedi student for some Dance of Fools, and what better way to give a Hedi costume authenticity then with a real Hedi robe? Or those shoes that you wear – do you really need them for standing around inside, especially given that the Academagia has fires and many carpets?”

“Well, speaking quietly of riddles has its own advantages in dealing with your threats, such as my bodyguard here.” Sima turns to you. “Deal with these gang-members however you want. I look forward to seeing what you do.”

“Good reply, dombi! Hey, dombi’s friend, if you do well here, I’ll give you a nice title, like I gave to Dom’na Dacota!”

Looking at Dacota’s scowl, you see that you are not the only one exasperated at having extremely sensitive – and criminal – dealings reduced to some sort of spectator sport for a child’s amusement.

Still, you have to start something. No person unwilling to engage in illegal violence joins a street gang, and Dacota’s eagerness for money could easily lead her to attack you.

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC has memory Sima’s Wit] Bluff. Try to make Sima sound like a mage whom even great mages fear.

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC has no Affection or Love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

Remembering Sima’s interest in the theater and her ability to trick people with ambiguities, you hope that she is willing to put on a performance that could save her life – or at least her money.

“Roxan, your boss-lady Dacota is going in way over her head in this,” you try to say in a tone of voice that could be seen as tough or sympathetic. “Of all the student mages whom she had to try to rob, she chose Sima Venesico. Now, I know not how common either name is in the world, but I know that when this Sima Venesico tells people to do something, they do it!”

Sima smiles and nods enthusiastically to a frowning Dacota. “Yes. Do you know Phillippe Marchant – perhaps from his involvement in cart racing? He and his brothers are powerfully built and come from a powerful family. Yet whenever I come upon him beating up someone in Academagia whom I want to protect, I just whisper in his ear and he stops and becomes very friendly.”

“So what?” Dacota retorts, her face trying to maintain its fearsomeness. “Even if you have all of this power and you really are Sima Venesico, your power is only useful in fancy diplomatic stuff! You Hedi mages and students think you have such power through your fine words and glamours, but you are nothing when confronting a fist or a knife.”

“But Dacota,” you reply, “Sima is no ordinary student in Hedi, nor even an ordinary mage. She has powerful magic and skills, with which she was able to impress the Academagia’s Legate and defeat a powerful magical creature.”

Sima understands where you are going and joins in. “And you know how powerful the Academagia’s Legate is, right? He uses a man of great wisdom and cunning as his janitor because he is so superior to him. Rumor has it that the Captain of Mineta is planning to give him an Archmageship because of his greatness – and he believes that the Academagia’s Legate is so powerful and skilled that the Golden Families would not object. I am honoured to be the Academagia’s Legate student. And yet, I greatly surprised him with my powerful magic when we first met for my personal testing. Wanna know how?” Her trailing question has playful lilt that invites curiosity.

Dacota’s answer is cut off by Roxan’s excited squeal. “Yes, dombi, tell us! In my home islands, dombis are professional entertainers, but you are better than they are!”

Ignoring Dacota’s sigh, Sima replies with a light laugh. “The world has many cultures, Roxan, and I am honored to be known for my skills in many languages. But I was honored by the Academagia’s Legate in the following way. I, being so brilliant, wanted to show my brilliance and avoid the Legate’s tedious testing. So I persuaded him to bring me to a unicorn – the Academagia has many such creatures – with the promise that if I could force the unicorn from its feet for ten seconds, I would no longer be needed to be tested by the Academagia’s Legate. The Legate of Academagia agreed, saying that since not even he could do such a thing, he would be interested in seeing how I failed to hold it down for five seconds. But I, using my magical powers, knocked the unicorn to the ground and pinned it for fifteen seconds before he interrupted my count and told me that I was a powerful mage who deserved special instruction. Do you really want to risk robbing me?”

Roxan squeaks and shakes her head, but Dacota says, her eyes hardening, “Why should we believe your claims? If you are so powerful, why did you bring a bodyguard?”

Recognizing this as the time to deliver a witty line to shatter Dacota’s confidence, you say, “But Dacota, Sima would go to a meeting with a member of the Southside Pitts with only one person if she were either very naïve or very powerful. So tell me, are you willing to risk everything on the assumption – unsupported by Sima’s conduct – that she is a naïve fool, or will you play it safe by accepting the money that she has offered you?”

Dacota hesitates, then looks at Roxan, who is looking at her with eyes that seem tensely expectant. But then she jerks her head in a nod and says softly and slowly, as if trying to persuade herself, “Roxan is a skillful thief, and she knows how to read, and she urges caution. Very well. Sima – if this is your name – I accept our original agreement.”

Sima gives her a pouch of money, after which Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out cheerfully. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, dombi-feeder,” Roxan replies. “The two of you should both become dombis, if such is possible in Mineta.”

You are not sure how to respond to Roxan’s comment – is she saying that you feed Sima opportunities to be a great entertainer? – but Dacota jerks Roxan away with a snarl and retreats into the mist.

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which I used genuine aspects of my life to make myself seem more powerful to them, was ingenious. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, Cirillo, or…certain other sources in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – to say nothing of her having to associate with people whom you suspect, based upon what little you know about Sima, Tabin, and Magsa’s activities, would make the type of people who gather at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor seem perfectly suited for one of Regent Badcrumble’s tea parties. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Charm, + 1 skill level Wit, + 1 skill level Acting, + 1 Skill level Wordliness, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Wit to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Acting to Sima Venesico, + 1 Skill level Wordliness to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has Affection or Love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

Remembering Sima’s interest in the theater and her ability to trick people with ambiguities, you hope that she is willing to put on a performance that could save her life – or at least her money.

“Roxan, your boss-lady Dacota is going in way over her head in this,” you try to say in a tone of voice that could be seen as tough or sympathetic. “Of all the student mages whom she had to try to rob, she chose Sima Venesico. Now, I know not how common either name is in the world, but I know that when this Sima Venesico tells people to do something, they do it!”

Sima smiles and nods enthusiastically to a frowning Dacota. “Yes. Do you know Phillippe Marchant – perhaps from his involvement in cart racing? He and his brothers are powerfully built and come from a powerful family. Yet whenever I come upon him beating up someone in Academagia whom I want to protect, I just whisper in his ear and he stops and becomes very friendly.”

“So what?” Dacota retorts, her face trying to maintain its fearsomeness. “Even if you have all of this power and you really are Sima Venesico, your power is only useful in fancy diplomatic stuff! You Hedi mages and students think you have such power through your fine words and glamours, but you are nothing when confronting a fist or a knife.”

“But Dacota,” you reply, “Sima is no ordinary student in Hedi, nor even an ordinary mage. She has powerful magic and skills, with which she was able to impress the Academagia’s Legate and defeat a powerful magical creature.”

Sima understands where you are going and joins in. “And you know how powerful the Academagia’s Legate is, right? He uses a man of great wisdom and cunning as his janitor because he is so superior to him. Rumor has it that the Captain of Mineta is planning to give him an Archmageship because of his greatness – and he believes that the Academagia’s Legate is so powerful and skilled that the Golden Families would not object. I am honored to be the Academagia’s Legate student. And yet, I greatly surprised him with my powerful magic when we first met for my personal testing. Wanna know how?” Her trailing question has playful lilt that invites curiosity.

Dacota’s answer is cut off by Roxan’s excited squeal. “Yes, dombi, tell us! In my home islands, dombis are professional entertainers, but you are better than they are!”

Ignoring Dacota’s sigh, Sima replies with a light laugh. “The world has many cultures, Roxan, and I am honored to be known for my skills in many languages. But I was honored by the Academagia’s Legate in the following way. I, being so brilliant, wanted to show my brilliance and avoid the Legate’s tedious testing. So I persuaded him to bring me to a unicorn – the Academagia has many such creatures – with the promise that if I could force the unicorn from its feet for ten seconds, I would no longer be needed to be tested by the Academagia’s Legate. The Legate of Academagia agreed, saying that since not even he could do such a thing, he would be interested in seeing how I failed to hold it down for five seconds. But I, using my magical powers, knocked the unicorn to the ground and pinned it for fifteen seconds before he interrupted my count and told me that I was a powerful mage who deserved special instruction. Do you really want to risk robbing me?”

Roxan squeaks and shakes her head, but Dacota says, her eyes hardening, “Why should we believe your claims? If you are so powerful, why did you bring a bodyguard?”

Recognizing this as the time to deliver a witty line to shatter Dacota’s confidence, you say, “But Dacota, Sima would go to a meeting with a member of the Southside Pitts with only one person if she were either very naïve or very powerful. So tell me, are you willing to risk everything on the assumption – unsupported by Sima’s conduct – that she is a naïve fool, or will you play it safe by accepting the money that she has offered you?”

Dacota hesitates, then looks at Roxan, who is looking at her with eyes that seem tensely expectant. But then she jerks her head in a nod and says softly, as if trying to persuade herself, “Roxan is a skillful thief, and she knows how to read, and she urges caution. Very well. Sima – if this is your name – I accept our original agreement.”

Sima gives her a pouch of money, after which Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out cheerfully. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, dombi-feeder,” Roxan replies. “The two of you should both become dombis, if such is possible in Mineta.”

You are not sure how to respond to Roxan’s comment – is she saying that you feed Sima opportunities to be a great entertainer? – but Dacota Jerks Roxan away with a snarl and retreats into the mist.

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

“You are a valuable friend whom I adore, whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion and affection flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships and possibly great love are made of? And your solution, in which I used genuine aspects of my life to make myself seem more powerful to them, was ingenious. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, Cirillo, or…certain other sources in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – to say nothing of having to associate with the handsome Cyrus Dawes, the easily controlled Iustus Venture, the cheating Cirillo Laziosi, or people whom you suspect, based upon what little you know about Sima, Tabin, and Magsa’s activities, would make the type of people who gather at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor seem perfectly suited for one of Regent Badcrumble’s tea parties. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Charm, + 1 skill level Wit, + 1 skill level Acting, + 1 Skill level Wordliness, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Wit to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Acting to Sima Venesico, + 1 Skill level Wordliness to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC did not complete Miya Hikari’s Y1 Adventure]

  Reveal hidden contents

Remembering Sima’s interest in the theater and her ability to trick people with ambiguities, you hope that she is willing to put on a performance that could save her life – or at least her money.

 

“Roxan, your boss-lady Dacota is going in way over her head in this,” you try to say in a tone of voice that could be seen as tough or sympathetic. “Of all the student mages whom she had to try to rob, she chose Sima Venesico. Now, I know that magic is more common in Mineta than it is in order cities, islands, and nations, but let me tell you: Sima Venesico is a cut above the types of student mages whom the Southside Pitts usually deal with.”

 

To your disappointment, Roxan’s interest in your remarks is not accompanied by fear. “Truly?” she muses. “Mages here are so different from those whom I remember from my home island. Here, most notable mages seem to be incantors – two schools, Dom’na tells me, are teaching Incantation alone, and one student mage whom I have heard is associated with Academagia is allegedly very proficient in it despite having no access to school or library of Incantation that is known to the Dom’nus - the Dom’na’s brother. Yet where I come from, many great mages are revisors. Probably it has to do with water. My home island’s centre is what was a small sea on Cyve, so it is easier to purify salt water. But in Mineta, much easier to incant water. I suppose that on islands with no water shortages, other pillars may be better taught. There are some people in a distant island whose merchants once sold my parents some porcelain who are apparently obessed with astrology because, having no lack of water, they are convinced that dolphins live within some river and hope to sell the dolphins’ skins. So, what type of magic do you study, Dombi Sima?”

 

Sima and Dacota both look at Roxan with surprised faces, but it is Dacota whose voice first breaks the silence, first with a barking syllable that Regent Badcrumble would hate and then with the words, “You are really something, Roxan! Times like this remind me why my brother values you beyond your reading and clever hands. So, Sima,” she snarls, “what magics are you studying that could make you so frightening to me? And don’t try to pretend that you are in Godina – I know Hedi robes from others, and you are glamour mages one and all!”

 

Sima sighs and spreads her arms in front of her. “I am, it is true, a glamour mage in training only, but -”

 

“Then you cannot prevent me from taking the money!” Dacota rushes forwards and seizes Sima by her hands.

 

Sima does not struggle, but merely says, “There is no need to resist this. Dacota, you can take my wand and let me release one of my hands so that I can write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to Sima what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out cheerfully. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, dombi-feeder,” Roxan replies. “The two of you should both become dombis, if such is possible in Mineta.”

 

You are not sure how to respond to Roxan’s comment – is she saying that you feed her opportunities to be a great entertainer? – but Dacota jerks Roxan away with a laugh and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Dacota was under much stress after robbing me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just did to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. And that is not even taking into account the fact that not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or even a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money when you could have paid her so easily?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which I used genuine aspects of my life to make myself seem more powerful to them, was ingenious. A pity that Roxan the thief girl was so much more interested in talking about the world and its magical traditions rather than in being intimidated by my alleged powers. With my funds reduced, other people in my life…will not be happy, shall we say? It would have been nice if you could have saved me such money, but I was the one who got so involved with the Southside Pitts and you tried to help me. I wonder if Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo might be able to make up my money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of bluffing and related activities. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Storytelling, + 3 Skill levels Wordliness, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Wit to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Storytelling to Sima Venesico, + 3 Skill levels Wordliness to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC completed Miya Hikari’s Y1 Adventure]

  Reveal hidden contents

Remembering Sima’s interest in the theater and her ability to trick people with ambiguities, you hope that she is willing to put on a performance that could save her life – or at least her money.

 

“Roxan, your boss-lady Dacota is going in way over her head in this,” you try to say in a tone of voice that could be seen as tough or sympathetic. “Of all the student mages whom she had to try to rob, she chose Sima Venesico. Now, I know that magic is more common in Mineta than it is in order cities, islands, and nations, but let me tell you: Sima Venesico is a cut above the types of student mages whom the Southside Pitts usually deal with.”

 

To your disappointment, Roxan’s interest in your remarks is not accompanied by fear. “Truly?” she muses. “Mages here are so different from those whom I remember from my home island. Here, most notable mages seem to be incantors – two schools, Dom’na tells me, are teaching Incantation alone, and one student mage whom I have heard is associated with Academagia is allegedly very proficient in it despite having no access to school or library of incantation that is known to the Dom’nus - the Dom’na’s brother. Yet where I come from, many great mages are revisors. Probably it has to do with water. My island’s centre is what was a small sea on Cyve, so it is easier to purify salt water. But in Mineta, much easier to incant water. I suppose that on islands with no water shortages, other pillars may be better taught. There are some people in a distant island whose merchants once sold my parents some porcelain who are apparently obessed with astrology because, having no lack of water, they are convinced that dolphins live within some river and hope to sell the dolphins’ skins. So, what type of magic do you study, Dombi Sima?”

 

Sima and Dacota both look at Roxan with surprised faces, but it is Dacota whose voice first breaks the silence, first with a barking syllable that Regent Badcrumble would hate and then with the words, “You are really something, Roxan! Times like this remind me why my brother values you beyond your reading and clever hands. So, Sima,” she snarls, “what magics are you studying that could make you so frightening to me? And don’t try to pretend that you are in Godina – I know Hedi robes from others, and you are glamour mages one and all!”

 

Sima sighs and spreads her arms in front of her. “I am, it is true, a glamour mage in training only but -”

 

“Then you cannot prevent me from taking the money!” Dacota rushes forwards and seizes Sima by her hands.

 

Sima does not struggle, but merely says, “There is no need to resist this. Dacota, you can take my wand and let me release one of my hands so that I can write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to Sima what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out cheerfully. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, dombi-feeder,” Roxan replies. “The two of you should both become dombis, if such is possible in Mineta.”

 

You are not sure how to respond to Roxan’s comment – is she saying that you feed her opportunities to be a great entertainer? – but Dacota jerks Roxan away with a laugh and retreats into the mist. You wonder whether all who are prodigies in theft are, like Roxan and Miya Hikari, able to spin fascinating tales that may not be true about foreign places.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Dacota was under much stress after robbing me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just did to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. And that is not even taking into account the fact that not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or even a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money when you could have paid her so easily?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which I used genuine aspects of my life to make myself seem more powerful to them, was ingenious. A pity that Roxan the thief girl was so much more interested in talking about the world and its magical traditions rather than in being intimidated by my alleged powers. With my funds reduced, other people in my life…will not be happy, shall we say? It would have been nice if you could have saved my such money, but I was the one who got so involved with the Southside Pitts and you tried to help me. I wonder if Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo might be able to make up my money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of bluffing and related activities. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 2 skill levels Storytelling, + 3 Skill levels Wordliness, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Wit to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Storytelling to Sima Venesico, + 3 Skill levels Wordliness to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has item Ring of Three Jewels] Jewelry. “Look at this beautiful ring, Dacota!”

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you thrust the ring into Dacota’s view, making sure that its stones are well illuminated by Sima’s lights.

 

“Ooh, pretty ring,” Roxan sighs. “I became what I am to have such things. Better than begging or sweeping or weaving or -”

 

“Enough! Foolish brat!” Despite Dacota’s harsh words, you can tell that you have piqued her greed. “Are you suggesting that we complete the payment for these services through exchanging this ring rather than any pims?”

 

“Nothing so unreasonable, Dacota,” you say in what you hope is a soothing tone of voice. “My friend will still pay you three hundred pims, but instead of her paying you the extra money that you want, she will give you this ring.”

 

Sima, as if cued, interjects with a slight sob, “It belonged to a dear aunt of mine, and has magic in it that benefits the wearer - it is easily worth nine hundred pims.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima. “The ring could have belonged to Octavius – aye, and have powers essential to Athanasius’s foundation of the Academagia – but I care nothing unless it has value that can be easily fenced or safe magic that can easily be used.”

 

Sima faintly smiles and turns to you. “Recite to them, if you can, the stones’ waters and values.”

 

You call out to Roxan, “You can read, but can you write? This will be better if you and Dacota have a record.”

 

She nods solemnly. “Yes, I can write in three scripts and the Dom’nus – Dom’na Dacota’s brother – wants me to learn a shorthand. So even if you were talking in Bassan, I guess, I could write down the sounds.” She takes a notebook and pencil from a pouch and indicates that you may begin.

 

There follow a harrowing few minutes in which you employ the latest Ruckmarnian technological expertise to explain to Dacota, Roxan, and Sima how you can determine, based upon various properties of the stones in response to various magical and mundane tests, what they are are well as their fineness and weight. Then, based upon what you remember about jewel trading at Brisbane the Gemologist’s shop, you calculate the three jewels’ value as eight hundred pims if removed from the iron setting. By the time you finish, both Sima and Dacota seem numbed by boredom, but Roxan looks fascinated.

 

“Wow!” Dacota laughs with relief when you finish. “Roxan, did you write that down?”

 

“Yes. I can read it out if you want.”

 

Dacota and Sima groan in protest, but Dacota’s smile never fades even as Roxan winces while she puts the notebook away. “Even if your bodyguard was creating stories and not facts, the story will be very useful if we want to fence the ring or its stones. I can get a boy to try the ring if my brother will not try to figure it out.”

 

You hand Sima’s ring to Dacota, who almost rips it from your hand. Sima then gives Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak.

 

“Be glad,” Dacota says, “that we were able to resolve this issue to my benefit so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, jewel-knower,” Roxan replies.

 

You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you must admit that if you are to be nicknamed by an annoying child, jewel-knower is much better than alternatives. Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Your lecture about jewelry was very thorough and useful – but very boring.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I adore, whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion and affection flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships and love are made of? And your solution, in which I gave up a ring rather than more pims, was useful if not imaginative. Pims are much easier to use for securing…useful services than jewelry, although harder to carry. Certainly, my aunt’s ring’s loss may be bad in future, but any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, Cirillo, or some even worse person in order to be able to make up for my shortage of money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – to say nothing of having to associate with the handsome Cyrus Dawes, the easily controlled Iustus Venture, the cheating Cirillo Laziosi, or people whom you suspect, based upon what little you know about Sima, Tabin, and Magsa’s activities, would make the type of people who gather at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor seem perfectly suited for one of Regent Badcrumble’s tea parties. It may have been serious, since Sima was so willing to give up a piece of her family’s jewelry rather than yield more pims – although much of Sima’s connections to magical jewelry is as secretive and mysterious as Sima is, and considerably less pleasant. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Negotiate, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 10 Research levels Jewelry, lose Ring of Three Jewels, + 3 skill levels Jewelry to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you thrust the ring into Dacota’s view, making sure that its stones are well illuminated by Sima’s lights.

 

“Ooh, pretty ring,” Roxan sighs. “I became what I am to have such things. Better than begging or sweeping or weaving or -”

 

“Enough! Foolish brat!” Despite Dacota’s harsh words, you can tell that you have piqued her greed. “Are you suggesting that we complete the payment for these services through exchanging this ring rather than any pims?”

 

“Nothing so unreasonable, Dacota,” you say in what you hope is a soothing tone of voice. “She will still pay you three hundred pims, but instead of her paying you the extra money that you want, she will give you this ring.”

 

Sima, as if cued, interjects with a slight sob, “It belonged to a dear aunt of mine, and has magic in it that benefits the wearer - it is easily worth nine hundred pims.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima. “The ring could have belonged to Octavius – aye, and have powers essential to Athanasius’s foundation of the Academagia – but I care nothing unless it has value that can be easily fenced or safe magic that can easily be used.”

 

Sima faintly smiles and turns to you. “Recite to them, if you can, the stones’ waters and values.”

 

You call out to Roxan, “You can read, but can you write? This will be better if you and Dacota have a record.”

 

She nods solemnly. “Yes, I can write in three scripts and the Dom’nus – Dom’na Dacota’s brother – wants me to learn a shorthand. So even if you were talking in Bassan, I guess, I could write down the sounds.” She takes a notebook and pencil from a pouch and indicates that you may begin.

 

There follow a harrowing few minutes in which you employ the latest Ruckmarnian technological expertise to explain to Dacota, Roxan, and Sima how you can determine, based upon various properties of the stones in response to various magical and mundane tests, what they are are well as their fineness and weight. Then, based upon what you remember about jewel trading at Brisbane the Gemologist’s shop, you calculate the three jewels’ value as eight hundred pims if removed from the iron setting. By the time you finish, both Sima and Dacota seem numbed by boredom, but Roxan looks fascinated.

 

“Wow!” Dacota laughs with relief when you finish. “Roxan, did you write that down?”

 

“Yes. I can read it out if you want.”

 

Dacota and Sima groan in protest, but Dacota’s smile never fades even as Roxan winces while she puts the notebook away. “Even if your bodyguard was creating stories and not facts, the story will be very useful if we want to fence the ring or its stones. I can get a boy to try the ring if my brother will not try to figure it out.”

 

You hand Sima’s ring to Dacota, who almost rips it from your hand. Sima then gives Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak.

 

“Be glad,” Dacota says, “that we were able to resolve this issue to my benefit so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, jewel-knower,” Roxan replies.

 

You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you must admit that if you are to be nicknamed by an annoying child, jewel-knower is much better than alternatives. Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Your lecture about jewelry was very thorough and useful – but very boring.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which I gave up a ring rather than more pims, was useful if not imaginative. Pims are much easier to use for securing…useful services than jewelry, although harder to carry. Certainly, my aunt’s ring’s loss may be bad in future, but any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk. It may have been serious, since Sima was so willing to give up a piece of her family’s jewelry rather than yield more pims – although much about Sima’s connections to magical jewelry is secretive and mysterious. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Negotiate, + 10 Research levels Jewelry, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, lose Ring of Three Jewels, + 3 skill levels Jewelry to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you thrust the ring into Dacota’s view.

 

“What strange ring,” Roxan says. “I became what I am to have better than what you show us.”

 

“Enough! Foolish brat!” Dacota’s harsh words are envenomed with contempt for your offer. “Are you suggesting that we complete the payment for these services through exchanging this ring – whose quality I know nothing about – rather than any pims?”

 

“Nothing so unreasonable, Dacota,” you say in what you hope is a soothing tone of voice. “Sima will still pay you three hundred pims, but instead of her paying you the extra money that you want, she will give you this ring.”

 

Sima, as if cued, interjects with a slight sob, “It belonged to a dear aunt of mine, and has magic in it that benefits the wearer - it is easily worth nine hundred pims.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima. “And my mother is from one of the Golden Families of Mineta, while my father teaches us about Ruckmarnian steam engines. We can all tell tales about ourselves that, if true, can resolve any problem, but that doesn’t make the stories true.”

 

Sima faintly smiles and turns to you. “Recite to them, if you can, the stones’ waters and values.”

 

You are seized by panic. “Sima, I had no idea that this ring involved incantation magic. Or are you saying that it has a secret water-proof compartment? How can I sell this ring if I know not its qualities?”

 

Roxan shrieks with laughter. “And older people are supposed to be better than I am! I know what water means in the jewelry context, as does the Dom’na.”

 

Sima shakes her head sadly. “There is no need for you to try to do any more. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to Sima what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, glass-polisher,” Roxan replies.

 

You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you must admit that if you are to be nicknamed by an annoying child, glass-polisher is much better than alternatives. Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money when you could have paid her so easily?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which I gave up a ring rather than more pims, was useful if not imaginative, although you lacked the knowledge of jewelry and effective sales techniques necessary to pull it off. Pims are much easier to use for securing…useful services than jewelry, although harder to carry. Certainly, my aunt’s ring’s loss may have been bad in future, but my unexpected shortage of pims now is…problematic to certain other people in my life, who will not be happy. I will, due to your overly ambitious incompetence, have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my shortage of money. At least I did not need to rush back and retrieve another eight hundred pims to pay Dacota due to the wonders of modern banking.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. It may have been serious, since Sima was so willing to give up a piece of her family’s jewelry rather than yield more pims – although much about Sima’s connections to magical jewelry is secretive and mysterious. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Jewelry, + 1 skill level Negotiate, + 1 skill level Transport, + 1 Stress, - 1 relationship with Sima Venesico, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Jewelry to Sima Venesico, + 1 Stress to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has item Tabin’s Potion] Brew. “Look at this potion, Dacota!”

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you thrust the potion flask into Dacota’s view, making sure that its contents are well illuminated by Sima’s lights.

 

“Ooh, pretty liquid,” Roxan sighs. “I became what I am to have such things. Better than begging or sweeping or weaving or -”

 

“Enough! Foolish brat!” Despite Dacota’s harsh words, you can tell that you have piqued her greed. “Are you suggesting that we complete the payment for these services through exchanging this single potion rather than any pims?”

 

“Nothing so unreasonable, Dacota,” you say in what you hope is a soothing tone of voice. “Sima will still pay you three hundred pims, but instead of her paying you the extra money that you want, she will give you this potion and the remaning eight hundred and ten pims. Furthermore, she can get you more such potions if you want them.”

 

Sima, as if cued, interjects with a business-like calm, “It was brewed by a trusted friend of mine, and has magic in it that benefits the drinker for at least a day, so it is easily worth ninety pims.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima. “The potion could have belonged to Noemia – aye, and have powers that would allow Rostra to travel to Cyve below and back to the Empire of Man before I snap my fingers – but I care nothing unless it has value that can be easily fenced or safe magic that can easily be used.”

 

Sima faintly smiles and turns to you. “Recite to them, if you can, the essential oils that went into this potion.”

 

You call out to Roxan, “You can read, but can you write? This will be better if you and Dacota have a record.”

 

She nods solemnly. “Yes, I can write in three scripts and the Dom’nus – Dom’na Dacota’s brother – wants me to learn a shorthand. So even if you were talking in Bassan, I guess, I could write down the sounds.” She takes a notebook and pencil from a pouch and indicates that you may begin.

 

There follow a harrowing few minutes in which you employ the latest Ruckmarnian technological expertise to explain to Dacota, Roxan, and Sima how you can determine, based upon various properties of the liquid in response to various magical and mundane tests, what essential oild, herbs, and magic went into making it. Then, based upon what you remember about brewing from Professor Leith as well as other sources, you calculate the potions’ value as ninety pims if removed from the flask. By the time you finish, both Sima and Dacota seem numbed by boredom, but Roxan looks fascinated.

 

“Wow!” Dacota laughs with relief when you finish. “Roxan, did you write that down?”

 

“Yes. I can read it out if you want.”

 

Dacota and Sima groan in protest, but Dacota’s smile never fades even as Roxan winces while she puts the notebook away. “Even if your bodyguard was creating stories and not facts, the story will be very useful if we want to fence the potion. I can get a boy to try the potion if my brother will not try to figure it out.”

 

You hand Tabin’s potion to Dacota, who almost rips it from your hand. Sima then gives Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak. Then Dacota says, “Which one of you will pay the remainder? No more bargaining! And if you resist me, I will regard the deal as dead but keep the potion!” [+ 5 Research levels Brew, + 5 Research levels Analysis, lose Tabin’s potion, lock option [If PC has 800 pims] Pay Dacota what she wants.”, reveal option “[If PC has 710 pims] Pay Dacota the lowered fee the she has agreed to.”, choose again]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

With what you hope is a dramatic flourish, you thrust the potion into Dacota’s view.

 

“What strange potion,” Roxan says. “I became what I am to have better than what you show us.”

 

“Enough! Foolish brat!” Dacota’s harsh words are envenomed with contempt for your offer. “Are you suggesting that we complete the payment for these services through exchanging this potion – whose quality I know nothing about – rather than any pims?”

 

“Nothing so unreasonable, Dacota,” you say in what you hope is a soothing tone of voice. “Sima will still pay you three hundred pims, but instead of her paying you the extra money that you want, she will give you this potion and eight hundred and ten pims.”

 

Sima, as if cued, interjects with a business-like calm, “It was brewed by a trusted friend of mine, and has magic in it that benefits the drinker for at least a day, so it is easily worth ninety pims.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima. “And my mother is from one of the Golden Families of Mineta, while my father teaches us about Ruckmarnian steam engines. We can all tell tales about ourselves that, if true, can resolve any problem, but that doesn’t make the stories true.”

 

Sima faintly smiles and turns to you. “Recite to them, if you can, the essential oils that went into this potion.”

 

You are seized by panic. “Sima, I barely know enough about brewing to know the essential ingredients that all brewers should have, let alone the oils that forms the basis of this potion that your…friend elaborated upon. How can I sell this potion if I know so little about it?”

 

Roxan shrieks with laughter. “And older people are supposed to be better than I am! You shouldn’t try to sell when you are honest and know nothing about your product.”

 

Dacota rubs a grubby hand through her head’s hairs, and you wonder how much of her hair is dirty rather than dirty blonde. She says, “We are not traders, anyways. Try another effort to settle this matter.”

 

You are surprised that Dacota is willing to try to negotiate more with you, but perhaps she has a superstitious dread of potion brewers and those who sell potions – such sentimeents are not unknown to Mineta. Given your lack of knowledge about brewing, perhaps you might be better served by sharing this attitude – certainly, Cante Caviti’s numerous failures and lost pims to sellers of fake potions may suggest that such an attitude is better than trusting potion brewers! [+1 skill level Danger Sense, Choose another option]

[If PC has memory Tabin’s Gambit Played] Politics. Since Sima’s meeting with Dacota is already so reminiscent of espionage, presenting this meeting as part of some broader plot should be easy.

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide to approach this issue from a completely different angle, in an attempt to catch Dacota off guard.

 

“Dacota,” you sigh, in a way that could be condescending or sympathetic. “I undersatand that you have fallen into a bad course in life – which can always be abandoned if one has the will – but I must ask. Are you, among all of your other misdeeds, an atheist or an apostate from the Imperial religion?”

 

“What!?” Dacota looks first stunned, then puzzled, then angry. “You’re probably accusing me of being something unnatural, like an agent reporting to some dragon-worshipping Oursouk, or a wyvern breeder, or a dragon worshipper – but I’m not! And I won’t be insulted by a client’s bodyguard!”

 

She takes a step forward, but Roxan reaches up to tap her shoulder. “Dom’na, I know how to read, and my readings – both of my own books and of what the Dom’nus your brother lets me read – have taught me that an atheist is one who holds gods to be no standard for right conduct and an apostate is one who abandons a religion. Besides, it is not good to assume that a person is insulting when one cannot understand the words. Remember the time that you and I got all upset with your brother’s trying to speak Elumian?” Then, turning to Sima, Roxan says with pride, “I am no apostate, thanks to her kindness three years ago and since – the Awakened Man Measureless Life is still my guide, despite what the laws say about orphans in Mineta!”

 

Dacota flinches and her face can be seen to be getting pale. “Roxan, enough about your Good Man,” and here she digresses with foul language against her brother for his interest in magic and tolerance of strange magics and beliefs. “But in answer to your question, bodyguard, I am no…atospate or…aseitht; I attend services to Aemean when I can, and avoid preachers for him whose ideas seem heretical. Without the New Gods, we’d all be slaves to dragons. But why the question? Am I not a bit too old for you to bring to a temple as a person whom faith has turned away from crime? Don’t the temples prefer children in that role? Children even younger than you are?” And here Dacota, whose voice had been growing increasingly sarcastic, takes another step forwards.

 

“Dacota, I am glad that you are a pious woman who trusts and fears the gods.” The words rush from your lips in a torrent, and you hope that she will listen to what you have to say next – this is the key part. “In a world where the threat of dragons declines – may the gods keep it that way! – Pievre continues as a state that has embraced its twisted humanism and mass apostasy, and the Oursoukis remain a great power, I was worried that even some people not from those spiritually darkened lands in Mineta – the very heart of the True Religion – may have fallen into legal and spiritual errors. You, at least, are better than that. For this I and the girl whom I guard are grateful – as will our employer be, once we tell it about this. But you could risk such good favor by breaking the earlier agreement.”

 

“Your employer? It?” Dacota’s eyes widen as she makes an apotropaic gesture. “Whom do you kids work for?      What have I gotten us involved in, Roxan?”

 

Sima decides to chime in at this time. “Some people, Dacota, want to undermine temples’ powers through several subversive schemes for the dragons’ sakes, such as by spreading the strange doctrines of the Pievrian Republic in Mineta. There is a certain temple-affiliated organization, which we are junior members of, that hunts down such people – or failing that, their propaganda caches. Even schools, after all, can be infiltrated. I thought that Zoe Melis might have knowledge about some aspect of some plot, hence my need to investigate her. She is fierce rival to a Pievrian student, after all, and those who are rivals tend, if they are as smart as Zoe is, to learn about their rivals. I could gladly pay you some more money – my expense account would cover such a payment. But I would have to explain such a payment to the organization, and that would cause them to learn about how un-co-operative you have been, which could cause them to investigate you for being a potential vector for subversion. On the other hand, I was ready to tell them, until you wanted more money, how co-operative and valuable you could be.”

 

Dacota is silent, but you can see the struggle in her eyes. This is the best time, you think, to deliver a supporting idea to nudge Dacota in the right direction.

 

“You may think, Dacota, that all this effort to investigate Miss Melis due to her feud with a Pievrian peer is merely worthy of laughter in the wineshops of foreigners, whether Cassettan or Pievrian. But such lack of willingness to take clues seriously and follow them to their ends is precisely what may allow draconic agents to sow sordid seeds that become bitter blossoms or foul fruits leading to slavery.”

 

Dacota jerks as your words finish, then nods her head.

 

“Little Miss Mageling,” she says, “I am not sure what to believe about what you and your bodyguard say. Yet I follow the clues, and I know that you are no ordinary student mage, given your planning, knowledge, and access to magical artifacts. The risk is great that you are a member of some organization – maybe even what you and your bodyguard claim to be. And never let it be said that I am a dragon’s slave! Even if you are part of some other organization – a coster, say, or the thieves’ guild – I do not want to risk tangling with such a group – my thieves’ guild payments provide only some protection. For this reason, and only this reason – not because I am afraid of you or your bodyguard – please accept the reddish-brown cylinder for a lowered fee – and remember me kindly, never hesitating to hire me for certain jobs.”

 

Sima laughs lightly as she lightens a pouch that she removes from beneath the fold of her cloak, before handing it to Roxan in return for the reddish-brown cylinder. “You really are such a useful girl, Roxan. What is a dombi?”

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I was going to be an actor before I was recruited into the organization, and to this day I am encouraged to use acting in my work for the organization.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, spy,” Roxan replies. But then Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to recruit Roxan – which would be useful, but is not easily doable.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really part of some secret organization of spies that would benefit through recruiting Roxan?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which we pretended to be doing this investigation of Zoe Melis in order to serve a powerful temple-affiliated organization, rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. People will do so many things if they think that they are benefitting the gods whom they adore – or the powerful people who serve such gods. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. [- 50 pims Sima Venesico, - 50 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 50 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 Skill Level Theology, + 1 Insight, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Theology to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide to approach this issue from a completely different angle, in an attempt to catch Dacota off guard.

 

“Dacota,” you sigh, in a way that could be condescending or sympathetic. “I undersatand that you have fallen into a bad course in life – which can always be abandoned if one has the will – but I must ask. Are you, among all of your other misdeeds, an atheist or an apostate from the Imperial religion?”

 

“What!?” Dacota looks first stunned, then puzzled, then angry. “You’re probably accusing me of being something unnatural, like an agent reporting to some dragon-worshipping Oursouk, or a wyvern breeder, or a dragon worshipper – but I’m not! And I won’t be insulted by a client’s bodyguard!”

 

She takes a step forward, but Roxan reaches up to tap her shoulder. “Dom’na, I know how to read, and my readings – both of my own books and of what the Dom’nus your brother lets me read – have taught me that an atheist is one who holds gods to be no standard for right conduct and an apostate is one who abandons a religion. Besides, it is not good to assume that a person is insulting when one cannot understand the words. Remember the time you and I got all upset with your brother’s trying to speak Elumian?” Then, turning to Sima, Roxan says with pride, “I am no apostate, thanks to her kindness three years ago and since – the Awakened Man Measureless Life is still my guide, despite what the laws say about orphans in Mineta!”

 

Dacota flinches and her face can be seen to be getting pale. “Roxan, enough about your Good Man,” and here she digresses with foul language against her brother for his interest in magic and tolerance of strange magics and beliefs. “But in answer to your question, bodyguard, I am no…atospate or…aseitht; I attend services to Aemean when I can, and avoid preachers for him whose ideas seem heretical. Without the New Gods, we’d all be slaves to dragons. But why the question? Am I not a bit too old for you to bring to a temple as a person whom faith has turned away from crime? Don’t the temples prefer children in that role? Children even younger than you are?” And here Dacota, whose voice had been growing increasingly sarcastic, takes another step forwards.

 

“Dacota, I am glad that you are a pious woman who trusts and fears the gods.” The words rush from your lips in a torrent, and you hope that she will listen to what you have to say next – this is the key part. “In a world where the threat of dragons declines – may the gods keep it that way! – Pievre continues as a state that has embraced its twisted humanism and mass apostasy, and the Oursoukis remain a great power, I was worried that even some people not from those spiritually darkened lands in Mineta – the very heart of the True Religion – may have fallen into legal and spiritual errors. You, at least, are better than that. For this I and the girl whom I guard are grateful – as will our employer be, once we tell it about this. But you could risk such good favor by breaking the earlier agreement.”

 

“Your employer? It?” Dacota’s eyes widen as she makes an apotropaic gesture. “Whom do you kids work for?      What have I gotten us involved in, Roxan?”

 

Sima decides to chime in at this time. “Some people, Dacota, want to undermine temples’ powers through several subversive schemes for the dragons’ sakes, such as by spreading the strange doctrines of the Pievrian Republic in Mineta. There is a certain temple-affiliated organization, which we are junior members of, that hunts down such people – or failing that, their propaganda caches. Even schools, after all, can be infiltrated. I thought that Zoe Melis might have knowledge about some aspect of some plot, hence my need to investigate her. She is fierce rival to a Pievrian student, after all, and those who are rivals tend, if they are as smart as Zoe is, to learn about their rivals. I could gladly pay you some more money – my expense account would cover such a payment. But I would have to explain such a payment to the organization, and that would cause them to learn about how un-co-operative you have been, which could cause them to investigate you for being a potential vector for subversion. On the other hand, I was ready to tell them, until you wanted more money, how co-operative and valuable you could be.”

 

Dacota is silent, but you can see the struggle in her eyes. This is the best time, you think, to deliver a supporting idea to nudge Dacota in the right direction.

 

“You may think, Dacota, that all this effort to investigate Miss Melis due to her feud with a Pievrian peer is merely worthy of laughter in the wineshops of foreigners, whether Cassettan or Pievrian. But such lack of willingness to take clues seriously and follow them to their ends is precisely what may allow draconic agents to sow sordid seeds that become bitter blossoms or foul fruits leading to slavery.”

 

Dacota jerks as your words finish, then nods her head.

 

“Little Miss Mageling,” she says, “I am not sure what to believe about what you and your bodyguard say. Yet I follow the clues, and I know that you are no ordinary student mage, given your planning, knowledge, and access to magical artifacts. The risk is great that you are a member of some organization – maybe even what you and your bodyguard claim to be. And never let it be said that I am a dragon’s slave! Even if you are part of some other organization – a coster, say, or the thieves’ guild – I do not want to risk tangling with such a group – my thieves’ guild payments provide only some protection. For this reason, and only this reason – not because I am afraid of you or your bodyguard – please accept the reddish-brown cylinder for a lowered fee – and remember me kindly, never hesitating to hire me for certain jobs.”

 

Sima laughs lightly as she lightens a pouch that she removes from beneath the fold of her cloak, before handing it to Roxan in return for the reddish-brown cylinder. “You really are such a useful girl, Roxan. What is a dombi?”

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I was going to be an actor before I was recruited into the organization, and to this day I am encouraged to use acting in my work for the organization.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, spy,” Roxan replies. But then Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to recruit Roxan – which would be useful, but is not easily doable.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really part of some secret organization of spies that would benefit through recruiting Roxan?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I adore, whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion and affection flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships and love are made of? And your solution, in which we pretended to be doing this investigation of Zoe Melis in order to serve a powerful temple-affiliated organization, rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. People will do so many things if they think that they are benefitting the gods whom they adore – or the powerful people who serve such gods. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think: you are willing to be my dearest friend – let no one accuse us of dating yet – despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. And fear not,” she says, looking at your face’s dawning horror. “What ever else I may be, I am no dragon’s daughter!”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. At least you have assurances from her that she is no dragon’s daughter in human form – and given that you trust her so much you must believe her. But you wonder whether you would be willing to date a robber chief’s daughter, come in time – she may be that, given how little you know about her. [- 50 pims Sima Venesico, - 50 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 50 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 skill level Dating, + 1 Skill Level Theology, + 1 Stress, + 1 Insight, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Theology to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Character Study to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide to approach this issue from a different angle.

 

“Dacota,” you sigh. “I undersatand that you have fallen into a bad course in life – which can always be abandoned if one has the will – but I must ask. Are you, among all of your other misdeeds, an atheist or an apostate from the Imperial religion?”

 

“What!?” Dacota snarls. “You’re probably accusing me of being something unnatural, like an agent reporting to some dragon-worshipping Oursouk, or a wyvern breeder, or a dragon worshipper – but I’m not! And I won’t be insulted by a client’s bodyguard!”

 

She takes a step forward, but Roxan reaches up to tap her shoulder. “Dom’na, I know how to read, and my readings – both of my own books and of what the Dom’nus your brother lets me read – have taught me that an atheist is one who holds gods to be no standard for right conduct and an apostate is one who abandons a religion. Besides, it is not good to assume that a person is insulting when one cannot understand the words. Remember the time you and I got all upset with your brother’s trying to speak Elumian?” Then, turning to Sima, Roxan says with pride, “I am no apostate, thanks to her kindness three years ago and since – the Awakened Man Measureless Life is still my guide, despite what the laws say about orphans in Mineta!”

 

Dacota flinches. “Roxan, enough about your Good Man,” and here she digresses with foul language against her brother for his interest in magic and tolerance of strange magics and beliefs. “But in answer to your question, bodyguard, I am no…atospate or…aseitht; I attend services to Aemean when I can, and avoid preachers for him whose ideas seem heretical. Without the New Gods, we’d all be slaves to dragons. But why the question? Am I not a bit too old for you to bring to a temple as a person whom faith has turned away from crime? Don’t the temples prefer children in that role? Children even younger than you are?” And here Dacota takes another step forwards.

 

“Dacota,” the words rush from your lips in a torrent, “In a world where the threat of dragons declines – may the gods keep it that way! – Pievre continues as a state that has embraced its twisted humanism and mass apostasy, and the Oursoukis remain a great power, I was worried that even some people not from those spiritually darkened lands in Mineta – the very heart of the True Religion – may have fallen into legal and spiritual errors. You, at least, are better than that. For this I and the girl whom I guard are grateful – as will our employer be, once we tell it about this. But you could risk such good favor by breaking the earlier agreement.”

 

“Your employer? It?” Dacota’s eyes widen. “Whom are you kids claming to work for? What have I gotten us involved in, Roxan?”

 

Sima decides to chime in at this time. “Some people, Dacota, want to undermine temples’ powers through several subversive schemes for the dragons’ sakes, such as by spreading the strange doctrines of the Pievrian Republic in Mineta. There is a certain temple-affiliated organization, which we are junior members of, that hunts down such people – or failing that, their propaganda caches. Even schools, after all, can be infiltrated. I thought that Zoe Melis might have knowledge about some aspect of some plot, hence need to investigate her. She is fierce rival to a Pievrian student, after all, and those who are rivals tend, if they are as smart as Zoe is, to learn about their rivals. I could gladly pay you some more money – my expense account would cover such a payment. But I would have to explain such a payment to the organization, and that would cause them to learn about how un-co-operative you have been, which could cause them to investigate you for being a potential vector for subversion. On the other hand, I was ready to tell them, until you wanted more money, how co-operative and valuable you could be.”

 

After Sima has finished her words, Dacota says nothing, but looks at both of you, lost in thought.

 

“The two of you spin a good story – enough to be weavers in the Temple of Iudocia,” she finally says. “But I am not willing to believe your claims – not when there are eight hundred pims on the line for your claims. Do you even know how much eight hundred pims will buy us? Probably not. But for me, those eight hundred pims are more valuable than yielding to an implausible story in hope of some vaguely defined future reward come in time from an organization that I have no proof either of you are involved with. So pay the money that I want – or else!”

 

Sima shakes her head sadly. “Your choice has been noted, Dacota. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder. “Don’t feel too bad that you weren’t able to convince Dom’na Dacota,” she says. “In my home islands, dombis are professional entertainers, but you are better than they are!”

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, faker,” Roxan replies.

 

You are glad that you have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you must admit to wishing that she had used a more obscure nickname for you than faker. Still, you had tried to fake being part of a powerful organization. Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to recruit Roxan as an actress for some confidence tricks – which would be useful, but is not easily doable.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? Are you part of some secret organization of spies that would benefit through recruiting Roxan? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money from you when you could have paid her so easily from the beginning?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which we pretended to be doing this investigation of Zoe Melis in order to serve a powerful temple-affiliated organization, rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious, even though you were not skilled enough to succeed in it. People will do so many things if they think that they are benefitting the gods whom they adore – or the powerful people who serve such gods. But one must be able to convince people of this first, and that can be more difficult than creating an effective, internally consistent, plausible lie. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. With my funds reduced, other people in my life…will not be happy, shall we say? It would have been nice if you could have saved me such money, but I was the one who got so involved with the Southside Pitts and you tried to help me. I wonder if Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo might be able to make up my money.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you were unable to save her from some financial risk – and disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Character Study, + 1 Skill Level Story Telling, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Theology to Sima Venesico, + 1 stress to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide to approach this issue from a different angle.

 

“Dacota,” you sigh. “I undersatand that you have fallen into a bad course in life – which can always be abandoned if one has the will – but I must ask. Are you, among all of your other misdeeds, an atheist or an apostate from the Imperial religion?”

 

“What!?” Dacota snarls. “You’re probably accusing me of being something unnatural, like an agent reporting to some dragon-worshipping Oursouk, or a wyvern breeder, or a dragon worshipper – but I’m not! And I won’t be insulted by a client’s bodyguard!”

 

She takes a step forward, but Roxan reaches up to tap her shoulder. “Dom’na, I know how to read, and my readings – both of my own books and of what the Dom’nus your brother lets me read – have taught me that an atheist is one who holds gods to be no standard for right conduct and an apostate is one who abandons a religion. Besides, it is not good to assume that a person is insulting when one cannot understand the words. Remember the time you and I got all upset with your brother’s trying to speak Elumian?” Then, turning to Sima, Roxan says with pride, “I am no apostate, thanks to her kindness three years ago and since – the Awakened Man Measureless Life is still my guide, despite what the laws say about orphans in Mineta!”

 

Dacota flinches. “Roxan, enough about your Good Man,” and here she digresses with foul language against her brother for his interest in magic and tolerance of strange magics and beliefs. “But in answer to your question, bodyguard, I am no…atospate or…aseitht; I attend services to Aemean when I can, and avoid preachers for him whose ideas seem heretical. Without the New Gods, we’d all be slaves to dragons. But why the question? Am I not a bit too old for you to bring to a temple as a person whom faith has turned away from crime? Don’t the temples prefer children in that role? Children even younger than you are?” And here Dacota takes another step forwards.

 

“Dacota,” the words rush from your lips in a torrent, “In a world where the threat of dragons declines – may the gods keep it that way! – Pievre continues as a state that has embraced its twisted humanism and mass apostasy, and the Oursoukis remain a great power, I was worried that even some people not from those spiritually darkened lands in Mineta – the very heart of the True Religion – may have fallen into legal and spiritual errors. You, at least, are better than that. For this I and the girl whom I guard are grateful – as will our employer be, once we tell it about this. But you could risk such good favor by breaking the earlier agreement.”

 

“Your employer? It?” Dacota’s eyes widen. “Whom are you kids claming to work for? What have I gotten us involved in, Roxan?”

 

Sima decides to chime in at this time. “Some people, Dacota, want to undermine temples’ powers through several subversive schemes for the dragons’ sakes, such as by spreading the strange doctrines of the Pievrian Republic in Mineta. There is a certain temple-affiliated organization, which we are junior members of, that hunts down such people – or failing that, their propaganda caches. Even schools, after all, can be infiltrated. I thought that Zoe Melis might have knowledge about some aspect of some plot, hence need to investigate her. She is fierce rival to a Pievrian student, after all, and those who are rivals tend, if they are as smart as Zoe is, to learn about their rivals. I could gladly pay you some more money – my expense account would cover such a payment. But I would have to explain such a payment to the organization, and that would cause them to learn about how un-co-operative you have been, which could cause them to investigate you for being a potential vector for subversion. On the other hand, I was ready to tell them, until you wanted more money, how co-operative and valuable you could be.”

 

After Sima has finished her words, Dacota says nothing, but looks at both of you, lost in thought.

 

“The two of you spin a good story – enough to be weavers in the Temple of Iudocia,” she finally says. “But I am not willing to believe your claims – not when there are eight hundred pims on the line for your claims. Do you even know how much eight hundred pims will buy us? Probably not. But for me, those eight hundred pims are more valuable than yielding to an implausible story in hope of some vaguely defined future reward come in time from an organization that I have no proof either of you are involved with. So pay the money that I want – or else!”

 

Sima shakes her head sadly. “Your choice has been noted, Dacota. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder. “Don’t feel too bad that you weren’t able to convince Dom’na Dacota,” she says. “In my home islands, dombis are professional entertainers, but you are better than they are!”

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, faker,” Roxan replies.

 

You are glad that you have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you must admit to wishing that she had used a more obscure nickname for you than faker. Still, you had tried to fake being part of a powerful organization. Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to recruit Roxan as an actress for some confidence tricks – which would be useful, but is not easily doable.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? Are you part of some secret organization of spies that would benefit through recruiting Roxan? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money from you when you could have paid her so easily from the beginning?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I adore, whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion and affection flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which we pretended to be doing this investigation of Zoe Melis in order to serve a powerful temple-affiliated organization, rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious, even though you were not skilled enough to succeed in it. People will do so many things if they think that they are benefitting the gods whom they adore – or the powerful people who serve such gods. But one must be able to convince people of this first, and that can be more difficult than creating an effective, internally consistent, plausible lie. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. With my funds reduced, other people in my life…will not be happy, shall we say? It would have been nice if you could have saved me such money, but I was the one who got so involved with the Southside Pitts and you tried to help me. I wonder if Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo might be able to make up my money.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. And fear not,” she says, looking at your face’s dawning horror. “What ever else I may be, I am no dragon’s daughter!”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you were unable to save her from some financial risk – and disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. At least you have assurances from her that she is no dragon’s daughter in human form – and given that you trust her so much you must believe her. But you wonder whether you would be willing to date a robber chief’s daughter, come in time – she may be that, given how little you know about her. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Character Study, + 1 Skill Level Story Telling, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Theology to Sima Venesico, + 1 stress to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has memory Magsa’s Gambit Played] Intrigue. Maybe you can build upon Magsa’s claim to make this business seem more than it is.

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC has Tutoring: Grifter]

  Reveal hidden contents

You seize upon Dacota’s earlier reference to Chards. Magsa had mentioned to you the possibility that Prudence would be upset about being conflated with Flore, but Flore Yveuillet has a rivalry with Catherine Chard due to their families, and Catherine is wealthy, arrogant, and ruthless enough that she might try to bring Sima in to help investigate any possible source of bad tales about her rival – even those written in fiction by a quiet scholar, because who knows what such people may find and how they may write their findings. And where Catherine gets involved, her family cannot be far behind. Or so you hope you can convince Dacota.

 

All of these thoughts flash through your mind – resembling a dragon in flight in their terrifyingness if not wickedness – as you open your mouth.

 

“Dacota,” you say, with what you hope is a conspiratorial tone. “It is strange that you mention Chards in connection with this meeting. You knw who they are, I presume.”

 

“Just because I attend no fancy school does not make me a fool!” Dacota replies. “All with some knowledge of Mineta’s events and people know about the Golden Families, and since I am…working near Academagia, I know especially about the Chards. One of their daughters is continuing their custom of going there. Don’t tell me – she’s behind this, right?”

 

“I am so relieved, Dacota, that you are understanding the ways of Mineta and its great families so well – although I would not dare to confirm or deny whether Catherine Chard was truly behind this task that you and my friend undertook. Certain people, you know, can be so eager to find things to use against their rivals – and their families’ rivals – that they would sink to utterly illegal – and complicated – lengths to harm them. Such people make very useful...patrons, I guess you might call them, but can be very dangerous when crossed. Especially when crossing their clients involves not merely harming them, even if only indirectly, but also their families. Only indirectly, true, but such people are very attached to thier families. And such people, without their families, are…well, I fear that I may have digressed too much. Suffice it to say that our little operation against Zoe Melis was, at a certain level, much more than a student prank. But then, I am sure that Roxan already knows this.” You gesture towards Roxan, hoping that you have understood her role in Sima’s plan correctly. If you misunderstood it, your credibility as a hinter about Catherine Chard’s plotting would be seriously undermined.

 

“Yes, Dom’na, it was strange,” Roxan says, after seeing that no one is stopping her. “I have never been tolds to simply go into a room and use a magical device without being caught. And you, Dombi, emphatically told me that I was not to take anything from Zoe’s room or even mess with her clothing. I did such, though, as you had requested. And I have the tube for you, which I will give to you, come in time – once you pay us the money.”

 

Dacota, who has been growing a bit concerned by what she has heard, turns to Sima and says, “Yes, about the money – maybe I was wrong to break my agreement with you. I do not want to get on the bad side of any Golden Family – not that I am saying that I think that any particular family is behind this – and as more…polite people might say, it is not proper to change terms of any agreement at the last minute. So. Three hundred pims it will be, yes?”

 

Sima laughs lightly as she removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloak, before handing it to Roxan in return for the reddish-brown cylinder. “You really are such a useful girl, Roxan. What is a dombi?”

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, hinter,” Roxan replies. But then Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to turn Roxan into being an actress rather than burgler – although being an actor would not give her any greater respectability in society, despite the actor’s greater legality. Ah, this is but one of many strange things in the world that have nothing to do with magic.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. So you decide to ask some noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you cleverly hinted that we were working for Catherine Chard doing this investigation of Zoe Melis rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. The best deceptions involve no lies – or at least very few – and are all about letting the mark make conclusions. That way, if the mark confronts you about the claim, you can avoid appearing dishonest, if such is necessary, by truthfully saying that you made fewer false claims than the mark thinks. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are somewhat disquieted by Sima’s casually talking about the best way to deceive people. Has she, like you, been trained by some grifter? Has she served as a grifter? But you trust her enough to believe that she would never harm you while the two of you are friends – your adventure last year on the mysterious island with the Triplets proved that to you. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 Skill Level Innuendo, + 1 skill level Flattery, + 1 Intelligence, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Intrigue to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has no Tutoring: Grifter]

  Reveal hidden contents

You seize upon Dacota’s earlier reference to Chards. Magsa had mentioned to you the possibility that Prudence would be upset about being conflated with Flore, but Flore Yveuillet has a rivalry with Catherine Chard due to their families, and Catherine is wealthy, arrogant, and ruthless enough that she might try to bring Sima in to help investigate any possible source of bad tales about her rival – even those written in fiction by a quiet scholar, because who knows what such people may find and how they may write their findings. And where Catherine gets involved, her family cannot be far behind. Or so you hope you can convince Dacota.

 

All of these thoughts flash through your mind – resembling a dragon in flight in their terrifyingness if not wickedness – as you open your mouth.

 

“Dacota,” you say, with what you hope is a conspiratorial tone. “It is strange that you mention Chards in connection with this meeting. You knw who they are, I presume.”

 

“Just because I attend no fancy school does not make me a fool!” Dacota replies. “All with some knowledge of Mineta’s events and people know about the Golden Families, and since I am…working near Academagia, I know especially about the Chards. One of their daughters is continuing their custom of going there. Don’t tell me – she’s behind this, right?”

 

“I am so relieved, Dacota, that you are understanding the ways of Mineta and its great families so well – although I would not dare to confirm or deny whether Catherine Chard was truly behind this task that you and my friend undertook. Certain people, you know, can be so eager to find things to use against their rivals – and their families’ rivals – that they would sink to utterly illegal – and complicated – lengths to harm them. Such people make very useful...patrons, I guess you might call them, but can be very dangerous when crossed. Especially when crossing their clients involves not merely harming them, even if only indirectly, but also their families. Only indirectly, true, but such people are very attached to thier families. And such people, without their families, are…well, I fear that I may have digressed too much. Suffice it to say that our little operation against Zoe Melis was, at a certain level, much more than a student prank. But then, I am sure that Roxan already knows this.” You gesture towards Roxan, hoping that you have understood her role in Sima’s plan correctly. If you misunderstood it, your credibility as a hinter about Catherine Chard’s plotting would be seriously undermined.

 

“Yes, Dom’na, it was strange,” Roxan says, after seeing that no one is stopping her. “I have never been tolds to simply go into a room and use a magical device without being caught. And you, Dombi, emphatically told me that I was not to take anything from Zoe’s room or even mess with her clothing. I did such, though, as you had requested. And I have the tube for you, which I will give to you, come in time – once you pay us the money.”

 

Dacota, who has been growing a bit concerned by what she has heard, turns to Sima and says, “Yes, about the money – maybe I was wrong to break my agreement with you. I do not want to get on the bad side of any Golden Family – not that I am saying that I think that any particular family is behind this – and as more…polite people might say, it is not proper to change terms of any agreement at the last minute. So. Three hundred pims it will be, yes?”

 

Sima laughs lightly as she removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloak, before handing it to Roxan in return for the reddish-brown cylinder. “You really are such a useful girl, Roxan. What is a dombi?”

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, hinter,” Roxan replies. But then Dacota jerks Roxan away and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “I think that Dacota may be worried that I am trying to turn Roxan into being an actress rather than burgler – although being an actor would not give her any greater respectability in society, despite the actor’s greater legality. Ah, this is but one of many strange things in the world that have nothing to do with magic.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. So you decide to ask some noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you cleverly hinted that we were working for Catherine Chard doing this investigation of Zoe Melis rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. The best deceptions involve no lies – or at least very few – and are all about letting the mark make conclusions. That way, if the mark confronts you about the claim, you can avoid appearing dishonest, if such is necessary, by truthfully saying that you made fewer false claims than the mark thinks. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services. Any shortage of pims now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not have been happy. I thank you for sparing me from having to go to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make for my shortage of money.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are somewhat disquieted by Sima’s casually talking about the best way to deceive people. But you trust her enough to believe that she would never harm you while the two of you are friends – your adventure last year on the mysterious island with the Triplets proved that to you. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 Skill Level Innuendo, + 1 skill level Flattery, + 1 Intelligence, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Intrigue to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC has Tutoring: Grifter]

  Reveal hidden contents

You seize upon Dacota’s earlier reference to Chards. Magsa had mentioned to you that Prudence would be upset about being conflated with Flore, but Flore has a rivalry with Catherine Chard due to their families, and Catherine is wealthy, arrogant, and ruthless enough that she would try to bring Sima in to help investigate any possible source of bad tales about her rival – even those written in fiction by a quiet scholar, because who knows what such people may find and how they may write their findings. And where Catherine gets involved, her family cannot be far behind.

 

All of these thoughts flash through your mind as you open your mouth.

 

“Dacota,” you say. “It is strange that you mention Chards in connection with this meeting. You knw who they are, surely.”

 

“Just because I attend no fancy school does not make me a fool, despite what you think!” Dacota replies. “All with some knowledge of Mineta’s events know about the Golden Families, and since I am…working near Academagia, I know especially about the Chards. One of their daughters is continuing the custom of going there. Is there a purpose to this aside from insulting me?”

 

“Catherine Chard was truly behind this task that you and my friend undertook. She is so eager to find things to use against her rivals – and her family’s rivals – that she would sink to utterly illegal – and complicated – lengths to harm them – rivals such as Flore Yveuillet. Miss Chard makes a very useful...patron, I guess you might call her, but can be very dangerous when crossed. Especially when crossing her client involves not merely harming her, even if only indirectly, but also her family. Suffice it to say that our little operation against Zoe Melis was, at a certain level, much more than a student prank. But then, I am sure that Roxan already knows this.” You gesture towards Roxan, hoping that you have understood her role in Sima’s plan correctly. If you misunderstood it, your credibility as a hinter about Catherine Chard’s plotting would be seriously undermined.

 

“Yes, Dom’na, it was strange,” Roxan says, after seeing that no one is stopping her. “I have never been tolds to simply go into a room and use a magical device without being caught. And you, Dombi, emphatically told me that I was not to take anything from Zoe’s room or even mess with her clothing. I did such, though, as you had requested. And I have the tube for you, which I will give to you, come in time – once you pay us the money.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima and says, “Your bodyguard makes bold claims about powerful families and their plans. But why should I believe such claims? Surely a Chard, especially one plotting against another noble, would have better sense than to employ students with such loose lips. Besides, if what your bodyguard says is true, it is so clear that the Chards’ enemies would doubtlessly pay many pims to me for this tip, which might make your lives…unpleasant, shall we say? So why not just agree to pay me the adjusted sum and we can all forget that your bodyguard said such things? Everything is so much simpler for everyone when this can be seen as a simple prank by a collegemate.”

 

Sima shakes her head sadly. “There is no need for you to try to do any more. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to Sima what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, blabbermouth,” Roxan replies. You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but since Roxan just insulted you by calling you a blabbermouth, perhaps it is just as well for you not to know what dombi means. Dacota jerks Roxan away with a snicker and retreats into the mist.

 

“Dacota was under much stress after robbing me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just did to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. And that is not even taking into account the fact that not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or even a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. So you decide to ask some noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money from you when you could have paid her so easily from the beginning?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you cleverly hinted that we were working for Catherine Chard doing this investigation of Zoe Melis rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. But you need more training in tricking people. The best deceptions involve no lies – or at least very few – and are all about letting the mark make conclusions. That way, if the mark confronts you about the claim, you can avoid appearing dishonest, if such is necessary, by truthfully saying that you made fewer false claims than the mark thinks. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. My unexpected shortage of pims now is…problematic to certain other people in my life, who will not be happy. I will, due to your defeat by Dacota, have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my shortage of money. At least I did not need to rush back and retrieve another eight hundred pims to pay Dacota due to the wonders of modern banking.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of confidence tricks and related activities. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are somewhat disquieted by Sima’s casually talking about the best way to deceive people. Has she, like you, been trained by some grifter? Has she served as a grifter? But you trust her enough to believe that she would never harm you while the two of you are friends – your adventure last year on the mysterious island with the Triplets proved that to you. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 3 Skill Levels Flattery, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Intrigue to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has no Tutoring: Grifter]

  Reveal hidden contents

You seize upon Dacota’s earlier reference to Chards. Magsa had mentioned to you that Prudence would be upset about being conflated with Flore, but Flore has a rivalry with Catherine Chard due to their families, and Catherine is wealthy, arrogant, and ruthless enough that she would try to bring Sima in to help investigate any possible source of bad tales about her rival – even those written in fiction by a quiet scholar, because who knows what such people may find and how they may write their findings. And where Catherine gets involved, her family cannot be far behind.

 

All of these thoughts flash through your mind as you open your mouth.

 

“Dacota,” you say. “It is strange that you mention Chards in connection with this meeting. You knw who they are, surely.”

 

“Just because I attend no fancy school does not make me a fool, despite what you think!” Dacota replies. “All with some knowledge of Mineta’s events know about the Golden Families, and since I am…working near Academagia, I know especially about the Chards. One of their daughters is continuing the custom of going there. Is there a purpose to this aside from insulting me?”

 

“Catherine Chard was truly behind this task that you and my friend undertook. She is so eager to find things to use against her rivals – and her family’s rivals – that she would sink to utterly illegal – and complicated – lengths to harm them – rivals such as Flore Yveuillet. Miss Chard makes a very useful...patron, I guess you might call her, but can be very dangerous when crossed. Especially when crossing her client involves not merely harming her, even if only indirectly, but also her family. Suffice it to say that our little operation against Zoe Melis was, at a certain level, much more than a student prank. But then, I am sure that Roxan already knows this.” You gesture towards Roxan, hoping that you have understood her role in Sima’s plan correctly. If you misunderstood it, your credibility as a hinter about Catherine Chard’s plotting would be seriously undermined.

 

“Yes, Dom’na, it was strange,” Roxan says, after seeing that no one is stopping her. “I have never been tolds to simply go into a room and use a magical device without being caught. And you, Dombi, emphatically told me that I was not to take anything from Zoe’s room or even mess with her clothing. I did such, though, as you had requested. And I have the tube for you, which I will give to you, come in time – once you pay us the money.”

 

Dacota turns to Sima and says, “Your bodyguard makes bold claims about powerful families and their plans. But why should I believe such claims? Surely a Chard, especially one plotting against another noble, would have better sense than to employ students with such loose lips. Besides, if what your bodyguard says is true, it is so clear that the Chards’ enemies would doubtlessly pay many pims to me for this tip, which might make your lives…unpleasant, shall we say? So why not just agree to pay me the adjusted sum and we can all forget that your bodyguard said such things? Everything is so much simpler for everyone when this can be seen as a simple prank by a collegemate.”

 

Sima shakes her head sadly. “There is no need for you to try to do any more. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

 

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

 

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to Sima what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, blabbermouth,” Roxan replies. You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but since Roxan just insulted you by calling you a blabbermouth, perhaps it is just as well for you not to know what dombi means. Dacota jerks Roxan away with a snicker and retreats into the mist.

 

“Dacota was under much stress after robbing me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just did to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. And that is not even taking into account the fact that not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or even a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. So you decide to ask some noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money from you when you could have paid her so easily from the beginning?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you cleverly hinted that we were working for Catherine Chard doing this investigation of Zoe Melis rather than as a way to satisfy my caution, was truly ingenious. But you need more training in tricking people. The best deceptions involve no lies – or at least very few – and are all about letting the mark make conclusions. That way, if the mark confronts you about the claim, you can avoid appearing dishonest, if such is necessary, by truthfully saying that you made fewer false claims than the mark thinks. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. My unexpected shortage of pims now is…problematic to certain other people in my life, who will not be happy. I will, due to your defeat by Dacota, have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my shortage of money. At least I did not need to rush back and retrieve another eight hundred pims to pay Dacota due to the wonders of modern banking.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of confidence tricks and related activities. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are somewhat disquieted by Sima’s casually talking about the best way to deceive people. But you trust her enough to believe that she would never harm you while the two of you are friends – your adventure last year on the mysterious island with the Triplets proved that to you. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 3 Skill Levels Flattery, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Intrigue to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC completed adventure The Pitts] Romance. Maybe Dacota has some other reason to be here.

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

“Dacota,” you lilt in a teasing voice, “how nice to see you again – and in much more pleasant circumstances, too. No goblins or mastery magic – but o, isn’t something missing? Something very pleasant and tender for you? Or rather, someone? A student mage of around your age, perhaps? Would this alley, leading to Academagia, not be a better way fo you to remedy this lack then trying to enter the campus through more conventional means? Especially given how unconventional a person and pig you may - ”

 

Dacoata’s shriek would not be out of place among the sophisticated ladies with no Minetan swagger whom she imagines are the majority of Sima’s peers – although as you would tell her if she were curious, such students are not the only ones whose charms interest you. Right now, however, she is curious about a very different thing – or person.

 

“What!? Which one are you?” She rushes forward to look at your face, but you leap out of the way with a laugh. It would not be appealing to the ladies if you were to be smelling of pig, even though the pig is a pig-god to Goblins and a Bruellian pot-bellied pig familiar to his owner.

 

“No one of much importance,” you sing back. “Just a friend to a certain swineherd. A swineherd whom you may have visited for certain reasons, perhaps related to pigs!”

 

Sima looks mildly amused as well as curious, but Roxan giggles at your display. “It’s true,” she crows. “Dom’na has a boyfriend! One from the fanciest of fancy colleges at Academagia – with all the towers and fine art. He is not so sophisticated, though. She helps him to feed a pig, and he tries to teach her to read Renaglian – when they allow me to be with them, that is!”

 

Dacota turns to Roxan. “Your beating will be so bad that you will lose interest in pigs!” she shouts. Then to Sima she says, “I am not having a boyfriend. He and I are involved in certain sensitive business and…tiogolocal…issues with goblins. Tell your bodyguard to stop this! We have business matters of our own to discuss.”

 

When Roxan laughingly kisses the air, Dacota slaps her. Sima, to her credit, replies calmly, “I should not inquire into others’ private affairs when this would distract from business. But my bodyguard still may try to solve this issue – unless you want to try to attack us outright?”

 

Dacota begrudgingly agrees with a curt nod. However, you can tell that your words have shaken her. This should make Dacota easier to control – or so you hope. [+ 1 skill level Tease, + 1 skill level Innuendo, +15% chance of success, choose another option]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

“Dacota,” you say, “how nice to see you again in better circumstances. No goblins or mastery magic – but isn’t something missing? Would this alley, leading to Academagia, not be a better way fo you to remedy this lack then trying to enter the campus through more conventional means? Especially given how unconventional a person and pig you may - ”

 

Dacoata sighs. “Of all the bodyguards whom I could have met, I meet one who knows about my efforts to deal with goblins. I suppose that it is no great burden to tell you that tending to a goblin god is difficult – especially when the god is a mage’s familiar who can breathe fire.”

 

Sima looks curious, but Roxan giggles. “Dom’na,” she laughs, “you really are a swineherd’s apprentice sometimes – and the pig stinks. No fancy words can obscure these things. The Dom’na helps him to feed a pig, and he tries to teach her to read Renaglian – among other things.”

 

Dacota turns to Roxan. “You will be beaten for this so that you will lose interest in pigs,” she says. Then to Sima she says, “Roxan’s…zogolocal…claims are irrelevant to our dealings here and now. Tell your bodyguard to stop this! We have business matters of our own to discuss.”

 

When Roxan laughingly oinks, Dacota slaps her. Sima, to her credit, replies calmly, “I should not inquire into others’ private affairs when this would distract from business. But my bodyguard still may try to solve this issue – unless you want to try to attack us outright?”

 

Dacota begrudgingly agrees with a curt nod. Your words may not have driven her to irrationality, but Roxan’s oinking and discussion of pig-tending were very amusing. If only you were not dealing with her as a robber-girl! [+ 1 skill level Animal Husbandry, + 1 skill level Mimicry, choose another option]

[If PC completed adventure Enter the Work Force] Intimidate. “I fought you once, Pitts, when you were with your gang! I can fight you again when you have only a girl with you!”

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

Dacota flinches and scowls at you, before saying, “Ah yes, you’re the Godina brat whose efforts with Mr. McCroskey caused such difficulty for my efforts to…offer protection, shall we say? But I am not afraid of you – you are not travelling, and that makes every fight much easier.”

 

Still, you can tell that your words have shaken her. This should make Dacota easier to control – or so you hope. [+ 1 skill level Intimidation, + 1 skill level Tactics, + 1 temporary Skill level to Wrestling, choose another option]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

Dacota peers at at you before sneering, “Ah yes, you’re the Godina brat who interfered with my efforts to protect Mr. McCroskey’s business. Well, you are not working for Mr. McCroskey, and my goal is different here and now. So I am not afraid of you.”

 

Although Dacota’s logic may leave something to be desired – surely a person would not be unwise to fear a previous enemy in a hostile situation even when the reason for the hostile situation is different – Dacota’s argument has succeeded, so far as you can tell, in keeping her calm despite your challenge. Perhaps if you were to use actions rather than talking about past actions, she would yield to you. [+ 1 skill level Reasoning, choose another option]

Wrestling. “When you act tough, Dacota, you should be prepared to fight.”

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

“But are you prepared to fight me?” Dacota replies, bracing her body for any physical response from you.

 

Realizing that words would distract you from your goal and give Dacota time to attack you, you simply charge towards Dacota and knock her down. Roxan screams then, and Dacota’s eyes harden as one hand reaches for her belt. But you strike her in a sensitive spot so that she howls and her arms go limp. You then seize her good hand and twist the fingers in such a way that you could easily break them if you were wanting to. She tries to move her hand from your grasp, but you are strong enough to maintain your grip and twist her fingers so that she yelps a bit.

 

“Do you yield?” Sima’s voice, calm despite the chaos on the ground in front of her, suggests that she is not unused to violence.

 

“Pax! O Dom’na, please say pax! Otherwise - ” Roxan’s eyes are wide with terror, but there is also, you think, a measure of thoughtful calculation in her voice. Is she trying to demonstrate her loyalty to the Southside Pitts’ leader?

 

“Yes. Pax! I yield!” Dacota follows with a string of syllables, some of which may be polite words in other languages, before her voice trails off into a sob. “What do you want? I can give you money or information about Roxan’s life these past three years, or -”

 

You never get to hear what else Dacota was about to offer because Sima interrupts.

 

“I am not here for your money, Pitts, nor for any treasure that you may have – not even a set of knives made from non-rusting steel. I just want to pay you for your services at the agreed upon rate.” Sima thrusts forward a pouch of money with an imperious sniff, and Roxan mutely gives her a reddish-brown cylinder before taking the money.

 

“Call your trained attack dog in human form off me,” Dacota whines. You only do so when Sima tells you to, after which Dacota springs to her feet and walk carefully away from you. Although she tries to appear uninjured, you can tell by her ginger motions that you have seriously hurt her. Nothing that a little rest or magic cannot fix, but you hope that you made your mark on her mind as a dangerous opponent.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, thrasher,” Roxan replies.

 

You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but you assume, based upon her nicknaming you thrasher, that it may have a complimentary meaning. Dacota jerks Roxan away with a wince and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Dacota was under much stress and pain after her botched robbery of me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just tried to do to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. I am so glad that I had you to protect me in the simplest and most direct way – you are better than a student mage from the Contu school, since all they focus on is incantation. Dacota bit off more than she could chew when she tried to rob us, and she knows it. Maybe she will be more cautious about trying to rob people now. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you fought Dacota into abandoning her demands, was useful if not imaginative – I even learned about certain painful points on bodies by watching you fight! Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your competence, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are happy that you were able to save her from some financial risk through wrestling, that skill that in Academagia is often associated only with bullying. If all wrestlers, you think, were to use their wrestling skills only to help protect other people against wrong-doers, the world would be a better place and people would be in less fear of dragons. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 Strength, + 1 skill level Wrestling, + 1 skill level Anatomy, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Anatomy to Sima Venesico, add memory Dacota’s Pain, end adventure]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

“But are you prepared to fight me?” Dacota snarls.

 

“I am, if you are pre -”

 

But your witty retort is cut short as Dacota tackles you with such force that you are knocked hard to the ground. As you try to raise your arms to defend yourself, you see the flash of a knife blade as it swoops in towards your throat. At the last second – or so you think – you are able to roll aside, but the blade still keeps seeking you and you feel its hilt scrapt against your back. You realize that you cannot dodge the weapon indefinitely.

 

“Pax! Say pax! Otherwise - ” Roxan’s voice is faintly gloating.

 

Sima interrupts, her voice revealing more concern for your safety. “There is no need for you to try to do any more. I can handle the matter now. I will write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me. But please do not harm my bodyguard!”

 

Dacota, after some growls, muttered curses, and slaps to your body, rolls you body so that you are facing her and then allows you to stand up facing her, all the while keeping her knife aimed at you and your body between her and Sima. Her suspicion is only mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota has lowered the knife a bit.

 

“I am so glad,” she says, “that we were able to resolve this issue before I had to kill or maim your bodyguard. Maybe this will teach you to be more cautious in dealing with me and my gang in future. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

 

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, miles gloriosus,” Roxan replies.

 

You wish that you could have learned what Roxan’s nickname of dombi for Sima means, but since your knowledge of Elumian suggests that miles gloriosus means “braggart soldier”, perhaps it is just as well for you not to know what dombi means. Dacota jerks Roxan away with a snicker and retreats into the mist.

 

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Dacota’s easy defeat of you and easy robbery of me may have made her over-confident. She was lucky. not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious. As, for that matter should you. Violence is not always the best solution to any problem, and it is riskier than many others because it can most easily be responded to by violence in return – and such violence cannot always be avoided as you avoided all serious contact with Dacota’s knife today. This is one of several reasons why I prefer trying to talk my way out of problems, even when the problems are dangerous people who could easily use violence against me.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money from you when you could have paid her so easily from the beginning?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? And your solution, in which you fought Dacota in an attempt to get her to abandon her demands, was useful if not imaginative, even though you lacked the skill to defeat her. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. My unexpected shortage of pims now is…problematic to certain other people in my life, who will not be happy. I will, due to your defeat by Dacota, have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my shortage of money. At least I did not need to rush back and retrieve another eight hundred pims to pay Dacota due to the wonders of modern banking.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are sad that you could not save her from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of wrestling and related activities. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 Finesse, + 1 Stress, + 1 skill level Tactics, + 1 skill level Flawless Timing, - 1 Vitality, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 stress to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Theory of Enchantment. How valuable is the artifact that Sima lent to the Southside Pitts?

  Reveal hidden contents

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC is not a Student in Vernin College]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level clockwork, reveal Negotiate Option, temporary + 10% chance of success, choose other option]

[If PC is a Student in Vernin College]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. You are glad that your studies in Vernin have paid off in this way.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, reveal Negotiate Option, temporary + 10% chance of success, choose other option]

[If PC was a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in another college]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. It almost makes you wish that you had remained in Vernin.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, reveal Negotiate Option, temporary + 10% chance of success, choose other option]

[If PC was not a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in Vernin college]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. You guess that Vernin College was truly the best one for you, and are relieved that you transferred into it. Better late then never, as they say.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, - 1 stress, reveal Negotiate Option, temporary + 10% chance of success, choose other option]

[If PC is not a Student in Vernin College and has memory Sima’s Ring to Zoe or Tabin’s Potion to Zoe]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. On the other hand, maybe you could use your greater knowledge of what Roxan was doing in Zoe Melis’s room in order to try to create the idea that Zoe Melis as dangerous – by implication inflating Sima’s power and making Dacota less eager to rob her. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, temporary + 10% chance of success, reveal Negotiate Option, reveal appropriate Innuendo Option, choose other option]

[If PC is a Student in Vernin College and has memory Sima’s Ring to Zoe or Tabin’s Potion to Zoe]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. You are glad that your studies in Vernin have paid off in this way.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. On the other hand, maybe you could use your greater knowledge of what Roxan was doing in Zoe Melis’s room in order to try to create the idea that Zoe Melis as dangerous – by implication inflating Sima’s power and making Dacota less eager to rob her. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, temporary + 10% chance of success, reveal Negotiate Option, reveal appropriate Innuendo Option, choose other option]

[If PC was a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in another college and has memory Sima’s Ring to Zoe or Tabin’s Potion to Zoe]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. It almost makes you wish that you had remained in Vernin.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. On the other hand, maybe you could use your greater knowledge of what Roxan was doing in Zoe Melis’s room in order to try to create the idea that Zoe Melis as dangerous – by implication inflating Sima’s power and making Dacota less eager to rob her. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Clockwork, temporary + 10% chance of success, reveal Negotiate Option, reveal appropriate Innuendo Option, choose other option]

[If PC was not a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in Vernin college and has memory Sima’s Ring to Zoe or Tabin’s Potion to Zoe]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You vaguely note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But then the answer strikes you. You guess that Vernin College was truly the best one for you, and are relieved that you transferred into it. Better late then never, as they say.

 

The reddish-brown cylinder must be what you have heard called a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic. Some of the more sophisticated versions of such devices – of which this one must be an example, you think – have an internal sheath of paper and a stylus that, through further enchantment, record when the devices was used, where they were activated (according to a co-ordinate system), and what pillars of magic they detected and in what strength. A person can then read a record of the magics found in a given location at a given time by looking at the paper through an adjustable lens – which you presume to be embedded in one end of the tube so that it can function like a telescope.

 

Having Roxan use such a device in Zoe Melis’s bedroom while Zoe would be in the bedroom would be a very thorough way to address, without exposing Sima to the possibility of being caught and punished for trespassing, the possibility that Zoe’s information about the Triplets, regardless of what Zoe may believe its origins were, was implanted within her mind through mastery magic, glamour magic, or even gates magic bringing in some type of non-magical hypnotist. You well know that Sima always desires to be very thorough in her undertakings, no matter how impulsively she may have decided to do them. Plus, if any student at the Academagia would have access to such a thaumatometer, Sima Vensico, purveyor of magical jewelry and nebulously associated with some type of secretive organization, would be that student. The more you think about it, the more you are convinced that you are right.

 

“…and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you could try to sell her the thaumatometer in exchange for a reduction in the money that she is demanding from Sima. On the other hand, maybe you could use your greater knowledge of what Roxan was doing in Zoe Melis’s room in order to try to create the idea that Zoe Melis as dangerous – by implication inflating Sima’s power and making Dacota less eager to rob her. Or you could try something else. Regardless, your figuring out what Sima and Roxan were up to has given you more confidence in dealing with this situation. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, - 1 stress, temporary + 10% chance of success, reveal Negotiate Option, reveal appropriate Innuendo Option, choose other option]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC is not a Student in Vernin College and has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust through helping her. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, + 1 stress, choose other option]

[If PC is not a Student in Vernin College and has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust and affection through helping her. At this reminder of how you feel about Sima, you feel a renewed surge of determination. You were able to fight through magical curses and elemental nymphs to help her make a fine necklace – surely you can help her against two magicless criminals. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, choose other option]

[If PC is a Student in Vernin College and has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. Maybe you should focus more on being a Vernin student than on strange adventures. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust through helping her. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, + 1 stress, choose other option]

[If PC is a Student in Vernin College and has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. Maybe you should focus more on being a Vernin student than on strange adventures. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust and affection through helping her. At this reminder of how you feel about Sima, you feel a renewed surge of determination. You were able to fight through magical curses and elemental nymphs to help her make a fine necklace – surely you can help her against two magicless criminals. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, choose other option]

[If PC was a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in another college and has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. Maybe it is for the best that you left Vernin College. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust through helping her. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, + 1 stress, choose other option]

[If PC was a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in another college and has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. Maybe it is for the best that you left Vernin College. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust and affection through helping her. At this reminder of how you feel about Sima, you feel a renewed surge of determination. You were able to fight through magical curses and elemental nymphs to help her make a fine necklace – surely you can help her against two magicless criminals. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, choose other option]

[If PC was not a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in Vernin college and has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. So much for the idea that Vernin College was truly the best one for you in which you could truly thrive academically and magically. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust through helping her. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, + 1 stress, choose other option]

[If PC was not a Student in Vernin College during Y1 but is in Vernin college and has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder,” you muse aloud. “It must be pretty special for my friend to be willing to go through such risk and pay even three hundred pims just to get it back. But what is it?”

Dacota sneers and rolls her eyes. “Why should I care? All that I know is that your friend wanted Roxan here to bring it into the bedroom of a certain student named Zoe Melis while she was in the room, press a certain button on the device, and then bring the reddish tube back to her.”

 

“All without being detected,” Roxan pipes up, her voice smug. “And I did it, too. All by myself.”

 

“You had help,” Sima whispers. Maybe she finds Roxan’s pride annoying.

 

Roxan looks a bit embarrassed, but then mutters sullenly, “Yes, you did leave the doors to the common room and the doors leading to the corridor with the girls’ rooms unlocked. But I had to sneak into the girls’ rooms areas, then I had to unlock the door to Zoe’s room, then go into her room without waking her, then use the device, then leave the room without being caught, then lock the door, then sneak out of the Academagia - all while avoiding patrols. So really, I did all of the important stuff on my own!”

 

Dacota looks horrified. “Roxan! You must be less obvious about what you do. If the wrong people hear you, respecting your Good Man is the least of your worries – you could be hanged, regardless of your age!”

 

“As the robber-chief said to the thief girl!” Roxan retorts.

 

You note Sima’s expression of concern and try to avoid hearing Dacota’s furious yelling at Roxan – while feeling grateful for such distractions – as you try to figure out what the reddish-brown cylinder could be. But no answer strikes you. So much for the idea that Vernin College was truly the best one for you in which you could truly thrive academically and magically. You were thinking that it might be a thaumatometer – a device to detect magic – but you dismiss such an idea as absurd. Roxan makes no claim to being a prodigy mage – which, given her boasting about other areas in which she is skilled, you assume she would do if she had any magical knowledge – and would therefore not know how to interpret a thaumatometer’s readings, let alone repeat them to Sima later. Therefore, Sima would only use a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe’s room if she herself could use it – which apparently she had not. It is possible, you suppose, that this could be a real thaumatometer that Sima lent out even though it could not be usefully used to investigate Zoe Melis because she wanted to distract people from her own effective use of a thaumatometer to investigate Zoe Melis, but that strikes you as the sort of paranoid misdirection and spycraft that you would associate with Lambert Cobo, Aymeri Couer, or possibly Tabin Furenzti - but not Sima Venesico. Sima is ambitious in her plans – and, as this whole situation reveals, very paranoid in her desire to prevent her relationship with Magsa and Tabin from becoming public knowledge – but she is not cunning to such a degree. Rather, she is impulsive more often then not.

 

“…just because we rescued and sheltered you from forced worship of gods in some temple orphanage and value your skills does not mean that you can be free in speaking around me. I will tell my brother about this and you will be beaten for this – better to have a sore body than a broken neck, as I hope your Awakened Man Measureless Life says in one of those pamphlets whose scribblings you hold to be wisdom. Now, I must collect our money.”

 

Dacota turns to you. You realize that you have to deal with her, even though you know nothing about what the reddish-brown cylinder is. You think that if you were wanting to meet only people with clearly defined agendas, you would not have the triplets as your firmest friends, nor would you have earned Sima’s trust and affection through helping her. At this reminder of how you feel about Sima, you feel a renewed surge of determination. You were able to fight through magical curses and elemental nymphs to help her make a fine necklace – surely you can help her against two magicless criminals. [+ 1 skill level Awareness, choose other option]

Negotiate. Try to sell Sima’s artifact to Dacota.

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC has no affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder – to say nothing of my friend’s specific instructions about how it should be used – got me thinking about what it could be. I mean, I know that Hedi students are notorious for speaking quietly of riddles – itself a riddle of some sort from a certain perspective – but I trust my friend enough to believe that this reddish-brown cylinder is more than some type of obfuscation. It must have real value – value that she might be willing to give you in exchange for a reduced fee for your services.”

 

Sima’s eyes widen, but then she nods enthusiastically. “Yes, that would work. All I need to do is look at the reddish-brown cylinder for a few seconds, then you are welcome to have it – if you really want it. Better that then having to pay one thousand one hundred pims – more than the value of one year’s education at the Contu School.”

 

“It could be worth as much as all the goods in Alfi – to a mage,” Dacota snaps. “Maybe it is worthless to those without magical knowledge, like us.”

 

“But Dom’na, even such an item could be sold to a mage. Is not your brother the Dom’nus trying to get in contact with some wizards from…Tai?” Roxan sounds excited at the prospect of selling a magical artifact.

 

“He is as likely to get into the Theian wizards’ circles as I am to be legitimately at a Golden Families’ dance – but point taken. Some mages would pay well for magical artifacts that only mages can use. Very well, bodyguard – tell us about this reddish-brown cylinder.” Dacota looks at you with curiosity and expectation.

 

Relieved that Sima’s comments confirm your beliefs about why she would need the reddish-brown cylinder, you briefly tell Dacota and Roxan about your conclusion that the reddish-brown cylinder is a device to detect magic called a thaumatometer, modified so that it keeps a record of what it detected and where it was used. You are careful to conceal your views about Sima’s personality and why she wants to know about any magic that might be affecting Zoe Melis – as much for preserving good relations with Sima as for preserving her privacy from the Southside Pitts – but you can tell that your words are having an effect on them. When you finish, Dacota whistles in appreciation.

 

“Yes, I can see how this thauma-thing would be very useful. There are so many magical things in Mineta, known and unknown. Even if we cannot figure out how to use it, we can sell it to some other mage, come in time. But why should I pay you kids eight hundred pims for it?”

 

Sima steps forward then, and says with calm determination, “Because that thaumatometer is special beyond its ability to keep a detailed record. I placed an astrological enchantment on it so that if it is used by the wrong person, it causes various embarassing – and easily perceivable – glamours. Right now, the enchantment is not activated – but it would be very inconvenient, I think, if some member of the Southside Pitts were to be using the thaumatometer in some…inconspicuous way only to trigger the enchantment. So perhaps you should regard the eight hundred pims that I would charge for the thaumatometer as not merely covering the sale of the thaumatometer to you, but also the elimination of my anti-theft protections.”

 

Dacota hesitates, and you assume that she is caught between greed over the thaumatometer and reluctance to forgo hundreds of pims in some other form that would be easier to sell or use for purchases. So you decide that you should intervene with another remark to push her into making the best decision.

 

“Dacota, my friend could use her magics to make life unpleasant for anyone whom she wants, if she sets her mind to it, but chooses to negotiate in the hopes that a more useful relationship may be formed between her and the Southside Pitts. But other magic users – students as well as mages – are not so reasonable, and may choose to use magics against you or your followers, sometimes entirely unprovoked, thinking, rightly or wrongly, that no one would listen to complaints from street urchins. To protect yourself from such magics, and to avoid being targeted by any of my friend’s hostile magics – which I assure you are not fun – it is best for you to purchase the thaumatometer from her.”

 

Dacota sighs and nods. “Working in a city with many mages, it is best to have protection against magic, but better than nothing to have a way to detect magic. And your…magic detector is easier for me to get than it would be for me to pay pims to some seller with such an item elsewhere. Pims have wieght and create long memories. Very well. I will accept three hundred pims for my services as well as ownership of the…magic tube. Roxcan, give the client the tube once she gives you the money. Then you can look at the records and dispel the enchantment before giving it back to us.”

 

As Sima slips Roxan a pouch full of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, she asks the girl what the nickname dombi means.

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

Sima then shows Roxan how to locate a catch on the reddish-brown cylinder, which, when pressed, opens a compartment in the reddish-brown cylinder in which is rolled up a piece of paper. Sima then closes the compartment and shows Roxan how to find the lens that allows a person to read what is on the paper, as well as how to adjust what the lens shows the viewer. Then she re-opens the reddish-brown cylinder and removes the paper, folding it in her hand, before telling Roxan how to replace paper inside the reddish-brown cylinder. Then, beaming, she writes a few phemes in the air with her wand, causing a series of lights to rise out of the thaumatometer. Assuring Roxan and Decota that the enchantment has been dispelled, she hands it over to Dacota, who leads Roxan away.

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, merchant,” Roxan calls back as she goes into the mists.

 

Sima ignores this attempt at friendliness as she unfolds the paper and scans the writing on it. Then, sighing with exasperation, she moves as if to toss it toss on the ground before thinking better of it and placing it in a pocket.

 

“I had to give up a perfectly good thaumatometer because I wanted to investigate whether Zoe had been somehow influenced into revealing information about us,” she says. “But wouldn’t you know? There was no magic affectring her in her room – so this was all for nothing – and I will have to get another thaumatometer. O, [PCFirstName], did anything go right today in this meeting? Not that I am blaming you – you were able to resolve this issue without violence or magic or my being robbed, which reveals that you have much skill in selling things by making potential customers realize why they need what you are selling even when they had no idea that it existed before you tried to sell it.”

 

“Maybe we could get out of here first?” you suggest.

 

“Ah, true enough.” She leads you out of the alleyway into the blissfully normal Academagia. Then, after creating glamours to protect you from eavesdroppers, she turns to face you.

 

“Having thought more about your solution and my…situation, I realize that I over-reacted and that you handled it very well. I know how to get another thaumatometer, come in time, and my financial situation is so precarious right now due to certain problems that a loss of nine hundred pims by me could have had serious consequences. But I am now within my budget still, and my needling concerns about Zoe have been well addressed. I am just relieved that the Southside Pitts were too ignorant about magic to realize that I could not create, let alone dispel, any anti-theft measure of the sort that I pretended to deal with – I know not if it is even possible. But you know what?”

 

“What?” you ask. With Sima you can never be sure what she will reveal.

 

“I am sorry for having gotten us both involved in such shady and potentially dangerous business. But let us walk and talk as friends for a while.”

 

You agree, happy that Sima is happy despite the seeming set-backs that she has faced, and enjoy the next blissful few minutes walking while talking about various theatrical productions in Mineta. One issue, however, that you are not bold enough to ask Sima about is how it is that she had and apparently can continue to have easy access to a thaumatometer. But if you were wanting a fully open friend, you would not, you realize, be a friend to Sima Venesico. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Fitness, + 1 skill level Dispassion, + 1 skill level Theater, + 1 Skill level Confidence, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Confidence to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has affection or love with Sima Venesico]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder – to say nothing of my friend’s specific instructions about how it should be used – got me thinking about what it could be. I mean, I know that Hedi students are notorious for speaking quietly of riddles – itself a riddle of some sort from a certain perspective – but I trust my friend enough to believe that this reddish-brown cylinder is more than some type of obfuscation. It must have real value – value that she might be willing to give you in exchange for a reduced fee for your services.”

 

Sima’s eyes widen, but then she nods enthusiastically. “Yes, that would work. All I need to do is look at the reddish-brown cylinder for a few seconds, then you are welcome to have it – if you really want it. Better that then having to pay one thousand one hundred pims – more than the value of one year’s education at the Contu School.”

 

“It could be worth as much as all the goods in Alfi – to a mage,” Dacota snaps. “Maybe it is worthless to those without magical knowledge, like us.”

 

“But Dom’na, even such an item could be sold to a mage. Is not your brother the Dom’nus trying to get in contact with some wizards from…Tai?” Roxan sounds excited at the prospect of selling a magical artifact.

 

“He is as likely to get into the Theian wizards’ circles as I am to be legitimately at a Golden Families’ dance – but point taken. Some mages would pay well for magical artifacts that only mages can use. Very well, bodyguard – tell us about this reddish-brown cylinder.” Dacota looks at you with curiosity and expectation.

 

Relieved that Sima’s comments confirm your beliefs about why she would need the reddish-brown cylinder, you briefly tell Dacota and Roxan about your conclusion that the reddish-brown cylinder is a device to detect magic called a thaumatometer, modified so that it keeps a record of what it detected and where it was used. You are careful to conceal your views about Sima’s personality and why she wants to know about any magic that might be affecting Zoe Melis – as much for preserving good relations with Sima as for preserving her privacy from the Southside Pitts – but you can tell that your words are having an effect on them. When you finish, Dacota whistles in appreciation.

 

“Yes, I can see how this thauma-thing would be very useful. There are so many magical things in Mineta, known and unknown. Even if we cannot figure out how to use it, we can sell it to some other mage, come in time. But why should I pay you kids eight hundred pims for it?”

 

Sima steps forward then, and says with calm determination, “Because that thaumatometer is special beyond its ability to keep a detailed record. I placed an astrological enchantment on it so that if it is used by the wrong person, it causes various embarassing – and easily perceivable – glamours. Right now, the enchantment is not activated – but it would be very inconvenient, I think, if some member of the Southside Pitts were to be using the thaumatometer in some…inconspicuous way only to trigger the enchantment. So perhaps you should regard the eight hundred pims that I would charge for the thaumatometer as not merely covering the sale of the thaumatometer to you, but also the elimination of my anti-theft protections.”

 

Dacota hesitates, and you assume that she is caught between greed over the thaumatometer and reluctance to forgo hundreds of pims in some other form that would be easier to sell or use for purchases. So you decide that you should intervene with another remark to push her into making the best decision.

 

“Dacota, my friend could use her magics to make life unpleasant for anyone whom she wants, if she sets her mind to it, but chooses to negotiate in the hopes that a more useful relationship may be formed between her and the Southside Pitts. But other magic users – students as well as mages – are not so reasonable, and may choose to use magics against you or your followers, sometimes entirely unprovoked, thinking, rightly or wrongly, that no one would listen to complaints from street urchins. To protect yourself from such magics, and to avoid being targeted by any of my friend’s hostile magics – which I assure you are not fun – it is best for you to purchase the thaumatometer from her.”

 

Dacota sighs and nods. “Working in a city with many mages, it is best to have protection against magic, but better than nothing to have a way to detect magic. And your…magic detector is easier for me to get than it would be for me to pay pims to some seller with such an item elsewhere. Pims have wieght and create long memories. Very well. I will accept three hundred pims for my services as well as ownership of the…magic tube. Roxcan, give the client the tube once she gives you the money. Then you can look at the records and dispel the enchantment before giving it back to us.”

 

As Sima slips Roxan a pouch full of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, she asks the girl what the nickname dombi means.

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

Sima then shows Roxan how to locate a catch on the reddish-brown cylinder, which, when pressed, opens a compartment in the reddish-brown cylinder in which is rolled up a piece of paper. Sima then closes the compartment and shows Roxan how to find the lens that allows a person to read what is on the paper, as well as how to adjust what the lens shows the viewer. Then she re-opens the reddish-brown cylinder and removes the paper, folding it in her hand, before telling Roxan how to replace paper inside the reddish-brown cylinder. Then, beaming, she writes a few phemes in the air with her wand, causing a series of lights to rise out of the thaumatometer. Assuring Roxan and Decota that the enchantment has been dispelled, she hands it over to Dacota, who leads Roxan away.

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, merchant,” Roxan calls back as she goes into the mists.

 

Sima ignores this attempt at friendliness as she unfolds the paper and scans the writing on it. Then, sighing with exasperation, she moves as if to toss it toss on the ground before thinking better of it and placing it in a pocket.

 

“I had to give up a perfectly good thaumatometer because I wanted to investigate whether Zoe had been somehow influenced into revealing information about us,” she says. “But wouldn’t you know? There was no magic affectring her in her room – so this was all for nothing – and I will have to get another thaumatometer. O, [PCFirstName], did anything go right today in this meeting? Not that I am blaming you – you were able to resolve this issue without violence or magic or my being robbed, which reveals that you have much skill in selling things by making potential customers realize why they need what you are selling even when they had no idea that it existed before you tried to sell it.”

 

“Maybe we could get out of here first?” you suggest.

 

“Ah, true enough.” She leads you out of the alleyway into the blissfully normal Academagia. Then, after creating glamours to protect you from eavesdroppers, she turns to face you.

 

“Having thought more about your solution and my…situation, I realize that I over-reacted and that you handled it very well. I know how to get another thaumatometer, come in time, and my financial situation is so precarious right now due to certain problems that a loss of nine hundred pims by me could have had serious consequences. But I am now within my budget still, and my needling concerns about Zoe have been well addressed. I am just relieved that the Southside Pitts were too ignorant about magic to realize that I could not create, let alone dispel, any anti-theft measure of the sort that I pretended to deal with – I know not if it is even possible. But you know what?”

 

“What?” you ask. With Sima you can never be sure what she will reveal.

 

“I am sorry for having gotten us both involved in such shady and potentially dangerous business. But let us walk and talk as friends – let no one think that we are dating yet – for a while.”

 

You agree, happy that Sima is happy despite the seeming set-backs that she has faced, and enjoy the next blissful few minutes walking while talking about various theatrical productions in Mineta. Despite Sima’s claims to the contrart, however, her laughter lingers in such a way and she touches your shoulder at such times that you believe that to her, at least, this is more than walking and talking as friends. One issue, however, that you are not bold enough to ask Sima about, despite her friendly intimacy, is how it is that she had and apparently can continue to have easy access to a thaumatometer. But if you were wanting a fully open friend, you would not, you realize, be a friend to Sima Venesico. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Fitness, + 1 skill level Dispassion, + 1 skill level Theater, + 1 Skill level Confidence, + 1 Skill level Flirting, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Confidence to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Flirting to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has no affection or love with Sima Venesico and PC has Station: Merchant]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder – to say nothing of my friend’s specific instructions about how it should be used – got me thinking about what it could be. I mean, I know that Hedi students are notorious for speaking quietly of riddles – itself a riddle of some sort from a certain perspective – but I trust my friend enough to believe that this reddish-brown cylinder is more than some type of obfuscation. It must have real value – value that she might be willing to give you in exchange for a reduced fee for your services.”

 

 

 

Sima’s eyes widen, but then she nods enthusiastically. “Yes, that would work. All I need to do is look at the reddish-brown cylinder for a few seconds, then you are welcome to have it – if you really want it. Better that then having to pay one thousand one hundred pims – more than the value of one year’s education at the Contu School.”

 

 

 

“It could be worth as much as all the goods in Alfi – to a mage,” Dacota snaps. “Maybe it is worthless to those without magical knowledge, like us.”

 

 

 

“But Dom’na, even such an item could be sold to a mage. Is not your brother the Dom’nus trying to get in contact with some wizards from…Tai?” Roxan sounds excited at the prospect of selling a magical artifact.

 

 

 

“He is as likely to get into the Theian wizards’ circles as I am to be legitimately at a Golden Families’ dance – but point taken. Some mages would pay well for magical artifacts that only mages can use. Very well, bodyguard – tell us about this reddish-brown cylinder.” Dacota looks at you with curiosity and expectation.

 

 

 

Relieved that Sima’s comments confirm your beliefs about why she would need the reddish-brown cylinder, you briefly tell Dacota and Roxan about your conclusion that the reddish-brown cylinder is a device to detect magic called a thaumatometer, modified so that it keeps a record of what it detected and where it was used. You are careful to conceal your views about Sima’s personality and why she wants to know about any magic that might be affecting Zoe Melis – as much for preserving good relations with Sima as for preserving her privacy from the Southside Pitts – but you can tell that your words are having an effect on them. When you finish, Dacota whistles in appreciation.

 

 

 

“Yes, I can see how this thauma-thing would be very useful. There are so many magical things in Mineta, known and unknown. Even if we cannot figure out how to use it, we can sell it to some other mage, come in time. But why should I pay you kids eight hundred pims for it?”

 

 

 

Sima steps forward then, and says with calm determination, “Because that thaumatometer is special beyond its ability to keep a detailed record. I placed an astrological enchantment on it so that if it is used by the wrong person, it causes various embarassing – and easily perceivable – glamours. Right now, the enchantment is not activated – but it would be very inconvenient, I think, if some member of the Southside Pitts were to be using the thaumatometer in some…inconspicuous way only to trigger the enchantment. So perhaps you should regard the eight hundred pims that I would charge for the thaumatometer as not merely covering the sale of the thaumatometer to you, but also the elimination of my anti-theft protections.”

 

 

 

Dacota hesitates, and you assume that she is caught between greed over the thaumatometer and reluctance to forgo hundreds of pims in some other form that would be easier to sell or use for purchases. So you decide that you should intervene with another remark to push her into making the best decision.

 

 

 

“Dacota, my friend could use her magics to make life unpleasant for anyone whom she wants, if she sets her mind to it, but chooses to negotiate in the hopes that a more useful relationship may be formed between her and the Southside Pitts. But other magic users – students as well as mages – are not so reasonable, and may choose to use magics against you or your followers, sometimes entirely unprovoked, thinking, rightly or wrongly, that no one would listen to complaints from street urchins. To protect yourself from such magics, and to avoid being targeted by any of my friend’s hostile magics – which I assure you are not fun – it is best for you to purchase the thaumatometer from her.”

 

 

 

Dacota sighs and nods. “Working in a city with many mages, it is best to have protection against magic, but better than nothing to have a way to detect magic. And your…magic detector is easier for me to get than it would be for me to pay pims to some seller with such an item elsewhere. Pims have wieght and create long memories. Very well. I will accept three hundred pims for my services as well as ownership of the…magic tube. Roxcan, give the client the tube once she gives you the money. Then you can look at the records and dispel the enchantment before giving it back to us.”

 

 

 

As Sima slips Roxan a pouch full of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, she asks the girl what the nickname dombi means.

 

 

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

 

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

 

 

Sima then shows Roxan how to locate a catch on the reddish-brown cylinder, which, when pressed, opens a compartment in the reddish-brown cylinder in which is rolled up a piece of paper. Sima then closes the compartment and shows Roxan how to find the lens that allows a person to read what is on the paper, as well as how to adjust what the lens shows the viewer. Then she re-opens the reddish-brown cylinder and removes the paper, folding it in her hand, before telling Roxan how to replace paper inside the reddish-brown cylinder. Then, beaming, she writes a few phemes in the air with her wand, causing a series of lights to rise out of the thaumatometer. Assuring Roxan and Decota that the enchantment has been dispelled, she hands it over to Dacota, who leads Roxan away.

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, merchant,” Roxan calls back as she goes into the mists.

 

 

 

You are relieved that Roxan recognizes your mercantile talents, although you are sure that this is not the sort of praise that you should tell your parents about, no matter how pleased they might otherwise be to learn about your apparent success in following the trade through which they were able to afford raising you. Sima, for her part, ignores Roxan’s attempt at friendliness as she unfolds the paper and scans the writing on it. Then, sighing with exasperation, she moves as if to toss it toss on the ground before thinking better of it and placing it in a pocket.

 

 

 

“I had to give up a perfectly good thaumatometer because I wanted to investigate whether Zoe had been somehow influenced into revealing information about us,” she says. “But wouldn’t you know? There was no magic affectring her in her room – so this was all for nothing – and I will have to get another thaumatometer. O, [PCFirstName], did anything go right today in this meeting? Not that I am blaming you – you were able to resolve this issue without violence or magic or my being robbed, which reveals that you have much skill in selling things by making potential customers realize why they need what you are selling even when they had no idea that it existed before you tried to sell it.”

 

 

 

“Maybe we could get out of here first?” you suggest.

 

 

 

“Ah, true enough.” She leads you out of the alleyway into the blissfully normal Academagia. Then, after creating glamours to protect you from eavesdroppers, she turns to face you.

 

 

 

“Having thought more about your solution and my…situation, I realize that I over-reacted and that you handled it very well. I know how to get another thaumatometer, come in time, and my financial situation is so precarious right now due to certain problems that a loss of nine hundred pims by me could have had serious consequences. But I am now within my budget still, and my needling concerns about Zoe have been well addressed. I am just relieved that the Southside Pitts were too ignorant about magic to realize that I could not create, let alone dispel, any anti-theft measure of the sort that I pretended to deal with – I know not if it is even possible. But you know what?”

 

 

 

“What?” you ask. With Sima you can never be sure what she will reveal.

 

 

 

“I am sorry for having gotten us both involved in such shady and potentially dangerous business. But let us walk and talk as friends for a while.”

 

 

 

You agree, happy that Sima is happy despite the seeming set-backs that she has faced, and enjoy the next blissful few minutes walking while talking about various theatrical productions in Mineta. One issue, however, that you are not bold enough to ask Sima about is how it is that she had and apparently can continue to have easy access to a thaumatometer. But if you were wanting a fully open friend, you would not, you realize, be a friend to Sima Venesico. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Fitness, + 1 skill level Dispassion, + 1 skill level Theater, + 1 Skill level Confidence, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Confidence to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

 

[If PC has affection or love with Sima Venesico and PC has Station: Merchant]

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder – to say nothing of my friend’s specific instructions about how it should be used – got me thinking about what it could be. I mean, I know that Hedi students are notorious for speaking quietly of riddles – itself a riddle of some sort from a certain perspective – but I trust my friend enough to believe that this reddish-brown cylinder is more than some type of obfuscation. It must have real value – value that she might be willing to give you in exchange for a reduced fee for your services.”

 

Sima’s eyes widen, but then she nods enthusiastically. “Yes, that would work. All I need to do is look at the reddish-brown cylinder for a few seconds, then you are welcome to have it – if you really want it. Better that then having to pay one thousand one hundred pims – more than the value of one year’s education at the Contu School.”

 

“It could be worth as much as all the goods in Alfi – to a mage,” Dacota snaps. “Maybe it is worthless to those without magical knowledge, like us.”

 

“But Dom’na, even such an item could be sold to a mage. Is not your brother the Dom’nus trying to get in contact with some wizards from…Tai?” Roxan sounds excited at the prospect of selling a magical artifact.

 

“He is as likely to get into the Theian wizards’ circles as I am to be legitimately at a Golden Families’ dance – but point taken. Some mages would pay well for magical artifacts that only mages can use. Very well, bodyguard – tell us about this reddish-brown cylinder.” Dacota looks at you with curiosity and expectation.

 

Relieved that Sima’s comments confirm your beliefs about why she would need the reddish-brown cylinder, you briefly tell Dacota and Roxan about your conclusion that the reddish-brown cylinder is a device to detect magic called a thaumatometer, modified so that it keeps a record of what it detected and where it was used. You are careful to conceal your views about Sima’s personality and why she wants to know about any magic that might be affecting Zoe Melis – as much for preserving good relations with Sima as for preserving her privacy from the Southside Pitts – but you can tell that your words are having an effect on them. When you finish, Dacota whistles in appreciation.

 

“Yes, I can see how this thauma-thing would be very useful. There are so many magical things in Mineta, known and unknown. Even if we cannot figure out how to use it, we can sell it to some other mage, come in time. But why should I pay you kids eight hundred pims for it?”

 

Sima steps forward then, and says with calm determination, “Because that thaumatometer is special beyond its ability to keep a detailed record. I placed an astrological enchantment on it so that if it is used by the wrong person, it causes various embarassing – and easily perceivable – glamours. Right now, the enchantment is not activated – but it would be very inconvenient, I think, if some member of the Southside Pitts were to be using the thaumatometer in some…inconspicuous way only to trigger the enchantment. So perhaps you should regard the eight hundred pims that I would charge for the thaumatometer as not merely covering the sale of the thaumatometer to you, but also the elimination of my anti-theft protections.”

 

Dacota hesitates, and you assume that she is caught between greed over the thaumatometer and reluctance to forgo hundreds of pims in some other form that would be easier to sell or use for purchases. So you decide that you should intervene with another remark to push her into making the best decision.

 

“Dacota, my friend could use her magics to make life unpleasant for anyone whom she wants, if she sets her mind to it, but chooses to negotiate in the hopes that a more useful relationship may be formed between her and the Southside Pitts. But other magic users – students as well as mages – are not so reasonable, and may choose to use magics against you or your followers, sometimes entirely unprovoked, thinking, rightly or wrongly, that no one would listen to complaints from street urchins. To protect yourself from such magics, and to avoid being targeted by any of my friend’s hostile magics – which I assure you are not fun – it is best for you to purchase the thaumatometer from her.”

 

Dacota sighs and nods. “Working in a city with many mages, it is best to have protection against magic, but better than nothing to have a way to detect magic. And your…magic detector is easier for me to get than it would be for me to pay pims to some seller with such an item elsewhere. Pims have wieght and create long memories. Very well. I will accept three hundred pims for my services as well as ownership of the…magic tube. Roxcan, give the client the tube once she gives you the money. Then you can look at the records and dispel the enchantment before giving it back to us.”

 

As Sima slips Roxan a pouch full of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, she asks the girl what the nickname dombi means.

 

“A professional entertainer from my home islands in my birth language,” Roxan replies.

 

Sima nods and grins. “Roxan, I would love to be an actress when I graduate. Your words are such encouragement to me.”

 

Sima then shows Roxan how to locate a catch on the reddish-brown cylinder, which, when pressed, opens a compartment in the reddish-brown cylinder in which is rolled up a piece of paper. Sima then closes the compartment and shows Roxan how to find the lens that allows a person to read what is on the paper, as well as how to adjust what the lens shows the viewer. Then she re-opens the reddish-brown cylinder and removes the paper, folding it in her hand, before telling Roxan how to replace paper inside the reddish-brown cylinder. Then, beaming, she writes a few phemes in the air with her wand, causing a series of lights to rise out of the thaumatometer. Assuring Roxan and Decota that the enchantment has been dispelled, she hands it over to Dacota, who leads Roxan away.

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, merchant,” Roxan calls back as she goes into the mists.

 

You are relieved that Roxan recognizes your mercantile talents, although you are sure that this is not the sort of praise that you should tell your parents about, no matter how pleased they might otherwise be to learn about your apparent success in following the trade through which they were able to afford raising you. Sima, for her part, ignores Roxan’s attempt at friendliness as she unfolds the paper and scans the writing on it. Then, sighing with exasperation, she moves as if to toss it toss on the ground before thinking better of it and placing it in a pocket.

 

“I had to give up a perfectly good thaumatometer because I wanted to investigate whether Zoe had been somehow influenced into revealing information about us,” she says. “But wouldn’t you know? There was no magic affectring her in her room – so this was all for nothing – and I will have to get another thaumatometer. O, [PCFirstName], did anything go right today in this meeting? Not that I am blaming you – you were able to resolve this issue without violence or magic or my being robbed, which reveals that you have much skill in selling things by making potential customers realize why they need what you are selling even when they had no idea that it existed before you tried to sell it.”

 

“Maybe we could get out of here first?” you suggest.

 

“Ah, true enough.” She leads you out of the alleyway into the blissfully normal Academagia. Then, after creating glamours to protect you from eavesdroppers, she turns to face you.

 

“Having thought more about your solution and my…situation, I realize that I over-reacted and that you handled it very well. I know how to get another thaumatometer, come in time, and my financial situation is so precarious right now due to certain problems that a loss of nine hundred pims by me could have had serious consequences. But I am now within my budget still, and my needling concerns about Zoe have been well addressed. I am just relieved that the Southside Pitts were too ignorant about magic to realize that I could not create, let alone dispel, any anti-theft measure of the sort that I pretended to deal with – I know not if it is even possible. But you know what?”

 

“What?” you ask. With Sima you can never be sure what she will reveal.

 

“I am sorry for having gotten us both involved in such shady and potentially dangerous business. But let us walk and talk as friends – let no one think that we are dating yet – for a while.”

 

You agree, happy that Sima is happy despite the seeming set-backs that she has faced, and enjoy the next blissful few minutes walking while talking about various theatrical productions in Mineta. Despite Sima’s claims to the contrart, however, her laughter lingers in such a way and she touches your shoulder at such times that you believe that to her, at least, this is more than walking and talking as friends. One issue, however, that you are not bold enough to ask Sima about, despite her friendly intimacy, is how it is that she had and apparently can continue to have easy access to a thaumatometer. But if you were wanting a fully open friend, you would not, you realize, be a friend to Sima Venesico. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, +1 Fitness, + 1 skill level Dispassion, + 1 skill level Theater, + 1 Skill level Confidence, + 1 Skill level Flirting, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Confidence to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Flirting to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

“All of this fuss over a reddish-brown cylinder – to say nothing of my friend’s instructions about how it should be used – got me thinking about what it could be. It must have real value – value that she might be willing to give you in exchange for a reduced fee for your services.”

 

Sima nods. “Yes, that would work. All I need to do is look at the reddish-brown cylinder for a few seconds, then you are welcome to have it – if you really want it. Better that then having to pay one thousand one hundred pims – more than the value of one year’s education at the Contu School.”

 

“It could be worth as much as all the goods in Alfi – to a mage,” Dacota says. “Maybe it is worthless to those without magical knowledge, like us.”

 

“But Dom’na, even such an item could be sold to a mage. Is not your brother the Dom’nus trying to get in contact with some wizards from…Tai?” Roxan says..

 

“He is as likely to get into the Theian wizards’ circles as I am to be legitimately at a Golden Families’ dance – but point taken. Some mages would pay well for magical artifacts that only mages can use. Very well, bodyguard – tell us about this reddish-brown cylinder.” Dacota looks at you with curiosity and expectation.

 

Relieved that Sima’s comments confirm your beliefs about why she would need the reddish-brown cylinder, you tell Dacota and Roxan about your conclusion that the reddish-brown cylinder is a device to detect magic called a thaumatometer, modified so that it keeps a record of what it detected and where it was used. You conceal your views about Sima’s personality and why she wants to know about any magic that might be affecting Zoe Melis – as much for preserving good relations with Sima as for preserving her privacy from the Southside Pitts. When you finish, Dacota whistles in appreciation.

 

“Yes, I can see how this thauma-thing would be very useful. There are so many magical things in Mineta, known and unknown. Even if we cannot figure out how to use it, we can sell it to some other mage, come in time. But why should I pay you kids eight hundred pims for it?”

 

Sima steps forward then, and says with calm determination, “Because that thaumatometer is special beyond its ability to keep a detailed record. I placed an astrological enchantment on it so that if it is used by the wrong person, it causes various embarassing – and easily perceivable – glamours. Right now, the enchantment is not activated – but it would be very inconvenient, I think, if some member of the Southside Pitts were to be using the thaumatometer in some…inconspicuous way only to trigger the enchantment. So perhaps you should regard the eight hundred pims that I would charge for the thaumatometer as not merely covering the sale of the thaumatometer to you, but also the elimination of my anti-theft protections.”

 

Dacota hesitates. So you decide that you should intervene with another remark.

 

“Dacota, my friend could use her magics to make life unpleasant for anyone whom she wants, if she sets her mind to it, but chooses to negotiate in the hopes that a more useful relationship may be formed between her and the Southside Pitts.”

 

Dacota jerks. “If your friend is truly so dangerous, then I may be a fool to trust her when she says that she will remove the anti-theft magic on the…magic tube. Of course, I may be a fool to accept anyone’s claims about removing harmful magic, but not all such people are, like your friend, presented as sop dangerous. In any case, I prefer a more definite form of payment than an artifact that its owner admits is, as far as I care, cursed. Who is to say that she could get rid of the enchantment easily enough? However, since you gave a useful discussion of…magic-detecting devices, I will lower the fee to one thousand and ten pims. But if you resist me in any way, I will raise the price to the original sum.”

 

You suppose that this is the best you can get out of efforts to sell the thaumatometer. Still, you are interested to note that your presentation of Sima Venesico as a seriously dangerous mage has rattled Dacota. [+ 1 Skill Level Bluff, temporary + 10% chance of success, hide option “[If PC has 800 pims] Pay Dacota what she wants.”, reveal option “[If PC has 710 pims] Pay Dacota the lowered fee that she has agreed to.”, choose other option]

[If PC has memory Sima’s Ring to Zoe] Innuendo. Try to figure out whether Zoe used Sima’s ring – and imply that it was powerful. Subtly, you hope.

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC has no love or affection with Sima Venesico and did not complete the adventure Just Going About Your Business]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring to bed. Knowing her eagerness to be seen as popular and her low self-confidence, such a thing seems possible. Maybe by making implications about Zoe, the ring, and Sima, you can persuade Dacota to lower her fees. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any new jewelry? My friend is always…investigating powerful jewelry, and some of it can be quite dangerous.”

 

“Is this why she wanted to investigate Zoe?” Dacota’s words, sounding faintly alarmed, intrude with such volume that Roxan’s soft answer cannot be heard by you.

 

“Well, you know how strange certain magical items can be, right? No ordinary mage student – or even mage – would investigate magical items with no knowledge.” You hope that Sima does not mind how you are presenting her.

 

Sima, however, enthusiastically joins in…well, whatever type of deception you are doing. “Yes! Roxan, Dacota, did you know that there is a special office, called the Artifacts Office, dedicated to nothing but identifying the magical properties of items? So my interest in magical items is not common.”

 

“So you were trying to see whether this Zoe Melis, a student in a school for magic, has magical jewelry?” Roxan sounds sceptical – with good reason, you suppose - so you decide to try to play up the uniqueness of the item and Zoe’s relationship to it. Maybe you can make Sima seem so powerful or powerfully connected that Dacota should not seek more money than was earlier agreed upon.

 

“Precisely, Roxan,” you say. “But there is more to Sima’s search then this. Zoe Melis is a Cassettan from Cimone, you know, and…well, certain people associated with powerful interests paid her with a certain magical ring for information about certain people. If we could have evidence from more than the reddish-brown cylinder about what was in her room, certain other people would be extremely grateful.”

 

Roxan just looks at you with puzzlement, but Dacota swears and reaches forwards to touch Roxan not unkindly.

 

“I knew that this was a sordid business, but nothing as bad as what you are making it out to be,” she says. “But I suppose that Cassettans are not worthy of trust, especially when they come from Cimone and probably know about that ctiy’s starving time as well as I know about the…place of much trading.” And here she gives a shudder so violent that you are briefly wondering whether Sima is hypnotizing her. “You shouldn’t trust any people with proud tradirtion of greatness but no obvious wealth, I always said. They will go into various illegal ways to get their money – the worst kind, involving fancy scheming. But look,” and here she turns to face Sima, “I don’t want to get accused by anyone of taking sides in this matter – and by taking the big fee that I was wanting to take, some person may think that of me. But the Southside Pitts need money more than any Cassettan student of Academagia, even though her name is Zoe Melis.” Then Dacota uses a word so foul that yuou and Sima both gasp.

 

“I wish that I did not have to be on anyone’s side in any of this business,” Sima replies. “Still, I accet your reversion to the orginal agreement – as will…certain other people. Very well. Three hundred pims for you, the reddish-brown cylinder for me.”

 

She removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloaks and gives it to Dacota, after which Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Dombi, and farewell, Implier,” Roxan says, but then Dacota pulls her away and the two of them vanish into the mists.

 

“We should go quickly,” Sima says, before you have much chance to try to figure out how you feel about your new nickname. And she takes your hand and runs with you out of the alley into the blissful normality of the Academagia. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really associated with some sort of secret organization?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan, but together we discovered that Dacota Pitts has such strong anti-Cassettan prejudice that we were able to let her develop the crazy belief, through your brilliant series of truths, half-truths, and occasional lies, that Zoe Melis is involved is something very illegal – probably abduction, if my knowledge of stereotypes is correct. Stereotypes are poisonous weeds that can lead people astray, but they have their uses – because of anti-Cassetan stereotypes, I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your clever words, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. I am just glad that you are able to avoid assuming that I am like Miya just because we both have eyes that other have described as looking like almonds.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 Skill Level Deception, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Innuendo to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has love or affection with Sima Venesico and did not complete the adventure Just Going About Your Business]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring to bed. Knowing her eagerness to be seen as popular and her low self-confidence, such a thing seems possible. Maybe by making implications about Zoe, the ring, and Sima, you can persuade Dacota to lower her fees. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any new jewelry? My friend is always…investigating powerful jewelry, and some of it can be quite dangerous.”

 

“Is this why she wanted to investigate Zoe?” Dacota’s words, sounding faintly alarmed, intrude with such volume that Roxan’s soft answer cannot be heard by you.

 

“Well, you know how strange certain magical items can be, right? No ordinary mage student – or even mage – would investigate magical items with no knowledge.” You hope that Sima does not mind how you are presenting her.

 

Sima, however, enthusiastically joins in…well, whatever type of deception you are doing. “Yes! Roxan, Dacota, did you know that there is a special office, called the Artifacts Office, dedicated to nothing but identifying the magical properties of items? So my interest in magical items is not common.”

 

“So you were trying to see whether this Zoe Melis, a student in a school for magic, has magical jewelry?” Roxan sounds sceptical – with good reason, you suppose - so you decide to try to play up the uniqueness of the item and Zoe’s relationship to it. Maybe you can make Sima seem so powerful or powerfully connected that Dacota should not seek more money than was earlier agreed upon.

 

“Precisely, Roxan,” you say. “But there is more to Sima’s search then this. Zoe Melis is a Cassettan from Cimone, you know, and…well, certain people associated with powerful interests paid her with a certain magical ring for information about certain people. If we could have evidence from more than the reddish-brown cylinder about what was in her room, certain other people would be extremely grateful.”

 

Roxan just looks at you with puzzlement, but Dacota swears and reaches forwards to touch Roxan not unkindly.

 

“I knew that this was a sordid business, but nothing as bad as what you are making it out to be,” she says. “But I suppose that Cassettans are not worthy of trust, especially when they come from Cimone and probably know about that ctiy’s starving time as well as I know about the…place of much trading.” And here she gives a shudder so violent that you are briefly wondering whether Sima is hypnotizing her. “You shouldn’t trust any people with proud tradirtion of greatness but no obvious wealth, I always said. They will go into various illegal ways to get their money – the worst kind, involving fancy scheming. But look,” and here she turns to face Sima, “I don’t want to get accused by anyone of taking sides in this matter – and by taking the big fee that I was wanting to take, some person may think that of me. But the Southside Pitts need money more than any Cassettan student of Academagia, even though her name is Zoe Melis.” Then Dacota uses a word so foul that yuou and Sima both gasp.

 

“I wish that I did not have to be on anyone’s side in any of this business,” Sima replies. “Still, I accet your reversion to the orginal agreement – as will…certain other people. Very well. Three hundred pims for you, the reddish-brown cylinder for me.”

 

She removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloaks and gives it to Dacota, after which Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Dombi, and farewell, Implier,” Roxan says, but then Dacota pulls her away and the two of them vanish into the mists.

 

“We should go quickly,” Sima says, before you have much chance to try to figure out how you feel about your new nickname. And she takes your hand and runs with you out of the alley into the blissful normality of the Academagia. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really associated with some sort of secret organization?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan, but together we discovered that Dacota Pitts has such strong anti-Cassettan prejudice that we were able to let her develop the crazy belief, through your brilliant series of truths, half-truths, and occasional lies, that Zoe Melis is involved is something very illegal – probably abduction, if my knowledge of stereotypes is correct. Stereotypes are poisonous weeds that can lead people astray, but they have their uses – because of anti-Cassetan stereotypes, I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your clever words, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. I am just glad that you are able to avoid assuming that I am like Miya just because we both have eyes that other have described as looking like almonds.” And fear not,” she says, looking at your face’s dawning horror. “What ever else I may be, I am no dragon’s daughter!”

 

“Sima, looking into your eyes I think not about almonds but about honey.”

 

“Ah, [PCFirstName], that is only because I am honey to you – sweet and more supportive than air! Thank you for your help, and for respecting my boundaries.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. At least you have assurances from her that she is no dragon’s daughter in human form – and given that you trust her so much you must believe her. But you wonder whether you would be willing to date a robber chief’s daughter, come in time – she may be that, given how little you know about her. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 skill level Dating, + 1 skill level Flirting, + 1 Skill Level Deception, + 1 Stress, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Innuendo to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Character Study to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Flirting to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has no love or affection with Sima Venesico and completed the adventure Just Going About Your Business]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring to bed. Knowing her eagerness to be seen as popular and her low self-confidence, such a thing seems possible. Maybe by making implications about Zoe, the ring, and Sima, you can persuade Dacota to lower her fees. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any new jewelry? My friend is always…investigating powerful jewelry, and some of it can be quite dangerous.”

 

“Is this why she wanted to investigate Zoe?” Dacota’s words, sounding faintly alarmed, intrude with such volume that Roxan’s soft answer cannot be heard by you.

 

“Well, you know how strange certain magical items can be, right? No ordinary mage student – or even mage – would investigate magical items with no knowledge.” You hope that Sima does not mind how you are presenting her.

 

Sima, however, enthusiastically joins in…well, whatever type of deception you are doing. “Yes! Roxan, Dacota, did you know that there is a special office, called the Artifacts Office, dedicated to nothing but identifying the magical properties of items? So my interest in magical items is not common.”

 

“So you were trying to see whether this Zoe Melis, a student in a school for magic, has magical jewelry?” Roxan sounds sceptical – with good reason, you suppose - so you decide to try to play up the uniqueness of the item and Zoe’s relationship to it. Maybe you can make Sima seem so powerful or powerfully connected that Dacota should not seek more money than was earlier agreed upon.

 

“Precisely, Roxan,” you say. “But there is more to Sima’s search then this. Zoe Melis is a Cassettan from Cimone, you know, and…well, certain people associated with powerful interests paid her with a certain magical ring for information about certain people. If we could have evidence from more than the reddish-brown cylinder about what was in her room, certain other people would be extremely grateful.”

 

Roxan just looks at you with puzzlement, but Dacota swears and reaches forwards to touch Roxan not unkindly.

 

“I knew that this was a sordid business, but nothing as bad as what you are making it out to be,” she says. “But I suppose that Cassettans are not worthy of trust, especially when they come from Cimone and probably know about that ctiy’s starving time as well as I know about the…place of much trading.” And here she gives a shudder so violent that you are briefly wondering whether Sima is hypnotizing her. “You shouldn’t trust any people with proud tradirtion of greatness but no obvious wealth, I always said. They will go into various illegal ways to get their money – the worst kind, involving fancy scheming. But look,” and here she turns to face Sima, “I don’t want to get accused by anyone of taking sides in this matter – and by taking the big fee that I was wanting to take, some person may think that of me. But the Southside Pitts need money more than any Cassettan student of Academagia, even though her name is Zoe Melis.” Then Dacota uses a word so foul that yuou and Sima both gasp.

 

“I wish that I did not have to be on anyone’s side in any of this business,” Sima replies. “Still, I accet your reversion to the orginal agreement – as will…certain other people. Very well. Three hundred pims for you, the reddish-brown cylinder for me.”

 

She removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloaks and gives it to Dacota, after which Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Dombi, and farewell, Implier,” Roxan says, but then Dacota pulls her away and the two of them vanish into the mists.

 

“We should go quickly,” Sima says, before you have much chance to try to figure out how you feel about your new nickname. And she takes your hand and runs with you out of the alley into the blissful normality of the Academagia. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really associated with some sort of secret organization?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan, but together we discovered that Dacota Pitts has such strong anti-Cassettan prejudice that we were able to let her develop the crazy belief, through your brilliant series of truths, half-truths, and occasional lies, that Zoe Melis is involved is something very illegal – probably abduction, if my knowledge of stereotypes is correct. Stereotypes are poisonous weeds that can lead people astray, but they have their uses – because of anti-Cassetan stereotypes, I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your clever words, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. I am just glad that you are able to avoid assuming that I am like Miya just because we both have eyes that other have described as looking like almonds.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. One sure thing you now hope after having witnessed Dacota’s prejudice – if you are again abducted onto some ship, you will not refer to it has being Cassettaed, even if all involved are Cassettan and traveling to Cassetta. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 Skill Level Deception, + 1 Skill Level Etiquette, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Innuendo to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has love or affection with Sima Venesico and completed the adventure Just Going About Your Business]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring to bed. Knowing her eagerness to be seen as popular and her low self-confidence, such a thing seems possible. Maybe by making implications about Zoe, the ring, and Sima, you can persuade Dacota to lower her fees. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any new jewelry? My friend is always…investigating powerful jewelry, and some of it can be quite dangerous.”

 

“Is this why she wanted to investigate Zoe?” Dacota’s words, sounding faintly alarmed, intrude with such volume that Roxan’s soft answer cannot be heard by you.

 

“Well, you know how strange certain magical items can be, right? No ordinary mage student – or even mage – would investigate magical items with no knowledge.” You hope that Sima does not mind how you are presenting her.

 

Sima, however, enthusiastically joins in…well, whatever type of deception you are doing. “Yes! Roxan, Dacota, did you know that there is a special office, called the Artifacts Office, dedicated to nothing but identifying the magical properties of items? So my interest in magical items is not common.”

 

“So you were trying to see whether this Zoe Melis, a student in a school for magic, has magical jewelry?” Roxan sounds sceptical – with good reason, you suppose - so you decide to try to play up the uniqueness of the item and Zoe’s relationship to it. Maybe you can make Sima seem so powerful or powerfully connected that Dacota should not seek more money than was earlier agreed upon.

 

“Precisely, Roxan,” you say. “But there is more to Sima’s search then this. Zoe Melis is a Cassettan from Cimone, you know, and…well, certain people associated with powerful interests paid her with a certain magical ring for information about certain people. If we could have evidence from more than the reddish-brown cylinder about what was in her room, certain other people would be extremely grateful.”

 

Roxan just looks at you with puzzlement, but Dacota swears and reaches forwards to touch Roxan not unkindly.

 

“I knew that this was a sordid business, but nothing as bad as what you are making it out to be,” she says. “But I suppose that Cassettans are not worthy of trust, especially when they come from Cimone and probably know about that ctiy’s starving time as well as I know about the…place of much trading.” And here she gives a shudder so violent that you are briefly wondering whether Sima is hypnotizing her. “You shouldn’t trust any people with proud tradirtion of greatness but no obvious wealth, I always said. They will go into various illegal ways to get their money – the worst kind, involving fancy scheming. But look,” and here she turns to face Sima, “I don’t want to get accused by anyone of taking sides in this matter – and by taking the big fee that I was wanting to take, some person may think that of me. But the Southside Pitts need money more than any Cassettan student of Academagia, even though her name is Zoe Melis.” Then Dacota uses a word so foul that yuou and Sima both gasp.

 

“I wish that I did not have to be on anyone’s side in any of this business,” Sima replies. “Still, I accet your reversion to the orginal agreement – as will…certain other people. Very well. Three hundred pims for you, the reddish-brown cylinder for me.”

 

She removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloaks and gives it to Dacota, after which Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“Farewell, Dombi, and farewell, Implier,” Roxan says, but then Dacota pulls her away and the two of them vanish into the mists.

 

“We should go quickly,” Sima says, before you have much chance to try to figure out how you feel about your new nickname. And she takes your hand and runs with you out of the alley into the blissful normality of the Academagia. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask some risky questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And are you really associated with some sort of secret organization?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I adore, whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion and affection flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships and perhaps love are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan, but together we discovered that Dacota Pitts has such strong anti-Cassettan prejudice that we were able to let her develop the crazy belief, through your brilliant series of truths, half-truths, and occasional lies, that Zoe Melis is involved is something very illegal – probably abduction, if my knowledge of stereotypes is correct. Stereotypes are poisonous weeds that can lead people astray, but they have their uses – because of anti-Cassetan stereotypes, I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your clever words, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

“Alas,” Sima sighs, “I fear that it would not be wise for me alone to tell you about the other two; at minimum, they must be consulted first. Yet this is one of the wonderful things about our relationship, I think – you are willing to be my friend despite my mysterious aspects and friends. Others, knowing what you know, would think differently, I do not doubt, and would not want to be friends with me, thinking me a robber chief’s daughter, a pirate captain’s daughter, or even – as Miya once told me about – a dragon’s daughter taking human form. I am just glad that you are able to avoid assuming that I am like Miya just because we both have eyes that other have described as looking like almonds.” And fear not,” she says, looking at your face’s dawning horror. “What ever else I may be, I am no dragon’s daughter!”

 

“Sima, looking into your eyes I think not about almonds but about honey.”

 

“Ah, [PCFirstName], that is only because I am honey to you – sweet and more supportive than air! Thank you for your help, and for respecting my boundaries.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. Still, you are glad that you saved her from some financial risk – although you are disappointed that you could not know more about Sima’s connections to mysterious and powerful organizations. At least you have assurances from her that she is no dragon’s daughter in human form – and given that you trust her so much you must believe her. But you wonder whether you would be willing to date a robber chief’s daughter, come in time – she may be that, given how little you know about her. One sure thing you now hope after having witnessed Dacota’s prejudice – if you are again abducted onto some ship, you will not refer to it has being Cassettaed, even if all involved are Cassettan and traveling to Cassetta. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Bluff, + 1 skill level Dating, + 1 skill level Flirting, + 1 Skill Level Deception, + 1 Skill Level Etiquette, + 1 Stress, + 1 Charm, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 3 skill levels Innuendo to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Character Study to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Flirting to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC is male]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring in bed. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I must ask: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she was wearing a striking jeweled ring?”

 

“We care nothing about your efforts to uncover secrets about a student in order to help you with your love life – although maybe you will need all the help you can get in order to succeed in love, come in time – unless you want to pay us for it,” Dacota snaps.

 

Roxan nods her head smugly. “Yes, Dom’na,” she says. “I will not answer any questions asked by the bodyguard until we are paid.”

 

“Ah, forget it,” you reply. “I could not care less what Zoe did with any potions.”

 

Well, it was a long shot plan anyway. But why must Dacota assume that you were asking for romantic reasons? You suppose that she replied in an insulting way to a situation that you had set up, as a male student asking about a female student’s bedroom and what she did in it. [+2 stress, + 1 skill level Innuendo, choose other option]

[If PC is female]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe wore Sima’s ring in bed. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I must ask: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she was wearing a striking jeweled ring?”

 

“We care nothing about your efforts to uncover dirt about a student – although maybe you will need all the help you can get in order to succeed in love, come in time – unless you want to pay us for it,” Dacota snaps.

 

Roxan nods her head smugly. “Yes, Dom’na,” she says. “I will not answer any questions asked by the bodyguard until we are paid.”

 

“Ah, forget it,” you reply. “I could not care less what Zoe did with any potions.”

 

Well, it was a long shot plan anyway. [+1 stress, choose other option]

[If PC has memory Tabin’s Potion to Zoe] Innuendo. Try to figure out whether Zoe used Tabin’s potion – and imply that it was powerful. Subtly, you hope.

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC is not Student at Schohanwicht School]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe used Tabin’s potion. Knowing Tabin’s interest in mind-altering plants, it seems likely that if she used it, she would have had some strange reaction. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she had taken any potion? She is such a sickly girl, and I would –”

 

But Roxan, seized by terror, shrieks. “Death and decay – O yes! That terrible smell in her room…her sound sleep…Woe! I could be ill from the same airs that gave her her illness – and killed my parents three years ago! And then where would my books go?”

 

Roxan then collapses to the ground with a moan. Dacota, muttering bad words, bends down to help Roxan, Roxan, however, cannot sit, cannot crouch, but keeps falling down and begins to vomit up gall.

 

“Looks like you triggered a bad emotion in Roxan,” Sima murmurs to you, looking at the scene with cool detachment. “Still, you have given me an opportunity to shine.”

 

Sima writes a few phemes in the air and a soothing array of writhing colours and sound emerges from the tip of her wand, accompanied by a sweet, earthy scent. Roxan, perceiving these stimuli, calms down enough to wipe her lips. Then she sits up, licks some of the gall from her lips, and rubs her cleaner hand on the ground, before saying in a quavering voice, “N…nam –”. But then Dacota clasps her hand over Roxan’s lips and says, not unkindly, “Hush, girl. You escaped disease’s death, orphanages, and terror – do not risk it all through calling upon your Good Man – not here!”

 

Roxan nods, and Dacota, standing up behind Roxan, turns to Sima, saying, “No one ever said that doing work for mages would be easy. But that spell – I would gladly pay for a copy of its phemes. My brother would like it, and even if he cannot use it, he could sell it to a mage who could. So why not trade to us the phemes for that spell and we will count it as worth eight hundred pims?”

 

Sima’s face is impassive as she nods in agreement, murmurs to Roxan about Zoe’s sickness not being contagious, and removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloak. Having handed the pouch to Dacota, she removes from beneath the fold of her cloak a pencil and two note books. Sitting in front of Roxan, she gestures for you to sit down also. Once you have done this, she carefully opens each note book and draws phemes, making notes in Renaglian and explaining the concept of perspective drawings. Once she has drawn each pheme from all six perspectives, as well as made notes about the ways to sequence them, she closes each note book. One she gives to Roxan, the other she gives to you.

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, summoner,” Roxan mutters, before standing up and givng the reddish-brown cylinder to Sima. Then she goes to Dacota, and the two of them walk off into the mists. You are upset that anyone would call you a summoner – such could lead to rumours that you are a gates mage – but hope that the word of a foreign orphan criminal would mean little in Mineta, especially when spoken…well, wherever here is. Besides, you summoned her fears to her.

 

Sima for her part does not seem to care about what Roxan called you, as she leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour, just like the glamour that you used to calm down Roxan?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan – Tabin’s experiments are difficult for anyone to understand – but you succeeded in so frightening her when you got her thinking about her parents’ deaths that I was able to impress her enough with my magic that I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your triggering Roxan, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley. That is one of the many things that I love about magic – the constant surprises that one finds. For example, this spell was introduced to me by…someone as a way to calm people beset by stress, but it might have some hypnotic powers, given how easily Dacota reduced her demands. Ah well, it is a useful spell to have.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of glamour magic. [+ 1 Charm, + 1 skill level Glamour Methods, add item Sima’s Spell Codex, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

 

ITEM: Sima’s Spell Codex

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Description: When studied, this note book will teach the reader a spell named Soothing Sensations.

Value: 500 Pims.

Action: Study Sima’s Spell Codex

 

 

Spell: Soothing Sensations

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Description: This spell causes a cloud of moving and shifting colors, accompanied by soothing music and an earthy sweet smell, to appear. Focusing on these phenomena causes profound relaxation (stress reset to 0) and heightened senses (+ 10 to Perception) but the relaxation causes impairment of certain higher functions dealing with money (- 10 to all economy subskills).

Dual Cost: 1

Duration: 6

Phemes: Miribilis, Soothe, Comfort, Aromatic

Difficulty: v. Charm/Glamour 13

 

 

Action: Study Sima’s Spell Codex

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

By studying Sima’s notes, you are informed of the spell Soothing Sensations and gain a better understanding of phemes (1 skill step to glamour phemes, + 1 skill step to phemes).

 

 

 

 

[If PC is Student at Schohanwicht School]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe used Tabin’s potion. Knowing Tabin’s interest in mind-altering plants, it seems likely that if she used it, she would have had some strange reaction. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I ask, out of concern for your well-being: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she had taken any potion? She is such a sickly girl, and I would –”

 

But Roxan, seized by terror, shrieks. “Death and decay – O yes! That terrible smell in her room…her sound sleep…Woe! I could be ill from the same airs that gave her her illness – and killed my parents three years ago! And then where would my books go?”

 

Roxan then collapses to the ground with a moan. Dacota, muttering bad words, bends down to help Roxan, Roxan, however, cannot sit, cannot crouch, but keeps falling down and begins to vomit up gall.

 

“Looks like you triggered a bad emotion in Roxan,” Sima murmurs to you, looking at the scene with cool detachment. “Still, you have given me an opportunity to shine.”

 

Sima writes a few phemes in the air and a soothing array of writhing colours and sound emerges from the tip of her wand, accompanied by a sweet, earthy scent. Roxan, perceiving these stimuli, calms down enough to wipe her lips. Then she sits up, licks some of the gall from her lips, and rubs her cleaner hand on the ground, before saying in a quavering voice, “N…nam –”. But then Dacota clasps her hand over Roxan’s lips and says, not unkindly, “Hush, girl. You escaped disease’s death, orphanages, and terror – do not risk it all through calling upon your Good Man – not here!”

 

Roxan nods, and Dacota, standing up behind Roxan, turns to Sima, saying, “No one ever said that doing work for mages would be easy. But that spell – I would gladly pay for a copy of its phemes. My brother would like it, and even if he cannot use it, he could sell it to a mage who could. So why not trade to us the phemes for that spell and we will count it as worth eight hundred pims?”

 

Sima’s face is impassive as she nods in agreement, murmurs to Roxan about Zoe’s sickness not being contagious, and removes a pouch from beneath the fold of her cloak. Having handed the pouch to Dacota, she removes from beneath the fold of her cloak a pencil and two note books. Sitting in front of Roxan, she gestures for you to sit down also. Once you have done this, she carefully opens each note book and draws phemes, making notes in Renaglian and explaining the concept of perspective drawings. Once she has drawn each pheme from all six perspectives, as well as made notes about the ways to sequence them, she closes each note book. One she gives to Roxan, the other she gives to you.

 

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, summoner,” Roxan mutters, before standing up and givng the reddish-brown cylinder to Sima. Then she goes to Dacota, and the two of them walk off into the mists. You jerk with fear when you hear her words – such words could lead to rumours that you are a gates mage, which could in turn lead to your being linked with Euneycia and the Schohanwicht School – but you calm your mind by hoping that the word of a foreign orphan criminal would mean little in Mineta, especially when spoken…well, wherever here is. Besides, you summoned her fears to her.

 

Sima for her part notices your jerk of fear, and after looking meaningfully at you she leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour, just like the glamour that you used to calm down Roxan?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? I know not what you were trying to do when you spoke to Roxan – Tabin’s experiments are difficult for anyone to understand – but you succeeded in so frightening her when you got her thinking about her parents’ deaths that I was able to impress her enough with my magic that I saved eight hundred pims. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, thanks to your triggering Roxan, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley. That is one of the many things that I love about magic – the constant surprises that one finds. For example, this spell was introduced to me by…someone as a way to calm people beset by stress, but it might have some hypnotic powers, given how easily Dacota reduced her demands. Ah well, it is a useful spell to have.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of glamour magic. Maybe it would be better to do such a thing than study gates magic – Sima may suspect you of being involved in Gates magic. But then again, Sima’s interest in forbidden magics is well known to you, so maybe she would not mind. Ah, now you are more tormented by your worries about Sima than by any temptation of Gates. [+ 1 Charm, + 2 Stress, + 1 skill level Glamour Methods, add memory Sima Suspects, add item Sima’s Spell Codex, + 1 skill level Dispassion to Sima Venesico, + 1 skill level Character Study to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

 

ITEM: Sima’s Spell Codex

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Description: When studied, this note book will teach the reader a spell named Soothing Sensations.

Value: 500 Pims.

Action: Study Sima’s Spell Codex

 

 

Spell: Soothing Sensations

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Description: This spell causes a cloud of moving and shifting colors, accompanied by soothing music and an earthy sweet smell, to appear. Focusing on these phenomena causes profound relaxation (stress reset to 0) and heightened senses (+ 10 to Perception) but the relaxation causes impairment of certain higher functions dealing with money (- 10 to all economy subskills).

Dual Cost: 1

Duration: 6

Phemes: Miribilis, Soothe, Comfort, Aromatic

Difficulty: v. Charm/Glamour 13

 

 

Action: Study Sima’s Spell Codex

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

By studying Sima’s notes, you are informed of the spell Soothing Sensations and gain a better understanding of phemes (1 skill step to glamour phemes, + 1 skill step to phemes).

 

 

 

 

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC is male]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe used Tabin’s potion. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I must ask: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she had taken any potion?”

 

“We care nothing about your efforts to uncover secrets about a student in order to help you with your love life – although maybe you will need all the help you can get in order to succeed in love, come in time – unless you want to pay us for it,” Dacota snaps.

 

Roxan nods her head smugly. “Yes, Dom’na,” she says. “I will not answer any questions asked by the bodyguard until we are paid.”

 

“Ah, forget it,” you reply. “I could not care less what Zoe did with any potions.”

 

Well, it was a long shot plan anyway. But why must Dacota assume that you were asking for romantic reasons? You suppose that she replied in an insulting way to a situation that you had set up, as a male student asking about a female student’s bedroom and what she did in it. [+2 stress, + 1 skill level Innuendo, choose other option]

[If PC is female]

  Reveal hidden contents

You decide that the weakest link in the chain of factors that tries to bind Sima to paying more money than she had agreed to is Roxan – the person who actually did what Sima wanted and for whose services Dacota wants payment. You wonder if Zoe used Tabin’s potion. These thoughts and others flow through your mind as you look at Roxan. Then you open your mouth to speak.

 

“So, Roxan, you are very skilled at your…trade, right? I know how difficult it is to sneak around in Academagia, and I, as a student, know its layout well! Those hall patrols can be very good at finding people – but then again, they are meant to do this.”

 

“Just like the guards, public and private,” Roxan replies. Then, noting Dacota’s frown, she says, “I could talk about my accomplishments forever – stopping only to recite dharanis and eat and sleep, come in time – but if you have no purpose in talking to me, the Dom’na wants to end this meeting and collect her payment.”

 

You recognize that this is the key part of the conversation. “I am not meaning to distract you or anyone else – certainly not my friend – from concluding this business. But I must ask: when you were in Zoe’s bedroom, did you notice any evidence that she had taken any potion?”

 

“We care nothing about your efforts to uncover dirt about a student – although maybe you will need all the help you can get in order to succeed in love, come in time – unless you want to pay us for it,” Dacota snaps.

 

Roxan nods her head smugly. “Yes, Dom’na,” she says. “I will not answer any questions asked by the bodyguard until we are paid.”

 

“Ah, forget it,” you reply. “I could not care less what Zoe did with any potions.”

 

Well, it was a long shot plan anyway. [+1 stress, choose other option]

Pure Luck. Hope that something happens that will allow you to avoid doing anything.

  Reveal hidden contents

Success

  Reveal hidden contents

[If PC is not a Student in Aranaz College and was never in Avila College]

  Reveal hidden contents

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC is a Student in Aranaz College]

  Reveal hidden contents

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? So much for Aranaz College’s belittling luck in favor of careful planning – I know and now you know that sometimes luck saves the day. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues, despite King Aranaz’s disdain for plans that relied upon luck. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Honor of Mallen Field, + 1 skill level Cartography, + 1 Stress, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC was a Student in Aranaz College during Y1 but is in another college not Avila]

  Reveal hidden contents

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? So I guess that your having left Aranaz College can be better understood as a good thing – sometimes luck saves the day, no matter what old King Aranaz said. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. After all, King Aranaz had not led the fleets against the dragons, yet humanity had won the battle. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Manner of a Champion, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC is a Student in Avila College]

  Reveal hidden contents

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you are in Avila – you would not be with me, I hope, unless you were believing that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC was a Student in Avila College in Y1 but is in another college not Aranaz]

  Reveal hidden contents

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. Maybe you should reconsider having left Avila now that you have seen the importance of luck in helping people to escape danger. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, +1 Stress, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC was a Student in Avila College in Y1 but is in Aranaz College]

  Reveal hidden contents

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. Maybe you should reconsider having left Avila for Aranaz, the college that scorns luck – or so I understand. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. King Aranaz had not led the fleets against the dragons, yet humanity had won the battle, while Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 2 skill levels Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 Stress, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC is a Student in Avila College and completed the Y1 adventure The Pitts]

  Reveal hidden contents

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I hope that I am not interrupting anything too important between you – and that [PCFirstName] treats you better than how he treats his female Avila peers. I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me. I know that we dorm-tower eight boys were supposed to stick together last year, but I was so occupied with researching glamours and the law that I guess I was unable to help us. Maybe my helping you now was the gods’ ensuring that even I would be able to do my bit against the Southside Pitts.”

 

“If you had been with us from the beginning, Sima and I might not have been in trouble,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you are in Avila – you would not be with me, I hope, unless you were believing that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Romance, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC was a Student in Avila College in Y1 but is in another college not Aranaz and completed the Y1 adventure The Pitts]

  Reveal hidden contents

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I hope that I am not interrupting anything too important between you – and that [PCFirstName]’s treatment of you has improved now that he is no longer occupying the affections of so many of his female Avila peers. I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me. I know that we dorm-tower eight boys were supposed to stick together last year, but I was so occupied with researching glamours and the law that I guess I was unable to help us. Maybe my helping you now was the gods’ ensuring that even I would be able to do my bit against the Southside Pitts – though you were not sticking in dorm-tower eight at all.”

 

“If you had been with us from the beginning, Sima and I might not have been in trouble,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you are in Avila – you would not be with me, I hope, unless you were believing that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. Maybe you were wrong to hAave left Avilas after all – and for more reasons than your loss of potential girlfriends. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Flirting, + 1 skill level Cartography, + 1 Stress, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC was a Student in Avila College in Y1 but is in Aranaz College and completed the Y1 adventure The Pitts]

  Reveal hidden contents

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I hope that I am not interrupting anything too important between you – and that [PCFirstName] is not merely leading you on as practice for his efforts to seduce Emilia Strolin now that he is no longer occupying the affections of so many of his female Avila peers. Strolin is quite a catch for a male student of anything short of meaningful nobility – her father is wealthy enough that he bought a noble title unencumbered by litigation, yet he is too new to nobility to easily find a serious noble husband for her, come in time. Maybe I should –“

 

“Aaran,” Sima laughs with a bit of forced cheer. “I would never be so bold as to violate the rules against dating – not even with this peer to Cyrus Dawes, who is, despite your allegations, a perfect gentleman as far as all female students whom I have spoken to are concerned. He and I just happened to take wrong turns on our ways back to campus. Such things are not unknown to Mineta – maybe the stars are in such a way that some magical rift has opened to here.”

 

You are not sure whether it is Sima’s natural charm or reference to the power of the stars that makes Aaran so easily accept Sima’s lies, but he swallows his anger and speaks in more measured words.

 

“I, um, confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had his help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me. I know that we dorm-tower eight boys were supposed to stick together last year, but I was so occupied with researching glamours and the law that I guess I was unable to help us. Maybe my helping you now was the gods’ ensuring that even I would be able to do my bit against the Southside Pitts – though you were not sticking in dorm-tower eight at all. I know that it was and is a bad place, but you chose Aranaz College –”

 

“If you had been with us from the beginning, Sima and I might not have been in trouble,” you cut off what might be another incipient rant. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you are in Avila – you would not be with me, I hope, unless you were believing that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any money. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up my money. The only downside was that we had to listen to Aaran’s anti-Aranaz bigotry of the sort that, if left unchecked, could earn him more than merely laughter from…certain foreigners to this fair city.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues, despite King Aranaz’s disdain for plans that relied upon luck. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend.

 

As far as Aaran’s dislike of your having gone to Aranaz, you attribute that to his strange fixation with fate, which seems in part to have manifested in the form of belief that Aranaz College tries to cheat fate through careful planning. Leaving Avila meant a loss of potential girlfriends, but since it also meant avoiding Aaran’s general eccentricity – which this encounter has revealed may easily lead to negative feelings towards people – it is a good thing over all. Besides, Emilia Strolin may indeed be a good girlfriend for many reasons, some of which may be what Aaran suggested. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Character Study, + 1 skill level Honor of Mallen Field, + 1 skill level Dating, + 1 skill level Cartography, + 1 Stress, - 1 relation with Aaran Ledale, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, end adventure]

[If PC is a Student in Avila College and was in Aranaz during Y1]

  Reveal hidden contents

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you are in Avila – you would not be with me, I hope, unless you were believing that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. Sure this has convinced you all the more that you were right to abandon the fate-swindling Aranaz College in favor of Avila! I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. That having been said, you would not condemn Aranaz College as a College of fate-swindlers – they taught you useful skills, you think. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 1 skill level Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Honor of Mallen Field, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

[If PC is a Student in Avila College and was in a College not Aranaz during Y1]

  Reveal hidden contents

You find yourself paralyzed with indecision about what to do. Sima has really gotten you into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, you –well, you would hate to think about how things could go wrong.

 

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s words interrupt your spinning thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

 

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

 

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

 

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that since only she may fully understand why you are here trying to make this deal – although maybe even she knows only parts – she must have some way to help you.

 

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “if ever I helped you in your quest for the finest jewels that you desired, freeing you from strange magics without caring for my safety, help me to resolve this issue without violence or pain.”

 

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “Although not all issues can be resolved easily without violence or pain, I can resolve this one, much as it pains me – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

 

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will–”

 

But loud screams from behind you interrupt Sima’s words. Trembling, you turn, to see that Roxan and Dacota are screaming – and that a light is advancing up the alleyway towards you. In front of the light is a doomhound, who looks at Dacota with – well, you are not very sure what its body language conveys, but it does not seem aggressive. But Dacota and Roxan are frightened out of their wits by the doomhound.

 

“A doomhound! Dharani-reciter, you succeeded!” Roxan wails. “Let it spare us! Take this and go!”

 

She reaches into a pouch at her waist and tosses a reddish tube through the air towards you, which Sima catches. You are not sure what a dharani or a dombi are, but Sima’s relieved sigh tells you that you have other things to worry about. Thankfully, Dacota is too seized by panic to rebuke Roxan or attack Sima.

 

“I never should have gotten involved with mages! This doomhound – maybe it is the one with the cursing gaze!”

 

Seizing Roxan by the hand she drags Roxan down the alley and rushes past the approaching light, whose source you now recognize as a bemused Aaran Ledale.

 

“Greetings, Sima Venesico, [PCFullName],” he says formally, extinguishing the light that was floating in front of him. “I confess myself to have become a bit lost. I was at Privateer Feng's Gentle Parlor helping him to catch cheaters – I owe Feng a favor for…some reason – but then I found myself talking to a charming woman with cream colored skin and the most striking blue eyes who was fascinated by my Familiar Tepte and then we got to talking about my studies of…glamour magic and that must have affected my mind because I found myself in this strange alleyway with no memory of how I got here. At least I have Tepte with me, and my problem seems to have not manifested in any serious way.”

 

“Well, you certainly frightened away some robbers belonging to the Southside Pitts,” Sima replies. “If you had not intervened, I had only [PCFirstName] here to help me; had the help been inadequate, I know not what would have happened.”

 

“Really?” Aaran’s eyes gain an almost feverishly bright excitement. “I wish that I had been here to meet them. Such street gangs somewhat…interest me.”

 

“I doubt that they would have allowed that,” you reply. “Judging by their reaction to your familiar, you would have frightened them off.”

 

“If I and Tepte were frightening to no person, then my life would be much different…and better,” Aaran sighs, as he scratches Tepte’s ears. “I suppose, though, that my being here was a manifestation of pure luck being in your favor though, right, [PCFirstName]? But then, you are in Avila – you would not be with me, I hope, unless you were believing that luck and astrology are more than illusions to make living under tyrants easy. Tyranny shall not prosper, whether as dragons who want to enslave us or as humans who unjustly rob us. Sure this has convinced you all the more that you were right to transfer into Avila! I suppose that I shall have to think deeply about my day tonight. Maybe at Callo’s Tavern – whose atmosphere much helps me to understand matters of luck. If we can get out of here, that is.”

 

“O there is no trouble with that,” Sima says, and she leads you all out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia grounds. Aaran thanks Sima but declines to stay with her or you any longer, muttering something about needing to research glamour spells in the Venalicium. Sima then creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

 

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

 

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

 

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And what was that place? Was it really just a clever glamour?”

 

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Although you did not try to help me, we were not at risk because I had money to pay all of Dacota’s demands and Aaran’s arrival spared us from any harm and me from having to pay any moey. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your luck, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

 

She throws her head back with a laugh. “As for the alley, I know nothing about its origins or how it was made, but it is a convenient place, I find, for meeting with people who live outside the campus. The secret is knowing how to get into the alley.”

 

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets and the places that they frequent are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You are glad that Sima will be spared from some financial risk. Maybe you would better serve her and other friends through more serious study of luck and related magico-theological issues. Queen Avila was more than a determined opponent of Draconic might after all – she was a skilled astrologer whose magics, it is said, dragons could not comprehend. [+ 1 Luck, + 1 skill level Pure Luck, add memory Dharanis and Drinks, + 2 skill levels Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 skill level Cartography, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, Inform location Callo’s Tavern, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship between Sima Venesico and Aaran Ledale, end adventure]

Failure

  Reveal hidden contents

You do not know how to avoid hurting yourself – especially with your use of magic so limited. Sima has really gotten into a deep problem, as far as you can see – Dacota, a leader in the Southside Pitts, wants more money for her presumably illegal service to Sima, and seems willing to use violence to get it. If you do the wrong thing to prevent her from collecting such money, and your plan fails, thinks could go very wrong. Maybe if you just try to delay them, something will happen to save you.

“What’s the matter?” Dacota’s taunting voice interrupts your fearful thoughts. “Unwilling to help your friend?”

“Or unable?” Roxan’s words are not accompanied by concern in her voice.

“In any case, I have better things to do than wait in this creepy alley while you struggle to be brave – although recognizing myself as the source of your fear is very nice.” Dacota pulls a knife from her belt and takes a step towards you. “So unless you resolve this issue by giving me the money that I want, this could get unpleasant – although how unpleasant is your choice.”

In desperation, you turn to Sima, thinking that she must have some way to help you. She is Sima after all – some sort of…well, you aren’t exactly sure what, but more than your average 14 year old student mage.

“Dear friend,” you wail, as you fall to your knees before Sima, “help me with this.”

Sima looks down at you with heavily lidded eyes, then looks behind you – to Dacota, you assume – before replying in a sad voice, “I can help you – if only all issues could be so resolved.”

She reaches with one careful hand into her robe, saying as she does so, “Dacota, I will pay you the added money. Just…put the knife away and leave us alone.”

Dacota carefully puts the knfe away before rushing forwards. She seizes Sima by her hands and pulls her into a grotesque embrace so that Sima’s body shields her own. Sima does not struggle, but merely says, “There is no need for such caution. Dacota, you can take my wand and let me release one of my hands so that I can write a draft for the Renazlian Regional Bank to handle most of the money – the agreed upon sum I have with me.”

Dacota agrees with suspicion, but is mollified when Roxan, looking over the paper that Sima produces and writes upon, announces that it is an authentic draft to withdraw eight hundred pims from an account at the Renazlian Regional Bank. By the time Sima has given Dacota a pouch of pims from beneath the fold of her cloak, Dacota is practically smiling.

“I am so glad, Sima,” she gushes, “that we were able to resolve this issue so easily – and without your having to risk your bodyguard. Come, Roxan – return to her what she lent you, then we must go!”

Roxan hands Sima a reddish-brown cylinder.

“Farewell, Pitts, and farewell, Roxan,” Sima calls out cheerfully. “I hope that you Southside Pitts will be more reliable in future dealings.”

“Farewell, dombi, and farewell, coward,” Roxan replies. “The two of you should both become dombis, if such is possible in Mineta. Better a dombi then a person who pretends to be brave when real courage is needed.”

Being insulted by a girl who seems to be some type of criminal is another humiliation, but Dacota jerks Roxan away with a laugh and retreats into the mist before Roxan can give more insults or you can give her a piece of your anger.

“I do hope that they remember the proper way to leave this place,” Sima mutters. “Dacota was giddy with stress after robbing me – she will be hanged if convicted for what she just did to me, and that is on top of the hanging that she would get if convicted as a leader of a criminal gang. And that is not even taking into account the fact that not all student mages are as defenceless as I may be – I pity the robber who attacks a Contu student or even a Godina student. She got lucky with us, and she knows it. But if she were not bold, she would not be a leader.” She then leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this? And why were you so eager that I stop Dacota from collecting more money when you could have paid her so easily?”

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? Unfortunately, you were too frightened to do anything to help me. Still, it is written that war spares not the brave person but the cowardly person, and the warrior who gives a shield to the enemy in order to flee the fight will easily survive where warriors who fight may not. With my funds reduced, other people in my life…will not be happy, shall we say? It would have been nice if you could have saved me such money, but I was the one who got so involved with the Southside Pitts and you tried to help me. I wonder if Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo might be able to make up my money.”

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. But now that she has all but called you a coward, maybe you will have less opportunity to be her friend. [- 900 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, + 1 skill level Famous Prose, + 1 Skill level Famous Poetry, + 1 Fitness, - 5 relationship with Sima Venesico, + 5 stress, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 2 skill levels Tactics to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has 800 pims] Pay Dacota what she wants. [Auto]

  Reveal hidden contents

Without further ado, you remove from beneath your robes a series of pouches, which you hand to Dacota.

“Count the money in these, Dacota,” you say. “These should be containing enough pims to pay for my friend’s…added expenses.”

Dacota does not hesitate, but seizes the bags, opens them, and counts through their contents. Although she is not fast, she is thorough and does not force Sima or you to wait too long. Once she is done, she looks up at yuou and says, “Well, you are more than a bodyguard to your friend. You are a good cart for her also – or maybe a warehouse.”

Roxan laughs. Then she says to Sima, “You still must give us your portion of the money.”

Once Sima has removed from beneath the fold of her cloak q pouch that she gives to Roxan, Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder, before saying to you, “I think that I cannot improve upon the Domna’s words, cart.” Then she and Dacota go off into the mists.

Sima leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? You helped me in the most obvious way, but sometimes the most obvious ways are the best ways to succeed. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your ability to pay pims sufficient for Dacota’s greed, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You hope that all problems that she and the other triplets face could be as easily solved as this one was, although you doubt that they will be. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, - 800 pims, + 1 skill level Accounting, + 1 Skill level Applications of Arithmetic, + 1 Strength, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 1 skill level Accounting to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

[If PC has 710 pims] Pay Dacota the lowered fee that she has agreed to. [Auto]

  Reveal hidden contents

Without further ado, you remove from beneath your robes a series of pouches, which you hand to Dacota.

“Count the money in these, Dacota,” you say. “These should be containing enough pims to pay for my friend’s…added expenses.”

Dacota does not hesitate, but seizes the bags, opens them, and counts through their contents. Although she is not fast, she is thorough and does not force Sima or you to wait too long. Once she is done, she looks up at yuou and says, “Well, you are more than a bodyguard to your friend. You could be a good banker to her.”

Roxan laughs. Then she says to Sima, “You still must give us your portion of the money.”

Once Sima has removed from beneath the fold of her cloak q pouch that she gives to Roxan, Roxan gives Sima the reddish-brown cylinder, before saying to you, “I think that I cannot improve upon the Domna’s words, banker.” Then she and Dacota go off into the mists.

Sima leads you out of the alleyway and back into the blissfully normal Academagia. Once there, she creates glamours and puts an eye to one end of the reddish-brown cylinder.

“So Zoe’s room had no legal or illegal magics that might explain her knowledge,” she says after a few seconds’ gazing as she lowers the reddish-brown cylinder from her face. “Truly, this was a waste of my time. Still, I was cautious and must remain cautious.”

You suppose that you are unlikely to get, at least at this time, any further explanation, such as why the so-called Triplets are so secretive about their relationship, or how they get such easy access to so many magical artifacts, or what they are involved in. Still, you decide to ask noncommittal questions.

“Sima, what about me? Where do I fit in all of this?”

“You are a valuable friend whom I trust with great secrets and who has had fine adventures with me and…certain others, whom I would not hesitate to help in the direst circumstances,” Sima replies, passion flowing into her voice. “Is this not the thing that true friendships are made of? You helped me in the most obvious way, but sometimes the most obvious ways are the best ways to succeed – and you were smart enough to be able to lower Dacota’s price, to your benefit and the benefit of our time. Pims are easy to use for securing…useful services, as I well know from experience. Any unexpected shortage of pims by me now would have been…problematic to certain other people in my life, who would not be happy. I will, due to your ability to pay pims sufficient for Dacota’s greed, not have to see about going to Iustus, Cyrus, or Cirillo in order to be able to make up for my money shortage.”

You have to admit that Sima is right. Mysterious as the Triplets are, they are truly wonderful friends to you, even though they are secretive and can be strange in pursuit of a mysterious goal that you are not fully informed about. You only wish that you could better know more about the true Sima Venesico rather than the mask that she creates for those who are not her closest friends. You hope that all problems that she and the other triplets face could be as easily solved as this one was, although you doubt that they will be. [- 100 pims Sima Venesico, - 100 pims Tabin Furenzti, - 100 pims Magsa Nembo, - 710 pims, + 1 skill level Accounting, + 1 Skill level Applications of Arithmetic, + 1 Skill level Negotiate, + 1 Strength, Inform location Nugen’s Alley, + 2 skill levels Accounting to Sima Venesico, end adventure]

 

So, I have finally finished my adventure involving the Triplets. Feedback is welcome and much appreciated. My next writing projects are much less ambitious. I will be writing an event with Zoe Melis set befor the Y2 summer vacation, followed by events to accompany some of the memories that my most recently completed adventure created.

[Rhialto]

As a Reminder to Myself as my lack of a good computer affects my ability to write lengthy things (or read length things), and as a way to whet the appetites of those who like to read what I write for this game, here is a list of adventures that I am in some stage of writing.

1. Farewell to Zoe Melis: in which the PC and Zoe Melis say their farewells to each other before summer vacation. The PC is granted options for how the relationship continues over the summer (or at all). I have written over 2,000 words of this event.

2. Dharanis and Drinks: In which the PC, having gone to Callo's Tavern, sees Roxan and Aaran talking amicably with each other, and may choose to get involved. This event is merely planned.

3. Sima Suspects: In which the PC, having aroused Sima Venesico's suspicion, receives some teasing over the possibility of being a gates mage, and may choose to respond in several ways, some of them serious, others light-hearted - but none with any hostility from Sima, because as a mage student unhealthily interested in forbidden magics, she would not condemn gates magic as a whole. @Legate of Mineta will be relieved to know that none of them feature the PC's actually admitting to being a gates mage or casting Gates spells in front of Sima, so the PC's masquarade will remain unbroken. @freespace2dotcom may be interested to know that one option that I am planning involves Mr. Pebbles. This random event is merely planned.

4. Dear Prudence: In which the PC learns more about Prudence Cossins, unlocking a new location and the ability to research Prudence Cossins - complete with rewards for both the PC and Prudence Cossins. Several options at the end of the adventure will allow the player to determine what direction the relationship can go in - possibly including hinting at the PC's use of forbidden magic, if @Legate of Mineta and the team will allow it. I apparently am not the first player of this game who thinks that it would be fascinating for Prudence's friend the PC to be a gates mage - and for the game to deal in some way with her thoughts about this matter. This adventure is merely planned.

5. Beatrix von Wetgen's Visiting Band: In which Beatrix von Wetgen invites the PC to come with her (and Prudence Cossins) to meet some interesting travelers in Satyrius. This sequel to Wandering with Beatrix von Wetgen is as yet only being planned.

[Legate of Mineta]

Rhi;

Go ahead! The worst that could happen would be that it is edited.

[Rhialto]

Now that my computer is fixed, I was able to finish writing a new scene for Y2. Any feed back would be much appreciated.

Zoe’s Farewell:

 

Note: This is intended to be a piece for early in Y2, on the day when students who travel onboard airships are leaving Mineta. Should the team accept it, they may choose to make it an automatic event, or they may choose to make it a small time-limited adventure. Regardless, the prerequisites are: PC must have finished Zoe Melis’s Y1 adventure, must have relationship > 0 with Zoe Melis.

 

You are finally done your first year of studies at the Academagia – and to your surprise, it brings mixed feelings. Certainly, you are glad to be done – for a few weeks at least – with the constant stream of classes, to say nothing of the need to study for and write exams. There are also certain students whom you are relieved to be away from. Vuillaume Eparvier can be more dangerous to those whom she trusts and is often dangerous to all with her love of explosions, and Rui da Casga’s pranks can easily inconvenience even his friends.

But there are other aspects of Academagia that you will miss. The efforts by Regent [FullName of Regent of PC’s College] to welcome students into [PC’s College] may not have been unfailing successes, but they revealed some measure of concern for students' well-being. And you will miss the magical campus-wide announcement system – who can forget its reassurances about how the wyverns and pirates had been brought under control last Juvenalia? Finally, you are glad that, through having attended Academagia, you will never have to be a street magician. But that makes you think about all of the students whom you had fun with, such as Phillippe Marchant and Zorzi Galea with the street magicians on the Workshop Day…

What is that noise? You snap out of your revery and turn around.

Zoe Melis is standing before you in the corridor, although outside her usual Hedi robes you have some difficulty recognizing her in a plain grey dress. Zoe has no distinctive bearing or jewellery that would make her recognizable regardless of her clothing, and her familiar is the sort that can easily be hidden away. And there are, unfortunately, no shortage of sickly looking girls with dark hair in Mineta – although unless they are extremely poor or sick, they are often able to get medical treatment in Mineta.

“Good thing that you noticed me, [PCFirstName]. I must go soon, but wanted to say farewell to you, as well as a few…valedictory words.”

“Valedictory? But is that not repeating yourself about farewells?” You know that your knowledge of Eluminian may not be the greatest, but you are certain that vale means farewell in Eluminian.

“Vale literally means ‘be strong’ in Eluminian, and I want to give you some words of thanks and encouragement.” Zoe is not looking upset, but rather resigned. “You are not the last one to think that the words of a native Eluminian speaker should be interpreted only according to old books. But I cannot protest against that too harshly, I suppose, since I like reading and being informed by similar sources. If I were an ignorama, such a complaint from me would doubtlessly have more credibility, not bearing the miasma of hypocrisy.” She cracks a faint smile, and then continues in a more cheerful voice.

“But I am not an ignorama, am I? I am a very good student, and thanks to your help this year, I was able to avoid being another manifestation of the stereotype of the impecunious scholar by being a Homework Helper Heroine.” Zoe gives a little laugh. “I almost said ‘perspicacious student,’ but thanks to your help – truly, being a Homework Helper Heroine was about more than merely monetary remuneration – I know something about how to express myself using simpler words that people tend to prefer, to their loss.”

She sighs. “But all good things must come to an end – or at least a temporary cessation – and it is now time for me to take an airship back to Cimone. There are no major floral or faunal differences whose presence or absence in Casseta I can use as a metonymy for the sorrow of my parting from Mineta, its excellent healthcare that is comparatively cheap and easily accessible, and those who use Mineta as the basis for their scholarly lives. So I came to say farewell to you, as a fellow scholar who helped me inordinately. Of course, you benefited also, but you could have applied your entrepreneurial genius to benefiting only yourself or you and some other person, or you could have cheated me. But you chose to make me a partner and were honest with me. So…”

Zoe’s voice trails off. Even though your efforts involved making her somewhat more socially interactive, they did not elevate her to the level of a gifted conversationalist – although thankfully she is better at talking to others than than Avgust Kostrodyrets is.

 

[If PC has Love with Zoe Melis] “I hope that our partnership, remaining strong over the summer, can benefit us next year.”

 

[If PC is not student at Schohanwicht]

 

Zoe looks at you wide eyed for a second, then laughs. “Good thing that we are business partners and that the term partner is so polysemic – otherwise, we might get into trouble for dating or attempting to date before we are old enough.”

“Not that dating you would be conventional in any sense, any more than being your business partner was,” you reply, hoping that Zoe will not take your words in the wrong way.

“When one’s partner considers using trained squirrels to deliver the…product, one must be wary for pleasant surprises, but also for a willingness to look beyond the conventional,” Zoe intones with mock solemnity. Then she giggles, and in a lighter voice says, “I am not the type of girl who can give you or any other suitable boy some of my hairs in a locket as a special gift – or I could, but it would not be special, since I am so often shedding hairs due to my illness. And why would you want to kiss these hands that were stained with inks as I wrote the words that made us our money?”

“What you did with your hands to help us means nothing to me, Homework Helper Heroine,” you reply with a laugh. “But you use such beautiful words to express such beautiful ideas. It would be a shame for them to go unappreciated by any…dear friend.”

“Good for us that I am eager to start writing poetry over the summer – and you can be my critic and co-poet,” Zoe replies. “With my training in grammar, my interest in language, and my impecuniousness, poetry is a good way for me to spend my summer – and our…special relationship would allow us to evaluate my efforts with little rancour.”

“You? A poet?” But then you hasten to add, “Not that there is anything wrong with being a poet. I might want to try writing some poetry myself. How hard could it be?”

“Is it difficult for you to comprehend that reclusive, sickly, unworldly Zoe Melis could be a poet? Poetry is very often about making the simple and even ugly seem complicated and beautiful. As I said to Miya when she mocked my aspirations in this regard: ‘Anata ha benkyoushimasen la poesie de la Cimonenne.’ That merely means – or so Miya and the Pievrian whom I hate have said – ‘You study not the female Cimonen’s poetry’ – mine, that is. But by choosing various words – some from Miya’s language, others from Merilien – and arranging them in a given order, I have created a poetic couplet that is especially pleasing to Oncestrian and Vilocian speakers. Creating poetry can be very romantic - and very enjoyable.” As if to reinforce her point, Zoe concludes her words with a soft sigh of pleasure.

“Not nearly as enjoyable as knowing you,” you reply. And you are being honest. Few people have dared to try to address Miya in her native language ever since a well-meaning effort by Allen Driscoll to address her as ‘anta’ led to his being shouted at with the word ‘baka’ by a very angry Miya – although she had at least accepted eventually that he had not meant to offend her with his use of her language.

Zoe laughs lightly and reaches forth with one of her hands. “The same is true of you to me. Partners in business, partners in poetry, and perhaps partners in more, come in time. Now take this hand, which you once needed to be stained with ink, and shake it. None can fault us for this!”

Once she has shaken your hand, she leaves, waving farewell and saying that she must go to Cimone soon. You are glad that you went to Academagia, but hope that in future you will always regard your meeting Zoe Melis as the first good thing, in prominence if not in time, about your studying here. [+ 1 skill level Flirting, add action Exchange Multilingual Poetry with Zoe Melis, end event]

[If PC is student at Schohanwicht]

 

Zoe looks at you wide eyed for a second, then laughs. “Good thing that we are business partners and that the term partner is so polysemic – otherwise, we might get into trouble for dating or attempting to date before we are old enough.”

“Not that dating you would be conventional in any sense, any more than being your business partner was,” you reply, hoping that Zoe will not take your words in the wrong way.

“When one’s partner considers using trained squirrels to deliver the…product, one must be wary for pleasant surprises, but also for a willingness to look beyond the conventional,” Zoe intones with mock solemnity. Then she giggles, and in a lighter voice says, “I am not the type of girl who can give you or any other suitable boy some of my hairs in a locket as a special gift – or I could, but it would not be special, since I am so often shedding hairs due to my illness. And why would you want to kiss the hands that were stained with inks as I wrote the words that made us our money?”

“What you did with your hands to help us means nothing to me, Homework Helper Heroine,” you reply. “But you use such beautiful words to express such beautiful ideas. It would be a shame for them to go unappreciated by any…dear friend.”

“Good for us that I am eager to start writing poetry over the summer – and you can be my critic and co-poet,” Zoe replies. “With my training in grammar, my interest in language, and my impecuniousness, poetry is a good way for me to spend my summer – and our…special relationship would allow us to evaluate my efforts with little rancour.”

“You? A poet?” But then you hasten to add, “Not that there is anything wrong with being a poet. I might want to try writing some poetry myself. How hard could it be?”

“Is it difficult for you to comprehend that reclusive, sickly, unworldly Zoe Melis could be a poet? Poetry is very often about making the simple and even ugly seem complicated and beautiful. As I said to Miya when she mocked my aspirations in this regard: ‘Anata ha benkyoushimasen la poesie de la Cimonenne.’ That merely means – or so Miya and the Pievrian whom I hate have said – ‘You study not the female Cimonen’s poetry’ – mine, that is. But by choosing various words – some from Miya’s language, others from Merilien – and arranging them in a given order, I have created a poetic couplet that is especially pleasing to Oncestrian and Vilocian speakers. Creating poetry can be very romantic - and very enjoyable.” As if to reinforce her point, Zoe concludes her words with a soft sigh of pleasure.

“Not nearly as enjoyable as knowing you,” you reply. And you are being honest. Few people have dared to try to address Miya in her native language ever since a well-meaning effort by Allen Driscoll to address her as ‘anta’ led to his being shouted at with the word ‘baka’ by a very angry Miya – although she had at least accepted eventually that he had not meant to offend her with his use of her language.

Zoe laughs lightly and reaches forth with one of her hands. “The same is true of you to me. Partners in business, partners in poetry, and perhaps partners in more, come in time. Now take this hand, which you once needed to be stained with ink, and shake it. None can fault us for this!”

Once she has shaken your hand, she leaves, waving farewell and saying that she must go to Cimone soon. You are glad that you went to Academagia, but hope that in future you will always regard your meeting Zoe Melis as the first good thing, in prominence if not in time, about your studying here. But then worry wounds your sense of happiness, so that you fearfully flinch. You were willing to look beyond Zoe’s often ink-soiled hands by phrasing it as ignoring past deeds done by her hands to help both you and her, but you wonder whether she would be so forgiving about your use of your hands to write Gates phemes, let alone to study Gates magic. Yet by not rejecting her closeness – indeed, encouraging it – you have left yourself vulnerable to her discovering your secret study of this illegal magic. You hope that Euneycia can give you some advice. Surely there have been other students at the Schohanwicht School who have developed close relations with non-Gates magic users. [+ 1 skill level Flirting, + 2 stress, add activity Exchange Multilingual Poetry with Zoe Melis, end event]

[If PC has Affection with Zoe Melis] “We’ll have to stay in touch over the summer.”

 

[If PC is not student at Schohanwicht]

 

“Indeed we will,” Zoe replies. “But may I ask a favor from you? Or would that be too bold?”

You are immediately moved to think in strange ways, given the feelings that are between you and Zoe, but you merely say, “It depends on the favor, doesn’t it? If you want me to help you with Negation phemes, such could be done, in theory. But if you want me to send to you a portal to Orsourk, then –”

Zoe giggles. “Stop, [PCFirstName]! Point made, and so imaginatively! But my favor is whether I could use you as a way to practise my language skills. I aspire to be a polyglot, you see, and writing to you in various languages – which I would translate for you – would be an efficient way for me to improve my language skills. You, of course, would have the liberty to write to me in some language, bound by the same conditions.”

“Zoe,” you reply, “I would gladly do so. My knowing you has taught me many things, but one of them is that knowing many languages is a gateway to understanding the world’s wonders.”

Zoe then leaves, saying farewell, and you wish her a safe and convenient journey to Cimone. Then you are once more left alone. You are glad that you went to Academagia, but hope that in future you will always instinctively regard your meeting Zoe Melis as a good thing about your studying here. [+ 1 skill step Worldiness, add action Write a Multilingual Letter to Zoe Melis, end event]

[If PC is student at Schohanwicht]

 

“Indeed we will,” Zoe replies. “But may I ask a favor from you? Or would that be too bold?”

You are immediately seized by panic, given the feelings that are between you and Zoe as well as your secret. But you keep calm and reply, “It depends on the favor, doesn’t it? Some things are easiedr to do than others. My visiting you in Cimone, for example, would be very expensive.”

Zoe nods sympathetically. “I fully comprehend the impositions and limitations of financial considerations on life. But my favor is whether I could use you as a way to practise my language skills. I aspire to be a polyglot, you see, and writing to you in various languages – which I would translate for you – would be an efficient way for me to improve my language skills. You, of course, would have the liberty to write to me in some language, bound by the same conditions.”

“Zoe,” you reply, “I would gladly do so. My knowing you has taught me many things, but one of them is that knowing many languages is a way to understanding the world’s wonders.”

Zoe then leaves, saying farewell, and you wish her a safe and convenient journey to Cimone. Then you are once more left alone. You are glad that you went to Academagia, but hope that in future you will always instinctively regard your meeting Zoe Melis as a good thing about your studying here. But you are rather concerned about your secret study of Gates magic. By not rejecting Zoe’s closeness – indeed, encouraging it – you have left yourself vulnerable to her discovering your secret – and how would you reply if she were to ask you about Gates magic? You hope that Euneycia can give you some advice. Surely there have been other students at the Schohanwicht who have developed close relations with non-Gates magic users. [+ 1 skill step Worldiness, +2 Stress, + 1 skill step Composure, add action Write a Multilingual Letter to Zoe Melis, end event]

“Thank you for the kind words, Zoe. Do you want to stay in touch over the summer?”

 

[If PC is not student at Schohanwicht]

 

“I was worried that you would never ask, [PCFirstName]! But could I use your letter writing to practice writing in other languages?”

“Zoe, no matter how much money you may get, nor how much assistance from socially skilled people you may receive, you will remain a scholar who love languages. Not that there is anything wrong with that.”

Zoe’s face, which had been growing horrified due to your words, becomes happy when you quickly say your last sentence. “I thank you very much for those words. Too many other people vituperate, denigrate, and traduce people who love scholarship and languages, even at the Academagia, which is the finest centre of learning in the accessible world. Regardless of why you were willing to be my friend where others were not, it can lead us to benefits in many ways. But now I must go to board the airship to Cimone. Farewell and be strong!”

You are glad that you went to Academagia, but hope that in future you will always instinctively regard your meeting Zoe Melis as a good thing about your studying here. She demonstrates that scholarly people can have many facets to their personalities. [Add action Write a Multilingual Letter to Zoe Melis, end event]

[If PC is student at Schohanwicht]

 

“I was worried that you would never ask, [PCFirstName]! But could I use your letter writing to practice writing in other languages?”

“Zoe, no matter how much money you may get, nor how much assistance from socially skilled people you may receive, you will remain a scholar who love languages. Not that there is anything wrong with that.”

Zoe’s face, which had been growing horrified due to your words, becomes happy when you quickly say your last sentence. “I thank you very much for those words. Too many other people vituperate, denigrate, and traduce people who love scholarship and languages, even at the Academagia, which is the finest centre of learning in the accessible world. Regardless of why you were willing to be my friend where others were not, it can lead us to benefits in many ways. But now I must go to board the airship to Cimone. Farewell and be strong!”

You are glad that you went to Academagia, but hope that in future you will always instinctively regard your meeting Zoe Melis as a good thing about your studying here. She demonstrates that scholarly people can have many facets to their personalities. Perhaps, if you handle her properly, she could help you to study Gates Magic. There must be some Gates texts from Oursouk that are written in Bassan, and maybe in future years she will learn Oursouki. But then you remember the risks involved in getting her to help you with Gates magic, and you jerk in fear. If you had been born in Oursouk, you would not have these problems, you think. But then you would not have met Zoe Melis. [Add action Write a Multilingual Letter to Zoe Melis, +1 stress, + 1 skill step Manipulation, end event]

[If PC has Affection or Love with Zoe Melis] Befriend. “Zoe, I would prefer to be business partners only.”

 

[success]

 

[If PC is not student at Schohanwicht]

 

Zoe looks at you with surprise, but then her lips turn up in an expression that may resemble a smile.

“Well, [PCFirstName], I am relieved that you still want to associate yourself with me at all. We can be so successful together that you would scarcely believe it. If you want, you can correspond with me about business plans this summer. So many people, when they hear about a sickly scholar-mage impecunious, think such a person to be unworthy of being known – they worry that the sickly scholar-mage impecunious may turn to Gates magic or crime or something like that. But you were able to look beyond such, for which I am grateful. Now farewell.”

Zoe is nearly babbling as she backs away from you. You numbly wish her farewell. Certainly, it may be difficult for her that you want to prevent your relationship with her from going anywhere deeper than friendship, at least until you and she are permiited to date, but at least she respects you enough to keep calm about the matter – or at least try to. [+1 skill step Character Study, add action Discuss Business Plans with Zoe Melis, remove affection and/or love emotion, + 1 stress, + 1 stress for Zoe Melis, end event]

[If PC is student at Schohanwicht]

 

Zoe looks at you with surprise, but then her lips turn up in an expression that may resemble a smile.

“Well, [PCFirstName], I am relieved that you still want to associate yourself with me at all. We can be so successful together that you would scarcely believe it. If you want, you can correspond with me about business plans this summer. So many people, when they hear about a sickly scholar-mage impecunious, think such a person to be unworthy of being known – they worry that the sickly scholar-mage impecunious may turn to Gates magic or crime or something like that. But you were able to look beyond such, for which I am grateful. Now farewell.”

Zoe is nearly babbling as she backs away from you. You numbly wish her farewell. Certainly, it may be difficult for her that you want to prevent your relationship with her from going anywhere deeper than friendship, at least until you and she are permiited to date, but at least she respects you enough to keep calm about the matter – or at least try to. Certainly, it may be painful that Zoe and you cannot be in a deeper relationship, but the lack of such a relationship makes it easier for you to keep secret your study of Gates magic. It might be rapturously pleasant to get to know Zoe better, but such pleasure for you pales beside the pain of interrogation and execution for your studies. Sparing Zoe from knowing that you are involved with Gates magic is its own reward. You tell yourself these and other arguments, but you are not sure whether you have justified it well enough. [+1 skill step Character Study, + 1 skill step Dedication, add action Discuss Business Plans with Zoe Melis, remove affection and/or love emotion, + 5 stress, + 1 stress for Zoe Melis, end event]

[failure]

 

[If PC is not student at Schohanwicht and is Station: Nobility]

 

Zoe looks at you with surprise, but then her face creases and tears come to her eyes.

“Well, [PCFirstName], I suppose that there are better girls whom you should be looking into forming relationships with, such as Emilia Strolin and maybe Catherine Chard. An impecunious scholar from Cassetta is not worthy for a nobleman. I am relieved that you still want to associate yourself with me at all. We can be so successful together that you would scarcely believe it. If you want, you can correspond with me about business plans this summer. So many people, when they hear about a sickly scholar-mage impecunious, think such a person to be unworthy of being known – they worry that the sickly scholar-mage impecunious may turn to Gates magic or crime or something like that. But you were able to look beyond such, for which I am grateful. Thank you for not breaking my heart later, in a worse way….”

Zoe falls silent for a minute, then tries to speak, but, overcome by sobbing, fails to make any more coherent statements. You numbly wish her farewell, and she walks away, wiping tears with her sleeves.

You are left aghast by what you have created within Zoe. You had not meant to cause such sorrow within her by trying to restrain her relationship with you. Truly, people’s emotions are so difficult to understand and react to – including your own. [+1 skill step Romance, add action Discuss Business Plans with Zoe Melis, + 5 stress, + 5 stress for Zoe Melis, -5 Relationship with Zoe Melis, end event]

[If PC is student at Schohanwicht and is Station: Nobility]

 

Zoe looks at you with surprise, but then her face creases and tears come to her eyes.

“Well, [PCFirstName], I suppose that there are better girls whom you should be looking into forming relationships with, such as Emilia Strolin and maybe Catherine Chard. An impecunious scholar from Cassetta is not worthy for a nobleman. I am relieved that you still want to associate yourself with me at all. We can be so successful together that you would scarcely believe it. If you want, you can correspond with me about business plans this summer. So many people, when they hear about a sickly scholar-mage impecunious, think such a person to be unworthy of being known – they worry that the sickly scholar-mage impecunious may turn to Gates magic or crime or something like that. But you were able to look beyond such, for which I am grateful. Thank you for not breaking my heart later, in a worse way…”

Zoe falls silent for a minute, then tries to speak, but, overcome by sobbing, fails to make any more coherent statements. You numbly wish her farewell, and she walks away, wiping tears with her sleeves.

You are left aghast by what you have created within Zoe. You had not meant to cause such sorrow within her by trying to restrain her relationship with you. Truly, people’s emotions are so difficult to understand and react to – including your own. And but for your study of Gates magic, you would have been thrilled to have a deep friendship with Zoe – and perhaps love, come in time. It might be rapturously pleasant to get to know Zoe better, but such pleasure for you pales beside the pain of interrogation and execution for your studies. Sparing Zoe from knowing that you are involved with Gates magic is its own reward. You tell yourself these and other arguments, but you are not sure whether you have justified it well enough. You hope that Euneycia could give you some advice. [+1 skill step Romance, +1 skill step Dedication, add action Discuss Business Plans with Zoe Melis, + 10 stress, + 5 stress for Zoe Melis, -5 Relationship with Zoe Melis, end event]

[If PC is not student at Schohanwicht and is not Station: Nobility]

 

Zoe looks at you with surprise, but then her face creases and tears come to her eyes.

“Well, [PCFirstName], I suppose that there are better girls whom you can always look into forming relationships with, such as Sima Venesico or maybe even Neta Xemutre. An impecunious scholar from Cassetta is not worthy for one with greater abilities in social life. I am relieved that you still want to associate yourself with me at all. We can be so successful together that you would scarcely believe it. If you want, you can correspond with me about business plans this summer. So many people, when they hear about a sickly scholar-mage impecunious, think such a person to be unworthy of being known – they worry that the sickly scholar-mage impecunious may turn to Gates magic or crime or something like that. But you were able to look beyond such, for which I am grateful. Thank you for not breaking my heart later, in a worse way…”

Zoe falls silent for a minute, then tries to speak, but, overcome by sobbing, fails to make any more coherent statements. You numbly wish her farewell, and she walks away, wiping tears with her sleeves.

You are left aghast by what you have created within Zoe. You had not meant to cause such sorrow within her by trying to restrain her relationship with you. Truly, people’s emotions are so difficult to understand and react to – including your own. [+1 skill step Romance, add action Discuss Business Plans with Zoe Melis, + 5 stress, + 5 stress for Zoe Melis, -5 Relationship with Zoe Melis, end event]

[If PC is student at Schohanwicht and is not Station: Nobility]

 

Zoe looks at you with surprise, but then her face creases and tears come to her eyes.

“Well, [PCFirstName], I suppose that there are better girls whom you can always look into forming relationships with, such as Sima Venesico or maybe even Neta Xemutre. An impecunious scholar from Cassetta is not worthy for one with greater abilities in social life. I am relieved that you still want to associate yourself with me at all. We can be so successful together that you would scarcely believe it. If you want, you can correspond with me about business plans this summer. So many people, when they hear about a sickly scholar-mage impecunious, think such a person to be unworthy of being known – they worry that the sickly scholar-mage impecunious may turn to Gates magic or crime or something like that. But you were able to look beyond such, for which I am grateful. Thank you for not breaking my heart later, in a worse way…”

Zoe falls silent for a minute, then tries to speak, but, overcome by sobbing, fails to make any more coherent statements. You numbly wish her farewell, and she walks away, wiping tears with her sleeves.

You are left aghast by what you have created within Zoe. You had not meant to cause such sorrow within her by trying to restrain her relationship with you. Truly, people’s emotions are so difficult to understand and react to – including your own. And but for your study of Gates magic, you would have been thrilled to have a deep friendship with Zoe – and perhaps love, come in time. It might be rapturously pleasant to get to know Zoe better, but such pleasure for you pales beside the pain of interrogation and execution for your studies. Sparing Zoe from knowing that you are involved with Gates magic is its own reward. You tell yourself these and other arguments, but you are not sure whether you have justified it well enough. You hope that Euneycia could give you some advice. [+1 skill step Romance, +1 skill step Dedication, add action Discuss Business Plans with Zoe Melis, remove affection and/or love emotion, + 10 stress, + 5 stress for Zoe Melis, -5 Relationship with Zoe Melis, end event]

“We benefitted each other, Zoe, but I have my own plans moving forth.”

 

[If PC is not student at Schohanwicht and has no Love nor Affection with Zoe Melis]

 

“Plans without me?” Zoe looks genuinely unsure about what you are intending to say.

“Precisely.”

Zoe, faced with your polite bluntness, does not shudder, but says, with great calmness, “Well, [PCFullName], thank you for giving me a better lesson about the world than anything taught to me by a professor, a student – even Arran Ledale the cursed orphan or Isabeau Glorieux the actress’s thieving bastard – or any book: in business, there is no sentimentality, nor any basis for friendship. Maybe next school year we can be business partners again if you change your mind, since you have revealed yourself to be trustworthy in business, but I want nothing to do with friendship with you this summer.”

Zoe then turns and rapidly walks away, trying to project a quiet dignity that is only slightly marred by a stifled sob. You are glad that the two of you were able to resolve the issue quietly, although you think that Zoe may be upset with you. [-10 relations with Zoe Melis, + 1 skill level in Composure for PC and Zoe Melis, end event]

[If PC is not student at Schohanwicht and has no Love but Affection with Zoe Melis]

 

“Plans without me?” Zoe looks genuinely unsure about what you are intending to say.

“Precisely.”

Zoe, faced with your polite bluntness, does not shudder, but says, with great calmness, “Well, [PCFullName], thank you for giving me a better lesson about the world than anything taught to me by a professor, a student – even Arran Ledale the cursed orphan or Isabeau Glorieux the actress’s thieving bastard – or any book: in business, there is no sentimentality, nor any basis for a deep friendship. Maybe next school year we can be business partners again if you change your mind, since you have revealed yourself to be trustworthy in business, but I want nothing to do with friendship with you this summer.”

Zoe then turns and rapidly walks away, trying to project a quiet dignity that is only slightly marred by a stifled sob. You are glad that the two of you were able to resolve the issue quietly, although you think that Zoe may be upset with you. But that is all right. There are other girls whom you could get to know – [RandomFamaleNPCStudentnotfromVernin] was looking at you with interest just the other day, if you understood her correctly. [-11 relation with Zoe Melis, + 1 skill level in Composure for PC and Zoe Melis, + 1 skill step in Flirtation, end event]

[If PC is not student at Schohanwicht and has Love with Zoe Melis]

 

“Plans without me?” Zoe looks genuinely unsure about what you are intending to say.

“Precisely.”

Zoe, faced with your polite bluntness, does not shudder, but says, with calmness only slightly marred by occasional gasping sobs, “[PCFullName], I thought that we had such a good relationship, and was looking forward to dating as soon as we were allowed. But you…were false in your feelings for me. I am…ebullient that you revealed this now rather than after some future time after I might have done…something unwise. Thank you for giving me a better lesson about the world than anything taught to me by a professor, a student – even Arran Ledale the cursed orphan or Isabeau Glorieux the actress’s thieving bastard – or any book: in business, there is no sentimentality, nor any basis for love. Maybe next school year we can be business partners again if you change your mind, since you have revealed yourself to be trustworthy in business, but I want nothing to do with friendship with you this summer.”

Zoe then turns and rapidly walks away, sobbing openly. You are glad that the two of you were able to resolve the issue quietly, and gladder than ever that you ended the relationship now. Zoe was already thinking about dating over a year from now! Who knows what other romantic notions or obsessions might have brought sorrow to you later? But there are other girls whom you could get to know who are probably more realistic about what you would be doing, given societal and school rules – [RandomFamaleNPCStudentnotfromVernin] was looking at you with interest just the other day, if you understood her correctly. [-12 relation with Zoe Melis, + 1 skill level in Dating for PC and Zoe Melis, + 1 skill step in Flirtation, end event]

[If PC is student at Schohanwicht and has no Love nor Affection with Zoe Melis]

 

“Plans without me?” Zoe looks genuinely unsure about what you are intending to say.

“Precisely.”

Zoe, faced with your polite bluntness, does not shudder, but says, with great calmness, “Well, [PCFullName], thank you for giving me a better lesson about the world than anything taught to me by a professor, a student – even Arran Ledale the cursed orphan or Isabeau Glorieux the actress’s thieving bastard – or any book: in business, there is no sentimentality, nor any basis for friendship. Maybe next school year we can be business partners again if you change your mind, since you have revealed yourself to be trustworthy in business, but I want nothing to do with friendship with you this summer.”

Zoe then turns and rapidly walks away, trying to project a quiet dignity that is only slightly marred by a stifled sob. You are glad that the two of you were able to resolve the issue quietly, although you think that Zoe may be upset with you. But you must keep her distant from you – if you were to let her get too friendly with you, she might learn about your study of Gates magic, and then you would be in big trouble, to put it mildly. [-10 relations with Zoe Melis, + 1 skill level in Composure for PC and Zoe Melis, +1 stress, end event]

[If PC is student at Schohanwicht and has no Love but Affection with Zoe Melis]

 

“Plans without me?” Zoe looks genuinely unsure about what you are intending to say.

“Precisely.”

Zoe, faced with your polite bluntness, does not shudder, but says, with great calmness, “Well, [PCFullName], thank you for giving me a better lesson about the world than anything taught to me by a professor, a student – even Arran Ledale the cursed orphan or Isabeau Glorieux the actress’s thieving bastard – or any book: in business, there is no sentimentality, nor any basis for a deep friendship. Maybe next school year we can be business partners again if you change your mind, since you have revealed yourself to be trustworthy in business, but I want nothing to do with friendship with you this summer.”

Zoe then turns and rapidly walks away, trying to project a quiet dignity that is only slightly marred by a stifled sob. You are glad that the two of you were able to resolve the issue quietly, although you think that Zoe may be upset with you. But you must keep her distant from you, no matter how much affection may be between the two of you – if you were to let her get too friendly with you, she might learn about your study of Gates magic, and then you would be in big trouble, to put it mildly. Your studies of Gates magic are more important than your relationship with Zoe, much as it pains you to admit it. Besides, all of her good feelings towards you would be as solid as the glamours that Hedi students learn how to make if she were to find out about your studies of Gates magic. [-11 relations with Zoe Melis, + 1 skill level in Composure for PC and Zoe Melis, +1 skill step Dispassion, +5 stress for the PC and Zoe Melis, end event]

[If PC is student at Schohanwicht and has Love with Zoe Melis and did not take Dialectic during Y1]

 

“Plans without me?” Zoe looks genuinely unsure about what you are intending to say.

“Precisely.”

Zoe, faced with your polite bluntness, does not shudder, but says, with great calmness, “Well, [PCFullName], thank you for giving me a better lesson about the world than anything taught to me by a professor, a student – even Arran Ledale the cursed orphan or Isabeau Glorieux the actress’s thieving bastard – or any book: in business, there is no sentimentality, nor any basis for a deep friendship. Maybe next school year we can be business partners again if you change your mind, since you have revealed yourself to be trustworthy in business, but I want nothing to do with friendship with you this summer.”

Zoe then turns and rapidly walks away, trying to project a quiet dignity that is only slightly marred by a stifled sob. As soon as you are sure that she can no longer hear or see you, you sag and think about sobbing yourself. The only good thing about this incident was that Zoe did not make a scene or raise a ruckus. But now the love that she had for you is vanished, as much as the glamours that Hedi students learn to make – or the creatures whom you have learned how to summon and banish at the Schohanwicht School. It is your study of Gates that has prevented your relationship with Zoe from blooming into the love that you feel for her, even within the limited type of love that the Academagia permits younger students to show each other – almost none. But you must keep her distant from you, no matter how much love may be between the two of you – if you were to let her get too intimate with you, she might learn about your study of Gates magic, and then you would be in big trouble, to put it mildly. Your studies of Gates magic are more important than your relationship with Zoe – or so you try to cponvince yourself. Even if all of her good feelings towards you could survive her learning that you are a Gates mage – which is itself not guaranteed – she is not the type of student whom you imagine would handle such news about a boyfriend well. Miya Hikari, Prudence Cossins, or Uliva Valaresso are all female students whom you could imagine as invaluable allies – and perhaps even fellow students – in your secret studies, but Zoe Melis, with her need for money for undisclosed reasons, sickness, and need to succeed academically, is not the type of girlfriend whom a Gates mage would want as an ally from among those who have not been initiated into the Schohanwicht School’s secrets. [-12 relations with Zoe Melis, + 1 skill level in Composure for PC and Zoe Melis, + 1 skill level Romance, +10 stress for the PC and Zoe Melis, add memory Zoe Spurned for Gates, end event]

[If PC is student at Schohanwicht and has Love with Zoe Melis and took Dialectic during Y1]

 

“Plans without me?” Zoe looks genuinely unsure about what you are intending to say.

“Precisely.”

Zoe, faced with your polite bluntness, does not shudder, but says, with great calmness, “Well, [PCFullName], thank you for giving me a better lesson about the world than anything taught to me by a professor, a student – even Arran Ledale the cursed orphan or Isabeau Glorieux the actress’s thieving bastard – or any book: in business, there is no sentimentality, nor any basis for a deep friendship. Maybe next school year we can be business partners again if you change your mind, since you have revealed yourself to be trustworthy in business, but I want nothing to do with friendship with you this summer.”

Zoe then turns and rapidly walks away, trying to project a quiet dignity that is only slightly marred by a stifled sob. As soon as you are sure that she can no longer hear or see you, you sag and think about sobbing yourself. The only good thing about this incident was that Zoe did not make a scene or raise a ruckus. But now the love that she had for you is vanished, as much as the glamours that Hedi students learn to make – or the creatures whom you have learned how to summon and banish at the Schohanwicht School. It is your study of Gates that has prevented your relationship with Zoe from blooming into the love that you feel for her, even within the limited type of love that the Academagia permits younger students to show each other – almost none. But you must keep her distant from you, no matter how much love may be between the two of you – if you were to let her get too intimate with you, she might learn about your study of Gates magic, and then you would be in big trouble, to put it mildly. Your studies of Gates magic are more important than your relationship with Zoe – or so you try to convince yourself. Even if all of her good feelings towards you could survive her learning that you are a Gates mage – which is itself not guaranteed – she is not the type of student whom you imagine would handle such news about a boyfriend well. Flore Yveuillet, Prudence Cossins, or Uliva Valaresso are all female students whom you could imagine as invaluable allies – and perhaps even fellow students – in your secret studies, but Zoe Melis, with her need for money for undisclosed reasons, sickness, and need to succeed academically, is not the type of girlfriend whom a Gates mage would want as an ally from among those who have not been initiated into the Schohanwicht School’s secrets. [-12 relations with Zoe Melis, + 1 skill level in Composure for PC and Zoe Melis, + 1 skill level Romance, +10 stress for the PC and Zoe Melis, add memory Zoe Spurned for Gates, end event]

Description of Benefits:

 

I created this event in part to justify the introduction of three activities that the PC can engage in with Zoe Melis over the summer vacation in order to avoid relationship decays. I know not how such relationship decay mechanics will be implemented, nor how often such actions may be used. But the three activities, as I have conceived them, have the following bonuses when used (in addition to preventing relationship decay).

 

Discuss Business Plans with Zoe Melis:

 

Flavor Text: Zoe’s need for money transcends even the limits of the school year…she claims. Even as other students (she thinks) are enjoying summers of leisure after a hard year of studying and exams, Zoe Melis is hard at work trying to make money and make others help her to make more money.

Benefits: +1 skill step to a random Economics subskill for both the PC and Zoe Melis.

Write a Multilingual Letter to Zoe Melis:

 

Flavor Text: Even as Zoe your friend, she remains a scholar who loves languages, and is eager to use you as a way to test her knowledge of various languages. She wants the two of you to write to each other in multiple languages with translations. It could be fun for you – it certainly is enjoyable for her.

Benefits: + 1 skill step to a random Language subskill for both the PC and Zoe Melis.

Exchange Multilingual Poetry with Zoe Melis

 

Flavor Text: Now that you are so close to Zoe, she has felt willing to seek your help in two key parts of her life, through a form of communication that could, she thinks, earn her only rebukes from less trustworthy people. So she and you exchange poetry written in various languages, and respectfully critique each others’ writing. What matter that the language is not up to Professor Sido’s standards, or that the sentiments might make Regent-Professor Badcrumble wince about improper use of poetry? Poets must start somewhere if they want to get good enough to be published, and which relationship provides a better foundation for such testing than that between you and Zoe Melis?

Benefits: + 1 skill step to a random Language subskill and + 1 skill step Romance for both the PC and Zoe Melis.

[Rhialto]

Any feed back would be much appreciated.

Uliva’s Upset 01:

 

Note: This is intended to be another short adventure for early in Y2, when students are leaving the Academagia. Should the team accept it, they may choose to make it an automatic event, or they may choose to make it a small time-limited adventure. Regardless, the prerequisites are: PC must have finished Uliva Valaresso’s Y1 adventure, must have relationship > 0 with Uliva Valaresso.

 

As you prepare to pack up your bags to go home after another strange end-of-first year student rite – were the syllables that you recited really sounds that only true humans could make, or a coded joke? – you are rushed into by a sobbing figure in the hallway.

Instinctively, you thrust your arms out to push the person away, but the hissing sob and rearing snake around her neck establish that she is Uliva Valaresso, and you do not want to strike a snake, especially one dear to Uliva. So your hands become limp and your arms fall down.

Uliva, however, focuses her attention on your initial reaction to bumping into her, and says, amid tears, “Do you also find me repulsive and creepy, despite – or because of – what you helped me with? It would match my role in Morvidus. One thing to be hated by the college’s bully, and to creep out the peace-lover is not strange…but when they teamed up to hate me, I felt so sad. Are you joining them?”

“Uliva, what happened?” Given the many strange things that have been known to happen in the Academagia, you figure that it is best to not make any assumptions. Maybe she was harassed by ghosts – although judging from her sorrow and what you know about Morvidus, you think that you have an idea what happened.

Uliva’s lips part and her tongue slips out to lick away some of the tears around her mouth before she replies.

“So, Joana was eating candy as she does, and I told her that she would not get Phillippe if he likes girls who eat more types of food. Then she said that it was better to eat candy than live mice. And I asked her why she was saying this and she said that she had seen Sasha my Familiar eating a live mouse and thought that since I so like to do what Sasha does – down to the hissing and writhing – I must eat live mice. So I called out Joanna's name in a harsh way and got Sasha for to see if she could talk to me about live mice – I am almost able to understand her – and Eliana heard what I cried and came to say that Joana should be nicer but when she saw whom Joana was talking to and saw me and Sasha talking about live mice – I was talking in Renaglian but Sasha’s hissings were to me comprehendible – she said that she saw why Joana would mock me and that if she had been better she would have caught and killed my serpent-breeding experiment – which she claimed had created a tricephalic elapid twenty yards long that spits venom sixty yards. So, then Joana mockingly hissed like Sasha and I sometimes do but spat on me – and she meant to. And when I winced, Eliana said that maybe this would teach me that snakes are dis…gus…ting and that such an interest makes me a freak!”

The last sentence that Uliva says is wracked by many sobs. Then she looks at you with tear-streaked face and tear-shined eyes and says, “So do you think me to be a freak?”

 

-          [If PC completed Eliana Carosi’s Y1 adventure] “I thought better of Eliana than this, based upon her desire for peace.”

 

“Even peace-lovers will not advocate for peace with a dragon,” Uliva sighs. “I suppose that the same is true for most zoologists and studying dragons’ lesser kin – even if the law were not to prohibit it, culture would. I was so sad when I learned that I could not study reptiles even here, at least not in first year.”

But then, in a somewhat happier voice, she says, “But Eliana is one person and you are another. How do you feel about me?” [1 skill step Anthropology for Uliva Valaresso and the PC, hide options based upon completing Eliana Carosi’s Y1 adventure, choose other option]

-          [If PC completed Eliana Carosi’s Y1 adventure and has Affection or Love with Uliva Valaresso] “Uliva, I am horrified that Eliana, whom I helped with such a noble hobby, could be so cruel.”

 

“She was no crueler than the laws and culture encourage people to be towards reptiles and those who venerate reptiles. Even peace-lovers will not advocate for peace with a dragon,” Uliva sighs. “I suppose that the same is true for most zoologists and studying dragons’ lesser kin – even if the law were not to prohibit it, culture would. I was so sad when I learned that I could not study even reptiles here, at least not in first year.”

But then, in a somewhat happier voice, she says, “But Eliana is one person and you are another with a much deeper relationship with me. How do you feel about me?” [1 skill step Anthropology for Uliva Valaresso and the PC, 1 skill step Ethics for Uliva Valaresso and the PC, hide options based upon completing Eliana Carosi’s Y1 adventure, choose other option]

-          [If PC completed Eliana Carosi’s Y1 adventure] “Well, I helped Eliana with setting up a peaceful retreat, so I will favor her over you.”

 

Uliva and Sasha unite in hissing at you, baring their teeth, but Uliva’s efforts at intimidation are spoiled when she begins crying again.

“[PCName], you think me a freak just like Eliana whom you like more than you like me! I do not need human companionship. Sasha and other snakes can help me well.”

With that, Uliva walks away. You are not sure what is creepier – the idea of abandoning human companionship for snakes, or the fact that Uliva, so far as you can tell, is not bluffing and can be emotionally supported by snakes. [1 skill step Animal Husbandry for Uliva Valaresso, 1 skill step Character Study for the PC, -10 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, End Adventure].

-          [If PC completed Eliana Carosi’s Y1 adventure and has neither Affection nor Love with Uliva Valaresso] “Uliva, if I had only wanted friends who could help me in society, I would not have helped both you and Eliana.”

 

“It is true that no one will gain great love from others by helping me, an ophidiophile. Yet you helped me, passing though the parts that others find creepy to my – and Pomey and Dodey’s - benefit. Yet Eliana's interests are more accepted, and you helped her with them.” Here Uliva winces. “So, do you think me to be a freak?” [1 skill step Intrigue for Uliva Valaresso and the PC, hide options based upon completing Eliana Carosi’s Y1 adventure, choose other option]

-          “Yes, you are a freak. But that is all right with me.”

 

Uliva laughs and Sasha hisses soothingly. “I know that my ophidiophilia is strange, but it is the guiding principle behind my study of magic and zoology. Thank you, [PCFirstName], for tolerating this in me.” She sighs, and you cannot be sure whether it is from wistfulness at not being fully accepted by you as a non-freak or joy at being accepted to the degree that you have. [1 skill step Etiquette for Uliva Valaresso, 1 skill step Character Study for the PC, +1 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, Advance to Uliva’s Upset 02]

-          “Yes, you are a freak. I would rather know more normal people.”

 

Uliva and Sasha unite in hissing at you, baring their teeth, but Uliva’s efforts at intimidation are spoiled when she begins crying again.

“[PCName], you think me a freak just like Eliana! I do not need human companionship. Sasha and other snakes can help me well.”

With that, Uliva walks away. You are not sure what is creepier – the idea of abandoning human companionship for snakes, or the fact that Uliva, so far as you can tell, is not bluffing and can be emotionally supported by snakes. [1 skill step Animal Husbandry for Uliva Valaresso, 1 skill step Character Study for the PC, -10 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, End Adventure].

-          [If PC has Anatomy 11 or Amphibians 11 or has Familiar: Platypus] “If you are a freak, then I am a freak. I truly love researching strange animals.”

 

[If PC has no Familiar: Platypus]

 

Uliva’s eyes widen, and she smiles broadly. “Then let us be freaks together, united by love of strange animals!”

Sasha hisses, and Uliva, after a puzzled stare during which you could swear that she is listening to and thinking about her Familiar’s words, says, in an apologetic voice, “Not that all snakes are strange. Cool Moonstone Snakes such as Sasha, for example, are as mundane as Renaglians in Mineta and Oursoukis in Orsouk.”

Your jaw drops in surprise. Seeing this, Uliva says hastily, “To me, that is. Other people have other thoughts about which snakes are strange, if any are.”

Well, regardless of Uliva’s social grace or lack of it, she is no longer weeping at the thought that students who normally disagree are united in finding her creepy, so…mission accomplished, you think. [1 skill step Character Study for the PC and Uliva Valaresso, +1 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, Advance to Uliva’s Upset 02].

[If PC has Familiar: Platypus and is not student at Schohanwicht School]

 

Uliva’s eyes widen, and she smiles broadly. “Then let us be freaks together, united by love of strange animals – me with snakes, you with that…duck-mole whom some people allege is a product of Gates Magic.”

Sasha hisses, and Uliva, after a puzzled stare during which you could swear that she is listening to and thinking about her Familiar’s words, says, in an apologetic voice, “Not that all snakes are strange. Cool Moonstone Snakes such as Sasha, for example, are as mundane as Renaglians in Mineta and Oursoukis in Orsouk, and are definitely not the product of Gates magic.”

Your jaw drops in surprise. Seeing this, Uliva says hastily, “To me, that is, the Cool Moonstone Snake is mundane. Other people have other thoughts about which snakes are strange, if any are. And the duck-mole, I am sure, has nothing to do with Gates magic. Other people – foolish, superstitious types – attribute every strange animal to Gates magic, and see every rotting corpse as the remnant of an Oursouki scouting party.”

Well, regardless of Uliva’s social grace or lack of it, she is no longer weeping at the thought that students who normally disagree are united in finding her creepy, so…mission accomplished, you think. And you did not even need to affirm or deny that your familiar is strange. [1 skill step Character Study for the PC and Uliva Valaresso, +1 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, Advance to Uliva’s Upset 02].

[If PC has Familiar: Platypus and is student at Schohanwicht School]

 

Uliva’s eyes widen, and she smiles broadly. “Then let us be freaks together, united by love of strange animals – me with snakes, you with that…duck-mole whom some people allege is a product of Gates Magic.”

Sasha hisses, and Uliva, after a puzzled stare during which you could swear that she is listening to and thinking about her Familiar’s words, says, in an apologetic voice, “Not that all snakes are strange. Cool Moonstone Snakes such as Sasha, for example, are as mundane as Renaglians in Mineta and Oursoukis in Orsouk, and are definitely not the product of Gates magic.”

Your jaw drops in horror. Seeing this, Uliva says hastily, “To me, that is, the Cool Moonstone Snake is mundane. Other people have other thoughts about which snakes are strange, if any are. And the duck-mole, I am sure, has nothing to do with Gates magic. Other people – foolish, superstitious types – attribute every strange animal to Gates magic, and see every rotting corpse as the remnant of an Oursouki scouting party.”

Well, regardless of Uliva’s social grace or lack of it, she is no longer weeping at the thought that students who normally disagree are united in finding her creepy, so…mission accomplished, you think. And you did not even need to affirm or deny that your familiar is strange – or address rumors that would link you with Gates magic. [1 skill step Character Study for the PC and Uliva Valaresso, +1 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, Advance to Uliva’s Upset 02].

-          [If PC has Anatomy 11 and Amphibians 11 or has Familiar: Snake] “If you are a freak, then I am a freak. I also like researching snakes.”

 

Uliva whoops for joy and embraces you with her arms and legs, coiling around you as if she were a serpent. “Freaks together, freaks forever! United by love of snakes and a willingness to subvert taboos and laws saying touch not, teach not, study not, love not!”

Sasha hisses, and Uliva, after a puzzled stare during which you could swear that she is listening to and thinking about her Familiar’s words, says, in an apologetic voice, “Not that I would expect you to be as…involved in serpentine behaviors as I am. I wish that I had my secret books to show you and talk about, but…alas.”

Well, regardless of Uliva’s social grace or lack of it and obsession with snakes that even her snake Familiar apparently finds strange, she is no longer weeping at the thought that students who normally disagree are united in finding her creepy, so…mission accomplished, you think. [1 skill step Character Study for the PC and Uliva Valaresso, +2 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, Advance to Uliva’s Upset 02].

-          [If PC has Anatomy 11 or Amphibians 11 or Familiar: Platypus] “I love researching strange animals, but draw the line at snakes, those kin to dragons.”

 

[If PC has not completed the Y1 Adventure “In Professor Storey’s Sights”]

 

Uliva sighs. “I figured as much myself. So often I come upon some person who seem, by knowledge of zoology and related Natural Philosophy, to be natural herpetologists – but they either avoid reptiles altogether for safer beasts or do not study snakes. Why, even Regent-Professor Storey’s experiments have nothing to do with…um, maybe you should forget that I said this. Still, we can be friends, right? United by love of strange animals!”

Sasha hisses, and Uliva, after a puzzled stare during which you could swear that she is listening to and thinking about her Familiar’s words, says, in an apologetic voice, “Not that all snakes are strange. Cool Moonstone Snakes such as Sasha, for example, are as mundane as Renaglians in Mineta and Oursoukis in Orsouk.”

Your jaw drops in surprise. Seeing this, Uliva says hastily, “To me, that is. Other people have other thoughts about which snakes are strange, if any are.”

Well, regardless of Uliva’s social grace or lack of it and apparent inability to keep Regent-Professor Storey’s secrets, she is no longer weeping at the thought that students who normally disagree are united in finding her creepy, so…mission accomplished, you think. [1 skill step Character Study for the PC and Uliva Valaresso, +1 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, Advance to Uliva’s Upset 02].

[If PC has completed the Y1 Adventure “In Professor Storey’s Sights”]

 

Uliva sighs. “I figured as much myself. So often I come upon some person who seem, by knowledge of zoology and related Natural Philosophy, to be natural herpetologists – but they either avoid reptiles altogether for safer beasts or do not study snakes. Why, even Regent-Professor Storey’s experiments have nothing to do with…um, maybe you should forget that I said this. Still, we can be friends, right? United by love of strange animals!”

Sasha hisses, and Uliva, after a puzzled stare during which you could swear that she is listening to and thinking about her Familiar’s words, says, in an apologetic voice, “Not that all snakes are strange. Cool Moonstone Snakes such as Sasha, for example, are as mundane as Renaglians in Mineta and Oursoukis in Orsouk.”

Your jaw drops in surprise. Seeing this, Uliva says hastily, “To me, that is. Other people have other thoughts about which snakes are strange, if any are.”

Well Uliva lacks social grace and ability to keep Regent-Professor Storey’s secret lizard breeding to herself – and how would she know about it, anyway? You do not recall seeing her in the wrynt’s vicinity, and Regent-Professor Storey made no mention of its being attended by other student helpers. Maybe the crawling like a snake that Uliva does helps her to be stealthy when she seeks information about snakes. But she is no longer weeping at the thought that students who normally disagree are united in finding her creepy, so…mission accomplished, you think. [1 skill step Character Study for Uliva Valaresso, 1 skill step Character Study for the PC, 1 skill step Sleuthing for the PC, -1 relationship with Uliva Valaresso, Advance to Uliva’s Upset 02].

-          [If PC has Anatomy 11 and Amphibians 11 or Familiar: Snake] “Although I like researching snakes, I am not so…obsessed about them as you are.”

 

Uliva gives a hissing laugh, and you are not sure whether she is mocking herself by playing into your expectations or honestly imitating a snake. “I realize that I am an ophidiophile, but am not one of the yucky ones – trying to breed dragons and even worse stuff, some of which I should not know anything about. Still, among the other obsessives in Morvidus, I would be normal enough were it not for the snakes. If I were loving cats, like Mairgrete Strakley loves cats, people would not be so repelled by me. But I like snakes and am shunned as a creep.”

She sighs and gives you a tired smile. “So, I am glad that I have found you, [PCFirstName], as a fellow lover of snakes. You need not go as far as I do in this interest – for me it is my life, but for others, it is a field of study or hobby.” [1 skill step Awareness for the PC and Uliva Valaresso, +1 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, Advance to Uliva’s Upset 02].

-          [If PC is student at the Schohanwicht] “Students here have many eccentric areas of interest, some of them illegal. I am among them…and so are you.”

 

Uliva’s eyes widen. “I suppose that you are right. Apparently, I could theoretically be executed for my study of snakes, though the chances of that happening seem lower than the chance of there being a Third Captivity. And that is very remote.”

Uliva and her familiar then hiss in a way that you think more paranoid people could see as pro-Draconic plotting. But then she sees your widening eyes and says, “I am honored that you are willing to tell me about your involvement in something underhanded. I trust that it is nothing that I, an ophidiophile, would object to – after all, you helped me with Pomey and Dodey, so you can’t be pure evil.”

You are glad that Uliva is willing to trust you despite your admission of illegal activities, but realize that her ophidiophilia may be her blind spot. Other people, after all, might think that a person breeding a magical snake would be doing so for selfish if not illegal reasons – as a treasure guardian, for example – but Uliva sees only the help with the snake and is convinced that you must be good. Still, if this is what prevents her from screaming to all who can hear her that you are an evil Gates mage trying to take over the universe or something equally hazardous to your life and popularity, you will accept it. [+1 skill step Criminal Law for the PC and Uliva Valaresso, +1 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, Advance to Uliva’s Upset 02].

[Rhialto]

Any feed back would be much appreciated.

Uliva’s Upset 02:

 

Having calmed Uliva down as best as you can, you think it appropriate to turn the conversation to a more cheerful subject. So you say to her, “Uliva, do you have any plans for the summer?”

But Uliva cringes, then says, “If I were to tell you, you might get upset. I know that I am obsessed with snakes, and I know that this cuts down whom I can talk well to. People are either creeped out by the interest or cannot think what to talk to me about that is not snakes. Heck, your efforts with me, in which I showed more about me than I have to others here, were all about snakes – although to me, Pomey and Dodey were more than what Eliana says they were. So, I will not tell you about my plans for the summer, because the plans would just confirm for you that I am what I seem – a strange snake…girl. But maybe you could tell me what you want to do this summer to keep in touch with me, given our shared experiences.”

 

-          [If PC has Love with Uliva Valaresso and is Student at Schohanwicht School] “Uliva, I must confess that I have certain commitments whose secretiveness may limit my ability to be in touch with you.”

 

[If PC did not take Y1 Dialectic Class]

 

Uliva slowly blinks her eyes, then says, “I am not too shocked. You were willing to help me with my secret effort, so it makes sense that you would have your own secrets. But is your work stuff that I would be interested in?”

“Uliva, I am sorry that I cannot –”

Uliva, responding to Sasha’s hissing and your look of dawning horror, interrupts. “Look, you need not tell me what you do – you are likely risking a lot just by telling me what you have, and Sasha would not forgive me if I were to exploit your by getting you to say more than you want. But does it have anything to do with strange animals? Such as snakes?”

“Yes. Including snakes.” You figure that so many secretive things involve strange animals, including snakes, that studying Gates magic would not immediately leap to Uliva’s mind as the best explanation.

Uliva’s reply reveals no thought of horror or undue suspicion towards you as she says, “Well, I am sorry that I cannot join you. I would do almost anything to be able to study snakes more in-depth. But see: since you helped me in my…business with Pomey and Dodey, and since we are so close, I can try to help you as best as I can. Not,” and here she holds up a warning hand, “through learning what precisely you do, but through sharing my notes about snakes. I have so much material that I have encrypted, copied from books – many themselves encrypted – from many libraries that I can share with you. Maybe my herpetological information can help you with what you are doing. So many people cannot tell an elapid from a boa! And if the laws and society were to have their way, neither could I! But I will share with you some portion of my research – I hope that you can do the same. Not that my research is easily readable – I would send it to you in this code, which you may have a copy of!”

Uliva slips a piece of paper from her robe into your hand, then rushes away, and Sasha waves her tail in a way that may be a wave. Looking down at it, you see that it is an encryption key. After memorizing it, you burn it to ashes in a candle and carefully scatter the ashes. Just because Uliva trusts you to keep her encryption notes does not mean that you trust yourself to keep her encryption key safe from others. If there is one thing that the Schohanwicht School has taught you, it is paranoia. You are just glad that you will have Uliva Valaresso providing support in her strange way. [+ 1 skill step Conceal for Uliva Valaresso, + 1 skill step Memorization for PC, add memory Knows Uliva’s Code, add ability Write Encoded Message to Uliva Valaresso, end adventure]

[If PC took Y1 Dialectic Class]

 

Uliva slowly blinks her eyes, then says, “I am not too shocked. You were willing to help me with my secret effort, so it makes sense that you would have your own secrets. But is your work stuff that I would be interested in?”

“Uliva, I am sorry that I cannot –”

Uliva, responding to Sasha’s hissing and your look of dawning horror, interrupts. “Look, you need not tell me what you do – you are likely risking a lot just by telling me what you have, and Sasha would not forgive me if I were to exploit your by getting you to say more than you want. But does it have anything to do with strange animals? Such as snakes?”

“Yes. Including snakes.” You figure that so many secretive things involve strange animals, including snakes, that studying Gates magic would not immediately leap to Uliva’s mind as the best explanation.

Uliva’s reply reveals no thought of horror or undue suspicion towards you as she says, “Well, I am sorry that I cannot join you. I would do almost anything to be able to study snakes more in-depth. But see: since you helped me in my…business with Pomey and Dodey, and since we are so close, I can try to help you as best as I can. Not,” and here she holds up a warning hand, “through learning what precisely you do, but through sharing my notes about snakes. I have so much material that I have encrypted, copied from books – many themselves encrypted – from many libraries that I can share with you. Maybe my herpetological information can help you with what you are doing. So many people cannot tell an elapid from a boa! And if the laws and society were to have their way, neither could I! But I will share with you some portion of my research – I hope that you can do the same. Not that my research is easily readable – I would send it to you in this code, which you may have a copy of!”

Uliva slips a piece of paper from her robe into your hand, then rushes away, and Sasha waves her tail in a way that may be a wave. Looking down at it, you see that it is an encryption key. After memorizing it, you burn it to ashes in a candle and carefully scatter the ashes. Just because Uliva trusts you to keep her encryption notes does not mean that you trust yourself to keep her encryption key safe from others. If there is one thing that the Schohanwicht School has taught you, it is paranoia. You are just glad that you will have Uliva Valaresso providing support in her strange way. One does not need to openly defend the use of Gates magic in order to support a Gates Mage. [+ 1 skill step Conceal for Uliva Valaresso, + 1 skill step Memorization for PC, add memory Knows Uliva’s Code, add ability Write Encoded Message to Uliva Valaresso, end adventure]

-          [If PC has Love or Affection with Uliva Valaresso and is Student at Schohanwicht School] “Uliva, I have commitments that may limit my ability to have a good relationship with you.”

 

Uliva blinks her eyes and says, “Fair enough. I do also, what with snakes and perhaps looking in on Pomey and Dodey – and our parents may object. But what other things do you want to do with me this summer – as a friend?”

You are glad that Uliva is taking this so well. Maybe her obsession with snakes truly is helping her socially with you. Certainly, you are relieved that she is not pressing you further about what your commitments are that may impede your relationship with her or raising a scene – both of which may draw unwanted attention to you. [+1 skill step Temperance for PC and Uliva Valaresso, remove Affection and/or Love from PC and Uliva Valaresso, choose again]

-          [If PC has Love with Uliva Valaresso and will be spending the summer in Mineta] “Uliva, I am not leaving Mineta this summer. Free from school, we could do some…interesting things.”

 

Uliva’s eyes widen and Sasha hisses. Then Uliva faintly smiles and says, “I don’t want to risk my attendance here by dating you before we are permitted, even out of school. Pomey and Dodey were risky enough for me. But what about a compromise?”

You try to determine whether fear or excitement guides you most as you reply, “Compromise, Uliva? It depends.” You hope that Uliva does not want to try to raise another snake – or something even crazier.

“True,” Uliva hisses thoughtfully. Then she brightens. “Good thing that my compromise is reasonable - I hope! I can train you this summer to be more like a snake! Fun for both of us, and not as illegal as what we did with Pomey and Dodey!”

Then, seeing your hesitancy, she says, “You don’t need to make a commitment. But it is an option if you want it.”

As she walks away, you are relieved that she is letting you think about it. Being like a snake can mean many things, some of which are useful in ordinary life, but learning about them from such an enthusiastic lover of snakes may be a bit off-putting. [+1 skill step Planning for PC and Uliva Valaresso, add ability Train with Uliva Valaresso, end Adventure]

-          [If PC has Affection with Uliva Valaresso and will be spending the summer in Mineta] “Uliva, I am not leaving Mineta this summer. We could easily walk and talk together if you want.”

 

“Yes,” Uliva softly hisses. “Walking and talking with you would be very nice. But I do not…know what to talk about with you in that…thing. I will not risk my being a student here by dating you yet, but surely it would be better for both of us if I could talk about more than snakes.”

You carefully tap Uliva’s shoulder and stroke Sasha’s scales. “Thanks, Uliva, for being so wise. In this way you are better than you could be.”

“There is more to life than snakes, isn’t there?” Uliva wonders, although whether to you, Sasha, or herself you cannot tell. But then she walks away, so you cannot respond.

You hope that Uliva will become better in some way, and hope that you can help her. It is one thing to have a passion, but another, worse thing, for the passion to utterly dominate a person’s life. [+1 skill step Dating for PC and Uliva Valaresso, add ability Walk and Talk with Uliva Valaresso, end Adventure]

-          [If PC will be spending the summer in Mineta] “It would be great to hang out with you this summer.”

 

“Truly, it would!” Uliva replies. “I am always eager to talk to people about snakes. I will not share with you my privately collected notes about the subject, but I know enough from publicly permitted sources to be of interest when we meet this summer.”

She then gives you a brief hug with all of her limbs before rushing off – all before you can say whether you want to talk to her about anything else during your summer-time meetings. You are not sure whether you will take her up on this option, but you are glad that you at least have it. [+1 skill step Flawless Timing for PC and Uliva Valaresso, add ability Hang Out with Uliva Valaresso, end Adventure]

-          [If PC has Affection or Love for Uliva Valaresso and will not be spending the summer in Mineta] “Uliva, we will, I hope, be able to stay in touch over the summer.”

 

“Yes,” Uliva softly hisses. “Writing to you about many things would be very nice. But I do not…know what to talk about with you in such letters. I will not risk my being a student here by dating you yet, not even even through words on paper, but surely it would be better for both of us if I could write to you about more than snakes.”

You carefully tap Uliva’s shoulder and stroke Sasha’s scales. “Thanks, Uliva, for being so wise. In this way you are better than you could be.”

“There is more to life than snakes, isn’t there?” Uliva wonders, although whether to you, Sasha, or herself you cannot tell. But then she walks away, so you cannot respond.

You hope that Uliva will become better in some way, and hope that you can help her. It is one thing to have a passion, but another, worse thing, for the passion to utterly dominate a person’s life. [+1 skill step Dating for PC and Uliva Valaresso, add ability Correspond with Uliva Valaresso, end Adventure]

-          [If PC will not be spending the summer in Mineta] “It would be great to write to you this summer.”

 

“Truly, it would!” Uliva replies. “I am always eager to write to people about snakes. I will not share with you my privately collected notes about the subject, but I know enough from publicly permitted sources to be of interest when we meet this summer.”

She then gives you a brief hug with all of her limbs before rushing off – all before you can say whether you want to write to her about anything else during your summer-time writing. You are not sure whether you will take her up on this option, but you are glad that you at least have it. [+1 skill step Flawless Timing for PC and Uliva Valaresso, add ability Hang Out with Uliva Valaresso, end Adventure]

-          “I have no interest in staying in touch with you this summer. You are too obsessed with snakes to be interesting.”

 

Uliva and Sasha unite in hissing at you, baring their teeth, but Uliva’s efforts at intimidation are spoiled when she begins crying again.

“[PCName], you think me an ophidiophilic freak! I do not need human companionship. Sasha and other snakes can help me well.”

With that, Uliva walks away. You are not sure what is creepier – the idea of abandoning human companionship for snakes, or the fact that Uliva, so far as you can tell, is not bluffing and can be emotionally supported by snakes. [1 skill step Animal Husbandry for Uliva Valaresso, 1 skill step Character Study for the PC, -5 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, End Adventure].

-          “I would prefer to limit my contact with you to the Academagia. I have interests that are not snakes.”

 

[If PC is not a student at the Schohanwicht and is not a student in Morvidus College]

 

Uliva sighs and gives you a tired smile. “You would not be the first person who has not wanted to be my friend beyond a stage because of my ophidiophilia. I am glad that you are willing to tolerate me enough to be some sort of friend for me in school. We can probably have some great times together next school year.”

Uliva then leaves. You are glad that she was so understanding, all things considered. Still, with her…uncommon interest – or obsession, being honest – she must have had to deal with many worse forms of rejection, such as from both Eliana and Joana. At least she learned from such incidents not to be excessively angry when friends want to limit their relationships with her, although if she were wiser she would perhaps tone down her obvious and extreme interest in snakes. [1 skill step Temperance for the PC and Uliva Valaresso, -1 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, End Adventure].

[If PC is a student at the Schohanwicht and is not a student in Morvidus College]

 

Uliva sighs and gives you a tired smile. “You would not be the first person who has not wanted to be my friend beyond a stage because of my ophidiophilia. I am glad that you are willing to tolerate me enough to be some sort of friend for me in school. We can probably have some great times together next school year.”

Uliva then leaves. You are glad that she was so understanding, all things considered. Still, with her…uncommon interest – or obsession, being honest – she must have had to deal with many worse forms of rejection, such as from both Eliana and Joana. At least she learned from such incidents not to be excessively angry when friends want to limit their relationships with her, although if she were wiser she would perhaps tone down her obvious and extreme interest in snakes. But then, if she were wiser, she might also be cunning enough to ask you about your other interests, and that could lead you into all sorts of troubles. So maybe it is best that the two of you keep some distance from each other in your relationship. [+1 skill step Temperance for the PC and Uliva Valaresso, +1 Stress for the PC, +1 skill step Social Skills for the PC, -1 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, End Adventure].

[If PC is not a student at the Schohanwicht and is a student in Morvidus College]

 

Uliva sighs and gives you a tired smile. “You would not be the first person who has not wanted to be my friend beyond a stage because of my ophidiophilia. I am glad that you are willing to tolerate me enough to be some sort of friend for me in school. We can probably have some great times together next school year beyond those that we will share as students at Morvidus College.”

Uliva then leaves. You are glad that she was so understanding, all things considered. Still, with her…uncommon interest – or obsession, being honest – she must have had to deal with many worse forms of rejection, such as from both Eliana and Joana. At least she learned from such incidents not to be excessively angry when friends want to limit their relationships with her, although if she were wiser she would perhaps tone down her obvious and extreme interest in snakes. [1 skill step Temperance for the PC and Uliva Valaresso, -1 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, End Adventure].

[If PC is a student at the Schohanwicht and is a student in Morvidus College]

 

Uliva sighs and gives you a tired smile. “You would not be the first person who has not wanted to be my friend beyond a stage because of my ophidiophilia. I am glad that you are willing to tolerate me enough to be some sort of friend for me in school. We can probably have some great times together next school year even beyond those that we will share as students at Morvidus College.”

Uliva then leaves. You are glad that she was so understanding, all things considered. Still, with her…uncommon interest – or obsession, being honest – she must have had to deal with many worse forms of rejection, such as from both Eliana and Joana. At least she learned from such incidents not to be excessively angry when friends want to limit their relationships with her, although if she were wiser she would perhaps tone down her obvious and extreme interest in snakes. But then, if she were wiser, she might also be cunning enough to ask you about your other interests, and that could lead you into all sorts of troubles. So maybe it is best that the two of you keep some distance from each other in your relationship. [+1 skill step Temperance for the PC and Uliva Valaresso, +1 Stress for the PC, +1 skill step Social Skills for the PC, -1 relation between Uliva Valaresso and the PC, End Adventure].

 

Description of Benefits:

 

I created this event in part to justify the introduction of some activities that the PC can engage in with Uliva Valaresso over the summer vacation in order to avoid relationship decays. I know not how such relationship decay mechanics will be implemented, nor how often such actions may be used. But these activities, as I have conceived them, have the following bonuses when used (in addition to preventing relationship decay).

 

Train with Uliva Valaresso:

 

Flavor Text: Uliva, for all of her…peculiarities, is not so delusional that her sudy of snakes has not affected her body and mind. Due to her careful study of snakes – and possibly deeper connections – she can move very quietly and sense dangers that other people cannot. Because you are so close with her, she will train you in some of what she does. Sure, moving as if you were a snake may seem childish, but with her guidance, it can be effective.

Benefits: +1 skill step to Danger Sense and Move Silently for the PC, +1 skill step to Study Habits and Dance for Uliva Valaresso.

 

Walk and Talk with Uliva Valaresso:

 

Flavor Text: Now that you are so close to Uliva, she is willing to walk and talk with you about...well, nothing romantic, but at least more than snakes. Stuff such as the weather and things happening in Mineta…although she keeps bringing up issues that could be relevant to snakes, such as museums and whether there is an abundance of mice. You suppose that this is to her a great progress in her efforts to become slightly more normal for your sake.

Benefits: + 1 skill step Conversation and + 1 skill step Awareness for both the PC and Uliva Valaresso.

 

Hang Out with Uliva Valaresso:

 

Flavor Text: Uliva is always eager to talk with you about snakes. While she does not trust you enough to share with you the notebooks about snakes that she claims to have, she is always willing to talk about amphibians and let you try to make connections.

Benefits: + 1 skill step Amphibians and + 1 skill step Innuendo for both the PC and Uliva Valaresso.

 

Write to Uliva Valaresso:

 

Flavor Text: Uliva is always eager to write to you about snakes. While she does not trust you enough to share with you the notebooks about snakes that she claims to have, she is always willing to write about amphibians and let you try to make connections.

Benefits: + 1 skill step Amphibians and + 1 skill step Innuendo for both the PC and Uliva Valaresso.

 

Correspond with Uliva Valaresso:

 

Flavor Text: Now that you are so close to Uliva, she is willing to correspond with you about...well, nothing romantic, but at least more than snakes. Stuff such as the weather and things happening in Mineta…although she keeps bringing up issues that could be relevant to snakes, such as museums and whether there is an abundance of mice. You suppose that this is to her a great progress in her efforts to become slightly more normal for your sake.

Benefits: + 1 skill step Journalism and + 1 skill step Awareness for both the PC and Uliva Valaresso.

 

Write Encoded Message to Uliva Valaresso:

 

Flavor Text: Uliva’s trust in you is so great, and she is so eager to help you with your secret project, that she shares with you portions of her private researches into snakes, written in a code that she has devised and taught you.

Benefits: + 1 skill step Amphibians, + 1 skill step Cryptology, and +1 skill step Anatomy for both the PC and Uliva Valaresso.

[Rhialto]

Sima Suspects:

Note: This is a Random Event for Y2 whose Trigger Condition is having a PC with the Memory Sima Suspects. It can currently only be gotten through a certain route in my Y2 adventure “Sima’s Summons”, but other people may wish to create scenarios where the Memory, having to do with the PC’s attending the Schohanwicht School, may be gotten.

Feedback from all is welcome.

@freespace2dotcom: This event includes some content with Mr. Pebbles. Your feedback is much welcomed.

 

You are walking along the hallway on your way to [PCCollegeName]’s Common Room, hoping to get some quiet studying done and mind your own business – and hoping that others will mind their own business enough to not notice that you have Gates magic residue on you from a bit of experimenting that you did with Gates magic in a very remote nook in the Venalicium Library – when you notice two things. First, the hallway seems to be emptier than it normally would be. Second, you hear a faint roaring that you associate with a crowd of people. As you are wondering what could have attracted such a gathering, you peek around the corner to see that a crowd of students, faculty, and seemingly other prominent people from Mineta are gathered in front of and entering a doorway above which is hanging a sign with the words “If not Cyve, then Other Worlds?: A Debate Between Academagia Student Malacresta Vercresti and Astronaut Marco Porphyrogenito” written upon it.

One of the students at the edge of the crowd, wearing Hedi College robes, seems unique in not being eager to enter the room. Because of this, the student notices you and approaches you. As she approaches, you see that she is Sima Venesico. Sima beckons for you to withdraw into the otherwise empty hallway that you were walking along, where she joins you after making sure as best as she can that you are alone but for her.

“Crazy gathering, eh? Badcrumble and von Rupprecht really pulled out all of the stops to promote their wonder-boy’s debate. It seems that a lot of people are interested in Malacresta – more than are interested in astronauts, I guess. I am almost tempted to try to get into the debate in order to see how they will talk about such an obscure topic for such an audience, but the crowd is so thick and – well, I have friends for a reason. Take you, [PCFirstName]. I would not be surprised if you could easily use your…secretive magical knowledge of certain matters related to portals to make it so easy for me to enter that others would swear that I would be entering through a gate.” Sima’s mischievous smirk suggests that she fully appreciates that she is implying that you are a Gates mage of some sort, but there is no malice in her eyes. She is teasing you, not insulting or threatening you.

How do you want to respond?

 

-          “Sima, your own mastery of magic is nothing to be hidden. You could make people do anything, I do not doubt, including let you pass into the debating chamber.” [auto]

 

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico and met the Silent Lady in Y1]

 

Sima smiles faintly and delicately brushes her hair. “Even if I were having such power, and could use it safely, I would not use it in such circumstances.”

“What? Why?” You would have thought that most students would be at least faintly tempted by the idea of using Mastery to help themselves in some way, and Sima, with her willingness to experiment with hypnosis and interest in magic that would most charitably be described as better left forgotten, is one of the few students whom you can conceive of as more than tempted by Mastery.

“Making people do something is unimaginative and dangerous. Better by far to understand what people want and then try to persuade them that by doing what you want, they gain something. Your suggestion could easily create enemies.”

“Are you glad, Sima, that you did not force me to help you last year? And what do you think that I want?”

Sima giggles. “You are such a good friend that this alone would be a reason to not have you as an enemy were it not for your skills that help me but could harm me. As for what I think you want, I am tempted to not mention it until next year. But given where we are in terms of understanding, I would happily date you when we can do so next year.”

“People and fish – so alike.”

Sima gasps and covers her mouth with her hand, but her eyes are happy. “Indeed, but where fish must be brought under control with bait that they eat to their detriment, people, to their joy, can be baited with each other for less destructive results. Now I must go, but be assured that if I had known that a certain blue-clad bounty-hunting lady had captured you, you would have been good bait if someone had wanted me to be trapped by her.”

When Sima leaves you, you are left wondering how much she knows about bounty-hunters and other sordid people in the Empire of Man. You are not sure whether you should be relieved or upset that her knowledge apparently did not extend to knowing about the bounty for your capture last year. Regardless, you are relieved that Sima is apparently willing to risk her own safety in order to rescue you. [+ 1 skill step Intrigue and Traps for the PC and Sima Venasico, end Event]

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico and did not meet the Silent Lady in Y1]

 

Sima smiles faintly and delicately brushes her hair. “Even if I were having such power, and could use it safely, I would not use it in such circumstances.”

“What? Why?” You would have thought that most students would be at least faintly tempted by the idea of using Mastery to help themselves in some way, and Sima, with her willingness to experiment with hypnosis and interest in magic that would most charitably be described as better left forgotten, is one of the few students whom you can conceive of as more than tempted by Mastery.

“Making people do something is unimaginative and dangerous. Better by far to understand what people want and then try to persuade them that by doing what you want, they gain something. Your suggestion could easily create enemies.”

“Are you glad, Sima, that you did not force me to help you last year? And what do you think that I want?”

Sima giggles. “You are such a good friend that this alone would be a reason to not have you as an enemy were it not for your skills that help me but could harm me. As for what I think you want, I am tempted to not mention it until next year. But given where we are in terms of understanding, I would happily date you when we can do so next year.”

“People and fish – so alike.”

Sima gasps and covers her mouth with her hand, but her eyes are happy. “Indeed, but where fish must be brought under control with bait that they eat to their detriment, people, to their joy, can be baited with each other for less destructive results. Now I must go, but be assured that if a certain blue-clad bounty-hunting lady were to capture you, you would be good bait for her to trap me.”

When Sima leaves you, you wonder how much she knows about bounty-hunters and other sordid people in the Empire of Man. Is Sima’s knowledge real, or merely an illusion of worldliness, like the glamours that she makes in classes? Regardless, you are convinced that the close bond between you and Sima is more than an illusion. [+ 1 skill step Intrigue for the PC and Sima Venasico, + 1 skill step Traps for the PC and Sima Venasico, end Event]

[If PC has no Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

Sima smiles faintly. “Even if I were having such power, and could use it safely, I would not use it in such circumstances.”

“What? Why?” You would have thought that most students would be at least faintly tempted by the idea of using Mastery to help themselves in some way, and Sima, with her willingness to experiment with hypnosis and interest in magic that would most charitably be described as better left forgotten, is one of the few students whom you can conceive of as more than tempted by Mastery.

“Making people do something is unimaginative and dangerous. Better by far to understand what people want and then try to persuade them that by doing what you want, they gain something. Your suggestion could easily create enemies.”

“Are you glad, Sima, that you did not force me to help you last year?”

Sima giggles. “You are such a good friend that this alone would be a reason to not have you as an enemy were it not for your skills that help me but could harm me.”

As Sima leaves, you are glad that, whatever else she may be, she is to you a friend. If she were your enemy, she could be dangerous to you. [+ 1 skill step Intrigue for the PC and Sima Venasico, end Event]

-          “Sima, you say serious things that deserve more privacy for discussion.” [auto]

 

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

“Such as what?” Sima looks at you, her eyes wide in innocent curiosity that is so convincing that you would believe her if she were not Sima. But then, if she were not Sima, you probably would not be having this conversation with her.

“Certain things…I can tell you. I want to tell you. The Gods know that releasing the secrets would lighten my loads.”

Sima gasps and tears come into her eyes. You wonder whether they are real, but her words seem to suggest that she is trying to express sincere emotion.

“[PCFirstName], I am...honored. Of all the girls whom you could have chosen to tell, you chose me. Not Flore with the pro-Gates arguments, whose family could hire an army of lawyers to contest any stage of an investigation. Nor Uliva with the illegal interest in reptiles, who probably has more secrets than her Familiar has tail length. Nor even Miya whose stories are so fantastic even for Mineta that a special male friend with a secret would be normal for her. Instead you choose this…actress, this dombi, this jewelry collector who cannot make jewelry.”

“All this and more I would tell you, my dear friend. After what we went through together last year, no abstract traits in others nor foreigners’ term for you could lower your trustworthiness in my eyes.”

Sima sighs and presses a warm finger to your lips.

“Your secrets have power. Share them with no one, not even me. I’ve certain…parts of my life that may learn your secrets through me, like with the cursed jewels you helped me with – and they’re not likely to care about you. Secrets can control you.”

Gulping at the audible stress in Sima’s voice, you shakily agree and leave her. Between secretly studying Gates magic at the Schohanwicht School and being Sima’s dear friend, you are sometimes not sure which can be more stressful and mysterious – but also full of joy when done right. [+ 1 skill step Journalism for the PC and Sima Venasico, + 1 skill step Romance for the PC and Sima Venasico, end Event]

[If PC has no Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

“Such as what?” Sima looks at you, her eyes wide in innocent curiosity that is so convincing that you would believe her if she were not Sima. But then, if she were not Sima, you probably would not be having this conversation with her.

“Certain things…I can tell you. I want to tell you. The Gods know that releasing the secrets would lighten my loads.”

Sima sighs.

“Your secrets have power. Share them with no one, not even me. I’ve certain…parts of my life that may learn your secrets through me, like with the cursed jewels you helped me with – and they’re not likely to care about you. Secrets can control you.”

Gulping at the audible stress in Sima’s voice, you shakily agree and leave her. Between secretly studying Gates magic at the Schohanwicht School and being Sima’s friend, you are sometimes not sure which can be more stressful and mysterious – but also full of joy when done right. [+ 1 skill step Journalism for the PC and Sima Venasico, end Event]

-          “Sima, your words could be interpreted in certain…unfortunate ways.” [auto]

 

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

“Such is the nature of words. Once they are said, others are free to interpret words in many strange ways.” Sima places her hands on her hips. “Perhaps you should be thankful that I am not a journalist so-called for the student newspaper. Every issue of that rag is full of crazy allegations about students’ achievements. If a student were to be caught going behind the counter of Gressel's Medications, the fortunate student would be alleged to be suffering from many rare and socially humiliating diseases caught through various underhanded deeds, while the unfortunate student would be alleged to be the last heir of King Kazus, secretly dedicated to upholding his traditions.”

“You are better for me than any newspaper or writer for newspapers, Sima. You are my dear friend who can make the sort of remarks that you just made without attracting anger.”

“Nor denials.”

You figure that it is appropriate to show that Sima is not the only one who can twist words. “What would I deny, Sima? You admitted that words have many meanings. If I were to deny one interpretation, I might be denying the wrong one and drawing attention to things that the other person had not noticed.”

Sima laughs aloud. “Point taken, [PCFirstName]. I guess that if I were truly wanting to learn a secret from you, I would have to use language that would not permit such equivocation.” [+ 1 skill step Innuendo for the PC and Sima Venasico, + 1 skill step Temperance for the PC and Sima Venasico, end Event]

[If PC has no Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

“Such is the nature of words. Once they are said, others are free to interpret words in many strange ways. Perhaps you should be thankful that I am not a journalist so-called for the student newspaper. Every issue of that rag is full of crazy allegations about students’ achievements. If a student were to be caught going behind the counter of Gressel's Medications, the fortunate student would be alleged to be suffering from many rare and socially humiliating diseases caught through various underhanded deeds, while the unfortunate student would be alleged to be the last heir of King Kazus, secretly dedicated to upholding his traditions.”

“You are better for me than any newspaper or writer for newspapers, Sima. You are my friend who can make the sort of remarks that you just made without attracting anger.”

“Nor denials.”

You figure that it is appropriate to show that Sima is not the only one who can twist words. “What would I deny, Sima? You admitted that words have many meanings. If I were to deny one interpretation, I might be denying the wrong one and drawing attention to things that the other person had not noticed.”

Sima laughs aloud. “Point taken, [PCFirstName]. I guess that if I were truly wanting to learn a secret from you, I would have to use language that would not permit such equivocation.”

“Don’t push your luck with my lack of anger, Sima.” [+ 1 skill step Innuendo for the PC and Sima Venasico, end Event]

-          “Sima, words are easy to say, but actions are more difficult to take.” [auto]

 

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico and is in Morvidus College]

 

“What do you mean?” Sima looks at you, her eyes thoughtfully heavily lidded.

“I mean that anyone can claim to be capable of anything, but unless the person demonstrates the skill claimed it can be dismissed as an empty claim.”

“And what about you? Should I regard your…talent as an empty claim?” Sima looks at you with faint concern.

“The only one of us who is claiming anything about me is you, based upon your interpretation of my reaction to a foreign thief’s nickname for me.”

“And should I let myself believe what my interpretation suggests?” Sima smiles. “I doubt that anyone would take it seriously – and perhaps if we were not feeling so fond of each other, I would not have made the interpretation that I made about you.”

“That depends on your conclusion. Would you hold my involvement…in what you suspect me to be involved in against me?”

“No more than I would hold Eliana Carosi’s study of Revision against her due to the bad things that Philippe Marchant does with that same pillar of magic. And you are much kinder and dearer to me and more useful than either of those Morvidus students.”

“Sima, I am in Morvidus.”

“And for this reason alone I love Morvidus, just like for…other reasons I like Durand and Aranaz Colleges. Hedi College has no rivals, so to me all other colleges are potentially wonderful.”

As if Sima’s words were a magnet and your tongue were iron, you find yourself saying, “Even if I were to belong to a secret college?”

“I love secrets, [PCFirstname], but I love those who can keep secrets when appropriate even better. Maybe we had better talk about less hypothetical, non-secret issues now.”

After you finish talking to Sima – about what else your panic-quivering mind cannot recall – you are forced to run into your bedroom to cry. Living with your secret is a terrible burden that you must bear for your life’s sake – but it is so difficult. You are relieved that Sima is not your enemy but your dear friend who would, as she revealed, not abuse your relationship with her in order to expose your secrets. [+1 skill step Bluff for the PC and Sima Venesico, + 1 skill step Speaking Quietly of Riddles for the PC and Sima Venesico, + 1 stress, end event]

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico and is not in in Morvidus College]

 

“What do you mean?” Sima looks at you, her eyes thoughtfully heavily lidded.

“I mean that anyone can claim to be capable of anything, but unless the person demonstrates the skill claimed it can be dismissed as an empty claim.”

“And what about you? Should I regard your…talent as an empty claim?” Sima looks at you with faint concern.

“The only one of us who is claiming anything about me is you, based upon your interpretation of my reaction to a foreign thief’s nickname for me.”

“And should I let myself believe what my interpretation suggests?” Sima smiles. “I doubt that anyone would take it seriously – and perhaps if we were not feeling so fond of each other, I would not have made the interpretation that I made about you.”

“That depends on your conclusion. Would you hold my involvement…in what you suspect me to be involved in against me?”

“No more than I would hold Eliana Carosi’s study of Revision against her due to the bad things that Philippe Marchant does with that same pillar of magic. And you are much kinder and dearer to me and more useful than either of those Morvidus students.”

After you finish talking to Sima – about what else your relief-deadened mind cannot recall – you are forced to run into your bedroom to cry. Living with your secret is a terrible burden that you must bear for your life’s sake – but it is so difficult. You are relieved that Sima is not your enemy but your dear friend who would, as she revealed, not care about what magic you know but how you use it. [+1 skill step Bluff for the PC and Sima Venesico, end event]

[If PC has no Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

“What do you mean?” Sima looks at you, her eyes thoughtfully heavily lidded.

“I mean that anyone can claim to be capable of anything, but unless the person demonstrates the skill claimed it can be dismissed as an empty claim.”

“And what about you? Should I regard your…talent as an empty claim?” Sima looks at you with faint concern.

“The only one of us who is claiming anything about me is you, based upon your interpretation of my reaction to a foreign thief’s nickname for me.”

“And should I let myself believe what my interpretation suggests?” Sima smiles. “I doubt that anyone would take it seriously.”

“That depends on your conclusion. Would you hold my involvement…in what you suspect me to be involved in against me?”

“No more than I would hold Eliana Carosi’s study of Revision against her due to the bad things that Philippe Marchant does with that same pillar of magic. And you are much kinder to me and more useful than either of those Morvidus students.”

After you finish talking to Sima – about what else your relief-deadened mind cannot recall – you are forced to run into your bedroom to cry. Living with your secret is a terrible burden that you must bear for your life’s sake – but it is so difficult. You are relieved that Sima is not your enemy but your friend who would, as she revealed, not care about what magic you know but how you use it. [+1 skill step Bluff for the PC and Sima Venesico, end event]

-          “Sima, maybe you are projecting what is for you normal onto me. After all, you got into some very strange magic with me last year.” [auto]

 

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

“Maybe I am,” Sima replies, stroking her neck idly with one hand. “But you know what the Auncish say about birds, right?”

“It is not just Auncish people who use birds to talk about love.”

Sima chuckles. “My, you are forward. I guess it would be better if we were thought to be dating despite school rules rather than suspected of being users of illegal magic. Not,” and here she looks at you with an expression mixing tenderness and fierceness, “that either of these things would be confirmed by me. And if you were to say such, I’d, I confess, have to reconsider our relationship. Friends don’t expose each other to detentions or to the place of much trading – I mean the execution grounds. At least not without permission.”

Sima sighs. In an attempt to cheer her up, you say, “But what do the Auncish say about birds?”

“Birds of a feather…oft flock together,” Sima recites in a strangely accented whisper. “Flock in this rhyme being a verb rather than an adjective. The Auncish make one yearn for Eluminian’s inflections.”

Sima’s voice trails off in a trilling laugh, but you can tell that you have caused her some upset. People do not like to be reminded, you think, that their interests could cause their executions. [+1 skill step Oncestrian for the PC and Sima Venesico, +1 skill step Famous Poetry for the PC and Sima Venesico, + 1 Stress for the PC and Sima Venesico, end event]

[If PC has no Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

“Maybe I am,” Sima replies. “But you know what the Auncish say about birds, right?”

“No, but you can tell me.”

“Birds of a feather…oft flock together,” Sima recites in a strangely accented whisper. “Flock in this rhyme being a verb rather than an adjective. The Auncish make one yearn for Eluminian’s inflections.”

Sima’s voice trails off in a trilling laugh, but you can tell that you have caused her some upset. People do not like to be reminded, you think, that they are isolated from other people, especially when the cause of their isolation has the potential to cause their executions. [+1 skill step Oncestrian for the PC and Sima Venesico, +1 skill step Famous Poetry for the PC and Sima Venesico, + 1 Stress for the PC and Sima Venesico, end event]

-          “I don’t want to talk about this.” [auto]

 

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

“Fair enough,” Sima waves as she walks away. Later that day, however, you find a piece of paper in your room upon which you read, in Sima’s strange yet careful handwriting, the message, “[PC FirstName], I was not right to talk to you about such issues in such a way and such a place. You will always be my dear friend.”

Only from Sima, you think, could such vague words and platitudes be more than they are…rather like Sima herself. Despite her attendance at Hedi College and interest in jewelry despite being unable to make any jewelry, she is not a stereotypical lover of dance parties and high society, although she is not above playing such a role if she must. What she is you have no definite answers about, although you trust her enough to believe that she is not merely manipulating you for her own ends…whatever those might be. [+ 1 skill step Character Study, +1 skill step Decipher Handwriting, end event]

[If PC has no Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

“You cannot take a joke?” Sima seems a mixture of incredulous and offended. “Well, different people have different reactions.”

She leaves without any friendliness, although at least she does not reveal any anger towards you. [+ 1 skill step Character Study for the PC and Sima Venesico, +1 stress for the PC and Sima Venesico, -1 relationship between the PC and Sima Venesico, end event]

-          [If PC has Familiar: Rock] “If my knowledge of magic were even one tenth as advanced as you are implying, do you think that I would keep this stupid rock as my familiar?” [auto]

 

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

“You raise a good point.” Sima looks with faint disgust at [PCFamiliarName] in his usual pouch on your backpack. “Although maybe studying how a rock came to live and like food would encourage people into certain...obscure areas of research. Is that…?”

“It’s toffee,” you tell Sima hastily. Best to not have her believing that [PCFamiliarName] eats…less palatable things. There are so many bad things about [PCFamiliarName] that you feel strangely relieved to be able to seize upon something that is…well, at least not bad from a certain perspective. “[PCFamiliarName] loves toffee so much, and buying it in the quantities that he likes is rather embarrassing – no one believes me at first when I say that I buy it for my rock. At least it need not be too dirty, so long as I handle him carefully.”

Sima sighs and looks at you with new admiration. “I will never condemn my Serene Albino Ferret for being unreasonable with dietary demands after learning this, [PC FirstName]. But at least your familiar is not crawling around at inconvenient times and in inconvenient places. Now if you will excuse me, I must groom my familiar.”

After Sima has left, [PCFamiliarName] wakes up and speaks. “Sima is soo nice. She said good things to me! May she find me a nice hunk of jade who I can talk to and share stuff with!”

You are not sure whether to hate [PCFamiliarName] for talking now about such a stupid thing or praise [PCFamiliarName] for keeping silent in front of Sima. So you settle for a sigh that could be interpreted as affectionate or exasperated. [PCFamiliarName], of course, interprets it as a sign of your happiness and cheers in pleasure until you stuff a toffee bit into his mouth. Sure, your fingers are sticky and dusty, but [PCFamiliarName] is now silent. [+1 skill step Familiar Kinship for PC and Sima Venesico, + 1 skill step Animal Handling, +1 stress, end event]

[If PC has no Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

“You raise a good point.” Sima looks with faint disgust at [PCFamiliarName] in his usual pouch on your backpack. “Although maybe studying how a rock came to live and like food would encourage people into certain...obscure areas of research. Is that…?”

“It’s toffee,” you tell Sima hastily. Best to not have her believing that [PCFamiliarName] eats…less palatable things. There are so many bad things about [PCFamiliarName] that you feel strangely relieved to be able to seize upon something that is…well, at least not bad from a certain perspective. “[PCFamiliarName] loves toffee so much, and buying it in the quantities that he likes is rather embarrassing – no one believes me at first when I say that I buy it for my rock. At least it need not be too dirty, so long as I handle him carefully.”

Sima sighs and looks at you with new admiration. “I will never condemn my Serene Albino Ferret for being unreasonable with dietary demands after learning this, [PC FirstName]. But at least your familiar is not crawling around at inconvenient times and in inconvenient places. Now if you will excuse me, I must groom my familiar.” [+1 skill step in Familiar Kinship for PC and Sima Venesico, +1 stress, end event]

-          [If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico or Tabin Furentzi or Magsa Nembo] “I would prefer to use these secretive magical powers that you seem to be alleging that I have to go on a date with a dear friend in a better place – one might even say, out of this world in its quality!” [auto]

 

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico and can use the action Wander the Hidden Ballroom]

 

Sima grins at you and then says, “Well, if you want to avoid the hassle of being accused of using illegal magic, violating a school rule – or at least talking about such – is certainly one way to do it, though not a common one. I can help you. Follow me.”

You walk after Sima, wondering what she wants to do – you hope that she cannot seriously be meaning to violate a school rule on such short notice for such slight reasons – but she relieves your growing concern by stopping outside a door in a certain hallway and opening it. Behind the door you see the abandoned ballroom that you know about.

You turn to Sima and address her slightly concerned face. “Sima, I appreciate your effort to help me, but I already know about this place. That having been said, if you have anything about ballrooms that you want to tell me, go ahead.”

Sima chuckles. “So. You are more than a gatherer of jewels that I want – but since the jewels were…better protected than any street magicians are, that is itself a great achievement. You also share my love of forgotten and secret things, such as this long-forgotten ballroom. If we are to date when we are old enough, I would prefer to have you as a good dancing partner and not just as a pleasant person with whom to walk and talk and explore certain strange places. The stage can be a good job when done right, but dancing is pure pleasure.”

“One way of making a dance pleasant is to dance with a dear friend rather than a stranger,” you reply. “And we could dance in such amazing places with a little creativity. I could –”

“Make me carved almonds filled with honey drops to represent my eyes and feed them to me between dances,” Sima sighs. Then, seeing your surprised face, she says, “I would sooner play into exoticizing descriptions of my eyes than have you reveal something that you might regret, [PC FirstName]. Anyone with eyes to see and mind to think may, upon seeing my eyes, think of almonds, but knowing what magics we all know is less easy to determine – and may be best kept hidden for many reasons. For example, a student may secretly be studying at the Contu School and be capable of utterly incanting into a swift defeat an opponent in a duel despite apparently knowing no incantation magic – but if the opponent know this, the opponent could take countermeasures, including choosing not to duel.”

Sima walks away with movements reminiscent of dancing, and you are left alone.  Sima is mysterious, but whatever she is involved in has allowed her to be a good friend to you – and show you interesting secrets. [+ 1 skill step Flirting for the PC and Sima Venesico, + 1 skill step Dating for the PC and Sima Venesico, inform PC of action Wander the Hidden Ballroom, end event]

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico and cannot use the action Wander the Hidden Ballroom]

 

Sima grins at you and then says, “Well, if you want to avoid the hassle of being accused of using illegal magic, violating a school rule – or at least talking about such – is certainly one way to do it, though not a common one. I can help you. Follow me.”

You walk after Sima, wondering what she wants to do – you hope that she cannot seriously be meaning to violate a school rule on such short notice for such slight reasons – but she relieves your growing concern by stopping outside a door in a certain hallway and opening it. Behind the door you see…a ballroom!

Sima smiles faintly when she sees your amazed expression. “Never let it be said that I cannot lead you to good and useful secrets, such as this long-forgotten ballroom. If we are to date when we are old enough, I would prefer to have you as a good dancing partner and not just as a pleasant person with whom to walk and talk and explore certain strange places. The stage can be a good job when done right, but dancing is pure pleasure.”

“One way of making a dance pleasant is to dance with a dear friend rather than a stranger,” you reply. “And we could dance in such amazing places with a little creativity. I could –”

“Make me carved almonds filled with honey drops to represent my eyes and feed them to me between dances,” Sima sighs. Then, seeing your surprised face, she says, “I would sooner play into exoticizing descriptions of my eyes than have you reveal something that you might regret, [PC FirstName]. Anyone with eyes to see and mind to think may, upon seeing my eyes, think of almonds, but knowing what magics we all know is less easy to determine – and may be best kept hidden for many reasons. For example, a student may secretly be studying at the Contu School and be capable of utterly incanting into a swift defeat an opponent in a duel despite apparently knowing no incantation magic – but if the opponent know this, the opponent could take countermeasures, including choosing not to duel.”

Sima walks away with movements reminiscent of dancing, and you are left alone. Sima is mysterious, but whatever she is involved in has allowed her to be a good friend to you – and show you interesting secrets. [+ 1 skill step Flirting for the PC and Sima Venesico, + 1 skill step Dating for the PC and Sima Venesico, inform PC of action Wander the Hidden Ballroom, end event]

[If PC has Affection with Tabin Furenzti]

 

Sima grins at you and then says, “Well, if you want to avoid the hassle of being accused of using illegal magic, violating a school rule – or at least talking about such – is certainly one way to do it, though not a common one. Ah, I wish you well in such an enterprise,” Sima intones with mock solemnity. “Although I have no idea which boy has attracted your interest, lotuses in blue and red and yellow and white can make for such a romantic setting for any occasion – or so I have been led to think.”

“Sima,” you protest, “I would not want to get in the way of your relationship. Would I?”

“I am not dating anyone until at least next year – and I would hope that you are not either. Given our…efforts, improper emotions could be problematic, especially when detentions are added in.”

“I am just trying to reply to your suggestion with one of my own,” you reply. “We are both dealing with rumors about my knowledge that I am not confirming.”

“Well,” Sima says, “Without confirming anything any more than you confirm any claims about the breadth of your knowledge, let me just say that I would not be alarmed if you were, in proper time, to date one of two students whom you may think me connected with – although whence the idea of such a connection arose I have no idea.”

“Sima, are you aware that your words can be interpreted in multiple ways because you are so mysterious?”

“[PC FirstName], if I weren’t so skilled at being like the eponymous queen of my college, I’d probably be just an aspiring actress with eyes that some people may associate with a city under a volcano. Not that there’s anything wrong with being from Sung. Your mentor was from Sung, right? But because my closest friends're so close to me, I know important things about them – and I wish them the best together, come in time.”

Sima walks away with a stress-distorted stride, and you are left alone. Sima is mysterious, but whatever she is involved in has allowed her to be a good friend to you – and tell you interesting secrets. If only she could have the more normal life that she may crave. Other students do not need to keep the identities of their dearest friends hidden from the public. You hope that Sima is at least getting more out of…whatever she is involved in than the tidbits that she shares with you. So Tabin likes lotuses. You hope that you can remember that for a time – may it come, you hope – when you have to assemble a corsage for meeting him. [+ 1 skill step Memorisation for the PC, + 1 skill step Dating for the PC and Sima Venesico, + 1 skill step Speaking Quietly of Riddles for the PC and Sima Venesico, +1 stress for Sima Venesico, end event]

[If PC has Affection with Magsa Nembo]

 

Sima grins at you and then says, “Well, if you want to avoid the hassle of being accused of using illegal magic, violating a school rule – or at least talking about such – is certainly one way to do it, though not a common one. Ah, I wish you well in such an enterprise,” Sima intones with mock solemnity. “Although I have no idea which boy has attracted your interest, certain boys delight in dealing with foreigners and so would not recoil at the more…exotic restaurants in Mineta – or so I have been led to think.”

“Sima,” you protest, “I would not want to get in the way of your relationship. Would I?”

“I am not dating anyone until at least next year – and I would hope that you are not either. Given our…efforts, improper emotions could be problematic, especially when detentions are added in.”

“I am just trying to reply to your suggestion with one of my own,” you reply. “We are both dealing with rumors about my knowledge that I am not confirming.”

“Well,” Sima says, “Without confirming anything any more than you confirm any claims about the breadth of your knowledge, let me just say that I would not be alarmed if you were, in proper time, to date one of two students whom you may think me connected with – although whence the idea of such a connection arose I have no idea.”

“Sima, are you aware that your words can be interpreted in multiple ways because you are so mysterious?”

“[PC FirstName], if I weren’t so skilled at being like the eponymous queen of my college, I’d probably be just an aspiring actress with eyes that some people may associate with a city under a volcano. Not that there’s anything wrong with being from Sung. Your mentor was from Sung, right? But because my closest friends're so close to me, I know important things about them – and I wish them the best together, come in time.”

Then, in a faint voice, Sima sings, “Suke tirekang, bokkok kotoktang.” Seeing your confusion, she says, “It means, I've been told, ‘Armies have gone out, will catch the leader.’ A person’s good qualities are like armies, and the leader whom they seek is the person whom one wants to love and know best. That, at least, is how I interpret it.”

Sima walks away with a stress-distorted stride, and you are left alone. Sima is mysterious, but whatever she is involved in has allowed her to be a good friend to you – and tell you interesting secrets. If only she could have the more normal life that she may crave. Other students do not need to keep the identities of their dearest friends hidden from the public. You hope that Sima is at least getting more out of…whatever she is involved in than the tidbits that she shares with you. So Magsa would like foreign restaurants. You hope that you can remember that for a time – may it come, you hope – when you will be allowed to invite him to walk and talk with you on a date. You only hope that he, like Sima, would be kind enough to reveal in a comprehensible language some of his thoughts. But honestly, expecting the Triplets to be less mysterious sometimes seems as futile as expecting to return to Cyve’s surface. [+ 1 skill step Worldliness for the PC, + 1 skill step Dating for the PC and Sima Venesico, +1 stress for Sima Venesico, end event]

[CremePudding]

On 10/6/2018 at 8:52 PM, Rhialto said:

Any feed back would be much appreciated.

Uliva’s Upset 01:

[If PC completed Eliana Carosi’s Y1 adventure and has Affection or Love with Uliva Valaresso] “Uliva, helping Eliana was much easier and more socially rewarding than helping you.”

This sounds more like something the PC say after they mentioned helping Eliana before, given that Uliva was mostly sobbing and asking for support ?

[Rhialto]

5 minutes ago, CremePudding said:

This sounds more like something the PC say after they mentioned helping Eliana before, given that Uliva was mostly sobbing and asking for support ?

You are right. I will change the writing.

[Rhialto]

Feedback is welcome, especially from @Legate of Mineta.

Dear Prudence: Preliminary Notes about the Adventure

 

 

Note: This adventure has very little to do with music or beetles, although it does have to do with Prudence Cossins. It is primarily a way for me to incorporate some fascinating lore about her into the game that was cut from Y1, so the core of the adventure is “researching” Prudence Cossins, which the narrative presents as talking to her. I assume that the research mechanic in Y2 will be the same as that in Y1 [viz, each research action is associated with a lore and there are benefits at assigned stages], but I made it more beneficial for the PC and Prudence by having each stage of research give benefits (some major, some minor) for them. The benefits would be linked to the lore, the premise being that the research was Prudence and the PC talking about Prudence and both gaining benefit from their talks.

The core of the Research Mechanic is as follows:

Research Topic: Prudence Cossins

Research Location: Prudence’s Fishing Place

Prudence’s Fishing Place

 

Flavor Text: Prudence Cossins sometimes comes to this place by the banks of the Ardica River in order to fish. It is not obviously special as a fishing place, but Prudence regards it as special, either due to her skill in fishing or for other reasons. Regardless, she has left remnents of old fishing gear that you may look at, and it is not a bad place to look at fish even if you are not inclined to catch them.

Discovery Difficulty: 999

In-Game Effects: Spending a turn here will grant you a +1 bonus to Fish and Traps subskills, but only for the duration of your stay.

Prerequisites for Adventure Dear Prudence: PC must have completed Prudence Cossins’s Y1 adventure, PC must have Relationship > 10 with Prudence Cossins

Research Levels for the Topic Prudence Cossins:

 

 

General Comments: I have often said on this forum that I find Research in Y1 to be tedious and frustrating. One reason for this is that Research grants too little benefit to characters compared to skill training or adventuring. Furthermore, the stories the Researching unlocks are, with one exception that I have discovered thus far (involving Tre the Janitor), too disconnected to be interesting. So I have conceived of the Research Topic Prudence Cossins as a model of research implemented in a way that better fits with the rest of the game, in which one action can have multiple benefits for the PC (and sometimes a benefit for NPCs).

Some may criticize the rewards as too generous, but the way I see it, they are not out of line with rewards for such common things as Researching at the Library of Manetele. Furthermore, BCS, if they accept my plan, may modify it. The primary goal of this adventure, after all, is to incorporate within Y2 some dummied out content about Prudence Cossins while allowing the PC and Prudence to interact about some interesting topics, such as Gates magic and Prudence’s study habits.

Research Levels:

 

Research Level 1:

 

Benefits for the PC: +1 skill step Listening, +1 skill step Recipes

Benefits for Prudence Cossins: +1 skill step Conversation, +1 skill step Hunting

Lore Text: The popular story about Prudence having eaten a bat has been exaggerated slightly. She was on one of her regular trips to her great aunt's shack (she's a bit of a hermit) when it happened. Sure, she ate some bat, but it was cooked and she hadn't thought to ask what the meat was before gobbling it down. The great aunt scrounged up whatever meat she could find, and happened to be a fan of bat meat herself. Anyway, Prudence didn't find out until later what it was she had eaten, but she thought it was an interesting story and told one of her friends. The friend promptly told everyone else, constantly adding gross details with each retelling. This didn't exactly help Prudence's slightly anti-social nature.

Research Level 2:

 

Benefits for the PC: +1 skill step Listening, +1 skill step Musc Theory

Benefits for Prudence Cossins: +1 skill step Conversation, +1 skill step Notation

Lore Text: Prudence is able to play the simple melody "Hot Cross Buns" on over 30 different instruments, a list she is fond of recounting to her closer friends. She lacks the dedication to really stick to one instrument well enough to be very good, but music teachers tend to compliment her on how well she picks up new ones. She says that the only thing holding her up from increasing her list's size is the lack of new instruments to play.

Research Level 3:

 

Benefits for the PC: +1 skill step Listening, +1 skill step Seeking Friends in Hidden Places

Benefits for Prudence Cossins: +1 skill step Conversation, +1 skill step Animal Husbandry

Lore Text: Prudence is very fond of animals. Though people may make fun of her, she can talk to most animals all day long and never really miss the responses she would get back from humans. She even says that wolves will sit and listen to her stories where people will not. This affinity for wolves has only hurt her twice out of nearly a hundred times, but one time was right after she had eaten that bat, and she guessed that the smell on her breath must have made the wolf attack her.

Research Level 4:

 

Benefits for the PC: +1 skill step Listening, +1 skill step Planning

Benefits for Prudence Cossins: +1 skill step Conversation, +1 skill step Manner of a Champion

Lore Text: Prudence hated her name so much that she started to take actions to get rid of it. She wanted a new name, but she doesn't have enough friends to really get a new name and have other people use it. She has even thought about transferring to a normal school, just so she could get a fresh start and use a new name. Now, thanks in part to her efforts with the Belonging Brethern, she feels a bit more secure about it, though.

Research Level 5:

 

Benefits for the PC: +1 skill step Listening, +1 skill step Etiquette

Benefits for Prudence Cossins: +1 skill step Conversation, +1 skill step Fish

Lore Text: Prudence keeps it a surprisingly closely guarded secret that she enjoys fishing. She has caught well over fifty fish in her life, and even holds a few size records at individual ponds. She doesn't tell anyone, though, afraid of being considered even more of a tomboy than she already is.

Research Level 6:

 

Benefits for the PC: +1 skill step Listening, +1 skill step Perception

Benefits for Prudence Cossins: +1 skill step Conversation, +1 skill step Incantation Methods

Lore Text: Prudence has a small collection of nesting dolls, or matroshkas. She practices stacking them perfectly with magic. Her collection is kept carefully hidden under a floorboard in her dorm, but she has shown it to one or two close friends in the past.

Research Level 7:

 

Benefits for the PC: +1 skill step Listening, +1 skill step Leadership

Benefits for Prudence Cossins: +1 skill step Conversation, +1 skill step Command

Lore Text: Prudence's father died when she was young. She didn't know him that well, so it isn't especially traumatic for her, but she does think that the lack of a father figure for her may have made her more aggressive than she would be otherwise. Her mother acts more like a friend than a parent, so she doesn't really respect authority in general.

Research Level 8:

 

Benefits for the PC: +1 skill step Listening, +1 skill step Dating

Benefits for Prudence Cossins: +1 skill step Conversation, +1 skill step Flirting

Lore Text: Prudence has yet to kiss a boy. She finds this rather irritating, as she also believes that she must be the last in the class to have never done so (which isn't at all true). Boys are so frightened of her, and her tendencies to fight with them, that she isn't particularly successful at becoming close to them in general.

Research Level 9:

 

Benefits for the PC: +1 skill step Listening, +1 skill step Tease

Benefits for Prudence Cossins: +1 skill step Conversation, +1 skill step Romance

Lore Text: Several of the boys Prudence beat up were also the boys she liked. She can't explain why she does it, but one good guess is that the boys she likes are also the ones she talks to, and then the people she talks to are more likely to annoy her enough that she'll hit them. At least that's her best guess.

Research Level 10:

 

Benefits for the PC: +1 skill step Listening, +1 skill step Willpower, + 1 Charm

Benefits for Prudence Cossins: +1 skill step Conversation, +1 skill step Endurance, +1 Intelligence

Lore Text: Prudence can't tell the difference between hunger and thirst, and this makes her feel rather insecure about her eating habits. Though this is actually true for plenty of people, Prudence often decides to drink water when she isn't sure, because she's afraid of gaining weight when she isn't even hungry. This in turn increases the number of bathroom breaks she takes when out somewhere, which some people have made fun of her for.

Prudence, with a faint blush after telling you about this part of her life, says to you softly that she will be ready to have you adventure to help her against Rikildis's claims.

Edited December 23, 2018 by Rhialto
Added an ingame hint that the Adventure "Dear Prudence" can be resumed when the topic "Prudence Cossins" is researched to 10.

[Rhialto]

Feedback is welcome.

Dharanis and Drinks:

 

Note:

 

This is an event that is meant to trigger when the player decides to do anything in Callo’s Tavern while having the Memory “Dharanis and Drinks”, which can be gained from completing my Y2 adventure Sima’s Summons in a certain way.

Event:

 

You have just entered the doorway into Callo’s Tavern when you see something that is so surprising that you are for the moment unable to remember why you came into Callo’s Tavern.

Aaran Ledale is sitting at a table with a foaming mug in front of him. This would not be surprising on its own – most places in the City of Mineta offer alcohol-free drinks in order to gain some portion of students’ money, and Aaran seems like the type of student with the knowledge and the opportunity to violate an anti-alcohol rule if he were wanting to.

But he is not seated alone at the table. With him are two children in grubby clothing, one of whom seems to be injured based on posture. The other child, noticing you, raises a hand and calls out to you. By her accent, you recognize Roxan.

“Dharani Reciter, please help us. This boy was injured by this cursed mage student's curse and I want no cursed mage student trying to set things right for us.”

Aaran looks at you with pleading eyes, clearly hoping that you will intervene somehow. Judging by what Roxan has shouted to you, as well as the grubby clothes that the children are wearing, you doubt that any other person in Callo’s Tavern will try to help them. [N.B.: At the beginning of this event, the only options are “But you have better things to do.” and “Join them.”.]

 

-          But you have better things to do.

 

[IF PC has no Affection for any Student living in Mineta aside from Aaran Ledale and has relationship > 0 with Aaran Ledale]

 

Curses are dangerous to get involved in, and gang-members who are skilled at burglary are doubly so – but together? For all that you know, such interaction caused Monteon’s destruction, and you want nothing to do with that. Certainly, some parts of Mineta may deserve to be destroyed – such as the place where people make the alleged food that they claim is edible for the Academagia – but not the entire city! There are too many good things in it for you to want that! Such as attending the Dance of Fools festivities. Or eating at Alice’s Restaurant. Sometimes even attending classes.

Or so you think as you go about your planned business in Callo’s tavern, ignoring Aaran’s glowering and Roxan’s efforts to tug you towards the table where she and Aaran are trying to help her fellow gang member.

So when you finish your originally planned business at Callo’s Tavern, you feel very efficient! Certainly, you have made no friends – and lost some portion of Aaran’s good will towards you – but you went forth to Callo’s Tavern intending to do something, ignored distractions, and achieved what you had wanted to do. Such focus should serve you well in many areas of life. [+ 1 skill step Study Habits, - 1 skill step Ethics, - 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event]

[IF PC has no Affection for any Student living in Mineta aside from Aaran Ledale and has relationship < 1 with Aaran Ledale]

 

Curses are dangerous to get involved in, and gang-members who are skilled at burglary are doubly so – but together? For all that you know, such interaction caused Monteon’s destruction, and you want nothing to do with that. Certainly, some parts of Mineta may deserve to be destroyed – such as the place where people make the alleged food that they claim is edible for the Academagia – but not the entire city! There are too many good things in it for you to want that! Such as attending the Dance of Fools festivities. Or eating at Alice’s Restaurant. Sometimes even attending classes.

Or so you think as you go about your planned business in Callo’s tavern, ignoring Aaran’s glowering and Roxan’s efforts to tug you towards the table where she and Aaran are trying to help her fellow gang member.

So when you finish your originally planned business at Callo’s Tavern, you feel very efficient! Certainly, you have made no friends – and deepened Aaran’s hostility towards you – but you went forth to Callo’s Tavern intending to do something, ignored distractions, and achieved what you had wanted to do. Such focus should serve you well in many areas of life. [+ 1 skill step Study Habits, - 1 skill step Ethics, - 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event]

[IF PC has Affection for any Student living in Mineta aside from Aaran Ledale and has relationship > 0 with Aaran Ledale]

 

Curses are dangerous to get involved in, and gang-members who are skilled at burglary are doubly so – but together? For all that you know, such interaction caused Monteon’s destruction, and you want nothing to do with that. Certainly, some parts of Mineta may deserve to be destroyed – such as the place where people make the alleged food that they claim is edible for the Academagia – but not the entire city! There are too many good things in it for you to want that! Such as the place where [FullNameofStudentWhomPCHasAffectionWith] lives when school is not in session. You could not bear to think that you might cause the loss of the dwelling place where the [LastNameofStudentWhomPCHasAffectionWith] family lives. If [FirstNameofStudentWhomPCHasAffectionWith] were to learn of your role in such destruction, [GenderedPronounofStudentWhomPCHasAffectionWith] would never let you hear the end of it.

Or so you think as you go about your planned business in Callo’s tavern, ignoring Aaran’s glowering and Roxan’s efforts to tug you towards the table where she and Aaran are trying to help her fellow gang member.

So when you finish your originally planned business at Callo’s Tavern, you feel very efficient! Certainly, you have made no friends – and lost some portion of Aaran’s good will towards you – but you went forth to Callo’s Tavern intending to do something, ignored distractions, and achieved what you had wanted to do. Such focus should serve you well in many areas of life. [+ 1 skill step Study Habits, - 1 skill step Ethics, - 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event]

IF PC has Affection for any Student living in Mineta aside from Aaran Ledale and has relationship < 1 with Aaran Ledale]

 

Curses are dangerous to get involved in, and gang-members who are skilled at burglary are doubly so – but together? For all that you know, such interaction caused Monteon’s destruction, and you want nothing to do with that. Certainly, some parts of Mineta may deserve to be destroyed – such as the place where people make the alleged food that they claim is edible for the Academagia – but not the entire city! There are too many good things in it for you to want that! Such as the place where [FullNameofStudentWhomPCHasAffectionWith] lives when school is not in session. You could not bear to think that you might cause the loss of the dwelling place where the [LastNameofStudentWhomPCHasAffectionWith] family lives. If [FirstNameofStudentWhomPCHasAffectionWith] were to learn of your role in such destruction, [GenderedPronounofStudentWhomPCHasAffectionWith] would never let you hear the end of it.

Or so you think as you go about your planned business in Callo’s tavern, ignoring Aaran’s glowering and Roxan’s efforts to tug you towards the table where she and Aaran are trying to help her fellow gang member.

So when you finish your originally planned business at Callo’s Tavern, you feel very efficient! Certainly, you have made no friends – and deepened Aaran’s hostility towards you – but you went forth to Callo’s Tavern intending to do something, ignored distractions, and achieved what you had wanted to do. Such focus should serve you well in many areas of life. [+ 1 skill step Study Habits, - 1 skill step Ethics, - 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event]

 

-          Join them.

 

[If PC completed Ana Flavia Bessa’s Y1 Adventure]

 

You decide that you might as well approach Aaran and Roxan. You can think of many ways in which the two of them might cause trouble – deliberately or otherwise – and hope that you can help to prevent such an occurence.

As you walk towards Aaran’s table, you see Roxan standing up and gesturing towards her fallen companion. Aaran, recognizing her distraction, leans forward and writes some phemes in the air with his wand. Roxan, tracking your eyes, notices Aaran’s spell-casting and sullenly mutters some words. You move towards her, not wanting her to interrupt a mage’s – or even a mage student’s – spell-casting with any rash moves.

“Don’t worry about me,” Roxan snaps. “I won’t get between Cursed here and his target. What if he curse me? Gods, demons, animals, ghosts, people, and those exalted and lowered will not need to stir themselves to help me.”

Despite Roxan’s words, you think her to be frightened. Curses can be terrible things even to trained mages – how much more so to a child? Especially when –

“Whoops! Look out, [PCFirstName]!”

You feel cold and – to your relief – non-burning liquid splash over your side, followed shortly by the thud of a heavy glass mug into your upper arm. Roxan grabs the falling mug and shrieks, although whether with fear or amusement you cannot tell. You whirl to your side, looking at Aaran, who at least has the good manners to look concerned and apologetic. The boy whom Roxan asked your help with raises himself to his feet, looks shakily around him, and mutters something about how everything is better now.

“I’m glad that I was able to help someone here today,” Aaran sighs. “Briardi gave me such good advice that I sometimes think that I should have gone into Durand – but the stars are Avila’s domain.”

But then he becomes a bit more determined in his gaze. “I am truly sorry that my…condition inconvenienced you, Roxan, and you, [PCFirstName]. Let me at least buy some drinks and we can talk. Maybe you can tell me about your life, Roxan, or you can tell me about your successful efforts to dispel curses, [PCFirstName]. I am always looking for help from any quarter in dealing with my issues – and would much appreciate hearing from such interesting people, especially when they, like [PCFirstName], have a demonstrated ability to break people's curses.”

The boy whom Aaran has cured walks over to Roxan and tugs at her hand, but she just jerks back and puts the mug upon Aaran’s table.

“I’m interested,” she whines. “How often do I get a gift – and from a mage student? Too rarely! Even sharing it with Dharani Reciter here is better than nothing.”

The boy sighs and sits down beside her, before gesturing to the empty fourth chair at Aaran’s table.

You could sit and talk to Aaran and the children whom you assume to be members of the Southside Pitts, but do you want to? [+ 1 stress, - 1 Vitality, Hide option But you have better things to do, Reveal options Leave without saying anything more., “Aaran, what happened here?”, “How did you get involved with the Southside Pitts, Roxan?”, “What is a dharani, anyway?”, “Well, it has been nice meeting all of you, but I must go.”, “I have better things to do than be with you people and your sleazy lives.”, “I will gladly join you for drinks, Aaran.”, choose other option.]

[If PC did not complete Ana Flavia Bessa’s Y1 Adventure]

 

You decide that you might as well approach Aaran and Roxan. You can think of many ways in which the two of them might cause trouble – deliberately or otherwise – and hope that you can help to prevent such an occurence.

As you walk towards Aaran’s table, you see Roxan standing up and gesturing towards her fallen companion. Aaran, recognizing her distraction, leans forward and writes some phemes in the air with his wand. Roxan, tracking your eyes, notices Aaran’s spell-casting and sullenly mutters some words. You move towards her, not wanting her to interrupt a mage’s – or even a mage student’s – spell-casting with any rash moves.

“Don’t worry about me,” Roxan snaps. “I won’t get between Cursed here and his target. What if he curse me? Gods, demons, animals, ghosts, people, and those exalted and lowered will not need to stir themselves to help me.”

Despite Roxan’s words, you think her to be frightened. Curses can be terrible things even to trained mages – how much more so to a child? Especially when –

“Whoops! Look out, [PCFirstName]!”

You feel cold and – to your relief – non-burning liquid splash over your side, followed shortly by the thud of a heavy glass mug into your upper arm. Roxan grabs the falling mug and shrieks, although whether with fear or amusement you cannot tell. You whirl to your side, looking at Aaran, who at least has the good manners to look concerned and apologetic. The boy whom Roxan asked your help with raises himself to his feet, looks shakily around him, and mutters something about how everything is better now.

“I’m glad that I was able to help someone here today,” Aaran sighs. “Briardi gave me such good advice that I sometimes think that I should have gone into Durand – but the stars are Avila’s domain.”

But then he becomes a bit more determined in his gaze. “I am truly sorry that my…condition inconvenienced you, Roxan, and you, [PCFirstName]. Let me at least buy some drinks and we can talk. Maybe you can tell me about your life, Roxan, or you can tell me about what you are doing in this…auspicious tavern, [PCFirstName]. I am always looking for help from any quarter in dealing with my issues – and would much appreciated hearing from such interesting people.”

The boy whom Aaran has cured walks over to Roxan and tugs at her hand, but she just jerks back and puts the mug upon Aaran’s table.

“I’m interested,” she whines. “How often do I get a gift – and from a mage student? Too rarely! Even sharing it with Dharani Reciter here is better than nothing.”

The boy sighs and sits down beside her, before gesturing to the empty fourth chair at Aaran’s table.

You could sit and talk to Aaran and the children whom you assume to be members of the Southside Pitts, but do you want to? [+ 1 stress, - 1 Vitality, + 1 skill step Analysis, Hide option But you have better things to do, Reveal options Leave without saying anything more., “Aaran, what happened here?”, “How did you get involved with the Southside Pitts, Roxan?”, “What is a dharani, anyway?”, “Well, it has been nice meeting all of you, but I must go.”, “I have better things to do than be with you people and your sleazy lives.” , “I will gladly join you for drinks, Aaran.”, choose other option.]

 

-          Leave without saying anything more.

 

You decide that there is no reason to stay around Aaran and Roxan. Between her involvement in a criminal gang and his curse, you may end up much more hurt than you were when Aaran’s magic caused you to be struck by a mug. So you leave Aaran and the children and set out to do what you came to Callo’s Tavern to do. [+1 skill step Temperance, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event]

-          “Aaran, what happened here?”

 

“It is strange,” Aaran drawls, but then he grimaces. “But a lot of events that happen around me are strange, aren’t they? And very often harming other people.”

“Not through your deeds!” the boy pipes up. “Roxan – or Miss She-Who-Must-not-Address People-by-Name – and I were just coming over to greet you because Roxan said that without your dog you were right enough, but I tripped and fell while approaching your table. The fall caused me much pain – maybe harmed me also.”

“And I did not trip him, no matter what Name Lover here may think,” Roxan says, her brows furrowing in determination. “Physical attacks are too dangerous for me – with my responsibilities to…others I don’t want to be justifying others’ maiming or killing me so easily. It was a bad step upon a bad spot, nothing more.”

“Why would think me to fear you?” the boy snarls. “Planning something against me and the Pitts? Did you weant me to be harmed by Aaran’s curse?”

“If I were planning something, I’d target a more important person,” Roxan retorts. “You are nothing to me.”

“Both of you, cut it out!” Aaran yells, his face growing pale. “I – my curse manifests through causing others who are near me to suffer from freak accidents. I was hoping that the ley lines here would reduce or eliminate such an effect, but I guess not. Please – do not ruin a friendship over me.” Aaran’s voice sounds pleading, but is there the faintest hint of curiosity that you hear in it?

“Ba, the foreigner is no friend to me or anyone else,” the boy says. “She spends all of her spare time reading from strange books and muttering strange syllables – her da-ha-ra-nis or whatever – and talking to the leaders. Who would want to be a friend to a girl who won’t say your name?”

“Although Name Lover here does not respect my naming taboo, he speaks some truth,” Roxan says. “The dom’na told me to help her brother by coming here – probably something to do with alignments – and this boy decided to have fun by joining me.”

You are not sure whether to believe what Roxan is saying – she is some sort of burglar after all – but Aaran’s face practically melts into relief.

“Good,” he mutters, then louder says, “I’m glad that I did not cause friends to become enemies. That would have been icing on the cake of misfortune that I have caused.”

“If you were to cause me to lose a friend,” Roxan replies brightly, “I would happily test whether your curse would respond to dharanis.” Given her tone of voice, you are not sure whether she is saying a threat or a reassurance.

“No one joins the Southside Pitts only for friends,” the boy says proudly, puffing out his chest. “Never has any one joined for da-ha-ra-nis, nor for fear of names. We join the Southside Pitts for –”

But Roxan slaps her hand over his mouth and hisses something into his ear, after which his eyes widen and he trembles. When she removes her hand from his body, the boy seems less confident and does not continue talking about the Southside Pitts.

“Was that a dharani?” Aaran asks, his voice revealing genuine curiosity.

“If Rengalian common sense count, then yes,” Roxan replies. [+ 1 skill step Intimidation, Hide option “Aaran, what happened here?”, choose other option.]

-          “How did you get involved with the Southside Pitts, Roxan?”

 

“Long story,” Roxan replies. “Very sad story. If I were to tell it all, Callo’s Tavern would kick us out before I would be finished.” Looking at her solemn face, you see no evidence that Roxan is joking.

“Maybe you can just give us the highlights,” Aaran says. “I’m interested also, on account if having…certain familiarity with the rougher parts of Mineta.”

“No!” the boy hisses. “She’ll use even this time to make herself seem so special.”

“Maybe I am special,” Roxan sneers, before saying, in a more solemn voice, “How I got to Mineta and why is irrelevant – all that you need to know, Dharani Reciter, is that I am an orphan and did not want to be in an orphanage. Can you guess why?”

“Too much posing for donors and not enough love or education?” Aaran’s answer seemingly comes as a surprise to everybody, himself included, and he sighs. “Hey. I was in an orphanage also, and so many children in them made that sort of complaint. I had…other things to worry about, but I know what one common complaint is about orphanages in Mineta.”

“Maybe for people born within Mineta or the Empire of Man this is the most common complaint,” Roxan says. “But for me the issue was religious. The orphanage was forcing me to join the other children in worshipping gods and regarding gods as the creators of the universe and the arbiters of morality. I see nothing wrong with respecting gods and worshipping them, but regarding gods as the creators of the universe and the arbiters of morality? This is contrary to my religion and illogical. I mean, if the gods created everything, thern they created dragons, and how can the creators of dragons be moral? Truly moral gods would create no dragons and create living parents!”

“Your views, though fascinating, are off-topic and probably illegal,” Aaran interjects into Roxan’s passion-distorted words.

“Yes, they would be, here!” Roxan shudders violently, then instinctively moves away from the boy. “So I did not like being punished for not doing these rites, but feared that I would break sometime. And then what a waste of a life. But there were certain books – my books – that I knew that the orphanage was keeping, because they would allow me to teach myself from them on those few times when I was good enough. So one night I decided that it would be better to be free with my books and religion outside the orphanage rather than an apostate within the orphanage who would have to wait to read them. So I slipped out of the dormitory once everyone else within the dormitory seemed to be asleep and crept to the door of the room where I knew the books were being stored. I was trying to use a piece of wire to unlock the door when the young man who says that I should call him Jack Pitts and his sister Dacota found me. He was impressed by my stealth and skill in trying to pick the door’s lock, though he picked the door’s lock with ease that I envied.”

“So let me guess,” Aaran interrupts. “He was so impressed by your deeds that he recruited you?”

“Not until I told him that the goblins must have been giving him good information about what was in this orphanage,” Roxan says with a smirk. “It really shook him that his stealthy allies had been detected by a girl when they pride themselves on not being located unless they want to be located – but I know about the signs of goblin presence from my books that teach me much. Honestly, I think that he was planning to betray me some time after leaving the orphanage. When a night is dark, there are so many ways to avoid having an ally whom one does not want. But then I revealed to him that I could read the books that were not written in Renaglian and alluded to their content. That caused him, I think, to see me as more of a junior partner in his magical researches than as a girl to be manipulated. But then, even though the sarbaz can become a fers when reaching the right square, the fers must serve the shah.”

“You play chess?” Aaran asks.

“I am…familiar with games played upon the eight by eight board,” Roxan replies.

”She plays a good game too,” the boy says. “Once you get past the strange names and rules that she plays by.”

“Rules that my parents taught me along with dharanis, names, and vows,” Roxan says hotly.

You are not sure whether to be impressed or appalled by Roxan’s calm discussion of how she suspects someone of plotting her betrayal. [+ 1 skill step Infiltration, Hide option “How did you get involved with the Southside Pitts, Roxan?”, choose other option.]

-          “What is a dharani, anyway?”

 

[If PC is not Student at Schohanwicht School and has Gates Skill = 0]

 

“I honestly am not quite sure how to talk about dharanis in Renaglian,” Roxan admits, blushing.

“What? Roxan admitting ignorance? Are the law courts in Mineta empty? Is all food free?” The boy beside Roxan practically leaps with glee as he makes his sarcastic questions.

“Many things are difficult to learn about in Renaglian,” Aaran says. “So many learned treatises are written in Eluminian, mercantile books in Oncestrian or Merilien – why, even modern warfare and fighting seem cut off from a person who cannot speak at least a little Vilocian. I sometimes think that but for the Renazlian Regional Bank’s innovations, commerce in Mineta would be entirely controlled by foreigners speaking languages other than Renaglian. Not that I object to such shifts. Where is the Emperor or Empress who should rule the Empire of Man, after all? Gone, along with Monteon.” He sighs, but then looks at Roxan with determination.

“So if you want to try to explain to us what dharanis are, feel free to try. Even clumsy explanations are better than nothing for those who seek knowledge.”

“Do you agree?” Roxan looks at you with wide eyes.

“If I were not wanting to learn about dharanis from you, I would not ask you about them, would I?” You try to smile in what you hope is an encouraging way.

“Very well,” Roxan straightens her shoulders and looks at you with serious eyes. “A dharani is a statement of some length that a person memorizes and recites. The statement’s meaning is some form of praise for a worthy being, but by memorizing and reciting the syllables, one can easily meditate and gain protective power from gods and Awakened Beings, who, hearing the dharanis, may help – or so my books say.” Then, in a softer voice, she mutters, “When my parents were dying, I recited dharanis to try to cure them. They were not cured totally, but they were strengthened so that they seemed to suffer less from their illnesses and died peacefully. And I, faced by the horror that my parents’ deaths was to me, was not crushed by grief but tried to handle their affairs as best as I could. Not well enough – I was a young girl despite being what I believe you Renaglian speakers would call a child prodigy – but I tried! And the dharanis helped me so much…” Roxan’s voice trails off into a sob.

Looking at Aaran, you wonder whether he shares your concern about whether Roxan is describing a form of rite associated with Gates magic. But you think that it is not appropriate to raise such a question now. Mentioning Gates magic in public may cause people in Callo’s Tavern to draw the wrong conclusions about Aaran, especially since Roxan called him cursed. Besides, you think that it would be cruel to smear as associated with an illegal pillar of magic a process that apparently helped a traumatized girl in coping with her parents’ death. The grounds for assuming that dharanis are a form of Gates magic are so weak, after all. Dharanis seem similar to prayers that even the most law-abiding, Gates-magic-fearing people in Mineta make to gods and saints. [+ 1 skill step Anthropology, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Hide option “What is a dharani, anyway?”, reveal appropriate options related to The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, reveal option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

[If PC is not Student at Schohanwicht School and has Gates Skill > 0 but < 10]

 

“I honestly am not quite sure how to talk about dharanis in Renaglian,” Roxan admits, blushing.

“What? Roxan admitting ignorance? Are the law courts in Mineta empty? Is all food free?” The boy beside Roxan practically leaps with glee as he makes his sarcastic questions.

“Many things are difficult to learn about in Renaglian,” Aaran says. “So many learned treatises are written in Eluminian, mercantile books in Oncestrian or Merilien – why, even modern warfare and fighting seem cut off from a person who cannot speak at least a little Vilocian. I sometimes think that but for the Renazlian Regional Bank’s innovations, commerce in Mineta would be entirely controlled by foreigners speaking languages other than Renaglian. Not that I object to such shifts. Where is the Emperor or Empress who should rule the Empire of Man, after all? Gone, along with Monteon.” He sighs, but then looks at Roxan with determination.

“So if you want to try to explain to us what dharanis are, feel free to try. Even clumsy explanations are better than nothing for those who seek knowledge.”

“Do you agree?” Roxan looks at you with wide eyes.

“If I were not wanting to learn about dharanis from you, I would not ask you about them, would I?” You try to smile in what you hope is an encouraging way.

“Very well,” Roxan straightens her shoulders and looks at you with serious eyes. “A dharani is a statement of some length that a person memorizes and recites. The statement’s meaning is some form of praise for a worthy being, but by memorizing and reciting the syllables, one can easily meditate and gain protective power from gods and Awakened Beings, who, hearing the dharanis, may help – or so my books say.” Then, in a softer voice, she mutters, “When my parents were dying, I recited dharanis to try to cure them. They were not cured totally, but they were strengthened so that they seemed to suffer less from their illnesses and died peacefully. And I, faced by the horror that my parents’ deaths was to me, was not crushed by grief but tried to handle their affairs as best as I could. Not well enough – I was a young girl despite being what I believe you Renaglian speakers would call a child prodigy – but I tried! And the dharanis helped me so much…” Roxan’s voice trails off into a sob.

Looking at Aaran, you wonder whether he is concerned about whether Roxan is describing a form of rite associated with Gates magic. But you think that it is not appropriate to raise such a question now, despite your terror about whether Roxan is talking about a new form of Gates magic that is unknown to you despite your dabbling in that pillar of magic. Mentioning Gates magic in public may cause people in Callo’s Tavern to draw the wrong conclusions about Aaran, especially since Roxan called him cursed. Besides, you think that it would be cruel to smear as associated with an illegal pillar of magic a process that apparently helped a traumatized girl in coping with her parents’ death. The grounds for assuming that dharanis are a form of Gates magic are so weak, after all. Dharanis seem similar to prayers that even the most law-abiding, Gates-magic-fearing people in Mineta make to gods and saints. [+ 1 skill step Anthropology, +1 Stress, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Hide option “What is a dharani, anyway?”, reveal appropriate options related to The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, reveal option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

[If PC is not Student at Schohanwicht School and has Gates Skill > 9]

 

“I honestly am not quite sure how to talk about dharanis in Renaglian,” Roxan admits, blushing.

“What? Roxan admitting ignorance? Are the law courts in Mineta empty? Is all food free?” The boy beside Roxan practically leaps with glee as he makes his sarcastic questions.

“Many things are difficult to learn about in Renaglian,” Aaran says. “So many learned treatises are written in Eluminian, mercantile books in Oncestrian or Merilien – why, even modern warfare and fighting seem cut off from a person who cannot speak at least a little Vilocian. I sometimes think that but for the Renazlian Regional Bank’s innovations, commerce in Mineta would be entirely controlled by foreigners speaking languages other than Renaglian. Not that I object to such shifts. Where is the Emperor or Empress who should rule the Empire of Man, after all? Gone, along with Monteon.” He sighs, but then looks at Roxan with determination.

“So if you want to try to explain to us what dharanis are, feel free to try. Even clumsy explanations are better than nothing for those who seek knowledge.”

“Do you agree?” Roxan looks at you with wide eyes.

“If I were not wanting to learn about dharanis from you, I would not ask you about them, would I?” You try to smile in what you hope is an encouraging way.

“Very well,” Roxan straightens her shoulders and looks at you with serious eyes. “A dharani is a statement of some length that a person memorizes and recites. The statement’s meaning is some form of praise for a worthy being, but by memorizing and reciting the syllables, one can easily meditate and gain protective power from gods and Awakened Beings, who, hearing the dharanis, may help – or so my books say.” Then, in a softer voice, she mutters, “When my parents were dying, I recited dharanis to try to cure them. They were not cured totally, but they were strengthened so that they seemed to suffer less from their illnesses and died peacefully. And I, faced by the horror that my parents’ deaths was to me, was not crushed by grief but tried to handle their affairs as best as I could. Not well enough – I was a young girl despite being what I believe you Renaglian speakers would call a child prodigy – but I tried! And the dharanis helped me so much…” Roxan’s voice trails off into a sob.

Looking at Aaran, you wonder whether he is concerned about whether Roxan is describing a form of rite associated with Gates magic. But you think that it is not appropriate to raise such a question now, and not merely because as far as you know through your considerable study of Gates magic, nothing like these dharanis is part of actual Gates magic. Mentioning Gates magic in public may cause people in Callo’s Tavern to draw the wrong conclusions about Aaran, especially since Roxan called him cursed. Besides, you think that it would be cruel to smear as associated with an illegal pillar of magic a process that apparently helped a traumatized girl in coping with her parents’ death. The grounds for assuming that dharanis are a form of Gates magic are so weak, after all. Dharanis seem similar to prayers that even the most law-abiding, Gates-magic-fearing people in Mineta make to gods and saints. [+ 1 skill step Anthropology, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Hide option “What is a dharani, anyway?”, reveal appropriate options related to The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, reveal option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

[If PC is Student at Schohanwicht School]

 

“I honestly am not quite sure how to talk about dharanis in Renaglian,” Roxan admits, blushing.

“What? Roxan admitting ignorance? Are the law courts in Mineta empty? Is all food free?” The boy beside Roxan practically leaps with glee as he makes his sarcastic questions.

“Many things are difficult to learn about in Renaglian,” Aaran says. “So many learned treatises are written in Eluminian, mercantile books in Oncestrian or Merilien – why, even modern warfare and fighting seem cut off from a person who cannot speak at least a little Vilocian. I sometimes think that but for the Renazlian Regional Bank’s innovations, commerce in Mineta would be entirely controlled by foreigners speaking languages other than Renaglian. Not that I object to such shifts. Where is the Emperor or Empress who should rule the Empire of Man, after all? Gone, along with Monteon.” He sighs, but then looks at Roxan with determination.

“So if you want to try to explain to us what dharanis are, feel free to try. Even clumsy explanations are better than nothing for those who seek knowledge.”

“Do you agree?” Roxan looks at you with wide eyes.

“If I were not wanting to learn about dharanis from you, I would not ask you about them, would I?” You try to smile in what you hope is an encouraging way.

“Very well,” Roxan straightens her shoulders and looks at you with serious eyes. “A dharani is a statement of some length that a person memorizes and recites. The statement’s meaning is some form of praise for a worthy being, but by memorizing and reciting the syllables, one can easily meditate and gain protective power from gods and Awakened Beings, who, hearing the dharanis, may help – or so my books say.” Then, in a softer voice, she mutters, “When my parents were dying, I recited dharanis to try to cure them. They were not cured totally, but they were strengthened so that they seemed to suffer less from their illnesses and died peacefully. And I, faced by the horror that my parents’ deaths was to me, was not crushed by grief but tried to handle their affairs as best as I could. Not well enough – I was a young girl despite being what I believe you Renaglian speakers would call a child prodigy – but I tried! And the dharanis helped me so much…” Roxan’s voice trails off into a sob.

Looking at Aaran, you wonder whether he is concerned about whether Roxan is describing a form of rite associated with Gates magic. But you think that it is not appropriate to raise such a question now, and not merely because as far as you know through your formal study of Gates magic, nothing like these dharanis is part of actual Gates magic. Mentioning Gates magic in public may cause people in Callo’s Tavern to draw the wrong conclusions about Aaran, especially since Roxan called him cursed. Besides, you think that it would be cruel to smear as associated with an illegal pillar of magic a process that apparently helped a traumatized girl in coping with her parents’ death. The grounds for assuming that dharanis are a form of Gates magic are so weak, after all. Dharanis seem similar to prayers that even the most law-abiding, Gates-magic-fearing people in Mineta make to gods and saints. Still, asking Euneycia or a professor at the Schohanwicht School about dharanis might not be a bad idea – the Schohanwicht School attracts people from far-flung human cultures, some of whose members may know more about dharanis. [+ 1 skill step Anthropology, + 1 skill step Curiosity, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Hide option “What is a dharani, anyway?”, reveal appropriate options related to The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, reveal option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

-          [If PC knows Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins] “I know a dharani, although it was not called such. We could exchange dharanis.”

Spoiler

 

[If PC is in neither Avila College nor Durand College nor Aranaz College and was in none of those Colleges during Y1]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 but knows not the spell Disorder the Heavens]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what your college focuses upon. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is not in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 and knows the spell Disorder the Heavens]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you focussed upon during your first year – although you have a vague unease, based upon a certain terrifying encounter that you had last year, that at least some dragons may be knowing more about astrology than they did during Queen Avila’s lifetime. Maybe you should have stayed within Avila College this year. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, +1 Stress, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC not in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 and has the Memory “You disordered the heavens”]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you focussed upon during your first year – although you have a vague unease, based upon a certain terrifying encounter that you had last year, that at least some dragons may be knowing more about astrology than they did during Queen Avila’s lifetime. Maybe you should have stayed within Avila College this year. Maybe you could have gotten better guidance about the effects of casting the spell that you think that you learned from a dragon. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, +2 Stress, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is not in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 but knows not the spell Disorder the Heavens]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you focussed upon during your first year – although with the diminishing threat of draconic invasion, you feel that you were not betraying humanity by shifting into another college during your second year at the Academagia. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 and knows the spell Disorder the Heavens]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you focussed upon during your first year – although you have a vague unease, based upon a certain terrifying encounter that you had last year, that at least some dragons may be knowing more about astrology than they did during Queen Avila’s lifetime. You are glad that you stayed within Avila College this year, and hope that Regent Badcrumble can help you to figure out the strange spell that you may have learned from a dragon. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 and has the Memory “You disordered the heavens”]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you focussed upon during your first year – although you have a vague unease, based upon a certain terrifying encounter that you had last year, that at least some dragons may be knowing more about astrology than they did during Queen Avila’s lifetime. You are glad thatr you stayed within Avila College this year. Maybe you can get guidance about the effects of casting the spell that you think that you learned from a dragon. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, +1 Stress, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is in Avila College and was not in Avila College during Y1]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you are currently foccusing your studies upon – it is better to come late to a good thing than never, you think. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, - 1 stress, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is in Durand College and was in Durand College during Y1]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Durand was very important in defeating the dragons. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Aranaz College during Y1]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Aranaz was very important in defeating the dragons. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is in Durand College and was in another College not Aranaz during Y1]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Durand was very important in defeating the dragons. It is a pity, though, that after you transfer into the college deicated to his legacy, you are told – albeit only by a child – that King Durand was not as important as Queen Avila. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 stress, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in another College not Durand during Y1]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Aranaz was very important in defeating the dragons. It is a pity, though, that after you transfer into the college deicated to his legacy, you are told – albeit only by a child – that King Aranaz was not as important as Queen Avila. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 stress, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is in Durand College and was in Aranaz College during Y1]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Durand was very important in defeating the dragons. It is a pity, though, that after you transfer into the college dedicated to his legacy from the college dedicated to his rival and his rival’s legacy, you are told – albeit only by a child – that King Durand was not as important as Queen Avila. King Aranaz you were expecting to be told about in this way – partisans of both kings are notorious for their argumentativeness – but Queen Avila? Some people have unusual opinions, you decide. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 2 stress, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Durand College during Y1]

Spoiler

 

To your considerable surprise, Roxan is made so joyful by your request that tears come to her eyes. She mumbles a few words that you cannot understand, then nods enthusiastically before saying, “Yes! A dharani in exchange for a dharani is fair! But let me write your dharani down.”

She reaches into a pouch at her belt and draws out a pencil and a book. Aaran, noticing this, asks if he may do likewise. After assuring him that he may (and shushing the boy whose sulking seems to be based upon being the only one of the three who cannot write), you draw forth your wand and recite the “Tale of Sir William Hopkins” while casting the spell upon yourself. When you finish, you realize that many people in Callo’s Tavern are applauding you, the boy has collected coins in the mug that Aaran accidentally flung at you, and Roxana and Aaran are looking at you with amazement.

“I am no mage, but the lyrics were very inspiring,” Roxan murmurs.

“And if you become a mage, knowing these lyrics will help you with a powerful spell,” Aaran addresses Roxan before turning to you. “How did you learn this…dharani? Are you aware of any books from…wherever Roxan is from? Some cache of manuscripts?”

“I have my sources,” you proclaim modestly, hoping that it would be better to be seen as a person with a mysterious source of legal magical knowledge than to admit the prosaic truth. All but the poorest children have seen a children’s entertainer, after all, and one does not need to belong to the high nobility or great merchant families for the children’s entertainer to be a mage.

Aaran nods respectfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear another burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected more coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

“Hey, kids!” A gruff voice approaches Aaran’s table, and you turn to see a man in a greasy apron.

“I’ve been tolerating your being here so long without buying stuff for all of you because Aaran here can be useful and he was helping to clean up after his problems. Plus, free entertainment from the customers can be useful. But no more, all right? People want to drink now, not listen to you people singing or chanting.”

Roxan and the boy grow pale, but Aaran smoothly nods. “Fair enough, Sir. [PCFirstName] got what was needed. Now we can drink or leave.”

“And we will share the money,” the boy pleads.

“Better that than disrupting,” the server replies. Roxan, scowling at the boy, reluctantly divides the money from the mug into five piles, which she distributes to everyone at the table including the server, after which the server walks away.

You are glad that the management of Callo’s Tavern was patient enough to allow you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Aranaz was very important in defeating the dragons. It is a pity, though, that after you transfer into the college dedicated to his legacy from the college dedicated to his rival and his rival’s legacy, you are told – albeit only by a child – that King Aranaz was not as important as Queen Avila. King Durand you were expecting to be told about in this way – partisans of both kings are notorious for their argumentativeness – but Queen Avila? Some people have unusual opinions, you decide. [+5 pims for Aaran Ledale and the PC, +3 relationship with Aaran Ledale, Aaran Ledale learns the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins and its Phemes, + 1 skill step Voice, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 2 stress, receive benefits of successful casting of the Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

Spoiler

 

Recite Dharani

Description

Spoiler

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

Spoiler

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

-          [If PC knows Spell The Tale of Sir William Hopkins] “I know a dharani, but will not share it with you.”

 

“Fair enough,” Roxan replies. “Dharanis are not learned lightly nor traded lightly. But if you want to learn a dharani from me, feel free to pay me. Fifty pims should do the trick. Limited time offer – now or never.”

You are not sure whether to be appalled by Roxan’s greed or amused by the shift from emphasizing dharanis’ sanctity to trying to sell access to them – but then you look at her ragged clothing and thin body, to say nothing of those of the boy whom she is with – and realize that she is trying to do the best with what she has. [+1 skill step Negotiation, hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, reveal appropriate dharani purchasing options, choose other option]

-          “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”

 

“I wish that I could give you a dharani,” Roxan replies, and you are not sure whether her serious tone is due to sorrow or honesty. “But I am a poor orphan, and the Southside Pitts are, despite their use, not able to keep all members well fed. So I will have to charge money for this, Dharani Reciter – fifty pims should be reasonable.”

“Fifty pims,” the boy yelps. “You should become a weaver at Iuducia’s Temple if you want that kind of money.”

”If I were a weaver, the Southside Pitts would be weaker and I would be an apostate,” Roxan snaps. Then, looking hard into your eyes, she says, “Fifty pims for something that is sacred and wonderful and unknown in the entire Empire of Man seems very reasonable. Certainly, silks from Saisyne selling for fifty pims per square yard would be very cheap.”

You are not sure whether to be appalled by Roxan’s greed or amused by the shift from emphasizing dharanis’ sanctity to trying to sell access to them – but then you look at her ragged clothing and thin body, to say nothing of those of the boy whom she is with – and realize that she is trying to do the best with what she has. [+1 skill step Negotiation, hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, reveal appropriate dharani purchasing options, choose other option]

-          [If PC has 50 pims] Pay Roxan for the dharani.

 

[If PC is in neither Avila College nor Durand College nor Aranaz College and was in none of those Colleges during Y1]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 but knows not the spell Disorder the Heavens]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what your college focuses upon. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is not in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 and knows the spell Disorder the Heavens]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you focussed upon during your first year – although you have a vague unease, based upon a certain terrifying encounter that you had last year, that at least some dragons may be knowing more about astrology than they did during Queen Avila’s lifetime. Maybe you should have stayed within Avila College this year. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, +1 Stress, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC not in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 and has the Memory “You disordered the heavens”]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you focussed upon during your first year – although you have a vague unease, based upon a certain terrifying encounter that you had last year, that at least some dragons may be knowing more about astrology than they did during Queen Avila’s lifetime. Maybe you should have stayed within Avila College this year. Maybe you could have gotten better guidance about the effects of casting the spell that you think that you learned from a dragon. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, +2 Stress, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is not in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 but knows not the spell Disorder the Heavens]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you focussed upon during your first year – although with the diminishing threat of draconic invasion, you feel that you were not betraying humanity by shifting into another college during your second year at the Academagia. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 and knows the spell Disorder the Heavens]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you focussed upon during your first year – although you have a vague unease, based upon a certain terrifying encounter that you had last year, that at least some dragons may be knowing more about astrology than they did during Queen Avila’s lifetime. You are glad that you stayed within Avila College this year, and hope that Regent Badcrumble can help you to figure out the strange spell that you may have learned from a dragon. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is in Avila College and was in Avila College during Y1 and has the Memory “You disordered the heavens”]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you focussed upon during your first year – although you have a vague unease, based upon a certain terrifying encounter that you had last year, that at least some dragons may be knowing more about astrology than they did during Queen Avila’s lifetime. You are glad thatr you stayed within Avila College this year. Maybe you can get guidance about the effects of casting the spell that you think that you learned from a dragon. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Theory of Astrology, +1 Stress, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is in Avila College and was not in Avila College during Y1]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. You are also proud that the pillar of magic that defeated the dragons is what you are currently focusing your studies upon – it is better to come late to a good thing than never, you think. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, - 1 stress, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is in Durand College and was in Durand College during Y1]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Durand was very important in defeating the dragons. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Aranaz College during Y1]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Aranaz was very important in defeating the dragons. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is in Durand College and was in another College not Aranaz during Y1]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures. You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan.

And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Durand was very important in defeating the dragons. It is a pity, though, that after you transfer into the college deicated to his legacy, you are told – albeit only by a child – that King Durand was not as important as Queen Avila. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 stress, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in another College not Durand during Y1]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Aranaz was very important in defeating the dragons. It is a pity, though, that after you transfer into the college deicated to his legacy, you are told – albeit only by a child – that King Aranaz was not as important as Queen Avila. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 1 stress, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is in Durand College and was in Aranaz College during Y1]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Durand was very important in defeating the dragons. It is a pity, though, that after you transfer into the college dedicated to his legacy from the college dedicated to his rival and his rival’s legacy, you are told – albeit only by a child – that King Durand was not as important as Queen Avila. King Aranaz you were expecting to be told about in this way – partisans of both kings are notorious for their argumentativeness – but Queen Avila? Some people have unusual opinions, you decide. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 2 stress, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Durand College during Y1]

 

Roxan watches you carefully as you count out pims upon the table and slide them over to her. Once she has, through feeling each coin, assured herself that they are authentic pims rather than counterfeit pims, she puts the pims into a pouch. Aaran makes a move to his waist, but Roxan frowns at him.

“Cursed, you are not the person paying me. Besides, Dharani Reciter here, who is paying me, was successful in averting trouble for a friend when reciting something like a dharani. But since you cause misfortune for those near you, I think that you should not be learning dharanis. Otherwise, you might cause even worse harm. So unless you write down nothing from the dharani that I will recite, I will not recite anything.”

Aaran nods mournfully, and Roxan stands up from her seat. She asks you whether you have a writing material to copy the dharani down with. When you tell her that you have this prepared, she smiles.

“Now I will recite the dharani for –”

But Aaran jumps up from his seat, waving his arms.

“Wait! You could be killed for preaching your religion within the Empire of Man! Perhaps try to demonstrate the form without the contents?”

Roxan gives a shuddering sigh as her eyes widen, but then she calms down and says, “Very well. I hope that the following pseudo-dharani will be worthy!”

In a loud, clear voice, Roxan recites, “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

You are so busy writing down what Roxan is saying that you do not notice how the other patrons in Callo’s Tavern are reacting, but when you look up, you hear a burst of applause from certain customers and see that the boy has collected coins from patrons. Aaran is looking at Roxan in amazement.

“Roxan, did you create the dharani that you recited right in front of our eyes, or did you memorize it earlier?”

“Dharanis have to deal with certain topics, are often repetitive, and often invoke protection. I’ve been in Mineta for three years. I know the basic stories about Aranaz and Durand and astrology’s success against dragons, so turning it into a dharani was easy enough for me, since I am so loving to recite real dharanis.”

“Well, it was certainly impressive,” you tell Roxan. And you are telling the truth. You wonder whether the Alesfans or the people from Malkstrang had similarly exceptional people who skillfully adapted what they learned from the worship of the New Gods into forms that were appropriate to their cultures.

You are glad that your coming to Callo’s Tavern today allowed you to learn some form of dharani from Roxan. And you think that maybe you should study more about Avila College, although you feel that King Aranaz was very important in defeating the dragons. It is a pity, though, that after you transfer into the college dedicated to his legacy from the college dedicated to his rival and his rival’s legacy, you are told – albeit only by a child – that King Aranaz was not as important as Queen Avila. King Durand you were expecting to be told about in this way – partisans of both kings are notorious for their argumentativeness – but Queen Avila? Some people have unusual opinions, you decide. [-50 pims, + 1 skill step Pride of a Rebel Queen, + 2 stress, gain ability Recite Dharani, Hide option “Maybe you could teach me a dharani, Roxan.”, choose other option]

 

Reward from this Event:

 

 

Recite Dharani

Description

 

Although Roxan, the foreign burglar girl who taught you these words, said that they were not a dharani from her knowledge but one that she had created for Mineta, you feel that chanting these words for some time is very useful to help you focus and speak properly – and helps you to figure out how to memorize things better.

The words are: “When dragons were rulers of humans, humans strove to become free. Aranaz and Durand, both mighty human kings, disagreed over how to fight the dragons. Yet but for stars and astrology and the New Gods, all humans would be dragons’ slaves. May the stars and the gods protect me as well as the stars and gods protected humans from dragons! May the stars and gods liberate me from my troubles as well as the stars and gods liberated humans from dragons! May the stars and gods oppose my enemies as well as the stars and gods opposed the dragons!”

Benefits

 

 

+ 1 skill step to Diction, Memorization, and Concentration subskills

 

 

 

-          [If PC has 50 pims] “I prefer to save my money.”

 

Roxan scowls and mutters a few words that you cannot understand. When she sees that you cannot understand what she says, she moves her fingers in some very creative – and very rude – ways that make clear her anger towards you.

“Fancy kids at the Academagia,” the boy exclaims. “No wonder people in Mineta and Frontino and Ballos don’t like you people. Always thinking that just because you’re learning at some fancy school, you have nothing to learn outside it.”

The absurdity of the boy’s statement is obvious to you, and looking at Aaran, you see that his rolling eyes suggest that he agrees with your assessment.

But to your surprise, Roxan is the one who re-establishes calm.

“Hey, no one can succeed in everything,” she tells the boy. “Maybe someday Dharani Reciter or Cursed may want my services and be willing and able to pay. No hard feelings, I hope.”

“Not from me,” Aaran says. “We all have bad days in which certain things cause us to become unreasonably angry, only for us to calm down and regret what we did.” Judging by Aaran’s tone of voice and what you know about him, you suspect that Aaran is speaking from personal experience. [+ 1 skill level Insult, Hide options related to purchasing or trading for dharani, choose other option]

-          [If PC has fewer than 50 pims] “Alas, Roxan, I cannot pay you for your dharani.”

 

[If PC completed either Miya Hikari’s Y1 Adventure or the Y1 Adventure The Pit(t)s]

 

Roxan’s grimace turns quickly into a worn smile. “That’s all right, Dharani Reciter.  If I were no stranger to poverty’s grip, would I be with the Southside Pitts?”

You are not sure whether Roxan expects an answer, but the boy, seeing your apparent confusion, shakes his head and mouths “Don’t answer her.”

Roxan, apparently unaware of this guidance, responds to your confusion with a sigh. “People are in different roles during different times because of differing circumstances,” she says. “What one person may be to another person at one time is no guarantee that the relationship will remain the same at all times. For this reason, I thought that since Cursed here had never actively harmed me, seemed harmless, and was not with his horrible dog whom we hear so much bad news about, I would try to ask him about something. Others within the Academagia are certainly willing to be friendly with…my type of people.”

“What were you wanting to ask me about?” Aaran asks, looking interested. “I love talking to people about interesting topics – but what I am interested in is so obscure and…”

“Now is not the right time,” Roxan says. She looks at you significantly, and you assume that her meaning is that she does not want you listening to what she would say to Aaran. Although you have some ideas about who within the Academagia could be friendly to Roxan and whatever she may be planning, you realize that such ideas should be kept secret and that revealing them would not be a good way to gain Roxan’s trust. [+ 1 skill level Lip Reading, + 1 skill step Intrigue, Hide options related to purchasing or trading for dharani, choose other option]

[If PC completed neither Miya Hikari’s Y1 Adventure nor the Y1 Adventure The Pit(t)s]

 

Roxan’s grimace turns quickly into a worn smile. “That’s all right, Dharani Reciter.  If I were no stranger to poverty’s grip, would I be with the Southside Pitts?”

You are not sure whether Roxan expects an answer, but the boy, seeing your apparent confusion, shakes his head and mouths “Don’t answer her.”

Roxan, apparently unaware of this guidance, responds to your confusion with a sigh. “People are in different roles during different times because of differing circumstances,” she says. “What one person may be to another person at one time is no guarantee that the relationship will remain the same at all times. For this reason, I thought that since Cursed here had never actively harmed me, seemed harmless, and was not with his horrible dog whom we hear so much bad news about, I would try to ask him about something. Others within the Academagia are certainly willing to ber friendly with…my type of people.”

“What were you wanting to ask me about?” Aaran asks, looking interested. “I love talking to people about interesting topics – but what I am interested in is so obscure and…”

“Now is not the right time,” Roxan says. She looks at you significantly, and you assume that her meaning is that she does not want you listening to what she would say to Aaran. [+ 1 skill level Lip Reading, Hide options related to purchasing or trading for dharani, choose other option]

 

-          “Well, it has been nice meeting all of you, but I must go.”

 

[If PC did not complete Ana Flavia Bessa’s Y1 adventure]

 

“Farewell, Dharani Reciter,” Roxan says, and the boy, following her nudging guidance, smiles and waves at you.

“I think,” Aaran mutters at you, “That she and her friend were wanting to speak to me without you present. She was quite eager to greet me, and her approach was only interrupted when her friend fell. What she wants to talk to me about, I don’t know.”

“Nothing illegal or improper,” Roxan snaps.

“Well, out of faith in your word, I will listen to you after I say farewell to my friend here,” Aaran laughs. “Now farewell, [PCFirstName], and I thank you for helping me to deal with my curse.”

As you walk away to do what you originally planned to do in Callo’s Tavern, you feel glad that through simply being polite and acting in a decent way, you apparently made Aaran’s life a bit better. [+ 1 skill step Social Skills, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end Event]

[If PC completed Ana Flavia Bessa’s Y1 adventure]

 

[If PC has Affection with Ana Flavia Bessa]

 

“Farewell, Dharani Reciter,” Roxan says, and the boy, following her nudging guidance, smiles and waves at you.

“I think,” Aaran mutters at you, “That she and her friend were wanting to speak to me without you present. She was quite eager to greet me, and her approach was only interrupted when her friend fell. What she wants to talk to me about, I don’t know.”

“Nothing illegal or improper,” Roxan snaps.

“Well, out of faith in your word, I will listen to you after I say farewell to my friend here,” Aaran laughs. “Now farewell, [PCFirstName], and I thank you for helping me to deal with my curse. Of course, It would have been better if you had helped me as well as you helped Ana Flavia, but one person cannot do everything.”

“Especially when people who are to be helped are so different and have different problems,” Roxan chimes in.

As you walk away to do what you originally planned to do in Callo’s Tavern, you feel glad that through simply being polite and acting in a decent way, you apparently made Aaran’s life a bit better, just as you had helped Ana Flavia. Of course, the circumstances were different for your help to them, as were the results, but you are glad that you were able to help both of them with their luck-based problems – and you rejoice in your ability to help Ana Flavia so much. [+ 1 skill step Social Skills, + 1 skill step Romance, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end Event]

[If PC has Affection with Aaran Ledale]

 

“Farewell, Dharani Reciter,” Roxan says, and the boy, following her nudging guidance, smiles and waves at you.

“I think,” Aaran mutters at you, “That she and her friend were wanting to speak to me without you present. She was quite eager to greet me, and her approach was only interrupted when her friend fell. What she wants to talk to me about, I don’t know.”

“Nothing illegal or improper,” Roxan snaps.

“Well, out of faith in your word, I will listen to you after I say farewell to my friend here,” Aaran laughs. “Now farewell, [PCFirstName], and I thank you for helping me to deal with my curse. Of course, It would have been better if you had helped me as well as you helped Ana Flavia, but one person cannot do everything.”

“Especially when people who are to be helped are so different and have different problems,” Roxan chimes in.

As you walk away to do what you originally planned to do in Callo’s Tavern, you feel glad that through simply being polite and acting in a decent way, you apparently made Aaran’s life a bit better, just as you had helped Ana Flavia. Of course, the circumstances were different for your help to them, as were the results, but you are glad that you were able to help both of them with their luck-based problems – even as you ache in silent sorrow for Aaran’s curse, which you cannot break. But then, you are still only a student – maybe in a future career as a great mage, you will be abe to help him. [+ 1 skill step Social Skills, + 1 skill step Negation Methods, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end Event]

[If PC has no Affection with Ana Flavia Bessa or Aaran Ledale]

 

“Farewell, Dharani Reciter,” Roxan says, and the boy, following her nudging guidance, smiles and waves at you.

“I think,” Aaran mutters at you, “That she and her friend were wanting to speak to me without you present. She was quite eager to greet me, and her approach was only interrupted when her friend fell. What she wants to talk 5to me about, I don’t know.”

“Nothing illegal or improper,” Roxan snaps.

“Well, out of faith in your word, I will listen to you after I say farewell to my friend here,” Aaran laughs. “Now farewell, [PCFirstName], and I thank you for helping me to deal with my curse. Of course, It would have been better if you had helped me as well as you helped Ana Flavia, but one person cannot do everything.”

“Especially when people who are to be helped are so different and have different problems,” Roxan chimes in.

As you walk away to do what you originally planned to do in Callo’s Tavern, you feel glad that through simply being polite and acting in a decent way, you apparently made Aaran’s life a bit better, just as you had helped Ana Flavia. Of course, the circumstances were differwent for your help to them, as were the results, but you are glad that you were able to help both of them with their luck-based problems – even as you rejoice in your own comparatively good luck. [+ 1 skill step Social Skills, + 1 skill step Pure Luck, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end Event]

 

 

-          “I will gladly join you for drinks, Aaran.”

 

[If PC did not complete The Clockmaker’s Daughter adventure during Y1]

 

Aaran smiles and enthusiastically nods, then summons a server. Once the server has come over, he allows you, Roxan, and the boy to order non-alcoholic beverages, which he pays for. The four of you spend a pleasant interlude in your lives not worrying about magic, curses, or crimes, but simply enjoying the sweet cool refreshment of interesting drinks. Even Roxan, you note, is able to enjoy her drink and seem genuinely happy in a way not dependent upon other peoples’ suffering, once she has made Aaran drink from all of the mugs in order to reassure her that they are not drugged in ways that would harm a drinker.

Mineta has many mundane problems, as its law courts and criminals attest, and magic from the Academagia, the Contu School, and the diverse range of mages who make Mineta their home often complicate these issues – but you think that the joy of being able to find such delicious refreshment so easily, and at such low cost, may be one reason why living in Mineta is worthwhile. (+ 1 skill step Minetan Swagger, - 1 stress for the PC and Aaran Ledale, - 15 pims for Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event)

[If Male PC completed The Clockmaker’s Daughter adventure during Y1 and has no Affection with a student and is Prodigy: On The Prowl]

 

Aaran smiles and enthusiastically nods, then summons a server. Once the server has come over, he allows you, Roxan, and the boy to order non-alcoholic beverages, which he pays for. The four of you spend a pleasant interlude in your lives not worrying about magic, curses, or crimes, but simply enjoying the sweet cool refreshment of interesting drinks. Even Roxan, you note, is able to enjoy her drink and seem genuinely happy in a way not dependent upon other peoples’ suffering, once she has made Aaran drink from all of the mugs in order to reassure her that they are not drugged in ways that would harm a drinker. Of course, Pelia has assured you with her usual casual display of hyper-competence that there are numerous ways that a truly ingenious alchemist could drug a person, especially a known target, while being able to drink from the same cup as a target without being harmed, but you feel no reason to spoil Roxan’s mood. If the purchaser were from Vernin or a known alchemist, you would warn her, but Aaran’s interests are towards the stars, fate, and…whever strange and possibly illegal research he is doing in Glamour rather than potions, chemistry, and drugs. So you smile at Roxan’s paranoia in what you hope is an approving way – her paranoia is useful in a city with as many strange forms of knowledge and shady people as Mineta – and settle down to enjoy your own drink.

Mineta has many mundane problems, as its law courts and criminals attest, and magic from the Academagia, the Contu School, and the diverse range of mages who make Mineta their home often complicate these issues – but you think that the joy of being able to find such delicious refreshment so easily, and at such low cost, may be one reason why living in Mineta is worthwhile. Maybe some time you should invite Pelia to try such drinks with you. She could doubtlessly give you a fascinating discussion about the process behind the making of whatever drink she would order. Certainly, such a meeting may seem like a date to others, and maybe it would be – you like meeting with pretty girls, Pelia is interesting and through her willingness to steal books about temporal magic has revealed a certain willingness to break rules for those whom she cares about, and surely Professor Aventyrare would be willing to understand. She is more like a student than a professor in many ways, and she was understanding when you helped Pelia. (+ 1 skill step Minetan Swagger, + 1 skill step Poisons, + 1 skill step Dating, - 1 stress for the PC and Aaran Ledale, - 15 pims for Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event)

[If Male PC completed The Clockmaker’s Daughter adventure during Y1 and has no Affection with a student and is not Prodigy: On The Prowl]

 

Aaran smiles and enthusiastically nods, then summons a server. Once the server has come over, he allows you, Roxan, and the boy to order non-alcoholic beverages, which he pays for. The four of you spend a pleasant interlude in your lives not worrying about magic, curses, or crimes, but simply enjoying the sweet cool refreshment of interesting drinks. Even Roxan, you note, is able to enjoy her drink and seem genuinely happy in a way not dependent upon other peoples’ suffering, once she has made Aaran drink from all of the mugs in order to reassure her that they are not drugged in ways that would harm a drinker. Of course, Pelia has assured you with her usual casual display of hyper-competence that there are numerous ways that a truly ingenious alchemist could drug a person, especially a known target, while being able to drink from the same cup as a target without being harmed, but you feel no reason to spoil Roxan’s mood. If the purchaser were from Vernin or a known alchemist, you would warn her, but Aaran’s interests are towards the stars, fate, and…whever strange and possibly illegal research he is doing in Glamour rather than potions, chemistry, and drugs. So you smile at Roxan’s paranoia in what you hope is an approving way – her paranoia is useful in a city with as many strange forms of knowledge and shady people as Mineta – and settle down to enjoy your own drink.

Mineta has many mundane problems, as its law courts and criminals attest, and magic from the Academagia, the Contu School, and the diverse range of mages who make Mineta their home often complicate these issues – but you think that the joy of being able to find such delicious refreshment so easily, and at such low cost, may be one reason why living in Mineta is worthwhile. Maybe some time you should invite Pelia to try such drinks with you. She could doubtlessly give you a fascinating discussion about the process behind the making of whatever drink she would order. Certainly, such a meeting may seem like a date to others, and maybe it would be, as far as Pelia might be concerned – Pelia is interesting to you and through her willingness to steal books about temporal magic has revealed a certain willingness to break rules for those whom she cares about. Whether you wouyld want Pelia to think that you were dating her is another matter, you think. (+ 1 skill step Minetan Swagger, + 1 skill step Poisons, - 1 stress for the PC and Aaran Ledale, - 15 pims for Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event)

[If Male PC completed The Clockmaker’s Daughter adventure during Y1 and has Affection with a student and is Prodigy: On The Prowl]

 

Aaran smiles and enthusiastically nods, then summons a server. Once the server has come over, he allows you, Roxan, and the boy to order non-alcoholic beverages, which he pays for. The four of you spend a pleasant interlude in your lives not worrying about magic, curses, or crimes, but simply enjoying the sweet cool refreshment of interesting drinks. Even Roxan, you note, is able to enjoy her drink and seem genuinely happy in a way not dependent upon other peoples’ suffering, once she has made Aaran drink from all of the mugs in order to reassure her that they are not drugged in ways that would harm a drinker. Of course, Pelia has assured you with her usual casual display of hyper-competence that there are numerous ways that a truly ingenious alchemist could drug a person, especially a known target, while being able to drink from the same cup as a target without being harmed, but you feel no reason to spoil Roxan’s mood. If the purchaser were from Vernin or a known alchemist, you would warn her, but Aaran’s interests are towards the stars, fate, and…whever strange and possibly illegal research he is doing in Glamour rather than potions, chemistry, and drugs. So you smile at Roxan’s paranoia in what you hope is an approving way – her paranoia is useful in a city with as many strange forms of knowledge and shady people as Mineta – and settle down to enjoy your own drink.

Mineta has many mundane problems, as its law courts and criminals attest, and magic from the Academagia, the Contu School, and the diverse range of mages who make Mineta their home often complicate these issues – but you think that the joy of being able to find such delicious refreshment so easily, and at such low cost, may be one reason why living in Mineta is worthwhile. Maybe some time you should invite Pelia to try such drinks with you. She could doubtlessly give you a fascinating discussion about the process behind the making of whatever drink she would order. Certainly, such a meeting may seem like a date to others, so you would need to be cautious. Not only would you risk punishment from the Academagia – given your reputation, the staff are unlikely to believe any of your protests about its not being a date – but you would also risk jealousy and anger from [FullNameofStudentwithwhomPChasAffection]. Would it be worth the risk to meet Pelia in such circumstances? You like meeting with pretty girls, and Pelia is interesting, but those two elements of your life can be so complicated. (+ 1 skill step Minetan Swagger, + 1 skill step Poisons, + 1 skill step Dating, - 1 stress for Aaran Ledale, - 15 pims for Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event)

[If Male PC completed The Clockmaker’s Daughter adventure during Y1 and has Affection with a student and is not Prodigy: On The Prowl]

 

Aaran smiles and enthusiastically nods, then summons a server. Once the server has come over, he allows you, Roxan, and the boy to order non-alcoholic beverages, which he pays for. The four of you spend a pleasant interlude in your lives not worrying about magic, curses, or crimes, but simply enjoying the sweet cool refreshment of interesting drinks. Even Roxan, you note, is able to enjoy her drink and seem genuinely happy in a way not dependent upon other peoples’ suffering, once she has made Aaran drink from all of the mugs in order to reassure her that they are not drugged in ways that would harm a drinker. Of course, Pelia has assured you with her usual casual display of hyper-competence that there are numerous ways that a truly ingenious alchemist could drug a person, especially a known target, while being able to drink from the same cup as a target without being harmed, but you feel no reason to spoil Roxan’s mood. If the purchaser were from Vernin or a known alchemist, you would warn her, but Aaran’s interests are towards the stars, fate, and…whever strange and possibly illegal research he is doing in Glamour rather than potions, chemistry, and drugs. So you smile at Roxan’s paranoia in what you hope is an approving way – her paranoia is useful in a city with as many strange forms of knowledge and shady people as Mineta – and settle down to enjoy your own drink.

Mineta has many mundane problems, as its law courts and criminals attest, and magic from the Academagia, the Contu School, and the diverse range of mages who make Mineta their home often complicate these issues – but you think that the joy of being able to find such delicious refreshment so easily, and at such low cost, may be one reason why living in Mineta is worthwhile. Maybe some time you should invite Pelia to try such drinks with you. She could doubtlessly give you a fascinating discussion about the process behind the making of whatever drink she would order. Certainly, such a meeting may seem like a date to others, and so you would need to be cautious. Not only would you risk punishment from the Academagia – the staff may not believe any of your protests about its not being a date – but you would also risk jealousy and anger from [FullNameofStudentwithwhomPChasAffection]. Would it be worth it to meet Pelia in such circumstances? You like your relaltionship with [FirstNameofStudentwithwhomPChasAffection], and Pelia is interesting, but those two elements of your life can be so complicated sometimes. (+ 1 skill step Minetan Swagger, + 1 skill step Poisons, + 1 skill step Dating, - 1 stress for Aaran Ledale, - 15 pims for Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event)

[If Female PC completed The Clockmaker’s Daughter adventure during Y1 and is not Prodigy: On The Prowl]

 

Aaran smiles and enthusiastically nods, then summons a server. Once the server has come over, he allows you, Roxan, and the boy to order non-alcoholic beverages, which he pays for. The four of you spend a pleasant interlude in your lives not worrying about magic, curses, or crimes, but simply enjoying the sweet cool refreshment of interesting drinks. Even Roxan, you note, is able to enjoy her drink and seem genuinely happy in a way not dependent upon other peoples’ suffering, once she has made Aaran drink from all of the mugs in order to reassure her that they are not drugged in ways that would harm a drinker. Of course, Pelia has assured you with her usual casual display of hyper-competence that there are numerous ways that a truly ingenious alchemist could drug a person, especially a known target, while being able to drink from the same cup as a target without being harmed, but you feel no reason to spoil Roxan’s mood. If the purchaser were from Vernin or a known alchemist, you would warn her, but Aaran’s interests are towards the stars, fate, and…whever strange and possibly illegal research he is doing in Glamour rather than potions, chemistry, and drugs. So you smile at Roxan’s paranoia in what you hope is an approving way – her paranoia is useful in a city with as many strange forms of knowledge and shady people as Mineta – and settle down to enjoy your own drink.

Mineta has many mundane problems, as its law courts and criminals attest, and magic from the Academagia, the Contu School, and the diverse range of mages who make Mineta their home often complicate these issues – but you think that the joy of being able to find such delicious refreshment so easily, and at such low cost, may be one reason why living in Mineta is worthwhile. Maybe some time you should invite Pelia to try such drinks with you. She could doubtlessly give you a fascinating discussion about the process behind the making of whatever drink she would order. Pelia is such a lonely, reclusive young woman, but maybe some to reveal her strengths in front of a friend would help her to gain confidence – or at least happiness. (+ 1 skill step Minetan Swagger, + 1 skill step Poisons, - 1 stress for the PC and Aaran Ledale, - 15 pims for Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event)

[If Female PC completed The Clockmaker’s Daughter adventure during Y1 and is Prodigy: On The Prowl and has Affection with a Student]

 

Aaran smiles and enthusiastically nods, then summons a server. Once the server has come over, he allows you, Roxan, and the boy to order non-alcoholic beverages, which he pays for. The four of you spend a pleasant interlude in your lives not worrying about magic, curses, or crimes, but simply enjoying the sweet cool refreshment of interesting drinks. Even Roxan, you note, is able to enjoy her drink and seem genuinely happy in a way not dependent upon other peoples’ suffering, once she has made Aaran drink from all of the mugs in order to reassure her that they are not drugged in ways that would harm a drinker. Of course, Pelia has assured you with her usual casual display of hyper-competence that there are numerous ways that a truly ingenious alchemist could drug a person, especially a known target, while being able to drink from the same cup as a target without being harmed, but you feel no reason to spoil Roxan’s mood. If the purchaser were from Vernin or a known alchemist, you would warn her, but Aaran’s interests are towards the stars, fate, and…whever strange and possibly illegal research he is doing in Glamour rather than potions, chemistry, and drugs. So you smile at Roxan’s paranoia in what you hope is an approving way – her paranoia is useful in a city with as many strange forms of knowledge and shady people as Mineta – and settle down to enjoy your own drink.

Mineta has many mundane problems, as its law courts and criminals attest, and magic from the Academagia, the Contu School, and the diverse range of mages who make Mineta their home often complicate these issues – but you think that the joy of being able to find such delicious refreshment so easily, and at such low cost, may be one reason why living in Mineta is worthwhile. Maybe some time you should invite Pelia to try such drinks with you. She could doubtlessly give you a fascinating discussion about the process behind the making of whatever drink she would order. Pelia is such a lonely, reclusive young woman, but maybe some to reveal her strengths in front of a friend would help her to gain confidence – or at least happiness. Maybe you could also give her some tips about dating. You have a wonderful relationship with [FullNameofStudentwithwhomPChasAffection], and you understand how such things work. If Pelia could find such a person for her, maybe she would become less shy and would better enjoy studying at the Academagia. Besides, a lot of the skills that are useful in love are useful when interacting with other people, and could help Pelia to make more friends. No one likes interacting with unpleasant people, after all! (+ 1 skill step Minetan Swagger, + 1 skill step Poisons, + 1 skill step Dating, - 1 stress for the PC and Aaran Ledale, - 15 pims for Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event)

[If Female PC completed The Clockmaker’s Daughter adventure during Y1 and is Prodigy: On The Prowl and has no Affection with a Student]

 

Aaran smiles and enthusiastically nods, then summons a server. Once the server has come over, he allows you, Roxan, and the boy to order non-alcoholic beverages, which he pays for. The four of you spend a pleasant interlude in your lives not worrying about magic, curses, or crimes, but simply enjoying the sweet cool refreshment of interesting drinks. Even Roxan, you note, is able to enjoy her drink and seem genuinely happy in a way not dependent upon other peoples’ suffering, once she has made Aaran drink from all of the mugs in order to reassure her that they are not drugged in ways that would harm a drinker. Of course, Pelia has assured you with her usual casual display of hyper-competence that there are numerous ways that a truly ingenious alchemist could drug a person, especially a known target, while being able to drink from the same cup as a target without being harmed, but you feel no reason to spoil Roxan’s mood. If the purchaser were from Vernin or a known alchemist, you would warn her, but Aaran’s interests are towards the stars, fate, and…whever strange and possibly illegal research he is doing in Glamour rather than potions, chemistry, and drugs. So you smile at Roxan’s paranoia in what you hope is an approving way – her paranoia is useful in a city with as many strange forms of knowledge and shady people as Mineta – and settle down to enjoy your own drink.

Mineta has many mundane problems, as its law courts and criminals attest, and magic from the Academagia, the Contu School, and the diverse range of mages who make Mineta their home often complicate these issues – but you think that the joy of being able to find such delicious refreshment so easily, and at such low cost, may be one reason why living in Mineta is worthwhile. Maybe some time you should invite Pelia to try such drinks with you. She could doubtlessly give you a fascinating discussion about the process behind the making of whatever drink she would order. Pelia is such a lonely, reclusive young woman, but maybe some to reveal her strengths in front of a friend would help her to gain confidence – or at least happiness. Maybe you could also give her some tips about dating. Certainly, you have no one special in your life, but you understand how such things work. Besides, a lot of the skills that are useful in love are useful when interacting with other people, and could help Pelia to make more friends. No one likes interacting with unpleasant people, after all! (+ 1 skill step Minetan Swagger, + 1 skill step Poisons, + 1 skill step Dating, - 1 stress for the PC and Aaran Ledale, - 15 pims for Aaran Ledale, + 1 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event)

 

-          “I have better things to do than be with you people and your sleazy lives.”

 

[if PC completed Miya Hikari’s Y1 Adventure and has Relationship <11 with Miya Hikari]

 

“Sleazy? What does the word mean?” Roxan looks at the boy with her in confusion.

“[PCFirstName] is associating us with criminals,” Aaran says coldly. “Just because I have knowledge of some…less than wholesome activities in Mineta that are of interest to many students from the Academagia, and am willing to trade some portion of my knowledge for good relations with students, [PCFirstName] assumes that I am a criminal’s friend. If he were not having his father to protect him, people would hold Philippe Marchant to be a criminal – and the rest of his brothers also! But it is always easy to blame and condemn an orphan such as I am.” Aaran finishes with a long drawn out sigh, but then grimaces, perhaps realizing that he is being melodramatic.

Roxan, however, has tears in her eyes by the time that Aaran has finished speaking, and her voice trembles with fear. “Truth! If I were no orphan, I’d not need to be with a street gang in order to preserve my faith! But you may seek to do bad things to me also – orphans are not guaranteed to support each other. So if you are sorry, give us money and we will go – even non-alcoholic drinks can be dangerous!”

Aaran runs a hand through his hair and grimaces. “I guess that such is reasonable. Litigation from any of you would be a hassle that I would prefer to avoid. See – I will give you all five pims each and we can forget that this happened.”

He retrieves coins from somewhere near his waist and passes them to Roxan, the boy, and you, then waves with exasperation. “Now shoo! I am the cursed student mage! To be with me risks horrible accidents!”

As you go to another part of Callo’s Tavern in order to do what you originally came to Callo’s Tavern to do, you secretly rejoice that Aaran’s melodramatic response so distracted Roxan. After all, given what you and Miya have been involved in, you are hardly the proper person to condemn another person for sleaziness. But Miya is Miya, and Aaran is Aaran, and whatever openness the Thieves’ Guild may have extended to Miya and you, they are unlikely to extend to Aaran. His curse might manifest for them in a way that would cause them unwanted attention from the city watch. So it is better, you think, that Aaran believe that you shun all association with criminals and those who are familiar with criminals. [+ 1 skill step Danger Sense, + 5 pims, -15 pims for Aaran Ledale, - 2 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event]

[if PC completed Miya Hikari’s Y1 Adventure and has Relationship >10 with Miya Hikari]

 

“Sleazy? What does the word mean?” Roxan looks at the boy with her in confusion.

“[PCFirstName] is associating us with criminals,” Aaran says coldly. “Just because I have knowledge of some…less than wholesome activities in Mineta that are of interest to many students from the Academagia, and am willing to trade some portion of my knowledge for good relations with students, [PCFirstName] assumes that I am a criminal’s friend. If he were not having his father to protect him, people would hold Philippe Marchant to be a criminal – and the rest of his brothers also! But it is always easy to blame and condemn an orphan such as I am.” Aaran finishes with a long drawn out sigh, but then grimaces, perhaps realizing that he is being melodramatic.

Roxan, however, has tears in her eyes by the time that Aaran has finished speaking, and her voice trembles with fear. “Truth! If I were no orphan, I’d not need to be with a street gang in order to preserve my faith! But you may seek to do bad things to me also – orphans are not guaranteed to support each other. So if you are sorry, give us money and we will go – even non-alcoholic drinks can be dangerous!”

Aaran runs a hand through his hair and grimaces. “I guess that such is reasonable. Litigation from any of you would be a hassle that I would prefer to avoid. See – I will give you all five pims each and we can forget that this happened.”

He retrieves coins from somewhere near his waist and passes them to Roxan, the boy, and you, then waves with exasperation. “Now shoo! I am the cursed student mage! To be with me risks horrible accidents!”

As you go to another part of Callo’s Tavern in order to do what you originally came to Callo’s Tavern to do, you secretly rejoice that Aaran’s melodramatic response so distracted Roxan. After all, given what you and Miya have been involved in, you are hardly the proper person to condemn another person for sleaziness. But Miya is Miya, and Aaran is Aaran, and whatver openness the Thieves’ Guild may have extended to Miya and you, they are unlikely to extend to Aaran. Miya, for all of her eccentricities and claims about herself and the world, is a genuinely skillful thief, whereas Aaran is not, so far as you can tell, skilled in this…art and his curse would made him unpredictable – and hence dangerous to the Thieves’ Guild. So it is better, you think, that Aaran believe that you shun all association with criminals and those who are familiar with criminals. [+ 1 skill step Character Study, + 5 pims, - 15 pims for Aaran Ledale, - 2 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event]

[if PC completed Miya Hikari’s Y1 Adventure and has Affection with Miya Hikari]

 

“Sleazy? What does the word mean?” Roxan looks at the boy with her in confusion.

“[PCFirstName] is associating us with criminals,” Aaran says coldly. “Just because I have knowledge of some…less than wholesome activities in Mineta that are of interest to many students from the Academagia, and am willing to trade some portion of my knowledge for good relations with students, [PCFirstName] assumes that I am a criminal’s friend. If he were not having his father to protect him, people would hold Philippe Marchant to be a criminal – and the rest of his brothers also! But it is always easy to blame and condemn an orphan such as I am.” Aaran finishes with a long drawn out sigh, but then grimaces, perhaps realizing that he is being melodramatic.

Roxan, however, has tears in her eyes by the time that Aaran has finished speaking, and her voice trembles with fear. “Truth! If I were no orphan, I’d not need to be with a street gang in order to preserve my faith! But you may seek to do bad things to me also – orphans are not guaranteed to support each other. So if you are sorry, give us money and we will go – even non-alcoholic drinks can be dangerous!”

Aaran runs a hand through his hair and grimaces. “I guess that such is reasonable. Litigation from any of you would be a hassle that I would prefer to avoid. See – I will give you all five pims each and we can forget that this happened.”

He retrieves coins from somewhere near his waist and passes them to Roxan, the boy, and you, then waves with exasperation. “Now shoo! I am the cursed student mage! To be with me risks horrible accidents!”

As you go to another part of Callo’s Tavern in order to do what you originally came to Callo’s Tavern to do, you secretly rejoice that Aaran’s melodramatic response so distracted Roxan. After all, given what you and Miya have been involved in, you are hardly the proper person to condemn another person for sleaziness. But Miya is Miya, and Aaran is Aaran, and whatver openness the Thieves’ Guild may have extended to Miya and you, they are unlikely to extend to Aaran. Miya, for all of her behaviours that to others seem like eccentricities and her claims about herself and the world, is a genuinely skillful thief with clear goals in her life – to make a reputation for herself in a way that is fun and does not cause serious harm to others. Aaran is not, so far as you can tell, skilled in this…art, and his curse – to say nothing of his researches into it – would made him unpredictable and therefore dangerous to the Thieves’ Guild. So it is better, you think, that Aaran believe that you shun all association with criminals and those who are familiar with criminals. [+ 1 skill step Character Study, + 5 pims, - 15 pims for Aaran Ledale, - 2 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event]

[if PC did not complete Miya Hikari’s Y1 Adventure]

 

“Sleazy? What does the word mean?” Roxan looks at the boy with her in confusion.

“[PCFirstName] is associating us with criminals,” Aaran says coldly. “Just because I have knowledge of some…less than wholesome activities in Mineta that are of interest to many students from the Academagia, and am willing to trade some portion of my knowledge for good relations with students, [PCFirstName] assumes that I am a criminal’s friend. If he were not having his father to protect him, people would hold Philippe Marchant to be a criminal – and the rest of his brothers also! But it is always easy to blame and condemn an orphan such as I am.” Aaran finishes with a long drawn out sigh, but then grimaces, perhaps realizing that he is being melodramatic.

Roxan, however, has tears in her eyes by the time that Aaran has finished speaking, and her voice trembles with fear. “Truth! If I were no orphan, I’d not need to be with a street gang in order to preserve my faith! But you may seek to do bad things to me also – orphans are not guaranteed to support each other. So if you are sorry, give us money and we will go – even non-alcoholic drinks can be dangerous!”

Aaran runs a hand through his hair and grimaces. “I guess that such is reasonable. Litigation from any of you would be a hassle that I would prefer to avoid. See – I will give you all five pims each and we can forget that this happened.”

He retrieves coins from somewhere near his waist and passes them to Roxan, the boy, and you, then waves with exasperation. “Now shoo! I am the cursed student mage! To be with me risks horrible accidents!”

As you go to another part of Callo’s Tavern in order to do what you originally came to Callo’s Tavern to do, you think that you are glad that Aaran was at least willing to pay you for the harm that he caused you – although five pims may be a bit on the cheap side. Still, as an orphan, he must have his own limitations in money. [+ 1 skill step Civil Law, + 5 pims, - 15 pims for Aaran Ledale, - 2 relationship with Aaran Ledale, remove memory Dharanis and Drinks, end event]

 

 

 

 

[Legate of Mineta]

Rhi;

These all look possible. You're very thorough, but you may want to draw out a flowchart to show which are tested first, though, so you don't wind up with conditions which can't be filled.

[Metis]

A flowchart. For a single stage. And here I was thinking that Cosetta Re RE was a mess of conditions. And IIRC didn't Team fail to implement them right initially? Not sure if they can handle a flowchart...

[Rhialto]

@Legate of Mineta, @Metis: I am no computer programmer, but the next stage of this adventure will use a better way to organize the variables.

[Rhialto]

@Legate of Mineta, @Metis: Your feedback was very welcome, but I decided to repost the stage with better use of spoiler brackets.

Any feedback is welcome.

Dear Prudence 00:

Note:

The opening of this adventure is very customizable. There is no one opening; rather, there are 34 possible openings for this adventure, based upon factors including the PC’s College during Y2 and the PC’s College during Y1. The prerequisites for this adventure are: PC must have >10 relationship with Prudence Cossins, PC must have completed Prudence Cossins’s Y1 adventure.

Adventure:

[If PC is in none of Aranaz nor Durand nor Avila and was in none of them during Y1]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, who, faintly smirking, approaches you.

“By the gods, that was a boring assembly,” Prudence says. “I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Aranaz College during Y1 and did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, grimacing, approaches you.

“Cossins want to speak to you, [PCLastName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I’m just the messenger. She wants help – your fellow Aranaz students Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her.”

Figuring that it would not be right to abandon a friend, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away.

“Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was not in Durand or Avila during Y1 but was not in Aranaz College and did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, grimacing, approaches you.

“Cossins want to speak to you, [PCLastName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I’m just the messenger. She wants help – your fellow Aranaz students Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her.”

Figuring that it would not be right to abandon a friend, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Durand College during Y1 and did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, grimacing, approaches you.

“Cossins want to speak to you, [PCLastName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I’m just the messenger. She wants help – your fellow Aranaz students Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her.”

Figuring that it would not be right to abandon a friend, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail! Especially when they are defectors from Durand College such as [PCLastName].”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year, and is better than the schemers whom you imagine all Aranaz students to be. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Avila College during Y1 and did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. One thing that you know for sure is that you are glad that you left Avila College when you did. One year of being stereotyped in such sensitive ways for being an Avila student was bad enough – to go through five such years would have been impossible for you.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, grimacing, approaches you.

“Cossins want to speak to you, [PCLastName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I’m just the messenger. She wants help – your fellow Aranaz students Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her.”

Figuring that it would not be right to abandon a friend, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Aranaz College during Y1 and completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who approaches you.

“Prudence wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I can guess. She wants your help – your fellow Aranaz students Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her.”

Figuring that it would not be right to abandon a friend, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away.

“Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was not in Durand or Avila during Y1 but was not in Aranaz College and completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who approaches you.

“Prudence wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her.”

Figuring that it would not be right to abandon a friend, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Durand College during Y1 and completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who approaches you.

“Prudence wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her.”

Figuring that it would not be right to abandon a friend, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail! Especially when they are defectors from Durand College such as [PCLastName].”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year, and is better than the schemers whom you imagine all Aranaz students to be. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Avila College during Y1 and completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. One thing that you know for sure is that you are glad that you left Avila College when you did. One year of being stereotyped in such sensitive ways for being an Avila student was bad enough – to go through five such years would have been impossible for you.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who approaches you.

“Prudence wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her.”

Figuring that it would not be right to abandon a friend, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Aranaz College during Y1 and completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, smiling, approaches you.

“Prudence wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I can guess. She wants your help – your fellow Aranaz students Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her, and she cares about her reputation - unlike me.”

Noting that Flore’s face has twisted in sourness, you tell her, “Don’t worry, Flore. You are still my favorite bad girl from Durand College. Aranaz’s schemers would not need to look hard to give you a bad reputation. But Prudence is my friend also, so I should help her.”

With these words, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away, although not without a sigh.

“Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was not in Durand or Avila during Y1 but was not in Aranaz College and completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, smiling, approaches you.

“Prudence wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her, and she cares about her reputation - unlike me.”

Noting that Flore’s face has twisted in sourness, you tell her, “Don’t worry, Flore. You are still my favorite bad girl from Durand College. Aranaz’s schemers would not need to look hard to give you a bad reputation. But Prudence is my friend also, so I should help her.”

With these words, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away, although not without a sigh.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Durand College during Y1 and completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, smiling, approaches you.

“Prudence wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her, and she cares about her reputation - unlike me.”

Noting that Flore’s face has twisted in sourness, you tell her, “Don’t worry, Flore. You are still my favorite bad girl from Durand College. Aranaz’s schemers would not need to look hard to give you a bad reputation. But Prudence is my friend also, so I should help her.”

With these words, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away, although not without a sigh.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail! Especially when they are defectors from Durand College such as [PCLastName].”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year, and is better than the schemers whom you imagine all Aranaz students to be. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Avila College during Y1 and completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. One thing that you know for sure is that you are glad that you left Avila College when you did. One year of being stereotyped in such sensitive ways for being an Avila student was bad enough – to go through five such years would have been impossible for you.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, smiling, approaches you.

“Prudence wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her, and she cares about her reputation - unlike me.”

Noting that Flore’s face has twisted in sourness, you tell her, “Don’t worry, Flore. You are still my favorite bad girl from Durand College. Aranaz’s schemers would not need to look hard to give you a bad reputation. But Prudence is my friend also, so I should help her.”

With these words, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away, although not without a sigh.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Aranaz College during Y1 and and did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, smiling, approaches you.

“Flore,” you say. “How did my lady the castellan’s daughter enjoy the assembly?”

“Only enough to recognize and appreciate your mockery of its talk about courtesy, [PCFirstName]. I would rather be known as something other than a castellan’s daughter. Prudence now is – and she does not like it. She wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I can guess. She wants your help – your fellow Aranaz students Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her, and she cares about her reputation.”

Noting that Flore’s face has twisted in sourness, you tell her, “Don’t worry, Flore. You are still more than a castellan’s daughter to me, despite what Badcrumble may wish. But Prudence is my friend also, so I should help her.”

With these words, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away, although not without a sigh.

“Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was not in Durand or Avila during Y1 but was not in Aranaz College and and did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, smiling, approaches you.

“Flore,” you say. “How did my lady the castellan’s daughter enjoy the assembly?”

“Only enough to recognize and appreciate your mockery of its talk about courtesy, [PCFirstName]. I would rather be known as something other than a castellan’s daughter. Prudence now is – and she does not like it. She wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I can guess. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her, and she cares about her reputation.”

Noting that Flore’s face has twisted in sourness, you tell her, “Don’t worry, Flore. You are still more than a castellan’s daughter to me, despite what Badcrumble may wish. But Prudence is my friend also, so I should help her.”

With these words, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away, although not without a sigh.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Durand College during Y1 and and did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, smiling, approaches you.

“Flore,” you say. “How did my lady the castellan’s daughter enjoy the assembly?”

“Only enough to recognize and appreciate your mockery of its talk about courtesy, [PCFirstName]. I would rather be known as something other than a castellan’s daughter. Prudence now is – and she does not like it. She wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I can guess. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her, and she cares about her reputation.”

Noting that Flore’s face has twisted in sourness, you tell her, “Don’t worry, Flore. You are still more than a castellan’s daughter to me, despite what Badcrumble may wish. But Prudence is my friend also, so I should help her.”

With these words, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away, although not without a sigh.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail! Especially when they are defectors from Durand College such as [PCLastName].”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year, and is better than the schemers whom you imagine all Aranaz students to be. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Aranaz College and was in Avila College during Y1 and did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. One thing that you know for sure is that you are glad that you left Avila College when you did. One year of being stereotyped in such sensitive ways for being an Avila student was bad enough – to go through five such years would have been impossible for you.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, smiling, approaches you.

“Flore,” you say. “How did my lady the castellan’s daughter enjoy the assembly?”

“Only enough to recognize and appreciate your mockery of its talk about courtesy, [PCFirstName]. I would rather be known as something other than a castellan’s daughter. Prudence now is – and she does not like it. She wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I can guess. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her, and she cares about her reputation.”

Noting that Flore’s face has twisted in sourness, you tell her, “Don’t worry, Flore. You are still more than a castellan’s daughter to me, despite what Badcrumble may wish. But Prudence is my friend also, so I should help her.”

With these words, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away, although not without a sigh.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Durand College and was in Durand during Y1]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you walk towards the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, blearily blinking her eyes as she rises from her chair to join you and the other younger Durand students in leaving the room. After she has stood up, her eyes fall upon you, and she becomes more alert.

“Hello, fellow Durand student, and second-favorite college-mate to me,” Prudence says with mock solemnity as she begins walking beside you towards the room’s doorway. “Don’t let Briardi think that I learned nothing from Badcrumble’s politeness-obssessed droning. I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Durand College and was not in Aranaz or Avila during Y1 but was not in Durand College]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you walk towards the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, blearily blinking her eyes as she rises from her chair to join you and the other younger Durand students in leaving the room. After she has stood up, her eyes fall upon you, and she becomes more alert.

“Hello, fellow Durand student, and second-favorite college-mate to me – who even left another college to join glorious Durand’s college and uphold its king’s noble traditions,” Prudence says with mock solemnity as she begins walking beside you towards the room’s doorway. “Don’t let Briardi think that I learned nothing from Badcrumble’s politeness-obssessed droning. I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Durand College and was in Aranaz College during Y1]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you walk towards the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, blearily blinking her eyes as she rises from her chair to join you and the other younger Durand students in leaving the room. After she has stood up, her eyes fall upon you, and she becomes more alert.

“Hello, fellow Durand student, and second-favorite college-mate to me – who left Aranaz College to join glorious Durand’s college and uphold its king’s noble traditions rather than King Aranaz’s wiles,” Prudence says with mock solemnity as she begins walking beside you towards the room’s doorway. “Don’t let Briardi think that I learned nothing from Badcrumble’s politeness-obssessed droning. I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Durand College and was in Avila College during Y1]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. One thing that you know for sure is that you are glad that you left Avila College when you did. One year of being stereotyped in such sensitive ways for being an Avila student was bad enough – to go through five such years would have been impossible for you.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you walk towards the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, blearily blinking her eyes as she rises from her chair to join you and the other younger Durand students in leaving the room. After she has stood up, her eyes fall upon you, and she becomes more alert.

“Hello, fellow Durand student, and second-favorite college-mate to me – who even left another college to join glorious Durand’s college and uphold its king’s noble traditions,” Prudence says with mock solemnity as she begins walking beside you towards the room’s doorway. “Don’t let Briardi think that I learned nothing from Badcrumble’s politeness-obssessed droning. No wonder you left her college. Is she always so obsessed with etiquette? But all of the regents made their reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Avila College and was in Avila during Y1]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. One thing that you know for sure is that it is times such that this that make you question the wisdom of remaining within Avila College. Avila College’s students are so often stereotyped in ways related to their genders, and Regent Badcrumble’s…interesting approach to how people should behave, especially when of opposite sexes, does not help the college’s reputation. But she is a brilliant teacher about astrology, and you hope that the stars and the gods can lead you to good things…and out of this assembly without dying of boredom.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, who, faintly smirking, approaches you.

“By the gods, that was a boring assembly,” Prudence says. “I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. Is Regent Badcrumble always so obsessed with etiquette? If so, I pity you and all Avila students. But all of the regents made their reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Avila College and was not in Durand or Aranaz during Y1 but was not in Avila College]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. One thing that you know for sure is that it is times such that this that make you question how wise you were to decide to transfer into Avila College. Avila College’s students are so often stereotyped in ways related to their genders, and Regent Badcrumble’s…interesting approach to how people should behave, especially when of opposite sexes, does not help the college’s reputation. But she is a brilliant teacher about astrology, and you hope that the stars and the gods can lead you to good things…and out of this assembly without dying of boredom.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, who, faintly smirking, approaches you.

“By the gods, that was a boring assembly,” Prudence says. “I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. Is Regent Badcrumble always so obsessed with etiquette? If so, I pity you and all Avila students. Maybe you are regretting entering such a regent’s college. But all of the regents made their reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Avila College and was in Durand College during Y1 and did not complete the Y1 adventure Professor Briardi's Address]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. One thing that you know for sure is that it is times such that this that make you question how wise you were to decide to transfer into Avila College. Avila College’s students are so often stereotyped in ways related to their genders, and Regent Badcrumble’s…interesting approach to how people should behave, especially when of opposite sexes, does not help the college’s reputation. But she is a brilliant teacher about astrology, and you hope that the stars and the gods can lead you to good things…and out of this assembly without dying of boredom.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, who, faintly smirking, approaches you.

“By the gods, that was a boring assembly,” Prudence says. “I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. Is Regent Badcrumble always so obsessed with etiquette? If so, I pity you and all Avila students. Maybe you are regretting entering such a regent’s college rather than staying in Durand College. But all of the regents made their reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Avila College and was in Durand College during Y1 and completed the Y1 adventure Professor Briardi's Address]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. One thing that you know for sure is that it is times such that this that make you question how wise you were to decide to transfer into Avila College. Avila College’s students are so often stereotyped in ways related to their genders, and Regent Badcrumble’s…interesting approach to how people should behave, especially when of opposite sexes, does not help the college’s reputation. But she is a brilliant teacher about astrology, and you hope that the stars and the gods can lead you to good things…and out of this assembly without dying of boredom.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, who, faintly smirking, approaches you.

“By the gods, that was a boring assembly,” Prudence says. “I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. Is Regent Badcrumble always so obsessed with etiquette? If so, I pity you and all Avila students. Maybe you are regretting entering such a regent’s college rather than staying in Durand College. Briardi can be strict, and her close relationship with Academagia’s Legate can be alarming to the more paranoid, such as Lambert, but she is a fun teacher who can lead Durand students on excellent adventures. Remember when she led Flore, me, you, and other Durand students to attack some pirates? Great times – much better than any tea party hosted by Badcrumble. But all of the regents, including Briardi, made their reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

 

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

 

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC is in Avila College and was in Aranaz College during Y1]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. One thing that you know for sure is that it is times such that this that make you question how wise you were to decide to transfer into Avila College. Avila College’s students are so often stereotyped in ways related to their genders, and Regent Badcrumble’s…interesting approach to how people should behave, especially when of opposite sexes, does not help the college’s reputation. But she is a brilliant teacher about astrology, and you hope that the stars and the gods can lead you to good things…and out of this assembly without dying of boredom.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, who, faintly smirking, approaches you.

“By the gods, that was a boring assembly,” Prudence says. “I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. Is Regent Badcrumble always so obsessed with etiquette? If so, I pity you and all Avila students. Maybe you are regretting entering such a regent’s college – even Aranaz College must be better than living and studying under Badcrumble, I think. But all of the regents made their reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC completed the Y1 adventure Rumors of Witches and Evil Intentions and is in Morvidus College during Y2]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. They could at least have talked about how to identify real witches. You think with pride about how you, Vettor, Beatrix, Hector, and Eliana learned about the signs and associations through which witches may be identified – and then went through a witch’s gathering. Neither you nor any of those friends will be so foolish as to accuse any student, whether from Avila or any other college, of being a witch without first looking at her feet and checking for certain types of birds associated with her. For a while, you thnk about the pleasant experiences that you have had with those collegemates since you joined them to deal with the terrible musical instrument that could have enslaved you and everyone at the Academagia to its player.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, who, faintly smirking, approaches you.

“By the gods, that was a boring assembly,” Prudence says. “I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC completed the Y1 adventure Rumors of Witches and Evil Intentions and is in Avila College during Y2]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. They could at least have talked about how to identify real witches. You think with pride about how you, Vettor, Beatrix, Hector, and Eliana learned about the signs and associations through which witches may be identified – and then went through a witch’s gathering. Neither you nor any of those friends will be so foolish as to accuse any student, whether from Avila or any other college, of being a witch without first looking at her feet and checking for certain types of birds associated with her. Another thing that you know for sure is that it is times such that this that make you question how wise you were to decide to transfer into Avila College. Avila College’s students are so often stereotyped in ways related to their genders, and Regent Badcrumble’s…interesting approach to how people should behave, especially when of opposite sexes, does not help the college’s reputation. But she is a brilliant teacher about astrology, and you hope that the stars and the gods can lead you to good things…and out of this assembly without dying of boredom.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, who, faintly smirking, approaches you.

“By the gods, that was a boring assembly,” Prudence says. “I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. Is Regent Badcrumble always so obsessed with etiquette? If so, I pity you and all Avila students. Maybe you are regretting entering such a regent’s college. But all of the regents made their reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC completed the Y1 adventure Rumors of Witches and Evil Intentions and is in Aranaz and did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. They could at least have talked about how to identify real witches. You think with pride about how you, Vettor, Beatrix, Hector, and Eliana learned about the signs and associations through which witches may be identified – and then went through a witch’s gathering. Neither you nor any of those friends will be so foolish as to accuse any student, whether from Avila or any other college, of being a witch without first looking at her feet and checking for certain types of birds associated with her.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, grimacing, approaches you.

“Cossins want to speak to you, [PCLastName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I’m just the messenger. She wants help – your fellow Aranaz students Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her.”

Figuring that it would not be right to abandon a friend, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC completed the Y1 adventure Rumors of Witches and Evil Intentions and is in Aranaz and did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. They could at least have talked about how to identify real witches. You think with pride about how you, Vettor, Beatrix, Hector, and Eliana learned about the signs and associations through which witches may be identified – and then went through a witch’s gathering. Neither you nor any of those friends will be so foolish as to accuse any student, whether from Avila or any other college, of being a witch without first looking at her feet and checking for certain types of birds associated with her.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, smiling, approaches you.

“Flore,” you say. “How did my lady the castellan’s daughter enjoy the assembly?”

“Only enough to recognize and appreciate your mockery of its talk about courtesy, [PCFirstName]. I would rather be known as something other than a castellan’s daughter. Prudence now is – and she does not like it. She wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. Why she wants to make an exception to her dislike of Aranaz students for you I don’t know – but I can guess. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her, and she cares about her reputation.”

Noting that Flore’s face has twisted in sourness, you tell her, “Don’t worry, Flore. You are still more than a castellan’s daughter to me, despite what Badcrumble may wish. But Prudence is my friend also, so I should help her.”

With these words, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away, although not without a sigh.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC completed the Y1 adventure Rumors of Witches and Evil Intentions and is in Aranaz and completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. They could at least have talked about how to identify real witches. You think with pride about how you, Vettor, Beatrix, Hector, and Eliana learned about the signs and associations through which witches may be identified – and then went through a witch’s gathering. Neither you nor any of those friends will be so foolish as to accuse any student, whether from Avila or any other college, of being a witch without first looking at her feet and checking for certain types of birds associated with her.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who approaches you.

“Prudence wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her.”

Figuring that it would not be right to abandon a friend, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC completed the Y1 adventure Rumors of Witches and Evil Intentions and is in Aranaz and completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 Adventure and has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. They could at least have talked about how to identify real witches. You think with pride about how you, Vettor, Beatrix, Hector, and Eliana learned about the signs and associations through which witches may be identified – and then went through a witch’s gathering. Neither you nor any of those friends will be so foolish as to accuse any student, whether from Avila or any other college, of being a witch without first looking at her feet and checking for certain types of birds associated with her.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Flore Yveuillet, who, smiling, approaches you.

“Prudence wants to speak to you, [PCFirstName]. She wants your help – Inneith and von Kiep have been spreading rumours about her, and she cares about her reputation - unlike me.”

Noting that Flore’s face has twisted in sourness, you tell her, “Don’t worry, Flore. You are still my favorite bad girl from Durand College. Aranaz’s schemers would not need to look hard to give you a bad reputation. But Prudence is my friend also, so I should help her.”

With these words, you follow Flore along a hallway to meet Prudence. As soon as Flore sees that you have met with Prudence, she walks away, although not without a sigh.

“Um, Prudence?” you ask. “Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Cossins, meeting with Aranaz students to deal with bad stories about you is setting yourself up for blackmail!”

“Ugh, Lambert,” Prudence snarls. “Not all Aranaz students are alike. [PCFirstName] here earned my trust – against students from all colleges. Besides, [PCFirstName] only joined Aranaz this year. I guess that some people like a college’s subjects more than college rivalries. Go to Regent Briardi if you want to help Durand College – or harass Aymeri Couer if you want to harm Aranaz.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC completed the Y1 adventure Rumors of Witches and Evil Intentions and is in Durand College during Y2]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. They could at least have talked about how to identify real witches. You think with pride about how you, Vettor, Beatrix, Hector, and Eliana learned about the signs and associations through which witches may be identified – and then went through a witch’s gathering. Neither you nor any of those friends will be so foolish as to accuse any student, whether from Avila or any other college, of being a witch without first looking at her feet and checking for certain types of birds associated with her.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you walk towards the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, blearily blinking her eyes as she rises from her chair to join you and the other younger Durand students in leaving the room. After she has stood up, her eyes fall upon you, and she becomes more alert.

“Hello, fellow Durand student, and second-favorite college-mate to me – who even left another college to join glorious Durand’s college and uphold its king’s noble traditions,” Prudence says with mock solemnity as she begins walking beside you towards the room’s doorway. “Don’t let Briardi think that I learned nothing from Badcrumble’s politeness-obssessed droning. I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

[If PC completed the Y1 adventure Rumors of Witches and Evil Intentions and is in a College not Durand, Avila, Aranaz, or Morvidus during Y2]

You are not really enjoying being with fellow students at the Academagia right now. This does not mean that you do not enjoy classes sometimes, or hanging around in your college’s common room with fellow students, but what you and your classmates are doing now is so …irrelevant to your daily experiences – or the career that you hope to get after graduation. And honestly, if you keep having to deal with experiences such as this, graduation cannot come fast enough!

Some student from a college that is not named – a first year student whose name you cannot be bothered to remember, given the circumstances – decided to poke fun at Avila College in an extremely unsubtle way: by walking up to a female first year Avila student and alleging that since she was a witch, it was no surprise that she studied the moon. Of course, he used considerably more colorful and offensive language, but Regent Badcrumble tearfully refused to tell it to any of you – to the subtle or not so subtle disappointment of some students.

The offended student, vehemently denying her insulter’s allegations, had apparently been studying the traditions of Avila College recently, and so had responded by trying to turn the insulter’s feet backwards. Alas, not all who practice revision magic are as skillful as certain Avila members of old had been, and the results, in addition to being humiliating for the student so targeted by the spell, had been very painful and potentially maiming.

The result – at least as far as you are concerned – was what you are now at: a mandatory assembly for all students about the roll of magic as a great equalizer, in the face of which only fools would fall prey to gender-based stereotyping. There is also some opportunity by regents to discuss – with varying levels of polished rehearsedness – the usefulness of all pillars of magic and the importance of not assuming that one pillar is the best. In theory, this could be a very interesting discussion of magic and proper behaviour among students, but the professors and regents who come to the stage to speak their “wise words of advice” are all so eager to avoid offending their colleagues, their students, and other colleges that the assembly lacks any practical discussion of magic or proper behaviour, instead largely consisting of trivial generalities of the sort that most students are probably familiar with, even if they do not obey them. They could at least have talked about how to identify real witches. You think with pride about how you, Vettor, Beatrix, Hector, and Eliana learned about the signs and associations through which witches may be identified – and then went through a witch’s gathering. Neither you nor any of those friends will be so foolish as to accuse any student, whether from Avila or any other college, of being a witch without first looking at her feet and checking for certain types of birds associated with her.

“…and for this reason, I proudly continue to insist that boys and young men who love astrology should be permitted to feel welcome as students in Avila College,” Regent Badcrumble concludes. Fine words if true, but do her words reveal some stress about the prospect?

Your speculations about Badcrumble’s thoughts – anything to distract you from the tedium of the presentation – are interrupted by an announcement that seems calculated to create some enthusiasm in students. Unfortunately, said students do not include you.

“Academagia students of First and Second Years, this assembly is now finished. Please return to your normally permitted activities. Academagia Students of Third Year and above, please remain seated for Regent Briardi’s discussion of safe dating and Negation magics,” Regent Badcrumble sounds faintly disappointed by what she says, but you are too upset at the thought of learning something that adults have forbidden to you to think much about why this is.

Since you cannot think of any way for you to sneak into such a segregated assembly, you diffidently stand up and walk out of the room. As you pass the door, however, you see Prudence Cossins, who, faintly smirking, approaches you.

“By the gods, that was a boring assembly,” Prudence says. “I never thought that the regents could make a reaction to insults so dull. They didn’t even discuss any useful non-dangerous magics for fighting or tell us what the insult was – aside from witch, but I know that one already. It would have been more fun for me to read about the fight in the school newspaper – unlike another story that I read in it.”

“Ah well, I suppose that the school newspaper will find some way to be interesting without being illegal or definitive – something along the lines of alleging that sources are saying that it is possible that one or the other first year student who fought was really a student of some secret magical tradition.” But then you think of something else. “Um, Prudence? Why the sudden interest in newspaper stories? It seems…unusual.”

Prudence frowns. “I wish that I could focus only on songs and poems for my few out of class readings, but I’m having some troubles with the school newspaper, and getting into a fight would not be best – not after this assembly.”

“Would you like some help from me?”

Prudence smiles. “Yes, [PCFirstName], that would be nice.”

But then you hear a voice calling, “Hey, Prudence the Powerful, do you want to practice negation?”

“Not now, Flore,” Prudence replies. “Unlike you, I care about my reputation, and [PCFirstName] can help me with it.” Then, with a sigh, she turns towards you and says, “I guess that talking right here is too exposed. Would you like to talk to me in a more private place? It is on the banks of the Ardica River.”

Then, seeing your face, she blurts out, “And don’t worry. I don’t use the place for anything illegal, nor do I help smugglers, despite what some might say.”

Smugglers? Prudence? The Ardica River? This has got to be an interesting story. But do you want to hear it?

Choices:

-          [If PC has no Affection for Prudence Cossins] Follow Prudence. She has been a good friend to you, so you can help her.

For you, there is no reason to hesitate. Prudence is your friend, whatever other flaws she may have. If you were not to join her when she needs your help, you would not be a good friend to her. So you follow her down hallways, outside the Academagia’s building, through the grounds, and to the Ardica River. [+ 1 skill step Ethics, advance to Dear Prudence 01]

-          [If PC has Affection but no Love for Prudence Cossins] Follow Prudence. She has been a very dear friend to you, so you can help her.

[If PC is Prodigy: On The Prowl]

For you, there is no reason to hesitate. Prudence is your very dear friend, whatever other flaws she may have. If you were not to join her when she needs your help, you would not be a good friend to her. So you follow her down hallways, outside the Academagia’s building, through the grounds, and to the Ardica River. You hope that no one will misinterpret what you and Prudence are doing as a date. Certainly, you like her and have a deserved reputation for flirting often and skillfully with girls, but the strong relationship between you and Prudence is such that you recognize that she wants your help and nothing else right now. [+ 1 skill step Ethics, +1 skill step Temperence, advance to Dear Prudence 01]

[If PC is not Prodigy: On The Prowl]

For you, there is no reason to hesitate. Prudence is your very dear friend, whatever other flaws she may have. If you were not to join her when she needs your help, you would not be a good friend to her. So you follow her down hallways, outside the Academagia’s building, through the grounds, and to the Ardica River. You hope that no one will misinterpret what you and Prudence are doing as a date. You figure, however, that there are many non-romantic reasons to go to the Ardica River, although you suppose that some people may find its banks to be a pleasant place for various types of social meetings. [+ 1 skill step Ethics, +1 skill step Romance, advance to Dear Prudence 01]

-          [If PC has Love for Prudence Cossins] Follow Prudence. You love her, so you can help her.

[If PC is Prodigy: On The Prowl]

For you, there is no reason to hesitate. You love Prudence, despite the flaws that she has. If you were not to join her when she needs your help, you would not be worthy of the love that she, in her kindness, feels for you. So you follow her down hallways, outside the Academagia’s building, through the grounds, and to the Ardica River. You hope that no one will misinterpret what you and Prudence are doing as a date. Certainly, you love her and have a deserved reputation for flirting often and skillfully with girls, but the love between you and Prudence is such that you recognize that she wants your help and nothing else right now. [+ 1 skill step Ethics, +1 skill step Temperence, advance to Dear Prudence 01]

[If PC is not Prodigy: On The Prowl]

For you, there is no reason to hesitate. You love Prudence, despite the flaws that she has. If you were not to join her when she needs your help, you would not be worthy of the love that she, in her kindness, feels for you. So you follow her down hallways, outside the Academagia’s building, through the grounds, and to the Ardica River. You hope that no one will misinterpret what you and Prudence are doing as a date. You figure, however, that there are many non-romantic reasons to go to the Ardica River, although you suppose that some people may find its banks to be a pleasant place for various types of social meetings. [+ 1 skill step Ethics, +1 skill step Romance, advance to Dear Prudence 01]

-          You have other things that you need to do.

[If PC has Love for Prudence Cossins]

[If PC is Prodigy: On The Prowl]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence looks so upset with you that you swear that you see tears coming from her eyes, but then she scowls at you. “So, you think that you are too good to handle my problems, [PCLastName]? Then you are too bad for me to have good relations with!” Then she stomps off.

You had no idea that Prudence would take your unwillingness to help her so harshly, but thinking about her, it makes sense. Prudence is passionate, and that includes being easy to anger. But you figure that there are other girls in the Academagia whom you can form relationships with – and you doubt that you will have much difficulty in doing so. [+1 stress, + 1 skill step Character Study, - 4 relationship with Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC is not Prodigy: On The Prowl and did not complete the Y1 adventure The Clockmaker’s Daughter and did not complete the Y1 adventure The Much-Rumored Tower]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence looks so upset with you that you swear that you see tears coming from her eyes, but then she scowls at you. “So, you think that you are too good to handle my problems, [PCLastName]? Then you are too bad for me to have good relations with!” Then she stomps off.

You had no idea that Prudence would take your unwillingness to help her so harshly, but thinking about her, it makes sense. Prudence is passionate, and that includes being easy to anger. If only you had realized this before refusing to help her. But what is done is done, and you must accept it. [+4 stress, + 1 skill step Character Study, - 4 relationship with Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC is not Prodigy: On The Prowl and completed the Y1 adventure The Clockmaker’s Daughter and did not complete the Y1 adventure The Much-Rumored Tower]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence looks so upset with you that you swear that you see tears coming from her eyes, but then she scowls at you. “So, you think that you are too good to handle my problems, [PCLastName]? Then you are too bad for me to have good relations with!” Then she stomps off.

You had no idea that Prudence would take your unwillingness to help her so harshly, but thinking about her, it makes sense. Prudence is passionate, and that includes being easy to anger. If only you had realized this before refusing to help her. But what is done is done, and you must accept it. Pelia and you discovered last year that most magic can only tamper with time in small increments, and is too advanced for you to use yet. [+4 stress, + 1 skill step Character Study, - 4 relationship with Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC is not Prodigy: On The Prowl and completed the Y1 adventure The Clockmaker’s Daughter and completed the Y1 adventure The Much-Rumored Tower]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence looks so upset with you that you swear that you see tears coming from her eyes, but then she scowls at you. “So, you think that you are too good to handle my problems, [PCLastName]? Then you are too bad for me to have good relations with!” Then she stomps off.

You had no idea that Prudence would take your unwillingness to help her so harshly, but thinking about her, it makes sense. Prudence is passionate, and that includes being easy to anger. If only you had realized this before refusing to help her. But what is done is done, and you must accept it. Pelia and you discovered last year that most magic can only tamper with time in small increments, and is too advanced for you to use yet. Since even the Regent of Vernin College cannot understand the more advanced magic affecting time, you shudder to think how you might miscast such magic if you were wanting to reverse what you just did to Prudence – not that you want to risk such a thing. [+4 stress, + 1 skill step Character Study, - 4 relationship with Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC is not Prodigy: On The Prowl and did not complete the Y1 adventure The Clockmaker’s Daughter and completed the Y1 adventure The Much-Rumored Tower]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence looks so upset with you that you swear that you see tears coming from her eyes, but then she scowls at you. “So, you think that you are too good to handle my problems, [PCLastName]? Then you are too bad for me to have good relations with!” Then she stomps off.

You had no idea that Prudence would take your unwillingness to help her so harshly, but thinking about her, it makes sense. Prudence is passionate, and that includes being easy to anger. If only you had realized this before refusing to help her. But what is done is done, and you must accept it. Since even the Regent of Vernin College cannot understand the more advanced magic affecting time, you shudder to think how you might miscast such magic if you were wanting to reverse what you just did to Prudence – not that you want to risk such a thing. [+4 stress, + 1 skill step Character Study, - 4 relationship with Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC has Affection but no Love for Prudence Cossins]

[If PC is Prodigy: On The Prowl]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence scowls at you. “So, you think that you are too good to handle my problems, [PCLastName]? Then you are too bad for me to have good relations with!” Then she stomps off.

You had no idea that Prudence would take your unwillingness to help her so harshly, but thinking about her, it makes sense. Prudence is passionate, and that includes being easy to anger. But you figure that there are other girls in the Academagia whom you can form relationships with – and you doubt that you will have much difficulty in doing so. [+1 stress, + 1 skill step Character Study, - 4 relationship with Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC is not Prodigy: On The Prowl and did not complete the Y1 adventure The Clockmaker’s Daughter and did not complete the Y1 adventure The Much-Rumored Tower]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence scowls at you. “So, you think that you are too good to handle my problems, [PCLastName]? Then you are too bad for me to have good relations with!” Then she stomps off.

You had no idea that Prudence would take your unwillingness to help her so harshly, but thinking about her, it makes sense. Prudence is passionate, and that includes being easy to anger. If only you had realized this before refusing to help her. But what is done is done, and you must accept it. [+4 stress, + 1 skill step Character Study, - 4 relationship with Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC is not Prodigy: On The Prowl and completed the Y1 adventure The Clockmaker’s Daughter and did not complete the Y1 adventure The Much-Rumored Tower]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence scowls at you. “So, you think that you are too good to handle my problems, [PCLastName]? Then you are too bad for me to have good relations with!” Then she stomps off.

You had no idea that Prudence would take your unwillingness to help her so harshly, but thinking about her, it makes sense. Prudence is passionate, and that includes being easy to anger. If only you had realized this before refusing to help her. But what is done is done, and you must accept it. Pelia and you discovered last year that most magic can only tamper with time in small increments, and is too advanced for you to use yet. [+4 stress, + 1 skill step Character Study, - 4 relationship with Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC is not Prodigy: On The Prowl and completed the Y1 adventure The Clockmaker’s Daughter and completed the Y1 adventure The Much-Rumored Tower]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence scowls at you. “So, you think that you are too good to handle my problems, [PCLastName]? Then you are too bad for me to have good relations with!” Then she stomps off.

You had no idea that Prudence would take your unwillingness to help her so harshly, but thinking about her, it makes sense. Prudence is passionate, and that includes being easy to anger. If only you had realized this before refusing to help her. But what is done is done, and you must accept it. Pelia and you discovered last year that most magic can only tamper with time in small increments, and is too advanced for you to use yet. Since even the Regent of Vernin College cannot understand the more advanced magic affecting time, you shudder to think how you might miscast such magic if you were wanting to reverse what you just did to Prudence – not that you want to risk such a thing. [+4 stress, + 1 skill step Character Study, - 4 relationship with Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC is not Prodigy: On The Prowl and did not complete the Y1 adventure The Clockmaker’s Daughter and completed the Y1 adventure The Much-Rumored Tower]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence scowls at you. “So, you think that you are too good to handle my problems, [PCLastName]? Then you are too bad for me to have good relations with!” Then she stomps off.

You had no idea that Prudence would take your unwillingness to help her so harshly, but thinking about her, it makes sense. Prudence is passionate, and that includes being easy to anger. If only you had realized this before refusing to help her. But what is done is done, and you must accept it. Since even the Regent of Vernin College cannot understand the more advanced magic affecting time, you shudder to think how you might miscast such magic if you were wanting to reverse what you just did to Prudence – not that you want to risk such a thing. [+4 stress, + 1 skill step Character Study, - 4 relationship with Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC has no Affection for Prudence Cossins and no Affection for Rikildis von Kiep]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence sighs. “I suppose that you cannot be expected to solve all of my problems, [PCFirstName]. Well, it was a strange solution to a strange problem. But I can try more traditional solutions also.” Then she stomps off.

A few hours later, you learn from an excited but not shocked Grainne Inneith that Prudence Cossins, after publically and loudly condemning Rikildis von Kiep as a liar in Renaglian and Oncestrian, so soundly thrashed her with her fists and feet and arms that Rikildis was forced to go to the hospital. You stammeringly thank her for the update, and are glad that you are not on Prudence Cossins’s bad side. [+1 stress, + 1 skill step Wrestling, - 1 relationship with Prudence Cossins, - 10 relationship between Prudence Cossins and Rikildis von Kiep, Rikildis von Kiep’s Vitality set to 0, Detention for Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC has no Affection for Prudence Cossins and Affection for Rikildis von Kiep]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence sighs. “I suppose that you cannot be expected to solve all of my problems, [PCFirstName]. Well, it was a strange solution to a strange problem. But I can try more traditional solutions also.” Then she stomps off.

A few hours later, you learn from an excited but not shocked Grainne Inneith that Prudence Cossins, after publically and loudly condemning Rikildis von Kiep as a liar in Renaglian and Oncestrian, so soundly thrashed her with her fists and feet and arms that Rikildis was forced to go to the hospital. You cannot be bothered to thank her, but travel upon feet that seem winged due to their speed to the hospital, where, you frantically help Rkildis as best as you can with your magic, your body, and your mind. Prudence Cossins, you and Rikildis agree, went too far in her retaliation against Rikilidis for her writings, although Rikildis admits that her story was perhaps too harsh for the evidence that she had about Prudence. [+3 stress, + 1 skill step Wrestling, + 1 skill step Running, relationship with Prudence Cossins set to -5, + 1 skill level Ethics for the PC and Rikildis von Kiep, + 1 skill level Journalism for the PC and Rikildis von Kiep, - 10 relationship between Prudence Cossins and Rikildis von Kiep, Rikildis von Kiep’s Vitality set to 0, Detention for Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[If PC has no Affection for Prudence Cossins and Love for Rikildis von Kiep]

When you tell Prudence what you are thinking, Prudence sighs. “I suppose that you cannot be expected to solve all of my problems, [PCFirstName]. Well, it was a strange solution to a strange problem. But I can try more traditional solutions also.” Then she stomps off.

A few hours later, you learn from an excited but not shocked Grainne Inneith that Prudence Cossins, after publically and loudly condemning Rikildis von Kiep as a liar in Renaglian and Oncestrian, so soundly thrashed her with her fists and feet and arms that Rikildis was forced to go to the hospital. You cannot be bothered to thank her, but travel upon feet that seem winged due to their speed to the hospital, where, after helping Rikildis as best as you can with your magic, you swear, in front of all who are present, that you will gain vengeance against Prudence Cossins for what she did to Rikildis - although you are brave enough to do so in a formal duel. Although Rikildis's contacts with people who may, when one is extremely charitable, be called journalists makes it especially risky for you and her to date until next year - and she has made this clear to you - neither she nor anyone else, seeing the tears flowing down your face and hearing the anguish in your voice, nor seeing the expression upon her face in response to your words, can doubt that love that you and she feel for eact other. [+5 stress, + 1 skill step Wrestling, + 1 skill step Running, + 1 skill Level Passion, + 1 skill Level Romance for Rikildis von Kiep, relationship with Prudence Cossins set to -10, - 10 relationship between Prudence Cossins and Rikildis von Kiep, Rikildis von Kiep’s Vitality set to 0, Detention for Prudence Cossins, end adventure]

[Rhialto]

@Legate of Mineta, @Metis: Is this the type of flow-chart that you finds easier to read? I will fill it out later.

Dear Prudence 01:

 

Adventure

 

[If PC completed the Y1 adventure Just Going About Your Business]

 

[If PC completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 adventure]

 

[If PC has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 adventure]

 

[If PC has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC fid not complete the Y1 adventure Just Going About Your Business]

 

[If PC completed Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 adventure]

 

[If PC has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC did not complete Flore Yveuillet’s Y1 adventure]

 

[If PC has Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC has no Affection with Flore Yveuillet]

 

Placeholder text

Choices

 

Since Prudence has kindly said that you are under no pressure, you might as well follow her back to the Academagia’s buildings.

 

[If PC did not complete the Y1 tutorial perfectly (i.e., could not, during Y1, use the ability “Hang out with Oan”)]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC completed the Y1 tutorial perfectly (i.e., could, during Y1, use the ability “Hang out with Oan”)]

 

[If PC is not Prodigy: On the Prowl]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC is Prodigy: On the Prowl]

 

[If PC has Affection with neither Sima Venesico nor Miya Hikari]

 

[If PC is male]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC is female]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC has Affection with Sima Venesico]

 

Placeholder text

[If PC has Affection with Miya Hikari]

 

Placeholder text

[Metis]

I have to wonder how practical it would be to code this into the game. Unless Y2 has the option of directly modifying a stage's text based on the usual variables you'd need to program 8 stages just for the stage 1 main text variants. You'd than have to code 6 exits with 1-4 conditions 8 times, once per main text variant, for a total of 48 exits. You'd than have to do that again for every extra variation of stage 2 there is, since unless Y2 changed things one exit only leads to one stage. So if stage 2 has 8 variants as well you're looking at programming 384 exits. Alternatively you'd need an interim stage that acts as a crossroads, but that might look ugly ingame.

If you want a good example of what basically is Y1's practical limit of stuff that can be fitted into one stage, I think the Duel of Counts stage of the Arithmetic adventure is a good example. 8 Exits and 3 Investigations, 0-3 conditions each, all within a single stage. Unless the Team did it differently.

[Rhialto]

3 hours ago, Metis said:

I have to wonder how practical it would be to code this into the game. Unless Y2 has the option of directly modifying a stage's text based on the usual variables you'd need to program 8 stages just for the stage 1 main text variants. You'd than have to code 6 exits with 1-4 conditions 8 times, once per main text variant, for a total of 48 exits. You'd than have to do that again for every extra variation of stage 2 there is, since unless Y2 changed things one exit only leads to one stage. So if stage 2 has 8 variants as well you're looking at programming 384 exits. Alternatively you'd need an interim stage that acts as a crossroads, but that might look ugly ingame.

If you want a good example of what basically is Y1's practical limit of stuff that can be fitted into one stage, I think the Duel of Counts stage of the Arithmetic adventure is a good example. 8 Exits and 3 Investigations, 0-3 conditions each, all within a single stage. Unless the Team did it differently.

@Legate of Mineta: Would it be impractical to code this sort of thing into Y2?

[Legate of Mineta]

Rhi;

...partly the reason I suggest you do a flowchart for your prerequisites.

[Rhialto]

@Legate of Mineta: I hope, therefore, that my organization of the content of "Dear Prudence 01" is easier for you to follow.

[Legate of Mineta]

Rhi;

Well, it certainly is much easier to follow, but I don't think that should stop you from making it elaborate. You probably just want to go through your logic to make sure that you don't have any conditions which will never be met (order in which the prerequisite is tested is key here.)