Chasing the Lost Star

Temple of Eluna, late evening.

The Temple of Eluna has become much more silent in recent weeks, with only the faithful haunting its halls - and not all of those. In fact, no few have abandoned the halls for other places, at least for now. For Seldan, at least, this is a welcome development, and he has returned to the sanctuary, walking clockwise around the four corners of the pool, picking up the small, carven ivory pillars that have stood at the pool's corners for a fortnight now. He is somber, quiet, and reserved in mien, going about his task in silence. These four, he tucks into the pack in his other hand, and retrieves a mat from the full pile by one of the pillars, dragging it a little back from the pool and seating himself cross-legged upon it.

He is dressed in only robe, short, and trousers, no weapons upon him and his feet bare, but his entire presence much more present and focused than it has been in the intervening days.

Not all of the faithful, though. When the doors swing open, it's to admit a familiar face. Telamon strides into the temple, clad in his long leather frostrider coat, a broad-brimmed hat set on his head. Beneath the brim, his dark eyes flash in annoyance. Not at Seldan, but at those who might have walked away from the Dreamer based on little more than conjecture and rumor.

Still, the half-sil takes a deep breath, banishing his rancor and focusing his thoughts. As his eyes find Sir Seldan, he removes his hat, raking a hand through his hair absently before walking over to the Silverguard. Smoothly, Telamon kneels next to him, Veyshanti-style, resting his hands on his thighs as he looks at the other man. "Good evening, Sir Knight," he murmurs quietly. "You sent word. Lana sends her best, but she cannot join us at the moment."

The music starts off faintly, but grows in volume as the wee player travels through the near empty halls of Eluna's home in Alexandria. The tune is cheerful, rising and falling in tone, speeding up and slowing down. Acedia steps into the grand room, spinning and dancing to the tune.

Her eyes take in Seldan, and then Telamon, and the music softens. The Gobbo moves away, to allow the two to speak, with the music moving to the background.

Seldan straightens, and lifts his head, turning to look at the sorcerer next to him. "Her light upon your path, Lord Lupecyll-Atlon, and well am I pleased to see you. I have learned - little enough, and yet what was not shown me offers, perhaps, a path forward."

He looks over, in the direction of the music, and signals with his hand that Acedia should come forward. He then turns hisemf on the mat to face Telamon. "Would you hear that which we know?"

Telamon takes another deep breath. "The truth, no matter how unpleasant, is always preferable. And wherever we go, she is there to light the way." He offers Seldan a wry smile. "Sometimes what -isn't- said can be just as informative as what is. My father could probably write a paper on that sort of thing."

His eyes move to look at where Acedia comes in, playing a sprightly tune, and he smiles genuinely. "Friend of yours?" he inquires to Seldan. "Although, any friend of yours is a friend of mine, Sir Seldan."

The music is brought to a gentle conclusion as Acedia is beckoned over, and she moves to stand beside Seldan. Smoothing out her blue robes, which look like they have been slept in, she offers a curtsey to Telamon.

"Hello, I am Acedia, and judging from Sir Seldan's, you would be Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon. I've heard of you, and seen you here. A pleasure to meet you." She looks to the knight. "How are you, Seldan? It has been ... strange times, of late, hasn't it?"

There is no exuberant greeting from the gobber, and Seldan inclines his head to Acedia. "Acedia was one of my first friends in the city of Alexandria, and has proven among those as steadfast as they are helpful." He blinks suddenly, looking up at her, then turns back to Telamon. "I am not yet defeated," he answers Acedia politely, although the words suggest that that is the best he has to offer, just at the moment.

"I cast the legend lore, seeking lore of the Star of Tears. Some did I learn, among them that it was the weapon used to kill Animus." He draws a deep breath, and continues. "Yet do we know, from communing with her servants, that it was not her hand that wielded the blade, and that we know not where the blade is know. Thus have I two paths by which we might find Animus' true killer. I would find the Star of Tears, and perhaps with that in hand, we might see the details on whose hand wielded the blade. The other path is to seek the lore of that which stole, and wielded, the weapon."

Telamon bows his head politely to Acedia. "Indeed, I am called that, Miss Acedia. A pleasure to meet you. As I noted, any friend of Sir Seldan's is a friend of mine." Straightening, the sorcerer turns his eyes to Seldan again, listening intently.

"The weapon of a god," Tel muses. "Happenstance and ill fortune can chase both men and gods. I... do not find this impossible, or even improbable. So now the question is: how do we solve this riddle? Was the weapon stolen, or was it loaned to another?" He furrows his brow. "Motive, well... there are many who might have motive to murder the god of magic. But we shouldn't let ourselves get wrapped up in our favorite theory just yet." Tel pauses, mulling it over. "Did the spell yield any results on locating the Star? Or who might have possessed it last?"

"You have been a solid bulwark for us all, Seldan. I will do what I can to help and support you. You ... we are not yet beat." Ace reaches up to take Seldan's hand. Glancing to Telamon, she smiles toothily. "Seldan and I have been through a few scrapes here and there together. It seems like a long road travelled."

The Gobbo lets out a huff of breath. "To think that they would .. do this... I've a mind to go and grouse at them. Maybe see if a few stink bombs will change their mind. Tarien still smiles at me, despite becoming one of Eluna's paladins." The talk of the Star of Tears, and legend lore, has her quiet and contemplative. "That is the question... reminds me of that game I hear being played by families... Cluedo? It was Mr. Peabody with the artifice wrench in the green house! You know, that one? Could a mortal kill a god, or can it only be another god that can undo one? Or is that weapon powerful enough it doesn't matter whom wields it?"

Seldan's smile is small, but genuine, and he reaches to take the gobber's hand, squeezing it gently - well, for him it's gentle. There's still strength in it. "We are far from defeated, Acedia, and this is not the first time Eluna's faithful have faltered," htells her, gently. "Ever has she been my rock, and I shall not abandon Her in Her need. We shall learn the truth."

Without letting go, he turns his attention to Telamon, the smile fading. "Naught was I shown of either, and yet do absences within that which I was shown offer a path forward. For the two questions you ask are precisely in my thoughts. It is in my mind that legend lore is more specific when the object whose lore one seek lies within one's possession. Know you a means of locating it? If not, I shall again attmpt the legend lore casting. Perhaps it may serve us to seek both means, at once, if you have knowledge of the spell. I fear that I must use scrolls, but it is well."

Telamon actually smiles at Seldan's remarks. "Hear, hear," he says softly, but his eyes glimmer with good spirit. "So long as there is life and will, there is hope. We shall continue, and I for one have no intention of forsaking Ni'essa either."

He frowns, rolling the problem over in his head. "I have a couple ideas. One, of course, involves the legend lore spell. Another might require... a little more diplomacy. I might seek out an entity from beyond the material plane -- no, I won't treat with a fiend, I'm not that foolish. But I will need to seek someone out, and there is no guarantee she will tell me."

"I would stand with you, in her light.", Acedia says softly, clinging to his hand. She gestures with the violin, and it vanishes in a puff of smoke. "Is there anything I may do? Search the library? Hunt for components you might need?"

The Gobbo nods to Telamon, "Indeed. Where there is life, there is will. Where there is will, there is a way." Her expression grows slightly dubious, and then she looks relieved. "There have been far, far too many demons and fiends for a lifetime, Telamon." She glances from Telamon to Seldan and back.

"Ask of me, and I will do my best!"

Seldan turns that steady regard on Telamon. "Of whom do you speak?" he asks cautiously. "Wary would I be of those not known, when we know so little of our quarry." His hands rest in his lap. "It is as Acedia says. I have had enough of demons, and their wiles, to last many lifetimes. Yet is it not in mind that I have seen the last of their kind."

He looks over at Acedia, then. "Is the legend lore yet beyond you? It is lore of that which lies across the plans that I speak, and yet -" He lets out a long, slow breath. "I pray that that is merely a coincidence," he murmurs suddenly, a thunmderstorm passing across the usually calm features. "A demon, of late lost his hand, a weapon wielded by an unknown figure to kill a god-"

"Many things are in motion, Sir Seldan. Not all of them are obvious. And yet they can be just as..." Telamon pauses, considering his words. "Momentous, as the events that draw our eye." He offers a wry grin. "No, I won't treat with fiends. I would seek out the golden dragon Tanithariairisixchel, who I have treated with before. I swore that she would always be welcome in the house of Lupecyll-Atlon." He pauses, his voice growing softer. "She was the one who drew me back from death, after all. I will not ask her to betray a confidence, but she might be willing to point me in the right direction."

"Alas, yes, Seldan. That spell is beyond my means. All I can muster is knowledge handed down from storyteller to storyteller, musician to musician, skald to skald. And the grace given to me by Eluna." Acedia squeezes his hand and then moves to hug at his waist. "But I am working hard on furthering my spellcasting abilities.."

The Goblin gasps, her head pivoting quickly to look at Telamon. "Tanith?! I haven't seen her in ages! Does... she visit you or do you go to her?" Laughing, she hops from bare foot to bare foot. "Last time I saw her, it was some artificer's crazy food contraption that went haywire. It filled up the place with fish, of all things. She ate them all, and pouted when the machine expired."

The name Telamon speaks brightens Seldan's expression as well, and a warm, affectionate, boyish smile cracks the somber facade. "Indeed has it been some time since I last saw Tanithariairisixchel, and much do I owe her, for myself and for my family as well. My mother would not live today, did she not come to my aid more than once. You need but ask her aid, and she will aid you if she can. I would see her as well, if you would have our company to call upon her." He nods his agreement with Acedia.

"That was a tale I had not heard, and yet does it not surprise me. It seems that she has aided you as well, and continues to be a friend to many. Gladly would I seek her out."

Telamon laughs softly. "The sole burden was having to learn many new ways to prepare and serve fish -- but it was good experience." He rubs his chin. "If any might know of a clue, Tanith certainly would. And we certainly parted on friendly terms, after dealing with Seraquoix and his army."

He squints, thinking. "Another tactic we might use might be to explore the dreamlands. Sometimes hidden truths have been known to emerge there, but there are no guarantees. There are, of course, always whispers and rumors in Quelynos, but... such information might come at a price. I would rather seek out Tanith first, before trying other sources." His eyes sparkle. "You would both be welcome to come along. I'm sure she wouldn't mind seeing old friends."

"I wished to have more time with her, but, well, she tends to be everywhere and no where." The Goblin giggles lightly, "I expect her knowledge is exceedingly deep, if she doesn't know, she knows someone who does, or at the very worst, can point you in the right direction." She nods at Seldan, and looks to Telamon. "Even if I knew nothing, I would be interested in meeting her. She is adorably sized."

"Okay, so, you have the start of a plan. We go see, or at least, Telamon goes to see, Tanithariairisixchel. What else can we do, after that? On the off chance Tanith has nothing substantial to assist."

Seldan leans forward. "We use the legend lore again to attempt to locate the Star of Tears, or at least determine on what plane it lies. I would also seek more on the hand that wielded the weapon, and how it came to be parted from Her possession." The words are steady, even, confident, and without hesitation. "There is more yet to be learned. If Tanithariairisixchel can aid us, such would please me, and I will fish for her all she wishes. "

"Indeed. Legend lore can be somewhat... vague, if you lack the item in question. Then again, if we -had- the Star, we probably wouldn't be casting the spell in the first place." Telamon's face screws up into a frustrated expression, before dissolving into a more constructive, focused look. "Something to consider: one does not steal a god's weapon lightly. To draw an analogy here, Sir Seldan: if someone stole Reunion from you, I daresay their life would be very, very exciting for a good while -- if not shortened precipitously. This is much the same. Even a rival god might be uneasy at possessing such a weapon, and their fellows more so."

"Okay, excellent. Legend lore should give us some clues, then, as to where the weapon is located, right? However, if us mere mortals can possibly find the weapon... how could a god /not/ find it? Answer that question, and we may have a stronger clue." Acedia gestures to Telamon with a hand, "Telamon is right, stealing anything from a God is full of life-shortening risks, to say the least."

The Gobbo taps at her chin. "I know one spot I might try to hide something, but could a God see through it? The prison for evil or mad, or evil and mad, wizards and other magically inclined people... the black prison, were no magic can operate. It is where I spent much of my time while I had the black plague, the prison suppressed the magic of the slime. Others hid down there with me for a time. I know there are things hidden down there, things mean to be kept from the world at large. Could it hide the Star?"

"Even so," Seldan agrees readily, and composedly. "The murder of Animus happened some years past, ere the plague itself, and the place of which you speak was used to protect, as much to incarcerate. It is in my mind that were it hidden there, it would have been found. Nay, it is in my mind that it is concealed somewhere, lost in the multiverse. Do we locate it, it may hold the answers we seek, and those who would have it remain lost might show themselves."

A quiet chuckle escapes him, then. "Does one steal Reunion, their first punishment shall be Kanian," he observes equably. "I see no downside to asking Tanithariairisixchel for insight on where the Star might be, does she have a sense."

Telamon tilts his head at Acedia. "A good point, though I suspect Sir Seldan has the right of it. Leaving the Star of Tears on Ea would be too risky. If the weapon was unearthed -- even by someone blameless -- I think it would draw attention as soon as the moon rose in the sky. After all, Ni'essa is called the Watchful Mistress by some." He taps his fingertips together. "Still, something to keep in mind."

"Even if Tanith does not know precisely where the Star is, she might know who might fall into our list of suspects -- and point us in the right direction. This is a mystery, a crime to be solved." He pauses, and makes a face. "Gods, I always hated detective novels."

Acedia grins at Telamon. "They're better than Crimson Pen novels.", she says with a cheeky wink. "But you may be right, Seldan. Though, stranger things have happened." She rubs at her cheeks, and tugs at one ear. "There are all sorts of possibilities that I don't like the thought of."

"But... step one, talk to Tanithariairisixchel. Step two, Seldan tries legend lore. Step three... we do .. things as yet unplanned. Step four, set the universe right. Easy peasy!"

Acedia dusts her hands off. "I hope. Not looking forward to being run through again, but, well, if it comes to that, so be it."

Seldan inclines his head politely to both of them, a small smile remaining on it that suggests that he is well-pleased, and regards both of his companions fondly. "Even so. A crime to be solved, and a truth to be learned. Let us begin with that which we know. If you will forgive me, I would meditate for a time upon my magic, a thing I have not done in - some days. Her light upon your path. If you will send word, Lord Lupecyll-Atlon, when you mean to seek Tanithariairisixchel -" He says that like he's practiced. "-I shall be pleased to accompany you, and will send word to Acedia here as well."