Rissada - Session 55.7

After hauling the troublesome tiefling to the prison and rendezvousing with Engir, Nalzij and Astrid head to the cathedral, to speak with Mia.

Priestess Mia bows politely to the group as they enter, meeting them in the library and playing a small handful of scrolls upon the table.
Priestess Mia: "I do apologize we are not able to help your particular needs any further, but we must also care for the populace as well."
Engir: "Of course. This a time where they need all the care they can get."
Astrid slumps into a nearby chair, looking down at the floor silently.
Engir: "It's too bad that time is of the essence, though."
Priestess Mia: "Yes... all of our tasks have been pushed to their limits, and many of us have had to go without sleep in order to keep up with preparations."
"I can only imagine what it will be like when it comes to tending to the wounded..."
Engir nods solemnly.
Nalzij: "You've done more than enough for us."
Priestess Mia: "Will your friend be alright?"
Engir looks in Astrid's direction.
Nalzij glances over at Astrid.
Astrid makes no effort to glance back.
Priestess Mia: "I see... well, should she wish it, the cathedral opens its doors to healing of both the body and soul."
Nalzij: "...I think it may take her some time."
Priestess Mia: "I just wish to say... time and friendship are often better than time alone."
Astrid glances at Mia out of the corner of her eye, considering what she said, before closing them and sighing.
Priestess Mia: "Did I say something wrong?"
Nalzij: "No."
Engir: "She's listening. I think it's all that's fair to expect right now."
Priestess Mia nods slowly, turning her focus back towards the pair.
Priestess Mia: "Is there anything else I may be of service for?"
Engir: "It depends if you have that restoration spell, really. If not, it'll have to wait for more peaceful times."
"The spirit of the forest north of here is gravely wounded."
Priestess Mia: "The spirit of the forest... hmm."
Priestess Mia reaches into her bag, pulling out an additional scroll and adding it to the pile on the table.
Nalzij: "It can wait, if needed. If the spirit is still alive now, it- he?- likely still will be in a few days."
Priestess Mia: "Perhaps the scrolls will help you research the magic for yourself? Then you can tend to the spirit when you find the free time to."
"Though, to be honest, I feel nature magic would have more sway here than the divine."
Engir: "That's certainly one possibility, thank you."
"Nature magic... that may be difficult to get a hold of in the time being."
Priestess Mia lowers her voice, trying not to be overheard by other residents in the library.
Nalzij: "Nature magic? As in, the kind the elves use?"
Priestess Mia: "(There are... some families of elves, living in Rissada. Nature magic has long been the elves' domain.)"
"(Perhaps one of them can aid your cause better than I...)"
Engir: "(I think I know one place to ask.)"
Nalzij nods in understanding, glancing at Engir.
Engir: "(I'll show you later. Though we might want to bring Na'nabi.)"
"Mia, thank you again for your counsel and aid. Rissada is much better for having you tend to its people."
Priestess Mia gets up from the chair, bowing politely to Engir and Nalzij.
Priestess Mia: "May the Divine Star light your way."
Nalzij: "And yours. Thank you for all you've done for us."
Engir: "Hm, did you develop this spell, yourself, Mia?"
Priestess Mia: "It is... very helpful, when among people who like to duel to test their mettle."
Nalzij grins sheepishly.
Priestess Mia: "Sir Pheres knew a spell similar to it, but he was unable to pass it on before he vanished. I merely tried my best to replicate it."
Engir: "Fascinating. Interesting to see that Nalzij has experienced it, too."
"Well, I think this would make for a very useful spell; one worth scribing. Thank you."
Priestess Mia: "It is a pleasure to be of service."
Nalzij: "Ah! That reminds me, I'd wanted to ask. What was Sir Pheres like?"
Priestess Mia: "I do not remember as much as I would like... I was only a child at the time. But from what people have said, he is the kind that found it natural to lead people, and he never wished to bring harm to anyone."
"There are even stories of him once trying to peacefully talk to and negotiate with an orc encampment, maintaining peace and serenity even while they were attacking him."
Engir: "That's... quite someone."
Nalzij: "If only there were more like him..."
Priestess Mia: "Indeed. I have admired him since I was little, and do not think I would have gotten as far as I have without his ideal."
Astrid perks her ears, suddenly breaking her silence.
Astrid: "...What did he look like?"
Priestess Mia: "Youthful, with blond hair. I'm afraid that's all I remember."
Nalzij tilts her head in thought, remembering Engir's theorizing.
Nalzij: "...Pale blond?"
Priestess Mia: "More... golden."
Engir catches onto Astrid and Nalzij's questions.
Engir: "Golden..."
Nalzij: "Hm. I'd like to disprove it, if only to myself..."
Priestess Mia: "Did I say something odd?"
Nalzij: "Are there ghosts that steal bodies? Other than their own?"
Priestess Mia: "I do not know. My training, sadly, still remains incomplete."
Engir: "Nontheless, this has been a somewhat enlightening topic."
Nalzij: "Right, it has."
Priestess Mia appears confused.
Nalzij: "...We must be sounding terribly odd."
Engir: "Forgive us. We have been trying to work out exactly what happened to his gauntlets."
Priestess Mia: "Yes..."
Priestess Mia looks generally uncomfortable.
Engir: "Hmm, well, those matters aside, there was another reason why we came here, wasn't there, Nalzij?"
Nalzij: "...the assassin, wasn't it?"
Engir: "Right. You're the one in the know. Where did you say he was being treated?"
Priestess Mia: "For safety concerns in case he regains consciousness, we have left him within the prison."
Nalzij: "Right, I'd agree with that."
Engir: "Shall we look into it, then?"
Nalzij: "Alright, let's go."

Leaving Mia with their thanks, the party returns to the prison, where they seek to check up on the unconscious assassin.
Knight: "...You're back. Who are you turning in this time?"
Nalzij: "No one new this time."
Knight: "Hmph."
Nalzij scowls at Terenith as she passes.
Terenith glares back, clearly displeased about this arrangement.
Nalzij: "Over here."
Engir turns to Nalzij and follows, after lingering at the alchemists.
Astrid stops in front of Terenith's cell, staring at him bitterly.
Engir: "So, this is the assassin. And there were several others?"
Nalzij: "He's the only one alive. The others all poisoned themselves."
Engir: "Hmm, I remember, now... powerful enchantments, indeed."
Engir looks at the man, trying to assess his condition.
Terenith: "Too bad if you're having second thoughts, girl. There's no way I'm going to forgive you after what you pulled."
Astrid: "Says the rapist."
Engir: "Yes... that's definitely a coma, alright."
Engir tries to focus on the man in front of him.
Astrid comes closer to the cell, lowering her voice slightly.
Astrid: "Was that all I was to you all this time, some object to please yourself with?"
Terenith: "I don't even want to bother talking to a deceptive bitch like you. You had me thrown out of my own home already, now you've come to taunt me in the new home you threw me into?"
Nalzij: "Don't pay any attention to that piece of filth, Astrid. He's lucky you were ever willing to give him the time of day."
Astrid: "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll fit in well here, among the other pieces of shit."
Astrid spits at Terenith, before walking away.
Engir rubs his head.
Nalzij: "Hey, any problem with us unlocking the cell?"
Engir: "We really do need a closer look at him."
Halfling Knight: "What, to the guy that's out cold? Yeah, that's no problem, especially since the clerics come and go."
Halfling Knight heads to the door, putting a key to the cell door and unlocking it.
Engir: "After you, Nalzij."
Nalzij: "Still out cold, I guess..."
Astrid crosses her arms, attempting to look interested in the assassin.
Engir: "I can't see any lingering magic, and it's not like his skin is oddly pallow."
Halfling Knight: "The clerics have gone all up and down him already. Can't find any weird marks, can't find any spells."
Nalzij murmurs an incantation, staring at the man stubbornly. [Detect Charm]
Halfling Knight: "The cute one even tried one of her healing spells just in case."
Engir: "I'm confident that he had some extremely potent enchantments cast on him. But enchantment..."
Nalzij: "(She might still know something more?)"
Engir: "(True.)"
Engir: "Astrid, would you or Terita know any telepaths in the city?"
Nalzij: "Telepaths?"
Engir: "Someone who can speak to others through a mental link."
"They think, and the other hears. Not unlike my long-distance messaging spell."
Nalzij: "...I think I'll leave that to you. It went a bit over my head."
Astrid: "Not personally."
Engir: "Hrmm. Arastalia it is, then."
"Well, we have proof of meddling. Our theory is looking stronger. I think I'm done here, for now, at least."
Nalzij: "There must be some way to break them out of it."
"If they could just be prevented from talking, the suicide poison wouldn't be needed."
Engir: "Or they didn't want people to discover the methods."
Halfling Knight: "Maybe the point is so people don't snoop and pry?"
Engir: "Indeed. Knowing even that they were enchanted, and not willing, makes a big difference."
Nalzij: "I guess so."
Engir: "I guess that leaves us with three avenues. Further diagnose the kind of enchantment, diagnose the coma, or find a way to communicate with him in spite of it."
"Of course, it's difficult to do that with an army on our doorstep."
Nalzij: "It'll have to wait, and once we have time, I think we should look into all of those."
As the party leaves and the knight locks the comatose assassin's cell back up, they ponder over what kind of power must be controlling them, while a malicious glare in the prison seems to be judging them silently...