31/08/5-10

The group met up near the arena and caught up with the day's events, before heading to the inn. Inside, the establishment was booming with song and revelry. Many of the people working on the construction as well as knights here for the tournament were partying. In the corner sat together with a well-dressed gnome and goliath was Dr Stanov. They didn't seem familiar to Milivoj, but their clothes said rich more than Knyazshtit. The gnome did have a discernable crest on their tunic. Valeyo sent Dr Stanov a message and asked if they should join or wait. The Dr looked around, before waving them over.

Approaching the table, the group managed to get a better look at his guests. The gnome was a man in his middle years, while the goliath was a younger woman, both with this symbol of three bricks with a hammer on top. The impression they got was that the goliath was a trophy wife. Voivod Boris Baran, the stonemaster of Dragomir and his wife Meagak. The gnome offered a handshake and Valeyo asked him about his title. It became clear he was in construction, owning quarries up and down the continent and most people who wanted to build large projects come to him, even secretive people like the Doctor. Valeyo asked about his involvement in the railway and Boris said it was mostly the station he was concerned with, he was mostly just waiting for people to get their act together and get the railway to Otusta. Valeyo asked if he was there to join the fights, but Boris said he wouldn’t unless he was paid a whole lot of money. They joked about Valeyo not being fighting material either and Valeyo asked Boris which of his companions he would consider most dangerous. He pointed at Dobrovnik, but Valeyo told him that the unassuming ones are the dangerous ones, pointing at Cassini. Valeyo then turned to Dr Stanov asking if he had been in Novograd for a while. He said it had been around a month and he had been in and out of the town, doing security and organization, the King's Camp having taken a lot of his time. A while later the doctor excused himself saying he had to talk to the party and they left together to the nearest alleyway, where he opened a door to his pocket plane.

Once inside they walked to a similar meeting room as before and sat down together. Valeyo commented on the company the Dr kept, but the man waved it away, saying the man was a member of the Taina, so he had to keep tabs on him. He then asked about their work up north. Dobrovnik gave him a summary of what had happened. Valeyo asked how he knew about the incursion and the doctor told them that these last few incursions there was a common trend. A package arrived via teleportation circle here in Novograd and was distributed by the Khert around different places. Soon after there was an incursion at those places. The group was surprised and asked if he was a member of the Taina, which Stanov confirmed. He wanted them to keep close to the Khert and see who he is talking to and what he is planning, saying that he expected him to make contact with someone else in the Taina who is organizing this demon business. Valeyo asked if he had heard of their deeds in Skalenvru. The Dr said he was aware of them using his name with the Emisar and their argument with the Khert, but they had to do their best.

As for the Violet Flame, the discovered that they were calling themselves the Flame of Progress, as an attempt to attract more people. He hasn't investigated the tailor, Vid, but he did invite him here, though it likely they weren't coming. Valeyo asked if the Taina and the cult were one and the same. Stanov explained that the Taina was more of a rich person's social club, like a secret society to help each other, while the Cult were more hardline, pushing for expansion.

The conversation turned towards the King, with Valeyo asking if he was truly here. Dr Stanov's face went quite grim and said that what he was about to say was to stay in the Demiplane. Come the tournament, King Dragomir IV would be named, there was no king at the moment. He had been incapacitated for quite some time and it was time to replace him, with his son, who was 7. Milivoj said if it was a coup, if it was to be anyone but a regent. The doctor told him not to worry, the King will be dead by that time. He didn't think it was anything to do with the Demons, but it will be easier for the Violet Flame to control a child. The child was to be a king in full, but with a council, one which Dr Stanov was not on, and would not be told about. The Face was organizing this and was keeping it close to her chest. Valeyo said it would be chaos, when the regency happened, there might be civil war. The king's illness was sudden and his mind has been gone for a while.

Valeyo decided to take a risk and shared what they knew of Glasya and the king's deal. This all came as a surprise to the Dr Stanov, who inquired about the party's source. After being told it came from Glasya herself, he seemed to believe them, though he wondered what dealings they had had with the Dark Prodigy. Valeyo explained that their business was their own, and switched to topic to a possible connection between the deal with Asmodeus and the King's death. Dr Stanov thought about it for a bit, before saying that there could well be a connection. According to him, the line of Dragomir has always had a hard time conceiving an heir. In all three generation, there have only ever been ome child, always a boy, whose mother would die during childbirth or soon after, as had been the case with the soon to be Dragomir IV. Valeyo wondered if all of them being name Dragomir also had something to do with the specifics of the deal and Dr Stanov nodded, saying they had given him much to think about.

As far as the Khert was concerned, Valeyo expressed doubts at his involvement into the demonic plot, pointing out that if anyone near him was working on it, that would be his creepy majordomo Mr Novak. Milivoj agreed, saying that if they were looking for cunning or schemes in the house of Novosel, Mr Novak would he the right place to start.

Conversation turned to the tournament, and it became clear that Anica was being stopped by the Face, rather than the king. Knyzhtit Vera Mariniova was trying to take part in the joust. Milivoj knew her as one of the younger Knyazshtit, somewhat of a prodigy, a human in her mid-20s, favouring a spear and a shield. Growing up she has been taking part in jousts for as long as she has been allowed to. Valeyo mentioned hearing about Zelik refusing to join Anica and the Dr said Zelik will be very busy. They are struggling to find a monster for him so it may be a trial by combat where he faces off against 7 prisoners. Valeyo commented on the perception of starting a king's right with the execution of 6 people. As for Anica, he called her one of the kindest of the Knyazshtit and one of his favourites. If he was to manipulate her, he would play to her kindness or have someone else become her partner and then drop out last minute. Dubrovnik asked about the Order, but was told it was mostly nobodies. From the Conclave, Magi Hesdina  and Arcanist Isaksson were here.

About the Hunt, Dr Stanov said the creatures will be released a few days early in the killing fields and the bipedal ones will be quite easy to see in the grass. Shiek asked if there was no risk of the creature killing some farmers or the like. The Dr said that the territory they are being released into belongs to the Khert and was not settled, though anyone there could be at risk. Valeyo wondered if there was any point in going to the Hunt, but his mind was changed by Stanov pointing out that the Khert will be taking part. Shiek said they will need a name and suggested the Winged Lions.

Valeyo asked where they could find Anica and the Dr said he could arrange a meet for tomorrow. He also pointed out that the deal they made in Skalenvru is rather well-known now amongst the wealthy and powerful so any they have met before will be able to figure out their relationship with the Doctor. With that they said their goodbyes.

Now alone, the group started wandering out of town, in order to talk privately. They went over the discoveries, with Valeyo agreeing that Milivoj's father didn’t seem to possess the type of guile needed to be behind the demon moss attacks. If somebody on his staff was involved it likely Mr Novak. Shiek asked for some paper in order to send a message to Midnight, using the Hungry Twin. He then wrote a letter, asking for a meeting, before feeding it to the chest. The conversation turned to the Violet Flame Orb that was in Milivoj's possession. He didn't want to get Dr Stanov, or anyone else involved and instead intended to try attuning to it himself. He did so and felt the deep fire of the phoenix within, the Orb working as a prison that was reaching out to him, but his connection to the Violet Flame, wasn't strong enough to harness the Orb's power yet. Inside, he could feel two energies, competing for space, the phoenix's flame and a more malicious destructive force. In doing so, he realized that if this orb was to physically break, the phoenix would be released. Should he attuned deeper to the violet flame, he may be able to control or absorb the creatures trap within., maybe do something even beyond, something alien. He shared his findings, and as the group prepared to return to camp, the Hungry Twin vomited again, spitting out a letter which read "I'm listening.". Shiek responded "Where is Axi, haven't seen them in a while. Can we meet in person?". The next was a piece paper saying "We will meet, eventually." and a pair of fairy wings. The group was distraught, and Shiek asked what they were to do with the wings. Valeyo suggested they take them, as they could use them to Scry on Axi, to discover if they are still alive. Cassini mentioned that he would need some casting components for that and asked Valeyo to pick them up, when he headed to Skalenvru.

As they were walking back to the camp, the Hungry Twin activated again. The note there just said "Sssee you sssoon". Shiek now opted to put the Hungry Twin in the bag of holding and the group was soon returned to the camp. Valeyo asked Ysomir some questions about how Mr Novak would sent a package, but without much success. He did say that everything coming and going through the teleportation circle gets logged. Valeyo asked Milivoj if his sister was likely to attend the tournament. He thought about it for a minute, before saying she likely would. With that the group prepared to go to bed.

In the night, Shiek went a bit out of town to bring his Displacer beast hunting. A few miles out of town, he noticed a large fire with a pair of giants sat next to it. He approached to get a better look and see if there were any illusions around the camp. He managed to get withing a few hundred meters from them, before it became clear that one of the creatures was bigger than the other. A second later, he could tell it was Shuult and Hund. He pulled out the Sending Stone and messaged Valeyo waking him up and telling him what he had seen. Valeyo told him to come back before he is killed. Shiek said that it would be troublesome either way, once Shuult realizes that they are there, but Valeyo told him that even the giant wouldn't dare make trouble at the tournament, when the King and his Knyazshtit are in attendance. Shiek agreed and began trekking back to camp with his displacer beast.

32/08/5-10

In the morning they spoke about Shiek's adventure and prepared the shopping list. Valeyo and Milivoj went out into town, just to see the rules of the tournament be put up. On the way Valeyo asked Milivoj how he felt about his whole thing with his father and the king. Milivoj looked dejected, saying he didn't know what to think, having heard his family be accused of treason by a man who admitted to a coup. Valeyo talked about Milivoj's oaths and them being to protect the kingdom, but Milivoj insisted they are to the king. When asked if he would swear to the new king, he went quiet. After a bit he said that his answer would have been instant in the past, but now, he wasn't sure he wanted to swear to a puppet king of a malicious council. Valeyo wondered if Milivoj's father could be on the council, as a way to ensure that the clans remained under control during the transition of power. Miulivoj said that there were more powerful nobles in the south that would be better candidates in normal times, but the forces of the Yuzhen would be one of the best if they needed to keep the kingdom under control. At the end Valeyo, did say that from what he had seen of the Khert's character, he didn't seem like a cunning schemer. Milivoj said that impression was correct and the two of them kept walking around town.

In the meanwhile Sapphira looked into the archery events, finding they are mostly for fun, including things like Shot-Shot: an event where you take a shot and then you drink, continuing until you miss.

At around mid-morning Valeyo received a messaged from Dr Stanov, saying Anica was heading to the sign-up shortly. Once arriving in the sign-up tent it was quite empty, except for one person. It was a medium height woman with tight dark hair in a bun with loose fitting clothing bearing the symbol of the Order of the Brown Dragon. He approached and said he didn't expect to see anyone from the Order here. She responded saying that they were there because they had heard of the event and wanted to have some fun, it could also help improve their name in the region. Valeyo asked where she was from and was told it was Stanes, south of Colchester. He asked which ones of them were there. She told them it was nobody famous, just herself, Megan, joining the melee and a dwarf called <> going to join the joust. Valeyo wished her luck and she left soon after.

A few minutes later a huge woman entered the tent. Standing over 6'3" and muscular with blue skin and dark green hair tied back in a ponytail, she had a rapier hanging at her side. From the under armour she had it was clear she likely favoured medium armour. This was Anica, the Bastion. She looked around  the mostly empty tent, before asking where everyone was. Valeyo asked what she had meant and the woman explained that Parvan had told her there were dozens of new people signing up. Valeyo said it was just them and she sighed, disappointed. He asked if she was there for the joust or the melee and Anica said it was the melee duos she was after. After some conversation Valeyo suggested himself as her partner. She seemed dubious and he tried to play to her pity by saying he was just joking and he knew she wouldn't be interested in partnering with someone like him. She looked at him and asked what his abilities were. He tried to explain by comparing them to those of Emisar Kavka, but Anica wasn't familiar with her. Eventually after some more convincing and playacting as more pathetic desperate than he truly was, Anica said she would test Valeyo herself. If he could land a single hit on her, she would pair up with him. Valeyo asked if they couldn't do it the other way around, where she has to land a hit on him and he will allow her to join him. She just smiled and said she had to collect her things, but would meet them at the arena. As she left Valeyo said he didn't have getting embarrassed on his agenda, but thought it had gone well overall. Milivoj said he was looking forward to seeing the fight, but warned him that Anica was quick on her feet with great defensive abilities, having been trained by Zelik Chernov.