09/09/5-10

As the identify spell came to an end, Dr Stanov shuddered, recoiling from the book, the eye of which was now wide open. After composing himself, he looked at the group. They could tell that the process had drained him more than an Identify spell should, his body was shed of fat, his kin tight around his bones, as if he had not eaten in weeks. He sighed and said it wasn't good news. Valeyo said asked if he was okay, which the doctor said he was well enough to continue. The book was called Tyrrany's Shadow, an unpleasant demonic book, which he picked up. Still inside the circle, he said that he had been overly cautious. Valeyo asked if the book was for summoning demons, which Dr Stanov confirmed, mentioning it had other uses too. Shiek asked what it did and Dr Stanov said it was just a book. This was suspicious to the group and as Valeyo asked if the book wasn't magical or if it had any enchantments. The doctor looked at him and raised the book, saying he could show him. The eye on the cover glowed green, as a wicked smile formed on the Dr's lips.

Sapphira cast silence to stop whatever was coming. In the fight, the book was unable to be taken out of the magic circle, but it did cast Disintegrate on Cassini, despite the silence. The group decided that the safest choice was to knock him out. Eventually they managed it, which caused the book's eye to close. Cassini lifted the book telekinetically and the others dragged the doctor away from the circle.

Valeyo healed him and the doctor got up telling them to get off him and leave the circle. He said that the book had  demon inside, a Balor, one that was waiting for someone to take possession. Valeyo asked if he could destroy it, but the doctor said he wasn't sure he was capable. The group asked what they were to do now, if whoever had this used the king's seal. Dr Stanov looked concerned and said that he needed a moment. After a little of time writing he gave them a scroll saying to help the bearer investigate a king's parcel on threat of death. Shiek worried if this was enough and if perhaps an arrest of Mr Novak wasn't better. Dubrovnik and Valeyo protested, saying that they had no proof yet so it would be against the spirit of justice. Valeyo did say that if Mr Novak tried to stop them then they could arrest them. Milivoj worried about the box, suggesting that this might originate in someone with authority greater than Dr Stanov's. Valeyo investigated the King's Seal to see if it was genuine, which it was and he stole the wax imprint. The group then hurried to leave for the Khert's keep.

On approach, the guards were more receptive of Milivoj this time, clearly having had a talking to by the lady. Milivoj asked the guard to get Mr Novak to meet them immediately. They arrived at the keep's entry room and after a couple of minutes a perturbed Mr Novak arrived. He looked down upon the party and sighed. Milivoj wordlessly presented him with the document Dr Stanov had given them. Mr Novak stared daggers at Milivoj, before turning and starting to walk towards his office. Once there he opened the doors and stepped in, before turning around to look at them. He asked Milivoj if it was them who was in his office before which he denied. Mr Novak looked at Shiek and said that he should have used his own wax. The gaunt man opened the sealed scroll case that Shiek had seen before and withdrew the flute. Before he could bring it to his lips, Valeyo stopped him and asked him to explain himself. The majordomo said that he kept vital documents in a pocket plane that he needed the flute to access. He played a tune which caused a small portal to open. As he entered he handed the flute back to the others warning them not to follow.

While waiting for him, Shiek said that this was silly and he could come back with anything, any lie he could manufacture. Valeyo agreed, but said this is all they had. Soon after Mr Novak returned with a wooden box, which he claimed contained all shipment records for the Khert's household. He held out his hand for his flute, but Milivoj said that he would need to wait for a bit, before opening the case. Inside were many records including those of shipments from the crown, but the most recent one included a shipment from the crown that would be picked up and taken to Moratopp (likely the moss). Milivoj kept looking and found a few more things.

• A record for a book to be delivered to Krainasto.
• A set of Candles being delivered to Otusta, that matched the time the party was there.
• Something being shipped to Pasishta.
• The moss to Moratopp
• Something going to Konskirav
• A few shipments towards the south

And an old one about a book to be left in the vault and collected. No collector was specified, but all of the documents had the royal seal. Valeyo asked Mr Novak what he knew of the shipments, but the man couldn't tell them more than what was in the documents. Milivoj told Valeyo to return the flute and asked for the letter from Dr Stanov back. With that, Mr Novak told them to leave which they did. On the way out, Milivoj showed them some of the paintings, including one of his ancestor who allied with Dragomir I, selling the horse clans out. Milivoj said he sometimes wondered what good that had done.

Soon they returned to the Dr's mansion, finding him sat as far away from the book as possible. Next to the book, keeping an eye on it was Marta Grabow. Valeyo greeted her, but she was too focused to notice. Milivoj handed Dr Stanov the shipping manifests and listed the locations they had seen. Marta turned around and joined them, saying that she had defended herself from possession unlike this idiot, pointing at Dr Stanov. She said she was glad the group was there as they probably saved his life and prevented the demon from making  a play for the throne. Valeyo quipped that the doctor may not have been the worst person to be on the throne, but Stanov insisted that he was wrong.

Valeyo pointed out that a few of the locations matched where they had fought demons. Dobrovnik and Marta pointed out a few more that fit the pattern. Valeyo messaged Dr Stanov to ask if he was free to speak of the King's health. The doctor looked at Marta and said that he had looped the group into the king's status, despite him not being supposed to. She was surprised, saying that he must trust them greatly. Milivoj looked at the earliest shipment, which had happened around 5 months before the demon in Rekasev. Valeyo asked if that was around when the king fell ill, which they confirmed. He then asked who was in charge since, which was the Face. He asked if she could have got the seal. Marta said she wasn't supposed to, but it was possible. Marta asked how much they knew of her. She explained that the Face had lost half of her lower face in defense of the king and had served him for 15-18 years, so was quite close with the family. Valeyo asked who else could be involved. Marta said that the Face's Knyazhshit, a halfling called Rade Babic, could also be involved.

It was at this point that Dr Stanov asked for his staff back, much to Valeyo's chagrin, who reluctantly returned it.

Valeyo asked who else they could trust. Dr Stanov said that they were best off keeping it to themselves. When asked about Zelik Chernov, he said the he found it unlikely that the man was working against the crown, not knowingly or willingly anyway. He did say that it would be foolish for the person summoning the demons to be involved in destroying them, looking at Marta. Zelik's duties were as the King's personal guard. Before the group left, Valeyo brought up the matter of Ysomir and was told they could seek Isaksson, one of the Arcanists who was here. The Dr said that he was a deep gnome and should be easy to identify. They asked Marta if she would be keeping the book. She said she would, but wasn't sure what she would do with it yet. She was reaching out to someone that she wasn't going to talk about. With that they all parted ways.

Once back in camp, the talk turned to Simona and the events that the group wound enter, but more than anything they wanted to finally take a break after an eventful week.

10/09/5-10

At around noon, news reached the party that the Khert returned from the hunt with parts from a Stegosaurus a bit later so was Laz with a pair of Allosaurus and revelry was prepared where the chunks of the dinosaur would be roasted. Closer to evening a rider returned and found the party looking on at the preparations. He asked if they were the ones who slew the large dinosaur. When they confirmed he said that he had never seen anything that big and it would take too long to bring back. They were however not being credited with it for the hung, but there would be another feast where they would be celebrated at the end of the tournament. When asked who made the rulings it was clear that the Khert decided the rules for the Hunt, but for the final celebration was the King's decision, who would be thanking them personally. From speaking with the Face, the runner said that they wanted the skull as a trophy. He also asked the group if they had a name, which they said was the Winged Lions. Soon the rest of the hunters arrived and celebrations were had.

12/09/5-10

Finally the start of the tournament arrived. The tournament start was set for 2pm. A large tent had been put up close to the larger of the arenas, where the King presumably was. As the ceremony started, walking towards the centre of the stage was the Face of the King, wearing her dark mask. Projected magically, her voice carried far afield as she spoke.

"Ladies and gentleman, I bring grave news for the King has passed away. But fear not for his king is here with us to take his place and over see these grand events. May I present King Dragomir the Fourth of his Name, Protector of the Realm, Lord of the Horses Master of Ikoval, Beacon of Progress and The General of the Mighty Flame."

Walking backed by Zelik Chernov was a 10-11 year old kid in immaculate dress wearing a gold crown and waving at his roaring subjects, as he walked towards his chair. As he sat on his chair and explosion was heard from a few hundred feet in the air, as from the sky an azure blue explosion, clearly surprising the young monarch and his guard. Zelik rushed towards the king, suddenly holding a glaive in his hand, which was not present before and shielding him. Instead of fire, from the explosion paper rained. Hundreds, maybe thousands pieces of paper fell from the sky. Dubrovnik grabbed one of the falling parchments and looked at it. It read: "When titans roam the land, all are bent to their will.". Depicted on it was a blue haired mage forcing a group of smaller individuals into submission - a clear reference to the head of the Order of the Brown Dragon, Quiggly Cartwright.