Back at the Ice Wolf we mused on recent events and just why the Censor of the East might have such a fondness for yasal crystals. There was of course a benefit for the wielder by the use of the bound spirit’s Charms, but we couldn’t see someone of the Censor’s power needing such trinkets. Perhaps she simply desired to prevent others from using them and growing in power themselves?
Adler’s story and the implications Ethris had made had us wondering if there wasn’t something else to it though. There were legendary weapons which were rumoured to be able to sever the very Essence from a being and while tales of the First Age couldn’t be held true in all counts, if the Eastern Censor had such a thing it would perhaps explain not only the dislike of her engendered in some of the local gods but also why she’d been so interested in yasal crystals – as vessels for the stolen Essence.
Our discussion was interrupted by Afra who joined us to report the good news that the local unsavoury types had got the message the circus wasn’t to be seen as an opportunity for them to profit. Iron Panther evidently had the right connections and used them. Afra also had the names of some of the other tournament competitors which had Olvir immediately interested.
Aside from the skilled mortal combatants there were other essence users competing. The famed champion street brawler Alik of the Streets who had a reputation for no-holds barred fist fighting was competing, along with a speardancer named Baltasar, and Solmund of Orsha, an Earth Aspected Dragon Blood who wrestled and was competing alongside his protégé, Kiril the Firm. Song sent Afra off with a coin for herself and some money to place on Olvir after they’d had a lighthearted discussion on what tactics he was going to play before we called it a night.
The next day Caelan went off for a morning hunt while Olvir and Song made their way out into the surrounding woodland where Song took to wing in her kite form to see if she could, as they’d talked about, track down the remaining manses by seeking out with essence sight the lines which bound them to the Moonspire. It wasn’t a simple task but Song was familiar by now with the essence of the satellite manses and her keen eyes could make out the faint sparkling traceries across the landscape which pointed the way. One lay within Moonspire and she soon identified it as the Prince’s house. The others were several miles to the north and south, sitting at points roughly equally spaced to the pool to the West and the jungle cairn in the east. The Moonspire itself was also a manse – unsurprisingly, but she was glad to confirm it.
She realised so many manses in such a small area wasn’t just unusual but unnatural and suspected some of them had been moved into place, most likely by long-lost First Age skill. They met up with Caelan later and she explained what she’d found, and as Olvir went off to meet Kashlyk Ashak for promised training, the two of them set out to find the manse in the south. It was an 8 mile journey but they travelled quickly, Ariorn surprisingly skilled at moving through difficult terrain and Song having several forms she could call on to make the journey easier so they soon found the bubbling hot spring amongst a cluster of rocks surrounded by soft mossy greens and overhanging branches. To Song’s delight the heart of the manse was the hot spring itself and shucking her clothes she dipped into the warm waters and relaxed into the essence of the place. Caelan needed a little coaxing but soon discovered Song was right about the relaxing waters and the two enjoyed the waters for a couple of hours while they attuned to it. There was no hearthstone, much like the other Spire-linked manses, but equally there was no-one who’d claimed the place as they attuned without resistance.
Olvir wasn’t having such a relaxing time in Kashlyk’s sanctum. Pushed to his limits and gleaming with sweat he revelled in the opportunity to fight against a superlative opponent and learn from a master teacher. In a pause to catch his breath, he asked Kashlyk if he could fly whereupon the god by way of demonstration shifted into the form of a huge pterodactyl and an suitably impressed Olvir asked if he was any good at Gateway – since he and Song weren’t and he knew a couple of Celestial Lions who might like a match. Kashlyk was a little surprised but interested in the notion and agreed to go along with us when we headed to the sky manse that evening. He also had a question – was Caelan going to enter the competition? Olvir didn’t know, and shrugged – perhaps he could ask him later?
Caelan wasn’t thinking much about the coliseum competition however as he’d returned to the Ice Wolf with Song and the two of them were getting ready to meet the Prince. Caelan wrapped his single remaining Brightwater dagger in silk to present as a gift and they left for the appointment, arriving in good time and finding themselves ushered in to meet the Prince by a most efficient servant.
They presented the gifts (which were received with the right amount of attention) before they got down to business. They told him they wanted access to the tower and while there were things which interested them inside were happy for many of the riches to be given to the city – but, the Prince countered, their petition was up against other generous offers and from also people with credentials. All he had from them were nebulous comments that they were more capable than they seemed – as they weren’t willing to let their natures be known to him just yet.
He asked them who they were – evidently trying to gauge a little more of the people stood before him. Song spoke first, hoping to explain by example and leave other details aside: she was a herbalist, she travelled with the circus and she was unfortunate enough to have been in Jadespike when the mine was attacked by dark creatures which, had it not been for her and her companions, would have wrought great tragedy. She had been in Hengethorn to remove from power the Yozi-worshippers who sought to subvert the annual ritual and she was now in Moonspire, keen to discover the secrets of the tower. The Prince nodded, he’d heard tell of what had occurred in Jadespike though asked her to clarify a few details and seemed alarmed at the notions not only of dark spawn in the mine but also Yozi worshippers in Hengethorn.
Caelan also spoke for his part in recent events before adding that he hailed from Brightwater and felt afraid for the town. Again the Prince asked a couple of details, and so with credentials at least semi-confirmed they proceeded to warn him that the Scavenger Lord he’d been in close talks with, the Daughter of the Amber Moon, had an agenda different to the one she’d sold him and he ought to be wary to think he’d have any riches come to the city should he grant her permission to enter the Spire. He asked (inevitably) where they’d come by the information and they apologised for not being able to reveal all their secrets... but were keen to present him with all the facts so he could, at least, make a decision without being swindled into making the wrong one. The Daughter of the Amber Moon simply didn’t want anyone to have the tower, they explained. They did – and they also wished for Moonspire to benefit from it.
They were interrupted briefly by the aide who’d shown them in – their time was limited but evidently they’d piqued his interest as he sent the aide away and they continued with their discussions.
An idea struck Caelan and he offered to fight a champion of the Prince’s choosing to demonstrate his ability. If he won, the Prince would grant access to the tower. If not, Caelan would offer himself in servitude for a month. The Prince raised an eyebrow. (Song raised two, but no-one was looking at her.) Telenka wasn’t one to fall for grand gestures and riposted with a remark that if the tower was only worth one month’s service, perhaps he could extend the gesture to the tournament and grant the winner the prize Caelan sought...?
Caelan wasn’t keen on the idea, thinking that would likely just bring the Spire to whoever could hire the toughest thug... but he voiced such concerns gently. However the Prince evidently considered deliberations over for now and told them he would at least think on the matter before contacting them again. Leaving him to think and hoping they’d at least intrigued him enough for another meeting, they left.
They met Olvir back at the Ice Wolf and after we’d eaten met Kashlyk on the outskirts of the city where we walked a little way into the trees before the Lunars shifted to aerial forms, Kashlyk assumed his pterodactyl form and Caelan submitted once again to Olvir’s talons. The flight to the manse was mercifully uneventful and the lions, though wary, were content to allow Kashlyk inside after we’d stated he was our guest – and they were certainly pleased to play someone more skilled at Gateway than we were. Caelan watched the match, hoping to pick up some tips as he talked of the Deliberative and what it would mean for Creation now the Solars had returned. A little tired of Gateway Olvir went to admire the view and Song set out on a hunt; the flight to the manse was tough and she wanted a form which could climb to great heights with ease. A few hours later, after she’d trailed a wild duck through the skies and caught it on the wing, taking its heart, she returned to the manse with its form.
Olvir had left the Gateway match playing out to fly back to the tavern, wanting to rest with the first coliseum match the next day, but Caelan stayed so Kashlyk could finish the Gateway game... the lions made it clear he’d not be permitted to stay if we weren’t present, guest or not. Thus it was a couple of hours later that Caelan tried out the glider after night had fallen. He wasn’t too confident and had pondered staying the night – but Song promised to help him make landfall safely, and a night flight would mean he could land closer to the city without risk of being seen. Finding an ideal landing site shielded by trees from the ground she brightened her anima to burn, softly but brightly, for Caelan to aim for, and flying true he made a rough but unseen landing and together they headed back to the tavern to rest. Tomorrow, the circus would arrive.
We were up early to head out to the circus’ pitch-up point to make sure it was all cleared and ready, but Iron Panther had done a good job and we had time to wait before they rolled up mid-morning just as the morning mist finally cleared. We set to work, falling into familiar routines as the tents were raised, yeddims released from harness and tethered to stakes and the mospids let out for exercise.
Song made sure everyone knew Olvir was competing in the tournament that night and thus there was a rowdy crowd of supporters gathered by the time it came for him to set off. But Caelan had also slipped away to sign up, his conversation with the Prince the previous day on his mind and wondering if perhaps he should compete. Olvir had asked him a couple of times but he’d not been sure. Now, mind almost made up, he set off to see Iron Panther, wondering if he could perhaps borrow a sword, as his daiklaive was a little obvious. He couldn’t afford one of the swords Iron Panther had on sale but he explained he only wanted to borrow one. After some tentative steps where Iron Panther seemed unconvinced by the young man’s argument that seeing the sword in action would boost sales, Caelan mentioned, a little offhandedly, that he could always use the spare set of jade armour as security. Iron Panther did a double take, but after ascertaining that Caelan did indeed have such a thing he was happy for him to take a sword to use in the arena, shaking his head a little in surprise that a poor circus boy would have not one but two sets of jade armour... but not a proper sword. Unaware of the jade daiklaive Caelan had stashed Elsewhere, a deal was settled upon.
Olvir was oiled up and ready to go, surrounded by supporters, when Caelan got back to announce he was competing. The circus folk cheered – that meant twice the entertainment and number of bets to be made. Song rallied the crowd and we headed to the arena where Selene paid for decent seats and Song waved Afra in along with us. Caelan and Olvir made their way to the competitors entrance where they waited a little nervously before being called out to present themselves to the crowd and the entrants stood side by side as Kashlyk assessed each one’s claims to wield essence with a spirit Charm Song recognised as Measure the Wind. One individual who’d claimed to be an Essence user wasn’t... but the Prince merely laughed and told him since he’d made his bed, he could lie in and the once-cocky fighter looked a little more subdued. Telenka reminded the crowd he reserved the right to challenge anyone in the competition, if he wished, but otherwise would simply watch the entertainments.
Caelan and Olvir were relieved to find themselves in different brackets – the early rounds kept the Essence users separated. Caelan’s fight was up first and figuring he probably wouldn’t need to use the beautiful, shiny sword he’d borrowed from Iron Panther’s emporium straight away he pulled out his wooden practice sword instead. He called upon a couple of Charms and as his opponent connected soundly with his armour with a solid axe strike Caelan realised the battle wouldn’t just be as simple as just standing around. He dodged the man’s next blow before connecting squarely with him and knocking him to the ground, where, bruised and breathless, he yielded. Caelan turned to bow to the Prince and while a few people jeered him for his use of a wooden sword, overall the crowd took well to him, hyped as they were for the first match of the competition.
Olvir was next up against an opponent using a spread-the-water knife. The vicious bladed weapon could have been deadly, but Olvir was more than ready as its wielder went all-out to slash at his throat and he sidestepped, launching a punch at the man’s face. Reeling he charged again, this time aiming for the strongman’s stomach. Olvir avoided the blow and caught him again with a meaty punch, this time knocking him out cold. The crowd cheered and Olvir did a few of his favourite muscled poses, always warming to an audience.
After a couple more rounds there was a break, and then Caelan and Olvir faced their next bouts. Caelan felt a little remorseful about mocking his first opponent with a wooden sword and thus drew Iron Panther’s to face his rival, who was armed with short sword and buckler, and who took a few moments to size Caelan up before attacking. So instead of waiting, Caelan put his sword away, drew his bow and shot him. Half the crowd laughed at his audacity and the rest jeered, but he barely heard them. His arrow went wide of its target who ran towards him, his own sword drawn and – Caelan was glad for the second time of his jade armour as the blow rattled his teeth. His opponent was an excellent fighter but after parries back and forth Caelan landed a solid blow, cleaving through flesh and dropping him to the arena floor where he gasped out his surrender.
Caelan walked away victorious as his opponent was carried into the wings. Kashlyk Ashak was tending to those wounded – he had the power to heal them and saw to them before other battles continued. Olvir was up next and took the opportunity as ever to warm up the crowd. He was facing an opponent with a two handed sword who took the direct approach to combat. Olvir dodged the first blow and a struggle ensued as he tried to crush his opponent whilst avoiding the sword strikes. Grappling him impaired his adversary’s attacks but he’d underestimated him and for a moment it looked as though Olvir had been pinned by his own technique. Not for long though, as his muscles bulged and Olvir wrested control of the grapple with an unpleasant sound of cracking ribs. His opponent knew he was beaten and grudgingly surrendered. Ever the showman, as Olvir was declared the victor he picked up the defeated man’s sword and bent it around his neck, sinews straining, and it snapped into three unequal pieces. The crowd gasped as a one piece pinged off and landed in the audience at the feet of a young, impressionable young man who looked down in wonder. Picking it up he felt the heat from the snapped metal leaching into his fingers and he realised he could only dream of being as great as the man in the area now proudly posturing to the audience. Olvir bowed and walked back into the wings.