An Observational Conversation

Shining Chalice Observatory, evening

Within the observatory, things are in motion -- more or less. The planar orrery, an array designed to mimic the positions of the inner and outer planar dimensions, is in motion, shimmering spheres rotating slowly around the central axis. Floating in the middle of the orrery, Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon is taking notes. "Nothing like planning a road trip," he comments to himself. Only a couple of the servants are here, tidying up, and Telamon will be leaving soon as it is.

Studying his readings, he hrms, checks his math, then adjusts something on his paper before soaring over to examine a setting on the orrery controls. "I hope this helps Lana with getting to Quelynos," he frets. "Especially with a minimum of time displacement..."

The first noticeable indication that someone is approaching is the click-clack of sandals slapping bare feet. The next is the sound of rapid heavy panting. After several long moments, Simony comes into view, her hood thrown back, head low as she runs full out. After a few moments, she notices the great telescope and gears above, and she skids to a stop, crumpling to the ground to pant heavily.

"Tel.. a... mon.", she croaks out. "You... have to... hear this."

One of the servants comes in after Simony. "Excuse me! Excuse me! You can't just--"

Telamon clears his throat, which brings everything to a sudden halt. He looks down at Simony, before soaring down. "Calm down, she's a friend," he tells the servant. "Go on, I'll vouch for her."

Once the servant's departed, Telamon helps Simony get back up. "Easy, Simony. Good gods, I've never seen you like this." He reaches into his haversack, and pulls out a flask which he uncaps. "Here, drink -- it's tea, not spirits." He offers it to Simony, before continuing, "Now, what's on your mind?"

If it is hot, she does not seem to notice or care, gulping down two mouthfuls quickly. She coughs a little and sniffles, before offering the flask back. "Thank you. I am sorry to intrude..." The Goblin pants a little. "But the Archmage said something astounding to me, I did not know of this until now. He also said you may have been involved near the end."

She bends over at the waist, her hands resting on her knees. "There is a massive summoning circle beneath the city, apparently part of the impetus... the impetus to place a ward over the city. What... what do you know of it?"

"The Archmage?" Telamon looks puzzled. "Wait, Archmage Mikilos? Slow down a little..." Telamon listens, but when she tells him about the summoning circle, he can't hide the shock on his face. "What?! There's a conjuration circle under the -city-?!" Tel wobbles, and sits down suddenly on his rump. "Oh, holy Ni'essa..."

His hands actually shake a bit. "Gods. No -wonder- we've had so much trouble hedging these bastards out." Telamon opens the flask and knocks back a healthy slug of tea himself, before staring at the flask. "Suddenly I wish I'd brought something stronger." He frowns as he considers Simony's words. "I... don't know. If I was involved it was probably early in my career, when my skills weren't nearly as developed. What else did he say?"

She breathes a bit more, before letting out a final huff. Simony waves a hand. "Okay, okay. So. He mentioned a massive summoning circle under the city. I asked, how massive. CITY-sized was his answer. People went in to break it up, but it is so large, and the sewers and caverns under the city are so labyrinthine, that it almost impossible in a reasonable amount of time to fully destroy it."

The goblin steps forward to hug his arm for a moment, to steady herself. "He said it was big enough, powerful enough, that it may be possible to use a part of it to summon... and get around the ward of the city. He couldn't say how far down it was, or knew if there were records kept of what happened, exactly."

Simony coughs. "He mentioned you as potentially having some information... but also, Seldan. I came to you, because you are well known, I am no one. You can talk to Seldan. I.. I hope this is just a mistake, or that the circle is properly destroyed. But... if it's down there, parts of it still usable, and... they may be simply walking into the city, getting into the sewers from any number of places, and going down to where they can cause... whatever mischief, to put it extremely lightly, that they're up to."

Telamon listens, his face growing more dour by the moment. "I wonder how it was stabilized," he remarks. "You can't make a circle too big, or it won't bridge properly and... alright, that's probably not relevant." He rubs the bridge of his nose. "-Shit-," he states ferociously.

Thinking for a few moments, before speaking again. "I wonder if I was tangentially involved, or caught up in something that was on the outskirts? I think I've gone down into the sewers all of -once- and it was not a fun trip. Had to have my clothes professionally laundered." He hmms. "But Sir Seldan... he -was- involved in it. There's... some history between the archmage and Sir Seldan, and it's not great. They tolerate each other, but that's about it." He looks at Simony. "I think we'll need to pay a visit to the temple, get word to the man. He moves around a fair bit."

"I am afraid I am not well verse in how summoning circles work. It is something I have access to, but I have not explored it at all." The Goblin pats at his arm a moment. "We should remain calm. Right now, they do not know we know, they have nothing to worry about, hopefully whatever it is they are doing... they won't change anything. If we move quickly... we can still get ahead of them."

"Right?"

"It is a shame that they only tolerate each other. Hopefully they can work with us."

Simony reaches up to fuss with one of her ears, looking down. "Did you wish me to come along? Which Temple is the Paladin a part of?"

He rocks a hand back and forth. "I'm more skilled in teleportation than summoning, to be honest. But some of the concepts are the same." Telamon offers Simony a smile. "Yes, that's the game, isn't it? Do they know, that we know... still, whatever scrap of information or lore we can scrounge is a gain."

Tel heaves a sigh about Seldan and Mikilos. "Suffice to say that they may work together, but the Archmage would sorely benefit from some humility. But enough carrying tales." At Simony's inquiry, he grins. "Sir Seldan follows the call of Ni'essa Sky-Singer, Eluna, as I do. So we shouldn't have too much trouble getting word to him."

The Goblin's expression brightens, "Teleportation? Well, you could test out the theory, then. Do you know of any spots under the city which you remember? Attempt to teleport down? Or, if we get to an active part, you could attempt teleporting out? I think that is massively dangerous, though, I would not recommend it, but if we need to know..."

She shrugs. "As long as they will assist in this effort, then that will have to be enough. I am hoping for the best, but I am assuming the worst has come to pass."

Visiting the Shining Chalice is nothing exactly new for Asphodel, except that the Llyranesi is able to gain entrance with greater ease than usual. She simply stops, politely knocks, and is shown inside... where she stops, politely makes a small enquiry, and soon enough is being led to the orrery. Her guide leaves her just before the door, imparting that sense of forbidden secrets behind closed doors.

Asphodel wastes no time in prying those secrets open, which is to say, she opens the door and lets herself in.

Telamon just looks at Simony. "You want me to try and -subvert- the ward with a teleportation spell?" He's seated on the floor of the orrery, talking to Simony. "How about -no-. I think Lana might object if I got turned inside out and launched into the ethereal plane." He rubs his chin. "Let me work on it. We might be able to get the university to cook up something that'll let us measure if the ward is functioning or not..."

When the door to the orrery opens, Telamon looks up, his expression becoming calm and remote before he sees who it is. "Lady Carrough," he says, rising to his feet smoothly. "Welcome to the Chalice Observatory."

"Well. Perhaps we may find other evidence that such a thing was not just possible, but also attempted and succeeded? I don't want you to get turned inside out or explode." At the sound of the door opening, Simony turns and peers, before taking a few steps closer to Telamon. Letting him be closer.

The Goblin bows, however, "Lady Carrough, good evening."

Even as she enters, the woman who is quick to be on familiar terms-- "Hello again! And please, just Asphodel" with a curtsey to Simony and Telamon-- is also at least accurately named, if sensing social interruption is an aristocratic feature. "I am so sorry! I just thought to see the orrery," She tells Telamon and Simony, her face indicating that she sees nothing worthy of questioning or commenting. "But my, it is lovely... It is strange that we developed instrumentation to see the stars. I wonder if anyone has a contraption capable of listening to the heavens."

Telamon glances down at Simony, before smiling at Asphodel. "Indeed. The Chalice put forth a great deal of time and resources to construct this facility. I always feel a little humbled by it." He spreads his hands. "There's been discussion about setting up guided tours for a fee, but some of the Chalice prefer to have a place where they can do research or stargaze uninterrupted. I can't totally blame them."

At Asphodel's comment about listening to the heavens, Telamon raises an eyebrow. "Difficult. I... believe there are ways to speak, but they are not in any form we would normally recognize. Still, the heavens are bright, and full of wonders, mysteries, and strangeness. All worthy of study." He gestures to Simony. "May I present Temperance Simony, Lady Carrough? She is a good friend of mine who has been assisting me with the perils plaguing Alexandria."

"If we are able to see the stars and other celestial bodies... it would not surprise me if it was somehow possible to ... hear them. How is far beyond my knowledge.", the Goblin offers on the topic of listening to the heavens. "For now, we may consult priests and priestesses for listening to the heavens and interpreting what it means."

Simony nods to Telamon, "Indeed, they are worthy of study, so many wonders, and so much knowledge, to be had."

"All those winters spent hoofing it up the mountains just to learn the cosmos," Asphodel says, eyeing the great equipment on display. "And yet... I wonder, with instruments such as this, if future generations will even learn to speak the Celestial dialect of the orbits?" She muses. "I hope I wasn't interrupting, and again, my apologies. It's lovely to meet you again, Mistress Temperance Simony. I knew a sorceress named Temperance once! She was a spitfire." Asphodel's smile is suddenly nostalgic. "She was of a different bloodline than my own. Draconic. Set fire to her family's home."

"Oh! But I may be interrupting one of those many problems referred to. I do have some leads, and a meeting with a john coming up," Asphodel adds. "With regards to people trafficking other people for demons."

Telamon shakes his head at Asphodel. "A serious discussion, but... you're aware that beneath the surface of things here, there are grim things brewing. And I think anyone of goodly heart who wishes to help is welcome in the work."

He chuckles a little. "Ah... Temperance is her title, Lady Carrough. She is a priestess the Historian, called Navos." He snorts at the description of her friend. "That... is sometimes a danger as the talent emerges. It can be difficult to control the first time."

At Asphodel's declaration of leads, Telamon's eyes grow intent. "I -see-... please go on, Lady Carrough. And I do hope you've arranged for your own security."

The Goblin nods at Telamon's correction, "Ah, that is an interesting juxtaposition, being a spitfire while named Temperance. I'll bet she is an interesting and fun character, yes?"

Simony's notebook has subtly been pulled from the bag on her hip, and her pencil is already moving across the page.

"I am all ears.", she says softly. "We would happily take what information you might have, and indeed, Lord Lupecyll-Atlon is unfortunately familiar with the sorts of attention these people afford people who get in their way."

Asphodel has partially disconnected.

With attention finally centered where it belongs, on Asphodel-- her smirk at the telescope is nothing short of petty.

Whatever they may have been discussing, it seems the Lady Carrough was in a competition with the finest telescope in the lands. "Fairest indeed," She murmurs, her heeled boots clicking as she turns to stroll closer.

"Well, I have a human trafficking ring thanks to Vittorio," She tells Telamon and Simony. "I'll probably have Rune and Hark along for that. They must think they're getting a Llyranesi slip of a thing, I'll have to remember not to feel bad when Hark is done with them.

"And I have this." From within a pocket, she withdraws a finely-preserved note: a contact name, an address, a password. It sits in her palm before Simony and Telamon. "That Spire in the woods is demonic, if I have ever seen anything. I believe someone is intercepting the supply line of an underground animal fighting ring to steal their souls, turn them into guardians or monsters, whatever demons have on their minds. But, both are being trafficked. Surely there is a point at which the twain shall meet."

Telamon regards Asphodel with an amused look. "Human trafficking, animal trafficking, and demon cults. Sounds like the start of some terrible copper dreadful story. I'm not disbelieving you, just entertained at how... cliche it feels. I almost wish they'd try something more exotic."

He nods as Asphodel explains she has backup. "Excellent. No offense intended, Lady Carrough, but I'd feel deeply unhappy if you were waylaid by these foul folk." He pauses, considering. "They must have kept this quiet so far. Such a scheme would draw down -everyone's- wrath, from the druids and fey guardians of the forest to the goodly knights and paladins of the temples and everyone in between."

As she listens, and writes, the Goblin begins to look more and more angry as Asphodel tells her tale. "That explains those gems, doesn't it, the things people have been finding in the demonic beasts inside the Felwood? It may be a separate plot from what Jay-Gee is doing, or perhaps his cult and the others are working together to further both plots at the same time, as some have suggested?

Simony glances to Telamon. "This cannot stand. It will not stand. They threaten the balance of not just Alexandria, but further afield. I am ready and willing to go to your temple, to find the Paladin."

Perhaps it is the counterreaction to the display of anger, but Asphodel's response to Telamon is cut off as she watches, rapt, as Simony speaks.

"We spoke with a Sylvanori elder," Asphodel says, her amusement dissipating into the composure and demeanor of a Llyranesi lady. "But while they may know more about those black gems, I do not know if introducing the Sylvanori into the field is the sort of tactical decision I would make. Imagine three armies and one general, and two of them are enemies." In the quiet space, her resonant voice slows down, and the woman behind the usual frenzy is simply relaxing, talking.

"There is another way," She says, now smiling innocently. "The stars see all, and there is a ritual to ask the celestial bodies and Eluna herself for help. Old, old magic," She says, eyeing now Telamon. "The only way I know to listen to the heavens, but it does require more than one fae."

"Remember, fiends do not think as mortals do, Lady Carrough. And more to the point, they delight in strife and disharmony. They may not be able to organize in such a way that would minimize such friction -- or avoid rousing their foes." Telamon places a hand on Simony's shoulder. "But yes, there does seem to be a crossroads of sorts. We will need to meet, and share notes, very shortly."

At Asphodel's suggestion, Telamon frowns. "You speak of the eldar palantiri, the eyes of far-seeing. I... am not sure I can invoke it, Lady Carrough. I am only half-sil. You may find more luck with one of full sil lineage. Or... I might utilize the legend lore spell I possess, and try to draw answers that way. It -does- work, though it can be... obscure."

"That incantation sounds interesting, but I know nothing of fey magics, aside what little I have faced in combat. I am sure we can find a full sil who would assist you, Lady Corrough. We can quietly look around for such."

Simony nods to Telamon, looking comforted by the hand on her shoulder. "Okay, so, we currently have an advantage in surprise. Let's gather whom we know, share information, and sort it out. Sooner rather than later, yes?"