Lirae doesn’t flinch beneath Shenua’s glare, though she shifts in her seat — not out of fear, but as though preparing herself.
“Then tonight it is,” she says first, to Iromae and Vorenus. “I’ll get you there safely. You’ll want to travel light. Anything magical should be concealed — or wrapped in mundane cloth if possible. Some guards are trained to recognize spellcraft by sight or sound alone. Don’t give them a reason to look twice.”
When Iromae asks about Veil & Vellum, Lirae nods. “Yes. They specialize in what they call 'mirrorcraft'. Illusion-anchored garments that bend ambient echoes — essentially cloaking small magical signatures beneath mundane ones. It doesn’t block powerful spellwork, but it helps hide magical tools or auras if you’re standing near the sensors. They can also weave in misdirection, if you know what signature you want to emulate.” A beat. “It’s not legal, technically. But it’s lucrative.”
She gestures vaguely toward the door. “They’ve survived because they’re clever, discreet, and rich. I can get you in.”
But Shenua’s frustration, the sharp edge of her voice, cuts through the planning — and Lirae finally turns fully toward her and Diego both.
“I don’t know what he remembers,” she says quietly — bluntly. “But I do know this: whatever you all were before the runes pulled you here — that Diego wasn’t part of it.”
She looks briefly at Iromae. “Not until afterward.”
Then her gaze settles fully on Shenua. “What’s going on? Your memories were overwritten. Rewritten. Not just removed, but filled in — so they felt seamless. Kalis wasn’t just taken. She was erased. And someone … or something … slotted Diego in to fill the void.”
She doesn’t sound accusatory. Not even suspicious.
But she adds, “He wasn’t supposed to come here. He was never one of the original five.”
At last, Diego speaks — softly, but audibly: “I know.”
He looks up at the others. No more dodging. No more deflecting.
“I don’t know who or what I am. But I know I’m not who you all remember me to be.”
And then he falls silent again, eyes drifting down to the shimmering text on the page. It glows faintly — more clearly than before.
Lirae lets the silence hang a moment longer before adding, “If you still want my help, I’ll be waiting near the old tribunals at dusk. Bring what you need. Dress plainly. And be ready to lie well if you’re caught.”
With that, she rises from the table. She walks toward the door, leaving the weight of her revelation — and Diego’s confession — behind.
As Lirae disappears, Diego closes the book with a snap. He holds the tome out to Vorenus and says, "Here. I'm leaving too. I wasn't supposed to be here — and I need to find out ... find out who I really am." He glances down at his hands and shakes his head. "I'm no good to you like this. I can't get my head in the game."
Without looking at the others, Diego turns and walks away, leaving Shenua, Iromae and Vorenus alone.
Iromae stands stunned as Diego leaves. It takes a few minutes to gather herself to speak. "Our memories were changed?"
After another long pause, she goes on a bit more. "I mean, we knew that, right? Changed to forget Kalis. Didn't we agree to do that? Or..."
It's another minute or two before she gathers her thoughts enough to speak again. "Lirae said he's not one of the original five. And there has to be five, because clearly there were the five tools. We have us three, then Kalis, and... Who could the fifth person have been? The one with the baton. The one who help us blend together. "
Then suddenly she adds. "Did he take his tool? We still have it, back at the hideout! The baton." But she doesn't know what that means. Isn't sure if it even matters. She's near tears as she wonders how else their memory might have been altered.
Shenua exhales sharply. At least they got their answer—one that none of them like, especially Diego—but an answer all the same. She doesn't say anything else for a long while and simply watches Diego go. She'd much prefer they stay together, but… at the same time, who can blame the bard for needing a moment to process things?
"I think…" she begins after a pause, "…we should leave? Prepare for tonight and all that?" She looks to Iromae and Vorenus. "I guess the general idea is that for visiting the South Node tonight, we should leave all our magical items in the safehouse. But we can take them to the masquerade, since the mirrorcraf garments will help hide them. Did I get that right?"she then turns to Lirae. "Also, by the way, I really hope we can afford that clothing. I've got to say, we are not exactly rich."
To Iromae's question about who the fifth person might be, she replies. "Damned if I know…" Then adds, "I guess we'll figure it out as we go. Or so I hope."
With that, if everyone's in agreement, Shenua is ready to head out—both to prepare, and to meet Lirae at the old tribunals at dusk.
(ooc: Did Vorenus manage to read anything in the end? Also, should we leave the books behind?)
"It just keeps getting better, doesn't it? Something monkeying with our brains, playing around with our memories. I have so many memories of the tricks and capers that Diego and I pulled off - - are they all false? I just can't even..." Vorenus sits down for a moment, lost in thought. Then he looks at what he's holding in his hand, the tome. "I could read this, could see the words a moment ago. Let me..." He opens the book and starts to read. Quickly. With purpose. After he gathers what he can, he looks up at Iromae and Shenua.
"I don't need tools or items for my magic. That's one benefit, I guess. Yes, I think I should leave my silver needle at the hideout until we visit the south node, but have a way to hide it in my garments when we go to the masquerade. Let's head back to our hideout, I've got a lot of thinking to do..."
((Vorenus is curious to see what he read, and he'll share of course with Iromae and Shenua.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
The silence left in Lirae’s wake hadn’t fully settled before Diego stood, clutching the sealed book like an anchor. His voice, quiet but certain, had carried the weight of his turmoil: “Here. I’m leaving too. I’m not supposed to be here, and I need to find out why … find out who I really am.” And just like that, he was gone.
Now, the room feels emptier than it should. As though more than two people have left.
Iromae’s voice eventually breaks the stillness, halting and uncertain. Her questions aren’t rhetorical — she’s trying to piece together something far more fragile than memory. Something frayed. Something stolen. The thought of five, not four, persists. The baton, left behind. The original group. Someone forgotten … still forgotten.
Shenua tries to steady the moment, suggesting they move forward, and Vorenus follows suit — though not without a few heavy words of his own about truth, loss, and how many memories might have been illusions.
But then the tome in Vorenus’s hand stirs once more.
When he flips to the page that shimmered before, the silver thread returns — not blurred this time, but clear. Still partial, still fragmentary. But enough:
Node alignment corrupted. Mirrorwork pattern incompatible. Splice architecture failing. Reconstitution locked. Attempting rebind sequence: five-source weave required. One absent. One altered. One erased. One forgotten. One waiting. Thread integrity unstable.
The final line glows slightly longer before it too vanishes, drawn back into the page.
There’s no denying it now — something about Vorenus is unlocking the book. Or maybe it’s the group’s proximity to a truth they’re only beginning to remember.
And somewhere, Kalis is still caught in the middle of it.
Shenua’s sharp tail flicks the air, verbalizing what all three of you must be feeling: this has gone far beyond what you signed up for. And yet, here you are — three of the five. Maybe four, if the baton’s resonance counts for something.
Lirae is already gone, but her instructions remain:
Meet at the old tribunals after dark. (OOC: She actually said before dusk, but I've pushed it back so you can get in a long rest.)
If you're going to move unnoticed through the city — and if you're going to survive whatever waits in the southern node — you’ll need to gather yourselves, store or disguise your magical gear, and be ready to move quietly.
And from here on, you’ll be doing it without Diego.
Still a bit distracted by the information about Diego, Iromae takes a deep breath and tries to focus. She repeats some of the words Vorenus had ready. "One absent. One altered. One erased. One forgotten. One waiting." She looks at Vorenus and then Shenua. "Does that describe us? I mean, we forgot Kalis. Whoever Diego replaced was erased. Or is that altered?" She shakes her head. "Vorenus, what else does it say? It must indicate what the context is for those words. Some explanation of what they mean."
She then again shakes her head. "Yea, we should go back. Let's rest for a bit, get our minds focused. Get ready to meet Lirae latter." She is ready to go as soon as the others are.
Vorenus shrugs his shoulders and reads the words aloud again -
Node alignment corrupted. Mirrorwork pattern incompatible. Splice architecture failing. Reconstitution locked. Attempting rebind sequence: five-source weave required. One absent. One altered. One erased. One forgotten. One waiting. Thread integrity unstable.
“Five source weave. I suppose that as we learn more, this will make more sense to us. I think that we should leave this book here, so that we can access it again if needed. Or should we take it to our hideout? Either way, let’s get going.” Vorenus stands and makes ready to leave.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
"Lirae said we should travel light,"Shenua replies to Vorenus."So maybe it's better if we don't take the book? It's part of a series, after all—taking just one might mean leaving behind too much." She pauses."I'd say we leave them here and come back if we need them. It's not like anyone but rogue magic users like us ever comes to this corner of Suzail anyway."
On the way to the safehouse, the tiefling walks quietly, her thoughts churning over everything that has transpired. Concerning Diego, she eventually asks,"Where do you think he’s gone? Where would he even look for answers? It’s not like this city is super friendly to people like us." There's concern on her face for their friend’s wellbeing. But at the same time, she knows Diego is resourceful. He'll manage. And hopefully, he'll return to them when the time is right.
As for what Vorenus read, Shenua doesn’t know what to make of it either. "Absent. Altered. Erased. Forgotten. Waiting. If I had to label myself with one of those roles... I wouldn’t know where to place myself. Or any of you."
Once in the safehouse, Shenua sorts through her schematics and tools, and prepares her infusions. Since they've decided not to carry anything magical when they visit the South Node tonight, she ends the infusion on her bag of holding, returning it to its mundane form.
Next, she spends some time working on her dagger—rarely used, but always with her—and infuses it with a returning enchantment that will allow it to magically fly back to her hand after being thrown. She won't bring it to the South Node, but it might come in handy at the Masquerade, when their mirrorcraft clothing allows them to carry magical items. She then prepares a wand of magic detection, which will also stay behind with the dagger and tuning fork for now. The homunculus servant will have to wait until she finds a proper gem to house her little flying companion.
The rest of the time before they meet Lirae passes quietly. Sometimes she's lost in her schematics—which she finds as absorbing as the best of novels—other times she talks with Vorenus and Iromae about everything that's happened. She even finds time for a power nap, waking from it feeling surprisingly rested.
With that, Shenua is ready to sneak into Suzail's Southern Node.
Back in the safehouse, Iromae takes some time to rest and then some time for prayer, asking Deneir to help give her guidance in this place and in dealing with all that has happened. It does seem to give her more focus. She realizes she can't just dwell on how upset she feels but must pay attention to learning more and understanding what is happening. She spends a bit of time preparing a few different spells.
After her rest, and once she's prepared, she looks for an opportunity to speak with Vorenus just one-on-one. "Hey, can I talk to you Vorenus?" she asks in the quietest of her voices. Assuming he agrees, she continues in the same tone. "Now's not the time for a long conversation. But all the stuff with your... magic. I'm sorry how I reacted. I was upset. Not at all because you aren't some fabulous wizard. I don't care about that. I'm just hurt that you wouldn't have told me. But I want you to know I forgive you. It must have been hard to hide that and hard to face not being what you had wanted to be." She gives him the faintest of smiles. "You really are just fine as Vorenus, the sorcerer with his quirky magic."
She waits once she's finished, watching him for a reaction. And waiting politely should he wish to respond.
Vorenus says “Sure Iromae, anytime.” And they sit down to rest for a moment, mentally preparing for this next step, he was in the process of looking through everything on his person, making sure there was nothing magical, that any arcane appearing tattoos are covered and thinking through what they would be looking for.
“Don’t worry about it. I know, it was jarring, I hate that you guys had to find out that way. I always meant to tell you, but it was never quite the right time. Thank you for forgiving me, it means a lot. Sometimes… embarrassment, or looking to impress your friends, ego… they get in the way of things. I know it is stupid. Seems so clear now, but to my way of thinking before, I never knew that you guys would accept me if I didn’t have the talent, the knowledge, the way of studying of a wizard. I don’t know why I have these skills, I don’t know exactly where it flows out of me, but I’ve learned to tap into it, through the years. Vorenus the Great. Hah!” He looks down, suddenly very interested in a small smudge on his shoes. “I’m glad that you like me all the same. Quirky magic indeed.”
Then he goes silent for a moment, still looking at the floor. He reaches out with his hand to hold hers, grabbing on and squeezing for a moment, then just wanting to sit and hold hands for a bit, finally he looks up to meet her eyes, tears coming to the edge of his, he takes a deep breath and wills them away. He gives her a weak smile, emotions moving through him as they ready themselves for this dangerous next step at the southern node.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Iromae listens to Vorenus' words in patient silence. When he reaches out and grasps her hand, he draws every bit of her attention. Her bright blue eyes are watching him even before he looks up to meet them. She smiles, although there are tears on her cheeks.
Moments pass before she finally whispers, "There we are, the kind soul that had always been behind the facade. The person I... really... cared for."
It's now Iromae that casts her eyes to the floor. Really, to anywhere else. Nervously she wipes the tears from her eyes. "Umm, I suppose we should get focused back on what we need to do here..." She lingers close to Vorenus, though now nervously looking about, self-conscious about Shenua maybe overhearing.
She even finds time for a power nap, waking from it feeling surprisingly rested.
To Iromae's relief, Shenua is lying on the floor, her head nestled on her now completely ordinary backpack, with the papers she'd been reading scattered beside her. She's turned away from them, and her breathing is soft and even.
Apparently, infernal tails twitch a little when tieflings sleep. A quiet, rhythmic motion, that mirrors whatever place their minds drift to when dreaming.
(ooc: A power nap can leave room for many things...!)
Vorenus takes a quick glance over and sees that Shenua is asleep, her tail darting around as she dreams. Always freaked me out when she did that….
He doesn’t let the moment linger, at his age and experience in the world, he realizes that there are certain times to act and certain times to wait. If he does not act, he would regret it for the rest of his life, which may be shorter than he thinks. Oh Iromae, how I always wanted to do this, I always wanted to show you my true self, my true affection for you. Why is it that dangerous times bring such clarity to feelings…
Vorenus pauses just a second then says softly, “No, we have a little more time. Time. I feel like such a fool for all these years. I’m not afraid to act now, to show you, to tell you anymore…” he looks into her eyes and pulls her close, hand reaching around her side and turning his head slightly, he leans in close and softly touches her lips, slowly, tentatively at first, but if she does not pull away he really leans in, pressing against her, then finally coming apart, leaning his forehead against hers, breathing in time with her. “How long I’ve wanted to do that.Shhh.Don’t wake her. I know, I know, we’ll get ready in a minute, can’t we linger here just a bit longer? Just a little while…you have always been so rock steady, so focused, so smart. I've always wanted to tell you how much I though about you, through the years and after we left, how many nights I would see your face as I would go to sleep, I would see you so clear in my dreams.”. Vorenus kisses her again and then lets her go, giving her a big smile, feeling more confident about whatever comes, whatever happens tonight and the next few days, he feels ready to meet it, excited about wherever this leads…he feels like he can conquer the world, whatever world they are in.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Iromae had looked up when Vorenus began to speak of having time. 'Time for what?' she idly wonders. But then she sees the look in his eyes, feels him pulls her in, and her breath catches in her throat.
As his lips touch hers she certainly does not pull away. Perhaps tense at first, she relaxes as he presses in more. She listens as he pulls away, her heart beating rapidly.
Disregarding his admonition to stay quiet, Iromae softly starts to speak. "Vorenus, I..." She is interrupted then as Vorenus kisses her again.
As he lets her go, she brightly returns the smile with her own."I've always adored the real you, Vorenus," she whispers. "You're very charming. And... I don't know what else to say." Her cheeks blush red and see looks again nervously towards Shenua to make sure she's still asleep.
A million questions flood her head, none of which reach her lips. She lingers near Vorenus a minute longer, then moves to him and quickly gives him a peck on the lips. "We should talk more, when the time is right."
And then she steps away, starting to go through her pack, examining the items inside. Whether it's necessary or not.
With that, Shenua is ready to sneak into Suzail's Southern Node.
Shenua wakes from her restful power nap, clicks her tongue at the scattered papers, quickly gathering and sorting them. She then stretches a bit and, as said, is ready to leave.
OOC2: You have completed a long rest. Make any available changes you'd like to make.
OOC3: Everyone gains inspiration.
The streets of Suzail are quieter now, though not still. The sun has long since slipped behind the palace spires, and what light remains is silvered in the moon’s glow, catching on rooftops and cobblestones alike. You leave the safehouse one at a time, keeping to shadowed lanes until you’re well away from the Dock District.
The city feels different at night — the day’s clamor replaced by the low murmur of taverns, the occasional rattle of a cart, and the heavy tramp of patrol boots on distant streets. The air smells faintly of smoke from the chimneys in the noble quarter, mixed with the salt tang off the bay.
You skirt the merchant boulevards, sticking to back alleys where lamplight doesn’t quite reach. In the east quarter, you pass a pair of guards half-asleep at their post, one idly scratching at the clasp of his breastplate while the other eyes you without much interest.
By the time you approach the old tribunals, the last of Suzail’s respectable traffic has dwindled away. The building itself looms ahead — a hollowed-out husk of dark stone and weatherworn carvings, its arched windows gaping like empty eye sockets.
You see no sign of Lirae waiting. But as you draw closer, you catch a scatter of disturbed gravel in the courtyard. Iromae detects something faint — the sharp, metallic scent of blood — carried on the wind.
Moonlight glances off something on the ground near the main steps.
The front doors are shut, but not fully closed — one hangs slightly ajar, swaying faintly on its hinges. There are darker shapes by the threshold, but from this distance, it’s hard to tell if they’re stains, shadows, or something else entirely.
The night is quiet here. Too quiet.
You have the feeling you’re not the first ones to arrive tonight.
Everyone, please roll an investigation check. In this instance, everyone should roll for themselves (no helping this time).
Iromae is a bit quiet as she leaves the safehouse. She seems a bit introspective, though she steals numerous glances in the direction of Voreunus. She had prayed again to Deneir, asking for a few different spells, hoping they might prove useful to her this night. And her armor, as Shenua had suggested, had been left behind along with the magic quill.
Approaching the old tribunals, the scent in the air gave her pause. She hopes to not connect it to whatever it is on the ground near the main steps.
Shenuawalks quietly, trying to keep her mind on the task ahead—though not too much. She tries to strike a balance: remembering everything they’d discussed with Lirae, yet keeping those thoughts from making her too anxious. They're about to infiltrate an official building, one belonging to a Suzail they doesn't truly belong to—or at least, according to their current memories. This isn't the sort of thing the artificer usually does; in fact, sh'’d never done anything like it before they all met again just a few days ago. That alone would be enough to make her uneasy, but the fact she can't use her skills freely—and the weight of all they’ve uncovered so far—pushes her nerves even further. So, more than anything, she focuses on staying calm and keeping her thoughts in check.
When she notices Iromae's steps falter, Shenua halts too. Knowing the cleric, she's spotted something. "What is it?" she murmurs, not really waiting for an answer before scanning the area herself for anything amiss. Aside from the fact that Lirae isn't there at all. And the wizard can't be once again hidden under her invisibility spell, right? Not in this part of the city.
Before they leave, Vorenus stops Iromae and Shenua, having a frank conversation with both of them. “Before we go, I think it is important for you to know clearly what I can do, what I have learned about myself and my magic. I want your opinions about whether I should act or how I should prepare for what faces us. Sometimes… well, sometimes I haven’t made the best decision in the heat of the moment. I have acted impulsively at times, and we need to be a unified team when we take these on. Anyway… I can cast my magic without using words, gestures, I can (with a special skill) cast a spell without it being known to others. I think that might help us here. I can disguise myself or charm someone in a pinch, although i hope not to use that. I can give someone a suggestion to act upon, force it on them really. Also, I can alter myself to appear or function differently if needed. If all else fails, I can become invisible to escape detection. Again, I would rather use none of these, and some of these spells might set off my crazy, uncontrollable magic, which would be bad in certain settings, or it may get me detected. But. I can do them… I wanted to let you know.”
As they begin their walk, Vorenus is walking with a light step and a grin on his face, stealing looks from time to time at Iromae, trying to catch her eye. As they continue walking, he loses some of his bravado and becomes more cautious, more protective. He feels it, like the rest of them, something isn’t right. He slows up, sensing danger, and he sees it in Shenua’s and Iromae’s eyes as well. Vorenus is on high alert, bending down and examining the ground then standing and looking around.
Shenua smiles warmly at Vorenus when he explains his magic so straightforwardly for the first time in... well, forever. "Isn't it funny that we're having this conversation in a place where not only your wild magic is at stake, but magic in general as well?" She sighs. "I'd like to be able to give you a clear and reassuring answer about what to use and when, but... I'm afraid I'm not really sure what to do with my magic and skills either!"
She pauses, tapping a stray lock of turquoise hair idly while thinking.
"I guess we should avoid using our magic abilities at all until we get a clearer idea of how the sensors work or manage to disable them entirely. But if we get into serious trouble and it's either use magic or get caught ... then I'd say we use everything at our disposal. Does that make sense to you?"
The artificer waits for them to share their opinions, then adds, "Though I have to say, Vorenus, that ability of yours to cast a spell without being noticed sounds pretty amazing. You're right—it could be especially handy here. Perhaps it wouldn't even be detected by Kalis's sensors."
Lirae doesn’t flinch beneath Shenua’s glare, though she shifts in her seat — not out of fear, but as though preparing herself.
“Then tonight it is,” she says first, to Iromae and Vorenus. “I’ll get you there safely. You’ll want to travel light. Anything magical should be concealed — or wrapped in mundane cloth if possible. Some guards are trained to recognize spellcraft by sight or sound alone. Don’t give them a reason to look twice.”
When Iromae asks about Veil & Vellum, Lirae nods. “Yes. They specialize in what they call 'mirrorcraft'. Illusion-anchored garments that bend ambient echoes — essentially cloaking small magical signatures beneath mundane ones. It doesn’t block powerful spellwork, but it helps hide magical tools or auras if you’re standing near the sensors. They can also weave in misdirection, if you know what signature you want to emulate.” A beat. “It’s not legal, technically. But it’s lucrative.”
She gestures vaguely toward the door. “They’ve survived because they’re clever, discreet, and rich. I can get you in.”
But Shenua’s frustration, the sharp edge of her voice, cuts through the planning — and Lirae finally turns fully toward her and Diego both.
“I don’t know what he remembers,” she says quietly — bluntly. “But I do know this: whatever you all were before the runes pulled you here — that Diego wasn’t part of it.”
She looks briefly at Iromae. “Not until afterward.”
Then her gaze settles fully on Shenua. “What’s going on? Your memories were overwritten. Rewritten. Not just removed, but filled in — so they felt seamless. Kalis wasn’t just taken. She was erased. And someone … or something … slotted Diego in to fill the void.”
She doesn’t sound accusatory. Not even suspicious.
But she adds, “He wasn’t supposed to come here. He was never one of the original five.”
At last, Diego speaks — softly, but audibly: “I know.”
He looks up at the others. No more dodging. No more deflecting.
“I don’t know who or what I am. But I know I’m not who you all remember me to be.”
And then he falls silent again, eyes drifting down to the shimmering text on the page. It glows faintly — more clearly than before.
Lirae lets the silence hang a moment longer before adding, “If you still want my help, I’ll be waiting near the old tribunals at dusk. Bring what you need. Dress plainly. And be ready to lie well if you’re caught.”
With that, she rises from the table. She walks toward the door, leaving the weight of her revelation — and Diego’s confession — behind.
As Lirae disappears, Diego closes the book with a snap. He holds the tome out to Vorenus and says, "Here. I'm leaving too. I wasn't supposed to be here — and I need to find out ... find out who I really am." He glances down at his hands and shakes his head. "I'm no good to you like this. I can't get my head in the game."
Without looking at the others, Diego turns and walks away, leaving Shenua, Iromae and Vorenus alone.
Iromae stands stunned as Diego leaves. It takes a few minutes to gather herself to speak. "Our memories were changed?"
After another long pause, she goes on a bit more. "I mean, we knew that, right? Changed to forget Kalis. Didn't we agree to do that? Or..."
It's another minute or two before she gathers her thoughts enough to speak again. "Lirae said he's not one of the original five. And there has to be five, because clearly there were the five tools. We have us three, then Kalis, and... Who could the fifth person have been? The one with the baton. The one who help us blend together. "
Then suddenly she adds. "Did he take his tool? We still have it, back at the hideout! The baton." But she doesn't know what that means. Isn't sure if it even matters. She's near tears as she wonders how else their memory might have been altered.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Shenua exhales sharply. At least they got their answer—one that none of them like, especially Diego—but an answer all the same. She doesn't say anything else for a long while and simply watches Diego go. She'd much prefer they stay together, but… at the same time, who can blame the bard for needing a moment to process things?
"I think…" she begins after a pause, "…we should leave? Prepare for tonight and all that?" She looks to Iromae and Vorenus. "I guess the general idea is that for visiting the South Node tonight, we should leave all our magical items in the safehouse. But we can take them to the masquerade, since the mirrorcraf garments will help hide them. Did I get that right?" she then turns to Lirae. "Also, by the way, I really hope we can afford that clothing. I've got to say, we are not exactly rich."
To Iromae's question about who the fifth person might be, she replies. "Damned if I know…" Then adds, "I guess we'll figure it out as we go. Or so I hope."
With that, if everyone's in agreement, Shenua is ready to head out—both to prepare, and to meet Lirae at the old tribunals at dusk.
(ooc: Did Vorenus manage to read anything in the end? Also, should we leave the books behind?)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"It just keeps getting better, doesn't it? Something monkeying with our brains, playing around with our memories. I have so many memories of the tricks and capers that Diego and I pulled off - - are they all false? I just can't even..." Vorenus sits down for a moment, lost in thought. Then he looks at what he's holding in his hand, the tome. "I could read this, could see the words a moment ago. Let me..." He opens the book and starts to read. Quickly. With purpose. After he gathers what he can, he looks up at Iromae and Shenua.
"I don't need tools or items for my magic. That's one benefit, I guess. Yes, I think I should leave my silver needle at the hideout until we visit the south node, but have a way to hide it in my garments when we go to the masquerade. Let's head back to our hideout, I've got a lot of thinking to do..."
((Vorenus is curious to see what he read, and he'll share of course with Iromae and Shenua.))
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
The silence left in Lirae’s wake hadn’t fully settled before Diego stood, clutching the sealed book like an anchor. His voice, quiet but certain, had carried the weight of his turmoil: “Here. I’m leaving too. I’m not supposed to be here, and I need to find out why … find out who I really am.” And just like that, he was gone.
Now, the room feels emptier than it should. As though more than two people have left.
Iromae’s voice eventually breaks the stillness, halting and uncertain. Her questions aren’t rhetorical — she’s trying to piece together something far more fragile than memory. Something frayed. Something stolen. The thought of five, not four, persists. The baton, left behind. The original group. Someone forgotten … still forgotten.
Shenua tries to steady the moment, suggesting they move forward, and Vorenus follows suit — though not without a few heavy words of his own about truth, loss, and how many memories might have been illusions.
But then the tome in Vorenus’s hand stirs once more.
When he flips to the page that shimmered before, the silver thread returns — not blurred this time, but clear. Still partial, still fragmentary. But enough:
Node alignment corrupted. Mirrorwork pattern incompatible. Splice architecture failing. Reconstitution locked.
Attempting rebind sequence: five-source weave required.
One absent. One altered. One erased. One forgotten. One waiting.
Thread integrity unstable.
The final line glows slightly longer before it too vanishes, drawn back into the page.
There’s no denying it now — something about Vorenus is unlocking the book. Or maybe it’s the group’s proximity to a truth they’re only beginning to remember.
And somewhere, Kalis is still caught in the middle of it.
Shenua’s sharp tail flicks the air, verbalizing what all three of you must be feeling: this has gone far beyond what you signed up for. And yet, here you are — three of the five. Maybe four, if the baton’s resonance counts for something.
Lirae is already gone, but her instructions remain:
Meet at the old tribunals after dark. (OOC: She actually said before dusk, but I've pushed it back so you can get in a long rest.)
If you're going to move unnoticed through the city — and if you're going to survive whatever waits in the southern node — you’ll need to gather yourselves, store or disguise your magical gear, and be ready to move quietly.
And from here on, you’ll be doing it without Diego.
At least for now.
Still a bit distracted by the information about Diego, Iromae takes a deep breath and tries to focus. She repeats some of the words Vorenus had ready. "One absent. One altered. One erased. One forgotten. One waiting." She looks at Vorenus and then Shenua. "Does that describe us? I mean, we forgot Kalis. Whoever Diego replaced was erased. Or is that altered?" She shakes her head. "Vorenus, what else does it say? It must indicate what the context is for those words. Some explanation of what they mean."
She then again shakes her head. "Yea, we should go back. Let's rest for a bit, get our minds focused. Get ready to meet Lirae latter." She is ready to go as soon as the others are.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Vorenus shrugs his shoulders and reads the words aloud again -
Node alignment corrupted. Mirrorwork pattern incompatible. Splice architecture failing. Reconstitution locked.
Attempting rebind sequence: five-source weave required.
One absent. One altered. One erased. One forgotten. One waiting.
Thread integrity unstable.
“Five source weave. I suppose that as we learn more, this will make more sense to us. I think that we should leave this book here, so that we can access it again if needed. Or should we take it to our hideout? Either way, let’s get going.” Vorenus stands and makes ready to leave.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
"Lirae said we should travel light," Shenua replies to Vorenus. "So maybe it's better if we don't take the book? It's part of a series, after all—taking just one might mean leaving behind too much." She pauses. "I'd say we leave them here and come back if we need them. It's not like anyone but rogue magic users like us ever comes to this corner of Suzail anyway."
On the way to the safehouse, the tiefling walks quietly, her thoughts churning over everything that has transpired. Concerning Diego, she eventually asks, "Where do you think he’s gone? Where would he even look for answers? It’s not like this city is super friendly to people like us." There's concern on her face for their friend’s wellbeing. But at the same time, she knows Diego is resourceful. He'll manage. And hopefully, he'll return to them when the time is right.
As for what Vorenus read, Shenua doesn’t know what to make of it either. "Absent. Altered. Erased. Forgotten. Waiting. If I had to label myself with one of those roles... I wouldn’t know where to place myself. Or any of you."
Once in the safehouse, Shenua sorts through her schematics and tools, and prepares her infusions. Since they've decided not to carry anything magical when they visit the South Node tonight, she ends the infusion on her bag of holding, returning it to its mundane form.
Next, she spends some time working on her dagger—rarely used, but always with her—and infuses it with a returning enchantment that will allow it to magically fly back to her hand after being thrown. She won't bring it to the South Node, but it might come in handy at the Masquerade, when their mirrorcraft clothing allows them to carry magical items. She then prepares a wand of magic detection, which will also stay behind with the dagger and tuning fork for now. The homunculus servant will have to wait until she finds a proper gem to house her little flying companion.
The rest of the time before they meet Lirae passes quietly. Sometimes she's lost in her schematics—which she finds as absorbing as the best of novels—other times she talks with Vorenus and Iromae about everything that's happened. She even finds time for a power nap, waking from it feeling surprisingly rested.
With that, Shenua is ready to sneak into Suzail's Southern Node.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Back in the safehouse, Iromae takes some time to rest and then some time for prayer, asking Deneir to help give her guidance in this place and in dealing with all that has happened. It does seem to give her more focus. She realizes she can't just dwell on how upset she feels but must pay attention to learning more and understanding what is happening. She spends a bit of time preparing a few different spells.
After her rest, and once she's prepared, she looks for an opportunity to speak with Vorenus just one-on-one. "Hey, can I talk to you Vorenus?" she asks in the quietest of her voices. Assuming he agrees, she continues in the same tone. "Now's not the time for a long conversation. But all the stuff with your... magic. I'm sorry how I reacted. I was upset. Not at all because you aren't some fabulous wizard. I don't care about that. I'm just hurt that you wouldn't have told me. But I want you to know I forgive you. It must have been hard to hide that and hard to face not being what you had wanted to be." She gives him the faintest of smiles. "You really are just fine as Vorenus, the sorcerer with his quirky magic."
She waits once she's finished, watching him for a reaction. And waiting politely should he wish to respond.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Vorenus says “Sure Iromae, anytime.” And they sit down to rest for a moment, mentally preparing for this next step, he was in the process of looking through everything on his person, making sure there was nothing magical, that any arcane appearing tattoos are covered and thinking through what they would be looking for.
“Don’t worry about it. I know, it was jarring, I hate that you guys had to find out that way. I always meant to tell you, but it was never quite the right time. Thank you for forgiving me, it means a lot. Sometimes… embarrassment, or looking to impress your friends, ego… they get in the way of things. I know it is stupid. Seems so clear now, but to my way of thinking before, I never knew that you guys would accept me if I didn’t have the talent, the knowledge, the way of studying of a wizard. I don’t know why I have these skills, I don’t know exactly where it flows out of me, but I’ve learned to tap into it, through the years. Vorenus the Great. Hah!” He looks down, suddenly very interested in a small smudge on his shoes. “I’m glad that you like me all the same. Quirky magic indeed.”
Then he goes silent for a moment, still looking at the floor. He reaches out with his hand to hold hers, grabbing on and squeezing for a moment, then just wanting to sit and hold hands for a bit, finally he looks up to meet her eyes, tears coming to the edge of his, he takes a deep breath and wills them away. He gives her a weak smile, emotions moving through him as they ready themselves for this dangerous next step at the southern node.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Iromae listens to Vorenus' words in patient silence. When he reaches out and grasps her hand, he draws every bit of her attention. Her bright blue eyes are watching him even before he looks up to meet them. She smiles, although there are tears on her cheeks.
Moments pass before she finally whispers, "There we are, the kind soul that had always been behind the facade. The person I... really... cared for."
It's now Iromae that casts her eyes to the floor. Really, to anywhere else. Nervously she wipes the tears from her eyes. "Umm, I suppose we should get focused back on what we need to do here..." She lingers close to Vorenus, though now nervously looking about, self-conscious about Shenua maybe overhearing.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
To Iromae's relief, Shenua is lying on the floor, her head nestled on her now completely ordinary backpack, with the papers she'd been reading scattered beside her. She's turned away from them, and her breathing is soft and even.
Apparently, infernal tails twitch a little when tieflings sleep. A quiet, rhythmic motion, that mirrors whatever place their minds drift to when dreaming.
(ooc: A power nap can leave room for many things...!)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Vorenus takes a quick glance over and sees that Shenua is asleep, her tail darting around as she dreams. Always freaked me out when she did that….
He doesn’t let the moment linger, at his age and experience in the world, he realizes that there are certain times to act and certain times to wait. If he does not act, he would regret it for the rest of his life, which may be shorter than he thinks. Oh Iromae, how I always wanted to do this, I always wanted to show you my true self, my true affection for you. Why is it that dangerous times bring such clarity to feelings…
Vorenus pauses just a second then says softly, “No, we have a little more time. Time. I feel like such a fool for all these years. I’m not afraid to act now, to show you, to tell you anymore…” he looks into her eyes and pulls her close, hand reaching around her side and turning his head slightly, he leans in close and softly touches her lips, slowly, tentatively at first, but if she does not pull away he really leans in, pressing against her, then finally coming apart, leaning his forehead against hers, breathing in time with her. “How long I’ve wanted to do that. Shhh. Don’t wake her. I know, I know, we’ll get ready in a minute, can’t we linger here just a bit longer? Just a little while…you have always been so rock steady, so focused, so smart. I've always wanted to tell you how much I though about you, through the years and after we left, how many nights I would see your face as I would go to sleep, I would see you so clear in my dreams.”. Vorenus kisses her again and then lets her go, giving her a big smile, feeling more confident about whatever comes, whatever happens tonight and the next few days, he feels ready to meet it, excited about wherever this leads…he feels like he can conquer the world, whatever world they are in.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Iromae had looked up when Vorenus began to speak of having time. 'Time for what?' she idly wonders. But then she sees the look in his eyes, feels him pulls her in, and her breath catches in her throat.
As his lips touch hers she certainly does not pull away. Perhaps tense at first, she relaxes as he presses in more. She listens as he pulls away, her heart beating rapidly.
Disregarding his admonition to stay quiet, Iromae softly starts to speak. "Vorenus, I..." She is interrupted then as Vorenus kisses her again.
As he lets her go, she brightly returns the smile with her own. "I've always adored the real you, Vorenus," she whispers. "You're very charming. And... I don't know what else to say." Her cheeks blush red and see looks again nervously towards Shenua to make sure she's still asleep.
A million questions flood her head, none of which reach her lips. She lingers near Vorenus a minute longer, then moves to him and quickly gives him a peck on the lips. "We should talk more, when the time is right."
And then she steps away, starting to go through her pack, examining the items inside. Whether it's necessary or not.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Shenua wakes from her restful power nap, clicks her tongue at the scattered papers, quickly gathering and sorting them. She then stretches a bit and, as said, is ready to leave.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
OOC: Love the RP.
OOC2: You have completed a long rest. Make any available changes you'd like to make.
OOC3: Everyone gains inspiration.
The streets of Suzail are quieter now, though not still. The sun has long since slipped behind the palace spires, and what light remains is silvered in the moon’s glow, catching on rooftops and cobblestones alike. You leave the safehouse one at a time, keeping to shadowed lanes until you’re well away from the Dock District.
The city feels different at night — the day’s clamor replaced by the low murmur of taverns, the occasional rattle of a cart, and the heavy tramp of patrol boots on distant streets. The air smells faintly of smoke from the chimneys in the noble quarter, mixed with the salt tang off the bay.
You skirt the merchant boulevards, sticking to back alleys where lamplight doesn’t quite reach. In the east quarter, you pass a pair of guards half-asleep at their post, one idly scratching at the clasp of his breastplate while the other eyes you without much interest.
By the time you approach the old tribunals, the last of Suzail’s respectable traffic has dwindled away. The building itself looms ahead — a hollowed-out husk of dark stone and weatherworn carvings, its arched windows gaping like empty eye sockets.
You see no sign of Lirae waiting. But as you draw closer, you catch a scatter of disturbed gravel in the courtyard. Iromae detects something faint — the sharp, metallic scent of blood — carried on the wind.
Moonlight glances off something on the ground near the main steps.
The front doors are shut, but not fully closed — one hangs slightly ajar, swaying faintly on its hinges. There are darker shapes by the threshold, but from this distance, it’s hard to tell if they’re stains, shadows, or something else entirely.
The night is quiet here. Too quiet.
You have the feeling you’re not the first ones to arrive tonight.
Everyone, please roll an investigation check. In this instance, everyone should roll for themselves (no helping this time).
Iromae is a bit quiet as she leaves the safehouse. She seems a bit introspective, though she steals numerous glances in the direction of Voreunus. She had prayed again to Deneir, asking for a few different spells, hoping they might prove useful to her this night. And her armor, as Shenua had suggested, had been left behind along with the magic quill.
Approaching the old tribunals, the scent in the air gave her pause. She hopes to not connect it to whatever it is on the ground near the main steps.
(Investigation: 15)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Shenua walks quietly, trying to keep her mind on the task ahead—though not too much. She tries to strike a balance: remembering everything they’d discussed with Lirae, yet keeping those thoughts from making her too anxious. They're about to infiltrate an official building, one belonging to a Suzail they doesn't truly belong to—or at least, according to their current memories. This isn't the sort of thing the artificer usually does; in fact, sh'’d never done anything like it before they all met again just a few days ago. That alone would be enough to make her uneasy, but the fact she can't use her skills freely—and the weight of all they’ve uncovered so far—pushes her nerves even further. So, more than anything, she focuses on staying calm and keeping her thoughts in check.
When she notices Iromae's steps falter, Shenua halts too. Knowing the cleric, she's spotted something. "What is it?" she murmurs, not really waiting for an answer before scanning the area herself for anything amiss. Aside from the fact that Lirae isn't there at all. And the wizard can't be once again hidden under her invisibility spell, right? Not in this part of the city.
(Investigation: 11)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Before they leave, Vorenus stops Iromae and Shenua, having a frank conversation with both of them. “Before we go, I think it is important for you to know clearly what I can do, what I have learned about myself and my magic. I want your opinions about whether I should act or how I should prepare for what faces us. Sometimes… well, sometimes I haven’t made the best decision in the heat of the moment. I have acted impulsively at times, and we need to be a unified team when we take these on. Anyway… I can cast my magic without using words, gestures, I can (with a special skill) cast a spell without it being known to others. I think that might help us here. I can disguise myself or charm someone in a pinch, although i hope not to use that. I can give someone a suggestion to act upon, force it on them really. Also, I can alter myself to appear or function differently if needed. If all else fails, I can become invisible to escape detection. Again, I would rather use none of these, and some of these spells might set off my crazy, uncontrollable magic, which would be bad in certain settings, or it may get me detected. But. I can do them… I wanted to let you know.”
As they begin their walk, Vorenus is walking with a light step and a grin on his face, stealing looks from time to time at Iromae, trying to catch her eye. As they continue walking, he loses some of his bravado and becomes more cautious, more protective. He feels it, like the rest of them, something isn’t right. He slows up, sensing danger, and he sees it in Shenua’s and Iromae’s eyes as well. Vorenus is on high alert, bending down and examining the ground then standing and looking around.
Investigation : 7
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
(Back to the safehouse)
Shenua smiles warmly at Vorenus when he explains his magic so straightforwardly for the first time in... well, forever. "Isn't it funny that we're having this conversation in a place where not only your wild magic is at stake, but magic in general as well?" She sighs. "I'd like to be able to give you a clear and reassuring answer about what to use and when, but... I'm afraid I'm not really sure what to do with my magic and skills either!"
She pauses, tapping a stray lock of turquoise hair idly while thinking.
"I guess we should avoid using our magic abilities at all until we get a clearer idea of how the sensors work or manage to disable them entirely. But if we get into serious trouble and it's either use magic or get caught ... then I'd say we use everything at our disposal. Does that make sense to you?"
The artificer waits for them to share their opinions, then adds, "Though I have to say, Vorenus, that ability of yours to cast a spell without being noticed sounds pretty amazing. You're right—it could be especially handy here. Perhaps it wouldn't even be detected by Kalis's sensors."
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra