• Event • Freedom of Expression: Outside

[Pig Boy]

Freedom of Expression: Outside

The atmosphere on the streets was a little less inviting than the one that greeted those inside. A balmy wind swept through the night streets, carrying with it the waft of booze, bakery, and mountain smells that were so typical of Rharne. But the tension outside was palpable, as a contingent of Guardians and Inquisitor Knights gathered at the other side of the street, to the Starling Gallery. There, they held vigil, waiting for the theater performance that had been threatened to ensue.

Tristan Venora was shut out of the performance, having arrived a little too late, apparently. They closed the door in his face, and the face of anyone he brought with him. Vivian was with the Knights, of course, and among her a few faces she might recognize. A newly arrived Steward who'd transferred to the Inquisitors. She was a red-haired, freckled young waifish woman named Gladis, who nevertheless had a great way with dogs. It was this trait that had seen her as a budding authority on integration of service hounds into the Lightning Knight. Ilaren had softly suggested that they include dogs in their ranks, at least in certain roles and capacities. So it was, that the Steward jumped at the chance to join the Inquisitors ranks, and be at the forefront of this new frontier of law enforcement. Others joined with her as well, an older man with a dusty brown mop of hair, and red-faced. His name was Sam, and he held on a leash his barghest. Gladis had several Boozehounds, sitting obediently at her flank.

Gennadiya was there too, among the Lightning Knights, perhaps to provide support or else on her own investigative agenda here. Whatever the case, these three found themselves on the same street corner, amidst the brewing of trouble inside and out.

Gladis looked to Vivian, and asked, "What are your orders, sir Ma'am?"

The Boozehound at her side slobbered and frothed at the mouth slightly, smelling beer on the wind apparently.

"Shall we enter, or wait? Scouts report they've barred the entrance from the inside."

Sam muttered to the next soldier next to him, "I say we should've broken this up the second they caught wind of this, and shut down the Gallery. No sense in taking risks, aye?"

From inside the Gallery, the sound of music and light applause issued. It appeared the show had begun.

[Gennadiya Lyosha]

“I have been and still am
a seeker, but I have ceased to
question stars and books;
I have begun to listen to
the teaching my blood
whispers to me.”

― Hermann Hesse

. . . . Gennadiya Lyosha . . . .

Once Bitten, Twice Cautious

Genna stood on the corner with various of the Knights, including Pablo who had been called out with the other guardians. She was dressed brown skirt with a blue blouse and wore over her outfit the white robe of her rank within the Order. She was also equipped for who knew that might happened. Officially she was here in a capacity to deal with an injuries that might occur due to this event. Unofficially Genna was very suspicious of these stage people. Normally Genna wasn’t suspicious of actors, but there had been a lot of odd events going on for a while that just made her question.

The Murmmer’s Ball, the death during the play about the ball, the school itself and other experiences. Another play and one under suspicious setting. Genna felt that there should be freedom of expression, but what’s wrong with moving the play before curfew. Yes to the young woman there seemed to be something off about this.

She looked around and saw hesitation and glancing over at Pablo who was there to help. She was aware that he would do his duty, but he really didn’t like how this was an internal matter. The platinum haired young woman turned back and eyed the theater before them wondering what would happen. Genna took a deep breath and then in her mind offered up a prayer to Ziell that all of this could be handled peacefully. Taking another breath Genna came up to Vivian and stood next to her fellow warden and spoke. “Hello Commander. It is good to see you, even if it isn’t the best situation. I hope this can blow over peacefully. Please be aware that Zeill has granted me the ability to help deescalate a conversation before it turns violent.” She said, and then said. “I only have suspicions, but it strikes me that the root behind this play may have had a hand in other chaotic events.” She said. “Maybe not the obvious people but something deeper.” Genna knew it wasn’t a lot of information, but she also didn’t want to hide things from Vivian who she trusted both to respect a suspicion and a on what she thought best.

Genna did pause hearing another Sam and look him over, intently to make sure it wasn’t THAT Sam or possible a altered Sam. She didn’t fully understand what had been happening to THAT Sam but something was changing him, and in a world where one’s friend could change thanks to various powers between one visit and the next. Genna accepted that even such things a body were fluid. So Genna watched and studied.

[Tristan Venora]

Tristan understood why a curfew on late night theatrical performances had been imposed. He was well aware of the fact that there had been several incidents the season before, that there had been violence and that the content of some of the plays in question had been problematic to say the least. He was all for freedom of expression, as long as nobody was being harmed, either physically or psychologically. At least some of those plays had been close to crossing that line for him and given him a bad feeling though.

Something had to be done, there was no doubt about it. He didn’t agree with the “how” though. In his opinion, the people in charge could simply have tried to find out which plays were being performed in advance and forbid the most problematic ones, the ones that were insulting or causing people real psychological distress rather than just imposing a blanket ban on all late-night performances.

There was nothing wrong with a bit of harmless entertainment!

And besides, what about the plays that were being performed during the trial?

The memory of the All-Taverns-Tournament was still fresh on his mind – he had been involved, after all. He had been there when the attack had happened and saved someone’s life. He was not particularly keen on finding out what these people had turned that horrifying event into, what they had turned Ilaren, Faith, Vivian and him into. He had no interest in heresy, in twisted, dark versions of what had really taken place; at the same time, that was exactly why he was here though. He needed to know what was going on. As an accomplished playwright – King Cassander of Rynmere had even attended the premiere of one of his plays – he probably had more insight into this than most.

If something was going on, if this was more than just a case of artistic license – which was totally fine with him – he’d be able to tell and hopefully come up with a solution, a better solution than just sticking knights everywhere. The presence of the knights didn’t make him feel safe; it gave him a bad feeling instead. Those performers were breaking the curfew, and you couldn’t just let people do illegal things; some people might turn aggressive upon seeing all those knights instead of being friendly and peaceful though!

That was another reason for his being here in spite of the curfew. If violence broke out and people got hurt, he’d hopefully be able to heal them.

As he walked to the Opera House, dressed in a fine royal blue suit with silver embroidery as was appropriate for such an occasion, his healer’s kit in a luxurious bag at his side, it occurred to him that he should have approached the authorities and officially offered his services as a healer rather than just buying a ticket for something that wasn't really allowed. On the other hand, they might have posted him outside, and he really wanted to watch the play. No, he had to watch it!

Besides, maybe it would actually be exciting and entertaining and totally fine?

One could only hope!

Unfortunately, he arrived a little too late as he had been held up. Those people dared to shut the door right into his face!

He grumbled a bit and wondered if he should just bang on the door and insist that they let him in – he had a ticket, after all – when he noticed two very familiar people: Gennadiya and Vivian!

He instantly felt a bit calmer.

He gave the matter some thought before he approached them. As he did so, his companion – you didn’t attend such an event alone! – poked her head out of his bag and looked around with curiosity. Koral, the Tunawa, was a skilled healer and quite good with a blade, so he’d asked her if she wanted to join him. Besides, she deserved to get out of the house every once in a while, as well. His parents were watching his daughter that evening.

“Good evening, Commander. Gennadiya”, he said and nodded at the blonde healer before he turned to face Vivian again. “When I learned about this performance, I decided to be on site, in case violence breaks out and offer my services as a healer. There’s something about this that makes me worry that things will take the same unfortunate turn as the tournament. My companion Koral is a healer as well”, he introduced the Tunawa who waved to Vivian. “We won’t cause any trouble”, he told her in a gentle tone of voiceSocialization Capstone: Gentle Persuasion: When engaging in normal conversations or negotiations Tristan tends to be polite, charming and friendly and stays calm which makes people feel like he is someone they can rely on and trust.

This causes even the most stubborn people to consider his point of view. If they end up disagreeing with him, they are unlikely to be mad at him.

So long as nobody engages in hostile activities or a fight against the other party, he can get them to listen to him for as long as he's willing to speak.

This applies to NPCs, but I hope that PCs will consider it in their interactions with Tristan. in order to hopefully persuade her to let them stay.

Having said that, he fell silent and waited for her reaction. At the same time, he mentally reached out to his Diri Chester who had accompanied him as well that evening, but who didn’t have a ticket (He didn’t think Diris needed one!). It had just occurred to him, that he could still find out what was going on inside, that he could accomplish both of his goals – learning more about the play and healing people, although he hoped that he didn’t have to – at the same time. So, without further ado, he used all of his charm and thought,

“Chester, my amazing friend! I’m most curious about what is happening inside. Can you see or hear what is going on in the Opera House? I’d be most grateful if you could help me again! You are a hero among heroes, and the best Diri in Idalos!”

[Vivian Shiryu]

Well, this was all getting rather out of hand. Vivian had never been entirely on board with the curfew, specifically because that kind of thing would inevitably lead to people feeling resentful and oppressed, especially playwrights. She had not, however, outright opposed them but had instead waited to see how the situation developed. As it turned out, it had reached a boiling point and now it was time for more direct response. When she'd gotten word about the showing that night, she hadn't bothered to try getting a ticket, as she'd known that she'd need to be out with the knights. She'd also made sure to set up her Runes beforehand, Chained Runes of Strength and Endurance on her arms and legs, Chained Runes of Endurance and Regeneration on her torso, and Chained Diffusion Runes of Endurance and Regeneration on her head, to be used if the other runes proved insufficient. She also made sure to bring her teleportation ring from Storm's Edge, and the whale tear necklace from the Cassion's Gambit, in case she needed them.

So it was that dusk approached, Vivian was already approaching the contingent of knights gathering across from the theater. She was wearing her plate armor and had her sword and shield, of course, but there was a sense of calm about her that any who had served with her before might recognize. Vivian loved to fight, and there was always a sense of eager anticipation about her at the approach of one. For her to be this calm meant that she wasn't yet anticipating any conflict. There were some up and comers among the knights that she recognized, and she nodded at Sam, Gladis, and Pablo, as well as Gennadiya. Before she responded to the healer, however, she turned to face Sam and Gladis. "For now, we wait. If this is nothing but a civilian reaction to the curfew, breaking it up now will do nothing but ensure a repeat performance, and one more quietly arranged at that. We don't want our own citizens looking at us as tyrants." she said, her tone calm.

"If this is manipulated by Syroa's followers, rushing in too early could lead us right into a trap as well. If not, they may well try to take advantage of it, and better for us to be able to intercept. Be prepared to break the door down if need be, but for now, stand ready." she said, her tone making it clear that she would be particularly welcoming if someone attempted to defy orders. Then she turned her attention to Genna and nodded at her suspicions. "It's certainly a possibility, but that's why we can't just rush in to enforce the curfew at first sign of defiance right now. It's the expected response of law enforcement, after all, which makes it the most likely one for someone to try and take advantage of." she said, before nodding at Tristan as he joined them.

"Hello, Tristan, Koral. Glad to have you with us, we may need all the healers we can get." she said, her tone showing she had no issue with Tristan's presence, nor that of his Tunawa friend. As Tristan spoke to Chester, Vivian nodded at him and raised her hand, calling out her lake Diri, Fins. "Get yourself through a window and get me eyes on whats going on in there. If you can get behind the stage, that'd be great. If not, getting out to where you can see the show and the audience will do." she said, getting a nod from the little shark dog before he took off to see what her could do. Vivian and Fins were partners, and they were both soldiers in their own way. It was part of why Fins didn't really like Chester too much, as the little shark dog found the Communication Diri's attitude towards Tristan downright disgraceful.

"Either my Diri or Tristan's should be able to get us word on what's happening inside. We'll use that information to decide our next move." she said, her tone calm.

[Pig Boy]

Freedom of Expression: Outside

Sam noticed Gennadiya giving him an eye-full, and scrunched up his pock-marked face. "What ya looking at, dollface?" When she began intently staring at him, his eyes narrowed, and he scratched the back of his neck. His dog began rumbling low in its voice as it seemed to pick up on something from its handler. "Uhhh... yeah... Right."

Gennadiya could tell that there was nothing abnormal, to the effect that she was looking for. There was no similarity between the Sam she'd met in the Spire and this same, although this one appeared to be suffering from a rash in what might've been considered an embarrassing location. As well as several skin conditions, acne among them. Perhaps a sign of poor hygiene.

"Uhh... anyway..." Sam returned his focus to his animal, making sure to calm it down and feeding it a little morsel to shut it up.

After Tristan arrived and introduced himself and his tunawa companion to the knights stationed on the street, as well as Vivian and Gennadiya, Chester appeared when called. "Oh yes! A night at the theater, sounds splendiferous!"

So saying, Chester swished his tail as he hopped along toward the entrance to the theater. One of Gladis' dogs, a mutt by the look of it, began watching the feline diri of communication, and its eyes following intently. A huff started in its voice, and then a growl and then a resounding bark that echoed off the streets. Gladis frowned, and yanked the leash of her unruly dog. "Silence! You're gonna get me a demerit!"

She looked up apologetically at Vivian, "Sorry, I swear this mutt is part magnahowl. You wouldn't know it by its size, though." Soon enough, more of the dogs, however, began a chain reaction of barking outside the theater. Each one stirring up the other.

Gladis tried what she could to get them in control. Apparently the dogs were still getting used to their new role.

Chester meanwhile darted into the theater full speed when it caught wind of the dogs. Blasted canines! Filthy mongrels! Chester exclaimed, and then slipped into the theater. I don't envy you, my dear Duke. Chester sent telepathically toward his bondmate.

After a few moments, the dogs began to calm down. Report came back from Chester from within, Ohhh, a brilliant dancing tableau. Chester cooed, And delicious snacks, people seem to be enjoying themselves!

The magnahowl mutt, meanwhile had stopped barkingi amidst the rest of the dogs joining in, and somehow broke off its leash. It ran forward, clawing at the doorway and huffing growls loudly. This prompted the dogs to start up again, but the others were swiftly silencned by Gladis, with tug of her leash and sharp command.

Fins made it through the theater, after Chester, and would note that Chester was more interested in watching the show, than watching the audience members and just basking in the afterglow of the deliciouso snacks and the good mood the food put the people in. The ephemera was thick in the air, ephemera of enjoyment and lust for life. People seemed to be having a good time. Fins would notice that the theater was fairly well packed, the sky seating was occupied, one by a young couple, and the others by some more prominent Glass Quarter community members. He'd even recognize an off-duty knight or two.

As for the performers and the stage itself, there was little to say aboutit yet, but it appeared to present a tableau of the Rharnean original founding, before the city itself was built on the ruins of Faldrun's devastation.

Off Topic

Vivian and Tristan can assume knowledge of what happens inside the theater, since they sent their spirit companions inside.

I'll post again in a about a week. Please have your posts in before then!

[Tristan Venora]

“I’m glad that you think so”, Tristan said to Chester when the Diri proclaimed that a night at the theater sounded splendiferous and grinned at him. He was glad that his amazing friend was willing to help him, and he was equally glad that Vivian had decided to let Koral and him stay. What he wasn’t so glad about was the fact that she seemed to share his worries though. He really hoped that their worries would turn out to be unfounded and that this would turn out to be a kind of illegal, but otherwise completely unproblematic performance!

When Gladis’ dog started to bark, Tristan didn’t say anything, although he hoped that she would tell it to be quiet lest it affected what they planned on doing that night negatively. Before long, all the other dogs started to bark as well though. It was a veritable concert. Tristan wasn’t sure if he should be annoyed or amused anymore. Had one little cat diri really caused such a reaction? Maybe dogs hated cat diri more than real cats!

When the dogs began to calm down, and Chester shared what he had seen, Tristan kind of regretted that he wasn’t inside, at least for a moment before he remembered that something very bad might still happen. “I’m glad that you are enjoying yourself. You deserve to have a bit of fun”, he telepathically told his friend. “Does anything seem out of place to you though? Are there any other spirits inside, apart from Fins?” he added. Increased spirit activity might be a sign of something, even though he didn’t know of what yet.

To Vivian, Gennadiya, Koral and the rest he said, “From what Chester told me, there is delicious food, and people seem to be having fun. The play is about the founding of Rharne, and Ilaren is being portrayed as a drunkard”, he added and briefly furrowed his brow. “If Fins manages to get behind the stage, he’ll probably be able to tell you more about it. I have no idea who the young red-haired woman in the white gown that kind of looks like Ilaren is supposed to be though”, he then admitted, hoping that one of the others would be able to tell him more.

In Tristan’s bag, Koral made a face and shivered slightly. The Tunawa was a survivor and had been through a lot, but a bunch of barking dogs were quite impressive when you were as tiny as her. “Why are they making so much noise?” the little healer wanted to know.

Tristan furrowed his brow before he admitted to the others, “At first, I thought that the presence of my Diri who looks like a cat made the dogs angry. I’ll try to find out what they are saying, just in case this is more than a case of cats and dogs not getting along. I can't promise that it will work though.”

“You wouldn’t happen to speak dog and be able to translate what they are saying to me - or help me understand them?” he telepathically asked Chester and slyly added, “What do you think about spying on a bunch of filthy mongrels? Wouldn’t you just love to show everybody how superior you are?”

[Gennadiya Lyosha]

“I have been and still am
a seeker, but I have ceased to
question stars and books;
I have begun to listen to
the teaching my blood
whispers to me.”

― Hermann Hesse

. . . . Gennadiya Lyosha . . . .

Once Bitten, Twice Cautious

Gennadiya smiled at Tristan as he joined them. “It is good to see you again Tristan.” She said sincerely. “Though we need to try and meet in a normal setting next time.” She said honestly with a grin. “It is nice to meet you Koral.” She bowed to the Tuwana healer. “This is my fiancé Pablo,” Genna said indicating to the young Knight who wanted to hover over her but at the same time do his job as a knight. He grinned at the Duke and offered a hand in greeting.

Gennadiya was sure that this Sam wasn’t the one from the spire, but she was also sure that he needed a check up badly after this event. She kept an eye out for other people but turned her attention towards what the others were saying. Vivian and Tristan had sent their dirri in to see what was going on in the theater. They were at a disadvantage of being outside and not understanding what was going on in there. The platinum blond listened to the explanations of what was occurring.

Genna also saw that one of the dogs was desperately trying to get in to the place. Genna wasn’t an animal person but that behavior was very suspicious to her. The other dog seemed to settle down. Genna tilted her head and studied the dog. That would need to be looked at. As it was she called upon Nayeli. The octopus like dirri appeared as usual on top of Genna’s head. ‘A performance, are the outfits nice?’ She asked. Genna smiled a bit at the Dirri’s comment.

‘I am not sure.’ Genna thought back. ‘But I would love it if you could go and find the dressing rooms, and see what is going on in them.’

‘Ow costumes.’ Nayeli said.

‘I want the gossip and conversations going on in there as well.’ Genna instructed. ‘Try going through the back.’

‘You don’t like gossip.’ The reply was more curious.

‘Totria is different.’ Genna thought.

‘Yay.’ Nayeli said and floated away.

Once the spirit was gone Genna said. “I have sent Nayeli specifically around back to the dressing rooms.” Genna said she looked again at that dog. “That dog is making me curious as to what has it detected.” She watched the dog and wished her Ear pieces of Understanding could help her understand dog.

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian watched the interactions between the dogs and their handlers with an amused expression. She wasn't, despite what Gladis seemed to think, going to demerit them just because the dogs weren't yet perfectly trained for their roles. It did start to get a little out of hand after a bit and she did shake her head, still looking more amused than angry. "If this were an undercover operation or a sting, I'd be concerned about them giving away our position. As is, the ruckus doesn't bother me too much, but it would be good to get them quiet soon." she said, her tone showing her amusement as she turned her attention back to the theater.

Fins made his report, and Vivian listened quietly, shaking her head at Chester's distraction. The communication Diri seemed to have a hard time staying on task, and Vivian could feel Fins continued disdain for the cat. Fins hadn't liked Chester at the tournament, and the shark-dogs opinion of the Communication Diri hadn't really improved. Fins did report that there didn't seem to be any negative ephemera yet, or any really suspicious activity. People were enjoying themselves, though both Vivian and Fins huffed when Fins reported the off-duty knights. Normally, neither of them cared much what the knights did in their personal time, but attending an illegal play was a bit over the line. Thus far, the contents of the play didn't really interest either of them.

When the dog broke its leash and ran up to the door, Vivian frowned slightly and turned to Gladis and Sam. "Ilaren wanted us to bring dogs into the knights for their instincts as much as anything else. How does that behavior read to you? Just a dog that wants to chase a cat, or something more?" she asked, her tone intent. Part of a commanders job was seeing their subordinates improve and pushing them to use their skills. While this was normally something done during peaceful situations, Gladis and Sam both gave Vivian the impression that they needed at least a little push if they were to reach their full potential as knights.

Tristan reported what Chester had seen, and Vivian gave Fins assessment as well. The two spirits had mostly reported the same thing, but they had barely had time to get into the building. Genna sent her spirit in as well, and Vivian nodded again. "I'll have Fins check out backstage, see if he can see what any set up is going to involve." she said, sending that order to her lake Diri. Fins sent back an affermative and started heading backstage, looking to see what people were doing behind the curtains where the audience couldn't see them.

"No overt signs of suspicious activity so far, though." she said, though she was still watching Gladis's magnahowl mutt, wondering what had it so focused on getting inside.

[Pig Boy]

Freedom of Expression: Outside

Tristan asked of Chester what he would, and Chester was happy enough to oblige as long as he was allowed to remain inside the theater. "Oh I am enjoying myself, thanks to you dear Duke." Chester purred into Tristan's mind. "Fins? That soggy mutt is here?!"

Chester spat in disgust, but nevertheless looked over the area, trying to determine what he could of his surroundings as Tristan bid him to. He responded with what he thought and saw. "There's something interesting in one of the Skyboxes... A little trinket the couple there seems to have found calls to me... Shall I inquire to what it is? Dare I?"

Gladis meanwhile apologized profusely to Koral, "I'm sorry! They're not usually like this." She said, frowning at her dogs. She handed the lot of leashes to Sam, and then went to fetch the Magnahowl Mutt herself, to try and get it under control.

One of the dogs, the Boozehound, then began drooling and stumbling agains the leash, pulling it as if propelled by a strong impulse forward. Sam wasn't prepared for it, and the Boozehound bolted off into the alleyway. "Curse it!" Sam muttered. "I knew bringing this many dogs was a bad idea, Gladis."

When Tristan made his well-conditioned plea to Chester, the diri scoffed, loudly enough for Fins to overhear. "Dogs? What do dogs say? Oh it's quite simple, dear Duke. They are always announcing theirselves. 'I'm a dog! Here I am! Oh you're a dog, so am I! So we're both dogs! Yes what a wonderful smell is on the air! There's always something to be excited about! We're dogs!' and so on... Dogs are such intolerable cretins. Why would you want to know what they say? There's much more interesting dialogue going on in here."

Chester purred as he continued to monitor the setting inside. "It's gone dark now, the show is hit an intermission. Shall I take a look around? I really can't be bothered to yawn through the language of dogs... Please don't ask me again."

The dog that Gennadiya focused on, the one that had flown toward the door, was certainly a living thing. It may have been altered, or it may have been a anomaly of its breeding.

Gennadiya noticed a few things about the magnahowl mutt that she inspected.

Its heartrate was unusually fast, even among the dogs gathered there. There was a strange sort of geometry to its vocal mechanism, which allowed it to bark and howl and vocalize louder than the others. This may have been a part of its magnahowl heritage. Finally, there was a strange skin pattern along the back of it, and a scar on its underside.

Gladis cast a glance at Gennadiya as she wrestled with the Mutt, trying to get it in hand. Once she laid hands on it, the dog seemed to calm well enough, and ceased its barking and howling. Gladis quirked a brow at Gennadiya, and bowed her head in apology, presuming the healer to be disturbed by her dog's behavior.

Nayeli visited the dressing rooms, but it took some time for her to navigate her way through the place she'd not been to before. She did hear some whispered murmurs around some of the dressing rooms, after a bit of searching. There was word of improvisation and adapting the play's script to a 'difference of plan'. But so far that was all Nayeli was able to return without searching more.

When Vivian asked the question of Gladis, she replied quickly, as she got the dog under her hand. She did shoot an exasperated look toward Sam as he allowed one of her boozehounds to bolt off into the alley. "This dog has not acted in this way before! I swear! He only is trained to raise his voice when he can sense tainted liquor. Whether it be from slimes, to expired beer, to drugged liquor." She nodded, "He has a very good nose for the latter. Perhaps he senses something of that kind?"

Fins meanwhile returned with much of the same impressions as Nayeli had uncovered, but with a bit more information due to her headstart. Apparently they'd acquired the script from a playwright, Frank Soreli, and a few last minute changes were made to the plot.

Fins would see the woman dressed as a demon, with the platinum hair, looking directly at Fins. She looked at him for a moment only, and then shrugged. Vivian would recognize her, she was the same doctor that had served the infirmary during the All-Tavern's Tournament. Or closely resembled the same woman.

[Tristan Venora]

“I’m pleased to meet you, Pablo”, Tristan said when Gennadiya introduced the young knight as her fiancé and proceeded to shake his hand. “Congratulations on your engagement, by the way”, he added a moment later and smiled. He was truly happy for the couple. He did agree that Gennadiya and he should try to meet in a normal setting sometime though. It would be nice to be able to talk without having to worry about Sessfiends, the Creep and other enemies!

“Hello, Gennadiya and Pablo”, Koral piped up. The Tunawa didn’t shake anybody’s hands out of fear that her own tiny hands would get crushed in the process, but she waved to everybody. She was quite happy to meet all those new people, in spite of the fact that the situation at hand constituted the cause of some concern. If only the dogs would finally shut up!

“Maybe Chester will be willing to translate what the dog is saying for us. He is a Diri of Communication”, he remarked when Gennadiya admitted that she was curious as to what the dog that was trying to get inside had detected. Unfortunately, Tristan himself had no clue if this was more than just a case of a dog chasing a cat (diri), and most barks sounded the same to him!

“That’s good”, Tristan decided when Vivian said that there were no overt signs of suspicious activity so far. “I wonder what Fins and Nayeli will tell us”, he added and furrowed his brow. Apparently, Fins and Chester still weren’t too fond of each other. He wished they would become friends. In his opinion, there wasn’t even anything wrong with Chester’s behaviour. As long as he provided them with information, he was allowed to have fun!

He just needed to make sure that the animosity between Chester and Fins didn’t affect the task at hand negatively. So, he told Chester, in his mind and in what would have been a very calm tone of voice had he been speaking, hoping that it would make him try even harder, “Yes, the soggy mutt is here. This is your chance to prove that you are a much better spy than him once and for all – and much better than him in general!”

“Yes, please”, he told Chester when the diri wanted to know if he should inquire what the trinket the couple had was. “I’d like you to describe it to me and see if there is anything strange about it – or the couple that has it. Be careful though, don’t get too close to it, and don’t touch it. I don’t trust anything that’s going on inside, and I don’t want you to get hurt!” he warned him. He didn’t want to lose his feline friend!

To Vivian and Gennadiya he said, “Chester noticed that a couple in one of the Skyboxes has a strange trinket. It calls to him. I asked him for more information – and to be careful, in case it is dangerous.”

“I was hoping that the dogs noticed something important”, he silently admitted to Chester when the diri pretty much refused to listen to them and blushed slightly. “You mentioned much more interesting dialogue though. Can you tell me more about it, please? Yes, please, take a look around – but take care”, he asked. The intermission, he decided, was probably a good time to spy some more. If only he could actually see what was going on inside!

Gladis’ dog was still misbehaving, and Tristan automatically shielded Koral from it as he watched it. Gladis’ explanation that the dog had been trained to raise his voice when he sensed tainted liquor made sense to him though, so he didn’t worry too much – about the dog. The possibility of the audience being served tainted liquor was a different matter altogether.

“I don’t suppose you can find out who supplied the alcohol for this event – or even get your hand on a bottle or two? I might be able to find out what we are dealing with”, he explained. Tristan was quite a competent alchemist and toxicologist, and besides, he had an Autumn spirit familiar that told him when he was about to eat something rotten, altered or poisoned. Maybe, it would be able to help out here as well?

There was something else that had caught his attention as well though. “Ilaren had a daughter?” he asked, his eyes wide with surprise. “What does Rhaum have to do with her murder?”

“Who was her father?” Koral immediately wanted to know. A moment later, she asked, “Where is the playwright, by the way? We seem to be trying to find out if there is something suspicious going on. Has anybody ever thought of tracking down the playwright? Lord Venora here is a playwright as well”, she pointed out, as if that mattered.