Umber

The adventurers once again avail themselves of Yiss’ hospitality; Svengali delivers a wedding invitation from Haissha and a present of sorts to Psydney.

With Marial’s assistance, the party makes its way through the passes of the Corusk and Griff Mountains without incident. After stopping in the town of Catbut to acquire horses and supplies, they continue southward to spend some time in the rather swampy but always sincere hospitality of King Yiss and his Lizard People. Kuhlefaran restores Bane, Magnus and Psydney to full and complete health. Jake, Bane and Magnus rest and train, but Psydney scarcely draws her sword, and spends hours in silent meditation.

Mid-morning on the fifth day among Yiss’ people, a lizard man scout comes to the party. “We have intercepted two horsemen,” he says. “They claim to know you. One is an elf, but something other than an elf. Most Wise King Yiss senses something disturbing beneath his surface. He calls himself Svengali. The human is beneath the surface as above, but he refuses to offer his name. He calls himself only the bard. We found them navigating the fen, singing and making no attempt to conceal themselves. Had the human not been singing a song of the Nakimasklisskusskacet we might have slain them as they rode. Do you know them?”

Bane and Magnus hastily acknowledge Svengali, but look puzzled at the mention of the bard. “That is his name, for all intents and purposes,” Psydney interjects. “He has lived in my family’s enclave for so long, he no longer goes by any other. I will vouch for his integrity.”

“Then I will have them brought here,” the scout nods and withdraws.

Psydney looks at the party apologetically. “My sister, T’lar, must have sent him. Years ago she created a permanent telepathic bond between us. When I was in the Spire and thought I was going to end up like Frito I asked her — well, I don’t want to talk about it. But she must have sent him to look for us. And now that he’s here –” she pokes at the ground with her sword. “I’m tired. I want to go home for a while. I haven’t seen my family in forty years, and I’m beginning to realize how important they are to me.”

A pair of figures approach on horseback. One is a middle-aged human with an affable expression and the build of someone who enjoys his food and ale only slightly more than he should. The other, an elf sporting a weasel on his shoulder, the party recognizes as Svengali. Both men ride with one foot in a stirrup and the other propped on the pommels of their saddles; Svengali supports a burlap bag in the crook of his leg, his companion a wine bottle. As the others watch, a cracker and Svengali’s glass float over to the man, who snaps the cracker out of the air with his teeth, fills the cup from the bottle and floats it back.

Willie chitters at the sight of Magnus and Bane, and the riders straighten up and wave. The human leaps from his horse and charges Psydney, who parries his advance with the flat of her blade, but smiles. “Little Sister!” he exclaims. “Forgive my enthusiasm. When T’lar received your message, we thought you lost. After monitoring your mind through the last days in that evil place, she requires rest almost as if she had been there. But the sight of you after all these years will heal almost any hurt. You will come, won’t you?” She nods and turns away to gather her belongings.

He bows to the party. “I would invite you all, but I know something of this –,” he gestures to Svengali, “unusual — man’s errand, and I doubt that you will tarry. But I leave you with a few small tokens of T’lar’s esteem.” He approaches Magnus, Jake and Kuhlefaran and presents them with a package, “for restoring lost vitality or even lost life. May it offer you some little assistance in time of trouble.” Within it are four potions of cure critical wounds, a bag of diamond dust worth 500 gp, and a 500 gp diamond. He turns to Bane, extends a hand in salute to Tomar, and offers the mage a scroll case. “For a few days, Psydney’s concerns about your little companion were T’lar’s concerns as well. We hope this will ease everyone’s cares.” Inside is a scroll of Familiar Pocket.

The Bard and Psydney are ready to leave for the Gamboge Forest within the hour, the latter promising to make her way to Blasingdell when she concludes her visit. After seeing them off, you sit down with Svengali to exchange news.