- It is springtime in Marindar. The invitations to the Marindan games have been sent via robins and preparation are underway. Soon the first qualifying events will commence to select those who will represent Marindar.
- The first response is received three days later. The letter is insulting and signed ‘Yun, of the Hadashi’. Lady Sophia shows it to Grant. It is odd that the birds have found someone who is worthy to compete and ‘heroic’ in nature but would respond in this way. Grant wonders if the bird was somehow intercepted. He considers following up but parks the thought for the time being. He decides to mobilise people via a volunteer system to help with the many tasks surrounding the games.
- Grant notes that Lady Sophia has been trying to find someone to take charge of Ethan’s affairs when he is in Marindar. He spies a short list of three names, one of which is crossed out and then re-added. He recognizes one of the names on the list – Leyla. It takes him a moment to remember the name – it comes from the alternate timeline. In that timeline, Ethan had a Marindan girlfriend named Leyla whom Grant never met.
- Curious about what sort of person might end up managing Ethan’s household, Grant decides to investigate the names on the list. According to records, Leyla is a baker in Central. The picture of her is that of a messy haired girl with a relaxed smile. She appears very ordinary. The second name on the list is Julia. She is a diplomat currently assigned to a post in the Eastern Empire. She speaks multiple languages and is a trained stateswoman. The third name on the list is Antigone. Antigone’s record is long. Very, very long. There are artifacts associated with her in the museum. She is thousands of years old, older even than Sophia. She comes from a time where Marindan society was divided into smaller city states. According to records, she isn’t even in Central and hasn’t been in Central in a long time.
- Grant has a chat with Lady Sophia about the three candidates. Sophia admits that Leyla is a bit of a random choice but her father was a diplomat long ago and Leyla would likely be good at organizing Ethan. Grant doesn’t tell Sophia about Ethan’s connection to Leyla from the alternate timeline but he asks her if she is trying to connect Ethan with a compatible Marindan woman. Sophia answers simply that if she wanted to do that, there are other ways that she could accomplish it. Grant believes her.
- They discuss Julie’s credentials. Julia seems like a reasonable possibility. Grant asks about Antigone and Lady Sophia explains that Antigone is mature, experienced and would provide structure. However, she isn’t sure how Antigone would respond to a request. She’s been away from Central for a long time. Grant again comments that Sophia appears to have chosen three females for Ethan’s staff. Lady Sophia brushes this off and says that her list were just initial thoughts. When challenged as to why she had removed Antigone from the list and then re-added her, Sophia explains that she’s been outside of Marindan society for a long time and reintroducing her could be good, or bad. But it would give her a job and a purpose.
- Sophia sighs and admits that the games have a way of ‘bringing all of the children back home’. Her words end up being prophetic in more ways than one.
- Grant quickly works out where Antigone is based – she is many days away on foot. She lives in a heavily wooded part of the countryside, just at the edge of the mountains. Lady Sophia counsels Grant if he goes to meet Antigone, she will probably have no idea who he is. Lady Sophia writes a letter to Antigone, offering for her to manage the household of a Lord of Gossamer. Grant takes the letter with him.
- Grant flies north-west in bird-form, arriving early in the morning. There he finds a traditional log cabin with chopped wood nearby, but no sign of any missing trees. There are no animals nearby and the leafy canopy is thick overhead. It is a little chilly as the morning sunshine doesn’t penetrate far through the leaves above. He knocks on her door but a female voice answers that she is not at home. It sounds like a recorded message.
- He decides to go looking for her, figuring that she cannot be far away. Using Wayfinding, he finds her upstream, fishing from a calm lake. She appears similar in age to Sophia, dressed simply in Marindan garb but the fabric is thicker. Her hair is honey brown. She wears sandals. She fishes with a simple rod made from a branch.
* Image sourced from Google Images
- She asks Grant what has brought him out to see her. He hands over the invitation and she starts reading it. She comments that she didn’t hear his approach. Grant remarks that he ‘flew’ but she doesn’t ask further about it. Antigone reads the invitation twice and its offer of a position. Then she asks about the Lord of Gossamer that she will be serving. She asks what sort of man he is.
- Grant answers as best he can, describing Ethan as a young Lord of Gossamer and a man who is trying to be a good man. He explains that the first Marindan games in many years will be run shortly and Ethan is likely to be contacted by representatives from many worlds. He needs her help in preparing Ethan’s household for those interactions. Antigone accepts Grant’s explanation and says simply that she’ll accept the position. Grant is a bit surprised that she accepts so easily. She asks if there is anything further and Grant asks her if she requires transport to Central. She thinks for a moment and then decides that she will accompany him.
- Returning to Central in a Marindan aircar, they reach Grant’s residence. Upon arrival, they are greeted by Julius, the head of Grant’s household staff. He remains professional but Grant can tell that Julius is not pleased to see Antigone.
- Antigone is introduced to Lady Sophia. Each is respectful to the other. Conversation is pleasant but to the point. Antigone is asked to help establish the household at Ethan’s residence in Central. Ethan has been an occasional resident of Marindar for some time but she is expecting that he will spend more time in Marindar leading up the games and there will be many people wanting to meet with him. She offers Cirian (the engineer/fabricator) to help with reorganizing the interior of his house. Antigone remarks about how the people of Central will likely react to her and Lady Sophia assures her that Lord Ethan will not have those prejudices.
- Grant offers to escort her to Ethan’s residence and she agrees. As they walk through the streets, most people don’t recognize her. But those who do appear shocked. Incredulity. Fear. Even a touch of anger. Grant is surprised to see the reaction from the locals.
- Ethan is not at home but Antigone quickly looks over the property and agrees to get started. She asks for help given that she cannot move freely around the city and Grant organizes for his friend Olin to help her – as a gopher.
- Olin has become a defacto part of Grant’s household. They are often playing music together. Olin is learning to play the keyboard. Grant has recently acquired a violin from Earth and is learning to play the instrument.
- The next day is the event which marks the beginning of the games. It is a foot race for Marindan children which is often seen as the opening event. The children come from far and wide. They are aged from 5 to 16 years old. Grant knew that the birth rate was low on Marindar and that children are rare but seeing the actual number is still quite a shock. There are less than fifty children in all from all of the Marindan settlements, both on-world and off-world.
- The children have a great time and are cheered on by all. Nevertheless, it leaves Grant deep in thought about this place that he has made his home. Even in Central, many buildings are unoccupied and a city that is built for many is home to only a few.
- His musings take him to a bakery. He knows where Leyla resides and he is curious about what sort of person she is. He has been to this bakery before but normally Alani, her business partner, is serving. This time Alani is out the back, singing. He has a good voice. Leyla is serving. He orders stonebread and sits back to eat it. As he eats, he sizes up Leyla and figures out what must have happened to Ethan in the other timeline. She seems to be a vibrant and bubbly person. It probably wasn’t any special connection between her and Ethan. She just seems to be a really nice person with a zest for life. She and Alani seem to take a great deal of pride in the food that they make. Grant enjoys his meal.
- Back at his residence, Fast Jack is waiting for him. He is clean shaven. He has scrubbed up but he still refers to Grant as ‘Mi Lord’. He explains that he has managed to get four entrants for the race but he wants to publicise the event more widely. Grant gives his permission.
- Another robin returns with a message. The writer thanks Sophia for the lovely invitation but respectfully declines given that his home is under attack by the V’sori. It is signed ‘M’. Grant frowns and wonders if he should follow that one up.
- Grant goes to talk to Julius and asks why he has a problem with Antigone. Julius refuses to discuss his personal opinions but says that he will continue to perform his duties professionally. Grant expresses concern and Julius thanks him for it.
- Grant discusses the Marindan reaction to Antigone with Lady Sophia. He tries to understand why they would react negatively to her. Sophia nurses a drink and mulls over how to respond. She admits that Antigone is a relic from a barbarous time that most Marindans would best forget. She is one of the few alive from that time period. She suggests that Grant will find exhibits from Marindan proto-history in the museum. Grant realises that Antigone predates the Great War between the Dwimmerlaik and the Lords of Gossamer. He asks whether she would remember the first Lords of Gossamer coming to Marindar and Lady Sophia confirms that she would have been there. He asks why there aren’t more Marindans that remember those times and Sophia explains that most are dead. Marindan society used to be far more warlike and even Marindan long lifespans can be cut short if they are put in situation where is war and conflict. Grant remembers Heimloch telling him (long ago) that some Marindans don’t like the Lords of Gossamer because of how many Marindans have died for them over the centuries.
- Grant asks some further questions of Sophia but there is a limit as to how much she is prepared to tell Grant about Marindan history. She encourages him if he is curious to explore further at the Central Library. She also mentions that there are artifacts from the period in the Museum, including an item belonging to Antigone herself. She believes it is a shield.
- The conversation draws to a close but Grant remains quite interested in the history of this realm that he has made his home. He realises that there is still much to learn. Given that things are quiet, he decides to follow Sophia’s counsel and he starts to research more about Antigone and Marindar’s bloody history. There is no concise narrative but there are many accounts and many fragments. The Marindan history that Antigone came from appears to be full of bloodshed. The different city states were often in conflict with one another. Antigone only rates a minor mention in the earliest accounts from the period but she became a warlord, albeit a minor one, in later periods when her brother died. She came from a city-state called Athlia which apparently no longer exists – the city was attacked many times during the late ‘Hallic’ period and abandoned centuries later. Sophia’s recollection is correct – Antigone’s bronze shield is on display in the museum. She is identified as being an Athlian Warlord from the late Hallic period.
- Even more curious about this, Grant starts delving into how the Lords of Gossamer first came to Marindar, when and how Central was formed. He spends many hours going over the information and finds that the Lords of Gossamer have been active here for hundreds of years. He finds names in the accounts that he knows were active during the Great War (with the Dwimmerlaik) but did not survive. He finds reference to both Drake and Bastiano in the accounts but they were not the first Lords of Gossamer to visit. Central was not always called Central. That is its modern name. The original settlement’s name was Kalis. It was not a large or strong city-state but its importance grew when the first Doors were opened.
- Grant spends almost two days going through all of the information he can find. There is a great deal of information but it is not a coherent narrative. He spends some time talking with Meliander about it.
* Image by DeivCalviz on DeviantART
- Upon returning home on the second evening, Sophia remarks to him that the renovations on Ethan’s household are complete. (Cirian reported it) Grant and Sophia talk over dinner about what he has learnt. Grant contacts Ethan via Icon after dinner and shares with him that his house on Marindar has been renovated and that he will have ‘staff’. Grant tells Ethan a little about Antigone, who will operate as his attaché, and says that Olin is also keen to help. Ethan is surprised but Grant explains that they expect Ethan will need help when guests arrive in Marindar for the games. Ethan agrees to come through to look at what has been done. He brings Macavity with him (but not Hilda as Hilda is currently with Abbie).
- Ethan goes to inspect his house and finds the interior has been totally transformed. What was once simple and functional, with only a few rooms has now become a classical house with many many rooms. In the entry hall there is a beautiful tree which gives off a faint glow. It is like nothing Ethan has ever seen before.
- Ethan looks around, trying to find Antigone and worried about his music collection (and in particular, Abbie’s recordings). He quickly locates his personal positions – they have not been discarded. Antigone is nowhere to be found. Olin tries to help as best he can (he is pleased to see Ethan). Olin chuckles at Ethan’s surprise – he remarks that Ethan will never ‘run out of rooms’. Ethan has no idea what he will do with such a large house. There are so many chambers. Olin suggests that he talk to Antigone about this – he remarks that she seems to be a good organizer.
- A bit overwhelmed by the house renovations, Ethan takes Macavity out for lunch. They find a fish restaurant and enjoy lunch in the sun.
- Grant is notified by sorcerous contact that a competitor has arrived. He stops what he is doing and returns to his house to greet the newcomer.
- Outside Grant’s front door is a convoy of people and beasts of burden. A man with bronzed skin, bright eyes and a waistcoat of gold greets Grant. He is Takir and he would like to join this ‘noble competition’. Grant offers Takir a gift and the man happily offers Grant two slaves in return. Grant is initially uncomfortable but he quickly realizes that the people he meets will have different cultures and values – he decides to accept the slaves and free them when he can.
- Takir is invited in. The conversation is very enjoyable. Takir is an enthusiastic and positive fellow and he talks expansively about the wealth of his realm and the many gifts that he has brought. He appears to be a genuinely happy and generous person, even though his values are different to Grant’s. They get along well, and Ethan is invited over for dinner to join them.
- During the evening meal, a case of Ternian nectar is brought in (another of Takir’s gifts) and glasses are poured. The liquor is divine to the taste and Grant accepts the gift. There is a slightly awkward moment when Takir says that in his country, the women should dance for the men, indicating that Lady Sophia should dance for their pleasure. However, Lady Sophia deftly deals with situation, reminding Takir that they are not in his country and she uses the opportunity to discuss cultural differences in a positive way. Takir is not slighted – he takes the rebuttal gracefully and the conversation remains positive. Grant becomes a little worried when it is getting late that Takir will stay all night and he is unsure how to end the evening without offending his guest. However, it is Takir who senses that it is time to leave and he thanks the Lords of Gossamer and Lady Sophia for their hospitality and he departs amicably.
- Grant is relieved by the encounter. It went better than it could have gone. Lady Sophia praises him for doing well. Ethan and Macavity leave and head back to their house – they both wish to inspect ‘the tree’.
- Returning to Ethan’s estate well after dark, the tree is glowing faintly. The two talk about this – there is no way that this tree is natural. It’s not an illusion or a projection. It is real but it is not an ordinary tree, nor is the magic emanating from it normal Marindan sorcery. This is something else entirely. Ethan thinks that the tree is some sort of guardian but he has never seen anything like it on Marindar. The closest he’s seen is on Arcadia.
- The next day Grant returns to the library. He learns more about the period when the Lords of Gossamer were first active on Marindar. They clearly interfered in Marindan society, tipping the balance between the city states, leading to the rise some of some and the extinction of others. Many Marindans were recruited by the Lords of Gossamer, promised positions of power and taken onto the Stair to serve the Lords’ needs. Some returned but many did not. The removal of so many Marindans created more imbalances in Marindan society. There was more bloodshed, eventually leading to the destruction of the other city states and consolidation of Marindan rule from ‘Central’.
- As Grant mulls over what he has learnt, he receives a sorcerous contact from Julius. He indicates that two travelers are seeking His Lordship’s sanctuary and hospitality. They could be mistaken for beggars given the wear and tear of their clothes. Lady Sophia has offered them hospitality but they are most insistent that they speak with Lord Grant. Perplexed, Grant leaves his studies and returns to his home.
- There he meets an old fellow named Mavron and a younger man named Elix. Both are dressed in worn travelling clothes. Their sandals are worn and weathered. Their skin is tanned and weathered as if they have been travelling a long time. Lady Sophia stands silently to one side, watching as Grant arrives. Mavron greets Lord Grant and tells him that he and his son have travelled a long way to Central to meet his Lordship. They have been travelling for months.
- Doing quick calculations, Grant realizes that they have come over the mountains which are at least two weeks away on foot. They have come from a settlement on the other side. It hardly seems possible and yet the travelers seem genuine. They claim that they ran out of food three days ago but carried on despite their weariness. They ask for Lord Grant’s hospitality.
- There is a pause and all eyes turn to Grant. Sophia says nothing – she remains inscrutable. Julius awaits His Lordship’s instructions. Grant decides to welcome them and offers them food, water, lodgings and the opportunity to refresh themselves. He asks Julius to show them to the baths and provide them with fresh clothes should they wish it. Mavron and Elix are pleased with this. Grant follows up and suggests that they join him and Lady Sophia for dinner to tell them of their journey over the mountains.
- They depart, leaving Grant and Sophia alone together. Grant asks what she thinks and Sophia explains that she offered them hospitality but they wouldn’t accept it until the ‘Master of the house’ approved it. She didn’t feel that it was right to say anything. She finds their claim of travelling across the mountains quite remarkable because it is such a long distance and very few would travel on foot as these two have. There is a great deal of wilderness between the communities that these two claim to have come from and Central. Despite this, she is inclined to believe them – that they have truly travelled all of this way to meet him. She is intrigued.
- A little while later the two travelers return. They look more presentable and relaxed. They sit down at the table to eat when invited and Lady Sophia checks with Lord Grant that she is also invited. There is a formality involved that reminds Grant of the laws of hospitality seen in other realms.
- Both Mayron and Elix are clearly tired and hungry, however they are exceptionally polite. Mayron tells his story about travelling for more than forty days, over hills and mountains, and braving many dangers to visit Central to see if the stories that are being told are true. When Grant asks about the stories that are being told of Central and him, Mayron asks for a little wine and then proceeds to tell Grant what he has heard of His Lordship. The tales he tells seem to be based on fact and are only slightly embellished. As the meal carries on, Mavron’s tale comes to a close and Elix takes over, telling Grant and Sophia more tales as to where they have journeyed and the wonders that they have seen. Grant realizes quickly that these are not normal people. They are not Lords of Gossamer but they are something else. The conversation is jolly but Grant is not completely relaxed. Julius points out to Grant discreetly that the wine jars are still full despite being used liberally for many hours.
- The evening rolls on and Grant has wised to who these travelers might be. He raises the topic of Mayron’s familiarity, feeling certain that they have met somewhere before. Mayron smiles innocently and a game of riddles begins. Grant is almost certain as to who Mayron is but he is not so sure about Elix. The two travelers seem to enjoy the challenge and their language becomes obtuse and cryptic, teasing Grant to figure out who they really are.
- Of course, Grant figures it out quickly but he plays gracefully through the verbal challenges presented to him. This pleases Mayron and Elix, who are looking less like weary travelers as time passes. At last, Mayron ends the charade and confirms his identity as Zeus. His travelling companion is none other than Hermes, who has travelled far and wide for many centuries.
- The Marindans, including Lady Sophia, bow and do homage to the Olympian gods. Grant follows their lead, wary of offending these great beings. He knows the stories of the Greek Gods and how they can behave when slighted. Zeus beams at them. His face is more rounded out now and more like Grant remembers. (GM’s note – Grant met Zeus in his godly form back in Session 57) Zeus thanks Lord Grant and Lady Sophia for the hospitality offered to him and his son, Hermes. The Lord of Olympus explains that he heard whispers of this new Marindar and the first Games in an age. He is pleased with what he has seen and offers a blessing to the Master and Mistress of the household.
- Grant begs Zeus’ leave to confer with Sophia. They talk briefly. Grant knows not to ask too much of these gods. Returning to Zeus and Hermes, Lady Sophia’s voice wavers as she says that the Marindans have suffered much over the last thousand years. What is left of Marindan society is but a shadow of what it once was. She would like to see more children on Marindar and a rebirth of her people. Grant adds that he would like to see the Games being successful, improving peace and prosperity to all who attend.
- Zeus gives a laugh and slaps his knee. The requests please him and he declares Done! He tells them that he will be watching but that Hermes has elected to stay awhile. Grant asks whether any of the Olympians would want to compete in the Games and Zeus roars with laughter. He says that if a task is set, some of ‘us’ will call. But he warns Grant that some who fail may not be pleased with failure. Grant thinks carefully over Zeus’ warning.
- The evening ends. A house is allocated to Hermes (who will remain in the guise of Elix) and Julius leaves to help him to settle in. Zeus wishes Grant well and he leaves in Mayron’s form.
- Lady Sophia is very pleased with the gods’ blessing but Grant is more cautious. He points out that he doesn’t know exactly how the gods will deliver upon Zeus’ blessing – it could be in a way that they are not expecting.
- Grant receives an Icon contact from Drake. Drake has heard about the Marindan Games and he invites Grant to a joust in Ineswitrin. Grant uses the opportunity to tell Drake more about the Marindan games and mention that there are Dwimmerlaik emissaries in Marindar enjoying Marindan hospitality. Drake is immediately angry. He refuses to speak further with Grant and cuts the contact.
- Grant wonders how to deal with Drake. He wonders if he should speak with Eric (Drake’s son) to get some suggestions.
- The next day, Turadok arrives. It has been some time since he has been on Marindar. Grant goes to welcome him at the Door as a fellow Lord of Gossamer. Turadok hasn’t changed much but he now wears armour and gauntlets made of darksteel, similar in style to those which Grant encountered on ‘Ninjaworld’ (Session 141). Grant asks about the gauntlets and Turadok admits that he made them in ‘his realm’. Grant is intrigued by this, welcomes him to Marindar but asks his security forces to keep an eye on him.
- On his way back to his house, he spots a pale-skinned lady with pink hair who is entertaining the crowd with her music. She plays a silver flute.
- He is almost back to the house when he is informed by Lord Morla’s adjutant that the Dwimmerlaik will be sending a ‘Go’ master. ‘Go’ is a strategy game which is many times more complicated than chess. Grant tells Morla’s adjutant that the master will be welcome.
- Grant is standing in his own doorway when he receives an Icon contact from Ethan. He accepts but is becoming irritated by the many interruptions. Ethan asks if he has seen the ship in the bay yet. Grant says that he has not. Ethan tells him that it’s a three-masted sailing ship and flying a red flag. He didn’t even know that the Marindans had those. Grant says that he’ll look into it and he cuts the contact.
- Back in his house, Grant goes looking for some food. Then he settles down to read a book, grateful for a few minutes’ peace. After an hour, he wonders where Sophia is and goes looking for her. He finds her at her desk but she looks unlike her normal self. She appears shell-shocked. When Grant asks what is wrong, she doesn’t want to talk about it and she bristles when Grant pushes a little.
- Grant attempts to change the topic and he mentions the sailing ship in the bay. To his surprise, tears start rolling down Sophia’s cheeks. Grant comforts her and Sophia starts brokenly telling him fragments of what is worrying her. The ship is known to her. It belongs to Constance’s daughter, Tressa the Red. However, Constance didn’t raise her daughter, Sophia did. Sophia weeps as she reminds Grant of her prophetic words about the games ‘bringing all of the children back home’. She didn’t expect this woman that she thinks of as her own daughter to return to Central. Tressa the Red has ‘come home’.
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