28/07/5-10

Taking a short walk up to the main entrance to the palace of the sun, walking towards them was a human woman with dark, raven hair, in her late 20s wearing the robes that mark her as an Emisar of the Kingdom of Dragomir. As they got closer, she gave a small bow and asked what the Doctor had in store for her today. Valeyo told her that he just wanted to help, but asked to speak somewhere more private. She turned towards the gardens and asked them to follow her. Once there they began talking

They started with an introduction and them the party quickly found out that she was very much in favor of using local labor. Valeyo told her that the Doctor was of the opinion that the Crown needs a win after the Demons, the Clans, the Emisar death and the Giants. She said it was interesting times they lived in, but she didn't really keep in touch with the other Emisars, only working with the Face. Valeyo told her they should be good then, since they had helped the Face before and the Emisar put together who they were. She told then that the restriction of not using magic or foreign labour was directly from the King and she didn't want to break it. Valeyo suggested contracting a citizen of Dragomir to do it - Milivoj. He might then hire others, but if that becomes known he would be the one at fault. If it works, then the outcome is great for everyone. She was worried about putting the blame on the heir of Novosel. Milivoj offered to solve that issue right there and then, being ready to relinquish his titles and inheritance as the heir of the Khert. Valeyo asked if he was sure about that, but Milivoj said it was time he stepped out of his father's shadow. Valeyo made  an impassioned speech on why she should take this slight risk to help the people of the realm, saying they were happy to take the blame, if it meant that the common folks got a better shake. She agreed to try it and asked for their bank account. After being given the account belonging to "Omar Sharif", she was surprised that to hear that smuggler's name. They told her that Omar was dead and they "inherited" his account. She agreed and was ready to pay 6gp per week per worker for 10 weeks. Valeyo told her that the representative of the workers was not happy with them and would likely ask for more money. To get their worth, he suggested they tell their own workers to try to learn as much as possible from the locals, performing a small scale "brain drain. After thinking about it for a little bit, she agreed that it was a good idea and said she would send 10k just to get it done. Valeyo agreed and Milivoj asked to proceed on his proposed solution for "plausible deniability".

The rest of the party were standing outside Gemma's mansion. While talking about what was next, Cassini felt a presence behind him, as someone tried to push him over. He managed to dodge and quickly turned around to see a familiar dwarf behind him at about 50 years old. He had a big smile and asked "Cassini, what the devil are you doing here.". Shiek asked who that was and Cassini said it was Ozrin Foy, the man who saved his life after he was attacked in the temple where the telescope was. He was the one who taught him the basics of magic as well. Him and Cassini chatted for a bit and he asked if they wanted to come tohis uncle house for a drink, as the man was wildly wealthy and had a well-stocked bar. The group agreed, but Shiek stayed behind, worried about the man Gemma may have sent after them.

The group were lead to a large mansion situated in the west of the Bogat layer. Ozrin walked to the door, put his hand on the handle and it swung open. He gestured for them to enter. They did somewhat wearily and were lead past a big parlour to a room with a large bar. There sitting on a armchair was an older dwarf with greying hair a missing his left eye. Ozrin called out, saying "Dad, the clown I found up the mountain is here.". The older dwarf looked up and introduced himself as Albert and offered the group a drink. He then asked who was the clown that his son saw falling off the mountain. Cassini put his hand up and asked if he was professor Foy. He man laughed saying, it was  in here, but otherwise yes. Cassini expressed how glad he was to meet him and gave him and his family thanks for saving him. The older dwarf asked if he was going to pay them from the trouble and Cassini asked if he wanted then to. The man said it would help and when Cassini reached for his gold told him he was a weird chap, before taking a walk round the room and passing them their drinks. Ozrin hopped on one of the chairs and asked what Cassini had been up to since they last met. Cassini told him it had been a wild ride, for the last few weeks. Otto mentioned that they were all the over, coming here from Stendolin. The elder Foy asked if they had seen the tower blow up. Otto said they had heard of it, but not seen it. Cassini had mostly been doing university work trying to get hold of certain books. Otto asked what brought Ozrin to Skalevru beside family and Ozrin said that was mostly it, as his father travels a lot and he rarely is in town at all. Ozrin said his father is a big dog now, finding and selling things in the auction house. Otto asked what he was selling and Albert said it was a telescope he had found in a mountain temple. Sapphira prompted Cassini to ask about it, since he loves telescopes so much, be he was reluctant. Otto asked to be excused as he wanted to go look for Shiek, Albert told him to knock when he is back. Once outside Otto send Valeyo a message about what had happened and was told that they could sort it out as Valeyo and Milivoj were in the middle of something. Otto decided to wait outside for Shiek for a bit. Meanwhile inside the professor asked Cassini about his studies. He said he was studying astronomy up in Icatey and the professor asked if he was looking to buy the telescope. Cassini said he would like to, but it was outside his price range. Sapphira said that it was fortuitous they ran into him as they were making plans to purchase it. Sapphira asked if they could buy it directly ahead of time, but the man said it was in the possession on the auction house. If he pulled it out, he would not be allowed to use their services ever again. He mentioned that the high priestess tried to buy it from him direct for 30k, but he told her the same think. The man than turned to Cassini and asked if he knew that the Carysil was there. The Carysil was the founder of the Carysil family, more of thing than a man, it was 8ft tall and made of brass. Sapphira asked if it was a construct, but the man said he was not certain. It was like a brass clothing that glows from within. Sapphira asked more about them, but the professor said they were pretty secretive. They founded a family, but are not connected to them, they are up from where Cassini is from. Not much else is known about them.

Cassini asked about the telescope and Albert said it was a brassy tube with purple lenses. He couldn't get it to do anything, but it is still intact. The temple it was found in was ancient dedicated to the "Moonlit twins", though Albert had no idea who they were. Cassini told him that he had been reading into the theory of a second moon god, part of the reason he was there was to learn more. The professor asked where they were staying and offered to send some of the notes he had taken of it to Cassini. He said it was a shame he hadn't found them a few weeks ago, he would have let him inspect the telescope, but now it was under lock and key in the auction house. They had the highest security, any who touched the pedestals that the items were on, would likely end up dead.

While waiting outside, Shiek received a message from the banker they had spoken to yesterday "Mr Sharif, we met yesterday. Ten thousand gold has been deposited into your account.". He was confused, but decided to deal with that later as he was focused on looking at the priestesses' house. He eventually saw the side door open and Gemma walk out with a cup of tea, into her garden. She stood there for a while. After about 15 minutes of not seeing anything suspicious.

Back in the palace, Milivoj produced a contract for renouncing his name and title. Valeyo asked why he had it and he said he had it prepared when he was first exiled, just in case. It is now time to strike out on your own. Niva animated a statue and had it use a flat stone as a table, where the contract was placed. She pulled out a quill and wax from her sleeve, seemingly having and extradimensional space in there. She signed the contract and produced a seal with her ring before handing it back to Milivoj, who did the same. Valeyo asked her if she was looking to buy anything in the auction and she said she was looking at the ring of three wishes, but was not intending to break the bank. Valeyo said he had heard of at least 2 other parties interested in it, but he couldn't tell her who they were. He did mention that they were likely looking at reselling it to the Order and the Emisar said she wasn't looking to deal with them. Valeyo asked if she knew why they were in town. She said the founder of Penance and Co was friends with them, having had some run ins with the group in his youth. They were there as extra security, as there was a powerful magical item being sold. Valeyo and Milivoj prepared to leave and told her they would meet again. On the way out, Valeyo told Milivoj that it went well, and commented on the fact that robbing the auction was a non-starter now that the Order was involved.

Back in front of the Foy estate, Otto was filling in Shiek on the situation, who said their only option now was to rob the auction. Once inside, they saw Cassini and Albert talk about the telescope. Albert was showing drawings of two figures, one male and one female stood side by side with people seemingly worshipping them. Albert pointed out that any worship is long gone, thousands of years ago. Cassini said this was useful as he was not able to find anything in the libraries he had visited. Albert told him that what he needed was an ancient library, suggesting the ones in Almanat or Colchester. Cassini said it was quite the journey, but Albert remarked that it was just a few weeks. He soon excused himself, saying he should start the transcribing before he gets too drunk. The group was then left with Ozrin and their drinks. Shiek asked what Albert was transcribing and Cassini filled him in. Shiek asked if Albert knew anything about the attack on Cassini and his mentor, but Cassini said he didn't know if Albert himself was attacked. Ozrin laughed saying he hadn't been attacked more than usual, but as someone who delves into dungeons and fights things, he gets attacked all of the time. Shiek asked if they were worried about the telescope being stolen, but Ozrin laughed saying he would like to see that. Fron what he knew, the pedestals are wrapped up in so much magic they could easily kill you. Eventually they took their leave and headed to the Storm's Scion.

Valeyo asked how she knows Vasil and she said she had known him for a long time. She said she was cursed to live over and over again, it was her who was  in the temple and she had died many time since and she would continue to die until the curse is over. Vasil just got reincarnated he was lucky to be an elf and live for a long time. Valeyo told her they may have taken her armour and brooch and she confirmed it was likely. They arranged the deal and she thanked them. On the way out, the spread the word the that there is new work and a Ad Novograd noble helped procure it.

In the Storm's Scion, the group noticed an orange skinned Genasi woman and a person in Dark Armour waiting to check it. An overwhelming feeling of discomfort went over Otto as he saw the armoured individual. He pointed them out to Shiek, who noticed that where the pauldron connected to the breastplate were 2 symbols on the rivets. They seemed ornate, catching the light, but the armour was old and beat up. It was hard to make out its exact details, but from his own experience with persisting beyond death, whoever was in the armour seemed to not be very alive.

They talked about having Vincent buy the telescope, visit the Baron and Yorhaza. With nightfall coming soon, the group decided to stay in. Otto reached out to Vincent  who asked who would own the telescope and after he was told that it would be him, he said he would check with his brother before sending a document for us to sign. With that and much more to do on the following day, the party headed to bed.