32/08/5-10

Valeyo and Milivoj headed to the arena, where Valeyo prepared a Magic Mouth spell on her cloak. Milivoj offered him his rope of entanglement and he graciously accepted. He decided to inform Shiek of the event and he gathered the others and they began walking to the arena. On the way they saw Anica, now in breastplate with a magnificent shield embossed with the symbol of the crown and a beautiful rapier at her side. Some onlookers began tailing her on the way, and soon she arrived at the arena.

On her arrival, Valeyo told her she didn't need a shield and a sword just to fight little old him. She laughed, saying that he did challenge her to hit him, before heading into the arena. There she ordered one of the men to get a horn and another to announce that she is dueling.

The duel began with Valeyo dropping his coat on the ground and doing some stretches, before approaching Anica and trying to land a hit. She smacked his feeble strike away with her shield, before smashing into him knocking him down. taking pity on him, she offered him a hand which he took, trying to cast Modify Memory on her, but failing. For this, she smashed him into the wall with her shield. Right before getting up, Valeyo activated the Magic Mouth spell on his coat, causing the the message recorded to play. Thinking the voice was Dr Stanov's, Anica looked to the side and stepped back, giving Valeyo the opportunity to land a weak blow on her side with his cane. Proclaiming his victory Valeyo dusted himself off and Anica looked back to him in surprise. She conceded defeat and asked where his actual skills lie. Valeyo chuckled, saying that direct combat was not his preference, being much better in a supporting role. Eager to test them, Anica pointed at Milibvoj and told him to face off against her. Her intention was for Valeyo to support her, but due to a misunderstanding, he instead incapacitated her, helping Milivoj, who refused to strike her. After she was free, she struck at Milivoj knocking him back, with Valeyo healing him right after. Satisfied with what she had seen, she put side her wepaon and told Valeyo that they will be in touch, before heading back to the camp.

As they were leaving the arena, Cassini spotted a group approaching. Sitting upon his winged lion was Khert Drazhen Novosel. The Khert went past the arena and towards a cage that was coming out of the teleportation circle. In the cage was a face that they hadn't seen in a while - professor Theodore Berkinsail. The group was surprised and Valeyo went invisible in order to approach the cage and cast message. In the little time he had, he got in a quick conversation with the professor. From him, he learned that he had been taken out of town by someone pretending to be on his side, before being trapped in the demiplane. Now he was being charged with high-treason, him and another man called Ignacy. Valeyo's invisibility was about to run out, so he ran away, intending to help the professor in the near future. He returned to the others and told them of the conversation. Dubrovnik suggested asking Dr Stanov to help, but Valeyo though they should be more subtle, as the Doctor seemed sympathetic to the idea of preventing the start of the new king with public executions.

In the inn, they were talking about their encounters with Milivoj's father and professor Berkinsail. When Dubrovnik asked if Milivoj's father is violent, the group heard from the back a person ask "So who is your father?". They turned to see Voivod Meagak, standing behind them. She pulled a chair and sat at their table joining the conversation. Valeyo was the one talking to her and it became clear that she was one toe quickly become bored. She expressed interest in Zelik Chernov and Dubrovnik and boredom with her husband's business. She didn't care much for the fact that Zelik would be killing people in the arena, calling them "just prisoners". In Dragomir, there weren't any clubs or societies, that she was a part of, spending more time outside the city, in the immediate surrounding planes. Around a quarter hour into the conversation she noticed someone else walk into the inn and left the table to greet them.

The rest of the day, the group spent killing time. Shiek reached out to Dirlagrauna through the dagger, to ask about the possible creature that Midnight could have sent after them. She told him that they would have a hard time detecting a serpent of the fey, but that she seemingly agreed to watch out. She did however said that she wasn't very strong, not until he started to embrace the change. Shiek told her he wouldn't just go around swapping bodies and she told him that wasn't what she was asking for. All she needed was for him to swap bodies every now and then, after all, who wouldn't want to be king. Shiek told her that wouldn't be happening, he had no interest in kingship, he wasn't Omar Sharif. She suggested taking the Master of Stone's body, another rich and influential man, but he told her to be quiet. He preferred to live his own life, despite having been forced into another's body. They then spoke about what Midnight wanted from her. Drilagrauna said that she suspected her wish was to crack the dagger and consume Dirlagrauna's power in order to become more powerful, potentially powerful enough to defeat the queen. She did admit to never having met Midnight, as they didn't exist the last time she walked in a physical form. Soon, they concluded their conversation.

33/08/5-10

Valeyo went to Moratopp where he bought a bunch of components. He also talked to the Sky Stone gatherers about getting even more. For a 1000lbs they wanted 10000 gold, half now, half later.

34/08/5-10

After Valeyo returned they talked about the traitors who were to be executed. Milivoj mentioned that if this was happening in the arena, then it may be a trial by combat. If that was the case, the accused should be able to nominate champions to represent them. Valeyo pointed out that this would mean exposing their connection to the I.C.M very publicly and having to defeat Zelik Chernov. The party agreed that would be less than ideal, and Shiek pointed out that the Taina might send assassins after the professor afterwards regardless. At the mention of assassins, they remembered Viper, one of those sent against Vincent. Shiek said that he would keep an eye out for her and the slender man they had seen following them to Dragomir.

Deciding to think it over again, when they know more, they instead proceeded with Cassini casting Scrying on Axi. The spell took hold and the solar steel mirror showed a dark room and from it came the sound of muffles and murmuring of multiple creatures. The sound of taught chains moving against each other. He looked around and saw it was chains suspended from the ceiling, one of which contained Axi. There was no floor or walls, withing the limits of his sight. The creature in the cages were of all manner - fey, bestial, humanoids, but it did confirm Axi was alive.

35/08/5-10

They did also go meet up with Dr Stanov to meet and find out more details about the execution. It was in fact going to be a trial by combat and some were murderers, rapists and traitors. They asked about the traitors and were told the charges were the creation and distribution of bombs in the capital and the other was the planting and detonation of said bombs. One was caught after fleeing the capital and drunkenly bragging about their deeds in Krainasto and he then lead them to the bombmaker in Konskirav, where his workshop was. Valeyo asked him if he had visited the lab, which belonged to one Ignacy Polosky, not related to the Khert Polosky. Valeyo didn't know who that was and Dr Stanov and Milivoj explained it him. Khert Kynzhtit Rodopa Polosky was one of the highest-ranking Kynzhtit, being the general of Dragomir's armies. The conversation turned to Zelik Chernov, who Dr Stanov knew quite well. He was one of the few coming from humble beginnings and one of the most loyal soldiers. They floated the idea of a trial by combat and were told, in to uncertain terms, that it would be a death sentence for them to face off against Zelik. Dr Stanov considered himself amongst the most powerful Knyazshtit and even he would not challenge him. Valeyo asked if the doctor could speak withe the prisoners, pointing out that they knew for a fact one of them had been captured over 3 months ago, which conflicted with the idea of being caught a month ago. Stanov thought about it for a bit and said it may be possible, but also pointed out that they had Milivoj with them, who could probably get them access to the keep.