SPQT -- Crestquest: The Appian Way

July 1 - By the grace of Orus, Alfredus is with us again. The parents of the kidnapped infant are paying the costs, and talk of rewarding us. As if we needed a reward for botching the job! They are taking steps to protect the boy, but I don't know the details - it's better that we don't. However, I have discussed with the young senator some of my ideas concerning vocational education government jobs for the poor, both as a good in itself and as an essential safeguard for the nation.

July 2 - Robyn raised. Uncle goes back to Tarantium tomorrow. He is looking tired and old, and talking about removing us all to some remote location. I'm not positive he shouldn't. I don't believe the Emperor, young and vigorous as he is himself, understands the strain his demands place on those of his subjects and advisors who have served the empire since before he was born. I suggested to Uncle that, while the staff should certainly stay, there was no reason for him not to retire to one of his remoter properties, say to supervise the building of his nexus tower, only to be contacted through us or his children when we cannot possibly deal with the matter ourselves.

July 3 - Our neighbors were again pressing on the subject of a reward. I have no objection to their giving Gaius some token of appreciation; but the rest of us are agreed that all we did was exert ourselves to help a neighbor in distress and that paying the costs of the Raise Dead spells is ample recompense. (I'm not 100% positive Tamara concurs in this opinion wholeheartedly, but the only thing I've actually heard her muttering is that those babysnatchers better not come within her reach again.)

Decimus is back. Uncle had sent him back to Arador to use the scrying device in order to determine the location of the remaining brooches and daggers. By a handy coindidence, one set is in the possession of a party of adventurers heading east toward Brigantium along the Appian Way. Uncle has authorized us to spend up to 15,000 solidii to obtain it, so it should be a routine expedition. He also notified me that, in light of recent events, he has decided to expand the confidential staff; to which end, I should expect a young man with a letter soon.

Soon enough, as it turned out. As I was in my sitting room this afternoon writing letters, a certain Corvus was announced, bearing a letter of introduction. A presentable enough fellow, late of Senator G's staff; no reason given for his change of employ, so no doubt it's nothing to his detriment. We have some acquaintances in common. (Gossip snipped.) I was unreasonably disappointed that he's a plebian; of course a patrician wouldn't need to seek outside his family for employment, and equestrians have ample opportunities in the current job market. His specialty is intelligence gathering, which no doubt accounts for the combination of apparent openness and actual reserve with which he conducts his conversations. Tamara, finding him vague on the subject of why he left Tarantium, exerted herself to draw him out, but so far he has fielded her easily. It may be amusing to see how that contest progresses; but Tamara has been given her own private mission and will not accompany us tomorrow; and possibly, not to Analubia. It depends on how long whatever it is takes. She enjoys being mysterious on the subject so much, I would think shame not to be tormented by curiousity. I daresay it's something to do with her particular connection to the League; otherwise, why should she operate solo?

Or almost solo. Gaius is disappointed not to be going with us tomorrow, but I've assigned him to Tamara until we come back, and given him and the Sunshine Boys specific parameters as to what she is and is not entitled to order them to do. Knowing her, he may have a more exciting time with her than with us.

July 4 - So far, an uneventful ride in the country. Corvus's fund of small talk serves his discretion very well. It's impossible to tell what he thinks of us, though I believe Alfredus amused him on more than one occasion.

July 5 - I had expected to meet our party today, but Decimus assures me we have not passed them.

July 6 - So much for routine missions; however, we seem to be more or less back "on our game" as Alfredus says. Decimus spotted the party we sought, and I detailed Corvus to approach them with our proposition. Decimus insisted on giving us all a touch of the Bull's Stength wand, though I pointed out that, in my case, it would certainly be a waste. Primus was sent to eavesdrop from the long grass in the ditch, keeping an ear on the bulk of the party while Corvus dealt with the man who responded to his hail. Things went amicably enough, with Corvus and the leader agreeing to a price considerably under what Uncle was willing to pay, but more than they would have gotten in Brigantium. However, when the leader went back to confer with his associates, Primus informed us that one among them, a girl bound to her saddle, protested that they could not sell the items as they belonged to her.

This complicated matters; therefore, when Robyn walked up to identify the goods, I walked up, too, ostensibly to provide the money, which I could just as well have handed to Corvus. The leader in consequence returned with two of his companions, as well; one armed with a mace, whom Decimus had assumed to be a cleric though he had no holy symbol, and a fighter with an ax. Robyn vouching for the authenticity of the items, it became necessary for me to ask to speak to their prisoner. They were stubborn about it, though I indicated several alternatives, to the point that it became clear that they had something to hide and I began to wish I had cast sanctuary on myself before riding up; only it makes people so nervous when they spot you casting spells before approaching them, and after all, they might have had a legitimate prisoner. Certainly we've had occasion to haul around deservedly bound people before now! In the event, I was glad I had not enclosed myself in sanctuary, as when the mage - the man with the mace - got fed up and decided to attack, he did so by aiming a color spray at me. By the grace of Orus, so childish a trick was ineffectual, on me, but might have had some consequences for Robyn or Corvus.

It took me a moment to call up my armor, and in the meantime I was gravely inconvenienced by their ax-man, who kept hitting me in the shoulder, so that the combat was half over before I could cast Cloak of Righteousness. Corvus, though unarmed, did an impressive amount of execution - apparently there's a spot in the back which is particularly vulnerable. I am informed that this is variously called a "rabbit" or "sucker" punch. In any case, in combination with Robyn's swordwork, it sufficed to fell the mage, which was a relief, since Decimus was barely within magic missile range. Our foes' reinforcements were delayed by the necessity of dealing with their prisoner, which was fortunate for us, as it gave time for Alfredus charge up with his lance and skewer the ax-man. I disengaged from him just in time to permit this, and finally cast my spell. About this time Robyn lobbed the leader's head off, which seemed an opportune time to state terms. I indicated that so long as they left the mage and the prisoner, the survivors would not be pursued. The ax-man seemed reluctant to leave his mage, but saw reason as Decimus and Alfredus both positioned themselves strategically.

I made free use of my curing wands. Corvus, who had disappeared by means of a ring after being struck by the ax man, was in dire straits, and Robyn and I were both wounded; but Robyn had retained possession of the dagger and brooch, and on the whole we had managed well enough. The prisoner was only a girl, whom they had battered into unconciousness to keep her quiet during the battle. Her name is Erin, and she was a scullery girl in a tavern in Valencia when these ruffians came to take her inheritance from her. The dagger and brooch came to her from her grandfather, who had confided also some secret concerning their use, which was why they had troubled themselves to bring her along. She was the focus of competition among groups of treasure-seekers when they kidnapped her in Valencia, and in the course of that rivalry her employer was beaten senseless and, she fears, her place of employment burned down. I have promised to scry her friends at the earliest opportunity. To her credit, she seems more frightened on their account than her own.

We covered the leader's remains as best we could, so as not to alarm travelers, and said a few words over them before hieing to the nearest inn and requesting the services of the provincials. The mage is in their custody and they are taking care of the body. We have dined and bathed and Erin, poor child, is sleeping already as I write this. When I told her we would take her back to Brigantium, scry for her friends, and help her sort out what she had best do next, she proposed that first we seek out her kidnappers and scratch their eyes out. I told her I thought it likely they would follow us and give us an opportunity to scratch out their eyes at leisure.

Erin presents a number of problems. Her inheritance is a valuable commodity, and we certainly will not cheat her of it; however, I'd as soon tie steaks to her legs and throw her into a bear pit as give her 10,000 solidii and turn her loose in the world. There's also the matter of her grandfather's knowledge. Her interests must be represented in the forthcoming expedition and she must have some choice in her own fate, but I wish she had an adult she knows to advise her. I have explained that Robyn has a similar inheritance and is in effect, if not fact, her cousin.

I hope this will make her feel less alone in the world.

I asked Corvus how he liked service with the Simpronii so far. He said it was interesting. Certainly boredom is not usual among us.