Razo's Research and Sesel's Sparring

 Research into the Nature of the Mechanical Bird Nassr (week ending 11/21)

While on the one hand turning over in their hands the strange metallic shell of a kyni falcon that is the artefact Nassr, seeking its secrets, Razo and Kenawi also plumbed the library of Cothon-Under-Star for any clues as to its authenticity as the "Nassr" of the legendary Hamdi the Voyager. Certain clues presented themselves, and a means to "awaken" the bird and to send it forth as a spy to scout the way ahead of its "wielder" were discovered.

Also, a more obscure account of Hamdi before he became "the Voyager" was discovered by Razo during this search. The phrases "Green Door" and "vampires" are floated about the tavern of Cothon-Under-Star thereafter, whispered after eavesdropping on Razo and Avin in close conversation, but the meanings are obscure, and the pair are chary with their information.

(the question as to Nassr's nature remains open to further investigation)

Meanwhile, following an expedition's return from the Necropolis of the Tel al-Safina, Razo's research seems to have turned to other interests:

Research into "What is to be placed into the Castle of Dalan's Ship?" (week ending 11/28)

First, a "brief" primer in history; Razo surely knows this sketch of history, and Fidelius has likely heard a romanticized version in the epics and tales that he learns for his profession:

When the city of Tsurr alQadim was only gathering her strength in youth, and yet the Tel alSafina was already old (and that is a deeper history, not to be delved here), there was a revolt against the king of Tsurr, one Tukult Filibnulktar III. This Tukult III. was slain in battle; and in his place was raised up one who claimed ancient and direct descendance from Dalan the Ancient, Dalan the Pure, who had battled alongside the Gods in their First & Final War against the Demons.

With such lineage, this new king styled himself Dalan II. (though there had never been any King Dalan I. of Tsurr, for Dalan the Pure was ancient even then, far older than the city's founding). And he went on to become a warrior-king, terrible to his enemies and munificent to his friends, and he broke several cities along the coast and yoked them into an alliance.

And so it was that when the Blind Legion of the Doulii Klackons marched their Immortal Columns into the land, it was Dalan II. who defied them, and turned them southward in their defeat, and thus he earned the epithet "the Great", though he was also called "the Blind" down through the legends.

Thus it was that Dalan II. sired the Dalanian Dynasty, which lasted down through many generations, and included the ruthless Dalan IV. who used the Aegis of the Demon Queen to such evil throughout the kingdom and raised such ire against himself.

And (before his dynasty) at the height of his power and hubris, Dalan II. is said to have sallied against the Demons of the Fortress Moon, and that this is what broke his power and allowed his son to usurp the throne. Accounts differ--"marching through the gates of the Moon" or "sailing up the River of Stars"--but it's not entirely clear that this legendary is not actually just a tale told to signify Dalan II. as Dalan the Ancient, and to unite the twain in the epics, so that when Dalan strikes down Xiphus, it is unclear which of the two is meant ...

But as to Razo's research:

Amongst the stacks of the library at Cothon-Under-Star, among the codices and folios of notes, devoted to alchemical formulae, the science of fermentation, the distillation of perfumes and essences, and various primers on the Klackon language (and including a collection of knotted silken Strand-records), there are some few works of literature and history ...

One such is the authoritative Commentary on the Eyes of the King by Ion Bangluub, in which the author corroborates or debunks what he can of the semi-legendary epic The Eyes of the King.

According to Bangluub, the literary conceit that Dalan II. gave one Eye to the Shipwrights, to aid in the guiding of their galleys, is attested in ancient carvings of Dalan II. clearly depicted with one eye, and with the ships of his fleet around him bearing an eye exactly the same in style as his own upon their prow (as ships are still so-painted today).

And as to the subsequent "myth" that Dalan took his second Eye to give to his phalangites, "in order to meet the enemy not eye-to-eye, but hand-to-hand and knife-to-knife," Bangluub again gives credence, supported by the fact that the Blind Priests of Dalan were always twain, and that they were paired with the names of the dual-Soufets for a time, until the decline of the Hero-cult of Dalan II., when his royalistsic implications became "impolitic".

The Guild of Shipwrights and Oarsmen still maintain their devotion to the Cult of Dalan, though on much smaller scale than when it was the state cult of Tsurr alQadim; they are said to continue to possess the Eye of the Fleet given them by Dalan II., which, perforce, belongs in the Castle of the Ship of State. Lesser altars represent the Eye as a specially-built lantern shining its guiding light for the true navigation of ships. The Eye is placed into its altar especially at the end of the Stormy Season of Dirac's Sea to inaugurate the next fleet of trade galleys and to guide them on their way.

The other Eye of the Phalanx is said to have been lost; some say during the assault on the Fortress Moon; more "grounded" legends also abound, claiming it to have been lost whether to another City, or to various tribes of Klackons, artefact-obsessed Alkari, warmongering Kzinti, or even lost to the depths of the Elder Trilarians ...

(this question remains open; but the library at Cothon-Under-Star has no further answers. The Guild of Shipwrights or the Klackons of the City present obvious, though possibly expensive options for furtherance; and perhaps there are more adventurous avenues?)

The Friendship of Sesel and Xixachxit (week ending 11/28)

First hired by neophyte adventurers a couple of weeks ago, to join an expedition into the Great Spire of the Attine Klackons of the northern slope of Tel alSafina, Xixachxit, called by humans "Ix" out of simplicity, desired merely to do a deed, make a wage, and return to her tribe warrior-blooded.

But she was called out through the interpreter Torkol to remain a while at Cothon-Under-Star and to spar a little with Sesel, and to go through her katas with him ... and reluctantly she agreed, but much to her surprise, she came to enjoy leading this two-armed man through katas meant for four-armed Thri-Kreen free-warriors.

He was sure with his sword, and even though he lacked the full "round" of arms, he was humble in his mistakes and ever eager to learn more. And so during this last week, Ix and Sesel again stood forth in the little courtyard of Cothon-Under-Star they've agreed to use as their sparring-space. Ix took up her arms, literally and figuratively: four seaxes each held in its own hand, while Sesel had only his sword in his one hand; yet, when Ix went at her human cousin--Torkol translates the endearment term somewhat clumsily--Sesel is able to block and parry nearly every stroke, almost as if he has invisible antennae as sensitive to air-vibration as the Klackons' own ...

Worthy opponent, Torkol translates for Sesel afterwards as Ix chatters away. Doj would see. One blade meets four. Shall two meet eight? Ix the free-Klackon chitters laughter? pride? excitement--Sesel will meet Doj. Sesel's edge, Doj's edge. Doj will kill or Doj will teach.