The city of Cothon is abuzz with activity and excitement! Preparations are everywhere underway for the upcoming masquerade of spirits--masks of many colors and varieties are hung at market stalls, along with cloaks of keshchal plumes, while strings of varicolored paper lanterns are hung from eaves and gables. Meanwhile, the city is astir with gossip, talk, and rumors--not least of which is the wild speculation following the return of a large party of adventurers earlier this week:
For indeed earlier this week, Durham of the Ringing Anvil had organized and led an expedition of fellow adventurers, including Sesel and Bartholomew of the Survivors of the Tel, among others, forth and into the sea caves of the Ocean's Throat, and returned thence through the Gate of Mourners on the southeastern side of the city--leading a troupe of oddly dressed characters, which included two bound and wild-eyed humans, and one very irate and heavily tied Kzin Hero. This party deposited some of its (ill?)-gained lucre at Cothon-Under-Star before heading back to the Kantor Kabljauhof. Word spread shortly thereafter that the three prisoners had been pirates--perhaps including a captain, even?--and that nine of the others had been prisoners, freed by the party's antics. Anything further is mere speculation, at least until full reports are made ... (and the recap posted in due time)
Zaytar's Campaign and the Colossian Oracle
The campaign contra-pirates has stalled of late, according to the word of the merchants coming through town. After some initial setbacks, it seemed the Hanse-fleet was finally able to deter the Luwian raiders and their allies from intercepting shipping--but any attempt to follow this up with actions against pirate bases-of-operation have only found the pirates already-fled to some other base ... At any concentration of force by the Hanse, the Luwians scatter and flee, slipping away over reefs and shallows in their lighter vessels; and meanwhile, wherever the Hanse fail to watch, the pirates strike.
(And no shortage of rumor, especially at the developments noted above, suggest that something more than luck keeps delivering the Luwians away from the vengeance of the Hanse's fleets!)
Suffice to say, the gains thusfar have been meager; and so Captain-General Zaytar has himself returned from campaigning with the announced intent to supplicate the priest-keepers of the Colossian Oracle. For indeed, it was bandied about even at the beginning of the campaign that it was ill luck to begin such an enterprise without first entreating the Oracle and hearing its verdict--is it auspicious? does something forbid it? what sacrifice is best offered for luck? etc.
And so now, the Captain-General is organizing a proper entourage at the Kantor Kabljauhof, and rich offerings as well, all with the intent to entreat the Oracle and hopefully to set the campaign on a proper tack for success. But the preparations must needs take some weeks, not least because of the imminent beginning of a certain masquerade-festival:
The Masquerade of the Immortal Dead
The first ghosts have been spotted already moving incorporeally through the city--strange ethereal insects that move through the cityscape of Cothon-Gadeed without impediment by walls or flesh, appearing and disappearing at random. Their passage will last another two weeks, and during this time, the populace of the Dual-Cities will engage in carousing, various pranks and jackanapes, and ultimately come together for the celebration of a holy-day commemorating the ancient defeat of the Immortal Columns of the Doulii Klackons by Dalan II.
These ethereal creatures are said to be the spirits of the Klackons slain in that ancient war, but being of the Immortal Columns, they were unable to truly die, and so are forced to march on campaign for all eternity (nevermind the fact that the creatures do not at all resemble Klackons, other than being insectile--but surely the Other World twists the spiritual forms of the dead?). Given the sentiment of this festival, commemorating an ancient defeat of Klackon enemies, the Xolda tend to make themselves scarce during this time (and Ix and the other Free Klackons are certainly impossible to find).
It is also widely known that the sorceress Mormaera Yrasi holds court at a symposion in her manor during this festival--a perfect time for the Mistress of the Azure Veil to hold her own masquerade, entertaining a variety of masked-grotesques in the guise of horrible insectoid-warriors, warriors in elaborate war-masks, etc.
For the next two weeks (ending 4/3 and 410), because of the ethereal goings-on and general carousing, only certain types of downtime will be possible. Carousing, of course, can be indulged in as normal, and social downtime can be pursued; but anything requiring study, concentration, careful work, etc. is impossible in the carneval-like atmosphere that now pervades the city.
Furthermore, there will be special downtime activities available during the next two weeks, to be detailed in a post specifically covering the Masquerade of the Immortal Dead ...
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