Sindaraen had the bracelets when he stopped by today—good. I'm glad we've got them—we'll probably need them on this mission.

Orders tomorrow—I'm dreading this trip out to the palace. PainDealer is in too good a position not to fuck us over. I'll bet Callous is going to be reassigned and replaced with someone we will not be able to trust. Someone of PainDealer's, I'm sure.

July 1—Post Briefing

FluidStreamer did most of the talking, though both PainDealer and SkinEater were there.

As predicted, we're being sent after the rakshasa.

Also as predicted, Callous will be reassigned.

I don't think any of us could have predicted what came next. Callous objected (not surprising)—he and FluidStreamer nearly came to blows, but PainDealer intervened and Callous settled back, though both Orcs were an alarming shade of red, and clearly both were holding their tempers by the thinnest of threads.

We were then told who our options were as replacements—and at the first name Callous went berserk. He leapt over the table to attack FluidStreamer. We had all been well and prepared to jump to Callous' defense before, and so his actions set off a chain—Simon leapt up after Callous, his sword half-drawn, while Mikhael hit both combatants with a color spray to no avail.

His Lordship, Sinew SkinEater also cast a spell, evidently directed only at Callous, for he fell to the ground and lay there unconscious, as our bracelets quickly told us.

It might have stopped there, for all of us but Simon, except for one thing. FluidStreamer kicked Callous in the face.

For that alone we need to kill the man.

Simon said something to PainDealer—offered to see Callous back to his church or some such, Sin sat in his chair helplessly (or perhaps hopelessly) shaking his head, Laurie stood in outrage, and Mikhael began to cast a Phantasmal Killer.

And what did I do? I sat in my chair, immobile, one hand clutching my sword but unable to move. My legs still ache from the tension of wanting to move, to defend my friend or at least make sure the kick had not done more damage to him than it seemed, but being as locked into my chair as if Lairunya had Sovereign Glued me there.

I could not even act to stop Mikhael, though I knew his actions would land him in the dungeons or worse if he completed the spell. It is just as well that Daniel was able to stop him.

Somehow, PainDealer restored order, Callous was removed and the briefing continued.

Sindaraen is also to be reassigned—this was something of a surprise to all, and I don't know whether the rest of us were relieved or worried at the news. Just one more way for PainDealer to weaken us, I imagine, though why Sin of all people...

The odd thing is that he's being replaced by a woman. A Parthinonian Naval Air Scout, whatever that means. And her we evidently don't have a choice about, though how PainDealer could be using her is beyond me, unless she's already working as his mole in their navy and is just being reassigned.

Lairunya and Simon have gone to the temple of Tyr to see what's going on with Callous, and Mikhael has gone over to let Morshasha know what's happened.

I don't know what Callous' punishment is going to be, but I'm willing to bet it will be grim—and Daniel's catching hell for this, too. At least, if the shouting we heard through the door as we left was any indication (and I'm sure it was—we all know from our reviews that he's the kind of leader that will blame Daniel for his underlings' failings).

[...]

Later -

Well, no one may have died, but Callous is to be demoted, and to receive 300 lashes for his behaviour.

And Daniel is going to take 50 lashes for our part in the situation. He did not know about either transfer, but he did know about this Cassia person. PainDealer did not want her, (she was not someone originally suggested as a transferee), but had to accept her, Daniel says, because she meets his nominal criterion for why someone should be brought into the group. (And it appears both clerics are people he would like to get rid of.) Daniel says that Cassia has no Orcish alliances as far as he knows, and that she is unlikely to have formed any. Her reasons for the transfer are twofold—one, that she's wasting her talents where she is, and two, for "personal" reasons. Lairunya pushed him on it a bit, and it turns out that she has a "romantic interest" in the Captain of her ship.

I wish Laurie had dropped it [...]

I can't sleep—I know the group is going to want a unified front when the punishments are doled out, but I don't think I'm going to be able to watch. [...]

"I hope you're pleased with yourselves," Daniel said with a touch of bitterness just before telling us what he was to receive. I'm certainly not—I'm ashamed. And I would take the punishment for him if I could—although I am long past believing the world is fair, still he should not be punished because we have little self-control.

July 2

Daniel and Callous took their lashes today, at the same time. FluidStreamer, or PainDealer, I'm not sure it matters which, they're both dead men anyway ... one of them made sure that Callous' were applied with an expert hand, one much like my own.

[...]

I think if Daniel's had been applied with an equally firm hand I would have lost it—the rage (and fear) would have been too much for anything to keep in check.

I don't know if Mikhael would have backed me or not—certainly I am going to have bruises on my arm where he grabbed me—I suppose it doesn't matter. All of us made it through—though Callous has several more days of this abuse, probably at the same hand. But the rest of us have to leave if we're to go to Brandon's wedding. Daniel will have one of us scry on him to make sure nothing untoward happens. I told him I can't—Sin and Laurie made noises about the things I've been & seen & done, but it isn't the same.

One other interesting thing that happened today—I went to Avatar's to see if he had any healing and he drew the shades and said, effectively, "Officially, no. But here." And handed me four healing and two extra-healing potions.

I asked what I owed him, expecting something outrageous for such obviously black-market goods. He said, and I quote, for I may never hear him say it again—"Nothing."

Even in my numb state I was shocked—but his next words explained such largesse. "Consider it a (favor, gift? I can't quite recall what) from VileRune to VileRune. Tell Mikhael we should have dinner when he returns."

Feeling like an errand boy I relayed the message. Mikhael's eyes widened a bit, but what he said boiled down to "I told you so."

I only wish he could see that it isn't the benefits that concern me. It's whatever hidden drawbacks there are.

July 9

And here I was thinking about what a quiet journey it's been.

Simon evidently landed us in the middle of a giant's playground when he told us where to camp—no matter, since everyone has their off days, I suppose.

Torg (the cleric of No Cha, our replacement for Callous) did give away that he has eyes of the basilisk, however. This has our commander worried, and rightly so, I think. Daniel has recommended that we memorize Gaze Reflection for the next little while, anyway.

July 10

Arrived at Brandon's well ahead of what the military anticipated. So we have slightly more than a month before we have to go meet Sin's ship and our new member.

Brandon was extremely pleased to see us—more than I thought he'd be, certainly. I must admit, I was hardly expecting to be greeted with a hug, of all things.

Torg was amusing—"If you hug me I shall be displeased," he said. I will have to remember that—though I doubt I know anyone it would work on.

August 14

The wedding is tomorrow—right now tales are being told of important events in the bride's and groom's lives. At the moment, the tale is being told of Brandon's rescue at the hands of the old group, before my time—Mikhael is trying not to look smug, but I will bet he's as worried as I am that the death of Brandon's father will come up.

He and Sindaraen had an amusing exchange today, while they discussed how best to present our gifts to the new king. I forget what Sin suggested—whatever, it was fairly outrageous, but not nearly as much as what Mikhael said in response.

"We're the Scintillating Company—we're understated."

I don't think anyone laughed, but I am sure that Sin shut up, and that Lairunya and I stared at Mik. He went on, oblivious, but the sheer audacity of our gift certainly contradicts that statement.

I don't believe we're giving the damn thing away, but I can't figure out what we'd do with it, either. Brandon had better be pleased.

August 15

He was pleased—beyond pleased, actually. He came down to thank us. I don't remember him being so demonstrative, but then, his voice was shaking as he spoke to his people afterward. Evidently we solved one of his problems for him.

August 17

Leaving for Pa Dorg was ... interesting. Mik, Sin, Lairunya, Simon and Torg were all hung over. I had expected this, and had some hangover remedy (equal parts blue flag, elderflowers, prickly ash bark ... and just a touch of goldenseal to give it the bitterness any good post-drunk cure should have).

After dodging maledictions from Mik, spells (off his robe) from Sin, and lip from Lairunya I decided Daniel had better try and dose Simon. He, of course, insisted he was fine. So, Daniel had him do some calisthenics. He did all right, at least until Daniel mentioned eggs...I wish I could say I felt sorry for Simon, but he brought it on himself.

So we traveled a bit slower than we might have otherwise, since Laurie and Mik only managed two Phantom Steeds apiece.

Oh—Callous and Torg both took their dosing quietly. I suppose I ought to take it as a good sign that he trusted me enough to take the dose, but I remain wary.

Aug. 20

[...]

Our trip to the inn proved less than informative. Mik did not want to come out and ask about this Cassia person, and couldn't quite seem to swing the conversation in that direction.

So, we remain in the dark about our new traveling companion.

Aug. 21

Met both Chad Sidane (the evident love interest) and Cassia today. Sidane joined us first, to answer any questions that we might have that would be rude to ask the lady herself. A tally of magical items was promptly requested (by Sin, of course) and was given.

I only see one reason to be concerned. She has a ring of truth. I can see where this might pose a problem—for Mikhael and Daniel in particular, and all of us in general. We'll have to see. Once we finally met the lady she seemed to get off to a good start with all of us. She did seem a little overwhelmed, but I think that will pass as she gets used to our orders, and to us.

We gated to our destination through Mikhael's father's mirror—they exchanged a few terse words, but I don't think there was one of us who wasn't in a hurry to get out of there. Not even Cassia, and she hasn't been listening to Mik talk about the man for years.

Mik just wandered by, muttering about changing the sleeping/watch orders. I'll see what he comes up with, I expect.

There was some muttering when we realized Callous was no longer with us in the context of our universal fetish for cleanliness (no Stoneshape = no bath). I don't know what Cassia thinks, but I did see Daniel shaking his head.

Later -

Mik has finally arranged things to his satisfaction—Cassia's to have her own room as long as we're using the spell, and Lairunya's to be her "buddy." He wants to pair me with Torg because, in his words, I'll "be able to take care of him if he tries to betray us." I'm glad he trusts me, but I can't help but hope it's needless.

[...]

Mik mentioned that Daniel is a little upset with our dismay at the lack of the bath. He says that Daniel said we should be more "professional." So be it—he'll just have to find some way of bringing us into line.

[...]

Mikhael has been a little concerned about the way Daniel has reacted to the addition of a woman to our group. He has gotten a bit more standoffish (I'm one to talk?) than usual, and more insistent on military propriety.

I suppose we owe him a little discipline, for what he suffered on our behalf.