State of the Syndicate: Tova
I have not been here long, but the Syndicate has already proven far more interesting than expected.
My first days have been spent mostly in the feast hall, which seems to be as good a place as any to learn who is worth knowing. I have met Dahlia, who has excellent taste in tea and a talent for asking questions with a smile; Vincel, whose interest in magic may yet prove entertaining; Zaerius, who arrived with a three-eyed raven and speaks of the Raven Queen with admirable certainty; Mimsy, whose entrance alone suggested this place does not suffer from a lack of personality; and Solia and Fenris, both of whom have been remarkably welcoming.
I learned rather quickly that the Syndicate already has trouble of its own. Solia spoke of a goblin called Orlak, stolen artifacts, infernal dealings, and the attention of a Red Wizard of Thay. Apparently, being new does not spare one from being immediately invested in another person’s dangerous problems. Unfortunate for Orlak, I have decided I dislike him already.
Some conversations became more personal than I expected. A few here now know that the markings I carry were not originally made by my choice. That is as much detail as I intend to offer freely. They are mine now, and I have no interest in anyone treating them as wounds to be erased. Fenris, to his credit, understood this with more grace than most would.
Speaking of Fenris, I asked for training and he was kind enough to provide it. Twice.
I lost. Twice.
In my defense, he is enormous, heavily armed, capable of healing himself, and surprisingly quick once he starts moving. I did manage to make him say “ow,” which I consider a modest victory.
More importantly, the sparring taught me something. My magic is changing. Growing, perhaps. When pressed, I felt the spellfire answer more strongly than it has before, rushing through the lines on my skin with a force I could barely hold steady. It was exhausting, occasionally painful, and entirely exhilarating. I have a great deal to learn, but I am less uncertain of myself than I was when I arrived.
So far, I have found good tea, dangerous rumors, kind people, an irritatingly durable training partner, and at least one problem involving a Red Wizard that I would be very pleased to help solve.
All things considered, I believe I shall stay.
~ Tova ~
________________________________________________________________
Temoren Cairnwright Adventure Notes
State of the Syndicate
This month has been quieter for me, at least by Syndicate standards. No worgs. No desperate roadside rescues. No sudden wings in the middle of a fight. I am choosing to consider that progress.
Most of my time has gone toward smaller work: maintaining my tools, refining my maps, checking over Fetch, and continuing to build a better understanding of how the Syndicate functions when no one is actively bleeding on the floor. It is useful information. Less exciting to write down, but useful.
Although, I did get to fight off some giant as well as a couple of cyclopes and owlbears. That dropped me. Solia slid right up valiantly and saved me. It was an ordeal and I found these very strange bolts with dried leaches. I hope to gross someone out by using them in the future.
New faces continue to arrive. That seems to be a pattern here. The Syndicate has a way of collecting capable people, strange people, and people who are both. I met one white-haired woman with very striking markings across her skin. I do not know her story yet, and I have learned it is usually better not to assume. Still, she is difficult not to notice. Some people enter a room and become part of the room. Others enter and make the room rearrange itself around them a little. She may be the second kind.
Fetch remains helpful, occasionally too helpful. He has taken well to his tricorn hat and appears to understand that it gives him a certain amount of authority. It does not. I have told him this. He disagrees.
I do not have much else to report this month, which is not the same as having nothing to say. Sometimes quiet months are when the lines settle into place. I am still here, still learning the shape of this place, and still waiting for the next interesting door to open.
Preferably one that is not trapped.
Temoren Cairnwright
Getting stronger
