Chapter II
Chapter II
Despite the sudden departure of Malakai, the rest of Protopopolov's entourage resumes its journey towards the Horde capital. Upon arrival, they are greeted by none other than the Caliph himself, Liao the Handsome. As the Viscount is wined and dined and entertained by exotic dancers, Earnest, Litha, Octavio and Sylvie are pulled aside into a side chamber by a mysterious robed and veiled figure, which is revealed to be Zehra Ören. Octavio knows her to be a part of the Caliph's information gathering apparatus, but Sylvie also recognizes her as a former friend.
Made to agree to Contracts ensuring their silence, the Caliph himself enters and reveals that tensions are high in the city. A group known as the Children of Neith (adherents of the spider idol from the Farbeyond who seek to remove non-Sluagh influence from the basement) are planning to create an incident, namely the assassination Viscount Oleg Protopopolov.
The next day, the party visits the upside down city of Samaraknid so Protopopolv can purchase a rare albino spider. While there, they are beset by fountain blade-wielding assassins. Fending them off, they grab the spider and a very befuddled Protopopolov and make their way back down to Al Sehir proper. However, almost immediately upon reaching the ground they are beset by a throng of black-robed, bronze-masked spider cultists.
While Litha, Octavio and Sylvie dashed through buildings and alleyways with Protopopolov in tow, Earnest formed a one-Boggart rear guard that eventually defeated the mob. However, all was not well as the rest of city was also embroiled in riots. Luckily, Zehra arrived on the scene with an enclosed carriage. Dressed in liberated robes and masks, our heroes were able to escape the city thanks to Octavio's smooth talking.
It would be some fifteen months before most of our heroes would see each other again. Upon arriving back at Paso de Umbral, Earnest and Octavio elected to stay in the basement, leaving Litha and Sylvie to make the journey back up the Quivering Stairs with Protopopolov and an honor guard from the 2nd Glasburg Fusiliers.
Earnest, having become entranced with the Basement, found employment in Viletia (Boggart bodyguards having become fashionable there). Later, he accompanied Octavio back up the Quivering Stairs once he had earned enough money for a very special purchase.
Litha, after her return from the basement, rejoined the family business guiding travelers up and down the Great Staircase. Her journeys started getting longer, though, often venturing further into The Realm and The Hearth.
Malakai disappeared for a time into the Sawdust Wastes, tracking down rumors of other members of the Rosach family. Finding nothing but dead ends, her eventually returned to Paso de Umbral.
Octavio officially left the service of Caliph Liao (although he maintained close ties) an returned to academia, serving as guest lecturer and freelance tutor across the basement.
Sylvie also returned to her family business, keeping an eye out for new opportunities. She also kept in touch with Zehra Ören, passing along relevant information about the ongoing political unrest troubling The House.
The most momentous event of this time happened right after the turning of the new year. Octavio was dispatched to Paso de Umbral to investigate a strange series of attacks throughout the city wherein non-Sluagh folk (Fairies and Sprites, mainly) were being killed by something draining their blood. Enlisting the aid of Earnest and the just-arriving Malakai, the trio determined that the perpetrator was non other that Doña Luciana. While Earnest kept Tubo at bay, Malakai ended the affair with his lancetta. However, despite Octavio's best efforts, this caused Malakai to be sent to the notorious Deepdown Prison.