Sapphire:Sessions:20140705

After dinner, Rory continues organizing his notes and trying to determine the crystal coordinates for the manor gate. Trace reasons that since Danilon used the gate system extensively that there ought to be a directory of coordinates somewhere among his papers.

Chalker is interested in the beginning of Danilon's campaigns and the buildup of his army. He locates a comprehensive set of scrolls and bound books for the geopolitical situation of various lands in that era, with annotations by Danilon's researcher or perhaps Danilon himself. Chalker figures he will have to find Danilon's personal journals to glean campaign information, but he finds the annotations offer some insight into Danilon's thought process.

Trace studies the dead ice snake. Next to its venom sac he finds a small organ which concentrates mana. He theorizes that the snake's blood flowing through this organ enabled its unusually fast reflexes and enhanced the effectiveness of its venom. The mana in the organ is depleted, as though some event within the past day had caused the snake to use most of its reserve.

While Trace sleeps, he becomes aware of Cor, Mensep, and Jax. He gets Cor's attention "since he's been hanging around every day." "Greetings, Trace." "Greetings. I hear you have a... I don't know the word... past interest in the Venettians?" "Yes." "I guess they're all 'past,' I'm not sure." "Their descendants are still on Erethel, but yes, their culture and kingdom have passed." "What was their purpose? Did they have a purpose?" "They took magic and civilization to heights that Erethel is still striving to accomplish again." "I see." Cor's voice lowers, and his tone reflects melancholy and disappointment. "But they... some bad choices were made... and they reaped the consequences." "Will anything we're doing cause that again?" "You're at the point where you can begin that climb again. It's just how it's going to be made, or whether we just do the circle again." "I see." "Decisions that are being made will determine which way you go. And that is partially what's at the center of the discussion among the First Chosen." "In other words, those are 'the choices we have to make' that you were talking about?" "There are broad choices, and then there are all different nuances. The Venettians were, for the most part, a very honorable people. Of course, they made mistakes, and their mistakes led to the catastrophic fall of civilization, of which the echoes reverberate down the millenia." Trace nods as if he understands. Cor continues, "I sense you are a scholar who tries to go deeper into that time. Very little survives from that time. But what little survives is now coming back to the surface." "I know very little about it... at least, little that I recognize." "The things of the Venettians that are in protected places have survived. That which has been more exposed to time and tide has been swept away. Which is why I'm interested. You and your companions are expanding knowledge, pushing the Art, giving the Art... more prominence, more care... which is work I like to encourage and protect." Trace thanks Cor, who nods and steps away.

Rory spends an undisturbed night.

Chalker is again visited by the three circles: Mensep, Roo, Cor, Jax; Asseraah, Aaoo, Aup; Yasseph, Santash, Solash. Chalker concentrates on Santash, who appears as a female dwarf armed with a massive warhammer.