8. Silvershield Estate

In the mansion’s foyer they find Skie Silvershield flushed and beaming, making use of a handmirror as she makes adjustments to her hair. From the cloak about her shoulders, it’s apparent she arrived just before the party.

"Oh, hello again!" Skie can’t seem to stop smiling brightly. She puts a last strand of hair into place, then tucks away the mirror. "I’m so glad you’ll be staying with us for at least a little while. It’ll give us time to get to know one another!"

She glances down one of the hallways, then leans in conspiratorially. "I tried to make it back before dark but didn’t quite manage it, and Father abhors the thought of me traveling the city alone at night. You wouldn’t mind saying I arrived with you, would you? If anyone asks, that is…"

"Depends, lying isn’t good so you’ll have to walk with us for a bit that way it’s just not the whole truth." Dieter says back with a small laugh and a smile.

There’s a pretty good chance she got jumped on her way home. Unfortunately I don’t know her so I can’t tell if something is different

Dieter looks to Aiwë and Stella as if to share his laugh with them but quickly gives them the typical alarm bells look he has developed since travelling with them.

"Normally I wouldn't mind, but your father might not like where we've been. Speaking of, we need to see him and Aldous right now." She pauses without taking her eyes off Skie's for emphasis. "Right now. Koveras too."

While Aiwë speaks she taps her fingers against the armour on her thigh. Tap tap tap. Tap tap tap. The rhythm sticks in Skie's head and echoes her surface thoughts back to Aiwë. She braces herself for mental feedback like with the other 'gangers.

Aiwë casts Detect Thoughts.

Aiwe's spell slides gently over Skie's mind, and the young woman's thoughts echo back to the bard.

...dark alleyway... handsome, rugged smile... the feel of his lips on hers, the rough of his stubble...

Skie's obviously distracted, and is barely paying attention to the conversation.

'Hmm...? Oh, well they're probably in Father's study. Just down the hall there, and on the right."

The young woman practically skips off in the other direction, humming a bouncy tune.

(Performance: Aiwe recognizes the tune almost immediately, a rather bawdy tavern song that no musician in the Upper City would be caught dead performing.)

Aiwë laughs as she turns to her friends. "She's clean." If she is a doppelgänger she's slacking on the job. "Now the Duke." She walks to the door. "You keep him talking, and I'll give him an ear worm?"

She knocks on the door.

Dieter quickly scans Aiwë’s face looking for any hint of trouble. The cold pommel of Dieter’s dagger fills his palm as he gentle holds it in its sheath at the small of his back. He takes his hand away and closes it in a fist at the all clear.

"I don’t think she knows how close she is" Dieter says watching her bounce away "to the coming storm, to death. If we do our job right she won’t know."

Aldous answers the door. The young nobleman seems a bit drawn and haggard, but still manages to give the party a grin and Stella a wink.

"Father, these are the friends I’ve been telling you about. Dieter: a master swordsman from Beregost. Aiwe Blacksheaf: bard of Icewind Dale. And this," he says, taking Stella’s hand, "is Stella Melerelil: druid of Kuldahar, scholar of the firmament, and bearing a heart as kind and generous as she is beautiful."

He clears his throat and gestures to the man standing across the room. "Friends, this is my father: Grand Duke Entar Silvershield."

Entar cuts a regal figure. He has a short-trimmed red beard struck through with dignified lines of light gray, a pattern which continues up through his styled hair. While obviously middle-aged, his leanly-muscled frame tells of adventurous younger days. He stands with his hands behind his back, half-turned to face a large window.

At the party’s entrance, the grand duke strides over to the group and extends a firm handshake to each of them, along with a respectful incline of his head. The resemblance to Aldous is striking.

"Pleased to meet each of you. My son has informed me of your activities and discoveries of the past month. Baldur’s Gate is fortunate to have you in these tumultuous times."

(Insight: To Stella’s eyes, for a moment a single star hovers above the duke’s head - one exactly like the four from her last vision. Accompanying the sight is a feeling of correctness, of a puzzle piece sliding into a place. The star twinkles brightly, then fades from view.)

"Dieter, I think you need a vacation."

...

Aiwë gives an Elvish bow, then shakes his hand. "We didn't know what we'd be doing when we came, but I'm glad we could help." Again her fingers drum on her armour. Tap tap tap. Tap tap tap.

Aiwë casts Detect Thoughts, and scans the Duke's surface thoughts.

"I thought we are on one right now…?" Dieter says obviously confused

"Oh, are we? Because last time I said anything about it you said 'I'm hired to protect you.'" Aiwë's imitation is uncanny. "Sounds like you're working, Diets.

"Well your parents hired me through Tulfgar. I’m kind of like a subcontractor but that’s not the point. The point is that vacations seem very stressful… maybe we can go to a hotspring or a cruise"

Dieter pauses "sounds like you’re working Diets"

Aiwë rolls her eyes. "I'm only going to tell you one more time. Tulfgar told you that our parents hired you for a job because otherwise you wouldn't come. Our parents are paying you to go on vacation because they liked Tulfgyr and they're cool." She winces. "The fact that it ended up being so opposite from a vacation was not anticipated. I don't think. Speaking of..." She gestures to the door.

"Im even getting paid" Dieter mutters as they head into the door

Tulfgar got the friends and family discount

Despite her sullen, anxious mood, Stella can't help but smile at Skie. She was so...infectiously spunky and carefree. Stella's smile fades a bit as she wonders whether she should try to be more like that. Whether she could be more like that.At the exaggerated introduction, Stella can't help but grin sheepishly, forgetting her earlier thoughts. She blushes furiously and averts her eyes for a moment as the stars in them burn pink, but she forces herself to look into Aldous' eyes and then up to Lord Entar Silvershield's. She curtsies. "A p-pleasure to meet you, milord! Al...dous," she says, nearly uses his nickname in her slightly flustered state, "has been a wonderful support in more ways than one." The others might argue he had also been a liability, but...well, that was their opinion.Stella's eyes flick to above the duke's head and her eyes narrow slightly in confusion. When recognition hits, her face grows cold, and her eye-stars quickly fade from pink to a dark indigo. With some focus, she tries to force them back to violet.

The stars were people, not entities. Four stars...consumed and corrupted. Or...replaced, perhaps? And Aiwë was right. Lord Silvershield was a target. But if that star was any indication, he hadn't been compromised. Not yet, at least. How could they keep it that way? And who were the other three?

Stella sets her jaw as her mind begins to race despite herself.

Duke Entar's demeanor is polite, but also perhaps a bit standoffish. From his mind, Aiwe gleans a sense of disappointment: …so timid… Why must he always fall for the fragile ones? She must not be the one driving this group forward...

"Aldous says the Iron Throne is behind all of it - the Iron Crisis, the brooding war with Amn... As one of the four Grand Dukes, I can assure you a fitting reward for putting an end to their machinations. The sooner, the better. What do you need to make it happen?"

Aiwë's face sours. Timid? Perhaps a reasonable adjective, but she doesn't like how he thought it. But fragile? And Stella drives them onward as much as anyone! She speaks up before her glower can be misinterpreted by Dieter.

"The Duke's himself." She hovers on his thoughts just a moment after she says this to gauge his reaction just in case, then turns her focus to Aldous for good measure. Tap tap tap. Tap tap tap tap tap.

Stella blinks, eye-stars finally settling on violet. Well. That answered that question.

She looks to Aiwë for confirmation that he can be trusted, or at least that he's not compromised. She tilts her head, confused at her glower, then then turns back and speaks up.

"We...have reason to believe the Four Grand Dukes and their stations may be primary targets of the Iron Throne." If what Aldous told her was true, he wouldn't be trusting of her magics and divinations...Perhaps he'd trust the warriors in the group instead. "We just returned from the Seven Suns, another of their targets, and...well," she glances to the others, to give them a chance to explain the doppelganger situation, "we discovered some disturbing things."

...of course I'm myself. What is she...

bard-spellcaster-divination-outrage

Entar's eyes flash. "Are you aware that using mind-reading magic on a Grand Duke is a crime punishable by death?"

Careful... I need them...

"Peace, we had just returned from the Seven suns office to find them taken over by doppelgängers. Jhasso and some of the workers were trapped in the basement being used as cattle. Luckily we managed to neutralize the threat and restore order.

While we respect your authority I won’t tolerate threats of violence on my friends, you need us. To be frank we could just return to Icewindale and let the coast sort out its own business" Dieter cautions. The duke is a powerful man but Dieter could care less, He has killed more powerful warriors and wizards.

"What will it be?"

Aiwë ignores the Duke for a moment, focusing on Aldous. After the briefest pause she confirms, "Aldous is himself too." She looks at the Duke, calm and unintimidated.

"It's alright Dieter, we're subject to his laws here, and looking into someone's thoughts is a violation." She meets his eyes easily. "I trust you'll see the need, however. I'm sure you can imagine the damage that could be caused to the city by someone impersonating you, let alone to people we care about." Aiwë's gaze flicks to Aldous as she folds her arms.

"I have vetted Skie, but I still need to check Koveras. I recommend having key members of your staff reviewed as well. My services are available if needed."

The duke tilts his head back slightly. "Doppelgangers..."

He looks briefly to Aldous, then back to the party. "To be clear, what you have accomplished thus far is both impressive and appreciated." His red brows furrow and his voice carries a hint of heat. "But the rule of law is a critically necessary structure that Baldur's Gate is built on. I need to understand you can play by the rules." His tone calms and he holds up his hands entreatingly. "I will speak to Dukes Belt, Eltan, and Liia Jannath and ensure you get what support you need, but it is imperative that we do things the right way."

Entar meets Aiwe's gaze. "Your assistance in verifying my staff is most welcome. I insist that we give each of them the chance to willingly submit to your mind-reading. Should any refuse, they will be dismissed from my service."

Aiwë bristles. "We rushed from a massacre fearing we would find another here, or else be ambushed in your office. I didn't check the local laws first, but even if I had, I think we handled things the right way." She folds her arms.

"We're not mercenaries to be wrangled or vigilantes to circumvent. We're friends here to help, even though we've been attacked at every turn. Even though our parents need our help upholding the law at home." Her voice held scorn for the idea that the Gate's reliance on laws was unique. Sure, Icewind Dale was different and many there had fled the laws in their own lands, but if anything the laws there were harsher. The consequences were greater, when to break them meant you couldn't survive.

"Check our references if you like, but we're not here for a job interview. Give your orders for our next step, my lord, and we will follow, but don't patronize us." Maybe after her talk back, timid would look appealing.

Aldous moves next to Aiwë, facing his father. "Since the moment my friends arrived here they've had deadly assassins after them. Why should we expect them to bend over backwards for every little rule, especially when it's our lives and city they're trying to save?"

He stands as tall as Entar. "There should be parades in the streets for them, and you're berating them about how to do their job!"

Aiwë reddens at the second implication that she is careless with the law. As a daughter of rather renowned Tormish disciples, and one herself if not so formal or well-known, her companions know the Silvershields have hit a nerve.

Entar raises an accusatory finger at his son. "The Aldous I sent south months ago would never have spoken to me in such a manner. You're meant to support me in my position, not undermine it!" He straightens his embroidered coat. "Pay mind this sudden formation of a backbone doesn't see you tossed in jail, boy."

The duke squares his shoulders as he addresses the party. "You may be my son's 'friends', but you are not mine. In light of your service, I forgive your invasion of my mind... but not your presence in my home." He specifically doesn't meet Stella's gaze, staring straight over her head. "I insist that you find other accommodations for your stay in the city."

Dieter stands with Aiwë "we will be off." Dieter says with a polite bow. He turns to leave but before fully committing he adds "see that your house is in order, they will be coming for you shortly if they haven’t already, may your ancestors guard you well."

That could tip them off if any of them were already replaced. They had to build rapport, though.

Stella nods deeply. "Of course! We–" she starts, but Aiwë interrupts.
"But Aiwë, we *do* need—" she starts, but Aldous has already begun speaking.
She raises a calming hand. "Aldous, it's fine, I think we should—"

Entar points at Aldous and makes his accusations.

Stella's eye-stars flare orange and her gaze hardens. How could he say those things? Didn't he *want* his son to be able to have his own mind? Especially if he'd take over the house someday. "Wait, but–"
Stella's face grows cold, the orange blaze of eye-stars extinguish to indigo, and her shoulders slump.

No, no, no...This was all going so wrong!

Stella's eyes start to flicker between indigo and orange as her thoughts churn between despair and outrage.

Why...why did Aiwë have to say speak so brashly?! Being asked to follow the local laws was a perfectly reasonable request! And they needed every ally they could get. How were they supposed to help now?! And how was she supposed to...

She glances towards Aldous and her eyes linger on him for a moment.

Stella's eye-stars settle on a burning orange as she then glares at Aiwë. She sets her jaw, fists clenched, a subtle frost creeping across her knuckles. Best not to make any more of a scene...

She closes her eyes, turns to Lord Silvershield, and curtsies slowly and deliberately, then turns and strides briskly out after Dieter without another word.

Aiwë watches the situation devolve around her with a clenched jaw. The Duke seems to care more about the rule of his word more than the rule of law. His hypocrisy over Stella's 'timidness' and Aldous' backbone infuriated her.

When Dieter and Stella leave, Aiwë stays. Accommodations for the night is one thing, but their business isn't finished.

"You asked what we needed to end the Iron Throne's machinations. If you are still interested in our assistance, we need a place to stay that is safe from their assassins and divinations. We also need a way to be sure we're communicating with you as we work, and not an imposter. Stella makes the final decisions for our group," Aiwë emphasizes, "but I imagine that if that can't be provided, we will return home to Icewind Dale." It might not be a bluff, depending on how their conversation went.

"Since I wasn't clear before—I swear by Torm, liberator of the orcs, patron of my tribe, we uphold the law." Aiwë raps twice on her hip. "But I understand that you may not need us now that young lord Silvershield is home and Baldur's Gate has been warned of the danger."

outside the room Dieter stands next to Stella "Sorry Stella, I know it might seem obvious but I have your back okay… no matter what, We’re a team." Dieter says to Stella trying to offer some kind of consolation. "If you want me to go back in there and fight that guy I’ll do it, heck I’ll even talk to him." he jokes trying to lighten the mood."

As Dieter starts to talk, Stella closes her eyes, teeth still grit. Nobody should be fighting...!

Quote:

"...heck I’ll even talk to him."

She pauses and the barest hint of a smile sneaks its way onto her face. After a few moments, she manages to speak. "Thanks. That...actually means a lot."

She inhales deeply then sighs and groans. "But it's not Lord Silvershield I'm upset with..." she says, opening her eyes and glowering at the estate ground beneath her feet. "We're at his house, and in his city. It's perfectly reasonable to request we follow the laws moving forward now that we know what they are. She riled up Aldous too! Why is she so...petty?!" She holds her hands in front of her with fingers curled like claws.

Stella turns to Dieter and looks up at him, eye-stars a blazing orange. "How are we supposed to protect him and help if now he won't even work with us?! One of the dukes has probably already been compromised...they'll be tipped off, if he just tells them!" she exclaims.

She huffs, averts her eyes and mumbles with a mix of bitterness and abashment. "And there goes any chance to court Aldous...not that I had much of one anyway..." Her eyes flick side to side as the stars within shift to a mix of pink and indigo.

Dieter doesn’t say anything, he just tries to listen the best he can. He listens even when Stella’s eyes open burning like two suns. When the storm fades to her embarrassment Dieter decides to act

"Stella, you can’t court Aldous because you practically own him. It’s like you’ve cast some enthralment magic on him the way he follows you around. can you honestly tell me that he’s just going to start listening to his dad and not pursue you? I’m surprised he hasn’t proposed already.

I’d make some sort of star analogy so you’d understand but until a few months ago I thought they were the spirits of my ancestors in the sky but apparently they’re…. You? I guess or at least partly?" Dieter shrugs exasperated. From a strategic and Tactical viewpoint Stella had won the land war in Aldous’ heart.

Aldous storms out a moment later, as angry as any of the companions have ever seen him. "I can't believe he-" He growls in frustration and looks as though he might lash out at the surrounding furniture.

After a deep breath, he steps in front of Stella and takes her hand gently. "I am so sorry for... that." He looks down at the floor. "This is all my fault. Our talk didn't go particularly well, I kept prodding at him to acknowledge me as my own person but in the worst ways. If I hadn't tested him so, he surely would have had more patience and tact now."

The young nobleman exhales sharply. "Well I'm certainly not staying here either, not after that. Unless..." He looks to Stella and Dieter. "Should I go back in? I can apologize, try to smooth things over."

The duke's glare follows Aldous as he leaves the room. Once the young noble's gone, Entar passes a hand over his face and sighs deeply. When Aiwe speaks up again, he seems surprised to find her still present. He's silent as she speaks her piece.

When she's finished, Entar closes his eyes and leans against the back of a stuffed chair. Eventually he speaks. "Blacksheaf, was it? Lady Blacksheaf. You must find me terribly obtuse. And I shan't blame you for that." He peers at her from under lowered brows, seeming to have aged a decade. "I let my temper get the better of me. It comes in the family you know, as surely as the red hair." He gestures vaguely to his own head. "It seems I've played my frustrations out on you and your group, who surely don't deserve such treatment."

The duke straightens up and adjusts the sleeves of his coat. "I tore a rift in our relations before we could even begin getting to know each other. Much less understand each other. It's hardly behavior befitting a Grand Duke." He meets her eyes with his own. "Thus, I seek your pardon, and ask that we begin anew. If you've had enough of me tonight and would prefer to try again in the morning, I understand." He clears his throat. "I hardly expect you to accept my hospitality, given how things have gone, but nevertheless I offer it to you: please, stay the night here at the estate. The rooms are already made up, and it's late. Tomorrow, should you prefer other lodgings, I'll pay for your stay in one of the nicer inns."

Aiwë regards him quietly. "To govern is to bear many burdens. You must be under a lot of stress, and we didn't exactly make a good entrance. You have my pardon. I hope I can have yours as well, for my quick reaction to hurt pride." She makes another short bow in the elven style.

"Thank you for your offer. It will be easier to ensure your safety if we stay here, but Stella will make the final call. I will discuss with her." She rises.

"It's late, but I would rather not wait until morning to discuss some basic next moves. I still know you're you right now. It will save us some paranoia in the morning. Tonight I will vet your staff according to your specifications, and then what should our next step be?"

Quote:

"Stella, you can’t court Aldous because you practically own him. It’s like you’ve cast some enthralment magic on him ... I’m surprised he hasn’t proposed already.
...
I thought they were the spirits of my ancestors in the sky but apparently they’re…. You? I guess or at least partly?"

"Own him?" she cringes, taking his words a bit too literally. "N-no, I don't know any enchantments–I specifically chose not to study them. Though Aiwë did say Aldous was planning–Wait," She stops and squints, eye-stars instantly shifting to green. "Me...a star?" She puts a finger to the corner of her mouth and raises an eyebrow in thought, completely forgetting her previous train of thought. "Oh. Yes, I suppose some call them Celestial bodies, and I do have Celestial blood...there is a spiritual connection there...But many astronomers say they're actually like the sun, but–"

Quote:

Aldous storms out

She blinks and tenses as he takes her hand and averts her eyes, suddenly reminded of her insecurities about Aldous. She relaxes a bit as he speaks, though, eye-stars settling between indigo and violet.

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"I am so sorry for... that." He looks down at the floor. "This is all my fault. ... If I hadn't tested him so, he surely would have had more patience and tact now. ... Should I go back in? I can apologize, try to smooth things over."

Her instinct was to tell him it was fine, but, well, it wasn't...It seemed a lot of them were on edge today. It seems Dieter, of all people, is the only level-headed one today.

"...Apology accepted," she says with a slow nod. She reluctantly lifts her eyes and eventually meets his. "Before I left Kuldahar...I had a fight with Papa—not a physical fight, of course, but I was going to leave without another word. I would have, if it weren't for Mama. If the last things we said to each other were harsh words from bitter tongues...I would have been regretting it ever since. I know it's not exactly the same, but," She frowns and nods. "I think returning to make things right would be best."

Aldous exhales and nods, then turns back to the duke's office. He hesitates before opening the door, however, and puts his ear to it instead. He blinks in surprise, then looks back at Dieter and Stella with a grin. "They're talking, and I think it's going well!."

He straightens and moves away from the door. "If something in there is going right, I don't want to interrupt." He gives a rueful chuckle. "It's my fault things went so poorly in the first place."

Aldous shakes his head and claps Dieter on the shoulder, then takes Stella's hand once more. "Well. Who's hungry?"

Duke Entar nods. "I am glad we're able to come to an understanding."

He takes a seat in one of the padded chairs, and gestures for Aiwe to do the same. "We must avoid war with Amn. I fear that even if you were to storm the Iron Throne's offices here in the city and put all offenders to the sword, the wheels of war have already begun turning. I believe I can put a stop to that, but it will require the cooperation of the other Grand Dukes. Fortunately you've been working with the Flaming Fist, and Scar. He's Duke Eltan's right hand, and a good man. So Duke Eltan is certainly already aware of the situation and has been taking action."

Entar rubs his mustache as he thinks. "That leaves Dukes Liia Jannath and Belt. She's an accomplished wizard, and he's of the Lathanderian clergy. I need you to verify that they haven't been compromised and replaced. Mind-reading seems to be the best method." He pulls a sheet of parchment from a nearby drawer and begins writing. "This writ will tell them that I myself have submitted to having my mind read, and encourage them to willingly give you permission to do the same to them." He makes a second copy, then rolls each of them up and seals them with wax and the imprint of his signet ring. "Once I know they're safe to meet with, I can work with them to keep Baldur's Gate from war."

He gives Aiwe the two writs, then goes on. "As I'm sure you know, Rieltar Anchev also needs to be dealt with. The Grand Dukes can't act openly against him until we have incontrovertible proof of his actions." He shifts in his seat. "You've brought his adopted son to my home. Can Koveras be trusted? If so, he's our best source of information on Rieltar, and the best chance of procuring solid proof."

"I’ll wait here for Aiwë, you Two should go on ahead." Dieter suggests

Aiwë sits when invited and accepts the writs.

"In light of the doppelgänger issue I need to vet him now that we've been separated, but yes. Koveras can be trusted. Rieltar is no more than an abuser to him. Koveras has been working all day on making connections and getting info. I'll share what he's learned in the morning. It should get us closer to nabbing Rieltar."

The duke nods gravely. "Let us hope Koveras is himself, then."

He checks the clock on the wall - something no doubt easier to come by with the Gondsmen inventors in the city - and rises to his feet. "I will arrange for my staff to all come meet us, one by one, here in my office. I'll explain just enough of the situation that they're able to give consent, and then you'll mind-read them."

His lips turn in a wry half-smile, and for a moment he looks just like Aldous. "And then I will retire for the night. It's been a long day."

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"They're talking, and I think it's going well!."

Stella perks up then relaxes further. She blushes slightly, feeling bad for getting so angry at Aiwë for, well, getting angry.

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"It's my fault things went so poorly in the first place."

"Oh, you can't claim all the credit," Stella wants to say but decides it would be rude to further berate Aiwë, who was already repairing things.

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Aldous shakes his head and claps Dieter on the shoulder, then takes Stella's hand once more. "Well. Who's hungry?"

The day had been so busy, Stella hadn't realized just how hungry she was. Had she eaten anything since breakfast?

She squeezes his hand and gives a weak smile, eyes starting to sparkle with yellow stars here and there. "Starving."

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"I’ll wait here for Aiwë, you Two should go on ahead." Dieter suggests

She glances at the door. "Okay," she nods. "And...thanks, Dieter," she says with another weak, but genuine smile.

"see you later" Dieter says. His stomach was also beginning to tear itself apart. He looks to the left and right then spots a staff member. "Could you help me? I need two meals brought out to ….. my balcony. Preferably venison with garden vegetables but we will make do with anything you have.Dieter asks, he slips the worker a gold coin for their inconvenience. He didn’t know where to take the food for Aiwë and him that Stella and Aldous wouldn’t go. Dieter didn’t like Aldous, in fact he strongly disliked him but he was Stella’s friend and she liked him. Despite Dieter’s professional feelings Aldous wasn’t a bad person by any stretch, He was just an incompetent mercenary and warrior.

Aiwë stands and bows. "While you collect your staff I'll see Koveras and discuss our accommodations for the night with Stella."

Aiwë exits the office to find Dieter waiting for her. "Oh hey. Why did you guys leave? Come on, let's go find Koveras and the lovebirds."

Aiwe and Dieter find Koveras in his assigned room. The half-orc is sitting at a desk, leafing through a handful of papers. Surprisingly, he's wearing a pair of spectacles, which he carefully takes off. "You're back. What happened at the Seven Suns?"

"Oh, you know. Blood, bedlam. The usual." Aiwë leans against the wall and drums on her crossed arms with her fingers. "Calmer here, I hope?"

Detect Thoughts again!

Aiwe skims over the surface of Koveras' mind. There's weariness there, plenty of it, but also a flow of turbulence brought about by her words. ...blood... so red, pooling at my feet... The line of thought is interrupted by a wall of calm, collected rage. Rieltar. I will make him pay...

Koveras' voice carries no sign of the conflict within. "Calmer, indeed! I was surprised by a maid who entered, but I think I startled her more." ...the swollen, bruised face of a human woman. Mother... He chuckles. "Aside from that, it's been rather boring." RIELTAR. A garrote, just like he used on her...

Aiwë hesitates, and gives Dieter and Stella an uncertain look. It seemed like him, but also something that would be easy for a doppelgänger to learn from him. Rage and bloodlust seemed to be inherent to them as well.

"That's a relief. Do you know anything about the Iron Throne and face stealers? Doppelgängers? They had taken over the Seven Suns. Eaten most of the staff and taken their places." As she talks she scans his surface thoughts for something more unique.

...doppelgangers, yes...

Koveras nods grimly. "They've been used in Iron Throne machinations before, but I never knew Rieltar to use them." The mental imagery accompanying Rieltar's name is... detailed. "He must have brought them in secretly, or after I left." I left. But I WILL return...

Aiwë looks at him with a frown. She is pretty sure, but needs to be very sure. She speaks in Orcish. "We double checked Aldous and the Duke, and I'm doing the staff next. Can you tell me anything to convince me you're not one of them?"

Koveras cocks his head. "You tell me, Blood," he responds in Orcish. "Presumably if I were a face-stealer, I'd be good enough at my job you'd never catch me. But I've heard they don't bleed the same way we do." He takes out a belt knife and pricks the back of his hand. Sure enough, there's a driblet of red blood, and the skin around the small wound retains its coloring.

The half-orc raises a questioning eyebrow. "Good enough for you?"

Aiwë blinks at the wound. "Huh." She draws her own blade and does the same to her hand. "I hadn't thought of that. Presumably you would be, but we've already caught a few." She smears the blood across the back of her hand and thumps her chest. "Glad you're you, Blood."

Aiwë shows the writs to the group. "Duke Silvershield has invited us to stay here while we work. First up tomorrow: Visiting two more Dukes to confirm they're themselves as well. They can choose the blood method or the mind-reading method. I prefer the first, honestly." She looks around at her friends.

"Thoughts?"

"If the dukes are willing, and if Koveras is right, that seems the most reliable method," Stella agrees. "I can help heal them if they get too upset about the idea of drawing blood. We might need to verify that's a consistent tell, however..."