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Campaign of the Month: October 2010

Wyrmshadow Campaign Setting

The Current in... A Burden of Prestige

Session C-5

Matt Mann as Reks Relagia
Vincent Pecoraro as S’zeves V’destrii
Marc Greco as Borgamat Cadash
Michael Graziano as Varen Gilles
Danielle Callan as Maerlyn Zau’Ombra
Andrew Kilduff as Moon Duskbane
Christine Scott as Eilora Thalonia

We rejoin our heroes as they rest in the Current safehouse. Moon Duskbane and Maerlyn Zau’Ombra, upon hearing of the possibility of a Drao Plague, depart to meet with a local Current medic named Mysra, hoping to gain some insight from her and ensure that this mysterious disease was not to cause for their recent physical ailments. Auleak departed with the two of them in the earliest hours of the morning, returning before most of the Current party had awoken.

Already awake, as he never truly slept, was Borgamat. Borgamat stood at the window, curtain drawn ever-so-slightly by the pommel of his broadsword, eyes scanning the streets for any sign of further danger, be it Kobold or Order or anything other. One by one the rest of the party awakened, and they began to discuss the many avenues they had at their disposal. Their goal, of course, was to clear the air with the Order of Draconius and prevent an all-out war from erupting between it and the Current. The recent events in an otherwise peaceful and secure Drogynia were likely adequate to spark just such a volatile reaction.

First among those events was the Kobold Uprising, and rumors were already circulating that the Current may be to blame, either directly colluding with Nykathia and her Kobold menagerie, or indirectly by facilitating their access to Drogynia. It was, of course, a ridiculous notion to Reks and the rest of the Current. Nothing in their past behavior would suggest such a thing as likely or even reasonably possible. However, other events in Drogynia may have loosened the already shaky reputation of the Current among the Order’s higher-ups, leading to such speculation attaining a stronger and stronger influence over their actions.

The second major event was the death of Sir Pac Sapius and two of his finest, most faithful paladins at the Barracks Breakout of Kelain three days earlier. The evidence against the Current was overwhelming. Recent inductee S’zeves V’destrii had personally slain Sir Pac, a well respected and quite famous member of the local Order, aided by Yadykath and Auleak, both long-time Current members. Kelain had in his possession a Locket of Recall containing evidence proving that Sir Pac had deliberately planned for Kelain’s eventual rescue to draw Order blood and incite anti-Current sentiment within the Order. However, it was unlikely that such evidence would be accepted at face value without some sort of corroboration.

Finally, the S.N.S. Haiku, a Shidi freight airship on which Reks, Moon, Mae, and Varen had stowed aboard, was the target of a mysterious theft. Precious cargo considered vital by Mame Solenara Calbane of Imperia was stolen, replaced by crates of useless metal scraps. Plastered on the ship itself and even on some of the junk-filled crates was the “C” symbol of the Current, etched into the wood and emblazoned by a fiery purple glow. This purple illumination was strikingly similar to that which S’zeves V’destrii was capable of creating. Further damning, Current member Varen Gilles had killed a dock laborer during his escape from the scene of the theft.

Perhaps, Reks thought, they would have stood a better chance against the Goblins in the east after all.

However, their course was set before them, and they were determined to remain in Drogynia and clear the Current of these charges, one way or the other. Varen had sent out a blanket request to all Current information sources in the area, asking for information regarding the one surviving Paladin from what was now being called the Barracks Bloodbath. That Paladin, according to Kelain, was in on Sir Pac’s plot and, as such, is the only evidence other than his Locket of Recall that would clear S’zeves of any real culpability. If they could find this Paladin and convince him to testify about Sir Pac’s entrapment scheme…

A knock at the door drew everyone’s attention. A single sheet of paper was slid beneath the door, the name “Varen” written across the top, a short, simple message written on the bottom. Varen read it aloud:

“Got info for you. Meet at Drogyn’s Bar – Merchant’s District. Two hours. – C”

After a brief discussion, it was decided to leave the safe house in small groups, each taking different routes to Drogyn’s Bar, each arriving at different times, in order to avoid rousing suspicion. A lump grew in S’zeves’s throat. Drogyn’s Bar again. It was as if there was a noose around his fate and the other end of the rope was tied to that place.

As the note was for Varen specifically, he and Reks arrived before anyone else. They found the bar mostly vacant save for the bartender, two tables toward the front with one patron at each, one man at the bar itself, and a small, secluded table in the corner. Reks took one look and knew that was the table they were looking for. He didn’t know the two people specifically, but even without the hand gestures, Reks knew a Current member when he saw one. One of the people was a half-orc in tarnished silver armor, a large, gleaming halberd perched against the wall behind him. He was nursing a steaming-hot mug of some noxious orcish brew and glancing in their direction. The other person was a stunning half-elf woman, obviously a spellcaster of some sort, rolling a glass orb between the fingers of her left hand while casually displaying the Current’s hand gesture with the other. Reks and Varen each met her hand signal with their own, then crossed the room to join them at their table.

Varen and Reks took a seat at the table, and Reks immediately set upon the half-elven woman with his charm. She politely acknowledged him, but seemed far more focused on the task at hand.

The half-orc introduced himself as Kohvar H’vahl, and his attractive companion as his friend, Eilora Thalonia. The two of them had gotten the word that Varen was looking for information about a Paladin, and they thought they would do a little snooping and see what they could dig up:

“The guy you’re looking for is named Eamon Casill. He’s being held up as a hero because he’s the sole survivor of the Current attack on the Order barracks, and now he’s the poster child for the Anti-Current trend within the Order. Thing is, the guy doesn’t seem too eager to lump himself in with the Anti-Current crowd.”

Eilora divulged that Casill was spending most of his time at the grave of one of the other fallen Paladins, Adelai Kestreńo.

They noticed that more of their group had begun to make their way into the tavern. S’zeves walked forward with Kelain and Borgamat while Auleak and Yadykath waited toward the front, each sitting at different tables flanking the entrance. The bartender began to visibly twitch as the group crowding around the table in the back corner grew larger and more diverse. Kelain quickly went over to him, smiling widely, and placed a fifty-gold note in his hand, telling him to buy a round for everyone, as it was his friend’s birthday. The bartender seemed to buy his story, and Kelain returned to the table, his absence going completely unnoticed by the rest of his team.

Kohvar asked S’zeves whether he was the one who killed Sir Pac, to which S’zeves answered an affirmative. However, S’zeves began to explain his rationale. Kohvar stopped him from going too far, saying he hated that sanctimonious blowhard as much as anyone, but this was bringing too much heat on the Current. Kohvar said that he had many friends within the Order and, as a result of some strange Current member’s crime, now he was guilty by association and they weren’t talking to him anymore. It was making things too difficult to deal with, so he made the trip from Eastport to Drogynia to see what the big deal was first handed. Suddenly, a strident voice called in to the tavern from the street outside:

“Varen Gilliss! This is the Order of Draconius! Come out with your hands up and your weapons down!”

Varen swore, saying that his name was pronounced “Guiles, not Gilliss.” Then, from across the table, Eilora’s ears twitched and her eyes beamed. Varen caught her staring at him and shook his head, gesturing an impatient “WHAT?” with his eyes. She bit her lip for the moment, but the time for questions would come soon. For now, the Order had come to serve an arrest warrant on Varen, and they had to get him and S’zeves out of that tavern immediately.

Reks asked the bartender if there was a back way out of the building, but the man was obviously more frightened and angry than Reks could handle. Kelain stepped in and, with a few smooth words, convinced the bartender to lead them to the building’s hidden exit to the alley behind the bar. Reks shook his head as he left, wondering aloud how Kelain always seemed to get his way. The rest of the team followed him out except for Borgamat, Auleak and Yadykath. They decided to casually stroll out the front of the building and buy the rest of the group a little time to get away.

In front of the bar were a pair of Order warriors, Alistaire and Willis, who immediately asked Borgamat, Auleak, and Yadykath if they had seen a man matching Varen’s description in the tavern. Not taking their word for it, the two Order guards strode into the building to scour it for any sign of Varen Gilles. Behind the building, Reks and the others had collected. It was decided to split up into three groups.

One group, comprised of Kelain, Kohvar, and Varen, would go to find Eamon Casill, hoping he would be found at the graveside of his fallen friend, Adelai Kestreńo. Another group, including S’zeves, Auleak, and Yadykath, would travel to the Drogynia Airship Docks and attempt to secure documentation that would let them know what the cargo of the S.N.S. Haiku was intended to be. They hoped that, knowing that the Order was after, they might be able to either find the missing cargo or at least get an idea how to prove their innocence of those charges. Finally, Reks, Borgamat, and Eilora re-entered the tavern to speak with the two Order guards, hoping to talk some sense into them and, failing that, get some insight into whether or not they were wasting their time even trying to reason with the incensed Order of Draconius. Reks intentionally told Varen not to tell him which group he was going with so that the two guards within the bar, most likely deception-sensing Paladins, would not be able to glean any insight as to Varen’s location during their discussion.

Reks, Borgamat, and Eilora re-entered the tavern to see that the two guards were now questioning the bartender, his nervous eyes twitching, his mouth fumbling for words, great torrents of sweat pouring down his receding hairline. Reks crossed the tavern to take some of the heat off the bartender, gaining the guard’s attention. The older of the two guards recognized him immediately as “Relagia, out of Shidi Ma” and inferred by their proximity that his two companions were also members of the Current. The older, more wizened guard asked Reks and his friends to have a seat and answer a few questions. Reks said he would do so, as long as they would entertain a question of his own. The younger guard, Willis, thought it an impetuous request, but the older one, Alistaire, shook his head and smirked, saying that he was game.

Reks asked them why they were looking for Varen Gilles. Willis looked to Alistaire, who nodded and said: “Varen Gilles is wanted for the murder of a dock worker two days ago at the Drogynia Airship Docks. He is also a person of interest in another case involving stolen property.” Reks asked that the other case was about, but Willis interjected that they already answered his question and it was his turn to answer some of theirs. Reks conceded the point and made good his promise to do so. They asked Reks and the others whether they knew Varen Gilles, and they answered honestly that they did. They asked whether they knew his whereabouts and they answered honestly again, saying that they did not know, but they were in his presence recently.

Alistaire asked Reks if he knew the penalty for abetting a fugitive, and Reks said that he had no intention of abetting a fugitive at all. Willis scoffed at that statement, saying:

“Do you honestly expect us to believe that the next time you see this character, you’ll either turn him in to the nearest Order officer?”

Reks said he had no intention of doing so, but that didn’t constitute abetting a fugitive. He promised that if and when he saw Varen, he would relay everything Alistaire and Willis said to him and encourage him to “do the right thing.” Willis began to protest, but Alistaire said “No. That’s really all we can ask of this man.” Alistaire then placed his fingers to his ear, nonchalantly positioning his Communication Crystal earring against his ear. He listened intently for a few moments, then said: “We’re en route there now.” Willis looked at him and asked what it was. He replied as they walked away that some guards located the “one with the purple glowing arm”.

As Reks, Borgamat, and Eilora exited the bar, they noticed that the two guards were heading in the wrong direction, as S’zeves’s group was heading south and Alistaire and Willis were heading northeast. Reks smiled and said that it was a ploy to get them to run after S’zeves and warn him, allowing them to follow Reks and his group right to their target. Instead, they opted to go to the cemetery, using an erratic travel route, splitting up and rejoining one another twice along the way, just to ensure that no guards followed them along the way.

Meanwhile, at the cemetery, Varen, Kelain, and Kohvar located the grave marker for the fallen Paladin, Adelai Kestreńo. Eilora’s assertion was spot on. Standing in front of the grave, shaking his head and softly whispering a prayer between sobs, was the sole survivor of the so-called “Barracks Bloodbath”, Eamon Casill.

Kelain approached Casill and offered him his condolences on his tragic loss. Casill thanked him, then suddenly became aware of who it was he was speaking to. Kelain was the prisoner that his friend Adelai had died to prevent escaping. Sensing a sudden turn against his favor, Kelain reminded Casill of Sir Pac’s true role on that day, of how he dragged Casill and the other two Paladins, including poor Adelai, into his scheme with him. Kelain asked whether perpetuating such a lie, becoming a hero under such false pretense, was befitting the memory of Adelai, or the duty of a sworn protector of Justice.

Varen and Kohvar added to Kelain’s argument as well, and before long, Casill had crumbled, admitting that he was no longer capable of hiding the horrible truth of Sir Pac’s plot. As Reks, Borgamat, and Eilora rejoined them, they saw Kelain placing a comforting hand on Casill’s shoulder and heard the Paladin say:

“You are right… I will reveal Sir Pac’s plot and my own deception to the Order. I… owe it to Adelai to restore his honor, even if it comes at the expense of my own.”

Reks asked Casill if he could meet with Archbishop Vikter Van Drake, offer him his confession personally, and give him an olive branch message from the Current asking for a face-to-face meeting between Reks and Van Drake. Casill sheepishly revealed that he was to see the Archbishop later that day anyway, as he was set to receive an award for valor as a survivor of the Barracks Bloodbath. He said that he would instead tender his confession to the Archbishop and implore upon him to grant the Current group his counsel.

As Cassil left to make good on his word, Kohvar said that he felt like he accomplished enough in Drogynia, and he had to move on to handle a few personal matters. He bade Reks and company good luck, reminding him that the reputation of everyone within the Current rested in their hands now. He then kissed Eilora on the cheek, thanked her for her help with this situation, and left the group. With that, Reks found a Little Bird and sent out a message to Auleak, telling him the location of a Current-friendly hideout near the Temple of Draconius in midtown Drogynia, and asking him to meet them back there when they were done with their part of the day’s activities.

On the opposite end of the city, S’zeves, Auleak, and Yadykath found their way within two blocks of the airship docks, learning upon arrival that their trip was a wasted effort. The Order had cordoned off the entire building and the surrounding area. There were dozens of guards within view, and many more were entering and exiting from the dock tower itself in a steady stream. S’zeves slumped to the ground, his back to the alley-side wall of a building in the shadow of the dock tower, and forlornly asked whether it would be better if he just turned himself in to the Order. Auleak and Yadykath looked to one another silently, then each of them shook their head. Auleak specifically said that it was a stupid idea, that it would do nothing to stem the anti-Current sentiments within the Order, and they would just have to rescue another Current member again and kill a few more Paladins along the way.

Suddenly, a patrolling Order guard noticed Auleak’s large frame in the shadows of the alleyway. As he moved to investigate, S’zeves and Yadykath saw the guard’s approach and ducked further into the shadows. The guard began to question Auleak, asking what his business was in this area, informing him of the ongoing investigation, and telling him to move along. Auleak, being in a stubborn mood already, told the guard he would move along on his own time, and to mind his own business. The guard was about to protest when Auleak made a threatening, intimidating gesture. Amazingly, the guard backed down, crossing the street and continuing his patrol. S’zeves smiled. Somehow, Auleak always seemed to get his way via violence.

Just then, a Little Bird landed on Auleak’s head, hopped down to his shoulder, and delivered Reks’s message.

A short while later, the entire Current team was reassembled in the basement of a bakery owned by another member of the Current. Kelain received word that a number of Current members were planning a violent protest during the ceremony commemorating Eamon Casill as a hero and officially denouncing the Current. Of course, that was not something anyone wanted to happen, and as Kelain was perhaps the best among them at convincing others to see reason, he departed to make contact with the disgruntled Current groups plotting the protest and attempt to get them to show some patience and hold back on their plans. In the mean time, S’zeves re-iterated his desire to just turn himself in, and Reks mirrored Auleak’s sentiments that it would only serve to further strengthen the Anti-Current sentiment.

Suddenly, there was a sound of muffled argument above their heads in the bakery, an abrupt collapse of a body, then another, and heavy footsteps from armored boots on the hardwood floors overhead. A small group ascended the rickety cellar steps to appear in the bakery’s storage room, and before long, they discovered the presence of several Order Paladins, led by none other than Hector Van Houten. One of the soldiers said: “No sign of them so far, Hector”, and his voice could be heard in response: “Keep looking. S’zeves is here. Count on it.

Varen, Reks, and Yadykath set up an ambush as any of the guards entered the storage room, whereas Borgamat prepared to launch a full frontal assault. S’zeves had another idea, however. He stepped in front of the guard nearest the storage room door, placing his hands in the air, and said: “I want to speak with Hector. He needs to hear what I have to say.” The guard looked to his left, obviously making eye contact with Hector in the next room, then nodded and turned his gaze to stare into S’zeves’s eyes. He stepped to the side, letting S’zeves stride into the main room of the bakery. He could see the bakery owner and his assistant knocked cold on the floor, flour still wafting in the air from the sudden conflagration of Paladins. Standing in the center of the room was Hector Van Houten, S’zeves’s first real friend in this world, now a man determined to be his enemy to the last.

Hector was different than he was when S’zeves last saw him a few days earlier. He was still wearing the same style of armor, but instead of the bright blue and gold fabric, his armor was silver and black. S’zeves attempted to reason with Hector, telling him that Pac forced his hand and set his own men up to die. Hector would have none of it, insisting that S’zeves took his kindness, his generosity, and finally, the best friend Hector ever had. S’zeves, realizing that blood would once more be shed, asked Hector what happened to his armor.

Hector replied: “I am an Avenger now. FOR PAC!”

The battle was met, and it was intense. During the fray, several of Hector’s squad of Paladins were met with the rest of the Current crew. Ascending the stairs to join them, Auleak moved to aid S’zeves while Eilora stayed at the top of the stairs lobbing her Storm Walk power at the Paladins. S’zeves denied Auleak’s help, saying that he had to deal with Hector personally. Hector said that he could not have agreed more, using his newly acquired Sequestering Strike to teleport himself and S’zeves down into the basement, where they could continue their battle personally. S’zeves tried once again to reason with Hector, but his words only served to further infuriate him. Fortunately, Hector’s anger-fueled outburst gained the attention of Eilora, who was standing at the top of the steps. She dashed to the bottom and unleashed her Chromatic Orb spell, which damaged Hector and left him dazed. This opening allowed S’zeves to take advantage and turn the tide of their battle in his favor. Hector was defeated, his Paladin companions slain, and S’zeves now had a very important decision to make.

Hector, if left alive, swore that he would continue to hunt S’zeves down to avenge the loss of Sir Pac. There was no way to convince Hector of S’zeves’s innocence. In his eyes, the blood staining S’zeves’s hand could not possibly be mitigated. Hector would also make life miserable for everyone within the Current in his continuing pursuit of S’zeves. Finally, Hector made it clear that, regardless of whatever evidence he showed about Sir Pac’s motives, he was Hector’s best friend, and Hector would stop at nothing to see him avenged. Borgamat prayed for guidance from the god of death, Veil. Moments later, a small black crow landed outside the window, pecking to be let in. Borgamat allowed the bird into the room, wherein it flew to a rest in front of Hector and began to let out a series of damning caws. S’zeves said he was sorry to Hector. Hector said Vespa would certainly finish what he had started anyway, causing S’zeves to stammer and pause. He wondered… would he have to kill her too?

S’zeves took Hector’s life, not with the blade of his sword, but with his bare hands. He broke Hector’s neck and laid his body down gently, closing his eyes with his fingertips, and began to weep for his fallen friend.

Back upstairs, Kelain rejoined the team as the baker and his assistant were helped back to consciousness. The deaths of these Paladins would inexorably lead to even more trouble for the Current, effectively negating all their efforts to quell the growing Anti-Current movement within the Order of Draconius. Kelain came up with an idea, but involved the baker and his assistant making a tremendous sacrifice. Reluctant, but ultimately willing to do anything to help the Current, the baker agreed to allow Reks, Kelain, and the others to burn down his building with the Paladins and Hector within, hoping it would look like the Order members rushed into the burning building to save the occupants only to be trapped within themselves and die in the flames.

The time had come to proceed to the Temple of Draconius for their meeting with Archbishop Van Drake, assuming that Eamon Casill had made good on his promises. En route to the temple, Varen noticed Eilora’s continued observation of him, and he asked her what it was she was so infatuated with. She asked: “Did you say that your name is Gilles?” to which he responded in the affirmative, thankful that finally, someone pronounced his name right. She was studying his eyes and he became frustrated even more than he normally was. She stammered, obviously struggling for the right words to say. She asked whether he was related to Narys Gilles from Imperia. He nodded and her eyes widened, a faint shimmer of tears welling in her eyes.

Finally unable to sedate his distaste for this woman, Varen asked her “What the hell are you looking at?”, and Eilora replied “I… I think I am looking at my son.” Varen wasn’t sure how to react to that, except to say, as politely as he could muster, that he thought that was both stupid and impossible in equal measure. Eilora couldn’t hide her disappointment at his reaction, but she decided, for the moment, to let the issue slide. Frankly, she couldn’t think of how to proceed with the conversation she knew they had to soon have anyway.

As they approached the temple, a preliminary scan of the area revealed that Casill had indeed come through for the Current. Around the back of the temple, a pair of doors led to a courtyard, where several Order archers stood perched high upon the surrounding walls, and standing next to an impressive Paladin was none other than Archbishop Vikter Van Drake himself. Reks and Kelain stepped forward to make the introductions, tendering their evidence against Sir Pac as he patiently listened. Eventually, after having heard all their testimony and weighed the evidence, including the confession of Eamon Casill, the Archbishop was ready to render a decision regarding the Current’s culpability in the deaths at the barracks three days earlier.

He found the Current innocent, as Sir Pac had entrapped them into a situation that was designed specifically to incite fear and hatred toward the Current within the Order. Upon Reks’s mention of Nykathia and the “Dark Lady”, Vikter grew tense and unsettled. He leaned over to the Paladin next to him and asked him to contact Tarrik Martok immediately. Almost everyone in the group suddenly became quite starstruck at the premise of meeting the legendary Tarrik Martok. However, S’zeves didn’t know who he was, and Varen and Eilora glanced at one another, Varen almost double-taking to see a similar emotion across Eilora’s face as his own upon Martok’s name being mentioned.

Reks asked the Archbishop whether or not he should also contact his father, Daythin. The Archbishop suddenly realized who was standing in front of him, greeting Reks as if an old friend, then giving condolences for the loss of Reks’s mother, Kurai. Vikter said that Daythin probably wouldn’t come if he knew that Tarrik would be there, as Daythin held Tarrik accountable for the death of his wife. Reks said he disagreed with his father’s assessment, but to his surprise, Vikter actually agreed with Daythin to a point:

“When you chase after a tornado, then you get swept up into the tornado, then your doom is of your own making. When you pull others toward the tornado with you, knowing what is at stake and doing so nonetheless, their doom is of your making as well.”

Vikter said that if he had lost his own wife under similar circumstances, if his children had to grow up without their mother, he would likely feel the same kind of resentment as Daythin did. Reks never thought of it in those terms, and began to rethink some of the attitudes he had toward his father over the years. Ten minutes in the presence of the Archbishop and Reks was already getting contemplative.

Vikter reminded them that there was still the matter of the death of the dock worker at the Drogynia Airship Docks two days ago. The evidence in this case, unlike the previous one, pointed clearly toward a guilty verdict. He asked that the Paladin place Varen Gilles under arrest. As the Paladin moved to place shackles upon Varen’s wrists, Eilora suddenly stepped in the Paladin’s way. The Paladin looked to Vikter, then told Eilora that obstruction of justice was also a prison-worthy crime. Eilora then shocked Varen and everyone else, including the Paladin and even Vikter, by claiming responsibility for the murder of the dock worker. Varen asked her: “What the hell are you doing?” She replied, weakly, “Saving your life, I pray.”

Vikter decided to allow the matter to rest until morning, instead offering the Current a meal and the temple’s hospitality for the night. He insisted that Varen and Eilora not leave the grounds, and the Paladin further requested that they all remain within the Temple until they decided what to do about this confession. Eilora seemed satisfied. Even though a conviction of murder carried the death penalty, she was pleased to have bought Varen a little more time, and hoped to explain matters to him before one of them was carted off to trial in the morning.

Vikter invited everyone to an elegant sit-down meal at the temple’s modest dining room. It was an awkward affair, but soon, Vikter made it even more so. Vikter turned his attention to S’zeves. He said that he had never seen one of his people, but he believed S’zeves to be a member of the Shadow Kind. S’zeves remembered that Shadow Kind was a common epithet for Shadar-Kai, but was thoroughly confused, as this was the first time anyone in this world had ever claimed to know what he was. Vikter clarified:

“Over a thousand years ago, the Phoenix King kept a series of journals. They were all but destroyed just before the War of the Night Sword. The Shadow Knight also kept journals…”

Vikter pulled a black-leather book with black pages, the text within scribed in a reflective red foil text. He began to read the Shadow Knight’s thoughts, his reason for committing mass genocide, his reasons for leaving the Drao to thrive while all other races were deemed expendable. The Shadow Knight referred to a race of people who would inherit the world under his shadow, much as the Ancients inherited a world under the Wyrm’s shadow. These people were called the Shadow Kind, and they matched S’zeves’s description exactly.

Even more peculiar were the markings on S’zeves’s arm. Vikter said that he had seen similar markings before, on Auriq Sinystre. He guessed that S’zeves was a Runometrist, and then added that they were scars caused by the abuse of Runometry…

To Read The Next Current Chapter, Click Here!

To Return To The Previous Current Chapter, Click Here!

To learn more about the Current, click here

Chapter C-1: Sins of the Fathers Preview: Kobolds in Drogynia?
Chapter C-2: The Current in… Into the Leviathan’s Intestine
Chapter C-3: Varen Gilles in… A Stigma of Guilt
Chapter C-4: The Current in… Nykathia Awaits!
Chapter C-5: The Current in… A Burden of Prestige
Chapter C-6: The Current in… Arrivals and Departures
Chapter C-7: The Current in… Legacy of Pain, Part 1 of 2
Chapter C-8: The Current in… Legacy of Pain, Part 2 of 2
Chapter C-9: The Current in… Trials of Pain, Part 1 of 3
Chapter C-10: The Current in… Trials of Pain, Part 2 of 3
Chapter C-11: The Current in… Trials of Pain, Part 3 of 3
Chapter C-12: The Order & The Current in… To Slay the Darkness
Chapter C-13: The Order & The Current in… To Save the Light
Chapter C-14: The Current in… Prophecies, Epiphanies, and Tragedies, Part 1 of 3
Chapter C-15: The Current in… Prophesies, Epiphanies, and Tragedies, Part 2 of 3
Chapter C-16: The Current in… Prophecies, Epiphanies, and Tragedies, Part 3 of 3
Chapter C-17: The Current in… Time To Wake Up
Chapter C-18: The Current in… The Eternal and the Forever Changed
Chapter C-19: The Current in… The Tragic Tale of the White Lion
Chapter C-20: The Current in… Sealing of the Fates
Chapter C-20: The Current in… “The First Steps Are Always The Hardest…”
Chapter C-21: The Current in… “…On The Journey To The Rest Of Our Lives

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Hey beautiful world!

It’s been quite some time since I last posted due to exams that have been overwhelming me (it that even a legitimate excuse?).

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In short, it is a mini blog, for those of you who wish to have sort of a day-by-day basis kind of diary blog (not necessarily diary, but it automatically archives your posts daily). It is somewhat like a social app too, so you can explore other dayre accounts and follow them!

It’s really cool all in all. And I’m totally hooked on to it right now because it is so easy and fast to use.

Do check out Dayre in the Play Market for android users (I’m using android phone!) or itunes/App Market for iPhone users for more details!

My dayre:

Have fun in the world my lovelies and if you’d be so nice, do pray for my exam which will commence in about….. an hour!

Wishes and kisses,

A daily dose of xclishmaclaver keeps the smile on all day

S.O.S: Am I being spoiled too much?

Okay. I have a boyfriend, Dan. He is my second boyfriend because the first relationship didn’t work out. Dan is probably the best boyfriend ever. He is so sweet to me and so caring and so thoughtful and loving and patient and blah blah blah. He is so perfect in my eyes. I’m dead serious. He is that good.

And that probably explains why I am so spoiled now.

We’ve been dating for almost 7mths now and I kind of… start to expect more from him. I don’t want to pressure Dan or make him unhappy… Honestly, I never control my boyfriend. I emphasise a lot on freedom and independence that I made a note to allow my boyfriend to take charge of his own life. The problem is… I get frustrated when he acts as if I am transparent when we are with other friends.

I don’t know if he feels awkward being himself with me in the presence of other people, but I feel uncomfortable. He seems so foreign whenever he does that. When I asked him about it, he would just say that he doesn’t want to be so close with me when others are around. But, does that include him ignoring or zoning me out most of the time? I don’t expect him to pay special attention to me all the time but I just hope he will not ‘ignore’ me whenever i ask him something.

I’m perplexed, confused and definitely weirded out. I also feel confused and a little alone whenever this happens. Am I being too clingy or spoiled?

P.S.: Please drop a comment and advise. I will treasure each and every comment generated. Thanks.

A daily dose of xclishmaclaver keeps the smile on all day

The greatest un…

The greatest unintentional intention is disparity

The greatest: The biggest

Unintentional: Not intended, harmless

Intention:  Intended, with a motive/goal to achieve

Is disparity: Gap

Putting it all together, my quote means: The biggest, harmless goal/motive is creating a gap

What gap? All of you may be wondering.

Creating gaps (in terms of social, economical and political factors) are unintentional and human nature are inclined to them. To get to the top, you put in a considerable amount of effort in it. You reap what you sow. That is where intention comes in. Goals are to be met, your sights are set. It is undoubtedly an intention. However, It all makes sense. It is right to want to make a change to life. It is logically accounted for that this is how it all works. Therefore it is an unintentional intention. There will definitely be a disparity. The only question is: to what extent?

The world is so vast that no one has ever set foot on every single part of the world. There are so many people, so much knowledge and technology, that a disparity sets the benchmark/system to explicitly display the differences between contrasting issues. The only way to truly overcome it is to never ever lose the real you in the process of climbing the success ladder. Be a virtuous person who is humble yet firm, so that whatever is done that is done in goodness, certainly his/her life will be a life that is beautiful.

New blog! Fresh from Yours Truly, Kate

Always being ticked off for eating recklessly without much consideration (which I have paid a huge price for… FYI: my inside and outside are pretty much screwed), and with much deliberation, I have chosen to create a new blog (sort of like a ‘sister’ blog). The blog is titled at ‘The Health Diary of Kate’ and will document how I go about working to ‘transform’ myself into a better person both on the inside and outside.

It has not been an easy decision. I knew that in some way or another, by going up a notch in my diet, I will be up against lots of temptations from all directions (Singapore has many, many, many delicacies… and I’m not even kidding!). However, overall I feel that it will be a really good challenge. I get to slim down, have healthier skin and body, feel fresh and good about myself, and even benefits such as cultivating discipline and perseverance.

The road is long and definitely it will be tumultuous, but no matter what, I am willing to take up this challenge. Not only for myself, but also to share with everyone else my experiences and hopefully (fingers crossed!), I am not the only one on this journey.

So come now and join me in building a healthy community at:

Till then!

P.S.: I’m not moving on to an entirely new blog! xClishmaclaver is my baby and I’m never giving it up! It’s just that now I have two blogs to handle and I’m pretty much excited about it. So stay tuned babes ;)

The story of a love blessed by God

Today I want to share a very special story with all of you. It is about how I got out of being in a ‘dream’ and started living a life.

Many of you may be wondering why in the world am I not living a dream but a life? There is only one reason: because a life is a million times better than a dream, no matter how beautiful and perfect that dream is. Oh, the irony.

I did not understand this simple logic, until recently just last year in October 2013.

Around in January 2013, I met my to-be first boyfriend through online gaming. We got along very well with one another in the game, and we decided to meet in person. As a cautious person myself, I requested for us to meet in a public place where many people were around. I had to say… I was surprised. He looked charming, he is of the perfect build, tall, had a beautiful smile; and instantly, he took my heart. We chatted over a cup of coffee at Starbucks and the moment was amazing. We talked about our interests; and getting deeper into the conversation, I was mesmerized over his air of charm. The deciding factor that made me fall so deep into my first love was that he is also a Christian, the same religion as I am. He was perfect in my eyes. Flawless. He is well-to-do, friendly, and even though he is a man of few words, he was kind and so nice.

That was when everything was perfect.

However, believe it or not, I felt a little held back to move this relationship further. I had a feeling God was telling me that he wasn’t the right one for me. Being the lovestruck and hopeless woman I already am, I pressed on to make this relationship work. I wanted it. It was a dream come true.

On 18 May 2013, we eventually got together. It was such a bliss. We had our first kiss on that very day. Love was definitely in the air. The sparks were flying and sweetness overflowed. My family welcomes and loves him. We were in love. The love was strong for the first few weeks, until we began to have several conflicts along the way. We were probably immature then and because it was our first relationship, we had little knowledge on handling such problems. We quarreled often, and the love vanished. I admit it was partly because of my family background. I was born to a family that has many dark secrets of its own, and it ate away most of my life. I chose family over him. I became stressed, depressed and very lost because I was on the brink of breakdown. It was a very tough period of time in my life.

However, it was also the period of time when I realized that when I needed him most, he wasn’t with me. Even though I pushed him away and kept my family matters mum from him, deep inside I wished he bothered to ask about how I was doing. I was very selfish by lying to him multiple times, and was insensitive to his feelings, but I had hoped he cared a little and asked me why I was acting so strange. I had hoped that he would figure it out. I had hoped, that maybe we would still have a chance. If only he was able to just wait… if only he was able to trust me and wait for me to give this whole family shit a closure. All I ever wanted, was for us to understand and trust each other more. But it was all lost. I knew then that he wasn’t the right one for me.

I broke up with him later around late August, and it was the most heartbreaking thing that ever happened to me. He was my first love, my first kiss, the first one I ever shared a dream with. I cried. So much that my eyes were red and swollen. So much that I unknowingly fell asleep after hours of crying. It may seem exaggerating to be overreacting like this, but to me, it was a sharp stab to my heart. He was my everything. My perfect love. The man who fulfilled all of what I want in a boyfriend. This was just not meant to be. What I needed, was a life.

After a few weeks, I started to think back to my past relationship. Feeling lonely and lost, I said a prayer: Dear Lord, I am sorry for not abiding by your word. I now know and understand that it is not in your will for us to have a lasting relationship. Then, Lord, if he is not the one for me, please, if it is in your will, choose the man you approve of. Amen.

It was a short prayer.

Never did I expect that this prayer will be answered by God. A few days later, I met a man whom I least expected would be my future boyfriend. He was annoying, always teasing people, fairly but acceptably disgusting and had a very low Emotional Intelligence (EQ); though amazingly he has a knack for looking into the depth of the human mind and perceiving how other people think and feel. He was able to put himself into other people’s shoes. Pretty amazing huh?

Not sidetracking, we started to know each other more because we attended the same class for a module in school. We clicked well and honestly, he did charm me a little. But I wasn’t ready for a new relationship. Not until I settled my family problems and got over my ex. He confessed to me in the cutest way ever and I was a little affected by it. I was afraid to move on. I wanted to stay in my little box forever. I told him, and surprisingly he said that he will wait for me no matter how long it takes. A battle took place in my heart. I simply wasn’t ready. I needed time, and he gave me time. It felt heartwarming. He wasn’t my ideal man, because he had some flaws here and there; but for some reason, I felt secure and relieved.

After a month of more ‘getting to know you’ small talks, little prayers with God, and thinking through over and over, I decided to take a step out and accept him. I let him into my ‘little box (my world)’ little by little and he began to court me every single day. On 11 November 2013, I told him I liked him too, and he gave me the sweetest smile ever. Two days later, we shared our first kiss, and that marked the day we got together.

It has been six months since that day.

He was annoying as always, but he is also the sweetest and kindest and most mature man I have ever met. He is understanding and we shared a very strong bond of trust. We each had our own circle of friends, and respected each other’s privacy. Sometimes I would get troubled by his habit of always deciding things on his own and would be upset about it, but he would always pester me about it and made me tell him what I was unhappy about. Then, he would apologize and try to make me all happy, though he ended up doing stupid yet cute stuff that got me cracking up. He would also be upset because I was immature and inconsiderate to certain events. But by taking a leaf from him, I learnt to be patient and understanding. Though I knew a relationship should be honest and true, he made me realize the importance of these two qualities in a relationship and even enhanced it by enforcing them into our relationship.

About two months into the relationship, I was curious about his life before he met me. So I asked him: What was it like before I came into your life? He replied: Life had no meaning. I lost my direction. I had no motivation. In the end, I prayed to God for something or someone to change my life. A few days later, I met you.

I was definitely 100% not expecting that. Linking the pieces together… it felt as if God had planned everything. God showed me the way to my current boyfriend through my prayer, and He showed him the way to me through his. It was indescribable yet it was a miracle. It was as if God blessed our relationship because He was the one leading us along the way. He helped us and loved us. Because God loved us first, we love. Also deciphering it, my current boyfriend was also surprised at the turn of events. We agreed that we have to cherish and treasure each other, because we had a special bond, and God was in the middle our relationship, always guiding us.

I had to say… it was really magical. These six months was incredible, we had mutual respect and trust for each other, we loved each other; and understood one another, even without any of us hinting or prompting anything of the sort. Till the end of time, I am sure we will still love each other as much as we do now.

And this is the story of my love that I felt was a love blessed by God.

What do you guys think about my special encounter? Feel free to comment and share :)

P.S.: If you guys haven’t seen my quote about my experience with my ex and my current boyfriend, feel free to read it at ! Till then!

Why merely studying doesn’t work

Has any of you ever felt like studying had no meaning? Or ever wondered why dropouts like Walt Disney and Bill Gates are able to become such influential and prominent figures in the entire world? What exactly is education then?

Here’s a breakdown of 3 possible reasons/factors why people study:

1) It’s compulsory (especially if you are living in Developed Countries (DCs) where education is enforced)

2) For broad reasons because good education = good careers = good life

3) Interest in studying

To further understand these points, we should delve in deeper into the three factors that draws people into studying.

1st factor: It’s compulsory

Let’s face it. Education is necessary. We are in the 21st century where technology and knowledge dominates. Without the knowledge, technology may be difficult to be developed. Likewise, without technology, new-found knowledge may take a longer period of time to be discovered. As much as we do not like to study, it is needed to keep the world ‘growing’. With education, we are equipped with skills and knowledge; and these can be translated effectively into use.

2nd factor: For broad reasons

It may seem biased or stereotypical to categorize education as a ‘tool’ to secure a good future ahead, but it is no doubt that grades are indeed a crucial factor in determining education standards; at least, that’s mostly how companies decide who to employ, based on the level of education a person receives. It is naturally acceptable to favour a person who has obtained a ph.D in his/her major over a person who has only completed high school. That is because it is ‘understood’ and taken for granted that the former would have better knowledge and skill in his/her domain of work scope. As the old saying goes: there is no free lunch in this world. High-paying jobs do come with huge responsibilities. Precisely because certain jobs require a higher level of knowledge and skill to perform the required tasks, people are being paid more for their expertise. It is a fair system. You are being paid for your skill, your knowledge, your service, every single thing that you put in to complete the job. This is how employers weigh their options. They take in people who are capable and reliable. However, is true that people who received high levels of education are more capable than those who did not? To a certain extent, yes; but there are always exceptions.

3. Interest in studying

In all due honesty, I have never ever, ever, ever —                                                                 All right, studying can be fun. But the ratio of students who enjoy studying to students who do not are probably 1:8 (May be inaccurate as estimations are based on my experiences and observations). The main point is: Why do some people enjoy studying?

This brings to my focus of today’s topic: Why merely studying doesn’t work?

To begin, my first question to you, my dear reader, is this: Is there a true co-relation between studying well and life?

Many people may begin debating whether or not education is essential. My answer is, yes, it is essential. But, it should not be made the dominant factor in determining a person’s qualification. What do I mean by that? Simply put, it should not rule your life.

Let us do a simple case study and take a look at Singapore. Singapore invests massively in education and healthcare. It’s education system has produced many students who graduated with exemplary results and is ranked as one of the best countries who has the most efficient education system. It’s medicine course in National University of Singapore is ranked as one of the best schools in the world. In fact, many people came to Singapore to study or receive treatment; because the education and healthcare system is really good. In a nutshell, Singapore provides a ‘world-leading’ education system.

However, what many people do not realize is that there is a huge loophole in the education system. It depends heavily on qualifications. You can easily find a pool of university graduates in Singapore. This is how much Singapore values education. In today’s Singapore, even with a university certificate, it can be difficult to find well-paying jobs; because there are many others with either the same level of qualification, or even higher level of qualification. Resumes flood into companies every half a year when fresh-faced students graduate from university. They are everywhere.

Not only Singapore, but many other DCs are facing the same problem. One way to tackle against the problem is probably to create more job opportunities, which has already been enforced.

However, with the horde of highly qualified future pillars of the economy rapidly increasing, there must be some other way to determine the true capability of a person.

Studying is just a platform to gain more knowledge and skills in a particular major. Without real-life experiences to put them into use, studying doesn’t work at all. In schools, students are ‘caged’ and very well-protected from the ugly face of the working society. As students integrate into the working society, they may easily find themselves drowning in despair as they were not used to the ‘environment’ yet. In schools, students were not taught on how to interact efficiently and effectively with different kinds of people, the schooling environment are less harsh and demanding than in the working environment, and most importantly, studying has an end point. Studying will finish one day. You complete the course, that’s it. That is how simple studying is. But working doesn’t. Work carries on. Every day people go to work. It is a very rigid and routine layout.

As empowered learners and intelligent beings, more and more people are coming to a consensus that ‘well-rounded learners’ may actually gain more in life than people who just ‘study’. A certificate is deemed useless if one does not possess skills that can add value to lives. Integrity, responsibility, humility, perseverance, morality, and a touch of kindness are the key factors that may very well determine your life. While it is true that it is sufficient to earn a stable career with a stable income, it is definitely not enough to make one’s life fruitful. Inner virtues are the ones that are hardest to master and are definitely impossible to study. They can only be learnt through experiences and cultivation. It is very much like a trial and error kind of thing where you make mistakes and learn from it. Powerful people like Walt Disney and Bill Gates grasped these, and therefore are able to rise up to become the world’s most inspiring figures. Of course, an eye for opportunities are vital as well, because time waits for no man.

What are your views on this article? Feel free to comment and share.

DISCLAIMER: Statistics may vary from actual source as they were estimated subjectively. Information in this article are opinionated and based on experiences and observations. In no way is this article particularly intended to promote or oppose to any form of ideology/culture/beliefs. Just so you know, this article is nothing but a daily dose of Kate’s clishmaclaver.

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Unless The Chainsmokers and Coldplay decide to release a video for "Something Just Like This," there was no change in the charts this week.  You can check out the five most requested videos this week.

#5: James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go

#4: Ed Sheeran - Shape of You

#3: Zedd & Alessia Cara - Stay

#2: Kygo X Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me

#1: Bruno Mars - That's What I Like

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In an ongoing commitment to give players MORE, Tropicana Evansville will break ground on a new 75,000 square foot entertainment complex Tuesday, July 19, 2016. The new development will dramatically transform the 21-year-old riverfront casino property.

"Evansville is the entertainment hub of the entire Tri-State Area. This extensive expansion project, along with Tropicana's distinctive service program, will provide guests with a new and vibrant hospitality experience," said John Chaszar, General Manager of Tropicana Evansville.

The ground breaking event will be held at the construction site from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on July 19. Tropicana representatives will gather with local and state officials and invited guests to officially launch the construction phase of the land-based entertainment complex.

The expansion project includes 45,000 square feet of new gaming space, a yet-to-be-named upscale restaurant and bar, a deli, and a combination lounge/entertainment venue. The new facility is expected to open in December of 2017. Visit the live Construction Cam feed at to watch the project take shape.

-Tropicana Evansville


text:
Download PDF Close

1240 SE Second Street

Evansville IN 47713

Property Info
1240 SE Second Street
Evansville, IN 47713
MLS#: 201807144
4 Bed 5 Bath 3 Garage
Text "9025869" to 79564
1240 SE Second St - Evansville, IN

A truly one-of-a-kind property awaits you in this 1906 Harris and Shopbell designed residence. With it's distinctive central bay window, over-sized front porch and blue metal roof, this large two story home welcomes you to tour it's light-filled interior and expansive 1.35 acre grounds. Originally designed for Augustine G. Torian of the Main Street Torian Barbour Hat Company and later owned by Joseph B. Graham and S. Glitner Igleheart, all prominent business owners in Evansville's history. Currently, the property welcomes guests as the Cool Breeze Bed and Breakfast. Once inside, you are greeted by a spacious entry foyer flanked on either side by the formal living room with Italian marble fireplace and the dining room featuring original French wallpaper. The family room/library provides views to the quiet backyard, the kitchen and butlers pantry...

Property Overview
Bedroom 4
Bathroom 5
Garage 3
Year built 1906
Square Feet 4276
County Vanderburgh County
MLS Nbr 201807144
Chris Austin Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 4111 Washington Ave
Evansville IN 47714
Mobile: 812-549-0731 Office: 812-474-7000


text:
How to upload mods to Steam Workshop?

From Academia: School Simulator
Jump to: navigation, search

  • You should have a mod folder that is ready for upload.
  • You must be connected to Steam. Run Steam and ensure that you're online.

  1. Run Academia: School Simulator game. It's best to run this in windowed mode so you can easily switch between different programs.
  2. On the title screen, click Mods.
  3. Click on Develop tab. This is where you can edit your mods' information. You can also subscribe to the mod, and upload or update the mod on Steam Workshop.
  4. Specify the full path of your root folder.
  5. Click Load. This will list the subfolders of the root folder on the left side. Each one is considered as a separate mod.
  6. Click on the mod that you wish to upload. This will show the mod's details - the preview image, name, and description.
  7. To change the preview image, you have to manually edit or replace PreviewImage.png found on the mod's folder. You can then click Reload to reload the image.
  8. You can specify a different name on the Name field. The name specified here will be the one used in Steam Workshop when uploaded.
  9. Specify the detailed description of the mod. This will be the description that will be shown on Steam Workshop. Write enough details for other players to evaluate your mod.
  10. Click Upload. This will upload your mod to Steam Workshop.
  11. To check that the mod was really uploaded:
    • Go to Steam.
    • Hover your mouse on your user name right beside Community then select Content.
    • Click on Workshop Items tab.
    • This page shows all your uploaded mods. It will take around 5-10 minutes for the mod to be displayed here so be patient. Just keep on refreshing. If you see your mod, then that means it was successfully uploaded.
    • You can click on the mod's preview image and it will take you to the details of the mod. In here, you can edit the name and description of the mod. You can also add images and videos that showcase your mod.

  • The Uploaded button is only clickable if your mod has not been uploaded yet. Once uploaded, the Upload button will be disabled and Update button will be enabled. From here on, you can only update your mod.
  • There's no separate field to specify the version of your mod. Instead, you can specify this on the description or on the name of the mod.
  • When a mod is uploaded, a file named WorkshopItemInfo.xml would be generated under the mod folder. Do not lose or delete this file. This is used internally by Steam.

Where to go from here?