Session sixteen

This time we began our game with a recent flashback; Marquis De Havilland Hawkwood is visiting a veteran knight of the Order of the Phoenix, Sir Vim Militas-Djinn Al-Malik. He goes over the events, from his perspective, so far (in a wonderful piece of summary narration) from the tournament through to the present day. He explains his concerns and fear for the machinations of Baronet Christopher Windsor Hawkwood and seeks counsel from his brother in the Order. Sir Vim points the Marquis to thet objectives of their order: to find the cause of the Fading Suns, to defend the weak and to avenge the wronged. Does De Havilland's planned actions fit under one or more of those? He feels yes, he is defending the weak and possibly avenging those wronged.

We jumped forward to the present.  The ship is docked at Suryada spaceport and undergoing repairs and refit. An intercom message comes through the ship that Arcadia wants to see Keats in her ready room.  He attends to her and finds her in her bedroom, lying in a state of undress. She tells Keats that they are living on a knife edge and that she wants to ensure that she leaves a suitable Justinian legacy.  Therefore she would have him now so that she may bare a true blood Justinian child. He objects, protesting that they are too closely related, she counters that they are "only" cousins, and as half Masseri she might as well be a Decados...Keats attempts to leave but she jumps him, he vaults away but is trapped further in the room. She locks eys with him and tells him she will not be denied, Keats responds that he will not be able to provide her with a child.  The intercom squawks that there is an uninvited guest in the cargo bay just as Arcadia says "Tiger-lily...?"

Above: "Who ordered the Ur-Obun?"

The cadre gather in the cargo hold to find the daily laundry delivery has arrived but there appears to be a stowaway in the basket; Tonbei vo Khaan, De Havilland's Ur-Obun Imperial Cohort. He has been sent with a message of warning.  De Havilland wants them to know what, the now Baron, Christopher has been up to and that he knows that they are here. Arcadia is enraged that the Hawkwoods have taken her family lands and want's to know what has happened to her mother.  We see a new side to Sir Hasimir as he stands up to Arcadia and shouts her down; as far as the world (& law) is concerned this is his ship and he is the ranking noble here.  He will speak to De Havilland and she will remain here and not risk their safety or blow their cover. Meanwhile Keats is outside looking for possible alternate ways off planet.

Lawrence asks Mort for an update on repairs and an estimated completion time.  Mort responds with both barrels as some of the parts that the Scraver helped arrange are incorrect and they need replacements before the work has a hope of completion.  

Tonbei, Hasimir and Keats head into the city to speak with the Marquis. Tonbei calls ahead and they arrange to meet in a public baths. Hasimir and De Havilland take a dip (Hasimir being careful to hide his stigma) while Keats and Tonbei remain watchful.

Lawrence has also headed into the city to meet with a local Scraver leader, Boss "Frisky" Wilson.  Although Lawrence goes under an assumed name Wilson knows him by reputation and they dispense with the charade. They quickly come to an agreement over the parts and that they might be able to do further business once they can get the ship off world.

Hasimir and De Havilland discuss issues at length. The Marquis confirms the situation in detail to Hasimir and the potential impact on the Austrum War. They are then approached by Count Innocence Decados. He speaks with them as openly as any Decados ever do and asks if Hasimir is now available for hire (as he has a three year old daughter who needs instruction in ettiquette).  The Torenson politely declines. The Count infers that he knows Arcadia is still alive and wants to be remembered to her. He also alludes to the fact that the three of them are not yet allies but he wishes them no harm.
After leaving the baths De Havilland and Tonbei discuss what to do next and how to keep Arcadia's cadre in the loop.  We end with Tonbei being delivered to the ship in another laundry basket to pass on the information to Mort and the ship's crew.