Session nineteen - Keats comes back

Keats returns to the ship after his recent "errand" and encounters Keohlang the Vorox on board. Koehlang challenges him (as they had not yet met) and they trade a few words (as is typical for the Vorox) then Keats dumps his gear before tracking down Hasimir in his quarters. They talk and Keats explains how he has tried to lay a false trail as to the whereabouts of Hemlock and Arcadia. Upon asking about Arcadia there is an obvious shift in the atmosphere of the room.  Hasimir tells Keats what happened and upon realising Arcadia is dead by Hasimir's order, Keats leaps at him but Hasimir evades. He manages to continue a conversation but Keats keeps saying that no one is left and that Hasimir betrayed her.  He believes that they could have avoided killing her and blames himself for not staying by her side.

Above: Keats visits Hasimir

Meanwhile Lawrence has gone to Suryada to meet with "Frisky" Wilson again.  They arrange that the ship will transport a cargo to a religious community bassed on one of the many moons that orbit Dro and Madro, the twin gas giants in the Ravenna system.  It doesn't pay very well but it will make the basis of a good and hopefully simple "shake down" run for the crew.

Keats has stormed off leaving Hasimir to finish preparing for an evening in the city.  He has arranged to meet De Havilland before then going on to a dinner at his Club. De Havilland and Hasimir speak openly and as allies.  Hasimir tells him of Arcadia's actions and fate while De Havilland discusses his own intentions. Hasimir explains that before he leaves planet he wants to speak with Baron Christopher to check that he doesn't have any contract obligation to him (as suggested by Father Konrad).

Koehlang is patrolling the ship when he comes across Keats working out in the gym.  The noble has shaved his head completely (as Arcadia did) and is replicating the last exercises he saw her perform. Keats speaks with Koehlang about what it was like to kill her and the Vorox proudly shows him the trophy he took from her; one of her eyes.  Keats demands it and the Vorox says that he can either fight him for it (winning it by besting him in single combat) or give him an equivalent item of hers as a replacement. Keats has nothing to offer, and isn't suicidal so is stumped.  The Vorox seems to take pity on him though and tosses the eyeball to him saying that she was such an easy kill she doesn't merit a trophy. At taht point Keats sees Lawrence return to the ship, takes the trophy and follows him.

Above: Koehlang doesn't want to part with his trophy

Keats catches the Scraver and demands his cut of their wealth; he plans to leave. Lawrence explains that the majority is invested he can't just give him his share.  He can give him 1000 firebirds now, in the form of a credit draft and he will still own a share of the business so will gain a profit from it. Keats seems content with that for the expediency of matters and takes the money.

After concluding matters with De Havilland, Hasimir's heads to his Club dinner. His "Club" is in fact an exclusive and secret psychic coven for nobility.  A selection of nobles are in attenmdence, most of whom are Hawkwoods, and Hasimir spends sometime in small talk before the serious business of the night. The "Magus", Baron Merlyn Hawkwood announces that there are two items on their aggenda, the first behing Hasimir's recent conduct and involvement in Brother Josay's death (and the predations of an Inquisitor), the case of Carrie in Deepcore 104 and whether Lady Althea (the penitent psychic Justinian noble) might be swayed to join their ranks. Hasimir defends himself (he seems to be getting used to that...) but the Coven charge him with the task of proving his loyalty by winning the loyalty of Lady Althea.

The second item on the aggenda is a potential new applicant, sponsored by one of the Hawkwoods, a Trusnikorn knight named Trainer Gengis Gangrel Trusnikron. The coven interview him and learn he was blinded in the Austrum war but has a psychic bond to his pet bird (a large raven-like creature) allowing him to see through it's eyes.  Hasimir is known to him as his brother is Trainer Theodore Gangrel Trusnikron.  The coven votes and one vote goes against Gengis so he is denied membership.  The vote was private but we know that Hasimir voted for him.

During the evening one of the club members, Lady Gently Thana, a seeress of some repute enters a trance and has a sudden and unexpected vision.  The imagery is jumbled but she sees death and a "war in the islands in the sky".

While all this is going on Keats makes plans to leave the ship and Suryada while De Havilland makes plans to depart to Austrum East.

Lawrence has bought a second ship (and Al-Malik Odessey Explorer) and pretty much cleared out their funds doing so. He does however manage to aquires another transport job, taking parts to a Supreme Order of Engineers outpost in the same mass of moons and asteroids as the religious community.