Does the Tower even have a dungeon? It doesn't seem like the kind of thing an academic facility like the Tower would ever need. Oracle? "Yes, but" (2/1/1) → An NPC takes action (4/3/5). Okay, so they do have a dungeon, but...they're rarely used. Maybe just a handful of cells. The instruction to "make him comfortable" could be interesting, as the cells wouldn't be especially pleasant. I'm thinking it is unlikely they'd throw him in the dungeon. Do they have another place for keeping unruly students, or visiting dignitaries who misbehave, etc? "Yes" (6/3/5).
Okay, Reinold's in one of those. Instead of being underground, these are up high in the tower itself, in one of the interior chambers. No windows, just a single door, but reasonably furnished. And in this case, there's a guard outside.
(Also, "an NPC takes action." We'll figure out what that means shortly....)
At least they put me in one of the comfortable cells.
Years ago I'd snuck down to the dungeons with some friends, just to see what they were like, and they were...unpleasant. They were just a handful of small cells a couple levels under the Tower, and rarely used. The last time they'd seen an occupant had been years before, when one of the serving men murdered another servant in a fit of rage. The masters had put the man in the dungeons while they considered what to do with him. Eventually, they executed him.
The cell they gave me was one of the "detention" cells, near the top of the Tower. These rooms were windowless, but comfortably furnished. Sometimes, a student would pull some prank, or get in a fight, or do something that warranted punishment. In such a case, they'd be assigned to one of these detention cells for a day or two. There were stories of repeat offenders being sent to the dungeons, but no one took such tales seriously.
A magical light gave the cell a warm illumination, and there was a small bookshelf with a dozen or so books. I'd opened one of them and seated myself at the simple desk beside the bed, trying to keep my mind off of all that was going on. I wasn't having much success; I'd spent half an hour trying to get through the first page, but my focus kept wandering.
I couldn't stop wondering if the masters would have any luck with the Syrcrystal. I imagined them seeing some vision of Father as a prisoner, kidnapped by the thief that took the sword. They'd come to me then, apologizing, urging me to go with them to rescue him and take back Olwynna. I'd graciously accept their apologies, valiantly agree to go with them, and then, via some ingenious application of Mage Hand and Prestidigitation, I'd trick the thief into giving himself away. Father would be rescued, Olwynna would be back where she belonged, accolades would flow, etc, etc, etc.
I blinked, and considered the book in front of me again. With a sigh I returned to the first paragraph and tried once more to focus.
Voices broke into my already-shattered concentration. Someone was speaking to the guard outside my door. I looked up, trying to make out what was being said.
There was a jingle of keys, and the sound of a one being inserted into the door's lock. I stood as the door opened.
Oracle, is it one of the masters? I'm going to say it's likely. "Wrong question. (Check your assumptions.)" (1/1/1) → Bad thing happens to an NPC (6/3/6) → An NPC takes action (5/2/2).
Well, that's a plateful of activity! So, "wrong question". Let's start with that. My assumption is that someone is here. I heard a voice, and the door was opened. So I don't think that's the wrong assumption. I was kind of assuming that the masters were here with news of the scrying. Let's change that one. It's not one of the masters.
We've already seen that "an NPC takes action", and now we have that event again, combined with "bad thing happens to an NPC". I'm going to interpret this as a bad thing happening to an NPC, and an NPC taking decisive action.
Oracle, is it Royston at the door? "No, but" (1/2/5). No, but it's his mother. Mair is at the door! Hmm. That's unexpected.
And what this "bad thing" that's going to happen? Let's get some prompts: "quit statement". Could it be that someone refused to testify? Could it be that Mair believes I'm being treated unfairly? Maybe she believes I'm innocent, told the masters as much, and is going to be in trouble for it? Oracle → "No, but" (1/2/1). Okay, no, she's not in trouble...but she's here to tell me what the master's saw, and it's not good! Something bad will happen to her, but we'll figure it out as we go.
"Mair?" I asked. I'd been so certain it would be one of the masters, here to beg my forgiveness and ask for my help.
She cocked an eyebrow as she closed the door behind her. I caught a glimpse of the guard standing on the other side before the door shut.
"You were expecting someone?" she asked wryly.
Now was not the time to share my foolish imaginings, especially not with someone like Mair. I just shook my head, "No, ma'am," I said. "It's just been...quiet...here."
She nodded, taking in the sparse furnishings and the book lying open on the desk. "I can imagine." She shook her head and met my eyes. "I'll come right to the point," she said. "The masters have used the Syrcrystal."
Hope blossomed in my breast. "Did they see my father?"
"No," she said. "Or, perhaps, yes."
I waited a moment for her to elucidate, but she just stood, looking at me. "I don't understand."
"Neither do they," she said. "That's the curse of the Syrcrystal, isn't it? What you see is impossible to understand unambiguously."
"So, what did they see?"
Mair looked around the room for a chair, and finally took the one I'd been using at the desk. I seated myself on the bed.
"What did they see?" she asked. "Well, I wasn't there, was I? The only way I'd know what they'd seen was if I'd managed to smuggle a Clairvoyance spell into the Abbot's office."
I nodded slowly. "I see. And...if you'd managed to do such a thing...what might you have seen?"
Mair almost smiled. "Well, in that case, I might have seen a man in a green cloak, with the hood up. He carried a long bundle wrapped in canvas, and bore a small pack on his back."
I considered that. "A long bundle in canvas? That has to be the sword!" I paused, seeing the expression on her face. I thought a moment. Slowly, I asked her, "What did the masters ask to see?"
Mair nodded, pleased. "Perceptive! Sadly, I don't know what they asked. Clairvoyance, if I'd used such a spell, only lets me hear or see, not both."
The masters would probably have asked to see either Kondrack, or the sword. Given their opinion of Kondrack's innocence, I'd say it is likely that they asked to scry him directly. Oracle? → "No, and" (3/6/5). Hmm! "No, and" they didn't ask about the sword, either. Oh! I'll bet they asked to see "the thief that stole the sword!"
"Did the man in the cloak look like my father?"
Mair laughed mirthlessly. "Only if you squint. And are half-blind. And have never seen your father before." She shook her head. "No, this man was much smaller than your father." She gestured with her hands, suggesting someone significantly narrower across the shoulders.
"Well, that's great, then, isn't it? It couldn't have been my father."
She was shaking her head again. "I'm afraid not, Reinold. I heard them talking as they exited the Abbot's office. They think he's using a Disguise charm, or similar. No one seems to have seen your father leave the Tower, so they all think he must be disguised or polymorphed."
I just realized that Sleep isn't on the Artificer spell list. The masters would have known this, so they must also realize that Reinold couldn't be the accomplice. Oracle, do the masters still believe Reinold was the accomplice? I'll say it's unlikely. → "Yes, and" (6/2/5). Facepalm. Of course they do. Okay, "Yes, and" they believe he used some scroll or magic item to effect the sleep charm.
"They still think I'm the accomplice, too, don't they?" I asked, feeling certain.
Mair nodded. "They know you couldn't have cast the spell yourself, but Sleep is a fairly common charm; it's not impossible to imagine you purchased a scroll or single-use wand or some such from someone in the Tower."
"But if that were so, they'd only need to ask around to see that no one sold me any such thing!"
"They're making inquiries right now. But you should know, they're already saying that if they fail to find any record of that transaction, it's also possible you purchased it some time ago from a merchant, or from one of the wizards who visit us now and then. They've already made up their mind."
Okay, I think I have an idea for "a bad thing happens to an NPC." Oracle, is Mair willing to help me escape, even if she gets in trouble for it? → "No, and" (4/5/4) → Bad thing happens to an NPC (4/5/1). Okay, okay, I get it. Something bad happens to an NPC. Mair is not willing to help me escape, "and" she believes the masters have the right of it. She thinks I'm guilty. She caught me there with her son when he was unconscious on the floor of the forge. So why is she here in the first place? Asking UNE for a character motive: FULFILL KNOWLEDGE, OBTAIN THE ELITE, WORK PROSPERITY.
Ah, okay. She's trying to get me to confess. She hopes, by getting this knowledge from me, that she can gain the favor of the masters, and eventually maybe be made a master herself.
But something bad is going to happen to her. She's not supposed to be here. Her methods have not been above board. If she's caught here, talking to me...
Her gaze was like a spearpoint. She was waiting for something, waiting for me to say...something...
Suddenly I understood. "You think I'm guilty, too, don't you?" I asked softly. "You're waiting for me to tell you how I did it."
She pursed her lips, frustrated. "I'm trying to help you," she said. "I'm here, aren't I? I risked a lot to find out what the masters saw in the Syrcrystal. I'm risking a lot visiting with you, here. Does it seem like I think you're guilty?"
The pieces were all fitting together now, though. "You found me just as I encountered Rayston, there on the floor of the forge. You think I did that to him."
She said nothing, just looked at me.
"But Mariella! I'd just been speaking with her before I went to the forge. She'll confirm my alibi."
She shook her head. "That won't work, Reinold. Royston could not have been asleep for long. It's not a very durable charm. You got there, charmed him, and somehow helped your father make off with the sword. Then I showed up before you had a chance to escape, as well."
She had the scenario wrong, of course, but she was right about one thing. A typical Sleep charm would expire after just a minute, maybe a little more if done by a particularly experienced caster. That hadn't even occured to me until just now; whoever had taken Olwynna had been in the forge just immediately before I got there. Perhaps even just seconds before. And yet I'd seen no sign of them, or of Father. For the first time, I wondered if an Invisibility charm had been involved, though that would have required Father's willing consent. Had he been compelled somehow? This was beginning to look a lot more sophisticated than a simple smash-and-grab.
Mair mistook my silent ponderings as misgivings. "Just admit it," she said. "Admit you did it, tell us how you did it, and help us find your father. If you cooperate, it will go much better for you."
I began to understand. "Better for me," I said. "And for you. I'm right, aren't I? This isn't about helping me at all. This is about solving the mystery yourself, so you can impress the masters." I stood up. "You might as well just go now. I'm innocent, Mair. Innocent. And so is my father. I will find some way to prove it."
"Don't be a fool—" There was a sudden sound of voices in the hall outside my door, and she looked up sharply.
I grinned. "It's one of the masters, I'll wager. Sooner than you expected. And they won't be best pleased to find you here, telling me about what you saw. They might even think you're conspiring with me. Ma'am."
Mair's stern expression became especially severe. "If you say one word of this to them—"
I cut her off. "What can you possibly do to me? You are in no position to make demands just now."
She leapt from the chair and took an angry step toward me, but stopped when the door opened. Master Osior stepped inside.
He raised an eyebrow when he saw Mair. "I shouldn't have expected to see you here, Mair."
She threw me a threatening glance before nodding deferentially to Osior. "Royston asked me to check on him, to see if there was anything he needed."
Thinking quickly, I considered my options. If I spilled the beans to Osior and told him about Mair's espionage, she'd certainly be in trouble. Even if she denied it, I had knowledge now that I could have obtained no other way. She might find herself in a cell, and not one of the nice ones. But aside from a short burst of vengeful satisfaction, what would that gain me?
What did I want? I wanted to be free of suspicion, free to go look for my father, and free to go after the thief that took the sword. Would exposing Mair get me any of those things?
I hated to admit it, but the answer was clearly "no". Exposing her would not remove any suspicion from me. On the other hand, if I waited until after the masters told me what they had seen, I'd lose my advantage; I'd never be able to prove that Mair had told me the details before the masters had. This lever was very definitely time-sensitive.
Okay. I wouldn't just blurt it out. But if it began to look like Osior, or any of the other masters, was about to tell me what the Syrcrystal had shown them...that was the point of no return. I would have to decide at that point what advantage there was in exposing Mair's spying.
I realized that Osior had asked me something while I was thinking. I cast about quickly, trying to recall what he'd said.
Oops! What did he say? → obtain hearing. Ooh, is Reinold about to stand before all the masters? Is this the trial? I think it is!
Ah. Are you willing to testify before the full council of masters? I took a deep breath. "I don't see that I have much choice, sir," I said. "It's either that, or stay here. But given the council's general feelings towards my father and me just now, I can't say that I am feeling particularly optimistic about my chances in a hearing."
Osior frowned, but nodded. "That's fair. I wish I could offer you some bit of hope to feel optimistic about, but things are not looking good for you, just now."
I was in deep, and I needed a wild card. Throwing caution to the wind, I asked him, "What about the Syrcrystal?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mair turn her head to glare at me. I didn't dare meet her gaze. I kept my expression neutral, and watched Osior.
"The Syrcrystal." He sighed, shaking his head in disgust. "Sometimes, used well and with the right question, it can be an illuminating tool. This time, though... No. It gave us no answers."
I nodded, opened my mouth, thought better of it. I licked my lips and changed what I was going to say. "I'll testify, sir." I heard Mair give a faint sigh. "When will the hearing be?"
"Tomorrow morning." He nodded to me, and to Mair. "I'll leave you two to chat, then, but don't be too long about it. This is a detention cell, not a sitting room for social calls."
"Thank you, sir," Mair said stiffly. "I'll be leaving shortly."
Osior turned and left, then, leaving Mair and me standing, awkwardly, staring at the door.
"Thank you," she said, then, quietly. "For not telling him."
I shrugged. "Don't give me too much credit," I said as I sat back down on the bed. "If there'd been any benefit to me to do so, I would have told him everything in a heartbeat."
She looked over at me and frowned. "Benefit? It would have gotten me out of your way, at least."
"That's true, but I would still have been a prisoner here, and falsely accused." A plan began to form in my mind, and I eyed her cautiously. "I wonder, Mair. Would you be willing to help me escape?"
Would she? I'm sure she wouldn't do so out of any desire to help Reinold, but she can see as well as Reinold can that he now has some leverage over her. She'll be skeptical...
She narrowed her eyes. "Why in the world would I do that? You won't get me with this 'falsely accused' nonsense. And if you're thinking to blackmail me, well, the penalty for me if caught helping you escape would be worse than if you exposed me for spying on the masters."
I grinned. "Ah. But what if we can arrange it so that you look like a victim, instead of an accomplice?"
She might just go for that! Let's ask the oracle, "Is Mair willing to help me escape if she can avoid suspicion?" → "Wrong question. (Check your assumptions.)" (2/2/3) I'm assuming that she cares about her spying being revealed. Maybe she doesn't care? Or she cares, but not enough to risk herself. I'm assuming the plan I have in mind would actually help her avoid suspicion. Oh, I'm assuming she wants to stay behind! What if she actually wants to escape with me?
Oracle, does Mair actually want to escape with me? I'm calling this unlikely. She'd have a lot to lose by such an action. → "No" (3/2/6).
Maybe it's not that she wants to come with me. Is she afraid for her son for some reason? Would she help me escape if her son were to come along with me? → "Wrong question. (Check your assumptions.)" (2/2/5) Okay, not her son, then. Does she just want me accompanied? She believes I should be set free, but with supervision? → "Wrong question. (Check your assumptions.)" (4/4/5) Okay, not set free, then. She wants me removed from the cell, but set to work, with supervision? → "Yes, and" (6/5/3). There we go! Yes, she wants me set to work, and with herself as supervisor.
Oh! Ha, I get it. *Rubs hands together.* No, she doesn't merely want me set to work. She has a plan. More on this in the next scene!
She looked at me for a long moment. "I see where you're going with that. It's risky, and even if it works, the masters would have bounty hunters after you in a matter of days."
I folded my arms and frowned at her. "I don't see that I have a lot of other options right now, Mair. You may think I'm guilty, but I know I'm not. My father needs help, and no one around here is likely to offer it to him. I need to get out of here, to go find him, to get Olwynna."
She nodded, and looked thoughtful, almost pensive. "There's a better way," she said. After a moment, she took a deep breath and nodded again. "Yes. I have an idea."
"What is it?"
She smiled crookedly. "Be at your hearing tomorrow morning," she said. "If I know the masters, you'll be off chasing your father by the afternoon."
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