Autumn was on the verge of passing to winter in 469 AF as Atlantia,
figurehead of the Ivory Mark and princess of Arcadia, contacted fellow
champion Sobriquet Storm, requesting his presence at her station in the
Sangre Plains.

Atlantia began to show Sobriquet around the construction site for a
great ivory tower, explaining the importance of the monument and what a
truly great achievement it would be when complete. As the pair was
joined by a third champion, Griffel, Atlantia revealed the mundane but
troublesome matter blocking further construction of the tower: funds
were running low. Workers needed to be paid, supplies needed to be
bought, and oxen needed to be fed. Costs were adding up, and bit by bit
the gold was dangerously close to running out.

Finding the champions fully willing to help, Atlantia handed them a
sealed note to be taken to her parents. Without delay, the bard and
jester, both mighty dragons, set off to Arcadia, bearing the missive to
King Iasius and Queen Clytemnestra.

Meanwhile, news of the errand passed deep underground to the lair of the
Quisalis Mark. Dakrol, the Swiftblade, enlisted the aid of assassin Kiet
Bayt al-Azhan, whose previous acts in the name of the Quisalis had drawn
his attention. Promising the serpent a reward if he could swiftly and
accurately report on the situation, Dakrol sent the spy towards Arcadia.

By the time Kiet arrived, phased, to spy on the champions, they had
already met with Queen Clytemnestra, who sent them away with a clear
refusal to support her runaway daughter's mission. Kiet watched, unseen,
as the two dragons approached King Iasius in the city library, handed
him the note and told of the Queen's reaction. Iasius consented to help,
with the condition that a small retinue of guards be sent to watch over
his daughter, and that the matter be settled quietly.

Under the king's instructions, the champions notified Selinde, a trusted
guard, of the undertaking. She began immediate preparations when she
learned of the situation, explaining that a distraction would be
necessary in order to leave the city undetected. As she gathered more
guards near the gate, Griffel and Sobriquet retrieved a chest of gold
from King Iasius and prepared to mislead the gatekeepers with rumours of
a murderer in the city.

Kiet, however, was busy with an agenda of his own. Heading to
Clytemnestra's chambers, he disclosed the entire scheme to the queen. As
her furious cries rang through the city, the champions and their
entourage were forced to flee with great haste.

As the champions left Arcadia, Kiet returned to Dakrol and reported on
what he had seen. Even as he did so, the chest of gold was delivered. In
the Sangre Plains, Atlantia welcomed the Arcadian guards and gratefully
received her father's gold, assuring Sobriquet and Griffel that, thanks
to their help, the tower would soon be completed. Dakrol, displeased at
the lost opportunity to interfere, dismissed the serpent to consider
future options. What would be the Quisalis' next move?

Penned by My hand on the 24th of Mayan, in the year 469 AF.