Getting Ada Enchanted
=====================
Ada counts as +0. He is a masterwork net.

Glenn: Although a touch attack weapon is not able to be enchanted with 
properties that do extra damage on the touch attack. Returning is a good 
choice. Dimensional Anchor can be put on the net, but will cost a lot. 
[Given Dimensional Anchor is a ranged touch attack, it's quite balanced.]

Dave: Distance, Ghost Touch, Returning, Seeking, and Dancing are the only 
appropriate abilities in 3.5E DMG.

Dave: If Arda had the Returning ability, would Tess still need to fold Arda
before throwing it again? 

Glenn: Arda could have a trailing rope if you want to attach one, and with 
returning, no folding necessary.

Dave: Net folding takes 2 rounds if proficient, 4 rounds if not proficient 

Glenn: Ok, the returning ability reduces the time to fold it by half.
Ada will return as well of course, it's just not that useful for a net,
hence the extra.

In Norwold talking to Baroness Unice
====================================
** 1027/02/15 **
After an evening around the town, Tess finds out that Baroness Unice and 
Baron Skyborn are adventurers (no great surprise). They adventure together 
with Knollimer (a wizard), plus Baron Woosley. Well, former Baron Woosley. No 
one has seen anything of him or his people after the area was overrun by the 
knights. Baroness Unice wears pink for religious reasons apparently. Baron 
Skyborn is known as a collector of intresting tidbits, who isn't afraid to 
rub shoulders with the common folk. Knollimer stays with one or other of the 
barons when in town - being a mage, he probably has some other worldly 
residence ... a more down to earht person will say he was probably away 
fighting in the wars.

Tess finds Baroness Unice's residence. It's made of pink granite. A servant, 
not wearing pink, will answer the door. The servant takes Tess out back, 
where Lady Unice is practising - Tess hears the clash of blades. It's Unice 
and a somewhat elderly guy with a large moustache. A few minutes watching 
reveals they are very very good. You can barely see the mistakes which each 
of them exploits. Better than Tess no doubt. Tess will be visibly impressed. 
After a minute they will stop for a break, the old guy puffing fairly badly.
They exchange a few words ("same time tomorrow?") before Unice comes over to 
Tess, taking a towel from the servant watching.

If Unice would like some more practice, Tess will offer to stand in for a 
little while, but unfortunately is not of the same caliber - "Excellent 
swordplay, I must say." 

Unice: "Thank you....?"

Tess: "Good morning. I guess I stopped by to satisfy curiosity and say hello, 
and ask why pink?" enquires with a smile.

Unice smiles, and tosses the towel to a servant, who is looking...resigned.
"Pink? It's my favourite colour! It goes well with many things, it's 
distinctive, and it's favoured by the gods."

Tess: "Favored by the gods, how so? It's very distinctive."

Unice: "I once saw a god who clearly favoured that colour for his stockings. 
If it's good enough for a god, it's good enough for me."

Tess smiles, "That seems a good reason."

Servant: "Perhaps mi'lady would like to change into something more 
comfortable?"

Unice: "No, I'm...ah yes, I'll just be one moment."

While she is away the servant pesters Tess about being comfortable, fetching 
you a drink, etc. Unice returns in a pink, light gown. Tess accepts a drink.
Tess and Unice chitchat, she mentions a few tricks with a sword.

Unice describes where she learnt her tricks. "Ahh, I used that one when a 
drider had me in it's hands. A quick lift and stab, and off comes the arm at 
the elbow." Tess mentions one or two things that worked for him, but of 
course not quite of the same caliber (or even near it). Tess also enquires 
about some more of her adventuring experiences. "Basically, been there, done 
that. Of late her lands have comsumed a great deal of time, and what with 
the war against the knights and all ..."

The Heldanic Knights hold the southern part of Norwold (now the Norwold 
Confederacy). Given Norwold and the knights have fought before, and she is in 
the capital of Norwold, it's probably true she doesn't work for the knights.
Baroness Unice happily gives Tess some information. It doesn't sound very 
secret from her point of view.

Tess will mention one experience with the Heldanic Knights - taking out their 
flying ship one time. Unice will be impressed. Normally they are very heavily 
guarded. "Well, they crashed it after we escaped after being taken prisoner, 
and things got difficult from there ..." A brief tale, glossing over some of 
Tess' less pleasant actions like the hostage-crisis Tess killing sailors vs. 
captain who had Phoranin. "Actually ... there was a group trying to resist 
the Heldanic Knights. Has Norwold made any attempt to contact friendlies 
within the Heldanic Territories?"

Unice claims not to know, although she gets a bit coy there.

Tess: "Well, if they need a contact or two, I can suggest a couple of people 
to contact, assuming they are still alive." When the ship crashed, and then 
some guys came to help us repair Zim's ship. One of them was the leader or 
brother of the leader of a resistance movement - that was in Heldann itself.
"If Norwold can help some people within Heldann rebel, it would certainly 
have an impact."

Unice says they do have some contact with the resistance movement, although 
they won't object if you have more contacts.

Tess: "Ummm ... well if you already have contacts with them, maybe it's best 
I don't expose identities of some of their leaders several years ago. I'm 
sure your contacts would have contacts with those leaders, maybe best to keep 
that info quiet - unless there's a specific need, in which case I'd be happy 
to help."

Unice: "Fair enough."

Tess enquires about Baron Woolsey and Knollimer at some stage. Unice nods and
will ask Knollimer to contact Tess. Tess replies, "Ah that would be most 
helpful, though I can be difficult to find sometimes. Perhaps best if he does 
a Sending, and then we can meet when time permits."

Tess heads to Graakhalia and checks up on Janilee
=================================================
Tess wanders off and teleports back to his office in Baratkand.
**1027/02/16 afternoon**

Tess will do some security stuff, and check up on when the next wagon is 
heading to the Graakhalians. It's been a month, so on 02/17 Tess will teleport
to the Graakhalians to chat with Janilee, and debrief her, so he can set up 
the Shadow Elves helping the Graakhalians.
**1027/02/17**

Janilee is practicing her Grakkhalians when Tess arrives.

Tess asks about any info she has on the deities they worship. Tess will want 
any and all info she has, and also check how she is doing, is she more 
confident in this role now (etc.), just trying to gauge whether she's happy 
with it, and whether she's done a good job, and maybe a pointer or two on 
info that she might have missed getting (like gaps in info that would be 
useful to get). Tess also asks about anything that may help the Graakhalians,
conditions for agriculture, threats from creatures in the region to trade wagons 
and travelers, stuff like that. Tess also asked her to find out any 
info they figured out from Hule: which routes the forces came in on, 
composition of Hulean forces: any Humans or Elves, did some appear as Gnolls, 
did they get any inside help.

Janilee seems to be struggling a bit with the Graakhalians, although she 
hides it very well. Clearly living amongst non-shadow elves is a bit of a 
shock, especially given the squalid conditions under which they live.

Tess will also check up on the other two agents he left with Janilee, similar 
but shorter debriefing, mostly to check how they're doing, and hopefully tell 
them good job. They seem a  bit guilty they haven't worked harder, although 
Tess doesn't think they have slacked off much. By the looks Janilee keeps 
them in line pretty well.

Their agriculture is still in shambles, and their hunting not much better. 
The older children are mostly doing the hunting now, and they aren't as 
skilled and don't know the spots. Luckily the creatures have repopulated.

Tess will compliment Janilee on her handling of things, make one or two 
comments to the guys who felt they should have worked harder: yep, this would 
have been helpful, good job on that, etc. 

There were gnolls in the Hulan forces, although no Graakhalians. No Elves, 
some Humans that went through and didn't stay. They don't seem to have any 
inside help, they fairly much just walked through. The Graakhalians were not 
numerous enough to stop them. Some stayed to fight the Graakhalians, 
seemingly because they liked to loot and torture. No Halflings were seen
with the Hulan forces. The Humans were in overall charge, with most units 
being single species. They were quite well organized. It seems the ones that 
stayed behind were not the organised ones. Those kept on going, human and 
otherwise.

Tess will stay a day, maybe chat with some of the Graakhalians, get his own 
feel for things for a bit, and chat with his 3 folks, and then TP out the 
next day to inform Phoranin of the Graakhalian info (he will have taken notes 
on info from Janilee). Tess will again compliment them on the good work 
they've done before he leaves, and suggest some more things he'd like them to 
find out (and keep practicing the language).

The Graakhalians are very thankful. Want any children? Tess will say no thank 
you, politely. (Internally, taken aback, but understanding.) Most are 
actually offering their current children, not any future children they may 
have.

Most of the kids don't look very well nourished. Tess will leave all his 
rations except for a day with the Graakhalians, and Tess will do that while 
he's there. Tess leaves instructions for Janilee to keep an eye out for any 
kids who are above average competence. Tess picks out one or two kids for 
Janilee to keep an eye on, and then teleports out to do something solid about 
this problem.

Tess in Aengmoor Forest talking to Phoranin and the Eyes of the Serpent
=======================================================================
**1027/02/18**
Tess will go and see Phoranin and download the info from Janilee and his own 
observations. Phoranin is good. Tess is quite troubled. It will be like: "Hi, 
we need to talk, <info on Graakhalians>," then gives Phoranin a hug. "Sorry, 
needed to get that off my chest." Phoranin silently listens. Tess will sigh 
and express his deep concern for the Graakhalians. "Particularly as their 
competent hunters and warriors are gone, they are more prone to any outside 
threats such as nearby nasties repopulating too."

Phoranin: "I understand. It's terrible that no one on the surface cares about 
their own relatives, just because they are in other parts of the world."

Tess will greatly appreciate anything that can be done by the Shadow Elves to 
contact the Graakhalians and help them establish agriculture. 

Phoranin: "Well, we could send some warriors to protect them. I'm not sure 
that will be popular, since everyone would be aware of what that would lead 
to."

Tess: "Frankly, I don't think the Graakhalians and the surface elves are 
aware of each other. But we must do what we can. Nobody should be left in 
such hardship and trials, we were most fortunate to be guided by Rafiel. 
I do not think it would be a bad thing to consider integrating them into our 
society, but it would be difficult, and a shock for both them and Shadow 
Elves, but perhaps we could start establishing something ..."

Phoranin things, "I must pray on the matter. I am not sure if it would be 
Rafiel's will to bring them into our society or put them under our 
protection."

Tess: "Certainly, but I think we should give them some help one way or 
another. It is best to teach them to farm properly, so they can improve their 
semi-nomadic culture which is more liable to periods without sufficient food 
and so forth." Tess hugs Phoranin and thanks her. She seems thoughtful.

Tess will also tell her about Mount Celestia, and suggest that as a possible 
honeymoon location. Phoranin seems surprised at the idea of that as a 
honeymoon location, but is ok by it. She wants details. More details than 
Tess can answer. "Well, I thought it would be somewhere interesting, and 
rather different from other places we've been."

Phoranin: "Interesting is good." She will leave it in Tess' hands to find out 
more. She seems relieved to turn from the troubling thoughts to planning for 
the wedding. Tess will chat with her about that for a bit. Tess will also 
just be enjoying spending time with her, though deep at heart he is still 
quite troubled. More letting chitchat about the wedding disctract him 
briefly while troubles percolate beneath the surface (you know that mildly 
stressed sort of mood). An acolyte silently serves you afternoon tea and 
departs in a swish of robe.

Tess will swing by in the evening before he leaves. Phoranin says, "I will 
make sure I am clear for dinner." Phoranin looks around, and then gives Tess 
a hug. Tess hugs Phoranin, kissing her forehead with a smile, thanking her, 

Tess then heads off to see the Eyes of the Serpent and give them a brief 
update. They happily take Tess' reports. Tess will give the info on the 
Chronosphere of Lagos, now that he has more info on that. He'll also give 
them a brief synopsis on the Graakhalians. Tess doesn't tell them where the 
Chronosphere of Lagos can be found, just that he has some info which might 
allow him to find it, but that would take a serious cross-planar expedition. 

EoS guy: "Unfortunately at the current time, funds do not allow the equiping 
of a cross planar venture. It will be taken into consideration for a future 
expedition."

Tess also mentions waiting for a wizard who has made a magical device to time 
travel into the future to contact me. Let me know if you would want me to buy 
such an item, were it available at a reasonable price - whatever a reasonable 
price might be. "Yes, I may be able to arrange such an expedition myself in 
due course." Tess will also give them info on where the Heldanic fighting is 
at. They accept the information, although don't seem very reactive. Which 
describes most of the debriefing actually. They seem a bit standoffish. More 
than normal.

Tess will try and figure out what the deal is with that. Maybe ask discreetly 
of someone he knows within the EoS. Tess catches someone in the staff 
cafeteria.

Eos Cafe guy: "Hi Tesserael. You aren't in good ordour around here lately."

Tess: "Yes, I gathered ... Any reason particular for that? Other than the 
recent debacle at the palace?"

ECG: "The palace. I don't know what happened there, and I don't think I 
should. Some people are saying you have spent too long on the
surface."

Tess: "Of course. I was just wondering what rumors were flying. Some people 
are getting soft."

ECG hunches down: "You said it, not me. Marrying a shaman too...some people 
around here don't like that."

Tess chuckles then looks serious again. "My loyalties are far from the 
church, but they serve a purpose."

ECG: "Hey, thats what I said. I said that you were loyal."

Tess: "There are too many political divisions. Some things that should have 
been attended to have been left for too long, due to wrangling from within, 
and that leaves time for those problems to become more serious ... And I mean 
that both at our level, and at a general level within Shadow Elven society - 
divided we fall as the saying goes, not that I advocate working with the 
temple, but we shouldn't delay dealing with important issues over a minor 
political issue." ECG starts looking a bit nervous. "And that's happened more 
than once ... as I said, I've been asking too many questions ... keep an eye 
out I guess ... I feel something's not right, but I can't put my finger on 
it's pulse yet ... but I will." Tess' paranoia seething.

ECG: "I wish you well. Sorry, but I'm not sure that I agree with you. I think 
it's not as bad as you say."

Tess will chuckle softly. "Thank you. Likewise, I wish you well. Step softly 
and walk the shadows with a quick mind, and watch backwards as well as 
forwards, for much is not as it appears." 

ECG nods. "It never is. That is why we guard those that do not see."

Tess: "Guard those that see as well ... for sometimes we are blinded by our 
own false securities ..."

ECG drains drains his drink and rises. "Well, I'll see you around. Keep out 
of trouble Tesserael."

Tess nods, "We'll see." Tess' gauge of this guy: partly disturbed by talking 
with Tess, partly disturbed by the possibility of being heard talking with 
someone who's in the bad books. Tess will hang out at the EoS for a bit and 
ponder things, maybe chat with anyone else who wants to chat with him, then 
head off. 

Dave: "I can imagine a discussion like that scaring the hell out of a low 
ranking spy. Because it is what is left unsaid that is scary ..."

Glenn: Rumours about the weird guy at the office...paranoia... "Did you hear 
he broke into the palace and attacked the princess?"

Dave: Yes, someone could certainly use rumors like that to discredit Tess 
... yet he is still around, which means that story can't be quite _right_.
It will be interesting to see how the stone that was plunked in the pond 
percolates.

Tess will have dinner with Phoranin, more troubled now (though he understands 
this situation, just not how to fix it directly).