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| Justicar Rinaldo in his younger years. |
Legato Reunited! Well, A Quorum, Anyway.
Game Summary for Echoes Book 02: S02E042
Echoes Book 02 is a continuation of a more narrative-oriented campaign (almost no rules, all aspects-based interpretation) that now uses D&D 5E rules.
Piacenza:
La citta Spezzata
RINALDO
I'm not the only one seeing this, am I?
OSHA
No. What is it?
As Rinaldo, Osha, and Fierra cross over on the
way back from the Palazzo di Sovrino, the sky has taken on a strange rippled
appearance, as if some thing or things beyond the range of vision are casting
shadows on it from above. The daylight has thus become bizarre as well, with
erratic patches of sun and shade. The effect is oppressive and - to Rinaldo, at
least - somewhat dreadful, but the citizenry seem to be, if not quite
untroubled, at least unsurprised by it.
RINALDO
Fierra? Are you seeing it, too?
FIERRA
Oh, yes, it's noontime. Actually, I expected
your - talk - to last longer.
RINALDO
So this is normal, at noontime?
(as Fierra
looks at him quizzically)
I've been away so long.
FIERRA
It's become normal, in recent times. I suppose
it's one of the drawbacks of our lack of involvement in Scienza - no one knows
why it happens, but it's harmless.
RINALDO
Oh, so we don't really have Scienzans. You were
never - interested, yourself?
FIERRA
We both had our childhood curiosity, but I'm
much better suited in my capacity.
RINALDO
And me?
FIERRA
(inexplicably
amused)
Well, you're Scienzan now, aren't you?
(while Rinaldo
is pretending to get the joke)
We are heading now to the Ordine della Ore
Perse, Osha, and I'm afraid entry is restricted to persons of a certain
clearance level. You understand.
OSHA
So Rinaldo is a person of a certain clearance
level?
FIERRA
He must not have felt he was allowed to tell
you: he is Chief Justicar of Giustizia.
OSHA
He's what?
RINALDO
(pretending
not to be equally astonished)
Amazing, isn't it?
OSHA
But - How - ?
RINALDO
Amazing, isn't it?
Ordine della
Ore Perse, Distretto di Giustizia - shortly
Osha having agreed to wait outside, Fierra and
Rinaldo are waiting in an office.
FIERRA
I sent word. We're early, but the Paladino della
Primo Ora should be here soon.
RINALDO
Do I normally take longer, when - I visit the
Doge? Do I normally visit the Doge?
FIERRA
(giving her
cousin a wry look)
I’d say you're playing a dangerous game with all
these women, but do I have to?
VITTORIO
(entering)
Justicar Rinaldo, what a privilege and relief to
see you again.
RINALDO
Pallladddino? Vito?
VITTORIO
Signorina Cardano, I apologize for making you
wait. As you know, we were not certain when Rinaldo would arrive, but all has
been arranged now that he has.
FIERRA
I'll leave him in your capable hands, then,
Paladino Vittorio.
(to Rinaldo)
I'll be waiting outside when you're done.
Fierra steps out.
VITTORIO
Are you well, old friend? I hope the assignment
was not too troublesome for you.
RINALDO
Oh, well, I've had a day or so to - Rest and
Recover.
VITTORIO
(evidently
oblivious to Rinaldo's attempted prompt)
Oh, yes, I hear you've even had time to - pay a
visit, hmm?
Rinaldo feigns laughter. Vittorio seems
surprised that his teasing was understood.
VITTORIO
Ah, the memory blocks have begun to degrade,
have they? Well, that is all to the good; it should make the restoration
procedure go even more smoothly.
RINALDO
The restoration - ?
A servitor appears and murmurs something to
Vito, who looks annoyed.
VITTORIO
Please forgive me, Justicar Rinaldo; a pressing
matter requires my attention. I should return shortly. Why not take the
opportunity to stretch your legs a bit?
Mystified but obedient for now, Rinaldo loiters
outside Vito's office, where he runs into Lia Tanzi, dressed in the same sort
of semi-armored uniform as Vito. She introduces herself - so he pretends not to
know her - and invites him into her own office for a spot of tea, while
waiting.
LIA
Some crackers? I'd love to offer you something
more substantial, but we wouldn't want to compromise the restoration procedure,
would we?
RINALDO
No, of course we wouldn't.
LIA
May I ask? I know the overlay will be examined -
meticulously, I assure you - but as a matter of departmental pride: no one
doubted you were a scientist?
RINALDO
Not - to my knowledge - Is that what your
department does? Forgive me - my memory, as you know - I was given to
understand we don't have much Scienza.
LIA
Please, there is nothing to forgive; it is
hardly surprising you don't remember! I am Paladino della Secondo Ora; my
office is concerned with acquired knowledge - such as Scienza, but by no means
exclusively so - while Paladino Vito's department focuses on the more primal
foundations of identity.
RINALDO
The first hour. I see.
LIA
Exactly. So while the core, construction, and
application of the overlay - along with, of course, the preservation and
restoration of your original identity - are under his auspices, I and mine were
happy to help with the knowledge aspect.
RINALDO
And you did a wonderful job; thank you. May I
ask what happens to the overlay?
LIA
It will be lifted and examined - all information
recorded - and thereafter stored with great care. It's normal for you to
perhaps be experiencing some attachment now, but once you are returned to your
proper self, it will be a great relief.
(after a
pause)
Do you really not remember me?
Just as Andrew is hollering that it's time for
Rinaldo to get the hell out before he's lobotomized, Lia is summoned by another
servitor. She tells Rinaldo to make himself comfortable - she'll have Vito
informed where he is. She leaves the room, and Rinaldo immediately proceeds to
stuff his face with all the protein and fat he can get his hands on.
An operating
room - soon
RINALDO
Wait, wait, wait, are you telling me this procedure
has never been tested?
HIRUDOTHERAPIST
Not at all, Justicar! We have performed
extensive testing, and I assure you, this new technology of exsanguination with
the leeches - which is only a portion of the overall procedure - has been
approved by all relevant authorities of the Ordine.
VITTORIO
Nevertheless, this is the first use of the
technique in an actual procedure?
HIRUDOTHERAPIST
(cheerfully)
Well, one must start somewhere, Paladino!
VITTORIO
You really think it is advisable for that
"somewhere" to be on a Chief Justicar?
Ulea, the Paladino della Momento Perduta, clears
his throat meaningfully.
VITTORIO
(who dislikes
Ulea)
Regardless of being a personal friend, Justicar
Rinaldo is not only a high-ranking official of Giustizia, but currently in
possession of potentially-critical information. Things can go wrong - is that
not why your presence is required, Paladino Ulea? It hardly seems the occasion
for experimentation.
HIRUDOTHERAPIST
As I said, this is not experimentation, because
we have already experimented, thoroughly! Paladino Vittorio, you signed off on
the memo yourself.
Vito, who does not read his paperwork, guiltily
shifts the focus of the argument. The hirudotherapist stands his ground. The
Paladin of the Lost Moment harrumphs. Until -
ATTENDANT
Sirs, forgive me for interrupting, but we have
another issue. I'm afraid the Justicar's stomach is not empty. There is
protein; we cannot proceed.
HIRUDOTHERAPIST
What?
Ulea clears his throat.
VITTORIO
(irritated)
Well, of course he was informed not to eat for
twenty-four hours, but it is hardly surprising if he did not remember! Memory
blocks tend to do that. Rinaldo -
RINALDO
It was only a little bit.
HIRUDOTHERAPIST
But, Justicar, surely Director Cardano would not
have permitted -
RINALDO
Yes, surely, but what is one to do when the Doge
presses refreshments on them?
Before long, the procedure is canceled for the
day, and Rinaldo is thankfully let up from the operating table. He and Vito
begin heading out of the Ordine, Vito admonishing Rinaldo to have nothing but
bread and water for the next 24 hours, so they can proceed the next day.
CESARE
(fuming)
I demand to see him! Paladino! Paladino!
VITTORIO
Ah, Custode delle Cinque Venti, what a pleasant
surprise.
CESARE
"Surprise"? "Surprise"! You
know perfectly well I have been trying to see you for over a week now! Just
because your department and mine do not see eye-to-eye -
VITTORIO
You mean, because Diplomazia wishes to make nice
with the very villains who have taken over one of our sovereign districts, and
Guistizia disagrees?
CESARE
No one is trying to "make nice"! The
reality is, Savon has annexed Gran Lunga, and how are we to resolve that
situation, if not through diplomacy?
VITTORIO
Yes, if we shake their hands the right way, they
will give us back our territory.
CESARE
How dare you - Rinaldo? Is that you?
RinALDO
Cesare! It's so good to see you. In fine form, I
see.
CESARE
As are you, of course; the years have treated us
well. But where have you been?
Sneaking a peek at a mirror in passing, Rinaldo
sees they are all some ten years older.
RINALDO
Oh, you know, here and there. Speaking of which,
how goes the mapmaking?
CESARE
(suddenly even
more furious)
How. Dare. You! You know I left that life
behind, that - that - inconsequence! That foolishness! Are you calling me
inconsequential and foolish?!
RINALDO
I'm really not -
CESARE
I thought you, at least, would be different! But
no, you are all the same, you of Giustizia, accusing Diplomazia of harboring -
what is that odious term you use? "Uglies"! I ask you, what could be
uglier than bringing up a man's past, dredging up the matter of - I can barely
bring myself to say the word - cartography!
VitTORIO
Custode Cesare, your indoor voice, please -
CESARE
(hollering)
I am using my indoor voice!
VITTORIO
If you could bring yourself, a moment, to listen
to my indoor voice, you might hear me telling you that Justicar Rinaldo is
currently suffering an impairment to his memory, and thus cannot be held
responsible for any lack of delicacy -
CESARE
(in a
stunningly abrupt Piacenzan mood shift)
Oh, I apologize! Is that what you and Paladino
Vittorio were tending to, today? I am sorry; I heard that your endeavor was
canceled for some reason. You must make sure that it is rescheduled promptly,
lest you be subject to endless delays.
Cesare frowns meaningfully at Vito, as they step
outside the building, where Fierra and Osha are waiting. Vito heroically refrains
from rolling his eyes, and excuses himself.
VITTORIO
I will go see that all scheduling matters are
put in order, shall I?
CESARE
Well, now that I understand, Rinaldo, of course
you cannot be blamed for not recalling - that incident -
As he, Rinaldo, Osha, and Fierra begin to walk
away, Cesare rocks on his heels. (What happens, really, is that Cesare’s
consciousness plunges down from the Oneiral Zone into this Cesare!)
CESARE
Rinaldo! We're in Giustizia! Giustizia's not
drowned!
(continues
babbling cartographic observations)
RINALDO
Yes. No. Cesare? Wait. How do you know I'm the
Rinaldo you trust?
CESARE
What other Rinaldo is there? Who are those
people following us?
RINALDO
Those are your assistants, who accompanied you
to see Paladino Vito -
CESARE
Vito? Vito is here? What is Vito doing here!? He
is the anchor! How am I to return with you to the anchor from here, when Vito
is the anchor and he is here!?
RINALDO
(lowering his
voice)
Shut up, Cesare. He is not the Vito we know.
This is not what we know.
CESARE
"Assistants"? You mean those are my
thralls? I have thralls? I do not have -
Suddenly convinced that he is, himself, once
more being enthralled by a Longlegs, Cesare crosses his arms and refuses to
speak or budge. Rinaldo tries to explain what he knows.
FIERRA
Rinaldo? We should retire to the Hall, so you
can rest for tomorrow.
RINALDO
Yes, but I ran into an old friend.
FIERRA
Cesare?
RINALDO
He has become unusually silent. Let us go
somewhere and celebrate.
CESARE
If you show me your true face, Longlegs, I will
tell you everything.
FIERRA
(after a brief
pause)
Rinaldo, will you excuse the two of us for a
moment?
RINALDO
Oh, you know each other? Well, certainly.
Rinaldo takes the opportunity to whisper to Osha
that this seems to be ‘their’ Cesare.
FIERRA
(hissing
privately to Cesare)
We agreed that if we meet outside, after
everything, we treat each other with dignity and respect! I told you, and I'm
telling you again, and I need to believe it's for the last time: you chose - her.
You cannot go commenting about my legs!
Cesare, who has never met Fierra, realizes he
would never have mentioned her to a Longlegs.
CeSARE
Iiii - apologize! For any heartbreak I may have
inadvertently caused.
FIERRA
(loudly)
Now, if you will excuse me, Custode, I must see
to Justicar Rinaldo.
CESARE
"Justicar"?
RINALDO
Amazing, isn't it?
Rinaldo walks ahead with Fierra. Osha and Cesare
hurriedly exchange information, although Cesare, characteristically, dithers
for some time, until Osha cuts to the chase:
OSHA
What do you need me to do?
CESARE
Oh! Get Rinaldo, while I recreate the map to
Salici, which will bring us to Vito.
OSHA
But Vito -
CESARE
The Vito of eight years ago, which is two and a half
years from where we started, when the lightning happened. But first we must
bring everyone together.
OSHA
(possibly
sarcastically)
It's that simple?
CESARE
(oblivious to
the possibility of sarcasm)
I am hoping it is that simple? At least this
part should be.
Osha goes to fetch Rinaldo. Cesare starts to
redraw his map, only to find that his ink seems to seep away into the air; they
are, as Rinaldo hypothesized earlier, underwater.
CESARE
I need a way to keep my ink from dissipating!
CESARE's ring
(in a quite
male voice)
I stand ready, Dapifer.
CESARE
Who's that? Who is talking to me? Are you
talking to me?
CESARE'S RING
I am Mistral, Dapifer.
CESARE
I have a female thrall in my ring? How
convenient!
With the help of "Miss Thrall", it's
done! The trio travels through the Oneiral Zone - Osha felling some of the
now-multiple Longlegs wandering about, calling Cesare's name - to Archiviare,
where they are reunited with ‘their’ Vito. Everyone reverts to their 'normal'
age.
All seems well, and much theorizing occurs,
until Rinaldo realizes that they have left Eugen behind! Osha points out that
not only he, but Mateo and the Savonians recovered their Violazione memories,
and may also (being Savonian) be in danger from the authorities.
A re-rescue attempt is agreed upon, except that
they need another anchor, since Vito is still serving as such for Master Juven,
who has yet to return. Rinaldo recalls that his druid friend, Bernardo
Matarellia, was heading for Archiviare when Rinaldo last saw him.
Sweet Jorge confirms that such a person is, in
fact, known to be present in the area, albeit likewise known as a madman.
Rinaldo contacts Bernardo druidically, and, despite indeed appearing not to be
in possession of a complete set of marbles, Bernardo agrees to help, in
exchange for Rinaldo's promise to help him plead for the Green Antlered God's
benison.
Rinaldo ends up staying behind to keep an eye on
Bernardo, but aside from that - for once - the travel through the Oneiral Zone
goes off without a hitch. Then Osha and Cesare emerge into a miniature war
zone! The Portinari residence is under siege by forces in Piacenzan livery, and
curious liquids and lights fill the air, as the Savonians fight back.
HANS
(shouting)
We will protect you, Signor Zorsi!
OSHA
Cesare, are you sure we can only take Eugen?
That is Via's father!
CESARE
He's alive?
OSHA
For now! And what about the Savonians? We can’t
just leave them.
CESARE
All right, all right! I just need to adjust the
specifications of the map - I need to make the requisite calculations - If I
make a mistake, it could be - I need -
(shouting,
after inspiration strikes)
Dietrich! Dietrich, tell me you're here!
Soon, with Osha and Hans coordinating, Cesare
and Dietrich are huddled over the map.
DIETRICH
I do not understand the problem.
CESARE
See, the map - and thus the spell - was
constructed for three or four, but now we are seventeen, and so all the
parameters need to be adjusted to compensate for -
DIETRICH
No, I mean I do not understand why there is a
problem.
CESARE
(staring at
the map, which the mathematician has recalibrated in a minute or so)
Oh. Oh!
Before long, everyone is clustered together.
However, there's one little problem.
MATEO
Thank you, my friends, but I cannot go with you.
HANS
Signor Zorsi, you cannot expect to reason with
these mad people -
MATEO
If you are not here, they have no proof that I
have been "harboring Savonians".
OSHA
That may not stop them from throwing you in
jail, on suspicion.
MATEO
They might, or they might not be able to; this
is Cultura, and I am Mateo Zorsi. But more importantly, what if Via comes? I
have not seen my daughter in ten years; I will not have her come to find me,
only to discover I have left her.
CESARE
I promise you, Signor, I will find your
daughter.
MATEO
You are a friend of Rinaldo's and Osha's, so please do
not think I do not trust you. Rather, I do. So after you have gotten my
daughter to safety, you can get me.
