Char Li's Angels: The Skull of Saint Diana - Part XXIV

Sir Bedevere arrives aboard the Blessed Saint Horace to question the Troupe (as witnesses) and to take Genin Vena into custody. But before that he pays homage to the relic within the ship’s chapel. His attitude to the Troupe has noticeably changed.  While he chastises them for trying to slip away from Ravenna (when if they had explained their plan he might have assisted them) he begrudgingly appreciates their success and the fact that they have done his House a favour by recovering the Skull.

During their transit back to Ravenna Belvoir takes the opportunity to gaze into the Skull, triggering a vision.  Unlike Zillah’s vision of contemporary events the yeoman sees a scene from hundreds of years ago.  He witnesses the final moments of Lady Diana’s life; how she was hunted down by a group of mercenaries on hover bikes and eventually shot with some sort of advanced (and possibly alien) energy weapon.  In the final moments of the attack, as the blast hits her, Diana grabs her jump gate cross. The bean somehow transmogrifies her into a crystalline skeleton and the blast refracts back as a wave, striking all the attackers and instantly turning them to dust.  The weapon itself then explodes as it strikes the ground.

Zillah witnesses Belvoir experiencing this and, via their Vis Sight, sees occult energy coming form “above”, through the skull and into Belvoir.

Belvoir shares the details of what he saw with the Troupe and Canon Alexis pulls out the details of the legend she had previously transcribed to confirm the veracity of the tale.

When the Rain of Vengeance and Blessed Saint Horace reunite with the rest of the Li Halan flotilla in orbit above Ravenna, the Troupe host Lord Admiral Baron Chen, Lieutenant Hanzo and Brother Cadog. After they have meditated before the skull they share a formal dinner. 

Eventually the Baron, who, whilst up and about, is obviously still suffering from the wounds, stands to raise a toast to the relic and the Troupe. He announces that once the remaining pilgrim vessel joins them from the surface of the planet, and sufficient emergency repairs have been made to the Rain of Vengeance, they will be underway.

At which point Bishop Arcellius stands.  He beckons to Sir Ulrich who eagerly lays out a series of pre-prepared jump route maps on the dinner table. The Bishop announces that the Pancreator spoke to him in a dream the night before; it was revealed to him that they should not return the route they came but instead travel a circuitous route back to Li Halan space (Ravenna > Delphi > Pentateuch > Byzantium Secundus > Pyre > Grail > Rampart > Kish > Icon > Midian). It is his firm belief that they must process the relic through these worlds a sa witness to the Pancreator’s glory and benevolence. The Troupe are stunned. Their ships are damaged or under-crewed and they know that the mission coffers are insufficient to support the trip (in fuel costs let alone jump gate key rental, food, water and other supplies).  Canon Alexis tries to reason with the Bishop but he seems completely set on the idea.  The Avestite sees that there is nothing else for it and summons the Sting of Conscience once again, chastising him for his pride and hubris.  Their Pancreator appointed task is to return the Skull to Midian and doing that in the most expedient way shows true stewardship of the blessings they have received.  The Bishop is once again struck to the core and immediately seeks absolution and forgiveness. (For the majority of the rest of the journey he remains in self-imposed penance, taking only “bread and water” and spending his waking hours in prayer before the relic).

Eventually Mistress Venus brings the remaining pilgrims aboard to genuflect before the Skull. Alexis notices her changed, more respectful, attitude and how the serfs under her care now look better nourished and well cared for.

Before leaving orbit they also hear more from the grateful Hawkwood authorities. Genin Vena La’Konen has confirmed that Charlie Crocker is in their employ. They were hired by a “Decados agent” (whose identity is as yet unknown) to steal the Skull on their behalf. The Muster were hired separately to cause a disturbance and distraction during the theft (as discovered by Kibri). 

When the flotilla arrives at the Ravennan jump gate, about a week later, the Charioteers Guild at the gate deliver a message to the Troupe. They recognise it is written in a Jakovian code, that Sir Ulrich eventually deciphers.  The message reads:

    “The answers are on Malignatius 

                                                    - “C” “ 

About two weeks later the flotilla finally arrive in orbit of Midian. The Blessed Saint Horace, escorted by the Rain of Vengeance and Flavius’ Reign, touches down at the Saiwuhn spaceport to a heroes welcome. Count Rem Dei Kun Char Li Halan is there, along with the planetary duke, Augustus Zuhn Li Halan, much of his court and the ancient Archbishop Mezenzikes. Kibri notes that Count Char is accompanied by Lao Tou who seems full of tearful gratitude for their return. It is then he recalls the pledge he made to locate news of the old retainer's previous young master…

Well, that was our finale, we concluded by asking everyone to suggest what their character had learnt or how this experience may have changed them:

Belvoir – it was revealed that he had been taking every opportunity to slip aboard the Tiger of Tashrak and had been breaking in to Lady Ahgera’s cell. He had earned the Vorox’s trust and built up a relationship with her. 

Alexis – is now even more suspicious of the Urth Orthodoxy and the weaknesses of the priesthood.  She is determined to devote herself even more to her duties within the Synecullum.

Zillah – is having somewhat of a crisis of faith. They have seen that the Pancreator (or something resembling it) has real, theurgic power, but the conduct of members of the clergy, and the mobs of the “faithful” on Ravenna, has undermined any respect for organised religion and the church that they once had. 

Kibri – has had a literal near death experience which resulted in a reawakening of his faith and a growing desire to connect with Ur-Ukar culture and to help his people in practical ways.