Newleigh, Unclaimed Territory.

18th of Aria, the second month of Snow.

2289 years since the new gods came.

The “News in Print”, the other broadsheet of news, had an article about the financial stability of the mages guild. Someone was able to get them the 'actual' books, and the 'tax' books. It looks like someone has been embezzling for several decades. I had a chat with my friend at the bar, sadly she didn't have anything to do with the guild problem, just setting up the school's finances too look like they had swallowed the money for the reagents, as opposed to actually buying them. Still, that amount of paperwork meddling is amazing. If I ever run 'that' kind of business, I will have to look her up.

21st of Aria,

Brandywine dragged me to a 'Meat and Greet' with the actors of The Ballad of Tristan. The meat themed appetizers were good. The actors seemed to be nice people. The lead looks nothing like Tristan, and they don't have a goblin playing Green Za'Onion. They have a gnome! I'm more that a little upset. Big G was pivotal in the battle of Hester's Pass, where he died taking out the reserve barracks on his own. If they had joined the field, their two thousand strong unit would have wiped us out.

Idiots.

I have written a strongly worded letter to the Rio College of Bards, expressing my, and by extension Tristan's, displeasure. I also included the after action report Tristan submitted to the generals. The original with the tear stains, not the clean one I handed in with the spelling errors fixed.

22nd of Aria,

I received and delivered a package from the Gentlemen today. Very fast turnaround. I also received a notice from the letter carriers that the letter I sent had been stolen. I am losing my touch, it seems.

- - -

After nodding to Ralph and company, Maxwell walked to a certain bar and entered. “Where is the woman in charge?” He yelled.

The woman in charge walked out, “What do you need?”

Max threw a less gaudy broach to her. “Catch.” and turned back to the door. His exit was interrupted by a hug from behind. He waited for the surprise huger to let go, then departed.

- - -

24th of Aria,

Three days before the opera. I have heard criers in the streets advertising the opera for several days now. I am tired of it. Ralph bought me lunch today, asked how my 'job' was progressing. I told him it was a 'work in progress' and not to worry about it.

25th of Aria,

Large shapes have been seen moving in the snow. No one has been out to look for them as the snow is around ten feet in depth. Still a wonder that they have been seen from the walls. I'm fairly sure the reports are the results of drunkards pissing from the walls as nothing in existence is that tall except demons, and demons fly, not walk.

26th of Aria,

I await the opera with an ever growing pit in my stomach. The last time I saw The Ballad of Tristan it was an abhorrence to the arts.

27th of Aria,

The opera was tonight. It was...I don't know. I have mixed feelings.

The choice in music was disturbing. The battle of the Urnest plain was indeed large, and full of the dead, but the price of a mile wasn't that large. The number given was more than both armies combined. Tristan never talked about the power of his sword. Green Za'Onion was not a ghost, and there were no trenches at the battle of Hester's Pass. The young blond man that played me, was wearing gaudy armor. And Tristan singing that I was wearing his armor when I died was way off. Oh, and Tristan was NOT a young man from Tex-ass. He was middle aged and from Denvrr.

The instrumental background music was well written and preformed, and the march they played whenever the enemy troops came on the stage was eerie.

I just don't know what to think.

- - -

Maxwell sat in the box seats with Brandywine and Ralph and his crew. They stared. The music rolled over them in wave after wave. Flashbacks played back and forth in Max's mind, but he was jolted out of them by the music.

Music the likes of which he had only heard once before in his life, back when he had built the caged lightning for the bard of Rio.

At the end of the opera there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Not even Brandywine's.

- - -

28th of Aria,

The opera will be sold out for months. It will be a hit for the ages. If only there was a way to record the music to play it for yourself.

29th of Aria,

I was a drunk pissing off the wall tonight. I am sober now. I saw the shapes moving in the distance. I feel an existential dread creeping over my soul. I doubt I will sleep tonight.

31st of Aria,

I went and looked today. The gouges in the snow are huge. The footprints are huge, some four feet long, and maybe half that wide. I would guess the creatures to be bipedal. I don't know where they go during the day.

The city watch has received many reported sightings.

32nd of Aria,

The sightings have stopped. Whatever they were, the creatures are gone.

33rd of Aria,

Life continues. The Council of Wizards, Adepts, and Sorcerers has shown up to deal with the local mages guild and academy. This may get bloody.

38th of Aria,

I was called to testify at the Mage's hearing today...Meh. Apparently I am an 'outside expert' on magical dealings according to the 'Council'.

Idiots.

- - -

Maxwell sat in the uncomfortable witness chair as the mage inquisitor began to swear him in as a witness. “Mr. Maxwell Smithson, Do you swear by the Gods to tell the truth on this witness stand?”

Max rolled his eyes, “No.”

A murmur ran through the assembled crowd. “Order! Order in the court!” The judge slammed his hammer on the bench in front of him.

“Explain yourself Mr. Smithson!” Said the Inquisitor.

“That's easy. The gods are all idiots. Well, except for Sarah and Bjorn. So I guess I can swear by them, but I would rather not.” Max said, and the courtroom fell quiet.

“...No...You can't be...” The Inquisitor mopped his brow with a frilly blue handkerchief, “Are you That Maxwell Smithson? One time and first companion of Tristan the Great, Heretic of the gods, Immortal of Mortals, who has his own cult?” His voiced raised in pitch throughout the abbreviated listing of titles.

“And a few other things as well. I believe I have a couple of royal titles in Heretics Hold, Demonia, and Garthia that you missed. As well as some unflattering nicknames.” Max responded with a smile. “I tell you what, I swear to tell the truth, to the best of my knowledge, by by dead wife's grave. That good enough for you?” His voice turned to ice at the vow.

“Yes?” answered the Inquisitor.

“Good. Now get on with it.”

- - -

38th of Aria,

The testimony has continued. I have been asked my opinion of the local guild, the school, and the local criminal element. I told the truth. As I see it.

- - -

“So even under oath, you refuse to answer any questions about the criminal underground?” The defense Inquisitor asked in a scathing tone.

“No.” Max sighed for the umpteenth time, “You just didn't like the answer.”

“Let me ask again, for the record, Did the local criminal underground have anything to do with defrauding the defendants?”

“To the best of my knowledge, the Gentlemen of Repute had nothing to do with the problems at the local mages guild.”

“So you admit that they did have something to do with the problems at the school?” The Inquisitor sounded triumphant.

“I did NOT admit anything of the sort. You are jumping to unfounded conclusions. Idiot.”

“Did you just insult my intelligence?!?”

“Yes.”

“HOW DARE YOU!!!”

“Pretty easily. You are trying to put words in my mouth. I'm tired of it. You have tried, and failed, four times already.” Max shook his head. “I will remind you that I am an 'expert' witness, not a witness to events. If you cannot respect that, I will walk, and call a pox on you and this whole proceeding.”

“...Your honor? I would like to call the next witness?” the now very nervous Inquisitor asked.

- - -

42nd of Aria,

The 'trial' has ended. The incumbent leadership will be replaced, and punished whatever way the council does things. I am getting sick of mages.

In other news, I have been given lifetime box tickets to the local playhouse where the opera was preformed. They are engraved platinum. The whole box is mine. Where am I going to find twelve other people to fill the box?