The assault on Salty Pier

[Anastasia]

The song continues, your voice powerful and clear. The leader of it grins even more and matches you note for note, "And Betty was a good old lass, a good old lass!" He sings, "Chorus, everyone!"

"Betty was a good old lass, a good old lass!"

"Betty was a good old lass, a good old lass!"

"Betty was a good old lass, a good old lass!"

Jetina joins in as well, throwing her voice into the song. It ends with tankards raised and a cheer, most drinking to the end of it.

[Nephrite]

Moore offers a clap and a cheer himself, deciding to just be a good neighbor for right now. He's clearly got His attention, so it'd be rude to barge in!

[Anastasia]

"Everyone, a new round on me!" Cheers go up as the man hops up, "All you can drink!"

At the same time he speaks to you in a much quieter voice, "Ah, and what does Erathaol want with me?"

[Nephrite]

"I have need to speak to you of Io and 21, Lord Oghma." Moore says in a respectfully quiet voice.

[Anastasia]

Humming the tune of the song to himself, Oghma walks along, "Alright, let's get to it," he says, the hallway becoming indistinct, song distantly heard here and there. "Io's return has kicked over some nests, so which of yours got kicked over?"

[Nephrite]

"I've found myself blessed with his strength." Moore explains. He gestures with Refrain. "You can probably sense it on here, too. Somehow he's creating some sort of tangible bonds between people...  anyway." He clears his throat.

"I need to get to the truth of the matter, which means 21. Which... well, I don't need to say it, but I will anyway. It means I need to find Sylvie." He smiles a bit and looks at Oghma. "It seemed appropriate that I come to you for that particular subject."

[Anastasia]

Oghma chuckles, "Sylvie, now that's a thing. But the truth is - I can't see anything about 21 or Sylvie, since she's attached to it. It's above my pay grade as the Lord of Knowledge. Pass that onto your boss the next time you see him, in case he isn't aware of it. I think he is, but things get fuzzy around 21."

[Nephrite]

"This wasn't a directive by Lord Erathaol." Moore says with a smile. "It's a personal matter. I probably could've saved a lot of time if I'd just asked him how to find her, but where's the fun in that?" A larger smile. "It's not the destination that's important, but the journey, right?"

He rocks back and forth for a moment. "Hmm... well, I..." He snaps his fingers. "Did Sylvie have any family?"

[Anastasia]

Jetina keeps her mouth shut here, respectful and following along.

"Yes, a mother and a son." Rubbing his chin, "The son's suddenly an archmage, accomplished cleric, master martial artist, a daring rogue and more than I care to think about. Funny, really, how many rules she broke with that. It has to be 21 somehow or another. You know, I like her for her relentless drive for knowledge and finding things out, but I'm glad I'm not the patron of mothers, or she'd get a smiting. Giving your child incredible powers like that is lousy parenting. She's never been big on actually being a mother, never really liked her child or the situation that lead to him being born. I'm guessing it's some bizarre attempt at a do over by proxy or some sort of attempt to make up for being a crummy Mom. Calley's grandmother essentially raises him like her own child."

"Isn't...that a lot to tell us that's rather personal?" Jetina pipes up. "Not that I'm not grateful, of course!"

Oghma laughs, "I'm the patron of knowledge, not of keeping secrets. If you want any of that, go find Mask or Shar. Besides, Moore cares about her - she doesn't have many people left who really do."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods along to the story and taps his chin. "I don't know that it's 21, necessarily. That sounds like a side effect of what Io is doing. The people who joined me said they became far more accomplished at what they had been previously, so... if he had even a little bit of talent for things, then that sounds like it got expanded on."

He hums once, as if to consider some options. "Or... maybe it's a little of both and that wasn't what she expected. Hmmmm. I suppose I'll just ask her once I find her... it isn't like she can evade the question."

Question?

Question her?

The person who can't tell lies?

Moore blinks once. Then again, as if some sort of realization just dawned. "...I never just thought to ask her where she is. Is it really that simple...?"

[Anastasia]

"Often the simplest answer is missed by the powerful," Oghma remarks, "Power makes you see things in terms of power, not in terms of results."

Jetina hums, "That assumes she hears it and answers, though."

[Nephrite]

"The simplest solution is usually the best." Moore agrees. He nods once afterwards.

"All right. I think we can handle things from here, then." Moore says. "If we can't reach her through normal means, her son probably has a way." He turns to Oghma and offers a bow. "Thank you for your time. Would you please do me a favor and make sure our celestial cohort gets back to Lunia safely? I fear we lost her on the cart ride over."

[Anastasia]

Oghma merely laughs, "Done."

Then you're back on Lunia. Jetina stands next to you on the shoreline, while Xandra lies face up on the ground, groaning.

[Nephrite]

Moore flies over to offer her a hand up.

"No more mine cart rides for you, miss." He snorts.

[Anastasia]

Xandra's face is a bruised mess, though fading already, healing. "Huuuh?" Xandra says slowly, voice irregular. "Mooooore?"