The Danger Gang is late for New Year's in Chrysopolis

Arriving a day late for a big party is never fun, and this is no exception. The good citizens of Chrysopolis are nearly all abed, likely nursing their hangovers (read: no different than normal), that is, all but Arben who is still loudly partying it up.

Zombres is in no mood for a celebration and begins grilling the bard for answers to his pressing questions. Only after the Jewish wizard agrees to Arben's one-shot-per-question rule does he recieve any enlightenment. Arben reports the following:

• The Throne of Solomon could refer to several things. It is:
  • A bottomless lake in Persia, sacred to the Zoroastrians.
  • Literally, the throne Solomon sat in, made of ivory and gold, possessing of six steps, each with a different, special commandment inlaid; with clockwork animals protstrating themselves to cushion each step.
  • Something else, that he forgets.

• The only Sungaria he can recall is a shrine by that name in India.

• Serach, in addition to everything we have already determined, is noteworthy because she could remember where Joseph's coffin was when the Jews fled Egypt. Joseph was buried in a lead-lined casket, and thus could not be detected using typical means.

• The Language of Death, whatever it is, can probably be read by those immune to death magic (i.e. undead or immortals).

Zombres starts feeling nauseous from the rotgut and concludes his questioning.

Kolya, now a mighty warrior, introduces Arben to Marcela, a woman mixed in with the Tigress crew who was actually a skilled huntress. She is taken on a whirlwind tour of the partied-out C-Town, making the acquaintance of all of the locals. She decides maybe she should go adventuring with these guys and, you know, break out of her rut or whatever.

The Danger Gang roust Can who, since returning from the dead, has been given his own administrative office. He reports that he has absolutely no clue what God might be talking about, and his interpretation of the divination is that the answer will only come apparent some time in May. Unhelpful. Zombres presses him for info, possibly relating to Constantinople's sewers... something only he would know about maybe? Can rolls his eyes, farts pointedly, and allows how he has been working on a map of Asia Minor. Maybe they would like to look at it? Maybe it will help them out?

The Danger Gang pores over the finely detailed topographical map, but to no avail.

"Well (poot), what exactly (phhhhhtt) were you asking God about (freeep)?"

Zombres quotes from Correspondence Between Serach the Immortal and Isaac, Exilarch of Babel, and when he gets to the bit about the "well-walled, well-towered, high-gated" citadel, Can perks up.

"That's from the Iliad! It's a description of Troy."

Zombres reminds Can that he's never read the Iliad, only the Odyssey.

"I've been reading it in my spare time!"

Although it makes precious little sense to Zombres why Isaac would have decided the walled city he wanted was Troy, when Tarphon lived long after Troy perished and Constantinople was a wayyyyyy more obvious choice, but nevertheless, the Gang agrees to check out the ruins of Troy, if only for a lack of anything better to do. Zombres, despite (or perhaps because of) his insobriety wants to leave immediately. The rest of the Gang insist that they, too, must get their drink on, and rather than sailing west, they party the day away... much to the chagrin of those still trying to slumber the way through their crapulence.

For good or ill, the Danger Gang parties away the first day of 989 in Chrysopolis.