Vanished!
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The 'Vanished' TP was concerned with two mysteries that affected Ista's Harpers. There was the question of the missing daughter of a Lord Holder, and also the annoying series of thefts suffered in the Harper Hall and other parts of the Ista Hold area. The logs and narrative that follow tell the story.
Beginnings.
It began - or it seemed to begin, because the arrival of a new Apprentice went almost unnoticed except for a slight sense of unease about her - with a letter from Lord Bramero of Nabol. Copies had been sent to the Harper Craft and to major Holds throughout Pern. It seemed that Lady Alebra, the Lord Holder's eighteen-Turn-old daughter, had vanished. Further information from the Masterharper told of suspicions that her disappearance might be voluntary - there were rumours of an unsuitable love interest!
Further letters followed, this time addressed specifically to Ista Hold and its Harpers and accompanied by a small portrait. These offered a reward for any information about the missing Lady, and told of a reported sighting at Tillek Hold, in the vicinity of an Ista-bound ship.
Ista's Harpers could find no information of use. Perhaps the lady simply wasn't there. But before long, another series of events that were all too definitely close to home took place: Ista Hold and its crafthalls fell victim to a series of thefts. The owners of the vanishing valuables included harpers, healers, herders and holders. Suspicions were rife, and quite displaced the missing lady as a topic of conversation amongst the Harper Apprentices. And then, over the summer, everything went quiet - too quiet!
- Discussion in the Mug - in which Jueann and Ylisa discuss the missing Lady.
- Stitch does a Sketch - in which Ista's own Harper Spy is asked for some advice.
- Suspicions - in which Shyana confides that the thefts have caused some fingers to point among the apprentices.
- Speculation - the thefts appear to be over, but are still the subject of curiosity.
Developments.
Master Jueann received a strongly worded letter from Lord Bramero - but other events on the same day were even more distressing.
- The thieves strike again - and Majori laments her losses.
- Some Istan History is recalled.
Time passed; the excitement subsided.
- A Dance Lesson seems to find one of the apprentices rather distracted...
- ...and she's heading for trouble, though other things are quieter.
- The mysterious Master Tony returns to Ista after many years.
- Master Tony reveals a secret from the past - but who was that girl waiting for?
- Majori Makes a Purchase.
- Disaster! There's a flood in the Archives. In the course of saving the documents, something interesting is found - then lost.
In an attempt to make progress with finding the missing Lady, Jueann found an excuse to send Ylisa to Nabol, from where she sent a note. When informants in the Gar area, including trader Rianna, reported sightings that could add up to a lead at last, a further flood of letters arrived from Bramero. Things were warming up.
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Ylisa returns from her posting.
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Tony and Majori discuss the the philosophy of espionage.
Answers.
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Is the mystery of the missing Lady solved at last? Lord Bramero arrives in high ire - an awkward time for a sudden realisation.
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It seems that Majori has disappeared. Tony and Ylisa discuss where she might be.
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A missing book reappears. Is this a clue to Majori's whereabouts?
The senior harpers turned their attention to finding the entrance to the tunnels, without success. The apprentices, however, were carrying on their own covert explorations, and did rather better.
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Tytom and Realilina go exploring the tunnels, and find some important evidence.
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The apprentices report what they found in the tunnels - after some hesitation.
At last, it looked as if the senior harpers were in a position to take action.
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At a secret meeting, decisions are taken.
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A watch is kept on the entrances to the old lower level. A few days later, guards enter the tunnels, and those sought are caught.
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The question is, what to do with Majori? Jueann has a surprising solution.
Jueann's idea would enable Majori to pay her debts to the craft by hard work in a role for which her training suited her. A letter was sent to Lord Bramero informing him that Lady Alebra is the Harper Hall's new Headwoman. The chastened girl seemed ready to turn over a new leaf, though she wouldn't be trusted for a while.
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The final confrontation takes place at the Harper Dinner, when Lord Bramero appears, intent on reclaiming his daughter. She, however, has other ideas.
