It seems that Paladin Aeric's concern about the state of our navy could not have come at a better time, for a message from Lyonesse reached the Court this same e'en reporting a huge armada of ships coming down the coast from the north. 

And in a (possibly) related story, the ambassador from the unnamed northern kingdom, who left his sword in the Courtroom and who left in haste after his ship was attacked by what could possibly have been Lacon and the Chronomancers, was reported to have escaped the Warwickian ships pursuing him, his ship propelled by an "unnatural wind."  The letter from the pursuers included a design for the flag on the ambassador's ship; no word on whether this flag matches the one flown by the approaching armada. 

In our final piece of sea-related news, word reached the Court this e'en about the pillar of fire rising from the sea, as was reported last week by Lord Paladin Galchauren.  This week, a letter addressed to the Court reported that the pillar of flame had become a mountain spewing fire and lava.  Ships are continued to be warned away from the area. 

MEERD SCIENCE -OR- TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS 
Paladin Aeric brought the strange creature Meerd into Court this e'en, claiming that he was the one who had stolen Valric's memories and impersonated him in Court a few weeks back.  Aeric had determined that Meerd was told to take Companions' memories by Lacon; after futher questioning by both the Court at large and by Lady Moira in private, it was discovered that the Chronomancers did not actually steal memories but somehow removed experiences from the past so that they did not occur; why those other than the target of such theft continue to remember these events remains a mystery.  Meerd also confessed that he did not know how to return the experiences thus stolen, and that (in his case, at least) those thefts were an accident.  As Meerd was told to "observe" the Court by Lacon, it was suggested by Paladin Aeric that Lacon sent him knowing such an accident would happen, thereby giving him a bargaining chip for his services.  Astute readers will recall Lacon's last visit to the Court with Edea Prime of the Chronomancers, who wished to exchange their services in return for the meteoric iron sword left by Ambassador Kendral. 

After much deliberation, it was decided that the Court had no recourse besides contacting Lacon and the Chronomancers and asking their aid in returning Valric's "missing time" to him. 

It should also be noted that Meerd reported seeing Lacon and Edea Prime speaking to a third individual before their dealings with the Court; while he could not recall this person's appearance, he did say that he or she was "important."  Could there be a third party in league with Lacon and the Chronomancers?  Could that third party be manipulating them both? 
Only time (pardon the pun) will tell. 

I WANT A NEW DUCK 
Damsel Duck announced this e'en that the Fortune's Folly page class auction would be held next Court, which coincidentally will be the first Court of page turning.  Assuming we have pages, of course.  Those who are interested in buying goods or services, or just plain donating to the cause, are enouraged to attend with marks (both peasant and Warwickian) 
in hand. 

Damsel Duck also fufilled two of her requirements for Percival this e'en; one was a report on Dante Allegheri, and the other was a representation of a Companion.  The latter took the form of a teddy bear cleverly given dragonlike features, as a representation of Duck's older sibling, 
Ohmahlourd F-f-f-fritz. 

A KIND OF MAGIC 
A necromancer named Mantis came to the Court of Light this e'en, seeking the aid of the Companions.  He claimed to be from a school of the dark arts located a day or so south of Warwick, built upon the ruins of a temple for access to the negative energies of its catecombs.  Mantis claimed that some of the students had "accidentally" opened a dark portal of some kind and now it can't be closed; to make matters worse, the eight students that were involved in the opening have been transformed by the dark energies they invoked.  Paladin Aeric and Lady Moira volunteered to journey to the school with Mantis and confront this problem. 

BIG TIME 
Duke Lorath announced this e'en that he would no longer be questing for the first level of Uriel, but instead would be seeking the first level of Gabriel.