When you return to Pavis you find out some bad news as soon as you run into people you know, or make your way to the fort. While you were out, the Coders came to Wyrmjaw fort and spoke with Elohwyn and others there. They tried to break the news to her kindly and gently, but the news was very upsetting to her. Governor Sor-eel had just ordered that the fort be appropriated as a Lunar barracks, immediately! Troops from the Granite Phalanx and a squadron of elite Wyvern Riders were already on their way to the fort from Pavis to take up residence, indefinitely. Elohwyn and Idylla got the Coders to agree that initiates of Firshala could come to the fort on holy days to pray. All others are excluded, although of course those that were around brought all of your possessions out. Elohwyn relocated her angry Vingans at Pairing Stone with anyone that would come along. The Coders said that Sor-eel had ordered that no compensation would be granted for these occupations (apparently, other fairly intact ruins in the Rubble and elsewhere along the River have been similarly occupied because of this edict). Lunar martial law has been imposed as new troops are brought into Prax, apparently readying for some major assault, and it is expected that the citizens of the Empire will welcome them with open arms and open gates.
The Temple Barge of Zola Fel offers free boarding to all River Voices until you can find other housing, and other friends have stepped forward to help you out a bit, but the situation looks grim.
Other news from Che'enshashan at the Temple Barge: A fairly young acolyte, the Pavisite and Lunar ally Brogalma the Brazen, came to Che'en with a dream that she had on the High Holy Day in Pavis. In the murky dreaming, before which she asked Zola Fel "What changes does the new year bring to the river around Pavis?," she received a vision that zoomed in from the sky onto a pool in the Puzzle Canal, where an infant girl was paddling and giggling. The vision zoomed in further to the girl, who looked into Brogalma's eyes and said "The great river has borne a new daughter." Brogalma doesn't remember many details of the girl except that she had flowing silvery locks of hair and pure, smooth skin. [Caernak surely questions here a little more and is pretty sure that this does not match a certain little girl, or any nymph for that matter, that he knows] Follow-up divinations about the girl's identity have been inconclusive; Zola Fel seems proud and impatient for his worshippers to meet his new daughter. Che'en is certain that this means that the river is asking the people to come meet and celebrate the birth of this new nymph of the River.
Because the girl is in the Puzzle Canal, and the River Voices are experts in negotiating the canal, Che'en says that you should go in soon as emissaries from the cult and pay your respects to the nymph. You'll be provided with a sturdy boat and other supplies as you deem necessary. If you can execute the mission before the Holy Day, great; if not, fine [Che'en clearly prefers the former though, but is uncomfortable pressuring the new River Servant and friends so soon].