Session 41: Politics and Family Report

General Summary

The game begins with Eavaan and Merta at the Castle, discussing events of late and arrangements to ensure Merta will be able to provide protection and bodyguard duty during the coronation and for the meeting thereafter. Once this covered, Eavaan also contacts the group via the sending stone, once knowing everyone is alone and in private to ensure no eavesdropping. The following is shared:  

• They had a meeting with the prince who is a dark quori
• Coronation is on the 26 of Sypheros
• They plan to infiltrate the dark quori and the prince already believe they are on their side
• Believes the prince is a pawn, not at the top of the order

  Astara replies with the question: We should know if they are born or made.   The newspaper of the morning speaks, on page 2, within the text, the Inquisitor keeping safe of not over inflating information from a non validated source, that there are rumors that Droamm denizens in Breland appeared as the King fell ill, and could be involved. The people begin to gossip on the subject.

Hirfin is there notified that the Kind has died, and that there is doubt on the possibility of a poisoning by Droamm folk, but the investigation is ongoing. He pays them 100gp for the knowledge, and head's to get the presses rolling. This includes the announcement of the funeral and coronation to follow.

Back in Sharn, Senra works on gathering victim information for a "Murder map". All the victims were traders of a guild or merchant family, that travelled at night, in the deep dark. The goods they sold were unrelated, but all but the first victim, died on the same 3 miles of road, midway between Sharn and Wroat. The first victim died closer to the capital, in a forested section of the road. The goods sold by the victims were not related.

Astara went to look at the bodies. She was able to set that the vocal cords were severed, but found no other hints. Talking to Afy, the mortician, it was suggested that Astara should consider becoming a mortician when she retires from the adventuring life. Afy knows and is related to Tanantala, though distantly and sends her regards.

During the morgue visit, Yvan sends to Astara and informs her he found a 3 headed snake symbol to the wine bottle, which Astara pieces together is a hydra, but Yvan doesn't seem to know what that is. He wishes her luck, misses her and goes to the airship. Astara confirms with Eavaan and the symbol is found on the other bottle, set as the mark of shadow.

Trajan meets with Zane, though has himself get noticed to fake a chanced encounter. He tries to lie about just being here to visit a professor, but due to poor rolls, has his lies seen through. He negotiates with his old mentor, who invites him for a drink in 2 days, to have him and his crew join up with his crew to take on this mission. A meeting is set at the gate at 4pm sharp, but Zane mentions his crew isn't willing to share the pay.

On the way to meet Senra at the stores to verify a few options, bits and bobs, Astara bumps into an old lady that apparently, isn't so old. The lady is Sophia disguise. Astara is able to loose her and hide in the crowd, then tails Sophia to a back ally, spying on a conversation over sending stone. This reveals that Sophia is following her, but not more. Turning into a cat, shenanigans ensue until back to herself, she confronts the assassin. Sophia reveals that:  

• She is Astara's cousin
• Astara was born Istera d'Phiarlan
• Enora, the lady from graduation night who tried to kill the prince, was Astara's grandmother
• The thing killing on the streets is the spirit of Enora
• Astara's parents are alive
• Astara and Twig will likely be hunting if discovered, so Sophia wants the problem solved quickly and hushed
• Sophia used to babysit the twins

  Senra and Astara later join with Zane and crew and form a plan to set Senra as bait, with disguise self after dark, while the others hide for an ambush. The scene ends with the sound of a wail on the horizon.

Back at the castle, preparations are underway. Merta and Trajan scope the scene, with Merta hiding as a tourist to see the throne room, a grand hall ending in massive, almost wall sized double door leading to a grand gated garden with a central pathway to the street. A side door is used for tourist access, and doors to each side of the throne to the back. The ceiling is a tall, 60ft high dome, with rafts at 50ft height, 20ft apart from each other.

Eavaan listens to city gossip about the news in the papers, and does some PR work for the Prince, mitigating some of the poor reputation into a more practical point of view. The populace is divided between fear of another war, disdain of the monarchy, loyalty to the crown, and general hesitations. Nothing overtly violent seems plotted, only those aiming to throw rotten tomatoes at the prince, which are snitched to the guards.   GAME END

Rewards Granted

100gp for front page worthy news

Character(s) interacted with

• Hirfin
• Sophia
• Yvan
• Zane (Amaya / Navan)