Session 99: Hot Times in the Old Town Tonight Report

General Summary

A few days into the party's training, a courier arrived at the keep to announce that Traebeig had requested Roisin attend a diplomatic meeting at the Ducal castle two hours hence. Roisin agreed to attend, and invited both Bastion and Roy to attend as her guard. This meeting, was with an ambassador from Alathius, a thin and wiry man with a voice like it came from the grave itself. This ambassador turned out to be a very capable assassin. On taking Roisin's hand to pay respects, Hibiscus dropped dead without warning, and Roisin, likewise, died instantly. Roy and Bastion immediately reacted by attacking the ambassador, who took a considerable series of impacts before declaring "My mission is accomplished, Alathius Rules All!" and disappearing. Roy tried to prevent the departure, but was unable to react in time. Traebeig used a legendary magic rod to revive Hibiscus, but the rod disintegrated in the process. Traebeig's Vizier revived Roisin, then rushed off to "activate the wards". Moments later a group of constructs apparated within the room, and attacked. Roisin, Roy, and Bastion quickly dispached the constructs, although at the cost of significant damage to the audience chamber.

Traebeig invited the party to a nearby private audience chamber where they discussed what needed to do next. Hibiscus announced to her husband that they were expecting another child, having heard the news from the court healers only a couple days before, and further that the Pale Queen (during her brief period of being deceased) had assured her there would be no harm to the child. They discussed possible things to assist the defense of the now-beseiged city. Jeeves asked about the legendary "Seeds of War", thinking this might somehow affect the vast (twelve miles across) High Ward. There was a short discussion of how rare and legendary these seeds were, and how immensely powerful wizards and priests could conjure such things by magical might alone, but in the end it was clear these things would not be possible or would not make a significant impact. They were informed that the High Ward would now have approximately 25-30 thousand inhabitants, and has the resources to survive for about a year. In the end the best approach seemed to be that the Roses should find some way to draw Alathius attention, something important enough to abandon the seige to send all available resources to stop the Roses.

Bastion explained that he knows how to get to the Korth Steppe, in fact had been there; is actually from that place. Traebeig asked if Bastion was from the Korth Horde, and looking closely, realized Bastion is Warborn. Bastion showed his "empty" helm as evidence, and Traebeig admitted to being highly impressed as the Warborn are legendary, creatures from the Dawn Times who were almost never seen since. Boris and Jeeves realized they should take greater care and looked around with magic to reveal hidden things. They found an invisible watcher as well as a magical sensor that were quickly destroyed. They then discussed a little of what the group could do, and how, although Roisin also received a magical message from her father saying "Your friends seem to have improved their skills. I may not know your plans, but I know you are trying to distract. It will fail; Traebeig dies." The message continued, "You cannot win, we almost have the Iron Throne, and once we have it all will burn. Nothing can stop us." Roy explained, somewhat emphatically, that they would only say "we are working on a means to do so", probably to ensure the details would not reach Alathius until the right time and place. This led to discussing known magics, and Roy agreeing to help recreate the court library, specifically a spellbook owned by the Duke and kept in the most secure parts of the treasury. This "standard" practice for powerful nobles helped to ensure the court wizards could serve the people much more effectively, and while an extremely great "gift" to the court, Roy agreed to it. Traebeig also offered some rewards in return, as much of the treasury as could be spared, what little magical support could be offered, and court (non-heritable) titles for Bastion (Knight baronet of the court), Jeeves (Baron of the court), Boris (Priest-Vicount of the Court), and Roy (Wizard-Vicount of the Court). The group also donated 6 canisters of Ration Seeds to the Court to support the defenders of the city at need.

Leaving the privy chamber, the duke announced Boris and Roy as advisors to the court, conferred upon Jeeves and Bastion their titles, and acknowledged Roisin as Princess before the gathered Ducal court. The Court cheered as Roisin was announced, and murmured with worry when the seige was also announced by the grand marshal of the armies. The Exchequer was ordered to complete an audit of the treasury, and the Vizier was ordered to assist Roy and also work with Roy to recreate the "Book of the Viziers", an historical work recording the history of the court (as well as an excuse for Roy to be working with the Vizier so they could create the Court Spellbook without any added scrutiny). The Duke finally announced that Roisin and her Roses had agreed to undertake a mission to save the city; another announcement that was met with cheers.

Over the next few days the group completed their training, the copying of Roy's spellbook, the addition of every spell available to Bastion, and other additions were completed. Roy, in the course of training, copied many spells to his books, and also learned Guards and Wards, Chain Lightning, and Fizban's Platinum Shield. Near the end of their training, Roisin felt an ethereal connection to something foul during her practice to command her allies, and mentally commanded complete obedience without thinking. A couple hours later a noble, walking very woodenly and stiffly, walked up to the keep and asked for Roisin. When Roisin stepped out, under Jeeves' guard, the noble set a chest at her feet, then fell to his knees, apologized for his crimes, and stabbed a dagger upward through his own throat into his skull; dying instantly. Moments later a squad of city guard rushed up and explained this noble had escaped house arrest, and was scheduled for execution soon. Seeing the individual deceased, the guard, with great deference, thanked the Princess for dealing with the miscreant, gathered the corpse, and left to return to their duties. Shocked, Roisin and Jeeves brought in the chest into the keep, and after some investigation it was determined safe, opened it to reveal coins and a few items radiating magic.