Session 2: A Throne in Red Report
General Summary
The party made their way into the castle with several other squadrons from the Empire, led by the Empress herself. Advancing in a shield wall, they made their way towards the other end of the gatehouse. Through the opening, they could see an enemy formation several feet beyond the exit. Upon seeing this, Heinrich Von Kleist sent his familiar, Krell, to scout out the enemy position. Out of sight were several units of archers, waiting for the approaching forces, of which Heinrich then informed the others. The Empress ordered a turtle formation, and as soon as they exited the gatehouse, they were showered with arrows. None of the enemy's barrage was able to penetrate the formation, neither from the sides nor the balconies. Arrow fire ceased from the balcony as unknown assailants came from behind and engaged them.
Ten feet from the enemy, the Empress ordered the front line to suddenly charge, with her in the lead. The enemy formation shook from the sudden charge, not expecting such a quick advance. Beside the Empress, Caloderias Vostensus began to wreak a bloody toll upon the enemy. After a few more moments, the turtle reached the enemy formation and engaged with the enemy. The attack was so absolute that it broke the morale of the surrounding archers, who ran for their lives. From there, the Imperials reformed a shield wall and advanced into the throne room.
Inside the throne room, they found the king and his royal guard speaking with a tall, robed man, who had moved to the side of the room as a neutral component of the coming conflict. After a brief conversation between the Empress--who had demanded one of her soldiers provide her with Comprehend Languages, of whom it had been Loric --and the king, they had settled on a duel after Loric had suggested a peaceful means of settling this war. Caloderias Vostensus advanced as the Empress's champion, while the unknown swordsman from Session 1: Upon the Shores Report advanced as the king's. The two engaged in a whirlwind of combat, far beyond any that could hope to match.
However, during the duel, Heinrich Von Kleist and Dewglow spotted enemy archers in balconies lining up, getting ready to attack. Heinrich Von Kleist informed the Empress, who then ordered the attack. Everyone charged forward as the unknown assailants from before struck again, this time revealed as satyrs and goblins of the Empire, and felled the archers. In turn, they then began to fire upon any enemies that tried to enter the room. Below, the squad charged into the fray. Several of the enemy were defeated before Loric attacked the guards defending the king, having successfully killed one of the two. Dewglow came up behind her comrade and slew the second guard. Before the king could do anything, however, he fell to the floor as invisible hands began to choke him due to a spell cast by Heinrich Von Kleist. The Empress advanced upon the king as Dreadcrusher and Chancer Fate continued to fight the other enemies and keeping them at bay.
The Empress reached the king and stabbed him through the throat. This death was answered by a scream from the unknown swordsman in the duel, who had turned and began to run for his fallen Lord. However, Caloderias Vostensus threw his own sword into the swordsman's back, causing him to crumple to the floor. Caloderias Vostensus advanced upon the prone swordsman and, in one smooth motion, pulled the sword from his back and decapitated him. It was not long after the fighting that the Empress and her retinue controlled the throne room, and by proxy, the castle.
The robed man then came forward and introduced himself as Iskarios Kandar, agent plenipotentiary of The Ascendant Necrocracy. During their conversation, the Empress began to antagonize the delegate before Loric elected to speak, requesting a month's time before the negotiations officially began for this new government. The Empress and Iskarios Kandar agreed to the terms, and made his way out of the throne room. Before leaving, however, he requested that he be given the body of the unknown swordsman. With the Empress's agreement, the delegate sewed the corpse's head back onto its neck and then resurrected him, where he also revealed the swordsman's name as Oraius Maunt. With a final glance at the party and Caloderias Vostensus, Oraius Maunt left with Iskarios Kandar. After they left, Loric was reprimanded by the Empress for speaking out of turn.
Missions/Quests Completed
Capture the Throne Room: COMPLETE
