Session 20240606 Treaty & Revolt
General Summary
Bertrum's Journal
Dear Journal,
With the first light of dawn, we found ourselves once more summoned to the Queen's audience chamber to deliberate upon the treaty we had so painstakingly crafted. The Linowan delegates, though not overtly hostile, expressed their discontent over the clause prohibiting raids into Halta for their sacred redwood trees. I endeavored to impress upon them the necessity of harmony amongst allies, for raiding one's brethren is an act most dishonorable and fraught with peril.
To assuage their commanders' desires to demonstrate prowess, we proposed a grand hunting competition. Alas, they lamented the dearth of worthy game within their own borders. In a stroke of inspiration, I sought counsel with the Bull of the North, who, eager to solidify the alliance, agreed to supply a dozen fierce beasts for the Linowans to hunt each year. This concession proved sufficient, and thus, with quills dipped in ink, the treaty was signed, sealing our pact.
Mindful not to overstay our welcome, we made our way back to the Arcane Mistress. Upon entering my chamber, I was greeted by the soft glow of one of my whispering quills. The message it inscribed was from Amira in Nexus, imploring urgent assistance, though it lacked specifics on her whereabouts.
We surmised her plea was linked to the slave liberation efforts she had been fervently pursuing. Hence, we resolved to make haste to the plantation. The swiftest route entailed leaving the Arcane Mistress and our Unconquered Guard at the manse near Riverforge, then utilizing the teleporting manse to reach the plantation.
Upon our arrival, a scene of devastation met our eyes—the main estate building lay in ruins, consumed by flames, with bodies, including those of barbarians from distant lands, strewn about. As we surveyed the carnage, I dispatched Spring's First Kill to ascertain the state of Nexus and locate Amira. His return was prompt; Nexus remained unscathed, but the farmlands were embroiled in conflict. Amira, now a general leading an army of freed slaves, was situated about twenty miles distant.
Utilizing my "Winged Transportation" spell, we took flight, ensconced within a small hut, to Amira's location. There, she recounted the tale of a slave uprising met with brutal resistance from mercenaries hired by the Guild, who had somehow foreseen the rebellion and positioned forces accordingly.
We pondered relocating the slaves to the safety of Riverforge, yet the sheer number—tens of thousands—rendered such logistics unfeasible. News reached us of a mercenary assault on a nearby estate. With haste, we set forth, arriving to find soldiers poised to immolate slaves within their quarters. A brief yet fierce battle ensued, culminating in our victory.
In the aftermath, I persuaded our forces to spare a few mercenaries for interrogation. My hope rests upon employing my Solar Charm to sway these captives to renounce their contracts and return home, thus diminishing the Guild's strength. Moreover, a direct parley with Guild representatives looms on the horizon, as we seek a resolution to this dire conflict.
Regrettably, this premature uprising may have imperiled the dissemination and impact of my anti-slavery treatise. Yet, hope endures that through diplomacy and steadfast resolve, we might yet alter the fate of the oppressed and bring about a new dawn of liberty and justice.
Thus ends this entry, penned in the light of unfolding events, as we strive towards a brighter future.
Yours in unwavering resolve,
Bertrum Blumenthal