31st Session
General Summary
The party has some planning and blanter with the Old Ones. The Colonel decides he will go say nice things to Eirianwen so she won't come the next day to hear him speak. Ronen gives him a flowery ode to her beauty and splendor, suggesting he may use the line if Andrew doesn't. Goldblade says he'll think of something himself as his speech will include talk of their shared past and that is not something he wishes to talk to her about.
The staff is rounded up and questioned. One may have passed on information to a member of the Golden Sun, but none bare active ill well towards the princess. Passcodes are also set. Staff members are asked "what's in the colonel's pocket?" and respond with "he only knows." The party members are asked "how much did the dog cost?" and respond with "one gold coin." Old Ones are asked "Is time a river or a lake?" and respond with "I wouldn't know." or "Go ask Enzo."
The next day, the party, minus Theo, goes with Goldblade, Ronen and Mattis to the city. Goldblade speaks to a large crowd, telling them that the princess is of great value, how much he owes to her and her mother and that he would cease his current role in the Clan should something happen to her. Ellie observes reactions and finds a group she thinks may be part of the Society of the Golden Sun. At the end of speech, Ellie invites that group to meet with the Colonel.
The Colonel meets with the group of 7 apparent leaders of the society in a courtroom: giving more details on how important "her highness" is to him and going so far as to call hurting her to be treason against not only the king, but The Giver and all creation. He makes it clear that dealing with such people personally, would be very far beneath him. There is one of them who appears to not know what's going on. Ellie takes all of their names down.
During the night, the party awakes to the sound screams coming from outside. The princess's room is empty, but there's a note. The rope ladder is hanging off the balcony and the party makes its way down.
They see the princess screaming, a puppy barking and whining and the game warden on the ground. They confirm the identity of the game warden and Ellie heals him. Tasha goes to get Galla. Theo lights a torch and reads the note which is written in Clanish. Simply put, it appears to be written by the princess saying that it sorrows her, but she's leaving. The rest of the party surround the princess.
A large figure comes around the side of the house and tells the party using the Colonel's voice with a noble Clanish accent to back away and let the princess breath. The party does trust the newcomer. He doesn't use the pass phrase, though he does answer some questions correctly. Caspian shots him a few times, but he maintains his composure, insisting there is no time for this and not to perform acts of violence in front of her highness. Ellie realizes that the person is clean shaven and Colonel should have more than a week's worth of growth on a beard and calls out about it. The changeling stops all pretenses. The game warden runs off. Tasha is now nearby with Galla. The time sisters are apparently going to tell the real Colonel.
A fight commences. Theo had previously positioned himself between the stranger and the princess. Caspian goes down during the fight, but is relived by Ellie. Galla uses a small hand held device to make ranged attacks. The changeling is eventually subdued.
Ronen and Enzo come out and confirm they're not changelings. Enzo and Caspian stay with the princess while the rest come into fetch the Colonel; Theo is dragging the colonel look-a-like into the house and up the stairs.
The time sisters can't get Goldblade to answer to the door. Theo kicks down the door to the antechamber, but knocks on the bedroom door. In a few seconds, the Colonel does come to door. He delays answering for a few seconds, comes to the door. He doesn't give the passcode at first but does give some names of the princess's relatives. He seems off and not as angry as he should be as they tell him the story and show the 3rd changeling. Theo gets out of there. Tasha asks if he's drunk. Ronen suggests the two halflings go get Mattis.
TLDR: The Colonel is not letting the princess come hear him speak. He speaks to the crowds and the leaders of the Society of Golden Sun are identified, their names are taken and they get a special oration, about just base, detestable, paltry and unworthy his attention, anyone who seeks to hurt her highness is. That night, the princess attempts to leave and has an episode. The party protects her from another changeling wearing the Colonel's face. Caspian gets taken down to 0 hp. The Colonel is acting strangely when the party tells him about the attack.
Comments