OttL Session 16: The Troubles of House Klaedris - Part 1
General Summary
The party is still in the Vale of Aaqa, as Session 14.5: Vitae's Interrogation comes to an end. Izar is pulled aside by a guard, and they talk for some time in auran. He later reveals that the topic of conversation was the Elections for a new God. With both leading candidates dead, the election is now on hold. Izar was being urged to run, but he was hesitant for various reasons, the largest of which being that he still felt guilty for the death of Corellon Larethian. Izar decided he had more important things to take care about before he made a decision. The party is free to go, so they return to Barry the Airship and engage in some light shenanigans. Hobbs bakes a cake for Izar to try and cheer him up.
The party then travels to Xumasha, and arrive safely despite a false start where they end up elsewhere in the plane of air. Upon arrival at the keep, it is obvious that something is wrong. The guards question who Thaiva Phenol is, and are clearly both confused and afraid. The party is escorted to a side room, and placed under heavy guard until her sister Hinfyire Soriel. Hinfyire seems shocked at first, and claims Thaiva Phenol "is supposed to be dead", and seems unwilling to believe that Thaiva Phenol is actually who she says she is. She ushers the guards out of the room, and the group gets to talk with her in private.
Once the guards are gone, Hinfyire's entire demeanor changes. She is now eerily calm, and explains that she had told the rest of House Klaedris that Thaiva Phenol was dead, since she made it clear from her fight with Lenora that she did want to ever come home again. Hinfyire claims she was trying to do Thaiva a favor, and seems rather annoyed to have her lie exposed. She also asks about Thaiva's Mourning Bands, asking if they are for Caerbor Klaedris. Thaiva explains that no, Caerbor Klaedris was fine when she last saw him. Hinfyire Soriel seemed relieved by this, saying that their last letter to him had not received a response.
Next, the party goes to the throne room. Thaiva Phenol expected her father to be there, but he is currently unwell, having had a heart attack when he heard that the family had lost contact with one child and another was presumed dead. Instead, Kilfras Klaedris is seated on the throne, serving as "duke regent" while Alibor Klaedris recovers. He is also wearing Mourning Bands, which he removes the moment the guards leave the room and gives Thaiva Phenol a big bear hug. The two catch up for a bit, discussing the above topics, and Kilfras Klaedris signs the bounty so that she can have the steward pay them later.
Meanwhile, Hobbs, Memento Vitae, and Ignacio Icarsus are over in another room chatting up the guards. Hobbs has an extended conversation with them regarding how to get out of jail in Montia. Hobbs and Ignacio Icarsus have a brief argument about this, which ends when Hobbs departs to take his flying carpet on a joyride throughout the castle.
Next up, Thaiva Phenol goes to see her mother, Dryxora Klaedris. They talk for some time, but this is mostly small talk of no particular significance. The most noteworthy topic of conversation is Alibor Klaedris. Dryxora says that Alibor was on the front lines of the Forsanian-Montian De Jure War for the Duchy of Eononata when he heard that they had lost contact with Caerbor Klaedris. After this, Alibor became short tempered and brash. He began to lose fights, and taking minor injuries. When Hinfyire Soriel reported that Thaiva Phenol was dead, the stress caused him to have a heart attack. Natsu attempts to steal things in the meantime, but gets spotted by one of the guards and winds up putting said things back.
Thaiva Phenol works up her courage for a minute and then goes to see her father Alibor Klaedris. He is clearly in a sorry state, but is still dressed up in the royal garb, crown and all, attempting to look as regal as possible on his sickbed. At first Alibor does not believe that Thaiva is who she says she is, but he is convinced that it is not an imposter when she admits to hating him. Alibor Klaedris is clearly upset and angry, but with some visible effort he is able to maintain his composure. He actually expresses a certain degree of pride when he hears that Thaiva Phenol is now working for Izar.
Alibor Klaedris also explains why he had put out the bounty to begin with. He outlines A Plot Against House Klaedris, wherein the various members of her family have been put at risk in recent times. So far the only two not to be put at risk are Kilfras Klaedris and Thaiva Phenol herself. The family requires Thaiva Phenol to sign a paper to serve as proof of life in the event that the remainder of her family is killed and she is required to take the throne as duchess of Xumasha. She tucks the paper away for later, but before she leaves Alibor Klaedris does admit to having a suspect in the murder plot. He says that one of his agents reports having seen a shrine to Lolth in Hinfyire Soriel's room, and she was the one who falsely reported Thaiva Phenol as having been deceased.
After she leaves the room, the party regroups and discusses the paper. Natsu reads it and finds nothing suspicious, so Thaiva Phenol brings it back to Kilfras Klaedris and signs it in his presence. As they are making small talk and preparing to leave, however, Natsu randomly decides to sniff the air. She smells something familiar, and after a bit of investigation she and the party find a blue flower in a basket left in front of Kilfras' chambers. This is the same one that Memento Caritate discovered, which caused plants to sprout out of a deer's skull. This is clearly an assassination attempt which has now been foiled.
Everyone leaps into action. The keep is ordered to be put on lockdown, and Hobbs gives Kilfras Klaedris a ride back to Alibor's chambers, where a servant is currently leaving a similar basket. The servant is immediately interrogated at sword point, and it is revealed that there was a basket for every member of House Klaedris. These two baskets appear to be safe, however, so Kilfras Klaedris is presumed to be the only target for this particular attack. The handwriting on the note belongs to Hinfyire Soriel, but she denies involvement. Memento Vitae is locked in a closet to investigate the poisoned basket, and with an excellent nature check determines that the poisonous flower appears to have been placed by someone other than the one who created the actual arrangement. Most of the plants were handled carefully, but this particular plant was handled quite roughly by someone who appeared not to know what they were doing.
Meanwhile, Hobbs sees a servant going into Alibor's chambers and shoves himself in there. He asks Alibor many questions about what kind of booze he likes, and generally causes a ruckus before the rest of the party arrives and eventually escort Hobbs away. Thaiva Phenol stays behind to help settle her father back down before he has another panic attack. This takes considerable effort, as Alibor is very angry at the powerlessness he feels lying around in bed as a murder is being investigated in his own home. The party discusses matters with Hinfyire Soriel once more and resolves to catch the culprit. The session ends there.
Report Date
23 Aug 2020
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