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--- campaigns:a_thing_called_change [2018/09/30 15:02]
galacticcmdr
+++ campaigns:a_thing_called_change [2018/10/03 13:06]
galacticcmdr [King Merridan]
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 Hafwyn sees them entering the brothel, but decides not to meet up with them until they leave. The place does not frighten or deter her, but there is something happening in the public forum that she has not quite been able to determine. There is a pattern to the movement of certain people among the petitioners. Twice she caught a glimpse of a grey robe, but when she went to investigate they were gone.
-The petitioner line is long, but it is still early in the day. By mid-afternoon they reach the front of the line and speak with Litheria. She warns them that the king is unlike to budge from his position, but they are willing to try.
+==== Public Forum ====
+The petitioner line is long, but it is still early in the day. By mid-afternoon they reach the front of the line and speak with Litheria. She warns them that the king is unlikely to budge from his position, but they are willing to try.
+Hafwyn spots the others in line and slips inside the temple to see what is happening. She is started to see the king is a mountain of a man. He easily stands ten feet tall; although he is currently seated so he could be taller. He is broad-shouldered and covered in the scars of battle. She watches him mete out "justice." He seems mostly fair, but harsher than any human city she has visited. A heavily cloaked figure sits on a tall stool on his right whispering in his ear. He seems to be giving advice or directions, but she cannot get close enough to hear. Possibly some sort of law-leeper or court magician judging by the odds and ends dangling from his belt.
+While Lady Anne and Keribrar are waiting they see five guards descend on two ragged men circling the crowd looking for a hand-out. They beat the men bloody and drag them around to the back of the temple. Thorne is also nearby disguised as a beggar, but with a bit of illusion he seems less noticeable. He saw that the man in charge of the guards wore a copper armband - some sort of rank insignia.
+Thorne uses his disguise and gets closer to Litheria. She is speaking quietly to a richly dressed and dangerous-looking man. He determines that she does not believe in many of the king's decisions, but has no choice but to support them. She dismisses the man telling him to take care of things. When the man leaves Thorne lets his disguise slip and speaks with her. He gets her to agree to meet with the troublemakers in the lower markets. He passes this information to Lady Anne.
+As Lady Anne and Keribrar, Thorne and Hafwyn both spot a man in a gray cloak in a alley speaking with a laborer. He passes something to him and then disappears into the alley - not even Hafwyn saw him leave clearly. The laborer goes to three different groups in the forum and exchanges one of his packages for a small roll of coin. Hafwyn tries to get close enough to see the object but it is too open. Thorne changes his disguise to one of the copper-banded guards and goes inside the temple.
+==== King Merridan ====
+On the inside Thorne measures the physical prowess of the king and believes it far exceeds his own. Not someone he wants to cross swords. Thorne watches one of the men with the package come inside and pass it off to a serving maid. The maid goes through a small door on the far side of the room. Thorne follows her just as Lady Anne and Keribrar come before the king.
+Anne recognizes the man as an [[creatures:ogre#ogrekin]]. Their kind are believed to be from a mating between an ogre and human, but from his size he would kill and human woman during childbirth. Typically ruled by passions an emotions, the king's advisor seems to keep a check on the king's anger. Lady Anne takes the cue and avoids an impassioned plea - instead opting for one of self-interest.
+The king, and his advisor, is moved enough to free Farther Karl on conditions. One, Father Karl is banished from the shelf and may only return to the [[atlas:Red Temple of Techiuan]] during holy readings. Two, he may not speak out against the king or any of his laws. Three he may not plan or participate in any rebellion against the king. The deal struck Father Karl is released.
+Those inside the temple are very loyal to the king and rejoice upon his proclamation. Tables are brought out and a few musicians play a lively melody. The whole scene is not just macabre, but disjointed and nearly chaotic. At least one person is bleeding on the floor and nobody is helping them. Something is wrong and the court advisor is gone. When Anne and Keribrar leave the "celebration" the king instantly sober's up and summons a wretched looking man. He tells him to send out the hunters to ensure Father Karl is helped on his way. After hearing this Hafwyn slips out the temple.
+Meanwhile Thorne follows the maid and once they are alone he confronts her. She quickly breaks and shows him a small statuette atop of dull blade. Far too short to kill anyone it is very distinctive and forged entirely from bronze. She says she was paid to put the surprise into the king's chambers. Thorne takes the coins and threatens her into silence. It is clear the guards are used to getting their way.
+===== Downshelf =====
+==== Market ====
+After the petition, Keribrar leaves Anne to escort Father Karl back to his encampment while he goes to the small elven community on the northeast edge of the market. [[people:Alavara]], the priestess hunting Hafwyn, is likely to be found at the [[atlas:Shady Tree]] tavern - a elven tavern. He reports to her that the [[creatures:Dark Elf]] is not more. Alavara presses for more details, but he offers up only the truth that the Dark Elf is gone. She tells him that three days ago she felt a sharp pain from the [[lore:Great Tree]]. This could be a sign of the creature's passing from this world into the darkness.
+She is worried about the number of [[creatures:Sidhe]] in the city. She tries and recruit Keribrar to work for her, but he refuses. He wishes her no ill will, but he is already behind on several commissioned works. If he does not finish them soon he will have some very angry customers - the kind that come with knives to settle disputes. She offers him one of her guardsmen, but he kindly rejects her offer.
+==== Techiuan Encampment ====
+Thorne returns to the encampment set up by the [[orgs:Followers of Techiuan]] and shows them the bronze knife-shaped thing some people were trying to hide in the King's chamber. Keribrar turns its over and notices a seam running the length of the "blade" and works to try and pry it apart. It was clearly still semi-molten when pressed together and will take more than a chisel to crack. He takes it outside the encampment to prepare a space.
+Hafwyn and Quilate agree to help Thorne with the meeting the next day and wish him a good night. Thorne returns to the Watchers' Inn and gets seriously drunk. In this relaxed state he tries and commune with the Aegrin's [[people:Aegrin#Silver Blade]], while Quilate and Hafwyn settle down into rooms they have in the encampment.
+Outside of the encampment Keribrar sets up a makeshift stone furnace surrounded by a ward. For several hours he pulls in the heat of the earth to heat the furnace enough to loosen the bronze. He could melt the bronze easily, but this needs a more precise touch. Something goes wrong and the bronze knife cracks. Thick red-black oil leaks out and when it touches the fire explodes.
+Hot stones are thrown everywhere tearing apart the furnace, unleashing the heat, and destroying the ward. In the center of the destruction is a deep red creature made of smoke and touched with flames. It immediately sprints towards the encampment, with Keribrar in hot pursuit - both of them leaping over the small palisade wall.
+Quilate, seeing Keribrar chasing after a fiery thing, takes flight and speeds over. Keribrar manages to stop the creature from getting towards the main part of the encampment, but it is too quick for him to pin down. Several people have already fallen to the creature and he is hard pressed to keep others away. Luckily he does slow the creature enough for Quilate to dive on top of it. He uses the jade finger he recovered from the sleeping warrior which has unexpected results.
+The creature disappears as the jade its it, turning the jade as black as night and cold to the touch. In a short time it becomes too cold for him to touch and so he drops it into his pouch, which starts coating with frost.
+==== Assassin ====
+Inside of Lady Anne's room the door moves slightly open - enough for an assassin to fire his crossbow. Lady Anne pitches over and tries to defend herself, but the [[creatures:goblin]] assassin moves to her and drives his blade into her chest. Hafwyn sees the assassin as he tries to sneak out of Anne's room. The chase is brief and she brings the assassin down, clubbing him unconscious. After tying him up she runs to Anne's room to help, but it is already too late.
+She calls for help and several of the Followers arrive just in before [[people:Benevenuta]]. She organizes everyone and takes Lady Anne to the healing tent that have near the fountain. Father Karl arrives with the cup and pours the water over the wound. It was clearly poisoned and the water heals the flesh whole again. Next he forces her body to drink the water.
+Some color returns to her, but her breathing is shallow and lips turn blue. Father Karl prays over her and says he will hold an all-night vigil. Hafwyn stays to watch over her fallen companion. Quilate and Keribrar hear the news and come inside the healing tent as well. The three of them drag the goblin assassin back to Anne's house to interrogate him.