Session 25: Merry Mead Machinations
Clarence and the Sprite wake up at 7, Clarence to do chores and the Sprite to do anti-chores.Sartorii and Rutana sleep in, one for having stayed up late and the other because it's a holiday!
Merry Mead has arrived!
Looking out the highest window of the tower, the party can see streamers flying in the town square, the sound of revelry floating on the breeze.
The ceremony is at noon, at the church of Abadar.
Party takes an hour to get ready, donning their fancy garb. Half an hour to travel, then an hour to mingle at the festival.
Food vendors abound, beer-battered fish and non-alcoholic drinks for the kids.
It's the happiest the party's seen anyone in this city, given it's always a stone's throw from civil war.
Most of the brewers setting up shop in town are those that provide product to the Red Swallow, so it is well familiar. However, there is also all manner of rum due to proximity to the port, beer provided by the farms' wheat hops, and even a clear liquor made from succulents down south. And then there's the specialty of the area; grain alcohol mixed with fruit juice!
Sartorii, familiar with the area, knows of a Merry Mead-exclusive; Roslan Amber, a sweet, smooth, very delicious and pleasant mead. One gold per bottle.
The Red Swallow has a stand, but the proprietor is not there.
There is one small stand set up at the end of the tasting lines, staffed by a familiar pink-haired gnome, offering little concoctions of her own making. She has several bottles of grain alcohol and fruit juice, mixing them with liquid from a mysterious vial, as potion samples.
As the party wanders, a man with mutton chops merging into a long mustache bumps into them. He's wearing mostly red and black, with a wide-brimmed hat and a red feather dyed black at the base.
"Excuse me, would you happen to know the way to the cathedral? I've gotten quite lost!"
He smells strongly of alcohol.
"We were just about to make our way there, you can tag along."
"Wonderful, wonderful!" He looks at them for a moment, waiting for his eyes to catch up and focus. "Oh... Oh! You are the guests of honor today, aren't you?"
He takes off his hat to reveal a shining bald pate and bows deeply.
"I am Lord Gurev Medvyed!"
He is likely the least complicated of the houses. He technically rules Stoneclimb and the Gronzi Forest, a very large area to the south. As befitting a master of the forests, he is an incredibly talented hunstman and woodsman, and an extremely doting family man. His wallet contains 500,000 photos of his wife and children, probably.
Very successful family, hurt the least by The Vanishing.
He spends a good amount of time showering the party with compliments, slurring his words, and wishing the ruler and guards would do an equally fine job.
The Sprite gives him trail mix.
He spends the walk to the chapel popping off about how much he loves his wife, how the forest is doing well, how his children are doing well. The party talks about the kirin they saw (back in session 007). Gurev responds about brass dragons he was trapped by.
When they make it to the square, Gurev excuses himself to head to the chapel.
With about 20 minutes left, the Sprite and Sartorii find pretzels. Best not to stand on stage on an empty stomach!
Afterward, time to get the briefing.
As it's a bank holiday, the chapel is basically empty except for those who live there. In front of the pulpit stands Astrafel, Judge Arabella, Gurev getting a stern look from the white-haired fellow who was previously seen with Arabella, and various other fancy folk.
One of these folks, Howlan Garess, was getting a beard trim from Naialah when Rutana went to get her lizard-bitten leg looked at.
The party rolls society checks! Rutana has never known anything in her life.
There are six nobles that used to rule over all of Brevoy, and one that rules over all the rest.
House Garess, which rules the western reaches and mighty beards. Howlan is a bit of a recluse. His wife and only son vanished during The Vanishing. He is still a very capable leader, but he does not make public appearances much except for when he's needed. He adopted one of the last living royals of the vanished dwarves as his heir, to help those dwarves get back on their feet with land above ground as well as under.
Extra society rolls to learn about The Vanishing. When Sartorii was little, the king was a different person, then he and his entire family vanished.
Rutana knows this was a mysterious event that occurred about 20 years ago where every member of House Rogarvia vanished without a trace, as well as every member of the Gulka dwarves who were underground. In their absence, the much-beloved House Rogarvia was replaced by House Sartova, who had a tenuous claim via marriage.
Noleski, having the strongest claim, was named Lord Regent. In the years since, every house but one knelt to him as king. The only one still to abstain is Poul Orlovsky.
Lander Labeda has recently taken over for his mother. They rule the lands to the southwest.
When he was young, he neglected his rulership to his mother to train as a swordsman. He is dedicated to ruling wisely and responsibly and is pretty beloved, but he has been accused of revolutionary leanings. He is the main patron of the Pathfinder Society in Brevoy, as they saved him when he was a child.
House Labeda is known to harbor revolutionary leanings, but it was a long time ago and there is no proof nowadays. There was a scandal to do with his sister a few years ago, where she was to marry Noleski, until his sister was randomly accused of treason with no proof by Noleski's sister.
Neither sister is present.
Lord Ladovka is the ruler of the lake of mists and veils, and the surrounding land, furthest north.
He gives off the air of a sly old pirate, and is very cunning. He usually turns this cunning to the service of his land, his people, and his family. He gives off an untrustworthy air, but there is no one else the world would want guarding the northern shore.
Lord Gurev Medyed, family man, man of magnificent mutton chops.
Lord Orlovsky's land is sandwiched between Gronzi and Ladovki, and is the only one who has not bowed to Norleski as king. He was also the only one on the side of Labeda when their sister was accused of treason.
Treading the line of being labeled a traitor.
King Noleski Sartova, man of so so so many titles.
Shrewd, calculating, what people think of when they say they need a business man in the office.
He is there to increase Brevoy's bottom line. He wants the country to prosper, specifically under his rulership.
Izith, the man behind Noleski, is the leader of Noleski's bodyguards. He won a sword tournament, but nothing else is known about him.
The party is noticed immediately when they step in the big double doors.
Astrafel seems pretty uptight today, as everyone who could decide everything about his life is standing in front of him.
Gurev is the first to turn, greeting his friends the party and chatting with Astrafel.
Labeda approaches the party to shake hands, excited to meet them. "It's a real pleasure. I am rather acquainted with heroes, so I know them when I see them."
The Sprite compliments Labeda's hair, getting a laugh out of Kazec.
Labeda's family goes gray early. He's barely in his mid-twenties.
"If you have time after the ceremonies, I would like to speak with you about further opportunities. I know a place that heroes like you would be well welcome."
Ladovka: Oh is it the Pathfinder Society, boy? I swear, you get saved one good time...
Labeda steps back as the king steps up.
The party kneels, Sartorii holding the Sprite up a bit so he's still visible.
The king pauses for a minute, then smirks. "You may rise."
He looks over the party for a moment. "Astrafel was right. Not a normal one among you. That plays to your advantage. I hope you know I am grateful to you for safeguarding the interests of my kingdom."
"Well we're happy to help out the kingdom."
"If only we had a dozen more like you. This place may change for the better,"
"Maybe we'll find more weirdos along the way to help."
Arabella in the back, says amen.
"Were I to have an heir, the mere reports, even as dry as they are in Astrafel's pen, would make excellent bedtime stories. For now, Astrafel and Arabella will see to you to be sure you are ready for the ceremony."
Bow time again, then the king returns to the circle.
Poul and Howland just look, not saying anything. Sartorii waves, Howland waves back.
Clarence: Are there really bards out there singing about us or was that just being nice?
Arabella smiles, not yet.
Arabella and Astrafel pull the party to the side to get them ready, and also away from nobility. ("That went great, let's walk away while we're ahead.")
They all liked the party, apparently.
Astrafel lets out the longest sigh he'd ever let out.
"You okay buddy you sound like you've sprung a leak."
"Not for nothing, but you guys are unpredictable. I did not know what would happened when those doors opened. I didn't. And I am usually a man who knows what is going to happen."
Arabella: "Oh please, if you knew everything that would happen, your hair would still be black."
"Going out on a limb here, but have any of you won an award before?"
Nope!
"Here's how it's going to go. You're going out on stage, you'll stand in front of all the nobles, and the king is going to give you each a medal, pin it to your lapel. The Sprite will probably have to carry his. No speech. Kneel when the king walks out until he tells you to stand, medals, he'll give a small speech, then we all walk back in and we can leave. Keep it pinned to your chest, just make sure it doesn't get stolen."
Clarence: Don't worry, we won't do anything to embarrass anyone.
Astrafel: It is not you embarrassing us we're worried about, but yourselves.
Everyone very pointedly not looking at the Sprite.
They're impressed by the fancy clothes the party got. The party made a bit of a statement, whether they know it or not. By waltzing in dressed as nobility, the statement is that the party is to be respected, and they can play the games of nobility. Currently, the nobles respect them.
Arabella: Lesson number one about nobility, they always have a game to play.
Outside the chapel, a large crowd gathers to watch the ceremony.
Music plays over the murmur of the lively crowd. The doors open and the nobles walk out, each introduced as they pass, the Heroes of Greenwall, then all 50 words for the king. The crowd cheers wildly for the heroes, but the cheer is more subdued for the king.
The party spots some familiar faces in the crowd; Naiala, Besh, and Sly.
Astrafel is holding the box with the medals. Sartorii notices that when he turns and it hits the light, there's a weird pattern like the resin is really uneven. The more he moves it around, it's more apparent as a circle that would be broken if the box was opened. Sartorii, holding the Sprite up so he's more visible to the crowd, points this out to him. The Sprite uses his Message cantrip to tell Astrafel about this suspicious circuit. Astrafel tells Arabella, who quietly casts a spell. She whispers to Astrafel, who tells Izith, who walks up to Noleski to inform him, before stepping back.
There is a long pause.
Rutana sees some people milling about in distant alleys slip into the shadows during the pause.
The Sprite identifies the circuit as a glyph of warding that would cast a spell when broken.
Astrafel vanishes into the church, carrying the box much more carefully. While he is gone, the king waxes on with pleasantries and fluff, complimenting the party and really playing up their achievements. He takes it in stride, keeping the topic going for some time with interesting and funny anecdotes that keep the party engaged.
Astrafel returns after a few minutes with a different box. He opens the box as Noleski wraps up his speech.
The medals are solid gold with a diamond in the middle, surrounded by the crest of the original ruling house. Noleski pins them to each of the party's chests, and hands the Sprite his.
The crowd cheers!
"And as sure as I am that you all wish to share your congratulations to these heroes, there are matters I must speak with them about. I bid you drink and be merry."
Noleski gestures the party back into the church.
As soon as the doors close, Surtova turns on his heel and says, "I had heard stories, but I did not expect to be saved immediately upon meeting you. I was not prepared for that."
A priestess comes running up the stairs, "Lady Arabella, our charmbreakers have been working on it but, well, we're kinda scared to open it."
The moment she leaves, the medals turn onto corks on strings.
Labeda speaks up, "Don't worry, we'll make sure you get your just dues, we're going to make sure you get your medals."
"Worst case scenario, they'll take it down to the vault and detonate it there."
Izith regards the party, and nods once.
Orlovsky speaks. "But who wanted us dead?"
Lodovka laughs. "Oh Poul, who doesn't? You know as well as I do in these times that anyone could have set that trap."
"Perhaps that is what made them so bold."
Astrafel says, "The box was kept here at the church. Not to decry Arabella's security prowess, the point was to make sure the medals weren't stolen. People could get to the box."
Izith speaks for the first time. "So any number of people could have simply painted that symbol. But the question is, who was powerful enough to create such a spell?"
A very loud rumbling resounds. Arabella comes walking back up, sans eyebrows. "Good news everyone, the bomb is disarmed. I'm good, we're good. Unfortunately, the box is nonexistent and the medals are slag."
Clarence asks if she needs healing.
"No, we detonated it from pretty far back. We used a pulley system after determining it would only affect a 20-foot radius."
Izith is tall, thin, has a forked tongue, golden eyes with slitted pupils, has gold-green scales running down his neck. He is Vishkanya, gorgeous snake people with poisonous blood.
Reading the room;
Rutana thinks if Astrafel wasn't dying his hair, he'd be going gray from the stress. Arabella is patting his arm. It seems since the party got them talking again, they've gotten a lot closer
Clarence feels Orlovsky, Garess, and Lodovka are very calm.
Sartorii recognizes that more than anything, Surtova is tired. He is sword of damocles'd out.
The Sprite recognizes that Izith is incredibly ashamed. He has not met anyone's gaze since he missed noticing the bomb.
At this point, Arabella walks back in with eyebrows drawn back on. Very nice and symmetrical.
"Well. We've brought this up in briefings, but it's probably important that everyone here knows this."
Astrafel sucks a breath through his teeth and nods, stepping back.
Everyone gathers in a circle around her, party included.
"Over the last two or three months, we have been more and more frequently uncovering small desecrated chapels, either in the city's underground, the sewers, the aqueducts, or within abandoned houses. They are often quite small, but the effect is quite potent. It seems we have an infernal cult within the city."
The symbology is pretty obvious to Clarence, an upturned pentagram wrought in black iron and stained in blood when it is time for prayer. The symbol of Azmodeus. He shares the information with the party, a very serious matter.
Sartorii asks if there's a pattern.
"That's the problem, they're very good at covering their tracks. The places we find are most often abandoned by the time we find them."
Sartorii asks if they are connected.
Orlovsky agrees with the owl woman, then apologizes for calling her an owl. "It is all very convenient if this cult of yours has designs upon our life, especially in times such as this."
A bunch of them nod, and Arabella rubs the bridge of her nose.
Garess states, "I believe we should all head back to our keeps where we may prepare for the worst in earnest."
Gurev, who has since sobered up, "Now let's not be hasty! I apologize Lord Garess, but do you not think the populace would find it suspicious if all six lords run back to their keeps during a holiday? I am sure someone noticed the box was swapped."
Clarence agrees with Gurev.
"Yes, that, I like you Sir Cat Man- sorry, Sir Clarence."
Labeda steps forward. "Well I think we have at least a mild solution right here. Why don't we hire these four?"
Yeah, that sounds like an us thing...
"It's rather unfortunate that we showed your faces to literally everyone in the city right now. At the leave of our great lord, of course..."
Surtova sniffs. "I had thought this formality. I apologize. Naming you heroes and champions, I may have been lacking in true belief in that concept as fact. You saved my life, the lives of all of us at this table. If it was an assassination attempt by anyone here, it was sloppy indeed. But... Well, suffice to say that I trust all of you. I would like to trust everyone at this table, so I choose to put my faith in the heroes of New Stetven."
The Sprite gives a little speech about yeah we live here too so we'd rather like to keep living here without all the pandemonium bullshit.
The king talks about payment. "I understand you keep a tower, on a custodial basis. You take care of it and live there, yes? If you are able to bring me solid proof of this cult and this works, as well as perhaps apprehending one of its lead members, I will grant you that land in full. By technicality, you will be a house of Brevoy."
Party agrees.
"Well in that case, I suggest we all make merry. Wouldn't want the citizenry becoming suspicious."