11 Jun 2021 11:16
Setting
The PCs had been told to go deliver a message to Kallyr from Leika that was at best borderline insulting. They went to do it, and then found out that dragonewts were really weird.
Plot was an extension of what had been happening over the past few weeks, following (as best as the GM knew it) the Official Line of Facts.
IC Play
As the group travelled to Boldhome, they worked out that all of the Fyrds seemed to have been called up - there was a lot of marching, mostly away from where the adventurers were going. They noted as they came into Boldhome that people had been warned in advance; the place was mustering.
After getting up the steps, they delivered their message. It seemed that Kallyr was ready, and while irritated, she did not blow her top. Instead, she rewarded the group by inviting them to join her honour guard. Kallyr also had words for Eril about him sending Saronil off to Dangerford against her orders, but he was able to say, entirely truthfully, that he had sent Saronil to Alda Chur. Kallyr did not push it, given that the end result had been a lack of invasion.
Gratefully, Saronil returned to Black Sword to the Temple of Humakt, noting the care with which it was treated. Runelord Heenith seemed to be cautiously worshipful.
Kallyr led her army out and turned the wrong way, as far as the PCs could tell, going to High Wyrm and a nearby altar. There, she called in a favour that allowed the entire army the chance to walk along the Dragonewt road, arriving at Oldtop before Leika, and in good time to greet the Queen of the Colymar.
There was a great battle; Saronil and Karentha were knocked unconscious by magic. Aria was almost killed in a terrified but determined defence of Kallyr, who was killed by assassins. Aria only escaped by having Issaries return her to a market, a place of peace that left her in Dunstop, without any weapons. Androuranos was magnificent in battle, but Kosa was attacked by a Mindblast and left gibbering.
Other Things
Saronil's player wrote a death-song for Aria, after he could not find her body and she failed to appear.
Life is ended, dim thy eyes,
a journey long, behind thee lies
Farewell friend, in honour slain
And never shall we meet again
This was enough to put Loyalty Aria on his sheet, given she was not in fact dead.
'A rough translation would be, "I am doing this. Keep out, or come deal with it personally."' - Hendira
'My notes from last week summarise the message as "We’re going to go fight the Lunars, you can join us if you really want, but we’re in charge because we’re going to get there first."' - Saronil
'"A disorder" is now the official group noun for Storm Bulls.' - Androus
"About that favour." - Kallyr
"Oppression is the slave of duty!" - Dragonewt
Hendira: So that's why we took the dragonnewt road - to win a petty race between queens.
Saronil: yep
Saronil: a very important petty race
Androus: It is not bad for shit to go down. The alternative is worse.
Saronil: Probably going to look for Aria, this is not likely to work well.
Androus: OK, that's fresh. Androus actually passes Intrigue.
Hendira: Oh look. They're fighting over a corpse.
Hendira: Between a pair of diplomats. One of the most dangerous places to be.
Hendira: I don't think Androus is the "rock" in this scenario.
Taking Saronil aside: "How are you with politics?" - Androus
"Mostly oblivious." - Saronil
In fairness, that was the one and only time Androus ever did pass Intrigue.