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Message: <blockquote data-quote="aartvb" data-source="post: 9524484" data-attributes="member: 7035557">Session 24 (1-12-2024): Betrayal, Bloodlines, and BreakoutAs the group continues along the river, they encounter a caravan of three wagons at a standstill. Five soldiers bearing the emblem of King Steppengard are inspecting the wagons. A stowaway is discovered and immediately executed by beheading. Initially, the party moves on, but when the soldiers prepare to kill the halflings, Vashera, Barracus, and Athoz return to intervene. Unfortunately, due to Vashera’s less-than-effective communication, the commander ignores them and proceeds with executing the halflings. After a brief battle, the commander realizes he cannot defeat us and agrees to talk. During the conversation, it becomes clear he has been taking justice into his own hands, deciding that the entire caravan is full of traitors. Vashera strongly disagrees, and wants to report him to the king. She demands his name: Adolfo Gonzales. Barracus hangs the commander in a tree, and the party continues its journey. The halflings flee.  March 7thThey arrive at the city of Bresk. Everyone receives their own room at the Golden Griffin inn. The party heads to the nearest tavern to gather information, chatting with the regulars.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The king’s family (his wife and children) have all been killed. The five eldest children were hacked to pieces at a party, while the remaining 13 children and his wife were poisoned during a dinner. The king was distracted and thus escaped being poisoned. (This happened three days ago.)  </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Talon is a task force assembled after this tragedy to hunt down and either arrest or kill those responsible. People are terrified of being falsely accused.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Book of Eight Nations outlines the line of succession to the throne. Lord Megadon is now the heir, though rumors suggest Lady Namin seeks to marry the king and become queen.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The king has a new advisor, the wizard Nina Glibglammer, who is reportedly not fond of Seaquen.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Gallo, Dashgoban, and Timor oppose the pact with the Ragesians. Iz and Dene are neutral, while the rest support it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">King Steppengard, once a beloved warrior, is now seen as unpredictable and feared.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Nine people are in the Council of Nine, one of which is king Steppengard, who has 3 votes. They govern the kingdom and vote on policies.</li> </ul>March 8thThe day of the royal audience. King Steppengard looks disheveled and sleep-deprived. A Ragesian man stands beside a masked inquisitor. The group stands next to Lady Namin.  A man is on trial, and is controlled to say that Lord Gallo is guilty of the murders on the royal family. The man is named Relder, clerk to Jinis (Lord Gallo's proxy at court). Jinis apparently has been imprisoned for treason. Under questioning from the female gnome Nina Glibglammer, Relder gives contradictory testimony, claiming both Gallo’s innocence and incoherent details about poison. It seems like he is being enchanted. The king does not sentence him but sends him back to prison.The group is then called forward. Of the Council of Nine, one person (Lord Gallo) is absent. Lady Namin and King Steppengard are present in person; the others are represented by proxies. Athoz gives a strong speech about the party's mission, earning some goodwill from the council. The king demands that Vashera, who lacks the silver tongue, speaks. She fails to convince him, and the king dismisses them. Vashera doesn't give up, and mentions the incident with Adolfo Gonzales. The king is already aware of it, and realizes that they are the same group. He had been told that they have worked against the Talon, so after consulting with his advisor, he orders the group imprisoned. At the last moment, Barracus throws Lady Dene's insignias (retrieved from the slain individuals on March 4th) to Lady Dene's proxy, accusing the king and the Talon of being responsible for the deaths of Lady Dene's soldiers.  The group is arrested, dressed in gray prison uniforms, and stripped of their belongings. Balan is separated from the rest. In the cells, they discover that Athoz has a metal arm engraved with runes, Vashera has a prosthetic left arm, and Barracus bears a prominent scar.  The party is imprisoned next to:  <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Jinis, the father of Jineer (whom they carry a letter).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A man named Hrumbrand, who babbles nonsense.</li> </ul>Jinis claims to know where their belongings are being kept. Athoz activates the runes on his arm, creating arcane armor and weapons. The metallic smell from before grows stronger. It was apparently caused by Athoz’s armor.  The group devises multiple plans, eventually succeeding when Elio steals the guard's keys. Everyone is freed from their shackles and cells. They move toward a room at the end of the hallway where five guards are playing a game. The party wants to reach the room on the left, where their belongings are stored. Using tricks, they attempt to lure the guards out by simulating a fight upstairs, but the guards cannot leave through the locked door. The guards awaken a sixth guard, who was sleeping.   Out of options, the party decides to storm the room and take their chances.[ATTACH=full]388027[/ATTACH]</blockquote>

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