Session 21 (Part Three)
Complications, Complications and Yet More Complications
The party’s turn of fortune could not have been more complete. The outmaneuvered Antoinine Sestius hobbled from the room with his surly entourage, lightening the mood considerably. Lady Andrimia deftly guided the party to several notables for introductions before excusing herself to attend to “other business”. Within a nonce, the companions had more breakfast, lunch and dinner invitations than they could handle.
Although they desperately wished to quit Oar and head back to Glynden, refusing invitations from the Emorian Legate and acting Bishop Patroclian would have been impolitic at best. Rowan, Cragen and Röse, a bit out of their element, huddled at a corner table over a keg or two of ale; warning off those interested in a closer peek at the living legend Cragen with dour looks. Sextus and Quintus, clearly enjoying the social interaction, worked the room for all they were worth. Quintus managed to finagle meetings with several halfling trading houses, including the immensely fat master of House Battenhorn. Sextus picked up a few bits of information and regaled some of the partygoers with a quick tale of their exploits in the Shadowblade hideout.
A long night, a bit too much wine and an early morning appointment started the day poorly for Quintus. His mood was not improved by the less-than-enthusiastic response his proposal received from the Master of House Battenhorn. “At least he didn’t dismiss it out of hand,” grumbled the sorcerer as he left the sumptuous Battenhorn compound.
(DM’s Note: Quintus’s proposal was to work a distribution deal with House Battenhorn for ore from the western mine traces – now abandoned – bypass Boss Braithwaite’s operation and put his old boss out of business. He tried to work a pre-emptive deal with the halflings, but the shrewd Master Battenhorn, well aware of the manpower shortages in Glyden, inquired about mine workers. Quintus planned on trying to convince the kobolds to mine for them, but didn’t have any agreement locked up. The final resolution was that IF Quintus could muster a workforce and if the tin from the mines was of good quality, House Battenhorn would represent the interest. They would not, however, commit any man (halfling) power or resources until production was restarted. That Quintus…always scheming 
)
The middle of the day was filled with re-provisioning, fixing gear and making ready to depart the following day. If Quintus had a headache after his meeting with House Battenhorn, he was sure their dinner with Acting Bishop Patroclian would be even worse. To his surprise, Patroclian was quite gracious…at least in the beginning, immediately raising everyone’s suspicions. He questioned Cragen closely about his beliefs, inquired after Lew’s fate and asked hard questions about the possession of the young priest by Volakir.
The pretense of graciousness fell away as the discussion veered into the Berylian Edicts and the fact that, under said precepts, both the worship of Corellan (venerated by Rowan) and Moradin (followed by Cragen) were proscribed. While Patroclian remained civil, if only barely, Sergeant-Brother Fortian, the Cathedral Master-at-Arms, was anything but.
(DM's Note: As mentioned previously, the Berylian Edicts were fommented about 10 years prior to game time in the Jewel City of Beryl. The Archbishop of Beryl had broken with the High Patriarch in Emor and essentially declared that seperate veneration of the Elder Aspects of Osirian is anethma and akin to heresy. The Berylian arm of the Church has been aggresively founding outposts all around the Crescent Sea and taken a more militant stance than the Traditional Church. The Berylian Edicts are apparently playing well in populations with few or no ties to the Elder races.)
He stared at Cragen with a zealot’s eyes and was dismissed from dinner by a stern-faced Patroclian after several outbursts. The others of the Cathedral Hierarchy remained neutral during the heated discourse, giving no clue as to their own beliefs. As the quickly souring evening drew to a close, Patroclian blustered a bit.
"I could have you detained if I wished...but I will not, if you agree to carry these dispatches, unopened, to Father Thomas."
They grudgingly agreed and quickly took their leave of Abbott Patroclian. Rowan paused in the door to offer a parting shot.
"Perhaps you see us as heretics, your grace...but who is the heretic? He who worships the whole god or those insisting on amputation?"
Patroclian dismissed them with an angry wave and the party departed with all haste to friendlier quarters. Rowan was furious, angered by the blindness of Patroclian to what the Ranger viewed as the clear workings of the Shadow. “He is up to something,” offered Sextus as they departed.
The others nodded in agreement, peering into the many shadows of the Cathedral grounds as they exited the postern gate. They failed to notice a cloaked figure watching them from the northern bell tower. A figure who’s eyes smoldered and flashed.
Their breakfast meeting with the Emorian Legate, the last official function before their departure north, was brief and business-like. The Legate ate sparingly and asked many questions, particularly about Glynden and the surrounding area. He nodded often and seemed to be taking mental notes. Toward the end of the meal, he stood and began to pace about the room.
“I wish to thank you for being so forthcoming. My interest in the area in partly professional and partly personal, since I have distant relations in the House of Cassuvius. To that end, I wonder if you might do me a small favor.”
Not wishing to offend the Legate, the party readily agreed. A thin-lipped smile briefly creased the Emorian’s face.
“Splendid! It is a small task for such worthies as yourselves, but I would be most grateful…”
He barked an order and the door to the dining chamber opened. An Emorian guard, resplendent in burnished armor, led a nervous-looking youth clad in brand-new armor and an older man wearing more seasoned gear. Both of them advanced three paces into the room and snapped to attention. The older soldier stood one pace to the rear and one pace to the left of the youngster.
“If you would be so kind as to allow the Junior Tribune and his batman to accompany you North, I would consider it a personal favor.”
The Legate’s tone and stance indicated it was more of a demand than a request, but the party readily agreed. Rowan carefully studied the young man’s face and noticed several beads of sweat rolling slowly down his cheek. The ranger shook his head and studied the floor.
‘Great,’ he thought crossly, ‘another baby-sitting job!’
To Be Continued…
Next: Session 22 (Part One) – The Journey Home Begins
! I think our next session will be 28 or 29...so we still have a ways to go.
