Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Aphonion Tales: The Archducal Council -- Unedited notes; later posts are edited transcripts (posts MWF, update 3/1/23)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="CPaladin" data-source="post: 8795057" data-attributes="member: 7030144"><p>Session 130 (May 26, 2021)</p><p></p><p>15 Ke-ras</p><p>Dame Brionna contacts the Council and tells us that the Archimagus Adalwardus of Avery has teleported to the City, asking for a private and discrete meeting. Alistair knows that he is a long-time retainer of the royal family of Avery; known for being more military oriented than most archmages.</p><p></p><p>Kit checks with both her people and the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry only knows that he is reputed very powerful. Kit’s people are convinced that he is a metallic dragon, not human, though he appears human. He has gone through 7 or so guises over the last 500 years. His priority has already been to protect Avery. There is a suspicion that the Avery royal family has some draconic blood, so the Council thinks he is probably looking after his descendants. He “dies” and reappears with a marginally different name every 200 years—almost precisely. People who suggest that he might not be human in the court of Avery are immediately banished or killed, to protect the secret, though many people seem to have figured it out. He collects ceramic figurines—he has thousands upon thousands.</p><p></p><p>Dame Brionna arranges to have her sister purchase a ceramic chess set, by a South Kingdoms refugee artisan, who made it in honor of the imperial marriage. Dame Brionna arranges for a townhouse in the city for a meeting with him. She then gets smuggled to the townhouse through under-city tunnels, shepherded by Kit’s people.</p><p></p><p>The Archmage meets her, in a terrible disguise. He is very pleased by the ceramic chess set, and says that it’s very good that the Emperor has taken the refugees “under his wing… I mean in hand! In hand.”</p><p></p><p>He tells her that the Duke was very taken by the Princess Anastasia’s suggestion, and that the army will be joined by a small family of silver dragons that are fond of Avery, which should ensure success—especially because human vollers cannot stand up to dragons.</p><p></p><p>He also tells Dame Brionna about poisons in their giant neighbor to the north. It has also begun to sink into the ground, especially where there is clay. He theorizes that it’s leaching into the water. The land should not be farmed for three human generations, unless it can be purified. He offers his research notes, “which my secretary carelessly wrote in Draconic—I hope you have someone who can translate that?”</p><p></p><p>They discuss the attack—he is confident it will succeed, and when the new Kov’s forces have retaken his lands, they will continue to keep him safe in Avery until it is safe to return to his lands (particularly once the Princess Anastasia, the rightful Queen-Empress, is restored.)</p><p></p><p>Dame Brionna also asks whether his predecessors have left any records about problems related to royal houses failing or having only daughters. He says that Avery has had no problems, but “I—rather my predecessors—noticed this problem, particularly when the former royal family of the Utolian City States, which were once a united kingdom, though separate from the Kingdom of the Uto in the isles. When the royal line died out, they fragmented into separate city states. There was also a human kingdom to the west of the Great Steading that collapsed entirely when its royal family died out. With the royal family’s collapse, its alliances with the surrounding creatures and people failed. Now, all that is left of its once great country are the outlines of the buildings of its city when seen in flight.”</p><p></p><p>“On a voller, of course.”</p><p></p><p>“Wizards fly on their own sometimes!”</p><p></p><p>“I fly on the back of a gift from Lord Glordiadel, sometimes.”</p><p></p><p>“There is nothing quite like flight, is there? But back to the subject at hand. Houses that married into people from the Cities of Life had problems that spread through their descendants.”</p><p></p><p>“How could your predecessors tell that?”</p><p></p><p>“Some of the mages of my order can see how humans breed and how their bloodlines work the way a human skilled in animal husbandry might with goats.” Alistair clarifies over the mindlink that silver dragons are notorious for their interests in genetics, especially among humans, generally for beneficent purposes.</p><p></p><p>The Archmage also asks if the Empire can guarantee Avery’s security.</p><p></p><p>She suggests talking to the Emperor directly.</p><p></p><p>They travel to the palace.</p><p></p><p>The Archmage tells them that he thinks there may be some involvement of the ancient Dissemblers. The Council confirms that this is a plot of the Eldritch and brief him on what we know and how the conspiracy fits together.</p><p></p><p>He tells us that he has fought some elements of the Order of the Ram in Avery, but had not realized the connection to the Eldritch until the problems in Hanal emerged.</p><p></p><p>They promise to protect Avery during the current crisis, although beyond that would require a more formal arrangement.</p><p></p><p>They ask if there are any signs of problems within the imperial children or Alistair.</p><p></p><p>The children are fine, and very heavily blessed. He places an additional blessing, of a draconic saint of Glordiadel, on the imperial children, and on Kit’s child to be and future children to be. He also tells Alistair that he does carry the taint of the City of Life, but that it is held in abeyance by divine power. It was intended to cause infertility and/or madness, but has caused neither. It could be eliminated altogether, but he would recommend waiting until the war is over. It would take some weeks, and be very painful.</p><p></p><p>The Council also ask how the energy shield around the Hanalian capital might be brought down. He says it might be done by many energy lances, but that it would be difficult. "The death of the Usurper and Quinliart’s immediate superior would bring it down—it is what is feeding on the deaths of the people of the capital. It is some sort of crowned, supernal being, with the appearance of humanity but no humanity. It is tormented, and gathering energy. Whether it is feeding that power to its master, Arthranax, I do not know. It was not a creature of law or light, but it might be a greater servant of Berta controlled by Arthranax. It is not winning the fight in the outer planes, however." He says that he thinks that Arthranax will only seek now to consume gods of evil. He has all but consumed Anatar (the Noldar godling) who fades by the day.</p><p></p><p>“Would you like me to send reports through your intelligence services?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, please.”</p><p></p><p>They confirm that he knows that the usurper is an imposter, though the royal family of Avery cannot remember that and is confused by references to it.</p><p></p><p>Alistair also asks, out of curiosity, how many continents he knows of. He says that he knows of 3, but believes that there are two more that he can’t ever remember details about. Alistair confirms that there is a fourth, but that nobody can remember it except people who have connections to the South Kingdoms royal families. The fifth is news to him. Kit and Dame Brionna find this conversation obscure and baffling. (After a short period of time, Alistair forgets entirely about the fifth continent.)</p><p></p><p>The Archmage then teleports home, from the teleportation room.</p><p>[cont'd]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CPaladin, post: 8795057, member: 7030144"] Session 130 (May 26, 2021) 15 Ke-ras Dame Brionna contacts the Council and tells us that the Archimagus Adalwardus of Avery has teleported to the City, asking for a private and discrete meeting. Alistair knows that he is a long-time retainer of the royal family of Avery; known for being more military oriented than most archmages. Kit checks with both her people and the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry only knows that he is reputed very powerful. Kit’s people are convinced that he is a metallic dragon, not human, though he appears human. He has gone through 7 or so guises over the last 500 years. His priority has already been to protect Avery. There is a suspicion that the Avery royal family has some draconic blood, so the Council thinks he is probably looking after his descendants. He “dies” and reappears with a marginally different name every 200 years—almost precisely. People who suggest that he might not be human in the court of Avery are immediately banished or killed, to protect the secret, though many people seem to have figured it out. He collects ceramic figurines—he has thousands upon thousands. Dame Brionna arranges to have her sister purchase a ceramic chess set, by a South Kingdoms refugee artisan, who made it in honor of the imperial marriage. Dame Brionna arranges for a townhouse in the city for a meeting with him. She then gets smuggled to the townhouse through under-city tunnels, shepherded by Kit’s people. The Archmage meets her, in a terrible disguise. He is very pleased by the ceramic chess set, and says that it’s very good that the Emperor has taken the refugees “under his wing… I mean in hand! In hand.” He tells her that the Duke was very taken by the Princess Anastasia’s suggestion, and that the army will be joined by a small family of silver dragons that are fond of Avery, which should ensure success—especially because human vollers cannot stand up to dragons. He also tells Dame Brionna about poisons in their giant neighbor to the north. It has also begun to sink into the ground, especially where there is clay. He theorizes that it’s leaching into the water. The land should not be farmed for three human generations, unless it can be purified. He offers his research notes, “which my secretary carelessly wrote in Draconic—I hope you have someone who can translate that?” They discuss the attack—he is confident it will succeed, and when the new Kov’s forces have retaken his lands, they will continue to keep him safe in Avery until it is safe to return to his lands (particularly once the Princess Anastasia, the rightful Queen-Empress, is restored.) Dame Brionna also asks whether his predecessors have left any records about problems related to royal houses failing or having only daughters. He says that Avery has had no problems, but “I—rather my predecessors—noticed this problem, particularly when the former royal family of the Utolian City States, which were once a united kingdom, though separate from the Kingdom of the Uto in the isles. When the royal line died out, they fragmented into separate city states. There was also a human kingdom to the west of the Great Steading that collapsed entirely when its royal family died out. With the royal family’s collapse, its alliances with the surrounding creatures and people failed. Now, all that is left of its once great country are the outlines of the buildings of its city when seen in flight.” “On a voller, of course.” “Wizards fly on their own sometimes!” “I fly on the back of a gift from Lord Glordiadel, sometimes.” “There is nothing quite like flight, is there? But back to the subject at hand. Houses that married into people from the Cities of Life had problems that spread through their descendants.” “How could your predecessors tell that?” “Some of the mages of my order can see how humans breed and how their bloodlines work the way a human skilled in animal husbandry might with goats.” Alistair clarifies over the mindlink that silver dragons are notorious for their interests in genetics, especially among humans, generally for beneficent purposes. The Archmage also asks if the Empire can guarantee Avery’s security. She suggests talking to the Emperor directly. They travel to the palace. The Archmage tells them that he thinks there may be some involvement of the ancient Dissemblers. The Council confirms that this is a plot of the Eldritch and brief him on what we know and how the conspiracy fits together. He tells us that he has fought some elements of the Order of the Ram in Avery, but had not realized the connection to the Eldritch until the problems in Hanal emerged. They promise to protect Avery during the current crisis, although beyond that would require a more formal arrangement. They ask if there are any signs of problems within the imperial children or Alistair. The children are fine, and very heavily blessed. He places an additional blessing, of a draconic saint of Glordiadel, on the imperial children, and on Kit’s child to be and future children to be. He also tells Alistair that he does carry the taint of the City of Life, but that it is held in abeyance by divine power. It was intended to cause infertility and/or madness, but has caused neither. It could be eliminated altogether, but he would recommend waiting until the war is over. It would take some weeks, and be very painful. The Council also ask how the energy shield around the Hanalian capital might be brought down. He says it might be done by many energy lances, but that it would be difficult. "The death of the Usurper and Quinliart’s immediate superior would bring it down—it is what is feeding on the deaths of the people of the capital. It is some sort of crowned, supernal being, with the appearance of humanity but no humanity. It is tormented, and gathering energy. Whether it is feeding that power to its master, Arthranax, I do not know. It was not a creature of law or light, but it might be a greater servant of Berta controlled by Arthranax. It is not winning the fight in the outer planes, however." He says that he thinks that Arthranax will only seek now to consume gods of evil. He has all but consumed Anatar (the Noldar godling) who fades by the day. “Would you like me to send reports through your intelligence services?” “Yes, please.” They confirm that he knows that the usurper is an imposter, though the royal family of Avery cannot remember that and is confused by references to it. Alistair also asks, out of curiosity, how many continents he knows of. He says that he knows of 3, but believes that there are two more that he can’t ever remember details about. Alistair confirms that there is a fourth, but that nobody can remember it except people who have connections to the South Kingdoms royal families. The fifth is news to him. Kit and Dame Brionna find this conversation obscure and baffling. (After a short period of time, Alistair forgets entirely about the fifth continent.) The Archmage then teleports home, from the teleportation room. [cont'd] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Aphonion Tales: The Archducal Council -- Unedited notes; later posts are edited transcripts (posts MWF, update 3/1/23)
Top