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: 8239717" data-attributes="member: 7030144"><p>Session 36 (May 21, 2008)</p><p>Notes are missing. However, there were some documents from this session that we do have (attached), and also some pre-game activity involving Dame Brionna that I'm including here.</p><p></p><p>DM wrote:</p><p>A messenger awaits you as you approach morning chapel service. He is young, you recognize him as one of the squires. He bows deeply. "Dame Brionna -- a visitor of breathtaking power appeared just outside the wards about a hour ago. At his request he has been taken to the chapel garden. He has asked for a representative of the Archduke and also mentioned the possibility of attending chapel if that would facilitate it.. He is... I cannot describe him..." The squire shakes his head, as if to clear it. "An elf honored Dame -- its an elf -- I'm so sorry, I've hardly been myself since he spoke to me. I have difficulty thinking clearly." He bows again, obviously flustered. </p><p></p><p>(here I am taking license based on the Dame's observed behavior) With a quarter bell to spare before service, you forgo your normal private devotion and go to the chapel garden. There you see a beautiful, and you think quite young, male elf. He is dressed in finest shirt and pants of what appears to you as purest elven weave. The shirt has an elven coat of arms embroidered on the left breast. A combination of the Great Tree, the Seven Stars and some sparkling elven runes. That same design is captured on a small seal on a torc of mithril and rose laen which he wears around his neck -- as his only jewelry. From classes long ago, refreshed when you knew you had to deal with a number of elven powers, or might -- you recognize the crest of the house of S'Giliath -- the most fabled Elldar house -- the house of the OverQueen - a house rumored to have less than 300 surviving members, and less than 20 young. The elf is singing in Queyna ( eldar) , and a soft glowing light spills out of him, as if he were a lamp. Two female servants and a young male stand entranced nearby -- their faces transfixed with joy. Another figure, a middle aged female servant that you have seen occasionally, an under secretary you think -- lies prostate at the young elf's feet -- weeping, a dagger fallen from her outstretched hand. </p><p></p><p>The elven boy, who is completely unarmed, upon seeing you, smiles, stops singing and bows slightly to you -- an unusual honor from an elf. The two servant girls and the boy shake their heads, prostate themselves, then rise, and with a visible inner calm you have rarely seen on anyone their age, wander into the chapel -- where you often see them at morning prayer, bowing to you as they pass. The boy even reaches out to touch just the helm of the elf's garment, the young elf reaches out in return instead, and touches the boys hand whispering a word in Queyna. The boy smiles, bows and goes on into the chapel.</p><p></p><p>"His mother has been ill -- I do not completely understand what sickness is -- but I could see her condition in his mind -- it is her heart, it weakens for some reason. I have sent strengthening energy to her. It should restore her for some time to come -- I do not think forever though -- father says that humans ... die for no reason other than age.</p><p></p><p>'Oh!" he flushes. "I bring greetings and honor from my father, Lord Elros S'Giliath, emissary of the Overqueen unto the Queen of Singing Leaves." He extends a rose Laen tube, within which creamy parchment is rolled.. "Battle Commander, I bring these words from my father unto the court of the Arch-duchy of Canberry together with our respect."</p><p></p><p>The elven youth falls smoothly into a court style genuflection, extending the tube. At the same time, the weeping secretary rises from the ground, her face contorted to the point of being almost unrecognizable. In a single motion she scoops up the dagger and she lunges forward toward the kneeling lad's back.</p><p></p><p>----</p><p>Dame Brionna's player responded:</p><p>Given her bodyguard training (and I did guess it in the 2nd paragraph), Dame Brionna had been watching the middle-aged servant carefully, and activated her standard auras giving a +2 AC and DR 2- to all allies in the area. As it is early morning and she was preparing for services, she's not armed herself except for a small dagger and is dressed only in her uniform and surcoat. Nevertheless, she attempts to throw herself between the servant and the elf, grappling the servant if possible. For the record, on a Disarm check, she gets a total of 28. Perhaps more importantly, she's also using her special Marshal power which allows her to grant an immediate move action to an ally within 30 feet - yelling, "Run!" to the elf.</p><p>----</p><p>DM responded:</p><p>You easily move in between, startled into action by your power he tumbles forward and lands on his feet, running toward the chapel door. You successfully grapple the servant, who cries out "no, no - they are past, they must die, they must all die!!!" Weeping and howling she attempts to struggle free of you. "They come and they charm your children -- and the children are never the same. Let me go, we are the earth now, they are old and arrogant and lost, they must die. Abomination, Abomination!" </p><p></p><p>The boy, from the chapel door looks horrified. "But we wish you no harm, I would never harm your children, I would heal them - I am a child too. I just want to be friends with everyone."</p><p></p><p>"Abomination" she screams, "you can never understand," and clumsily tries to hurl the dagger at him. She fails because you are mostly pinning her, and in the process she cuts herself. Her back arches, she screams, froths, and as Father Waters rushes from the chapel, past the boy, she expires.</p><p></p><p>"No, no, no!" cries the young messenger, and then begins to weep. "I wished no harm -- this is why, this is why Great Grandmother thinks we must pass to the West, this is why! I love humans, I've always wanted to know some, that's why father let me be the messenger, and now I do know some and one of them is dead because of me. I tried to stop her from dying -- but she rejected me -- she wouldn't let the power help her. What have we done that she hates us so -- what have I done?!" He bows his head, choking on his tears, the Laen scroll tube laying nearly forgotten at his side.</p><p></p><p>Father Waters kneels by the woman. Hyperaware, you see him check her pulse, shake his head, then check the dagger, blocking the boy's view with his bod. With a twist, he opens the handle -- revealing a vial of clear liquid, half empty, inside the hilt. "Poison dagger," he murmurs, as softly as he possibly can. "She planned for this, for being this close to one of them sooner or later -- I would bet my life that this is some form of poisoned Kirian. It wasn't that she wouldn't let the power help her -- the Kirian prevented it completely if it is indeed tainted."</p><p></p><p>He slips the hilt closed and drops the dagger into a leather pouch.</p><p>----</p><p>Dame Brionna's next response:</p><p>First, I offer a quick prayer of thanksgiving to Glordiadel. Then I summon a paladin to take careful custody of the dagger and bring it someplace (Far from elves) where it can be studied (by the mages?), and ask Father Waters to summon a priest to take care of the woman's body, preserve it for Speak-with-Dead, and find out as much information as possible about her. I also send a page to wake up Alistair and Kit and get him ready for a formal reception of such an august dignitary. That done, I pick up the Laen scroll tube, extend a hand to the Eldar, and suggest that we pray for her forgiveness by the Light and our own understanding of her suffering in the chapel. Once he's calmed down and we've gone through the services (his deities as well), I offer to escort him to the meeting room - keeping him well within sight and protection, and making sure there are reliable guards lining the corridors en route.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The paladin removes the dagger to one of several safe locations designated for emergencies within the palace. Father Waters summons a priest to remove and preserve the body. He also sends a runner under your seal (which has respect in the Capital second only to the Archduke and the Archbishop) to the Archdiocesan records archives, requesting an immediate report and any information available on the woman, whose name, he says is Susan Eve LeClair. "she often attends chapel here in the morning" he explains softly, "she's never given evidence of insanity before -- and certainly not of this." You send a page to the Archducal quarters (please compose a brief note you would actually use and forward it to both players via email addressed to the characters -- just for the sake of the rp - please send me a blind copy as well) to wake them and inform them of the visitor.</p><p></p><p>There are several dozen people in the chapel, as there usually are -- a few household guard, you, another paladin (plus the one sent off with the dagger) and quite a few servants and pages. The boy who was listening to the young elf earlier, and who clearly knows something went horribly wrong after they parted rises, together with one of the girls, and comes over to sit with you and the visibly upset elven boy. He and the girl glance at each other with worried expressions, as they get near you -- but square their shoulders and come on over anyway. They carefully sit on the opposite side of the boy from you, the servant boy closest to him.</p><p></p><p>Father Waters, in a few, carefully worded sentences explains that an incident, unexpected and unprecedented has occurred, and that Susan Eve LeClair is dead as a result of it. He explains that rather than routine morning prayer, instead this will be a specialized form of the prayers for the dead, for she had no chance to confess prior to her untimely passing. He asks all present to forgive the woman any wrong she had done them, and leads the congregation then in the prayers for the dead, asking for forgiveness of the souls of the dead and peace in the paradise of Glor'diadel and finally flawlessly guides the ceremony to a point where he can ask the young S'Giliath lord to pray to the elven Creator for the peace of the woman's soul and her repose since "he too was present at the time of her death, and was wronged by her."</p><p></p><p>The boy, rises, a bit shakily, the human servant boy reaches out sympathetically and touches his hand, gently. "Creator, in the mercy that you show your brother, that you show the Kinslayers, that you show all of us among the trees, I ask that you see the soul of this Susan Eve LeClair and redeem her to the Light of Creation." Then he slips out of common and begins to sing an Eldar dirge in Queyna. He sings for only a couple of minutes, a hauntingly beautiful song -- and at its end he bows his head. You are moved by the song, but several of the other participants are openly weeping. Slowly, haltingly a young woman, an assistant cook you think, says "I forgive Susan for yelling at me when I was too slow to prepare the plate she had to take to Lady Brenda. I have nursed this anger for 5 years, it is wrong, and I forgive her and ask Glor'diadel to forgive me for this anger." A moment later a man, one of the grooms says "I forgive Susan for publicly humiliating me after I gave her a rose to show that I was sweet on her. For a year I did not dare tread where she might walk, for ten years I have lowered my head in shame and anger when I recalled what she did and steadfastly avoided her gaze. I forgive her, and I hope that she will forgive me too and that Glor'diadel and all the Saints will do the same." Several other members of the congregation forgive Susan as well, enough so that you become aware that she apparently had made some enemies in the household -- and that she was a brittle and demanding woman for some time. Finally, when all the humans have finished, a silence falls, and just before Father Waters begins to speak again, the Eldar boy raises his voice anew. "Creator, First Daughter, Stars and Principalities and Powers, I, Elhieardacil, son of Elros, of the house of S'Giliath forgive Susan Eve LeClair for attempting to kill me. I forgive her for hating me. I forgive her for desiring my death. I forgive her for refusing my help as a redactor, even as she died. (He is trembling as if he had the auge, but he continues). I ask that she also forgives me. Forgives me because sometimes my people are arrogant. Forgives me because I did not realize that she wanted to kill me, I thought she was only as the Grugarch and some of the Sindarin, approaching with weapons only to show their strength, and thus I proved that I too am arrogant even though I do not wish to be. I ask her to forgive me because her hatred of me has left her children without a mother and her grandchildren without a grandmother, and I cannot give that back to them. I ask her to forgive me and to accept my forgiveness, that her spirit may be restored to the Light of Creation and have endless days in the West."</p><p></p><p>As the silence falls again, Father Water's does speak. "Hear our prayers and grant our requests I humbly beseech. Keep us ever mindful of the nearness of death and ever ready to enter into your eternal presence. Have mercy on us, and grant us peace."</p><p></p><p>Turning he bows deeply to the sun disk, and then turning again to the congregation he announces the benediction. As he finishes people genuflect, nod toward him, and many toward you and Elhieardacil and begin to depart to their daily routine.</p><p></p><p>As you depart to take the boy to the audience chamber, the servant boy and girl each hug him tightly, and walk a little way with him, before hurrying off to their duties, the messenger that Father Waters sent for Susan Eve LeClair's records approaches from your right while the boy is thus distracted and bends forward, murmuring softly "The report you requested will be ready for you before lunch time honored Dame -- where shall I have it delivered? Your office or the pages at the privy council chamber?" Seconds after you answer that, another figure, a mage's apprentice that you have seen from time to time around the palace you are quite sure, slips a note into your off hand and walks away.</p><p>-----</p><p>Dame Brionna's player wrote to Kit and Alistair's players:</p><p>As the first grey rays of dawn are beginning to come through your windows, the page Tad Sedge knocks very politely on both Kit's bedroom door and the Archducal bedroom door, bearing small scrolls sealed with Dame Brionna's personal signet ring. He'll betray no surprise at finding both of them in one location or the other.</p><p></p><p>"Your grace, m'lady, please, my mistress said she's sorry but it's very important you read these right now and that I should then go get your squires and lady-in-waiting." He bows nervously; he's clearly had some serious shock, as he is stammering and quite pale, but also has an incongruous look of joy in his eyes.</p><p></p><p>You take the scroll and close the door on him. Opening it, you see a neat but quickly penned message in Brionna's handwriting:</p><p></p><p>"Major Eldar noble - <em>child</em> of S'giliath House appeared, nearly assassinated by palace servant. Safe for now, bringing him to meeting room after chapel services. No prior exp w/humans. See you in hour. - DB."</p><p>[The documents from that session are attached. As I mentioned, we don't have the notes for the session itself.]</p><p></p><p>[I'm pretty sure based on looking at the context of this that this was the beginning of what in many ways is the defining plot thread of the last decade of the campaign. I won't clarify further now to avoid spoilers, but the message to the Spymaster ends up being very important.]</p><p></p><p>After the session, I sent the following email:</p><p>I've attached a letter from Alistair to the Patriarch of the Light. </p><p> </p><p>To flesh out what I said in the last session, Alistair calls the Archbishop to the palace and asks the Archbishop to personally deliver the message into the hands of the Patriarch. He tells the Archbishop that the message has to do with the idea they had previously discussed of Alistair speaking to the College of Cardinals about organizing a more active intelligence gathering capability within the Church. Something has come up that increases the urgency of that, but Alistair won't say more in explanation. Alistair offers the Archduchy's capabilities to teleport the Archbishop to the Holy See.</p><p>[Letter to the Patriarch also attached]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CPaladin, post: 8239717, member: 7030144"] Session 36 (May 21, 2008) Notes are missing. However, there were some documents from this session that we do have (attached), and also some pre-game activity involving Dame Brionna that I'm including here. DM wrote: A messenger awaits you as you approach morning chapel service. He is young, you recognize him as one of the squires. He bows deeply. "Dame Brionna -- a visitor of breathtaking power appeared just outside the wards about a hour ago. At his request he has been taken to the chapel garden. He has asked for a representative of the Archduke and also mentioned the possibility of attending chapel if that would facilitate it.. He is... I cannot describe him..." The squire shakes his head, as if to clear it. "An elf honored Dame -- its an elf -- I'm so sorry, I've hardly been myself since he spoke to me. I have difficulty thinking clearly." He bows again, obviously flustered. (here I am taking license based on the Dame's observed behavior) With a quarter bell to spare before service, you forgo your normal private devotion and go to the chapel garden. There you see a beautiful, and you think quite young, male elf. He is dressed in finest shirt and pants of what appears to you as purest elven weave. The shirt has an elven coat of arms embroidered on the left breast. A combination of the Great Tree, the Seven Stars and some sparkling elven runes. That same design is captured on a small seal on a torc of mithril and rose laen which he wears around his neck -- as his only jewelry. From classes long ago, refreshed when you knew you had to deal with a number of elven powers, or might -- you recognize the crest of the house of S'Giliath -- the most fabled Elldar house -- the house of the OverQueen - a house rumored to have less than 300 surviving members, and less than 20 young. The elf is singing in Queyna ( eldar) , and a soft glowing light spills out of him, as if he were a lamp. Two female servants and a young male stand entranced nearby -- their faces transfixed with joy. Another figure, a middle aged female servant that you have seen occasionally, an under secretary you think -- lies prostate at the young elf's feet -- weeping, a dagger fallen from her outstretched hand. The elven boy, who is completely unarmed, upon seeing you, smiles, stops singing and bows slightly to you -- an unusual honor from an elf. The two servant girls and the boy shake their heads, prostate themselves, then rise, and with a visible inner calm you have rarely seen on anyone their age, wander into the chapel -- where you often see them at morning prayer, bowing to you as they pass. The boy even reaches out to touch just the helm of the elf's garment, the young elf reaches out in return instead, and touches the boys hand whispering a word in Queyna. The boy smiles, bows and goes on into the chapel. "His mother has been ill -- I do not completely understand what sickness is -- but I could see her condition in his mind -- it is her heart, it weakens for some reason. I have sent strengthening energy to her. It should restore her for some time to come -- I do not think forever though -- father says that humans ... die for no reason other than age. 'Oh!" he flushes. "I bring greetings and honor from my father, Lord Elros S'Giliath, emissary of the Overqueen unto the Queen of Singing Leaves." He extends a rose Laen tube, within which creamy parchment is rolled.. "Battle Commander, I bring these words from my father unto the court of the Arch-duchy of Canberry together with our respect." The elven youth falls smoothly into a court style genuflection, extending the tube. At the same time, the weeping secretary rises from the ground, her face contorted to the point of being almost unrecognizable. In a single motion she scoops up the dagger and she lunges forward toward the kneeling lad's back. ---- Dame Brionna's player responded: Given her bodyguard training (and I did guess it in the 2nd paragraph), Dame Brionna had been watching the middle-aged servant carefully, and activated her standard auras giving a +2 AC and DR 2- to all allies in the area. As it is early morning and she was preparing for services, she's not armed herself except for a small dagger and is dressed only in her uniform and surcoat. Nevertheless, she attempts to throw herself between the servant and the elf, grappling the servant if possible. For the record, on a Disarm check, she gets a total of 28. Perhaps more importantly, she's also using her special Marshal power which allows her to grant an immediate move action to an ally within 30 feet - yelling, "Run!" to the elf. ---- DM responded: You easily move in between, startled into action by your power he tumbles forward and lands on his feet, running toward the chapel door. You successfully grapple the servant, who cries out "no, no - they are past, they must die, they must all die!!!" Weeping and howling she attempts to struggle free of you. "They come and they charm your children -- and the children are never the same. Let me go, we are the earth now, they are old and arrogant and lost, they must die. Abomination, Abomination!" The boy, from the chapel door looks horrified. "But we wish you no harm, I would never harm your children, I would heal them - I am a child too. I just want to be friends with everyone." "Abomination" she screams, "you can never understand," and clumsily tries to hurl the dagger at him. She fails because you are mostly pinning her, and in the process she cuts herself. Her back arches, she screams, froths, and as Father Waters rushes from the chapel, past the boy, she expires. "No, no, no!" cries the young messenger, and then begins to weep. "I wished no harm -- this is why, this is why Great Grandmother thinks we must pass to the West, this is why! I love humans, I've always wanted to know some, that's why father let me be the messenger, and now I do know some and one of them is dead because of me. I tried to stop her from dying -- but she rejected me -- she wouldn't let the power help her. What have we done that she hates us so -- what have I done?!" He bows his head, choking on his tears, the Laen scroll tube laying nearly forgotten at his side. Father Waters kneels by the woman. Hyperaware, you see him check her pulse, shake his head, then check the dagger, blocking the boy's view with his bod. With a twist, he opens the handle -- revealing a vial of clear liquid, half empty, inside the hilt. "Poison dagger," he murmurs, as softly as he possibly can. "She planned for this, for being this close to one of them sooner or later -- I would bet my life that this is some form of poisoned Kirian. It wasn't that she wouldn't let the power help her -- the Kirian prevented it completely if it is indeed tainted." He slips the hilt closed and drops the dagger into a leather pouch. ---- Dame Brionna's next response: First, I offer a quick prayer of thanksgiving to Glordiadel. Then I summon a paladin to take careful custody of the dagger and bring it someplace (Far from elves) where it can be studied (by the mages?), and ask Father Waters to summon a priest to take care of the woman's body, preserve it for Speak-with-Dead, and find out as much information as possible about her. I also send a page to wake up Alistair and Kit and get him ready for a formal reception of such an august dignitary. That done, I pick up the Laen scroll tube, extend a hand to the Eldar, and suggest that we pray for her forgiveness by the Light and our own understanding of her suffering in the chapel. Once he's calmed down and we've gone through the services (his deities as well), I offer to escort him to the meeting room - keeping him well within sight and protection, and making sure there are reliable guards lining the corridors en route. The paladin removes the dagger to one of several safe locations designated for emergencies within the palace. Father Waters summons a priest to remove and preserve the body. He also sends a runner under your seal (which has respect in the Capital second only to the Archduke and the Archbishop) to the Archdiocesan records archives, requesting an immediate report and any information available on the woman, whose name, he says is Susan Eve LeClair. "she often attends chapel here in the morning" he explains softly, "she's never given evidence of insanity before -- and certainly not of this." You send a page to the Archducal quarters (please compose a brief note you would actually use and forward it to both players via email addressed to the characters -- just for the sake of the rp - please send me a blind copy as well) to wake them and inform them of the visitor. There are several dozen people in the chapel, as there usually are -- a few household guard, you, another paladin (plus the one sent off with the dagger) and quite a few servants and pages. The boy who was listening to the young elf earlier, and who clearly knows something went horribly wrong after they parted rises, together with one of the girls, and comes over to sit with you and the visibly upset elven boy. He and the girl glance at each other with worried expressions, as they get near you -- but square their shoulders and come on over anyway. They carefully sit on the opposite side of the boy from you, the servant boy closest to him. Father Waters, in a few, carefully worded sentences explains that an incident, unexpected and unprecedented has occurred, and that Susan Eve LeClair is dead as a result of it. He explains that rather than routine morning prayer, instead this will be a specialized form of the prayers for the dead, for she had no chance to confess prior to her untimely passing. He asks all present to forgive the woman any wrong she had done them, and leads the congregation then in the prayers for the dead, asking for forgiveness of the souls of the dead and peace in the paradise of Glor'diadel and finally flawlessly guides the ceremony to a point where he can ask the young S'Giliath lord to pray to the elven Creator for the peace of the woman's soul and her repose since "he too was present at the time of her death, and was wronged by her." The boy, rises, a bit shakily, the human servant boy reaches out sympathetically and touches his hand, gently. "Creator, in the mercy that you show your brother, that you show the Kinslayers, that you show all of us among the trees, I ask that you see the soul of this Susan Eve LeClair and redeem her to the Light of Creation." Then he slips out of common and begins to sing an Eldar dirge in Queyna. He sings for only a couple of minutes, a hauntingly beautiful song -- and at its end he bows his head. You are moved by the song, but several of the other participants are openly weeping. Slowly, haltingly a young woman, an assistant cook you think, says "I forgive Susan for yelling at me when I was too slow to prepare the plate she had to take to Lady Brenda. I have nursed this anger for 5 years, it is wrong, and I forgive her and ask Glor'diadel to forgive me for this anger." A moment later a man, one of the grooms says "I forgive Susan for publicly humiliating me after I gave her a rose to show that I was sweet on her. For a year I did not dare tread where she might walk, for ten years I have lowered my head in shame and anger when I recalled what she did and steadfastly avoided her gaze. I forgive her, and I hope that she will forgive me too and that Glor'diadel and all the Saints will do the same." Several other members of the congregation forgive Susan as well, enough so that you become aware that she apparently had made some enemies in the household -- and that she was a brittle and demanding woman for some time. Finally, when all the humans have finished, a silence falls, and just before Father Waters begins to speak again, the Eldar boy raises his voice anew. "Creator, First Daughter, Stars and Principalities and Powers, I, Elhieardacil, son of Elros, of the house of S'Giliath forgive Susan Eve LeClair for attempting to kill me. I forgive her for hating me. I forgive her for desiring my death. I forgive her for refusing my help as a redactor, even as she died. (He is trembling as if he had the auge, but he continues). I ask that she also forgives me. Forgives me because sometimes my people are arrogant. Forgives me because I did not realize that she wanted to kill me, I thought she was only as the Grugarch and some of the Sindarin, approaching with weapons only to show their strength, and thus I proved that I too am arrogant even though I do not wish to be. I ask her to forgive me because her hatred of me has left her children without a mother and her grandchildren without a grandmother, and I cannot give that back to them. I ask her to forgive me and to accept my forgiveness, that her spirit may be restored to the Light of Creation and have endless days in the West." As the silence falls again, Father Water's does speak. "Hear our prayers and grant our requests I humbly beseech. Keep us ever mindful of the nearness of death and ever ready to enter into your eternal presence. Have mercy on us, and grant us peace." Turning he bows deeply to the sun disk, and then turning again to the congregation he announces the benediction. As he finishes people genuflect, nod toward him, and many toward you and Elhieardacil and begin to depart to their daily routine. As you depart to take the boy to the audience chamber, the servant boy and girl each hug him tightly, and walk a little way with him, before hurrying off to their duties, the messenger that Father Waters sent for Susan Eve LeClair's records approaches from your right while the boy is thus distracted and bends forward, murmuring softly "The report you requested will be ready for you before lunch time honored Dame -- where shall I have it delivered? Your office or the pages at the privy council chamber?" Seconds after you answer that, another figure, a mage's apprentice that you have seen from time to time around the palace you are quite sure, slips a note into your off hand and walks away. ----- Dame Brionna's player wrote to Kit and Alistair's players: As the first grey rays of dawn are beginning to come through your windows, the page Tad Sedge knocks very politely on both Kit's bedroom door and the Archducal bedroom door, bearing small scrolls sealed with Dame Brionna's personal signet ring. He'll betray no surprise at finding both of them in one location or the other. "Your grace, m'lady, please, my mistress said she's sorry but it's very important you read these right now and that I should then go get your squires and lady-in-waiting." He bows nervously; he's clearly had some serious shock, as he is stammering and quite pale, but also has an incongruous look of joy in his eyes. You take the scroll and close the door on him. Opening it, you see a neat but quickly penned message in Brionna's handwriting: "Major Eldar noble - [I]child[/I] of S'giliath House appeared, nearly assassinated by palace servant. Safe for now, bringing him to meeting room after chapel services. No prior exp w/humans. See you in hour. - DB." [The documents from that session are attached. As I mentioned, we don't have the notes for the session itself.] [I'm pretty sure based on looking at the context of this that this was the beginning of what in many ways is the defining plot thread of the last decade of the campaign. I won't clarify further now to avoid spoilers, but the message to the Spymaster ends up being very important.] After the session, I sent the following email: I've attached a letter from Alistair to the Patriarch of the Light. To flesh out what I said in the last session, Alistair calls the Archbishop to the palace and asks the Archbishop to personally deliver the message into the hands of the Patriarch. He tells the Archbishop that the message has to do with the idea they had previously discussed of Alistair speaking to the College of Cardinals about organizing a more active intelligence gathering capability within the Church. Something has come up that increases the urgency of that, but Alistair won't say more in explanation. Alistair offers the Archduchy's capabilities to teleport the Archbishop to the Holy See. [Letter to the Patriarch also attached] [/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