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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Daern" data-source="post: 5176508" data-attributes="member: 81800">Session 15: Spies, Imperialism, and the End of the WorldThe Brotherhood of Aquiline Mercy has traveled through Fire and Ice, across many leagues, battling every step of the way to finally arrive at the famed Lyceum of Seaquen, the only Free City brave enough to stand up to the Ragesian Empire. Finally their duty will be discharged: a briefcase, stained, burnt and battered, delivered to the Headmasters of the School.  It is a heroic occasion, one of relief and trepidation for what would come next.  Even as one chapter seems to be closing, yet more trials appear on the horizon.  While still in the Shrieking Mire, Ragasian spies were encountered, venturing far from their borders to collect the TideReaver Tears from the twisted sisters of the swamp.  The weary heroes happened upon the group and slew them all in a fit of rage.  They inhaled the fumes of an entire sack full of glass "tears" even as the wyvern unleashed the electrical charge of its fearsome scream.  All glowed purple for a moment and felt a strange sensation...After a final night huddled in the cold and drizzling swamp, protected by the wards and spells of the druid and bard, the group found the road that emerged from the bog on its way to town.  Walking, they encountered a party of Elven Knights, well armed with lances and writs of marquee, a delegation from the self-proclaimed protectors of the seas, the Dragon Throne of the Shahalesti.  The elves were impressed by the candor of the Paladin of Dreams traveling with the party and also with the evidence of the Ragesians they had slain.  The Brotherhood discovered that the Eladrin had instituted a naval blockade around Seaquen in order to ensure cooperation.  It seemed that all was not well in Seaquen.Finally arriving at the fabled Quen-by-the-Seas, the heroes felt great pride and relief, but it was tempered some by the sea of Refugee camps that seemed to hold the city under siege.  The town was overrun with visitors, filled to bursting, every inn full, and the Militia was obliged to clear the streets with regular shield charges down the main roads.Ahleena of the Torrents lead the group immediately across town to the Gates of the Lyceum Campus.  After some discussion with the militia captain Xavious Foebane (who invited them to dinner), the heroes arrived at the offices of the Headmaster and were finally granted an informal audience with the Lyceum Council to whom they presented the secrets of the Ragesian empire.  It seemed that the book was written by the Second Inquisitor Kevran and although written in a crude cypher it was immediately apparent that the "Scourge" was much more than a political act.  Further study was warranted.  The group were promised bunks in the student quarters  returned for their dinner date with the Dwarf Xavious.  More questions would have to wait til morning.All in all a fun session with lots of new plot twists and campaign continuity.  It is great to bring the Rags back and have another wyvern fight (not that tough) and the players now have a solid sense of the Shahalesti diplomatic style as well as the Ragesian threat.  Everyone was stoked to get to Seaquen, and I am stoked to offload the Torrent NPC as I have grown tired of the character's presence in the party.  Unfortunately I was dead tired and had not "studied up" the night before so I did not present the town as well as I could have.  The module does not have any "entering the city" boxed text, and I was wishing it did, or at least that I'd written my own.  What does the Seaquen skyline look like?  I said old white stone walls and white stone towers mixed with crazy ramshackle towers built by wizards and gnomes.  A variety of architecture.  I also described the refugees and the tension in the city.  I need to really get my head around the town and what all the options are and pad out some descriptions and ideas.I haven't used the 2nd rag combat, so I may transpose that into a fish market, rat hunt, spies discovered sequence.  Then I plan to let the characters mess around in town for a session before moving things along.  How did the other DMs out there organize the "Tales of Seaquen"?</blockquote>

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