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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kriskrafts" data-source="post: 733111" data-attributes="member: 10674">Chapter 15, “Arrival of the Royals”, July 5, 1019, 7:00 A.M.:The day starts early again, with the construction workers making further changes to the building.  The previous day all windows and unnecessary doors were secured shut.   Cheveyo is helping the carpenters put up the catwalk.  Mojo comments “Are you sure he is really a member of the party.  He’s actually being helpful.”   Serita finally returns from Kindor’s castle, looking very relaxed. An hour later they are joined by Lord Ki-Geloryn.  Ki is an old friend of the Silver Moon Adventurers.  He is the Lord of the township of Gelorynth, which is 40 miles west of Jawltorn.  Ki is in his mid-sixties, and serves on the Jawlt Council as the Minister of Diplomacy and Liaison to the Queen and other Lordholder.  Ki has the patience to endure with politicians, a skill that Kindor, Narg and Serita lack.   Ki says that a ship will be arriving at noon with three guest groups, and asks the adventurers to accompany him.“Who’s coming in on the ship?” asks Narg “The King and Queen,” Ki answers.  “What”, exclaims Mojo, “Together?  Why if I find out that she’s two-timing on me with her husband I’ll kill somebody.”  “Hopefully yourself,” Serita mutters.   Ki says he will be back in a few hours after securing lodgings for the Queen, and departs.  As they have a few hours to spare, Aradyn, Cassie, Lannon, Mark and Mojo decide to continue with the investigation of the stolen statue.   They return to the warehouse where the ambush took place to talk to the proprietor, a human named Rollins.  Mojo suggests “Why don’t we just kill him, we can always do a Speak with Dead spell later.”  Lannon says “Should that we the group’s new motto?”  Mojo answers “Sure, but it will look better etched on the bow of our ship in Elvan.”Lannon introduces himself as a Jawlt Council member, telling Rollins that he is investigating the incident.   Rollins explains that Porter was his day guard, who didn’t show up for work the day before.  “Oh, we think he was actually here,” states Lannon.  They ask about any other missing employees, finding that the night guard Norbert also did not show up.  The descriptions of both men match the two armored men that had attempted to climb onto Serita’s wagon.  Rollins isn’t much help as he doesn’t know much more about either men, other than that they had always showed up for work on time and that he paid them each 2 gold pieces a week  “I think they found a better offer,” Lannon states.  The group then return to their temporary home. Shortly before noon Ki arrives in a rather fancy carriage.  The group of Fiona, Narg, Mojo, Serita and Timothy follow in the other carriage.  Along the way to the military docks Mojo discusses different types of fatal accidents that he could arrange for the King.   They arrive back at the same dock that their own ship had arrived at, which is currently vacant.  “Hey what happened to our ship?” Mojo yells out.  “We sent it home yesterday morning,” Serita answers.  “Good,” states Mojo, “I was afraid at first that I had either lost it in a card game or sold it for beer money.”A large warship flying both the Queen’s Navy flag and the flag of the Cantage Lordholding is soon seen on the horizon.  Accompanying it into the harbor is Kindor’s flagship, the Jawltorn.   Both ships arrive and dock simultaneously.   An honor guard is lined up on the starboard side of the Jawlt flagship, facing the other vessel.  Narg notes that all of these men are wearing the insignia of  Naval archer squadron, with quivers of arrows on their back, but no visible bows “Probably on the deck in front of each, just below the ship’s rail” he comments.   Waller, the Jawlt Naval Commander remains on the deck of the Jawltorn.  The gangplank is positioned onto the Cantage vessel, with Ki-Gelorynth making his way up followed closely by the five members of the Silver Moon team.   Both the King and Queen are there to greet him.  Standing with her is the ancient dwarf Grimway, her Royal Treasurer, and General Aaron, the human ranger and military leader assigned to the three central Lordholdings.  Mojo has worn his own General’s uniform, and King Matthan is attired in his Admiral’s uniform.  This serves as a reminder that the Queen and three of the Queen’s five military leaders are now all together in one place.   This causes immediate concern for both Serita and Narg, who realize how tempting a group of targets this would be if the ILA was looking to disrupt the continent. Ki address Queen Jennifer, welcoming her to the Jawlt Lordholding, and stating that lodgings have been arranged for her and her entourage. Ki offers to bring her to the lodgings.  Arron asks Mojo if he will accompany them as well, which the elf readily agrees too. Next Ki greets King Matthan.  He politely explains to the King that the place where the Queen is staying is fully booked, but that there are several other fine inns where he could find lodgings.  King Matthan states that he will be staying on his flagship, but that two aristocrats from his home city of Pirna will need lodgings.  This couple steps forward, being introduced as Thomas and Antoinette Khorram.  They are both in their forties, and overweight.  Ki tells them that he will send a carriage back to get them.  “Hopefully one with sturdy axles” Narg whispers to Mojo. The final guest group are then introduced.  They are from the Cantage city of Autzvourg.  The leader of the group is Lord Geoffrey Burgoyne.  With him is Melanie, a high priestess of Ukko, who Timothy has met before.  Also in the group are Darren, a high preist of the Twin Gods (Huan-Ti & Hotoru).  The final member of that group is Sir Carter Rosewood, a paladin, who says that they can call him “Rosey”.  It is obvious that the ocean voyage did not sit well with Lord Burgoyne, whose face is an interesting shade green, and anxiously leaves the ship.   Serita goes with him, and administers a druidic spell on him, which restores his health in a manner that the high priests had been unable to. The rest of the party head down the gangplank.  Narg confers with Waller, the Jawlt Naval Commander, who says that the flagship will remain here as long as Matthan’s ship is in the city.  Ki and Mojo join join the Queen and her party in the first carriage.  The other four members of the Silver Moon get into the other carriage.  Both carriages leave the docks.</blockquote>

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