ZEITGEIST Why the hurry?

[aartvb]

I'm expecting to start running the 5th adventure (Cauldron Born) in a few weeks, and I have a question about this adventure. It is mentioned that this adventure happens approximately 2 months after the 4th adventure. In these 2 months the PC's are presumably expected to just do some preparations for the peace summit.

However, then, suddenly the king has a mission for which they have only a few days. Why did the king wait so long before giving this mission? It seems like no notable information has turned up at this last moment, or am I missing something?

Spoiler

The Escatologist and Ekossigan threats are new and couldn't be dealt with earlier, but the king's mission (break down the Kell Guild to gain access to the Bleak Gate) could've been started with months ago, just after when they found out Lya Jierre was with the Ob.

 

[RangerWickett]

At the risk of being pessimistic, plenty of people procrastinate until the deadline is looming, even kings.

Or it'd be some combination of needing to get all the local politicians who could cause a ruckus to get on board instead of, y'know, complaining that pulling cops off the streets to chase after a gang will leave the common folk unprotected. Or they're afraid that Kell will kidnap their families as leverage, and it took a while to discreetly get such high value folks to safety. I mean, imagine going after a Mexican cartel, and how much they fight back. If anything, I probably undersold how much retaliation and simply pointless bloodshed would happen due to Kell's gang being spiteful and evil.