Chapter 4, Episode 2 (December 15, 2011):
Chapter 4, Episode 2 (December 15, 2011):
Characters:
Nemis Figstone;Srongheart Halfling, Spellthief 8
Grymtoe Stronghand; Dwarf, Evoker 6, Force Missile Mage 2
Grittil Rockstaff; Dwarf, Cleric 8
Robin; Strongheart Halfling Rogue 5, Fighter 2, Druid 1
Begin Log (Alturiak 29, 1370DR)
Day 60:
We just finished the battle with the Steppengard soldiers. We have their commander bound and unconscious, we're deciding how to proceed.
Nemis takes a few of the soldier's uniforms that are not too scorched or bloodstained.
We decide on a course of action with the commander.
Its decided that we're going to end his life, Nemis stays behind to 'talk some sense' into him and slits his throats.
We bury the soldiers in a nearby snowbank and make haste towards Bresk.
That evening, as the sun is setting, we see in the distance the walled city of Bresk. With a castle perched on a 'great hill' the city overlooks the river we've been following.
We think we can make the city this evening so we press on.
Balan tells us the city is generally unfriendly to outsiders, says he's a little concerned about how we're to get in. Tells us he hopes the papers he carries will get us in.
We approach the gate...
We see that there is a long line of people attempting to enter the city. It's evident that security has been tightened.
We use the sending scroll Simeon sent with us and advise him of the situation.
Simeon responds that they'll try and divine the cause of the murders from there end, but tells us to proceed and to try and convince the King that the Ragesian's are behind this.
Nemis says he'll get himself in, the remainder of the group lines up and waits for their turn to enter the city.
Balan says if we get separated we're to meet him at the Golden Griffon, an Inn on the great hill.
We notice there is a smaller line of people attempting to get out of the city as well.
Balan gets the group into the city with only a few questions.
We make it to the Golden Griffon.
Balan says we should get some rest, but we do have some serious preparations to make. We cannot afford any missteps as the situation is now.
Balan says we should try to play more to the nobles then the King. He says the audience will involve the entire council of 8, but we should try and learn as much as we can before we're set to go.
Balan says he's going out to try and make some contacts, asks us to gather some information about the situation...
Tells us that the King's primary advisor is a Gnome named Nina Glibglammer, he believes it would be good to get her on our side.
Says the nobles will probably only be represented by proxies so we should try and learn what we can about them.
We figure we have about 4 hours tonight and 4 hours tomorrow to investigate.
We begin asking around at the taverns and such, Nemis acts as the face of the group.
We learn the following.
Gallo, Dashgoban and Timor are not fond of the non-aggression pact with Ragesia, Lord Iz and Lady Dene are unsure, but loyal to the King. Megadon, Namen and Rigo are hostile to Sequen.
We also learn that Nina Glibglammer was an ally of Sequen, but as of late has begun to view Sequen as a threat. We should not rely on her support as that would not be a good idea.
Lastly, we learn that the normal bloodline succession is detailed in a book, called the book of 8 lands, according to that book Lord Megadon is next in line. However, there are rumors that Lady Namin wants to marry the King and become queen. Mostly everyone is nervous that another civil war will erupt. We figure Balan should at least mention this situation.
We return to our room after our gathering.
Grymtoe sets an Alarm spell, also Balan sets a stone of alarm on the door knob to the room.
Before we retire Balan tells us a bit of information about the various nobles; Steppengard is an old experienced warrior who prefers negotiation over combat. However, in light of recent events he has ordered his police force to arrest any suspicious individuals. Also says the Ragesians have an ambassador attending tomorrows audience. The reasons for the different opinions of the nobles is partly due to which lands the Ragesians would have to travel through. Gallo's lands are where the Ragesians would travel through first.
We inform Balan what we found, and tell him he can do the talking.
We set a single watch and bed down for the night.
The night passes.
Day 61 (Alturiak 30 1370DR)
By the time we're up, we have about 4 hours.
Grittil and Robin head out and sell our mundane loot, Grymtoe identifies our two magical items and Nemis heads out and purchases a couple magic scrolls.
We reconvene and head to the audience.
Nemis waits outside invisibly with Robin's bat Bruce.
The rest of the group enters into the throne room in time to see the end of a trial. A crowd of dozens of people all linger in the shadows watching the spectacle.
The group is sent to the right side of the room beside the entourage of lady Namin, the only noble there in person.
Two thrones are there, one empty with a black shroud covering it.o The other has the King.
In front of the thrones are a trial where a Gnome woman harangues a thin man in shackles.
The Gnome is interrogating the man.
During the trial we spot a man dressed in rich Ragesian red guarded by an inquisitor.
The suspect seems confused at times, as we're watching Balan explains the Gnome is Nina.
Also tells us the man in the manacles is Relder, a clerk for Lord Gallo's proxy, a man named Jinnis, whom we have a letter for.
The questions continue for several minutes, all revolving around how Gallo was involved in the King's family's murder.
People in the audience mutter that perhaps the defendant is being mind controlled.
Nina: I'm convinced, this man has been charmed and his memory altered.
The King then speaks, orders the man taken back to the prison, but will not pass sentence on him.
The King says he'll take audiences now.
The group is summoned forward in order to give our arguments...
Balan gives his speech, inturn addressing each of the groups of nobles, the hostile, indifferent and pro groups.
After Balan presents our case, Steppengard leans low to hear the advice of Nina.
He points at Grittil and says, You, how many friends and family have you lost in this war. Grittil stammers out an answer.
The King says he's lost more then enough. "None shall offer assistance to these nest of serpents." He then gives us 3 days in his city. 'Maybe we can convince the Ragesians to spare us.'
We're quickly escorted out of the room.
We head back to the Inn to plot our next course of action...
We deduce that perhaps the Ragesians are behind the effort to 'frame' lord Gallo as he's opposing their marching through his lands.
The council votes, but the King's vote counts as three. We would need 6 of the 7 votes of those present.
It is just after noon as we're discussing this.
Balan says he's going to get some 'air' and see if he can't get some more information.
Nemis and Robin head out and try and learn where the Ragesians stay, in the castle or elsewhere. When we return to the castle we see they're still in the throne room.
Grittil and Grymtoe stay behind.
Nemis and Robin return to the throne room and observe the Ragesians...
Eventually things are dismissed and we see everyone begin leaving.
We try to follow the Ragesians to see where they head. iThe Ragesians leave the castle and we follow them to a tavern, where they grab a table.
After asking the staff of the tavern we learn that they don't stay here, they just get drinks.
We decide that Robin will get the rest of the group while Nemis watches to see if they leave.
We converge on the Inn and decide on a course of actions. The group is split between busting in there and killing them dead, or taking a wait-and-see approach.
We decide it's best just to watch them to see if we can't find where they stay for the evening while the rest of the group heads back to the tavern.
Nemis waits... after a while they just head back to the castle compound.
Nemis returns and reports to the group.
Balan returns, and asks what we've learned.We ask if he learned anything, he says nothing. Still thinking on our options are.
Balan says Jinis is in prison, so we'll need to find away to get him his letter. We ask Balan where the prison is, he tells us it's in the basement of the castle.
We head downstairs for a bite to eat while we mull this over.
As we're eating our dinner we see a tall gangly man approach us, who looks over his shoulder nervously... He says we must leave, 'you're in danger'.
I can't be seen with you, there are people trying to kill you.
The King's insane, he's sworn out an arrest warrent on you, which amounts to an execution order in these times.
If we leave tonight he'll have someone at the North gate waiting to let us out...
Nemis follows him, however it's not very far as he heads straight to the castle and surrenders himself. Whence upon we lose sight of him.
Nemis returns and informs the group of what we witnessed.
By this time it's getting pretty late, we decide on our course of action.
Balan doesn't really know where we should go if we leave.
We decide to head to the North Gate, its a dark overcast night with snow falling.
The group hangs back and Nemis moves in, invisible, to see what the situation is at the North Gate.
At the north gate we watch for a couple hours, around 10pm the gates is fully closed an it looks like the normal situation, and not set up for us to leave easily as the 'warning' let on.
We watch for another hour, just as we're ready to give up, suddenly the guards all move away from the gate and leave it seemingly unguarded. A human walks up to the gate with 5 horses. The man looks to be a sergeant.
We debate our course of action.
We decide that the group is going to take the horses and head out of town. Nemis is going to stay behind and observe our rooms.
The gate guard says, you don't know me, I don't know you. Then walks away.
We quickly note that the horses have been provided with cleeted shoes in order to walk along the river.
The group moves up the river 3 miles and makes camp for the evening.
Nemis takes up a position where he can watch the street and the Inn room.
As Nemis watches, around Midnight a black clad individual climbs up onto balcony and does something at one of the door.
Nemis just continues to watch. After a brief period the Assassin leaves and Nemis makes his way up towards the group on the River.
He makes it there and tells them of what happened...
The group decides to rest and figure things out in the morning.
We rest...
Day 62 (Ches 1, 1370DR)
We wake.
As we're prepping for the day Grittil spots a cluster of riders coming our way...
We deduce that this is not a good spot for an ambush.
At this point we also notice a flying creature with the riders.
We decide to wait and prepare for a fight...
We wait for the patrol, we deduce as they get closer, that they have a Sphinx with them.
As the close they launch some very long range arrows at us and continue to close.
Most of the group waits while Nemis and Grymtoe fly out invisibly.
As they approach they continue to pepper Robin and Grittil with arrows, with very little effect.
Eventually they start to land some blows on Bruce and Robin is forced to put up a cloud of mist.
Grymtoe unleashes a fireball downing all but three of them and the Criosphinx.
Eventually the Sphinx closes with Grittil in melee and they have a brief duel.
Grittil and Robin make quick work of the sphinx and it begins to withdraw.
The soldiers and the commander continue to advance shooting arrows, the commander leading his allies drinking potions as he moves to heal himself.
Eventually Grymtoe's magic kills him.
The Sphinx tries to make a break for it, but Robin's darts take him down.
The last soldier makes a break for it, after a brief chase Grymtoe manages to take him down with a magic missile.
We round up their bodies and gear.
We decide what our next course of action should be.
End Log:
