ZEITGEIST [ZEITGEIST] The Continuing Adventures of Korrigan & Co.
- Thread starter gideonpepys
- Start date
gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
Thanks!
TarionzCousin
Second Most Angelic Devil Ever
Bravo!
This makes me want to incorporate secondary characters into my next campaign--just so I can do something like this.
gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
I can't pretend not to be gratified by not one, but two positive responses from fellow DMs. Feels like I've won an award.
Secondary characters can be useful, but (unless dealt with as simply as the adventure suggests) they present certain difficulties: specifically, what am I going to do with unit B now?
Anyway, to return to the Cruel Variant? encounter for a moment, it is worth noting that the combat took place at 5am, just a few hours after unit A’s defeat at the hands of Ekossigan, which followed hard on the heels of their hit-and-run encounter with Gale. They had also gone up against Grundon Zubov in the subrail tunnel earlier that day, so they had had four major encounters in a row, with each of the end-of-thread baddies. That's got to be some kind of record for our Zeitgeist campaign.
I'm very pleased with the way each of these threads turned out. My campaign recap from the start of the session pretty much sums them all up:
"Previously on Zeitgeist:
Over the course of the last five days, several threads of investigation have come to head:
The golem eye required by Alexander Grappa was discovered in the possession of the Clockwork King, who has handed it to the unit on the promise that they will give him Godmind Urn possessed by the Gearbuilder, Tinker Oddcog (whom he says they will find in the Bleak Gate).
Radical eschatologists led by Grundon Zubov were prevented from blowing up Hotel Aurum, and their hostages – including Governor Roland Stanfield – were released. Both Grundon Zubov and the treacherous Azon the Stoneforger were killed in the process.
After a slow start, thanks to additional help from a grateful Stanfield, the Get Kell initiative became a rout. In a coup de grace, unit leader Baldrey Korrigan marched a small army on the Theatre of Scoundrels*, scattering Kell’s remaining forces and destroying his power base once and for all.
Finally, accompanied by eladrin dreadnought Asrabey Varal, the unit managed to locate renegade fey lord Ekossigan at Gallo’s School for Boys, deep in the Cloudwood. It turned out that his target was not the Peace Conference after all, but the same Obscurati complex the unit was trying to get to, but his means were wholly different: he planned to sacrifice thirty orphaned children to open a portal into the Bleak Gate. Before the unit could stop him, he revealed that Kasvarina, Asrabey’s wife, was being held in the complex and this news caused Asrabey to change sides. Aided by a dominated Gale, Ekossigan and Asrabey proved too powerful for the officers who were forced to retreat. The orphans were sacrificed and Ekossigan led his ragtag fey army into the resulting portal.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Unit B ambushed Vander Lepage during an illegal cash transfer. This turned out to be a trap. The unit were themselves surprised by none other than vengeful crime boss Lorcan Kell…"
I almost always began a session like this, unless we're in media res.
*This happened off-screen. Victory was a foregone conclusion so I hand-waved it.
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gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
Session 98b - The Downfall of Lorcan Kell
Kell drew two machetes from his cloak as he strode into the office. "I thought I'd sent you
s a clear message when I carved up that scar-faced tiefling bitch, but it looks like I'll have to be more direct."
Sevitar stepped into his path, and Kell slashed at him twice, stepped round him and felled Niniel with two more blows. He might have carved a bloody path through the entire unit were it not for the vendetta bullet that struck him from the shadows. Uru had been up there all along, in the rafters, waiting for a clear line of sight. [DM's Note: Vendetta Bullets are insane in the hands of an executioner assassin.]
It was then that Marshal Korrigan's voice could be heard calling for Kell and his men to surrender. A well-placed shot from a rooftop dropped one of his thugs out in the street, and Matunaaga paused only to reload. Rumdoom appeared from a doorway behind his carriage and lobbed a grenade at a Kell Guild technologist. Korrigan charged for the doorway that was blocked by Nick Reder.
Kell wasn't daunted. "More law-pigs to whet my blade." He took Niniel by the hair and used her as a human shield. Dark priestess Kate Glenn used her corrupt power to stun Uru. He fell from the rafters like a swatted fly. In an instant, Kell was looming over him, raining down blows.
More shots revealed the presence of Kell Guild musketeers who had also taken up position overlooking the street. Among them was the dangerous Kurt Hawkins who had double-crossed Unit A in the past, and ambushed Unit B too. They opened fire on Marshal Korrigan, but their bullets ricocheted harmlessly. They switched targets and Matunaaga was forced to take cover at street level.
In the backroom of the office, Ludo and Theren went toe-to-toe with Lepage and his goons, exchanging spells and blows. The fight went well for them, and these lesser foes were quickly dispatched. Theren used his life magic to help Niniel to stir, and she in turn aided Uru. Sevitar recovered enough to slip into Kell's very shadow and build up layer upon layer of his eerie shrouds.
Brajham chose to focus on Kate Glenn, whose dark magic he found offensive. Perhaps it was his righteous ire, or perhaps his bright life magic was uniquely inimical to the priestess, but when the rainbow wave of light struck her, it burned the flesh from her bones and she was killed outright.
Having dealt with the technologist, Rumdoom charged Reder, who was proving difficult for Korrigan to shift. Rumdoom knocked him aside like a skittle, and his armour threw sparks as he skidded over the cobbles. Then Rumdoom and Korrigan were in the building and facing off against Kell. Korrigan gave orders for everyone to focus on the crime-boss and Rumdoom locked him down so that he couldn't harm anyone else. Then Sevitar emerged, peeling himself off Lorcan like a wraith and struck a necrotic blow that made the gangster reel.
He staggered back towards the back door, and reached into his pocket with a smirk.
As it happened, Kell never got the chance to use his gatecrasher charm: By now, Matunaaga was the only RHC officer outside, pinned down by musketeers who he knew would open fire if he tried to cross the street. But the maustin caji are swift. In the blink of an eye he crossed the hundred feet from one point of cover to the other, before the musketeers could so much as squeeze their triggers. Then he was round the back of the building and behind looking Kell in a flash. His fist wiped the smirk of Lorcan Kell's face and knocked the mob boss out cold. His gatecrasher charm tinkled uselessly to the floor.
In a trice, he was cuffed and most of his men were arrested (though some saw their chance and fled when he fell, including Reder and Hawkins).
Kell came round as he was dragged to his feet, gave a bloody grin and said, "All right, you win. I'll come quietly."
Kell drew two machetes from his cloak as he strode into the office. "I thought I'd sent you
s a clear message when I carved up that scar-faced tiefling bitch, but it looks like I'll have to be more direct."Sevitar stepped into his path, and Kell slashed at him twice, stepped round him and felled Niniel with two more blows. He might have carved a bloody path through the entire unit were it not for the vendetta bullet that struck him from the shadows. Uru had been up there all along, in the rafters, waiting for a clear line of sight. [DM's Note: Vendetta Bullets are insane in the hands of an executioner assassin.]
It was then that Marshal Korrigan's voice could be heard calling for Kell and his men to surrender. A well-placed shot from a rooftop dropped one of his thugs out in the street, and Matunaaga paused only to reload. Rumdoom appeared from a doorway behind his carriage and lobbed a grenade at a Kell Guild technologist. Korrigan charged for the doorway that was blocked by Nick Reder.
Kell wasn't daunted. "More law-pigs to whet my blade." He took Niniel by the hair and used her as a human shield. Dark priestess Kate Glenn used her corrupt power to stun Uru. He fell from the rafters like a swatted fly. In an instant, Kell was looming over him, raining down blows.
More shots revealed the presence of Kell Guild musketeers who had also taken up position overlooking the street. Among them was the dangerous Kurt Hawkins who had double-crossed Unit A in the past, and ambushed Unit B too. They opened fire on Marshal Korrigan, but their bullets ricocheted harmlessly. They switched targets and Matunaaga was forced to take cover at street level.
In the backroom of the office, Ludo and Theren went toe-to-toe with Lepage and his goons, exchanging spells and blows. The fight went well for them, and these lesser foes were quickly dispatched. Theren used his life magic to help Niniel to stir, and she in turn aided Uru. Sevitar recovered enough to slip into Kell's very shadow and build up layer upon layer of his eerie shrouds.
Brajham chose to focus on Kate Glenn, whose dark magic he found offensive. Perhaps it was his righteous ire, or perhaps his bright life magic was uniquely inimical to the priestess, but when the rainbow wave of light struck her, it burned the flesh from her bones and she was killed outright.
Having dealt with the technologist, Rumdoom charged Reder, who was proving difficult for Korrigan to shift. Rumdoom knocked him aside like a skittle, and his armour threw sparks as he skidded over the cobbles. Then Rumdoom and Korrigan were in the building and facing off against Kell. Korrigan gave orders for everyone to focus on the crime-boss and Rumdoom locked him down so that he couldn't harm anyone else. Then Sevitar emerged, peeling himself off Lorcan like a wraith and struck a necrotic blow that made the gangster reel.
He staggered back towards the back door, and reached into his pocket with a smirk.
As it happened, Kell never got the chance to use his gatecrasher charm: By now, Matunaaga was the only RHC officer outside, pinned down by musketeers who he knew would open fire if he tried to cross the street. But the maustin caji are swift. In the blink of an eye he crossed the hundred feet from one point of cover to the other, before the musketeers could so much as squeeze their triggers. Then he was round the back of the building and behind looking Kell in a flash. His fist wiped the smirk of Lorcan Kell's face and knocked the mob boss out cold. His gatecrasher charm tinkled uselessly to the floor.
In a trice, he was cuffed and most of his men were arrested (though some saw their chance and fled when he fell, including Reder and Hawkins).
Kell came round as he was dragged to his feet, gave a bloody grin and said, "All right, you win. I'll come quietly."
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gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
Session 98c - A Fancy Invitation
A block or two away, on learning of Kell's defeat through a messenger wind, Harkover Lee gave a philosophical shrug and nodded to Leon and Doctor Stanmore who had been aiding his efforts . "Well, gentlemen" he said, slipping his solid gold orb back into his robes,"it would appear that our ritual was not even tested. Thank you for your help nonetheless; one can never be too careful where powerful magics are concerned." Then he invited Leon to accompany him back to headquarters. "I have something I would like to try on our friend 'Norm'. I'm hoping that between us we might be able to break his geas." They set off at once.
Stover Delft arrived shortly after the fight with Kell came to an end. He had brought a whole troop of junior officers to ensure Kell and his minions made it safely to their cells. Delft congratulated both units, then drew Korrigan & Co. off to one side. "It looks like our plans to move on the Bleak Gate this evening will have to be put on hold," he said, drawing a parcel of sealed envelopes from his coat pocket. He handed one to each of them, and kept one for Malthusius. Not for the first time, the group wondered where the old deva had got to; they also wondered why there was no invitation for Leon. They opened their envelopes. Inside, an embossed letter invited them to the Opening Dinner of the Peace Conference. Delft tried not to make a big deal out of the fact they he hadn't been invited and drew their attention to the signature: they were to attend the dinner as the guests of Lya Jierre!
"Who knows what she's up to?" said Delft. "But we need Malthusius there so he can keep an eye on her. First off, you need to get home and get some rest. You look terrible. The dinner doesn't start til eight but the king wants you at the Royal Docks at six to meet the Danorans when they arrive. I've arranged for tailors and barbers to be on hand at HQ to make you look respectable. Korrigan, you're wanted at Hotel Aurum for a briefing with the King and his advisors this afternoon."
It was decided that Uru - who needed little rest - would try to track down Malthusius, beginning at the Governor's Mansion.
A block or two away, on learning of Kell's defeat through a messenger wind, Harkover Lee gave a philosophical shrug and nodded to Leon and Doctor Stanmore who had been aiding his efforts . "Well, gentlemen" he said, slipping his solid gold orb back into his robes,"it would appear that our ritual was not even tested. Thank you for your help nonetheless; one can never be too careful where powerful magics are concerned." Then he invited Leon to accompany him back to headquarters. "I have something I would like to try on our friend 'Norm'. I'm hoping that between us we might be able to break his geas." They set off at once.
Stover Delft arrived shortly after the fight with Kell came to an end. He had brought a whole troop of junior officers to ensure Kell and his minions made it safely to their cells. Delft congratulated both units, then drew Korrigan & Co. off to one side. "It looks like our plans to move on the Bleak Gate this evening will have to be put on hold," he said, drawing a parcel of sealed envelopes from his coat pocket. He handed one to each of them, and kept one for Malthusius. Not for the first time, the group wondered where the old deva had got to; they also wondered why there was no invitation for Leon. They opened their envelopes. Inside, an embossed letter invited them to the Opening Dinner of the Peace Conference. Delft tried not to make a big deal out of the fact they he hadn't been invited and drew their attention to the signature: they were to attend the dinner as the guests of Lya Jierre!
"Who knows what she's up to?" said Delft. "But we need Malthusius there so he can keep an eye on her. First off, you need to get home and get some rest. You look terrible. The dinner doesn't start til eight but the king wants you at the Royal Docks at six to meet the Danorans when they arrive. I've arranged for tailors and barbers to be on hand at HQ to make you look respectable. Korrigan, you're wanted at Hotel Aurum for a briefing with the King and his advisors this afternoon."
It was decided that Uru - who needed little rest - would try to track down Malthusius, beginning at the Governor's Mansion.
gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
Session 98d - Modus Operandi
Korrigan came home to find that there had been a disturbance during the night: Bernard met him at the door and took him inside, where he found a Kell Guild assassin impaled on the briars that surrounded his wife and child. Clearly Lorcan Kell and his gang didn't read the newspapers! Bernard told him there were three assassins - two fled after he surprised them inbear form and shoved their accomplice onto the giant thorn. Korrigan recognised Kell's modus operandi from his earlier kidnap of Lynn Kindleton and kicked himself for having done nothing about it sooner.
Rumdoom returned to Hildegaard's townhouse to find lights on. At five in the morning this was unusual. He entered to find Hildegaard sitting in the lounge with Kvarti Gorbartiy. She ran to Rumdoom and threw her arms around him and kissed him. She had been frightened by noise outside, only to discover that Kvarti had chased off some suspicious looking types who had been trying to gain access. Kvarti had come to make delivery of the weapon he had fashioned for Rumdoom: an Eschatologist's Craghammer. Rumdoom abandoned all reserve and head-butted Kvarti in the dwarfish expression of fraternity: Hammer aside, given his tragic past, Rumdoom was far more grateful to Kvarti for his protection of Hildegaard than he could express in mere words.
Messenger winds flew hither and thither and an animal messenger from Uru reached Matunaaga before he came home; his journey down the Stray River to his secluded dwelling was longer than most. It seemed unlikely that the guild could have traced him there, but he approached with caution nonetheless. Sure enough, he heard low voices and advanced with even greater caution, until he came across a surprising sight: Three maustin youths - a stocky young man and two women, all dressed in the garb of caji initiates - were sat outside his front door. Matunaaga listened to their talk, and the speech of the maustin people made him long for home. They were waiting for him and appeared nervous. Matunaaga stole as close as he possibly could and only made his presence known when he was almost within arm's reach. The young man was so surprised he staggered back and fell into the cinders of the small fire they had set for their comfort, and which had thankfully now burned very low. When they had recovered their wits the youths introduced themselves as Worness, Seyna and Manfor. They addressed him as Caji Dobra (a name he had not used or heard for a long time) and said that they had come to learn from him: Roshna and Tosin had returned home with the tale of how they were both beaten in a fair fight by the master of the Palimpsest, and had inspired these three to seek him out. "We can learn no more from our elders," said Worness, breathlessly. "They have aged since their oath was broken. Caji Dobra, your own father is grey-haired and liver-spotted and can barely wield the brightblade." Matunaaga told them he could make no decisions now, and that he needed to rest. They accepted his words and withdrew a distance.
Uru decided to look for Malthusius before he slept. He discovered that Malthusius was seen leaving the Governor’s island by ferry, disembarking and getting into a carriage at the docks. The driver was tracked down easily enough: he dropped the deva at the clergy church in North Shore. Uru got Bishop Antonescu out of bed. Cranky and tousled, the bishop said he had had a meeting with Malthusius, but that he was behaving oddly. He showed no interest in their chess game (he always arrived with his next move planned), claimed to have been followed from the docks, and asked to leave by a rear exit. After the church, the trail went cold. No one had seen Malthusius after that. Despondent, Uru made his report to Korrigan and retired to his garden to meditate.
DM's Note: I had the Obscurati pressure Kell to send his men after Unit A to throw them off Stanfield's scent. Unbeknownst to them, Kell already had a plan to target unit B, and didn't want to waste valuable minions tackling Korrigan & Co, so he fell back on an old trick and sent some low-ranking hirelings after their friends and family. t didn't work out for them (but it did confuse the team as I had hoped).
The trail Uru was following was not the real Malthusius. A henchman of Stanfield's borrowed his boots of reliable style and went for a walk in his guise. Heh heh heh...
Korrigan came home to find that there had been a disturbance during the night: Bernard met him at the door and took him inside, where he found a Kell Guild assassin impaled on the briars that surrounded his wife and child. Clearly Lorcan Kell and his gang didn't read the newspapers! Bernard told him there were three assassins - two fled after he surprised them inbear form and shoved their accomplice onto the giant thorn. Korrigan recognised Kell's modus operandi from his earlier kidnap of Lynn Kindleton and kicked himself for having done nothing about it sooner.
Rumdoom returned to Hildegaard's townhouse to find lights on. At five in the morning this was unusual. He entered to find Hildegaard sitting in the lounge with Kvarti Gorbartiy. She ran to Rumdoom and threw her arms around him and kissed him. She had been frightened by noise outside, only to discover that Kvarti had chased off some suspicious looking types who had been trying to gain access. Kvarti had come to make delivery of the weapon he had fashioned for Rumdoom: an Eschatologist's Craghammer. Rumdoom abandoned all reserve and head-butted Kvarti in the dwarfish expression of fraternity: Hammer aside, given his tragic past, Rumdoom was far more grateful to Kvarti for his protection of Hildegaard than he could express in mere words.
Messenger winds flew hither and thither and an animal messenger from Uru reached Matunaaga before he came home; his journey down the Stray River to his secluded dwelling was longer than most. It seemed unlikely that the guild could have traced him there, but he approached with caution nonetheless. Sure enough, he heard low voices and advanced with even greater caution, until he came across a surprising sight: Three maustin youths - a stocky young man and two women, all dressed in the garb of caji initiates - were sat outside his front door. Matunaaga listened to their talk, and the speech of the maustin people made him long for home. They were waiting for him and appeared nervous. Matunaaga stole as close as he possibly could and only made his presence known when he was almost within arm's reach. The young man was so surprised he staggered back and fell into the cinders of the small fire they had set for their comfort, and which had thankfully now burned very low. When they had recovered their wits the youths introduced themselves as Worness, Seyna and Manfor. They addressed him as Caji Dobra (a name he had not used or heard for a long time) and said that they had come to learn from him: Roshna and Tosin had returned home with the tale of how they were both beaten in a fair fight by the master of the Palimpsest, and had inspired these three to seek him out. "We can learn no more from our elders," said Worness, breathlessly. "They have aged since their oath was broken. Caji Dobra, your own father is grey-haired and liver-spotted and can barely wield the brightblade." Matunaaga told them he could make no decisions now, and that he needed to rest. They accepted his words and withdrew a distance.
Uru decided to look for Malthusius before he slept. He discovered that Malthusius was seen leaving the Governor’s island by ferry, disembarking and getting into a carriage at the docks. The driver was tracked down easily enough: he dropped the deva at the clergy church in North Shore. Uru got Bishop Antonescu out of bed. Cranky and tousled, the bishop said he had had a meeting with Malthusius, but that he was behaving oddly. He showed no interest in their chess game (he always arrived with his next move planned), claimed to have been followed from the docks, and asked to leave by a rear exit. After the church, the trail went cold. No one had seen Malthusius after that. Despondent, Uru made his report to Korrigan and retired to his garden to meditate.
DM's Note: I had the Obscurati pressure Kell to send his men after Unit A to throw them off Stanfield's scent. Unbeknownst to them, Kell already had a plan to target unit B, and didn't want to waste valuable minions tackling Korrigan & Co, so he fell back on an old trick and sent some low-ranking hirelings after their friends and family. t didn't work out for them (but it did confuse the team as I had hoped).
The trail Uru was following was not the real Malthusius. A henchman of Stanfield's borrowed his boots of reliable style and went for a walk in his guise. Heh heh heh...
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gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
Session 98e - Bombshells
Marshal Korrigan arrived at Hotel Aurum to meet with King Aodhan at two in the afternoon. Also present were Harkover Lee and Governor Roland Stanfield.
While they were waiting for the King to join them, Korrigan asked Stanfield about Malthusius. Stanfield said he had given Malthusius access to the Canal paperwork, and that Malthusius had departed in a hurry. Then King Aodhan arrived in a sombre mood. When he had seated himself, Harkover Lee addressed Korrigan:
"Yesterday, during preparatory talks with the Danorans, we received disturbing evidence that the man you know as Sergeant Leon Veilleux is in fact the infamous war criminal General Dax, otherwise known as 'Le Corbeau' - precisely the man he claims to have assassinated. This morning I took precautionary measures to incarcerate Sergeant Veilleux, during which I briefly questioned him on the matter. When presented with the manner and nature of the evidence against him, he confessed."
Korrigan was speechless. General Dax was notorious. Leader of the infamous Straw Dogs unit and charged with the capture of Axis Island, he unleashed a campaign of terrifying intensity: Prisoners were crucified on beach-heads; tortured and released, insane, back into the jungle; necromancy and plague magic were used. According to Leon, during his interrogation following capture in the bayou, he had murdered Dax to bring an end to his crimes. (It was this action that led to Leon's exoneration, and his eventual acceptance into the RHC.) But the version of events outlined by Harkover was very different: When word of the General's excesses reached Cherage, the Danoran leadership terminated his command, whereupon Dax went rogue until he was assassinated by a subordinate - the real Leon Veilleux. Korrigan was finding all of this difficult to get his head around, let alone believe. Only Leon's apparent confession forestalled any protest.
"As you can imagine, this is appalling and embarrassing in equal measure," said the King. "There is just one question for you to answer before we move on: Did you know about this, Marshal Korrigan?"
Under close scrutiny from the King and his advisors Korrigan said that he did not, and the matter was left at that. Time was pressing. The King gave orders and an elven noblewoman was admitted to his chamber. She was introduced as Sholaria Dar - an emissary from the Unseen Court. Before permitting her to address the group, the King expressed anger and regret at the deaths of the children at Gallo's School for Boys and consternation at Asrabey Varal's behaviour. (Korrigan listened without comment, but could not help thinking about the deaths of children in factories throughout Flint that went on unchecked and unabated.) Sholaria accepted that Asrabey's actions were the responsibility of the court, but insisted that more should have been done to stop Ekossigan. Neither she nor the King had heard any further word on the outcome of the mad fey's incursion into the Bleak Gate.
Sholaria then moved on to her reason for coming to Flint: On behalf of the River King, she said, the fey debt owed by Elizabeth Korrigan was hereby absolved, their claim to her unborn son relinquished. Thanks to Leon Veilleux, word had reached him of the trickery of Ambertain the Black, who had implanted false memories in the mind of Uru Scathaig Ciotog. As Korrigan's return from the war was not a result of his intercession, there was no debt to pay; therefore no debt to pass on to Jenny Greenteeth. Elizabeth could be freed from her protective prison at the earliest convenience. Korrigan was stunned. The elven noble woman withdrew and the meeting proceeded, but Korrigan barely heard anything over the rush of blood in his ears.
Plans to assault the Bleak Gate were discussed, as was the threat level posed by Luc Jierre. Danoran demands for the hand-over of Duchess Ethelyn of Shale and Nathan Jierre were raised, as was the theft of Danoran military secrets by a Risuri spy. As the meeting drew to a close, when he was asked if there was any other business he wished to raise, Korrigan nodded.
"My conflicting duties have torn me apart for too long, " he said. "This mission to root out the Obscurati in Flint must be my last. I humbly request that the King accepts my resignation from the RHC."
Marshal Korrigan arrived at Hotel Aurum to meet with King Aodhan at two in the afternoon. Also present were Harkover Lee and Governor Roland Stanfield.
While they were waiting for the King to join them, Korrigan asked Stanfield about Malthusius. Stanfield said he had given Malthusius access to the Canal paperwork, and that Malthusius had departed in a hurry. Then King Aodhan arrived in a sombre mood. When he had seated himself, Harkover Lee addressed Korrigan:
"Yesterday, during preparatory talks with the Danorans, we received disturbing evidence that the man you know as Sergeant Leon Veilleux is in fact the infamous war criminal General Dax, otherwise known as 'Le Corbeau' - precisely the man he claims to have assassinated. This morning I took precautionary measures to incarcerate Sergeant Veilleux, during which I briefly questioned him on the matter. When presented with the manner and nature of the evidence against him, he confessed."
Korrigan was speechless. General Dax was notorious. Leader of the infamous Straw Dogs unit and charged with the capture of Axis Island, he unleashed a campaign of terrifying intensity: Prisoners were crucified on beach-heads; tortured and released, insane, back into the jungle; necromancy and plague magic were used. According to Leon, during his interrogation following capture in the bayou, he had murdered Dax to bring an end to his crimes. (It was this action that led to Leon's exoneration, and his eventual acceptance into the RHC.) But the version of events outlined by Harkover was very different: When word of the General's excesses reached Cherage, the Danoran leadership terminated his command, whereupon Dax went rogue until he was assassinated by a subordinate - the real Leon Veilleux. Korrigan was finding all of this difficult to get his head around, let alone believe. Only Leon's apparent confession forestalled any protest.
"As you can imagine, this is appalling and embarrassing in equal measure," said the King. "There is just one question for you to answer before we move on: Did you know about this, Marshal Korrigan?"
Under close scrutiny from the King and his advisors Korrigan said that he did not, and the matter was left at that. Time was pressing. The King gave orders and an elven noblewoman was admitted to his chamber. She was introduced as Sholaria Dar - an emissary from the Unseen Court. Before permitting her to address the group, the King expressed anger and regret at the deaths of the children at Gallo's School for Boys and consternation at Asrabey Varal's behaviour. (Korrigan listened without comment, but could not help thinking about the deaths of children in factories throughout Flint that went on unchecked and unabated.) Sholaria accepted that Asrabey's actions were the responsibility of the court, but insisted that more should have been done to stop Ekossigan. Neither she nor the King had heard any further word on the outcome of the mad fey's incursion into the Bleak Gate.
Sholaria then moved on to her reason for coming to Flint: On behalf of the River King, she said, the fey debt owed by Elizabeth Korrigan was hereby absolved, their claim to her unborn son relinquished. Thanks to Leon Veilleux, word had reached him of the trickery of Ambertain the Black, who had implanted false memories in the mind of Uru Scathaig Ciotog. As Korrigan's return from the war was not a result of his intercession, there was no debt to pay; therefore no debt to pass on to Jenny Greenteeth. Elizabeth could be freed from her protective prison at the earliest convenience. Korrigan was stunned. The elven noble woman withdrew and the meeting proceeded, but Korrigan barely heard anything over the rush of blood in his ears.
Plans to assault the Bleak Gate were discussed, as was the threat level posed by Luc Jierre. Danoran demands for the hand-over of Duchess Ethelyn of Shale and Nathan Jierre were raised, as was the theft of Danoran military secrets by a Risuri spy. As the meeting drew to a close, when he was asked if there was any other business he wished to raise, Korrigan nodded.
"My conflicting duties have torn me apart for too long, " he said. "This mission to root out the Obscurati in Flint must be my last. I humbly request that the King accepts my resignation from the RHC."
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Crispy120286
Explorer
Oh my! This is getting intense! Now ive read all of he adventures thus far in preparation for my own campaign but wow. Yours continues to impress me at every turn.
gideonpepys
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
You're too kind. (And, yes, it is getting intense!)
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