Session went well, multiple players were tired and that was perhaps to blame for low engagement but I also need to do something to engage the players more I think. Anyways, here is what happened
The players were awoken by a mob that attacked them searching for Ariange after the innkeeper sold them out. They were able to convince the mob Ariange left but not before Raime was forced to murder a peasant in self defense.
While in the city they noticed the East Aradia Trading Company was busy handing out free wine. This was odd as it seemed there was no profit incentive other than soothing over relations but the wine apparently was enchanted with "Calm Emotions"
They travelled out to the Khalenburg to meet with the army mustering there, along the way they walked through the marsh and witnessed the land being tainted by shadowfell spirits who are locked in eternal combat. Right at the edge of the Khalenburg they met one undead known as the "Sentinel of the Khalenburg" a fallen hussar who regularly gets gifts and offerings he consumes to stay sane while stuck in the mud. He was concerend about another war starting and seemed to be very peaceful and kind, with a particular interest in the Sultana. He also told the party how Michael won Polania's freedom at the fields and how the horses broke the ground up and the blood ran so thick the whole place became a marsh tainted with so much death that now the shadowfell lays hold to it. Finally, he said to tell Michael that "If war does return to Polania, then the Khalenburg will remember its master, my liege has only to call upon us once more."
Entering into the camp they found debate underway between the The Castran HouseThe Jadwiga HouseThe Paelor House and The Sobieski House about the war, with Castran and Sobieski against and Jadwiga and Paelor for the war. Castran showed his true tyrannical colors while Paelor had to leave lest he attack Ariange. When other members of house Paelor began to insult Michael, their king, he rose up in a fit of rage and briefly regained his kingly stature before sicking back into sickness and his old age.
Tell me the words "Ottomans? Ottomans where!?" to get an inspiration at the start of next session before the recap
They also gave the letter to Bernard of the Templars, only to have the man open it and be teleported away, clearly a trap the players unwittingly followed, the remaining Templars of the Balance split up, Richard heading into the Black Hand Forest to hunt the The Black Hand whom he believes are responsible and Godfrey going back to the Fortress Monastery to stop Renald's plot.
The Astrasan delegation showed up, seemingly missing the Sultana herself but with the House Hassan and House Khayyam coming in her place, the Hassan house was kind, bringing gifts (that Castran and Jadwiga took) while the Khayyam house was rather rude and mocking of Michael, and revealed that they were the ones responsible for enchanting the wine being given out by the East Aradia Trading Company and now among the army camp as well
Everyone retired for the night as Sobieski was too tired after his outburst to continue. But as soon as the stars rose the camp fell under attack... from a variety of factors:
the Jadwiga house was attacked by wraiths seemingly belonging to the Black Hand, but they had no trouble defeating them
the Castran house was assaulted by a rabble of peasant freedom fighters who sought to slay the tyrant, only to be crushed by Raime
strange jannisaries made of stars attempted to kill Sobieski, while they didnt get close as they were rather weak, its odd that they managed to kill the royal hussar guard so easily as the hussars seemed greatly weakened themselves
the Paelor house attempted to slay the Astrasan diplomats, nearly killing Zayed Hassan but he was saved by Ariange. Kaden also elected to fight Vlad as the vampire tried to fly away once the Astrasanians escaped, and scored a critical hit, prompting Vlad to nearly kill him
the collector returned another night, its odd that it seems to be following the party, not staying at the Chapel of the Templars
