Scene: Diversion
The meeting with Crown Lalrint is interrupted by the sound of combat in the outside hall.
Entering the hall, the party immediately spots several dead guards with no clear signs of what happened, and further exploration reveals several confused guards attempting to protect a wounded Nadyra.
She is quick to identify that Nadyra has almost certainly determined how the assassins entered the castle, and upon asking, identified several secret entrances that were not properly secured prior to the attack, and states that she will find a window open upstairs.
Meanwhile, players wielding Vericraft or another questionable ability, such as the dhampir's Fanged Bite, will find their acquisition and use of such abilities under question. In order to avoid squandering Lalrint's offer to forgive and forget past transgressions, the party should be honest with her, though if they wish to buy time for themselves, they can attempt to lie.
The party should get at least the evening following the attack, as well as the next day to themselves to do as they please. As the DM, give them time to process the events and get their affairs in Shar in order before continuing on with the story, and you may choose to give them an additonal day of downtime.
Read or summarize the following text aloud once the players answer the door:
Caeda briefly informs them that Nadyra has received word from his connections in Gobriak, though if the entire party is not present, she bids them to be patient as they wait for their allies to arrive. She does invite them to explore the shelves at their leisure while they wait.
Read or summarize the following text aloud:
If the party travels by Mark, Nadyra advises the party gather their belongings beforehand, and waits outside the suite in the hall, extending a hand for the characters to grasp. Teleporting via Mark is not much different from normal teleportation, though the party may recognize the prickle of Vericraft on their skin before appearing in the Yvrey Offices in Gobriak.
Reinforcements
Lalrint does not hesitate to interrupt the meeting with the party when she realizes there is trouble in the hall outside, instead, she draws her rapier and speaks the command word, causing the blade to ignite in flame.Entering the hall, the party immediately spots several dead guards with no clear signs of what happened, and further exploration reveals several confused guards attempting to protect a wounded Nadyra.
Setting the Stage
This scene presumes that Nadyra Yvrey found a way to excuse himself from the meeting with Crown Nitale in the previous scene (A Royal Audience). If he is with the party when the assassins strike, they can choose him as their first target.
If Nadyra has not been promoted within the Infernal Eye Network yet (See "Infernal Promotion") then the critical strike from an assassin may be enough to reduce his health to 0 in one hit. In which case, he should have 10 hit points remaining and use his Drain Life ability as soon and as often as possible.
The party should prioritize defending Nadyra in this scenario, and you can steer them in that direction by demonstrating Lalrint's immunity to Critical Hits and resistance to the poisons on the assassins' blades. In the event she would take a high amount of poison damage, she can also use her reaction to activate her magical tattoo and become immune to the damage.
This scene presumes that Nadyra Yvrey found a way to excuse himself from the meeting with Crown Nitale in the previous scene (A Royal Audience). If he is with the party when the assassins strike, they can choose him as their first target.
If Nadyra has not been promoted within the Infernal Eye Network yet (See "Infernal Promotion") then the critical strike from an assassin may be enough to reduce his health to 0 in one hit. In which case, he should have 10 hit points remaining and use his Drain Life ability as soon and as often as possible.
Aftermath
Once the dust settles after the battle, Lalrint turns on any surviving guards. Read or summarize the following text aloud, adjusting the details as necessary:
You notice how Crown Nitale surveys the scene, her gaze switching between the fallen guards and where Caeda tends to her brother's wounds, much to his chagrin. Another guard, sword-in-hand, rushes around the corner and freezes, taking in their dead comrades and the blood on the floor, though they are snapped from their stupor by Lalrint's voice snapping at them.
"Do you want to tell me how assassins managed to enter the castle and assault a guest under your nose?" The guard stammers through an uncertain answer, to which Lalrint levels them with a glare. "Then you'd best find out. Now."
They nod and run off, and Lalrint sighs and looks to Nadyra attempting to rebuff Caeda's concerns. "How fare you?" to which he replies, with a nod, "Certainly far from the worst wound I've had. I will recover, Your Grace."
Lalrint will ask to speak with the party in private, and if her office is close, that is her first choice of location. She is tense and suspicious, however upon entering the office, she is willing to forgive all prior offenses the party and Yvreys may have committed at dinner."Do you want to tell me how assassins managed to enter the castle and assault a guest under your nose?" The guard stammers through an uncertain answer, to which Lalrint levels them with a glare. "Then you'd best find out. Now."
They nod and run off, and Lalrint sighs and looks to Nadyra attempting to rebuff Caeda's concerns. "How fare you?" to which he replies, with a nod, "Certainly far from the worst wound I've had. I will recover, Your Grace."
She is quick to identify that Nadyra has almost certainly determined how the assassins entered the castle, and upon asking, identified several secret entrances that were not properly secured prior to the attack, and states that she will find a window open upstairs.
Honest Answers
Parties that have drawn Lalrint's ire will find that, once they are behind closed doors in her office, she will not accept half-truths and non-answers to her questions. She is willing to drop the subject of the Yvreys' investigation into the destruction or disappearance of towns such as Kaedessa and Lagonfall (for now), so long as the Yvreys inform her the instant they have uncovered something concrete.Meanwhile, players wielding Vericraft or another questionable ability, such as the dhampir's Fanged Bite, will find their acquisition and use of such abilities under question. In order to avoid squandering Lalrint's offer to forgive and forget past transgressions, the party should be honest with her, though if they wish to buy time for themselves, they can attempt to lie.
Lying to Lalrint
Regardless of whether a character successfully lies to Lalrint or not, she will uncover the truth by Chapter 6.5, when they are likely to interact with her again. If the character fails the contested check, Lalrint will feign believing the lie, before hiring the Infernal Eye Network to serve as spies on her behest, and, depending on the character's actions, they may find themselves on The List and targets of the Network itself.
Upon seeing Lalrint again, she will likely charge them with treason, unless the lie was so benign as to not be worth the effort. In the event a character is arrested and charged, see Reference: Treason.
Regardless of whether a character successfully lies to Lalrint or not, she will uncover the truth by Chapter 6.5, when they are likely to interact with her again. If the character fails the contested check, Lalrint will feign believing the lie, before hiring the Infernal Eye Network to serve as spies on her behest, and, depending on the character's actions, they may find themselves on The List and targets of the Network itself.
Upon seeing Lalrint again, she will likely charge them with treason, unless the lie was so benign as to not be worth the effort. In the event a character is arrested and charged, see Reference: Treason.
Perception (Wisdom) 13
The command word Lalrint uses is "Erelor" - the name of her father, and the previous Crown before he was assassinated.
The command word Lalrint uses is "Erelor" - the name of her father, and the previous Crown before he was assassinated.
Medicine (Wisdom) 13
The guards appear to have been killed by some kind of poison. If a party member is familiar with poisons a 20 or higher on this check reveals the guards were poisoned by Dhexol or "Vile Dust"
The guards appear to have been killed by some kind of poison. If a party member is familiar with poisons a 20 or higher on this check reveals the guards were poisoned by Dhexol or "Vile Dust"
Balancing Combat
This combat enounter should be difficult, but not deadly, as the players are not likely to be wearing armor. Lalrint is likely the only character on the battlefield in armor, unless players have access to Mage Armor and the slots to repeatedly cast it. Lalrint should draw most of the fire from the assassins, and give her access to Cure Wounds if necessary.
This combat enounter should be difficult, but not deadly, as the players are not likely to be wearing armor. Lalrint is likely the only character on the battlefield in armor, unless players have access to Mage Armor and the slots to repeatedly cast it. Lalrint should draw most of the fire from the assassins, and give her access to Cure Wounds if necessary.
Perfect Guests
If they did not do anything which would frustrate or infuriate her, Lalrint instead asks if there is something she can do to express her thanks-- if the players are uncertain, she will simply say that she owes them a favor and they are welcome to call on her any time.
If they did not do anything which would frustrate or infuriate her, Lalrint instead asks if there is something she can do to express her thanks-- if the players are uncertain, she will simply say that she owes them a favor and they are welcome to call on her any time.
Deception (Charisma) v Insight (Wisdom)
Players attempting to lie to Lalrint must pass a Deception (Charisma) check versus Lalrint's Insight (+3 1d20+3 ), though even if they succeed, they should assume that she will uncover the lie eventually.
Players attempting to lie to Lalrint must pass a Deception (Charisma) check versus Lalrint's Insight (+3 1d20+3 ), though even if they succeed, they should assume that she will uncover the lie eventually.
Deception (Charisma) v. Passive Insight
If Lalrint hides that the characters are caught in a lie, have her roll Deception (Charisma), the DC of which is determined by the Passive Insight of each character in the room. Because Caeda's Passive Insight is 18, she is likely to catch Lalrint's ruse, and can warn the party.
If Lalrint hides that the characters are caught in a lie, have her roll Deception (Charisma), the DC of which is determined by the Passive Insight of each character in the room. Because Caeda's Passive Insight is 18, she is likely to catch Lalrint's ruse, and can warn the party.
Downtime
After Lalrint's interrogation, the party is dismissed with a stiff apology about a ruined dinner and hopes that their next meeting will have a better outcome. Caeda leads the party out with a polite farewell, and once the group is outside the walls of the citadel, she asks the party what they wish to do next. Caeda herself will return to Yvrey Manor to change from her formal attire, and she insists that Nadyra will accompany her to mend any existing wounds.Next Steps
The party is welcome to return to Yvrey Manor with them, though they can choose to explore the city or tend to any business here instead, returning at a later time.The party should get at least the evening following the attack, as well as the next day to themselves to do as they please. As the DM, give them time to process the events and get their affairs in Shar in order before continuing on with the story, and you may choose to give them an additonal day of downtime.
Reports from Gobriak
When you are ready to continue with the story, you can choose to have the party receive news from Gobriak as they are returning from the city or by a servant knocking on the door to their suite.Remaining in the Suite
Players may wish to spend their downtime in the privacy and security of their suite in Yvrey Manor. However they spend their time, be it playing games, browsing the shelves, or practicing magic, they hear a knock on their door about an hour before any players exploring the city return.Read or summarize the following text aloud once the players answer the door:
You see a clearly anxious Lesnoa smoothing non-existent creases in her uniform as she waits, looking up with a start as you open the door. Her gaze flicks from your face to the room beyond, and she shifts uneasily.
"My Lady requests your presence in the study immediately."
Lesnoa waits nervously as all present party members gather, before escorting them to the Manor's private library and study. Upon arriving, the party see Caeda and Nadyra are already present, seemingly mid-discussion as the arrival of the players interrupts them. He's holding a nondescript sheet of paper, looking over it, and glancing up for a moment as they arrive."My Lady requests your presence in the study immediately."
Caeda briefly informs them that Nadyra has received word from his connections in Gobriak, though if the entire party is not present, she bids them to be patient as they wait for their allies to arrive. She does invite them to explore the shelves at their leisure while they wait.
Returning to the Manor
Parties returning to the manor will find Lesnoa nervously awaiting their return at the base of the main stairs.Read or summarize the following text aloud:
As you walk into the foyer, you see the familiar shock of blonde hair and perfectly pressed uniform belonging to Lesnoa, though the tension in her shoulders and failure to hide the slight shaking in her hands folded in front of her betrays her apprehension. A false smile plasters itself onto her face upon seeing you.
"Ah, welcome back! I trust you found what you needed in the city? Perhaps I can help, if there was something else you needed."
Players commenting on her anxiety or outright asking what happened will result in the facade dropping and Lesnoa simply says that Lady Yvrey wishes to speak with them immediately, and escorts them through the manor to the study, where Caeda and Nadyra are both waiting, along with any party members that remained in the manor.
"Ah, welcome back! I trust you found what you needed in the city? Perhaps I can help, if there was something else you needed."
Grave Tidings
Once the party has gathered, Caeda explains to the party that they recently received news from Gobriak, and that it appears that Sakalli's lab was attacked. They do not know the extent of the damage or how many, if any, casualties there were, but she asks the party accompany her and her brother to Gobriak to assess the damage and ensure the safety of both Sakalli and Grysthel. She also hands out coin purses with 50 gp for each party member, "for services rendered thusfar" in an attempt to convince them.Known Facts
While the Yvreys do not know much about the situation in Gobriak, there are a few facts they have been able to infer or confirm.- The information comes from Nadyra's connections within Gobriak, though they do not disclose that those connections are with the Network.
- Lab 56, Sakalli's lab, is ground zero for the attack on the Interior.
- Early assessments appear to be some kind of explosion, though this is unconfirmed. Sabotage is assumed due to the controversial nature of her work.
- Nadyra's contacts have been unable to get into the Interior to further investigate, as the area is on lockdown.
Travel to Gobriak
Upon briefling of the situation, should the party choose to accompany the Yvreys to Gobriak, they can quickly teleport to the city instead of needing to walk. Depending on Nadyra's rank within the Network, they may have multiple options.Teleportation Circle
In the event her brother cannot teleport the party himself, or if the party is too large for him to teleport them all, Caeda can draw a Teleportation Circle targeted at the Spellbound Oath Gobriak Headquarters while the party gathers their belongings from the suite. As she draws the circle, she comments on how the guild can yell at her for unauthorized use of their circle at a later date, and ultimately they have no power over her.Infernal Mark
If Nadyra is a Network Agent (see: Infernal Eye Network) then he has access to a group teleport. However, it is limited to himself and four willing individuals. He can make multiple trips if the party wishes by leaving a Mark in the study, though.If the party travels by Mark, Nadyra advises the party gather their belongings beforehand, and waits outside the suite in the hall, extending a hand for the characters to grasp. Teleporting via Mark is not much different from normal teleportation, though the party may recognize the prickle of Vericraft on their skin before appearing in the Yvrey Offices in Gobriak.
Exploring the City
Players wishing to explore the city can wander as long as they like, though if they have any specific destination in mind, see Reference: Shar Downtime or the relevant article for that location.
Players wishing to explore the city can wander as long as they like, though if they have any specific destination in mind, see Reference: Shar Downtime or the relevant article for that location.
Entire Party in their Suite
In the event the entire party is staying in their suite for the day, Lesnoa knocks on their door around 10am, before she would normally bring lunch.
In the event the entire party is staying in their suite for the day, Lesnoa knocks on their door around 10am, before she would normally bring lunch.
The Study
If this is the first time the party has visited the study, use the description available in the Yvrey Manor article.
If this is the first time the party has visited the study, use the description available in the Yvrey Manor article.
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