Session 32 - The Kinslayer
General Summary
The party once more discusses their plan in the barracks. Celeste, who had spoken to Prince Carnys, tells the group that she had seen some schematics on Carnys’ desk of the castle. If the party could get their hands on them, they might be able to locate the tunnel themselves without too much difficulty. But nothing is ever that easy.
When they enter Prince Carnys’ office they are met with a confused Jayme Hjelmstad and the ever-annoying Aenyr Daybreak. It appears Carnys had been discussing them, asking the two mentors for insight on the thoughts of each party member. It is very clear that Prince Carnys has been shaken by the plan, but turns cold and stoic once more as the party enters through the door. It’s difficult to speak with him, with all of his papers and preparations ahead of the coming peace talks of that afternoon, and Aenyr’s constant jibes and queries trying to parse out the party’s secretive nature as to why they need to speak to the prince.
Eventually, through a mental link, Carnys tells them the schematics are of no use to them. While they would, likely, tell the party the location of the crypts, they are very outdated with no tunnels shown. King Rahaevor has hidden all of the castle’s secrets, and Carnys has no intention of sharing them. It’s clear that all of the decisions weigh heavy, the party’s survival is his only goal but sparking war from their whims can only serve to be another weight on his conscience. So instead, he does nothing. A shameful act in itself.
Lost on where to go, the party decides to head towards the library only to be stopped by Lady Abraxan’s guards. They are taken swiftly to Abraxan’s quarters and welcomed in, a request hot on the Lady’s lips. After all, the party had offered to be in her service, it is time she takes them up on it.
Lady Abraxan requests the party act as witnesses during the peace talks, she intends to show the Ljonguards that her claims of an assassination attempt do not solely rely on the testimony of a dead woman. The request is understandable, especially because, in a way, it would be doing what is right. However, it invites complications. They are wards of prince Carnys and represent him. With little time before the peace talks begin they would be acted without his guidance and could put him in an awkward situation. It also burns their bridges with House Ljonguard, something which Celeste is vehemently against seeing as to save the realm they need as many connections as they can.
In the end, while Alastor and Calum make their arguments in favor of testifying, Celeste and Asha’s rationality is enough to convince Violet to their sides. With Calum and Alastor so opposed, there’s a brief tension within the party as Celeste storms to the library ahead of the rest of the party.
The heat of an argument burns brightly at the start, but slowly burns out as the decisions cannot be undone. There is nothing that can be changed, and there’s no time to be frustrated when there is work to do.
In the library the party begins to research the castle and the history of King Haevon I, the individual who the Undertaker seeks to find. As Carnys had explained, King Rahaevor has hidden much from public view. It would put the royal family at serious risk if just about anyone had access to its secrets, but they are able to find facts here and there. King Haevon I had been killed while he was a teenager, his body likely charred by the volcanic sword of Queen Vy’shera II. It’s been years, the body having long disappeared after thieves and servants had stolen the riches and jewels the young King had taken with him in his escape. What’s left there now is a mystery, no one has bothered to record anything further.
The party attempts to detect the corpse, searching around the castle while trying to avoid as much attention as possible. They find nothing, their spells do little from above.
On the brink of giving up, Lady Paramount Szorvyr appears around the corner of a main hallway and mouths out a word: lead. Castle Crimson’s wards are not detailed, but they are quite apparent for anyone with magical capabilities. But lead is harder to detect and would block many of their spells from penetrating through.
Szorvyr waves them over to speak briefly. She informs the party that she’s midway through peace talks, but agrees to give the party the location to the crypts (the rough area where the tunnel could be located). In exchange, they are to leave a copper coin on the tomb of Queen Vy’shera I. Eager for the information, the party agrees without a second thought. They pass the guards with ease and find the staircase down to the crypts of House Tandor’thal.
The party finds themselves clearly out of their element. The darkness forces the party to fumble with lanterns and light spells to navigate and the clinking of their armor echoes loudly on the stone steps. Just as the party is making their final preparations to descend towards the unknown, a dagger cuts the air with a sharp flourish. The immediate area bursts into a cloud of poisonous gas. No member of the party is spared, the poison claws at their lungs as speckles of blood catch on their throats. Only as the poisoned smoke dissipates can they recognize their attacker—Prince Calvaxus Tandor’thal, youngest brother of King Rahaevor Tandor’thal II.
The Kinslayer.
When they enter Prince Carnys’ office they are met with a confused Jayme Hjelmstad and the ever-annoying Aenyr Daybreak. It appears Carnys had been discussing them, asking the two mentors for insight on the thoughts of each party member. It is very clear that Prince Carnys has been shaken by the plan, but turns cold and stoic once more as the party enters through the door. It’s difficult to speak with him, with all of his papers and preparations ahead of the coming peace talks of that afternoon, and Aenyr’s constant jibes and queries trying to parse out the party’s secretive nature as to why they need to speak to the prince.
Eventually, through a mental link, Carnys tells them the schematics are of no use to them. While they would, likely, tell the party the location of the crypts, they are very outdated with no tunnels shown. King Rahaevor has hidden all of the castle’s secrets, and Carnys has no intention of sharing them. It’s clear that all of the decisions weigh heavy, the party’s survival is his only goal but sparking war from their whims can only serve to be another weight on his conscience. So instead, he does nothing. A shameful act in itself.
Lost on where to go, the party decides to head towards the library only to be stopped by Lady Abraxan’s guards. They are taken swiftly to Abraxan’s quarters and welcomed in, a request hot on the Lady’s lips. After all, the party had offered to be in her service, it is time she takes them up on it.
Lady Abraxan requests the party act as witnesses during the peace talks, she intends to show the Ljonguards that her claims of an assassination attempt do not solely rely on the testimony of a dead woman. The request is understandable, especially because, in a way, it would be doing what is right. However, it invites complications. They are wards of prince Carnys and represent him. With little time before the peace talks begin they would be acted without his guidance and could put him in an awkward situation. It also burns their bridges with House Ljonguard, something which Celeste is vehemently against seeing as to save the realm they need as many connections as they can.
In the end, while Alastor and Calum make their arguments in favor of testifying, Celeste and Asha’s rationality is enough to convince Violet to their sides. With Calum and Alastor so opposed, there’s a brief tension within the party as Celeste storms to the library ahead of the rest of the party.
The heat of an argument burns brightly at the start, but slowly burns out as the decisions cannot be undone. There is nothing that can be changed, and there’s no time to be frustrated when there is work to do.
In the library the party begins to research the castle and the history of King Haevon I, the individual who the Undertaker seeks to find. As Carnys had explained, King Rahaevor has hidden much from public view. It would put the royal family at serious risk if just about anyone had access to its secrets, but they are able to find facts here and there. King Haevon I had been killed while he was a teenager, his body likely charred by the volcanic sword of Queen Vy’shera II. It’s been years, the body having long disappeared after thieves and servants had stolen the riches and jewels the young King had taken with him in his escape. What’s left there now is a mystery, no one has bothered to record anything further.
The party attempts to detect the corpse, searching around the castle while trying to avoid as much attention as possible. They find nothing, their spells do little from above.
On the brink of giving up, Lady Paramount Szorvyr appears around the corner of a main hallway and mouths out a word: lead. Castle Crimson’s wards are not detailed, but they are quite apparent for anyone with magical capabilities. But lead is harder to detect and would block many of their spells from penetrating through.
Szorvyr waves them over to speak briefly. She informs the party that she’s midway through peace talks, but agrees to give the party the location to the crypts (the rough area where the tunnel could be located). In exchange, they are to leave a copper coin on the tomb of Queen Vy’shera I. Eager for the information, the party agrees without a second thought. They pass the guards with ease and find the staircase down to the crypts of House Tandor’thal.
The party finds themselves clearly out of their element. The darkness forces the party to fumble with lanterns and light spells to navigate and the clinking of their armor echoes loudly on the stone steps. Just as the party is making their final preparations to descend towards the unknown, a dagger cuts the air with a sharp flourish. The immediate area bursts into a cloud of poisonous gas. No member of the party is spared, the poison claws at their lungs as speckles of blood catch on their throats. Only as the poisoned smoke dissipates can they recognize their attacker—Prince Calvaxus Tandor’thal, youngest brother of King Rahaevor Tandor’thal II.
The Kinslayer.
