Session 33 - Scared Straight
General Summary
Prince Calvaxus Tandor’thal is renowned across the realm for his cruelty. His legacy is stained with the blood of his kin, the disgraced House Hydraeon. Once, long ago, King Rahaevor II and his two brothers were nothing more than bastards. But Queen Saelerys had proven her four eldest children were illegitimate products of a sham marriage, disowning them and setting into motion a brutal civil war which ended with King Rahaevor II’s iron hold on the realm. Prince Calvaxus made sure that none remained to challenge the new king’s judgement.
Now he stands before the party, poisonous daggers in hand willing to strike them at a moment's notice. They fail to convince him of their innocence, and under knifepoint are forced into the dungeons to await Calvaxus’ judgement. Calvaxus does not seem to care that they are wards of Prince Carnys, in fact, he does not appear to respect his nephew much at all as he leaves without a second word to them.
The party makes many attempts to escape their cells, but the royal dungeons are made to be strong. The iron bars are reinforced with powerful warding magic and lined with a clean coat of lead. The doors have locks both magical and non-magical to keep them in line. As Calum and Celeste attempt to find solutions, they are met with nothing but dead ends.
Eventually the group receives a message from Carnys—he knows where they are. But there is little he can do without catching King Rahaevor’s ire. Calvaxus is a wild card, should Carnys displease him it is entirely possible that the king would execute them personally… just as he had done with Kettlewyck. The prince advises the party that Calvaxus He offers to send them food and water alongside some small comfort items.
By nightfall, the party grows more anxious. Left to their own devices, they realized quickly that being in the dungeon meant nothing was in their control. They could either attempt to convince Calvaxus to join their side, or be forced to reckon with whatever his wrath might bring.
By morning, when Calvaxus came to deliver the party water, Asha had prepared to confide in Calvaxus secrets only the party knew. By framing their goals in a way which put themselves against the Tandor’thals, Calvaxus agrees to release the party. The cell doors open as Calvaxus returns most of their things—only having taken Celeste’s vial of Ambrosia, much to her chagrin.
He leads them towards the tombs of the original nine Queensguard and the records of all the former knights who have served in the illustrious order. Behind the wall is what they seek. However, Celeste and Asha realize they cannot leave without delivering the coin. Asha attempts to send Cocoa to deliver it, but Calvaxus catches them, pocketing the coin for himself.
The tunnel that Calvaxus shows them has a complicated entry point. To enter, Calvaxus first speaks in Draconic the phrase: “From this day, until my last, fire shall crown my head. Let the magma burn my body until I emerge pure.” Then, it does not take a genius to see pain spark across Calvaxus’ face as the door slowly opens. He drops his arm with a shaking gasp, fingers twitching. He warns the party then that none of them should attempt to open the doors, the pain would be too unbearable for any of them to handle, their bodies simply were not built for it.
With the chill warning fresh in their mind, Prince Calvaxus leads the party through the tunnels. It is apparent he knows his way around as the party follows single-file continuing their search. When they reach the middle, Calvaxus makes his leave, closing the door behind him and plunging the party into darkness.
Their searches for King Haevon I’s body are, once more, fruitless. Violet attempts to search for grave wax, something that should naturally be found in the damp caves if a body had been long buried, but there is none to be found.
Luckily, Celeste has a keen enough eye to spot two different strands of hair. One long and white, the same length as Calvaxus’ while the other was similarly long, but this time a chestnut brown.
With nothing more to find in the tunnels, the party makes their leave. Asha creates a map of the tunnels alongside the entrances and exits for personal record. Despite their search ending in a failure, they have completed the task which the Undertaker had given them, meaning their deal was done.
When the party reaches the barracks, Alastor calls the group together to speak of the plan. He has decided that he wants to call off the plan to save Laurent Dayne. The rest of the party follows at his behest. With peace talks having gone unsuccessfully, it is only a matter of time before the trial by combat of Melior Ljonguard is to take place.
Now he stands before the party, poisonous daggers in hand willing to strike them at a moment's notice. They fail to convince him of their innocence, and under knifepoint are forced into the dungeons to await Calvaxus’ judgement. Calvaxus does not seem to care that they are wards of Prince Carnys, in fact, he does not appear to respect his nephew much at all as he leaves without a second word to them.
The party makes many attempts to escape their cells, but the royal dungeons are made to be strong. The iron bars are reinforced with powerful warding magic and lined with a clean coat of lead. The doors have locks both magical and non-magical to keep them in line. As Calum and Celeste attempt to find solutions, they are met with nothing but dead ends.
Eventually the group receives a message from Carnys—he knows where they are. But there is little he can do without catching King Rahaevor’s ire. Calvaxus is a wild card, should Carnys displease him it is entirely possible that the king would execute them personally… just as he had done with Kettlewyck. The prince advises the party that Calvaxus He offers to send them food and water alongside some small comfort items.
By nightfall, the party grows more anxious. Left to their own devices, they realized quickly that being in the dungeon meant nothing was in their control. They could either attempt to convince Calvaxus to join their side, or be forced to reckon with whatever his wrath might bring.
By morning, when Calvaxus came to deliver the party water, Asha had prepared to confide in Calvaxus secrets only the party knew. By framing their goals in a way which put themselves against the Tandor’thals, Calvaxus agrees to release the party. The cell doors open as Calvaxus returns most of their things—only having taken Celeste’s vial of Ambrosia, much to her chagrin.
He leads them towards the tombs of the original nine Queensguard and the records of all the former knights who have served in the illustrious order. Behind the wall is what they seek. However, Celeste and Asha realize they cannot leave without delivering the coin. Asha attempts to send Cocoa to deliver it, but Calvaxus catches them, pocketing the coin for himself.
The tunnel that Calvaxus shows them has a complicated entry point. To enter, Calvaxus first speaks in Draconic the phrase: “From this day, until my last, fire shall crown my head. Let the magma burn my body until I emerge pure.” Then, it does not take a genius to see pain spark across Calvaxus’ face as the door slowly opens. He drops his arm with a shaking gasp, fingers twitching. He warns the party then that none of them should attempt to open the doors, the pain would be too unbearable for any of them to handle, their bodies simply were not built for it.
With the chill warning fresh in their mind, Prince Calvaxus leads the party through the tunnels. It is apparent he knows his way around as the party follows single-file continuing their search. When they reach the middle, Calvaxus makes his leave, closing the door behind him and plunging the party into darkness.
Their searches for King Haevon I’s body are, once more, fruitless. Violet attempts to search for grave wax, something that should naturally be found in the damp caves if a body had been long buried, but there is none to be found.
Luckily, Celeste has a keen enough eye to spot two different strands of hair. One long and white, the same length as Calvaxus’ while the other was similarly long, but this time a chestnut brown.
With nothing more to find in the tunnels, the party makes their leave. Asha creates a map of the tunnels alongside the entrances and exits for personal record. Despite their search ending in a failure, they have completed the task which the Undertaker had given them, meaning their deal was done.
When the party reaches the barracks, Alastor calls the group together to speak of the plan. He has decided that he wants to call off the plan to save Laurent Dayne. The rest of the party follows at his behest. With peace talks having gone unsuccessfully, it is only a matter of time before the trial by combat of Melior Ljonguard is to take place.
