CoS Session 15: Kanara Talk
General Summary
5/1/874
- Aldo’s been out in the wilderness, he goes to the site where his old goblin colony used to be
- Aldo pays respects, plants shrimp in ground, prays, feels like he can move on
- He helps some nearby villages rebuild from Court of the Undying attacks, makes 200GP
- Catriona returns from Hakon
- She had to go take care of her dying father
- He recovered, but it looked pretty grim for a moment
- Catriona was tempted by Markova the Undying to stay, but she resisted
- Her handcrafted staff gained mystical powers during the encounter
- Catriona made a lot of sketches and kept up with Hakonian politics
- On her way into town Catriona finds Aldo sleeping in a stable outside Gameria
- Aldo, in a roundabout way, fills her in on past 2.5 months of activity
- Cationa decides to smuggle him back into the city, and it works!
- Meanwhile Roland and Nikolaj are chatting at The Thousand Faces
- Nikolaj talks more about his past, how he hasn’t had any positive parent figures
- Nikolaj also pulled a heist where he found out the owner was super poor
- He felt bad for the guy, so he decided to steal some furniture for him
- Catriona enters the tavern, surprises them with news of smuggling Aldo into the city
- They all find him drunk and passed out in his old room
- There’s a lot of catching up and cross-talk
- There’s a good bit of tension, especially since Catriona smuggled Aldo in
- Catriona mentions that she found out that Alma’s being held in Kanara thanks to the newfound powers of her staff
- One of Fallworth’s deputies interrupts reunion, tells them to be at office next morning
- Roland tries to convince Maxwell (tavern keeper) to let Aldo stay the night
- Maxwell refuses, Aldo’s back in the stables
- Next day, in Fallworth’s musty-smelling office
- He’s sending them on a diplomatic mission to Avicenna
- Gameth’s old ambassador is being sent to try and avoid an all-out war
- They’ll be paid well, though they need to be careful
- Fallworth also asks if they’ve been discussing party business with Aldo
- Roland says they haven’t, which is technically true
- Team’s split on whether they should bring Aldo along or not
- They decide to check with Hoeven, the ambassador they’ll be traveling with
- Hoeven’s a burly old blowhard, and he’s had a lot of fun nights with Aldo
- With that settled, the team heads out the next day
- The party arrives at Kanara, the capital of Avicenna
- It’s a massive city full of factories and smokestacks and tech
- And druids/magic users are still being executed en masse by Gen. Boua's forces
- Party runs into Idris at the entrance of city, he guides them to Central Palace
- Aldo asks around, gets a feel for life in Avicenna
- Store owner seems to like it, talks about all the new jobs and inventions by showing off the gadget that lets him open and close his store's entrance automatically
- Yes there are executions, but all the magic-users deserved it
- At the Central Palace they take an elevator to the top floor
- Idris shows them the skyline, explains how mined resources from Ravi provide power for the nation
- The dream is to have a world where technology can replace all kinds of magic
- Finally, the meeting with Gen. Boua Ussaki
- She’s got a lot more medals on, and a much larger staff than last time
- Despite the tension between their nations, she’s pleased to see the party after their assistance in Ravi
- Especially Aldo, who does some wild compliments that somehow work
- The negotiations get underway
- Gen. Boua says Avicenna’s entitled to lands they defended from Court of the Undying attacks in the Nestorian Mtns
- Hoeven doesn’t want to give up too much of Gameth’s eastern territory
- Debate lasts for hours, they have to break for lunch
- Aldo has lunch with Gen. Boua
- Boua says she’s very thankful for Aldo’s letters over these past months
- She asks about Aldo’s plans after defeating Court of the Undying
- He doesn’t have much going on, so Boua offers to make him an Admiral!
- Aldo accepts of course, and Boua gives him quick peck on the cheek
- Meanwhile the rest of party isn’t having a great lunch
- Hoeven’s flustered, pissed off by how negotiations are going
- Roland gives him pep talk, tells him things have changed with Boua in charge
- Hoeven relents, grumbles about how negotiating Alma’s release will be dicey
- Back at negotiating table, Hoeven agrees to cede several resource-rich mountains/land
- The next order of business is Alma, and Boua’s having none of it
- AVicenna has evidence of Alma conspiring with Court members
- Punishment is execution, even if she is Hakonian citizen
- This is where both sides reach impasse, talks ended for the day
- Boua trolls party by referring to Aldo as ‘Admiral’
- That night the party’s going over day’s events at a fancy bar
- Hoeven’s left to meet up with an old mistress
- Roland and Catriona are upset that Aldo’s decided to work for Boua
- Aldo doesn’t owe any loyalty to Fallworth, he’s wanted to be with her for months
- As they leave, a woman stops Roland (she looks like his old wife)
- The woman’s name is Genna
- Her daughter, Melita, was arrested by Avicenna
- She’s imprisoned with Alma, wants their help to break her out
- Party’s suspicious, especially since Roland senses undead on her
- She says she tried necromancy to revive dead husband
- They’ll talk with Gen. Boua tomorrow about Genna et al.
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