Session Preface:
A bitter wind howls through the open air corridor overlooking the courtyard and training grounds below. Though the citizens have repaired much of Avraathe in the near tenday since the assault, the faces you pass as you approach the war council meeting chamber bear the anxiety and fear of another impending doom. Too few Talons still stand healthy and steadfast while still more recover in the infirmary alongside Vyodaar. Yet beneath their worried demeanor, you sense a strong resolve which will endure beyond the present circumstances.
Stepping into the War Council, the realize you are the last to arrive. Seated around the table are many of the same familiar leaders you've met with previous. Supreme Commander Vergraks gives you a slight nod, a subtle affirmation confirming his Talon's are in position once the door is shut behind you. Justiciar Bronzeroar seems to barely notice your entrance as he pretends to study documents in from of him, but you catch his eyes darting between the pages and his High Priest counterpart across from him. Next to Bronzeroar is Speaker Zorvathrax who smiles warmly at your entrance. Across from the Speaker is General Maldur who looks your direction with almost an expression of expectation. Finally, High Priest Dradke watches you closely with a forced, outward expression of beaming with pride which only thinly veils the utter disdain beneath.
"Ah, the heroes of the day," the High Priest says in an almost melodic tone. "Welcome back. I hope Bahamut has blessed you with a bountiful and safe journey into the belly of the beast. Tell us, what have you learned? How did your mission fare?"
Before giving you a chance to answer, Supreme Commander Vergraks speaks up, "Yes, the High Priest is right. We should begin this meeting at once, we have matters of dire import to discuss, it would seem." As the Commander strikes his platinum staff against the stone floor, the door locks with a firm metallic click. This time, the sound is also accompanied by additional heavy armored footfalls in the hallway beyond.
"As the High Priest said, please enlighten us as to what you have learned since our last gathering. The floor is yours."
Session Summary
Deciding not to present their current suspicions to the gathered council, the party instead elects to share all of the information regarding King Waruk and his offer for peace and his long term plans for the region. With most in the room expecting a more bombastic declaration of discovering a betrayer amongst their midst, the generals and leaders mostly agree to take the orc Chosen at his word for now and to proceed with ongoing rebuilding and defensive efforts for the time being. Only Speaker Zorvathrax, unaware of recent events, questions the fate of Velqwen and his people given the agreement, but ultimately agrees it is in all's best interest for Clan Zirthund to remain in Avraathe longer. With no other revelations, the meeting concludes somewhat abruptly, allowing the party to continue their investigation.
While in the barracks, Parathrax stops once more to check in on Vyodaar, finding him conscious and in much better spirits. The two trade banter and stories before Parathrax is drawn back into other matters with a meeting with Justiciar Bronzeroar. A bit surprised the party did not expand on their earlier discoveries, Bronzeroar is adamant the betrayer must be brought to justice before any further meaningful decisions can be made and to facilitate this process, provides the party a key to the High Priest's office with information that both Porath and Dradke will be in the evening service and thus their offices available for investigating.
The party then treks through the underground corridors Endriel discovered hours earlier. When arriving at the sealed black door, Vorothuun uses his otherwordly vision to gaze into the room, observing Orin speaking to another dwarf. The two dragonborn brother's temporarily shift dimensions and arrive in the room, greeting Orin and requesting he open the door for their elf companion. After his initial surprise, Orin does so and answers the party frankly as to why Tresdrad had been spying on them, citing his cousin's lack of tact and discretion as his primary concern, rather than the party's investigation.
In speaking to Tresdrad, the party also learns from Tresdrad that the hooded white dragonborn did in fact interact with Srindrac more than he implied, including yelling at the jeweler for his late and insufficient shipment. When the dragonborn brothers confront Srindrac regarding this inconsistency, he admits this to be the case and reluctantly agrees to attend the Temple's evening service to see if one of the voices of the priests matches the voice of the one who was handling the shipments. While this conversation takes part, Endriel and Tresdrad exchange smoking herbs and stories.
As Srindrac heads to attend service at the Temple, the party makes their way to the High Priest's private office corridors. Once inside Dradke's office, the group finds a series of documents tucked away in various places, including letters from Srindrac, Grellen, and Porath all confirming various details of the events which have transpired (
AoA.Lore High Priest Dradke's Documents). Vorothruun also discovers an invisible chest, but is unable to open it with the key provided by Vyodaar. In Porath's office, a contract between Orin and Dradke confirms the latter is the high priest involved with the gem distribution, while Endriel is relieved to see Porath's hunt for Harper members has not been fruitful beyond Count Jerym's blown cover.
As the services come to an end, the party sneaks out the back door and joins the departing crowd. Taking a scenic route to Srindrac's to avoid raising suspicions, the two dragonborn brothers are quick to intimidate the dwarf with eldritch swirling energy and a hard shove from Parathrax, sending Srindrac sliding across his kitchen floor. The dwarf admits to knowing the white dragonborn was Dradke the whole time and confesses to not answering their questions more truthfully because Dradke knows the party is looking for him and made him not say anything. As the brothers debate what to do with this information, they watch in dread as Srindrac shouts "No! Please, No!" before he falls limp and cold with blood dripping down his eyes and from his mouth.
Realizing they are in grave danger and no longer in control of the situation, the party quickly departs with a wave goodbye from Tresdrad. They then hurry to the Justiciar's home where they begin to discuss the dire situation before deciding it prudent to seek out Thava for telepathic defenses before sharing any more pertinent information.
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