Session 12

General Summary

The party prepared for the Ambassadors' Ball. Mrek and Slint headed to the harbor to examine the Blind Charmer, the Exonian Merchant Marine ship that would take them and White Falcon, Radislav to Quedra on Monday. There they met a halfling first lieutenant who introduced Kairon, a sailor from Ardatril who was to be detailed as the party's guide. They invited Kairon to join them at the ball and Mrek bought him a fine suit of clothing.
Ludwig composed an epic song celebrating the Congress of Volscia Mera while tweaking those delegates who voted against the party the previous day. Feng showed Cyras the pocketwatch from the Islander; he examined in and found that it still contained heavy magic. The pair brought it to Sigrid of Thorpe and told her they suspected it was a trap intended for her husband, Magnusson, Magnus III. Her bodyguard Frost examined the watch as well, her eyes turning white as she did so, and seemed to agree that it was dangerous. Meanwhile, Queen Sigrid noted that the RWF of the note on the wrapping was like Radislav White Falcon. She admitted that the Chancellor had once had a fierce rivalry with her husband, but felt that it had been lain to rest years ago.
The time came for the ball. Ludwig was able to bring in his hurdy-gurdy (and the sword hidden within) but Cyras had his manacles taken. They were announced by a herald to a small crowd of earlycomers, which included the promoted Scrivener, John and Midshipman Pip, there as guests of Hardby, Patience. Scrivener thanked the party for all their assistance over the last few weeks. Halfrigger, Humbert and remaining wife Verona also showed up; Halfrigger seemed depressed, but he invited Slint to come learn the card game twenty-one in the gaming room. Ludwig was greeted by Tekin, Timur, a violinist who got his start with Ludwig's Lowly Laudables; the goblin barely remembered him but the musician obviously recalled Ludwig fondly. Timur had played in the premiere of Hammett, Talwyn's symphony the night before and was now playing at the ball. Ludwig gave him near-incomprehensible sheet music for his new composition, which Timur promised to teach to the other players in time for Ludwig to perform.
Next the ambassadors showed up. The party immediately drew White Falcon aside and grilled him about the pocketwatch. Eyeing an illusory replica made by Cyras, the Chancellor admitted that such a fine work would likely have been made in Crothe, but his people would be unable and uninterested in casting the enchantment that summoned the demon. That would be handled at Harkness, the school of magic. White Falcon admitted that he and Magister Reginald Cuffrey, the provost of Harkness, rarely saw eye to eye; he suspected that the magic teacher feared White Falcon's inventions would overshadow and replace magic. He denied ever having seen the watch, though, and the party believed him.
Deyne, Jaren gave a speech lauding a permanent peace, and the party began in earnest as the music struck up. Ludwig spoke with Agort, Gort, who seemed to take his failure to produce 6,000 gold personally and gave him the cold shoulder, though she was interested in recruiting Slint to her kingdom. She did admit that she'd borrowed the money to buy weapons and build castles. Cyras shared a dance with Londes, Tiberia, who defended Aniara's warmaking and told him again that as an elf he ought to "come home" to the Empire. Cyras's dancing and conversation were lacking, though, and the Lady soon moved on. Kairon and Slint joined Halfrigger, Hardby, and Bashir, Annite for a hand of twenty-one in the gaming room. Bashir won handily. Feng and Mrek inserted themselves into a quiet argument between Mazhar, Ayberk and Agonistes, Nicodemus about piracy, telling both ambassadors that Red Remzi was responsible for the slaughter on the Islander. Mazhar insisted that Remzi was an aberration, more monster than pirate, and not Cercimon's problem—indeed, he said, how could they crack down on piracy without a fleet? Gunpowder Nick again extolled the virtues of pirate-hunting.
Trenowden, Chesten introduced her brother Madoc to the whole party. He was as sickly and frail as his twin sister was hale and heart, but seemed kind and intelligent. He also thanked the party for their work on behalf of Midmare.
Prince Jaren gave another toast, this one for the adventurers themselves. Reading from notes given him by Coveri, Graf he recounted most of their achievements: the Living Island, the Halfrigger murder, the Bryce Mausoleum, the Islander, and joked that the party sure seemed to be in the middle of a lot of trouble.
Dinner was brought out, and as the guests began to eat, Ludwig performed his 25-minute epic song. It was met with rapturous silence throughout and thunderous applause at its conclusion. Timur's blazing violin shred was a highlight. Even Lord Halfrigger was heard telling others that Ludwig had done a similar song at his own party. But as the applause faded away and the bell of the temple in town square far below tolled midnight, there was a scream: Madoc Trenowden was dead.
The party rushed to his side, where Chesten lay sobbing on his chest. Cyras, in his Queensguard uniform, comforted the princess while Feng examined the body. He promptly found gray tears in Madoc's eyes, a sure sign of the midnight tears poison. Doctor Whitby confirmed this diagnosis. But there was no time to act, because Prince Jaren had blocked off the room with his guardsmen and now accused the party of the murder!
His reasoning was that they were the most violent of the guests and had been at the heart of much of the trouble during the Congress. The party pushed back at this thin reasoning and Feng noticed that Jaren had described it as a murder before any announcement was made, especially suspicious given the prince's sick condition. He accused Jaren of plotting the murder himself. Ludwig, with a read thoughts spell, sensed Jaren's surprise and anger at this accusation. The party professed their innocence, and ultimately Radislav White Falcon stepped in. He said that he would vouch for the party, and suggested that Prince Jaren give them the weekend to prove their innocence by finding the real killers. If they did, they could leave with him on Monday; if not he would hand them over to the prince's justice...

Report Date

01 Jul 2019