Curse of the Crimson Throne Recap # 12 [RPG]

 [28 Gozran, 4708 A.R. continued]

After defeating their vicious ogre-kin jailor, the Harrowed Heroes are able to set free six prisoners held in the disgusting pits.  Whether through luck or fate, one of the prisoners is Phaeton Skoda’s cousin, Tiora!  She testifies that her ship was intercepted at sea, and she and many of the passengers were held in captivity aboard another vessel called only the Black Ship before someone came to buy them.  Another prisoner, who had been in captivity in the pits even longer, says the derro kidnapped him from an alleyway near a sewer entrance, and that a man seemed to be their leader in the catacombs.  The old man says the prisoners were used as experiments in necromancy and disease, and that he was lucky he was deemed too old to be a good test subject.  The Reckoner gives each prisoner some gold and leads them to the surface and safety.

However, Yraelzin, Goldcape, and The Reckoner know that they’ve only recovered a portion of Gaekhen’s remains.  They continue exploring the subterranean warrens and come across a chamber that can only be a dumping ground for body parts the derro were no longer interested in.  Wallowing in the reeking mud is a sewer beast, and it slobbers “Warm food!” as it lumbers forward to attack.  Goldcape sends Rocky in to attack and sinks an arrow into the monster’s side, while The Reckoner charges forward with his battle maul.  The battle is over quickly, but both Rocky and The Reckoner display open wounds where the sewer beast’s disease-filled maw bit into them.  Fortunately, it was worth the effort, as the last remnants of Gaekhen’s body are found.

Although Goldcape urges the group to leave and Yraelzin is ill from the grisly scenes, The Reckoner is determined to clear the warrens.  He leads the group down an unexplored tunnel and into what must be the derros’ sleeping quarters, but here the pale cavern-dwellers have readied themselves against attack and shoot poisoned crossbow bolts the instant they see an intruder!  There’s a brief archery duel before the attackers close in, and Yraelzin performs heroically by spreading healing magicks (and the word of Razmir) while under fire.  The derro, although hardy, are eventually overpowered and slain.  The Reckoner follows a narrow tunnel some distance until it intersects with Korvosa’s sewer line before returning to the others.  A thorough search of the warrens show no signs of further inhabitants.
The group exit.  Goldcape takes Gaekhen’s remains to Skaldwood, where the Shoanti are preparing their departure.  Thousand Bones expresses his deep gratitude for being able to put his grandson’s spirit to rest, and promises that he owes Goldcape and her friends a debt of honour that will be repaid.  He prophesises they will meet again during another time of great turmoil.

Later, Goldcape joins Ralph at Citadel Volshyanek.  They learn distressing news—the trial of Trinia lasted only two hours before she was convicted and her sentence pronounced: she will be executed, tomorrow!  Field Marshal Kroft is distraught at having erred so grievously, and admits she may have misjudged Queen Ileosa’s commitment to justice.  She asks the group to attend the execution, as Trinia deserves to see some sympathetic faces in the crowd amidst all the hate.  Outside, Ralph asks Goldcape if they could use Rocky to rescue Trinia—perhaps taking advantage of rioting.  However, Goldcape says it would be far too dangerous for everyone involved.

Ralph walks over to Hedge Wizardry and sees that Phaeton is overjoyed at his cousin’s safe return.  Goldcape visits with Old Lady Cloggins and warns her about the “friend” who tried to visit previously.  Old Lady Cloggins says there’s been some good news as well—it seems like the Hellknights are leaving her house, and may soon be withdrawing from the city altogether!

[29 Gozran, 4708 A.R.]
In the morning, Ralph mingles with the crowds heading toward the palace courtyard where the execution is set to take place, while Goldcape circles overhead, flying on Rocky’s back.  Ralph gives Majenko some hand-written anti-Ileosa pamphlets to drop at a pre-arranged signal in the hopes that if there’s a sufficient distraction, he might be able to rescue Trinia.

It’s clear the impending execution is not an affair to be missed, as the toast of Korvosa is in attendance in garish gowns, fine capes, and enough jewels to blind the common citizen.  Queen Ileosa emerges amid a great flourish and pomp as heralds announce her arrival with a fanfare of music and drums; she wears a green and white silk dress attended by a small army of guards, including one in a striking brand-new suit of grey full-plate armor with a closed helm sporting a flowing crimson plume.  Ileosa takes her seat in a high throne-like chair at one end of the public courtyard, while at the other end is a towering, muscular man wearing an executioner’s hood and idly holding an immense axe.

An ominous drum begins beating, and the gawkers fall silent; the drum sets the pace for a hooded prisoner’s procession to the executioner’s block.  As they reach the block, a guard removes the prisoner’s shackles and hood, revealing a very frightened Trinia who is trying to hold back tears.  The portion of the crowd sympathetic to the young artist cry out in anger, and Ralph gives Majenko the signal to drop the polemics to inflame them further.

Queen Ileosa addresses the crowd:  “Fellow Korvosans!  You have suffered greatly these past few weeks.  Homes have burned, family members have died, and fortunes have been lost.  I feel your suffering, for not only have I lost a beloved husband, but with each act of anarchy that followed, my heart bled more.  This has been a trying time for us, yet the torment is at an end.  Before you is the source of your anguish and pain.  Do not be deceived by this murderer’s timid nature—she is a black-hearted assassin.  I offer you her death as a salve against the hatred and hurt you have suffered.  And so, without further delay, let us usher in this new dawn with justice.  OFF WITH HER HEAD!”

But just before the executioner can lower her head into the block, he cries out in pain as a hurled dagger embeds itself in the back of his hand! A cry echoes through the crowded courtyard: “By the gods!  It’s Blackjack!”  An instant later, a man dressed in a hooded cloak and black mask springs up to Trinia’s side; using a dagger, he cuts the bonds on Trinia’s wrists and then throws the same dagger down to pin the executioner’s left foot to the wood platform.  He then turns to address the shocked crowd.  “Yes indeed, my queen!  Let us usher in justice, but let that be justice for Korvosa, not this shambles you call a monarchy!  Long live Korvosa!  Down with the queen!”

The crowd erupts, some demanding he release the assassin, while others call for the queen’s resignation!  Ileosa seems stunned before whispering something to her armored bodyguard and then quickly fleeing back into the castle, with her entourage guarding her retreat.  The remaining guards in the courtyard move to apprehend Blackjack, but the crowd makes it difficult to move.

Yet in his apparent delight in having forced the queen to flee, Blackjack has momentarily forgotten the executioner behind him!  The shadow of a heavy axe falls over the vigilante, his doom assured, but then Ralph intervenes!  He smashes the executioner in the legs, throwing him off-balance so the axe thunks harmlessly into the wooden stage.  Blackjack and Trinia clamber up a hanging banner to a nearby wall, and he salutes Ralph with his rapier before the pair leap down and disappear into the safety of the city’s alleys and sewers.  Fortunately, in all the chaos of the crowd rioting, Ralph’s actions were unnoticed and he’s able to slip away safely as well.

In the days that follow, the city returns to a semblance of order and normalcy.  But just below the surface, raging undercurrents of pro- and anti- Ileosa sentiment surge, with both sides asking the same question:  What will the next chapter in her reign bring to the city?
--------------------------------------------------
GM's Commentary

The reference to the "Black Ship" in the first paragraph is to something I had prepared in case the PCs wanted to use the black market to purchase items that were illegal or beyond the city's purchase limits.  I had a fun idea for a creepy ship that was always anchored in a different place somewhere off the coast, but have never had the opportunity to actually show it in game.

I really liked how the AP handled the Trinia execution/Blackjack rescue scene.  Doing it as a purely cinematic, rules-free event kept it fast, tense, and exciting, while still allowing the PCs to influence the outcome.  It worked out great at my table, and was a fantastic way to end Chapter 1.