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[Wealday, 12 Arodus 4708 A.R. continued]
At the Grand Cathedral of
Pharasma, the Harrowed Heroes have just given the word to Bishop d’Bear to
begin the formal process to legally banish King’s Widow Ileosa Arabasti from
Castle Korvosa. While in the temple, The
Reckoner checks on Potter Minehan, recent victim to evil blood magick, and
learns he’s much improved. As the group
make their way outside, they witness a contingent of Pharasmin priests arrive
via magical teleportation—and from their faces, they’re prepared for a
confrontation. Bishop d’Bear is
summoned, and it turns out she’s been recalled to Osirion (and effectively
fired from her post in Korvosa) for throwing the power of the church into what
those outside Varisia see as mere internal politics! The Reckoner hastily changes into Ralph
Blackfeather and tries to intervene on behalf of d’Bear, but it appears the
decision is irreversible. Not only has
Kroft’s resistance faction lost a stalwart ally and powerful cleric, it has
also lost its (very formidable) headquarters!
Later, Ralph explains to Goldcape that it was really only a matter of
time—d’Bear had put herself out on a limb for the resistance. And her departure is all the more reason to
hurry to oust Ileosa before the resistance loses anymore of its key elements.
Still planning for an
imminent raid on Castle Korvosa, the group stop in again at Hedge Wizardry for
more supplies. While the others queue up
for a word with Phaeton, Lorien is idly browsing the shelves when he comes
across a strange hemispherical crystal that glows dimly. When he touches it, his mind fills with a
flickering vision of deep water and something just under the surface! He brings it over to Protosilaus, who
examines it carefully and pronounces it to be a damaged memory crystal. Additional attempts to activate it help
pinpoint the image to Lake Encarthan, and the submerged figure as a massive sea
serpent! Yraelzin mysteriously refuses
to say what he sees in the crystal, but is it a coincidence that Razmiran
stands on the shores of Lake Encarthan?
On the way back to the Reckoner’s safehouse, the group see something they haven’t witnessed since the King’s death: Acadamae students out on the streets! Escorted by a contingent of tiefling guards, the students explain that Headmaster Ornelos has determined it’s safe to reopen. When asked if that means the school will throw its support behind the resistance, the student just shrugs, and says that’s really up to the Headmaster and professors. A roar of voices from the southwest interrupts the conversation, doubtless indicating that Neolandus Kalepopolis has formally proclaimed that Ileosa must leave the Castle within one hour.
Meanwhile, Goldcape uses
a magical scroll to do some scrying—but her target isn’t Ileosa, it’s Rolth
Lamm. Using some (dried) blood recovered
after a previous fight to strengthen the spell, she gets a clear image of the
notorious necromancer and serial murderer: the man is standing in a big, domed
room doing touch-ups to what must be carrion golems. Oddly, the room only has two windows—both
long, tube-like shafts of glass at somewhat askew angles. Goldcape is even able to make out that the
room must be at a great height, and is overlooking water. After revealing this information to the
others, Yraelzin says he could be hiding in a lighthouse—but Ralph says that
the statue of Ileosa could be hollow, and the shafts of glass could be its
eyes, meaning Lamm is hiding in its head!
Goldcape is keen to attack right away, but is persuaded to wait until
after the attack on Ileosa.
The group find an
abandoned storefront just outside the rebel siege lines around Castle Korvosa
and begin their final round of preparations for the attack, casting spell after
spell on themselves. “Let slip the dogs
of war!” shouts The Reckoner. The time
has come for the rebellion to be taken to Ileosa’s doorstep and beyond, and if
she has any sense, she’d be trembling at the might arrayed against her!
GM Commentary
This session was all preparation for the big attack on Castle Korvosa, which the players thought would be the location of the final campaign showdown between themselves and Ileosa. I thought the " . . .you will not find what you seek" divination was clear enough, but they talked themselves into thinking it was a question of timing.
The AP has Bishop d'Bear has as a supporter of the resistance and providing the catacombs for their HQ. I always found it fascinating that it was the leader of a "Neutral" faith, and priest of the goddess of the dead, that provided the resistance the most tangible support in Korvosa (compared to Sarenrae and others that are effectively "off-screen" for the AP). I wanted to draw attention to the idea that this may have been more of d'Bear's personal support than the church's as a whole by having her be withdrawn. This would ratchet up the pressure on the resistance/PCs. (there was a chance for the PCs to persuade her superiors she should stay, but they didn't make the Diplomacy DC).
I'm not sure what I had in mind for the crystal showing images of a sea serprent in Hedge Wizardry. It might have just been an off-the-cuff invention to add a bit of intrigue to the scene, knowing I would have time to flesh it out if the PCs seriously investigated it. (they didn't)
As written, the AP has the Acadamae closed for the duration of the adventure. I thought it might be interesting that, with as much progress as the PCs and resistance had made, to reopen its doors. I took with one hand (d'Bear) and gave with the other (the Acadamae). I don't think the PCs were particularly interested, however.
I was impressed that the players put two-and-two together to realise Rolth Lamm was in the hollow head of the giant statue of Ileosa! There's a fun and exciting scene in a later session where we see a raid on that statue.
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