Cast: Party, Elle, Martos, Daffyd, Elora, Lt. Terent
Setting: Eben’s Manor, Eben’s Spur
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The refugees have made it safely home and the horrible tension infecting nearly everyone has finally dissipated. They no longer need to worry about the constant threat of death, starvation or enslavement have passed.
People are finally able to grieve for lost love ones and to celebrate their own survival. To honor this Daffyd has declared the day after their return to be a celebration. They will hold a funeral honoring their collective dead, and then they will celebrate to honor their passing.
Once the feast is over they can worry about rebuilding, but for now it’s time to relax and unwind.
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Events
- The PCs are to meet for breakfast in Eben’s Manor. They arrive to find a completely different setup than Marcus ran. Instead it has become a bustling command center for the entire town. Dozens of people have moved in and every room is packed to bursting. Instead of eating at the large dining room table the party is ushered into Daffyd’s study on the 2nd floor.
- Daffyd has taken over Marcus’s position as Governor temporarily, which gives him complete authority over the town. Elora and Martos are the only other surviving members of the council, so the three of them are handling all decisions.
- Daffyd offers to have breakfast served to the PCs, and hot porridge and biscuits are brought along with dried fish. There is only water to drink.
- Daffyd asks Terwynn to give an accounting of the mission, asking pointed questions until he has a good understanding of exactly what happened. He will ask Grond for his tactical assessment of the forces they encountered.
- When the matter of the amulet and ring come up he will ask Martos to keep possession of the amulet and will wish to see the ring himself. This is where it’s absence will be noted if Viktor didn’t look before.
- If Viktor reveals the existence of Tal’s letter Daffyd will ask to read it. He will find it troubling, but will point out that the ring wasn’t part of the mission so it’s loss is no great ordeal. He will ask their opinion on Tal and on the rival faction of vampyr.
- Daffyd wants to inspect the Nebiat’s letter. He turns to Terwynn and points out that if he accepted a covenant of Celeste he’d be able to read it. He then mutters a spell and reads the letter aloud to the group. It speaks of a gathering being called by Kelbreth. All dreadlords are summoned to his keep.
- Daffyd will point out that the letter is troubling, but that unfortunately it doesn’t provide proof of an impending invasion. It is circumstantial evidence at best, as is the testimony of the PCs. They simply lack the bloody dagger that will allow them to prove the invasion.
- There is a knock at the door and Terent enters. He gives Daffyd a bow and says, “You wante to see me?”. Daffyd will tell him he wishes him present for the discussion.
- If the PCs bring up their desire to hunt down the bonespear Daffyd will give a heavy sigh. He’ll explain the dilemma. The Praetor needs to know about the impending invasion, or it’s possible the entire border could be overrun. If the party goes after the bone eaters it means they will not be able to go to the capital. He also points out that now that the immediate crisis has abated they are still required to go to Valys and enlist.
- Martos will propose a compromise. If the PCs call a gathering of orokh tribes they might be able to persuade them to launch a blood war on the bone eater. Grond and Tobius wouldn’t be able to get revenge for Tark’s death, but they could ensure that the bone eater were no longer a threat.
- Daffyd turns to Grond and Tobius. He tells them Tark was a friend of decades and that he cannot forbid them from seeking revenge. If they wish to go he will not stop them.
- Elora interjects that the town needs to be rebuilt. Before anyone does anything they should spend at least a week helping people repair the damage done during the seige. Daffyd acknowledges this and asks if the party is willing to help for a week before making any decisions about what to do.
- Daffyd plans to go to Valys to meet with Praetor Valys. He will be bringing Lieutenant Terent, though the rest of the garrison will remain in Eben’s Spur. Daffyd plans to confront the Praetor about the situation at the fist, and to warn him regarding the pending invasion. He would like the party to go with him as this will both fulfill their requirement to present themselves, and lend weight to the evidence regarding the coming invasion.
- Daffyd will bring up Egren, and suggest that he be tried publicly the day after the celebration. His execution will give the people some closure. He isn’t interested in interogating him.
- After the discussion draws to a close Daffyd releases the PCs to go wherever they’d like for the rest of the day. He tells them today is a day for celebration, not grief. The funeral will be held at noon and the celebration will begin at 3rd bell.
- The funeral is a touching affair. Daffyd gives a speech regarding Tark and Marcus, but works in all who died. He then calls on Grond and/or Tobius, asking if they want to speak on Tark’s behalf. He asks Elora if she wishes to speak on Marcus’s behalf.
- During the celebration the party is clapped on the back and generally made to feel like heroes. This is the payoff for their long hard road, and they are asked to tell the tale over and over by excited townsfolk.
- Terent approaches Grond during the feast. He tells him that he is worried about the tidings Grond brought. If they are invaded the Fist will fall. If the other border forts have been infiltrated they might fall as well.
- Many couples pair off to dance. Surprisingly Elle is wearing a dark blue woolen dress, and asks Grond if he’d like to dance. She also dances with Terwynn.
- Elora approaches Viktor and asks him to share a cup of wine. She explains that he seems to be the quiet one standing in the back of the group, a position she knows well. She explains that the role they hold is an important one. The others will get the glory, but that frees them up to hide in the shadows. People underestimate them, allowing them a freedom the others will never have. If he makes a pass she will accept, but she will not press for sex.
