Previously, the heroes survived a confrontation with Epidemius and brought peace back to Kingsport, albeit not without consequences. They spent an evening celebrating with a beautiful meal, surrounded by companions. The following day they would finally meet up with the delegation from Beauclair.
Fifth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262
(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is in low sanction, Darkmoon is waxing)
Before departure from the Careless Wanderer, Quentin reminded everyone to ride in careful formation to him. They should always keep at his right side, which he explained was a position of great trust, honour, and privilege to the Beauclairois. In battle, the person to your right had the ability to save you with the shield they carried in their left hand, and therefore was a person of great reverence.
Quentin also warned the others that it was likely that the members of the Beauclair delegation would look down upon them, treat them as commoners, and they should not let them. When Neamhan spoke up to admit that she was a commoner, Astrid gripped her by the shoulders, stared her intently in the eyes and said; “There is nothing common about you, woman,” before spinning her around and moving her out of the door, preventing any rebuttals.
Exiting the city through the North Gate while riding their mounts, the heroes crossed the bridge over the river and followed a long, dry brick wall along the fields of a Black Alder farm where the delegation had set up camp. The farm consisted of a large manor house and several smaller buildings. There was a large pond flanked on the far side by a small forest. Dozens of tents of all size had been set up in the field between the manor house and the pond. Banners and heralds flew above the tents in bright colours, which signified the different noble houses and knights that travelled with the delegation.
Quentin directed the heroes towards the manor house, looking over the encampment for a place where people would be received but not being able to identify any. He was growing concerned with the lack of formalities, and his discomfort resonated with Róisín, the scabbard nervously blooming and withering rapidly. This caught the attention of many of the servants, armsmen, and hedge knights that the heroes encountered, and news of their arrival spread along Black Alder farm rapidly.
Against all expectations, a very modest reception was hastily organised in front of the manor house. There were several minor nobles and servants lined up to greet Quentin and the heroes, but the only people of significance that were there were Ser Croy and Monsieur Beauregard, an advisor to Highlord Gauthier who was still recovering from the attack on the delegation. Quentin was not pleased with the reception and told Monsieur Beauregard to make note of the breach of etiquette. Matters were made even worse and more awkward when no attempt was made to help Quentin down from his horse. When the breach of protocol became apparent, Monsieur Beauregard arranged for stablehands to bring a stool to help him, and the heroes, down from their mounts.
Chakuq was keen to see how the stablehand would handle a horse without a saddle or bridle, since he had gone without one, but the young lad seemed to be handling it well. Chakuq suspected that the stablehand might have had some experience breaking colts.
Quentin was very pleased to see Ser Croy again and urged him to come and find Quentin later. Once inside the manor, Monsieur Beauregard offered the heroes a chance to rest and refresh themselves while Lord Dorian was informed of their arrival. Emrys started to make out the depth and detail of Beauclair customs and etiquette, slowly working through its intricacies.
Lord Dorian seemed overjoyed to see Quentin when he finally came downstairs, and Emrys soon realised that the warmth with which Quentin was received was a breach of protocol and surprising even to Quentin himself. He kissed Quentin three times, dedicating his affecting to his son, his house, and their progenitor; the mythical Alban. Lord Dorian was introduced to the rest of the heroes, and took a moment to exchange pleasantries with Neamhan, whom he was familiar with. He only had to correct how she addressed him ever so slightly. He then asked his Quentin to speak with him in private, and the two retreated to a chamber upstairs.
While the heroes waited for father and son to reconnect, they spoke about several things, like the history of House Morvrayne, and the mythical origin story of Beauclair noble houses. Brother Antoine, a cleric of Paladine and personal chaplain to Highlord Gauthier, came to speak with the heroes about Saint Benedict and the possibility of being able to speak with him. While the heroes had to disappoint the cleric by informing him that Prior Benedict was no longer in Kingsport, he seemed fascinated to speak to the heroes who had laid witness to his sermon at the Cathedral of the Platinum Father.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Quentin hastily caught up with his father and the situation that Lord Dorian had found himself in. Questions about the attack on the delegation were quickly deflected, and Lord Dorian explained how proud he was of his son and his success in retrieving the Fleur de Lys. Quentin, in turn, assured his father that the blade was not what everyone was hoping it was. Lord Dorian explained that with the injured Highlord, he had been vaulted into a position of power; he was expected to lead the delegation to success in the negotiations with the Lyrian throne, and underscored how politically complicated the situation was. He also explained to his son that the nobility who had travelled with the Highlord were waiting for him to fail, and referred to the other lords and ladies as “duplicitous snakes.”
Lord Dorian was confident that with his son’s help and connections at the Lyrian court, he would be able to succeed in Highlord Gauthier’s absence, elevating House Morvrayne to great renown. Quentin felt a dread rise up in him as he saw past his father’s warm façade, recognising the hunger for power and influence and the naïveté that had come to expect. He would have to discover what the political landscape at the delegation’s camp looked like, and tread very carefully while aiding his father in the negotiations with the Lyrian throne.
