Previously, the heroes visited the Temple of Light to speak with High Priest Selwyn, hoping to learn more about the Liber Bubonicus and how it might be used against Epidemius. The high priest, however, proved an unhelpful ally; he believed the book held no further value and, upon learning the heroes possessed it, became convinced they were already corrupted by it, insisting it be returned to the Monastic Order of Apothecaries immediately. The meeting ended badly, with Selwyn rescinding his welcome and asking the heroes to leave, though they did learn that the head of the apothecaries, Prior Arturian, was expected to arrive in Kingsport imminently. Before all of this, the morning had begun quietly at the Careless Wanderer, with Astrid returning battered but resolute after a night out, and the heroes preparing themselves for the busy day ahead.
First Day, Third Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262
(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is waxing, Darkmoon is waning)
It was just after eighth bell when the heroes departed the Temple of Light after having had an audience with High Priest Selwyn regarding the Book of Woe and its ability to influence or even trap Epidemius. Ultimately, the conversation did not go as hoped, as the high priest was adamant that the book be returned the Monastic Order of Apothecaries, who had held and protected the book for centuries before it disappeared from their vault. The book, he reasoned, was the reason why so many in the city were suffering, and the reluctance of the heroes to give it up was a sign of its corrupting influence.
Virulencia had appeared to Neamhan, sitting among the congregration of the devout who were praying to the Platinum Father in front of his cathedral, hoping for salvation from Epidemius. Her presence there, holding her fiendish baby, seemed a mockery. When Neamhan sat next to Virulencia and looked at the others around them, she got the distinct impression that she was the only one that could see her. At first, Neamhan attempted to try to get Virulencia to talk elsewhere, but she refused, claiming that she wanted to be with the devotees. Paladine was her father, she explained, as if her reasons were self-evident. Neamhan asked her directly whether she could tell her more about the possibility of being pregnant. Virulencia coyly remarked that she had the impatience of an expectant mother. When Neamhan persisted, Virulencia proposed striking a deal, but that did not sit right with Neamhan, nor did she think she would have anything valuable to offer. Neamhan decided to rejoin the others.
The heroes discussed their options, including reaching out to Prior Arturian, the first abbot of the Apothecaries who was imminently arriving in Kingsport. They felt that finding the prior Arturian would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, so they decided to seek the help of James and the Steady Hand by talking to Goodman and asking him to reach out to James. Besides James, they also asked him whether he could reach out to Emma and Réonan to warn them about the subliectes that Epidemius was targetting at the River Gate and the Circle of Magi, respectively. Lastly, they asked him to reach out to Esmeralda to let her know that she can proceed to create the circle on Steward’s Square. Expecting a difficult negotiation with the big town crier, he surprised them by agreeing, not asking for recompense, and not offering a backhanded insult.
When the heroes returned to the Careless Wanderer they got ready to head to the Black Alder Farm. They all dressed up, while Wojciech readied their horses. Walor, Quentin’s golden stallion was brushed to perfection, and outfitted with barding and banners signifying House Morvrayne. Luca’s horse, a chestnut mare named Tipper, and his cart were also brought around, as was Emrys’ Lyrian pinto named Enbarr. Three other horses had been arranged and saddled for Neamhan, Chakuq, and Astrid. Neamhan spoke with her horse and found it was a young, nameless thoroughbred who wanted to be called Crossbow.
Astrid came down, dressed in a fine woolen gown dyed a deep red, covered with a blue apron fastened at the shoulders with a pair of bronze brooches in an eagle motif. Around her shoulders she carried a fur pelt mantle, and she wore decorative bronze bracers around her wrists. Her hair was elaborately braided, with metal rings woven through it and beads tied at the end of some braids which seemed to signify some sort of rank. White clay had been applied to her hair to frame her face, and blue warpaint had been applied to her face. She had been creative in minimising the signs of fight she had gotten into the previous night.
Falka dressed up in her finest clothes, which were largely made up of the travelling scholar clothes she came to Kingsport with a few rides ago. After a conversation with Luca it was decided she would ride together with him on his horse, leaving the cart behind.
The ride to the farm was uneventful but for the teamsters travelling the same road from Kingsport to the farm to supply the celebrations. When the heroes arrived, they saw the yard in front of the mansion had been transformed into a place for the feast, complete with long tables where people could dine, a raised dais upon which tall chairs were placed, and several tarps suspended above the yard to keep any possible rain or snow off the guests. The mansion itself was a hive of activity with servants running to and fro making preparations. The camp around the pond was equally active, and it was clear to even those with the least amount of knowledge of heraldry that there were different wards within the camp, showing different coloured tents and banners signifying the different noble houses represented in the delegation. The fields around the farm were used either for storage, preparation, or as stages for one of the many games that the guests were invited to play. Bonfires and casks of wine were strategically placed all around to keep the guests of the celebration happy. There were a surprising number of peacocks walking around the yard, the camp, and even the fields saw some of them that had wandered off. Their wails could be heard from time to time throughout the farm.
Ser Croy and Dame Pauline awaited the arrival of the heroes and explained that their arrival was inconspicuous. The ceremonial arrival would have all theatrical pomp and pageantry that was expected, Ser Croy assured. The old knight was dressed in ceremonial armour, complete with two curved wooden frames attached to his armour that were decorated with white feathers, giving him the appearance of an angelic knight. Dame Pauline was also in ceremonial dress, but it was understated compared to Ser Croy. Compared to some of the outrageous ceremonial plumage that could be seen by other knights from other houses, Ser Croy’s outfit was understated as well.
The horses were handed off to a stablehand named François, and he promised to care for them well. Crossbow was insistent on disobedience, and after being told off by Neamhan, who told him that his attitude was why Walor, whom Crossbow resented, was better liked, he reluctantly obeyed.
Inside the mansion the heroes were confronted with endless numbers of servants who were busy like bees. They went upstairs and were brought to Lord Dorian’s chambers. On the way there, they briefly passed an open door to a chamber where Monsieur Beauregard was addressing a group of troubadours, but the Neamhan, who looked inside, was unable to pick up anything useful.
When the heroes were introduced to Lord Dorian in his quarters, they found the handsome man hard at work dealing with the logistics of the delegation, his desk a neat array of official papers and reports. He embraced Quentin warmly, like he had done their previous meeting at the farm, and Quentin was wary that it was performative. He went around greeting all the others, making a point to thank them for coming, even going so far as to thank Neamhan for the advice she had given him to help speed up the recovery of the burn wounds he had suffered in the attack on the delegation on the way to Kingsport. Food and drinks were made available as Lord Dorian spoke with the heroes.
Lord Dorian asked his son to explain the situation with Epidemius in more detail to him. He said that he would like to understand how things could escalate and further impact his house, citing the death of two of the Morvrayne riders, and the impact the diminished number of Morvrayne forces had on his standing in the delegation. Quentin proceeded to explain in more detail what kind of opposition Epidemius was providing, and what kind of effect his siege had on Kingsport. When Lord Dorian learned about the diminished capacity for people to heal from wounds and injuries, he probed deeper. It became clear that the condition of Highlord Gauthier, who had been injured in an attack on the delegation by the Cult of the Dark Queen, had worsened; he was unable to walk, his burn wounds were not healing, were infected, and that the infection had spread from his torso, to his neck and face, and had caused blinding rot.
This left House Morvrayne in a precarious position of providing leadership to the delegation, and that finalising the betrothal would go a long way to position House Lys behind House Morvrayne. When Lord Dorian noticed Quentin tense up at the suggestion that the betrothal would be finalised, he asked whether Quentin had a change of heart, to which Quentin said; “I will do what I must.”