Tag: A Beauclair Delegation

The Demon in the Wine Cellar

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Previously, the heroes spent an evening at the Careless Wanderer together with Lord Andrew, trading rumours, playing songs, and enjoying each other’s company. Chakuq went on an excursion to validate the presence of the restless dead in the city, and Quentin sent a discrete invitation to Ser Croy, his father’s master-at-arms, to join him for a conversation the following day.

Sixth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262

(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is in low sanction, Darkmoon is waxing)

The first of the heroes to wake up on a calm but bitter-cold morning is Neamhan, who shapes into a cat to take a stroll around a dark Kingsport. She followed the smell of rats to a sewer drain. As the rest of the heroes slowly wake, Ramsey is experimenting in the kitchen with a new cream filling for his sugar wheels.

Quentin, still shaken from a stressful dream, cut himself while shaving and was reminded of the maiden, the mother, and the crone chanting “sangreal” and was left wondering how it related to the Blood of Alban. In the taproom he met Dame Pauline who was getting ready to depart for the Black Alder Farm. Quentin sensed a tension in the bannerette, but could not discover the reason for it.

Luca was roused from a bad night of sleep by a presence in his room. He reached out for Blackstar, for without the staff in hand he was not gifted with dark sight, and heard the voice of Aurion; “The staff has become a crutch for you, Luca.” Once Luca realised his patron has graced him with a visit, relief and trepidation filled him in equal measure. Aurion was keen to understand what the status was of the tablets the heroes had recovered, as well as where Luca stood on subjugating Blackstar. Luca’s patron suggested that Quentin and his devotion to the Raven Queen would align with his own goals in the near future, which the celestial suggested lay somewhere in the east.

Chakuq decided to sleep in and woke up well past eight bell. After a modest breakfast he spoke to Wojciech about finding a jeweller or gem cutter to carve the teeth he had harvested from Epidemius’ mount into talismans. He was given a name, Eustace, who operated from a small workshop in Southside, just off the Street of Spices.

Lord Andrew also spent the night at the Wanderer and has a vicious hangover. Neamhan, still in her cat form, comforted him by sitting in his lap. His face brightened up briefly as he said that it didn’t happen often that a beautiful woman wanted to sit in his lap, but when the flirtation passed the misery of his hangover returned on his face as he continued to pick at his breakfast.

Emrys came down after spending some time in the peace and comfort of his luxurious room. He made sure to freshen up, and take a deep breath of fresh air from his balcony before coming down, and was delighted to see that he was doing significantly better than his dilettante friend, Andrew.

Astrid was last to come down and was carrying some of her travelling gear. She grabbed a quick bite off the table and announced that she’d be spending a few days on a barge, travelling up and down the river Lyn with Aram the boatsman. Before she hurried out she gave Neamhan a couple of scratches behind the ear and spoke to her in a way that gave Neamhan the impression that they were able to communicate, despite Neamhan having adopted her cat form. Astrid was out the door before Neamhan was able to discover the truth of it.

After the heroes broke their fast, the conversation turned to next steps, and the heroes decided to refocus themselves on the Liber Bubonicus, which they believed might reside in the Upright Man’s library in the Newport vault. Chakuq had a lot of questions about the vault, and Emrys explained some of the basics, including vault guardians.

When Céleste once again came into the taproom, Quentin decided to have a word with her. She shared more of the details of the attack on her shop and how Pip got so badly wounded. She believed there was a connection to the Steady Hand, since she had recognised Jeroen the Daerlanian as one of the people vandalising her shop. The group that was responsible had also left something demonic behind in her basement.

The heroes retreated to Emrys’ room to talk in private about the problem with the wine shop. Neamhan pleaded that, after days of inaction and indecision, finally a problem presented itself that the heroes could quite easily solve; exorcise the demon from the cellar of the wine shop.

Before departure, the heroes did continue to discuss the attack on the wine shop. Oddly, not all wine had been destroyed, but about eight in ten bottles and barrels were destroyed, and of the remaining wine, samples had been stolen. Neamhan recalled that there was an odd incident at the diplomatic delegation from Beauclair, where a quartermaster has lost his thumbs because he disobeyed the strict orders not to part with any of the delegation’s wine. That, coupled with the wine shipments from Carceres lost to pirates, and from Beauclair and Daerlan lost to brigands, there was an uncommon level of scarcity of wine. It felt as if someone was out to manipulate the market.

The heroes were determined to do something good for Céleste and hopefully discover more that would unravel the mystery of the wine shortage. They prepared their gear and took the keys they were given by Céleste and headed over to the shop.

Once at the shop they gained entrance to the shop and found it in disarray. There were two trapdoors which lead into the cellar, but neither could be opened with the keys they were given. In the courtyard behind the shop they found an ox-drawn dumbwaiter that lead down into the wine cellar.

Neamhan had a chat with the ox, whose name was Rudolph, who could explain that there was an angry creature in the cellar who was getting steadily drunk on the spilled wine. Rudolph also explained that not all of the intruders went into the shop or the cellar, but that one of them, an elf, stayed outside.

When the heroes used the dumbwaiter to decend into the cellar, they found that there were faded wards carved into the walls of the elevator shaft. It was clear from the type of stone that the walls were made of that the cellar was once part of the halls which lead to the vault. This was supported by the old statues of winged warriors that could be seen when the cellar, which was in as much disarray as the shop, came into view.

After careful inspection a booming voice could be heard, demanding that the heroes identify themselves. The voice came from behind a large cabinet, and a large shadow of a winged creature with wicked horns could be seen on the wall behind it.

Songs of Lineage

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Previously, after returning from the diplomatic delegation at Black Alder farm, the heroes spent the evening talking in the Careless Wanderer. Neamhan got better acquainted with Toruviel, who appeared to have been of the aen gwynt, in its mortal years.

Fifth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262

(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is in low sanction, Darkmoon is waxing)

Dinner was served while Lord Andrew entertained the guests at the Careless Wanderer with a melancholic tune. Céleste, who was sitting by herself, had tears rolling down her face, disturbing her mascara. She had been emotional and deep in her cups, and the music made the tears flow. Dame Pauline, who was also seated by herself, sat in quiet enjoyment of the song, while Falka, who had been seated at the hearth, was oblivious to the music as she was lost in one of the books she had retrieved from the Newport Vault.

Durham was able to share that Céleste was not doing well. She had lost almost all of the supply in her store and she was frantically buying up all the surplus wines in the city with the gold she had available. Pip, her partner, was in the clinic of Pholtus and was still in critical condition. The curse of Epidemius was complicating recovery, and there were rumours spreading that the followers of Pholtus were now charging people heavy coin for their care. Upon hearing that, Quentin decided he wanted to visit Pip when he had a moment.

Quentin asked Durham for a spare copy of the key to his room and asked Dame Pauline the favour of bringing Ser Croy to the Careless Wanderer at seventh bell the next morning without being seen or heard. Chakuq asked Quentin why he would not rather have Ser Croy sent for, turning it into a show of power for all to witness, but Quentin wanted to see his old friend for the sake of it rather than the political theatre of it.

Chakuq excused himself and left the Careless Wanderer on a little excursion. It was already past curfew, so he relied on his natural wiles to avoid the patrols of crownsguard and custodians. He neared the edge of the Grimsdown ward and found a small yard close to the Circle of Magi. He dug into the frozen earth with his dagger and loosened the soil. He stuck his hand into the cold soil, closed his eyes, and extended his awareness. In the past this intuition had revealed the presence of potent entities in the vicinity, presenting itself as beacons of energy. On the edge of Grimsdown he sensed the absence of energy; a void of life, which reminded him of the feeling he got around necrophages. He concluded that these must be the plaguemaidens the others mentioned. But somewhere within range of his intuition, he also sensed a powerful source of life; not a life, but something that was only life. Satisfied with what he found, he carefully made his way back to the inn.

Meanwhile, Falka and Andrew were talking about rumours coming out of Dunagore, where Falka grew up, while Neamhan was listening in. Neamhan learned that a perfectly square cut of stone called a “siege stone” which lay at the heart of Dunagore Fortress, had been reawakened, emanating magic after laying dormant for centuries. Supposedly a perfect square of rare metal that Falka called plumbus which could influence the tides around the fortress. Neamhan listened in on the conversation and was reminded of stories of gemstones being able to retain magic, but that this siege stone seemed something wholly different. Others joined in on the conversation, suggesting that the speed with which magic seemed to strengthen and swell was unusual.

After Neamhan requested Lord Andrew to play a song, she made the faux pas to try and give him coin as a thank you. She quickly learned from Emrys that the way to subtly pay the bard back is to offer to buy them a drink. A bard would have made arrangements with the tavern, ask for a pre-agreed drink, get served a significantly cheaper drink, for which the patron would pay, and the barkeep and bard would split and pocket the difference.

While on the topic of bards, Emrys asked Lord Andrew for a favour; he wanted his friend to find out what moved Highlord Gauthier to bring so many troubadours to Lyria. While Lord Andrew was initially delighted to be sent on a mission by the heroes, he was soon slightly deflated as already knew the answer to that question; the highlord was using the bards to spread positive propaganda about House Lys.

Though it was not immediately apparent to the heroes why the highlord would do that, Chakuq immediately sensed the truth in it. He came from a tradition where information was passed down through song, and he saw the benefit of being able to control how House Lys was perceived. Neamhan brought up the possibility that, while influential, perhaps the lineage of House Lys was not as prestigious, and that this might also explain why the highlord was looking to House Morvrayne for an alliance. House Morvrayne was House Lys’ opposite; no great wealth or influence, but a lineage that could be traced back to the very earliest of Celtician establishment. It was supported by the Good Sisters and the interest they seemed to take in Quentin:

Unless they are of lineage pure,
yes, then perhaps they might endure.

And if they’re meant to keep the gate,
protect the threshold t’be their fate,

then their blood best not be banal,
not common stock, but sangreal.

Sangreal! Sangreal! Sangreal!

Sangreal meant “royal blood” in Beauclairois. Neamhan tried to assure Quentin that he should trust the Blood of Alban which coursed through his veins, that it was his strength. Quentin asked Neamhan to be his reminder and she, never missing an opportunity to flog a dead horse, agreed on the condition that he apologise for yelling at her at the Seat of Friendship, which he did.

Lord Andrew continued to entertain; playing a duet with Emrys, inviting Chakuq to the College of Bards to talk about the songs of his people, and playing one last song about a gallant cavalier, which he had played to Quentin several times in the past.

Eventually everyone retired for the night, all of them finding peace. All except Quentin, who dreamt of the witches, the maiden, the mother, and the crone, singing to him at the Seat of Friendship, while one side of the clearing was bathed in sunlight, and the other was covered in snow.

A Child of Whimsy

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Previously, Quentin and the heroes visited the diplomatic delegation from Beauclair at the Black Alder farm north of Kingsport. Lord Dorian’s mood, while initially warm and welcoming, quickly turned hard when it appeared that his goals were not aligned with those of his son.

Fifth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262

(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is in low sanction, Darkmoon is waxing)

The city was cold and empty as night was falling. Crownsguard were hurrying people along, back to their houses, while lamplighters were tending to the lanterns and braziers that kept the main streets lit. The warnings of the crownsguard about the resurgence of plague maidens in Grimsdown was echoing in their minds as the heroes arrived back at the Careless Wanderer. Inside, it was warm and inviting, with several regulars quietly spending time together. Lord Andrew had come by, eager to hear the gossip from the delegation. Dame Pauline was dining by herself. Falka had her feet up at the hearth while reclined in a chair, reading through a stack of books she had brought back from the vault. And Céleste was seated by herself, enjoying a glass of wine while staring out of a window at the darkness beyond.

The heroes spent some time discussing the resurgence of the plague maidens in the city. Chakuq and Neamhan had never heard of them, let alone encountered them, so the rest of the companions were able to share what they knew. Plague maidens, also called pesta by some, were spirits that were drawn to sites of disease and death and carried pestilence in their wake. It was clear to all that in order to get rid of the plague maidens the underlying problem would need to be addressed, which seemed to be the grasp that Epidemius still had on the city.

Emrys had a flashback to the things he saw on the other side of the portal through which Epidemius wanted to make his escape. Feeling unsettled he made his way to the bar where he, together with Durham and Lord Andrew, shared a glass of mediocre wine. It was the best that the tavern could offer because Céleste had bought up all the decent wines, seemingly in the entire city! It was clear to Chakuq, who had gotten the slightest glimpse of what lay beyond the portal, understood what had shaken Emrys to such stillness. The Silesian noticed the slightest tremble in Emrys’ lower lip whenever he spoke.

Once steadied, Emrys returned to the rest of the companions. Quentin had asked Emrys whether the group should retreat to his luxurious room above the stables so that they may avoid prying eyes and piercing ears, and Emrys was once again in control of his faculties and lead the companions up.

Once in the room, Chakuq found a spot in a corner where the wall was warm from the kitchen’s chimney right below, and found that the dragonling that followed Luca around had similar ideas. It eagerly curled up in his lap and promptly closed its eyes and started purring like a cat.

Neamhan, attuned to the sound, heard the softest tingling of windchimes come from the rafters of the room, but could not spot the quickling anywhere.

The companions spoke about Epidemius and when he would return to Kingsport for his book. It would be another seven days before the Darkmoon’s cycle would be complete, giving them some time to deal with the delegation.

Quentin summed up his thoughts on his father, his father’s goals, and the challenge that lay before him; his father, and by extension his house, did not have any power, though his father was fooled into believing he did. His father believed that the key to solidifying the power he believe he had was to relinquish Róisín to House Lys, which was not something that Quentin was willing to do. Chakuq seemed to have picked up on a distinction he wanted clarified; did Quentin not want to give up on Róisín, or was he not able to? To which Quentin admitted he did not want to.

Neamhan, who had stopped paying attention to the conversation the moment it became too political, had started to focus on Toruviel, sitting in its beautiful scabbard. Emrys noticed her focus and offered to tell her more about the sword when there was a moment available.

When Quentin was lamenting about his father’s reluctance to listen, Neamhan mumbled that it reminded her of her own father. Quentin picked up on it and wanted to know more, but Neamhan was unwilling to engage. The conversation continued and this time it became clear that there had been a change in Astrid’s demeanour. Normally dispassionate, her eyes had focused on the middle distance and she was rubbing her wrists, as if dealing with an old injury. Neamhan, snapped Astrid out of her reverie and asked her bluntly whether she had ever been captured, suspecting that her wrists may have been bound in the past. Astrid’s face went dark as she admitted that she had, and that the talk about fathers had forced her to remember some unpleasant memories.

Meanwhile, Quentin entertained the idea of getting a note to Ser Croy without Monsieur Beauregard noticing. Quentin trusted the old knight and thought that it would be good to catch up with him away from the Beauclairois at the Black Alder farm. Neamhan offered to sneak the note to Ser Croy, but Chakuq suggested using Dame Pauline and make a public showing of summoning the knight, allowing Quentin to exercise his power. Quentin was unsure about using Dame Pauline, suggesting that she was his father’s bannerette. Astrid scoffed at the notion;

“If you think that Pauline is your father’s bannerette more than she is yours, you’re even dumber than you look.”

– Astrid, Fifth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262

The conversation returned to Epidemius after Astrid assured Quentin that the heroes were able to deal with both the delegation as well as Epidemius’ return the next ride. Emrys reminded everyone that Epidemius’ goal was not death, but rather to study disease so that it maybe used “to oppose the great desolation.” This resulted in a quick explanation of the differences between demons and devils for the benefit of Chakuq and Neamhan.

Réonan had explained to Emrys that something was wrong; that Epidemius should not have been able to cross the Seal of Divine Animus, and that it must have taken an enormous sacrifice to make it happen. In turn, Luca was reminded that the heroes’ return from Old Llygad took an fey crossing and a large sacrifice as well. He was also reminded of the ghost orchids; flowers that grew in places of blood sacrifice, and he mused that the flower might allow the heroes to do the same; cross the Seal.

When Lord Andrew could be heard singing downstairs the companions decided to go down. Neamhan heard the first peal of thunder coming from the south as a storm rolled in from the gulf. She stayed behind with Emrys and spoke to him about Toruviel. She was keen to learn more about the blade, about its origin, and about the soul inside it. Emrys, initially hesitant, unsheathed the blade and communed with Toruviel and introduced Neamhan. Toruviel seemed more focused than the normally aloof blade. In the past communication with the blade had been slow, vague, and almost dream-like, but it had grown sharper and clearer over the past couple of rides.

When Toruviel was confronted with Neamhan it revealed that it recognised her to be aen gwynt and revealed that it too had been one of the sky elves. It was as surprised to learn about that fact as Emrys was. It explained that it was growing stronger, which it likened to waking up from a deep sleep. It believed that its power was connected to Emrys’ power, and that it would not be long before it would be able to speak and introduce itself to the rest of the heroes.

Toruviel also revealed that this was not just true for itself, but also for Blackstar, Muirgheal, and even Lash and the Twins, referring to the whip that the heroes had taken off of the dreadlord, and the twin swords that Lord Marcus had retrieved from below Lynnecombe. It would be true for all the Arms of the Senhadrim, Toruviel claimed. When asked to make a guess at how many others there were, it said;

“I do not remember enough to make an estimate, but I know enough for an exact number; there are one-hundred-and-forty-four Arms of the Senhadrim.”

– Toruviel, Fifth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262

The blade explained that sometimes memories would come to it in a moment. Toruviel recounted the moment that it realised that it was a person; it was when Emrys had escorted Quentin to the rookery in Quayhill where they had encountered an elf that shared its name. That was also the day that the blade started speaking to Emrys, it claimed.

Lastly, Toruviel shared that it believed that in order to understand on how to deal with Epidemius they would have to find and understand the nature and provenance of the Liber Bubonicus, the Book of Woe.

“I am a child of whimsy. I believe that any innocence which can be saved today is preferable over a theoretical salvation in the future.”

– Toruviel, Fifth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262

For the Good of the House

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Previously, Quentin was summoned to the Black Alder Farm outside of Kingsport, where the newly arrived Beauclair delegation had made camp. The reception was underwhelming, and the heroes spoke with Lord Dorian, who was pleased to be reunited with his son. Despite his father’s warm welcome, Quentin was distrustful of his motives.

Fifth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262

(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is in low sanction, Darkmoon is waxing)

After Lord Dorian and Quentin had a chance to catch up in private, they joined the rest of the heroes and moved to a more private seating room, deeper inside the manor hours of Black Alder farm. Introductions were made, with varying degrees of success.

Chakuq started off, and Lord Dorian accepted his credentials as a mercenary. Luca introduced himself with his recently acquired title as Baronet of Evenshade Hall, but this did not seem to spark the deference from Lord Dorian that he would have expected.

Emrys had rapidly picked up the etiquette of Beauclair and introduced himself with all the fanfare that was expected. Lord Dorian responded very well to it, getting up out of his seat and shaking Emrys’ hand. Lord Dorian had heard stories about his exploits and encouraged him to walk the camp and talk to the troubadours and trobairitz.

Astrid introduced herself without too much fanfare, instead telling Lord Dorian what a great warrior and leader Quentin was. Neamhan managed a proper bow and a hesitant introduction. Lord Dorian smoothed over her lack of grace by taking her hands in his, giving them a gentle squeeze and telling her how happy he was to see her again. Neamhan noticed that the blisters on his hands, wrists and forearms were slowly healing and again offered to provide her aid. Again, he politely declined.

The tension had been rising since the arrival at the farm, but it reached a boiling point when the conversation turned to relinquishing Róisín to House Lys. Quentin dismissed the idea, explaining to his father that the blade was “no longer the Fleur de Lys.” The subtleties of what Quentin was saying were lost on Lord Dorian, and made even harder to detect by Luca’s insistence that Quentin not part with the blade, due to how powerful its magic was.

When Monsieur Beauregard asked how Quentin was proposing to keep the ancestral blade from its rightful owners, Quentin’s temper had already risen past the point where he noticed the calm and open manner in which the question was asked. Instead, Quentin drew attention to the lack banners, colours, or livery and asked to understand what his function was at the meeting. Monsieur Beauregard explained that he was the spymaster to House Lys. Quentin said it was inappropriate for Monsieur Beauregard to be present during the conversations, at which point the polite gentleman requested leave and withdrew once it was granted. Before he departed he offered that he considered himself an ally, and that his question deserved some consideration.

Lord Dorian’s frustration had grown. Father and son continued to argue, and Quentin stood his ground while his father insinuated that the renown of the Heroes of the White Eye was due in some part to his efforts. Communication continue to deteriorate until Lord Dorian reminded Quentin that he had not been part of House Morvrayne since he foolishly accepted Lady Gwenaëlle’s quest and left Beauclair, leaving Lord Dorian to deal with the consequences. The only thing that has saved Quentin, Lord Dorian reasoned, was that against all odds he had been successful. If Quentin now decided not to relinquish the blade, he may as well have died in the attempt to retrieve it for all good it would do.

Softening his tone, Lord Dorian reminded Quentin that he loved him, that he was happy to be reunited with him, and that he could take his time, to walk the camp and get to know the people in the camp. But he urged Quentin to accept that the blade was not, and has never been, the goal of House Morvrayne.

When the heroes departed, Neamhan bumped into a familiar man in the lobby; a portly, moustachioed man whom had been sentenced for insubordination when Neamhan had been in the delegation’s camp several days prior. He had sold wine from the caravan’s provisions, which had been explicitly forbidden. He was punished by having his thumbs removed, and the man had both his hands bandaged. Neamhan made an attempt to aid the man, which he declines. She settled for sharing some goodberries with him instead, but Neamhan feared it would not do him any good while Epidemius continued to lay siege to the city.

When the heroes gathered their mounts and rode out, they laid witness to a group of people surrounded two duellists who were patiently circling one another. One of the spectators was Lady Gwenaëlle, who noticed Quentin and looked his way. Both of them did not spare each other a warm look.

A decision was made to get off the road to talk away from prying eyes. Between the farm and the river crossing the heroes bound their horses up and walked out into the heath. Astrid stayed with the horses, while Luca urged them all to stand in the shallow stream of a tributary, claiming that any magical eavesdropping would be made harder by the flow of the water.

The conversation was mostly about whether Lord Dorian was to be trusted, and could be considered an ally to the heroes. Parting with Róisín was not a consideration, even though it was an option, unlike Emrys’ bond with Toruviel.

The group was disturbed by an eavesdropper in the undergrowth, and between Neamhan shifting into an enormous eagle, Emrys drawing his blade and taking to the sky, and Astrid’s cat-like reflexes, the man was soon caught. The young man’s name was Hubert, looked to be a scout for the delegation, and said he hailed from the Asterac hills, which Quentin knew to be lands belonging to House Lys. He had been instructed by Monsieur Beauregard to keep an eye on the heroes, and to verify that they were staying at the Careless Wanderer.

This is when Quentin introduced a surprising new direction; radical honesty. He instructed the scout to go back to the spymaster and confirm that the heroes were indeed staying in the Careless Wanderer, and to offer him an invitation to come and talk. Any questions could be asked openly, but covert surveillance would not be tolerated.

The heroes returned to the city, and as they approached North Gate, they were cautioned by crownsguard halberdiers who warned them to steer clear of Grimsdown as there was another resurgence of plaguemaidens after Epidemius appeared at Steward’s Square. The heroes hurried down the cobbled streets as darkness was falling. When they reached the Careless Wanderer, and walked into it’s warm embrace, the peal of thunder could be heard as a storm rolled in from the bay.

Understated and Underwhelming

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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.