Lets Start A Riot!
While still slightly dubious on how a vision could lead Fia to this exact spot and unsure how an amulet that requires the wielder to have a large amount of arcane power to even wear the party decide to head the few hours back to Kracken’s Fall after camping near the villa for the night. They should still be several days ahead of the governor’s guards from Drakkenhoff Fort.
The city was no longer baring its gates so the trouble between Lady Elenna’s Goblins and the Governors guards seemed to have died down but as they entered they saw over thirty Goblins strung up on gallows for all who enter the city to see. Town Criers were loudly proclaiming that Governor Montoya would be making a public announcement at high noon outside the temple of Grabthar (The largest and oldest temple within the city, upon it’s steps The Duke Blackhand used to announce important events)
The party split up here since they had a few hours till noon;
Amon slipped into the sewers and skilfully avoided the large number of patrolling guards to find Lady Elenna’s hide out already captured.
Sur Albert travelled to Down Bellow and speak to the folks living there to see if anyone knew what happened lately.
Aethylthryth went above ground to Elenna’s hide out but found the bakery burnt out with guards posted, she also spent a few hours gathering information that she could.
Sarin went to see her Father and make sure he was ok, gained some news, he seemed to not quiet believe Sarin when she spoke of her sister Alicin being alive saying that he and her mother spent a long time using every magical and mystical means to search for Alicin’s soul after the fire to be told that she was not among the living. Maybe Sarin is cursed, she should go get a priest to look at her.
Fai and Arux (Still cursed to stay close to each other) went straight to the Temple of Grabthar, partly to get a good spot to watch and partly with the hope of seeing a priest who might be able to help separate them.
Overall they learnt of what transpired in the short time it took them to reach Drakkenhoff Fort and come back; Lady Elenna (or some Goblin Witch using her face as some people believe) attacked the Governor at his keep (her home for most of her life) they failed and were driven off by Royal Knights who came to the city. Most of the Goblin attackers were slain but Lady Elenna and a few others escaped, believed to have fled the city.
During their attack a bunch of Goblins dragged out a tied up halfling (Lady Elenna’s Goblins had captured Corki shortly after he died and summoned abominations in The Abstract Fiddler a week and a bit ago, the party knew this and agreed that he should be kept locked up until they knew how to stop the danger. Though it may occur to some of the wiser members of the party they’ve never actually talked to Corki about this or how when he dies, and he starts opening rifts between worlds he cries out “It is I! Herold of the End Times!”) well the goblins dragged him outside the Broken Tooth Bastille (Smaller fort built into the inner walls of the city, home of the City Guard) and as they killed him these same rifts opened, and the abominations came poring out. Several hundred people were slaughtered before these rifts were closed. It is likely Lady Elenna used Corki as a distraction to draw away Governor Montoya’s more powerful spell casters, whether or not she knew or cared about the civilian casualties is unknown.
Before the attack several hundred soldiers from the King’s Personal guard had shown up at Kracken’s Fall (The party saw them traveling south when they were racing north) Aethylthryth believed them to be almost all of the Kings Men, or at least 75% of what he traditionally had. With their arrival a new city militia had been authorised by the Governor. The Citizens Defence Force these people had no real uniform or unified equipment other than a red and black sash worn around the waist.
Back outside the Temple of Grabthar the square was filling up with a few thousand citizens, not as much as Sarin had seen in the past for such events but that might have something to do with all the Abominations slaughtering people this week. The square was emptied of stalls apart from a few food vendors as the place was cleared with city guard and royal guards lining the rooftops and in front of the temple. There was an air of unease but not unexpected in these troubled times for the city though Sarin did notice that there were very few Non-Humans around in attendance and quiet a lot of these new Citizen Defence Force folk.
The announcement didn’t take too long, the nobility, rich and/or important people finally arrived coming out of the Temple and Governor Montoya gave a very brief statement. Which basically said; The King has abolished the position of Duke within Drazi, they are now replaced by Governors (Loyal Dukes will become Governors), a number of new ministries have been formed by King Sheridan and he introduced the new Minister of Magic, Strax a gaunt pale human in his late 30s that the keen eyed among the party noticed had an ornate Obsidian Dagger in his belt… the same one they searched for in Drakkenhoff Fort. As well as introducing Oswald the Minister of Defence, a stern woman who interrupted the Governor to give her own speech.
Her speech threw a lot of shade at the Dukes and listed both Elenna and her fathers crimes against the city, such as having a “Bunch of Half-Breed murderers burn alive over 100 citizens in secret during the plague” and how a Half-Breed named Carstine was directly responsible for this plague and was a sworn supported of Lady Elenna Blackhand. She then had a scribe read out a proclamation of new laws to come into effect immediately. Most notably among these new laws “To Protect Drazi Blood and Honour”;
Now while there was some cheering among the gathered citizens most of it came from groups of Sash wearing folk, a large amount of people just looked confused and a little worried by all this.
Minister Oswald then had guards usher out 20 non-human “Criminals” among their number was Trent the Half-Orc information broker, Two High Elves (One of which Aethylthryth had impersonated at Drakkenhoff keep and who were among the Governors chief advisers, or at least were) and two Tieflings named Vilil and Lelia who were unknown to everyone apart from Arux. Within moments of them being brought out Minister Oswald ordered their deaths and then all hell broke lose.
The high priest of Grabthar loudly protested, the hallowed steps of this temple were not for executions! Fights broke out among the crowd as non-humans shouted protests and were attacked by sash wearing humans. There was an explosion on one of the rooftops as someone started shooting lighting bolts at the Ministers and Governor but these bolts hit the magical barrier around the Temple.
Amon who had been working his way towards another Drow he saw, told them to flee and meet up out of the city in a small villa along the east road.
Sur Albert lifted / tossed Sarin into the air where she used her psychic powers to teleport herself and 4 of the dying prisoners to the edge of the square (her newfound powers more than a match for the magical barrier protecting the temple steps where the dying lay. She then went about healing them before they bled to death.
Aethylthryth started pushing her way south through the crowd to aid Sarin as quickly as she could they she was stopped by two CDF Thugs who she just misty stepped past and kept going.
Fia called upon her magic to send forth a Terrifying Aspect of her Tiefling self, causing the city guard at the barrier to flee as well as hundreds of nearby citizens. Pushing through she ran past the fleeing city guard forcing her way past the Royal Guard upon the steps to reach the dying at the top and making a way for the others to follow. Battling now Royal Guard and a few Priests and Warriors of Grabthar Fia dispelled the Hallowed ground around the Temple and summoned in four foul demons while saying to the priests “Sorry, it’s just a distraction, I’m sure you’ll deal with easy” (Or something to that effect)
Sur Albert rushed past the barrier then misty stepped up to the dying and calling upon his divine light healed a young halfling, then chucked the near dead halfling down the steps telling him to run for his life. But people were starting to react now, and a magical paralysis struck Sur Albert, he barely managed to shake it off before a load of Royal Guard started attacking him.
Amon had stepped past the barrier and fired off a quartet of flaming bolts at the Royal Guards and summoned magical Darkness around himself as the Minister of the Interior came charging down the steps, this same man whose house the group had broken into a few weeks before at the request of Fia who claimed to know the previous owner of his house. Amon had charmed this minister and almost managed to steal his magical axe, the same axe that came swinging towards his head.
Arux in grief at his friends being murdered ran with the group as they attacked over 40 heavily armed Royal Guard, as well as all the nobles, clergy, bodyguards and everyone else. Without even knowing how Arux raised his arms and the discarded weapons of the fleeing City Guard game to life at his command and attacked the Royal Guards (causing little damage but a huge amount of chaos) reaching the top of the steps he now sees that Vilil and Lelia are dead. Before he could act Fia grabbed the back of his collar causing both of them to fly up into the sky, screaming in rage Arux caused a slash in the fabric of reality and a hole to the elemental plane of water caused a tidal wave to blast everyone around the temple knocking over many.
Saving those they could the party then ran, all the while being attacked and shot at by archers. Amon and Sur Albert forced their way through the crowd and hid within the sewers, as arrows threatened to shoot Fia and Arux out of the sky Arux some how in desperation clawed another hole in reality dragging Fia through and teleporting them a few hundred feet and crashing into the ground near Aethylthryth and Sarin who were healing the last of the survivors “Come with me if you want to live!” shouted Sarin as she led them all to the closet safe place she knew. “Memento” run by friend Lucien Corvus an old friend and fellow member of the Hidden Heart.
After a short rest at Memento the group (baring Sur Albert and Amon) took a hidden smuggler tunnel out of the city, curiosity of Trent’s extensive knowledge of criminal secrets. Heading for the Villa where Fia dug up the Arch Mage Amulet the day before.
Sur Albert and Amon, after a failed attempted to speak to some rats and summon a rat capture ally. Made their way through the sewers and then up through the inner gate into the Lower Docks. It took 150 gold coins and the lose of one of Sur Alberts magical weapons to bribe the guards at the checkpoint to let them enter the docks.
While Sur Albert lay low, Amon used his magical sorcerous heritage to slip under the waves and escape the city, meeting up with the others at the Villa.
And that is where we left things! As always, I’m sure I forgot something but I do try to be as detailed as I can without taking TOO long about it.
The city was no longer baring its gates so the trouble between Lady Elenna’s Goblins and the Governors guards seemed to have died down but as they entered they saw over thirty Goblins strung up on gallows for all who enter the city to see. Town Criers were loudly proclaiming that Governor Montoya would be making a public announcement at high noon outside the temple of Grabthar (The largest and oldest temple within the city, upon it’s steps The Duke Blackhand used to announce important events)
The party split up here since they had a few hours till noon;
Amon slipped into the sewers and skilfully avoided the large number of patrolling guards to find Lady Elenna’s hide out already captured.
Sur Albert travelled to Down Bellow and speak to the folks living there to see if anyone knew what happened lately.
Aethylthryth went above ground to Elenna’s hide out but found the bakery burnt out with guards posted, she also spent a few hours gathering information that she could.
Sarin went to see her Father and make sure he was ok, gained some news, he seemed to not quiet believe Sarin when she spoke of her sister Alicin being alive saying that he and her mother spent a long time using every magical and mystical means to search for Alicin’s soul after the fire to be told that she was not among the living. Maybe Sarin is cursed, she should go get a priest to look at her.
Fai and Arux (Still cursed to stay close to each other) went straight to the Temple of Grabthar, partly to get a good spot to watch and partly with the hope of seeing a priest who might be able to help separate them.
Overall they learnt of what transpired in the short time it took them to reach Drakkenhoff Fort and come back; Lady Elenna (or some Goblin Witch using her face as some people believe) attacked the Governor at his keep (her home for most of her life) they failed and were driven off by Royal Knights who came to the city. Most of the Goblin attackers were slain but Lady Elenna and a few others escaped, believed to have fled the city.
During their attack a bunch of Goblins dragged out a tied up halfling (Lady Elenna’s Goblins had captured Corki shortly after he died and summoned abominations in The Abstract Fiddler a week and a bit ago, the party knew this and agreed that he should be kept locked up until they knew how to stop the danger. Though it may occur to some of the wiser members of the party they’ve never actually talked to Corki about this or how when he dies, and he starts opening rifts between worlds he cries out “It is I! Herold of the End Times!”) well the goblins dragged him outside the Broken Tooth Bastille (Smaller fort built into the inner walls of the city, home of the City Guard) and as they killed him these same rifts opened, and the abominations came poring out. Several hundred people were slaughtered before these rifts were closed. It is likely Lady Elenna used Corki as a distraction to draw away Governor Montoya’s more powerful spell casters, whether or not she knew or cared about the civilian casualties is unknown.
Before the attack several hundred soldiers from the King’s Personal guard had shown up at Kracken’s Fall (The party saw them traveling south when they were racing north) Aethylthryth believed them to be almost all of the Kings Men, or at least 75% of what he traditionally had. With their arrival a new city militia had been authorised by the Governor. The Citizens Defence Force these people had no real uniform or unified equipment other than a red and black sash worn around the waist.
Back outside the Temple of Grabthar the square was filling up with a few thousand citizens, not as much as Sarin had seen in the past for such events but that might have something to do with all the Abominations slaughtering people this week. The square was emptied of stalls apart from a few food vendors as the place was cleared with city guard and royal guards lining the rooftops and in front of the temple. There was an air of unease but not unexpected in these troubled times for the city though Sarin did notice that there were very few Non-Humans around in attendance and quiet a lot of these new Citizen Defence Force folk.
The announcement didn’t take too long, the nobility, rich and/or important people finally arrived coming out of the Temple and Governor Montoya gave a very brief statement. Which basically said; The King has abolished the position of Duke within Drazi, they are now replaced by Governors (Loyal Dukes will become Governors), a number of new ministries have been formed by King Sheridan and he introduced the new Minister of Magic, Strax a gaunt pale human in his late 30s that the keen eyed among the party noticed had an ornate Obsidian Dagger in his belt… the same one they searched for in Drakkenhoff Fort. As well as introducing Oswald the Minister of Defence, a stern woman who interrupted the Governor to give her own speech.
Her speech threw a lot of shade at the Dukes and listed both Elenna and her fathers crimes against the city, such as having a “Bunch of Half-Breed murderers burn alive over 100 citizens in secret during the plague” and how a Half-Breed named Carstine was directly responsible for this plague and was a sworn supported of Lady Elenna Blackhand. She then had a scribe read out a proclamation of new laws to come into effect immediately. Most notably among these new laws “To Protect Drazi Blood and Honour”;
- Non-Humans may not display the Drazi colours, they are on the other hand allowed to display their heritage colours as these rights are protected by the state.
- Non-Humans may not carry weapons within 2 miles of a Human settlement without a permit.
- Non-Humans who have access to Arcane Magic must report to the Ministry of Magic for evaluation, those who are worthy will attain a licence to practices magic.
- Non-Humans may not teach children or be entrusted with a position of care of children.
- Unions between Non-Humans and Humans are forbidden.
- Non-Humans require a permit before undertaking any paid work
- Non-Human businesses will be audited to determine any fraud has been committed.
- A full list of all new laws and regulations will be posted throughout the city.
Now while there was some cheering among the gathered citizens most of it came from groups of Sash wearing folk, a large amount of people just looked confused and a little worried by all this.
Minister Oswald then had guards usher out 20 non-human “Criminals” among their number was Trent the Half-Orc information broker, Two High Elves (One of which Aethylthryth had impersonated at Drakkenhoff keep and who were among the Governors chief advisers, or at least were) and two Tieflings named Vilil and Lelia who were unknown to everyone apart from Arux. Within moments of them being brought out Minister Oswald ordered their deaths and then all hell broke lose.
The high priest of Grabthar loudly protested, the hallowed steps of this temple were not for executions! Fights broke out among the crowd as non-humans shouted protests and were attacked by sash wearing humans. There was an explosion on one of the rooftops as someone started shooting lighting bolts at the Ministers and Governor but these bolts hit the magical barrier around the Temple.
Amon who had been working his way towards another Drow he saw, told them to flee and meet up out of the city in a small villa along the east road.
Sur Albert lifted / tossed Sarin into the air where she used her psychic powers to teleport herself and 4 of the dying prisoners to the edge of the square (her newfound powers more than a match for the magical barrier protecting the temple steps where the dying lay. She then went about healing them before they bled to death.
Aethylthryth started pushing her way south through the crowd to aid Sarin as quickly as she could they she was stopped by two CDF Thugs who she just misty stepped past and kept going.
Fia called upon her magic to send forth a Terrifying Aspect of her Tiefling self, causing the city guard at the barrier to flee as well as hundreds of nearby citizens. Pushing through she ran past the fleeing city guard forcing her way past the Royal Guard upon the steps to reach the dying at the top and making a way for the others to follow. Battling now Royal Guard and a few Priests and Warriors of Grabthar Fia dispelled the Hallowed ground around the Temple and summoned in four foul demons while saying to the priests “Sorry, it’s just a distraction, I’m sure you’ll deal with easy” (Or something to that effect)
Sur Albert rushed past the barrier then misty stepped up to the dying and calling upon his divine light healed a young halfling, then chucked the near dead halfling down the steps telling him to run for his life. But people were starting to react now, and a magical paralysis struck Sur Albert, he barely managed to shake it off before a load of Royal Guard started attacking him.
Amon had stepped past the barrier and fired off a quartet of flaming bolts at the Royal Guards and summoned magical Darkness around himself as the Minister of the Interior came charging down the steps, this same man whose house the group had broken into a few weeks before at the request of Fia who claimed to know the previous owner of his house. Amon had charmed this minister and almost managed to steal his magical axe, the same axe that came swinging towards his head.
Arux in grief at his friends being murdered ran with the group as they attacked over 40 heavily armed Royal Guard, as well as all the nobles, clergy, bodyguards and everyone else. Without even knowing how Arux raised his arms and the discarded weapons of the fleeing City Guard game to life at his command and attacked the Royal Guards (causing little damage but a huge amount of chaos) reaching the top of the steps he now sees that Vilil and Lelia are dead. Before he could act Fia grabbed the back of his collar causing both of them to fly up into the sky, screaming in rage Arux caused a slash in the fabric of reality and a hole to the elemental plane of water caused a tidal wave to blast everyone around the temple knocking over many.
Saving those they could the party then ran, all the while being attacked and shot at by archers. Amon and Sur Albert forced their way through the crowd and hid within the sewers, as arrows threatened to shoot Fia and Arux out of the sky Arux some how in desperation clawed another hole in reality dragging Fia through and teleporting them a few hundred feet and crashing into the ground near Aethylthryth and Sarin who were healing the last of the survivors “Come with me if you want to live!” shouted Sarin as she led them all to the closet safe place she knew. “Memento” run by friend Lucien Corvus an old friend and fellow member of the Hidden Heart.
After a short rest at Memento the group (baring Sur Albert and Amon) took a hidden smuggler tunnel out of the city, curiosity of Trent’s extensive knowledge of criminal secrets. Heading for the Villa where Fia dug up the Arch Mage Amulet the day before.
Sur Albert and Amon, after a failed attempted to speak to some rats and summon a rat capture ally. Made their way through the sewers and then up through the inner gate into the Lower Docks. It took 150 gold coins and the lose of one of Sur Alberts magical weapons to bribe the guards at the checkpoint to let them enter the docks.
While Sur Albert lay low, Amon used his magical sorcerous heritage to slip under the waves and escape the city, meeting up with the others at the Villa.
And that is where we left things! As always, I’m sure I forgot something but I do try to be as detailed as I can without taking TOO long about it.