Fanaxia: Gathering Allies and Defending Lydell

 We’ve split the party again, this time sending everybody with Charisma and a sense of perspective down to recruit possible allies. Leira, Alexej, Ruin, and Azrael will be defending the northern village of Lydel. We’ve asked Lady Merrowin to go support the Queen and defend the capital of Vrist.

Martini has come to Styre to entreat them to join the struggle against Vecna and by extension Wallington. Of the four merchant lords in Styre, Green has allied with Vecna and Merrowin is with us; Bulbek has the largest force and is neutral; and Crowe is neutral, and the Duke of Styre is the one she needs to convince to send out the army. 

Tavros will be visiting West Styre in an attempt to recruit their champions; he’ll be talking to the High Magistrate. Marshall will be consulting with Lord Crowe, who should have fond memories of Heroes’ Feast being served on his ship. Geddy will try to recruit Bulbek, who’s a firm royalist and likely to be the most difficult to recruit. 

Martini introduces herself to the guard at the door, and he goes off to pass word up the chain of command. They take Martini to the Steward, and she introduces herself as a dragonslayer and announces her desire to see the king on an urgent matter regarding the war that’s about to start. She shows him the dragon’s head to add verisimilitude to her account.

 

According to the Steward, the King has received other offers of alliance; Martini points out that she can’t make any counter-offers if she doesn’t see the king. The Steward offers to take her offer to the king. She offers to return the sun. The Steward suggests that land, alliances, and suchlike are less impressive but more suitable. She proposes an arranged marriage between the queen of Vrist and a combined kingdom which would unite the northern half of the island under his rule, with the queen by his side. 

That’s enough to get his attention. Martini is announced and taken to an audience chamber and greeted by the king. Martini explains that the offer is genuine and she is absolutely empowered to negotiate on the queen’s behalf. The king is interested, but he needs assurances and he’s concerned that he might be joining the weaker side. On the other hand, the other side’s offer leaves him as a duke, and he definitely prefers king. 

The standing army would answer to either the king or the merchant lords; but fortunately the merchant lords are divided so they army will absolutely follow his lead. However, she’s going to have acquire official documents from Queen Durane. 

Hadrian Wickham is the Minister, and is married to the King of Styre’s eldest daughter; he’s in charge of West Styre. However, the High Magistrate Brom Crewe is the one directly in charge of the Archons (their near-Solari champions). He gets directed to the Palace of Archons. As he approaches the building, a guy in a black robe emerges, talking to a fairly slick-looking fellow. “I hope we can come to an arrangement,” he says, and then departs. 

Tavros introduces himself as one of the dragon-slayers and asks to speak with the high magistrate. After a little bit, the magistrate invites him in and it is indeed the slick bald guy from earlier. He’s very likeable; he also seems very well-read. The guy’s an operator, and he’s probably the real power player in West Styre. Very smooth, very polished, very political. Tavros puts his guard up and begins negotiations. 

The high magistrate is very proud of his elite force, and would like a free hand in developing it further. He wants Tavros to provide three candidates to be trained as new Archons. He will become minister of defense under Queen Durane, and he would get his three recruits and a possible Count of Vrist inheriting Fenrir’s land, with a suitable wife with a large dowry. He worries that the lands might be damaged and the sum of 100,000 gold might be appropriate for a dowry.

Tavros should probably never again be left to negotiate on his own, but High Magistrate Crewe is in. 

Marshall’s return to Crowe’s ship and is immediately greeted by his two recruits. He explains about the war and the werewolves and Wallington’s plot. Lord Crowe has apparently been met by a priest of Vecna… and had him thrown overboard. Lord Crowe is pretty nervous these days, and Marshall agrees that it’s pretty dangerous out there. Also they’re extremely taken with Leira. 

Lord Crowe is pretty nervous, though his men still seem confident in his leadership. He’s happy see Marshall, though. The representative from Cardinal Richlieu wanted them to pledge to Urgroth, and Crowe had him thrown off the boat. 

Marshall takes a soft sell with him, since Crowe says upfront that he isn’t sure what sort of answer he can give us. “We are trying to rally a cause, and we want to prevent Urgroth from taking over.”

Crowe is worried about getting his fleet crushed; he’s also worried that his father might join Urgroth and be displeased with him. And he’s lord of Kuldas Keep, the most important city in Fanaxia after Fanax itself. Marshall switches tacks, and asks about what would help Lord Crowe to feel more secure and better able to protect his people. Crowe is considering leaving the field entirely, move all his men and ship to North Island. He’d need gold and supplies to do that. Alternatively, he could stay here but try to remain neutral. Or, he could join our rebellion with the understanding that we would come to his defense if he were attacked. He agrees with our cause. 

Marshall pledges that we would absolutely help him. (Tavros would approve of this; he likes Lord Crowe.) If we can give him a way to contact us alongside that pledge, he’s in. Marshall considers the logistics of that. Marshall promises to provide such a thing. They pour some brandy and clink glasses. 

Geddy arrives on Bulbek’s large, impressive capital ship. There’s another priest of Urgroth with a small entourage just… hanging out by the railings. A couple of guards come over: “You the emissary? We were told to look for a small person.”

Geddy: “I am truly offended.” 

Guard, holding rope: “I gotta tie your instrument.” 

Geddy: “Let me sing you a song about rope.” 

Behind this guy is a group of four dudes holding crossbows under their cloaks. They’ve probably been given specific instructions not to let him sing. Also… they have wax stuffed in their ears. 

Geddy hands over his lute, and basically peace-bonds the lute to his back. They take him into Bulbeck’s cabin. He’s got a table at one end, and another table at the far end; they set Geddy on the far side of the room, with guards in front of him. “No tricks, bard. No magic, no singing. I’ve dealt with your sort before. The priests of Urgroth have offered me full control of the Northern Seas.” To side with us instead, he wants a barony and the entire northern island with a commitment of 200 settlers from whoever becomes king.

He intends to settle Dente island, start mining and farming operations and eventually hand over command of his fleet to a protege and retire. 

Geddy: “Okay, but why that island?” 

“It’s unsettled land, and I suspect the mountain holds very valuable minerals.  And I would have control of all trade.” So Lord Crowe would need be… removed. 

Geddy: “I like to understand things; I’m a simple man. Obviously you want supremacy of the seas and trade around there. Does that mean that you and your fleet run all the trade?” 

“Yes, and I answer only to the king. No duke of Styre, only king Baldrick.”

Geddy: “Well, you’ve come up with your demands; obviously, I’ll need to negotiate back with the others. And I’m not sure the priests of Urgroth will give you what you want.” 

Bulbeck: “They’ll give me control of the northern seas and the destruction of Crowe, but not the Northern island.” 

Geddy: “I think they don’t want you to have it, and won’t give it to you.” 

Bulbeck: “That would be disappointing. If you can commit to both, then I will commit to you.” 

Geddy: “If you’re already committed to them, that’s kind of a problem.” 

Bulbeck: “If you can give me what I want, then I will throw them off my boat and sign whatever you want me to sign.” 

Geddy: “So you want Crowe dead.” 

Bulbeck: “Or removed; I could let him live if he were powerless.” 

He’s not too concerned about the Lord Crowe in Kuldas Keep; he can destroy trader Crowe’s fleet and send him back to his father to be properly trained as he should have.

Geddy: “I think we understand each other. We will be in touch. If you haven’t heard from me in two days, then I did not manage the arrangement.” 

Bulbeck: “I can’t control the sands of time; advocate quickly.”

They put him on a little boat and take him back to Styre. 

Meanwhile, in Lydel in the north, Alexej, Azrael, Ruin, and Leira all show up. We head for city hall, and it’s… chaotic. Arguing and screaming and hubbub, yelling. 

Alexej throws the door open. “We have come to help!”

There’s a momentary silence. Then one of the ones in charge says, “Um… who are you?” 

Leira, posing: “Dragonslayers.”

Someone in the crowd calls out, “Take it off, beautiful!” 

Leira turns him into a kitten. 

Townsfolk: “She’s a witch!”

Leira: “He catcalled me! If you’re going to catcall me, you’re going to turn into…?” 

Everybody: “A kitten.” 

The speaker introduces himself as Hugo d’Foeur, and introduces the rest of the council: the hunter, the constable, the local heroes who are actually well-armored. Elderman Garris is not back yet, and there are huge beasts with three arms and the Shadow Dragons thieves’ guild. 

Leira: “Don’t worry. We’re here!”

Hugo: “We don’t want any trouble.” 

Leira: “Look, anybody who wants to help can help, and anybody who wants to be a little bitch can run away like this guy.” 

Hugo: “Well, we were having a vigorous debate before you came in. You seem like powerful heroes, why are you helping us?” 

Ruin: “We don’t like these people.” 

Azrael: “I just wanted to test out my area spells.” 

Hugo: And where did you come from?” 

Us: “Vrist.” 

Hugo: “The queen sent help! When do the others arrive?” 

Leira; “You have us. You don’t need anybody else. So now we just have to decide who wants to fight, and who wants to be turned into a kitten.” 

Farmer: “Is everyone who isn’t fightin’ gonna turn into a kitten?” 

Leira: “Yes.”

Farmer: “No more questions.” It’s enough to sway them into staying and defending the town. Hugo is Lady Jeanine’s husband, the leader of the farmers. They have some basic soldiers (ten squads, each with one lieutenant) and two captains, and their five heroes. They start describing the Sons of Athose, huge and strong with three arms; there was a whole clan of them. Maybe 30-50 of the giants, and about five leaders; then Lady Green and her thieves’ guild with 4-5 dozen accomplished rogues. 

It sounds to Alexej like a formidable force, one capable of ripping apart the human soldiers. The lieutenants could be assembled into squads and be at least borderline effective -- especially as archers. Hugo’s prepared to shelter the women and children on his lands. 

So it’s basically us, the five local heroes, a squad of lieutenants, and the two captains. And we need to kill thirty to fifty giants, plus the thieves guild. 

So Ruin is standing out in the village when a couple of rogues sneak up to one of the house. Ruin gestures to them, and they immediately retreat to the forest. Unsurprisingly, they decide not to attack just yet. 

So, just after midnight, Leira and Azrael go to drop a full Dresden-style firebombing on their camp. Azrael, of course, is flying; Azrael’s always flying, and this time Leira is too. Ruin and Alexej come strolling up the path together underneath them, pretending to not see the rogues waiting for us. And our flyers are invisible. 

The rogues hear the flyers overhead, but they’re distracted by the approaching footsteps and in any case Azrael and Leira are using Greater Invisibility. Azrael drops Horrid Wilting on a batch of giants, and we’re off. (Horrid Wilting is a wide-area damage spell, so a bunch of giants have just taken a big hit.) They start scrambling, trying to get out of being bunched up and also because they’re in a bit of disarray.

Ruin and Alexej stroll up one path and plant themselves back to back. Leira drops Sunburst on the giants, damaging them and blinding them. Rogues attack Ruin and Alexej; Ruin takes two points of damage. Alexej does his whirlwind attack with a bit of power attack thrown in, killing three of them. 

The battle will continue next week.