Birthright: The Worm's Supper, Chapter Four

[ewancummins]

Termelan, more out of habit reads the document before signing it.

(Blank space, underlined), the lawful bearer of this writ, is hereby authorized to question common subjects and foreign travelers in the Duchy of Tuornen, about anything to do with the suspected traitor, the innkeeper Oorna, also called the Crone. As the duke's agent, the aforementioned may search and detain any base and ignoble person with the strength of this writ alone, unless overruled by no less than a provincial count or duke's reeve. This writ grants the bearer power to use any reasonable force to seize the woman, Oorna, and bring her bound to Caer HAES. All loyal Tuors must aid those entrusted with this task.
Given under my hand this day ( blank for date) City of HAES
Devlin Flaertes
Duke of Tuornen
May Haelyn's justice prevail.

[alhoon]

Termelan balks at the document and looks at the old knight for confirmation that he indeed is to be given such temporary powers.

[ewancummins]

Termelan balks at the document and looks at the old knight for confirmation that he indeed is to be given such temporary powers.

"Yes?"
Sir Rory raises his eyebrows.

[alhoon]

"I am honored at his Grace's and Lord Filbert's trust" Termelan said simply and signed.

[ewancummins]

Sir Rory nods to the bard.
"You come with good recommendations."

He looks past Temrlean and the others, to the door. The Castellan stands.
"Your Worship, greetings. "

A woman enters, dressed in wine colored robes with a silver chain of office hanging over her breast. She does not appear to be a priestess, the robes aren't the right sort of red and that chain looks civic and not religious. Gray streaks in her hair and frown lines at the corners of her mouth and her eyes suggest she is more than old enough to have grandchildren, but she carries herself like a young and vigorous woman, alert, erect, projecting energy even when standing still.

A clerk comes in behind her, with a pen and scroll.

The woman with the chain bows to Sir Rory. " Sir Rory, as ever, it's good to see you. And these others, too. I came to see the heroes who have done so much for our city."

Sir Rory motions to an empty seat,
"If the Lord Mayor wishes to join us..."

The woman sits.
"Don't let me slow this down. Just keep on with the meeting. "

[alhoon]

Termelan raises from his seat and gives a court bow to the woman when her title is mentioned, and seats only after she takes her seat. He doesn't seem surprised that high offices are coming in the Duke's court.

[ewancummins]

Termelan raises from his seat and gives a court bow to the woman when her title is mentioned, and seats only after she takes her seat. He doesn't seem surprised that high offices are coming in the Duke's court.

She nods, ever so slightly, to the handsome bard.

[VAN]

Filbert and Termelan before the meeting

Filbert smiles at the bard:

"I will talk with Lady Safana, but I think she shouldn't have gotten any offense by your behavior, maybe at your land the rules are more strict but here we just do respect true mages as you call them and fear them of course but I don't think your behavior was inappropriate. You said you just had few drinks and did a trip together, I call that just have good time as companions. But still I would talk to Lady Safana myself if I were you. She is foreigner as well and I don't know how true mages are treated at her homeplace. But judging by the warm smile she gave you when you entered I think she likes your company. As about getting in my service, I accept. You have travelled a lot, you are good company and of course your knowledge about fiends etc might be handy."

At the meeting

Filbert bows at Lord Mayor and then goes to sign the paper. Getting the Crone maybe will help them find out more about any conspiracy against the Duke. Turning to Sir Rory he asks:

"Sir Rory, this cult was trying to create instabilty and provoke hate against the Alamie. I'm afraid we haven't seen the end of it and we should focus also at the man behind it. The Crone wasn't alone, maybe she was using the inn to do rituals and have a place for the guild members to stay, but this guy Terem has mentioned another man that was taking care of everything. We should get him as well. I suggest strarting from the elf prisoner and if we have other prisoners to question about him."

[steveflam]

Domenica rises after the Mayor enter,bowing slightly with respect. "Madam Mayor, a pleasure to see you, milady." She sits back down

She adds to the present conversation "It is beginning to look like this Cult hired or perhaps the Crone is a member doing their vile work. So whatever anyone knows about this cult
should be said here if it hasn't already been said. Would it be logical to get more information from the Lady Iselde or perhaps even the Arch Prelate himself, about this Cult?"

[ewancummins]

Domenica rises after the Mayor enter,bowing slightly with respect. "Madam Mayor, a pleasure to see you, milady." She sits back down

She adds to the present conversation "It is beginning to look like this Cult hired or perhaps the Crone is a member doing their vile work. So whatever anyone knows about this cult
should be said here if it hasn't already been said. Would it be logical to get more information from the Lady Iselde or perhaps even the Arch Prelate himself, about this Cult?"

Priestess Idele , recently returned from the Cathedral, says,

"I haven't yet identified what the statuette represents. Not precisely. It's clearly something evil. But experts are looking at it now. And Master Cranstel pointed out a possibility to me, something we've set an acolyte to working on until we can both get back to our books. The Crone might have used a sort of fiendish concoction to create poison. Perhaps that would explain our difficulty in identifying the stuff used on Safana? If the Crone has been mixing black magic with the apothecaries' science...Well, the results could be extremely dangerous."

[ewancummins]

At the meeting

Filbert bows at Lord Mayor and then goes to sign the paper. Getting the Crone maybe will help them find out more about any conspiracy against the Duke. Turning to Sir Rory he asks:

"Sir Rory, this cult was trying to create instabilty and provoke hate against the Alamie. I'm afraid we haven't seen the end of it and we should focus also at the man behind it. The Crone wasn't alone, maybe she was using the inn to do rituals and have a place for the guild members to stay, but this guy Terem has mentioned another man that was taking care of everything. We should get him as well. I suggest strarting from the elf prisoner and if we have other prisoners to question about him."

Sir Rory says,
"Sergeant Ghilly of the Watch tells me that interrogations are well underway. Several men have confessed to being paid to riot. More than a few have tried to justify their actions as patriotic and loyal. Nothing about a cult, though Ghilly says that they do seem to be intimidated by the Crone. A few think she's some kind of witch, though they always says it was someone else who saw her hex somebody or talk with a black cat or the like. Given the information and clues we have now, I will pass on the word that he should ask more along those lines. Oh, and I expect Sir Gunnar will arrive soon. He has been conferring with the Watch leaders about all this."

[steveflam]

Domenica rises after the Mayor enter,bowing slightly with respect. "Madam Mayor, a pleasure to see you, milady." She sits back down

She adds to the present conversation "It is beginning to look like this Cult hired or perhaps the Crone is a member doing their vile work. So whatever anyone knows about this cult
should be said here if it hasn't already been said. Would it be logical to get more information from the Lady Iselde or perhaps even the Arch Prelate himself, about this Cult?"

Priestess Idele , recently returned from the Cathedral, says,

"I haven't yet identified what the statuette represents. Not precisely. It's clearly something evil. But experts are looking at it now. And Master Cranstel pointed out a possibility to me, something we've set an acolyte to working on until we can both get back to our books. The Crone might have used a sort of fiendish concoction to create poison. Perhaps that would explain our difficulty in identifying the stuff used on Safana? If the Crone has been mixing black magic with the apothecaries' science...Well, the results could be extremely dangerous."

"Milady Isolde and Master Cranstel, one of my employees was most killed or poisoned by the Crone. I will have his body very shortly. You are welcome to inspect it if that may help
in discerning any new evidence."

[Adam]

Cranstel mops his balding pate as the Lord Mayor comes in, rising and stammering something vaguely resembling words as she enters before sitting down and wondering how he ended up being invited to something this important.

He nods as Priestess Idele gives her report. "It would be a very, ah, interesting pursuit, and would explain my difficulties in identifying the poison. I did, however, isolate one component from Mistress Safana's wounds that I have synthesized into a skin-rejuvenator. Not that your eminence would have need of anything like that?" He smiles towards the mayor, before realizing the boldness of his statement and sits back down quietly.

At the offer of a new body to examine, Cranstel brightens greatly. "It would be helpful indeed. Perhaps by back-tracing its effects on the body, we can identify more of its properties."

[Adam]

SEARCHERS

Cormac, holding his torch aloft, starts scouting down into the mine shaft.

With the druid in the lead, the party explores the down-sloping stairway passage.

Down they go, under the mountain…

…The searchers spend the time it takes for Cormac’s torch to burn down combing through a maze of partly collapsed passages, stairways, and dead end galleries. They find the bones of small animals, rotted wooden splinters, and some tool marks on the stone walls and floors.
But then Cormac lights his second torch in one of the deepest areas of this maze, and the light reveals something no one noticed before, not even the Bard with her superior night vision. In the back floor section of a dead end passage, a bit of dull bronze gleams through a layer of debris and dust.
Searching and clearing that part of the floor, they find another bronze hatch. With effort, the strong men pry it loose. A foul stench rises from the pit below the hatchway. Cormac’s torch flares blue for a second, but then returns to the normal red glow.
Nevil remarks, “That’s ripe! Smells like a well full of pig dung.”

"I was starting to wonder if anything was even alive down here," he says, "Keep an eye open, lads, but no telling if this is waste from slaves or some other monster that lives down here."

[steveflam]

Cranstel mops his balding pate as the Lord Mayor comes in, rising and stammering something vaguely resembling words as she enters before sitting down and wondering how he ended up being invited to something this important.

He nods as Priestess Idele gives her report. "It would be a very, ah, interesting pursuit, and would explain my difficulties in identifying the poison. I did, however, isolate one component from Mistress Safana's wounds that I have synthesized into a skin-rejuvenator. Not that your eminence would have need of anything like that?" He smiles towards the mayor, before realizing the boldness of his statement and sits back down quietly.

At the offer of a new body to examine, Cranstel brightens greatly. "It would be helpful indeed. Perhaps by back-tracing its effects on the body, we can identify more of its properties."

"I am the farthest from an expert, but even if he is dead, could a sample of his blood help you?"