-Andronikos buys
a new spell at the market from a dealer of "Genuine Atlantean
Artifacts"- Rose Moles In All Stipple Upon Trout That Swim.
Fray buys an Atlantean coin.
-Fray attempts to
talk the Bishop into aiding his altar-converting quest, but gets
rebuffed. Fray declines to mention his heretic status to the Bishop.
-The party
notices two robed men watching them in the Cathedral plaza. They
also observe a cleric clad in a red surcoat with a white cross
speaking to these men.
-Party goes to
cathedral for guard duty. Witnesses mass in King's honor, followed
by procession to palace.
-The party gets
put on ball room detail, and told they are to stand quietly and
interact with no one. A seneschal finds their appearance an affront
to the event's decorum and drapes each warrior with great garlands of
flowers. To his horror, the party moves about and attempts
conversation with more than a few partygoers.
-The party notes
the robed Turks from earlier are in attendance, along with a veiled
figure
-They also note
the brief presence of a man in meal-colored cloak, but cannot trace
him. They follow him to the kitchens and garden, but cannot find
him.
-The feast begins
-Feast proceeds,
at end Armand the cleric stands up and proclaims that the king has
yet one more gift awaiting him. He tells one of his Turk henchmen to
take the bishop home.
-Party splits up:
Fray and Andronikos follow the king, cleric, turk & veiled
figure, while Cruum & Baraldur follow the Bishop.
-Cruum &
Baraldur witness the Turk draw scimitar & dagger and attempt to
kill the Bishop. They intervene, knocking out Malik & rescuing
the Bishop. They tie Malik up and head for the Palace.
-Fray &
Andronikos see the king & others go into a room, which the turk
guards. Andronikos attempts to use Charm Person on the turk but
fails & is given a nasty wound. Fray casts Hold Person &
instantly slays the other Turk.
-Andronikos runs
away and uses his staff of healing.
-Fray enters the
room & witnesses a beautiful dancer performing a lascivious dance
which induces the king to renounce God & make Armand the new
Bishop. Fray casts hold person on the dancer, Donusa, & Armand
and attempts to kill Armand, but the cleric's incredibly high number
of hit points prevent this.
-Andronikos heads
for the room & witnesses the man in the meal-colored cloak
approaching the room. He attempts another charm person and gets
nailed with a poisoned dagger for his trouble. He passes his saving
throw and lives, however.
-The assassin
smoothly continues into the room & throws another envenomed
dagger into the king's back, killing him. Avoiding entanglement with
Fray & Andronikos, he flees, taking a few damage.
-As the assassin
is leaving through the palace gates, Cruum & Baraldur accost &
kill him.
-Fray puts many
arrows in Armand but cannot kill him. Armand breaks free of the
spell, draws an axe and engages Fray in combat. Andronikos attempts
to call upon Saint Margaret to exorcise Armand, but fails and is
placed under penance. Eventually Armand is overcome and dies, though
he makes many attempts to talk Fray into converting to diabolism.
-Cruum &
Baraldur arrive. Cruum prays to Odin, offering up a sacrifice of
gems and the dancer, Donusa, despite her pleas for mercy. The dwarf
successfully petitions the Allfather and King Tarquin is restored to
life. Odin places Cruum under geas.
-Tarquin
II thanks the warriors & promises them a great reward. The
princess gives them a small red-and-gold box containing a shard of
the Word of Power. Cruum enjoins the King to offer yearly thanks to
Odin.
-Fray is knighted as a member of the Knights of Saint Michel of the White Cross by the order's head, Bishop Gerard de Centuri.
-Fray is knighted as a member of the Knights of Saint Michel of the White Cross by the order's head, Bishop Gerard de Centuri.