98. What the fuck is going on?

26th Vult, 999 YK

• The party meet with Sheshka, the Queen of Stone. Blocking their view as they enter the meeting room is a petrified ogre that is missing their right hand. Under the table is a small basilisk named Szaj, who is eating the missing hand. Sheshka explains that Szaj is harmless unless she says otherwise.
• Oargev doesn't have the power to send people to Cazhaak Draal, but he is more open to medusas going to New Cyre. It seems their relationship with Cazhaak Draal is largely dependent on the result of the summit, but it seems like there is room for them to cooperate further in future. They also ask Sheshka if the Daughters of Sora Kell are aware of her actions, and Sheshka explains that whilst she and Cazhaak Draal have aligned themselves with the Daughters of Sora Kell and with Droaam, she remains a Queen in her own right. She believes in Droaam, however, and supports what the Daughters are doing.
• They ask her about her snakes, and she establishes that they are not their own entities, but an extension of her self. Lozaal thinks he'd name them, if he had snakes for hair.
• They return to the delegates hall and continue meeting with other warlords and delegations. Lozaal goes to his meeting with Gorodan Ashlord.
• Lozaal and Gorodan agree to exchange knowledge. Gorodan will teach Lozaal Rune Magic, and Lozaal will teach Gorodan dhakaani metallurgy techniques.
• Gorodan explains what Rune Magic is, and the risks inherent to its use. Lozaal agrees anyway.
• Gorodan brands Lozaal with the Jötunn rune, which will allow him to utilise Rune Magic. It comes at the cost of his artificer abilities, as it's re-routing his magic into the runes. Gorodan then teaches Lozaal several runes, and then they spend most of the day working with metal.
• Oargev meets with most of the warlords and delegates at the summit, summarised below.
• Later, Drul Kantar opens the floor for debate, and all of the delegates and warlords discuss the future and what a sovereign Droaam might look like. After this, there is another feast.
• This time, the Mist Walkers are sat with the delegations from the Eldeen Reaches, the Talenta Plains and Thrane.
• Faena Graymorn mentions that she tried to talk to the Aundairian delegation about Briar, but they refused to discuss it. She explains that Briar was a key figure in the secession of the Eldeen Reaches, and that Aundair have had him kept in a silenced cell in Dreadhold for the last 30 years. They aren't at war, and he isn't a criminal, he shouldn't be kept there.
• Luala, having reflected on Zaeurl's outburst the previous night, realises that the Church of the Silver Flame never formally apologised for the actions of the Pure Flame during the Silver Crusade. She begins talks with Faena about organising a diplomatic visit to Greenheart so that Jaela can do so.
• Lathon Halpum Abramam talks about the culture of the Talenta Plains, and the Maskweavers. He shows the group his spirit mask, which he explains binds his soul to Reka, so that they will go to Dolurrh together.
• They notice that Nyrielle is the only representative of Breland at the feast.
• Lozaal retires to his room early.
• In the evening, following the feast, Thorn meets Dax' Athla in her quarters, and returns the Horn of Alarm to her. They then proceed to climb into the sewers via the Ogre's privy, and make their way to the quarters of Sheshka, the Queen of Stone.
• Thorn checks and finds the door is being guarded by a basilisk. They need to deal with it somehow.
• Thorn reveals that she has another mission her, she needs to recover a hero from the Silver Crusade named Harryn Stormblade, who disappeared. He's Brelish, and would be a valuable asset for Breland. She has intel suggesting he's petrified somewhere in the Great Crag, and she's been sent to recover him. She needs Sheshka to unpetrify him, and she knows from Jharl that Sheshka has a fascination with the statue, it seems she knew him?
• Thorn's plan is to kidnap the Queen of Stone. Dax does not approve, and manages to talk her down to announcing herself and having a conversation with Sheshka. Dax will remain invisible so as not to implicate herself, unless shit really hits the fan. They discuss this for a while, with Dax being very frustrated that Thorn didn't reveal this earlier, when they could've planned for it. Teamwork, Thorn!
• They send Dax's gecko familiar to distract the basilisk, and then make their way into Sheshka's bedchamber. Thorn places a masking bag over her head, and Dax puts on a blindfold.
• Thorn announces herself, and Sheshka shoots to her feet. Szaj was sleeping next to her, he's just a baby!
• The conversation almost immediately deteriorates, with Sheshka demanding that Thorn remove the bag on her head and look Sheshka in the eye. Thorn responds by threatening to kill Szaj if it comes to blows, which moves the conversation forward. Thorn explains she is here to recover a person stolen from her lands, and agrees to be petrified in their place. Sheshka asks who, and Thorn tells her, but before they can talk more there is a sound of a scuffle outside the room.
• Geck witnesses one of the Valenar Tairnadal murder the basilisk, and she's accompanied by Toli Faldren and a hobgoblin. ???
• Dax attempts to dimension door both herself and Thorn away, but Thorn refuses. Dax holds off. Thorn steps away from the door and Dax follows suit, until she bumps up against a stone altar.
• The elf enters the room first, accompanied by Toli and the hobgoblin. The hobgoblin is immediately petrified, becoming white marble. The elf goes for Sheshka without saying a word, as Toli steps into the room and begins walking towards Thorn. We end the session on the cliffhanger.

Oargev's Meetings

Oargev speaks to most of the warlords and delegates.

Warlords

• Bal Molesh. Couldn't care less about New Cyre, seemingly just agreed to the meeting to waste everyone's time.
• Cairngorm. Cairngorm is chiefly concerned with how their people are treated across Khorvaire, and is particularly interested in working with Thrane to reconnect Droaam's gargoyles with their cousins in Flamekeep, the Wingwyrds.
• Drul Kantar. There is no time to get Drul Kantar alone, as he is busy keeping everything organised and ensuring everyone has what they need.
• Gorodan Ashlord. Gorodan is busy with Lozaal, but Lozaal talks to him about the summit anyway. Sovereignty would be a big deal for Gorodan, who controls Droaam's only port.
• Kethelrax the Cunning. Kethelrax represents all of the small folk of Droaam, the goblins and the kobolds. He wants assurances that his people will be treated fairly in the Five Nations, and supports the adoption of the Code of Galifar in Droaam. His domain is small, and he cannot offer material goods in exchange for Oargev's support, but he can put a good word in with Sora Katra.
• Sheshka, the Queen of Stone. Sheshka is interested in making alliances, regardless of Droaam's sovereignty. Oargev doesn't have the power to send people to Cazhaak Draal, but he is more open to medusas going to New Cyre. It seems their relationship with Cazhaak Draal is largely dependent on the result of the summit, but it seems like there is room for them to cooperate further in future. They also ask Sheshka if the Daughters of Sora Kell are aware of her actions, and Sheshka explains that whilst she and Cazhaak Draal have aligned themselves with the Daughters of Sora Kell and with Droaam, she remains a Queen in her own right. She believes in Droaam, however, and supports what the Daughters are doing.
• Tzaryan Rrac. Tzaryan is concerned with trade, both of material goods and also knowledge. 
• Zaeurl. Zaeurl is primarily interested in a deeper relationship with the Eldeen Reaches, but she wants a pledge from the Thranes that her people are safe and will not be hunted. She's actually very down to earth.

Delegates

• Mror Holds. The delegates can't promise New Cyre anything, as they have only been authorised to negotiate with Droaam, but they can take anything he asks to the Iron Council. They do not extend an invitation to the Holds, they are unwilling to risk a royal's life when they are embroiled in a war.
• Talenta Plains. The plains has no formal government, so Oargev specifically deals with the Abramam tribe. He receives an invitation to Gatherhold.
• Thrane. Oargev receives an invitation to visit Flamekeep, and begins talks to set up a church in New Cyre.
• Zilargo. The Zil offered to set up trade with New Cyre. They have a pre-existing relationship with Breland, so it's not problem. Oargev receives invitations to Korranberg, Trolanport and Zolanberg. Councilor Jolira Jan Dorian begins talks to allow Cyrans to study at Korranberg, though any plans need to be reviewed by the Triumvirate before they are finalised.