Mornington Lormanston and Amarion are escorted outside into a reinforced coach with city guards. They depart and are making their way towards the Gura Palace, the city is restless and many are in the streets, many bridges have blockades. The destruction wrought by Karna-Kar has caused an unpleasant shift for the cities populace. They arrive at the grand palace and are brought inside to meet Chamberlain Steef Kretschmann, he is friendly, pleased to meet them, and escorts them to a solar where they can wait in comfort before being brought to King Dras Gura's privy council.
Edward Fogbluff and Crom are led by the Enchanters to their tower in The Woven Pillars. Crom shows resistance when it becomes obvious they are wanting to question them, especially as they pass a room with sounds of a distressed captor. They both fear the possibility of being interrogated with mind altering magic. Each are ushered into their own windowless room with a single chair, the door locked behind them. Edward is somewhat calm and tries his hand at talking the wizards into a more considerate approach. Crom on the other hand within moments splinters the chair into pieces on the wall and hacks at the door, discovering it is protected with magic. A hatch opens on each door and masked Enchanters wish for questions to be answered. It takes some time to calm Crom and the wizard at his door is understandably hesitant to enter. Edward is questioned about his source of magic and the artefacts they bare, he is quite forthright with his answers, only holding back at crucial points that would not stir a witch hunt.
Back in the solar of the palace Amarion and Mornington see the guards bow and move aside as an obviously noble young woman enters. She says how she wants to get a good look at the visitors before her father speaks to them about their great deeds. Hallen Gura introduces herself after some puzzling flirtation around the subject of rough, adventuring types. Protected by her father, it is clear that the princess does not get to see the world as she wishes, and these two foreigners are a fascinating distraction within her jewelled cage. Both men catch a mix of back handed compliments and genuine admiration before the princess departs laughing about what her father might have them do. Steef returns, and they are finally escorted to meet The Spear's Head Council and are introduced to a table full of the King's closest advisors. They are in the midst of dealing with the current state of the city after the attacks and voices bounce back and forth in frantic discussion before quietening for introductions to be made.
- The King's son Ruffus Gura is in attendance, learning all he can in preparation to one day rule his father's kingdom.
- Treasurer Aubert Terrell, Master of Coin and Law.
- Spymaster Hiram Barnest, Master of Secrets.
- Marshall Hunwald Hammer, Master of War.
- Chaplain Pyire Dauldry, Representative of the Attuned.
- Chamberlain Steef Kretschmann, Steward of the House.
Absent from the council chamber... - Admiral Lemuel Fulton, Master of Ships and Foreign Affairs. He is currently out dealing directly with the current issues of the city and making arrangements for imports.
Also absent from the council chamber... - Arch Mage Omanor, who has not been seen at a council meeting in quite some time, much to the chagrin of the King.
Things progress back in the Pillar of Enchantment and both Crom and Edward are in their rooms with a questioning wizard. Questions slowly shift into negotiations as the wizards want to study the magical artefacts carried by the two, Crom's Sword of Baphomet is clearly other worldly, and Edward's magical haversack is discovered. It is threatened that if Edward does not extract everything from it, there could be consequences. He begins to do so but is worried as to how he will deal with the issue of the Dargean he holds, the head of Gantrovius is still within. Crom has to explain his bestial features, his horns and eyes, convincing the wizard he is not effected by any evil forces. The barbarian loosens up a little and is able to come to terms with the Servants of the Weave and their intentions. They are primarily focused on knowledge and assuring that the Storm Breakers, the heroes before them, can trust them and in turn earn their trust. They want to perform a ritual and identify the sword he carries, making sure it is safe to wield, safe to be around, and most of all understand its power. They state how it's aura is enough to know this artefact id beyond any they have previously encountered.
Once the King finishes introducing Mornington and Amarion to the council he questions if the other two of their company fell in the battle. When they inform him that Crom and Edward were taken aside by some of the Servants of the Weave Dras is furious, but they catch the tiniest splinter in the King's confidence when Omanor is mentioned. Mornington mentions how The Woven Pillars seem divided currently and asks why their Arch Mage has been so absent. Spymaster Hiram says that the Arch Mage is incredibly old and he has become quite the recluse and an unreliable contributor in recent times. They all agree that this should change but it seems no one knows how to go about challenging the status quo. The King asks to hear what happened to the band of heroes once Karna-Kar was brought to ground. They fill in the blanks for all present and very much impress the council, although some do their best to hide it, trying to save face of their own importance in light of these heroic deeds. The king briefly suggests hosting a tourney to celebrate their great victory, causing wide eyed looks from Treasurer Aubert. Once the current unrest of the city is settled of course, and the damages mended, he reassures. Mornington politely dismisses the idea, thinking of all the other troubles that still orbit them. How different from the nobleman that set foot in this land all that time ago, surly that Mornington would have leapt at the King's offer. They move on to more practical things, as Chaplain Pyire asks for their help in calming the situation in the city, the churches have opened their doors to the needy and are over capacity already tending to the homeless and the wounded. Treasurer Aubert states that many homes, businesses, and lives were lost to Void Wing's destruction, it will come at great cost to repair and rebuild. Marshall Hunwald adds that those affected are rightfully up in arms and demanding the aid of the crown, a few alarming occurrences have already given his city guard a lot to deal with, and the attitude of many in the city is not favourable. Mornington has an idea as to how he could put the people's minds at ease. Perhaps by telling them of what has transpired, in his own, performative way. It is agreed that they will help in the days to come and they are also advised to visit Admiral Lemuel. A suggestion is made that with Mornington's help, arrangements could be made for the Lormanstons to help in their recovery. And while visiting the port district they can stop in to see the Lanalith, Captain Melius Imryll, and the rest of the Anlyth retinue they brought with them to Guradam.
After further negotiating Edward and Crom are reunited and agree to be taken to another area of the Pillars where their items can be identified under supervision. Edward by this point had drawn all items from the haversack bar one, they lay across the floor as they depart, assured they will be returned to him. But, the wizard still bares his magical haversack as they move on. The two are escorted to a large room adorned with all kinds of arcane materials, reagents, books, workbenches, experiments. Crom is asked to lay down the Sword of Baphomet upon a table while various Servants of the Weave cast ritualistic spells to identify it's properties. This takes some time and all await patiently as trust is forged between the two parties. Concerned looks are passed back and forth between those partaking in the ritual, clearly it concerns them what they are discovering about this sword forged in a world beyond theirs. Edward is taken aside by the wizard still in possession of his magical haversack, as he lays it upon a table and asks Edward one more question, one that will truly test any trust that has built thus far...
Next Session. 111
Previous Session. 109