Best of Both Worlds, 20190120

This was an adventure in the Best of Both Worlds (BBW) "world-traveling campaign" ran on 2019 Jan. 20. While BBW actually overlapped and included parts of many other campaigns; only those with events on Edyleine are listed here. Note that by design the game sessions do not show the distinction between PCs and NPCs.
== Gamemaster ==
* Alden Loveshade
* Miley Spears
== Main characters ==
* Dulce Fulmando: Duquesa, daughter of Rei Geraldo VI
* Geraldo VI: Rei (King) of Millisymph
* Kevano Barros: Escudero (squire) to Don Normando
* Miguel Amorando: (Don) knight, former squire of Don Normando
* Nartino de Santa Rafaela: Escudero (squire) to Don Miguel
* Norina la Escribana: Journeyman Magus, sister of Nartino
* Normando de San Miguel: Don (knight) of the Orden de Oldonia
== Events ==
Damirin 5 (Middleday)/Kenedís 5 (Quadía): Duquesa Dulce Fulmando, 17, daughter of Rei Geraldo VI, King of Millisymph, was discovered in the morning to be missing. A ransom note was found demanding 6,000 Grand Imperials ($6,000,000), which was considered to be a very high amount even for a duchess. And the ransom demand wasn't at all done according to noble protocol; the note was left anonymously without noble notification (it was signed "el caballero negro" or "the black knight"); it did not ask for coin of the realm of Millisymph, but for that of the Empire of Trynser; and it did not give an indefinite time period for her to be returned so the funds could be raised, but demanded payment in nine days. Rei Geraldo VI was furious, and demanded his knights and wizards bring his daughter back or else. A number of knights went out, some assisted by mages who investigated on the presumption it was a highly sophisticated operation that did not involve a recognized noble. They conducted magical investigations, interviewed household staff, etc. (Best of Both Worlds 2019 01 20)
Damirin 6 (Sweatingday)/Kenedís 6 (Seisdía): A small group did their own investigation in Fulmando. These were the aging Don Normando de San Miguel of the Orden de Oldonia, his squire Escudero Kevano Barros, his former squire Don Miguel Amorando, Miguel's squire Escudero Nartino de Santa Rafaela, and the very recently elevated Journeyman Magus Norina la Escribana who was Nartino's sister. They knew that no investigators had found any sign of a struggle or abduction of Duquesa Dulce Fulmando; in fact one said it almost looked like, "She just wandered off." They wondered if that might be what had happened, but knew His Majesty would not entertain any suggestion that his daughter had left voluntarily. They traveled with a few support people to investigate.
They spoke with Dulce's servants, but not about what they had found, which had already been investigated, but about Dulce's personal life. This led them to a female friend of Dulce's who was neither noble nor part of the household, Bonita Sanchez, 18. She seemed to avoid answering their questions. They thanked her, then secretly kept an eye on her. She soon talked to a female servant who soon furtively left. They followed the servant, then after a while stopped and questioned her. Her name was Concetta, and she was obviously nervous. On further questioning, especially with hints that she might be interfering with the royal family, she broke down and cried. She said she knew nothing, but was given a note by Bonita. They asked for the note, which she gave them. It read, "D, was asked about you, think Don Normando suspects the truth. B." They gave Concetta the note back, said it was nothing important, she was not in trouble, but to keep herself safe she shouldn't mention anything about them talking to her. She said she wouldn't, and continued on.
The group followed her, and she came to a house where she knocked and entered. They learned it was the house of Señor Narciso. They hoped to see who Concetta gave the note to, but didn't. They waited until they saw Concetta leave, "casually" watching birds and listening to some hounds baying. Then the group made a visit to the home. Normando said he heard that Narciso had some fine hunting hounds, and thought while he was in the area he might be able to see them. Narciso said he could show them to him, but could do nothing with the hounds since his huntsman was gone for the huntsman's mother's funeral. They learned the huntsman was Gonzalo Garcia, a young man who took care of the hounds and had left for his hometown two days earlier to return in another day. Norina said Gonzalo's lady friend missed him, but Narciso said he did not get involved in the private affairs of his staff as long as they did their job.
The group decided to separate. The two dons, Normando and Miguel, and Kevano went to a pub called El cetro borracho (the Drunken Sceptre) that Dulce had visited occasionally, and Nartino and Norina went to El Pub de los nudillos sucios (Dirty Knuckles Pub), that they learned Gonzalo frequented. The two knights heard about Dulce being missing, but nothing significant except that she had been seen one or twice with a young man who seemed to be beneath her station. They did not learn his name. Nartino and Norina talked to people "casually." They learned Gonzalo was known for talking about his plans, and bragging about how he could operate things if he was in charge. Nobody reported seeing him being particularly close to any woman, although one of the female servers said, "You don't turn your back to him."
Rather than stay with a knight, the group stayed in rooms at La pequeña posada de la zorra (Little Vixen Inn). They compared notes. (Best of Both Worlds 2019 01 20)
Damirin 7 (Reckoning)/Kenedís 6 (Sidía): Don Normando, Don Miguel, Escudero Nartino, and Journeyman Norina spoke with others investigating Dulce's abduction. They learned that her best jewelery was also missing, and that she had been seen sorting through her jewelry by a maid. Dulce had told the maid she was deciding what to wear for a masqued ball scheduled for Damirin 9.
The group split up, and checked with jewelers. They were told that while jewelers bought gemstones, any respectable jeweler would likely be highly suspicious of being offered such valuable and identifiable designed jewelery being sold by an unknown. There was even a good chance a jeweler would recognize a specific piece belonging to Duquesa Dulce. One of the jewelers said he had already been approached about the matter by agents of the king
So the group decided to check with pawn brokers; there they had success. One of the pawn brokers had one of the duquesa's rings, but said he could not give it up except to an agent of the king. He also wondered what would happen to the money he had put out for it--would it and the ring be seized? And if not and the man didn't return to claim it, he couldn't sell it knowing it was stolen. Escudero Nartino said he was sure His Majesty would take care of that. They learned the man who had hocked the ring fit Gonzalo's description. They were about ready to leave when the pawnbroker said the man had told him he'd be bringing in something else, probably the next day. Norina asked the pawnbroker to say nothing of them being there, and said she was sure if he cooperated the pawn broker would receive a reward worth more than the ring.
Turning up nothing else that seemed significant, the group stayed once again in rooms at La pequeña posada de la zorra (Little Vixen Inn). (Best of Both Worlds 2019 01 20)
Damirin 8 (Lordsday)/Kenedís 8 (Odía): Don Normando, Don Miguel, Escudero Nartino, and Journeyman Norina took turns keeping an eye on the pawn shop. Miguel and Nartino were there when a man entered the shop. They waited outside. The man left the shop in a hurry, but they stopped him to question him. He said he was Rudolfo Garcia. He claimed he knew nothing about the duchess, but the pawnbroker claimed he had tried to hock a ring. Rudolfo still had it, and Miguel recognized it as a sapphire and diamond ring that Dulce always wore. When he said so, Rudolfo said, "Duchesa Dulce? Gods spare me!"
He said he knew nothing about Dulce. "My bro--friend, he is, that is, he is getting married and needs to hock the ring to buy an engagement ring." When asked why "the friend" didn't simply use that ring, Rudolfo hesitated, then said, "She doesn't like diamonds--I mean she doesn't like blue. It doesn't match her eyes." He claimed he knew nothing about where the ring came from.
They told him they knew about Gonzalo, and he said, "You have my brother?" They said they understood Gonzalo and Dulce had run away together. If Rudolfo cooperated, it was likely he would receive very little punishment if any because Dulce's father His Majesty Rei Geraldo VI would not want his daughter involved in a public scandal. Dulce could tell the king she left willingly with Rudolfo's brother Gonzalo, and she had agreed to sell her jewelery to raise funds until the ransom was received. The king might be very upset, but would not be too harsh on his daughter who essentially would just be asking for her inheritance, so probably wouldn't be harsh on Rudolfo if he cooperated.
Rudolfo was not cooperative, and pulled a knife on Don Miguel. They struggled and fought, with Miguel victorious when he injured but did not kill Rudolfo. They then found their captive was carrying a bag with coins worth $10,000. He did not looked dressed well enough to be carrying that much money around, so they suspected he had just hocked jewelery somewhere else. The group told Rudolfo they could take him to the king and His Majesty could decide his fate--unless he cooperated and told them where Gonzalo was. He said, "I will never betray my brother."
The group took Rudolfo to bring him in to the king. As they were walking, they passed the Statue of the Unknown Slave that had been erected many years ago as a statement of Fulmando not allowing slaves except slaves by law. Rudolfo looked at the statue, his mouth went open, and then he turned away. Nartino wondered if the duquesa could have been sold as a royal slave; that could bring well more than $10,000. Normando said, "Even sold as a regular slave, she would have brought five, ten times that amount. Your brother must have ripped you off." Rudolfo said, "No, my brother would never do that," which added to their suspicions. Normando said perhaps she could have been sold to agents of another nation as part of the Trynser-Zazimar War. Norina said she could not trace the ring to its owner, but might know a mage who could.
While they continued walking, Rudolfo yelled, "Run!" They looked and saw a man who met Gonzalo's description. While Normando and Norina stayed with Rudolfo, Miguel, Nartino, and Kevano ran after the man. They battled, but the man lost. They found he had $40,000 in coin on him. They figured the men must have just gotten the money or they wouldn't be carrying that much around with them.
Meanwhile, Rudolfo had struggled to escape, but failed. Norina said to Rudolfo, "You see that? Your brother sold her for $50,000, maybe $60,000 if he already bought some things, and only gave you $10,000." Rudolfo said, "No, my brother would never betray me. How much money did you say?"
Deciding to keep the brothers separated, the group tried to convince each of them that the other brother had given away the plan. Gonzalo did not fall for the ruse, but Rudolfo did. Rudolfo apparently did not know the woman they sold was Duquesa Dulce. She apparently had gone willingly with Gonzalo to get married because she did not want to go through with her arranged marriage to another man, but then he betrayed her and sold her in a private auction. Rudolfo said he did not know who bought her.
Rudolfo and Gonzalo were turned over to the authorities by Normando, but Norina took the ring to see if it could be used to magically trace it to its owner Dulce. Miguel and Nartino went with an officer to the docks to let people there know to watch for Dulce.
Norina met Miguel and Nartino at the docks, and said the mage she consulted had an impression of the ring's owner (Dulce) riding on a "magic dragon." Miguel and Nartino said they had seen a ship named Dragón Mágico (Magic Dragon). They went to it immediately, and found it was just about ready to leave. They had it stopped, and they boarded it. Miguel with his sword drawn told a crew member, "Tell me where the female slave is you just brought on board or you will die." The crew member cooperated fully. Miguel went below deck, and saw Dulce who saw him. (Best of Both Worlds 2019 01 20)
Damirin 8 (Lordsday)+/Kenedís 8 (Odía)+: After futher investigation, an official report was released. This said that Duquesa Dulce Fulmando had been kidnapped by enemies of Millisymph, but had been heroically rescued and returned home and was safe. The kidnappers were captured and would be seen no more.
Rumors began that Dulce had been deceived by Gonzalo that he intended to marry her. She had even cooperated in the beginning of her own sale, believing she wasn't really being sold as a slave but it was a cover to get her away so she and Gonzalo could be married and live happily in another land. It wasn't until her buyer started examining her that she realized the sale was real. Rumors said the group that rescued Dulce figured she was quite naieve and had likely been overprotected. The one who bought her, the wealthy merchant Zansom, apparently had intended to smuggle her out, then sell her as what she was, Duquesa Dulce, for triple or more of what he paid for her. Gonzalo apparently never planned to try to get the $6,000,000 ransom, but used that as a ruse to deter an open investigation and to throw investigators off of the trail.
Rumors reported Rei Geraldo VI did want to keep the entire scheme quiet, so on advice had Zansom, Gonzalo, and Rudolfo all made slaves by law to work in faraway mines where their expected lifespans would not be long. (Best of Both Worlds 2019 01 20)
Damirin 9 (Restingday)/Kenedís 9 (Nodía): In spite of her kidnapping and sale into slavery that had just ended the previous day, Duquesa Dulce Fulmando attended the masque ball. She unmasqued herself to the seeming surprise of almost everyone (some of whom already knew who she was). She danced a great deal with a masked man soon identified as one of her rescuers, Don Miguel Amorando. He was honored at the ball along with Dulce's rescuers Don Normando de San Miguel, Journeyman Magus Norina la Escribana, Escudero Kevano Barros, and Escudero Nartino de Santa Rafaela. (Best of Both Worlds 2019 01 20)
Damirin 15 (Sweatingday)/Kenedís 15 (Seisdía): Gonzalo Garcia and his brother Rudolfo Garcia, who were being transported to begin work as slaves by law, escaped. A ransom of $80,000 for Gonzalo and $20,000 for Rudolfo was offered for their heads. (Best of Both Worlds 2019 01 20)
Category:Best of Both Worlds