Citadel's Shadow II, Session 40

Citadel's Shadow II, Session 40 was a session of the Citadel's Shadow II campaign, played on 25 August 2019 (UTC) (24 August 2019 for some participants). Note that this was the first session since 11/10 August.
== Personnel ==
===Game Master===
*GM: played by Michael Lee Viviano
===Player Characters===
*Fern the Siegemaster: inventive fox-person student played by Rail Runner
*Juan de Fulmando: sword-wielding human alchemist played by Alden Loveshade
,
=== Prominent Non-Player Characters ===
*Audrea Daleos: non-certified mage
*Jinxi: androgynous jester with poppet Jack
*Kyrie Kelevan: priestess of Damira
*Leowine Vandarvaskard: prince and lord colonel of Kastebani Phantom Force Four
== Events ==
=== 1742 ===
Ulthrane 45 (Restingday) (continued): Audrea Daleos, Fern the Siegemaster, and Juan de Fulmando joined Kyrie Kelevan who had been on the other side of the river from them.  They wanted to get a better view of the area Dindre Wendorth, a recently released cultist who followed Sardaster, had gone into where he had apparently met fellow cultists; the group suspected that was the cult members' hideout.
They heard Kyrie fussing at Jinxi.  She was upset that Jinxi had appeared in full fool's garb while waiting to track Dindre; however, Jinxi was then wearing mundane clothing.  Juan thought Kyrie might have seen a different jester she mistook for Jinxi, but she insisted it had been the fool, leaving the question of how Jinxi could have completely changed clothes while following someone, and why Jinxi would have lied about it.  The group decided to let the argument and mystery go for the moment, while they continued to investigate.
After some discussion, Fern and Kyrie (whom Goddess Damira temporarily granted the ability to climb), decided to climb up the outside of the nice residential Melgren's Tower while Juan and Jinxi tried to go toward the top from inside.  They wanted to get a view of the area where they believed the cultists were.  Audrea stayed below to keep an eye on the area and on the outside climbers; she said, "Well, I think I may have a trick up my sleeve if they fall, but I give no guarantees." 
Inside, Jinxi spoke to a guard and said, "My name is A J Jinkworth, and I was thinking that one of these residents would like to hire my client Wandy Fooblie as protection, fully certified by the Southern Cities' Armsmen's Association, Charter...."  The guard said, "No solicitin."  Juan told the guard they were trying to prevent an incident from happening; the guard eventually let them in, but stayed with them.
Juan asked the guard if he knew about the woman in a building on a bridge who held a crossbow; the guard knew she was there, but gave no details.  After a while, the guard said that the two needed to go.
Meanwhile, outside Fern and Kyrie had climbed to the top balcony of the 10-story building.  They heard someone speak to them, and looked.  They saw a human male, about 30, very pale skin (but no Thalosian markings), with strawberry blonde hair.  He was wearing a cream colored uniform with silver facings, stripes, and epaulettes, and was looking right at them.  He said, "Good evening. My name is Prince Leowine Vandarvaskard."  They introduced themselves, and Kyrie said she was "rather frightened."  He laughed, said not to be, and invited them in for drinks.  Inside his open door they saw two lower ranking soldiers, both looking curiously at them, and two scantily clad women.
Kyrie told the prince why they were there, and Fern backed that up.
Now on the tenth floor, Jinxi tried fast talking the guard to let them stay; it failed, and the guard said, "I've had enough of the two of you! Let's go!"  As Juan started telling the whole truth to the guard, a woman coming up the stairs said "Halt" and questioned them.  She was a young pale woman with light blue jaw length hair wearing a cream colored military uniform with silver facings and epaulettes.  She had her hand on her sword.  Juan told her the truth, and she said to come with her.
Juan, Jinxi, and the woman went to the prince, and told him what had happened.  (The two scantily dressed women disappeared before she entered the room with the prince.)  Prince Leowine addressed the woman as Shesta, and introduced himself.  The prince was told that Audrea, who was still on ground level, was a part of the group; the prince invited her up.  Looking out the window, they saw over two dozen people in an open area in the buildings where Dindre Wendorth had gone.  Some of the group were dressed typically for members of the Sardaster followers, wearing robes and medallions, but not all.  There were men, woman, and children gathered.  One of them seemed to be "hollering out" a sermon.
As the group was deciding they had seen what they needed to see, they saw something else.  A couple of apparent cultists were dragging a man (later identified as Lon Sillavan) out of the doorway to the south.  He was obviously resisting.  The man who had been preaching seized the resisting man by the collar, and shook his fist in the air. From his fist came the glint of steel.  (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 08 24)