Citadel's Shadow II, Session 48

Citadel's Shadow II, Session 48 was a session of the Citadel's Shadow II campaign, played on 6 October 2019 (UTC) (5 October 2019 for some participants). Note that a small portion of this was discussed/played after this date, which is identified by (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12+).
== Personnel ==
===Game Master===
*GM: played by Alden Loveshade
=== Player Characters ===
*Fern the Siegemaster: inventive fox-person student played by Rail Runner
*Kyrie Kelevan: human priestess of Damira played by Michael Lee Viviano
=== Prominent Non-Player Characters ===
*Alarra Gormann: deposed princess of Bortania
*Earnest Guzmann: mercenary and former knight of Bortania
*Donghai Ping: master alchemist of Trynser City
*Geraldo VII: rei (king) of Millisymph
*Rebeca Perez: maid at La posada de la paloma blanca
*Jinxi: androgynous human jester with poppet Jack
*Marisol de San Marino: princesa (princess) and regent of Millisymph
=== Special ===
*Juan de Fulmando: sword-wielding human alchemist usually played by Alden Loveshade
== Events ==
=== 1742 ===
Flowering 27/Gillihís 27 (Restingday/Nudía): Princess Alarra Gormann, Sir Earnest Guzmann, Master Donghai Ping, his wife Xiang Ping, their son Donghai Chang, Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster), Juan de Fulmando (Juan Silvio-Vagle), Jinxi, and Rebeca Perez traveled by wagon from La posada de la paloma blanca (Inn of the White Dove) to El Templo de Grebonia de Milspar. There they picked up Kyrie Kelevan, and then all traveled to Parque Sierra.
Parque Sierra (Sierra Park), named after Condesa Sierra Milspar, took up almost the entire peninsula of Pequeña Bolsa in the Valle de Arbusto district of Milspar, Millisymph. The 1,600 acre (6500 square km) peninsula had pink sand on its west coast and white on its east coast. Frequented by sea birds and some crabs, it was largely undeveloped, except that it then had dozens and dozens of tables with benches in the grassy area to the south.
There were also somewhere around 250 to 300 people already there, and many were wating to get it. The park's entrance, which was at a narrow part of the peninsula to the north, was very heavily guarded, and visitors had to show their invitation to enter. Four people, the women Ivory Tresa and Ebony Tresa, and the men Silvero Cinco and Steelano Cinco, were taking tickets. Those that the group identified as nobles were getting in much quicker than most of the others (one of these was later identified as the 9-year-old Condessa Sierra Milspar). The people seemed a mix of rich and poor.
Ebony Tresa greeted them and spoke in three different languages: "Muestre su invitación, por favor. Zobraziť vaše pozvanie, prosím. Show your invitation, please."
Rebeca handed over the invitation Alarra had, and then Master Ping handed over his. Princess Alarra Gormann was allowed her six guests, Sir Earnest Guzmann, Kyrie Kelevan, Donghai Fern, Juan Silvio-Vagle, Jinxi, and Rebeca Perez. Master Donghai Ping was allowed his two guests, his wife Xiang Ping and son Chang Ping. The gronp entered.
Princess Alarra was invited to the head table; she went with Rebeca, who served her there. Somebody spoke to Jinxi, who then wandered through the crowd entertaining. The rest sat at a table.
Donghai Ping said, "I don't know that it's actually Mojarósa's 500th birthday; I just think it's her 500th birthday party." When all the people had come in, the group estimated there were approximately 500 guests.
Those seated at the head table were announced; the first was, "His Royal Majesty Geraldo VII, Named King of Millisymph, born as Vasquez son of Geraldo VI, Sovereign of the Southern Sea, Overseer of Durmando, Protector of Milspar, Champion of Cathros, Defender of Fulmando, King of the Realm." Others included Princesa Marisol de San Marino, Princess Alarra Gormann of Bortania, Condesa Sierra Milspar, Conde Pancho de San Marino, Mistress Magus Mojarósa, Master Tutor Nalo de Sombrano, and Warrior-Priestess Yaritza la Abridora (Yaritza the Opener).
At another table a little further back than theirs (their table was about two rows back from the head table), the group saw Damiran Fiddler who had traveled with some of them earlier that year when they has transported the Globus Cruciger autem Dryas.
An enormous cake was unveiled. It had five layers which were larger the lower they were. It had white frosting with pink decorative icing. The first piece was given to His Royal Majesty Rei Geraldo VII. However, he talked to a servant, and the piece is transferred to Mistress Mojarósa. His next piece he sent to his mother Princesa Marisol de San Marino. and the third to Princesa Alarra Gormann of Bortania. He kept the fourth. Members of the group estimated the cake was enough for well over 500 people.
Mojarósa said in both Trynsern and Thisslam, "We have a special cake for those who, in a single day, extinguished a bomb near El Templo de Grebonia de Milspar, and rescused Princess Alarra Gormann of Bortania." Ebony Tresa brought a large covered plate to the group's table. Both the plate and the cover were black. Members of the group who hadn't lived in Millisymph weren't sure if they should stand, bow, curtsey, or stay seated; they got mixed instructions; most chose to act more respectfully.
Ebony sat the plate down, wiggled her fingers, and uncovered--la bomba! The group, however, soon saw it was not a bomb, but looked very similar to the one Fern and Kyrie had dealt with. However, instead of being black it was covered with white frosting, and instead of having four pipes at the top with blue and yellow flames it has four yellow candles with yellow flames. And on the side it did not say, "bomba" (bomb) in roughly-painted red, but said "no bomba" (no bomb) in neat pink icing. Most of the group laughed.
With permission, Kyrie extinguished the candles with the same spell she had used to put out the flames of "la bomba." Jinxi joined them. None of them had seen candles in a cake before. They enjoyed eating the cake.
Most of the entertainment did not involve speech so there was no language barrier. Entertainment includes dancing by men wearing pants and puffed sleeved shirts who tapped their heels fast on wood making a definite clicking sound, with women wearing long three-tiered dresses who did the same. Musicians played for them with plucked string instruments (lutes), something held in the hand that they clicked together (castanets), and portable two-headed drums (bongos). Noticing the women's legs, Juan told Fern and Kyrie he had forgotten to tell them something, but had Xiang explain it. She said that women of Millisymph did not shave their legs unless they "entertained" men for pay. (Kyrie had intended to borrow a razor to shave her legs at the temple, and had been told the same thing.)
There was an impressive swimming display by mermaids and mermen, who swam with leaping dolphins, and someone mentioned they were apparently celebrating Nudia for they weren't wearing any clothing. When Fern said she thought "Nudia day" wasn't real, Juan said it wasn't, but that merpeople usually didn't cover themselves. Jinxi, who was clothed as a jester, did acrobatics and juggling.  While the Millisymphian royalty found Jinxi a talented entertainer, Rei Geraldo VII's younger sister Conde Sierra Milspar, and even more so his younger brother Pancho de San Marino, were especially impressed.
After the party, Master Ping, Xiang, Chang, Fern, Juan, and Kyrie looked at shops. Kyrie found El mago de Seadale which she recognized as the Thisslam version of The Wizard of Seadale, and Fern bought a Thisslam-Trynser dictionary. Kyrie returned to El Templo de Grebonia de Milspar, and Master Ping, Xiang, Chang, Fern, and Juan returned to La posada de la paloma blanca, "The Inn of the White Dove." (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 05) (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12+)
Flowering 28/Gillihís 28 (Godsday/Undía): In Milspar, Millisymph, the young teenage Rei Geraldo VII found the older teenage Princess Alarra Gormann did not live up to his romantic fantasies of the "warrior princess," and for an "older woman" found her immature. Alarra initially found Geraldo to be young and inexperienced, but in time became significantly more impressed with his youthful maturity and royal bearing. Geraldo's mother, Princesa Marisol de San Marino, was extremely impressed with how Alarra had been forced to live as a commoner since she was a young girl, but still fully maintained her noble dignity. She was also impressed with Alarra's knowledge of literature and her poetic ability. While she did not find a virtually impoverished princess to be a politically viable match for her son, she did entertain the possibility that Alarra and her older brother Prince Aruman Gormann might some day restore the Kingdom of Bortania. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12+)
Flowering 28/Gillihís 28 (Godsday/Undía): Master Donghai Ping, his wife Xiang Ping, their son Donghai Chang, Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster), Juan de Fulmando (Juan Silvio-Vagle), and Kyrie Kelevan traveled to the east coast of Punto de pezón peninsula in Milspar, Millisymph. There they boarded the ship ship Puncher (牛仔) which was a carabela (a carrack). The captain was Ān Jìng, first mate was Fang Dàdǎn. They spend the day and night sailing to Fulmando. The crew did an excellent job with decent conditions, so their travel speed somewhat exceeded the usual speed of about 5 nautical miles per hour (1 nautical mile to mile 1.15, about 1.85 km). Although some of the group had no sea-traveling experience, none experienced sea sickness.
Kyrie felt slightly ill when she suddenly realized that Nalo de Sombrano, the author of the book she got, was the same person as Nalo Buenas whom she was supposed to ask for help in Sombrano. He was also the same person who had been at the party in Milspar. She didn't trust herself to spend much time reading.
Kyrie told Fern, "I'm on a temple mission for Ringbearer Gina Atakares." She also said that the contact she was supposed to meet in Sombrano was instead now the royal tutor they had seen in Milspar. Juan was concerned, but said they'd find Kyrie a trustworthy, bilingual guide. He also said he wished he could go with her. Fern continued reading the dictionary. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 05)
Flowering 29/Gillihís 29 (Mustering/Dosdía): Master Donghai Ping, his wife Xiang Ping, their son Donghai Chang, Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster), Juan de Fulmando (Juan Silvio-Vagle), and Kyrie Kelevan arrived in Fulmando, Millisymph, on the ship Puncher (牛仔). They went to La casa del ratón morado (The house of the purple mouse), the guild house for Los alquimistas del ratón morado, the alchemist guild for the city. The weather was pleasant.
Master Ping and Kyrie discussed her plans. She said she was supposed to get a Clovio lemon, and mistletoe from the holy oak tree. Ping thought she said Julio lemon; when she corrected him, he corrected her. He said the Julio lemon, which was very valuable in alchemical preparations including love, healing, and curing poison, was called both Julio and Clovis. He said he wished he had brought enough money to purchase one. Fern listened to the conversation.
Fern asked if they could grow them, but Master Ping said they needed very special conditions, and only grew on one tree that he knew of. 
Kyrie learned that, because she'd have to be leaving soon and the 100th year Reunion of Los alquimistas del ratón morado didn't start until the next day, she could stay with the rest until the next day when she'd be leaving.
Ping told Fern, "You are cooking in three days. You'll have to get used to the kitchen here, but it's already booked for today. Everyone has their own cook, or cooks themselves." Fern thought about improvising the meal, but Ping said, "What? Improvise? Absolutely not! You'll prepare it exactly the way Heva showed you." Ping believed Fern was assigned the afternoon of Flowering/Gillihís 32 to practice in the kitchen to be ready to prepare patas de cangrejo verde en salsa de aceituna (green crab legs in olive sauce) for Los alquimistas del ratón morado at La casa del ratón morado the next day. The alchemists were known for either showing off their own cooking or that of their cook.
The next day the group other than Kyrie planned to visit El ingenio de la Universidad de la luz de las estrellas, "The Academy of Starlight Engine," with members of Los alquimistas del ratón morado for Día de Padrig (Padrig's Day).
Master Ping went to check to verify Fern's time to practice in the kitchen. He returned and said he had good news and bad news. "The good news is Fern is scheduled for practice the day ahead of cooking. The bad news, Kyrie, is I'm afraid you can get your mistletoe, but won't be able to get your Clovis lemon." Kyrie asked if there was a problem, and Ping said, "Yes. It seems some sort of creatures decided to stay in the area of the Clovis lemon tree and won't let anyone go near it. Large creatures with teeth and claws."
While Fern was there, Fern largely ignored the conversation, wondering about the availability and cost of ingredients for the dish she was assigned to prepare. They had brought some "special herbs" with them, but would need to get the rest of the ingredients locally.
While Kyrie seemed determined to go for the lemon anyway, Ping said the priests and priestesses of Leathania were known as lovers not fighters, and while he thought Kyrie was brave, he doubted she could deal with the creatures by herself.
As Fern heard about lemons being used as ingredients, Fern asked Master Ping is they looked like usual lemons. Ping told Fern and Kyrie that they looked very similar to regular lemons, but their yellow skin was slightly reddish and their "meat" was slightly pink.
Kyrie said, :"Master Ping, If I found out there was some way in which you could assist in removing this creature, I'm sure they would be grateful. And might give you a lemon."
With that, Master Ping, who liked having things planned, suddenly changed his plan. He said Fern could switch cooking days and cook tomorrow, then Fern and Juan could go with Kyrie. Fern would have to practice in the kitchen either late that evening or very early the next morning. Fern said that, because of the difference in the position of the sun, she was used to getting up about 2 1/2 hours earlier than was typical here, so could practice early the next morning.
Fern asked to make a copy of the recipe, and Master Ping agreed as long as Fern didn't share it with anyone there; Fern agreed. 
Juan knew he would miss much of the alchemist reunion he had traveled to see, but said, "I would not let you go alone, Kyrie. Missing much of the reunion is not nearly as important as this." Fern agreed to go as well.
Fern decided to check ingredient prices while using her translation dictionary. Ping suggested Fern take Juan and buy a first aid kit for the trip, and said he could get her a 20% discount. Kyrie worked to get prepared. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 05)
Flowering 30/Gillihís 30 (Landsday/Tresdía) (Padrig's Day/Día de Padrig): Very early in the morning, Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster) practiced making patas de cangrejo verde en salsa de aceituna (green crab legs in olive sauce) for Los alquimistas del ratón morado in the kitchen at La casa del ratón morado. Fern did very well.
Fern then prepared the dish for Los alquimistas del ratón morado (Alchemists of the Purple Mouse). The dish was received very enthusiastically. Guildmaster Karian the Glum, whose chef Master Ping had wanted to beat, made little comment about the dish, but did quietly have seconds. Karian's alchemist son Yoju Glumson praised it as did Juan Silvio-Vagle (Juan de Fulmando), Master Donghai Ping, and others liked it very much. Fern herself loved the dish, but did know that the type of crab used was much rarer and much more expensive in Trynser City than in Fulmando.
Kyrie Kelevan spent a great deal of time in meditation, seeking guidance from Goddess Damira.
Fern and Juan had planned to visit El ingenio de la Universidad de la luz de las estrellas, "The Academy of Starlight Engine," with members of Los alquimistas del ratón morado. There they would meet with famed inventor Terri "Smart" Brunt, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and alumnus of St. Bassard's School and Home for Disadvantaged Youth, which Fern attended.
However, because they and Kyrie had to be prepared to travel to Sombrano the next morning with no time to spare, instead they had to get prepared for their potentially dangerous trip. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 05)
====== Copyright by Alden Loveshade ======
Category:Citadel's Shadow II
Category:Citadel's Shadow IIb