Sessions

> *“100 years of peace. Though not entirely true it’s been relatively calm throughout these years, the northern kingdoms who have been at war for centuries are finally at rest. 100 years of the Age of Peace. The Kerejaan Suya, an empire whose origins lie in the hearts of dragons and on the backs of slaves has risen in power since the Age of Flame. Their empire is expansive, consuming the Suyan Desert, the Scarlet Coast, Crystal Water, and land that people like you will never see. Land that reaches beyond the horizon into the unknown waters of the east. The Ionian Kingdom had the proudest army one would ever lay eyes on until they were defeated by the Crevarian undead that prowl the land north of them. Though their army still stands strong their hold on the people dwindles, with the dwarven house Rockfort withdrawing from the kingdom. 100 years of peace are now threatened with an alliance. The snow-touched, Elios Cecil, Prince of Ionia, and Princess Dina Dulka, Sinyi Sol, Desert Rose, of the Kerejaan Suya are to be wed in the midst of summer before the harsh Ionian winter comes. Surrounding kingdoms, even those in the northernmost nations, worry about this alliance. Two strong militaries joining their forces is a sign of ill omen. 100 years of peace will become centuries of war if one wrong word is uttered or if one wrong move is made. This is the exact reason why so many have come to this wedding, to see history unfold before their very eyes. It may be the reason you’ve come, or perhaps you have your own motivations.”*
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## Session 1 (Melting Snow)

### The Ball

> *"Enemies wear masks of allies. Amidst the swirling mists of time, a tempest shall brew, casting shadows upon the crown. The serpent's tongue shall hiss deceit, and treacherous winds shall whisper their venomous secrets. All snow melts eventually and when it does, all shall drown."*
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The party individually finds their way into the royal wedding between Prince Elios Cecil of Ionia and Princess Dina Dulka of the Kerejaan Suya in the great capitol city of Ionian, Grovos. Slowly they begin to speak to people during the ball that takes place the night before the royal wedding. Adrian sees Lady Celeste Duval speaking to a black market dealer, Lysandra Stoneheart. Oz speaks to Ser Galen who seems very nervous about something. Killian Valthorn takes note of Alden's illusion, commenting on how well he's designed it. Later Alden sees Vala Nazir and Ser Galen speaking in a private room, Vala looking very frustrated. Near the end of the ball Kalas goes out to smoke and sees a small paper bird fly into a window. Meanwhile Prince Esteban Cecil teaches Maeve how to play the lyre.

That night Oz sees Ser Galen searching in the throne room late at night. When questioned he only mentions that he's looking for something. He wasn't aware that Oz had heard him whisper to himself "I can't do this." That same night Kalas sees Vala Nazir and Lord Arcturus speaking to one another. Meanwhile Adrian notices that Lady Celeste Duval has snuck out of the castle and he follows her. At first he pickpockets her but after reading the letter he pulled from her pocket he decides to follow her more, leading to a shady tavern that he waits outside, trying to figure out what she could be doing.

### The Wedding

In the morning Kalas goes to investigate where the paper bird had flown through and finds Oz waiting at the very same door. Apparently they both wish to speak to Ser Galen. With confusing words and mantras Kalas is able to sneak into Ser Galen's room, offering him drugs while sneakily swiping the unfolded note that had flown in the night before. Together Oz and Kalas go to Alden to ask if he can translate the note, as it's in a language neither understand. They go to Lord Arcturus who states the note says: *"Let our conversations be carried along the wind brother, it's time to melt the snow upon our doorsteps."* Meanwhile Adrian goes with Ivan to get incredibly drunk before the wedding and Maeve visits Esteban to continue their conversation from the night before.

The ceremony is a beautiful mix of Suyan and Ionian culture and Dina and Elios are married without a hitch! Next all of the guests go to the feast where they dine and laugh and celebrate! Ivan Grundell tries to get even more drunk than he already is but his Knight, Ser Oleg Frovos, keeps the goose wine far away from him. Prince Elios eventually sits down and asks Kalas for an expensive wine and is given a bottle of dragon wine. It isn't until he starts to cough back up at his table that the party begins to worry. He chokes on his blood that billows out of his eyes and mouth, smoke following suit and soon he dies.

> *"The Snow-touched prince Elios Cecil, Prince of Ionia, First of his name has died at his own wedding. Choking on his own spit and blood. Guards begin to usher everyone from the dining hall. Soon you are all outside, despite the cool summer air your skin is hot. The day is like any other, but all know that the events that have unfolded in that hall will change history. 100 years of peace, and yet a prince lays with spirits tonight. 100 years of peace and yet the king will surely declare war tomorrow. And if it is not war he declares, then an execution.”*
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## Session Two (Vindicated)

### Interviews

The session begins with an interview of each player character by an Ionian law official called a Vindicator, someone who determines who is guilty in a crime. In the same room is Vala Nazir and General Marcus Valerius. As Adrian and Maeve are in their interviews they find their words being twisted as they are suddenly forced to lie to the Vindicator, confessing to crimes they didn't commit. Oz's past is revealed, the poisoning of the nobles from their old kingdom. Kalas is not given an interview with a Vindicator, instead he is dragged to a room where the General, Marcus Valerius, tosses him a vial, claiming the poison used to kill the prince had been there. He then tells Kalas that his fingerprints were now on the vial (trickery!). The next day the Vindicator pronounces Adrian, Maeve, Kalas, and Oz guilty. Alden visits Oz in the dungeons and helps collaborate with the party on a plan to prove them innocent. Then a knock on the door makes the party fall silent, Lady Celeste opens the door. She tells them she believes the same people that killed her husband are trying to prove the party guilty for the prince's murder. She offers to help and Alden and her leave to spy on Vala Nazir.

Alden and Lady Celeste fly into Vala Nazir's room and snoop around. They find several documents written in Suyan but most importantly they hear a voice coming from a drawer. They find a golden ring with a large ruby set on it. From it, the voice of a woman can be heard. They bring the ring to Killian Valthorn who is able to translate it. He tells them it's the voice of the Princess, Dina Dulka. They also invistigate the throne room where Ser Galen had been searching before and find a vial of poison in a flower pot. They agree Lady Celeste will be witness for the party and testify in their favor by saying she had found the vial of poison.

That night Ivan Grundell visits the dungeons by request of Adrian. Adrian tells him he wants his knight, Oleg Frovos, to cast circle of truth on the witness stand so they can determine who is telling the truth during the trial.

The party chooses:

* Ser Galen
* General Marcus Valerius
* Lady Celeste Duval

With Adrian representing them.

The judges for the trial choose witnesses as well with:

* Vala Nazir choosing Duke Maximus (a man from Oz's old kingdom who had witnesses the horrors of the noble's genocide there)
* Duchess Isadora Stormrider (Ser Galen's sister) choosing Alden
* King Khalamon Cecil III choosing the Vindicator
* Lord Arcturus choosing Riarro (the man who had been frustrated with Kalas at the bar)

### The Trial

Throughout the trial multiple persuasion rolls are made, trying to meet a different DC for each judge. Lady Celeste is attacked for her black-market dealings, devaluating her claims. Alden as well for his magical source. The Vindicator reads the false testimonies and Ser Galen refuses his involvement in the death of the prince. This all happens while Oleg Frovos' circle of truth is up, NPCs rolling wisdom saves each time they enter the area. In the end the King stands and declares the party guilty, sentencing them to the pits.

Adrian tries to claim that Oleg's circle of truth has been up the whole time. The king scoffs, *"Do you think I'd believe the word of that elf?"* When the king walks over Adrian finds the circle to be dispelled, Oleg looking as confused as him. In one last ditch effort Adrian claims the judges to be corrupt, holding up the ring found in Vala's study and claiming he has been using it to spy on the princess. A sneer spreads across Vala's face and he stands, telling Adrian to ask the princess herself. Dina Dulka stands and with a calm prose she explains the use of the ring was to keep her safe in this new country and safe from new people, he is her Sihir Sol and in turn his job is to protect her family. The party is chained and thrown into the dungeons.

Alden angrily asks Oleg why he dropped the circle of truth where the elvish man claims he did no such thing, that it was simply dispelled out of thin air. Alden asks why Oleg didn't stand up for the party where Oleg angrily tells him that he will not put Ivan's rulership in danger. He tells Alden to tell his friends that they must only survive one fight in the pits, then he can help them.

### Night

That night Alden flees to a tavern where later he is attacked by a mysterious vampiric woman. As she goes to bite him the door swings open where a familiar voice tells her to hurry up with it. Killian Valthorn, and he holds something mysterious in his hand. Alden pushes the woman off of him and flees, flying from the window where he sees a hooded figure trying to snatch him from the sky. He finds a small warehouse and hides but is eventually found, taking 48 fire damage from a high level fire ball that the hooded figure casts.

### Morning

> *"Thick droplets of rain begin to fall as you are walked from your cells into the streets. The sun is hidden behind clouds and yet it still blinds you, you have been in darkness for the past few days after all. As you walk you see people staring at you with hate in their eyes, others with sadness, and others with no expression at all. After an hour you finally arrive to the arena. From where you enter you see blood streaking across the walls and bones that have been buried in the sand. From far away you hear thunder begin to rumble. You are pushed into the arena, unchained, and you find your things thrown to the ground."*
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As Maeve bends down to pick up her bow she hears a guard whisper in her ear: "Has your motherland accepted you, little devil?"
The king's booming voice speaks: *“These foreigners have wounded me. They have wounded our kingdom with the death of our beloved Prince, my son. This wound demands justice to be healed, this wound demands blood. I sentence these foreigners to the pits, may their deaths be brutal and painful. We will do whatever it takes to avenge our Prince, my son. May the gods show them mercy, but I certainly won’t.”* And the crowd cheers wildly.

> *"The king sits and with a wave of his hand you see the large gate on the other side of the arena slowly begin to ascend. Inside you see four beasts with the faces of humans and bodies of lions. Two large wings on their backs that have been punctured and torn. They smile at you, it’s a large and unnatural smile and inside their mouths you see rows of sharp deadly teeth. As they begin to stalk toward you see at least a dozen sharp spikes poke out from beneath their fur. Despite the cheering of the crowd you can hear their sinister growls and through the heavy rain you can still see the trail of drool they leave behind them. As their bulging eyes find you their smiles only widen. Roll initiative."*
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