Grief and Consequence

After the loss of Saszi Vermillion, the Six work through their grief with unexpected antics and soon turn their simmering anger against the target of their despair. Their interrogation of the Turnkey Caledon takes a dark turn with omens of what is to come.

## Recap

After suffering at the hands of cruel Turnkey Caledon, Saszi is tortured to death for upsetting the jailer and the Six attempt to intervene to save their imprisoned comrades only to find they are too late. Directing their anger at the Knight-Commander, they demand satisfaction which is addressed in the confrontation of Caledon for his disobedience and negligence. However, it is during this questioning it is revealed that Caledon is a spy although also unbeknownst to himself. Saszi's animated corpse, with the last vestiges of his consciousness takes his spellbook and attempts to claim the lives of everyone in the Throne Room, although he fails, his life is claimed permanently by the incredible power of August Ravenrock.

## Summary

In the aftermath of the events that resulted in Saszi Vermillion's death, the Six are recovering from the trauma of what they had witnessed as they took time to grieve and make peace with the events that led up to it. This lead to some recriminations with August Ravenrock to whom some took issue with for slaying the Harengon outright. August rebuffs this criticism by asserting that Saszi had presented himself as a significant danger who was no longer afraid to hurt his friends and as such could not be trusted. Some accepted this reasoning while others remained skeptical.

Vandor had by this time already finished the Funeral rites on Saszi's body and both he and Sir Davion allowed his body to be taken by the Valour Haven Guardsmen to be burned. They had returned to the Officer's Club where Vidal and the others had retired to drink their sorrows away. August quickly got very drunk and began ranting to the silent Captain Vidal.

Meanwhile, to work off the frustrations and grief of recent events Sir Davion challenges Tore Wolfram to a sparring match. Tore agrees and Davion sets the terms of their fight with Deagon acting as witness. This bout is viewed from the balcony of the Officer's Club as Tully ventures instead to the tallest tower of the Castle to take in the wider view around the City.

Tore and Davion's battle begins as they fight with practice weapons, however despite Davion successfully winning the fight Tore continues the match and eventually matters get out of hand as Deagon also decides to enter the fray eager to join the melee. Soon enough, Vandor also enters the match having flown in with his angelic wings and August Ravenrock encloses the group in a Ring of Fire to add to the match's ferocity. Eventually, Vandor Tah emerges victorious to the acclamation of the witnessing guardsmen who hail the "One-Armed Angel". The party progressively pass out in the Officer's Club as August spend part of the evening with a random female guard which then lands him in trouble with the Officer in whom's office August had been canoodling with the soldier. Tully was greeted by Akaza, a member of H.R.O. as she sat at the top of the tower meditating who inquired as to whether he could meet the Six as he possessed a message from the Knight-Commander.

Tully leads Akaza back to the group who by this point are completely indisposed. They decide it best to converse the next morn.

The group now back in a mostly functional order receive the message through Akaza that Gamreve seeks to know when the Six would be free to interrogate the now chained Caledon. The party deciding that there was no good time but the present go to interrogate the Turncoat. Upon arrival, the party can hear chanting in the chamber as it is explained to them that the Chanters are suppressing cursed influence to keep the prisoner docile and that he was blindfolded and gagged. The party enter and proceed to question the Turnkey who appeared to not be in control of himself as August is able to confirm as he searches Caledon's mind to discover that his mind is not his own as the foul presence is now in control. After a protracted moment of silence where Akaza attempts to press Caledon with his blade to prompt an answer eventually the entity speaks, looking at Vandor it utters "I have you in my eye". The entity speaks that it welcomes the Six to his realm and that he would reward their efforts with his 'gifts'. These words cause Vandor to conclude that the Entity is Fibian Malite himself. The Entity confirms this is so. As another gift, he asks Sir Davion "How does thou Squire? Is he well?".

Vandor despite the ominous threats also challenges Malite claiming that he was not as strong as he thinks as they have been able to defy him. Malite claims that this is also his gift to them that he allows them the liberty of spiting the inevitable. Vandor losing his patience, invokes the power of his Deity and casts the presence of Malite out with enough time for Caledon to briefly control himself and attempt to confess what he can that may help them find the true spy. Malite returns and mocks the party in its efforts only for Vandor to cast him out again for 6 seconds and Caledon continues to try to recall what he could mentioning that he was previously stationed at Fort Raven before the Warlord departed and that the original spy was an officer who likely suffered a wound like he had. At this Malite successfully asserts control completely again and as the party moves to torture Caledon he implores the party to do their worst and as they proceed he fiendishly commands them to continue until Akaza takes his blade to open Caledon's head to see whether there was evidence of foreign matter. At this, Malite kills Caledon by rendering him brain-dead.

At this, The Six go in search of the Commander who was at that time in the Cathedral portion of the Castle speaking with the Head Abbot. Gamreve is intrigued by their findings and fully plans on using the leads they've uncovered to inspect his officer corps in search of suspicious wounds and any links with Fort Raven.

The party then moves to follow their initial plan on action but not before returning to Bragna House for another night. Sir Davion is bothered by what Malite said about Wulf and inquires to Mrs Gerondin about him who mentions that he had been sent on an errand before sunset. Wulf does not return and the Six grow increasingly concerned and track his movements until Sir Davion finds him hours later on the Walls of Valour Haven looking out to the Horizon seemingly unaware of the time. Sir Davion asks Wulf about why he has not been himself and Wulf confesses to feelings of inadequacy and feeling that he is more trouble than he is worth. Davion reassures his squire that he is very important to him and that his safety matters a great deal. Wulf at this reveals that he was in fact wounded while the Six were en route to Valour Haven on his right arm when their cart was overturned by the attacking Undead Centaurs. Davion assures Wulf that had he known, he would have immediately come to Wulf's aid. Wulf taking Davion's words to heart agrees to return to Bragna House.

## Featured Characters

### The Six

* Sir Davion Phylund
* Deagon Sunseeker
* Tore Wolfram
* Tully Tanglefoot
* Vandor Tah

### Returning Characters

* August Ravenrock
* Vidal
* Mrs Gerondin
* Daniel
* Wulf Phylund
* Knight-Commander Gamreve
* Caledon
* Anthelme Halassey (Mentioned Only)
* Saszi Vermillion (Mentioned Only)

### New Characters

* Akaza
* Fibian Malite (Voice Only)