Die Moritat von Mackie Messer (Session Summary)

**Die Moritat von Mackie Messer** details the events of the September 13, 2020 session where the party continues their concert while some face unexpected consequences for their choices.

## Session Notes

* Following the fight, Talos dusts himself off and calls for Cecily to begin singing a gentle, piano-driven pop-rock song to her. The group excitedly watches as Talos sings to always-tsundere noblewoman.

* Cecily commends Talos for actually following through with the song and announces she’s going to bed, telling Talos that he knows where to find her. This causes Anastasios significant unease but Simon tells him to calm down and the two begin to bicker. Aedryan reminds them both that Cecily will still need to publicly express her approval for the song — perhaps at dinner in front of the entire court, as Cecily herself previously suggested.

* Eli asks Victoria to attend the dinner as his date, saying that there’s sure to be fireworks, and she accepts.

* Sorni asks if she can opt out of responding publicly since much of the court already believes her and Anastasios to be married and trying for a baby. Simon teases Sorni, noting that he’s not the only one who needs an heir. Aedryan tells Sorni that she can take solace in the fact that people at least approve of her relationship with Anastasios.

* Eli suggests that it’s long past time for everyone to get to sleep, promising a long day for everyone tomorrow, and everyone departs for their chambers — except for Eli and Victoria, who steal away to a secret, magical hideaway.

* While heading for their rooms, Simon and Aedryan notice a painting slightly askew. Upon investigation, the two discover a hidden passageway behind it.

* Simon offers Aedryan the option to investigate it or sequester themselves in their room. Aedryan worries that hiding in their room isn’t likely to be safe but Simon reminds her that safety is never guaranteed for royalty and offers to take her to Cecily’s room instead so that he and Talos can investigate. Aedryan refuses and they decide to check it out together. Simon enters the passageway with Aedryan following closely behind him.

* Eventually, Aedryan hears a sound behind her and, upon turning around, she finds that the passageway has been closed off and a shadow of a figure is making its way toward the couple and swings a sword at Aedryan, who parries his attack and knocks the sword out of his hands. The sound of the sword clanging in the walls alerts the group to potential danger: Talos immediately moves toward the noise, Anastasios calls out for Simon, Sorni grabs her weapon.

* Aedryan swipes at the would-be assailant but parries her attack. As this occurs, a sound occurs behind Aedryan and the attacker shouts an obscenity about attacking the “wrong one.” Another voice behind Aedryan says that they need to leave; Aedryan turns to find a dagger in the side of Simon’s neck as the two men flee. She screams.

* Although Simon is still on his feet, he’s bleeding profusely. Aedryan attempts to keep pressure on the wound while shouting into the hall for help, which can be heard by everyone, including Victoria who attempts to leave for the palace with Eli.

* While Talos is feeling along the walls and calling for Aedryan to tell him where she is, Sorni and Anastasios find a tapestry hiding an entry to the passageway. Sorni tells Anastasios to watch the hall and calls into the corridor for Aedryan, who informs her that Simon needs help and yells further directions to Talos to help find them. As Sorni runs into the passageway to find the couple, Anastasios leaves to find a doctor and guards.

* Behind Talos, Cecily suggests he look for one of the larger paintings. After seeking out a larger painting, they encounter one that is noticeably askew. When he attempts to open it, he is greeted by one of the would-be assassins and readies for an attack.

* After a quick exchange, Talos manages to land a hit on the attacker’s shoulder and the man attempts to flee, but Talos tackles him to the ground. Cecily tells Talos to keep the man alive.

* Eli and Victoria arrive on the scene and Victoria uses her magical skills to bind the man with vines.

* Meanwhile, Sorni finds Aedryan and a now-unconscious Simon. Sorni and Aedryan attempt to carry him and, thanks to a rather large surge of adrenaline rivaling a grandmother picking up a carriage off her grandchild, the two manage to carry Simon into the hallway. Sorni asks for help but both Eli and Cecily instead choose make unhelpful comments about Simon and Aedryan’s bedroom activities. Talos inquires about the nearest infirmary for the King, but learns Anastasios has gone to bring doctors to his room for help.

* As Sorni and Aedryan struggle to keep Simon off the floor, Cecily tells Aedryan that she shouldn’t be seen — that Queen Lilla needs to be caught off-guard by the night’s events. Cecily suggests hiding Aedryan in Sorni’s room. Aedryan refuses.

* Sorni initially refuses on Aedryan’s behalf but eventually comes around to understanding Cecily’s idea, and agrees that it may be for the best.

* After realizing Sorni and Aedryan are still somehow holding up King Simon, the debate is moved to Simon’s rooms where the women place him on his bed. Eli picks up the bound assailant and follows the ladies inside.

* Shortly after everyone moves into Simon’s rooms, Anastasios arrives with a doctor and two guards. Anastasios asks for details on the situation, particularly about who is responsible and their motives. Although the team has no solid answers to either question, they believe the Queen may be behind the incident.

* Anastasios tells Sorni to ensure Aedryan gets cleaned up and changed, and Sorni drags off a rattled Aedryan.

* Meanwhile, Cecily is instructing Talos to gather the troops from Mbeni’s ships to stage a military coup, but Anastasios puts his foot down.

## Additional Information

In addition to the songs noted in the previous session, Talos sang Parachute's "Kiss Me Slowly." A playlist for the songs sung by characters in these two sessions can be found here.

The title, "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer (English: The Ballad of Mack the Knife)," references a story told by traveling story-singers, specifically *The Threepenny Opera*, of Mack the Knife, a fictional character based off John Gay's *The Beggar's Opera.* The main character in the story would undergo several transformations over the centuries, eventually settling on a mobster who clandestinely assassinates people as popularized in Bobby Darin's song that has renown today.