A Series of Left Turns

Sir Cygnus, the Enduring, Ready for Battle

A Series of Left Turns is the twelth session of Campaign 1. In the session, Arine of Riveryew, Lord Darcy Hall, and Orion Brightward revise their decisions from the previous day and face the final tasks of The Tournament of the Silver Knight.

The following contains spoilers for the Tale of Locksmith's Bane.

## Plot

Sun Day 19 Chauntoro 1021 TE

In front of Brannagh's Bridge, the small elf wizard stops. Beneath the majesty of the towers, Arine gazes upon the bridge's magnificence and sheer length across the mile-wide river Porea. As the avenue drags into the distance, and the pillars stretch into the sky, the length the party will need to travel West looms within her mind. She begins to mumble, as members of the public make their paths around her. "The bridge is long, the journey will be huge". In defeat, Arine retraces her steps, back into the heart of Brannagh's Town and towards Tyler's Tailors.

At the tailor's, the noble warlock triggers the merchant's bell, to the eyes of a high elf, searching through expensive fabrics. At his arrival, Sandra greets her early guest, currently sowing some of the final touches to Darcy's coat and letting out a sneeze from the dusty floors. The gentleman returns a greeting to the red-nosed tailor, asking if his order could be ready earlier than first thought. It is wearable, but the seams are yet to be finished. In response to the question of Darcy's hurry, and quietly, so as not to disturb the high-valued customer, he informs Sandra of the coming battle. Sandra is slow to answer, in shock from her guest's sudden information. Darcy suggests that she finds somewhere to stay outside the city, soon. To this, the tailor states that she has no place outside the gates and asks of her friends and family members within the city, which garners sympathy from the warlock. Darcy pleas for Sandra to take who she can and go where she can before it is all too late. Sandra asks Darcy if he will be safe where he is going.

Arine enters the room, cutting through the severity of the conversation. Without much absorption from the linen-walled space, Darcy's voice carries through the tailor's, "Why are you here?" he asks with a curious smirk. In earnest, Arine replies that it's a long way, securing a joke from Darcy of the long bridge. But Arine does not mean the distance to the horses, rather that of Pontoporea to Typhrus. Although they could, and perhaps should, leave before the coming battle, they shouldn't just yet. There is more to learn. In fear of causing mass panic, the three move their conversation to the back room. Arine and Darcy agree that they should forgo their morning plan, head to The Amphitheatre of Pontoporea, and continue with the final round of the tournament, be it to throw the title for The Fiends or to win it for Cygnus. With a new plan, the duo leave Sandra, as Darcy shares a look with the tailor that longs for expression without the presence of the cheery elf.

Meanwhile, before the steps of Pontoporea City Hall, the paladins shine beneath the autumn sun sharing their lack of knowledge of battles and sieges. Orion asks his comrade of his own opinions to war, taking a seat upon the glistening white steps of the unsullied governing hall. Cygnus repeats himself; although, for him, it is important to stay for the battle, to aid the people, and do what is right by the city, this might not be the quest for Orion, and this is respectable. Orion has trouble with his response, wishing to fully realise the right decision under their shared god. But Cygnus both reassures and unnerves his armoured companion. Each paladin has their own beliefs of the will of Ilmater, and reads his teachings in particular ways. For example, a man such as Sir Edwin Dennison would likely see himself as virtuous and a man of righteousness, ready to hold the title of The Silver Knight, but for Cygnus, these virtue ethics do not correlate to his own consquential beliefs. The good in one comes from one's actions, and it is in this that Orion is struggling. In whichever decision he takes, he will find what is truly good for himself. In reaction to Cygnus' hand upon his left shoulder, Orion rejects the pity.

After their long talk, Arine and Darcy arrive beneath the city hall. "I don't see horses" states Orion, in releaved confusion. With an oblivious 'yep', Arine unites the party, as they all agree to change their plans "serendipitously". At the presence of such a grand word, Darcy whispers a clarifying "happy luck" to his tall, blessed companion. The group head towards the amphitheatre where they are invited inside by their friendly doorway-guard to the cheers of queueing fans. Returning to their lucky door 14, the group re-encounter their beloved fruit stock and briefly question the possibility of finding a 'rat-cure'. Darcy, wishing to catch back up with his patron, takes a nap before their 9am start, confiscating an entire bench. Cygnus, squeezing next to the remaining members of Locksmith's Bane question their friend's behaviour. Neither wish to explain the complicated relationship.

In his dream, Darcy walks through Tyler's Tailor's, with a distorted image of the high elf. The dreamer is acknowledged by the hisses of some red fabric to his left. Lillith calls to her servant, asking why he wishes to speak with her. Darcy would like to know if the group's decision is the best one to make. The scarlet satin is unamused, slithering towards her subject. She does not care for Darcy's outcome and remains uninterested in his conversation, threatening to leave. Darcy grasps hold of the fabric before it can fly away, and she wraps around his neck, clinging to his torso and tightly squeezing. The corner of the sheet approaches Darcy's face, twisting to the form of his familiar snake patron. She teases the young man, asking if he needs to discuss these abandonment issues, before lunging to his face, waking him from this crimson nightmare.

As Darcy slept, the rest of the heroic band were praying or reading, gearing themselves up for the coming fight. However, soon after Darcy's awakening, the purple glow of the hatched door begins to fade away, and the enourmous sounds of the adoring crowd fill the chamber. The gates open, and Locksmith's Bane stand at the threshold of the arena, targets of their fans' cheers. Soregn introduces the heroes, igniting a roar from the people, and the Fiends, Elvina the Unnatural and Turatyl, to a lesser, yet still excitable cry.

Before the contestants, floats a large green cube, roughly 50 by 50 by 50 feet. The cube is introduced as a maze of three layers. In the first, the players must find their way to the red flag of the House of Rosen. From there, they will head upstairs to the second portion of the maze, where they must find the gates which lead to the next stairs. Finally, the group must climb to the highest layer of the cube, and find the center of this maze. The players are warned not to use the "Dispell Magic" spell upon the cube, unless they wish for the structure to fall from the air and crush all within it. Soregn then introduces Archmage Grennis to the arena, to applause, thanking him for his hard work constructing these tests, and for allowing the audience to see within the centre of the cube. The archmage bows to his crowd.

With that, Soregn announces; "ready, set, go" and the players all run into their sides of the cube, up wooden steps into the first maze. Inside, the group may go left or right. Before the boys squabble, Arine creates a plan. In order not to get lost, they shall always go left. If the group hug the side of the wall throughout the maze, they will eventually find themselves in the correct direction. With no better ideas, the group follow the wise elf's plan, hugging the left hand side of the maze. To laughter and cheer from the audience, the group find twenty seven dead ends on they quest upon the left, returning to the entrance of the maze to go right. As Arine concentrates ahead, and Cygnus holds the ground down back, Darcy and Orion chuckle between them, the whole way through, unconcerned with completing the maze. To stir the pot, Darcy plants a message within the heads of Elvina and Turatyl, for the former to turn left, and the latter right. Eventually, after countless more twists and turns, Locksmith's Bane manage to find a red flag besides a staircase, holding upon it the Rosen's crossed swords, now silver for the tournament.

Listening out, Orion hears loud footsteps from the wooden ceiling above the group, and Arine identifies them as coming from a corner of the cube. The Fiends have managed to beat them to the second level and are progressing well. As the heroes make their way up the steps, a gloopy, black substance drags itself from the corners of their eyes, impairing their vision as the crowd fades into silence. Testing, Orion heads back down the stairs, as does Arine, Darcy, and Cygnus. The group conclude that for the second level, they must rely on touch. Darcy takes out his 50ft rope, and ties each member of the Bane to one another: as their maze-leader, Arine is placed in the front of the marching order for the first time, Darcy stays second, Orion third, and the swan-helmed Cygnus holds the rear. Arine guides the adventurers into the darkness.

Continuing their strategy and hugging the left of the maze, Locksmith's Bane quickly make their way to an opening in a corner. With most senses dulled, the group's smell heightens. Darcy picks up on many odours around the group: a sweet honey to their left; fresh cut grass to their right; a putrid rotten stentch behind the adventurers, and a strong oak ahead of them. Fearing the foul-smelling Troglodytes, Darcy pulls his dagger from his side, narrowly missing his rope and companions. Up front, Arine feels the hedge shift to solid wood, finding the gates of the second level easily. But they are shut. Feeling high, Arine discovers three half-orbs above her, one warm and two cold. She presses on the warm orb to no luck. Meanwhile, Darcy, in an attempt to scare Orion, turns back to blow in his ear. The noble doesn't make it far as the paladins reaching arms grab his shoulders. Recognising his strong hands, Darcy's plan has failed, leaving the blonde giant and the audience thoroughly confused. Arine is pulled from the doorway in the process, using all of her strength to get the boys back into formation.

By the time the elf reaches the door once again, she is able to feel that the second orb has become warm. Soon after, as the group are uncharacteristically patient, the third and final orb begins to heat up and the gates push open. Pleased with her efforts, Arine walks ahead, tripping up the stairs. Feeling the velocity of the ropes venture forward, Darcy grasps hold of it and Arine floats, mere inches between her face and the staircase. Darcy adjusts the wizard and she turns to take the warlock's hand. Arine attempts the explain the staircase by walking her fingers up Darcy's palm, but he is confused and offers no means of stating his comprehension. Arine leads the group up the staircase. Climbing above, the sounds of the roaring crowds begin to echo in their ear canals, in deafening cheers of joy. As their hearing readjusts, a huge clank of metal in heard below them, followed by blasphemic swearing. Cygnus has fallen.

With the group able to speak, Cygnus asks if Arine managed to open the gates, to which she proudly explains her pushing technique. Orion listens downstairs, hearing the Tiefling and Dragon-born calling to one another; stating their plans to go left and right respectively. Still blinded by the maze, the group feel around to discover themselves in yet another hedge-sided corridor, but are now able to relay the information to one another. Darcy suggests the group are in a mimic, scared of the creatures they have witnessed in their previous adventures. The rest ignore his worries.

Continuing down the corridor, Arine finds a lever within the left hand-side of the maze. She tells the group that she has to pull the lever out of curiousity, to which the group agree with hesitation. As Arine pulls the switch down, their audience whoop in anticipation. In a smooth, yet swift and violent manner, the cube rotates. The adventurers fall to their side, into the prickles of the trimmed hedge to their left. In shock and pain, they call for Arine to return the lever to its original position. She does so and the group return to their feet. A series of foul language and confusion is heard by their rivals downstairs. Arine soon discovers a second lever to the first's right, and says that she will have to pull this one too...

Orion states that the group should hold upon the hedge before they plummet to their deaths should the cube turn in such a way that the adventurers fall down the corridor. He and Cygnus clentch ahold of the left side of the passage, wrapping the bushes' branches around their armour-clad wrists, before calling to Arine to fulfill her curiousity. She does so.

Arine and Darcy feel the floor slip away from under their feet. The gentleman grasps the rope above his head and below his waist before he and the wizard fly into the wooden ceiling, now in front of the group. More screams of terror are heard within the cube as the paladins hold on for their companions' lives. To calls from the boys to switch the lever once more, Arine is unable to find a switch beside her, having fallen further down the corridor, now dangling in the air with her arms and feet swaying in suspense. Darcy drops a coin, hearing it hit the hedge below them, and estimating the drop as roughly 30ft or so. Somewhat frightened by the prospect of yet another 30ft drop, Orion asks if Darcy could feel a lever beside him. Arine specifies to pull the second lever back. Disorientated, Darcy manages to find one switch to his left, but does not discover any others around the lever.

He pulls.

The group tumble to the ceiling as the cube rotates forward once more, accompanied by the traditional laughter and fumbling of their competitors down-upstairs. A little worse for wears, the group stumble to their feet and Darcy imagines the state of his hair. Orion rubs his head from the awful kick of his armoured accomplice. Cygnus apologises. Walking along the ceiling, Arine returns to the levers, finding four in total. The group agree that these levers are useful to the puzzle in which they currently reside, and understand that they will need to use them to escape the maze. Arine has the idea for her to stay with the levers and the others continue their way through the level. She takes out her own rope, ties it around herself and secures it to the bases of the middle central switches. The boys head down the corridor feeling the hedges on either side along the way. As Darcy and Orion feel low, Cygnus feels high, discovering a hole, three feet in diameter, and relaying the information to his blind team. Darcy decides to go first, as the front-man of the roped trio, and is lifted up by Cygnus. Inside the hole, Darcy puts on a fine set of gloves to protect his uncalloused fingers from the spiked edges of hedge and crawls down the passageway. Above him, the wooden once-floor secures the gentleman in the claustrophobic space. He calls to his shininng guards to tell Arine to flick some switches, and as the two hold onto the the hedge for dear life, they recall Darcy's request in unison.

Intrigued by the third lever, Arine pulls the device from the safety of her control-hedge and sways to her right, away from her fellow cube-dwellers. The paladins hold on in fear of falling whichever direction it is that they are swaying, and Darcy rolls to his left side. As the boys shout multiple directions to the concentrating elf, Arine calls for two minutes undisturbed, before turning the group the right way up, finally restoring the cube to it's original position. The hole-crawling trio take this time to continue their quest and make it to a seemingly-open space with fresh air blowing their hair from above. The group bicker as to which way to turn, with a frightened Cygnus urging the group to return to the hole before asking Arine to rotate. They do so as Darcy messages this information to the suspended wizard.

The group humour their captain as she decides to pull every switch to determine their properties. During the process, Cygnus begins to wretch, to the concerned of the clean Darcy. Fortunately Cygnus holds it within himself, but Orion subtly loses his breakfast within the hedge, as it turns around him. Pleased with herself, an obsessed Arine declares the maze figured out, as the group exit the hole once more, minding any substances on the way out. They clasp onto the side of the hedge as Arine pulls the fourth lever to make the entire cube turn upside down one final time. The winds blow upon the disorientated bunch. Darcy drops yet another coin in front of him, hearing the sand below his head immmediately. He determines that the trio are directly above the ground and lets go...

Darcy falls to the sand, unharmed, his vision restored. The paladins follow. As the crowd cheer the name of Locksmith's Bane, they see their companion in her control system and the fiends hurt above her through the invisible walls outside. With a message, Darcy describes the way out for Arine, watching her crawl through the space. With that, Soregn announces the champions of the Tournament of the Silver Knight as Locksmith's Bane, and guards arrive to return the losing fiends to the hedge-less exterior. Without stopping, Darcy rushes back to room 14, eldritch-blasting a tomato in frustration. An oblivious Arine declares the puzzle as such fun! Cygnus waits beside Orion as he forces the guards to give him a second. After his moment, Orion too rejoins the group inside with his paladin companion. Soregn invites the crowd to return to their seats at 1pm as one member of Locksmith's Bane will fight Sir Edwin Dennison, nine-time champion of the Silver Knight, for the title, whilst the others watch from the best seats of the house, gesturing below their feet to a secure, fancy booth, which has remained empty throughout the festivities.

The gates close behind the dishevelled champions, who remain in silence before The Mayor of Pontoporea arrives to determine who shall challenge Sir Edwin, questioning the tomato "blood" across the room. With the quickest decision, the group nominate Cygnus, who agrees whole-heartedly. The knight remains within the chamber, breathing heavily and exhausted as the three adventurers are escorted outside. Their friendly guard informs them that the crowd are wild, and thus the group will be shielded by a number of guards to wherever they decide to go. Although their first thought is to return to The Windy Way (Inn), Darcy opts to use whatever money they have just earned to have a fancy lunch within The Castle's Keep, asking the guard to take them to the closest fancy restaurant.

They are soon led outside, with a roaring crowd cheering each and their names. Just around the corner, the guards help the group into Maxwell's Abbey, a small church-to-restaurant conversion. A few patrons line the tables within the restaurant, and take turns to glare at the rough-looking heroes. A member of the front of house staff approaches the group with a fancy pencil mustache and pretension. He shows the infamous group to the best seats in the house, beside the windows. In recovery, Orion orders the oyster linguini, Darcy enjoys the foie gras, whiskey, and a delightful cigar, and Arine tucks into a vegetarian baked squash with side vegetables and a cheese board.

As with with all the group's recent conversations, discussion soon turns to the war. However, with the myriad of quests ahead of them, the war is overshadowed. Orion expresses regret for the harm done to the Fiends, as Darcy questions the villainous nature of The Flaming Hand, seeing as they are obviously against the tyrannical Rat-Lord Rosen. Arine and Orion reject Darcy's belief, seeing as the group tried to kill them, stole their horse, tied up Stefan and Miriam, and possessed both Gargoyles and dragon eggs. Arine jokes of breaking the eggs in front of the Hand and using them against the group.

Finishing their meal, Darcy has the idea to leave without paying. Tired of fighting their noble friend's high jinks, Arine and Orion follow Darcy, but ultimately move with such slowness that the host immediately reminds them to pay. The meal is 20 gold, to which Darcy begrudgingly agrees. Outside, the group are greeted by two guards who escort the trio by carriage back to the tournament. Beforehand, they each take turns changing into their finest finery, ready for the special occasion.

From the special booth, Locksmith's Bane enjoy the crowd's delightful cheers once more, feeling at home in their cries. To a surprise for all, Mayor Humble is heard above them, apologising for Soregn being unable to announce for the final fight. He introduces the final fight as SIr Edwin Dennison appears in full armour, carrying his mighty great axe. Cygnus comes out, in his glorious swan-helmed heavy garb. The pair enter a red ring drawn in the center of the arena, and are told not to leave. No-one is to attempt to kill the other and must respect the wishes of one who surrenders. The fight begins.

Sir Cygnus takes the first swing, missing his rival as Sir Edwin lightly glides out of the way. The Silver Knight slashes against the back thigh of the paladin with ease. The two continue their intense fight as Locksmith's Bane watch on. Darcy is too far away to cast vicious mockery, but sends a message to the head of Sir Edwin, telling him he sucks. In the confusion, Sir Cygnus has the upperhand, slicing through the heel of Sir Edwin, and forcing him to the ground. With his sword upon the reigning knight's shoulder, Cygnus appears to speak to his foe. Dennison, however, rolls to his side, getting back up to fight. With another slice across his back, the mighty Cygnus aims his sword to Edwin's throat. Appearing, once more, to ask for his surrender. The crippled fighter attacks with his axe once more, but it is sent flying out of the red ring by the experienced paladin. On his knees, the once-silver, now purely steel, knight surrenders.

The adoring crowd are witness to the first defeat of the reigning knight in nine years, as Mayor Humble announces the closing of the tournament, and Cygnus waves to his friends. Edwin is seen to whisper in the ear of the Silver Swan before the Mayor orders the people to be silent. With a heavy, booming voice, Mayor Humble announces Sir Cygnus, the Enduring, Silver Knight of Pontoporea to lead their people against an attack from The Larsinian Empire. Unsure of what this means, the people of the ampitheatre remain silent. The mayor continues. The guards slowly exit the stadium. From this moment, the city is closed. No-one may leave. In a barrage of boos, Humble declares that all able adults in the city will be ordered to join in the fight to save their home. Sir Cygnus shall soon leave as the Silver Knight to collect people from the city's pledged towns and villages.

Guards enter the booth of the three adventurers, warning them to come along under their protection to The Mansion of the Silver Knight. In all their finery, Locksmith's Bane retreat into a carriage directly from the stairways outside, and are met with rotten tomatoes and angered fans, now as symbols of the public's forced combat. Through the gates of Silverhall, and passed the magnificent castle, Locksmith's Bane are escorted into the manor home: an empty space, with red rugs and distant chairs. The lights burn as if to show the that their servants await within the mansion, yet their echoing steps declare that they are all alone. Their guards leave them be.

Darcy states that they should do what they can to help their friends. He then opens the doors, and calls a smaller guard back to aid him. He asks if they can bring a list of people to their mansion from across the city. The young guard says that he will have to ask his superior, but wishes to get a list in case this is possible. The group list Miriam, Stefan, Helena, Céline, and Sandra with immediate recollection, stating that they can be found at Tyler's Tailors and the Windy Way, just to ask Wolandar. The guard leaves and returns, mistaking the party's request as a gathering of important people to discuss the plans for the battle of Pontoporea. The group go along with the ruse, with Darcy adding Harry, the bard, for entertainment (currently at The Troll's Tankard (Inn)), Arine suggesting her librarian crush, Fownai, and Orion relieving his conscience by asking for the Fiends. The guard notes their requests and leaves.

As Orion sinks into a comfortable chair across the room, Arine stands in anticipation of their group, and Darcy collapses to the floor with a deep breath, muttering that they should throw a ball, the session ends there.