Shopping Montage (Session Summary)

**Shopping Montage** details the events of the October 17, 2021 session where the party learns how to deal with the Fated and helps themselves to a little retail therapy.

## Session Notes

* Some hours have passed since the initial uproar, and the group is still gathered in the royal palace’s private wing to discuss their next steps.
* Talos helpfully suggests burning down the church or letting one of Mbeni’s cannons tear it down, but the idea is turned down: King Simon doesn’t wish to alienate citizens who want to peacefully worship, even if he intends on killing the gods they worship.
* When pressed for information on how the Kingdom is going to drive the clergy out of Trafarna, Simon says that Mbeni’s army will escort them out, or she’ll kill them. This raises two questions:
	+ 1. How could Mbeni kill Fated people?
	+ 2. Did the bishop in the cathedral actually die?
* Simon answers that, yes, the bishop **did** die and, more importantly, Oberon has developed a method to disrupt the *Breath of the Gods* within Trafarna.
* Sorni declares her intention to help Mbeni and is surprised to receive a supportive response — so long as she does so after the wedding.
* While discussing management of the public’s thoughts and opinions, Chae suggests the public should get to know Aedryan by having her appear in public instead of cloistering her in a tower and interacting only with the nobility. Theo suggests gathering flowers, like he and Simon’s mother used to.
* Simon, concerned for Aedryan’s safety, disagrees with the idea but defers to her judgment after she says the idea has merit.
* While discussing who should join Aedryan to ensure her safety in public, Anastasios, Sorni, and Theo offer their guardianship but Theo decides to stay with Chae at the palace while she discusses the Resistance with the Fae. Cecily suggests that Talos discreetly follow them on their outing, along with Lord Hendry in Theo’s place.
* In an effort to keep Lady Finch away from the outing, Stewart suggests that she should be distracted with a mundane but important-sounding task, like food or napkin arrangements.
* After revealing that Miri went to the opera with Hendry, Miri notes that she will be attending the wedding with him. This prompts Aedryan to suggest buying a new dress for the occasion, which turns the public outing into one for both flowers and a suitable tailor.
* Sorni, Miri, Anastasios, Hendry, Talos, and Aedryan pay a visit to the market, where they discuss options for flowers.
* While Aedryan works with the owner of the flower shop, Miri and Sorni discuss Miri’s notes and the language of flowers: Sorni wants to know about flowers that mean love and conviction, and marvels over how extensive the language is, while noting that she’s hadn’t typically received flowers herself growing up.
* The shopkeeper suggests several flowers representing various forms of devotion and fertility before finally suggesting a chrysanthemum — a beautiful but highly expensive flower. When Aedryan expresses concern about spending a lot of money, the owner suggests that spending the money demonstrates security without the help from the gods, Aedryan agrees to the expensive flowers and concludes her business with the shop.
* A page arrives with a box in-hand and, after Sorni’s thorough questioning, delivers it to Miri: it’s four lemon cupcakes, each decorated with Miri’s favorite flower (Snowdrop) on top of them.
* After enjoying the treats, the group decides to continue shopping.