The Sooner, The Better (Session Summary)

**The Sooner, The Better** details the events of the May 23, 2021 session where the party deals with the aftermath of Ambassador Peck's visit and request.

## Session Notes

* Cecily and Talos arrive at the palace with the news that David is planning to start the war as soon as possible, confirming Cecily and Hendry’s kidnapping was designed to keep the group separated (which obviously worked out well for him) while the Cleiyan Ambassador’s request to have Simon publicly tested was designed to cause unrest — both so that He could begin the war.
* After a brief scuffle between Cecily and the group, they begin discussing plans for the war: making allies.
* Theo notes that the Ebrian Resistance would be an excellent resource for the war. While both Chae and Simon agree, Simon expresses disinterest in traveling. Aedryan asks about sending word to the Resistance instead, but Simon suggests envoys in the form of Theo and Chae.
* Simon notes that he needs to have knowledge of what the other side of the war is doing, and taps Talos for the job.
* Cecily announces that she will accompany Talos — regardless of whatever Anastasios may say to object — and the team begins discussing how best to distract Anastasios from learning about it. Chae suggests Sorni’s family, but Simon notes that such a distraction would only last for so long.
* Theo suggests sending Ani and Sorni on a trip to another country to court allies, while conveniently omitting the fact that Cecily would be accompanying Talos, but Cecily says that at least one member of House Raven should be present to handle its affairs.
* Aedryan brings up the land dispute she and Simon handled earlier in the day, and Cecily suggests putting Sorni and Anastasios to work dealing with the common people and their day-to-day concerns as a way to rally support for the war.
* Some discussion later, the team has their assignments:
	+ Chae and Theo will go to the Ebrian resistance to plan out how to take the Isles back from the Gods
	+ Talos and Cecily will go to Cleiya to find out what rumors are being spread about Simon and to learn about the Gods’ plan for the war
	+ Anastasios and Sorni will tour the country to build public support for the war while managing the day-to-day affairs of the kingdom
	+ Simon and Aedryan will deal with the nobility, the Fae, and other issues related to the war.
* Talos asks when the groups should ship out, and reminds the king that there’s still the matter of the public “Fateless” test that he has to face, but Simon asserts that he and Aedryan will handle it. Rather than have everyone leave as soon as possible, Simon suggests that Theo and Chae leave first, followed by Anastasios and Sorni, then Cecily and Talos.
* Theo teases Simon, suggesting that Anastasios creates numerous scandals to keep people from noticing that the king does nothing but read books and play with inventions, prompting Chae to ask where Hendry is.
* Cecily and Talos confirm his health, but Cecily says that Hendry will be disappointed to know that she’s chosen to travel with Talos — which Chae rightly points out is his problem.
* Cecily goes on to suggest that Aedryan and Simon should be married before everyone embarks upon their respective journeys, but Aedryan doesn’t think that a wedding can be planned in a matter of days, especially for a King.
* Simon agrees but reminds her of several factors that work in their favor: his parents are dead, Aedryan’s are in Astrapolis, a war is looming, and it wouldn’t make sense to have a wedding in a church for the Gods they’re currently trying to defeat.
* Aedryan can’t help but agree, and admits that she would rather her parents not be in attendance. Simon reveals that she’s spent a month’s worth of money within a week, leading to disappointed frustration from Aedryan and anger from Chae, who tells Simon to cut the woman off.
* After some discussion about how to handle Aedryan’s family, Cecily breaks the tension by bringing up wearing something other than black for the wedding (and this note-taker hopes she doesn’t wear white!), and Chae bristles at the idea of wearing more dresses.
* Following some fun innuendo and a death threat, Simon says that he and Aedryan need to put in an appearance at the festival, and then head back to Astrapolis to plan the wedding — the sooner, the better.