Masquerades and Interrogations (Session Summary)

**Masquerades and Interrogations** details the events of the July 19, 2020 session where the party experiences the highs and lows of partying with a lord and meeting with the queen in Veitium.

## Session Notes

* As Aedryan and Simon prepare to have their conversation with Queen Lilla, Princess Eneuli introduces herself to Sorni and expresses surprise over her marriage to Anastasios – saying that people generally thought Anastasios preferred the company of men. Sorni laughs off the idea and answers with vague comments about her alleged marriage. The two end up commiserating about their families.

* As the group prepares for what is sure to be a horrible dressing down, the rest of the group readies themselves for a party at Lord Idaxis’ manor. Cecily makes her way to Aedan‘s room, angry over the woman’s earlier rash joke, and throws a knife at her when Aedan opens the door. After apologies are exchanged, Cecily, Talos, and Victoria meet up with Anastasios, and they make their way to Idaxis’s manor.

* When the group arrives, the party has already started. Anastasios whispers something in Victoria’s ear, which makes her visibly uncomfortable, and they head inside.

* Talos takes Cecily’s arm to escort her into the manor, and she asks him for his opinions on which one of the group Idaxis will *“go for”* first. Talos suggests that Idaxis will go for Victoria, citing her quiet demeanor during the initial ride to the palace, while Aedan’s boisterous nature may have put him off. Talos further reasons that Anastasios’ presence would discourage Idaxis from making any moves on Cecily. Although Cecily agrees that Victoria may be a safe bet, she also believes that Idaxis may be a social climber who may try to make a play for her hand.

* Aedan pushes Talos to Cecily, insisting that he ask her to dance. Talos does so, and the two begin dancing. Anastasios asks Victoria to dance with him, which she accepts.

* Lord Idaxis approaches Aedan, and she asks whether masks are customary for such events or if it’s a new, experimental idea. Idaxis tells her that masks are customary to avoid issues should a person step outside of their marital arrangements. He invites Aedan to dance, and she accepts. As Aedan and Idaxis dance, he presses her for information about how long Aedan has known the King and he seems impressed that she’s already a lady-in-waiting after knowing Simon for 2 months.

* Aedan takes his comment as an opportunity to rib at his (likely) ineptitude with the ladies, but Idaxis changes the subject to ask where she’s from. Aedan spins a fabulous tale about descending from a family of sixth-finger-removing surgeons who had to miss the Late King’s funeral due demands from a drug lord that caused them to be away for 3 months

* Idaxis asks Aedan how she knows Aedryan, and Aedan spins another tale: Victoria requested the services of Aedan’s family, which lead to a series of unfortunate events that could cause a political dilemma if shared. Rather than try to kill her to keep her quiet, Victoria and team decided to drag Aedan with them – since surgeons are too difficult to kill.

* At Aedan’s claim, Idaxis asks whether it would be a smart move to distract Aedan in the event he wants to assassinate someone she’s close to, prompting Aedan to ask who he would want to assassinate. Idaxis assures her that there is no one he intends to assassinate *now*, but promises that the night is still young.

* During Aedan and Idaxis’ conversation, Anastasios notices something shocking occur between Cecily and another person, causing him to try to get Talos’ attention. Talos begins trying to find the other person, and asks Cecily to look for a person wearing a green dress.

* While the group focuses on the goings-on of the party, King Simon, Aedryan, and Sorni are preparing to engage with Queen Lilla on the little matter of Simon’s relationship. Princess Eneuli offers words of encouragement but waits outside while the three enter the Queen’s study to begin their conversation.

* Simon leads Aedryan and Sorni to their seats, and keeps Aedryan’s hand in his lap – allowing Aedryan to feel that he is quite tense. She squeezes his hand to try to reassure him.

* Queen Lilla begins the conversation by asking Simon to explain his decision to pair up with a girl from a common family. Although Aedryan tries to allay the Queen’s concerns by explaining the circumstances surrounding their relationship, Queen Lilla dismisses them and takes the opportunity to round on Sorni by telling her that Anastasios is a “known scoundrel.”

* Simon asserts that the situation is not her concern and she should not be meddling in Trafarnese affairs, which includes his relationship.

* Sorni, meanwhile, acknowledges Anastasios’ reputation but says he’s sincere and she couldn’t help but be charmed by his dedication.

* Aedryan echoes similar sentiments about Simon: that she was nervous, but was fortunate enough to get to know and fall for him through his pursuit of her.

* The Queen tells the two to stop being “simpering sycophants,” but Aedryan assures her that their intent is only to be respectful, and she appreciates the opportunity to discuss the situation with her – that she looks forward to similar discussions for *years* to come. The Queen tells Aedryan that she will not be around for years, as she has been working on getting Simon and Cecily together for nearly a decade.

* Simon, Sorni, and Aedryan all make arguments against this, with Simon saying that he and Cecily is “not happening;” while Sorni states she’s never heard Cecily express interest; and Aedryan attempts to play on her and the Queen’s shared desire for what’s best for Simon, recognizing that both he and Cecily know what they want for themselves as individuals.

* Queen Lilla asserts that neither Sorni nor Aedryan truly know Cecily enough to understand how she feels, insisting that Cecily cried following Simon’s coronation, and that she had to harden herself after Simon allegedly broke her heart.

* Sorni counters by saying that Cecily isn’t the type to cry over lost love, much less make it obvious to others, and that Cecily isn’t as sensitive as the Queen believes. Aedryan says that Cecily was right about Aedryan being willing to do something she wasn’t: give King Simon her heart.

* Simon reveals that *Cecily* rejected *him* and asks that the Queen finally let the matter drop – she doesn’t. Instead, the Queen continues to press Simon by saying that Cecily’s rejection was due to her belief that she was going to die. As Cecily yet lives, the Queen argues that Simon can talk to her and begin a relationship with her instead of Aedryan “the dockside strumpet” Seycilia. She says that Aedryan’s ill-intent has distracted him.

* Sorni very kindly defends Aedryan and argues that her friend’s intentions are not inappropriate. She further defends Simon’s relationship with Aedryan, saying something akin to true love seems to be at work between them. Her words give the Queen pause, and she asks Simon whether that is truly his opinion on the matter.

* Simon looks at Aedryan and Sorni, who can sense that he’s about to say something that may get the group in trouble, but offer him silent encouragement anyway. Simon tells Queen Lilla that he agrees with Sorni’s opinions, and reminds his aunt that she is not his monarch and has no say in matters of his marriage and succession. He also takes the opportunity to inform her of the military units he has on hand, as well as the allies that joined their venture, and he would not hesitate to use them if necessary.

* The Queen relents, stating their meeting is likely over and asks if she should begin planning a wedding for Simon. He counters by asking if she has enough on her plate after forcing Eneuli to marry. Lilla tells Simon that Eneuli is doing her duty to Veitium, and laments that he doesn’t seem to be willing to do the same for Trafarna – a point with which Simon vehemently disagrees.

* Simon agrees the meeting has concluded, and suggests everyone retire to their rooms. At this, the Queen informs the group that Cecily has a room across from Simon, and Aedryan has been placed in the Servants’ Wing as she is not a member of the nobility. Simon bristles, insisting that Aedryan will stay with him, but the Queen reminds him of the scandal it would cause. Sorni offers Aedryan to stay with her, stating that family takes care of family, but Aedryan politely declines Sorni’s offer as Simon has made his intentions clear and she intends to stay with him.

* Simon asks Sorni to take Aedryan outside so that he can have a word with his Aunt. As Sorni escorts Aedryan out of the room, Simon and Lilla begin shouting at one another.

* Princess Eneuli, hearing the shouting, asks how badly the conversation went but Sorni and Aedryan insist that it could have gone worse. The three speak about the Queen’s harsh words, and Eneuli admits that her mother is forcing her to marry her soon-to-be husband, so she doesn’t necessarily disagree with the comments the two are making.

* Eneuli offers to show the women to their rooms and, although they agree at first, Eneuli’s comment about Lilla possibly killing Simon unnerves Aedryan, and she decides to wait in case there’s a problem. Sorni agrees to stay with her. Eneuli warns that Simon will be furious when he does leave the fight, but Sorni and Aedryan promise that Aedryan will be able to keep him calm.

* As they talk, Lord Idaxis rushes up to the group, apologizing for missing the King when he arrived and asks if the King is available so he can offer his apologies for being tardy. Eneuli asks Idaxis about the party at his estate and why he isn’t there, but Idaxis doesn’t seem aware of a party taking place.

* Aedryan and Sorni press Idaxis on his confusion, reminding him that he mentioned the party to Cecily, and Eneuli reminds him that he was with the King upon his arrival. Idaxis asks about Cecily, referring to her as Simon’s fiance, and both Aedryan and Sorni respond in their own, frustrated ways that Cecily is *not* Simon’s fiancée. Sorni and Aedryan realize that they should check on the rest of the group.

* As they prepare to leave, Simon storms out of Lilla’s study, and is surprised to see Idaxis with them. Eneuli tells Simon that someone is at Idaxis’ manor in his place, and Aedryan and Sorni are on their way to see what’s going on. Simon joins them, and tells Aedryan that they’ll be taking a private carriage.