Saszi Snaps

In the Dungeons of Valour Haven, Sir Davion and Saszi are confronted by their cruel circumstances at the mercy of Turnkey Caledon while the remaining Six members retun to Vidal as they grow concerned for their absent allies.

## Recap

After recruiting the Three Magickos to assist in securing the Water Gate of the City and to contribute their Bomb should they provide the necessary ingredients. The whole bizarre interaction with the Magickos left the Six somewhat wary of the group but nevertheless convinced they are likely very powerful.

They return to their leader, Captain Vidal at Castle Valour where after some back and forth to decide whether to inform him of the possible Bomb they were forced to divulge it and the Captain despite being hesitant felt it was worth pursuing. Saszi inquires with the Captain whether it is possible to get permission to use his Necromancy in the city but the Captain is immediately dismissive fearing the Knight-Commander's response to such a request. Saszi and Davion go and inquire of the Knight-Commander whom they fail to convince and are subsequently imprisoned without the knowledge of their party.

## Summary

Davion and Saszi are locked in cells beneath Castle Valour where their treatment at the hands of Caledon is strict and cruel. They are greeted also by the presence of August Ravenrock whom they realize bears the name of the Township they passed by on their way to the City. After the Six at Bragna House dispatch the rabid zombie that Saszi had left behind, they grow concerned after Vandor *Sends* to Saszi and learns from the Harengon that they are in prison. Davion and Saszi go onto discover that August is in fact a soldier that was present during the Flight from Fort Raven who was slain during the battle and yet is alive now.

It was at this moment that the Turnkey Caledon entered the cells with additional guards to inform the new prisoners what is to be done with them. During this conversation, Saszi spoke up to the Turnkey who proceeded to strike him for speaking out of turn and demanded that he speak only when spoken to. Saszi continued to press with questions causing the Turnkey to continue striking him and prompting Sir Davion to attempt to appeal to the Turnkey who perturbed by their insistence to behave unlike prisoners orders another guardsmen to strike Sir Davion if he continues speaking.

Saszi who was already close to going over the edge was suddenly knocked clean off his mental balance by the beating resulting in 'Zizi' taking over and mocked the Turnkey. Taking this as a challenge, the Turnkey decided to take Saszi from his cell and have him placed upon the rack.

Upon the rack, Caledon and his guards brutally tortured the Harengon who remained resilient as 'Zizi' was 'fed up'. Dissatisfied with Zizi's responses under torture the Turnkey continually intensified the brutality pushing the Harengon to his limits. Once again the Mad Bunny mocked the Turnkey and told Caledon that he would come to regret his actions when Margrave Dandry sends word attesting to Saszi's story. Unshaken, even though the Harengon was clearly very weak Caledon ordered for another round of torture believing Saszi would survive. However, in the last moments of this mistreatment Saszi's body suffered a sudden collapse of its vitality and the prisoner died.

Having heard Saszi's message that he was in prison earlier, Vandor, Tully, Tore and Deagon head to Castle Valour to appeal to Captain Vidal for help in freeing their comrades. At the entrance to the Castle, they are informed they will have to get permission from inside before they can enter. These are part of new orders since the orders for a curfew and increased security. Some time alter they are able to reach their commanding officer who reveals that he was in fact unaware of the full situation himself and that the Six likely knew more than he did. With the Six's urging, Vidal requests an emergency audience with the Knight-Commander to address the issue. He is informed that the Knight-Commander will address them the next day.

It was during this time that Saszi's body is returned to his cell where August assumes the Harengon is merely sleeping and refusing the wake. However, the truth becomes unwittingly clear to Sir Davion who recognizes that his friend has truly died.

When the Six are finally granted their audience at Dawn the next day, Gamreve informs the party that regrettably their friend Saszi was dead and the angered Six began demanding for their other compatriot to be released at once and for the Knight-Commander to give an explanation. The party insisted that Gamreve was to blame regardless as he is the ranking Officer-in-Charge. Gamreve reveals that he is in fact aware that there is a spy within the city that has been present since before Warlord Halassey left for his fateful mission. This spy played a role in what would lead their Lord and Master along with the Majority of his Legion to their deaths and he had to find out who they were. Continuing on, Gamreve when confronted with Saszi's confession that he was a necromancer felt that he had to act accordingly or arouse a plot by the spy to descredit the Knight-Commander. What's more, Gamreve hoped to use Saszi as a lure to force the spy to show his hand. Again, it was unfortunate that this claimed his life.

The explanation gave the Six no comfort and they again demanded their friend be summoned. Gamreve also ordered that another prisoner be brought up who he also believed to be connected to the Spy. He would also order for Caledon to be brought up afterwards as the Turnkey had in fact disobeyed an express order not to do anything with the prisoners before the Knight-Commander was able to administer his 'tests'.

The Six inspect their fallen comrade together and whilst they were looking him over, suddenly Saszi opens his eyes but does not draw breath. A couple members of the party draw weapons as they realize Saszi is not alive despite his movement. But Saszi is able to interact with them and they soon realize that something similar that has happened to August has also affected their friend. His condition seems to mimic the description given by Fort Jerosant regarding the spy.

Returning Saszi's Spellbook to him, the Six prepare themselves to question the Turnkey who is brought up to face the Knight-Commander who proceeds to berate the soldier for failing to obey orders and the Turnkey turns pale when he sees Saszi. Using *Read Thoughts*, August is able to determine that there is another presence in Caledon's mind that is interfering with his recollection and actively manipulating his thoughts. This becomes clear as the two personalities manifest and the Turnkey is horrified to hear another voice from his mouth.

Despite this uncovering, Zizi who had been pouring over his Spellbook got up and stood between Caledon who was being surrounded by guards and the seated Gamreve. He looked to the party and said "Do not worry, I will take of this..." and opened his booby-trapped Spellbook unleashing two instantaneous Fireballs that engulfed him and the room.

Despite the carnage, no immediate casualties occurred but most were severely wounded. Saszi himself knocked unconscious. In the chaos however, the Six moved to ensure Saszi could cause no more harm and Sir Davion moved to protect the wounded Knight-Commander. Tore made sure the suddenly waking Saszi would stay unconscious by knocking him again which threw him back into a motionless state. However, fearing more danger from an unpredictable and suicidal Necromancer August unleashes an overwhelming barrage of lightning that instantly destroys what remains of Saszi.

The grief and confusion of the moment took the party. Gamreve and the Six realizing their desperate situation agree to work together and to be forthright together to weather the storm that is still coming. Vidal retires to his chambers to drink and ponder his career. The Six also retire with him, drinking and attempting to make sense of what has happened and somehow decide what to do next.

All this occurs as the Castle emits smoke from the blast on the day that Gamreve announced that Warlord Halassey was indeed dead to the City public...

## Featured Characters

### The Six

* Sir Davion Phylund
* Saszi Vermillion
* Deagon Sunseeker
* Tore Wolfram
* Tully Tanglefoot
* Vandor Tah

### Returning Characters

* Vidal
* Mrs Gerondin
* Mr Gerondin
* Wulf Phylund
* Knight-Commander Gamreve
* Margrave Dandry (Mentioned Only)
* Anthelme Halassey (Mentioned Only)

### New Characters

* August Ravenrock
* Daniel
* Unnamed Guardsman dubbed "Colin"
* Caledon