A Dove of Blue

A Dove of Blue is the 36th game in the Lifelight Campaign. The Revenants prepare to face the Royal Council and take the blue Lifelight Seal for themselves, but are faced yet again with the cost of their ambitions, and betrayal of the likes they have never known...

## Featuring

### Player Characters

* Akoah
* Anders
* Belo
* Chrysanthemum
* Karutaar
* Zeviro

### Significant NPCs

* Alawynn Lunor
* Amalio Aumat
* Amos Aumat
* Arall Esalor
* Arlos Karax
* Athil Esalor
* Azaros Aumat
* Ectus
* Emal
* Eros Arbel
* Hewitt
* Isilis Forras
* Koseth Belon
* Lahrin
* Lakiir
* Liswynn Lunor
* Lumus
* Omor Belos
* Orowynn Lunor
* Raashir
* Raen Mauro
* Rema Fornis
* Salaros Mauro
* Seris

## Game Notes (29/10/23)

### Part 1

#### Anders

Athil tells The Revenants that the meeting will be at 8 pm on the 25th January 298 AU, giving them 30 hours to complete any preparations. He lets them know that Arlos Karax is on his way to Aum, as a backup plan. Karutaar gives everyone jobs to do, saying that Anders will go and steal hair from the palace, she will go and speak to Orowynn, Zev will go shopping, and Chrys will guard Akoah. The group splits to pursue their missions.

Anders heads to the palace through the servants entrance, disguised as a halfling servant. At Amos' chambers, he finds Asalok Orvan guarding the door, and he tells him that Amos will be out in about half an hour. Anders uses the time to try and find Ectus' chambers, but is unsuccessful. When he returns, the chambers are empty, so he goes in. He spends 45 minutes searching and cleaning the room, and finds a hair that he believes to Amos. He continues to search, and find letters on his desk, addressed to other Lords as if Amalio had already declared war. He looks through the drawers of the desk, and unlocks one. He finds a pouch filled with coins, some from the Aumateran Empire and some that he doesn't recognise, as well as an old journal. He reads it, and finds logs of meetings between other council members, most notably between Athil and Ectus. He sees that the most recent meeting with Ectus was two days ago, but hears footsteps before he can read more. Amos and Asalok Orvan enter the room and ignore him, talking about sending a letter to Asalok's mother, and she would never allow it. Anders leaves the room as they continue to talk.
He spends 30 minutes looking for Ectus' room, but can't find it. He eventually asks a servant, and they give him directions, but it takes another 75 minutes to finally find the room. He finds Isilis Forras guarding the door, and tells him he's there to clean. He is told that he's not Allya, and Anders claims that she's in the infirmary, and he was sent instead. Isilis sends a guard to go find her, but when he returns he says he can't find her. Isilis tells him to go get her, and the guard leaves again, returning a few minutes later, claiming that Allya said she hadn't been to the infirmary. Anders tries to defend himself, but Isilis slashes him across the neck with his sword. Anders falls, and Isilis stabs him in the neck, when Anders says "may Vaaryl strike true." He from the wound at 6 pm on the 24th January 298 AU.

### Part 2

#### Karutaar

At 2pm, Karutaar leaves Athil's estate, and manages to find Orowynn in the palace at 4pm. She sees him trying to move a box from a storage cupboard, and she offers to help. He declines, but says if she wants to talk she can walk with him. They go back to his chambers, and he tells Karutaar that he's returning to Moonveil. She asks why, and he avoids the question, so she asks about his investigation of The Shield. He tells her he found information, but he can't share it. He warns her that she and the other Revenants should pack up and come back to Moonveil with him, as they may be in danger. She pushes him for information, and he explains that he may have invoked the ire of several powerful people, and that we may be in danger because we travelled with him. She tells him that she has to stay in Aum, and she needs to know the full story. Reluctantly, Orowynn tells her that he may have implicated us in a plot. He asks her to come with him again, but Karutaar declines, and helps him start moving boxes to his carriages. As she's carrying out a box, she collects a hair off the top of one. Orowynn, Alawynn, and Orwynn get in the carriages, and leave at 5 pm. She finds a ruby of regret on the floor behind them.

Karutaar messages Lumus to ask where she is as she needs to talk to her, and a voice from behind responds. Karutaar tells her that the Lightvassal writ she gave her before won't work now, and so she swaps it for the writ from the King, and tells her if she's going to rob the palace, she should do it at around 7pm the next day, as there will be a trial going on. Lumus asks for her address, and she gives it. Lumus tells her she'll meet her there afterwards, and she'll split what she gets with Karutaar.

She sends a message to Raen Mauro, asking if he could come back to Aum within the next 30 hours. He says he could, but he won't, as he doesn't want to anger his father. She sends another message to Elira, asking if anything weird has happened since she was put on trial, and she says no, but that she is on her way to Aum to deliver a report. At 5:30pm, Karutaar goes back to Orowynn's room, and finds some more hairs, and a note saying "several books unaccounted for, possible thieves in the palace." Next, she goes to try and find Isilis, but she can't, so changes her focus to Omor instead. She finds him at 6pm, with Amos and Asalok. They discuss Omor having to convince a woman of something, and Asalok thinking it's ridiculous. They go into a room, so Karutaar leaves.

She heads back to Athil's estate and sleeps, waking up at 2:30 am on the 25th. She sees that Zeviro still isn't done making his spell, so she asks Chrysanthemum to protect him when he does use the spell. At 6 am he finally finishes making the spell. Anders hadn't returned, so Karutaar messages Athil for an update. He tells her that something has happened to him, and he'll update us later but we need to see the job through. She messages Lakiir to let him know what's going on, and he wishes her good luck.

#### Orowynn's Memories

Zev and Chrys use Hollow Mind to go into Orowynn's memories with the hair Karutaar had collected. They get in successfully, and see it looks like a marble corridor, with black tendrils coming off some of the paintings. Zev sees a painting that depicts Orowynn surrounded by shadowed figures looking stressed, and they decide to go in. The memory is of Orowynn sat with Athil, Raen, Seris, and Emal, discussing the war. Seris and Emal are sent out, and Athil asks Orowynn if he'll help fund the rebellion in The Blightlands, but Orowynn storms out, disgusted. Chrys and Zev leave the memory, but manage to stay in his mind.

They go into the next memory, which depicts Orowynn in his own chambers, frantically searching through his desk, but he can't find what he's looking for and he starts to panic. They leave the memory, and decide to split and go into one each. Chrysanthemum goes into a painting of Orowynn with two shadowed figures, and sees a meeting between him, Athil, and Raen, where he agrees to fund the rebellion.

Zev rips the tendrils of a painting that is completely covered in them, and sees a painting of Orowynn crouching in a hood. When he goes in, he sees Orowynn sneaking in Amos' room, cupping a sparkstone. He searches through the desk, and unlocks a drawer. He reads a folded letter, which Zev reads over his shoulder. It is an unsent letter from Amos to Salaros, saying that he has found a traitor in the castle, and he'll tell Salaros more when he arrives. Orowynn steals the letter and closes the drawer, and the memory ends. Zev leaves the memory, and he and Chrys are removed from Orowynn's mind.

#### Final Preparations

At 7 am, Athil sends Karutaar a message, telling her to get something out of a drawer in his desk. She does, and finds a vial of Lakiir's blood. He tells her it's to support our claim as we don't have Lakiir with us.

Chrys goes to the palace transformed into a rat, and tries to squeeze under Amos' door, but they don't fit. They wait until the hall is empty, then turn back to themself, and go in the room. They quickly grab a hair from his pillow and leave, turning back into a rat. They make their way to Salaros' room, but they see Omor guarding and decide to leave. They manage to find Ectus' room, but Isilis kicks them away, so they make their way back to Athil's estate. Once back, they tell Zev what Isilis' tattoos look like, and he recognises them to be speed and awareness enhancers.

The Revenants head to Malo's forge at 8 am, and Karutaar upgrades Vaaryl, with the help of some of Chrysanthemum's money. They head back to Athil's, and Karutaar dumps most of her stuff. She tells Belo, Chrysanthemum, and Akoah to stay behind, but Chrys decides to come along. Karutaar, Zev, and Chrys make their way to the palace, where they see Arlos Karax waiting. He apologises again to Karutaar, then explains that he has a backup plan. He's sent his retainers to Athil's estate, and they will help anyone left behind if things go wrong. They thank him, and go inside to meet with Athil.

#### Trial By Combat

At 10 am, the three are summoned to the throne room, where the entire Royal Council is present. They notice that the council members are not in their usual seats, with Salaros and Athil being moved to let Amos and Azaros sit beside Amalio. Athil speaks, telling Karutaar to present their issue. She begins by saying that she assumes they have all heard of the Lifelight Lords, and they all agree. She goes on to speak of the tragedy that befell them when the Lifelight Seal broke, and that Amalio now holds a piece of it. Everyone other than Emal seems surprised at the information, and Amalio says it's an interesting theory. Karutaar continues to explain that it's not a theory, and that there are nine others across Vitocria, for example, Queen Mol. She says that Seris and Emal should know that the gods intended for the Lifelight Lords to rule all of Vitocria, and they agree. Azaros interrupts, saying that the Aumats are descended from the Lifelight Lords, but Karutaar says that's not true, as they don't have golden blood. He argues that blood thins over time, but she shows Lakiir's blood in the vial. Azaros takes it from her and hands it to Seris to inspect. She asks who it belongs to, and Karutaar says that his name is Lakiir, and he's her half-brother. The council members start whispering, and Salaros Mauro chuckles. Azaros asks them what it is they want, and that they've already implied it so they should just say it. Karutaar says that Lakiir is the rightful ruler, and that we want the Lifelight Seal. Seris asks if we have him with us, and Karutaar says no, but she speaks with his voice. Salaros kneels next to Amalio and whispers, and then says that it is treason, and they can choose either a verbal or physical trial, and Karutaar picks physical.

Isilis is chosen as the opponent, and before the fight begins, he leaves and gets a bag. He throws it into the centre of the arena, and Anders' head rolls out. Lightbringers step forward and offer both him and Karutaar last rites, dispel magic on them both, and create a border for the arena. One of them picks up Anders' head and gives it to Chrysanthemum.

Isilis begins the fight, but when Karutaar attacks with Vaaryl, he seems confused and thrown off by the poison cloud. She casts a *spiritual weapon* in the shape of Anders, but he manages to dodge and dispels it. He kicks her to the floor, but doesn't actually attack, instead taunting her. She tries to cast *hold person,* but he resists it. Karutaar prays to Zevirax, and casts *shield of faith*, using her holy symbol for the first time publicly. He continues to taunt her, and she continues to use the poison clouds, until she throws Vaaryl at him. He deflects it, but she catches it as it comes back, and charges at him, cutting his cheek and drawing blood. He begins to get angry, and starts attacking her with his sword. He continues to get caught in the poison, and starts to cough and cry. He dispels her magic when she tries to cast *daylight,* so Karutaar creates a poison line, and leaps over him to attack him from behind. He runs from her, and throws down his sword, surrendering. Karutaar contemplates killing him, but instead walks forward and grabs him by the hair, and cuts it off. She points Vaaryl at his neck and takes his sword, then turns to face the Royal Council.

The members of the council begin to talk loudly amongst themselves, and Seris announces that the gods have made their favour known. The council splits into factions to talk, with Amos, Azaros, Salaros, Ectus, and Omor speaking together, and Athil, Emal, Seris, and Rema together. Both Azaros and Amos go to Amalio and start to beg him, with Azaros calling him 'your grace' and Amos calling him 'Lio'. Amalio stands and raises a hand, and everyone stops talking. He asks if the Lifelight Lord intends to supplant him, and Karutaar says no, he wants Amalio to rule in his stead as he rules over all. He nods and tilts his head to the floor, then takes off his necklace and holds it out in front of him. Karutaar goes to him, kneels, and takes the necklace, and thanks him. He drops the chain and leaves the room without a word. Amos, Azaros, Salaros, Emal, and Rema all follow him out. Omor goes to say something but leaves, and Seris hands over the blood vial then follows. Athil shakes Ectus' hand and thanks him for all his help, and explains to The Revenants that he had him watching Amos, but he's sure Ectus was watching him as well. Karutaar holds up Filip's head, and asks Ectus if he recognises him, but he doesn't. She accepts his answer, but doesn't believe it, and they see they'll meet Athil back at his estate.

### Part 3

#### The Truth

Karutaar, Chrysanthemum, and Zeviro collect Anders' body from the palace and make their way back to Athil's estate. Karutaar spends time attuning to the Lifelight Seal, and sends a message to Hewitt, saying that they have it and he can come see, and he says he'll be there tomorrow. After, they all see Tenebrae leaving Athil's study with a folded letter. Once he leaves, they decide to break into the study and look around before Athil returns. Zeviro looks through the books on the shelves, eventually finding the same book about Iyallune as before, but behind it he sees another book, which he pulls, and opens a door to another room. They all go in, and find it's a secret study. Zeviro leads the investigation, digging through the drawers of the desk. He finds a list of names with a similar naming convention to Lakiir, and each name has a birth and death year, the first one being 2-36 AU. Next to each date is C.O.D, and another set of letters, but none next to Lakiir. Zeviro continues to search, and eventually finds seals of all the major Lords, and another piece of paper, hidden in the depths of a drawer, that is blank. He pockets it, and puts everything else back where it belongs. They all leave, and go to their rooms, where Zeviro realises that C.O.D means 'cause of death,' and the other letters are how they died.

In the morning of the 26th January 298 AU, Zeviro casts *dispel magic* on the paper, revealing another list of names, one of which is the boy soldier, and another, Filip, both of which have a cross next to them. They recognise the names to be both Aumateran and Xhebari, and many being soldiers on The Shield, with roughly 200 names total. Karutaar recognises a couple of high ranking shield soldiers, and the spy names that Filip had given.

The Revenants see Athil in the estate, and he says they need to have a meeting. They all sit, and he tells them that Amalio died in his sleep, and that Amos is king regent. They realise they need to leave before Amos tries to take the Seal back. Karutaar messages Lakiir to tell him that they have the stone and they're on their way, and he replies saying he's spoken to Eros Arbel and they're good friends now, and that he says they can't trust Athil. She then messages Eros and says she has the missing link and that they don't trust Athil either. Eros responds by saying that they cannot bring Athil to The Shield, as he can't be allowed to plant anymore seeds. They speak to Athil again, and he tells them that Amos hasn't declared war, but that he has publicly blamed them and Orowynn for killing the King, Karutaar tells Athil he has to stay behind in Aum when they leave, to keep everyone off their backs, and he agrees. They grab Akoah from his cell, and look through his things, where they see a portrait of three Tabaxi, one black, one white, and a child one black with a white spot over his eye.

They go to leave, but the door won't open. When they turn, Athil and Tenebrae are standing behind them, and Athil says they have something of his. He asks them to take a seat, but they all refuse, and cast *zone of truth* on him, which he doesn't resist. Karutaar leads the interrogation, asking if he was working with Filip, and he says he was, that he was using him as a spy, who eventually started spying on Karutaar specifically. He assures her he didn't order him to turn against her, and that he can only assume he did that because he hated her. She asks if he killed any of Lakiir's family, and he says some of them. She asks specifically about his father, and he says he killed him because he was trying to stop him from using him or Lakiir. He says he won't kill them, and he wants to make a new Lifelight Lord so that they can all rule, with Lakiir as a figurehead, as he's grown somewhat fond of them. Karutaar continues to ask him about Filip, and he tells her that Ectus' spy did meet with Filip, but they all look the same, and they all use the same name. He explains Filip's explanation of "all clans on board," means that the Xhebari also want war.

Akoah whispers "the king," and Karutaar asks Athil if he killed him, and he says yes. He killed him with poison, to speed up the process of war. He explains that he's been amplifying the tensions between the Empire and Xhebaris, as it will make it easier to get the Lifelight Seals. He confirms that he had nothing to do with Saleria Aumat's death, and he has no idea what happened to Raela Mauro, but he thinks Salaros was involved, and he also thinks he killed his father. Karutaar asks him why he vouched for Elira, and he says it was to gain her trust, but he says he's very confused how Amos even knew about her. He says he was purposefully sloppy with the assassination to put the blame on a Xhebari assassin. She asks if he's killed any other monarchs, and he says no, unless they count indirectly killing Sarron the Silver. She asks why he ran from Iyallune, and he argues that it's not really relevant, but she pushes for an answer. He says that he attempted to manipulate someone for a higher position, but they were a personal friend of Ios, and he left, to return under the pain of death. They say that he needs to stay behind, to be their eyes in Aum, and he reluctantly agrees.

#### The Escape

The Revenants leave Athil's estate, and bump into Hewitt outside. He congratulates them on their success, and says he can't wait to meet them in person again. Karutaar asks if she can give him another favour, in exchange for teleportation to Moonveil, and he agrees. He leaves immediately once there, and they go to The Eclipse. The guards won't let them in, as they say it's been put on lockdown. Karutaar messages Alawynn to get Liswynn to let them in, and she does. He welcomes them when the gates open, and they explain that he, Alawynn, and Orowynn are in danger, as he has been blamed for killing the King. They tell him that the only help they can offer is that he can run with them, but he says he can't leave without Alawynn. They argue that there's no time to wait, before he realises that Raashir can teleport. He summons him, and he agrees, saying that he'll take Karutaar with him to explain. They teleport to the Lunor caravan, and Karutaar sits in a carriage with Orowynn and Alawynn. She explains the situation, and offers for them to be teleported back to Moonveil. Orowynn tells her to take Alawynn because he can't abandon his people, but that she's to stay in Moonveil, not leave the country with them. They go back with Raashir, and Liswynn and Alawynn hug. Karutaar says she knows what their father said, but she doesn't think it's right, and that they are adults who can make their own decisions. They agree to run with them, and quickly gather their things, before they all set out for Silverstone.

When they arrive, they go straight to Lakiir and Eros, and Karutaar picks up Lakiir and squeezes him. She hands over the necklace, and sends Alawynn and Liswynn out whilst they talk. They explain everything that happened with Athil, and Eros says he can house Karutaar's family when they leave. Zeviro hands over the list of names they stole from Athil, and Eros thanks them. He asks if they would like an escort from The Shield, and they agree. Koseth is summoned, and agrees to go with them. He also introduces Arall Esalor, Athil's brother, who hates him. He wants to go with them and work against Athil. They say they'll need supplies, and Eros provides what he can.