Fifty-Seventh Session - Return of the Kingmakers

Session opens with the group discussing how to handle the situation in Azkaresh, not wanting to keep this governor. Ishaq says to Max that Lord Roe, as an ancient dragon, will eventually want his hoard back and so they shouldn’t split it up lest he rampage and destroy Azkaresh. He’d rather put someone in power and run the city himself (along with the party) from afar -- he has experience with running large organizations from a distance. Celia brings up that they don’t know how to run a government, at least not in this particular city, and Alana doesn’t want to do this at all. Ishaq replies that he could shoulder the burden. Ishaq then says Celas would be easy enough to manipulate, since they have leverage over him regarding Max recently saving Hepatian (Celia however thinks he needs too much hand holding, he needs hand holding to cross the street). Ishaq suggests that they meet with others on the council, as they might be more a more competent fit. He wants to interview them to size them up, with the last possible and most difficult option being convincing Roe to return.

Celia suggests they go to get the sundial and then talk to Roe if he’s there. Ishaq says they should give him time to calm down, he's clearly suffering emotional turmoil. Celia says she wants to stay and guard Raashid with Raul while the others get the sundial and speak to him if he’s there, if not just come back and maybe send him a message to see if he wants to tolerate this possibility, if not then they can talk to the other council members.

Ishaq then says he has some important business to attend to first, so he might not accompany Alana and Markoris to Roe's estate. Alana and Celia debate bringing the sundial back immediately or not. Alana reveals she knows Geas when Ishaq asks and he suggests she make Raashid behave, but she doesn’t want to do that. She relents a little, saying she’ll only do it if they fix the gate before anything else. They can’t quite agree, and Ishaq leaves it in their hands as he heads to the market (with Max shadowing him). Celia stays behind to guard Raashid with Raul, and Alana and Markoris will go get the sundial from Roe’s estate and bring it back. They take gryphons to minimize travel time.

At Roe’s estate it’s completely abandoned, no guards or anything, but there’s the sundial and a letter on the throne. It says: “Thank you everybody, I hope to see you soon! Ankha.” The staircase down is gone, as are all the enchantments on the place, like Roe’s cleared it out. Alana grabs the sundial and they put it in her haversack! They get back on their badass gryphons just as Ishaq returns from the market.

Ishaq tried to shake Max twice, but shortly gave up — he is up to some shenanigans!! First he wants to get a forgery kit, and asks Max to take him to the Bishop’s place where he asks the bartender at the pub where he might get one and pays 20 gold for it, leaving another 1 gold as a tip. Max asks him what he needs the kit for and Ishaq rambles decoy language about arcana nonsense until Max stops listening. Then they go into another pub and he buys Max a drink, then takes out the Archive Writ that he had previously persuaded Raashid to give them for the library, which he references to study his handwriting. He uses his forgery skills and his new kit to write, in the governor’s handwriting, a letter. It’s gorgeous, it’s perfect, he could write an autobiography and no one would know it wasn’t by Raashid. He goes back to the same Clerical Sender they’ve used to previously contact Roe and says that he needs this letter ‘sent’ immediately, that it's from the governor to Ayleen. With a natural 20 deception check, the cleric doesn't question Ishaq's lie. The message is exactly 25 words and is as follows: “Hey Crescent, haven’t heard back. Hope the food is good. Sucks not to have magic? Ha ha, ha ha ha. And into the brighter night.”

Ayleen immediately responds: “Fuck you, Ishaq Duvainor, I hate you, I hate you more than life itself, please go away forever.”

Ishaq, who won't go away forever, feigns bewilderment over her response to the cleric. He tells the confused and deceived cleric that it must be some strange code, surely the Governor will want to know this message immediately, and he bids farewell. They then go to the market to offload some items he wants to sell: the two merchant tablets taken from a dead mummy body, his wizard black book, and the two phase spider venom fangs. He’s keeping his gem hoard for himself, taking to the idea of starting his own little draconic hoard. The tablets go for 2 silver apiece but it’s hard to get rid of the book and fangs. He goes back to the Bishop’s pub to try and get rid of those. “I’ve come to the realization that this is probably the best place to unload some items that may be unappreciated by the merchants,” says Ishaq. The bartender takes a look at them — he says he can fence the book if he can find a buyer but buys the fangs now for 300 GP/each. He’ll probably need at least a day to fence the book and he takes 20% as a fee. They shake on it and he has a surprisingly strong shake for a bartender, but Ishaq makes his constitution save and bids farewell with a “I’ll check in tomorrow, I trust all is well and you need the item, here you go.” They head back to the palace to meet the others.

Ishaq comments that Alana looks very happy and she admits she only cared about the pillar and everything else was just distraction. He comments briefly on Roe’s suffering being anecdotal but you know, world destruction is higher on her list. Ishaq just nods like it’s not as high on his list.

Celia asks Alana, “Is not one person’s perspective their whole world?” Alana sighs very loudly. Ishaq asks if Celia has been reading philosophical books and Celia reminded him that she cannot read.

They ask Celia how Rashid’s doing and she says he pissed himself a little and smells bad. They roll perception for pants to verify that he peed. Alana determines that yeah he did, but she could clean him up with tidal wave. Celia loves her a little now.

The group now needs to decide what they’re going to do about Azkaresh’s government issue. Celia wants to message Roe, Ishaq says they need to wait for him to cool down lest Roe return and eat him out of draconic fury. Celia suggests researching those on the council now, and the party talks to Raashid to get the names of the active council members. Ishaq, fresh off his success with forging the Governor's penmanship once, plans send individual letters to the members asking for a meeting in Raashid’s hand, and then they can vet the council one by one.

“Raashid, how many people are aware of the situation that Roe has left his position on your council? We need the names of the other council members," asked Ishaq, somewhat deceiving Raashid about his intent.

He gives them the names:

Niara and Baron, on the high council

Salim and Azaera, on the citizen’s elect (lesser council)

Captain Najhila, the captain of the crown’s guard

Captain Isma, the captain of the starred guard

Haspen, head of the merchant’s guild

and Lords Kaleth, Bashira, Jiang, Amira, Irani, and Nahla, on the inner council

They discuss bringing Celus in to help guard Rashid, and the conversation shifts to what happened to Max in the treasury and how to figure out what caused it. They have no idea so Ishaq declares he needs a muffin. Max leaves the room.

Rashid gives them all gorgeous guest rooms and asks Celia if she wouldn’t rather stay there. She says no, she wants to be in his bed. (P.S. Celia sleeps naked. Rashid is traumatized.)

The next morning, it is beautiful and the birds are chirping out in the palace gardens. Ishaq wants to check everyone is okay with interrogating the council, to find someone intelligent, who meets their vision, and who will be decently easy to control. When they say yes he spends his morning forging the letters from Roe. It’s decided Ishaq will charm and Max will interrogate and Alana and Celia will roll insight to assess them. Markoris will do background checks for everyone. While Ishaq is writing letters Celia goes to sell some extraneous items (she’s rich now) and Markoris chats with Alana.

Ishaq’s Letter:

Greetings and salutations, [name] --

Your attendance is requested at the palace this evening, at dusk. This matter is of incredible security, and I beseech your discrete company. Dress is black tie.

Your lordship,

Governor Raashid

While Markoris and Alana were chatting, a little bird comes to find her and says, “We have the new location, tell us when you’re ready, Jadeth” and Alana writes back, “We have it but there’s something else we need to take care of first.”

Raul went to check with the Crown’s guard and when he comes back he says that Sol is on his way here. Ishaq goes o\_O and immediately goes to the Bishop to see if his item got fenced. It turns out there’s a bidding war and he managed to get Ishaq 18k for the book. After the fence fee it’s 1,440 pieces of platinum so they ask him if he wants it in a chest or what, and he decides to go buy a bag of holding to put his platinum in.

Upon returning to the palace he asks Rashid if he could have his cooks put out a feast and says they’re going to explain away his presence by saying that he’s taken ill, while Raul guards him. The cooks prepare a gorgeous feast with almost no notice and over the course of the day Ishaq starts getting letters back — most say they’ll be back, but Lord Kaleth claims he’s indisposed. Celus tells Markoris that he’s lazy as hell and doesn’t show up to anything so he passes on to Ishaq that this probably isn’t someone to consider anyway.

Markoris disguises himself as a member of staff and goes to eavesdrop under the guise of a servant with drinks and snacks and whatnot. He’s familiar with this type of info gathering. People slowly start to arrive, Britt describes them in great detail that the note-taker couldn’t keep up with but was much appreciated in building the scene. No one says hello properly to the first woman who showed up, who was Niara. Professor Baron comes last and he does greet her but it’s kind of icy. The commanders of the guards seem to have some kind of competition going. The elected officials are dressed down a bit. He focuses in on them, who are talking to each other about why they got called so quickly, what’s going on, and Salim says “it must be something important, otherwise why do it with such urgency, but at least the food looks good.” “Like that’s all you’re here for, I know you better.” “Well we’ll find out, have you seen Roe, he’s usually here early.” They seem in high spirits but she comments that he’s a coward. He focuses on the lords next but they don’t seem to have much of a rapport. One does brag that he solved a trade dispute last week, but seems greedy and anti-Raith. It seems like Niara is associated with Raith and they should be afraid of her. He passes on what he learned and Ishaq comes out to do his thing.

Ishaq claims Lord Rashid has come down with magical chlyamidia and can’t be here, but we are his agents of change, and Lord Roe has taken leave of Azkaresh so he asks of them the following so structure doesn’t break down:

1) How do you feel about the current sociopolitical dynamics between Raith and Azkaresh?

(Looking for disgruntled reaction, like thinking that Raith isn't upholding its duty)

2) We, as adventurers, have been tasked with reacquisition of Azkaresh wealth and treasure. What city projects should be prioritized?

(looking for projects that benefit the PEOPLE of the city)

3) As Lord Roe might be taken a long leave of absence, what should be done about his estate?

(Anyone who suggests they take it is A RED FLAG)

4) How would you fortify Azkaresh against a war?

Most take the first question fairly well, the only ones who look skeptical are Azaera and Irani, but immediately after his question Irani stands up and says they’re paying entirely too much to Raith for nothing, looking at Niara as he says so. The head of the merchant’s guild raises his head and says they’ve got so much trade it’s not a good idea to turn the tide there, taxes or not there’s a lot of money running through Raith. The commanders of the Guard don’t seem to care, but the Crown’s guard says she’s there to represent their interest but Alana gets the impression it’s just because that’s where her paycheck comes from. Niara says “I outrank most of you, and if this continues it would be considered treasonous” to which everyone starts bitching. The ones who don’t speak: Lord Bashira, who is taking notes, which Markoris glances at to read — they are very detailed notes over what everyone is saying and once in awhile she draws frown faces, usually about people yelling but it doesn’t have any of her own opinions — and Lord Nahla who doesn’t seem to like speaking in front of the whole crowd. She seems to want to talk to Ishaq afterwards. Baron doesn’t seem to think there’s anything wrong with the status quo. They’re getting off topic with the bickering, though.

The second question makes them look surprised except Baron, who’s nodding along like “I knew you guys were worth the money.” He says “The archives are in dire need of repair, they need at least one more wing. The acqueduct in the South corner needs some repair as well, but mostly I think we should be investing it in the city itself. There are plenty of projects and I myself have some research products I’d like grants for.” Alana determines that he’s not lying but what he actually cares about is the funding for his research. Niara is sitting very tensely and says they’re three months behind on taxes owed to the Crown and when she’s booed she says “You may not consider yourselves beholden to Raith but without them we would not be anything right now.” And bickering erupts again. The crown’s guard says they have trouble with the underworld stuff right now and just don’t have people to control it, while Baron says the business is perfectly legitimate. She says, “Some of the magic items that I’ve confiscated should not exist, let alone exist here.” And starts talking about permits. The merchant’s guild dude says too many people get attacked on the way into the city and they need to protect their trade routes better. Salim says there are many things he’d like to put forward — he was preparing a bill about poverty in the upper circle, there’s some kind of disease among the public mounts so there’s been less people able to come and go with regularity, and everyone deserves the right to move freely. He’s been putting together a petition for a university for those with magic or not and everyone goes “oh my god Salim none of your things ever work,” and continue to bicker.

The third question has Niara asking immediately where he’s going and Ishaq says it’s none of her business if he didn’t already inform her, basically. Baron claims he got a message earlier today that sounded very angry but was to the extent of “to hell with all of you, bye.” “Are you making that up?” “Why would I make up anything like that?” The commander of the crown’s guard says his estate is sizable and had people living on it, they should make sure anyone there still has protection. Ishaq confirms that everyone is gone, it’s emptied, and prompts Alana to describe what she saw. She tells the gathered that there was no one there and certain architectural changes, particularly that the stairs going down were sealed. People then start saying how sketchy he always was. Baron says they might as well leave it how it is, and Isma (the captain of the starred guard) suggests using it as an outpost especially for the safety of the merchants coming and going.

The final question, which Ishaq punctuates with “specifically, a god war,” and has to roll with disadvantage. Baron seems incredibly skeptical of a war coming and ask if Ishaq stirred something up. “Did you piss somebody off while getting our previous wealth back?” It seems like he’s also worried about something else, something turning on him. Ishaq reassures him there’s no immediate threat of war but they have to plan for contingencies. He uses the words ‘Raithir occupation’ in his speech and Nahla finally speaks up. “Against mortals we would have no problem, but if you’re speaking of a god war I don’t know how we would fortify the city against that.” Ishaq replies, “My good lord, I suppose you might be more knowledgeable about the divine rights than most, is that too bold of a statement to make?” “I’m just saying, we don’t have the strength of arms — we could bunker down if we had time to prepare… I’m not sure why you’re even considering it as a problem.” “Because it has been prophesied as a problem upon our travels and it’s my duty as a citizen to make sure people are prepared… I would be doing you a disservice to not bring up the possibility of a dire situation.” “I know you hate the catacombs, but we could make bunkers down there, it’s pretty much impenetrable as long as we could make sure to keep the weird shit out. We could definitely survive it. People have survived gods getting mad before, right?” Lord Bashira speaks up: “In Azkaresh itself there are two instances both long before the Raithir empire and we’re not sure if they’re true.” And talks about the history but agrees they don’t usually have a way of fighting them, and the key would likely be alliances with the correct deity which she could find a list of them. Lord Jiang says they don’t need a god’s help, they should just bunker down. Isma agrees, they’re in a pretty good position as long as they have warning but she could always use more funding for better equipped guards. Salim says, “You should not be getting more money, the kinds of things your guards have been doing to citizens of this city… we’ve had mentions of extortion, abuse,” and they start arguing. Ishaq insists he speak because they encountered corruption of the starred guard. Salim is starting to back down from the yelling but Azaera seems to get stronger as he shrinks and says “We know this is happening. You need to bring the starred guard under heel and make them the protectors of society they’re supposed to be!” The Crown’s Guard looks away, she doesn’t want to get in on this. Azaera and Isma keep arguing until Ishaq says you need to reel in the crown’s guard too, at which point Najhila says she’ll take them seriously if she heard them and the two head guards start bickering instead.

Markoris rolls investigation and Alana rolls insight and they get from Baron that he knows about the corruption and is probably part of it. Niara seems smug about the infighting and confident in her place. Nahjila is hard to read but Alana thinks she’d rather be anywhere but here and thinks everyone are complete clowns. Isma is wearing a nicer than average starred guard uniform, and there’s no paycheck for being on the council so how did she afford that? She does seem to believe in honor but her idea might not be the same as others. The head of the merchant’s guild is very very wealthy and doesn’t seem concerned about the city at all, just trade. Salim is a nervous fidgeting creature who seems to be preparing what he’s going to say next, but seems honestly incredibly impassioned about civilian rights in the city. Azaera is very easy to read, normally a blacksmith and not fidgeting but comes up to support Salim and seems like a very straightforward, pragmatic person who seems quite intelligent and hates political bullshit. Lord Bashira is still taking notes but in the margins Markoris can see her notes and she seems to be considering logistics on her own. Jiang is an easily annoyed person. He does seem to agree a lot with Salim even though he’s a Lord but he’s kind of a clencher and seems to have some kind of weird internal rage that doesn’t seem directed at Ishaq but does seem directed at the council. Amira looks like she’s having the time of her life watching everyone argue and only interjects when she can make them argue more. Irani wears very subdued but very wealthy clothes and really hates Raith and Niara but doesn’t necessarily care about the city needs either. Nahla has got her hands under the table nervously but even though she’s super quiet people seem to defer to her and she has a sense of ‘you don’t want to see her mad’ about her.

Ishaq brings his driftglobe up and gets everyone’s attention to thank them for coming on such short notice on this matter of utmost importance and apologizes for Rashid’s absence, reassuring them they’ll be contacted about upcoming ventures. A few stay behind to talk further — Salim, Azaera, Bashira, and Nahla — Ishaq says “I do love those with a sense of curiosity about them.”

Azaera speaks first, with Salim, that she’s heard of them a bit, that they saved Hepatian and goes on to discuss that there should be someone on the citizen’s elect on the higher council. Apparently she and Salim don’t even get to listen in on the higher council dealings and even if it’s not them think Lord Roe’s spot should go to someone of the people.

Nahla comes up next and looks between Ishaq and Alana and says, “I hope if there is a threat, an imminent threat, you would alert the council immediately.” Ishaq reassures her there isn’t an immediate threat it’s just a prophecy that it would behoove any city to start preparing for. “In terms of your present threats, my party and I have neutralized for the time being your issue with the dream devourers below, and I believe a peace treaty could be worked out with the underdark…” They discuss the empire and Nahla says “I wouldn’t be surprised if she knew every word that occurred at this meeting — Niara answers directly to the crown.” Ishaq says they have no desire to incite the wrath of Raith and Nahla suggests they tell Niara to go away if she comes to stick her nose in.

Bashira, looking a bit like a startled rabbit, offers Ishaq the meeting notes. He thanks her and offers a hand to shake, which she takes. (She has the hands of an academic.) He takes the minutes from her and gives them to Max. Bashira says. “I do know a little bit about all of you. I didn’t think it was pertinent to the meeting especially in front of Niara — I think it would be wise as Nahla said to keep her particularly at arms length. You can trust the others to a certain extent but they all have their individual interests they willl pursue. They’re for the most part decent people but you can’t take everything that they say as literal truth and I encourage you to go over the notes, just in case. I’ve also done a few preliminary calculations if you need them. Some of the things that were mentioned are actually very important.” (The aqueducts, they believe someone might be tapping it, and it’s a required investment for the city. She also discusses some other city improvement projects — there is quite a budget for research already, apparently.) She takes her leave politely.

Ishaq turns to the group once everyone’s gone and starts discussing candidates. His vote is to give power to both Azaera and Salim but they they could really do whatever they want. Markoris agrees that a co-governership between Salim and Azaera seems like a good thing but will distress the lords the most and Ishaq reiterates that they can do whatever because they have Rashid under their control.

Session ends with the party enjoying the feast for themselves!