A Knight To Remember: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:22, 17 May 2023

A Knight To Remember was a storyline run by GM Kenstrom from September 1, 2020 to May 8, 2021.

Villain Factions of Landing Streets

Beginning with the return of A Knight to Remember storyline (November 2020), the town's areas have been carved into various territories where some unlawful and villainous groups have attempted to claim as their own. Since the murder of the town marshal Khylon, and the explosion of the town barracks, and militia members hunted and Rone injured, the situation has invited a rise in criminal activity. Below is a rough map of some of the territory zones.

The Blood Cult

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The Knaves

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The Lich King

This section has not been added yet; please add to it now! See also: Barnom Slim, Vlashandra

Rone

This section has not been added yet; please add to it now! See also: Rone

The Rooks

This section has not been added yet; please add to it now! See also: Brotherhood of Rooks

A simplified chart showing the various factions fighting over the Landing, updated as of 30 April 2021

NPCs

Spotlight NPCs

Amos - New [[::Wehnimer's Landing|Landing]] citizen expanding established business operations to the frontier and aiming to take ownership of Dragonsclaw Arms. Owns sole rights to distribute and work on the newly-developed [[::Hand Pylon|hand pylons]]. Ran for the interim marshal position and Steward of the Guilds position on the town council. Later became the head representative of the Darkstone Bay Consortium.
Barnom Slim
Casiphia - A militia member and Thadston's lover, who nonetheless spoke in favor of his removal as marshal during his competency hearing. Ran for the interim marshal position afterward.
Cordarius Hodges - Regional Envoy of the Landing, who maintains relationships between the frontier town and key Imperial figures. Placed directly by Earl Jovery.
Dunigan - Captain of the town guard, which maintains everyday peacekeeping in the streets. Appointed by Khylon after the mayor appointed the latter to the interim marshal position. Uses hired mercenary help in addition to the town guards.
The Knave - An unknown figure leading a band of mercenaries establishing a foothold in the northern area of town and warring with the Rooks, Rone, the Lich King's army, and Malluch Burdos' disciples.
Larsya - The twelve-year old sister of Breshon Caulfield and Spensor Caulfield, currently acting as commander of the Hendoran outpost in the absence of the former. Currently a member of the Darkstone Bay Consortium.
Malluch Burdos
Mother - Leader of the Brotherhood of Rooks, currently attempting to hold territory in the southern and northeastern areas of town against the Knave, Lich King's army, and Blood Son's disciples.
Renpaw - The lifetime-appointed sole judge in the Landing, who would face Mayor Leafiara's request to remove Thadston from power, then later a request to postpone the Steward of the Guilds decision pending investigations. Whereabouts are currently unknown as it's claimed that the Consortium escorted him to Mestanir.
Rone - A mysterious figure wielding a set of the deceased Alchemist's magical gauntlets. Motives and goals, if any, remain largely unknown after nearly two years.
Stephos DeArchon - Wealthy merchant with connections throughout Idolone and a shady history of selling arms to the krolvin, which was pardoned by Mayor Cruxophim in a successful bid to retrieve Rodnay from captivity to Dennet. Ran for the Steward of the Guilds position. Whereabouts and condition are currently unknown as he's missed payments on the construction of his house.
Thadston Andrews - Former militia marshal removed from his position until such time as he can resolve his body being also occupied by Gabriela, the spirit of a dead woman from the Bleaklands. Ready to war against the factions laying claim to areas of the Landing when he's back to being himself.
Thrayzar - The technically current militia marshal, who was abducted by the Alchemist in 5118, then cursed by Raznel in 5119 before he could sufficiently recover to reclaim his position. Currently under protection of the Silver Gryphons and militia captains after being rescued from Jantalar fighting pits.

Supporting NPCs

Cutlass - Owner of the fish shop. Ran for the interim marshal position.
Dakris - Owner of the furrier shop. Ran for the Steward of the Guilds position, but shortly thereafter withdrew for unknown reasons. Later became a member of the Darkstone Bay Consortium.
Goblyn
Kilron - Owner of the pawnshop. Ran for the interim marshal position not during 5120, but during 5119. Currently a member of the Darkstone Bay Consortium.
Octaven - Grand Magister of the Hall of Mages who's attacked the Landing once in an attempt to get to Dennet Kestrel, but offered sporadic aid afterward. Also organized a sham trial of Pylasar. Was captured in a bane coffin by her underling Vlashandra and was going to eventually be released by Magisters [[::Raelee_Svala|Raelee]] and Cordarius, but rumors say her coffin has gone missing.
Vlashandra - Former Adjudicator of the Hall and a disciple of the Lich King Barnom Slim. Rumored to be active somewhere in the Landing as the Lich King establishes a foothold on the west side of town.
Walward - Owner of the siegery shop. Ran for the Steward of the Guilds position, but withdrew following an attack on his wagons, which he claims reminded him of focusing on the business he loves. Later became a member of the Darkstone Bay Consortium.

Deceased NPCs

Khylon - Former captain of the town guard, who successfully ran for the interim marshal position and was a former marshal... but was killed in an ambush by the Knave shortly thereafter.

Prologues and Epilogue

Synopses

[Note: These are highly abbreviated summaries of events largely intended as refreshers or teasers. For more details and (in most cases) full logs, please click each one.]

09/01/20 - Streets of Rage

Zealous thugs wipe away Malluch's followers' blood markings, then push further and set fire to Murdos' shop. While town defenders rush to protect shop and streets alike, three inbound ships fall prey to a mysterious explosion and the bandits slaughter most of the survivors as they make it to shore. A lone sailor makes it back thanks to Rone, but is unable to answer questions in his condition as he coughs up green ichor. Mother arrives to give him a claimed mercy killing and says the ships were the [[::Brotherhood of Rooks\|Rooks]]' and this new faction has sent a message they'll regret.

09/02/20 - Salvage the Situation (afternoon)

Debris from the explosions washes up and adventurers investigate to find elemental essences of air, earth, and water, silver coins, pewter statuettes of a bear, boar, and stallion, and a small shard of blood marble. Town guards collect and store bloated limbs for investigation and Gillien gets some green ichor on himself while kicking apart the debris, leading to a disease-ridden death.

09/02/20 - Town Matters, Marshals, and Mayors (evening)

Marshal Thadston announces that members of the Faendryl Enclave have agreed to act as his representation at his hearing before Judge Renpaw in two nights over whether he's fit to remain marshal. He says that we have no town mayor and if he loses his case, Leafiara had better go further and come for his citizenship, because in spring he'll come for her office--and even though he's under review, just as many eyes and ears are on her.

09/04/20 - Hearing Him Out or Hearing Him In

Judge Renpaw presides over a hearing unprecedented in his lifetime as Marshal Thadston's fitness to serve is put under scrutiny. Despite mounting questions over the magical light surrounding him, Thadston refuses answers and seeks to turn the tables, instead criticizing the double standards of challenging only him when the previous Marshal Thrayzar had been cursed into the body of an orc and when Captain Shinann, Mayor Leafiara, Captain Stormyrain, and the Order of the Silver Gryphon have done questionable things including most recently escorting Malluch Burdos' followers. Heated personal attacks fly and the hearing comes to a head with his lover Casiphia provoking the magic in view of the public until Thadston--or the Bleakwalker possessing him--declares everyone weaknesses and failures who weren't good enough for their lovers and families.

09/05/20 - The Lion's Share

Businessman and relatively new Landing citizen Amos the Lion does merchant work in the Sleeping Dragon Pub, an establishment he hopes to soon own, working on the newly-developed hand pylons--a market he now controls. He banters with adventurers as all parties get to know each other.

09/06/20 - Judge Dread

Judge Renpaw delivers his decision that Thadston did not exceed his authority as the laws are written now, but nonetheless is unfit in light of the magic influencing him and has been removed; if and when he can address and resolve that problem, his authority will be reinstated. Immediately after the verdict, though, a shadowy figure wielding acid-shooting hand pylons fires on about half the courtroom in a deadly attack! As questions mount about the attacker, Thadston is found stumbling around in Helga's back alley, saying he sacrificed himself to close the Bleaklands portal but none of them were worth it. As everyone tries to extend aid, Thadston pushes them away (sometimes literally) and says "she"--the voice with him--is all he has left of his wife and to leave them be.

09/09/20 (and 09/11/20) - Amost Curious Offer

Amos says he'll do what he can to figure out who was behind the attack on the courtroom. Meanwhile, he extends an offer to fill the role of Interim Marshal to quell chaos and unrest and potentially bring Thadston back to his senses. Objections are raised and Mayor Leafiara says she'll consult with the captains. Amos also says he's preparing a proposal to renovate Shanty Town and Leafi muses that, if anything, he should aim for Beldrin's council seat, which is business-related. He seemingly agrees to go through the process of candidate selection via the town council. Two nights later, Captain Stormyrain asks why the council doesn't consult the captains regarding filling the marshal position and says that she and potentially Captain Shinann will write to them.

09/13/20 - A Rone Cold Ultimatum

Rone comes to Moot Hall, having caught wind of Mayor Leafiara's proposal for a formal alliance, but the vigilante has other ideas and warns her to denounce the Rooks and all crime elements in the town or else justice will come for her too. Leafi presses for evidence or leads to no avail, but nonetheless is left to consider the idea. Meanwhile, a clerk brings word that Judge Renpaw wishes decisions on the two vacant town council seats by week's end. Candidates for Interim Interim Marshal are Amos, Casiphia, Khylon, and fish shop owner Cutlass. Candidates for Steward of the Guilds are Amos, Dakris the furrier, Stephos DeArchon, and siegery shop owner Walward.

09/15/20 - Barring Further Problems

The Rooks' urchin boy Acorn brings the names of Amos' "fireflies," but meanwhile drunk dockworkers in Helga's are taunting an also-drunk Thadston into a tavern brawl! Thadston eventually winds up in the Rook tunnels, where they warn everyone to leave so they can "take care" of him--which town defenders can't abide. A violent clash breaks out and even the new bandit faction finds its way there. After everything is clear, Thadston says that, title or no, he can rally the militia to attack the tunnels and end the Rooks--or maybe he should become a vigilante.

09/17/20 - Slick Burn

It's a busy night for three of the four Steward of the Guilds candidates as Dakris withdraws from the race, Amos has a potential lead on a man named the "Knave" being behind the pylon attacks and another potential lead on a well-trained red orc, and wagons of Walward's goods are set ablaze. A surviving mercenary protecting the wagons reports something sounding like the familiar hand-pylons...

09/18/20 - By the Books Die the Books, Lie the Hooks Why the Rooks

Suspicions run high and wild as Amos' ships come in and mass chaos ensues at the docks, River Tower East, and the Black Sands. Thadston defies the captains' orders to conduct an inspection by breaking vases--because he's inebriated, to relieve stress, or does he suspect something sinister? Figures appearing to be the Rooks ask for protection money at the docks and fire a brand new pylon at the second ship when they don't get it--but how and where did they get those resources? The ship diverts toward the beach, but the Rooks are already there lying in wait beneath the sands to ambush--but how did they know the right spot? Town defenders stave them all off, so Amos successfully delivers rune-etched hammers for himself and caged four-armed ogres to be released for a future hunt--but where or how did he acquire either of them and are his plans as simple as he claims? By the end of the night, there's an earnest debate as to who's a worse pick for Steward of the Guilds: Amos or one of the Landing's most hated men, Stephos DeArchon.

09/20/20 - Tacticalegalese

Mayor Leafiara delivers to Judge Renpaw her selection of Guard Captain Khylon, now to be Interim Marshal Khylon, as Renpaw and Captain Stormyrain discuss further details of Khylon's health and expectations for the presence of him or any Marshal. As for Steward of the Guilds, Leafiara requests a postponement on the decision pending investigations of the remaining candidates as suspects in the attack on Walward; Renpaw permits a 45-day extension.

09/22/20 - First Orders of Business in Order and Business

New Interim Marshal Khylon makes a splash with a jovial yet productive meeting on stopping crime in town. By the end of the night, following suggestions from town defenders, Khylon's agreed to seek a meeting with Mother, step up security at the docks, issue an arrest warrant for Rone, coordinate with new Guard Captain Dunigan to look into Amos and Stephos, investigate Dragonsclaw Arms and the Daily Darkstone, and look into Grand Magister Octaven's rumored disappearance.

09/23/20 - Rooking Forward

At Captain Stormyrain's suggestion, Mother meets with town defenders to discuss the Rooks' recent tactics and discuss their mission: protecting the Landing's independence as factions of the knaves, Barnom Slim's men, and Malluch's cultists move in to destroy the Brotherhood and potentially the Landing itself. After lengthy and contested discussion, Stormy concludes that she has what she needs from the meeting and Mother says to either watch the Rooks live or die, or join them as they fight to live or die. Meanwhile, the Knave puts a twenty million silver bounty on Rone, dead or alive...

09/27/20 - Rough and Tumble, Tough in Rumble

Adventurers, the militia, the town guard, Rone, and--to some extent--the Rooks race to defend the Landing and the tunnels beneath it as the Knave's men and the hand-pylon wielders of the shadows launch attacks on Burrow Way, Cutlass' fishing shop, Tykel's weapon shop, Walward's siegery shop, a targeted assassination of Magister Raelee in the outpost, the North Docks and the movers, and the Shanty Town boatyard. Rone takes an acid shot in the battle as three hand-pylon wielders, but tumbles away--to safety or into enemy hands?

9/28/20 - A Larsya, A Lark, and Alacrity

Larsya, currently in charge of the Hendoran outpost, celebrates her twelfth birthday with love and gifts from many local adventurers. Meanwhile, Amos says he's reached a deal with her to assist with exports to Bourth, but he'll be traveling for a few weeks to seek information on Thrayzar and get him back from a Jantalarian collector of creatures--either by bargain or, with aid, by force.

9/30/20 - Khylon's Last Battle

The Knave's forces ambush and overwhelm a group including Sir Cryheart and Magister Raelee about halfway to Solhaven while mounting a simultaneous attack in the Landing using mercenaries in impersonation militia uniforms. Marshal Khylon and the real militia do away with their uniforms and he orders a one-night pass for the Rooks as the Brotherhood gives support fire, but an ambush from the Knave forces Khylon into an explosive trap that leaves the militia barracks in ruins and the Marshal slain.

10/01/20 - Re-Rout

The Rooks and townspeople pay respects at the destroyed barracks, with the former group saying they'd help end this conflict. Thadston arrives later, saying it should have been him and not Khylon in the rubble, and relents that he needs help, asking that everyone plan how to rid him of the Bleakwalker. He's been quieting it with drink, but needs a lasting solution, for his sake and for Wehnimer's.

11/02/20 - Secret Agent Thad

Thadston brings information on the state of the Landing as four factions vie for territory and battle amongst each other in a turf war while the hunted militia withdraws in hiding. Pressed for his opinion on the likely identity of the Knave, he guesses Amos, Stephos, both, or someone pulling their strings, and suggests killing them both--or at very least taking them into custody--starting with Amos. The two men share a history in protection work that he relays to the gathered crowd, and how Amos came to be "the Lion"...

11/08/20 - Shipshape

Aboard the Albatross, which he ends up purchasing before the night is over, Amos briefs everyone that he's confident Thrayzar is in Jantalar and has arranged a deal with Alendrial and Ayred to get us there to take him back home after his allies among the Scions of Shaundara finish collecting information for him. He expresses hope that we smoke out the Knave sooner than later, but after he leaves, suspicions fly among the gathered crowd.

11/20/20 - Given the Rooks of Things...

The Knave seemingly revisits his tactic with the impostor militia attacking merchants, this time using impostor Rooks to slaughter the Frontier Days merchants before the real Rooks rain arrows down on them. Fighting spills into the streets, focused around Shanty Town and South Ring Road, with some concerns over a greater target like the militia barracks. However, town defenders and Rook arrows manage to drive the mercenaries off before anything more can come of the night... for now.

11/21/20 - Slim Pickings

The Knave's thugs light fires along South Ring Road, as the blood acolytes make a move elsewhere with blood-dripping swords, but all sides are met by resistance from town defenders, town guards, Dunigan's hired mercenaries, and Rook arrows. Rone makes a return amidst the madness, assuring Captain Shinann that they're on the same side, while the Knave forces double down on the offensive with hand-pylons and prisms. However, as the fighting goes on, Barnom Slim begins to raise the fallen Knave mercenaries as his own soldiers, eventually forcing the knaves and the blood acolytes into retreat. He assures everyone over thoughts that he still wants to meet for a promised dinner soon, with important matters to discuss--but what's "soon" to a Lich King?

12/01/20 - The Plan with the Man

As the Bleakwalker with Thadston grows stronger and harder to resist, he seeks answers on how to be rid of her. Landing adventurers and allies alike (...and also Magister Raelee) bring forth numerous ideas and suggestions, many of them involving Casiphia, and Thadston concludes that he'll work with a plan that doesn't endanger her or involve Grishom Stone.

12/02/20 - Tunnel Vision

Amos lays out the plan to rescue Thrayzar on the 12th, where he'll meet with the Jantalarian trader who owns Thrayzar as a pit fighting slave, while Landing defenders wait in the trader's escape route tunnel as he probably tries to move Thrayzar. After he leaves, the Rooks' urchin boy Acorn arrives to say that they're independently searching for Thrayzar and can help, though not by the 12th. They don't trust Amos--who he says is the one who hired the Armiger mercenaries to protect the town, since the town coffers weren't used and Guard Captain Dunigan doesn't have the funds.

12/03/20 - Coreful Consideration

Councilman Cordarius, Regional Envoy, hears out details and concerns about the rescue mission in Jantalar, which the militia captains and several members of the Order of the Silver Gryphon intend to go on. After some reflection, Cordarius approves of the operation and says that as long as those who decide to go tell him that they've made their decision days in advance of the trip, he'll get that information to needed parties ahead of time to prevent diplomatic incidents over any messes that might need to be cleaned up.

12/18/20 - Digging a Deeper Lich

Lich King Barnom Slim hosts a feast and asks to work together and help him return to his old haunt of Lich's Landing, implying that he doesn't need to be anyone's enemy as he says that Wehnimer's Landing already has enough trouble with the explosions and mercenaries. Those gathered aren't willing to help him force his way into Lich's Landing past Goblyn, who currently controls the seal leading to the underground undead town, but agree to seek her out and ask if she'd accept a new resident--or perhaps an army of them.

12/19/20 - Incurring Rescue

Many town adventurers go to Jantalar to save Thrayzar from his fate in the fighting pits--though the wild orc gives all parties a run for their money. Adventurers break up a slavery ring in the process and begin taking Thrayzar home only to find a slew of Jantalarian soldiers at the portal; however, Councilman Cordarius defuses the situation and the marshal, though still cursed, makes it home safely.

01/21/21 - Bloodlost

Town defenders and the vigilante Rone arrive at the Brass Tower just in time to cut off the blood cult from an attempted sacrifice of abducted citizens. The groups clash and the acolytes reveal a new ability to turn into elementals by sacrificing themselves in their blood fires, but adventurers eventually drive off the acolytes on the streets while the ones inside the Brass Tower remain holed up behind a door that even Rone's gauntlets can't get through. Afterward, Guard Captain Dunigan's hired armigers seek to arrest Rone, but militia captains Stormyrain and Shinann stand in the way... until the armigers call guards and have them arrested. Mayor Leafiara, Earthdiver, Xainthrax, and Hapenlok attack and drive the armigers off, but in the aftermath, even Rone says that seemed unnecessary. Leafi says Dunigan has yet to respond to her requests for meetings since he replaced Khylon, and Rone vows to learn more about Dunigan; Hapenlok, however, moves to draw him out by issuing a public bounty on his capture.

01/22/21 - Blurs and Guards, Casting How

Guard Captain Dunigan comes to discuss the previous night, and has Hapenlok tossed in the stocks for good measure until he retracts the bounty, but adventurers end up with more questions than answers. A new Darkstone Bay Consortium including Amos, Dakris, Kilron, Larsya, Larton, and Walward have signed a protection contract with the armigers. The armigers have also transported Judge Renpaw to Mestanir to visit ill family, or so goes the claim. His replacement, in the meantime, is Dakris' nephew Manard. Dunigan laughs off or mocks most of the concerns raised, but says that between the Consortium, armigers, and town defenders, we can push back against the Lich King, Knave, Rooks, and Rone to restore the town. He says he'll tell his armigers to settle down, but warns not to get in their way and that Mayor Leafiara's attack won't be easily forgotten. She says she doesn't want it to be.

01/23/21 - Gab Hold Tight

Thadston brings word that he and Casiphia have agreed that among the proposed plans to be rid of the bleakwalker, sealing it inside the bleakstone Lylia statue seems safest. The bleakwalker herself, a spirit named Gabriela, seems more insistent and capable of overtaking Thadston than ever and says that Casiphia must die and she (Gabriela) needs to be put into a perfect body so that Thadston can love her forever. A peek into Faerinn's bleakstone mirror reveals what looks like the spirit's previous visage, a woman working at the Honey Mine brothel in Talador. Despite the urgency of the situation, questions fly about pros and cons of the plan; however, all is moot unless one problem can be resolved: how to find Vlashandra and get back the statue in the first place.

01/27/21 - CordariuSession

Councilman Cordarius brings a flurry of news: he and Councilwoman Alendrial have withdrawn the Rone bounty, he's thinking of ideas to improve our ground game in town defense, he's sent word to Earl Jovery and Larsya's brother Breshon about the Consortium, and, when the gathered crowd asks, he agrees to send word to Larsya herself that Landing defenders would like to meet with her. However, he hasn't yet been able to track down the whereabouts of Octaven, Renpaw, or Stephos--the latter of whom has missed payments on the construction of his house. Meanwhile, amidst mounting questions about the loyalties of the town guard, the militia captains arrange for Thrayzar to be kept with the Order of the Silver Gryphon until his curse can be undone. Those aren't the only mounting questions, though, as Cordarius has heard rumblings from the Consortium questioning if Mayor Leafiara is unfit to lead following her rumored attack on the armigers.

01/29/21 - Eclipsing Troubles

The Knave's mercenaries scour and search West Ring Road, but are met with counterattacks from the Rooks and Barnom Slim's golems. Town defenders and Rone join in the battle, driving off the Knave mercenaries for the night, but sketches found among their slain reveal that they're in search of the bleakstone statue. After the streets are clear, Mother arrives in the mayor's office to extend an offer. She can help locate Vlashandra, the statue, or both by next week's end, but she in turn needs help with a planned multi-front strike against the Knave, using information she'd gleaned on his movements and operations. Most of the gathered town defenders seem in favor, but Mother then cautions that casualties will follow what they do. She says they'll be the right casualties in dealing a heavy blow to the Knave and leaves everyone to draw their own conclusions and decisions.

02/03/21 - Consortium Consternation

Amos, representative of the Darkstone Bay Consortium, fields questions about, among other things, the origin of the group (apparently a collective idea not credited to one person), the funding of the hired mercenaries (apparently originally funded by the Town Council, but later by Amos and the Consortium), and the absence of any Consortium members having ever voiced their concerns to Mayor Leafiara or the Town Council. Amos says that the Consortium should be viewed as a welcome ally when we're short on them, but a night of "paranoia" and "hostile questions" ends in him concluding that it's a shame they're viewed in the same light as Rooks in the town's underbelly. Nonetheless, he claims that the Consortium's influence grows and they don't need validation from the gathered town defenders to restore order and protect the town, with or without their smiles. A lengthy back-and-forth eventually sees Amos agreeing to encourage the other members of the Consortium to share their voices, but with caution, as they're tired of facing scrutiny, tired of politics, and tired of town adventurers who, in their glory, have lost sight of those who barely survive in their shadow.

02/05/21 - Statutory Searches

Going by intel from the Rooks' urchin boy, Acorn, a small group of town defenders led by Mayor Leafiara explores a secret path into Drangell's old lair in search of Vlashandra or the bleakstone Lylia statue. They fight through fire-spewing traps, Knave mercenaries, and Barnom Slim's undead forces along the way; meanwhile, a larger group of town defenders led by Sir Cryheart finds itself battling against Knaves and undead in the streets. Leafi's group finds the bleakstone statue, but that's not all, as Magister Raelee notices stored remnants of elementals from Dennet Kestrel's studies. Everyone gathered helps get the statue back to the square, most notably with a Stone Fist from Hapenlok, and a group of scattered militia members--one notably having a warcat tattoo--take the statue away on a wagon, vowing to Captains Stormyrain and Shinann to keep it safe until they need it.

02/06/21 - Riled Wild West

Following Mother's plan, Mayor Leafiara, Dergoatean, and Hapenlok lead one group each to intercept an expected Knave shipment of supplies and weapons at respectively the T-intersection near the Abandoned Inn, the edge of the Locksmehr River, and the north docks. Meanwhile, the blood cult stages a large scale attack in town as Sir Cryheart's group defends the streets. The Rooks' intel turns out equal parts correct and incorrect; rather than Knaves it's mercenaries and armigers, and in the midst of battle with the armigers, the Rooks do make off with a weapon shipment--of hand pylons! With those collected, all groups, including the now-better-armed Rooks, reassemble to drive off the blood cult for the night. Afterward, Mother says this was no trick and the information was the best they could get, having plucked it from old hideaways of the siegery merchant Walward, a former ally of the Brotherhood who's since severed ties. She thanks everyone for assistance gaining an edge in coming weeks and months, saying that others have asked to work with the Rooks and try something different, so they did, and any ally against the Knave is welcome.

03/05/21 - Ah, She Stole Her Face, and Now We're Beleaguered

After the Landing refuses to give Vlashandra the bleakstone statue, she constructs a makeshift fortress of bone walls and launches an attack, calling upon flesh golems, reapers, undead lightning-throwing griffins, and even skeletons flung into the streets from catapults. Most town defenders assail the walls and others split up to protect the streets, as do the Rooks and Rone; meanwhile, the armigers guard the square and aim a pylon skyward. A griffin begins to carry Chandrellia off in the fray, but a Rone gauntlet blast to save her also lands her between the walls right near Vlashandra's position, providing others a route to portal and fog in. Vlashandra admits the statue has been hidden too well, but says she knows the town's plans and they can't be executed if it stays hidden forever--so, before withdrawing her forces for the night, she says she won't stop coming back for the statue.

03/06/21 - Statueticians

Councilman Cordarius says he's sent word to Earl Jovery updating on recent developments and asking for aid from Hendor, among whose soldiers many will still be loyal to Thadston after he's restored to himself. Nonetheless, he aims to keep the Empire at bay to some degree and insists he won't support any plan that doesn't involve destroying the bleakstone statue after the bleakwalker is moved into it, since otherwise the Empire will never give up trying to claim it for themselves. Exactly how to destroy the statue, however, remains an open question even after a lengthy discussion.

03/10/21 - Ship Off the Old Bleak Block

Councilman Cordarius convenes with town defenders to lay out and finalize plans with the statue. Magister Raelee, among others, convince him that the night to destroy the statue or render it inert might have to be separate from the night of moving Gabriela into it; so, with time running short for Thadston as the bleakwalker grows more powerful, he remains the priority. The plan? Bring in the bleakstone statue on a heavily armed and pylon-guarded ship to draw fire from Vlashandra as a distraction while secretly spiriting it away through a portal below deck to a location of Thadston's choosing, where Gabriela will be moved into the statue.

03/16/21 - Pitfalls of Working A Rone Alone

While investigating the Daily Darkstone, Rone avoids a hand pylon attack from a Knave agent and springs into pursuit across town. The agent escapes through the bay to the Black Sands, where adventurers help Rone fend off Knave mercenaries--but the hand pylon wielder gets away in the skirmish. Adventurers let Rone know they can offer aid if the vigilante merely asks, and Rone agrees it's time to coordinate; with the next trail discovered, we'll pursue it together.

03/25/21 - Curiouser and Cordariuser

Councilman Cordarius brings word from Casiphia that, although the bleakwalker's now gone, Thadston's mind isn't quite right yet after his ordeal. She wants to do something for him on the weekend and Vaemyr proposes reviving his fighting instincts in a combat scenario. Cordarius seems to agree, saying we could use a golem or two to stage an attack on Casiphia so that no lives are at risk. Meanwhile, Octaven's briefly contacted Cordarius to say she won't come after him nor the town. As for the Consortium, they've filed for permissions to conduct a mining operation at the Old Mine Road.

03/30/21 - Wild Gob Chase

After a short-lived--and shockingly fruitless--plan to attract Goblyn's attention by dropping pie crumbs around the town square, Barnom Slim makes his way to her garden. He bites off one of Kippe's fingers and uses the blood to pen and pin up a message for Goblyn, inviting her and everyone to a feast on the Eve of the Huntress and a discussion of returning Lich's Landing to him.

04/02/21 - Barnom Yarns 'Em

Barnom Slim hosts a feast to meet with Goblyn and others over the potential return of Lich's Landing. The two go back and forth until reaching an agreement that Barnom can have kingship over the town except for the Chamber of Decay, over which Goblyn will retain control. More contentiously, Barnom goes on to say he needs Vlashandra back and is met with counterproposals ranging from impaling her to letting Barnom have her head--and only her head. Magister Raelee asks if he can persuade her to reveal the truth of Grand Magister Octaven's plans; he says he'd do so in exchange for her release, but objections from others continue mounting and Raelee advises that he should be grateful Vlashandra hasn't been killed. By the end of the night, Barnom remains optimistic that an agreement can be reached, rather than breaking into a battle at the outpost where she's being kept, and says we can hold another meeting in the coming week.

04/03/21 - Try, Triad Again

Thadston hosts a discussion on taking the battle to the factions fighting over the Landing. By the end of the night, it's collectively concluded that the blood cult is a promising and strategically simple first target without muddied waters of salvageable citizens mixed in, unlike the Knave and Rooks. Together the group decides to infiltrate the cult beginning on Tilamaires using relatively less known town defenders, albeit being at the ready in case things go south, then use the gathered information to prepare for a followup assault on the Brass Tower at a later date. Thadston tables the Lich King for the moment, due to the possibility that Lich's Landing will hold him off and the complexities involved with how to strike against him. As for the Knave and Rooks, group wisdom suggests that both need to be attacked simultaneously at a later point to avoid tipping the balance as they've kept each other in check, and there might be a way to intensify the clash between them to make said attacks easier. The leading plan, barring any better ones that Thadston encourages to continue thinking of, seems to be to capture or expose Mother to throw the Rooks off balance, as she represents an exploitable target of the group, but it's less clear how to meaningfully attack the unknown figure of the Knave. Meanwhile, Thadston suggests making contingency plans for the armigers, thinking of ways to nullify the blood cult's fires, and the potential of disrupting Amos' weapon deals.

04/06/21 - To Be Brass and Indomitable

While most town defenders gather in the war room to plan how to strike at the Knave and Rooks, a smaller stealth group of Vaemyr, Quilthaias, Ycelacie, and Asben tackle the more immediately important mission of posing as blood cultists to infiltrate the Brass Tower for information. They successfully get in after being "marked" with self-healing cuts on their arms, and find in the tower black roots, cocoons, an enormous artery, tormented faces in the walls, a scrying pool through which an elven man says to end him, and some of the information they desired: the next great blood harvest is on the coming Feastday, during which "the heart will rise" and the cultists will be "strengthened and pure." Although the ruse is enough to fool the cultists, Grishom Stone himself appears to affirm that he knew the spies' motives for being here. The good news? He lets them go, and furthermore he'll not interfere in his followers' favor when the Landing comes to stop them. After all, the Arkati rarely intervene for their own worshippers--and he, of course, is Beyond the Arkati.

04/09/21 - Towers and Tribulations

Via a war room meeting, Thadston and other Landing defenders convene regarding what they know and what they don't know about the blood cult's harvest coming in a night's time. Questions mount about whether the artery in the tower is key, what role the druid Briarstorm has in this, how to get into the tower, whether the harvest will take place there or elsewhere, the meaning of odd resurrections occurring recently, and more. Before the night's over, Thadston concludes that we'll need scouts in multiple areas of heavily focused mana in case the cult attempts to draw power from those areas, and we might well be stretched thin on Feastday as we stay flexible to pivot on a changing battlefield.

04/10/21 - The Top Brass Have No Bloody Heart

Landing defenders split in more half a dozen directions to tackle areas marked by the blood cult in a battle that takes to the streets, the gates, the forest, the hills of the Upper Trollfang, the Circle of Stones, and the Brass Tower. The Tower shields itself with a carapace of hardened blood as the cult sends forth bloodflayers, maggots, spiders, beasts, necleriines, living blood globules, and brass constructs in an assault! Hendoran knights join the fray in the grasslands and armigers fire from the bulwark towers to protect the square as Thadston calls for pylons to fire on the Tower's shield. The Tower sends cocoons flying throughout the wilderness, splitting groups still further as they advance to stop the cocoons from hatching and man three pylons at the east side of the square to break down the shield--but Rone and the Rooks take to the field in town! Blazing on all fronts, town defenders clear out the cocoons and the beasts in the wilds as the Knave's mercenaries guard their territory, Rooks fire on the blood cult, armigers safeguard the square, Rone dashes about the field, Hendoran soldiers clear the grasslands, and pylon fire lights up the Brass Tower. As enemies begin to clear out, Thadston requests more at the pylons to hit the cracking blood carapace, so several town defenders move to man each pylon. Rone advances toward the position to protect them--but in the midst of the battle, a shadowy figure with two hand pylons fires, hitting Rone in the soldier and burning her mask off to reveal the curly bluish-black hair and dark brown eyes of Thadston's lover Casiphia! She manages to retreat as others urge her on to safety and a torn Thadston says she'll be fine. Thadston asks the infiltration team from earlier in the week to get to the Tower as its shield weakens, then finally crashes! A gate bars their way, but Thadston shoves his kroderine-shard-riddled arms into the blood fires, enduring the pain to absorb their strength--and turn it against the gate, bashing it with his fist until he collapses from exhaustion! The infiltration team is able to pass through the tower door due to their marks, where Briarstorm tells them, through the scrying pool, to stop the heart and let the others inside via their blood. They catch the hint and have other defenders take their limbs off until the door widens, allowing everyone inside. On the top floor, faces in the walls chant to help them, then stop them, then begin chanting along with the blood cult's sayings as the Landing defenders strike at the vein-covered heart of the Tower. The faces soon begin to laugh, however, leading to concerns that bloodshed from attacking the heart is aiding it; however, given Briarstorm's insistence on stopping the heart, many in the group conclude to simply target the remaining cocoons inside the Tower first as a contingency plan. At last, town defenders destroy all cocoons and then the heart. The roots in the Tower crumble, the scrying pool cracks, and all is quiet.

04/19/21 - A Delicate Lichuation

Marshal Thadston brings updates that Casiphia's vigilante days are over and he's gotten her out of town to a safe location where she's to stay. She had information on the Daily Darkstone that he wants to pursue, however. Meanwhile, before the town can move against the Knave and the Rooks, he and Magister Raelee work out what to do with Vlashandra. Believing that we don't have the means to stand against Barnom Slim at the moment, Thadston ultimately agrees to Raelee's plan to get information out of Vlashandra and give her back, pushing the conflict on to a future date after more preparation.

04/22/21 - From Behind Bars to Behind Barnom

The Lich King Barnom Slim makes good on his deal with Magister Raelee, and vice versa, as Barnom forces Vlashandra to supply information in exchange for her release so he can return with her to Lich's Landing. The night largely centers around revelations regarding Grand Magister Octaven's machinations and intentions to rise within the Hall of Mages at all costs, including potentially assassinating Raelee's father, but other questions concern Vlashandra's own manipulations, the consequences of Althedeus' defeat years ago, and the possibility of truly returning Aralyte in the future.

04/27/21 - Dueling Duality

Pukk delivers a letter and sketch to Mother, who brings word in Town Square Central that the Rooks will move against the Knave soon and keep everyone informed. Meanwhile, over at Hearthstone, Marshal Thadston urges everyone to be prepared for a strike against the Knave the following evening, but gives no specifics in the interest of keeping the Knave off guard.

04/28/21 - Digging for the Truth

Marshal Thadston, having identified suspicious operations of a squire in the Hendoran outpost after going through records, uses Imperial eyes to watch him move into town and then sends Pietra, Kippe, and Asben to follow him inside the gates. They locate him and track his movements to the museum, but he gives them the slip on the second floor. Thadston has Sir Cryheart's group advance on the museum and a search of the area reveals a hidden passageway accessible through one of the paintings, leading to an underground tunnel. Against intermittent clashes with the Knave, the group: Discovers and destroys the printing press used by the Daily Darkstone Discovers several magical candles used to spy on the Hendoran outpost tavern, Landing docks, Town Square Central, Alabaster Spire, Gryphons' Holding, Constabulary, and Moot Hall Discovers the storage room used to keep fake militia uniforms and fake Rook uniforms Discovers a map room with markers of the various factions, a seawater vial, and a cigar box Seemingly augmented warcats immune to magic attack the town defenders, along with reinforcements from the Knave, but are fought off. However, runes etched into the walls begin to flash with light... and fill the tunnel with explosions, causing a cave-in! Nonetheless, the town defenders manage to dig their way out amidst the threat of falling rocks and more warcats crawling in to attack. After they're back to safety, Faerinn notes that the signs point to Stephos being the Knave, while Captain Shinann and Leafiara respectively consider the possibility of a setup and that a meeting with Alendrial is necessary. Thadston agrees and says he'll arrange that conversation for tomorrow. As Goldstr mentions that some suspect Alendrial is Mother, Dendum contemplates whether this is a divorce between Stephos and Alendrial. Thadston says we've confirmed the connection between the Daily Darkstone and the Knave, at least, but he doesn't understand why Stephos would wage war against the Rooks instead of trying to worm back in.

04/29/21 - Alendrial, a Helping Hand

Having heard Thadston's request, Councilwoman Alendrial invites adventurers to a table at the Raging Thrak Inn to discuss the evidence of her husband Stephos being the Knave--though she says that he arguably hasn't been her husband for years and is already dead to her in many ways. The complex conversation ultimately touches on her acknowledgments that the cigar brand and crates point to him, and she'd been considering the possibility ever since he missed payments on his house, but his criminal history likewise makes him the perfect target for being framed. Several town defenders request Alendrial's help with luring Stephos into custody to get definitive answers, and she says she doesn't wish to but knows she can. Just as that's under consideration, a town clerk arrives with a note for her and she says she needs ten minutes and will return. However, a few minutes later, Amos arrives at the table with word that the Consortium has heard reports of Stephos being spotted in town and is protecting Alendrial until they can be sure she's not at risk of being taken, likely to be kept at the outpost.

04/30/21 - Cordarius Lays Down the Law

Cordarius meets with citizens in Moot Hall to discuss the new structure of the Wehnimer's Landing government that is being negotiated with the Darkstone Bay Consortium. This will involve splitting the Stewards from the Town Council, so that Stewards are appointed by the Mayor, and the Town Council is elected by a popular vote. The Steward of the Guard will be a new position, with the town guard and militia rolled up together. Rules are described for the mechanisms and conditions for removing officials, overturning judicial rulings, and the chain of authority above the constabulary. The judge is an elected position and remains a lifetime term. There is considerable discussion on how to make it possible to remove a corrupt judge from power, without allowing the Mayor and Town Council (or the mob) to bully the judge. Cordarius explains that installing Amos as the Steward of the Guilds is the biggest condition on the Consortium's agreement to transfer power. Cordarius mentions a new wing will be made on Moot Hall for town council offices, and discusses upcoming elections. He mentions that Thadston will be meeting with the militia to plan actions against the Knave and Rooks.

05/03/21 - Perfect Storm, True to Form

Thadston meets with Landing defenders in the Hendoran outpost to plan a strike against the Knave and possibly the Rooks. He relays that Larsya's scouts have reported that some unmarked ships inbound on the Eve of the Huntress or Feastday appear to be manned by the Knave's forces--and the Consortium's shipment of invar weapons is due to arrive around the same time. Aiming to prepare for the numerous variables at play during this complex convergence of events, Thadston moves Alendrial DeArchon from the outpost to the Holding of the Order of the Silver Gryphon, both as a contingency measure in case the Outpost is fired upon and in hopes that the Holding is too far inland for Stephos to strike if he truly is the Knave. Pylons will be available to fire on the approaching ships and Thadston advises a split force with some at the Black Sands for any Knaves that make it to shore, along with generally remaining agile and mobile. Thadston says the Consortium can protect its own weapons and he refuses to help Amos, but, in the interest of Larsya and Larton, he doesn't want the weapons going to the Knave or Rooks if the latter make an appearance as he expects they will. He says he'd prefer to take Stephos and Mother alive if the opportunity arises and if it's possible, saying he'd rather not make a martyr unless needed, and notes that even now it's not a guarantee that Stephos is the Knave nor, even if he is, whether he'd attempt to abduct his wife. Thadston concludes by wishing everyone rest well and prepare for war on the streets and shores soon. [And meanwhile Leafiara, having recused herself from the meeting for claimed reasons of integrity, nonetheless finds herself elsewhere in a conversation with a master of the shadows who had been listening in on Thadston... Larsya!]

05/04/21 - For the Frontier's Future

After declaring that the Consortium and its armigers are no ally of the Landing, Mother informs town defenders that the Rooks won't allow the Consortium to grow stronger--so the Brotherhood will take the Consortium's invar weapon wagons and, on that night, also protect the streets from the incoming forces of the Knave. Mother says that they'll not honor the Consortium's coup, will repel the armigers if they try to make arrests, and that the Rooks are the last tide of freedom stopping the Empire, Consortium, Knave, and other future forces from attempting to overtake the Landing, which is only ever one accord away from losing its freedoms. Mother invites anyone to aid with their strike or simply stand aside. Several people attempt to bargain or reason toward a truce between the Rooks and other town defenders, but Mother says her communication and disclosure of her plans are close to a truce. She adds that the Brotherhood's targets are neither the militia nor the Hendorans, but the Knave and the Consortium--and warns that those defending against the Knave's arrival by sea may find the Rooks' arrows supporting them, but those who try to help the Consortium's wagons may find the Rooks' blades against them. She concludes the night by saying that sides will be drawn and asks everyone to remember what future they want for Wehnimer's Landing.

05/08/21 - Identity Crisis of Dueling Duality

Adventurers split up into several groups as Guarrin's group and Leafiara's group move into position at the Black Sands while Sir Cryheart's group moves to the north dock to guard against approaching Knave warships. Meanwhile, Amos rolls a bulwark tower into the Lower Dragonsclaw in anticipation of protecting the Consortium's coming weapon shipment. Knave rowboats successfully reach the Black Sands, but not near either group of gathered defenders, and their crew run off rather than engaging--only for explosions to soon hit Burrow Way! Leafiara's group breaks off to defend the tunnels in a protracted battle while the other groups, as well as a fourth group atop the Hendoran outpost, trade their pylon fire against the ships' cannon fire. At Amos' request, Grand Magister Octaven creates a magical snowstorm and freezes much of Darkstone Bay, trapping the Knave's ships and creating an ice bridge which the militia and the Black Sands group cross to go on the offensive, fighting mercenaries and destroying their cannons among blizzard winds. Out on the streets, weaker Knave mercenaries manage to make it to the streets and engage the militia, but a cannonball augmented with green ichor ravages the pylon at the north dock and lights the area ablaze. As the Consortium's weapon wagons come into sight, the Rooks begin to make a move. The dock group, now out a pylon, moves to the sands while the tunnel group clear out what seem to be the last of the Knave forces. The tunnel group approaches the forest area, but stop short of intervening for either side of the clash between the Rooks and armigers--only to be met by a third side as the Knaves attack them. After the Rooks take find invar weapons and anti-Everblood salve in three wagons, with a fourth one getting away, Mother initiates combat with Amos atop his tower. The forest group heads inside, but finds a barricade blocking off the top as armigers attack. As they begin to break it down, Amos activates rune tattoos on his body for strength and breaks some of Mother's bones, then lifts her high and unmasks her, revealing Casiphia! Thadston flies into a rage, but Amos sends him flying into the woods and the two begin an extended brawl. The tower group breaks through to reach and heal Casiphia, who says this wasn't Casiphia's fault--for she's Mother, everything Casiphia wouldn't allow herself to be. Rooks approach the area and Faerinn attempts to drag her away into custody, but Leafiara fogs her and the group to the square, where she slips off. As Amos and Thadston continue their brawl, the Rooks rise on the the roofs. Several unmask and shout a "For Mother" battle cry, then all take to the Black Sands. All adventurer groups, the militia, and Rooks converge on the Knave's ships while Amos and Thadston battle through the forest and into the streets of town--at least until the remnants of the blood fires powering Thadston's kroderine arms fade, leading Amos to a swift victory. Armigers split up as one group moves toward the ships while another takes the mine road, as do Bourthian soldiers, as Thadston repowers his kroderine armors with the outpost pylon. All forces mob the Knave's ship as, finally, the Rooks blow up the enemy carrack and Thadston releases the energy of his pylon arms to destroy the enemy man o' war before collapsing, all while Stephos' thoughts are heard calling for help. Elsewhere, Larsya declares that the Knave's been apprehended by Bourth. With the threats to town seemingly cleared up, all groups meet there, where a chained and weak Stephos realizes he's safe, and the soldiers report that they were quicker than the armigers, who had gotten there first, and Stephos put up no fight after spouting about being hunted. Larsya and the soldiers take him away and she assures he'll be safe there. Afterward, Amos arrives and Vaemyr challenges whether it could be another ruse by the Knave, but Amos calls it absurd and suspects the Knave is behind us. He calls chaos a necessary evil for what promise has been born from it and tells all they did well.