Nations on the Brink (storyline)/Recaps (summary)

Nations on the Brink Storyline Recapes

03.06.2023

Ta'Vaalor

03.07.2023

Solhaven

• An elven ship arrived but the harbormaster wouldn't let them dock, because they were Eastern elves.
• Odelgarde and Kimrella show up, but too late, and the ship was already sent off.
• But we find out the harbormaster was truly an idiot because that ship was carrying Lady Kasendra home
• Odelgarde and Kimrella managed to salvage it, and the elven ship sent out a longboat to carry the coffin through the seagates

03.08.2023

Solhaven

• Lady Athalia held court, alternating between being subdued and her familiar fiery presence. She apologized for Vornavis' silence the past month. She said she would accept the offers of aid from some (but not all) who said they would help with recent matters. She called forth Phanna, Raelee, Bristenn, Guarrin, Yukito, and Jayshen after that point, and reminded the audience that there were those trying to spread dissent and saying that the ones who killed Sayilla were at fault and that those asking "where was X organization" were playing into the hands of those trying to cause strife and chaos.
• Athalia then brought out Wilhard, the harbormaster from the previous evening, who was escorted by Kimrella. She stated that he was accused of several things, such as dereliction of duty, refusing an order, and I think something else. She asked if any present were willing to speak on his behalf, and several raised their hands, some after visible hesitation. Notably, Ifanna, Dirra, Fionola, Jaysehn, Perigourd, and I think one other said that Wilhard appeared to have acted due to being so impacted by grief from Kasendra's death or to offer suggestions on how he be handled. Tikba was recognized to speak but when she said she had some questions for Wilhard, Athalia clarified that this was not a trial, and Tikba ended up not asking them. In the end, Athalia sent Wilhard back with Kimrella to remain in his designated quarters while an investigation about the premeditated act of bringing archers to the docks took place. Athalia affirmed that decisions made in haste were often costly.
• Afterward, Magister Odelgarde spoke with people in the vestibule. She said that she was empowered to share several things. Some of her dialogs were broken up because people were asking questions before she finished talking, so she went back and forth between sharing information and answering questions. I also missed the end because I had to log out due to falling asleep.
• Lord Salnim is in Ta'Illistim, apparently working in Kasendra's place to remind the elves of his, and the Empire's, continued support of the Valley of Gold agreement.
• Emporer Aurmont will be determining the mourning rites for Kasendra, as is his right since he is her cousin. He has not yet decided what those rites will consist of, so all are left waiting.
• Steward Jarnsaixa is stable but has not recovered. There was some sort of poison in the blade that stabbed her, and while the wound healed initially, the poison remained in a pocket of her shoulder blade and keeps resurfacing. She'll start to get better, then she'll be ill again with fever and other symptoms, with the wound itself also festering and rehealing.
• Jarnsaixa will be turned over to the Sapphire Guard when she recovers.
• Baron Malwind's condition remains the same. He apparently had recurrences of wet lung over this lifetime that was regularly treated, and the current bout that started last December had all the hallmarks of it and was treated accordingly, except he hasn't improved as before.
• The healer, Mistress Grenhal was brought up. Odelgarde remarked how unusual all this was because the healer had grown up and grown old working in her same role for so many years. I remember feeling like this was a moment where the GM was trying to encourage the crowd to point out something important, and I believe that eventually was that the person seen on the ship when Sayilla was murdered was not old at all.
• It is possible more was spoken but I had to leave at this point.

03.09.2023

Ta'Illistim

• Inquisition Introductions

We met the inquisitors, we will be allowed to watch, no one else in the actual room but them and the person they are questioning. (I guess Miranda doesn't live in the Elanthia timeline) Discussed some of the dates for when the sessions will happen. Jaranzair, Eruien ensured they were being well taken care of but they were appreciating "fresh air." The Seneschal of the court read a letter on behalf of the Argent, confirming they believe Sayilla is dead, that Kasendra's body has returned, urging strength and peace and assuring that truth and justice (and the Illistimi way) will prevail.

03.11.2023

Ta'Illistim

• Inquisition Formal Session 1

03.13.2023

Solhaven

• Odelgarde came to meet us and apologize to Maylan for thinking she would use a COW REMEDY.
• She took us to talk to Empath Sargassa.
• The baron does not have wet lung. He's still not getting better. The remedy that was administered caused him to throw up. A bunch of people collected disgusting vomit samples to try to study and investigate.
• Jarnsaixa's wound was still filled with poison that had seeped through the muscle. Odelgarde worked on cleaning it out. A bunch of people collected even more disgusting viscous ichor samples to try to study and investigate.
• Odelgarde knows that Jarnsaixa needs to be turned over for the inquisition, but didn't really want to. We encouraged her to go ahead and do so.
• We encouraged Odelgarde to stand up for herself more.
• We discussed Odelgarde not getting enough sleep and working too hard. Many people suggested that Odelgarde needs to get more rest. I don't know about the other people who spoke up, but Tikba is not exactly a shining example of work/life balance, so it was all pretty ironic.
• Maylan recommended the Baron drink some blood, and provided her own. Odelgarde was not a big fan of this plan but agreed.
• We verbally abused Sargassa's for-profit healing regime for a while.

03.14.2023

Ta'Illistim

• PCs Akenna, Traiva, and Elaejia were interviewed last night.
• Akenna's interview was very hostile, with the inquisitors stating that she was delusional, pretended to be a part fey "entity", and demanded to know when she started conspiring against Kasendra, and if she was in on it with Jaranzair, with whom she danced. Akenna kept her cool and answered clearly about how she left early with her husband, her social conversation with Jaranzair while dancing, and even endured when the inquisitors took a keen fixation on what she and her husband did in the inn afterward.
• Traiva's interview was much more cordial, with Traiva explaining that she left early because she was feeling unwell - but it predated the ball and was not part of the ongoing rash of poisonings at Illistim-aligned events. The inquisitors were keenly interested in the fact that her husband, Tolwynn, worships Ivas. Traiva mentioned her ties to both east and west and that she did not know Kasendra well at all.
• Elaejia's interview was relatively civil, although she also had to endure the inquisitors' repeated reminders that she is engaged to her cousin. The focus on intimate relationship details was apparently a running theme last night. Elaejia was forthright about not being exceptionally interested in or supportive of the Valley of Gold accord, as well as her assessment that Kasendra was too boring and without an original opinion expressed to be remotely considered a threat to elven interests. Elaejia suggested that the inquisitors interview the servants at the ball, as they were not on the interview docket and had easy access to come and go as they pleased with little direct oversight.

03.15.2023

Solhaven

• A small elven ship docked, bearing a dark banner featuring a star-spangled flag and a bird. Leisette and a hooded figure disembarked.
• Leisette informed those gathered that she needed to speak to Lady Athalia immediately. After some back and forth, she was brought to the Keep.
• After waking up the chamberlain, Leisette drew the figure close to show her face to the chamberlain, saying that this was the only place where she could be safe. The chamberlain accepted this and allowed the figure entry, with Leisette saying that she thus discharged her duty to him.
• Though she accepted an offered drink, Leisette said she could not stay and needed to return quickly to Ta'Illistim.
• Leisette did bring up the "Skinny Man", which others confirmed was the "Fatman". When questioned about the Fatman and the Talon, Leisette said that she (Talon) called herself a Havenite and was born in Solhaven, but refused to say any more than that.
• Meril asked if Leisette would be willing to look at two things to see if she could identify a poison in them, then brought out the two vials that Odelgarde had, one taken from Baron Malwind and one from Steward Jarnsaixa. Leisette immediately stated that Malwind's was not a poison and looked taken from someone's gut, however, she took more time to examine Jarnsaixa's, then asked if the subject had been wounded - then specifically asked if it was taken from Jarnsaixa by name. She offered that she had only seen it once before after a dead human man had been fished out of the waters covered in pustules about a week and a month earlier. She called it "Deep Rot." The man was not identified, but due to the pustules covering him, his remains were burned to prevent whatever he had from spreading.
• Leisette requested her visit be kept quiet, which of course will be quite easy given that there were only more than two dozen people present.
• The only thing we saw of the figure was she was petite, spoke with a soft voice, and had pale skin.