The Lion, the Artist, and the Mural (storyline)/Recaps (summary)

Chapter 1 Recaps

02.04.2024

Bastaesil Hemstead arrived in North Market looking for a Taladorian artist and his daughter. She had posted a sign earlier in the day noting that they'd be arriving this afternoon. Unfortunately, they hadn't arrived yet and there was concern from some that maybe the weather had delayed them, while others were concerned it was the travel. Bastaesil went off to see if her Uncle had heard of them being delayed, while a group of adventurers went off to double-check the roads leading in from the north. They arrived in Cairnfang forest as a group of bandits were setting up the pair, and quickly escorted them out of the woods and into Vornavis. Interestingly enough, they were hounded all the way to the Gates of Vornavis before the bandits ceased, someone calling from the woods that they needed to stop their attack or the "Talon" would have their head for crossing the bridge.

Once in North Market, the group was met by Bastaesil who informed them that the Guild had found lodging for them with a local family. Lady Ba'Thira would be housing them in her Vornavian home for the duration of their stay.

Tshomlin, the artist, asked for a renegotiation of the terms, stating that he would need supplies for the project. Bastaesil offered to take a list to the local suppliers, but he insisted that he was particular about his needs and would want to pick them out himself. She grudgingly agreed to the terms and then offered to take them to Lady Ba'Thira's house. Tshomlin declined, asking that she take his daughter instead.

Once gone, Tshomlin asked what the local game was like. At first misunderstanding that he wasn't speaking about hunting, the artist clarified he was looking for gambling games. Several inquiries were made about his previous work and he mentioned he'd done work in the Capital of Talador before the fall. He listed two pieces, stating he'd painted Kuligar Gardane and done a piece in Doggoroth Keep of a clan of Dwarves. At some point, someone made a joke about dicing causing someone to fall and Tshomlin said that he needed to be careful as he couldn't leave his daughter without two parents. He briefly shared, growing more maudlin as he did, that his wife had died during the fall of Talador while he and his daughter were out of the barony. Her name was Alarranne. He spoke poetically about her talent and beauty. Taking another of the brews that had been offered from the ground, he decided to head off but not before asking where the local watering holes were.

Moments later, Akinir came looking for him but missed him. She wanted to remind him to tell everyone about the meeting the next evening so that they could learn about the Lady Kasendra from locals. She asked that they not tell him she'd shared the information, instead asking them to state that Miss Hemstead gave the reminder. She was asked which of her father's pieces of work were her favorite and after a bit of hemming and hawing, she said she was. There was talk of asking him to share his portrait of her for the local gallery and she quickly corrected stating that all his work was lost in the Bleak. She rushed off to take a bath.

02.05.2024

Akinir Scallabrini arrived to the zoo a bit late. She was clean and well dressed, though she was concerned that Lady Ba'Thira would be upset that she got a little blood on her new shirt when she fell down some steps. She was a bit nervous to be healed, but submitted with a firm insistence by Lady Meril. She apologized to those gathered that her father couldn't make it as he was feeling poorly due to a bump on the head, which she insisted he must have sustained during the bandit attack in the forest. She ensured everyone that she took care of him, mentioning that she put him to bed with bread and water, and that all would be fine in the morning. She insisted he would be alright.

Akinir then requested that everyone tell her about the Lady Kasendra so that she could get the information to her father. She said she'd take very careful notes, and eventually it was decided -- since she didn't want to sit on the ground in her new skirt -- that everyone sound adjourn to Communitea.

Once there, folks shared details of Lady Kasendra with the young woman. Lord Mynon took the lead, sharing the most, while others filled in details.

Folks kept trying to feed her things, but she insisted she was fine. And when she was asked if she wanted a seat, she insisted that the seats were for grown ups and that "The gods gave me two good legs for standing." At one point, she grew angry when someone asked if she was painting the mural, insisting over and over that she never said such a thing and that her father was the painter. She frequently promised that he would get it done.

At the end of the evening she wandered off with a cleaning formula for the shirt, a head full of everyone's shared memories of the Lady Kasendra, and mumbling plans to presumably share with her father.

02.06.2024

Rumors abound in Solhaven. Ask Mabel about NEWS to find out more.

02.08.2024

Akinir was found in the zoo working to clean one of the walls of the Aquarium where several blue-green tiles had been removed to make way for the mural to be painted.  She was questioned about the whereabouts of her father and made an excuse that he wasn’t feeling well.  She claims he was okay during the day and working with her but later became ill.

A few adventurers talked about helping with the wall, one jumped in, but Akinir was concerned that her father wouldn’t get paid if others did the work.

She said she was worried and then went on to say that she didn’t want to upset the Lady Ba’Thira but she knew that the Lady had fired her cook for the wrong reasons.  She overheard the Lady arguing with someone about forcing a young girl that should be in school to do work and then, the cook was fired.

She also was worried because some of the Lady’s things were missing, including a bronze monkey that the Lady’s late husband had gifted her.

She was encouraged to speak to the Lady and set things straight, but before that conversation could go very far, a voice in the shadows asked her to come away with them.

The voice shared that he was “the Lion of Crooked Way” and that the father owed him two million silvers in debt at an interest rate of 7% a day.   Leothonel asked Akinir to go with him to ensure that the father would pay.

The adventurers rather quickly figured out what that meant and encircled Akinir.  The “Lion” decided it was time to make them give her up and an invasion of bandits, thugs, pirates, and rakes ensued.

Akinir was secreted away to Vornavis and brought to Oleander house while the streets were cleared of the unruly mob trying to capture her.

Eventually, the Vornavian guard caught wind of what was happening and sent guards out into the streets to help with the cleanup.

Dame Jarnsaixa found a group of adventurers at the Esplanade Gates and another set on Dondraek.  She asked those there to fill her in and to also send her a report.

A plan was made to get guards to protect Lady Ba’Thira’s home and then to bring Akinir there.

While the larger group was talking to Lady Ba’Thira, Akinir opened up about a few things with those still around.

She admitted to slipping her father a sleeping draught so that he wouldn’t go out for the night because he’d been drinking very heavily the night before and that was the real cause of his sickness.  She tucked him away in a makeshift bed in Lady Ba’Thira’s attic.

Jarnsaixa returned having secured guards and walked Akinir to the Lady’s House and guarded safety.