Session+Three

There are worse punishments than being forced to remain in the company of Reid Slade. The PCs are taken on numerous shopping trips, and are invited to a number of exclusive gatherings and parties. At one such gathering, the PCs are introduced to Carter di Arden, a man claiming to be the betrothed of Jenica! Jen is none too pleased to see Carter in Angel’s Bar. Arion has Angel ‘escort’ the man out of the building, and the music and dancing continues. Later that evening, the PCs sneak past Carter and his waiting entourage to get back to Reid’s place only to find out the next morning that Reid had welcomed Carter and his men in to stay for the night. After an uncharacteristically quiet and awkward breakfast, Reid asks Carter and his companions to leave. From that point on, Carter continues to keep a rotating watch around Reid’s home. The masquerade at the palace is looming close, and the PCs take yet another shopping trip to purchase outfits and costumes for the grand evening (at Reid’s expense of course!). Viktor, in the meantime has left to take care of some business he had in town. He left a note, asking Reid to look after Kirin while he was away. The festivities before the masquerade were similar to that of an elaborate and exciting fair; complete with a midway and more food stands than one could possibly visit. The ball itself is also a grand affair where the mingling and mixing of social classes makes things far more interesting. The PC’s leave the celebration early due to some extremely exhausted children (Eli and Kirin). They return to Reid’s home and quickly fall asleep. The next morning, the PCs wake learn that the previous night at the masquerade, the King had been assassinated, the Prince is missing, the highly renowned court jester Valinyr Tyrelli had been killed, and many of the musicians, minstrels, and jesters engaged at the ball had been arrested and are now being held under charges of conspiracy. Also, there is a small bit in the news about a monk who had been killed in an alley way. The unfortunate man had been surrounded by a dozen or so individuals and stabbed to death… though he took 7 of them with him! In his hand was found a scroll, but only the authorities have any knowledge of what information the scroll contained. The PCs decided that the monk must have been Viktor, Kirin’s Mentor. Kirin, after hearing the news, decided to take up his master’s task of being Jen’s self proclaimed body guard. It is also learned that Reid has been taken into custody. Lia and Arion head out to see what they can find out about his imprisonment. They discover that he is also being held on charges of conspiracy. There is precious little that the PCs can do, so Arion and Lia return to Reid’s home. On the way, Lia spots a pair of Hissians following a cloaked figure through the streets. She convinces Arion that they should follow the small group, just in case something menacing comes of it. Arion agrees after a bit and the two proceed to follow the lizard folk into an alley. Once there, the Hissians attack the cloaked figure. Arion runs to gather the town guard, and Lia springs into action, defending the victim of the lizards’ attacks. In short order, she and the other dispatch of the Hissians at about the same time as Arion returns, guards in tow. The mysterious being turns out to be an old acquaintance of Lia’s from her now ruined home town of Spirit Wood. Her friend, Dunin joins them in returning to Reid’s home, where Arion and Lia relate the news of Reid’s imprisonment to the rest of the group. Arion writes a hasty letter to Reid’s brother, Sir Drayton Slade in the hopes that he can do something to help the musician. With everyone in town on edge, and most of the minstrels, musicians, and jesters being held for questioning, the group makes the decision to leave Bel Aman’dur. None of them relish the thought of being arested by the Mandosians for a second time, and Jen is growing a bit weary of Carter’s constant circling of Reid’s home.

Session Four