The War of the Norandon Succession
Session Fifty-Eight of the Notoriety of Kings Campaign [continued]

Morday, 20 Mizzle Month 204

Following Alberdark's advice the party return to the White Suite, where they begin to understand the enormity of what has just happened. Raza is the king of Norandor. "Can I speak with you all privately?" asks Raza. They tell Lucien that they are not to be disturbed, and adjourn to the sitting room.

Raza wants to know whether his companions support him or not. The fact is that there is no choice in the matter. Given the alternative of Galahyde the Black, each member of the group says that they are 100% behind Raza. Elias says that he doesn't think Raza will make a good king. He says that given a choice he would not support Raza's claim to the throne, but as there is no choice he will. "I do not think you understand what will be required of you," says Elias. "You will not be able to continue as you have before." - "Sure he will," says Nicos, "There are plenty of bad kings, he can do whatever he wants."

Brack motions them to quiet. He can hear Lucien outside the door, refusing entry to someone. "I am sure it is urgent, my Lord," Lucien says, "but they are in closed session and cannot be disturbed." - "It must be Queston," says Raza and opens the door, asking Lucien to show the man in. But it isn't Queston. It is Count Bumbrey Dolanz.

"Your Majesty!" says Dolanz, taking Raza warmly by the shoulders. But his is not the carefree Dolanz that the party have been used to. He has lost a lot of weight, and not in a good way. "What's up, man?" asks Nicos amiably.

"My friends," says Dolanz. "It has been too long. I am beside myself with worry, and I do not know where to turn. Imagine my relief to learn on my arrival that the six of you were back in the city. It is Rowena. She is missing. She went out riding on her birthday, ten days ago and did not return. We looked for her, and found only the horse. It was dead, it looked as though it had been frightened to death. It was horrible. She was taken by some supernatural force."

"She was promised to Mínaris," says Elias slowly, casting his mind back to the events of the morning of the second of Lollmeadow. The courtyard of the then Castle Caled, and Count Caled being wrestled by Orthus's troops into the back of a paddy wagon. The noble and malificent yelled: "Fools! You are all fools! Especially you Dolanz! You think you've saved my daughter, you have killed her! Yes, killed her as surely as if you had slit her throat. She was promised you see! Promised to the sorcerer Mínaris! What will happen now when Galahyde comes? She will be married to you: a fat, indolent wastrel. She'll have no mercy! No mercy, you hear me? Not when Galahyde comes, and he is coming! He is coming!"

Dolanz shakes his head slowly. "I must confess that is one of the reasons that I never went through with the wedding. But to think of her married to the dark sorcerer Mínaris! When I realised what was happening I came straight here for help. I hoped you would be here!"

The party tell Dolanz that many of their loved ones have also gone missing in the same fashion. Dolanz says that he understands if the party cannot help him. He knows that they are extremely busy with Raza's kingship, various armies and the like. "No," says Elias, "you're problems are our problems." - "You've been with us since the beginning," says Nicos. "Of course we'll help you." Raza says that in finding their own loved ones they might be able to find Rowena.

Dolanz thanks them all, but Elias is thinking on things. "Why would Mínaris need a wife?" - "Who knows?" says Nicos, "Who knows why these things happen. Maybe he needs her to spread his evil demon seed around the world. Maybe she was born under a weird star, you know how it is."

Dolanz says that he will go down and sit in the Council of Peers. Elias had not heard that it had been convened, but he doesn't want to go and join in the debate. Instead he will just trun up on the last day and take the vote.

The crisis with Count Dolanz not withstanding, the group have an appointment to keep with Rio Shai'ir at Scaldarnus. Although many of their companions want to accompany them it is decided that they are better travelling alone. Raza makes sure he wraps himself up and covers his face, just in case word of the fact he is regent has spread far beyond the palace. Nicos is in a particularly cheerful mood. Despite what is happening around him, having Rio back in his life gives him something of a spring in his step.

From the surface Scaldarnus looks very different. The area has been cleared, and building work has begun on the foundations of a new temple. Architects and workers employed by Vina Leikey and Drasha Raithbourne have at least begun the rebuilding. Nicos leads the way into the undertunnels beneath the Gutterhive, and to the completely walled in lower levels of the old chamber. Rio Shai'ir is there to meet the party.

She bounds out and kisses Nicos, then backs off wearing a more serious face. "It's good to see you all again," she says, then places a hand on Elias's "Nicos told me about Drasha. I'm sorry Elias. I'm sorry for all your loss." Elias gives Rio a heavy look. He knows how close she was to Drasha, and he knows how she disapproved of Alessandre. It's greatly to her credit that she is sincere in her pity for him. Nicos is a lucky man. Insufferable and looking to have his face pummelled, but lucky nonetheless. Elais nods and they enter.

"I'm sorry for all of you," Rio continues. "Let's hope that we'll be able to help one another." She leads the party into the dreary, rubble-strewn room that they have been in far too often in the past few months. Standing in that room are two figures, both of them clerics to Calafax. The first is Julian Maynard. The aged priest rushes as best he can toward Nicos, and hugs him. Nicos is delighted to have Maynard back after all this time. The second figure is Sesnic Lodrath! Lodrath was first flame of the Grand Conflagration when the Chosen first came to Uris. He disappeared with Boudewijn Berdgardt on the same day, and it was assumed he was kidnapped by the Bombastics. He greets the party in his deep voice.

"So what's going on?" asks Nicos. Maynard steps forward. "This is a conspiracy," he says, "A conspiracy against the Firewalker. Tarrashar does not serve the interests of the Church of Fire. He serves a different master. Tarrashar was the force behind the murder of Ulish Van Caspan during the summer, even if it was never proven. He wanted to pitch us and the Watchers against one another. He wanted to destroy the churches and create chaos. He serves the dark sorcerer, Mínaris, and he is building an army of fire-eyes to spread around Norandor. Where you see them, you will see Mínaris."

Thanks to Rio, Maynard and Lodrath are well informed on the nature of the Chosen's mission from Narramac and the existence of the Dark Lord in the south. They are accepting of the fact that Mínaris is Karatath's right hand, and that he has to be stopped no matter the cost. The party are relieved and amazed to find more allies to their cause, and powerful ones as well. But how did they come to be together. The three of them explain, each taking up different portions of the narrative. They have been together for so long that they seem to finish one another's sentences. Lodrath and Rio seem particularly close, but Nicos isn't jealous.

Maynard says that he was removed as First Flame of the Grand Conflagration because of the support he showed to Archnecrotain Varamil's investigation into Ulish Van Caspan's death. His name was mentioned in the Lollmeadow Enclave (by Jedidiah de Chesiré as it happens) and from that moment his fate was sealed. He was taken to a place at the eastern-most extemity of the Cullbarrens - a volcano that had been made into a shrine to Calafax. It was here that Tarrashar resided, building his force of fire eyes, and it currently many dozens strong.

Rio left Umbria soon after the Chosen left Sorgar and headed north, following Nicos's directions in search of Maynard. "I was certain that Julian was imprisoned in this palce," she says. When she attempted to enter the shrine to rescue Maynard, she was stopped and apprehended by Sesnic Lodrath.

Lodrath continues the tale. He was kidnapped by the Bombastic Church on 26th Suntask 204. They attempted to use mental conditioning to make him one of them. "Only Sesnic resisted it!" says Rio with some pride. "They couldn't do to him what they did to me." Lodrath smiles and places a hand on Rio's shoulder. "I helped Rio come to terms with who she is." The reason for the pair's closeness is now explained. Is it still a something that Nicos need not worry about?

Lodrath says, "I would have Church of Fire around the 15th Midsummer, but when I got back to Uris and discovered a fire eye as First Flame of the Grand Conflagration I knew something was amiss." Lodrath decided to lie low. He found out about Maynard and traced him to the volcano. Lodrath quickly came to the conclusion that something very serious was happening to the Church of Fire. This was made more acute after he read the report of the Enclave at the Village of the Eighteen Churches.

This all happened at the beginning of Kindlesmoke. Lodrath and Rio wanted to get Maynard out. Lodrath told Rio that getting Maynard out wouldn't be difficult because he had someone on the inside. "Oh no," says Nicos slowly. "Boudewijn Berdgardt," says Rio. "He's no longer a Bombastic - the Bombastic churhc wants nothing to with him. He was taken north by Tarrashar because Tarrashar thought he would make good malificent material. However, Boudewijn is very stubborn - he's a lot like you in that respect, Nicos - all he really wants is to see Tarrashar pay."

Boudewijn helped Rio and Lodrath free Maynard and has remained the fourth member of this conspiracy. He's still on the inside of Tarrashar's camp, and is continually feeding them information. He has come south with Tarrashar and is currently in the Grand Conflagration.

"This is the first time that Tarrashar has left his moutain retreat in months," says Maynard. "This is the first chance we have had at him. Howvever, now that we have the chance, I am not certain what we should do with it. I cannot bring myself to agree to the murder of a Firewalker, regardless of the cause."

A long discussion ensues between the Chosen and the fire clerics. The Chosen fill their allies in on everything that happened to them after leaving Sorgar, including travelling the Greymere and losing the swords. Rio is almost envious of Nicos's adventures. They also speak of the attack from the north of undead and goblins. Maynard voices the opinion that Tarrashar may not be the most important piece in this game. "He could well be just Mínaris's lackey," says the wise cleric. If they take him down, Mínaris will only employ someone else. But Mínaris might well be the head of the matter. Remove him and everything else dies.

But how to get to Mínaris? He evidently wants some sort of showdown with the party but at a time and place of his own choosing. They have no way of getting to him before then. Rio says, "Boudewijn has informed us that Tarrashar meets with Mínaris every Caladay. So he'll be meeting him again in five days." The party don't see how this helps them but it is definitely something to think on.

The clerics are very interested to learn that Nicos knows how to get in touch with Belerus Rothsman. They want to see him. Nicos says that he will see if he can find the cleric and include him in their sedition.

While the talk continues, Raza uses his new skill in lucid dreaming to reach out to Rhiana. Putting himself to sleep he tries to speak with her. She ignores him until he mentions that he is the new king of Norandor. "I have to see you," he says. "I cannot be seen by any except the Chosen." - "Very well," says Raza, "back at the White Suite then." She agrees.

As Raza comes out of his trance, the rest of the party are ready to depart. They have made a list of their five most pressing enemies: Mínaris, Galahyde the Black and his army, Sarakite and her undead army, the army of Goblins, and Tarrashar and his fire eyes. That list goes a long way to terminally depressing the party. They agree to meet at midday the following day at Elias's townhouse, where Nicos will bring Rothsman. As he goes Nicos tells Rio to be careful again. He doesn't want her kidnapped by this Collector thing that Arvan described. Rio finds his concern touching.

It is getting dark by the time the party return to the White Suite. Rhiana is not there. However, Chamberlain Alberdark is. He, and Archwizard Gaston have arrived to brief the new king and his advisers (the rest of the Chosen). Raza takes Alberdark to one side and asks if it is wise Gaston being here, as he is a known supporter of Galahyde the Black. "That is true," says Alberdark, "but he is still the Archwizard. He has an opinion to voice on these matters, especially the matter of the Wraith Haunt."

The party settle down with Gaston and Alberdark. The chamberlain speaks and Gaston keeps silent through the entire narrative. "King Yaddagon's funeral will take place on the Hill of Heroes on the twenty-seventh of the month," says Alberdark, "It has to be a Morday. It will be conducted by the High Holy Witness of Doom. If the Enclave and the Council have not finished their debates by that time, they will pause for the morning to turn out. As Regent you will have to attend and show proper respect. Yaddagon was loved by his people, I am sure most of Uris will turn out for the funeral."

"In the meantime we have several very real problems facing us, Your Majesty. Firstly there is the matter of the Wraith Haunt. Duke Colharn has all ready left the council early, without bothering to stay for the vote and is riding to Northmeet. Reports, conveyed magically to Gaston from Colharn's magus, Quelator, are not rosy. Today several hordes of undead moved south and east to attack Timberlake, Oakholme and dozens of other villages in that part of the country. With the Enclave happening in the capital, the Churches are in disarray - although the Watchers seem to have slightly more wit about them them most. The Druidic Order has yet to respond to the threat, and we have no evidence they intend to do anything. Quelator has not sent soldiers from Northmeet for fear that city will also be attacked. By goblins, apparently. Quelator is raising as many men as he can can. Both Colharn and Duke Ipso of Timberlake have asked for help from the Crown. They want an army raised and sent north."

"They want at least 10,000 men. There are only 500 professional soldiers in Uris. We could try to raise enough, but it would take weeks. Only one person has an army in that sort of numbers - Galahyde the Black. His force could be the only thing that stands in between the undead and the rest of Norandor. This is another thing in his favour in the Enclave and in the Council. It is as if everything is conspiring to make him king! However, as we will discuss, Galahyde's forces are a while away. We should consider sending soldiers north now to help in the fight. However, if we do so, Uris will be weakened, and we will have even less protection if Galahyde tries to press his case for succession with arms."

"As for Galahyde himself, his army is still in Dismallion. Once it leaves, it will take about two weeks to cover the distance to Uris. By the time he arrives, it is expected that the Enclave and the Council will have reached a decision. However, all is not as cut and dried and one might believe. The revelation that you are a godspeaker, Your Majesty, has caused something of a stir. Tomlin Faltu of the Church of the Land is siding with you as the correct choice for monarch. The Firewalker is implacably against it. In the Council of Peers, the Ralyon Artusi vote is swinging toward Prince Queston, but Queston went on record this afternoon, saying that he supports you for the throne. It has become a two horse race between you and Galahyde the Black. However, the chances of you being accepted are still very slim." Queston supports Raza? "I have got to talk to him," says the new king.

"The test will be Hillcrest. If the four knights there declare for you then Galahyde will have to lay siege to the castles before moving on to the capital. No force has ever taken Hillcrest, but he dare not pass it if it is his enemy. However, if they declare for Galahyde then no force in Norandor will stop him from reaching Uris."

"Necross Salamar Russ and Balthasar de Chesiré are returning to the Village of the Eighteen Churches this evening. What we have to decide before they go is whether we want any message to be carried with them. We must also decide what that message will contain. Are we going to send troops north or not, Your Majesty. Like everything else we face, the decision is most difficult."

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