Session 55

Chris (Tiberium), Dean (Thic Duc), Tim (Otto), Cody (Warin), Jeff (Amathar), Mariel (Leah), Matt (Barron), and Brian (Pyrcival) are returning cast members. Leah (Ahira) is new.

As we left the party, Tiberium and Warin were in prison. The rest of the party spend the night at a nearby inn. Oddly, Otto the halfling was hailed by his cousin, who had heard of his recent involvement in a stabbing and wanted to hear the story himself. The halfling introduced himself as Brand, and listened to Otto’s story with a sort of cheerful but critical ear. He did not seem satisfied by what he heard.

The next day, Barren and Leah went to meet Elaina’s contact with the local guild. Meeting with Shifty Joe, a fence, Barron arranged a meeting with guild leadership the next day.

Meanwhile, Tiberium was bailed out of jail by Pyrcival, and then arranged for Warin’s defense. Both were defended by one of Pelor’s “altarboys”, actually experienced (well, some were experienced) litigators and defense attorneys who hold a minor position within the church hierarchy as part of their service.

Amathar researched the laws that had allegedly been violated, and found an important point: all the piracy charges require the action to be taken “on the high seas”, and “in port” does not qualify. Combined with the pirate actually being a legitimate owner of the boat, the most serious charges were dropped. Barron insisted on taking stand to explain his actions, against the advice of his advocate, “because you cannot keep your damn mouth shut long enough to avoid incriminating yourself.”

Warin, on the other hand, testified in his own defense and managed to muddle the situation further.

Towards the end of the trial, the group brought up the threat to the wedding, though they were not quite clear whether the threat was a princess-napping or an assassination plot. They did determine that under the law in the shield lands, a dynastic marriage between two important personages such as these would include a formal agreement laying out the terms of succession for the union. The terms for this marriage were not generally known, but the Duke of Highport had assured his citizens that the Princess would not rule his lands in the event of his untimely death.

Barron was sentenced to 10 lashes for assault with a deadly weapon on an officer of the law and fleeing justice, Tiberium to 4 for assault and battery on an officer of the law, Warin to 2 for aiding, abetting, and temporarily fleeing. Each lash will inflict 1d4 damage (rolled at the start of next session) that is magically treated to heal only by natural means, and leave a scar.

To be continued…

Treasure

For reference: 200 cp = 20 sp = 2 ep = 1 gp = 1/5 pp Treasure: 0gp (0gp each) Current Party Funds: 8582gp

Experience

Base xp for showing up (total): 900xp
No significant combat this session, so I will award an extra 1000xp for roleplay
Barron, Tiberium, and Warin get an extra 100xp for turning themselves in
Thic Duc and Otto get an extra 100xp for helping with the trial
Pyrcival gets an extra 100xp for spotting the "let's not go talk to Barron with the paladin while he is meeting with the Thieves' Guild" problem
Amathar gets an extra 100xp for a quotable and thinking to look up the laws
Treasure XP: 0xp
Group Total: 9900xp (1100xp each)

Roleplaying moments and quotables

"I truly regret my actions, as they did not lead to profit and any gain or benefit whatsoever" -- Barron
"yes I bribed the sailor to jump over board, it was to distract the paladin from dealing with any possible typical government actions resulting in 'righteous retribution'" -- Barron
"One has no idea what he wants. The other knows exactly what he wants." (Amathar, describing Warin and Tiberium)

Dangling Threads of Fate

Who was the strangely well-dressed gardener Gunnar spent time over roots and vegetables with? That would be the Baroness of Restenford.
Something is up with the Baroness. She was nervous when asked about disappearing babies. Probably not anything with the wererats, but something is up.
No one has checked recently to see if the Princess is still in her castle
Warin owes the church a lot of money for his restoration spell
How to invest your ill-gotten gains...