The Duke sits back in his chair and waits for anyone else to speak up. With a look of mild surprise that character witnesses have been exhausted he responds, "...."
As he opens his mouth to speak someone bursts into the room. You hear Gaius quietly whisper it is his cousin, Ptomellus, the family Jackanape. "Forgive me Your Grace! I must be heard! There is war to the north!," he exclaims as he enters. The guards quickly grab him by each arm to secure him and look to the Duke as a collective gasp fills the room. "What is the meaning of this!," the Duke roars. "Who are you! And how do you think you can barge into proceedings like this!," his anger continues.
The young man is brought forward to the Duke and makes eye contact with Gaius briefly. Gaius stares flatly back at him. He is then brought before the Duke and kneels. "I am Ptomellus Hartstone, Your Grace. I bring word of attack upon my family at Harthold."
The Duke eyes him for a moment, "I seem to be collecting Hartstones today. And who is attacking your family, Ptomellus Hartstone?"
He looks up to the Duke, "House Ravenshield surrounds our home and demands that Gaius be surrendered to them." He points at Gaius while saying this. "He is accused of burgling Ravenshield Manor and taking an item of extreme value and treasure to the Ravenshields."
Starker snorts:”Trokarl Ravenshield himself sanctioned the temporary removal of the Ravenshield diary, a Ravenshield family heirloom, from the Ravenshield family home. ‘Burglary’, forsooth! <another snort> Alamnal is slipping in his dotage to try to justify his continued vendetta against Gaius’ family with this whimsical, flimsy nonsense attempting to suppress evidence of his infamous calumnies.”
Your Grace, I suspect that this so-called missing treasure is none other than the diary of my grandfather, which I have presented to you today. If that is the case, then it was no theft, but an act born of necessity and duty. That was no Hartstone act, your grace that was me - a Ravenshield.
What have I done with it? I have placed it in your hands, seeking your wisdom and judgment. And I have come here openly, accompanied by my friends—many of whom are devoted servants of Tyr, the very embodiment of justice.
This overreaction and accusation of the Hartstone's is yet another symptom of the troubling influence that I believe has taken hold of my brother, Earl Grammal Ravenshield.I will not deny that I did not inform my brother when I took the book. My reason was simple: to ensure I could keep my head upon my shoulders long enough to act. My intent was, and remains, to address the plight of our lands and our people, who suffer under the shadow of the current rule.
Your Grace, I trust in your justice and ask that you consider my actions in light of the great danger the people of Cormyr now face
Gaius says quietly, "What if this is true? What will Alamnal do to my family if I do not return and surrender. I am liegeman to House Ravenshield. I must obey."
Hoid casually gets close to Gaius and whispers, “Suck it up buttercup. If you were so worried about being a liege to House Ravenshield, you never should have started your quest, let alone engineer our possession of the diary! Now start acting like the person you were before your boot licking kin arrived.”
Now, the Hartstones face a siege by forces bearing my family’s name. This senseless conflict can not continue. I ask that you permit me to ride north and confront this situation directly. Let me be the one to put an end to this unjust assault and bring order back to your lands.
If there are those who wish to press charges against me for murder or, indeed, for the borrowing of a book, I will gladly return to your court to answer those accusations once this conflict is resolved. Your grace, I beg you to let me act swiftly, not for my own sake, but for the good people whose lives hang in the balance.
Gaius looks to Hoid and says, "I do not wish to speak harshly with you about this. You do not have a family as you have told me. If you had your family's safety to consider you may find it easier to understand the position I am now in. I will not have them suffer for the decisions I have made without them."
Gaius then addresses the Duke, "Your Grace, my cousin brings tidings of woe for certain. I feel that I must make haste and return home to face my liege lord, Grammal Ravenshield."
During all of this back and forth and excitement, two of the Duke's advisors have reviewing the bookmarked entries in the diary. They have quietly addressed the Duke from aside. The Duke acknowledges Gaius' statement and desire to leave with a raised hand, "Just a moment, Hartstone. I am told that this book does contain information that is....troubling." He looks about the court. There are expectant expressions on many of the commoners faces. The nobles behind you seem to remain impatient at the great time you are consuming with your petition. "You will return to Harthall with your companions to face your liege lord, Grammal Ravenshield. These companions of yours will travel with you. In addition, I will dispatch one of the Purple Dragons to accompany you to serve as observer." He leans forward in his chair and gives Trolkarl and Gaius a long hard stare, "I do not think I need to impress upon you the woe it would bring upon each of you and your family's if treachery against my seat is undertaken by either or both of you. Failure of my observer to return will be taken as exactly that." He holds for a moment to allow that to remain in the air. He then sits back and declares, "Leave at once to make haste to Harthall. Return at first opportunity with my observer and we will again review the situation of the North."
Gaius bows and answers, "By your leave, Your Grace."
You are all escorted out of the Duke's hall. He holds you there for a while until you see a warrior in plate arrive, he is a Purple Dragon. The Purple Dragons are knights of Cormyr bound to the service of the crown. He approaches with confidence and moves as though he is an accomplished fighter. "I am Garrent Holdwell. My orders are to accompany you to Harthall and bear witness to what occurs. We are also ordered to make haste. Where can we collect your belongings and mounts? We should proceed immediately," he says to you.
Starker will re-skull quarterstaff, put eMFer in his saddlebags, get on Raspy and settle Cyrus on his shoulder. “I am ready for my 18 seconds of glory. Let us ride.”
Let’s collect gear and mounts from the inn and leave with haste
while collecting the arms….
Gumby, please treat any request or concerns of sir Holdwell as if they were my own. He is the eyes of the duke, his safety is to be placed above my own.
“Garrent Holdwell, is Sir the appropriate honorific for your station? I am Hoid.
We have reason to be suspicious that anyone unknown to us could be the drow Alamnal in magical disguise. As a first line of defense, Master Starker is likely to detect magic at his earliest convenience after we encounter those unknown to us. In view of your duties, I feel it would be best if you understand our intentions.”
"Greetings, Hoid. Simply Garrent is fine," he replies. "I have been briefed on what came to pass at court. As long as you are not attempting subterfuge with the court or my mission you are free to act as you will." He reconsiders and adds, "Within the laws of Cormyr, of course."
Garrent instructs the aid to have his mount and equipment brought to the Hungry Hippocampus and accompanies you to the inn.
Gaius is anxious and the first to be prepared to depart. Garrent is amiable and welcomes conversation. Two squires bring a warhorse to the inn for him. You can see he is packed with a lance, bedroll, shield and two saddlebags on his military saddle. By early afternoon you have left the walls of Daerlun behind you on your journey back north. If you travel late today and do not take many rests you should be able to make it to Harthall by late afternoon tomorrow.
(( Select your prepared spells after taking a Long Rest. Then, send a Perception check. ))
The Duke sits back in his chair and waits for anyone else to speak up. With a look of mild surprise that character witnesses have been exhausted he responds, "...."
As he opens his mouth to speak someone bursts into the room. You hear Gaius quietly whisper it is his cousin, Ptomellus, the family Jackanape. "Forgive me Your Grace! I must be heard! There is war to the north!," he exclaims as he enters. The guards quickly grab him by each arm to secure him and look to the Duke as a collective gasp fills the room. "What is the meaning of this!," the Duke roars. "Who are you! And how do you think you can barge into proceedings like this!," his anger continues.
The young man is brought forward to the Duke and makes eye contact with Gaius briefly. Gaius stares flatly back at him. He is then brought before the Duke and kneels. "I am Ptomellus Hartstone, Your Grace. I bring word of attack upon my family at Harthold."
The Duke eyes him for a moment, "I seem to be collecting Hartstones today. And who is attacking your family, Ptomellus Hartstone?"
He looks up to the Duke, "House Ravenshield surrounds our home and demands that Gaius be surrendered to them." He points at Gaius while saying this. "He is accused of burgling Ravenshield Manor and taking an item of extreme value and treasure to the Ravenshields."
Starker snorts:”Trokarl Ravenshield himself sanctioned the temporary removal of the Ravenshield diary, a Ravenshield family heirloom, from the Ravenshield family home. ‘Burglary’, forsooth! <another snort> Alamnal is slipping in his dotage to try to justify his continued vendetta against Gaius’ family with this whimsical, flimsy nonsense attempting to suppress evidence of his infamous calumnies.”
Your Grace, I suspect that this so-called missing treasure is none other than the diary of my grandfather, which I have presented to you today. If that is the case, then it was no theft, but an act born of necessity and duty. That was no Hartstone act, your grace that was me - a Ravenshield.
What have I done with it? I have placed it in your hands, seeking your wisdom and judgment. And I have come here openly, accompanied by my friends—many of whom are devoted servants of Tyr, the very embodiment of justice.
This overreaction and accusation of the Hartstone's is yet another symptom of the troubling influence that I believe has taken hold of my brother, Earl Grammal Ravenshield.I will not deny that I did not inform my brother when I took the book. My reason was simple: to ensure I could keep my head upon my shoulders long enough to act. My intent was, and remains, to address the plight of our lands and our people, who suffer under the shadow of the current rule.
Your Grace, I trust in your justice and ask that you consider my actions in light of the great danger the people of Cormyr now face
Gaius says quietly, "What if this is true? What will Alamnal do to my family if I do not return and surrender. I am liegeman to House Ravenshield. I must obey."
Hoid casually gets close to Gaius and whispers, “Suck it up buttercup. If you were so worried about being a liege to House Ravenshield, you never should have started your quest, let alone engineer our possession of the diary! Now start acting like the person you were before your boot licking kin arrived.”
Now, the Hartstones face a siege by forces bearing my family’s name. This senseless conflict can not continue. I ask that you permit me to ride north and confront this situation directly. Let me be the one to put an end to this unjust assault and bring order back to your lands.
If there are those who wish to press charges against me for murder or, indeed, for the borrowing of a book, I will gladly return to your court to answer those accusations once this conflict is resolved. Your grace, I beg you to let me act swiftly, not for my own sake, but for the good people whose lives hang in the balance.
Gaius looks to Hoid and says, "I do not wish to speak harshly with you about this. You do not have a family as you have told me. If you had your family's safety to consider you may find it easier to understand the position I am now in. I will not have them suffer for the decisions I have made without them."
Gaius then addresses the Duke, "Your Grace, my cousin brings tidings of woe for certain. I feel that I must make haste and return home to face my liege lord, Grammal Ravenshield."
During all of this back and forth and excitement, two of the Duke's advisors have reviewing the bookmarked entries in the diary. They have quietly addressed the Duke from aside. The Duke acknowledges Gaius' statement and desire to leave with a raised hand, "Just a moment, Hartstone. I am told that this book does contain information that is....troubling." He looks about the court. There are expectant expressions on many of the commoners faces. The nobles behind you seem to remain impatient at the great time you are consuming with your petition. "You will return to Harthall with your companions to face your liege lord, Grammal Ravenshield. These companions of yours will travel with you. In addition, I will dispatch one of the Purple Dragons to accompany you to serve as observer." He leans forward in his chair and gives Trolkarl and Gaius a long hard stare, "I do not think I need to impress upon you the woe it would bring upon each of you and your family's if treachery against my seat is undertaken by either or both of you. Failure of my observer to return will be taken as exactly that." He holds for a moment to allow that to remain in the air. He then sits back and declares, "Leave at once to make haste to Harthall. Return at first opportunity with my observer and we will again review the situation of the North."
Gaius bows and answers, "By your leave, Your Grace."
(Is the Duke maintaining possession of the diary?)
Yes
You are all escorted out of the Duke's hall. He holds you there for a while until you see a warrior in plate arrive, he is a Purple Dragon. The Purple Dragons are knights of Cormyr bound to the service of the crown. He approaches with confidence and moves as though he is an accomplished fighter. "I am Garrent Holdwell. My orders are to accompany you to Harthall and bear witness to what occurs. We are also ordered to make haste. Where can we collect your belongings and mounts? We should proceed immediately," he says to you.
Starker will re-skull quarterstaff, put eMFer in his saddlebags, get on Raspy and settle Cyrus on his shoulder. “I am ready for my 18 seconds of glory. Let us ride.”
Let’s collect gear and mounts from the inn and leave with haste
while collecting the arms….
Gumby, please treat any request or concerns of sir Holdwell as if they were my own. He is the eyes of the duke, his safety is to be placed above my own.
“Garrent Holdwell, is Sir the appropriate honorific for your station? I am Hoid.
We have reason to be suspicious that anyone unknown to us could be the drow Alamnal in magical disguise. As a first line of defense, Master Starker is likely to detect magic at his earliest convenience after we encounter those unknown to us. In view of your duties, I feel it would be best if you understand our intentions.”
"Greetings, Hoid. Simply Garrent is fine," he replies. "I have been briefed on what came to pass at court. As long as you are not attempting subterfuge with the court or my mission you are free to act as you will." He reconsiders and adds, "Within the laws of Cormyr, of course."
Garrent instructs the aid to have his mount and equipment brought to the Hungry Hippocampus and accompanies you to the inn.
Anything you want to accomplish prior to departing Daerlun?
Nothing other than changing into appropriate gear.
Goat leggings and horned helmets. Check.
Gaius is anxious and the first to be prepared to depart. Garrent is amiable and welcomes conversation. Two squires bring a warhorse to the inn for him. You can see he is packed with a lance, bedroll, shield and two saddlebags on his military saddle. By early afternoon you have left the walls of Daerlun behind you on your journey back north. If you travel late today and do not take many rests you should be able to make it to Harthall by late afternoon tomorrow.
(( Select your prepared spells after taking a Long Rest. Then, send a Perception check. ))
North Road
Hoid, 11 perception
"Garrent Holdwell, I am Chadwick LeRoy Jenkins. It is a pleasure to meet you.
Hopefully we will arrive in time to prevent any violence between the houses."
Chadwick will chat with him on the ride if he is agreeable, especially if the topic turns to mounted combat.
Perception roll sent.