Andy’s Last Attempt Andy, before giving up the party to diplomats, makes one last plea. At Urd: “You’re name is Urd Sahiva, your brother is Behyla Sahiva. While we have no concrete evidence, we suspect you are connected to crime syndicates or at least know how to associate with them. The Thieves’ Guild, Assassin’s Guild and other such guilds are legal here in Dree. That, and your brawny disposition mean that you would benefit the most from an upgrade. I highly suggest you consider it.” At Rurrick: “Being more efficient doesn’t always mean you lose your magic. Granted, we have yet to successfully upgrade a shapeshifter who survived the transformation, but if successful it would make you the first of your kind. An undead shapeshifter. Just something to consider. We have learned much from previous trials.” At Ailekk: “You are curious and intelligent. I suggest you fly off and explore the city at your leisure by yourself. As far as an upgrade, you will die soon enough of your own natural biology. Come to me when you are ready for increased efficiency.” At Cassius: “A fully clad knight of Bahamut in Dree. I think it is time to enhance you.” Andy walks towards Cassius When he expresses and concern about not being enhanced, Andy says “Indeed you must be looking to be enhanced. You are definitely, ‘asking for it’ here. I do believe in consent, but many of my cohorts do not. If you do not wish to be enhanced, you must do something about your symbol of Bahamut. I apologize if I was presumptive.” At Ron: “You expressed interest, yet I believe you are simply humoring me. However, you are quite old for a living creature. You should contact me again should you decide to become more efficient. Enjoy your horse.” Pregame During this time the party also has the time to talk with each other about events, strategies, etc. Rurrick and Ron are able to identify some areas in the room they believe are not being scryed upon so the party can discuss private plans. However, this is just the room with the chamber-pots and another larger closet. Both are small and require those talking to cram in there together. As far as they can tell, all other areas are being magically monitored. The party get invited into a side room. They are waited on by servants, who they suspect are slaves but aren’t really certain. The walls are wooden, but exquisitely crafted [DC check]. They have an entire suites that has 12 bedrooms, a kitchen area (with pipes for venting the smoke), a dining area, a common area, a bath area, a bathroom, a foyer, and even an office/meeting space. There is one small window in the kitchen area next to the stove pipe that is closed with glass [DC check]. Throughout the evening, servants arrive to wait on the party. They have a mixture of dwarves, elves, and halflings. All seem pleasant and well treated [DC check]. They do not seem abused or scarred. They are informed that they will be meeting with diplomats starting in the morning. Apparently, the scouts have told them of some weather clouds amassing around the mountains, but the seers who told them of spring/early summer weather just days ago have changed their predictions saying that winter will be coming back soon and could endure for a time. The entire kingdom is bracing for the impact this could have. That is causing somewhat of a mad scramble because, if true, could affect their entire kingdom and economy. Apparently everyone is a bit on edge, the seers who predicted a decent next few weeks are at risk of losing their lives over their “ineptitude” although they claim the change in weather isn’t natural and has been caused by some divine disturbance, something that the ruling houses of Dree just can’t swallow. There are several seers who are going to be gutted over the next few days, one for every unit the temperature falls below what was expected. Other seers predict that this will cause the death of some couple dozens of seers in the next couple of days. All of the seers are upset. They continue to maintain their innocence and the presence of some malign divine intervention [DC checks]. Servants are bringing in extra firewood, stoking the fire, bringing in bear-skin blankets, and the like in preparation of what could be some cold days. They are also to that it might be a couple days before the party can make proper introductions to diplomats [DC check]. If asked, they are informed of the houses. Most are allied with a dragon god [DC check]. They will need to find a sponsor in order to talk to higher authorities. Until they have a sponsor, they can expect assassination attempts. Once they have a sponsor, they can expect assassination attempts by that family’s rivals. You receive welcome notes from each of the main houses, some minor houses, and other groups. All are written in Draconic. Lightcrown: “Honored guests. Please mind your manners, and enjoy the hospitality. If you kill any of the healthy slaves, you will be expected to provide us with top-market value for the slaves demise. Enjoy your stay. Queen Lightcrown is excited to have you in Dree.” There are several other notes from Lightcrown wrapped inside the larger one. They all say something along the lines of: “By the way- we heard what you did to our Tiamat brothers and sisters in Guilds’ Town. Prepare to be fucked you Bahamut loving fuck heads. We’ll enjoy wearing your heads as hats. -We wish you long life and immense pain.” Some of them are even more graphic. Ambercrown: “Visitors of Dree. You are expected to follow all Dree laws. Attached is a full copy of the laws.” [Because I’m lazy, the laws are pretty standard. Murder doesn’t matter, compensation and ownership matter a lot. Assassination, thievery, slavery, etc are all legal as long as the person committing the crime is licensed and such acts are taxed. Only royalty are truly protected by law against crime, and even then not against each other. That’s the gist of it.] Flamecrown: Scrawled out in handwriting in large letters. “How much for the Teifling? -Let us know.” Shadescrown: “We have reason to believe you have a wizard with you, who may or may not be native to Shrave and possibly the Realm of Indra. We would like to speak with this wizard at his first possibly convenience. Ask to speak to the Magistrate at any time and we will set up a meeting.” Deathcrown: “Let us know if any of you would like to be made more efficient. Thank you for bringing yourselves to Dree.” You also receive some notes from some lesser houses and other factions: Flaycrown: “Welcome to Dree. We’ll make this quick. We know the other houses are looking to recruit, cull, or kill you. We are not. You should seek us out. Alone. Separately. In different dark allies. Assuming that doesn’t appeal to you just let us know and we’ll send a small detachment of diplomats to visit you. In the night. While you are sleeping. No one will know.” [DC check] Suncrown: “If you get tired of this zoo of death, make your way to us if you can. We are in a mining town to the southwest. Seek us in the Miner’s Guild. Be careful.” Order of the Mouse: “I rescued the injured bird, only to give it away. It has come back and found a flock, I’ll be here to visit in a day.” [DC check] Miscellaneous houses: They have dozens of other noble houses which also send them welcome letters. They are all ingratiating, but not to the point of being friendly. Something along the lines of, “Welcome guests. If [house’s name here] can be of any assistance, let please just let us know. Be knowledgeable that we are happy to have you here in Dree, but it may take us some time to process your request. In the meantime, you should visit Grand Dree. It is an amazing place.” Unsigned Note: “We have allies here. Come see me soon.” It is signed with an illegible signature and a street address in Grand Dree. [DC check]” After asking around with the servants, relying on their own knowledge of Dree, or reading books in the guest quarters (which includes years of newspapers), they come up with the following knowledge about the houses. Lightcrown (worshippers of Tiamatt): Their original name was X. The oldest of the Dree houses, they date their ancestry back to the original colonization of what is now known as Dree. Most of those records are locked away, but the Lightcrown maintain dominance by subjugation, intimidation, military superiority, and magical superiority. None else in the Dree courts can challenge them. Queen Lightcrown is a half-elf, and is 150 years old, giving her memories and knowledge far superior to her would be competitors who are all human. Rumors say this tactic is by design and Lightcrowns have been forcing themselves upon elves for centuries to increase both their magical aptitude and age unnaturally, instead of just seeking undeath like a noble Dree. The rest of the nobles hate them. Ambercrown (worshippers of Null): The Ambercrown are the right hand of justice of the noble houses. Known for their unwavering honor and sense of law, they have the inability to lie about situations. That doesn’t mean they can’t be deceitful, and have mastered the arts of misdirection. Most of their family wizards are diviners or necromancers, something that has afforded them a hatred by Lady Corrive who notoriously hates both the undead and those who can predict events. This has garnered them the favor of Lord Shrave, who enjoys irritating his mate. According to rumors, they are his next favorite house after the Lightcrown. Flamecrown (worshippers of Garyz): The Flamecrown are a small and almost non-existent house. Their numbers are scattered, but passionate and powerful. Because of their allegiance to Garyz they are considered a “main” house even though their power in the courts is minimal. Those that rise to the highest ranks of the house are some of the most dangerous creatures in the lands. They don’t have as many wizards in their family as most of the families of Dree, most opt instead to be priests of Garyz and they have some sorcerers in their midsts as well. They have been trying for centuries to master the powers of the phoenix, but none have yet succeeded. Some do trade their souls to fiends for power over fire. In their number they have trained red dragonborn who are not quite slaves, but no quite free either. They relish Tiefling slaves and will pay top dollar for them. They are brutal and unrelenting house, known for sadism and violence. Shadescrown (worshippers of Kalzareinad): The Shadecrown run the magic schools of Dree. They are a secretive house, typically wearing hoods to hide their faces. All leaders of their house are wizards. They also run the libraries, museums, archives, and relic repositories of Dree. It is said they are the backbone behind the magic of Dree. Those of the house who don’t show ample aptitude of magic are sent to the Royal Dree Department of Agriculture to study farming techniques, since they obviously aren’t fit for the noble life. Deathcrown (worshippers of Faluzure): The backbone of the undead armies of Dree, the Deathcrown are predominantly necromancers, both priests and wizards, who aspire to eternal life. Their most revered members have found a way to embrace vampirism, although those have been moved to more remote locations in Dree. Their true calling is life everlasting, that of undying lich-hood which supposedly none have been able to achieve. Their followers are known to bring decay, disease, and death wherever they go. While powerful, their numbers are intentionally limited by the other nobles who don’t want the realm to be entirely filled of undead. The Deathcrown have other ambitions. Minor Houses and other Factions Flaycrown: Suncrown is supposedly remnants of the original Dree who came to Shrave half a century ago. They never gained Shrave’s favor, not those of the other houses. They are a bit strange, but highly feared by the other houses. Few talk about why. Suncrown: They provide resources. They organize a lot of the slave groups to harvest resources throughout the realm. As far as you can read/tell from talking to servants they are a minor guild with little reason to have an interest in you. Order of the Mouse: No info. A couple days pass as they go through all of the above information. During that time the part meet with multiple diplomats and people. But no one of any standing. Over the period of a couple of days, it gets colder and colder outside, despite the fact that it is now April [the equivalent of, I haven’t renamed the calendar yet.] The temperature outside has dropped from 50-70 degrees on an average day to 30-50 degrees and the temperature keeps falling. [At the beginning of game we’ll run through this pre-game and you all will have an opportunity to do things and interact, but this is the basics so we can get all that over with.]