Session 11: Riatavin
Last time
We decided to return to the Lazaretto to confront Mother Verduna and stopped at Bad Doric on the way. Kira discovered the shadow elemental’s anger was linked to Verduna. We gathered more white skull scalps and continued through the Mirefen Swamp, noticing the emotional drain was gone. At the Lazaretto, we learned Verduna had left for Port Maraisa.
In Port Maraisa, Dominico Falcone welcomed us and planned a celebration at the Night market. We received a letter from Armitage del Veign, who wants to meet us in Riatavin. We visited the Big Tree Tavern and spoke with Delridge Berryroot, who expressed doubts about the recent developments.
We then met Albrecht Moray at the Gold Coin. He revealed his plan to disrupt The Auttencourt family by enraging the vampire Etienne Auttencort with poisoned blood, leading him to kill his fiancée Ottillie Rhindaun. We agreed to tentatively work together as we had some common goals.
At the Night market, we were honored and rewarded, but we confirmed Verduna’s true nature through Radovan’s and Hugh’s magic. Verduna threatened us, and we were left with a difficult choice: do we confront her immediately or hunt her down later?
Answer: We hunt her down later.
Port Maraisa
We took care of business in town, including Hugh restoring Amara’s Dogma at Jorand’s Forge and finding a Codpiece of Wound Closure from Bartolo for 75GP. Hugh also donated 89 GP to The Small Brothers at the Big Tree Tavern. Bikke handled wine trade and bought a cart of rum from Kingsley for 20 GP. Before leaving, we secured Dominico’s agreement to discreetly travel with us to Riatavin.
Road to Riatavin
Our journey to Riatavin was under overcast skies as the weather turned to winter. The travel was uneventful.
Lore Note: Tethyr has been ruled by the Rhinduan family for centuries, experiencing brief prosperity but overall struggling. The current rulers are weak and distant, leaving Tethyr nearly a failed state. High tolls from the Aurelian Duchies and Amn punish Tethyrian trade. Riatavin, a large but economically struggling border city, frequently changes possession between Tethyr and the Aurelian Duchies.
Riatavin
In Riatavin, we split up to locate Armitage. Barrick and Bikke asked a street urchin about The Pewter Shield, a tavern popular among hireling caravan guards. Kira, Gavin, and Barrick found the tavern on fire, with a corpse lying in the street. Barrick’s investigation revealed the victim, likely a guard or soldier, had been shot with crossbow bolts. Combat ensued with White Tiger ambushers.
During the fight, Barrick spotted Amelia, who led us to a hidden refuge in the sewers where we found Armitage wounded. Armitage revealed a complex political landscape involving an impending marriage between Princess Ottillie and Etienne Auttencort, a union threatening to consolidate power among the vampiric nobility. He urged us to break the alliance between the Rhinduan and Auttencourt families, disrupt the restoration of the Sandstone Palace and seek allies among the younger nobles.
Amelia explained that she had been working at The Pewter Shield on a recommendation from Rosharandan Savelli. When the White Tigers attacked, Farnar opened a passage to the sewers to get the guests to safety. Kira shapechanged into a rat and saw the ambushers leave, so she fetched Barrick, Hugh, and Radovan.
Armitage’s explanation included the discovery that the wine merchant who poisoned the wine had betrayed them. Gavin also learned from Armitage that someone in our group or close to us must have broken trust, suggesting a coordinated opposition.
Armitage provided insights into the political stakes, revealing that Eldred of Corsi was dying, and that a power vacuum would ensue. Richard of Corsi aimed to plant seeds of change among the younger nobles. Armitage instructed us to find Farnar and his other man, search the remains of The Pewter Shield, and follow any leads. He also emphasized the importance of sabotaging the palace’s restoration to buy time before the marriage.
Amelia’s information about the traitor’s background and the discovery of a brand on the corpse led to the realization that the traitor was likely a prisoner from the Sharpstone Mines, indentured to a wealthy family or merchant. The party decided to send a message to Rowan for more information about Farnar.