Ongoing Chronicle: The Jewel's Majesty / Year of the Golden Goose
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We will be returning to Peltarch on Sunday, October 18th, 2026. The in-character timing of the return will be approximately 9 months following the events of the Calligraphy of the Sky, i.e. the defeat of George's fiery double and of the blazing orange star. You may use this thread to document what your character has been up to during those 9 months.
Background:
The following is of note as initial public knowledge:
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At this stage, the Golden Geese are revered as legendary heroes and the definitive champions of the era. They are the architects of the city’s survival, celebrated for their monumental triumphs, for crushing the Zhentarim and conquering the very stars. In the eyes of the public, they are flawless and infallible. Everyone clamors for their attention, desperately seeking their favor, endorsements, and precious time.
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The King is up and about, on crutches, his lame & disfigured form a ghastly sight for those who interact with him, which are not many, but enough to be the subject of rumors among courtiers and, more and more, the common folk. Despite the best efforts of some, including in his own family, the King's reputation is that of a feckless, weak, and spend-happy monarch, one not truly in charge, subject to the control of the Golden Geese. This latter element is reportedly quite desirable to almost everyone in the city, who believe the Geese to be better stewards than the withered King.
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A consortium of foreign guilds and merchants has arrived to Peltarch in the wake of its rebuilding efforts. Now that the city has defeated the Zhentarim, and quelled the blazing orange star (now that the threats are clear) new businesses have arrived and seek to flourish.
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In a city on the mend, and towards flourish, the Seafarer's Guild has seen better days. Rumors abound of its financial distress. Word circulates also of a brewing lack of confidence in its current chief operations officer, Edwin Ashald. Word also abound that the relations between the Seafarer's Guild and the Crown are deteriorating, with the latter contemplating an increase of the guild's rather low and favorable tax rates that were leftover from wartime.
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The Golden Geese have begun reforms, spearheading an initiative to democratize the government institutions away from a pure monarchy, the creation of a second historic senate, and the commencement of elections. What, exactly, the shape of this new government will be is anyone's guess.
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The city's rebuilding efforts are essentially complete, but for an unforeseen shortage of lumber needed to rebuild the city's western wall -- the one used to keep orcs and giants at bay. Word spreads of elven druids sabotaging the city's wood-gathering efforts in the giantspire and gnoll forests.
Thus begins the Year of the Golden Goose.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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Once life at the estate has settled into its new twin-centric routine, Aoth's non-domestic movements become difficult to track as she slips between realms through the trees and appears in a variety of new shapes.
In Peltarch, she lectures her diplomatic staff that the priority is the long-term, a city that can survive whatever comes next, and she begins to reward those most capable of foresight and independence. She's tasked them with researching the newly arrived trading companies in order to discern which develop sustained interests with their new ventures and which tend to pillage smaller cities. On behalf of the former, she's asked for drafts of privileged trade agreements. At the end of the Zhentarim war, she'd already made a point to send herself or delegates to neighboring lands to build off Peltarch's military success, and now that reform is underway, these contacts are now being reassured of Peltarch's stability.
Despite Thalaman's admonishments a year ago and Adrian's skepticism, Aoth has also extended regular invitations to Caleb to join the family at court or the estate. Never expecting a reply, she nevertheless remains committed to her private, wartime argument that Caleb is family and should be treated as such.
In Thay, it's clear even from the plains below that a druid has taken residence in the ruins of the Sepret mansion, carved over a century ago from Bare Ridge, wrecked more recently by Villalgarviladral. The rocky pastures and vineyards have begun to replenish while the sparsely-dotted groves grow thicker and wilder than they have since the Seprets captured the region in the Salamander War. The plenty has attracted stray animals and beasts, but the fields remain unworked as the renewed house has deigned to purchase neither slave nor undead to serve them.
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Not long after the errant star disappeared from Narfell skies, the royal family announced the birth of twins: Damien and Imatha. Rumors of many colors pass through the city, but in truth, the princesses let few but the most-trusted healers into the chamber following the first contractions.
Despite being entirely confident in the healing proficiencies of both Aoth & Jonni, Reyhenna is also said to have called upon the Moonreach priestess Leonora to attend the birth. After her recovery, Rey confidently proclaimed the delivery was "no big deal", though those present for the momentous occasion note she was somewhat less blasé during - making demands the newborns be balefully teleported or insisting it wasn't too late to find 'that creepy Oscuran egg doctor'.
Likewise, the typically-aloof Aoth was caught in rare and turbulent emotion from her first intuitions until weeks after the delivery. The halls rang with unusual and conflicting demands. Her attempts to attend to every concern herself ("to be certain it is done correctly") was impossible from the start as her list of necessary tasks ranged from the mundane healer's responsibilities to warding the estate grounds against demons and lichs.
When some resemblance of calm settled, it became clear that all are as happy, healthy, and exhausted as one expects of a new family.
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After his return, George takes an extended leave of absence. Not once is he seen in uniform and rarely is he seen in the city proper while Meadow's pregnancy lasts. The Wisp's sails and his flag are a regular enough sight, but he appears to be sailing to and fro over the weeks and months.
He undergoes Meadow's doting with quiet dignity when spotted in public, and seems likewise unflappable when he is being grumped and huffed at. Still, to those making it their business to know, the sailing appears to be to her benefit, with the sailing trips often leading to Kront or Uthmere. And one particular time, he is known to have booked teleportation to Candlekeep.It is around the time where Meadow grows hyperactive that George can be seen around the city more often again. Rumours swell that he acquired the deed to a large warehouse in the city, and has been meeting with all sorts. Merchants and craftsmen. Wizards and scribes. Rangers and scouts. Again other rumours spread that he is looking for property in Uthmere. Or Kront. Or looking to invest in proper landings for the more remote villages around the Icelace. Even Moonreach is mentioned.
Yet every time, he is seen going home with little more than a few items that would allow Meadow to indulge in her homemaking.By the time their son is born, the acquisition of the warehouse in the city is established, and construction inside is well under way. At city hall, it can be confirmed that George has chartered a guild known as the Hall of Artifice.
He seems perfectly willing to delegate the ongoing construction of the Hall, instead opting to spend time with Meadow and their newborn son and continuing their travels while life still permits it.
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Meadow Longcloak
After George returns, Meadow becomes a bit reclusive and dotes on him to excess. It threatens to become an issue until the end of the second trimester, where she just gets grumpy. She spends most of the time aboard the Wisp, and frequently discusses moving to Uthmere, though it never actually happens. The third trimester hits and the grumpiness just turns to naps. She’ll be busy planning things, discussing sailing to Uthmere, buying a place, and then George will turn around and she’ll be asleep.
About 2 months into the third trimester, and she suddenly gets a burst of energy. She starts cleaning the Wisp from top to bottom, rearranging everything and driving George crazy. This occurs at all hours, and her energy seems inexhaustible. Then three weeks before the baby is due, she goes into labor.
First pregnancies are usually late, but the physician and mid-wife attribute the early delivery to stress. Regardless, about 20 hours later Meadow gives birth to a small, baby boy. He’s named Arryn Longcloak. Mother and child are healthy, and Meadow glows with pride.
The three to four months that follow are quiet. Meadow spends most of her days dockside with the baby in sling, moving around from vendor to shop, buying things for Wisp and the child. She avoids the Geese and politics like the plague, but is eventually encouraged to show off the child to Isolde, Rey and the rest of the crew.
Sebrienne
Sebrienne moves back to her home town in Norwick, staying in a room in Farmer Stone’s house, the same room she spent her days while attending Spellweaver. She spends some of her savings and eventually has a small house constructed on a high point in Norwick. It’s simple, not fancy, and belies the somewhat famous nature of it’s occupant.
She makes infrequent trips to Peltarch, occasionally visiting the Geese, but largely attends to matters in Norwick. She dumps her entire savings (200k gp) into the town’s restructure and building efforts, and assists where she can with her magic.
She seems content with her lot there, and promises the leadership of Norwick that if the Zhents ever show their faces around Norwick again, she will lend her power to the town’s defense.
Lia Sands
The populace isn’t sure what to make of Lia. Her presence amongst the Geese causes various rumors ranging from the Geese’s involvement with the Regal Maid to her actually being an ambassador from the Hells…not a terribly outlandish thing considering what the Geese have been rumored or known to have accomplished. To many though, she is simply a monster, gross and outlandish or exotic, desired and alluring. There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground.
During the 9 month interlude however, things begin to change.
She becomes known as a woman (or creature) of great wealth. Her standing in the Regal Maid grows. Her clients become a bit more exclusive and upper class. There is a rumored auction of a relic of immense power, obtained at great peril. Coin changes hand with foreign agents. People begin to talk.
An incident with a drunken soldier at the Regal Maid creates another stir. A high ranking officer with a cruel and jealous streak, along with a hidden blade was cut apart, reportedly in personal combat by Lia. While Lia is absolved of the incident, the man was a well known swordsman, and a rather unclothed and bloody Lia casually talking to the guards was a sight that spread further gossip throughout the docks.
Slowly, hidden behind closed doors, contracts are signed. Lia’s influence over the Courtesan’s Guild grows. A few women, one a known impressionist, are sponsored at the Bard’s College. Others are sent away for “training” and return looking more confident and fit. Some girls now handle exclusive clients. Others are seen on the arms of the wealthy. It’s rumored that mistreatment of girls results in consequences so dire, it’s spoken of only with hushed tones in dark places.
Now, Lia is seen frequently with the Geese, her clothing made of the finest silks and jewelry magically enhanced. How she factors into the Geese’s future plans is anyone’s guess.
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Isolde, as ever in the wake of major events, celebrates by taking a vacation to somewhere beautiful and uplifting, in Nate's company. She returns this time with a bulging trunk full of baby clothes in every imaginable style and colour, exquisitely sewn and downright adorable. This, she leaves at Aoth and Reyhenna's doorstep, wrapped in a ridiculously oversized bow.
Her vacation was perhaps not purely relaxing, however. Ever since the war ended, Isolde has continued to make enquiries for the whereabouts of missing people from the Narfell region, using her various contacts. It started with Barton Cade, but didn't end there. Name after name has been added to her list along with whatever clues have surfaced as to their last known whereabouts and current status. Clandestine attempts at liberating some of these has quite possibly been on her 'vacation' agenda, though the openly talked about activity would be escorting Isaac Thaddeus to wherever it is that Temperance of Gulderhorn's final resting place lies.
Once back in town, her socializing has been somewhat sparse, perhaps due to the constant clamouring for attention by often outside parties. She has, however, made several attempts to meet with Edwin Ashald, and in general nosied about for gossip and interesting tidbits concerning the seeming turmoil within the guild.
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@robyn Thank you!
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@flom Then you should probably change it to Sunday instead of Saturday in the description
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Date updated to October 18th, rather than 17th.
