Interlude: Royal Council Meeting (Following Geroldine's War)
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This Saturday, if people are around, we will be doing an interlude event with the Golden Geese. The interlude will take place 2 weeks after the conclusion of Geroldine's war.
For reference, the Locus Operandi are still about 2 to 3 months behind in the timeline.
As far as the Golden Geese know, King Thalaman Fisher is still catatonic, the survivors of destroyed cities are flocking to Peltarch and to Moonreach Keep both for shelter, the Royal Council of Peltarch and the Cleimant Council of Moonreach both benefit from broad support among the public and nobles.
The interlude event will be a meeting held by General Gom that involves invitations to the Golden Geese.
You may use this thread for any preliminary roleplay and planning.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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Juniper has long since packed up her field office in Mermaid and taken her Knights back to Silverymoon. Juniper has enjoyed a few quiet days at home with her children. Sadly, Silverymoon has its own problems at home, and she and her knights are put on patrol of the Moonwood to help counter recent Drow raids in the area.
On the side, Juniper has been tasked by High Mage Alustriel Silverhand to hunt down Zhentarim war criminals wherever they may hide around Narfell in the aftermath of the war. Her first and biggest priority target is the known war criminal, known as the Butcher. They are to be brought to justice by any means necessary. Dead or alive.
In between patrols in the Moonwood, Juniper currently spends her time organizing the task force of Knights in Silver that will be necessary to begin and carry out the High Mage's directive.
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Jonni, despite having been busy overseeing covert Cerulean matters and other extraplanar researches during the war, still accepts the invitation. Arriving back in the city with a squad of Fivers at his side, he departs for the Residential District immediately and disappears into the home of his parents. For a few days, no word comes from him until an official Cerulean dispatch is sent to Isolde, outlining plans for Berlinne's and Arch Weyland's full military funeral. The only other message on the dispatch is a promise to appear for the meeting with General Gom.
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Reyhenna Jorino returns from a secretive meeting with Jecken Stockley and makes it known to the rest of her comrades and Defender HQ that the Cleimant cause is refusing to abandon their Lord's claim to the throne of Peltarch. Consequently, with the sole exception of attending any funerals for Berlinne Toews and others who fell during the Zhentarim conflict, she spends her time focusing on regrouping the surviving Peltarchan military and planning for a quick and imminent strike on Moonreach Keep while the enemy forces are still beleaguered from their own losses. If questioned about King Thalaman, she merely insists that he is 'recovering comfortably' at the Royal Estate.
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George inquires after the burials of Temperance and Berlinne, to ensure he does not miss them, further asking about any remembrances for all the other souls they've lost.
When not occupied with his duties, which surely continue unabated, or helping to rebuild in what ways he can, he spends his time at Jiyyd's temple of Helm.
To share in their grief over their losses, to bask in the atmosphere, and as some rumour mongers would undoubtedly have it, to see what can be saved of his wayward soul.
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Isolde, as ever worn out, saddened and weary by war, takes some much needed time off after the Zhentarim's defeat. But first, she tries to wrap up loose ends where she may - searching (in vain) for Barton Cade and reaching out to her allies abroad. The mysterious "Dan" for an exchange of information, and the black dragon she opts to leave a chest full of gold and gems for, atop the same mountain where they met. Within the chest is a note in her elegant hand, reading as follows:
"The debt is repayed in full and never will I call upon you again, oh great one of the midnight skies. Please accept this small parting gift, which stems simply from my deep and heartfelt appreciation of your might and ferocity. ~Isolde Garibaldi~"
She makes a plea for clemency on behalf of Ava Fenwick in particular but also other Zhentarim prisoners, speaking often to Isaac Thaddeus on this and other matters, seeming to find solace in his gentle company.
Amongst those other matters are those of funerals, in particular Temperance of Gulderhorn's as well as Berlinne Toews - the latter no doubt due a military funeral with all the honours. Isolde suggests this be joined with that of Arch Weyland, and begins planning for the Bardic College's own honouring of the two to follow the official rites. She reaches out to the Autonomists with this aim in mind.
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The news of the Zhentarim defeat had barely the time to cross the realms of the old Nar empire before the messengers took flight. Merchant councils and self-styled lords, from the Icelace to the Yuirwood, received the invitations and inquiries as swiftly as their first free breaths. The word arrived rolled in Peltarch's seal or unexpectedly spoken by an awakened raptor. Peltarch's master of diplomacy sends her warmest regards, and the messages, though varied, have three themes in common: alliance, protection, trade.
Though there's no demand for fealty, it would seem that the Jewel is interested in forging a reputation from the improbable (some might have said impossible) victory. The messages speak of neighbors and a coalition of the vigilant, but the elders of the smaller towns will understand that the offer is the Crown's protection. But then, it doesn't take a mercantile genius to realize the besieged city must now be in want of many trade goods.
Less obvious than the winged messengers, Aoth also calls upon her new second-in-command, Gloom, to prepare reports on the towns that had, until recently, been subject to the worst tyrannies of Col Geroldine and his eastern regiment officers. It seems Aoth wants to know how pressure was leveraged against each.
