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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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.
