Lessons Learned in the King's Tower
The next installment of Lirael Glimmereye's journal as he progresses as a Yuan-ti Cleric of the Twilight Domain/Rogue. He is a character in a D&D 5e High Fantasy home brew adventure campaign. Today's installment is the first part of our last session where we journeyed to had time to investigate things and discovered several more unexpected paths the adventure could take.
Past Journal Entries:
- Lirael Glimmereye - Backstory
- The Prophets of Minwa
- A Journey Into the Dreamveil
- The Silent Struggle
- An Answer Well Received
- The Headmaster's Assistance
- A Surprising Revelation and Realization
- A Princesses' Journal Found
- Enigmatic Portals and Prophesies
Lessons Learned in the King's Tower
Awakening with the dawn, at least I did, Landriss being an Elf, doesn't need sleep. We quickly prepared for the day's journey. After a hasty breakfast, we left word for Virran that we had departed for the Palace. I let Landriss employ my Helm of Teleportation, to expedite our arrival at the Palace. Choosing this swifter mode of travel rather than the pedestrian pace that we would otherwise employ. After a quick discussion we opted to utilize the Palace's teleportation ring within the King's guard's barracks, as a safer entry point.
We were off to possibly see the King.
King Garland - My liege Image created by Microsoft Bing Image Creator - 2023 |
Upon our sudden arrival at the palace, an unexpected knife materialized between us, a jarring welcome. Donavan's hearty greeting echoed down, and Landriss engaged in playful banter with him, revealing the elf's evident popularity within the palace walls. The guards scrutinized us briefly before Landriss told them of our purpose. Still, I was searched and subjected to a much more strenuous screening than Landriss, being a complete stranger.
Two knights escorted us into the Tower, where Landriss exchanged greetings with Jasper and the newcomer, Gallefrey and continued the good-natured bantering with Jasper. We were told of the King's whereabouts - in the training field. I was listened closely as they discussed how King Garland, was a monarch who takes to the forefront in battle and is peerless Bladesinger. Landriss humorously acknowledged his frequent defeats within the Tower's confines to the King's prowess.
After watching the King defeat one of his Knights in training, we were allowed to tell our complete tale before King Garland, presenting the baleful knife and recounting the events surrounding it. The King expressed gratitude for bringing the matter to his attention and ordered that it be disintegrated immediately to one of the Knights. Landriss communicated that we had burned a scroll at the Academy found with the knife that would have created a Red Ghoul and the King nodded his head at that news.
Landriss narrated the encounter with the mysterious man (the man who I believe is Joshua - one of the King's fallen knights), and I presented the journal found in the piano with the knife, belongings of his daughter. He asked if I had read and I told him that I had, because I didn't know who's it was at first and it seemed to have knowledge that was pertinent to our quest. He seemed to scowl a bit at that admission.
Inquisitive about our next steps, the King learned of our uncertainty. He disclosed that Helena, the ice blade, was in Seasonal for the games. Swiftly creating a portal, he apprised her of our account.
King Garland then turned our attention to the escalating violence in Belle's domain, stating that he had already sent word that he wanted it investigated while we were standing there. The King made it clear that he didn't want this to escalate into something similar to the events that occurred when he had to defeat King Behenny to take the crown and stop the madness that he had started.
The King also suspected the Shadowed One's involvement, in the increasing problems around the kingdom and that he believed that he is aiming to create a Gravetide spell in the Salamander bog's old battleground, necessitating mobilization of his armies, which he will do.
Jasper was tasked with getting us the Adger Mirror, an artifact capable of traversing Terra realms as we were speaking. The King advised us to seek the mage that had given us the Owl Tome, who resides in Midas for further instruction. Cautioning about the perils of the Owl Tome, the King emphasized the importance of readiness when venturing to another realm, and to ensure that our entire team was available for this adventure, because it surely would be an adventure.
As we discussed these weighty matters, an amber-eyed girl approached, revealed as the King's next training partner. Once the bout began, she began transforming into a werewolf, and attacked the King purposely to harm him, prompting a restrained response by him. He wounded her and then to test us, well more likely test me, the King assigned Landriss and me to finish attacking her.
It was a telling combat, one where I learned of several weaknesses that I have after training for so long as an assassin, that my clerical battle skills are quite rusty. I need to figure how to combine the two into an effective fighting style if I want to be an asset to our party.
At the same time, I was upset about the manner in which we were placed unnecessarily in combat. I understand the King wanting to see my abilities, but at the same time it was needless. Seeing that the King had spared her life, I knew that this fight was more about seeing what I would do.
Though victorious, and as I expected Landriss asked if she would yield, and after looking to the King, we spared her life. Discovering she was named Jeanine, an elf and the daughter of the amber-eyed woman from my dreams. Under questioning, she revealed a great deal of information about the Shadowed One's accomplices. The Shadowed One's whereabouts were also unveiled – in Alabaster, with the amber-eyed woman in Midas and a creature called Baldur. Considering what Jeanine told of the formidable opponent Baldur would since it sounds like he was a possible hag/troll spawn. After a quick conversation, we decided to postpone a confrontation with that creature, if at all possible, though at some point, it will be inevitable.
The King gave permission for Landriss bonding with the ice sword in Seasonal if it would have him and securing his daughter's safety. I entrusted my battered hammer to be silvered and delivered to us in Seasonal. After some discussion we decided to bring Jenine with us to Seasonal and thereafter to the woods where her mother resided.
In a more private moment, the King imparted the significance of the Adger Mirror and how it could go between the two Terra's but that it needed about an hour to recharge between uses.
During our conversations with the King, I was quite blunt both because that is a part of who I am. My former master foretold several times that I needed to learn to curb how bluntly I speak to others and this time his observation proved to almost cost me my life.
My outspokenness, to the King, was apparently a huge lapse in courtly etiquette, which displeased the King's knights and the King himself. Landriss later revealed to me that they had wanted to teach me manners, in such a way that would have ended my life. Common people do not speak to the King in such a manner. Yet, it was the King's intervention spared me from their ire.
Reflecting on the incident, I acknowledged my mistake, and knowing how close I came to dying. As a result, I plan in future meetings to remain silent in the King's presence unless specifically questioned. As I later explained to Landriss, I am an orphan and raised in difficult circumstances including too much time on the streets of Silvaa and never learned the ways of the nobility while attempting to survive.
As the audience concluded, the King directed Landriss, emphasizing the necessity of decisive action in the face of impending danger. "When there is a fire in the woods what is the first thing you do with it. If too big create a fire break. If the fire is too big in Midas, you must do what you must." In other words, we must hope that the mom's internal compass is and we must see if the girl's mother sees the Shadowed one for what he is and is willing to stop him, but if that one no longer exists, we will do what must be done.
The King pledged to personally investigate potential spies in the keep, prepared to take whatever measures were required. Parting words lingered in the air, reminding us of the enigma surrounding the Shadowed One's true intentions – a puzzle demanding unraveling.
As the King walked away, a lingering glare and muttered words reached my ears. "I haven't been talked to in that manner in seventy, no eighty years and will not tolerate it again." I took this as a direct warning from the King to rein in my running mouth.
A less than auspicious first impression, one I must strive to amend in the challenging chapters that lie ahead. The journey ahead, looks fraught with uncertainties that make the prospect of a long life seem elusive even without the threat of my own King killing me, because I don't know how, to blunt with myself - shut my mouth. I will learn.
I also learned the Landriss is the King's man and held in very high esteem at the palace by both the King and the other knights. Knowing this I do have to watch how I speak around him as well.
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