all:

Where are you waiting? Mill, inn, woods? What arrangements for Lionheart and Eglantine? Any particular arrangements for Flax, or leave him to the Reeve?

You have until Friday to discuss, I'm still in Paris, but will resume regular posting then. Sorry for unexpectedly long absence.

IMO

1)We should wait at the inn.

2)Eglantine's remains can be placed at the inn, if they'll allow us. If not, then in the local shrine. We'll make the "necessary donations" to the shrine caretakers.

3)Lionheart can be stabled at the inn. I'd treat it as spoils of war, and use it as a bargaining chip against Flax.

4)Flax should be turned over to the Reeve. It would be a dark irony if we manage to free Roderick but end up getting his son executed. Bren would be certain to have a good laugh, though.

I agree with the above.

In my opinion we should also take any special items Flax had, especially his sword, as they are spoils of war just like Lionheart.

The inn is fine for you and Lionheart, and the local pantheon shrine for Eglantine. I don't have the details of the other equipment handy.

The Reeve looks skeptical at the suggestion he take custody of Flax. "And do what with him? We don't have a jail here, just the one locked room Froderick is in -- and that doesn't sound like a great idea from what you say. Besides, he's fey, who knows what tricks he has? You say he was leading an invasion here, but there's no army -- and if Ellessandra comes, and if she's fey royalty, she might not be too happy about us executing him."

"Ellesandra is royalty? That makes sense. How else would her whelp end up a fey commander? There's more to this story than that weasel Roderick is letting on. It's time we had another chat with him."

Bren heads to the jail with Flax in tow (whether walking or dragged along.)

"Ellesandra is royalty? That makes sense. How else would her whelp end up a fey commander? There's more to this story than that weasel Roderick is letting on. It's time we had another chat with him."

Bren heads to the jail with Flax in tow (whether walking or dragged along.)

To be clear, the Reeve got the royalty part from your story -- about Ellessandra being the River King's daughter.

D'oh

Elias places a hand on Bren's arm, "Calm down, Bren, Froderick is not in the wrong here."

Bren halts, considers what Elias says, and turns to the Reeve.

"You'll have no problem with us keeping Flax here in Riverbend."

Though phrased as a question, he pronounces it like a demand.

"Nobody is occupying Roderick's house, right?"

"The mill house? No, it is empty since Froderick's been jailed."

Bren turns to his party.

"If we hold Flax there, we can also keep an eye out for Ellesandra or his cronies. Though I doubt any of those black fey cowards would dare come back."

Catriana confronts the Reeve: "I'm not going to guard Flax. He planned to raid your village, surely you can find some kind of solution for this situation, including releasing Froderick to some kind of home custody. It's not like he has anywhere to run away to."

"I think your armored friend has the better idea. You brought him here. And how do you propose a group of farmers cage an eladrin warrior who can step into the Feywild?"

"Blindfold him," Elias says simply, "He can only go somewhere that he can see."

The Reeve seems genuinely surprised by Elias's solution, but accepts the elf's word. It is arranged for a blindfolded and bound Flax to stay in the stronghouse, with two villagers watching him. Froderick is taken to another house to be guarded, less strictly than before, but still awaiting the Reeve's final judgment.

Plans?

"Now we rest up and wait. I'll spend tonight in the stronghouse, in case Flax's friends try to sneak him out."

At this point, the gathered people murmur and part, and into the town square walks an odd, and damp, procession.

Ellessandra leads, flanked by four eladrin soldiers wielding bows that appear to be made of ice, a fey man wearing black robes and a scowl, an impossibly beautiful young eladrin woman, and with two ogres wielding enormous greataxes bringing up the rear.

"What have you done with my son?" she demands.

Passive Insight DC12:

All:

Insight 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

OOC: I'd better shut my yap at this point and let the more diplomatically inclined speak.

Elias bows, "Forgive me, madam. Your son has been taken under guard for the time being, for the safety of his father and the townsfolk. No-one wishes for any more death this day. We have already lost a friend, and we embarked on our mission in a bid to save your husband, and indeed, you."

Bren locks eyes with the Reeve. You see? he seems to say.

Ellessandra almost seems to sag with relief, then recovers herself. "Flax is alive? Thanks be to Corellon -- and to you.

"Then by returning to this place, I have allowed you to complete your mission. All can see I am alive, and Froderick did not murder me. I ask in return that Flax be returned to live with me in the Feywild."

Elias looks to his friends, and then to the Reeve, he says, "It seems equitable to me. The final word must be official of course. May I ask a boon in return, Lady? Our friend, Eglantine Prakseda, fought and died to give us a chance to return to the mortal world. Her dying wish was to be buried in the Feywild. Do you think that your followers could enact this?"

"She died trying to protect this village from yet another attack from the feywild, led by your little boy," says Bren accusingly. "Why have the fey been attacking Riverbend? What threat could these little people ever pose to you?"

Elias looks at Bren.

Ellessandra answers Bren first, speaking mildly. "Not a threat, but to avenge an insult -- that the River King's daughter should be forced to wed a mortal. That is resolved, and there will be no more attacks an this end peaceably today, and none from this plane ever use the portal. I will see to it.

"Elias, I met Eglantine Prakseda and respected her. I will honor her last wish.

"Is there aught more, or may my son and I now go?"

Elias looks at Bren meaningfully and says, "We thank you for honouring Eglantine."

He turns to the Reeve, "Does this seem fair to you? There need be no death today. The fey will stay in their world and the mortals in theirs. It would seem the best way."

While Elias is talking with Ellesandra, Catriana moves toward the robed fey, gesturing him to move aside with her.

"Seems like you've noticed my flower", she comments while removing the flower and holding it in her hand.

The Reeve nods wearily.

The robed fey moves aside with Catriana.

To the fey party Bren presents the shrouded remains of Eglantine. He looks tired but relieved.

"Bury her properly, in a good place. She helped save you from the gnome, Ellesandra. And yes, she fought your son, but remember that her friends had the heart to spare him."

"I will see her buried with honor, Bren, you have my solemn oath."

All:

The fighter sets Eglantine into the massive arms of an ogre guardsman.

"Good. I am sorry for the fey lives I took, here and in the your land. I had a hunch that Roderick was to blame for all this. I would kill him for what he's wrought, but then Eglantine would have died in vain. I'll have to punish him another way."

The fighter stalks off in the direction of the mill.

DM

Elias sets off after Bren.

"Bren, do not do anything rash." ELias calls.

"Don't do anything rash? Ha! You're a fine one to speak!"

Bren continues towards the mill.

Elias looks stoical.

He catches Bren by the arm, "Bren. What are you going to do?"

The Bren wrenches himself out of Elias' grasp and does not stop.

Elias stands in front of him.

"Whatever you are planning will not bring Eglantine back. She is at peace now, Bren. We must be too. Do not mar this day with more darkness."

DM

"Darkness? Oh no, Elias, what I'm going to do will be very bright," he says with a threatening grimace.

Threadjack.

"Bren. Would Eglantine approve of what you are about to do? Will it bring her back?"

Bren seems to deflate a little at the mention of Eglantine's name.

"No, we aren't getting Eggers back. And the elves aren't getting their friends back either. Everone loses, except who? Roderick! And he's the one who caused all this mess! The man's got to pay, somehow."

Elias replies, "Froderick didn't ask for the compact; it was not his decision to enter into a pact with the River King. If you should blame anyone, Bren, it is the River King for creating the magic of the mill. Blame will get us nowhere. If you are not going to hurt Froderick, then what are you going to do?"

He looks at his friend, "Oh, Bren... do not do this thing," he says as he realises, "If you destroy the mill, then what will become of the village and its people? All we fought for, and Eglantine died for, will be for nothing."

He pauses before adding, "She was loved by more than just you, old friend."

Bren glares mutely at Elias for a while, but is unable to respond. He abruptly turns around and walks the other way. Without looking back he says, "farewell Catriana. Yomi. Cyrus. Elias. It's time I went my own way. Until we meet again, my friends, at the gates of Valhalla. Or Hell."

Wow, y'all are doing fine without me!

Catriana:

Catriana is conferring with the fey, Bren has gone his own way, as has Eglantine hers. Froderick is acquitted. Elias, Cyrus, and Yomi remain, their mission accomplished, though with little in the way of a happy ending.

And so it ends, I think, in a freezeframe. Thank you all for a year of excellent gaming. Some good fights, much superb roleplay, and a lot of fun. Again, thank you.

Hooray! Thank you for an awesome game Pat!

Thanks indeed Pat. Eglantine became one of my favourite pcs because she just evolved so naturally. It was a huge pleasure to me to be able to do that and it's very much down to the other wonderful players and your DMing that she (and I) had the opportunity.