SESSION 8 RECAP

In Stormpoint, Mara visits her mother and father to catch up. They are being well cared for by her master, Harald Khorien, supported by a popular shop they run in the city. They worry after her well-being, despite her protest and her status as a powerful mage.

When she leaves her parents’, Mara heads to Khorien’s palace. Within is a well-stocked library where she intends to research the information they uncovered at the ancient villa, and the history of house Fulcairn and the wizard Melehan.

Reynhild seeks out the nameless brothel where Lord Cullen’s assassin claimed to have received his original orders. She speaks with one of Leandra’s young cutpurses outside and pays her to watch for anyone entering or leaving the place. She speaks briefly with Dolan and Brigid about the best way forward, but in the end chooses to enter alone and speak with the House of Wind earnestly.

Mara’s research into House Fulcairn’s history finds it conspicuously sparse. Written records of the house’s holdings and titles only go back a few centuries. She finds no mention of Melehan, or of an imperial court wizard matching his description. She does uncover an ancient family tree detailing the names of the young woman, her husband, and children from the portrait in the villa’s main living chamber, but Melehan and the girl with him are absent. She also uncovers what she believes is an original copy of the blood agreement signed between the Yngvi and the Fulcairns. It is centuries old, at least, and represents some proof, however vague, that house Fulcairn was once much more influential; enough so to be at least the equal of the ruling clan of Hogunmark. She claims it, and decides to present it to Cathal as a gift upon her return.

Back in Fulcairn, Cathal’s days are filled with moderating disputes and grievances aired by Wilders in his hall. The work holds little excitement, but he takes to it dutifully, and truly cherishes the opportunity to help his people. He and Merrec find a rare opportunity to bond, despite their habit of disagreeing with each other. Cathal receives a letter from Count Richard Duene, who is incensed at Cathal and Reynhild’s crossing into Seamist without informing him. In Dolan’s absence, Cathal takes time to train with each of his armsfolk, particularly Finn, who relishes the opportunity.

Reynhild enters the brothel and shows the madam the defaced coin she claimed from Cullen’s assassin. She is guided to a windowless room somewhere in the back, where she is greeted by a severe woman dressed from the neck down in boiled leather armour, and armed to the teeth. She greets Reynhild coolly, but is not hostile, despite her appearance. Reynhild apologizes for dispatching the House’s agent, and mentions that she may be interested in doing business with the house in the future. Reynhild contemplates siccing the assassins on the Duene’s heir, who Adair claims was responsible for the death of Brinden, Cathal’s half-brother, but relents and receives a token from the House’s agent that she can use to contact them later.

Mara and Reynhild undertake the journey home to Fulcairn, where they are received by an unusually stern Cathal. Mara tells him what she found and gives him the Yngvi documents, which he thanks her for sincerely. Mara leaves and Cathal drops his lordly façade, moving to embrace Reynhild. He asks Reynhild how she fared in Stormpoint. Reynhild replies coyly, choosing not to divulge her contact with the House of the Wind. Cathal’s disposition cools again. He tells her he has to undertake his evening training, and leaves her in the hall.

In her chambers, Mara makes contact with her master, finally, after months of silence. Khorien informs her that with the death of the Imperial custodian, Caliedhe Dosiere, Prince Darien Avan is set to claim the Iron Throne and ascend to the position of Emperor of Anuire. Despite this, Avan still only bears the support of a relative handful of realms. Khorien asks Mara how she has fared, and the status of Lord Cathal and his house. Mara tells Khorien of their journey to the ancient villa and of Melehan. She asks him about the house’s absence from historical records and he has little to tell him.

Reynhild seeks out Cathal and tells him the truth of what she was doing in Stormpoint. Her honesty puts him at ease, and the two of them retire to the lord’s chamber for the night.

The next day, Cathal and Reynhild finally get the opportunity to seek out a woodsman from Forks who was recently put up in the castle-town after he and his companions were attacked by some minions of Ruobhe Manslayer in the Aelvinnwode. Upon meeting him, they find that the man is understandably unhinged. He claims his friends were all slaughtered by a spectre in bronze armor, some ten feet tall. He remembers little else about the incident, and his account does much to reignite Cathal’s desire to secure the Aelvinnwode for Wilder’s Gorge, and to someday see done with the threat of Ruobhe Manslayer.

Cathal and Reynhild return to the keep. Cathal holds court for some time, adjudicating the issues of his people. He calls a council later in the day, and they convene to discuss future plans. The first order is what to do with all of the relics they discovered in the villa. The council is almost unanimous, and Cathal orders that they be distributed to the houses from whence they came, so that Fulcairn can curry some much needed political favour.

Next, Merrec brings up the topic of holding a tournament of arms in the spring, urging Cathal to send invitations to noble houses throughout Taeghas and Anuire. Cathal is reluctant to spend coin, but flush with treasure from the imperial villa, decides that is a necessary frivolity, and will do even more to gain standing among the noble houses of Taeghas. Shortly thereafter, a message is brought in from Harald Khorien himself.

Khorien writes of the plans to crown Darien Avan as emperor, and summons Cathal to court at Stormpoint in the spring. Merrec and Mara see the summons as a great opportunity. Lord Cathal surprisingly agrees; though he bears little love for Harald Khorien, he takes his responsibility to his liege-lord very seriously. Reynhild and Finn are wary, however, neither of them much for politics.

House Fulcairn thus prepares for the long slumber of winter, and whatever battles spring may bring to its threshold.