Season 1, Quest 1: Conspirators
[Note: Erin, you remember the conversation we had about how much control I have over the Plot? Yeah, today’s a great example of that…I have absolutely no control.]
The story begins on the City of White, the capital of the country of Westmarch. Westmarch is one of the most northerly countries of the Hundred Kingdoms, and has long held a tradition of having courageous and skilled knights, dedicated to keeping out the barbarian hordes. When the heroes enter the city, they discover that the city guard is searching everyone that comes in or out of the capital. Before long, it becomes obvious why: the youngest prince of the king has been kidnapped, but there has been no ransom demanded or any communication with the kidnappers. The most obvious culprit is a band from the neighboring Duchy of the Black Mire, a once friendly nation that has overnight turned against all of its allies (including Westmarch).
Through various means, the heroes find themselves pulled together by their joint efforts of trying to locate the missing prince. Orchid accosts Everrett, having momentarily confused him to be her missing love. Angus and Mialee, who were already traveling together, meet the famous Daeron who is signing things and shaking hands with fans in the midst of the city. Sintaxzan tries to cheer up Manson, who has fallen into a severe depression when he poorly bound the essence of the Drowned Prince of Everlasting Grief. Then all three groups find their paths cross at an inn, as they discuss the best means of finding the boy.
They investigate the crime scene, but since it is two days afterwards the area has already been cleaned and repaired. Dialogues with the captain of the city guard, the king of Westmarch, and even the noble lord whom the young prince was going to be a squire to turn up nothing. Eventually, the group takes to the streets, where Everrett keen ability to track people down in cities homes in on the culprits. During the investigation, they discover that the villain is actually a band of individuals from the Duchy, who appeared a week before the crime and have been hiding in an abandoned tenant house in the port district. They also learn the name of the two ringleaders of the group - Becket and Ezekiel - and of the bar that they frequent nightly.
While Sintaxzan and Miaelee talk with a ring of smugglers to ensure that no one matching Becket or Ezekiel’s description has secreted anything in or out of the city, the rest of the group hangs out at the inn in hopes of meeting the pair. They find that Ezekiel is a loudmouthed rascal, while Becket is a depressed warrior. Everrett joins Ezekiel’s card game and uses his magic to cheat, while Angus verbally berates the temperamental man on his inability to win. Meanwhile, a surprisingly capable Orchid uses both guile and magic to woo Becket back to his hideout.
When Ezekiel sees Becket leave, he attempts to follow but is waylaid in the street outside of the inn by Angus, Daeron, Everrett, and Manson. The conflict with the man escalates into a fight, which quickly devolves into a gang beating of the man. Unfortunately, the patrons of the inn and the city guards don’t quite see things in the same light, and break up the fight and let the villain go. Once the crowd has dispersed Mialee returns, while Sintaxzan sneaks off to the hideout to get a better feel for what’s going on. Angus, Everrett, and Mialee hurry after Ezekiel, while Daeron stays behind to give Manson a chance to bind to a different demon.
In the meanwhile, Orchid has discovered that Becket’s group (which consists of 14 men and women from the Duchy, who have turned the tenant house into a fortress from the inside) are indeed the culprits and have the prince beaten and tied up in the corner. When questioned why he would do such a thing, the anguished Becket tells her that he was commanded to do so by the Duke of Black Mire himself. Orchid uses her powers of persuasion to convince him that his loyalties are misguided and that she can ensure him leniency with the king of Westmarch if he surrenders. When he finally agrees with her, Sintaxzan reveals himself, having watched from the shadows the entire time and was backing his comrade up if the conversation went badly.
The warforged carried the prince under a cloak, while Becket and Orchid follow afterwards. The others are confused but follow Becket’s orders to stand down and turn themselves in. However, as soon as they open the door to leave, they find the Ezekiel just outside the door, looking quite surprised. Sintaxzan eludes the man and continues to hurry to the palace, but Ezekiel’s ire is against his comrade and he stabs the soldier for his efforts. Enraged, Orchid blasts the man with arcane fire, while from a distance Angus, Everrett, and Mialee pepper the foe with arrows; the rascal falls from the onslaught and is taken captive.
Naturally, the king of Westmarch is overjoyed at the rescue of his son. With the entreaties of Everrett and Daeron, he agrees to spare Becket and the other conspirators, but Ezekiel is hung for his crimes. The group is lauded as heroes, and the monarch eagerly grants them the reward money.
The story begins on the City of White, the capital of the country of Westmarch. Westmarch is one of the most northerly countries of the Hundred Kingdoms, and has long held a tradition of having courageous and skilled knights, dedicated to keeping out the barbarian hordes. When the heroes enter the city, they discover that the city guard is searching everyone that comes in or out of the capital. Before long, it becomes obvious why: the youngest prince of the king has been kidnapped, but there has been no ransom demanded or any communication with the kidnappers. The most obvious culprit is a band from the neighboring Duchy of the Black Mire, a once friendly nation that has overnight turned against all of its allies (including Westmarch).
Through various means, the heroes find themselves pulled together by their joint efforts of trying to locate the missing prince. Orchid accosts Everrett, having momentarily confused him to be her missing love. Angus and Mialee, who were already traveling together, meet the famous Daeron who is signing things and shaking hands with fans in the midst of the city. Sintaxzan tries to cheer up Manson, who has fallen into a severe depression when he poorly bound the essence of the Drowned Prince of Everlasting Grief. Then all three groups find their paths cross at an inn, as they discuss the best means of finding the boy.
They investigate the crime scene, but since it is two days afterwards the area has already been cleaned and repaired. Dialogues with the captain of the city guard, the king of Westmarch, and even the noble lord whom the young prince was going to be a squire to turn up nothing. Eventually, the group takes to the streets, where Everrett keen ability to track people down in cities homes in on the culprits. During the investigation, they discover that the villain is actually a band of individuals from the Duchy, who appeared a week before the crime and have been hiding in an abandoned tenant house in the port district. They also learn the name of the two ringleaders of the group - Becket and Ezekiel - and of the bar that they frequent nightly.
While Sintaxzan and Miaelee talk with a ring of smugglers to ensure that no one matching Becket or Ezekiel’s description has secreted anything in or out of the city, the rest of the group hangs out at the inn in hopes of meeting the pair. They find that Ezekiel is a loudmouthed rascal, while Becket is a depressed warrior. Everrett joins Ezekiel’s card game and uses his magic to cheat, while Angus verbally berates the temperamental man on his inability to win. Meanwhile, a surprisingly capable Orchid uses both guile and magic to woo Becket back to his hideout.
When Ezekiel sees Becket leave, he attempts to follow but is waylaid in the street outside of the inn by Angus, Daeron, Everrett, and Manson. The conflict with the man escalates into a fight, which quickly devolves into a gang beating of the man. Unfortunately, the patrons of the inn and the city guards don’t quite see things in the same light, and break up the fight and let the villain go. Once the crowd has dispersed Mialee returns, while Sintaxzan sneaks off to the hideout to get a better feel for what’s going on. Angus, Everrett, and Mialee hurry after Ezekiel, while Daeron stays behind to give Manson a chance to bind to a different demon.
In the meanwhile, Orchid has discovered that Becket’s group (which consists of 14 men and women from the Duchy, who have turned the tenant house into a fortress from the inside) are indeed the culprits and have the prince beaten and tied up in the corner. When questioned why he would do such a thing, the anguished Becket tells her that he was commanded to do so by the Duke of Black Mire himself. Orchid uses her powers of persuasion to convince him that his loyalties are misguided and that she can ensure him leniency with the king of Westmarch if he surrenders. When he finally agrees with her, Sintaxzan reveals himself, having watched from the shadows the entire time and was backing his comrade up if the conversation went badly.
The warforged carried the prince under a cloak, while Becket and Orchid follow afterwards. The others are confused but follow Becket’s orders to stand down and turn themselves in. However, as soon as they open the door to leave, they find the Ezekiel just outside the door, looking quite surprised. Sintaxzan eludes the man and continues to hurry to the palace, but Ezekiel’s ire is against his comrade and he stabs the soldier for his efforts. Enraged, Orchid blasts the man with arcane fire, while from a distance Angus, Everrett, and Mialee pepper the foe with arrows; the rascal falls from the onslaught and is taken captive.
Naturally, the king of Westmarch is overjoyed at the rescue of his son. With the entreaties of Everrett and Daeron, he agrees to spare Becket and the other conspirators, but Ezekiel is hung for his crimes. The group is lauded as heroes, and the monarch eagerly grants them the reward money.