Council of Leaders (October)
The Council Assembles
Lyssan is the venue for the Council this month as the plague has much improved. Vlad brings with him 20 of his militia from Hamein and another 10 soldiers from the army unit stationed in his province. He leaves the outside the Tower of Watch.
Aidan Dressed Oddly
Aidan Shalon also arrives with 10 of his own acolytes. He is dressed up in a slightly bizarre religious outfit and he carries with him some sort of important looking trident. His appearance draws ridicule from Yuri as the Council members arrive. He says he is now a profit of Nesirie and the Trident is a holy relic that he has been tasked to protect and must dress according to his rank.
The Council of Leaders
Denerick is not present but Yuri starts the meeting anyway. He asks Aidan what happened about his march on Mhowe. Aidan tells the Council he could not carry out their instructions.
Aidan Refused his Orders
Members round on Aidan for his failure. Charrek suggests he give up his seat to someone who will follow the orders of the Council, but he refuses. Denerick Stormsinger is Chosen of Nesirie and has found the Trident of Nesirie, a holy relic proving his faith, which has been passed to him to be guardian.
Charrek says he has been bribed by Denerick and wonders if the Trident was spirited up by a Djinn like at the last meeting, but Aidan says he has tested his power. Aidan says Denerick and his fleet sailed to Tulear. Mara mocks Denerick’s three ships as the second smallest fleet you can have.
Who’s Got Cavalry?
Charrek changes the subject and asks who has cavalry in the country. Prince Oden of Rohrmarch visited him saying some cavalry intervened in a battle and helped him win. These riders then returned to the Chimaera in Barniere. Hakim says there are bandits on horses in his province but not cavalry.
Yuri asks about Mara’s cavalry muster and Mara says they are likely to be ready next month, it has cost her a lot of money. She then asks to go back to the issue of Denerick.
Lukas says Denerick did not come because Yuri would arrest him. Charrek wonders if he has been working against them from the beginning.
Denerick for Leader
Hari says Denerick’s fleet landed at Salviene and he has hundreds of men on his ships. He wants the Council to vote him Leader, which draws a lot of scorn. Aidan supports the proposal.
Mara says this is a democracy and Hari laughs at that, pointing out she rose to power by murdering her own husband.
Yuri says Denerick is an idiot he will not be leader. Lukas points out all the problems they are facing and that the Chimaera does nothing to help them. May be it is time for a change of leader.
Yuri’s Lies
Hari then says Denerick told him an interesting story that Yuri had made a deal with the Three Brother Mages and agreed to let the Anuireans into the country. Yuri then betrayed the Mages and ordered Mayor Oltslaf Magnusson to kill them. It backfired and Oltslaf was instead killed.
Yuri initially denies this but Hari presses the point and Lukas says that sounds like the truth. Charrek suggests Yuri is better to tell the truth - not telling the truth has only held them back.
Charrek says that the Mages are our enemies. Any scheme of theirs needs to be stopped.
Yuri says leaders have to make tough decisions. Charrek says everyone is a liar here. Mara tells him to speak for himself, but Charrek reminds her of her husband’s death and admits he killed his predecessor.
The Mages or the Chimaera
Mara questions why Denerick has spent the last six months saying he cannot do anything to help when he had hundreds of men at his command. If Denerick has all these men and the backing of the Mages, can take out the Chimaera and sort out all the problems, maybe they should back him.
Charrek says no one around here has the power to take out the Chimaera. She does not intervene and leaves it to the Council. The Mages will want to rule. Lukas says no they are interested in magical power not political power. The Chimaera neglects the country and no one trades with us.
Bringing in Wealth
Lukas points out Denerick is bringing wealth into the nation. Charrek says he has trade too and has raised 5,000gp. Also he has found Hector Vey, the one who stole the 10,000gp. He is in Oden and Charrek intends to get him.
Vlad says the last person he would choose to get us out of the current problems is Denerick. Him and Hari trade insults. Lukas says Denerick is a useful idiot and can be a figurehead while they continue to rule.
Mara asks what will happen about Denerick. The Council does not have an army to stop him. Charrek suggests sailors or pirates would not be any good on land, but Mara does not believe that.
Yuri under Attack
Hakim expresses anger that Yuri has been lying to the Council for the last six months. Yuri tries to defend his actions but members are not impressed and he is criticised from all sides.
Charrek asks why he betrayed the Mages and Yuri says he did not trust them. He made no deal he was just having conversations to see what the Mages were up to.
Mara then says he is basically a lying politician like most of them and his position is fairly clear. What about Denerick?
Denerick is a Puppet
Lukas suggests the Council should embrace Denerick as a way forward. Vlad says the Mages are an unknown. They could kill the Council and take over. Hari says they are not taking over, Denerick is asking to take over.
Charrek says they are safe in Lyssan and Yuri says they can close the gates of the City if necessary.
The Council is Divided
Aidan then says he supports Denerick for Leader. Hari and Lukas supports him.
Hakim says he is not happy about Yuri’s lies and is not inclined to keep him in power. Charrek says Yuri may be a liar but he’s better the devil you know. Vlad agrees with that. The Brother Mage’s goblins are burning settlements in his province.
The vote is tied three for and three against Denerick, with Hakim abstaining. It is down to Mara and she says until the Mages come to them, engage in open dialogue and tell them their plans, she is against.
Hakim then says he is supporting Denerick. The Council is tied four votes for and four votes against.
Arguments Arguments
Members then get into a drawn out argument about what is going on, how to fix the country and whether the Mages or the Chimaera are the best option.
Mara suggests Denerick comes to the Council to say why he should be leader and what the Mages are planning. Then maybe they will back him. Charrek and Vlad support this, but Lukas says Yuri’s thugs would have him arrested.
An argument rages between Hari and Charrek about the dwarf mentioning the 10,000gp again. Charrek is indignant saying his people are toiling to repay someone else’s debt.
Darkest Hour
Yuri says it is the country’s darkest hour and the Council is split down the middle. How can Denerick be leader when he has not even turned up to the Council? Where is he?
Lukas says he knows where he is but he does not want to be arrested. Yuri says he will not arrest him. Lukas points out they cannot trust anything he says.
Mara asks Lukas what the Mages want to do and Lukas says they want to get rid of the Chimaera, not get involved in politics. Vlad suggests they go elsewhere for their magic.
The Chimaera is losing
Arguments continue back and forth between the factions. Yuri again asks where Denerick is and suggests he is in Lukas’s bed, which upsets him.
Lukas says the war between the Mages and the Chimaera is going to happen and it is better to be on the winning side. Her magic power is in decline and the Mages are beating her.
City under Attack
This prompts more argument which goes round and round. A clerk then comes in and has a word with Yuri. He then tells them the militia have just warned him that the City is under attack, men have seized the West Gate.
Yuri laments not closing the Gates when it came up. He suspends the meeting to deal with the situation.
Denerick’s Coup
You Cannot Leave
Vlad moves to leave, followed by Aidan, Hari and Lukas. Hakim says he is not going to run away.
When those leaving reach the doors of the Tower, Yuri’s militia will not let them leave. Vlad asks to allow his men in, but they refuse to open the doors for him.
Hari takes out his knife and the militia draw their swords. Aidan then raises his staff and a bright, magical light comes out, knocking down the militia and bursting the doors open.
Confrontation
Aidan, Hari and Lukas then exit through the doors. Once outside, Aidan calls over his 10 followers to support him.
Vlad does the same with the 30 armed men he brought with him and has them stop Aidan, Hari and Lukas from leaving. He orders them to return to the Council chamber or Aidan’s men will be killed. When they refuse, he starts to count down, on zero his men are to attack.
Vlad’s Throat Cut
Hari then leaps forward and puts a knife to Vlad’s throat, telling him to have his men stand down or he dies. Vlad does not blink and tells his men that if he dies, they are to kill all of them and quarter them.
Hari cuts Vlad’s throat and he collapses onto the floor. Hari then leaps on another guard and kills him, but is wounded in the process.
Vlad’s guards move to attack, but Aidan again raises his staff and the bright light forces them back, knocking many of them down. Aidan’s followers attack those on the floor with their clubs, but Aidan tells them to stop. Aidan, Hari and Lukas then leave.
Charrek, who has been watching events unfold, now steps out to give Vlad immediate aid to stop him bleeding to death.
Lyssan Invaded
Over 200 men are attacking Lyssan and the militia are overwhelmed. The fighting is street to street but slowly Denerick’s pirates are advancing. They advance along the main East-West road and begin to approach the East Gates. Once they have secured them, they will have taken the City.
Escape
Charrek, Mara and Yuri decide it is time to leave the City. Charrek takes Vlad with them, he is barely alive. Yuri goes off to secure his family. Mara departs as fast as he can.
Charrek has Vlad’s body loaded on to a wagon and taken to the East Gate. There he encountered a young doctor who has come to Lyssan from Hamein to help with the plague. He takes custody of Vlad and arranges to take him back to Hamein.
Hakim also decides to leave and return to Barniere.
The militia put up a spirited defence around the East Gate and it remains open for a while. Yuri is able to escape with his wife and daughter, but is annoyed as he has not been able to bring everything he wanted.
Lyssan Taken
Eventually, Lyssan’s militia flee through the East Gate and Denerick’s pirates secure the capital. Denerick, Lukas and Aidan walk triumphantly to the Tower of Watch.