Honor and Treason

As the rest of the adventurers prepare to rest, Andreas pulls aside to talk to Lord Hilchiah to inquire about what would happen to Isabella, among other things. Lord Hilchiah tells Andreas that she would likely be turned over to an orphanage or any noble house that would take her in (she is 16).

At the barracks, there is a note slipped under the door. It is an invitation to a celebration in our honor. Azariah personally takes the group's response to the King.

At the banquet, the King recognizes Dakkon and the heroes' efforts. The King has seats to his left and right for the adventurers and invites them to sit down, which they do, albeit grudgingly in the case of Soren, who is not one for social functions.

Azariah asks Dakkon about the other Lords of Eroth, and Dakkon mentions that there are others who left Naeshuza to go elsewhere, mostly to the feywild. Although Azariah points out that to a degree, the favor of the Lords of Eroth has been restored, Dakkon points out that the Priests of the Stars also deserve honor for their use of magic to hold the tide of Ruk-Shol at bay. Although Azariah is optimistic about the prospect of Urash trees being planted in a decentralized manner, Dakkon is perhaps more jaded in his assessment. Nevertheless, he has hope that things will be better restored.

The King motions for the adventurers to rise from their seats as he draws his sword. All kneel except Nobo'ru, who is not familiar with what is happening. He kneels when the King Malevus looks at him, indicating he should bend a knee. The King goes down the line, knighting each adventurer in honor of their service. Finally, he bestows onto Andreas the title Lord Andreas for his wisdom in battle and leadership qualities. As he does this, a man in black robes stands up in the hall and shouts, "MY KING, are you aware that the man you are about to knight is the son of a traitor to the nation of Naeshuza!?" He turns to the crowd and begins to shout, "NO MORE TRAITORS! NO MORE TRAITORS!" and the crowd begins to shout with him. Soren, Nobo'ru and Azariah begin to chase after the man through the crowd as Andreas shouts for the crowd to stop. By the time they get outside, the man is gone. Azariah and Soren pause to look around, but find no sign of the man on the flagstones. Soren remains behind to look more as Azariah turns to go back in, and spots a glimmer on the ground- another coin with the sign of the Prince on its face. Azariah returns inside to hear the cheers of the people, and for a moment fears that Andreas had been apprehended by vigilantes, but this is not the case.

While the two men of the wild were gone, Andreas stood to address the crowd:

(paraphrased) "Citizens of Naeshuza, you have heard this man say that I am the son of a traitor, and it is true. My father, Andrew Arkhavin betrayed the Knights of Stron." There is a collective gasp from the crowd. "I would hope that rather than hold me accountable for my father's mistakes, that I would have a chance to prove my own valor. You all know my service to this city. I ask to be given a chance to prove myself as any other man would be."


Kah-sim Dul cheers, and the crowd is again swayed, this time in Andreas' favor. The King makes arrangements for those who sat next to the man to identify him. Lord Bahirim shows Andreas a letter sent to him that is attempting to manipulate Lord Bahirim into rejecting Andreas and his adventurers, on the grounds that Andreas is a traitor. Azariah pulls Andreas aside and tells him, in short, that he still trusts Andreas and believes that he speaks for the rest of the party when he says so.

The group goes looking for the man in the Mages' District, and with a little hunting, discovers that the man is named Greycon and has connections with the Knights of Gahazi. Some bluffing on Andreas' part reveals that they are in the old stronghold of the Knights. The party immediately goes there. Azariah leads in, checking for tracks as they enter, attempting to move stealthfully. Finding many tracks leading to the office of Elias, Azariah bursts through the door. In the ensuing combat, all of the remaining agents of the Knights of Gahazi are slain, except for one of the wizards, whom they interrogate.

Our adventure continues next week as the heroes find more information on the Knights of Gahazi and prepare for departure with Lord Bahirim.