Duke Mosley Makes a Play

Nehn 31, 4711

Remembering what happened at the Summer's Ball and how constrained she felt at having to fight in a dress, Darelle decides she will wear pants under her dress in case another battle ensues.

Roscoe returns to the Citadel and meets with the Lady Commander Drovust one more time. She tells him of the plan, such as it is. She plans on "dying" then being immediately taken back to her room. Only six other Hellknights will know she has not passed. She will then await Duke Mosley's move. Roscoe can enter in contact with her through Alfred the pageboy. She also tells him that if things go horribly wrong, he is to return to Cheliax and report to Citadel Gheradesca where he is to deliver a report she hid in the cornerstone of the fountain.

Daryle decides she will be violently ill a few minutes after shaking the Lady Commander's hand and will use this excuse to leave the Citadel and flee to Gerald's house. She will also shake many people's hand, including Gerald's, so that she's not accused of being responsible for Drovust's sickness and apparent death.

Still in his prison cell, Thorne talks to Dr. Mordel to see if the vampire will escape with him and the rest of the prisoners when the time comes. Mordel tells him no, he will remain here. Thorne briefly entertains the idea of capturing and sacrificing one of the prisoners to Mordel, but then abandons it as impractical.

At ten o'clock, the carillon begins to ring, and the New Year's Eve party starts. Over the course of twenty minutes, over 150 civilian guests join the 90 Hellknights already present. Drovust has positioned armed guards every few feet along the wall to keep an eye on the hall, and all the guests are searched when they enter. A valet announces every guest, and as they enter they are welcomed by Drovust. The first Cooper to arrive is Darelle. Gerald is next. Duke Mosley makes an entrance after the sorcerer. At 5'1 and wearing a full military uniform, he looks ridiculous yet it is undeniable he exerts a certain magnetism. Accompanied by 17 unarmed guards and companions, he occupies a large space. Finally, Daryle arrives at the Citadel. She goes down the receiving line, and she shakes every person's hand, including the Lady Commander's. The assassination plot is now in motion.

As they gather together by the refreshment table for some small talk, Roscoe mentions to his siblings that nine of Mosley's men are expert swordsmen, and the others may be veteran spellcasters. Clearly the Duke is up to no good. Speaking of the short man, he leaves his guards behind and he approaches the Coopers. "Hello, Riverbottoms triplets," he says in a high-pitched voice. The Coopers look at each other. Does the Duke know about their past? Daryle corrects him, telling him that their surname is Cooper and not Riverbottom. The Duke winks at them, and replies that, of course, he was mistaken. He questions Roscoe on the apparent lack of leadership within the Fort Inevitable Hellknights, especially given the destruction of the northern wall and the too close for comfort failed invasion led by Greenhide and ilk. Roscoe plays it cool and admits that it could have gone better, but under the circumstances as the commander he did the best he could. Gerald then brings up the green storms and the monsters that afflict the area at seemingly random intervals. Mosley seems very interested in that phenomenon. The Duke then turns to the Emerald Spire and the adventures the Coopers have had there over the last year. Once again, Gerald is careless with his words and begins to tell a few stories until Daryle pokes him in the ribs to shut him up. The Duke thanks the Coopers and moves on to other guests.

A few minutes later, Drovust collapses on the ground. The crowd immediately goes silent. Several Hellknights rush in and carry her away back to her room. Maralictor Wirt requests a doctor or a healer, and Darelle volunteers. They rush upstairs. Darelle mentions to Wirt that Mordel, the town's best physician, is in a jail cell, so the Hellknight orders he be brought up to the Lady Commander's room, and asks Darelle to fill him in on the details as they climb the stairs.

The assembled crowd in the hall is now quiet and contemplative, and it is clear many of them are now calculating new odds of various plots succeeding. Sensing the tension ratcheting up, Roscoe steps forward and assumes temporary command, telling the crowd that the Lady Commander will be fine, and that they need to enjoy themselves in the meantime.

These words are unfortunately pronounced at the same time as a flash of blinding light in the center of the room reveals a large demon wearing chains and a sharp-looking silver scythe. Pandemonium breaks out. The demon swings his weapon and decapitates one of the civilian guests. Hellknights pull out weapons and join the fray against the demon. Civilians scream and run wild, trying to escape. While a ring of guards form around Duke Mosley, Roscoe notices that half of his entourage has disappeared up the stairs towards the Lady Commander's private apartments. The Duke himself seems neither surprised by the demon's appearance, and he simply stands there, surveying the chaos. Daryle jumps into action and helps civilians escape the Citadel's receiving hall. Roscoe and Gerald attack the demon.


While the demon causes panic in the hall, Dr. Mordel and Darelle rapidly climb on the 4th floor and see five Hellknights wearing Duke Mosley's colors in the hallway near the door. The Hellknights inform Darelle to return downstairs. The ranger refuses, and a violent confrontation ensues. With Darelle's life in danger, Dr. Mordel casts darkness. In the few moments that everything is black, Darelle hears the faint noises of battle, as if she was wrapped in heavy covers, and when the light returns Dr. Mordel stands sagely next to her, while Mosley's men lay dead on the floor, each with a broken neck. Darelle and Dr. Mordel are admitted to Drovust's room. Dr. Mordel and Drovust stand together, looking outside the window and whispering to each other.

Down in the prison, the chaos draws away all of the guards. Using his amazing thieving skills, Thorne escapes from his cell, to the delight and derision of the other prisoners, who beg him to free them. Thorne walks into the guard post, and searching through the pile of paper he finds his arrest warrant. He pockets it and heads out. Carefully climbing the stairs, he hears the sounds of battle. When the opportunity presents itself, the rogue jumps out of his hiding spot and joins the fleeing crowd.

After several blows and many dead bodies, Roscoe strikes the demon and manages to slay it. Having escorted the last of the civilians out of the Citadel, Daryle locks the gates and remains inside to support her brother. Finding himself free again, Thorne elaborates a plan. He goes to the store, packs his gear, and heads out of town through the sewers hoping that the heat will drop and that his disappearance will be unnoticed for a while.

Back in the Citadel, Roscoe receives the disturbing news that the Hellknights camping outside the wall around Fort Inevitable have mustered and are massing around the gates. When confronted with this information, Duke Mosley tells Roscoe that his men must be worried for the Duke's safety since they probably heard the battle taking place inside the Citadel and the screams of a terrified populace. Roscoe escorts Duke Mosley and some of his men to the Juliver Gate. Duke Mosley observes his army moving towards the Fort for a few minutes, but then dispatches Roscoe with a message to stand down, the situation in the Fort has been rectified.

Gerald notices that some of Duke Mosley's men remained in the hall and are now issuing orders. When questioned, they tell Gerald that with the Lady Commander gravely ill and possibly dead, Duke Mosley thought it best to assume temporary command of the Fort until a local commander could be appointed. Daryle, meanwhile, spots Bolgur and tells him the Lady Commander is in danger and that five of Mosley's people are missing...