Session 15: The Trial of the Century

General Summary

The session began with the Menagerie planning their next steps before the trial of General Thalorin. They decided to track down the hideout of the Silent Blade guild, following a lead that Dacha had on a secret passage he'd seen an assassin take the previous day. The party followed the passage down through Mekkisir's Great Wall, avoiding most of the traps along the way. Rinrin used her knowledge of thieves' cant to decipher a trail which led the group across the harbor bridge and into the Southern Harbor District. There they spotted two suspicious-looking individuals and followed them to a butcher's shop.

After a brief confrontation with the two individuals, the group managed to talk their way into a meeting with the leader of the Silent Blade. They laid out the evidence they had regarding Scesso's criminal activity and came to an agreement with the Silent Blade to have their evidence presented at the trial the following day.

With the plan laid out, the party informed Euphonia and Nightwind that both they and Nightwind's mother Cissa would be allowed to testify at the trial. The group made plans to hide Nightwind's identity and all of them would reconvene upon reaching the Stormlord's Keep.

The following day, the party made their way to Undhammar and into the Stormlord's Keep, where they encountered a throng of protestors outside the palace. Passing through the castle gates, the group was momentarily forced to stop as Nightwind spotted her father crossing the palace grounds, conversing with a dragonborn whom Droknar recognized as his former boss, Deleth Yorkiras, and Skreech recognized as the merchant who had helped him develop his golems.

Inside the palace, the Menagerie found many guests of the Doge partaking in refreshments before the start of the trial. They were approached by Akari Isendor, Doge of Quilport, who was attending the trial in an official capacity. She telepathically informed Rinrin that she needed to speak with the mouseling after the trial, as well as showing knowledge of Brakmat's situation as well as familiarity with Skreech's species, hinting that his people had previously been on Divostra. Before the party could ask anything more, they were ushered into the Grand Hall for the trial.

The trial began normally enough, with the ministers and the Doge being presented evidence of General Thalorin's guilt by witnesses called by General Scesso. However, as the Menagerie's witnesses began to be called and present their evidence to the Doge, Scesso's calm demeanor began to crack. When Nightwind finally revealed herself and Dacha presented the Doge with the ledger detailing Scesso's dealings with the Pale Corsairs, a fight erupted in the Grand Hall.

As attendees and the ministers fled to safety, Scesso first attempted to kill Dacha and Nightwind while the rest of the group engaged Violet Brigadiers loyal to the General. After Dacha used his Cloak of the Mountebank to pull Nightwind to safety, Scesso changed tactics and tried to escape, only to be stopped by Akari who had been in the audience. Brakmat dealt heavy damage to the general with a massive fireball and some slashes with his rapier. Again the general changed tactics, taking Nightwind's mother hostage and threatening to kill her if he was not allowed to escape. Dacha finally managed to successfully trap Scesso with a hold person spell, allowing the Menagerie to subdue the general.