City of Light - Epilogue

Accompanied by the roaring cheers of her people, Nura el-Adara el-Arrasi is crowned as ruler of Ariya. As promised, her first edict as Lord-Prince will be to break the wheel. No more will rulership be denied to those that deserve it by right of blood. And so she will be the last paladin queen of the City of Light. 

It is time to return home for Vladimir, and to bring back the body of his cousin Tristan to his parents, that he may be buried according to the traditions of his people. As he waves goodbye to his friends, the young cleric believes his adventures in the sun will always keep him warm in the cold reaches of the North. 

His newfound powers still growing inside of him, Rhys understands there's still much he needs to learn. About himself, and about his family, and the blood that binds them all. 

So much blood shed, so much suffering. It is not yet time to leave for Estel. Even though Ariya has a new ruler, the mage understands that the real evil behind all that has happened is still at large. Still unchecked. Still unpunished. She'll be ready for it. 

Enough of politics, enough of intrigue and deception. Having performed his holy task of protecting the sun mages, Khalid returns to the desert, to his temple, to his ways as a silent warrior. For under the eternal light of the sun, lies are dissolved and peace is achieved. 

A destiny he never wanted, yet the blood of el-Arrasi flows strong in him. Tuarim has seen much, suffered much. He has been the pawn of his father for too long. Time to make his own way, to forge his own legend. As he rides through the desert, alone, the paladin looks ahead, to the future. For his past is only fire and ashes. 

The map of the Empire of Anuire hanging on his wall, Malik looks with rage at the brown lines painted on the vellum. One step forward, two backward. Vengeance, vengeance must be his. His dagger pierces the map, a perfect throw through the City of Anuire. Where the Emperor sits on his Iron Throne. For now.

Session 15

PCs (5th-level): Estel, Khalid, Rhys, Tuarim, Vladimir

The PCs are finalizing their plans at Omadi's former house, when a unit of Palace Guards shows up at their gates to arrest them. Somehow the Prince must have discovered their plot. The PCs open the gate and confront the guards. The common folk gathered outside of the palace quickly takes side with the party, pelletting the guards with stones and rotten vegetables.

The guards try to make their way inside the palace, when Rhys loses his temper and his sorcerous blood explodes in a fireball that kills many soldiers. The remaining guards are intimidated into leaving. Not long after Nura arrives with a unit of Swords of Avani, informing the party that Omadi has betrayed them. She's now moving to the Palace to bring a rapid end to the Prince's attempts to quench the coup. The party joins Nura and her men, gathering a mob of angry citizens with them.

On the way to the Palace they're stopped by Admiral Hadan and a unit of Navy Mariners. Tuarim convinces the old friend to join forces with them. The assault at the Tower of Morning begins, with many losses from both sides. While the troops of both sides battle, the PCs manage to enter the inner buildings, and face the Lord-Prince.

When confronted with his sins, the Lord-Prince admits to be Nura's father, but denies any other accusations. But it's too late to go back now. Tuarim forces a confrontation. Vladimir befriends the two fierce lions guarding the Lord, while Khalid and Rhys destroy the animated clay warrior barring their advance. The young paladin pushes ahead, and stabs the ruler of Aryia in the chest with his bloodsilver dagger, stealing his bloodline.

Estel is horrified by this act, and accuses Tuarim to be nothing more than his father's pawn. Once again Rhys escalates the issue, and casts a fireball at Tuarim, almost killing him. This last spell also has the effect of setting the premises on fire. While the others escape the burning buildings, Tuarim decides to remain among the flames, hoping to escape at a later moment and fake his death. He's actually saved by a masked figure appearing on the scene, none other than his father, Malik.

Father and son leave the palace, then Malik congratulates Tuarim for a job well done. But Tuarim has no intention to rule Ariya, and informs his father he will leave the city. Frustrated, Malik can do nothing else than accept his son's decision, and review his plans for a unified Khinasi Empire under his family's control. Elsewhere, the party has reunited with the vizier Almira and with Nura. News of the death of the Prince spread rapidly. As the dust settles, it is decided that Nura shall inherit rulership of the city.

Session 14

PCs (4th-level): Estel, Khalid, Rhys, Tuarim, Vladimir

The PCs organize a party on a ship, inviting a great number of people, among them their fellow conspirators. Before the party, Almira has a talk with Khalid, dropping a few hints of a possible "union" between their family and the Alamie's.

During the party the PCs surreptitiously gather inside the extradimensional space of the magic tapestry together with their "allies", and plot the events to come. After some discussion, it is agreed that the best person to inherit the throne is Tuarim. Almira is no paladin, and Nuara is a child of sin. Tuarim, even though born out of marriage, has a purer bloodline, and is an anointed paladin. 

Nuara requests fair punishment for the Prince, and Almira will only offer her support if Tuarim promises to change the Laws of Succession, so that a non-paladin may rule Ariya in the future. Tuarim agrees to both.

During the meeting Estel uses magic to read the surface thoughts of Almira, but the vizier catches her in the act, and reprimands her. Estel also suspects foul play from a third party using magic (or subterfuge) to take on the Lord Prince's appearances.

The meeting concludes with the decision to publicly accuse the Prince of his sin related to Nuara's birth during the next official hearing at court, in a few days time. Then the Swords of Avani will sieze him and arrest him. 

During a private discussion, Malik congratulates Tuarim for his success, at the same time delivering a cryptic message. Once the Lord-Prince falls, he needs to leave the Tower of Morning with all haste, as the place "will not be safe".

The day after Estel and Almira have a private talk, where they reconcile their differences, and return on friendly terms. 

Session 13

PCs (4th-level): Estel, Khalid, Rhys, Tuarim

Following the latest revelations about the Lord Prince, the PCs begin to hatch a plot to remove him from his throne. Before they act, they speak privately with the regents of the city.

Omadi. The guildmaster is surprised by this turn of events, and wishes to speak with the Lord Prince to give him a chance to defend himself. His friendship with the the ruler of Ariya makes it difficult for him to blindly trust the party's words.

Nura. The marshal of the Swords of Avani wants the truth to be revealed, and punishment for the Lord Prince. As natural daughter of the sovereign, she's willing and ready to sit on the throne if the PCs and the other regents will support her.

Jairo. The patriarch confesses that he has createdd the magical amulet used by Alchemist, but he did not know what it would be used for. He delivered it to the Lord Prince, unaware of his connection with the alchemist. If the PCs will keep his reputation intact, he's willing to support them in removing the Lord Prince from power.

Almira. The grand vizier counsels the PCs to be absolutely sure of their accusations, since they're going to cause great upheaval in the city of Ariya. At the same time, she wants to put a stop to the tradition stating that only a Paladin of Avani can be the ruler of Ariya. As a member of the el-Arrasi family, and a powerful regent, she's willing to sit on the throne if the PCs will support her.

Malik. Tuarim's father keeps his cards close to the chest, and his half-answers are cause of more concerns for the PCs. He makes a gift to Tuarim, a bloodsilver dagger. Something that may come in handy when the Lord Prince is deposed.

Session 12

PCs (4th-level): Estel, Khalid, Rhys, Tuarim, Vladimir

The day after one more victim falls prey to the hidden assassin, this time the cook's cat. With all pets of the household now dead, the next targets of the assassin should be human beings.

Omadi suggests to move his family somewhere else, but the PCs prefer to keep everyone home in order to protect them better. Omadi himself is forced to leave due to previous engagements.

With the guildmaster out of the picture, the PCs press Halima for answers. It's clear she's keeping something secret, but Rhys' insinuations about infidelity only provoke her anger.

While keeping an eye on the surrounding streets, Khalid spots a figure apparently interested in the house. When the monk confronts her, she reveals herself to be Nura el-Adara, marshal of the Swords of Avani.

At the insistence of the party, she enters the house. At this point, Halima and Nura confess to be mother and daughter. Nura does not know who her father is, but when Tuarim boldly asks Halima if the father is the Lord Prince, the woman breaks into tears and admits to it. 

Nura is shocked by the revelation, and her shock quickly turns into anger against the man that has abandoned her when she wasn't even born. The marshal decides to take her mother with her to better protect her. At the same time, she tells the party that one way or another "justice" must come for the Lord Prince.

Left alone in the house, the PCs spend the night there. During his watch Khalid is confronted by a veiled man wielding a magical spear. The holy assassin faces Khalid in combat, but when things turn sour he makes his escape.

In front of the confused eyes of the party, he enters a magical tapestry hanging in the hall. The tapestry contains an extra-dimensional space where the assassin and his pets have been hiding all along. The PCs also enter the tapestry, and after a dangerous fight they kill the assassin.

Session 11

PCs (4th-level): Estel, Khalid, Rhys, Vladimir

The PCs seek counsel from the Grand Vizier Almira. When she realizes they're about to accuse the most important leaders of Ariya of heinous acts, she suggests they gather hard evidence to support their claim. At the same time, she confirms she's on their side, and she will help them as best she can.

The party investigates the College of Astronomy, knowing that Jairo the patriarch frequents the place regularly. Apart from confirming that the priest has been preoccupied of late, they don't find anything to incriminate him further. While studying astral charts, Estel receives a vision of a "traveler" coming from a vast void.

Next they visit the Guildmaster Omadi, who is impressed with their interest in the welfare of the Prince, and invites them for dinner in one of his houses. When the PCs arrive at his home, they're introduced the favourite of his wives, Halima, and their daughter Tala.

After a pleasant dinner, tragedy strikes. A knock at the door reveals a gruesome sight. Someone has nailed Tala's parakeet to the front door with a knife! Attached to the knife there is a note, reading:

The very walls reek of shame 

And ignorance is no excuse for sinners 

This is the first death in this house for the next 7 days. 

The last shall be thine.

The note bears the symbol of a scoprion, something that Khalid identifies as the mark of an order of "holy" assassins of Avani living in the desert. It is a mystery how such a pious man as Omadi has attracted their attention. The whole family is confused and distressed by this event, and the PCs offer to investigate the issue, and spend the night there to protect them. 

Intrigued by Halima's reaction to the events, Estel surreptitiously uses her magic to read her thoughts, and she receives a vision of Halima receiving a prayer book with a romantic dedication from a man. The half-elf believes it to be quite strange that she would have such thoughts at that very moment.

The party rapidly investigates the house, finding nothing of interest, except for a tapestry Omadi recently acquired at the market. Rhys bribes one of the servant into revealing some that a "military woman" has been visiting the Halima in secret in the past.

Still fearful, most of the household goes to sleep, while the PCs take turns to guard the premises. While Rhys is making a round of the house, he's attacked by deadly scorpions! The sorcerer kills the nasty beasts, but one thing seems sure... the assassin is still in the house!

Session 10

PCs (3rd-level): Estel, Khalid, Rhys, Vladimir

The party uses guerrilla tactics to silently and rapidly eliminate more of the pirates. Eventually they come into contact with an acolyte of Eirat, capable of performing miracles in the name of the evil creature.

The fight becomes quite deadly, as the fortress is on alert, and more of the cultists join the fray. The PCs do not give up, and manage to defeat all the villains remaining in the keep. 

In the nearby dock, a ship is about to set sail, captianed by Shoalar, the water-genasi chief mate, now the only remaining leader of the cultists. The PCs make an attempt to stop him, but Shoalar summons a gigantic tidal wave that almost kills the whole party. Shoalar makes his escape, promising revenge.

Having completed their mission, the PCs return home to rest, and then visit Thuriya in the temple of Nasri. Recognizing their valor, the priestess petitions her deity on the party's behalf, and receives a vision. In front of the eyes of those inside the temple, a scene from the pasts unfolds.

Jairo, Patriarch of the Aryian temple of Avani, handing the Alchemist's amulet to the Lord-Prince himself. Their involvement in the events of the last few days now clear, the PCs ponder on what to do next.