Session four

We've now added a sixth (occasional) player to the group. He'll be running Tonbei vo Khaan, an Ur-Obun warrior and Imperial Cohort of the Marquis De Havilland. Up until now (while the other characters have been at the tourney) he's been spending the last few days outside the camp site, waiting for the events to finish.

• We pick up just as the Reeve and his Bailiffs have arrived but the party are currently more interested in discussing Baronet Christopher Windsor Hawkwood and why he would have been arguing with the Baron the night before his death. Putting two and two together (with Gossip network rumours and Planetary Knowledge skill) Lawrence discovers that the source of their disagreement is the current war between the Austrum Islands. The Baron supported the northern island and it's ruling Countess while the baronet supported the southern isle and it's Count.
• An announcement is made that the new Baron's entitlement ceremony is about to be held and all except Hemlock (who remains to guard Arcadia) attend. With all pomp and ceremony the new Baron is granted his titles, the various legal papers are finalised by the Reeve, Hubert Pufflenaff, and blessings are read by the Bishop with prayers said for the soul of the previous baron. The party keep watch for any notable suspects not being present but everyone seems to be in attendance (even the Decados). Baron Cuthbert then appoints Pufflenaff as the judiciary to investigate and try the case of his brother's murder, states that no one will leave until the case is decided (but that he believes that will be resolved before the end of the festival so no one should be inconvenienced) and invites everyone to repair to the dining tent for the celebratory dinner.
• During dinner Hasimir, Josay & Lawrence speak with Arcadia's brother, Selwyn. Once more he seems to think things will just blow over and that there is little risk to his family as a whole. He also seems to believe that Arcadia will just run off "like she did last time."
  Hasimir sneaks away from the meal and heads to the Trusnikron encampment. There he finds the tent containing Timmy the page and the stable boys, fast asleep. He grabs Timmy, blade at his throat and drags him out, finding a secluded spot some way away (with some serious Sneak rolls....). There he continues to threaten & question the (completely terrified) boy while scanning his mind. He sees what the child saw, it certainly appears that Arcadia left the Baron's tent as he said. He returns the boy to his tent, threatening what he will do if the boy tells anyone of his visit, then returns to the meal as if nothing has happened...
• Shortly after a peculiar guest appears in the banquet tent, an albino Ur-Obun, dressed in armour. He manages to attract the attention of De Havilland and they step outside to speak. This is Tonbei vo Khaan, De Havilland’s Cohort who has remained outside the encampment for the last few days to avoid causing any embarrassment or insult to the Baron by his presence. He has pressing news for his lord; an inquisitor leading a zealous lynch mob of rabble is bearing down on the camp.
• De Havilland decides that the (new) Baron should be informed, while Hemlock (who has come to grab some food) rushes back to Arcadia. The arrival of the Inquisitor appears to be a surprise to the Baron who instructs Appleby to investigate. The rest of the party then follow Hemlock, unaware that Josay had left a while before.
• Hemlock sees the glow of torches and hears the braying mob ahead. The Hawkwood house guards have left the tent to confront the mob so Hemlock enters. He wakes Arcadia and informs her of what is going on. She falls into her military mind set and takes a weapon(a knife) from Hemlock. Hemlock hears the mob outside and peeps out to watch. They have gathered around Josay's tent and have begun to torch it, from the sound of things with him inside, he burst out and is promptly set upon and beaten by the mob, the Inquisitor accusing him of heresy and betrayal of the Faith. Hemlock snaps and bursts forward challenging the Inquisitor. The priest, an obvious Avestite engages him and they trade blows, the Inquisitor's flames failing to harm Hemlock while the noble knocks the priest's Inquisitional warrant from his grasp.
• In the second round of combat the rest of the party arrive. Tonbei uses his Soma techniques to prepare for combat, Hasimir and De Havilland try to cow the mob, Hemlock wounds the Inquisitor and Lawrence notices a mysterious figure just behind the mob. He signals to him...
• Third round of combat; The mysterious figure strides forward, through the mob and effortlessly cuts the Inquisitor down with double strike with his paired sabres, he melts back into the mob. Capitalizing on this Hasimir successfully intimidates the rabble into inaction allowing Appleby and the House guards to take control of the situation. De Havilland checks on Josay and finds he has died of his wounds. Hemlock pockets the Inquisitors official warrant and casts it into the flames that were Josay's tent. He then returns to Arcadia's side who tells him to tell Lawrence "Ut nos hinc" - their personal code for "Get us out of here."
• Lawrence tells Hemlock to gather everyone in the garage ASAP then indicates to the mysterious stranger that he has other plans for him...