Plot Overview:
Act 4. If the party is merciful and leaves
him be he surrenders.
The sound of running feet heralds the arrival of the guards. They immediately take the page into custody. He offers
no resistance. ‘The cowled man said he would pay me my weight in gold if I did it...I was to meet him at the Rowdy Rooster Inn after it was done. They said I would suffer a fate worse that death if I didn’t do it!’ He says, offering information in gratitude for you being merciful, even as the guards drag him away.
‘Lord Maric will want to have a word with you,’ one of the guardsman says to you before walking away with the others.
The pc’s now have the choice of either making their way straight to the Rowdy Rooster Inn or seeing Lord Maric first. If they decide to go straight to the Inn turn to Act 3. Otherwise they have little
choice but to follow the guards back to Castle Whiterock. Once inside the courtyard a page appears and escorts them to the guest quarters within the castle. If the party asks him what became of Gerold they will learn that he is grievously wounded and being treated by the court physicians. If the party was able to prevent the crossbow bolt from reaching Gerold, they will learn he is a little shaken but otherwise alright. They are told Lord Maric will request their presence soon and left within a sparsely decorated room that serves as the guest quarters. Here the party has a chance to recover and restore any ENDURANCE or WILLPOWER points lost thus far. Their reprieve is soon interrupted by another page, which enters with a knock and tells them that they are summoned by Lord Maric. If they saved the boy from the crossbow bolt earlier they will be informed that he is in good health. If not, then the boy will have perished from his wound.
You walk down the marble covered corridor and go down a long flight of stairs to the main entryway of the castle. From there you walk forward until you enter the throne room, with a herald announcing your arrival.
Lord Maric sits on one of the thrones, his head held in his hands as if the weariness of many years weighs down upon him. He looks up as you approach.
If the pc’s managed to save Gerold Mabelode’s life then read the following:
A smile of pure gratitiude lights up the face of Lord Maric as he gazes upon you, the saviours of his son’s life. Stepping down from the dais he speaks, ‘Brave heroes, I and all Illion are in your eternal gratitude for saving one of the blood royals from a cowardly assassin. Furthermore, you brought the perpetrator to justice. For all of this you will be amply rewarded.’
Lord Maric claps his hands and courtiers bring forth two items arrayed on red cushions. The first is a Firerod, which is given to the Brother of the Crystal Star, the Magician of Dessi or the Vakeros Warrior Mage who saved Gerold’s life. The Firerod is a SPECIAL ITEM that can be used to fire a scorching ray of pure fire at an opponent in battle. This is done in the same way as firing a bow. The opponent must roll on the –6 section for damage. The Firerod can be used once a day and only in sunlight. The second item is a jewelled sword, which was to be given to the winner of the tourney. It will now be given to whoever forced the assassin to surrender and spared his life. The sword is magical and adds +2 to the COMBAT SKILL of whoever uses it. If the pc’s did not manage to save the life of Gerold Mabelode then read the following:
Lord Maric’s face is lined with worry and grief as he steps down from the dias. From behind the throne room the sounds of quiet sobbing can be heard; the voice has a feminine tinge; undoubtedly Lady Margetta grieving for her son. Maric
speaks slowly, anger and grief straining his voice, ‘You have my gratitude for bringing to justice my son’s assassin. Would that his life could also have been saved but that was not to be. We are still questioning the assassin, for I fear he is but a pawn. We will have him singing about his real employers soon enough. Until then, here is a gift I have for you. It was to be presented to the winner of today’s tourney but it is only fitting that you receive it for your quick thinking and valorous actions.’
King Maric claps his hand and a courtier appears bearing an exquisite jewelled sword on a red cushion. It is presented to the player who forced the page to surrender and spared his life. The sword is magical and adds +2 to the COMBAT SKILL of its user.
Now is the time for the party to tell Lord Maric of what the page told them, about the cowled man and the rendezvous as the Rowdy Rooster Inn. If they do not automatically say this, gently nudge them by having Lord Maric ask them if there is any important information they may have to impart.
When the party mentionsthis, read the following:
Lord Maric steeples his fingers in front of his face and says, ‘Intriguing. It appears we may yet have a chance of catching the true culprit behind all of this. We must move quickly if we are to catch this cowled man before he can make good his escape. I could send an entire host of Knights but he would see them coming and slip away. No...better to send someone more discreet, someone who can get to him before he knows you are there. Someone like you!’
If the pc’s agree then preparations are made immediately. They are instructed to capture the cowled figure without killing him if possible and are granted fresh mounts to make their journey swiftly, as
Murder at the Tourney
well as directions to the Rowdy Rooster Inn which is only a short distance away from Feravan.