Sceptremass I - The Dagger

Night of the 2nd Silverday of Petals

The moon is hanging large over Castle Barow. Dogs are barking and a soldier is raising a torch as you are passing a large tent with the banner of house Karpat.

Guards open the gate to the courtyard. Next to the derelict building a pyre has been erected with a large stake and chains hanging from them. At the stable Perilake spots Pearl - Lady Inga's steed - and Anastasz recognizes another but can't recall from where. You are led by servants to your room.

Morning of the 2nd Kinsday of Petals - The Day before Sceptremass

At dawn a rooster crows and you all wake up in canopy beds. The glow from the dying ember in the hearth illuminates a wall of antlers and tapestries depicting hunting scenes. Outside the stain glass window the sky is grey and a fine rain falls onto the courtyard. Your squires bring in a meal of stewed apples and a message for Sir Anastasz: At noon the Council of the King will meet in the throne room. 

Anastaz The Salt Knight

The Salt Knight takes his breakfast from his squire with a gracious nod, and eats while looking out at the gloomy sky. He says, to no one in particular, "Despite all we've done, I fear the realm is in more danger than ever."

Heldris The Dove Knight

The Dove Knight mulls over his breakfast for a while. "Our actions have been just, Sir Anastaz, and justice can only bring good to the Realm.” He brushes the wavy carvings on his iron arm, slowly. “It’s how justice is served, that can lead to discord… I don’t like the look of that pyre out in the courtyard." He adds, although with a smile. "But be true to yourself today with the King, my friend, and I'm confident all will be good.”

Referee

Perilake, when Zoltan sets down the platter you can see his hands are trembling and he doesn't look at you as he mumbles a morning greeting.

Ser Perilake The Gilded Knight

Perilake thanks Zoltan, and watches the boy as he exits the room. He stands suddenly, and with swift strides, catches his squire in the corridor outside. "What troubles you my friend?" Perilake speaks softly, resting a hand on the lads shoulder. "I have my own thoughts. But I would know yours."

Referee

Zoltan is turned away from you and shakes is head. His voice is hoarse from suppressed anger: ”The traitor … my father … he told me …” He turns around, his eyes are unsteady and his hands are balled into fists, ” ... he told me it is the Marshall of Karpat, Lady Dagmar.” He has raised his voice enough for the Knights inside the room to overhear the name.

Anastaz The Salt Knight

Anastaz raises an eyebrow at Zoltan's outburst. He departs, taking a walk around the keep before peeping inside the Karpat tent.  

Referee

You walk through the deep mud that was the tiltyard of the tournament - where you won your sword Zuraw, the Swan - suspiciously eyed by a handful of soldiers in Karpat uniform but the guards at the tent salute as if expecting you. They must have announced your approach as a young woman steps out of the tent, Lady Adalgunde, who greets you formally before adding more quietly: “If you want to talk frankly to Lady Dagmar, remember that the King will hear all as long as Lady Lamberta wears the ring.”

Heldris The Dove Knight

Heldris throws a worried look over to Perilake, but the confident eyes of the Gilded Knight dissolves any concern. He gulps down the last bite of his meal and stands up. "I'll better inquire about that pyre, before any surprise befalls us ahead of Septremass."

Referee

When you enter the courtyard and approach the pyre you hear a faint melody from below, a song you heard in Swinjo before. The sound must come from the tunnels under the Game Hall or maybe the oubliette. The stake in the pyre is huge and the chains that hang from it could hold a giant.

Ser Perilake The Gilded Knight

Perilake's fist clenches on Zoltans shoulder, and he leans in close. "And Lady Dagmar is here... and a friend to Sir Anastasz no less." Perilake sighs. "Your father has placed a heavy burden upon your shoulders with this knowledge. But what do you wish? To pursue vengeance unchecked would be to throw away the duty I hoped to teach you." Perilake nods as Heldris passes by, his voice lowering further. "And Dagmar's betrayal was done in loyalty to the King. War washes clean the honour of those who prove useful to the victor; there will be no justice there, and your father is certainly placed to know it."

"That would leave only the path of a duel." Perilake stands back from Zoltan, and looks him in the eyes. "You are brave. You are strong. Your demand would be honourable. But you are young, and not yet a knight. She is not bound to honour your challenge... But she is mine."

"Let us seek the truth of this betrayal, the story unheard. Then, my brother, I swear I will help you in whatever you decide is the path. As long as we walk it together, with our eyes open and clear."

Referee

“Will the truth come out? The traitor is not summoned to be punished … she is protected by the King … and by your fr... “ He chokes and curses but then takes a deep breath, finally looking you in the eyes. “My lord, have I not served you loyally? And I will do so until I am dismissed or knighted. But revenge is mine and mine alone … and if the King cannot serve justice ...” He sighs. "I will honour my oath to you, my lord, and obey your orders. But I will not forget my duty to those who have been slaughtered."

A troubled young squire: Zoltan of Kranach

Ser Perilake The Gilded Knight

"Your duty is to justice, Zoltan. Not vengeance." His words harden as the gilded knight squares his shoulders. "As you say, Vengeance is for you - and you alone." He pauses for a long moment. "Come then. Let us seek an audience with Lady Dagmar. We will put these deeds to her."

Referee

Zoltan follows you hesitantly. You have left all your weapons in your room except for the daggers - as is customs during Sceptremass. Outside the tent the guards cross their polearms. "Who demands an audience with her majesty?"

Referee

Anastaz, inside the tent the two Knights sitting opposite each other on colourful rugs turn to face you. Lady Lamberta is wearing the simple tunic of a soldier and an iron crown. She is playing with the ring on her finger, turning it thoughtfully. Lady Dagmar is wearing a battered gambeson over her tunic. She looks distraught. Lamberta motions you to sit beside her. "I knew you would come, Salt Knight. You are a man of honour."  

Heldris The Dove Knight

Recalling the eerie encounter at the old auditorium, Heldris silently slips away to the forgotten back door and steps into the domed hall once again. He listens for a moment and watches the morning light filtering through the disturbed dust flying in the air. He steps towards the chessboard grid and looks for the tile with the beehive, ready to step down the dark corridor again.

Referee

Inside the song gets softer but as soon as you enter the tunnel behind the slate with the crest of beehive and sickle the humming echoes through the corridor. When you reach the shaft you realize that there is a trapdoor. From above you hear the chatter of a small crowd and from below – the song the bard sang in Swinjo … but it is the breathy voice of The Bat you hear!

Anastaz The Salt Knight

Anastaz half-bows to the Ladies as he takes the offered seat. "You are kind, my Lady. Honour means a great deal these days, when many have forgotten the word's meaning. I hope your House is well."

Referee

A servant hands you a goblet of watery wine. Lamberta inclines her head. "Thanks to your integrity my house is well. The King will not accept that a Knight who swore the oath to protect the Realm will be coerced for coin and personal gain." Lady Dagmar flinches at her words and looks down. Her knuckles are white as she holds on to her own goblet of wine.

Anastaz The Salt Knight

"Bianca of Altenburg has forgotten her vows." He rubs his chin and stares off into space for just a moment. "I will do what I must to ensure that she does not harm the standing of your house or its members."

Heldris The Dove Knight

The Dove Knight crouches near the trapdoor, and as the rhymes get clearer, he suddenly joins humming in a higher tone: "The great winged one grows... and we are the feast." As the dark tunnel falls silent for a moment, Heldris asks with a whisper through the trapdoor: "Are you the Great Winged One? Do you remember my voice? How did you end up imprisoned here?"

Referee

It stays silent for a while and you crouch there with your candle in the dark. Then you hear a croaking sound over the laughter from above: "Huuuu" the voice breathes "I remember huuu. Huu shang to mee." It sounds as if the words a pressed through the bellows of a forge. "Ze hchunters caught meee. Zej chwill chudge mee and zej will burn me at the shtake …"

Referee

Lady Dagmar looks gratefully at Anastaz as he utters words of encouragement for her cause but her smile falters when she hears Ser Perilakes voice.

Perilake, when you mention Zoltan's family the guards look grimly at your squire and Zoltan looks back at them defiantly but then a voice from inside calls for the guards to let you pass and the guards obey. Lady Lamberta looks past Perilake at the Kranach heir and says sternly as if reprimanding a child: "I will not suffer any foolishness nor will I accept a lack of respect for my Marshall." Softer she adds, "Under these condition I welcome you both, may the spirit of Sceptermass guide us all." She glances quickly at Dagmar.

Ser Perilake The Gilded Knight

Perilake steps past the guards, and into the tent. "Thank you Lady Lamberta." He nods at Anastasz. "I bring you no foolishness, and no disrespect to Lady Dagmar. For I know that loyalty and honour are no laughing matters to House Karpat." He places a firm hand on Zoltan's shoulder and squeezes, warning the lad to mind Lamberta's warning. "And I respect the Snare Knight's honour to know she will speak truthfully when I ask her a question, one I sense she knows is coming." "If these words are true, then why?"

Referee

Lady Dagmar sits still for a while and then downs the goblet holding it out for the servant to refill it. Her hand is unsteady as if it wasn't her first drink today. "Why?" She gives a laugh, a terrible sound that doesn't match her expression. "Why? … Because I knew the war was lost. Because I wanted the brave men and women of Karpat and Kranach to live. Because the battle was supposed to be over quickly and without bloodshed. Because I thought the landsknechts of Svenrik had any honour ..."

While Dagmar is talking you feel the muscles in Zoltan's shoulder flexing. His right hand moves slowly toward his belt.

Drama in the Karpatian Tent

Ser Perilake The Gilded Knight

Perilake's grip squeezes ever tighter on Zoltan's shoulder, forcing a gasp of pain. He pushes the boy behind him as he steps between Zoltan and Dagmar. "So, you sacrificed your word - your honour for the lives of others..." He grimaces. "I would call such a thing noble, in its own strange way. But mercenaries honour nothing but coin, and whatever the intention, it was washed away in the very bloodshed you hoped to avoid." He turns his gaze to Lamberta. "I mean no insult, but ask for your wisdom. Karpat bled as deeply as Kranach. Why do you keep this secret? Why do you hold Dagmar close?"

Referee

Dagmar stares at you furiously. Lady Lamberta looks puzzled: "Dagmar kept the secret from me for the longest time. Only when the Salt Knight pressed her during the tournament she first revealed it to him and later to me. She was ashamed and afraid that her family would disavow her." She shakes her head. "Letting Dagmar fall … my own blood? Preposterous!" Suddenly Zoltan leaps forward from behind Perilake and past him with a dagger in his hand.