Runequest solo - part VII, Alliances fair and foul

scene 23

chaos 9

Setup: (actually rolled a 10; unmodified) talk to the barbarians again

Characters:
1. (the murderer or murderers)
2. Ay-Meddush, the merchant
3. Huollof, the caravan leader
4. chieftain Ulevaard and the barbarian delegation
5. prefect (PC's enemy)
6. Maruthus, the nosey neighbour
7. Izzeri-zatah, the high priestess of Ziburrun, the knowledge god
8. Alkinu, the suitor
9. Enzzal, Lachaidiga's eldest brother
10. the mason - a witness
11. Nillath, priestess of the Sun

Threads:
1. solve murder
2. stop wedding

Chieftain Ulevaard receives Lachaidiga graciously, though it is evident that his patience with the investigation's lack of progress is growing thin. Still, at least the sorceress does not look down on his people the way others in the City are wont to do.

[How will the barbarian's conversation go? UNE: inquisitive - questions - last actions]

"My lady," says Ulevaard, "I hear you've very recently escaped a nasty end."

Lachaidiga fills Ulevaard in about everything that's happened: house arrest, the acquittal, the eye-witness' account, the mistake that led to her capture, the cult raid, her escape. She explains her theory that the murderer is undead, and possibly the thrall of a sorcerer. She finishes off by proudly explaining how the prefect has had to take her on officially.

"... so I've come back to you, because I need your help. I know you did not approve of your son joining the cult of Ylhoon, but I would wager that you know the names of some of his brethren here in the City. Please, I must speak with them. They hold the key to solving this, though they seem unable to do it themselves. But if I can talk to them, I'm sure I get to the bottom of this. Justice will be served."

[Influence roll (63%) to get a positive reaction: 29, success.
How does Ulevaard respond? friendly-promise-current story]

"My lady, the Ylhooni are absolute fanatics, with no regard for themselves nor for anyone else. They're animals, practically as mad as the chaos fiends they've sworn to destroy. My people hate Chaos, as do all right-thinking folk, but the Ylhooni are a grave nuisance to us at home and an embarrassment abroad. Please, lady, think on my words and understand the seriousness with which I tell you them. These are not men you shall want to know. But, aye, the key must lie in their circle. The Ylhooni in the City are known to me, and I shall set you up a meeting with them."

scene 24

chaos 8

Setup: meet the Ylhooni

Characters:
1. (the murderer or murderers)
2. Ay-Meddush, the merchant
3. Huollof, the caravan leader
4. chieftain Ulevaard and the barbarian delegation
5. prefect (PC's enemy)
6. Maruthus, the nosey neighbour
7. Izzeri-zatah, the high priestess of Ziburrun, the knowledge god
8. Alkinu, the suitor
9. Enzzal, Lachaidiga's eldest brother
10. the mason - a witness
11. Nillath, priestess of the Sun

Threads:
1. solve murder
2. stop wedding

Enzzal was furious when Lachaidiga told him that she was officially helping the prefect with the investigation. He is doubly furious the next morning when she tells him she's invited some Ylhooni over for luncheon.

[Willpower vs. Willpower. L rolls 10, success. Enzzal rolls an 87, failure.]

"I've had enough of this nonsense!" thunders Enzzal as he shoves his plate of half-eaten food away, knocking over his wine goblet. He stands brusquely up from the table and strides toward the door as the terrified servants descend on his mess. He pauses in the doorway and glowers back at his sister. "I can't understand why you are so determined to bring shame upon our family." Lachaidiga sticks out her tongue at him and he storms out of the house.

. . .

Lachaidiga spends many hours fussing over which gown and jewels would be best to wear for receiving her visitors. She is still at her toilet when a servant announces the Ylhooni's arrival that afternoon. So intrigued is she to finally meet the infamous chaos-haters that she runs down to see them half-dressed, an anxious maid running behind desperately trying to fix the last few pins in her mistress' garment.

Three large, uncouth-looking men are waiting in the garden, boisterously conversing in their barbaric tongue. They are very fair-haired, in the way of the northern barbarians, and their pale skin has been reddened by the unaccustomed southerly sun. Two of them wear light chain armour, the third is dressed in a hotchpotch of clothing bought locally. All three have the mien and scars of seasoned warriors.

The house's nomenclator steps up quickly. "Gundhram, Swithun, Leudagar, may I present you to the Lady Lachaidiga."

[Courtesy (45%) roll to welcome them graciously (failure will mean she's too excited to know what to say): 08, success.]

"Good my lords, I humbly welcome you to my home."

"Oh, ho!," says Leudagar to his friends, "I told you this one'd be sweet! That's a round you both owe me next time. Sorry, milady, that my comrades have little faith in the folks of your fair burg. But, to be honest, it took two moons before I realised 'get those feet of the furniture' wasn't some sort of ritual greeting you all use. Ha, ha!"

"You would have heard it often enough at my coming out party."

"Ha, ha! And to think, me lads, this is the one Ulevaard warned us was a 'wise yet terrible sorceress!' Ho, ho!"

"You deny, then, that you are, 'fanatical, battle-mad savages'?"

Lachaidiga orders the servants to break out a few jugs of the best wine, and she converses pleasantly, and laughs uproariously, with her guests. But after their first cups are drained, all agree that it is time to talk of serious things. She tells them of all that she has seen and done in her investigations. They listen very attentively, interrupting only to ask for clarifications. When she comesto the end of her account, it is time for Leudagar to speak.

[UNE: scheming - agenda - allies
Q: Do they have a good lead? Unlikely: 39, Yes.
rolling 1d6: 1-2 person 3-4 place 5-6 thing; 3, place - random picture

Q:What do they know about the place? Spy / Misfortune]

"Quite a tale, lady. If only you'd come to us sooner... well, we'd have helped with the jeweller anyhow. Evil is evil, and fit only for the end of my sword, ha ha! But I know Ulevaard was -- not to put too fine a point on it -- reluctant to let you meet with us."

"Or admit he even knows us in the first place!" interjects Gundhram.

"And now there's only the three of us left," continues Leudagar. "Even old Ulevaard isn't so mad as to sit back and let the rest of us get slaughtered -- though he probably wishes he could, ho ho!  There were four of us. Eoforwine had heard rumours of an evil magician staying at an inn in a seedy part of the city. He went there in disguise to investigate; he never came back."

"Pray tell," asks Lachaidiga, "what is the name of this establishment?"



scene 25

chaos 7

Setup: 4= modified (was: snoop around the tavern)
Interrupt: move away from a thread (1d2=) 2. stop wedding

Characters:
1. (the murderer or murderers)
2. Ay-Meddush, the merchant
3. Huollof, the caravan leader
4. chieftain Ulevaard and the barbarian delegation
5. prefect (PC's enemy)
6. Maruthus, the nosey neighbour
7. Izzeri-zatah, the high priestess of Ziburrun, the knowledge god
8. Alkinu, the suitor
9. Enzzal, Lachaidiga's eldest brother
10. the mason - a witness
11. Nillath, priestess of the Sun

Threads:
1. solve murder
2. stop wedding


That evening finds Lachaidiga in her room, preparing to venture into the most unwholesome of the great City's poor neighbourhoods -- alone. She dons a simple gown and finds a suitably warm, course cloak. She takes an expensive headdress, too, just in case she needs to quickly alter her appearance.  She hopes to avoid a violent confrontation, but just in case she decides to bring her short sword. After fussing over it for a quarter of an hour, she hands it over to her long-suffering maid in defeat, telling the confused girl to find a way to sew the scabbard inside the cloak for concealment.

When she finally descends to the atrium, she is surprised to hear voices in the house, and at such a late hour. He heart sinks when she recognises the speakers: her brother and Alkinu.

[Q: Can she get out of house without a struggle? 50/50: 65, No.
Rolling Willpower vs. Willpower: L 33, success; E 87, failure.]

"Ah, sister," says Enzzal with a broad smile. "We were just talking about you."

"I should apologise for my brother then, Alkinu," responds Lachaidiga. "Ever since he began his study of oratory, his enumeration of my flaws has taken twice as long. Let me take my leave, or you shall be here all night."

"On the contrary, dear lady," says Alkinu, "your brother has been speaking very well of your various merits and accomplishments."

"Oh? Did he tell you how loud I can--"

"I was just getting to your charming sense of humour," interjects Enzzal. "But stay, sister. I've some good news for you. Alkinu and I have been talking it over, and we have decided that a lingering engagement is in no-one's best interests. We have fixed a date for the wedding. [1d6=] The joyous event will take place just six weeks from today."

Lachaidiga is as stunned as if she'd been poleaxed. She opens her mouth to speak and find the words just do not come, though the tears flow unbidden. She casts aside her cloak and falls at her brother's feet. "Don't do this to me! I beg you, please. Get him out of here and let's discuss this rationally. Send a message to our brother. Have him come home. If I can't make you understand what a mistake this will be, he certainly will."

"Nid-dallum is on manoevres with the army. He's hardly going to take the side of a silly little girl trying to avoid growing up. Especially one who goes abroad in the middle of the night... dressed like that... and carrying a sword! O sister mine, please do tell me just what you think you're doing this evening."

Lachaidiga wipes the tears from her eyes, and stands up indignantly.

"Hmpf! I'm going out on an errand as a duly-sworn agent of the city prefect. I don't expect to actually need the sword. I can take care of myself, thank you very much. And if I can't -- if I'm killed by the enemy -- then you'll just have to marry Alkinu in my stead, dear brother. The gods know, you're the only one in this family that likes him!"

Then she picks up her cloak and calmly walks out into the night.