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Outside the Prince’s palace in Daric…

Unseen by the Dragon-Blooded, a small bird alights upon Prince Osria Khidara’s balcony.

Mnemon Sarissa, inside the Prince’s apartment, hears light sounds of metal clinking not far away. Her suspicions aroused, she looks around and sees something small and unwelcome trying to stay hidden on the balcony just outside the curtain. On guard and expecting trouble, she raises her flame piece and opens fire without hesitation. The resulting conflagration is visible from all over the city, and the rest of the Dragon-Blooded rush to the scene.

The bird transforms into a woman. She brandishes an assassin’s dagger and prepares to go after the Prince.

Captain Peleps Maera encounters another group of assassins in the hallway, V’neef Kai and Shao Dun reach the balcony, and the Prince wakes and screams. Chaos reigns.

Tepet Sanzo, unseen for the moment, enters the fray, easily dispatching one of the assassins.

After a brief but wild period of combat, the Dragons emerge victorious. The bird woman, revealed as a lunar, is killed by Tepet Sanzo as she tries to escape. The mortal assassins are easily finished off as well.

The shocked Prince confirms that the bird woman was one of the foreign advisers who fled from her. One of the assassins survives the fight, and the Dragons are optimistic that he may provide valuable information.

Mnemon Sarissa
Cathak Shao Dun
Peleps Meara
V’neef Kai
Tepet Sanzo

The Bird Woman
Ozria Khidara
Laconic Ibis

Mnemon Sarissa utilizes her remarkable crafting skills and substantially upgrades her weaponry. She meets with Mnemon herself to discuss the developing political situation in Jiara. When her matriarch asks her for her opinion about V’neef Kai, she describes him as a skilled albeit hot-blooded politician. Mnemon asks Sarissa to watch Kai’s moves and report on him.

Tepet Sanzo uses his free time to gather information on Jiara, both generally, and with a focus on the city’s underworld. Sanzo learns the political situation in the city has stabilized, and there is a prevailing atmosphere of cautious optimism. Tepet Indaro arrives and beseeches Sanzo to return to the service of his house. The meeting remains civil, but the frustration among Tepet leadership for Sanzo’s independent behavior is clear. Sanzo later meets with Gauntlet, a representative from the White Veil Society . They have a discussion regarding the highly complicated and everchanging political situation in the realm. The Society does not want Mnemon’s power and influence to grow.

After a week of mandatory drinking, Cathak Shao Dun undertakes a recruitment effort among the local population, and is able to supplement his troops with another auxiliary unit. He leads them off into the wilderness to conduct training. After returning to the city, and he reconnects with and duels against Desai Pavrani, who proves to be an able sparring partner and agreeable companion.

While off on a solitary mountaineering expedition outside Naathul, Peleps Maera discovers a cave. She returns to Kai and they explore together. They head deep into the mountain where they find an ancient manse containing a wonder far beyond what they could’ve hoped to find: a warstrider. As they explore the manse together, they discuss the difficulty and remarkable potential of a possible excavation, and consider how best to enlist Sarissa’s help with such a project…

Peleps Meara
V’neef Kai
Tepet Indaro
Lynn
Tepet Sanzo
Mnemon Sarissa
Mnemon
Laconic Ibis
Cathak Shao Dun
Desai Pavrani

V’neef Kai and Captain Peleps Maera discuss their discovery of the warstrider and the impact it will have on the Dragon-Blooded. They consider proposing an oath of kinship with their comrades, hopeful this will bring the group closer together and ensure that the warstrider does not become a source of contention among them.

Cathak Shao Dun and Desai Pavrani finish up a long training match. Pavrani asks Shao to introduce her cousin to the Prince’s court as a potential suitor. Shao agrees, although he is concerned to vouch for a mortal he does not know.

Tepet Sanzo and Mnemon Sarissa share a pot of peppery Puer tea, giving Sarissa a chance to blow off steam about the administrative tasks she is doing with on behalf of Mnemon Zuri. Sanzo proposes finding her more interesting work, but Sarissa is skeptical of the need, as she considers the work to be mere annoying. After she leaves, Lynn visits Sanzo and leaves him with a letter from Gauntlet.

Kai and Maera return to the city and invite the Dragon-Blooded to a semi-formal later evening dinner.

Tepet Sanzo, disguised, meets with Gauntlet, who encourages him to do what he can to support Desai Pavrani’s cousin, Kadajin, in his bid to wed the Prince.

The Dragons gather and reacquaint at Kai’s villa in anticipation of an interesting evening…

V’neef Kai
Peleps Meara
Cathak Shao Dun
Tepet Sanzo
Mnemon Sarissa
Desai Pavrani
Desai Kadajin
Lynn
Gauntlet

Podcast Episode: https://thestorytold.libsyn.com/fall-of-jiara-26

Mnemon Sarissa, thoughtful and creative as always, crafts an amber rose as she he heads to V’neef Kai’s villa; Kai accepts the gift graciously. The two enjoy a cordial discussion and begin to reconcile their past differences.

The Dragon-Blooded gather and enjoy a delicious meal with chilled wine; a fitting prelude to a great proposal.

After dinner, Peleps Meara and V’neef Kai take the Dragon-Blooded aside and propose an oath of kinship. The others express surprise and curiosity about the motivations driving Kai and Meara, but are respectful and receptive to the idea. Only the cynical Tepet Sanzo is truly skeptical. He questions whether the oath is a scheme of Kai’s to improve his political position, although he cloaks his suspicions by claiming he is simply surprised be included in the oath.

Shao, still Meara’s loyal lieutenant, is the first of the other three to commit to the oath. Sanzo and Sarissa, convinced of Kai’s honorable intentions, soon agree.

The oath of kinship is sworn, and the five dragons feel the pull of the elements binding them together. They look at each other in silent reflection, well aware of the importance of what has been done.

Mnemon Sarissa
V’neef Kai
Peleps Meara
Cathak Shao Dun
Tepet Sanzo

After the kinship has been sworn, V’neef Kai and Peleps Maera reveal the discovery of an ancient armory to the other Dragons. It notably contains a Warstrider, an ancient relic of extraordinary power. The kinship discuss the ramifications of this and consider what should be done with the remarkable relic. They decide to take some time to tie up loose ends before they make the journey to see it.

Lynn visits V’neef Kai and announces a surprise visit from his siblings.

Tepet Sanzo invites Peleps Maera to tea, under the pretext of getting to know her better. Maera carefully questions him and is able to gain insight into the workings of the mind behind Sanzo’s ever-present mask.

Mnemon Sarissa completes a major rebuilding of the city gates. Mnemon Zuri is very pleased with the results.

Cathak Shao Dun receives a visit from Cathak Jul-To, prospective suitor of Prince Osria Khidara, and receives a moving letter from his beloved aunt.

Peleps Meara
Tepet Sanzo
V’neef Kai
Mnemon Sarissa
Cathak Shao Dun

Mnemon Zuri
Cathak Jul-To
Cathak Alzandara
Lynn

Episode Link: https://thestorytold.libsyn.com/fall-of-jiara-28

V’neef Kai receives his siblings, V’neef Sylus and V’neef Lohlyn, in the grandeur of his private salon. Kai greets them using his most grandiose, ostentatious manner, and the three catch up on family matters and political issues.

After eavesdropping on the conversation between Kai and his siblings, Tepet Sanzo pays a visit to Tepet Indaro, who introduces him to Delak, the House Tepet suitor. They question Sanzo regarding the political contest for the Prince’s hand and attempt to enlist his aid in supporting House Tepet’s bid. Sanzo is surprisingly receptive.

Peleps Maera meets Kai and his siblings; they enjoy refreshments and discuss matters, including Maera’s destruction of the anathema, Garafono. V’neef Lohlyn shockingly mentions her dealings with a group of Solars and opines on the political situation. She proposes the assembly of a coalition to take Thorns, a key city in the Eastern Threshold, for the purpose of boosting House V’neef’s strength and prestige.

Cathak Shao Dun receives an invitation from Mnemon Sarissa, asking him to visit her in her workshop, where he finds her hard at work at her drafting table. They have an open discussion about the Warstrider and resolve to work closely together on matters relating to the great artifact.

The Dragons are summoned by the Prince and assemble in her audience chamber. The Prince bluntly tells them of an assassination plot against her and enlists their help in rooting it out.

V’neef Kai
V’neef Sylus
V’neef Lohlyn
Lynn
Tepet Sanzo
Tepet Indaro
Tepet Delak
Peleps Meara
Cathak Shao Dun
Mnemon Sarissa

Episode Link: COMING SOON

Prince Ozria Khidara, along with her servant, Firat, explains to the gathered Dragon-Blooded why she believes an assassination plot is being planned against her. Her suspicions center around the disappearance of a supposedly trustworthy aide, Nima Isfani, and the discovery of poison in her quarters, which were ransacked by an unknown party.

The Dragon-Blooded investigate Nima Isfani’s residence, noting that the room was intentionally thrown into disarray, possibly to disguise the intruder’s motives. Tepet Sanzo believes they are being intentionally deceived. He immediately identifies a specific type of poison found stashed in an inkpot. After gathering evidence, they decide to reconvene elsewhere to discuss what they have found.

V’neef Kai and Ozria Khidara discuss the political situation, the Great Houses, and the implications of the Prince’s rebellion and upcoming marriage.

The Dragon-Blooded meet in Kai’s villa. Sanzo, demonstrating his versatility as a brewer of warm beverages, prepares coffee for the kinship. Cathak Shao Dun particularly enjoys his drink. Using their combined understanding of the competing political and economic interests in Jiara and the Realm, the Dragons attempt to piece together the nature of the conspiracy against the Prince.

Mnemon Sarissa conceives a plan to craft a sorcerous working for the Prince, in hopes of protecting her from poison.

Ozria Khidara
Firat
Nima Isfani
Mnemon Sarissa
V’neef Kai
Tepet Sanzo
Peleps Meara
Cathak Shao Dun

Tepet Sanzo continues his investigation into the plot against Prince Ozria Khidara, infiltrating the palace in the guise of a young servant boy, Kiten. He networks with his contacts as he works to unravel the mystery behind Nima Isfani’s disappearance.

With Laconic Ibis in direct control of the marines deployed to protect the Prince, Cathak Shao Dun turns his attention to the sorcerous working he will create in collaboration with Mnemon Sarissa. He goes through a ritual of self-purification to prepare.

Peleps Maera pursues her investigation at the harbor. A conversation with the harbor master leads to a trade syndicate called Mercy of Iron, and a potential meeting with a new contact.

V’neef Kai meets with Prince Ozria and gives her a gift of magnificent tea, which is well-received. They thoroughly discuss the advantages and disadvantages provided by the various suitors and their Houses.

As part of his investigation into the nature of the poison found in Nima Isfani’s quarters, Tepet Sanzo seeks out another contact and mentions a woman named Yinguan.

Mnemon Sarissa begins crafting the mechanism that will serve as an anchor for the sorcerous working, a grinding mechanism for lipstick enchanted to protect the wearer. Once the mechanism, a paragon of mechanical perfection, is forged, Sarissa sends it back to Shao, who enchants the device.

Maera’s tenacious investigation yields fruit, as she is given an audience with Yinguan. The possibility that the poison may be connected to one of the great Houses is raised.

Tepet Sanzo meets a (furry, ring-tailed) contact, who helps him examine a letter in exchange for a meal.

Tepet Sanzo
Kiten
Nima Isfani
Cathak Shao Dun
Peleps Meara
V’neef Kai
Ozria Khidara
Mnemon Sarissa

Tepet Sanzo’s intelligence gathering reveals new threads in the mystery of Nima Isfani’s disappearance.

Cathak Shao Dun requests V’neef Kai’s help as he pays a visit to Desai Pavrani to assess the suitor from her house, Kadajin. As they question the suitor, Shao grows increasingly displeased, finding the man lacking passion, while Kai keeps his feelings close to his chest. After the interview, Kai surprises Shao by offering a relatively positive assessment of Kadajin, based on the potential political benefits a marriage with the Desai could provide to the Prince.

The Kinship gathers to discuss the recent political developments, the sorcerous working created by Mnemon Sarissa and Shao, and news regarding Sanzo’s investigation. In spite of the instability of the situation, the Dragon-Blooded are in high spirits. Maera in particular seems to have her swagger back. Plans are made to throw a grand party on the Leviathan’s Paradise.

Sarissa and Shao present their sorcerous working to Prince Ozria Khidara. They take the opportunity to update her on the status of the investigation into the assassination plot.

Tepet Sanzo
Cathak Shao Dun
V’neef Kai
Desai Pavrani
Desai Kadajin
Mnemon Sarissa
Peleps Meara
Ozria Khidara
Nima Isfani

Episode Link: Suitors to Suit

Peleps Maera and V’neef Kai find a rare moment of free time, giving them an opportunity to discuss Prince Ozria Khidara’s suitors. Kai expresses his approval for Desai Kadajin, believing that a consort from the Threshold would make a beneficial match.

Maera, intent on personally appraising the contestants for the Prince’s hand, goes with Mnemon Sarissa to meet with the Ledaal suitor, Silver Grace. Afterwards, the two Dragon-Blooded head to the Broken Oar, where shenanigans ensue as they bond over drinks.

After parting with his siblings, Kai luxuriates in a bath with Tovin, and the two discuss the various suitors. Tovin indicates to Kai that the Desai are particularly invested in winning the marriage contest.

Tepet Sanzo meets with Kai in his office, where he requests the latter gather a sample of writing from the guests at his upcoming party, as it may be helpful in discovering the identity of the hidden Lunar. Kai suggests he will leave a guestbook out when the time comes.

Peleps Maera wakes up the next morning, hung over, to the news that ten Peleps warships are inbound and will soon reach the harbor. Maera receives the leader of the fleet, an illustrious Admiral called Peleps Polin. The Admiral offers Maera the chance to join her in a pirate hunting expedition.

Sanzo meets with Gauntlet, his contact with the Society, and the two discuss House Tepet politics. Sanzo proposes supporting the Tepet suitor, rather than the Desai, as a means to gain greater control over the political situation. Gauntlet listens to Sanzo’s suggestions and promises to give them proper consideration.

Peleps Meara
V’neef Kai
Mnemon Sarissa
Ledaal Yasmet Silver Grace
V’neef Lohlyn
V’neef Sylus
Salana Tovin
Tepet Sanzo
Peleps Polin
Gauntlet
Tepet Delak