Wandering Wolves: Trial of Aeromus and Midsummer

Dravago 16 - Nymm 15, YK 1000

After the Wolves have gotten settled from their unsettling trip into the future, Dravago turns to Nymm.

Khorvaire politics are anything but dull. A border skirmish between Aundarian Phantom Knights doing "training exercises" in the Silver Wood and Thranish troops patrolling the Wood on their side of the border very nearly leads to open war. The matter is settled at Galifar's Hope, where it is agreed that a company of House Deneith blademarks will patrol both sides of the Silver Wood from now on.

In more peaceful news, the truce between Droaam and Breland has been extended until the summer ends. A formal non-aggression treaty between Droaam and Breland is currently a top priority at Galifar's Hope, and is expected to be ready for signing sometime in Barrakas, the last month of summer. The Golden Dragon is expected to relaunch at about the same time, rebuilt as the official ambassadorial transport of Galifar's Hope as a gift from House Lyrandar.

Meanwhile, rumors persist that one of the branches of House Cannith is gathering funds and approval to rebuild the White Arch Bridge that once connected Rekkenmark (in Karrnath) and Thaliost (in Thrane). Lysander is reasonably informed that House Phiarlan operatives have confirmed this, and that there was some kind of theft that threatened the funds, but that operatives of House Cannith, Kundarak and Phiarlan recovered the funds and dealt with the thieves.

The Young Wolves, shaken by their experiences in Xulo's nightmare future, have disbanded and mostly given up lives of adventuring. The sole exception is Elias Volan, who continues to study and work in Sharn.

The Wolves receive another note from Maechen Eyre, notifying them of another sudden departure. "Luggoth's new faith is an interesting turn in The Prophecy. It suggests something good, and my master wishes to consult with him in person. It wasn't easy, but I've convinced Luggoth to come with me to Argonessen to meet the Great Silver Dragon Vuulaytherus. Forgive me for not giving him time to say goodbye, or allowing you, his friends, to tag along. We will both return to you when it is possible."

This seems somewhat uncharacteristic of Luggoth, but he's been unpredictable lately. Savannah and Father Talandro are both skeptical, but can't say for sure if it's true or not.

Pel:
Kalibar Jenks has requested of Viorr/Pel that he be reassigned to the Golden Dragon when that occurs, as he knows the territory and thinks it will be fertile information-gathering ground, but this will require approval from Captain Vron as well as approval from the Boromars, who will think Kalibar is *their* operative aboard the Dragon.

Lysander:
With approval from his House and the completed recording crystal that Lysander brought back from the future, research has begun with House Sivis to replicate the device. They expect it will take at least a year, even with one prototype available for testing. Best not to think about the paradoxical implications of this one.

Upon hearing about this future from Lysander, the House immediately began researching Xulo to find out what they could about it. They promised to keep Lysander fully informed of their findings.

Arenydee is not waiting for Lysander when he gets home. Instead, there's an all-too-familiar, if heartfelt and emotional, letter indicating that she is undercover for the House. She can't tell him much more, but promises to be home soon, and besides, what are a few months, or even years, apart, to elves?

William:
Resolute informs William by Sivis message that Halas Martain made some kind of deal with The Twelve that resulted in him being something of an indentured servant to them. He's not technically free, but he is out of jail, operating at the behest of The Twelve to recover arcana of interest to that group. He has been permanently banned from The Wayfarer Foundation. Rumors abound that Halas was able to point out the member of The Twelve that was behind the massacre, and that his new position is a bribe to keep him from spilling it so that the Twelve can deal with the matter internally.

In addition, Karola d'Deneith has officially joined the Blademark guards at the Wolves' Reward, and continues to flirt with William quite openly.

Brand:
Though she is living part-time at the Wolves' Reward, Saia Borath has begun a job in Sharn. She doesn't talk to Brand much about it, and he fears she's fallen in with House Tarkanan.

The Trial of Aeromus d'Orien and Traega d'Orien took the better part of the month, and Brand was in Passage for most of that time. The other Wolves, especially Pel and Lysander, made several appearances in Passage to provide information that could be useful. In particular, Pel was contacted by a former acquaintance and current asset of the King's Dark Lanterns (which only Pel and Lysander know), Delano d'Orien, who works in the smuggling arm of the House and had considerable dirt on Aeromus's behavior.

It is clear to the jury that Traega's crimes were exaggerated at best, fabricated at worst, and it is determined that his years of exile have served as an effective punishment for any transgressions that may or may not have existed. House Orien also believes that it can make use of the Xen'drik operations he has set up, and they have reached out to House Tharashk, House Vadalis, House Jorasco and House Ghallanda to expand "The Native" into more of a permanent base of operations for House operations in Xen'drik, as well as being a resource for adventurers. Traega will be returning to Xen'drik to head up the operation, although he'll be reporting back in to House Orien officially from time to time. Baron Kwanti d'Orien himself will be coming to Passage to reinstate Traega in this position in the House and offer an informal apology for his treatment over the years.

Unfortunately, most of Aeromus's misdeeds relating to Traega are based on testimony from parties with an interest one way or the other, and so no determination is made as to his guilt there.

As for Aeromus's sale of the map to House Tharashk, and further crimes involving smuggling, much of the proceedings take place behind closed doors, and not even Pel or Lysander are able to get a full picture of what's going on. It's clear that some, if not all, of his smuggling operations have the tacit approval of powerful allies in the House. The map, being a move against the House, is a more serious crime, but Aeromus's nephew Breyten d'Orien claimed to have been operating on his own, and didn't crack even under interrogation by trained House Medani operatives. Although that interrogation was interrupted...

During the trial, there were three assassination attempts. One was a poisoning on Traega, which might have worked except that the House Medani security for the trial detected it before it got to him. Another was a witness, a drow smuggler from Xen'drik, who went mad halfway through his testimony and attacked Brand with a concealed knife, unsuccessfully. The third was actually successful, as Breyten d'Orien was poisoned in his cell before House Medani inquisitives could finish interrogating him.

The lead House Medani investigator, Trixn d'Medani, believes that this is the work of a team of highly-trained assassins. The hallmarks point to House Thuranni or House Tarkannan, but she hasn't ruled out talented independents.

Aeromus is the lead suspect in all of this business, although nothing can be tied to him. The unsatisfying result of the trial is that while he has been reduced in stature, ultimately he is free to go, as far as House Orien is concerned. However, pressure from House Medani to catch these assassins has led them to okay his transfer to the Tower of Inquisition in Wroat for a period no longer than two weeks so that House Medani interrogators can find out exactly what he knows.

Two days ago, Aeromus spoke to Brand with an unusual request: He wants him to work security on his train ride to Wroat. He can't trust his regular security or anyone he knows, and he knows he's being targeted by the assassins too. If Brand agrees to work security, Aeromus will reveal what he knows about them once he gets to the safety of Medani's tower, but not before. If he doesn't, Aeromus promises he will flee, and he will get away. He doesn't want to, he wants to retain his presence in the house, but he'll run before he lets himself be killed. Aeromus seems legitimately scared, although Lysander reminds Brand that Aeromus is one of the most talented liars he's ever met.