The Spider Wasp Chronicles Chapter 9: A botched execution
It’s a sunny day in Niso. Yesterday the streets yesterday were full of civilians and soldiers running around getting ready for the impending war against the Moon Elves. Today those streets are mostly empty. Everyone has gone to see history in the making at the Black Coliseum.
The stands are packed. It has been centuries since the last gladiatorial battle, but Lord Nobu has not spared a single gold piece in refurbishing the place and getting ready for one the events that will most likely change the world. It is a family event. Men sit with their wives and children, or with their friends. Intelligent entrepreneurs are making a killing selling beer, snacks, and all types of food. There are some tasteless toys being sold out known as the exploding Kereniel — no further description needed.
The platform from Kuma prison begins to rise. It is ahead of schedule, but the Nisonians explode into a thunderous roar. Princess Kereniel appears, and behind her stands Kobo the Halfling. Lord Nobu, standing on a platform, begins his speech immediately.
“My brothers and sisters of Iro. Welcome to the Black Coliseum!”
The crowd roars again. Meanwhile, Anor the paladin watches in silence. 2 days before, while lying in the infirmary in Thamasa a vision of the figure dressed in royal blue garb, the same figure that led him to take the divine vows, appeared again next to a burning tree. Recognizing the tree as the symbol of Niso, he rode to Iro’s capital with all haste and infiltrated the Captain’s guard by downing a polymorph potion. Right now he patrols the stands. If he is surprised to see his companion in the arena, he does not show it. Nor does he show any sign of surprise at the sight of Princess Kereniel, dressed in her royal blue robes.
“We have been living in times of sorrow. We have all suffered with the loss of our brave men in Greenwood forest. We have all lost a little part of ourselves with the destruction of one our most beautiful villages in this glorious country. The pain has been going on too long.
“All that ends today. Today is a historic day. Today we set the record straight and get our own back. Today we hit our enemies where it hurts them the most. Today we get to heal our wounds and return all the suffering we have received. Today we drink the blood of the whore who destroyed Shallowshore. Today we destroy Kereniel!”
Kyle, Oshanda, and Anor once again hear the clamor of Niso’s people from the outside of the Black Coliseum. They have run out of Kuma prison and are running with all speed to the entrance. Hiding under Kyle’s sphere of invisibility, they sneak past the guards at the gates and run to the top of the black building.
“But what’s this? My my if it’s not one of the Madrigal Five. My brothers and sisters, do not be fooled. He may be small but he is just as treacherous as the bitch standing next to him. He is responsible for the death of our brave soldiers in Madrigal and the passing of dozens of people in Stonebridge during the Festival of the Moon. That he should be standing with her now is irrefutable evidence that they have been working together. My brothers and sisters, shall we spare this traitor!?!?”
The crowd’s furious roar leaves little doubt as to their judgment.
From below, Kereniel and Kobo attempt to work out a strategy in low mutters, but not knowing what perils lie ahead of them, they are unsure of what to do. Kereniel addresses Lord Nobu and the people of Niso, claiming that she will not fight, for she has not committed any of the crimes that she is accused of. Lord Nobu’s laugh rises above the crowd’s jeers.
“Ah, a coward’s answer. We expected nothing less from you. But maybe we can change your mind. Remember, Princess, you are not the only one who is wanted. Your band of hooligans, the Phoenix Moonhunters, are also wanted fugitives. And it just so happens that we caught two of them.”
Two gates in the arena slide open and several guards march in dragging two twins, who are made to kneel before the princess, hands behind their backs. Blades are brought to their necks.
“The Phoenix burns to ashes,” they shout.
“Only to rise again,” replies the princess. The blood of the twins soil the yellow sand of the arena. The crowd goes wild.
“My fellow Ironians. The crimes perpetrated by these people are so heinous that they have awakened the ire of the Ancients. Yes, I speak of the four kings of the seas in the Far East.”
Four larger gates slide open. “Representing fire, king of the east — Kuan!” A large red dragon appears, breathing fire into the sky, chained by the neck, with a purple orb on its forehead.
“From the skies, the king of the South — Kin!” A green dragon, bearing a similar purple orb on its forehead, swoops in.
“Representing earth, king of West — Run!” — A spry dragonette, part lion part dragon, leaps in, purple orb and all.
“From the oceans, king of the North — Shun!” A large turtle dragon appears, looking unfriendly. Yup, this one has a purple orb also.
“My brothers and sisters, the good news do not end here. The dragons have agreed to aid us in our fight against the Moon Elves even after taking the pains to execute Kereniel. They will help us lay waste on Sumaeden. Truly we are blessed!”
It’s action time. Anor starts making his way towards Lord Nobu to convince him, one way or another, to call it off. Sul, now standing by the edge of the arena but still enshrouded by Kyle’s invisibility, prepares a spell for his arrow, breaking his magical cover. Down below, Kobo casts a spell on himself and the princess which makes them turn into gas.
The dragons breathe their fiery rage towards their wispy victims, who get fairly lucky with their reflex saves. Sul opens fire on the turtle dragon, aiming for the purple orb, which other than chipping it seems to do little damage. Oshanda supports him by casting her scorching ray on the orb as well, which seems to hurt the dragon, but it’s unclear just how much. Anor goes to Lord Nobu with the pretext of reporting the sudden appearance of the Madrigal Five in the stands, but is told by one of his “fellow” guards that the Nobu on the stage is not the real Lord Nobu. Anor makes a note of where the “fellow guard” disappears to.
Back in the arena, Kobo and Princess Kereniel slip their gaseous selves through a crack in the floor down to Kuma Prison, but not before taking some more damage from the dragons. Up above them, the sudden appearance of three of the Madrigal Five has caused quite a commotion and people are trying to flee the scene. Guards rush at the trio from all sides. It’s time to get out of there. Kyle immobilizes the guards coming from one side with a spell, Oshanda fires her magic on the other, and Sul tries to clear a path in front of them with his arrows.
Meanwhile, Anor has found a secret passage and is trailing the guard. He comes across a room with a view to the arena that had clearly just been used, as shown by the half-drunk goblet of wine. The room is full of pillows in which to sit. After a cursory search, the paladin finds a bloodied handkerchief with a rare pattern on it.
Kobo and Kereniel run down the halls of Kuma prison. They encounter two guards, and it’s a tougher battle than expected, as they are both carrying some wounds. Kereniel resorts to the “Oshanda,” the half-elven’s trademark move where she casts a fireball into a melee hoping that the allies will come out unscathed. It works.
Meanwhile it’s madness in the Black Coliseum. The crowd has turned into a mob as it tries to escape. The threesome hears the Paladin’s voice through an amplifier. Anor tries to calm the crowds by telling them that Princess Kereniel has been executed down below. The crowds rejoice and appear to calm down. Slightly confused, Kyle, Oshanda, and Sul finish up their battle and run out of the Coliseum, but not before tripping a harmless kid who was trying to stop them. Dick move, Kyle.
The entire group meets outside the secret entrance of Kuma prison and find refuge in an empty house. The adventurers take this opportunity to reflect on all that has happened. They surmise that the Spider Wasp must, at the very least, be in kahoots with part of the political class of Niso. They also realize that by going to war with the moon elves the sprites in Sumaeden forest will be left unprotected. Perhaps Kereniel isn’t the ultimate goal, then. Kyle recognizes the handkerchief pattern as coming from a specific village in the southern part of the kingdom. Kereniel also tells the group of Angela, the Dragon Singer, who once had a deep bond with the Four Dragons before they were reportedly killed during the Bear Brothers War many generations ago. So what are these dragons about? Many open questions.
The group hatches an elaborate plan. Kereniel will create a diversion by conspicuously moving in the opposite direction of Sumaeden, with the hope of buying our heroes time to a) find Angela in the city of Riens and get her to help tame the dragons, and b) find out who the owner of the handkerchief is. They are to meet again in Greenwood forest within the week.
After a brief layover in an outpost, the heroes reach the ruined city of Riens on a grey, rainy day. As they cross the city gates they find themselves in a beautiful city with lovely flowers and fair weather. Dire animals seem to be blocking their path. There is not a single soul in sight. Suddenly, in the distance, they see a dragon walk by. There seems to be an arrow of some sort stuck in its hind leg. The adventurers attempt to climb over the buildings to avoid the dire animals and half of them fall through the wall. They (especially Sul) realize that they are probably still in the ruined city of Riens, but that they are under a mass illusion spell of sorts. Without being able to tell reality from vision, the adventurers now have to tread extra carefully as they search for the legendary Dragon Singer.
