Epilogue from the 5th season of my rolemaster campaign. Setting is Sanctuary Thieves World.
Setting the Scene: There is a great festival taking place in the city to honor the high priestess of Heqt and celebrate the recent opening of the newly completed Temple Of Heqt. Many hundreds of visitors have flocked to the city of Sanctuary to watch or take part in the festival events (Footrace, Horse Race and Gladiator Tournament).
The players consist of:
Blackfang the assassin, Nightshadow the burglar, Kromm the barbarian, Gerhard bounty hunter and Tal'e'alar the half Elven healer.
Main Plot -
An assassins guild has plans to attack the prince governor of the city at the festival. The high priestess of Heqt is the real target for the assassins who have an alliance with a sinister cult called the Bloody Hand. The cult want the high priestess as a sacrifice in a ritual to resurrect their vampire leader.
Sub-plots -
a) The pc burglar is afflicted with a vampire curse (becoming a vampire). The same burglar is being used by the assassins guild as a sleeper agent/spy to further their goals. The burglar is entered in the footrace at the festival.
b) The pc assassin is a member of a rival assassins guild called the League of Shadows who seek to thwart their rivals plans and overthrow its leader (who has sided with the cult). The pc assassins mentor is Deathbringer (see NPC's below)
c) The pc healer is a Paladin in disguise who has a mission to destroy the cults five strongholds, one of which is in the city of Sanctuary. He is being hunted by the cult and was the latest to join the party.
d) The pc barbarian seeks glory in battle and has entered the gladiator combat at the festival. pc barbarian was formerly in the employ of the crimelord Jubal but has since fallen out of his favor and is now his enemy!
e) The pc bounty hunter has been hired to find a rogue magician (who is helping the cult).
NPCs -
NPCs participating in the gladiator tournament - Tempus the Hellhound and Kai-Jin the Warrior Monk.
Jubal the ex-slaver ex-gladiator has been a key protagonist in the story as leader of a thieves guild which 3 pcs belonged to prior to it being attacked by a rival crime lord.
Lythande the Blue Star Magician is an important NPC who is opposed to the cult and was recently rescued by the players from the cultists temple.
Deathbringer the Assassin - leader of the League of Shadows guild and previous member of the Order of the Black Lotus assassins guild (now its rival).
The day of the festival arrives! The storm has passed and the sun is shining. Hundreds of visitors who have flocked to the city of Sanctuary over the week now make their way to take up prime positions along the Avenue of Temples and in Vashanka's Square. Some, more eager than the rest have set up the night before in anticipation of the crowds of people that will line the streets.
After some time to rest and recuperate the priest of Shipri assists Alten Stulwig in caring for the wounded Blue Star Magician, Jinn the monk of Heqt and the hawkmasks Lasselle, Cade and Redbeard. Lythande is worst off having suffered horrific torture at the hands of the Cult of Dyareela. When Lythandes robes are removed bloody wounds can be seen carved into his body which signify the symbol of the Bloody Hand. When Jinn the monk is healed, he makes ready to depart for the Guest Embassy and promises to petition Shareese Terryk the High Priestess of Heqt for support with dealing with the Blood Temple in the Maze. Tal'e'alar the half-Elf also accompanies Jinn on this undertaking.
Along the Avenue of Temples and outside the newly completed Temple of Heqt a gathering of entertainers which include drummers, musicians, jugglers, acrobats and fire breathers take their place at the head of the procession. Molin Torcholder the High Priest of Savankala is there as master of ceremonies. Behind the entertainers are the 24 competitors taking part in Thufir's Footrace. Among the runners are Zeedra the slave girl, Rantu the urchin, Hu-ra Khan warrior monk of Heqt, Nightshadow and the favourite Mulac 'The Panther', a local camel traders son. The runners will complete one lap of Sanctuary, starting and finishing outside the Palace.
Behind the runners are the top 8 combatants fighting in the gladiator tournament. These battle-hardened men are introduced to the crowd by name. The living legend Tempus the Hell-hound, Jago Avisar a fighter from the City of Magic, Nikodemus - one of the Sacred Band of Brothers, Zelik Silvermane the Elven swordmaster, Kai-Jin the legendary warrior monk of Heqt and three gladiators from the capital city of Ranke - Verus the Invincible, Kale the Merciless and Tracer Lionheart.
At the rear of the procession are the horses - some led by their riders and others led by animal handlers or servants. Among the riders are Chakra Munakami, a nomad tribesman from the Grey Wastes, Hanse Shadowspawn, Shurrash Charkuz a Raggah horse whisperer and Arik Khaleed of the House of the Phoenix who is the favourite to win. The riders will complete three laps of Sanctuary.
Much of the talk on the street is about the gladiator tournament, in particular the pairings for the first round. Competitors names were drawn and posted in Vashanka's Square in the morning. Tempus will fight one of the gladiators from Ranke - Verus the Invincible. Kai-Jinn will fight another of the gladiators from Ranke - Tracer Lionheart. Kai-Jinn and Tempus are expected to meet in the final. The combat will be the last event of the day but even now, odds are being offered and money is being wagered on the outcome.
Gerhard the Bounty Hunter and Blackfang the Assassin are there taking in the proceedings and paying particular attention to the surrounding buildings and rooftops - likely positions from where an assassin with a crossbow could strike.
At last Shareese Terryk the High Priestess emerges from the Temple of Heqt. The assembled crowds cheer loudly. The High Priestess is flanked by two bodyguards dressed in ceremonial green and silver armour. One bodyguard is Tal'e'alar the half Elven healer of Heqt and the other is the Heqt monk Jinn, son of Kai-Jinn. Four Hellhounds, led by Zalbar push forward and take up positions around the High Priestess. As additional security city guards line the street facing the crowd scanning for signs of trouble.
Trumpets sound and the High Priestess raises her hand waiting patiently for silence. She is wearing the finest silk robe - gold thread encrusted with emeralds which sparkle in the sunlight. Shareese Terryk removes her hood and the onlookers hush immediately, spell-bound by her stunning beauty.
"Citizens of Sanctuary! Hear me! All of the gods are smiling upon us this day! One of them especially!" She raises her arms skyward and then gestures towards the Temple of Heqt.
"I hereby bless this event in the name of Heqt Goddess of Life and Fertility! Let the festival begin!"
Trumpets sound once more and the crowd erupts into even louder cheers. The drummers start and the procession head off, marching slowly north along the avenue towards Vashanka's Square with onlookers waiving and cheering as they pass by. The first event, Thufir's Foot Race will start within the hour.
Suddenly Zalbar's keen eyes spots something in the crowd. He signals a guard who quickly snatches up a nearby urchin and drags him over to the Captain of the Hell-hounds. Zalbar reaches down and takes something from the urchins grasp. The Hellhound drops the item on the ground and crushes it under his heavy boot.
"My flute!" cries the urchin.
Unrepentant, Zalbar ignores the boy and marches onward towards Vashanka's Square.
