Three-Edged Sword, Day 3

[l33tminion]

Fear

Conrad wakes the morning of the third day feeling that something horrible will happen. Since he hasn't gotten anyone to agree that Dorothea is bad, he feels he needs to stop her ritual in some other way. He talks to Esperanza, Lady Claudia, and Mother Gerra, trying to convince them to stop the ritual, and they agree that the ritual may have unknown consequences. Esperanza is obtaining promises of sacrifices in the name of peace, and needs a sufficient number of them to complete the ritual. Conrad seeks to stop her from obtaining the promises. He confronts her, trying to convince her that her ritual may cause problems.

The Sword of Justinian

Mother Gerra is also holding the Sword of Justinian, a dangerous holy relic. All that see it want it, and all that have it cannot control their desire to attack all that they feel have done them an injustice. The Duke of Anwall (also the heir of Moretha, the split duchy, and descendant of Justinian). In the process, the Mother is compelled to take the sword, then Timmaso is compelled to take it, and then it drives him to attack Otello. Otello and Timmaso fight until Timmaso is knocked out by Ricardo, the soldier, and then Otello takes and sheathes the sword. Otello then feels compelled to serve justice, but is convinced to do so in ways that don't kill anyone, despite the sword's influence.

The Innkeeper

Timmaso, lying wounded after his encounter with the sword, tells Conrad that the sword made him want revenge. He lets slip that he actually killed Morilla, his sister and the innkeepers wife. All his penance was merely a desire to lift his curse so he could get close enough to Bertrand to get his revenge. Conrad is upset to find out that his guardian is a murderer (and Dorothea is upset to hear the truth behind Morilla's death). Apparently, the night he was kicked out of his home, Gregor (Timmaso) wanted revenge against Bertrand and planned to murder him. Morilla was accidentally killed in the struggle. Because Morilla wore the Necklace of Amberdine (a holy item that has been passed on to her daughter), Amberdine cursed Gregor to not be near Bertrand. However, after realizing that peaceful deeds lessened the effect (radius) of the curse, Timmaso (Gregor) has been doing good deeds in order to get close enough to achieve his revenge. Conrad tells Timmaso that perhaps they would be best starting a new life elsewhere, and Timmaso agrees, deciding that this is no longer his home. He gives up his plans for revenge. Conrad tells Bertrand that some things cannot be atoned for, and that he and Timmaso plan to leave and start a new life elsewhere. Bertrand tells Conrad that it was good to meet him, and to take good care of his brother-in-law. Conrad tells Timmaso that he thinks Bertrand has forgiven him.

A Choice

At this point Conrad is supremely conflicted. He views the flute as trustworthy and deceptive, friendly and dangerous. He views Timmaso with love, but is repelled by the knowledge of his past deeds. He loves Otello, too, but feels he doesn't understand Otello anymore. He views Dorothea as kind, gentle, friendly, and evil. He views her ritual as evil, well intended, and potentially harmful (both with and without the influence of the flute). When Conrad tells Otello his plan to leave with Timmaso as soon as they can depart, Otello wants the matter of the flute to be settled. Otello initially wants Conrad to stay with the Amberdines, but Conrad is still determined to stay with Timmaso, despite what he knows. In an effort of supreme will, Conrad attemps to break the flute. When that fails, he, prompted by Otello, hands the flute over to Mother Gerra. He is then compelled to try to get it back, but too traumatized to make a concerted effort. Dorothea tells Conrad a secret, that her ritual will require her death. Conrad feels desparately alone, but Timmaso is with him and he knows he is not alone. He wants to be rid of the flute for good, but desperately wants it back. Conrad feels shocked and weak, and Timmaso is able to keep him from trying to get the flute back.

More Politics

The Duke of Anwall secedes from the Kingdom and the Empire and joins the freedom fighters, appointing two of them (recently married for the political purpose) as his heirs. The General attemps to attack the Duke, declaring him to be a traitor, but the freedom fighters defend the Duke quite easily. The General, once he regains consciousness, declares war. Even though the Freedom Front announces declarations of peace with both the Kingdom and the Empire, and Moretha is finally united again, the civil war continues and Moretha is still contested.

A Promise

Conrad tells Dorothea that he still has misgivings about the ritual. Dorothea again asks Conrad to make a promise, a sacrifice, to help with her ritual. Conrad asks if she thinks it is truly the best thing. She says yes, and Conrad trusts her (he is free from the flute's other compulsions). He says, "I promise, in the name of peace, to never be bound by indecision". The necklace compels him to follow through with the sacrifice. Conrad no longer has the easy way out of indecision and following existing loyalties or using confusion as an excuse to not act. Doing this frees Conrad from his torn loyalties between the flute and Timmaso. He is now able to make his choice, and wholeheartedly give up the flute. Dorothea attemps to finish the ritual, but is unable to gather enough promises to finish it.

Conrad now gets the chance at a normal childhood, a new life with Timmaso (even though the presence of the sword likely means that he will not be able to see Otello again). Although he is not entirely free of magical compulsion, he is now only required to not be indecisive. Dorothea's ritual is never performed. The war continues, but there is hope of change.

My character was a fun one to play, and it was a pretty emotionally intense role, so the game was a lot of fun.