Session 20 (1,600 xp)

Heroes: Signar, Vladimir, Malik, Machteld, Niobhe, Trevan.

Year 641 - Summer

The Heroes attend the yearly council of jarls. Lady Briende brings news from the Empire: the duchies of Alamie and Tuornen are in open rebellion, due to the imprisonment of Lord Thalion, and the strict edicts of the Emperor. She also brings an official letter from the Emperor to Lord Nathanael and Regall.

The first, must return to Anuire to make amends for is father betrayal, and swear fealty as the new duke of Alamie. The second, must with all haste attack the Gorgon, and bring the awnshegh head to the Emperor.

A Silver Knight of Tuornen is also at court, begging Lord Regall and Lord Nathanael to ignore the Emperor's commands, and to return to Anuire to lead the rebellion. The two great lords have much pondering to do.

The jarls raise the issue of Hrothwulf's heir: with Sigurd gone for so long, they urge the king to name a new heir. Several solutions are advanced, like an election among the jarls, a naming of Signar (bastard son of Hrothwulf, recently legitimized), or a naming of Princess Rowena. The king remains stubborn, sure that Sigurd will soon return.

The jarls also push for a quick resolution of the war effort in the Blood Skull barony, and King Hrothwulf commands the Heroes to bring him the head of the Scarlet Baron by the next council.

As the council comes to end, Malik has an altercation with Lord Coradan than ends in a duel at first blood. Tensions rise high, and surely more blood is soon to be spilled.

The Heroes return to the front, invading Vrallik, where they face the gnoll priest Shakka and his screaming hordes of gnolls and orogs. But the Heroes' armies are now veterans of many battles, and the very presence of their leaders earn them a crushing victory. They manage to capture Shakka, before retreating to Shir'kh'an to give a little rest to their troops.