Sabotaging the Queen's Suitor

major Active Sessions 18–19

Political sabotage, the costs of serving power, manipulation and reputation warfare

story arc

Description

Lady Aurelia assigns the Heroes a personal mission: ensure Elijah Ferdenstar does not win the Queen's hand in marriage. The mining-region nobleman has Lady Ruben's fingerprints all over him, and his growing closeness to the Queen threatens Aurelia's plans to see her son Aiden on the throne. Any method will suffice—spread rumors through brothels about inappropriate proclivities, plant salacious materials in his tent for the Queen to discover, defeat him spectacularly in tournament combat, or even have Caelum shapeshift into his form and sabotage the relationship directly. The Heroes plot elaborate schemes involving orcish literature, strategic losses, and calculated humiliation, all while navigating the question of how far they're willing to go to serve the Lady of Whispers' dynastic ambitions. Session 18 update: The Heroes execute their sabotage mission with spectacular success, humiliating Elijah Ferdenstar in the tournament's first round. Vixia's rats gnaw his armor to the breaking point while Daria uses cunning deception to ward his opponent Celeste Gildon. When Elijah's equipment falls apart mid-combat and he loses to the tournament's weakest fighter, the crowd—especially the peasantry—roars with mockery. Though the Queen still gives him a coquettish wave, the damage to his reputation is profound. Four of five successes achieved, with one more needed to fully sabotage his courtship prospects.

Timeline

Session 18 "The truth about who killed his family breaks something inside Caelum—and his friends must decide whether to save him from himself."

The Lady's Commands

Lady Aurelia briefs the Heroes on the mission, emphasizing that Elijah must be made undesirable to the Queen by any means necessary.

Schemes and Celebrations

The group brainstorms sabotage tactics outside Aurelia's chambers, developing schemes ranging from rumor-spreading to Caelum impersonating Elijah for a disastrous conversation with the Queen.

Session 19 "In the space between a prince's kiss and a shadow's claim, happiness proves the cruelest currency."

The Games Begin

The Heroes coordinate their sabotage efforts. Vixia attempts to manipulate bookies (unsuccessfully) but successfully sends her rats to gnaw Elijah's armor seams. The party debates whether to alter tournament brackets before deciding the existing matchup serves their purposes. Preparation phase establishes the multi-layered approach to ruining Ferdenstar's prospects.

A Champion Humbled

The sabotage culminates in spectacular humiliation. Daria's Warden Bond bolsters Celeste Gildon while Vixia's rat-gnawed armor falls apart mid-combat. Elijah loses to the tournament's weakest fighter in front of the entire court. The peasantry boos him mercilessly, though the Queen's coquettish wave suggests his courtship isn't completely dead yet. Major victory for the Heroes' mission, with four of five required successes achieved.