The Year of Doubt comes to its end. Courtiers, nobles, and guild officials consider the year's events:
King Thalaman's ability to credibly govern has been cast in serious doubt among the elite. The King appears more interested in luxury and leisure than he is in governing the city. At the same time, the thriftless King's spending on lavish parties has gained him considerable popularity among the commonfolk.
The King's formerly favored consort, Lillian Aster, has been cast aside for other prettier noblewomen. Incidentally, the King's position regarding High Hold has become more aggressive, and he now talks of restoring Peltarch's lost territories.
Excepting all matters that might affect war or the King's leisurely parties, the King simply adheres to whatever the Royal Council recommends. The King's complacence has let the Royal Council become the nexus of life at City Hall, and the entity at which most final decisions are made.
Karg Hooktusk, former Royal Counsellor and Black Sails, has been missing and no one is looking for him.
Deacon Sterr has returned, to lead the Black Sails and to take Hooktusk's place on the Royal Council.
The King received a gift from Lucy Rhodes, a divination shard which revealed Reyhenna Jorino defrauded her way into the royal family by masquerading as Princess Elizabeth Fisher. The Princess is real, but Jorino is not her. This was confirmed by Siamorphan High Priestess Temperance of Gulderhorn. The real Princess' location is anyone's guess. The King subsequently exiled Jorino from the royal family.
Adrian Fisher, son to Damian Fisher, and brother to Elizabeth Fisher, disagrees with the King's exile of Reyhenna Jorino. This has caused a rift between two royal factions: on the one hand, King Thalaman and his brother Kasimir Fisher, who exiled Reyhenna or agree with the exile. On the other hand, Adrian Fisher and former Queen Martha Fisher, who disagree.
Adventurers have slain Lucy Rhodes. Rhodes was the leader of the Nars bandits and mercenaries exacting tolls, pillaging small towns, and enslaving villagers. She was slain by an adventuring raid. The majority of Rhodes' forces are either dead or gone. Remaining bandits have been scattered.
Arch Weyland died in the raid against Lucy Rhodes. What this means for the Autonomists and for Berlinne Toews is for now unclear.
Leslie Fim, allegedly the true force behind the Nars bandits and their re-organization, is nowhere to be found.
Thus ends the Year of Doubt. Only time will tell what awaits Peltarch in the next.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]