King Irovetti had done everything in his power to goad Darius into assaulting Pitax. Right down to sending Duke Stefano to demand an insulting surrender. But Darius had no intention of responding on Irovetti’s terms. He would fight Irovetti in the same way he had been attacked – using words and influence to corner his adversary before closing in to finish the job. Irovetti had made many enemies in his path to the crown. And he had not covered his tracks nearly as well as he thought…
First, Darius contacted Gasperre Liacenza – one of the representatives of Pitax’s old merchant nobility. Gasperre was willing to turn against Irovetti, but he did not believe many of the other houses would be willing to join him. Irovetti had kept them in line for years by leveraging kidnapped hostages. But when Darius showed him the signet ring from the Abbey, and informed him of the bodies in the cistern, Gasperre was incensed! This would certainly break Irovetti’s hold over them. They would want revenge!
Next, Darius spoke with Irsei Caylesse – the Commander of the Pitaxian city guard. Irsei was known to be an honorable man who considered his loyalty to be to the City rather than the Crown. He was loath to turn against his rightful lord, but when Darius showed him evidence that Irovetti himself was intimately connected with the Thieve’s Guild and the Drug Trade that Irsei had been fighting… that was enough to turn him.
Soon Darius had also turned the Thieve’s Guild , the Bard Academy, the remnants of the River Razor bandits, and the Temple Guard. Irovetti’s habit of double-crossing his “allies” and playing them against each other was coming home to roost.
When Darius finally presented himself to Irovetti and his honor guard in front of the palace, Irovetti sneered. “Finally come to relinquish your crown?” “No”, replied Darius. “I’ve come for yours”. “Just you and your small band?”, asked Irovetti. “With what Army?” ‘Yours”, replied Darius – as the various factions he had recruited abandoned Irovetti and sided with Darius.
Irovetti cursed and fled to the palace, as his soldiers engaged with Darius’ forces.
The palace guard still supported Irovetti, and some of the Army. But that was not enough to hold off the other factions in the city. Before long the battle was won, and the remainder of the royal guards surrendered.
While the Pitaxian rebels secured the city, it would be up to Darius and his band to assault the Palace itself, eliminate Irovetti’s remaining supporters, and then confront the King himself.
Irrovetti had many strong forces gathered in the palace. Avinash Jurrg the Ogre Mage and his elite Troll warriors.
Gaetane the Were-rat Ranger and his assassin corps.
Alasen the were-tiger and her tiger irregulars.
The enigmatic Gedovious the Torturer – the twisted gargoyle to whom Irovetti gave his rivals and enemies as “gifts”.
The mad sorcerer ghost Raeford Vallersteil. The original designer of the Pitax palace, sealed in the basement to die with his secrets. And no longer remotely sane as a consequence. He spilled a few secrets out of spite, and then attempted to “recruit” Darius as a minion…
The gnomish Zottenropple brothers. Wizards come to loot the palace as Irovetti lost his control – who decided to double dip and take a chance on Irovetti paying a bounty…
Golden Golems guarding Irovetti’s inner sanctum.
And, of course, Irovetti himself.
Irovetti was initially arrogant and defiant – trusting in his power and his elite guard to win the day. But he soon found that Darius could match any arcane tricks he attempted.
And Darius’ companions were more than a match for the Pitaxian special forces.
When Irovetti appeared to be down, he called in his final trump – the naga-demon Engeldis, whom he had long ago ensnared.
Engeldis was large and powerful, but at this point, so were Darius and his companions. And in the end, she too was overwhelmed.
Irovetti laughed ruefully as he saw his defeat was imminent. “You are every bit as much the pawn of the Green Lady as I was Darius. You too shall be used and cast aside. But take this – maybe you can turn the tables on her where I could not“. With that, he tossed the wand Briar to Darius and then poisoned himself before they could stop him. Thus ending the reign of Irovetti of Pitax.
It took some time for Darius to consolidate power in Pitax. He allowed Gasperre to serve as governor, kept on the temple and city guards, installed a new headmaster in the Bard School, and put the head of the Thieve’s Guild to the sword. Pitax may inherently lean towards shady merchant princes, but the outright slave and drug trade was now over.
As Darius returned to Tuskdale, he had trouble focusing entirely on the political consolidation at hand. The River Kingdoms were entirely his now. But Nyrissa and the Fey still lurked in the First World. And his Kingdom would never be safe until that threat had been neutralized.
Author’s Notes:
And the twisted wretch goes down! Irovetti really works hard to make you hate him on a personal level – messing with relationships and villages you’ve spent the entire game carefully nurturing. Really adds oomph to finally taking him down. And yet even here he’s not the top of the chain. Nyrissa and the Lantern King await.
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