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Baron Hiram Kell, his rakish figure augmented by a dashing grin, poses heroically with his hand on his rapier hilt. He scans the room, nods to himself and begins to hum an old Taldan marching song as he waits for the others to arrive.
He's a rather short man, slight of build with a little middle-aged spread pushing out his silken shirt around the midsection. His hair is brown with a few silvers beginning to show and if there's a bald spot beginning at the crown of his head, at least he's not bothering to comb hair over it. His voice, however, is a clear baritone and sounds pleasant to the ear.
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The door knob turns and then opens to reveal a.....man? This humanoid figure has the standard basics and shape of a human, though the proportions are slightly off from that of a human. It stands around 6'3" with, what appears to be dark stone for skin which occasionally chips off as it moves. These features would lead one to assume that this is an Oread due to the stoney skin and reflective sheen that makes its appearance. However, all specific proportions as mentioned previously do not lean toward Oread but more demonic in nature. This creature wears a cloth that wraps loosely around its body and covers a large majority of the torso region and nothing else. It also wears some sandals, a familiar amulet, a standard cloak, and a belt that constricts the cloth at the waist.
Noticing Hiram, he walks toward him and gives a nod, little bits of stone crumbling away, "I am Obsidian."
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The Demi-Baron of Breezy Stream, the man who infamously got one over on Grand Prince Stavian and was awarded a Barony for his services to the crown. The only trouble: his entire endowment is a simple Pig Sty. Thus, you know Archibald Peck, the undisputed leader of this band of pigs, the famous Pig Baron.
He wears a red cloth smoking jacket and holds a corn cob pipe tucked in his pocket, his dark short cropped hair greased down. He speaks with a clear tenor timbre with a short sword at his side and shield bearing a lion's face.
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"Hi all. Nice to meet cha!"
Tytus Umbraleyes is a stocky young man of clearly dwarven blood, about 4`8`` with maybe 240 pounds. His heritage is obvious, as he has blackest orbs for eyes, a long tail and maw to make a shark proud. He dresses usually in brown leather pants and coat with an embroyeded red and black vest. If on a mission he wears a mithral breastplate of best dwarven craftmanship dyed in gray and gold, embossened with the hammer of Torag on his shoulders.
His belt of woven steelwire has the dwarven rune of strength engraved on his mithral buckle. On his left hip is a strange looking gun and on his right a block of adamantine carved into a angry dwarven head on a long chain. Two crossed bandoleers holds a few potions a mutagen and extracts.
Tytus vanity are cigars, whenever possible he lights one and gently savors it.
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The adventure begins in the Taldan capital city of Oppara, where you have recently arrived at Venture-Captain Muesello’s lodge. The lodge has the appearance of a simple bait and tackle shop, and Muesello has one of his assistants handling the front counter — the store remains open due to the increased profits from the festivities surrounding the Grand Day of Exaltation. Muesello and you convene in a room that’s half meeting room and half tackle storage in the rear of the building.
Venture-Captain Muesello straddles a turned-around wooden chair, resting his arms atop the back. He looks around with a wide smile on his face, nodding with satisfaction at the group assembled before him.
"Good, good. You all made it through the crowds gathered for the Grand Day of Exaltation. Be sure to keep a hand on your coin purses during these festivities; there’s an abundance of pickpockets out there. All the big nobility is at the senate building, including our own Lady Morilla. That’s where the exaltation ceremony is set to take place: the grand prince is going to elevate a commoner into the ranks of the nobility. It’s all real charming, not to mention a great boon for business. Heck, that’s why I’m keeping the shop open even while we meet!"
Muesello lets out a raucous laugh before continuing. "All right, while all the nobles are enjoying their fancy party, it’s up to you to do some important work for Lady Morilla. The Society’s recent accomplishments in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings have gained us support from a member of the Ulfen Guard: a man by the name of Bjarte Trolltooth. Now, it seems that Bjarte wanted to talk to the Society abo—"
Muesello’s overview is suddenly interrupted by the forceful slamming of the tackle shop’s front door. A bellowing string of foreign words resonates through the shop, followed by tramping footsteps.
Muesello begins to stand when he hears the shopkeeper utter warnings to the unseen visitor about the back room being off-limits.
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Just moments before the tackle shop's door opens with a slam, a tall, slender elven woman opens the door to the back room and practically slinks in. The platinum-blond elf is achingly beautiful, with delicate frame and features, a small, straight nose and smooth porcelain skin. Her silken hair cascades over her shoulders like a cloak to end just above her buttocks. Attired in a green underbust corset and blouse, and a matching long-slit skirt, her long, elegant fingers are left exposed in a pair of elbow-length black fingerless opera gloves. An intricate choker rests at her throat, silver chains holding in place a gold frame inset with a large emerald; additional silver chains drape across her bare neck; dangling among the chains is a small gold disc etched with the elven rune for the first two letters of her given name, and a slender silver chain dangles from that disc into her cleavage.
A sword rests on her hip and she carries a staff in hand, but her attire, the way her deep emerald eyes twinkle with amusement, and the way her full, slightly pouting lips are quick to part into a disarming smile full of unspoken promises make it obvious that neither are her real weapons.
"Seems I'm a tad late," the elf notes aloud, her voice melodic and velvety.
"Have we started the introductions yet? I'm Ansha, and I am sure it will be a pleasure to make your acquaint--" she purrs. Just then, the front door to the tackle shop slams open, and the elf startles, breaking off her sentence and turning to glance over her shoulder at the closed door to the back room.
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Archibald smiles warmly when he realizes the setting of the briefing is a bait and tackle shop. No better place to spin yarns about all the unbelievablr things that happen here in Taldor no doubt the man shows up wearing his dancing shoes and he is instantly glad after having to navigate the massive crowds. This Exaltation festival was so lively. It was a pity he would have to spend the day Pathfindering instead of dancing with all the pretty girls.
Ah yes, I think I passed on the call to go look into Clan Trolltooths troubles....I hope the good Ulfen Guard has good news for us... the Pig Baron is quickly cut off by the sounds of drunken skald yelling and frowns. Why every time.
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Suddenly, the door to the back room swings open, knocked partially off its hinges by the force of the slam. A bear of an Ulfen man stands in the open doorway, silhouetted by the sunshine from the storefront. A greataxe is strapped along his back, and animal furs cover a set of tanned hide armor. He looks around the back room, a sense of barely restrained fury in his eyes.
"Where is the fancy woman who calls herself Morilla? I, Bjarte Trolltooth of the Ulfen Guard, made an oath to her, and now I uphold that vow. By the gods, this is a dark time. The Grand Prince will soon mete out a bloody culling of the senate. I am honor-bound not to interfere, but I can warn those who might be able to stop it."
"Interesting, I was just about to instruct these agents of the Pathfinder Society to go and find you. And here you are. Whatever, go ahead and speak to them, I'll just sit here and listen." Venture Captain Muesello says nervously.
Bjarte does not wait for your answer and instead starts to tell. "Grand Prince Stavian intends to attack the senate during the exaltation ceremony, and he has seeded numerous allies within the gathering to help enact his purge!"
Muesello jumps up from his seat and answers. "What?! We have to prevent Stavian’s planned massacre. What about the Lion Blades? Can they help?"
"Yes, this could be an option. I'm sure I can provide you with an audience to a Lion Blades representative." Bjarte says to you.
Muesello asks you to go with Bjarte and stop Stavian’s plan by any means necessary. "Go with him, he knows what to do. If you have any questions, ask him."
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"He intends to stop his daughter’s attempts to claim the throne. He sees the senate as monstrous and bloated, and he intends to cull the herd. Even if he were right, his methods are madness. He brings in foreigners to kill his citizens and seeks to end his own bloodline to hold onto power. It is... disgraceful." the Ulfen man answers to Tytus' question.
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Archibald looks aghast. That cruelly hilarious man who made Archie's bestowal a pig pen, was no planning a massacre! He really must have been pushed against the wall to be doing something so desperate.
He thinks about the recent rumors he has heard.
It must be related to the vote - this could be complicated especially during such a popular festival! The entire nation might be at risk.
Yes Bjarte - is there anything else we should know? The situation is tense and I would just like to serve my country with pride! He flashes his Lion Blade badge discreetly.
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Ansha purses her lips. "I had wondered why I was hearing about so many foreign dignitaries arriving for this year's ceremony. I can think of a few who may well be part of the team the prince intends to use to purge the Senate. A certain Chelish noblewoman from House Deckland comes to mind."
"Has the prince gone mad, though? The princess wouldn't gain the throne til after he died anyway, would she? What does he gain by ending his own bloodline?"
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The Marquis, a blue man dressed impeccably in the latest Opparan fashion, nods sadly.
"Unfortunately, I have seen it before, over the course of my many incarnations - those with power have a tendency to cling to it, and the more isolated they become, the more paranoid they become, until they lash out at even their closest allies."
He then sighs.
"It would appear that the rot has once again set in..."
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"I’ve pledged myself to the grand prince, but I’m also a man with principles. What Stavian intends to do is vile. It must be stopped, even if the axe that falls is not my own. Many of my fellow Ulfen Guards are opposed to this, but the grand prince has been selective in deciding which of us will join him at the ceremony and which were left behind to defend the palace. Those with him will not take a stand against this madness. I am a killer of warriors. I am not a diplomat or a spy. The Lion Blades know how to walk these paths better than I. We would not make it up the hundred steps to the senate before being stopped. Even witch magic to bring us within the building would only cast us as assassins or traitors. No, the Lion Blades must be convinced of Stavian’s madness." Bjarte answers while leading you from Muesello’s lodge to the Kitharodian Academy.
The Ulfen has enough clout to arrange an audience, though you must endure waiting for about 15 minutes in a reception area as arrangements are made. Following this, several junior students escort you into an underground section of the academy known as the Library of the Lion. The escorts take you into the administrator’s room, where you must wait several minutes more before someone comes to speak with you.
Two rows of tall bookshelves flank the imposing yet beautiful wooden desk that presides over this room. Over the door hangs a portrait of Grand Prince Stavian III wearing an especially smug grin. A brass plaque on the frame of the portrait reads, A cunning lie is never told twice.
After a few minutes of waiting, an older Taldan woman enters the room. She seemingly ignores you as she moves to sit at the chair behind the desk. "Welcome. I heard you have important news. Tell me, now." the woman requests.
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Ansha idly twirls a few strands of her silken blond hair around one elegant finger while the group waits in the administrator's room, her emerald eyes wandering over literally everything--the desk, the walls, the paintings, the fireplace, the drawers of the desk, her companions.... Just as she takes a deep breath to heave a sigh of boredom, the door opens and the elf looks up. Seeing that it is simply an older Taldan woman, she hesitates and remains silent until the woman speaks up.
"Yes, we bear ill tidings. A plot to purge the senate is in motion, one which the Grand Prince himself has instigated. Princess Eutropia herself could be in danger, but certainly many senators and important personages will be," the enchantress chimes in after Tytus speaks. Gesturing to Bjarte, she continues, "We have the testimony of one of the Ulfen Guard to that effect, and no doubt if you look into matters yourself, you will see that what my own sources--and the Ulfen gentleman here--say is, in fact, true."
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Archibald sighs a wistful sigh. This college was actually the location of his very first mission for the Pathfinder Society. In some ways he felt kind of bad. The information he uncovered about arcane Taldane succession rules is probably what led directly to the emboldened Princess Eutropia making her play for the throne. This was also where he first acquired Glorymane - he had originally been a guardian of the Library here. He wondered whether Glorymane had any feelings about this situation.
He owed it to the Lion Blades to help stablize this situation.
Archibald flashes his Lion Blade badge to the woman Lion Blade Baron Archibald Peck reporting - in my capacity with the Pathfinder Society we have been given intelligence from one of the Ulfen Guards, a Patroit whose name I will hold back for now. He plans to cull the Senate of people who plan to vote against him on the issue of suggestion and very likely plans to kill his own daughter. Stavian appears to have slipped into madness and we need to act while their is still a Lion Throne to preserve. To enact a massacre during a popular festival like this could be fatal to Taldor and I do not intend to let Taldor die on our watch, sister.
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The woman listens to you. Once you finished she nods. "My name is Laurisa. The Lion Blades have heard these rumors of foreign interference, but we find it hard to believe such a widespread conspiracy could have gone undetected by our agency. I need tangible proof before I can offer the support of the Lion Blades in stopping Stavian."
She stops for a moment and thinks.
"The Lion Blades have identified that one of Stavian’s closest allies, the nobleman Calhadion Vernisant, has been receiving regular guests at his Opparan villa. The guests are most often not members of the Taldan nobility, and many are foreign dignitaries or local visitors for the Grand Day of Exaltation. I would like you to visit Calhadion’s villa and seek out any trace of illicit or treacherous negotiations with foreign powers — such evidence would be sufficient to bring the Lion Blades into the fray. If you can bring this information back to me, then I can muster a contingent of Lion Blades to help avert Stavian’s plans."
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While you talk to Laurisa, Archibald's Glorymane delights in any intention to work with the Lion Blades. The intelligent shield displays an intense sense of duty. The shield brims with extra magical vitor.
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Earl Calhadion Vernisant maintains a modest villa at the edge of Oppara’s city limits. He frequents this estate when the senate convenes or other matters of state require him to depart Ridonport for the capital. At present, Calhadion is off at the Grand Day of Exaltation festivities, but his personal chamberlain maintains the estate, with the help of several
servants and aides.
As you arrive, one of the halfling servants greets you at the entrance. "Good day! Earl Vernisant is not present today, how can I help you?"
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Archibald inclines his head My fair lady, we are actually agents of the throne here coming to well....your master's service to the Grand Prince lately has been exemplary. We would love to have a look around the place to get an idea of what might make an appropriate token of The Lion Throne's appreciation might be. Would you mind giving us the tour?
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The servant leads you through the courtyard, into the meeting room. Lavish rugs and velvet couches fill this large, square entry chamber. Sturdy oak doors open to the north, and curtains cover adjoining hallways to the east and west that lead off into separate areas of the villa. A central brazier burns with magical fire, filling the room with cheerful light. Two statues of Taldan knights stand in the southern corners of the room.
Ionnia Eckhart, a tall Garundi woman, opens her arms wide to greet you, asking you your business at the Vernisant estate. The servant silently moves out of the room. "Welcome to the Vernisant estate! My master currently attends the Grand Day of Exaltation festivities, but I take your information and book an appointment for you in the coming weeks."