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She drinks the ale. The punches Umberto. Again. On the same spot. It hurts like hell.
"What? you gonna stay there and bore me some more with 'alliances' and other nonsense? Sit your shanks down Caydenite! let's arm wrestle and see what you've got in those flabby arm-wings!"
Umberto thinks about moving on but he's not one to back down. Alright, finesse fighter. Show me what you're made of.
"Wha??? FINESSE fighter???? oh, you're gonna hurt tomorrow!" says the Ulfen Guard, sitting at the nearest table and slapping her callused hand into Umberto's... less callused hand! :)
PLUS SOMETHING!!!
Inka wins, but Umberto gives her some serious resistance!
"I'm impressed softerner! get it? southerner? softerner? ha ha ha! you held your own pretty good!"
Upon hearing the Ulfen warrior laugh, Princess Eutropia looks over your way, seeing the gathering around your table.
"I'll be damned!" says Inka, "Could it be that the Princess is NOT immune to some... fun? hmm... I've seen everything!"
"You may be right... the young Princess needs experienced people around her, and for every stalwart not volunteering under a service, one hundred scoundrels will..." says Inka, raising her tankard in the Princess' way. The Princess, noticing the act, nods at her, a look of surprise on her face.
[Princess Friendly]
Yuukyou:
Solmon takes the 20 gold pieces and leans towards you and for several minutes, reveals Remaio’s long history of taking bribes, and notes that Remaio funded your quests with ill-gotten gold. Solmon wryly admits he sympathizes— the Taldan government is dysfunctional, and Remaio is barely given one month’s pay for six months of work.
"I admit that I'll accept coin for information, occasionally, but unlike Remaio, I don’t accept the tainted coin of people who engage in unsavory practices. I provide information to generous and upstanding people as a way of showing my gratitude" finishes Solmon, shaking Yuukyou's hand solemnly.
Yuukyou sees a stack of letter sticking out of Solmon's pocket.
Trumpets announce the beginning of the proceeding, and the crowd goes silent as they reach their seats. As Princess Eutropia calls court to session, she has a surprise in store. After allowing Remaio to make a flowery preamble and confirming with Remaio that the heroes retrieved most of the proof, she asks you to present it instead of Remaio.
"Dear Members of the Senate, Father Basri, Harbormaster Hallador, Fellow Nobles, Members of the Court, Master Rell, and esteemed guests. We are honored to receive members of the Pathfinder Society today. We will be hearing a firsthand account from these skilled envoys of Absalom on the matter of an application by Remaio Alcasti to re-institute his family name into Taldan peerage," Princess Eutropia says, nodding solemnly at Ren, Umberto, Bielsi and Yuukyou. The pause sends a few nobles whispering in each others' ears, and all eyes are on you for a few long seconds. Continuing, she declares, "It is my understanding that the Pathfinder agents are impartial in these matters and that they do not stand to gain anything from the outcome of these proceedings. It is with great pleasure and interest that I welcome Master Yuukyou to the Court of Taldor to speak as an expert witness in these matters."
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Yuukyou steps up and takes a bow.
Thank you so much your highness.
He coughs and straightens his scarves, wishing he had properly prepared a speech.
Explore. Report. Cooperate. These are the foundations of the pathfinder association. The cataloguing and free exchange of information is essential to the mission of the pathfinder society. We have been retained to investigate the historical truth of one Honaria Alcasti, with the understanding that our results would be impartial and we would report what we found, for good or for ill of Honaria's reputation.
He smiles and gives a expansive gesture.
However, I must say that it is always good to find out that there more decent people in this world than you expect, and I'm happy to say that our investigation shows that Honaria Alcasti was one of them.
He motions towards some of the recovered relics.
First, we have testimony from none other than a living tree who met Honaria herself! For obvious reasons, we only have transcripts of what he told us about her, but these are available for your perusal at your leisure. He claimed that Honaria never abandoned her duties, and that she even hunted down the enemies of Taldor above and beyond the call of duty! As evidence for her Heroism, the tree presented us with several split helms and broken swords, each bearing the fox insignia of the traitors of ancient Taldor.
He motions again to the bronze bust.
Here, we have a bronze bust, commemorating her great service to Aroden and being conferred the knightly honors she deserved for her great deeds. Not only is it a rather stunning piece, but shows the high regard she was held in by the church and people at the time, and even for one so young!
He then bows his head and gives a audible sigh, prepping the audience for the next part of the story.
However, if this was a happy story we would not be here would we? Honaria fought and fought, but found herself on the loosing end of a devastating war. Records recovered from a historian show that she requested, repeatedly, for supplies necessary to fulfill her duty to crown and country. Sadly, she was rebuffed and forced into a unsustainable situation. Despite this, her honor never wavered, and while she questioned the tactical decisions made, her devotion to the crown was never in contest.
He waves towards the recovered medals.
As proof of this, we bring the distinguished medals of service that Honaria collected throughout her time. Through a spot of luck, we are even able to absolve Honaria of a nasty rumor that she had struck down a political enemy. Testimony from a clockwork familiar that was recovered at the scene confirms that Honaria not only had no knowledge of the heinous act, but in fact was not even alive at the time the plan was put into motion.
Yuukyou coughs, knowing the speech is getting long but not wanting to miss anything.
Now, at this point I completely understand if I have not 100% convinced you of our findings. After all, what are dusty books and busts and broken swords? But, we have a most pleasant personage to introduce you to this day. A sword not only whole in body, but in mind! Honaria's trusted companion and sword of honor, Soldier's Glory!
Yuukyou motions for Soldier's Glory to be brought up and presented.
Soldier's Glory, unlike the tree and the clockwork familiar, is able to be here today to tell you all the true circumstances of those days all those years ago. His testimony is backed and supported by our research, and I hope you will all give him as much attention as you have granted me.
Yuukyou softly bows out to let both Soldier's Glory, and any pathfinders who wished to follow, the chance to speak.
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Bielsi is not one to show his emotions in normal circumstances, and his sense of propriety prevents applauding for something he's been a part of, but the urge to clap his hands at Yuukyou's speech is almost undeniable.
He has a very proud expression on his face.
"Even those wronged collaterally by what was done to her good name after her death believe Honaria was a just and true person," he chimes in.
"The Cenabri name was injured as well, and deserves to be absolved as much," he continues, both honoring his word to Theon and following his own need to honor the dead.
When Soldier's Glory addresses the crowd, there is an audible gasp on the Senate floor. All eyes and ears are upon the blade as she recounts her years with Honaria. You see several men and women shed a tear or two when Glory recounts the last hours of Honaria's life, the blade at her side trying to comfort her as she passed into the Great Beyond...
When yielded the floor, Theon Cenabri makes an emotional and thankful speech for the Pathfinder Society's efforts in this case, one, he says, that will reverberate for generations in the estates of House Cenabri.
Soon after Umberto's and Bielsi's supporting comments, Lady Gloriana Morilla, Father Basri and Inka Heldotor add their words of support towards the Pathfinders' efforts and recognize them as qualified experts in this matter. Even Solmon Menander adds a few words of support, citing these proceedings as a glorious example on how justice should be done, with qualified and impartial experts stating the facts and collecting evidence properly, unfettered by personal interests.
The Princess retires to her antechamber for deliberations with her barristers.
The party continues for approximately one more hour, after which the trumpets begin their telltale blaring once more. The Princess enters the room in her full regalia, a gleaming sword in hand that puts to shame anything you've ever seen in your life.
She speaks. "Master Yuukyou, please step forward with your fellow agents. Bielsi of Erekrus; Eurus of Clan Frostwind; Kim, Warpriestess of Iomedae; Ren Fireblessed; Umberto Ricci; and of course, you as well, Master Yuukyou: in recognition of your services to Taldor, you are now made full citizens of Taldor. As subjects of the Primogen Crown, I now command you to step forward and kneel."
She takes a few steps into the room towards the Pathfinders, and addresses the crowd. "After weighing the evidence and testimony brought before Senate, I have decided to redeem the Alcasti name and restore the status of Honaria's descendants in Taldan society."
She takes a few steps down towards the heroes. Starting with Yuukyou, the monarch lays the side of the sword's blade onto his right shoulder, then raises the sword gently just up over the his head and places it on his left shoulder. "After your considerable assistance, House Alcasti, House Cenabri and countless others both in Taldor and abroad are now in your debt. Rise now, as Sir Yuukyou, Knight of Taldor." She repeats the ceremony for each hero. After the ceremony, a herald announces the heroes once more, loud and clear this time, to the crowd!
"Three cheers for the six new Knights of Taldor!
Sir Yuukyou of Taldor!
Sir Bielsi of Taldor!
Dame Eurus Frostwind of Taldor!
Dame Kim of Taldor!
Sir Ren Fireblessed of Taldor!
Sir Umberto Ricci of Taldor!"
