Maria intently studies Baron Okerra as he speaks to Zhi. His salt-and-pepper hair is the only suggestion that time may be beginning to slow him down. He still carries himself proudly, his eyes gentle, his smile youthful. He remains muscular and athletic, even if his figure hides under a little bit of extra padding. His booming voice seems more suited to a battlefield than a palace.
Okerra wears a gleaming breastplate, and a gladius sit on his hip. The tiefling notices a well-worn wedding band on his left hand, though the gold has begun to tarnish a bit.
She waves goodbye as Zhi takes her leave and turns to Melodie. "You seem quite tittilated, first time handling something like that?""I've handled a nobleman's wand before Sara, although this is a lovely example." Melodie replies absent-mindedly, before nearly dropping said object as her entire face, and much of her neck flushes a shocking crimson. "No! Not like that! I didn't mean..." She buries her head in her hands, "Why does this always happen in front of people I like?"
Sara bursts into raucous laughter, hand on Melodie's shoulder to keep her balance as she doubles over.
The back of her hand pressed to her forehead, she inhales deeply to try and catch her breath. "I'm sorry, I still need clarification. Have you or haven't you handled a nobleman's wand in the Calistrian sense?" She begins giggling again. "It's no shame if you haven't. I never did."
"Biggest issue with using any sort of magical device like a wand or a scroll; if you don't know what you're doing then it can, quite literally, blow up in your face. Fortunately I learnt that little hazard second-hand."
"I thought making a wand like you was supposed to help it explode. Isn't that the goal?" The woman grins a wide toothy grin and stifles another giggle.
Baron Okerra smiles at Zhi. "I appreciate your honesty. Please, call me Nicolaus." He holds out his hand for her to shake, his grip quite strong.
"Nicolaus," Zhi repeats with a smile as she notes how warm his hand feels. Her face begins to warm in response.
"You're right. I hate stuff like this. I am a man of action--I care little for fine words, although I do like fine wine." He takes a sip of the dark red vintage in his glass. "I would much rather be riding or sparring than here at this fancy gala, but a man of my station must make an appearance at these functions. The people of my barony need to be represented in the senate, even if doing so takes me away from them for a time."
"My Father always told me that the average noble is good for two things, only one of which is a subject for polite company."
Oh Gods! why did I say that?
"What I mean to say is that you're obviously not an average noble."
Ahhh!!!
"No! I mean you're better then average if you see your people as more than just tax-producing cattle."
Zhi begins to actively fan herself.
Why is it so hot in here?
The small woman surreptitiously eyes the man's hands. Seeing the wedding ring on his hand, she changes tactics.
"So is the Baroness Okerra gracing us with her presence tonight?" she asks.
When Zhi returns with the diary, Melodie (who seems to be becoming Zhi's personal loot hauler) leafs through it with interest. "This is great. The story of how Lady Annable becomes a wizard... ooo and she takes over the family business too!" She flicks through the book to the end, before coming across the scrolls in the back. Finding that, at a quick glance, she can't make much of them, she tucks them back into the book and continues on, sticking close to Sara.
"I'm pretty sure that scroll at the back of the book contains magic spells," Zhi says. "When Father tried to teach me some magic, it looked like what was on that scroll."
"I wish we had someone who could tell what it said. At the very least, it should be worth more than a few silvers."
"Ummm..." Melodie seems to be finding this much less funny than Sara. "No... Mother always said that it wasn't a problem as long as I took precautions, since I'm going to be married anyway. My brother introduced me to a few of his friends but they're just so..." Her voice trails off. "Is it strange that when I'm alone with a man it's the pulse in his throat that fascinates me?" She asks, eyes far away and probably unaware that she even asked the question.
"Oh, magic scrolls? I'm not a spellcaster, but I'll have another look later. Maybe I can get Father to glance at them for me." Melodie smiles at Zhi. "So, is the Baron nice?"
Sara leans in conspiratorially. "I can't imagine you're missing much."
Cupping her hand, she fake-whispers into Melodie's ear. "The way I see it, there's a lot more fun to be found in a noble's purse than most wands."
Melodie's face flushes again. "You mean you and Hare never? I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked! It's just that, everyone was saying..." As her embarassment fades Sara sees the young woman looking at her with a new, slightly curious look.
"So... Sara..." Melodie pauses, obviously mustering her courage before the rest of the sentence comes out in a rush. "Whatsitlikehavingfunwithnoblespurses?"
"My Father always told me that the average noble is good for two things, only one of which is a subject for polite company."
Oh Gods! why did I say that?
"What I mean to say is that you're obviously not an average noble."
Ahhh!!!
"No! I mean you're better then average if you see your people as more than just tax-producing cattle."
Zhi begins to actively fan herself.
Why is it so hot in here?
Nicolaus laughs. "Aye, many a baron or a count are content to let those who depend on them go to seed while they indulge themselves in frippery. But a true leader leads by example. I'm not afraid to slay a marauding beast or roll up my sleeves and chip in with the manual labor. 'Tis better to inspire loyalty rather than demand it."
"So is the Baroness Okerra gracing us with her presence tonight?" she asks.
Nicolaus' smile falters. Subconsciously, he twists the ring on his finger. "Alas, my wife is no longer with us. She died a few years ago confronting a troll. I'm afraid it's just me and my daughter, Selli."
Melodie's face flushes again. "You mean you and Hare never? I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked! It's just that, everyone was saying..." As her embarassment fades Sara sees the young woman looking at her with a new, slightly curious look.
Sara blushes deeply. "No, no, I never saw much of him, ever." She fishes her flask out of her purse and finishes it. That's better.
"He would let me know when he needed bodies and I would deliver them, or if I needed cash and I were to, say, stumble across a body while minding my own business, it would find its way to him all on its own. But I did not always deliver to him personally nor did he always pay me in person. While I did the bulk of his work, he had other attendants.
"He claimed it was important that we kept a sort of silent partnership. Occasionally he would ask me to be present during certain business deals or exchanges, but I had little to do with them. I don't remember most of them, to tell you the truth. I mean I remember the ones involving your mother of course, but not really what went down as much as the fact that it happened."
"So... Sara..." Melodie pauses, obviously mustering her courage before the rest of the sentence comes out in a rush. "Whatsitlikehavingfunwithnoblespurses?"
She blinks twice and says "Excuse me one moment," stepping aside to flag down a waiter. When the waiter arrives, she gives two wine glasses to Melodie, one each for the other girls present, takes two for herself, and downs both of them.
Placing the two empties back on the passing tray, she takes one back from Melodie and continues, as if nothing had happened.
"Purses are soft and velveteen. When you touch them, they part pleasingly under your fingers. They're wet and warm, hot even, and sliding a finger inside," she mimes with her own purse, "the noble's whole body sort of grips you. It's addictive."
She takes a sip of her wine. "The wet tastes like sweet staticky copper, and the hair is so comforting locked around your fingers. It's a lot like playing with your own, but better, because you get to feel and see what you do to another person."
She opens her mouth like she is going to continue but stops herself short and stares at the younger woman. "Mel, have you never engaged with your own purse? I would be concerned if so."
"So is the Baroness Okerra gracing us with her presence tonight?" she asks.Nicolaus' smile falters. Subconsciously, he twists the ring on his finger. "Alas, my wife is no longer with us. She died a few years ago confronting a troll. I'm afraid it's just me and my daughter, Selli."
"Oh my, I'm so sorry." Zhi says with apparent sadness.
She's thoughful for just a moment.
"So, you have a daughter. Tell me about her."
The baron's smile returns. "Selli, the light of my life. She's...high-spirited would be a good word. She's only ten and she already wants to be a great hero and warrior like her father, but she still has a lot of learning to do. I've been trying to get her interested in books or a trade but she's already convinced herself that she wants to join the military when she comes of age." He shakes his head. "Honestly, I don't know what I'm going to do with her!"
Melodie listens to Sara's description and ends up blushing, again. "Umm, not really... my friends have talked about it but when I'm by myself I just... don't... feel right about it."
The baron's smile returns. "Selli, the light of my life. She's...high-spirited would be a good word. She's only ten and she already wants to be a great hero and warrior like her father, but she still has a lot of learning to do. I've been trying to get her interested in books or a trade but she's already convinced herself that she wants to join the military when she comes of age." He shakes his head. "Honestly, I don't know what I'm going to do with her!"
Without thinking, Zhi blurts out, "You should let her follow her dreams."
Realizing that she has stepped in it, she hides her face behind her fan.
"I'm sorry. I'm overstepping my bounds. It's none of my business," she says quietly as her face turns a shade redder.
"But as someone who was forced into a trade by a father that loved me very much, and a lifestyle that left very little in the way of options, let me say ... don't choose her path for her."
Her voice grows stronger.
"She may pick a path that you dread. She may pick a path that leaves you awake in the middle of the night wondering if she'll come home. She may pick a path that ... "
I'm prattling.
Zhi takes a deep breath.
"Don't pick her path for her," she concludes.
The small woman replaces her empty glass with a nearby full one.
When did I drink all that?
"And most importantly," she says with a playful smile. "Don't take child rearing advice from someone who doesn't have any."
Nicolaus blinks at Zhi's sudden outburst, then laughs heartily. "I shall take your advice into consideration, my lady. All of it." He grins at Zhi, a smile that goes on just a bit too long. He seems to catch himself, and he clears his threat snd quickly looks away to grab another glass of wine.
"I like how direct you are. You are not afraid to speak your mind. It is a refreshing change of pace from all the double talk and innuendo of the courts."
Nicolaus blinks at Zhi's sudden outburst, then laughs heartily. "I shall take your advice into consideration, my lady. All of it." He grins at Zhi, a smile that goes on just a bit too long. He seems to catch himself, and he clears his threat snd quickly looks away to grab another glass of wine.
"I like how direct you are. You are not afraid to speak your mind. It is a refreshing change of pace from all the double talk and innuendo of the courts."
Zhi blushes furiously at the Baron's compliment.
"Thank you, Baron ... I mean Nicolaus. And I like how very handsome ..."
Aaiiii!!!
"Direct! I mean how very direct you are as well."
Her fan goes up higher until just her green eyes are visible over the top.
"I think I hear my friends calling, so I'm going to have to look at you ... see you ... see you some time later."
She then quickly makes her exit from the Baron's presence.
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
As she passes some of the assembled nobility, she presents the odd picture of a small Tian woman hitting herself on the forehead with a closed parasol.
--
Arriving at where Sara and Melodie are still chatting, Zhi seems quite flummoxed.
"How much longer is this thing supposed to last?" she asks in annoyance.
Zileska, in the meantime, makes a slow circuit with Kalbio, taking in his various pieces with a cocked head.
"It's true. You do create good work," she says. "Oh, a prodigy - that's a word for someone who has great talent, even without a lot of special training. I think they're referring to how you can make these beautiful pieces without having to go an art academy or have been from a family of well-known artists - the art just springs from you without needing a lengthy apprenticeship or a complicated education. It's a compliment."
"How does making a piece make you feel? Is it like there's something that you envision in your mind and you have to get it out? Or you're just in a sort of... daze, a flow, with the loom moving and the colors coming out beautifully and not having to really concentrate on it? Or do you work hard to envision a picture and then carefully create it from the materials?"
Baron Okerra clears his throat, looking almost as embarrassed at Zhi's compliment as she is. "Er, uh, yes. Good night, Miss Zhi."
---
Kalbio scratches his head. "Shucks, I dunno. The last one, I guess? I just think really hard on what I wanna make, and then I work really hard until I've made it. I don't think I'm anything special, but all these big city nobles seem to like my stuff."
Melodie listens to Sara's description and ends up blushing, again. "Umm, not really... my friends have talked about it but when I'm by myself I just... don't... feel right about it."
"You do you, Mel, no one else can and no one else will, but if you find yourself curious about it, I say indulge. It's healthy, natural, and it gets better the more you do it. That's why they call it mastur-"
Arriving at where Sara and Melodie are still chatting, Zhi seems quite flummoxed.
"How much longer is this thing supposed to last?" she asks in annoyance.
"bating. Masturbating. Yes, hello, Zhi, we were talking about entirely event appropriate material, how goes your evening?"
She finishes her drink.
"You weren't talking about mas..."
Zhi's voice drops to a whisper as she looks around to see if anyone overheard.
"You're not talking about that, are you? Come on, keep the focus ladies."
Sara play-slaps Zhi's arm, mouth open wide in shock. "Zhi, how scandalous of you! At an event like this?"
She drops the act, shaking her head and clearing her throat. "I think I may have had a teeny weeny bit too much to drink."
"To put it mildly," Maria said as she caught the tail-end of the discussion. "I'm not going to ask about how you got onto this subject, but judging by the blushing going around I'm going to assume it involved dear Melodie, here - if only as target if not instigator."
"On another note, Zhi - knowing your particular skillset, I take it you noticed Baron Okerra's wedding ring; you seemed rather flustered after talking to him and I can only hope that you haven't made the first steps towards adultery. That or the Baron and his wife are more open-minded than I initially believed."
After surveying the tapestries for some time, Zileska tugs at Kalbio's sleeve and says, "Come, meet a few of my confederates. All funny ladies. I'm sure you'll like them." She directs Kalbio over to meet her co-conspirators.
"Ladies, this is Kalbio - this festival is in his honor! Kalbio, this is Maria, Sara, Zhi, and Melodie. So, what's the topic of the hour?"
"Jacking it," Sara blurts out. "We were talking about jacking it." She extends a hand forward cordially, grinning like a devil, "A pleasure to meet you, my fine sir. Do you have any experience with the subject? Masturbation, I mean."
Kalbio turns beet red. "Golly! I, uh... That is to say... I don't think that's the sorta thing to talk about in polite company."
He scratches at his neck and tries to look for somebody to save him from the awkward conversation.
"On another note, Zhi - knowing your particular skillset, I take it you noticed Baron Okerra's wedding ring; you seemed rather flustered after talking to him and I can only hope that you haven't made the first steps towards adultery. That or the Baron and his wife are more open-minded than I initially believed."
Zhi's eyes go wide.
"Adultery?! With the Baron? I would never ..."
She stammers for a moment.
"He's not ... I'm ... I mean he's older then my father."
And so tall.
"I'm on a job; I would never ... "
She seems to run out of steam and looks away.
"Besides, his wife died. He's a widower."
His arms are huge. He could just pick me up and ...
Her face begins to blend in to the expected motif of the conversation as it takes on a shade of crimson.
”Ah, I’d taken the tarnish on the ring to have been a sign of neglect and assumed that came from an unhappy marriage. I may have been taking on too many cheating partner jobs lately, it’s making me leap to conclusions.”
Maria couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Sara’s antics as she turned to the noble-to-be. ”You’ll have to forgive Sara, I believe she’s overdone it with the drink already.”
"Overdone it?" Sara grabs another glass. "I'm sorry, Maria, but when there's an open bar, you're expected to take advantage of it."
She pulls off a glove and stuffs it in her purse, licking her finger and running it along the rim, making the glass hum. "Free alcohol is one of life's rarest and most unique pleasures."
In doing so, however, she inadvertently flashes her brand to the poor, unsuspecting noble-to-be.
Melodie does her best to sink into the floor, finding this conversation more embarrassing than she ever believed possible. If 'jacking it' was difficult before, after tonight it'll be positively traumatic!
Kalbio clears his throat. "That's, uh, a nice tattoo, ma'am," he stammers, trying to change the subject. The significance of Sara's brand is apparently lost on him.
She glances at it, eyebrows lifting as though she had forgotten it. "It's not a tattoo," she flatly replies. "But thank you." Sara takes a sip, wobbling slightly, and thrusts her arm forward to be examined.
Her words start to slur and run together. "They gave it to me in prison. Part of my sentencing, had the mark of," she gulps. "The mark of Urgathoa cut into my wrist. It hurts, still. Find moving my hand much harder."
She purses her lips, tilting her hand forward. "Isn't it pretty?" she remarks, cold and unconvincing.
Her scar runs four inches long, the head of the moth on her wrist, its thorax on her forearm. It is the death's head, servant and divine messenger of Urgathoa, goddess of undeath.
Kalbio swallows nervously. "S-sure is purdy," he mumbles, looking away.
”Sara, you’re scaring him, put your glove back on.”
”I’m sorry about her, she’s harmless unless you properly insult her. And I mean either cutting barbs about her clothing or employing language ill-suited to a formal event. Oh, just to get it out of the way,” another business card appeared in her hand, ”I doubt you’ll have any call for it, but my father would kill me if he knew I was here and didn’t try to do a little advertising for the family business. Greyson Investigative Services, we typically consult for the city watch, but we take private clients as well.”
Zileska says, "I did say there were some rogues among us. Pay no mind, Kalbio. You're right, it's not exactly a topic of polite conversation, especially when among ladies it's jilling off."
"On a politer note, Maria here is quite skilled in her line of work, as a personal investigator. As you find yourself thrown into the bustle of the noble lifestyle, you might find her services useful if you ever need to determine whether someone is telling you something true, or trying to bilk you with a false premise."
Kalbio accepts the business card. "Thank you kindly, ma'am. I'll remember you if I need help getting along in the big city."
A short time later, a servant fetches Kalbio to prepare the man for the exaltation ceremony. He says farewell and departs.
The hundred-year-old bottle of wine donated by the Lotheed family is opened and served at this point. The senators sampling it react with disgust thanks to Doritan's sabotage! This is sure to be a stain on their reputation.
Finally, the Taldan senate convenes to vote on various issues while guests watch from the gallery above. The hall spends 30 minutes arguing and voting on formalities and spending bills before reaching the event all of Taldor has been waiting for.
The political ruling body of Taldor spreads out twenty feet below the observation deck of the gallery. Dozens of senators and their immediate aides scurry below. The cacophony of voices is almost deafening, and it seems like the ceaseless chatter will continue endlessly. Suddenly, the magically amplified voice of the senate speaker interrupts the noise.
"Thank you all. I would ask that our observers please be silent and seat themselves. We will now begin voting on addendum number twenty-two thousand eighty-seven: the repeal of the ancient law of primogeniture, the issuance of inheritance and aristocratic title solely through male heirs."
Following this proclamation, the speaker begins calling on individual senators one at a time to support or oppose the repeal. Early declarations split evenly between the options, with many senators abstaining entirely, and only halfway through the process do votes begin to favor Princess Eutropia's bid to end primogeniture. By the end of the tabulations, the repeal passes with roughly 60 percent of the senate's backing. The speaker takes a moment to compose himself, seemingly shocked by the results, before continuing to formally announce the initial results in a distant monotone.
"And so, the final tally for addendum twenty-two thousand eighty-seven, the repeal of primogeniture, with thirty-six abstentions, the final tally stands at one hundred and seven for, seventy-nine against. The addendum passes. Among other business tonight, the senate recognizes Princess Eutropia Stavian I as the new heir to the Primogen Crown, and the first heir the empire has seen in twenty years."
With the declaration made, the chamber explodes in a riot of applause and condemnation. It takes several minutes for the cacophony to die down. The speaker declares that a closed senate recount is to take place, an event signaled by the speaker declaring a temporary recess of the senate to outsiders.
Following the vote, Martella Lotheed summons you for one last meeting, just as ushers begin announcing Grand Prince Stavian's speech and exaltation to begin in thirty minutes.
"Well done, my friends. It seems we all can bask in the glow of a successful evening. You completed every task I set out for you with plenty of time to spare! As promised, you'll each receive 300 gold tomorrow, and I will definitely have further work for you in the future if you're so inclined."
Melodie grins with pleasure as the repeal bill passes and Primogeniture is officially revoked. "We did it!" she whispers, nearly squealing in delight. "We did it!"
The 300 gold coins promised don't even seem to register with Melodie, she's just riding high on the wave of jubilation flowing around the senate hall.
Sara joins in with raucous cheering as the tally is announced. At the promise of further work, she is flabbergasted. They had done it. She had done it. She had felt this proud of herself maybe three times before, and had never experienced such a wave of patriotism as she did now.
She triumphantly sang the national anthem on her way to their meeting with Lotheed.
"What's left in the evening?" she says to no one in particular, beaming. "All I can think is for poor sweet Kalbio to get uplifted. Er, exalted. You think the Princess will give another speech?"
"Yes, the Grand Prince will have a speech and then exalt Kalbio, then the evening will be over. It's my guess that Stavian's speech will be a concession to Eutropia's bid for the throne. While the vote doesn't replace him, he has made no secret of his opposition to the repeal, and I expect the emperor to show no amount of restraint in lambasting his daughter. She may or may not dignify him with a response."
While Maria wasn’t as overt with her celebration, she still smiled at the result and shared in her new friends’ cheer.
”Then he clearly isn’t thinking straight,” she said in regards to how the Grand Prince’s speech might go, ”the way things have been going, it’s either this or a civil war to decide on a successor - if he’s angry about it going this way then he clearly has little regard for the damage and casualties the alternative would produce. Assuming he even considered the alternative in the first place.”
Zileska sits easily and quietly in the box as she watches the proceeding. When the vote passes she seems slightly surprised, but a slow smile spreads across her features.
"Now, correct me if I'm mistaken, but couldn't the Grand Prince simply disinherit her, expel her from the family, and let the inheritance play out to whoever is the next most viable successor - probably with a war, like Maria said?"
"He could," Martella admits, "but I don't think he would go so far as to throw the whole empire into chaos for something as petty as that. At any rate, we should all start making our way down to get our seats for the speech. Oh, there is one more thing, Zileska."
She hands the cleric a sealed letter, neatly folded and sealed with wax embossed with a simple heart. "I noticed that Kalbio of Breezy Creek has taken a bit of a shine to you. Could you deliver this to him after the exaltation? His parents couldn't afford to travel into Oppara for the ceremony, but they sent him this letter. I understand that it's of a personal and emotional nature, so they asked me not to deliver it until after the big day."
Hundreds of dignitaries, senators, and visitors cram onto the senate floor. A dozen hulking members of the Ulfen Guard, personal bodyguards of the grand prince, stand arrayed around a podium atop the central, circular stage of the chamber. A mix of senatorial staffers and Ulfen Guard assign people to positions within the chamber based on rank and influence, placing the five of you toward the outer wall of the room, well over 80 feet away from the grand prince's podium. Martella Lotheed stands 20 feet closer, while Princess Eutropia and several prominent nobles stand at the podium's edge.
Grand Prince Stavian III ascends to the tall stage that overlooks the hall from its center. He raises a single hand to calm the murmurs of the assembled crowd. A member of the prince's Ulfen Guard escorts a thrilled-looking Kalbio to stand several paces behind the prince.
"Quite the assembly we have here today," the grand prince says. "I don't think I've ever seen the senate building packed so full; especially not for any of my previous speeches. Even my lovely daughter, now a woman, sits among the players of Oppara's greatest game. Of course, none of you are here for me. No, today is about something else entirely. Today is about elevation. It is no secret that today is about exalting others to a new status in life.
"I'm sure many of you have had the opportunity to meet Kalbio here. He is a man of the people, elevated at the urging of all the ladies, lords, senators, and aides present in this chamber. I think we should all give him a rousing applause, to commemorate this momentous change in his life."
The room erupts into cheers as Stavian pauses in his proclamation. The grand prince of Taldor smiles widely as he takes in the adulation of the crowd.
However, as you glance around the room, you notice subtle repositioning movements by armed, black-garbed personnel to block the exits.
Melodie tugs Sara's hand, drawing the taller woman's eyes towards her. "Sara, why are they blocking the exits?" She whispers, sounding intensely nervous all-of-a-sudden.
Zileska takes the letter with a nod and places it in the customary place. She claps politely at the speech.
Then when Melodie comments about the shifting guardsmen, she frowns and whispers, "Not a good sign... customarily that's to prevent people from escaping a purge."
She glances around and looks for the table where she left her pack.
Fortunately, the table isn't very far away. Zileska is able to slip through the crowd and retrieve her pack before the applause abates.
"Miss Lotheed should invest in two-way versions of these badges," Maria whispered, her grip on her cane tightening, "we need a way to warn her, but if any of us start moving, we might end up lighting the powder keg."
Sara shushes the others and asks for a sheet of paper from the wizard's diary or the historical Arnisant journal.
She pulls off her glove and bites the tip of her finger to make it bleed. On a comrade's back, she writes "Glance at the exits. We are going to die," folds it into a paper dart and aims for Lotheed.
The paper dart strikes Martella in the shoulder before falling to the floor. She turns and looks down at it in surprise, picking it up and reading it. Her eyes widen even as the applause abates.
A hulking Ulfen Guard pushes Kalbio forward, almost knocking the commoner down as he awkwardly regains his balance beside Grand Prince Stavian. The leader of Taldor maintains his calm, placing a hand on Kalbio's shoulder without ever taking his eyes off the crowd.
"I understand your parents sacrificed everything to help you reach this day, my boy. Saving up for your apprenticeship and the tools you needed to achieve greatness. And today you are a grateful son, no doubt making them proud. I too understand what it is to sacrifice; I have given so much for the people of this nation: a brother, a son, a lifetime of service. Even my own daughter's loyalty." He pauses, licking his lips and pulling the awkward Kalbio closer to his side. "But unlike you, Lord Kalbio, these Taldans—my children, truly—are not grateful. They scheme and plot, dream of hanging their dutiful father and placing a woman—a woman, sir!—on the Lion Throne! And they have seen fit this very day to induct you into their conspiratorial ranks. And that is why here, now, you, Lord Kalbio, will be the first among them to die."
And with that, the Emperor of Taldor plunges a jeweled dagger between the ribs of the astonished man in his clutches.
While Stavian's accusations stun the crowd, Kalbio's blood showers the front row of the senate floor. Kalbio mouths "Ma...ma...pa..." before he collapses to the stage in a heap. A red-stained Princess Eutropia defiantly stands among the nobility, starring up at her father in disbelief. Casting aside cloaks to reveal armor and blades, the unidentified soldiers in the chamber already begin moving to cut down the attending masses in a wholesale slaughter. A total of 50 armed soldiers surround the room--and one is a mere 30 feet away from you!
Sara grabs Melodie. "Leave! Run, Mel, I'll distract them for you!"
She advances as far in the crowd as she's able, arming herself with a valuable, antique table leg.
Staring in open-mouthed shock, it takes Zhi a moment to comprehend what just happened. It doesn't take long though before she moves to action. She takes a readied grip on her parasol and attempts to pull Melodie towards one of the exits.