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Rognar smiles a big friendly smile and grips Femi's hand back with a firm shake and says you might call me a Seer so I spent days looking into one person after another's future. A lot of the time I get it right. The RHC keeps me busy to be sure. I have no idea why I have been brought here though and I never thought they would let me in the field again. So it's a nice change Femi
Delft visibly gets upset at Grimtooth's statement and says, "Do you not know the monumental historical event that is happening in short order? Our King is meeting Le Sovereign of Danor this evening. This evening includes a mission into the Bleak Gate so I suggest you get ready. Also, it seems Chretien and the rest have been invited to the Summit dinner this evening, so you better dress presentably. You will be meeting the King this evening. Do not embarrass the service."
He looks at the rest and says, "I guess this is the best the Lord Vicount could do on short notice. I do envy you, I am not invited to attend the summit."
"Something tells me it will be less than enjoyable by the end of the night."
Delft says, "Taking down the ob in the Bleak Gate will probably be difficult."
Delft continues, "Do you want to continue interrogating Kell or would you prefer to have one of our professional teams do it?"
Cretien looks to the others, but says, "I vote we let the pro teams handle it while we move on to other things."
"Agreed. We'd best be making ready for tonight. It's going to be another long one." Femi agrees.
"I believe a professional team would be better at the interrogation than we would be. I read the dossier, but don't think I had time to catch all the nuances."
The tall blond woman who followed Femi out the door puts her hand out for a handshake. I'm Iva. Iva Skipwith-Darling. It's a pleasure to meet you. I haven't been back in Flint long myself."
Delft says, "I think it is time to meet the king at the docks to meet the coming of the Danoran ship, shall we? It seems you are all dressed appropriately do not worry Grimtooth, tailors have made the appropriate tuxedo for you. Your normal clothes are still in the capital."
Weapon Equipped = Quarterstaff
Crossbow Bolts = 10/10
Conditions = Mage Armor (1/7h)
Melee: Attack: BAB +4, Str +0 Damage: +0
Ranged: Attack: BAB +4, Dex +1 Damage: +0
Reconnaissance (1/1)
Arcane Reservoir (su): 4/(7)11 (+1 DC or caster level (free), quick study (full))
Consume Spells (su): 2/2
Runestone of Power (first) 0/1
Spells (Caster Level 8, Concentration +12, SR +10)
Special: (7/7) Force Missile*
Zero (14): Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Spark
First (15): (5/5) Burning Hands*, Charm Person, Feather Fall, Infernal Healing, Mage Armor, Magic Missile*
Second (16) (5/5) Admonishing Ray*, Invisibility, Knock, See Invisibility
Third (17) (5/5) Fireball*, Haste, Invisibility Sphere
Fourth (18) (3/3) Ice Storm*, Scrying
* +1 DC, +4 Damage
"Aye, lets." Femi takes his time making sure his tuxedo is just so, and cleans himself up further with Prestidigitation. He offers to do the same for the others - to clean off whatever gore may still hide behind the ears.
He'll cast Mage Armor on himself just before heading out, as ready as he'll ever be for what's to come.
On the 9th, the Freux Rouge, captained by Rosalyn Taylor, parked at
the Royal Docks. It bore a small party of dignitaries and a security detachment protecting the Danoran side of Hotel Aurum. At 6 pm on the
13th, a second ship arrives.
Lux Profectusque cruises into Flint Bay and makes a grand impression. Two hundred Danoran sailors in crisp white uniforms line the
edge of its main deck, helping the ship seem to glow in the afternoon
sun. The vessel swings about and closes with the Royal Docks, and
with measured precision it cuts its engine and glides on momentum to
stop not ten feet from the prow of Risur’s own flagship, Coaltongue.
A company of Risuri marines flank the welcoming party in Fleet
Square, while across the bridge in Royal Square, several hundred
Flinters strain to watch. The king is not in attendance, having sent
Governor Stanfield in his stead.
A ramp is deployed, and the line of crew parts to reveal, first, a small
string and woodwind orchestra that strikes up the Danoran national
anthem; and second, the head of state, Sovereign Han Jierre. He starts
down the ramp as the elegant overture of the anthem begins. Beside
him walks his niece Lya Jierre, and behind him follows the Danoran
Minister of War Eloise Duffet, several bodyguards, and attendants
bearing gifts. As they step off the ramp onto the dock, the strings and
woodwinds rise and are joined by previously unseen brass instruments.
Then, just as the sovereign reaches Governor Stanfield, the anthem crescendos and is joined by a blast of the steamship’s horn.
The sound fades out, and Governor Stanfield formally welcomes
the Danorans. He starts to introduce the party, but Lya Jierre slips in
first and describes you as “the good people I missed at
Vendricce, and who helped us at Axis Island.” She explains. "I asked for you to come to the dinner to show my commitment to clearing up any misunderstandings."
Femi is impressed by the pomp and circumstance - and the exceptional timing of it all. He thoroughly enjoys the pageantry of it.
He's surprised they're introduced at all, but also pleased at being noted. "Thank you my lady, and please be welcome."
She says, "Yes, you are not in the least amount interested why I invited you to the summit dinner, a very prestigious affair in the planning for over a year as such."
Cretien chimes in, "Yes, of course we assume Risur must have some need of our particular talents, and we are here to provide as always."
She chuckles, "Risur did not invite you. I did. We have met before. Have you completed the carriage you promised me?"
"It will be complete by the wedding. Other events have called my attention away, but I may soon retire from the RHC life to complete it. Or at least use some of the vacation days that I usually squander."
She says, "Fair enough. My main goal is make sure we sign a peace deal."
Cretien nods, looking around for a purpose other than pleasantries.
After some brief pleasantries, everyone loads up into royal carriages—
windows shuttered so no rabble in the crowd are tempted to make a
move on the Danorans—and they set out for Hotel Aurum.
You are then ferreted to a prechamber before being formally introduced. Being members of the head table, you await your declared entrance
to the banquet in an adjacent chamber alongside the other members of
the table. You are kept in the back of the line, away from King Aodhan and Han Jierre, with the Risuri Head of Agriculture, Kian Doherty,
one spot in front of them.
Femi is impressed they have any status at all. He keeps in line and tries to subdue his smile. The Heads Table! he thinks with excitement. He's never been at such a soiree, and he takes it all in.
After a while, he begins to wonder what threats may be found here as well and his training starts to kick in. He carefully looks over the crowd, trying to see if anything is out of place. People aren't his strong suit, but he does what he can...
...which isn't much apparently!
Femi
The group is announced, and each of you is named with a blurb about your accomplishments with the RHC. The line moves into the banquet hall, and you and the rest of the table take your seats. The tables are setup with empty plates, but the wine glasses have been filled in anticipation of the delegation’s arrival.
King Aodhan is the first to rise, addressing the attendees in a loud voice, bidding them his deepest thanks and blessings for attending. He bids Han Jierre to rise and give the first toast of the evening. The Sovereign of Danor rises and takes the opportunity to give a toast to the cessation of hostilities between the two nations, proclaiming, “Our long conflict is finally at an end, and we can begin looking forward to a shining future.”
After Han Jierre gives his toast, the king of Risur rises once again and gives his toast. The king thanks Sovereign Jierre before giving his toast in honor of his soon-to-be wife: “To the lovely and talented Lya Jierre. Without her, none of this would be possible.”
Conversation murmurs around the various tables as King Aodhan sits. At this point etiquette permits one more person from each side to make a toast before the first course arrives.
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Iva stands wine glass in hand. May the end of this conflict come to it's proper close, and peace be the beginning of the new cycle."
From the back of the room, the door is opened by a member of the King's security team and then you recognize the unassuming silohoutte of a constable who had left the team in Drakr a few months back.
Staring wide-eyed at all the people, the thin young man of maybe eighteen seems to be trying to appear as small as possible. He looks like he's staring down a horde of charging orcs, sweat already on his forehead under messy dark hair, but his face brightens when he spots Cretien and he hurries over to stand awkwardly before the tiefling.
"Uh--Cretien, it's been a long time--I think. You look...well," he forces a clearly uncomfortable smile.
Johnathan is noticeably taller than he was last you saw him, with fuzzy facial hair finally starting to come through, even just in the span of a few months. He's dressed in stiff, ironed fancy clothes, probably never worn before.
Before you can respond, he quickly speaks up, "I'm not back. Not 'back' back. You know?" He smiles apologetically.
Danoran Minister of War Eloise Duffet first nods at Johnathan's entrance and then proposes a toast, “Let us remember the fallen sailors and orphaned children, and do them honor in these coming talks.”
Then she gives the king a frigid glare.
A Knowledge (history) check (DC 25)
"Welcome, I'm Femi, doing what I can for the cause. Are you here to help us tonight? If so, you are most welcome. Could be a rough ride." he grins lopsidedly.
Later during the toasts...
Femi nods in agreement right up to the frigid glare, then he looks blankly... confused.
Cretien smiles when he sees Johnathan, "Good to see you well, Johnathan. What have you been up to? What will you be up to?" he begins jovially, before turning somewhat grim. "Be glad you got out of the team when you could, as you can see, it is mostly new faces..."
"Hi there."
Johnathan fidgets at the stiff cuffs of his jacket. "Well, I sort of...got suspended. For awhile. I think I...well I k-kind of killed someone, accidentally. They kind of slipped? Delft has been helping me a lot. To deal with everything," he looks around the party a moment, quickly gets overwhelmed and returns his focus to the island of a familiar face. "S-so I'm just doing what they tell me to do now."
Frowning as Cretien's expression darkens, Johnathan nods in understanding, "I still have dreams about Joseph and Wintry getting washed into the ocean. Joseph...w-we were the same age."
His eyes are drawn to Femi's tattoos when he introduces himself, then looks away and quietly responds. "Hi."
"Yes, that was an especially dire situation. Yet, thinking back on it, we have endured so much worse since then."
"And worse to come," Johnathan says solemnly, eyeing a tray of hors d'oeuvre as it passes but not making any move to take one.
He seems to realize something. "New faces...a-are you saying the others died? Sarya? Angus? ...Falko?" His eyes pass over the new party members sadly.
Following the toasts, chefs come to deliver the first round of food.
Your decorum stays appropriate and some of the other delegation seem impressed by it.
The first course consists of a specially made Risuri soup imported from distant Shale. The soup is made using local spices and select fish that can only be found
near the Yerasol Archipelago.
As people finish their soup, a second course of specially made Danoran salad and Beran breads are brought to the table. A server notes that Danoran Minister of War Eloise Duffet has not touched her soup, to which Duffet responds that the soup’s origin seems rather political. “After all,” he says, “Shale was the seat of
power of Duchess Ethelyn, was it not?”
"Not all dead, but they have left or been assigned elsewhere."
Having seated himself near Johnathan, he tries to ignore the political unpleasantness going around.
"So, what have you been up to? Laying low? training?"
Johnathan sits and tries the soup, seeming to enjoy it. He glances up at the political intrigue but doesn't comment on it, wary of causing a stir.
"Just...trying to keep my mind occupied. Delft has kept me busy with desk-work, but the stillness is difficult, the voices get louder. I have to keep my head down until my suspension is over. I've been trying not to cause trouble for Delft so...I've kept the magic to a minimum."
He gestures to Rognar, "Is that your new Skyseer?"
Lya Jierre steps in and says that if a cow rancher murdered her father, she
would not stop eating beef. The table chuckles, but Han Jierre seems intrigued
by the topic. He brings up your exploits at Axis Island, thanks you for aiding his
niece in handling the matter, and then asks for your opinions on what the Duchess did and what punishment she deserved.
"I guess so. He hasn't been around long." Cretien replies to Johnathan.
To Han, Cretien replies, "I have no opinion on the matter, good Sir. I'm here to aid the execution of law and protect the King. It is not my place to pontificate."
Femi studies his food, knowing just enough to cause trouble, but not enough to know how to stop it.
"Yes, thankfully our job ends when we bring them to justice." he mumbles lamely, hoping even that much doesn't send unknown ripples through the tense meal.
Johnathan continues eating, then seems to realize someone asked him something. "Uh? The Duchess?" he thinks for a moment. "She was...trying to follow a Skyseer's vision, or something, right? Those are never clear. Always riddles...seems crazy to act so rashly on one, but well-intentioned I suppose," he goes back to eating.
The Sovereign Jierre says, "An interesting point of view, mon amis, considering the Duchess almost killed you and her brother on that ship. So do you think stripping of her title and putting her in prison was enough of a punishment or would you have been more or less lenient?"
Johnathan makes a small shrug, not looking up, "Not much point to killing her as punishment, she'd just be a martyr. Besides, what if she turned out to be right about the vision? At least if she's in prison we could let her out and say sorry."
"For one accustomed to the high life, any loss of privilege is a travesty. Death is an easy way out."
Iva continues to eat the second course. "I was not with the team at that time. Knowing the law I believe that her punishment was appropriate. Being in prison is horrible. Knowing several nobles, I would say having her title stripped is one of the worst punishments that can be handed down. How about yourself sir? What do you think?"
The sovereign of Danor scratches his chin and says, "You are an interesting group. Treason and conspiracy to start a war between our two nations just swept under the rug. Extraordinary."
King Aodhan steps in and says, "The legal system of the Kingdom of Risur varies greatly to that of your state, let us leave it at that. She is my sister."
Conversation continues for a bit, but then the first intermission of the event is called. Guests are invited to view a gallery of fine art that has been set up in one of the skywalks. During the intermission the you have time to meet with other members of the crowd.
Johnathan finishes a bite and sets his fork down lightly and speaks softly, "We have to venture far far from the people who could give us orders...we have to be flexible and make d-decisions with consequences, out there, with no one to direct us. J-just following a list of rules isn't enough for how complicated it gets out there,"
During the intermission, Johnathan excuses himself to go talk to Lya Jierre.