Visitors flock to Oppara in the days leading up to the Grand Day of Exaltation. The populace of the city doubles during this time, making Oppara larger than any other city in the Inner Sea region, save Absalom. The self-importance of the already prideful Taldan people swells in equal measure. Street vendors sell traditional Taldan foods—anchovy skewers, anglebobs, canal crossings, clamguards, jubilee pie, honeyflake, long wine, yonder tarts, and more—including regional delicacies from separated provinces such as Andoran mince and Chelish raven cake. Family banners and provincial flags drape the sides of most buildings, with merchants hawking heraldry ranging from replica banners of the old Armies of Exploration to wooden swords and handheld Taldan flags for children. Taverns offer themed drink and food, with varying bars adopting well-known nobles from the long history of the empire as their mascot or self-declared patron.
Alongside all the pomp and circumstance filling Oppara is a noteworthy moment in history: the imperial senate is poised to hold a historic vote to end primogeniture. The potential end of the millennia-standing law of succession is the talk of the town. Streets and taverns are abuzz with conversations; some wish to see the law thrown down to pave a way for Princess Eutropia to ascend to the throne, while hardliners (especially elder nobles) believe the vote to be another wound in the great history of the empire, allowing not only the rabble-rousing Eutropia to inherit family power, but every ill-deserving woman. Regardless of the outcome, both sides of the debate agree that life will go on, and despite the serious ramifications of primogeniture’s potential end, the streets of Oppara hold no signs of unrest during the jubilant celebrations of the Grand Day of Exaltation.
You have cause for additional anticipation: you’ve been engaged by Lady Martella Lotheed, the illegitimate daughter of the prestigious Lotheed noble family and a burgeoning spymaster. She's asked you to function as a covert agent to help ensure the vote "goes the right way." In return, she’s promised you each a payment of 150 gp upon successful completion of your (as yet undisclosed) tasks, in addition to the extraordinary access and prestige granted by attending one of Taldor’s most exclusive and high-profile political events. To assist in your preparation, she’s also offered a 30-gp line of credit at her favorite tailor, Thread Rare, and to loan you enough high-quality costume jewelry to complete your outfit.
It is two days before the Grand Day of Exaltation, and you have been instructed to find your way to an old, charming, but relatively quiet tavern near the Oppara Arena in the bustling Grandbridge district. It is there you will meet with Martell and your peers to learn more about what specifically is being asked of you and meet the rest of the crew.
The tavern is easily found, and upon entering, you spot Martella immediately. As the first party member enters, she looks up from the thick book in front of her and smiles widely, gesturing towards the open chairs at her table.
Pacus and Angela both stride up to the table where Lady Martell is.
"Greetings my lady. I'm glad that we managed to get here before the others. Do you wish it to be known that Angela and I are already in your employ? Or should we pretend to be meeting now for the first time?"
Angela Chuffs in greeting and then rolls over onto her back asking for a bellyrub. She ALREADY knows that Martella does EXCELLENT belly rubs
Across the way, a man waits and watches. The offer made was intriguing, but Quintius had only recently began his mission in earnest. If this Lotheed had already heard of him, this could be a trap. He watches as a man and some sort of large cat enter the tavern. He wonders if he recognizes the odd pair.
Lucian had been close to the tavern for quite some time, standing a few doors ahead and observing those that walk closer or enter the tavern. Looking at the sun he moves over to the tavern and exactly on time a young half-orc enters it.
While he is in civilian, but well made clothes, his close shaved hair and his military bearing instantly betray him as a soldier. With keen eyes he looks left and right before moving towards Martella.
About to salute, he nevertheless nods to her and takes a seat.
"Mylady, at your service!"
Photinè arrives fashionably late, sweeping across the tavern in a cloud of silk and lace. ”Lady Martella, ma cherie!” She leans down to greet the woman with a kiss on both cheeks.
”Let me see these fine gentlemen you’ve gathered,” she says, and takes a long look at each of those already seated. ”Lady Photiné Michèle-Aurelius,” she introduces herself, extending a hand to the half-orc before turning to the other man. ”And Is that... Pacus? We haven’t seen you at the house for ages! How are you, dear, how’s your mother?”
She barely gives them a chance to answer before she sits down, waves over a waiter, and orders a glass of something alcoholic and deceptively orange colored. It arrives with a small skewer of fruit, and she sucks a cherry from it’s stem with painted red lips before continuing;
”I see why you asked me here today, Martella; as capable as these young men appear, sometimes you just have need of a woman’s touch.” She smiles slyly at them.
About to shake her hand Lucian just raises an eyebrow.
"Well then we should get a woman!"
It's only fashionably late that a Stavian ever makes their entrance, and it's only just in the nick of time that an Adori Swordlord shows up to save the day by slashing all their would be foes into jelly and blood, so it's no surprise that Kurtis made a point of trying to be just in the nick of time to be fashionably late whenever he was called to anything. As a result, he's the last one to the table--but only by a little bit.
The money had intrigued him--having already spent his stipened for the month on a new breastplate, he was looking for spending money--and considering the source was looking to make the vote go the right way, he figured he should do what it took to ensure his dear cousin was able to take the throne without issue. It'd be better than trying to... 'crash through things like an enraged boar,' as his tutors put it?
With a small nod of hello, Kurtis sits with his hand casually on the sword at his hip.
"I'm no woman, but I think I'll suffice quite nicely for the moment, thank you. So, what do you need?"
What an odd collection. This bears seeing through.
Quintius finally enters after Stavian, looking around for familiar faces.
"Well, Angela is female so we already had that covered :-). Its ok, Angela, I'm sure that she didn't mean anything nasty by it"
Angela stares at Photinè for a second, and then pointedly goes to carefully sniff everybody else before finally settling down, back facing Photinè
Lucien looks at mylady for a moment and replies. "What do you need us to do. Gather information? Convince someone? Attend a festivity?"
"Perhaps ...dance?"
Quintius gyrates.