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After much deliberation you decide to bring the pirates back to Joleana. Before doing so Zomo places a spell on the spot occupied by one of the barrels so he's able to be warned when it's moved as long as he's present within one mile of the spell's casting spot.
The pirates don't give you much trouble as you drag them towards Rindonport proper. Apparently they like how a fair trial sounds more than the alternative and Zomo's outburst had them convinced you were willing to send them to "sleep with the fishes"...
You reach the courthouse while it's still dark and it takes several hours before dawn breaks and the clerks who run the place open it for you to enter. Thankfully Joleana proves to be an early bird and when you explain the reason why you are there she nods at you approvingly before speaking:"Carlo Dosian, Robin Lasier, Dalan Mercere and of course Gayleigh Knar... As we suspected these are the ex-midshipmen who disappeared a few months ago. Well done! Well done indeed... I don't know how they managed to stay active so long without anyone making a fuss about their plundering. As for you..." Joleana turns towards the captive pirates:"In your case the law is pretty clear: in the name of Iomedae the Inheritor and by the authority vested on me by the Taldan senate I, Joleana Tantriano, head magistrate of Rindonport's courthouse sentence your lot to jail, pending trial, which will be held in 2 weeks starting from now!".
Joleana calls for some guards who take the merry band of pirates away. She then hands you a pouch, which appears to be filled with coins!
"What's fair is fair: you were promised a bounty and here it is. 250 gold pieces for bringing an end to those dastardly canal pirates activities! As for Earl Varnisant... I'm now convinced you might have the right of it by suspecting him. That bunch seems unlikely to be able to avoid notice for so long on its own. Someone must have protected them. I assure you that I’ll begin drafting the formal documentation for an official inquiry on this matter as soon as possible!"
After that your meeting with Joleana concludes and you go back to the museum, where you are finally able to rest. In the late afternoon you wake up and meet with Cincia:"So? What did you learn? Anything new on the stolen artifacts?" she asks.
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--at the court---
"Wait!" cries Q'lack.
"Whoever was dealing with them... they may have contacts. Can you keep them, or at least their identities secret for a few days? We don't want to tip our flippers.." croaks the bowfrog.
He also produces the helm recovered "If you could note that this had been left as payment for the pirates, we believe it was borrowed by the Earl from the museum in the past. It would be interesting to know if he had reported it stolen or not."
--at the museum--
Q'lack points toward the helmet that was recovered. "This had been left as payment for some pirates. Was it one of the items you loaned to the Earl?"
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"I can try. The procedure needs for them to be identified though, I can't have them jailed without issuing a formal accusation, let alone get them convicted. All I can promise is Iìll try to keep this as quiet as possible but I can't and I won't work outside the system" Joleana answers Q'lack's request, then considers the helmet:"So that's one of the items that disappeared from the museum? I'd say the chances that the Earl is somehow involved in this mischief keep increasing. Since it wasn't reported stolen I won't keep it as evidence. Keep it for now but be warned I might need it back when the trial gets underway"
After leaving the courthouse...
Cincia ggggles happily as Q'lack produces the helmet:"Yes! That was stolen from here! Thanks for bringing it back You see? The earl must be up to no good! You need to stop him! Consorting with pirates! He shames Taldor and his ancestor's name, the curr!"
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It's some times past 4 in the afternoon when you get back to St. Lymirin Street Bridge. Unfortunately by this time the smugglers have done their job already, and nothing is left of the stolen cargo. You are sure the smugglers used the tunnels leading back to Rindonport, yet the veritable maze of passages would require you deays to explore, which forces you to get back to Rindonport. Once there you decide to pay Neffery a visit. The man's shift is over and he catches you on his way out from the establishment:"My friends! We meet again would you walk with me? I've got a few errands to run before going back home and I'd be glad for the company..." once you are half a mile away from the Chandlery he stops his previously inconsequential chatter and asks:"So? I take you were able to get into the back office? The Earl came to visit us this morning. He was his normal self at first but I dare say he appeared rather alarmed when he left..."
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"Is him? I cannot say for sure, but I guess it could very well be" Neffery answers Zomo.
"Traking down stolen materials... Let me think... by tomorrow evening I'll try to come up with a list of places that could be used to store goods of illicit provenience. Meanwhile I suggest you prepare yourselves to do some more searching. From what you told me about all those "gifts" to the navy, it seems like there's a lot about the Earl I ignored..."
After escorting Neffery back to his home it's too late to do anything else, so you settle for a quiet evening at the museum.
It is good you get some well deserved sleep beccause it's early morning when Cincia knocks on your respective doors, sounding alarmed.
"Vernisant’s guards have arrived and have started rearranging the museum’s main room for some kind of special event! What is he trying to do now? Turning this place ito his personal propaganda outlet??? You've got to stop him!"
As you decide to investigate get down to the entrance and discover that a small crowd has begun to trickle in from the street. Asking around provides you with some answers:"Our dear Earl Vernisant will give a speech shortly to announce a new holiday called “Birthright Day”. This was a complete surprise! No one was expecting it... but this is a joyous occasion nontheless!"
After a short while Cincia ushers you out of the building to join
the crowd. Among the spectators you recognize all of your contacts: the shipwright Rasvelg Coalbraid, Magistrate Joleana Tantriano, and Patrician Neffery Adimare. They notice you and smile back, yet, by the look on their faces, they don't seem exactly sure about what's going on themselves"[/b]
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Seeing the crowd gathering, Zomo focuses on his past lives as a spy. Recalling the spell Speechreader's Sight and casting it as the crowd gathers. Zomo will use this to read the lips of influential members of the crowd.
Walking past the painting of the Earl, an old memory rises to the surface.
[dice=amnesia roll; Focused Scrutiny]1d100[/dice]
With a grin the Zomo focuses his scrutiny on the Earls painting and attempts to heighten his sensitivity to the mannerisms, reactions, and body language of the Earl.
"I don't know what is about to happen, but this will help us communicate." Zomo casts message on the group.
[dice=False Life]1d10+5[/dice]
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Henry is a little paranoid when he sees all the people they meet during their investigation gathered in the same place, don't the Earl want all them dead? It will be the perfect place to get rid of people he don't like and blame the Pathfinders.
He tell his comrades about his fears while gathering in the crowd trying to understand if all the people gathered have "problems" with the earl.
He also look outside for any gathering of troops ready to storm the place.
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Nei-lung and Henry both learn the same answers for their questions: the crowd was lead here by promise of an important announcement from the Earl. A new local festivity named “Birthright Day”. Most if not all people present seem rather excited about it and don't seem to suspect anything to be amiss.
A small speaking platform has been set up just to the side of the main doors, allowing the public a clear view of the museum’s main room. Suddenly four guards exit the building to flank the platform. As a quintet of winds and percussion plays an inspired fanfare, the guards pull on several bundles of cloth near the eaves, unfurling long banners of green, blue, and gold. As the banners finish opening, blue and green alchemical smoke pellets activate, releasing plumes of sparking smoke. Earl Calhadion Vernisant strides through the smoke and ascends to the speaking platform, resplendent in a finely cut outfit and basking in the applause.
“We stand here to today in recognition of greatness: of Taldor’s institutions, of Taldor’s people, and the greatness of Taldor itself! Yet our grand empire would not have shaped the world as we know it were it not for sacrifice—the selfless heroism that inspired our neighbors to unite against a common threat, when evil itself threatened to snuff out civilization as we know it. Yes, I speak of the great General Arnisant, my direct ancestor who faced evil head-on and gave his life so that we might live our own. Yes, in Taldor, we respect tradition because it’s what made us strong and keeps us strong, and I stand before you today as a living testament that General Arnisant’s legacy of selfless and impeccable service lives on, for the glory of Ridonport,” the earl pauses as the crowd cheers wildly, “and of Taldor itself! This is our birthright, and today we celebrate our heritage proudly!”
The quintet plays a cheerful tune as the guards motion for applause and the crowd cheers. For effect, Vernisant frowns with pensive concern before motioning for silence and continuing. “Yet there are those who hate our traditions, who loathe what Taldor stands for, and who disparage Arnisant’s sacrifice that bought us our freedom.” The earl motions for patience as the crowd boos angrily. “Yes, I too was angry when I learned someone might despise Taldor with the same blasphemous hatred that the Whispering Tyrant leveled at our empire when he drew upon his foul magic and attempted to tear out General Arnisant’s heart just as even now some in Taldor which to shred institutions as sacred as primogeniture that have made us strong! “And,” he notes, raising his hand before leveling it at the Pathfinders, “They infiltrate our ranks even today!”
Suddenly you realize every eye in the courtyard is set upon you. Apparently the Earl plans to use his rethoric in order to defame and slander you making your whole work up until now moot. Who would believe people who hate Taldor like the Whispering Tyrant did, after all?
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"When I heard of the the people of Tandak Prefecture and the tale of Forath Bozbeyli I was humbled! These are strong independent people, people that know right from wrong and can see it with their own eyes! The type of people that create the beating heart of an empire, the people who gave birth to heros like General Arnisant. You are keen perceptive people and know the truth of this situation, look to the pillars of your institutions, they see the truth too." zomo gestures to Cincia, Rasvelg, Adimare, and Joleana.
Zomo attempts to empower the crowd before allowing one of his companions to maintain the momentum.
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"This man, if you can call him that, is pathetic. He walks about claiming the blood of a god like the fool Forath Bozbeyli. He lets the trade canals fall into disrepair so the pirates profit. The same pirates who somehow happen to have relics that he's claimed from the local museum. I would spit on him, but I wouldn't want to spend the effort."
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I was an officer of His Majesty, Grand Prince Stavian III. But, I was too foolish at the time to see what our Great Nation has become. Only when tied by tradition and proudness, I've accepted a challenge from a rival officer and I have been left for dead that I realize how deep I was wrong.
Yes, our Nation is Grand, Proud and men like Lord Harnisan's ancestor build our country.
But look! Now we are like this museum, a place of old glory who lies to ourself.
Claming false birthright, letting in disrepair the place that hold our most precious History! Trying to get for himself what's is not his by abusing its power. But more despicable, fails to live by his ancestor, asking to have a painting to his glory, not his ancestor in THIS museum!
Yes, Pathfinder have the reputation of thieves, smugglers or worse, but at least we try to reveal the true stories behind the veil of the false stories and lies... we unravel the truth and for that I'm not sorry.
Now, Taldor his in the hands of aloof people like this man who call himself a "proud heritor of the Great Arnisant"!
Where is his selflessness? In its own portrait? Where are his "impeccable service" to his nation? In his trade with smugglers? NO! He try to blame us, stranger or less than nothing, for his own failures!
Boo on him. We can't ask a man to live like his perfect ancestor, but we must ask for him to try to uphold him the Earl failed in every way...
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Q'lack also joins in. "And I am Prince Q'lack of the Grippli. I have come to your lands to learn of the greatness of Talor." he pauses dramatically.
"But what I see is a man, descended from nobles who lives on tales of his forefathers glory. I see evidence of a man who re-writes history, much as the rebel Cheliax do. Is not Taldor greater than that former renegade province?" he asks.
"I see evidence of someone who will do anything to line his own pockets, at the expense of his nation, his neighbours and you - his people."
The little frog shakes his head.
"And now he tries to buy your appreciation with a holiday? You, Taldor, are better than this."
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”It is not for men to decide they are great. That is a decision left for others. General Arnisant was one of those men, as the statue left in his honor attests. But this man standing before you today has placed an image of himself in the museum, a museum dedicated to preserving the glory and history of Taldor. And now he introduces a holiday that will bring more ‘honor’ to himself, not Taldor. How many of you knew of this celebration beforehand, or even heard tell of it? ‘You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back, nor does a large chair make a king’” Nei-lung pauses here to let the words sink in.
“If you examine the evidence, evidence that Magistrate Joleana has, you can plainly see this man, a man claiming to be as worthy of the General he is descended from, has stolen from Ridonport, secretly increased taxes and used these ill-gotten gains to pay for pirates to steal from your neighbors.
”It is said ‘Boasting begins where wisdom stops.’ Go into the museum and engage with the painting Earl Vernisant has had placed in there, a painting that is said to reflect the ‘glory’ of the earl, and see how wise he appears. Truly great people do not need to go around telling everyone how great they are.”
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You hear the crowd murmuring as Zomo brings up the fate of tyhe previous Grand Duke Forath Bozbeyli, some seem appalled while othersnod vigorously.
Slade's remark seems to be much les well received as several people seem to take exception at him insulting their Earl in such a brazen and direct manner.
Henry on the other hand manages to sway quite a few people. His history as Taldan officer gives him credit but his words also have the ring of truth about them and most cannot deny it, much as they'd like to.
Q'lack attracts attention by virtue of being a grippli, a race not so common in Taldor. Yet his impasionate speech manages to convince a few of the crowd to look beyond appearances and to confront the truth as well.
And then Nei-lung speaks, and more people seem to be convinced Vernisant is not doing things as he should... perhaps these foreigners have a point?
"People of glorious Taldor! Look at them! At this bunch of strays, foreigners and failures! Who are they? A lout who cannot articulate two words without insulting his betters! A soldier of the Empire who abandoned his post to serve a foreign organization! A crowman and a frogman and even two Qadirans! The times are such that even the likes of these dare raise their head and spit their venom against those who served Taldor with dedication and integrity! And hear what they say! They dare accuse ME of piracy! ME who cleaned Rindonport of such filth and restored the rule of Law to all of the land under my stewardship! There's really no end to their treachery! People of Rindonport, hear me! These scoundrels who dare utter such falsehoods are the real criminals! Not 2 days ago they shed the blood of Taldor’s own navy, striking down our nation’s finest on their native soil!”
Vernisant concludes his new tirade in an angry accusatory tone and the crowd once again seems swayed to his side...
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Q'lack clears his throat.
"That we battled three pirates who had been thrown out of the fine Taldane navy is true. But even though they were pirates, we struck with care so that they might find justice. Justice in Taldor. These same folk were each evicted from the navy for crimes and desertion. I think you will find in your lord's assessment of these men.. and women.. as Taldor's finest an accurate measure of his judgement."
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Lord Zomo produces the magistrate's writ "Not scoundrels, Lawful deputies of Taldor! Your magistrate turned to us after the Earl had failed her!"
"Smugglers and pirates of by their own confession, they wore armor from this very museum. The Earl paid the wages of pirates with the heirlooms of Rindonport!"
Zomo gestures for Cincia and Joleana to confirm that they recovered a relic took by the Earl's soldiers, and that they were deputized.
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As Zomo and Q'lack make their rebuttals Rasvelg, the head of Ridonport’s shipwright’s guild steps forward:"My lord, and good people, I for one can attest none of the sailors I works with ever mentioned a fight with these pathfinders. So if the they did clash with someone, it wasn’t with anyone who’s part of Taldor’s navy. I did hear that the infamous deserter Gayleigh Knar had finally picked a fight that beast of hers from Osirion couldn’t get her out of, though... maybe she was the one these people bested? If so I'd say they did the town a service".
As Rasvelg moves back into the crowd, it's time for Joleana to take the center of the stage:"I can confirm the veracity of Rasvelg's assumptions. These pathfindiers did fight Knar and her crew of deserters, who were all wanted criminals. And it's also true I deputized them, so they did not act illegally at all, quite the contrary. Besides the pirates quite readily confessed to their crimes in exchange for a lesser sentence" Joleana states solemnly.
"This is preposterous! Claiming that pirates would be operating in Ridonport, goes against everything everyone knows to be right and true! I personally consider the suggestion that pirates were acting freely in our midsts a personal insult to my administration and the citizens’ upstanding moral fiber. Magistrate! I know you as an honest and scrupolous officer of the law. Surely you can see how these despicable Pathfinders have intimidated their captives into providing a false confession. But wait. The list of their crimes is long indeed! For example I was informed it was none other was than these villains who broke into the chandlery a few nights ago, stealing from the very businesses that sustain Ridonport!"
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"Changing the subject will not save your tattered reputation! [/]b" croaks Q'lack. "[b]A break in at the Chandlery?" her queries further.
"There are many valuable supplies in there that provide for the glorious Taldane navy. Were they taken? I had not heard of that. And if not the supplies, what precisely was taken Earl?"
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The Earl scoffs:"Words are wind! Your wiles are insidious, I'll give you that, but you can't fool the wise people of Rindonport! Yet again you dare accuse ME of something as low as stealing now? Do you really think anyone here is willing to believe that?" he concludes, smirking, yet someone does indeed raise up to back your words... Neffery:"Excuse me my Lord but I can't stay silent no longer. I was the one that suggested to these fine people to search the Candlery... and I regret to say they found very upsetting evidence not everything is right with the our accounting. Besides they found traces of gifts that most would call by the name of bribes... As I said it's most upsetting evidence."
Vernisant stumbles as Neffery finishes speaking:"This is preposterous! Neffery! How can you of all people believe their lies!?!? I'm the one who wants to get to the bottom of this! I certainly had nothing to do with anything even remotely resembling bribes and I can promise you a official investigation... one that shall no doubt dissipate any fears of wrongdoing on my part and reestabilish the truth!"
"That's all very well Earl. I will make sure this inquiry to be thorough as I'll be taking the lead on it myself" Joleana interjects again. "I can assure everyone here that we at the curthouse were informed of this and take these matters very seriously indeed. Also I can confirm the ones who gave us the incriminating documents ser Neffery mentioned were none others than these Pathfinders"
The Earl smiles acidly at this but cannot do anything else than nod:"Good. Then I'll consider the matter settled. And now, back to the matter at hand. As you have no doubt noticed these pathfinders did their fair share of meddling in the brief time they spent in our fine town! It's not surprising. That's what they do. Yet one would be wise to ask himself WHY they did so. To what purpose? I'll tell you why! it's apparent they want to tear us apart as a community! And they want to do so by discrediting ME! Your appointed leader and in doing so they hope to sully my esteemed ancestor's legacy as well!"
The earl takes a pause for dramatic effect and then continues:"My people, let us not forget the lessons of Mendev’s third crusade, when invading demons infiltrated the heroes’ ranks to spread misery, misinformation, and misfortune. So to do these foreign menaces spy on us and turn us against one another, hoping that we might destroy each other. We must stand together to be strong!"
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"That," interjects Nei-lung, "is the first wise thing you have said, Earl Vernisant." He addresses the gathered crowd. "There is a familiar saying that 'one bad apple will spoil the whole barrel'. The bad apple must be removed to save the rest of the harvest. We are not here to spoil the grand legacy of General Arnisant. The man was a true hero, and you are right to honor him. However, we are here at the behest of a concerned citizen of Ridonport, fearing that this man has been abusing his power. Our goal is not to spread lies or rumors, but rather to strengthen. 'A bundle of sticks is not easily broken.' Fine, proud people of Ridonport, you are those sticks. Together you are strong. But, allow one fractured twig, it will weaken the rest of the bundle, regardless of the family tree it came from."
Nei-lung stops and closes his eyes. He thinks back to his monk's training before he left Nagaja. A man must not only master his body, but also his mind. A fool speaks what he knows, a wise man knows what he speaks. How do you argue with a fool? And he finds his answer. He speaks aloud to himself, though those close to him can hear his words.
"To argue with a fool is to prove there are two."
His consciousness returns across the years to the here and now as his eyes snap open, though only a couple of seconds have passed. He looks back to the earl, his voice calm, almost imploring the Earl to see reason.
"Earl, you know the evidence is against you. You know the evidence is in the hands of the very person you yourself called an 'honest and scrupulous officer of the law'. Please, for the sake of the people whom you claim to be proud Taldans, do not continue to insult their intelligence. Have some pride in yourself. 'To make a mistake and not correct it is to make another mistake'."
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Q'lack nods his head at the monks wise words.
"We are certainly not here to meddle. I for one have a huge degree of respect for the fine nation of Taldor and the great nobles who lead it. " he pauses for a moment. "When they are great and noble."
He shakes his head sadly. "However even my own eyes have been opened by what has been revealed here. If you do not trust us, then maybe the evidence should be shared with your neighbor upriver, who has suffered from the river pirates the most? We have seen no evidence to suggest any collusion with him..."
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I agree with the Earl, we must remember the lessons of Mendev's third crusade. How the best of men were led to their doom by some of their own leader.
We always must question the acts and decisions of our leaders. Because for each noble heart there is its own counterpart. Someone is an hidden agenda, ready to twist the words of the noble to their own interest, ready to use the success of the good one for their own agenda, ready to use fallacies for their own gain!
Turning to the assembly Henry adds Did your Earl come from a great House? YES!
But did his life uphold his own ancestor? I don't think so.
Being the descendant of the Great Arnisant wasn't enough for him, he need a greater heritage! So he make believe that he is one of the descendant of the Inheritor Herself! It's prosperous!
after a short pause he says Like my comrades here, I have no quarrel with Taldor, even more, I want Taldor to succeed! I'm no foreigner, I'm a proud son of Taldor!
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"I'd like to say I was the one who invited these scholars here in Rindonport" Cincia calmly states as she approaches the stage where the earl is standing.
"Considering all that transpired here today I believe that was a wise choice" she concludes.
The earl is taken aback yet again by the new interjection:"I'm saddened by this lack of faith. That so many people could fall prey to this obvious political conspiracy against ME is truly baffling and unexpected. I'm disappointed in you, yet I am the only one who can lead Ridonport, and I am prepared to prove it!"
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As the pathfinders finish speaking the crowd starts murmuring and the earl grows pale and begins to sweat, sensing how his gamble had turned against him in a most dramatic fashion. Even so no one ever claimed Earl Calhadion Vernisant was someone willing to wait and accept defeat quietly. In one last desperate attempt to wrestle the crowd's control back from you the noble makes speaks again:“People of Ridonport,” the earl proudly pleads, backing into the museum’s main room as the crowd advanced menacingly. “Your actions bring shame to our port’s greatest hero. When I looked through this museum’s collections, I found a mighty artifact hidden from view since 3827—as if we were ever ashamed of our heritage. Do not jeer at me, for I am about to reclaim a relic used by my ancestor and bring glory back to Ridonport!”
Vernisant motions to one of the attendants, who pulls a blue cloth off of a heavy chest. The word “Gallowspire” runs diagonally across its surface in peeling paint. The earl places a hand on the chest and announces, “Let us see what treasures the past has promised.” As if responding to his voice or his touch, the chests numerous locks all click open. Vernisant’s smirk turns to a look of confusion as the lid flies open and a wave of palpable menace rushes out. As it passes over the suits of armor on display, they animate and begin menacing the crowd. At the same time, a pair of gauntlets leaps out at one of the guards, choking the life from him. Other haunted relics begin rising from the crate as a spectral voice bellows, “We can sense you, General, and we can sense your people. We shall destroy them all as a reminder that none ever mock the Whispering Tyrant, Tar-Baphon!” In response, Calhadion Vernisant takes a fearful step back, swishes his cloak, and disappears in a cloud of blue-and-green smoke.
In one istant all hell breaks loose as people start screaming and runing away from the animated suits of armor now trying to kill all living being in their vicinities. Unfortunately you are on their path and need to move aside if you don't want to be trampled by the stampede!
