The reception goes well, and 2 hours later, we get to another round of rolls.
Feli has chosen the tian man again.
Who will the rest of the team choose?
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"My apologies, milady, if my attire isn't quite up to snuff; as a member of the prestigious Pathfinder Society, sometimes we are assigned to dangerous and heroic missions on the spur of the moment. But we do appreciate the patronage of you and your family and would love to endear myself to our common interests." With that, Vassago snaps his fingers and fills a nearby empty glass with sparkling, clear water. "Would you enjoy a refreshing beverage, Lady Blakros?"
Vassago, blaming a lack of preparation in the wardrobe to his first failure, decides to move over to another target who should be easy to impress. To the Garundi woman, Vassago tries a different approach. "A beverage for a fellow adventurer?", Vassago snapping his fingers and filling an empty chalice he is carrying with cool, refreshing water. "I am Vassago Ilsidore, a representative of the Pathfinder Society. What brings you the festivities?"
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Sir Spenser approaches Nigel Blakros. "Hail, and well met! Th'art Lord Nigel Blakros, I presume? Alself me to introduce mylow: Sir Spenser Pellinore Quixote The Last, Marquis de Exupery. Never ere have our roads corresected, but thine Heka as vaultmaster of secrets grand and strange precedeth thee. I, likewise, am Of The Tome: 'Tis my raison d'etre to SAVE THE STORIES ere the feckless grit of time grind all to naught, as the ill-milled villein's-bread of Katapesh doth scour a maw of nacreous dentin! Never have I lain eyes upon thy gallery, but to do so woulds't doubtless be swich brain-honey! How fares thy demesne?"
Feli's quick to hand the man a new drink. As she introduces herself, he returns the favor.
"I am Jeon Raeng-Woo, trade liason to the Blakros family in my homeland, and one of the earliest friends of the bride. As such, i can't afford to miss my dear friend's wedding day, now can i? So what is it you do, when you're not...pathfindering?"
Raeng-Woo's seriously intoxicated.
When Turzyk joins the conversation, he doesn't make as much of an impact on Raeng-Woo as anticipated. When he speaks the tien speech, Raeng-Woo looks at him, then starts laughing uncontrollably for a moment.
"That pronounciation is absurdly hilarious. The best dialect lies with the Tian-Hwan of Hwanggot, not Goka's version."
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Matriarch Blakros, in her elegant ress, dismisses the glass.
"I am pleased you are entertained, but i don't need water right now.
If by 'common interests' you mean a peaceful proceeding of the wedding, then we both do our parts, yes?"
She gives off a small smile, which seems more of an etiquette thing for her.
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Phosdlon tries again to get the garundi woman to open up.
She gives him little attention.
"No need. Security's well managed."
The reception proceeds well, and a little less than an hour later, a new guest arrivés at the scene.
It is a middle-aged man of chelish blood with carefully trimmed black hair and a distinctly retreating hairline. He is dressed in fine black attire, and sems to easily join the ongoing conversations.
Alexander Berdard (well dressed taldan man): Sense motive
Commander Rubaani Shafar (garundi woman): Kn. History or Kn. Nobility
Jeon Raeng-Woo: Heal or Sense Motive
Matriarch Hamaria Blakros: Sense motive
Nigel: Diplomacy or Kn. LocalTancred Desimire (chelish man): Kn. Nobility or Sense motive
Tancred Desimire (chelish man): Kn. Nobility or Sense Motive
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Vassago leaves the matriarch alone briefly before returning, this time without the parlor tricks.
"So we meet again, milady. I had some time to think about your words, and we do have more in common than simply ensuring peaceful proceedings. After all, the bounty of historical artifacts your family has collected needs careful minds to catalogue and identify the true treasures within. Simply put, we have much to offer your family, especially given our history in recent years."
Felicitas moves forward and smiles dashingly at Nigel.
"I have seen that one of my collagues tried to get into a friendly conversation with you earlier. And that he did not make a stellar expression. I sincerly apologize for his crude behavior.
This is a wedding and a party, a place to mend fences and make new alliances. I hope I can drag you in the spirit of it and at least manage to make you smile once, or maybe even twice at me.
If you do not mind, tell me what is your goal for this wedding.
Make new friends? Meet one of the bridesmaids? Do not make a fool out of yourself? Well at least for the last part, so far you are quite succesful."
She adds a sweet raised eyebrow to it.
Nigel stares at Feli as she goes on.
"Your manners are appreciated.
I don't smile so easily, there is little that can cause me to.
Being here is a formality, after all, so i don't seek to attract anything."
"And i don't go after bridesmaids, i am married."
Despite his quick dismissal, his face is not as moody as when he was before you approached him. It would seem your attitude has softened him up a little.
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Phosdlon stands a short distance away from Alexander Berdard, and notices the man is trying to ever steer conversations towards his success from rising from the working class to the political circle, with much bravado.
From another group, whom he left shortly before, there is whispering that he once tried to win Michellia's heart, and he is quite smitten with her.
That may be a subject to use to steer away from his topics, and towards your own.
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Spenser:
The garundi woman looks like a battle hardened sort, and after observing her, you get the idea that she may well be the sort that rich families or nobility would hire for protection. Matriarch Blakros has done so now, after all. Perhaps such a topic would get her to open up.
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Vassago:
" -We- you say, i take it you are part of the society revenue. We have our own researchers and family studying our art and relics, so there is little reason for your people to take our items. Still, i have heard of the incident at the museum, and you people are at least skilled in the cleanup of dangerous elements, i think that is more the part of what you can offer my family."
"But at least you try putting your intentions in relative forward speech, that is credit worthy. I so dislike false pretenses."
A few hours later, the music stops, and matriarch Hamaria Blakros takes the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please."
"It is a pleasure facilitating the reception for you all. Catching up, hearing news on various topics from many of you. Alas, it is time to close for the evening, we have a big day ahead of us."
There is clapping for the host, and the crowd gradually leaves the pavillion. One approaches you, though, none other than the Trade Prince himself.
"Ah..agents, good to see you in private.
I have observed your dealings across the evening, and think i can help you.
Currently, there are a few people with an open mind towards our oganization."
"That tien fellow, Reang-Woo, seems particularly charmed by the blonde young lady. The matriarch is open to talking, quite an achievement. A word of caution, don't get too informal with her, she can make you disappear overnight if she wanted to."
"The taldan representative too, seems open towards conversation.
The same cannot be said of Nigel. That elf is still a frigid ... 'person'..
The guards' captain, the garundi woman, she's as stoic as ever, try to get her to open up. The chelish man is a mystery to me, but given his fluid way in conversations, he must be of some influence."
As you leave as well, there is one figure standing near a tree...hurling up.
phosdlon recognizes the man as Jeon Raeng-Woo.
(woozy voice)
"Eh...i'm..i'm fine....."
(decorates the ground again)
Felicitas smiles and tries to help with it.
Between feli and Phosldon, they give him a pressure point massage, calming his condition.
"Thank you. I guess i'll drink much less tomorrow.
Now i need but get to my lodging, rest for the big day.", he manages to say with a faint smile.
The following morning....
As the sun rises on the eastern horizon, representatives of the Blakros family move between the many living quarters erected on the island gathering guests for the wedding ceremony. A queue of nearly a hundred guests stretches along the winding path through the woods from the guest accommodations to the location of the wedding itself, with each guest arranged in order of rank and prestige.
The procession makes its way approximately a mile to the northwest, ending at an opulent, open-air chapel carved out of cedar and wreathed with colorful flowers and laurel leaves.
Atop a high bluff overlooking the Inner Sea, the chapel sets a scene of wealth and beauty few families in the region could afford to build specifcally for their child’s wedding.
Rows of comfortable pews stand facing the chapel, providing guests in attendance with a view not only of the ceremony and the vista beyond, but also of those other guests who were granted better positions because of their social station.
The first row is occupied with the families of the bride and groom, and the 2nd with other ranking dignitaries.
As so happens, the Society representatives (including you, of course) are somewhere in third row, still relatively close to the front.
Once all chairs are occupied, a priest arrives.
Vroclaw of Brevoy, high priest of Abadar in Absalom’s Ascendant Court and a personal advisor to the city’s primarch, Lord Gyr of House Gixx.
The Blakros' influence is quite something, able to get someone of his post to do the ceremony.
The high priest delivers a long sermon about the duty of nobility in matters political and economic, and heaps praise upon the Blakroses for their contributions to Absalom and the entire Inner Sea region over the
centuries. His praise for the groom and his family is noticeably more understated, and while he seems approving of the Hellknights in theory, the speech includes a number of underhanded jabs at Cheliax and those who use law as an excuse to cause pain and suffering in others.
At the conclusion of the sermon, Damian Kastner walks forth from the entryway, garbed in the fnest of ceremonial Hellknight armor. To honor the groom, Lictor Toulon Vidoc of the Order of the Scourge rises from
the chapel’s second row and delivers his own speech, which consists primarily of recounting of specifc operations Kastner oversaw as a feldmaralictor, and a list of over two dozen noted criminals from throughout the Inner Sea that he is credited with apprehending or killing.
Felicitas whistles in admiration.
They must have cashed in quite some favors!
Listening and making notes Felicitas follows the speeches preparing for the rest of the day´s trials.
With much fanfare and adulation, Michellia Blakros proceeds down the aisle, followed by an entourage of doting attendants who maintain her elaborate dress and 6-foot train.
The bride takes Kastner’s hands as the Abadaran high priest again takes the pulpit, now espousing the importance of adhering to the contract of marriage and the significance that such a long-lasting agreement holds.
As the sermon draws to an end, Vroclaw of Brevoy looks over the assembled witnesses and asks, "Do any here object to this union, sanctified by the great Judge of the Gods, or know of any reason this contract cannot be entered into by either party?"
A hush overtakes the room, and for a brief moment it seems that everything is all right, until a voice breaks from the crowd. "I do!"
It is Alexander Berdard.
"Be not fools, friends! This is not a marriage of love, and the sacred oath this pair will soon take is but a means to a political end. Michellia Blakros doesn’t loves this man, and what the groom feels for his bride seems immaterial to these proceedings.
The great nation of Andoran has shown in its short existence that every man or woman should be free, and this wedding spits in the face of that belief. This couple should not be bound to one another over a lie for mere political gain. I, Alexander Bedard of the Andoren People’s Council, protest!"
Bedard sits down after giving his monologue, and confused and angry murmurs begin to erupt from the crowd. Michellia looks irate at the spectacle her wedding has just become, and Kastner maintains a cool face of steely anger.
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Turzyk listens to the mans sudden outburst and after a long silence from the crowd the assimar stands up and begins to speak "I am sure Sir Bedard spoke from his heart and with passion and I do not fault him for what he said, even in his rush, for some things do drive men to act with the rashness of the bold as he displayed and I think we all owe him thanks for speaking his mind. It may be true that this is a mere political marriage, it may be well that these two do indeed love each other as ought to by the bounds of marriage. I know not, and truthfully I care not. These two individuals here today saw fit to join in a matrimony either for love, or for benefit and I for one have no voice in their decision as it is not my life nor choice to make. They enter into this union of their own free will and volition. I think all of us can respect their decisions as we have all faced situations that have tested our resolve. If they marry for political gain and find love of each other in the aftermath then I say good for them. If they marry for love and find political gain in the aftermath then I say good for them as well. Regardless of the situation this is a time for celebration and yes we should celebrate." and with that the assimar sits down.
Turzyk gives a sympathethic, yet diplomatic speech.
The crowd nods and softly murmurs.
Although Alexander's speech is countered, Turzyk agreeing with him to some degree hits a snare, and he sits down, lost in thought.
The groom and bride seem content with those words, and the moods on their faces, have passed.
With the ceremony coming to a close, everyone gets up and discussions start again.
Berdard excuses himself and leaves the reception.
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After the ceremonies conclude, Turzyk will look for the Commander of Guards, Rubbanni (?), to see if he can speak to her. If he finds her he will begin the conversation with her on experiences from his past.
"This whole thing reminds me of when the Toshiko family in Tian married one of their daughters to a nomad Horse-Prince. One of the guests cried foul when his attendance gift was not to his liking and he stormed out. I was just a junior guard at the time but the old Head-guard failed to heed any warnings nor did he increase the security of the after party. The disgruntled noble returned later with a mercenary force and tried to force his way in, some bloodshed occurred before it was over, but in the end reparations were made and the Horse-Prince gave the noble a fine stallion as a gift. The Nobility can be finicky at times."
Before moving towards the discussion Felicitas quickly casts Heroism on herself.
She then moves toward Nigel.
"Good morning Nigel. What an interesting ceremony. There is a Tien saying. May you live in interesting times. What do you think?"
Using this as a start she tries her charm, but does not flirt.