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Just as Wilen makes a mental note of Tancred Desimire's sudden absence, Jeon Raeng-Woo enters his range of vision and he quickly decides to go give another try at influencing him.
Mr. Raeng-Woo, if you didn't like the ale I had you try earlier, maybe this one is more your speed.
Wilen tries to impress the merchant with a dark stout.
Bedard is in a dark mood, sitting in the corner nursing his beer as well as some grievance, and doesn't respond to Declan beyond the barest pleasantries.
Nigel visibly gets tenser as the Pathfinders approach. "While I admit there have been times when Society agents have been the less disorderly party in my museum, rest assured that I have no interest in inviting you or your ilk to spread your habitual chaos all over my exhibits. Thank you."
Raeng-Woo looks at Wilen with a moment of befuddlement, before breaking out into another smile. "Clearly you'd be a stout friend to have Mr. Proudbrew - attentiveness to a man's thirsts will get you far in life."
Juis and Marianna have a pleasant enough conversation with Rubaani, but it's quite clear that her attention is divided, and they don't feel they've made any real progress...
Gladly, however, the evening continues without any untoward interruptions, and Tancred Desimire soon makes a reappearance, sliding into the festivities with a well-oiled charm.
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A bit put off by the cold shoulder from Nigel, Duncan looks around the room helplessly. "Better if these were all man-eating alligators," he whispers under his breath. "Stone cold striking out at a cocktail party, eh? Serves me right for every joining the Society in the first place." He looks around to see if any of his allies are having any better luck.
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Leb tries to get in the good graces of the museum's curator again
I am sure your museum would be a very instructive place to visit, and I admire that you place the security of the artistic and historical objects as your top priority. I was recently send in Osirion for the Society, and I have been privileged to see by myself some magnificent buildings, and very ancien art.
Lebraerio gives a passionate speech about Osirion's marvels, hoping to pick the curator's interest
Who knows, maybe in a few decades, some of the Blackros wedding gifts will find their place in a museum too...Is that one of your reasons for being here today? Historical interest, and the eye of an expert? Or do you have to socialise to attract generous donators?
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Even if she doesn't make headway in persuading the good commander, Marianna still enjoys 'talking shop' with a fellow mercenary. As such, she's going to continue doing that. Hopefully, she can swaps stories with her about both missions that they've done, with her talking about what she's done for the Pathfinders as well as her work with the group of Grey Maidens that she's attached.
Declan, Duncan and Marianna have a grand old time schmoozing with Rubaani, who responds quite warmly and expansively when it comes to swapping old war stories.
"...so no shit, there I was, half my face practically gone and the damned manticore still just flapping about. So I pick up my sergeant's bow and start laying down the covering fire I'd asked for in the first place! Now that wasn't enough to drive it off all by itself, but like I said earlier, surprise can be the key to victory, and we still had one mule left..."
Raeng-Woo seems uncharacteristically wary, and stays away from sharing any truly deep observations with Wilen, no doubt used to people trying to pump him for information while he's in his cups. "Well Michellia's always been a peach. Smart as a whip too. And of course Eleanir'd always be right there beside her. Sad that she's had to miss today, but the pair've always been just as ambitious as you'd expect."
Nigel seems faintly offended by the implication that he'd only be here on business, "My wife is a Blakros after all," but Lebraerio's diversion into shop-talk and historical curiosities quickly salvages things and he spends a good amount of time comfortably chatting with him and Juis.
As the evening begins to wind down, Hamaria Blakros gives a final speech of welcome and thanks, and Commander Rubaani discretely assigns honor guards to you and the other VIPs, "My guards will be happy to show you to your quarters if you are quite finished with the refreshments."
The other guests head off to their various bungalows, though Raeng-Woo lingers a bit with what he assures everyone is his last drink of the night.
***
At your cottage you are awaited by Trade Prince Aaqir al'Hakam, a noted member of The Exchange. "Well, so far so good I suppose. You've made at least some sort of impression on most of the other attendees, but I'd encourage you to concentrate your efforts. Being vaguely well-thought of by many isn't nearly as useful to us as having a firmer alliance with a few of them.
"Happily, Commander Rubaani seems to have take a real shine to you in particular, Marianna; I'm certain that will pay dividends if we should need to embark on any joint military ventures with the Blakroses. It may also allow you the benefit of the doubt with her soldiers if you feel the need to travel the island, though of course pressing her too far could have its own dangers!"
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"I understand, sir. I'm sure I can look elsewhere for interesting conversation. Connections abound here in any case," Marianna responses to the Trade Prince's comments.
While on watch, Marianna will leave the cottage, and loop the building. Considering the private guards, this should be an easy job tonight.
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 specifically 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.
You are all given a spot of relative prestige in the third row - behind the first row of attending members of the Blakros and Kastner families, and the second row of other honored dignitaries. The laborious process continues until all the pews before the altar are filled to capacity, at which point Vroclaw of Brevoy, high priest of Abadar in Absalom's Ascendant Court, and a personal advisor to the city's primarch, arrives to perform the ceremony.
He is a talented orator, which makes what could be a lethally dull sermon on the duties of the nobility across spheres both political and economical pass briskly. His rhetorical flourishes find more fertile ground as he heaps praise upon the Blakroses for their contributions to Absalom and the entire Inner Sea region over the centuries. However, his praise for the groom and his family is noticeably more understated, and while he seems to approve of the Hellknights in the abstract, it does include several pointed jabs at Cheliax and those who use the 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 finest 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 specific operations Kastner oversaw as a field-maralictor, and a list of over two dozen noted criminals from throughout the Inner Sea that he is credited with apprehending or killing.
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.
Alexander Bedard, the Councilor from Andoran stands, muscular shoulders thrown back, and the tinge of his beard's shadow oddly complementing the patriotic navy blue of the day's suit.
"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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Wilen leans over to his teammates and frantically whispers, just enough to reach them past the din of crowd noise.
On reflection I suppose we should have seen that coming. Apart from the fact that some of us might agree with this sentiment (I'm still pondering it myself), these proceeding could still go further South into a fully-blown melee. So.... do any of you have a distraction to top that objection speech? Or should we be thinking of ways to create a barrier between two sides?
He looks at each of them in turn, and then down at the ground squinting as he thinks of his own available tools.
I'm pretty sure setting off a bomb here wouldn't be helpeful...
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Marianna looks visibly uncomfortable at Wilen's comments. "My armor... has some rather negative connotations, doubly so for an Andoran. For a wedding such as this, It's good that I left it behind. As for this, I say let Mr. Bedard stew in his own words, but prepare to defend anyone that is being attacked."
The stunned silence is broken by a single laugh, but then the floodgates open. The wedding quickly turns from shock to amusement, the guests
laughing at the Andoren's outburst and his outrage at what most present had already understood to be a political affair rather than one of love as
Bedard rises again, and storms out of the ceremony!
The crowd eventually calms down, and Vroclaw of Brevoy continues on with the last moments of the ceremony. The bride and groom are married, and the audience erupts in cheers of congratulations! Soon after the two are joined, you are all escorted back to the pavilion for the reception by Rubaani's mercenaries.
Within the pavilion, drinks and hors d'oeuvres swirl about on delicate silver patterns, with equally decorative servants to match. Bedard hasn't reappeared, and Hamaria Blakros is elsewhere as well, presumably dealing with some sort of logistical difficulty before dinner is served.
Wilen and Marianna have a riproaring good time; whenever a lull begins in Marianna's banter, Wilen is able to sidle in with a new delightful beverage.
Lebraerio's witty conversation allows him to inveigle himself into the circle of Tancred's admirers where his silver tongue is quickly tested in defending himself against jealous barbs!
Juis and Declan don't fair as well, receiving only a nonplussed look from Rubaani, and polite agreement from Nigel.
Shortly, you are directed to a table along with lady Goriana Morilla, Trade Prince Aaqir al'Hakam, and a group of their aides. The Paracountess sits at a different table with a detachment of Chelish dignitaries, including Tancred Desimire, who is visibly perturbed at sharing the table with her.
After you are seated, the head table arrives - a delegation of Blakros family members and important relatives - most notably Michellia, Damian, and Hamaria Blakros.
A plethora of speeches and congratulations begin from the head table. Beginning with Michellia’s mother Hamaria, who dotes on her daughter’s excellent pedigree and the respect shown to her family by Damian Kastner. Others at the head table give similar speeches, expanding on their love for Michellia and their acceptance of Damian into the extended Blakros family.
Eventually, Michellia Blakros stands to make her own proclamation. Although quiet in tone, she speaks with a force that all can hear, "I wish to thank you all for coming. While the Hellknights of the Order of the Scourge have lost a loyal and noble soldier, the Blakroses have gained a new member of our esteemed clan — my husband, Damian Kastner. As a symbol of this union, I offer you, Damian, the Blakros name, so that you will ever be known as a member of our elite, illustrious family. Let it be known forever more that your name shall be Damian Blakros, should you accept the honor."
The groom then stands and speaks himself, raising his glass toward Hamaria and the rest of new family. "I, of course, accept this honor, and am proud to know my children shall bear the name as well. I am not good with words, however, so I shall keep this brief. There are few gifts I could give in response that would parallel the honor I have just received. Even so, I shall offer something that my new family will hopefully find valuable. To my wife, Michellia Blakros, I offer my family’s long-held manor of Ostergarde."
Damian’s announcement causes an immediate commotion from the crowd. Audible whispers and speech drown the pavilion, as assembled guests show mixes of horror and satisfaction at the proclamation made by the former Hellknight.
As the crowd quiets down, Hamaria Blakros bids the guests enjoy the reception’s food, music, and wine for the rest of the afternoon and into the night. Immediately, guests rise from their tables and move about the pavilion, all eager to gossip about this dramatic offering to the Blakros family - Tancred makes an immediate beeline for the exit. Glorianna Morilla shakes her head slowly, blinking at the former-hellknight's gift. "Well, you had best get back out there - strong ties to the Blakroses may prove even more important than we had anticipated, and this may be your final opportunity to make a good impression!"
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Declan will try again with Nigel. "Ostergard Manor! You will soon be very busy curating some wondrous artifacts. I hope that I am not too forward to suggest that the Pathfinder Society... certain elements of the Pathfinder Society that is, could be of use to you in other areas. Areas that would allow you to expand the Blakros influence while you pay personal attention to your new acquisition."