It wasn't the people of Oppara that wore on Hira. Though Taldans could be haughty, venal, thin-skinned, and scheming, Hira had enjoyed their company since arriving from Padiskar, in Jalmeray.
No, it was the smell.
Five thousands years of empire, and they can't figure out a sewer.
The city had once featured a sophisticated sanitation system, but short-sighted decisions by the royal treasury had led most of the system to fall into disrepair. Despite King Stavian's proclamation that last Abadius would be Infrastructure Month, the gutters of Oppara remained effluent after most rainstorms.
As the he gingerly hop-stepped over such a gutter, the middle-aged Vudrani man winced. He'd nearly twisted an ankle as he awkwardly landed.
Ah, Hira. What would Master Pandya think? You're getting old! As he continued to cross the street, he ran a hand down a midsection covered with loose silks that concealed a developing paunch. And fat!
Still, nothing made Hira feel younger than a bit of intrigue, and he all-but-forgot the unpleasant moment as he considered the interesting message he had received from Lady Martella Lotheed.
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You arrive in the well-appointed salon of Martella Lotheed, in the august neighborhood of Aroden's View, with its commanding vantage above the Taldan capital of Oppara. The views are stunning and the servants in the green and gold finery of the Lotheed family attend to your comfort while you await Martella's arrival. Their service is correct in every way.
You are here on the eve of the Grand Day of Exaltation, when a Taldan commoner will be raised to the ranks of the nobility. It is an auspicious occasion in the Taldan social calendar, and the bustling city will receive an influx of nobles, senators, imperial petitioners, artists and onlookers sufficient to double its population. Every living soul will have a chance to attend exhilarating galas, performances, and parades--according to their station, of course.
For those in the know, there are private parties conducted in sotto voce. At these exclusive soirees, nobles engage in the great game. With so many politicians in town, matters of great importance will be decided in the senate, and business ventures large and small will be confirmed over delectable dishes and bubbling drinks.
Rumor has it that in the upcoming session of the imperial senate, Princess Eutropia intends to introduce a bill ending the centuries old practice of primogeniture. Such a move would be a great advance in the cause of women's rights (which would be welcome in some quarters and decidedly unwelcome in others). It would also put Eutropia in line for the throne.
Before Martella arrives, you have a chance to introduce yourself to the other members of her 'inner circle' as she likes to call it. There are three others in attendance at the moment...
Growing up in Galt, Ronaldo Norris was told stories of an idolized golden era when Taldor was strong and his family, whose lineage can be traced back to a colonial magistrate of Galt under the Taldor Empire, was powerful and influential. Having heard so much of the glory of Taldo of old, upon reaching the adulthood he moved to Oppara to try to experience it. However, upon arrival he was saddened to see how time had decayed the gilded buildings for the high society into usage as tenements, brothels, and worse; how the culture and civility espoused by his parents had degenerated into pettiness and stagnation. Sure, he had understood Taldor was not what it once was; but in his mind it was still something to be revered, however reality has shown, not so much. This transformed his childhood awe of Taldor into a desire to help restore it to something of its former glory. Ronaldo recognizes the path to glory is not the same path Taldor used under colonial times; a new path must be forged which leverages the virtues of old while adapting to what is needed by a modern Inner Sea. Through a family connection, Ronaldo learned of Martella Lotheed’s vision and made himself available to her.
Magnus Vernisant, descendent of the mighty Arnisant who led the Taldan forces against Whispering Tyrant, and whose family expects martial prowess, turns out to have been a pretty mediocre student of the blade and shield. Not the sort you expect with a name like Magnus. That is until he leveraged his study and interest in objects of power to unlock the latent psychic residue in the family weapons and armor he trained with on the practice grounds. His standing in his family, and his sense of self-worth both improved dramatically after this point, although deeper down he feels a fraud for cheating in this way. Partially out a late adolescent rebellion, and partially out of late adolescent surety (a little knowledge is dangerous), he supports Eutropia’s bid for the crown, in contrast to his family. He also might have a long-standing crush on fellow noble Martella Lotheed.
Magnus is tall and rather thin, and despite his lack of coordination, years of practice with the sword and wearing armor has managed to put some muscle on his frame. His low charisma comes from a lack of confidence in social situations, unless he can find a way to put his sharp mind to cutting someone down to size with just the right quip. That hasn’t made him many friends.
Magnus would have been the first to arrive, reeking of overeargerness.
When Hira enters, Magnus would bow formally and conduct himself in accord with Taldan protocol, but with a smile on his face at recognition of another keen mind.
Ronaldo, however, gets a more guarded greeting, as Magnus instantly identifies him as a possible rival for Martella’s affection. Nico may be more handsome, but he has neither the lineage nor the intellect of Magnus Vernisant.
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A coach rumbles up the street to Martella Lotheed's house and shudders to a stop. A door opens and disgorges a bundle of what appears, for a moment, to be ambulatory white fur. As it stumbles upright it resolves into a short, blonde woman wearing a short, white dress and a voluminous off-white coat made of some type of fluffy fur.
Gigi swipes her long unruly hair from her face and looks blearily around. Is this the place? Actually, where in gods’ names was she supposed to be going? And whose coach was that? She shrugs, then looks up at the luxurious building in front of her. There was definitely something... A meeting? No, that couldn’t be it. She wasn’t really the type of person to have meetings. But maybe it WAS a meeting? Definitely something...
She shakes her head, trying to clear it. This was no way for the youngest scion of the Étoile de Mer D’orée family to behave. Drawing herself up to her full 5’2 height, she stomps up the stairs. This is the place. She’s not entirely sure WHAT place, but it’s definitely THE place.
*****
Gigi’s family is the kind of family that has scions, instead of children. The kind of family that thinks it’s important enough to have scions, instead of children. The Étoile de Mer D’orées are decayed Galtan aristocrats, once wealthy, now nearly penniless and living on the credit their haughty manners manage to extract from Taldan merchants. Gigi is expected to do her part to help the family. She’s a lovely young woman, and well-educated, and intended to marry wisely and well and, in that way, to restore the faded fortune of the family.
Gigi, of course, is not particularly excited by the prospect. But she deals with this lack of excitement primarily by ignoring the whole situation.
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After a polite interval, Martella whisks into the salon. Dressed in a white gown cut in the latest fashion and with a single golden band adorning her lustrous curls, her smile lights up the room. She makes her way over to welcome each of you and the warmth of her greeting makes you feel like you're the only person in the world.
When she shakes your hand, she grips it like a merchant or a soldier, rather than offering her hand, palm down, pale and glittering as is customary among the ladies of court--a subtle mark of the changing status quo in the ancient empire. And did she hold onto Magnus's hand just a moment longer than she did Ronaldo's? Or was it the other way around?
"Greetings everyone and thank you for coming. I hope you're enjoying the party.
Hira, it has been too long, and Gigi, what would the social calendar be without your--appearances?"
After some pleasantries, she subtly draws you each away from the other guests and the servants and says, "Now, this festival is not all about pleasure and feasting. This City of Lions is flush with spiders, and every one busy spinning webs. I'm counting on you to help me with a few of mine.
I have a little task for each you, to be completed tomorrow, at the Ascension Day festivities at the Senate Building. I have a Senate Aide Badge for each of you. They'll grant you access to the building and allow me to send you telepathic messages and you to reply to them. You'll have to pretend to be members of the Voritas family (who've fielded a long line of hereditary senators) when you use them.
I hope I can count on you to work together. In addition to my undying gratitude, I'll give you each 150 gp if you complete your tasks, and I'll double that if you all succeed in your charge."
After speaking with Martella privately, Magnus approaches Hira, somewhat sheepishly.
“Dear sir, I’m lead to believe you might have . . . light fingers and might be able to help me with a matter for Lady Lotheed. I need to have this,” he pulls out a small leather case, which he opens to reveal a small syringe filled with liquid, “injected into a particular bottle of wine. Perhaps you’d be willing to accompany me to the kitchen and ‘make the delivery’ while I distract any watching sommeliers?”
In the kitchen . . .
Scanning the bottles of wine, Magnus looks for the particular vintage Martella spoke of.
Once he thinks he has it, and Hira is close enough to “make the delivery,” Magnus will make a scene, berating one of the kitchen staff for overcooking meat or have improperly chilled the white wine or the like.
Ah, access to the full Senate! Interesting.
"As always, Lady Martella, you are a paragon of shrewdness. I have always thought that if you cannot avoid Oppara's webs, better to be a spider than a fly."
Hira turns to his fellow party guests. "Wonderful to meet you, my friends. It will be a pleasure to work together."
"Let's gauge the mood of the city. On days of excitement like this, Oppara is practically a living thing."
A)
1.Grand Day of Exaltation
2. Grand Prince Stavian III
3. Martella Lotheed
B)
Duke Centimus
Countess Abrielle Pace
c)
Rumor Mill
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Magnus and Hira have their fingers on the city's pulse! Between you two you recall that:
A)
The Festival
The Grand Day of Exaltation is the one day every
year when the emperor can elevate a commoner of
unusual skill or service to the ranks of nobility.
Because people travel from all over the empire to
witness the exaltation, many balls and political events
take place in the preceding week, and the senate
usually votes on matters of national importance
immediately beforehand.
This year’s noble-to-be is a wide-eyed weaver from
the village of Breezy Creek, whose beautiful tapestries
have adorned the royal palace and many other royal
homes for a decade.
Martella Lotheed
The wealthy Lotheed family has been a strong
supporter of the Stavians for almost 100 years. They
have a long family tradition of arcane magic, adding
to their wealth and prestige.
Martella is the black sheep of her family, being a
result of an extramarital dalliance with a Qadiran
diplomat. She lacks her family’s gift for magic as well,
adding to their resentment.
Despite her family’s disdain, Martella still commands
some wealth and has extensive contacts, having
attended the Sinora Academia, Taldor’s most exclusive
girls’ school.
Grand Prince Stavian III
Grand Prince Stavian III is the emperor of Taldor.
Grand Prince Stavian III has no male heir, and he has
refused to have any further children since the tragic
death of his only son, Carrius, in a riding accident
20 years ago. With the emperor getting on in years,
some people worry how this will affect succession.
The emperor has made no secret of his disdain for
Princess Eutropia’s social crusades, especially her
efforts to overturn primogeniture so she can inherit
the throne, but he has been uncharacteristically quiet
about it this past year. Rumors abound that his health
is slipping and he has accepted her efforts.
Princess Eutropia
Princess Eutropia is the adult daughter of Grand Prince
Stavian III and has a scandalous reputation for making
trouble and fighting in the streets.
Eutropia is a social reformer, eager to establish schools
and other public resources for the poor, and remove
political or family restrictions for women and various
minorities. Rumors have circulated for a decade that
her ultimate goal is to overturn primogeniture—
Taldor’s ancient law stating that only male heirs may
inherit the Lion Throne—and become the first empress
of Taldor.
The princess’s reputation for “fighting in the streets”
largely hails from her skill as a fencer, a sport she
excelled at during her schooling at the Sinora Academia.
Many times in her twenties she matched blades with
chauvinistic politicians who would otherwise refuse to
let her speak or act within political circles, and those
early public duels helped her win unexpected support
for her later social reforms—as well as a reputation as
an impolite, unladylike brute.
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Duke Leonard Centimus
An attending duke of Grand Duchess Cisera
Tiberan of Tandak prefecture, Leonard Centimus is an
intellectual and tinkerer whose head for systems makes
him a good administrator, if a little awkward with people. He is a half-elf.
Countess Abrielle Pace
A countess and member of the senate from the
western borders of Taldor, Abrielle Pace seeks to advance
by any means available.
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The day of the big event finally arrives. You are free to spend the morning as you like before heading down to the Senate Building. Gigi manages to arrange for you to be driven there in a stately white carriage, pulled by a team of elaborately caparisoned horses.
The carriage enters a driveway and turns round a massive fountain before stopping at the foot of the 100 steps that climb to the building proper. A footman liveried in the red lion of Taldor opens the door and lays out a step for you.
Before you ascend the stairs, a voice calls out, "Greetings friends. You are fashionably late. Perfect."
It's Martella. She nods for you to follow her a short distance to a gazebo, where you notice a soft humming sound.
"We can speak here without worrying about being overheard. I've heard about some of the inquiries you've been making and I'm impressed. You're asking the right questions. Since you've shown so much promise, I have a bit of gear that might help you today.
I hope you are as excited as I am for this evening. In addition to the elevation of a commoner, the senate will vote tonight on the fate of primogeniture. It's a momentous occasion."
Martella gives you the following:
- 2 vials of liquid blade
- 8 smoke pellets
- 1 soul stimulant
- 2 vials of dust of illusion
With a slight shock, I turn to Martella and ask "Primogeniture? Wow, today is going to be a momentous day! What do you expect to happen if it is overturned? Or perhaps even worse, if it is not? In Gaul, such a politically charged decision would result in riots, burning of carriages in the streets, and a litter of broken wine bottles and torn baguettes all over the square. Though I suppose a more civilized reaction would be expected here?"
"Well, it will certainly be a night full of excitement."
Hira offers an elbow to Gigi. "Surely it would be a scandal if you attended unchaperoned, Miss Étoile de Mer D’orées?" The man gives Gigi a sly wink.
Looking over the items offered by their patron, he adds, "Does anyone need some...party supplies?"
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Martella wishes you good luck and departs away from the gazebo. When you show your badges to the guards, you are directed to an extremely long queue, the one for "people useful to people of import."
Your neighbors in the line complain loudly about how this is beneath their station and touts gnaw on your fraying patience, offering novelty Taldan flags and other memorabilia.
Inspectors walk up and down the line, checking the badges and the peacebonding of those queued up. When you are about halfway through, an inspector pulls you out of the line for a "random inspection."
Sense Motive 20
Hira sighs as he's pulled out of line, "I'm sure you are just doing your job, but please be brief. I would like to have time to enjoy the festivities."
Hira will watch closely, in hopes that she is trying to help or pass them a secret message.
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Of course, sir, it's just that we have a friend in common. My name is Kathan Zalar, she whispers. I have to check for things like liquid blades and other seemingly innocuous items.
She looks over your possessions, peacebonding your weapons if you haven't done so already and uses the folds of your clothing to better conceal the alchemical supplies that Martella gave you.
After the inspection, she leads you to the front of the line.
Hira will careful tuck away the illicit supplies.
Seeing that the noble targets are busy at the moment, Hira takes the opportunity to slip into the kitchen with Magnus. While the noble is berating the kitchen staff, Hira slips the liquid into the wine bottle.
Magnus is relieved to have Hira's help in the kitchen. (see post earlier)
I would like to mingle politely with a few different people, especially those in military uniforms. If asked about my own military experience, I speak of a sort-of-brother of mine, Commodore Clement :). I try to lead the conversations toward getting the latest gossip on High Strategos Pythareus. I'm also keeping my out for him to see what he's doing, who he's talking to, etc... without actually getting close to him.
I roll a 15 Knowledge Nobility toward gathering what I can.
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Magnus and Hira successfully sneak into the kitchen, identify the bottle of rare wine donated by Martella's half-brothers, and poison it with a fast-acting laxative.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo hangs around the Arcade of Triumphs, putting out a vibe. He struts like a good many other swaggering swordsmen, trying to pick up some insight into his target. He doesn't glean much about the strategos, but he does hear a rumor that the emperor is going exalt another of his Ulfen bodyguards. "The last thing we need is another barbarian lording it over us," says an elderly man, while snacking on a canape of prawns and salty crackers.
Gigi helps herself to the buffet, perhaps oblivious to the looks she draws as she takes a bite from a snack, decides she doesn't like it, and puts the rest back. The sparkling wine is insultingly common. The good stuff must be hidden away somewhere...
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...But before she has a chance to look, you each notice that a crowd is beginning to gather in the Courtyard. None other than Princess Eutropia herself is preparing to address those assembled. Lady Morilla tinks her glass to quiet the crowd as the princess speaks:
“My friends, colleagues, and assorted enemies, it is wonderful
to see you all out in your finery beneath the beautiful stars
tonight. With any luck, the weather will be the only thing that
refuses to change this evening.
“We have all gathered here tonight to honor Master Kalbio
of Breezy Creek, a master artisan and true patriot, for his
exquisite skill and service to our glorious empire. Master
Kalbio demonstrates so eloquently that a heart may be noble
regardless of the stature of one’s birth, and while it may be
premature, I hope to be the first to congratulate you, sir, on
the exaltation you will see tonight and welcome you into the
ranks of Taldor’s long-lived aristocracy.
“But we gather here to discuss matters of state, as well.
And just as the exaltation reminds us that our glorious empire
must always look out into the world to refresh the greatness
of its leadership, we must all look out into the world around
us and see how it has grown. The child-nations our empire
birthed—Andoran, Cheliax, Lastwall—have grown strong by examining the great traditions they inherited from our
motherland, and embracing those relevant to this new world
and discarding those that held them back. So too will we,
this very night, examine one of Taldor’s oldest traditions—
primogeniture—with eyes wide open, to determine whether
it has held us back from the glory and stability our wayward
states have found.
“Our obligation tonight is not about one person or one
vote in the senate. It is about the nation we love and
about ensuring that nation does not fall behind the times.
We are the inheritors of mighty Azlant, and I say that we
must work together to avoid sharing that old empire’s fate.
Taldor endures!”
You can make a perception check to see how the crowd is receiving her words.
Perception 13
Perception 18
Hira is preoccupied with the Princess' words and does not pick up the mood of the crowd.
Magnus is too preoccupied looking for Martella to pay attention.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 22
Renaldo notices the "sticky situation" and gently elbows Hira to look over.
Hira raises an eyebrow, but its not something he recognizes.
I will wait until the speech is over. It would be improper to interrupt.