While it may seem strange to most, the tradition of a war time party is an old one, and a Taldoran tradition. Lady Aurelia kills it as her names flits from mouth to mouth of some rather influential people...
Persona Phase 1 of 2:
Aurelia: Organize Party Success
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Go
For several days now, a small comment from Eutropia has stuck in Xavien's mind. "He has presented documentation to support his claim." As far as he is concerned, the vote to strike down primogeniture was sufficient to secure Eutropia's claim, but in terms of legal standing her position is more precarious than he would wish.
He gets in touch with a few friends with adept legal minds, and sets them to work drawing up legal challenges that cast doubt on Pythareus's submitted documentation. Under his guidance, they scour the legal codes for contradictions, irregularities, and archaic policies that conflict with the High Strategos's chosen legal path to claiming the Primogen Crown.
He signs the challenges in a bold script and affixes his personal seal---the Karthis crest inverted---and submits them to Oppara's magistrates himself.
Xavien does not expect anything to come of the challenges, but perhaps bringing byzantine elements of Taldan law to light will invite legislative reform.
Lord Xavien sticks with the system. He's new to the process, and he stumbles a few times. In the end though, he gets his name attached to a bill that makes it through. This means every copy is a new set of eyes seeing his name.
Persona Phase 1 of 2:
Aurelia: Organize Party Success
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Drive Legislation Success
With the success of her first party since the death of Grand Prince Stavian, Aurelia mistakenly thinks that hosting another party is the way to go.
Alas, it doesn't quite have the success she hopes. She finds that far too many attendees are there for the food and drinks, and not for the networking.
Building on his success, Xavien arranges for an invitation to guest lecture at his alma mater, the Kitharodian Academy, where he speaks on the merits doing away with primogeniture at all levels of the noble classes.
"... Thirdly, the most well-versed among you will recall several periods of Taldan history that were guided to glory, stability, and prosperity by the hand of a woman, whether in direct fact---via regency---or indirect truth, as many a Grand Prince of yesteryear was not fit to rule, but to the fortune of our great nation managed to marry well. Take, for instance, Taldor's brighter years in the 21st century AR, in which a woman, not a man, accomplished an immense logistical feat to continue the work of the First Army of Exploration, sending the Fifth such force northward to map the unknown territories we now call the River Kingdoms..."
Aurelia returns to the well a bit too soon. While well within her reach, she copied her format a little too closely, which is a turn off for the supercilious.
Meanwhile, Lord Xavien tries his hand as a guest lecturer on a sensitive and divisive topic. The academics revel in the debate, and there's clearly demand for more of the lord's speeches.
Persona Phase 1 of 2:
Aurelia: Organize Party Success
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Drive Legislation Success
Persona Phase 2 of 2:
Aurelia: Organize Party Failure
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Give Lecture Success
First putting my second point into Charm. I think I spent most of Book 1 getting by on my charm and personal magnetism.
Corran takes to the streets. The people have to know what's happening and what's at stake--The heart and soul of Taldor! He stands in every corner and tells the tale of the massacre in the senate and of the flight of a small band of heroes. Friends, tested. Betrayed. Lost and found again. The rescue of their friend and the involvement of dark priests of evil gods.
Bask In Glory. Heroism DC 15.
Corran takes to the streets, but chooses an appeal to logos whilst in a distract that clearly prefers appeals to pathos.
Persona Phase 1 of 2:
Aurelia: Organize Party Success
Corran: Bask in Glory Failure
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Drive Legislation Success
Persona Phase 2 of 2:
Aurelia: Organize Party Failure
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Give Lecture Success
Gruel? That's disgraceful! Surely there is other food to be given to these poor starving souls! Kenton leads a protest march on the Taldan soup kitchens.
Ianthe is invited to a smaller college to give a guest lecture on the hereditary claims of the various claimants to the throne.
Corran, sullen from the lack of response to his impromptu storytelling, drowns his sorrows in a mug of barleywine.
You know... I am just angry enough to go make some trouble.
He gathers his travelling clothes and his new lute, and once again takes to the streets. This time appealing to fear and anger at the arrogance of the pretenders to the throne of Taldor! It is time to March!
ugh
With how well her lecture is received, Ianthe tries to pull together a small dinner party of the elite intellectuals of the college.
Unfortunately, despite her prowess at the lectern, her social acumen is not enough to attract the attention of the intelligencia to her soire.
Kenton's protest hits an unlikely target, but the message is pretty clear, and well received among the people.
Lady Ianthe spends some time on the academic circuit, delivering a great lecture to an eager crowd. Her follow up party is a complete bust however.
Corran continues to struggle, not hitting the right beats
Persona Phase 1 of 2:
Aurelia: Organize Party Success
Corran: Bask in Glory Failure
Ianthe: Give a Lecture Success
Kenton: Organize Protest Success
Leo: Go
Xavien: Drive Legislation Success
Persona Phase 2 of 2:
Aurelia: Organize Party Failure
Corran: Organize Party Failure
Ianthe: Organize Party Failure
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Kenton, flush with the success of the protest against the hunger conditions among the populace, leads those who joined him to an impromptu party at one of the local drinking establishments. In no time they have taken over the place and raised some eyebrows, but since Kenton's buying, no one seems to mind all that much.
With a trio of failed parties late in the week, Kenton manages to pull one off!
Persona Phase 1 of 2:
Aurelia: Organize Party Success
Corran: Bask in Glory Failure
Ianthe: Give a Lecture Success
Kenton: Organize Protest Success
Leo: Go
Xavien: Drive Legislation Success
Persona Phase 2 of 2:
Aurelia: Organize Party Failure
Corran: Organize Party Failure
Ianthe: Organize Party Failure
Kenton: Organize Party Success
Leo: Go
Xavien: Give Lecture Success
Leo keeps to the shadows, setting up clandestine meetings with operatives throughout Oppara's seedy underbelly to recruit agents to Eutropia's cause. It takes some time to gain trust, but he makes progress.
FAILURE
SUCCESS
It takes a couple tries, but Leo eventually connects with some others who are of a political mind...
Martella sends word to you in the morning to meet her at the Porthmos Club—an exclusive teahouse in Oppara’s Aroden’s View district. She instructs you to pack for a long trip through the country, and to bring at least one fine outfit, a suitable hunting outfit, and at least one respectable mask or costume....
After a light lunch and small talk, your coach/handler pays the bill and departs north. Only after the city of Oppara begins to vanish beneath the horizon does she speak about business, handing you a sealed scroll case before speaking.
“I appreciate you agreeing to this trip on such short notice. Please, have an estate."
“I wish I could say this little gift didn’t come with strings attached, but these are tangled times. As you may have heard, the Ulfen Guard—the emperor’s personal bodyguards— have locked down the imperial palace, and they won’t allow access to anyone until Taldor has an official Grand Prince once again. Keeps unreasonable sorts from looting the palace, I suppose, but it has also sealed away Eutropia’s personal wealth. The Stavian family has another estate, though—the Palace of Birdsong—but the Stavians entrusted its care and maintenance to stewards two centuries ago. These stewards now refuse to leave and, I’m told, are courting Maxillar Pythareus’s favor. It doesn’t help matters that these squatters are my family, or that my half brother Bartelby has been squandering the estate’s fortunes."
“While we technically have the authority to demand the estate’s return, we lack the power. If we could weaken Bartelby’s power base and woo some of his subordinates to support us, we could reclaim the Palace of Birdsong. That’s where you and your lovely new homes come in."
“The Lady Allis Betony died nearly a decade ago, leaving no heirs. We purchased her estate at auction last week, and I have taken the liberty of drawing up a few documents listing you as Betony family scions. You’ll be arriving just in time to make your debut at the annual Tanager Jubilee. The carriage and horses are yours to keep, as you can’t very well be seen walking to the jubilee; I’ll be riding on to Cassomir once we near the county border. Make friends, learn the lay of the land, and afterward do what you can to win the nobles’ and citizens’ loyalty. Undermine Bartelby, and wherever you can, try to improve peoples’ lives and engender loyalty. For any overt actions you take, you’ll likely want to hide your identity to keep Bartelby from cracking down on you."
“I feel I must stress the importance of your task. The princess has sold her townhouse to fund this plan, and at this point her resources are perilously thin. If we’re to stand any chance in this bid for the throne, we need a suitable base of operations and steady income.”
During her free time, between preparing for her lecture and trying to pull a small party together, Ianthe reviews her spellbook and the scrolls she procured in her recent adventures. She also confers with Aurelia to share their newly gathered knowledge.
While mostly successful, her failure in organizing the party distracts her and ruins her attempt at mastering Invisibility.
With you leave, my good lady, Kenton says, clearly political machinations are the tactics to be employed here — but would it not be prudent to also remove the stewards from the premises? Pretenders and usurper should never be indulged, even if they are family. Mind, I do not necessarily recommend force unless other avenues close — and certainly not open force — but, as a soldier of the Crown, must ask to learn the lengths to which you might permit us to act.
"There’s little love lost between Bartelby and myself, but he is still my brother. If you can talk sense into him—and I very much doubt you can—or capture him alive, please do so. But if it becomes a question of his life or your own, do not hesitate to protect yourselves.”
Aurelia makes an effort to spend time with Ianthe, knowing that her very clever friend can help her with some of the magic she's learned.
She is especially proud when she's able to master the invisibility spell. [b]"Don't worry, I'll show it to you later.
She benefits from a few pointers in return from Ianthe, scribing the mirroring spell from her friend's spellbook.
She has less luck with the summoning spell, mostly because the spell formula seems alien to the innate approach she's mastered herself.
Finally, she tries to learn one of the spells from Dagio's spellbook. Fortunately, the rat's shorthand is easy enough to decipher.
Glad for Aurelia's company, the two study Dagio's spellbook and work towards expanding their own repetiore.
With Aurelia's help, Ianthe is able to grasp the intricacies of most of Dagio's book. Unfortunately, the particulars of Invisibility continue to evade her. Disgusted by her lack of progress on the spell, she gives up Peacebond before she can complete it and opts for some wine.
Aurelia also takes some time to look through the items they found. She starts with the magic belt and seeks out Kenton. "Sir Bowe, I believe the enchantments in this will best help you. Please take it. We'll need every advantage possible, especially should danger seek us out."
She also takes a potion to fight off disease, another against poison, and one that cures wounds. She knows that they might be items she'll be giving to someone else.
In between visits to the courthouse and the Academy, Xavien shares a beer with an old friend, to acquire a few useful items for a game of shadows: a hollow-heeled boot, a wax key blank, some marker dye, and even a pair of smoked goggles.
When Martella's summons arrives, he decides that the time is right to return to The Thread Rare. Stepping through the door, he waves Martella's promissory note and asks for a consultation with the head tailor, with whom he spends several hours. By the end he has been fitted for several new outfits and accoutrements:
- Sturdy riding leathers, a long cotton shirt in burgundy, a forest-green cashmere doublet reinforced with deerskin, deerskin gloves, and heavy riding boots
- A fur-lined overcoat of rich brown, filigreed with gold thread, and accented with black sable along the trim and grey wolf-fur at the neckline
- Two fine silk shirts in deep blue, silk pants and stockings of matched greys, and a doublet of grey sable-lined quilted silk in a dark navy and filigreed with silver thread, complemented by a belt of thick and blunt gold links
- A simple bone-white mask with gold thread woven around the edges and seams
- A more ostentatious mask of stone grey, accented with gold plating under the eyes and silver plating across the brow
- An opera cloak of cashmere and satin in navy and trimmed with black sable
The tailor, an exacting woman of sharp eye and steady hand, promises to have everything ready first thing in the morning. The cloak is ready now, however, so Xavien takes it down the street to a wizard's shop---The Dweomer's Thread---on the tailor's recommendation for an enchantment . He also picks up a scroll during the visit .
Xavien thinks on what he knows of the Betony family, and of Bartleby.
"What do we know of the Betony family and estate? What can you share about your half-brother---his habits, his interests? And," here Xavien drops his voice to a more conspiratorial whisper, "may we inquire after your business in Cassomir?"
"“It’s one of the Stavian estates, but the Stavians haven’t visited it in centuries. Fairly humble, as palaces go. A century ago, they appointed the Lotheeds as regents to oversee it and the county. We’re an old-blood noble family, with genealogies tracing back to Azlanti settlers, and my siblings will rarely let you forget it. Bartelby himself is charming, graceful, intelligent, but arrogant and casually cruel. He excelled in his arcane studies as a child, and I have no doubt he’s only improved since then. After Father’s death, Bartelby explained in no uncertain terms what fates he would visit upon me if I ever returned to the estate. Hence why you are far safer without my presence."
"...and no. Plausible deniability."
Lord Xavien knows a bit about the Jubilee proper, and talking about it with Lady Martella confirms much of what he thinks he knows. It’s an annual sort of founders’ day celebration. Local tradition claims that when Count Markolian Stavian broke ground for the palace some eight centuries ago, a scarlet tanager landed on his shovel and sang his praises. It’s a day off for the lower classes, but the aristocracy celebrates with two days of feasting, games, dancing, tournaments, and a hunt. Making a good showing at the jubilee is an excellent way to win influence.
Xavien has heard of the Betony family, but the details all run together as they are a cliche and classic Taldan family.
Aurelia also takes some time to look through the items they found. She starts with the magic belt and seeks out Kenton. "Sir Bowe, I believe the enchantments in this will best help you. Please take it. We'll need every advantage possible, especially should danger seek us out."
Kenton bows. I hope to be worthy of your trust, my lady, he says, not willing to argue the point. From the rest of the stash, he claims a masterwork chain shirt, one potion of cure light wounds, and a potion of neutralize poison, then hands the masterwork short sword and masterwork dagger to Leo along with another of each potion. Some other stuff you may be interested in, my friend, even if you've left other parts of your world behind. This last is said with a wink and firm hand on Leo's shoulder, conveying camaraderie that the two share beyond their noble-blooded companions.
boots of the cat -1000
lesser pentacle talisman -600
lesser talisman of warrior's courage -450
sleeves of many garments -200
total spent: -1350 gp
sell chain shirt: +50 gp
net expended: 1300 gp
"A reasonable answer," Xavien grins at Martella.
He rummages in his backpack for a moment, before handing out a few items to everyone. "These may prove useful at one point or another..."
Additional items: Mask (1gp), Courtesan's outfit (8gp), Traveler's outfit (1gp)
Earlier...
Knowing that several outfits will be needed for this trip and not willing to rely completely on magic, Aurelia also makes a trip to The Thread Rare. She leaves with travelling attire made up of brown leather boots, grey wool skirt, green shirt and a dark green cloak. She also leaves with a revealing red silk outfit and black felt mask.
With a seemingly ever-increasing amount of clothes coming on this trip, she looks for a backpack better equipped to bear the load. When Aurelia stumbles upon a simple backpack with an incredible price tag, her curiosity wins the day. Opening it, she understands why: magic!
She must have it. So she does.
"Do we have cover names?"
Shopping: OH FFS.
Buying Mask for 50GP
Darkwood Comp. Shortbow STR14... 545GP
Darkwood Buckler for 203 GP
Noble Costume for 75GP
Explorers Outfit 10GP
Jewelry for 100GP
Bandolier for 5 SP
Sell Chainshirt for 50.
150 GP to The Cause (Eutropia's Warchest)
300 GP to charities. Find some people to feed. Buy clothes or food for commoners. War relief?
Scroll of CLW... for 25.
Potion of CLW... for 50.
Ianthe steals back to her rooms at the Clement Estate to retrieve her traveling clothes and some jewelry. She accompanies Aurelia to The Thread Rare. Her last dress did not fair well in the labyrinth and she wouldn't want to have to wear it again so soon anyway.
She finds a stunning dress of a deep, forest green, with gold highlights at the neckline, cuffs, and hemline. She also picks up a complementary gold mask with emerald inlays.
Noble Outfit 75gp
Mask 50gp
Martella also offers you a boon; she has been experimenting with a memory-erasing poison she calls Styx oil, which should provide you a second chance to correct a social faux pas or escape notice. However, the drug is expensive and time-consuming to produce, and she can offer you only 3 doses for now.
Barring further questions, Martella brought paperwork to review, as well as several novels and sets of cards to share.
"Do we have cover names?"
"I've established Kenton as the second cousin, once removed, of the late Lady Allis Betony. Given the distant relationship to “dear departed cousin Allis,” you do not need cover names, nor will any of you be expected to know many details of the family. You can therefore slip readily into local society."
"The documents are excellent reproductions, and the forgeries will be hard to notice."
"The Tanager Jubilee is ostensibly an anniversary festival to celebrate the palace’s—and by extension, the county’s— founding, but it also serves to strengthen local alliances and bring together all the county’s subordinate nobles. I want you to go to the event, use your charms to ensure an easy fit into local society, and then use your skills and alliances to subtly change the county for the better. Only then, once you are sure to have won over the hearts of the locals, are you to take the Palace of Birdsong back from the Lotheed family on behalf of Princess Eutropia. With secure alliances, you can then openly show your allegiances and invite neighbors to join, using Meratt as a template for what positive changes may await Taldor under Princess Eutropia."
"Your new “title” also makes you tribunes of the neighboring town of Stachys—essentially investing you with the power and responsibility to act as the community’s mayor and judge. Remember, you have have rights as stewards to the Lotheeds, most notably the right to request audiences with Bartelby, but that you 'rule' extends solely to your lands; openly taking any action outside your own demesne is dangerous and foolish unless done covertly."
"Subterfuge is of the utmost importance—the Lotheeds might not be beloved, but old alliances can easily prove stronger than deeds. Carry out any covert actions in some sort of disguise, perhaps using alter egos or masks—the sort of symbols common citizens rally to— while publicly playing the role of aristocrats. Finally, do not try to use magic to try to influence your new neighbors; the Lotheeds are a particularly magically aware family, and likely to spot such tampering (even if it weren’t already considered grotesque)."
"Looks genuine to me," Xavien winks.
"Make friends, serve the people, don't get caught, and don't use charms. Got it."
What can you tell us about Bartleby that hasn't already been mentioned? You have described his character, but does he have any vices? What sorts of activities or art does he favor? What sort of Lovers does he take? Married? Children? [gasp] Are you an Auntie?
"I've established Kenton as the second cousin, once removed, of the late Lady Allis Betony. Given the distant relationship to “dear departed cousin Allis,” you do not need cover names, nor will any of you be expected to know many details of the family. You can therefore slip readily into local society."
Kenton bows. You overindulge me, my lady. But I am grateful in any case, and vow that I shall do my best to remunerate your trust.
"Bartleby? Let's see. He keeps a tight grip on his seed, if you know what I mean. He's got a predilection for intellectual trinkets; books, maps, etc. Bartelby is aloof, obsessive, and loyal to those he cares about. He is arrogant and charismatic in equal measure. He’s exactly as courteous to others and the help as etiquette demands."
Shortly after crossing into the county of Meratt, your carriage is waylaid by desperate beggars and traders offering you a variety of wares and asking for spare coins. their comportment provides some hint of how dire things are becoming for the common folk of the county, but they also provide you with a final chance to sell or purchase goods before the Tanager Jubilee.
The hodgepodge traders offer most common goods at a 10% increase over market value but will lower their prices to 10% below market value if the you can pay in common clothing, food, tools, and other daily necessities.
In addition to mundane goods, the beggars offer:
If you'll allow... This is where the 300GP that Corran drops for charity will be dropped. Corran enthusiastically spends on goods from the traders--food and clothing mostly, and that goes right back to anyone there in need. My family crest--the Clement Lotus--is on full display. I don't wanna do a full PR Junket but I want the curious to know who's got their backs. And he won't be shy about dropping Princess Eutropia's name. Any of that 300 that I can convert to food, clothing or shelter does that. The rest of that coin goes to whomever can make use of it.
He will also offer his own: bedroll, soap, trail rations, Flint and steel, his old lute, his explorers outfit and his travelers outfit. Corran will have to travel in his courtiers outfit, which may ruin it, but so be it. In fact, he'll make on the fly alterations to it to make it more suitable for traveling.
A performance or two while the others shop will also be had!
Corran's good will is an immediate game changer for them. The adventuring gear is useless to them, and they insist that the party take some.
As a nod to Corran's generosity, Xavien purchases the potion of keen senses, and insists on paying its full (inflated) price.
55 crowns spent.
In his role assigned by Lady Martell, Kenton is quick to hand out coin with nothing gained for it. He easily hands out 250 gp worth (preferably a handful of silver per commoner, with GM permission.)
Like Lord Curran, he generously brings up Princess Eutropia — "Taldor's lawful heir" — at every opportunity, and casually mentions his lineage as the second cousin, once removed, of the late Lady Allis Betony... but enough about me, tell me how things are here in Meratt County! It's been so long since I was here, I hardly recognize things!
Martella is more than pleased with how the team of agents conduct themselves. She stays passive through the exchange, listening to the news the locals spill to Kenton.
"Some shadowy figure calling themself ‘Night Swan’ has been stirring up trouble—robbery and vandalism, but also some violence against Lotheed soldiers." Otherwise, nothing new comes to light.
"They could be a valuable ally if they have some feud with my brother..."