The party can barely get the fish to land. A crowd gathers to see what you've done. The locals whistle and cheer! A fishmonger comes out to help you gut the massive fish so that the meat won't spoil. .
The fish fry is EPIC.
Kenton is adamant that they invite the entire village of Pensaris to the soiree, and of course Baron Okerra, whose gracious leave was the start of the end for The General. Whatever the cost for bread for all to go with the fish, Kenton insists on covering it.
The party enjoys their time well into the night.
Over breakfast the party gathers to discuss their plans. It's but a 3 hour ride to Bartleby's seat from here. You're not due there for a few days.
There are very few places you haven't visited yet. Close enough is Ralthorn Manor. There's also returning home to Stachys. It's been some time since you've caught up with your agents. There may be news...
"Let us make way to Ralthorn Manor. We should have time to return to Stachys for a spell before journeying north to Lotheedar."
"Makes sense. Let's proceed then."
Kenton nods. I'm not familiar with the Ralthorn name, I'm afraid, he says. Any insight someone may be able to offer would be most welcome.
The party makes the side trek to Ralthorn manor. It's a depressing trip. This once-stately manor was the summer home of a minor noble family from Cassomir. The Ralthorns made their money by investing in the shipbuilding industry in the port city, and they built this estate only a little more than a hundred years ago. Construction was swift as the family had plenty of gold to hire a large crew of stonemasons and carpenters, and they used their trade contacts in Cassomir to ship the materials and workforce to the remote estate for a fraction of the usual cost.
However, just 20 years after the estate's completion, tragedy struck the family while they were vacationing at the estate. An uncharacteristic earthquake shook this portion of the county one warm summer night. Its quick and violent tremor spared all other buildings in the region, but half of Ralthorn Manor collapsed, crushing the sleeping family beneath a pile of stone and timber. The family wasn’t discovered for nearly 6 weeks when a business partner rode out to the estate after Berlan Ralthorn didn’t attend an important meeting with her investors. Although the unfortunate family was removed from the rubble and properly buried in Cassomir, some say that their spirits still haunt the site. Hunters seeking shelter in the still-standing parts of the manor for the night or from a passing storm claim that their horses start and act panicky when they draw near, and others report that ghostly figures play in the overgrown orchards and a stern woman watches them, manifesting partially from a tangle of collapsed stone.
After spending a couple hours there, the party finds nothing of note, and opts to return to Stachys.
You arrive home and rest. Unfortunately, your plans for the morrow get sidelined with an unnannounced guest, Sir Gul Gusairne
He starts off politely enough, but starts asking some intensely pointed questions about your pasts. He even drops a hint that he thinks you tricked your way into getting invited to the Tanager Jubilee.
"Good sir, please. Although I will agree that I am not the most direct of descendants to the Lotheed family, your words impugn my honour. It's impossible to not be a family member and know personal details about our family. Like, for instance..."
Aurelia proceeds to rattle off various tidbits about the Lotheed family history, which she has had the occasion to study as part of her familial duties as a Basri diplomat.
He tries to keep up with the pedigree, and the Lady is confident she has him confused with the tracking.
"Yes, yes, but you've also somehow swooped into our county with all manner of public works. Stinks like campaign spending to me..."
"Campaign spending? That is highly improbable. This is Taldor, not Andoran. Campaigning means spending that is focused on key people with influence, and that is definitely not a thing we've done. The closest thing would be the party I threw. But we're not savages, good sir. If anything, I would have thought an invite was sent to you. Did you not receive it?"
"Well... um.... interesting. Yes, I mean... I did..." Sir Gusairne is clearly not ready for Lady Aurelia's approach.
"BUT, I've also noticed a marked increase in Night Swan activity since your arrival. Am I supposed to conclude that these are not related?"
"Night Swan? Is that someone that we're supposed to be familiar with? Some sort of nom de plume for a famous poet? Whoever they are, they do not orbit the same social circles as us," Aurelia takes the approach of reminding Gul of the types of people they're supposed to fraternize with.
"There is a young bard I've heard of that, should he make his way to this part of Taldor, I would love to see at my next soirée. The bard Dendillion. Do you know him?" She pauses to give Corran an appraising look. The two do look similar, don't they?
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Corran narrows his eyes and sours a little.
"Dendillion. That hack. With a ridiculous beard. Yes, I said it. Rediculous."
When it becomes obvious that her tangent about the Night Swan-as-a-bard approach is not working with Gul, she takes a more honest approach while choosing her words carefully.
"I can't say I know much about this Night Swan that you mention, but I can confidently tell you that we've no influence upon their actions. Candidly, they're a mystery to me. One that, if it means the safety of the people here, I would appreciate knowing more about. Our goal is to be good stewards in the region, helping the people. So if you have something you can share that would help us, I would be deeply appreciative."
"Well.... Let's leave it at this. If YOU have any information, YOU tell ME!"
The Count's bulldog seems pleased enough that he decides to leave you alone.... for now.
The morning of the 6th of Pharast is calm, and there's time to work your mission through contacts and other skullduggery.
Meratt County
Party Location: Stachys
Party Conditions: NA
Template
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Aurelia: Go
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Xavien: Go
Kenton wakes up determined to address the growing issue with Sir Gul Gusairne. Don't like that one, he thinks to himself. Anything he thinks he knows, let alone legitimately knows, will be voiced straight to Lotheed. Perhaps we need to prune this shrub.
All efforts to find an occurrence of Gusairne bad-mouthing Lotheed prove fruitless, however. The half-elf covers his tracks well.
Corran attempts to organize another rally in support of Princess Eutropia!
Vs. DC 17 SUCCESS!
Xavien schedules a performance at Onora's bar and sings a mighty tale of the capture of the General. Unfortunately, the weather is dreadful, and the bar is nearly empty.
Aurelia leans into what she knows, throwing yet another party.
Unfortunately this time the event misses the mark. Perhaps it's the short notice, or perhaps due to party fatigue.
Ianthe did not care for how Sir Gul Gusairne addressed them. He's due some comeuppance. She sows some rumors about his unseemly romantic engagements.
He is a crafty one and Ianthe is unable to find any dirt on him.
Only Corran sees any luck during the mission array. Thankfully Corran's work is well received and there's a noticeable increase in his joie de vivre as the Galtans say.
The party reconvenes, a bit disheartened.
"The Beggarwood is close, and we have yet to see it," Xavien muses. "That should fill the time between now and our 'appointment' with Bartleby. We also have a fat purse at present, and could see about further improvements to the Pump House."
The Pump House improvement is practical enough, Kenton nods in agreement. Though I would point out, and I'm sure Lord Corran would agree, that a statue to the local culture might do wonders for morale. Let us add that to our future plans.
As for the Beggarwood, I am game for it.
The party opts to check out the Beggarwood. Officially know as “Bugbear Wood” for the creatures that used to infest it, most locals refer to this old oak forest as Beggarwood, as it offers reasonable shelter and food for the poor, as well as easy access to the nearby Oppara highway so the desperate can ply trade goods to whoever passes by. Local nobility consider the forest and its occupants a blight, but not a big enough embarrassment to waste the resources trying to wipe it out.
Kenton recalls something he heard about the Beggarwood during his days serving in the Taldan Horse.
Xavien thinks back on any tales or songs he has heard that mention either the Bugbear or Beggarwood.
the Beggarwood operates as a marketplace of sorts. They sell most common
goods—but not luxury goods—at a 10% increase over market value, but lower their prices to 10% below market value if the you can pay in common clothing, food, tools, and other daily necessities. Most of their supplies come from scavenged goods, trading directions and repairs to travelers, and retrieving cargo abandoned due to bad weather, breakdowns, or low profit margins. They rarely resort to open banditry, knowing that it draws the attention of the normally neutral Baron Okerra.
The Beggarwood has about 25 permanent residents living in caves, tents, and tree houses mostly gathered around Bear Pond at its north end, with another 25 transients present at any given time. Most of these residents are commoners and experts who flee at the first sign of trouble. The community’s defenders are the Four Hoods, exiles from Andoran who have banded together to live simply in the Taldan wilderness.
Kenton knows the Four Hoods are firmly antiauthoritarian.
Aurelia starts with what she knows...
... and then starts to ask around.
Corran confers with his companions...
The leader, Gurta Thresh, was an apothecary in Triela whose secretive faith in Norgorber eventually came to light amid accusations of murder. She fled with her adopted sister, the troublemaking Ginnit, and as they crossed the border, they made fast friends with the sibling archers Malifort and Nani Truebow, border guards who had grown weary of their assignment. None of the Four intended to become leaders, but neither are they willing to let hungry refugees die on the road....
"Norgorber," Aurelia says, face showing her distaste. "Followers of the murder god are likely going to be a problem. I wonder what ulterior motives they possess."
Corran looks at Aurelia and smiles. "We should invite them out for a drink and ask them."
"True, true," Xavien agrees. "Let us see about bringing some coin these folk can actually use, though. I need to see Onora anyway."
Aurelia clearly doesn't like the idea, but with Xavien also onboard with Corran she accepts that she's going to lose the argument. "Very well. But please note that I think this is a bad idea and will likely not go well. I hope to be very wrong."
Aurelia clearly doesn't like the idea, but with Xavien also onboard with Corran she accepts that she's going to lose the argument. "Very well. But please note that I think this is a bad idea and will likely not go well. I hope to be very wrong."
"We've no idea if the information about their religion is accurate. After all, why would a servant of Norgorber care about the lives of refugees? And if it does go bad... Well, better we know now."
Construction begins right after the midday meeting, and immediately word spreads that the new nobles continue to do more for the county than the Count ever has. Social scuttlebutt has even the other nobles taking notice. You feel a bit more freedom with your agents and your own skullduggery. A new zeitgeist starts taking hold among the people, "Perhaps there should be a change in leadership at the Birdsong Palace...
Still, you think there's much work to be done.
Corran is all for helping with the spring planting. His player is a little unsure of how to proceed with that or holding court. Do we just need to confirm that all party members are willing and ready?
the planting looks back breaking.
Aurelia sighs. "I will need clothes for this task, but perhaps I few of these texts my father had me read on agriculture will prove useful."
"How did that one go again? Something about Out in the far corn fields? Hmm, and there was another that the little fellow sang after about a cow and the moon..."
Eww! I'm all for helping the people here, but in a more... administrative fashion. I'm NOT digging in the dirt.
Ianthe watches as the others help the peasantry. There are some snickers, but between Aurelia and Xavien, the job goes quickly. It goes quickly, but not completely. It looks like it'll take 2 more days, but thanks to their insight, you're not utterly exhausted at the end of the day.