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Kenton wanders the stalls of Grandbridge's Gray Market, recalling his days on leave from the Taldan Horse when Oppara seemed the gateway to everything. Simpler times, when pursuing simpler pleasures.
He makes his way to The Sword and Shield, a merchant stall with a reputation for selling to soldiers when in town. Kenton doesn't recognize the first two people he sees working, but then...
Vanora?
Vanora Ravenbloom, proprietor of The Sword and Shield spins about, her eyes open wide. Kenton Bowe, by the blade of Iomedae! It has been a fortnight of months, at the least! Vanora embraces the lanky soldier as her new apprentices look on in some astonishment — this is clearly an uncharacteristic display from their normally aloof boss.
Kenton returns the hug with a smile. Too long, Vanora, indeed. How do you fare?
Good days and bad, she replies. Eloise left, don't you know, and yet here I am still.
Oh, I'm so sorr- Kenton begins, but is waved off by Vanora.
Don't be, it's for the best; she's not the lass who once stole my heart anymore. Vanora wipes a bit of grime off her cheek and changes the subject. And you? Still riding with the Horse?
No longer, Kenton says. Now I'm, ah...involved in politicking, of a fashion.
Vanora laughs. Of course you are, you sweet talker.
On the hunt for a different sort of foe. Which reminds me, actually, Kenton says, pulling out his rapier. What do you make of this? I came across it during my service — even my untrained eye can spot a well-crafted blade!
Vanora takes the rapier. Truly, nice workmanship. Not quite as good as ours, of course, but close. It's mundae at present. Shall we make a change on that?
If you're willing, Kenton says.
I'm willing...if you're paying.
Kenton grins. Of course.
Done, Vanora declares, handing it to a nearby novice with some direction. As she turns back to Kenton, she sees he is mesmerized by a hanging shirt of intricate silvery chain. She smiles broadly. You like?
It's exquisite, he says softly. A moment later he realizes he is holding his breath, and exhales. I've never seen anything like it.
And I daresay you won't again, Vanora replies, gliding over and taking it off the display. Try it on for size.
Oh, no no no... Kenton says in protest, even as Vanora deftly pulls it over his head. Despite his objections, he finds that the chain shirt fits like a second skin.
Looks like it was made for you, Vanora says with a smirk, though it, er, wasn't. I won't bore you with the details of how I came by this, but it clearly should be yours. Kenton shakes his head, trying to explain that he can't afford it, and Vanora holds up a hand. Eventually. I'll hold on to it until then.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It doesn't take long for everything to go awry...
The liveried soldiers at the entrance to the opulent Commerce Hall inform the you that the baron is too ill to attend today’s meeting and that the Mercantile Council is hosting another guest, Earl Yander Merkondus. The guards introduce you to a liveried halfling official named Gregor Hamble to escort them into the audience chamber. Hamble is a gregarious and helpful sort, open to questions about Yanmass.
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"Gregor! Well met!" Xavien greets the halfling warmly. "Do you have a relative by the name of Grigor, by chance? A cousin, perhaps? I met a fellow by that name years ago and helped free him from an ensorcellment by the empress of some dark tower. A fabulous sparring partner he was, and braver than anything."
"Anyway, we have just arrived as you can see. What would you say is the state of things in Yanmass? How are her people faring? Which way does the wind blow on Taldor's present troubles?"
"Gregor! Well met!" Xavien greets the halfling warmly. "Do you have a relative by the name of Grigor, by chance? A cousin, perhaps? I met a fellow by that name years ago and helped free him from an ensorcellment by the empress of some dark tower."
"Ah! There are MANY winds here. Many winds." he notes that the 19 member Mercantile Council consists of five principals and 14 associates who represent the wealthy interests of Yanmass, and that one of the associate councilors—a banker named Rhundle Navin—is unexpectedly absent. He doesn't seem to care that it's non sequitur to Xavien's inquiry.
"Things here are chaotic, but pleasantly so. If you're asking because of the Baron's absense, worry not. The baron has been ill at home for many days, leaving the task of city governance entirely in the hands of the Mercantile Council."
Aurelia considers what she knows of the various names she hears while Xavien talks with Gregor.
Aurelia has never heard of Gregor Hamble. He's likely either a rather minor noble, or not noble at all.
She's heard of Rhundle Navin. He's been a prominent banker for a long time, but since the war started 3 months ago, he's made some public loyalist comments. This makes his absense troubling, as he may make a for a potentally.
"Speaking of absences," Xavien replies, "I had heard that an old acquaintance, Sir Meir Dratavis, had recently traveled here, and I was eager to share a pint with the old fellow again. Do you think he will be here today?"
"Umm.... I don't know why he would be. He wouldn't normally be."
"Is the good Banker Navin ill? Where is he right now?"
"I would imagine recovering at one of his homes if he's ill. I'm not sure that he is though. He didn't send word."
Corran activates the magic in his Envoy Ring, and pairs a perfect noble outfit with his Clement Signet ring and some assorted jewelry. (200 total, including the ring).
He still wears his armor and weapons, concealed by the magic of the ring. He makes every effort to clean himself thoroughly before the meeting, using the ring to cover up what he doesn't have time for.
He positions himself over to Merkondus, greet him in a friendly manner and starts observing the people in the room, while engaging The Earl in talk of current events.
The walk to the room comes to a close before you can dig any deeper.
With a flourish you are invited to enter. Several chandeliers supplement the sunlight streaming in through high, stained glass windows to light the
cavernous audience chamber of Yanmass’s opulent Commerce Hall. An immense oval table takes up much of the room’s space. A throne-like chair at the head of the table is vacant, but most of the other chairs are occupied. Seated in ornate, padded chairs are the five principals: a human man wearing ostentatious jewelry, a half-elven woman in well-tailored clothing, a handsome human man wearing the regalia of a high priest of Abadar, a proud halfling woman, and a narrow-faced, worried-looking human woman. Several other well-dressed people occupy less ostentatious chairs. At the
foot of the table is a group of plain, sturdy wooden chairs, one of which is occupied by a fashionable, broadly smiling aristocrat.
The man in ostentatious jewelry stands, gesturing to the empty seat at the head of the table. “Given Baron Kustios’s continued absence, I’d like to call this meeting to order in his stead. We know that much of Taldor is currently in political turmoil, but we have pressing problems close to home. Yanmass suffers under the grip of several troubles, and our discussion today must confront these. First, terrible, unsavory dreams haunt many of our citizens; some of us here have had them, I understand, and their cumulative effect is crippling to morale and our economy. Second, the Taldan Horse cavalry regiment that protected our city has, in large part, vanished. This leads to the third issue, which is the rise of banditry on the eastern plains: Qadiran bandits, specifically, preying upon good Taldan trade.”
“All trade, to be frank,” interjects the narrow-faced woman, “Keleshite and Taldan alike.”
The priest of Abadar speaks up, “There’s another thing, although it’s not a clear threat: the Cult of the Twilight Child in the Encircling Bower. Good citizens are joining this mystery cult. Perhaps it’s as benign as rumors say, but we can’t ignore a new philosophy that is ensnaring so many of our citizens.”
“Religion ever reigns in your mind, Enumerator,” says the half-elf woman, “but people aren’t suffering from the cult as they are the other troubles.”
The halfling woman sits up straighter and adds, “Our esteemed guest, Earl Yander Merkondus, assures us that he has a group of troubleshooters already acting to alleviate all of these concerns. But so long as Yanmass suffers, so does trade—and therefore so do we.”
Eyes turn to you. You are welcomed to speak up.
"All very troubling news. And with such trouble, it is important that there be strong leadership. I would think then that the first order of business would be to see to whatever ails our missing Baron Kustio," Aurelia spares a glance at the priest of Abadar. "Perhaps the good Enumerator could, if he has not already, attend to whatever illness plagues the baron?"
"I admit to also being curious about the aid offered by Earl Merkondus. Just who or what are these 'troubleshooters'?"
The Chief Enumerator doesn't seem to be a fan of Aurelia's line of conversation, "I am the Chief Enemurator of Yanmass... Did you just suggest that I'm a bedside medic?"
Her follow up question thankfully pulls the whole thing back on track. The Earl jumps in, "I know you're a bit late to the party, so I'll give you the breakdown in a bit when we don't suck up their valuable time."
Xavien chuckles softly at the Earl's attempt to shut down the conversation. "The Earl speaks true! he interjects. "Little is more valuable than time, which is why this Council should not simply wait on the resolution of his proffered assurances."
He strides forward, the black of his boots gleaming in the morning sunlight. "You all know the turmoil gripping our beloved Taldor. Yet this Council has put off any decision of loyalties, in light of local troubles. Fair enough! As I understand the good Earl offers his services, and those of his agents, in the hopes of winning your hand for his patron. No no," Xavien waves off the Earl's ready protest, "we can be honest here, my dear fellow." He clears his throat. "Meanwhile, my colleagues and I wish instead to entreat your support for the Princess Eutropia, the only living child of Prince Stavian III."
"So what I propose is this. We, too, shall act to resolve the various ills presently inflicted upon Yanmass---let the Earl's agents do the same, if that is indeed their intent. Whichever of us merits your support, through our deeds and actions, gains the favor of this Council for our respective claimant."
"What say you?"
The council is HORRIFIED at the utter lack of proper decorum and utterly un-Taldan approach Xavien takes.
Rather than engage, they immediately call for a break.
Xavien shrugs and turns for the door. He expected to kick a hornet's nest---yet even so, he is somewhat taken aback by the vehemence of the response.
The Council hasn't entered the fray of war yet on purpose, entering and essentially offering them a sales pitch is decidedly not what they wanted to hear.
Hamble pulls the team aside, "They do like your plan about competing for success with the... ills. May I recommend smaller conversations where people are more likely to show their faces? Go. Mingle."
Party:
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Xavien: Go
NPC Options:
Lord Rudig Autun
Lady Aumber Gewbell
Lady Carmellio Rauls
Chief Enumerator Abrun Palliettor
Lady Hallianna Cobbin
Earl Yander Merkondus
Xavien takes a moment to himself during the interlude, weaving a spell to make himself even more charming.
Returning to the crowd, he first takes stock of how each of the players have arranged themselves throughout the room---who is choosing to converse with whom, who is making furtive glances in which direction, any daggers being stared at anybody. People vote with their feet, after all, so where people stand often says a lot about the network of alliances and divisions.
He then saunters over to Lady Hallianna Cobbin, offering her a bow by way of introduction. "Lady Cobbin, well me. Lord Xavien of the Karthis family down south." The dismissive way he enunciates the name makes clear he is not especially fond of most of his relatives. "I take it that you believe these bandits are not truly Qadiran in origin?"
Xavien finds that while the people present keep their own company, they do tend to mix and meld. this is clearly a hotbed of intrigue. It looks like they're doing as much recon as you are. None of them stay close to each other long enough for the conversation to be forced into... deep issues.
Cobbin seems unconcerned with politics, including Xavien's prodding. Her eyes are on the earl, but her expression is one of ...romantic interest. Nevertheless, she is chatty, and Xavien gets a fair bit out of her, even if it isn't super helpful out of the gate:
“I saw a couple of shady figures lurking around the temple of Abadar. They scattered as soon as they saw I saw ‘em, but they didn’t look up to any good.” Try as you might, she won't follow up on this.
“We got snubbed at that new restaurant, Savories, last night. It caters to the best of the best, and I’ve heard it’s exquisite. They were too crowded even give me a table. Me! There’s something unnatural about a restaurant becoming so exclusive so quickly.”
“People wonder where the bandits might be hiding. I’d put my money on the ruins of Orvestikar Manor. It’s isolated, and hardly anyone goes out there.”
Kenton makes his way toward Earl Yander Merkondus, hoping to learn more of the troubleshooters mentioned, and (more importantly) what they may have discovered. Now that we are not in danger of draining the valuable time of the Council members, I should like to inquire more about the folks you have working on the troubles. Nightmares, disappearing soldiers, and banditry, not to mention some sort of cult. Troubling indeed! What are you comfortable sharing, friend?
The Earl looks Kenton up and down. Yander is imperious and rude, “It’s just like the Loyalists to be ignore the plight of good Taldan people; we Imperialists have this well in hand, I assure you. My people are experts, and that's all you need to know because that's all you'd understand. Perhaps your clumsy attempts at diplomacy would be better served in a more effete city—you might find this one too rough and slanderous for your delicate ideals.”
"'We'?" Xavien asks Cobbin quizzically. "Who else was in your dining party?"
He makes a mental note of both locations.
* * *
"Clearly you do not have this well in hand, my dear Merkondus," Xavien interjects, joining Kenton. "For we heard rumor of Yanmass's troubles weeks ago, yet we see little progress. Your people seem to be no better studied than your own pedestrian sartorial choices."
Xavien's acerbic approach does what it's intended to. The earl sneers and breaks away from the conversation. Clearly Lord Karthis got under his skin.
Cobbin, "I'm not one to name drop, but here's the address. Good luck. You're going to need it."
Xavien moves on to the Enumerator. "Well met, Chief Enumerator. I was heartened to hear you voice concern over this growing Cult, for it troubles us as well. What have you learned of it?"
Aurelia drifts over to make conversation with Abrun Palliettor. "Chief Enumerator, allow me to first apologize. I had in no way intended to suggest that you were some common medic. My assumption was more that a man of your station within the Church of Abadar would put you in such a position that such banal inconviences as a common cold would be no barrier to progress. Do you not find it strange that the Baron is missing from these proceedings?"
The Enumerator immediately forgets about Xavien once Aurelia makes her entrance.
"Strange? Only in these uncertain times. We're nobles. Sometimes an illness is a hangover. Sometimes its a lack of motivation. I'll be honest, I worry more about the cult activity than I let on. I'm especially bothered by rumors that people think it's an offshoot of Abadar's faith. Absurd of course, but the damage is done... Maybe... Maybe we meet after this. Any time tomorrow works. I'll be at the temple."
.
Kenton shrugs at the Earl's standoffish behavior, but can't help smiling as Xavien drives the stuffed shirt up the proverbial wall. He says nothing, but gives Lord Karthis a broad grin before leaning in. We should inquire further as to this Orvestikar Manor, I think.
Xavien politely disengages from the conversation---he evidently is not missed---and sidles over to Lady Rauls. "Lady Rauls, you seem... troubled. More so than your colleagues, at least. Something more on your mind than what was voiced at Council?"
Corran moves over towards Aumber Gewbell and attempts to strike up conversation with the woman, curious about who she is and what role she plays in this drama.
Lady Rauls opens up a bit, "My greatest concern is the recent disappearance of the "Taldan Horse" regiment and the rise of the Qadiran bandits, both due to the impact on my contracts and for the lack of protection for my caravans... And the lives of the men, of course."
"Anyway. Supposedly there's a witness a wandering gnome priest named Findleby. If I can find him, I'd very much like to know what he saw and where."
Corran approaches the woman, with a bat in the belfrey. Shockingly he's skilled enough to clear it out subtley, and it's almost as if Lady Gewbell is eager to talk to a member of the party. "I'm worried. Honestly, about many things, but right now... I worry most about the plague of disturbing dreams in the city. I'm aware that there have been several suicides and bands of haunted-eyed townspeople wandering the town in a stupor. I've heard rumors of a local conspiracy theorist, a woman named Caradinna Farkin, who has long been known to make erratic proclamations about the “secret masters” in town. Recently, Farkin had become increasingly strident and insistent, even accosting a few of the council members in the streets, yes that includes me. However, Farkin hasn’t been seen in the last two days, and I wonder whether she didn’t stumble onto some genuine clues. I'm not realy skilled at this type of intrigue, but allow me to pass on a rumor that someone is hiding out in Hedge Hill, and that anyone lurking there must be hiding from something important."
NPC Options:
Lord Rudig Autun
Lady Aumber Gewbell
Lady Carmellio Rauls
Chief Enumerator Abrun Palliettor
Lady Hallianna Cobbin
Earl Yander Merkondus
"Suicides? That's horrible. And Mistress Farkin is missing?"
Sense Motive. Is she eccentric or unwell?
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I've a boogie on my face, don't I?
Corran... QUITE COOLY... Uses a handkerchief and keeps moving like nothing at all embarrassing happened.
Nailed it.
Xavien approaches Lord Autun, offering a polite bow and a winning smile. "You have much on you mind, dear Autun, and fractious priorities to manage among your fellow Council members. What troubles you most?"
"Ah, someone with a sense of fashion. It's unfortunately rare. Me? I'm untroubled mostly. If you want trouble, speak to the loyalists. The Loyalists have suffered more than Imperialists in recent events. I opine that the ill Baron Kustios has Loyalist leanings, the missing banker Rhundle Navin was an outspoken Loyalist, and even the Qadiran bandits have been targeting merchants with Loyalist leanings the most. Are you catching my drift?"
"Indeed I am," Xavien replies, serious in tone but still all smiles. "Almost as catching as those alexandrite stones 'round your neck! A perfect complement for gold filigree and such a fine burgundy chemise, by either night or day. I do love the sateen weave you have chosen---an inviting canvas, if you will. Know you anything of the Baron's ailment? Or of the banker's disappearance?"
"No, I don't. I also don't believe in coincidence. So I merely suspect because it's the safer option."
Xavien laughs. "A prudent choice! I, however, am not so wise---leave the danger to me."
"More power to you then."
The meet and greet begins to lose momentum. Once aides start coming in to remind people of other responsibilities, people start exiting. Before long, there's no one left to talk to.
It's still pretty early in the day. What now?
Xavien considers. "The Chief Enumerator wanted to talk tomorrow, so we should not wander too far..."
Orvestikar Manor is situated at the edge of the Whistling Plains, 9 miles northeast of Yanmass. Hedge Hill is is about 1 furlong from your current location.
"Let us see if we can find this 'shady character' atop Hedge Hill." You notice that Xavien's gleaming black garb has apparently given way to subtle browns and cheaper fabrics, better suited for both hiking and blending in with a crowd.
Kenton nods. An excellent plan, he says, his clothing changing along with Xavein's to something far less ostentatious for the trip.
Let me see if I can find out anything about our missing conspiracy theorist...
Gather Information. Corran will canvas, just generally being a swell guy and cracking jokes. He sounds like someone curious about a weird crime because he's into weird crimes, and not like an investigator--you get me? Somebody harmless. A true crime and conspiracy enthusiast.
That takes me hours.
Taking a cue from Corran, Xavien changes his get-up to something more colorful and airy---jaunty, even. He visits a few local watering holes and performs a few songs at each, keeping an ear out and talking up the patrons between sets.