Xavien stands a little above average height, with a stocky build, and a smile playing on his lips more often than not. When he introduces himself, it is almost always as Marendo rather than Xavien. He is quick to laugh, and usually finds an embellished story more interesting than the plain truth. Eschewing both the gaudy garbs forced on him by his parents and the purely functionalist fashions he teased them with in adolescence, His current attire is a bespoke blend of high-fashion and utility, paying homage to the fanciful sartorial choices of Taldor's elites, but at the same time slimming them down for cleaner, smoother lines from head to toe, and he limits himself to two thick gold torcs worn on the wrists and another worn at the neck. At his side is a soldier's longsword, which he much prefers over the flimsier blades popular among duelists in Oppara today.
"Good morning my Xavien!" Lady Martella Lotheed, is, as always, an undeniable presence. Oddly, she asked you to meet her in the middle of the afternoon at a clothier's place. It's extremely posh, called "The Thread Rare." A strange place, but she asked with a smile you couldn't ignore.
You think back to all that you've learned in your time with her. Martella spent her early years on the grounds of the family estate in Tandak Prefecture. Arcane magic runs thick in Lotheed blood, and every generation produces some of Taldor’s greatest wizards. But despite a keen mind, Martella struggled with even the basics of spellcasting. Unlike her half-siblings, who excelled in their arcane studies, Martella could master nothing but the fundamental theories behind magic. This lack of aptitude only reinforced her outcast status among her already distant siblings. Eventually her family simply shipped her off to a private boarding school, the Sinora Academia, to remove the embarrassment from their sight. You have each swapped many stories frustrations with nobles who think of only themselves.
Away from her family’s condescension and myopic focus on the arcane arts, Martella mastered countless different skills instead: mathematics, natural philosophy, alchemy, and eventually engineering.
She takes you by the arm into the Thread Rare. "So I think it is time that I tell you something. I am actually much closer to the princess that I've ever let on. We are the tightest of friends, practically sisters. During next week's Day of Exaltation, there's an incredible vote on the docket. This year’s Grand Day of Exaltation is poised to mark a historic shift in the governance of the empire. Princess Eutropia, daughter of Grand Prince Stavian III, has forged a powerful coalition of noble bastard children, reformers, and—perhaps, most importantly—senators to vote down the ancient law of primogeniture!"
She runs her fingers on some exquisite jewelry as she talks. You can tell that she's keeping her eye on the others in the shop. My friend, I know you feel as I do. Rumors have circulated about the princess’s quest to strike down primogeniture for years, and the nation remains divided on the vote, with several nobles viewing it as a shameless power grab by Princess Eutropia." The disdain in her voice is clear. "Others see Eutropia as a stabilizing force that could unify the empire and usher in a new golden age for Taldor. This political division has fractured the nation, splitting apart countryman and nobleman alike and forging fierce rivalries within the ranks of both friends and foes."
She stops the charade of shopping, and takes you by the shoulders, "Xavian, I would like you to attend the ceremony... and.... and I would like your help."
Every year, the empire of Taldor celebrates the Grand Day of Exaltation. On this prestigious day, the Grand Prince is empowered to elevate a commoner to the ranks of nobility. The event itself is the embodiment of formality, with the elevated commoner selected months or years in advance. What makes the day truly special is that the preceding week is a holiday throughout the empire. Nobles, senators, and hopeful petitioners fill the capital city of Oppara for galas, performances, and parades. This flood of visitors swells Oppara to almost double its size, and many view the lead-up to the Grand Day of Exaltation as harking back to the glory days of the empire. To the nobility, the week before the Grand Day of Exaltation is a time to conduct important business deals, issue noble proclamations, and hold private parties. With so many prominent politicians arriving from across the empire, the Taldan senate uses Exaltation Week to vote on matters of nationwide importance.
Xavien offers Martella a grin and a bow outside the shop. He is not surprised at her choice to use his given name, rather than the nickname she often employed in private, for this is a public place and appearances need keeping up. So he, too, makes a pretense of shopping, picking out a few doublets and hats here and there, appraising them with bored disgust, and putting them back.
When Martella's talk turns to the law of primogeniture, he slips on a sly grin. "About time, is it not?" he chuckles. "Perhaps we shall finally be graced with a leader who wears britches for once, and not just wine-soiled skirts."
He returns her gesture, taking Martella's shoulders in his big hands and looking her dead in the eye. "Anything for you, my dear. It would be my honor to attend."
Her tone drops to a conspiratorial whisper, "Some senators are too powerful or stubborn, but that doesn’t mean they’re beyond some petty revenge. I would like to exact some retribution against my more powerful half-brothers, who have contributed a large bottle of rare, 150-year-old red wine from family holdings in the Opparos province, now held in the senate’s kitchens. I have here a single syringe filled with a putrefying agent to render the wine embarrassingly undrinkable. It is not poison, worry not. But but do not steal the bottle, simply conceal any signs of tampering; it must be drunk at dinner and appear to be of terrible quality or—even more scandalously—a forgery.
She locks eyes with you, "This is a new level of politics that I'm not proud of, but this is the life of a spy. It is the goal I turn my attention towards. What say you?"
Xavien cocks an eyebrow. "You know how I feel about practical jokes, Martella." There is a pregnant pause. "I love it! Ha, hah!" He beams at her and claps her gently on the shoulder. "They shall be spitting like a caravan of camels, just you wait."
He releases her and steps back a bit, taking her in. "A shame about the wine, though. Sad to lose such a good vintage."
She gives a relaxed chuckle, and it's obvious that her amusement is genuine. The chuckle melts into a warm smile. She's clearly excited about this arrangement.
She presses an envelope into your hand. It's an insider's invitation and a promissory note for thirty gold's worth of credit at The Thread Rare.
With a wink she departs, "Sorry my friend, I have something else I must attend to, involving a man I think you'll also soon be friends with. I shall see you overmorrow!"
The next morning is expectedly cool, with a clear sky. There's an excitement through the entire city of Oparra. Tomorrow's Day of Exaltation should be momentous. Hopefully with your work under Lady Martella, it'll be momentously good.
It strikes you that this also marks a change in your role. Philosophical conversations are one thing, but actual deed is another thing entirely. With a day to go, you find your mind wandering....
"Indeed, my dear," Xavien replies, bowing. He tucks the envelope into his breast pocket and watches her as she departs. "Hell of a woman, she is," he mutters to himself. He glances back into the clothier's shop once, then follows her out the door to get on with the rest of his day.
His thoughts that afternoon keep running over Martella's news. There was a levity in her voice, but a weight to the words.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Xavien spends part of the morning in his rooms at Hôtel d'Ilsa scrawling a few notes in his heavy, flowing hand, addressing them to various friends and colleagues about the city. He leaves them with the concierge for immediate delivery.
That accomplished, he readies himself for an afternoon and evening flitting from social event to another; there are so many happening today that it was difficult to keep track of the invitations. At the balls he is never shy about dancing, while at the parties he offers winning smiles and ample jocular repartee, and at the same time carefully counting his drinks.
He uses the time to ferret out two things that have been on his mind:
Xavien doesn't learn anything new, and by the times he wraps up, he doesn't realize how much time he had spent. With the big day tomorrow, he heads home.
The next morning is as beautiful as the previous. There's an electricity in the air. Things are going to happen today. When you first step outside there's a message awaiting you after your morning regimen. It's sealed with Lady Martella's signet.
My friend,
The Day of Exaltation is here! We have much to accomplish today, and you are part of a team of agents. While the gala is tonight, I would like to meet up at my favorite boulangerie for a snack, you know the one. The one with the Galtan croissants. Please meet me there half past the hour of five. I look forward to it.
Your Friend,
The Grand Day of Exaltation is an exciting time in Oppara. With so many far-flung visitors, rumors about any and all subjects fly fast and loose. You overhear an interesting tidbit or two along your way...
“I would love to be inside the senate gala. You know the building has been rebuilt five times? They have rooms they didn’t even know they had!"
“The senate is taking on a bunch of new staff to prepare for the gala.”
You arrive at the Higher Grounds cafe. In the morning it smells of pastry and coffee. In the evening you smell an assortment of savory goodness. With a deep breath you enter the cafe.