It is the early morning of the 12th day of Gozran in the year 4666 AR, and already the large town square which sits in front of the Pediment Building is filling with activity. Though Lord-Mayor Varnagan Draston-Meir represents only half of Magnimar's government, the Pediment Building serves also as the home to the city's Justice Court, and thus two lines have formed outside the building. One line is orderly and contains several dozen people so far, and must be those waiting to beg an audience with the Lord-Mayor, for the second line, so unruly as to be almost a mob, is angrily demanding justice. Magnimar has few laws, yet it would seem that nearly all of them save treason are represented, with murder being surprisingly over-represented.
Entrepreneuring young boys dart amongst those standing in the two lines, peddling sausages, scones, and other foodstuffs, but mostly they focus on selling food to the artisans scattered throughout the square. The sound of chisels is thankfully not nearly so loud as the angry citizens waiting for the Justice Court, but that may be on account of so many artisans focusing their efforts on painting today, decorating buildings with murals or adding lifelike detail to statues. The largest statue by far, however, is the unpainted marble of the 'Indros cul Vydrarch' at the centre of the square. A towering monument, the statue depicts the ancient battle between the legendary two-headed sea serpent known as the Vydrarch and the noble paladin Alcaydian Indros, founder of the city.
A table and a large, impressive looking chair have been set up near the massive statue, but the chair is, for the moment, unoccupied, though there is a middle-aged man seated upon a stool at the table. Occasionally raising his head and scanning the square, he mostly spend his time carefully scribing out copies of a document. He is attended by a young page, whom he dispatches every time he recognizes a member of the party. Each time the page has successfully brings an adventurer to the table, the scribe looks up and explains, "My apologies, Lord-Mayor Draston-Meir seems to be running late. He had business to attend to with a few members of the Council of Ushers this morning, but will be here soon. You needn't worry about joining the line of petitioners, he will attend to you here as soon as he arrives."
The Lord-Mayor, an elderly man dressed in black velvet with the gold medallion of office prominently displayed on his chest, arrives with a small entourage that includes several lackeys, but also a stern-faced elf in the purple and scarlet robes of a Justice. He settles into the throne-like chair while saying, "Ah, good morning. I'm not feeling quite so spry these days, I hope you weren't kept waiting long." He then turns to the elven Justice, "This rash of murders needs to stop. You're putting plenty of people into The Hells, but still the murders continue. Now, I must deal with this matter, we shall discuss this further over lunch."
The elf glares at Draston-Meir, then says, "It would be a simple matter if you would simply give me the authority I have requested." He then spins around and glides gracefully over to the Pediment Building with flowing stride.
"I am sorry about that. Justice Ironbriar believes that adherents of Groetus are behind the recent killings plaguing the poorer parts of the city. But that is not why you are here, is it? No, we need to address the true root issue behind the crime wave: overcrowding and food shortages." Draston-Meir grabs one of the copies the scribe has made and peruses it quickly, "Ah, good, this looks just fine. So! What we have here are official proclamations of your authority as agents of Magnimar. I shall sign and seal a copy for each of you, and then you shall travel to the Lost Coast, deal with the goblins infesting the area, and select a site for founding a new town. A thousand platinum crowns and titles of nobility for the lot of you when you're done, on condition of fealty to Magnimar and an oath to administer the new town."
He gestures to one of his lackeys, who produces a quill pen and an inkwell and places them on the table, "Any questions before I get to signing these for you?"