NPC of bd's page

Tilly looked alarmed, "I... I don't know. It looks like it's coming from underneath the bridge."

As they crept closer, they both hear a sound, both strange and familiar. Music, though not the sort they were used to hearing. Tilly shook her head, looking confused. There were no musicians under the bridge, just a strange glow of light. "Do you hear that? I'm not going crazy, am I?"

As the pair drew closer, trying to make sense of the strange phenomenon, they feel a pull toward the light, almost like being caught and swept along by rushing water. They try to draw back, but it was too late. The light surrounded them and with a bright FLASH, they were somewhere else entirely.

"Well don't you start reminding me too!" Tilly exclaims, giving Sabelle a playful swat on the arm. "Maybe you can help distract him from being such a perfect student all the time. He really does work too hard."

When she asks about the mushrooms, Tilly stretches. "I guess so, but just because it's for you." She said with a sideways smile, reaching out her hand to offer whatever Sabelle needed.

"I guess so," Tilly said, sounding unconvinced. "I'm definitely ready for the break. And to not be classified as a kid anymore. But... I don't know. Doesn't it seem like things are changing so fast now?" She sighed heavily as if bothered by some worry.

"No, I know. You're right. This is everything we've been hoping and working for. And I'm really glad we're going together. With my best friend beside me, at least one thing will stay the same!" She smiles and puts an arm around Sabelle's shoulders as they walk along, talking.

"He's very charming, isn't he Martella? I'm Cassandra, Cassandra Flaminia. Pleased to meet you sir." she responds, introducing herself after everyone else had said their piece.

Martella laughs lightly at Cassandra's observation as she catches Trendon by the arm and pins on his senate aide badge for him. "Indeed, guard your hearts, my darlings, lest they be lost forever. Perhaps Trendon will even set the young Lady Malphene to swooning." She added, giving the young Chelaxian a wink as the Duchess led him away.

Apologies, Cassandra. I know we still have some outstanding dialogue to resolve, but I am just trying to get us plodding along again right now.

~~~

Edelmira and Hubert join forces in the Imperial Archives and find themselves being led by a guide along with a group as they paused near an old blueprint of the senate building. The guide explains that the current structure was built atop the ruins of several older senate constructions. Sensing the attention of the crowd on the wane, he goes on to describe how some levels of the old senate involved the intentional immurement of it's builders — a grim reward from the ruling nobles of the time. Edie and Hubie discuss one instance whereby a workman's family brought suit against a noble clan for just such a disappearance. Nothing came of it, of course, but it adds extra credence to the guide's story, who seems to appreciate the support as the crowd Ooohs and some of the ladies shudder delicately.

One of the few, overworked Librarians shuffles over to the pair with a tattered tome in his aged hand. "You are students of history, are you not? How splendid, so few young people are interested in these dusty old documents. I am Pabrus Telecoum. I wonder if you might like this." He said as he offered Edelmira the book. "It was donated recently, but I'm afraid it's far too deteriorated to be archived properly. It's a journal, a rather compelling tale of a young wizard’s growth to womanhood and then inheriting her family business in Cassomir 250 years ago. Perhaps you can glean something useful from it's pages." He says with a kindly nod of encouragement.

Though large portions are missing or damaged by water, tucked into the back of the book are several scrolls containing animate rope, blur, flaming sphere, hypnotism, mount, and web.
That is A6, cleared. Well done!

~~~

Those following Malphene Trant head down stairs just in time to see her pass through the Emperor's Hall and out into the Courtyard. Lady Trant mills about the Courtyard, grabbing drinks from servant's trays and draining them at a rapid rate. She appears to run into a friend and begins to talk with him animatedly, laughing and slugging him in the arm in a rather unladylike manner. Cassandra impresses the guests assembled there with her knowledge of the flora and fauna on display.

That's A2 cleared now! Each PC gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks to influence NPCs during the rest of the Gala. Also each PC may spend a round in the Courtyard to overhear a rumor about a particular NPC's interests. Anyone following Malphene will automatically spend a round in the Courtyard, but observing her is passive, you may still actively influence an NPC present (Gloriana Morilla and Princess Eutropia) but your rumor may be about any NPC that you prefer.

~~~

Kunala sets off on his mission, utilizing the servant's passages to try and save time. Unfortunately, the passages can be a bit of a maze for those unfamiliar with them and it takes him nearly fifteen minutes to backtrack and locate the Imperial Archives to deliver the message. Count Orlundo Zespire wears a decorated Naval uniform and is one of the few Senators who wears his own peace-bound sword. The Count breaks the wax seal and reads the message, "Hmm, yes. Give me just a moment, and I will have something else for you to deliver."
Kunala loses his round 2 action while waiting. On his return, the Count hands Kunala another wax-sealed message and requests, "Please take that to Junior Senator Duo in the gallery with my thanks."

~~~

"Just a moment, if you will." Martella calls you back before you've made it ten steps. "It seems our dear Thadeus was called away by family business, bless his heart. Fortunately, I was contacted by a an acquaintance, and it just so happens that he is here tonight. And as these Gala events do stretch on so dreadfully, he's quite bored already and happy to lend us a hand."

She gestured to a young nobleman standing nearby. "Trendon, would you like to introduce yourself?" She prompted gently.

Kunala earns 14 points and clears the first threshold in A2, The Courtyard. He overhears a rumor that reveals an influence skill for the NPC of his choice. Anyone else may receive the same by spending a social round in the courtyard. You may still act to influence during the round spent to overhear your rumor. Only 3 points remain to clear the second threshold in A2.

______________________________________________________________

"The hunt? Well...I have some particularly interesting details I'm picking up about Maxillar." She will flash a grin to show that she's serious and not just making up lies.

Malphene Trant, she's been no worse than your typically narcissistic noble. It is interesting to hear Martella's view of her. Frankly, Nicolette would love to punch Malphene in the mouth for a particularly snooty comment made three years ago at a party. They haven't talked since.

"I would prefer to keep an eye on Malphene."

Martella seems intrigued by Nicolette's statement on her progress in spying on Pythareus. "Well that sounds promising, anything actionable, as yet?"

She laughs lightly at the Duchess' zeal for espionage. "Malphene will never recognize you in that disguise. She should definitely be taught a lesson, but ideally that lesson should be to 'use her words'. That message would best be delivered by those who are using theirs. But it is possible it might require more than words to dissuade her. If it does come to violence, it would be best if it were not traced back to you. Combat is loud and messy and would likely draw the Guards down upon you quite quickly." She pauses, and reaches into her bag to draw out the mechanical cricket you saw at the lunch meeting yesterday. "This will help to keep such an encounter private, if need be." She says as she passes the contraption to Cassandra and briefly demonstrates how to wind and activate the device.

"It would probably be best to deal with Lady Trant with as much support as possible since there will be less chance for violence the more she perceives her chances of victory to be low. I will also be keeping watch and will try and alert you through the badges, should she make a move. While I do not approve of her methods, Malphene is ultimately a dutiful and devoted daughter to her father and still quite young. I suppose I have a soft spot for such." Martella shrugged. "She has only recently had her coming out into society. Clearly she has been misled if she believes that she herself would not benefit from the repeal. Maybe she can come to see that, in time."

Turning to Kunala, she hands him a missive sealed with pressed yellow wax. "This needs to find it's way to Count Orlundo Zespire in the Imperial Archives. You might need to wait for a response."

"Well, I suppose I've taken enough of your time. Unless you had some other questions? Do take your moments to enjoy yourselves as well!"

Ran out of time to work, so had to leave out the social round replies, expect them tomorrow, probably.

After an hour has passed since Eutropia's speech, your senate aide badges all chime with a soft tone and Martella Lotheed's voice sounds in your ears. "Hello again, my talented friends. Please join me in the Gallery at your earliest convenience, I have some refreshments for us all. See you soon!" She says brightly.

You ascend the stairway to the second floor Gallery to meet with Martella, When you first arrive, Lady Lotheed watches gleefully as a halfling performer clowns with a group of children. They dance in a slowed motion faux battle with the jester taking exaggerated cartoonish tumbles and falls from the children's blows. She stands near an area that has been sectioned off on the upper walkways with chairs and a pot of fresh coffee as well as some assorted canapes and a full tea service. She laughs loudly at a particularly comical display and cuts it off abruptly and clears her throat to compose herself as she notices the group approaching.

”Lovely to see you all, I trust you are enjoying the Gala?” She says as she leads the party toward their seats. A shadowy figure stands at attention and bows deeply to Edelmira at your approach. ”Look who I spotted lurking nearby while you were chatting up the Countess. It appears Edelmira somehow managed a covert plus one. Your Hubert is quite resourceful, it seems.” She says, addressing the compliment to Edie. The dark, slender youth smiles lazily, one side of his mouth quirking up as he meets Edelmira’s eyes, not at all bothered by the possessive tone of the praise. ”Please, help yourself. Can you believe dinner won’t be served for another hour or more? Remember to stay hydrated, the Gala is a marathon, not a sprint. You lot seem to have the knack for it, though. So tell me, how goes the hunt?” She asks with a casual wink as she settles into her seat and gestures for you all to do the same.

After she listens to your replies about your progress so far, she says ”I didn’t ask you here just to look over your shoulders. There’s a young woman here tonight: Malphene Trant, the daughter of Senator Trant.” Martella gestures over the rail to an imposing young woman who strolls along in the Emperor’s Hall below. "She’s a belligerent, narcissistic ass, and a bully besides. If she’s here, it’s likely to intimidate one of more of the junior senators into backing her father and opposing the repeal. If one or more of you could keep an eye on her and... quietly intercede if she should try, I would be most grateful. The cricket should help mask sounds of a scuffle, should one break out. Oh, and I have a message that needs delivering, if anyone would like to do that for me.” She looks around expectantly as she nibbles a tea cake.

Lady Lotheed giggles like a schoolgirl, ”My but those lovely eyes of yours are quite compelling, Cassandra. At least someone appreciates my handiwork.” She pouted prettily at Kunala as he turned for the door. ”I’ll bring them both to the Gala and let you have it once you’re inside. I have an excellent bag I use to smuggle things in.” She says with a wink.

”Fly my pretties, preen your feathers well and I will see you all there. Do stagger your exits so you are not all seen together.”

The Day of the Grand Exaltation Gala

Visitors flock to Oppara in the days leading up to the Grand Day of Exaltation and this year has been no exception. Today, the crowds are at their peak. The populace of the city doubles during this time, making Oppara larger than any other city in the Inner Sea region, save Absalom. The self-importance of the already prideful Taldan people swells in equal measure. The city roils with activity like a disturbed hill of ants as people engage in ecstatic revelry and bustle about with last minute tasks and purchases in mind.

Street vendors sell traditional Taldan foods — anchovy skewers, anglebobs, canal crossings, clamguards, jubilee pie, honeyflake, long wine, yonder tarts, and more — including regional delicacies from separated provinces such as Andoran mince and Chelish raven cake. Family banners and provincial flags drape the sides of most buildings, with merchants hawking heraldry ranging from replica banners of the old Armies of Exploration to wooden swords and handheld Taldan flags for children. Taverns offer themed drink and food, with varying bars adopting well-known nobles from the long history of the empire as their mascot or self-declared patron.

The sun sinks slowly from the sky, casting a rosey glow on the white stone edifices of the capital city as it dips toward the horizon over the Porthmos River. The evening sky deepens into night as pink fades into purple and finally indigo as night's curtain drops over the Oppara stage. No stars are visible tonight and the moon hides her face behind her inky cloak, as if she would not compete with the beauty of the shining gem of Taldor on this night.

For all across the city, hundreds of thousands of dazzling lanterns and brilliant street-lights activate like a cascade of fireflies, causing the darkening streets to, instead of sinking into shadow, glow as if lit from within by the brilliant network of illumination. The polished cobblestone streets of Senate Hill shimmer and shine in the magical light, and bejeweled senators and gala guests stride confidently through the decadent avenues. Though the less wealthy and influential occupants of the Gilded City have slunk away indoors to spend their last night of festival, vowing to outdo the fancy folk and their Grand Exaltation Gala, the highly organized walkways of the Senate Hill are even more crowded than at it's busiest hour.

Numerous lacquered stagecoaches painted in the colors of the hundreds of noble houses of Taldor dominate the streets, occasionally stopping to spill out nobles clad in everything from cloth of gold to soldier's dress uniforms and all manner of finery in between. In the distance, immediately adjacent to Imperial Square on Senate’s Hill, the Senate House stands tall and imposing, reflecting back the illumination of the many countless lights. The striking hall of governance is carved from such pristine white marble that the stone seems to catch and hold that radiance before casting it back. The structure has existed in one form or another for millennia, though natural disasters, sabotage, and war have partially leveled it several times in the empire's grand history, leading to many large-scale repairs and revisions. Ostentatious columns carved with glorious scenes of the nation's history surround the building on all sides, while a pronounced flight of precisely 100 stairs ascends to the main entrance.

Dozens of carriages and many more minor nobles and gala guests stand just outside of the massive fence encircling the Senate House while members of the official Taldan Constabulary stride from carriage to carriage, pulling some people aside seemingly at random to ensure that the Rules of the Senate are enforced before the gala guests are allowed entrance onto the Senate Grounds.

Martella did not jest when she warned you of the line. While senators may enter the senate building with a minimum of fuss, the process for aides, staff, and other attendees to enter is long and tedious. You are shuffled into an expansive line dedicated to senatorial aides, minor noble attendants, and various others deemed as "people useful to people of import." The line progresses ponderously, and it seems likely to take several hours to finally reach the front. Dozens of overeager merchants attempt to hawk a variety of wares to you and other staffers — mostly novelty Taldan flags and phony pieces of historical memorabilia, others selling last minute accessories, likely featuring glass or paste stones. Several others in the line begin to bemoan the wait, touting their respective level of importance based on association with their affiliated nobles and senators.

The entire affair is quite tiresome. The waiting is nerve-wracking, for the Taldan Constabulary are notoriously thorough, yet despite the feelings of anxiety some may feel, an air of excitement runs through the crowd like an electric current. Nobles and gala guests animatedly talk politics and gossip, or offer insincere compliments to each other with barely concealed sneers, as is often customary for the nobility.

You are halfway through the line and beginning to have a hope that you will make it through unmolested when an inspector approaches you. "You've been selected for a random inspection," the Vudrani woman says. "Follow me, please." And she leads you off to the side, next she collects one of your compatriots, even though you were not standing together.

Be sure to roll sleight of hand checks for any contraband you wish to smuggle in.New Images added to the link above!

Lady Lotheed clearly enjoys the playful banter and smiles warmly over the little cadre of operatives she has collected. Finally as the last questions are asked, she taps her lips thoughtfully with a forefinger. "Dear me, I do feel as if I've forgotten something. Now what could it be? I sent your advance with the invitation, so that isn't it. You all have your tasks and your badges. Now let me think...Ah!" She reaches into her case again and pulls out a page with lines of text written in a neat hand. "I know they're a bore, but you'll need to familiarize yourself with these regulations. You could always try and smuggle something in, but the inspectors will be doing their due diligence."

The Taldan senate houses many of the most powerful politicians in the empire, and while the empire enjoys drama, dueling, and shows of power, certain rules are in place to ensure the safety of visiting nobles and occasionally even their staff.

• Breastplates, ceremonial armor, and light armor may be worn inside the senate building, but no other armor is permitted for anyone except guards.

• Potions, scrolls, spell component pouches, and wands are permitted inside the senate building, and in fact, many senators are themselves spellcasters. However, spellcasting is not permitted within the building without written approval (often issued to entertainers).

• Only light and one-handed weapons are allowed inside the senate building; ranged weapons and two-handed weapons are not allowed inside the building.
All weapons brought into the senate building must be peace-bound—secured in a sheath with a length of decorative cord. Drawing a peace-bound weapon requires a full-round action. Guards do not need to peace-bind their weapons.

• Animals are generally not permitted inside the senate building, excepting familiars and service animals.
Animals larger than an average member of the senate guard are not permitted within the building under any circumstances.

• While guests are free to roam the senate building when invited, individual senators’ offices are off-limits and locked. No one but the senators and a single aide for each is permitted on the senate floor during a vote.

Anyone caught breaking any of these rules is quietly escorted outside by two guards.

Once that small matter was resolved, she dismissed the group to go on their respective ways, "Tomorrow evening may well go down in the history books, so rest up and strive to be at your best. Oh, and you might want to be a bit early. There does tend to be quite a line at these events." She cautioned, wrinkling her nose slightly in distaste.

"You may return the items you acquire after the unveiling of the display, or not at all, at your option. As far as I know, the badges only receive from the Master badge, but I have little understanding of magic, I must admit."

No more on Baron Okerra or Duke Centimus at this stage in the game.

Noticing Nicolette's reaction, Cassandra hesitates for a moment, before glancing at Martella. "Not to be rude, but you may have forgotten the Dutchess here, and I'm sure that she is just as capable as I am. Is she perhaps assisting you with a personal mission of your own? Something rather challenging?" she asks carefully, trying to raise Nicolette's mood.

Martella feigns shock at Cassandra’s words. ”Have I? What a dreadful oversight!” Then she grins at the Dutchess, ”Just a little delayed gratification for you, my dear Nicolette. I know how you enjoy your little obeisances. A little bird told me you’ve not yet perpetrated your annual prank this year to mark Calistril. What better time and place than at the Grand Exaltation Gala on the final day of the month? There are certainly a number of senators who will seek to vote down the repeal no matter our powers of persuasion. But we can still strive to undercut their influence with a soupçon of scandal! Something that will do Calistria proud.” She says with a smirk as she stands and straightens her bodice, letting the peanut fall to the floor before resuming her seat.

”I will also need some minor errands run and messages passed, of course. And it would be prudent to watch the High Strategos. While we must always strive to bring more friends to our cause, there are some opponents who will seek to cut our very legs from beneath us. High Strategos Maxillar Pythareus is such an opponent. He will no doubt be working against us at every turn and I need someone to keep a close watch on his activities so that we may be prepared to counter. This may work better as a team effort since Pythareus is quite observant and careful.”

He sips the wine and asks, "The wine, can you tell me what vineyard" He purses his lips for a moment. "And what delivery system are we using for the putrefying agent?"

"It is a very rare vintage from a vintner who venerated Sarenrae. I fear that all I remember is that it was a very large bottle with the image of a golden sun on it's label and the cork sealed with red wax. You'll deliver the substance through the intact cork with this." She removes a well wrapped syringe with a long slender detachable needle from the case at her side and places it on the table well removed from the delicious food. "You do not want to get any of the substance on your skin or clothes..." she cautions, wrinkling her nose as if she smelled something foul.

Edelmira inclines her head in a slight nod of regard to Lady Lotheed. ”I shall fulfill this task with alacrity and discretion. Do you have any preliminary intelligence on the Duke and the Countess that may be useful?”

"Duke Leonard Centimus is a half-elven aristocrat who lost the use of his legs in a riding accident. Oddly enough, he has refused to seek out a divine spellcaster to heal the damage. But I fear I know little of the Countess." You only rolled once for two separate subjects.

”Baron Nicolaus Okerra was something of a celebrity on the tournament circuit, though that is years ago now. He is a widower and has a young, precocious daughter from what I hear.” She answers to Cassandra’s question.

"I must admit, you've entranced me." he reaches out with his other hand towards Lady Martella's ear before flicking his wrist and pulling the vanished spoon from behind it. "Much like a street magician entrances a child with his tricks. I am sorely tempted to accept, but I haven't lived a life of marital bliss by being a fool. You should have my answer sometime this evening."

"No time to lose then! As an added enticement, I have it on good authority that among the items the Earl is to donate is a historical journal that belonged to his great grandfather which details his extensive genealogical work to connect their family line to the Taldan hero, General Arnisant’s legacy. There could be much of interest in such a tome to a connoisseur of the written word, like yourself. And do give your wife my warmest regards."

Martella takes another sip of her tea before she answers, ”I acquired this lot of Senate aide badges from an estate sale some years ago. They were quite the find, as it's rare to find a full set complete with the Master badge. They will allow you access to the senate during the historic vote set to take place during the Gala, don't lose them as you will be physically unable to enter if you do. You likely won't recognize the heraldry pictured there, they belonged to one Senator Voritas of a Taldan noble house that died off a century ago. It's traditional to distribute aide badges of defunct houses to guests invited to witness senate events. The guards will be aware that you are not sitting staff, though, so be aware that they may be more wary of you, given the ease with which an assassin could abuse this system."
Anyone wearing the badge of an extinct senator takes a –2 penalty on Bluff checks against guards. The image of the badge is on the slideshow linked above the top post.

"They are magical items, of course. Yours will receive communication from the Master Senator badge, which I have here." She indicates a larger brooch, identical to your pins that she is using to fasten a yellow scarf to her dress. "This way I will be able to update you or call you to a meeting without sending runners hither and yon to fetch you."

She sips at her tea again before she continues. ”Most of our work will be concerning the vote on whether or not to repeal Primogeniture. Many guests of the Gala will be busy with last-hour persuasion, negotiation, and even coercion and we must be as well to avoid losing ground. I do have a few missions that are open for anyone feeling an excess of initiative. And since you asked first, dear Nicolette,” she quirked an eyebrow at the Duchess and then abruptly turned to Edelmira. ”I will start with you, Lady Stavian. I’m fairly confident that the repeal has enough support to pass, but I do hate loose ends. There are a few senators who have been very non-committal as to which way they will vote. It would be very helpful if we knew more about their position and the reasons behind it. The senators in question are Duke Centimus and Countess Abrielle Pace. If you can suss out this information, let me know soon thereafter, please.”
Mission 1: Discovery (Edelmira) It is unknown if either Duke Centimus or Countess Abrielle Pace supports the bid to end primogeniture, and while their votes will be apparent after the senate convenes, Martella wants to discover their positions in advance, as well as the reasons each noble holds that position. Divining each noble’s motivations requires a successful Sense Motive or Perception check after at least one member of the party has put the noble at ease with one or more successful Influence checks.

Next she turns to Cassandra, ”You are known for being particularly insightful and compassionate, if you will permit me to say so. I thought you might enjoy meeting a similarly minded soul and perhaps coax him down from his political fence. His name is Baron Nicolaus Okerra. He is not a senator, but his war record and general popularity make him an influential figure — one whose reputation would sway a number of otherwise neutral votes. Fortunately, I can say that he is a good man who genuinely holds the welfare of Taldor and her people dear to his heart. Unfortunately, he is a staunch traditionalist. I have done what I can and he does owe me a debt, but I sense he is reluctant to throw his support our way. I’m hoping you may be able to identify his misgivings and set his mind at ease.”
Mission 3: Politicking (Cassandra) Successfully influencing the baron will involve discovery of his weakness through a successful Knowledge(Nobility) or Linguistics check. Martella would prefer he remain friendly to your cause but he may also be influenced by or by succeeding at two Intimidate checks to browbeat him.

Next she addresses Thadeus, but her eyes cut toward the Duchess in a teasing manner first, ”Your interest in old books will come in handy if you choose to make use of those quick hands of yours to accomplish the little prank I have in mind, your wife permitting, of course. Earl Calhadion Vernisant has donated a number of historical items to the Arcade of Triumphs in an attempt to smooth over a recent embarrassment at the hands of the Pathfinder Society. Despite evidence of his misdeeds, the man has escaped justice yet again, using his wealth and influence to foist the blame onto some poor, unfortunate scapegoat. If humiliation is all we are able to serve to him, at least let it be complete. ” She sighs, resignedly. ”The artifacts aren’t secured; the senate assumes anyone sophisticated enough to attend this crowded gala would never dream of stealing anything on public display. You can keep the items or return them as you wish, just so long as several of them are absent by the time they are to be unveiled, I will be satisfied.”
[ooc]Mission 5: Theft (Thadeus) To further undermine the influence of the recently disgraced Earl Calhadion Vernisant, Martella would like to see some of the historical artifacts that the Earl donated to the senate vanish from the Arcade of Triumphs before it is unveiled prior to the evening’s vote. Stealing any single curio from Martella’s list requires a successful Sleight of Hand skill check. Martella’s list mentions five items — a buckler, a dagger, a fan, a journal, and a spyglass — but she needs only three of them to go missing to disgrace the earl. You can also appraise the items to determine value before deciding which to take.

Finally she turns to Kunala. ”Of all of your tasks for this evening, the one I ask from you is the least necessary to our cause. It is more a personal favor that I have to ask. Since the death of my father, my brothers have done everything in their substantial power to undercut me. They are adamantly opposed to my inheriting any part of our father’s estate. To prove the point, they are donating a large, expensive bottle of 150-year-old red wine. This particular bottle was given to my father as a gift from my maternal grandmother in honor of my graduation. No one else knows the wine’s history and it would be particularly amusing if their generous donation was found to be embarrassingly undrinkable when it is decanted at the feast. To that end, I have crafted a putrefying agent that will spoil the flavor of anything. They will be bringing in an excess of temporary staff for the Gala, and your quick feet should gain you access to destroy the wine. Be careful to conceal any signs of tampering; it must be drunk at dinner and appear to be of terrible quality or — even more scandalous — a forgery.” She stops speaking to take another sip of her tea while her dark eyes observe your reactions with a smile playing about her lips as she glances Nicolette's way again.
Mission 5: Sabotage (Zahur) Recognizing the correct bottle in the crowded kitchen requires a successful Appraise check or Knowledge (nobility) check, while injecting the putrefying agent without leaving any trace of tampering requires a successful Disable Device check.

"Why yes, in point of fact, he is indeed the final member of our little conclave." Lady Lotheed answered as she beckons the scribe over to the table. "I'm so glad you made it. I did so enjoy seeing your wife perform last week, I was just telling the Duchess. Please, sit down. Order whatever you would like."

Once everyone was seated and settled again, she began speaking to the group. "You ask the wrong question, my well read friend. The one that I would raise is, why not you. You all have talents that I very much hope you will bring to bear on my behalf. Overall, tomorrow night promises to be a historic evening, but an evening of work nonetheless. And in the sort of work you’re embarking upon, the line that divides success and failure is drawn by the people you know. You have your own tasks to accomplish, but I’m counting on you to support one another to ensure success and discretion. If you need assistance, kindly ask for it. If your assistance is required, please give it. And if I’m to be blunt, I would like just once in my adult life to simply enjoy a gala I attend, rather than scamper about with clandestine busywork. Your reward for accomplishing your mission with be payment of 150 gold pieces. If you all complete your work without need of me to clean anything up, I will happily double my promised fee." She popped an olive in her mouth and raised her eyebrows expectantly as you absorb her words.

“I trust your activities won’t occupy your entire evening, so by all means, enjoy the party and make friends. This is an excellent opportunity for you network your own connections or to begin your own political ambitions, but do be discreet.” She reaches for a velvet bag with a drawstring and pulls five ornamental pins with the design of a great serpent coiled around a thrashing unicorn. "You'll need to wear these somewhere on your clothing as they will allow you to access the Senate Floor. Do any of you have questions so far?"

Lady Lotheed greets everyone warmly, like they are old friends, even those with whom she has only been acquainted a short while. She has an easy nature and sips her tea like she has nothing more important to do all day than sit and speak with you.

As Nicolette begins her self-depreciation, he turns towards her, crossing his right leg over his left, putting his hands on his knee, leaning forward; "Duchess dear, those were 'Celestials'! Aasimar, both of them I'm sure of it." He waives his hand at her dismissively. "You dance wonderfully, not like that cow...." Looking from Nickolette towards Lady Martella. Putting his hand back on his leg, clearing his throat looking down, he takes a sip of the wine then returns his gaze towards Nicolette. "Neverminded that outburst, please forgive my rudeness. Your a wonderful dancer and we shall leave it at that."

Setting the cup on the table he gestures towards the brass cricket on the table, looking back at Martella, "Could someone tell me what exactly does this sad little clockworks creature do?"

Lady Lotheed arches an eyebrow at the dance instructor and gasps in mock indignation. "You cut me to the quick, Sir Kunala. I might not be much of a dancer, but I won't have you speak ill of my little pets. I make them myself, you know." She pats the little clockwork cricket affectionately. "You need only walk away a few steps to observe what it does for yourself." She bats her dark lashes innocently and makes a shooing gesture with her fingertips as he moves to bring the Duchess another chair. She chats amiably with Nicolette about a performance she recently attended, acting as if she had shared some particularly salacious gossip while Kunala strains to make out her words from just a few feet beyond the immediate circle of the table. The ladies' voices become distorted and muffled to Kunala's ears, the quiet buzzing of the cricket quite effectively preventing eavesdropping of any sort.

She gives the Vudrani a cheeky wink on his return. "I do have one with a bit more polish and shine for the Gala tomorrow, but this one will do just fine for us today. We seem to still be missing one of our party, so please enjoy your lunch. I assure you that everyone here is a patriot, be at your ease."

Turning to Edelmira, she asked, "And where is dear Hubert today? I would have expected him to be at your side, as always."

Thonis detects magic and finds a magical aura on the glass panel, but it is so faint and muddled, she wonders if the magic has begun to decay over time. Zahur sees nothing threatening in the glass panel and touches it. The diamond shaped green glass lights up at his touch but nothing else seems to happen. I need you to specify in which room you activate the wall panel.

The Senate aide badges all chime again, discordantly and Martella
Lotheed's voice crackles in your ears. “Gloriana Morilla’s allies from the Pathfinder Society have secured the exit you nearly cleared. We have a way off the senate floor if we can reach it! This is an organized force.”

It’s a beautiful day in Oppara! The chill of early spring clings to the morning air and a pale lavender mist curls above the River Porthmos as the fishermen bring in the day's catch. As the day progresses, the sun rises from her cloudy bed-curtains and stretches high into an azure sky, burning off the last clinging mists and beaming down her warming rays like a blessing from Sarenrae herself. The sunlight shines so golden off the white stone skyline of Oppara that you could almost believe the long-since stripped roofs and domes of The Gilded City had miraculously regained their precious gilt.

Tomorrow is the Day of the Grand Exaltation, where the Taldan nobility will don their finery and make an extravagant show of accepting a commoner into their ranks. Meanwhile, they will put far more effort into furthering their own agendas before the Senate convenes. In a pageant of elegant fashions, they will be vying for advantage. During a sumptuous buffet, they will be jockeying for position. And while Lords and Ladies twirl to magnificent music, who knows what strange bedfellows may arise. And you will be among them. For tomorrow is also the day that the Senate of Taldor will vote on the long awaited repeal of the ancient practice of Primogeniture. And if the repeal is to pass successfully, there is still work to be done.

Today, you have a lunch meeting with a mysterious correspondent. You have come to recognize the penmanship in the missives you have received, but are as yet unsure of the identity of your anonymous benefactor. But an advance of 50 gold and an invitation to the most prestigious social event of the season has more than piqued your curiosity.

You arrive at the appointed time and place and open the door to a quaint little eatery. Long, golden beams of the afternoon sun dance through the cafe’s smoky interior, highlighting breads, cheeses, and wine bottles behind the only counter. And there the riddle of who has been writing to you is solved. Lady Martella Lotheed smiles in greeting as she motions you closer. She sips casually from a steaming mug, dressed in an elegant but reserved gown — at least by Taldan standards. A hand-sized brass cricket buzzes quietly on the tabletop beside her. “I’m so pleased you could join me for lunch,” she begins. “Please order whatever you like; the fig jam is particularly lovely here. And feel free to speak candidly. I’ve taken measures to ensure our privacy.” She says with a glance down at the little clockwork contraption.

"I know that some of you are already acquainted, but others may be meeting for the first time. Please, do not be shy, introduce yourself. We are among kindred spirits here. If you have any questions, please go ahead and ask. We have a long evening ahead of us, and the better prepared we are the better our accomplishments are likely to be." Lady Lotheed’s warm smile sets you at ease, you think back on what you know about her.

You may roll Diplomacy to Gather Information, with the intention that the time spent gathering occurred at an earlier time, Knowledge(Nobility) and/or Knowledge(Local) to access the spoilers below:

Martella smiles and nods as she greets you. "Yes, I think something bubbly is in order. Arthur, if you would do the honors." She gestures to a bottle sitting in an ice bucket on the table with gold foil wrapped around the cork. Assembled around it are seven elegantly tapered flute glasses. "Truly excellent work out there tonight, everyone. I really don't think we could have pulled it off without you. And I didn't even lift a finger! You've definitely earned those bonuses I promised you."

Just then, an usher walks by, ringing a bell to help draw attention to his announcement. "The Grand Prince will perform the Exaltation Ceremony and give a brief speech to conclude the Gala in one half hour. I repeat, the Grand Prince will..." His voice trails off as he wanders through the crowd, repeating his announcement again and again.

"Well, I have never heard a Stavian give a concession speech, but I suppose there is a first time for everything. After all, we shall have our first Grand Princess in our lifetimes, can you imagine? I still can hardly believe it. I will make my way to congratulate Eutropia, if you don't have any questions for me. I shall see you all at the Ceremony in half an hour. Oh, and don't forget about Kalbio's letter, Zahur. Try to give it to him before he leaves tonight. You all have my deepest thanks!"

And again we have social rounds to burn. Feel free to waive these at this point and I will move us along to the final event, the Ceremony on Monday.

Arthur keeps a close watch as Malphene and her three friends head up the stairs to the the Gallery, weaving unsteadily as the influence of their drinking begins to catch up with them. Once in the Gallery, they close ranks and begin whispering conspiratorially, casting glances at one of the junior senators. He signals Martella that the confrontation seems eminent.

Your badges chime softly again and Martella's voice sounds in your ears. "It looks like Trant and her cohorts are riling themselves up to make a move. Everyone head to the Gallery with haste, please!"

You arrive just in time to see Malphene Trant and her cronies scoop up Junior Senator Dou and shove him off into the Beldam II Waiting Room. As you follow through the doorway, you hear the woman's voice badgering the Junior Senator. Two of her companions hold his arms and press him back against the wall. "It's sooo disappointing when you can't rely on loyalty in people anymore. You've been such a good friend to my father before, but now I hear you mean to vote against his wishes. I know you wouldn't want to disappoint Senator Trant, now would you?" She says, giving the man a pointed shove that sends him rebounding into the wall. Torin recognizes the unfortunate victim as the young senator he delivered a message to earlier.

Round 1
Arthur
Ismene
Thonis
Torin
Zahur
Shiyara
Trant and crew

Does Shiyara know who this guy is?

He's actually only described as a particularly odious young politician but that roll deserves something you can use. Let's say you can tell he's a first born son of a high ranking officer of the Constabulary.

---

Zahur's magic tricks serve to delight the young and the old, even some of the performers pause to give him their applause. He begins to see why Martells prefers this vantage point on the Gala. With a bird's eye view, the ebb and flow of the crowd below is easily observed and even predicted after a time from the patterns that emerge.
Zahur scores 11 points and clears the first threshold in the Gallery(A4), 7 more points remain. The party gains +1 social rounds to use between each event that allows for social rounds.

---

Arthur checks back in with the Guards searching, wondering if it might be foolish to return to the scene of the crime. Fortunately, he seems so earnestly helpful that they are touched by his concern. He keeps tabs on Malphene Trant, which is not difficult given her boisterous demeanor. She and her friends continue to take advantage of the libations offered. Before long they begin to head back through the Courtyard.

---

Torin makes excellent time getting back to Martella, bobbing and weaving effortlessly through the crowd as if it were a choreographed maneuver. When he hands her the message, she smiles at him proudly. "You are getting the hang of this job, at last. Well, I only have one more errand for you but you need not be in a hurry to complete it. Another agent borrowed this file from the Archives earlier tonight. All you need do now is return it. There should be a repository where pulled materials are collected until the archivists can re-shelve them."

Torin thinks back on what he has seen of the High Strategos tonight. The man has an intimidating presence that he uses make people flinch away from him. It's a trait you have observed in many such aggressive combatants. It seems reasonable that he might respond to someone with a similar presence about them.
Maxillar Pythareus can be influenced with a successful Intimidate check.

After taking a moment to replay the scene in her head and recollect it better, Thonis adds "there was a person he named Lady Martella. The man Pythareus discussed Princess Eutropia's speech with was Bartleby."

"Bartleby?" Martella exclaims and puts a hand to her forehead, massaging the point between her brows. "Yes, I suppose that makes sense. I fear that means my elder brother is more closely aligned with the High Strategos than I suspected. I am now even more glad you ruined that wine, Zahur. Thank you, Thonis. Keep up the good work, everyone!"

And with that, the group spreads out to work.

---

Torin and Arthur make their way down to the Courtyard, both keeping an eye out for Malphene Trant. Torin makes his way to Gloriana Morilla to deliver Martella's message. Lady Morilla stands tall among her noble peers, sporting the finest of Absalom’s fashion. Her attire is far less ostentatious than that of many other nobles present, but she makes up for it with a grace of movement that allows her to easily shift between crowds. She is clearly not a young woman, with streaks of natural grey in her ash brown hair and soft lines around her eyes. She spots Torin moving through the crowd toward her and smiles in greeting. "Ah, the Lion Champion, I presume? I take it that means you have something for me?" She extends her hand for the message and looks it over briefly. "So is Martella running you ragged yet, young man? I am about to lend a hand in that respect. I have something that needs to go to Duke Centimus in the Royal Archives as well as a reply to carry back to Lady Lotheed. You look up to the task though. Have you ever considered the Pathfinder Society? If not, give it a mull when you have some time."
Torin, you can overhear a rumor here too. What NPC would you like to learn an influence skill for?

As Arthur makes his way through the crowd, he overhears some ladies discussing Eutropia's speech. "I was so moved by what she said about discarding archaic traditions, she really does have a way with words." The other nods wearily, "Yes, yes... But she's so concerned with being regal that she comes off too serious. Do you suppose she even has a sense of humor?"
Eutropia can be influenced by a successful Perform(Oratory) check. You can discover her weakness with a successful Sense Motive or Knowledge(Nobility) check.

Malphene Trant mills about the Courtyard, grabbing drinks from servant's trays and draining them at a rapid rate. She appears to run into a friend and begins to talk with him animatedly, laughing and slugging him in the arm in a rather unladylike manner.

---

Zahur's magic tricks serve to entertain and cheer the little girl he approached, but the effect is too subtle to be appreciated by the full gallery.
Sorry, that was not a successful influence check. No points scored.

Martella smirks at Shiyara's description of Arthur and Ismene buries her nose in her journal to cover her blush. Lady Lotheed still seems torn until Thonis says her piece. "Oh very well, I suppose I have asked much of you this evening and may yet require more before the night is through. You may borrow it." She demonstrates how to wind and activate the device before she hands it over.

"Zahur, you spoke with Kalbio, the young man being Exalted tonight, correct? I have here a letter for him from his parents in Breezy Creek. They couldn't be here tonight but wanted to wish him well. They asked if it could be delivered after the Exaltation ceremony so it would not infringe upon the festivities. Would you give it to him before you leave tonight? As always, you have my thanks. Alright, I have taken up quite enough of your time. Unless you have any more questions? Keep up the good work and enjoy the rest of the Gala. "

The party is released for 3 more social rounds, but someone should trail and observe Malphene Trant during this time. You can split it into shifts if you like, with one person observing in round 1, then trading out with someone for round 2, etc. If someone else does this, Ismene will be free to work on her own mission.

She seems to ponder something for a moment and then brightens visibly as an idea occurs to her. "My Lady, I wonder if you also have the cricket construct from this afternoon? We might be able to utilize it to muffle any potential scuffles with the Trant woman, if you would be so kind as to lend it to us."

Martella considers Ismene's request with an ambivalent look on her face. "Hmmm, I do have it here, yes. But they are quite fiddly little contraptions. The slightest bump can misalign the actuators and then the whole thing will have to be disassembled and reassembled before it will work properly again. Quite the task, I assure you."

Clearly, the cricket could be useful to the group but Martella is hesitant to lend it out. Perhaps she can be persuaded via a Diplomacy check...

Looking between the assembled players and offering a nod as they each report their findings he can't help but smile at Arthur noticing his continued change in dress and appearance. "If you don't mind, I could handle her." he offers, "My skillset is limited, but I feel I could handle the duty well... if my lady doesn't need me for more messages?"

Martella made a slight grimace of sympathy, "Alas, I fear I do. I have a message I need you to take to Lady Gloriana Morilla. It would probably be better to deal with Malphene with as many of you as possible since there will be less chance for violence the more she perceives her chances of victory to be low. I will also be keeping watch and will try and alert you through the badges, should she make a move."

Martella seems very interested in Thonis' report. "His father? ...that is strange. I wonder if he might mean the Grand Prince? Some say he is the father of all Taldor... Hmm. But why might this be the last opportunity? Did you catch the names of anyone with which he spoke of these things to? Knowing of whom he spoke to might provide some context."

She chuckles at Arthur's suggestion. "That might stir up some trouble, especially if you were caught. But who would you target? It might be amusing if it were found on Vernisant himself, as if he regretted the donation and tried to seize the items back." She said, still laughing lightly at the idea.

Intermission

She heads upstairs to the tea service. Looking around, she comments, "It must not be easy to ensure privacy in a place such as this, but you've done well." she takes a cup of tea and nurses it while Martella explains about Ms. Trant. "Quietly, you say. You don't think that a belligerent blowhard should be put in her place? What if the humiliation were not traced back to us?"

"She should definitely be taught a lesson, but ideally that lesson should be 'to use her words'. That message would best be delivered by those who are using theirs. But it is possible it might require more than words to dissuade her. If it does come to violence, it would be best if it were not traced back to you. Combat is loud and messy and would likely draw the Guards down upon you quite quickly." She pauses, as if considering whether to say more or not.

"Also, while I do not approve of her methods, Malphene is ultimately a dutiful and devoted daughter to her father and quite young. I suppose I have a soft spot for such." Martella smiled at the two young women. "Even younger than our Ismene and Thonis. She has only recently had her coming out into society. Clearly she has been misled if she believes that she herself would not benefit from the repeal. Maybe she can come to see that, in time."

You ascend the stairway to the second floor Gallery to meet with Martella, When you first arrive, Lady Lotheed watches gleefully as a halfling performer faces off with a group of children. They dance in a slowed motion faux battle with the jester taking exaggerated cartoonish tumbles and falls from the children's blows. She stands near an area that has been sectioned off on the upper walkways with chairs and a pot of fresh coffee as well as some assorted canapes and a full tea service. She laughs loudly at a particularly comical display and cuts it off abruptly and clears her throat to compose herself as she notices the group approaching.

”Lovely to see you all, I trust you are enjoying the Gala?” She said as she led the party toward their seats. ”Please, help yourself. Can you believe dinner won’t be served for another hour or more? Remember to stay hydrated, the Gala is a marathon, not a sprint. You lot seem to have the knack for it, though. So tell me, how goes the hunt?” she asks with a casual wink.

”I didn’t ask you here just to look over your shoulders. There’s a young woman here tonight: Malphene Trant, the daughter of Senator Trant.” Martella gestures over the rail to an imposing young woman who strolls along in the Emperor’s Hall below. "She’s a belligerent, narcissistic ass, and a bully besides. If she’s here, it’s likely to intimidate one of more of the junior senators into backing her father and opposing the repeal. If one or more of you could keep an eye on her and... quietly intercede if she should try, I would be most grateful.”

In the courtyard

Almost as if speaking her name so many times were a summons, the crowd parts and you see Martella Lotheed gliding towards you. She wears a pristine white gown with an iridescent shimmer that seems to shift in shade as the light changes, looking slightly pink here, slightly blue there.

"Ah, here you are! I'm so glad you were able to see Eutropia speak in person. How are you enjoying the Gala so far?" After speaking with the group briefly she addresses Torin.

"I have a task for you, my fine friend. Would you be a dear and run this down to Count Orlundo Zespire in the Imperial Archives? You might need to wait for a response." She hands him a message with a pressed wax seal.

Remember it's a CMB check to navigate the crowd quickly and Zahur's shared information grants you a +2 bonus for using the servant's passageways. Also, you or Thonis should inform Arthur so he can get his bonus.

---

Zahur, cooking up a perfect storm

Zahur spends a good while in the kitchens, before long a helpful soul hands him a long apron to protect his fine clothes as he works. He lends his expertise and fresh perspective on seasoning and flavors to ingratiate himself with the busy staff there. His efforts do not go unnoticed and soon a stout man in a tall toque approaches him. "What's the matter, my good man? Do you not trust any food you've not cooked yourself? Well, I can't say that's not a sound plan when dining among a lot of scheming nobles." He chortles good naturedly. "My name is Dedrien Nos. I appreciate the help, anyway. I believe we'll get this dinner out on time thanks to you. You've never known fear until you've been stared in the face by a hangry noblewoman! Here, take these." He hands Zahur two bottles of potion. "In case you missed something, eh?"

That's A7 cleared of both thresholds. Zahur collects two potions of delay poison as a reward.

With the staff so pleased over the excellent dinner they have prepared with Zahur's help, he is easily able to identify the bottle of wine he's after. An ancient Taldan vintage, he glances around to see that staff is almost pointedly not looking in his direction and he utilizes the syringe with ease, sliding it along the edge of the cork rather than piercing it. A quick smoothing with the back of his fingernail to smooth away the needle mark in the wax and all sign of his tampering is erased. A light bubbling tells him the purifying agent has done it's work.

Martella considers before answering Arthur. "Entertainers have already been engaged for the Gala and as I understand it, they require a special permit to gain entrance. Ismene could possibly forge such a document if she saw one, but that might be difficult to acquire this close to the event. I think it best you enter befitting your station and bring along the entertainer's garb if you think you should have need of it."

"The Grand Prince would certainly be able to tell you more of Earl Vernisant, but your interest might be remembered later when the items turn up missing."

You would suffer negatives to hob-nob with the other nobles in the entertainer's outfit and while you might get the glaive past a few guards, I think it would cause a problem before long.

How would you feel about letting me use Craft:Clothing to hide a Net within Shiyara's gown instead of Sleight of Hand?

Yes! That sounds like it would work very well. Spotting the item will still involve a perception check, of course.

The party passes the rest of the lunch in congenial conversation, enjoying the meal Zahur provided. Martella explains that the aide badges will mark you all as guests, and not official senatorial aides. (Although Torin will be an aide to Martella, she is not a senator.) She and Ismene endeavor to answer any questions asked or requests for advice and soon the time has come to make your way to the Grand Exaltation Gala!

Last chance for purchases or to Gather Information(using Diplomacy), remember that this is another avenue besides Knowledge(Nobility) to learn things about specific NPCs. Keep in mind you can't bring any ranged or two-handed weapons, and if you do bring any prohibited items, you must make an effort to conceal them about your person using a Sleight of Hand or Disguise check.

Late Edit: Martella adds as you make ready to leave the Mamma Crow, "The line starts to form early so don't be too long with your last preparations."

"Those are your senate aide badges," Martella explains while Ismene passes the pins out. "They will allow you access to the senate during the historic vote set to take place tonight. You likely won't recognize the heraldry pictured there, they belonged to one Senator Voritas of a Taldan noble house that died off a century ago. It's traditional to distribute aide badges of defunct houses to guests they invite to witness senate events. The guards will be aware that you are not sitting staff, so be aware that they may be more wary of you, given the ease with which an assassin could abuse this system."
Anyone wearing the badge of an extinct senator takes a –2 penalty on Bluff checks against guards. The image of the badge has been added to the slideshow linked above the top post.

"They are magical items, of course. And these have a little extra enhancement I've not found on aide badges before. They allow for two-way communication with the master senator badge, which I have here." She indicates a larger brooch version of your pins she is using to fasten a yellow scarf to her dress. "This way, you can update me or let me know if something should go wrong, as it happens."

Martella can answer more questions if you have them, and you can gather information or purchase items one last time before we move on to the Gala!

Well if that's any indicator Torin should not know what is going on behind the scenes. If you don't want me involved that is fine, after all I am a Stavian." He offers and looks to see if anyone wants him to step aside.

But then he makes the decision easier on them, he gets up with Zahur to get that drink. Or if he already got it then he would take his second helping and glass to another table outside of the crickets radius. Either way he is out and won't hear what the plans are. You don't need to spoiler in on my case, though I understand if you want too.

Minor Retcon

Ismene nods her agreement that she trusts Arthur.
---

"Of course I'll lend my assistance Lady Lotheed, most enthusiastically. The task you're requesting of me seems straightforward enough. I should be able to help with the two senators as well after I've finished with Maxillar Pythareus"

But just to be sure...

"Given what you've said, I assume there is no substance to the rumor Princess Eutropia will wed Pythareus. Correct?"

Martella scoffs and then laughs, a biting, ironic sound. "Is that old chestnut still making the rounds? Good gracious, no! The Grand Prince was in favor of such a match, I suspect he even began that rumor to try and convince Eutropia that the people favored it as well. She has never entertained such an idea. As a forward thinking, independent woman, she is trying to create a world where no woman must marry to secure her future.

Zahur nods to his task after he understands his actions, and of all the others, are not actually unlawful and are more in line with pranks than anything else. "You can certainly count with my help, Lady Martella. I can certainly move myself inside a kitchen, even if dressed like a guest. I must confess, however, that it pains me to waste such a good wine."

Martella nodded her understanding, "Yes, it is a shame. Still, better it should be ruined to serve my purposes than used against me to serve theirs. You have my gratitude, all of you. And a fair amount of gold should everyone prove successful tonight!"

After a long drought of her passion fruit juice, she continues. Her features grow more serious as she turns to Thonis. ”Lady Cagliari, we are both familiar with how quickly one’s fortune can be twisted when the ‘powers that be’ flex their own influence arbitrarily. While we must always strive to bring more friends to our cause, there are some opponents who simply must be dealt with using extreme prejudice. High Strategos Maxillar Pythareus is such an opponent, as I'm sure you will agree. He will no doubt be working against us at every turn and though I regret if this should cause you distress, I need someone to keep a close watch on his activities so that we may be prepared to counter. I know you will be especially vigilant in your desire to thwart his designs and so with my apologies, I must ask this of you. Ismene may be able to assist if you discover anything... actionable.”
Mission 4: Spy (Thonis) Martella needs someone to keep tabs on political rivals and update her if they change their tactics, most notably High Strategos Maxillar Pythareus. You must stay close to the military commander, watching for unusual behavior or listening for snippets of conversation, and warn her if he takes any unusual actions, all while remaining unobtrusive. Spying requires a total of three successful Perception or Sense Motive checks, but to approach close enough to attempt one of these checks while remaining unnoticed requires the agent to first succeed a Disguise or Stealth check.

Her tone lightens again as she turns to Arthur, ”I trust you to keep eyes directed wherever you must, but you may need to make use of those quick hands as well as your 'keen wit' if you are to accomplish the little prank I have in mind. Earl Calhadion Vernisant has donated a number of historical items to the Arcade of Triumphs in an attempt to smooth over a recent embarrassment at the hands of the Pathfinder Society. Despite evidence of his misdeeds, the man has escaped justice yet again, using his wealth and influence to foist the blame onto some poor, unfortunate scapegoat. If humiliation is all we are able to serve to him, at least let it be complete.” She sighs, resignedly. ”The artifacts aren’t secured; the senate assumes anyone sophisticated enough to attend this crowded gala would never dream of stealing anything on public display. You can keep the items or return them as you wish, just so long as several of them are absent by the time they are to be unveiled, I will be satisfied.”
Mission 5: Theft (Arthur) To further undermine the influence of the recently disgraced Earl Calhadion Vernisant, Martella would like to see some of the historical artifacts that the earl donated to the senate vanish from the Arcade of Triumphs before it is unveiled prior to the evening’s vote. Stealing any single curio from Martella’s list requires a successful Sleight of Hand skill check. Martella’s list mentions five items — a buckler, a dagger, a fan, a journal, and a spyglass — but she needs only three of them to go missing to disgrace the earl. You can also appraise the items to determine value before deciding which to take.

Finally she turns to Zahur, picking up on his apprehension over potentially criminal activities. ”Do not be worried, my friend. Of all of my tasks for this evening, the one I ask from you is the least necessary. I do not wish to impugn your honor, but I do have a personal favor to ask. Since the death of my father, my brothers have done everything in their substantial power to undercut me. They are adamantly opposed to my inheriting any part of our father’s estate. To prove the point, they are donating a large, expensive bottle of 150-year-old red wine. This particular bottle was given to my father as a gift from my maternal grandmother in honor of my graduation. No one else knows the wine’s history and it would be particularly amusing if their generous donation was found to be embarrassingly undrinkable when it is decanted at the feast. To that end, Ismene has crafted a putrefying agent that will spoil the flavor of anything. Since you know your way around a kitchen and they will be bringing in an excess of staff in for the Gala, you will be uniquely qualified to gain access and destroy the wine. Be careful to 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 finishes with just a hint of a devious smile.
Mission 6: Sabotage (Zahur) Recognizing the correct bottle in the crowded kitchen requires a successful Appraise check or Knowledge (nobility) check (I will allow a profession(cook) check instead), while injecting the putrefying agent without leaving any trace of tampering requires a successful Disable Device check.

Martella nods in sympathy with your sentiments, ”Very good then, I’m glad we’re all on the same page, as it were. Most of our work tonight will be concerning the vote on whether or not to repeal Primogeniture. Many guests of the Gala will be busy with last-hour persuasion, negotiation, and even coercion and we must be as well to avoid losing ground. I do have one mission that is open for anyone as one of my invitees has declined. I’m fairly confident that the repeal has enough support to pass, but I do hate loose ends. There are a few senators who have been very non-committal as to which way they will vote. It would be helpful if we knew more about their position and the reasons behind it. The senators in question are Duke Centimus and Countess Abrielle Pace. If you can suss out this information, my reward will be 150 gold pieces. That can go to whoever undertakes the mission, or I can distribute it amongst the responsible parties if you team up.”
Mission 1: Discovery (Open) It is unknown if either Duke Centimus or Countess Abrielle Pace supports the bid to end primogeniture, and while their votes will be apparent after the senate convenes, Martella wants to discover their positions in advance, as well as the reasons each noble holds that position. Divining each noble’s motivations requires a successful Sense Motive or Perception check after at least one member of the party has put the noble at ease with one or more successful Influence checks.

Martella then turns to Torin, and laughs lightly. ”Do not fret, Master Argentus. I am familiar with the monastery you hail from and would not wish to challenge you to go against your upbringing. I was hoping you would serve as my aide for the evening. There are always important messages flying around at these events and the sooner they find their way to my hands, the better. It probably seems a simple job, but I assure you that I need someone with your athletic prowess to not run them ragged in the process. It’s quite a task to move swiftly through a crowd of nobles without jostling or offending anyone. And if you wear your medal, proclaiming you as the Lion Champion, you may find favor among those who enjoyed your victory yesterday.”
Mission 2: Aide (Torin) Martella legitimately needs a senatorial aide as both a cover for her other false aides and to run communications between allied politicians. This is by far the easiest job available, but also the most time-consuming, requiring you to run messages between various politicians. Navigating the crowded senate floor to deliver messages quickly requires a successful Escape Artist or combat maneuver check.

Next she turns to Shiyara, ”You have already begun to influence the political landscape of Taldor through your art and I am hoping that you will be willing to exert it with Baron Nicolaus Okerra. He is not a senator, but his war record and general popularity make him an influential figure — one whose reputation would sway a number of otherwise neutral votes. Fortunately, I can say that he is a good man who genuinely holds the welfare of Taldor dear to his heart. Unfortunately, he is a staunch traditionalist. I have done what I can and he does owe me a debt, but I sense he is reluctant to throw his support our way. I’m hoping someone with a longer view of the ebb and flow of progress can set his mind at ease. Ismene may be able to assist you if you have difficulty determining what angle to approach with him.”
Mission 3: Politicking (Shiyara) Successfully influencing the baron will involve discovery of his weakness through a successful Knowledge(Nobility) or Linguistics check. Martella would prefer he remain friendly to your cause but he may also be influenced by or by succeeding at two Intimidate checks to browbeat him.

Martella sighs and shakes her head, smiling apologetically at Torin.
"You'll have to forgive my apprentice, Master Argentus. I'm afraid her loquacious nature causes her to sometimes be too free with her tongue." She said, giving Ismene a pointed look that silenced the young woman and set her face to darkening.

"You all have talents that I very much hope you will bring to bear on my behalf. Overall, tonight promises to be a historic evening, but an evening of work nonetheless. And in the sort of work you’re embarking upon, the line that divides success and failure is drawn by the people you know. You have your own tasks to accomplish, but I’m counting on you to support one another to ensure success and discretion. If you need assistance, kindly ask for it. If your assistance is required, give it. And if I’m to be blunt, I would like just once in my adult life to simply enjoy a gala I attend, rather than scamper about with clandestine busywork. If you all complete your work without need of me to clean anything up, I will happily double my promised fee." Her pitch delivered, she softens her tone and puts a hand on Ismene's shoulder in a soothing gesture.

“I trust your activities won’t occupy your entire evening, so by all means, enjoy the party and make friends. This is an excellent opportunity for you network your own connections or to begin your own political ambitions, but do be discreet.” She seems to glance Arthur's way before she continued.

"I have some tasks that I must request that are not precisely legal, as it were. Nothing truly nefarious, mind you. Just a few minor mischiefs to help stir things our way. As such, you may want to receive your missions from me separately to limit those who might connect you to the deed, but I do encourage cooperation where it is needed, so I can also discuss this with you all openly. I will leave the choice up to you."

Yep, ninja'd again. You guys are going to make me have to start writing it all up at once. =P

Martella notices Torin's interest in the little clockwork cricket. "Do you like it?" She asks, "I made it myself. Go over by Granny for a moment and you will be able to see what it does." Torin follows her instructions and realizes that once he goes beyond the immediate circle of the table, everyone's voices become distorted and muffled, the quiet buzzing of the cricket quite effectively preventing eavesdropping of any sort.

As the others introduce themselves, Zahur does the same. "Some of you already know me, but I'm Zahur of Crowstreet. Unlike you taldorans, we yamasan get our surnames based on where we are born and not according to our families, the more important the place, the more important the person, so you already know I'm a simple man." He explains this all with not a bit of shame. Zahur apparently isn't ashamed of being a common man and not a noble, quite the opposite. "I'm a cook and an enthusiast of the Yamasan culture, but aside from that... well, not much. I'm surprised to have been invited to such a distinct group and to be honest I'm feeling quite out of place. However, as I know Lady Martella is far from being a fool, I'm sure I'm the one not seeing the big picture here."

Martella shakes her head and smiles warmly at Zahur. "You sell yourself short, my friend. You are an entrepreneur, and a quite successful one at that. You are not so different from the young man who will be elevated to nobility in tonight's ceremony. Hardworking, earnest and talented. He might say he is merely a weaver but all will say more of him after tonight." She pauses to take a bite of the crab dish, clearly savoring it. "Mmmm! Now if that is not art, I do not know what is! Taldor needs more businessmen like you, Zahur. You do more for this nation in a week than 10 foppish nobles sitting on their wealth like dragons protecting their horde."

Long, golden beams of the afternoon sun dance through the restaurant’s homey interior, highlighting cakes, fresh cheeses, and rich coffee and freshly pressed juices behind the counter. The Mamma Crow is not a big place, having around eight tables, both round and rectangular, with seats from two to eight on each of them. The tables are all different as are the chairs, benches and table cloths. On the walls, numerous objects stand as if on display, from simple farming instruments to animal trophies and even pottery and objects of art of foreign origin, Yamasan in fact, if anyone were able to recognize them. The eclectic decoration gives the place a unique feeling and the smells of exotic fare entice the appetite.

Martella sips casually from a tall glass, a golden nectar with dark colored seeds floating suspended in the liquid. She is dressed in an elegant but reserved gown — at least by Taldan standards. A hand-sized brass cricket buzzes quietly on the tabletop beside her. Ismene sits on her other side with a ledger open on the table before, making notations occasionally.

“I’m so pleased you could join me this afternoon,” she begins.“Please order whatever you like to drink; the passion fruit juice is particularly lovely here. The proprietor here, Zahur, will also be joining us this evening at the Gala. So please feel free to speak candidly. I’ve taken measures to ensure our privacy.” She says with a glance down at the little clockwork contraption.

"I know that some of you are already acquainted, but others may be meeting for the first time. Please, do not be shy, introduce yourself. We are among kindred spirits here. If you have any questions, please go ahead and ask. We have a long evening ahead of us, and the better prepared we are the better our accomplishments are likely to be. Ismene, why don't you go first?"

Feel free to Gather Information on Martella on your way to the meeting. Images for Martella added to the slides link above. Special thanks to Zahur for his description of the Mama Crow!

The townspeople do not look especially reassured, but Tylur's words are sound and Aurora's familiar face seems to set them at ease and soon the crowd disperses. You are able to take the goblin to the barracks and downstairs to the jail without further incident. The townguard are unsettled to say the least and promise to double the watch, just in case.

Once it is secured behind bars made for small humanoids, you leave the still unconscious creature to recover from it's wounds slowly. You return to the Rusty Dragon and find the Barett family huddled together and licking their emotional wounds. Ameiko has given them food, but it sits on the table before them mostly untouched as they stare blindly ahead, clearly in shock. The mother rocks the baby, who has finally quieted and gone to sleep against her shoulder.

What is left of your food has gone cold. But your table is still set as you left it. Shalelu sets herself down and lifts her bowl of cold soup to her lips and slurps it down noisily. "Well, I think we can mark that little tussle down as Goblins 101. Now, we can talk about what went wrong and how you might do better next time. Or we can talk about the goblin tribes of the area. I'll bet you five gold that I can guess which tribe that little closet monster is from." She raises an eyebrow at you, challenging any takers to her wager. Then she shrugs, "Or you could talk to the family. See if they can tell you more now that there is no need for haste."

Oh good, did better than I thought I would. Phew!
If you want to take up Shaylelu up on her wager, you have to make a guess as to it's tribe. You can make a perception or knowledge(local) to aid your guess.

The elf rises immediately, her chair flying back with the swiftness of her motion. Shalelu needs no explanation. "Goblin!" She growls and the distraught mother nods. "Come! We must be quick!"

Viskalai blinks in surprise, "Well, of course it was an accident. No one would wish Father Tobyn and Nualia harm..." He seems to consider for a moment, "No one I know. Unless those damnable goblins did it, but there was no sign of that. I can't see what the point would be."

"Ill? And her father the priest was not able to cure her?" Tylur chimes in.

"So it seemed. Divine magic works well to heal the body, but the mind is often another matter."

"Musta been pretty tired ta not notice all th' fire around before it was too late. 'Specially from justa small candle. Most priests I know seem ta be able to make water from thin air." Grinning, René winks at the Shoanti man before continuing in a faux whisper. "Learned me that the hard way when a few thought I wuz gettin' too big for me breeches."

Viskalai shrugs, "It is only a guess. As you say, I expect the man must have been unaware of the fire until it was too late to stop it. If Desna is merciful, they died in their sleep and felt no pain."

The big man serves up Cordin's refill and finishes off his own mug.

The big Shoanti shakes his head. "Afraid not. Maybe a candle fell over... The girl had been ill so the Father often sat in vigil over her, praying through the night. That was all I could guess."

"I took my time with the rebuild. The fire set us back a good deal but I tried to look at it as an opportunity to build it better. Glad you like it. We keep our rates competitive, but the Rusty Dragon still does more business. Maybe we need a musician on staff." From his terse, stoic manner, you suspect Ameiko's warm and friendly personality might have much to do with it as well.

The Shoanti man nods and rises, revealing himself to be quite tall.
"Of course not, I even carry a Breakfast Stout, if you like." He rumbles in a heavily accented, deep voice that reminds you of the Sheriff as he moves behind the bar and begins filling mugs to your orders, he fills a large tankard with the aforementioned stout, a nearly black brew that smells a bit like chocolate and coffee. "You are the strangers who helped rout the Goblins, are you not?"

The goblin considers this for a moment. "What you wanting with camp? Me Birdcruncher. Camp not far."

You get the impression he would probably lead you... if you could set him free like you said. Remember Hemlock wants you to come to the Town Hall first! (#11 on your map)

Are neither of the two people who actually understood the goblin going to attempt that Sense Motive check? :-(

It's not just for speakers of goblinese. Anyone can roll and check that spoiler if they make the DC. ^_~

With food given as further incitement, the goblin comes up with a few more details. "Leader come to us, not know where he be. Chief not know either. We call him leader. He say goblins burn and eat and be loud while he go to graveyard, that all. So we was." He gobbles down the roll eagerly.

The goblin shrugs as he answers Sabina's questions in his native tongue. "Who knows? Chief say go where leader say, do what leader say. So we do. Leader tall, have long dark hair." He turns and considers your companions a moment, finally pointing out René. "He kinda look like him there. Maybe that him? You longshanks all look alike. Ahahahahaha!" The goblin seems pleased with himself and his joke.

"And goblins come this way lots. Not afraid of dogs and horses! We just good at sneaking and you no be seeing us. Not bother with sneaking this time because leader say not to." He crosses him arms in front of his narrow chest as if expecting you to dispute his claim.

Tried to find a good avie for Shayliss, but this was the best I could come up with. No red hair, but has a good Varisian look anyway.

Finding his voice after Shayliss tells her tale "There is food for all here, Lady Shayliss. Although you should invite your friends over as well. It would look rude of us to offer you food yet not your companions and probably rude of you to dine with us and not your companions."

Shayliss giggles and waves away his concerns. "Oh, they won't come over here. Watch." She turns to her friends and tries to beckon them to the table. They blush and titter, but shake their heads vigorously. Wide eyes glued to Shayliss as their own plates of food sit virtually untouched before them. She turns back to Tylur with a shrug. "Too shy, I guess. We have plenty of everything else, but the apples tend to go fast. I should get back to them though. Thanks again for the apple, and I hope you liked my story. Bye now..." She picks up her prize and stands to go on her way, but first she pauses and turns to Sabina with one hand on her hip.

"And for your information, Miss Lady. We may not meet your high standards, but at least Varisia does not produce frigid prudes! Hmph!" Shayliss chides and then flounces back to her coterie with a triumphant smile. Her friends eagerly press her for details and before long they are all glaring daggers at the Chelaxian Oracle. Their expressions are much softer for the men among the group, however.

Are you all ready to wrap up this evening and head into the next day? Any spots in town you are interested in seeing?