Taldan history / linking Tomb of the Iron Medusa into Carrion Crown

[Power Word Unzip]

I'm working on a story hook for my Carrion Crown game that will help me work Tomb of the Iron Medusa in between parts 5 and 6 of Carrion Crown. My current idea was to...

Spoilers for TotIM and any of my players who might be reading!:

...make one of the player characters, a minor noble of Ustalav, a lost descendant of a ruler of Taldor who predates the appointment of Stavian III's great grandfather after the death of Grand Prince Beldam II.

However, some of the language about Taldor that I find in the wiki and in TotIM are confusing me (I haven't checked the Inner Sea World Guide yet, as I'm away from my book collection at the moment). The history of Marcus Junius Adella given in the module says that he rescued the emperor of Taldor's son at the Battle of Istavala. Should this reference to an emperor actually be read as a reference to the Taldan Grand Prince of the Shining Crusade-era? Or did imperial rule give way to a new government order that appointed Grand Princes after the fact?

Essentially, I'm trying to figure out if...

Spoilers again!:

...introducing a lost heir of the emperor's son will be a claim to the throne that wouldn't be recognized by modern-day Taldans, even in the wake of the revelation that Stavian III is descended from a bastard. If that's the case, I might be better off tracing the PC's lineage back to Beldam II.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Mike Shel]

Power Word Unzip wrote:

I'm working on a story hook for my Carrion Crown game that will help me work Tomb of the Iron Medusa in between parts 5 and 6 of Carrion Crown. My current idea was to...

** spoiler omitted **

However, some of the language about Taldor that I find in the wiki and in TotIM are confusing me (I haven't checked the Inner Sea World Guide yet, as I'm away from my book collection at the moment). The history of Marcus Junius Adella given in the module says that he rescued the emperor of Taldor's son at the Battle of Istavala. Should this reference to an emperor actually be read as a reference to the Taldan Grand Prince of the Shining Crusade-era? Or did imperial rule give way to a new government order that appointed Grand Princes after the fact?

Essentially, I'm trying to figure out if...
** spoiler omitted **

Thanks in advance for any advice!

As always I would defer to the official Keepers of Lore at Paizo, but the use of "emperor" here was as a synonym for "Grand Prince," which can be a bit tedious if repeated. As far as I'm aware Taldor never had a change in its governmental form. And you won't find any other references to the Battle of Istavala--that was one of my additions to the history.

[Power Word Unzip]

Mike Shel wrote:

As always I would defer to the official Keepers of Lore at Paizo, but the use of "emperor" here was as a synonym for "Grand Prince," which can be a bit tedious if repeated. As far as I'm aware Taldor never had a change in its governmental form. And you won't find any other references to the Battle of Istavala--that was one of my additions to the history.

Many thanks for the response, Mike. I am probably overthinking this as most of my players won't notice anachronisms and in-world conflicts too much - except, of course, for the Venture Lieutenant sitting at my table, who is a walking library of Golarion info.

Fanboy Squee Spoilered For Your Convenience:

OMG Mike Shel responded to my post! I love "The Mud Sorcerer's Tomb" oh so very much, and I hope TotIM kills as many people as that adventure did - SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Okay, I'm better now. =]