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My Trusted Ally,
I cannot tarry long in writing to you, for I am hunted, not in the wild as a fox hounded by dogs, but as a mouse who has been watched by a silent cat for far too long. I am no longer safe, and it is clear to me now that my enemies are more powerful than I ever could have guessed. I must go into hiding for some time, both to remain a step ahead of those who would do me harm, and to rebuild damaged political relationships. If you do not hear from me in the coming months, I apologize. My affection for you and my gratitude for all you’ve done for me has not diminished; it is merely eclipsed by a nuisance I hope to soon eliminate.
In my absence, while we will long for each other’s caresses, you must remain true to our ideals, even if the corruption of House of Thrune taints the nation we have both sworn to serve. Whether we do so as official ambassadors of Cheliax or on our own, we can spread order to the corners of the world, and in doing so improve our own comfort and position. Maintain your focus on Korvosa, for I see much in common with that exiled city that so longs to be one again with Mother Cheliax. Do not abandon your efforts to increase that city’s standing in Varisia over Magnimar—where I hear that freedom-loving fool Colson Maldris is hard at work planting Andoran’s claws in the fledgling city-state.
Worry not about me, Pathfinder. I am very good at taking care of myself. One doesn’t get to my position without being able to handle these sorts of situations. Nevertheless, keeping speaking well of me, and inform me immediately if you discover who may be out to get me. You and I want the same thing—no, not that—we want to establish order, no matter the cost. That we must do so in spite of and on the suffering of those who wish to do me harm will only make the victory over their treachery all the more gratifying.
To the establishment of order,
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen
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I am deeply wounded that you had to go into exile over this obvious overture of what is most effectively a great stain on your reputation. I deeply regret that I was not experienced enough to participate in your much deserved release after being unjustly interred within prison walls.
Know that I am always with you should you need my aid. I would hope that the Cheliax concerns should continue to be pursued within the Society in your absence, but hope the buffoon that instigated this recent trouble is not the person to replace your presence to direct our most willing cohorts.
Hoping this message finds you.
Zyvixis.
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*rings a little golden bell*
For any patriots that are interested, there will be a consultation session for the Cheliax Ambassador to Absalom replacement scheme at high tea in the Temple District at twenty minutes to the Witching Hour tonight. We welcome any new patriots warmly.
Tonight on the agenda we will be discussing traits that we wish our upcoming new Faction Leader to possess!
The committee will then make minutes of these recommendations to be sent via imp post-haste to Egorian for the consideration of House Thrune.
With any luck, the Prince of Law will grant us a suitable replacement post-haste.
*smiles unpleasantly*
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Dear Paracountess
I am saddened by your words. For the time you are away, I will miss the playful missives that you have sent from time to time. Even more I will miss the chance to feel your caress.
Nonetheless, I am a Hellknight Signifer and a man in control of himself. If I feel weakness, it is something I will chase away with the point of my dagger, Just Truth. If I learn anything of those who seek to cause you harm, I will show them the justice of the Sharp Tongue of Law.
You have shown me a great deal and you have helped me to better know my place in the order that is Cheliax. Our master, the Prince of Darkness, teaches that power not used is power wasted, and all the power I have is at your disposal should you need it.
I wish you well and await your return.
Your servant
Balah al-Akim
Hellknight Signifer of the Order of the Gate
Inquisitor and Servant of the Prince of Darkness
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My Dearest,
It grieves me to learn that you are still hunted. Even as your missive reaches me, I find myself lonelier than I have been in months. But hearing from you lightens my heart, and once again I have a task which I may set my mind to. As to your enemies, show me where they may be found, and they will serve us shortly. I have learned some new tricks since last we played together, and I ache to use them for your pleasure... One way or another.
Impatiently Yours,
Umbera Dizak
Serpent Queen
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Dear Cousin,
I am saddened to hear of your current burdens. I am sure your capable mind will leave the dogs behind you in a worse predicament than your current one. I have made subtle arrangements with the family and our loyal servants- the provisioning of safe houses and supplies we spoke of many years ago are still in place and waiting to aid you.
My our Dark Lord protect and guide you to your assured vengeance,
Your cousin and ally,
Damien Dralneen
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Dear Paracountess,
My my. This is most distressing. I hope your contingencies are well planned; I suspect we will find out very soon if that is the case. Regardless of your status with Cheliax, your assistance in my rise to relative success is greatly appreciated, and I am an elf who pays his debts. I will continue to oppose the spread of Andoren influence generally and Colson Maldris in particular as I am able, and my protege Harmandar will doubtless do the same. He is far more fervent in his belief than I am and will do a better job promoting the establishment of law and order than I do.
If you survive your upcoming trials I hope you reach Nerosyan. Rumors keep making their way to my ears of important events afoot in that benighted land and I suspect a disciplined, orderly hand will be necessary to navigate whatever blights that land.
Sincerely,
Filraen Ghaun, Venture-Captain
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Auntie,
I suspect things will turn around for the better like they did for me in time. Hang in there! I continue to get your missives in the meantime and hopefully you are settling in at... wherever you are.
Hopefully you get back to us soon! Absalom is so BORING without you. I keep having to go back to Kaer Maga and hang out with my old Bloatmage schoolmates to pass the time...
XXOO,
Shelly
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Bring out the nuisances, my poor hellhound was a little queasy after his last meal. He could use a more balanced diet. I think your foes seem very easy to find. Well except that one I left in the hells. But all the others will be perfectly well for trial and hanging. Maybe not in one piece...but still plenty left for a proper trial.
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My Paracountess,
It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to you today. If there is anything that I can to to counter your enemies I shall ever endure to help. I am forever thankful for your continued support of my beloved Korvosa. This help is very important to counter Magnamar. The ideals of democracy and blasted unions is the true threat to our nation.
How we can fight against Magnamar?
1. I will continue to support that there is a true need to foster trade relations with Korvosa and Cheliax. Also we need to try to boycott Magnamar goods. We can try to strangle Magnamar through commerce.
2. Also there has traditionally been a unstable political head for my beloved birthplace of Korvosa. The long standing House Jeggare has been a family of influence with-in Korvosa and is a strong member of the Cheliaxian nobility as well. Support for this family would greatly stabilize the throne and ensure friendly positions from the government.
3. Try to influence the villages or protectorates of the city of Magnamar. If we can try to change the loyalties of some of these isolated communities and have them change over to the Korvosian faction then Magnamar will not only lose tax benefits but resources and man power.
4. Also if there is truly Andoran influence in Magnamar we can find certain assassins located in my beloved city of Korvosa that may be able to deal with such threats.
5. I also believe trying to foster better relations with the scarni. We may be able to use the Scarni through bribes to attack Magnamarian convoys in the region. This will force the Magnamarian army to be spread thin guarding convoys and not protecting other assets we could target and sabotage.
6. Also I would be so bold to suggest a peace with the barbarians of the north. They are caught between civilization to the south and the Orcs to the north. These tribes are being slowly crushed from both ways. If we can form an alliance with these tribes against Magnamar they would be a true asset to the region. We could promise some prime land in and around Magnamar once they have been forced to kneel to the banner of both Korvosa and Cheliax. They would fight ever so hard if they had the dream of their own land free from dangers.
7. Finally we can easily bribe the other influences in the region of Varisia. North of Magnamar is a third largest city in Varisia, this city is a port of vise and pirate scum. A perfect breeding ground of pro-cheliaxian support.
For Cheliax and Korvosa, I will always serve.
Sven von Jaggare of House Jaggare.
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//TOP SECRET//
Only for the eyes of Paracountess and those loyal
(Small spoilers caveat here as well just with background info..)
I Sven Von Jeggare have used my vast inheritance to continue the influence of Cheliax and strengthen my home city of Korvosa against Anti-Cheliax factions of Magnamar. In doing so I have managed to create multiple contacts over these last 4 years in the heart of Varisia. Some of these contacts are reputable and some are of less than mentionable status but effective servants. I have thought long and hard over these years to counter Magnamar and have found several factions with-in Magnamar which may be able to help. They are as follows.
1. As mentioned before about trying to cripple the effective economy of Magnamar. This can be done by financing rogue elements with-in the area. I have become aware of a group of Lycanthropes that have been killing pro-Magnamar caravans. We should not only support this group but help finance them with arms to do so. They have been trying to set up other organizations for the blame. Advise them to put the blame on the Scarni. With that the Scarni will be outraged against Magnamarian retribution. We then enlist them (Scarni) with future actions countering Magnamar.
2. I would also request 5 titles of local nobility given to 5 families in Magnamar. If we are to overthrow possibly the government and put in effect a pro-cheliax regime then we need to put in place a new nobility there that serves also Korvosa. I know we can find 5 families of wealth and influence in the city that would support our cause if granted the right to rule the new city. With the two largest cities under our control then Varisia would be ours.
3. There are groups of assassins cloaked in the style of the “red mantis” here in Korvosa. They have a great source of helping “accidents” happen.
4. I have also started my own private security contractors out of Korvosa that takes all jobs. We have been the tip of the spear in countering Magnamarian influence and continuing to fosture good relations with our parent country of Cheliax.
5. There are numerous goblin tribes in Varisia as well. They can be controlled to attack Magnamarian assets. You just need to “take a couple heads” as they say and the rest really try hard to fulfill your desires. My security contractors have excelled in planting information for some of these tribes know the times and locations of certain assets of value.
6. My network also believes in counterintelligence operations against Magnamar. We continue to feed their spies rubbish. We provide information to locations of goblins for example that don’t play well with us. This eliminates competition with those tribes that do. Magnamar loses troops and assets as a result further bleeding them dry.
All of this will result to what I hope is this. Magnamar will be in a state of chaos. The borders will not be safe. The countryside will be awash with bandits and other sorts. The high unemployment from sanctions against the city and crippled economy will result in riots and a general stat of decay of governance. Then it will be the long lost parent of Cheliax that sweeps in and saves the day. It will be Korvosian troops backed by a strong Cheliax navy that frees the people of Magnamar from the failure of Democracy and Unions. They will see that only through the rule of Nobles and private business can we prosper. With Magnamar brought to heel then Varisia will be ours. Thus giving the Cheliax Pathfinder faction open doors to new areas that are untouched and raw. This area could be the key to bringing about a new spark of Cheliax domination. We will be the rightful rulers of this world. For THE EMPIRE! For Cheliax! Long live the House of Thrune! Long Live Korvosa!
Thank you your ever faithful servant,
Sven von Jeggare of the Noble house of Jeggare.
//TOP SECRET//
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///TOP SECRET///
(For the eyes of the Paracountess and allies)
I hope this missive reaches you dear friends in good health. I wish to report on this weeks progress that has been made here in Korvosa and Varisia. By order of our noble Paracountess and with the faith of our faction I have put in action the following plans and have found the following.
1. It has been confirmed by some contacts that no less then two other factions have built headquarters in Magnimar to help increase their influence.
a. I have started to counter this by starting a branch of my security business in Magnimar. I have sent some of my best men to start a small offshoot. We will only work to break even on profits. This will undercut competition and we will try to gain the confidence of the population countering other factions efforts to sway public opinion to their faction. The headquarters is located in Underbridge. This helps us stay away from the watchful eye of our enemies since the vast majority of the population in that sector are transient and the government has given rule to the street gangs here.
2. We will contact agents of the underworld there to aid us in intelligence gathering. The Scarni already have a good network there and we will forge an alliance. Also we will try to outfit and train our own pro-cheliax faction scarni gangs starting in Underbridge. With military training and equipment they should be able to become a major force in the area. Plus augmenting our already impressive numbers of loyal soldiers.
3. I have also made moves to insure Korvosa still remains resistant to outside influence. My family of the house of Jeggare controls most loans to other noble houses in the area. It will be detrimental to their house if they so choose to ally with the factions that our in competition with us.
4. I also will give up my own estate for the use of the Cheliax faction to use freely. We promise always a warm bed, a good meal, and safe walls. I also have a vast collection of Cheliaxian pepper Whisky. Feel free to donate funds or gear for other members here as well. We are one team one fight in the war against foreign influences and countering Magnimarian influence.
5. Continued security for trade resources moving in our region. I have procured contracts to guard convoys.
Future exploits
1. We are looking into the possibility of funding a piracy expedition against Magnimar shipping. We will have to form a business in Riddleport for this potentially. However we are lacking funds needed to engage in such a venture. Since funds have already been tapped in building up a presence in Magnimar and the materials needed to outfit and train future minions to our cause. Also it is always expensive to fund the network of informants we have cultivated in Korvosa's region and expanding into traditionally Magnimarian areas of influence.
2. Will continue to look for investment opportunities to aid in the financing of this "COLD WAR" we have here in Varisia.
3. I will be moving personally to lead operations in Magnimar. I will not suffer to allow foreign invaders to help bolster Magnimar.
Signed,
Your ever faithful and devout servant,
Sven Von Jeggare of the Noble House Jeggare
///TOP SECRET///
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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In my absence, while we will long for each other’s caresses, you must remain true to our ideals, even if the corruption of House of Thrune taints the nation we have both sworn to serve.
Does this humble acolyte read these words correctly?
..."the corruption of House of Thrune taints the nation"...
These words are Treason.
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Amedeo your words are true. We can not speak ill of the House of Thrune. To do so is treason. I believe if we are to reclaim our lost glories we must stand united. Subversive talk is not needed when morale is low. What is needed is leadership and order. We must ever continue to stand for our ideals less we fade from the world. Our nation is the last best hope for humanity on this world.
Sven Von Jeggare
Of the noble house of Jeggare, Noble of Korvosa
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Amedeo your words are true. We can not speak ill of the House of Thrune. To do so is treason. I believe if we are to reclaim our lost glories we must stand united. Subversive talk is not needed when morale is low. What is needed is leadership and order. We must ever continue to stand for our ideals less we fade from the world. Our nation is the last best hope for humanity on this world.
Lord Von Jeggare,
From the rumors that are all too common on Absalom, the Paracountess "lost focus" on her duties at some point during her embassy here. I would have hoped for more discipline, especially from one who specializes in preying on the weaknesses of others.
Given the current situation, what is most needed is a firm hand on the tiller. Hopefully, whoever is sent as her replacement is more diligent.
Amedeo Lanatus, Acolyte of Asmodeus
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I do wonder who then will replace her and when? We can not have a faction with no leadership. To do so would to invite chaos and disorder. We do need a firm hand on the tiller. While other factions are making headway we must be able to counter them and excel. Hopefully the house of Thrune will appoint someone quickly. Less we forget we are at war in sorts. A very real "Cold War." The Church of the Lord of Law also must be able to support the candidate chosen. With uniting both church and state behind a person we all we become stronger.
Sven Von Jeggare
Of the noble house of Jeggare, Noble of Korvosa
May the House of Thrune continue to rule wisely.
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Amadeo,
I disagree with your assessment of the phrase. Intent is paramount to the charge. To say the king is corrupt is treason. To say the King receives ill council is not. Those that conspire against our fair Zarta have provided ill counsel. That counsel may be treasonous. Those that act on ill council are not described as treasonous. Surely that is in what is being referred to.
Your service in all legal matters
Meridoc Ignasius Brian Wilberforth Esquire.
Hellknight Signifier Order of the Scourge.
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My Lord Signifier Wilberforth,
We can only hope that what our Paracountess ment was only for the best for our faction. However Father Amedeo has brought up very good points. It has been over 4 months with out leadership. Good order and conduct must be maintained and the position must be filled.
However I must marvel at our ability to adapt and overcome our set backs. In the absence of orders we have exercised appropriate actions. We continue to stand by the House of Thrune and work for the betterment of Cheliax and our beloved faction.
We must all focus at the tasks at hand. Our last mission given to us by the Paracountess. More then likely this came straight from the Throne in Cheliax. Our beautiful Empress deserves our best. I would not doubt there our spies all around us looking for weakness or even Egorian spies keeping tabs on us. Let it be known that none in our faction broke from duty. We didn't get caught up in corruption or sidelined by temptation. That is the fate for those of weak hearts and enemies of our faction.
Gentlemen I say we work together in bringing about the accomplishment of our sacred task at hand. For when we accomplish it...and we will mind you. Our blessed Empress will know who were the ones who stood by her as a rock and foundation from the trials our faction has faced.
Sven Von Jeggare
Of the Noble House of Jeggare, Noble of Korvosa
May the House of Thrune continue to rule Wisely.
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Amadeo,
I disagree with your assessment of the phrase. Intent is paramount to the charge. To say the king is corrupt is treason. To say the King receives ill council is not. Those that conspire against our fair Zarta have provided ill counsel. That counsel may be treasonous. Those that act on ill council are not described as treasonous. Surely that is in what is being referred to.
My Superior, Lord Meridoc Ignasius Brian Wilberforth,
What you state is possible. It would be unforgivably presumptuous for a lowly acolyte, such as myself, to sit in judgement. The Paracountess's rank entitles her to plead her case directly to Her Infernal Magestrix Abrogail II. Surely then, we must endeavor to bring such a meeting about.
In the mean time, however, the Paracountess is unable to fulfill her ambassadorial duties. Someone must be appointed to replace her.
Amedeo Lanatus,
Priest of Asmodeus
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Ye of little faith. I receive my orders just fine.
And they appointed some "Chelish" ambassador to see over things. I happened to know a few lads who were "invited" to peruse the embassy. Saved Zarta's stuff for me they did. Meridoc looks deeply into his shield (there's a painting of Zarta glued to the interior).
Zarta just spent a little time playing with your minds. She's keener than a vorpal weapon and twice the threat range. Stay the course ye mighty warriors of Cheliax, if Zarta wins what spoils will be had from her foes.
Or if you're game is honor, imagine the honor of standing alone against hordes of her enemies. Ha Ha Ha Ha!!! Just the thought of it makes me want to don armor, and set lance. Meridoc leans into Hellhound (a wardog "disguised" to look the part) and pat his clean shaven head.
But soon, soon enough, soon enough. His hand brushes his shield slightly - affectionately. You'll see our fair, firey flower burns most brightly.
Then we her honored minions have a duty to uphold the faith, to the last if need be. Those that remain should remember the MeriDoc Mantra
she loves Me
She loves Me More
She Loves Me more than You
Meridoc Grins at his shield...and continues to laugh to himself.