Book 2, Act I: Songbird

As the political scene in Taldor explodes into chaos, heroes take on the mantle of agents, advocates, and saboteurs working for Princess Eutropia to help secure her claim to the Imperial throne and prevent the Empire from collapsing in on itself in civil war. Will they grow from relative nobodies to powerful politicians and spymasters in the deadliest political arena in the Inner Sea?

Run by the GM ManWithDoor
Zorbeltuss
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Re: Book 2, Act I: Songbird

Post by Zorbeltuss » Sun May 15, 2022 11:06 am

"I do not have any real skill, and I think cheating would be more trouble than it's worth" Mercutio shrugs.

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Othniel
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Re: Book 2, Act I: Songbird

Post by Othniel » Fri May 20, 2022 2:13 am

"I do not cheat," Astraea states, matter-of-factly. "Besides, it's no fun to win through underhanded means."

Zorbeltuss
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Re: Book 2, Act I: Songbird

Post by Zorbeltuss » Fri May 20, 2022 1:47 pm

"Sometimes it is greatly amusing to see someone lose" Mercutio offers with a grin. "Also, all is fair in love and war, and though I am not entirely sure about the former, it is clearly the latter".

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ManWithDoor
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Re: Book 2, Act I: Songbird

Post by ManWithDoor » Sun May 22, 2022 1:32 am

To sum it all up, Lady Martella trusts you to use your best judgment on how to gain control of the County of Meratt. You are planned to arrive the evening before the Tanager Jubilee, so will have time to make yourselves presentable and attend all 3 days of the festivities. She has seen you use charm, subterfuge, and strength of arms in Oppara, and believes you have the breadth of skills to accomplish this task. And as part of your reward, once you complete your takeover of the Lotheed Estate you are free to take what portable valuable they have in their palace - coins, jewelry, magical trinkets, and so forth - but the furniture, libraries, portraits, and other family items should remain where they are (and relatively intact) for future generations.

The only warning she gives is you should limit or completely eschew attempts to brute-force influence through magical means. The Lotheeds are a particularly magically aware family, and likely to spot such tampering (not to mention any moral judgments on the matter). As an alchemical experimenter and inventor, she does offer you a few doses of a recent-memory-erasing poison she calls Styx oil, which could give you a second chance to correct a social faux pas or escape notice. However, the drug is experimental, expensive, and time-consuming to produce, so she can only provide 3 doses for now.
Styx oil is a carefully distilled combination of antitoxin, bloodroot, id moss, and various mushrooms. Styx oil renders its target unconscious and floods every sense with erratic hallucinations, overwhelming the mind and essentially wiping away memories. This chaotic mélange wipes away memories of the 5 minutes prior to the poison's injection; occasionally, though, the drug fails to paralyze the victim, leaving the creature to flail violently and unpredictably in response to the hallucinations. If Styx oil is delivered by a weapon rather than injection or other subtle method, the victim gains a +5 circumstance bonus to resist the memory-erasing properties of the poison. NOTE: This is a unique blend personally produced by Martella Lotheed, and is not available any public markets.
Type: Poison, Injury
Save: Fortitude DC (unknown)
Frequency: 1/minute for 2 minutes
Initial Effect: Unconscious for 1d4 minutes
Secondary Effect: Confusion for 2d6 rounds
Cure: 2 Saves

You have 3 total Doses.
----------

Shortly before crossing into the County proper, Lady Martella splits away as she told you she would, heading east on tasks unknown. She leaves you information on various locations to perform a dead-drop, where one of her agents will check if you need to send or request information. She doesn't give locations or names of her contacts, in case you are compromised. After all, you can't divulge what you don't know.

Within another hour you officially cross into Meratt, and your carriage is waylaid by desperate beggars and traders offering a variety of wares and pleading for spare coins. They and their belongings form a makeshift roadblock/market. You could push through with only a little force, they are unarmed peasantry after all, but really they're opportunists or people with nowhere to go. The nearby Beggarwood Forest to the northwest is likely where a number of them live.

Riding along the Oppara Highway from the north is an impressive warrior on a horse ...
The Roll20 Map now shows the County of Meratt, with the basic geography and notable locations marked. You are near the southeast corner, riding north on the Oppara Highway. Your travel will take you north (past Baron Okerra's holdings) to Lauchlein Lake, then past it to the Palace of Birdsong. While you don't have time to spare to see it, the Betony Estate would be an easy detour to the west.

And now Introducing --- Emilia of Hartbrook!
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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RorytheRomulan
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Re: Book 2, Act I: Songbird

Post by RorytheRomulan » Sun May 22, 2022 3:30 am

The rider, a woman in a collection of plate and padded chainmail, trots carefully forth, splitting the crowd to get within a distance to speak comfortably. When she removes her helmet, a loose low braided ponytail tumbles forth, the years behind the young soldier's eyes evident to the carriage's occupants as she meets their gaze.

"My lords, my ladies, fair day to you. I am Emilia of Hartbrook, and I serve as a lancer with a detachment of the Taldan Horse at the pleasure of my Baron, Nicolaus Okerra. His Lordship has sent me as an escort through his lands, if it pleases."

She smiles and raises a subtle eyebrow, as if the group are privy to knowledge that the rabble around them are not.
Here she is again. This is her map token which also serves as a closeup portrait.
Image

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Grimbold
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Re: Book 2, Act I: Songbird

Post by Grimbold » Tue May 24, 2022 8:49 pm

"Greetings!" a middle aged man with a slight beer belly in worn travel clothes carrying a long walking staff calls out to the newcomer. "Well met. My name is Brother Betram from the Church of Cayden Cailean! And these are my glorious companions!"

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Othniel
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Re: Book 2, Act I: Songbird

Post by Othniel » Fri May 27, 2022 12:07 am

"Astraea of House Clement," the Warpriestess introduced herself. "Servant of Ragathiel. We appreciate the escort."

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RorytheRomulan
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Re: Book 2, Act I: Songbird

Post by RorytheRomulan » Sat May 28, 2022 4:20 am

Emilia lowers her head toward the noblewoman, and takes her reply as confirmation for the group. She can't help looking twice at the Caydenite churchman, but that comment will have to wait until they have left the crowd. "Aroden bless you both. If you prefer to continue straightaway, I can keep pace while we complete introductions."

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ManWithDoor
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Re: Book 2, Act I: Songbird

Post by ManWithDoor » Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:08 am

The beggars and traders may not know Emilia personally, but they can recognize a lancer of Baron Okerra and give her a wide, respectful berth. It speaks volumes of the Baron's character that the lowest of peasants do not react to his women-of-arms with fear, only deference. They still try to beg or hawk their wares, but make enough room to pass as desired.
If you want to buy any common goods, you can right now for +10% over market value, but -10% under market value if you pay in common clothing, food, tools, and other daily necessities. Copper and silver are good mediums of exchange, but you can't eat or wear it. These people are very much in need.
Once back on the open road you have privacy, unless the trees and squirrels are spies. It will take another half-day or so of travel to arrive at the Palace of Birdsong for the Tanager Jubilee, so you have plenty of time to converse.
Feel free to do more RP, and then you'll get to the Palace. Bohemond's new PC will meet you at the party when you arrive.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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RorytheRomulan
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Re: Book 2, Act I: Songbird

Post by RorytheRomulan » Thu Jun 02, 2022 2:48 pm

Among the riffraff, Emilia spies a father holding his son close, and offers the man a silver.

In the woods, she glances around twice before breaking the silence between the chattering of the woodland rodents.

"Alright, I believe it is safe to talk, my lords. The whole truth is that I was commanded to aid the princess's supporters. If you would have me, I am yours until this awful mess is sorted. Pardon, I was told that a priest would be joined, but if I may ask, how does the Lucky Drunk inspire his faithful servant to take a side?"
_
-1 silver for charity.

Presuming we've gotten into the trees like stated above, but you can ignore me until you've taken care of any commerce or given (or taken!) alms. I've only got a fistful of silvers.

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