The New Taldor – Issue 3

Day 4 cont. - Oppara / Opparos (Sarenith 3, 4718)

The (Un)friendly Butler

Cinnard was attacked directly by the halfling, and the companions defended themselves with all their might. The poisoner had apparently treated his weapons and, through his attacks, poisoned and thereby weakened at least Cinnard. Valorant, too, was gravely wounded. Arawyn put the halfling to sleep, and Merek took possession of the halfling's daggers.

The group tried to restrain the halfling once he awoke, but he managed to break free. In one fluid motion, he drew something from his sleeve and stuffed it into his mouth. Poison coursed through his body and sent him straight to Pharasma, for he had already sustained quite enough injuries. He thus left them without any useful answers. Might a better tactic have served them better here?

A search of the corpse yielded 5 vials containing something slimy, as well as a potion.

A filling hose lay atop a cask—it seemed this one had already been poisoned. The affected cask was emptied, evidence collected (some liquid drawn off), and the halfling stowed inside. This very wine was to be served at the exaltation—the Tandak Grand Reserve so popular at the time. Finton Wheaterby further advised knocking off the spigot to keep anyone from looking inside the cask, on condition that all findings be shared with him.

Meanwhile, a cupbearer was persuaded to have his wine replenished without insisting on coming inside.

Arawyn talked the resident wine sommelier Jahnson's ear off in an epic dialogue on the history of Taldan wine; the Wheaterby halflings had been unable to stop him on his way straight to the wine cellar without giving the game away. Strictly speaking, no one was allowed inside, since various noble families had brought their own wines. The protagonists were able to leave the wine cellar undetected. Valorant filled the kitchen's tip jar with 5 gold pieces. Marcy Wheaterby and her cheese knife would see to an equitable distribution.

The Report

Before the protagonists set off for Martella Lotheed's quarters, Marcy Wheaterby advised them to straighten their clothing and wipe away the blood to conceal all traces of a fight.

Martella was not in her quarters. Arawyn and Valorant therefore set off in search of her. Otherwise, the general state of affairs seemed to reveal nothing unusual at present.

Arawyn found Martella in private conversation with the princess. Princess Eutropia's glances during this intimate moment between the two left him feeling somewhat awkward.

To Martella, the fanaticism was further evidence of the Brotherhood's involvement. She stressed once more that the vote in the Senate must not be disrupted. The protagonists were to remain inconspicuous, and she gave them a few potions to cure Cinnard's and Valorant's indispositions. Was that all, and would it suffice?

Valorant briefly lost sight of Arawyn when he spotted Baron Mauston Kustios. The baron looked visibly astonished to see Valorant. He made it unmistakably clear, however, that he trusted Martella, and that this alone was keeping Valorant out of the White Hall for the moment. Valorant was to keep his distance from the baron until he could explain himself and produce evidence of his supposed innocence. With General Gwain, however, his expulsion from the Taldan Horse had already been sealed. He also regarded the exclusion of the palace guards as an affront. Might there be more to this side story than met the eye?

The Meal

Lady Gloriana Morilla let Dulgir know that she and the mysterious Pathfinder Society were pleased with Kalbio's rescue.

Meanwhile, the storyteller Copernicus Vau extolled the crossbow of the 4th Army of Exploration, which had once turned the tide with a single shot from the back of a mammoth. It was said to bring its bearer good fortune.

A standing buffet was laid out, and the guests helped themselves generously. Among them, for instance, were an Ulfen nobleman and a gnome from the Verduran Forest in rainbow colors—Marquess Tanasha Starborne.

Cinnard was so fascinated by the latter that he launched a charm offensive, promptly countered by fluttering butterflies—magic was, after all, supposed to be forbidden. She was bored stiff. Despite the alcohol, no one was dancing on the tables, something the musical performance would scarcely permit anyway, even though Oppara boasted 2 of the world's finest music schools. In the end, as the elected representative bearing this social burden, she led Cinnard through the garden and shared her knowledge of the captive animals with him. He promised her that one day he would visit Wispil, reputedly the loveliest place in Taldor.

Eritryce finally prodded a reluctant Arawyn into taking heart and introducing himself to Princess Eutropia in the garden. This led to an unexpected family reunion of House Lotheed, much applauded by the princess. For Count Bartelby Lotheed and Titus Lotheed-Casava were also present. A verbal sparring match ensued. Eritryce held back, Eutropia enjoyed the performance, and Arawyn argued the merits of pride and honor. In the end, Arawyn won on points, for the princess turned toward him in utter disregard of etiquette and granted the remaining Lotheeds the sight of her lovely back. They soon slunk away.

Many courtiers are blessed with good looks but cursed with a rotten character. She hoped this did not apply to Arawyn. The blood of a higher being flowed through his veins—an angel's? This, together with the recent meeting with Eritryce in a moment of great hardship, would open up possibilities.

The Vote

At around 9 p.m., a magical bell rang to open the Senate session. The senators streamed into the Senate Hall with their scribes, while courtiers, guests, candidates, and others gathered in the Gallery. 6,000 years of cultural supremacy, however, exacted their toll. The formalities of accreditation, establishing a quorum, and finalizing the agenda and rules of procedure consumed 20 minutes of perfect Taldan bureaucracy.

Tension mounted until the Speaker finally called Addendum 20287 by its bureaucratic title. Thus a historic moment for Taldor began to unfold.

For the first address, Baron Mauston Kustios of Yanmass was granted the floor:

Esteemed representatives of our nation. Yanmass, which you fondly call “Tent City” (snickering), is my home. We connect Taldor and Casmaron, and many of the exotic things you love pass through my city. Yanmass has grown wealthy through this trade, and I always believed that this prosperity could be preserved only through neutrality. I have since changed my view. We urgently need clarity on the succession, even if it is still years away. We need openness, peace, and trade. Eutropia stands for these, and I therefore call upon the Senate to support her. The attempt on my life shows that some are plainly trapped in the past and fail to read the signs of the times.

Applause followed, and Valorant joined in.

The Speaker gave the floor to the next speaker—Maxillar Pythareus, High Strategos and supreme commander:

6,000 years ago, Taldaris united the city-states into an empire. Since then, we have forged an empire without equal. Taldor is Avistan! Our language, our culture, our history shaped the nations opened up by our magnificent Armies of Exploration. The glory of old has faded— undeniably—but the blood of our families' past leaders flows in our veins. Great men have sprung from our family trees, and I tell you, we too have a duty to make Taldor great again. Our Grand Prince will see to it and, in due course, name a successor. Someone who will strengthen our military once more, so that our voice will once again be heard in Avistan. The princess will not make Taldor a ruling power. With her, we will appear weak, and at first they will merely despise us; later, they will attack us, because we look like prey!

Here, too, applause followed. A few guests, along with Valorant, stood at attention during this speech.

For the final address, the Speaker handed Count Orlundo Zespire the magical speaking stone amid cries of "Iron Gar":

I have hunted pirates and fought for Taldor for many years. I know a fighter when I see one, be they man or woman. I tell you, Princess Eutropia will not disappoint us and will fight hard for Taldor. She strengthens the rights of the people and curbs arbitrary rule. A nation that wishes to grow needs a people who stand behind it. Anyone who objects is enriching himself at the expense of those beneath him. And at the expense of generations to come. The people's discontent is a debt that keeps mounting and will one day become impossible to bear. Eutropia strengthens the Senate, giving the nobility a greater say. The greatness we all wish for Taldor needs a foundation, and as a soldier, I tell you: Those who call for war will bring us only ruin. Our enemies are many, and we no longer strike as hard as we once did. So vote for reason, vote for Eutropia!

This address, too, received its applause, but all in all, sentiment remained evenly divided between the two camps.

It bears noting that, formally, only the end of male primogeniture was under consideration, rather than Eutropia's election.

The Count

A roll-call vote of just over 200 senators followed, in strict hierarchical order according to the rank of their titles. In addition to the official records kept in duplicate, scribblers publicly recorded the tally on a board. Lesser nobles were more inclined to confine themselves to the officially prescribed responses of Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

In its formal bureaucratic perfection, the procedure consumed more than another hour of history.

Baron Mauston Kustios of Yanmass and the Duke of Tandak each voted in favor. Lord Leonard Centimus also voted in favor. Lady Abrielle Pace voted against. Lord Colin Douglas voted in favor, which brought Lady Malphene Trant to a boil. Lord Lotheed voted against.

In the end, the tally stood at 99 to 66, with 36 abstentions, in favor of abolishing the exclusively male succession. Even the Speaker had to collect himself before announcing it—unbelievable! This resounding statement would have required only a simple majority.

And so the vote on Motion 20287, the abolition of the exclusively male succession to the crown, has concluded with 36 abstentions. The final tally stands at 99 to 66 in favor of abolition. Motion 20287 is carried. The Senate recognizes Princess Eutropia Stavian as heir to the Primogen Crown. In due course—may that day still lie many years in the future—she will enter our nation's history as Grand Princess Eutropia Stavian I. May the Wealthy Father bless her.

Cheers erupted in the Senate Hall and the Gallery, interrupted here and there by boos. Yet naked horror could also be seen on some faces—Lady Trant's, for one.

But was Taldor's history so easily changed by a vote won in the Senate?

One great question now hung in the air. What would Grand Prince Stavian III do? To defy the will of the nobility would be without precedent in history. On the other hand, he had been pursuing his own outlandish plans for quite some time.

Valorant's question about the military's role was met only with shrugs, since it had always answered to the ruler. Maxillar Pythareus, a guest of the Senate, was nowhere to be seen.

The Letter

After this obscene decision, Grand Duchess Mellea Denzarni made straight for Merek to give him a letter for Kalbio. She would not survive a second defeat that evening. Kalbio's joy at Princess Eutropia's victory was abruptly swept away by the contents of the delivered letter, which darkened his expression. It stated that his parents had borrowed a considerable sum against their farm to support their son and his training. Cinnard promised his help in any event—regardless of the outcome of the exaltation. Merek suggested that Kalbio's newfound fame might allow him to charge higher prices for his rugs. Valorant appealed to his place in the tradition of exalting an ordinary citizen rather than a hero. He should present his story and his personality.

A courtier of Mellea Denzarni's asked Kalbio to accompany him to a preparatory discussion with the Grand Duchess. Dulgir went with the two, faithful to his original assignment.

The rest of the protagonists returned to keeping a close watch on the activity in the Senate complex.

Suddenly, Merek spotted Mellea Denzarni stepping into the library. Why was she not with Kalbio?

A hasty search for Dulgir ensued. He and one of the Grand Duchess's scribblers were bewildered and caught off guard. The sight that greeted them when Dulgir threw open the door was disconcerting—they found themselves looking into the faces of 2 Kalbios.

Both gave plausible or repetitive answers to rapid-fire questions designed to expose the impostor. Dulgir and Valorant positioned themselves between the two. Which was the copy, and which the original?

The Transformation

Suddenly, one Kalbio rained heavy blows upon Dulgir. This Kalbio then battered Valorant as well. Blows, thrown daggers, and an exceedingly painful strike from a summoned scimitar of pure energy finally brought him down. This Kalbio transformed into an indistinct humanoid form, albeit a very strong one. The other Kalbio had to vomit.

2 palace guards appeared, summoned by the scribbler, and Arawyn took the pair in hand. His angelic tongue bored into their minds and painted a picture of failure and consequences of historic proportions should the exaltation fail to take place as planned. They nevertheless insisted that the colonel be informed.

Only when Grand Duchess Mellea Denzarni herself appeared and grasped both the general situation and her own predicament was the tension defused. She accepted the argument that they should maintain the appearance that Kalbio's replacement had succeeded. Besides, any report of the incident from her would only be mistaken for publicity for Kalbio. She would attend to the guards and to restoring Kalbio's spirits.

Afterward, Martella was informed and once again saw the Brotherhood at work, while Cinnard revealed his favorite colors—black and white—in case he, too, should be duplicated.

The Exaltation

There was still a good 1.5 hours until the exaltation. A troupe of halflings put on a fire show. Wyssilka demonstrated her puppetry skills. The sommelier Jahnson was beside himself over the good wine that had been spilled and leaked away. Otherwise, however, nothing more seemed to be happening. Was the evening now to reach its final climax?

At last the magical bell rang again. Martella ushered the protagonists into the packed Senate Hall, while she intended to survey the proceedings from the Gallery.

The existing dais had been enlarged with wooden extensions. The Grand Prince's quarters opened, and a fanfare sounded. The Ulfen Guard and the Prince took the long route around to the dais, walking on a red carpet unrolled by nimble lackeys.

Two Ulfen fetched Cinnard with no ceremonial dignity, and the tension rose beyond measure. The Prince delivered his address, in which he praised the merits of both candidates:

Well, what a gathering we have today. I cannot recall ever seeing the Senate so packed, certainly not during any of my recent speeches. Even my beloved daughter, long since a woman with a will of her own, sits among the players of the greatest game in Oppara. And of course no one is here for me today. No, today is about something altogether different. Today is about the exaltation of a commoner to the nobility.

I am certain that many of you have already had the opportunity to meet the candidates. Many ladies, lords, senators, and dignitaries have pressed me and persuaded me of their merits. On the one hand, we have Kalbio, a master weaver from Breezy Creek. I have personally inspected some of his fabrics, and I must say they are of exquisite quality. The rugs in the Arcade of Triumphs are wonderful. A simple man, born for greater things. I am told that envious rivals had abducted him, and that this young champion brought him back. That is in the spirit of competition by which we live in Taldor. This young hero, then, is Cinnard Zespire. Raised by Count Orlundo Zespire, “Iron Gar,” as we call him. He has also made a name for himself in recent months by rescuing the daughter of our esteemed Lady Zariyah Clement from a runaway carriage. It seems to me that we have chosen a truly worthy candidate here, brave and strong as Taldaris himself.

Afterward, both candidates were given time for a brief speech of thanks. Kalbio stammered through the speech the Grand Duchess had given him to rehearse, though he had added thoughts supplied by the protagonists. The lady very nearly lost her composure. Cinnard thanked the Prince and his family for this opportunity, while emphasizing his ambition to take the field against Taldor's enemies at any time. Orlundo seemed satisfied. All the speeches were honored with applause.

The Grand Prince smiled gently and raised his hand. Gradually, silence fell—the final moment had begun:

As we see, two candidates put forward by the nobility. Though only one of them will step into a new life this evening, both deserve thunderous applause. The room fills with applause during Stavian's rhetorical pause. The Grand Prince of Taldor smiles gently, waits patiently, and then raises his hand for silence. I see that many can scarcely bear the suspense any longer, so I shall make my decision known. ... Gratitude. My daughter—truly—is not grateful. She turns against me. Behind my back, they hatch their plans. She gathers allies behind her who dream of cutting off their rightful ruler's head so that they may place a woman on the throne. A woman! On the Lion Throne! And this day, this gala, is the beginning of a new age? And everyone here is in on it and thinks: Old Stavian is clueless and will not notice when he is led to the scaffold. Oh yes, the second stage of the plan is to shorten the wait for the throne. But I am not clueless! Yes, there will be a new era, an era without traitors...

The Attack

Without warning, the Grand Prince drew a dagger and plunged it into Cinnard's body. Some of the more than 300 people present froze in shock; others joined the murmuring or screaming in the hall.

A moment later, blue light filled the hall, and an armored being with glowing, expressionless eyes and a great halberd appeared beside the Grand Prince. It struck at once. With that blow, Stavian III's head fell, and Taldor was now without a ruler—a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Mist spread through the Gallery, and panic through the hall below. Cinnard tried to avenge the Prince with a bold thrust but failed to pierce the armor.

Several dozen armored fighters of various kinds stormed the Senate and wrought a bloodbath, and the armored being simply vanished again—after the princess, too, had begun to attack it.

Movement through the room was barely possible; others fell alongside Valorant and were trampled under the feet of the rest. Sounds of fighting could also be heard from above. Following a cry of "Creo Ignem," a fireball from Bartelby Lotheed's hands detonated among the attackers. Then Kathann Zalar's voice cut through the din: "Do your duty."

At the same moment, a red, horned figure appeared, hovering in the air. A Senate Badge was also attached to its shield. The figure grew larger. A follower of Abadar banished the "Red One" with a command.

All at once, darkness and silence fell.

The Relocation

Everything was gone. No one was there anymore. The companions were no longer in the Senate. It seemed to be some sort of abandoned archive—everything was dusty and musty. The shimmer of Valorant's scimitar and a magical light illuminated their new location.

Valorant mentioned that the red being had been no devil but an efreeti—a being of fire, a genie—like the one that had killed his brother and father in Casmaron in the past.

Escape from the Dark

The group investigated the rooms and had to fend off rats, rat swarms, and a "crotch rat"—a rat with a face (ratling). Gifted with magic, it had brought itself to safety with a sort of "dimension door" before Valorant, sliding toward it, could reach it. Cinnard briefly lost his nerve at this revolting sight and had to beat a hasty retreat. This evil beast is a carnivore and likes nothing better than to snack on small children. The rats had dug little tunnels between the various rooms.

Suddenly, Martella's voice was present in the protagonists' minds. She asked where they were and urged them to escape. They could give only a brief reply confessing their ignorance.

On one side of a corridor hung a portrait of Galitian Maramaxus of the 4th Army of Exploration. After a brief search, Cinnard found a lock—but the companions had no key for it. The key, however, was found in the bookcase, whose works—primarily religious texts concerning Aroden—were arranged in chronological order.

Merek, however, sensed the living dead, so they decided to rest. In one corner, the companions found equipment (Studded Leather, Darts, Longswords, Dagger, Rapier, etc.) and settled down for the night. First, Dulgir pocketed 2 intact bottles of good whiskey.

The watch order was set as follows: Valorant, Dulgir, Cinnard, Merek, and then Arawyn. Once again, the changes wrought by history revealed themselves. Until now, no one had ever needed to stand watch in safe Oppara!

Outwardly, the night passed quietly, yet the day's events weighed upon the champions.

After that evening, nothing was as it had been. This day entered Taldor's history as the "Exaltation Massacre." What never found its way into the accounts of those events, however, was far more frightening. Unreal as the slaughter had seemed, could it have been worse? Imagine if a great many of the nobles had been dazed by poisoned wine, or even killed. A battle without resistance. What if Kalbio had been replaced by a doppelganger? Kalbio, who stood right beside Princess Eutropia.

Was their escape truly a blessing, or a sentence: to rot in thousand-year-old catacombs like the walcofindes (wall souls)? Were Martella, the princess, and Orlundo truly safe? Had all the dangers lurking unseen in the Senate truly been found, or would still more traps spring from ambush?

Sleep came late, and the dreams were all the fiercer. Valorant, in particular, seemed to struggle and murmured words such as Nishaa, Reshi, and Schodan in his sleep.

Day 5 - Somewhere (Sarenith 4, 4718)

The Morning After

The next morning, Dulgir restored portions of the rotten food to keep the group's strength up. Beforehand, he and Valorant had meditated. Arawyn had a little tête-à-tweet with Eritryce. Merek prayed—but only briefly. The journey to Pharasma seems to be a swift one.

The door disguised as a painting was opened, and a hooded lantern (Continual Light) was picked up. On the wall was a circular inscription—Eros Glendower, a scholar of the arcane arts, complained that his father's Senate seat had been transferred to him.

The group passed through another secret passage and found a lifeless body (Lord Develin Manshum), but also further survivors. Somehow, they too had been transported into this building. A creature pushed out of a wall and struck from ambush—but with their combined strength, they were able to destroy it. Dulgir thought these might have been tormented souls walled in—a walcofinde.

Once again, Martella's voice rang out. Maxillar Pythareus had apparently not been attacked. There was fighting in the streets of Oppara.

A nobleman, Lord Wilfen Botoles, had barricaded himself here with others—and more writings were found on the wall. Lady Malphene Trant and a halfling named Imistos Gulbend joined the group. Their enthusiasm at seeing Cinnard and his friends spoke volumes. They nevertheless agreed to bury the hatchet and escape together.

In the center, a room opened up with a large table and a small chest containing prayers to Aroden and a magical scroll (Cure Wounds, Invisibility, and Summon Monster 2).

Glass-fronted cabinets and display cases stood in another room, holding old armor and weapons—though these were from other eras and in poor condition. Here, too, there were circular symbols, some scratched in, others painted. Valorant found a strong magical aura in one of the glass cases: a light crossbow with a handsome lion mechanism—presumably Dignity's Barb, the original from the 4th Army of Exploration. His warning against unworthy pilfering met with a chorus of objections and died away in the room as 2 suits of armor, one on either side of the room, began to move. They were the sources of Merek's unease. Roll initiative!