*Well before the appointed time, the well-connected members of the group are able to determine the location of the meeting hall, the so-called 'Academy Council Chamber', and so the adventurers are not late for the gathering Council. The Academy Council Chamber, in truth, is a large domed building reasonably close to the main Academy grounds, still standing in the ruins of Old Medibaria, kept clean and in good repair by ancient magics much like the Academy's castle-like main complex itself. Rumour has it that other magics still lurk in this place, making it an ideal place for important gatherings.*
*Though the adventurers arrive on time, they are asked to wait in a side waiting room for some time before they are allowed to enter. The politically savvy among them assume that this is so another important emissary or two who might have arrived late can still be seen to arrive before the adventurers and thus not lose face. A polite servant asks the group to select one person as a spokesman to sit at the main table (I'll assume, based on his dominance in social skills, that this is Rinaldo unless there's any serious objection), and the rest are to sit in the many rows of seats behind, able to offer support and advice to their delegate if necessary.*
*The other delegates, as expected, are all here already and seated. Based on the heraldry, the delegates are arrayed thusly:*
*The Academy itself, from a position of power at the head of the table, seats five delegates, a wisened ancient man with a look of deep thought in his soft grey eyes flanked by an even-older man in a parchment-brown cloak with runes a timeless brass light orange colour, an early middle-aged man, just slightly greying, wearing an impressive platinum coloured cloak adorned with sapphire and ruby coloured runic symbols, a beautiful and sophisticated woman, perhaps on the verge of turning thirty, in a deep rich purple cloak with sigils of deep regal amethyst with a dark sparkle, and Rayne Liore, the half-elven woman whom most of the adventurers have seen at least the once at Tenebrynn's party. Other Academy professors and distinguished scholars fill out seats just behind , much like the other adventurers do with Rinaldo. A pretty young woman reaches out and gives the middle-aged man's hand a squeeze. Of the five, all but Rayne are human.*
[SBLOCK=Knowledge Arcana DC 15]Based on the context cues, it's a pretty safe guess that these are going to be the four Housemasters and then the Academy Headmaster.
[SBLOCK=Know Arc DC 20]You know that the Headmaster is Umbryn Albion, a mysterious figure. You already know Rayne is the Housemistress of Daryne, so that leaves the other woman wearing the symbol of Sice, the eldest man wearing the symbol of Mordrue, and the middle-aged man wearing the symbol of Omega
[SBLOCK=Know Arc DC 25]The other woman is Kharisa Valpyren, Sice Housemistress, the old man is Humboldt Tyndall, Mordrue Housemaster, and the middle-aged man is Cedric Branwen, Omega Housemaster.[/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=Bardic Knowledge DC 15]Based on the tales and rumours, the new people must be Rayne Liore's three counterparts for the other three houses and the Headmaster Umbryn Albion.
[SBLOCK=BK DC 20]There are many whispered rumours about Umbryn Albion. Some say that he has the power to level small cities with a thought. Others say that he isn't even a powerful Wizard at all but is instead an extremely canny and deceptively savvy man with only minor magical talent. Also, the other woman who isn't Rayne must be Kharisa Valpyren, Sice Housemistress
[SBLOCK=BK DC 22]Kharisa is a relatively new appointee to her position. She was at one point a devoted student and follower of the charismatic young professor Elayna Valsice, before the latter disappeared. Also, the truly ancient man older than Albion is Humboldt Tyndall, who has been Mordrue Housemaster for just about forever.
[SBLOCK=BK DC 25]Some gossip and school myths and tall tales state that Humboldt Tyndall will never die as long as a single book remains unread in the Academy library. Considering that it is continually stocked with new books as they are written at a rate faster than a human can read, this seems unlikely to occur. They joke that when he dies, his ghost will haunt the library, simply reading. The middle-aged Housemaster is Cedric Branwen, Omega Housemaster[SBLOCK=BK DC 27]Branwen's approaches have been seen by some as unorthodox, but no one doubts his genius and enthusiasm, and when working on magical innovations, he has the energy of a man half his age. For those interested in the subject, he supposedly can be quite enthralling, though on the outside that seems hard to believe. At the least, rumours still speak of the minor scandal from when his beautiful young graduate student fell for him.[SBLOCK=BK DC 30]The lady who squeezed Branwen's hand is his young wife, Adrianna Branwen, the same former graduate student who fell for him. Humboldt Tyndall, unusually because of their vast age difference of nearly a century, is known to have a close friendship with Omega Professor Dorian Grywald. Kharisa Valpyren was supposedly somehow involved with something dark and nasty a few years back at the Academy...or at least, people said they saw her come back a bit battered afterwards.[/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=Vanitri]You obviously recognise Rayne, Kharisa, Cedric, Humboldt, and Umbryn, and the hand-squeezing woman is, of course, Cedric's wife Adrianna.[/SBLOCK]
*Directly adjacent to the Academy division is the delegate from Medibaria proper, with additional members of his group behind, just as for the rest. He is a richly-dressed man with gold-trimmed black robes, piercing green eyes, and a black goatee. He carries an ornate staff topped with golden skull bearing insignias, including the insignia of Medibaria and then some that match the violet cloak of the other woman from the Academy.*
[SBLOCK=Knowledge Nobility and Royalty DC 15]Based on the way he is dressed and the sorts of symbols he wears, he is probably a court mage of some sort.
[SBLOCK=Kn N&R DC 20]This man is Court Mage Rydick Xanthar, Grand Vizier of King Ducard XII's council of advisors.
[SBLOCK=Kn N&R DC 25]Xanthar is a talented Necromancer and a strong player in the brains behind the king's rule. Though initially from a minor Highborne family, he has gained great power and prestige through his shrewd knack for politics and his arcane power. It would be safe to say that sending Xanthar means that Medibaria is taking this Council seriously.[/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=Bardic Knowledge DC 15]This man is probably the Court Mage and Grand Vizier of Medibaria. You remember seeing a minor political satire puppet show in Medibaria once that had him as a character. The puppet show character talked in abstruse and arcane terminology to back up any claim he made. [SBLOCK=BK DC 18]Ah, that's right! His name was Rydick Xanthar, son of a minor Highborne family and now Grand Vizier of the king's council of advisors. He is a shrewd man with a knack for politics.
[SBLOCK=DC 22]A talented Necromancer, Xanthar has shown that Necromancy can be used for good ends as well as the stereotypical evil ones. He gained his trusted position initially due to his ability to cure a wasting disease that plagued King Ducard's young queen that even the clerics couldn't decipher. Rather than rely on a magical panacea, he used his knowledge of Necromancy to research a cure.[/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK]
*Next is the Hendrallian delegate, an elderly man bearing a long scar across his jaw and the worn and calloused look of a man of war past his prime. Frankly, he looks a bit doddering and perhaps verging on senile, but he is clearly struggling to present as much decorum as possible as if he is quite honoured to be here. One can't help but feel sorry for him, especially since very few other Hendrallians are here to support him. One of the only ones there is an incredibly beautiful lass who watches him with a look of mixed pride and concern.*
[SBLOCK=Knowledge Nobility and Royalty DC 15]At first, you have no idea who this guy is, which is kind of weird because you thought you knew at least the basics of major players in Hendrallia.
[SBLOCK=Kn N&R DC 20]This guy is definitely not one of the higher-up Hendrallian dignitaries. Actually, he may be one of their former generals. This may be a sly attempt by Hendrallia to exert their opinion of the unimportance of the council. The man would be just barely important enough to send without making an obvious social faux pas while still enough of a small fry to send a veiled insult.
[SBLOCK=Kn N&R DC 28]Actually, you may have misjudged at first the target of the Hendrallian insult! (or perhaps it is both). Now you remember who he is--this man is Baron Carnham Thalask, formerly General Thalask the Merciless who supposedly presided over what Hendrallians generally call 'several unsettling tactics in the border conflicts with the elves long ago in my grandfather's day' and the elves of Rivenblight generally call 'atrocities and war crimes in the thinly-veiled attempt at a land grab of a pseudo-war of fifty years ago'.[/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=Bardic Knowledge DC 15]This guy strongly resembles a character in a fifty-year-old satirical elven play about the Hendrallians. The character in the play is a vicious murderous bloodthirsty idiotic buffoon of a man who constantly murders his own men and tries to wipe out the elves but humourously fails at every turn due to his own stupidity and his lackeys' incompetence, plus the savvy of the elves.
[SBLOCK=BK DC 18]The character's name was Thalask the Merciless.[/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK]
*Next is the Fallonian delegate. A blond-haired young man who looks as if he is slightly unaccustomed to such events as these and is wearing his clothes as if they are suddenly very heavy or maybe don't quite fit. Still, when he glances upon the other Fallonese who are there to support him, he finds the strength to give a reassuring smile for their sake. His blue eyes are friendly and kind, if a bit naive compared to some of the more cunning delegates. He wears a necklace with a four part shield with red, purple, yellow, and blue filling the four quadrants that bears a mark with a noble crest.*
[SBLOCK=Kn Nobility and Royalty DC 15]This guy is wearing the garb of a Councilor of Fallon, but even though you have a pretty thorough list of them in your head, you don't remember any of his description.
[SBLOCK=Kn N&R DC 25]He's also wearing, on the shield-necklace, the crest of the minor insignificant Fallonese noble House Lenton.[/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=Kn Local DC 20]Oh right! Now you remember--good thing you're so well-connected in both politics and local goings-on or this might have slipped right by you. As you were passing through Fallon, you heard from your contacts that Fallonese Council Member Mithreander was dead. After much heated discussion, the council appointed this young man, though he at first declined the spot, claiming that there must surely be someone more worthy of it than he, until they insisted. His name is Andric Lenton, a noble of an extremely insignificant house, but more importantly, a popular minor priest. Benevolent and humble, Andric sought to serve his god, Azwan, by increasing the standard of living of the people of Fallon. In the end, the Council decided that he would be a welcome addition because he has Fallon's best interests in mind. The more cynical Fallonese believe that the powerful and unscrupulous among the Council Members had a different reason--they wanted someone young and inexperienced to fill the spot so that they would have a greater chance of exerting their own power unopposed than they would if the spot was filled by a seasoned and cunning diplomat.[/SBLOCK]
[/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=Kn Religion DC 10]The shield necklace is Azwan's holy symbol plus the noble crest.
[SBLOCK=Kn Rel DC 25]Actually, you remember hearing about someone who might be this fellow. A young cleric of Azwan. Though a minor priest from an insignificant noble family, Andric Lenton seeks to serve his god by increasing the standard of living of the people of Fallon.[/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=Bardic Knowledge DC 15]As you were passing through Fallon, you heard stories about a new young Councilor of Fallon. Perhaps this is he? He is supposed to be a priest, and the holy symbol of Azwan he wears with his noble crest fits the bill.
[SBLOCK=BK DC 20]As you were passing through Fallon, you heard that Fallonese Council Member Mithreander was dead. After much heated discussion, the council appointed this young man, though he at first declined the spot, claiming that there must surely be someone more worthy of it than he, until they insisted. His name is Andric Lenton, a noble of an extremely insignificant house, but more importantly, a popular minor priest. Benevolent and humble, Andric sought to serve his god, Azwan, by increasing the standard of living of the people of Fallon. In the end, the Council decided that he would be a welcome addition because he has Fallon's best interests in mind. The more cynical Fallonese believe that the powerful and unscrupulous among the Council Members had a different reason--they wanted someone young and inexperienced to fill the spot so that they would have a greater chance of exerting their own power unopposed than they would if the spot was filled by a seasoned and cunning diplomat.[/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK]
*The spot for the Orussian delegate is where Rinaldo and the others are seated--apparently, Joe let the higher-ups know about the adventurers heading out and the Lord Mayor has enough faith in his city's finest heroes that he is willing to let them speak as his delegates, since he knows that can't technically be officially recognised here otherwise. Either that or he is lazy. Or perhaps both.*
*The delegate from Rivenblight is notably sitting as far as humanly (or in his case elvenly) possible from the delegate from Hendrallia. He is a sombre-looking elf with an emotionless expression. If he lets off any kind of feeling it all, it is a slight aura of 'Let us get this over with; even elder races get tired of waiting' from momentary bored gazes. The elf has only a single second in the seats behind, thus making the contingent from Silverwood the smallest (followed by Hendrallia and then Monemvassia).*
[SBLOCK=Knowledge Nobility and Royalty DC 15]This elven man seems to be a member of the High Elven nobility, though not a particularly famous one.
[SBLOCK=Kn N&R DC 18]Specifically, based on his attire and the symbols he wears, he holds the important titles of both Sage and Talekeeper (among many many other elven titles).
[SBLOCK=Kn N&R DC 20]He is a member of the elven noble House Thiliaerin, which roughly translates into Common as 'The Petal that Dances on the Wind at the Signs of the New Spring', which is just more proof that translating Elven to Common without sounding silly is difficult.
[SBLOCK=Kn N&R DC 23]Specifically, based on that information, this would have to be a man by the name of Aliaster Thiliaerin, though it would be proper to refer to him by one of his many lesser Elven titles if only you could remember any of them. Perhaps Sage or Talekeeper will do?
[SBLOCK=Kn N&R DC 30]By coincidence, thanks to your ungodly study of the nobility of every land, you actually remember some of the minutiae about Aliaster. Some of his specific titles include Gaelithilianos (literally '89th', indicating that he is 89th in the line of succession), Sithineriskratos (bane of the dark ones, perhaps indicating killing drow?), Blarianilith (possessor of the crimson eclipse, no idea on what that means!), and Liliaraicovarath (beloved of Liliarai)[/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=Bardic Knowledge DC 18]You recognise this elf's house, House Thiliaerin, by the symbol because it is the same as that of a famous elven bard who died a little over a century ago. Kelian Thiliaerin's works are still considered of crucial importance nearly universally by scholars of elven music both elf and non-elf alike. Kelian was also a collector of stories who possessed the important title of Talekeeper, a title he passed on to his nephew just before his demise.
[SBLOCK=DC 22]Actually, this must be that nephew, which would make him Aliaster Thiliaerin. Your knowledge for random trivia allows you to pull up the name Liliarai as Aliaster's beloved.[/SBLOCK][/SBLOCK]
*Finally, the Monemvassian delegate sits in front of a modest group of followers. In time past before his assassination, the delegate would have been the long-serving Court Wizard Antagra, but now, the man before them is none other than the new Court Wizard, Wimpell Frump (OOC: a figure so immediately recognisable to a goodly number of you that I figure I need post no SBLOCKs), looking much better-fed than under the volcano on his new diet of gourmet courtly cuisine, and holding a new bearing that is best described as oily and obsequious.*
