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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Desdichado" data-source="post: 4058931" data-attributes="member: 2205">Sven was particularly interested in following the butler.  "Finally; someone of my own social standing to mingle with!" and he followed so quickly as to almost leave the rest of the group behind.  The little group of unlikely heroes filed into the cabin after Sven.  Prince Darlanian was lying on his divan, looking somewhat pale and faint and sipping brandy.  When the heroes walked in, he raised himself up on one arm."My good fellows! (and lady!)  I must thank you for your intervention.  Although I was traveling incognito, I am none other than Prince Darlanian, brother to King Netalathian, Lord of Jekara."  He said his brother's name with a poorly repressed sneer of contempt.  "I was traveling on state business at my brother's request and without my usual guard, so your intervention is most welcome.""My lord," says Sven suavely, "I am most happy to serve you.  I, too, am a nobleman, as you can plainly see, from the kingdom of Iclezza.  In fact, I believe your brother has married to a dear friend of my sister, your Queen Solestris.  The rabble here is also pleased to help, as is their duty."Teren'Kol decided that perhaps showing the Prince the head of the rat-thing was a good idea at this point.  Fairlight escorted him out, telling him that perhaps that was a task better suited for being done on deck.  Caden swiped one of Sven's potions and attempted to plant it on the Prince, perhaps in an effort to sabotage their high-brow conversation and get out of an uncomfortable situation.  Although he wasn't spotted taking the potion, the Prince caught him trying to put the potion into his own belt."My good fellow!  What are you doing?"Caden stared at the Prince blankly, a potion in his hand, the Prince's belt in his other until the butler led him away as well.  By that point, Fairlight rejoined the Prince and the paupered nobleman from Iclezza, leaving Teren'Kol to his taxidermy and Caden to his… whatever he did with that free time."I'd very much like to invite you to the palace once we reach Jekara," the Prince says.  "I like you.  You're also outsiders, which means you haven't been corrupted by any power source in the city yet.  Allow me the honor of making you the first offer: no doubt there are some things I can find for you to do that will prove profitable and exciting, as well as further the interests of the Jekaran state abroad."If you come with me to the palace, my fool of a brother will no doubt want to congratulate you in person for saving my royal blood from being spilt by those filthy pirates."Sven and Fairlight assured the Prince that they would be more than happy to accompany him to the palace.  He tells them that he's made special arrangements with the captain to dock at the Royal docks where a carriage will await them.  Sven's horse can be taken separately to the palace by the butler.When they conclude their audience with the prince, the squall has completely ended and the Gilded Albatross is sailing on a gentle breeze under sunny skies into the Jekara Bay.The city of Jekara itself is a wonder of architectural engineering.  It's located in a bay at the mouth of a river, and it is built almost entirely on large rocky islands that jut out from the river's mouth into the bay (I actually showed the players my poster map of Five Fingers, told them to ignore a few names, but that otherwise this was pretty much it) connected by bridges and build up to several stories in rickety wooden buildings from timbers harvested from the dry, juniper forests to the south.  At all times no fewer than several dozen ships and boats were in sight; large naval craft, traders that cross the Mezzovian, local fisherfolk, and ferries and barges that cross the channels between the islands and the mainland.The Albatross pulled up to a large, steady dock, and true to his word, a large black carriage waits for them there.  They all board the fine vehicle, which seats all six of them comfortably, and head off through the clacking, cobblestone streets for the palace.It doesn't take long for Jek and Caden to hear a suspicious clip-clop, clip-clop behind them.  They turn to see four riders, cloaked and hooded, pacing the carriage."Oi!" calls Caden to the driver.  "What's this then?"  Then the prince notices that they're not even headed for the palace anymore...</blockquote>

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