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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Deuce Traveler" data-source="post: 6519814" data-attributes="member: 34958">Your procession makes an impression even before it makes it to the red oak doors of the ambassador’s estate.  The greeter is lost for words momentarily until he finally recovers and blurts out your names to the rest of the revelers at the gala.  Citizens of the Realms stop their dancing, sipping of brandy, and mixing in order to stare just a bit longer.  To the band’s credit, the soft music of violins and brass instruments never missed a beat.  Zephia and Briony came into the hall first with their warrior outfits blending Realms weapons with Tsoylani style; the rogue with a look at the crowd daring someone to speak something crude while her taller companion could not resist a slight smirk playing upon her face as if enjoying a private joke.  The people of the Realms shrunk from them upon their entry, but near the railing of the second floor could be seen several armed and decorated warriors of the Tsoylani delegation perk up and take their measure with studied looks.  Angelina came in next, wearing her Realms ball gown designed to accentuate her femininity and walking gracefully and with slight, polite nods of recognition towards her fellow aristocrats.  Because of her rough and tumble adventuring ways, some had forgotten about her noble background and that she could play games for wealth and position in a wide array of ways that humbled the less diversely skilled.  The last two to enter were Bella and Elsbeth in their upper caste Tsoylani dress, the fighter with her back straight and dignified posture while the witch appeared alien and strange, and therefore even more mysterious than usual.  Bella noticed a long look by two elderly noble Tsoylani standing near Lord North, while Elsbeth was given uncomfortable stares by a robed Tsoylani in a bronze skull mask.The five relic hunters greeted people that they recognized as they skillfully navigated through the reception and weaved through the crowd towards the ambassador and his Tsoylani guests.  It is the ambassador that moves to intercept them, however, and although the middle-aged man is all smiles you can see from his eyes that he is furious.  ”Ah, Ms. Crawford!  So nice to see you and your crew.  Please, won’t you come and join me and some of your fellow danger seekers in my parlor?”  The ambassador guides the five of you through the crowd and into a side room with a large table partly surrounded by a half-circle couch.  Waiting there are three familiar gentlemen in the strikingly handsome military-like outfits of Realms aristocrats: Handsome Jack, his best friend Rolfe, and their elder mentor Sid.  The first two men nearly drop their jaws upon looking upon the women as they enter, but they quickly recover; Jack with a smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eye while Rolfe has an entirely wolfish grin and looks ready to say something that only he’ll find witty.  The third man looks critically at Bella, but old Sid had always been conflicted over his daughter’s decisions to follow his career and her choice of crew.Quick greetings of various temperatures were passed, and then Lord North motioned to join him at the table.  He sat at the center, while the two crews waited on either side.  The ambassador chose to chastise the women in the parlor before getting unto business.  ”I don’t know what in the hell you were thinking coming in that primitive get-up, but our goals here should be to show the natives that they would be better under the protection of our queen, not for our own people to go native on Realms territory…””Oh lighten up, man.  Who cares what the ladies are wearing?  Aren’t your hosts in the same clothes?  I mean, an outfits just an outfit... oomph!”  The impetuous Rolfe blurted out a rambling speech before being sharply nudged by Sid’s elbow.  Rolfe and Briony were both hot-headed and constantly seeking heads to smash, but pick on one and the other would angrily respond.  Despite the severe stress and tension between the two adventurers, they were also oddly the ones that would most quickly peacefully deescalate conflicts that grew too severe between the two teams.The ambassador turned towards Handsome Jack and said, ”Monsieur La Tulipe, your friends outburst has reminded me of a decision I have made as of this morning.  Since we lack better relations with the Empire of the Petal Throne, we have no need to support Tsoylanu in their current war.  Starting immediately, I am forbidding all trade ships from leaving port with the intent to return to the Realms to trade in metal ore or any other material that can be used to support the Petal Throne’s war effort.  That should stick it to the Emperor and his court until they finally give into our concessions.”  Jack and Sid give Rolfe a sharp look, not knowing whether or not this was in fact already decided or whether Rolfe’s outburst gave the sensitive ambassador a reason to enact a measure he had only been pondering.  The ambassador sighed and sat back, adding, ”Unfortunately, this lack of support means has given some in Tsoylanu worry that we might attempt trade with their enemies and because of this I am hard-pressed to show some support, else we might find ourselves kicked out of this part of Tekumel permanently.  So, I am allowing for a new proposal and opportunity.  Tsoylani representatives of the Emperor have found news of several relics of importance that might help their domestically or in their war.  Unfortunately for them, they find their resources spread thin and cannot send skilled warriors of their own to recover these relics.  My understanding is that they wish to hire relic hunters, and I have recommended your two parties as the most experienced and successful.  I have been led to believe that you will be given resources and be allowed more freedom of movement through the country than what you have been used to in the past.  I can say on behalf of our Queen, that any intelligence you can bring back on the deeper regions of Tekumel will be of value to us, and that our government can also reward you well.  When our meeting here is complete, each of your parties is to meet with part of the present delegation and talk over the particulars.”</blockquote>

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