Fleurs Nobles: De La Quinne

The De La Quinne family is a formidable player in the social landscape of Vertange. 
As one of the Fleurs Nobles, they command vast resources and have their schemes tangled through a lot of what high society has to offer, from balls to the court of the Emperor himself.

Due to the power that inherently comes with this, the family sees division within its own ranks while presenting a united front to the outside. In order to prevent the internal division sowing discord within their ranks, the family has chosen four areas on which to focus and assigned family Elders to each task, with a Regent, an Enforcer and an Heir for each branch. Should something happen to the Elder, the Regent can take over until the Heir can realise their potential. The Enforcer steps in when disputes within the family branch happen.

For the Court of Shadows, those who serve as the hands and eyes for the Night Queen, this Elder is Rosa. Wise and cunning, this schemestress has held on to her position for over thirty years, elevated from the status of Heir at the young age of 35. 
As Regent, she has chosen Sofia, the current High Priestess of the Night Queen. Her Enforcer is not of the blood, but married into it: Isidora Sevresa, who in turn is the mother of Jean-Jacomo, the Heir of Shadows.

For the Court of Coins, the ones who focus on dominating trade and the public relations for the family, the Elder is Julia. Julia has an innate sense for the good in people and the ways in which she can bend that to the advantage of the De La Quinne. 
As Regent, she has Damiano, the master of the Docks. Cosimo, a retired battlefield captain with a soft spot for cats, serves as the Enforcer. The Heir of Coins is Casimina, a talented tradeslady just past her temps du Gallina.

The Court of Crimson is where the military power of the family is concentrated. Led by Silvio, a dashing silver fox with an immaculately kept moustache, the Court of Crimson is known to be active in many dueling competitions and exhibitions, though they cannot match the sheer skill of the Benotti. 
The Regent of the Crimson is Viviane, a markswoman who can spell out her name in arrows at a range of 100 meters. The Enforcer is Giada, wielder of the Trident of the Third Wave, a legendary weapon said to have belonged to an ancient pirate lord. The Crimson Heir is Ilana, winner of the last two Grand Melees.

The Court of Masks has been extremely closely aligned with the Court of Shadows under the rule of Elder Beatricé. An intelligent lady who knows well the tides of preference within society, Beatricé has aligned with Rosa after a vision of the Night Queen promised her great power.
The Regent, Alessia, is not fully in agreement with the arrangements made by Beatricé but she is willing to wait for an accident to happen to the Elder before making a move against the Shadows.
Enforcer Martino is a dour man, but his permanent scowl is usually seen as a sign he is deep in thought rather than just bitter. Stella, the Heir, has recently seen her fiftieth summer, making her the youngest of Heirs, but she has spent much of her childhood observing how the Fleurs interact and begins to form her own opinions as to how she will run the Masks once she comes into power.  

 

The Fifth Eclipse - Session 19: Post-wedding haze

Party: Claudia De La Quinne, Vholanthus Sumquaes, Daisy Dandeigh Deveraux, The Captain

As the party winds down, our heroes seem to be among the last ones standing.
Jim and Adele have departed to enjoy their matrimonial state and with them most of the other guests have vanished, while Wenceslas also seems to have taken his newest elven friend off on an adventure. A few younger nobles, a pair of the waiting staff and a very intoxicated goblin close the "venue" as the group discusses the events of last night. The final conclusion is that people seem to want Daisy dead, based on notes found on assassins and the direct attacks made upon her person while the other elves were also present.

Walking back to their manor, a general feeling of "we need a plan" forms. 
Daisy wishes to investigate Julia De La Quinne, partially because the lady has been footing her bills, but also because there is a potential point of entry for Claudia to return to high society if the rivalry within the De La Quinne sub-families holds true to its roots.

Claudia wants to scout out her half-brother, Jean-Jacomo. Not having seen him for the longest time, it may be that he holds the key to removing the trouble that has been strewn on path by Nonna Rosa.
Vholanthus wishes to return to the library and discover more about both the druidic order and the Silver Arm of Nechtan he carries with him.
The Captain, not wanting to be embroiled in the schemes of nobles (or to spend ages looking through books), instead wishes to go into the city and assist with the recovery of potential clues at the site of the Opera House Fire. 

As the Captain heads to the exit to do just that, he notices two letters of importance and a bunch of congratulational missives on 'a party well hosted' in the letterbox. He brings in the important letters to be read. One addressed to himself by Richard Talbert L'Equichant, one from Paul Jones Junior for the party.
Richard's letter informs the Captain that the Baron may have found the shapeshifter. He urges the Captain to meet him.
The letter from Paul Jones Jr. is a more flowery affaire, giving accolades to the party for their hard work and requesting their assistance in securing a foothold in Vertange for his Four Roses Consortium. 
After these are read, the Captain heads for the former Opera House and coordinates the salvage, falling back into a position of leadership with the practiced ease of a veteran. As the day progresses more and more of the foremen come to see him for instructions and a gaggle of onlookers is roped into the service simply by the efficiency on display.

Vholanthus researches the Silver Arm of Nechtan, noting vivid runes pushing through it at irregular intervals. The arm is anatomically correct in so far as Vhol can make out and extremely old. Further investigation in the library (comparing it to transcriptions of runes that have not been smithed for ages) show the appearing runes to be lesser copies of the ones cast by the Runelords of old.
Even within the memory of the elven folk, the Runelords are little more than legend, though the upstart Byrric had managed to gather some of their works during his short rise to power. As far as the notes in the library can guide Vholanthus, it seems that the arm is a corruptive agent when used too often, but a magical focus that may cause benefits to the wielder if used sparingly.
Walking past the shelves to do his research, Vholanthus does note that there are a number of books missing from the lower levels, an unlikely thing, as few would check these books out. When queries are brought to the clerks on duty, they say that the Sumquaes family sometimes checks books out for private use. Whom these went to, they do not know.

Daisy, having a moment to care for what she has, rigs up a rotating system of servants to keep the recently captured eggs warm. Her knowledge of the wild places them at mature enough to hatch in fortnight if they are cared for properly.
With her aim to visit Dame Julia, she is delighted to note that the noblewoman has issued an invitation for high tea on the day or the morrow, whichever would be more convenient for the young ward of her house. 
After all, an eligible bachelorette in the hands of the De La Quinne, she should be offered all chances to meet potential suitors. 
One such, a youth by the name of Jean-Jacomo De La Quinne would be an ideal match ~ one Julia would be most happy to introduce to the Marquisette in Exile. He is of noble blood and the son of the widow Isodora, and in blood connected to Dame Rosa De La Quinne, a powerful head of the family in her own right.     

Claudia, recovering from the past day's events and a bout of fatigue that came with them, hears a voice that promises her redemption if she would cast aside the Usurper's creed and rejoins the Family, like a good child should. After all, there is no bond so broken that it cannot be mended by blood and submission.
As a token of the power that blood can hold, the Night Queen lays a Gaes over the bond Claudia shares with Scorchwyn. When it takes hold, the world is a little colder to the halfling and the connection with Scorchwyn a little more distant than before.

The Fifth Eclipse - Session 18: Fireside Wedding

Party: Wenceslas, Claudia De La Quinne, Vholanthus Sumquaes, Daisy Dandeigh Deveraux, The Captain

Upon being confronted by the Captain and Vholanthus, the imposter Umbregon signals his men, causing widespread chaos in the opera. Massive animated statues break from the stage columns and strike at the rest of the group that remained near the bridal couple on stage. Flocks of ravenous bats descend on the fleeing guests while bladed assassins cut their way to their leader and crossbowmen angle their weapons at ... Daisy?
In an attempt to balance the numbers of foes the party is facing, Vholanthus transforms into a horse-sized sphinx, allowing the Captain to ride him into battle while Wenceslas brings forth a powerful chain lightning that shocks the momentum from the villains but also causes the massive chandelier to crash into the area ~causing a fire to break out. All non-combatants try to reach the exit as things turn chaotic and several known faces begin engaging the animals to prevent them from further riling up the panic-stricken guests. 
Strong blade to blade and claw clashes happen all over, not least between the Captain, the Sphinx and the Imposter. 
As a statue reaches the stage and heads for the bride, Jim interposes but gets flung off the stage, injured and bruised, landing at the feet of one of the assassins. The dastardly duelist does not even consider not slaying the dwarf and pins him to the ground by impaling Jim with his sword through the shoulder.
Claudia engages the statues in close combat as Daisy keeps drawing crossbow fire while saving the bride (who, at the sight of her Jim being yeeted into the viewing area, drew a knife and ineffectively scratched at the attacking thing). As Claudia reduces a statue to rubble and begins battering down the second, the fire suddenly accelerates. 
Seeing this renewed threat, the Captain and Vholanthus redouble their efforts and take out the fake Umbregon, casting his body (twisted and broken) to the other side of the room. As it skids to a halt at the feet of the assassin who is toying with Jim, the assassin takes his eyes off of Jim for a moment to heal his leader. As a surge of power rushes through the body, it rises again and plunges into the fleeing mass to escape.
This moment of inattention does leave the attacker open to Wenceslas and the others to not only free Jim, but coordinate an escape. 
The blaze, intense, begins to superheat the structure and cracks appear in the walls and pillars. Vholanthus ferries people out through shattered windows, while the others book it to the outside, including Wenceslas taking his partner in hallucinogens with him in a burst of magic. After all, Heremine had been one of those fighting so the others could make a safe retreat and it seemed ill form to not help her away.       
Dropping off the bride and groom, Vholanthus gives chase and spies the imposter outside. Landing, he confronts... Iulius Sumquaes? The stern-faced judge gets a scolding from Vholanthus, and a warning that they will talk about this at length once the day's activities are done. As Vholanthus lets the man walk, he notices that a clay mask falls to the ground and the individual changes shapes again while disappearing into a side alley. 

After all of the party make it out, the building collapses due to structural failure. Clouds of hot ash blast through the streets and the wedding guests seek safety in the nearby canals and fountained areas. Eventually, the mass of folks, excited by still being alive and buoyed by the adrenaline that follows dire events, finds each other again at an Ile Enchantée (the Parterre d'Eau) where a druid, a seraph and a former army officer perform the rites of marriage for the couple. Wenceslas grasps the cold iron fencing with his cindered grasp to reshape them into hearts for the pair.
It may not have been the day Jim and Adéle had wanted, but it is an event that shows the resilience of their alliance and the enduring bond they wish to establish for the future. It will be talked about by all the attending guests, though some casualties will be mourned, those just leave more space for social growth...  

The Fifth Eclipse - Session 17: Cake or death

Party: Wenceslas, Claudia De La Quinne, Vholanthus Sumquaes, Daisy Dandeigh Deveraux, The Captain

Returning from the fight, the heroes are accosted by Lady Deonne De La Quinn, who seems to have her matchmaker sights set on the nobles of the group (clearly meaning Daisy and the Captain, scoffing at Wenceslas and Vholanthus while offending Claudia). Those that are not needed in the conversation wisely choose to not be there while Deonne sizes up the eligible two.

Claudia notes one of the bars is currently being staffed by a disaster waiting to goblin (or Doxie, for her friend) and gets help to restore order, while getting her friend back into the mix to gather more information. A quick check with the goblin stops Claudia in her tracks, as Doxie explains she's seen some people poisoning the wedding cake.

Wenceslas takes Heremine backstage so she cannot get into more trouble and helps the elf girl sober up again, while Paul Jones Jr. corners Vholanthus and tries to talk business with him. The older elf leaves the human a little baffled, but Paul does pass his business card for the scion of the Sumquaes to remember him by.

Claudia gathers the group after learning of the assassins in the building and they intercept the assassins before they can make it to the stage, the Captain taking one of the men hostage while the others die in an avalanche of poisoned cake, as the multi-tiered monstrosity gets toppled down towards the kitchens.

The Captain and Vholanthus head into the crowd in front of the stage as they spot a suspicious individual. The leader of the Varangian guard, Beozrik Umbregon, behaves in an unusual way and threatens the pair and the stand-off seems to escalate to violence...

The Fifth Eclipse: Session 16 - Wedding Bird

Party: Wenceslas, Claudia De La Quinne, Vholanthus Sumquaes, Daisy Dandeigh Deveraux, The Captain

We rejoin the group at the wedding in the Grand Opera of Vertange.
Wenceslas, still bruised from the stag, has updated his feral looks to be more suited for the event (to a degree).
He is approached by the young-looking Heremine Durée, with whom he has shared a few moment at the bal masqué after the stag. The elves grin at each other and swap hallucinogenic entertainment. Wenceslas feels it take hold but remains in control of his senses... mostly. Heremine on the other hand, fully loses herself in a dusting of mushroom powder, giggling and darting from person to person as she skips away from Wenceslas.

Claudia, meanwhile, is present in disguise as 'Dia', an old Perlisian friend of Daisy. While talking to each other, the pair is approached by Deonne De La Quinne, a stern-faced woman with a beaked nose that talks down to the halfling while buttering Daisy up for a potential marriage.

The Captain spies an old acquaintance, Richard Talbert L'Equichant. His heart sinks as the father of his deceased ward approaches, but the storm the Captain was preparing for turns out to be a broken dam, as the man pours out his sorrow and beseeches the old warrior to avenge his daughter or at least to turn the efforts to finding the one who slew her. The Captain, taken aback, promises to not let Richard down.

Daisy and Claudia race around to get Jim to his wonderful (be it slightly frantic) wife while Vholanthus argues with Deonne (until her guards decide it is enough and toss him bodily away from their mistress).
The group then gets back together and find wedding presents laid out for them, mostly practical things and bits of useful kit.
While going through the rewards for their hard work, they see Heremine dash outside and get scooped up by a massive albatross. The creature, riddled with lightning, flies the lady elf off onto a nearby tower, seeming to make ready to nest there. With the bride demanding her niece be returned to her, the party dashes to the rescue and a rooftop brawl breaks out, in which the Captain strikes the felling blow against the creature. 
Heremine is recovered, and while she suffers a bit from her bad trip, she seems to be alright. 
Vholanthus grabs the albatross's eggs, in the hopes of raising at least one that may serve the party instead of attacking them. 

Group 3: A stroll in Vertange

Party: Puck, Sunna Zenobia, Enchantelle Devin, Sage, Carter

We find our heroes as they approach Conto Abbeva di Porta Valletta at the Abbeverato, a place when lower classes and the Fleurs Nobles sometimes intermingle.
They are confronted by a group of eager galetto, noble youth seeking to make a name for themselves. As the youths push for payment, Sunna takes offense at their behaviour and a brawl breaks out. The party stands tall at the end of the fight, with both Enchantelle and Sage causing the death of an opponent.
Disheartened by the loss of their allies, the remaining two noble youngsters seek to run away, with Puck and Sunna eliminating the slowest one. The party then meets with their contact, a man introducing himself as Don Inconnue (but known to Enchantelle as Louix de Pleurs de Nicheries).
Louix explains he is to testify in court and that he worries for his safety as there are many parties interested in him not standing as a witness. The party, once convinced that coin will be provided (half up front and half upon delivering Louix to the Court of the Lady of Scales at noon), set out to safeguard their new patron. Puck knows of a place, the Rusted Cartwheel, where they can stash the noble until the next day. In the background, the maids take care of the noble corpses, though the party does take some clothes from them in order to fashion a disguise. Heading out into the streets, the group spots the remaining noble returning with a contingent of the city guard, so they decide to hop into an ox-cart and hide. Sadly enough, as the group (with mixed success) jumps into the cart, the extra weight proves too much for the axles - which snap. A horrible chaos ensues, with oxen stampeding and other animals panicking all over the street. At least one building gets demolished as the group makes their getaway.
Arriving at the Rusted Cartwheel, the party (in mild disrepair) retires to whatever hole in the wall passes for a room here, in full privacy and anonymity, preparing themselves for what is sure to be an interesting day on the morrow.

Somewhere late in the evening, Carter makes his way down to the Rusted Cartwheel as he finally makes his big escape from his family's estate. He greets Sunna and Enchantelle who have the common room to themselves at the late hour, with Sunna mending Enchantelle's dress for the next day's events, so they catch Carter up to the events of the day and insinuate the reward may well help him along to his financial independence away from home. Warming to the idea of having money to buy things, Carter decides to stick around and offer his services.
With the morning rolling around, the early birds head off to the bathhouse, where they meet Gaultier Sans-Culottes, halfling wonder of the world and eater of pocket bacon. They make polite conversation but leave quickly after bathing, so they notice the ambush that was set outside of the Rusted Cartwheel and Enchantelle uses her magic to GREAT effect in order to lay low many of the assailants, while both Carter and Sunna eliminate their fair share of the issue.
Having little heart for the day's toils, both Puck and Sage offer to stay behind and guard the valuables, while the others escort Louix to court. Before it comes to that, Cassian provides the (newly bloodstained) trio with new clothes.
The group rides an ox-cart to the gates of the Jardin, where they leave off and continue on in a quick step.

With enough time to spare, the party delivers Louix to the Court and the man goes in to have a hearing. As the ornate door closes, the group hears a beam fall into place and suspects something to have gone wrong. Using skills perfected in many an evening's work, the group manages to undo the blockade and hears it fall while Louix whimpers against the other side of the door.
A gaggle of assassins is attempting to do more harm to the nobleman, but as Carter transforms into a staff-wielding whirling dervish, Sunna brandishes her weapons and Enchantelle literally dive-bombs the opposition, they stand little chance. A brief appearance by Gaultier (who recognizes the party from earlier) sees some wounds mitigated as sticky poultices get thrown to ease the pain.
The final stroke falls and so does silence. Louix, injured with a broken leg due to a falling beam, is still incredibly grateful for the life-saving work the party has done for him, leaving him to make good on his promise of wealth for the assisting heroes.

Whatever secret the assassins wanted to keep secret is now known to the higher echelons of the Fleurs Nobles and the victorious party can rest with the knowledge that no good deed ever goes punished...

The Fifth Eclipse: Session 15 - Stags and apples

Party: Wenceslas, Vholanthus Sumquaes, The Captain, Robrigo Sombri, Rusko Rohtzhane
(And eventually, Daisy and Claudia make an appearance too)

As the group follows the stag through the forest, Jim expresses his worries about the party's safety. The Captain and Wenceslas reassure him all will be good, pointing to the resounding success in defeating the ambushing bandits.
With Vholanthus in the lead, the stag gets cornered on a cliff that highlights Vertange in the distance among golden fields of grain. As the group approaches it, a loud squack and a massive parrot spell trouble for Wenceslas, who (together with the others) defeats the avian menace and discovers an embedded runestone.
With the knowledge gained in recent adventures, he recognizes the rune as one of 'Growth'.

The bachelor gets to shoot the cornered stag, which sets off a forest guardian to strike out at the party for spilling blood on his 'sacred ground'. As he does so, a massive bone lion emerges and triggers a quake that collapses the ground underneath most of the group, so the creature can focus solely on combat with the wild-shaped druid Vholanthus.
The rest of the group falls through the broken crust of the hill, revealing a ruined complex starting with an almost caldera-like paved structure containing various dryadic individuals composed of all sorts of rotting or poisonous plants that seem quite bent on striking mortal blows and. The forest guardian lays into the party and draws blood from many of the heroes, before their concerted efforts eliminate it.

The lodestone compass Wenceslas carries with him points down and with a certainty that was not there before, he realizes that the Elfhame of Mag Meli lies underneath the ruins that he stands on, a revelation and accompanying clarity of mind also connects him to the very essence of the corrupted growth that seems to have brought it to the brink of ruin.

Finishing the stag hunt by collecting the head of the stag, the men head to meet up with the ladies.
As Wenceslas has arranged for 'reliably fake bandits', the groups meet up when these attempt to 'kidnap' Abdelaide.
The bandits are run off by Jim before a ball masqué closes out the evening, with people putting keys in a bowl in order to discover whom they will be spending the evening with, all the while trying to guess whom they will get paired with and making subtle hints as to what their key looks like to those they seem to be drawn to...