House Vale - Rumors & Roleplay

[Tantive]

A sealed missive was delivered to House Vale in Baldurs Gate. The imprint on the seal was that of a chalice

[Tantive]

During the time of a Winter Ball, a host of baggages from a recent arrival by convoy, were brought to the Vale estate. One even so heavy as if a suit of armor was present within.

A young noble woman, in an attire (with the latest Waterdeep fashion) fresh from the Winter Ball of the Iron Throne was brought to the Vale mansion by Rose Wintertall, equally dressed in the thematics.

Inside the mansion she waited, until she was greeted by Lord Vale. It appears the woman is a Scion of Siamorphe known to Lord Vale, who's to stay as guest for an undetermined amount of time.

The days after the ball, the scion would be seen regularly at noon in the chapel of the mansion. Like clockwork.

[wangxiuming]

With the advent of a new year, the House once again gathered to discuss the news of the day, welcome back old friends, and make plans for the future.

[wangxiuming]

Osric receives from the renowned painter Adrian Baker the following commissioned painting, which he is said to be carefully considering where to display in his home.

Hope and Promises of Society

Through a masterwork of storytelling the nine feet wide five feet tall canvas comes alive with the pulse of history, depicting disparate fates to intertwine like the tendrils of destiny. Bathed in hues both vibrant and earthy, as if plucked from the very palette of nature herself the scenery depicted invites the beholder to descend into the verdant valleys and sun-kissed fields that sprawl across the lower reaches, where life teems in abundance. Here, amid rustic hamlets and bountiful farms, the heartbeat of existence resonates, as peasants and labourers toil with unwavering resolve, their spirits anchored to the soil from whence they came.

Ascending from this fertile earth, a tapestry unfurls, weaving a narrative of ascent that ignites the imagination. Witness along the leftward arc the humble beginnings of society's tapestry, where simplicity reigns supreme. Here dwell the salt of the earth, the farmers, cobblers, carpenters, teamsters, blacksmiths, drovers, and craftsmen whose calloused hands shape the very foundation upon which civilization stands.

Yet, with each brushstroke to the right, the canvas transforms, giving birth to towns and bustling marketplaces that pulsate with vitality. Cobblestone streets wind like ribbons of hope, coaxing with gentle caress to gaze into the heart of commerce where the merchants, landlords, performers, artists, fortune-seekers, and lesser nobility dance to the rhythm of prosperity.

At the zenith of this grand tableau, where the sun casts its golden embrace upon spires of grandeur, stand the cities, monuments, and castles of monarchs, dukes and baronesses, mayors, high priestesses, and pillars of society carried by deeds of grandeur and divine right passed down through generations. Here, amid opulent halls and manicured gardens, the elite dwell in splendour, their lives a symphony of luxury and privilege.

But beneath this veneer of majesty lies a truth woven into the very fabric of the painting - a truth of interdependence, of the symbiotic dance between the rungs of society. For in this masterwork of societal portraiture, each layer, each stroke of the brush, serves as a testament to the unity that binds all as one.

Even the humblest of saplings with tenuous beginnings in the hard-packed soil of a farmer's life grow high into the heavens. Their crowning canopies supporting the stone foundation anchoring the weight of marbled pillars upon which the golden terraces of high nobility eventually rest. And from there the rivers of opulence and excess flow ever downward, cresting the rooftops of bustling villages before scattering into golden droplets nurturing the lush meadows of a simpler life.

Thus the beholder is invited to gaze upon this masterpiece not merely as a painting, but as a testament to the resilience of the mortal spirit, to the ceaseless march of progress that transcends the boundaries of time itself. And in its vivid tableau, they might find not only beauty, but a reflection of a shared journey through the annals of history for all those seeking to make their mark upon the world, whether it be a tiny wave on the lake or a cacophonous shaking of the heavens.

-- Adrian Baker, 1360 DR

// Thank you Zhazz for the effort you put into this! Still struggling to find a representation of the art I'm happy with but this is the best I can do for now.

[wangxiuming]

Credit: AI Art?

For his extraordinary service and dedication to House Vale, let it henceforth be known that Morgan Rhywm has been elevated to the House Council as Master of the Arcane.

[wangxiuming]

Rumors of Lord Osric Vale's return to the coast are followed swiftly by the pronouncement that Aiden Vega has resumed the position of Quartermaster in Teris' absence. It's not long after that Dral Winterward returns to the Estate and is formally named to his old position of Master-At-Arms on the House Council as well.

Credit: Oleh Yolchiiev

[athornforyourheart]

[athornforyourheart]

A new order has been drafted and put public in the Vale Estate during this time. The order would be 14 Ches (not 13) but too tired to go and fix the graphic

[wangxiuming]

Osric throws up parchment onto the bulletin by the Elfsong Tavern:

House Vale is recruiting loyal retainers. In these troubling times, it is more important than ever that those who are able to stand resolute do so on behalf of those who are not. For those souls who wish to make a difference for the city of Baldur's Gate and its people, or if you are interested in investigating the recent spate of calamities, consider joining the ranks of House Vale.

House Vale is seeking to fill the following positions:

• Man-At-Arms: A Man-At-Arms serves as the House's last line of defense and holds authority over the House Guard. Shielded warriors are preferred, but any whose focus is defense will be considered. A Man-At-Arms can eventually ascend to the rank of Master of the Guard. Note that the position is not restricted solely to men.

• Knight-Errant: Knights-Errant act as the adventuring arm of the House and travel the roads to and from Baldur's Gate to keep the House apprised on matters outside the city. In this time of chaos across the coast, it is more important than ever that our eyes and ears stretch to distant places to broaden and coordinate intelligence with allied organizations. Knights-Errant can eventually be elevated to the position of Master of the Watch.

• House Magus: Magi of many stripes are invited to lend their expertise to House Vale. In return, House Vale offers shelter and protection from those who would do spellweavers harm. Pact mages must present evidence of their documented pact papers and be willing and able to describe the terms of their pact in detail. House Magi can eventually be promoted to Masters of the Arcane.

• Seeker: Although the Lord of the House is dedicated to Siamorphe, House Vale welcomes faithful of those good-aligned deities whose goals are compatible with the teachings of the Divine Right. Seekers serve as representatives of their faith within the House and can eventually be elevated to the position of Master of the Faith.

The above positions are not the only ones that need be filled. The House is also looking for those with talents in reconnaissance, oratory, diplomacy, the arts, administration, or other skills, consider House Vale for patronage. Criminals, faithful to malevolent deities and those already affiliated with other organizations need not apply. Leave word at the Vale Estate to setup an interview if interested. (//PM me or message me on Discord (ID: wangxiuming) )

[wangxiuming]

Lord Osric Vale,

The Council of Four has consulted about your earnest request. By decision of this mornings session, for your numerous deeds and continued allegiance to Baldurs Gate, you are trusted with the task of fortifying Ulgoths Beard.

However, the Council has received several reports of an ongoing, tainting malice in Ulgoths Beard, which corrupts the hearts and souls of even the most devout servants of light and justice.

Further, you are given permission to personally enter the ruins of Ulgoths Beard, as well as your escort. The Flaming Fist has already been notified and will allow you passage.

In the name of the Council of Four,

Quincy

After Osric of House Vale reads the missive sealed with the insignia of the Duchal Palace, he closes his eyes for a long moment. "By Siamorphe's grace, may we live up to the trust Their Graces have placed in us."

From there, Osric's office is a flurry of activity as missive after missive is dispatched with terrifying speed. Instructions to House Vale's quarry direct large quantities of durable stone near Ulgoth's Beard, shipments having already been arranged at the behest of the Quartermaster, Aiden Vega. At the recommendation of Dral Winterward, House Vale's Master of the Guard, Osric writes to Kraak Helzak. Missives are sent to the mine to which House Vale intends to exercise its rights to purchase 10% of the mine's yield. Letters are dispatched to dwarven engineers offering fair pay for contracts. Additional correspondence flies out from the estate at the recommendation of House Vale's Master of the Arcane, Morgan Rhywm. House Vale intends to secure a litany of wards for what is to be a magnanimous venture.

Those who pay attention to such things might soon realize House Vale's next great venture: a castle built near Ulgoth's Beard, to aid in its cleansing, eventual reconstruction, and defense.

[athornforyourheart]

A letter is publicly delivered to House Vale from Ser Aiden Vega

[toolongusername]

House Vale’s short man-at-arms has been spotted from time to time leaving the Vale Estate. His favored swords are conspicuously absent; he travels unarmed, and the holy runes once etched into his silver shield have faded—as if his faith had abandoned him. Though no marks of battle on his face, defeat is written plainly in his expression. He walks with the aid of a stick, slow and unsteady as he makes his way through the city. It’s not just his gait that has changed, but his path. His market stall—once bright, cheerful, full of wonder—now sits empty, collecting dust in the Wide. He no longer takes the familiar route to the Sunite gardens, where he once gathered fruit and flowers to lay at the Gondite cemetery. He no longer visits the Temple of Torm, nor pauses at the Marshall estate in hopes of seeing the lord pass by. Where he once sought counsel in the Church of Tyr and the Abbot's wisdom, he now passes the temple without so much as a glance. Instead, he wanders, aimlessly at times, pausing at the shrine of Lathander. He walks in sunlight, avoiding shadows as though they might consume him. When greeted, he only nods faintly before continuing on, drifting through a life that has grown strangely...Mundane.

Hidden: show

///OOC note: While Alan wrestles with his faith, he’ll remain off-screen—and I’d prefer to keep it that way. That said, I'll comply if anyone needs to speak with him for story/plot reasons. He can be found at The Vale estate when he's off-duty from his guard posts.

[Kiran]

A courier wearing Mystran regalia would arrive on a fine horse carrying a letter which would be handed over to one of the house guards outside the Vale Estate.

The letter itself would have a Mystran seal on it. Once delivered, the courier would depart in somewhat haste, perhaps off to deliver another parcel somewhere else.

[wangxiuming]

In the quiet of a late hour at the Vale Estate, the lord of the manor spends a rare candlemark in the arcane laboratory. Although Osric generally preferred to leave arcane matters to Morgan, the gravity of the task he had undertaken for Their Graces demanded his personal attention. The demonic corruption that had a stranglehold upon Ulgoth's Beard refused to be purged; whatever he could do to help, he should.

He could not remember the last time he had spent more than a few minutes here; unfamiliar magical supplies and reagents lined the shelves and an assortment of tomes he had never seen before splayed themselves toward the ceiling, inviting the curious onlooker to peruse the pages. The lord caught himself - snooping through his Master of the Arcane's works was not his purpose here.

Inhaling a deep breath and expelling it between his lips, the lord positioned himself in front of the scrying mirror; it was not to be a scrying he would perform today, but something else entirely - a calling. He would make the mirror a door - a Gate from which a celestial ally could come forth. What could be more appropriate to deal with an extraplanar corruption upon the Prime? Why, an extraplanar advisor, of course!

He spoke Seelie magic into the air:

I seek a friend beyond the door;
A lock divides us, a mundane bore.
I play a Trick upon the Gate;
A spoken Key for turning fate.
I offer my service, I'll pay the price;
An angel's knowledge, a roll of dice.
I invite Them here upon the Prime;
"Lend me aid, one more time."

... and as the portal opened, he waited to see if a Solar would answer his Call.

[wangxiuming]

Rumors from the Wide spread that after a heartfelt conversation, Lord Vale released his former Quartermaster, Teris Ynarno, from any and all obligations to the House. The lord is quick to quiet gossip that the parting was anything but amicable; with both their circumstances changed and their lives being brought in different directions, the decision seemed to be one of practicality. Nevertheless, word from the House Vale manor is that the genasi druid will always have a guest room made available in the estate when he visits the city.