Legend of Ransera

The tick of the grandfather clock was the only sound that filled her ears. She read through the letter once. She read through the letter again. It was detailed and as informative as it needed to be in her estimate. Though she certainly would not have sent it through simple courier services. Nevertheless, because its content had far reaching implications in the political and geographic spectrum of how things operated in the Northlands, the task of seeing it implemented had fallen to her. So there she sat, in her office, with a crystal clear glass of ice cold water on her desk and her papers in such a pristine order as to make entrenched bureaucrats jealous.

“Ma’am?” The words followed soft knocking on the doors to her office. She glanced up to see her secretary. A sharply dressed woman with equally sharp eyes and attention to detail, she had chosen her over a slew of other candidates when she’d taken over the office. The slight quirking of a brow was her only greeting.

“Commander Dornkirk, to see you, ma’am.” She nodded. With that, her secretary stepped into the hall to usher the commander into her office.

Astrid Kelgarde was widely regarded to be a dangerous woman. She was an enigma amongst her peers, those being the other members of Zaichaer’s elite circle of high ministers. As a diplomat and politician, she was with few equals. It was due largely to her ability that many of Kalzasi’s concessions to acquiesce to Zaichaer’s requests had been achieved, no matter how bitter those concessions had been. In certain circles, there were some who believed that she had the potential to be the next Grand Marshal. Those circles were often silenced quickly and under mysterious circumstances that never could quite be traced to her.

Astrid picked up a second report, this one penned in part by the very young man who was about to enter her office. It was not entirely by him, but it had involved him nevertheless. She opened the file and began reading through the contents for what felt like the one-hundredth time.

---

Ingrid offered a crisp salute to the Air Commander who, by rank, outranked her. She was a sharply dressed brown haired woman in a grey skirt, humble medals decorating her chest, and a tight bun that kept her hair out of her face. Over her left shoulder was a decorative aiguillette in green and white colors marking her as the aide to the First Minister.

“The First Minister will see you.” Ingrid turned on her heel and began walking forward. She stepped up to the door and promptly knocked three times before opening it and ushering the Air Commander inside.

The interior of the Office of the First Minister was decorated with a stunning amount of military accolades and foreign service awards. Behind an elegant writing desk sat the First Minister of Zaichaer. She was quietly reading through some papers as Ingrid led the Air Commander inside. Once Ingrid was exactly three paces away from the First Minister’s desk, she rendered another crisp salute.

“Air Commander Brenner Dornkirk of the Air Defence Corps, First Minister.” Astrid looked up, setting the report in her hands down. She gave a nod of dismissal to Ingrid who promptly departed the office, closing the door softly behind her. Astrid observed the young man in front of her impassively for a moment.

“At ease, Commander. Please be seated.”

He was the picture of a Zaichaeri Officer in their prime. A lean but strong build. The handsome face of a proud military man who served his country with distinction. He walked with the crisp movements of someone that was utterly devoted to the facade of perfection but Astrid could see the glint in his eyes. She knew that look. She knew it because she had worn it herself many times. The First Minister of Zaichaer sat with a straight back, her head held high and her eyes trained on the man in front of her. She steepled her fingers, studying him sharply for a moment before breaking the silence that stretched between them.

“You offer an interesting predicament, Commander Dornkirk.” Astrid’s voice held the tone of someone posing nothing more than casual conversation.

“On the one hand, General Overmann is curious as to how the second son of House Dornkirk has managed to so advantagenously position himself. Executive Officer of one of the foremost dreadnoughts that our Air Defence Force has to offer? Appointed as the personal escort and ambassador to the Crown Prince of Kalzasi, with the recommendation of the Grand Marshal’s mother no less?” Astrid eyed the young man intently.

“You have access to some of the most advanced schematics of our fleet, your brother provides prototypal machinery for your personal use, your family has had an astronomical rise to affluence and influence. Even High Admiral Overmann has heard of you. Supreme Scholar Henkley has certainly reviewed the material submitted by your brother to the Bureau.” The First Minister quirked her head letting out a breath.

“High Sentinel Hardvyck believes that you need to be thoroughly examined following such close proximity to a figure such as Talon Novalys.” Folding her hands together the First Minister picked up the letter that Brenner had penned. She held it up and glanced over the words that she had read several times already.

“However, the question you pose currently has the most impact with regard to our political affiliations. So, you fall to me.” Astrid has thought long and hard about the justification for ensuring that this matter had fallen into her hands. It had taken several favors and some convincing but she had managed to pull it off, though not without raising some eyebrows. She let that hang in the air for a moment, knowing that Brenner Dornkirk would need a breath or two to process the information being laid out before him.

“This proposal you have made, what is the length of time you expect to be able to retrieve this creature?”

Astrid considered everything that Brenner was placing before her. She thumbed the letter that had been presented before the inner circle of the Grand Marshal’s advisers.

“The door you are opening with this, Commander…” She eyed Brenner from head to toe, it was the assessment of an individual who was considering whether or not to deem another a threat or not. “...if you go through with it, it is not one that can be easily closed.”

More than that, Astrid would not say. She knew of the Dornkirks. They were an ambitious lot. The patriarch was one of a handful of rags to riches stories that she could think of off the top of her head. She was loosely familiar with some of the information available about the Lady of the Manor as well. Stefan Dornkirk had certainly caught the attention of those in the scholarly community. As for Brenner?

“Be certain of your needs for this mission, Commander.” Astrid retrieved one of the documents that had been prepared prior to this meeting. It contained within it the authority to charter an expedition into the Warrens. She picked up her pen, placed it on the paper, poised and ready to sign. Astrid gave Brenner one last look before signing the document and adding her seal to the papers. She rolled them up and placed them into a case then extended it to Brenner.

“Present this to the office of the Chief Quartermaster of the Riverland Corps. You will be outfitted with supplies. Keep your provisions purposed only to what is absolutely necessary for the expedition. You have until the end of the Ash season. Keep the group small but skilled.” She relinquished the document to Brenner but kept her gaze upon the man firm and steady.

“You will receive no written correspondence. You will receive no aide once you enter the Warrens. If you and your mission are discovered, Zaichaer will declare you a renegade. You and your family will be disavowed. We cannot currently risk open warfare.” She swallowed as she went over the information from the various reports that had been funneled to her both through official channels and personal ones. “Not until we can eliminate the threat of the demigod in Kalzasi.”

“Discuss your intent only with those whom you trust in the strictest confidence, Commander.” Astrid rose from her chair, straightening.

“If you have concerns, express them now. When you leave this office, I do not expect to see you again until you return whether that be as a corpse or as a hero...well...that is up to you.”

Name: Brenner Dornkirk
XP: 10
Requested Lore:

Let's go with:

Etiquette
Deferring to formality
Humility before social betters

Politics
Taking risky gambits for dynastic advancement
Composing a formal pitch letter
Concealing enthusiasm
Concealing nervousness
Exercising discretion
Earnest, patriotic rhetoric


Note(s): Brenner has been granted permission to pursue his expedition into the Warrens in search of the aether devouring parasite. He has been sworn to the strictest of secrecy. He is authorized to receive the following requisitions:

Rations enough for a group of up to 10 personnel.
He has been authorized up to 15,000 gp to purchase materials for the expedition.
Brenner currently does not possess a Companion NPC. I would recommend perhaps devising one for this expedition and tailor him/her to the mission. Additionally, should you opt to create a Companion NPC for this expedition, they are authorized an additional +30 XP on top of the standard amount granted to the first Companion NPC. Simply link this review upon submission.

He has been given a deadline of returning by the end of Ash season.

In order to best facilitate the progression of this plotline for you, I would request that you ping me with related threads so that I can help it along as necessary.

Let me know if you have questions or concerns!