ELTEST KHA

The Chtonic Temple wasn’t far outside of Novska, but still required a short trip from the city limits. The tall green figure that had left its chamber in the Light Club Lodge was a well-dressed human male before it left the building. By the time it was traveling the paths to the Temple, it appeared a rugged human hunter, and two other apparent hunters met it as an escort on its short journey. Eltest Kha’s human entourage stayed outside as it entered the Temple, its human shape quickly melting back to the bright shining figure that the alien considered its native form.

Even after all this time, Eltest Kha could not help but consider Earthly life unusual. The alien was not upset or regretful that it had come to exist on Earth, rather, none who spoke to it were ever truly sure it registered those emotions as it pursued some inscrutable purpose. However, those fa͢m͟i̛lia̴r ̢wi͢th̴ ̢the ͠a͟l̸ien knew it sometimes appeared to be working past some distraction or disturbance as it reconciled its own senses with Earthly sh͝a͡pes̡, co̷҉͏l̶̵o͏r͏͘͟s͟͠, d̀́͜͠i̢̧̨ŕ̵̵̨e͢c̶͜͞t̡͢i̸̡͟ơ̸͞͡n̨ş͡, T͘͢͢͢͝H̀͞҉͏Ę̵͘ ̧̕P͘̕Ą̷͟͟͜S̢̧S̵͏A̡͘͟͏G̀̕͝E̶̴̡͢ ̶̕͏Ǫ͘͜F̛͘͞ ̷̴̶̛̛T̴͢͟͜͞I̷͘M̛͜͏E̷̶͜͞. It was ironic then that the Cthonic Temple, for all its Earthen heritage, felt the most familiar to Eltest Kha. Millennia of use by the monstrous princes and the influence of their power has left the temple with a sort of aura, one that Eltest Kha cannot describe but can feel, and it feels familiar.

Eltest Kha waited for a moment to speak, having listened to Baaliaton’s speech, the questions from the assorted Princes, and the avatar of Solis Aeterni express his desire to see himself voted Quaestor.

“I believe I would be an acceptable Quaestor. You may vote for me if you feel that best. I do not have reason to believe that Novska would be served better by myself than another Quaestor, however. I will not be pushing for support for such votes and will not be voting for myself. Baaliaton, I agree that we have seen no true misfortunes arise from your service, but Solis is worth hearing out.
I wonder how Solis plans to use the role of Quaestor to establish more direct control of the… peninsula, unless the island you refer to is Yigusa? Once greater wealth is established, you speak of a powerful and proud Novska “serving” us. Is this a reference to returning the taxes back to the minor powers in exchange for loyalty? Deals with Mortal Novska? Or something else entirely?
I am curious as to what Balliaton has to say to Solis’s answers to my questions, as well as the thoughts of the Senate as a whole.

I would like to have a second matter discussed as well. I believe the Senate has a responsibility to discover what The Mist in Bakar is and what it is doing. Are any other Princes here in concurrence?”
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MESSAGES TO PCS
To the Cloaked Leviathan
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A plainly dressed man steps off the boat to Yigusa Island, seeking a representative of the Drowned. The man’s master, the Prince and alien Eltest Kha, had given him direction to meet with the followers of the Leviathan.
“Eltest Kha seeks correspondence with the followers of the Leviathan. We understand the interest that the Leviathan might have in access to the New Harbour, as the widest and deepest bay from which to access Novska, and resultant popularity as a port for incoming ships. The Light Club is currently seeking to bring the Port Authority to heel, to keep mortals from interfering with any Princes who may wish to make use of the port. We hope to keep the port open to the need of Leviathan and the Drowned, though in return we hope the Leviathan will leave the harbor to us, and the Drowned keep us apprised of any plans you have in those waters. Perhaps once we are more in control of the port and the Port Authority, we can share information on which ships might be valuable targets, and which ships we need left alone? Tell us what you think.”


To the Archivist
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Nathaniel is led to a private room off the side of the main lobby of the Lodge, where a woman rises out of a large, padded chair. She appears to be wearing a military dress uniform of some sort, but no national identification or sign of mercenary loyalty can be seen.
“Ah, I am told you are a representative of the Lamplighters? You can speak to me, my name is Marissa Ensten. I trust avoidance of conflict will be easy, as the Light Club has no interest nor claim to the University District, nor any desire to create animosity with the Lamplighters or even the Novska Historical Society. We trust you do not intend to cause problems in New Harbour?
As for our mutual growths, I am interested in what you have to offer. We are currently focusing on getting more directly involved with the port, but if you know of other avenues for growth I am all ears.


To Solis Aeterni
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“You may view it as tribute if you like. I am from beyond the stars, and you are the nearest star. In a way, this is a sort of connection. I would be happy to throw my support behind you, noble sun, but I would ask for at least some explanation of what I would be supporting. I am as glad you have a plan as you are glad I have one, and I am interested in helping them align.”


To the Joy Spiders
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A man is given a waterproofed message and drowned off the cliffs of Castle Novask.:
“Princess Szeretet, my followers would be enamored with clothes and armor of your make, but I am still consolidating my power before I will have the funds to pay you for such tools. I am still interested in establishing a positive relationship, in preparation for a future arrangement. What do you think?”


To the Pied Pipe
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“I will be there. Please, an address an invitation to Ethan Khast, if a mortal façade must be kept up.”

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MESSAGES TO NPCS
To Silver Falcon
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A former Austro-Hungarian soldier arrives at the Silver Falcon mansion as messenger from the Light Club.
“Hello. Many of us in the Light Club, as soldiers and former soldiers ourselves, wish to express our admiration of the actions of the Silver Falcon in the war. We would be interested in meeting your company, if you wish, perhaps to eat and meet with fellow soldiers and survivors of the war, share stories and that sort of thing. If things go well, let it be said that some of ours who are less eager to retire from the soldier life would be interested in membership in the Silver Falcons. Of course, any of your number interested in the brotherhood of the Light Club are free to apply for membership as well. Perhaps with enough shared membership, opportunities for shared training exercises or recruitment would be a possibility?”


To Farkas Mining Conglomerate
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A letter, written by a human hand:
“Hello. Some of ours looking to plan a trip through the local mountains soon. We understand you and yours are prospecting the area for possible veins of valuables stones and metals, and we wanted to ensure that a troupe of men and women hiking in those mountains wouldn’t disturb you, or that we were not trespassing on your land.
Additionally, were we to go through with this trip, is there procedure in the Farkas Mining Conglomerate for accepting tips from outsiders, were we to notice anything in our travels?”


To Vascavin Medoza
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A letter, written by an alien hand:
“Vampire, we see no reason one of your stature is denied the status of Prince for long. The tradition of seniority is irrelevant, and the establishment of a following is a minor obstacle. I wonder if a specific problem holds you back. Perhaps I can be of assistance?”


To City Militia
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A woman in professional dress approaches Fort Karlovac with a message:
“Hello. As you may be aware, many members of the Light Club are former soldiers. Many of them would love to visit the fort, if they may, to perhaps help ease the restless transition to civilian life. They feel the opportunity to see the insides of a fort, see the guns and artillery again... they feel the familiarity may be comforting. Of course, many of us are also just interested in discussing the soldier’s lot in life with the soldiers of the militia and hear the stories from the mountain rangers.”


To Laurin King of Roses, Shamaran, and The Bleak Duke
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Messages are sent to each of the ambassadors, asking what monsters or organizations each of them are ambassadors on behalf of.


To the Scion of Bast
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A messenger from the Light Club does his best to track down the panther woman with the following message from Eltest Kha:
“Scion of Bast. I request your knowledge. What do you know of the rise and fall of Bast and her contemporaries? Entire pantheons banished, and only those such as yourself remain. I wish to know as much as I can of this subject. We will recompense you for this information if you wish.”


To the Growlers
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Several Light Club members, underdressed and overarmed, seek out the Growlers in the Warren:
“We both know the Novska police overstep their authority at every step. We’re keeping an eye out for opportunities to tip local politics away from supporting such authoritarianism, but any egregious and visible crimes in the meantime are only going to drum up support for the police. You can count on us to support a weaker police force, but we believe you would do best to act with some subtlety in the meantime.”


To the City Administration
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A written letter is addressed to the mayor in a human hand:
“Mayor Vedran Marković, the leader of the Light Club is interested in the wellbeing and independence of Novska, and by extension wishes a chance to provide you his support in exchange for you ear. He is interested in a chance to meet you and was hoping the name Ethan Khast might be added to the invitation list for an upcoming party or private event.
He trusts you are aware of the growing influence of the Light Club, and how helpful that might be.”


To the Blue Militia
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An unsigned letter is passed off to a Blue Militia member, it reads:
“Heed this warning. We have reason to believe the rising string of murders in Novska may be related to the leader of the People’s Voice Committee. It is always the weak and the lost who are easiest to be targeted by such killers. Do not trust them, for the safety of your flock.”


To Midnight Sun
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A letter, written in an alien hand:
“Skilled spy, I wonder how one of your talents takes their payment. Do you deal in mortal wealth, or something else?”


To the Novska Port Authority
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A meeting is arranged between a few members of the Light Club and lower level suits of the Port Authority:
“We understand that the Port Authority is more a deterrent for pirates than a foreign invasion, but we understand the importance of the open port to the independence of Novska. To that end, we wish to work with the Port Authority to help you keep the port safe and running efficiently. You know as well as we do that the Port Authority and the Light Club are the most influential organizations in the New Harbour, and we have an interest in seeing it prosper. We know you are doing what you can but there is a lot we can bring to the table.”


To the Waxen Archive
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Eltest Kha responds to the voice that he hears.
“You have come to the right city if you seek knowledge; ageless minds from all corners of this world and beyond reside here. Is there something specific that you seek?”