seigneurs_des_tempetes

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 +/* Xendrik compléter */
 +====== Seigneurs des Tempêtes ======
  
 +
 +The Seigneurs des Tempêtes hold sway over the city of [[cap-tempete]] . In 800 AR, the [[Royaume de Galifar]] made an agreement with five houses. The agreement was called the [[Cap-Tempête Compact]]. In it power over the city was split between five families. The five families are the [[npc:amanatus]], the [[Lassites]], the [[Omarens]], the [[Sel Shadras]], and the [[Wylkeses]] .
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 +In Cap-Tempête, political power is measured in gold and steel. The first Storm Lords were the most capable pirates and smugglers of the Thunder Sea. They saw the opportunities in working with Galifar, and together they were a strong enough force that Galifar agreed to work with them. Between the wealth amassed through decades of crime and the deals with Galifar, and the combined military forces of these pirate kings, the first Storm Lords were able to assert their will over the other people of Cap-Tempête. They created the Cap-Tempête Compact, a document that lays out the few laws of the city—the first of which is that the Storm Lords and their descendants will rule the city until it falls.
 +The Cap-Tempête Compact assigns specific duties and areas of influence to each family. The Wylkes  line, for example, holds power over the Harbor dis- trict and has the right to set docking fees; however,  the Wylkes are also bound to maintain the docks and to facilitate travel and trade. Each Storm Lord holds final authority over specific districts, but in practice, any Storm Lord can exercise power throughout the city, as long as the local lord does not object.
 +The Storm Lords work together to maintain Cap-Tempête, but the balance of power between them is  constantly shifting. Adventurers might become long- term pawns in this quiet struggle, or they can simply be  the tools of the moment. The Storm Lords are always looking for capable agents, and PCs will likely be some of the most skillful in the city.
 +
 +THE AMANATUS
 +Race: Dwarf.
 +Founder and Current Leader: Yorrick Amanatu.
 +Primary Sphere of Influence: The Cap-Tempête Guard.
 +Family Business: The Cap-Tempête Recruiters.
 +Districts: Respite, Silverwall.
 +Allies: House Kundarak, L'Arène Rouge.
 +Enemies: House Lyrandar, Paulo Omaren, Jonas Wylkes.
 +This dwarf family has its roots in the Cloud reavers  of the Lhazaar Principalities. When Korchan Ama- natu failed to claim the crown of Krag, he took his  ships south to the Thunder Sea. Reaving under the sign of the broken crown, the Amanatu pirates were known as the most ruthless killers of the south sea.  Korchan would never have accepted peace with Gal- ifar, but he was finally slain on the open seas. His  young son Yorrick joined the other Storm Lords, bringing the raw power of the Amanatu reavers to the alliance.
 +Yorrick Amanatu remains a Storm Lord to this day—the sole survivor of the founders. Now 260 years old, he relies on magic items (an amulet of health and a belt of giant strength) to offset the ravages of time. He believes in the Cap-Tempête Compact, but he also knows that the only way to hold the city together is through personal power. In the past, other lords sought to take control of the city, and it was the strength and cunning of Amanatu that crushed this treachery. To this day, Lord Yorrick searches for ways to expand his personal power, always believing he has the best interests of the city and the other lords at heart.
 +The Amanatu reavers formed the backbone of the original Cap-Tempête Guard, and the Amanatu line is  directly responsible for training the Guard and man- aging the Cap-Tempête Recruiters. Many of the chief  recruiters and most capable officers of the Guard are Lord Yorrick’s children. If the day ever came for a civil war between the Storm Lords, most of the Guard would follow his lead. Over the years, Lord Yorrick has also developed a strong bond with House Kundarak. He negotiated the sale of the Coasthold ward when Kundarak settled in the region and helped place the Citadel of the Twelve there, and he frequently uses the Cap-Tempête Guard to serve the interests of Kundarak. In return, Lord Yorrick receives considerable wealth, a side benefit to the greater stability that he believes he’s brought to the city.
 +Even though Yorrick recognizes the vital role House Lyrandar plays in bringing the shipping trade to Cap-Tempête, he was born a pirate and a Cloudreaver,  and he still remembers the bitter battles against half- elf privateers. Quite a few Lyrandar captains hold  ancestral grudges against the old pirate. So far, Lord Yorrick hasn’t let this situation interfere with his vital work, but he maintains a cold demeanor when dealing with half-elves of all stripes, and he prefers to let the  Lassite and Wylkes families negotiate with the House of Storms.
 +Despite his age, Lord Yorrick is an imposing figure. He shaves and oils his head, and he wears his black and silver beard in long braids. He always appears ready for battle; he typically wears a mithral chain shirt and carries a heavy mace engraved with silver. Provided he has expert levels (see the sidebar “The Secrets of the Coin Lords”), he has high ranks in Intimidate and Sense Motive; little escapes his keen eyes.
 +
 +THE LASSITES
 +Race: Human.
 +Founder: Molou Lassite.
 +Current Leader: Varen Lassite.
 +Primary Sphere of Influence: Diplomacy and commerce.
 +Family Business: Molou’s Distillery.
 +Districts: Cross, Marketplace.
 +Allies: House Normandin, House Tharashk, Kirris Sel Shadra.
 +Enemies: None.
 +Around 800 YK, Molou Lassite was one of the greatest smugglers of Cap-Tempête. He was also a master brewer, and the Lassites were beloved by the buccaneers and scoundrels of the region. Molou Lassite contributed little military force to the Storm Lords, but he gained the invaluable good will of the common people, and many say that he bought the peace with Ungava. The Lassites had an easy transition to honest living. The pirates used their considerable wealth to  expand their brewing operations. Today Molou’s Dis- tillery is one of the largest employers in Cap-Tempête,  and its Ungava is popular across the Five Nations. The Lassite family was set in charge of the Marketplace, and the Lassites work to settle disputes between merchants and to smooth the wheels of commerce. Traditionally, the Lassites are the diplomats of Cap-Tempête. When foreign dignitaries need to be entertained or the interests of Cap-Tempête need to be taken abroad, the Lassites are brought into play.
 +The family’s current head is Varen Lassite, a handsome man just reaching his middle years. Of all the Storm Lords, Lord Varen is the only one who is  beloved by his subjects. He has a reputation for gen- erosity, and though he cannot always supply justice,  he will buy a drink for anyone who suffers misfortune  in the Marketplace. He is the epitome of the dash- ing swashbuckler—romantic, witty, with a fine eye  for beauty and an appreciation for skilled swordplay. Beyond this, he is a clever and careful negotiator, capable of manipulating stronger enemies into battling one another.
 +Volen Lassite (LN male human expert 5) is Lord Varen’s uncle, the former lord of the Marketplace, and the current manager of Molou’s Distillery. This position is a family tradition; when age starts to catch up with the Lassite Storm Lord, he or she passes the title to a younger family member, chosen for wit and charisma. Volen continues to advise his nephew, and he remains a tremendously popular man. He holds monthly parties at the Lassite manor in Stormhaven and always invites a few lucky people chosen by whim;  if a party of adventurers catches his eye, his invita- tion offers a chance to mingle with the city’s wealthy  and powerful.
 +Lord Varen’s oldest daughter, Naleen (N female human bard 2/expert 2), is being groomed to take the position of Storm Lord. She is a year younger than her brother Vasken, but Naleen has proven to be far more adept at the game of politics. As heir apparent, she engages in a fair amount of diplomacy and is brought in when a situation calls for mediation.
 +The Lassites have few enemies, having chosen to avoid direct conflict with the other lords; given this neutrality, they serve as mediators in times of crisis. They also have a number of powerful allies. Over the years they have established a solid bond with House Tharashk, helping to meet the house’s needs in Cross. The Lassites also have a strong relationship with House  Normandin. Although the halflings maintain a mini- mal presence in Cap-Tempête, the Ungava trade forms  a connection between the two that extends across the Thunder Sea. Finally, while the Lassites are on good  terms with all the Storm Lords, Lord Varen has estab- lished a close friendship with Lady Kirris Sel Shadra,  and the two act to support each other.
 +
 +THE OMARENS
 +Race: Human.
 +Founder: Delera Omaren.
 +Current Leader: Paulo Omaren.
 +Primary Sphere of Influence: City infrastructure.
 +Family Business: The Cap-Tempête Forge.
 +Districts: Forgelight, Temple.
 +Allies: Maison Bombardier, House Garda, the Iron Watch.
 +Enemy: Yorrick Amanatu.
 +At the end of the eighth century YK, Delera Omaren was the pirate queen of the Thunder Sea. Although her buccaneers were not as brutal as the Amanatus,  she was bold and clever, and she had amassed a fol- lowing and a fortune by the time Galifar sought an  end to piracy. When the Cap-Tempête Compact was drawn up, no one questioned Delera’s right to sit on the council. As it turned out, Delera was better suited to the life of a pirate than that of an administrator. She invested much of her fortune in the Cap-Tempête Forge and the Foundry, and her family was tasked with maintaining  the infrastructure of the city and outfitting the Storm- reach Guard. Lacking political savvy, Delera agreed to  provide these services at too low a cost, and over the years, this generosity caused the Omaren fortune to fade as the other Storm Lords profited.
 +Some of the Omaren lords have done their best to live up to their obligations. Others have tried varying approaches to break the Omaren curse. In 890 YK, Castal Omaren sought to eliminate the other lords and seize control of the city. He misjudged Yorrick Amanatu’s influence over the Cap-Tempête Guard, and the mistake cost him his life. The lords allowed Castal’s heir to retain his title, but further penalties were assessed, and the new lord was deeply subservient to the rest of the council.
 +Lady Paulo Omaren is determined to restore her family’s honor. She bears a special grudge toward Lord Yorrick and the Amanatus. Not only was the dwarf directly responsible for the death of Lord Castal, but the Amanatus’ power is derived from the Cap-Tempête  Guard—soldiers outfitted by the Omaren forge. None- theless, her thirst for power and vengeance is tempered  by a wisdom her predecessors lacked. She knows that it will take more than ambition to unseat the Amanatus. She presents herself as an innovator, looking for new solutions to the challenges that face Cap-Tempête. Lady Paulo has been working with Bombardier South, allowing the house to establish facilities inside the Foundry and the Cap-Tempête Forge. She approached the warforged Steeljack and created the Iron Watch (page 117); Lord Yorrick might hold the loyalty of the Cap-Tempête Guard, but as the Iron Watch grows, so does Lady Paulo’s confidence. She has also fought to increase the power and influence of House Garda. She has  recently taken Lord Greigur d’Garda as a lover, and she thinks of Garda as her own personal army, just waiting for her command. Secretly, she envisions a day when the Iron Watch and House Garda will sweep aside the Cap-Tempête Guard and crown her the sole ruler of Cap-Tempête. These dreams might never come to pass; despite his genuine affection for her, Lord Greigur has to balance his duties to his house and his own ambitions. But Lady Paulo’s alliance with him gives her hope for the future, and for now that’s all she needs.
 +Whatever comes of her current schemes, there
 +is no question that Lady Paulo is the most ambitious Storm Lord and that she is always looking for new sources of power. If a group of adventurers gains a reputation in Cap-Tempête, there’s an excellent chance that Lady Paulo will seek out their services. The only question is whether she employs them openly—like the Iron Watch—or seeks their assistance with more secret matters.
 +Lady Paulo isn’t the oldest member of her family. The Omarens have an unusual tradition dating back to their buccaneer heritage: Leadership is held through force of arms, and any heir of the family can challenge the current lord to a duel to claim the title. Such duels are uncommon, since the best warriors of the house  have no interest in administration. However, this tra- dition means that the Omaren lords have to be skilled  in two arenas, and if an Omaren lord wants to rule until an old age, he or she might have to use trickery to deal with young challengers.
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 +
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 +THE SECRETS OF THE COIN LORDS
 +The Coin Lords’ public personas and family histories are a matter of record. The people of Cap-Tempête think they know everything about Varen Lassite and Yorrick Amanatu, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Every family has secrets—and the Coin Lords have more than most.
 +Each of the Coin Lords has a hidden motivation. Five options are presented here; it’s up to the DM to decide which secret is associated with each Coin Lord, and which is a red herring.
 +
 +The Murderer (LN expert 8) is a capable admin- istrator and diplomat—levelheaded and dispassionate,  true to his (or her) word, always doing his best to hold Cap-Tempête together. However, he is also responsible for the death of a prince of Breland, and a warrant for his arrest remains on the books. Consequently, he  rarely leaves Cap-Tempête, and the King’s Dark Lan- terns seek to kidnap him and bring him to Breland  to face justice. If this is Yorrick Amanatu, the crime might date all the way back to his years of piracy. If it’s Varen Lassite or Paulo Omaren, it might be a relatively recent crime—a duel sparked by an unwise romance. If it’s Kirris Sel Shadra, the victim might have been a captain of the King’s Citadel who was investigating her smugglers.
 +
 +The Orphan (N artificer 6) has always had a talent for artifice and infusion. However, she never knew about her blood connection to Maison Bombardier until she manifested the Lesser Mark of Making,  just one year ago. It turns out that her pirate ances- tor was punished for stealing from the house. Now  this Coin Lord is trying to decide whether she should reveal her true nature to Maison Bombardier and how this revelation would affect her role as a lord of Cap-Tempête; beyond this, with Bombardier fractured, she needs to determine which Bombardier faction she should deal with. Since the Mark of Making can only be carried by humans, this has to be Paulo Omaren or Varen Lassite. As the lord of the Cap-Tempête Forge, it makes sense for Omaren to be an artificer—but Varen might have been hiding his interests while running the distillery.
 +
 +The Fiend (LE rakshasa sorcerer 5) is one of the Lords of Dust, a rakshasa named Kashurashan. He has been monitoring Cap-Tempête since before the downfall of the giants, reporting to the Council of  Ashtakala. Purely an observer, he might provide assis- tance to other Lords of Dust who come to the region,  but he rarely takes direct action. The fiend knows more  about Cap-Tempête than virtually any other living crea- ture, having been watching the area in various forms  for over fifty thousand years; though he rarely shares his knowledge with adventurers, he could be a valuable ally or deadly foe.
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 +Any of the Coin Lords could fill this role, and the fiend plays out the political games attributed to his surface identity for his own amusement. As Kirris Sel Shadra, the rakshasa would take great pleasure in moving the pawns of the underworld. In any case, the fiend is an expert in long-term infiltration, and uses the cloak of Khyber spell (page 59) to avoid detection.
 +
 +The Seeker (LE expert 5/adept 2) has a deep fascination with the Blood of Vol. She has delved into the mysteries of the Divinity Within and learned to touch the magic of the Blood. She is enthralled by the legends of the Queen of the Dead and has strong sympathy for the Order of the Emerald Claw. She keeps her faith secret from strangers, and she doesn’t attend the services in Grindstone. But she stays in touch with the priests of the Blood and the knights of  the Emerald Claw who pass through the city and pro- vides what assistance she can. Any of the lords could  fill this role. Paulo Omaren sees the Blood as another path to the power long denied to her family. Yorrick Amanatu’s ancestors brought the faith with them from the Lhazaar Principalities, where Vol lies hidden in Farlnen. Kirris Sel Shadra learned of the Blood from her subjects in Grindstone. In time, the Seeker might gain greater power; at the DM’s discretion, she could be a cleric or a favored soul (Complete Divine) instead of an adept.
 +
 +The Quori Spy (LE expert 2/telepath 8) is an agent of the Dreaming Dark, mind seeded long ago by the dominator Tirashana. He’s not the first; every Storm Lord in his line has been subverted by Tirashana, and his heir apparent has likely already been seeded. The goals of the Dreaming Dark are mysterious, and the quori spy might behave in exactly the manner described for his surface identity. However, the spy  has additional goals, specifically gathering informa- tion about the quori–giant conflict and preventing any  kalashtar from doing the same. The spy tries to avoid direct actions that could threaten his cover, but might employ adventurers to achieve his goals. If the quori spy is human—Omaren or Lassite—he can allow himself to be possessed by a tsucora quori (ECS 296). While possessed, he has access to additional skills and psi-like abilities.
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 +THE SEL SHADRAS
 +Race: Gnome.
 +Founder: Kolis Sel Shadra.
 +Current Leader: Kirris Sel Shadra.
 +
 +Primary Spheres of Influence: Crime and punish- ment.
 +
 +Family Businesses: Magistrates, the Quickfoot Gang.
 +Districts: Oldgate, Southwatch.
 +Allies: House Thuranni, the Hollow Shards.
 +Enemies: Independent criminals, the Swords of Karrn.
 +
 +The Sel Shadras of Zilargo were known to be smugglers, but there were always rumors that they were behind some of the unsolved mysteries of the Thunder Sea. Some said that the sea’s ghost ships and demon pirates were gnome illusions, cleverly woven by Sel Shadra bards. True or not, the Sel Shadras encouraged the rumors and benefited from the reputation. Although their smuggling operation wasn’t as large as that of the Lassites, the gnomes possessed a great treasure: a handful of sails with air elementals woven into the cloth, granting them favorable winds and the ability to match the speed of Lyrandar galleons. The family still owns these sails, and many believe that the Sel Shadras never stopped their smuggling—they simply reduced the scale to avoid detection by Galifar.
 +
 +The Sel Shadras were never as beloved as the Las- sites, but the gnomes had connections across many  pirate crews and were masters of finance and criminal strategy. According to the Cap-Tempête Compact, the Sel Shadras are responsible for the administration of justice; however, it’s an open secret that they also oversee crime. The original Storm Lords knew what sort of city they were building, and they knew that they needed someone to watch the underworld. A  typical thug might never realize that his boss is tith- ing a percentage of profits to Lady Kirris, “the Spider  of Cap-Tempête,” and that’s how she likes it. She is a  grandmaster playing with many pieces. She can influ- ence the prices that fences and brothels charge. She  knows smugglers’ timetables and the goods they’re carrying. She knows which gangs are fighting, and by pulling a few strings, she can redirect those conflicts. Lady Kirris is the queen of crime in Cap-Tempête, and she works from the deepest shadows. The gang leaders know better than to cross her, and few ever know her true agenda.
 +The Sel Shadras monitor crime, and they also  determine punishment. The Sel Shadras are the mag- istrates of the city, capable of administering summary  judgment on anyone brought in by the Cap-Tempête Guard. Over the years, Lady Kirris has formed an alliance with the Blood Council of L'Arène Rouge, and violent criminals are sent to the ring in exchange for a share of the profits from their fights. Lady Kirris has also established a working relationship with House Thuranni. Lady Miravella d’Thuranni has her own interests in Cap-Tempête and largely wants to be left alone. Lady Kirris keeps both criminals and the Cap-Tempête Guard out of Lady Miravella’s way; if anyone is foolish enough to cause trouble for Thuranni, the Sel Shadras help hide the bodies. In exchange, the Sel Shadras gain access to the special services of House Thuranni. When the justice system proves ill suited to her needs, Lady Kirris can call in bloodbound gladiators or Thuranni assassins; as a result, few people cross her.
 +
 +If adventurers cause a major upset in the under- world by destroying entire gangs or businesses, they’re  likely to draw Lady Kirris’s attention. An adventurer who shines at subterfuge might receive an offer to work for the Spider of Cap-Tempête. Otherwise, Lady Kirris maintains the lowest profile of all the Storm Lords: always watching, rarely seen.
 +
 +THE WYLKESES
 +Race: Human and half-elf.
 +Founder: Jolan Wylkes.
 +Current Leader: Jonas Wylkes.
 +Primary Sphere of Influence: Shipping.
 +Family Business: The docks and tariffs in the harbor.
 +District: Harbor.
 +Allies: House Lyrandar, the Golden Lions, the Aurum.
 +Enemy: Yorrick Amanatu.
 +The inclusion of the Wylkes family among the Storm Lords was a concession to Galifar. As a sorcerer and sailor, Jolan Wylkes spent more time as a privateer than he did as a pirate, and the king of Galifar wanted someone he could trust to see that the Storm Lords lived up to their promises. Although many in the city despised Jolan Wylkes, they respected his prowess at sea and the talents of the Wylkes shipwrights. It was clear that Jolan’s presence was a necessary evil. He was made the fifth Storm Lord, but he was not a lord of the city. In a compromise between the demands of Galifar and the distaste that the others felt for Wylkes, he was declared the Harbor Lord—the gatekeeper of the city but always on the outside.
 +Despite this disdain, the Harbor Lord wielded considerable power. Cap-Tempête was a city based on sea trade, and he held the keys, controlling the city’s docks. By the terms of the compact, the Wylkes family has the right to levy docking fees and other tariffs, and the family prospered. This power was vested in a series of capable lords, clever men who knew how to squeeze every coin out of their holdings. Over the years, the Harbor Lords fought off the machinations of the  jealous Coin Lords and won vital concessions from dragonmarked houses and foreign nations alike. And then disaster struck.
 +The death of Graden Wylkes, the previous Harbor Lord, remains a mystery. The Wylkes family takes great precautions to protect against poisoning and other forms of assassination, and it’s possible that Graden simply died of a heart attack. But most assume that someone managed to have him killed, and these suspicions are fueled by the incompetence of his successor. Harbor Lord Jonas Wylkes (CN male half-elf aristocrat 3/sorcerer 3) is the least effective individual—and the youngest—to ever hold the office. Graden always believed his son would grow out of his youthful indolence, and perhaps he would have, in time. But responsibility has been thrust upon him too soon. Lord Jonas has close ties to the Golden Lions (page 72); only a few years ago, he was an active member of this gang. Now he is a socialite, spending more time at Shadows or L'Arène Rouge than he does on his familial duties. He is easily distracted by decadent pleasures. In the meantime, the edifice carefully built by his predecessors is beginning to crumble. House Lyrandar is already working on renegotiating its arrangements with the city, and others are following suit. The Aurum has extended an invitation to young Jonas, though this is hardly public knowledge. Both  have offered to help him manage the family busi- ness, each hoping to turn the Harbor Lord’s domain  into an extension of its own organization. For the moment, the indecisive lord is stalling on any firm alliance, but he is swiftly becoming overwhelmed by the insistent proposals.
 +Sorcery is strong in the Wylkes bloodline, and family tradition holds that the lordship passes to the oldest male sorcerer. Lord Jonas’s mother, Tulea Wylkes (N female half-elf aristocrat 2), is horrified by what has become of her family, but she cannot bring herself to turn on her son. And the next suitable heir is a boy of sixteen. Tulea might ask adventurers to help straighten out her son. She could manipulate the characters into a conflict with House Lyrandar or the Aurum, drawing their attention elsewhere. Or she might ask them to help arrange an “accident” for Lord Jonas.
 +
 +
 +{{tag>["Nobles"]}}
 +{{tag>["Organisations"]}}
 +{{tag>["Cap-Tempête"]}}