Lord Hargraves

> *"The pleasure is all yours."*
>
>

## Storyline

The High Lord Hargraves knocks on the door of the Listener and introduces himself, asking for their time even though they are busy. He insists to be invited in and makes it clear that he is not to be turned away for their own safety. The Listener, an owner of a tea shop, lets him in and he politely, if insincerely and in a backhanded way, compliments the interior. He explains that he's here on the behalf of a group of aristocrats, news which rattles the Listener. Lord Hargraves is not surprised and reveals full titles, High Lord Inquisitor and Grand Executioner. He assures the Listener that they are perfectly safe - until he leaves.

He bids them to close the door and sit down, clearly enjoying how unsettled they are by his presence. The Listener obeys but he warns them to keep their “neat” hands in sight at all times, otherwise he might be compelled to use his dagger in self-defense. The Lord takes a closer look around the tea shop – which looks a lot like a fortune teller’s shop - and points out items that stick out to him: a crystal ball on the tea table, neatly labelled jars with labels in an unknown language, and silk rope tied into mystical knots. These items are considered dangerous by the Runik Inquisition, the group that ordered this investigation, and questions if they have heard of any “strange happenings” alluding to dangerous and forbidden magic. The Listener answers negatively and the Inquisitor snidely congratulates them on living such a safe life. His own investigation, however, has identified someone in their area as one of the truly gifted ones, sought out for their subtle, powerful arcane abilities that have been banned by the king regent. This person, who the Listener claims not to know, has made one too many accurate predictions, knows dangerous secrets, and dreams of things far beyond the norm. The Inquisitor suggests that this mysterious person must be living their life constantly looking over their shoulder else they might “done away with” in their own home or kidnapped and forced to use their clairvoyant gifts for a cruel and uncaring lord. Then he laughs at their shocked expression, claiming that he was just joking, and offers to introduce himself properly.

He tells the Listener that he already knows their name – a false one – and that their true name and origins are of little interest to him for now. He introduces him as the High Lord of the Order of Occult Phenomenon, a division of the Runik Inquisition that, despite working for the lord regent, acts in opposition to his public stance on magic. They secure, contain, and protect people with mystical powers – or punish them if they prove to be rebellious or useless. Lord Hargraves apologizes if he worried them and further clarifies that the Order of Occult Phenomenon is not tied to any single government and truly works to protect people with a mystical bent by recruiting them into the organization. The Listener, with their clairvoyant powers, would be deemed a heretic by the king regent and disposed of if they were ever discovered. The Order, on the other hand, is full of people like them that work to preserve the Supreme Order in a dawning age of steam and metal. They keep to the old ways and have allies in powerful places, such as the smugglers of the red sands and pirates off the coast of the continent. They even have access to the kingdom’s money and spy network, their true purpose completely concealed from the current ruler.

Lord Hargraves sees confusion on their face and deigns to explain the situation more simply. He takes one of the Listener’s hourglasses and turns it over. They are safe as long as the sand is running but if they choose not to follow him by the time it runs out the king’s men will storm their home and arrest them. It makes no difference to him which they choose as they will be delivered to the Order either way, but the king’s men will interrogate and leave them a husk of their former self if they stay. Then he will have to act out his role as Inquisitor and Executioner. To avoid this fate they can join the Order to serve its true purpose, a hand in the dark to push the pieces on the board. To be even fairer to them, Lord Hargraves offers a head start should the Listener choose to flee and take their chances in the wilderness, but the Order will foster and strengthen their gift to its truest potential. Their life with him, he promises, will be comfortable and dignified, and all he asks is that they work to further the Order’s true goals. Though it is dangerous work they will have his personal protection.

The Listener quietly concedes to go with him, pleasing the Inquisitor, and he orders them to pack up all their arcane paraphernalia. Their clothes, he assures them, will be replaced with those of a finer quality at his manor. His agents will delay the guards coming for them so they can leave immediately, a long enough time to make a clean break, but the Inquisitor becomes distracted by the smell of freshly baked pastries. He sees a platter of crimson shortcakes and, beside himself with joy, asks if he can have a taste of his favorite dessert. A single bite later he realizes something is wrong – he is shrinking. The Lord calls the smiling Listener a heretic and demands to be put back to normal but they scoop him into a jar, ignoring his insults and threats. Realizing that he is not going to get his way as they pack, Hargraves demands for more shortbread “to keep his teeth company” and thanks them for the pastry with a final huff.

The Lord of the Crows alludes to Lord Hargraves’s undignified first meeting with the Listener with great amusement. He has been so affected by the experience that by the time the Listener has their first mission in the field that he’s taken a vacation from work.

## Personality

Lord Hargraves is a man who wears his rank like a weapon and wields it like one too. His position in the Runik government gives him considerable clout and he speaks like a man used to subservience and obedience. However, he is not above making sly threats and backhanded compliments to reinforce his position as a man of power. He is particularly proud of his appearance and fine clothes.

As a member of the Order of Occult Phenomenon, he pays lip service to his role as High Lord Inquisitor and Executioner. He seems to have no quibbles with carrying out his duty but his true passion lies with the ensuring the Order continues to grow in power and influence across the continent. His interest in the Listener stems from this passion and he considers them a considerable asset to be added to the covert group. For now, that appears to be his only interest in them as he has no problem with the idea of the Runik Inquisition taking them away.

## Trivia

### Lord Hargraves

* The Order of Occult Phenomenon harbors werewolves, mystics, half-elves, spellcasters, tieflings, a dragon lord, and an ancient vampire with “a taste for pastels, watercolors, and mooning about in the melancholy of eternal existence.”
* Crimson shortbread, a pastry with strawberries, is his favorite dessert
* Swears by the Crimson One, the official deity of the Rapturian Theocracy.

### The Listener

* Has been hiding in Runika with a fake name running a fortune telling business in the guise of a tea shop.
* They are gifted with clairvoyance, the ability to see the past, present, and future, using a variety of methods.

### Fan Theories

* The Listener foresaw the arrival of Lord Hargraves, which is why they had freshly baked crimson shortbread at the ready
* The dialogue in this audio suggests several characters could actually be members of the Order
* This Listener could be the same one who was discovered by Captain Nemo

## Audio References

1. ↑ Oujidere Inquisitor Interrogates You
2. ↑ Lord of The Crows Steals Your Heart
3. ↑ Some Fun With The Lord of The Crows