Lady Bellebranta
Type: NPC — Noble, Patron Race: Half-elf Role: Matriarch of House Belabrenta; griffin-breeding nobility; Waterdeep social figure Status: Alive — in Waterdeep; Aurelion returned and gifted to party (Session 064); investigating Jaster Rell / Elira Voss First Appearance: Session 062
Description
Tall, silver-streaked hair. Cold in the way that people who have been managing something for a very long time become cold — not unkind, but efficiency has replaced warmth. As a half-elf, she has probably been managing the Bellebranta house longer than most of her human peers have been alive. She received the party in a parlor and told them what she needed. She did not pretend to be worried. She was precise.
Her primary concern was that Aurelion the Dawn Sovereign — the prized sire of the house's most prestigious griffin pedigree — be recovered alive. The bloodline value is immense. The emotional attachment, if any, is not advertised.
What the Party Knows
- She runs House Belabrenta. The house has significant wealth and social standing in Waterdeep.
- She directed them to three contacts at the Hall of Wings: Corvin Hale (senior handler), Elira Voss (house arcanist), and Jaster Rell (stable apprentice).
- She stressed urgency and alive-only. She did not mention the blight, because she didn't know.
- She has not yet been told that: Aurelion is blighted, or that Jaster Rell took Aurelion out without authorization. (The blighted bronze dragon Umsheryoth that appeared in the glade has no established connection to her family or hunting lodge.)
- She was last contacted by Moist and the party sending word that "Aurelion is in care and a cure is being sought."
Session 064 Updates
- Aurelion returned and assessed. The party flew Aurelion back to Waterdeep and returned him to the Hall of Wings. Lady Bellebranta arrived within the hour. She assessed the blight scarring with the eye of a breeder who has been doing this for decades. Her shoulders slumped.
- Emmith's failed deception. Emmith attempted to cover for Jaster Rell (Deception DC 19, rolled 11). She saw through it: "I can tell you are covering something up." The party admitted a mistake was made; Corvin then reported that Jaster had left the mews immediately after speaking with the rescuers and had not been seen since. Bellebranta: "I've been warned about his propensity for joyrides." She did not press further.
- Aurelion gifted to the party. She cannot pay gold — his commercial value as a sire has been destroyed by the blight-stigma. She told him: "Your pedigree is damaged. You always had a warrior's heart. Maybe you can find a new life with these people." Then: "I hope you will accept Aurelion as my gift to you." Party accepted.
- Griffin escort pledged. She offered to send a party of griffins to escort the party's supply caravan to Westbridge (the Brookside refugee resettlement site).
- Elira Voss summoned. As she departed, she called for Elira Voss — presumably to discuss the blight sample that was in Aurelion's mew.