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Ottilia is unable to remember the name of certain flowers of the beautiful garden of Temel Pasha, but she still compliment him about it - as beauty must always be praised.
She continues to talk to Irith hoping to discover her weaknesses to stop the Aspis Agent to get one of the district.
I'm sure my Lady your work on Alabastine will be praised my Lady. Your work is one of beauty and I understand why so many bidder are here today. It's my sincere hope that you will be able to keep it all for yourself.
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After comming to a dead with Myrosype Felicitas walks over to Irith and tries her honey tongue with her.
"I can only imagine what kind of prestige this election will mean. I mean, you are a woman of means and your business acumen is great. But sometimes one has to invest some coin to earn more coins. Imagine, what revenue a quarter like this means. And also what kind of favors one can grant. Hard gold is the way to pay for wares, but to aquire the best deals, well it is the word, the deed, the promise that wins it! Especially if you would aquire... Workings end!"
"Well met Celidrian Duskwalker", the elderly Vayde says with a visible cunning in his eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
***
Despite his reputation for cowardice, Bulgo learns there's a few things Temel pushes back again.
***
Irith merely smiles and nods slightly at Ottalia's recognition. She seems to look at the Sheylnite in a new light.
***
The elf is polite enough, barely, when Ramenhotep makes his introduction but the halfling struggles to get any useful information on Cyran.
***
The lord-councilor doesn't speak a word but she glances at Felicitas, seemingly intrigued by her suggestion. After a long pause she nods in agreement.
***
As Temel's brunch begins to come to a close, Hegio, the Resplendent Bureaucracy representative, clears his throat as he refers to a clipboard.
"The current high bidders for each district are:"
- #1 The Courts of Abstinence: Temel Passad
#2 The Luminous Wharf: Myrosype
#3 Prophet’s Burg: Myrosype
#4 Scriptum: Vayde Petronax
#5 Working End: Irith Nomzamo
***
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Hearing that Myrosype is the high bidder on two different districts, and Cyran on none, Kel decides that Cyran needs to be influenced to outbid Myrosype on one of them.. and he casts a message spell and advises his friends of his intent, while the others need to be convinced to keep their bids up on the ones they are currently high bidders on.
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Ramehotep politely excuses himself from his conversation with Cyran. After the event he tells the others, "Well, the elf is a tough nut to crack and I don't think I can keep up with him. Now Vayde is a religious man and enjoys the occasional philosophical discussion? Let me talk to him during the next event. And let's make sure to ask the bidders what district would work best for their interests. They'll probably bid higher if it's something they already wanted rather than something we push them in to buying just to keep Myrosype out."
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Bulgo nods enthusiastically "Yes, exactly. Get them to bid with their own interests, and not against each other."
"I'll see if I can find anymore out about Temel, and any particular influences we can use on him - and which areas he is most interested in - sounds like the Courts are his area of focus. He was more in this for the prestige of bidding wasn't he, so trying to get him to bid for two areas may be stretching things."
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At the next Meeting Felicitas moves forward to introduce herself to Cyran Androtus.
"I can only imagine what wonders can be found beyond those mortal realms. But still we are mortal and we should never forget our origin. A place to find solace and peace, to reflect on the wonders experienced in diffrent realms. And still the greatest treasure is the faith, it shapes us, gives us strength and leads us to greater levels of being. I have to admit, I am guilty of the sin of envy. You must have traveled countless regions, saw the stars above dozen diffrent cities. But still, I can wonder to what glories and possibilities the prophets burg has to offer to you. It is the center and should be held by one who not only has the wisdom to govern it well, but the devotion of a true believer in the faith!"
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Seeing Felicitas already talking to Cyran, Kel approaches Irith and congratulates her. "I hear that you are high bidder so far on Working End, a fine district with the distinct advantage of the forfeit of warehouse contents as a potentiality... I'm sure you will take it if you keep your bids high. I know you will make a fine administrator of this most profitable area."
***
Nighttime heralds the welcoming of the party to Vayde Petronax’s temporary estate in Kerse. The event is held in a vivacious ballroom. Servants offer the party a variety of costumes and allow them to select whichever ones appeal to them most. These costumes represent dozens of deific servants, from demons to devils to psychopomps and angels.
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Bulgo dresses up as a celestial halfling. His naturally innocent face, which has got him out of trouble more than once, plays to the costume well.
However when he tries to put on a celestial voice it really doesn't come across well.
"It seemed like a natural choice.." he tries to explain to Vayde.
He will take the opportunity offered by the party to try and impress Cyran. He is not up on the bidding at the moment, so suggesting that he bid on Prophet’s Burg seems a smart move.
"Surely controlling such an important area would allow you to influence events that would help move forward the prophecies!" he points out. "As well as providing useful intelligence for your off-plane mercantile contacts." Bulgo looks really impressed with the elves contacts.
"How innovative of you to think of extending merchant activity to completely other worlds. You are clearly a leader who should control Prophet's Burg."
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Kel dresses up as Arshea, the angel empyreal lord of freedom, physical beauty and sexuality. He uses his natural good looks to accentuate the costume, which is made of mostly diaphanous scarves and sashes.
Since he does have both knowledge religion and planes and Arshea is his patron deity, it seems a logical choice. He plays up the role to the best of his abilities, using all his knowledge of the planes to improve his performance.
"Why of course, tonight I am the spirit of Arshea himself... or herself... Free of preconceived notions of sensuality and sexuality, at such a fine event as this, we should all be free to express ourselves as we wish.. within the limits of social convention to some extent at least..." While he doesn't initiate physical contact with Vayde, he won't object if Vayde himself does.
He places a hand suggestively on Bulgo's arm and shoulder... and says, "My little friend here has the right of it, my lord Vayde, though, for surely no one else but you has the clear qualities to administer and control the Prophet's Burg."
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Ottilia decided to look like a lillend as the perfect example of her deity duality, beauty, goodness and art as well as an ability to fight.
She explained her choice as well as she could
Ottilia continues to try to influence Ireth in biding well on Working End.
I've heard you bid well on Working End my Lady. I think it's the wise choice you will prove with it that all the work you've done earlier will pay on the future. You will win this bet I'm sure ! May Shelyn guides you in this work of beauty.
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Ramenhotep purposefully looks for a quite frightening mask of a psychopomp, grumpy that the others have gone to speak with Vayde after he so clearly claimed the priest's company before the event. Ah well, let's see how Irith is doing instead.
"Well, Lord-Councillor!" Ramenhotep says in greeting as he hobbles over to Irith. "You've done a fine job running the city so far, if you'll accept the complement. I should hate to see you lose any of the districts to these good-for-nothings and I hope you can maintain the whole city, wouldn't that be grand! What are your plans, if you don't mind my asking? The Society would be interested in supporting you, should you maintain control of the city...."
Cyran greets Felicitas coldly but seems engaged by her conversation. "I have looked at Prophet's Burg as of late and its value isn't lost on me. You've given me more to consider."
Unfortunately, Bulgo's flattery seems to be wasted on the distant elf.
***
Vayde Petronax, dressed as a skeletal babau, greets Kel with a fearsome grin. He makes no effort to shake the elf's hand and seems to scoff at his suggestion.
"Prophet's Burg? Bah! My money is better used just about anywhere. Perhaps you should stay out of things you understand little about."
***
Ottalia and Ramenhotep don't seem to make much progress with the lord-councilor. She's too proud to admit it but Irith is clearly having doubts. "Yes, well I've always had the city's best interests in mind. The people of Working End seemed to understand that in the past."
***
As the gala winds to a close, Hegio removes his domino mask to read off his clipboard again.
"The current high bidders for each district are:"
- #1 The Courts of Abstinence: Temel Passad
#2 The Luminous Wharf: Myrosype
#3 Prophet’s Burg: Cyran Androtus
#4 Scriptum: Myrosype
#5 Working End: Irith Nomzamo
***
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"Well!" Ramenhotep says in a fluster after the event. "That was totally unproductive. That woman is so stuck-up and I have nothing at all in common with her! I tried to tell you, let me speak to Vayde. I served in the temple of Nethys in Sothis and still wear the black and white; if nothing else we can at least discuss our respective religious philosophies. Perhaps that will win him over."
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"Vayde was interested in the Scriptorium in the first round of bidding, so trying to push him on that may be a good idea." agrees Bulgo.
He thinks through the areas.
"Finding out more about the bidders is starting to be less important maybe, as we are running short on time, but still hopefully relevant. That Aspsis woman has been hard bidding for the wharf, I almost wonder if it is even worth pushing anyone to go up against her in that area."
***
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In a quite moment Felicitas walks to Ramenhotel and speaks up.
"Listen, a lot of people are not that interested in the whart. Fools. The wharf is very valuable. Who controls the wharf controls the taxes. Controls docking fees. Controls the river. Has a chance for the first pick on exotic wares. Knows who enters.... who leaves. Use this knowledge as leverarge. If he is a religious man, and no doubt he is, he will want to control outside spheres of influence coming to the city. No matter where they end, they HAVE to enter via the dwarf! Also for an island city the defence lies in the marine. Who will be controlled... by those that controle the wharf."
To the others."Can anyone aid Ramenhotep? Or find Vaydes weak spot.
Tell me whom to influence?"
Late into the afternoon the following day, Irith invites the bidders and the party to a gilded banquet chamber within her lavish estate. She hosts an extravagant feast, serving 16 courses of rare and expensive delicacies from around the world. Between each course there's plenty of time for the guests to mingle and talk amongst themselves.
One of Irith’s most unusual offerings is a plate of poached chuul tentacles. Even after cooking, these tentacles contain a minor amount of paralytic venom. The servers confirm that, if eaten correctly, the poison is only enough to provide strange sensations on the inside of the mouth as a part of the dining experience.