As Auriel mills about, carrying various trays to no place in particular and otherwise appearing busy, the first guest arrives. A young man, his strawberry-blonde hair is long and unruly across his shoulders, in sharp contrast to his neatly trimmed moustache. Mar Bannock stands to one side of the main entrance. After the man, who is alone, passes through the laughable security, Bannock intones, "Councillor Byron Pellerin."
Laya blushes. "Oh, my apologies, Markiv. I thought I'd heard you refer to it that way yourself."
Markiv replies to Heward,
He turns to the their hosts,
Laya perks up as soon as she hears the voice from below. "Even if he is inside already, we have to find him. Which means we should start now. Everyone should get to their positions." She hurries to the door. "And don't forget to spread flour on the floor!" she calls back.
She heads to where the enjoiner is normally on display and casts detect magic. She'll maintain and recast the spell as much as she can.
"Oh, no apolo-" Markiv starts, but Laya is already continuing on excitedly, then dashes from the room.
Once Garidan replies to Markiv's question, the summoner will leave the library as well.
Now that people have begun arriving, the staff leaps to an even more frenzied level of activity. All animosities between the different staffs vanish (or at least are suppressed) now that it's showtime.
"Hi! Are you new, too?" a high-pitched voice with the accents of Lowcleft says from behind Auriel. Turning, she sees a small halfling woman. Petite, even for a halfling, she holds a tray much larger than herself with great ease and expertise. "I'm new, too, though I don't remember from the staff meeting this morning. I'm Teeka Fullbottom. The orange-skinned guy over there is Kael. He's new, too, and doesn't talk much - I think he's got some hobgoblin in him or something," she giggles. "Old baldy over there is Wallis. He's new too. We new people should stick together. Isn't Chef just a complete jerk? Oh well, these digs beat bussing tables in Lowcleft and at least here nobody's grabbing my bottom. What's your name?"
Auriel smiles with delight at the familiar accent. "Auriel," she answers, seeing no reason not to use her real name. "You're from Lowcleft! I am, too. Well, not originally, but I got there as soon as I could, if you know what I mean. And I, uh ...," she lowers her voice conspiriatorially, "I was asleep in my bed during the staff meeting this morning. Late night last night and all. I don't plan on doing this for a living. It's just a gig, you know. Although if my mother knew where I was tonight, she'd just faint away in rapture. A nobleman's house and all." She rolls her eyes to indicate how square she thinks her mother is. "Chef's already chased me out of the kitchen once for spilling something," she tells Teeka. "I'm trying to keep a low profile and stay out of his way."
She glances around at the other servers Teeka described as "new." It hadn't occurred to her before that their mark might try to hide himself the same way she was. Can summoners disguise themselves magically? she wonders. Wish I'd thought to ask Pops. Orange skin-paint could cover tattoos, and a bald head was part of Mikobar's description. She peers at the two servers Teeka referred to as Kael and Wallis, trying to see if either of them could be the summoner in disguise.
"... Would you agree Hawk Dancer? Is his style to barge in, or insinuate himself inside?"
Garidan offers Markiv a quizzical look,
'Why ask me?' he retorts, obviously confused, 'I'm the only one who's never encountered the man, invisible or not.'
'... I'm Teeka Fullbottom...'
Awgin begins spreading flour on the floor in expanding circles from whomever has the Enjoiner.
"But you know of him," Markiv replies, then shrugs. "It doesn't really matter. Either he's here, or he's going to be here. Either way, we stop him tonight."
Markiv heads out to patrol the grounds.
I know.
Heward takes up his post at the door. He briefly considers hiding in another room, but knows stealth is not his strong suit. He plants the butt of his halberd by his left foot and stands, looking left and right.
As Laya ducks into the sculpture room, Heward plants himself in front of the library. He's scarcely there five minutes when the door at one end of the hallway opens and a lady in an exquisite ball gown emerges. Standing at a height of over six feet and incredibly thin, she would seem to be gangly and awkward save for the incredible grace of her movements. Her facial features are likewise long and thin and would seem bird-like save for the sharp intelligence behind her cool blue eyes.
Lady Millis, save for a single arched eyebrow, doesn't even acknowledge Heward's presence as she waits at the top of the stairs. She doesn't wait long before Lord Millis emerges from a door at the other end (the end next to the sculpture room). He gives a small start upon seeing Heward and scowls, but doesn't comment. He makes his way into the sculpture room, giving a start at Laya, and continues on to the door at the other end, where he knocks. After a heartbeat, he opens the door, and says, "My, how lovely you look. My own little lady. It is time, my dear. Give your mother and I five minutes and then make your entrance."
"As you say, daddy," a light, feminine reply comes from the room. Lord Millis returns to the top of the stairs, frowning again at Heward, and takes his wife's arm in his and escorts her down the stairs.
Auriel peers intently at two of her "colleagues", looking for evidence that one of them is the twisted summoner Veristan. Wallis moves about, going through the motions of being a server, but stops far too long to look at different pieces of art and sculpture, studying each with more interest than a food server should have. Kael doesn't give any outward sign of evil intent, but Auriel does notice that the white collar of his uniform has a slight orange tinge to it.
Before Auriel can move to investigate either man further, there is a sudden quieting in the room and Mar Bannock intones, "His Lordship and Her Ladyship, Lord Stafford Millis and Lady Marina Millis." All eyes turn to the staircases which lead up and Auriel sees a handsome couple resplendant in enough fine clothing to feed Rag's End for a week, wih the right buyer. Their arrival creates quite a stir among the few guests, and by the time the commotion has died down, both Kael and Wallis have left the main hall.
The door to Benessa Millis' room opens again, and a young lady comes out. Short, thin, and vivacious, she is a bundle of teenage energy. Her hair curls teasingly about her face, while her eyes hide a smoky sultriness. She smiles pleasantly at Laya, although confusion fills her eyes.
Benessa gives a small start at seeing Heward guarding the library, which she quickly covers over with a warm, deep smile. "Does my father really think that his guests are going to be interested in his precious book collection tonight?" she asks him playfully. "Or are you my handsome escort?"
At Lord and Lady Millis' appearance, Heward straightens up into his best parade rest. He remains impassive and tries to look alert while the lord and lady are in view.
He tries to do the same as Benessa emerges, but her teasing is too pleasant. He whispers through nearly fixed lips.
"I'm sure you could do much better than me, ma'am. I hope you have a very pleasant evening."
"Oooh! So modest. Well, if you are not my escort, perhaps you can help me. My maids didn't do a proper job buttoning me up." She turns her back towards Heward. "Perhaps you could finish for me? The buttons just down by my waist."
All of the doors, save those to the kitchens, are open at this time, as there is entertainment and refreshment to be found in all of the rooms.
Auriel berates herself for letting herself get distracted by His Lordship's and Her Ladyship's grand entrance. She snatches up a serving tray and begins smilingly to circulate throughout the party area, trying to pass quickly through each of the open rooms to try to catch a glimpse of either Kael or Wallis. How hard could it be to spot a big, orange guy? she asks herself.
Auriel moves about, searching for her quarry. She goes through all the party rooms with no luck and is returning to the main entrance when she sees Kael emerge from the kitchens with a tray of hors d'ouvres in hand. As Auriel moves to get a better look at the orange guy, she catches movement out of the corner of her eye, spotting Wallis nonchalantly heading up the stairs with a covered tray.
Heward stands like a sun-dazzled orc. There's just too many ways to get into trouble here. Innocent as helping her would be, if the wrong someone came upon them and word got back to Stafford.... Erastil help me. She's pretty.
Heward mumbles an apology, "too clumsy for such service, would wrinkle your fine linen." His eyes dart around the room. He can't look at her. Finally his eyes fix on Laya. Help?
Auriel watches Willis head up the stairs, torn about what she should do. Maybe the butler told him to take them some food. They're all up there ready for him anyway. Once he's upstairs, he's their responsibility; if I leave, no one's keep an eye out down here. He's probably just a garden-variety thief, looking to pocket a little "tip" from His Lordship. He could just like art. If it's our guy, they'll need me down here to get everyone out before the house falls on them. I can get people out; can't fight him or his snake. The list of reasons to stay put run through her mind. She turns her back on the stairs and focuses on Kael. Picking up a tray of goblets, she begins to follow him through the rooms, offering drinks to everyone who takes a bite to eat from his tray.
Heward stands like a sun-dazzled orc. There's just too many ways to get into trouble here. Innocent as helping her would be, if the wrong someone came upon them and word got back to Stafford.... Erastil help me. She's pretty.
Heward mumbles an apology, "too clumsy for such service, would wrinkle your fine linen." His eyes dart around the room. He can't look at her. Finally his eyes fix on Laya. Help?
"Linen?" she retorts affectionately. "My, you're cute. This is silk, not linen. See? Smooth!" Before he can stop her, she grabs one of his hands and runs it along the small of her back, around the side, to the front, and...
"Nessa. Does Father know you're up here petting the guards instead of getting ready to meet Society?" a young, haughty man's voice calls out from the entrance to the art gallery (not the sculpture room). From the tone of his voice, he could easily have been asking if Stafford knew she was jumping on the furniture.
Benessa shoves Heward's hand away so quickly and violently, he nearly falls over. "I could fill a library's worth of books with the stuff Daddy doesn't know about me. Unlike you, whose seed drips from every unattached lady in the city, and some of the attached ones, I take a bit of care. I have subtlty."
The young man barks a laugh. "Yes, you were being very subtle just now when you started to climb up onto this guard's polearm."
"What do you want, Thery?"
"Have you forgotten already? It's my job to escort you out to take your place in society."
Thery offers his sister an arm and the two make their way down. On their way down, they pass an older, balding man in a white uniform moving up the stairs and towards rhe center.
Surprise. Confusion. Realization. Embarassment.
Heward recovers quickly enough when he sees the older servant climbing the stairs. He waits until the young Staffords are past the servant before challenging him.
"The party is downstairs, sir. No one is allowed up here tonight."
The bald man looks at Heward in shock and fear flits across his face. "I'm sorry, sir, but I was sent up by Lady Marina with a food tray for her handmaids. They're in her room. She'll be very upset if I come back down without delivering it. Please don't do that to me! I need this job!"
Handmaidens? How many people are up here with us?"Stay there."Heward jerks his head toward Laya, then advances to the top of the stairs and looks down on the man a few steps below him.
"Open it." He tips the halberd's point toward the covered dish.
Sense Motive
The bald man lifts the lid to reveal two large cold meat pies and utensils.
Laya moves to the doorway to get a good look at what Heward is doing and who he's talking to. She begins concentrating.
Laya detects no magic coming from the bald man.
Occasionally glancing at Laya, Heward watches the man until the halfling signals the food is clear.
"Leave it here. We'll see it gets to the maids."
Assuming the man complies, Heward asks Laya to take the tray in to the maids and have a look around while she's at it.
Laya hesitates a moment, a bit unsure about leaving the room she's supposed to be watching, but then moves forward and takes the tray. She waits for the man to turn around before taking it to the maids.
"Tell them to stay in there, Laya. The last thing we need is them running around up here."
Wallis looks at Heward, his tray, and back at Heward. He looks angry. "I don't understand why you won't just let me do my job! Lady Marina will hear of this!"
He turns about and marches back down the stairs. He dies not leave his tray.
Bluff:
Laya watches the man return back down the stairs and shrugs. "I highly doubt he has the right to just walk up to Lady Marina and complain," she says. "There are several ranks of servants between him and her. It will have to be passed through each of them before she hears of it. More likely, his immediate superior will come to see what the fuss is before passing it along any further." She returns to the sculpture room.
"I hope you're right. Maybe you should check on the maids anyway."
Heward frowns. Looks like we'll have more trouble if this gets back to Bannock.
Following Kael about gives Auriel a really good tour of the party and the lower floor. She sees Wallis make his way down the stairs shortly after he ascended, his tray is still in hand, and he looks angry. He spends some time near the bottom of the stairs, peering up occasionally, but never trying to go up again (Heward notices him checking up the stairs occasionally to see if they're still guarded). After twenty minutes of that, Wallis seems to give up and actually starts doing his job as a waiter.
Auriel has really gotten into the flor of following the orange guy until she is rather rudely stopped by none other than Lord Stafford himself. He seems to have ditched his wife somewhere, and now has another woman on his arm. Striking eyes, brown with flecks of gold, stare out from below the brim of her stylish feathered hat. She moves with the grace of the finest finishing school graduate.
"Girl," Lord Stafford says, "run to the kitchens and find the bottle of 4358 Opare Merlot for Lady Phillipa here. The swill your boss brought us is nowhere nearly good enough." With that, Lord Stafford turns away, whispering with Lady Phillipa.
Laya nods and goes to check on the maids.
Laya nods and goes to check on the maids.
Laya checks on the maids. She knocks on the door to Lady Marina's room and gets no reply, and the door is locked.
Laya tries knocking again and calls out, "Hello? Were you expecting food?"
If there's no reply, she'll turn back to Heward. "No maids. That man must have been lying. Keep watch for him. If you see Auriel, direct her to keep an eye on him."
If there is a reply to the knock, she'll respond accordingly...
"Yes, your lordship," Auriel ducks her head subserviently, maintaining her cover. Let's liven this party up a little, she thinks to herself, as she enters the kitchen and looks around for someone in household livery who would know where the good wine is kept. "Lady Stafford asked for the 4358 Opare Merlot for Lady Phillipa?"
"Yes, your lordship," Auriel ducks her head subserviently, maintaining her cover. Let's liven this party up a little, she thinks to herself, as she enters the kitchen and looks around for someone in household livery who would know where the good wine is kept. "Lady Stafford asked for the 4358 Opare Merlot for Lady Phillipa?"
"Lady Marina wants the wine for Lady Phillipa?" the servant asks incredulously. "Does she want it poisoned or something?" the man asks the air as he heads off.
Edit: check that, you do find one further aura. Stuffed inside a book about hunting on one of the shelfs is a scrap of parchement, obviously used as a place marker, which radiates magic. Arcane runes cover the page.
Not wanting to tramp all over the carefully flour-coated floor, Garidan gestures towards a particular book on one of the shelves, its spine saying something about hunting,
'The enjoiner fragment seems to be the most overtly magical presence in the room and nearby,' he says to Calatin in a conversational manner, 'although that scrap of parchment you can just see sticking out of the book there also seems to radiate a magical aura, would you concur?'
Still maintaining his concentration as he continues to detect magic the Shoanti's brow furrows as he adds,
'It may bear investigation, if you can reach it without disturbing the flour, or it may be dangerous... do you think our host the sort of man to mystically trap his own books?'
"Yes, your lordship," Auriel ducks her head subserviently, maintaining her cover. Let's liven this party up a little, she thinks to herself, as she enters the kitchen and looks around for someone in household livery who would know where the good wine is kept. "Lady Stafford asked for the 4358 Opare Merlot for Lady Phillipa?""Lady Marina wants the wine for Lady Phillipa?" the servant asks incredulously. "Does she want it poisoned or something?" the man asks the air as he heads off.
That should make for a good domestic scene, Auriel thinks to herself, unless she's so used to his fooling around that she's willing to put on a good face for her guests and chew him out later. She peeks back out the kitchen doors to see if anything out of the ordinary is going on and if Kael is anywhere in view.
If Awgin did his job right, you can't.
Calatin certainly can't get to it. I would say that Awgin or Garidan could if they were reasonably careful. They could then hand the paper to Calatin for study, which would appear to be a scroll of some kind.
"Maybe you should check the other rooms," Heward suggests to Laya. "There might be other people up here."
The House Millis porter arrives back with the bottle of 4358 Opere Merlot, slightly dusty still from its time in the wine cellar. He also gives her a tray with two sparkling crystal wine glasses. "For Lady Phillipa and ... Lady Marina?" he says, turning the last part into a question.
