The Eldar Seeress appears to genuinely surprised by your offer. She thinks it over for a long moment.
"I will tell you four things about Master Nonesuch. He did kill the the pair from Malfi. He didn't raise their corpses. He is not human at all. He is here to bid for statue of the cat-like thing; but he is only interested in the amulet it wears, which is a Halo Device."
Make a test of Forbidden Lore, either Xenos (+0) or Archaeotech (-10).
"My question for you is do you have a quick way off this accursed rock should a quick escape become necessary?
Babd Ra: "I sense a storm coming; Haarlock will have his revenge, and it will be legendary."
Yelisaveta smiles, hopefully hiding the fact that she had no idea what a Halo Device is. Whatever that is, sounds important, for a xeno to have come all the way here for it...
"Thank you.", she replies curtly, a knowing smile appearing on her face. "We know of a ship hidden somewhere on the isle. The ash is interfering with our augurs." She looks at Badb Ra, another itch of inferiority striking her as she faces the eldar. "Are you proposing an alliance of convenience?", she curls her lips.
"I don't expect to die here, a sacrifice to a dead's man megalomania; in the dark hours ahead I won't raise my hands against you."
She pauses.
"I have a personal 'thopter on the island, but regrettably I could only take one, perhaps two passengers. "
Behind your back Rubio storms off fuming.
Those watching The Abbot and Greel see that the pair have reached some kind of deal. The Abbot is looking very satisfied. Greel is conferring with some underlings.
Yelisaveta raises an eyebrow. Working with a xeno was one thing, joining it on its ship was a thing entirely. "Non-violence is a greater deal than many that would be done today. If you would excuse me, I believe I have arrangements to make. And I would hope I wouldn't have to rely on your hospitality.", she bows down, smiling at the Eldar.
Tapping his ear, her somewhat annoyed voice sounds in the ears of the inquisitorial retinue. "We need to bet on the cat. Nonesuch is some foul xeno wearing a human's skin, and he's after an artefact. I also got confirmation that it was indeed him killing the two idiots. I believe our first order would be finding that ship that was mentioned. I have a feeling that this place is about to get a lot less hospitable, and soon.", she finishes, staring at Greel with the corner of her eye.
"Do we have any leads on the ship?"
Alekseevna: "Send a messenger to Master Nonesuch, Abbott Tamas has convinced me that there should be a demonstration of the Gilded Widow's oracular powers before the actual bidding begins.".
Allrianne: No, at this point all you have regarding the hidden ship are a few unsubstantiated rumors. Perhaps your contact Locutor Mayweather may know more.
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Yelisaveta nods at nobody in particular, her eyes turning cold all of a sudden, as a wicked smile flashes across her face for a second. You're not doing that, сволоч., she thinks, looking at the two communicating. She looks around for a second, before tapping into her vox-bead, relaying to the ears of the entire retinue.
"There will be a demonstration of the oracular powers of the Gilded Widow soon, and for Master Nonesuch nonetheless. There will be a messenger going for him. I'd say shoot the messenger, but you've always been so much more... resourceful in those things. Prevent him coming for as long as possible.", she curls her lips in a wicked smile.
"Konstantine, Albaras, find Locutor Mayweather, and aid him in finding the ship. Any means necessary, shoot the incompetent guards here if you need to. And enjoy yourselves.", she smiles.
Yelisaveta marches gleefully towards the Gilded Widow, and greets Mourner Greel with a smile. "Mourner! I'd like to open the bid for the Gilded Widow. It's so... beautiful, is it not?"
200,000 Thrones.
"The formal bidding begins later," Greel says, with a sly smile. "Don't you want to hear the Queen of Secrets speak first?"
The Eldar woman has stopped in front of the Silver Key, which she's studying intently.
Octavia Niles is flirting with Konstantin: she keeps circling back to the subject of the two Malfians that were killed, apparently 'repeatedly', last night.
Allrianne scans the room for a messenger/anyone heading out of the room. If no-one seems to be moving with purpose towards an exit, she will head out in the rough direction of nonesuch.
"Noted.", Emerik replied, withdrawing from the room to retrieve his gear.
"Repeatedly? That sounds rather desturbing. How does one get killed repeatedly?" he looks at her. Making sure he is paying close attention to her and that she knows it
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Niles: "I heard that they were corpses animated by some fell necromancy!"
Allrianne, Albaras: Rubio, after a quick circuit of the exhibition hall, has also left for the lower levels.
Having retrieved his weapons and armaments, Emerik began to hunt for Mayweather.
He smiles and puts a hand on her shoulder
"Do not fear my dear. I doubt anything as heretical as that was happening. Even if it was. Myself and the others gathered here will be sure to protect those who can not. And protect you"
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Nile appears to be a little flushed.
Albaras, you certainly feel more certain of yourself as you holster your guns.
Binerith pulls up a guest directory, and identifies Mayweather's room on a lower level.
He simply gives her a wink before he beckons another drink for the two of them
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Exhibition Hall: One of the Mourners is fussing with the Gilded Widow; he fusses with some gear-work in the back, then, after a moment of meditation, carefully takes the cards from out beneath her enamel fingers, and shuffles them.
Living Quarters: After arming themselves the band stalks to the door of Mayweather's room. There is no response to your repeated buzzing.
Allrianne retrieves her multi-key, "Am I opening this up?"
Emerik nodded, moving to cover the door just in case.
Allrianne drops down to one knee for a closer look at the lock.
Allrianne overrides the lock and then moves to the side of the door before opening it up.
The door swings opens, revealing a dimly lit room; identical to yours. There is a slight funk to the air; the smell of sweat and cheap amasec.
In classic fire-drill you spread out through the rooms.
Mayweather is sprawled, apparently unconscious, in his bed, empty bottles scattered across the floor.
Holstering one gun, Emerik leaned over and picked a bottle up, sniffing the contents. He assumed it was alcohol, and likely not one a low born NCO would know, but the strength might give them a hint how likely he was to wake up.
Mayweather's Quarters : From the looks of things it'll be several hours before Mayweather will be mobile.
The Exhibition Hall : Master Nonesuch arrives, apparently in response to Greel's summon. Abbot Tamas noticeably blanches at his arrival. Marshrek reappears too. The Provost Hiram Bland (a civilian functionary, nominally the Imperial administrator) is present, looking somewhat anxious.
Bland:"Greel, I was told nothing about this demonstration! What are you playing at?"
Konstantine slowly puts distance between himself and some of those gathered. This may go either way. And having room to manuever will be appreciated. Rather safe than sorry
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Exhibition Hall :
Greel pointedly makes a show of ignoring the Provost, and instead fusses with the Widow, making small adjustments to her dress, and sensually caressing her enameled hands.
Greel: "A demonstration of the Widow's prophetic powers will surely be most instructive. "
Living Quarters :
Allrianne examines Mayweather and tries to wake him "I'm much better at doing this the other way around... though I think I can bring him back to us."
You figure a couple of grains of Maidensfoil should do the trick.
Exhibition Hall: A smirking Greel retreats to the back of the room, to take up a position besides a statue of a long-faced saint: it appears that just for a moment he takes a quick glance into the shadows behind the statue.
The diffident scholar Lanus Cisten has sheepishly made his way back into the hall.
All eyes are upon the Gilded Widow, which begins to move; turning over cards and spreading them before her.
The Widow speaks, her voice lilting and musical. "What secrets would you like teased out from the loom of fate?"
Konstantine keeps his eyes on Greel now. Does he have aome hidden weapon? Best make sure he's ready
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There's a moment of awkward silence, and the Octavia Nile calls out:
"What are you!"
The voice of of the Gilded Widow is precise and lilting, and somehow as cold as the void, and weirdly reminiscent of the eerie wail of the Shale Crows, on distant Iocanthos.
"I am she who my father froze in her beauty and grief; alone and weeping forever I shall sit, cursed to foretell and to know, but never act or feel, save for the void that hungers evermore within."
Deguerre doesn't have use psyncience to know that weird and damnable psychic powers are at play.
The living quarters : So you get a reeling Mayweather on his feet.
The exhibition hall : There's a moment of confused silence, and then Nile again shouts out:
"Who are we?"
Emerik poured stuff down Mayweather's throat until something interesting happened. Maybe he should brew some sentry duty level recaff...
Mayweather: "Emperor's Throne! Enough! I'm up!"
He grabs up a bottle, drains the remaining final dregs. "You want to get out of this accursed place now! I just hope it's not too late!"
"Too late? For what?"
"I never wanted to be here," Emerik muttered as he watched the man drain the booze with a small shudder.
Exhibition Hall:
Konstantine: There is something in the shadowy alcove behind the statue. A weapon perhaps?
The Living Quarters :
A still drunk Mayweather: "Yes! The ship! I didn't see it, it was some guardsmen--they found it while on patrol--they told me!"
Mayweather, in response to Allrianne's question: "Death and horror, that's what coming! Can't you feel it!"
"Not a psyker gene in me," Emerik said proudly. "But given this place, I'm not shocked. Got any details?"
Mayweather: "The Head Mourner, Greel; he knows something! He's like a red-fanged hound among the grox calves!
The Exhibition Hall :
The Gilded Widow : "You are serpents of lies and self-deluded fools. You are those who have come to despoil the dead...but will so very soon join their number."
Mayweather, after grabbing another bottle: "Come on, lets go; there'll be someone in the guardroom who can tell us where they saw this ship!"
As he leads you through the cyclopaen halls you note that the members of the Sorrowful Guild don't seem to be present in anything like their normal numbers.
Keeping an eye on Mayweather and a hand on his holster, Emerik followed.
A newly energized Mayweather leads you at a brisk pace through the labyrinthine corridors of the place; stopping before a stout door.
"It will be so good to be off the this throne forsaken rock!"
He punches the buzzer repeatedly.
There's no response.
"That's odd."