End of an Era, Dawn of an Era; if a Crown should Fall...

Game Master Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal

Martella Lotheed * stands before you in a private chamber in the cozy cafe the four of you have come to know quite well over the past few weeks. "Wonderful, you're all here, now the fun starts." An impish dimple 'next a crook'd smirk hints at more fun for some than others.

*: pg. 4 War for the Crown Player's Guide

Mairwen raises her hand a bit timidly, "Ummmm...excuse me, but could you please tell us what we're doing here?"

Venetia looks around the room, clearly uncomfortable but poised enough to remain silent.

Dotty dot

"And what fun would that be, Marmar?" the obviously otherworldly woman asked, sharp teeth peaking out behind blue stained lips, as she set out slowly dropping sugars into her tea till it had a nice syrupy consistency. Her voice was sleepy, and there was dark circles around her eyes, though she did not yawn.

Elyana had arrived at the appointed place at the appointed time and was surprised to find others there. She hadn't realized that Martella had invited others but she supposed she should have known as much. She eyed each of the new people, women all, and tried to categorize each of them. One was obviously a human, the second a half-elf, what the third one was she had no clue. Her best guess was a tiefling, she'd met some of them before, but she didn't look quite right for that. Shrugging slightly she filed the thought away for later and took a seat at the table.

As Martella spoke Elyana nodded and said, "I've noticed your definition of fun can be questionable at times Martella," she arched one eyebrow, "as I recall the last time you told me that I found myself having dinner with that trade factor only to be interrupted by his harridan wife who wanted to kill us both thinking we were his mistresses." though her words might have sounded sarcastic to most to Martella they were laced with wry amusement.

Lips twitching at the chiding from the two seemingly best acquainted with her, Martella directs her attention to the priestess. "In one week's time, our Nation's annual Day of Exaltation* will take place. That same day, our illustrious Senate will vote upon one of the most important decisions of our storied history."
"You-" she continues, "are here to do your own, small part, to see to it that Taldor stride forth, gloriously, into the Future."

*the Day of Exaltation is a yearly event wherein one person of common birth is elevated to the peerage.

"Ahhh...I see, and how exactly do you propose that we do that?" She asks while smiling sweetly.

”Knocking door to door? Bribes? Cookies? Shaking people down, no that won’t work. Let’s go with cookies.” Sarada rambled, she seemed to be thinking aloud rather than trying to answer the question.

She shakes her head, "I don't think I should bake any cookies, unless your goal is to poison them. Then by all means, show me to the kitchen." She says with a laugh.

"Assassination is an option too, though usually as a last resort.' the woman nonchalantly muses along, finally starting to sip her tea.

Mairwen giggles.

Sarada stops mid-sip to smile when she hears giggles before she resumes.

Mairwen tries to get herself under control and adopt a semi serious expression on her face as she waits to hear what Martella has in mind.

"There will be NO Assassinations!" Martella declaims quellingly. "Well, possibly some character assassination..." she muses, her eyes slipping from one to another of you.

"Oppara was not built in a day. Neither will the realization of our ambitions."

"You-" her eyes lock Elyana beneath her gaze, "hope to avenge you father. A virtuous goal, though possibly naive." Martella's expression grows pensive, withdrawn.
Shaking herself slightly, she peers now towards Mairwen, "You..."

"bemuse me."

"Your...
Cousin & I have discussed you at length." Martella quips almost flippantly, seemingly skipping Sarada as she directs her attention finally to Venetia. "You, on the other hand. Of all present this afternoon, none seem so...
purpose-crafted for what is to come as you."

"It is said," Martella contemplates as she allows her attention to wander from the four of you to some...
puckish thought, "those who enjoy sausage & have a respect for the law should witness neither being made."

I find it inordinately amusing that only one of the PC's names does not end in A...

*Shrugs* What can I say? I like being the oddball?

Mairwen just sits quietly and tries to keep a straight face, while still waiting to hear exactly what Martella wanted them to do.

Venetia's lips twitch slightly as the others joke with Martella. She barely trusted her new benefactor, how could she be expected to trust three strangers who seemed to take this matter lightly? She shifts in her seat, giving Martella a slight nod when she is addressed.

"It is said," Martella contemplates as she allows her attention to wander from the four of you to some...

puckish thought, "those who enjoy sausage & have a respect for the law should witness neither being made."

"So you've gathered all us nectar drinking Fireflies here, actually no wait, how do you know some of us don't like sausage too?" Sarada asks after finishing her tea and licking the cup clean with her serpentine tongue.

Elyana nodded in acceptance of Martella's observation of her and ignored the slight about her inability to ever see her goal and listened regardless. She was getting used to such verbal sparring and knew it was best to pick her battles. Her eyes lit in amusement at Sarada's words, it was obvious the strange woman didn't quite grasp the intention of the words. She glanced at Venetia at her slight nod in Martella's direction and made note of the reaction.

Focusing her attention on Martella, Elyana said, "It seems you have something in particular planned for us, some goal connected to the celebration, and have tried to gather a group that are willing to break the rules." She smiled slightly, "Further I think it has to do with the fact that men inherit all the power in this country or more specifically the throne." Despite her sometimes easygoing relationship with Martella, Elyana knew when to be serious and she suspected this was a time to be serious. "I take it we are to help bring down the rigidity that make for such a sausage fest and allow flowers to grow in their place?"

Caught off guard by Elyana's double entendre, a giggle slips past Venetia's lips followed by a snort before she could stop herself. Her eyes fall to her hands folded in her lap, Venetia's cheeks a rosy pink. Internally, she chides herself for being so easily amused by the joke, intentional or not.

I'm sorry...serious just isn't in my....nature. Life is better when you can laugh at it. Of course when we finally get down to the "meat" of our mission, I'll try to be a little more....conservative with my mirth.

Mairwen just keeps quiet and takes in what everyone was saying...or not saying as the case may be. She always did have a hard time dealing with more....serious issues. She always thought life was too short to be so serious all the time. Maybe when Martella actually got to the point of exactly what she needed them to do, she could better determine what kind of role she was supposed to play in all this, and be a little more.....professional.

She sighs to herself as the truth of Elyana's words sink in, "Yeah...I'm tired of the men always strutting around like peacocks, acting like they're soooo superior. I'm also tired of catering to their egos, and think it's time they learn that we are just as capable as they are." She says with a little decisive nod of her head as she crosses her arms in front of her.

Looking over at Venetia she smiles. It was good to know that the young woman actually had a sense of humor in there somewhere.

”Oh? Is that true? That sounds like fun.” Sarada adds after the ladies’ summations.

"Consider this the next step in your...
political education." Martella intones, "as I said before, 'shepherding' a law from initial concept to ultimate passage is a looong complex, multi-faceted enterprise. So for now I'm going to ease you in. While there are multiple tasks I could set to you for this event, there are four which sit most pressingly atop the list." Pausing, she seems to count each of you in the room, "oh look, there are four of you, how convenient!"
Eyebrow raised sardonically at any untoward tittering, giggling, chuckling or snickering, she proceeds. "Maintaining the kind of influence in the Senate necessary to successfully see to it that your own goals are forwarded frequently requires...
shall we say an ever renewing flow of alliances. Occasionally, these alliances require reminding, or impressing. Baron Nicolaus Okerra manages to be both. He is an ally, so don't ruffle his feathers, but let him know he isn't forgotten, eh?"
"Now it is not uncommon in these endeavors with so many 'moving parts' as-it-were, for some of the 'parts' to be either less or more 'moving' than originally believed to be the case. Which is to say, certain Senate votes may be in more question than I had originally believed. How they intend to vote is important, yes, but knowing, preferably before the vote itself is the greatest importance.
Nodding once more, Martella continues. "Of course, it is also important to...
chastise...
those 'allies' who decide they would prefer things remain the same rather than grow & improve."
"Finally, while it can be said that, ultimately our greatest opponent in this endeavor is stagnation itself, in this particular instance, such stagnant revulsion to growth & renewal is best personified by our renowned High Strategos Maxillar Pythareus. That one requires watching, carefully."

Mairwen just looks around at the others. She wanted to know what they thought of Martella's speech, since she still wasn't quite sure what she wanted them to actually do about the Senate. She didn't know how Martella wanted to use them to affect change. She understood what she meant about things needing to change, because she had also felt the need for a change in the way things were being done in the Senate. The question was, how were they supposed to go about doing that? Really, she just needed to be told exactly what she was supposed to do, or what her assignment was. She wasn't sure what her purpose was here, and she never liked feeling as if she was being kept in the dark.

So, she just sits quietly and sips on her tea as she waits to hear what the others think, or if Martella has specific assignments for them.

"oh look, there are four of you, how convenient!"

Sarada begins craning her head around the table to see who was all there and then after letting her eyes drift up before realization hit. "Oh right, me makes four."

"Sooooo you want us to make a good impression on Okerra and keep tabs on Max?" she asks Martella after trying to parse her spytalk.

Venetia attempts to conceal the look that crosses her face when Martella mentions Pythareus. She silently waits for Martella's response to Sarada's summation of the situation.

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 Same die! :3

Elyana listened to what Martella wanted of them carefully, as much as she liked Martella she sometimes wished she didn't have to read so much into her discussions. The Lady's words were like a freaking onion, layers upon layers and they could make you cry from the frustration of it all. Still she'd dealt with worse in her time, though it was only because of the inhumanity of the creatures and their far more direct and violent solutions.

There was no sense of humor in Eyana now as she spoke. "So, in essence, you want us to re-enforce the commitments of allies, sway those sitting on the fence to our view if possible, particularly Baron Okerra, make sure any allies who prefer things as they are vote as they should, find out what the result of the vote is likely to be, and keep an eye on the Enemy to prevent them from doing the same as we are." She arched one eyebrow, "Did I get that mostly right?"

"Yeah, that backs up what I said with a lot more words so I think we're on to something." Sarada offers before popping a sugar cube into her mouth.

Even though the other's summation of what Martella was saying seemed accurate ednough, she remains quiet while waiting for someone to tell her exactly what they wanted her to do about any of that stuff.

Smiling a trifle smugly at Elyana's concise summation, Martella inclines her head. "Mostly."
"You each have at least some of the skills needed for these tasks, consider which you feel most comfortable pursuing."

I've made a discussion post which addresses the mechanical particulars (including skiils necessary) for each task. Go ahead & read it if you haven't already.

*raises hand* I don't have any of those skills.

She raises her hand, "Ummmm...excuse me, but I'm not a spy, or someone that can easily hide among others. I'm not good at determining other's motives, and I suck at lying....so what exactly is it that you would like me to do? I might be able to help one of the others with talking to some of these people....but I think, and this is just me thinking out loud, that it would be better for us to pair up into teams and each take on two of the aforementioned tasks. Whichever ones our combined skills can manage. Would't that be better than risking one person missing something, or getting into trouble and not having anyone there to help them out? I would also think that this would help us solve these issues more effectively and efficiently." She pauses for a moment to smile sweetly at Martella, "Of course, you don't have to take my word for it."

The horror of this meeting finally dawns on Venetia. If her first impressions were correct, she possessed the necessary skills to weave and navigate through the current political minefield...and the other three had them to a lesser degree. She looks at Martella and then the others before finally speaking. "I don't work well with others and I don't know where your loyalties lie. If we must work together, I will give you my honesty, at least. Let it be known that I have a personal vendetta that I wish to settle in the near future and accomplishing Lady Lotheed's goals will aid me. I do not care for Taldor and I am no patriot. Political machinations have robbed me of any ideals."

She pauses before looking at Mairwen. "Your idea has merit. If you truly believe that your skills are not enough on your own, then, yes, we should pair up. However..."

Her eyes fall to Martella. "There is one task that I should not be a part of, lest this scheme falls apart."

Looking from Martella to Venetia she says, "I am being very honest. I don't know any other way of being. For something as important as this endeavor, I believe it is critical that we work together. Not one of us on our own can accomplish these goals. That is what I truly think. I know I may act silly sometimes, but that's just to...relieve the tension a little. I just can't be serious all the time....but about this...I am quite certain...that if we divide ourselves, we will fail." She takes a moment to make eye contact with each individual in the room before looking back at Venetia, "If there is a part of this endeavor that you know you can't or don't want to be a part of, then that's fine. We'll figure out a way of dealing with it, but I really do think it's for the best that we take on these issues together. WE are all stronger together, than we are apart."

Sarada nods along, while occasionally working her tongue into her empty teacup, apparently forgetting it was empty. Repeatedly. "I'm a bit elusive and a lurker, and a dabble here in there in more esoteric studies. And history. Don't know how much of use any of those would be to you and Euppy and the others here." She stops, a finger tapping on the edge of the cup before she sets it down. "Also I'm no good with locks and picking pockets despite being otherwise skilled with my hands and tail."

Turning to Mairwen she adds "I think working in a team would be best, you've already proven to be a lovely little bright spot, and not afraid to speak up, perfect for group work." Leaning forward so that she could see Venetia. "You know what you're doing and what you're capable of, or seem to anyway. But do you need a hug? Or a massage?"

Venetia raises an eyebrow. "No, thank you."

”Okay,” Sarada responds before grabbing another sugar cube and popping it into her mouth.

Elyana nodded slightly at the compliment for her summary and then listened to the thoughts of the others on this issue. As they spoke she considered carefully before replying, "I have some of the needed skill set as well, though it's hampered by where I learned it. I too agree that teaming up may be the best idea."

Elyana looked to Vanetia and said, "I understand the desire to work alone, you feel you can't trust anyone because they will betray you." She caught the woman's gaze and looked at her intently, "Believe me when I say I understand. You learn quickly to be slow to trust when a misstep might get you eaten when betrayed." She held the gaze and then continued, "But remember that allies are a necessity in life, no one can survive alone." She waited to see if Vanetia would break the gaze first and if she didn't held it long enough that breaking it herself would be much like a cat deciding the stare wasn't worth the effort any longer and her point was proven.

Elyana then turned to look at Mairwen, "Keeping your spirits up with humor is commendable, your wisdom in knowing you need help is passed only by your courage in admitting it." She held the same kind of gaze with Mairwen as she had with Venetia, "Just keep in mind that there is a time and place for it and you will do fine in life." Again she maintained that gaze as she had with Vanetia.

Finally Elyana turned to Sarada, "You are something new to me, but you seem...useful," she noticed the tongue lapping up the dregs of the cup, "if odd." There was a slight smile but she held the same gaze with Sarada as she had the other two, "Just remember to blend in as best you can at this gathering." once again she waited to break the gaze if Sarada didn't.

Elyana looked back to their hostess and asked, "what do we need to do to prepare and is there a way to stay in contact with you and each other during this affair?"

She shrugs while not breaking eye contact, "I'm just being honest. I know my limitations and I'm not afraid to admit them. Sometimes....having someone that doesn't trust as easily can be a good thing, it can keep things in perspective and could be useful in keeping someone who might be a little too trusting safe. There's nothing wrong with being a little naive, as long as you have someone to keep you grounded and you use your "innocence" to your advantage," She says with a smile. She seems to think for a moment, "The thing is, trying tuo figure out who we should pair up with to best compensate for what the other lacks, and then figuring out which tasks each group should handle."

”I try to be,” Sarada responds to Elyana, becoming transfixed by her stare. ”And I’ll try... you have such pretty eyes.” she adds, making it apparent she wasn’t locking gazes with the woman anymore as much as gazing at her.

Venetia keeps her eyes fixed on Elyana as the other woman stares at her.

Intimidate (cuz it's funny): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Mairwen can't help the giggle that escapes her as the two women stare at each other intently.

After a beat Sarada reaches out her hand to paw the air inbetween Venetia and Elyana. ”Can... almost... grasp it...”

Mairwen breaks down into all out laughter, "What are....you doing Sarada? They're just...staring at each other....I'm not sure why. Please....please ladies....can we just....get back to...it?" She says between fits of laughter while trying to catch her breath.

Elyana arched one eyebrow imperiously at Vanetia, "And now you show a childish streak I thought you were aboive. You intimidate one whom you don't know, with no idea of what they might or would do to you in return?" Her expression turned very cold then as she continued, "I was born and raised in the Courts of Geb little girl, where you would have been eaten by something long ago with your bravado. I've been exposed to things you'd best pray you never have to face since I was a child." She glared right back, "If you want to see real fear though, I can make that happen."

Venetia folds her arms. "I don't appreciate being stared at...or measured...or whatever it is you were doing. This is not bravado and I am fully prepared to defend myself if need be. I will not be cowed by anyone."

Hearing the tone in Elyana's voice and knowing that this could go south and very very quickly she gets her laughter under control while standing up and holding out her arms in an entreating manner, "Whoa...whoa....okay, I think things are just getting a little out of hand. I don't think either one of you meant any harm with the comical staring contest. We are not here to work against each other, or put on airs for each other." She looks at Elyana, "It matters not where you came from, because you are HERE now. No one is calling either one of you into question, or saying anything about your upbringing. We are all here with the same goal, more or less, in mind and so....we need to get it together and find a way of working together to make things happen in order to produce a more favorable outcome. If you two aren't careful, I'm gonna make all of us have a group hug. Do what ever you have to do to deal with your past, but then get over it and move on. It's time to put childish things behind us, and look towards our future." She says while trying to calm the situation.

diplomacy...Can't we all just get along?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

”The tension, I can almost grab it.” Sarada tells Mairwen before things go south. ”Ohhhh, spooky? Can you make ghosts?” she asks Elyana as they talk.