Sad to admit that making ladies smile just encourages me... So I continue witty wordplay with The Crabbes, mock apologizing for assaulting an unarmed man in a battle of wits. But I'm keeping the mood light and encouraging some breakfast cocktails and keeping up the revelry.
to Influence Dame and Sepsinia Crabbe thanks to bonuses from previously.
FAILED
Lord Xavien is feeling quite ravenous---jousting is hard work, after all---and his attention is directed most immediately to the food. However, he finds himself at the elbow of Tribune Onora, and engages her in some easy conversation on the provenance of various dishes arrayed before them, and especially those that are native to the local county.
Kenton locks eyes with the Baroness and gives the slightest nod when he notices her displeasure at the sheep parade. Is that really necessary...?
◆◆◆ ◆◆◆ ◆◆◆ ◆◆◆
Kenton engages in table talk as the meal progresses; he seeks to sway Onora, and drops subtle inquiries about the welfare of common folk and how they fare under the Count.
His questions are framed so that the Honorary Tribune can say much more with what their answers do not address than with what is said.
Ianthe turns her attention to the Tribune.
But, she is distracted by the gazpacho before she can do more than introduce herself.
Leo keeps trying to gain a foot hold on the Tribune...
Aurelia makes a point to support her sister-in-spells, joining her, Kenton, and Leo in their conversation with Onora Piscum.
She does her best, but it's perhaps not quite enough.
Whislt Sepsinia remains completely shielded by Dame Crabbe, Corran finds himself dialed in, easily winning favor with her.
Lord Xavien's delivery in conversation isn't the best, but he does strike upon the Tribune's favorite subject. He finds her enthusiasm for conversation growing.
When Kenton jumps in, she finds herself surprised at how many people actually care about the land and people itself, beyond just the word "Stachys" on a strategic map.
Gazpacho, while popular in aristocratic circles, is NOT a commoner's dish. Ianthe fails to break into the budding conversation.
Luckily for Leo, it's easy to talk from the stomach, and he too jumps in. With half the team winning over the Honorary Tribune, it seems like you're building a new friend.
Aurelia finds her part of the conversation shunted towards Ianthe instead of the Tribune herself, resulting in no new social capital.
Turn 2 of 2:
Kenton Bowe: Go
Lady Aurelia Basri: Go
Lord Corran Clement: Go
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Go
Corran steals a glance at The Count but finds himself inexplicably resentful of the man. I just met the gentleman... But the idea that he's made life difficult for Marty is making my blood boil! Ugh. Heh... Marty and Barty. I'll have to tease her about that later. Anyway, stay clear until you get your feelings under control.
He turns back to Dame Crabbe and smiles genuinely at her. Pleasant lady if perhaps a bit much. She'll never make a match for Sepsinia if she doesn't let her take the spotlight a little more. She's over protective of the lady. I wonder what will get to Sepsinia?
Discover Angle. I will try Knowledge (Nobility) hoping to get the extra result.
Xavien spots Corran's involuntary expression of disgust, and decides to take it upon himself to engage their injured host. He thanks the Tribune for her conversation and seizes a goblet of wine from a passing server. He downs it, eying the Count.
"My dear Count Bartleby, what a relief to see you returned so quickly and in good health," Lord Xavien opens with a polite bow. "I must say that I am surprised your enemies would dare such a foolish and cowardly attack! I do not mind a settling of differences, as it were, but straight at 'em, I always say."
He watches the Count carefully for his reply.
Sadly, Corran has a large piece of basil in his teeth...
Xavien goes for broke, talking directly to the count. He manages to undo the damage Corran did, "Forsooth! The desperate often make foolish moves, much like a cornered animal. Yet here I am, hosting dinner as intended. Quite telling, don't you think?"
Turn 2 of 2:
Kenton Bowe: Go
Lady Aurelia Basri: Go
Lord Corran Clement: Fail
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Influence Success (Count Bartleby)
Kenton tries to participate in Xavien's conversation, trying to make it so he doesn't appear to be butting in. Who would see you dead, cousin? To what end, I wonder?
With the baron finally free from the joust, Aurelia glides toward the man. "A pleasure to see you again, Baron Okerra. May I first commend you on your performance during the joust. Clearly you are an experienced horseman."
Ianthe takes a glass of wine from a passing steward and approaches the Crabbe's and tries to engage the duo, hoping to help her brother and draw out some of their other interests.
Kenton fails to break into the conversation. It's slightly frustrating. It seemed like he had an in, but he just didn't look the part.
Lady Ianthe hones in on Dame Crabbe. She concludes that the Dame also loves a good story. She perks up for every entertaining anecdote in conversation.
Lady Aurelia finds the Baron already in a good mood, and her conversation reinforces it as he talks to her about the freedom that comes from mildly dangerous competition.
Turn 2 of 2:
Kenton Bowe: Fail
Lady Aurelia Basri: Influence Success (Baron Okerra)
Lord Corran Clement: Fail
Lady Ianthe Clement: Angle Success (Dame Crabbe)
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Influence Success (Count Bartleby)
Leo wanders over to offer his own congratulations to the Baron on his athletic feats.
Leo talks shop with the Baron and finds it to be an easy conversation!
After the feast, servants clear away the tables and chairs and—to a fanfare of trumpets—six halflings dressed as Taldan heroes of lore enter, riding in gaudily painted miniature chariots each pulled by dogs. Servants rush to lay out a race course as the drivers perform japes and buffoonery for the wildly laughing aristocrats.
The rules for the chariot race are very simple: the halflings race about the ballroom three times, dodging a series of obstacles on the way, while the guests look on and cheer their champions. To spice things up, each guest is given three silken sachets filled with brightly colored powder to hurl at racers in an attempt to blind them.
You note Sir Gusairne’s disdain of the event. Refraining might curry favor with him.
You have ONE Social Round here.
Turn 1 of 1:
Kenton Bowe: Go + Participate?
Lady Aurelia Basri: Go + Participate?
Lord Corran Clement: Go + Participate?
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go + Participate?
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go + Participate?
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Go + Participate?
nope
Despite his general fondness for games and frivolity, Lord Xavien finds this spectacle distasteful. He keeps his silken sachets sealed, and keeps up the conversation with Baron Okerra.
"I much preferred the joust. Don't you?"
Corran wears his heart on his sleeve here--he visibly doesn't like this contest and will NOT participate. Is it worse for the Halflings or the Dogs? He honestly can't decide.
He makes another attempt at learning more about Sepsinia and what it'll take to get Her attention instead of Dame Crabbe's. The Dame is lovely, but I'm intrigued. What's it going to take?
Discover Angle? Or is this a Weakness?
Xavien continues to ride his new-found fame with the Baron. The discussion turns towards stories of jousts past. He largely ignores the ignoble spectacle.
Corran can't help but notice that Sepsinia barely speaks, acts withdrawn, and does NOT want to be here. He concludes that something is either wrong with her right now, or she has reason to hate being here...
Turn 1 of 1:
Kenton Bowe: Go + Participate?
Lady Aurelia Basri: Go + Participate?
Lord Corran Clement: Uncover Weakness (Dame Crabbe)
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go + Participate?
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go + Participate?
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Successful Influence (Okerra)
Cleo doesn't participate. He finds the antics demeaning to the halfling race.
"Why Halfings?" whispers to himself. His face is a frozen smile.
Aurelia also abstains from the 'game', finding it to be incredibly distasteful.
"I admit that most of the jousting I've seen has been by my cousins," she says to the baron, piggybacking on the topic at hand. "I'd be curious to hear more about the technique involved."
Lady Aurelia delivers a masterclass in timing and tone as she slides into the conversation. The Baron finds it engaging and appreciates the quality of the discussion.
Turn 1 of 1:
Kenton Bowe: Go + Participate?
Lady Aurelia Basri: Successful Influence (Okerra)
Lord Corran Clement: Uncover Weakness (Dame Crabbe)
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go + Participate?
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Successful Influence (Okerra)
He does take the opportunity to try again with the Count, offering up his silken sachets to his "cousin" when the latter runs out. You'll have more luck at it than I, surely.
It's more the halflings.
Kenton actually makes headway with the count, and the gift of the sachet helps. Still, Bartleby is less than friendly, more interested in spectacle than conversation.
Turn 1 of 1:
Kenton Bowe: GSuccessful Influence (Bartleby)
Lady Aurelia Basri: Successful Influence (Okerra)
Lord Corran Clement: Uncover Weakness (Dame Crabbe)
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go + Participate?
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Successful Influence (Okerra)
Leo continues to chat up the Barron:
Leo doesn't really bring much to the conversation, but his armor and comportment sits well with the Baron.
Turn 1 of 1:
Kenton Bowe: GSuccessful Influence (Bartleby)
Lady Aurelia Basri: Successful Influence (Okerra)
Lord Corran Clement: Uncover Weakness (Dame Crabbe)
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go + Participate?
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Successful Influence (Okerra)
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Successful Influence (Okerra)
Disdaining the event, Ianthe follows her brother to converse with the Crabbes. She tries to engage with Sepsinia, thinking the young Lady could use a friend of a similar age.
Lady Ianthe finds Sepsinia's mother a hard wall to breech. She makes no headway unfortunately.
Since everyone refrained from abusing the servants as they drove, Sir Gul Gusairne takes note of your kindness and relaxes a bit around you. .
The evening concludes with dancing and several rounds of a card game known as Last Azlant*. The dancing begins and dizzying music commences, partners are selected.
Turn 1 of 4:
Kenton Bowe: Go
Lady Aurelia Basri: Go
Lord Corran Clement: Go
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Go
Corran moves to dance with Sepsinia, and adheres to the classic demeanor of a young bachelor intrigued by mysterious young woman. He politely asks Sepsinia if her card is full and Dame Parthena permission to dance with the young woman, though he keeps his gazes on Sepsinia.
I am but a journeyman dancer, though I fear even masters would appear as clumsy fauns taking their first steps next to Lady Sepsinia. So perhaps I can distract her from my amateur steps with some poetry.
Corran quite clearly knows how to ingratiate himself with Dame Crabbe. Sadly, Sepsinia simply goes through the motions of the dance. She's capable, her heart just isn't in it.
Turn 1 of 4:
Kenton Bowe: Go
Lady Aurelia Basri: Go
Lord Corran Clement: Crit Influence Success (Dame Crabbe)
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Go
Leo takes a stab at dancing with Sepsinia. He tries to figure out what makes her tick...
He then tries his hands at cards. his dancing just isn't matching the style in this region...
Leo finds himself far behind Corran when it comes to understanding that pair...
Turn 1 of 4:
Kenton Bowe: Go
Lady Aurelia Basri: Go
Lord Corran Clement: Crit Influence Success (Dame Crabbe)
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Fail
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Go
Oh! Last Azlant! I've heard of that! I had some friends who played at the Académie. Unfortunately, I never had the time to join them. I hope you gentlemen won't go too hard on me.*
Ianthe sits down at the table with the Baron and engages with him, asking about some of his successful military campaigns.
"May I?" Xavien offers his arm to Tribune Honora. "Dance floors make surprisingly good ground for fruitful conversations, you know," he adds, flashing a winning smile.
The dance begins, as it often does, with a bow. "You have lived in Stachys a long while, yes?" Xavien asks as they come together. "I must say that I have been away too long. I wish to know how the villagers are getting on. Spare no detail--and twirl!" He guides Onora through the motions with a practiced hand. They separate for a moment as the dancers form again into lines, then cross to meet again. "Whose roof is sagging? Whose food has run short? Which fields failed? Who needs medicine they cannot get? Which neighbors are in dispute?"
The Baron's competitive streak is on full display. He loses a few hands to Lady Ianthe, and he's clearly amused by it. "You know, every time I've interacted with you, your sister, and your friends, I come away with feelings of hope in the midst of a civil war.... even if it comes at my expense during cards."
Tribune Onora takes Xavien's arm. She knows the steps, but isn't really a dancer. She is clearly far more interested in Xavien's conversation, giving him updates that most nobles would never care about.
Turn 1 of 4:
Kenton Bowe: Go
Lady Aurelia Basri: Go
Lord Corran Clement: Crit Influence Success (Dame Crabbe)
Lady Ianthe Clement: Influence Success (Baron Okerra)
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Fail
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Influence Success (Tribune Onora)
Kenton avoids the dance floor, opting for the card game instead, while also studying the Count as surreptitiously as possible to discern what makes the man tick.
Aurelia sees Okerra happily playing cards with Ianthe and decides to let them play. She instead moves to play cards, extracting the tribune from the dance floor to play cards.
"Don't let the gentlemen wear you out on the dance floor. Join me in a bit of cards? That way we can chat more about your home, and what you'd like to do if you had more time and resources."
Kenton can see that the man's elitism bends not only towards birth, but intelligence too. He drops a fair bit of esoterica and weird words into his speech, and he frequently litters his delivery with words in Old Taldane - replete with etymology...
Lady Aurelia successfully lures Onora to the table for a fun few hands of cards!
Turn 2 of 4:
Kenton Bowe: Go
Lady Aurelia Basri: Go
Lord Corran Clement: Go
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Go
After the first dance, an attractive woman in her late forties arrives at the party....
Turn 2 of 4:
Kenton Bowe: Go
Lady Aurelia Basri: Go
Lord Corran Clement: Go
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Go
"Ah, the Duchess Lotheed! Almost a family reunion by now," Xavien comments, sipping from his goblet.
A moment later she formally intruduces herself to the party.
Count Bartleby is NOT amused...
The Duchess is looking for a dance partner. Many shy away. She has a commanding presence, and unsure nobles wither a bit at her confidence.
Turn 2 of 4:
Kenton Bowe: Go
Lady Aurelia Basri: Go
Lord Corran Clement: Go
Lady Ianthe Clement: Go
Cleomachus Trius Vulso: Go
Lord Xavien Marendo Karthis: Go
Corran smiles warmly at Sepsinia as he finds her for another dance. I could use her like a prop to gain her Mother's support but... She seems so unhappy. He decides to try to get her to smile visibly for her mother to actually lift her spirits, and show Parthena his warmth--that he's a potential match.
My dancing isn't that bad, is it? I've been training a little. No, don't look right at me. It's okay... . Corran pulls her just a little closer so he has her ear. I might understand, Lady. Try to find some fun--if your Mum sees you enjoying yourself she may loosen her grip a little. You'll find it easier to breathe. Here, time for a spin. We'll both to it--it's fun.