Deeds indeed, my good Duke. Too often those of quality are overlooked in favor of those of influence or tradition, as you say, to the detriment of all.
Ianthe looks around the Archive at all of the nobles and up-and-comers extolling their limited knowledge of history.
What do we make of all our young peers?
Xavien takes a deep breath and puts his trust in the specialty needle....
And it works! For a moment it looked like he might accidentally break the needle, but when he removes the needle, the bottle looks perfectly normal!
Aurelia: Fail
Corran: Mission Success
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Mission completed successfully.
Leo: First Mission success
Xavien: Mission completed successfully.
Lady Ianthe's words fall largely on deaf ears. She can't get a feel for the current in the room. Like Lady Aurelia, she doesn't seem to have ruffled any feathers, so there's no reason not to try again.
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Go
Lord Karthis returns to the Arcade of Triumphs, humming a jaunty tune. He stops as soon as he enters, of course, and jumps back into saying hello to old friends and new acquaintances among the people still pouring in from the Senate steps.
He is a bit nervous though, the adrenaline still pumping, and perhaps that takes the edge off his usually sharp jokes.
If you'll excuse me, Duke Centimus, some of my peers need to be corrected in their understanding of Taldan history.
Ianthe makes her way over to a group of young nobles debating a few points of Taldan history and joins in their discussion.
Leo moves with appropriate haste towards the Junior Senator.
"Excuse me..." Leo moves through the crowd "Pardon me..." a side step here. A sharp elbow when needed, "No... I insist."
Lord Xavien finds it hard to gain purchase on the room, but Lady Ianthe makes some headway in the room with her repartee.
Leo manages to drop the message to the junior senator who responds with only a slight nod.
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Work the Room (Arcade of Triumphs) Success
Kenton: Go
Leo: Mission Success
Xavien: Fail
Corran makes a polite exit and wishes Centimus well. He walks to The Gallery, looking to get closer to The Countess Pace. With the entertainers about, he strums his lute as he goes just kind of enjoying the atmosphere and having a good time.
He works his way over to her, observing her and her retainers--noting the players and who hangs about her--and makes sure that his very expensive signet ring is visible as he uses his knowledge of Taldan Nobility to Influence Countess Abrielle Pace
Knowledge Nobility:
Stone cold persistence, a technique her uncle favours in his diplomatic efforts, is one Aurelia adopts. She figures that, like any military campaign, this is the path to victory with Pythareus.
"Please, High Strategos. Just a moment of your time. It's a rare chance for a lady such as myself to be able to speak with someone of your rank. Allow me the privilege?" Aurelia says, her tone more direct and her words lacking the feigned platitudes of before. "I simply hoped to make your acquaintance, and have no requests beyond a moment of your time right now."
Corran plays coy for a bit with The Countess. His subtle "hard to get, but available" approach works wonders on her. She immediately becomes sidetracked from her current conversation to pay attention to Corran, but she doesn't approach yet.
Meanwhile Lady Aurelia goes for broke, taking a more direct approach. "It takes intestinal fortitude to ask that of me.... and I respect intestinal fortitude. If only the slimy politicians had such gumption. You've got my time, what would you do with it?"
Aurelia: Influence (High Strategos) Critical Success
Corran: Influence (Countess Pace) Critical Success
Ianthe: Work the Room (Arcade of Triumphs) Success
Kenton: Go
Leo: Mission Success
Xavien: Fail
Kenton moves quickly but unhurried to the Arcade of Triumphs, hoping to lend some help to Lady Ianthe, following her guidance and request.
Kenton watches the room and discovers a cluster of of conservative senators talking ill of the Princess, and of the preposterous idea that "we're supposed to believe a woman has the wherewithal to rule!". They seem ripe for some comeuppance.
Missions:
Locations:
Dramatis Personae:
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Go
Xavien catches Kenton's look and dramatically-rolled eyes directed at the gaggle of pettifogging conservatives, and remembers what Lady Ianthe mentioned the day before. He nods and leans closer to his current conversation partner, an aide to some Senator or other from the provinces.
"Do you see that strange bulge between Senator Bifflee's legs over there?" he asks with a pointed glance at one gaudily-dressed septuagenarian. "I believe that is what is called a water-skirt," he smirks with a loud whisper, inventing a plausible-sounding sartorial device. "You see, Senator Bifflee and others of his ilk believe that the nobility should consume red meat and wine, and only red meat and wine. Never a vegetable in sight, at his manor. He has thus been rendered completely, totally, and hilariously incontinent."
The rumors spread like a magic spell throughout the room. Before long, snickers follow Senator Bifflee. His braggadocios demeanor changes instantly once the spell reaches him.
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Mission completed successfully.
Open Missions
Locations:
Dramatis Personae Available for Influence:
I have a feeling that this isn't going to get resolved here and now, and I'll need to circle back to Countess Pace later--likely at another location. So let's keep up the influence in the same way and see if we can soften her up some more.
Corran makes it a point to not talk to her directly. He uses his knowledge of the truly powerful--the nobles there who matter--and he touches base with them, showing off for The Countess that Corran is the person to know here.
Influence Countess Pace, Knowledge: Nobility
Corran's cat and mouse game pays off. The Countess grows in comfort with him around, assuming he's a Very Important Person. She stops speaking sotto voce and Corran overhears directly that she's already planning to cast a vote upholding primogeniture. Not knowing Corran's full story, she seems enamored by the man...
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Influence (Countess Pace) success. Fully Influenced
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Mission completed successfully.
Kenton makes his way about the Arcade, keeping an ear and an eye out for openings while working the room.
Kenton makes his way to the Arcade. The energy in the room is electric, and it's ripe for captivation. Kenton quickly picks out the most influential voices on the most interesting subjects. Kenton's eyes aren't the only
The senate’s curator of antiquities, Copernia Vau, takes a shine to Kenton's obvious interest in history and offers him a brief tour of the adjoining restoration room, where artifacts are cleaned and preserved. As part of the tour, she offers him a case of six bottles of universal solvent and a case of six unguents of timelessness so he can practice the skills she describes.
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Influence (Countess Pace) success. Fully Influenced
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Work the Room (Arcade of Triumphs). Now Captivated
Leo: Go
Xavien: Mission completed successfully.
Finding no marks ripe for exploitation in the Archive, Ianthe takes her leave. She wanders a bit, making her way through the Arcade. As she does, she catches the snickering and glances at Senator Bifflee. She looks to see Kenton and Xavien with proper smirks. She nods her thanks the them as she continues on.
She returns to the courtyard for a bit of fresh air, when she notices Lady Morilla deep in talk with a few other nobles. Ianthe easily slides into the conversation.
Ianthe finds an agreeable conversation partner. The give and take on issues high and low is reasonably natural.
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Influence (Countess Pace) success. Fully Influenced
Ianthe: Influence (Gloriana Morilla) success.
Kenton: Work the Room (Arcade of Triumphs). Now Captivated
Leo: Go
Xavien: Mission completed successfully.
Aurelia takes a few moments to ask softball questions at Pythareus, steering clear of the topic of primogeniture. She then excuses herself, using the age old 'powder her nose' excuse.
Once in a spot where she is unobserved, she sprinkles the dust of illusion on herself and attempts to approach the High Strategos inconspicuously as a servant handing out refreshments.
Aurelia does her best to pick up any cues...
Leo Heads back to the Gallery. He tries a again to get to the Royalty through delighting their children.
With the magical disguise, Lady Aurelia begins to make some progress, listening in on the High Strategos, who seems none the wiser.
Meanwhile Leo makes some progress in the Gallery, getting the less cutthroat members of the gala to relax a bit.
Martella Lotheed contacts the PCs via her master senator badge and requests you join her in the gallery. When you first arrive, she is grinning and clapping gently as she watches one of the jugglers, but she hurriedly composes herself and dons her air of mystery once she realizes anyone is watching. She has sectioned off a small meeting point on the upper walkways with chairs and a pot of fresh coffee.
"You've done splendidly so far. The teamwork is incredible. I think keeping you as a team instead of solo agents is the way to go. Keep it up."
Still I didn’t ask you here just to look over your shoulders and take notes. There’s a young woman here: Malphene Trant, the daughter of Senator Trant. She’s a belligerent, narcissistic ass, and a bully as well. If she’s here, it’s likely to intimidate one of more of the junior senators into backing her father. If one or more of you could keep an eye on her and... quietly intercede should she try, I would be quite grateful."
"Oh and Leo. I'd like for you to run a similar message as before to Lady Glorianna Morilla in the courtyard."
"Of course My Lady. I will take care of this task for you. Leo pauses for a moment. "I regards to Ms. Trant, How far can we take our... interference?"
"Would you say she is a good dancer?" Xavien muses, his eyes twinkling. He nods. "We shall see it done."
"Oh, and the wine you recommended? Top quality," he adds with a wink.
Spotting the likely magical protections, Aurelia is frank. "Divide and conquer, as they say. I admit that I have not heard anything untoward yet from the High Strategos, but with the others on the lookout I have no doubt we'll keep her in check."
Aurelia thinks about what she knows of the Trant family.
Perception:
Lady Aurelia recalls that they're a stand-offish family whose holdings lie near the Qadiran border. They're rather minor, and that bothers them as their position on the marchlands should make them more important, or so say the Trant family.
Lady Martella allows a conspiratorial smirk to Xavien's line of thought.
Kenton has a seat as he hears about Trant. If I may be presumptuous: is the intent to merely prevent her badgering others, or to bring her down a peg or two in the process as well? I am certain Lord Karthis and Lord Clement are well-equipped for the latter.
I am always happy to meet new people. I just need to suss out if Countess Pace is truly voting down, and what her reasoning is. Lord Centimus is voting our way--his disability has made clear the deeds and merits of an individual outweigh any physicality. Once I'm done with that, I'd be pleased to visit Dame Trant. Hmm. Trant. I think...
"While it might be amusing Kenton, I don't want to set her of like an Alkenstar fuse. I'd rather just have her not be involved."
Corran recalls that Dame Malphene Trant often hangs on Senator Dou, and he'd rather she didn't. There's no reason to assume her "date" is on her side....
And what do I know of Senator Dou? Knobility taking 10 for 17.
Junior Senator Amadorian Dou, who had been a reluctant ally of Senator Trant’s before Martella coaxed him into voting against primogeniture. He actually has little clout. The attraction for Trant is likely his pusillanimous nature.
I am happy to help wherever I can. I'll keep an eye out for Miss Trant and Senator Dou. I'll keep making the rounds and seeing who I can make friends with.
"I'll be doing my own thing, so good luck. Contact me if need be. Not sure when we'll meet next. Once I wrap up a thing, I'll pull us back together. Good luck."
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Go
We're still in the gallery and so is Countess Pace. I'll open things up by observing her, keenly, to see just what she's about.
Perception:
Corran, armed with more insight into the countess finally gets a true bead on her. she's going to vote against ending primogeniture because she thinks the measure will fail and she wants to be on the winning side!
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Completed Mission
Ianthe: Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Go
Ianthe makes her way back to the Courtyard to resume her discussion with Lady Morilla. When she arrives, she notices that the Princess is also entertaining a group of nobles. She easily enters into the conversation of the political landscape.
Lady Ianthe is immediately welcomed in by the Lady. Gloriana mingles with the nobles of Taldor well enough, but she is never truly at home in such environments. She secretly seethes at the haughtiness of her fellow Taldan elite, occasionally staring in awkward silence or letting out raucous laughter at jokes she finds no humor in. Lady Ianthe's presence in the conversation is comforting....
"My dear, it's so refreshing to talk to someone with their head screwed on straight. You know, you're the kind of person that Taldor truly needs. Have you been introduced to Princess Eutropia yet? I'll tell you what, let's go right now. It'd certainly be a sight better than this conversation."
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Completed Mission
Ianthe: Influence (Lady Morilla) Crit Success
Ianthe: Bonus Go
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Go
Lady Morilla, you flatter me. Though, I certainly understand the difficulty in finding worthwhile conversation partners. I have not had the pleasure of making the Princess's acquaintance. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity.
She allows Lady Morilla to lead her away and into the company of Princess Eutropia.
It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. I am the Lady Ianthe Clement. Your introduction earlier was a delight to hear. You are an inspiration to all the young women who are too quickly dismissed out of hand by a peerage too blinded by tradition. Lady Morilla and I were just talking about...
"Enchanté."
The princess acknowledges Lady Ianthe, much to the consternation of other sycophants and rivals. She then moves on.
Aurelia: Go
Corran: Completed Mission
Ianthe: Influence (Lady Morilla) Crit Success
Ianthe: Influence (Princess Eutropia) Crit Success
Kenton: Go
Leo: Go
Xavien: Go