Feeling like she hadn't learned much from the courtyard, Evelyn instead headed for the Senate floor. Much like the caged animals in the courtyard, this was another rare opportunity to see something she hadn't seen before. She walked slowly, her eyes taking in as many details of the room as she could, paying particular attention to anyone who actually seemed to feel comfortable in the normally-restricted hall.
Eying her mission target, she decides it’s time to finish her assignment. Also she simply ‘has’ to get away from the Baron’s chatter and comments.
She slowly makes her way toward the High Strategos by asking about Nobles nearby.
”Him? Overrated if you ask me. But it looks as if he may get it all. If he marries the Princess.” Says the Baron.
Passing the target. Mal activates AUTO.
Then she begins asking about nobles in the courtyard. Making her way, with the Baron toward the Senate building proper.
Skirting the quiet Emperor's Hall they arrive on the Senate floor, near the stairway to the gallery.
There she finally sees the opportunity to ditch Baron. Baroness Kosul (His wife), pointing to her.
”Who is that regal Lady?” She asks.
The Baron, who was busy watching a young noblewoman descending the stairway, his eyes fixated on her assets jiggling. Turning and suddenly meeting his wife’s stern gaze.
"My wife.” Shaking his head. ”And the end of my fun.” he adds quietly.
The Baroness looks at Mal then locks eyes with the Baron, and glances toward the Courtyard.
The Baron sighs. ”My dear girl I must be going. I truly regret not getting to seeing more of you.” Looking at her chest.
He moves off and the Baroness walks up to Mal.
”Young Lady. Some advice, you are very attractive. Go find someone nice and avoid old perverts.” Then follows her husband to the Courtyard.
Mal then was headed to the Imperial archive on a personal mission.
But upon noticing Evelyn surveying the place she nods to her. Then looks toward the Emperor's Hall, then back to Evelyn and motions in that direction with her head.
After doing a quick 360 to check for anyone watching too closely.
After which she walks to the secluded offices of the Emperor’s Hall.
When Evelyn nearly bumps into a pinched-faced human with thin blonde hair slicked back with grease she finds someone a little too comfortable in the Senate Floor. He snaps at her with a rude racist epitaph but Evelyn is quick with a biting response that turns the man red with both anger and embarrassment. His attempt at a comeback falls flat when he can only think to repeat his initial slur. In a huff he announces his intention to skip the rest of the Gala due to the excessive liberal attitude allowing someone like Evelyn 8n under any circumstances. Even the closeted racists laugh openly at his tantrum.
A gray haired man with an impeccably trimmed beard approaches the half-tengu with a broad smile. "And I thought his reaction to my presence here was extreme," He says pushing his hair back from pointed ears. "He has a particular issue with anyone that isn't fully human, which means I have a problem with him. I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, m'lady. I am Judge Dartist Mercenian. And this," he holds up a gold signet ring, [b]"Is my family's favor. Should there ever be anything we can do for you, please give us a call, won't you?"
"Likewise m'lord" Eveln responded as she gave a small curtsey.
"I...I thank you kind sir, but I fear you give my quick wit too much credit for besting such an easy fool. Alas, cities seem to be full of them."
Evelyn leaned in slightly closer to the Judge. "Please, call me Evelyn, and the pleasure is all mine. I am happy to have brought a small amount of entertainment to your night. Please, excuse me my lord. As much as I would like to continue our conversation, there are still so many things that I would like to see this night, and tonight is such a limited opportunity. I hope we can continue to speak, on another night perhaps?"
Once able to escuse herself, Evelyn heads towards the Emperor's Hall. She feigns giving a last look at the Judge as she quickly scans the immediately area around the Emperor's Hall.
"Ah, a pleasure madam. How fares your evening?" she asks of Mal, once she feels comfortable that they are alone.
Once in a secluded empty office. Mal checks AUTO’s recordings.
”AUTO play track one.”
Her lip curls slightly when she hears The Strategos’s voice. Satisfied with the recording she proceeds to listen to the other two.
”Damn! The Baron was talking too loudly. Can’t hear what they are saying.”
Evelyn’s arrival is a welcome pause.
”Well, it was going pretty good. Although I did have to pass on playing cavalry charge with a really cute officer. I also had to stop an attack on the party. Someone tried using the beehives as a weapon. Oh congrats, you really put that Ass in his place back there. How is your task going.?”
Sighing and shaking her head. ”Gotta go back for another pass on my target. Again!”
She begins gathering her hair with her hands. Pulling and twisting it until her shimmering white-gold locks are put up in a ponytail. Looking down at her dress.
”They’ve seen me twice in this dress. Gotta change something big.”
Looking about the room she spots a deep purple ruffled bunting draped around a painting. She smiles and nods.
A few minutes later Mal has a ruffled purple shawl wrapped around her shoulders.
+5 MInor details only.
”Ta Da! What do you think?”
"Yes, I noticed the attack as well. I took the moment of distraction to duck into the Arcade and complete my task. The artifacts have been misplaced."
She looked Mal up and down. "Here, let me help."
"There. That's better. Any word from the other one? The sooner we can depart this place, the better."
"Oh, before I forget, do you know Senator Trent, or any of his aids? I heard a woman threatening violence on someone if they did not arrange a meeting for her, but I did not get to see what she looked like." She shrugged. "It occurred just before the end of the Princess's speech."
Admiring the adjustments Evelyn made to her outfit.
”Thanks for the assist.”
About Camilla.
”Saw her in the Courtyard earlier with her target. Not sure how her mission is going though.”
Information on the Judge
"Well it’s back to the Arcade. Hopefully for the last time. Then I’ve got some business in the Archives.”
"Why don't you head to the Archives and let me handle the Arcade? I wish to peruse the displays again."
Evelyn headed back to the Arcade, mainly to see if the artifacts had caused a stir yet. In her most regal and confident manner, she entered the Arcade, careful to distance herself from guard she had 'befriended'.
A woman with salt and pepper hair, gold wire glasses, and a beaming smile approaches Evelyn. "You're eyeing some of the less ostentatious pieces, I see. Not distracted by the flash, but noticing the objects with true meaning to history. Come, let me show you something..."
The librarian, who introduces herself at Copernia Vau, gives you the secret tour. Fortunately, she avoids the newest additions, which Evelyn knows all too well have been removed. She concludes concludes tour with a peek at the restoration workshop where she shows Evelyn a few techniques in maintaining ancient historical items and sends the half-tengu on her way with some tools to practice the skills she just learned.
After Providing the information on the Senator.
”The Arcade is all yours. Just gotta make one pass on the Strategos, then I’m outta there.”
She pauses before leaving the room.
”Oh, I’ll keep an eye out for Senator Trent or any of his people.”
Mal moves at the quickest, Lady-like, pace she can manage to the Arcade.
Once there she heads straight for her target.
Looking for the Senator or his entourage
Okay AUTO lets get it right this time.
Passing the High Strategos as another pair of Ladies do the same
"Now AUTO"
Confidant that the recording was successful Mal heads away from the Arcade. Intent on doing some research in the Archives.
"That is so true, every system needs to be tinkered with every now and then lest it become stagnant an incapable adjusting with new scenarios and their is no bigger tinker to Taldor's government to let a woman rule."
Camila says as she slyly begins to guide him around.
"I've been all around Taldor and seen many a wheel chair but never anything like this! The detail on it is exquisite, must have sure cost you a pretty GP.
"Oh, indeed, the handles came from exquisite-" Duke Centimus launches into a description of finding rare wood and hiring an expert a scrimshander to carve the hand rails of his chair. His passion keeps the story from being dull.
[Ooc]2 of 3 influence checks completed on Centimus. Everyone has one social round available![/b]
Arriving in the Archives, Mal see’s Camilla engaged with the Duke. She then immediately turns her attention to a personal quest.
Scanning the room carefully she soon spots just what she wants.
Sidling up beside a young very nerdy-looking Archivist.
Introducing herself as Ora and using her tried and true flirting process, mixed with some librarian kink.
She quickly guides the conversation to secret conspiracy theories. He is enthusiastic and goes on and on about this conspiracy and that secret. Subtly steering the to treason conspiracies she gets to the topic of Count and Countess Bursio (her parents).
Her new ‘date’ looks thoughtful then says.
”There might be some information on the 2nd mezzanine level.”
Looking up at the tiny catwalk and rickety ladder.
”My but it looks so high. I don’t think little old me could make it all the way up there. But I would be ever so grateful if you would take a look. “
Leaning closer.
”Ever so grateful!” Giving him a wink and a coy smile.
The young man scurries off and up the ladder, nearly falling twice.
Mal, figuring the archivist will be there for a while, looks around the room.
Then surreptitiously begins to examine documents others are looking at.
Evelyn waited for the others to dip out of eye sight before she decided that a more advantageous viewpoint would be nice. She headed back through the Courtyard and past the Emperor's Hall before finding the steps up to the Gallery. From the Gallery she stood at the rails, observing the going-on-abouts happening below, but her true interest became the small entertainer in the corner. The apparent jester's clothes and make-up were hard to miss, and give how she felt about her own attire, Evelyn couldn't resist introducing herself.
"Good evening. You look to be very festive. I imagine you must be much more fun that those stuffy bureaucrats below. Please, might I have your name?"
Evelyn arrives at the end of the jesters routine. At one point she observes what looked to be a spell cleverly hidden by motion and pattern. It seems that not all of the halfling's tricks are sleight of hand, but actual magic tricks.
Wyssilka, taking a short break from entertaining the children of nobles and diplomats, waits a beat to sip her eine before responding to Evelyn. "Why I am Wyssilka the FANTABULOUS!" She says in a rising voice, attracting attention from all those around her and the half-tengu. She lowers her voice and continues, "Sorry, it pays to make sure your name rings in everyone's heads. Gotta book those gigs, right? You know, you look like you might be good entertaining kids. I bet you have all sort of entertaining tricks up that over-priced, ugly gown's sleeves, dontcha?" She grins staring up at Evelyn. "I bet you know how to tumble, come on, let's go make some kids laugh."
There is a cold emptiness in the woman's eyes that belies her overall cheerful attitude. She attempts to cover it well, faking the emotions, but Evelyn gets a very bad vibe.
A soft buzz in your head, not unpleasant or uncomfortable, but just enough to attract your attention, proceeds a message from Lady Lotheed. *Meet me in the gallery in fifteen.*
She appears at the top of the steps and watches Wyssilka for a moment with a look of genuine joy at the jester's antics until she realizes Evelyn is already upstairs. She regains her calm, in control demeanor quickly and waits for the others to arrive before pull you to a shadowy corner.
"Status report?"
While waiting for her Archivist to return, Mal begins to look for information on incidents at the Cav training school.
When she gets the call.
She looks up at the catwalk, the young man is still frantically searching in several books. Grabbing a quill, she leaves him a quick note.
Moving to the stairs to the Gallery. She pauses to casually look about for anyone paying too much attention to her movements.
Then heads up. Once there she takes in the sights.
Gallery check
Her eyes settle on the Jester watching the Halfling’s act for a moment.
To Lady Lotheed’s query.
”Well I had to pass on a really cute guy, and I’ve changed my hair three times.”
When the Lady stares at her.
” Oh! Mission accomplished.” Patting AUTO the clockwork owl. ”Got it all right here.”
”I also stopped an attack on the gala by parties unknown. And gave an old noble a few cheap thrills.”
She studies the woman for a moment.
"Nice item that cricket of yours.
"I believe I have heard of you. I'm not sure of which party, but a talented individual like yourself must have performed at so many venues. How does tonight compare?"
After a little less than 15 minutes, Evelyn excuses herself and makes her way to the gallery, trying to be as inconspicuous as she can.
"My task is complete. Will we be departing soon?" she answered.
Wyssilka looks at Evelyn with a plastic smile. "Well, there are lots of children of lots of powerful people here, and kids do say the darndest things."
---------
Lotheed nods. "Good, excellent work so far."
"An attack? That's my biggest worry, to be honest. I can imagine radical hard-liners making an attempt on some of the Senate who might vote for reform.
"Which is why I need to ask that one or more of you look into something. 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."
To Evelyn she says, "I am afraid we can't call it quits until after the vote."
”Speaking of incidents. Evelyn overheard a threat to Senator Trent. Apparently someone really wants an audience. “
Nodding to the half-Tengu.
”I’ve got to check on a few things back in the Archives, then I’ll ride herd on the Daughter. Oh where was she last seen?”
She gives the Gallery another scan before heading down the stairs and back to the Archives
Once there, she finds the young Archivist waiting for her. He hands off several scrolls with the requested information, and nearly faints when she kisses him on the cheek. Leaving the man staring into space with his mouth open.
Mal does another quick circle of the room looking at what others are researching.
Then she heads out in search of the Senator’s Daughter. Stopping by the Emperor's Hall to once more change her hair and outfit, this time back to her original look.
Still slowly pushing him around.
"Do you think its all worth it, the vote I mean? Does she really have enough votes to pass? What do you think, is Taldor ready for change?"
Evelyn gave a quick nod before departing the Emperor's Hall. Returning to the Senate Floor, she sought out the polite Judge that had offered her the signet ring.
She curtsied before beginning "I wonder if I might impose a small favor upon you. I wish to meet a young woman named Malphene Trent. I was hoping you could introduce us."
"Worth it? Yes. Enough votes to pass? Close, very close, but I believe so, yes. Is Taldor ready? Absolutely not, and it will not be easy going. But what thing worth doing is easy?"
The Judge raises an eyebrow. "Malphene? If you put that odious woman in her place, she is liable to stab you in the throat, not sputter a terrible insult like that boy from earlier. I believe I last saw her heading toward the upstairs gallery."
A broad-shouldered, tall young woman and her three ugly, burly best girlfriends like Malphene Trant and her goons are hard to miss. When Malora spots her and her coterie, they are shoving some meek middle-aged dandy into a room in the gallery before grabbing a stanchion and velvet rope to block the area off from passersby.
Heading for the Courtyard, Mal looks for groups of women. Knowing that gossip is golden when one is looking for information. And given Malphene’s reputation they are sure to be talking about her.
Casually joining the conversation.
”She said what...Did you see what they were wearing…The B…Took her goons and went to the gallery.”
There it is. Intelligence should use these girls. Back to the Gallery it is then.
Pausing to drop a little local tidbits here and there.
Quickly returning back up to the Gallery she looks about for Malphene.
"Thank you. I appreciate your hospitality, and your concern"" she said with a curtsy and a smile. "I hope we meet again, truly." She turned to depart and headed for the upstairs gallery.
Mal and Evelyn both spot the scene at the rope and quickly hustle after Trant and her sycophants. Camila follows shortly behind. The large woman shoves the smaller man back while shouting at him as her ugly friends laugh and follow. "Yeah, of course you know who I am, and that means you know what I'll do to you if you don't vote against the Princess. You do, right? Know what I'll do? Let me give you a little taste!" Her fist comes up lightning fast with a jab to the little guy's gut. He doubles over gasping. "Get those losers out of here while I teach this guy a lesson," she orders her friends without turning around to face the trio.
Her ugly friends turn slowly and crack their knuckles ready to rumble.
"I have to admit, this evening was turning out to be rather dull.
"You there, " Evelyn commanded, "dispatch that one, now."
"You would have to be crazy to start a fight here." Camila say as she slowly grabs a candle stick. "I mean with all the security around you would have to be nuts!" Camila then smashes the candle stick into something not expensive. "YOU WANNA GET NUTS, LET'S GET NUTS!!!!"
The trio laugh at Camila's attempt to scare them, though moments later Evelyn's magic takes hold of one sycophant who suddenly turns to another screaming about stealing her boyfriend and wraps her hands around her friend's throat.
Confident that Evie and Cam have the ‘Goons’ distracted. Mal skirts around the action, stopping at a food filled table to pick up a heavily iced cupcake and a ripe orange.
Eying Malphene still accosting the noble.
She pauses to look about, to see if anyone is watching her.
Then lets the cupcake fly, aiming for the woman's large rump.
You are used to throwing things you have on hand.
Benefit: You do not suffer any penalties for using an improvised ranged weapon. You receive a +1 circumstance bonus on attack rolls made with thrown splash weapons.
Normal: You take a –4 penalty on attack rolls made with an improvised weapon.
If Malphene turns to see who hit her. She sees Mal standing there with a devilish little smile. Casually tossing and catching the orange with one hand.
”My name’s Mal too. We should talk.”
"Oh, look, a skinny little twig girl thinks she can scare me," says the sycophant not engaged in the strangling. The woman picks up a chair and smashes it against the floor. She has a chair leg left in her hands following the display which she slaps into her palm while eyeing Camila.
The middle bully tries in vain to get her friend off her throat with no success. Meanwhile, Trant is about to backhand the twerpy noble when her expensive dress is ruined by a well flung cupcake. She turns slowly around and locks eyes with Malora then rolls up her sleeves and rushes across the gallery floor with a punch. The momentum of her charge is broken when her long dress catches on broken chair pieces and her clumsy punch is easily avoided by Mal.
Striding forward, Evelyn makes her way towards the two goons going at each other. Her intent, is to get closer to the man in the process, but she stops on her way to kick one of the goons.
"You really want to do this? Okay, Challenge Accepted!"
Taken aback by goon smashing the chair, Camila moves in and takes a swing at the chair wielding goon.
Evelyn's foot only catches air, but Camila brings the brass candle stick down hard on the woman who threatened her's skull. The woman drops, bleeding profusely from her head wound.
The two wrestling sycophants both let go of one another and instead make a clumsy attempt to grab Evelyn, but neither can get their hands anywhere close to the half-tengu.
After deftly avoiding Malphene’s clumsy attack, Mal casually picks up a cream pie from a nearby table.
She is then distracted by Camila’s somewhat violent altercation with the Goons.
Looking quickly about to see how much attention they are attracting, especially if the Guards are taking notice.
Quickly figuring a comic food fight, especially if the disliked Malaphene is the fool will get everyone’s attention.
She steps back and throws the pie at the woman’s face.
+1 if this is a splash weapon?
Hope this works. Gotta get over there, mitigate that goon’s injury, and try and make it look like something else.
Dame Trant starts to unwind the peacebond from her family sword and stares Camila in the face saying, "Oh, you're going to get-oof!"
Her threat is cut short by a banana cream pie to the face. She howls with pure rage, making enough noise that the scene might attract attention from other guests, but for now, Mal can see the coast is clear.
Evelyn gave another quick kick before stepping back and putting a little room between herself and the two brawling accomplices.
After downing one of the goons, Camila steps up to one of the remaining two and attempts to delivers a front kick.
Camila and Evelyn both lash out with simultaneous kicks to the faces of the big bully women. Camila's stands stupefied a moment before her eyes roll back and she collapses to the ground knocked out from the blow.
Seeing the one girl seriously wounded, and another knocked out, the last goon hits her breaking point and shrieks out, "Okay! Okay! Stop! Don't hurt me!"
Looking about.
Cam and Eve are finishing off the minions, check. Malphene, covered in pie and trying to free her weapon, check. Other guests and maybe the guards are taking notice, check. Now what to do about it.?
Back to a nearby food table. Mal grabes a bowl of fruit and a pot of warm melted caramel desert topping.
Turning back to Malphene, she tosses the liquid caramel at her waist. Hoping to splash it on her hands and disrupt the drawing of her weapon.
Seeing her backup fall apart Trant sweetheart with rage. "Don't think this is over! Come on you idiot," She storms off a total mess grabbing her still c9nscious ally by the arm and yanking her off.
"Oh, dear!" exclaims the dandy. "Is...is she...dead?" He asks pointing to the woman laid low by the candlestick. "I can't be seen here with a corpse! Oh, dear! Please, I owe you a debt, but I have to go, come to see me tomorrow, Senator Dou. I will repay you for stopping that beating!" Clearly a true politician.
Waving Malaphene off and giving her a ”Pfft!”
Mal hurries over to the fallen goon.
She dumps the bowl of fruit on the floor around the woman. Then picks up an apple.
”OH! MY! The poor woman has tripped on an apple and fallen.. Someone should help her.”
Holding the apple up.
”Remember people. Food safety!
Then attempts to disappear into the crowd.
Making her way back toward the Archives.
"What? Dead? You can't be serious. She'll be fine, but when she wakes, the headache will make her wish she was dead."
"But yes, it probably would be best if you departed. We'd hate for Ms. Trent to change her mind so quickly, especially outraged as she is."
Once the man has departed, Evelyn follows suit, heading back to the Gallery. With the evening wearing on, and the stress of the night, Evelyn wanted at least to see something to make her smile.
She returned to the gallery, hoping to see the children and their halfling entertainer. Rather than skulk through the rest of the evening, she took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, found her calm, and let her words dance through the air.
After taking a minute to freshen up, Camila meets back up with Duke Centimus. "Sorry I had to leave so abruptly, a friend of mine needed my assistance. Women problems, you know." She says with a smile. "The vote is comming up here pretty soon and I think Taldor needs new blood, new life, a new direction. I would love to be part of that history."
After picking up a few more documents provided by the Archivist. Mal gives the young man a wink, a smile, and blows him a kiss. then walks briskly out with a determined gleam in her eye.
Heading directly back to the Arcade she sets her sights on the High Strategos.
Grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing servant’s tray. She dips her fingers into the drink and sprinkles drops on her neck and dress.
Then taking a sip she steps up next to the Strategos, bumping into him and a small statue of a cavalryman, making sure to spill a little of the drink.
”Oh my. I am ever so sorry.” Giving him a slightly drunken smile and batting her eyes. My, my. Aren’t you just the most distinguished looking gentleman I have ever seen.”Steading herself on the statue, appearing to notice it for the first time.”Well would you look at that fine specimen of horseflesh.”
Knowing very little about horses, and riding she attempts to draw on the memories of her sister’s love of the animals.
”Subtly guiding the beast with your knees.”
”Spurring your mount forward.”
”The exhilaration of the jump.”
”Trying desperately to stay in the saddle .”
I wonder if he’s buying this?
Standing tall and dropping the drunk act.
”Yes my sister was an avid rider. And my parents and I loved her very much."
Looking him straight in the eye.
"Oh where are my manners? I am Lady Malora Bursio.”
Leaning close and lowering her voice.
”I know YOU had something to do with my parents' deaths. And I want you to know that I know.”
She then turns and walks off into the crowd.
"I don't know about new blood, but I know that an amazing mind can exist in the most broken body. Why then, can a true leader not be a woman?" Centimus says to Camila before excusing himself and wheeling his chair over to confer with a Baroness from near the Verduran Forest.
Upstairs the children stand transfixed by the bird woman in her lovely gown singing a song. After, the kids cheer and beg for more as the parents hovering nearby seem relieved for the moment of peace.
The High Strategos cannot contain is surprise fully and Mal is rewarded with just the faintest of a twitch beneath the man's right eye. She knows she landed a mark and she can feel his eyes burning into the back of her head.