Crabbe is bored by anyone taking their noble responsibilities too seriously one of the few reasons she hasn’t tried to pursue Baron Okerra for herself although they'd likely be a good match.
"Sure, Count, I will look after hour magical meeting" Lope nods with a smile and offers recognition blinking his eyes slowly "Thanks a lot for your welcome, please, proceed, I am sure you have many businesses to attend. Service is just that good nowadays."
When Triphylla approaches them, he gives an smile and discretely shows her a sign of victory.
The Aldori, who would had used the envoy ring power to change his clothes to those of a rich local noble just before reaching the palace, looks around trying to find the women Triphylla is talking about "Let's not forget we are at a party and try to enjoy"
Spotting them bored in one corner of the party, Lope finds himself walking there casually. Upon the information received, and noting the poor and fragile look of the daughter, he approaches her trying to cheer her with a trick "Excuse my lady, what's this you have in your ear?" he reaches out with his hand, and retrieving his hand closed in a fist like he has grabbed something, he opens the palm and a magically glowing bird flies out of the hand "Sweet little lady sings like a songbird. And everything she sees is blurred and indistinct." Lope recites as his prestidigitation bird fades in the air.
Once again stonewalled by some rather anxious servants none to keen on spilling the beans on their boss, Julia once again switches techniques and focuses more on getting in the good graces of an individual rather than the masses. With Lope already engaged with Dame Crabbe she tries to find other prominent nobles to chat with. Perhaps she'd even be able to find Baron Nicolaus Okerra...
Dame Crabbe claps her hands together, "A charming song and display of the secret arts! Sepsina don't you agree?" Sounding bored Sepsina looked up from her book and replied, "Yeah it was nice I guess." Dame Crabbe scolded her, "Fie! Come now daughter we must appreciate those with talents in the arts!" Turning to Lope she asked, "I don't believe I've had the honour of your name, I'm Dame Crabbe and this is my lovely daughter Sepsina."
Sepsina mumbled, "Charmed I'm sure." as she continued to read her book.
Tall, handsome, and still very fit despite his advancing age, Nicolaus stands a head taller than most and so Julia finds him easy to spot. He's taking to several elder women who are haranguing him on some obscure point and he seems rather trapped.
subterfuge or all-out revolution.
As luck or Desna would have it, Julia does manage to spot Baron Nicolaus Okerra despite getting distracted by the festivities quite a few times along the way. Approaching the rather stern looking older gentlemen, Julia briefly wonders if her older identity as Dolores Aubigini would be better equipped to deal with him only to decide that she was already in one guise and certainly didn't another... at for now.
Striking up a conversation with the Baron it comes obvious that past the initial icebreakers and introductions that he's a very conservative man, one who doesn't take to kindly to thoughts of revolution or shadowy undermining. Still, even with that being the base, Julia still attempts to win the man over by playing to his politics. "I'd hate to have ruin the party with talk of politics but have you heard about what's going in Oppara?" she asks with obvious contempt. "So much chaos and madness. Perhaps even civil war. And for what? So that a couple knaves can throw out centuries of tradition to make their claim to the thrown." Julia shakes her head.
"If you ask me the Stavians have run the empire for ages and replacing them now would be ridiculous. Best to allow the Princess to take the throne and leave it at that. She is after all the only trueborn child of the departed Grand Prince. Anything else would be orthodox at best and chaotic at worse and we certainly can't have that."
With all the nobles in the clutches of her clever companions, Triphylla exits the Palace in search of the stables and Titus Lotheed. Count Bartleby has his money on Titus, so Titus needs to lose.
Cyrene meanwhile, does as a good servant should and deals with a need that her Lady probably doesn't even realise yet. To be specific, she goes searching for anyone from Stachys - the town which contains the Betony holdings. Important to make sure that the only lands that can be claimed, for now at least, are in a reasonable state of repair.
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Baron Okerra looked pained as he said, "My lady, it was horrible, simply horrible! I was there on the senate floor as the chaos erupted, I saw five good friends I'd know for decades struck down in moments. I'm told we lost nearly eighty senators and perhaps a hundred other souls..."
"If you ask me the Stavians have run the empire for ages and replacing them now would be ridiculous. Best to allow the Princess to take the throne and leave it at that. She is after all the only trueborn child of the departed Grand Prince. Anything else would be orthodox at best and chaotic at worse and we certainly can't have that."
Okerra nodded, "I'm of the same mind. Alas Pytherous disagrees and many flock to his side. I genuinely fear for the future, Stavian in his madness may well have lit a spark that engulfs the whole of Taldor. And for what? Eutropia wasn't trying to usurp her father. But Stavian, he didn't see it that way, I don't think any of us realised how far his mind has slipped."
Meanwhile Triphylla looks to find the stables, this proved easy enough there was a small army of servants scurrying here and there to get everything ready. She looks around and while she fails to spot Titus she does find his horse Richelieu in the main stable. In addition to the palace farriers, there are quite a lot of servants in the area all busy on some errand or another so Triphylla knows she'll have to be careful to avoid detection.
Cyrene takes it on herself to learn what she can about the state of affairs in the neighbouring town of Stachys which Lope and Julua are now tribunes (a sort of administrator).
"Just a small trick to light up the spirits" Lope looks at Sepsenia intrigued by her lack of enthusiasm " But not as interesting or notable as our most illustrious Taldan authors I am sure."
"We recently inherited from our old aunt. I am told we are tribunes of Stachys now, but we know nothing about our new place" he pauses looking at both women "I am excited to walk over there, explore and discover the area, and get to know its problems "
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Julia felt the a prong of guilt course through her heart as she heard the old man recall the horror of the night and the personal losses he had suffered. Regardless of whether it was a good cause and the future of Taldor she was still manipulating a man obviously still reeling from grief.
Ashamed but still holding to her alter ego, Julia's next words were far more earnest. "Yes... we all failed to comprehend how far Stavian had fallen. You are certainly not alone in that. But perhaps we can still prevent a war?" she asks. "Maybe if Pytherous saw that enough lords and ladies were backing Eutropia that he'd reconsider his foolish course and back down? The man may be stubborn but I can't imagine he'd doom himself in a hopeless cause."
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On her way out of the Palace, Triphylla, in blonde human disguise, dons her stolen bird mask while passing through the servant's doors into the kitchen. She walks at a brisk pace, engaging with no one, and heads directly to the pantry. There, she takes two cabbages and a half dozen potatoes and fits them into a sack before proceeding with haste out the rear service door to the delivery courtyard en route to the stables.
When approaching, she takes special care to look out for stable boys and such who might spot her too soon.
She does her best to avoid them and as quickly as possible enters the stall containing Titus' majestic mount, Richelieu. She closes the gate behind her with care.
Anticipating agitation on the part of the horse, Triphylla produces the cabbages and potatoes and offers them in place of the stable feed.
"There, there, boy. Fill your belly. But do take it easy when you arrive at the jousting stadium later. These will cause an awful fuss in your gut, I'm afraid."
Cyrene absorbs a number of interesting facts about Stachys and the local area and decides that the logical thing is to seek out Onara Piscum.
"Good afternoon." She says, stepping up to the woman skulking on the edge of the crowd. She nods politely but dispenses with any more formality - an act calculated to suit a woman who doesn't enjoy parties and deference. "My Lady Julia and her cousin will be travelling to Stachys after the festival in order to take up the tribuneship. I understand that may be something of a relief? If you'll forgive me this doesn't seem like your natural scene."
Valeria decided to go speak with Barron Okerra for awhile. She knew he might sense the taint of the Abyss within her but hoped he would overlook it long enough to speak with her. When she approached him Valeria dropped a graceful curtsy and said, "Good day to you Barron Okerra, I am Valeria Turanor and it is an honor to have the chance to meet you."
Having finished introducing herself Valeria continued, "I hear much of you during my time training at the Temple of the upheld and Golden Rose in Oppara, My trainer as a paladin, Protitus Bursio in particular held you up as a good man who ruled his land with fairness," her tone was a bit wistful as she said that and a bit of melancholy seemed to flavor her words as she remembered the past. She assumed he would understand that she was no longer a paladin, she would be shocked if he even knew of her at all. With a bit of a haunted look about her Valeria continued, "Sadly that is all in the past for me now."
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Sepsina's eyes never left the book and she shrugged when Lope asked about it, replying "I've been told this book is very worthy but I must confess that the author has the most preposterous view on the world. 'If only one would wish hard enough, joy and happiness are sure to arrive' -- see what I mean, utter tosh..."
Meanwhile Julia was speaking to Barron Okarra about the terrible events and her sympathetic tone was music to the mans ears. Okarra nodded, "Agreed Pytherous is no fool, but in his mind shaped by decades in the army, backing down now would be cowardice and dereliction of duty. To him its only ever acceptable to surrender when the odds are unimpeachably high, and even then there's no guarantee. Still aiming for a peaceful settlement must be the first approach taken by the Crown Princess."
For Triphylla timing was everything, she needed a break in the flow of servants - particularly one where the farriers where busy elsewhere. This took an agonising twenty minutes during which she needed to check numerous times - pretending each time as if she was on an important errand, not skulking around up to no good. Eventually she got an opening with a monetary lull which she took full advantage of by feeding Richelieu starchy food which the stallion greedily polished off, whickering for more once it's was gone. Deed done, she made good on her escape and with not a moment to spare because one of the farriers had returned with a brush clearly intending to groom Richelieu.
Cyrene strikes up a conversation with a rather bored looking Onora Piscum, who replied with a snort "Ha so I heard! You know it's both an insult and a relief. An insult because I did everything I could with that rotten county and the nobility still pull the rug out from under me whenever they please! On the other hand I won't have to attend many more of these torturous parties making polite conversation with the relics here..."
[spoiler=Tribune Piscum: Influence Kn: Local, Sense Motive, Perception, Perform (oratory), or Survival DC 18 (moderate), Kn: Local, Kn: nature, Prof: farmer (easy), Bluff or Diplomacy (hard)]Four checks are needed.
Valeria joined Julia in speaking to Barron Okerra, replying initially "The Honour is mine I'm sure." He then said, "Protitus Bursio? Oh yes I've not spoken to him in years, not since my army days. I lost track of him when he joined the crusades, I hope he survived." He suddenly looked sharply at Valeria before looking very sad, "Oh! You're that Valeria Turanor. Believe it or not I've heard of you, and uhh your loss. I'm terribly sorry for what happened, although you never can tell what the gods have in store for us mortals. Maybe in the long run there's a balance and you'll look back and realise everything happened for a reason. Ha perhaps in ten years we'll be saying the same thing about Stavian - well I guess that remains to be seen!"
Skullduggery complete, Triphylla whisks back inside the Palace, finding a secluded space to remove her magical disguise. Reaching for two glasses of bubbly, she returns to Bartleby.
"You throw a fine festival, sir! It is an honor to be included in such company, and I can assure you that upon our inevitable return to Oppara your hospitality will be celebrated among the peerage there. My employers will see to that.
"I happen to hear mention of the upcoming jousting tournament. I am no noble, as anyone can see, but my family is well-established and in high standing among the upper echelon of the servant class. I inherited the vice of making a good wager, and I suspect your money is on Titus. Now, I have a hard time imagining you've had much luck finding takers on the opposite side, but I will indulge you in a friendly bet. Say, one-thousand gold? A small play, I know, but I wouldn't want to incur bad feelings on the first night. What do you say?"
Seeing that earnestness was apparently winning the Baron over, Julia decided to go a bit further and see whether her success continued. "We'll find no disagreement here, Baron. No one wants a war... besides Pytherous, I suppose," she says with barely concealed contempt before quickly adding, "But I've heard through the grapevine that the Princess greatly desires peace but is stymied by a lack of a proper powerbase to build her coalition. Perhaps if she had one things would quickly change for the better..."
"I am glad my Lady will be welcome in Stachys." Cyrene replies. "And if you ever need something, then please come to me Ms Piscum. We are women of the world, I'm sure we'll be able to get things done."
She watches the Tribune closely, without giving the appearance of doing so.
Lope looks a bit serious to the girl feeling her discouraged heart and tries to speak to her noble soul "It is often as much as the attitude, being ready for when there is the opportunity for joy and prosperity. That assured soul is what distinguishes us nobles from the common." he adjusts his velvet jacked trying to show his own worth.
But obviously the intention is totally lost on the attempt.
Bordering on rudeness Bartleby barely listens to Triphylla at first until she mentions a wager and then his beady eyes shine brightly as he leans forwards, "A wager you say, against Titus? You are bold.. A thousand gold you say? Well now miss uh, what did you say your name was? You've got yourself a deal!"
He offers his hand to shake on it.
<--- FAIL
It wasn't what Julia said, but more about how she said it that seemed to fall flat. Baron Okarra frowned as he replied, "I'm not saying she shouldn't but this talk of gaining power bases seems certain to lead to civil war."
Onora smiled to Cyrene and replied, "Thank you. Actually there are a few issues you might be able to help with but lets talk about those later when you have a chance to visit."
Sleepily Sepsinia nodded, "I've heard that sentiment before of course, from this very book. It seems to me however that wishful thinking can't solve a bad harvest or a plague. There are so very may things that can go wrong and crush joy or even the life out of one..."
While you where talking servants circulated with silver trays laden with a selection of light canapes and choice of red or white wine glasses. The servants politely let it be know that the tourney will be starting shortly.
Cyrene catches sight of the Baroness and her dual wielding wine glasses, making a mental note with a nod. Interesting.
"So what will you be doing once you aren't condemned to attend these petty games?" She asks the Tribune, pushing on after a good start. "I imagine you have far more useful things to do."
Triphylla shakes Bartleby's hand with more force than is necessary. "Marianela Berberis, Master Chamberlain," she replies.
Baroness Voinum respects those with regard for tradition and an interest in history of the county and the nation.
Having shaken on the bet, Triphylla sees that none of her companions have as of yet engaged the Baroness. Knowing her taste for wine, the halfling returns to the kitchen, though with her own face this time, and pilfers a bottle of local red and a pair of glasses and returns to the main hall, approaching the very tall woman.
Without saying a word, She pours a glass, clears her throat, and offers it to Adella. Repeating the ritual for herself, she enjoys a drink and looks at the glass. While not a brewmaster, she has stirred her share of drinks, and other concoctions.
"Crafted from local grapes, yes?" Triphylla ventures without introducing herself. "If memory serves, there are vineyards in Meratt county more than a thousand years old. Vines which are deprived of nutrients produce a more complex flavor in the grape. This is quite good - earthy and dry."
Lope shrugs feeling he is not just quite getting to cheer up Sepsinia, thus he changes topic and tries to at least give her some entertainment. Catching a couple of wine cups as they pass among the tray canapes, he offers one to the cheerless girl "Well, you might be right on that. So, if we are condemned to an existence of misfortune, let's try at least to enjoy our time, even if it just drinking our way through"
As the tournament time is announced, he will invite Sepsina and her mother to observe the challenge "Who do you think will win over?"
Well, shit, Julia thought. She had overplayed her hand. Quickly retreating from her error, she shifted away from blunt honestly and open talk of conflict and returned to less extreme conversation to win the Baron over. "You may have a point in that, Baron. Maybe all the Princess, or Taldor really, needs are a coalition of sensible and forthright people who can openly call for peaceful negotiations to come about?" she offered, auspiciously looking toward looming Birdsong Palace. "Given just how beautiful this place is and away from the fraught capital perhaps Birdsong could serve as a fitting meeting place for such talks?"
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"So what will you be doing once you aren't condemned to attend these petty games? I imagine you have far more useful things to do."
Onora replied, "It'll be tending too the inn, I expect. It's not exactly the most salubrious of places you understand, but the ale is honest stuff, brewed locally and unadulterated."
Bartleby seemed amused by Triphylla's handshake and he crushes her hand in return, "No doubt I'll be see you around after the tourney, master chamberlain...
Baroness Voinum was in splendid isolation at the party and you got the impression she liked it that way. And so she looked down her nose at Triphylla as she approached, saying "And here comes someone, no doubt determined to waste their time..."
"Crafted from local grapes, yes? If memory serves, there are vineyards in Meratt county more than a thousand years old. Vines which are deprived of nutrients produce a more complex flavor in the grape. This is quite good - earthy and dry."
Still she accepts the glass, and listens to Triphylla's words as she swirls the glass and inspects the movement of the wine down the glass with a expert eye. She sniffs and replies, "So you're not entirely useless. Indeed this wine is quite good, the local terroir ranges from acceptable to excellent."
Sepsinia shrugs at Lope, eyes never leaving her book. Dame Crabbe laughed nervously after the slight, saying to Lope "I'm sure she doesn't mean anything by that... Do you darling?" Sepsinia replied with a long suffering, "No mother, I'm sure he's perfectly nice like the other dozen young men we've been introduced to this past few months."
"Maybe all the Princess, or Taldor really, needs are a coalition of sensible and forthright people who can openly call for peaceful negotiations to come about? Given just how beautiful this place is and away from the fraught capital perhaps Birdsong could serve as a fitting meeting place for such talks?"
Julia wisely shifted away from heavy talk of power bases and succession, the Baron's face softened as he replied, "Oppara, in particular the Senate, is intended for that purpose but everything in the capital has become so fraught. Perhaps a change of scene is indeed ultimately what everyone needs."
A gong sounds and one of the servants stands up on a chair, announcing, "Madames et Monsieurs, lords and ladies, the Palace of Birdsong is proud to announce that the jousting tourney is almost ready to begin! If you could please start making your way to the pavilion the event will get underway shortly. If there are any last minute signups would you please make yourselves know to myself or another member of staff."
Everyone starts waling through the ornamental grounds to the tilt pavilion. As you get closer you see the count’s servants have erected a list, a tilt, and stands for a joust, complete with colorful flags and banners. It seems they'll happily supply heavy horse mounts, blunted lance, jousting armor (a breastplate, helm, and padding), and a small metal shield for guests who wish to participate but neglected to bring appropriate equipment. The stands slowly fill with spectators.
For those of a more genteel persuasion, a field is set aside for trucco a short distance from the jousting list, complete with sandwiches and tea. The game— essentially a combination of billiards and golf—involves skill and control, using long-handled spoons to knock hardwood balls around a field, through various rings, and into opponents’ balls.
Baron Okore]Valeria joined Julia in speaking to Barron Okerra, replying initially "The Honour is mine I'm sure." He then said, "Protitus Bursio? Oh yes I've not spoken to him in years, not since my army days. I lost track of him when he joined the crusades, I hope he survived." He suddenly looked sharply at Valeria before looking very sad, "Oh! You're that Valeria Turanor. Believe it or not I've heard of you, and uhh your loss. I'm terribly sorry for what happened, although you never can tell what the gods have in store for us mortals. Maybe in the long run there's a balance and you'll look back and realise everything happened for a reason. Ha perhaps in ten years we'll be saying the same thing about Stavian - well I guess that remains to be seen!"
Valeria's eyes widened in surprise, she had not expected the Baron to have heard of her but, then again, rumor flew in the noble's gossip circles and it was not everyday someone thought lost like people believed she had been returned from the dead. She smiled slightly and said, "You may be right, I have found a new calling and a new purpose for my life, one given to me by the goddess that rose during the sealing of the Wound. Many may question her but I know she is not the monster she once was and it is through her I have found redemption." The strength of her belief in that fact was obvious if someone but listened and she continued, "I am taking what I suffered, the taint that will forever cling to my soul, and using it for a good cause, I hope you would be willing to aid me if I find your assistance helpful"
Lope is so frustrated by his failures he barely manages to notice anything else for the next few minutes, but rather than letting things slide, he just cools through with a smile "Well, I did not wanted to offend, so sorry there. Oh, the tournament seems about to start"
He looks back and offers his arm to the mother instead of the daughter "Would you like to go see who wins? I would not be surprised my sister Julia has already managed a horse and is dashing into the show"
Lope will proceed, looking for a good spot to watch the tournament and hopefully with extra company nearby.
Triphylla leans on all of her patience dealing with pompous humans to repress an eye-roll. She affects a fake smile and replies to the Baroness, "A shame what happened to what was surely the best vineyard in the County. A monumental loss to viticulture. Ahh, it seems our time together is cut short. Enjoy the wine."
She feels put off by the Baroness, which she had expected, but a more scathing impression was left by Bartleby. He was a stronger man than he looked, and perhaps she was not taking him seriously enough as an opponent. Winning the jousting bet could backfire if he were to become unstable.
Having overheard a snippet of conversation about the bribery of attendees, Triphylla wonders at who the Count is looking to impress. It could be any of the assorted nobles, but surely the locals must know the situation intimately. Whether the Jubilee is successful or not will hardly cover the facts of his mismanagement for long.
She heads over to the trucco field herself for the chance at sport.
Something about what Onara says rings off to Cyrene but the announcements cut her off.
----------------------------------
Back on duty Cyrene follows behind Julia quietly as a servant should.
Julia internally makes a sigh of relief as Okerra seems to accept her reasoning. "Indeed, lord baron. Indeed. Birdsong would be the perfect for it now that the Senate is tragically out of reach. But do you think its current master Count Bartleby would be willing to allow such a conference to take place at Birdsong?" she asks innocently. "I've only recently met the man and do not know his politics or whether he even has any. Is he the sort of man willing to take a risk to bring about peace, I wonder?"
While still engaged with the Baron, Julia can't help but turn her head to bare witness to the activity coming from the tilt pavilion. Knowing the joust is open to all, she weighs whether participating would help win the people of the county over or risk blowing her cover.
She also spies Dame Crabbe head towards the trucco field for seemingly less physically-demanding activity than the joust.
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"I am taking what I suffered, the taint that will forever cling to my soul, and using it for a good cause, I hope you would be willing to aid me if I find your assistance helpful."
"I'm sure I'll bear that in mind." replied Okerra. To Julia he confided softly, "I rather doubt it, the very thought of the expense entailed in hosting such an august gathering would no doubt give him a tension headache. I know this event seems very grand, but between you and me it's a shadow of what it was ten to fifteen years ago when practically the entire county was involved. Anyway if you'll excuse me ladies, I've sighed up on the lists and need to don my armour."
Sepsinia didn't take Lope's arm but she sighed, "I suppose we ought to. I'm afraid it'll be a frightful bore, but our presence is expected. Coming mother?" Dame Crabbe was all smiles, "But of course! Sepsinia you really ought to learn to enjoy life more, look you have a handsome and no doubt very eligible bachelor to escort you!"
"A shame what happened to what was surely the best vineyard in the County. A monumental loss to viticulture."
The Baroness didn't comment for a few moments, she took a sip of her wine before remarking acidly, "Pah the victualer's loss is the lake's gain!"
The Baroness' comment is not deciphered by Triphylla. On to trucco!
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Julia gave the departing baron a respectful curtesy and a thanks for the good conversation before immediately turning towards nearby Cyrene and telling her in a whisper, "I think we've made an ally of the Baron. He's conservative but has no love for Pythareus and his scheming. He also isn't likely to move against us when it comes to Birdsong. What about you? Heard in juicy secrets?"
"Stachys will welcome your presence." Cyrene replies softly. "Baroness Voinum is a lush. Gifts of wine will probably ensure you enter her good graces. Otherwise it seems that there is a manticore somewhere in the county that Count Lotheed has done nothing to stop and Stachys lost its pump house some years ago which has compromised the farming land in the area. I will endeavour to find out more later."
Connecting with a lance scores 1 point, while unseating an opponent instead scores 2 points. A wielder who shatters her lance (which happens automatically if a single blow deals 20 or more points of damage) adds 1 additional point for the spectacle and the skill required.
While you mingle, Baron Okerra, Titus Lotheed-Casava and Earl Yander Merkondus along with some other lesser known knights parade in front of pavilion, looking resplendent the mounted in their shining armour. Titus and Earl Merkondus are first up, Titus gets the better of the exchange hitting Earl Merkondus square on the shield unhorsing the man - yet Titus didn't seem happy about it.
Lope observes the developments from a safe distance and with a cup of wine on his hands "Who do you think will be the first to find a broken ankle ladies?" he smiles under the mustache "Hope someone survives Titus fury, he does not seem very happy even after that good hit"
As the afternoon progresses, Baron Okerra scores a total of 11 points over 5 rounds, demonstrating unnervingly good aim with the lance. Titus Lotheed-Casava's luck on the other hand was not so good, his hoarse was behaving oddly causing several onlookers to wonder if it was unwell. Titus to his visible fury only scored 8 points leaving Baron Okerra the winner!
The Trucco tournament was still ongoing and with the excitement at the tilt over, the nobles where gravitating inn that direction.
Triphylla had veered toward the trucco field straight away, preferring not to hob with the nobs at the joust. Although it would be delightful to see the Count's face when Titus loses, she doesn't want to appear smug.
Having never before wielded a hammer, she finds it a bit clumsy and poorly adapted to her size, but she gives it a go nonetheless.
2 points!
Her first hit is a remarkable success, some might say beginner's luck.
Cyrene slips away from Julia, since her lady is engaged, and 'finds herself' next to Onora Piscum once more.
"I suppose at least these games could be said to be useful." She offers, in a slightly biting manner. "If you squint and really look for it at least..." She's hoping to draw a laugh from the Tribune and get her to relax a little more.
Julia nodded along as she absorbed Cyrene's information. Winning over Stachys would obviously help them win more of the county, as would fixing a local pump or slaying a manticore of all things. Baroness Voinum being a lush though...
After thanking Cyrene for her information, the bard will move towards Baroness Voinum with a smile on her face and two goblets of wine she took from one of the party servants moving about. "Hello there! Baroness Voinum I take it? I'm Lady Julia Betony. Charmed to meet," she says brightly while offering the baroness one of her goblets. "I had you were one who enjoyed a good drink, which makes you a woman after my own heart. As the Caydenites like to say, a party isn't a party without a good drink to enchant the festivities, no?"
"Will you enjoy playing Trucco, Lady Crabe?" Lope offers the Dame Crabe to play along.
"Oh, it seems I will need to practice more at this" the Aldori laughs and keeps talking a bit more with the Dame, trying to see if she can do a good ally for the interests of the Crown "Seeing the beautiful landscape of Merrat Country I feel like there is no reason to come back to the capital for a time. Is this a safe place like it looks like?"
Dame Crabbe clapped at Triphylla's surprisingly accurate hit, "Bravo! An unconventional technique, but apparently an effective one!"
The dame then takes her turn, attempting to put some spin on the ball to curve it round but she clips it too hard and it ends up out of bounds. She frowns at it hands on hips.
Onora Piscum snorts at Cyrene's observation, replying quietly "If you watch long enough, the real character of our betters comes shining through." Taking a quizzical look at Cyrene she asks conspiratorially, "Is it bad of me to wish Dame Crabbe looses tonight?"
Baroness Voinum proved to be a much tougher nut to crack, Julia's good humour didn't rub off. She sniffed before replying coldly, "Betony eh? Well good luck, you're going to need it having inherited the rotten borough..." Her words sounded like a dismissal in Julia's ears.
After Lope missed too, Dame Crabbe smiled boradly, "Why yes! It's too bad Sepsina doesn't, but you have a silver tongue sir. Perhaps we can convince her yet that trucco is a noble game!"
Lope smiles as Dame Crabbe seems comforted in the shared miss "As they say, unfortunate in games, fortunate in love" he gives a few more tries and clearly makes his best at loosing with class and humor, letting others feel they are better "Guess I have a lot to train with Sepsina if she dares endure my clumsiness, that is, Dame Crabbe"
Triphylla is far too focused on the trucco game to be distracted by whatever else is going on.
She hammers the ball around the course, alternating good shots and bad. By the end of the game she regrets not having wagered on herself. And speaking of wagers...
Before hunting down the Count she hangs up her hammer and approaches Lope and Dame Crabbe. "I hope you're wrong about games and love, sir, but in any event perhaps it's your time for good fortune in that realm."
"It would not be proper for me to say." Cyrene replies, although her raised eyebrow and pointed smirk every time the Dame misses a shot makes it clear whose side she's actually on. "I think Dame Crabbe is going to be most upset if she keeps playing like that..."
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Though Julia practically feels the baroness's snide disapproval she doesn't falter in the wake of it and instead stands her ground and thickens her painted on smile. "Rotten is it? A shame that but a little bit of rot is hardly a reason not to try and make the best out of a bad situation. For instance, whenever I'm tragically bored at a party I try to find good company and a fine drink to make the best of it," she says in between taking a sip from one of the goblets. "I've already achieved the latter. Will you help me with the former or will I have to find another fair woman to help me finish off this wine."
Dame Crabbe's luck wasn't much better than Lopes, to her annoyance. She remarked "Sepsina, I seem to be distracted this afternoon." She glances at Lope and continues saying, "At least I have an excuse, enjoying the the company of a gentleman as he learns the noble art of Trucco! Come on dear, put that book down and talk with us? Maybe you could join us for another round" Sepsina made a theatrical sigh before replying without any particular enthusiasm, "I may have to turn in mother, I can feel a migraine coming on."
Dame Crabbe rolled her eyes and sighed as Sepsina stalked away, to find a darkened room. Looking concerned Dame Crabbe muttered, "You can take a hoarse to water..."
In the end Triphylla won the game, which Dame Crabbe took well enough saying, "Congratulations I guess, at least the game was reasonably close, sometimes these things can be a complete bore you know."
As the game concluded, Onora remarked softly to Cyrene, "Pity, seems the entertainment is over for now..."
Meanwhile Julia attempted to sweet talk Baroness Voinum, talk of wine seemed to help but Julia sensed she still wasn't getting through. .
The Baroness sapped acidly, "If you can find something other than that rotgut, something worth sharing then perhaps we'll see."
Though the baroness snapped at her once again, this time Julia was able to sense something beyond her acid tone and disgust.
Shelyn be good. She's almost honestly more angry at the wine than me, she realized.
Having just had a sip of it herself Julia could understand why. The vintage was quite poor for such high-class festivities. It was a mistake that Julia decided to use to her advantage.
"Count Bartleby's wine isn't to your refined tastes, my lady," she asks innocently despite fully knowing the answer. "Well, I can't blame you there. The man pulls out a joust and trucco but decides to skim on the wine? Whatever was he thinking? Perhaps he doesn't do much thinking at all?"
Having relished victory over the shockingly agile Dame Crabbe , Triphylla returns to find Julia with the Baroness.
"Indeed, my Lady, one wonders at the state of this county under his management. It is not gossip to say he has already lost a considerable sum wagering on Titus this evening; his debt to me alone is one-thousand. A man who gambles so eagerly with his own money will surely do it with others'."
She turns to the Baroness, looking up at the impressively tall woman, and tries her hardest not to be uncouth. "Baroness, would you see this County restored to its former greatness, if not for its great fields of wheat then at least for its once-renowned vineyards and chateaus overlooking the mountains which reflect golden hues at sunset?"