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Suejo nods. "Perhaps you be the noble, I will be the embassy functionary escorting you, the rest shall be your retinue. We need to go through this room to avoid diplomatic incident with an angry Osirian ambassador. It would lower you to be seen in an argument with him or appear to be avoiding him. The staff we encounter will be instructed that they must not mention the incident."
"If it comes to disguise, I posses an extract that will allow me to disguise myself, so I should have no need of the scrolls or elixirs. We have a number among us who are not able to use such items I think, so we may need to rely on a ruse to get us through."
"What if I and another disguise ourselves as staff and then usher the rest through the room beyond, claiming we are taking our guests on a circuitous route to avoid a diplomatic incident with a rival embassy?
Just as the functionary leaves them alone Suejo makes a swift motion as if he might be tossing a pinch of pepper at Captain Lee's face, but he's actually not holding anything.
"The real pain is in not knowing when it may strike." When Cyrus finds the key he quietly remarks. "Well... that's interesting. Who could have left that?" He silently follows Cyrus into the hall and checks out the eastern door.
Time for more of my inexhaustible supply of rambling diplomatic patter. "Thank goodness! It is good to be at last in the hands of somebody with authority to exercise. Please let me apologize for the abruptness of our arrival. It is always better when these things are done through the proper channels but alas it proved not to be possible here. The truth is that witch we bear for the ambassador is of a highly time sensitive nature and it is feared that if it is not placed before him tonight, as soon as can be arranged, that a valuable moment will pass. It is with this in mind that I have been charged with delivering this to the ambassador and none other, for it is thought that absolutely no detail be left to chance in the immediate delivery of my parcel. You are one who takes their job seriously, who knows the proper way of discharging your duties and the importance of adherence to chain of command, such is you're reputation! Let me say now that I am most strictly adhering to my chain of command and that I urge you to believe me when I say that the best and most proper procedure in this instances is to rush us to the ambassador's side. Ultimately you must decide based on your own loyalty to your employer and your principles whether you will assent to our request, but I beg you to consider such assent to be in accordance with the highest values of loyalty to command and country."
"I greatly appreciate that offer, and if the matter were truly in my hands I would be glad to leave it at that. I am afraid that it is not in my hands however. The duty specifically entrusted to us is that we should turn this package over only to the ambassador. It is deemed critical that we should ensure beyond any suggestion of doubt that the ambassador look at our package this very night and that the ambassador alone should be charged with how to act upon it. Such is the significant and timely nature of the what lies therein. I understand we are not dealing with ideal circumstances, this is a matter of unfortunate necessity. It is your charge to exercise the judgement and discretion incumbent upon your position. I fervently hope you choose to assent in this matter.
"You are correct we do not have an appointment and we do apologize for that. We are here on time sensitive business and were not able to properly arrange a meeting. We are here as representatives of well placed persons who's interests align closely that with that of Cheliax. Most particularly in the region of Sargava. There is little else we can say except that we have been entrusted to deliver a valuable package to the hands of the ambassador, and with my apologies, only the ambassador. It is imperative that this be done tonight and as quickly as can be arranged. Consider the timing of our arrival and the door through which we chose to enter as signs of the significant and sensitive nature of our business. We ask respectfully that we be allowed an immediate audience with the ambassador."
Suejo looks over at Captain Lee and gives a little sigh. Not sure if he can 'yes and' that particular gambit. "Apologies, the habits of nobility are at best strange. I'm afraid the real business here is mine. You've opened this door before, yes? People come in and out of here quietly and their business is not discussed. All manner of folk probably at different times. Well dressed sometimes, nondescript at others. We are those sorts of folk. I apologize again that advance word has not reached you to be ready for us, but the flow of information through back channels is sometimes slow and our matter is time sensitive. We have something here of value, for your ambassador. Something valuable enough to have many shepherds, yes? And yet only to be seen by your ambassador. Do you understand? If you simply let us in you will soon see that your ambassador will have been glad to receive us." + inspiration = 19
"You are very gracious to offer this remedy Beau. I don't share our friend's affinity for torment. Cheer up Cyrus! We may be disquieting folk and the task we undertake is maybe not a pleasant one but we are not all shadows and pain! Perhaps there will be dancing after all. Certainly Caelin here will not trouble you with dark words."
I'm afraid my suffering is only minor. I do not know of any way to induce an allergy. Most efforts are directed towards alleviating them. I imagine that a curse or other maleficent form of magic could create such an effect, but that would be a weak use of a powerful spell. If you wish to experience an effect like that of an allergy you could use a pinch of pepper. Get a little in your eyes and sniff a small portion of it. You miss out on one of the most important aspects of an allergy however, the unwanted intrusion on the course of one's daily affairs. To that end I could toss a handful of pepper in your face at some unspecified time in the future. To give you the full effect.
Suejo steps forward to welcome the newcomer. "It's good to meet you Beau. You have dedicated your life to many fine things, I'm sure they will serve you well. I wish I could make such bold declarations about myself, but I've mostly dedicated my life to accumulating a few tricks and reading occasional books. As for your companion I'm sure it will not be a prob..." Abruptly Suejo let's out a small sneeze, embarrassingly high pitched. Followed by three others in rapid succession. He blinks his now watery eyes. "Well, it's never come up, but perhaps I am allergic to wolf dander. I'm sure it will prove surmountable. I am eager to see what your friend can accomplish in regards to Chelish diplomacy. It can only be more interesting than the usual back and forth."
Suejo considers Captain Lee's words. The difference between pain and pleasure is illusory, we are told. You are probably right to embrace pain as life. Wayang see everything as concentrations and diffusions of shadow. Everything is ultimately the same stuff, just thrown upon the wall in a way that appears different to our limited faculties. Shine a light in one place to banish darkness and you cast shadows elsewhere. Here he gives a small smile. And yet I defy the wisdom of my people really, I spend my life watching and searching. Seeking to know when there is nothing to know. Oh well. I am certain at least we can find our friend the opportunity to dance, and to the good Captain... no end of pain.
At three and a half feet tall Suejo is hard to notice even standing in a brightly lit room. His muted gray skin color is set off by a a tattooed spiral pattern of white dots up and down his arms and on his face. Alert black eyes are set well behind a sharp prominent nose. It's good to meet you. Politics are too often just another form of battle, and so sometimes we must be soldier's on a different kind of field. I think you'll find the kinds of tactics we employ might be just as disquieting as a knife fight or cavalry charge. Like the shiver at hand here. Unsavory... but if it's necessary to recover one of our own, do we have the right to refuse to resort to it? He seems to ponder the question silently for a moment. In any case I come from a people accustomed to acting in the shadows. I know that to do so does not mean one must be evil or dishonorable. But it could lead to hard choices about what one's values really are. If Zarta's fate depends on our assistance, to fail to render it would be a moral lapse. |
