32: She transferred to Canada

[Ebiris]

[14:02] <@Janson> The third day of sailing, Salerno getting closer and closer but still sadly beyond the horizon... The cramped conditions on the boat coupled with the terse political disagreements of the previous day are starting to see tempers running high, but none moreso than Glenn's. He feels sluggish and slow except when he's angry, only rage seeming to bring any clarity to his thoughts... and between people arguing over politics, eating the same dull fish and preserved vegetables every day, and the occassional sounds of laughter from the odd joke or tall tale that feels like a mocking slap in his face, there's a lot to get angry about.
[14:03] <@Rudy> "I'm so bored, I could almost drink one of these potions," remarks Rudy, eyeing the three little bottles set up in a row before him.
[14:04] <@Janson> "I bet they turn you into a mutant," Trucy opines, popping up behind Rudy. "But then you and Myra might look more suited to each other..."
[14:04] <@Lucie> "Let's wait until we can lock you in a room for observation afterwards," Lucie suggests.
[14:05] <@Henrietta> "I'm waiting until someone qualified can, well, tell me they're safe," Henrietta adds her own thoughts. "Or at least until there's someone really close who could cure me."
[14:05] <@Rudy> "Perish the thought! If either of us change, it must be Myra!" insists Rudy, gesturing at the abomination. "Look! She's grown flippers! And fins! Unnatural!"
[14:05] <@Janson> "They didn't mutate any of the other people who drank them," Eleanor adds as she joins the group, before blinking. "Also yeah, they kind of belong to the Collective... but, uh... I don't care enough to fight for them."
[14:06] * @Lucie snorts. "Myra was always unnatural. Says nothing."
[14:07] <@Henrietta> "Really?" Henrietta inquires. "How long before the whole mess started did they drink the potions?"
[14:07] <@Janson> "It's like she's evolving to suit her environment," Samarintha comes over and observes the aberration curiously. "I wonder what would happen if you took her up a mountain, would she grow wings?"
[14:08] <@Janson> "A week at least, they drank most of them on the ship long before getting to port," Eleanor says. "Everyone who did said they tasted vile but they felt fantastic afterwards."
[14:08] <@Rudy> "You think?" asks Rudy, eyeing the beast carefully. "We've taken her around cliffs before, but I guess a mountain's of higher altitude. It could be worth a try. And maybe if I take her to a fancy ball, she'll get prettier?"
[14:09] <@Lucie> "Try it. Let's see what happens."
[14:09] <@Henrietta> "Then it sounds like there is no need to wait after all!" Henrietta says happily, having changed her mind. "I always wanted to be a bit stronger, because it is very important. Does anyone want it even more than me?"
[14:09] <@Janson> "Er... maybe," Samarintha edges away, less certain on that score.
[14:10] <@Rudy> "Nah. Just... you think it'll give you bulging biceps or anything?"
[14:10] <@Rudy> "I mean, do you really want that?"
[14:11] <@Janson> "She can punch anyone who has a problem with it," Trucy nods sagely.
[14:11] <@Henrietta> "Well..." Henrietta hesitates briefly. "I don't think magic works that way. In fact, it probably works better than getting stronger on my own!" Thus reassured, she becomes their first test subject by trying the suspicious alchemical pirate potion of strength!
[14:11] <@Lucie> "Why wouldn't she?" Lucie wonders. "Helps her get her job done better, right?"
[14:12] <@Rudy> "Are you two actually girls?"
[14:12] <@Lucie> "No, Rudy, I'm a woman."
[14:14] <@Rudy> "I, uh..." Rudy coughs. "Wow! Okay. Never mind."
[14:14] <@Janson> The lime green potion burns and fizzes on Henrietta's tongue before going down her throat! She immediately feels nauseous, a strong acid scent filling up her sinuses and making her reel and stagger! As Henrietta struggles to keep her balance, her exposed skin does visibly shift, gaining more muscle tone and definition - she's not bulked out much at all, but it's definitely noticable as hard muscle and sinew under her clear skin rather than soft fat!
[14:14] <@Lucie> "There's a difference!" Lucie snaps. "Which you're clearly not old enough to know."
[14:16] * @Glenn continues to find everything the others do annoying, but is brought briefly out of his mood by observing Henrietta's downing of the potion, the effect is interesting, though trying to decipher how such a change could be possible starts causing his head to hurt again.
[14:17] * @Henrietta spends a moment closing her eyes and reorienting herself to the normal nauseating sense of being on a fishing boat. Once recovered, however, she runs her hands down her body, watching the way it reacts to her touch.
[14:17] <@Rudy> "Well... maybe you should.. teach..." Rudy shakes his head and opts to change the subject. "How is it, Henri?"
[14:18] * @Lucie would glare at Rudy more were she not busy watching Henri grope herself.
[14:18] <@Janson> Henrietta finds her body to feel pleasantly hard and solid around her main muscle groups, but she hasn't lost any of her manual dexterity nor her pleasant feminine curves for it.
[14:18] <@Henrietta> "It is a very pleasant feeling once my mind blocked out the smell of acid!" Henrietta is all too happy to report. "In fact, it really is a lot better than just training my body the normal way, not to mention far less painful, and my sense of vanity is fully satisfied!"
[14:19] <@Janson> "You look like you could break Rudy in two but he'd probably die happy," Trucy snickers.
[14:20] <@Henrietta> "I feel like that, too!"
[14:20] <@Rudy> "I'm fine with being miserable."
[14:21] <@Henrietta> "Well, if you insist."
[14:23] <@Rudy> Rudy reaches for the Potion of Speed. "That said, I'm inspired by your courage," he remarks. "It looks like I'll need every advantage possible to escape your clutches!"
[14:23] <@Lucie> "Was that ever a risk?"
[14:23] <@Henrietta> "My parents would be so jealous when I write them about this!" Henrietta says excitedly. "Is anyone else going to try-- oh! How excellent! Just think of how limber you can become with this!"
[14:25] <@Rudy> "It was an unknown quantity," replies Rudy, uncorking the stopper. "So it tastes like acid?"
[14:25] <@Henrietta> "Yes, and you probably want to sit. And maybe have a bucket ready if you have a weak stomach oh what am I saying you have Myra along."
[14:25] * @Henrietta shakes her head.
[14:26] <@Janson> Rudy finds the shimmering blue liquid to be thoroughly disagreeable to smell, like all sorts of herbs in a miserable concotion with all the flavours compounding each other in a negative sense to create something truly ruinous.
[14:26] <@Rudy> "I'm not some teetotaller who can't handle a drink," scoffs Rudy, holding his nose and slamming it back like a pro.
[14:26] * @Henrietta nods in approval.
[14:28] <@Janson> Blargh! It tastes like the antithesis of all that is good and right with the world, rushing down Rudy's throat and setting off a truly horrible bout of indigestion that makes him reel! As he deals with sudden murderous stomach cramps, his already slim form loses all traces of baby fat, trimming away excess and making him limber and svelte like a gymnast!
[14:29] <@Rudy> Rudy heaves over to the side of the boat and begins retching into the water, coughing and choking but thankfully keeping the horrible mess out of everyone's sight.
[14:30] <@Janson> The pirates all shake their heads disapprovingly at Rudy's inability to handle his drink.
[14:30] <@Lucie> "Looks to me like you need some more experience with it after all," Lucie agrees.
[14:30] <@Henrietta> "It is somehow quite a bit worse than it would have been if he had not bragged, isn't it?" Henrietta says in disapproval.
[14:31] <@Glenn> "Serves him right," Glenn mutters.
[14:31] <@Janson> "Yeah, now he looks really sad," Trucy nods in agreement.
[14:31] <@Rudy> "I think I died," moans Rudy. "I died and came back."
[14:32] <@Janson> "Came back better?" Trucy asks hopefully.
[14:32] <@Lucie> "Oh? Tell us what it was like on the other side, then."
[14:32] <@Glenn> "He's still talking, he -can't- be better..."
[14:32] <@Rudy> "-yeah, actually. I think I lost ten pounds," replies Rudy, surveying his arms.
[14:32] <@Henrietta> "Maybe I should have used Prestidigitation on the potion, first?"
[14:33] <@Janson> "If you could handle it, so should he," Trucy tells her boss firmly.
[14:33] <@Rudy> "But at this rate, it'll be my bride carrying my down the aisle..."
[14:33] <@Rudy> *me
[14:33] <@Henrietta> "I will defer to your excellent judgement on this."
[14:35] <@Lucie> "Well, there's one more..." Lucie observes.
[14:36] * @Rudy leans back and stretches out his arms. "The old potion of brains, huh?"
[14:36] <@Henrietta> "It is not... literally made of brains, is it?" Henrietta asks hesitantly.
[14:36] <@Lucie> "Maybe you should've taken that one instead?"
[14:37] <@Janson> "Makes you wonder what the other two were made of..." Samarintha hums thoughtfully at that.
[14:37] <@Rudy> "I'm plenty smart! I passed all my exams and everything!"
[14:37] <@Henrietta> "I'm smart enough to travel abroad and resist the unnatural control of the Emperor's cult on the masses," Henrietta proudly announces for her part.
[14:38] <@Rudy> "Smart enough to know that discretion is the better part of valor!"
[14:38] <@Glenn> "I'll drink the last one, maybe it can get rid of my damned headache..." Glenn growls as he stomps towards the last flask and downs it before anyone else can say something. Honestly, how would brains taste like anyhow?
[14:38] <@Rudy> "More likely it'll give you a migrane..."
[14:41] <@Janson> Glenn discovers they taste like... well, he doesn't know specifically the taste, but given the overpowering stink of shit that emanates from the bottle, he can make a fair guess now as to what it would taste like if anyone ever asks. Thankfully it goes down quickly... and Glenn goes stock still, his pupils dilating hugely and staring off into forever... he can see stars! His vision permeates the quantum layers of existence, unravelling mystery after secret, delving deep into the protean depths of stellar mysteries where massive unknowable... and it's gone. Gone forever. But he was *so* close, and feels his mind vastly expanded from the sublime experience.
[14:42] <@Henrietta> "Are you going to throw up now?" Henrietta asks cautiously, glancing about for a safe escape route.
[14:43] * @Glenn doesn't reply, looking kind of frozen and just standing there staring into the distance/nothing specific.
[14:43] <@Rudy> "I.. is he broken?"
[14:44] <@Lucie> "Glenn?" Lucie walks over, waves a hand in front of his face. "Anyone still in there?"
[14:44] <@Henrietta> "That is so creepy! Rudy, try poking him with something!"
[14:44] <@Rudy> "I'm not a doctor!"
[14:45] * @Glenn shakes his head and smacks his face as Lucie walks in front of him. "Okay...wow, that was...interesting," Glenn mutters. Then as an afterthought, "And the taste was shit too..."
[14:45] * @Henrietta chose the right potion after all!
[14:45] <@Rudy> "Feeling smarter? How many digits are there in pi?"
[14:46] * @Lucie frowns. "What are you talking about? Maybe you should've taken that one, Rudy. Pie's something you eat."
[14:46] <@Rudy> "You've taken my trick question to unique heights."
[14:48] <@Henrietta> "So you know, that potion I drank made me realize something," Henrietta says suddenly. "Rudy, do you have Vanthus's ring with you?"
[14:48] <@Rudy> "Hmm? Sure." Rudy reaches into his pocket and pulls it out. "It'd be kinda morbid to wear it, so I'm just holding onto it."
[14:49] <@Henrietta> "Oh, certainly," Henrietta agrees, taking the ring into her hands and examining it closely. "I don't really want to wear it or anything of the sort. It's just...." Nodding to herself, Henrietta presents the ring to the others. "See this? That eight-pointed star? That must be the Vanderboren crest, just like I thought."
[14:50] <@Glenn> "I don't know about feeling smarter, but it was an interesting experience at least...things feel just a little clearer right now?" Glenn tries to explain.
[14:51] <@Rudy> "Yeah, it's not like I feel like breaking any records or doing backflips," agrees Rudy. "Anyway, yeah, it's the Vanderboren ring, so..."
[14:51] <@Henrietta> "Well, remember how the Dragons had all those chests? And how one of them had all those bags all marked the very same way?"
[14:52] <@Rudy> "I.. don't. But if that's true, then that'd be all the money Vanthus stole, wouldn't it?"
[14:52] <@Henrietta> "Oh, not all. But... half of it, thereabouts."
[14:53] * @Lucie considers this for a moment. "Oh, hells."
[14:54] <@Rudy> "If it were anyone elses money..." mumbles Rudy, falling back to lie on the deck.
[14:55] <@Henrietta> "I... don't really know what my father would say here," Henrietta admits. "He never was in a situation like this. But I think my mother would want me to give that money to Lady Lavinia, and I think I agree with that."
[14:56] <@Rudy> "I don't plan on ever betraying her trust, either."
[14:56] <@Lucie> "If we're to keep working for her, we have to. Might be she'll try and find out what happened to it later, and it'd be a mess then if we kept it. Dammit! Thought I had it made...still, it wasn't all the money in those bags, at least."
[14:57] <@Janson> "Look at it this way," Trucy suggests delicately, "If she's rich she can pay you more?"
[14:57] * @Glenn snorts. "Right, she'll give us a bonus for bringing her the head of her wayward brother?"
[14:58] <@Rudy> "Wait, we have his head?"
[14:58] <@Henrietta> "This brings up a good point," Henrietta admits, glancing at Trucy. "You really earned hazard pay. And I can get you a house near mine if you want, too. How about it?"
[14:58] <@Janson> "Your street's really nice compared to mine," Trucy smiles brightly at Henrietta.
[14:58] <@Lucie> "Not unless Glenn jumped bac into the sea to fetch it, Rudy," Lucie says, eyeing Glenn warily.
[14:59] <@Glenn> "I was talking figuratively, you dolt!"
[14:59] * @Henrietta tips her hat at Trucy, smiling back at her.
[15:02] <@Rudy> "Hey, Samarintha- can I call you Sam? You guys are gonna be in Salerno a while, right?" asks Rudy, turning to the two women.
[15:04] <@Janson> "Sam's fine if four sylables is too complicated," the blonde mage allows graciously. "We probably won't linger much since we need to rejoin our comrades, but it'll probably take us a little while to arrange that. Why?"
[15:04] <@Henrietta> "Hey, is this about that party? Are you inviting them?"
[15:05] <@Rudy> "I was gonna throw a party a day or two after we got back- oh, come on!"
[15:05] <@Rudy> "There's a way to do these things!"
[15:06] * @Henrietta looks away in amusement.
[15:06] <@Rudy> "Anyway, its like that. I think I'm gonna make it policy to throw a party every time we live through something awful like this," replies Rudy. "Just, you know. Reminding ourselves we're alive, I guess. I'll get it if it's too soon..."
[15:07] <@Janson> "After all this a party could be nice. Right, comrades?" Samarintha looks over the other Collective members who seem quite cheerfully agreeable.
[15:09] <@Janson> OOC: Glenn, fort save
[15:10] <@Glenn> roll d20+7
[15:10] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+7 and gets 26." [d20=19]
[15:10] <@Janson> roll 1d2
[15:10] * +Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d2 and gets 2." [1d2=2]
[15:10] <@Glenn> ooc: confound you, Hatbot, you drive me to mutations
[15:10] <@Janson> OOC: and again
[15:10] <@Glenn> ooc: another fort save?
[15:11] <@Janson> OOC: yeah
[15:11] <@Glenn> roll d20+7
[15:11] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+7 and gets 23." [d20=16]
[15:11] <@Janson> roll 1d2
[15:11] * +Hatbot --> "Janson rolls 1d2 and gets 1." [1d2=1]
[15:15] <@Janson> Another two days pass, Glenn miserable and surly while everyone else endures as best they can before the Fisher Princess finally returns to Salerno! It seems there's still no proper harbourmaster because docking is a bit of a hap-hazard affair even in the smaller Azure harbour, but it saves on customs inspections and such so surely that's a plus? It's early afternoon and the city is bustling when you finally step back onto solid dry land once more!
[15:16] <@Lucie> "Finally," Lucie says with obvious relief on setting foot on the dock.
[15:16] <@Rudy> Rudy could practically kiss the ground, but one look at the dock changes his mind in a hurry. "I'm gonna go home to clean up and get changed," he opines. "How about we meet up at Lavinia's place at the evening, all presentable-like?"
[15:17] * @Lucie is about as fancy now as she ever gets, and merely shrugs.
[15:17] <@Janson> "We'll be staying at the Bloodthirsty Pelican," Samarintha says on behalf of her crew. "Stop by and let us know about that party before we leave town."
[15:17] <@Henrietta> "A few hours to shower and fix our hair and get checked out by a cleric after that horrible island of death and the cramped boat? Alright, sounds fine by me. Want to go together, Lucie? Trucy?"
[15:18] <@Janson> "Sure, I'll come with," Trucy nods, sticking her hands in her pockets and falling in step beside Henrietta.
[15:18] <@Lucie> "We may as well. Beats walking back to Shadowshore. I'll need to move sometime soon, I think..."
[15:19] <@Rudy> "Sure thing," notes Rudy, nodding to Samarintha. "I'll probably drop by tomorrow sometime. See y'all later!"
[15:20] <@Janson> Thus everyone goes their seperate ways, having a few hours to get cleaned up, eat decent food, and decompress after their ordeal before heading towards the Vanderboren Manor after dinnertime...
[15:22] * @Henrietta is dressed up for a change, and looks quite refreshed after half a day spent at one of Salerno's finest spa, not to mention being reassured by a qualified priest that she hasn't contacted any terrible diseases over the course of her testing journey.
[15:23] * @Lucie looks fundemtnally the same as she usually does, just with cleaner skin and hair. Apparently it'll tkae more than a brush with horrific mutation to prod her into getting a snazzier wardrobe.
[15:24] <@Rudy> Rudy wears a simply fabulous suit, complete with a crevat and gold rings to create an illusion of wealth and taste. His ever-growing hair now rests in a ponytail, which he fingers absently whilst heading to the front.
[15:25] <@Glenn> roll 2d4 (I can craft two lesser restorations)
[15:25] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls 2d4 (I can craft two lesser restorations) and gets 8." [2d4=4, 4]
[15:27] * @Henrietta adjusts her bonnet while peering at Rudy thoughtfully. "Did you consider purchasing a top hat to go along with your suit?" she inquires. "It would look very dignified on you."
[15:28] * @Glenn looks to be dressed pretty plainly, just some decent everyday clothes, as he meets up with the others. He does look a bit bothered by something, but still meets up with the others as scheduled.
[15:29] <@Rudy> "Hats... tend to fall off when I wear them," replies Rudy. "Besides, don't you think leaving my hair out looks a little rakish?"
[15:30] <@Henrietta> "A look that a top hat would only enforce and strengthen," Henrietta argues. "Not to mention that keeping a shaky object like that settled upon your head does wonders for your balance! It is a great way to train your body while looking fabulous!"
[15:32] <@Rudy> "I just don't think it's me. You see all those gentlemen in top hats out at auctions and funerals and working in the government," replies Rudy. "It might work out if I was a magician, but it's not as though I can pull rabbits out of hats."
[15:33] <@Lucie> "No, only Myra. A rabbit would be a relief."
[15:34] * @Henrietta listens sadly throughout Rudy's refusal, until she perks up at the end. "Yes! You can, in fact, pull summoned creatures out of hats! Some of them can even be small enough!"
[15:35] <@Rudy> "But not rabbits. It has to be rabbits! Or maybe flowers? Is there a spell for that?"
[15:35] <@Janson> Thus the four victorious heroes head into Vanderboren manor... and are promptly accosted by two individuals loitering in the gardens who approach. One is a stout red-haired dwarf in green clothes tailed by a ferocious looking badger, the other is a slim dark-skinned brunette woman in dark purple robes. They regard the group for a moment before the woman smiles, stretching the crossed-crescent tattoo on her cheek, "Ah, you're Lady Vanderboren's new hires. We saw each other briefly before we left for Burnriver, didn't we?" she asks, voice light and melodic.
[15:37] <@Henrietta> "We did," Henrietta response, giving Rudy a look promising to tell him more about all sorts of exciting spells that summon flowers. "It is nice to meet you again. You just returned, then?"
[15:37] <@Lucie> "It's a first for me," Lucie says. "Nice to meet you."
[15:37] <@Rudy> "It's been too long to call us new now, don't you think?" replies Rudy, with his usual grni.
[15:38] <@Glenn> "Where are the rest of your group?" Glenn asks. "Talking with Lady Vanderboren right now?"
[15:40] <@Janson> "Three days ago," she replies, before nodding to Lucie, "Ah, yes... the other girl is no longer with us, I remember," she bows her head for a moment. "I am Liamae, and my taciturn friend here is Kursk. Of the Jade Ravens. Zani and Tobin are no doubt off relaxing somewhere - we've been keeping an eye on the estate since we got back."
[15:40] <@Janson> "Aye, heard ye stirred up a hornet's nest with those thieves," the dwarf grins as his badger goes to curiously sniff Myra, "Been quiet, but best to be on the safe side in case any of them come looking for revenge."
[15:41] <@Henrietta> "If none of them came so far, then what few remained have fled by now," Henrietta states with certainty.
[15:41] <@Lucie> "Assassins, really," Lucie corrects. "Though few enough had a chance to escape alive, I can tell you."
[15:41] <@Rudy> Myra licks some of her many lips, whilst Rudy nods. "How has Lady Lavinia been?"
[15:43] <@Janson> "Glad to hear it," Liamae nods to Lucie, baring her teeth in a feral smile, "It's good to have others around who know what they're doing."
[15:43] <@Janson> "The Lady's been pretty grim, sorry to say," Kurk adds. "Terrible business, what that low-life did," he scowls.
[15:44] <@Henrietta> "We might be able to bring her some closure, at least. Can we see her now?"
[15:44] <@Janson> The badger hisses quietly and slinks back behind the dwarf, glaring murderously at Myra.
[15:44] <@Rudy> "That particular story has finally reached it's resolution," replies Rudy. "We're here to talk about just that."
[15:44] <@Lucie> "He won't be troubling her any more, no," Lucie says.
[15:44] <@Janson> "Go on in, you have as much place here as we," Liamae nods, stepping to the side.
[15:45] <@Rudy> Rudy heads forward, flexing his fingers.
[15:45] * @Henrietta steps past Liamae, tipping her hat at her.
[15:46] * @Lucie gives the other adventurers a nod and smile of professional respect before entering.
[15:48] <@Janson> Into the mansion you go, Kora... well, not happily, but dutifully hustling you into a sitting room to make yourselves comfortable and furnishing you with tea and cakes before Lavinia enters, wearing a deep blue velvet dress which she carefully smoothes out while taking the seat facing the party. "You're back," she begins, her face implacable, "Has the matter..." her voice catches a moment and she shakes her head with a faint frown manifesting. "No, I mean... have you killed my brother? I shouldn't mince my words on this," she concludes.
[15:49] <@Rudy> "Mmm. Yes," replies Rudy, proferring the Vanderboren ring. "I think we can spare you the details."
[15:50] <@Henrietta> "And that is not all," Henrietta continues. "Lady Vanderboren, we managed to secure much of the funds that he stole from your vault. They are safe, now."
[15:52] <@Janson> She takes the ring and examines it a moment. "My mother's..." she whispers, narrowing her eyes before looking up. "Thank you," she begins, before blinking and looking at Henrietta, her lips twitching as if she wants to smile but can't quite manage it. "Truly? I had given up hope on that... it takes a great strain off of things, though." She heaves a deep breath. "You have all served me greatly. I know it was no small task, what you've done. Thank you."
[15:53] * @Henrietta blushes slightly at those words of praise, barely managing to avoid stammering in return. "It is an honor to serve you, My Lady."
[15:54] * @Lucie simply nods. All in a day's work, really. Or a week's, as the case may be.
[15:54] <@Rudy> "Not a problem," replies Rudy. "Can always count on us, m'lady."
[15:56] <@Glenn> "So how has everything been going here in town while we've been away?" Glenn asks, figuring moving past Vanthus now might be a good thing.
[15:57] <@Janson> "Speak to Kora before you leave. Not only do you deserve it, but I can afford to increase your retainers to a hundred and fifty gold a month - it's the very least you deserve," Lavinia tells the group. "Two other things - Miranda's body has been preserved until you returned, so we can give her a proper funeral. Also the Iron Council has investigated the lair of the Lotus Dragons you purged, and were greatly impressed. There will be a banquet in your honour next week - it will be a chance for well deserved praise and to make useful connections," she suggests, favouring Glenn with a brief smile as she takes his hint.
[15:58] * @Glenn tips his head and smiles. "Nice. Much appreciated, Lady Vanderboren."
[15:59] <@Rudy> "A banquet? Truly?" asks Rudy, surprised. "You're not kidding us, right?"
[15:59] <@Lucie> "A..." Lucie is momentarily lost for words. "A banquet? Well." This is a somewhat more rapid rate of social climbing than expected!
[15:59] <@Glenn> "Your party might get upstaged at this rate, Rudy."
[16:00] <@Henrietta> "Well, there is nothing wrong with having two parties," Henrietta muses. "Oh, I simply must find a new dress for the occasion!"
[16:00] <@Lucie> "Haven't you enough already?" Lucie wonders.
[16:00] <@Rudy> "See, Lucie, you just don't understand girls."
[16:01] <@Henrietta> "You really need to appear at a banquest in your honor in a brand new dress to impress everyone," Henrietta states with certainty.
[16:01] * @Lucie pointedly ignores Rudy. "Really? But if they haven't met you before, aren't all your dresses new to them?"
[16:02] <@Janson> "With the increase to your retainer you should be able to afford something suitably fetching," Lavinia suggests, her mood seeming to lift somewhat.
[16:02] <@Rudy> "Will you be attending the banquet, Milady?" asks Rudy, perking up.
[16:02] * @Henrietta shakes her head. "You will always know, so you cannot do that. No, it simply must be a new and risque custom-tailored dress," she informs Lucie. "I can take you shopping with me, if you would like?"
[16:03] <@Lucie> "Risque?" Lucie raises an eyebrow. "Well, perhaps..."
[16:03] <@Janson> "Naturally, along with numerous other nobles... including Lord Kellani," her Lavinia's expression twists between amusement and disgust. "As I was planning to use the story that Vanthus had eloped with a mysterious lover to explain his disappearance... well, it's ironic that the same story has come out regarding his daughter Rowyn."
[16:05] <@Henrietta> "Is it, umm, actually true for her?"
[16:05] <@Glenn> "Oh? Well, surely the two must have eloped together and be living happily on some remote island then," Glenn comments.
[16:05] <@Lucie> "Nothing good happens on remote islands," Lucie says with certainty.
[16:05] <@Janson> Lavinia covers her mouth with her hand. "Perhaps one of you would care to describe the Lady of the Lotus to me and I can confirm my suspicion on that subject?"
[16:07] <@Rudy> "She was a real beauty. Quite young, red-haired, thin, supple..."
[16:07] <@Rudy> "Really, it was such a senseless waste."
[16:09] <@Janson> "Just like Rowyn Kellani," Lavinia nods wistfully."She really was an incredible dancer, from what I saw. And considering the connections between Kellani and the Lotus Dragons... well, it's less remnants of the broken thieves guild that have the Jade Ravens guarding my estate, and more reprisals from her father."
[16:10] * @Henrietta isn't quite sure what to say to that.
[16:10] <@Rudy> "It sounds like we might need to worry about poisoned wine when we attend this function," remarks Rudy, slowly. "Is he the sort of man to try something so brazen?"
[16:11] <@Henrietta> "I'm, ah, certain I won't be poisoned so easily, at least," Henrietta mutters to herself.
[16:12] <@Janson> "Well he hasn't tried anything yet," Lavinia admits, "But his wrath may not be for me at all. I haven't been able to meet him since any of this happened, so it's hard for me to speculate. At any rate, something brazen at the banquet would be incredibly risky for him... in general though, you should be on your guards. In an ideal world he'd simply want to sweep everything under the carpet and avoid sticking his neck out so the whole mess can rest, but he's not a man known for timidity."
[16:13] <@Glenn> "You can just avoid eating or drinking anything if you're really worried, Rudy. Or have Myra try things first!"
[16:13] <@Henrietta> "I will invest in a guard dog, I think."
[16:13] <@Lucie> "He's welcome to try. We'll watch for any...misbehavior. Anything to expose him for his ties to the Dragons and have him arrested would be of great convenience--we wouldn't have to worry about the threat hanging over us afterward."
[16:13] <@Rudy> "I can't take Myra to a formal event! Have you no shame, man?"
[16:13] <@Glenn> He pauses and then asks, "Actually, would you even bring Myra to the banquet?"
[16:14] * @Glenn nods. "Yes, the thought occured to me after I said that. Would be amusing to see Kellani's reaction to Myra though."
[16:14] <@Glenn> If nothing else, Kellani would surely think of Myra as the thing that ripped his precious daughter into gibblets!
[16:15] <@Janson> Lavinia winces at Glenn's phrasing.
[16:16] <@Rudy> "I don't see any reason to provoke the man," replies Rudy, frowning.  "Come on, it's a banquet! You don't go to these things to insult people so directly."
[16:16] <@Lucie> "Only indirectly?"
[16:16] <@Henrietta> "Exactly!"
[16:17] * @Glenn frowns. "I prefer keeping things directly, but I do suppose you lot are better aware of how to deal with social situations after all."
[16:17] <@Janson> "Indeed," Lavinia nods approvingly to Rudy, "Many of Salerno's foremost will be there, and your time would be more fruitful spent making good impressions and cultivating friendships."
[16:18] <@Rudy> "If you have trouble with socializing, I am prepared to offer detailed lessons," replies Rudy, grinning at his comrades.
[16:18] <@Henrietta> "Any friendships in particular that would be beneficial to both yourself and us, Lady Vanderboren?" Henrietta politely asks.
[16:18] * @Lucie nods. "If we wished to develop connections with the city's libraries, magicians, even temples--would anyone representing such be there, milady?"
[16:19] <@Glenn> "I shall risk fending for myself, and simply endeavour to not make enemies, I think, Rudy," Glenn replies drily.
[16:19] <@Janson> Lavinia nods to Henrietta, "As my employees, your actions reflect onto myself. I'll have the full guest list in a few days - some are likely to send proxies on their behalf, so it's somewhat fluid. I'll try to ensure you're forewarned as best I can."
[16:20] * @Lucie nods again. "And what, exactly, would these lessons entail?" she asks Rudy, with a skeptical look on her face.
[16:20] <@Rudy> "We could start with teaching you how to smile."
[16:21] * @Henrietta smiles at Lavinia in acknowledgement, before she nods at Rudy's words. "I think I can handle the wardrobe."
[16:21] <@Lucie> "That's happened before. It might've even happened in your presence once or twice. Perhaps you weren't watching."
[16:22] <@Rudy> "Give us one now, then?"
[16:22] * @Henrietta finds herself curious as well, focusing on Lucie's face.
[16:22] <@Lucie> "Give me a reason," Lucie challenges.
[16:23] <@Rudy> "You're rich."
[16:23] <@Lucie> "Look, you can't ask someone for a smile. It has to arise of the moment or it doesn't mean a thing."
[16:23] <@Glenn> "You're going to a banquet filled with nobles that will launch praise after praise on you," Glenn suggests.
[16:23] <@Rudy> "Ah, but you're wrong! Smiling makes you happy, and it makes people around you happy. Even if it's a lie to start, it becomes true," he responds.
[16:24] <@Lucie> "Then I'll smile when it happens. Look, everyone stop looking at me already."
[16:24] <@Rudy> "Ok, I'll take another route," replies Rudy, nodding.
[16:24] <@Rudy> "Lucie, do not smile."
[16:24] <@Henrietta> "Of course you can smile on demand!" Henrietta exclaims, sounding almost insulted. "It is quite the learned skill! See?" Henrietta smiles brilliantly at Lucie.
[16:24] <@Rudy> "Nope. No smiling! I can see your lips twitching. Keep that frown on."
[16:25] <@Janson> Lavinia keeps quiet, watching the byplay with politely restrained amusement.
[16:25] * @Lucie sighs, rubs her face. "Rudy, stop it. It makes one feel like a child hearing things like that."
[16:25] <@Rudy> "You're not hiiiiiiiding it behind your hands, are you?" asks Rudy, grinning.
[16:26] <@Lucie> Lucie's only answer is snatching a pillow from the sofa and hurling it at Rudy's head. Followed by a careful, "Apologies, Lady Vanderboren."
[16:27] <@Rudy> "Mrfmrgmfgmrf."
[16:27] * @Henrietta shifts subtly at the attack to shield the Lady with her body, should it comes to that.
[16:28] <@Janson> "It's... quite alright," Lavinia decides at length, smiling. "A Lady should treasure her smile, after all, not waste it senselessly."
[16:28] <@Rudy> "I assure you, m'lady, we'll manage more decorum at the banquet." Rudy manages to drop the pillow back on the sofa, and sketches a bow. "I can't say I have any particular goals for the night, which makes it all the more exciting, does it not?"
[16:29] <@Henrietta> "This brings up a good question," Henrietta muses. "My Lady, do you have any goals we should pursue after the banquet in question?"
[16:30] <@Janson> "At the very least, simply enjoy your day in the limelight," the brown-haired noble suggests to Rudy. "At the moment I have no tasks that need pursued, and you have earned your time off. Feel free to follow your own pursuits at leisure, and if something comes up I will summon you."
[16:32] * @Henrietta inclunes her head in acceptance. "In that case, Rudy, shall we go and see your landlord?"
[16:33] <@Rudy> "No time like the present."
[16:37] <@Janson> Leaving the Vanderboren estate behind, the group heads South to the sea-facing side of the Merchant District, down Puppetmaker's Lane to where a small stone bridge leads over onto an island occupied solely by the Arabani Manor, a slightly bigger mansion than Lavinia's own, with cleaner lines and less gothic styling, adorned with frescoes and mosiacs in strange rounded looping patterns. The rest of the island is covered in gardens, flowers and trees profligate despite the salty air. On the other side of the bridge the main gate is open, leading to a path towards the mansion proper.
[16:38] * @Rudy saunters towards the gate. It being open is clearly a sign of welcoming.
[16:39] <@Henrietta> As no one is there to impede their progress, Henrietta walks down the path past the main gate towards the entrance to the mansion, intending to knock upon it.
[16:41] <@Janson> Indeed, there's no guards or anything about, so it's easy enough to go knock on the big dark-oak door at the front of the manor. After a moment it's opened by a young footman dressed in green livery with a leafy motif, a soft cream-coloured cap worn with an orchid embedded in the side. "Hello, there," he smiles welcomingly, "What business brings you to Arabani Manor?"
[16:41] <@Henrietta> "This concerns the matter of Sir Walter Arabani," Henrietta responds politely. "Who may we speak to about that?"
[16:43] <@Janson> "Oh," that makes him blink and step back, "Come right in, come right in," he gestures, holding the door open wider, allowing you into the entry hall which is dominated by a large gurgling fountain surrounded by ivy-strewn creepers, two curving stairways leading up and numerous doors visible on both floors stretching through the expansive hallway. "I'll just take you to a sitting room and take your names, someone will be around shortly," he reassures as you're ushered inside.
[16:44] <@Rudy> "Rudy Giacomo," replies Rudy, pleasantly.
[16:44] <@Henrietta> "Certainly," Henrietta agrees. "Mine would be Henrietta Ul Copt."
[16:44] <@Lucie> "Lucie Dolan," Lucie says, checking out the impressive home interior.
[16:45] <@Glenn> "Glenn Farruner," Glenn replies.
[16:50] <@Janson> It's very clean despite the profusion of plant-life used as decoration, and the whole place has a nice verdant smell about it, completely eclipsing the ever-present tang of the sea that dominates Salerno. You're taken into a sitting room just beside the front door, nice soft seats available to sit in and a window looking over brightly coloured flowerbeds outside. It's only a few minutes before a somewhat rounded middle-aged woman with kind features and an elaborate gold and red dress enters, her fading blonde hair pinned up in an ornate bun behind her head. "You've come about my Walter?" she asks, worry and tension palpable, before she blinks at the party, "Oh, forgive me, we haven't met, I'm Lady Anwyn Arabani... but yes, Walter?" she presses eagerly.
[16:51] <@Henrietta> "Henrietta," she introduces herself again. "And we have information about Sir Walter, yes. The problem is that we were ill-equipped to rescue him, but someone with more resources may well have much better luck at success, and so we came to you to tell you all we know."
[16:52] <@Janson> That makes her deflate. "So... you're not from that group?" she asks warily.
[16:52] <@Lucie> "What group?" Lucie wonders.
[16:53] <@Henrietta> "I, umm, presume you are talking about the pirates that took him?" Henrietta chances.
[16:54] <@Janson> "Yes," she nods gratefully to Henrietta. "We paid the ransom several days ago... I was hoping you were them, coming back with him."
[16:54] <@Rudy> "Unfortunately, the island on which he was held prisoner was struck down by an alchemical plague," replies Rudy, grimacing. "Many of the inhabitants were transformed."
[16:55] <@Janson> "Transformed?" she repeats dubiously, eyeing Rudy.
[16:55] <@Henrietta> "This is what we know," Henrietta tells Lady Arabani. "There is a group of pirates who captured Sir Walter and kept him hostage for ransom. However, their chief alchemist accidentally spread a plague across the island that mutated everyone upon it, subverting their minds and twisting their bodies. We brought back his journal, and we know how to get past the reefs surrounding the island, so it
[16:55] <@Henrietta> is our hope that you might have someone capable of reversing that terrible disease and returning Sir Walter back to normal."
[16:57] <@Janson> "Oh, by the Great Oak!" she almost swoons, putting her hand on the wall for support. "My poor baby!"
[16:58] * @Henrietta cringes at that reaction. "We are terribly sorry we bring such terrible news, but a chance to save him still exists, you must believe that!"
[16:58] <@Rudy> "We're sorry to be the bearers of bad news, but I believe there is hope to be found!" replies Rudy.
[16:58] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+8 K:R
[16:58] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+8 K:R and gets 14." [1d20=6]
[16:59] -> *Lucie* It sounds like something a nature-worshipper would say, Oaks are typically seen as the 'old men of the forest' and elevated as a focal point for veneration of the forest as a whole.
[17:00] <@Janson> "Yes... yes," she nods, collecting herself with visible effort. "Please, give me everything you know, and tell me about this plague. If I can use it to bring back my son, you'll be richly rewarded."
[17:02] <@Rudy> "The island on which he was held is called Griffin Reef; it is secluded and difficult to reach, but we can provide you with directions," replies Rudy. "It was a former stronghold of the Collective, but I doubt anyone is left there now. We can also provide you with a journal that contains the only clue we had to the plague's origin."
[17:03] <@Henrietta> "The island itself is about five days's travel by fishing boat," Henrietta adds to Rudy's words, "and we discovered a map that allows one to navigate the trecherous waters near it. We can also tell you exactly where your son is being held; it is a prison cell, but he should be safe there from the mutated pirates still about the islands in droves. As for the disease, we know that it may become
[17:03] <@Henrietta> contageous if you get bitten, but it no longer affects those breathing the air as it did at first."
[17:04] <@Janson> "It's a small mercy that those horrible pirates suffered the same, but all I really want is my son back," Lady Arabani declares with heartfelt sincerity. "If you give me your maps and journals, I will pay a hundred gold now, and more once my Walter is back on friendly shores."
[17:06] <@Henrietta> "We can certainly provide all that now," Henrietta agrees, "and while a map of the island itself does not exist, I can dictate it to someone who can draw it for you?"
[17:07] <@Rudy> "I can draw a sketch," offers Rudy. "City plans and all that is something I can do."