36: The terrible box of enchantment and allure

[Ebiris]

[14:10] <@Ebiris> The day of Lavinia's promised banquet finally arrives, but unfortunately brings with it the first storm of winter. Dark clouds hang oppressively in the sky as gusty winds blow in from the sea, carrying driving sheets of rain that scythe mercilessly downwards on any souls unlucky enough to be outside on such a torrid day. A few hours yet remain until the festivities, and one can rely upon the nobles of Salerno not to let the weather get in the way of a good time no matter how foul it looks outside.
[14:10] <@Ebiris> OOC: basically a chance for you guys to set yourself up along with any preparations beforehand
[14:14] <Lucie> Lucie doesn't have much to do in the way of preparation (aside from trying on her new dress and admiring herself in a mirror beforehand). Look one's best and come with the proper mindset for social interaction with one's new peers--that's all that's important!
[14:15] <Rudy> The rain justifies Rudy hiring a carriage to take him to the castle instead of daring to walk, but sadly precludes meeting up with any of his friends before arriving. He does tip the driver to remain on standby, however, in case a quick escape is needed. Who knows with these formal events? He certainly comes dressed in the latest of Anowian styles, sans a hat, should that be in fashion at present.
[14:15] <Rudy> Arranging for a date for the evening was tempting, but his heart just wasn't in it at the moment...
[14:17] <@Henrietta> Having left early enough to be at the banquet with plenty of time to spare, Henrietta had plenty of time to dry out any water that got past her coat. And she would certainly not need it while inside Castle Teraknian, allowing for her newly-tailored dark green velvet dress to shine. Its vine motif and adornments of petals are bound to go well with the low cut, and once inside, Henrietta trades
[14:17] <@Henrietta> in her wide-rimmed hat for a rose that she places in her hair, stripped of its thorns, to complete her apparel.
[14:20] <@Glenn> After locking his house up, Glenn heads towards the banquet, glad he'd made plans to leave somewhat early, as he holds his coat tightly around him. Hopefully there'll be enough time to freshen up his appearance a bit once he's arrived, although knowing his friends, they'll probably be dressed showy enough to grab all the attention either way.
[14:21] <Lucie> Lucie, alas, did not have the foresight of hiring a carriage, so a shawl and an umbrella will have to make do for warding off the worst of the rain. At least she can keep her hair dry?
[14:28] <@Ebiris> While Rudy travels in comfort and style, the rest of the group have a rather terrible time walking it. The rain pours down with murderous intensity, thoroughly soaking through coats and splashing up over legs. Even Lucie's umbrella is scant protection against such an intense downpour, having to struggle to hold onto it in the fierce gales whipping through Salerno's canal-side streets. While Rudy steps off his carriage at the castle gates, he finds cringing rain-soaked servants waiting to escort visitors within while dryer (and notably smug whenever they look at their counterparts) servants are on hand to take hats and coats to the cloakroom or escort visitors to the party itself. Just behind Rudy comes Henrietta first, shortly followed by Glenn and Lucie. Sadly all three have suffered from their exposure to the elements, looking almost as sorry as the servants outside by the time they cross the bridge to the castle.
[14:28] <Rudy> "
[14:29] <Rudy> "You walked in this weather?! You must all be mad!" exlcaims Rudy, once safe inside. "You'll all catch the sniffles!"
[14:29] <Lucie> "Cursed weather," Lucie swears. "This is a brand new dress." A scowl. "Getting sick happens later. Looking bad happens right now."
[14:29] <@Henrietta> Being early has the perk of having plenty of time to fix one's hair and makeup and dry her clothes! And if not the normal way, there is always magic, and so Henrietta asks for the use of a private room to fix herself up.
[14:30] <Lucie> Lucie is, of course, wearing her finely tailored dress. It's not flashy or reveling (this is Lucie, after all), though it does hug her hips and rear nicely. Mostly it's a lot of flowing blue with a busy fur collar.
[14:30] <@Ebiris> "Of course, m'lady," a young servant smiles at Henrietta despite her bedraggled state, "You don't want to go upstairs looking anything but your best, else the other guests would tease you something fierce I'll bet," he adds, guiding Henrietta to an empty cloakroom near the entrance.
[14:31] <@Henrietta> "My sincerest of thanks!" Henrietta chirps, perky despite the miserable weather. She has confidence in her skills and magic, after all!
[14:31] <@Glenn> "If I had known the weather was going to be like this, I would have taken a carriage," Glenn answers Rudy with a grimace. "I didn't think there'd be time to do so once it was apparent what it was like."
[14:32] <Rudy> "Really? I would've thought you'd think there isn't time to walk. All of you," notes Rudy, shaking his head. "Take your time drying off. I'll see all of you upstairs."
[14:33] <@Ebiris> Another liveried servant takes that as his cue to escort Rudy (and anyone else in a hurry) up the stairs and through the corridors before nearing the banquet hall. "How should I have you announced, sir?" he pauses to ask Rudy before opening the door.
[14:34] * @Glenn nods, still grimacing as he turns to a servant and asks about a private room for himself to clean up in. Hopefully he can join the rest of them soon enough.
[14:35] * Lucie does what she can to wring water out of her dress and hair, grumbling all the while.
[14:35] <@Henrietta> First, she has to dry herself, which is a bit tedious when she is that soaked. Taking a few minutes to get out of her dress and then dry both it and herself is fairly trivial, however. Then, she only has to slide back into it, and comb through her hair, having chosen to let it cascade freely in waves down her back. Putting on jewelry and a purple rose to adorn her hair would take a few more
[14:35] <@Henrietta> minutes, and then she is almost done! Light makeup to accentuate her lips, a bit of color to her cheeks, some care to her eyelashes and a dabbling of perfume, and Henrietta emerges from her room, all ready to ascend the stairs!
[14:35] <@Ebiris> The same servant who helped Henrietta nods and leads Glenn a little bit out of the way with both cloakrooms in use, giving him access to a private waiting room near the administration area you recall passing with Lavinia on the way to her vault.
[14:35] <Rudy> "How have the other guests been announced so far?" asks Rudy.
[14:36] * Lucie eyes Henri as she emerges. "Times like these I wish I could direct my talents the same way as you."
[14:37] <@Henrietta> "You like it?" Henrietta asks, doing a twirl for Lucie's sake.
[14:37] <@Ebiris> "Most favour simply using name and official rank, sir," the servant replies. "Sir Marevanchi also placed emphasis on his first son status when he entered, and Sir Lorchester favoured the sobriquet 'the Bear'."
[14:38] * Lucie takes a thorough look. "Yes. Very elegant. Could you, I wonder, do something for me too? At least get me dried out enough to now look a sewer rat."
[14:38] <Lucie> *to not
[14:38] * @Henrietta considers the time, and then nods resolutely. "Certainly! Let's go back inside!" And once they are in that room, she commands Lucie to strip.
[14:39] <Rudy> Rudy snaps his fingers. "Sir Rudy Giacomo, the Lotus-Eater! That's one from the classics, isn't it?"
[14:39] <Lucie> "Is that...really..." Oh hells. Well, it's a sacrifice one must make for looking good. Lucie slips out of her dress in short order, having only a little trouble with the sodden fabric.
[14:40] <@Ebiris> "Not a particularly auspicious one, but it certainly has a ring to it," the liveried man chuckles slightly, going to open the door and then whispering to another servant on the other side who calls out, "Presenting Sir Rudy Giacomo, the Lotus-Eater!"
[14:40] <@Henrietta> "I am a sorceress, not omnipowerful," Henrietta responds, working her magic on Lucie's form first, lest she catches a cold.
[14:42] * Lucie just sits and stares at the wall. There's no way Henri couldn't notice the disfigurement marring arm, shoulder, chest and neck, but maybe she'll have the good grace to not comment on it,
[14:42] <@Henrietta> "My!" Henrietta exclaims, reaching out to touch Lucie's skin. "That is not from the rain!"
[14:43] <Rudy> Rudy sweeps through the door with a confident stride! Anowian style, these days, is all about being dressed to kill- after all, it's a country famed (and hated) for it's wide-roaming adventurers (and spies)! Thus, a sharp, elegant look- a red suit with golden buttons; a long, trailing sash, and of course the customary dagger are all in vogue!
[14:43] <Lucie> Lucie barely feels the afflicted area being prodded, as usual. "Ignore it. This isn't a medical examination."
[14:44] * @Henrietta continues with her magic, shrugging at Lucie's words. "So it is a medical condition, then? Did you try seeking help for it?"
[14:45] <Lucie> "Oh yes, all the finest doctors in Shadowshore," Lucie says through gritted teeth. "We can have this discussion some other time. That's now what I'm here for today."
[14:45] <Lucie> *that's not
[14:46] <@Ebiris> Rudy finds himself in a vaulted ceilinged banquet hall, the room dominated by a long table set with silverware and silver-lined crockery, though no one sits at it. Instead well dressed figures are scattered throughout the room, conversing in clusters - this deep inside the castle the howling wind and driving rain are barely heard, instead the low murmur of conversation and soft music provided by a string quartet dominates, and said conversation ceases a moment as attention comes to the new arrival. Lavinia is seen nearby, her hair trailing down her back with a widely spaced braiding in it, wearing a flatteringly cut but not particularly showy green gown with a long flared skirt, accented with gold and sapphire jewellery. "Rudy!" she smiles, disengaging from her companions and approaching. "The first of our guests of honour arrives. Have you seen the others on their way here, yet?"
[14:47] <@Henrietta> "Certainly!" Henrietta agrees, moving to work on Lucie's hair. She briefly considers asking Lucie for her comb, before resorting to use her own. "We can talk about it some other time, then. I could ask my mother, because she has many healer friends!"
[14:47] * Lucie just nods, wanting to get finished and get onto the banquet.
[14:48] <Rudy> "They walked! Would you believe it?" replies Rudy, keeping it quiet for Lavinia's benefit. "They're drying off downstairs, m'lady- ah, before they get a chance, might I be the first to compliment you?"
[14:48] <@Henrietta> Whistling cheerfully, Henrietta finally judges Lucie herself to be ready and proceeds to dry off her dress.
[14:48] * Lucie redresses, mutters a thank you, and stalks out to join the banquet proper!
[14:49] <@Henrietta> "Wait!" Henrietta calls, rushes out after Lucie. "What about your makeup? Lucie!"
[14:49] <Lucie> "What makeup?"
[14:50] <@Henrietta> "Ah--" Henrietta blinks. She sighs then. "Just... just...." Retrieving her bottle of perfume, she asks, "Please lean over? At least this...."
[14:50] <Lucie> "Oh, very well."
[14:51] <@Henrietta> With a quiet sigh, Henrietta applies it to Lucie before putting on a smile. "Let's go and get introduced!"
[14:51] <@Ebiris> "You may," Lavinia smiles demurely. "I hope they don't look too frightful, it sets a bad impression," she adds in a less light tone, before putting it aside. "Come, I'll introduce you to some friends? The banquet won't start for a little bit," she then starts heading back to where she was previously. A full figured woman with soft and kind looking features and long wavy blonde hair smiles genially at Rudy, wearing a red dress of similar style to Lavinia's, but adorned with more lace and frills, and a tall man who looks entirely built of muscle, tanned skin and closely cropped blonde hair, his brown and ash coloured suit low at the neck to expose tanned and muscled hairless chest. "My friends Lady Charlotte Arabani, and Sir Henry Lorchester," your employer introduces.
[14:51] * Lucie nods, proceeds to head for the main event!
[14:52] <@Ebiris> Charlotte nods quietly in greeting while Henry reaches out a hand to shake, grinning toothily. "Glad to meet you! Must have been some fight you had with those Lotuses, hah?"
[14:52] <@Ebiris> A servant escorts Henrietta and Lucie upstairs, pausing outside the hall and asking, "How would you two ladies like to be announced?"
[14:53] <Lucie> "Lucie Dolan?" Lucie says. Is there something else she should be called by?
[14:53] * @Henrietta considers the question for a moment, before requesting, "Lady Henrietta Ul Copt, if you will."
[14:53] <Rudy> Rudy returns the grip, inevitably wincing at the stronger man's grip but refusing to show weakness! "Oh, it would be charitable to call that a fight," he replies, with a grin. "Once we cornered them, well, that was that! The only quality a group like that has is it's ability to hide itself, don't you know?"
[14:54] <@Ebiris> He nods and disappears inside, the door left open and a moment later all hear the herald announce, "Presenting Lucie Dolan and Lady Henrietta Ul Copt!"
[14:54] * Lucie pauses inside the door to scan the celebrants resident so far (and give them a chance to look, and for her to gauge reactions, of course).
[14:54] * @Henrietta steps inside after the announcement, delaying her appearance by a second to let everyone's eyes drift naturally towards the entrance.
[14:54] <@Ebiris> "Cowards and thieves, yah," Henry nods, grinning fiercely as he crushes Rudy's hand before mercifully letting go. At the next announcement he stops to look over at the door.
[14:57] * @Glenn takes his time in the room, not having the benefit of magic in this case to help speed things up, and cleans up as best he can. He does pretty decently all things considered since they'd arrived fairly early and he had time. Once he's finally satisfied, he goes back out, looking around for his companions. Not seeing them by the entrance, turns to one of the servants. "Have they all gone in already?"
[14:57] <Rudy> "Oh, Lucie. Such a chance to gain some appelations," muses Rudy, shaking his head. "Lady Arabani! I'm saddened that we haven't had a chance to meet yet, but I'm also glad that the moment has finally come. How has your mother been?"
[14:57] <@Ebiris> Lucie sees numerous well dressed types scattered around the room in little clusters, an unobtrusive string quartet in the corner providing soothing background music. As the two belles enter, a tousle-haired man with a well groomed mustache and a rakish grin detaches himself from talking to a short cute looking dwarven woman to approach them. "Ah, two ouf our esteemed guests of honour? And such beauties at that!" he smiles appreciatively, eyeing the curves on display. "Permit me to introduce myself, madames, I am Sir Avner Meravanchi, heir to the noble Meravanchi family. It would be my privilege to escort you two and help you feel at ease in this occassion."
[14:58] <@Ebiris> "Walter's death hit her hard," the blonde gives Rudy a sad look, "He was so young and innocent... to be honest I almost didn't come here myself, tonight. But life must go on," she concludes with finality.
[14:59] <@Ebiris> "They have, shall I escort you upstairs?" a nearby servant offers to Glenn, presumably doing so and pausing outside to ask how he wants to be announced.
[14:59] <@Glenn> "Yes, please."
[15:00] <@Ebiris> "Those fiends! Pirates and murderers!" Henry clenches his hammer like fists in rage at Charlotte's pronouncement. "I would throttle their scrawny necks if they were here!"
[15:00] <@Glenn> He pauses to think about the announcing. "...How were my companions announced? Should I just give my name and is that enough?" he asks.
[15:00] <@Henrietta> At social events like this, you need to be confident before all else! "Thank you for the kind offer, good sir," Henrietta tells him. She makes a show of looking about, and spotting Lavinia and Rudy is not difficult at all from her vintage point. "I believe I see my friends, however, so another time, perchance?"
[15:01] <@Ebiris> "I missed their entrances so I couldn't say," the servant escorting Rudy shrugs, "Most people just use their given names, though."
[15:02] <@Ebiris> "Ah, a great and terrible shame," Avner bows his head... Lucie notices he's totally ogling Henrietta's rack when he does so. "If you need anything at all, do not fear to call on me, Lady Ul Copt."
[15:02] <Rudy> Samarintha would be thrilled to meet this man, Rudy is sure. "Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, they all suffered the same fate," replies Rudy. "It is my regret. An entire city, ruined by such a terrible thing... ah, but Lady Arabani is right. There is always time for mourning, but we must make time for cheer, must we not?"
[15:02] <@Ebiris> *escorting Glenn
[15:02] <Lucie> "Pleased to meet you," Lucie says with a careful smile, quickly taking Henri's lead. "I must greet the Lady Lavinia first, however. It's only proper as I'm in her employ. Perhaps we can speak more afterwards." Lucie sweeps along after Henri.
[15:02] * @Glenn nods. "Then just Glenn Farrunner will do, please."
[15:03] <@Henrietta> "Certainly," Henrietta responds, gracing Avner with a smile, and then she departs for Lavinia.
[15:03] <@Ebiris> Lavinia smiles at Lucie and Henrietta as they approach. "Hello Henrietta, Lucie. I'd like you to meet my friends, Lady Charlotte Arabani and Sir Henry Lorchester," she introduces the duo with her while the herald at the door calls, "Presenting Glenn Farrunner!"
[15:04] * Lucie isn't entirely sure how to greet these luminaries--curtsey, bow, nod?--at such an event and watches Henri's lead first.
[15:04] <@Ebiris> "Just call me The Bear!" Henry thumps his thick chest proudly, laughing uproariously afterwards.
[15:04] * @Glenn steps into the large room, searching for those familiar faces, not sure exactly where to start mingling right off the start.
[15:05] <@Henrietta> "Good evening, Lady Vanderboren," Henrietta responds, and turns towards the nobles she is being introduced to. Executing a flawless curtsey is something she can do in her sleep, and as she straightens up, Henrietta says, smiling pleasantly, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintence, Lady Arabani, Sir Lorchester."
[15:05] <@Ebiris> Glenn sees his friends along with Lavinia clustered around a buxom blonde woman in a red dress and a titanic muscled man in a suit that strains to contain his might.
[15:06] * Lucie mimics Henri--with less grace, but she does her best. "Pleasure to meet you both. And you as well, Lady Vanderboren. You look very striking this evening."
[15:06] <@Ebiris> "So, Rudy was telling us, you kill those Lotuses dead, yah?" Henry interrupts just as Lavinia starts thanking Lucie for her compliment - the sharp-eyed oracle can notice a long suffering wince from her employer barely being restrained at that.
[15:06] * @Glenn figures he should go greet Lavinia first thing, so he goes do just that!
[15:07] <Lucie> "That is correct," Lucie confirms.
[15:07] <@Henrietta> "It is regrettable, but they refused to lay down their arms and surrender," Henrietta agrees.
[15:08] <@Ebiris> "Glenn," Lavinia sees Glenn and smiles at him. "That brings all of our guests of honour. I'd like to introduce my friends," she repeats the oft repeated introduction of the two with her. "The banquet itself should be starting soon, I had best make sure all is well - if you'd excuse me?" she waits a second and after hearing no protests sweeps away, leaving the group with Charlotte and Henry.
[15:10] <Rudy> "Ah, a shame. M'lady is radiant tonight," remarks Rudy, before turning to Henry. "You're both good friends of her, correct? How did you all come to know one another?"
[15:10] <@Henrietta> "Might I ask why you are called the Bear?" Henrietta decides to ask Lord Henry.
[15:10] <Rudy> *Henry and Charlotte
[15:11] <@Glenn> "Care to introduce me?" Glenn asks with a smile as he nods to the parting Lavinia, and turns to look from his friends to the two unfamiliar faces that the group was mingling with.
[15:12] <@Glenn> ooc: scratch, misread lavinia's line
[15:12] <@Glenn> "Pleased to meet you," Glenn says to Lavinia's two friends after nodding to their departing employer.
[15:13] <@Ebiris> "We're of the same age and move in the same circles," Charlotte explains in a soft voice, "Those of our station have few equals to truly be ourselves with... though technically the Baroness now stands above both of us."
[15:13] <@Ebiris> "Lavinia," Henry begins, heedless of a muted glare from Charlotte, "She was quite the kidder growing up! Always getting into pranks, her and Vanthus. Good times!"
[15:14] <Lucie> "Is that so? It's hard to imagine her as a precocious youth now."
[15:15] * @Henrietta subjects him to a more thorough inspection, nodding afterwards. "I can see that."
[15:16] <Rudy> "Do you think so? M'lady is quite personable," replies Rudy. "I'm sure the responsibilities won't create a wedge between her and the people she trusts."
[15:16] <@Ebiris> "Responsibility has a way of weighing one down. Also that last prank they did... well, the less said the better," Charlotte blushes as Henry smiles back at Henrietta's scrutiny.
[15:16] <@Ebiris> After a moment he blinks, "Oh, you asked why call me the bear? Because I wrestle and maim like one! Rarrr!" he looms over Henrietta before laughing disarmingly. "Don't worry, pretty Lady. You're safe with me!"
[15:17] <Lucie> Lucie's brain shuts down briefly.
[15:18] <@Henrietta> "If anything, a responsibility such as this would only bring you closer to your true friends," Henrietta agrees with Rudy, before smiling brightly at Lord Henry's posturing.
[15:19] <Rudy> "Oh, that just makes me want to hear about it more!" replies Rudy, shaking his head. "Oh, I quite agree. And m'lady's well-being and good fortune are our responsibilty, too. If we can't ensure she has enough time to talk to her friends, what use are we?"
[15:21] <@Henrietta> "This is a good chance, as matter of fact," Henrietta muses, looking at Lady Charlotte this time around. "Is there anything Lady Vanderboren needs or wants? Something that would make her life easier, yet she would not ask for on her own?"
[15:21] <@Ebiris> "It sounds as if you've been doing an excellent job at that," Charlotte gives a brief nod to Rudy before a bell is heard tinkling and a servant speaks up.
[15:21] <@Ebiris> "If my Lords and Ladies would care to be seated, we will shortly be bringing in the Feast of the Gluttonous Wolf."
[15:22] * Lucie takes a seat, only wondering after if there's any protocol for doing so.
[15:22] <@Ebiris> "Forgive me, I would prefer not to presume in her place," Charlotte shakes her head slightly to Henrietta, starting to drift towards the table as numerous others also do so. "There's no seating plan, so don't be shy," she adds, taking a place next to Lucie.
[15:23] <Rudy> "That's a... rather poetic name," notes Rudy, taking the seat next to Charlotte.
[15:23] * @Henrietta deals with her disappointment well, not letting it show overtly. There will surely be other chances to find out. She chooses to sit on Lucie's other side.
[15:24] <Lucie> "It is," Lucie agrees. "Is there a reason for such a title?"
[15:24] <Rudy> "Perhaps it's meant to indicate our meal will be taken from the prey of wolves! Cooked, I hope."
[15:25] * @Glenn grabs a seat next to Henrietta.
[15:26] <@Ebiris> Upon the table are large circular plates at every setting, surrounded by a dizzying array of forks, knives, spoons, and skewers. Rudy finds a young and delicate young woman with strawberry blonde hair and a slim blue dress ornamented with ethereal feathers sitting next to him while Henrietta finds Avner sitting across from her with Henry next to him facing Lucie. "That is the theme," the woman next to Rudy speaks up quietly, looking down over the group.
[15:27] * Lucie eyes the array of tableware as if she were dropped in the middle of a labyrinth. Doesn't one implement usually suffice?
[15:28] <Rudy> "Is it a tradition?" asks Rudy, casting a glance at the woman beside him.
[15:30] * @Henrietta resigns herself to being ogled throughout the meal, and glances to her side to see who took the seat besides Glenn. Finding the Bear or Lavinia around the table would be interesting as well, and she tries to do that before food arrives.
[15:30] <@Ebiris> "Not particularly," she looks up towards the other end of the table where Lavinia is seen sitting with a severe looking woman with steel grey hair held up by a jade hairpiece, and a man in a black two-piece suit with slicked black hair and a pencil mustache. "Servants just like to make grand names for what we eat," she adds distractedly, her profile highlighting her delicate and wide-eyed features.
[15:32] <@Ebiris> Glenn has an averagely built and unassuming looking man sitting next to him wearing a well made but forgettable suit... he'd be utterly banal were it not for the vicious scar running down one side of his face. Lucie can at least recognise him as the representative of her former home, Emil Draktus.
[15:33] <Rudy> "A grand meal deserves a grand name, doesn't it? Food is one of life's simplest but greatest pleasures, after all."
[15:33] <Lucie> "Well, they have to get their fun somehow," Lucie says. "Excuse me, miss, we haven't been introduced yet, have we?"
[15:34] <Lucie> Lucie, of course, isn't eager to exchange words with Draktus. Not that pointed snubbing will be going on! But still.
[15:34] <@Henrietta> A bland man with a scar fails to catch her interest, and Henrietta decides to look the other way, towards Lucie and the woman she is conversing with.
[15:35] <@Ebiris> "No, I suppose we haven't," the reddish-blonde woman turns her head back towards Lucie, before stopping, "Ah, the food's here," she comments, at least a dozne servants bustling in and starting to layer plates all over the centre of the table. Beef marrow fritters, boiled sides of axebeak, loach flavoured with spices and sage, eels in jelly, and smoked fillet of giant gar set injellied aspic. All of it smells absolutely delectable and mouth-watering.
[15:36] <Rudy> Rudy briefly glances at Lucy, and drops his voice considerably. "You start at the outside and work your way in," he notes.
[15:37] <Rudy> *ex that line!
[15:37] * Lucie dispels a momentary blank look with what she hopes is a pleasant smile. Ah, food! Look at that!
[15:39] <Lucie> So, is this self-serve? Or do they request portions from servants. As usual, Lucie pauses to follow someone else's lead.
[15:39] <Rudy> "It's certainly quite heavy for a first course," notes Rudy, inwardly thankful at his mother's stringient lessons in how to behave properly. And he said he'd never need to use them!
[15:40] <@Ebiris> After the food is set, more servants appear and start pouring glasses of wine for everyone, a deep red almost bloody vintage filling up receptacles all along the table. Once they finish, Lavinia taps her glass with a knife, the delicate chiming getting attention before she speaks up. "Lords and Ladies, Freemen and Freewomen, thank you all for coming in spite of this beastly weather we're suffering from. As you all know, Salerno was recently in the grip of fear from a new criminal gang rising up to consolidate a stranglehold over our harbour." Emil snorts quietly and the girl next to Rudy rolls her eyes. "Free trade is the lifeblood of our city, and such a state would have been ruinous for us all. But thanks to the actions of our brave guests of honour, this gang was cut down before realising its ambitions, and peace once more stands in our fair home. Rudy, Glenn, Henrietta, and Lucie. Would you all please stand to be recognised?" she looks down the table at you all.
[15:41] <Rudy> So soon! How embarrasing! Rudy stands up nonetheless, surveying the banquet table up and down!
[15:41] * Lucie rises and stands placidly with her hands clasped.
[15:42] * @Henrietta rises to her feet, taking care not to have her chair scrape against the floor, and favors everyone present with a polite, welcoming smile.
[15:45] <@Ebiris> The assembled notables of Salerno look up with varying states of interest at the group, most female attention on Rudy and most male attention on Henrietta, but a few just seem bored and uncaring. Emil Draktus seems calculatingly interested as he scans the group. Lavinia starts to clap and a smattering of polite applause ripples across the table, before she speaks once more, "From all of Salerno, I wish to thank you four for your hard work and sacrifices in maintaining our safe harbour, and avenging the deaths of those murdered by the Lotus Dragons. With their threat ended, we can give thanks and make merry. And so I bid everyone to enjoy this feast in their honour," she concludes to another bit of clapping, sitting down primly and starting to serve herself by deftly skewering a piece of meat from a nearby plate and depositing it on her own, everyone starting to follow suit.
[15:46] * @Henrietta settles back into her seat, unfolds a napkin over her lap and then serves herself some of the beef to start with.
[15:47] <Rudy> It's no place for a speech, and Rudy takes his own seat, preparing to dig in to the eels! Delicious! "M'lady shames us, truly," he notes, shaking his head head ruefully as he serves himself some up. "Try the axebeak, Lucie," he adds, idly tapping the third fork from the right.
[15:48] <Lucie> Well, that clears that up! Lucie sits down and goes to work, soon having a plate heavy with meat before her, perhaps not entirely grasping the nature of a multicourse banquet. It's easier to eat than talk, though--how does one start a conversation with these people? She's not sure--so quickly enough she follows Rudy's guidance.
[15:49] <@Ebiris> Henry leans over and starts scooping jellied eels onto his plate, glancing at Rudy's new friend. "Hey, Rochelle, try the eels. They're great!"
[15:49] <@Ebiris> The blonde withers slightly and shoots the beefy man a muted glare. "Yes, my introduction got stepped on before... though I wanted to have a more appropriate moment. Rochelle Kellani, charmed I'm sure," she sends over the group in a tone that borders on sullen.
[15:49] <@Ebiris> "Poor girl," Charlotte gives her a sympathetic look, "You haven't even debuted, have you?"
[15:49] * @Glenn helps himself to a decent portion consisting of an equal serving of beef and axebeak. He can try the rest later.
[15:50] * Lucie washes down that introduction with a glass of wine (well, part of a glass of wine--she at least knows to pace herself when it comes to drinking).
[15:50] * @Glenn leans forward a little to get a look at Rochelle, given he's the one sitting furthest from her, having not gotten a good look at her earlier and being somewhat curious.
[15:51] <@Ebiris> "I'm sure I'd have noticed such a fair flower if she had!" Avner speaks up after Charlotte, looking down at the woman in the blue dress with a lecherous glint in his eyes. She looks away as if refusing to meet that gaze, starting to determinedly stab at a piece of axebeak.
[15:51] <Rudy> "Is it you that is charmed by us?" asks Rudy, delicately picking up and eel. "Or are you sure that we are charmed by you?"
[15:52] * @Henrietta can't help but sneak a glance at Rochelle herself. "Both, in fact," she responds to Rudy's question.
[15:53] <Rudy> "It's cheating to answer for her!"
[15:53] <@Henrietta> "How so? It may well draw her back into the conversation, I will have you know."
[15:53] <Rudy> "But you're taking away the impetus to answer in the first place. That's the opposite to drawing Rochelle back in."
[15:54] <Lucie> "Oh, really. Why don't you allow her a chance to answer for herself rather than debating it?"
[15:54] <@Ebiris> "It's left to your imagination," Rochelle replies bleakly, cutting up some axebeak and starting to eat. "I'm not used to these events. Rowyn was always the social butterfly, but since she had to *elope*," she sends a really nasty glare at Rudy and Henrietta for half a second, "I've got to figure out all these little niceties."
[15:55] <@Ebiris> "Rowyn, she was a dish, yah," Henry smiles distantly, Avner getting a far off look himself for a second.
[15:55] <@Ebiris> "Lucky man whoever landed her," he agrees.
[15:55] <Lucie> "Well, I'm sure there are plenty of knowledgeable tutors here," Lucie says with a gesture around the table.
[15:56] <@Henrietta> "I would say eloping under the circumstances was indeed the best thing that could have happened to her," Henrietta tells Rochelle with a smile.
[15:56] <@Ebiris> Rochelle twitches at Henrietta's smile and abruptly looks away.
[15:57] <Rudy> "Well, the trick is really just knowing how to leave early," notes Rudy, reaching for his wine. He'll need that tonight, he intuits.
[15:57] <Lucie> "Really, Rudy? At your own party?"
[15:58] * @Henrietta rewards herself with a sip of her wine.
[15:58] <@Ebiris> "I don't think we've been introduced," the man next to Glenn interjects, his plate almost empty save for a little bit of beef marrow. "Lord Emil Draktus," he gives a thin smile at the group. "I wouldn't mind hearing more about how you found these Lotus Dragons and what they were up to."
[15:58] <Rudy> "Oh, I'm not going anywhere. But I imagine around.. probably after the second course, that will be when a few of them start making excuses," replies Rudy, nodding at Lucie.
[15:59] * Lucie lets someone else field this request, someone whose story won't start with Well, I used to be in this slum gang...
[15:59] <@Ebiris> "You can guarantee General Kilraven will be gone by then," Charlotte agrees with Rudy, looking up the table where a weather-beaten man with a stiff posture in a flashy military uniform endures the attention of an occassionally snorting woman with too much makeup wearing an outrageous headpiece with stoic military blandness.
[16:00] <Rudy> "To be fair, in his position, I may do the same," replies Rudy.
[16:00] <@Ebiris> "Don't blame him. Can hear that screeching from here," Rochelle winces and none too subtlely rubs her ear.
[16:00] <@Glenn> "Pleased to meet you, Lord Draktus," Glenn says politely once he finishes chewing the bite he had in his mouth when spoken to. "We were honestly doing some other work for Lady Vanderboren when we stumbled upon information on their hideout and things somehow spiraled from there," he answers.
[16:01] <@Ebiris> "Hmm. Seems rather fortuitous," Draktus looks dubious at Glenn's version of events. "Do you make a habit of launching into such affairs on scant information for no reason?"
[16:01] * @Henrietta pales a bit at the abomination to all hats, but she can hardly march over and destroy it merely for the sake of her eyes. Instead, she decides to pay more interest to Lord Henry.
[16:03] <@Ebiris> He's busy gorging himself on eels, but looks up at Rochelle a moment, "Have some more to drink, dull the pain," he suggests easily.
[16:04] <@Ebiris> "Might do something someone would regret," Rochelle replies blandly, but nonetheless takes a deep drink of her wine.
[16:04] <Rudy> "That must be the Baronetess Tilernos, then?" asks Rudy, delicately putting away another eel before proceeding. "Let's see... who else do I yet not know? I like to know everyone, you see."
[16:04] * @Glenn shakes his head. "I wouldn't put it quite like that. We went in with as much information as we could when we made an assault on their base. In fact, they'd sent some assassins after us for some of the information we'd uncovered," Glenn admits. "One of our other friends is unfortunately not with us as a result of that, and we chose to strike with what information we had then."
[16:06] * @Henrietta takes another sip herself, before Glenn's conversation draws her interest. "That is quite correct," she agrees. "Is it not only natural to take special care when you are drawn into conflict whether you like it or not, and to do all in your power to come out victorious?"
[16:06] <@Ebiris> Charlotte seems happy to help Rudy. "You're correct. And up by Baroness Vanderboren? That's Duchess Adelphi next to her and Viscount Knowlern opposite. Next to them," she indicates a cute dwarven woman with braided rust coloured hair adorned with golden rings, "Is Ambassador Witchwillow from Anowia. And that's the new Earl Islaran next to her," she points out a skinny man in a well tailored suit who nonetheless seems entirely ill at ease in it.
[16:07] <@Ebiris> "If you must strike, leave no survivors?" Emil asks with an approving glint in his eyes - both seem quite functional despite the deep scar running down his face over the left one. "A worthy approach," he raises his glass to Henrietta.
[16:08] <Rudy> "Ah, Count Knowlern? I heard he studies magic without being one to perform it, you know. Is that true?"
[16:08] <@Ebiris> "The first part is true. The second part?" Charlotte smiles mysteriously, "Who can say for sure?"
[16:09] <@Ebiris> "Also he's a Viscount, not a Count," she corrects a second later.
[16:09] <Lucie> "IS that so?" Lucie speaks up. "Magic?"
[16:09] <@Glenn> "It's certainly common sense. They attacked us first, and most of us made it out alive from their attempt. We simply made sure to return the favor, and do the job right," Glenn comments.
[16:09] <@Ebiris> "So you killed them to the last, you say?" Rochelle looks down at Glenn, seeming quite interested all of a sudden.
[16:09] <@Henrietta> "I like people to get along," Henrietta muses. "However, some people just have to make themselves your enemies, and a life living in fear of assassins at night is not a life worth living."
[16:11] <@Ebiris> "What's so good about magic? Hah, when I punch someone hard, it can be like they've been magicked to fall down!" Henry laughs cheerfully at Lucie.
[16:11] <Rudy> "Magic's very useful. You can use it to fix broken things!" notes Rudy.
[16:11] <Lucie> "There are a great many things it can do that can't be accomplished by punching someone, to begin with," Lucie says.
[16:13] <@Glenn> "It's certainly common sense. They attacked us first, and most of us made it out alive from their attempt. We simply made sure to return the favor, and do the job right," Glenn comments.
[16:13] <@Glenn> "Well, I would hope so. Would hate to have some assassin still out there," Glenn answers as he turns to look at Rochelle as best he can. "We admittedly did try to reason with a few of them, their boss for example chose to attack us even though things could have ended with her alive. But I suppose life without being at the top was not to her liking..."
[16:13] <Rudy> "More wine, please!"
[16:14] <@Ebiris> "Really..." Rochelle drawls as a servant unobtrusively appears to pour for Rudy. "That's *interesting*," she goes on, eyebrow twitching slightly.
[16:14] * Lucie also takes this opportunity to polish off her glass. "I'm told you're also a practitioner of the arts, Lady Arabani?" she says to her neighbor as desperate attempte at diversion.
[16:16] <@Henrietta> "A fellow sorceress, I believe?" Henrietta adds, just giving up and following Lucie's lead.
[16:16] <@Ebiris> "I dabble, yes," Charlotte smiles modestly as Rochelle continues to talk.
[16:16] <@Ebiris> "Because yeah. I actually heard that after Lady Vanderboren told the guard about the Lotus Dragons hideout, they went there and found it'd been cleaned out. All the valuables and heirlooms and family treasures stolen by those thieves? Not a one to be found, even in their treasure room!"
[16:17] <Lucie> "Is that so?" Lucie soldiers on, studiously ignoring Rochelle. "What, ah, school, might I ask?"
[16:18] <@Henrietta> "There is a little sordid secret here, in fact," Henrietta answers Rochelle. "That woman was having, if you will believe it, illicit relations with her underling. She took him into her confidence entirely. Perhaps that would explain the theft that took place?"
[16:19] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll bluff, Henri?
[16:19] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+12
[16:19] * Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+12 and gets 21." [1d20=9]
[16:22] <@Ebiris> At least Avner seems mostly enraptured by eating and ogling, but Draktus, Charlotte, and Henry all cast curious looks about after Rochelle's comment. "Yes, ah... my magic is nothing special, I don't like to brag..." the blonde replies awkwardly to Lucie, shooting a momentary look up the table towards Lavinia who seems oblivious to events down this end. Rochelle just smiles cattily and starts picking at her food once more, tossing back a triumphant swig of wine.
[16:25] <Lucie> "Well, I have an interest myself--some academic, some practical." Feeling awkward herself, Lucie ploughs on regardless. She can hardly just shut up and let Rochelle have run of the table. "About how practitioners have different methods, different sources, but still reach the same ends, for example?"
[16:25] <Rudy> "Besides, I suppose it is possible we didn't quite catch all of them," remarks Rudy, finishing off his own glass. "After all, we're talking about a criminal organization that's strong enough to spread tunnels all underneath Salerno. Who knows how far their roots truly spread?"
[16:28] <@Ebiris> "R-right," Charlotte nods to Lucie, slowly regaining her poise. "Magic seems to have numerous different roots towards similar branches."
[16:28] <@Ebiris> "Yeah, I suppose," Rochelle swirls her glass around with a lazy smile on her lips. "I mean, in the time for you to come in and kill them all then go and alert the guard, some enterprising thieves must have just waltzed in and spirited away all the stolen valuables. Bye bye precious heirlooms! So long family jewels!" she carols, waving in the air. "Oh yeah, they must have killed and robbed that taxidermist they were paying off, too. Tie up loose ends like any thorough thief would. They sure are devils!"
[16:29] <@Ebiris> "Maybe if the thieves set up somewhere else they can still be found?" Henry offers hopefully to Rochelle's suppositions.
[16:30] <@Ebiris> "Might not even have to look very far, too!" the strawberry blonde girl beams at the hulking figure on the other side of the table. "You never know with those types!"
[16:31] <@Henrietta> "We did discover they had links to piracy, even if we were too late to act against their plans," Henrietta muses. "Indeed, a truly fearsome crowd, those Lotus Dragons, to the very last."
[16:33] <Rudy> "But you don't need to worry. I know, the Kellani family must have suffered severe losses from these thieves too. But at least you don't need to worry about it happening again," replies Rudy, with a sympathetic nod.
[16:34] <Lucie> "How is it that you came to the arts, then?" Lucie wonders. "This is what strikes me--that for some it's learned, for others almost instinctive."
[16:34] <@Ebiris> "We did, yes," Rochelle smiles disarmingly at Rudy. "They somehow managed to steal some of our treasured mementos, but I guess now I'll never see those again."
[16:34] <@Henrietta> "The horror of having your own property used in such a nefarious way alone was surely an unpleasant experience all in its own right," Henrietta adds as sympathetically as she can make it, which is quite a bit.
[16:36] <Rudy> "I know you said you haven't debuted yet, but really, your charm and grace are impeccable," notes Rudy. "I certainly have no complaints with my seating."
[16:37] <@Ebiris> "Well, my mother is a sorceress of some skill, so that no doubt helped," Charlotte replies to Lucie, studiously facing away from Rudy and Rochelle. "Though I didn't actually inherit her powers for myself, with her help and example along with tuition I was able to develop in my own way to learn similar magic. Where does your interest stem from, Miss Dolan?"
[16:38] <@Ebiris> "It's not as boring as I thought it would be," Rochelle agrees with Rudy, pushing her plate slightly into the table. "So yes, thank you for that, among other things."
[16:40] <Lucie> "I have had some affinity since I was young. I've since come to wonder why--how is it that people can do these things, where does the power for it come from? I thought broad study might be informative. At the very least for helping to stretch my own experience.""
[16:40] <Rudy> "I found my power in a box," remarks Rudy.
[16:41] <@Henrietta> "It was surely always within you, and what you found was the fortitude of mind to call upon it," Henrietta instantly insists. "There is no such thing as magical powers granted by boxes."
[16:41] <@Ebiris> "For me it came from studying and meditation, opening myself up to the magic that permeates the world all around us," Charlotte smiles fondly. "When you're in tune with nature, it's almost as if you merely have to ask and the world will change to make things happen."
[16:42] <@Ebiris> "What kind of box?" Henry leans over the table towards Rudy, face severe with interest.
[16:42] <Rudy> "A black box!"
[16:42] <Lucie> "Is that so?" Lucie contemplates this. "I've rarely left the city, myself. Such a connection would be difficult for me."
[16:43] <@Ebiris> "But what enchantment could ever compare with the grace and charm of a refined and beautiful woman, might I ask?" Avner speaks up, looking over the ladies present. "In such company, I can scarce imagine any dweomer competing!"
[18:42] <Glenn> "Same for me, too much of a city person for forming a connection with nature, even if I can appreciate it," Glenn chips in. "I can certainly get behind studying though. Only way to learn alchemy, really."
[16:44] <Lucie> "While you make a compelling point, Lord Meravanchi, the arcane has its own attraction I think one can't find in other subjects."
[16:45] * Eliaphas is now known as Ebiris
[16:45] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Ebiris
[16:45] <@Henrietta> "The two are not exclusive, so you may well combine both," Henrietta points out. "Would you not say so, Lucie?"
[16:45] <@Ebiris> "What you can't imagine could fill the ocean," Rochelle mutters under her breath, heard only by Rudy and the sharp-eared Lucie.
[16:45] <Rudy> "Isn't it like exercise? The more you do magic, the better you get?" asks Rudy, curiously. "I don't know anything about arcane theory, myself. It just happens when I need it."
[16:45] <Rudy> Rudy chokes back a snort.
[16:45] <@Ebiris> "A grave colour," Henry nods to Rudy. "I would like to see your box!"
[16:46] * Lucie Lucie smirks as well at the comment, despite its source. And, to Henri: "True enough."
[16:46] <Rudy> "Oh, you don't want to see my box. M'lady Charlotte is lucky enough to find equilibrium and serenity in magic, but the box revealed dark, terrible things to me!"
[16:47] <@Ebiris> "Hmph. Wizards do love their secrets," Henry leans back, "But don't think me too scared of whatever your box holds."
[16:47] <Rudy> "Ah, please don't call me a wizard!"
[16:49] <@Ebiris> "Alright. You do look too young," Henry concedes, earning a dirty look from Rochelle.
[16:50] <Rudy> "Quite. In Anowia, only old bachelors are named as wizards," notes Rudy, with a nod. "Isn't that right, Ambassador?"
[16:52] <@Ebiris> The dwarven woman a few seats past Rochelle looks down despite not seeming to have been paying any attention, "Only if they're not called Enchanters!" she replies in a raucus tone, smiling widely.
[16:54] <Rudy> "Now there's a magic that'd compete with beauties, Avner," replies Rudy, grinning.
[16:55] <@Ebiris> "Ah, but isn't that cheating?" Avner asks, though he does sound intrigued.
[16:55] <Rudy> "Oh, absolutely. In fact, it's illegal."
[16:56] * Lucie finishes off her plate, having downed something more than her usual meal's worth of various kinds of meat. This is not a great day for foresight, truly.
[16:56] <@Henrietta> "As well as it should be," Henrietta says quietly, finishing off her wine.
[16:56] <Rudy> "But it's so difficult to prove in court, you see."
[16:56] <Lucie> "Enchant the enchanter, then?"
[16:57] <Rudy> "An enchanted enchanter would have no hesitation to enchant."
[16:58] <Lucie> "Are you sure this isn't something you know from experience, Rudy?"
[16:58] <Rudy> "Hardly! Personally, someone who relies on magic to win hearts is, to me, the lowest of the low."
[16:58] <@Ebiris> A bell is heard to ring as people discuss enchantment, followed by a servant calling, "Would our esteemed guests please leave the table and exercise themselves in the lounge, we will prepare the Feast of the Worshipful Hog to commence on the next hour."