060: Suddenly, you were gone

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> The temple of Pelor is one of Amaranth's more impressive buildings--though it disdains suspicious displays of opulence in its ornamentation, its colonnaded front and generally open demeanor leave as much of the structure open to the light (or at least skylights) as possible, occasionally lending it a cavernous aspect. Rosemund, having spent much of the afternoon flying about over the surrounding woods and returning to ground much more relaxed for the diversion, is a tangle of nerves again standing at the front steps.
<Julia> "We don't have to do this if you don't want to," Julia reassures her. "We might find a way to fix you soon and leave the whole thing moot."
<Franceska> "That assumes she wants to be," Franceska comments, before telling Rosemund, "Do as you like. I will help you if I can."
<Steph> Stephanie pats Rosemund on the shoulder. "Pelor loves you!" she affirms. "So his priests should love you too."
<El-Cideon> "I do not like this statement 'Fix me' as though I were broken," Rosemund complains. "I am sure you did not mean it in any bad way, Julia! But it is uncomfortable to hear it put that way."
<Julia> "I'm sorry," Julia apologises. "I do think you look quite nice. But I also like necromancy and I won't be telling everyone in the temple all about *that*. Though if things get really bad I can try and take the heat off you if you like?"
<Steph> "Nah, play up being a healer, Julia," replies Stephanie. "We're all responsible for performing our duties for the public. Excellent, reliable references all."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund adjusts her hat. "One way or another, I do not want to wear this forever," she says, with an awkward side look at Stephanie. "Let us just find the high priest and see where it goes." Rosemund trudges forward through halls of warm sandstone, making stilted small talk with acolytes until determining the high priest is presently available in his office. Rosemund pauses before the door. "Er, is everyone coming in with me?"
<Franceska> "I'm coming, of course."
<Steph> "I've got nothing to hide from these guys," affirms Stephanie. Well, she can always come back under another persona if she has to, but that's how it is.
<Julia> "Assuming you want us to?"
<El-Cideon> Rosemund nods, then knocks on the door and announces herself. High priest Alford is a tall man of advancing middle age, handsome yet, with long blond hair like curtains of gold. The official habit is a white gown with streaks of gold beaming like sunrays down from the shoulders. He sets aside some writing to look over the group. "Ah, Rosemund, welcome back," he says warmly, standing up. "You've been missed. I see you've brought all your partners in misadventure with you this time," he says with a trace of mischievousness. "Is something serious afoot?"
* Julia smiles at him but remains silent in deference to Rosemund's coming out.
<Steph> Stephanie gives the familiar figure a wave.
* Franceska hopes he's honored to have her present at his temple, as she waits for Rosemund to break the news.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund engages in an extended and complicated stumble over her own words before giving up with slumped shoulders and simply taking her hat off. "I got into some trouble this time," she says with a downcast look, nervously fingering one of her horns.
<Franceska> "One of those lilitu succubi was posing at some temple of righteousness as a priestess, and cast a transformation spell on Rosemund when we attended it," Franceska elaborates, since that sounds just terrible put Rosemund's way. "It's only skin-deep."
<El-Cideon> Alford steps forward, gently reaches out and motions Rosemund to look him in the eye. "Though the color may have changed, I see the same untrammeled spirit," he agrees encouragingly. "You do not feel any different within yourself?" he asks her seriously. Rosemund shakes her head. "Just--just very nervous around other people, in case they should find out and respond badly."
<Steph> "Tensions are still high in some groups," reflects Stephanie. "And if people think they have official or divine sanction to vent their tempers..."
<El-Cideon> "That--that is not all of it, though," Rosemund says, taking off her traveling cloak so her wings can stretch. "I think that it might be difficult to hide all of this forever."
<Steph> Stephanie studies the priest carefully. Now, some apprehension would be normal...
<Franceska> "Has something like this ever happened in your recorded history?" Franceska decides to inquire, since there would be no better chance.
<El-Cideon> "Do you want to hide forever?" is his question, at length. An uncertain glance for Franceska: "Not within my knowledge, no."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund eventually shakes her head in response to his query. "I perceive that the Rosemund I know remains secure in her values," he decides, "as I know few others who'd bare themselves with such honesty after such a stroke of misfortune. But," he says with a pragmatic sigh, "I am not the only one you need convince if you'd walk the streets openly again."
<El-Cideon> "I am not sure what I wish to do," Rosemund admits quietly. "I have thought about getting rid of it all--you know, having it all removed," she nods aside to Julia. "But you know, it is nice being able to fly--and, and there are people who are born this way because of their ancestors through no fault of their own, and they should not have to pretend to be someone else either!"
<Julia> "And when we travel the planes most are hardly even going to blink at your appearance," Julia chimes in. "It's only here, with Solata's history, that it's a problem."
<Steph> "Don't worry about them!" insists Stephanie. "You need to do what makes you happy. And those other tieflings..." She purses her lips. "You don't need to shoulder it for them, Rosey!"
<Franceska> "You really should do what will make you happy," Franceska says in rare agreement with Stephanie. "And only that."
<El-Cideon> "What you say of the other planes may be true," Alford replies to Julia, "but she lives here." To Rosemund: "Of course you know that you have my blessing, but to admit this transformation to the city as a whole is a decision fraught with consequences. We can help to steer opinion if that is what you wish--I could convoke the other priests, cast the necessary spells to demonstrate that your soul remains untainted, make a proper ceremony of it to confirm our allegiance. Some I fear may never approve, but we will help however we can."
<Franceska> "You would think that Pelor might just deign to turn the wings all feathery and eliminate the problem at the root."
<Julia> "We could do that ourselves with a few seagulls..." Julia muses. "Or paint them gold and pass as a half dragon?"
<El-Cideon> "I am not sure," Rosemund admits at length. "I do not want to hide forever! But I also wanted a normal family life one day and I am not certain whether that can happen either. The easiest thing to do is just, just have it all amputated." She fiddles with her tail and eyes it with discomfort. "But the easiest thing is not always the best thing."
<Steph> "Hmph. If a man isn't willing to look past your skin then they don't deserve you," retorts Stephanie, sounding huffy. "Nobody wants someone that shallow."
<El-Cideon> "You have all your life ahead of you and you needn't make decisions in haste," Alford says soothingly. "Especially such momentous ones. Contemplate well what you wish for your future, remembering always that the lord of sunlight cares not for any one soul's mortal shell. Until you reach a decision, I could float the issue as an abstract situation with my fellow priests, in case you wish our public approval upon formally revealing yourself later?"
<El-Cideon> Rosemund nods. "Yes, thank you," she agrees.
<Steph> "It's so good of you to understand." Stephanie bounces on her heels.
<El-Cideon> "Rosemund's past work and commitment speaks for itself," he says. "I could hardly conceive of a circumstance where she might be genuinely corrupted." He steps forward and gives Rosemund a chaste hug. "We'll be here when you need us."
<El-Cideon> Out in the street again, Rosemund exhales as though she'd been holding her breath for some time. "That did no go awfully," she concedes. "But he is one person out of many in the city..."
<Steph> Stephanie scratches her chin. "Well, you don't need to care what every individual thinks," she reflects. "Just the ones that matter to you. I mean, nobody's everyone's friend."
<Franceska> "If anything, I'm pleasantly surprised."
<Julia> "Yes, if you never cared about a random person's opinion before, it shouldn't matter now," Julia concedes to that logic. "Anyway, are we ready to go to Solanth?"
<Steph> Stephanie dusts herself off. "First, I have a present to deliver to you, Julia," she notes. "A painting! That zombie artist made it for you. It's... uh, predicative?"
<Julia> "Oh, let me see?" she asks eagerly. "I'll have to stop by home to pick up Leslie first anyway so we can drop it off there."
<Steph> "Sure! I even bought you a frame," replies Stephanie, though she refrains from showing off the painting until comfortable within Julia's tower. "Queen of Eternal Repose." Like in Stephanie's own portrait, Julia is rendered nude, although this image is unlike to titillate anyone. The necromancer here has attained her ultimately desired state--withered, dry and emaciated, yet eternally undying. She stands by a sickbed i
<Steph> dimly lit bedroom; an old man lies on the bed, swathed in blankets, skin thin and white as parchment. Looking up, he reaches for Julia's hand in relief; she takes his with an expression of tender mercy despite the ravages her undead state have wrought upon her mortal facade.
<El-Cideon> "That is a very, ah, characteristic representation?" Rosemund says carefully after some awkward silence.
<Julia> "Aww, I look nice there," Julia beams. "Though did I have to be naked?" She takes the painting and places it on a table, "I'll find somewhere to hang it after we're finished finding Rosemund's aunt. Thing!" she calls for her familiar, "Please ensure my new painting isn't damaged while you're doing... whatever it is you do when I leave you alone here."
<Franceska> "I think I shall go fetch Darrin," Franceska says, after a pause of her own. "Would you like me to extend an offer to Marina to come along, Rosemund?"
<El-Cideon> "That is fine," Rosemund says. "It sounds like she has never seen a real city before. Not that there is anything wrong with Amaranth, but you know the capital is much bigger, yes? Maybe too much so."
<Steph> "Oh, by the way," Stephanie adds, addressing Julia. "So Thela found out something interesting. You know how she recovered Brijid from some illithid? She looked around his place and reckons she found his huge pile of crystals. And they have memories inside them. Like, illithid snacks?"
<Julia> "How strange... I suppose it's not just the grey matter that interests them," Julia muses as Leslie floats over to meld with her shadow. "Do you think it's possible to learn from them? It could make a novel way of teaching people new skills."
<Steph> "Umm. I doubt it. I learned about how this one guy scored with an elf, all up close."
<Julia> "Oh. Well I suppose that's valuable to some people as well."
* Franceska grimaces.
<Steph> "I couldn't really pick and choose what I saw. But hey, you can try," replies Stephanie, fishing around in her pocket and passing Julia a multifaceted crystal. "Don't think this guy had anything to teach me about fighting, at least."
<El-Cideon> "Er, maybe these memories should just be given back to whoever they came from?" Rosemund suggests. "Is that possible?"
<Steph> "Not if he's dead." Stephanie rubs her head. "There were apparently a whole lot of them. I was thinking maybe Brijid was in there, so I asked Thela to go swipe them all."
<Julia> "Depends if the owner got eaten or not," Julia says, holding the crystal up close and peering within.
<El-Cideon> As Julia takes the crystal, light flashes across a scattering of images: audience view of a grand aristocratic wedding; kneeling by a bloodied knight in the aftermath of a terrible battle; a calm starlit evening on a barren road; and ascending naturally-grown stairs to the heights of a treetop elven village.
<Julia> "I suppose it's a nice curio if nothing else," she says, not getting anything as exciting as what Stephanie saw. She hands it back and then starts heading for the door. "Shall we go fetch Marina and Darrin then?"
<Franceska> "Let's," Franceska agrees, relieved.
<El-Cideon> Franceska proves to have a couple visitors outside her house when you arrive: Thalia and Melpomene, the pixies gambled out of Blackbird's service back on Arborea, buzz around outside the door. Each is dressed like a miniature aristocratic fop and retains her respective mask even here in the midst of human civilization. "Oh hey, there she is," the smiley-masked fairy says, halting in the act of knocking on the door.
<Franceska> "Hello," Franceska greets the pixies. "Are you here for legal advice?"
<El-Cideon> "Didn't do it, officer," she says reflexively. "Oh, no, we're in a play coming up and we're just flying around telling all our friends. Mel here gets to play a tragic fairy queen!" "They want me to take my mask off," the mopey fairy laments.
<Franceska> "How tragic," Franceska deadpans. "When is this play?"
<Julia> "I'm sure you're very pretty underneath," Julia reassures Mel.
<El-Cideon> "Oh, not for a while, director just settled on the play and the cast and whatnot, he kept putting us in the little kid roles and I'd say look there's real fairies in your troupe, you should cast them as fairies for once! Anyway there's still lots of rehearsals to go through. There'll be posters and all that fancy stuff up later, I just wanted to tell you guys in person ahead of time. Cavendish theater, keep an eye out."
<Julia> "We're going off to Solanth now but hopefully we'll be back in time to see," Julia says. "Oh, there's a dryad living near here as well now if you want to meet any other fey types."
<Steph> "No problem! We'll tell all our friends, too!"
* Franceska winces.
<El-Cideon> "Oh yeah?" she says to Julia. "Sure, we can stop by. It gets boring sometimes with just humans humans humans everywhere you look." "No offense," her melancholy sister adds. "There are an awful lot of you."
<Steph> "Hey, don't lump us all together," protests Stephanie.
<Franceska> "In a human city? You don't say," Franceska deadpans. "Since the play is not for a while yet, there is a good chance of attending, at least. Please leave a date with my maid once you have it."
<Julia> "We are prolific," Julia agrees.
<El-Cideon> "Sure, sure. Hey, safe travels you guys, look forward to seeing you in the audience." She flies off with a wave, Mel hovering to bow respectfully in the air before following her.
<Franceska> "Considering these will be the last scrolls in our possession," Franceska voices, "I was thinking of looking into a ring or another handy item to provide teleportation in the future, once we are in the capital. Would anyone else be interested in this?"
<Julia> "Can't hurt," Julia says, gathering Leslie and Stephanie to her and letting Franceska take Rosemund and Marina on the other scroll. Then she begins to read, so they may go to Solanth on wings of magic!
<Julia> roll 1d20+21 UMD DC 29
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+21 UMD DC 29 and gets 26."12 [1d20=5]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+19 UMD, DC29
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+19 UMD, DC29 and gets 21."12 [1d20=2]
<Julia> roll 1d20+21 UMD DC 29 try again
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+21 UMD DC 29 try again and gets 25."12 [1d20=4]
<Julia> roll 1d20+21 UMD DC 29 try again
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+21 UMD DC 29 try again and gets 24."12 [1d20=3]
<Franceska> "This might take a while," Franceska mutters.
<Franceska> roll 1d20+19 UMD, DC29
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+19 UMD, DC29 and gets 22."12 [1d20=3]
<Julia> roll 1d20+21 UMD DC 29 try again
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+21 UMD DC 29 try again and gets 39."12 [1d20=18]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+19 UMD, DC29
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+19 UMD, DC29 and gets 25."12 [1d20=6]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+19 UMD, DC29
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+19 UMD, DC29 and gets 30."12 [1d20=11]
<Julia> roll 1d100 seen casually
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d100 seen casually and gets 14."12 [1d100=14]
<Franceska> roll 1d100 actually took time to study on previous visit
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d100 actually took time to study on previous visit and gets 22."12 [1d100=22]
<El-Cideon> After some mildly embarrassing arcane fumbling the party appears in two groups outside the main gates of Solanth. Foot traffic is restrained at this time of day and the guards at the city entrance eye you with a lazy air demonstrating more interest in a group of attractive young ladies than in the manner of your arrival. Marina is all eyes for Solanth's imposing city walls, which stretch away in either direction as far as the eye can see. "My word! Do they need to keep dragons out?"
<Steph> "Dragons fly, Marina."
<Franceska> "Yes, I never quite understood why walls were associated with keeping them out."
<Julia> "It's more for demon or devil backed armies, I think," Julia says. "It must certainly make the people living there feel very secure in themselves."
<Steph> "Eh. I think it's more to make sure all the visitors pay their tariffs properly."
<Julia> "Anyway, lets go in and see if we can find Countess Evergreen?" Julia says, approaching the gate.
<El-Cideon> "Well, it's certainly an impressive construction, whatever its purpose," Marina says. "Although...it does rise rather *abruptly* from the surrounding plain, does it not, this city? There's hardly any effort to blend subtly into the landscape..."
<Franceska> "Is that a bad thing?" Franceska asks, following Julia.
<Steph> "Well, they're not subtle. This is the shining jewel of the kingdom! Such as it is," muses Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> "Where exactly do we find her?" Rosemund asks in response to Julia's question.
<Franceska> "We can start by asking at the gate."
<Julia> "Just so," Julia agrees, approaching one of the guards. "Good day sir, we're looking for the residence of a Countess Evergreen. Could you help us?"
<El-Cideon> The pair of young men on duty look more than happy to address questions posed to them by stylish female visitors. A blond lad cultivating a meritable attempt at a beard recalls, "You'll find most of the noble residences in District Rose, Miss. Just follow that big main street 'til you find the Victory Fountain and veer right there."
<Steph> "Should've dressed up," laments Stephanie, hugging her coat around her.
<Julia> "Thank you kindly," she smiles at him before heading into the city proper in search of Rosemund's aunt.
<El-Cideon> As accustomed as she might be by now to Amaranth's comparatively calmer streets, Marina looks profoundly lost amidst the bustle and overwhelming social clamor of the capital's busy thoroughfares. Intrigued! But still bewildered, as she occupies a position in the center of the party as though fearing to be buffeted away by a stray whorl of humanity. Victory Fountain lies at the center of one of Solanth's broadest hubs of traffic, a circular plaza with trunk roads radiating off in all directions and a stirring sculpture of heroic soldierly virtue at the center of a burbling fountain.
<Julia> Stopping just a moment to admire the lovely fountain, Julia is soon leading the way off to the right in search of district Rose and then hopefully more detailed directions to the countess's abode!
* Franceska ends up ignoring the fountain altogether, and looks for a passing maid. Such a local would know where to go.
<Steph> "Maybe we should go visit a salon first. 'swhere all the little lordlings hang out and gossip. Merchants, too," muses Stephanie.
<Franceska> "From memory, you are often required to part with your hat."
<Steph> "Oh no, what a horror."
<Steph> She narrows her eyes. "You have to do that when you go indoors most places, anyway."
<Julia> "Alright," Julia slows to look about for a salon, deferring to Stephanie's greater expertise.
<El-Cideon> The hubbub of the main plaza rapidly gives way to quiet restraint once you've walked several blocks to the south. The estates become more opulent and begin to perch behind stone walls, iron gates, and private guards. Most passers-by come and go via carriage, acknowledging your group with perhaps at most a studiously detached glimpse around a curtain, but there are occasional servants about on errands. One of them directs you to a three-story mansion perched on the other side of a gate wrought in iron in the pattern of a great pine. Guards in green livery loiter just within, looking more professional and less sympathetic than those in service to the city proper.
<Steph> "Well, if we know where it is we can just head over. With any luck, namedropping Leah will do," muses Stephanie.
* Franceska strides towards the guard post.
<Julia> "Yes, lets," Julia says, approaching the guards. "Hello, is this Countess Evergreen's residence? We're looking for a guest of hers, Azalea Harbinger?"
<El-Cideon> The guards stand at attention, halberd in hand, and wait for you to introduce yourselves. "Who may I say is calling?" one of them with the look of a jaded old infantryman says. "Are you expected?"
<Julia> "Her niece, Rosemund," Julia indicates the lady in question, "And companions," includes the rest of them.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund nods. "I was away from home on business for some time, and when I came back Aunt Leah had left me a message stating that she was visiting Countess Evergreen. I should have expected her to be back by now, however, and it worries me that I cannot reach her with any of my magical spells, so I wanted to make sure that she arrived here as planned."
<El-Cideon> The guards exchange a look. "Wait outside, please," the older one says. "I will ascertain whether her ladyship is presently receiving visitors." He disappears inside, not deigning to unlock the gate and leaving you loitering on the other side.
<Steph> Stephanie assesses the other guard with a raised eyebrow.
<El-Cideon> The remaining guard, a square-jawed soldier with a carefully managed beard, merely monitors you with an air of studied indifference.
<Julia> Julia remains pleasantly smiling as she waits.
<El-Cideon> The older guard returns and unlocks the gate. "Rosemund Whitefall?" he addresses Rosemund. "Her ladyship will see you." Pointedly, to the rest of the group: "Her present disposition is not one to entertain a crowd." Rosemund takes a step forward, glances quickly back to see if anyone objects.
<Franceska> "And Azalea Harbinger? What might her disposition be?"
<Julia> Julia steps close and pats Rosemund's shoulder. "You'll be fine," she says, leaning close and whispering, "Leslie will watch out for you." And indeed the shadow slips between shadows while the two ladies shadows are mingled, joining Rosemund's now.
<El-Cideon> The guard has no response more for Franceska than a sidelong look. "I would not wish to task her ladyship's hospitality," Rosemund says graciously. "Please lead the way." Rosemund, shadow ally in tow, crosses the threshold and disappears into the mansion. The remaining guard locks the iron gate before you and waits calmly.
<El-Cideon> After about half an hour, Rosemund reemerges and is escorted back out into the street. Stonefaced, she stalks on down a couple blocks before looking inclined to talk to anyone.
<Franceska> "Is this something we can discuss out here in the street?" Franceska asks her.
<El-Cideon> "No."
<Franceska> "Then we had best check ourselves into an inn. Come on."
* Julia nods, eager to find out just what's happened to Leah. It can't be good though, going by that expression.
<El-Cideon> Once checked into one of Solanth's many posh lodging houses and with the group secured in one bedroom: "I think that she might be dead," Rosemund announces stolidly. "Or something as bad."
<Steph> "What do you mean? How?"
<Julia> "Oh no!" Julia gasps. "What did she say?"
* Franceska takes Rosemund's hand, only flinching slightly.
<El-Cideon> "She said that Aunt Leah went out to...'Compile personal stories for an oral history of the war,'" Rosemund recites. "Since I knew that this was not true, I told her that Aunt Leah came here for something else, and I told her what it was. She did not contradict me. I think that she knew this and did not want to talk about it." Rosemund's frown is a concentrated one, fraught with concern for multiple parties. "I think that Countess Evergreen was very frightened. She went to the authorities after Leah never came back and they were...not very helpful."
<Franceska> "When was that? And where did your aunt intend to go to when she went missing?"
<El-Cideon> "It was over a week ago," Rosemund says. "Not long after Leah arrived in the city. Her Ladyship said that she did not know exactly where Leah meant to go, that Auntie was very quiet about it. That is how she kept talking, like she knew what Auntie was asking about but did not want to mention the Queen at all herself."
<Julia> "So... should we go and take that guide Halja offered or is there anything we can do here in the city?" Julia asks.
<El-Cideon> "She said that I should not ask about this anymore in the city," Rosemund recalls. "She was crying."
<Franceska> "We should ask about her in the city, and wait to be assaulted," Franceska suggests. "Then, we will get the truth out of those who try."
<Steph> "They'll assault her," points out Stephanie. "She's probably scared for herself as much as us. More, really."
<Franceska> "We won't mention her, so the risk is low. And there is no way to accomplish anything without a bit of risk."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund stands up abruptly and kicks a nightstand with such force as to audibly crack the wood paneling. "I am very much inclined to go and hit SOMEBODY, it does not much matter right now if they are fake queens or, or I do not know what else."
<Franceska> "So it's settled?" Franceska snorts. "Let's go compile our own personal stories of the oral history of the war."
<El-Cideon> "Franceska, she was terrified," Rosemund objects. "What if someone saw us going in or out of her house, and then what happens if we get in trouble? That is why she did not want to see anyone in the first place!"
<Julia> "I'd rather go straight to the source myself," Julia admits. "Trouble in Solanth could lead to trouble in Amaranth after all."
* Franceska frowns. "Fine," she says. "Three of us can disguise our appearance at will. We can do the questioning that way, while the rest watch over us."
* Franceska inclines her head at Julia. "That would be a possible way to answers, but we cannot be certain the two matters are related. What if this was merely part of a coverup on the Solata side, to prevent anyone from asking uncomfortable questions about the dead queen?"
<El-Cideon> "But we are going there anyway," Rosemund says. "And I am not certain that I like this city at all. Her Ladyship was going on like there were eyes everywhere."
<Franceska> "Up to you," Franceska relents. She can always return to question the residents on her own if this fails.
<El-Cideon> "If someone does not like us asking questions about the Queen, then let us go find this fake queen and see why," Rosemund decides.
<Steph> "What about Leah?" says Stephanie, frowning. "If she's still alive, she's probably in the city somewhere. The palace dungeons could hold a mage as strong as her, and impede things like sendings as well, I'll bet."
<Julia> "I assumed she'd be taken to the castle on the negative energy plane," Julia admits. Assuming she's still alive anyway.
<El-Cideon> "Can we just go break into the palace?" Rosemund asks Stephanie with some amazement at the suggestion. "We do not know she is there! Saying that the crown would go around kidnapping people who ask wrong questions, would that not be--" Now it's Rosemund's turn to look around as though she's being watched. "--That is treason!" she whispers.
<Franceska> "Of course the crown wouldn't be involved in something like that. So if anyone is picking people off the street, they are obviously traitors and must be stopped by law-abiding citizens."
<Steph> Stephanie winces. "That countess was terrified, like you said? About spies and assassins and such? There is probably some faction within the palace..." Stephanie grimaces. "I'm not really clear on how our inheritance laws would react to having Queen Auranelle show up, all ghostified, either. Wouldn't it become treason to work against her, or what?"
* Julia looks to the resident lawyer for clarification!
<El-Cideon> "I do not know if there is any precedent for that sort of thing," Rosemund admits sullenly, looking unsure whether the resident necromancer or lawyer would be the proper expert.
<Franceska> "She would need to become human again first, so someone would need to resurrect her."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund perks up at that suggestion, just a little.
<Steph> "Putting that aside, this city is actually huge," admits Stephanie. "We could spend weeks questioning people and not find out anything worth knowing. The other plane, at least, we'll know there's something." She grimaces. "Julia's kinda right. Leah might be there. Even if she is dead."
<El-Cideon> ~