Gossiping (Afina)

[Nephrite]

[12:03] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+33
[12:03] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+33 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{40}

[Anastasia]

Archways are the primary means of separating rooms and halls in this palace. Usually of coral or colored sedimentary rock, sometimes inlaid with valuable things. You notice something subtle - each time you pass through one, the air seems to ripple slightly (or the water in Afina's case).

[Ebiris]

Taking 10 for 47 or 49 on arcana/spellcraft respectively to figure out what the rippling signifies?

[Nephrite]

Sure, I'll follow suit. 10 for 45 in Moore's case for both.

[Anastasia]

It looks like slight distortions of space. This citadel, huge as it is, is far bigger than it should be. Magic is making it many times bigger, the archways separate areas and allow travel in a step instead of vast amount of walking. It's not teleportation or anything related to the Astral, simply changing the space of the citadel itself.

It also means that whomever controls this (the Padisha, likely) can change things to make people move where they wish and generally make an invader's life hell.

[Ebiris]

"Do you see how space changes as we move between rooms?" Afina says to Drena and Moore. "This place is like Aurora, too big to reasonably walk around. This is a much more subtle approach than our portal network though." She sounds quite approving of it all.

[Anastasia]

"The Padisha controls it all," Drena murmurs, "I am familiar with it, it is something of an open secret." Leaning in and lowering his voice to the barest whisper for the two pixies, "It is why the succession is always a matter of cloak and dagger rather than force. The Padisha has a monopoly on force."

[Ebiris]

It certainly must be an interesting challenge to depose the reigning Padisha, but that's not an avenue Afina allows her thoughts to go down too much while she's here. No telling who might be listening in on them after all!

[Anastasia]

From here you are lead through a series of larger and larger archways. Each is decorated with elaborate carvings of undersea creatures - until at last you come one wide enough to march an army through. Only plain and open waters can be seen ahead and on this one marid are carved in. Your honor part silently swims away and a figure emerges from it. A marid, dressed in tight fitting pants of white. He is tall, twelve feet if he's an inch and lean as an arrow. A trident hovers before him, before his hands and ready to grasp at all times.

"I am Flowaran, Tsunami Lord of the Waves." he introduces himself, his diction precise and every movement unnaturally smooth. "The Padisha, who shall rule forever, has deigned to meet with the forces of Aurora. Do you need instruction on the proper decorum?"

[Ebiris]

While hopefully the Padisha isn't as strict about decorum as Ilsenine used to be, and Drena is more or less in his element, Afina considers it better to be safe than sorry. "Greetings, Lord Flowaran," she says to him, inclining her head. "As we would not wish to cause any offence we would be happy to take advantage of your instruction."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods as well, but decides to think if there's anything else just in case there might be a way to increase the Padisha's favor towards Aurora.

Taking 10 for 31 K:Nobility, assuming that's the correct one. If it's one of the others it's 45. He's basically going to listen but see if there's anything else that they might go 'oh wow how nice of them to do' or something.

[Anastasia]

What you get confirms the following, so I won't repeat myself OOC when the IC is verifiably correct. Beyond that, the Padisha does enjoy gifts of all kinds.

"Walk or swim in single file," The High Tsunami instructs, "With your leader at the front and in descending order of importance and authority. Do not speak until spoken to. Do not meet the Padisha's gaze, for she will live forever. Refer to her by her titles, and use the one that fits best to what you say if applicable. Her currently favored titles will be announced as you are introduced to her, do not use one not announced. You are not to kneel but instead merely bow your heads."

[Ebiris]

See, she's less strict than Ilsenine already! Actually a lot of foreign monarchs don't seem to like non-subjects kneeling to them. Maybe Ilsenine was self-conscious about her size? "Moore, you follow after Drena," she tells her fellow pixie after that. Drena has long seniority and is in the near immediate family of an archomental so that shouldn't be in any doubt but she'll say it to avoid any faux pas later on. "Is there a chamberlain we should present any gifts to?" she asks, figuring just passing it right over to the Padisha herself is out.

[Nephrite]

Moore nods to Afina. It's always hard for him not to look people in the eye, but he'll manage somehow.

[Anastasia]

"When the time is right, you will present them to me. You are foreign dignitaries, I will handle it personally," The Lord Tsunami says.