Questioning the Notion

[Dracos]

"Which scope are you interested in?  On this sphere?  This world?  The set of worlds as a whole?  On this sphere, this entails a group of nobles seeking to overthrow a boy king which would destabilize this sphere and prevent it from being of use in dealing with the church of the doors in other spheres."

[Brian]

"Well, yes," she says, frowning.  "I'd gathered that the King was important, but I meant the process of returning home.  He has the key?  Is it his ship?  More importantly to the task at hand, what do you need me for?"

[Rezantis]

"The way we get home isn't a specific key," Nathan answers, "What we need to do is change the world.  This . . . the simple explanation is that this world is the dream of a great spirit; if we take the world and set it onto a new track, then the spirit will notice us - and realize that we're not part of the dream.  At which point it will send us all home."

"As to what we need you for - well, if you're involved in it with us, the spirit will recognize you as well.  Aside from that - you have a rough idea of how the place works, and frankly, we don't and can't risk asking many people."

[Dracos]

"Indeed...  even though we kind of bludgeon our way through things, having folks we don't need to explain things to is helpful."

[Brian]

"Wonderful," Catherine says, still looking uncomfortable.

Awkward silence prevails until the group reaches the Grand Council Hall.  Right now it's a large, boxy, stone building covered entirely in intricately carved statues and mosaics; at a glance, likely important historical battles in Anabara.  The driver pulls to a stop in front of the steps leading up to the building, then jumps out to open the door for everyone.

There are two guard-type people on either side of the door, but they're probably for appearances judging by the slow trickle of humanity in and out of the building, which only receive a cursory glance from the armed and armored duo.

[Dracos]

"You know, I hope those pictures are actually still there," Dracos commented as he lead them to the guards and past them, briefly asking and acquiring directions if it appears anything but straight forward obvious where the main council hall is.

OOC: They are speedbumps, speedbumps I say.

[Brian]

The building itself is the hall, and there are many chambers ... at the moment, though, it seems that all of the portraits are in the main entrance gallery, which is a super-wide coorridor with art objects (sculptures, fountains, electrically crackling bric-a-brak, and so forth).  The walls are lined with paintings, and before directions to the specific painting to inspect are aquired ... Tom sees the familiar figure from the 'camp' where he and the other thralls were 'trained'.

He's standing just in front of his portrait, glowering at someone in front of him and delivering something quietly, but with obvious venom.  The recipient of this diatribe flinches and continues bowing his head, as though to physically deflect the words to one side; around them are a number of similarly dressed figures (in dark, almost judicial-looking robes) who are either nodding, or trying very hard to obviously pay attention to something else.

[Carthrat]

A vicious snarl works it's way across Tom's features; a trembling fist and a quickening of the pace mark a sudden change in temperment.

So! Vengeful forces me to make an ego check in this sort of situation, right? Remind me how that's resolved?

[Brian]

Roll lower than 9(+EGO/5) on 3d6 to pass an EGO check, barring the severity modifier of your vengeance level (+5,0,-5).

[Carthrat]

[18:27:21] <@Nao> roll 3d6 VENGEANCE
[18:27:22] * Hatbot --> "Nao rolls 3d6 VENGEANCE and gets 9." [3d6=1, 4, 4] aww

"It's that.. man-herder," mutters Tom, gritting his teeth. "Let's bring him in. Cathy, you know his name?"

[Dracos]

Dracos glanced around, keeping an eye out for guards.

[Brian]

There are guards throughout the room -- six of them -- in pairs before various large doorways.  None of them are particularly nearby.

"Who?" Catherine asks, distractedly, before nodding.  "Ah, yes, that's Master Harold Massif, Greater Councilman of Agriculture."  She tilts her head slightly, indicating his name below his portrait; Tom has a hard time taking his eyes from the gaunt looking fellow.  In a quiet voice, she adds, "He's not terribly observant of people; I posed as a serving-girl in his household for a short while.  He's not in Hathoway's pocket, as far as I know, just another loyal lapdog to Jennings."

Massif continues berating his target until the entire hall -- which has a few people wandering around, theoretically attending business -- turns to look at the newly arrived group.  An awkward silent prompts Massif to break off his railing and glower around, but he freezes, eyes widening in alarm when he sees Tom.

[Carthrat]

"Ho there, Master Massif!" calls Tom, striding forward. His voice holds undeniable menace. "Just the man I wanted to see. Would you mind coming aside with us for a moment? There are some questions we'd like to ask you, in the name of the crown."

10 influence directed to removing my vulnerability to presence attacks... and that's all I have! If he goes to pull some kind of device out, I want to tackle him.

[Dracos]

Dracos eyes Massif, quickly garnering surface thoughts from him.

OOC: Not probing, just grabbing the stack as it comes.

[Carthrat]

My guess is something like 'What? Whaaaaaaaaaaat?'