Session Start: Sat Jun 18 12:14:00 2005 Okay, so so far, you have a description of the place you're in, but you don't know it. Please don't post for a minute. To continue. So what I need to know is this. Is Garland really "lost" and is KenKen really "lost" with him? That is, are you in a different physical location from the rest of the gang? [No, I think we were just confused...?] [Yeah, Garland botched on a directions type roll, and thinks he's in a city he's never been IN before. eh heh. :) ] YOu can all talk now. [gives a rose to each of you for being so good] * Bunny is heading into the bookbinder's, /eeee/. [OK, so we are in Washington, DC. Right?] [The street signs told me so. Right?] Yep. Really. Now, Elyria had just tried to fuss with Zoan, and suddenly he darts ...away into the bookbindery Like a shot, Elyria goes after him. Bunny, roll perc+ alertness, diff 7 * Garland blinks. "Uh... Elyria?" Glances at KK, then starts after her. You can do that. * KenKen knows Garland insisted what city this was, so he's clearly not lost, so KenKen follows! * Flora is panicking, as everyone is deserting her! Flora, the girls are saying, "I know, I know, it's private, but Mr. Melguh's private secretary is sort of my girlfriend, so, I got invites." ?Did anyone do kenning on the girls? [Garland didn't even really notice them, due to his confusion, I don't think.] [Actually, I think we just assumed they were fey, but Flora can't tell, anyway.] Okay. You have some feeling about changelings now, so I'll allow you a kenning roll based strictly on wits. Roll wits, diff 9 [Wait a minute, Flora is enchanted, right? Doesn't that mean something?] [YES! 1 success on wits alone! What a babe!] Please do rolls in your private windows, okay? Bunny just did. Yay! Sorry I didn't remind you sooner. [Oops. Social faux pas.] [Some things should be done in private.] * Bunny almost goes after the cat, but, oh, Elyria is going after it already? So guesses she doesn't have to go after too and spook the poor thing even more. Fine. So you are turning the pages of the index. Garland and KenKen, you are inside the bookbindery. You see Bunny looking at that book that used to be in the window. You don't see Elyria or the cat. [Sooo... I'm out here with the valley girls, and everyone else is in the bookbinder's shop.] Seems like it. Anything you want to do? [And IS it Washington D.C.?] "Hey, Garland. Ever hear of a book called 'The Cat Who Walks Through Bookstores'?" "Hey, Bunny, did you see Elyria go through here?" Looking around now, furrowing. * Bunny eeks quietly and sets the book down back like she found it. o.o Wasn't really distracted by it! "... it sounds riveting." "Um, um, they went downstairs..." * Garland looks around for stairs! [As if a bookstore would interest these babes... but I toss a pebble at the shop window to see if the girls can be attracted to the store.] Flora, the street name you saw was "Washington Avenue." Your good memory and great marks in geography tell you that there is a Washington Avenue in about 150 places in the United States alone. [oh.] Bunny, you know when you were looking at the index? [Yep?] [OOC: Somewhere, on the Silver Paths, a fae stops and peers at a street name. "Yes, we're looking for the Silver Path named Washington Avenue..."] [hee.] Garland, the stairs are sort of at the back left corner of the bookbindery. They are circular stairs, and wind both up and down. [Are there any 'no entry' signs?] Bunny, are you the kind of boggan who carefully licks her finger as she turns each page? * Garland looks back at KK, "I'm gonna go find Elyria and that damn cat. Make sure Bunny's alright, okay?" And is off for the stairs! Going down. Remember, 179 recipes for potatoes, Bunny. Your tummy must have been rumbling. Lots of tasty saliva in your mouth... [Probably, yeah. She'd preffer the 'sticky fingers' things, but forgot to bring any with her.] * Flora aches for the familiar confines of a bookshop, but the girls are still talking about the party, right? Garland, you can do that. KenKen, there is a no-entry sign above the stairs. [Garland: That doesn't apply to me though, you see. ] "Uh, sure!" Bunny, you feel weird. * KenKen heads back to Bunny. "...whatcha reaaaaaaadin'?" Garland, you feel weird. [Nooooooo.......] "Ummmmmm, it was a cookbook..." * Bunny points to it. Kind of like, scared, Garland. Kind of like, maybe you shouldn't be there. Bunny, you're weird feeling is more like, wow, I wanta have Potatoes Mulgaesque today. * Garland pauses on the first step a little, but... after a moment, would try to look down to see if he can SEE further without going further. Garland, the light is very dim. But you do have an addition to your sight, right? "Kenken, Sir, d'ya know if there's anyplace around where I can use the kitchen?" * Bunny wants to make it herself after all. Of course she does. "Uhhhh. Well, you could always knock on a house or apartment door and ask to use their kitchen, but other than that...." [Girls... party talk.... pebble on the window... possible invitation exposure... lust for books...?] "There's also the do-not-disturb-at-lunch-break sign on that door over there; the guy there might have a kitchen. If he's at lunch." "It would be rude to use a kitchen without asking, though..." Everyone inside the bookstore, roll perc + alertness, difficulty 10 for Garland, 8 for the rest of you. Tell me your successes in private boxes. * Bunny ... glances at the window, but heads in the direction of the kitchen. * KenKen blinks at the window, shrugs, follows after Bunny. FOLLOW THE RABBIT, NEO. Outside you hear a scream. "PERVERT!" * Garland is too busy going down the Stairs of Doom to make any asides about THAT. Right on Durango. * Garland heads downstairs, carefully. Do you have a real weapon? Or do you only have a chimerical one? Speaking to Garland. I think you could be about six feet behind Bunny. She can boot it when she really wants to, and she really wants to. That was for KenKen. [I have a handgun. O_O!] Is it loaded? * KenKen is like six feet behind Bunny, then. [He would've loaded it before he left the castle, and he hasn't used it since then. so... yes. :)] Okay. Bunny, when you get to the door, you are very short, and you really can't read the sign once you're close up. KenKen, when Bunny gets to the door, you can still see the sign. * Flora runs into the store, glances around, and ducks into an aisle of bookcases. "Bunny? Lunch break..." Huh?" * Garland decides to switch his nerf shooter for his gun about now, as... well, it's a nerf shooter here. Bunny, roll willpower vs target 10. in your box "Bunnyyy.." Kenken's gonna try to grab her shoulders. Hold on. She's rolling. back. Bunny, in your window, how many successes on that willpower roll? Bunny pushes open the swinging door with the sign on it. KenKen is still about 3 feet behind her when the door swings shut. Flora has entered the store. Two girls are coming in behind her. One is swinging a heavy purse. The other is grinning. Should any of the rest of you be looking. Anyone can roll perc+ alert diff 10 here, except for Bunny and Garland because they are too involved in what they're doing. * KenKen does a panic dance from foot to foot, since he wasn't able to even try to grab Bunny. "UM UM UM--" [*laughs*] [What a polished, professional team we are!!!] [I am enjoying it, I must say.] "OW! Wait! Don't hit me! I'm innocent!! KK see your private window. "I know your kind. You think just because we're gay you can hit on us. Well you can just.... " [GARLAND IS MISSING THE LESBIANS?? *weeps*] "No. Believe me. I mena you no harm or disrespect. I just.. heard the word party... and, well, I'm new here and I was hoping to meet people.. and ... well... "Name's Gina," sas the grinning one. "I'm Flora." * Flora holds out her hand to shake Ken Ken seems to be trying to open the swinging door. "God, Gina, you're such a whore," Jill says. "Please. I'm sorry I offended you. Can I make it up to you somehow?" [ ... Garland: ... *kicking himself, kicking himself, kicking himself* ] "Flora, you're cute," Gina says. "Well... actually... most people don't even notice me." "GINA!" shrieks Jill. "I'M your partner. For God's sake!" This is creating quite a stir. "Oh, I'm totally respectful of your relationship, Jill. You can trust me." "Please, can I buy the two of you a coffee or something?" [Eat your HEART out, Garland!] [Garland: "Yeah, well, they can eat YOUR... n'mind."] * KenKen stumbles back from the door slightly, but holds his feet. "Look, Gina, if you don't want to be with me, that's okay. But gimme back that ticket. I had to pretend for weeks to be Mr. Melguh's secretary's lover just to get them." "Please. I don't want to be the cause of trouble. Can't we all be friends. I do wish I could make it all right. I meant no harm... I was just looking for some connection to someone." "Gina, please help me make it up to the two of you." Gina sneers. "You gave me the invite. It's mine now. So go and bury your head in something... smelly, Jill." Jill starts to flounce out. Then she notices the stairs. She notices the sign. She sees a kind of cute guy on the stairs. He's holding a gun. "What the FUCK?" "YOU there! Is that a real gun?" Okay, Garland... [Or are you just happy to see me?] * Flora whispers to Gina, "Maybe we should just step over here for a minute." * Garland glances briefly at the girl, really can't be bothered TOO much right now, then goes further downstairs. * Flora takes Gina's hand and pull her to the side "I'm calling the police!" Jill shrieks. She is obviously a shrieker. She also obviously hasn't got much in the way of brains. Gina goes with Flora. Which side, Flora? [Uh... left... always go left.] "Gina, is there any way to calm Jill down?" Left is the side with the stairs. Okay. So Jill's on the top step, turning around in a flounce. You're right there in front of her. [ohhhh... just one punch...just one!] * Flora in most commanding voice, "Jill! Stop it at once! Listen to me!!" Jill tries to push by you to get to the phone on the desk which is in the middle of the store. * Flora is not to be pushed As she pushes, she loses a very nice looking piece of embossed paper. It drops to your feet, Flora. [Oohh.. Fancy that!] What does Flora do? "Jill. Listen to me. You must hear what I have to say." * Flora works it so the paper is no longer visible to Jill." There is a shout coming from the kitchen. It is KK's voice. He's saying something about a potato and the silver path. [Oh shit!] Jill says, "And there are more of you! Fuck. One with a gun on the stairs, and you eavesdropping and looking down my top, and now there's somebody in the kitchen... I'm definitely outta here." * Flora grabs the paper, turns to Gina, whispers in her ear "national security. I cannot say more, but let me have the invitation, for all our sakes!" Now it's Gina's turn to scream. "FBI? Christ! I wanna see some ID." [OUR TEAM IS WIN AT SUCCESS.] * Garland hears the scream, and takes it as an excuse to get the hell off the stairwell. He heads up, two stairs at a time. "What in the hell is going on up here!" "FBI? Nowhere near that open. I cannot explain" *Look her in the eye, hold her hand, and say, "Many will be grateful to you for your help, Gina. Please. Give me the document." *and lean closer to her* "JILL. JILL. THIS GIRL's PRETENDING. SHE WANTS OUR INVITES. YOU GOT YOURS STILL?" "LADIES! ... can we get a little quieter, please?" ... he still hasn't put his gun away yet. "In the kitchen, goat boy! Now!" "Goat...? What's in the kitchen?? Elyria went down those stairs!" "Well get her. potato... silver path...get the drift?" "Gina. For heaven's sake. Listen to me." "Where's KenKen and... christ almighty," swears and starts for the kitchen. "Gina. A person of importance to our nation is in danger. Please, you must trust me. Look at me and see that I am telling the truth." "You can help him. You can help by letting us do our work." Garland, you'll have to roll strength + willpower difficulty 9 minus one for your bad habits. In your window please. "Fuck off," Gina says to Flora. She whips her piece of parchment into her pocket. Are you holding her hand still? There is a scream, very familiar, from the kitchen. [Four of us. One ticket. One sneaky who can pass invisibly. Leaves two. One too young to go to a party. Leaves one. ONe more ticket available.] "sorry Gina, it's for the greater good." *Flora disables Gina in the least painful way her Karate skill allows. Then takes the paper from her and goes to the kitchen. [That should keep you busy, ST] * KenKen has a screaming, crying Bunny hiding behind him. Flora bursts into the kitchen. Suddenly a voice, strangely remote, but loud enough to stop you all in your tracks says,"One, two, three, four, go the people through the door. Five, six, seven, eight, Now you see what is your fate." * Garland puts his gun back into his bag, moving forward towards Bunny. "Bunny! What's wrong, sweetheart??" I'll let you be doing that when the voice starts. You have to stop and listen before you can ask Bunny [Oh, I hate disembodied voices. ] * Garland goes on guard as soon as the voice speaks. * Bunny tries to quiet her crying down to sniffling. Everyone can roll remembrance. Difficulty is 10, no matter what. Let me know your successes in your private windows. [Remembrance is a background, right?] Yes. Either it's listed, or you don't have it. [That's what I thought. :)] * Flora is pumped and alert * Flora has a strange, grim smile on her face I need to know if Bunny or Garland have any successes on the Remembrance roll. In their windows. None of you have any memory of this voice at all. KK, roll again. Same diff. Nobody knows anything about the voice. But it doesn't matter, because the kitchen you are in dissolves as you listen. You are not where you were. * KenKen looks around, sniffing the air wildly. You smell heady perfumes, delicious food, and fear. Do you guys want to ask specific questions, or do you want me to tell you what you see and where you are? [...and I have my song collection on random shuffle. It calls, appropriately enough, "Do You Sleep?"] [tell us first, then let us ask a few things? :) ] * Flora gives an invitation to Garland, and one to KenKen, right away [Oddly, the answer is yes.] * Garland takes the ticket rather... distractedly... and shoves it into his bag. ["Do you eat, sleep, do you breathe me any more / do you sleep, do you count sheep any more / do you sleep any more? / Do you take flight on my tongue like lead / do you fall gracefully into bed anymore? / I saw you as you walked across my room / you looked out the window / you looked at the moon / and you sat on the corner of my bed / and you smoked with the ghost in the back of my head."] [Back. Very appropriate. Ghosts etc. When Flora returns, if no one objects, we'll follow KK's suggestion about me telling you stuff first.] Did you take the invitation from Flora, KK? * KenKen did, sure. Where'd he put it? * KenKen has it in his hand. :D Fine. Okay, can I begin? I'll say when you can start doing stuff again. You are on a wide and galleried balcony. Below you a group of Sidhe Nobles, all wearing masks, though some are half-masks, are dancing to the strains of "Waltz of the Weeping Willows." In front of you is someone wearing a crown and a half mask and his robes bear the insignia of the House Eilunedd. He is talking to another person, likely a man, who is wearing a chimerical dragonhead. There is a wonderful banquet table down by the dance floor. It has many dishes on it, and flagons of wine, and other things that look totally scrumptious. Bunny's experience tells her that this feast took at least four sou-chefs working under one heck of a mean chef and about thirty hacks slaving away for two days to prepare all this food. You are close enough to the two people on the balcony to see them very clearly, and to hear them. Oddly, they do not seem to see or hear you. "They do seem to be enjoying themselves," says the one with the crown. "Sending her to Tara-Nur was a brilliant idea, Your Majesty," says the other. "Thanks to you, Willows has considerably more than the King's ear." You can do stuff now. * Flora does her wallflower impression, and looks around to see if EVERYONE is wearing masks You see no one else on the balcony. * Bunny is still clinging to Kenken * Bunny is also still sniffling. * Garland looks over the edge of the balcony, to see if he recognises anyone. The two speakers do not seem to hear your sniffling. * KenKen edges himself and Bunny towards the back wall a little, to keep out of more range of sight, but otherwise just waits to see if they say more. Garland, did you see any pictures in the castle at Tara Nur? * Bunny goes along with Kenken. Was upset and scared before and is even more upset and scared now. By the way, Bunny, the bag of potatoes came with you. It wasn't like you carried it. Your hand was on it that was all. And so it came. But now it will sit on the floor unless someone moves it. [A two bunk cantrip... attract potatoes] [Didn't we see a picture at the end of that one hallway? It was a portrait or something. Before we got into the secret room.] [Plus I'm sure he would've looked around. They stayed for awhile, after all.] [Bunny had both her hands on Kenken.] I believe you did. As one with no memory any more, I cannot say for sure. Oh, did she, Bunny? Sorry. Previous post was to Garland. [three bunk cantrip...attract weasel] Sometimes it's best for the ST if the stuff in []s is kept to a minimum. Thanks. [Ah, okay... he'd mainly be looking for Elyria anyway.] [OK... so does this place look like Tara-Nur to us, then?] [Or, is it like a place in a picture at Tara-Nur. I'm confused.] So the two people continue talking. "I assure you, Duke Firedrake, I had not idea my ward would capture the High King's heart. My intention was to simply introduce Faerilyth to the royal court. What she has accomplished is entirely due to her own merits." that's NO idea. Garland, your question was fair. If you ever saw a picture of High King David or Queen Faerilyth you will recognize them if you're looking down on the dance floor. [oh... OH. I think we did see a picture of David, at least.] [! High King David is down there? Time travel?] Do you say that, Flora? Please be careful with your use of []s. * Garland blinks, then glances over at KK, "Hey... is that who I think it is?" Whispering, nodding for him to come over. "Psst." *whisper* Are we really here, in the past, or is this a story unfolding before our eyes?" To whom are you whispering? to Garland? * KenKen creeps forward. [Has to be KenKen, 'cause he went to the wall, too] Did KK hear? KK roll Perception + alertness (+ keen hearing if you have it) diff 8 Just say yes or no. [yes] Okay, so the sitch is this. KK is creeping forward, but hears Flora whisper. Flora is against the wall, but she seems to be able to see down to the dance floor. No one has said High King David is down there. Bunny is still against the wall. Only Garland is looking down." [oh. ok. my bad.] Thanks. * KenKen whispers back to Garland, "Who is who you think it is, Garland?" I assume now you are looking down too, KK? * KenKen does, yeah Right. There seems, however, to be no indication in the two speakers that they see you at all. * Flora seeing that even the others are not being noticed, sidles up to beside them to see what's going on down below. Bunny, roll wits + survival + 1 dice vs target of 9 "... the High King," pointing him out for KK, frowning a little. Successes in your window. So KK, F, and G are looking over the railing? * Flora nods You are about ten to fifteen feet away from the two speakers. Only the one in the crown is facing your way. [Garland is still pointing out the High King to KK. And Flora, I suppose. :)] * Flora takes a good look at the High King I should describe this balcony a bit more. It goes in and out, that's kind of what I meant by terraced. The part the two speakers are leaning over the balcony at is close to the wall, which actually isn't a wall but a black curtain. * Bunny blinks, pointing to the black curtains behind the two speakers "What's that?" Okay, you guys are further away from the wall than they are. And there is no curtain behind you. Did you say Hmmm Flora? Aloud? Or what? [No, inside brackets is not out loud, right?] That's what I always thought. But since I don't have to use them... "They don't seem to even -see- us... if they did, we'd probably be kicked out," Still low tones, however. * KenKen is peering. Should I roll to ID David, ST? Everyone but Bunny roll perception + alertness, difficulty 8 You can if you want, but you saw that picture too, didn't you? That was for KK. [I must have! I don't have a very good memory of it. :) ] * KenKen looks over at what Bunny's indicating. * Garland looks over at the man in the crown, forehead knitting. "What's he got there?" The crowned man says to Duke Firedrake, "If you will excuse me, I have some duties to attend to before the last dance." "Psst. Let's follow him!" "Did you see that?" "Taking that vial?" [....] Firedrake is still looking over the balcony as the crowned man disappears behind the curtain. He mutters, "Aha, Duchess Igrania, so you are here at last," and he turns on his heel and goes to the other end of the balcony, where there are stairs leading down to the dance floor. [I got booted! Did anyone get my posts before that happened?] "Does anybody know when the High King was last seen in public?" [I think so! :) Garland saw him taking the vial, too.] None since I posted to you about what you saw, KK. "Could THIS be the time it happened?" [I just had Kenken ask if anyone saw 'that? Taking the vial?' and then got booted immediately, so.] * Garland follows Firedrake to the stairs. [I asked what vial?] What do the rest of you do? [ST, the two speakers split, right, with the other (not firedrake) going to the curtain?] Yes, that's right. "Psst. I want to follow the guy through the curtain." OK for KK's sake here's what happened. Guy with crown was handed vial. Excused himself. Other went down to dance floor from stairs at end of balcony. Garland followed the Duke. Or just counting on not being seen or heard? * KenKen looks around between people. Looks at Bunny. Is Bunny still terrified? Because Kenken was supposed to be taking care of her, so. Okay. I'll have to look FF up for Flora now. *as leave group* "meet back here?" * Bunny is still scared but not terrified at least. * KenKen whispers to Bunny, "Do you want to follow either one?" * Bunny holds on to the hem of Kenken's shirt. "...I'm followin' you." * KenKen checks to see if anyone seem to notice Garland following the Duke, or if he seems to be 'not there' for them. For the record: Flora's FF works like this. Only close friends and family remember her as anything more than a vague impression if she's away from them for more than a little while. This is also true for her changeling buddies. Other people require a perception roll, difficulty 9, to remember anything about her. If she CHOOSES to FF, as opposed to having to endure not being noticed most of the time, then she is opposing the Okay, KK, not a soul seems to notice Garland following the Duke. But of course, not a soul but the Duke is there. * KenKen ....probably doesn't notice Flora following King David and thus doesn't know someone's following him. Okay! So he heads off after David. [ST: the last bit of your explanation of FF is missing] * Bunny heads off after Kenken, still holding onto the hem of his shirt to not get lost What do you mean, Flora? And KK, the man going behind the curtain is a king but he isn't High King David. High King David is dancing on the dance floor with someone who is also crowned and appears to be in love with him and might be his wife. [after the king, then.] Behind the curtain king? Just to be clear? [If I choose to FF, then I am opposing....? the rest did not show on my screen] [whoever Flora was tailing, since Kenken doesn't know that Flora's following him!] Okay, something to clear up here. Flora missed some of the explanation of FF. [yeah, it didn't show on my screen either. It cut off at 'she is opposing the'] I can't copy it easily. So I have to scroll up and retype. OK? Can people wait? [KenKen, you see me easily, as you are my good buddy] [I can wait. :)] She is opposing the perception roll of others. So she rolls Dex + Stealth + 4 dice vs their Perception successes. It is a continuing opposition, as long as Flora keeps trying to FF. That is, every minute or so, there is a dice roll on both sides. Clear? I guess I could retype after all. I mean copy. [I am pretty sure if you choose to FF, I can't see you even if you ARE a good friend unless I succeed a given role, as you've spied on us before. ...As ST just implied! <3] [clear! Thanks.] [Hmmm. Ok, KK, I get your point.] I agree with KK, to a certain extent. But Flora isn't trying to fool her friends, only the guy she's following. So it wouldn't be an opposed roll. [.............okay, then. I don't care who I follow. [rolls a die.]] [Got it.] I think KK should roll perception with difficulty of 9 to see if he notices Flora following that king. What does KK do? * KenKen follows the person Flora's following! And will you please all remind me if I forget when Flora's FFing that you all must roll perception difficulty 9 to notice her even if she's close by? But not if she's right with you. And only if she's FFing. Whew. Because, after all, you are Flora's friends. [OK, guys, the guy with the crown said Faerylith is his ward, so we know who crown guy is, right?] Are you asking this??? Or are you trying to give information???? Which???? [oh yeah, square brackets] "Psst. KenKen." You have to be in game to give information to people in game. KK is following the king and doesn't know you are there. If Flora speaks out loud in any way I RULE that her FF is broken for EVERYONE. [OK!! OK!!] That RULE will continue for all games hereafter. I'm sorry to do this to you in front of everyone, Peter, but you are playing Flora two ways against the middle. You are using []s too much and giving too much information with them. Everyone should be aware the []s are for OOC comments ONLY. [Ok I got it.] [Chalk it up to my youth.] Thank you. So the sitch as I have it is this. There is a king who was on the balcony with a Duke Firedrake. The king is slipped something in a vial from curtains behind him. The King excuses himself to do something. The Duke goes down to the dance floor to be with Duchess Igrania, whom he appears to have mixed feelings about. Garland follows the Duke. Flora FFs and follows the king. KK doesn't notice that Flora is following the king and so follows the king herself. I don't know what Bunny is doing. [Bunny is following Kenken] Thank you, Bunny. [While holding onto his shirt to avoid getting lost] Good girl. I like that. Very much, in fact. Now, Garland. You are following the Duke. You can get right to the bottom of the stairs. The perfumes, the music, the food smells, the sexual heat of all these masked nobles, is really POWERFUL. How do you think it might affect you? * Garland wants to join the party. Of course he does! So what does he do? * Garland skirts around the edge of the dancers, grinning to people who probably can't even see him, and heads to the drink/food table. Yes? And? And gets a drink! :D What kind? [whatever seems the stiffest.] Heheh There is a bowl with steam rising from it. It really isn't steam. It's not even hot. It's not dry ice either. But it sure smells potent. Stiff, you might say. A single servant, a boggan in the livery of House Eilunedd, stands behind the bowl with a ladle. There are little glasses with handles like teacups beside the bowl. What do you do, Garland? * Garland scratches his chin and walks up to the boggan. ... however, ladles are fancy, and Garland is not, so he picks up a cup helps himself to the bowl contents. rolling, rolling Okay, the boggan seems suddenly very startled. He is so startled he drops the ladle. A Sidhe knight who had come to the bowl also frowns. "What is wrong with you, fool? He says this to the boggan. * Garland blinks. "Uhh..." Looks around, eyebrows lifting at the knight. The boggan says, "Didn't you see it, Lord? A cup just lifted itself off the table and filled itself at the bowl and noone was holding it." The knight looks around. What do you do, Garland? * Garland doesn't move as the knight starts looking around, but grins an awful lot. The knight frowns. "Why, you're right. Look, the cup is still in mid-air. I wonder whose tomfoolery is this? I'll bet it's that silly dog pooka who thinks he knows the history of the world and tells it as if it isn't all a lie." Meanwhile, the rest of you... are following the king through the curtains. Rolling, rolling. [Garland is invisible at a party of beautiful Sidhe. ... his friends are gonna love this story.] The king does not seem to notice KenKen and Bunny. Flora roll stealth +4, difficulty king's successes which are too few to count and therefore the roll is vs 4. The king seems totally unaware that he is being followed. He goes through another curtain into a lighted room. Do you follow?? * Flora follows KK and Bunny? * KenKen also follows, intently. Bunny still has her hand on his back? If so, she follows too. * Bunny goes where Kenken goes. After all, whenever her big sister had to go to parties Bunny was told to always hold on to the back of her dress and not let go. Well, Kenken isn't Kitty and doesn't have a dress, but this has to be close enough. [Love it, Bunny] Okay, so in the lighted room, there you all are. There is no one but the king there. Flora roll your FF. King is also rolling. For the public record, FF requires ONLY stealth dice to be used vs the target's successes in perception which are the ONLY dice they can use. If I said differently another time, well the world has changed. Sorry. [OK] It's only fair. The target gets only one set of dice, and so does Flora. But she gets to add four dice because of her FF ability. [OK] And four is always the minimum target for any task in Changeling. If a task is easier than that, it still is 4. Unfortunately the opposite isn't true. If a task is harder than 10 to do, you must make it easier somehow. You could make it easier to defeat a 4 by using a WP point, Flora. [OK, see private box for the roll] You are unseen for the moment. KK and Bunny should also roll to see if they see you. But they only have to roll Perception, target 9 [So I can determine if it is worth using up Willpower, do I know what their target is to see me?] [I certainly don't!] [that is, the person(s) I wish to miss me] To Flora: no. Everyone is different. Your friends get a perception with a target of 9. [OK] I like to think a king in danger might be more perceptive than friends who are used to you disappearing on them. Okay, so the king does the following in the lighted room, which happens to be a bedroom. He goes to the bedside table on the near side. He opens the drawer. He takes out a bottle. He shakes out a pill. There is no rattling sound when he puts the bottle back. Summarizing here, since we're getting close to time. He doesn't put the pill in his mouth. He leaves the room by the proper doorway. He shuts the door behind him. What do the three of you do? Meanwhile, what is Garland doing? * Flora gets the pill-bottle quickly, quietly, then follows I'll allow that. * Bunny wonders if the king has a headache and taking medication for it? Mom got migranes sometime... Okay. * KenKen blinks as, presumably, the door opens by itself?] Yes. * Garland is mixing around the dance floor and seeing how much he can get away with. You, my dear, are getting away with whatever you want. Except that, sometimes, people see the cup. [Oh... my...Gawd!] * KenKen shrugs, and doesn't mind his good fortune -- and follows. [ANYTHING??] [By which, I mean, generally getting good looks at various Sidhe women, getting feels off several and checking to see if they slap the guy behind them, etc...] Usually, the people who see the cup put it down to being too much in the cups themselves. [Oh! and perhaps getting more to drink every so often. You know. Got to keep busy.] But sometimes they think some pooka's pulling tricks. * Garland doesn't want to look like a floating cup, so finishes his next drink all at once at the table before heading out again. Garland, if you drink here, you will have to roll. So, roll Stamina + Survival, difficulty 8 [oh no! ... *rolls*] You are going back to feeling up the women? Meanwhile, the other three: [Yes, going back to feeling up ladies. :D] the king is going down a well-lit hall to a grand staircase which, from the sounds of it, lead to the dance floor. * Flora follows I'll give you a free FF here. The others? "Wooow, dancing..." * KenKen follows as well. With an expression like a concerned retainer, but otherwise trusting that he's ...hidden. Somehow. Okay, so no change in the various actions. King goes down stairs. A trumpet sounds. Garland, who is just about to be slapped on the face by a lady standing beside him, is saved by the horn. The trumpet, I mean. Everyone turns to the grand staircase. EVERYONE is looking at the King as he leaves the staircase, and the staircase behind him. EVERYONE gets to roll to see if Flora is visible. * Garland turns to look towards the staircase, beaming. NOBODY has to roll to see if KK and Bunny are visible. They are not. Some people are frowning. A Duke near the staircase shakes his head worriedly, then reaches for his sword. But, the trumpet sounds again. Everyone turns to where the King is heading. The king is heading to the Royal Couple: High King David and his wife, Queen Faerilyth. People who had thought they'd seen something on the stairs behind the king just forget it. "ATTENTION, ATTENTION, MY LORDS AND LADIES," calls a royal retainer, after the third trumpet blast. "The last dance will begin shortly. But first, our own King of Willows, the Honourable King Meilge who Never Lies, has something to say." You can say something here if you weant. want. you gamers, I mean. NO? Okay then. [How far to the High King?] Oh, about thirty feet. More? * KenKen wants to hear what he has to say, actually... Okay. [yes, more] Bunny? Garland? * Bunny is silent and listening eagerly * Garland would just be listening. [there are retainers/guards around the High King?] OK. So, the King puts his hand on his ward's shoulder, in apparent deep affection. Yes, Flora, there are three, all of whom stepped into place as he stepped off the stairs. "Dearest niece," says the King. "And my lord and Liege, High King David." [Is the special guy, whom the High King admonished Faerilyth to trust, here, too?] "I cannot tell you what an honour it has been for me to be able to host this first stop on your grand tour." Everyone applauds. When the noise dies down, High King David smiles. "Why Uncle, for I may call you that now, may I not, Meilge? My wife was so delighted to get the chance to come back to her home here in Willow Heart, I could not gainsay it. Nor would I have. You are a great and noble king in your own right. Thank you with all my heart for having this ball to show the whole of Willows that my wife and I are very happy to be with each other, and with you. "A toast," King Meilge says, for it is indeed King Meilge. You might not recognize him but if you don't I don't know why not. You lived in his kingdom all your life, after all. Anyway, a young eshu page comes forward with a silver platter. There are three identical chalices on the platter. * Flora eyes like a hawk * Garland tries to move forward more, to get a better look at the platter. * KenKen murmurs softly, "the chalice with the palace..." The king allows High King David and Faerilyth to choose their own chalices, which they do with a certain amount of smiling subterfuge. David takes the one nearest to Meilge. Faerilyth takes the one nearest to Meilge. That leaves the one nearest to David for King Meilge. Meilge's left hand goes to his lips, and leaves it, as if he is blowing a kiss at the royal couple. He takes David's chalice, and lifts it high. "To High King David. Long may he rule." Everyone in the room, (do you, Garland?) raises their own glasses in the toast. Garland? * KenKen draws a sharp breath. And probably does something stupid to alter the space-time stream. YAY TROUBADOR. (Unless you rule I'm not smart enough to figure it out?) * Garland toasts too. Why not. [I want to grab onto David's arm to spill the chalice, ST. *g*] What is your intelligence, KK? [pleasebedumb!] [...like, two pips? But four in wits.] You specified "smart". Hmmmm. I say, you would be using wits here. [Basically, I figure the chalice is poisoned. If KK is able to figure that out from the clues, his troubador nature will take over and his emotional response is to keep David safe! Spill the mug!] [But I recognize that this could cause trouble, so. *g*] Roll your wits alone (or you can use willpower but you must specify what it is you want to use the willpower to do) vs a target of hhmmmm, troubadour, right, oh, say 6. [ST, did I see any labelling on the pill bottle, when I checked it on the way down the stairs?] I said no label. [Oh, yeah, in the other box] [speaking of which, result of roll in box, ST] So what do you do, KK? Sorry, the rest of you, there's a lot going on in KK's window. [figured] * KenKen tries to shake off Bunny's grip as he lunges for High King David, grabbing for his arm to try to spill the drink. [Oh, shit!] Bunny? Remember, you are more than 30 feet away because Flora was 30 feet away and you are behind her. Also there were three retainers, one at each side and one behind King Meilge. There are also retainers all over the place for High King David and a huge pair of female trolls guarding Faerilyth. * KenKen nods. Is gonna be dashing. Has athletics, for what that's worth! Okay. Roll dex +athletics difficulty 8 to get to David before he can drink. By the way, no one seems to see you. Bunny hasn't done anything so I assume you did shake her off. * Bunny would let go as soon as Kenken tried to shake her off. OK. No problem. That's what I figured. Sorry folks. The world hangs in the balance... [:D I'M SPECHUL!} For a moment there is a kind of shiver in the air. For a moment, it almost seems as if something incredible, powerful, fateful, dire and terrible is about to happen. [THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH WHAT?] [The Weasel of Time!] [...CANDY?] [BINGO!] Everyone shivers. And then, as if something tells the entire Ballroom what to do, every eye is raised to the staircase, where a little boggan girl stands alone. [The cheese stands alone.] And that, my dear Changelings is the end of this Chapter of Face Your Maker!