A Faerie Affair - IC III: In the Court of the Faerie King

[WindStruck]

Astra asks, "High demand? Is that because of impending conflict? And how much is double credit..?"

She at least lets the guild head answer those questions and get a breath before continuing:

"Uh, sorry for all the questions. Actually, I was wondering how the supplies of anti-venom for spiders are? I think the court will be fighting a lot of spiders soon, but I may have heard a rumor that there is a conflict or something or the other preventing people from making any?"

[Majin]

"Hmm, well, I was going to see the treasury, but I suppose it's not going anywhere... I guess we could go see Bronzeshield now, maybe see rest of the gang in the evening? What do you think?" Kor asks Orianna.

"Oh, and I can send small animals to bring messages. Though it seems to be pretty popular method here, so I don't know how discreet it is".

[Stan]

Opal is not used to being in the middle of politics but she does her best. She tries to put on coy smile before responding.

"Well yes, we are recently arrived. And, well, I do know who the king is. We would be happy to listen to your proposals. But forgive me, you may call me Miss Stone. Who do we have the pleasure of getting to know?"

[tgva8889]

Orianna considers for a moment, then asks, "How would I get a message to my companions? I know one is staying with Cloverfield and the other two are staying with a councilman, though I now realize I'm not sure we ever found out who it was who took them."

After Kor's suggestion, Orianna pauses in thought. "I think we should go to see Bronzeshield together if we see her at all. It will likely take more than one of us to fully convince her of the danger we faced. We'll likely want to send for our friends soon so we can all agree to meet somewhere and discuss what we've learned. We'll have to see the King himself sooner or later."

[Ninja_Prawn]

Spoiler: Astra

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She answers your questions: "I had assumed it was just the latest trend, but who knows? The regular rate is 10 credits per potion, I'm sure you can do the maths."

Regarding antivenom: "conflict, yes. We have no stockpiles at present. The ACA usually takes most of the antivenom we produce, but lately they seem to have gotten the idea that they can produce it easier themselves. Tch. No loyalty any more. So we stopped production. They'll soon be crawling back to us, eh?"

Spoiler: Opal & Kyu

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"Oh, er, Miss Stone. Pleased to meet you. I have been called Beaky Lilyboat." He doffs his cap and you notice that he does have quite a big nose. Heh, 'Beaky.'

Before he can say more, a flourish of sound from a string quartet announces the King's arrival. He declaims:

"I grow tired of yonder strings
And this aging herald
Bring me a brass band that sings
And a fresh new skald"

Immediately there are half a dozen people competing for the honour...

Spoiler: Ori & Kor

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Daved nods at Kor's Animal Messenger suggestion. "I don't imagine much discretion is necessary if you're just talking to the companions you arrived with. That kind of druidic magic should be fine here. If you'd rather save your energy, you could collar a kid and ask them to run a message - though that would be on the assumption that they would read it and sell your secrets to the highest bidder. I understand some folks use dead drops or even plant coded messages inside everyday gossip, though you would have to set that sort of thing up in advance of course."

[WindStruck]

"Wait... so what happened?" Astra asks. "Why can't this guild make any now? Are you not allowed to?"

Spoiler: ooc

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Also, how long would it take to make a healing potion here? And what would policy be if Astra made something but kept it for her own/the party's use?

[Stan]

Opal looks to Kyu and whispers, "Would you like to give performing a shot? You have the advantage of being fresh and new. But don't get lost, we need to talk later."

[Majin]

Kor scratches his chin and nods at Orianna. "Mmh. Yeah. Hey, maybe we should go find them now, see what they've been up to? I'm pretty sure they'll be easy to find, what with all the fuss going on. We could go eat something together"

[Ninja_Prawn]

Spoiler: Astra

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"No, we stopped production voluntarily," she explains, "so that our antivenom couldn't get confused with the ACA's inferior product."

Spoiler: ooc

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Also, how long would it take to make a healing potion here? And what would policy be if Astra made something but kept it for her own/the party's use?

Spoiler: OOC

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I'm gonna say 1 regular Potion of Healing per day for simplicity's sake. If you kept it, you wouldn't get paid, but it's otherwise fine.

Spoiler: Ori & Kor

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Kor scratches his chin and nods at Orianna. "Mmh. Yeah. Hey, maybe we should go find them now, see what they've been up to? I'm pretty sure they'll be easy to find, what with all the fuss going on. We could go eat something together"

Although you haven't spoken to the others since yesterday, you know them pretty well and may be able to guess where they are right now anyway. You may roll a Wisdom (Insight) check to get a hint, or just take a random guess.

[WindStruck]

"Oh.. uh, why don't you guys just like, put a special label on it so people know you're the ones who made yours?"

[Pyon]

Kyu taps her sides and nods. "Yes, that sounds like fun. I'm going to give it a shot!" She flies to the group of now competitors and tries to get ahead of the line and in plain view.

[Majin]

"I think the court would be good place to start looking. If they were going to talk to the king or nobles, they would probably be there" Kor says to Orianna.

[tgva8889]

Orianna, distracted by her own thoughts, nods at Kor's suggestion absently, then realizes that he actually made it and turns to look at him with a nod. "Yes, I think that's a good plan. Sorry, my mind is troubled by what Daved told us. I fear our charge may be a bit more difficult than I had originally thought."

[Majin]

"Oh yeah, this is definitely a colossal mess. I don't really event want to start thinking about it too much, or I'll just crawl into a hole and stay there until I turn purple". Kor sighs. "... I'm not really used to this much responsibility"

[tgva8889]

Orianna gives a smile to Kor. "Well at least we are here together. Though it looks difficult, after what all of us have seen together I feel we are up to the challenge. We've certainly done a lot more than we thought we would in getting here."

[Ninja_Prawn]

Spoiler: Astra

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She blinks - perhaps they hadn't thought of that. Still though, her response is swift: "well they'd surely try to copy it. Unless... there was some magic that we could use to put a hidden mark on them... hmm."

Spoiler: Everyone else

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Ori and Kor arrive at the Palace with troubled expressions, but quickly spot Opal and Kyu just as the pixie volunteers herself as the King's new skald.

It seems like she has two serious rivals for the position. One is a young woman who looks every inch an adventuring bard, decked out with rapier, breastplate and slashed doublet. The other is a softly-spoken faerie, ostensibly from the Ancient Order of Pranksters. An impromptu competition springs up as someone whips out a tambourine and the King reclines on his throne. The musician (who isn't very good, but clearly intends to provide accompaniment to all of the contestants) intones:

"A verse, a verse, the pressure's on
Four lines to prove that you're the one
It's ladies first so let us see
What you have got, little pixie!"

You'll need a Charisma (Performance) check, as well.

[Pyon]

Kyu bows slightly and clears her throat. First she thought of the best songs she'd heard. There were pretty ones about cute girls and boys, there were adventurous and heroic ones. Why not combine both?

"Your Highness, and noble people of the court. I bring you the tale of a little adventurous pixie. Not an adventurer per se, more of a traveler. I'd be glad to tell of her tales and more."

"Small, cute, pretty as can be
She traveled around merrily
Until she was trapped by evil Drow
She awaited for a hero to set her free!"

Spoiler

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Using tides of chaos!

Performance: (1d20+4)[10]
Tides of Chaos: (1d20+4)[8]

[WindStruck]

"Eh, a hidden mark? But then to prove you made it, it would have to be revealed anyway and spoil the whole secret. I mean, what would give them the right to just copy your labels and claim it was made by you? That's lying. And fraud, isn't it?"

As for the magic she was talking about, it certainly wasn't anything Astra was familiar with. And unless all it took was some kind of simple cantrip, it would probably be quite an expensive waste...

[Majin]

Kor decides to listen to Kyu and the other two artists' performance.

"Hey, she's talking about us!" Kor whispers to Orianna and grins.

[tgva8889]

Orianna nods and gives a smile back to Kor, though it's tinted with a bit of concern. Though she initially doesn't understand what's going on, she picks up quickly, trying to follow the cadence of Kyu's words and the beat which proves harder than anticipated given the lack of skill on the musician's part.

[Ninja_Prawn]

Spoiler: In the Court

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The bard scoffs.

"Oh helpless maiden, you should quit
For our great King you are not fit
Far better choose a bard like me
To sing the news of royalty"
Charisma (Performance): (1d20+6)[23]

Apparently mud-slinging is fair game here, then. The prankster goes next...

"You both are wrong and here's a twist:
Something perhaps we all have missed
There is no way the King can trust
A stranger who's come here but just"
Charisma (Performance): (1d20+3)[19]

The King clears his throat and stands, suspending the contest. He talks in plain speech, to emphasise the point. "Actually, that is one of the things I want to speak about today. Or two things, really: strangers, and trust. It seems that both are in short supply at present... but I have deemed these travellers worthy to stand in my Court, and I would like to take this opportunity to announce that they will be serving me as envoys forthwith."

There is an eruption of chatter at this point, but if you spoke up, you are sure people would listen.

Spoiler: At the Alchemists' Guild

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"I wouldn't put it beneath them," she mutters, "and I feel like we'd only have to catch them out once to prove the point. What makes you so sure we'll be 'fighting spiders soon' anyway?"

[WindStruck]

"I see! Maybe you'd have labels, but a special hidden mark in case.. if you're so sure they will try to copy it."

To the question of spiders, Astra says quite plainly, almost nonchalantly at first, "Oh, I don't know... Maybe the fact that the village of Pinkleaf was overrun by hordes of them?! The news I and my companions bring is not merely for show. These lands are under attack by drow and their minions."

[Stan]

Opal is surprised that her words this morning have already had such a large and public effect. She hopes she can handle what she is setting into motion. She looks around to see if any of her friends are here and are going to speak up. She's not the best candidate for a speech but one of them should say something. Maybe, she'd get the ball rolling and Kyu or someone can run with it.

Luckily, the King did not use rhyme - maybe that set the standard for the moment so she wouldn't have to. She raises her arm in the air and does a half turn at the waist then twists back to facing the front before talking. She's sure there's a spy from Reena present so she doesn't want to be so anti-Reena that it hampers their ability to negotiate.

"We are honored and hope to repay the Great King Soren's faith in us with great changes. With luck and effort, threats from drow and disagreements from rival courts will be quickly resolved and everyone can return to the joys of courtly affairs."

[Ninja_Prawn]

Spoiler: Astra

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She struggles to process that information, stammering back to you "Pinkleaf... overrun... hordes?" Then she shakes herself out of it. "Well, just goes to show that you pixies need to toughen up a bit.

I take it you are planning some kind of daring quest to liberate the village, then? That's the sort of thing adventurers do, I gather. Well, you're welcome to browse our recipe books if you want - there are plenty of compounds in there with... adventuring applications."

Spoiler: Courtly People

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One of the would-be skalds responds, "well now, that is a surprise. Where, pray tell, would Your Grace be sending these envoys?"

The King is tight-lipped. "That is a secret: I will not announce it before the Court." This, again, sets of a wave of speculation among the gathered faeries.

[Stan]

Opal gazes at the King with calm attentiveness. She has no intention of revealing what the king has chose not to.

[ooc] if things calm down a bit, Opal wanders about in search of either Cloverfield or the others. If she finds Cloverfield and can talk privately, she reveals that she will be meeting with the king tomorrow morning regarding their envoy role (though he probably knows anyway). She also tries to signal Kyu to follow her and help find the others so they can arrange a private talk later.

[Pyon]

Kyu turns a mocking grin towards the other bard, loving the fact that they are trusted with secrets and everyone else is not. If the contest is over Kyu will join Opal but if not, she will stay and try her luck at another song.

[WindStruck]

Astra looks at the guild woman with mouth agape, almost speechless. "Toughen up a bit, are you mad?! I'm not talking about pixie soldiers and militia men! I'm talking about a village of innocent pixies, women, children, refugees from other attacks!"

"Look, madam guildmistress... I don't mean any disrespect.. but this land simply has no time for courtly bickering, guilds scheming for power, and race slandering. I beg you to cooperate with the arcane chirugeons because at this point, it doesn't matter who makes the anti-venom. The king's soldiers will need it just as much, if not moreso than weapons and armor."

Spoiler: roll

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persuasion: (1d20+4)[21]

to bring about a revolutionary change of heart!

With that said, Astra finally calms down a bit. "I... I think I will see what you have now, however. Thank you."

So I guess she'll look at those "adventuring compounds" while she's at it.

[tgva8889]

Orianna stays silent as Opal comes forward, more interested in observing and gauging the crowd than presenting herself just yet. Her brow furrows a bit as she looks about. She whispers to Kor, "I'm not sure what to make of what's happening. It appears we're to be trusted with a mission, but from what Daved told us I suspect it will not be one that helps bring things together. Unless our friends have had luck convincing the court."

Spoiler: OOC

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Insight to gauge what's going on with King Soren: (1d20+3)[8]
Also a second roll, if necessary, to gauge the crowd's reaction: (1d20+3)[11]

[Ninja_Prawn]

Spoiler: Astra

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"I suppose you make a robust case," she concedes. "I will... reach out... to the chirugeons and see if we can come to a compromise."

You take a look at one of the books of alchemical formulae (Cazzok's Cogent Compounds, Volume II). The contents page lists the following compounds: Bottled Starlight, Bottled Twilight, Dust of Disappearance, Dust of Dryness, Dust of Sneezing and Choking, Feather Powder, Invisible Ink, Oil of Slipperiness, Potion of Animal Friendship, Potion of Fire Breath. You could probably memorise one of the formulae this afternoon, if you wanted to.

Spoiler: Others

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The King notices Kyu's situation and says: "oh, yes, the contest is over. I choose her as my new skald." He indicates the bard who went second as the winner. "Now then..."

The Court proceeds to deal with some matters that don't particularly interest you. Opal is able to sneak a message to Cloverfield, who gives her a small smile but is generally too busy to talk. Orianna struggles to intuit anything specific from the atmosphere in the room, but it's apparent that the King is very much in charge of what's going on and appears to be playing the room quite deliberately. There is much speculation about what you will be tasked to do; many have deduced correctly that you will be sent to speak to Reena's Court. Such a move does not seem like it would be popular among the nobles.

[tgva8889]

Orianna beckons to Kor, then carefully makes her way around the room to Opal. She puts a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Glad to see you are doing all right. What did you think of the performance?" At her comment she gives a motion towards Kyu, her face a usual subdued stone. She gives the room a look, then asks, "Have you seen Astra?"