Sea of Stars - IC III

[rax]

"And you have no idea what that thing might be?" Hannabel interjected.

Spoiler: Scrutiny check

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(1d100)[47] vs. 47 (Per 37, Scrutiny +10) to try and discern if Alia's answer is truthful.

[Haval]

"Ah yes, you made yours a reality, didn't you? Well, quiet study wasn't for me either, but when I was younger I wanted to be a Fleet Admiral."

'Oh I fell into that. There's only so many careers available to someone in our position.'

"Meaning I'm happy enough to stay here, if you have too many concerns about taking me on board. Absconding was not my plan."

'No concerns, but I'm paid to think ahead you know. I admit I'm curious to see how your aunt would react.'

Anika will glance towards Hannabal after she speaks before frowning and turning back to await Alia's response.

Spoiler

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(1d100)[78]

[Destro_Yersul]

He chuckles ruefully. Alas, most of my foes operate outside the sector or are already enemies of the Imperium. Leverage in the Expanse is... more direct, and usually involves macrocannons. But if your information is as good as you say, surely you would know who are enemies are. Who might you have useful leverage over?

"Surely there's someone. Did you ever deal with House Denaire, and that old Seneschal of yours? Or if you'd prefer a more recent adversary, I believe there's a certain Quinn who has been flitting about Calixis lately."

"And you have no idea what that thing might be?" Hannabel interjected.

"Should I? Probably an old loose end she's trying to tie up before moving on."

Spoiler: Hannabel Only

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The casual response didn't sit well with Hannabel, and for the first time during the conversation, she got the impression Alia was being especially evasive around the subject of her Aunt. The problem was, it hadn't been delivered that differently from all of her other responses. Something was off, and Alia was evidently an extremely skilled prevaricator. Thus far, she hadn't said anything they could prove was untrue, but there wasn't any way to prove it was true, either.

[rax]

Spoiler: @Destro, Anika, Macharius and Ravia

Show

OOC: I'm assuming everyone has a microbead or similar device active so that we can communicate without Hannabel appearing to address anyone else directly. Instead, she would be appearing to respond to a call from elsewhere on the ship.

"I see," Hannabel answered Alia levelly. "Excuse me for a moment, there's a matter that requires my attention," she continued, taking a few steps back and reaching up to touch the microbead in her ear.

Switching to House Absolom's code language, she transmitted to Anika, Macharius and Ravia. "There is something off about her response to my question. I believe she is being deliberately evasive, likely because it pertains to the Countess' actions."

[Haval]

'Lady Kindjal, are you being entirely honest with us on the matter of whatever your aunt is searching for? Perhaps you could indulge me in telling us what she might be looking for out there. If you're considering coming with us what harm can it do?'

Spoiler: ooc

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I don't know if Anika's being nice enough to get away with this, but if it helps

Charm vs. Fel 47 (+10 Etiquette?) (+10 Peer Nobility)
(1d100)[51]

[PotatoGolem]

Macharius' face darkens at the mention of House Denaire, his eyes flashing with rage and sorrow. For a moment, he is speechless, his hand clenching the pommel of his sword. He recovers quickly, the placid smile returning to his face. I suppose that would be information I would be interested in, yes.

[Destro_Yersul]

'Lady Kindjal, are you being entirely honest with us on the matter of whatever your aunt is searching for? Perhaps you could indulge me in telling us what she might be looking for out there. If you're considering coming with us what harm can it do?'

Alia looked thoughtful. "Well, someone might be more accurate than something. At least, that's the impression I was given. Perhaps if I come with you I'll be able to learn more."

Macharius' face darkens at the mention of House Denaire, his eyes flashing with rage and sorrow. For a moment, he is speechless, his hand clenching the pommel of his sword. He recovers quickly, the placid smile returning to his face. I suppose that would be information I would be interested in, yes.

Alia, tactfully, refrained from commenting on Macharius' momentary loss of composure. Those watching closely might have caught a flicker of satisfaction cross her face, though.

"Well, that's certainly something I can assist with. I shall have to go digging through the family archives for details, but just for the moment I believe I have a small token to offer. Isaiah?"

The old scribe looked up at the sound of his name, shuffling over to the group. "Yes, my lady?"

"House Denaire. Briefly."

Isaiah cleared his throat. "Outwardly unified, but the signs that the House may be gearing up for an internal power struggle are there if you know where to look. Selene Denaire has been seen on Gunpoint, and word is she was hiring quite a few deniable assets. Several of the world's mercenary groups vanished overnight at around the same time as her ship broke orbit. Lots of recruiting in general, actually. Iocanthos, Acreage, that group of prisoners they pulled off of Tranch... Then there was that business on Solomon." He looked to Alia.

"Continue, but highlights only."

"Very good. Several agents of House Denaire were present at the House of Dust and Ash for an auction of some sort. Odd place to hold one, in a mortuary complex, but that's where it was. Supposed to have been a number of artifacts from the old Haarlock estate. The whole place exploded not long after the auction started, but a handful of the attendees escaped, and the Denaire group was among them."

[Haval]

Alia looked thoughtful. "Well, someone might be more accurate than something. At least, that's the impression I was given. Perhaps if I come with you I'll be able to learn more."

'Well anything's possible. But finding a single person in the whole Expanse seems like rather a longshot. I suppose if your aunt has money to throw away.'

Spoiler: ooc

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(1d100)[9]

On the House of Dust and Ash, 'It exploded? I take it you can't speak to why?'

[Destro_Yersul]

"It was built into the side of a dormant volcano, and the volcano erupted. It may be coincidence, but somehow I doubt it. Entirely too convenient that it happened during a large, heavily publicised gathering, and that the complex void shields mysteriously activated shortly prior."

[PotatoGolem]

You are quite well-informed. I take it that, should we come to an agreement, there would be some...actionable information, yes? Macharius has regained his composure, but he still seems more interested in a deal than before.

This still leaves the matter of ending the Stalker's reign of terror. If you leave to gallivant across the expanse with us and the attacks suddenly cease, even the dullest guardsman will put two and two together. And if we simply leave without any progress, it would be rather a black eye for the house. I intend to kill the Stalker. He smiles and gestures broadly, his voice rising as he tells the tale.

It is possible that you were working with us all along to uncover the blackguard. A covert investigator, to our more overt work. We confronted the Stalker together, along with our retainers, and emerged victorious through the light of the Emperor. Of course, it would have been far preferable to take the miscreant alive for excruciation, but alas, I am well-known to favor the thunder hammer when in a true life-or-death fight. Not a weapon that excels at non-lethal combat. Certainly not with a blow to the head. He taps the handle meaningfully..

Still, with the scourge ended through the heroism of House Absalom and the wisdom of House Kindjal, that is scarcely worth mentioning. Some rumors may be invented by scurrilous slanderers, but the armor, damaged and battered as it unfortunately is, serves as proof that it was the real Stalker. Clever armor, that. Magos Del'Karro has examined it thoroughly. Gene-locked, so that it wouldn't function for any other than its owner. Of course, she has gene-sampled you and your retinue and conclusively proven it wasn't any of them. So the rumors are definitively false, the lies of those who don't have our courage to do what's right in service of the Imperium.

Macharius chuckles. Perhaps that is the truth of the Stalker's end. All it needs is a Stalker, someone with a reason to have the nobility. Perhaps a disgruntled servant? Or a scion of a house disgraced for heretical leanings? I'm sure you have ideas.

[Destro_Yersul]

"Actionable?" Isaiah shrugged, his robes rustling. "What you choose to do with the information I provide is your prerogative, but I assure you the family's archives are deep, and what you get will be both valuable and sufficient. You could take advantage of the internecine struggles of the House, splinter the factions apart and drive them to open conflict with each other. You could blackmail them for whatever they're worth, raid their secret holdings, dispatch infiltrators and stage a coup..."

Motion from Alia caught his eye, and he glanced at her waving a hand at him and cut off his speculation there. "Yes, well. Suffice it to say, you will have options."

Alia listened to Macharius' proposal with apparent interest, nodding thoughtfully in places. She waited until he had finished laying it out to respond.

"You make a reasonable point about my leaving. The armour is nice, and I shall be sad to see it go, but so be it. The 'death' of the Stalker will feed nicely into enhancing the prestige of both our houses, after all. I suppose you will be wanting the suit as a trophy." She left it unsaid that the ruse had played its course, with what Macharius and the others had already discovered, but everyone present knew it. Some sacrifices would have to be made, no matter how much Alia wished to avoid them, and losing the Stalker's armour was apparently one of those.

"I think I can provide a suitable body. Etula Hax is clear, your Magos' word clears me and mine. Shall we stage an attack on the lodgings you rented, or would you prefer the 'battle' take place in the underhive? Our combined efforts to root out the Stalker's lair successful? You've already blown up one underhive workshop, it could be a nice logical trail to follow."

[Blarghy]

On the balcony, Kennoch's hands gripped the railing tighter. His helmet bowed, as he clenched his teeth. Suffice to say, he wasn't pleased to arrange a deal with this murderer, even though he knew it was a possibility from the start. Insisting upon the destruction of Alia's armor did comfort him somewhat, at least, as did sparing the Logitor.

I suppose she still won't be the worst passenger on this ship, Echo thought to himself grimly.

Since there would be no battle today, he turned back to his view of the stars and resumed brooding.

[Haval]

"It was built into the side of a dormant volcano, and the volcano erupted. It may be coincidence, but somehow I doubt it. Entirely too convenient that it happened during a large, heavily publicised gathering, and that the complex void shields mysteriously activated shortly prior."

'I assume there's a story there.' Anika mused. 'But leaving that aside I take it we're still taking the Kindjal pilgrims along with us? I'm curious to see what they're looking for.'

Anika seems to relax a little after Macharius decides on a plan. 'Well. As long as everyone's happy.' She doesn't even have to look in Kennoch's direction to guess his response. 'And as long as we try to be prepared for anything that might come of this. We can always talk about that later.'

To Alia, 'As you seem to be set on this now, what are you going to tell your aunt? I would have thought your retinue would be obliged to tell her the news but perhaps they are coming with us as well. I should say, despite what I've been told, I'm not worried about her in the slightest, but it's always better to get out ahead of these things if possible.'

[PotatoGolem]

Excellent! Glad we could come to an arrangement. I believe the underhive is appropriate. As you say, we've already caused a bit of a stir down there, and there's less likelihood of unwanted witnesses of the credible sort. Besides, it's less likely to raise questions of why you and your retinue were there with us.

[Destro_Yersul]

"Very well. If you would be so good as to escort us back to my shuttle, I shall begin preparations at once."

On the way back, Alia fielded Anika's questions. "You'll still be taking the pilgrims, of course. The deal has been negotiated, it would be odd if it was cancelled now. I shall think of something to say to Auntie, of course, though I'm still not certain I'll be coming with you at all. As much as Lord-Captain Absalom's plan is a good one, and will deflect suspicion, the most prudent course of action may still be to stay here. She'll be displeased with the discontinuation of the Stalker, but with what you've uncovered it was clearly about to become nonviable."

At the shuttle, Alia went inside, and came back out holding the Stalker's armour. This was turned over, as promised, and with some level of trepidation - the first they had really seen from her - she and her retinue all submitted to Ravia's collection of samples. Then they departed. Ravia's samples would take some time to run, and while they were, Macharius and company returned to Scintilla, and Hive Sibellus.

This time, they didn't land at the main port, instead sweeping out over the steel-grey ocean and coming back in towards the skirts of the hive, where it met the cliffs high above pounding waves and salt-tanged spray. This provided access to some of the deeper parts of the underhive, albeit through a precarious array of crumbling gantries that no sane person would willingly traverse. Naturally, this made them a perfect 'hideout' for the Stalker, and by the time Macharius had picked a suitably stable looking platform to land on, Alia was already waiting for them next to a maintenance access door held permanently open by a thick layer of corrosion and rust.

"I thought I might sweeten our bargain a little, by my selection of 'criminal,'" she said, indicating an unconscious woman trussed up just inside the door. "Meet Cecilia Denaire. She's conveniently about my size, from some distant branch of the family with no real chance to ever inherit much. She has an unfortunate habit of sneaking off from the schola to frequent underhive obscura dens, which is where we ambushed her. No doubt she also has other unfortunate habits, such as donning winged armour and preying on the city's nobility." Alia smirked.

Getting her into the armour was no small task, but it was managed well enough, with Alia's experience using the suit and no need for undue haste. The fit wasn't perfect, and likely wouldn't be for anyone but Alia unless the fit and gene-coding were adjusted, but as long as they didn't allow anyone to examine the suit closely the story would be simple to sell. Especially since the Stalker murders would, Alia assured them, cease. With a swing of Macharius' hammer, and a single wet thud, the ruse was complete.

---

The fanfare was loud, and suitably boisterous.

Macharius called on Etula's gratitude for an audience with Marius Hax, and presented the "Stalker" to a stunned and gracious governor. He claimed the armour as a trophy of the fight, after displaying the crushed helmet for Marius' benefit, and wove a tale of a hard-fought battle amidst the twists and turns of the underhive. Alia had gone through and roughed up the area, so signs of a struggle would be present if anyone bothered to check. Hax was paranoid and suspicious enough to do so, and when his teams returned with reports of obvious damage and several pieces of evidence planted by Alia and her espionage crew, including a sword the Stalker had 'lost' down a ventilation shaft, the illusion was complete.

Governor Hax threw them a parade.

The local PDF was turned out, resplendant in their dress uniforms, images of the Stalker's body and word of their origins were spread to every news and propaganda outlet on the planet, and the city's nobility let out the collective breath they had all been holding. Wine, Amasec and stronger spirits flowed like water, and Hax himself pinned a medal to Macharius' chest. The Rogue Trader's social calendar was, all of a sudden, extremely full indeed. Every remaining day between the parade and the departure of the Manticore's Sting from low orbit, Macharius was bombarded with dozens of invitations, social calls, gifts, and well-wishes from the good and great of Sibellus. He also recieved a thick packet of papers stamped with the Kindjal seal, which proved to contain a wealth of information - everything Isaiah had been able to dredge up on House Denaire. There was a rundown of the factions, with margin notes on members and who hated whom, a collection of reports on known activities, and most importantly, the name of the person who had ordered the attacks on House Absalom: Selene Denaire. Head of the traditionalist faction, and captain of the Augur of Prometheus.

Amidst the celebrations and confetti, while Macharius and Alia were attending yet another function in their honour - this one thrown by Edmund Hamsha, who Macharius had sent warnings and entreaties to, in the days before they had solved the puzzle of the Stalker - the young Kindjal scion recieved a note by rapid courier. Unfolding it, she scanned the first few lines, and let it fall to the floor with a strange expression on her face. She turned to the Rogue Trader, and lowered her face.

"Apologies, Lord Captain. I must find our host, and take my leave. I.. my aunt has died."

[rax]

Spoiler: @Destro and Ravia

Show

As soon as Ravia had taken the required samples, Hannabel approached her in private.

"Magos, I have a request and I would wish that it remain between you and I until I say otherwise. On this dataslate is documentation of a series of genetic markers. I would be in your debt if you would compare them to the samples you have taken from Lady Alia as well as any other female members of her retinue. If there are clear matches with what's on the dataslate, please inform me immediately. Do we have an accord?" she asked.

OOC: Ooh, look who's not going to come with us after all...

[Leon]

Spoiler: rax, Destro

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++Very well, we do and i shall++

[Haval]

Alia

On the ship Anika is polite but firm. 'Oh it was always going to become nonviable at some point. Your choice was over how it was going to end.'

After Ravia takes the samples and their guests had departed. 'If anything unusual comes of that I would appreciate hearing about it.'

When back on Scintilla Anika will pay very close attention to the face of Cecilia Denaire. She had honestly expected Alia to deal with all that elsewhere but it wasn't worth arguing about it now. Her distant connection to Macharius aside perhaps she had done something to deserve it. The obscura habit was regrettable but didn't by itself justify this. By the end of it she looked faintly sick.

Aftermath

Anika will accompany Macharius through any official business while still looking slightly on edge. She is mostly there to check if anyone important in the Lord Governor's entourage seemed to be suspicious of their story. Believing that there was more going on here and actually proving it was something else.

At some point when they were in private she will speak to Macharius about her misgivings. 'Now we've gone through with it I see the problem. Cecilia Denaire does not seem like the sort of person that is capable of building that suit without a lot of help. If anyone is as paranoid as I am perhaps they'll take an interest in the Denaires first.'

[Blarghy]

Kennoch wanted nothing more to do with the scheme, or frankly, Scintilla itself. Not that he enjoyed the Manticore's Sting either, but, he decided that he could hide in his tower with minimal angst. While the Lord-Commander basked in the gratitude of his peers, Echo started his calculations for the upcoming Warp-jump to Port Wander. This probably wouldn't take him as long as the parades and parties, so in his free time, he sat by a quiet observation port in the Navigator's spire and read his copy of Katarina Nostromo's memoirs. Past the key bit of information for which he originally purchased it, the collection remained interesting on its own merits. Not enough to distract him from Galimina entirely, but still.

In Port Wander. I will. I will.

[Leon]

Spoiler: Destro, Rax

Show

After due time and careful examination Ravia reports to Hannabel her findings

++All are clear save the Lady Alia++
++Hers is most curious, its been altered in a number of ways++
++Imperial juvenate like but not wholly and then there is the unknow portions, i posit that it is xenos but it is of a type unknown to me++
++Mayhap leakage from augmentative grafting that she has had, the suit was good but underlying its potential is the occupants skill and ability++
++An Unknown Biodata is best found out and catalogued++

[rax]

Spoiler: Destro, Leon

Show

Hannabel nods thoughtfully as Ravia details her findings. "Magos, as a servant of the Omnissiah, what is your position on recreating the human form through technological means and the manipulation of human genetics through the addition of xenos genetic material?" she asks.

[Leon]

Spoiler: Destro, Leon

Show

Hannabel nods thoughtfully as Ravia details her findings. "Magos, as a servant of the Omnissiah, what is your position on recreating the human form through technological means and the manipulation of human genetics through the addition of xenos genetic material?" she asks.

Spoiler: Destro, Rax

Show

++The Flesh is Weak, so we must make it Strong++

++It is something that is interesting and relatively unknown++
++There are of course those that are hidebound and vehemently against it but such is our rambling institution++
++Juvenat is a branch of that arcane science but not as complex as recreation of a whole being++
++And Unknown things must be found out and catalogued++

[PotatoGolem]

Macharius chuckles when the "Stalker" is revealed. Clever, Lady Alia. And entirely suitable.

He throws himself into the festivities, attending all the parties, making small talk, and basking in his newfound celebrity. Rebuilding House Absalom isn't solely about increasing its material wealth and the size of its fleet; the House's stature needs to be raised as well. That includes making sure that all the right people are saying all the right things about his heroism.

When Alia tells him her aunt has died, he bows formally. I understand. There is much to be done in such times. My condolences on your loss, Lady Kindjal. May your leadership guide your House well.

After she turns away, he drops his glass on the floor, coincidentally next to the dropped note. Williams rushes to pick it up, sweeping up the letter as he does so. Macharius pays him no heed.How terribly clumsy of me. I suppose it's a sign I've had enough amasec. Or far too little, hoho!

He takes another glass and rejoins the conversation.

------------------------------------------
Anika

True. Technically, that is true of Lady Alia as well. No one could have done this alone, unless they were both a skilled warrior and an extremely savvy heretek. The explosions in the underhive were, of course, us killing their heretek allies. I think casting suspicion on the House as a whole is part of the plan. Nothing provable, but another little crack in their reputation, a cause for rumor and suspicion... with enough little pinpricks, even the strongest house can be brought low.

[rax]

Spoiler: Destro, Rax

Show

++The Flesh is Weak, so we must make it Strong++

++It is something that is interesting and relatively unknown++
++There are of course those that are hidebound and vehemently against it but such is our rambling institution++
++Juvenat is a branch of that arcane science but not as complex as recreation of a whole being++
++And Unknown things must be found out and catalogued++

Spoiler: Destro, Leon

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Hannabel flashes the inscrutable Magos a crooked grin. "I had a feeling you might say something like that."

"I have a secret I should like to share with you, and you alone. It explains what you have just discovered about Lady Alia. Interested?"

[Leon]

Spoiler: Destro, Rax

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++I am as they say [oddly] all ears++

[rax]

Spoiler: Destro, Leon

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Hannabel chuckled and pointed to the dataslate she had given Ravia earlier. "Lady Alia and I have something in common. If you were to draw my blood, you would find the exact same genetic markers as detailed on that dataslate. What you would not find, is evidence of juvenat treatments or xenos...infestation."

"We are both creations of science - made, not born - to serve the purposes of Countess Kindjal. I had hoped I was the last, but it seems the old hag was able to construct another. Though the adjustments you have discovered indicate that Alia is a flawed specimen. I suspect that she was unable to properly replicate the process, so she has been forced to modify Alia to keep her from degrading too swiftly."

"And there you have it - Lady Alia Kindjal is an homunculus. A false-man."

[Haval]

Macharius

'Meaning that at worse we might risk looking like dupes if the truth ever gets out.' Anika looks exasperated. 'You may be right but it's ultimately not whispers and public opinion I'm worried about. It's not like we don't have enough on our plates at the moment. I can't even tell for certain if we're better off leaving Alia back here or taking her with us where we can keep an eye on her. Obviously the timing of her announcement is somewhat convenient.'

Research

While they are still here Anika will make inquiries after Selene Denaire and the Augur of Prometheus.

Spoiler: ooc

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Inquiry vs. Fel 47 (+10 Peer Nobility or Underworld as appropriate)
(1d100)[40]

[Destro_Yersul]

Spoiler: Macharius Only

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Later, Macharius was able to read the note Alia had dropped privately. It wasn't long.

Lady Kindjal,

I apologise for the impersonal nature of this message, but I have many arrangements to make at the estate, and must move quickly. Bad news is the fastest thing in the galaxy, as they say. The Lady Aurica Sinclaire Kindjal's health has failed her. Please return home at once, you need to consolidate before the sharks start circling.

Yours,
Isaiah

The note had been written in a cramped, precise hand. Having it sent by courier was a little strange, but paper was much harder to tap than a personal vox link. Perhaps it was simply a security measure.

Spoiler: Anika

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The best source of information on Selene was the information package they'd recieved from Alia. The traditionalists were among the largest of the subfactions within House Denaire, and no small part of that was due to Selene's ship. While the Augur was only part of the house fleet, and wasn't even the flagship, it was still a cruiser. The info packet contained a list of its known components and capabilities, compiled from Navy records some time ago. It was possible the ship had undergone modification since then, but based on what Anika saw they could expect to face a heavily-armed capital ship.

Looking around in other places turned up a little more. Selene had a list of accomplishments attributed to her name that were matters of public record. Served as a Navy officer when she was younger, probably pushed through the academy on her family's thrones. Handful of postings across Battlefleet Calixis. Anika found an account of her career in the university library, in a collection of officer biographies. Competent, but largely undistinguished until her tour of duty finished, which was where the biographies ended and Alia's packet pickup up. Apparently Selene got out of the Navy, went home to her House and started cleaning shop. Her ascent once she got back was rapid, and a fair number of other more prominent scions were passed over in her name - Isaiah suspected blackmail. By his accounting she was quite ruthless, but preferred subtlety to rocking the boat too hard. Instead of angling for promotion and stepping on toes while she was in the Navy, she'd forged connections, made friends, and saved her ambition for her triumphant return. The Absalom coup had been part of that, and had contributed significantly to her rise to power.

[Leon]

Spoiler: Destro, Rax

Show

++Oh++
++Well that is interesting, how much of the process do you know of++
++Would that the Heretek you were to meet with have been part of that process?++
++Or that she was soley in "house"++

[Haval]

The Note

'Well they can't very well send a note about smothering the old bat with a pillow before she's ready to go. But perhaps I'm reading too much into it.'

Spying

After some consideration Anika will get away from the socialising to go and talk to some people she trusted starting with her own mother and ending with anyone among the Scintillan nobility and the Kasballica that she believed might help her. All would be asked to pass on any news about the activities of Alia Kindjal or of the Kindjal family generally.

Spoiler

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To justify any information that Destro might feel like passing on in the future

Charm tests if its helpful
vs. Fel 47 (+10 Peer Nobility)
(1d100)[88]

and for Peer Underworld
(1d100)[70]