Lovely 009

Xho, 7:31 PM

You've all been troubleshooting at Lovely Creatures, a hotel/bar/restaurant/brothel, for a few days now, and you've acquired an array of strange pets and acquaintances, including but not limited to an uncannily intelligent rat, a small mutated gelatinous cube, a half demon friend chained up in a spare bedroom and a full demon friend who works as a musician downstairs. Plus vampires, a paladin, a sweary winged cat, a pirate queen, the literal king of Meneluinin, and assorted other weirdos.

Pharolvir, 7:32 PM

(Sounds like your average sitcom cast)

Xho, 7:32 PM

It does!

Xho, 7:37 PM

After you finished convincing a paladin that a brother-sister pair of vampires working at the inn weren't in need of some righteous smiting, most of you probably went and listened to Taggett play in the bar that night. He's pretty good, and seems to have a vast pool of knowledge of music from all over the known world, including some really strange stuff--dragonborn throat singing, goblin protest songs, and even some traditional sea chanties Chance probably recognizes. Taggett's shyness seems to evaporate when he's on stage and you notice a crowd of young people, mostly girls, have shown up seemingly specifically to hear him play and also, apparently, ogle.

Xho, 7:39 PM

As soon as he gets off the stage that particular group clamors for autographs, and while he seems pretty embarrassed again over that he goes along with it. The evening goes pretty well, really.

Xho, 7:39 PM

Roll um, Perception, alla yas.

Ann, 7:40 PM

((17))

Chance, 7:40 PM

(20)

Pharolvir, 7:41 PM

((11))

Ann, 7:42 PM

Ann Nesia does wave at him and does applaud after each song.

Chance, 7:43 PM

Chance shifts his gaze between Ann and Taggett several times.

Pharolvir, 7:44 PM

Pharolvir listens to the music, oblivious.

Xho, 7:44 PM

Eventually you all head back to your own room, I assume, except for Chance, the Cat Who Walks By Himself, who goes back to HIS room.

Xho, 7:45 PM

Did any of you wanna do anything specific before going to the meeting with the king the next day?

Chance, 7:45 PM

Chance had nothing!

Pharolvir, 7:45 PM

Pharolvir will just check on Ulisse and make sure he's ok.

Ann, 7:46 PM

Ann Nesia does not

Xho, 7:48 PM

The next day is largely uneventful, but eventually it's time to get ready for your appointment with the king, assuming you guys are going to go. If not, that is also OK!

Pharolvir, 7:49 PM

Pharolvir will go, and he gets fancy to do it.

Xho, 7:50 PM

Describe!

Chance, 7:50 PM

Chance goes, but does not get terribly fancy!

Chance, 7:50 PM

Chance like, washes up and washes his clothes and stuff, but he's only got one or two changes of clothing, so.

Pharolvir, 7:51 PM

To view this shared photo, go to: https://login.skype.com/login/sso?go=xmmfallback?pic=0-eus-d9-42cd752f059f0993ad446658db948e57

Pharolvir, 7:51 PM

((Like this))

Ann, 7:51 PM

Ann Nesia cleans up the one outfit she has and makes it look as nice as possible.

Xho, 7:51 PM

Fancy!

Ann, 7:51 PM

Ann Nesia also washes the rat in the morning and trims it if neccasary

Pharolvir, 7:51 PM

((Long purple tunic with hose, boots with a heel, embroidered vest and an opera cape))

Xho, 7:52 PM

The rat probably doesn't need a trim! But it definitely needed a bath. It submits to the indignity, largely because shampoos feel like getting a massage, so it's more of a spa day for rat.

Xho, 7:54 PM

The chained-up half-demon does not go, obviously, but the rest of you start walking. I'm assuming you asked somebody at some point how to get there--probably Verandis--and found that the best way is to take a carriage up some of the elevated roads, as the palace is essentially a series of towers and only the servants entrances are reachable on the ground floor.

Pharolvir, 7:55 PM

"Intriguing.  ...also potentially hazardous."

Xho, 7:56 PM

There are rails!

Xho, 7:57 PM

You catch  a cab, more or less, and the driver knows how best to get you there. It's a bugbear, and she seems a little skeptical that you have an audience with the king, but she doesn't comment on it.

Chance, 7:58 PM

Chance tells her a story about how they're adventurers that once saved the former prince from a Mind Flayer.

Xho, 7:58 PM

Roll Persuasion!

Xho, 7:59 PM

Also Deception.

Chance, 7:59 PM

Chance is not trying to be believable! Just entertaining.

Pharolvir, 7:59 PM

Pharolvir rolls his eyes.

Chance, 7:59 PM

(17)

Chance, 8:00 PM

(It is also clear that the monster that chance is describing is not a mind flayer and is in fact a hydra, but he just doubles down.)

Chance, 8:00 PM

It was a Mind Flayer Hydra!

Xho, 8:00 PM

She is super impressed.

Xho, 8:03 PM

When you get to the palace you may or may not find it impressive. It's obviously one of the older buildings in the city, and while its construction is elegant, consisting of multiple towers with a large central building and a spire, it's also extremely practical and seemingly designed primarily to withstand a siege--most of it is made of massive white stones as far as you can tell. The front entrance has a large portico and multiple gates, all of which are open, and multiple guards, most of whom look extremely competent, very alert and, well. Large.

Xho, 8:04 PM

For whatever species they happen to be, anyway. There's at least three goliaths and a couple dwarves, plus some small races, all wearing matching armor.

Xho, 8:05 PM

You get out of the carriage, which drives off, and one of the smaller people, apparently a halfling, says: "State your business at the palace, please."

Chance, 8:06 PM

Chance holds up his invitation!

Pharolvir, 8:06 PM

"We're here for the party."

Xho, 8:07 PM

Halfling: I don't think there's an event scheduled for tonight.

Xho, 8:07 PM

She takes the invitation from Chance.

Xho, 8:09 PM

The guard holds the fancy invitation up, apparently examining it, and there's a slight shimmer around it as a magical watermark appears, though you can't quite tell what it looks like from your angle.

Xho, 8:09 PM

Halfling: Oh, you're here to see the boy. Er. His majesty. Blast it, he hasn't been crowned yet, I can't remember what to call him.

Pharolvir, 8:10 PM

"Pretty sure 'the boy' was never his proper title."

Xho, 8:11 PM

One of the goliaths clears his throat. "I can't see him complaining if you just went with 'his majesty.'"

Xho, 8:11 PM

Halfling: Of course it isn't, but it's all different now, isn't it.

Chance, 8:12 PM

Is it?

Pharolvir, 8:13 PM

"So...is this just a private gathering?"

Xho, 8:14 PM

Halfling: Probably. There'd be more security for something fancy, but I really don't know. Lieutenant Majors, by the way. Majors is a name, not a title.

Xho, 8:14 PM

Majors: Follow me.

Chance, 8:14 PM

Someday I am sure you will be Major Majors.

Xho, 8:15 PM

She winces, visibly.

Pharolvir, 8:15 PM

Pharolvir giggles

Xho, 8:15 PM

And starts walking toward the gate.

Chance, 8:15 PM

I figured you had either never heard that one or heard it a lot.

Xho, 8:16 PM

Majors: Heard it a lot. Mostly it just confuses people, though. Would've been easier to be named "Smith."

Chance, 8:16 PM

Ugh. That is very boring.

Xho, 8:18 PM

You start heading into the palace! The entrance is also suprisingly un-fancy, but there is a LOT of it--multiple gates and portcullises seemingly designed to withstand  battle if necessary, and then massive sets of doors, most of which are already open and guarded. There are a lot of banners around, with a white background and a sun emblazoned on it.

Pharolvir, 8:18 PM

Pharolvir has occasionally been giving Chance a dirty look since we left the cab, btw.

Chance, 8:19 PM

Chance is oblivious.

Xho, 8:20 PM

As you get further, the transition to "indoors" has been achieved, though it was so gradual it was kind of hard to tell. There's carpet now, in bright red edged with gold, and there are a lot of wall hangings depicting various historical events, plus everburning lanterns and skylights keeping the place bright and airy.

Xho, 8:23 PM

Eventually Majors turns into a hallway and leads you into what looks like a sitting room, with some comfortable-looking couches and chairs, a large picture window with a view out into the city, and various other furniture. It's much more cozy, with heavier, thick rugs, lots of tapestries and a full teapot and cups all laid out on a table.

Chance, 8:23 PM

If I ever had a house I would do it like this.

Xho, 8:23 PM

Majors: You can wait here; I'll come and get you when the king's ready for you.

Pharolvir, 8:24 PM

"Thank you Major Lieutenants."

Xho, 8:24 PM

Majors: That's Lieutenant Majors.

Xho, 8:24 PM

She leaves!

Xho, 8:24 PM

Roll Perception!

Chance, 8:24 PM

That seemed rude.

Pharolvir, 8:24 PM

Pharolvir looks actually sorry. "Shoot, right.  Sorry!"

Chance, 8:24 PM

(5!)

Ann, 8:24 PM

((15))

Pharolvir, 8:24 PM

"What was with that story you told in the cab?"

Chance, 8:24 PM

(It's a horrible roll!)

Chance, 8:25 PM

I made up an interesting story.

Pharolvir, 8:25 PM

((19))

Xho, 8:25 PM

Chance is too busy appraising how much the candlesticks would sell for. :)

Chance, 8:25 PM

(Pretty much.)

Pharolvir, 8:25 PM

"Yeah, and I didn't do anything in it."

Pharolvir, 8:25 PM

"Why couldn't I have done something cool?"

Ann, 8:25 PM

Then you make up the story next time

Chance, 8:25 PM

I don't know what you do yet! You just frown at me a lot and that's not useful in a mind flayer hydra encounter.

Pharolvir, 8:26 PM

"Um...hello, sir?"

Pharolvir, 8:26 PM

Pharolvir turns to a figure in the room.

Ann, 8:26 PM

Ann Nesia goes closer to the window where the man is

Xho, 8:30 PM

A man who had been standing very still looking out the window turns around to look at you. He's tall, with short dark hair shot through with silver--which matches his long black coat, heavily embroidered with silver with a narrow red edging. He looks a little familiar, with a patrician nose, dark eyes and elegant pointed ears.

Pharolvir, 8:30 PM

((Is that the king?))

Xho, 8:32 PM

No, he's quite a bit older than the red-haired boy you met.

Xho, 8:33 PM

It's always a little hard to tell with elves, but this person seems middle-aged.

Pharolvir, 8:34 PM

"...hello."

Xho, 8:35 PM

Elf: Excuse me? I'm waiting to see the king.

Pharolvir, 8:36 PM

"Oh, so are we."

Ann, 8:36 PM

We are as well

Pharolvir, 8:36 PM

"Sorry, I'm not sure what this is, exactly."

Xho, 8:37 PM

Elf: Ah, I see. A scheduling error.

Pharolvir, 8:37 PM

"...was it?"

Xho, 8:38 PM

Elf: Most likely. You're not on the Council, nor part of the Assembly as far as I know.

Xho, 8:41 PM

Elf: But where are my manners. I do apologize. I'm the chancellor, Cesare d'Amici; whom do I have the pleasure of meeting this fine afternoon?

Pharolvir, 8:41 PM

"Oh!  I'm Pharolvir Tarsyn Elisar the second of House Elisar."

Chance, 8:42 PM

Seventh Last Chance.

Ann, 8:42 PM

Ann nesia

Xho, 8:43 PM

He inclines his head politely.

Xho, 8:44 PM

Cesare: What brings you here at this rather difficult time?

Pharolvir, 8:45 PM

"We were invited."

Pharolvir, 8:45 PM

"By the king."

Ann, 8:45 PM

Presumptive king or whatever the official title would be

Chance, 8:45 PM

Preking.

Chance, 8:46 PM

Demiking.

Pharolvir, 8:46 PM

"Near King."

Xho, 8:47 PM

Cesare: Heir apparent. "Waltz" would probably be his preference.

Xho, 8:47 PM

Cesare: The young generally lack enthusiasm for formalities.

Pharolvir, 8:48 PM

((Can I insight check this dude? See how he feels about the new king?))

Xho, 8:49 PM

Yeah! Go for it. :)

Pharolvir, 8:49 PM

((Natural 1))

Pharolvir, 8:50 PM

((This guy's an enigma!))

Xho, 8:51 PM

He looks at Pharolvir. "I thought I knew all the Drow ambassadors; are you new to our fair city?"

Pharolvir, 8:51 PM

"I am a recent arrival, yes."

Pharolvir, 8:51 PM

"It seems like a nice city, though."

Ann, 8:52 PM

It does

Xho, 8:53 PM

Cesare: I am not sure any city can qualify as "nice," but there is certainly an abundance of activities and interests available for any who are interested. I hope your accomodations are adequate?

Pharolvir, 8:54 PM

"Yes, I am happy with my current place of residence."

Pharolvir, 8:55 PM

"Are you not a fan of cities?  You strike me as a very metropolitan individual."

Xho, 8:56 PM

Cesare: I love this particular city. But I still don't think it would qualify as "nice."

Chance, 8:56 PM

Oh wait! d'amici! We have heard the name, I believe.

Xho, 8:58 PM

Cesare smiles. "It is a large and prominent family. Have you met one of my siblings, perhaps? Or nieces and nephews."

Xho, 8:58 PM

Majors opens the door after a knock. "Chancellor? He's waiting for you."

Xho, 8:59 PM

Cesare nods. "Well, I will try not to take too much of his time. And I am sure we will meet again."

Ann, 9:00 PM

Nice to meet you

Pharolvir, 9:00 PM

Pharolvir offers a hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. D'amici."

Xho, 9:00 PM

Cesare nods to you and departs. Majors pokes her head in again and says "You're up next, I'm sure it won't be more than a few minutes. I'll be back."

Chance, 9:00 PM

Chance waves.

Xho, 9:00 PM

She smiles at Chance and leaves.

Pharolvir, 9:01 PM

"I don't think we should tell other D'Amicis we've met Ulisse.  I don't think he'd want us to."

Ann, 9:02 PM

I think we should ask ulisse about this guy though

Pharolvir, 9:02 PM

"Possibly.  He seems...off, right?"

Chance, 9:03 PM

Why?

Pharolvir, 9:06 PM

"He just seems...off."

Chance, 9:06 PM

He seemed fine to me.

Chance, 9:07 PM

I think perhaps you are biased.

Pharolvir, 9:07 PM

"Why would I be biased?"

Chance, 9:08 PM

Because of Ulisse.

Pharolvir, 9:08 PM

"The way he talked about the king.  Didn't it seem...condescending to you?"

Chance, 9:09 PM

He's a politician and the new king is as yet untested.

Ann, 9:09 PM

And it has only been a couple days since the king died

Ann, 9:10 PM

He could just be worried about a lot of things

Ann, 9:10 PM

Or he could be a jerk

Chance, 9:10 PM

I'm not saying I want to invite him to a garden party, but I don't think he was any shadier than any given rich person or politician.

Ann, 9:11 PM

I haven’t met enough of either to make that judgement

Pharolvir, 9:11 PM

"I am from a family of rich politicians."

Chance, 9:11 PM

Hmmmmm.

Xho, 9:11 PM

The rat eyes Pharolvir with suspicion!

Chance, 9:11 PM

Chance also eyes Pharo!

Ann, 9:11 PM

Ann Nesia scritches the rat

Xho, 9:12 PM

The rat is immediately distracted by this!

Pharolvir, 9:12 PM

"......I mean...I also ran away from said family."

Pharolvir, 9:12 PM

"...so...not sure that proves anything."

Chance, 9:12 PM

Hmmm. I suppose it does.

Pharolvir, 9:13 PM

"...does it?"

Chance, 9:13 PM

It does not hurt! you certainly don't seem rich, just used to rich.

Xho, 9:14 PM

Suddenly a small person opens the door, closes it again, runs into the room and hides behind a curtain. It's hard to tell much about them, because they're covered in dirt and leaving a trail of mud and leaves.

Pharolvir, 9:14 PM

".........ok, so that's a thing."

Xho, 9:15 PM

Curtain person: SHhhhh. I'm hiding.

Chance, 9:15 PM

Not very well with the talking.

Xho, 9:15 PM

Curtain person: Well you're not it!

Ann, 9:15 PM

Ann Nesia cleans up the mud and leaves

Ann, 9:15 PM

And you left a path anyone could follow

Chance, 9:15 PM

You left a trail.

Pharolvir, 9:15 PM

"Thanks Ann."

Chance, 9:16 PM

You must be careful when hiding.

Xho, 9:16 PM

Curtain person: How come?

Chance, 9:16 PM

So that you cannot be found.

Xho, 9:16 PM

A pair of greenish eyes peeks out from behind the curtain. It's definitely a kid.

Xho, 9:17 PM

Kid: Aldon never finds me.

Xho, 9:17 PM

Kid: Besides, I've got camelflog!

Pharolvir, 9:18 PM

"Who's Aldon?"

Ann, 9:19 PM

Is that what the mud and leaves are about?

Xho, 9:19 PM

Kid: My dumb brother. He's dumb.

Xho, 9:19 PM

Kid: Yeah! So that I can blend in.

Chance, 9:19 PM

It is science that brothers are dumb.

Ann, 9:19 PM

To all the leaves and mud in this room?

Chance, 9:19 PM

I have five.

Xho, 9:20 PM

Kid: Yeah! But only I get to say he's dumb, 'cause he's my brother. You can say your brothers are dumb though. If you want.

Pharolvir, 9:20 PM

"...I'm also a brother, Chance."

Xho, 9:20 PM

Kid: I like mud.

Chance, 9:20 PM

They are very dumb.

Ann, 9:20 PM

I might have a brother

Pharolvir, 9:20 PM

"I have four sisters."

Pharolvir, 9:20 PM

"...a brother would've been nice."

Xho, 9:21 PM

Kid: I have TWO brothers. And a sister.

Pharolvir, 9:21 PM

"Variety is the spice of life."

Xho, 9:21 PM

Kid: Sisters are better than brothers.

Pharolvir, 9:22 PM

".....................................sure."

Pharolvir, 9:22 PM

"Little tip, by the by.  Leaves and mud don't really make effective indoor camouflage."

Pharolvir, 9:22 PM

"You may want to try something is the curtains or a throw pillow."

Chance, 9:23 PM

If the brother is sufficiently dumb it might suffice.

Xho, 9:24 PM

Kid: You want me to rub curtains on me? … do they come off?

Pharolvir, 9:24 PM

"...you require training.  If we meet up again, I can help you better blend in and catch your brother unawares."

Xho, 9:25 PM

Kid: Wow, really? Okay! Who are you, anyway?

Chance, 9:25 PM

We are adventurers.

Pharolvir, 9:25 PM

"I'm Pharolvir Tarsyn Elisar the second.  Friend of King Waltz."

Ann, 9:25 PM

Lake protectors

Pharolvir, 9:26 PM

"All these things are technically true."

Xho, 9:26 PM

Kid: Wow, that's a LOT of names, you must be really SUPER important.

Pharolvir, 9:26 PM

"I am the MOST important.  But don't tell anyone.  It's a secret."

Xho, 9:26 PM

Kid: And he's not king, he's a dum-dummyhead.

Xho, 9:26 PM

Kid: … sometimes.

Pharolvir, 9:26 PM

"Is he your dumb brother who can never find you?"

Xho, 9:27 PM

Kid: NO. He's too big to play anymore. He does boring stuff like sitting and talking and stuff.

Xho, 9:27 PM

Kid: I'm not gonna do that stuff.

Pharolvir, 9:28 PM

"Hear hear."

Xho, 9:29 PM

Kid: I'm Aredhel.

Xho, 9:30 PM

Kid: I can't remember the boring bits.

Ann, 9:31 PM

I am Ann

Chance, 9:31 PM

I'm Chance. I also do not pay attention to the boring bits.

Xho, 9:31 PM

Kid: How did you get all fluffy like that?

Pharolvir, 9:32 PM

"Advanced camouflage."

Xho, 9:32 PM

Kid: Can I be fluffy like him?

Pharolvir, 9:33 PM

"...well...we'll see."

Chance, 9:33 PM

Chance grins!

Xho, 9:33 PM

Kid: I wanna be fluffy!

Xho, 9:34 PM

Majors knocks again and the kid withdraws behind the curtain. Which is very obviously moving.

Xho, 9:35 PM

She glances at the curtain and then rolls her eyes. "Right, the king said he's ready for you."

Xho, 9:36 PM

There's a loud whisper of "DUMMY" from behind the curtain, and Majors tries to keep a straight face.

Pharolvir, 9:36 PM

"You have strange ghosts in your castle."

Xho, 9:37 PM

Majors: Well, it is a very old castle. The ghosts like to haunt naughty children at night, I've heard.

Xho, 9:37 PM

Majors: Follow me.

Pharolvir, 9:37 PM

Pharolvir smiles

Xho, 9:37 PM

Curtain: Do not.

Xho, 9:41 PM

She leads you down the hallway and back toward the entrance and then down yet another hallway, which gets progressively fancier as you go, until you reach a mid-sized room with a throne in the middle of it and guards along the sides of the room. Waltz is seated awkwardly on the throne, wearing a very organic-looking crown that looks somewhere between antlers and tree branches. Meanwhile, Cesare and a young blonde woman wearing a fancy, but practical set of court garb (think leggings rather than a wide gown) are having a shouting match in front of him.

Xho, 9:42 PM

Cesare: The diplomatic option has not yet failed, and Tarkishi will go to war at the drop of a hat, your majesty, we cannot simply send their ambassadors back.

Xho, 9:44 PM

Woman: Then why not strike now? Strike first. Helkaerea and Talaghash are at odds, neither will come to the other's aid. They'll never be peaceful, they are born and bred to war.

Chance, 9:45 PM

Chance looks at Majors with a raised brow.

Xho, 9:45 PM

She sighs.

Xho, 9:46 PM

Cesare: Not everything needs to come down to a physical fight, Justiciar.

Xho, 9:46 PM

Waltz finally breaks in, standing up. "I'll... I'll think about it. I need to think about it. You can go, both of you. Please. Um. Thank you for your counsel."

Xho, 9:47 PM

The Justiciar turns and stalks out of the room without a word; Cesare looks like he's going to protest for a moment, but then bows deferentially to the king and departs.

Xho, 9:48 PM

Waltz notices you guys, finally, and waves, then sitting back down on the throne, drawing his feet up onto it.

Pharolvir, 9:49 PM

"Hello, your majesty."

Xho, 9:49 PM

Waltz: Hi! I'm glad you came. They've been like this all day.

Chance, 9:49 PM

How is it going?

Xho, 9:50 PM

Waltz: Shouty. Very shouty.

Xho, 9:51 PM

Waltz: Tathyska is massing troops at the border again, which they do all the time anyway, but Harrow, I mean, Justiciar Everhart, wants to go to war with them. Or the whole Confederacy. I'm not actually sure.

Pharolvir, 9:51 PM

"...is there a reason to?"

Xho, 9:52 PM

Waltz: Well, um. They kind of suck? I mean, they're always massing troops at the border, that's kind of their whole thing. Rattling their sabers I think they call it.

Xho, 9:53 PM

Waltz: The chancellor, that's the creepy one, he thinks it's just more of the same and we should ask Tathyska to send a diplomat. Somebody from one of their First Families.

Pharolvir, 9:54 PM

"See, I said he was off."

Xho, 9:55 PM

Waltz makes a face. "He's an assassin, they're all like that. Dad wanted to send me to their school but mom said no way, so."

Pharolvir, 9:56 PM

"I don't know.  We're friends with an assassin and he seems very nice."

Ann, 9:56 PM

Apart from a lot of people hating him

Xho, 9:56 PM

Waltz: Yeah, where is he, anyway? He could come too if he wanted.

Ann, 9:57 PM

He’s a little tied up

Pharolvir, 9:57 PM

((.........well, someone had to do it))

Xho, 9:57 PM

Waltz: Oh, I see.

Xho, 9:57 PM

((Hee!))

Xho, 9:57 PM

Majors: … your majesty, I don't think that would be appropriate.

Ann, 9:58 PM

((No regrets :D))

Xho, 9:58 PM

Waltz sighs. "Probably not. Well anyway, I can't kill somebody with my pinky."

Chance, 9:58 PM

Ahhh, my friend, you must make people think you can kill them with your pinky though!

Pharolvir, 9:59 PM

((That is the most Hondo thing said ever))

Xho, 9:59 PM

Waltz: … would literally anyone believe that? I mean... I'm kind of... me.

Xho, 10:00 PM

He gestures. Now that he's in broad daylight it is fairly obvious that he's a skinny, gangly kid, probably late teens.

Pharolvir, 10:00 PM

"...we could update the wardrobe a bit, but I'm not sure "assassin" is the look you want as king."

Chance, 10:01 PM

Are you good at magic?

Xho, 10:01 PM

Waltz: Well, no. I mean, our house colors are gold and white. I'd look like a skinny crow in all black like they wear.

Xho, 10:02 PM

Waltz: I'm okay at magic, I guess. I have tutors and things.

Pharolvir, 10:03 PM

"In my experience, being the one who writes checks to the super killers is enough."

Xho, 10:04 PM

Waltz: Ugh, don't remind me. My hand still hurts, I signed things all morning. And now they want me to go to war.

Xho, 10:04 PM

Waltz: I'm pretty sure I shouldn't start a war on my first day.

Chance, 10:04 PM

Ehhhhhhh…. probably not.

Pharolvir, 10:05 PM

"It doesn't sound like you're at war yet."

Xho, 10:05 PM

Waltz: Well no, but the justiciar wants to be.

Xho, 10:06 PM

Waltz: … dad would probably rise from the grave and haunt me forever if I did that.

Xho, 10:06 PM

Waltz: … besides, like I said, that's kind of Tathyska's whole thing. Massing troops at everybody's border.

Chance, 10:07 PM

Maybe they are shy and want to ask you out.

Ann, 10:07 PM

What exactly is Tathyska?

Chance, 10:07 PM

You would not believe what passes for flirting in some places.

Xho, 10:07 PM

Waltz: … Tathyska or the justiciar?

Chance, 10:07 PM

I meant Tathyska, but either or, really!

Xho, 10:09 PM

Waltz: Tathyska's part of the Tarkishi Confederacy, but they kind of fight everyone, even other parts of the Confederacy sometimes. Most of their land got Blighted, so they keep trying to take land from everybody else that has any that hasn't gone bad.

Xho, 10:09 PM

Waltz: … like, the whole country wants to ask us out?

Pharolvir, 10:10 PM

"He's being witty."

Chance, 10:10 PM

Usually.

Pharolvir, 10:10 PM

"They can't all be gems."

Xho, 10:11 PM

Waltz: … I'll probably have to marry somebody.

Chance, 10:11 PM

Well, that is what kings do, yes?

Pharolvir, 10:11 PM

"I am confused on the relevance to the conversation."

Xho, 10:12 PM

Waltz: I mean, if the whole country wanted to ask us out I'm pretty sure I couldn't marry the whole country.

Chance, 10:13 PM

It would be complicated but marriages take work, I"m told.

Pharolvir, 10:13 PM

"...you could likely marry the heads of the country.  There can't be more than...what?  Three of them?  That's a reasonable household."

Xho, 10:14 PM

Waltz: All of them? At the same time?

Chance, 10:14 PM

That's how they do things in Solitaire.

Xho, 10:14 PM

Waltz: … I... I'm not sure that'd be a good idea. Tarkishians are kind of... stabby.

Xho, 10:15 PM

Waltz: Getting stabbed that many times a day would be... well that's a lot of stabbing.

Chance, 10:15 PM

Perhaps you would build up an immunity.

Xho, 10:16 PM

Waltz: They don't even have kings, or anything. Just First Men or First Women.

Xho, 10:16 PM

Majors makes a coughing sound in response to Chance, suppressing a laugh.

Pharolvir, 10:17 PM

"If I may, your highness.  Chance was attempting sarcasm, I believe.  No one was actually anticipating you to try this as a solution."

Pharolvir, 10:17 PM

"The actual solution seems fairly obvious.  Just don't go to war."

Xho, 10:18 PM

Waltz: Right. Right. … maybe inviting ambassadors would be a good idea, though.

Chance, 10:18 PM

Probably!

Xho, 10:19 PM

Waltz: … the justiciar is gonna want something, though. Like her big pirate hunt or beefing up the aeronauts.

Pharolvir, 10:20 PM

"...can you give her a new hat?"

Xho, 10:20 PM

Waltz: … like, with a feather?

Pharolvir, 10:20 PM

"Yeah!  Something regal and important."

Xho, 10:21 PM

Waltz: … I don't think that would be enough. Maybe we could add another airship to the fleet.

Chance, 10:21 PM

Chance crosses his arms.

Xho, 10:22 PM

Waltz: … I mean, I know we're supposed to hunt pirates.

Pharolvir, 10:22 PM

"..................."

Xho, 10:23 PM

Waltz: We certainly don't condone their attacks on the Confederacy. At all.

Chance, 10:23 PM

Pirates are truly the worst.

Chance, 10:24 PM

Chance nods solemnly.

Pharolvir, 10:24 PM

"Yep...pirates...bad."

Xho, 10:24 PM

Waltz, hastily: Anyway! I just wanted to say thank you for helping me um, the other day, and do you want to come to an official party?

Chance, 10:25 PM

Chance looks around. "Oh thank the gods, this is not actually the party."

Chance, 10:25 PM

I would love to!

Pharolvir, 10:26 PM

"Yes.  Can we have some time to prepare, though.  I now need a second outfit for it."

Xho, 10:26 PM

Waltz: Oh, good! All right. Great! I'll make sure you get invitations. No, this was just an audience. Like, an official one.

Xho, 10:26 PM

Waltz: There's a masquerade coming up in honor of... something. Oh, Olidammara's big festival thing.

Chance, 10:27 PM

Good! I didn't want to judge. I have been invited to small parties in the past that ended up being time share presentations.... interventions... prayer meetings...

Chance, 10:27 PM

Not actual parties!

Pharolvir, 10:27 PM

"...costume party...sure.  Sounds...great."

Xho, 10:35 PM

Waltz: It should be fun. Some people get really ornate.

Pharolvir, 10:36 PM

"...where I'm from, the main goal of a costume party is to show as much skin as decency allows."

Xho, 10:37 PM

Waltz blushes bright red. "Uh, well. We don't do that here at all, so. It's just normal costumes."

Xho, 10:38 PM

Waltz: You're supposed to guess who people are. That would be hard if they weren't wearing very much, wouldn't it?

Pharolvir, 10:39 PM

"Ah...usually guys I knew at parties went for like...gladiator...or shirtless spider....stuff like that."

Xho, 10:39 PM

Waltz: … do spiders normally wear shirts?

Pharolvir, 10:41 PM

"No...but the shirtless part was the important bit."

Pharolvir, 10:41 PM

"I'll go for something more...historical, I think."

Xho, 10:42 PM

Waltz: I think normally people do wear shirts for this. Historical is good! Or animals, sometimes people go as animals.

Xho, 10:42 PM

Waltz: I was a lion last year, that was neat. It was super heavy though.

Pharolvir, 10:44 PM

"That could be fun!"

Xho, 10:45 PM

Waltz: I danced a lot.

Xho, 10:45 PM

Majors coughs.

Xho, 10:45 PM

Waltz: Oh shoot, I have to meet with the ambassador from Talaghash. Thank you so much for coming though. Do... do you guys think I could visit you again?

Chance, 10:46 PM

Sure.

Ann, 10:46 PM

Definitely

Chance, 10:46 PM

In secret?

Pharolvir, 10:46 PM

"Sure!  I may have promised to make Aredhel a fursuit."

Xho, 10:47 PM

Waltz: Probably not in secret, I guess I'm too important now. My sister? Why does she want a fursuit?

Ann, 10:47 PM

To hide better than mud and leaves  allows

Pharolvir, 10:47 PM

"She said, and I quote 'I want to be fluffy'."

Pharolvir, 10:48 PM

"That too.  I shall teach her ways to blend in better."

Xho, 10:49 PM

Waltz: … well, that would be useful for a princess.

Xho, 10:50 PM

Waltz: Okay. Well. Thank you very much! Have a good day.

Chance, 10:51 PM

Good luck with your meetings!

Xho, 10:51 PM

Waltz: You too!

Pharolvir, 10:51 PM

"Thank you."

Chance, 10:51 PM

I do not think we have meetings today.

Pharolvir, 10:52 PM

"Granted, most of our meetings seem to be surprises."

Ann, 10:52 PM

We should just leave the door open really

Xho, 10:53 PM

Waltz: It gets kind of drafty. I think there's an official lap blanket for kinging somewhere. Anyway. Goodbye!