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Post by GravityEmblem on Mar 7, 2021 8:20:03 GMT -8
The next morning, a very loud bell rings through the guest wing, jolting the adventurers awake. Their doors all simultaneously open, allowing them to see Miss Serpentine waiting in the hall. She carries a silver bell and a bottle of wine.
"If my trite cliché can be forgiven, rise and shine," she says. She wears a slightly different green robe than yesterday--this one bears images of dragons embroidered in silver. Her obsidian hair is uncombed, yet she still wears her monocle. "I must discuss our plan of action before breakfast."
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Post by Daos on Mar 7, 2021 13:28:57 GMT -8
Stifling a yawn, Daos says, "Very well, we're all ears." He stretches slightly and tries to crack his neck, but to no avail.
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Post by Zalphier on Mar 7, 2021 18:28:11 GMT -8
Atrel awakens with a yelp and reflexively reaches for his weapon when the door opens unexpectedly, his fingers wrapping around the polearm's shaft before his eyes focus enough to see their host and not a member of some ambush. Rubbing his eyes and clambering out of bed while leaving the weapon where it was, Atrel let out a wide yawn. "Forgiven sure, but what's this about a plan of action? It's just breakfast isn't it?" He asked while stepping a bit out of sight to get changed into something other than bedclothes.
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Post by Incendax on Mar 8, 2021 4:33:41 GMT -8
Merry rises rather briskly, quickly dusting himself off and checking his clothes to see if they smell. Then he's out the door and standing at attention. "Ready and willing to discuss the plan, ma'am." It seems he's a morning person, for whatever that's worth. And perhaps a little too eager to please.
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Post by stanleyindraven on Mar 8, 2021 5:39:15 GMT -8
Aaron flops out of bed and slowly rises. "Yes madame," he quickly pulls on his boots and tucks in his shirt.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Mar 8, 2021 6:07:21 GMT -8
Miss Serpentine takes a sip of wine and turns to Atrel, once he's dressed.
"Yes, breakfast is what we will be doing next, but you need to be made aware of our plans following it. You see, I had persuaded the king to host a ball for all the Counts of Foccu--everyone with a political motivation to have me dead, all in the same room. He wished to cancel after yesterdays attack, of course, but I convinced him to go along with it, so as to investigate this assassination plot. Especially because the Countess of Cryfold has been exposed as a Night's Breath Negotiator by our friend, Jeff." She takes a long swig of wine. "He also admitted to receiving assistance from inside the castle, from an undercover Agent, most likely. That is where our investigation begins. I am, of course, more suspicious of new servants, but no one is beneath suspicion. The Night's Breath play the long game."
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Post by Daos on Mar 8, 2021 15:43:12 GMT -8
"Sorry, forgive my ignorance, but who or what are the Night's Breath and the Countess of Cryfold?" Daos asks.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Mar 9, 2021 6:46:04 GMT -8
"Sorry, forgive my ignorance, but who or what are the Night's Breath and the Countess of Cryfold?" Daos asks. "To start with the easier question, the Countess of Cryfold is the Countess of the County of Cryfold, in Central Foccu. Her lands encompasses large amounts of fertile farmland, and is as such a powerful member of the Foccu nobility. She is a quiet and well-mannered woman, not the sort you would expect to be working for ruthless assassins." She takes a large swig of wine. "As for the Night's Breath, they are a brutal organization that has existed for centuries. They are spies and killers for hire, trained to be absolutely loyal, a loyalty which is fortified by memory erasure and Geas spells. I know not what their ultimate goal is, but it can be nothing but sinister."
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Post by Zalphier on Mar 9, 2021 14:52:05 GMT -8
Atrel grimaced at the explanation of the plan, and carried that nervous expression throughout the elaboration of who the Night's breath and Countess. "A ball..." Atrel repeats in uncertainty. "And uhm, what will be our part at this ball?"
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Post by GravityEmblem on Mar 9, 2021 14:59:47 GMT -8
Atrel grimaced at the explanation of the plan, and carried that nervous expression throughout the elaboration of who the Night's breath and Countess. "A ball..." Atrel repeats in uncertainty. "And uhm, what will be our part at this ball?" "You are unknown to the nobility of Foccu. You have no personal stake in these people, and they have none in you. Obscure your connection to me, subtly probe the nobles. See who has a motive, or better yet, who is the culprit."
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Post by Daos on Mar 9, 2021 15:00:24 GMT -8
"Interesting, but if this Countess of Cryfold is in Foccu, then wouldn't taking down the barrier be putting herself in harm's way? Foccu would be the first target of the fiends," Daos speculates. "Therefore, it doesn't make sense for her to have any part of this. Either we're missing some vital piece of information, or she's very foolish."
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Post by Zalphier on Mar 9, 2021 15:48:52 GMT -8
"Can try, but I've not been ta many balls or even dealt with many nobles outside the order," Atrel countered with his still uneasy expression, though it did seem to lessen some when the role was explained. "Can't say I'm too grand at being subtle either as just one of the soldiering members," the tall and broadly built dragonborn added with a gesture to himself. "Might need to watch some of you to see how greetings and the like should be handled," he went on looking at his fellow comrades and trying to see if they had the same reservations about this that he did. "Should I just say I'm from Scorcast since I'm most familiar with their ways? Or would that put me at odds with too many given their standard standing?"
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Post by GravityEmblem on Mar 9, 2021 16:12:21 GMT -8
"Interesting, but if this Countess of Cryfold is in Foccu, then wouldn't taking down the barrier be putting herself in harm's way? Foccu would be the first target of the fiends," Daos speculates. "Therefore, it doesn't make sense for her to have any part of this. Either we're missing some vital piece of information, or she's very foolish." Miss Serpentine scoffs. "The Night's Breath demands absolute loyalty--and can provide protection, or so they say. She is in their service, as a Negotiator, second only to the Mistress. I daresay she was consulted when the decision to take this job came. And she put her blind faith in the Breath." To Atrel, she says "I suppose so. I leave it to each of you to determine the story that will work best."
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Post by Daos on Mar 9, 2021 20:31:57 GMT -8
Daos wonders at any organization that could provide protection from a rampaging horde of fiends, but despite how powerful they might be, he finds it difficult to believe. For now, though, he drops it. "Will the Countess of Cryford also be attending then?" he asks.
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Post by Incendax on Mar 10, 2021 0:58:54 GMT -8
Merry folds one arm over the other and takes a thinking pose. Head down, face twisted up in consternation or contemplation over the rather serious issues being laid out before them. Finally he pops into a realization, and looks around at everyone excitedly.
"Quiet and well-mannered? She might have gotten to her position legitimately, but she could have easily been put there by backers in this Breath organization. The ones who are loud and push for an agenda are usually found out pretty quickly, or an intentional distraction. She might be... a quiet facilitator? To make things easier for the Breath? Like sneaking people in and out of the city, or supplying fake papers. Does the Countess oversee any guilds or industries that would "coincidentally" give her access to those kinds of services?"
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