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<blockquote data-quote="Lylandra" data-source="post: 7303255" data-attributes="member: 6816692"><p><strong>The Gala of the Ancients</strong></p><p></p><p>Session 17</p><p></p><p>It turns our that our former boss, Lady Saxby, is now imprisoned in one of our cells in the basement. We finally invite Teams 1 and 2 to join our discussion about why Saxby would have betrayed everything she once held dear. We can only guess that she might have gotten used to a rather expensive lifestyle over the years and might have entangled herself in her intricate politics and schemes. Or maybe someone of her contacts simply blackmailed her?</p><p></p><p>To offer Team 1 some sort of redemption as they are clearly the guys who have it worst right now, we offer them to take the case Saxby and clear up the mess she left behind. After all, they are already involved in case MacBannin and have some good background knowledge. Plus Saxby might be more susceptible to her former favorites. However, we agree to have a close eye on Team 1 and even if we want to believe that they had no knowledge of Saxby's misdeeds, we still don't want to take chances. We say that we wish Team 1 could mend the rifts that have opened up between them (<span style="color: #008000">after all, Carlao defended Saxby till the very end and had to be overwhelmed by Dima and Serena while the dwarf was the first one of them to doubt Saxby's words</span>).</p><p></p><p>We also offer our (or rather Mr. Carlyle's) assistance in questioning Saxby as she might just turn out to be a pretty good bluffer. </p><p></p><p>Then Auryn asks Delft what to do regarding the presence of Xambria Meredith. She thinks that the archaeologist might see everything she does and doesn't know whether their connection will strengthen over time and whether or not she might get insight into her thoughts and memories. A thought that frightens Auryn the moment she talks about it. </p><p></p><p>After some back and forth Delft decides to give Dr. Meredith the same rookie status as Flying Spark. The faerie dragon adds that he kind of likes this “constable job thing” and that Auryn has quite a nice garden he could inhabit for an indefinite time period. So he'd really like to continue his training with the RHC. </p><p><span style="color: #008000">(Carlyle of course wanted him to be really, really sure about that. After all, being an RHC agent isn't simply an ordinary job, it is a calling. Plus Flint might not be the best place for a nature loving creature to live in. Flying Spark's response? “Oh my, because a Swamp is much more beautiful than your city, right?”)</span> </p><p></p><p>Auryn then asks Xambria whether she'd like to do the rookie training with Flying Spark first. Plus she'd be able to experience true flight! Our small friend doesn't object, after all this might help him understand human culture and feelings a lot better. Margit realizes something's amiss and adds that she could be Dr. Meredith's host from time to time as well. So Mr. Carlyle helps to transfer the spirit from Auryn to Flying Spark. After the transfer is complete, Carlyle, who had been unnaturally nervous in Auryn's presence seems to relax a bit. </p><p></p><p>(<span style="color: #008000">Now handling Xambria was more difficult that we had first thought. Auryn has her secrets and many of them are dangerous. She's a vekeshi for a start. Now she wouldn't be able to attend to any meetings with Xambria as she'd keep this knowledge once she'd get her new body. And the good Dr. Meredith doesn't really seem like someone who'd be into joining a secret society. She also wouldn't be able to talk about this “little problem” to any of her contacts without also telling Xambria. </span></p><p><span style="color: #008000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #008000">On top of that, having Xambria take over, even briefly, pushed her to the edge. She lost control over her body once when she was transferred to Fordren and that experience traumatized her. She's all about being the one who's in control, so the prospect of someone – maybe even forcibly – taking over scares the hell out of her. </span></p><p><span style="color: #008000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #008000">And then there's Carlyle who's already barely comfortable with Auryn's “close” presence. Now the least thing he would want is someone else who's haunting his mind and might stumble across his thoughts and secrets. Which is why he instantly distanced himself from his colleague the moment Xambria entered Auryn. </span></p><p><span style="color: #008000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #008000">So both wish to help Dr. Meredith, but both have their fair reasons to not host her personally. We really hope to find her a new body soon as she might become a valuable team member in time.</span>) </p><p></p><p>As things finally calm down a bit, Auryn suggests that Team 3 might attend to the Gala of the Ancients. After all that happened ending the messed up day on a high note could help us get over the fact that we barely escaped certain death a few hours ago. Especially Flying Spark/Meredith take an interest in the new Ancient exhibition and the rest of us is in serious need of some relaxation as well. Plus the Gala might just turn out to be an intriguing societal event. So we head back home to take a bath and change clothes and agree to meet up at the museum. </p><p></p><p>It turns out that many of the “authentic” exhibits are not that authentic at all. We already know that our three artifacts are fake, but both Auryn and Xambria are disappointed that the museum got so many facts just wrong. They lecture some visitors that, for example, the Ancients were mostly Orcs and not human cavemen and that the dragon skeleton is clearly a replica. No one else seems to mind though.</p><p></p><p>We also meet a group of students from Pardwright which includes the mathematician Buck Chilton, “philosopher” Hennet and the botanist Nymeia. The latter uses this opportunity to approach Mr. Carlyle again and shyly invite him to her favorite tea house to share a cup of tea. Carlyle excuses himself and claims that he's really busy right now, but might have time in a few weeks. Or so. </p><p></p><p>Once Nymeia and her group leave, Auryn suggests that Carlyle might be better off to simply have a cup with her friend or simply say “no” for she won't cease to ask him if he keeps on delaying the inevitable. He answers that it should be pretty clear by now that he wasn't really interested in some affair with this young woman and directly saying no would be utterly rude. Which gives Auryn a good laugh as she explains that Nymeia actually means every word she says: Drinking tea means drinking tea and not much else for a start. Plus she's probably taking his “maybe later” as an invitation to ask him again and again. After all, she's a scientist and not speaking societal code language. To which Carlyle responds “Okay, so maybe later”.</p><p></p><p>Next, we meet Michael Carlyle and his wife and it turns out that Carlyle the younger is pretty tired and only doing Julia a favor. He says that managing Goodson's inheritance affair is really straining and he's hardly getting some rest. He adds that Lord Vantrys got himself some fine lawyers and that Fordren's own lawyers and them are constantly arguing over details which are too small to grasp even for a professional like him. We do some smalltalk with him which seems to be just the kind of diversion he needed. </p><p></p><p>After our chat with the Carlyles, Buck approaches us again. He knows from Hennet and Nymeia that the two of us are RHC agents, so Buck seizes the opportunity to complain about the confiscation of his team's mechanical steam powered exo-skeleton. He says that all exhibits were examined after the KATE incident and that theirs was deemed too dangerous for the public. (<span style="color: #008000">“That's ludicrous! These Fordren guys could get away with fully functional robotics and our prototype was 'too dangerous'” he said</span>). </p><p>Auryn is a bit outraged first, but Buck then adds that he and his friends at least got a job prospect at the Flint Military and the RHC showed its interest as well. This changes her opinion and she and Carlyle give Buck the advice to make good use of this opportunity. </p><p>(<span style="color: #008000">Now it would be pretty amazing if Buck&co could become the “Qs” of the RHC in time...</span>)</p><p></p><p>After a bit of champagne and canapés, Carlyle and Auryn take a stroll to the “druid grove” in the museum's garden. They talk a bit about the fate of Team 1 and both agree that they'd probably never disagree that much, at least not when it comes to RHC affairs. Still, Auryn confesses that Carlyle had her confused more than time as he seems to care about her on one occasion only to distance himself from his colleagues on another one. He replies that he's sorry to say that, but it is her who's confusing him with her constant teasing and joking about his “beauty”.</p><p> </p><p>Auryn laughs quite a while at this comment. She then explains that she wasn't joking at all. She's only grown quite fond of her colleague and would even deem him a friend. She then admits that on top of that he is a pretty attractive man, so all her compliments were actually made with nothing but blunt honesty. Auryn adds that maybe Risuri women would play shy around men, but she's an Eladrin and used to speak her mind, at least when she's in the company of people she trusts. </p><p></p><p>She then says that she hopes Mr. Carlyle feels at least a bit the same about her company so he wouldn't always feel the need to “send her back to Elfaivar” whenever they disagree about cultural affairs and traditions. Carlyle negates this notion and says that he wouldn't want to send her back. He just switches to a more “provocative vocabulary” whenever he's under the impression that Auryn tries to paint Elfaivaran culture as superior and Risuri traditions as archaic. Auryn counters that it isn't as simple as that. Every culture and tradition has its pros and cons, including Risur and Elfaivar. Her own culture had to change and adapt after the Great Malice, so analyzing other cultures and see what's good and what's bad are essential for someone who will most likely define a culture of her own someday as she'd still wish to found her own enclave. (<span style="color: #008000">For example, even the long lived veterans will die of old age some day so it wouldn't make sense to place more value in her daughters than her sons or to hold them to different standards</span>) </p><p>She then says that even Risuri culture has changed over the years and the ongoing industrialization will surely leave its mark on the country. Which is why they might very well learn a thing or two from the survivors of Elfaivar. Seems like Carlyle can agree to that statement.</p><p></p><p>When we arrive at the RHC the next morning, a still tired Chief Inspector Stover Delft calls us to his office to assign us to our next mission. He wants us to gather more information about this Obscurati group, so he asks us to take the same train Beregeron mentioned in his letter to Finona and try to identify their members and plans. Ideally we'd make up some cover identities for ourselves as Leone, who's more than obviously part of the conspiracy, knows who we are. He also advises us to make several backup plans should something go amiss. So it's time for some spy business!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lylandra, post: 7303255, member: 6816692"] [b]The Gala of the Ancients[/b] Session 17 It turns our that our former boss, Lady Saxby, is now imprisoned in one of our cells in the basement. We finally invite Teams 1 and 2 to join our discussion about why Saxby would have betrayed everything she once held dear. We can only guess that she might have gotten used to a rather expensive lifestyle over the years and might have entangled herself in her intricate politics and schemes. Or maybe someone of her contacts simply blackmailed her? To offer Team 1 some sort of redemption as they are clearly the guys who have it worst right now, we offer them to take the case Saxby and clear up the mess she left behind. After all, they are already involved in case MacBannin and have some good background knowledge. Plus Saxby might be more susceptible to her former favorites. However, we agree to have a close eye on Team 1 and even if we want to believe that they had no knowledge of Saxby's misdeeds, we still don't want to take chances. We say that we wish Team 1 could mend the rifts that have opened up between them ([COLOR="#008000"]after all, Carlao defended Saxby till the very end and had to be overwhelmed by Dima and Serena while the dwarf was the first one of them to doubt Saxby's words[/COLOR]). We also offer our (or rather Mr. Carlyle's) assistance in questioning Saxby as she might just turn out to be a pretty good bluffer. Then Auryn asks Delft what to do regarding the presence of Xambria Meredith. She thinks that the archaeologist might see everything she does and doesn't know whether their connection will strengthen over time and whether or not she might get insight into her thoughts and memories. A thought that frightens Auryn the moment she talks about it. After some back and forth Delft decides to give Dr. Meredith the same rookie status as Flying Spark. The faerie dragon adds that he kind of likes this “constable job thing” and that Auryn has quite a nice garden he could inhabit for an indefinite time period. So he'd really like to continue his training with the RHC. [COLOR="#008000"](Carlyle of course wanted him to be really, really sure about that. After all, being an RHC agent isn't simply an ordinary job, it is a calling. Plus Flint might not be the best place for a nature loving creature to live in. Flying Spark's response? “Oh my, because a Swamp is much more beautiful than your city, right?”)[/COLOR] Auryn then asks Xambria whether she'd like to do the rookie training with Flying Spark first. Plus she'd be able to experience true flight! Our small friend doesn't object, after all this might help him understand human culture and feelings a lot better. Margit realizes something's amiss and adds that she could be Dr. Meredith's host from time to time as well. So Mr. Carlyle helps to transfer the spirit from Auryn to Flying Spark. After the transfer is complete, Carlyle, who had been unnaturally nervous in Auryn's presence seems to relax a bit. ([COLOR="#008000"]Now handling Xambria was more difficult that we had first thought. Auryn has her secrets and many of them are dangerous. She's a vekeshi for a start. Now she wouldn't be able to attend to any meetings with Xambria as she'd keep this knowledge once she'd get her new body. And the good Dr. Meredith doesn't really seem like someone who'd be into joining a secret society. She also wouldn't be able to talk about this “little problem” to any of her contacts without also telling Xambria. On top of that, having Xambria take over, even briefly, pushed her to the edge. She lost control over her body once when she was transferred to Fordren and that experience traumatized her. She's all about being the one who's in control, so the prospect of someone – maybe even forcibly – taking over scares the hell out of her. And then there's Carlyle who's already barely comfortable with Auryn's “close” presence. Now the least thing he would want is someone else who's haunting his mind and might stumble across his thoughts and secrets. Which is why he instantly distanced himself from his colleague the moment Xambria entered Auryn. So both wish to help Dr. Meredith, but both have their fair reasons to not host her personally. We really hope to find her a new body soon as she might become a valuable team member in time.[/COLOR]) As things finally calm down a bit, Auryn suggests that Team 3 might attend to the Gala of the Ancients. After all that happened ending the messed up day on a high note could help us get over the fact that we barely escaped certain death a few hours ago. Especially Flying Spark/Meredith take an interest in the new Ancient exhibition and the rest of us is in serious need of some relaxation as well. Plus the Gala might just turn out to be an intriguing societal event. So we head back home to take a bath and change clothes and agree to meet up at the museum. It turns out that many of the “authentic” exhibits are not that authentic at all. We already know that our three artifacts are fake, but both Auryn and Xambria are disappointed that the museum got so many facts just wrong. They lecture some visitors that, for example, the Ancients were mostly Orcs and not human cavemen and that the dragon skeleton is clearly a replica. No one else seems to mind though. We also meet a group of students from Pardwright which includes the mathematician Buck Chilton, “philosopher” Hennet and the botanist Nymeia. The latter uses this opportunity to approach Mr. Carlyle again and shyly invite him to her favorite tea house to share a cup of tea. Carlyle excuses himself and claims that he's really busy right now, but might have time in a few weeks. Or so. Once Nymeia and her group leave, Auryn suggests that Carlyle might be better off to simply have a cup with her friend or simply say “no” for she won't cease to ask him if he keeps on delaying the inevitable. He answers that it should be pretty clear by now that he wasn't really interested in some affair with this young woman and directly saying no would be utterly rude. Which gives Auryn a good laugh as she explains that Nymeia actually means every word she says: Drinking tea means drinking tea and not much else for a start. Plus she's probably taking his “maybe later” as an invitation to ask him again and again. After all, she's a scientist and not speaking societal code language. To which Carlyle responds “Okay, so maybe later”. Next, we meet Michael Carlyle and his wife and it turns out that Carlyle the younger is pretty tired and only doing Julia a favor. He says that managing Goodson's inheritance affair is really straining and he's hardly getting some rest. He adds that Lord Vantrys got himself some fine lawyers and that Fordren's own lawyers and them are constantly arguing over details which are too small to grasp even for a professional like him. We do some smalltalk with him which seems to be just the kind of diversion he needed. After our chat with the Carlyles, Buck approaches us again. He knows from Hennet and Nymeia that the two of us are RHC agents, so Buck seizes the opportunity to complain about the confiscation of his team's mechanical steam powered exo-skeleton. He says that all exhibits were examined after the KATE incident and that theirs was deemed too dangerous for the public. ([COLOR="#008000"]“That's ludicrous! These Fordren guys could get away with fully functional robotics and our prototype was 'too dangerous'” he said[/COLOR]). Auryn is a bit outraged first, but Buck then adds that he and his friends at least got a job prospect at the Flint Military and the RHC showed its interest as well. This changes her opinion and she and Carlyle give Buck the advice to make good use of this opportunity. ([COLOR="#008000"]Now it would be pretty amazing if Buck&co could become the “Qs” of the RHC in time...[/COLOR]) After a bit of champagne and canapés, Carlyle and Auryn take a stroll to the “druid grove” in the museum's garden. They talk a bit about the fate of Team 1 and both agree that they'd probably never disagree that much, at least not when it comes to RHC affairs. Still, Auryn confesses that Carlyle had her confused more than time as he seems to care about her on one occasion only to distance himself from his colleagues on another one. He replies that he's sorry to say that, but it is her who's confusing him with her constant teasing and joking about his “beauty”. Auryn laughs quite a while at this comment. She then explains that she wasn't joking at all. She's only grown quite fond of her colleague and would even deem him a friend. She then admits that on top of that he is a pretty attractive man, so all her compliments were actually made with nothing but blunt honesty. Auryn adds that maybe Risuri women would play shy around men, but she's an Eladrin and used to speak her mind, at least when she's in the company of people she trusts. She then says that she hopes Mr. Carlyle feels at least a bit the same about her company so he wouldn't always feel the need to “send her back to Elfaivar” whenever they disagree about cultural affairs and traditions. Carlyle negates this notion and says that he wouldn't want to send her back. He just switches to a more “provocative vocabulary” whenever he's under the impression that Auryn tries to paint Elfaivaran culture as superior and Risuri traditions as archaic. Auryn counters that it isn't as simple as that. Every culture and tradition has its pros and cons, including Risur and Elfaivar. Her own culture had to change and adapt after the Great Malice, so analyzing other cultures and see what's good and what's bad are essential for someone who will most likely define a culture of her own someday as she'd still wish to found her own enclave. ([COLOR="#008000"]For example, even the long lived veterans will die of old age some day so it wouldn't make sense to place more value in her daughters than her sons or to hold them to different standards[/COLOR]) She then says that even Risuri culture has changed over the years and the ongoing industrialization will surely leave its mark on the country. Which is why they might very well learn a thing or two from the survivors of Elfaivar. Seems like Carlyle can agree to that statement. When we arrive at the RHC the next morning, a still tired Chief Inspector Stover Delft calls us to his office to assign us to our next mission. He wants us to gather more information about this Obscurati group, so he asks us to take the same train Beregeron mentioned in his letter to Finona and try to identify their members and plans. Ideally we'd make up some cover identities for ourselves as Leone, who's more than obviously part of the conspiracy, knows who we are. He also advises us to make several backup plans should something go amiss. So it's time for some spy business! [/QUOTE]
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