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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3435611" data-attributes="member: 3448">The Archduke’s Council gathered in the usual receiving room before the Minister of the Mind arrived for his appointment, but Kit sat in a straight back chair far from the lounge that she often shared with Alistair.  They waited in chilly silence for the Minister to arrive.  At precisely the appointed time, Abigail announced Petrov Gilligaff, Minister of the Mind.“Your eminent grace,” said the Minister bowing deeply.  He wore tasteful formal robes, adorned with several glowing bits of crystal that they all recognized as psionically active, including a heavy jeweled torc.  The Minister was tall and thin, with a narrow face and bald head that produced a stereotypical large brained psion effect.  “How may I be of service?”“Thank you for coming, Minister.  The primary reason for this meeting is simply to give us a chance to get to know you and to find out how things have been going from your perspective.  I’m sorry that we haven’t been able to do so sooner, but…”“I understand completely, your grace.  We have been aware enough of the threats on your life.  As for how matters stand with my people… I would say things are going fairly well of late, better than they were.  We’ve rejected a number of probes in the last few months, doing what we can to protect the Archduchy.”“Probes?” asked Dame Brionna.  “Probes from whom?”“That’s the question, isn’t it?  They have been coming for months, although fewer more recently.  We have been shielding against them.”“But you haven’t been able to trace them?” pressed Kit, suddenly alert and interested.“Now, I’m a redactor, so I wouldn’t be able to trace them personally myself, but our farsensors have tried.  They say that the probes come from the southeast, but have not been able to localize it more than that.  You know that we have a circle, I should hope?  It is not much, only six members, but it does allow us to form a minor psionic tower, and all that entails.”Dame Brionna coughed.  “Could you be a little more specific?  I’m afraid that I’m not as aware of psionic matters as religious or arcane doings.”“Of course, Dame Brionna.  Forming a tower allows us to make some of the more useful psionic creations-- the making of skin and the construction of psionic golems, for example.  It also allows us contact with the worldwide network.  I would have said warding the palace, as well, but one of your guests has re-warded it at about eight times the power level we could manage.”“Yes, the Eldar did that as a favor.  I hope you’re not offended?”“Oh, not at all, your grace, not at all.  It is only sensible given his power.  Humans simply cannot expect to match the ability of the Eldar.  By the way, speaking of elves, you know that there are gray elves wandering the palace?”Dame Brionna nodded.  “Yes, we’re working with them to deal with some drowan assassins that have targeted his grace.”“Let me ask you about another matter, Minister.  Are you aware of the psionic effect on the Duke of Brightspan?”“Oh, yes.  You couldn’t be in the same room and not notice, your grace.”“Could you unravel it?”The Minister thought for a moment.  “Yes, I should be able to.  Would he cooperate?”Kit leaned forward.  “I think m’lord was wondering if you could undo it without the Duke being aware, while he is still here.”“Ah.  That would be more delicate… but yes, it would be within my power.  I could complete the seeding before he leaves, since he will assuredly stay for the parties.  It will then take time for the seed to grow, but it will break the compulsion.”“About how long would the process take to finish?”“The healing will take at least nine months, your grace.  In all likelihood, it would be more like ten or eleven until he is completely free of the effects.  The actual damage should be gone within seven, but some of the alterations will linger for a few months longer.”</blockquote>

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