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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Systole" data-source="post: 5828609" data-attributes="member: 93930">Lord Gabbiano looks around furtively. “Good evening, my lady and sir. I apologize for the cloak-and-dagger routine, but…” He rubs the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry. You’re coming into the middle of a great deal of history, and I’m not sure how much time we – or at least I – have to discuss it. I wished to meet you alone because I hope to make you an offer, and I have no doubt you’ll want an explanation and some time to consider it. Unfortunately, Dame Forenicci likes to … accelerate events, shall we say. If she saw us talking privately, she’d be hurrying to whisper in the wrong ears at this very moment. “Let me start with the explanation before I get to the offer. House Boraga and House Gabbiano have a history, and it is not a friendly or pleasant one. Some time ago, House Gabbiano fell on hard times, largely due to the … appetites of my late brother. We’ve recently begun to recover. Naturally, House Boraga would rather we didn’t. “Dame Forenicci knows that I need to re-establish contact with the merchants of Venza, so she invited me to tonight’s party. Of course, her help is always a two-edged sword: she’s invited two of the younger Boragas as well. You’ve met Cicci; Abbandando is lurking around here somewhere as well. Both of them are looking to be named the next heir, and a good way to impress the Dame Boraga would be to bring misfortune on House Gabbiano, either by embarrassment or by injury. “Which brings us to Dame Forenicci’s grand plan for a memorable party. The nobles have come because they know there will be entertainment. The merchants have come because the nobles will be here. I’ve come because because the merchants will be here. The Boragas have come to embarrass me, at the very least. Dame Forenicci has contracted with the Lower Guild for the evening’s security, because the Whitecloaks tend to put a stop to duels, and she’s even managed to get Enza Furros here in the bargain. And the entertainment? That will be some sort of very public and memorable altercation between Houses Gabbiano and Boraga. “It’s a trap, you understand, but for the good of my house, I had no choice but to walk into it.” Ben nods. “I am in a similar position, sir. But go on.” “Truly? Then I wonder which of us she intended to be the main event. But this brings me to my offer: I saw your exchange with Cicci earlier, and it seems there was little love lost between you. Left to her own devices, she’s likely to find some pretext to challenge me to a duel.” He looks down at his waistline. While not as overweight as Signor Franco, Lord Gabbiano is middle-aged and more than a little out of shape. “I fear it will end badly for me. If there were any way to turn the tables, either on Cicci or on Abbandando, who I assure you is no better than his sister … I would be in your debt.”   <img src="http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii513/pnthffr/Ben_150.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /> <img src="http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii513/pnthffr/umberto_150.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /> .. Benevolent Seeker .. Umberto Gabbiano .. .</blockquote>

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