Fallen Empire

[kurff]

"Lets start on the defense. seems as good a place as any." he nods, Still curious about the power source he considered a Techno-Magical mix or something more primitive. the lights could easily be some sort chemical reaction.

[yendor]

Chuckles grabbing some soap, towel and bucket, picks a semi-private alcove, more for a moment to gather his thoughts than modesty. "I just may have to make that a thing, correcting your orientation with a sharp rap on the head."

[albatross]

Sister Caterina puts Telsa through his paces. He can tell that she has decades of experience as a warrior despite her youthful looks. Her knife work is the cunning skill of a genius honed in many battles and a generation of training. She trains all the nuns, and she is methodical and patient as she works with Tesla on the perfect defense.

She glances at the toned arms of the women watching them and wonders if any of them will offer to spar. Not today, but a possibility.

"Good work," She says to Tesla. "Let us retire for now. We can join the others in the bath if they have not yet finished. We can resume early tomorrow if you wish."

(Before I forget, Tesla will at some point notice that some of the lamps are high on the wall. They are lit by pyrokinesis, not by using long poles. He'll notice at some point on the way back. But the fuels appear natural.)

[albatross]

Talon grunts, "Sounds about right Malone. I wonder if we could put a couple of people in full plate and hid a filter behind a helmet."

"Oh, I'll wear full plate!" Beatrix volunteers, calling out from her alcove.

"Ah, probably not Beatrix. Not airtight. Then we'd have a different scent problem." Fakir says. Unfortunately, Beatrix is vulnerable to psychic attacks, so an airtight suit isn't much help.

"Can I come out yet?" She calls.

"Not yet," Fakir grumbles. "We are still thinking."

[kurff]

Aug 17, 2012 17:26:58 GMT -5 albatross said:

Sister Caterina puts Telsa through his paces. He can tell that she has decades of experience as a warrior despite her youthful looks. Her knife work is the cunning skill of a genius honed in many battles and a generation of training. She trains all the nuns, and she is methodical and patient as she works with Tesla on the perfect defense.

She glances at the toned arms of the women watching them and wonders if any of them will offer to spar. Not today, but a possibility.

"Good work," She says to Tesla. "Let us retire for now. We can join the others in the bath if they have not yet finished. We can resume early tomorrow if you wish."

(Before I forget, Tesla will at some point notice that some of the lamps are high on the wall. They are lit by pyrokinesis, not by using long poles. He'll notice at some point on the way back. But the fuels appear natural.)

"Thanks, this hand to hand combat is not best area. I'm an engineer not a soldier. I suppose one does what one must..necessity being the golden rule and all." he paused.

"Agreed, Though I may take a private bath when I get there." he smiles, "I'm not too sure the locals have good water filters. If its not too rude for an old man like me to comment. your much more skilled and experienced than your visible age shows."

He put the stone knives away and looked to where Caterina looked, "I'm guessing she won't challenge till she gets a chance to study your technique."

As he walked with her, he spoke loud enough for only her to speak, "there lighting the lamps via Pyrokinesis. that means Psychics as well as magic."

[albatross]

Caterina nods, "Not much magic here. Some circles and wards, but most are old and long since out of use. I'm guessing they import it." She sighs and runs a hand through her short hair, "Psychics are tough in a knife fight. Close range, eye contact, plenty of opportunity for defenses and offensive capabilities.... So tell me more about your work as an engineer. I dauble in engineering myself: siege engineering, demolitions, weapons and robot engineering... Talon has specialists who know more but I handle things in the field."

[kurff]

"I'm a Psi-tech, I have an understanding of most technology thanks to my talents. I trained in Robotics and computers primarily. This 'primitive' type is a little out my normal comfort zone. but it does have similarity to some of the more mechanical aspects of robotics body construction." he answered. then thought about the Psychic aspect. He knew in a pinch he could be a bit tough. Especially when using Electricity or in the right rooms. "Hmm winder what kind old magical relics they have sitting around?" the question was more or less rhetorical.

[thorley]

Bellephoebe suggests "Well, we're thinking in terms of defense. If your sure this is the party that winds up destroying this entire world, then perhaps instead of figuring out how to deal with their apparent tricks, we should just take them out, which doesn't nessicarly have to be lethal. If we take off Beatrix's leash so to speak she might be able to prevent them from concentrating on psionics. I assume their drugs aren't constant and are something they have to set up intentionally or they would be causing more problems. I believe Tesla got my electronics working, so perhaps we just invite them, or at least their cantidate for a private meeting with Talon. Beatrix is there for an advisor to play their own game, we drop one of my blinders on them, tie them up while their stunned, and dump them in another dimension or something until we're done. If anyone asks where they went, we say Talon rejected them and they quietly withdrew due to great respect for him and desperate desire for his approval".

"I admit this brand of subtlety is new to me though, despite my lineage my home dimension is hardly civilized. I'm sure you'll likely come up with a better idea. I simply feel that they assaulted us, I have no objection with doing the same. I'd prefer not to kill them if it can be avoided though, they might not be aware of the dominos they are setting up and then knocking down".

"As far as magic relics go, I've had similar thoughts. I considered looking, but given what's at stake I unfortunatly have to put my own interests on hold... at least for the moment."

As an afterthought she also says "With all these engineers, are any of us Chemists? Unfortunatly I didn't learn much about Chemistry, but it occurs to me their drugs are probably made in this dimension. If someone here feels far more confident in their abillities at stealth than I am, they might be able to procure a sample of what they are using and someone could create a counter agent. I'd imagine a castle this size must have a chemistry lab, or alchemy lab or whatever."

[albatross]

Talon says to Fakir, "She is right. Steal a sample and analyze it for counters. It could be a magical drug or simply a psychic enhancer." Fakir nods, "easily done."

Turning back to Bellephoebe, Talon says, "We might get rough later. For now, we wait to see what they do. We need to find the right bride. Getting rid of the ones we don't like might be simple, but it could arouse suspicions and make our job harder."

Fakir grins. "If they mess with us enough, we'll bring reinforcements. Lots of Bunny Girls. Set them loose and cause chaos. But not yet."

Beatrix does a cannonball into the bath. As she surfaces, those in the main bath start to feel the effects of her intoxicating scent. "The bath will increase the effect of intoxication," Fakir warns. "Don't stay in too long or you'll be drunk as well as wrinkled."

[kurff]

(provided he arrives in time to catch the tail end) Arriving in thw bath area as if on cue Tesla appeared with Caterina (should she still be with him), "Chemistry? I have some experience in that area.." he offered looking a bit puzzled "You have some sort of plan don't you?"

[yendor]

"Could always go the route of the blind man boss," says Malone, taking time to do a good job after all the traveling they've done. "Only hurts the first time, and after that, you get used to it."

[albatross]

"Blind man? Is that a reference to a game? A martial art?" Talon asks Malone.

Fakir nods to Tesla as Beatrix splashes in the main bath, "When we get a sample we'll bring it to your room for analysis." He stands up. "You are clean enough Beatrix, we'll get to work on this little scavenger hunt and give Tesla some homework. And once you leave everyone should be able to enjoy their bath without getting drunk." Indeed those in the main pool feel the intoxicating effect as if they had taken another drink.

Sister Caterina disrobes and slips into the main bath. A short petite woman with whipcord thin muscular limbs, tight abs, and visible ribs she is nearly the opposite build of the volumptous Beatrix. A few scars dot her skin here and there. She leaves her hair up.

Fakir and Beatrix towel off and don the clothes laid out for them, inspecting the carefully, smelling them as they get ready to go off on their theiving mission.

[kurff]

"good hunting, I'll take a private bath then meet up with you later." Tesla not fond of the notion of sharing a bath took a side one that was private. His personal comfort zone was expanding but not that fast..immortal or not he did have to work through what issues he did have.

"Chemistry in this age should be interesting.." he pondered as he went to take private bath.

[thorley]

Bellephoebe finishes bathing, dries, and gets dressed "Have fun with your theft, I'm going to head for the library, assuming this castle has one" she says as she departs. In parting she mentions to Tesla as he begins to bathe "I'd imagine your more likely to find an Alchemy lab than a chemistry lab. I don't know much about either, but while there is doubtlessly some overlap, expect some differances, and since magic works here I'd try and be careful, the laws of physics might be subtly differant. I've heard stories about dimensions where for whatever reason gunpowder doesn't function for example."

That said Bellephoebe heads for the library, assuming she arrives without incident the two things she checks when she gets there are to see if any of the potential brides headed there immediatly and are obviously bookworms (it occurs to her that putting a scholor in charge, or someone trying to generally withdraw from the politics, might be a good idea), secondly, while it's quite a chore she wants to look into history and genelogy, see if she can figure out more about this delegation with the drugs and psionics and what their motives might be. A crash course in the factions and who hates who and why might also be helpful.

I'll put up some research rolls if she arrives without incident or nothing occurs, if she does indeed start doing research she'll probably be tied up for a while.

She does hope there is a librarian, scribe, or archivist present at least, that might make research a little easier, and also someone else being present makes a sneak attack by a certain delegation less likely. If not she figures she'll "risk" it though she'll definatly have one eye on the door in case anyone from that party shows up.

[albatross]

Bellephoebe has to ask for directions to the library, unless she wants to search the palace for hours, but there are plenty of servants and messengers in the halls who know where it is.

Upon arriving, Bellephoebe finds two young women standing on either side of the large double doors which stand open. One of the young women is a princess candidate. Inside the library an ancient woman perches at a desk, a librarian no doubt.

The old woman says, "What do you seek?"