Fallen Empire

[yendor]

[sorry about the delayed replies]

(To Talon about the decoys) Malone sighs, "I see humor is something lost upon some of those with long lives. But thank you for the two assistants. I hope they won't be needed in that capacity."

(To Talon about the 'look your best') "You...realize I'm wearing a very ill fitting bit of clothing and sandals on my feet..." Chuckles. "Always did like spending time at a new place, and royalty usually has the most expensive habits."

[albatross]

Someone snorts at Malone's humor quip, Talon did have a poor sense of humor.

Fakir looks over. "If you would prefer we can put a spell on you on the gate. What is your style? Soft leather and peacock feathers? Studded leather armor with silver spikes and riding spurs? Cheap suit with loafers? It'll fade in a half hour or so, but we could recast if they delay us and I hope once we bathe they'll give us clothing while they wash ours."

Now at the gate of the palace with many pennants, Talon takes the lead and prepares to announce them.

[yendor]

Sighs, "You need to cultivate your sense of humor Fakir, since if I said gimp suit, odds are you would think I was serious."

At the gate, straightens his rough clothing, doing his best to look presentable.

[albatross]

The gate to the palace is a long stone tunnel. Nearly fifty meters long, it has thin shafts in the ceiling for light. Every few steps there is either a narrow tunnel set in the wall with a net of chain or a trench in the floor with a drawbridge over it. The gate doesn't protrude, so it must extend a fair distance inside the palace.

Eventually the gate tunnel opens into a large room with arched ceilings, tall columns and hallways branching off in all directions. In the center of the large chamber a dozen women stand next to a smaller cluster of ladies. Servants mill about, all female. The pattern of dress in the palace is colored silks in various colors. The servants wear brown silk, or tan, or orange. The dozen women standing in the room all wear shades of black, the imperial color, while the smaller cluster of women wear reds, crimson and maroon. The servants wear tight silk pants and tight silk sleeveless shirts. The dozen ladies wear tight little black dresses, each styled slightly different. And the women in shades of red have long tight dresses and translucent scarves draped over bare shoulders and cleavage.

Talon strides purposefully towards the clusters of women standing in the center of the room and sweeps into a bow. As he does all the women present return Talon's bow. But a moment later when Fakir and the nuns (and Beatrix and Sarah) bow they merely curtsy in return with a nod of their heads.

[thorley]

Bellephoebe merely gives the royals/nobles in attendance a nod of acknowlegement. She thinks herself their equal in breeding and lineage to begin with and is a high magus besides. She carries herself that way in general, which may or may not cause some problems since this kind of diplomacy really isn't her thing. She will otherwise follow Talon & Fakir's lead for the moment since she doesn't know anyone else here.

Of the ladies present, all of them are human?

[yendor]

Malone gives a polite bow, seemingly at a loss for words, but maintains a proper bearing given the style of dress, and present location.

[albatross]

"Sir Talon, welcome to our humble city," One of the women says. She and the other women all look human. "We entreat you to rest and enjoy your stay with us, but alas perhaps as the most efficient knight in the Empire you would perfer to decide now and avoid soft beds and plentiful feasts?"

A subtle scent wafts throughout the room and the woman's words and casual gestures are filled with veiled power (roll vs drugs 18 or higher and vs psionics with a -4 penalty).

Talon [dice=20] [dice=20]
Fakir [dice=20] [dice=20]
Sarah[dice=20][dice=20]
Sister Caterina [dice=20][dice=20]
Beatrix [dice=20][dice=20]
Malone's assistant [dice=20][dice=20]
[rand=7038670890033245616349698975682374018098413944245082191424444318]

[yendor]

[dice=20+11] Drugs
[dice=20+4] Psionics (14 or higher)
[dice=100] Toxicology (105%)
[dice=100] Analytical Chemistry (95%)[rand=967043733920317297730018837312952807959262428876725978023397264]

[kurff]

"Understood, I'll be sure to be on my best behavior.Drugs
Psionics [dice=20]
Drugs [dice=20][rand=9003634799306022869798560325773642252213744625433760794875105493]

[thorley]

Saving Throws for Bellephoebe

Drugs [roll]1d20+3[/roll]

Psionics [roll]1d20[/roll]

[thorley]

Sorry some problems with syntax

Drugs [dice=20+3]

Psionics [dice=20] (add +3 if it's a mind control attempt)[rand=325844515577523116309555895884789791873132322519075541202398275]

[albatross]

Malone manages to resist both the scent and the powerful psychic influence, but he notices everyone else including Talon seems to be nodding along to the woman's suggestion to choose immediately and be on their way.

Talon steps forward towards one of the women clad in imperial black. She has amber eyes and black hair tinted red, or red hair colored black, dyed perhaps. Everyone's eyes save Malone's are drawn to her. Some resist their hosts hidden suggestion, others resist the scent, but only Malone resists both.

Of course the plan is not to choose immediately, and Malone has a limited opportunity to stop Talon from choosing right here and now. Although the explaination of how Talon barely remembered this place and event is now clear.

[yendor]

Malone sighs, spins the cane in hand and gives Talon a sharp rap on the head with it. "Wake up Sleeping Beauty, or I'll be forced to kiss you."

[thorley]

"She seems nice Talon, I agree we should pick this one, save a lot of time, and get out of here" suggests Bellephoebe as she has fallen prey to both.

[albatross]

Talon scowls, perhaps at the bitter taste of reliving this particular failure or perhaps at getting snared again. In an instant, a group mind block is in place though he isn't sure how that will affect those who are already compelled and charmed.

What to do about the scent? Wind rush? Negate poison? What would free everyone? "An interesting idea," Talon says loudly, "but this particular journey has inspired me to look to the health of my companions before efficiency. See how they sway as if in a stupor or exhausted." He shoves Fakir, who indeed totters. "You there," Talon gestures to the woman who they were supposed to pick. "Escort me and my..." he glances at Malone for a moment trying to figure out a believeable reason he would want Malone as an escort "...servant Malone to our quarters. Your friends can attend to my companions." Talon doesn't bother listening to whatever stalling tactic they would use under the guise of politeness. He gallantly takes her by the arm and leads her out of of the hall gesturing for Malone to follow in case he falls victim to her charms again.

The organizer of this particular event, keeps her poker face, conveying no dissappointment. She carefully avoids any attention to Malone or Talon and instead uses a sign language to convey to the women to do as he suggests. The scent and psionics still tug at everyone's minds, but with Talon leading away the target of their complusion away the subtle manipulation fails in that they cannot both leave immediately and bring her. Also, as the focus of the scent, her departure clears minds and the scent will fade in moments.

"Come with us," the woman says sweetly. And one of the women clothed in black leads each of them away. They can be roomed singly, in a double bed with another person, or in a suite with several rooms for three or four people as they wish.