GM:
~~~IC~~~

GM:
::It's still nearly December, and Lan has just returned and shared the results of his date::

Lan:
.... so yeah. Sorry. I'm an idiot. ::clutches head::

Martel:
Uh oh. What happened?

Lan:
::hates to tell it all over, but...:: Uh, short version, I think she was into working with us, but I just don't... get it when women are subtle, so I was like "I'll have to see if we can promise you anything."

Martel:
Wait, what did she want us to promise?

Lan:
I... well, her safety, I suppose. I think what she said was, can we do anything about the Duchess withOUT actually screwing all Castenadas generally. You know. I think either she has scruples, or she was able to ingeniously discern that such things matter to me, and pretended.

Martel:
Well, if she's going to help us resolve this entire problem, and she's got scruples to boot, why wouldn't we want to protect her? I say we give her a big old thumbs up. An?

An:
So, when it comes down to it we don't know exactly where we stand between her and us. Where do you stand doctor? Do you trust her completely or not? So, when it comes down to it we don't know exactly where we stand between her and us. Where do you stand doctor? Do you trust her completely or not?

Lan:
I don't trust her completely. I... that's scarcely in my nature, especially when it comes to women I've recently flirted with. I thnk that she might be valuable to us, if we look like we're on the winning side. And I don't especially relish being at odds with her, but if it comes to that, you don't need to worry about my alliegances.

Maria:
What is it with people turning on their families for preferential treatment these days? Salandra and now Malena... I'm not sure we need to make a thing of helping people take out their bosses.

An:
Then we don't bring her in. As of right now we consider her a possible avenue of assistance if it comes down to that but lets not depend on her being there.

Lan:
::nods, shrugs:: Maria has a point. ::sits down and rubs his temples::

Maria:
It sounds to me like the whole family is up to something... what's the word... comp-something?

Lan:
Compromising?

Maria:
No... I think it has an L

An:
Compitulating?

Lan:
Complicit. Yes. She may approach me at some point with further information.

Maria:
Right! That. So she can probably offer us information that could take down the whole house, in exchange for pretending it was just the leadership and everyone else was innocent.

Lan:
If she does, what kind of information is good enough for us to bring her in? If there's any clear cut answer to that?

Maria:
The thing is... are they really just following orders, or did they all like the idea of moving up in power and go along with it? If they all knew about what happened to my entire family, and didn't say anything about it... even after the fact... I don't know what I'd do.

Martel:
If she gives us the information to take down the Duchess, doesn't her entire family stand to lose out? herself included?

Lan:
Is it really a bright line distinction? I'd be a little upset, even though it's not my family, even if they were coerced substantially.

Maria:
And, of all of them, she may genuinely not like what they've done. But not enough to denounce them in public... and she'll only stop the leadership if it works out for her, politically.

Lan:
Begging your pardon, your right honorable ladyship, but that impulse at least is fairly normal, isn't it? ::what, is he defending her? Eesh. What a creep::

Maria:
Apparently. But what happens if the family is so rotten that they get the same idea in another few years or decades? Shouldn't we try to get them all thrown out of power now?

An:
What it comes down to is if her information in confirmable and aids us more than the risk. We'll take it on a step by step basis. Its hard to do when you're talking about people and families, but right now we can't afford to protect everyone.

Lan:
Understood. ::not exactly cheering up::

Martel:
CAN we get them all thrown out of power with what we have? I was under the impression that we needed to get something on them before whatever little trick they have up their sleeves comes to pass.

Maria:
If she has something so good that she's worried it could be used against her whole family...

Martel:
Besides, if the information she gives us isn't confirmable, then she hasn't really fulfilled her half of the bargain, now has she?

Maria:
is it in our best interests to take the easy way of getting it but only using it against a small portion of the family?

Martel:
((afk for a minute: Chili induced bio break))

An:
::leans back in his chair and puts a hand to his chin, thinking::

Lan:
You'd have to draw me a tree picture. If we could cherry-pick the whole matter, is there anyone in the lot tha would improve it if elevated?

Maria:
If the duchess of the house is implicated, and the rest claim they were on a need to know basis... chances are a whole lot of counts and countesses would also get implicated... Malena stands to move up at least one rank... possibly even to take over the family if she's better connected than we suspect. How savvy do you really think she might be, Lan? Is she what she appears... a mid-level player with a stinging conscience... or is she a manipulator making her best bid for power?

Lan:
Obviously. You know. I don't think she's the sort to grandly scheme. I think she's too good at skirmishing to be a tactician. I don't know about stinging conscience. ::Shrugs:: I should recuse myself from judging her character. I want you to know that if we take action directly against her, I'll be foresworn, at this point. Which is something I can live with.

Maria:
It doesn't take a lot of savvy to realize that you're better off being the biggest fish in a small pond than a mid-sized fish in a bigger one. But it takes some to keep other manipulators from blaming you for ruining their plans. I just don't want to turn around and wipe out a blight on my house only to find that a more subtle cancer now has room to spread.

An:
And in the end what is the only way we can be truly sure of that?

Lan:
There's a reason oncology is as much an Art as it is a science. ::consternated::

Maria:
I don't suppose it'd be ethical to get some of your friends to mind-probe the Castenda?

Martel:
I think we should take her assistance. If she's telling the truth, then we would be doing her a disservice by leaving her to whatever situation she's stuck in. If she's lying, or holding back, it'll be a lot easier to block her if we have more information on the situation. That being said, I'm not the one who's closest to this. I'll stand by whatever judgements you guys make.

Maria:
I'm too biased on the issue. You guys decide.

Lan:
You know. There're things she's said that makes me think she may put some faith in An and our effective momentum as the so-called "Heroes of Aragon." A term she used with me, and I doubt she was trying to flatter my nonexistent heroic ego. I'm also too biased.

An:
I guess when it comes down to it. We have to look at the bigger picture. Using my friends to scan the minds of the Castenda would be slightly unethical. Sadly in the end we would not be sure of the consequences of our actions until possibly years and years from now. The only way to be mostly sure is if when the Castenda make their move. We crush them... all of them. And make sure they understand that. They'll be stabbing each other in the back to get back in good favors. They'll eat each other alive. Not that, that is what I propose. Just putting it out there.

Martel:
I was about to say, shouldn't we be mostly focusing on trying to get ready to deal with the entire "horde of barbarian death" we have on our doorstep before we start threatening the Castenda and waiting to see what they do about it?

Lan:
And no quarter for anyone who aids us, on the grounds that it's probably playing both ends?

Martel:
We'll not likely get any help from ANY side that way. I mean, how many nobles DON'T try to play both ends?

An:
We don't threaten them.

Maria:
There's a difference between playing both ends and destroying the boards so you can win the next game. Especially when that's a metaphor for murdering all your competition.

Martel:
Which is why, if we find out she was lying, we take her down too. I feel like we are judging her as guilty here based on a "maybe", and I'm uncomfortable with it.

Maria:
All I'm saying is that, from her own mouth, what she has to tell us is enough to damn her whole family. If she's worried that it will, perhaps it might not be unfair for it to do so.

Martel:
Ok, question then: How likely are we to get this information without her?

Maria:
::shrug:: How good of a secret is it? Is it something that she's just high enough to know but just low enough not to be loyal to, or is it something other people might know?

Martel:
Since we have no know of knowing that information, I'll put our chances of figuring out this little tidbit, on our own and in a timely fashion, at somewhere between none and fat chance.

An:
Fill me in again... exactly what bit of information did she promise?

Lan:
Ambiguous. She's been a middle-man in things she made a point of telling me she is uncomfortable with. That presumably reflect badly enough on a large segment of her family as to constitute leverage. Hell, for all I know, she piloted the damn shuttle herself, and I'm too addled to put it together. I don't know. I can't tell. Sorry. ::goes into the bathroom and has dry heaves::

An:
As a political entity I'm sure she understands that we would be unable to get involved without proof of such claims. If she could provide them then we might consider her a valuable ally in need of protection, but I think she would be wise to understand that if the information proves to be false or if she refuses our offer then if and when a reckoning comes we will not be able to insure she is not caught up in the fray.

Martel:
Ok, boil that down for me. I don't speak political legalese that well.

An:
If she gives us what we want then and only then after it is confirmed will we guarantee her safety.

Martel:
And if she won't agree to give it to us if we don't make the guarantee? Cause that's what I'm betting will happen.

Lan:
That'd be an empty guarantee. ::comes back in after running water:: In a way, I suppose that's even obvious.

Maria:
"Safety" clearly means that, if we're successful, we point out that the damning information was given to us by Hazat loyalists within the Castenda, saving them from disgrace and censure.

Lan:
The question is, can we see actions her "information" would commit us to, as a trap, if they turn out to be, soon enough?

Maria:
If it's not useful, she doesn't have anything to worry about unless we flat out tell the Duchess what she's doing.

Lan:
I don't think we have a coherent motive for doing that. So.

Maria:
It won't be a trap. If we were important enough to trap, she could have taken us out in a variety of ways.

Lan:
::shrugs:: Which scares me. It still leaves us essentially the puppet in an unequal alliance.

Maria:
We're being moved on the chessboard by a mid-rank piece trying to take out her leader so she can get promoted. There's no point in hurting us... unless what we're doing happens to be so dangerous we get ourselves killed. But I doubt it's the goal.

Lan:
Oh. That makes sense, I guess....

Martel:
Hmmm ::rubs his stubble:: I wonder if I'm paranoid enough for this political stuff. I've always been a "take them at their word and ream them if it turns out they were lying" kinda guy.

Maria:
Politics isn't about lying. It's about telling just enough of the truth to get what you want without making too many enemies. You'd be hard pressed to catch a politician in an out-right lie that you can prove later... and if you can, they were going down anyway. But the Hazat way has always been more straightforward than most. If you're going to be the iron fist, don't wear the velvet glove. If you're going to be a bastard, be a bastard; don't expect people to love you for it. Wearing the glove is what the Decados taught the Castenda... you can't tell how dangerous it is until it's clenched around you. But then, the next time, nobody trusts that you just want to shake hands.

An:
I won't lie and say were in an easy position but we can't been seen a scrounging at whatever information we can pick up. We are a tad bit weak in this area but in the end we can't show it, or well get chewed up and spit out.

Martel:
Ok, so we aren't taking the girl up on her offer. I'm ok with that. Then where do we go from here? If we aren't going to use the information from the girl, we'll need to drum up some of our own. Waiting for whatever trap the Castenda are laying to come to fruition is just silly.

Lan:
I'm in this to minimize bloodshed, of course. In the long run-- and I agree with Maria that some acts render people a bad risk on that count. I'm not sure I can see whole families that way.

An:
::sits and rubs his eyes for a moment:: We make sure that we've got all of our ducks in a row and all of our marbles accounted for. I'll put some of my people on finding out what she knows. Seeing if we can at least get some sort of insight. We also need to make sure the planetary defenses are back in order. Figure where the center of our uncertainties lie and being sure to quash them.

Martel:
Sounds like a plan. I'll see if I can drum up a little muster support, because I'm pretty sure they'll be needed for SOMETHING soon. Best guess is that most of them will be tied up with the Kurgans though. I might see if I can dig up some info on my own too. Meybe through a church contact, such as they remain.

GM:
(("figure where the center of our uncertainties lie and being sure to quash them" is very zen... what does it mean in plan terms?))

An:
((Do stuff.))

An:
((Like, against the bad guys))

Lan:
((Brilliant! This indecisiveness allows me to move forward with my master scheme to take over the Castenada!))

Martel:
((what indecisiveness? I know what I'M gonna do.))

GM:
((Assuming there's not something else I'm aware of, your options are to either do the morally dubious thing now, or get the same information through slower sources... how much is denying enemies time to manuever worth?))

An:
((I would say that we should have the plan of sending spies out, shoring up loose ends, and just sorta waiting.))

Lan:
((Mmmm. Castenadan Baronesses with wings.))

An:
Like I said before, I think we should approach her with the deal. See where she stands and go from there.

GM:
((Castenda/Castendan))

Lan:
((Er, oh. Never noticed that before. ))

Maria:
I'm sure she'll be fine with the deal, as long as we're willing to back her as loyal to the Hazat when it all comes down. If she gives us useless information, it won't help her. The only question is whether we want to back her in exchange for the success.

Martel:
If she gives us useless information, or not ALL of the information, then our side of the deal will be voided. just make sure that we word the deal appropriately, and we'll be fine.

Martel:
An, do you think you can get a contract togeather that she wont be able to squiggle out of?

Maria:
Signing a contract would mess it all up. Trust will have to be extended on both sides. She, honestly, has more to lose once she gives us the information.

Lan:
I think that contract is written in terse speech and browraising. But whatta I now about politics?

Maria:
She's trusting us to make a surgical strike on her house. We're trusting her to be a better leader once they're gone.

Martel:
Doesn't have to be a written contract Maria. Just has to be an agreement that we can all live with.

Maria:
Just saying that "contract" isn't the right term for "shady back room political deal."

Martel:
Besides, we're only promising to remove the people at the top. We aren't promising to remove her if she becomes troublesome enough. I have faith in our ability to remove the troublesome at need.

An:
What we are extended is a verbal, you scratch my back I scratch yours type of deal. I believe she will understand the consequences of moving against us.

Maria:
So we're going to Isabella to meet in person, or sending her a wire?

Martel:
In person. I like to look a lady in the eye when we agree to something.

Lan:
I already sent her a poem to this effect, really. ::mutters:: So, yes, in person is probably well.

Maria:
Okay. Lan, set it up?

Lan:
::gets up:: Sure. ::looking a little bewildered::

Lan:
::Sets about wiring inquiring about a time to meet, soonest, that sounds enthusiastic::

GM:
::you eventually get confirmation for a meeting in a couple of days... you're supposed to pick her up for another date and take her somewhere secluded to meet the rest::

GM:
::she suggests a restaurant or something where Tyrone could wait outside::

Lan:
::comes back and tells the others:: So, day after tomorrow, I figure. If you know any decent restaraunts? SHe said something about her cousin... you know, he chaperoned the last little outing... waiting outside.

Martel:
Sounds good to me.

Lan:
((Did I fail to mention the others showing up? Or is this waiting outside thing normal?))

GM:
((it sounds like she wants to meet in secret, even from Tyrone, so the easiest way is another "date"))

Lan:
I think she has in mind for me to meet her alone... ::shrugs weakly:: If nothing else, that gives the rest of you an opportunity to scavenge other information?

GM:
((no, the message said she wants to meet everyone, just not where anyone will know she met with them))

Martel:
That's fine. I'm sure I can arrange to be within earshot.

Lan:
Wait, wait. Let me read this again. My mistake. We'll all go. Yes, definitely. Ideas about restaraunt with easy back door egress?

Martel:
Almost any of them? Resturaunts don't take their trash out the front.

An:
We find one we can use a private area in. And arrive at different times all meeting before she gets there.

Lan:
Ah. Good, then.

GM:
::Long story short (too late)... two days later you're all ensconced in an upscale restaurant in Isabella Bluffs, where the only spies are An's, and they've been paid to run interference... Lan and Malena are set up at a table in a private room, and the rest of you filter in after Tyrone has checked it for propreity and gone to wait at the bar::

Malena:
::if anything, has gone out of her way to minimize her memorability, wearing a somewhat somber while still nice evening dress that wouldn't look out of place on any Hazat noblewoman you've met:: So, Lan told you all my proposal?

An:
::nods:: Sit, please.

Martel:
::takes a healthy gulp of the local beer:: He did indeed.

Malena:
::waits pointedly to have her chair pulled out for her::

Lan:
::hops to it::

Lan:
::smiling blandly::

Malena:
::seats herself gracefully and waits for everyone else to sit::

Lan:
::sits down last, presumably:: I ... hear the veal's excellent.

Malena:
As I told him, I have information that could prevent further wrongs. But I'm afraid that those merely involved would be destroyed as fully as those responsible if it got out... Therefore, all I ask is that, if you pursue this lead, you direct the fallout to the best of your ability towards the Duchess and those directly in her counsels.

An:
::leans back in his charir taking a sip of wine from a glass:: I hate to sound cliche. But this seems risky, if we can't properly direct the fallout you might be caught up in the blast. What do you get out of it?

Malena:
When I came to Aragon, as far as I knew it was simply to help our cousins and forge alliances in the wake of the tragedy. As time went on, I received further orders to pass on that led me to doubt that my leige has the best interests of my House at heart. By helping you, I help the Hazat and the Castenda purge a destructive influence. That it also might mean a greater role for myself in my familiy's affairs is also a benefit, but believe me when I tell you that I would stand to have more power if the Castenda replaced the Eduardo as the leading house of the Hazat. Despite the blows that, from my communications, I believe you have dealt to my Duchess' plans, I think that the last trump will win all. You have so far merely moved back her timetable.

An:
And you understand that should this information prove false, unreliable, or desvious in any nature that we cannot be held responsible for the coming storm. If your information should prove to be invaluable. Then so shall you been seen in our eyes. We are at a difficult crossroads...

Malena:
The information I give you, should you act on it immediately and use it correctly, should prove very useful. I cannot speculate on delay or misuse, but I believe the information itself is sound.

An:
We have only your word to go on, and you have only ours. Trust will be returned with trust, betrayal with uncomprehendable retribution. Agreeable? ::he says breaking into a wide reeves smiles::

Malena:
::gives a sultry smirk:: I would have it no other way, Don An-hetep-f. Meanwhile, I hope you know that should you benefit from this as agreed, and then use it against me, I will do what I can to ruin you as well.

Lan:
::wrings hands in ordinary unease::

Martel:
Lady, if you turn out not to be like the Duchess, I'm sure we'll all get along just fine.

An:
Understandable. You will find we can be most agreeable allies in tough times.

Malena:
Very well. ::takes a scrap of parchment from her bag and passes it across the table:: I passed along a series of orders to move items unknown to me to this location, directly from my superiors. I was not privvy to exactly what was being moved, but my impression was that it was something that my family should not be in possession of, and that is intended to be moved again within the month.

Lan:
::perks up::

Malena:
Everything about it has been couched in secrecy even from me, but the amount of orders relating to it makes it seem highly important. I suggest, when you retrieve it, that you bring members of the other families that are beyond reproach, for their later testimony, as you would not want yourselves to be accused of planting it. I doubt there will be much to formally link it to us.

Martel:
Ah. It's the Orb. To have moved it out, they would have had to know about the attack in advanced. Five creds say I'm right.

Lan:
I'm not betting against that.

Malena:
I cannot say for certain, but I have suspected as much as well.

Lan:
::contemplates the amusing idea of a deacon using an antiquated credstick::

Malena:
The realization that this was likely, and the likely source of the object, is what led me to believe that my Duchess has gone insane in her lust for the power that her mother once reached for and failed to obtain.

An:
::reaches across the table and takes up the scrap of paper:: We will see.

GM:
::the paper contains an address in Isabella, probably yet another shady warehouse not too far from the starport::

Martel:
Lets go collect the usual suspects to have a look at this "package". Do we want to include someone from the church as well? might help with the authentication.

Malena:
Keep in mind that there are people defending it, so it might not be as easy as getting the Black Cypress documents.

Lan:
Oh. Maybe the fencing lessons will pay off, then. ::sips icewater::

Lan:
::doesn't know whether to be insulted that nobody so much as snerks.::

Martel:
MMMmmm, thank you Malena. That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me in some while. I've had quite a poor last few weeks. Guards are something simple that I can get my teeth into.

GM:
((anything else, or shall we skip ahead?))

Lan:
((ahead!))

An:
((Indeed))

Lan:
::looks sidelong at the deacon.::

GM:
::cut to a few days later, Lan looks sidelong at the Deacon while casing the, indeed, shady warehouse::

Martel:
::double checks his blaster rifle:: Yes?

Lan:
Whats the make and model on that? ::curious about what kinds of wounds he's going to have to put back together.::

Martel:
Atlas Arms Model 414-K. Low penetration rounds. Don't want to shoot through the outside walls or anything.

GM:
::a half dozen spare knights from the various houses check their own gear, charging their shields, checking sabers, and loading various blasters and slug throwers::

Lan:
::came prepared to do more sneaking than anything else, but probably wearing steel too, just in case he wasn't joking::

GM:
::Maria has her own tactical gear on, and has finally managed to track down for An a dueling shield of his very own::

GM:
::it's hidden inside a nicely wrought brooch with the joined symbols of the empire and the reeves::

An:
::stands there quietly watching the warehouse, trying to make sure not to show any emotion on the current actions, his hand resting calmly on the hilt of his blade::

GM:
::a pair of armed figures, male and female, detach from the alley behind the warehouse and rejoin the group::

Obelia:
::quietly:: I count maybe a dozen. Probably at least one knight. The rest are householders, mercenaries at best.

Ruiz:
This should be fun, no? We appreciate being invited on this, friends.

An:
Good having you, like the old days.

Martel:
Certainly. What's the point of throwing a party if you don't invite your friends?

An:
We'll move to cover the exits then we'll engage. It needs to be fast and surgical. No room for error. Clear each room you come from, incapacitate and detain everyone before they have a chance be send out word.

GM:
::everyone agrees, and you spread out to cover the exits::

GM:
::At An's word, blasters tear through locks, door are kicked in or wrenched open, and you all go pouring into the dimly lit warehouse...

Martel:
::mutters under his breath:: please let one of them have an unconfiscated flamer, please let one of them have an unconfiscated flamer...

GM:
At some point, dodging around bare supports and shooting from behind cheap fiberboard walls, you have a moment to reflect on the amount of time you've all spent fighting in warehouses recently... Martel blows the arm off of a charging mercenary, An and Maria tag team the Castenda knight in short order, and even Lan is able to incapacitate a householder limping for an exit...

An:
((HAWT!))

GM:
the other knights acquit themselves honorably, with the special excitement of watching Obelia and Ruiz ninja kick the shit out of a trio of mercenaries...

Lan:
Yeesh! ::morbid admiration to blunt trauma to the body::

GM:
and, in the end, your side has hardly any injuries to speak of besides a sprained ankle and a few superficial burns from blaster shots that leaked through shields... while Lan has to cluck sadly over the variety of wounds to the enemy::

GM:
::Fortunately, An has recently become a master of not quite killing Castenda knights, and this one will make an adequate prisoner.::

GM:
::within a couple of minutes, the warehouse is once again silent, save for the groans of those not quite killed::

GM:
::towards the back of the warehouse, there are a few more solid-looking rooms that the Castenda seemed to be defending::

Martel:
::shows his blaster rifle off to the knights they came in with:: See? Perfectly safe for limited range deployment. Now, if you need something with more punch, try the Atlas Arms 329. That thing shoots through schools. Now, if you'll excuse me. ::shouts ahead to the defenders:: You have ten seconds to disarm. Then I'm coming in there and shooting anyone who's holding a weapon!

Justus Knight:
I'm sorry, friend priest, but I'm still a traditionalist. Slug throwers were good enough for our ancestors, and they still beat blasters for reliability.

Lan:
If you find something back there you need help with, say the word! ::calls back, while suturing somebody up::

GM:
::Lan does note that Ruiz and Obelia's victims are going to be the least troubling to repair. Most of their moves were to incapacitate, not to maim::

Martel:
Mmm, I totally agree with you on the reliability front. Unfortunately, they tend to make bleeders, instead of cauterized wounds. Harder to patch folk up, if you are trying to take prisoners. ::shouts: Five Seconds!

Justus Knight:
Yes, but a bullet wound, if properly made, will heal almost totally. A blaster wound leaves a terrible scar for life.

Martel:
Huh. I supposed I hadn't considered the post-combat social ramifications there. Could I borrow a spare slug thrower for a moment?

Lan:
I find your cavalier attitude.... ::muttering as though they could hear:: appropos, I guess.

Justus Knight:
::hands over a medium caliber pistol::
 

An:
::moves up with cover to beside Martel:: What've we got?

GM:
::as far as you can tell, if there's anyone in there, they're being very, very quiet::

Martel:
Thank you sir. We have obstinate holdouts An. I was just about to shoot them, and ask their opinions of relative wound preferences. ::he says loudly::

Martel:
::also, checks to see if the slugthrower could puncture these interior walls?::

GM:
::the walls look fairly solid, especially for warehouse interiors::

An:
::pokes his head around the corner real quick and pulls it back trying to see how many::

Martel:
Ok, ready or not, here I come! To shoot you! ::waits to see if they shoot his way::

GM:
::nobody out there, just the closed doors::

An:
Oh alright... ::walks up to the door, stands to the side and pulls it open::

Martel:
Allrighty then. ::gets up and moves to the side of the closed door::

GM:
::the first closed door itself seems thicker than necessary... not particularly armored, just thick... possibly insulated::

GM:
::it locks from out here::

Martel:
:: picks a safe-ish angle and dumps a few rounds into the lock::

An:
::looks around and reaches down to unlock the door then pulls his hand back::

Obelia:
::runs up with a keyring from one of the defenders, a second too late:: Or you could do that.

An:
Right then. ::looks to Martel:: Ready? ::puts his hand on the door to throw it open::

Martel:
Ayup.

An:
::throws open the door::

GM:
::The door, even shoved, moves ponderously, thudding dully into the wall as it stops. It was obviously soundproofed, as were the walls surrounding it. Within, dim fuzion lamps illuminate a half-dozen large cages... of the kind you would use...

GM:
to contain exotic beasts... and their human cargo. Each contains an apparently Aragonese man or woman in simple linen jumpsuits, resting on the floor.::

Martel:
::looks around quickly for opposition::

GM:
::the people in the cages don't look starved, but seem exhausted, as if from months of captivity. An average-looking woman with higher-class features climbs to her feet and addresses you::

Lan:
::has been listening patiently for any call on dangerously wounded anybody::

Martel:
See? This is why low-penetration is better for this kind of environment.

An:
::steps carefully into the room::

Zilia:
I am Dona Zilia Esa Justus de Aragon. Have you come to rescue us, or torment us further?

Justus Knight:
::rushes into the room and grabs her hand:: Cousin! We had counted you amongst the dead!

Martel:
We don't really do the tormenting bit usually, but I'm more than willing to make exception for scum who treat people as animals. Get those keys over here.

Obelia:
::begins opening the cages::

Martel:
Lan? We could use your help in here too.

An:
I am Don An-hetep-f Griffen del Sol Imperial. \

Lan:
::zips aroud the corner just in time for the three-man cameo::

An:
We'll have everyone out of here in no time.

Zilia:
::nods at An and all the others:: We were captured shortly after we fled the burning Castle by mercenaries, and they've been moving us for months. I don't know why.

Lan:
::looks around for anybody who looks like they're actually in a bad way, but isn't obtrusive.::

GM:
::Lan's opinion is that they could all use some fresh air and sun, but none of them appear particularly poorly off. They seem properly nourished, and in better shape than he is, probably from the Hazat propensity to turn captivity into exercise time::

An:
::looks to Zilia:: Are there any amount of time you were in their care that you can't account for? Did they perform any medical care on you?

Zilia:
No, they mostly kept us in this room, fed us regularly, and moved us at gunpoint and blindfold.

Martel:
They didn't happen to move anythign else with you, did they?

Zilia:
I do not know, we were quickly put into vans in the dark

Martel:
Hmm. Any clue as to who was managing this? Did you hear anything? See anything that could identify your captors?

Lan:
::cuts in:: Not to be morbid, but your noble persons seem remarkably fit... which is not really very usual with persons who are *understood* to be prisoners.

Zilia:
We thought that was strange as well, but they never told us that they were holding us for ransom.

Lan:
I imagine they meant to stage your deaths. That would be a more usual reason than one likes to think. But I can't imagine why or where *now*.

Lan:
Unless it was to fabricate some sort of story. ::shrugs:: I'm glad I'm of no use here. ::smiles faintly::

Martel:
Dead bodies do tend to make good scapegoats. Also, you should have apparently taken the bet An. I don't see a globe anywhere.

Lan:
Wishful thinking on my part, clearly.

GM:
::there was another room::

An:
Maybe the other room?

Martel:
Well, lets give it a shot. I won't lose my theoretical five creds without going down fighting.

An:
True enough. ::motions with his hands:: After you.

GM:
::the next door is also locked, but doesn't look quite as solid as the last one::

Martel:
Though if they DO have the orb, then the dead nobles would probably have been who the Castenda would have "liberated" it from.

Maria:
That wouldn't look very good for the Justus.

Martel:
::doesn't even bother slowing down this time, shooting through the lock as he approaches:: I mean, that's what I would do if I were going to be an evil mastermind.

GM:
::the next room is smaller, just a table with a box on it. No lamps lit inside, though there is a switch on the wall::

Martel:
::I check for traps::

GM:
::yet, just walking in, you can't help but begin to feel a sense of warmth and contentment::

GM:
::the box on the table seems to be an oversized carrying case::

Martel:
Know what that feeling is An? That feeling is a job well done. ::flicks on the light switch:: Also, an artifact.

GM:
::the lights blaze in a way only possible with a high-quality camera and the exact right settings to shoot for beauty and chiaroscuro. Each of you shines in a tableau of magnificence. Each a questing hero in his prime.::

An:
::opens the oversized carrying case::

Lan:
::gasps:: Holy...! ::means it. comes up on the doorframe::

GM:
::within, inside expensive velvet padding, is a head-sized globe of polished crystal, faint colored light swirling within in beautiful patterns, its colors splashing upon your face at exactly the perfect angles to accentuate your features.::

An:
Will you look at that? Glad I didn't take that bet.

GM:
::you each feel at peace and honored, fulfilled and inspired... those that have been to Castle Furias before remember this feeling from the throneroom, where St. Bernardo's Globe of Infinite Wonderment once rested, before it came here.::

Lan:
((::listening to moog synthesizer bach ATM appropriately enough:: ))

Martel:
::lights a cigar, and relaxes a little for the first time since dusting off from Pyre:: Ahh. Well. Times like this that make all of the rest of the hassles of my profession worth while.

Maria:
Duchess Elena is going to pay...

GM:
~~~OOC~~~