15[21:38] <@VoxPVoxD> Night has stolen over Nexus, leaving the streets silent as the Dawn Guard scrambles to enforce the curfew imposed by Lookshy on Sentinel's Hill. It'd be difficult to move from Council Tower to the Court of Stars without catching the eye of many wary guards - unless you were something harmless, like a bird. 15[21:38] <@VoxPVoxD> What approach does Ambassador take to the tower on the next hill, its highest windows lit. Is she silent? Is she secret? Is she alone? [21:41] 14Silent, certainly. Secret, certainly. Alone, well...it would have honestly taken too much work to snip off those bells of her retinue, so up here, at least, yes -- she's alone. [21:42] 14One hopes there will be at least some allies at the tower. Barring that, someone useful. There's certainly someone home. 15[21:46] <@VoxPVoxD> As the Ambassador alights on a nearby rooftop to observe she sees two figures at a table. One is a woman with wavy blond hair wearing bedclothes, and the other is a small bald man in emerald robes. They seem to be sharing a bottle some amber-colored liquor and having a lively, but benign conversation. Both of them are at ease. [21:46] 14What can she overhear in this form? [21:47] 14And how close would she have to get to change that? 15[21:51] <@VoxPVoxD> She can hear snatches of conversation, mainly reminiscence - they talk like old friends, or amicably parted lovers. How close she'd have to get to be seen depends on how keen her quarry's senses are, and how deep into their cups. Hard to gauge. [21:53] 14Mmmm. She knows that sort of conversation. Are either of the two recognizable in any way? Almost certainly not -- Nexus isn't her beat, so to say -- but she does have more than a bit of culture. And perhaps they're from the outlands. 15[21:53] <@VoxPVoxD> She doesn't remember ever seeing or hearing either of those people. 15[21:54] <@VoxPVoxD> It's easy enough to guess that the woman is Astrologer Kratz, the absent Councilor recovering from a strange assassination attempt. Though strictly speaking it is only a guess... [21:55] 14Ah well. Certainly the woman is the one whom she's come to see -- surprisingly spry, given her absence from a formal function. Well enough to drink, well enough to think; that's what she always counseled. Though mainly to keep impulsive pack-princelings from drinking. [21:57] 14Her remit here is the astrologer's safety. Perhaps the short man is poisoning her, but if so there's certainly nothing the Ambassador can do about it from here. 15[21:57] <@VoxPVoxD> Yeah, Ambassador's no physician, but from her perspective Kratz isn't abstaining from the meeting for health reasons. [21:59] 14No, much better to make sure there aren't any death squads trying to slip up the way first, then turn back to the issue of the meeting. How is the astrologer's guard? Did that great lout Stranger seems so fond of actually send over some of his men? 15[22:00] <@VoxPVoxD> The place looks fully guarded, all Dawn Guard - adjutants wearing the insignia of the Ninth Orchard Company on their collars cutting an imposing figure at the entrances, but it looks to be surprisingly high-ranking members of the Nexus militia on the upper levels of the tower. [22:01] 14Surprisingly? 15[22:03] <@VoxPVoxD> These are full officers, judging from their rank markings. Since the other Councilors make use of private security these must have been seconded from Pellicia's personal retinue. [22:04] 14Well, that's good news. The Dawn Sergeant seemed to at least have half a head on her shoulders. And perhaps that's being a bit snitty given the way Stranger slipped from the room with her as the Ambassador left. Oh, he didn't think she noticed. But she noticed. [22:05] 14Likely a more wholesome influence than the damn cheerleader, at least. [22:05] 14Distractions. [22:06] 14With no obvious threats incoming and the tower seemingly secure, the Ambassador's next move is to eavesdrop. [22:06] 14That means getting close, then shifting from swan to cat again. [22:06] 14Then getting closer. [22:15] 14The swan doesn't launch up into the air off her perch. Instead she falls, wings pressed to her sides like a strange feathery bottle, down into the alley to her right -- and then at the last moment she extends her wings and twirls, cruising almost against the pave-stones, dodging barrels and only flapping her wings once there's a stone wall or so between her and the tower. She's [22:15] 14circling and searching for an updraft -- and finds one in the charming, gigantic bonfire some very wealthy Nexus rich folk are putting on in their backyard. The fence is high but manageable; the carved-out estate is generous space. And the smoke, when she holds her breath, is decent cover to gain altitude. [22:16] 14Knowing the building now, she'll approach from the opposite side, drop to the roof, talons turning to paws and feathers to fur, and pad on over to the overhanging ledge above the balcony without even a murr. 15[22:17] <@VoxPVoxD> From here, unseen, Ambassador can hear everything. [22:17] 14Perrfect. 15[22:20] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "--and I have another bottle of the 754. But let's leave that aside, shall we? You didn't come just to drink my brandy." [22:20] 14Brandy? Good lord. The Ambassador thought it was wine. They must be sloshed. 15[22:21] <@VoxPVoxD> Man: "...no, no I suppose not. But we certainly sustain the illusion with a marvelous grace." 15[22:22] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "What is it, then? Go on. Dragged me out of bed. What's this really about, Bubo?" [22:23] 14...She seems unnoticed. Good. Something strange about that one. The little man. [22:23] 14The Ambassador will keep her ears on the conversation, but her eyes on the street. [22:23] 14She is supposed to be looking out for the astrologer, after all. 15[22:24] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "I confess an ulterior motive. I believe the present situation makes demands of us all, and few more than you. You are Councilor. Your vote--" 15[22:24] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "Bubo--" 15[22:33] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "--is the only thing that will keep the Council from carving itself to pieces. Now, of all times! I don't have to tell you. Your spyglasses is polished. You've seen what the red star does to your charts. You hear what the Tapestry whispers." 15[22:34] <@VoxPVoxD> There's the sound of a chair being pushed back. Below, a patrol of the Dawn Guard makes it rounds. 15[22:34] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "You're wasting your time." [22:36] 14Mmmmmm. [22:37] 14The Ambassador will creep closer to the roof. If the little man is an assassin... [22:37] *14roof's edge 15[22:41] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "I understand. You have every reason to doubt your safety in the present circumstances. After what Brueghel did, the idea of leaving the tower to stand up to him is ludicrous. You'd be insane to risk it. But it is necessary." 15[22:41] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "He had me in-- what did you say?" 15[22:41] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "I'm sorry?" [22:41] 14What who did? [22:43] 14Ah, right. The Evening Master. The one with the new Civility. 15[22:46] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "You said 'what Brueghel did'." 15[22:47] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo, who realizes he overstepped (they do both sound fairly drunk): "Ye-e-e-es..." [22:47] 14The little man who knows too much. [22:48] 14Certainly he had advance warning of what the bells meant. 15[22:48] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "How did you know it was Brueghel. You said you haven't spoken to Pellicia." 15[22:49] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "Yes, but. This is actually what I want to talk to you about. How we can guarantee your safety so you can keep Nexus from defeating itself before the raksha come." 15[22:49] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "How did you know--" [22:49] 14The Ambassador tenses. 15[22:49] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "Let me explain! Please. I can explain. Sit down, please." 15[22:50] <@VoxPVoxD> There's no sound of shifting weight or creaking furniture. Kratz is still on her feet. [22:50] 14... [22:50] 14Can the Ambassador get eyes on her? 15[22:51] <@VoxPVoxD> It'd be hard if she wants to avoid being seen. Easy if she doesn't mind. [22:52] 14They are distracted, this is important to Stranger, and she was going over the ledge anyway. Is there a balcony to leap down to? More importantly, should she leap down, is there an exit route off that balcony without running into the tower? 15[22:53] <@VoxPVoxD> If she's not willing to fly, she'd have to run along a narrow ledge to leap to another rooftop. She can do it, but it might be tricky. 15[22:53] <@VoxPVoxD> What's her play? [22:54] 14Who dares, wins. [22:54] 14The cat goes for a walk. [22:55] 14The timing's the trick -- and if the astrologer's not moving, she'll have to wait on her guest. [22:55] 14She listens to him for half a second, then moves. 15[22:56] <@VoxPVoxD> Well-timed! Ambassador lands just as Bubo rises himself. He's substantially shorter than Kratz. He looks pleading (though his dark glasses hide his eyes) and she looks guarded. 15[22:58] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "There are guards right outside that door. What do you think will happen if I call them?" [22:58] 14Well. He's keeping his hands to himself at least. 15[22:59] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "I wouldn't like to imagine it. I took a risk to see you. I know that. And I'm testing your trust. But ultimately I'm not asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to trust Pellicia, and her judgment." 15[23:00] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "You're blithering, Bubo." 15[23:00] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "A bit." 15[23:00] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "Why are you blithering, Bubo?" 15[23:00] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "...it's my job." [23:01] 14Oh? 15[23:04] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo takes off his glasses, and Ambassador can just spot the twinkle of green in his otherwise dark eyes. That's it, the sign she's been taught to spot but never seen before. The mark of one of Heaven's Chosen. [23:05] 14Bollocks. [23:05] 14And... [23:05] 14...bollocks. [23:06] 14Of course he is. [23:07] 14Both as a Chosen, and as a man. 15[23:07] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo dries his glasses and wipes his forehead with a pale handkerchief. "Pellicia has told you about the number of Anathema that have risen to prominence since the Emissary's death, hasn't she? She wouldn't have kept that from you." 15[23:08] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "Yes. One of them is a diplomat. One of them's captaining in the militia. You don't have to tell me how desperate we are. I know full well, as you pointed out." 15[23:09] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "You needn't fear them. You can trust them. The ones Pellicia trusts. They can guarantee your safety. And they will, if they understand the implications. If they understand the power you hold." [23:10] 14...?! [23:10] 14... [23:10] 14...Darling has been busy. 15[23:14] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "Oh, please. Anathema won't protect me. They'll just guarantee me a gaudy death. Pellicia told me about the fire in the Harlotry, too." 15[23:15] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "...that wasn't their fault. Circumstances out of their control left them flatfooted and unprepared." 15[23:15] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "The Council is a circumstance outside their control. The raksha are a circumstance outside their control." [23:15] 14Sounds expensive. 15[23:15] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "But not outside yours!" [23:17] 14Oh? [23:17] 14The Ambassador would be interested to hear what one councilor could do. 15[23:17] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "Pellicia herself told me it wasn't safe. And if Pellicia isn't willing to risk it, why should I be?" 15[23:18] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "Things have changed. Since you spoke to her last, three more armies have ridden into Nexus. Five powers convene in Council Tower this very moment, from Nexus, Lookshy, Highland, the Anathema, and Thorns." 15[23:18] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "Did you say Thorns?" [23:18] 14This is the part where Stranger would reveal himself, smiling, and sit down, and pour himself a cup of brandy. She doesn't have that luxury. [23:19] 14She's also not that stupid. How the man is still alive is a mystery. [23:19] 14Not everything can be solved over tea. 15[23:23] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "Look at the sky! The red star rises! Annihilation comes, and worse, anarchy! Even Oblivion fears Chaos!" 15[23:24] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "Your vote can deadlock the Council. Your vote can stop the Guild picking the city clean and leaving you defenseless and starved when the fae descend." [23:24] 14Oh for fuck's sake. 15[23:25] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "You're so dramatic." 15[23:26] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "It's true. You can stand at a critical moment to protect the city, the province, the Direction, Creation--" [23:28] 14The cat makes her last leap of the night. A woman lands on the balcony. "All of Creation, I hope." [23:29] 14There's a brief moment there -- an opening. Waiting would be fatal. The Ambassador of Day and Night does not wait; she acts. [23:34] "I have been sent by Stranger-Visits-Heaven. You know who he is," 14she says to the little star-man. To the astrologer: "You know who he is, too. He is with the Dawn Sergeant now. The conference, Astrologer, is going as well as could be expected. The new Civility was welcome, if a surprise." 14She doesn't briefly glance over at Bubo here to reinforce the point, but she doesn't have [23:34] 14to. "The armies are leaving Nexus proper. When your absence was noted, I was asked by my...sunnier half to check in on you. Ensure your well-being. It appears everything is fine. No other Chosen on your balcony, to be sure." 14Now she does look over at Bubo. Where Kratz sees a sizing up and a dismissal, the Chosen of the Stars will surely see the truth: What you are can stay between [23:34] 14us. It's up to you. [23:40] 14She is in her white and black evening dress again. She wouldn't say she's radiant-looking, mainly because that's a word used to describe the sun. 15[23:40] <@VoxPVoxD> More luminous, then. [23:42] 14Well said. 15[23:44] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz moves swiftly to stand behind Bubo, as if expecting him to protect her. Bubo raises his hands. He's not armed. "I am here in peaceful earnest. She is not my prisoner, and I mean no one save the enemies of reality harm." 15[23:50] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo doesn't give an inch, though, until he can feel Kratz relax behind him. "Sit, please," says the Astrologer to the Ambassador. [23:50] 14The Ambassador: "I know. I was listening. I am not here to fight. Honestly, I am not dressed for it." [23:50] "Thank you." 15[23:52] <@VoxPVoxD> Everyone will sit then, at a little table with a one-third full bottle of brandy and two glasses positioned around the crystal ball at the center of the table. "Would you like a drink?" offers Kratz. [23:54] 14The Ambassador: "Oh yes, thank you. You're Astrologer Kratz -- that's your formal title?" [23:54] "Is it literal?" 15[23:58] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "Yes. Nobody calls me 'Councilor', though I suppose they could. What's the news from outside Nexus?" [23:58] "Bad." [23:59] 14She sips her drink. "I am a diplomat by trade. Yes, my people have diplomats. No, I am not interested in jokes. I recently finished securing a peace I'd desperately worked on for a number of years in the East, only to see it wiped out by an advancing raksha army." [23:59] "They are coming." 15[00:00] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz looks alarmed, Bubo forlorn. [00:00] "The threat is real." [00:00] "There is hope, of course. The moon casts a shadow." [00:01] "And I'm told our fate is written in the stars...for what that's worth." [00:01] 14She doesn't look over at the Chosen of them. 15[00:02] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "So you represent the Anathema? Bubo has just guaranteed that they'll protect me if I reach out tot hem." [00:03] 14The Ambassador: "The Anathema are already protecting you. You do not have to do a thing." [00:03] "The only reason I am here is because protection of you was assumed." [00:04] "Stranger-Visits-Heaven was concerned you were not at the announcement of the new Civility." [00:04] "The man worries." 15[00:05] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "It's one thing to protect us all from the raksha invaders. But to protect me from the Guild, from my fellow Council members... the Anathema just risk fighting the war I want to avert as proxies." 15[00:05] <@VoxPVoxD> "Tearing the city apart just the same." [00:06] 14Her voice is clipped. "At the risk of speaking out of turn, the Guild finds no allies in the Anathema. Not the ones at the tower. Not the ones on this rooftop." [00:06] *one 15[00:08] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "That's what I'm afraid of. Like it or not, the Guild is the lifeblood of the city. If we cut them out now we won't be able to govern, let alone defend ourselves. Medicine, sundies, trade. Food, now -- all of it's in the hands of the Guild." [00:08] 14The Ambassador: "Do they have to be?" [00:08] 14The Ambassador: "Or do you have more power now that the avatar which had no choice but to defend them has been slain?" [00:09] "Your enemies cannot kill you for impeding anything anymore. They have to resort to putting you in bed." 15[00:09] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "... it could be done, but now? They won't go quietly, and fighting two wars dooms us." [00:09] "Only if we're fighting the war at the same time." [00:10] *wars 15[00:10] <@VoxPVoxD> "How much time do we have?" [00:11] 14The Ambassador: "Five weeks. Five weeks, to kill the Guild. I think it can be done, with the proper pushes and shoves." 14She looks over to the star-man. "How does your organization feel about this?" 15[00:12] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz looks over at him. "Organization?" [00:13] 14The Ambassador: "We all represent something." [00:13] 14Her eyes sparkle. "Bubo is with the Order of the White Lotus." 15[00:14] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo wipes fresh sweatdrops from his brow. "I, ah-- yes. She's right." 15[00:14] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz: "The Anathema cult? You mean to tell me you worship them?" 15[00:15] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "No, no! It's not like that. It's a political organization. The cult is... ornamental." [00:15] 14She rolls her eyes. "It's not a cult." [00:16] "And, importantly, it is not comprised solely of Chosen." [00:16] "That is somewhat the entire point. Otherwise it would just be a debate club of the elect." [00:20] 14At this point she's fully in talking-points-for-Stranger territory, but if the Chosen is going along with it, fine. "And its reputation is...misguided." 15[00:20] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "In any case, to answer your question, the people I work for are ambivalent about the power vacuum, and I've been... overzealous in my offered support in the past. But I can at least see that you are not actively opposed." [00:22] 14The Ambassador: "Then I believe that the Council can remove the Guild, or compromise them, or just break them and turn them. And that includes the councilors they own, which you need not name." [00:22] "It will be difficult within the time limit, but, working together, it can be done." [00:22] 14To the astrologer: "Unless you see differently in the stars." 15[00:25] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo says nothing. Kratz's expression is set. [00:26] 14The Ambassador: "But the word has to come down now, Astrologer. We have time now. We might not have time tomorrow." 15[00:29] <@VoxPVoxD> Kratz pinches the bridge of her nose, and is silent for a time. Outside the patrol walks by below again. Finally, Kratz says: "You're right. This is our only chance to save ourselves from the Guild or the raksha. If Pellicia agrees you can count on my support." 15[00:29] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo visibly relaxes. [00:30] 14The Ambassador nods. "I will relay the message." 15[00:42] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "On that note, I should go. I thank you for your brandy and attention." [00:42] 14The Ambassador: "Agreed. I'll leave first. Bubo, a word?" 15[00:43] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo: "...lead on." [00:46] 14When they're at the railing: "We're not friends. Like as not we'll never be. But in the interest of comity and good relations, she'll love you if you let her. You'll love her if she lets you. I should know. The White Lotus lives, Chosen of the Stars." 14She steps up on to the balcony's railing. "Check your mail and drink your tea." [00:46] 14Then she steps off into the air, and plummets towards the street. [00:46] 14A swan rises. 15[00:47] <@VoxPVoxD> Bubo watches her go. Kratz comes out to the balcony to stand beside him and do the same. [00:47] 14The swan twirls in the early night air. She's met the enemy, the true enemy, for the first time... [00:47] 14...and she told him to fall in love. [00:48] 14Hmmm.