Almost as if prompted by the mention of the baths, Terzo emerged from the hall leading to said baths, looking refreshed and exquisitely groomed. He struck an impressive figure for such a small man, wearing a tasteful gray three-piece suit. The orange-red of his pocket square popped in contrast to it, the dark obsidian  cufflings, and the silver pocket-watch chain. His dark hair was cut short in the modern style of the Alycone socialite. He beamed at the two of them. "Inspector! So good to see you here so soon. I apologize if I was late for breakfast."

He brushed past Ms. Penelope, kissing her delicately on the cheek. "Pandrosus, my dear..."

He shook his friend's hand vigorously, patting the inspector firmly on the shoulder, the smell of menthyl, sandalwood, and Pandrosus` perfume all mingled together in the air. "I am glad you two have met. What have I missed?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:26, Thu 11 June 2020.

"We were just chatting about how much you would love to be a turtle in a lovely garden pond, had you the magical means, my love." She pulls the flute to her lips and drinks, looking over it at Troisseau, her eyes seeming to smile with amusement.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Thu 11 June 2020.

"You are quite correct. I should love very much to be a turtle..." He smiles, gesticulating with his hands as he waxes poetical: "To spend my days bathing in the sun, eating fish and leafy greens without a care in the world but for my shell into which my world becomes even more cozy and safe..." He seems to imagine it for a moment, and then nods to himself. He takes a handful of roasted pistachios and begins to crack the shells open and eat them. He looks back up at the inspector. "This is a fun game. Inspector, what animal would you be?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Thu 11 June 2020.

In reply to Terzo Zeni (msg # 11):

You know Monsieur, they say turtle soup brings eternal life.

It is something perhaps you will understand when I tell you that I am and do and have existed and er do exist as a dove - pigeon; interchangeable depending on the setting.

He looks at Sage, and more recently I have felt something like an existence of that lion framed beast whom we threw presently are involved with resolving. If you can bring about how you felt in your  most sorrowful point of existence.. Chorum has existed with only this emotion, and it is at least 70% more ragged and hot than we have capacity to perceive.

The idea of my mind that he could be changed caused him to unleash his full furnace of intensity into my gut. Somehow I learned that either him or myself will certainly perish soon. I do not know why my own mortality could connects in this way but it is true I have been living with a foreknowledge of this.

Snaps his fingers and gestures demonstratively at the fashionable and glowing Terzo Zeni.

I am remiss if I do not point out that you emerged from the glorious steams of Alcyone’s splendor with a panache and colorful figure and I am very impressed by this Terzo! Sincerest apologies to Mmes Penelope and Sage, but Terzo Zeni is the Dame of this season’s cotillion!

Pandrosus looks to Troisseau. "I take no offense. You flatter me, actually. Surely you have seen how he dresses when it's his idea? Tell me you've seen the floppy hat!" She looks to Terzo and smiles warmly, then back to Troisseau, and for a moment she drops her defenses and anyone in the room would be able to read her genuine affection for Terzo.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Thu 11 June 2020.

"I admit that I do enjoy how I feel when dressed like this." He tosses his pistachio shells into a large bowl that is already half filled with other shells of the various nuts on the table. He kneels down at Sage and scratches her behind the ears. Sage pretends to not care, but purrs slightly, and her tail flickers. "Such a sweet girl!"

Pandrosus sighs. "Do not baby her!" she slaps her thighs. "Please, Terzo. Love! Talk to her as a normal person! She hates being babied."

"Then she should tell me herself." He speaks to the lioness in babytalk, scratching behind both ears. "Shouldn't you? Yes, you should!" The lioness turns over on her back and Terzo starts scratching her belly. The lionesses backleg starts to kick, and she purrs.

Pandrosus snaps and mutters something unintelligible and the lioness springs up on all haunches and roars fiercely at Terzo. Terzo is unaffected, and scratches the beast behind the ears again. Sage shakes him away as if annoyed.

"You're embarrassing her in front of company! And Inspector Troisseau has been suffering for days!" Pandrosus snaps wickedly.

Terzo stands. "Very true." He looks to Troisseau. "Perhaps we should get to work, inspector?"
This message was last updated by the player at 02:34, Fri 12 June 2020.

In reply to Terzo Zeni (msg # 14):
Yes Terzo we should-

Breaks off and stands awkwardly askance of Sage. He bows his head and forces his will to communicate from within..but first he he hears himself 🕵🏻‍♂️ I spoke with Chorum.. was that something I did? Why would I not be able to transcribe from inside my own skull? I can do this through time from space.. how is it that I know how to do that? Jacques.. you’re a very sociable person but you have got to get your mind to the Eikons! I do not want to see him destroyed.

Troisseau seems to awaken from a petit mal brainstorm with alertness and determination.

“Yes Terzo. From the greatest of Alcyone’s luxury to the to her most obscured. I need to present you both with reports and introduce you with the cadet I have selected for each of you to assist you with anything you can possibly need. I will be traveling by carriage. If I can get you both oriented with our mission.. Sage is going to stay here for now? I think we need to display the team of Eikon specialists from Tarn.

"Sage does not leave my side." Pandrosus fixes her eyes on the inspector.

Hearing her name, Sage stands up and approaches her mistress. She looks up to Troisseau, sensing that his mistress disapproves.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:15, Fri 12 June 2020.

In reply to Pandrosus Penelope (msg # 16):

To the lion.

Well if it isn’t the stone then I am simply able to transfer my communication with my own mental abilities?
I am able to do some rather unusual and difficult to explain feats like some seriously strange abilities that are mostly unknown . I don’t know what brings me certain skills but I accept them.

I respect and admire you as a soul. I see you. However, I travel by carriage and my horses will not accept you as a passenger or being near them. Apex predators are intimidating you understand.

To PP
Fair enough. Sage cannot travel by carriage which is how I will be traveling to DDOS headquarters. I will meet you there.

Turns to Terzo

Care to ride in style, Turtle Zeni? I would love to crack nuts and talk about your stomach pain remedies  ...

Pandrosus nods and smiles at Troisseau as Sage curls around her and yawns, then growls. The both of them begin to whirl and spin quickly as if they are being stirred in a cauldron. They evaporate into thin air.

Terzo sighs, and shrugs at Troisseau. "It's really impressive the first time, I know. But I'm pretty sure she can only do that perhaps once or twice every couple of weeks. I haven't figured out how. She won't tell me." He nods to Troisseau. "Let's go, my friend. We can talk along the way."

By the time they are seated within the carriage and moving, Terzo seems to be troubled. "I have to warn you, the woman is behaving herself more than I expected. I'm not sure what to make of it. Either she likes you or she is trying to deceive you. I'm not concerned that she will not do the job. It's just afterwards that concerns me..."

In reply to Terzo Zeni (msg # 18):

It is a method of travel, yes. I would like to see how she gets to DDOS HQ as I did not give her the street number. That was not magic Terzo that was a very solid parlor trick.. no magic worth divining peen is employed to be glib?! I see how you can get rankled by her overtime.

Traveling between and through the other spaces and dimensions..I do not know where but the butthole is not a part of the body during travel.. it’s right where it should be once returned but I don’t know how it gets there..

Back to the job. This is what she must do and to completion. If she does, she is a heroine truly and will be celebrated as such. I can’t imagine what concerns you have for what she does after. Do you remember the high priestess entity that you divined to meet in dream? If Pandrosus overreaches into gaining the attention of Her.. her will will intervene. Do you see Mme Penelope as not being bent to what May has should she be concerned? There is a threshold that Pandrosus’s knows not of.There is also a ceiling to her ambition to which without the inspector she will never have access. The hall of mirrors does will not be moved this way.  Ultimately, I believe Mme Penelope ought to learn that there’s a game here and she can carve her place into a strong position if she learns the rules.

Do you see the 5 story burgundy brick building? These are the DDOS headquarters.

Terzo finishes the last of his pistachios, realizing now that he has a handful of shells and no convenient place to dispose of them. He looks about the carriage. "Inspector, have you heard of Hecate's Key?" He opts to simply dump the shells into his jacket pocket and be done with it. "I will grant that you have extraordinary abilities that I do not  fully understand, and that those abilities give you an understanding of traveling through space and time, encountering countless paradoxes and no doubt wondrous things. I also understand how someone in your unique position, having met your share of phonies and frauds, could view Ms. Penelope as an illusionist and grifter. She is, very likely, both those things in many contexts. But she also controls an incredible power. Like you, it is related to traveling between different realms. However, I do not believe it is entirely of the same nature as your abilities."

He pauses as if searching for the correct wording. "I'll be frank with you, of all people, my friend: I do not believe in gods and goddesses. I do believe--nay I know--that powerful entities exist. Are you familiar with the folklore behind the goddess Hecate?"

In reply to Terzo Zeni (msg # 20):

Terzo; did you just consume every nut or nut like food thing?? I wanted to have a chat as we road and I did mention cracking some nuts.. You had a table full of them like a squirrel before winter and now?

Hecate? Hm. I am am completely stumped because I store away gods and goddesses as you do nuts but I’ve never heard of Hecate nor her key.

Thinks about what TZ just said indicating that PP uses tricks and misdirections but possesses something similar to his own abilities in accessing other spaces. His jaw drops. “What a clever bitch..If I am hearing you correctly, Penelope has something in league with my own abilities, AND she uses tricks and misdirects deliberately? That explains something like a third of how I have always held the undisputed edge as Director of ddos. She doesn’t want my department does she? (He laughs at the idea) Her ambition is too steep for a bureaucrat in a oft unrecognized department of the bureau. I’m convinced she COULD do a hell of a job as she’s been playing this using techniques from the DDOS manual I wrote myself. (Pauses)

Terzo; can you be specific to what concerns you with Madame P’s plans? She lives for the adoration and applause and seems so apt to command a following. I have considered for her myself as possibly being my recommendation to lead the ‘hidden’ element of our society .. we do not hide so much in Alcyone but she could bring these essential elements into a golden age! My role as chief inspector with the occult is sparsely regulated and laissez faire.. obviously there will be restrictions after this humiliating child’s play... but this is why I see the Madame as being the one suited for this! She would be tasked carte Blanche by the hall of mirrors with completely championing her will from within.. She certainly is appalled at how this lion and dragon was created like a baked turd sculpture... If something does not happen from within the lodges.. it will fall on the State to regulate and waste away the grand designs  I know she holds dear. I would never be given such a venerated position from within but she could put it back into place as the architect places peens in three...

Also.. returning to the high priestess.. you have seen her. She is nearly a goddess but I tell you the woman held me in her arms when I was a babe.. Do you the Pandrosus Abilities are as such that her next incarnation could be something similarly ascribed as to my grandmother May?

Great peendom of glory you never fail to get this mind full of profound thoughts I had never even considered. This is where we’re going to get off, but tell me about Hecate and her key?

Terzo glances out of the carriage window at a peasant woman trying to hush her crying babe. He frowns at the display, and looks to the inspector. "Hecate is said to be the goddess of witchcraft. She is the three-faced goddess of the underworld. There are many artifacts associated her, but one of the most well known, at least to those whom study such things, is her key." The carriage driver hops down to open the carriage, but Terzo quickly reaches for the door and holds it shut, holding an index finger up to the window to indicate that they need a moment. The driver nods, and steps away, lighting a cigarette.

"Hecate's Key, it is said, grants the goddess the ability to control the movement of entities between all dimensions. There is a spell that bares the name Hecate's Key, and it is known and so common enough that I do not doubt there are a half dozen books in that building with the very spell in it." He points to the bricked DDOS building. "The spell doesn't do anything, however. At least that is what I am to understand. But in any event, Hecate's Key is not just a spell. It is not an object that can be discovered, given, or stolen. It is a person. Likely multiple people. But Ms. Penelope is Hecate's Key. I know because many years ago she was my patron, she commissioned my services, and I had a part in her..." His face scrunches up as if the following word tastes bad in his mouth. "...Ascension?"

He pauses, and his eyes widen as if suddenly remembering something. "Oh, yes!" He reaches into the pocket inside his suit jacket and produces a handful of roasted almonds. "Pandrosus insisted the porter come up to ask if we need anything every hour on the hour. When we don't need anything, I feel bad, so I ask him for a different kind of nut. I'm amazed at the variety of nuts available in Alycone!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:04, Fri 12 June 2020.

In reply to Terzo Zeni (msg # 23):

Cracks and empties nuts with efficiency and precision . Troisseau is rewarded by hard work so much so that any food requiring shelling cracking or splitting he can eat ceaselessly.

We have any nut prominent in Tarn, we always have good enough relations for trade in nut but Alcyone has her own seeds and we keep them in state. Beak claw nut , Prince nuts, shurlnut, Aikonut, Malmaos and.. well that’s really the extant if the nuts of state. We also grow some of the regular nuts and Terzo this is a rock.

Looks forward

You gave me so many warnings that all more or less described a strong willed abraisive and assertive woman. One who thrives in being adored. One that wears at your nerves;’I felt like that’s certainly not something I’ve never found too cumbersome or distressing.. this describes many of our local females. I know you are discreet but I felt like I could read between the lines and navigate my way. You really left off some rather just flabbergasting details regarding your associate.

Inconsequential is that she is the only one I believe to bring us solution and she will be able to leverage herself as our savior as well as use .. who knows.. to decide what she wants for her bounty. I can now strike out the idea that she would like to commander my dinky unit.

Let’s go to the swamps.. ie the cellar. I do want her and you to know about the suspects we have in custody for providing their magic for the dual wielding beast

He nods at Troisseau. "That's fair. Though technically Pandrosus was a patron of mine, so divulging the information via letter seemed a breach of etiquette. Especially when I was certain she would read it. I struggled with whether or not to tell you at all, but then realized my secrecy may have given you a false sense of security. My relationship with her is quite complicated, as you have probably already realized."

As Terzo exits the carriage the woman with the baby approaches them. He shakes his head at her. "Is that really necessary, Pandrosus?"

The woman stops and tosses the baby up into the air. Another woman nearby screams before the child transforms into Sage, and the lioness lands on all fours. Pandrosus is now standing in the woman's place, her arms flared dramatically. "Honestly, Terzo. You are no fun. We had a whole thing rehearsed about how the child was Troisseau's. She was going to look up and say 'daddy' and everything."

"Weren't you only recently lecturing me on professionalism?"

Pandrosus rolls her eyes. "Very well. Let's get this over with." She gestures to Troisseau. "Appologies, inspector. Please lead the way."
This message was last updated by the player at 22:16, Sat 13 June 2020.

In reply to Terzo Zeni (msg # 25):

 I understand, Terzo. Your own code and courtesies are complex, but this adherence Virtue  obviously  protects me with the secrets I am handing to you and your client.

Sees Pandrosus’s exciting  street theatre reveal and breaks into laughter from his belly, clapping  for several seconds and laughing for several more.

Bravo Mme Penelope! Was my progeny A son or a daughter?

gets out of the carriage as his driver readies his cases and instruments into a cart he looks at Terzo

Convincingly disguising and embodying another identity is not unprofessional for the Department of DOS! It is rather it’s own singular component of requisite competencies! There’s an entire chapter and weeks of training that go into just this kind of act!

We will be going through the side entrance and walking into the cellar space. I have your assigned hands awaiting us, as well as Jean Claude, my deputy Chief Inspector.

The doors open as 🕵🏻‍♂️ approaches and he enters wordlessly.

Terzo, Pandrosus, and Sage fall in behind the inspector silently.

In reply to Terzo Zeni (msg # 27):
JKT produces a hunter green pocket square which he hands to one of the two DDOS officers with him.
“Go to my office. On the south wall there is a bookshelf with an altar on top of that. You will see a stone wrapped in oak roots. Carefully remove the obelisk stone and hippoplatydon charm and place them in the green salter. Pick up the stone with my pocket square and bring it to me in the conference area in the aqueduct. Please use both hands and handle with care.”

Endless lefts and rights down halls, a long hall and finally a door . Scuffy floors and dull canary yellow walls. One single desk station in a corner. One on the other side of the room and six cabinets in the center of the room. One wall is decorated in a red and blue tile mosaic. Another set of doors, down two flights of stairs. A door with a heavy latch opened by DDOS guard.



JKT: “The aqueducts are where we secure our most sensitive documents, evidence, artifacts and materials. It is also the most discreet” he gives Terzo a slight nod when he uses that word “Space in our offices for meeting without concern over being seen or heard, or documents and plans being seen or heard by anyone inside the offices including  my staff.”

The aqueducts smell of old books and mildew. Stuffy and sweaty. They walk past tall shelves with locked containers, lockers, Thousands of wooden boxes With drawers, filing cabinets , stacks of trunks and into the open area within four extremely large book shelves stacked on all sides. A tastefully artistic rug from Tarn distressed and well used. A table green varnish with an one and a half foot emerald green statue of Tarn’s famed occultist artist Nenvil Rovickz on a swiveling disk. Troisseau moves passed the urge to quibble with Pandrosus about where he'd prefer people to sit. He does not have the energy. Troisseau holds a stone in one hand. With the other, he pulls out a string and something small and brown. Roughly the shape of a walnut shell. He places the wooden turtle he had found on the street when exiting the carriage. Just places it on the table and points to Zeni and to the string. He smiles absently and goes back to gazing at the stone. A tall man and short woman in khaki fatigues enter. JKT appears to remember what a crisis his state is in. He just sort of lost focus there among the halls and doors and stairs and rugs. He resumes with a much more animated and intentional demeanor. His expression suggests a lucid vulnerability from a man who has been through cycles of very emotional states ever since his first meeting with Terzo Zeni.

JKT: Pandrosus Penelope. These creatures are destroying our city! You are the only one, I believe, who knows how to solve this problem. Tell us please exactly what must be done!

 \
This message was last edited by the player at 23:43, Thu 22 Oct 2020.

Terzo pulls the chair out for Pandrosus. She gathers her dress up and sits. He takes the seat beside her and Sage makes herself comfortable between them as Terzo scratches behind her ears. Pandrosus' expression is nonplussed at the item placed in front of them. Terzo smiles, leaning over to examine this. "Well, this is a fantastic find my friend!" He laughs excitedly and holds it up to Pandrosus. "It's a turtle! Remember the game?"

Her expression is unchanged, and she shakes her head at Terzo, then gives him a placating smiles that seems to say "the grown-ups need to talk now."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Thu 22 Oct 2020.

She looks to Troisseau. "I will need to talk to any of those that you have apprehended under the suspicion of summoning the eikon, and will require access to all files you have on the cult. I will need chain of command and staff information regarding the team working with you on this issue, and free access to this building with whatever deputational powers you need to bestow on me for your team and superiors to take me seriously."

Terzo cocks his head to the side. "Is all of that really necessary? The inspector will be with us at all times. Surely he can give you access to whatever is necessary."

Pandrosus pursed her lips. "I doubt it. And I doubt he is willing to be at my beck and call all hours of the night, should I need access to something." Her eyes fix on Troisseau. "Are you willing to grant me these privileges?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:07, Fri 23 Oct 2020.

In reply to Pandrosus Penelope (msg # 30):

JKT takes a messenger bag from the tall man and another from the short woman. "In these bags are the contents of all of those whom you speak of. I can arrange for you to meet with them immediately should you wish to. These files contain all information regarding the cult. Madame Penelope, I may not be as powerful as you presume. I can grant you access to myself, my staff, and all of my resources. You have this access, with members of DDOS present. I am your chain of command. If you fail, I will surely die. I've seen it myself. My uncertain death that is, but not how I die. I've been told to allow you to initiate this foretold sequence." He hands her the stone stiffly. His demeanor returns to casual and aloof..distant.. 'off'..

but given JKT's tendencies, he may appear within his baseline emotional status.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 00:54, Fri 23 Oct 2020.

In reply to Inspector Troisseau (msg # 31):

She nods respectfully, and for the first time she seems sincere and without heirs. "My concern, Inspector Troisseau, is if you are incapacitated, and I need to continue without you. Taking on one eikon is a monumental task, let alone two tied to the same entity." She looks to Terzo, and then back to Troisseau. "Should you fall during the encounter, I need some assurance that your team will not abandoned me. Because once I've committed to this task, the eikon's entity will know me and not forget what I have tried to do. I will essentially have a  bounty on my head."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:03, Fri 23 Oct 2020.

In reply to Pandrosus Penelope (msg # 32):

JKT: Remains standing between the man and the woman in in uniform.
"I understand, Mme. To my right is Tavaris Trumane, Deputy Director of DDOS. In event of my- incapacitation, my authorities transfer to him fully. He's as abreast of events and procedures as I am, if not more so. I know he is also honor bound as I am. To my left is Deputy Helene D'joie. She is a senior warden of DDOS, and devoted. This is the chain of command. Beyond us you would be on your own."

JKT looks sideways at Terzo, and back to Pandrosus. He takes Pandrosus's hand.. the blue stone is between their palms. ((two astral balls))

JKT attempts to sinscept to Pandrosus Penelope, who may or may not be able to receive his transmission.

((from between two astral balls)) " initiate IN-sequence.
now! confirm codis. Codis codil. codicile.
initiate sequence.
initiate sequence     status: GO ((astral balls))

JKT bears a vacant expression as he is in mid-sensception