Please respond

Hello world.

Scarlet rests in Adalaiz's sitting room, pleased that she was able to master the handkerchief trick so easily, but still feeling a bit overwhelmed by everything.  The old lady's voice is calm, measured.  "Very good, child.  Drink your punch, relax, have a biscuit.  We have things to discuss."

After a while, Scarlet feels her breathing and heartbeat slow, and Adalaiz continues.  "You will not come to my rooms through the main hallways again, except in an extreme emergency.  It is safer for you not to be seen as tied to me.  Tomorrow morning, I'll arrange for you to be shown a passageway that leads to room that few know about.  There's an entrance not far from your quarters.  I'll meet you there after you've finished your first assignment.

"This first assignment is to train and test you.  You won't be in serious danger, unless you are foolish, but you will want to make every effort to succeed -- it will be worth it, I think.

"You are to find a way into the kennel and I want you to befriend the largest queen; her name is Zenobia.  You'll know you've succeeded if she allows you to hold her kittens, which are due in a little over two weeks."  Scarlet knows that the Rheame family is famous for its Savannah Cats, a breed that was created in the past century by breeding a common feline from Egypt with an African Serval.  They are quite a bit larger than a house cat, have the speed and energy of a wild cat, but are affectionate and trainable.  The duchess is rarely seen without two or three of them nearby.  The cats are often a topic of conversation in the castle, with strong opinions both for and against the breed.

Adalaiz continues, "I am quite sure that Sir Fischbacher, the head breeder and trainer, will not be pleased to find you anywhere near his kennel, so you'll have to avoid him.  If he catches you once, it will mean a stern lecture; a second time will be a problem; but a third time will be probably a beating and you will have failed the trial.  How you avoid him is up to you, but, obviously, don't kill anyone, don't harm any cats."  She waves off any questions with "You'll figure it out," and eventually ushers the girl out of the family section.

Of course, Anne waits at the entrance, and she practically jumps off the divan when Scarlet appears.  (I'll let you write up her questions and your answers.)

The next morning, just moments after Anne has left to use the garderobe, there is a knock at the door.  A tall man with a bald head waits outside, and Scarlet thinks she recalls seeing him serving wine in the great hall on feast day.  He says not a word, but merely crooks a finger and walks away, down a hallway that Scarlet knows is just a dead end to give access to the arrow slits that look out over the courtyard.  He walks to the last of the openings and makes an odd gesture, like someone smoothing sand.  He peeks out on over the courtyard, waits until there is no one bustling about, then reaches through the arrow slit to about a foot outside to the left.  Suddenly, there is a click and a portion of the wall slides towards them, leaving a small gap between it and the wall.

The man gently pushes the door shut again, looks out over the courtyard to be sure it is still empty, then waves to Scarlet to reach through the arrow slit.  After fumbling around for a second, she feels a crack in the wall, with a flat lever, or more of a flap, behind it.  It takes all the strength in her fingers to squeeze the flap against the wall, but she is rewarded with the same click and the wall sliding towards her a few inches.

The man then reaches to the side of the door and pulls it, swinging it to the side.  Inside is a narrow passageway up some steep stairs.  Trailing down the stairs is a bright yellow ribbon, which the man picks up and hands the end to Scarlet while gesturing up the steps.  He follows her in, then pulls the door gently shut with a handle.  Before she has a chance to ascend, he touches her shoulder lightly, points two fingers to his eyes, then he makes the same sand-smoothing gesture before opening a small panel above the door and looking through it.  Satisfied, he closes the panel, then tugs a latch which opens the door.  Finally, he steps outside the door and closes it again, with Scarlet still standing in the narrow stairway.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:24, Tue 08 Mar 2022.

Scarlet nodded and sipped punch, trying her best to keep her composure and eat and drink like a lady. She had a thousand questions racing in her head, but she asked none of them, contenting herself with shaking her head in the affirmative to Idalaiz’s instructions.

Steal a newborn kitten, is that it? Consider it done. I thought it was going to be something harder…

She consigned all the details to memory, and curtsied again as the spymistress dismissed her.

Mother, naturally, had many more questions, and was not exactly shy about asking. Scarlet evaded the worst of the barrage with improvised explanations about what an enthusiastic fan of ballet the lady was, and how impressed she had been with her performance. That had the virtue not only of satisfying Anne’s interest, but also subtly mortify her for her previous criticisms of Scarlet’s dancing merits. Mother frowned and didn’t acknowledge it, naturally, but she did give her daughter a long speech about how she should ingratiate herself with the lady. Again, Scarlet nodded through it, thinking to herself, ah, but I AM doing my best to be on her good side, Mother, more than you could ever suspect…

If nothing else, she was already enjoying having a secret, something she could  keep from Mother, something to keep her heart warm and hopeful. Its warmth lulled her to sleep.

The next morning, Scarlet followed the bald (and mute?) man with barely disguised trepidation. She memorizes the place, the gesture, the procedure: perhaps soon she will have to do it alone, in the dark, and against the clock. She is a little puzzled by the sand-smoothing gesture, but dares not ask; dares not speak at all, indeed. Even if her mission isn’t really anything illegal or immoral, she knows better than to take things lightly; it is obvious the lady Idalaiz is only testing her, that this kitten-snatching has further ramifications, just like Mother doesn’t insist in her dancing skills because she is so fond of ballet. Both women, in different ways and dimensions, are power-hungry, she can sense it; the question is how can Scarlet serve both...

She stands there, finally alone in the staircase, holding the yellow ribbon in her hand, thinking about the silent instructions she has just been given.

Before you open this door, use the panel to check there is nobody on the other side. And this ribbon… use it to find your way up and down the staircase? In the dark, maybe?

She opens the panel and peers through it once, before sliding it closed again and climbing the stairs, carefully, as silently as possible…

The very narrow and steep stairs go up for 25 or 30 steps, then empty into an opening that is the size of a large broom closet.  Three passages head away, in three different directions, but the ribbon goes in the leftmost, heading west.  There is very little light, but once Scarlet's eyes adjust, it is enough to navigate.  As she follows the ribbon, there are a few places where the morning light slices in through a crack, creating a sharp line in all the floating motes of dust.  She reaches one more intersection, with a ladder up, a passage north, and the ribbon continues west.  After another two dozen steps the passage ends in a very normal looking door, the ribbon trailing under it.

Opening the door cautiously, Scarlet finds a cozy little room.  The ceiling is slanted, tracking the roof line, such that the wall on the far end of the room is barely four feet high, with a small window looking west over over more castle rooftops.  To her right is a comfortable looking chair with a small table beside it.  A sconce on the wall above the table holds an unlit candle, and beside that is a bookcase packed tightly with books.

On the left is a table with odd instruments.  Besides many unlit candles of various sizes, there are dozens of bottles, some stoppered some not, some round, some square or triangular, some on the table and some up on a metal scaffold of some sort.  Some of those are an even weirder shape, with the only opening a narrow neck that is off to the side.  There is also a book, lying open, and several papers scattered about.  Behind the table is a drawing slate and more bookshelves.

Sitting on top of the open book is a folded piece of paper with "Scarlet" written in bold letters.  Opening the paper, Scarlet reads



Here is a picture, though imagine that all the candles are unlit.
PICTURE
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:38, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

Scarlet has absolutely no idea which way she's heading, except for the startling realization that she has never heard of, let alone see, anything like that in her short life, spent entirely within the walls of Castle Moresby. She feels, even more sharply now, that she is being let into a great secret, literally: the very existence of those secret chambers is beyond her craziest dreams.

She reads the note twice without picking it up, impressed that Idalaiz herself would have written to her. She makes sure to touch nothing: it all looks like alchemy to her, a dangerous practice best left to those who know what they are doing. Something tells her this is not like Mother's lotions and ointments for the skin: more like poison-making and who knows what other dark arts. Following the instructions to the letter, she lights a candle and checks the books on the bookcase, reading the spines, but avoiding the contents of the table altogether, lest she's tempted to pick up a paper or turn a page on the book.

Then she retraces her steps, following the yellow ribbon to the intersection, and instead of west, she picks another one of the passages, stepping carefully and trying to be silent as she explores it...

09:30, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Perception.
09:51, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 7 using 1d20.  luck

Most of the books that have titles are histories of the gods, the heroes, noble families, military campaigns, etc.  However, there are a number without titles, just an author's name, as if that is enough to convey to the knowledgeable reader what information might be stored inside.  In the midst of a group of these she does see one with a title -- a title that strikes her as a bit ominous:  Venomous Snakes of North Africa.  She decides to explore the passages, instead.

Heading down one of the other passages, it quickly narrows to where Scarlet would scrape both shoulders, so she turns sideways and then has to duck under a beam.  This section is quite a bit darker -- there are fewer cracks in the walls letting light in.  The passage ends in a very small metal gate; even if it were open she'd have to scramble on her belly to get through.  The gate is locked with a sturdy-looking padlock.

Returning to the intersection, Scarlet tries another route.  It leads to what initially looks like a dead end, but then she notices that the panel on the floor is not nailed down, just loose.  Once she gets her fingers around its edge, the real effort in pulling it up is maneuvering her body around it in the cramped space.  Finally, she is able to fit it past her and she is looking down into a closet containing neatly folded blankets and pillows.  The dust that covers this cramped overhead space is already wafting down on the bedding below.

Venomous Snakes - that might explain the origin of poisons, if that is what Idalaiz or one of his agents uses that laboratory for. For now, Scarlet prefers to keep her nose out of substances.

The second corridor proves mostly uninteresting - there's the grate, and beyond the fact she has been explicitly ordered not to go beyond it, she also has no ways of actually opening it. So she's glad to find an exit to the third and final passageway, if a most intriguing one.

A closet with blankets and pillows, so it follows that it must be near the bedrooms... perhaps the family bedrooms? She hesitates for a few heartbeats, then she slides down into the closet, after checking the shelves below will make adequate hand- and footholds to climb back into the secret passage.

She spies through the keyhole before trying to crack open the door, trying to guess which part of the castle she's in, listening intently for any telltale sounds before she tries to step outside.

Scarlet peeks out the keyhole of the closet and sees a bare, wooden wall.  This tells her, at least, that it doesn't open into any part of the family section in the castle, because she noticed in her one visit there that all the walls, even the hallways, were covered with tapestries.  Unlatching the door, she steps out into the hall to get her bearings.  There are a number of doors off of this hallway, and she can see stairs down at the end of it.  On one of the doors someone has attached a small standard, but she doesn't recognize it.  It is azure and sky blue with a white star and a black anchor.

https://drawshield.net/create/...%20anchor%20%20sable

She hears footsteps coming up the stairs, at least two people.

You would have recognized Rheam, or, of course, d'Ardelle heraldry.  This is neither of those.  BTW, feel free to tell me what a d'Ardelle standard looks like.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:57, Thu 10 Mar 2022.

White star, sable anchor, Scarlet consigns it to memory, trying to remember if she has ever seen that coat of arms around Castle Moresby...

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 10 using 1d20+6.  Knowledge (Local).

Her ears perk at the sound of someone coming. Not willing to risk one of the doors, she goes back into the cabinet, peeking through the keyhole to spy who's approaching...

15:22, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 1 using 1d20.  Sense Motive.
I'm using Sense Motive just as a general ability at reading people.  Spoiler alert:  You did not succeed.  :-)

Scarlet sees that the people coming up the stairs are two men, both with moustaches and no beard.  The taller one has gray in his hair and moustache, the shorter one has dark hair.  She doesn't recognize either of them, which implies that they are probably visitors.  They walk past the closet and stop at the next door beyond the one with the standard on it.  She hears a key being turned, then they walk into that door and close it.

Unknown men, unknown coats of arms... What is all that to Scarlet? As far as she can tell, they have nothing to do with her mission for the lady Idalaiz, namely to steal a kitten.

And yet, she is curious. Is it mere coincidence that the secret passage grants access to this particular wing of Castle Moresby? Or is there something important to be learned here?

Exiting the closet, Scarlet approaches and puts an ear to the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:45, Sat 12 Mar 2022.

Scarlet does not even have to put her ear to the door to hear the conversation inside the room the two men just entered.  The thundering voice can be heard from even down the hall a way.  "We are here to find you a wife who will make us a good partnership, not for you to dally with chambermaids!  You can have all the chambermaids you want AFTER you are married."

After a pause, the same voice continues, "What's wrong with Ranteson's girl -- what's her name? -- Alyssa?  She's pretty enough.  Her father is a count ... Travis county!  And she seems quite interested in you."

"But father," the other voice is a little higher, and has a slight pleading edge to it, "she's such a ... eieewgggh.  Can't we find a girl who isn't such a, a, ..."  He trails off.

"So the girl has ambition.  That's a good thing.  You could have a little more ambition.  You'll be a count one day.  It's up to you if you're going to be satisfied with just Gemlia or if you want something a little more substantial.  Count of Gemlia AND Travis, that's a start.  And Ariznia is near Travis.  Old Harrovenos has no heirs, the Duke is going to be ..."

The boy cuts him off, "Yes, father.  Could we PLEASE not go over this again?  The first hundred times was enough, I think.  OK, fine.  I'll chat with Alyssa at dinner.  Maybe she'll be less of a shrew if she has a couple glasses of wine in her.  I'm going to go down to meet with Usuul again and have anther workout.  You should see the improvement in my swordwork!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:55, Sat 12 Mar 2022.

Scarlet's lips purse.

Alyssa has 'ambition'? What she has is a stick up her butt. She is trying to marry a count? And be countess? Not if I can help it... and I can, and will. Let me show you what ambition is, you little bitch.

At the same time, her brain wheels are spinning. Was that the Count of Gemlia's arms on the door, or are they from a different visitor? What is the best way of sabotaging their date tonight? Could she maybe borrow some of those substances she has seen at Idalaiz's secret room? Who the hell is Usuul, some sort of swordmaster? And could she take the time off her own mission to...?

Yes, she decides. Yes she can. She has two full weeks until the kittens are born, but only until tonight to run interference. This takes priority.

She goes back to the cabinet, to hide while the boy goes out, before she can go try the door with the coat of arms.

As Scarlet watches the boy walking back down the hallway to the stairs, she realizes that he is quite handsome.  This is a new feeling for her, to care about a boy's looks, but there is something in the line of his jaw and the curly hair on his upper lip that calls to her.  But he's really old, probably 20 or 21.

After he trots past, she comes back out of the closet to listen at the door with the standard, but the room is silent.  It occurs to Scarlet that her mother, with her excessive focus on what everyone else is wearing, probably will know what the heraldry represents, as well.

I see you have no points in Disable Device, so breaking in is not an option.  You can return via the halls or the passageway, but I'll assume the latter, since you are pretty filthy, right now, with cobwebs in your hair and dust all over you.  We can change it if you want a better grounding of where you are, but it won't be that hard to figure out.

In thinking of her mother, Scarlet realizes that Anne is probably frantic wondering where she has gone.  After slipping back into the closet, she climbs back into the passageways and replaces the makeshift trap door, trying to minimize the gouts of dust wafting down on to the spare bedding, but not really succeeding.

When she returns to their room, her mother starts to screech at her.  "Where have you been?  I've been looking all over!  And you're filthy!  Were you outside playing in the dirt?"  Once Anne gets the stress out of her system, Scarlet is able to ask about the standard.  "Oh, that's the Stede family, from Leucas.  Stay away from them; they're practically pirates!"

You don't have to focus on one activity or the other.  It's barely mid-morning right now.

With butterflies in her stomach, Scarlet returns to mum and her parrotings barely register. One good thing about mum and her tendency to fill the void with words is the ease with which one can just nod and smile or look taken aback, suiting the occasion, and let her do most of the talking. Scarlet does just that, and thus avoids any real explanation of where she's been or what she's done.

For a while she entertains the thought of telling Anne about the Count of Gemlia and his plan to marry his son to Alyssa, but soon she discards the thought. While Mother has a great potential for sabotaging things, there is a fair chance she would fail in some embarrasingly spectacular way, and even if she succeedes, then she, Scarlet, might end up betrothed to the lad which... well... would that be so bad, mmm?

She pushes aside those thoughts. She has stuff to do.

As soon as Mother is done with her, Scarlet wanders off, picking her way to Alyssa's chambers. She hasn't decided what form would her sabotage take yet, but she wants to see if she can slip into her room undetected, and pay her in kind for her 'assistance' during the ballet.

Since Alyssa is one of Duchess Darling's ladies-in-waiting, it is a safe bet that her room will be empty at the moment.  After getting herself cleaned up, Scarlet makes her way to the small rooms that the unmarried ladies-in-waiting have, and it occurs to her that she doesn't know which is Alyssa's.  There are eight such rooms, though not all of them are for the ladies, possibly they are not even all occupied.  While she can get into the wing easily enough, the doors to the small rooms are all locked.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:30, Mon 14 Mar 2022.

Curses! A lock, a simple lock could foil her plans.

Scarlet gave herself a second or two to sulk. There was a reason she hadn't been whatever she was now, before now. Just a year ago she would have pouted and refused to go onstage after Alyssa's sabotage; just two years ago she would have run crying to Mother. She was changing fast, she felt it, but she was still mostly a normal girl, not the revenge-exacting machine she was, in her daydreams.

There was no point hanging around that wing without a clear plan or a way inside Alyssa's room, whichever it was. She would just be spotted at some point and that would be it. Scarlet turned around the way she came, ruminating some other way to mess with the older girl.

If I can't get to her... let's see if I can get to him.

She finds the most direct route to swordmaster Usuul, hoping to catch Alyssa´s reluctant suitor there.

Scarlet realizes that she has never been to the area where the sword training goes on, and has to ask directions from a page.  It is in a set of rooms on the ground level, which means it has no windows.  Peeking in through the main door, she is immediately assaulted by the smell:  sweaty, unwashed bodies overlaying a strong scent of leather and wool.  The walls have racks of weapons, mostly wooden practice weapons but some real ones, as well.  There are doors in each direction, probably heading to changing rooms, maybe an office.

In the center is one tall, wiry man leading three others through some exercises with practice swords.  His grace and economy of motion is astounding, reminding Scarlet of Angelique.  He is bare chested, and she can see his ropey muscles rippling just under the skin.

The three students are the young man she saw above, another young man, and a woman!  They all struggle to keep up with the instructor.  They seem more rushed in their movements than he, but at the same time are barely keeping up, and all three are covered in sweat.  Finally he calls a halt to the exercise.  "Good, now let's pair up and practice that against an opponent.  You two lads together, and I'll work with Ellenda.  Take turns being attacker and defender.  Attacker can only use either the triplet high-low-thrust or the high feint - sweep.  Defenders, you should be watching the shoulders and waist, to figure out if that initial high move is a feint or an attack.  With only the two attacks to worry about, it should help you focus."

Watching the lesson is fascinating, as is watching the master in action.  When the woman attacks high, his sword is always there to block it; but when she feints he doesn't even move towards it.  When he attacks, it seems that her blocks high always catch air as his sword taps her on the side, and when she ignores the "feint," it isn't.



I'll pause here in case you want to go into the room during the lesson.  Otherwise, you can just wait for him to come out.  He will notice you and respond in a friendly way if you talk to him, so you can go ahead and start the conversation.  (Even though you're only 12 years old, you still have an 18 charisma, which is going to attract positive attention from nearly everybody ... at least everybody who isn't jealous.  So he won't necessarily be flirting, just being friendly.)

Scarlet had had... dreams. And daydreams. About men. But not about actual men, not yet, but marvelous, elf-like creatures of soft skin, tender manners and warm kisses. She does not know actual men yet, in all their disappointing or thrilling reality, but the idealized men of teenage fantasy.

The fencers, graceful and agile but covered in sweat, manly but not overtly so, fall somewhere in the middle, a grey area that is still equally exciting and disconcerting for her. She isn't sure how she feels about it exactly, only that she is very pleased that there is a girl there too, perhaps as a role model, perhaps in and by herself?

For a minute she hesitates between remaining out of sight and stepping into the room, but she finally decides to be bold and make her presence known. After all, she is very new to the stealthy approaches that Idalaiz seems to favor, but she has had a whole (if short) lifetime of learning how to be charming and lovable.

Without even feigning surprise, she takes a seat and unfolds her fan, fanning herself slowly while she watches the show. Let them come to you, as Mother says. The greatest hunter is not the one that springs forward the fastest, but the one who convinces the prey to come to her, willingly.

Without pausing in the exercise, Usuul glances as Scarlet and gives her the briefest of nods to acknowledge her.  He continues a minute more, then puts up a hand for his partner to halt.  "Excellent, Ellenda.  It's a little unfair, because I practiced for years to make sure my shoulders moved the same through both a feint and an attack, but you are watching the right place and you'll do very well."

He turns to the two men, and calls out, "Freeze."  They both freeze as quickly as they can, clearly having been through this before.  "Well, we didn't catch it.  Pattersuma, start that last move again ve-e-e-ery slowly. ... OK, stop.  Stay right there."  He turns to the other man, the one Scarlet saw upstairs, "Xavin, first, where are you looking?  No, not at me, look at him.  You're still watching the blade, but the blade tells lies.  Look right here, in his shoulders.  This is a feint, not an attack.  Even if he tried to convert it to an attack, it would have no power at all.  OK, now Pat, start the other move, slowly again. a-a-a-and stop, right there.  Do you see, Xavin?  His shoulder is in a much stronger position, this is an attack, and you'd better block it."  He waves to them all.  "Drink some water, then back in five."

Finally, the instructor turns to Scarlet.  "Yes, Miss.  Can I help you?  Are you here to sign up for some beginner lessons, perhaps?"

"Oh, I would love to," Scarlet replies, blushing slightly. "I had... no idea, you accepted ladies as well, master Usuul. I would love to... although I fear I am not, well, naturally gifted for it," she adds demurely. The truth is, beyond the fact she is only there because of Xavin, she had never considered the possibility of taking fencing lessons... the kind of thing Mother would disparage as unbecomingly tomboyish. But what the hell, maybe she can? It could be fun? And an excuse to hang out with Xavin...

I'm going to make this into a temporary dead end on this secondary plot, because you need to make some progress on the main one.  Something will come up to bring it into play, again.

He smiles warmly, "Everyone can learn, everyone can improve.  We have a beginners' lesson every day after lunch except for Ares's Day, so none today.  It is limited to 12 students though, and it sometimes fills up.  Also, unless you are fifteen, I'll need your parent's or your supervisor's permission.  And there is a matter of payment?  It is one gold piece per month of lessons, or you can pay just a silver per lesson."

The three students return and get into line, they all look at Scarlet, but she is unsure whether they are just curious or somehow more interested.  She thinks that Xavin's eyes linger on her a bit longer than the others, but maybe that's just her imagination.  Scarlet indicates that she'll be back and the lesson is already back underway before she has made it out the door.

Well, damn. The two things Scarlet has never had in her life: money, and Mother's permission.

She smiles and curtsies, more for the benefit of Xavin than the swordmaster's, and leaves elegantly. She tells herself it wasn't a waste: she has learned his name, caught his eye, and perhaps, only perhaps, discovered a way of getting closer to him. Fencing lessons? Scarlet doesn't see Alyssa taking any. So that's a time, a space, where she can have his eyes on her, instead of the bitch.

Right, back to Idalaiz's quest... first thing is to locate Fischbacher's corner and asess the Savannah cat's den, its accesses, how to get inside and befriend the mother. And second... perhaps pay a visit to the kitchens, and secure a bowl of milk or some fish for the cat? She is going to play it by ear.

We're in somewhat of an awkward situation in that Scarlet would know the castle considerably better than I do.  I still owe you a map, but it isn't going to happen tonight.  Also, I may change this layout a bit if mapping it makes it clear that it doesn't work. but this is how I see it.

Floor numbering is European style, which means that the first floor is one flight up from the ground floor.


Scarlet knows that the cats are kept in the west of the castle, on the ground floor, though she isn't sure what is right above them.  Maybe the kennel is two floors high.  Second floor west is the servants' quarters, and above that is the Family wing where Scarlet visited Idalaiz only the day before.

On the northwest ground floor is the kitchen, and one of the entrances to it is the same hall that leads to the kennels.  Stairs from the kitchen lead straight into the Great Hall, which occupies much of the first floor.  From the Great Hall, east is a large foyer, with portcullises on both ends, and then the large main doors lead outside, where there is a flight of stairs down to the road and the stables.  The sword training room, she realizes, must have been directly under the foyer, backing up to right under the outside flight of stairs.

Scarlet knows that she will be deferred to in the kitchen, as long as her requests are not unreasonable.  Asking for some milk or some fish would instantly be granted if any is available.  Milk certainly would be always.  By asking for something that will take a little time to prepare she can casually wait and keep an eye on any traffic to of from the kennel.  After ten minutes, she is rewarded by seeing a boy, only about her own age, leaving the kennel, walking straight into the kitchen.

Scarlet makes a point of asking for Mother's favorite milk pudding, which has three benefits: it takes a long time to prepare, it is perfectly reasonable as an excuse that has nothing to do with the Savannah cats, and she's guessing the cats would probably love it anyway.

She raises her eyes to the arriving boy, deploying a move she has seen Mother do more than once.

"Well, lads don't say hi to ladies any more?" she teases him, arms akimbo, not unfriendlily, but making it clear she's the one taking the initiative only because he has failed to do so.

14:13, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 14 using 1d20+8.  Diplomacy

Scarlet has seen him before, in the kitchen or around the castle, but he is not of the noble class, so she doesn't know his name.  The boy glances up, then stares pretty fervently at his sandals.  "Oh.  Ummm.  Hello, miss."  He stands with the attitude of a servant, waiting for instructions, and Scarlet realizes that she may have miscalculated.  Mother's teasing is to other nobles, at least knights, with whom a certain amount of banter is expected.  This approach could work on one of the pages, who are generally lesser sons and daughters of minor nobility, but possibly not servants.  On the other hand, he has stopped, and he does seem to be smiling, perhaps blushing a bit.  He clearly isn't sure what to do.

Scarlet has overshoot the mark by a fair margin, but she might still use the situation to her advantage. She has been thinking of trading some banter with a minor nobleman, but she can use a slightly cowed servant too.

"That is better," she says, walking slowly around the boy like she has seen some ladies do when they mess with pages. "You work at the kennels, do you not? That must be fun, all those cute kittens. What do you feed them?" she says conversationally, as if she isn't really interested in the answer.

He seems to perk up, now that he is on familiar ground, but he still doesn't look Scarlet in the eye.  His tone sounds a little as if he is reading the answer.  "The adult females eat 1.8 to 2.0 pounds of meat once per day, or more if they are gestating or lactating.  The males eat 2.1 to 2.4 pounds.  They prefer coneys, especially live, or at least still warm, but they will eat birds, squirrels, or whatever meat we get for them.  The kits we sometimes feed milk with an egg in it, but only if there is an issue with the mother.  They need to eat three to four times per day."

Scarlet is initially surprised by the sudden inflow of information, trying to retain the gist of it. It might come in handy if she is to befriend the mother before the kittens are born, which was a nebulous plan until a second ago, and a more defined course of action now.

"Fascinating," she says encouragingly, smiling at the boy. "Show me. Let's go."

It is not said so much as a command but as a naturally reasonable thing, not to be denied.

"Go?" the boy asks, in complete disbelief.  "You, umm, want ... I don't ... It isn't ... I was just ... I'm not supposed to ..."  The look of shock and fear in his eyes is almost comical.  Finally he just gives up and turns to continue he walk to the kitchen.

In about a minute he returns carrying a hunk of bread and a piece of fresh cheese, the usual midday meal for the servants.  When he sees Scarlet still standing there, he freezes, then walks around where she waits, hugging the wall as far from her he can get.  It's silly, because she's waiting in what is intended as a small staging area for the kitchen, just a widening of the hallway with a table in it.  It's not as if he could sneak by unnoticed.  Also, she is looking right at him.

I don't know if I conveyed this well enough, but in today's terms we would say that this lad is on the autism spectrum.  I'll pause here so you can try to speak to him or follow him if you like.  He's going to ignore you, though.  Literally.  You broke his brain.

I'm also going to try to remember to write the time of day at the end of all my notes, because I keep forgetting for the different threads and I have to read back to remember.

Tuesday (Ares' Day):  early afternoon.

The boy is... strange, but Scarlet is more or less used to diverse strangenesses, and this one is not as bad as Mother's seasonal bouts of depression, to name one. At least the boy is discreet and polite, so she just follows him with the easy manner of a noblewoman who knows she is allowed to make a servant as uncomfortable as she pleases without a second thought.

Scarlet has no doubt she is going to be stopped and challenged, but it might be a good idea to test what the security is like before she tries to find another way in.

Scarlet follows the boy, who literally is acting as if she is not there.  He arrives at the door which she already knew led to the kennels, and knocks three times.  She can see that the door has a lock, and for the second time that day she wonders how hard it is to learn how to pick the things.  After a few minutes, the door swings open, a young woman behind it.  Like the boy, the young woman is a servant that Scarlet thinks she has seen before, here or there, but doesn't know her name.

Behind the girl, Scarlet can see a row of cages on a table, many containing cats that are sleeping, stretching, or pacing in the cage.  The room she can see is only about 10 or 12 feet deep, which clearly is not deep enough to reach the wall of the castle; there must be more to it behind that wall.  The room extends both left and right, but she can't tell how far without at least poking her head in.

I'll pause here so you can decide your next action.  You could still just continue past, as if you just happened to be walking by.  If you want to enter, roll bluff, diplomacy, or intimidation, as appropriate to your action.  You're looking for a DC 15.

Tuesday (Ares' Day):  early afternoon.

This message was last edited by the GM at 23:50, Wed 23 Mar 2022.

Scarlet keeps chatting to the boy in a completely one-sided conversation, if only so as to not look like she's blatantly following him, but telling him some long-winded story by the time they reach the door.

"...thus the lady wants to keep an eye on the mothers, naturally, and particularly the way they are nourished, for she wants to ascertain if there is any truth to the rumor that a steady diet of birds instead of rabbits might cause the cats to develop small, feather-like clumps of fur, which naturally would be a unique development that would set that breed apart from all others, bringing repute and prestige to our House and..."

She keeps talking, waving away the girl as she enters, acting as if she was completely entitled to be there.

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 18 using 1d20+8.  Bluff.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:50, Thu 24 Mar 2022.

Not only was that quite entertaining, but it is also an approach I hadn't considered, which always gets you points.  I had expected you to turn and face the girl and deal somehow with a confrontation, but that was way better.

As Scarlet walks past the young woman, who is perhaps in her early 20's.  The woman holds up a finger and asks, "Just a min...  Who?  What?  Diet of birds?  Feathers?  That's just ..."  She cuts off her inquiry, since it is having no effect, she follows the two.  "Erikus, is she with you?" she asks, but neither Erikus nor Scarlet responds.

Meanwhile, Scarlet continues to follow the boy.  He turned left into the room, and she can see that the room, or maybe it's just a wide hallway, turns to the right again.  This leads to another 10-foot wide hall, about 40 feet long.  This new one has on the left a long counter with deep cabinets below and and shallow cabinets above.  On the right is a blank wall with a door in the center.  At the end of this new hall is a spiral stairway up and the hallway turns right again at the end, and she realizes that this is actually a very large room, but with an enclosed area in the middle.

http://zag.net/Pathfinder/Ellada/Castle%20Kennel.png  (This is a little roomier than I was intending, but I'm too lazy to redo it.  The area in the middle should be larger relative to the room, so that the spaces are it are narrower.  The cat cages are about 6 ft x 4 ft, and take up about half the space.  The larger cat cages are 8 ft x 6 ft.)

As Scarlet turns the corner to head north, the girl trails back, unsure what to do.  Erikus stops and turns to the counter, opening the cabinet above and grabbing several brushes and combs.  He turns towards Scarlet and shakes a bit as if mildly startled.  Since she has kept up her patter on the different diet options and their possible side effects, it seems amazing that he might be surprised she is there.  Finally, Erikus speaks, using the same odd tone as before, as if he is reading the information.  "You should not feed birds to the cats more than three days in a row, unless there is no other option.  Eating too many feathers can cause gastro-intestinal problems.  If they do have problems, feed them ten leaves of Lobelia Inflata, for an eight-pound cat, adjusted for weight, as an emetic.  If the cat will not eat the Lobelia, mix it with an equal part cat mint, also known as cat nip.  This should entice the cat to eat all of it.  The Lobelia will induce vomiting immediately, and it should end within 10 minutes.  If the vomiting goes on, spray a squirt of lemon on the cat's face to distract it, which will usually be enough."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:03, Fri 25 Mar 2022.

Scarlet suppresses a smile as the woman servant gets thoroughly ignored and finally gives up, and follows Erikus all the way into the kennels. It is surprisingly easy to reach, this place, or perhaps she had overstated the difficulty of the mission, given lady Idalaiz's instructions.

Her eyes quickly map the room, eyeing with special interest the staircase and the central door. She steps in front of Erikus, blocking his way, and takes advantage of the interruption to take one of the brushes from his hand, smiling brightly as she does so.

"Interesting information. Where do those stairs lead to? And that door?"

When Scarlet reaches for the brush, Erikus's posture becomes hostile and possessive as he clutches all the brushes tightly.  It is clear to her that touching the boy's 'things' is a big source of stress for him, so she backs off.

Scarlet asks, "Where do those stairs lead to? And that door?"

Erikus responds, "More kennels, and the viewing area.  Door goes to the cats' practice room.

"When raising hunting cats, it is important that they practice their hunting skills every day, or nearly so.  If it is inconvenient to take the cats outside, then you can put obstacles and some of the appropriate form of prey into a large room and release the cat.  Kittens will play-hunt, but usually will not kill the prey.  However, if the behavior is encouraged (See chapter 4), then they will grow to be fine hunters."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:39, Fri 25 Mar 2022.

Just as Scarlet has been suspecting, Erikus is quoting from a book. It is somewhat surprising that a little serf can read, but that only makes that book more interesting: if Scarlet is to successfully steal a Savannah kitten, she might find those instructions valuable.

"That is fascinating, Erikus! Where can I find that marvelous book? I'd like to know what chapter 4 says!" she enthuses.

As long as Scarlet makes no attempt to touch his things, Erikus seems more than happy to ramble on.  It is challenging, though, to get him to answer a direct question.  She follows him as he takes his brushes to the southern end of the counter space.  Then he walks over to the cat in the cage next to the counter and studies it for a good 15 seconds before opening the cage door.  With the door barely open, he slips a collar over the cat, then leads it out of the cage, offers it a treat to jump up on the counter, then starts to brush the cat all over.

Meanwhile, he is rattling along with the contents of Chapter 4.  "Chapter 4, Encouraging Behaviors.  When training your cat, you will want to encourage certain behaviors and discourage others.  A cat can not be trained purely with treat-based positive reinforcement like a dog can.  Instead, you need to sense the mood of the individual, to know whether treats, or affection, and discipline will be most effective at any time.  ..."  He goes on to describe ear and tail positions and body postures of cats and their interpretations, and to discuss the best training techniques for a cat to make them controllable without dampening the wild energy that a hunter needs.

Erikus finishes brushing the first cat, puts it back into its cage, and goes on to another.  When he spends 15 seconds studying the cat before opening the cage door, Scarlet realizes that he is studying the ear and tail positions and the body posture to interpret the mood of the cat.  With this second cat, he opens the door wide and spends a good minute rubbing and scratching the cat before putting a collar on her.

Scarlet hears a door close, somewhere up the stairs, and then a voice calls out, "Lavaleen?  Have the cats all been groomed?"

The girl immediately heads over to the spiral stairs and says upwards, "Nearly done, Sir Fischbacher.  There is a girl here, I'm not sure who she is, maybe a friend of Erikus'?"

No word about the book, and Scarlet starts to suspect Erikus hasn't actually read it, maybe he's been lectured about it only verbally. He seems the kind of strange savant to remember every single word and repeat it verbatim. Besides, something about the way cats are trained ressonates with her, she almost feels... identified with them.

The voices wake her up. The damn girl is about to give her away to that Sir Fischbacher. Scarlet would probably just get a mild scolding for intruding in the kennels, but she'd rather not burn that option this early. So time to leave.

She turns without saying goodbye to Erikus, and with a sudden impulse, she opens a couple of cages on her way out, those of the cats that look more nervous or feral, hoping she won't be noticed heading out in the ensuing confusion...

Heh heh heh.  You don't mess around.  I'm going to make a single d20 roll for the amount of chaos you cause, where a 1 means that the cats just stay sleeping in their cages and a 20 implies that the two cats you released start fighting.  Going to roll now...
16:52, Today: Zag rolled 4 using 1d20.  Chaos roll in the cat kennel.
Hmm. That's less fun than a 15-17 would have been, but a lot safer.  If the result had been 18+ I was going to have to work out whether Erikus or Lavaleen got seriously hurt.

As Scarlet leaves the kennel, she glances back to see that the cats she released are not doing much.  One has gently jumped down out of his cage, and is executing a leisurely stretch.  The other is sniffing the air just beyond the open gate, as if that gate had somehow prevented the free flow of air before.  She figures that the action hasn't bought her much time, so she hurries to nearest corner, traveling away from the kitchen, and then travels up a flight of stairs, along a hall, and down a flight, just to make sure that no one could follow her.

She considers what she has learned.  She knows the basic layout of the kennel, and has already learned a fair bit about training the animals.  She was hoping to work out which cat is Zenobia, but that will have to wait for the next attempt.

Surprised by the utter lack of chaos, Scarlet catches her breath. Now she regrets not having stolen one of the cats, considering how passive they turned out to be. Well nevermind: she knows the layout of the kennels now, and a few valuable snippets about cat training, something she didn't think feasible just hours ago.

And she has time, to find Zenobia and earn her trust. That probably means earning Erikus' and Lavaleen's trust first, which rubs her the wrong way: she has discovered a visceral antipathy to both, the weird boy and the snitching girl.

Scarlet feels like one of those kittens: play-hunting, rarely kills her prey, but if the behaviour is encouraged...

And isn't that what Idalaiz is doing to her?

And what of Alyssa and her attempts at marrying that lad... Given half a chance, Scarlet will do anything to prevent it. She has to pay.

Lost in those thoughts, she goes back to Mother and tries to casually drop the name of Sir Fischbacher in conversation, to see what surfaces...

Wow.  Stealing one of the cats would have been a terrible idea.  I hope you weren't really considering it.

I'm a little torn how to handle you using your mother's Contacting Network.  I don't want to give you a free skill at her level, which is going to be significantly higher than Scarlet's.  (It is her best skill, I imagine.)  What I've decided to do is to a Gather Information roll (Diplomacy skill) but she will 'aid another' so you have +2 on it.  I haven't actually decided, yet, what you'll learn from it, if you roll high, but there will be something useful.  Going to roll now ...

09:06, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 26 using 1d20+10.  Gather info
Well dang.  Now I have to come up with something.

Scarlet has to sit through her mother's long list of what everyone was wearing the previous night, along with her judgements on what is trending, what is clearly on the way out, etc.  Finally Scarlet has a chance to work the name Fischbacher into the conversation, and Anne immediately laughs, "Oh, that old fool!  He has only two nice suits, and they're always covered with cat hair.  And all he ever talks about, besides his precious cats, is Petteia, that silly game.  Imagine, grown men spending three nights a week playing a ridiculous board game.  None of the important men at court are in their little group, only men like Count Ranteson and Baron Zamien, so I don't see the point."  She returns to the much more important topic of what everyone wears at different events, and Scarlet's mind drifts off to consider the men Anne mentioned.  They both sound familiar.

Eventually I want a kitty! Probably one of the newborn kittens, would be easier to smuggle out I guess. You can't put cats in a game and not expect me to want one! :P

Scarlet nods along as per usual. Petteia, a game of maneuvering, attrition and entrapment. Sounds strangely apt.

She tries to recap all she knows. The Count of Gemlia wants to wed his son Xavin to Alyssa Ranteson. Alyssa's father, the Count of Travis, plays petteia with Fischbacher and Zamien. Fischbacher is the keeper of the kennels, Zamien is a nobody with a young wife. Xavin is... cute, and trains with swordmaster Usuul, and Pattersuma and Ellenda. The piratical Stedes from Leucas are visiting.

The names swirl in Scarlet's head, a cat's cradle of known or guessed-at relations between them. Athena only knows what sense does it all make, and if it does, what use it is to her.

For lack of a better plan, or any plan at all, she wanders off, seeking lady Zamien, with the vague hope that, being young, might sympathize with Scarlet and drop some useful morsel of information.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:30, Fri 01 Apr 2022.

Scarlet wanders about, wondering how she might locate Lady Zamien, who, she learns, still goes by her maiden name, Lady Maranno de Bartoniva.  She considers, A little unusual, but not terribly uncommon when the woman is from a higher ranking family than her husband.  I haven't heard of either family, though.  I'm sure Mother would know, but I don't want to get her too curious about what I'm doing.  She asks one of the cleaning staff, a kind looking girl with long, straight, jet-black hair, where she might find them.

"Oh, sure, Miss.  Baron Zamien is a resident; he is doing something verra important for the Duke, he is.  His apartment is being the last one on the right in the resident's wing, close being to the servants' quarters, it is."  Scarlet smiles and gives the woman a copper for her trouble.  (This is the same wing you live in, though nearly on the farthest end of it.)

She knocks politely on the apartment door and it opens almost immediately.  Scarlet recognizes the young woman from seeing her occasionally at large gatherings, but she does not recall ever having been introduced.  The woman opens the door and smiles, but cocks her head slightly to her left.  "Hello, Miss.  What can I do for you?"  She is dressed in a nice quality day dress, the same sort Mother wears, but this one is newer than any of Mother's.

19:52, Today: Zag, for the NPC Lady Maranno, rolled 5 using 1d20+2 recognition
She was rolling against DC 16 to recognize you from the performance.
Tuesday (Ares' Day):  late afternoon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:51, Fri 01 Apr 2022.

That is a good question. What can she do for Scarlet? She has asked herself that same question on that way here, coming up with a blank. Scarlet is used to court intrigue, but not to design elaborate plans. Mostly she just goes with the flow, the path of least resistance, which usually means humoring Mother. She is so new to doing her own thing, or at least doing the thing of someone - the lady Idalaiz - who is not her mother, and who requires such a... nebulous service from her.

So she smiles and says the first thing that comes to mind.

"Lady Maranno! I apologise, my lady, for I am long overdue in presenting my respects to you," she says, curtsying neatly. "Mother says I should introduce myself great ladies of the court and learn from them, and very specially from Your Ladyship, a luminary of elegance and savoir faire. If I may be so bold as to ask for your mentorship?"

Lady Maranno smiles inscrutably at Scarlet and looks over the girl's head, glancing quickly both ways in the corridor.  "You're so sweet to say so, darling.  Please, come in.  I'll have some tea brought up."  She gestures to the comfortable-looking chairs along one wall and moves to pull on a small rope hanging down near the fireplace.  To get to the bell pull she has to reach behind an easel upon which sits a half-finished painting of bold, red flowers.  There are several other paintings on the walls, in a similar style, and the scent of oil paint is prevalent in the room.

The apartment is very much like the one that Scarlet and her mother live in, but it is a distinct size larger and a bit better furnished.  Scarlet's apartment has a sitting room with a fireplace and it has one small bedroom.  Next to the fireplace is a little area that acts as a kitchenette, where Anne keeps butter, honey, some tea, perhaps some scones or anything leftover from the day to act as a late night snack.  In this apartment, the sitting room is significantly larger, with a full sized table rather than just a tea table.  She can not see into the bedroom, but she can see into the kitchenette, which is a small separate room rather than just a counter in the sitting room, and it has a small door to what looks like a pantry or maybe a wine closet.

Maranno sits down in the other comfortable chair.  "You did very well, darling, except that you failed to introduce yourself.  I think I have a guess, but, please, save me the embarrassment."

Scarlet immediately stands back up and introduces herself formally, slightly embarrassed at having forgotten to do so, but Maranno waves her gently back to the seat.  "So you're Anne's daughter.  Very nice.  And you've been acknowledged by the Duke?"  She says this as a question, but doesn't pause for an answer.  "Yes, yes, of course.  And may I call you Scarlet?"  To the girl's nod, she continues, "and we will be friends, so you must call me Maryann.  It is such a delight to have such a kind and polite young person come to visit."

The two make small talk for nearly an hour, interrupted only by a serving girl entering to take an order and then returning with tea and cakes.  Maryann is as polite with the serving girl as she was with Scarlet, thanking her by name and giving her a silver piece.  The coin seems normal enough (if a bit extravagant), but Scarlet is a little surprised that a Lady would know the serving person's name.  It had never occurred to her before that the servants have names and lives.

The small talk continues, with Maryann asking about what classes Scarlet takes, what subjects she enjoys and does not enjoy, which of the three gardens she prefers, where her favorite walks are, etc.  When the subject of dancing comes up, she finally remembers that Scarlet was the one to perform the aerial dance.  She gushes a bit over how lovely it was and asks about the rehearsal and training and "was it terrifying to be so high up with only a rope?" and all the details.

Once they have each had a cup of tea and a cake, Lady Maranno takes on a more serious face.  "It is so lovely to have you here, my dear, and you are welcome any time.  But I'm sure your mother did not send you to me.  I am hardly  -- what is it you said? -- a luminary of elegance."  She giggles a bit at the idea.  I daresay your mother finds me a bit frumpy and odd, which is not exactly wrong.  Please, do come back again, but for now, tell me how I can help you."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:15, Tue 05 Apr 2022.

It's not hard for Scarlet to blush and look bashful for a second, because it's sincere. Scary how lady Marano had looked straight through her white lie. Or as white as she'd manage.

"You are correct, my lady. My mother, she... is not inclined to appreciating other people's opinions much?" she says tactfully. She is pretty certain the lady holds the same disdain most of the court seems to have for Mother. Whether that is due to her unorthodox position as mistress or former mistress of the Duke's heir, or to her aloof manners, is anyone's guess. "She did not send me to you for my own instruction, it is I who took that step. I was worried it might come across as impertinent, coming from a maid of my age, to request some of your time for my own education... I apologize, my lady. And yes, I would be honored if you called me Scarlet," she says with a hopeful smile.

The wet puppy routine has never worked with Mother, but it might yet work with other ladies, as she is noticing. After all, Scarlet knows she is much more of a people person than Anne, and a smile and a few kind words do sometimes help as a counterpoint to the antipathy some people hold for her for being Anne's daughter. Therefore she is happy to talk about the performance, careful not to sound proud or boastful about her own dancing skills, and obviously omitting all references to Alyssa except to praise her dancing skills, watching the lady for any reaction. Scarlet wants nobody knowing she has it in for the daughter of Lord Travis, and she would like to know if the Lady Marano is a friend of hers or her father, just in case.

"My Mother - out of motherly love and zeal, of course - has kept me isolated from most of Moresby Court, as you might know, my lady, so these days, considering I am already twelve, I am doing an effort to meet my peers, and my betters, to learn the ways of the court, as I believe I must, to be a worthy lady of my lineage. Therefore I am taking the matter of my worldly education in my own hands, seeking those who might help illustrate me; such as master Usuul to teach me fencing, yourself for the courtly lady manners, or your husband for his unsurpassed petteia skills. I know I ask too much, my lady, but pray, would you help me? I shall be forever in your debt, I beseech thee," she pleads, mustering as much honesty as she can.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:03, Tue 12 Apr 2022.

Lady Moranna smiles, "I daresay I could teach you more about painting than the sort of courtly skills your mother excels at.  I've never cared all that much for what the latest fashions are, or who is dallying with whom.  I'm far more interested in what happened a hundred years ago than in what happened last night.  I'm reasonably convinced that the latter will be forgotten by next week, anyway.  If you are still interested, I would love to have you as a friend, and to teach you what I know."

When Scarlet mentions petteia, Maryann looks surprised.  "Oh!  Wouldn't that be wonderful, to have a young lady break into THAT men's club.  My husband has taught me the basics, and he says that there is no reason a woman could not be just as good as the men, but few of his associates would agree.  It just isn't something that interests me, however.  He tries to tell me that it is as much an art as my painting, but I don't see it; it is too structured, with too many rules.  There must be something to it, though.  He and his friends play for usually three hours, three nights a week.  They'll be meeting tonight, if you wanted to slip in there on some pretense and look around."  She then describes where they meet, well enough that Scarlet could find the room easily.  (It's pretty far from the kennel, 2 long hallways, 2 flights of stairs, and a couple of short turns.)

Just then a man enters the apartment.  He is short, probably the same height as Maryann, or even an inch less.  His hair is messy and his clothes are fine quality, but rumpled, as if he slept in them.  He sports a small, neat moustache under his small and close-set eyes.  Maryann stands to greet him and gives him a quick kiss.  "Etan, let me introduce Scarlet d'Ardelle.  She is the daughter of Anne d'Ardelle, who sat with us at that luncheon about a month ago.  Do you remember?  Scarlet, this is my husband, the Baron Etan Zamien of Vórlaïkí."

The baron seems distracted, but manages the minimum of politeness, "It is very nice to meet you, Scarlet.  Please, call me Etan."

Maryann jumps in again, "Scarlet hinted that she might be interested in learning to play petteia, and she seems very bright; perhaps she'll take to it."

Suddenly his interest is peaked.  "Oh, really!  That would be fine, fine indeed!  Have you played at all?"

Feel free to claim that you know the basics, or that you don't, as you like, or that she might have overstated your interest.  The game is a precursor to both chess and checkers, and is somewhere in between them in complexity.  (I found it just by googling "board game ancient Greece.")  I was not looking to introduce another side plot of you becoming a petteia champion or anything, just to give you known times that Fischbacher definitely will not be at the kennel.  But feel free to run with it if it interests you.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 20:32, Tue 12 Apr 2022.

Scarlet nods along. So, a history buff, rather than a fashion victim like Mother. She files away that information, she never knows when that she might have a use for a historian. Her own knowledge is restricted to Castle Moresby and current affairs, but an agent of Lady Idalaiz might need more wisdom and skills than she posseses.

“Oh, my lady, I know the basics of  game, but nothing more,” she admits bashfully. “Strategy is not my forte, I am, as Mother says, a creature of impulse and inspiration… That is why I should excel at dance, according to her. Not that I do, according to me. But yes, I would love to attend those games, if my lady thinks I won’t bother the gentlemen? That would be lovely, thank you!”

It really wasn’t her intention when she knocked on lady Marano’s door, but then again her intentions hadn’t been clear to herself at the time, so she welcomes the lucky break. And strategy is another thing she might come to find useful in the future, so perhaps some advanced notions of petteia wouldn’t be a complete waste of time, not to mention cultivating the friendship of the Baron and his obviously clever wife.

Speaking of which! Scarlet gets to her feet when the Count shows up, curstying elegantly.

“An honour to meet you, Your Lo- Etan. Your lovely wife has been as good as to lend me some of her precious time. As I was telling her, I am only aware of the basics of the game, I fear I might be a tedious player for someone of your expertise, but I would love to learn more. Your gaming mates, Sir Fischbacher and the Count of Travis, would they mind? I do not have the pleasure of knowing them…”

She perked her ears, ready to catch any snippet he might drop about those two: one was the guardian of the Savannah cats that were her target, and the other was the father of Alyssa. Anything could be useful in order to get her cat or get back at her nemesis…
This message was last edited by the player at 14:48, Thu 14 Apr 2022.

Etan laughs heartily, "Would they mind?!?  They would likely explode!"  It's clear that the thought of this amuses him.  "They all have the notion that women are incapable of logic, as if somehow thinking is done by the p..."  He cuts himself off and turns a little red in the face.

Finally he continues, stuttering a bit, "Anyway, umm, miss, I am afraid you would not be terribly welcome.  Most of the men like to be able to drink and curse and, uhhhh, worse, and they would not appreciate a young lady around.  If you were prepared to come in and defeat them in a game, well, they'd have to accept you, but it sounds as if you're not ready for that, yet.  I would be glad to teach you, if you like.  I know that women can be just as intelligent as men.  But you'd have to work around my schedule -- my time is not always my own."

As I said before, you can pursue this or not, as you like.  I'm not sure you need another sub-plot, but since I threw Count Ranteson in there on a lark, you have a tie to your existing sub-plot.  I didn't really have plans for that tie-in, I just thought it would have potential to be interesting.  I don't know how much it would help you, though, to tick him off, which you're likely to do if you force your way in there.  Note that you aren't going to be at all skilled at it until you allocate a skill point to it, which means not until you level up.

Whether you pursue it or not, you'll learn that they meet on Ares' Day (Tuesday) after supper, Zeus' Day (Thursday) after supper, and Kronos' Day (Saturday) after lunch.  The less dedicated people come only on Kronos' Day, so that would probably be the best day to come, if you want to.

Ares' Day (Tuesday),  late afternoon.

Scarlet makes a point of blinking twice, feigning incomprehension, although she knows what he was going to say. Mother gets tipsy, sometimes, and when in her cups, she does not mince words. But it would be improper to acknowledge that.

"Thank you for your candidness, my lord. I shall not impose upon such illustrious players," she says graciously, curtsying again. "Perhaps on a later date, when I have improved my game enough to not be a complete waste of time for your skilled friends. My lady, thank you for your time and your kind words. I won't forget your friendliness. For now, I fear I must bid you adieu and take my leave, for Mother will surely be looking for me for supper."

If nothing else, she thinks on her way back to her chambers, I have made another contact and obtained confirmation that Fischbacher will be absent from the kennels tonight. Time to pay another visit to the kitties, without interruptions this time...

They both express how much they enjoyed meeting you, and hope to see you again.

Now you're doing it.  :-)  The ball is still in your court to post.  What are you going to do next?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:10, Sat 16 Apr 2022.

Scarlet decided it was time to pay another visit to the kitties, without interruptions this time... So that's what she did.

;P

Oh.  I thought you meant you were planning to do so 'when the petteia club was in session,' which is only a couple of hours away.  Right now, it is only 4 or 5 hours since you were there, last.

14:19, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Stealth.

Scarlet heads back down towards the kennel.  As it is about suppertime, the halls to the kitchen are much more busy as trays are going out and servers are coming back in.  At the door to the kennel, she glances to the table where she was waiting earlier, and it has trays of food being assembled.  She knows that on days like today, where there is nothing special going on in the great hall, many of the nobles often request food brought to their rooms.  However, she never considered what a lot of logistics are involved in the endeavor.

She tries the door to the kennel to find that it is not currently locked, though she can see a locking mechanism on it much like the one that leads to hers and her mother's rooms.  She is able to open the door without a sound and she steps inside.  Where there were three cats in cages directly opposite the door before, there is only one, all the way on the right.  As she gently closes the door, she hears some muffled laughter, followed by a man's voice, "Whoa!  He threw that one in the air!  What a swipe!"  The sound is distorted, but it seems to be coming from straight ahead and upwards.

Ares' Day (Tuesday),  start of supper time

And that must be Fischbacher watching the cats train, Scarlet supposes. She has no intention of risking being seen. She eyes the locking mechanism warily; once that thing is engaged, there is no way she can pick the lock. And she guesses the kennels would be kept under lock and key quite frequently, given the zeal with which the Savannah cats seems to be bred and trained.

So in silence, Scarlet searches around for a spare key...

As Scarlet walks past the cats in the two cages on the far left, one of them hisses at her.  She looks in the drawers, through the upper cabinets, under the shelves in the lower cabinets, everywhere she can think of that they might hide a spare key.  Finally, she hears the male voice from up the stairs, "OK, they're slowing down.  Be sure to reward them, this isn't real hunting, but this leads to it.  Make sure they have some water, and put them back in their cages, then let's call it a night."

Scarlet realizes they'll be coming down any second, so she reluctantly heads back to the door.  Just as she is leaving, she spots, hanging on the wall right next to the door, two keys, each on a piece of string.

Too late. It was too risky, being caught stealing a key, by Fischbacher in person, when she knew he was going to be absent from the premises soon. Now she knew where those were kept; next time she'd help herself to one of those.

For the moment she got out and hid, waiting for the man to leave the kennels to go back inside...
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 15:03, Mon 18 Apr 2022.

I think I made it seem that the timing was closer than it is.  Just grabbing a key on your way out the door takes less than a second, and you are now around a corner from the stairs they will have to come down.  The only reason I didn't write you doing it was because I wanted to give you a chance to say you would break the string and leave the string hanging there rather than taking string and key both.  That approach, IMO, makes it more likely that they will think it was lost rather than stolen.  If you want to edit your action, go ahead.

...but a second later she gets second thoughts, and changes her mind:

She breaks the string on one of the keys and pushes the key down her bodice. After than, she throws both the string and the other key to the floor... and opens the hissing cat's cage, hoping it will open on impact and it will look like the cat created that mess and lost the key.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:05, Mon 18 Apr 2022.

Scarlet can hear steps coming down the spiral staircase as she is framing the cat for her theft.  She closes the door as silently as she can, peeking through to see if anyone comes around the corner, and sees no one.  A clean getaway.  Let's hope they believe the story that the cat lost the key.

You DO like letting the cats out.  :-)
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:39, Tue 19 Apr 2022.

...And now it's just a matter of waiting until Fischbacher goes to his usual petteia game... And then Scarlet will be back, hopefully alone with the cats.

Meanwhile, she pays a brief visit to the kitchens to grab some treats for the kitties.

Asking for some raw meat or other cat-appropriate food will be unusual enough to attract attention.  You hardly want the kitchen staff buzzing about your recent dietary choices.  So I'm going to make you use some sort of skill to get it.   Bluff, Diplomacy, Theft (i.e. Stealth and/or Disguise) are all reasonable choices, here.

Scarlet pulls aside a young cook apprentice, one that looks adequately harried and therefore unlikely to ask uncomfortable questions.

"A lady of my acquintance is having... lady trouble. Doctor says raw meat it is for her, to compensate for the blood loss... You do not need or want the details. Get me that raw meat, ipso facto, and keep your mouth shut," she whispers to him, giving him The Look, like Mother does.

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 23 using 1d20+8.  Bluff (to get some cat food).

That was definitely a good enough roll that you could have assumed success and continued.  But probably my first paragraph is all you could have done, since you can't know what awaits you in the kennel.

The cook's apprentice opens his mouth as if to speak, but then closes it and dashes away.  In less than a half minute he returns, carrying a plate with raw steak, decorated with the same sprig of parsley that would normally be on it if it were cooked.  Scarlet nods a thanks, gestures with her finger to her lips, and walks towards the entrance to the kennel.

Reaching the door, she pulls out her stolen key and turns it in the lock, hearing a satisfying snick.  Opening it slowly, she listens, but hears no activity.  The cat nearest her, obviously smelling the meat, stands and rubs its side on the bars of its cage, making a deep meowl sound.  Closing and locking the door behind her, she wonders how she will pick out the right cat.

From my earlier post:  http://zag.net/Pathfinder/Ellada/Castle%20Kennel.png  (This is a little roomier than I was intending, but I'm too lazy to redo it.  The area in the middle should be larger relative to the room, so that the space around it is narrower, more like a hallway crowded with the cages.  The cat cages are about 6 ft x 4 ft, and take up about half the space.  The larger cat cages are 8 ft x 6 ft.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:05, Thu 21 Apr 2022.

Third time she is there, and finally she has the place to herself for a few hours. However much she would like to cause mischief, she is aware she should leave no traces, even if they do not lead to her, nothing that might cause Fischbacher to rethink his (abysmal) approach to security.

Zenobia, was the name of the queen. So Scarlet is looking for a heavily pregnant female, probably kept somewhere special, with loads of space and special accommodations. If no such cat is immediately apparent from a first look around the room, she'll climb the stairs to get a better look.

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Perception.

Scarlet walks all the way around the square path, looking at each cat, in turn.  Some ignore her, some hiss at her as she walks by.  The three cats along the north wall are the largest three that she sees.  One is clearly a male -- he is licking his private parts as she comes around the corner.  The other two are female, the one on the west edge (i.e. closest to the stairs) seems a little bigger and fatter than the other.  But she isn't sure.

Walking up the stairs, Scarlet sees that the room is the same size but the wall surrounding the center only rises up four feet from the floor.  It is open on top to allow viewing down, with bars across to prevent any feline escapees.  In the north wall is a door which is locked with two heavy bars.  There are nearly as many cages as on the floor below, but only 7 are occupied.  Three contain several kittens each; of the remaining 4, there is only one large female.

Scarlet is not sure whether this cat or the one downstairs is Zenobia.  Calling out her name elicits no reaction, so she heads back downstairs to try the same with her other candidate.  She turns her head slightly, but maybe it was just reacting to the sound.  Aaagh!  Why don't they have labels on the cages?!
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:23, Fri 22 Apr 2022.

Scarlet feels her irritation grow as she tries to identify Zenobia. Something about these cats, caged and trained and pampered and catered for, rubs her the wrong way. Sometimes she feels like one of them, being conditioned for a purpose. Sometimes she envies them, for more care seems to lavished on them than on human children, such as herself, growing up with mum. And sometimes she just plain hates them, with their hissing and their attitude. Something inside her whispers to just poisoned them all, and she knows that she might, had the lady Idalaiz not explicitly told her to not harm the felines.

At any rate, she needs to find Zenobia. The kitten are due in two weeks, so she should be heavily pregnant, shouldn't she? Enough to make her easy to spot. But perhaps the other females are also pregnant, so who knows.

She guesses the upstairs female must have already given birth, and the kittens close to her are her litter. So it must be the downstairs one. Approaching her cage, she smiles and coos at the cat.

"Zenobia, is it? I am Scarlet. Let us be friends, yes? I brought you some yummy dinner. Say, are you pregnant? Oh, how I would love to meet your children. You wouldn't mind, would you? Call me auntie Scarlet. Here, have a bite..."

13:30, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 18 using 1d20.  Handle animal (-4 because untrained)

After a few minutes of talking softly and holding the meat out for the cat, finally the large female stops hissing, then creeps forward cautiously, and finally takes the meat.  Scarlet can see that the animal's belly is, indeed, enlarged and her breasts have expanded, but not so much as the cat upstairs.  This must be the right one.  After a few more pieces of meat passed in, the cat seems more comfortable, and lies down for a nap.

Scarlet's irritation only grows at the fat queen's attitude. Something in her reminds her of Mother too: the fatuous pride in being, what? A glorified breeder, nothing else, no other merits to her existence. And the manners, the testy countenance, the arrogance implicit in the way she graciously accepts food as if she was doing you a favor. A little short of breath, Scarlet is astonished at discovering how much she hates the life she has been leading... and her mother.

It is with a bitterweet feeling that she leaves the kennels that night - she has succeeded in gaining not only a reliable entry into the area (a key, and the knowledge that Fishbacher won't be in at least twice a week), but the ugly truths of her existence are only starting to reveal themselves.

During dinner she mulls this over, resenting the fact she doesn't have a way to hit back at Alyssa... yet. She watches her closely, particularly with Xavin, for any telltale signs that she's doing any progress with him, suddenly beset by untimely jealousy.

She will find a way to do both, trick that stupid cat into letting her have one of her kittens, and luring that stupid bitch into her ruin. But not tonight, tonight she bids her time...

That night, she sneaks back into the secret passage to read that book on African poisons. And tomorrow, she will find catnip and a ball of thread as treats for Zenobia.

It was after suppertime that you went to visit the cats, so I'll assume the supper portion was the following day.
15:51, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  Perception
I had planned what I was going to write assuming you failed this roll, but not for this.  (I hadn't planned for you to recognize Erikus at first.)

After her successful visit with the cat, Scarlet heads back to the rooms she shares with her mother.  Anne casually asks Scarlet what she has been up to, but doesn't seem interested in the answer.  She immediately starts to tell a story of how she caught the eye Kavaloghe, the knight who has won the last few tournaments and is one of the most coveted dance partners in the castle.  Scarlet lets her ramble on for a bit, then pretends to be tired and heads into her corner of the room.  Not the the first time, she wishes she had her own bedroom with a door.

After mother is done pouting about not getting enough accolades for her social success, she turns in, and Scarlet is free to sneak away.  Carrying a candle, she follows the process the mute showed her, enters into the secret passage, and makes her way to the laboratory.  Things have moved since she was here last, with a large pile of books now stacked on the table and the devices rearranged.  She finds the book Venomous Snakes of North Africa back in the bookcase and settles down to read.  It contains a lot of information about how to identify, locate, capture, and even to milk the poison from these snakes.  However, it offers nothing practical that Scarlet could use against Alyssa, not unless she somehow could transport herself to this mysterious land of Africa where these snakes are located.

The following day, Scarlet spends a little time fruitlessly trying to run into Xavin, even wandering into the guest wing where she identifies from the outside the closet that she knows leads to the secret passages.  Finally she spots him at an early dinner that many of the nobles are having out on the lawn, celebrating the good weather.  Sitting right beside him is Alyssa, her blond curls waving in the soft breeze.  He holds out the wine bottle, offering to fill her glass, and she giggles in a way that Scarlet finds simply revolting.

She turns back and heads back into the castle through a small door.  She realizes that leads her through the servant's wing, which she knows will take her right past Maryann's room and down the hall to her own room.  Suddenly, ahead she spots Erikus walking straight towards her.  As soon as he notices her, his head drops to look at his feet and he immediately turns the corner.  Scarlet calls his name but he opens a door and disappears into it.  After a few seconds, the door opens and a woman's face peers out before the door closes again.

Mid-afternoon on Hermes Day (Wednesday)
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:15, Mon 02 May 2022.

Still seeing from the way that bitch laughed, Scarlet stops, pondering what she has just seen. Who's that woman? Erikus' mother? Girlfriend? Something else?

And what is it to her? How is a mere servant, and a boy, and one unable to hold a normal conversation at that, relevant to Scarlet's task, now that she doesn't even need to fool him to gain entrance into the kennels?

And yet. Curiosity bites.

As silently as possible, Scarlet approaches the door and steals a look through the keyhole, while listening for any conversations on the other side.

Scarlet peeks through the keyhole to see the woman holding her hand to Erikus' cheek in a comforting, motherly way.  "Are you sure, Ricky?  She looks like a noble girl.  I think I've seen her at the fine tables with the other nobles.  I just don't want you to get hurt.  She's a big, important, girl and doesn't have time for folks like us."

"Yes, Mamma.  She is my friend.  She was nice to me, and she wanted to hear about the book -- she asked me about it.  She is my friend, she is, she is, she is."

Scarlet can see the woman walking back towards the door.

Scarlet raises an eyebrow. She has been nice to Erikus? Surely he hasn't been too unpleasant, for a highborn dealing with a servant. But, a friend? Well, who cares. If Scarlet is to learn anything from lady Marano, it is the fact that being nice to servants can come in handy.

And she's mere seconds away from being caught eavesdropping, which would be somewhat embarrassing in spite of the social differential, so she resolutely knocks on the door.

"Good day. I thought I saw Erikus come this way?" she greets the woman with a smile, carefully crafted to look friendly without being too familiar. "He's not busy, one hopes?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:24, Thu 05 May 2022.

The woman barely opens the door enough that she can slip outside, then pulls it closed again behind her.  "G'day, miss," she says, as she gives a bit of a curtsey.  The woman is short, just even with Scarlet.  She has a matronly, somewhat doughy body, but with the underlayer of muscle you see in servants who are familiar with hard work.  She has the same large, strong nose that Erikus has which looks good on a man but not so much on a woman.

She watches Scarlet for a few seconds, not saying anything, but doing her best to look into the girl's soul.  Finally she tries to answer the young girl's questions.  "Yes, miss, he is here.  I ...  You ...  He is ..."  She pauses to collect her thought, looks up and to the east, her mouth moving in silent prayer.  Finally she turns back.  "Please, Miss.  My boy is special.  He's a little different; and he's, uhhh, very fragile.  Please don't toy ... don't hurt him."  Her eyes are glistening.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:31, Thu 05 May 2022.

Here's a woman who's painfully aware of what an excellent scapegoat her son is, Scarlet thinks as she smiles.

"Hurt him? Now, why should I? He's a very good boy. And very smart, isn't he? I know he can read," she says, friendly smile on, the last bit said as if it was some shared secret.

"How and why did he learn that? It seems unusual."

The woman's tears dry up instantly, and she puts on a wary look, but hopeful.  "Yes.  It seems he taught himself.  He found this old book, Raising Savannah Cats and Other Large Felines and he just figured it out.  My husband, rest his soul, was angry that the boy obsessed over it so much that he burnt the book, but Erikus already knew every word of it.  It's that what got him his job at the kennels, he knew so much about the cats."

"Burning books is what savages do," Scarlet observes coldly. The implication is that the woman is better off as a widow. Whether she misses her brute of a late husband or not is irrelevant: book-burners deserve no respect whatsoever in her book, pun intended.

"I found a kitty the other day," she lies with a sweet smile. "Not savannah, of course. Just a cute little street cat, but it's sooo lovely! I hope Erikus can give me some pointers to take good care of it. Is he busy at the moment? I can send for some other servant to do his work, if need be."

She still seems wary.  Unusual interactions between nobles and working class rarely work out well for the latter, and it is clear that she will do all in her power to protect her boy.  Finally, she looks down in resignation, recognizing that "in her power" is a huge stumbling block.  "Of course, Miss, he will do all he can to help you.  He is ...  He does not ...  Please be patient with him.  He is a good boy, and does not mean to be, umm, awkward."

After one more long second staring at Scarlet, she turns to open the door.  "Ricky," she calls, but he is waiting just inside the door, "The lovely Miss would like you to help her with her kitten.  You be good and answer all her questions."  She turns back to Scarlet, her face turning red, "I am so sorry, Miss.  What may we call you?  I am Sindae, and you know Erikus."

I will assume that you will be spending time with Erikus, and will listen to him recite the entirety of the book.  When you are done, it is up to you and your conscience how you treat him, and this will likely affect your alignment, if that ever matters.  Assuming you spend at least 10 hours of time with him, you gain a free trait:  +1 bonus in Animal Handling when applied to felines, and Animal Handling is always a class skill for you.

You had to work a lot harder for this than the others.  They both found a book.  :-) 

That's remarkable, considering how Scarlet is probably the most likely of the three characters to be actually literate? Yes, I'll be spending some time with him over the next few days. I'll fix the character sheet. Erikus will be fine for now, but if and when Scarlet decides to "borrow" one of those kittens, he's going to be the fall guy :)

"I know he will," Scarlet reassures her, smiling a bit more as Erikus appears. "And 'mistress Scarlet' is fine, I'm not my mother," she adds, charmingly modest. "Come, I have so many questions!"

That much is true, and for the next days she takes notes of Erikus' instructions, keeping them under her matress, with a view to destroy them as soon as she is done with the mission. Meanwhile, she machinates how to get back at Alyssa, and prepares to attend one of those fencing lessons... not so much to learn the blade, but to have an excuse to get closer to Xavin.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:34, Mon 09 May 2022.

True, but the others all had literacy built into their back stories, one only just barely, but it was there.
Surely you can see that I plan to give you a cat.  You won't have to steal one.  :-)

[Private Scarlet: It looks like you are the only player left.  I guess Urvan was not happy about me calling him a 'get a lifer,' or maybe he just got bored.  (I DID include myself in that group, after all.  I didn't think the name would have any sting.)]

I'm not sure what sort of relationship you hope to have with Xavin.  I guess you could become like a little sister to him, but with a certain sexual tension that he is too good of a person to allow to manifest.  I think I'll play his father as a little more creepy, in that he doesn't see anything wrong with his 19-year-old son pursuing a 12-year-old beauty if it is politically advantageous.  But definitely nothing is going to happen, per RPoL rules as well as my own.

To get the lessons in swordplay you'll need permission from Anne.  I just looked up forgery rules:  https://www.d20pfsrd.com/skill..._or_Detect_Forgeries  It uses Linguistics skill and is trained only, so that really isn't an option.

You can try a bluff, but the DC will be pretty high, since the swordmaster has run into young nobles before whose parents don't want them training.  I suspect, though, that you could tell Anne the truth about why you want to do it and she'd be all for it.  Getting back at some b**** for some real or imagined slight is right up her alley.  (Diplomacy with a pretty reasonable DC.)  You can assume the gold piece for a month's of lessons, or you could probably get yourself included in the family plan via your father, so the cost won't be an issue. 

Ah, that's a shame, but I'm not surprised. Ghosting happens all the time here, the more interesting and unusual the game, the more it happens, it seems. I'm sick and tired of the n-th DnD game, but every time I get excited for an original system or setting... everyone vanishes within a month and it gets canned, sometimes the GM leading the exodus. Sadly it's just the way things go, alas.

Regarding Xavin, I suppose Scarlet is having a first crush sort of thing, impossible as those thigns tend to go, because of age differences, etc. It's another way to hate on Alyssa, too, so it tracks. And yes, as you correctly say, nothing sexual can or will happen there, agreed. And you suggestion is good, yes.

"Why, you haven't been notified, master Usuul?" Scarlet wonders, the next day, putting on her best surprised and shocked and even mildly offended face when she shows up for the fencing lesson as if she belonged in there. "I suppose Mother must have been too busy with courtly matters. But she would be displeased if I missed a lesson just because of some... minor technicality," she says airly, implying that nobles like Mother and herself have more important things to do than signing authorizations or dealing with sword-teachers.

Risky, but she would try this first before she has to go all the tedious way of Mother...

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 21 using 1d20+8.  Bluff.

It is a little before lunch on Zeus' Day (Thursday) when Scarlett returns to the training room.  She is there in time to see the advanced class leaving, including Xavin.  He is drenched in sweat, or maybe he poured a bucket of water over his head, but has a big smile on his face, as if he had just made some sort of accomplishment.  (You can retcon a conversation, here.  He will recall seeing you from two days ago, but doesn't know who you are.  He is generally friendly, and you ARE beautiful, so he will be happy to chat politely, at least for a couple of minutes.)

"Miss, uhhh, Scarlet is it?  No, I haven't received anything, so I will not be able to allow you to have a full lesson with gear on.  However, if you are quite sure that the permission will be forthcoming, then I will let you come in for most of the beginners' lesson.  You need to learn basic stances before you can do any sparring, anyway, so you will not need equipment, yet.  I have to get some lunch, and then we will start."

He is gone for only 15 minutes, during which time 9 boys ranging from 8 years old to mid-teens show up, a few that Scarlet already knows.  Some are already wearing the fighting gear, some go into one of the separate rooms to change.  Usuul calls the class to order, the boys lining up without any instruction, and indicates that Scarlet should join the back row.  Of course, the boys are eyeing her and whispering when they think they can get away with it.

Usuul leads the group through some stretching exercises, then walks them slowly through a set of stances:  The Ox, the Plow, the Fool, and the Roof.  He quizzes the boys on them, asking questions like, "Which would you use against a large man with a greatsword?" or "What stance do you use just before running away?"  He corrects each person's stance, obviously expecting different levels of perfection from the different students.  He spends half an hour on different exercises, switching from one stance to another, slowly, then quickly.  Finally, he hands out wooden swords but refuses to give Scarlet one.  "You're welcome to watch, but I can not let you use the weapons without permission."

There is a strange flutter in Scarlet's stomach as she makes small talk with the boy, something she can't quite place, or she can but doesn't want to admit to herself. The little shiny droplets on the boy's chest are strangely distracting, and she can barely follow the conversation with the effort of not staring at them. When the chat is over, she can't really remembered what each one of them said, but she's smiling and there's a warmth in her chest.

"Mother is a very busy lady," she says with a nonchalant shrug by way of explanation to the swordmaster, hoping it sounds sincere because it is absolutely something she'd do, if she actually knew.

If she felt some sort of self-consciousness during her previous chat with Xavin (she did), it is dispelled by the obvious attention she is attracting from the other boys (which she revels in); being used to not feeling seen at all, it is a welcome change to be the center of attention.

The mood is somewhat spoiled when grumpy old Usuul refuses her a wooden sword.

"That is very well, master Usuul, but this is not a weapon," she says as if speaking to a child, flicking the wooden sword with a finger. "It is a piece of wood. I couldn´t hurt myself with this if I tried. And believe me, Mother wouldn't be bothered."

Again, that much is true.

Nonchalantly, he says, "Oh, it's a weapon, young Miss.  I have killed men with less."  It's clear that he isn't going to back down on this.  Two of the younger boys are standing there with their mouths agape.

(You can decide if you stay to watch the rest of it or leave early.)
When Scarlet leaves the lesson, she turns the corner to head back upstairs when she nearly runs into Alyssa standing there with her minions, two girls who are a little younger and less pretty than she.  (They were both also in the dance troupe.  Let's call them Anastasia and Drizella.)  "Oh, why, if it isn't little Miss Scarlet the flying girl.  Is she taking sword-fighting lessons, now?  I guess she looks like a boy, so she might as well act like one, too."

Scarlet stands back and watches the rest of the lesson in silence, following Xavin's movements with a fluttering feeling in her stomach...

...which turns sour when she spots the mean girls. She does a theatric sigh of weariness, sarcastically doing a slow clap.

"Amazing, you managed to remember your line. Well done, Ass-lysa. And now you two are supposed to laugh, right? Hurry up, flunkies, she needs to feel clever," she says tartly.

Just to be clear, Xavin was in the class before lunch, which is an advanced class.  Then Usuul took a short break for lunch and came back for the beginner class, which you participated in partly.  Xavin wasn't there for that one.

23:16, Today: Zag, for the NPC Alyssa, rolled 10 using 1d20+1
This wasn't a real attack; it would only have done 1 point of non-lethal damage if it had succeeded, and it didn't.

Drizella starts to laugh, then stops immediately when Alyssa gives her a look.  Alyssa turns back to Scarlet, "I've had quite enough of you and your mouth, you little bastard.  I think it is time to teach you a lesson."  She puts her hands on Scarlet's shoulders and pushes hard.  If she had been a bit quicker, she might have caught the younger girl off balance and banged her against a wall, but Scarlet was ready and did not move significantly.  It did, however, buy the other two girls time to move forward so they are on either side of Scarlet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:19, Sun 15 May 2022.

With a jolt, Scarlet realizes some sort of physical violence is going to happen. Up unitl that second she thought it was just going to be some shit talk and that was going to be it... but then again, this is the evil bitch who could have caused her to break her neck by sabotaging her harness during that ballet performance. Not very wise to assume she was above hurting her.

"Wait, you are that Dreez?" she says in faux surprise, adressing Drizella, with an amazed chuckle. "That 'No Tits Dreez' she was badmouthing the other day?" she says, pointing at her and then at Alyssia. "'Flatter than Flatelle D'Ardelle, dumber than a dumbbell'? I had no idea you two were supposed to be... 'friends'," she finishes with a sneer, doing the air quotes.

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Bluff.

Oh FFS... O_o

21:31, Today: Zag, for the NPC Drizella, rolled 7,3 using d20,d3

Drizella shouts, "Bitch!" and swings her fist at Scarlet, who easily avoids the blow.  The other two are standing there, smirking.

...In hindsight, that might not have been such a great idea, Scarlet considers, as she avoids Flat Drizzle's fists.

Fighting is not her thing. Nothing physical is really her thing: she's a charmer and a thinker, not a warrior.

So, as much as she'd like, in her mind, to give Alyssia and her minions what for, she beats a hasty retreat, running for dear life.

21:26, Today: Zag, for the NPC Alyssa, rolled 8,3 using d20+1,d3+1.  non-lethal AoO
21:28, Today: Zag, for the NPC Drizella, rolled 13,3 using d20,d3.  non-lethal AoO
Although all three could have gotten an attack of opportunity, Anastasia wasn't really engaged in the fight, yet.

Scarlet turns to run, ducking neatly under Alyssa's punch.  However, Drizella manages to land a solid kick from behind, coming between Scarlet's legs and nearly lifting her off the ground.  Anastasia either does not choose to participate in the fisticuffs or is too slow to figure out what to do; she just stands there with her mouth agape.

Which way did you run?  You can head back towards the combat training room, and you'll probably take another attack getting the door open, but you'll be safe in there.  You can continue past it, but you're not really sure what is down that hallway; it might even be a dead end.

Let's say Knowledge Local, DC 13, to know what's down there.  ...
21:46, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  Knowledge Local.
... You have no idea.

If you continue the way you were headed, up the stairs, then you might get be grabbed before you escape.  Since you didn't specifically activate your Adrenaline Rush in that round, they might get one more round of attacks no matter what you do, but they will have a small advantage if you take the stairs.  I should have specified that it's a Swift Action to activate. 

Let's go down the hallway: that's what movie characters do when in danger, head towards the unknown.

Well, now I have to figure out what's down there.  I'm going to give you a luck roll for this (which I haven't rolled yet) but let me lay out the parameters first.
We know you're in the ground floor, directly under the main hall.  There are no exits or windows on the ground floor because it is a well-built castle, but I did already say that the hall continues in that direction, so it has to go somewhere.  Since you don't know, we'll assume that it at least turns a corner, or you would have seen where it goes.

I started describing the layout, and it sounded both confusing and boring, so I made a map:  http://zag.net/Pathfinder/Ellada/Castle%20Lower.png
The squares are 3 feet wide, making 6-ft-wide hallways, which is pretty wide.  The blue doors are ones that you know are unlocked.  The red doors are locked.  The green door you don't know, nor do you know where it goes.  The top edge of this map lines up with the front of the castle.  That is, straight up is the main hall and the main doors to outside, where there are stairs down to the ground.

For what is beyond the map to the right, since I don't know, I'll make a luck roll.
<4: Dead end at locked doors (storage)
4-7:  Unlocked storage
8-11:  Lesser servants' quarters (You already know where some servants' quarters are.)
12-15:  Entrance to the dungeon, including guards on duty
16-20:  Another set of stairs up

I know that I had said that the Adrenaline Rush had a requirement of BAB +1.  I had thought that Unchained Rogue qualified for that, so just ignore the prerequisite.  I'm just going to drop it, and let me know if you want to invoke it.

OK.  Now to roll. ...  I've been known to fudge a roll here and there, but I did this one straight.
18:36, Today: Zag rolled 20 using 1d20.  Luck.

Scarlet has only a couple of steps lead before the older girls give chase.  She turns the corner and races down the hallway past the probable safety of Usuul in the Training Room.  She wants to handle this on her own.  Staying barely a step ahead of Alyssa, Scarlet turns the next corner to see a set of stairs going up that matches the other set.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:42, Wed 18 May 2022.

Thanking Olympus that bitch Driz was wearing soft leather slippers instead of heavy boots, Scarlet hurries down the corridor. She eyes but discards that door - if it turns out to be locked, she's done for.

Naturally, considering her luck, her evasion leads to stairs up - never a good idea to escape upstairs, but that's the only place she can head towards. Grabbing her skirts to avoid tripping on them, she climbs four steps at a time, feeling the adrenaline pumping in her veins...

Activating Adrenaline Rush, good suggestion, ta!
 +2 DEX, +2 STR, +10 movement, +2 AC (dodge), +2 initiative for 5 rounds.

Scarlet suddenly finds an incredible burst of energy, and pulls away from the other girls as if they are standing still.  She tears up the stairs and turns into the main hall.  There are several people milling about, but Scarlet barely slows until she is able to turn another corner and observe whether the hussy and her minions follow.  Once her breathing slows, she finds that she is exhausted, and that she is starving.  Fortunately, the kitchen is right nearby, and she is able to grab a loaf of bread and some cheese.  She realizes that she had best be more careful, she might not get away so easily next time.

What is wrong with that bitch? Scarlet wonders, wolfing down the snacks. The sabotage at the ballet performance she can chalk down to envy at Scarlet's central role, but whatever has she ever done to her? Why is she out to get her like that, at the helm of a Mean Girl Squad? Scarlet can't fathom that, she couldn't have figured out she was planning to use her newly acquired skills to ruin her prospects with Xavin or whatever additional damage she manages to inflict.

And right now, Scarlet is Very Keen on finding ways to ruin not just her betrothal but her whole life... She just needs a way.

Perhaps Idalaiz will help, or whatever she can teach her, once the Savannah cat thing is over and she'd duly impressed with Scarlett?

Jas set, she goes back to Mother, to ask her for that authorization. She frames it as "all the eligible noble lads are there", and goes on to highlight fencing as a unique skill that would make her stand out from the crowd of debutantes; every lass dances and sings and plays the lute, after all.

18:36, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 9 using 1d20+8
Well, that didn't work.

Anne waves off Scarlet's argument, "Oh, of course you'll see all the noble lads there, and they'll all be laughing at you.  That girl -- what is her name?  Mulan? -- who takes these sword-fighting lessons, do you know what they call her?  They say she is not really a girl, that she doesn't like boys.  I mean, men are all brutish, smelly things, but you have to pretend to enjoy them if you want to get anywhere."

After two days of visiting the kennel in the evening, and bringing treats to Zenobia, Scarlet finds the cat has warmed up to her and seems to welcome her arrival rather than hissing and spitting.  However, she still feels that she could make more progress with a different sort of treat.  She learned about cat mint, or cat nip, from Erikus and his recitation of "The Book," but she doesn't know where she could get some.  She decides that Idalaiz could be a source for several of her issues.  How to make contact with her is the question.

Scarlet barely contains an urge to pout. How come Mother gets pissy in the worst possible moments? If she had more time to spin this in a way that she could appreciate... but no, she has jumped the gun, now Anne will be pigheaded against it, and that hardass Usuul is not going to let her train without that damned signed paper.

Why does everyone have to be such a pain in the ass?

She storms out of the room before she explodes, because the last straw is when Anne goes on her diatribe about men. She storms out because she was that close to telling her how Xavin is NOT AT ALL LIKE THAT! And it's not his fault, or Scarlet's, or anyone's that Mother, well, she did what she did in the way that she did and had her, Scarlet, in the way that she had her. That puts extremely unwanted images in her head, so she goes for a long brisk walk to make it all go away.

Zenobia, at least, is less of a bitch that before. The meagrest of consolations, along with Erikus' droning of book passages. Scarlet doesn't have the headspace to feel sorry for the boy and his disgrace, not yet, she's too busy being sorry for herself, and real estate in her attention span is very limited.

And for the moment being, she´s stalking around the castle, looking for Trimpicar or Pax, to give them a message for the lady spymistress.

Scarlet walks around in a bit of a pout.  The girls' tutoring sessions are today, so that wastes a lot of her time.  Drizella is the only one of Alyssa's minions young enough to be in the same class, and the two girls spend much of the class eyeing each other warily.  The other girl goes through a confusing array of expressions, from angry to superior to apologetic, or maybe just overall confused.

When the class ends, Scarlet finds herself haunting some parts of the castle that she did not normally venture into, looking for one of her known contacts for Idalaiz.  When wandering into the rooms where the castle maintenance is managed, she wonders briefly if she will run into Maryann's husband, the Baron Zamien.  Isn't he an engineer of some sort?

Suddenly she hears a voice, someone shouting, that is vaguely familiar, though she doesn't place it at first.  Creeping forward, she sees Sir Fischbacher standing in a doorway and gesticulating wildly, "Because one of the keys was lost!  That's why.  That should be enough."  She does not hear the reply, but Fischbacher continues, "These are the Savannah Cats we are talking about!  They are NOT just pets; they are a valuable asset of the Duke and the Duchess!  Their security is paramount!"  After a moment, she hears, "OK, then.  Thank you.  You'll have it changed by when?"  Again, the response is too soft, but Fischbacher snorts in a way that sounds as if he is satisfied, if only barely.

Splendid, just what she needs, bloody Fischbacher changing the locks now that she had managed to secure a key! But immediately a solution forms in her mind: Erikus. If the boy cannot be persuaded to lend her his key, then she would just swipe it from him. Put that sleight of hand learned from Lady Idalaiz to good use.

Very pleased with herself for having come with that solution for the event, she figures she should take care of her other affairs, since the savannah cat thing seems to be going well.

She takes a moment to think about the mean girls: Alyssa is not only older and meaner but well connected, and trying to woo Xavin. Too big and high for Scarlet to reach; she has to hit at her minions first. Drizella, she is the one who tried to hit her and now she's being weird in class. Anatasia... what is her deal?

She racks her brains for any information she can remember about those one, anything she can use...

Scarlet recalls that Erikus had to be let back into the kennel when she first met him, so he probably doesn't even have a key.  He is only a youth, within a year of Scarlet's own age, so it isn't surprising he is trusted with such things.  Scarlet suddenly wonders why she is being trusted with this bizarre covert mission.  Well, it's a lot more interesting than following Mother's path.

She considers her plight.  Today is Aphrodite's Day (Friday) so tomorrow is another meeting of the Petteia gaming group, which means that Fischbacher, at least, will be tied up all afternoon.  He didn't sound happy with the maintenance man's plans, so the lock probably isn't being changed today, and hardly anyone works on Kronos' Day.  She'll have tonight, possibly tomorrow afternoon, and probably tomorrow night as opportunities to slip into the kennel and maybe find another way in.

She's had no luck finding either of the servants of Adalaiz.  She could always just send a message with a page, but that might attract attention if the page is chatty.  Why would a young girl be sending notes to the Duke's aunt?  Perhaps she could send a formal thank you for her kind ministrations the night of the performance.  If anyone cares about these things, they saw her visit the woman that night, so it wouldn't seem odd, even if, as a thank you gesture, it's a little late.  And there's always the laboratory.  The last time she was there, things had been rearranged since the first time, so someone is visiting it.  And if she has some catnip, that's where it would be.

Finally, her ponderances turned to Drizella.  She's known the girl for quite a while, though they were never friends.  The girl is a little dull, and with a tendency to be a toady, which never appealed to Scarlet.  However, she was never before outright hostile.  It seemed she really struck a nerve with the 'No Tits Dreez' comment.  The girl is pretty underdeveloped, about the same as Scarlet herself, who is almost two years younger.  Maybe I guessed right, and Alyssa has been making such comments.  It's just like her.

Oh, bother, that's right, Erikus wouldn't be trusted with a key. Althought she was quite sure he would never lose it, being so terribly strict and single-minded about discipline and order and that kind of stuff. Well, still a couple of days to go, and later she'd figure another way in.

Regarding her feline mission, there was little else that can be expedited, since Zenobia will give birth to the kittens when she would, and all Scarlet can do until then is keep earning her trust. She guesses Idalaiz might have some of that fabled catnip at her laboratory, and since she has to go there to leave her a message anyway, she heads there, while still considering her other endeavors.

The fencing lessons were a no-no now, with both Mother and Usuul being too stuck up to budge. So she could kiss them goodbye, meaning she had to find another place and time to bump into Xavin, hopefully before Alyssa could sink her claws too deep into him.

That brings her mind back to the bitch and her minions. Nothing came to mind about Anastasia, and very little about Driz except her limited intelligence and flat chest. Not that the latter was something Scarlet cared much about, beyond it being something to throw in a girl's face. For some reason the older girls seemed to care a great deal about it, which was another oddity: Scarlet would have been actually pleased if she hadn't developed those sore, tender nubs, uncomfortable on a good day, achy the rest of the time. The fact Mother makes such a big deal of it makes it even worse. What if Scarlet never gets any bigger, ye gods? Perfectly fine by her, she thinks silently, but for Mother's sake she has to pretend to care. Just another item on a very long list.

Reaching the lab, Scarlet finds a scrap of paper, a quill and an inkwell, and quickly scribbles: "Contact established with the meow queen. Everything progressing according to plan. -S." Leaving the note there, she starts looking for the fabled catnip. It would look better if she can find her on her own, instead of asking the Spymistress for it.

Well, I hadn't actually decided if there was some here, though I don't know where else you would find it.  You could hunt down an apothecary, I guess.
Anyway, I'll make it a luck roll.
09:31, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 18 using 1d20.  luck roll for catnip

Scarlet starts looking through the many bottles, envelopes, and bundles of dried herbs on the shelves.  She knows that catnip is an herb, but what form would it take?  Fortunately, everything is well labeled, all in Adalaiz's neat, tiny script.  Many of the labels include a circle of red ink below the name of the contents, and a few have two.  That indicates poisonousness?  Rarity?  She isn't sure.

Finally she finds an envelope made of parchment with the label "Catnip / Catswort / Catmint," and, fortunately, no red spot.  She gently pulls it open; it contains dried leaves, each about the size of her smallest fingernail.  She puts about a quarter of the leaves into another scrap of paper, folded carefully, and puts the original back in place.

Later that day, Scarlet waits to see the girl leave the kennel, and she walks to the door, trying to appear more confidant than she feels.  She sighs with relief when her key turns in the lock with a click.

Zenobia mrowls eagerly as Scarlet gives the hungry momma the last of the meat she has saved.  The cat is looking fatter every day; there is no doubt she is heavily pregnant.  When Scarlet puts a little of the catnip on her hand and holds it out to Zenobia, the big cat sniffs, then licks, then rubs herself aggressively against the girl's hand.  She spends a good 30 minutes petting and scratching Zenobia, who seems remarkably friendly and playful.

And that's when the idea comes to her, almost fully formed.

Catnip. Kittens. Stolen keys. Alyssa.

Find a key to Alyssa's chambers. Wait until Zenobia gives birth. Make mother and kitten pliant with catnip. Lift one or two of the kittens and plant them in Alyssa's bedroom, then sit back and enjoy the spectacle of the bitch being caught with stolen Savannah cats.

Scarlet smiles, licks her lips.

Two birds with one stone: fulfill Lady Idalaiz's mission and socially terminate Alyssa. No cat harmed, none of the Spymistress' instructions contradicted. Perfect.

And at the rate things are going with the fat queen, all that remains to be done is gain access to the bully's bedroom. There has to be a copy of the key somewhere, or even a skeleton key for the whole place. Scarlet thinks about it.

The tradesman Sir Fischbacher was speaking to, he might have them. That's probably the easiest, softest target. Failing that, Alyssa's parents would surely have a copy of her key. Scarlet is learning from her mistakes: she won't steal it this time, just borrow it long enough to get a copy made, and then drop it somewhere it can be found again without arising suspicions of theft.

I love this plan, not only for the sinister glee, but for the narrative value in bringing your two plotlines together.  Also, it had never occurred to me, which makes it more fun (for me).

However, just for narrative value, the same trick to get into Alyssa's room is not going to work to get into the kennel once you are locked out.  I had left you in there to give you an opportunity to make some effort to find some new way in.  I've thought of two possibilities of how you might gain continued access to the room, both within your skill set, and maybe you'll think of others.  (Hint:  check out post #67.)

Swiping the key to Alyssa's chambers from the tradesman isn't as urgent as finding a new way into the kennels, so she concentrates on the latter. With an effort of memory, Scarlet recalls that door on the north wall, the one locked and barred. Or is it? If it's kept barred, it might be the servant's don't bother locking it. By the same token, perhaps they would not bother changing that lock.

Tonight, Scarlet pays her usual visit to Zenobia and checks where does that mysterious north door lead to.

After another successful visit to Zenobia, Scarlet heads upstairs to take a look at the barred door.  Clearly, there's a lock on the door, which can be unlocked from inside.  She turns the lock and the action is smooth, as if it is regularly used.  She unhooks the bar and opens the door, seeing that it does, in fact, open to the outside as she suspected.

Being cautious, she props the door open and steps out into the starlight.  The space is a small grassy area, surrounded by the castle walls on one side and rocks on three more.  A very small path between some boulders reveals a sharp drop to the river below, but it seems unlikely that anyone could spot the opening from below.  The distinct odor of cat urine and feces wafts up from the opening.

Scarlet can imagine bringing some of the cats out here, but is not sure what anyone could do if one of the cats decides to run for it.  The cliff looks difficult to navigate for a human, but probably would not be that much of a challenge for a feline.

Returning to the kennel, she looks carefully at the lock.  It would be easy enough to leave it unlocked, but it is pretty obvious to see if anyone is looking for it.  Then she looks at the bars.  There are two bars across the door, that drop into metal hooks that are screwed into the doorframe.  Two of them, she notices, are loose already.  Perhaps I'm not the only person who wants a sneaky way into the castle.  Should the Duke know about this?

And how exactly do I tell my august grandfather that I have found hints, and very tenuous at that, that someone might be sneaking into Castle Moresby unbidden? Oh, I was only prowling around a restricted zone, Your Grace, for no clear motive, and then I noticed...

Scarlet takes a good look around, to make sure she can find this spot from the outside. After that, she leaves the kennels and leaves a note to Idalaiz in the secret lab, alerting her about the situation with the backdoor to the kennels. Surely the Spymistress will know what to do, and hopefully she would be happy about her disciple's vigilance... She hopes.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:37, Thu 02 June 2022.

Scarlet heads to the laboratory to leave the note, but instead finds an envelope with her name on it.  The note inside reads



Scarlet leaves her own note and returns to her room.  Anne continues to be curious what Scarlet has been doing on these late night jaunts.  "Who is he?  Is he very high up?  I hope you are holding out for better than a grind in the night."  Scarlet has figured out that being coy about these questions is more effective than simply refusing to answer, and she is learning more and more how to outwit her mother.

In the dark hours of the morning, Scarlet is awakened by a gentle touch on her shoulder, and she sees a huge hand just in front of her face, ready to clamp down if she cries out.  She looks up into the kind eyes of Trimpicar, the mute, who gestures to her to be silent.  He indicates that she should dress and join him outside; then he walks out of the room, closing the door silently.  He leads the girl to the secret laboratory, using the same path Scarlet already knows.  In spite of the hour, he peers carefully out the arrow slit before reaching out to unlock the door.

As he enters the lab, Scarlet hears Idalaiz speak gently. "Thank you, Trimpicar.  I'm sure I will be quite able to make my own way back to my quarters, you may retire for the night."  She turns to Scarlet, "So sorry to wake you, my dear."  She glances back at Trimpicar, then continues with Scarlet, "He watches after me like a nanny -- I'm not in my dotage yet!"

The old woman takes a sip of tea, and gestures to the teapot and cups that Scarlet should help herself.  "Tell me more about this security gap into the castle through the kennel."

Do you tell her everything or do you hold some back, or what?

As far as she can tell from conversations with other girls her age, the mothers of all her friends are concerned with them "making an irrevocable mistake", "giving away their one and most precious virtue", and similar stuff that boild down to: sex. Which sounds a bit bizarre and yucky to Scarlet, like why would you? Like, ever. Boys want that, well, they do, don't they? That's how they are, for some reason. But why would you, like, let them? Or even want to, want it. The difference with Scarlet is, Mother doesn't seem overly worried about her losing her virginity as much as whether she's maneuvering to land a useful husband or not. Well, she doesn't really specify "husband", and Scarlet can guess why. She's inexperienced and uninterested, but not stupid. It has worked out for Mother, hasn't it? After a fashion. She doesn't know where she would be, where both of them would be, had she not... done what she's done. She doesn't want to dwell on it too much. Or, at all. And if she's pushing her that way, well, where is she supposed to go with that? She's already part of the (extended, unofficial but acknowledged) Ducal family. Where do you go up from there?

She shuts down that train of thought, and thankfully dreams of nothing related, and when the creepy man wakes her up with a jolt, she wraps herself in a dressing gown over her night gown and follows barefooted, the best to be silent and not make the lady Idalaiz wait while she inserts herself into corsets and dresses.

In that unusual attire, she still remembers to curtsy for the Spymistress before she takes a sip of tea.

"Yes, your ladyship. It is a backdoor at the kennels, it leads to the outside, an outcropping over the river. I think the kennels staff, a young girl and a boy named Erikus, they use it as a convenient place to dispose of the cat's faeces. The door is supposed to be locked and barred, but the hooks holding the bars in place are a little loose. If they just, let's say, accidentall fell, well, then it would just be a matter of unlocking the door from the outside. Useful for me, probably, but I also thought your ladyship should know about this... potential security risk. My grandfather's security is paramamount and..."

She shuts her mouth in time. That's Idalaiz's job. Don't lecture her, girl.

"You did well to bring this to me.  Any unexpected way in to the castle is a conduit for spies.  That, especially, is not just some egress that the guards use for trysts with local girls.  From there, as I recall, you either have to scale the cliff face or climb up over the castle itself.  Neither feat is actually as hard as they look, but clearly not something a randy lad does just to go meet a girl.

"Tell me about the aberrant boy, Erikus.  I understand you've become friendly with him."

Scarlet blinks, surprised that the Spymistress would take an interest in Erikus.

"Yes, well, he's... Different. Completely lacking in any social graces, but with a prodigious memory. He's literate, at least enough to read and completely memorize a book on savannah-cat breeding. Very shy, and most of the time he seems to live in a world of his own, inside his head. His mother is very worried for him, she thinks he might run into trouble, given his... inability to grasp social nuances. He's very intelligent but not very smart, if you catch my meaning, your ladyship."

"So, he is not how you've been getting in to the kennels, then?  That was my first assumption, when I heard you'd been spending a lot of time with him.  Then I learned that Fischbacher is having the lock changed, which made me think that you'd stolen a key.  So, you're learning about savannah cats from him, very good, very good.  How did you ...?  Never mind, I'm sure it was some luck, that you were clever enough to seize the opportunity.  Lots of people throw away their luck if it isn't in the box they were looking for.  I knew you were different."

She finishes her tea and stands up.  "So, let's go have a look at your gimmicked door."  Carrying a lantern, she leads Scarlet out of the laboratory and down a narrow passage, one that led nowhere in the girl's earlier wanderings.  She stops a few steps from the end and turns around, then waves Scarlet back a step.  After she reaches up over a rafter and gives a sharp tug, a trap door between them falls open.  Scarlet feels a little chagrinned that she spotted neither the door nor the mechanism above.  After a long ladder down and another narrow, dusty passageway, Idalaiz pulls open a small door through which she crawls.

From the scent, Scarlet can tell they are entering the kitchen, but to proceed they have to empty the small cupboard of its jars of preserved fruits and vegetables.  Idalaiz moves the jars with impressive speed, making not a sound.  The two crawl out and she reverses the process while Scarlet listens to the soft, cheerful singing coming from the baker just around the corner.  They make their getaway with him none the wiser.

In the kennel, first they stop at Zenobia's cage.  Scarlet is a little worried because she did not bring any catnip nor a treat, but the big cat seems happy to accept friendly scratches.  They continue up the stairs and Idalaiz inspects the door.  She shows how the lock has been sabotaged so that it can be opened from the outside with just a dagger blade, and how the loops that hold the bars in place will come open if one pulls up on the door while pushing it.

Finally, she concludes, "I won't get this fixed, not right away, so you can use it for a while.  But I'm going to place a permanent watch on it outside.  They'll know to ignore you, and if you spot them, you should ignore them.  Don't try to climb the cliff face.  If you look near the kitchen service entrance, there's a pretty easy way to the roof.  Use a rope to climb down to here."

They leave the kennel and just walk through the halls to their respective rooms, after stopping in the kitchen to grab fresh, warm pastries.

16:46, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Perception Secret door.

Scarlet smiles, flattered.

"Both methods, my lady. Having only one way inside seemed... unwise," she humblebragged. "I do hope I am not disappointing, your ladyship."

The excursion is a thrilling one for Scarlet, not so much for the destination itself but for the fact the Spymistress herself is taking the time and trouble to teach her in person. Scarlet is secretly impreseed at her agility and coordination, considering her age.

"So I could descend to the kitchen from up here," she says, inspecting the cliffside exit. "Or possibly climb up from the kitchen, if I tied a rope here. Useful as a two-way direct route, to bring food to Zenobia without being spotted around the corridors on the way in our out of the kennels. Thank you, my lady."

She hesitates to ask, until the last moment on their way back.

"My lady, do I... could you... Excuse me, lady Idalaiz, for asking, but... Will you teach me how to use poisons?" she says, face flushing. She has Alyssa in mind, naturally, and she wonders if the Spymistress would guess.

Idalaiz pulls her head backwards, as if to be able to get a better look at the girl.  Arching one eyebrow, she draws the word out, "poisons?  Do you have someone in particular in mind?"  After a small chuckle, she continues seriously, "You can't kill the girl, it would cause an investigation that we don't want.  I'll tell you what; here's your first lesson:  For most ingested, uhh, swallowed, poisons, the correct treatment is to give an emetic, a drug that makes a person vomit.  There are a few emetics that are colorless and tasteless.  If one were slipped into a person's drink, in just a few seconds they would vomit uncontrollably.  It otherwise wouldn't do any harm, and it could be brushed off as an upset stomach.  I'll leave some out for you in the lab the next time I visit there."

Scarlet turns scarlet.

Partially because, well, she has been understood only too well in her intention to poison someone... but mostly because Idalaiz has so easily sussed out who in particular she wants to get rid of.

"Thank you, my lady. Yes, it would be very... useful to have an emetic at the ready, in case someone might need it. For their own good, in case they need to purge themselves of some spoiled food or somesuch," she observes piously.

Mentally she adds emetics to her little but growing arsenal of things to use against Alyssa.

"My lady, when Zenobia does finally give birth... what sort of proof would you like that I have accomplished my mission to your liking?"

Idalaiz smiles knowingly, "you don't have to plan anything.  You see, Sir Fischbacher and I have a little competition going, a "friendly" competition, we'll say.  I'll be making a wager with him that his cats are far too tame.  I'll say that I could choose a random person walking by, and his precious mama cat will be tame enough that the random person will be able to pick up and pat her kittens without being attacked.  We'll make sure that you are the random person.  I do not like to lose when I make a wager.  Superior knowledge, superior planning:  they are keys to any victory, whether in court or on the battlefield.  Also, cheating.  Always make sure you cheat better than the other person."

Scarlet's jaw drops open. She's young, and to her the gambit sounds incredibly clever. She has been assuming something more obvious and immediate, that Idalaiz wanted a kitten for herself, or at least a way to smuggle out some, on a later date or for someone else. The concept that it might be a subtler affair of prestige and loss of face blows her early-teen mind.

"Oh... oh. I see. My lady. That is... very well. Yes, I will play my part, rest assured, lady Idalaiz. Understoo. Always cheat."

She almost blurts out her plan to plant a kitten in Alyssa's chambers, but doesn't. The lady doesn't need to know, in case she forbids it as an interference with her own designs. And if she doesn't mention it, she can't say no.

Instead she says:

"The Counts of Travis... and Gemlia, my lady. Are either of them allies of yours? Would you be looking favorably upon a union of their houses, or not?"

Idalaiz again raises one eyebrow, even higher than before, if possible.  "It speaks well of you that you ask, and are willing to put your own revenge aside for the good of the duchy."

She ponders a bit.  "I'm not sure it would matter much, either way; they're both coastal counties, so their biggest service to the Duke is keeping pirates in check and shipping lanes open.  Separate, they provide a check on each other.  If they were unified and the leader incompetent, piracy might become a problem, but they aren't the only coastal counties.

"It would probably be a successful match for both of them, though poor Xavin would likely be miserable.  He's such a dim little lamb, without a conniving bone in his body, and the little bitch Alyssa would eat him up.  In the end, though, he needs a mate with a scheming mind, since he has none.  Alyssa's big fear is that she's going to be married off to Lord Fentilous.  Her father would like that, since it locks in his source of both iron and timber, and he figures that his daughter is a lot stronger than the old toad's first wife, poor thing."

They come to the intersection where Scarlet would go right and Idalaiz left.  "Anyway, dear, we should not be seen together too much; it wouldn't be safe for you.  You do what you like about Alyssa, short of killing the little bitch or involving me in any way, but I do appreciate you asking."

Scarlet smiled a courtly little smile, very pleased with herself thanks to the Spymistress' kind words. Too young and naive to suspect them of being the obvious ego manipulation they surely were. The mention of piracy stirred something in her memory.

"I would not dream of going against your designs, my lady. One last thing, prithee - where do the Stedes of Leucas stand in all this? I know some of their people are here in Moresby Castle, perhaps as ambassadors?"

I might have conflated a couple of NPC's here.  I had misremembered the Xavin and his father as the ones that Anne said they were barely better than pirates, but now that you ask about the Stedes, I recall how that came up.  In any case, the latter wasn't intended to be significant; they were just to let you figure out that you had emerged in the guest wing of the castle.  We'll make what I described in my previous post as canon, and the other one was just Anne confusing the standards.  It's more interesting that she thinks of Xavin as a pirate's son, anyway.

Idalaiz walks away without another word, leaving Scarlet to wonder whether or not the old woman had even heard her.  Scarlet returns to her apartment to a bit more sleep before the day starts.  The girls' tutor is in town, so today will include another long morning of lessons, with, no doubt, Drizella continuing her confusing array of expressions.

Later that afternoon, she meets up with Erikus to continue her education on cats.  When she arrives, he says, haltingly, "Hello. Miss. Scarlet.  It. is. so. good. to see. you. again.  Has. your. day. gone. well?"  When she answers him graciously and asks about cats, he breaths a huge sigh of relief.  He has nearly completed the recital of The Book; the final chapter is on detailed descriptions of diseases and their treatment.

You can also include that you went to sword lessons if you like, now that you have permission.  However, because of the morning classes, you won't be there in time to see Xavin leaving, or maybe he didn't attend today.

LOL, OK, lore fail, don´t worry, I'll just file the Stedes of Leucas under 'random irreleveant background detail'. Stands to reason that Anne wouldn't know or care to know much about them, if they were from far away and not related to her intrigues.

Scarlet gives Drizella the widest of berths and does her usual effort to absorb the onslaught of information about cat husbandry that Erikus vomits endlessly. It's more work than usual, with the impatience that buzzes in her mind: long-term, because Zenobia's birthing is nearing and she wants to make a good impression on the Spymistress, and short-term, because she can't wait to see Xabin at the sword lessons, now that Idalaiz has offered Scarlet a way in.

So she´s sorely disappointed when Xavin does not show up. She carries on with the fencing, trying not to do too badly, but her mind is not in it. She excuses herself a few minutes before the end of the lessons and scurries away, in case Alyssa and her stooges are coming to bully her again.

Since the emetic is now a thing she will get from the Spymistress, she focuses on acquiring a key to Alyssa's chambers. Since she overheard the conversation between Sir Fischbacher and the locksmith, she has decided the easiest place to score a spare key is the latter's workshop. She goes looking for the place.

Well, you know where the maintenance office is already.  What is your approach?  You can start with just observation, which will be an easy stealth roll (DC 12) to avoid being noticed doing it.  The downside of failing that roll is just that a later disguise or bluff would be harder.  After that, you might try disguise, stealth, bluff, or ...?  It seems unlikely, to me, that there would be a secret passage entrance that you could get to, since we are talking about the maintenance crew.  Also, as I mentioned before, you know where Alyssa's apartment is in general, narrowed down to one of five (those of the unmarried handmaidens), but you're not sure exactly which one it is.

I'll go for a look-see:

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 19 using 1d20+6.  Stealth.

Scarlet wasn't familiar with the tradesmen and their ways, let alone their facilities. Waiting until nobody was around, she peered from around a corner, trying to get an idea of how to swipe the right key...

One I have the key, I guess it's a matter of trying those five locks, see which one opens. Even if it opens all of them, I guess I can open a wardrobe or chest and watch out for some dress I remember her wearing, or something like that.

I have actually no idea what the state of lock technology was in the renaissance, which is the tech level I have sort of been targeting, but I imagine that I've already exceeded it by quite a bit.  We'll assume that it's a more paranoid society and therefore lock technology has outpaced a  lot what our own world had.

Scarlet walks past the maintenance office several times, looking at the layout of the room.  It is a fairly large room; most of the walls have shelves which hold books, scrolls, loose papers, and tools, all in a disorganized jumble.  There is a large desk, with a similar jumble of junk, and the maintenance chief sits behind it, engrossed in a drawing of some sort.  There is also a large circular table and chairs and a small sofa.  All the furniture, even the chairs and sofa, have stacks of books, papers, and tools.

Focusing on where he might keep a collection of keys, Scarlet sees that behind the chief on the wall is a locked shallow cabinet; and in one corner is a 3-foot-high freestanding metal cabinet with a solid lock.  There is nothing so convenient as a pegboard with dozens of keys on hooks, unless it is on the one interior wall she can't see without entering the room.

After walking by the room three times, Scarlet waits nearby listening and wondering what to do next.  She hears the chief get up from his desk and come walking out, turning back and locking the door to the room carefully before he walks off, fortunately away from where Scarlet is loitering.  He is a big man, powerful looking but with a heavy layer of flab over his once-athletic frame.  When he locks his door, she sees that the key is on a ring with 5 or 6 other rings on it.  He drops the ring of keys into a pouch at his side and walks off with a purposeful stride.

There is only one way to do it, Scarlet realizes, as she steels herself to do it.

She takes a deep breath and starts walking fast, at a stride that would be almost a run if she weren't a lady. She puts on the deep frown of a courtly lady going on some urgent errand, something that occupies her mind completely and takes absolutely priority, to the extennt that she isn't really looking where she's going and...

"Oops!" she exclaims convincingly as she collides with the tradesman, deftly nicking the keyring as she does, her frown intensifying. "I shall thank you to get out of my way, commoner," she says dimissively, outraged at having come into physical contant wiht a lowborn. She leaves the scene quickly, before the man can retort or realize anything.

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  Sleigh of Hand (to steal the keyring).

Hell yeah!

LOL.  What were you planning if that failed?  I'm going to give him a slim chance to notice you.  ~goes to roll~
13:26, Today: Zag, for the NPC Head of maintenance, rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Notice the little thief.
Wow.  That roll was legit: I rolled a natural 1 to combat your natural 20.  You could steal from Idalaiz with that combo.

As Scarlet bumps into the man, she slips her hand smoothly into his pouch and immediately grasps the full set of keys.  She comes to a sudden understanding -- to steal something loose and jangly, you have to grab the whole thing so the jangles don't make a noise as you draw them away, and she has grasped them perfectly.

The man is so startled that he jumps a bit and then tries to skip away, causing him to trip and hit his head against the wall.  "I, uhh, I'm so sorry, miss," he calls after Scarlet as she speeds away.  He stops to rub his head where a small bump is already rising.

It was never going to fail.

Scarlet heads straights for the residential wing to discreetly try the keys. Meanwhile, she ruminates on what she knows of Alyssa's routine. It won't do to go to all this trouble, only to be caught snooping around her room...

Scarlet is not sure if Alyssa is still taking lessons with the girls' tutor, but if she is, that's where she would be right now.  The girls' tutor taught the younger girls all morning, and the older girls' lesson still has another hour to go, at least.  If she no longer takes lessons, then she might be in her room, she might be attending the Duchess, or she might be anywhere.

Scarlet approaches the first of the five doors in this wing and listens, hearing nothing.  She tries the keys, scoring a hit with the third key in the ring.  Opening the door smoothly, she finds herself staring at Lady Ypirétria, the ancient spinster who is the head of Duchess' Ladies' Council (the handmaids and maidens).  The woman is sitting in a rocking chair facing the door with a bit of needlepoint resting on top of a colorful lap blanket.  Scarlet has, of course, seen the old woman at numerous events, but has not ever had more than a brief conversation with her.

Lady Ypirétria squints at Scarlet and calls out in her frail voice, "Bertie?  Is that you?  I'm afraid I will need a fresh pot of tea, dearie.  I seem to have dozed off before drinking it."  A full cup of tea sits in a tray beside a silver teapot and a small plate of biscuits.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:21, Sun 19 June 2022.

Oh damn.

Scarlet clears her throat and does her best impression of a serving maid's voice.

"It's not Bertie, milady, but I shall fetch your tea right away."

She exits and closes the door before the old woman can turn around to see her.

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 26 using 1d20+8.  Perform (Act).

It seems to create no incident, or, at least, the old lady stays quiet as Scarlet leaves.

The next door is similarly quiet, and it opens with the same key.  Looking inside, it is clear that this can not be Alyssa's room, unless Alyssa suddenly acquired the decorating tastes -- and the smell, it seems -- of an old woman.

The third door also opens with the same key.  It is clearly that of a young woman, so Scarlet slips in and takes a quick look in the closet.  Sure enough, she recognizes a dress that Alyssa was wearing the other day.  She sees the girl's ballet costume, as well.  As the lead of the dance troupe, Alyssa had the only violet costume, and here it is, on a small wooden structure intended for the purpose.  The ballet shoes are draped across the structure's "shoulders" in an artistic fashion.

Gotcha.

Scarlet resisted the temptation of stealing or sabotaging something in Alyssa's room. That would be gratifying, but any hint that the room had been illicitly visited and the first thing anyone would do was change the lock. Better to wait. Revenge was a dish best served cold.

Scarlet locked the door again and left.

Now all that was left to do was wait for Zenobia to give birth so Idalaiz could win her bet against sir Fischbacher... and Scarlet get her vengeance on Alyssa.

Several days pass, with Scarlet visiting the Zenobia, bring her treats and catnip and solidifying their relationship.  She visits the laboratory where Idalaiz has left for her some of the emetic she promised: an envelope which contains four small packets, each with about a teaspoon of a white powder.  She also spends a bit of time with Erikus, going over some parts of the book that she feel bears repeating, but finally she feels that she knows all he can teach her.  (Do you do anything with that relationship?)

Much of the castle is buzzing with the theft of the master keys to the castle, and rumors abound.  One of the most common is that a page boy was really a midget working for the Enklimatíes (a semi-mythical crime organization), and he assaulted the head of maintenance to take them.  Demands to have locks changed IMMEDIATELY can be heard bellowed at anyone even remotely connected with castle maintenance or construction, and people have generally been staying in their rooms to keep their own valuables safe.  The level of paranoia in the castle, always simmering slightly, has become a full boil.

Midsummer's Eve dawns.  There is supposed to be a large party this evening, and it is unclear how much the new mood of the castle will affect it.  Probably, Scarlet thinks, people's desire for a party will overwhelm their caution and the activity will be even more raucous than usual.

Scarlet is surprised that the theft of the keys is reported as such, as she was counting on the tradesman covering his failure. Either too responsible or too dumb to come up with an excuse, Scarlet guesses, and makes a mental note to study the commonners more closely from now on. For the moment she limits that endeavor to keeping a cordial rapport with Erikus, inasmuch as one can be 'cordial' with the strange lad.

At any rate, the day arrives and Scarlet gets ready to make a move. Hopefully Mother will go as hard as usual on the claret and be too drunk to interfere with her plans. For the time being, Scarlet lets herself be maneuvered in a fancier dress, sighs as Mother tightens her corset too much in an effort to "display some of your bosom, such as it is" and keeps her mouth shut. She has hidden well her supply of emetics, except for two doses that she keeps on herself, ready for whenever the chance of payback presents itself.

Before she joins the party, Scarlet pays a quick visit to the secret lab, in case lady Idalaiz has left any indication that tonight is indeed the night, or any other message for her; that done, she steels herself and goes to the dinner.

Scarlet finds nothing new from Idalaiz at the lab.  When she arrives at the party, a few people have already arrived, but everyone is rather sedate, staying in small groups and talking quietly.  Anne arrives and looks in horror at Scarlet, then pulls her aside and around a corner.  "Where do you go that you get so covered in dust?" she asks as the slaps her dress and hair.  Finally satisfied, she rearranges the girl's blond curls and the two return to the party.

In the interim, a few more people have arrived, including a triumphant-looking Alyssa.  She and her parents are sitting in a table marked 'Reserved,' one that is quite close to the head table.  While Scarlet watches, trying her best to keep from being noticed watching, Xavin and his father arrive, sitting at the same table.  The two older men greet each other with warm handshakes, and then Alyssa's mother bestows a pair of air kisses in the direction of Xavin's father.  Alyssa moves to greet Xavin formally, with a small curtsey and a possessive, slightly predatory smile.  The lad's eyes are on the attractive young woman, and he misses seeing his own father leering down Alyssa's bodice, actually rising on his toes a bit to get a better angle.

Once everyone has a drink (some have had several), the first course arrives and everyone takes a seat.  Scarlet can see Alyssa whispering to her father; his response is clearly, "not yet."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:44, Thu 23 June 2022.

...And not ever, if I can bloody help it.

Scarlet resists the temptation to slip some emetic into Alyssa's glass. It would be a satisfaction to see her embarrass herself in front of everyone, but that would probably mean she was sent back to her chambers. And that would invalidate Scarlet's plan of planting a Savannah cat in her rooms this very night, as soon as she plays her part in Lady Idalaiz's prank on Sir Fischbacher.

Patience, girl, patience. It's two birds with the same stone, and we're so close now...

To be clear, the kittens had not been born yet, but ...  Also, narratively, we would want to end the chapter with a positive triumph rather than a negative one.  That is, Alyssa's complete downfall should precede the successful encounter with the cats.  Of course, you do still have to make sure it is successful.  :-)  Idalaiz's challenge with Sir Fischbacher could happen any time in the kittens' first couple of weeks.

After an appetizer course of oysters, then a cold soup which the chef declares has a French name that Scarlet doesn't catch, the chef announces a course of shaved ice with raspberry port wine sauce.  On such a hot day, it's quite an impressive feat that these are delivered still (mostly) frozen.  After this course, the Duke rises, gets everyone's attention, and says, "Ladies, Gentlemen, everyone, I would ask you all to give your attention to Count Travis, for a happy announcement."

Alyssa's father stands, waits for the applause to die down, and announces, "We are excited to announce the betrothal of our daughter, Alyssa, to Count Gemlia's fine son Xavin.  Please send your warm wishes to the happy couple."  He drones on for a bit, saying nothing more of substance.  A number of people head over to their table to greet the couple in person, including Lady Idalaiz, who looks quite frail, leaning heavily on her cane, holding it with a slight tremor.  She walks directly to the table, without standing in the line that is forming, and is shown deference.

Just as Sir Fischbacher is the next person in line behind someone Scarlet does not recognize, a young woman dressed in everyday clothes comes up to him.  Scarlet recognizes Lavaleen, the woman who works in the kennel along with Erikus who speaks to him in hushed tones that Scarlet is unable to catch.  Sir Fischbacher steps out of line and leaves with the woman, just as it was about to be his turn to greet the young couple.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:37, Tue 28 June 2022.

Oh, my bad, I got the timing all wrong, sorry.

...No, screw that, she goes down tonight, Scarlet thinks, seeing red.

Carefully she gets up without calling undue attention towards herself, located a servant going in a clear trajectory towards the lady, and crosses paths with him.

"Watch where you´re going!" she protests, bumping into him, not too hard that the drink spills, but hard enough to catch his attention and cause a string of protocol apologies while she slips the emetic into the cup destined for Alyssa's lips...

Scarlet d'Ardelle rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Sleigh of Hand (spike the emetic).

Hmmm.  A little less bold, though safer, than actually going up to her table to congratulate her and slipping it in, there.  I'll give you a decent chance of being the right glass.

1: Alyssa's Mother -- 2: Alyssa's Father -- 3-5: Alyssa -- 6-7: Xavin -- 8: Xavin's father
~Goes to roll~
14:49, Today: Zag rolled 1 using 1d8.  Randomize who gets the glass

Scarlet observes the servant with the 5 glasses of champagne, clearly destined for Alyssa's table, the only one with 5 people seated.  After calculating the alignment of glasses to guests, she deduces which is destined for the bimbo and slips the emetic in.  To Scarlet's horror, the servant pivots the tray after his lame apology and completely changes the arrangement.  She watches as the spiked glass is placed in front of Alyssa's mother.

I was going to go on, but maybe you want to intervene.  I'm not implying that you should, but I don't want to run roughshod if you did want to.  I'm not even sure what you can do other than something embarrassing, but maybe you'll think of something.  The alternative is to try to spin the result as an ill omen, or just let things play out on their own and maybe they'll end up that way, anyway.

Just her luck, Scarlet thinks, as she watches the disaster unfold. Very little she can do about it right now, without incriminating herself or at least making herself look like a bumbling fool, and none of that would put a dent in Alyssa's plans as things stand. So she stands in the background, watching with equal parts anger and fatalism...

It seems we are ready to wrap up this chapter.  All the dominoes are in place and it is just a matter of pushing them.  My primary question is how you are going to get a kitten (or two?) from their mother and into Alyssa's room, since the times that it is safe to visit the cats correspond to times that are not safe to go to her room.  Also, you know from The Book that newborn kittens shouldn't be away from their mother for too long, since they feed nearly constantly for the first couple of days.  Four or five hours won't be a problem, and even up to half a day won't be a serious problem, but longer might be an issue. 

From Alyssa's point of view, it is comical watching Alyssa's mother pick up the glass of champagne, raise it to her lips about to drink, when someone makes another toast and she is forced to raise the glass high once again.  Then she is distracted talking before she goes again to sip, when another toast is offered.  Finally, she takes a good drink of the beverage and Scarlet, having anticipated for so long, is expecting an immediate reaction.  The reality is somewhat less explosive but still quite satisfying.  She starts with a slightly wild look in her eyes, glancing left and right as if there is something about to attack her.  Then she seems to hold in a huge belch, and finally she turns and vomits massively, splattering an unsuspecting server, with a splash hitting her husband and Alyssa.

At this point, chaos reigns: people around the room are talking and shouting; those close to the feature table are moving away with alacrity; and the poor woman is struggling unsuccessfully to keep from vomiting further.  A clever servant upends a fruit bowl that was on the table and holds it for the woman to vomit into as he escorts her out of the room.  Alyssa's reaction is the most satisfying to Scarlet, the mix of horror, fury, and humiliation transforms the attractive face into that of a monster as the tears streak her makeup into scars down her cheeks.  Finally, she runs out the room as well, followed by her father.

Xavin is obviously overwhelmed.  He turns this way, then that, at a loss for what he can do to help.  The only calm in the room is that of his father, who has a bemused smile as he sits back in his chair and sips his drink.  Scarlet can see Xavin talking at him frantically, but he responds calmly and waves to his son to sit back down.  The boy complies, but it is obvious his nervous energy has him wanting to do something.

Finally, the scene calms down.  The servants clean up the mess; Alyssa and her father finally return, speak quietly with their tablemates, and sit back down, and the dinner proceeds in a much more subdued pace.  Alyssa's mother never returns to the room.

---

That night, Scarlet slips again into the kennel, and learns that Zenobia has, indeed, given birth to seven kittens.  The proud mama is slightly more standoffish, but once presented with several hunks of salmon that Scarlet saved from dinner, the cat is back to her friendly self.  Scarlet picks up each kitten, almost overwhelmed with how cute they are.  She counts five males and two females.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaLTd2MLTgg
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:41, Wed 06 July 2022.

Scarlet finds herself enjoying the ensuing chaos, even when it achieves very little for her own ends. Beyond the obvious joy at Alyssa's outrage, Scarlet has just discovered she is enjoying the scene for the sheer, intimate satisfaction of knowing she brought this pandemonium upon the scene. For someone who has never wielded any power, and whose day to day existence entails being pushed around by Mother, knowing she has caused this is a success in its own. And the promise of more power as she keeps growing under the tutelage of lady Idalaiz is a tantalising prospect on its own; never mind what she would use that power for, the power in itself is intoxicating.

A few hours later, Scarlet is holding a beautiful kitten, stroking its soft fur as she considers the best way and time to slip it into Alyssa's chambers. This is something she has been giving thought for the last few days, so she has a sort of plan in motion: she'll borrow one of the cages to keep the kitten in, and hide it in Idalaiz's secret lab until the morning, then wait until Alyssa leaves her chambers for breakfast to retrieve it and free the (by then probably frightened and starving) kitten in the bitch's room. With any luck, that will achieve a double purpose: to maximise destruction at Alyssa's chambers when freed, and also to make her look even worse when she's "found out".

Cruel, yes, she tells herself, but who isn't, in Castle Moresby? And the kitten will survive, after all, with only a few hours' worth of mild suffering. Unlike Alyssa's reputation, which shall be forever tarnished! Scarlet smiles sweetly at Zenobia while she gets up slowly and borrows her newborn...

Scarlet looks at the cages that the cats are kept in, and realizes that none of them are small enough for her to carry through the secret passages.  She decides that she can just use an overturned basket to keep the kitten from wandering off -- after all, its eyes are still closed and it can barely crawl.  She chooses one that has just finished feeding, with milk still dribbling from its adorable little mouth, and tucks it inside her blouse.

After a few hours' sleep, Scarlet awakens to the general clamor of the castle waking up.  Anne, of course, is still sleeping off the excess of alcohol she drank at last night's event, so it is easy for Scarlet to slip away unnoticed.  She retrieves the kitten, which is just where she left it, and heads over to Alyssa's room.  After listening at the door, she unlocks it with her master key and enters, breathing a sigh of relief to find it empty.

She considers what to do next:  Just leave the kitten on the girl's bed?  And what should she do with these master keys?  They are incriminating evidence if she were ever discovered to have them.  Finally, once the loss of a kitten is discovered, how will those searching ever think to look here?  The whole plan hinges on the kitten's discovery by the authorities.  What if Alyssa returns and finds it?  She is smart enough to realize that she is being set up, and might do something drastic like disposing of the tiny beast.  She might even figure out who it is who set her up and look to retaliate.  If she is caught, she probably won't be able to do much, but if she manages to avoid the trap, she will have ample opportunity.  Scarlet suddenly realizes that a plan like this needs to be thought all the way through.

This crisis point has helped you grow up considerably.  You are now second level in all but the added Ability Score Points that you will get as part of the new level.  These will require a bit of time working with the swordmaster if you're going to be increasing STR, DEX, or CON, or studying to level up INT or WIS.  Otherwise, though, level up the character, with skill points, BAB, etc.  Remember that you already got one skill point in advance.

OK, I think I did everything? Spent 11 skill points, increased BAB and Ref save as per Rogue, got Evasion, not sure if hit points are rolled or fixed amounts?

Scarlet mutters a curse. All her plan has been based on the (wrong?) assumption that even a newborn Savannah cat would be noisy and rowdy if left alone in a lady's chamber for a few hours, thus attracting attention. But if all the useless ball of fur is going to do is curl and sleep cutely, then Scarlet is in trouble...

Let's just do max hit points.  You're supposed to be heroic characters, after all.

So what are you going to do?  I gave you a pretty big hint that you should leave the master keys here, because, frankly, I can't have you owning a set of master keys to the castle.  My alternative is to assume that the maintenance guy is going to change out all the keys, but key technology is not really all that far along, and your newly-learned Disable Device is going to get you into most place, though with a little more risk.

Anyway, there are a few ways you can draw attention to the kitten before Alyssa returns, with varying degrees of having yourself "involved."  And don't forget how skilled you are at disguise.  I fully intend to have Idalaiz chastise you for not being disguised when you stole the keys in the first place; I just haven't had a chance.  "After all," she says, "even with the best-laid plans, sometimes someone is not where you expect and you are spotted.  It's best that the person they 'spotted' is a persona you can just discard."

Well, there is a way, a little too exposed for her liking, but fortune favors the bold.

Scarlet slips the master key under Alyssa's pillow, where it will be easily found, and leaves the kitten on the bed. Then she leaves, clicking the door closed behind her, then hurries to Lady Maranno's chambers.

Assuming she finds her there, she curtsies with a nervous smile and bids her good day.

"My lady, I... there is something I must tell you... I think. Forgive me, for I might be making a fool of myself, but... I feel I must mention this to you, for I know nobody else I can trust with it, and because you said your noble husband was friends with Sir Fischbacher. Last night I was on my way to the kitchens for a late nigt snack when I so happened to pass by the door of the kennels. I saw a girl coming out of it, and locking the door behind her. She did not see me, and although I found it odd, I did nothing about it. But this very morning, in fact not half an hour ago... I was having a morning walk when I heard a soft meowing in one of the residential corridors. Now, my lady, I would be loath to extract the wrong conclusions from these coincidences, but... I thought I should mention it to your ladyship, to ease my conscience that the right thing is done?"

Hmmm.  Bluffing a high-WIS NPC.  I was more thinking you might go to the cleaning women, and make sure that they get to Alyssa's room early.
I will grant you that the target wants to believe you, which gets you +5 on the competing skills.
11:32, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 18 using 1d20+10.  Bluff Maryann
11:34, Today: Zag, for the NPC Maryann, rolled 19 using 1d20.  Sense Motive.
With the +5, this is a (qualified) success.

Lady Maranno greets Scarlet with a huge smile, "It's so nice to see you, Sweetie."  Her apartment still has the scent of fresh oil paint, and Scarlet can see that there is a new painting underway, this one a landscape with an angry-looking sky.  She ushers Scarlet in, but then looks closely at her face.  "You look upset.  What is it?"

Scarlet explains her concerns, and Maryann tries to calm her.  "I'm sure it's just a coincidence.  Probably one of the workers was there late, or maybe checking on that Mama cat that just had kittens, I heard.  And there are plenty of cats in the castle; you're probably just getting yourself worked up over nothing.  But we can ask around, just to be sure.  Which residence did you say you heard  it in?"

"The section a flight down and ..." Scarlet turns around to orient herself, then points, "that way.  Where the maidens in waiting live."

Lady Maranno purses her lips and nods, then reaches for her bell pull.  "I'll send a message.  Do you have time for a cup of tea?  It's no problem."

"Of course, my lady. Your ladyship is most generous with her time," Scarlet beams.

Partially, because she is genuinely delighted to count the lady Maranno as a friend.

But also because she has seen that little twitch of her lips, and knows it means she is a little concerned that the telltale meowing sounds should come from that particular corridor.

"Did I tell your ladyship I have taken up fencing lessons? It is truly exhilarating!" she enthuses, for small talk.

"Oh!  Exciting!" she says, "But first, you have to stop this 'ladyship' nonsense.  You can call me Moranno, if you must, or, please, just Maryann.  You are my friend, and that's what my friends call me."

The serving girl enters and Maryann turns and greets the girl with a smile, "Oh, lovely, Camille, is that a new ribbon?"  The girl curtseys and nods,  beaming with the compliment.  Lady Moranno continues, "would you please get us some tea and some cakes or biscuits, whatever they have available.  And please ask one of the pages to stop by; I have a message to send."

The two chat amiably, Maryann seems genuinely interested in the fencing lessons.  "Oh, but don't tell Etan about them, or he'll be pushing me to take lessons, as well.  They are great for you, and I love to hear about them, but I'll stick with my paints."

When the page arrives, she goes to a desk to write a note, then hands it to the page along with a silver piece.  "For Sir Fishbacher.  Try the kennel, or his apartment, or ... I don't know."  She hands him another silver, "Please do what you can to make sure this gets to him."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:36, Thu 14 July 2022.

"Oh, but of course! One should definitely exercise those talents one is the most gifted with, and your skill with the brush, your lad-- I mean, uhm, Maryann? Your gift for painting is obviously great. Your husband must surely have realized that!"

When the page comes in and Scarlet hears the command the lady gives him, she allows herself a little worried frown.

"Maryann, what do you think? I do not know what to think about it myself. I would be loath to cause anyone any embarrassing trouble..."

You're laying it on a little thick, there, for someone who nearly failed the previous bluff roll.  :-)

After a half hour, there is a heavy knocking on the door.  She opens it to reveal Sir Fishbacher, red in the face and already reaching to knock again.  "What do you know about this, Moranno?"

"About?  Oh, the girl leaving the kennel?  My friend here told me she spotted some girl leaving the kennel late last night.  She didn't think much of it until she heard a mewing this morning."

He turns on Scarlet, a terrified fury rising up in his face.  "Where?  Where did you hear this?"  He swallows, his overly large voice box moving visibly as he is trying to bring his emotions under control.  "This is very important, young miss.  Please tell me what you know.  Take me to where you heard this kitten."

Gotta enjoy it to the fullest ;)

Scarlet makes a show of being slightly intimidated, as a good coy girl is supposed to.

"I only... my lord, I just heard some meowling, in the corridor, the one in... I can show you, if you would follow me?" she offers. If Sir Fischbacher agrees, she takes him to the corridor where Alyssa's chambers are located, but not straight to her door. That would be too blatant.

"It came from somewhere around here, my lord."

00:33, Today: Zag, on behalf of Scarlet d'Ardelle, rolled 18 using 1d20.  luck roll
Oh, that could have gone poorly.  :-)  You can't be sure if the maintenance guy could recognize you.

"Yes.  Take me there, right now!" he demands.

Scarlet leads the now growing group, which includes Sir Fischbacher, Maryann, one clerk-looking man with ink stained fingers, two pages, and four people who just seem to be following along as spectators, to the hallway where the unmarried ladies in waiting live.  "It came from somewhere around here, my lord."

Fischbacher points at one of the pages, "You.  Go get the head of maintenance -- what's his name?  Hurry!  No, wait, tell him to bring ..."

Before he finishes his sentence, a chamber maid comes out of the first room, just behind where the group has paused, the room where Scarlet saw Lady Ypirétria just a few days ago.  The chamber maid gasps at the crowd and at the frantically gesticulating Sir Fischbacher, who abandons the page to move on her.

"You have keys to get in these rooms.  Open them up, immediately!  This one right here."  He is pointing to the room directly opposite the hall from Alyssa's.

The poor girl looks like a rabbit caught in a trap.  Maryann steps forward, "It's OK, Bertie, dear.  It seems something happened to one of the cats," she looks at Fishbacher, "one of the kittens, I'm guessing?"  The frantic man nods and gestures for the girl to start unlocking.  "We have a reason to think that it might have made its way to one of these rooms.  I'll make sure, dearie, that you won't get in any trouble.  Please just unlock a few doors for us."  Her calming influence and acceptance of the responsibility frees the girl to act.  All of the bystanders are crowding around the door, trying to peek in.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:44, Sun 17 July 2022.

Scarlet just stands by, trying hard not to smile or look too eager...

Scarlet waits a bit to one side as the door opposite Alyssa's is open.  The others, even Maryann, are crowding around, trying to see what might be revealed in the room.  The crowd and the pressure is obviously getting to the poor chambermaid, because she fumbles the key ring attached to her apron and it falls out of her hand, dangling by a cord.

As she tries to retrieve it, Scarlet sees Idalaiz coming down the hall, leaning heavily on her cane.  She makes eye contact with Scarlet, purses her lips tightly, and bobs her head at the door where everyone waits.  "Proponitís," she calls out, "Is there any news?  I've heard one of your kittens has gone missing.  Why are you looking here?"

Sir Fishbacher turns and sees her just as the Bertie has the door open.  "We, ahh, no, damn."  The room is empty, with only a table and a chair, but no furnishings, nothing that would indicate anyone lives there, and he turns back to Idalaiz, realizing his manners and blushing furiously.  He bows to the old woman.  "My Lady, this girl here heard a mewing down in this area, so we are searching the rooms.  If you will excuse me a moment."  Without waiting for an answer, he strides into the room and does a thorough search.  With almost nothing in either room in this apartment, his inspection takes only a few seconds.

When he returns to the hallway, he very quietly asks the chambermaid to open the opposite door, the one to Alyssa's room.  The crowd dutifully shuffles over and forms up around this door.

Scarlet curtsies to Idalaiz as soon as the old lady appears, spotting the silent displeasure in her eyes. Yes, the Spymistress probably did not want her to steal one of the cats and restrict herself to the plan as agreed, and Scarlet knows full well she has gone on a tangent of her own - but isn't this an even better way for Idalaiz to win her bet with Fischbacher? Not only are his cats tame enough for a young maid to hold, they are also tame enough to steal from her very mother! And the master key under Alyssa's pillow will do all the explanation needed as to the how. As to why, well, who cares about motive?

But Scarlet keeps her eyes low, knowing she id probably in for a reprimand anyway.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:01, Sun 17 July 2022.

Idalaiz barely acknowledges the curtsey and minces forward into the growing crowd, which parts for her.  One page is, unfortunately, more interested in what is going on than in one of the ducal family coming up behind him.  This lad receives a sharp knock on his head from her cane.

Bertie is even more nervous at this door, probably because she knows that this apartment is occupied.  However, having resigned herself to her own powerlessness, she opens it, then gasps.  Sitting on the bed is a tiny kitten, its eyes still shut.  Sir Fishbacher shoves his way past the girl and races forward to cradle the kitten gently.  He comes back out, the strain in his face oddly more obvious now that it has been relieved.

He points at the page who is still rubbing his head. "You!  Stand in this doorway.  No one goes in."  Pointing to another page, as there are now four hanging about, "You!  Go get the head of security.  He needs to bring a team here, immediately."  Scarlet wonders why he did not have a security person with him already.

"Proponitís," the Lady Idalaiz calls out, "do let me see."

"Certainly, my lady."  He brings the kitten to Idalaiz, who is, once again, leaning heavily on her cane.  "But only for a moment, if you please.  I must get this kitt back to its mother."

"Of course, of course," she says, as she holds on to his arm and coos a bit at the kitten.  "And you said a girl led you here.  What a little heroine!  Which one?"  She looks around, but does not release her grip on his arm.  He points to Scarlet, who is still keeping her eyes low.  Idalaiz waves Scarlet forward and tugs Fishbacher's arm down so that Scarlet can have a good look at the kitten.

Scarlet finds it harder and harder to contain her glee as Fischbacher gets closer and closer to his goal, and then blam, finds the kitten in Alyssa's room. Bells of dark jubilation are ringing in her ears by the time she's called forward by the Spymistress.

"By your leave, my lady, I am no heroine, I was just lucky or unlucky enough to be passing by and hear this little thing. My, it is so cute! But I hear they are deadly, these Savantic cats?" she asks, wide-eyed, a hand raised and stopped mid-air as she hesitates to touch it.

Fishbacher pulls the kitten away so abruptly that Idalaiz is thrown a bit off balance.  She has to catch herself with one hand on Scarlet's shoulder and the other leaning heavily on her cane.  She lets out a tiny squeak of surprise which Fishbacher completely ignores as he starts to walk away briskly.

As the elderly woman keeps a grip on Scarlet, Maryann curtseys, then moves protectively beside the girl.  Idalaiz release Scarlet's shoulder and puts both hands on her cane, as if needing the support.  "Well.  I guess patting the little thing was out of the question, then," she says with a chuckle.  "Tell me, child, what is your name?"

Scarlet curtseys again.  "Scarlet d'Ardelle, my Lady."

"Oh, yes.  Of course, of course.  My, you're getting big, almost all grown up.  It seems it was just months ago that we had that little ceremony where you were declared Scarlet Fitzbarton.  You've kept the epithet d'Ardelle, though."  She nods thoughtfully, "a good choice, I imagine.  Become your own woman."

Maryann continues to hover nearby.  She seems concerned, for some reason, but she does not speak.

Three men in Rheams livery arrive, all fully armed.  The man in the lead, who wears the fanciest uniform, bows to Lady Idalaiz.  "My Lady, I understand that there has been a development."

"Yes, captain" Idalaiz replies, obviously quite comfortable with the man's assumption that she is in charge.  "This charming young miss has rescued the lost kitten!  The tiny thing seems no worse for its adventure; Sir Fishbacher has already taken it away.  It was found in that room, there.  You should go through every inch, figure out how the woman who lives there could have stolen the kitten in the first place.  Who has those chambers?  It must be ... ?"  She trails off.

The captain turns to the shorter of his assistants; the man is already consulting a map which he holds out unrolled.  "Alyssa of Travis, daughter of Count Gaubern Ranteson Travis," the man announces in an oddly high-pitched voice.

Idalaiz gasps, "She's with the duchess right now!  Captain, take a man and go pick her up.  Leave your other man here to guard the room and keep everyone out of it.  You can investigate here once the treacherous little viper is safely under lock and key.  Only Dolos knows what other plots she might have underway."  The guards react immediately, one positioned at attention in front of the door, and the other two striding off.

Idalaiz turns to Scarlet again.  "You, uhh...  What did you say your name was?"

"Scarlet d'Ardelle, my Lady."

"Yes, yes.  Of course.  You simply MUST come tell me all about how you saved the kitten."  She turns to a page who is waiting nearby, looking alert.  "Arrange for some tea for two in the Kítrino room, and have the room prepared.  Run now."  She leads Scarlet to the main hall, then to one of the small rooms just off of it that are used for private conversations.  She moves slowly, making heavy use of the cane, and by the time they have arrived the same page is standing outside the room and the lamps in the room are glowing merrily.  By the time she is settled in, a serving girl with a tray of tea and cakes arrives.  After pouring the tea, the girl leaves and Idalaiz closes the door.

She is grinning, but her tone is a bit harsh.  She keeps her voice low, knowing that the page is still waiting just outside the door.  "So, what did you do wrong?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:32, Mon 18 July 2022.

Scarlet almost protests against her being painted as a heroine or kitten-savior (she just happened to be passing by, after all) and she barely contains her laughter while putting on a shocked face as the name of Alyssa surfaces.

_{"But! I know her, she danced in the same ballet as I..."} she murmurs, and pretends to choke emotionally on her words, but she's really on the verge of a guffaw. But nobody is listening, as the grown-ups go about their grown-up business and the cogs keep moving.

Presently that machinery drags her towards lady Idalaiz's chambers, and she follows meekly, not in triumph, but as someone shocked, even a little bit frightened, by the portentuous wheels she has set in motion.

She relaxes once alone with the Spymistress; probably more than is advisable, for the lady is not completely pleased with her, but there is only so long she can contain her glee, which finally erupts into a lustful, dark laugh, like a dam bursting.

"Oh, my lady! I must ask your pardon, I suppose, for changing the... way in which your wager has been won? But, begging your forgiveness, is this not a fuller triumph for your ladyship, a more blatant indication that Sir Fischbacher was wrong and you were right, than a mere demonstrative pat on that kitten's little head? But in all honesty, I much rather would not have involved the lady Maranno: she is clever, and she might have suspected something. In my defense, if I may, my lady: that snake Alyssa tried to kill me once, and she was keen on trying again. I can scarcely serve you as a corpse, your ladyship, or a social pariah. I have done my best to serve your interests while I kept mine, and may the gods forgive me if I have not."

Yes, there is a touch of arrogance there. She has earned it, she thinks, or she will pay for it if she hasn't, but today triumph is all that matters.

Idalaiz laughs, "Oh, no.  This thing with the cat in Alyssa's room, that was hilarious!  It was beautiful.  The little bitch will be lucky only to be sent home.  I don't really care about that stuck up Maranno; she's clever, but powerless.  No, I'm talking about your acting skills.  I'm sure nobody noticed, but you failed to stay in character.  Someday I might be sending you undercover somewhere, where getting caught could mean very serious consequences, and you have to remember to stay in character, only knowing what your character knows.

"As I was walking up, what was every person in that hallway doing, other than you?  Trying to peer into that room to see if the kitten was there.  You knew there wasn't anything to see, so you didn't look.  You were just hanging out on the side trying not to look smug.  Not completely succeeding, I might add, but nobody saw THAT but me.  If you want to be seen as an innocent person, you have to do what an innocent person -- one who doesn't know what you know -- would do.  If you're not sure what an innocent person would be doing, glance at an innocent person and copy.

"Remember this for when you're on the other side of the situation, as well.  When you suspect that there is an inside agent, or someone who knows more than they're telling, look for the lack of curiosity about something that might be a big reveal.  There's your agent.  You can even set this up -- you tell everyone that this or that will explain everything, just make something up that seems plausible.  The person who is not watching intently, that's the guilty one.

"OK.  We'll have to play this a little different than I planned, but it will still work.  Go put on your best dress and wait outside the family residence.  I'm going to go collect Dearest and we'll be "investigating" what might have gone wrong at the kennel.  When I send you to go confront Zenobia, remember to be terrified.  It's a killer cat that you have NEVER MET BEFORE.  You need to be as surprised as anyone that she doesn't attack you.

"Go very easy on the catnip, too, barely a dusting.  If Fishbacher smells it or sees it, then the game is up, and the cat will smell the tiniest trace."  She stands easily from the table, and takes the two steps to the door without using her cane.  However, by the time the door is open, she is once again bowed over the cane, leaning on it heavily.  She turns back, "ten minutes, at the residence."

With this lesson, you get a free +4 to Sense Motive in this specific scenario, where you are trying to detect someone who knows more than they should and you put together a show to trap them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:15, Tue 19 July 2022.

"Oh. I see, your ladyship," Scarlet says, blinking in surprise. Yes, she has much to learn about intrigue, but she is obviously in the right hands to become a true master. She smiles in gratiutude, relieved that she is not being told off for deviating from the original plan.

If only Mother was more like the lady Idalaiz...

"I shall remember your wise advice, my lady. But -- just a word, my lady. The girl at the kennels might remember me, I blagged my way into the kennels once. And if the boy, Erikus, is present... well, he is a friend of mine, and completely unable to lie effectively even if you told him to. I fear they might jeopardize my showing there."

Scarlet runs back to her apartment to change.  Anne is there and wants to talk, making Scarlet groan inwardly.  "Did you hear that the big mother cat -- you know, those cats that the Duchess likes to much -- she had babies, and one of them was stolen!"

Scarlet rushes to pull on her finest dress and simply ignores her mother.  Anne is not daunted by the cold shoulder and wants to know what's going on.  "Why are you putting that on now?  What is happening?"  Scarlet manages to divert her by asking for help with buttons while she pulls a brush through her hair.  In record time she is back out the door and racing to the family residence, Anne left behind, still pleading for information.

It has been about 12 minutes when she arrives at the entrance to the Residence, which feels pretty heroic to Scarlet.  The guard confirms that Idalaiz is expecting her, has not come out yet, and wants her just to wait here.  In only a few minutes, the doorway is opened and Dearest comes out, followed immediately by Idalaiz and then several assistants, including Pax, Idalaiz's butler.  The man is uncharacteristically quiet.

"Here she is," Idalaiz gestures towards Scarlet, who is already performing her best curtsey, "our little heroine, the first Fitzbarton girl ... Scarlet Fitzbarton."

"So lovely to see you again, Scarlet," says the duchess.

Scarlet can feel the sting of being barely recognized by this woman, her own grandmother, but she maintains decorum.  "Thank you, your grace.  I am deeply honored."

Idalaiz says, "You will come with us, and tell us what you saw."  She starts to lead the way, with her slow pace, and the walk is further slowed by the many people genuflecting to the duchess, who has to stop to acknowledge them.  Eventually the group arrives at the door to the kennel.  Idalaiz continues as if there were no pause, "You said that you were heading to the kitchen and saw the Travis girl coming out.  Where were you exactly?  Did you get a good look?  Were you sure it was her at the time, or did you merely suspect?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:24, Thu 21 July 2022.

How unexpectedly has this little prank of hers brought her so close to her august family on her father's side! Scarlet wasn't expected that, so she does not need to feign being nonplussed when she curtsies to the Duchess. Sure, she looks like she barely remembers her, but then again, it's not hers but her father's recognition that Scarlet has always craved. A step closer, anyway, she wants to think, while her heart flutters.

"Your ladyship, I did not get a good look, and for the life of mine, I couldn't swear it was the daughter of the count of Travis," she corrects Idalaiz gently. "I was drowsy and the light was dim and I did not stop to get a better look. I was here," she says, standing at the other side of the corridor, "and then I saw a well-dressed girl coming out of that door," she says, pointing towards the door to the kennels, "She was clutching something to her breast. She stopped to lock the door and I moved along, thinking to myself it was odd for a noblelady to be wandering around these parts at those ungodly hours. But then again, so was I," she smiles apologetically, casting her eyes down demurely. "I... find it hard to sleep sometimes, your ladyship. _{My mother, she... snores? And I wanted to be alone with my thoughts for a minute, so I went for a walk after I got a bite from the kitchen,"} she confesses coyly, almost in a whisper, before she resumes her story.

"I did not think much of it until later, your ladyship, until I heard that cute meowing on the maid's corridor. I don't recall any of my girl friends having a kitten, and then I remembered the girl from the previous night. I was thinking of paying the lady Maranno a visit anyway -- she has been kindly mentoring me, my lady, most generously helping me polish my manners and courtly demeanor -- and because the thought that girl might have been, mmmm, borrowing a kitten without permission, it troubled me, so I mentioned it to the lady Maranno, because I did not know whether I had actually witnessed a... something, or I was just being silly."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:20, Thu 21 July 2022.

I'm not sure how you're correcting her, there.  Alyssa is known as Alyssa of Travis, and she's from Travis, of course, so the phrase "the Travis girl" is correct.  Among nobility, only other nobility matter, so she might be the only Travis girl there is.  Or was it something else you were referring to?


Ugh.  Work is distracting me.  The nerve.  I'll have a post this evening.

No, the correction is that Scarlet never said she had seen Alyssa there, what she told lady Maranno was that she had seen *some girl* there. That's what she's reiterating here, and thus correcting the Duchess because she has said

quote:

"You said that you were heading to the kitchen and saw the Travis girl coming out.

To say she recognized Alyssa that night would be a bit too much, and since she didn't tell lady Maranno she had recognized her, this would have been a big gotcha if she states so now.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:23, Thu 21 July 2022.

Oh, that.  That was quite intentional.  She wants that fact -- that Alyssa took the kitten -- stuck in Dearest's mind before she gets around to thinking about any other possibilities.  She was also giving you an out if Dearest started to wonder why you happened to be hanging around Alyssa's room this morning being quiet enough to hear a tiny kitten mewing.  You wouldn't really be able to hear the kitten from outside the room unless you were silent and had your ear to the door.  If she were to bring that up, then you could always say that you thought it was Alyssa you saw the night before, but didn't feel sure enough to say anything until you at least went and talked to her yourself.  Maybe it wasn't her, or maybe she had a legitimate reason to be there.  Remember that, at the time, you didn't even know about the kittens, so seeing her coming out of the kennel was more curious than suspicious.

Some time in the near future (but during our 2-year gap), Idalaiz is going to give you a lecture about "less is more" when you are lying.  Adding those additional details explaining why you were at the kitchen is the sign of a person lying about why they were at the kitchen.  When it's an incidental aspect of the story (if your story were true) it wouldn't even occur to you to explain why you were there until someone asked.  You'd be too interested in getting on with the interesting part of the story.

Dearest walks over to the point where Scarlet said she had been standing and looks back towards the kennel, probably evaluating lighting conditions, but she doesn't say anything.  She returns and gestures to one of her servants to open the door, which he unlocks with a set of keys not unlike the ones that are probably just now being discovered in Alyssa's bed.  Dearest enters, then Idalaiz waves Scarlet into the room ahead of herself.

Entering and walking a way inside the kennel, the group finds Sir Fishbacher standing at the cage with Zenobia and her kittens.  They are in the middle cage in the set to the north, and the cages to either side are now empty.  Seeing the duchess, he bows formally and says, "Your Grace."  Scarlet notices Erikus cleaning out one of the cages on the far wall, but he seems focused on his task.

Duchess Dearest's voice is sharp, "How is it that someone was able to break in here and steal one of my kittens, Fishbacher?"

"I, ummm, I, ...  Your grace, I have no idea how anyone could get in here.  I just had that lock changed, to, umm, to tighten up security.  As for the kittens, I can't imagine how anyone, especially a young woman like this Alyssa person, could even have approached the cats."  It occurs to Scarlet that Fishbacher wasn't even there when Alyssa's name came up.  The man continues, "these are, as you know, your grace, powerful and dangerous animals, not pets.  Perhaps, she, umm, perhaps she has some sort of training in moving silently?  She could have snuck in and grabbed a kitten when the mother was asleep?  Otherwise, I have no ..."

"Falderdash," says Idalaiz.  "These cats cannot be snuck up on, their hearing is too sharp.  No, You've turned them soft Fishbacher.  You have probably been allowing guests to come in, showing off your charges to anyone you want to impress, and they're now accustomed to all sorts of people being around."

Dearest takes the initiative to test Idalaiz's theory by approaching the large mother cat and presenting the back of her hand.  The cat hisses and stands protectively over her kittens, hackles rising.

"I'm sure the girl had a piece of meat or some treat for the animal, and I think, Dearest, that your new perfume is putting the cat off.  We need someone else to perform a test."  She looks around as if searching for the perfect person.  Her aide, Pax, does his best to sink quietly into the background, clearly afraid that he might be chosen.  Then her eyes alight on Scarlet.  "The little heroine, Scarlet; she can do it.  What do you say, Proponitís, if you give this girl a piece of beef, will she be able to approach Zenobia and pick up one of her kittens?"

"Absolutely not.  Of course not.  I would be loathe to see the poor girl receive scars or lose a hand.  These cats are very dangerous."

"Would you make a little wager on it, then?  Say, 100 gold pieces?"

The man blanches a bit at the price, but then agrees.  Idalaiz turns to the duchess, whose eyes have lit up in excitement.  It's not clear if it is the wager or the possibility of seeing the girl mauled that has excited her, but there is clearly something.  Idalaiz says, "Dearest, you're the witness, 100 gold.  And I think we should put up something for the girl -- she is your granddaughter, after all.  If she succeeds, she should receive some of her birthright, and be given ownership of the kitten of her choice.  What say you?"

Dearest is almost in a trance, "Yes.  Yes, that sounds acceptable.  Fishbacher, get her a treat that the cat would like."  She turns to Scarlet, "can you do this, granddaughter?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:13, Thu 21 July 2022.

Scarlet witnesses the whole conversation in silence, mirth growing inside like mellow sunshine. She is hugely grateful to the Spymistress for talking her up in front of the Duchess like that, the way Mother would never, and even if one day she tried, she could never. Eyes shining, she gasps at what is required of her and nods, summoning her courage; trying to touch a savannah cat, after all, is a risky task -- hahahaha.

"Of course, for your sake I shall do my best, Your Grace," she says, allegedly marshalling her courage to face the 'fearsome' cat. _{"Good kitty, please stay calm..."} she whispers, gingerly picking it up...

Scarlet approaches Zenobia, which is still standing protectively over her kittens from the time that the duchess tried to approach.  However, rather than raising her hackles and hissing, as she did with the duchess, the cat leans forward into Scarlet's hand, alternately rubbing her cheek against the girl and licking the hand.  When Scarlet reaches slowly to take a kitten, the big cat offers no resistance, continuing to caress and lick Scarlet.

Duchess Dearest is beaming with joy and excitement.  It is not clear what the motivation is that has her in such a state, but she is clearly thrilled that Scarlet has succeeded.  Scarlet turns the kitten over to determine its gender and to see that its umbilical scar is healing nicely, which it is.  She announces her kitten's name to be ...

"Tigris, by your leave."

After her successes saving the kitten and charming the cat, Scarlet finds herself suddenly quite a bit more popular.  Word has gotten around that Duchess Darling has gifted her granddaughter one of the savannah cats, and obviously is a rising star at court, at least the junior court.

This seems especially true in the power vacuum left behind by the sudden, hushed-up departure of the former maiden-in-waiting, Alyssa of Travis.  The stories are murky and sometimes contradictory, but it seems that there is some connection to the disastrous betrothal announcement at the midsummer celebration, where several people were so horrified by the news that they had to leave, retching in disgust.  The other rumor is that she tried to kill the kitten that had been given to Scarlet d'Ardelle, but was caught in the act and kicked out of the castle by the duchess.  In any case, the betrothal is annulled, and Xavin is once more considered to be one of the more eligible bachelors in the region.