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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 15, 2019 7:34:33 GMT -5
The Prince takes the ring, and slips it into a pouch until he has time to give it the attention it deserves. Always the diplomat, the Prince interjects, "One has helped me prepare for the, hopefully distant, future. While another has assisted me in navigating the dangers of my immediate future. Both will be needed if I am to reclaim my throne." The Prince nods, "and I thank you both for your gifts."
Once back in his office, Ezra removes his newly acquired ring and slips it onto his finger. Taking the time to attune himself with it's magical nature. Ezra then turns his attention to his work, but now with part of his mind listening for thoughts within the range of the rings power. (30ft) With knowledge of the seamstress' legal loophole confirmed, and suspicions of further guild tampering within the legal system of Clifton building. Ezra packs up his belongings and makes his way to to Duchess for his daily report. Hopefully with the assistance of the Mistress of Keys and the Duchess herself they can confirm the rest of Ezra's suspicions, and close these loopholes with a decree from on High.
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Jun 25, 2020 14:28:25 GMT -5
You arrive as punctual as always at the Duchess' grand doorway and knock awaiting for permission to enter after a moment. The door opens and you see the Mistress of the Keys who guides you in. Seems the Duchess had no visitors today. You approach the massive desk and see the woman herself sat regally in her chair, like a dragon in a throne. All powerful and aware of that fact. Unafraid and unfazed by the massive weights of her people and titles. She sits much like a vision of what a royal should be to your learned mind and there's no doubt from how she carries herself. Even were she to wear the most tattered garbs she would still look every bit as regal and strong. Unfortunately for your male side of the brain. Her make up and dress make her look more fit as a queen than a mere duchess. All in finery of the highest quality and her hair done up and lined with pearls. Even before you can work the spit back into your mouth you find the Duchess on her feet and walking around her desk. Pulling a pin from her hair that lets down her luxurious locks as she unceremoniously plops down in the seat beside you. "Good day, Ezra, what does my favorite bookkeeper have for me today?" She asks and extends her hand out to retrieve her black book from you to look over everything your about to explain her her own piercing eyes.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jun 27, 2020 16:23:54 GMT -5
Ezra takes his time on the way to the Duchess, actively scanning the surface thoughts of everyone he passes. Anyone who's thoughts might be of interest to the Prince, Ezra focus' his mind upon, drawing out their hidden thoughts for him to sample. Ezra is careful not to dig into anyone's mind when he is alone with them, not wanting to potentially draw attention to his bookish persona.
As soon as Ezra knocks on the Duchess' door, he pulls out a book and begins reading it... At least outwardly. The Prince focus' all of his attention on the surface thoughts of those within the room. Again, careful not to dig too deeply so as not to draw attention to himself. When the Mistress of Keys opens the door, Ezra is lost in his book, needing to be drawn from it before he meekly follows her inside.
The Princes attention is drawn like a moth to flame to the deadly beauty behind the desk. Ezra though is drawn to the books and other papers throughout the room, seemingly oblivious to the carefully done makeup, the pearls, the elaborate clothes, and the soft flesh exposed at the nape of her neck. The Duchess' approach is enough to draw Ezra's attention and he turns toward her, "Oh, hello Duchess." He says, bowing, somehow surprised that the Duchess was in her own office. The Prince watches her hair cascade around her shoulders, mournfully watching that soft curve of her neck vanish behind her hair.
Once the Duchess is seated, and insists that he sit as well he responds, "I'm not sure Duchess. If you tell me who your favourite bookkeeper is, I will go ask them for you." When she reaches for the book, Ezra offers it out to her, but doesn't quite let it go soon enough. "Sorry Duchess, I have trouble letting go of a good book." He smiles meekly, but continues to explain his findings from the day. The entire time he speaks, the Prince focus' on the thoughts of these two women. Subtly adding information if their surface thoughts turn curious, or moving on quickly if they seem uninterested. All without delving too deeply.
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Sept 16, 2020 9:01:57 GMT -5
As you pass through the halls, you don't run into many folks, aside from a pair of maids making their way to one of the Duchess' guest rooms as the guest himself has headed into the city on business. From what you can glean of their thoughts they don't seem to like this particular person. But, the conversation is shifted and their surface thoughts shift.
As you arrive before the Duchess' door you extend your mental faculties toward the inside but find yourself unable to find purchase in the chamber, you reason its because you need to be able to see them. As the Mistress Of Keys opens the door your mind is quickly assaulted by the piercing gaze. It seems as an automatic instinct the Elven woman has immediately detected everything off about your appearance. Shirt isn't tucked in, wrinkle on the upper left shoulder, stain on the upper right knee, likely from his meal at noon. A barrage of mental wrongs and instant corrections. You don't even hear the Mistress' words telling you to enter over all of it and it continues immediately as she sees behind you. The Duchess's mind is dead silent but that was expected. She IS the niece of the Emperor, it makes sense she'd have defenses against simply thought detection.
You never feel the tug from the Duchess, she simply waits for the book to be released and firms her grip as she giggles softly at Ezra's usual shtick. "You are the one who holds my black book, I thought it should be obvious who my favorite is" Her voice chimes like a bell as she looks over her book. "Fret not, I also enjoy a good book. Though I hardly hold this one in such high regard." She looks bitterly down at the black leather in her clutches. "Now, The Emerald Gown, that is a good read" "DUCHESS!" Miss Hightower almost yells. You find her face is a deep crimson and she looks incredulously at her. "Oh, don't be so drab." She says dismissively.
Upon giving your report. The Duchess lets out a deep sigh and waves over Miss Hightower. telling her to pen a letter to her Uncle about the law and how others may be taking advantage of it as well. "This is certainly a mess of turnips" She sighs and slumps in her chair. "My favorite designer stealing from our people to spite me. Why must I endure such monstrous twists in fate. I finally find a man who interests me and he's a wanted criminal and the son and possible murderer of my best friend. Pelor give me strength. I just want something simple for once" She huffs out and looks up at the vaulted ceiling as if it could hold the peace she desires. When nothing falls on her lap she lowers her head and turns to look at you. "I suppose that is the reason I enjoy your company Ezra" She smiles softly at you. Those eyes that look at your disheveled persona stab right into your princely heart and you feel a pang of guilt for tricking the woman. She seems to brush off the comment while you wallow in your thoughts and she's back to business. "So, what would you suggest, dear Ezra?"
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Post by DM-Delfon on Sept 17, 2020 13:38:39 GMT -5
Ezra’s first instinct is to fix everything that the Mistress of Keys thinks he should, but the Prince holds his body still. Drawing Ezra from his book with a look of bewilderment, almost like he is surprised to even be outside the Duchess’ office. The Prince mentally nods his approval at the Duchess being protected from his mental prying. Instead the Prince switches his mind to scanning the Mistress of Keys’ steadily throughout the rest of this encounter. She is the Duchess’ confidant, so she might give away the Duchess’ secrets with her surface thoughts.
Ezra tilts his head to one side, confused. Then he brightens with pride as he realizes whom she is implying her favourite is. He points at himself, and sputterers excitedly, “You mean me? I’m your favourite?” You would think you had given Ezra a book the way his face brightens. It would remind the Duchess of a child given free rein in a candy store.
When the Duchess disparages her little black book, Ezra looks her in the eye. Her eyes make the Prince’s mental focus turns to mush until Embros nudges him back into shape. Maybe the Prince is going crazy after all. Ezra continues smoothly, as if there isn’t compartmentalized conversation going on in his mind, and a steady stream of surface thoughts from the Mistress.
“You might be looking at this book wrong.” Ezra reaches out to indicate the Little black book, ‘accidentally’ brushing his hand across the Duchess’ in the process. He continues without seeming to notice the contact, “This is a puzzle book, and a story book. It tells the tale of Clifton, but you have to figure out what each paragraph means as you go.” Ezra finally breaks eye contact. “At least that’s how I look at it.”
Ezra shifts stances, from the professor giving a lecture to a student hanging out after class, “The Emerald Gown is an excellent example of an erotic romance novel. The way Master Fitzwilliam Darcy goes about courting Mistress Elizabeth Bennet is both enlightening and exhilarating.” Ezra looks back at the Mistress of Keys when she cries out, then immediately looks away as if that was his intention the whole time, “Have you read the short story about Debbie and Dallas? If you haven’t, I warn you that it is quite a bit more descriptive than Mistress Jane Austen’s work.
If the Mistress of Keys didn’t want the Duchess discussing the Emerald Gown, then the story of Debbie and Dallas might be enough to make her lash out. Ezra quickly adjusts his stance back to the professor, and returns the conversation to his report.
Ezra nods as the Duchess calls for the letter to be written to the Emperor, his eyes automatically drawn to the words as they appear across the page. Ezra mentally bores the hand writing and signatures in case he needs it in the future.
Ezra looks confused again, “Do you wish me to summon a maid for your mess of turnips?” Ezra looks across the floor, trying in vein to find the turnips. Ezra’s confusion only grows when the Duchess calls her favourite designer a thief. “But Duchess, the designer did not break any laws. She is not a thief. At least she isn’t until the law is changed and she does so again.”
The Prince almost breaks character right then and there. If it wasn’t for his years of practice his cover would have been blown wide open. ’She is interested in me!’ His thoughts shout across the borders of his personalities. Ezra smiles, “Our mutual friend interests you?” His smile fades to a look of concern, “You don’t believe he killed his own mother do you?”
The concern on Ezra’s face is briefly covered by offense, which is in turn covered with a terrible poker face. “You think me simple?” Ezra whispers, now looking like a sad homeless puppy in a downpour. Of course the first time Ezra actually draws a inferred social connection, he gets it badly wrong.
“As long as there is strife the Guilds win. Since the designer was unethical, but did nothing illegal I suggest you make friend with her. I believe her to be jealous of your vast talent, beauty and position of power.” Ezra says these things as facts read from a book, with absolute conviction. He’s not trying to offer her compliments, and likely doesn’t realize that he has done so. “Bring her on as your personal designer, or maybe collaborate with her for your next fashion show. This should raise her social standing, and tie her position with yours. As long as you’re in power she is too. No more threat.”
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Jan 7, 2021 12:44:42 GMT -5
The Duchess giggles at your antics and seems to take some heart with your words.
The Mistress seems about 110% with the talk of dirty literature.
The Duchess looks thoughtful at your suggestion and smiles deviously. "Yes.." She seems to say aloud without realizing. "Kill them with kindness" She giggles out loud and claps her hands. "Yes, perfect, Ezra! Absolutely divine" You catch the Mistress Of The Keys out of the corner of your eye and see a similarly smile that wouldn't be out of place on a Pit Fiend. You decide to keep that to yourself.
After discussing a few more topics, mainly where you're from what growing up was like. Little thing to learn more about Ezra. The Duchess lets out a deep sigh and stands once more taking her walk around her desk to transform from school girl to the regal dragon that rules the lands. As your ushered out by the Mistress, the Duchess calls out to you once more. "Ezra, in regards to out "mutual friend". I will say one thing; If I think for a moment he is the one who killed his mother. Both of you will be caught, tried and punished. That day." The look on her face sends chills through your bones (Intimidation: 25). As you attempt to collect yourself from the sudden chill you find yourself outside the door.
The rest of the day is yours.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jan 11, 2021 10:06:48 GMT -5
Ezra tells the Duchess about the small town he's from in the Somerset Isles. He basically grew up in a bookstore, learning to read before he could walk. He read everything he could get his hands on, devouring books like the hungry devour food. Sadly there was a fire, and the bookstore burnt down. It's proprietors, Ezra's parents, never made it out. Although Ezra is factious, the bookstore, the fire and the deaths are all real. Forged birth records, and other documentation have been hidden away in all the right places if his story was to be checked out.
With the duchess' threat, Ezra begins to retort, "But I couldn't-" Before he shuts his mouth with an audible click of his teeth. He bows deeply, all stiff and full of formality, "Thank you for your time Duchess." He says in a slow monotone. With his work for the day complete, and his reports given it might be time for Embros to collect Gardenia's brother's body. The Prince is going to need strings tied to the Pelorian temple since 'Only With The Light Of Divinity Can This Infinite Monstrosity Be Quelled.'
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Sept 15, 2021 14:27:44 GMT -5
You wind through the bustling streets of Clifton from the Duchess' Palace through the high district and its many gaudy and overly extravagant mansions to that lovely gem of a tavern/Inn that is known as the Wayfarer's Rest. The hunt for Orellow having begun. If anyone knows about the Lightbringer's body, its likely going to be the last man to see him alive. As you enter the building proper your waved at by the silent patron that always seems to be here as well as a few other early birds. Its about midday, and its not overly busy. You question folks about Orellow but no one seems to know where the boisterous ranger has gotten himself off to at the present. What's the plan now?
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Post by DM-Delfon on Sept 15, 2021 19:45:42 GMT -5
Bogomil thinks on what he plans to do next on the way to the Wayfarer's Rest. Mistress Gardenia Maloy said that Old Borris would likely know where Orellow was, so it stands to reason to ask him. Even if Orellow can't be found, Old Borris sees more than he lets on. Maybe he saw or overheard something related to where the Goblins were located. Failing that Embros can always ask the guards, you can't very well keep people away from a place if you don't know where that place is located.
Before any of that can happen though, Bogomil needs to be Bogomil. Bursting through the doors Bogomil capers into the room, offering waves and well wishes to everyone in the room. Shaking a hand here, a pat on the back there, and of course a slow nod for Larry at the door. He even takes the time to juggle a little for a child sitting with their father. With the crowd thoroughly worked, Bogomil seeks out Old Borris so he can find the whereabouts of Orellow, or the Goblins the party was afer.
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