Dionysus What do you do at the palace?

Dionysus ?

Dionysus Aurelia?

• Aurelia checks in, mostly, to see if there's anything new she's wanted for.

Dionysus The Emperess is in full court when you arrive, morning court. Do you wait for it to finish & try to see her, or what?

• Aurelia doesn't try, but does leave a message that she's returned and then wanders around the grounds for a few hours. If there's no message, invitation, or anything for a bit after court adjurns, she returns to the ship.

Dionysus You get an invitation to lunch with her. Formal.

• Aurelia accepts. She's already dressed appropriately, as she prefers to be formal for anything in the palace.

Dionysus The lunch is a lavish affair in the main Imperial dining hall. A servant announces you when you get there, without asking who you are, & another leads you to a seat in the middle of the Emperess's table's right side.

Dionysus Beside you are a pair of dukes you don't know.

Dionysus The Emperess is seated next to a Kren'atanic prince in human form & Grand Duke Wallace, Minister of Finance.

Aurelia Noted.

• Aurelia is generally silent unless spoken to, and tries to watch everything to get a better idea of how to act in these circumstances.

Dionysus "So, Duchess," the older of the dukes next to you begins, "What's your area of Service?" He has a military uniform of some sort on.

Dionysus The one on the other side of you says, "Yes, I understand you were recently elevated." He's young & fairly handsome, but has an underlying feeling of stress deep in him that is probably killing him.

• Aurelia blinks up at the older and tilts her head, then bows it a touch and says quietly, "I am titled 'Avenger of the Despoiled.'"
• Aurelia then turns to look curiously at the younger.

Dionysus He looks curiously back, "Avenger of the Despoiled?" The older one says, "Oh, are you in the special forces?"

Dionysus Is Kashaji with you?

Aurelia Yes, unless he was requested not to be.

Dionysus He is in the back of the hall, with the other dogs, clearly dominating them.

• Aurelia nods to the first question, then shakes her head at the second.

Dionysus The younger one asks, "What do you do, exactly?"

• Aurelia smiles faintly. "I am a musician."

Aurelia brb, sorry.

Dionysus Both of them feel confusion. "You avenge the despoiled with songs?" the younger asks, & the older says, "I think I've heard music like that before."

Aurelia back

Dionysus They await your response.

• Aurelia shakes her head, frowning, and tries to work out a sensible answer. "I am the Oboe of the Colour of Sound always. Sometimes, to avenge, I hunt those who rape."

Dionysus They both inwardly flinch at the bluntness of that statement. "You hunt rapists?" the younger one asks.

Dionysus The older strokes his beard & looks at you quietly for a moment.

• Aurelia cants her head at the flinch, then nods.

Dionysus The older one says, "I'm Duke Baraus, of Port Baraus. Are you familiar with the reever Christopher Laird?"

• Aurelia frowns a touch and nods again.

Dionysus "He employs a large number of... rapists. Can I interest you in a job that involves ridding us of him?" He seems to be half-joking.

Aurelia I am aware of the plans regarding him, yes?

Dionysus You were there when they were announced, yes.

Aurelia And if so have I been asked for silence to any degree?

Dionysus Not that I recall.

Aurelia "The Colour will hunt Laird soon."

Dionysus "Musicians?"

• Aurelia nods.

Dionysus "What sort of music do you play, exactly?"

• Aurelia smiles. "All sorts. Avery writes to make the heart dance and weep and..." She goes on through each member.

Dionysus The younger one listens, & the older one asks, "And what do they have that makes you think they can take the Reever Emperor?"

Aurelia "Blades and magic, and void and ships, and Kashaji and Hunny and Manny."

Dionysus "Honey?"

Aurelia "The bear who follows Arsul."

Dionysus He frowns, "I've heard tell of an... unofficial fleet gathering in my city. It's why, I suspect, I am here, & what, I suspect, you will be sailing on soon. If this is the case, your Grace, I wish you luck against the reevers, but I can't say I approve of this underhandedness."

• Aurelia tilts her head and looks curiousl at him.

Dionysus The other duke frowns, "I don't know why we haven't routed them out already." And Baraus responds, "As if we haven't tried." He scowls.

• Aurelia looks between the two.

Dionysus The other says, "You mean some pirate can best our navy?" And Baraus says, "Hweyfort, he's not just some pirate. He's united Merukis, Jorgendheim, the Island Bridge, & th Taggaran Coasts. He

Dionysus 's got magic, & he's got demons."

• Aurelia tilts her head, listening.

Dionysus Hweyfort frowns, "Well, damn, Jonathan. Too bad Matrim is away. He's handy with demons, as I recall."

Dionysus Baraus nods. "Damon has said this plan is for the best, but I'm not keen on such trickery. I say we should attack out in the open, not with faked up merchant ships."

• Aurelia continues to listen, curious.

Dionysus Hweyfort says, "Aren't you worried about spies?" "Here? In the Imperial dining hall?"

• Aurelia looks around curiously.

Dionysus No one has a sign on their head that says "spy."

Dionysus Hweyfort shrugs, "Stranger things have happened."

Aurelia Ah well.

Dionysus Baraus scowls.

Dionysus A servant approaches Hweyfort & he sighs as he reads a message. "Duty calls. I must beg the Emperess's pardon & see to this. My apologies, your Graces."

• Aurelia smiles to him and nods.

Dionysus He takeshis leave, & Baraus turns to his meal.

Dionysus The Kren'atanic noble that was on the other side of Hweyfort smiles at you. He's some sort of dragon, but in a human form. "I couldn't help but overhear you are an Avenger?"

• Aurelia turns to her own, again trying to surreptitiously observe the cues of others for purposes of eating politely.
• Aurelia tilts her head, looking up from the above, then nods.

Dionysus "Dedicated in the church of hate?"

• Aurelia blinks, surprised at the question, then shakes her head.

Dionysus "So it is not a religious title, but an Imperial one?"

• Aurelia nods.

Dionysus "How interesting. You are a musician, too?"

• Aurelia nods again.

Dionysus "Do you know Arlie Battisto?"

• Aurelia smiles. "Arlie is also in the Colour of Sound."

Dionysus "Tell him that our Emperor may forgive & forget, but some of us do not like those who meddle in our affairs."

• Aurelia tilts her head, then nods again.

Dionysus Do you press him or Baraus for conversation?

Aurelia I do not.

Aurelia Well, I should probably get his name for purposes of the message.

Dionysus Lord Cremvastenasus.

Aurelia Cool.

• Aurelia returns her attention to her meal for the moment.

Dionysus It eventually ends when the Emperess leaves for her afternoon business.

• Aurelia goes to the gardens afterwards, spending some more time there with Kashaji before returning to the ship.

Dionysus Noted.