At Stout's bookselling shop, several of the presses are vandalized. The night guard is found knocked over the head, but recovers. He has no memory of his assailant.
In the docksides, the rash of thefts continues. The thief takes mostly cash and small valuables like jewelry. He strikes in the evening, when people are out after work.
Chances are, thinks Folly, the thief is converting the small valuables to cash, which means he may be pawning the jewelry. It's a long-shot, of course, since most of the docksiders aren't going to have big collections of one-of-a-kind jewelry, but Folly makes contact with some of the victims to find out whether any of their stolen items were so unique as to be easily identifiable if they turned up again -- engraved lockets, for example, or older pieces with unusual defects or missing stones. If she can get descriptions of a few such items, she'll check the local pawnshops to see whether she can find them -- and learn who brought them in.
[GMs]
It will take Folly some time to do this. Results may follow after Reid's
pawnshop excursion.
A monk from the Temple Quarter is arrested for incitement to riot after a speech in which he proclaims the imminent end of the world to a drunken crowd of several dozen, who wreck several nearby buildings.
[Jerod]
Time for Vere to introduce Jerod to our friendly neighbourhood cult
leader...
"If you wish, Cousin Jerod. However, this does not appear to me to be the style of the Paresh. Elder Germaine would frown on such behaviour. Perhaps I could first look into the matter of whether this monk is associated with them, is a member of yet another religion, or is a freelance eschatologist."
"I'm not figuring he's involved in it either." Jerod says. "But he's certainly got his finger in the religious aspect...and you mentioned his visions. I'd like to get a handle on that as quickly as possible, even if only to satisfy my own suspicions."
Vere nods, silently.
[GMs]
[If Jerod is going to be involved in investigating this matter, Vere needs
to introduce him to Elder Germaine ASAP.]
[Vere]
Quite true. Jerod keeps saying that he wants Vere to introduce them, but
so far he hasn't actually said anything like, "Vere, I would like to do
this tomorrow." Considering how busy everyone is, and considering
Jerod's oft-stated lack of belief in Vere's concerns about Elder Germaine's
visions, Vere is assuming that this is a fairly low priority item for
Jerod, and that if he doesn't push he's willing to let it go in favor of
more important things.
[Jerod]
There is a knock on Vere's office door a short while later. "Hello
Vere...I have to leave on a shadow expedition in a short while. I
would like you to arrange a visit with Elder Germaine before that
time. You can get the schedules for my departure from your harbor
master."
Vere nods. "I don't think there is any reason that I need to prepare Elder Germaine for your visit, I have already indicated to him that there are other members of my family who have an interest in the Paresh. Let us plan on visiting them just before lunch in about two days, perhaps?"
[Jerod]
"That'll do just fine. I'll see you then."
Vere will send a messenger to Elder Germaine the next day, informing him that Vere and his Cousin Jerod will be calling on him on the day after that.
The broadsheets continue to make great play of the monstrous regime of women. Gerard continues to be left out of the attacks, perhaps to avoid a crackdown on the printers.
Paige comments over dinner on this. While she finds many of the cartoons and op-ed pieces hilarious, she thinks the Council must respond in some way.
Suggestions?
Is there any significant following with this play besides that in the entertainment sphere? Jerod's concerned about responding to it simply because that might give it legitimacy. Unless there's some risk of sedition or unrest developing, Jerod's not really concerned if people want to poke fun at it...
"Of course not," Paige says with a quiet smile. "You're not the target of most of it."
"That depends on your perspective of who's the target." Jerod replies and he returns the smile. "Anyone wanna play with the big dogs...better be prepared to get bit. And this doesn't seem like much."
"We could write our own, supportive essays and pen our own cartoons, and use an intermediary to get them into print," Solange suggests.
Cambina replies. "Or we could write even more attacking essays in the hopes that people will lump them all together as a tempest in a teapot. I think these are small potatoes, but I'd be happy to create some really cutting essays and cartoons. For the good of the government, of course."
(What have the Letters to the Editor shown on the subject?)
[GMs]
(That the people can't spel!)
Amber is not a thoroughly literate society, and the price of paper and ink is such that many people don't do very much writing. In the lower socioeconomic classes, oral traditions are stronger.
Broadsheet production is something of a disreputable business. Most writers don't use their names, but instead use aliases; this is why people refer to the printers of the broadsheet, even though they may not have control over the content. And although everyone reads the broadsheets, it would be a bit outre to actually respond.
Therefore, there are no letters to the editor.
Reid wonders if the publishers have families...
[Lucas]
Over a political cartoon?
[Reid]
"Something wrong with that?
"Actually, I was thinking more putting the families in the dioramas they're depicting our family in. You know. Dress them up and put them out on a boat... Symbolically sell their daughters, etc. Anything they've published as fanciful, we make true about the publishers. Just a passing thought."
"Let it go on past, cousin, although I must admit, I do like the idea." A wolfish grin curls Paige's lip before she shakes her head, dismissing the images.
[Solange]
And a "whoops" on my part, I forgot that this isn't the Amber that
has the Times, the Unicorn Monitor, the Terrace Street Journal,
and the Guardian, as well as less reputable tabloids...
Reid wonders if the people drawing the cartoons or publishing the broadsheets are local celebrities of any sort. If so, offering a cartoon in the same style lampooning their mistaken jibes may be in order.
"Cartoons are good," says Folly, "but I've been thinking that the situation really calls for a catchy satirical folk song or two -- still funny, but harder to get rid of. I mean, if the tune and the rhythm are good enough, even the people who don't like the ideas in it will have it stuck in their heads for days." She grins.
"As for the points we should be making, I'm open to suggestions...."
With Octave and his circle influencing the courts, and Paige wishing to minimize her public exposure, she'd like people's opinions of installing Loring in her role as judge, perhaps in an "acting" role. She could claim additional responsibilites of the Council as a drain on her time. It would give her more time to devote to Shadow trips, but would still allow her to maintain oversight on what's happening in the courts. Let's face it, Oberon didn't always have one of their father's playing judge, nor do we need it anymore.
Thoughts, opinions of the Council and of Loring himself?
Jerod's knowledge of the legal system isn't as extensive so he's not sure what would be the ramifications - given that, he's not likely to offer much of an opinion on this suggestion, other than it sounds good.
One thing he will do is sound out the Court to see whether there's anything against Loring that might mitigate against him being put into that position.
Vere settles back in his chair and regards the ceiling. "I can see the ways in which I would be able to argue persuasively on either side of this question," he says. "Therefore I feel it comes down to what you wish to do. Make your decision and I will support it fully."
[GMs]
Loring is well liked, or as well liked as he can be while working as a
clerk for a controversial judge. While judges do not have to be
barristers, they are generally drawn from the group with that
qualification. Loring is qualified as a solicitor, but not as a barrister.
Cambina asks: "How will the senior judges, like Judge Geisher, feel about being passed over for the your position?"
After much discussion by the Council, several recommendations, and private discussions between Gerard and various people, Gerard decides on the following policy about developing Shadowpaths:
Jerod will shore up the current Bellum path this year, before it falls apart if possible. Solange will accompany him to see what she can learn from him about how to lay paths, and will assist him if at all possible. (High waters can tell that the thought of sending his baby girl on a months-long voyage is mildly depressing to him.)
Gerard likes Folly's suggestion of attempting to locate Heerat and laying a path back from it, so that Martin or Solange (probably Martin) can return early from the expedition if need be. He plans on the Heerat path being the next trip, timing being contingent on the results of Jerod and Solange's Bellum expedition.
Paige bridles a bit at the idea that even Martin could find Heerat when she couldn't but she doesn't fight over it, nor voice the concern at all.
She does offer, "My first voyage or two this year, I could look for Heerat. If I can find it while you're fixing the Bellum path and still accomplish the trading, it'll be that much quicker for you to get there and start your way back. I did, after all, live there a bit longer than any of you. Just a suggestion. If I find it, I lead you three out when you're ready and hellride back to continue to pick up slack from you guys being gone." It's a suggestion and nothing more. No temper tantrums if she doesn't get to go.
Gerard accepts Paige's offer to hunt for Heerat. The lads will probably need to visit Heerat at least once on their own, so the more sure we are we've found it, the better.
Duly noted. Paige surpresses her "Yippy Skippy!" instinct...
Everyone else will have to pick up more of Jerod's duties while he is gone. Jerod should let Gerard know who will be picking up what duties he's currently working on and what investigations he's currently chasing down before he goes.
Paige is willing to help where she can, probably more if Loring's appointment is accepted...
Jerod would like to rotate his Court duties between Martin and Paige if possible. Lucas would be a good choice as well (as schmooze artists go he's got to be damn good) but Lucas is currently busy with the wife, his own travelling for trade and assorted other duties - he'd be perfect for some of the purely social functions if he can be retrieved but Jerod's not sure if that can be done - if he's available, then Jerod would say to use him.
Martin and Paige can rotate back and forth based on their shadow travel requirements...Martin's got a good poker face and Jerod would want him for negotiations and such, dealing with the "male" factor of the Court...Paige is good for dealing with various political options from a distance...paperwork decisions and such where someone with good Water needs to analyze the "goings-on".
Paige finds this a bit odd, as especially since the drunken incident, she's gone to great extremes to maintain a ladylike presence in the Court, keeping her tempers reserved for Council meetings. She's also better with the idea of reading a room's temperment than she is reading the paperwork. It's part of why she struggles at times with the courts and tried to focus on one acpect (i.e. property law), it's not one of her strong points, but she felt someone had to be watching that part of the recovery.
From Jerod's perspective, he's not going to be relinquishing the task of Court, merely being away for a bit. Putting Paige into the job would work, but in his opinion there would likely be resistance at the outset to her being there. She could overcome it, but how long would it take to do that? And how much animosity would be built up in that time period that would need to be overcome when Jerod returned? Martin would have fewer obstacles initially to being in Court so from that perspective, Jerod sees it as being more efficient. Besides which, if Paige's insight is required in Court, she can always show up. It would be the same as if Jerod was there - and if Jerod has needed Paige at Court, he would not have hesitated to bring her in.
If he were giving up the job to someone else, then he'd go about picking the person best able to read the room...and he'd set about grooming them for the task over a period of time - that's a luxury Jerod doesn't have at the present time.
As for the part of the paperwork, Paige can consider it something that Jerod also struggles with...long term planning is not his greatest skill...Dad put him in Court for precisely that reason - sink or swim I think was his phrase...:). Jerod swam. Jerod thinks that Paige will do the same. If he didn't, he wouldn't recommend her (she may interpret that as she sees fit...:)
Well, Paige's willing to abide by Jerod's opinions in regards to the Court, but she really feels that her help to his work load will be limited if so confined. She wishes Martin luck and heads out to find Heerat...
[Jerod]
Well, now that circumstances have changed, Paige has more than
enough opportunity to invest herself in Court...cause you can maybe
bet that Martin's not going to keep doing it now that Jerod's not
around...:) (knock yourselves out)...
[Paige]
In fact, she's begun to try to working with several of the courtiers.
Recently she had Ambassador Harper of Gateway out to her house at
Jones Falls to discuss her trading trips this year. Paige is planning on
attempting to find Gateway if possible after finding Heerat, based on
the same principles as her previous search for Heerat. [Trading/Shadow
hubs...]
She also lost several hundred to one of the hereditary peers, Baron Ransom when learning Hazard. Fortunate for him as rumors say his gambling debts have a tendancy to pile up. He's since become a regular guest at her Prince Retreat card games "I'll see your ten and raise you ten, Alan," Paige says tossing a few chips to the center of the felt covered table.
Looking to Lord Ransom, she asks, "So... You're of the old school, Ransom. Are you convinced that Drudge has the right of it? Is this 'Ladies's Revolt' sending the City into chaos?" She lays her cards on the table and steeples her fingers above them, smiling sweetly.
Vere is too busy with the navy and the merchant fleet, as well as the current food situation to devote time to Court and trouble-shooting, so Jerod won't recommend him. Same with Brita and her Ranger duties - they both need to focus on their respective tasks. Reid is available however for any kind of "dirty work" that might be needed...Jerod would recommend to Gerard that in Jerod's absence that Martin or Paige not be used for that particular venue, but use Reid instead. Jerod's willing to do both politics and dirty-work, but he's also got a thick skin too...:)...where everyone else is concerned, he'll suggest splitting it a bit.
Folly will be good for keeping Martin and Paige up to date on her people's activities...she knows them both and can work with them so they should do well together. Ossian...well, if he's available for some stuff, Jerod would say that Gerard can assign him as he sees fit...though he would recommend keeping him out of Court proper...Jerod doesn't trust Ossian enough not to say something incredibly foolish in Court and he'll say as much to Gerard if it becomes necessary to say something.
Brita will ask Jerod on one of his trips to Arden whether he could reach Bellum by water (a large river or the ocean to the mouth of a large river in Bellum). If he thinks it is possible, she would be willing to lend him Skidbladnir for transport.
Jerod indicates to Brita that his trip to Bellum will be by sea...and if he remembers her previous comments concerning Skidbladnir correctly, then he would be quite appreciative of the use of said vessel...
Gerard has two questions:
- Given that Jerod's recommendations are so, ahem, comprehensive, what about Cambina?
Cambina has her nose in all sorts of things so Jerod's not going to assign her to anything...:), or even to suggest that she be assigned to anything. He's figuring that if she's needed anywhere, she'll know about it long before anyone else will...including Jerod...and he'll say that to Gerard too. If anything, perhaps Gerard can use her in that capacity.
- What specific tasks is Jerod working on right now and how would Jerod like to see them allotted in his absence (which Gerard clearly anticipates as being some long months)?
Those are upcoming in my next email...he's going to see about clearing up a lot of them before he's gone though...(one reason why he hasn't taken on a lot of stuff at the moment).
[GMs]
Mmph. You have a 60-hour a week job dealing with Court and Council, you
like to spend weekends in the country hawking and you're out of town half
the year or so working on shadowpaths and trade missions; so are your
cousins and you have to pick up their slack when they travel.
(All of which is true in varying degrees of all of you -- Ossian, Folly, and Reid have lighter court and council commitments, but they take on art students or gigs or community watch service instead. Etc. Gerard is a slacker; he only works 30-40 hours weeks these days.)
All of you are always busy. The only reason you can manage your schedules is because you're all superhuman and get by with less sleep than the rest of the universe.
The more extracurriculars you take on outside that 60 hours, e.g., chasing down nutbar religious zealots and dabbling in detective work among the printers, the less time you have for other pursuits. And, FWIW, the more extracurriculars a single one of you takes on, the more distracted the GM assumes you are in doing them.
[Jerod]
OOC:
60 hours a week?...man but is Jerod a slacker...lol...hell, I do 50
hours a week normally at work, and I still spend time with my kids...
[GMs]
50 hours < 60 hours. Trust me on this. But Jerod is involved in
significant additional activities outside those 60 hours as it is. E.g.:
- regular sparring with Venesch, Martin, Brita, and others, including
assisting with Folly's training in swordsmanship (Note: everyone is
doing some kind of activity or exercise to avoid going to seed)
- attending court-related social functions aka Mandatory Fun
- particular shmoozing of GC ambassadors
- spending time at Diogenes
- attending family musical evenings (and practicing the instrument)
- other regular private activities you may have mentioned
In addition Jerod is currently undertaking the two investigations you have publicly mentioned. Not that long ago, he was engaged in the hoarding business, to the severe detriment of his court duties. On either side of that, he was working on testing his cousins for endurance and Pattern abilities for Shadowpaths.
There is a reason why the family has council meetings over and immediately following dinner. You all have to eat anyway, and that allows you to multi-task.
It is possible for Jerod to neglect some of these things for a while in order to focus on other things, or to delegate some matters, or say "I stop going to Diogenes/musical evenings/Arden to hawk and consult with Brita". But as it is, his plate is very full.
[Jerod]
In keeping with the above, I'm assuming that Jerod, while he likes
his weekend time, sacrifices it when required for the state (for
example, the food shortage situation).
In any event, as previously indicated, he doesn't have much on the go...there were two items in particular...one as previously mentioned was checking on the situation with Heap and Stout, as he stated he would do in the Council meeting. The second item was the meeting with the Paresh. Beyond that, there is nothing directly outstanding that immediately requires his attentions in a focussed manner...I'm making an assumption that things such as helping out others in the Council, chasing down problems related to the Council is covered by the 60 hour Court and Council part mentioned above.
On one of Jerod's trips to Arden, Brita will take the time to travel with him to the Oisen (assuming its deep enough) or the sea to show him how Skidbladnir works. As they approach the water, she pulls a small package out of her pack. It looks like a small wooden puzzle box. Brita sets the box on the water and presses a small knoll on the top side of the box. To Jerod, she notes, "Make sure the box is placed with this button on top, otherwise Skidbladnir will end up mast down in the water. To open her up, you just have to press down on the button."
"I'll try to remember that." Jerod says. "The last thing I want to do is put a ship mast down in the water." and he chuckles a bit.
As she steps back, the puzzle box - floating on the water - starts to shake and then pieces of it start to unfold, slowly at first and then faster and faster. The process takes a few minutes, but when the whirring motion settles, Jerod beholds a fine Viking war ship before him. It has one central mast and a fine dragon-shaped prow. The eyes of the dragon seem to glint with excitement as if it is ready to be off on an adventure. [Anyone else read the Hagar the Horrible cartoon? The ship looks like his ship and the dragon's eyes will move as in the cartoon.]
Desite the fact that the eyes seem to watch him, Jerod is suitably impressed it would seem. Brita would know that Jerod's not too interested personally in making "items and artifacts, though he does seem interested in what other people can make or possess.
Actually, this artifact was created by the sons of Ilvadi (dwarves in Asgard). It was originally owned by Lord Freyr (Lord of the Alfs and one of the Vanir gods who live - lived? - in Asgard). He gifted it to Brita after she helped track down his lost child.
Brita and Jerod board the ship and as soon as Brita takes the wheel, a wind begins to fill out the sails on the central mast. "When you take control of the wheel," Brita says, "have a clear picture of your destination in mind." She pauses. "It doesn't really have to be a picture, so much as a clear thought or request. For example, I've requested that we go to Cabras lighthouse. Skidbladnir would find the way there as long as I continued to stand here. If I step away from the wheel," and Brita proceeds to do this, "Skidbladnir will halt." The wind filling the sails dies down. Jerod notes that there is still a breeze on the water, but the ship does not move, simply bobs gently on the waves. "You have to be actively controller her to get to the destination, otherwise she thinks you want to stop and smell the daisys or something."
Brita gestures to the wheel. "Why don't you try it for a bit?"
Jerod steps up to try it, collecting an image in his mind of Cabras as well. "How focussed on the destination do you need to be?" Jerod asks as he begins. "I'm concerned it might interfere with the path making."
While he's talking to Brita, he'll experiment with varying degrees of imagery of Cabra, to see how much of his attention is required, and if using Skidbladnir would seem to be a good idea.
"You only have to think of it once, really. You can let your mind wander otherwise. When Reid and I were trying to travel here, I really just thought 'Amber' and then Reid manipulated shadow around us. I got the impression that Skidbladnir had no problem adjusting the request as befitted the shadow we were in." Brita rubs a hand along a gunwale. "You'll take good care of her, won't you Jerod?"
[GMs]
Jerod has no problem reaching Cabra in about the expected amount of time.
Jerod's experience with laying the original Bellum shadowpaths tells him that Skilbladnir could be very useful in some ways but not so useful in others. Not having to do the steering in any meaningful way will be useful, but normally he doesn't. He has a crew to do it for him. They are also convenient for hauling cargo, cooking his food, and tucking him in for those long naps he takes while laying paths.
Skilbladnir would be extremely useful for an individual or two travelling on a quest.
smile...about as anticipated...Jerod was figuring that Skilbladnir would be very good if he went looking for the Pattern...but not so much on the shadow-path work...and he will indicate as much to Brita, as well as his personal appreciation for her offer of its use to him during his upcoming voyage. If he can somehow persuade Gerard to let him go looking for the Pattern, then he would definitely want to bring the ship along for that trip.
By way of thanks for her offer of assistance to him with the ship, Jerod arranges, after some discussion with Brita, to have some supplies delivered to her for hand out to the Rangers...there must be something that is in short supply that would be either of great use, or perhaps just a luxury item that they've not had in awhile (assuming their basic procurement needs have been met). Jerod will arrange this out of his own personal funds.
Brita makes sure that the Rangers know Jerod sent the gifts and she made sure to thank Jerod personally before his trip.
Jerod would prefer if the Rangers not know that he sent the gifts...however, Brita is free to do as she wishes (and he's not going to know if she says anything or not until after the fact...:)
"But, Jerod," Brita notes, "it will do the image of the royals some good amongst the Rangers if the Rangers realize that others besides myself are looking out for them."
"Yes it does...so in that event, perhaps you can pick someone who you figure might be good for them to think is looking out for them." Jerod says and he smiles just a little. "I have my reasons for remaining anonymous. If there's a problem finding someone, tell them it comes from the Regent. In a sense, it all does. And if they're going to want to identify with someone, it would be best if it were him."
"I think they would be appreciative of the Crown looking out for them," Brita pauses, thinking for a moment and then nods. "I will indicate that Lord Gerard and the council has seen fit to reward their hard work and dedication."
"An excellent idea..." Jerod says.
Late one morning, Vialle appears in Folly's chamber, waking her up from a sound sleep. She seems distressed to Folly.
"How quickly can you be dressed?" she asks. "I need you to come and play for Prince Gerard at once."
Folly mutters a concerned expletive, fearing the worst. She's out of bed and fumbling for clothes before Vialle can take another breath.
She adds: "I've asked the servants to keep the broadsheets away from him lately after hearing all the talk about the satires, but someone left one where he could find it. It apparently had an unfortunate cartoon of Solange in it. He got upset and asked me what was going on, and I had to tell him the truth, or as much of it as I know."
"Is he OK?" Folly asks as she pulls a dress over her head. "What did he...?" She stops short as she imagines the wrath of Gerard, and lays a supportive hand on Vialle's arm.
"God, are you OK?"
"Oh, he's just yelling a lot. I'm fine; I'm just worried about him." Vialle lowers her voice. "Before well, you know, he would have just gone down to the city, found this Drudge, and horsewhipped the man for printing vicious things about his daughter. I suppose he feels a little helpless, like he can't take care of his baby girl."
"Yeah, but it is his 'baby girl' we're talking about -- it's not like she's not strong enough to stick up for herself. Still, I know how dads can be about their daughters." Folly runs her fingers through her hair and grabs her mandolin.
"OK," she says. "I'm ready."
Vialle leads Folly, or perhaps Folly leads Vialle, depending on how one views such things, to Gerard's study. Both of you can hear Gerard before Folly can see him. He is cursing, well, like a sailor. He may be a little drunk, although it would take a lot of strong liquor to make him drunk -- or perhaps liquor combined with pain medication.
When Vialle and Folly enter the study, Gerard is sitting at his desk, which is covered with broadsheets that someone apparently found for him. He cuts off the swearing and glares at the two women. "Did you know about this?" he asks Folly, holding up a broadsheet pages showing a cartoon.
The cartoon depicts Solange in her jodphurs and a low-cut blouse kissing a stereotypical hick Garnather standing on a road. Both parties are covered in hay, perhaps from a recent romp in a nearby stack. Behind Solange stands a tall, muscular, blonde girl, recognizably Brita, and a Ranger with a crown badge, whose hand is outstretched to receive a coin from the hayseed. The caption reads, "If you liked this one, you'll love her cousin".
[Jerod]
Oh boy...why do I foresee Jerod being given the dirty job of leaning on
someone...real hard...
"I knew some of us had become the targets of broadsheet cartoons," Folly responds, her voice calm and soothing. "I saw a few of the early ones, but since then, I've mostly been ignoring them. I hadn't realized they'd grown so... artless." She wrinkles her nose at the page in Gerard's hand.
"When they first started appearing, we talked briefly in Council about how -- or whether -- to respond. Perhaps we should re-visit that topic, before things get out of hand."
"To the depths with 'responding'! The Council can save itself some nattering. I'm going to have the watch suppress that damned broadsheet and bring in that bastard Drudge! And if I find out who this 'Alleycat' is, I'll break every finger on his drawing hand, and then some!" Gerard is less loud, but no less vehement.
[Lucas]
Well... as long as we're not overreacting.
Folly plucks the strings of her mandolin reflexively, as one might stroke one's chin while thinking. The sound is quiet and calming.
"You will do what you think is best, of course, Uncle," she says softly. "But --" She hesitates, and then her eyes light up as she finds a good analogy.
"Have you ever put your thumb partway over the nozzle of a running hose?" she asks. "The smaller the hole, the harder the water comes out. I'm afraid suppressing the broadsheets will have the same effect. Now, they're pervasive as piss, and about as clever; and people recognize them for the waste they are. But if you try to stop them...." Folly shakes her head. "You can never silence all their voices, you know; but if you try, the ones that make it through will be louder and carry farther."
The mandolin music continues, a little stronger now.
"Wouldn't it be better to make them look foolish by beating them at their own game?" she continues. "I mean, we're a smart bunch. Hell, Vere's probably got breeches that are cleverer than some of these cartoonists. But then I suppose I would naturally prefer the solution that plays to my strengths...."
Folly tilts her head and looks at Gerard, perhaps waiting for his response, or perhaps attempting to appear small and harmless so he won't want to lob a paperweight at her.
Gerard glares at Vialle, who, despite her blindness, seems to feel the heat of his gaze. She murmurs, "Prince Gerard," curtseys, and departs, in an unusual show of formality that Folly reads as sulking.
"And stop that infernal twanging," he says to Folly. "I know what you're doing, lass, and it won't work!"
But he does sound a touch less cranky.
Folly tries to keep her expression impassive, but her eyes twinkle as she completes a lovely chord progression and tucks the instrument under her arm. "As you wish, Uncle," she says sweetly, managing to sound deferential and defiant all at once. She makes no move to leave; instead, she leans against Gerard's desk and carefully wipes her strings with the end of her sleeve.
"But if I can't play for you," she says when she looks up again, "then how am I supposed to cheer you up? I'd let you smash my mandolin, only it's my favorite one. Or perhaps you'd prefer me to let you continue your tantrum in peace? I believe you were up to 'puke-faced son of a pustulant whore' when I walked in...."
"There's not much cheering to be done, lass," Gerard says, seeming more glum than angry now. "This is all my fault."
"Oh, come on, love," Folly says. "How the hell is this your fault?"
"D'ye know what it's about?" he asks Folly.
He beckons Folly over and shows her the cartoon again.
"See," he says, "this is all about the escort fees I let Brita and Jerod impose. Sure, they're voluntary fees, but the Garnath folk think they're protection money to keep the Rangers off them. If I'd had any sense, I'd've gainsaid the proposal when they came up with it, but we needed the money to fund the Rangers so badly, lass. And now they make my baby out to be a whore for selling herself -- that's the royal protection -- under the auspices of the Rangers. And Brita too, but the mercy is, no one will show it to her."
Gerard says softly, "If I'd done what was right, this'd never have happened."
Folly nods slowly. "But you made the best decision you could with the information you had -- please try not to be so hard on yourself. We're all trying to figure this out as we go along." She shrugs. "If the worst repercussions we're faced with are a few tasteless political cartoons, I'd say we're doing a damn fine job of it all -- even if we're far from perfect."
Laying a hand on Gerard's arm, she continues, "I know you hate seeing them target your daughter -- your baby girl -- like this, but... well, she's got a lot of her father in her. She's a strong woman, Gerard -- I'll bet she's not going to let this get to her."
"It's not that," says Gerard. "Dad would have strung any printer who dared to slander my sisters so up by his bollocks. How can I do any less for my baby?"
Folly looks down at the desk; Gerard catches a quick flash of a grin before her hair falls into her face. "Maybe Solange has a different take on such things, having grown up here," she says, "but I know I've always felt weird when those I love offer to defend my honor by beating the crap out of people."
"Ah," says Gerard. "Well, Solange did grow up here, and I feel a bit less than a good father when I think of letting it go."
He looks really glum. "If I weren't stuck in this damned chair, I'd walk down there myself and have a talk with this Drudge. Now I can't even do that."
"Well," says Folly, "you could always bring him up here instead; it'd probably be even more intimidating for him, since he wouldn't be on his home turf." She has begun quietly plucking at her mandolin again. She doesn't seem aware she's doing it.
Gerard doesn't seem to notice either. "That's not how it's done, lass." He sighs.
Folly seems about to say something else, but decides against it. Instead, she remains there, leaning against the desk, in a sort of respectful, sympathetic silence -- except for the music, of course.
[Gerard will let Folly play for a while without comment.]
Brita's response to the cartoon - if shown - would probably be to scheme to create a cartoon lampooning cartoon writers with nothing better to do than delve into their little fantasy worlds for material. Maybe with a mother standing in the background lamenting that her child couldn't find a more worthwhile occupation.
Brita might show it to Needle and definitely to her cousins.
Brita probably doesn't see the broadsheets very often, since they are an urban phenomenon. She has probably heard about the cartoons in general, and she can see them on trips into the city (or Jerod or Martin or Paige might have brought some on a visit). But she wouldn't see all of them, nor any of them on a regular basis.
[Brita]
[OOC - although I retracted Brita's response since the GMs said no one
would show it to her, I will note that her reaction was not to go
Berserker - so she wasn't really mad.]
Paige, with Vialle and Solange's help if available, throws a small luncheon party in one of the Castle gardens to celebrate Worth's birthday in the spring. Invited are the cousins in residence, Gerard, and Lord and Lady Hardwind and any other worthies that Paige might've forgotten, but any others could've reminded her about...
She presents him with a painting of the Princess's Charge, his first command since he returned from retirement. She seems happy that he's among friends and that she could do this for him.
She also takes him to dinner that evening at the Prince and later that night her carriage leaves for her country home.
Paige has begun a series of paintings, notable women around the town in this era of change. The prospective list of ladies she plans on asking to sit over the next few months/years include, but is not limited to:
Lady Hardwind
Lady Vesper
Solace
Kaia
Lady Wonder
Sandra
Vialle
and of course, the Powers.
She'd like to hear opinions on others that the family feels would fit the theme. One of the sitting she'd like to arrange first are Darling, if Reid would be so kind as to introduce her. She's already started on a portrait of the Widow Fisher.
Jerod looks over the list of prospectives, but says nothing. He does not appear to disapprove of anyone on the list at any rate.
"Oh, I know quite a few women who are 'notable,' but probably not in the sense you mean," grins Folly. "And most of them probably couldn't sit still long enough to have a portrait done."
Reid may attempt to delay such introductions until such time as Darling has had her baby. While there may be an artistic place for a painting of a pregnant woman, Reid thinks it may be the wrong time to do a formal portrait. That coupled with his feeling that Darling wants to call no special attention to her pregnancy, he'll try to stall Paige's request a few months, in what he thinks is the best interest of his friend.
That's fine with Paige, but perhaps the introduction before hand and the painting after, including the child? She understands Reid's concern, but her thoughts on the pregnancy and such are part of why she interests Paige for this project.
Reid could agree to such an introduction then, at Paige's convenience.
Paige'll try to work around whatever Reid feels best for Darling.
Upon meeting Darling, she'll explain that in this time of change, a woman willing to make the decisions she has is a wonderful example and role model for a new generation of young women. She'll talk pleasantly enough about the pregnancy, having some mid-wifery skills and make small talk while doing some basics sketches of Darling's expressions.
"If I might... What lead you to such a decision?" she asks, looking up from her tablet.
While on the topic of meeting these ladies, Paige would welcome the opportunity to meet Sandra. She's very interested in hearing her rendition of Folly's newest composition. Paige'll try to secure an introduction through Ossian, if possible. This Thrush pack reminds her of some friends back in the Haight.
Ossian will arrange a private concert with Sandra for the royal family. He'll also invite Paige to join him some night at The Thrush.
Paige accepts and is a vision of propriety, unless there's something
interesting to deviate her from that course...
[FWIW, it's still not exactly common knowledge that Folly is the composer -- she's been intentionally concealing that fact so that the music might stand on its own merits. Her more sensitive and musically inclined cousins can probably figure out the composer's identity as soon as they hear the compositions, though -- so if Paige has attended any concerts recently, she knows.]
Reid most likely picked up the connection instantly, and makes the assumption that anyone with half an ear would recognize the tone as well. As such, he makes no mention of Folly when discussing the pieces... It goes without saying, and he wouldn't be inclined to talk music criticism seriously with anyone who didn't have half an ear.
[Sorry, made an assumption based on their friendship that Paige had heard songs being attributed to Sandra and recognized them as things that Folly had been humming over dinner the week before, or working out when Paige walked into the room and Folly's scribbling notes on measures. If it's a problem, we can retcon...]
[No, not a problem -- it's quite reasonable to assume that if Paige has been paying any attention to the local music scene, she knows what Folly is up to. But she would also know that Folly has been submitting these songs anonymously, so if she requests one from Sandra, she wouldn't call it "Folly's latest composition" unless she were being intentionally dramatic.... :) ]
[No, she tries to respect other's privacy in a vain hope that others will respect hers... Ha! Just arranging to have Ossian bring her around soon after Folly's gotten a tune off her chest, hoping Sandra will have received it by then...]
[Paige goes looking for some answers on leaking Shadow fluid...]
Paige is interested in any thing she might have read on "end of the world" or the end of other worlds such as "the fall of the silver spires of Avalon". Paige's looking for information on Shadow destruction.
[Viscountess] Wonder has read many things. In some mythologies, the world comes an end; in others, a new world comes forth and time is cyclical. She's actually read a mythology in which time somehow flows backward.
"Cyclical? So maybe all this end of the world nonsense is just the end of Grandfather's reign and signifying the rise of a new King. 700 some days? Perhaps that's when the new King will return, along with my father and the other elders." Paige nibbles daintily at a biscuit.
"Perhaps," says the Viscountess. "May it be so."
She pauses. "Why do you say 'the new King', Lady Paige? Some of the apocalyptic cults believe that the Sundering marked the hour of King Oberon's death. Has your family had more specific word?"
"No specific word, Your Excellency. But as anyone, even Royals are prone to speculation. And more than anything I was speculating based on your comments, nothing more." Paige sips at her tea.
On the fall of Avalon, she lends you a text that she tells you is purported to be a history of Corwin's reign in that shadow.
That'll be a night time read before bed. Paige is trying to pull the Pattern mechanics out of it, reading the facts behind the history, if at all possible. She's specifically looking for "What Happens When A Shadow Is Destroyed?", such as similar symptoms to what they're currently experiencing.
There is no specific detail of how Avalon was destroyed. But the end of the matter seems to have been a bang rather than a whimper, and events preceding the end of the reign match more with Brita's tales of Ragnarok more than with recent events in the city.
[Paige]
Noted.
Nestor'll get requests on this, too.
Nestor has a report prepared that makes not so light reading. You suspect you're not the first person to get a copy.
Paige smiles. "Thank you, Nestor." She'll devote a weekend to this, pouring over it and negelecting her painting and unfortunately Worth. Not that this is Paige's strong point, but she wants to try and understand, too.
The book will take a long time to read; it is not easy, but rather dry. There are a lot of references to cataloged documents in the library, and on a fair number of pages you have three lines of body text and the rest full of footnotes. Vere would be eating it up, you think.
If Vere's got time, she'll ask for the synopsis, assuming this was originally compiled for him.
[Vere]
[GMs]
[No, it was not Vere's. He hasn't seen it before.]
[Vere]
Well, now that he has seen it, he'd love to have a chance to examine it
closely....
Uncle Gerard will be asked, "So, what happens when a Shadow is destroyed? Have you ever seen it happen?"
Gerard is distressed by the thought. "You want an answer to that question, lass, you'd do better to ask your father. Or your Aunt Fiona. I don't dabble in such things."
He looks at Paige hard. "Why do you ask?"
"Just trying to get a hold on what might be happening, Uncle. I'm never seen a Shadow doing what Amber is and while I've not the years of any of my Elders, I've seen enough Shadows." Paige looks tired.
Paige, when not dealing with the Court will stay in town at the Prince more often again, so as to cut down on her commute to the courts. She'll take lunches there and when some time does allow in the evenings, after briefs are read and light's gone for painting, she can be caught smoking cigars and discussing politics over cards in the lounge of the Prince. Worth is a frequent guest of hers, but there are no public displays of affection.
She's also heard to suggest that the Prince has such a wonderful membership that she's sure they could field a team to best any of the other clubs in most any event. [Any suggestions? I think the "My club's better than your club" should lend itself to some sort of competition...
Perhaps keeping the Regatta as an annual event, but it would seem the Naval would have too much of an edge there...]
Last modified: 1 Jan 2002