Paloma Heart (#1)

[idolpro]

Comments

OBJECTIVES & RULES

[handpuppets]

Greetings, traveler! Your objectives are as such:

1. Find the True Heart.
2. Learn three Martian words.
3. Observe a memory.
4. Influence the Heart with a Heliogram.
5. Open a hidden or locked door.
6. Find the murderer of Lochaana Naarabot.

Each objective will earn you at least one point, if you are collecting such things!

Visiting the Countess of Danforth's Salon does come with one main rule, though: no violence is to be used unsanctioned! We expect better propriety than common lowlives and pirates in the presence of the Countess. We also cannot dock for the duration of the Salon, so any business you must conduct off of the aether-flyer should be saved for later. If you must do something urgent, we suggest sending a Heliogram to your employees or allies.

Heliograms will definitely have some effect if at least 3 appropriate influence are attached, and will have a major effect if at least 5 appropriate influence are attached. Some objects or doors in the Salon may also require a certain amount of influence to use or unlock.

HELIOGRAM STATION

[handpuppets]

Reply here with Heliograms using the following template:

<b>Name:</b> <b>Influence Attached:</b> <b>Action to be Taken:</b> <b>Additional Message:</b>

Re: HELIOGRAM STATION

[firstworldproblem]

I don't know if this is how you do this.

Name: Lochaana
Influence Attached: All: Religion x 3, High Society x 3, Low Society x 2
Action to be Taken: Eventually there is going to be a grand dance, right? This is a request for a dance at that event!
Additional Message: He doesn't want to change anything actually. Paloma seems to have her stuff together so this is how he would like to spend his influence.

Re: HELIOGRAM STATION

[crossmyheartandhope]

Name: Lochaana
Influence Attached: No one's faith is as passionate as a heretic's x3, Knowledge is Power x 3
Action to be Taken: Self care is good my dude. Also, do some stuff just for fun sometimes, kay?
Additional Message: Hey Paloma. It's you, right? I ain't sure, but I'm pretty sure. I guess I don't know that many people who do the politics and diplomacy thing. Sides, you pretty much look the same. I dunno what happened on your world or whatever, or how your rebellion turned out, but even though you say don't trust you, I kinda trust you? The kinda person I couldn't trust isn't the kinda person who would warn me, right? And your ideals... I mean, they sound like the kind of ideals worth fighting for. Anyway. I dunno where I was going with this. Just... take care of yourself, kay? I'll catch you on the flipside.

Re: HELIOGRAM STATION

[syckophant]

Name: Lochaana
Influence Attached: ×3 "the relentless March of the empire
Action to be Taken: Give them Hell
Additional Message: There's nothing more important in this world than following your dreams

THE GRAND BALLROOM

[handpuppets]

You find yourself entering a lavishly-appointed ballroom aboard the Duchess of Argyll aether-flyer. From a trio of musicians in the corner, classical music fills the room as well-dressed guests mill about, chatting, tasting hors d'ouvres brought around by liveried servers, and shaking hands on agreements.

An exquisitely-dressed older woman greets you as you enter, though in addition to her Victorian-era fashion, she is, curiously, wearing an orange scarf loosely wrapped around her head.

No one is quite dancing yet—now is the time for socializing, and making the sorts of connections that the upper crust of society trade in.

Some among the assembled watch you with interest: a pair of nonhumans dressed in black, one in ceremonial armor and a sweet-faced woman with beautiful red hair and a sad smile.

There is a heliogram station here.

From here you can go to the lower deck, the observation deck, the dining room, the outer deck, or the lecture hall.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

Re: THE GRAND BALLROOM

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Wow. This sure is A Lot.]

[He just kind of. Stares around the ballroom for a couple of beats, taking it all in.]

...whoa. This place is pretty fancy.

[He sure does help himself to a plate from one of the trays going around, though. He has priorities, okay.]

Re: THE GRAND BALLROOM

[firstworldproblem]

[Well, if it is not time for dancing yet, he'll socialize with the people in here at a later time.

Bowing politely to the pair of non-humans and heading for the observation deck.]

Re: THE GRAND BALLROOM

[forgottenmercy]

[he can't remember, but presumably he attended parties like this as a courtesan. inclines his head gracefully in polite acknowledgment to the two people who were watching, interested - he'll remember them for later, and will come back to speak with them later - but will slowly make his way towards the outer deck.

he'll delicately make his way through the crowd and gently, delicately, socialize as he goes. and watches patterns, people.]

Re: THE GRAND BALLROOM

[syckophant]

[Alright, shuffled off.

Eichi knows these kinds of parties well enough from his own life. High society, rubbing elbows, and then enjoying yourself comes last and sometimes not at all. Eichi will start with socializing, then, approaching the woman with red hair first.]

Re: THE GRAND BALLROOM

[we_meet_again]

[Whew okay this is a cool party and all but also, where the heck is this place? He's interested in talking to people but for the moment he's more interested in getting a lay of the land, so he's going to do a bit of exploring and then come back.

As he walks calmly through the crowd, he keeps an ear out to see if he can pick up any info about what's going on or who these people are.

Going upstairs will probably lead to another conversation, and he's not sure he wants do do that immediately, so for now the outer deck (?) (assuming "upstairs" is not "the outer deck")]

THE COUNTESS

[handpuppets]

"Welcome!" she says. "I'm the Countess of Danforth, and I'm so pleased you could make it to my Salon. Please, do make yourselves comfortable; my chefs have prepared plenty of delicious food, and of course there are drinks and dancing to be had. I hope you'll have plenty of exciting discussions."

She tilts her head at the lot of you. "Though, I get the feeling you're here for our guest of honor—First-Keeper Naarabot is quite in demand these days, due to the recent controversy, so if you'd like to reach her, you'll need to use Influence to send a Heliogram from the station over there." She points, and indicates an odd box with a typewriter attached to it over in the corner.

"You'll need other influence than what you have to truly change anything, though... but others at the Salon will find those useful, so you might be able to get it from them! They're all really charming conversationalists—I picked them all out myself—so really, they're lovely to talk to no matter what!"

And on that note, she shoos you out into the ballroom, encouragingly.

Re: THE COUNTESS

[we_meet_again]

Thank you for having us.

If I may ask, what was the recent controversy? I must have missed it, somehow.

THE LOWER DECK

[handpuppets]

Belowdecks, the aetherflyer is lit by gaslamp sconces and paneled in exquisite dark wood, and socialites meet and gossip around standing high tables.

From here you can go to the bar, the gentlemen's lounge, or back to the grand ballroom.

Re: THE LOWER DECK

[firstworldproblem]

[Going to make a quick rounds and do a gather information check. Idle chit chat if he can. Mostly he is trying to determine if people here think favorably of Lochaana or not.]

THE GENTLEMEN'S LOUNGE

[handpuppets]

A warm, comfortable room in dark colors and rich leather; the smell of smoke fills the air from numerous cigar-smoking sessions, and there's a few bottles of expensive whiskey on the sideboard. A man swirls a glass of whiskey while working on some sort of manuscript, a thoughtful expression on his face.

From here you can go back to the lower deck.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

THE BAR

[handpuppets]

Along the center line of the lower deck is a well-stocked full bar. It has wine, all manner of liqueurs—both familiar and more exotic. Behind the bar, between the shelves of bottles and glasses, hangs an elaborate, filigreed full-face mask with two cutouts for eyes. Perhaps an acquisition from the owner's expeditions?

A bartender in vest and shirtsleeves offers to pour the lot of you a drink. There is a specials menu for the occasion that he slides across to you; it seems to have the drink of every current member of BARiTONES, although Kohime's seems to be something exotic called mavnoor.

From here you can go back to the lower deck.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

THE OBSERVATION DECK

[handpuppets]

The upper deck contains a small, oval room with windows in every direction, and a boardroom-style table in the center.

A group of three men and one woman sit around the table, immersed in conversation; all are dressed finely, and one of the gentlemen has a glass of scotch.

From here you may return to the grand ballroom.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

THE DINING ROOM

[handpuppets]

A banquet table is laid out with all sorts of delights: tiny sandwiches, finger foods, dips, fine wine and lemonade. It's a feast fit for those who brush shoulders with kings, at least, and the fine guests hover around the table, chatting between their hors d'ourves. There is one non-human guest here in conversation with one of the groups as well, though they look strangely ill-at-ease.

From here you can go to the kitchen, the ladies' retiring room, the outer deck, or the grand ballroom.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

THE LADIES' RETIRING ROOM?

[handpuppets]

This is... not really anything like a "ladies' retiring room." There's no couches to recline on, and, in fact, there's water an inch deep across the stone floor. In fact, it might be outside?

There's a raised podium in the center, near which an adult in vibrantly-colored Martian dress stands, looking through lecture notes. A number of younger people sit on the stone steps, chatting amongst themselves, waiting for the class to begin.

One seat is conspicuously empty. A ways away, out by the edge of the canal, stand one large man in loud, obnoxious colors and a head-wrapping, and one practically-dressed woman, both of whom also seem to be Martian.

In fact, there are no humans here at all.

From here you can go to the dining room or go to the kitchen.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

THE KITCHEN

[handpuppets]

Cooks and servants bustle around, toting large crocks of dip, trays of finger foods, and carafes of drinks to and fro to feed the gentlefolk in attendance. There doesn't seem to be a chef, and there's a lot of disorganization and mayhem about.

From here you can go to the dining room or the ladies' retiring room.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

THE OUTER DECK

[handpuppets]

Here, you have a marvelous view from orbit; you can see the whole of the Earth and the sun from here, and Venus in the distance. There's a sort of flare happening from one side of the sun.

You have a fellow spectator, if you choose to stay: a slightly rough-edged man who seems a little down, smoking a cigar like a chimney.

From here you can go to the grand ballroom or the dining room.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

THE TEMPLE

[handpuppets]

Here, there are two women: a young, white-haired girl in a blue hooded robe, bustling about looking for things to fix or adjust, and one, an older woman in vibrant dark reds who looks at the other with skepticism.

From here you can go up to the bar or the Ladies' Retiring Room or down to the reservoir.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]