Paloma's Heart (#2)

[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; anyone caught doing so will be accountable to the Countess's security. 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.

There are two types of influence you will encounter. The first type, material influence, has power over professional fields, finance, industry, and so on; you may be requested to use it on behalf of other attendees of the Salon for a reward, or asked to trade it to them for their own projects. The other type, heart influence, can be acquired from speaking to other attendees of the salon or performing special actions, and can be used to influence the interests of the Guest of Honor herself if used correctly!

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

You may send an unlimited number of Heliograms at any time.

Re: HELIOGRAM STATION

[sunflowering]

Your Name:
Influence Attached:
Religion x 3
High Society x 1
Low Society x 2
Honor the cause of your Kiima x 1
All’s fair in Love and War x 3
Action to be Taken: Do what feels right within your heart and show mercy, empathy, and compassion whenever possible.
Additional Message: I have no idea how things turned out-- I think it's a lot more complicated than what any one person can say here. But I think in the end it's important to do what you feel is right. If something is wrong, stand up and do something about it-- work toward a better tomorrow. Keep in mind the people on all sides and show compassion when you're able to.

I think standing up for what you believed in was magnificent. Don't let others tell you it was wrong-- and while you don't owe this to anyone, perhaps try and help those who don't see why you took the actions you did, without compromising your values.

WHODUNNIT

[handpuppets]

Reply here with your guess as to the murderer of Lochaana Naarabot.

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; then also, 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

[sunflowering]

[ She... well she's a little confused with all of this. But she'll look around to see if she notices any familiar faces...?

If she doesn't see anyone she recognizes, or at least after speaking with them, she'll approach the red-head. ]

Enjoying the mingle...?

Re: THE GRAND BALLROOM

[wonderlandgirl]

[Well.

[She'd honestly rather be dancing but Wednesday suspects that this is Not Quite The Point.]

Influence...?

[Like on Instagram?

[Is there anyone around who looks like they'd be receptive to talking to a small, lost-looking pink child who is also apparently a priest now? What do priests even do.

[Should she bless someone?]

Re: THE GRAND BALLROOM

[intimitation]

[Who woulda thunk that you could end up in an outfit way more stuffy than Baritones' already stuffy suits?

Wifi is gonna look around to see if he recognizes anyone before greeting the pair of nonhumans first.]

Re: THE GRAND BALLROOM

[resonantblue]

[dressed like a Mad Scientist, with some Steampunky flavor such as goggles on her forehead and a belt of random vials and tools

gonna talk to the nonhumans]

Excuse me. Who are you?

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

[resonantblue]

"First Keeper Naarabot" is what you called her?

Re: THE COUNTESS

[sunflowering]

[ First Keeper... ]

Where does she happen to be, if you don't mind my asking? She won't' show up for the party at all?

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 the grand ballroom.

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 to the lower deck.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

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 to the lower deck.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

THE LECTURE HALL

[handpuppets]

In this room are a semicircular arrangement of chairs surrounding a wooden podium for presentations. No one is currently presenting, but there is a list of previous presentations: some about alien botany, mechanical engineering, the arts. The presentation schedule on the wall says that a presentation slot is starting soon, but it appears no one's signed up.

In one corner, there's... a door, maybe? Covered in what appears to be thick ice. It's cold to the touch.

From here, you can return to the grand ballroom, or look into what seems to be a small art studio, to the side.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

THE STUDIO

[handpuppets]

This room is dusty, disused; there are a handful of paint-stained workbenches, and tripods draped with cloth. Under some of the dropcloths are various fragile glass orbs, painted in beautiful swirls of color. One has been smashed directly in the center of the floor.

In the back, hidden, are a handful of amateurishly done ones that have been left in a bin. Several are chipped.

From here you can go back to the lecture hall.

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 return 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.

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 return 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 to the bar or the reservoir.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]

THE RESERVOIR

[handpuppets]

Here, in the lowest level of the temple, you find the reservoir, down a path tiled in blue, white, green and silver mosaic; it's quiet down here, apart from the low rush of water... and, apart from some footsteps ahead, in the dim light.

From here you can go to back up to the temple.

CHANGES

[handpuppets]