andres ♔ lining up for the grand illusion

[diplomatics]

♬ we are - ana johansson

WHO || Colin Banks, Emma Frost, Lissa Dragomir, Alex Karamazov, Cordelia Chase, Zoe Weiss, Adam Weiss, Leia Organa, Nessa Harvey, Alisha Daniels
WHAT || A team of Knights is tasked to rally the human populace of the Isle, gather them in a safe place, and keep Dimitris' supporters from causing trouble.
WHERE || Andres Isle
WHEN || September 19th, 2014
HOW || Actionspam

[ Meanwhile, a group of ten lands on... the roof of a building in the upscale sector of town. The half-moon lights the sky around them enough for any of them to get a good glance at what surrounds them. In the distance, moonlight plays across the river dividing the city, and the roofs of the Shadow village homes can be barely made out. But here, there are opulent old-money homes scattered here and there, and a number of commercial buildings coursing up and down the main thoroughfare. Colin doublechecks the location on the phone, which lights up his face eerily as he checks the screen, and then he slides it into his pocket, turning to nod the others. ]

We find ourselves on scenic Andres Isle, atop the historic Grand Hotel.  The very heart of the Island, ladies and gentlemen.  Advising caution seems unnecessary.  

Comments

[ambitionist]

We can hope. [that said, alex doesn't feel incredibly hopeful. ALWAYS EXPECT THE WORST BASICALLY.]

[arrested]

Or, you know, they just kill us last, right? [ Yeah 'hope'. Also Alisha is still here, hi. ]

[allaboutme]

Hey, I don't know about you, but I did not sign up to be monster chow on this mission! We've got this whole... defensible position thing going on. And I, for one, am not going to let anything fanged or drooly inside those gates.

[kineticist]

At least it adds a bit of credibility to our cover story. [Not that escaped prisoner needed to be upgraded to escaped creatures that could maim you is.]

If we need someone to watch the front and actually defend our position, if trouble shows up at the door looking for a seaweed wrap... I can take that on. [Because, Zoe is actually pretty good at defensive/offensive things -- oh and she has a gun. Which would be a really easy thing to hear to signal that yep - things are approaching.]

[wildmind]

Not a bad idea. Plus, you can let the locals in when they arrive.

[ambitionist]

You sure you can handle it? [HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ZOE IS CAPABLE OF, OK. he has not seen her resume. it's not like a grr i'm a manly man let me do it question, it's more like he's making sure she doesn't need backup.]

[telepathy]

Splendid work.

[ Emma rolls up with the others. ]

The police should have the locals gathered here in no time.

[ex_psionic439]

Now the party don't start 'till we walk in.

[Which might be some variation of "What now, losers" except ... you know, with the added bonus of being a Ke$ha lyric.]

[ambitionist]

[/slow blinks. ]

[slinn]

[ it isn't very long before they start arriving, and zoe would notice no signs of trouble, beyond the grumbling of an unhappy upper class bunch roused from their homes late at night.

one of the first to arrive is an exceedingly well dressed man with slick-backed hair and a beautiful wife at his side, who seems to have broken out the expensive jewels even for a midnight evacuation. a spot check of 15+ may notice their serpentine slitted eyes, the only markers visible of snakeblood heritage, which stands out amid the sea of humans making their way in. he's audibly complaining in a bored, affected tone as he comes through the doors, followed by various other nobles. ]

That this should become a large enough problem to affect the entire neighborhood before it was caught seems very strange to me. What am I paying these people for, precisssely? [ his hint of a french accent is tinged with the occasional sibilant snake-like slip as well, and he looks across the knights with thinly veiled disdain ] And who is here to greet us?

[telepathy]

[ Well, Emma's spot was 12, so no. ]

Rest assured, all will be explained once we've all gathered. For the time being, try to make yourselves comfortable here.

[slinn]

Not even a name to go with such promises, my dear? Surely that is not so much to ask.

[ behind him, a dark haired woman enters, speaking to what appears to be her husband and a curly haired blue eyed man, sounding slightly distressed, wringing her hands as she says: "Some... friend of hers, I've no idea where they went. Her name was Mary or-- or Miri, I don't know. She could be anywhere." ]

[telepathy]

Emma Frost, if you must know. [ She's lifting her chin and squaring her shoulders somewhat. ] Though I fail to see how that information is likely to do you any good.

[slinn]

Well, I would think it should make conversation flow a bit better, should it not? If we are to spend all this evening in each other's company, I would think some pleasantries would make the time go fassster.

Rene Slinn. And my lovely wife, the love of my life. [ he puts a hand on her back, but doesn't even... offer her name, before turning back to lara's mom. ] Some trouble, Countess?

[ she casts him a bit of a dark look, and it's clear there's little love lost between the tamons and the slinns.

"My daughter, Lara, can't be found. I should go look for her," she says, shaking her head. ]

[lastdragomir]

[ lissa, who totally swept back in when she and super ginge heard people approaching (listen 20), glances between snake guy (spot also 20) and the countess, moves toward the distressed woman, smiling gently in reassurance.

cleric, yo, she head myri's name and it seems like too big of a coincidence. ]

I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, but we can have someone sent out to look for her, if you'd like. [ diplomacy 28 ]

[slinn]

[ Her diplomatic efforts seem enough for almost everyone, and even Lara's mother finally relents, nodding and touching her hand to her forehead, waving for them to proceed. Lara's father, however, squares his shoulders and looks at Lissa firmly.

"I'll go along. My wife should stay here, however."

The Countess looks hopeful, eyes widening. "Oh, would you, Jaron?"

Another nervous-looking man comes up, wiping his face with a handkerchief and peers at the countess.

"You said Lara's missing? I can't find Dana either. And has anyone seen the Collins boy?" he asks.

The Tamons look around, clearly failing to sight the named young people in the crowd. Dana's father looks particularly fretful.

"Oh dear, oh dear," he stammers. "Denton?" John C. Reilly, who must be Denton, shakes his head as well, apologetically.

Slinn can't seem to help himself from piping up. ] Oh my. Children are such slippery things, are they not? Always so easily misplaced. [ This draws a chuckle from another man and woman nearby, who exchange amused glances at the joke, not seeming overly concerned about those reported missing.

"They're not children," says Denton, who puts a hand on the Countess' arm and says quietly: "I'm sure they're all alright. They're probably together somewhere. She'll be safe with Michael." ]

[telepathy]

Perhaps you might start with where you last recall seeing them, and we can contact the police force about insuring that they've made it into an indisputably safe area.

[ Emma steps in, calm and cold as ice. ] Lara, Michael, and ... Dana, was it? And if we find more reason for concern, you're welcome to accompany one of our team members to search for them. [ She nods to Lara's father. ]

[slinn]

[ "That... seems reasonable, of course," he relents, with a nod. but slinn watches the exchange with a canny look in his eyes. he murmurs something in his wife's ear, and then crooks a finger to call over another gentlemen - this one dressed as an officer. ] Sergeant Stone, this sounds like your department, yes? Good thing we have the police right on hand.

[ he smirks slightly as Stone saunters over, looking between the nobles.

"If citizens are missing, we can send out a squad. They weren't at home at this hour?" he asks.

"A friend had come by, asking to speak to Lara," her mother confesses. "But it wasn't a name or voice I recognized at all. Strange - I thought I knew all of Lara's little friends."

"I thought Dana was in his bed," his father adds. "I don't know how he would have left without any of the servants noticing, but they all claim they didn't hear a thing." ]

[telepathy]

Excellent timing, Sergeant.

[ Though she sounds perfectly honest, her smile is just a little tight. ]

If you'd allow me, I would accompany you in the search personally. Perhaps we can track down this friend, as well.

[ And maybe stab you in the back when you're not looking in case you get too close to interference #yolo. ]

[allaboutme]

[ sergeant stone looks at her doubtfully, and cordelia takes note of the tension, looking between them awkwardly before turning around on her heel, and clapping her hands together as she addresses the rest of the nobles. ] So! In the meantime... how do we feel about Pictionary?

[ diplomacy 25???

denton shrugs, and nods in her direction, telling lara's mom. "Hey, might keep our mind off things for awhile, right?"

the countess frowns, but nods uncertainly, and cordy turns to lissa's friend, wringing her hands together as she improvises. ] We're going to need a big pad of paper and some markers. Chop, chop.

[ meanwhile, sergeant stone tells emma: "Given the situation out there, I think it's best this matter be left to the police, don't you?"

slinn smirks to himself, listening in, and looking a bit triumphant. ]

[telepathy]

Of course. [ A fluttering smile. ] I only thought given the dangers associated with an escaped convict, the more hands on deck the better. We wouldn't want these lovely citizens' children out and about any longer than strictly necessary whilst some brute is wreaking havoc.

[ She's just going to gently weave psionic charm into that. Save DC is 20 bc spending extra power points to raise it. After all, Wynn said no mind control to make them do things—not to make them more amicable. ]

[wildmind]

[ with a 15 will save, she'd feel his mind bend to her influence, and there's a shift in the unwavering expression on his face, as he softens a bit.

"Of course, good point. I suppose the sooner we get moving, the better," he says. "Don't worry, Countess. We'll find them."

he nods to emma to follow him out the door~ and they can have their own thread if you want to drop one on this post.

as emma passes, nessa gives her a nod of approval for getting him to take her along, indicating that the rest of them will field things here. ]

[ex_psionic439]

[Meanwhile, Adam is going to attempt to read the thoughts of some of the people who are staying behind in order to root out anyone who might be too suspicious and potentially screw their little operation, or loyal to Evil Dictator-sama or whatever they were supposed to be figuring out (Concentration 29, will save to negate is 18 ... sorry, it's going to affect teammates in the area too even tho he no1curr what y'all are thinking.)

A game of Pictionary or whatever means erryone should be nice and contained to one area too, so he will just hang back and eavesdrop if he's able. I guess let me know if anyone here has an intelligence score of 29 or more because he's going to be getting a fucking migraine and the power will end real quick if they do.]

[lastdragomir]

[ while whatshisface fetches supplies, lissa claps her hands together to get attention and proceeds to count off the fancy folk into teams. she tries to separate slinn from cruella de vil but also the tamons and dana's father and denton so there won't be any unnecessary excessive competitiveness on either team. she hopes.

her will save was a 30, though, so her mind is a little steel trap so she won't screw up adam's mind reading.

as she attempts to escort denten and dana's father to the appropriate side, she gives them both a charming, reassuring smile. (cha 25) it'll be okay messrs bean and cellophane. ]

[slinn]

[ everyone is quite willing to go along with the pictionary plan, even if none of them seem particularly into it. it's clear that preserving a polite social atmosphere is important to these people, and they're happy to grasp at whatever opportunities for making this an organized gathering present themselves.

also most people are incredibly easy to read, except for slinn's wife, and lara's father. and cordy and nessa, who both made their will saves. although canon tells us that cordelia's thoughts are exactly what she's saying out loud anyway.

most of the andresians are thinking absolutely nothing suspicious whatsoever - it's clear that they've fallen for the ruse, and while some are worried about the missing parties, or put out by the inconvenience of this pedestrian situation, none of them suspect foul play.

slinn, however, is another case entirely. his surface thoughts indicate a very sharp mind, that's picked up one clear fact:

something is amiss here, and since he isn't in on it, it spells trouble for the status quo, and the prime minister.

he's congratulating himself over saddling one of them with an armed officer to conduct the search, but he's not content to leave it at that. if he plants enough little seeds in the other nobles' minds, they'll revolt for him, demand answers that he seeks without his ever having to dirty his own hands. and if these... people are up to something sinister, he'll take particular delight in watching them cut down by the authorities. ]

Someone will have to explain this game, I am not familiar with the rules.