Vizelle starts small as she attempts to influence every player, and the dealer's minds with her psionics. "Even." She cooed. (Also how many chips did she get?)
Xavier smiled at the maid, 'Xavier, charmed to meet you, Felicia.' Trying the brandy, he smirked, 'Hmm, yes, a splendid aroma.' He thought for a moment, 'Well, perhaps you know who on the planet I shouldn't get on the bad side of? Apart from the Emperor, of course.'
The mixed results in space were more than a little satisfying. Elena ordered the reconquest of Ietra IV. Hopefully, without the supplies from the planet, the enemy fleet will melt away. The success on the planet was more than satisfying. Elena checked on the progress of brainwashing of the female captive officers. After making sure, that everything was in order, she set up a meeting with the pirate forces that would like to take terms. Just to be safe, she had a locator injected into her body - if the pirates were ready to betray her, Admiral Thrax would find her - and with her, the Prince. With preparations ready, she made her way to the meeting.
(250? I don't really know anything about gambling.) Spoiler: Telepathy Roll D100: 92+15 (Order of Sorcerers)=107 (Crit) Focused so wholly on the game, she's able to worm her way into the minds of the dealer and the other players. Spoiler: Dice Roll D2: 2 Vizelle wins this round.
"Likewise." She smiles. "Hmm, well, I'd say that the various crime lords are probably better off avoided, obviously. There's Duke Chernobog. He's a great man, but he's powerful enough that I wouldn't recommend going against him. Plus, the inquisition are quite strong here. Always better not to catch their eye." She lowers her voice when talking about the various people.
Eanne watched the workers leave before turning her attention to the bishop and nodding. “Now then. As you have no doubt guessed the main reason for my visit is the taxes issue. I'd like to know, what is the Church's stance on it?” She remained standing, not wanting to be rude by sitting down uninvited. Her gaze focused on Lysandra's face – it would be... inappropriate to ogle the bishop right after meeting her.
'Hmm,' Xavier mused, 'Thank you for the information. This Duke might be the only one I could run into sooner or later, I'll be sure to keep in his good graces.' Xavier too another mouth-full of the brandy, 'Yes, very good indeed.' He smiled at Felicia, 'How about the other guests here, anyone I should know?'
Preparations are made for the attack on Ietra IV. Spoiler: Brainwashing Roll D100: 6 (Crit Fail), 25 (Fail), 76 (Pass) Making her way to the brainwashing chamber, Elena is surprised by the results. Somehow, defying logic, the pirate has still utterly resisted any attempts to sway her. The second in command for the dreadnought is doing less well, but has still kept her mind. The captain, however, is well into the second stage of indoctrination. It won't be long now, until she's entirely under the sway of the Jade Rose. She's begun to embrace the pleasure she feels, rather than resist it, and will be less likely to resist the next stage. The injection is over with quickly, before a shuttle takes her and her chosen bodyguards to the meeting. The enemy chose an abandoned mining facility as the location, and it should be suitably private. Heading into the hangar, she sees turrets tracking her craft, but they don't fire. A man in military garb is there to greet her. "Please," he smiles, "The others are all already here." He begins to lead her into the base's command center, where eight captains await her, a mix of men, women and aliens.
(Alright, guess she bet 20?) "Fufu." She giggled as she collects her winning, acting like a normal woman, she makes sure their eyes were on her curves as she continues worming her way into their minds.
"Please." Lysandra gestures to a chair, and takes a seat herself. "We're willing to make certain concessions. All we want in return is a small sector of space." She hands a dataslate to Eanne. Examining it, Eanne sees that the planets in the sector are mostly uncharted and uninhabited, with little there to suggest value. "We can't afford to be seen as giving something for nothing, you understand. Certain cardinals would never stand for it, so we just want that area as a token, so we can claim that we didn't lose out entirely." Spoiler: Perception Roll D100: 80 (Pass) Lysandra is a skilled persuader, but Eanne realises that the woman is lying about the sector. It's clearly got more worth than just being a ceremonial token.
Vizelle takes her winnings, bringing her chip number to 290. Many of the people there were already looking at her, so it's not hard to draw their attention further. Using her powers, she quickly has them trapped in her web.
The resistance of the Pirate Captain was surprising... She would eventually break, there was no question about that. Oh well, the most important person she wanted to brainwash, was proceeding nicely. "Hmm... the pirate... you can go to extremes with her. Her preserving a unbroken mind is of no consequence." * * * She made her way to the middle of the room and took a look at each of the people present. "Welcome!" She greeted them. "I am glad that you are intelligent enough to see a prospect for yourselves in making a deal with the Empire." She started. "We are ready to pay you as well as provide papers as privateers." She said, making her pitch. She was showing them, that the Empire would consider them a long term investition.
“Is that all? Sounds reasonable enough...” Eanne pretended to have not realized that the bishop was lying. “I'm afraid I am not familiar with that particular sector. Anything more you can tell me about?The Emperor will probably want to know before he agrees to such a deal...” She attempted to get Lysandra to tell her more.
'I'm sorry, you don't have to if that's inappropriate,' Xavier said, 'Do you have anything that goes well with this brandy? Cigars or cigarettes, perhaps?'
Spoiler: Persuasion Roll D100: 85+15 (Persuasion Skill)= 100 (Crit) The captains practically fall over themselves trying to make the deal with her. Clearly, they see the prince's cause as a sinking ship, and have little desire to remain.
"Well, it's important to us that things remain stable for your empire." She smiles. "If taxes cause problems for the emperor, then his people might suffer." Spoiler: Persuasion Roll D100: 53+15 (Persuasion Skill)= 68 (Pass) "Oh, well, they're mostly barren rocks, but the church has received some reports that there are certain artifacts in the sector, of religious significance."
"Yes, of course." She nods, and a servant brings luxury cigars. "Well, I suppose you'd find out anyway. Another member of the council has also patronised us, recently. Lady Eanne."
'Thanks again,' Xavier smiled at the other servant, taking a cigar off the tray. He smelled the tobacco for a moment, taking in the aroma. Looking to Felicia, he said, 'You know who I am? I never said I was on the Emperor's council. I have yet to meet most of the others, I only know the sorceress, Vizelle.'
