A slit throat does not seem quite the same style as what was done to Julqe. I think I will focus on this mysterious Lady Ahn for now - let's see what I can find out about her... Eanne tried finding out more about the reclusive noblewoman – relatives, business partners, other nobles she was relatively close to... anything.
Vizelle hasn't made it halfway back, before she feels the ground shake beneath her feet, followed after a few moments by the sound of an explosion in the direction of the palace, where she remembers a triumph was taking place. At the same time, she feels the sphere in her pocket begin to vibrate, the one Varrick created.
"What in the world!" Vizelle was honestly caught by surprise as an explosion occured somewhere so close to the emperor. Ho? How interesting. I wonder how long they planned this out? Hmm? The sorceress thought to herself, only to suddenly feel the sphere vibrating. Odd? I'm sure I've absorbed all its power. She pondered as she fishes out the sphere, once more tapping into it using her psionics.
(Yes) Spoiler: Persuasion Roll D100+15= 77 The men continue to level weapons at her for a few moments, before nodding, one escorting her down into the medical clinic. In a dingy basement, she finds the emperor lying on an operating table, one hand nothing more than a stump, with bandages over his forehead. The young man's chest rises and falls, softly. Around the room are a blue skinned alien in a doctor's uniform, and more guards. Directly next to Carius is Yannika, who sits next to the table and cradles the young man protectively, her expression distraught, but coping. "Sister Elena... What the hell is happening?" The blonde beauty utters, before looking back at the emperor.
Spoiler: Info Gathering Roll D100: 89 Reading through news about Lady Ahn, as well as various business dealings her name is attached to, Eanne doesn't spot any names important enough for her to know. Well, all but one: Duke Chernobog, Sitra and Amara's father.
Handling the sphere once more, she can't help but feel a wave of satisfaction, before the city around her begins to disappear, and she once again finds herself in Varrick's mind palace. "So you survived the assassin." His voice booms out, and looking up, she sees the ancient psionic on his throne, face disguised by the non-euclidian curves of his helmet. "I'd have been disappointed if you'd died."
"Mmh." Vizelle shuddered as a sudden wave of bliss overcame her. And once she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a familiar environment. "Hmm? So you know of it. Judging from her removed memories, I take it you're the one that sent her?" She asked with a smile, "But, if you are envolved. The northern empire then?" She added, before shaking her no. "No, I'm getting ahead of myself. So, what is it you called me here for?"
"The Northern Empire." He nods. "Some of my pawns decided to deviate from my carefully laid plans, ergo, the explosion you just heard. Whilst I'm punishing them for the errors of their ways, I'd like you to...reshape the narrative a little. Whilst I remove evidence that implicates the Northern Empire in this cock up, I'd like you to redirect Emperor Carius's attention, make him think that another party is at fault. I have a suitable candidate ready to be blamed, though if you wanted to blame someone else, a rival, or that Moon mafia you've been tussling with, that would be acceptable. The key thing is that the Northern Empire remains blameless."
Interesting... I wonder if the Lady is a front for the Duke, officially controlling properties he does not want linked to him, or if she is her own person. Perhaps I should give him a call later, after I am done here... Putting her terminal away Eanne looked at Julqe and then at Dubernay. “Any idea when she's going to wake up? I doubt we will learn anything useful from questioning her, but it won't hurt to check what she recalls...” And if she will continue following whatever orders she has been given...
"Fufu. So even a powerful psionic such as yourself can't completely control his pawns." Vizelle giggled, before Varrick suddenly gave quite a wonderful proposition. The sorceress grins, "My, my. With an offer like that, I won't even ask how you know who I'm currently dealing with." She cooed, "Very well, I can think of a few ways to point the empire's attention to the Cold Moon." Vizelle then nods, "Ah, whilst I'm here. You wouldn't happen to know of a creature that takes on human form would you?" She asked, thinking of Mary, knowing he'd probe her mind regardless.
Eanne is only halfway through her sentence before the maid begins to stir. Slowly, her eyes flicker open, before she looks in confusion at her bonds, and then at Dubernay and Eanne. "L-Lady Dubernay?" She asks. "What...How did I get here?" She looks specifically at Eanne. "Is this...a client?" Eanne detects no sense of recognition on her face.
"I was mistaken." Varrick admits. "I gave some pawns too much freedom. From now on, I will be controlling the survivors much more firmly." He adds forebodingly. Vizelle, as expected, feels her memories being invaded, before Varrick chuckles. "Yes, I know the creature in question, or at least I know of them. Rest assured that the creature's true body is less visually appealing than the body it has assumed control of right now."
Eanne looked at the maid before looking at Dubernay. “I'll let you handle this, since she knows you.”
"Fufu. But of course. I let my disciples roam free once I've shown them the price of disappointing me." Vizelle hums in a teasing tone. "Nnh." She then groaned as he probed her mind, smiling as he answered. "I've figured as much, after hearing "it" laugh in our first meeting. I was simply curious if whether or not there was more of them, and if they're also an ancient race?" She asked again in a curious tone.
The woman nods, before calmly taking a seat next to the bed, and holding the maid's hand and giving her a matronly smile, before explaining the situation. Julqe looks wide eyed at Eanne. "I... I'm sorry, I had no idea... I didn't mean to do any harm, I'd never do-" Dubernay shushes her, assuring her that everything is alright."
Eanne nodded at the maid. “Yes, I can see that you really have no idea what is going on. You were used as a pawn by someone else. Tell me, what are the last things you remember?”
Varrick shrugs at the first question, before nodding at the second. "They were the Tyrk, a vassal race in my time, useful for their ability to control the bodies of other species, as well as a few other abilities. When the Old Ones came, they decided that, like humanity, the Tyrk were too advanced, that they would just pick up where humans left off, and so they suffered a similar fate to us. As to whether there are more Tyrk still in existence, that's hard to say. If there are, there won't be many. Their numbers were low to start with."
"Fufu... hahaha!" Vizelle broke out in laughter after Varrick answered. "Hehehe. I see, then I guess I'm doing her a favor then. Maybe she'll be able to repopulate her species." She said in an amused tone, before taking a deep breath to regain her composure. "Mmm. Well, that is interesting information. Thank you for answering." She smiles, "Now, was that everything else? Or did you have something else in mind?"
"I-I..." She tries to remember. "I was with a client, Lady Ahn... I'd told her about a friend of mine, Miriam, and she wanted to me to invite her over, you know, so we could all have some fun together." She groans at a headache. "I-uh... Miri didn't really do that work, or she had an exclusive boss, I think, but I convinced her. The three of us were enjoying our night, and then... And then..." She groans.
"Not generally the expected reaction when discussing species-wide extermination, but whatever." Varrick shrugs. "That was all I have for you. I intend for you to control the situation." He pauses for a moment. "Or are you asking if I want to fuck you?"
