[IC] Lost in Dreams [Tereza]

[ericthered]

The women are Illios's direct family-- his sisters and his mother. Muso is their half-sibling, by another wife. They support him, but for them, Illios is the most important (and the one they have the most influence with). It seems the point of all this is power and furthering the family. To some extent its because they are bored: The family line died with their recently deceased brother, which means they have fallen from power. (quite recently: They are actually still in mourning. They in fact seem to be intentionally ignoring the subject).

Tereza is able to provide some comfort over the death, both with words and with music.

Illios, it seems, spends most of his time in a private chamber in what amount to pajamas, relaying messages throughout the palace and coordinating diplomacy. His own family mostly has contact with him through messengers or dreams. He promises he "will come and show her what". The turn of conversation furrows many brows. The main objection being "But you're a woman!"

Everyone in that room has the gift (its very genetic and forms part of the qualification for the ruling class). The mother is the only one who has used it: it apparently renders you barren, so its practiced mostly by the old rather than the young. The others train in it for a few hours each day. The widow will start using it soon, as is thinking of joining the army as a "re-conjurer"

The war is going well on the ground. Their forces are slightly smaller, but their general, a salakor, is quite renowned (over 40,000 days and over a dozen wars under his belt, he is considered a family treasure, and usually is hired out somewhere else). The "hidden" battle is going poorly. Three Sultan's have been murdered, Orders intercepted numerous times, and several shipments of gems have been intercepted. The general has survived assasination attempts only by being skilled at combat himself (rare for a salakor).

Peace talks are handled mostly by salakor, and it appears neither side wants peace at this point: war is "The game of kings" as it were.

[Poonbahbah]

Tereza will intentionally ignore the subject as well was she realizes. She's not really a councilor after all. She will just be happy she seems to help them forget their grief for a time.

Her response to, "But you're a woman," is one of*, "Did he not tell you? It looks like I can dream walk, and use the gift..," or Fast Talk** them into, "I'm sure how you heard I just sorta... arrived here right before Muso made his name for himself. Well this is a whole new world to me and I wan't to learn as much as I can about the world and it's magic. The magic of my world was so well studied it hardly seemed interesting anymore. Not that there wasn't even more of it to study, but all this (gesturing around) is new and exciting to me. Which reminds me, do any of you weave Wember or set an appointment to let me watch some being done?"

"If you would be willing to help train me in the gift alongside your daughters I would be grateful beyond words Ma'am.

I wish I had skill in spycraft to be able to help you with the hidden war. It's not exactly something they teach in university, and I'm sure a few half remembered movies do not a spy make."

OOC
*Depending on which she thinks will have the better reaction she can tell the truth (as she sees it) or try and fast talk them into the alternative. Not sure what would be best to roll and I'm sure it should be one of those secret ones as well so I shouldn't roll it anyway. Probably Perception is a good pick. If I'm not sure either way I'll follow Ilios' lead and not tell them.
**Fast talk 15 (3d6=12)If required.

[ericthered]

(OCC: minor use of serendipity on choice-- spent for 6 hours)

Did he not tell you? It looks like I can dream walk, and use the gift. Which reminds me, do any of you weave Wember or set an appointment to let me watch some being done?

Mother: Of course we will invite you to study with us, if Illios can spare you-- he will want to train you in dream walking, if only because you are unusual. we do not know wember, its a lesser craft. But if you wish to watch it, we can certainly arrange that.

Widow: We are not taught much of spy-craft: the dream walkers, rhamiti, and salakor handle that. I wish we knew more of it though.

[Poonbahbah]

Tereza will thank Ilios' mother* and continue on with conversation.

OOC
Can't think of anything else to add to this conversation and am ready for the next scene you consider important enough to play out some. Only question I could think to ask was what a Rhamiti is. Which doesn't seem like a long enough post to me.
*Name?

[ericthered]

Mother: Rana
Widow: Shahlah
Sisters: (oldest to youngest)
Fathiya
Zahra
Dahab
Friend: Layan

Fathiya:
"A rhamiti is the conjured created as a spy and an assassin. They look like a four-armed human with a cat's features (claws, teeth, nose) and short blue fur. They almost always have four swords or daggers with them, and they are extremely quick."

Tereza is unable to observe wember that day. Her presence in the palace has gone almost unnoticed in the bustle of Muso becoming the new ruler of the palace, and many people (including everyone who does wember) has taken the day off.

[Poonbahbah]

"Good to know what the assassins are called and more of what they look like. I'd only heard avoid them if they don't bow to you because that means they're after someone. Or something like that anyway. So will you all be studying the gift today?"

Well, if everyone has the night off... Tereza will join in the festivities*. One thing she will make a point to do when she gets a chance is to retell some of the stories Muso told her about himself and his adventures. Maybe with a little more embellishment then what he said. She'll also see about collecting stories, jokes, and songs. Which is probably as easy as just listening to people as part of an audience, and making sure she doesn't get to drunk to remember it all.

OOC Just how much of a culture penalty is she at if any?
*I assume there are festivities in honor of Muso's leadership anyway.
Public Speaking 21-culture(13,) Carousing 10-culture(14) (3d6=13, 3d6=14) Woo, I party about as well as an unskilled person, that doesn't know the culture. Woo!
I've noticed others don't seem to make many rolls in these Lost in Dreams campaigns, so if you want me to stop I can.

Note to self, pick up the Eidetic Memory advantage so I can remember stories and such better.

[ericthered]

(OCC: generally I make the rolls without even telling you.

The cultural penalty varies: its usually around -1 (culture is somewhat similar to middle eastern), but your at a -4 when dealing with the "magic" portions of society, which includes telling stories. As a note, Muso told no stories about himself.

And yes the festivities are in Muso's honor.)

Tereza retells many of Muso's stories. All the people seem to know these stories well (in fact they seem to be old tales), but enjoy the inadvertent "spin" Tereza puts on them. Tereza puts her foot in her mouth a couple times but everyone does that occasionally. She doesn't collect too many new stories, but finds many elements of the culture she can certainly use at a later time.

The festivities last most of the night, and Tereza is ready to go to sleep when the time comes. Of course, that night is not as restful as it might be... Illios shows up.

"So, how does it feel to be sleeping in a real bed now? I find it quite relaxing. You still seem anchored to your dream. Would you try moving?"

[Poonbahbah]

"Very good though I'm debating if the bath was better or not. Sure I'll try moving." Teresa tries picturing herself above Ilios' bed. If that doesn't work she next pictures hovering over Rana. Next she will try picturing herself in Muso's dream. Assuming that failed she'll tell Ilios how she tried to move and if that wasn't right could he be more specific about the how.

OOC My mistake. Thought he had told some stories about himself.

[ericthered]

The 'picturing' doesn't go too well... the dream shifts, but remains focused on Illios, who just shakes his head. Then she tries to enter Muso's dream. There is a violent jar, and she feels like wind is rushing by... Illios grabs her arm, there is a violent jerk, and the wind stops...

Illios: "By the dark stone of Kaldor, where did you take us?"

The dream is dark, with several pinpoints of light below them... and four spheres of lights above them, far off in the distance.

[Poonbahbah]

"You said try moving so I tried moving. First I tried picturing myself in a couple of places in the real world, or at least this one anyway. Like above Mrs. Rena's bed. After that didn't seem to work to well. You started shaking your head so I figured what I was doing wasn't quite right. So next I tried picturing myself in Muso's dream instead of near his body. It seams to of worked. If this isn't his dream you probably have a better idea then me.

So where do you think we are? Those bits of light sorta look like stars to me. I'd ask if this is how you visited between stars but from your expression I'm going to guess that isn't the case."