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Artist's Rendition

Scene details

Setting: Having damaged some of the La Crima family's historic portraiture, our heroes venture to the artists' district of Rosia to seek out an old friend for help.

Log


 Shade from the branches of orderly trees dapples the viridian-streaked stone of Rosia's streets, shielding the party from the sun if not the jungle heat and humidity. Ivo leads the way today, spurred by an enthusiasm that enlivens his curious eyes. Our heroes venture to the artists' district of the cultured city, where the studios of painters and sculptors are gathered for the convenient perusal of traveling merchants and dallying aristocrats.
 "Since your mother said she already had someone in mind for the window glass, Rui," he says, glancing over his shoulder at his friends, "shall we see if we can find Reize's friend and if he'd be willing to touch up the damaged portraits?"
 The Cosmopolitan had gallantly taken responsibility for the damage to the household during their haphazard exorcism adventures, seeming perhaps a little disappointed that he did not immediately face harsh punishment at the Madam's hands (or fangs). But there is no trace of regret in his features now, veritably aglow as the neighborhood comes into view.
 "Ah... it almost reminds me of home."
 Many of the stone buildings resemble the Vanguard Association's, once grand and subtly crumbling about the edges, evoking a shabby chic. Most seem to be subdivided into many artist studios by wooden partitions, though the edifices in the best condition appear home to the most successful artists, with hosts of assistants passing in and out of their doors. But unlike the rest of Rosia, which has seemed rather free of poverty, here one can see hastily contrived wooden shacks built around the edges of stone buildings, as though the studios were spilling over beyond their walls. Those who yearn to find renown and wealth as artists come from far away to ply their trades and, if there is no room for them, they make that room.
 "Any thoughts," Ivo asks, "about where we might find this friend?"
 Perhaps it would depend on how successful he's likely to have been.

Ruidosa La Crima is glad her mom didn't kill her. Usually, things are calmer in the house. Even when it's left alone for some long!

She's hilariously out of her element here. This is not exactly the well to do people's section of Rosia and she can smell it and she hates it. No nobles here, may aswell hang a giant neon sign.

"Let's see if we can't find them." she says as she peers around. "This seems to be where they all congregate anyways. Like. Mice. or roaches!" she says with a smile!

She hrms and looks at a piece in progress. Someone is hammering into the old stone work, a relief in the stone.



  The group continue their way through, Reize holding his arms above his head while looking pretty relaxed. His eyes shut, mentally just taking in the atmosphere. However, his eyes slowly flit open, looking a bit more apprehensive. He did suggest the 'friend', but...

  "... Friend is a stretch." Reize's tone becomes flat. "He was just one of the older people in the village who was able to move out." He does give a smile, "...I do hope he did make it out as an artist."

  It isn't long before the group stand near a section of artists working on a new piece. These artists are painters, trying to develop their craft.

  One of them is an older teen, maybe around eighteen, with long brown hair tied into a ponytail. His form looks a bit lithe, especially wearing what is expected for a young artist. The young man wipes a brow. "...Ugh, another day." It is then that he slowly turns around to see the trio. "...I must very tired. I'm hallucinating. How the hell would I see that brat here of all places-----"

 !

 "REIZE?!"

 "Joel." Reize's tone becomes flat, narrowing. "Brat, eh?" The boy looks ready to slug him with his guantleted hand.

 


 "Exactly," Ivo gamely says to Rui, in the genial tone of someone who definitely has her interest in mind and would not at all find it very funny for a local to overhear her. Of course, he's an aristocrat too, if one with more experience as a fish out of water. "Like our rat friends. I hope they're all holding up well."
 When he puts it that way, maybe vermin comparisons aren't insulting. Our heroes are friends with a *lot* of animals at this point. That's what happens when animal handling checks are a running bit.
 "I've heard that the royal family has a long tradition of dispensing wealth to the populace at regular festivals to celebrate the arts and handiwork from around Oradia," he says, gaze sweeping the neighborhood before them. "Doubtless this has contributed to the nation's long stability. It further reduces the need for a large standing armed forces... and still centralizes power in the hands of those sharing the goods."
 Granted, the party has recently witnessed first-hand the apparent limits of that stability. There have been no new revelations regarding the cult of the Ankhialeans encountered in the abandoned waterway or their dangerous fire magics, but at least the Star Chasers are already better prepared to face them next time.
 "Oh."
 Ivo quiets down to observe the encounter between Reize and his older friend, standing a little ways back as he glances to Rui.
 "They really *do* know each other," he quips at the initial greeting. Then, grinning, not interrupting yet, he leans to get a look at and try to evaluate Joel's painting.

Ruidosa La Crima looks to Ivo and merely says "Yes, like rats!" she says. Way to go Ivo.

She stops to look at Joel's work before listening to the words as Reize rolls his save checks to prevent from slugging Joel in the face. "Oh..."

"Oh he isn't invited to the wedding." she says flatly.



 Ruidosa and Ivo will be treated to one of Joel's 'greatest' works. By greatest, it isn't so. Artistically? It is very phenomenal. It is what is expected for an artist who is working in Rosia. It is required that the technique is put into it, which it does. From a technical standpoint, it is great. As far the artistic standpoint, or rather, the content.... weellll..

 It's Gallito. It's that blond-haired young-looking man, fangs out with a rose in mouth. He's currently in the 'paint me like you do your Oradian women'. Underneath is a sign, 'For my beloved blue haired butterfly, Ruidosa La Crima'.

 Meanwhile, Joel looks over towards Reize, "What are you doing here? How the hell did you convince your dad to let you roam free. How are you not dead and---wait wedding?!" He looks at Ruidosa and then Reize. He looks over at Ivo. He finally brings both of his arms together in an X-sign. "Hold up! Hold up! Time out! What has been going on? Does your dad know about this?"

 "... About... that..." Reize turns around, antenna hair flopping as he trails off. His expression is a bit downcast as the part about his 'father' is harped on.


 Ivo sees his chance to interject.
 "We're here to commission you, of course," he says confidently, adopting a blithely authoritative tone, of the sort that would be useful in his role as governor of a Cosmopolitan district if he ever did any work in that position. "Our Reize cannot allow this challenge to his engagement with our blue-haired butterfly to go unanswered." He nods to Rui, casually adopting Gallito's pet name for her. "He must respond with a potrait of his own. By displaying them both at the grand Ball, the Rosian public will judge for themselves who is most worthy of her hand."
 He looks to Reize and discretely gives him a confident thumbs-up, as though it were a secret signal to play along. Should he, though?
 "Furthermore-- oh."
 Ivo then blinks, fortunately derailed from digging an even deeper hole beneath Reize, as Joel brings up Reize's father.
 "That's right," he blurts out. "You were nervous about visiting Verdios, too." Nice one, Ivo. "When we return to Granse, why don't we seek him out? I'd like to meet him. I wouldn't be surprised if he's picked up on our trail at this point, given what we accomplished there."
 ELSEWHERE
 Luan's expression is carefully composed as, at a certain lakeside town, several rats in chef's hats carry over a plate of steaming crab. He examines it carefully. Eventually, he takes a tentative bite -- and brightens.

Ruidosa La Crima eyes the portrait. She looks unimpressed.

Very unimpressed. "Amusing." she says flatly as she looks away, managing to keep her emotions in check as to not burn someone else's piece in front of them. She'll burn it in front of Gallito himself later.

"Nervous we had to get him into a whole dumb costume for a bit." she says softly.


  Joel appears taken aback by Ivo's authoritative tone. He looks back at Reize and then to Ivo and Ruidosa, and back to Reize. "...How did you meet these people? What have you been through?" He rubs his forehead, "You know what? I don't care. I'm not going to ask any further. My head is going to hurt." He sighs, "... I won't say a thing, but I highly doubt your dad will be happy when he finds you." He already suspects that Reize ran away from home.

 With a smile, he looks at Ivo. "I'll be glad to take a commission." He takes a pause, then he looks at the painting closely and then towards Ruidosa. "....Oh! I didn't realize that you're the person that my commissioner is doing this for."

 Suddenly...

 "WHAT IS THE HOLD UP WITH MY PAINTING?!" There is a stomping sound in the background. ....Guess who it is.

 


 "Excellent," Ivo replies to Joel, his tone magnanimous, spreading his arms wide. "We would be glad to exceed your regular fee to expedite the process, if that--"
 Uh oh. Is that stomping an elephant or is Gallito unhappy to see them? Ivo thinks fast, entering Social Bullet Time as his gaze sweeps those assembled. Ruidosa looks pissed, even for her, after seeing the painting, and the housing around here is unusually fragile for Rosia, made it particularly non-ideal as a target range for dark magic. Reize seems out of sorts with the subject of his father brought up, perhaps thus even easier to influence than usual. And Joel will probably appreciate some sort of excuse for his patron. The time to act is now.
 "Reize!" Ivo says in a rush, stepping close. "Trust me -- duck behind that partition and change into this, right now! I'll explain later!" Reaching into his cloak, he draws out a very tight and compressed bundle of clothing. Has he been literally carrying the Garb of the Harem Master with him everywhere to pull it out whenever he thinks it would be funniest? Yes. Yes, he has. "This is the only way!"
 He turns as Gallito approaches, beaming amiably.
 "Ah, my lord, just the noble I'd hoped to see!" Ivo exclaims, radiating the dignified friendliness of someone hosting a salon. "I beg your indulgence: as you can see, your portrait is proceeding apace, but a wealthy foreign patron has insisted that his own portrait also be commissioned before the Ball. You see? There he is now."
 The enchanted radiance of Reize's Harem Master garb, should he actually play along or be swept up in Ivo's momentum and change clothes, may distract from his face. And if Ivo has played his cards right, it may affect Rui too, perhaps mitigating her anger and averting violence. A brilliant plan. Probably. Maybe.
 Or something.

Before Reize can even put that on. Before Ivo can approach her. She's already walking off when Gallito yells. "Byeeeeee... goodluck with him!" she says as she storms off into the nearby shack. She pushes someone out of the shack.

Then someone else. A couple. "Hi I need this for a moment." she says before closing the door.

Confusion among the two as they exchange glances.



 Luckily for Ivo, Reize is easier to manipulate, especially given his distracted manner. When Ivo approaches, "...Huh?" With the bundle of clothing handed over to him, he ducks behind the partition and he starts changing clothes.

 Okay, this should be good.

 As Gallito approaches, the young looking, blond-haired vampire looks quite stuffy, especially with his regal blue outfit. It gives him a sort of dapper look.

 "What do you want, worm? Can't you see that I am here to se----" He stares at the outcome of his painting, "HEY! I TOLD YOU THAT I SHOULD BE SITTING ON TOP OF THE ELEPHANT AND THAT ELEPHANT SHOULD BE TOP ON THE OTHER! THAT ELEPHANT SHOULD BE ON A PHOENIX! WHAT THE HELL DID I PAY YOU FOR!?!"

 "...But you haven't paid me yet."

 "NEVERMIND THAT!" He then pauses, glaring back at Ivo. "WHO DARES BUMP ME OFF THE QUEUE!?"

 It is then that HAREM MASTER REIZE shows up. He is wearing the garb, "Oh.. I'm here." He looks at his outfit. "...This again?"

 "YOU!" Gallito glares at Reize.

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20+4>=10.
Comment: Resist the allure of the Harem Master (brotherhood bonus)
Roll(s): 4. Total result is 8. This is a failure (by 2).


 All is proceeding as Ivo has anticipated, more or less.
 While he cannot mollify the notoriously prideful Gallito, Ivo does buy enough time for Reize to change into garments that were supposed to have been abandoned and that, for some reason, Ivo does not merely possess but has been carrying around.
 "Ah, he is..."
 Ivo, in the midst of fast-talking Gallito, turns.
 "...magnificent."
 Completely losing his train of thought in the midst of the chaos he has fomented, Ivo stands and stares, marveling at Reize's resplendent glory, his eyes shining as though to reflect his friend's finery, struck dumb by his charisma.
 "Such a lordly presence..."
 Flushing, amazed, Ivo can provide no intervention whatsoever as Reize and Gallito face each other down. Better paint fast, Joel -- unless Rui can do something about all this.

Reize Seatlan rolls 1d20+5>=10.
Comment: Joel Resisting the Allure
Roll(s): 20. Total result is 25. This is a success (by 15).