In the Presence of the Pirate Queen

• Character: Ivo Galvan
• 2 weeks, 1 day ago

 The pale green crystalline tracks blaze like a golden path in the noonday sun as the repurposed pirate vessel upon them is coaxed by an unflagging wind to the administrative center of Nova Luria. Ivo, shielding his eyes against the glory with one hand, leans against the railing, cloak whipping in the breeze, to admire the construction. Wooden residences give way to edifices built of stone quarried from the cliffs, any cracks or crevices sealed with the same seaglass-like crystal. Despite the utilitarian use of the beautiful material, one building stands out for its adornments: the piratical palace, where the majority of business is conducted and the ruler herself holds court.
 "I've been struck by how... *functional* the design of this city is, but I suppose it wouldn't do," the Cosmopolitan murmurs, "for a pirate queen to be too restrained."

> BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bi6kuj1fp0

 Though it is effectively the city hall of this budding city-state, the palace is worthy of the name. Here the green crystal turns in ornamental spires inlaid with precious metals and gems that dazzle like starbursts, its solid stone foundation anointed with fine carven wood, most strikingly in the vast double doors that stand wide open as though in bold invitation to the foyer. As the party's public transportation comes to a stop in the paved plaza outside, quite neat and tidy compared to the harbor, Ivo steps down, his gaze sweeping the passerby. People here are dressed unusually sharply and professionally, standing tall and talking quietly, yet for all their grooming, look just as rough and tough as anyone, indeed, more so.
 "Any ruler that could impose such order must be formidable indeed," Ivo remarks, glancing at Roseline as though curious at her reaction before looking to Tulip with a smile. "Ready for your audience? You didn't have *too* much fun at Sir Gale's, I hope."
 He managed to keep his head on his shoulders, if only to process how much he learned that evening, and to make sure that the Tempestquell stays in his possession, to the best of his ability. But composed though he might be, Ivo is unprepared for what he sees when he strides through those double doors into the foyer, beyond which lies the audience room they seek.
 "...I say 'order,' but..."
 The grand chamber is well-appointed, just as fine as the exterior, and bedecked with tapestries and magnificent works doubtless come by honestly, and the bureaucrats' desks are fine and sturdy... which seems to make them all the more effective a bludgeon as one desk worker, yelling something about submitting the wrong form, picks hers up and flattens a hapless pirate with it. No one else seems to blink an eye, if only because they're all caught up in their own... disputes.
 "...well... the... ship does run on time."
 Ivo, staring blankly at the whirlwind of chaos before them, realizing what pirate administration really entails, weakly tries to put a positive spin on things.

• Character: Laineth
• 2 weeks, 1 day ago

  This is all old news to Roseline, who doesn't bat an eye at the architecture as they ride their way up to the palace plaza. She meets Ivo's glance with a quirk of the brow, then follows his gaze as it lands on Tulip. Audience, huh...?

  Sigh. Well, this was going to happen one way or another. May as well get it over with. And so, past the beautiful edifice crafted from gemstone, they make their way inside.... to a much more chaotic scene. Bureaucrats and pirates squabbling, some outright brawling, papers flying, which poor interns are scattering to gather back up in the whirlwind of....passion, shall we say.

  Roseline is completely unfazed by the activity going on past the calm exterior of the palace. With her arms crossed, she proceeds further in, ducking a thrown book, sidestepping a brawl in progress. They can hear some shouting about 'Do you know how much repairs cost!?' 'You submitted the wrong form, you fool!' 'This is the last time! The deadline is today!' ...and other such fun things.

  Business as usual wrangling a nation of pirates.

  Past the chaotic government affairs chambers, Roseline leads them up some stairs onto another level, where the cacophony of shouting and brawling fades. There are guards posted up here. Burly men with varying amount of scarring. Whose forms tell many a tale. Posted along key points. Their eyes light up when they see the redhead, offering greetings of 'Hey there, little lady!', and other such things.

  They arrive at what appears to be what counts as the throne room, and the guards let them through with no fuss. Roseline sighs as she steps in. "Mom... I'm back. And I brought some.... guests." She states, looking across the room towards a figure sitting on an emerald green and gold throne. An older woman with long.... loooooong red hair, fastened into a braid. Striking green eyes, unlike Roseline's golden ones, and a figure that.... well.... let's just say Roseline wasn't joking when she said to imagine her, but more..... well, you know.

  (Reference: https://imgur.com/a/eOQnCFG )

  Thh woman sitting on the throne smiles a sweet, calm smile as she observes her daughter and her companions entering the audience chamber. ....It really is so quiet in here. It's like a different world compared to downstairs.

  "Well, well. You finally returned home, my little rosebud. Welcome back." Her gaze languidly slides over to Ivo and Tulip. "And hello, new friends." She straightens up her posture and settles her hands into her lap. "Now... I take it you have some news for me?" She asks Roseline, who is currently looking.... a bit embarrased about the nickname. "...Yes. I do."

• Character: Tulip
• 2 weeks, 1 day ago

  Tulip follows along with just a little sway in her step as her footing falters every now and then. "Huuuuh? Oh nah, I'm totally fine, honest! I only had a couple, it's not like I'm a lightweight or anything!" Tulip replies with a vague wave of her hand. Somehow, against all narrative reason, she manages not to stumble as she says it.

  "Sounds like this lady is pretty important, right? Maybe it's like this because they're all afraid of her! Say, what's going on here anyway? Oh...wow! That lady's pretty strong!" she chirps merrily at the sight of an unfortunate pirate being walloped.

  She doesn't seem very worried about the poor guy.

  "Hey, Rosie! D'you ever have to do that kinda thing? I bet you'd be really...huh?" she yammers on before a turn of her head reveals that her interest in goings on here have her being left behind! "Hey...hey! WAIT UP!" At least she catches up quickly enough, even if she does have to stabilize herself against a wall along the way.

  Once she's in the throne room with the others she flashes a wide smile at the bethroned woman, her hand rising up above her head to offer a cheerful wave. "Oh, hi Rosie's mom! I'm Tulip! I met your daughter when she got into a fight!" she announces without a care in the world. "Wow, I was right! You are super pretty! I bet it's pretty rough on all those guys when their boss looks like you, right? Especially since you've got such a great pair of-"

  It is at this point that somebody might want to put their hand over her mouth.

• Character: Ivo Galvan
• 2 weeks, 1 day ago

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>=19.
Comment: Resist cartoon-wolfing so as to preempt Tulip/notice nickname (Difficulty Rating: Impossible)
Roll(s): 2. Total result is 2. This is a failure (by 17).

• Character: Ivo Galvan
• 2 weeks, 1 day ago

 As Ivo hesitantly follows Roseline up the stairs, gingerly maneuvering around the ongoing dust-cloud of one particular bureaucratic brawl, he glances worriedly over his shoulder after Tulip, evidently concerned that she will promptly hurl herself into one of said dust-clouds and potentially disappear for days on end. Yet the bunnykin has attained enlightenment, or some equivalent, and regards all about her with blissful equanimity as she follows along.
 "Doubtless she is mighty indeed," he agrees, watching Tulip now less with wariness and more with curiosity, appraising this new side of her, "considering Roseline's own talents and the crystalline conjurations that suffuse the city. Why, she might rival the Sorceress Potentate of Cosmpolis, at least in that domain. And given the character of pirates--"
 He nods back to the foyer, glancing back down the stairs as they begin to approach the throne, only gradually looking back to see who awaits them.
 "--how else but fear could one r--"
 Silence. Reverent, awestruck silence. That is what emerges from Ivo and also what falls upon him, all sound suppressed save an internal angelic chorus. He does not hear Roseline's nickname, alas. He does not even hear Tulip chattering on. He is busy, you see, ascending to a higher plane as the queen smiles upon him.
 *shhooomph*
 That is the sound, akin to a vacuum tube, as Ivo veritably frame-cancels into kneeling gallantly, his cloak whipping out dramatically from the motion before settling down. He has already procured Tempestquell from its hidden pocket, now displayed in his upraised hand, his head lowered as though unable to gaze upon the queen's glory, or perhaps to hide the expression on his face.
 "Your Majesty," he breathes, "your humble servant, Ivo Galvan, Knight Errant of Cosmopolis, is honored to approach. I come bearing tribute that may be of aid: the ancient relic Tempestquell, salvaged from the coastal waters of the Isle of Blessed Winds."
 So much for his motivation to hang on to the relic. Also, if Tulip is still talking, he's just cross-talking over her, as though on autopilot.
 "Should you deem me worthy of the quest, I shall vow to unlock its secrets so that it may serve you, if only you would grant me the slightest favor..."
 He's just going to go on like this. Well, unless Iris makes the subtlest gesture to silence him, in which case he'll shut up immediately. Or tells him to bark like a dog, in which case he'd probably do that.

• Character: Laineth
• 2 weeks, 1 day ago

  ....A lot of things happen all at once, and Roseline, who was prepared to introduce Ivo and Tulip, and explain what happened on the way here before getting to the Tempestquell.... well, all those plans, all that carefully curated dialogue is thrown out the window, glass shattered and all.

  .....So much for that. But on the other hand.... is this guy serious? He was all cagey and careful about the Tempestquell this whole time, but the moment he gets one look at her mom, he does a complete 180? ....Or well, a 90 anyway.

  Part of her is almost insulted.

  Almost.

  ...Roseline sighs and valiantly manages to avoid facepalming when Ivo launches into his spiel, offering the Tempestquell to Iris. ....But for Tulip, she *does* facepalm. Too late to stop that from coming out of her mouth. Maybe it wasn't a great idea to let her get drunk? ....But it could also be the lesser of two evils. She probably would have wound up mixing it up downstairs if she were sober.... hm.

  Meanwhile, Iris quirks a brow at Ivo and Tulip, an amused smile on her face. ...The guards in the chamber subtly nod, as if agreeing with whatever assessment Ivo had come to. They know. They all know.

  "Ahahahahaha...." Iris laughs at Tulip. Yes. She knows. They all know. It's not big secret. In fact, it's definitely no secret with how much cleavage she, ahem. "Oh my... you're quite the comedian, little bunny..." She says, her laugh tapering off as she glances at Ivo, somehow catching what he's saying still.

  "Oh? Cosmopolis, you say? That nation that only recently came out of seclusion? How intriguing." She had sent contacts there to scope out the recently opened nation and see what they could learn... which was a lot. But more than that... This man has the very artifact that they were lowkey scrambling to find. Well, her people her anyway. Those in the know at least." Iris slightly raises a hand, index finger extended, and makes a beckoning motion. The response, a little wind current forms around the offered Tempestquell, lifting it into the air and floating it over to herself.

  Once close enough, she takes hold of it, gazing at it, turning it over in one hand. ...She can feel wind aether coursing through it.... but the inner workings are a mystery. "Unlock its mysteries, will you?" The older woman smiles sweetly as she lets go of the artifact and floats the gem back over to Ivo for him to take. "Very well, Ivo Galvan. I will entrust the efforts to unlock this artifacts secrets to you. Do be a dear and share with us when you finish, yes?" Her green eyes narrow slightly. Not in a threatening way, but more....hm. "And should you find yourself successful, perhaps a reward would be in order."

  A reward? ....What kind of reward?

  Who knows.

  Roseline lets out a little sigh.... this is going well. Almost too well.

  Which is why when she thinks that, Iris glances at her. "By the way, my little rosebud.... what happened to your ship?" She asks, with a sweet, knowing little smile.

  Roseline freezes.

  Shit.

• Character: Tulip
• 2 weeks, 1 day ago

  "..boobs!" the bunnykin manages to finish, grinning widely as though she's somehow proud of herself for waltzing right into the throneroom and talking about the ruler's chest. Tulip certainly does seem more agreeable with a little alcohol in her system. Ordinarily she would absolutely have joined in on the brawling downstairs, but thus far she seems to have been pleased enough to just watch the fighting from the sidelines. More like a cheerleader, than a participant. Speaking of cheerleading...

  "Huh.. I thought you were keeping that thing under wraps for now, until you scoped things out?" Tulip declares from behind Ivo, leaning over to peer at the artifact he's offering up. The addition of the bunnykin peeking over from behind him does rather work to undercut the reverence of Ivo's gesture. "Ohhh.. I get it! Hey, Rosie! I think Ivo's totally got a crush on your mom! You better look out, or he's gonna work his way up to be your new dad!" she chatters on as she wanders around Ivo in a circle.. nodding at him. Like she's encouraging him on.

  Then the topic veers over to Roseline's ship. Or rather the lack it.

  "Ah! A spooky lady blasted with some magic. Blew the mast right off! We had to ditch it and run. Hey, d'you think there was much treasure left on it? It would really suck if they got a bunch of your booty, right? Wait.. wouldn't it be more like they're taking their stuff back? You guys totally stole a bunch of it from them, right?"

  She sounds so pleased with herself for her explanation. Does she think she's somehow helping, by telling Iris what happened so bluntly? That there's no need to soften the blow, or rephrase things to make the party look good?

  Maybe it would have been better if Ivo and Roseline had just pushed her into the fighting. At least it would have kept her distracted.

• Character: Ivo Galvan
• 2 weeks, 1 day ago

 Ivo prides himself on his diplomacy and foresight. He may not attend grand councils or command great armies, but he has managed numerous social interactions that involve Reize and Priel simultaneously without anything exploding, and that is no mean feat. In a scenario like this, he would be the first to find delightful little ways to divert Tulip, interjecting to remark, for example, on how fortunate the pirates are to have such an impressive pair... of ladies, mother and daughter, commanding them.
 "Yes... my Queen!"
 None of that matters now. He doesn't even register what Tulip is saying as she veritably prances about him, like the manifestation of the spirit that must have blessed him so as to bring him into Iris's presence. The Tempestquell floating over to the ruler's elegant hand is like his heart, freely offered and tenderly cradled, returned to him forever marked by her touch. His head raises at last to receive it and his eyes are shining, cheeks flushed, utterly entranced.
 "For you, I shall not fail!"

> Ivo has acquired the status effect Queen's Favor.
> For the duration of the "In Search of the Keepers" Main Quest, Ivo receives an enduring buff to all checks relevant to fulfilling his mission.

 "My friends!"
 As though overcome with enthusiasm, Ivo rises and turns with a sweep of his cloak, nearly entangling Tulip in its hem as she circles him, not seeming to have heard any of her chatter whatsoever.
 "We must make haste and seek our quarry! Beastkeeper or Catgirl Mafia affiliate, they shall not escape our valiant pursuit! Our destiny awaits!"
 And what destiny, exactly, is that?

> Ivo has been struck with inspiration!
> He has begun development of the Queen's Raiments Schematic.

 Don't worry about it.
 "The SaGa shall serve Nova Luria as I do," he declares. "With our vessel's swiftness and Sir Gale's guidance, we shall succeed forthright!"
 Is Ivo trying to exhort everyone to just go run off and start adventuring immediately? Is he that motivated to become Roseline's new dad? ...Is he actually being nice and giving her an out so that she doesn't have to talk about what happened to her ship?
 Those eyes suggest he thinks of nothing but the Queen's Favor.

• Character: Laineth
• 2 weeks, 1 day ago

  Tulip going on about Ivo trying to become Roseline's dad, and having a crush on the queen makes the woman laugh again. "Ahaha, please! You have such amusing ideas!" Really, they are amusing. But she doesn't comment about whether or not this is possible in the first place. But more than that....

  TULIP! NO!

  TULIP YOU'RE BLOWING ROSELINE'S COVER!

  TULIIIIIIIIIP!

  Roseline momentarily sees a vision of herself desperately screaming this from the window of a carriage, going entirely unheard.

  After escaping reality for a moment, Roseline returns, her complexion paler than before. "........Y-Yes.... what she said. ...We docked at a port in Oradia when.... an incident took place." She explains carefully, nervously. "But then we were framed! The shadowguard came out of nowhere and blew up our ship! We were scapegoats!"

  Iris eyes her daughter as she frantically explains the loss of a valuable ship. "Hmmmm....." But her attention is taken by Ivo, who grandiosly proclaims that his ship and himself are in service to her and that he will unlock the mysteries of this artifact with all due haste. Iris smiles in an entertained manner, a hand half covering her mouth. "Is that so? How admirable. In that case, I leave this matter to you." She glances at Roseline. "Be a dear and accompany them, won't you? As for that ship... Well, we can figure that out later." She says with a mysteriously sweet yet ominous smile.

  Roseline doesn't need to be told twice. Taking this out being given to her by both Ivo unintentionally, and her mom for her own amusement, she nods. "Yes mom! We'll get right on it!" She grabs Tulip by the arm before she can spout off any more ridiculous things. She grabs Ivo with her other arm, and drags them both out. "Let's go! Time's wasting! Come on!"

  Iris waves in a cheery manner as they depart out of sight.

• Character: Tulip
• 2 weeks, 1 day ago

  "Scapegoats? But aren't you guys pirates? So they weren't after you cuz of that, it was something else?" Tulip manages to get out just before Roseline manages to snatch her up, the short girl bravely managing to mostly keep her footing before she's dragged away. She does have to lean against Roseline for support, in the end. "Eh? Are we heading off already? But we only just got here! We barely got any time to talk to your mom at all, and Ivo needs way more time to get his-" Tulip starts to say as she's lead away along with Ivo, whatever it was she was saying trailing off until it's too quiet for Iris to hear. Probably.