2021.04.15 A Spear in the Deep 3.3

Recap

LAST TIME! ON PRIVATEER!

Court was in full swing. The revelation of the Seward Acts caused a stir among several groups that the Privateers could exploit. For Conn, seated with the Nobles, he learned of the Baron Lenidd keeping tabs on Goggen, to which Conn traded him information - earning an ally in the Court as he gave the Baron information regarding Ronnie's death and the suspicions regarding the Seward Acts. Yraltien, however, remained obfuscated to the Privateers. Erin eavesdropped on the Prince, learning that Yraltien knew ahead of time of the proclamation of the Seward Acts, but lost any other information with the arrival of Wick - trying his best to infatuate the Prince to get information. A tactic that failed to provide fruit, the Ailil showing his House's historic ego by humilitation. Clover managed to deduce the compassion of the Baron during Recess - the Baron getting bombarded by the Menehune who were outraged at the proclamation of any and all within the Pacific, up to Guam, must swear fealty to Concordia. While the Baron attempted to placate the crowd, Cicada robbed the Baron of his confidence, forcing the Baron to retire from Court and ultimately causing the departure of the Menehune delegation. Meanwhile, amongst the Commoners, Timand was beginning to zero in on someone through information provided by Jude the Sluagh. After having his patience and wits tested with the Worst Emo Poetry of All Time, Jude slipped that there was one figure Timand should take interest in. Simion, the monkey pooka who had made little to no impact on proceedings thus far. Why? Because the Monkey Pooka seems rather enamoured with Dame Awais, the Fiona Sidhe that is Baron Lennidd's second. Clover tried to pry through the pooka's pooka-ese, and while the pooka spoke madness it was obvious that the Pooka was infatuated with the Sidhe.

However, recess is coming to a close, and with Cicada the only foreign national present, Court would soon be called - and the culprit, escaping into the depths of Hawaii.

Scene

Courtly Sequence - Recess

Conn has stopped eavesdropping at this point, there's only so much you can get away with, even without supernatural powers. Though he does make note of the fact that his keen senses worked and to create a cantrip to hide conversation subjects from people who are empoying the same technique he did.

---

Wick lingers at Conn's side, cheeks still warm from his failed attempt at catching the interest of the Prince. No doubt for the best. His gaze lingers curiously off towards Simeon and Clover, having caught snippets of their conversation. But as Cicada approaches the governer, Wick glanes up at Conn and then back off towards the beginnings of official proceedings. "We don't have much time left, do we..." he murmurs.

---

Timand falls quiet as well as things appear to be wrapping up with the break. His head is still spinning from that poetry reading, so what is a good troll suppose to do? Atempt to find a beverage.

---

With her mind left more confused than anything by the Pooka, Clover gives an awkward little shuffle backwards, then turns so she can retreat back to the safety zone of people she knows! She heads back over to the group and makes her way over to Wick, where she leans over and murmurs, "They don't happen to offer classes in Pooka language at the college, do they?" She grins.

---

From behind her fan Cicada peers towards the scattered party of Privateers in their seats. Finding herself the only Foreign National remaining. She rises to present herself to the count.

---

Erin tried not to laugh and give herself away at something she over heard and then shakes her head looking after Wick as he turns to leave. She waits before she can make her sneaky move back to her seat.

---

Conn continues to try and look nondescript, which for a 7+ foot troll with magically endowed strength isn't easy, but his Scathach training at least makes him not stand out particularly. He nods at Wick, "There's just the matter of Timand's Oath, as best I can tell. Though I've no idea how to help him with that."

---

There is /plenty/ to drink for Timand to guzzle down. Servers provide everything from wine to straight up booze! In mugs! Even Troll Mugs, which a Boggan has to carry with a full hip-wide apparatus to keep the tray above his head the 2 foot tall wooden mugs.

Governor Menehiron returns to his seat but Recess is still in progress. Everyone begins to migrate toward their respective seats while the fervor of Recess continues. With the departure of Baron Lennidd and Awais, Yraltien smirks as he returns to his seat with his fellow retainers - a smug expression as he crosses a leg over the other. Amongst the Commoners, Jude the Sluagh returns to her perch. Nualla remains center stage amongst the Commoners, murmuring amongst each other about the events of Court as they sit back down. Simion, looking around, realizing that Awais has departed, frowns, looks around at everyone and sulks down into his seat - his look pensive. <Last call for actions before Recess ends>.

---

Erin returns to her seat and acts like she's totally been there the entire time.

---

Timand grabs a mug of....something from the bar. No, make that two mugs of something fruity and tropical from the bar with bananas sticking out of it. He wanders around the room, moving slowly in the direction of Simion. Being casual, as much as a troll _can_ be casual, but hey, he's watching the goings on. Sipping his drink. Moving towards Simion with fruit and bananas! And Boozed up fruit and bananas!

---

Cicada Remembers Courtly Protocol	Cicada rolls Int+Remembrance vs 8 for 5 successes!
Cicada deduces Hsien-Pacific relations	Cicada rolls Int+Changeling Lore + 5 for 3 successes!

Hsien/Changeling relations in the Pacific is hard to pin down. Specific to Hawaii? They have no formal relations. Hsien are rarely seen outside of Asia, so the only people who have relations with them are camped around there (what Freeholds exist that far anyway). But there is no formal compact between the Hsien and Concordia.

---

Wick smiles with an empathetic wince as Clover returns to them. "Mm. Yeah... it's hard to follow. Always like a riddle." Then glancing up at Conn, he gives a small nod. "Mm. Me either. But..." He gazes off after Timand as he heads for the monkey pooka. "Maybe he'll have better luck. But... in the meantime..." He hesitates and scans the room in the desperate hope of catching... something.

---

Simion looks up at Timand who comes over with BANANAS! AND BOOZE. "Hey." Simion says, arching a brow. "You must be really hungry, and thirsty. Can you be both?" He asks of Timand, moving over since it seems like Timand is going to sit down nearby.

---

Wick scans the room	Wick rolls Perception+Alertness vs 6 for 3 successes!	WP

Yraltien is smug. Menehiron is oblivious. No nobles of note are acting out of the ordinary. The only person who seems off-put (for some reason) is Simion the Pooka. As if he is expecting something but it hasn't happened yet.

---

Courtly Sequence - Open Court: Foreign Nationals

Menehiron clears his throat, everyone beginning to take their seats with what food and drinkt hey have still on their person. "Moving on, friends." He looks to the empty gathering of where Foreign Nationals sit, now empty save for Cicada. Menehiron is quiet for a moment before he says. "Any guests of the Realm, be welcome to my Court to speak the business you bring to me and mine this day."

The entire court turns to look at Cicada.

---

Wick's gaze lingers off at the Prince. Nothing new there. Nor among any of the other nobles. But as his attention returns to Simion the Pooka, he blinks a bit. Puzzled. He says something rather softly to those near him. And then he drifts off after Timand to deliver a brief whisper. Just in time. Court resumes and he stills.

---

Clover finds her seat and watches after Timand. Bananas. She shoulda known. She gives a narrow-gaze tsk, shakes her head, then grins as she turns her attention upon Cicada.

---

Conn can't do much here but wait on Timand's play and try to shield him from any Courtly bullshit as best as his limited Title allows, he nods at something Wick has to say but doesn't really know how to proceed, leaning in to whisper a reply.

---

Timand plops down near Simion, adopting a rather bored expression on his face. He glances over towards the Pooka and gives a little non committal shrug "Yeah, I guess I am kinda. This stuff is real fruity, a bit too fruity fer me but..." He shrugs "Whatcha gonna do, ya know?" He dips from his mug, then raises the other one in the general direction of Simion, in a casual 'ya want it', sort of gesture.

---

Erin turns to look at Cicada as she leans back as she turns to watch. She tries to keep her ears open to any of the chatter going around them.

---

Simion looks at Timand, giving him an up and down, and then lets out a breath. "Yea-kay." He accepts the offer from Timand. Might as well if it's offered. "It's true. A lot of fruits here in Hawaii. Like coconuts. And cows. and Tukans. Like Fruit Loops." He settles in, looking around, and then back forward.

---

Conn can't help but think aloud "Huh... Maggy might actually have come in handy with this guy, welp someone's gotta watch the boat."

---

Cicada rises from her seat and moves forward more toward the center . She clears her throat and presents herself, straining just a little to remember their titles. "Kamuii Danshaku-Cicada of the Fumetsu no Shakai, Suijen of the Most Noble Ministry of Water for One Thousand Births and One Thousand Deaths, Honored in Yomotsu Hirasaka and Kasuga-taisha, Master of the Water's Great Mysteries presents themselves before the Governor." Once their introduction they bow in the dignified custom common in the courts of the Hsien.

---

Timand does his best to ignore the courtly bullshit, even though Cicada's speech is impressive. He idly picks a fruit bit out of his mug, then glances towards Simone "They ain't got this stuff where I come from...what do yta call this thingy?" He says quietly, holding up a bit of papaya. "This is me first time to th' islands. Nice so far, though ya all seem a bit upset about some new tax or somethin', any idea what thats all about?"

---

Erin can't help but smile over to Timand as he seems to be enjoying the food. She looks around taking the faces of each person just being quiet.. Gah does she ever do anything honestly so quiet and nosy.

---

"Cactus." Simion says with a smile to Timand when he holds up the Papaya. At the question of taxes he shrugs, looking this way and that. Not seeing what interests him, he looks back to Timand. "New Taxes? I don't really use the Atoll, so I don't mind it at all. Others do though. Cuz they go adventuring and stuff." He says. "And Dross is Dross? Hard to come by? So it's supppper expensive?" He is making a guess here.

Menehiron listens to the entire introduction. It is clear to the Privateers, Cicada included, that no one really understands what the hell Cicada is talking about. Hsien, even in the Pacific, are a rare breed this far west. Menehiron, ever the proper Governor, does not miss a beat. "Welcome to Oahu, Danshaku Cicada. Are you visiting these lands, or has the Ministry dispatched you with import?"

---