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[RETCON: This occurred during the Council of Houses meeting in Chaos, after the election conducted last run, but before the conversation in Suhuy's ways.]
Osric speaks with people in Thelbane about the current situation in Chaos. The former Poisoners and their residue are mentioned.
Jean passes the buck on Pride's Folly, blaming the Gwen cleanup on Neville. The cleanup of Toram's lands is blamed on Cailin. Cailin explains about the cleanup and the dragons.
Jean states that the troops in the place formerly occupied by the white-statue person seem to have an intelligence guiding them.
The compromise or destruction of the Torturers' Guild is mentioned.
Osric polls the room for any remaining missing high-ranking household members. Nobody raises their hand. Cailin points out Random as somebody who might know what was going on. King Osric calls on Random. Random stands, with difficulty. Random doesn't know about any plots against House seconds, but does know about a plot against his family. He believes that it is due to internal power machinations in Amber, and doesn't directly affect Chaos. Princess Chandra is keeping a completely straight face.
Osric asks about the status of the Poisoners' Guild. Princess Chandra stands, and clarifies that there is no longer a Poisoners' Guild.
Toram, Gwen, Poisoner Remnants, Bronelle power, ...
Osric asks about Bronelle power. Jean isn't sure who has studied it. Pharaban gathers more of himself and says that he has studied it somewhat, but doesn't have a handle on it yet.
King Osric makes an official request to investigate the power and come up with a defense and possible counter to it.
King Osric asks about advisers. Everybody at the Guild table looks at Rainbow's empty spot, then looks away. Osric asks, "Where is Rainbow, anyway?" Jean says that Rainbow was unable to attend this meeting due to other commitments, and that REN is currently acting as head of the Dancers' Guild.
Osric asks Cailin to fill him in. Cailin agrees.
Osric asks if Ilkandacian is here. Ilk notices, creates a voder on his chair, and answers. Osric asks if Ilk can give him a briefing on the current situation. Ilk says that he is currently busy with a high-priority task, but would be glad to update Osric once that is done. Ilk agrees to fill Osric in on the general nature of the task after the meeting.
Osric asks Mandor for an update on the general political condition in Chaos. Mandor suggests the Etiquette Guild for an unbiased viewpoint, and Osric states that he is willing to accept all viewpoints, regardless of how biased. People seem to perk up at the thought of a lobby-able King.
People notice that there is a representative of the Torturers' Guild present. Osric asks him for a status update. "Destroyed, Sir." The representative claims to be the only person left, and he was otherwise occupied elsewhere at the time, which is why he survived.
Osric gets annoyed at the lack of forward progress on the current problems.
Neville stands up and mentions that he was informed that Evil Benedict was responsible for the destruction of the Torturers Guild.
Once Neville says "Evil Benedict", Hamster Dworkin stands and claims that "Evil Benedict" was not evil, but just misunderstood.
Jean suggests that some inquiries could be addressed to the Benedict formerly known as Evil.
Osric questions Misunderstood Benedict. M.B. stands, nods to Osric, and begins by stating his regrets for his former actions. At the time, he had been consulting with an individual who had managed to form a means of communications that he was not previously aware could be communicated -- with something dead. Some line soldier, or something. He dispatched them several times, and they kept pulling themselves together and insisting that they were only there to talk. They claimed that Guild building was a vulnerable target with a tactical benefit. M.B. hadn't planned to stage a rescue mission or leave any survivors; his orders must have been subverted en-route. His opposite number apparently altered orders to allow for and possibly assist some of the survivors in their escape. "It is rare for me to be so neatly taken advantage of."
Ilk asks Misunderstood Benedict if that same adviser recommended the attack on House Hendrake. He replies that the undead didn't suggest the attack on House Hendrake.
Osric asks Misunderstood Benedict if he knows anything about the shifter virus. Nope.
Osric asks when this new shifter virus showed up. Neville says that he first spotted it in a shadow where Dara was. It was apparently being tested there, and got into Chaos via Raven.
Osric asks how you can gain the ability to determine when your name is being said. Cailin explains that one can set up a shadow-wide spell to search for ones name, but that it consumes an enormous amount of power.
They discuss the spell hung by the former head of the Mages' Guild. It's probably still in effect. The G-person is probably orders of magnitude higher.
Osric wonders when Raven was repaired. Ilk Logrus-searches for Raven. He's in the Beastmasters' Guild. The person in Raven's form here doesn't have much Pattern - just been dipped in it. He doesn't have a Logrus blade or a no Pattern dagger. Ilk vibrates Osric to give him the news.
Jean asks Snarsht, and uses the "King" trump card to get his attention. Snarsht replies that he hasn't fixed Raven yet. Jean fishes in a formal-looking note and delivers it to Osric with the question and Snarsht's reply.
Ilk can tell that Random has also just been splashed with Pattern, but the Logrus says that it's actually Random. Must be the drugs. Laetatio has the foreign Pattern. Neville has local Pattern, and catches on fire at the probe.
Osric asks Ilk to check out the survivor of the Torturers' Guild. He has Pattern. Ilk notices it. He's using it like Mikail. That gets Ilk's attention.
Ilk asks Cailin to guard against anyone using magic here.
Ilk asks Jean to acquire Verra, as per last week. Jean starts the process.
Ilk looks at Raven some more. The Reality-o-Meter on him is high. He was either born real or made real -- he wasn't something shadow that was upgraded. Ilk checks a bit more thoroughly. The possibility exists that the two have thoroughly hidden powers in addition to what they are exhibiting.
Info is relayed to Osric and echoed into the Realms Lords chamber.
Marial casually gets up and heads towards the Crafters' Guild. She has a casual word with one of Crafters' Guild, and they start to chat.
Jean asks the Etiquette Guild members if these doors lock.
Osric has asked for an Etiquette Guild member to approach to cover the non-vocal conversations.
Ilk echoes into the Realms Lords room asking Marial for advice. Marial moves her weapons in such a way as to generate constructive interference into the room and reply. She's opposed to anything happening in this mob.
Mandor shoots Princess Chandra a funny look. He stands, bows to his king, and states that he believes that most of this business can be dealt with on other grounds in smaller groups. Mandor excuses himself from the room and walks out.
One of the lower house members stands, bows, and asks the King if he can leave. Flora stands, looks around, looks specifically at the lower house member who asked to leave, and rants at him. He is cowed, and sits down. Osric thanks Flora.
Osric asks Ilk asks Marial about who should stay behind. Marial doesn't think that this is a good place to fight.
Ilk is sure that the Hamsterites are all right, but doesn't know any of the other Amberites present well enough to check.
There's a Jean saucer in Thelbane that looks like a Jean on the outside, but doesn't feel like a Jean on the inside. Ilk tries to confirm with Jean, and eventually determines that all of Jean in Thelbane have controls. Ilk indicates that saucer to Marial via the Realms Lord chamber.
Marial doesn't do anything obvious, but Princess Chandra stretches and that Jean falls to the ground, unmoving. The saucer slowly pours into another shape, a leechy-carpet shape. Ilk keeps a few tendrils on the guy as he leaves Thelbane and starts switching shapes while mingling outside, then has a real Jean saucer play Logrus-balloon.
Ilk tells REN about the impostors, including the one trying to impersonate the son of his Guild head. REN has Jean fetch some Dancers.
Osric dismisses the council, and asks a number of people to meet with him later. He remembers that the sphere is on the Fringe with Johnnie.
Ilk watches at the exit for inappropriate Pattern or Logrus signatures.
Cailin suggests that Ilk ask Amaranth to scan for magic. Ilk doesn't feel that he can vibrate her safely. Cailin sends Amaranth a note asking her to scan for magic use in the room and report, under the cover of a wedding-related question. She responds in kind that there is no evidence of magic here.
Pharaban is one of the first people to leave the room. Most people are only aware of a cold chill. Suhuy has his conversation with Pharaban now. The answer is a complex yes. Ilk then fills in Pharaban on the recent information, the impostors, and the timing coincidences with the attempt to implicate him in the attack on Princess Chandra's relations.
Pharaban is also talking to the dragon curled up on top of Thelbane. Cailin notices that they are talking about him -- at least, occasionally they look at him and a chill runs down his spine.
Cailin asks Princess Chandra why a potential candidate for King seems to be taking notice of him. Princess Chandra replies, "Good taste, dear. Good taste."
When Random gets out of Thelbane, he starts puking his guts out.
Ilk doesn't notice any new anomalous Pattern signatures while monitoring the exit.
[Pizza-Gram for locusts!]
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