agogenpc | ROYAL 🍞 SECRET PAGE.

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Sup guys! Here's where we're going to be going over ~secret info~ for the Royal Pain mission.

I was thinking the way we'd run this would be similar to a D&D sort of thing. I give you guys some scenarios. You tell me what your characters would do. If I think it's particularly difficult or risky, we'll do a skill check, but that'll probably be rare (unless you want to TRY for something particularly unlikely and REQUEST a skill check). I'll tell you what information your characters find, and they can relate it to the rest of the game as you wish. Sound good?

FIRST OFF all your guys' names will be absolutely impossible to pronounce for French people... except for you, John Neige. For Daenerys, it might be a good idea to just go as Dany, since the name Danielle exists, though it's very rare at this time in France. Ashitaka... well, people will probably assume Ashitaka is at least partially Chinese, so you can really do whatever. Basically: if you want to come up with names for your personas, lmk! Or if you wanna handwave it, that's cool too!

ALSO for the benefit of transparency, once this mission is over, we'll be making the post public so players can see everything that went down behind the scenes!

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Dany will choose Danielle for her alias if she's given a heads up about her name being weird beforehand (details you take for granted, otherwise).

As for her interactions with the queen, she's likely to be awkward initially since instinct would have her behave like the overconfident snot she is, and she would be trying to keep that in check. She doesn't carry herself meekly either. I imagine both things would make her seem a little off and would contribute to her making it by, by a narrow margin?

With regards to her hair and eyes, she'll avoid answering those sorts of questions the first time around, offering to do something for the queen instead. If it's mentioned again, I'm sure she'd spin some crazy tale about Valyria, making it sound more like a fanciful story than anything real. And she'd probably mention powerful warriors who wore their hair in braids, because yeye Dothraki. Also she would be a bit horrified about those hairstyles and the wires and everything else that was used. Unless she saw some way to earn favor, she wouldn't offer to braid the queen's hair just because of the whole connotations with Dothraki braids and victories.

The comment about how sad people are would interest Dany as well, but unless it comes up further in discussion, she wouldn't broach the topic. As for the queen's family, Dany would definitely try to delve a little deeper into that and get the queen relaxed and talking. She'd ask about who else Marie Antoinette would have in mind for a general. Then, try to use any of that discussion as a bridge to talking about her husband.

Upon mention of a secret, she would definitely press, but not insistently. If she couldn't coax anything from the queen, or if MA got suspicious, then she would back down and commend the queen for being an impressive secret keeper, then comment on how it must be difficult to keep such a thing to herself.

Dany would have gotten the info about an alias in the mission briefing, yeah. Danielle Something-Or-Other, the stragently beautiful peasant woman, would definitely catch Marie's eye, if only because she's an excellent distraction.

Marie is a kind woman with a sunny disposition, but she's not very bright, largely because she was undereducated by her mother and encouraged not to think too hard about things. Fanciful stories would more than distract her, though Marie, a bit of a gab, would probably try to repeat them to other ladies, and possibly call Dany over to tell them the stories herself.

Luckily, Marie has her own royal hairdresser, so Dany doesn't have to deal with her hair, just her bed linens, cleaning and dusting her rooms, and her chamber pot, etc.

The queen isn't a suspicious person, but she would try very hard not to tell. She would mention that telling could be 'very bad', because 'last time' it got them all imprisoned here, in this 'awful place' (the Tuileries palace).

Would Marie's blabbing earn attention of any sort that would help in terms of trying to dig out answers? If Marie is calling Dany over to tell the other ladies stories, Dany would try to press them for gossip in return. Make it seem like innocent jabber, then try to dig around about things that Marie might've hinted at. She'd also make a comment about the strange man milling about, the locksmith, and ask about him in more detail (and why they think he might be acting strangely).

While cleaning and dusting Marie's rooms, would there be anything lying about that Dany would notice? Maybe something pertaining to this secret about her husband or anything that COST would find of interest?

As for the secret, Dany would likely keep pressing, but make it sound like innocent fun by smiling, laughing, doing whatever she can to keep Marie at ease. She'd offer a secret of her own if a trade would interest her grace. It might disarm Marie enough or convince her that she has leverage on Dany, then... so why not share?

(Likely, the secret would be her admitting to flirtations with Jon, since she's likely been caught around with him and has been teased, as well.)

Dany would hear many things from these ladies, many of which are complaints about housekeepers, their children, not leaving France / Paris earlier, comments that their own staff are acting 'oddly' recently as well. Odd like Dany, they say, so much smarter than their usual staff. Many, it turns out, have had recent turnovers of staff, gotten new help, and they all seem to be from outside Paris. How strange!

They agree that the locksmith is acting strangely, he used to be so 'polite' (servile) and now he is very 'rude' (independent) and gruff. He also comes at strange hours, and they're not always sure the King has asked him there, though of course that is always his excuse. But it isn't as though, they say, he could be sneaking past security, they have the best security in paris! So clearly it is just more oddity to do with the general strangeness of Paris in revolt, they are sure.

While cleaning, Dany would find signs of burnt letters, singed envelopes around the fireplace. Someone has been receiving correspondence and then destroying it immediately afterward.

If she really searches, she will find a very strange object at the back of one of the queen's dresser drawers, as though hidden. When Dany touches it, it changes colors, amber and lavender. After putting it down, Dany will notice a small pinprick of blood on one of her fingers.

This is clearly an object not of this time.

Marie will become so distracted by Dany's 'secret' that she will excitedly try to plan out their courtship, and offer to help provide a suitable dowry (for of course they plan to be married!) and ask how they met, and have their parents been informed.

If pushed, she will say she does not have to play fair! She is queen, of course.

But afterward, one of the other queen's servants will whisper to Dany that she should be careful, for the queen's temper can change, even for favorites. She will also say the gossip Dany is hunting isn't even very interesting, it's just something to do with the stupid games of the rich, hidden boxes and secret keys, you know, all that nonsense.

With the ladies, she would ask what leaves them so disgruntled about the housekeepers; are these the very same ones who they find acting strange? If they would prefer to point these individuals out, and if it should please them, Dany would take great pleasure in providing instruction on the best way to tidy up, seeing as the queen has made no complaint of such thus far of her work. No comment about the children, but there would be a bit of a wistful look to her. Surely the locksmith would have no ability to sneak, as they truly do have the best security.

(Dany would be telling the boys about the locksmith ASAP, as well as encouraging Jon to press Marie's children and see what he can find out about the king's secret, seeing as he's keeping them entertained and she's just run into a brick wall.)

As for the burnt letters, would there be any hint to them that might suggest the source in any way? An unburnt corner that has some script on it? Any words still legible? Would Marie be giving her letters of any sort to deliver for her, or would she find envelopes somewhere while cleaning?

The object she finds is obviously magic and cursed, right, because BLOOD. But in all seriousness, the paperweight that changes colors would be carefully tucked back where she found it after she tried to 1) tap on it and see what it did; 2) reach out to the Commander to report her findings on it. No plans on stealing it yet, as they haven't learned much/enough to complete their mission... but if the Commander wants it, she'll be sure to try and yoink it at some point.

She'll act a bit coy/shy when Marie presses about the secret at first, but she'll eventually spin a tale about how he traveled through her village, rugged and handsome, but frustratingly proud and arrogant as well. He was a strange man who insisted there were bandits in the forests surrounding their villages, and he'd arrived to request her family's aid, both in defeating them, and in tending to his injuries. Did the queen ever notice the scar along his brow? She'd tended to that personally. (and after noticing the blood on her finger from the paperweight--assuming it's not hers--she would make a comment about being skilled at bandaging injuries, should her grace ever find need of someone to be discreet.)

Dany would back down and not press any further, but instead ask Marie about weddings. Was hers everything she'd ever hoped for? Would she have any suggestions if their courtship were to reach that point? She's not sure of how to go about this, you see, for her parents were killed by those very same bandits. She thinks they would approve of ~~Jon Snow-garyen~~ him.

The servant who approaches her is definitely going to be questioned about what sort of games for the rich, for surely there are many... hidden boxes and secret keys sound like no game she's heard of before. It's her first time in court, and she's heard so many stories about royalty that she's so curious to learn more.

The ladies tell Dany that their housekeepers are strange and from foreign lands like her, maybe she knows of them? They all have strange stories, and it's as though some of them are barely even French. Not, of course, that there's anything wrong with that! Awkward laughter. The ladies all say Dany is free to beat some sense into their servants, but it's clear they're joking, and no real appointments are made.

There are several hints that the letters are being written by Marie and Lafayette. There are clearly two other writers, and one might be the king, judging from comparing handwriting styles. The fourth is a mystery.

The Commander informs Dany that she needs to retrieve the item, which she keeps calling an 'egg'. She checks a couple times to confirm that it really got Dany's blood, and now changes colors when she touches it. The Commander doesn't sound happy about it, but it's Dany's now. She's warned not to touch it with bare skin again unless she wants to lose more blood, but it might be a good idea to keep it on her person and make sure it isn't lost, stolen, or broken. As time goes on, it will start to grow.

The queen eats up Dany's story, and makes some comments of her own. She was never supposed to be queen, it was her older sisters, they were trained for it. She was the youngest, she was supposed to stay home... but she thinks she's done her best. She doesn't entirely sound convinced.

The servant, who we'll name Jeanne-Anne, is very jaded and not particularly fond of royalty. She says they're probably hiding a godemiché (protip, don't google that at work) or something similarly stupid like that while Paris rips itself apart. But as she tells her story, it becomes clear that the nobility's preoccupation with hiding things in specially locked boxes, hidden treasures and special keys, is a pretty common preoccupation of the rich. It's no wonder, she says, that locksmith keeps hanging around like a jackal. He's probably getting paid ridiculously well.

Awkward laughter all around. Ladies, please.

Is there anything of note about the fourth's handwriting? Any clues which might suggest that this person is either of Earth, or may be aligned with the Regency?

As for the egg, Dany will be asking a lot of questions:
- Why call it an egg, and will something grow from within it if that's the case?
- How did it steal her blood, and why does it change colors?
- What would happen were it to steal more of her blood?
- Will it change colors if she picks it up with a piece of fabric, or with gloves on?
- What happens if it breaks or if someone tries to steal it from her? Would it draw their blood or do anything to harm them?
- How soon will she notice it's beginning to grow/would that begin while she is still working with the queen?

Her primary concern would be if this is some sort of blood magic and if there is an immediate threat to her or anyone else she might be with at the time. And also if this is a Regency item, which she would of course assume since it doesn't seem like it's of this world and the Commander's not too happy about her touching it. (Also, what's she supposed to do if someone finds out it's missing?)

The queen's words would earn a softer look from Dany, and a gentle squeeze of the hand as she says that so long as Marie is attempting what's best for she and her people, she's done all she could. Sometimes rulers must do terrible things for the greater good. She'd have also mentioned that she's the youngest as well, with two elder brothers who also died in the attack.

LMAO thanks so much for the warning about the godemiché.

She's going to ask Jeanne-Anne more about these locked boxes, and in particular, the special keys. Are there copies? Has she ever tried stealing one to see what's hidden? And I imagine that Jeanne-Anne will probably get a little suspicious with that question, but Dany will counter with the fact that there's no reason to keep silly toys hidden, and perhaps someone should aid the smallfolk outside by halting the games of royalty.

The person is definitely from Earth, and has a similar hand to other Frenchmen. A handwriting analysis might determine more, or if you want to do some kind of intelligence / luck roll? Because I feel like recognizing the handwriting based on Earth French knowledge might be out of Dany's wheelhouse, but we could always try for some unexpected critical success. Otherwise, we can see if any other characters have any perspectives or knowledge base more pertinent to the time period. Regardless, Dany can probably figure out that Lafayette, the king and the queen are all in secret correspondence, which isn't... a great sign, for a lot of reasons.

The Commander answers in turn:
- Yes, it's a living thing; the egg will eventually hatch.
- It took her blood because it was likely thirsty and dying; it shouldn't need more. It changes colors because it's noticing more sustenance nearby.
- It depends on how much of your blood you need. Infants are greedy.
- It will change colors depending on proximity to her body heat. It will be brighter next to her; it has her blood and likes her now.
- It would likely continue to grow, if someone else took it, but what would hatch from it could be beneficial to COST's cause. If broken, it would die. It's unpredictable in the hands of others, and it could become dangerous. It's good Dany found it when she did.
- It will grow incrementally. It's liable to hatch by the end of this month, when it'll be roughly the size of a can of soup (but, you know, spherical). The Commander will just... send her a picture of a fully grown one about to hatch, figuring out reference bases is a pain with interdimensional travel. IT WILL BE BIGGER THAN ITS CURRENT SIZE.

It's not blood magic, though; that much is clear from the Commander's explanation. And if someone notices it's missing, the Commander says, they're very likely a Regency spy. That item is from another planet entirely.

Jeanne-Anne is... a little shocked by this, honestly, but she likes Dany's spirit. And, Jeanne-Anne supposes, whatever they find could likely be sold at a high price... Jeanne-Anne says she'll look for a key. It's got to be on that locksmith, that's why he's always popping in and out, but first they have to find the box. It must be in the king's apartments somewhere, probably his study... And the king is so stupid, the key must be there as well.

Dany and her boys wouldn't be able to figure it out, so I'll likely make a network post about it! Any particular details I should include with the post?

Commander, you didn't tell her what is going to hatch! But now that she knows she's got an egg... gosh, well back into mother-mode she goes. It's almost like having a dragon again. As long as there is no immediate threat if she allows it a little more of her blood, things will be peachy. She'll be sure to protect the egg and keep it hidden from anyone else, especially if it's not a Regency device.

Whatever they find certainly could be sold at a high price, she'll tell Jeanne-Anne. But then there will be some insistence that she not risk herself in getting caught. If Jeanne-Anne distracts the locksmith, Dany could search the king's apartments (but really, she'd have the boys involved since she doesn't trust anyone in this world). If she gets caught, it would be more believable if the queen's chambermaid was found.

(do we have to roll for anything to go that route?)

Sure! To those familiar with Earth writing from this period, the handwriting will look strangely modern. The writer may seem to even be attempting unsuccessfully to ape an earlier style, but he(?) can't quite manage it.

The Commander asks that she please not give it any more blood, and pray to whatever gods she holds sacred that it's female. The word she uses to describe the egg (dʒdʒætʃ tʃəw) the BCE has some trouble translating due to a software glitch; it eventually settles on dauphine egg.

Jeanne-Anne supposes that, considering it's Dany's idea, she can manage it, then.

And really, if you guys want to mount a mission to sneak into a part of the castle or whatever, we'll do a simple role to decide success level, and go from there! Nothing too complicated since we already did the Big Roll to get in the palace in the first place. Just let me know your plan; which characters are involved, when are they doing it, etc etc. If you need any more info to make that plan, hmu!

So results from network post so far is people are suspecting that the fourth writer is a Regency member. Dany's made mention to Kate that there are definitely Regency members who seem pretty 'strange' per the nobles of the court., and Achilles is interested in some fighting. She's thinking it would be good for some of their outside sources to tail the possible suspects/Regency members while not risking the trio's cover.

Also, possibility of a roll for the handwriting analysis? I imagine the trouble would be obtaining other handwriting samples. Kate's willing to help her with that if she can get sample writings to compare the scraps to.

Dany wants to know more about the dauphine egg. What is she carrying with her, and why is a female preferable--because of docility? Furious temper? Will it recognize her after it hatches? (be still her heart, is this a possible and temporary dragon replacement lol)

I'm going to assume that since Dany made mention of her plan with Jeanne-Anne that Ashitaka discovery falls into line with this point! She is aware of the mystery key as well.

Also, wow, wedding in one month!?

Okay, so you guys need lists of suspects? Or you have a plan of attack for trailing folks? I'm thinking it might be time to de-privatize this entry in that case :I regardless, lmk your plans and I'll do some rolls! It's all good.

The Commander sighs and tells her the Sargent will be in contact with her over her concerns; he's more knowledgeable on this subject (AKA watch ur inbox bb).

Some people are betrothed from birth, Dany, jeez!

Handwriting analysis roll, please! She's going to have Kate on the line while looking things over and would report anything to the Commander that looked fishy.

I haven't spoken to anyone much about tailing those suspicious folks (because I've literally been fail this week, thank you holidays), so I think a list of suspects would be best. I can definitely approach the others in game and/or make a thread re: tailing people for anyone interested :>

(smears self all over inbox <3)

Also about that key Ashi yoinked: Dany is going to throughly shove it into any lock inside Marie's room to see if she has better luck vs the boys and the king's space.

And gosh, she totally gets the betrothal by birth and was ready to marry an Aegon, okay... >8[

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