Log7th Sea: The Search for Salvation-2012/08/02-Jason-1

Game log for the 2012/08/02 session of 7th Sea: The Search for Salvation, as taken by Jason

4 Octavus, 1668

We're in luck! There's a public ball tonight. It's masquerade ball, and the tailor offers to let us all have masks gratis. THe ball is at the chateau of Hugo Marres, who has recently returned from Vendel and wants to make himself visible in local society. Reginald and Janisse rejoin the party as we pick out our masks.

We buy a dancing manual so that Léon can refresh his memory on how to do that. Reginald finds a tavern and hears that Montague is retreating out of Ussura, which is contrary to l´empereur's wishes. Rumours:

• The Monataigne assault on La Muralla al Ultimo resulted in a defeat for Montaigne and has increased Castillian confidence in General Montoya.

• Nicholas Trague is rumoured to have found a massive cache of drakeneisen under Freiburg, and the other princes have called their bannermen.

• Captain Jeremiah Berik of Avalon has been reported lost at sea.

Reginald spreads rumours of a bunch of adventurers who made the Inquisition seem stupid, a tale which enthralls all who hear it. He names names, so the party gain increased reputation.

Janisse tries to get out of going to the ball, which causes Léon and Felix to lean on her. Nikolai eventually has to tell Felix to chill out. So, we make this ball that much more of a sausage fest.

Many, many people come to this ball, and while not all of them have dressed well, they definitely maintain a standard. We see people getting turned away for dress code violations, but we have no trouble. Today, we set fashion! Unfortunately the combination of blatant hints, subtle clues, and frequent acquaintance ensure that the local nobility know who's who regardles of masks. There's no hedge maze, though, which comes as a bitter disappointment to Nikolai. Marres has spent lavishly to demonstrate his wealth, with gold in great evidence. He's also entertaining a good 150 people tonight.

Benito thinks, just for a moment, that he sees Daria at the party.

Nikola and Felix see someone wearing a dog mask, which would be somewhat appropriate for Jean-Jacque Frémiet d'Bas.

Those who speak the language rapidly realize the level of snide commentary and character assassination that characterize this level of Montaigne society. Léon can't quite wrap his head around it and ends up defending Nikolai from some of the mockery aimed toward him, which in turn makes Léon appear faintly naive. Those who try to speak directly to Nikolai get told that he "does not fish Montaigne." Clearly the Ussuran lacks wit. Someone tries that Montaigne being witty crap on Reginald, but our Avalon friend spikes the ball back in their face so hard that the funny people have to give him some space.

The dancing starts and they call us to the ballroom. Since we didn't bring dates, we don't participate. Since most of us don't dance, we don't mind. They bring people on to the floor roughly in ascending order of status, and the guy who resembles Jean-Jacque Frémiet d'Bas comes out fourth, with a Vodacce courtesan as a dance partner. Nikolai points him out to Léon. Felix suggests a variety of violent ways we might get to Mssr Frémiet d'Bas, but apparently your classier Montaignes don't act that way. Anyway, after about 20 couples have hit the dance floor, they begin peeling off again, in the same order. Over time it's only the most important people dancing, until the master of the house gets a private dance with his woman. The more casual partygoers leave as they finish the dancing, but those with purposes in mind stick around. Our quarry fits into the second category.

Nikolai opines that the local style of dancing sucks and Tibesti dancers could teach them all a lesson. Someone asks him to demonstrate and wowsers! He does!

Léon sidles up to Frémiet, who's leading the pro-l'empereur group in a lively discussion of current events. Léon confirms that it really is the man himself, and then asks Jean-Jacque to guess who he is. The older man does not recall him, so Léon mentions that they met in Dionna, and recently. The courtesan claims to find the guessing game very entertaining. With a little pondering, J-J eventually remembers Léon's name. They head over to the buffet, where of course Nikolai is seriously into the buffet. Nikolai, devoid of tact, asks, "So, was it him?" Um, yes, just so. Jean-Jacque asks if Nikolai was at the ball in Vodacce, which of course he was. Nikolai then promptly divulges that Léon has been looking for the older nobleman. Felix goes to keep Nikolai distracted to avoid any further unbecoming discourse.

Jean-Jacque and Léon go to get a drink, even though Frémiet d'Bas already has one. None of us quite notice that they've gotten out of sight of most of the group, but of course Claude always sticks close. They chat about the wine, and about friends.

Nikolai notices that Léon and Jean-Jacque have gone to an isolated place together, and suggests to Felix that they should get an eye on them. Felix agrees and they do so.

Jean-Jacque asks Léon about his experience with Vodacce, and then makes a clumsy segue into people with something to hide. Léon asks how he can contact him, should he identify a traitor and need to find him. Frémiet has a suite in town. They then continue to discuss Léon's travels. Léon asks about Marres, and Jean-Jacques opines that their host is a blowhard but a useful money man.

Benito asks around about Frémiet, and hears that he's a nobody, a fool, a charlatan, l´Empereur's lapdog, a hollow shell trotted around as a show of royal power. Benito decides to get away from this lunatic who spouts such things and find someone more discreet. Unfortunately he finds Reginald instead.

Reginald's in a fine mood and seems to be having a good time. Benito explains his concerns about the loudmouth.

Benito and Felix observe footmen setting up a large (people as pieces - scale) chess board. One of them tries to recruit them for some chessboard-related activity, and Nikolai goes along with him, while Felix refuses. He puts Nikolai in the corner of the board, making him a rook. They fill out the other 31 pieces with other servants, looking for appropriate attire, and the players mount raised chairs at either end of the board. They have helpers to move the human pieces around.

Frémiet asks Léon whether he thinks of home when travelling. Léon assures him that no son of Montaigne could go a night away from home without thinking of the hills of his homeland. Frémiet compliments him on his poetic soul and gives him the address of his suite.

Benito keeps asking about Frémiet and hears that "people are hoping things turn around for him." He explains that being close to l´Empereur, Frémiet has a certain value, but has not found anyone of importance in years. He's also thought to be involved in rooting out spies, which means that getting on his bad side could be dangerous.

Reginald asks the same sort of questions but doesn't get much.

Claude approaches his master and asks what transpired. Léon fills him in, then expresses concern that Frémiet might recognize Claude, forcing Léon to rely on other people for protection and assistance when around Frémiet. Claude no likey!

Nikolai, in his chess piece capacity, has to capture a spot from a "knight" with a swordsman's pin and many decorations. The other piece decides to handle the matter with good grace. In the next move, a woman in a priest's costume walks up to Nikolai, as if to capture him and take his space. Unfortunately Nikolai's crazy. He starts to grab the woman, hoping to pick her up and throw her over his shoulder. He carries her off the board, puts her down, walks back to his place, and gives his player two thumbs up. This causes some consternation. Luckily the woman takes the whole affair with some grace, and Nikolai has done no violence, so this doesn't have to be a thing. The butlers try to explain to Nikolai that he has to go. Felix decides to call out in Vodacce and explain to Nikolai that he's ruining everything. Sure enough, Nikolai reverses his woman-handling operations and gives the board square to the conquering piece.

Felix tries to explain chess to Nikolai. Nikolai tries to explain war to Felix. Fight! Eventually someone asks them to take the argument elsewhere.

Benito gets caught up into a conversation about the war in Castille, and hears that l´Empereur has sent a Porté messenger to make the commander of the failed assault explain his foolishness.

Léon goes looking for a noble he can mooch from. In this subtle form of begging, he develops a level of charm previously unknown to him. Entertain the visiting noble with the fascinatingly ridiculous servants? Absolutely! How soon? Nicolas Crepaux d'Toille would be only too delighted to be our hosts.

Reginald leaves early and on his own to avoid being associated with our gaggle of fools. Léon does catch up with him before he leaves and lets him know where we'll be staying.