#odyssey

They move towards the very room that once held Zara. Baroness Rathbone was cleaned and dressed, and then storms about "Let me out of here"

Zara trails in August's shadow, as if she simply belongs there. Ink-black eyes narrow at the Balor. Softplum may Kenn, certainly. But so can Zara - alert and watchful as a spider, lest Rathbone try anything.

(Perception plus kenning roll if you like)

/roll 4

/roll 7

The constant dictum telling her not to use arts holds her magic in check. She seems to be lush with glamour though so that is best or else she could cast quite strongly. She has no treasures or chimerical items beyond her voile, as the Duke's men are not trusting a balor.

"I have served my time or the geas would not be gone, I demand my liberty" The Balor says

"Good day, Baroness." August begins "I am Baron August Truthbranch, and I represent the interests of Dursta Darespark. She stands accused of serious crimes in this Duchy of White Trillium, Kingdom of Northern Ice. Are you willing to answer questions regarding any connection you might have to nocker Darespark and in connected matters?"

For a moment her eyes glaze then "Oh, yes" She puts on a smile "poor poor Darespark. I tried to warn her about her actions going too far. Such a generous lass."

Zara glares

"Do I know you?" The Baroness looks at Zara "you seem familiar somehow" She tilts her head "Oh.. would you be one of Paler's brood? Survived the purge did you?"

"I am Zara." She folds her arms.

"I never bothered to memorize them all, I must admit. If you are one of his brood, then my.. sympathies for the loss of your kin. I never understood Paler, a bit of an oddity, but blood is thicker than water, especially among we Balor eh?" She smiles beautifully under her good eye and the other under an eyepatch.

"Indeed."

"Baroness," Softplum says "You still haven't answered Baron Truthbranch's question."

"Haven't I? Oh... well, one may always ASK me anything" she shrugs gracefully

OOC is the room furnished?

(Yes, has a bed, a chair, and a desk)

"Would you care to be seated?" he asks the Baroness politely.

She takes a seat "Of course, now poor Darespark, I do hope they go gently on her for her crimes. No one could stop her at the time, Da'an knows I could not"

"Mmm." August says non-committally. "Will you allow Miss Softplum to perform an examination? I don't believe she will need to put her hands on you....?" he includes Softplum in the question.

Softplum assures him "No need fort such, no."

"Very well"The Balor says with a smile, tapping her fingers , perhaps nervously.

Zara keeps an unblinking watch on Rathbone.

Then Rathbone WINCES

And Zara can tell, she tried to overide the dictum chamber

The tiniest of smirks.

"Unfortunately I can't use my own omens and the like in here " Softplum admits

"But," She says "The young woman has plenty of glamour herself, and it is fueld, I can tell, largely by the Dream Dances "

"oh, those were pressed on me" The Balor assures "Those poor people. I fear Darespark went quite mad. "

"Let Da'an speak, then. Of Rathbone and Darespark. Of how Darespark became mad."

"Goodfae Softplum, if you would bear witness to the casting as well?" Zara pulls out a cloth-wrapped deck of cards.

"You can't cast in here" The Baroness looks alarmed

"Mm." She lays out the silk and shuffles.

"I'll be happy to assist in that" Intrigued , the boggan kens during this intently

Indeed, as a Soothsayer herself, the boggan could well recognize the delicate web of an omen being spun as Zara lays out the tarot cards.

"The past is a path to the present, tracing a leaf on the stream as it rides the current..."

Rathbone winces again

August stands back to let the experts work, and takes careful notes.

The pale sluagh sets the final card in place, setting off the cantrip.

And the cantrip flows. Softplum cannot cast, but she can AID.. and this makes it even easier

And Zara sees it, images of growing noses, of forked tongues, of fog being spewed

The Balor is LYING

And strings, strings upon a puppet... and she is the puppeteer

A soft tsk. "Ah, Rathbone. Da'an does not lie, and you are seen."

"You used that girl, seduced her, and bespelled her" Softplum scowls

Rathbone lunges for the window, a drop that is sure to kill her even if she somehow breaks through

Zara watches the Balor scramble for the same window she, herself, had faced a week ago.