Pendar - Session 20.7

51 Merrysest, Sunsday -
Meanwhile, Efta and Maximilian are led inside through a much more traditional route.

Butler: "(At this time, I assume she'd be...)"
"Yes, this way, please."
Maximilian follows, keeping his ears open.
Efta winks at Max discretely.
Maximilian tilts his head as they approach the far end of the wall.
The guards seem to pay little attention to Max and Efta now, as they are led to the second floor.
Efta: "It's certainly... snug."
Maximilian: "(Quite... I wonder where we're being led.)"
The servant opens the door to a small room, looking inside quickly.
Butler: "...No sign of her. Anise, where has the minstrel girl been?"
A quiet voice replies, barely audible, and the man shakes his head in frustration.
Maximilian looks at the man, slightly frightened.
Butler: "Please, if you would be so kind as to wait here, I shall fetch her."
Efta: "Might I ask how long you will be, kind sir?"
Maximilian: "...understood."
Butler: "If you would be willing to return another day, perhaps tomorrow, I can ensure she will be present when you arrive."
Efta: "Ah? I hope your commander is in good condition."
Butler: "...Pardon me, what was that, sir?"
Maximilian: "I don't think it's the commander he's fetching, Efta."
Butler gives Efta a puzzled look, before turning around the hallway.
Efta: "(Psst, Max, have a look in that room there, will you?)"
"(I'll keep an eye on the old man.)"
Maximilian gives Efta a concerned look, and approaches the door.
The room seems to be something of a break room, occupied only by a servant girl busy at some sewing project.
Maximilian: "(Sewing...)"
Maximilian keeps his voice hushed, but still at an audible level.
Maximilian: "E-excuse me... this might sound strange, but could I ask where you get your materials from? I've been looking to invest in a good weaving project, myself."
Servant Girl: "Ah! I... Tammie's shop down past the baker's, but... It's nothing that quality, sir."
Maximilian: "Fair enough, I still may give them a shout. Do you know who the butler was looking for?"
Efta glances back at Max at the other end of the corridor with curiosity.
Servant Girl: "That minstrel girl, Sunny, I think it was."
"Did she do something wrong?"
Maximilian: "Oh, Sani?"
Servant Girl: "Yes, that was it!"
Maximilian: "It was a few days ago, really, nothing big. Really, I need to thank her, but I guess we'll have to make do without."
Servant Girl stares at Max for a moment, then awkwardly returns her attention to sewing.
Maximilian: "Well, don't worry about it. Thanks for the help, miss."
Maximilian turns away, returning to Efta.
Servant Girl: "Er... it's nothing, sir."
Maximilian: "(Huh, fancy that. It sounds like one of my new friends really is regular here.)"
Efta: "(Ah, a friend, you say?)"
Maximilian: "(A minstrel, Sani. Troublesome, but nice enough. Maybe we should ask her more about the castle.)"
Efta glances round the corner, his eyes lighting up in slight surprise.
Efta: "(I don't think that's needed anymo-- Hold up, it's that boy from before!)"
Efta smiles, bowing humbly as the group approach him down the corridor.
The butler returns down the hallway, Sani following behind him looking quite nervous, trying to gently shake free a familiar child clinging to her arm.
Maximilian sidles up, looking to see the commotion.
Maximilian: "Ah, Sani!"
Sani: "Sir Maximilian! What's all this about...?"
"(Skyler, please don't whine so...)"
Butler: "Perhaps we ought to find somewhere more fitting for a discussion?"
Maximilian: "P-Perhaps so."
Efta nods politely at the butler.
The group returns to the first floor, to what appears to be a dining hall.
Efta taps his foot subconsciously, feeling slightly out of place.
Butler: "Very well, sir. What is it you wish to say regarding our minstrel?"
Sani: "I haven't been singing anything rude, I promise!"
Maximilian: "...I'm sure."
Skyler watches Efta curiously, still standing behind Sani and clinging to her sleeve.
Efta smiles at Skyler warmly.
Efta: "Speaking of which, what brings you here, young master Skyler? I presume this is your home?"
Skyler: "Yes, mister."
Maximilian: "So... thinking about the situation more... I was wondering if we should gather a collection or list of what songs and stories are popular here."
Efta: "I could certainly share a few, if needed! A past colleague of mine was... rather obsessed with a certain song, hmmhmm..."
Skyler: "I like the story about the werecats!"
Maximilian smiles at Skyler.
Maximilian: "I've been working on a poem about a cursed crypt, myself."
Skyler: "May I hear it? Please?"
Butler: "...Young lord Skyler, don't you feel that your father would want you to be at your studies?"
Efta: "I'm sure a few minutes can't hurt, sir! Listen to the poor boy's plea!"
Butler: "...If you wish, sir. Thank you for your patience."
Sani rolls her eyes.
Maximilian: "Hmm, alright, then."
Maximilian removes a small diary from his pocket, and flicks through to a certain page.
Maximilian: "Fair Brightshire, how rich of earth!
...but crypts below, the wizard Pemmat cursed."
"A fair hero emerges, and steps within.
...but deeper inside, it's all too dim."
Maximilian pauses to gather breath, and let it sink in.
Maximilian: "She presses on, undeterred.
'I'll slay that man, I gave my word!'"
"With countless rats, wicked ghosts...
...and exploding ghouls from their hosts..."
Maximilian looks around as he says the last line, getting invested in his poem.
Skyler watches Max with wide eyes, grinning.
Maximilian: "Too soon, she is trapped! Cold, and alone.
...no-one did come, all hiding at home."
"A brave hero's defeat; all in vain.
Who is responsible for her untold pain?"
"The eager youth, more guts than wit?
Or the village leaders, who left her alone to it?"
Maximilian: "Adventure alone, one must not.
...especially not where bodies rot."
Maximilian clears his throat, and sets the book down, having finished.
Sani: "Huh, that's pretty glum. It's a lot better than I expected, but you people love your tragedies, huh?"
Butler: "Sani, mind your tongue for once!"
Efta pats Max on the back in approval, despite Sani's complaint.
Maximilian lets out a sigh of relief.
Efta: "Well I thought it was excellent. An accurate account at that, too!"
Maximilian: "We've seen far too many of those of late. At least they make good lessons."
Skyler grins more widely, detaching himself from Sani to sit down between Max and Efta.
Skyler: "I like it, sir knight!"
Maximilian: "I'm happy to hear that, though I wish the story were not true. It's disgraceful that the villagers just up and left."
Maximilian massages his skull, trying to de-stress at the thought.
Butler: "...Well then, that was very entertaining, sir. Your business with Sani, though?"
Maximilian: "Uhm, right. Gathering a consensus of what's popular here. ...maybe getting the group involved with retelling some old tales."
Sani: "I already know what's popular here, and if you know something I don't, go ahead and tell me."
Maximilian: "Well, then..."
Maximilian elbows Efta.
Efta: "Miss Sani, as a professional performer... you could say I know the tricks of the trade."
"Bringing back the old can be... how to say... revitalising!"
Sani: "Yeah, sure, go on."
Efta: "Well, might I ask you to reconsider Sir Max here's suggestion?" [Diplomacy: 16]
Maximilian looks at Sani with pleading, pathetic eyes.
Sani: "...Guess it can't hurt."
The two continue the conversation for a short while, before excusing themselves to return to the group.