Scaurus dines at the Alvstad Estate.

["Amit J. Sabnis" <ajsabnis@stanford.edu>]

A brief RP log dealing with CHOAM matters.  Enjoy. =]


PERS:
        Light seems to be pulled from afar onto this imposing figure,
turning him into a series of crisp outlines and edges, crowning his brightly
blonde hair with a straw halo. The creases on his face surrounding gray and
green eyes, the marks of age and the merciless Alvsgaard air, add to his
stately presence.

        Despite his commanding air, Pers appears to be a shade under six
feet -- less than tall, particularly by Alvst standards. While not in a
uniform at the moment, he appears to nonetheless be sporting formal wear.
His slacks are of a dull gray, but are impeccibly tailored to his form,
revealing the whipcord-like muscles of a life-long mariner. His shirt is the
same gray as his pants, but over it he wears a sleeveless tunic of vibrant
sapphire, fastening down his torso with four oversized buttons and closing
at his neck in a stiff nehru collar. Hanging from his shoulders is, of
course, the ever-present high-collared cape of an Alvsgaardi Nobleman.


SCAURUS:

A calculating and cold glare just about sums up the nature of Charles
Scaurus, the Managing Director of CHOAM and Imperial Treasurer. His eyes are
blue within blue and little white remains as the watery pools of spice
addiction shine like beacons in the night. His hair is a jet black, sleeked
back to show an often creasing forehead and plucked black eyebrows. He seems
to be of a medium height, perhaps 6' or a little shorter, but is certainly
not a tall man. His skin, even though it is fairly obvious he is not the
youngest of men, remains unblemished and very few wrinkles can be seen other
than on his forehead.

The Treasurer dons a tight fitting white tunic, which is covered by a black
robe, flowing to the floor in various drapes. The robe has gold edging,
particularly around the collar, and large sleeves which cover his hands
during most occasions. A symbol of his CHOAM office hangs around his neck,
and a Corrino lion is visible on the collar of his robe. The red feather of
House Scaurus is also visible, and the general feel of the attire is quite
Byzantine in nature.

Charles Scaurus carries himself with an air of pride and often disdain for
others. He is coveted in importance and arrogance, and his face seldom
wavers from the proud, rather daunting look he gives.

=========================Begin log.=========================

Mushtamal -- Alvstad Estate (Kaitain)

        A large mushtamal, or garden courtyard, occupies the area between
the southeast and southwest wings of the Alvstad Estate. This garden,
however, contains only the sparest of plant life; instead, it resembles,
more than anything, a Zensufi rock garden. Large bluish rocks sit atop a
well-tended bed of dark sand, groomed into an intricate design by tiny
rakes. In the center of the mushtamal, a large circular pond ripples
peacefully. In the center of the pond, a large blue statue of a mermaid
gazes across the square toward a small blue statue of a seabird, which, in
turn, stares transfixed at the mermaid. Small, hardy plants poke out of both
the sand and the water, and tiny exotic fish dart across the pond. A wide,
circular stone path surrounds the garden and serves as a traffic loop, and
three orinthopter pads about the garden on the south, southeast, and
southwest sides.

Exits:
 Heavy Double Doors <N> leads to Grand Balcony -- Alvstad Estate (Kaitain)

Over your communicator's secure frequency, a man's voice says, "Message from
ornithopter 3276, bound for Alvstad Estate, requesting clearance, "Count
Charles Winston Scaurus to visit the Siridar-Viscount Pers Alvstad.""

A Corrino Ornithopter spirals out of the sky and touches down.

With arms crossed across his chest, Pers waits outside the Corrino
ornithopter with a small honor guard of three men behind him. His expression
is composed in a standard almost-frown, its usual resting position, as he
waits for the Treasurer to disembark.

Descending as if from the heavens, Scaurus exits the Ornithopter with a
gentle flutter of his robe. Two Imperial Guards also exit the vehicle,
taking up position on either side of it. Scaurus himself moves straight
toward the Viscount, face stoic.

Pers greets Scaurus with a curt nod that might have been a bow; difficult to
tell, really. But when two people of such reserve meet, does it really
matter? "Good evening, Lord Treasurer. Welcome to the Estate of House
Alvstad on Kaitain."

Scaurus inclines his head politely toward the Viscount, and certainly
mincing words means little to this man, "Lord Viscount. You're well this
evening, I hope?" he questions, raspily, and with a twitch of his brows.

Pers nods crisply. "Well indeed, my Lord, and pleased to see that you could
join me on this occasion. A small repast has been prepared; would you care
to step inside?"

Scaurus clasps his hands, and indeed sleeves, together and nods toward Pers,
following wherever the Viscount may take him, "I am most obliged to honour
our humble CHOAM Directors with as much time as they wish." Clearly the man
doesn't place himself on too high a platform.

Pers acknowledges this with only the slightest of incredulous looks settling
on his brow before turning about and walking inside, his feet hitting the
pavement in a characteristic clop-clop sound. He moves oddly gracefully in
his peculiar Alvsgaardi attire, although the whalefur cape must be quite
warm right now.

You walk through the Heavy Double Doors.

Grand Balcony -- Alvstad Estate (Kaitain)(#153RtJ)
The grand balcony of the Alvstad Estate is a wide, ring-shaped band that
overlooks an enormous dodecagon-shaped ballroom. Four radially symmetric
staircases lead down to the ballroom, and four corridors lead off to the
different wings of the estate. The balcony is noticeably dark--the walls are
covered in dark cherry and the glowglobes are far apart and set dim. A
twelve-panel circular mural covers the walls; it depicts, in
ink-and-watercolor on silk, the full progression of the Alvst Zodiac.
Exits:
 Heavy Double Doors <S> leads to Mushtamal -- Alvstad Estate (Kaitain)
 Southwest Arch <SW> leads to Squid Corridor -- Alvstad Estate (Kaitain)
 Southeast Arch <SE> leads to Seal Corridor -- Alvstad Estate (Kaitain)
 Northeast Arch <NE> leads to Octopus Corridor -- Alvstad Estate (Kaitain)
 Northwest Arch <NW> leads to Lobster Corridor -- Alvstad Estate (Kaitain)
 Wide Staircase <D> leads to The Dodecagon -- Alvstad Estate (Kaitain)

Scaurus walks in from Mushtamal through the Heavy Double Doors.

You descend the Wide Staircase.

The Dodecagon -- Alvstad Estate (Kaitain)
This is the largest room in the Alvstad Estate: it extends over thousands of
square feet and two stories, with four wide staircases leading up to the
Grand Balcony on the second floor. It is shaped as a regular dodecagon, with
twelve sides of equal length. It is set up as a ballroom; in the center is a
tiled area for dancing or mingling, and twelve tables line the perimeter.
(Or, to be more precise, a single, huge ring-shaped table, cut into twelve
pieces, surrounds the central area.) The tables are made of the same dark
cherry as the walls, and each is etched with an image of an aquatic animal.
These appear to be the same animals as in the zodiac mural upstairs. The
Octopus table, at the north end of the room, is the largest, and one of its
chairs is much larger and more luxurious than the rest; this, apparently, is
the Viscount's chair.
Exits:
 Wide Staircase <U> leads to Grand Balcony -- Alvstad Estate (Kaitain)

Scaurus descends the Wide Staircase.

Pers leads you down the staircase into an enormous and echoing room, dimly
lit by glowglobes few and far between in the gallery above. The floors,
walls, and furnishings all appear to be made out of a darkly stained
hardwood, a true luxury on Alvsgaard, as is the amount of space required to
build a room so large. In fact, the entire Dodecagon is an expression of
wealth that few non-Alvst would understand.

He pauses in front of the Penguin table. "Would you have a seat, Treasurer?"

Scaurus takes several steps into the room and moves toward the Penguin-table
as Pers gestures. The space of the room raises a brow, and most certainly
the Treasurer is able to see some obscure way it shows power and wealth.
Whether he truly understands the meaning is debatable, however.

You sit down at the table.
Scaurus joins you at the table.

As the two men are seated and their guards take up flanking positions, a
small stream of servants emerges from back corridors carrying numerous large
trays. Two porcelain dishes with delicate edging are set down before each
man, along with according silverware and two small bowls. Each is poured a
cup of a steaming hot beverage that smells faintly of herbs.

"I've arranged for an Alvst lunch of appetizers," Pers explains as plate
after plate of different finger foods is arranged. "I hope you find it to
your liking."

Scaurus blinks and almost gawks at the various foods being passed out. Plate
after plate of rather unknown food elements passes by Scaurus, who is
clearly not a conneiseur in these matters. With a sniff he replies,
"Yes...thank you." After a pause, "I never had the time to visit your
predecessor, despite his presence on the Directors Council. I'm quite glad
the time is available for us to..parley."

Pers reaches out with a fork and stabs a quick succession of small dumplings
and some sort of odd looking stewed-greens salad. "Indeed, Lord Treasurer,
indeed. My predecessor was remiss on many a dealing; it is not without cause
that he was placed under House Arrest prior to his death." He pauses to take
a drink of the hot tea-like substance, adding, "I hope the alcohol content
in the saguavid is not objectionible," before doing so and continuing. "In
addition, the recent upset regarding House Helenaeus has given me further
incentive to encourage this long-overdue meeting."

Scaurus reaches for the dumplings, at least one thing he -does- know, and
shakes his head, sipping the saguavid, "Yes, we do need to discuss the
outcome of Helenaeus. I've not had the time to review the files fully due to
my other obligations...would you care to fill me in on the exact details?"
He's liking this man more and more, it seems, and that does say a lot for
the Treasurer. A man of business, one who knows his responsibilities and yet
manages to entertain them in amiable circumstances. But the book is far from
judged by its (however appealing) cover, and the cold face is still
unmoving.

"I am only aware that the House has not been able to cover one of their
payments," Pers answers simply, mouth curved downwards in a faint frown.
"Oddly enough, it would appear to be due to a lack of funds. Which begs the
question of how large said payment was supposed to be. Even the most
dilapidated of Houses can cover standard fees and Imperial taxes." He takes
up his napkin to wipe a bit of dark sauce from the edge of his lip,
meticulous in his dabbing action. "It speaks of either gross mismanagement,
or badly covered tracks."

Scaurus leans back in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose lightly, "I
can see the merit in the Imperial Auditor to conduct such an inquiry. Has
the contract been profitable in the past, or is Heleneaus' mismanagement due
to the recent shift of power within Atreides, do you think?" He slips
another bit of his dumpling in his mouth and tries some of the greens,
finding an odd liking to the food, "I would have to concur that whatever the
case, stupidity surrounds this matter. To not pay the Emperor or CHOAM their
dues gives leave for dire consequences to be taken."

Pers nods, chewing on his salad thoughtfully. "The overdraft may indeed
beget a full investigation...and House Atreides itself is long overdew for
an audit. Their profits have not been notable in any respect over the past
several years, and no data regarding the effects of their
change-in-leadership have reached the Directors as yet." He pauses for a
moment, then furrows his brow. "I believe it would be a wise first step to
examine the back-order of the Heleneaus account. And perhaps even to put a
freeze on any further transactions."

Scaurus purses his lips thoughtfully, and reviews a little bit of a dumpling
as he speaks, "The Atreides have been backward for some time now. It would
not surprise me if it was revealed that their profitability is less than
ever, especially with the change in leadership. I agree to the Heleneaus
prospect. Freeze their accounts and make sure the Guild knows of our
intentions. The Emperor will not be pleased about the loss on his records,
and since the Na-Earl of Heleneaus is the Siridar-Duchess' half-brother,
reflections will be drawn upon her also. A full-inquiry may well be in
order." He slips the dumpling into his mouth, "Give me the necessary time to
inform His Majesty and the Imperial Chancellor. I would suspect that we will
be calling a Director's meeting in due course?"

"As soon as can be arranged," Pers answers quickly. "Although...the latest
communication from House Moritani indicates that we might be faced with an
unwanted delay." He frowns over a piece of boiled fish meat. "There was an
explosion at their Embassy, and given the instability of that House in
recent years, it will no doubt disrupt their affairs quite thoroughly."

Scaurus raises his brows, then sighs, "Were there any casulaties? Suspects?
Aside from the obvious..." Ginaz intented to be finger-pointed in this
instance, despite the amiable nature of the two Houses of late, Scaurus
seems to have his own doubts. Yet another House he has to see, and deal with
their Siridar-Governor of Arrakis and the Spice contract. Best make sure
that the rolling meadows of House Moritani do not come to a sudden stop.

"As is to be expected," Pers says quite calmly while sipping the last of his
saguavid, "No details have been released. That often points to the worst,"
he observes casually. "There are certainly sufficient people to claim the
Moritani throne, as the Countess never bothered to declare an heir. I'm
quite sure that they'll ensure that the spice continues to flow, however..."
The consequences of not doing so hang in the air quite palpably, and Pers
almost seems to take quiet pleasure in this.

Scaurus smirks, a disconcerting smile, much like a wolf, "One does hope so,
for their sakes. A House such as Moritani has had enough difficulty in the
past to fuel the flame of insurgence, distrust and insolence for many years
to come. One hopes the Countess will watch her back carefully..." He takes
another sip of his drink and looks out to the walls of the Dodecagon, and
the decorations within the room itself.

Pers sets down his fork with light cling, wiping his mouth. "It is agreed,
then; I shall contact the other Directors and issue the freeze order
immediately. Explinations can be delivered after the Directorship meeting,
at which we shall meet again, Lord Treasurer." He arches his eyebrows as his
hands fold across his chest. "A pleasure doing business, Lord Scaurus."

Scaurus rises and inclines his head again to Pers, after giving his mouth a
light once over with a serviette, "It is good to know the Directors are led
by such an able businessman, Lord Viscount. Until the Directors meeting..."
He nods, then makes his way out with an escort, seemingly happy as to how
events have piled out. Despite the previous tensions between Corrino and
Alvstad, Scaurus sees a businessman, and that means more to him than the
political trash which is usually cast out by the Siridari.

Scaurus climbs the Wide Staircase.
Scaurus has left.

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