Bajazet
visit � talking with Mentat Chardin
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_____________________Dune
III Player Data Sheet: Chardin_____________________
Fullname:� Chardin Rikkon Klees������ Faction:�� Ginaz���������������������
Title:���� Master of Assassins�������
Position:� Mentat and Master of Assassins
Address:�� Master Klees�������������
Age:������
55
Background:
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A sterling graduate of the Mentat academy on Kaitain, Chardin spent over
a decade teaching at his alma matter, a full professor at the age of 18, before
continuing on to serve as a thinktank in the Imperial Hegemon, the military
directorate of the Emperor's levies. There he served with great distinction,
orchestrating several victories for the late Emperor Fredhrick, before leaving
voluntarily during the chaos of the reign of Jeon. Services of this mentat
amongst mentats highly bid upon by many a House Major, he chose House Ginaz
during the dying gasps of the Lear regime, and has been instrumental in
maintaining peace and stability in the House's embassy on Kaitain in the
absence of a Siridar-Marquis.
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Your
desc is set to...
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Sisay has a tall and imposing figure, her black curly hair bundled
tightly with a silver hair-pin. Her black eyes express a calm state of mind.
Her pink lips are held tight together as if sealing the many secrets which lie
beyond.
������� She wears a black
combinezon made of light material. A black jacket with red lines on the arms
and back protects her torso and chest. She wears a couple of black war boots.
------
<<Chardin
comes in next day to see what the little brat has to say ... >>
<<This
all happens in a Ginaz Embassy room, designated as ad-hoc prison cell, just for
the little Ginaz :) >>
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A young
lady sits down on the floor with her back leaned against the western wall of
the room. Two Solude guards stand near the door with unexpressive faces. The
young lady murmurs a song while playing with what seems to be a necklace or an
amulet of some sort.
Chardin
enters the chamber, a distinct and quite glaring frown upon the Mentat's
normally so cordial visage. He takes one look at the Solude watchdogs and
orders in a voice full of authority not accustomed to being disobeyed.
"You will withdraw ... now. I must speak with the Lady Ginaz
alone."
Sisay
looks up as she hears the sharp tone, a frightened look on her face which
quickly changes to a hopeful one as she notices her Mentat. Yes, _her_ Mentat
whom she might aswell call uncle. It was he who tutored her on Marcinko and it
is he who made her rattled nerves calm down on Kaitain. A blush appears on the
Lady's face as the guards silently retreat after exchanging astonished looks
but obey the order given. She is aware of her position, still a prisoner in her
own house as she speaks with an embarrased tone: "H..Hello! Master
Chardin!" She stands up with her right hand still clutched on her
mysterious amulet at her chest.
Chardin heaves with a heavy sigh and
takes a long, hard look at his troublesome charge. "M'lady," he
states in a voice grim with discipline, "I understand you have gotten
yourself into trouble ... again."
Sisay sighs as she drops her
hand from her chest, revealing the mysterious amulet: a big bear's claw which
hangs on her neck tied with a plain leather band. Knowing Sisay, she must have
done the 'artwork' herself. She sighs and whispers, eyes down "Yes, but it
is not entirely my fault this time. And the so called punishment is a complete
violation of ... of... of common sense! She freaked out for nothing!" The
last words she exclaims in rage, waving her hand at the room, most probably
refering to the Swordmistress.
Chardin shakes his head sadly and
settles down into a vacant chair some few feet away. "The Lady Renada does
not act without reason. She could be a mentat if she weren't so devoted to
mechanical tinkering. But enough of her, Sisay, I want to know why you acted
like that ... and why you have the hand of a dead animal strapped around your
neck."
Puzzled for a moment, the young girl looks at her
'necklace' and says: "Oh! This?" as she takes it gently into her
hand. "This is the bear's claw I fought with on Marcinko. You know the
story! Two years ago? WHen I ran from home into the forest? I slept in the
woods and the big bear came out? And I fought with it and killed it? This is a
... reminder of that moment which changed my life... or was about to end it...
It was Ulricke's idea I made an amulet out if it. And I wear it in... grim
moments..." her voice fades out. A moment's pause and she continues:
"So, any chance I can say my side of the story?"
Chardin
musters a faint, encouraging smile and nods, relenting, settling back in his
chair with utterly calm and contemplative mien. "You may,
m'lady."
Sisay looks at the other chair posted near the Mentat,
but with a frown she pulls it away and sits herself down on the ground, legs
crossed in front of her, looking upwards at the Master. She really looks like a
nasty brat. When will she grow up? When will she become a real Lady? She
definitely has it in her but she always likes to show this strange and alien
side of her. Sisay says: "Well, I went to the Bajazet embassy, much out of
boredom. The swordmaster Aleikum was so kind as to accomodate me and I brouhgt them
a bottle of vintage Marcinko wine. Some time, after chatting with the Bajazet
master, the Lady Felizia came in, the Sultan's concubine as I learned... "
She interrupts her story as she hears a servant on the corridor. She yells:
"Hey, can anyone get me a tea or something? Or is parching part of the
Solude punishing practice?"
Chardin gestures in order for the
guards to comply, allowing the beverage to be served. He nods encouragingly and
bids, "Continue."
Sisay
thanks the servant and quietly sips the cold tea for a moment. Then she
chuckles and continues. "Yes, and after that concubine mistook me for
Aleikum's mistress or lover or whatever, ew started having a nice chat. All
untill she mentioned about a verbal process or something I didn;t understand
and then she told me about their problems with the Harkonnens." She sighs
deeply, sips from the tea again and continues: "I totally complied with
her about how rude and evil and disgustfull they are. Real beasts! But my
_only_ and single mistake was that I said that there are _some_ Harko's which
might be okay. And I named my friend, Ulricke. No! Don't say it! She _is_ my
friend. So the concubine got mad at me for liking the Harkonnens. Oh, god, how
narrow! I tried to explain that Uli is my friend and as such, this is my
personal oppinion, but generally speaking I agree with her about the
Harkonnens. But she took it as an insult and threw me out." She stops with
a soul-deep sigh.
Chardin mutters something under his breath, though
it is not clear what. "Sisay," he calmly instructs, "You must
understand ... The Bajazet had an entire world of theirs destroyed by the
Harkonnen, every man woman and child put to sword because of their Baron's
thirst for blood. They hate him and all his ilk, as would anyone who suffered
to such a degree. She was referring to the Proces Verbal, a legal charge by
which House Bajazet can be recompensed for the wrongs committed against them
... but only through acquiescence of the Landsraad High Council."
Sisay
nods. "Very nice. I'd even join their quest in destroying Giedi Prime
themselves. But we had a casual talk, nothing official, and I was refering to
one individual which happens to be my friend. I never insulted anyone, God
forgive me if I did. It's not my fault that that ... woman took it personally.
And speaking of which, since when do I have to explain myself in front of a ...
of a... concubine... She's almost a slave!" She frowns.
Huh?� (Type "help" for help.)
Chardin
shakes his head in adamance. "She is no slave, she is the concubine of the
Sultan's own son and present heir, m'lady. A very powerful woman indeed. What
she may have been in the past is now inconsequential."
Sisay
frowns again and mutters: "Doh! And it's not _my_ fault she is
narrow-minded!" She sighs and gulps down all the tea and places the cup
near her on the ground. "If Renada'd let me out of this god-damn room, I'd
go directly to the Sultan, with your aid I'd be picking up a neat present and
appologize to him. He'd understand me." She sounds very sure of
herself.
Chardin asks, quite pointedly, "If the Honored
Concubine didn't understand you, what makes you think the Sultan
shall?"
Sisay looks again puzzled around. "Well, he's ...
umm... he's a Sultan, right? And he's supposed to have more brain than that
concubine to know that I didn't mean it as Felizia understood... And I'd assure
him of my and our good intentions and I'd promise never to talk about the
Harkonnens in Bajazet company again..." She beams her smile, confident of
her flawless thinking... But a mentat surely know better...
Chardin
chuckles in bemusement and shakes his head. "I think not, Sisay.
Regardless of your ... accomodations, I think at least for a while we are going
to have to keep you confined to the embassy, if only to allow this to pass
over. This House has too much riding on the LHC elections to risk a scandal or
matter of discontent arise."
Sisay drops her shoulders, hands
knitted before her as she sits on the carpeted floor. She looks down, her gaze
lost on the carpet's motives. She says in a whisper: "I only ment it
good."
Chardin sadly nods. "I know, but sometimes it is
the best of intentions which brings about the worst of results, m'lady. The
Swordmistress and I probably agree inasmuch as we both likely feel you need
more training and instruction."
Sisay
forwns "I wish no training with the Countess Solude. She acted rudely and
in an unpropper manner. I will obey whatever you say, but _not_ the Countess. I
don;t care of her intentions but I will do exactly nothing nor speak anything
with her in the same room as me untill she apologizes. And returns my father's
guards. They were, in fact _your_ secret service guards, dispatched to my
father, who in turn ordered them to protect me. They are not under the
Countess' command and they did their job." Her glimmering black eyes
sparkle wildly as she talks.
Chardin assures flatly, no rush to jump
to conclusions in that analytical mind of his, "I will speak to your
Father on the matter, m'lady. Until such time as he chooses to address the
situation, however, I will keep an eye on you and ensure that you are not too
greatly distressed."
Sisay sighs. She stands up on her
knees and scurries closer to the Master. She puts an arm on his knee and looks
up to him. She whispers "I trust you, Master. I would give my life if
you'd commanded. But that... rag-tag Countess my uncle brought... she's evil. I
don't know her and I certainly don't trust her." She sighs and looks down
again. "I know I screwd it up again this time, but, please... help me to
redeem myslef... help me in talking with the Sultan, when the time is right and
applogize myself..."
Chardin pats the enthusiastic student's arm
affectionately. "I will do everything I can for you, Sisay. I'll
personally take the matter up with the Sultan or the Concubine Felizia, and we
will smooth this over. It is no immense affront, but we must be careful right
now. We are walking on eggshells until we have that seat on the Landsraad High
Council."
Sisay
mutters: "I understand." She smiles hopefully and says: "Please
find a way to redeem myself. Maybe I can be some assistance ...
somewhere..." Hope lights again on the young Lady's eyes.
Chardin
cracks a broad smile and assures in his most soothing tone, "You will,
Sisay. I promise you. This will all be forgotten soon enough."
Sisay
smiles once again, confident that her Mentat will help her. He is a real
gentleman and a real friend. "So, I suppose I'd have to get acquainted
with the Solude guards, right?"
Chardin
shoots a wan glance towards the doorway and nods. "I fear so. They ...
will be around for a while."
Sisay
frowns and says: "you know, they never behaved... not even when I was...
well... not arrested... But if anyone'll lay a hand on me, he's dead." She
looks the Mentat in the eyes, fingering the claw thoughtfully. Yes, that could
be a formidable weapon if used right, and the brat might just know how to use
it.
Chardin
lifts a finger in paternal, tutorial mien. "Careful, Sisay. I think you
should remember how that temper has put you in troublesome situations in the
past."
Sisay
grins. "No worries, Master. I just need an ace in my hand... just in
case... you know..."
Chardin
shakes his head and assures as he rises, smoothing out his robes fastidiously,
"It will not come to that, m'lady. Trust in your Mentat to see to that
much."
Sisay
beams one of her innocent and sweet smiles. "Of course I trust you. More
than you'll know." She looks at the claw again and says: "I keep it
because it's the only thing that is... known to me." She points at the
room. "I need something of my own in this... cell or
whatever..."
Chardin frowns faintly, thinking on something
though he does not say what. "We will have to see about changing that. I
am of the opinion that you should be allowed to remain within your own
chambers."
Sisay sighs deeply and nods. "That would be
nice... but I don't think cold-heart-countess 'll do that..."
Chardin
flashes a wry wink. "The 'cold-hearted countess' is not as cold-hearted as
you may think, Sisay. I think you may be surprised."
Sisay
raises an eyebrow and mutters: "That'll be the day..." Poor kid... As
soon as someone raises her tone, she thinks the whole world is against
her...
Chardin
sighs, and notes as he walks towards the doorway, "Well it may be today if
I can find the elusive Lady Renada. Trust me, Sisay ... You'll not be here
long."
Sisay
raises up in a smile and runs to the Master happily giving him a quick kiss on
the cheek. She waves and says: "Thank youfor listening ... and ... see you
soon!"
Chardin colours faintly, not used to such abject
affection. He inclines his head dutifully and assures, "As soon as possible,"
before leaving, in rather a great hurry at that.
Chardin
walks to the east and passes through the Plasteel Doors.
Chardin has left.