Bomilcar had taken a bit of time to write out his own observations in a report to be handed out to the others. It would be easier on him to not need to vocally go into detail.

So now he waited with other auditors to speak with the count.

The auditors would be called to the Count's study. Apart from a large bloodwood desk and a few glowglobes, there was little in the way of furniture. The Count himself was seated behind his large desk, seeming relatively unimposing, and not making it up with any posturing, actually leaning back and smiling ironically in a way that might be considered charming on any other face than the weasel-like of his. In the end, his cold, small eyes always betrayed him for who he was to others: a poison in sleep, a knife in the dark.

To his left, there stood his wife, in a Bene Gesserit aba robe that didn't succeed in thwarting her irresistible sexual magnetism, framed in a poise and pose that signalled being beyond reach to anyone but the worthiest of the worthy. Her gaze was that of studied kindness, empathy, readiness to glean into the souls of those before her and nurse them out of their malaise... The maiden, the mother, the whore, and the crone in one person, sewing the paradoxes intrinsic to such a union in a way that felt seamless.

To his right, there stood a Sardaukar officer some of them might have remembered from the party. His epaulettes indicated a Caid. For Reyyan, it was her direct superior: Tyekanik, a noukker - Sardaukar in a line of one of the distaff branches of House Corrino, long time removed but ever loyal. His disposition was that of calm, subdued violence; he observed the auditors with utmost neutrality - their fate was that of exact ambivalence to him, his own concerns narrowed to a path that ignored their existence beyond the role the Padishah Emperor had ascribed to them.

"Mwmm-ah-ah." The Count murmured, skimming through Bom's report with astonishing speed, waiting for others to speak.

Cuyler watched quietly and presented a report of her own.observations when the time came. It was thinner than most of the others.

After Bomilcar and Cuyler had presented their reports, Dorian stepped forward. Offering a bow to the Count, he hands over his own report, compiled, organized and annotated by Edwell. "Count Fenring, in addition to the findings in the report, I would like to bring something else to your attention. Thanks to a recent discovery by Mr. Bomilcar, we have found that the Guild Bank was likely behind the attack on Mr. Santini and me. This is reinforced by the fact that Mr. Abad Nejhre attempted to cast doubt on the sponsors of the audit, which would of course include the emperor, may he rule forever, questioning their intentions. It is possible the Guild is in league with House Harkonnen. Mr. Santini also observed a large quantity of spice being loaded directly into a hauler at the Carthag spaceport rather than being sent to the respective buyers by spice shuttle."

OOC: The report is all the points I brought up in the Pre Briefing thread. Possible clarity on the offwolders depending on the thread with Rima.

Gene was there, just mostly observing. What she had to say about what has occurred was rather limited at best. A good opportunity to get caught up with what everyone had been doing, as well.

"Mhm... Guild... ah?" Fenring continued skimming. His nail stopped at something in Dorian's report and passed the document to his wife, who took it and read with a bit more attention. "It's in league with no-one but... uh... itself. The spice must... hmmm... flow."

He raised his gaze. "Your findings seem to suggest what my... hmm-ah-mmm... own mentat has computed, that... ah... there is an unaccounted stream of melange and hence, an... ummm... a processing centre from which it must... uh-oh... be originating. A lot of what you have reported suggests that... uhm... Harkonnen are behaving as themselves, with full awareness that their misbehaviour is passable as long as they.... hmmm... produce."

He tapped his fingers at the blood vein beneath the surface of his desk. "Without finding this facility, you will fail, ah-ah? And even if you do, and there is not enough proof that Harkonnen operate it, the onus can still be... mwhmmm-uh... put on a third party when deliberations reach the Landsraad."

The Count sighed. "You must understand that the Emperor's attention is... mmm... ever moving across his Empire. As his Spice Minister I am very concerned about all the... ah... possible malfeasance but the Emperor's concerns are often... hmmm... much greater. Harkonnen transgressions must be proven... uhm-mmhm... to be truly egregious and blatant to bring back his attention to... mmm... your efforts. He is now preoccupied with the matter of... ah... so-called Noble Commonwealth. Let me make you aware.... ah... how much. Caid?" He turned to Tyekanik.

Tyekanik nodded.

"The Padishah Emperor has concluded based on evidence presented to him that the leadership of House Verdun has been in league with the terrorist and traitor Jaxson Aru. Colonel Bashar Jopati Kolona led the Sardaukar to enact the Emperor's will and brought upon his wrath on the planet Dross. As a result, House Verdun is no more, all its members killed, all its assets confiscated, its holdings considered for future re-attribution. As we speak, another Sardaukar investigations are ongoing across the galaxy. Every house found to be in league with the traitors shall be unmade."

"Ah-ah. So you see." Fenring added with some manufactured solemnity.

Bomilcar listened. This was the way of politics. He'd do what he could but he was never cut out for this.

Still, even for him a destruction of a House Major on short notice was unprecedented. House Moritani had been traitorous for decades before it was finally put to account. Verduns were enemies of more than a few other Houses, Thorvalds among them, but the ruthlessness with which Shaddam acted on the matter made skin crawl. There was a suggestion that there may be more punitive exterminations like that in near future. Who was next?

[All: Understand 2 to discern Fenring's intention behind these reveals.]

If there was something to glean, it went over the quiet bodyguards head.

D7 FMS, Understand+Truth, TN 10, Difficulty 2: 2#1d20 6 13
1 success, failed

Cuyler mentaly reviewed what she knew, while considering what she had just heard.

- - -
[D7 FMS] Progress Report, Understand (6), Truth (8), Difficulty 2, Deductive Reasoning: 2#1d20 6 17

It was clear that Fenring wanted them to succeed, but he couldn't guarantee that their final report would get proper traction unless the evidence was not only quite incontrovertible, but also tied to the Emperor's chief concern of payback for Otorio. How real was the possibility that the Harkonnen were involved with those rogue elements?

On the other hand, the prize was now named: the CHOAM directorship vacated by the obliteration of House Verdun.

The nuance was a bit lost on Dorian as to why the Sardaukar Caid was referred to and the Emperor's other responsibilities were brought up. He must have been distracted by all the throat clearing and humming.
-----
FMS7, Read Between The Ahm-Mhms, Understand 4 + Faith 6, TN10: 2#1d20 19 10
Failed 1 success vs 2 difficulty

"We may need to shift our focus a bit, then." Cuyler frowned. "We've connected a number of dots, but there are dots we weren't looking at."

Reyyan was there, butstayed silent. She had no report for the Count. And certainly Teykanik had the one she'd given him earlier. But with everything happening with the Sardaukar right now and the complications in the situation, she dared not speak up right now. Even if she wished there was some way she could help Bom and Lady Grey right now. ...maybe this is why Sardaukar weren't supposed to make friends with the locals, as they said back on Kaitain.

Now if only the bloody Bene wasn't such a distraction. Now was neither the time nor place, in the extreme really. ...probably part of why the woman was here, come to think of it.

Gene just stood there, listening to them all talk, staring at them, trying to understand what it was they were all missing. Just keeping quiet for now was the best strategy, let the others do the talking, and maybe learn something that they were trying to keep hidden from everyone.

~~
See what's in between (Understand+Truth) (DC 16) Social Awareness Focus Applies (Crit 1-8): 2#1d20 5 14

((3 suxx, +1 Momentum))

Genevieve Wallach wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 22, 2021 5:27 am

Gene just stood there, listening to them all talk, staring at them, trying to understand what it was they were all missing. Just keeping quiet for now was the best strategy, let the others do the talking, and maybe learn something that they were trying to keep hidden from everyone.

~~
See what's in between (Understand+Truth) (DC 16) Social Awareness Focus Applies (Crit 1-8): 2#1d20 5 14

((3 suxx, +1 Momentum))

[So Gene got it, just like Cuyler.]

"So you... ah-ah... met Lord Rabban?" Fenring spoke again. "We haven't seen him... mmmm... in a while."

Progress Report/Read Between Lines, I will learn the truth, Understand/Attention to Detail TN 16/8, Diff 2: 2#1d20 3 20
(2 Succsess 1 Complication)

Reins has been floating near the back of the group watching, and waiting, letting the other Auditors speak first.

<Passive Scrutiny: Examing the layout of the room and how the Count has chosen to welcome his auditors to discern some of the counts intention as well>

"Based on the CHOAM report given to us directly by House Harkonnen someone is deliberately hiding the funds going to this secret facility high in House Harkonnen and their mentat is either complicit or grossly incompetent"

[The Count seems to be encouraging a reality check on the group, reminding them that they cannot escape politics of the Imperium and in addition to factual accounts of spice mining operations they need to take into account how it can play before the Emperor and in the Landsraad. He can sway things a bit himself in the end, but not without being given a proper political bomb by the audit.]

[Complication: Count's special attention]

"Ah-ah, Mr. Reins, have you been aware that Lord Rajiv has been very... mmmm... politically active on Kaitain, building a coalition in the Landsraad against the.. hmmm... Imperial spice surtax? So out of character for his... ah... usual backroom dealing tactics. Such desperation cannot help but raise.. Mh-aaah... suspicions. Those suspicions just might reflect on how... ah.. His Majesty shall receive your conclusions in... uhm... The final report."

There was a warning and a threat there. It was a real possibility that his liege's actions or as the Emperor sees them can u make his diligent work on Arrakis... And him. Certainly the Verduns had some presence on this planet. Claudius could imagine what the Sardaukar are now doing with it.

New Trait: Knows the Dish is Poisoned <Putting Theory into practice>

Reins smiles and nods, "I am sure that my Lord is acting in what he feels is the best interest of his House, and how he can best serve the Emperor. As must we all. Personally I will do everything I can to serve in my present position as efficiently and honestly as I can. "

"Your personal honesty has not been... ah... in question, Mr. Reins." Fenring reassured him. "That admirable quality may not be enough to... umh-ah... divert the Emperor's displeasure though. House Londine exists solely at the Emperor's pleasure, I needn't... ah... remind you." Then his gaze ventured to Bomilcar, either as a commentary on the ephemeral status of House Londine, or as a sign of returning to the Rabban question. Probably both.