<blockquote><div><cite>Phantom Servant wrote:</cite>"All included, m'lady. The luxuries of this suite are at your disposal for the next thirty hours, until they disappear."<br/></div></blockquote><br/><br/>"Thank you," Alyssa nods to the attendant. "Your services are much appreciated. Other than laundry, I believe I have everything I need for the time being." As the servant departs with her clothing, she sinks back into the back, finally able to enjoy the privacy and comfort she's missed for the last few weeks.<br/><br/>... or so she'd hoped. Unfortunately, she's interrupted again only moments later.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Jess's Shirt wrote:</cite><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">*CLANK*</span></div></blockquote><br/><br/>Alyssa freezes at the sound of metal striking tile. Through the steam, she can't identify the new intruder, leaving her to guess which of her armored companions might be in search of a bath. Auralia, perhaps, though it would hardly make sense to re-don her armor simply to strip. Maybe Sashi is back from retrieving her friend? It might even be Rihyan, though she doubts the centaur would fit in any ordinary tub. She's about to address the intruder, when a female voice whispers to her instead... the absolute<span style="font-weight: bold">last</span>voice she wanted to hear.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Jess wrote:</cite>"We really struck a gold-mine with this lot, huh? Though I think the angel's onto me...she read my mind. How's the water?"</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Jess's words put Alyssa on edge-<span style="font-style: italic">Gold mine... Onto her? is she planning something against Miss Auralia and her companions? And why is she telling me... oh, no! She thinks</span><span style="font-weight: bold">I'm</span><span style="font-style: italic">her purple-haired friend! What should I do?</span>She forces herself to release her held breath, steadying herself in preparation for a response.<span style="font-style: italic">Alright, first I need to determine if she and her friend really are planning something, then I'll decide how to address the issue. I should be alright, as long as I'm careful... Yes, I'm sure I can do this!</span>The fact that she's able to formulate a plan under pressure, sketchy though it is, does wonders for Alyssa's confidence.<br/><br/>[Alyssa casts<a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/heroism.htm">Heroism</a>using arcane dilettante; no V or S components (this is a<a class="postlink" href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#spellLikeAbilities">spell-like ability</a>)]<br/>[4 inspiration points remaining this encounter]<br/><br/>[Bluff 1d20 (2) + 5 = 7<img alt=":cry:" src="./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif" title="Crying or Very sad"/>]<br/><br/>"The water's wonderful! Won't you come and join me? And tell me what Miss Aur- Ah, I mean, the angel's figured out." Alyssa kicks herself mentally for slipping out of character so quickly. (Not that she knew if she was "in character" to begin with- she's hardly interacted with Soma.) She doubts she even got the voice right... if she's very lucky, the echo of the large bathroom might cover for her, or Jess will be too distracted to notice her mistake.<br/><br/><br/>{Just some compulsive tinkering- no actual content changed.}