"Precisely. Now, would you care to join me for dinner? My butler prepares a fantastic roast, you won't be disappointed. After that, we'll find outfits for you to wear..."
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Tanic asks.
"Torn and cracked leather jackets don't quite qualify as formal diplomatic wear, I'm afraid. Neither do skin-tight tunics."
"I am sure I can find you something agreeable," Geful says, "to you, especially. Now, come..."
As promised, the dinner that Geful's butler prepares is extravagant and delicious; it makes the restaurant on Taris seem tasteless by comparison. Afterward, Geful gives a tour of the manor and shows you to your rooms.
"You should be comfortable," Geful says. "My butler is on-call if you need anything. Have your pick of the wardrobes' contents, if you please. Tomorrow will be a big day..."
Well, as soon as she's alone in her room, Rianna is going to first check everything out thoroughly, looking for any cameras or other security devices. She's also going to sense if anything feels out of place.
Then I suppose she'll see if she can find something in the wardrobe that she wouldn't be completely uncomfortable and embarrassed wearing.
Ehh, Rianna's mildly paranoid at times. This is one of them.
And after going through everything, she'll settle on an outfit that consists of a long-sleeved tight-fitting tunic and pants that are dark red, with a looser-fit sleeveless dress over it in black and dark purple. Rianna is hoping that it's nice enough to pass as formal diplomatic clothing, that it won't be ridiculous, and that she can move in it as easily as she's used to 😛
(I just can't make the mental picture of her in a dress go away, so...we're going with it. Haha.)
"I suppose I haven't any choice but to be," Rianna says, deciding to take a seat and help herself to some breakfast as well.
"A little more information could be helpful, though...just what is it they are going to be trying to negotiate? And who else will be there, besides Rand and Gallador? I mean, what sorts of people are going to be here? I'd like to know what we could possible have to face."
Lord Geful and Tanic's Ally, Slate, will serve as the Empire of Pity's representatives, with you two as 'Advisors'. Any other Pity employees will be purely for intimidation; Slate's gunmen, Geful's butler, and then whatever goons Geful managed to draw in.
On the Mecrossan side, Rand and Gallador are serving as attaches to Sir Oskar Calthell, one of the Order's most prominent members.
"You won't like him," Tanic says pointedly to you.
As with the Empire, anyone else will be Mecrossan hitmen.
"There is much to negotiate," Geful says. "All that you need to know is that I cannot let them have the Staff, and you will stop them if they... manipulate me somehow, with their powers. I want to draw this out and delay them until you catch them slipping up."
"You just won't," Tanic says.
"I hope you are right," Geful says. "I believe I have a strong will and stronger mind, but who knows how it would fair against the power of the Force?"
Geful's butler, in his fine suit and neatly waxed mustache, enters the room with the Lord's rapier and blaster on a pillow. He sets it down by Geful and makes an announcement.
"Our sensors have detected that a Mecrossan vessel has just emerged from hyperspace in our orbit," the butler says.
"They're early," Geful says. "Hmm. Send the men to their posts and send a message to Sarkley. Tell him to have speeders ready for the Mecrossan envoy and that I will triple his bribes if it means he stays silent about our guests."
The butler bows and leaves to perform his tasks.