Claudia uses her clairvoyance to see Yvonne visiting a good friend...

This is where the game mechanics will begin. One of the most important concepts is the reaction roll - 3d6 are rolled, adding or subtracting appropriate modifiers, to see what impressions two people have on one another and how helpful they will be. Various skills can be used to substitute for this roll if it turns out bad, but the basic one is independent of skill. The most ubiquitous of these modifiers is, of course, from appearance. Neither Claudia or Donna have the "homosexuality" trait (which does not mean they can't be attracted to or seduced by a female, just that it isn't their instinctive orientation). Because Donna is only "attractive" (giving a +1 bonus), this doesn't make a difference, but because Claudia is "beautiful", it means she only applies half of her bonus to Donna (+2 instead of +4). Both Claudia and Donna have cute outfits put together by someone with "fashion sense", giving another +1. Donna has the "pitiable" modifier to her appearance, giving another +3 to those who see her as in need of sympathy. Claudia gains +3 due to her ranks in social status. However, Donna gets a -2 because she caused Claudia damage by lying.

Claudia's reaction roll to Donna: 3d6 +1 attractive +3 pitiable +1 fashion -2 damage: 1, 3, 1 + mods = 5. This is a "bad" reaction. This represents Claudia being utterly exasperated with Donna, seeing her as a burden and impediment, and though Donna is hard to be outright angry with, Claudia will lead her into harms way if given the opportunity. Sorry, Donna! Of course, given Claudia's portfolio and the exact manner of peril she's likely to lead Donna into, Donna might not see the problem.

Donna's reaction roll to Claudia: 3d6 +2 beautiful +1 fashion +3 status: 4, 6, 4 + mods = 20. This is an "excellent" reaction, the highest possible. She is worshipful of Claudia, will always put Claudia's interests ahead of her own, and would probably lay down her life for Claudia if it came to that. She will rationalize anything Claudia does in the most favorable possible way and generally behave as an obsequious fangirl, though it won't stop Donna from occasionally making cute sarcastic comments or needling Claudia, because it is her nature to do so.

Claudia also reacts to Angelo. He is also "beautiful" (with the "impressive" modifier, like all animals, representing the fact that his appeal is non-sexual to humanoids - he is a golden retriever, after all! Who's a good doggie?) This means he gets the full +4. 3d6 + 4 beautiful = 3, 6, 2 + mods = 15. This is a "good" reaction, so Claudia is happy to have him along. Angelo's reaction to Claudia has the same modifiers as for Donna. 4, 4, 1 + mods = 15, also a "good" reaction.

The cutesy blonde nun nodded eagerly and responded in her usual discordant, awkward voice. "Oouuuh, that is something I actually know, CLOWdia! I don't know if I mentioned it before but I already know her! She started coming to our abbey to seek our services in crafting suitably impressive ornaments, and ended up helping us far more than we helped her. She has brought all kinds of rare materials to us, things I have no idea where she got, and even helped us secure some very important, prestigious positions as theological advisors for the major knightly orders. I don't know if I could rightly say I am a close friend of hers, but every time we've met, she's been so very kind!"

Donna touched her index finger to her chin. "Hmm! The most common place that Yvonne liked to hang around when she wasn't visiting anyone in particular was the Fountain of the Holy Maiden, near the city center! It's safe, because there is always a **** of guardians protecting it, but also offers a lot of privacy for a place out in the open, because of the mists surrounding it... they're good for the skin, too! As you know, only unmarried maidens are allowed to enter those mists, and Yvonne loves to lend a sympathetic ear to those who are anxious about their responsibilities."

Pursing her lips, Claudia considered. "Well, that is halfway up the mountainside... a lot of uphill streets to get there, for somewhere you aren't even certain she's to be found. What about Sterling? Do you have any more reliable information about where she might be?"

Looking a bit sheepish, Donna glanced to the side. "Um..." she began. Claudia shook her head and winced. "No, you wouldn't, would you... not if you thought I was her." she said. "I didn't unders-" Donna began but Claudia cut her off with a wave of her hand.

"Jaris forgive me," Claudia whispered to herself, "but traveling around town with this girl is going to be a burden... it'd probably take twice as long..."

"Excuse me, great paladin!" Donna tugged at Claudia's hand - seemingly having no concept of personal space. "Like I said, I am sooo sorry that my sinfully curious eyes were looking at the character sheet for your eyes only - but, remember, the clairvoyance? Maybe you could take a quick peek there that way? I'm afraid my magic won't help... I can cure someone or make them stronger or healthier, but not faster!"

Claudia gave her a bit of a dirty look - why did Donna have to put her on the spot like that? Now she'd look silly if she couldn't perform this divine feat! "O-of course I was already planning on doing that! Just let me gather my focus! It's not easy in a dingy kitchen, you know!"

Donna gave a happy clap and sat down on a nearby barrel daintily, watching with bated breath. Sighing deeply, Claudia squeezed her eyes shut and thought of the holy fountain... and why she needed to see there quickly, for truth and law's sake. As she did, she felt her consciousness waver, and lost all feeling in her arms and legs... it was awkward and draining, but sure enough, when she willed her vision to be transported to the site of the fountain, it was so...

Claudia expends 10 fatigue points and activates clairvoyance. This is a lot, leaving her "tired" and requiring over an hour and a half of rest to fully recover from.

A huge, softly burbling marble fountain dominated the open space, flanked on one side by a solid wall of rock from the mountainside and by a large wall and gate atop a winding path at the other. Angelic female figures were arranged in a ring around the edifice, and a number of benches allowed large numbers to gather here during festivals and coming-of-age rituals for young girls. Right now though, it was nearly empty... save for two figures, one sitting at the edge of the fountain and the other standing there in a cloak. It seemed like they'd just begun speaking.

The one at the fountain was a good example of the... rather more daring choice of clothing that noblewomen were choosing these days, modeled on the fashion choices of women of loose morals... thanks to the importation of marvelous fabrics from the Sultanate, these garments could be very snug fitting indeed. The woman at the fountain had deep bronze skin and dark hair, likely marking her as hailing from that part of the Alliance herself... she had taken off the outer part of her dress, possibly to bathe in the waters, leaving her wearing a tight one-piece swimmer's teddy with gilded frills and a deep slit in the middle that ran from her cleavage down past her navel, with laces holding it tightly together, and the fabric running between her legs leaving little to the imagination for the contours of her 'maidenhood'. The only other thing she wore was a pair of white stockings and matching white gloves, similarly gilded along the edges.

"...I still don't understand what you mean," the dark skinned woman said, her voice a constant throaty purr. "I can keep going on about my travel history, Miss Yvonne, but I think I deserve an explanation from you as to what all these questions are about first."

Then the other figure dramatically shrugged off her cloak - it was good that Claudia was only there mentally and not physically, else the woman would have surely heard her gasp at the sight before her.