The First Meeting (Part three)

JP with Redsword, Lorem, LucianNepreen, Jaxx, Omni, LaserSexPanther, Zeeke and Cindy

Paris
Elizabeth Ellington’s Estate
About 7 PM

"First things first. While many of you are aware of why you are here, there is someone who is not. Mr. Vor’Aster. I have here..." from the small pouch the woman carried a ring box. "A ring similar to one everyone in this room, except you, is wearing. Before you decide to accept this ring I will tell you what I can. We all belong to an organization - order if you will. What we do is highly secretive. We work under orders of the Queen Victoria and with the blessings of all the crowns of Europe. My father, Duke Ellington, is currently the leader of the order and he has tasked me with putting together and running the team composed of all those assembled in this room. I chose you as a possible member not for your skills as an Araunda but also I have the feeling you might have more knowledge than you lead on to earlier today. " Elizabeth walked towards Vor, opened the ring box and as promised there was a ring identical to one everyone else in the room had on. "If you choose to accept the ring, you become a member of the order and this team. Or you can leave. Until you decide one way or the other I cannot continue with the meeting. So, do you accept?" Elizabeth stood there hoping her instincts had been right, as she waited on his decision.

Vor was taken aback by the situation, not only being singled out, but also being inducted into some sort of hidden order?

His sensibilities were telling him to politely decline, to leave and forget what just happened. There was a part of him however, that saw a truth in the Eldren’s eyes and whispered the stories he was told at his mother’s side. It stirred a lust for adventure in him and he found his artistic spirit driving his actions.
Lady Ellington, I believe I do accept.“

"With this ring you, like the others here, are sworn to secrecy." The Eldren handed him the ring box. "You may put it on and wear it always. If it does not fit, please let me know, I can fix that." There clearly had not been time to size it but she thought the ring she chose would fit him.

While a bit roomy, the ring fit onto his right ring finger. He didn’t think much of the secrecy, having been rather secluded to begin with.

“Thank you for this opportunity, I trust this means the information you spoke of before can now be divulged?”

"Welcome, then to the Order of The Moon." Elizabeth nodded to his question. "Yes, I will get to all of that in a moment. I need to say first, all of you will be staying here in my home. It is now your home. When you get a chance feel free to explore it, very few rooms on the first floor are off limits but if a door is locked assume it is. And please stay out of the kitchen when Greta is working. She hates to have people underfoot. The servants can get you anything you need." With that out of the way. "That brings us to our first assignment. Dr. Lemaire. Just to make sure everyone is filled in - let me start with. Dr. Lemaire over a year ago stole a formula. This formula has the potential to transform people. As far as we are aware it transform them, mostly, into versions which are bigger and stronger than they once were. Or it kills them. Even if the formula works the effects are, from what we know, temporary and then possibly kills the subject. " Elizabeth did not pause, she went right into the next part. "Dr. Lamaire has been spotted in Paris. Apparently, he is selling the potion to the general public though it is a mystery as to why. Word has it he scouts the Exposition looking for customers then sells it to them in back alleys." This time she did pause to take a sip of tea. "Yesterday, at the Exposition at the exhibit The History of Habitation a theft of a rare Araundan artifact took place. The Visage of Nimue was stolen. I saw the doctor Lemaire there watching the robbery take place. I attempted to go after him but there were far too many people in my way and he seemingly vanished into the crowd. I suspected he was behind the robbery. Mr. Sung had caught and questioned one of the thieves. Upon this questioning the thief did reveal my suspensions were valid." Elizabeth then looked at Vor.

With the deluge of information given to him, Vor had to collect his thoughts before answering. Even then, he sounded confused.

“In children stories maybe. The Visages are powerful in the sense that they are some of my people’s most ancient pieces of history, scattered between those we have and what has been taken, sold, or bargained for since their creation. If a madman has taken to stealing them, then my only worry is just how deranged the individual is.”

Elizabeth nodded. "Dr. Lemaire unfortunately is quite deranged. He was kicked out of the science and technology guild and originally on the run for doing inhumane experiments on French and British citizens, even before he had the formula." Elizabeth knew there was nothing in that statement to ease anyone's concerns but she needed to be direct. "The higher ups in the Order also believe selling the formula to the general public is not Dr. Lemaire's end game. That he has something bigger in mind - though it is unclear what that is." Next Elizabeth went to Dr. Jackal. "I am going to turn the floor over to Dr. Jackal to tell you more about the formula, but before he begins -I want to say this. Everyone makes mistakes in life. I ask we do not judge each other based on those mistakes. Dr. Jackal created the original formula and took it himself with an added element that Dr. Lemaire likely and fortunately does not seem to have access to. Dr. Jackal is here because he knows more about this formula than anyone else in the world. Also, second chances are a grace my father and I are in the position of granting." Elizabeth turned to the man. "Dr. Jackal if you please..." The Eldren then sat down and lent the floor to the doctor.