(Was the bloodied servant a sign that Tarr's back? If he's not Pratik might risk trying to snoop around -- very cautiously -- but I have no idea what he'd find if anything lol I'm also down for him to go interact with Roland... or we can skip ahead/to a different character if you're not feeling either of those)
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
(Nope, Tarr will be out all day. He'd probably find valuable stuff in Tarr's room or where Aleth had been staying since they're keeping his luggage for him. In also down for Roland or skipping!)
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
(Ooh good point! Well, if he can get away with it then Pratik would probably attempt Tarr's study. If that's not realistic/you don't feel up to it then he could go discover stuff about Aleth, but not sure if that'd be fun for you since I control both of those characters aha)
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
(He could definitely go in the study. Bedroom is also an option. I'm definitely up for it, as soon as I get to a computer.)
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
(Sounds good! I'll reply with him going snooping and leave it up to you whether study or bedroom would be more interesting)
Pratik did a quick loop around the Keep to be sure that Tarr hadn't returned. Apparently, the bloodied slave hadn't been a direct result of Tarr, even though he was likely endangered because of the bastard.
Which meant it was time to snoop.
He made sure no one was around, then started down the long hallway, trying to decide whether it'd be more advantageous to dig through Tarr's study or bedroom first. And also weigh which one he'd be more likely to get away with without being discovered.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
(Bedroom will have more domestic secrets while study has political, so that might be the way to go since Pratik is spying for Gaius.)
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
(That sounds good! I feel like he’d be more likely to start there anyway because, as you said, he’s spying rather than looking for blackmail haha)
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
The study was twenty feet down the hall, with both doors closed.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik quickly closed the distance, looking around once more as he reached the door nearest where he remembered the desk to be. The hall was empty. He thought through a quick story of what he’d say if someone happened to be in the study, then rapped on the door. He didn’t hear anything so after a moment he stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
The study was much the same as how it had looked when Aleth entered it--many stuffed animals and skins, some weapons, and papers strewn about the desk.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik did a quick scan of the room to ensure that it was empty, for sure for sure. Then he walked over to the window and peeked out, assessing his chances of making it this way if he needed an escape strategy. Always the most important part of a plan.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
The window was on the third floor and the ceilings below were quite high, so it was truly about five stories up. There was a narrow ledge below it, though, and a balcony on the second floor one room over. There was a side door on the left side of the study as well.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik turned and walked over the desk and looked at the papers he could see without having to move anything. For now.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Several were written to the Barrasters and to Loquitur. Others were tax documents and contracts. One, however, had been written to one of Tarr's counts.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik’s eyes locked on it almost instantly. He’d been in this game long enough for his gut to know where to start. He made a mental note of how it was positioned on the table, then picked it up so he could see.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
