Just for reference. Look! Maps! does the Vanna White
First and second floor of the tower.
Third floor of the tower.
"That Hermetic name you mention is not recognized by House Verditius, with whom I am affiliated. The smartest bitch I've ever met would have known that."
"HE KNOWS!" she fumes. "Either he knows, or he is a fool! I told him, 'You may have noticed I've started to put on weight,' and his answer? 'I'll cherish you no matter how fat you get.' If you think your blond hair is a disguise, imagine how easily people dismiss Anselm's intellect because he's built like a..." she colors, "Well, like a blacksmith. But his is the most formidable intellect I've ever encountered, and when he plays dumb, that's exactly what it is: an act!"
She looks between Carmen and Esteban for a long moment, and finally seems convinced of the truth of their relationship.
"As for your goods, I don't know anything about any flying carpet. But then, it is my business not to bear recollection of anything I've sold. Just as I won't have any recollection that you and your friends were here." She taps a finger against her temple, thoughtfully. "Now I can tell you that the bow is not, to my knowledge, in the studio or in the museum, but you are welcome to look; I suggest you don't touch anything, however. If you choose to look in his sanctum as well, that is at your own risk."
Vibria's nostrils flare as she hears this...this...vamp try to paint herself as the innocent, betrayed victim, and Bernhard can almost hear her teeth grind as she listens to these lies. (Or at least Vibria believes them to be lies, based on what she knows, believes, and hopes about Vulcanus.)
((Per 0 + Folk Ken 0 + die roll of 4 = 4. Boy, even for a Flambeau, her people skills suck! 
))
((Per 0 + Folk Ken 0 + die roll of 0 (but thankfully not a botch) = 0. So. Yeah. I'm starting to think that the extent of Vibria's people skills are "How flammable are you?"))
((If this were a Warner Brothers cartoon, this would be scene where Vibria's cheeks turn bright red, steam comes shooting out of both ears, and there's the whistling of a teakettle.))
Hmm... Vibria thinks, is she actually being helpful, or is this a trap? My money's on trap.
Vulcanus is of House Flambeau, so whatever the Verdi refuse to recognize is of no consequence. And you are not a maga, so what does it matter to you?
(that picture reminds me of Roberto of Flambeau, Vulcanus looks like Thor
What can I say? Men are stupid, some more so than others. Some can be taught, by the right woman. Like Estaban here. Others, such as Vulcanus, are so socially akward around women and ignorant of feminine mysteries (said mysteries being a euphamism for sex and reproduction) that they can never be taught, only trained. Speaking in riddles like that went right over his head sister. So much so that when you wrote to him that you had a child, he was mad and depressed thinking it belonged to this other magus, Cacaridiculous or whatever his name is.
As a matter of fact, do you happen to have the pen you used for that letter? Is it enchanted? Writes whatever you speak to it? If so, I am interested in where you acquired it from.
Why, you wouldn't be trying to trick us now, would you? Why would you lead us to his sanctum, and why would you imagine I am up to such code breaking trechery? I just came looking for a flying carpet, but I am interested in seeing whatever else you have for sale
What? 
All the Flambeau I have played have excellent people skills
I agree 
(Esteban scowls. He's mostly annoyed that Carmen said chivalry was bullshit, but also annoyed that she said flat-out he's not currently boinking her. In front of Vibria, who (being judged unfairly) is now sure to try to seduce him. Hmm, OK, maybe that's not all bad...)
Esteban says to Gemma, "You can be as smug as you like, but you haven't the faintest clue who you're messing with, and you don't even have the wits to be concerned about that."
(If this is incorrect, it's Ryu who's incorrect-- Gemma has more Code of Hermes than I do.) "There's no violation of the Code for you to enter his sanctum. If he or his defenses kill you, he cannot be prosecuted for your deaths, but you break no laws by merely entering. If you find something that's yours and you recover it, then the law is on your side. As for whether I've tried to trick you," she rolls her eyes, "I've made no misrepresentation about the defenses on Caduceus' sanctum or on his studio, as I've told you both that I have never been in his sanctum and do not know of its protections, and I've warned you not to touch anything in the studio. I will tell you that somewhere beyond that door" she points at the sanctum marker, "Time flows more quickly, as Caduceus has accomplished more work in the six months I have been here than is Hermetically possible. There may be many levels there, as he had gotten lost and nearly starved to death not too long ago, before he found his way back out."
"And there is one more thing I didn't mention in my letter. Caduceus did more than just strip Destiny of its vis... it's... it is only right that the bow be... restored to its original form." (Perception+Folk Ken of 17+ will pick up that this topic makes her very uncomfortable.) "Something Caduceus has no intention of doing, and in time, it will be too late." (Perception+Folk Ken 13+ will notice the note of sadness in her voice at that last sentiment.)
"You're threatening me?" she gapes incredulously at Esteban, and clutches her baby closer to her chest. "Then the reports I'd heard of Esteban of Jerbiton's unflagging honor and nobility were false. We are done here. You may see yourselves out, and for the love I still bear your sodalis, I will give you the space of a diameter before I summon the magi to come and deal with you." She turns and makes for the museum door.
Esteban says to his companions, "So she does know who I am! It was very easy to catch her in that lie. So, take whatever else she said with a grain of salt."
((Per 0 + Folk Ken 0 + die roll of 2 = 2.))
((Also, my first thought was that she meant a tree when she said "original form" (I just woke up). Then I thought "enchanted item"...but that doesn't sound quite right, either. So. Int 1 + Magic Theory 3 + die roll of 0 (but not a botch) = 4. I'm convinced Ludwig was right...this tart has Vibria jinxed. ))
((Per 0 + Folk Ken + die roll of 5 = 5.))
[color=red]"If you truly love him," Vibria says softly, [color=red]"then why have you never bothered to tell him about the child?"
She goes across the threshold (where she is protected by an Aegis that your magi never managed to get themselves invited into). She turns. "Two minutes," she repeats, and closes the door.
Even with Gemma standing in the doorway, Vibria can see TREASURE in the chamber beyond. Old marble statues, vases made of gold, elaborate embroidery, crowns and scepters encrusted with jewels. It's all out, right in the open, on display (not even in a proper pile where one could roll around in it). And this is the mundane collection...
Anyone with a Intelligence + either Bargain or Awareness (it all LOOKS valuable to the naked eye, even if it isn't) check of 6 will give some insight into the enormous wealth of whomever owns this collection. It would not be any stretch of the imagination that, when summoned, the owner could be here with some pretty major firepower in very short order, to protect a collection like this.
((Int 1 + Bargain (Treasure) 5 + die roll of 4 = 10))
Vibria stands, staring at the treasure trove for a moment, drooling, before she finally says, [color=red]"I want to live here." She wipes the drool from her chin as she turns to her sodales.
[color=red]"Well...let's get to looting," she says as she goes to the door to (presumably) the studio where Vulcanus's pater's bow should be. She looks over it quickly, then looks to the others. [color=red]"Does anybody care what shape the door winds up in?"
Oy vey.
Carmen started to get an uneasy feeling when Esteban abandoned diplomacy. But when Vibria suggests burning down the door, alarm bells go off in her head. She knows in her gut that they need to exercise some restraint and a little diplomacy if they want to get what they need and still get out alive.
Vibria sees the look on Carmen's face, then grins. [color=red]"Joke. Give me some credit. I know better than to burn down a door without knowing what kind of defenses are on it. So. Who's good at figuring out whether this thing is warded?"
So, are your characters going to make any preparations before the cavalry show up and start shooting? Like, say, trying to prevent that happening in the first place?
Yes. Carmen shall try diplomacy.
pounds on door
Wait! Come back! I want to help you and your child! Come with us to Andorra and let me help reunite this broken family!
The muffled response through the heavy oaken door sounds like, "The safety of my child takes precedence over all other concerns. I will not be threatened in my home by some allupato stronzo."
On my honor, I do promise and swear to you my protection and pledge myself to your safety. Anyone who so much as scowls at you shall answer to me!
And Carmen turns to glare at the rest of the party so that they know she is serious.
Vibria turns to examine the door and the lock, muttering, [color=red]"As long as she leaves me alone and stops calling me some lilliput stronghold or whatever, we'll be fine," under her breath in Catalan.
((Giving the door and lock a thorough inspection, trying to figure out the quickest/safest/least noisy way to get past it. Per 0 + Awareness 3 + die roll of 3 = 6.))
Camen glares harder 
And draws her finger abruplt accoss her mouth, as if to silently say "ZIP IT!!!.
