Heroica RPG - Quest #72: A Party

[Scubacarrot]

The raider smirks as he sees the face of the woman he so gladly killed minutes ago. Forcing a smile, the raider took one of the reappeared bottles of wine from his pack, and waits for Guffington to speak to them, while looking at Lady Felix intently, trying to discover a hint of recognization in her eyes, or some odd movements she did not show before.

Then, smiling as he realizes the things he just gave to Docken had reappeared in his pack, he gives Docken another Mead and Smelling Salts.

Before the party, Guts had given a Nostrum to Docken, a Mead to Hybros and a Mead, Smelling Salts, Nostrum and Scroll of Weakening to Nyx, those aren't there.

[JimBee]

Hybros rubbed his forehead after the jump, then nodded approvingly at Nyx's presence. He tugged on her elbow slightly, then turned to Guts.

"No need to search Lady Felix's room again, or for a thief. I can assure you there was no one else up there, at least at the time. I searched all four rooms, including what now seems to have been Daneeka's, with the strange books he spoke of. I believe that Lord Marsh is the culprit, unless of course the note was planted, in which case Lady Felix comes into suspicion, eheh. I believe that Nyx should apply pressure in the right areas down in the dining hall this time, while Docken takes care of the chef in the kitchen. Guts, perhaps we should stick together if we are to search the rooms again, hehehe."

Hybros slips down a reappeared Nostrum follow by a Mulled Wine.

[Pandora]

Nyx holds her head in her hands, as if trying to stop if from falling off. She closes her eyes and frowns, either trying not to vomit, or trying to clear her head. Possibly both. She focuses, sort of, on her companions while Guffington still talks.

"Ok, the Marsh people are weird, the woman was seen in the kitchen and gave me some rubbish about wanting to talk to the chef - the chef that we know was the poisoner. And there's still the note.

When I went to the kitchen, the fawn was weird, and died of acute stupidity, but the other two servers were cool about the chef being smeared up the walls and didn't challenge me - but someone let them out of the kitchen, didn't they? Why did that someone do that, and who were they?

I don't trust Chauncey at all, although there's something intriguing about him. Is there anyone particular you want me to talk to? And I think my head is full of scrambled egg, but am I hastened and encouraged and lucky or not right now? "

Yet again, Nyx waits to introduce herself to Guffington as if for the first time.

[Zepher]

OoC: Consumables will be added in next stats posting, Scuba. You are not encouraged, lucky or hastened, Nyx. Sorry.

Guffington glances over at the heroes, smiles and turns back to 'Zora'.

"I'd like you to meet my friends."

The man with the mustache and white hair also seems to finish up his conversation. He steps away from the other man and walks through the big doors. The man turns to look at the heroes, and he and Nyx make contact briefly as she glances around looking for danger. A tingle goes down her spine, and then he too steps inside.

"Hello there Guts, Docken, Hybros, and Nyx!" Guffington bows to the final name, and shakes her hand exuberantly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, finally. I saw you at the Founder's Day Ball. Quite an evening." Guffinton turns to all the others. "How have you been? I'm very happy you were able to make my party. I'm afraid that most of these people don't see many rough and tumble adventurers, should do their blood some good. This here is Zora Felix, an old friend of mine."

"It's a pleasure, heroes." Guts observes Lady Felix, but finds no indication that she looks at them any differently than she did previously. Discovering his eyes on her, she gives him a tight but flirtatious smile.

[Brickdoctor]

"Good evening, Lady Felix, Lord Guffington."

Before I forget again, I unequip my Cobweb Cowl and equip my Counterstrike Gloves.

[Scubacarrot]

Something felt off. He couldn't place it, but something was definitely off about Felix. At this point, the raider was completely sober again, the hard part now was remembering how things all happened before. Guts rolls his shoulders, and reaches up with his arm to touch his forehead as a greeting, causing the amulet around his neck to show blatantly. He then walked up to Guffington, and handed the man one of the bottles of Charissian Red. He leant in, mumbled a few words of greeting in Guffington's ear, and turned his head to Lady Felix, and bows slightly.

"The pleasure is mine. Captain Holla."

[Zepher]

Guffington smiles thankfully at the wine.

"Just as polite as I remember you," he says cheerfully. "Now, if you wouldn't mind, I've got to have a look around the gates. Lady Felix will happily show you to the Dining Hall, I'm sure."

Lady Felix blinks a few times upon hearing her name, her eyes locked on Guts' neck. She seems muddled and confused briefly, but smiles grandly once more at the heroes and offers her arm. Guts notices her rub her own neck absentmindedly as she ushers them through the entrance to the manor and down the huge hall of doors.

"Charissan Wine. An expensive drink for a hero, but I suppose one must know their tastes. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Captain Guts."

[Scubacarrot]

Guts grinds his teeth. This wasn't how it happened before. Could such small changes have such an impact on how things would go, or was Lady Felix just acting? Still, with a fake smile, the raider took Lady Felix arm.

"You said that already, my lady. And yes, Charissian, have you been there lately? Things have quieted down after the Croise signed some document or other. Much less mayhem. Or so I've heard. Is there something with your neck?" The raider said all this, offering his most charming smile.

Suddenly. The raider stops. forcing Lady Felix to stop as well. His smile had turned into a cold stare. one of his arms still locked with Lady Felix', the other at Lifestealer, he says slowly: "I did not tell you my first name."

[Zepher]

"Yes, but Gerald did mention it." She winks kindly. "I was in Charis recently, actually. I stopped in Dastan, so Charis was an obvious destination." Lady Felix gropes sadly at her neck again. "I- I'm sorry. There is something missing from my neck. I can't recall where it could have gone though, I was certain I was wearing it only moments ago..." She looks around worriedly. "If you see one of the guests with it, excluding those from Heroica or the Wereraven... well, please keep an eye on them. They could be a threat. They will know more than they should." Lady Felix smiles again. "I'm afraid sometimes I speak in tongues. Keep an eye on me as well, will you, Captain Holla?"

[Scubacarrot]

Guts holds up the second Amulet, before putting it back in his pocket. "What is going on, Lady Felix."

[JimBee]

Hybros tips his hat... again. He remains silent however, thinking of what they ought to do once they arrived inside. He turned to Nyx. "Perhaps you are right, speaking to Lord Marsh in a threatening manner would probably leave us where we were last time. But Chauncey... perhaps you ought to talk to him, hehe." Hybros noted Guffington departing for the gatehouse, as he had before. Wondering what he could possibly be doing there, he decided to follow him, trying his best to remain undetected by his host. He whispered back to his allies, "I will meet you inside, eheh."

[Zepher]

Lady Felix sighs. She is either an extremely good actress, or genuinely relieved.

"I'm guessing you had to kill me for it," she says sweetly. "I hope I put up a good fight. Perhaps we can go somewhere private to talk? My chambers? You needn't fear me. I'm not foolish enough to make you kill me again, and if you feel the need to fight me, you know the outcome." Lady Felix drifts up the stairs heading towards her room. Will Guts follow?

Hybros, meanwhile, follows after Guffington silently. Lady Felix takes casual note that he is not with the party, but seems to not act.

Nyx and Docken lead the way into the Dining Hall. It is... a familiar sight.

[Brickdoctor]

As the servers move in and out of the hall, I attempt to sneak into the kitchen.

[Pandora]

OoC Sorry for the de;ay in posting - busier than expected weekend.

Nyx looks carefully around the room once more, watching for interactions, conversations. She calmly meanders her way across the room towards Lord Chauncey, nodding and smiling to people as she moves, picking up a drink and sipping it, before casually arriving at Chauncey's side.

"I think I saw you in the courtyard. You know a girl can't resist when she sees a mysterious stranger looking at her." she almost breathes into his ear. She takes another sip of her drink, holding his gaze with her eyes as she does so. She smiles, warmly. "I am Nyx. But you look like the kind of man who already knows that." and a mischievous look appears on her face.

[Scubacarrot]

"Very well."

[Zepher]

Lord Chauncey smiles tightly. He bows to Samuel Shawe and Lord Marsh.

"You'll have to excuse me, gentlemen." Lord Chauncey walks a short distance with Lady Nyx. The blue server offers them drinks, and Lord Chauncey takes one for the both of them, passing Nyx's drink to her. He sips at his. "I do indeed know you, Nyx, though I did not wish to intimidate you. I am, I'm afraid, a bit of a gossip, and your name recently came up with some drifters who passed through my town. I was surprised and delighted to see you at the party, I didn't know you were an acquaintance of Guffington."

[Pandora]

"I think if you knew me at all, you would know that I'm not so easily intimidated." Nyx smiles devilishly and sips her original drink "I guess I should be flattered to be the subject of gossip, and it's always nice to hear that someone's pleased to see you." A pause. She licks her lips and poses a thoughtful look "So tell me, do you have any juicy gossip to share? I heard a rumour that our dear host Guffington isn't as well loved as everyone makes out, have you heard anything like that?"

[Zepher]

Lord Chauncey frowns slightly. "Not so well loved? I haven't heard of such things. Look at all the friends he's gathered here tonight!" Lord Chauncey lowers his voice. "I will be bold with you, Lady Nyx, as I have been led to believe I can trust Heroica. If there is a threat to Lord Guffington's person, I would like to know of it. Him and I are business partners in a venture that is important to me, and I would hate to have it jeopardized. Our third business partner was recently found dead under mysterious circumstances. I will not allow it to happen to another."

[JimBee]

Hybros enters the dining hall again after a short time. He sidles over to Nyx and decides what to do next.

OOC: Off camping for a while. I'll be back Friday, but leaving again on Saturday and back the next Saturday. Until then, whoever is in the dining hall has control of Hybros.

[Pandora]

OoC: I... guess that's me right now; have fun JimB

Nyx examines Chauncey's face for any hint of deceit. Her eyes narrow slightly as she inspects him.

"Lord Chauncey, if I am to believe what you say, it might be best for you to tell me what this business venture is, who your third partner was, how they died, and who might wish this venture of yours to fail. I am sure you can read the implications of what I'm saying, so if you have information I should very much like to hear it, especially as my, and now apparently your, fears may well come to fruition very soon. If you deceive me, however, you will not live to regret it."

Hybros looks again around the room for unusual activity, examining body language for anything out of the ordinary. He moves over near to where Samuel Shawe and Lord Marsh are and, being almost imperceptible, he casually attempts to eavesdrop their conversation, whilst continuing to scan the room.

[Zepher]

"It is a research project. Gerald Guffington and I, and the late Lord Hughes as well, share an interest in the Old Gods. Lord Hughes was found dead recently in his own house. The local guards determined it was simply a strange occurrence, but we believe they may have been bribed to cover up whatever truly happened." Lord Chauncey sighs. "I can think of no one who would wish failure upon our venture, but there are many forces, many hidden, who have scattered goals. Any faction, known or unknown, could despise our purpose."

Hybros leans towards Shawe and Lord Marsh, but they appear only to be discussing the city and trade - nothing of particular import. As Daneeka and Madame Ladybug enter the room, Shawe excuses himself and walks towards his soon-to-be-not-business partner.

[Pandora]

Nyx sighs back at Lord Chauncey, pinching the bridge of her nose before smiling back.

"So you're basically saying it could still be anyone." she keeps eyeing him carefully, but also keeps smiling "And, out of interest, what would happen to your 'research project' if you suddenly lost your remaining business partner?" she looks thoughtful for a moment "Do you mind me asking what you're researching? I have a smattering of experience with Old Gods myself, perhaps I can help you in some way?"

Hybros keeps looking around the room, casually skulking towards the kitchen door. As he arrives he imperceptibly slides the external bolt shut, locking the door, and standing guard until he hears Docken call to him through the door, yet disguising this as casual interest in the goings-on at the party.

[Zepher]

"My project would dry up. Lord Guffington supplies most of the funding. When Hughes passed, we thought we may have to end our plans, but both Daneeka and U'Or lowered their fees. I believe that Daneeka has become too immersed in the project to give it up, and U'Or has too much respect for Guffington to leave his services. But even with them working for free, Daneeka needs supplies. I do as well." Chauncey chuckles at himself. "As for what we're researching - I hate to say that it is a broad net right now, but it is. The Old Gods are enigmas. We desire more knowledge of them. What is their relation to us mortals. It is the same reason that other look for other worlds in the sky or through time or under the sea. Are we not drawn to the mysterious and powerful? We have only recently discovered, with certainty, that the Old Gods are powerful. On Grogmas Day, two were in this very city. Daneeka assures me that their combined force alone caused great events to happen."

Edited July 19, 2013 by Zepher

[Pandora]

"We have only recently discovered, with certainty, that the Old Gods are powerful. On Grogmas Day, two were in this very city. Daneeka assures me that their combined force alone caused great events to happen."

Nyx looks long and hard at Lord Chauncey.

"They're more than a bit crazy, but they are interesting, I'll give you that. They have a nasty habit of all talking at once, and inside your brain, too. I don't doubt you're very powerful, but I'd be careful around them, because yes, they are extremely powerful."

Her expression softens, although still serious and slightly sad.

"Lord Chauncey, you are a clever man, I really hope you understand that anything I do here is to protect Master Guffington. I have no other motive, so if you indeed wish to protect your business partner and your business interests, I ask that you trust my actions. Can you do that?"

She holds his gaze as she waits for an answer.

[Zepher]

OoC: I believe you're confusing Zoot's Demon Pals (I assume that's the official name for those three) and the Old Gods (Master of Regret, Passion/Gray Wizard). I know it's a lot to keep track of. Damn lore.

Chauncey nods politely.

"I will trust them until I have a reason not to."