Heroica RPG - Quest #72: A Party

[Brickdoctor]

"Hello, Master Docken. How may I be of assistance?"

"Master U'Ordiussum. I was just speaking to one of the servers, a faun, and he mentioned that he and his fellow servers and the chef were hired just for this occasion, that Lord Guffington is helping the people of Eubric by hiring different workers from the Hovels. He mentioned that you handle this nowadays, and I was interested in hearing more about the process."

[Scubacarrot]

The raider finished his drink, and nodded at the man. "Captain Guts Holla, a pleasure to meet you. I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I take Guffington away for a minute, there's something I need to discuss with him." The raider talks with a smile on his face, but his eyes are cold.

[Pandora]

Nyx smiles and nods politely at Lady Marsh, disguising the fact that she thinks she's a bit odd.

"Well, lovely to meet you, excuse me would you?" and with nothing further she glides off towards Everstein, whom she'd noticed staring at her across the room. She grabs a fresh glass of drink from a passing tray as she does so.

"Dr Everstein. May assist you in some way? You have quite a look on your face. First though, can you do that thingy again, the one where you describe people? And do it with Lady Marsh over there, please?" she looks expectantly at Everstein, still smiling.

[Zepher]

"He mentioned that you handle this nowadays, and I was interested in hearing more about the process."

"Why, are the noble heroes of Heroica looking for alternative employment?" U'Or laughs feebly at his own joke. "The process is simple. I go down to the hovels and see who would like to serve. There are always places to look for those in need of work. Guffington always have the final call, though."

The raider finished his drink, and nodded at the man. "Captain Guts Holla, a pleasure to meet you. I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I take Guffington away for a minute, there's something I need to discuss with him." The raider talks with a smile on his face, but his eyes are cold.

"By all means." Lord Chauncey nods politely and then drifts away.

"Dr Everstein. May assist you in some way? You have quite a look on your face. First though, can you do that thingy again, the one where you describe people? And do it with Lady Marsh over there, please?" she looks expectantly at Everstein, still smiling.

"I have never used it as a parlor trick before, but of course. Lady Marsh. Hm... I have over heard that she rarely leaves Gull by her own account, and I'd say that's true. She seems genuinely confused by many of the organizations that exist outside her city. Her skin, however, is not a tan as you'd imagine for someone from Gull. She must spend a lot of time inside. Physically she serves no threat to yourself or I, unless she is particularly good at hiding her ability. Lady Felix, any of the servers, even perhaps the Shawe boy would have no trouble overwhelming her." He shrugs. "She does not particularly interest me, truth be told."

"As for my request. Your friend Guts has refused to clean up his mess in the kitchen. If we do not deal with it, the servers will alert everyone as to the chef's death, and we will never see this back-up plan in action. We must some how calm them. I ask you, go into the kitchen, and explain to the servers the scenario. Heroica garners some respect in the city, perhaps they will believe you. Either way, the next time around they will not remember it. It you really must subdue them, all the doors in this house have locks on both sides. Simply walk over to the door and lock it. I will stand outside and lock it from the outside if I hear the interior bolt go."

[Pandora]

"As for my request. Your friend Guts has refused to clean up his mess in the kitchen. If we do not deal with it, the servers will alert everyone as to the chef's death, and we will never see this back-up plan in action. We must some how calm them. I ask you, go into the kitchen, and explain to the servers the scenario. Heroica garners some respect in the city, perhaps they will believe you. Either way, the next time around they will not remember it. It you really must subdue them, all the doors in this house have locks on both sides. Simply walk over to the door and lock it. I will stand outside and lock it from the outside if I hear the interior bolt go."

"You're asking me to potentially lock myself in the kitchen, alone with some angry and/or scared servers?" Nyx stares at Everstein.

She closes her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose and almost-silently cursing Guts' guts. "Ok" she sighs "I'll go talk to them" and she gives a resigned nod

"and when you say 'explain the scenario', you mean tell them about the plot to kill Guffy and the time-travel doo-hickey, right?" she waits for confirmation of this (or not,) after which she starts to move towards the kitchen, downing the rest of her drink as she does so.

[Brickdoctor]

"Why, are the noble heroes of Heroica looking for alternative employment?" U'Or laughs feebly at his own joke. "The process is simple. I go down to the hovels and see who would like to serve. There are always places to look for those in need of work. Guffington always have the final call, though."

"Perhaps; we have plenty of 'heroes' who simply sit in the Hall enjoying the free food and drink. I'm sure there are plenty in the Hovels who would like that."

I smile wryly.

"It's good that you are able to find such talent in the Hovels and give these workers this opportunity. To cook the food and prepare the drink for Lord Guffington's parties, that must be no small task, yes?"

[Zepher]

Everstien smiles slyly and coughs a few more times. "Unless you can think of a better explanation for the cut up chef in the kitchen."

[Scubacarrot]

The raider watched Nyx, as she talked to Everstien, and her glare. The bird was badmouthing him. He just knew it. Guts stops Nyx on her way to the Kitchen, and hands her the Doomshroom Cap he found earlier (permanently raises ether by 1). "Don't trust that sodding raven. I did our jobs, and that's it, oh, and eat that, there's no telling if it'll disappear if we have to do this whole thing again." He turned to Guffington:

"Sorry about that. I have found who and what killed you... who is planning to kill you and how. The chef you hired, Clippard, was a poisoner." Guts shows the vial and the note. "The poison was supposed to go into your spiced wine you'd drink after the speech. As you can see, we are not in the clear yet. It's important to make them think their original plan is still in play. I have been drinking, but I've made sure the guests have seen me drink a lot more." Guts points to two red stains on the floor, slightly out of sight. "We will have the servers bring you your cup out of the kitchen as usual. When you finish your speech, I will bump into you, we will fumble, and I will take your cup. I will drink, and I will fall down. The second plan will come in motion, but you'll have the four of us around you. At least, four if that Imp decides to show himself again."

Edited June 28, 2013 by Scubacarrot

[Pandora]

Guts stops Nyx on her way to the Kitchen, and hands her the Doomshroom Cap he found earlier (permanently raises ether by 1). "Don't trust that sodding raven. I did our jobs, and that's it, oh, and eat that, there's no telling if it'll disappear if we have to do this whole thing again."

Nyx takes the Doomshroom and starts to nibble at it, soon eating the whole thing and replies quickly to Guts.

"Thanks, that will soak up some of the wine. I don't necessarily trust the raven, and if he's playing us against each other then I'm ok playing along just now. We're a team Guts, and you've done nothing to make me think I can't trust you, but clearly he wants me in the kitchen, so let's see what happens. He mentioned he might need to lock me in, but if there's trouble out here you might need me. If he can hear the bolt slide inside the door then you can hear me shout inside the door, so if I'm not here then check to see if I'm shouting to be let out."

With that, and a wink, Nyx continues on to the kitchen.

[Zepher]

Nyx vanishes into the kitchen, leaving Docken and Guts alone with the guests.

"Sorry about that. I have found who and what killed you... who is planning to kill you and how. The chef you hired, Clippard, was a poisoner." Guts shows the vial and the note. "The poison was supposed to go into your spiced wine you'd drink after the speech. As you can see, we are not in the clear yet. It's important to make them think their original plan is still in play. I have been drinking, but I've made sure the guests have seen me drink a lot more." Guts points to two red stains on the floor, slightly out of sight. "We will have the servers bring you your cup out of the kitchen as usual. When you finish your speech, I will bump into you, we will fumble, and I will take your cup. I will drink, and I will fall down. The second plan will come in motion, but you'll have the four of us around you. At least, four if that Imp decides to show himself again."

Guffington sighs, and then smiles sadly. "So this isn't our first time around, then. Very well. I'm sad to hear that this is the group that I can't trust. I like them all, in their own ways."

"I can simply direct the cup that should have gone to me to you instead. That should work just as well. I do love pageantry, but there is less risk that way. Guts, listen to me. Once you figure out what this second plan is, you must discover which of my friends cannot be trusted, and you must be one hundred percent certain. It is very important to me."

"It's good that you are able to find such talent in the Hovels and give these workers this opportunity. To cook the food and prepare the drink for Lord Guffington's parties, that must be no small task, yes?"

"That is the truth. We generally hire an actual chef of note."

The light in the sky fades out. The servers file into the kitchen and Everstien goes to stand by the door. Guts watches him, and sees that he does not lock it for at least the time being. U'Or looks around.

"If you'll excuse me, I must go light the torches."

[Scubacarrot]

Guffington sighs, and then smiles sadly. "So this isn't our first time around, then. Very well. I'm sad to hear that this is the group that I can't trust. I like them all, in their own ways."

"I can simply direct the cup that should have gone to me to you instead. That should work just as well. I do love pageantry, but there is less risk that way. Guts, listen to me. Once you figure out what this second plan is, you must discover which of my friends cannot be trusted, and you must be one hundred percent certain. It is very important to me."

"Very well then. I will find it out who is trying to kill you, and. I'll make sure this is over as quickly as possible, Guffington. I'll leave you to your conversations." Guts steps away, and looks for Doc Daneeka.

[Brickdoctor]

I walk over to Guts. Making sure that only he can hear me, I say,

"Captain Holla, U'Ordiussum confirms that the three servers are from the Hovels. I tried to hint about the chef, but he would only say that the hired chef is an 'actual chef of note'. As I recall, he's not one of the ones Doctor Daneeka told us we could trust fully, so I didn't want to ask him more about that and risk letting him know that we know about the chef's real role."

[Scubacarrot]

The raider nods. "I'm going to have a talk with Daneeka, that Marsh guy asked me to steal a book from him last time we were here, it may be related. Try to figure out whatever you can in the meantime. Oh, and I'd appreciate it if you let me know if anyone approaches you with any offers. I have a suspicion Hybros is currently doing something like that, and it's pathetic. Make sure you're back in time for Guffington's speech, whatever their second plan is, we need to counter it."

[Zepher]

Guts finds Doc Daneeka standing near the door leading out to the hallway.

"Hello all, looks like everyone has finally gathered in one place! I'm glad to see you're all socializing, even you Hybros. U'Or, leave the lights alone, go talk to people. Maybe the only other U'Kin in the room." U'Or blushes.

"I'm just making an exciting announcement. We're about to break out a huge vat of Azzurat spiced wine. My chef Clippard assures me that he can make it properly, and I trust his judgement. This wine is very old, very potent, and very good. A good friend of my retrieved it for me long ago, and so I've decided to share it all with you. Just thought I'd let you know. Dr. Everstein, what time would you say it is?"

The wereraven coughs and sputters before answering. "8:35."

Guffington climbs back down off the table, and Lady Marsh begins talking to him.

"How can I be of assistance, Guts?"

[Scubacarrot]

"Marsh asked me to steal a book from you. Supposedly in a language none of us understand. What's the significance of it?"

[JimBee]

Hybros bursts back into the dining hall, holding his hat down on his head and glancing feverishly behind him. When he noticed a few raised eyebrows directed towards him, he took a gulp and assumed the calmer nature that he had left the room with. He bustled quickly over to Guts and Docken, with Nyx nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, listen. I found..." He lowered his voice after catching his breath. "I found someone involved in this poisoning plot. Lord Marsh is either the mastermind behind this, or the poisoner himself. I found a note in his nightstand, along with a bag of gold." He shoved the note into Guts' hands.

Second half, take it once the one you've been hired to kill is dead. I know you will be honorable. I have worked with your type before.

"Someone may have planted that, but I doubt it. But... I have run into a problem... eheh... er, I was searching the guests' rooms, and I might have, eh... disturbed Lady Felix's belongings. I must hide, quickly... Eheh, what did you find?"

[Scubacarrot]

The raider raised an eyebrow.

"How much gold? The chef, was the poisoner, I am certain of it." Guts shows Hybros the note he found.

Your contact will be at the party. I have told them who you are. They will pay you the appropriate amount - 500 gold. In your line of work, you understand the need for secrecy. There is a back-up plan if you fail, but we cannot tell it to you. If you would be compromised, fight or flee. The plan will go into motion if Guffington is not dead when his lips leave the cup.

[JimBee]

"...Well then perhaps this is the back-up plan this note speaks of? I did not count the gold. No time with Felix breathing down my neck, eheh... Speaking of which, she will be here any minute. I do not believe a battle in front of all these guests would be very subtle, hehe..."

[Zepher]

Doc Daneeka's chilling silky smooth voice remains as even as ever, muffled as always by the device strapped to his head.

"Lady Felix was not a wise person to anger, Hybros. You would do best getting far away from here."

"The book you speak of is written in an old tongue I do not recognize. I had to decipher it on my own, there is no reference to it in any database that I have been able to locate. It speaks of an old religion and power that I have been attempting to harness." Doc Daneeka blinks behind his goggles.

[Brickdoctor]

"Perhaps we should move outside to the courtyard to discuss this. I am unsure if we have enough time to do battle outside and get back inside before the time when Lord Guffington is supposed to collapse, though."

[JimBee]

Not realizing Daneeka was standing there next to Guts, Hybros looked down. This wasn't quite the way he wished to impress the ex-Ji Pei. "...That sounds like a good idea, Docken. I wanted to buy time with Felix in the hallway, but she was too powerful for me. We will have to wait until we are able to, eh, go back in time again. Or we can attempt to stop Lord Marsh now."

[Brickdoctor]

"As far as we know, Lady Felix is not involved in the plot, right? She's only angered because you disturbed something that belongs to her while you were investigating Lord Marsh's room?"

[Scubacarrot]

"What exactly did you do, Hybros? I'll try to smooth things over with Lady Felix. In the meantime, Daneeka, do you have another book, a less important one, written in a language Marsh should not be able to understand?"

[JimBee]

"That is right, Docken. She is not the real enemy here, eheh. I was searching through her room when I dropped her mace on the floor. There is also this magic box... that tells her when someone has opened it. She is convinced that I stole some things from her..."

[Brickdoctor]

"Got it. I could try using Diplomacy, if we can think of a plausible reason for your having been in her room that doesn't mention what our actual mission is. I'm not sure how to explain your searching her room without saying something about our being hired by Lord Guffington as security or investigators."