Goats on the Brain - RPLOG
Participants
Date
23/7/477
Log
The infirmary in the Church of the Creators is quiet, aside from the ocasional shuffling of priestly feet or the rarer still moan of a patient. The room is clean and well lit, with a row of eight beds on either wall. Most of them are empty, but a few hold sleeping invalids.
The silence of the afternoon is broken as a group of beings stumble into the room carrying an obviously injured, Heavy Clan stag.
Cassidy follows in a few paces behind the group with the stag, still all done up in her fancy outfit and mask and a boquet of flowers in her gloved hands. She still felt rather bad about what she had done to the not-imposter stag, and had the mind to give him a get-well-soon gift.
Angus is a step behind Cassidy, pulling the brim of his hat down to hide a scowl that was starting to form as he thought of how the caller managed to escape them last time. He crosses his arms a bit, ears flicking as he moves to make sure that the Stag is okay.
Technetium attempts to sneak out one of the many infirmary doors, having hit her head on the stairs last night. She has managed to put on her normal clothes, albeit with a white bandage strapped around most of her forehead. She eeps sliently as the crowd suddenly floods the room, along with Angus (Whom she slightly recognizes) and Cassidy (Whom she recongizes moderately.) She stands in the doorframe, leaning against it causually as if she meant to be there.
In his quest to find work of the non criminal variety, Thelergramor was tasked with carrying a crate of supplies to the infirmary. Still holding the crate, unsure where to put it down, he turns to look at the group entering with a wounded stag.
Shouldering the weight of Hartford, Savi helps the group lead him to a pace to lie down. Once this is accomplished she turns to the gathered group, as stern and serious as a fern is able (and we all know the levels of sterness a plant can get up to). "Controlling another just to win money from fights.." shaking her head, as if that would make the sentence more sensible, she continues "This must be stopped, that goat must be found," Closing her fist with a loud creaking and popping of her tensed muscles she almost growls the final words. "And dealt with harshly."
A pair of heavy clan orderlies help Hartford onto a bed as the matron, a round little blackbear bustles up to the group accompanying the injured stag. "What has the oaf done now?" the black bear, whom most will recognize as Memna, asks, "I thought we just fixed him up yesterday!" Her look of indignation softens when she looks at the poor brute, then she smirks. "And why is he only wearing silly underwear?" She looks over at Thelergramor with his crate. "Just set it down over there, dear," she says, pointing to an empty table. Then her attention is drawn forcefully back to Saviante. "What do you mean by that, dearie?" she asks, a little stunned.
Cassidy sets her flowers at the bedside before tipping her hat to Memna. "Hello there. Our dearest friend Hartford was in a bit of an incident. Forced to fight against is will, and against an opponent that may have injured him a bit more than intended." Yes.
Angus gives Memna a nod in greeting. "What Cassidy said." He states, pointing towards her before he looks to Saviante. "Hey now, lets not be so hasty. I don't think they did this unmotivated, or alone. We can't go in swinging and guns blazing, if we find him we need to get him to talk, after that you can have him."
Technetium clears her throat, and says a bit loudly in confirmation to Angus, "Of course, we can't just go around killing people. It'd be best to detain the goat you talk about-" she doesn't know what goat the plant is talking about, but hey, always go the route of which you won't get shunned! "- And send him to a place of detaining, like a prison, then initate an interrogation of a sort, of which the violence of may vary, depending on the co-operation level of the subject." She finishes, leaning back into the doorframe. "Now, what goat are you talking about again?" She says a lot quieter.
Thelergramor sets the crate down where indicated, his hands go to his coat pockets as he looks over the wounded stag. Recognizing him as Hartford, the wolf approaches the group. Hearing the talk of control, against his will, and getting someone to talk, Thel grins. "Need someone to speak, eh? Long as you're not too picky on what condition he's in afterward, I'm your guy. Leave prison out of it, can get unpleasant. Assuming he has friends, they might attempt a break. Though, we'd need to find him first." He coughs. "Or we can do it the clean way. No blood, no mess. But, mind control? Goat deserves it." A malicious grin crosses his face.
Remembering her last 'conversation' with the goat in question Savi shruggs. "I'm not so sure letting it talk will be a wise idea." she says softly to Angus before turning to memna. "Dark math twisted his mind." with this the towering plant turns to eye the door, uncomfortable that the deed has gone, as yet, un-punished. "I'm open to suggestions on where to start." With a final thought to the question asked she adds, almost as an afterthought. "It's a goat, I can't be more specific than that. A lot of you meat creatures look the same to me."
Memna fetches a little stool and sets it by the bed where Hartford's groaning has eased a bit, now that he is finally resting. The little black bear priestess looks over the two-toned stag with a frown, taking in his injuries. "Where does it hurt, dear," she asks, her frown deepening when she sees the angry, seared flesh on Hartford's right arm.
Hartford groans, then takes a careful breath, though it obviously pains him. "Ribs," he says, "Arm, and. . . ugh." He does his best to relax and let Memna perform her examination. "Don't know what happened," he mumbles, "Last thing I remember was comin' here for my shoulder."
Memna nods and turns to one of the orderlies, a large Ape being. "Fetch me a Sacred Doctor," she says, "The one with the star on the box, for a preference." She looks over at Technetium as she calls out. "And I think that one should still be resting," she mutters before producing a jar of salve and applying it gently to Hartford's charred arm.
Cassidy tilts her head to the side. "Hm. Really?" She gives a nod to Angus and Thel in greeting. "Any idea who might have come to visit him last time? This is certainly very unusual!"
Angus perks his ears up a bit as Hartford mentions the last thing he remembers. "Did anyone visit you while you were here Hartford?" He asks, before he turns to give both Thele and Tech a nod in greeting. "This is....rather odd I must say, will definitly need to have a nice chat with this one when we find him." He states before he takes a step back and looks around, before his ears perk up. "Memna, where was Hartford placed the last time he was here?"
Technetium looks at the deer, Hartford, and mutters to herself, "That deer is getting himself knocked around lately." She recalls, noting the one wind incident. She glances at Angus, then at Thel, but then completely ignores Menma's comment about herself, slightly miffed about it. She moves out of the doorframe to near the box of supplies that Thelergramor just delivered, merely to get a better view of what's going on.
Thelergramor takes his hands from his pockets, pushes his chin to crack his neck. Looking over Hartford, specifically his wounds. "Hartford should be fine, wounds don't look too bad. But, what do I know? I'm no surgeon." A quick nod is given in greeting to those gathered around. He glances around the room, looking for anything out of place or any goats who may be watching them a little too intently. Silently wondering about this potential visitor, he paces. Thel removes his hat to scratch one of his ears. "Hit your head, Tech?" Noting the bandage on the woman.
Seing that that Hartford was being looked after, Saviante lifts her shield and drops her helmet back onto her head. Slapping the visor closed, the plant walks to the main doorway to get a better view of the street. One ear open to the conversation going on behind her, she keeps her (lack of) eyes pinned to the street, scanning from left to right to left again, watching for anything that resembes the goat figure that caused all this chaos. Grumbling slightly under her breath, Savi feels that all this could have been solved already, had she just moved faster and struck harder.
The ape orderly hurries away and returns in short order, trailing another priest, this one, a peacock wearing a clasp bearing the graceful clan seal. "Memna!" he cries, "I have not authorized the use of a sacred doctor! What makes you think that-" He stops abruptly at the sight of Hartford on the table, then turns back to the orderly. "Creators man!" he shouts, "Go fetch a Sacred Doctor! The one with the star on it is best!" He then hurries up to help Memna.
Memna snorts at the other priest, then turns to Cassidy as soon as she finishes applying her salve. "I don't remember Mister Hartford here having any visitors," she says, "Poor boy was so embarrassed about his injury, I don't think he told anyone he was coming here for help." She points to the bed at the end of the row. "I think he was in that bed over there, dearie."
As Memna points out the old bed, the Ape returns with a goat in acolyte robes bearing a small, wooden box with a star etched on the top along with some creator runes or glyphs.
Cassidy hums in thought for a moment and turns to move off towards the bed Memna had pointed out. She didn't expect to find anything, but it was worth a shot, perhaps? A gloved hand reaches up to remove her mask as she looks over the bed. "No visitors? Hmmm. Well, someone must have gotten to him somehow. Sometimes, I wish I was a Kendrac dedicant for times like this."
Angus gives Memna a nod as he unstraps his staff from his pack, planting it on the ground as he takes a step closer to the Bed. Before he stops and closes his eyes for a moment to focus, he flicks his ears as he opens his eyes once more ahd shifts his glance around the room before turning to the Sacred doctor that had just come in. "Good evening." He greets the goat. "Are you the one that treated him before?" He asks curiously.
Technetium chuckles slightly, seeing the scene unfold in front of her, before looking to Thelergramor again. "Yes, I slipped on the stairs up to my room. It didn't end softly, though, and ended up with unconciousness and instaid staying in here for the night." She looks back at people around, glancing at the goat guy. Were we not looking for a goat? She shrugs at her own thought, looking around a bit more. She lowers her voice to whisper her concern to Thelergramor. "Are we not looking for a goat?" She asks him.
Thelergramor puts his hat back on, glances at the newly arrived goat. Not sure it's the right goat, but prejudice can be helpful here. Whispers back to Tech: "Yep." He makes a few short gestures to the group, simplistic sign language that is as brief and undetectable as he can make it. At the same time, he begins coughing, to hide the sign language better. Takes a few steps toward the goat, stops when within reach of said goat. "I'll take that, save you the trouble of the last few steps, yes?" His smile remains, and he puts a hand on the box.
Savi turns her head to the side, half-way listening to the conversation inside, but not actually turning to look. Still under the assumption that the enemy is out there... somewhere, the plant stands rigid. Spear in one hand, shield in the other, she towers in the doorway as intimidating as any guard, as inneffectual as any statue. Until, that is, Tech says the word goat. Mirroring the thought in her own head, the tall plant turns to finally look back into the room, and stops still. Frozen in that forever moment between thought and action, as her gaze falls upon the priest. Unsure if this is the one they seek, Savi opens her mouth and speaks one word, much louder than her usual whisper voice. Just one word spoken clearly, her body tensed as she watches for a reaction. "Daddy?"
The goat acolyte jerks the star-marked box away from Thelergramor and passes it over to the peacock priest before turning to face Angus. "No, my lord," he says, "I can't use the sacred doctors yet. I just help in the dispensary." The acolyte folds his hands in his sleeves and turns to watch the two priests at work.
The peacock reaches carefully into the box and removes a fist sized white stone. Well, it looks like it might be stone, except for the line of flickering lights that run across the top and its perfectly smooth shape. He holds the thing over Hartford's chest and nods at Memna, as the two of them chant together in unison. "Passcode Alpha three theta, run diagnostic scan delta for male cervine!" they chant together, obviously masters of priestly magic.
Cassidy turns her eyes up towards the goat, eyes narrowing for a moment at his reaction before she sets her mask back on her face. She doesn't approach yet, but leans on the foot of Hartford's old bed and watches quietly, seeing where the line of questioning takes them.
Angus nods a little to the answer as he scratches at his stomach, near the handle of his pistol, as he gets his answer. "I see....Did you catch the recent brawls by the way? I thought they were kind of fun to watch, especiall that.....anvil antler or something like that I think it was?" He comments as his gaze darts to Thele, the only reaction he gives to the Wolf's sign before he focuses on the goat again.
Technetium sighs, leaning back on the wall to simply observe what's going on. Her gaze lingers on the goat for a little longer than the others in the room before she continues looking of the room, herself a bit startled at what Saviante had said. She then gets up off the wall, and rummages through the box of supplies, looking for anything of note while she is waiting.
Thelergramor claps the goat on the shoulder in a friendly fashion. "No need to get all touchy, friend." His smile deepening as he chuckles. "But, given that our only lead at the moment is that a goat, uh, did something, that well, caused this situation with the stag," The picture of eloquence. "I'm going to need you to stay here. And..." His smile leaves. The wolf takes his hand from the shoulder, withdraws one from his pocket and grabs the forearms where the goats hands went. Checking for weapons in the sleeves. Feels like a pen and notebook. Nothing out of the ordinary, Thel smiles again, not convinced that he isn't planning to stab someone with said pen. No apology, his logic was perfect. Probably.
Deciding it wasn't just her imagination, Saviante raises her spear and uses the tip like a pointing device. "Him!" she says loudly, directing the serious end of the long weapon at the acolyte. "Don't let him leave." she almost bellows this last statement as she begins to march her mass back toward the group, and the goat in particular. Being subtle like a rockslide down a mountain, and oblivious to the secret communication going through the group, her steps loudly reverberate through the hall as her heavily armored form begins to pick up speed, not running yet, but moving fast enough to be startling due to her size. "Don't let him go!" she shouts excitedly towards Thel once their hands are on the acolyte. It is unclear if the plant wishes to talk, or just impale the goat her attention has become focused on. Her final comment edges out from under her faceplate like water held in a tightly clenched fist, bubbling with barely repressed anger and force. "Corrupt..."
A soft, female voice issues from the stone. "Scan commencing," it says. The peacock carefully places the stone on Hartford's chest and the voice resumes. "Heart Rate elevated," the machine spirit says, "Administering sedative." There is a soft hissing noise, and suddenly, Hartford's body relaxes and the big stag's moaning ceases as his head relaxes gently onto the pillow. The stone flickers and flashes and hums for a moment, then the machine spirit speaks again. "Diagnostic complete," it says, then a cloud of little lights float up from the stone, resolving themselves into charts of lights and numbers. The two priests look over the unintelligible display, pointing out various bits to one another. "Four broken ribs, three cracked, and multiple bruises," points out Memna as the other priest points to another part of the chart. "Severe burn on the right forearm, which we already knew," he says, "As well as some serious damage to his. . ." he glances askance at the ladies present, "His unmentionables."
Everything is thrown into chaos as Thelergramor grabs the acolyte and gives him a less than covert pat down. "Unhand me!" the goat squeaks, "What do you think you are doing!?" His jaw drops as he sees Saviante's armored bulk descending upon him. He looks at the plant and his gaze hardens. "We have never met before," he says sternly.
The other priests look up from their work with concerned looks on their faces.
Cassidy settles her eyes on the goat and approaches casually, folding her hands behind her back. "Well, it is certainly suspicious you must admit. The ringleader is a goat. The ones organizing the fight were goats. And who else would have had access to him in the medical clinic except a priest?"
Angus gives a nod as he watches, planting his staff squarely on the ground as he reaches to the grip of his pistol. "I think we have all that we need now." He states as he moves to get around the fighting trio.
Technetium coughs lightly, pulling her hands out of the box as panic occurs. She notes what Thel has done this time, and sighs, walking up to the goat as well, but instead of saying anything, she glares at him silently for no apparent reason, if only to make him feel awkward. She can't nescessarily intimidate even a fly, could she?
Noting what has just occured, and assuming his previous thoughts on what he was holding up his sleeves was wrong, Thel growls slightly. "Trying put one over on us? Not smart." Holding his arms away, the wolf brings his knee up between the legs of the goat. Fastest way to disable a man. Without breaking a limb, anyway.
At the goats words Savi falters in her steps. Looking confused for a moment, the plant raises her visor and stares at the acolyte as she reaches the group. "I'm... sorry.." she says softly, her spear tip drooping to point at the ground. "I'm sorry I fell for that last time." her words burst out like a dam bursting. Spittle flowing from her lips as her rage crescendos. Closing the last few steps between her and the goat acolyte, the enraged plant lifts her spear and whips her shield in front of her in what is obviously a combat ready pose. "You hurt my friend, you play with my mind, you lie, you cheat the games... and YOU ARE A HOLY MAN?!" her outburst explodes violently ffrom her lips. Turning her head away from the goat with noticable effort as Thel drives a knee home, Savi looks to Angus. Despite her outrage, the soldier knows when there is need for a chain of command. "Give me leave." she says softly, arm tensed and ready, body shaking with anger. "please." she adds softly, as every fiber of her being begs to for the simple act of movement, one solitary lunge to thrust her weapon through the corrupted heart she sees before her.
The goat acolyte's faces twists in a snarl as he deflects Thelergramor's kick and delivering a vicious blow of his own to the wolf's knee. "Fools!" he cries, "What do you think you know? What do any of you know about 'holiness!?'" He spits the last, then there is a flash of light as a third eye opens in the middle of the snarling goat's forehead. "Lay on the ground," he says, "And count the angels on the ceiling." The words seem to echo oddly and each priest in the room immediately lays down.
Cassidy narrows her eyes and finds herself complying, if reluctantly. As she counts obediently, she does snarl. "I'm going to peel your skin off, when I find you next. And maybe everyone that looks like you."
Angus scowls at the goat, his grip tighetening on his staff as he complies with the order. "You won't get away with this." He states as he lays down. "We will find you, it would be smarter to hand yourself over. I promise you will be treated polietly." He comments between counting the stars.
Technetium groans slightly, almost immediately falling over. "Damn you.. damn all of your kin... damn this entire church for not recognizing it. I swear on my last gem that you will die. Not calmly, either." She says, slumped over on the floor. "Warn all goats. Warn the trees in the forest, dammit. You will die." She says before counting the angels quietly, her long curse chain continuing inside her head.
As his knee is struck, the wolf cries out :"I'M GOING TO GUT YOU, YOU SHIT!" He drops down, then the mind effect takes hold, causing him to roll to his back and try to count the angels. He does as commanded. But, resolves to cut the eye out of this pricks head. And hearing Angus: "Fuck politely... one, two, three..." Yep. Defeated. Should have just stabbed the goat.
With an open growl Savi turns her face to the stars and begins counting from the floor. Not one to just calmly do as told, even when doing as told, Savi considers unleashing a torrent of Shadow flame toward the ceiling, to reduce the number of stars she must count, and , being a sore loser, has to activly fight to not do so.
By the time anyone manages to climb back to their feet, the goat is long gone. "What was THAT!?" seems to be the reigning question in the room. Priests are helping each other to their feet and Memna is bustling about, seeing to the patients in the room.
The peacock checks on Hartford, to make sure that the sacred doctor is doing its work, then turns to face the group that came in with him. "What was all that about?" he demands authoritatively, though it is easy to tell that he is pretty shaken up.
Cassidy pushes herself up, grumbling. Taking a moment to dust off her coat, she sets her hands in her pockets. "How long has he been employed here? We need to find him." The dark furred fox heaves a sigh and adjusts her bowtie. "Soon, preferably."
Angus sighs a little as he stands up, brushing himself off as he rests his staff in the crook of his elbow. "He's probably working here under a false name, and gave them a false location for where he lives. Don't think he's from the cliffs, so that means we need to start looking here. He will probably be hiding out in shanty town anyway." He states before he gives the priests a nod. "I apologize for the ruckus, we will be out of your hair shortly."
Technetium stands up, a little shooken by the experience. Having your control taken from you? Not nice. She continues silently cursing to herself, stopping to help some of the party up. She glances at Angus and Cassidy, then at Thelergramor. She sighs, and silently considers burning the church down for their incompetence, but decides against it, noting it's one of the best infirmaries around. "Well, I think I should head back to the inn, before I end up embarrasing my self further. Any who wants to accompany me, I will be there." She says, silently storming out of the church.
Thelergramor stands, glances around the room. Smiles, hums to himself. Then kicks the nearest object. That object being a small table, where he set down the crate earlier. Crate rattle atop the table, table shaking. No permanent damage. His hands go back to his pockets as he looks at the group with a 'what?' expression. Apparently payed attention to Angus. "Yep shanty town. I'll burn the shit hole to the ground if I have to."
Climbing to her feet, Savi turns to the gathered Priests. "Where does he ive? He worked here so someone must know something." With a snarl of disgust she adds on "or do you just let anyone wander in here and start playing with your patients?" Her agner flaring up inside. "Even if the address is fake, there may be something there." Turning to Angus the irrate flora shakes her head. "Check the guild of thieves as well, someone there likely knows SOMETHING." Attempting to relax, the plant focuses her attention to her ever tighting grip around her spear and forces her hand to loosen, just as the squeal of tortured metal begins to emminate fromt he shaft.
The peacock shakes his head. "His name is Fagin," he says, "I've known him since he was seven! He was an acolyte here for ten years and was just about to receive his certification!" The blue plumed bird, fiddles a bit with the sacred doctor working its magic on Hartford while the big guy snores. "I can't imagine what has happened to him!" the bird exclaims, "He seemed so happy here!" The priest shakes his head again. "I will be sure to help you in any way I can," he promises, "But for now, I must tend to my patients." This mystery will certainly bear looking into. And soon.
