Worst Party - RPLOG
Participants
Date
18/2/479
Log
The party in other parts of the warehouse seems to be winding down. The sounds of people leaving the V.I.P. lounge can be heard distantly, but here, behind the curtain on the second floor, it seem that things have only just begun. The Goat majordomo from the V.I.P. room leads Zuri along a dim walkway in the old warehouse. Beyond the decorations from the party, the place looks pretty sparse. There are a few scattered crates of goods, mostly emptied food crates and barrels of drink. The Goat leads Zuri to what appears to be a small office and opens the door for him to enter.
Rokarion has also managed to slip behind the scenes with his very own hostage waiter. "Please," the goat bleats, "Just let me go. I am only hired staff!" With red curtains behind and Zuri disappearing into another room up ahead, it seems the Jasmine has a choice to make.
Zuri follows along obediently, his tail whipping playfully side to side as he looks around trying to spot where the fancy food and wine could be hiding. The small salamander seems completely unaware of any danger he might be in.
Rokarion drops the act once he notices that he and his hostage are finally alone, "Hmmm, it appears that we are alone, my good friend." the plant being says as he takes the blade away from the goat and throws him a small pouch, "Fifty crowns, I will give you the rest later. Now go back and continue your job or get out of here. As long as you don't try anything smart your tongue will stay in its place and the rest of your money will come later." Rokarion says as he begins heading towards the direction Zuri was taken in, "And if you are truly just hired staff, then you might want to know that you are working with slavers right now. Better hope you are not around when they get caught." Roka says as he keeps a hand on his rapier, eyes open just in case someone jumps on him or the goat tries attack.
The waiter scurries away, barely seeming to notice the pouch tossed into his hands. It is only an instant and he has vanished behind the velvet curtains.
Meanwhile, Zuri and his escort have entered a small office. It looks orderly and well maintained, and a large window looks out over the warehouse. From here it is easy to see the warehouse floor where beings still mingle, though the purple clad Alligator seems to have made his exit. "Have a seat, my friend," the goat says, his voice deep and pleasant, "We ARE friends, aren't we? Would you like something to drink? Or to eat? I admit that I keep back a few delicacies for myself." The goat goes to a large cabinet set in the wall and unlocks it with a small key, revealing a rather remarkable array of fine liquors.
Zuri smiles brightly at the Majordomo. "Sure, thank you!" He slides onto his seat, and giggles in a bubbly manner at his words. "Yea! We are friends!" He peers over at the selection. "Oh, I could nibble on something.. and if you have some honey wine or some Cliffside Sherry in there, I also wouldn't say no to that!" He licks his tuskies, quite happy that he finally found where all the good stuff is hidden. "This is quite the amazing place you have here. Weird that it just looks like a boring warehouse from the outside."
Rokarion shook his head as the goat escaped, hoping that he won't regret his choice soon. With that thought in mind, the youth turned around and began heading towards the room. The plant being thought to himself how to pull this off before finally deciding on simply sticking to the wall and away from the rail and simply walk towards the room. No better way than to act that you are supposed to be here to trick others, not like a bunch of drunkards would be able to tell anyway.
The Goat smiles indulgently and pours two goblets of amber colored liquid. "Most days it IS just a boring old warehouse, my little friend," he says, setting a glass in front of Zuri, "Mister O, your host has merely borrowed the use of it for today." The goat, who seems somehow much less like a waiter than he did a moment ago, takes a seat across from Zuri, looking out the window. "Mister O does like to make new friends," he says smoothly, "Why don't you tell me about YOUR friends? The ones you came to the V.I.P. lounge with?"
There is nothing to impede Rokarion's progress, though there do seem to be signs of motion on the far catwalk. The light up here is too dim in the catwalks to make out who or what is over there. Soon, Rokarion is at the door of the office. Just in time to hear the goat asking questions of Zuri.
First things first! The little gourmet of a 'mander reaches over to take hold of his goblet, taking a quick sample of it and smiling approvingly. "Sure! We all came here separately from various invitations, but I know some of the guys outside. Levin's a friend, a Freesword too! Isn't that nice? My boyfriend is back there as well, Rokarion. He's such a cutie." He giggles and takes another sip. "The others I don't really know. I guess the bunny is Levin's girlfriend? It could happen! I think they arrived together. Oh! Cirra was also there, and Bazalt. Both Freeswords! They didn't get tickets to the VIP area tho. They're probably still hanging about downstairs."
Rokarion purses his lips as he reaches the office room just in time to listen to the conversation going in inside. The plant being goes over his options as he looks around him. With no way to hide, the plant being shakes his head and decides to stick to the wall near the office door and get on a knee to make his profile as hard to see as possible while his own gaze travels between the far catwalk, trying to make out the beings over there and if their movement seems to be on 'alert', and down his own catwalk just in case someone was coming this way.
"Freeswords?" the goat asks pleasantly, sipping at his own wine, "And your boyfriend! How wonderful! And how is it that you found yourself in the V.I.P. lounge?" he asks, "I confess, that it is not so special as it sounds. It is really just a way to get drunken or unruly guests away from where they will ruin the festivities for others. Why did you have a ticket? Was your boyfriend so drunk that he needed your help?"
The conversation is a little muffled, but easy enough to make out through the door, though the chatter of part guests below does complicate things a little. It does not seem that anyone is coming this way. Not yet, at least. Maybe that waiter knew what was good for him and was keeping his mouth shut.
Zuri pouts. "Aww, really? I was hoping it would be the best place where all the action happens. Either that or where you all store the people that you're going to abduct or whatever it is you're doing." He sips from the goblet again, smacking his lips before chortling. "Rokarion, drinking? Never! He hates the stuff. I don't get it. Why wouldn't you like something as fine as this?" He raises his goblet, swishing it. "I stole a card from someone, of course. I'm an ex-thief you know? Retired. Well, semi-retired, once a thief always a thief eh?" He giggles.
Rokarion purses his lips as he keeps listening on the conversation on the other side of the door, so far nothing clandestine he thought to himself, but again why would the goat try and expose himself. That line of thought is quickly interrupted as the salamander being answers back. Rokarion sighs, well looks like he has to act now, the flower grips the hilt of his rapier and decides to stay put just for a bit longer to see how the goat reacts to this, eyes still scanning the far catwalk and the walkway he is on.
The Goat laughs right along with Zuri's giggle. "Very clever my friend," he says, "And don't worry, I won't tell. You can trust me. It's always best to tell me the truth, after all." The goat sips at his own wine. "Now, what makes you think that there would be kidnapped beings here?" he asks, "Who told you something like that? That is not something an old friend like me would do! You trust your captain, don't you?"
Zuri blinks. "Captain.. right.." The 'mander wiggles his nose, looking somewhat dubious. "Well, rumors have it that these parties always involve folk disappearing. I'm actually not.. in the loop with the whole gig, I'm only here for the free food. But I was at another party you guys threw a month or so ago. That's when we first figured something was amiss as beings got carted off for no reason if they got even a little bit drunk." He bites his lip, as if trying to remember. "Mmm.. there was also something about a boat, slavers and some kind of cannibal cult." He shrugs. "I really don't know, I just wanted a snack or two for free. And maybe find out what's up with that 'gator being that seems to be running the show."
Rokarion tensed once he heard the word captain uttered, the plant being arriving to his own conclusion. Clever, using an Olg'ish follower to make the abducted beings complaint, this Mr O sure knows how to exploit callers to his own advantage. The plant being shook his head and decided to maintain watch just for a bit more, hoping that by the time he decides to enter he won't have to give his partner a blow or two. With a deep breath, Rokarion gritted his teeth and maintained his gaze on the two walkways while eavesdropping.
The goat looks a little surprised, as if someone had suddenly spilled cold water on him, but he recovers quickly. "Mister O believes in rewarding people who are faithful to him," he says, "And he is very generous. He would never be involved in something so shady. In fact, Mister O provides employment to those who are down on their luck or ready to try something new in their lives. Like you." The goat settles back into his smooth speech, sipping at his wine. "Wouldn't you like to sign on to a sea voyage? Get a little taste of adventure?"
Outside, Rokarion can suddenly hear hurried footsteps. HEAVY, hurried footsteps, coming from the curtained area. Maybe the waiter had not kept his mouth shut after all.
Zuri raises an eyebrow. "If you say so. I'm just calling it like I see it." He chuckles. "Pfft, nah. Sea voyage? Been there, saw the boring water, came back. A friend of mine is a cargo runner from out the harbor, and she hired me on as a deckhand once. Never again." He swishes his goblet. "But good for you, and for him, I guess..." He raises an eyebrow, this conversation suddenly seeming.. incredibly odd to him. "Mm.. but still, thank you for your hospitality. Sorry about the confusion with the kidnapping and the cannibalism and whatnot. I'll just head on back out and be out of your way." He slides off the chair and places the half-empty goblet on the table, still smiling politely.
Rokarion sighs as he hears the footsteps and makes a mental note of liberating the goat of his bothersome the next chance he gets. The flower did not know what annoyed him more, the fact that he was discovered or the fact that this is going to ruin his entrance. Rokarin quickly shakes his head and opens the office door, barging inside and closing the door behind me, before quickly rushing over towards the goat, dagger in hand. "No need to leave so soon, dear. I need to ask the good captain a number of questions." the plant says in a sarcastic tone, "Zuri, get ready, we have company arriving in a minute."
The goat looks confused. It is the look a predator might have if a bunny rabbit had turned into a brick wall. But he stands up and nods to Zuri. "Of course, my little friend," he says, "My mistake. I am glad that I could get you some honey wine. Please, allow me to see you out." He reaches out to open the door for Zuri, but finds it swung open before he arrives! He does not fight the speedy Rokarion, but watches the dagger hovering painfully close to his vitals. "Please," he says, "There is no need for this! Is it money you want? Take it! Just don't hurt me!" Heavy footsteps come pounding down the hall and stop outside the door. "Captain?" comes a deep voice from outside, "Is everything alright in there?"
Zuri looks between the two, raising an eyebrow. "Roka?" He giggles. "Hi Roka!" He turns to the goat, smiling. "That's my boyfriend! Isn't he a cutie?" He tilts his head. "Rokarion, what's going on? What company?" He perks as he hears the voice calling from outside. "Oh, those guys! Okay!" He makes a strange motion with his arm, stretching it downwards and twisting sideways as he snaps the thread holding his secret weapon in place. His dagger, Famine, slides down his sleeve and lands on his upturned hand, and he quickly twirls it into a backgrip. "Don't worry, I'll deal with them!" He turns towards the door, crouching near it as he readies himself to ambush anyone coming through - or spring outside to stab someone if the opportunity arises.
Rokarion positions himself behind the goat as his dagger starts hovering right above the goat's throat, "Don't rush Zuri." Rokarion whispers as he prickles the goat's throat with his dagger, "Let us be civil here, I am pretty sure that the captain wants that too." the plant being whispers again, "Now captain you know what to do, send your scurvy-ridden sea-leeches off, and we can continue this conversation with your head intact."
"Everything is fine, boys," the Goat says, eyes watching that dagger, "Just having a talk with some old friends. You just go make sure that O's party is going well." His eyes dart back and forth between Rokarion and his blade, fear evident in his face.
"Alright, Captain," comes the voice from outside, "You just let us know if you need anything, right?" A parade of footsteps march away from the door, and a troop of oversized goons are briefly visible through the window on the catwalk.
Zuri looks at Rokarion and gives him a thumbs up, smiling brightly. He stays in his concealed position as he settles in to listen.
Rokarion smiles before shaking his head, "Well then, good captain. Let us get introduced. I am pretty sure as any captain you are always eager to make your name and your ship's name known." the plant being said as he kept thinking, "And maybe tell us from now, what do you want to leave with from this little conversation."
The goat looks confused. "What?" he asks, "I don't have a ship! I run a catering company! Please, just let me go. I only wanted to know why you and your friends were sneaking up here! Why are you doing this?" This captain cuts a pretty pathetic figure, knees knocking and tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. Could he actually be so frightened that he is about to cry? What a baby!
Zuri straightens as he looks at the goat. "No, but you said earlier that Mister O had a ship, that he sent people to who were down on their luck and whatnot. Is that what you meant by Captain. I mean, you said you were a Captain, and those guys out there said it too." He twirls the dagger in his hand. "Look, Roka's not got much patience for beings that aren't me, so I'd really start giving him some answers before he decides to.. to.. what's that thing you say all the time? Exothermic whatshit?"
Rokarion shakes his head and moves the dagger a bit closer to prick the goat's throat again, "Captain, how about you drop the act already. I know that you are friends with a certain court of some rather old beings...." Roka stops as Zuri delivers his speech, "You should listen to him, captain. Let me put you in the picture, you just tried to steal a Cliffsider's prized jewel. The question is do you want to maintain this pathetic act and lose your head or would you rather talk things with me...you know if you play you cards right, you won't need Mr O at all and you can inherit his empire, would that make your patron happy?"
"Captain is my name!" the goat whimpers, "Captain Shorthorn. It's on my shipping manifests on the desk!" He almost nods in the direction of his papers, then shies back at the touch of the steel on his throat. "And Mister O IS my patron!" he moans, "He is always helping people to start over! Sailors, merchants, cooks." Tears are actually streaming down the goat's cheeks now. "What do you want from me?" he whimpers.
Zuri twirls his dagger as he listens to the goat. "Huh.. I guess he is telling the truth." He walks over to the desk to look at the papers, trying to pick out one of these shipping manifestos.
Rokarion grits his teeth and shakes his head, "I am still not believing you, captain. I heard the conversation you were having with Zuri earlier. Captain, I know that your earlier honeyed words were a gift from another patron of yours. If you keep on lying the only thing you will get from this is a gruesome death. Why not be rational and tell me what is your real operation about? Mr O uses his patron's gifts to lure unsuspecting people in, and you use yours to convince them to join your crew?"
The goat only whimpers, eyes closed and tears streaming down his cheeks. Looks like rationality is long passed.
Zuri's search is not a difficult one. There are several shipping manifests on the desk in plain sight that affirm that his name is, in fact, Captain, and the he is the owner of a small catering company that holds the lease on this warehouse. At the mention of the earlier conversation, the goat looks desperately toward Zuri. "Tell him!" he begs, "You were the one who wanted to come back here! All we did was talk! Yes I recruit people! But that's just business! I never hurt anybody! Oh, Creators please just let me go!"
Zuri looks up at Rokarion, quirking an eyebrow. "I think he is telling the truth. Or rather.." He looks down at the manifesto, then the goat, then Rokarion. "I think he's just clueless. I think he's just a pawn in all this." He flicks through the papers. "Either that or these are some very convincing forgeries." He looks up at the jasmine. "I think it's perfectly possible that O's underlings don't even know what his operation is about."
Rokarion looks down on Zuri, "You are sure about this Zuri? Didn't you feel weird as if a compulsion to do what he says? Because you know, I might not be the brightest plant there is, but you never struck me as the kind of thief who will expose all his plans to the person he is trying to steal from." Rokarion says as he sighs, "Listen, captain. What you are currently doing is getting even more annoying. Stop crying and tell me all you know about Mr O THEN tell me how did you meet your other patron."
The goat seems disinclined to talk further with a knife at his throat. Looks like Rokarion will either have to make good on his threat to kill, or let him go.
Zuri raises an eyebrow at Rokarion's words, then grimaces as he starts to mull over the chain of events that has led him to here. He alternates frowning with looking confused, offering the goat a quirked brow, followed by an angry stare. "Mmmm..." His fist clenches around the hilt of his dagger as he waits for Rokarion's move while considering his own.
Rokarion takes a deep breath as he notices Zuri's reaction, well at least if he does decide to kill the goat he won't have to justify his actions in front of the amphibian, "There goes my answer. So, captain, you are going to play the silent card. Well then, I could leave you now with Zuri, but what is preventing you from sending men after us or telling Mr O about what happened here. Looks like you are not inclined to drop your flags and jump from your sinking ship. So that gives us only one option. Time to start offering a prayer to the Creator saints, my captain, or I guess in your case, a certain satyr with three eyes." the plant being was not going to risk gaining the attention of the goat's patron by saying his name as he usually does.
Surprisingly, the goat does not speak. But there is a rather polite knock on the door. "Mister, Captain, Sir?" comes a voice from the other side that Rokarion might recognize as the waiter he held hostage earlier, "I'm afraid that something has happened. I don't want to alarm you, but I think we might have a thief or something in the building. Should I have the men make a sweep?"
Zuri blinks at the mention of a 'thief', peering back at the door. He looks at the goat and jasmine and smiles apologetically, mouthing 'wasn't me' without making a sound. He clutches the hilt of his dagger again, getting ready for a fight.
Rokarion took a deep breath, looks like he gets to exact his revenge now as well. Rokarion sighs and motions with his hand to Zuri to get ready before pulling the goat with him to one of the office's corner, the one least visible to the door, "I am starting to think that you can control your pawns from a distance." The plant being whispers in the goat's ear so that even Zuri won't hear him, "I do of course apologize for ending your life, but frankly compared to you, I am a saint."
The goat only whimpers pitiously, limp in Rokarion's arms.
"Sir?" comes the voice at the door again, "Sir? Is everything alright" The doorknob turns and the door starts to open.
Zuri waits until the door begins to open, then flings it fully open with one hand while the other brings his dagger forward to the second goat. The salamander hops up into the air, driving his fist into the goat's stomach with an uppercut, his fist balled tightly around the hilt of the dagger. Hopefully that will smack the goat head on and wind him enough that he will be unable to call for help.
Rokarion sighs and shakes his head, "Captain, I am offering you a final chance, tell me what I need to know and both you and your friend can stay alive." the plant being whispers.
The young waiter peeking in the door is completely blindsided by Zuri's lightning attack and drops like a sack of particularly insensate potatoes.
The goat under Rokarion's knife stares, eyes wide as the waiter is taken out. "You won't get away with this!" he snarls, his fear turning to anger, "HELP!" he shouts, "MURDER! MURDER!" and tries to bite Rokarion's arm!
Zuri can impress even himself sometimes. His attack was meant to stun, but has instead completely incapacitated the goat. As the Majordomo starts to call for help he grimaces. This operation has just turned difficult. He slinks off into the catwalk, looking around for a window they can use to make a quick escape... and incidentally leaving Rokarion alone with the Majordomo.
Rokarion was actually quite glad that the salamander has left, , not wanting him to see this, as he uses his free hand to close the head waiter's mouth, "My apologies again, you forced the issue, but again, why am I apologizing for a slaver?" he comments before deftly turning the blade and going for a downward stab through the juggler and into the heart, as merciful as he can get. Roka moves away, allowing the dead goat to fall down. With that done Rokarion moves to the other goat, taking a deep breath and shaking his head before delivering another coup de grace to the fallen waiter, the plant being might just take up drinking after this. With his dark deed done, Rokarion exits the office and closes the door, "Ok, quickly let us leave and cover your face." Roka adds as they rush through the walkway.
The party down below is milling around in confusion and beings are looking up to the catwalks where the shouts came from. Shouts and pointed fingers follow the forms of Rokarion and Zuri as they flee and burly guards and waiters are wading toward the stairs. A trio of heavyweights burst through the curtains of the V.I.P. area. Fighting all the way out seems like an unlikely route.
Zuri dashes to the opposite end of the catwalk, noting that above them is a higher floor and a set of skylights. He can make it up there, it's as easy as one-two-pegasus, but he's not leaving without Rokarion. Instead he searches for a way up the old fashioned way, probably a service ladder somewhere.
Rokarion shakes his head and heads to the railings, "Zuri begin your escape, no need to worry about me much. Make sure to keep those manifestos." Rokarion says as he quickly casts a small air spellto give the wind around him a bit of an up-draft, before he gets on the railings, bending a knee to give himself more a bit more of a push before he jumps towards the upward railing.
It looks like there is a flight of stairs leading further up around this way, but it seems to have become a moot point. Rokarion's precarious leap proved to be just a little more than he was properly prepared for and his fingers slip off the railing of the higher catwalk. The flower being tumbles down toward the ground floor, managing to negate most of the damage from falling by landing an a particularly large Boar. "The hells?" he grunts as he is flattened by Rokarion's momentum. The three thugs upstairs are closing in on Zuri and four more have moved away from various exits to home in on Rokarion. This could have gone better. . .
Zuri grits his teeth as he assesses the situation. There's no way he's leaving Rokarion to his fate. It's time to fight his way out of here with his lover, and they can deal with the consequences later. He focuses for a split second as he calls upon his dedicant powers, his form shifting to that of a pegasus - albiet a rather short one with rather colourful bioluminescent markings. When he opens his eyes he leaps down after his lover, his wings unfurling as he guides himself towards one of the hapless guards, ready to incapacitate him as well.. or kill him if needs be.
Rokarion jumps his gloved fingers failing to reach railing as he tumbles to the ground. The plant being grunts as he stands up and dusts himself before shaking his head, "Damned slavers." he spits as he places a hand on his rapier and rushes toward the exit, "Do not stand in my way, villains, if you value your life." he says brazenly as he moves as fast as he could towards the exit, at least a fencer's training prepares a being to avoid more than just blades.
The escaping pair make a mad dash for the door, scattering bewildered beings as they go! Rokarion manages to slip under the guard of the approaching thugs, leaving him a clear shot at an available door while Zuri manages to leave another a long, deep momento across the chest and shoulder, swooping after his flower. One more stretch could see them home free!
Zuri guns forward, impelled by his wings as he barrels through the crowd towards the exit, punching a way for his plantie to escape through. He pushes out the front door amidst the chaos of the crowd, and turns back to wait for Rokarion before bolting down the alleyway to freedom.
Rokarion prances about avoiding all the beings in his way, ducking in front of the burly guard in front of him before heading for the exit. The young flower stops at the gate and grunts as he rubs his back, falling more than 10 feet is certainly not that enjoyable, but quickly takes a deep breath for a second wind as he rushes outside the building and makes his escape with Zuri, "Okay, this will get nasty soon, at least the only two who saw us in detail are out of commission."
Well. At least the food was good. And there have probably been worse parties in the history of Firmament. Probably.
