A Killer Deal - RPLOG

Participants

• Angus
• Arimia
• Bite_PC
• Selena

Date

31/1/476

Log

The Quickpad Estate! A grand manor, rivaling that of some noble houses in elegance and grandeur. Many beings are gathered for the event being hosted, the majority wandering the grounds. Several pavilions have been set up, offering shade and places to procure refreshments, and many servants mill about in the crowd. A larger pavilion is set up to provide shelter for the entertainers currently performing, with seating for those interested in watching. As may be expected Carter Quickpad, a large, fit looking jaguar has a small crowd gathered around him. Guests are welcomed as they enter the gates, and those hired as servants or entertainers directed to their proper posts.

Bite giggles as she arrives, stopping to inquire the directions to where she should be, as an entertainer before proceeding to slither her way over there. She stretches and pulls out her throwing knives, checking them before she stows them and waits for a chance to get on stage.

Selena enters the grounds, fairly uninterested by the decadent setting. Noting the presence of the familiar taipan, she paces over and greets her with a wave. "Hey again, Bite." She chuckles. "Interesting to see you again so soon."

Angus gives the greeter a slight nod as he walks through the gates, feeling a bit over dressed once again. The Kitsunes usual attire had been forsaken for something a little more lavished tonight, gone is the familiar weight of his armor as it had been replaced with a rather fetching red tunic, even his usual assortment of weapons have disappeared as he walks through the grounds feeling a little lost.

As the event proceeds the time nears evening. Most of the performers have gone on stage at least once, and several have done multiple performances. Oddly, one servant seems to be wandering the crowd, looking for specific people. He stops, a conversation is held, and the person hurries off toward the manor and the servant moves on. This servant approaches Angus and Selena in turn, then walks over to the performers tent and calls out, "Attention, please! My employer would like to have one of you come and put on a special performance for him and a select few guests. I realize this is quite desirous, so if I could have a brief demonstration from each of you interested, it would be appreciated."

Bite giggles and shows off a tiny bit of her talent, rings of fire appearing at odd places around her as she whips out throwing knives, every throw each knive goes through at least one ring. After a while she stops and bows, giggling to the servant. She doesn't even wait for his okay, she has seen what everyone else has to offer and snickers, proceeding to have them take her to where this special performance is to be held.

Selena nods to the servant, replying an acceptance before she makes her way to the manor, passing Bite as she does. "Always the star of the show, aren't you?" She chuckles, looking a little nervous about the proposition of having the represent something other than herself.

Angus smiles at the servant and gives him a polite nod, he thanks the servant for his message and then makes his way towards the manor. Walking through the doors he notices Bite and Selena, giving them a bow he smiles. "Ladies, it is nice to see you again." Standing back up he falls in line with them, Curious as to what these proceedings where about.

The trio is met inside by another servant, a Siamese cat dressed in an attractive, but practical maid outfit. She leads the way to a study, and follows the group in. Once the three are in the room she locks the door. Looking around the study it's fairly spacious. A large desk dominates the room, behind which the jaguar, Chester, is seated. There are four other beings off to one side, talking amongst themselves. A female duck, a male anole, a male cricket, and a toad. The maid guides Bite to an empty section of the room and murmurs, "For now, if you could perform a soothing song for background noise, or do a small dance, that would be best." She then moves over to hand the key to the door to the Quickpad behind the desk, who says in a boisterous voice, "Please, make yourselves comfortable while I finish up a couple things here! There's wine on the table over there, and pleasant conversation to be had!"

Bite thinks for a few seconds and nods. She pulls out a lute and begins to play, something that won't draw too much attention but will make itself known at the same time. It's background noise after all.

Selena nods, flicking an ear back slightly. "It's a pleasure." She greets, taking a seat at a chair though making no attempt to take any wine from the table. "Good to see you again, Angus." She nods. "May I ask what business you've called me here for?" The wolf asks after giving the Quickpad time to sort his things out, looking a little unsettled by the situation.

Angus picks up a glass of the wine, before he grabs a chair. "What a lively party our host has given us." He states, raising his glass to Chester with a smile. "But I am curious as to what business you are wishing to discuss as well actually." Taking a drink of his wine his gaze roams across the room, taking in the other patrons with a quick glance, before his gaze strays back to their gracious host.

The jaguar smiles at the questions and motions his guests over. "I am terribly sorry for pulling you away from the festivities, but me and my friends here needed reputable witnesses for what we are about to do. And who better than a representative of House Solacious and an esteemed Freesword and representative of Lady Ironsoul?" He pushes a piece of paper across the desk and says, "Me and my four friends here have decided to join together into a trade conglomerate! As soon as this agreement has your signatures, and then mine, it will be official! I must ask forgiveness for the secrecy but not all those out among my guests would be pleased about this news, and would try to disrupt the signing. So if you would be so kind as to place your signatures here? I will, of course, be open to certain considerations in exchange for witnessing this."

Bite giggles softly as she continues, watching the proceedings with a bit of sway. She watches Selena and Angus, making sure they actually look at the document before they do anything.

Selena reads over the contracts, looking rather confused by some of the nuances though figuring them out by the time she reaches the signatures. "...I'll sign, but I'm not exactly the head of our operation." The wolf sighs a little resignedly, taking a piece of paper from her bag. "I'm going to write a quick addenda here. Just so it can't be pinned on me or the defenders if someone doesn't like what happens." She explains, writing out a quick note. "Pardon if it seems unnecessary. I just want to be sure, you see."

Angus gives the contracts a quick glance, but is soon lost in words. looking back up he smiles. "I'll give you my signature as well, but I am curious as to how this could benefit the Solacious house." Glancing over at Selena he chuckles. "I don't think Kilsa will be that mad if you manage to make a mistake."

The jaguar offers no complaints as Selena makes her addendum, and he's positively bouncing in his seat with excitement while waiting for the signatures. A bit of an odd sight from one with his appearance. Once the signatures are applied he takes the contract back and plucks up a quill, placing it to paper and signing his own name. With the final flourish of that quill the study is suddenly plunged into darkness, all the flames in the room and fire mathemagic lanterns suddenly going out.

Bite frowns when the lights go out, quickly managing some fire mathmatics to light what she can, which is apparently the candles.

Selena perks her ears as the lights wink out, flicking a hand towards the lanterns in an immediate reaction, causing the lanterns to flicker back into brightness. "...Who was that?" She growls cautiously, turning back towards the merchant, glancing around the room and windows - if any - for signs of an interloper.

Angus glances about as the room is instantly thrown into darkness. He had no idea what was going on, but it couldn't be good, as Bite and Selena will the lights back up he stands up, before looking around wondering what just happened.

As light is cast again an odd scene greets those gathered. The jaguar has a dagger buried in his neck, glassy eyes and blood staining his shirt telling of a lack of life. Draped over his lap is the maid, another dagger in her back, though she seems to still be breathing! There are no windows in the study, and the door remains locked. The other four beings in the room look shocked when they see the dead jaguar, but unharmed.

Bite blinks and takes inventory of her throwing knives in secret, making sure she has all of them and this can't be thrown back on her. She then looks to the shocked nobles, watching them for any signs that might tell something.

Selena looks back at the maid, quickly checking the damage done to her by the dagger. "...That was too fast." She muses, quickly treating the wounded maid. "Do you have any idea who did this?" She asks, unsure of how else to proceed.

Angus is truly shocked when he notices the maid, but then his thoughts turned to who could do this as it seems the killer might still be in the room. Quickly he takes stock of the other nobles, silently wishing he had actually hidden a dagger on his person instead of coming empty handed.

The feline maid gives a small shake of her head at the question and mewls, "It hurts." After a moment she seems to recover a bit. "It happened too fast. The lights went out, and then I felt pain in my back and I was being held. I felt warmth, then I was falling." When she is helped off the jaguar, it's obvious that her front is covered in blood. The others gathered still look shocked, though they occasionally murmur to each other. When the feline's front is exposed the toad shouts out, "It's obvious who did it! Look at her! She's covered in his blood!"

Bite frowns and shakes her head. "Sssweetie the chances of her stabbing herself in the back, even with the aid of magic, and not dying from this are low, what if no one in here had medical training?" she hisses and tilts her head. She begins swapping out soul gems as she talks.

Selena shakes her head. "You'd be covered in blood too if you landed on him." The wolf grumbles, and gestures to the hole where the knife punctured the maid's armor. "And somehow I doubt she could stab herself in the back hard enough for that to happen." She comments, nonplussed. "As Bite said - not going to happen. A convenient scapegoat isn't going to solve anything, and right now we need answers." The wolf states.

Angus started switching out his own soul gem as he looked at the body. "No way she could do this, I mean look at the wound." Standing closer he looks at blade in the jaguars neck. "Unless her sleeves are soaked in blood I hardly believe she did this...whoever we are dealing with is skilled with a knife. I can tell you that."

The toad glares at Bite when she states, logically, why the maid isn't the culprit. The gathered merchants grumble among themselves, apparently none of them pleased about spending time in the room. At the fox's words the toad glares at Angus and says, "If you're so knowledgeable about knives maybe you're the one who did it!"

Bite slithers over towards the others and tilts her head. "Sssweetie if he did it why would he offer us his expertise in pointing out why the maid didn't do it?" she hisses and smirks.

Selena looks back at the toad and rolls her eyes. "Let's not throw accusations around." The wolf growls. "I want some answers before anybody gets out of this room - Who would benifit from this good man's death? Since they've waited until the contract was signed, who would benifit? And did anyone resent the contract here?" She asks the gathering.

Angus turns towards the Toad as the accusations start to fly. With a sigh he raises his hands, showing that both his sleeves and his tunic are completely dry and had neither a drop of wine, or blood, on them. "Selena does have a point, why would I help if I was the murderer." Turning back to Selena he exstends his hand. "Selena, the dagger if you please."

The duck steps forward, placing a hand on the toads arm. "You have to forgive Bertrand," she says, motioning toward the toad as she speaks. "He was possibly Carter's oldest friend. And I suspect he's still in shock and expressing it through his current attitude." She turns to Selena and says, "All of us, and none of us. Carter had the controlling interest as specified by that contract. So if another of us could take that place in the proposed conglomerate we would stand to profit greatly. However this is risky because any of us could nullify the contract due to his death."

Bite tilts her head and shakes it. "So sssweeties, which of you would you all want to be in charge?" she says with a smirk, watching them all.

Selena nods to the duck and toad somberly, passing the dagger to Angus. She approaches Bite and murmers something across to the serpent, nodding to the crowd. "There's still the possibility the contract could go forward, after all."

"Does the contract specify who would take over if anything should happen to Carter?" Giving Selena a nod when she passes him the dagger Angus begins to study it a little, wondering if it might yield any possible clues as to who committed the deed.

The cricket steps forward, with one set of arms waving as he speaks and the other folded behind his back. He chirps a little haltingly, "It would have to go back into negotiation. All of us would like to head it up, as there's the most profit in that. The most risk as well. Carter was selected because he has... Had a certain force of personality that none of us have."

Selena nods to the cricket. "Thankyou." She smiles. "So, back to my earlier question - Would there be anyone that wouldn't want this contract to go forward?" She asks. "Or someone that would want it delayed?" The wolf asks calmly.

Angus glances back at the body. "Clearly someone had enough force to murder him in cold blood." Walking back towards the desk he kneels down and gives the maid a smile. "I'm sorry to bother you again, but can you tell me anything about what happened when the lights went out. Any odd sounds you heard, was it someone with fur that grabbed you or feathers? I know these are some stupid questions, but they just might help."

Bite giggles and looks over the group. She picks out the Anole and giggles, moving closer to them. "What do you have to say sssweetie?" she hisses, acting a little fllirty as she asks. She can't contribute anything else that hasn't been said, but she can try another approach.

As the anole is addressed he turns to look at the serpent and says, "I am not saying much because I know I am an immediate suspect. Carter and I did not get along." The lizard gives a small smile and says, "Also, The cute fox over there would have better luck with me. No offense dear. I'm sure you are quite attractive to those interested in such." As the anole and Bite have their conversation the Siamese says, "Couldn't tell. It was cloth. They were strong." The cricket says to Selena, "Any of our rivals would try to stop it. Or any of the current trading companies. But of those here? I would have said no, but..." He trails off and turns his eyes to the dead jaguar.