Foxes of Firebough - RPLOG
Participants
Date
5/11/477
Log
The ballroom of the castle is abuzz with activity tonight, though the mood in the air is quite a bit different than it was at the last party. The lights are dim, but adequate enough to serve their function of keeping people from bumbling around in the dark. A band settled on the stage are playing a quiet melody, suitable for a waltz, and the guests are all dressed in their formal wear with some manner of mask upon their face. Even the butlers that ferry food and drinks around are dressed in tailcoats and hidden behind porcelain masks and tophats, with one standing by the door to accept invitations from those entering. Cassidy stands up on the balcony of the room for the time being, looking over the floor below and dressed in a sparkly, midnight blue gown of her own, complete with her typical mask.
Natska stands with her love, dressed for the night in a long, flowing, silken evening gown of black with flecks of silver that catch the light. She is masked as well, although hers is a black domino mask that only hides the upper half of her face; a happy smile is settled on her muzzle as she watches the crowd below.
Thelergramor walks in quietly, wearing surprisingly formal looking clothes. All noble looking, with a red cloak. Black shirt with gilded embroidery, fancy pants, boots. Hiding his prosthetic leg. Also has an oversized foxhead mask he got from a party several months back. Unarmed. Completely. Mutters: "...I feel like a pompous ass dressed like this." Looks over the room; noting the masked servants. And two of the women he loves who do not particularly care for him at the moment... And with them up on the balcony, just heads towards one of them servers. For food of some kind.
Cirra is present, and she's swapped her normal clothes out for some odd finery. Her wetsuit is traded for a two-piece blue evening gown, the top being sleeveless and baring her midriff, her bottom being a nearly floor-length skirt. She's masked, of course, with a pillbox hat between her long ears, a large aquamarine holding a quill in place. Upon her neck a heavy silver band lies, with a circular disc on the left side. Elbow length gloves and bands of silver circle her wrists. Her feet are clad in silver chain sandals, and a quartet of sapphires stud her ears. Her outfit is completed by another large aquamarine set in her navel. She wears a blue domino mask, being unsure what sort of mask to bring. She waves to her hostesses, smiling.
Kurzon looks ever so slightly uncomfortable as he arrives, once again wearing his old polished black and silver priest armor, his own bio-luminocity enough to make both himself and his armor gleam and shine in the dim light.
Uncomfortable with a mask, he has a pair of silver rim goggles covering his eyes, the lenses glowing with golden light as they obscure his pupils. Supporting the goggles is a very wide brim round hat with a polished silver rim that obscures his features in a permanent gloom so that only his glowing goggle lenses may be seen beneath it. His dress gauntlets and boots fringed with polished chainmail and even his ever present note tome has been slid into a sleeve of polished silver. Devoid of his normal array of massive weapons, he come equipped only with a single polished black spear, one of the marks of his contract secured to his back with peace knots.
Handing over his invitation he looks around for a safety net of familiar faces or just a decently obscured wall to press himself against. Finding few that can rescue him, he decides to fall back on his training and instead approaches the Hostess to greet her and thank her for permitting him to be present to observe and interact.
This party has certainly attracted the kingdom's finest! Among those filtering in is a hippo bedecked in royal finery! Although, he seems a little on short and thin side for a hippo. . . and his entire head appears to be an intricately designed and painted construction of light-weight wire mesh! In the dimness of the room, Fenris's elaborate mask could easily be confused for the face of a real hippo. The liger is quite proud of his work on it and he tips it back just a little to wink at the servant taking invitations. "And you look like one too, Thel!" the erstwhile hippo says happily, wandering up beside the wolf, popping hors d'eouvre under his mask and into his mouth. He has opted for traditional imitation royal finery tonight, rather than the more exotic new clothing brought by the Creators. "Hello, Kurzon!" he calls when he spots the big bear. The poor guy seems a little out of his element.
Cassidy smiles at Natska, ears twitching before she looks back down to the floor. "Quite turn out! I'm rather pleased with all this," she says with a nod. The butler offers Thelergramor a glass of champagne and directions to the buffet table off to the side, giving him permission to help himself to whatever he liked. Cirra gets a tip of her hat, before she looks towards the approaching Kurzon. "Well hello there! Nice to have you come by! It's an honour! I do hope you enjoy the party!" With the guests her, a wave of the fennec's hand sets a breeze near the door, pulling the heavy wooden objects shut against the cold night of the mountain. Fenris' disguise might be a little -too- good, as one of the actual royal-born hippos saunters over to the liger and reaches out to give him a clap on the back. "Cousin! I was not expecting you here tonight! How are the children?"
Natska quietly claps her hands as Cassidy shuts the door, then gives Cassidy a small hug before she waves at all of... well, there aren't too many people that she -does- recognize, but she certainly seems rather happy to have guests about, cheerfully greeting anyone that approaches.
Thelergramor was about to respond to his buddy Fenris, having recognized the voice, but then one o' them hippos got all up in his business. Nods to them both, Fenris and the hippo. Takes the champagne with another nod and the words: "Thank you." Trying to be polite. Glances around at the people, and the Cirra. Gives her a wave, as he recognizes her. At least he thinks he does... Domino mask, could be some other Nurse shark. Stops at the buffet table; looks over it for potatoes. Or onions. Which is doubtful given the fancy people around.
The nurse shark moves towards Natska and signs. <Glad to be here. Took a while to tailor this dress to be appropriate to what I wanted.> She smiles, trying to avoid running off to the buffet so early. She looks at Kurzon, mentally cursing for not having her chalkboard with her.
Kurzon bows once again in recognition of Cassidy's response, greeting Natska in turn before turning to raise a hand in Fenris' direction before finding Cirra present and smiling her way, an expression that is invisible at first until his teeth and lips begin to glow softly enough to make his expressions and words apparent even to the deaf though none are likely present and the slightly spooky act soon is brough to an end with the smile in question.
For his part, Kurzon remains oblivious to Cirra's thoughts, having followed her words just fine and when she looks his way he signs a calm [Greetings, it is a pleasure to view your finery. I am Kurzon.]
Fenris almost freezes when the big hippo approaches him, but then his inner kitsune spurs him on. He uses the dim light to his advantage, weaving a couple of minor illusions into his costume. A little touch of life in the mask, a slight augmentation of general girth and the costumed liger is gone! In his place is a fine specimen of hippo! "Tibalt!" he blusters, recognizing the hippo from some of his forays to court as Sven Snowmark's body double, though he dies not know who the royal seems to have mistaken him for. Yet. "Everyone is fine!" he says, "But I thought you were freezing your tail off up North!"
"You look fine, miss Cirra. It's a very lovely dress!" Cassidy flashes the shark a grin before rubbing her chin. "The colours pair nicely with those of your body. Very nice!" She returns the hug to Natska, tail flicking happily behind her as the guests continue to dance and converse. In one corner of the room, an orc bumps into one of the butlers and glass is rattled, but none spilled. Thelergramor -does- in fact find potatos, but they are paired with a tender looking roast and a number of carrots.
"Yes, the time was certainly well spent," Natska agrees, grinning at Cirra. "It looks quite lovely on you! You have certainly outdone me." She offers a small curtsey to Kurzon. "Hello. I am Natska! Who are you?"
Tibalt lets out a hearty laugh as he draws a sip from his glass, before snagging a second from a passing waiter and offering it to his 'cousin.' "I got back last week! I thought, 'What better way to celebrate my return than at a party?' So here I am! The Solacious parties are always the best, but don't tell the Blackbacks I said that. They're just too stuffy for my tastes."
Thelergramor is triumphant in his potato search. Glances about for a plate of some kind. Scoops potato onto it, ignoring the roast and other stuff that doesn't interest him. Drinks the champagne. All of it. At once. Takes his potatoes to go say hello to his other friends. Gracefully, gets on through the crowd of beings and walks on up to Cassidy, Natska, Cirra and Kurzon. "Hey, how are y'all doing? Nice party, Cass. Natska." Nods. And then embellishes his reaction to Cirra. Not that his dramatic jaw drop could be seen under that mask, but... "Damn, Cirra. You look good, like, really good." Always been bad at compliments... Gestures in greeting to Kurzon, but lets him introduce himself. By way of not saying his name.
Cirra blinks as the newcomer understands her 'speech' turning to try to converse with him. <Oh, you do not need to sign on my behalf. I'm mute, not deaf, and even if I was deaf, as long as your mouth is uncovered, I can understand you.> She curtsies a bit to Kurzon. <I am Cirra Stormborn. And I am going to help myself to the available food.> She joins up with Thelergramor and fills a plate. <Your compliments, while unnecessary, are appreciated. Glad to see you wearing a shirt. It suits you. As does the cape.>
Kurzon is amused by Cirra somewhat flustered signing, but unlike before aside from his gaze, his face gives off no more illumination than the rhythmic pulsation of his force lines.
"Enjoy your meal, I shall certainly partake soon enough myself."
Rather than follow Cirra immediately he breaks the latch on his tome and flips it over, the pages fluttering in an artificial breeze in order to bring him to a blank page. Quickly he begins sketching the flighty femme adding her name in musical notation as he walks, pacing the floor slowly as his hands work to create a swift database on Miss stormborn.
"Greetings again Thel, I do hope you have been well and...graceful..."
Fenris the hippo raises his glass to Tibalt. "Agreed, cousin," he laughs heartily, "One can only listen to so much discourse on the habits of the common Gop before it gets old!" He pretends to sip from the cup, sniffing at its contents, though he does not actually drink. "How was all that business?" he asks, looking out over the crowd, "Are the northerners as mad as the stories make them out to be?"
Tibalt shakes his head, a little too in his own cups to notice Fenris avoiding his. "Not at all. The business went well, and we should have more furs for the winter, in exchange for food surplus. And they know how to party, certainly! Not even Solacious parties compete with some of the ones they throw," he says in another rumbling laugh. Cassidy smiles at Thel from behind her mask and nods. "Yes, thank you for coming. Sorry if I've been a bit hostile lately. When I am out in the field, I am not often in a pleasant mood for... Hijinks, as it were," she starts to say before, in the wake of Kurzon's magic, a much larger breeze kicks through the room, snuffing out lights and casting the room in darkness. All is silent for a moment, before a faint thwip, the sound of a boots on stone, and a startled yelp. A glass is broken, and someone cries out in shock before things go quiet again, save for the hushed murmuring left by the commotion.
"Hello, Thel," Natska greets as they approach the wolf. "You are looking nice tonight." She starts to say something else, and then the lights are snuffed out; she quietly curses. "Cass? Cirra? Are you alright?"
Thelergramor nods at Cassidy. "Yeah, no, I get it completely Cass. No hard feel- Huh. Dark." Shrugs, eats a potato, unconcerned by the sounds of chaos. Expected something to happen at some point. Didn't think it wouldn't be his fault though. And as a newly minted smoker... produces a match and lights it. "But, thanks for all the 'you look nice' comments and such."
Cirra is suddenly glad she's only mute and not deaf, as she can still somewhat navigate in the dark. She sticks close to Thelergramor, noting he has the right idea in creating a light.
Kurzon frowns when the lights go out, his writing uninterupted due to his glowing gaze, but all the same he closes the tome and lowers it to his side.
Removing hat and goggles as the soft lazy glow of his eyes slowly intensifies, his force lines joining in the process as he slowly becomes brighter and brighter until he is a walking lantern, his polished armor and trim helping throw his light all the further for his efforts.
"Is everyone in good health?"
He'd heard a sound that seemed very archer-like and someone running and that made him concerned(a fact reflected in his notes), so now his normal timid nature was replaced by the Investigator Light Champion of Kendrac: bold, confident and ready to defend all. But first let's investigate the broken glass.
How convenient! "Creators!" Fenris blusters, slipping his full glass onto a nearby table in the dark, "Are you alright cousin?" The not-really-a-hippo focuses for a moment, willing a number of little bluish half-lights into existence around the room, while he puts on the air of a confused nobleman, suddenly put off his drinks. "What is the meaning of this!?" he does his best flustered hippo impression. No need to interrupt the fun yet.
While the light provided by Thelergramor, Kurzon, and Fenris is far from being enough to light the large room properly, it does bring comfort to the guests as they huddle close. There's a distinct lack of Cassidy beside Natska, or anywhere in the room for that matter! The murmurs continue, and reach a peak when they see what Fenris would likely spot first. Tibalt, slumped over with what looks to be an arrow sticking from his back. The source of the glass is readily found, as well. The windows are fine, but a single shattered glass of champagne now lies on the floor, near a startled looking servant.
"C... Cass?" Natska repeats, frowning and looking around. "Love, where..." she trails off as she spots Tibalt. "Oh no." Slipping into crisis mode, the jaguar takes a breath and begins crossing the room towards Tibalt, although her eyes are constantly scanning the room for Cassidy. "Is there a physician present? And does anyone see Cassidy?"
Thelergramor would of course, not give two shits about the dead noble. Doesn't know him. Missing Cassidy? Now that is a huge problem. Is really disappointed that he didn't pack a blade of some kind. "Nope, don't see Cassidy, Natska. This... is a problem." Pulls off his mask, sets it down on the nearest surface along with his plate. Tries to remain calm, an unsettling smile crosses his face. Glances back at Cirra and Kurzon to make sure they're still around. "Natska, should have your servants block off the door."
The wolf follows after Natska.
Cirra follows after Thelergramor, frowning. She debates switching to a more appropriate from, but stays quiet for now, observing. She's quite unnerved by the brazen assassination.
Kurzon moves immediately to the fallen noble, his gaze dropping to the arrow, then calculating the direction and angle it would have come from if the man had still been standing. The numbers soon escape him and become a spell weaving itself in an attempt to form a beam of light along the arrow's trajectory.
"I need everyone to stay where they are and remain calm." He gestures to one of the servants to draw near and gives instructions for them to begin handing out drinks and food to those without them to keep the crowd occupied and if possible to start up some soothing music.
"I've got him!" Fenris says, hands flying from his pockets to his soul gem as he kneels by his fallen "cousin." The liger cum hippo presses his fingers to the royal's neck, checking for a pulse, even as he fishes his personal sacred doctor from within his clothes. He does not go anywhere unprepared. He has his suspicions about what is going on here, but for now he works to help as best he can.
The lone servant nods at Kurzon's advice and scampers off to try to claim another tray of food, while the band starts to awkwardly resume their music. Curiously enough, the other servants are gone, as well. Only the one remaining magpie woman that does her best to continue about her business as directed.
Natska freezes, her ears flicking, then turns to look at Thel. "I.... yes! I do have staff. I keep forgetting that they are mine too, and not just Cass'," she mutters. The jaguar turns and strides towards the ballroom's main door, although her step slows as she fails to see the butler. "I had staff. What is going on?" she asks quietly, as she continues on to check the door itself. Once she reaches the door she turns around, raises her hands, and smiles at the crowd. "Please, everyone, remain calm. Fenris is a skilled Priest, and I am sure Lord Tibalt will be perfectly fine. I and some of my fellow Freeswords are finding out what is going on, and there is nothing at all to be alarmed about."
Thelergramor glances around at the now disappeared guards. Having talked to Cassidy and Natska about them once, knows what they were supposed to be good at. If he remembers right, and that wasn't just drunken raving. Switches out his soul gems; despite HATING the act of doing so. "Dammit I hate doing that." Walks over to the arrow stricken corpse. "Uh, well, probably wanna get that out of him. He dead?" Glances around, smiling unsettlingly at everyone.
Cirra steps away from the body and everyone else, placing a hand on her neck as she goes. She soon comes back with a slightly different gleam in her eye as she moves to help Thelergramor.
Kurzon stands very still for a moment as his light spell flickers and pulses for his eyes showing him a general cone of direction before he sees no more. Armed with this knowledge he then turns his gaze to the main doors and then looks around for other points of egress. Everything he heard had a value and meaning. Cassidy was missing and he heard someone fleeing, had that been her? Was she taken? How had the zealous Natska been fooled? Where were the other servants? This situation had too many variables.
"Al right everyone, let us remain calm and continue the festivities whilst the hostess is out, please refresh your food and drinks and for those inclined, a dance may be in order."
Fenris bites his lip beneath his mask for a second, then snorts and rises from the side of the fallen hippo. He renews his effort, touching up his own disguise and letting the no longer needed fox fires die out. There is no real reason to maintain the disguise, but it seems like it would be wrong to drop the hippo act now. "He is dead," he says flatly pointing at the arrow shaft, "The head must have been poisoned!" He turns a hippopotamine eye on Thel and shakes his head. "No point now," he says, hefting the limp body and dragging it aside.
While Fenris drags the body away, the guests start to calm little by little under Kurzon's repeated efforts. They murmur and gossip, but there's a faint rattling of what sounds like plate from the hallway off to the right of the room that has them all silenced in an instant. None of them wanted to be next, and they were all coping in their own way. Some drinking, others eating, others still just trying to ignore it and hope it goes away.
"... oh," Natska says, quietly, the feline's posture deflating. Her notched ear twitches a couple of times, but she is snapped out of whatever thoughts she was having at the sound of the armor; she scowls, her fist clenches, and then she begins stalking across the room with a purposeful stride as she heads for the hallway.
Thelergramor shrugs at the news that the hippo is dead. "Probably poisoned, yeah. No -professional- assassin would ever rely on iron alone. Hearing what sounds like platemail, and at Natska stalking off, follows and gestures for the others to follow him. Moves quickly, running over what dark magic he's still capable of... not much right now. Remains eerily silent as he moves, trying to be stealthy, with that same messed up smile, red cloak flowing behind him.
The Nurse shark turns to Fenris, raising an eyebrow and taking his hand. Instead of signing to him, she writes on his hand several letters, asking him a question.
Kurzon looks over the crowd once more before he frowns and goes to investigate the sound that seems like guards or military. A strange occurrence considering no one had been sent for help yet.
What was going on here? Was this a party game or was this some sort of staged attack? Either way, Kurzon was disturbingly stimulated and pleased by all of this, though outwardly only his desire to make it through the information showed.
Fenris gives Cirra a grave look and leans in to whisper something in the Nurse shark's ear before turning back to tend to the body. He braces himself as he hears the approaching sound of plate armor.
Natska and the others are greeted by an empty hallway upon moving to investigate the sound. Well. Mostly empty. Towards the end, near a corner, the legs of one of the servants can be seen. Sprawled out on the floor, the otterfolk groans and gestures the heros over. "You've got to go after him. The others already ran on ahead, but you can't let him get away with her." The being holds up a key, urging one of them to take it. "Down the hallway. Metal door on the left. Follow the cavern through, and you'll find them. I just hope it's not too late."
Natska hurries down the hallway to the otter. "Dennis! They... someone has her?!" she asks. Her ears go flat and Natska growls, a low and menacing noise; she snatches the key, then stalks down the hallway. "Come on, keep up!"
Thelergramor glares at the downed otter, runs down the hallway. "Oh, this fucker is DEAD!" Unarmed doesn't have any bearing on being able to kill when so enraged. Attempts to overtake Natska in case it's a trap; better he gets shot/stabbed/set on fire than her.
Cirra stays with the royal, allowing others to shine while she attends to him. She is checking for other things that may have happened to have caused his death, wondering if even the composition of the poison could place the attacker.
Kurzon's eyes are already turned in the direction 'Dennis' reffers to and is moving up to a run as he takes it all in, his heavy cerimonial armor not helping things, butspeed had never been his strong point anyway.
Fenris nods his hippo augmented head to Cirra in thanks and runs after the others. He was not about to miss the end of all of this.
Dennis lays himself back down as the group goes running off to find the attacker. He wasn't terribly wounded, but he certainly needed to rest. Sure enough, the group finds the door mentioned, though it isn't much of a door as it is a gate. A thick raising gate of metal, wrought too close to slip through the bars, and too thick to break. Thankfully, they had a key that looked awful like it'd fit in the little keyhole set into the stonework next to the portcullis. Easily seen beyond is a well lit cavern, carved into the stone but not laid with brick like the halls themselves. And it's hard to say how far it goes, because it quickly turns out of sight.
Natska frowns, her tail lashing back and forth in agitation. "This isn't part of the castle I have explored yet." She tries the key on the gate, then assuming it works, she slips through and down the tunnel.
Thelergramor kicks the bars ineffectually before Natska tries her key. "Problematic, maybe. Don't care as long as we get Cass back and butcher whoever has her. Hope you have no problem with that." Glances back at Kurzon and Fenris coming up behind them. Nods and then follows Natska. Assuming it opened...
Cirra continues her watch over the fallen Tibalt. Estimating that it would be better to have the bolt removed, and that the investigation of the crime has already been done, she grabs hold of the bolt and attempts to carefully remove it.
Kurzon reaches the bars and puts his weight against them or aids in lifting them once they are unlocked so those smaller than Natska can get through faster. As the roving wall of the group he had to keep pace, but also put his muscle to use where he may.
Fenris lets the illusion slip as he turns the corner, stopping only long enough to be certain that the otter is alright. He keeps the hippo mask on, of course, since he worked hard on it and there was no way it was coming off until the party was over! The liger trots eagerly after the others.
As soon as the key is used, the gate readily hoists itself open for the grod arup, allowing them passage into the cavern. It winds down and around, but not for a terribly long distance. It does grow... Unusually chilly for a cave in Firebough, though. And as they progress further, the tunnel opens out into an open little chamber, shrouded with mist and... Trees? An odd place, certainly, and there's a rattle of plate from amongst somewhere in the fog. They must be on the right track.
Natska perks her ears as she listens for the source of the noise, her tail still angrily lashing back and forth. She growls, but it is a quiet and muted sound this time before she stalks off into the mist, moving quickly.
Thelergramor cares little for the surrouding area or the strange cold. Has no time for it now! Must save the woman he loves with help from the woman she loves! And none of that thought process bothers him at all... Growls in response to Natska's growl; louder, more bloodthirsty perhaps... Just keeps running after the sounds of platemail; concerned by the lack of screams. And how easily Cassidy was taken... Definitely some kind of professional.
Kurzon is careful as he procedes, untying the peaceknots on his spear, he slowly removes it from the cerimonial mount on his back. All the while his glow has been muting save his markings and eyes, his goggles having been slipped back on so that the light of his eyes is easily followed by those close by but does lance out like a beacon in the mist.
Fenris grins into the mist, confident that no one will see it behind his mask. "I might be able to help a little here," he says, raising a hand and working some water magic to disperse the fog as he trots along behind the others.
It's slow receding, but the fog does start to part before Fenris' work. Without the fog to distort the view, the trees are... Very clearly not trees at all, but stone sculptures made to resemble trees. A whole 'forest' of them in fact. The group makes it unhindered to a small clearing within the rock forest, wherein stands a tall knight, clad in green armour. "So you've come after all. You are a persistant bunch." The voice echoes out from under the helm as the plated figures lofts his sword. "You've come all this way to fail now. Quaint."
Natska stands there for a moment and narrows her eyes at the knight, then makes a slashing motions with her hand. "What are you even DOING down here?!" she demands. "Where is Cassidy?!"
Thelergramor squints at the green man. "...Yeah, I'll give him a fail...." Mutters to himself, then outright -screams- "FUCK YOU! I'M GOING TO SHOVE THAT SWORD UP YOUR ASS IF YOU DON'T GIVE CASSIDY BACK RIGHT NOW!" Is very likely to do it anyway, given his rage. Drops his cloak and throws off his shirt. Ain't got no time for that fancy stuff. Starts advancing slowly and threateningly towards the figure, gnashing his teeth as he walks.
Kurzon works on discarding his breastplate as he goes, freed up from the heavy thing he relies purely on his chain and cloth armor as he moves to the front of the group to confront the emerald knight, his spear lengthening as he afixes shaft extender segments to it until it is a moderate sized weapon with a terrible jagged blade and a black polished finish.
"You will find...that it is in your best interest to cooperate with us."
All the while he is matching pace with Thel keeping himself moving in such a manner as to provide bodily cover from any initial strikes and yet ready to move in and attack to create an opening the moment Thel should press an attack.
Fenris looks around at the stone arboreum in open fascination. "This is pretty neat!" he says enthusiastically, "And you didn't know it was down here, Natska?" The masked feline shows little concern for the green knight, staying behind the more aggressive trio before him. "Why Tibalt?" he finally addresses the knight, though more with curiosity than anger, "Did he even know you were coming?"
"I am here for Cassidy," the knight continues, lifting his sword and waving it around the air. "I came down here hoping to find a way out. It appears I was mistaken. ... Partially. It is clear that the way out is through you! And by night's end, each one of you will I have run through. As for poor Tibalt... He was just a target of opportunity." He doesn't make the first move, though, looking amongst the party, regarding them through his helmet's visor. "As for where she is... Well. You'll just have to come and find out, won't you?"
Natska looks around at the other Freeswords, then gives her head a quick shake. "I am not equipped for battle, but I will do what I can. We can get him!" she says, as she starts circling off to the side, keeping an eye on the knight.
Thelergramor lets out a low growl. "Oh, I'll find out. You'll tell me everything as your finger bones snap one by one..." Goes off on a rant of increasingly violent methods of torture... "...After I've driven your own sword halfway up your tailhole, ya green prick!" Charges him, making a grab for the sword, bloodlust clear in his ragefueled eyes, no care given to any injuries he may sustain in doing so, grabbing for a blade barehanded...
Kurzon growls with effort as Thel lauches into a suicide attack, the heavy bear lashing out horrizontally with his spear to try and parry the sword upwards to expose the knight's wrist to Thel's grip.
Fenris nods thoughtfully. "I thought as much," he says as he watches Thelergamor's vicious attack and Natska and Kurzon's careful appraisal of their foe. He winces a little as Thel grabs at the sword. He would no doubt have to tend to the poor slob soon. Meanwhile, he simply focuses on a little bit of fire math, planning to slowly heat that fine, emerald armor. It should be a proper sweatbox in no time!
While Thel -might- have had that sword grabbed, Kurzon's quick thinking knocks the blade upward, allowing Thel to grab hold of the knight's wrist, instead. Fenris' attempts at fire magic, though, get a far -different- response as the fog comes back in full force- And then some! The air grows chill, and the water concentrates both around the knight to keep him cool, and around Fenris, too, trying to snuff out the flame, as it were. The knight himself makes no counter against Thel or Kurzon, save to flail his other arm at the wolf.
Natska frowns, watching the confrontation. She slips further into the thickening mist, her hand moving to her soul pendant, and lets the mist close around her
Thelergramor has a grip on the wrist! Takes the punch like a professional meat shield. But he isn't one. Probably leaving a bruise on his face later... Given that he's already holding the green one, tries to invoke some of his dark magic to drain him a bit. "Gotcha, bitch!" Just for added insult...
Kurzon steps past the knight as Thel maintains his grapple, the bear raising his spear before swinging it down to try and strike the knight across the back of his knees to give others more of an advantage and break the knight's concentration and power base.
Fenris blinks in surprise and the sudden fog and chill. That was hardly the response he had expected! Instead of fighting the water magic, he simply shifts gears, reaching into a pocket to produce a large tooth of some kind. The masked liger keeps his distance and focuses on his own water magic, urging the chilly fog to coalesce around the emerald foe.
The water magic employed by Fenris doesn't draw as negative a reaction, this time, and is left to chill the knight's armour while it is brought lower by the blow to its knees. All the same, it continues to just blindly smach away at Thel with its free arm, as if it didn't mind the dark magic at all! Natska gets no pestering on her end of the field, save for a gentle breeze.
Natska continues her adjustments to her soul pendant, then relaxes and takes a breath while she clears her mind. "I'll try to help, Fenris!
Natska continues her adjustments to her soul pendant, then relaxes and takes a breath while she clears her mind. "I'll try to help, Fenris! You have him, guys, keep it up!" It takes her a little bit longer before the math starts running through her mind, but when it does she adds to the efforts, and flakes of snow and swirls of wind start coalescing out of the swirling fog.
Thelergramor just keeps taking the hits; not in any type of self preserving mood. No more dark magic at his disposal, the wolf circles the arm, still holding it, and brings an elbow up to slam down on the knights elbow; looking to fracture at the joint. Natska's encouragement brings an evil grin to his face; replacing the snarl that had persisted since seeing the knight.
Kurzon whirls around behind the knight to approach from the side of his free arm, then once again lashes out with his spear, this time targeting the inner elbow of the punching arm. He was in this to take prisoners, but he had to duisable him before Thel got hurt. But all the same he had to check and see if this one was a corrupt being.
Fenris nods and keeps up the pressure with his water magic, though he is curious about the instant reaction he had gotten with the fire. Could it be that things were even more complicated than he thought they were?
When the knight's arms are attacked, they are quickly disabled... In part. Kurzon's attack finds easy purchase, and Thel's hit bends the arm backward are a rather unnatural angle, but the knight does not seem deterred by that or the magic! It certainly was a most unusual foe! The green plate grows colder and colder, and by rights any normal being would certainly be feeling the discomfort by now.
Natska gets further into her math-trance and lets the mathemagic flow; patterns of frost begin forming on the trees surrounding the scuffle, and the swirl of frigid wind circling the trio of fighters might have been ripped straight from the heart of Thera'Dor.
Thelergramor is sincerely frustrated by no cry of anguish! "Why won't you scream, you shit!?" Having broken the arm, moves on to trying to grab the sword with one hand and the now cold helmet with the other. Having come from Thera'Dor himself, the cold is no issue for the angry Thele. Too enraged to theorize on the nature of his foe, but has suspicions of this not being some random assassin.
Kurzon abruptly withdraws from the main combat, if he wasn't detecting corruption and this enemy wasn't feeling pain, he began really wondering: Where WAS Cassidy? Was she in the torso or somewhere around the stone forest? "Natska! Look for Cassidy, we will finish this fight, Fenris, look after her! This feels like a feint."
Attacking once again he whirls his spear in butt first at the back of the armor's head.
Fenris claps his hands appreciatively. "Very nice," he says smiling as he fishes about in his pockets and fiddles a moment with his pendant, "I really ought to have noticed sooner!" The feline leaves all the ice and snow in Natska's capable hands as he changes tactics. He does take the opportunity to look around, if he was right, this sort of thing worked better at close range.
Cassidy says, "\\ Instead of screams, the knight simply gives a bone-chilling laugh that echos through the cavern as Thelergramor grabs the figure by the helmet. "Now you're getting somewhere!" The opponent cries as the helmet... Comes right off! Hollow. Grabbing the sword isn't without consequence, either, it seems, treating Thelergramor to... Splinters."
Cassidy says, "ooc Baaah."
Instead of screams, the knight simply gives a bone-chilling laugh that echos through the cavern as Thelergramor grabs the figure by the helmet. "Now you're getting somewhere!" The opponent cries as the helmet... Comes right off! Hollow. Grabbing the sword isn't without consequence, either, it seems, treating Thelergramor to... Splinters.
Cassidy says, "p :snuggles!"
The mist and the snow thickens for a moment, turning the forest to a near white-out of limited visiblity. There is a sudden, suddenly muffled shriek, and when an ebb in the mists reveals where Natska should be, the jaguar is missing.
Thelergramor is more than concerned at this. Is quite frustrated. "Gah, dammit!" Has splinters of wood sticking out of his hand. "Now how am I supposed to shove a sword up his... WAit. Noone's in there. Magic." Glances around, kicks the armor with his prosthetic leg, sets about pulling the splinters from his hand, gnashing his teeth as he peers around angrily. "Ah, great. Now Natska is missing! These fuckin' guys, man. How dare they steal the women I love!" Despite how they feel about that, he does indeed love them. Perhaps delusionally. Growls.
Kurzon snorts his distressed frustration, his inner thoughts at war with one another. He was bothered by losing new friends and yet he felt so stimulated by this plot. The murder was unfortunate, but someone was challenging their mental fortitude and he was going to rise to the occasion. "We will recover them, for now, let us search this area and then report back."
Fenris snorts and extends a hand toward the green knight, willing the thing into dormancy before someone gets killed. "Clever!" he calls out into the snowy, petrified woods, "And good workmanship! I thought you weren't interested in Golem crafting!"
"Golem crafting? Pah! You insult our creativity." The voice comes from above, this time. "It's no golem. But a pupper!" Sure enough, sitting up in the boughs of one of the stone trees were a trio of beings. One of which was Cassidy, and each of them holding marionette strings. "But the game has gone on long enough, and you've called me out. It's time to let you enjoy the spoils of your battle!" She plated figure is allowed to drop, candy spilling fort from the breastplate's neck in copious amounts. "That was a damn good show, though. I was afraid you'd melt the candy."
Thelergramor blinks several times at Cassidy, smiles. Is now amused, greatly. "I, uh... dammit. You know I hate being lied to!" Tries to play off his amusement as disappointment. To appear to be the blood crazed lunatic he is. "And I was all hyped up for some bloodshed." Shrugs. Forgot about the hippo. Doesn't ask. Rubs his face, speaks softly, hard to hear but audible: "...It's shit like this I love you for..." Doesn't exactly jump on the candy. Just takes some of it. For his daughter. Who is still 100% alive.
Kurzon shakes his head when everything was revealed. He was right for thinking all of this was fake, but he had never been truly certain. He would not forget this lesson though, a creature that seemed corrupt but gave off no corruption was clearly a fake.
"Huh, I had wondered about all of this, I will most certainly be wary of your pranks in the future." Candy? Really? Well maybe a few...
Fenris applauds and laughs happily. "I knew it was you," he grins, "But you got me with the puppet! Very well done!" The masked liger saunters forward to scoop up some candy for himself and some for the poor royal who would no doubt be waking up soon with an unfortunate headache. "I do feel for Tibalt, though," he says with a chuckle.
Cassidy shakes her head and waves it off. "Don't. He was in on it the whole time. He's a kitsune, himself, you know. The arrow in the back? An illusion of his. His state? Sleeping powder dusted onto his sleeve. Normally a magician never reveals her tricks, but I can't help it this time," she says with a wink as she hops out of the tree to snag a piece of candy for herself and examine the broken arm on the plate. "And I do hope you're not cross with me, mister Kurzon! But I had to end my party with a bit of a... 'Bang' as it were! Well then, heroes... Shall we return to the ballroom and show off your success in vanquishing the terror of the night and saving the damsel in distress?"
Thelergramor smiles at Cassidy. "Ingenious, Cassidy. As for going back, why not? I love bragging in the faces of cowards. And seducing damsels. Though I already know how that'd end." Brow waggles, then laughs it off. Glances about again. "Nice place." Had not noticed -any- of the environment up until this point. Tail wags now, greatly pleased to see Cass unhurt.
Kurzon shakes his head and waves off the concerns voiced " I have no anger, if nothing you have taught me not to doubt my senses. But I have no use for mock glory, it is enough for me that were this real, I would have had a fair chance of turning this situation around." Stowing his his spear on his back he begins retying the peace knots so they can return, presenting his back and shoulders so the tree bound folks can climb down easier.
A hippo kitsune? Really? "I think that I would not mind getting to chat a bit more with my royal cousin," Fenris says, adjusting his elaborate mask, "Always interesting to meet a kitsune, after all." He grins behind his own hippo face and saunters after his clever host.
The two in the tree graciously accept Kurzon's help on getting down, shuffling over to begin gathering the platemail suit and the candy. "I am sure you could find time, Fenris. Well. Maybe. Royals are busy folk, after all," she says, starting for the way back up.
Once they have reached the ballroom, things appear to be back to normal. Tibalt has woken, and the other servants are back to their roles, having explained the situation to the guests beforehand, who applaud upon the return of the party.
Thelergramor did, of course, pickup his shirt and cloak on the way back. Is wearing them again. Smirks at the applause. Finds his oversized mask undisturbed, but someone made off with his potatoes! Dismaying! Spends a few hours/the rest of the time the party is ongoing bragging about his heroism to whoever will listen and seducing women. With varying degrees of success.
Kurzon is already back into his notes by the time they get back, he desperately needed to update his files on Cassidy and Natska to include their prediliction toward showmanship and pranks. As for the rest he humbly waves off the praise and simply explains his motivations and how he would do the same for anyone.
By the time the group returns to the ballroom, Fenris has reapplied some of the extra touches to his mask and apparel, though he is fairly certain that Tibalt is well aware that he is no fellow royal by now. "Cousin!" he calls out as he returns to talk with his new friend, "A very clever performance!" The masked feline steps up and slaps the hippo on the back. "Honestly," he says in more conversational tones, "It was very good! I imagine you had me fooled far longer than I did you!" The liger leads the hippo away to discuss their common interests in more private surroundings.
Cassidy makes her way back up to her balcony and smiles, before clearing her throat. "Thank you all for coming tonight. I appreciate your attendance, and I hope you enjoyed the party! The hour is late, and we are far from home. With this in mind, lodging for the night will be provided, as will breakfast early in the morning before your departure. If you wish to journy home tonight, feel free. If not, please, enjoy the rest of the party! The castle staff can take you to your rooms whenever you wish it. Thank you again, and have a good night." With that and a bow, she retreats for her own bedroom.
