Wildcard - Fold - RPLOG
Participants
Date
20/9/479
Log
The scene is just like the dispatch said it was. A huge, black hyena head floats above the great plaza in front of the palace. There is no sound from the strange sight, but the head seems to be laughing and talking to someone invisible. A collection of guards in Royal regalia are standing in two formations, one facing outward through the gate, and another regiment watching the apparition.
Cassidy was trying something different today. The Being clearly had a dislike for the noblity, and she didn't want to chance provoking him further in any confrontations to come. Nor give him something to prove. So she wasn't nobility today. She wasn't Cassidy. She was a Corgi being dressed in dark leathers, responding to the call to action. Though she did still carry a DSU emblem, in the event she had to exert some manner of authority.
Fenris saunters along behind the unnamed Corgi. "You are sure this is a good idea?" he asks quietly, "I mean, you're the captain and we will do whatever you like, but I am just not sure-"
The tiger is cut off as they draw level with the gates. "HALT!" Calls a large hippo in a Royal Guard uniform, his chest a display of medals, "State your names and business! The Royal Plaza is off limits today!"
"Yes," The Corgi says, nodding at Fenris. "He doesn't like nobles. If we corner him, he may seek to claim even a small victory by attempting to get -me-. It's better if he has no idea of my position or rank. And if we somehow fail, well. Then he cannot use it to claim that the nobility failed to protect the city."
Stepping up to the guard, the canine offers a salute. "I am Rashka Featherfoot, responding to the call for arms by order of Lady Cassidy Solacious. I am here to offer my hands in bringing and end to this madman." And if anyone questioned Cassidy later, well. She could certainly support her own claim.
"Well, LIEUTENANT Featherfoot," the hippo says, "I am CAPTAIN Widebody-Good and we have this situation under control. I don't know who it was that called you in, but you can let Lady Solacious know that you have quit yourself admirably and we are grateful for her interest."
Fenris, standing behind Rashka, interrupts, squinting up at the floating head. "You're sure they are all watching me right now?" he says, "The morons are all just standing around at the gates, still! I can't believe it was so easy to keep them all busy."
"I'm afraid I cannot, sir. The command comes from higher up. If you wish to dispute it, you may take it up with Captain Cassidy and Major Sally." The Corgi glances towards Fenris for a moment, then at the floating head, ears perked. "We are trained in specifically dealing with threats of this kind, sir. In the handling and confrontation of threats using Creator technology. Please, allow us to assist."
The uniformed hippos turns purple with appopleptic rage, his jaw sagging open as he looks between Fenris and the floating head. "What!?" he roars, "What are you saying!?"
Fenris continues to watch the apparition. "They honestly think we would go after that overstuffed hippo in the palace?" he says, "What a bunch of morons. Is everything almost set up?
The tiger blinks and looks at the enraged hippo. "Sorry," he says, pointing at the head, "Don't you have anyone who reads lips?"
Cassidy studies the image for a moment before shaking her head. "The threat is elsewhere. Fenris, we must go. We cannot let him get away this time." She looks up towards the hippo and frowns. Even without her disguise she wasn't in a position to give him orders. "This man has run rampant in our city for far too long. But we will find him. With your help. If they're not targeting the palace they're after something or someone else."
The hippo at the gate blusters and fumbles, but eventually recovers himself. "Do as you like, Leutenant," he says, "My men will stay here and guard the palace."
Meanwhile, Fenris is watching the talking head. "Sorry Ca- er, Leutenant," he says, "I'm not getting anything else. He's started talking about someone screwing things up last time, but I am not getting anything on a current location." He looks around and points to a pair of distant steeples. "They could be sending the image from either the Courthouse or from that house in the noble district," he says, "At least, those are the only places I see that I THINK they could be using."
"Courthouse," Rashka says definitively. "And of course. As you are, Captain," she says, saluting again before starting off towards the building. "I doubt that he would go after a house. But the courthouse... A center of Firmament law and justice; The very thing he's trying to bring down. I'd bet that's his target. I just hope I'm right on that bet."
Fenris turns and follows Rashka, his long coat fluttering after him. "I'm with you," he says.
The old courthouse is huge and old and very well maintained, with great statues of past kings and heroes serving as pillars over the open basilica that makes up the outside, open air part of the building. Courtrooms and meeting rooms are indoors behind closed doors. The main courtroom is currently open and a general session of the King's council is in session. Minus the king, of course. And any of the High Lords or Ladies. It looks like everyone got the memo and are playing it safe today.
Rashka looks around the courthouse, nodding. No panic yet. Let's keep it that way. "Let's go about our business quietly. I don't want to upset anyone. And we shall work swiftly. We'll sweep the place from room to room. We'll leave nothing unchecked. Unless you've a better plan, then let's get to it?" She suggests, adjusting her armour. As a corgi she was a bit stockier than she usually was, and the armour didn't fit quite as well. Nothing bad enough to compromise protection, though.
Fenris nods. "Whatever you say, boss," the tiger says, "You want up or down?" He points toward the stairwell leading up toward the upper level and the cupola and steeple.
"Don't start with the boss thing," Rashka says, shaking her head. "You know I value your opinion as an equal, Fenris. I'll take the bottom, you go up top. And remember, let's bring him down if we can. Alive or dead. But the number one priority is securing the safety of the people. If we have to choose between them and him... Well. I trust you'll make the right decision," she says, nodding and taking off at a brisk jog.
Fenris nods and sprints off toward the stairwell, his long coat fluttering behind him and leaving Rashka to scout out the courts on the ground floor.
There are three main courtrooms, but only the main court is open, whith beings of all shapes and sizes roaming around, both couriers and courtiers and hangers on watching the long, dull proceedings of day to day government.
The main court didn't seem like a first suspect to her. If he were projecting from there he'd have been noticed. Instead, the fennec-turned-corgi takes to the second and third rooms, looking for any signs of captivity, inhabitation, or prior staging. In the past he almost always had one being held captive to make an example of. She expected this time to be little different.
