Paridon Book II: A Taste For Power (IC)

[jkason]

Originally Posted by InVinoVeritas

"What? Dead? Where? How? Are you sure?" Cassilda exclaims. The slice of cake slips from her hand and slops to the floor, quivering and splashing terribly. She looks at everyone, and when she sees Camilla, she responds, "No... Really... Oh Ezra..."

She slumps against the nearby counter, steadying herself.

Ru moves to Cassilda, offering his help to steady her, walking her to the closest seat if possible. He looks to the others, nodding as he notices Rhiannon has already begun searching.

"I know it's a shock, ma'am," the monk says. "Please take your time. But you feel up to it, we'll want to talk about who's been in and out of the kitchen, and perhaps about your food suppliers?"

[InVinoVeritas]

Cassilda steadies herself. "There is just Camilla and myself. Most other staff do not wish to stay long. Our food comes from the local markets, although we do have some special suppliers for the imported items. Here, I'll give you a list..."

* * *

Skyler stands about 30 feet away. The big fear in this gloom is that the torch may signal your presence more than reveal the situation.

[Rhun]

Skyler holds up his hand. "Let us follow him, and see where he leads." With that, the knight continues to try to quietly follow their quarry, but is ready to spring into action and charge the figure should he note their presence and try to escape.

[Neurotic]

"Sure thing. But we're glowing, it would be hard to miss us. Be careful."

[Rhun]

"Let us hope he is more intent on looking forward than looking back," whispers Skyler.

[Theroc]

Stumbling on the deceased crickets, Rhiannon took a step back, looking over to the others.

"Are these insects a source of food, or a deceased infestation...?" She asked, looking dubiously at them, though given the number, she doubted it was an infestation. While she had thought the kitchen would be a less disturbing locale than the sewer... perhaps she'd been mistaken, given the lord's eating habits.

[InVinoVeritas]

Cassilda walks over to Rhiannon, takes a pinch of salmon-colored powder from the jar, and sprinkles it over the crickets.

"Oh, no, they are very much alive, and not an infestation at all," Cassilda explains. "But you need to keep them sprinkled with a special fungal powder, or they start hopping and flying around."

Cassilda grins as she adds, "I'm surprised you do not recognize the lazy cricket. It is an elvish dish, after all. Our supplier is in the bazaar, a gentleman named Silistrax. It is quite difficult to raise this many crickets in the city, but he does love the meal. Here, let me show you..."

Cassilda picks up a cricket. The insect moves slowly in her grasp, only barely comprehending its surroundings. "You rub it back here, let its wings spread. You pluck the wings out, like this. The wings are possibly the most delicate meat you can taste, they are thinner than paper, or phyllo, yet they do not melt in your mouth. You'll taste some of the powder--it's a tingling sensation on your lips. Break off the back legs. Eat them now, or save them for later. This leaves the fat body ready for the main course. Stick the end in your mouth, and suck hard--the innards pop right out, like this!"

* * *

The sacks grips the pipe firmly in its lips, keeping its position solid as it regurgitates its content into the depths below. The man leaves the sack in place, and it stands turgidly on the end of the tube. The man resumes his shuffling down the corridor, which continues to grow tighter and tighter. Skyler figures he would have to turn sideways to get through with his armor...

Whether the figure has not yet noticed the police, he continues as if no one watches.

[jkason]

Ru stops over to Rhiannon, keeping his face blank as yet another "delicacy" is demonstrated.

"I'm afraid I, at least, am still rather full from the meal your lord provided," he says congenially. "Thank you much for the list of suppliers, Cassilda. I think that's all we'll need for the moment, though we may be back in touch with you. If you need anything, or if something comes back to you that you think might be of any significance, please feel free to contact us."

[Neurotic]

whispering fiercely:
"Let's get him now or we'll lose him. If he can squeeze as much as pipe coming up to that toilet we stand no chance."

[industrygothica]

Darian tries to hide his revulsion as he turns and exits from the kitchen.

OOC: Thanks for not posting a picture of that, IVV.

[Rhun]

Skyler nods at Eugene, and moves as quickly as he can after the man. "And grab that sack...that is evidence!"

[Neurotic]

"Let's subdue miscreant first!"

Despite his words, Eugene stops for a second to put sack in more stable location (floor? anyhow, away from the opening). He then charges shuffling figure.

[kinem]

"It will be all right. May Ezra protect and guide us." Father Berman studies the cook, trying to guess whether she's telling the truth. (ooc: sense motive +3)

"Now, let's get that list of suppliers."

[Theroc]

Rhiannon blinked, moving to place a hand gingerly over her mouth to conceal her nausea. After a moment, she recovered long enough to politely reply.

"My appearance favors my father, while my upbringing comes from my mother... who is not accustomed to Elvish food..."

She replied, before taking a step back to look to the others to see if they've noted anything of value.

[InVinoVeritas]

Skyler and Eugene move swiftly. Skyler moves to engage the shambler while Eugene grabs the sack.

Skyler reaches out the grab the man's shoulder, and it gives, squeezes under his grip in a way that he did not expect. The burlap cloth that makes up his garment shifts and oozes beneath Skyler's hand.

Eugene lifts the sack. It sucks at the pipe for a moment before letting itself loose, and a stream of worms disgorges itself from the mouth of the sack, and its quivering lips. The worms spew over Eugene's pants and puddle at his feet.

OOC

Don't worry, I'll get to everyone else, but this needs to be handled first...

[Neurotic]

Eugene jumps out of the pool of worms, changing his aura to fiery shield to immolate any worm that bites him (any attacker gets 4 fire damage).

If the worms remain milling around the sack he turns and goes to help Skyler. If they start behaving like some sort of super organism (swarm) he activates mage hand and closes the sack after scooping as many as possible back inside.

[Rhun]

Realizing that the oozing suspect could very well be the murdered, Skyler reacts, drawing Naraithus and thrusting the sword at the burlap-clad form.

[Rhun]

OOC: Ping!

[InVinoVeritas]

(OOC: Thanks. I've been Iron DMing as well...)

Small worm bodies curl up, writhing in agony as they burn. They make no indication of working together, only the sheer number and staggering volume of the worms indicates their greater threat.

Skyler stabs decisively into the man, a slice easier and softer than expected. The shambler screeches, and turns to face his attacker.
The face is not, in any resemblence or form, human. A round, quivering mass of flesh--if you can call it that--makes up what passes for its head. In the center of the cream-colored protuberance are three small pincers, black and shiny, clicking and shaking chaotically.

It turns and runs--or, more precisely, writhes, trying to escape down the impossibly narrowing passage.

[Rhun]

"Damn," swears Skyler, trying to pursue and strike again at the strange worm-being. Unfortunately, the narrow passage prevents the nobleman from going much further...