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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 4860769" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter Thirty-seven, “Guest of Honor", September 4th, 1882, 10:00 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>General Spinner takes to the stage and makes a short speech as the new President of the Jacksonville Fraternal Order. He talks about Mr. Flaggler's plans to expand the railroad system along the entire Florida Atlantic coast and how that will bring more business and prosperity to Jacksonville. He welcomes the newly inducted members into the organization, naming twelve men which including Mr. Solomon Star, Mr. George Eastman, Doctor Thomas Crane, Commander James A. Parker, Attorney John Wesley Hardin and Doctor Pedro Luiz Napoleao Chernoviz. </p><p></p><p>He says that the ball will last for one more hour and announces the arrival of the dessert carts. A dozen-elvan waitress wheel out an extravagant array of cakes, pies, pastries, an Italian style of ice cream, and an elaborate chocolate fountain surrounded by fruits and cookies for dipping. Once the dessert trays are rolled out the waitresses begin to remove the other food. The bartenders empty the remaining champagne bottles into glasses and send them out with the waitresses to circulate, then begin to pack away the remaining alcohol. The orchestra changes their arrangements to slower softer chamber music, in keeping with the party winding down. Ruby's eyes lit up at the sight of the dessert tray, now here was a way to impress her. She overindulged, even with George's teasing of wondering where all that went. </p><p></p><p>Abby continued to dance with a number of different partners, and when the music slowed she looked to see what had become of Gerrard. She does not see Gerrard anywhere but she does see his father and sister. Walking over and inquiring she is informed that he left fifteen minutes earlier in the company of one of his young lady admirers. Abby laughed lightly. "I'm not surprised. I hope you'll tell him what a pleasure it was to meet him. And it was a great pleasure to meet the both of you. I hope we'll meet again." </p><p></p><p>Lawrence enjoys the dessert table and says his good-byes to Jean-Francoise and Rouyn Elise. He finds Thomas and says, "I heard that the judge was not happy to see you. Good for you." </p><p></p><p>Suddenly it was the end of the night and Ruby was saying her polite good-byes. Truthfully she was ready to leave. With the exception of some snobby upper crust made up dramas, the party was boring. She had expected the ball to be slightly more exciting, though she was happy to have had the chance to dance, she sorely missed it. She wanted to take the boat home and as usual, George obliged. The night was warm and clear and the stars were bright. They found a secluded spot on deck up near the front of the boat. Ruby melted into George to get a good view of the stars and she enjoyed the salt scented breeze as it threw her hair around her face. </p><p></p><p>"What did you think of the ball George? They certainly loved you in there, you have quite the fan club. I'm a bit jealous, actually." "Well, they loved my prestige, my money, my notoriety at least. But that isn't me. They wanted my name, my fame, not me. But so it goes, this ball was really not different than many others I have attended, well, with the exception of arguing down a antebellum racist." replies George.</p><p></p><p>Ruby laughed. "Are you complaining dearest? I would love to be loved for my fame and money," she teased, though at heart she knew what he meant, after all, that was exactly why she was with him, her confidence knowing he loved her for her and not her looks. "The most famous actress and singer in the world, Ruby West, beloved by all..." She snuggled in even closer with a huge smile on her face. "The stars are really clear tonight, they are so bright and seem so close down here. I love it. Though it is quite humid to be dressing like this," she pushed her hand into a big puff of fabric from her huge skirt. </p><p></p><p>On his way out, Fish mentions to Alsoomse the invitation he received to attend the after-hours party, and then ducks back to the carriage long enough to change. He rubs off the polish he'd used to disguise his boots, buckles on the "girdle" that stores his tools and a length of rope over the small of his back, straps a shiv under his left forearm, pockets a handful of coins, fills his hip flask with fine bourbon, and slips into the second set of clothes he bought earlier that day: a black cotton outfit tailored for an acrobat. Over this, he dons a lightweight leather longcoat. The one item from the ball he does take with him is the hollow cane. Grinning from ear to ear as he recalls both Abby's delightful banter and Miss Fairfield's outrage, Fish trundles off to the servants' bash.</p><p></p><p>The ride back is with the river current and goes faster than the journey into the city. Shortly after midnight they round the bend in the river heading east for the final mile to the Timucuan Conservatory. Anchored near the water's edge facing toward the east is a massive ship. The vessel has five furled sails and the ship measures a good 250 feet from the ship's figurehead to the taffrail (uppermost part of the stern). It is slightly narrower in width than the standard warship or merchant ship of this length, with more of a schooner's design to the keel. Lanterns have been hung fore and aft to alert other river vessels to presence of the large stationary ship that is taking up approximately one-third of the channel. </p><p></p><p>While the sailboat had previously seen rather large with its thirty-two foot length, as it nears the anchored vessel it appears miniscule by comparison. As they near the ship's stern Ruby and George see the rear of the ship is also illuminated with an American flag flying and the ship's name of "The Magnificence" brightly lit up. Mina moves forward to join Ruby and George and exclaims, "It is wonderful to see her again. James's ship is appropriately named, is it not?" </p><p></p><p>Ruby attempted to keep her jaw from dropping open and catching flies. "Wow, it's huge!" she exclaimed. "This is the boat for transporting stuff? Can people travel on there too? It looks really nice." Mina replies, "It is the fastest sailing ship ever to travel the oceans, I sincerely doubt that James plans to use it as a freighter. He has owned it for over forty years and has been the ship's Captain for most of that time, only hiring on another Captain around six or seven years back. I think that his wanting to be a Caption was to make up for the fact that he never attained that rank when he was in the service. </p><p></p><p>He has sailed every ocean, including three or four trips to the Orient. I first sailed aboard her around a third of a century ago, during the second Opium War between Britain and China. More recently, James, Thomas and I sailed on her a decade back when investigating the ghost ship Mary Celeste, then seven years ago along with Lawrence and Roy when we chased New York politician and crime boss Tweed to Cuba and then Spain, and the last time was two years ago for a trip to Scotland to assist with Ogrish admittance to British athletics." </p><p></p><p>Ruby exclaims, "Oh, I hadn't realized! So should I ask why it's here now then Nana? Why it's returned here to Florida where we happen to be?" She grinned widely, hoping a little trip would soon be on the itinerary. "What do you think George, are you ready to take a sail?" Mina says, "James wanted her available in case we decide to sail to Australia in search of the Timucuan people."</p><p></p><p>They make their way up to the house. Roy is on guard duty on the front porch and welcomes them back stating, "Quiet night here." Mina replies, "I'm not surprised, the 'trouble twins' were at the ball with us. When they first arrived they appeared to be momentarily surprised to see James and myself. They then avoided us for the rest of the evening." Roy says, "The Magnificence arrived shortly after you left. Most of the crew is sleeping on board, but I set Captain Winslow up in one of the empty bedrooms on the fourth floor." "Very good, thank you Roy, James and the others in the carriage should be along in around a half-hour or so." The gnome replies, "Very good, I'll wait for them, goodnight all." </p><p></p><p>Abby dozed on the way back in the carriage. Some of the others were chatting, but it was rather a relief to be quiet for a while. She never lacked for partners at a dance and was rarely sorry to move from one to the next. She did hope to be friends with Gerrard and his sister... and to hear the story of what trouble Gerrard got into after she left him to dance with Dr. Crane. Fish had gone off to somewhere that was probably a lot more fun than the party they had just been to, and that was another story she wanted to hear. She actually fell asleep after a couple miles, not bothered by the moonlight shining in and lighting up her hair. </p><p></p><p>James nudges Abigail awake. She sees the carriage is parked in front of the mansion. He whispers over "I could have Thomas carry you up to your room if you'd like." She blinked and suppressed a chuckle. "Would that be for my benefit or his?" He chuckles back and says, "I wouldn't touch that comment with a ten foot pole. You now appear awake enough to walk yourself." Abby whispered a bit more seriously, careful to keep her voice low enough that Dr. Crane would not hear, "If he ever works up the nerve to say anything, we'll see. Until then, my life marches on and I'm not going to miss it." She shrugged. "And I'll have to carry my own sorry self up to bed." </p><p></p><p>They enter the building with Roy welcoming them back and says, "Mina indicates that the Grand Nez Twins were at your ball." James replies, "Yes, she and I did our best to avoid them for the evening." Roy adds, "Our old friend has arrived." James says, "Yes, as the carriage came by the shore I saw her silhouette on the river. I am very tempted to row out there and see her right now." Roy replies, "Ah, torn between your two loves. Well, if you ask me I would say that 'Magnificence' is an apt description of both. If you decide to spend the evening with the one made of the enchanted wood and sails I would be more than happy to substitute for you with the enchanting human." James laughs and says, "Thank you my friend, but the one along the river won't be angry with me for snubbing her, and if I were to allow you to substitute with my bride, then she might decide to make that permanent given your overall irresistibility." Roy smiles and says, "True, how true." </p><p></p><p>Later on, Several of the men spend the night emptying the wheelbarrows into the ditches dug by the workmen, being ever so quiet as they work.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, upon arrival at the Servant’s Party, Fish is stopped at the door to the building by an ogre who he does not recognize, wearing clean but casual clothing. Another ogre is dispatched and the one who invited him soon arrives, being addressed by the other as Phillipus. He is attired in tan cotton pants with a collared white sleeveless shirt, and sandals on his feet. He brings Fish through the upper floor, which appears to be a dormitory with quad bedrooms. Several ogres and half-ogres are in the rooms in the process of changing. Others are in a shower room at the end of the hallway bathing. </p><p></p><p>Phillipus leads him to another door, which has a half-ogre standing guard. Fish's companion states, "This is the man I told you about Marcus." The half-ogre extends his hand and says, "I heard what you did. How is it that you are employed by a half-ogre Doctor?" Fish grasps the man's hand and speaks plainly, "I beg your pardon. While I count myself fortunate to be among his associates, the truth is that I work for Dr. Crane's company, and not the good doctor himself. He and James Parker are partners in an enterprise known as the AGELESS Corporation. Perhaps you've heard of it? They're the chaps sponsoring the archaeological digs out at the Timucuan Conservancy.</p><p></p><p>"Well, the old boys here in Jacksonville have been angling to snag Parker for years, but the man cannot stomach their bigotry. The charade y'all saw take place earlier tonight was his way of rubbing their faces in it. I apologize if you feel as though I've deceived you and I'd certainly understand if I'm shown the door as a result...but I was really looking forward to sharing a spot of bourbon here with Phillipus!" Fish winks, extracts the bottle, and awaits a response.</p><p></p><p>Marcus lets out a deep and robust laugh, saying "The deception was for the bigots, not us, and we are all amused by the result. You are more than welcome to join us this evening Benjamin." Phillipus leads Fish though the doors and down the stairs. Fish is surprised to find the staircase covered in a magical 'Silence' spell as they travel down first to a level with various pantry and storage rooms and then down another staircase to a lower level, which is even more surprising as they would now be below sea level and still not far from the river. </p><p></p><p>Once they emerge on the other side of the spell they are in a brightly lit room some 100 by 120 feet in size, with concrete walls and support pillars except for two large glass windows on the far wall bordering the river which give it an 'aquarium' look, with fish swimming by. His ears fill with the loud sounds from a five-person band consisting of a trumpeter, two drummers, a banjo player and a fiddle player. Tables are overflowing with all of the leftover food from the earlier event in the main mansion. A makeshift bar is set up near the band with moonshine kegs and tapped barrels from which patrons are getting ale or beer. Shelves with ceramic tankards are along the wall near the beverages. </p><p></p><p>Phillipus says, "This house was built by a Spaniard eighty years ago whose hobby was marine biology and oceanography. He used this room as his scientific laboratory. Mr. Ledwith allows us to use it for social functions, as the remoteness allows us to carry on however we wish without the neighbors ever knowing." The room has approximately eighty people in it and there appears to be an even racial mix of male orges, male half-ogres, male humans, female elves, female half-elves and female humans. The people are all dressed in causal attire except for a lone older human male who is still attired in a formal Tuxedo. </p><p></p><p>He approaches and Phillipus introduces Fish to the man saying, "Mr. Maxwell, this is Benjamin, the man who helped maintain Doctor Crane's identity until the proper time." Maxwell speaks in a deep voice with an accent that hints of both British and Boston origins saying "Hello sir, welcome to the Worker's Promenade. I am the Manor House Manager for Mr. Ledwith and will be the supervisor of this affair. Please feel free to make yourself at home." </p><p></p><p>Fish decides that has three goals in mind for the party which are, in no particular order, booze, broads and • bawdy laughter. At some point early in the party and before he's had more than two drinks, he shows off his acrobatic mojo. He begins by standing on a chairback, then does so standing on one foot, and then having drawn a small crowd of onlookers, backflips to another chairback! He asks for a tankard and, balancing his cane on his nose, quaffs the ale! Froth still coating his lip, Fish throws his arms into a 'V' and trumpets, "Ta da!"</p><p></p><p>Fish turns out to be both the guest of honor and life of the party, with lots of attention from both the men and women. He finds that the Jazz-style music played for much of the evening resembles a mix styles that he's heard before in both carnival parties and at small New Orleans clubs. He discovers that the majority of the party patrons are not regular employees of the Ledwith family, but rather friends and family of full-time employees who were hired to work the ball, which not only provided some extra money but allowed them to attend the Worker's Promenade afterwards. </p><p></p><p>Everyone at the party seems relaxed and is enjoying himself or herself except for the Manor House Manager who spends the evening sternly watching the goings on with a neutral expression on his face. In the wee hours of the morning Fish finds himself to be the 'prize' in a competition between two cousins, an elf and a half-elf, each equally lovely. While most of their conversation takes places in what should be out-of-earshot he is able to hear that both wish to 'take him home' at the exclusion of the other. </p><p></p><p>The winner is Erene Dancing-Wolf, and she takes him back to a building behind the Astor Hotel, where the hotel servants reside. She explains that she works as a housekeeper there and that it is her cousin who works for the Ledwith family. A short while later horizontal calisthenics ensue.</p><p> </p><p>The sun has long since passed its zenith when Fish finally hires a cab and rides back to AGELESS, disheveled and sore but also sated and delighted. Before leaving the city, he stops at a flower stand and arranges for a ridiculously large bouquet to be delivered to his paramour later that same day. He nibbles on a fresh, plump, Floridian orange to re-hydrate as he rides.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 4860769, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter Thirty-seven, “Guest of Honor", September 4th, 1882, 10:00 P.M.[/B] General Spinner takes to the stage and makes a short speech as the new President of the Jacksonville Fraternal Order. He talks about Mr. Flaggler's plans to expand the railroad system along the entire Florida Atlantic coast and how that will bring more business and prosperity to Jacksonville. He welcomes the newly inducted members into the organization, naming twelve men which including Mr. Solomon Star, Mr. George Eastman, Doctor Thomas Crane, Commander James A. Parker, Attorney John Wesley Hardin and Doctor Pedro Luiz Napoleao Chernoviz. He says that the ball will last for one more hour and announces the arrival of the dessert carts. A dozen-elvan waitress wheel out an extravagant array of cakes, pies, pastries, an Italian style of ice cream, and an elaborate chocolate fountain surrounded by fruits and cookies for dipping. Once the dessert trays are rolled out the waitresses begin to remove the other food. The bartenders empty the remaining champagne bottles into glasses and send them out with the waitresses to circulate, then begin to pack away the remaining alcohol. The orchestra changes their arrangements to slower softer chamber music, in keeping with the party winding down. Ruby's eyes lit up at the sight of the dessert tray, now here was a way to impress her. She overindulged, even with George's teasing of wondering where all that went. Abby continued to dance with a number of different partners, and when the music slowed she looked to see what had become of Gerrard. She does not see Gerrard anywhere but she does see his father and sister. Walking over and inquiring she is informed that he left fifteen minutes earlier in the company of one of his young lady admirers. Abby laughed lightly. "I'm not surprised. I hope you'll tell him what a pleasure it was to meet him. And it was a great pleasure to meet the both of you. I hope we'll meet again." Lawrence enjoys the dessert table and says his good-byes to Jean-Francoise and Rouyn Elise. He finds Thomas and says, "I heard that the judge was not happy to see you. Good for you." Suddenly it was the end of the night and Ruby was saying her polite good-byes. Truthfully she was ready to leave. With the exception of some snobby upper crust made up dramas, the party was boring. She had expected the ball to be slightly more exciting, though she was happy to have had the chance to dance, she sorely missed it. She wanted to take the boat home and as usual, George obliged. The night was warm and clear and the stars were bright. They found a secluded spot on deck up near the front of the boat. Ruby melted into George to get a good view of the stars and she enjoyed the salt scented breeze as it threw her hair around her face. "What did you think of the ball George? They certainly loved you in there, you have quite the fan club. I'm a bit jealous, actually." "Well, they loved my prestige, my money, my notoriety at least. But that isn't me. They wanted my name, my fame, not me. But so it goes, this ball was really not different than many others I have attended, well, with the exception of arguing down a antebellum racist." replies George. Ruby laughed. "Are you complaining dearest? I would love to be loved for my fame and money," she teased, though at heart she knew what he meant, after all, that was exactly why she was with him, her confidence knowing he loved her for her and not her looks. "The most famous actress and singer in the world, Ruby West, beloved by all..." She snuggled in even closer with a huge smile on her face. "The stars are really clear tonight, they are so bright and seem so close down here. I love it. Though it is quite humid to be dressing like this," she pushed her hand into a big puff of fabric from her huge skirt. On his way out, Fish mentions to Alsoomse the invitation he received to attend the after-hours party, and then ducks back to the carriage long enough to change. He rubs off the polish he'd used to disguise his boots, buckles on the "girdle" that stores his tools and a length of rope over the small of his back, straps a shiv under his left forearm, pockets a handful of coins, fills his hip flask with fine bourbon, and slips into the second set of clothes he bought earlier that day: a black cotton outfit tailored for an acrobat. Over this, he dons a lightweight leather longcoat. The one item from the ball he does take with him is the hollow cane. Grinning from ear to ear as he recalls both Abby's delightful banter and Miss Fairfield's outrage, Fish trundles off to the servants' bash. The ride back is with the river current and goes faster than the journey into the city. Shortly after midnight they round the bend in the river heading east for the final mile to the Timucuan Conservatory. Anchored near the water's edge facing toward the east is a massive ship. The vessel has five furled sails and the ship measures a good 250 feet from the ship's figurehead to the taffrail (uppermost part of the stern). It is slightly narrower in width than the standard warship or merchant ship of this length, with more of a schooner's design to the keel. Lanterns have been hung fore and aft to alert other river vessels to presence of the large stationary ship that is taking up approximately one-third of the channel. While the sailboat had previously seen rather large with its thirty-two foot length, as it nears the anchored vessel it appears miniscule by comparison. As they near the ship's stern Ruby and George see the rear of the ship is also illuminated with an American flag flying and the ship's name of "The Magnificence" brightly lit up. Mina moves forward to join Ruby and George and exclaims, "It is wonderful to see her again. James's ship is appropriately named, is it not?" Ruby attempted to keep her jaw from dropping open and catching flies. "Wow, it's huge!" she exclaimed. "This is the boat for transporting stuff? Can people travel on there too? It looks really nice." Mina replies, "It is the fastest sailing ship ever to travel the oceans, I sincerely doubt that James plans to use it as a freighter. He has owned it for over forty years and has been the ship's Captain for most of that time, only hiring on another Captain around six or seven years back. I think that his wanting to be a Caption was to make up for the fact that he never attained that rank when he was in the service. He has sailed every ocean, including three or four trips to the Orient. I first sailed aboard her around a third of a century ago, during the second Opium War between Britain and China. More recently, James, Thomas and I sailed on her a decade back when investigating the ghost ship Mary Celeste, then seven years ago along with Lawrence and Roy when we chased New York politician and crime boss Tweed to Cuba and then Spain, and the last time was two years ago for a trip to Scotland to assist with Ogrish admittance to British athletics." Ruby exclaims, "Oh, I hadn't realized! So should I ask why it's here now then Nana? Why it's returned here to Florida where we happen to be?" She grinned widely, hoping a little trip would soon be on the itinerary. "What do you think George, are you ready to take a sail?" Mina says, "James wanted her available in case we decide to sail to Australia in search of the Timucuan people." They make their way up to the house. Roy is on guard duty on the front porch and welcomes them back stating, "Quiet night here." Mina replies, "I'm not surprised, the 'trouble twins' were at the ball with us. When they first arrived they appeared to be momentarily surprised to see James and myself. They then avoided us for the rest of the evening." Roy says, "The Magnificence arrived shortly after you left. Most of the crew is sleeping on board, but I set Captain Winslow up in one of the empty bedrooms on the fourth floor." "Very good, thank you Roy, James and the others in the carriage should be along in around a half-hour or so." The gnome replies, "Very good, I'll wait for them, goodnight all." Abby dozed on the way back in the carriage. Some of the others were chatting, but it was rather a relief to be quiet for a while. She never lacked for partners at a dance and was rarely sorry to move from one to the next. She did hope to be friends with Gerrard and his sister... and to hear the story of what trouble Gerrard got into after she left him to dance with Dr. Crane. Fish had gone off to somewhere that was probably a lot more fun than the party they had just been to, and that was another story she wanted to hear. She actually fell asleep after a couple miles, not bothered by the moonlight shining in and lighting up her hair. James nudges Abigail awake. She sees the carriage is parked in front of the mansion. He whispers over "I could have Thomas carry you up to your room if you'd like." She blinked and suppressed a chuckle. "Would that be for my benefit or his?" He chuckles back and says, "I wouldn't touch that comment with a ten foot pole. You now appear awake enough to walk yourself." Abby whispered a bit more seriously, careful to keep her voice low enough that Dr. Crane would not hear, "If he ever works up the nerve to say anything, we'll see. Until then, my life marches on and I'm not going to miss it." She shrugged. "And I'll have to carry my own sorry self up to bed." They enter the building with Roy welcoming them back and says, "Mina indicates that the Grand Nez Twins were at your ball." James replies, "Yes, she and I did our best to avoid them for the evening." Roy adds, "Our old friend has arrived." James says, "Yes, as the carriage came by the shore I saw her silhouette on the river. I am very tempted to row out there and see her right now." Roy replies, "Ah, torn between your two loves. Well, if you ask me I would say that 'Magnificence' is an apt description of both. If you decide to spend the evening with the one made of the enchanted wood and sails I would be more than happy to substitute for you with the enchanting human." James laughs and says, "Thank you my friend, but the one along the river won't be angry with me for snubbing her, and if I were to allow you to substitute with my bride, then she might decide to make that permanent given your overall irresistibility." Roy smiles and says, "True, how true." Later on, Several of the men spend the night emptying the wheelbarrows into the ditches dug by the workmen, being ever so quiet as they work. Meanwhile, upon arrival at the Servant’s Party, Fish is stopped at the door to the building by an ogre who he does not recognize, wearing clean but casual clothing. Another ogre is dispatched and the one who invited him soon arrives, being addressed by the other as Phillipus. He is attired in tan cotton pants with a collared white sleeveless shirt, and sandals on his feet. He brings Fish through the upper floor, which appears to be a dormitory with quad bedrooms. Several ogres and half-ogres are in the rooms in the process of changing. Others are in a shower room at the end of the hallway bathing. Phillipus leads him to another door, which has a half-ogre standing guard. Fish's companion states, "This is the man I told you about Marcus." The half-ogre extends his hand and says, "I heard what you did. How is it that you are employed by a half-ogre Doctor?" Fish grasps the man's hand and speaks plainly, "I beg your pardon. While I count myself fortunate to be among his associates, the truth is that I work for Dr. Crane's company, and not the good doctor himself. He and James Parker are partners in an enterprise known as the AGELESS Corporation. Perhaps you've heard of it? They're the chaps sponsoring the archaeological digs out at the Timucuan Conservancy. "Well, the old boys here in Jacksonville have been angling to snag Parker for years, but the man cannot stomach their bigotry. The charade y'all saw take place earlier tonight was his way of rubbing their faces in it. I apologize if you feel as though I've deceived you and I'd certainly understand if I'm shown the door as a result...but I was really looking forward to sharing a spot of bourbon here with Phillipus!" Fish winks, extracts the bottle, and awaits a response. Marcus lets out a deep and robust laugh, saying "The deception was for the bigots, not us, and we are all amused by the result. You are more than welcome to join us this evening Benjamin." Phillipus leads Fish though the doors and down the stairs. Fish is surprised to find the staircase covered in a magical 'Silence' spell as they travel down first to a level with various pantry and storage rooms and then down another staircase to a lower level, which is even more surprising as they would now be below sea level and still not far from the river. Once they emerge on the other side of the spell they are in a brightly lit room some 100 by 120 feet in size, with concrete walls and support pillars except for two large glass windows on the far wall bordering the river which give it an 'aquarium' look, with fish swimming by. His ears fill with the loud sounds from a five-person band consisting of a trumpeter, two drummers, a banjo player and a fiddle player. Tables are overflowing with all of the leftover food from the earlier event in the main mansion. A makeshift bar is set up near the band with moonshine kegs and tapped barrels from which patrons are getting ale or beer. Shelves with ceramic tankards are along the wall near the beverages. Phillipus says, "This house was built by a Spaniard eighty years ago whose hobby was marine biology and oceanography. He used this room as his scientific laboratory. Mr. Ledwith allows us to use it for social functions, as the remoteness allows us to carry on however we wish without the neighbors ever knowing." The room has approximately eighty people in it and there appears to be an even racial mix of male orges, male half-ogres, male humans, female elves, female half-elves and female humans. The people are all dressed in causal attire except for a lone older human male who is still attired in a formal Tuxedo. He approaches and Phillipus introduces Fish to the man saying, "Mr. Maxwell, this is Benjamin, the man who helped maintain Doctor Crane's identity until the proper time." Maxwell speaks in a deep voice with an accent that hints of both British and Boston origins saying "Hello sir, welcome to the Worker's Promenade. I am the Manor House Manager for Mr. Ledwith and will be the supervisor of this affair. Please feel free to make yourself at home." Fish decides that has three goals in mind for the party which are, in no particular order, booze, broads and • bawdy laughter. At some point early in the party and before he's had more than two drinks, he shows off his acrobatic mojo. He begins by standing on a chairback, then does so standing on one foot, and then having drawn a small crowd of onlookers, backflips to another chairback! He asks for a tankard and, balancing his cane on his nose, quaffs the ale! Froth still coating his lip, Fish throws his arms into a 'V' and trumpets, "Ta da!" Fish turns out to be both the guest of honor and life of the party, with lots of attention from both the men and women. He finds that the Jazz-style music played for much of the evening resembles a mix styles that he's heard before in both carnival parties and at small New Orleans clubs. He discovers that the majority of the party patrons are not regular employees of the Ledwith family, but rather friends and family of full-time employees who were hired to work the ball, which not only provided some extra money but allowed them to attend the Worker's Promenade afterwards. Everyone at the party seems relaxed and is enjoying himself or herself except for the Manor House Manager who spends the evening sternly watching the goings on with a neutral expression on his face. In the wee hours of the morning Fish finds himself to be the 'prize' in a competition between two cousins, an elf and a half-elf, each equally lovely. While most of their conversation takes places in what should be out-of-earshot he is able to hear that both wish to 'take him home' at the exclusion of the other. The winner is Erene Dancing-Wolf, and she takes him back to a building behind the Astor Hotel, where the hotel servants reside. She explains that she works as a housekeeper there and that it is her cousin who works for the Ledwith family. A short while later horizontal calisthenics ensue. The sun has long since passed its zenith when Fish finally hires a cab and rides back to AGELESS, disheveled and sore but also sated and delighted. Before leaving the city, he stops at a flower stand and arranges for a ridiculously large bouquet to be delivered to his paramour later that same day. He nibbles on a fresh, plump, Floridian orange to re-hydrate as he rides. [/QUOTE]
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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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